Cortland
Evening Standard, Friday, December 31, 1897.
FRENCHY'S
QUIET MOVE.
Occupation
of Hai-Nan Took Place Two Weeks Ago.
TELEGRAPH
SERVICE SILENCED.
Sir
Henry Havelock-Allan a Prisoner Among the Insurgents—Spanish Papers to Be
Punished For Denouncing McKinley's Message to Congress.
LONDON, Dec. 31.—The Daily Mail has received
telegrams from Hong Kong and Tonquin denying the French occupation of the
Island of Hai-Nan, but it regards it as morally certain that Hai-Nan was
occupied about a fortnight ago when Port Arthur was occupied by the Russians,
the coincidence forcing the suspicion that France and Russia were acting in
concert.
A dispatch from Singapore says:
The news that the French had occupied the
island of Hai-Nan was brought here from Saigon by the French mail boat Ernest
Simon. Before the latter left Saigon on the 25th, a French cruiser arrived
there with letters from Admiral Bedelliero to the French governor of Saigon.
The Ernest Simon delayed for an hour at Saigon in order to take the governor's
dispatch relating to the hoisting of the flag on the island of Hai-Nan to the
French governor.
The cause of the delay was known only to a
few officials on board the Ernest Simon, but inadvertently the secret was
imparted to a French officer here who, not being pledged to secrecy, let the
matter out.
It is believed that the French hold the
telegraph office at Hoi-Kow and prevent communication to Hong Kong. The cable
between Hai-Phong and Saigon is broken and under repair; and therefore, it was
impossible for Admiral Bedelliero to telegraph the news of seizure to Saigon.
Admiral Bedelliero with the warships Bayard
and Descartes left Hong Kong on Dec. 11. He called at Hai-Phong on Dec. 18 and
attended the meeting of the defense committee at Hai-Phong about that date,
when the seizure of the island of Hai-Nan was decided upon.
England
Is Not Alarmed.
LONDON, Dec. 31.—The Daily Graphic asserts
that the British squadron was definitely instructed to assemble off Chemulpo to
support a strong British expostulation with Corea on the dismissal of McLeavy
Brown (British superintendent of Corean customs), who under the advice of the
British consul has twice returned the notice of dismissal served upon him.
With regard to Port Arthur there is every
reason to believe the Russians will adhere to their pledge to evacuate at the
end of the winter, and there is therefore no ground for complaint on the part
of England. Neither does the government regard the occupation of Kiao-Chau as
calling for action, because British interests are not threatened. Both the
foreign office and the admiralty are agreed upon this point.
 |
| Sir Henry Havelock-Allan. |
TAKEN
PRISONER.
Sir
Henry Havelock-Allan's Horse Found, but the Rider is Missing.
CALCUTTA, Dec. 31.—Colonel Sawyer commanding
the British forces at Fort Ali-Musjid, telegraphs:
On learning that Sir Henry Havelock-Allan
had left his escort and had not been seen since, a search was organized. He
rode a restless horse and might have been thrown near the camp. The search,
however, resulted in finding the horse stripped and shot, with Sir Henry
missing. It is feared that he is dead or is a prisoner in the hands of the
Zakka-Khels. The search is being continued.
Spanish
Papers to Be Prosecuted.
MADRID, Dec. 31.—El Correo Espanol, La
Nacional, El Epoca and other papers that have published General Weyler's
protest against President McKinley's message will be prosecuted. The
publication had been prohibited on international grounds. It is rumored that
General Weyler will be prosecuted. The authorities refuse to transmit the
protest to the queen regent through the war office.
 |
| Thomas B. Reed. |
 |
| Reese De Graffenreid. |
SPEAKER
REED'S REFORMS.
His
Experience Trying to Stop Smoking on the Floor of the House.
One of the reforms which Speaker Reed has
wrought during his second administration is the abolition of smoking on the
floor of the house. Formerly the habit was indulged by members without
restraint, but now, under the rules adopted last congress, members who want to
smoke must retire to the cloakrooms. The rule is not violated while the house
is in session, although it applies at all times, and the speaker, who is a
great smoker himself, insists on its observance.
There are some members who persistently
break it when the house is not in session. Not long ago Mr. Reed entered the
hall of the house and found tobacco smoke curling up from big cigars in the
mouths of the Texans. Turning to the
chief page, who has instructions to enforce the rule against smoking, he said:
"What is this, a barroom?"
The page was somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Not exactly, Mr.
Speaker." He then
explained that he had frequently called the attention of members on the floor
to the rule prohibiting smoking and said that he had twice mailed to the Texas
delegation copies of the rules with the nonsmoking paragraph marked and the
page turned down.
