GEN. FITZHUGH LEE SAFE AND CORTLAND VILLAGE ELECTION

Fitzhugh Lee.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, March 11, 1898.

GENERAL LEE SAFE.

Assured of Protection In Case of an Outbreak In Havana.

   HAVANA, March 10.—General Lee believes that the request for his recall was prompted by the autonomists, who probably alleged that he was not a believer in autonomy as it exists here, and therefore, asked his removal to get a stumbling block out of the way.

   Consul General Lee is on the best of terms with General Blanco, Senor Jose Congosto and the most influential Spanish merchants. All assure him of absolute protection, even if the Volunteers should make a demonstration.

   The ranking colonel of the Volunteers assures General Lee that the consulate and the Americans would in no event be the object of a demonstration, should any occur.

   General Lee is no more anxious to remain in a vexatious position than any other consul in Cuba; but he has no intention of resigning, nor any belief that he will be recalled. He is cool, good humored and somewhat impatient of the sensational and untruthful reports now emanating from Havana or Key West.

   The court of inquiry pursues its taciturn way. The belief here is that the court is principally engaged now in killing time and is not likely to go north until next week. It is certain that the members are strengthening the testimony daily by personal observation of the wreck and the carefully prepared plans made by Ensign Powelson from the almost hourly reports of the divers. The court now has photographs, drawings and diagrams showing as near as possible the condition of things submarine.

   What effect the presence of the Montgomery will have no one will be able to tell until she has been here several days. She is so much smaller than the Vizcaya or the Almirante Oquendo that it is apparent to everyone that she was not sent in a warlike mood, but only to replace the Fern. There is no apprehension among naval officers that the Montgomery will share the fate of the Maine.

   Senator Proctor, before leaving by the Olivette, said: “You may say that my visit, call it a mission of pleasure or business or what you will, has been very successful. I cannot speak on political subjects pertaining to Cuba, here and now.”

QUIET AT KEY WEST.

Admiral Sicard Unwell—Ammunition For the Fleet Arrives.

   KEY WEST, Fla., March 10.—The British cruiser Cordelia of the North Atlantic squadron arrived here from Belize, British Honduras. No special significance attaches to her coming, as her mail has been waiting here for the last three weeks and the United States officials were notified some time ago of her visit.

   The Mallory liner Nueces arrived with 6,020 packages of provisions for the starving Cubans and 820 eases of ammunition. She was moored to the government dock and the work of discharging her cargo was begun at once. The ammunition was transferred to the Marblehead and will be taken without delay to the Tortugas for distribution among the warships there.

   The Ohio sailed this morning for the Tortugas. According to the present program she will coal there and then return here.

   The Nashville towed a canal barge out to the New York. The Detroit remains in the harbor.

   The torpedo boat Porter left for the Tortugas with mail for the fleet.

   Two more bodies have been recovered from the wreck [of the USS Maine] according to advices from Havana. Any that may be found hereafter will be brought to Key West on the lighthouse tender Mangrove instead of the Bache.

   The departure of the Spanish consul at Key West, Senor Joaquin Carsi, gave rise to unfounded rumors. For some time it has been known that he would be recalled, and that the recall was with a view to transfer him to a European consulate, a promotion.

   Brigadier General Wilson, chief of the United States army engineer corps, returned to Tampa after inspecting the local fortifications.

   Among the recent rumors was one that Rear Admiral Sicard had been relieved of command. This, however, is denied, although Admiral Sicard declines to discuss the probabilities of his resignation or the condition of his health. Well informed officers say it is only a question of a short time when he will be relieved of the severe responsibility now resting upon him. He looks more harassed than at any time previous for a fortnight.

   A letter has been received by a naval officer from an officer in Havana, saying that the Maine officers now in that city will leave for Key West Saturday. If this information is correct, it may be assumed that the court of inquiry will leave Havana on or before that date.

AT BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.

Preparing Marines for Cruisers—Transferring Guns.

   NEW YORK, March 8.—War preparations are greatest about the main barracks in the Brooklyn navy yard of all the military and naval places in this locality. It was learned to-day that orders have been received from Washington to prepare two detachments of marines, one for the cruiser Columbia and one for the Minneapolis. The order has caused considerable excitement among the men at the barracks. All are anxious to go on active service.

   There are between 300 and 400 marines at the barracks. The two detachments are making up and will be ready to start as soon as the order comes from Washington.

   There was a big rush of men eager to enlist at the navy yard to-day. Before the gates at the Sands-st. entrance were thrown open to-day a crowd of men had gathered around, eager to be first to reach the recruiting office on the receiving ship Vermont. Many of those who came had been at the yard yesterday and had been told to return. A few appeared in old uniforms. They were men who had formerly been in the service and had re-enlisted yesterday. All such are accepted almost at once.

   A big lighter with long dangerous looking guns scattered over her deck was the most interesting object in the navy yard. The guns arrived at the yard yesterday afternoon. They were the first batch of a consignment sent from Washington, and which, if emergency arises, will be used in arming merchant vessels as auxiliary cruisers.

   The work of transferring the guns was watched by a large crowd to-day. It was superintended by Gunner Gilmartin of the ordnance department. The guns are about six feet long and very weighty and a derrick had to be used to lift them to a dock. They were then swung in chains underneath a logging truck and taken to the building.

   The guns are of five-inch rapid fire pattern. There are more of them at the Pennsylvania railroad depot at Jersey City. Six of them are six-inch guns, formerly mounted on the Atlanta and sent to Washington to be converted into rapid fire guns. There are fourteen of the five-inch guns. Others are expected later.

Reception and Donation.

   A reception and donation for the benefit of Zion M. E. church of Cortland and its pastor, Rev. Isaac Stewart, will be held at Collins hall on Friday, March 18, afternoon and evening. The avails of the donation will be applied toward the payment of the pastor’s salary and used for the benefit of the church. The hall will be open at 1 o’clock P. M. to receive donations. Supper will be served at 6 o’clock P. M. All having the interest of the church at heart are cordially invited to attend. Come and bring your donations.

Woman’s Riverside Home.

   A maple sugar social will be given at the Home from sugar made from the trees belonging to the Home Friday evening, March 11. Every one most cordially invited. No special charge will be made for the sugar, but a voluntary offering will be received. Every one, however, will be expected to contribute something.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Results of Village Election.

   Village election occurred in Cortland Tuesday and resulted in the defeat of the entire regular Republican ticket with the exception of trustee in the Fourth ward, where Mr. Adelbert A. Sprague slipped in by the narrow majority of six. Mr. Arthur F. Stilson, the candidate of the Independent Citizens and the Democrats, swept the village with a plurality of 436.  Dr. L. T. White was elected trustee in the Second ward by the plurality of 188. Burdette Richardson was elected assessor by a plurality of 308. Willis A. Pierce had a plurality of 367 for collector and Hubert R. Maine a plurality of 286 for treasurer. Ferdinand D. Smith, William J. Greenman and Edward Keator were chosen commissioners of