"Less than ten minutes ago," he
said, "I called the attention of these gentlemen to the rule, but they are
still smoking."
Mr. Reed turned to look at the smokers, and
the first figure that caught his eye was that of De Graffenreid of Texas,
sitting with the chair tilted back, his feet with boots on cocked upon the desk
in front of him, the very picture of one of the bad men in "The Texas
Steer," pulling away at a big cigar. The speaker contemplated him for a
moment, then in an awestruck whisper asked:
"Is he armed?"—Philadelphia Press.
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
A Year
of Recovery.
The year 1897 is closing amid splendid vindications
of the wisdom of Republican principles and statesmanship. Financial and
business confidence re-established throughout the country; industry supplanting
idleness; capital seeking investments instead of being vainly sought; wages
excepting in a part of the cotton manufacturing field, advanced; better prices
for farm products; the gap between the government's receipts and expenditures practically
closed! These are some of the facts patent to all men, which the first ten
months of the return to Republican control of affairs witness.
The monthly treasury deficit disappears in
the summing up of national receipts and expenditures for December. Including
the receipts from the Union Pacific sale the treasury receipts for December at
the close of business Wednesday, 29th, exceeded expenditures by $31,492,836.51.
Exclusive of the Union Pacific moneys a small balance was on the side of
receipts. With two days' business to be added, the total receipts from customs
and internal revenue during the month were $24,164,009. Adding receipts from
miscellaneous sources, other than the Pacific railroad sale, the $25,929,000
expenditures were met by the month's receipts. The surplus for the month is
estimated approximately at a million and a half.
The Dingley law is vindicating the wisdom of
its framers. Sooner than its friends thought probable it is stopping the
deficit. The heavy importations in anticipation of its enactment have passed or
are passing rapidly into consumers' hands and trade is resuming its natural
flow. Customs receipts are increasing steadily. Those of December will exceed
by nearly $3,000,000 those of November, which were about $2,000,000 better than
those of October, which passed by a good margin those of September. January is
expected to improve on December.
And it is not to be forgotten that the
present good showing of government receipts, activity in private business,
enlarged employment and better wages, are a year in advance because of
President McKinley's calling of the fifty-fifth congress into extraordinary session.
The settlement of the tariff then removed it from consideration now. Had not
the special session been called, the period of waiting would have been
prolonged till the present time in every business which must know the tariff
rates before it ventures beyond present needs of the market. One of the
greatest services the McKinley administration and Republican congress were, or
will be, able to render the country was their prompt attention to the revenues
and restoration of the protective [tariff] policy.
NOT MUCH
OF A FIRE.
But It
Might Have Been a Bad One in Otto's Furniture Store.
An alarm of fire was rung in soon after 9
o'clock last night from box 432 at the Messenger House corner [in Cortland].
The department responded promptly, but before any water could be thrown the
flames were extinguished.
The fire was in the basement of the
furniture store of Robert Otto, at 18 Port Watson-st. in the McFarlan building.
Mr. Otto and Mr. C. F. Blackman, the undertaker who has his headquarters in
that store, sat talking in the little workroom at the rear of the store. Mr.
Otto went down stairs to get a scuttle of coal for the stove in the workroom.
For ten minutes more they visited and then decided to close up and go home.
Mr. Otto went down stairs again to bank the
fires in the furnace which heats the main store, Mr. Blackmail following on and
continuing the conversation. As they opened the door at the head of the stairs
they were met by a strong smell of smoke. Near the furnace was a pile of swings
covered with burlaps, and the burlaps was all in a blaze. Mr. Otto rushed down
and commenced tearing off the burlaps and stamping out the fire on the grouted
floor.
Mr. Blackman ran back to the cistern in the
workroom and began carrying water down stairs. He shouted "fire" once
out of the front door. Mr. Andrew J. Murray was passing and he with others ran
in. Pails were brought into requisition and several people carried water down
to Mr. Otto and Mr. Murray who applied it to the best advantage. Meanwhile the
fire seemed to be spreading in the swings and other furniture, and Mr.
Blackman, fearing that it could not be extinguished by the bucket brigade,
turned in an alarm at the Messenger House box.
But there was an abundance of water in the cistern
and plenty of help. Everything was pulled away from the fire to which the
flames could spread and in a few moments the blaze was entirely extinguished.
The cellar however, and the lower floor were so thick with smoke as to almost
suffocate those at work. Some one very thoughtfully closed the door leading to
the upper doors where the upholstered furniture is kept, thus preventing that
from being damaged by smoke.
Mr. Otto was at first, entirely at loss to
account for the origin of the fire. The furnace was closed up tight and the fire
in it was very low. But he remembered that when he went down the first time to
get the coal for the stove he struck a parlor match at the foot of the stairs
to light the gas. The match he thought went out and he threw it down on the
grouted floor. He struck another match, lighted his gas and threw the
extinguished match into the coal bin. He now thinks that the head of the first
match must have snapped off into the burlaps about ten feet away and started
the fire. It is fortunate indeed that he had occasion to return to the cellar
and discover the fire before it got much of a start. Ten feet away were several
bales of curled hair. Had it got into that it would have spread with great
rapidity, and great loss must have resulted.
Mr.
Otto estimates his loss at from $100 to $125, and is abundantly covered by
insurance placed with G. J. Maycumber and Theodore Stevenson.
TWO
BULLETS IN BODY.
GEORGE
E. DICKINSON ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Pointed
a Thirty-two Caliber Revolver Toward His Heart, Pulled the Trigger Twice,
Walked up Stairs and Laid Himself Down to Die—There are Hopes of His Recovery.
George K. Dickinson, a meatcutter in the
employ of Robert E. Reilly of 6 North Main-st., who resides at 8 Woodruff-st.,
attempted to take his own life a sometime between 2 and 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon
by deliberately pointing a thirty-two caliber revolver toward his heart, and
pulling the trigger a couple of times. He was in the barn of E. P. Halbert, 18
Lincoln-ave., where Mr. Reilly's delivery horses are kept, when the deed was committed.
Mr. Dickinson was at work as usual yesterday
forenoon, and returned from dinner apparently in good spirits. A little before
2 o'clock, Mr. Reilly asked him to go to the barn and hitch one of the horses to
a cutter, and drive down to the market. He did this, and then Mr. Reilly
requested him to take a strap to the harness shop of F. J. Hackett, a short
distance north of the market on Main-st. to be repaired. Mr. Dickinson passed
the time of day with Mr. Hackett, and went out. He stepped into the candy store
of M. B. Filzinger, and there asked to borrow the latter's revolver, saying
that he had a cat in the barn and he wanted to shoot some other cats that were
bothering it. Mr. Filzinger suggested that he take a shotgun, but Mr. Dickinson
said the revolver would be all right at short range.
The revolver was of the 32-caliber variety,
and at Mr. Dickinson's request, Mr. Filzinger put three shells in it. Mr.
Dickinson left the store and started north. A little later he was seen on Lincoln-ave.
but so far as learned nothing more was seen of him until about 5 o'clock, when
Thomas Clancy, another employee at Reilly's market, discovered him in the barn
on Lincoln-ave. Mr. Dickinson's absence had been noticed at the market, and an
inquiry was made at his residence, but nothing had been seen of him there since
dinner time.
At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Clancy
went to the barn to put out the horse. As he stepped inside the door, his foot
struck something, which he picked up and quickly recognized as Mr. Dickinson's
hat. Five or six inches from the hat lay a revolver. His suspicions were aroused,
and at once he instituted a search for Mr. Dickinson. On going up stairs he saw
a horse blanket spread over something on the hay, which proved to be Mr.
Dickinson. Mr. Clancy says that Mr. Dickenson recognized him and spoke saying, "Hello,
Tom."
Mr. Clancy asked him what the matter was and
the injured man replied that nothing was the matter. Mr. Clancy assisted him to
his feet, and steadied him as he walked down the stairs. Dickinson said he was
not shot and claimed to know nothing about the revolver, when Mr. Clancy called
his attention to it. Mr. Clancy could see no evidences of injury, but unbuttoning
his sack coat his suspicious were confirmed by the mass of clotted blood on his
clothing in the region of the heart. Mr. Clancy left Mr. Dickinson leaning
against a feed box, and started at once for Dr. Dana, who was soon on the scene.
Dickinson was placed in a cutter and taken home. He seemed to be perfectly
conscious, but nothing was said about the affair on the homeward trip. Dr. Dana
at once sent for Dr. W. J. Moore, that he might be present as coroner in case
death should result.
The physicians made a careful investigation,
and found two bullet holes in the left breast. One was just at the lower edge
of the fifth rib, at the apex of the heart and the other was between the third
and fourth ribs just above the heart.
The bullets could not be located, and it was
not thought safe to probe for them, for fear of severing an artery. Neither of the
bullets severed an artery. Dr. Dana states that the bullets may have taken a
course towards the left, owing to the position the revolver must have assumed
when the trigger was pulled. The aim was correct, and had the bullets gone directly
inward, death would have been instantaneous as the heart would have been
pierced.
Mr. Dickinson is resting comfortably to-day,
and the physicians express the hope that he will recover, though nothing
definite can be determined. Mr. Dickinson advances no reason or excuse for the
act, remaining silent on the subject when questioned. He says, however, that he
shot himself at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. It is known that he has been
in the habit of indulging in intoxicating liquors quite freely, and that of late
he has been making a persistent effort to break himself of the habit, which had
fastened itself upon him. It is reported that a few days ago he made the remark
that he would break himself of the habit or die, and that too pretty soon.
It is thought that worriments and anxiety
over the matter led him to commit the deed. Nothing unusual was noticed about
his demeanor by anyone yesterday, and the physicians say that he showed no
signs whatever of having been drinking.
The news of the affair was a great shock to
his friends and to none more so than to his wife and relatives, who are almost
overcome with grief over the sad occurrence. They have the sympathy of the
entire community in their affliction. Besides a wife, Mr. Dickinson has one son,
11 years of age.
New
Editor for the Democrat.
Mr. Frank W. Collins, who has been the
editor of the Cortland Democrat since the death of its editor and proprietor, Mr.
Benton B. Jones last December, closes his connection with the paper with the
close of the year. He will be succeeded by Mr. Fay C. Parsons, who is the
son-in-law of Mr. Jones, and who has been brought up in that office and knows
the details of all its operations. Mr. Parsons has for years done more or less
of the local work upon the paper, so that he is well fitted by experience to
undertake his new duties. The STANDARD
wishes him the best of success.
THE
HUMPHRIES FAMILY
Held a
Family Reunion on Christmas Day With William King.
A very pleasant gathering of the Humphries
family took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William King on Christmas day,
when about forty of their friends and relatives gathered at their home to enjoy
the bountiful dinner of turkey and plum pudding prepared by Mrs. King, and
which she is very capable of preparing on such occasions. The grandmother, Mrs.
Elizabeth Humphries, and children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were
present, making the occasion a very pleasant one.
A ring and silver thimble were placed in the
pudding. The thimble was found by Miss Libbie Humphries, which entitled her
to the old maids' fate, and Charles Reakes was the lucky finder of the ring
which will entitle him to a speedy marriage.
After dinner had been served all retired to
the parlors and listened to some music on the organ by Mrs. Henry Bell of Truxton,
also to some fine singing by Mr. Mell Hart, which was very appropriate for the
occasion. John Curtis had a cabbage chicken which he turned loose, making a
great deal of sport for the little ones, as well as the larger ones.
Those present were Mr. and Mrs. John Reakes
and son Charles of McGrawville and little grand daughter Jessie, Mr. and Mrs.
James Humphries and two daughters, Winnie and Jessie of Galatia, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Curtis of Truxton, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bell and daughters, Carrie, Bell,
and Hazel of Truxton, Mr. and Mrs. Burt Curtis and little daughter of Taylor
Valley, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Humphries and son Deloss and daughter Goldie of
South Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Mell Hart and daughter of Cortland, Mr. and Mrs.
George King and two grandsons, Freddie and Lynnie of Cortland, Libbie and Edith
Humphries of East Freetown, John and Fred Curtis of Truxton, Mr. and Mrs. Will
Reakes of Taylor Valley.
ONE OF THE FAMILY.
BREVITIES.
—Three tramps occupied bunks at the police
station last night.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Case
and Ruggles, Inventory sale, page 6.
—Wish you a Happy New Year. To-morrow being
a legal holiday, no paper will be issued from this office.
—Chief of Police Linderman has found an
umbrella, which can be procured by the owner upon identification.
—The Joint installation of the new officers
of the three societies, G. A. R., W. R.
C. and S. O. V., will be held in Grand Army hall Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock.
—The Sunday services at the Y. M. C. A. will
hereafter begin at 8:30 o'clock instead of at 4 o'clock, and the hour from 4:30
to 5:30 o'clock will be occupied by Mr. Corliss' Bible class in the Association
parlors.
—The Quality club of Cortland will meet with
Mrs. G. J. Mager this evening. It will be the last meeting of the year, and its
main business is the awarding of the scarlet ribbon to the champion of Lincoln-ave.
—In Justice Kelley's court this morning Herbert
Flanders pleaded not guilty to the charge of cruelty to animals preferred by
Liveryman F. H. Maricle. He gave bail for his appearance for trial Jan. 10. I.
H. Palmer appeared for the prosecution, and John Courtney, Jr., for the
defendant.
—To-morrow morning the carrier boys in Cortland,
Homer and McGrawville will call upon the subscribers of The STANDARD and present
them with a handsome calendar for 1898. If the boys have been faithful in the
delivery of their papers during the past year they will be glad to be remembered
in some way on this occasion.
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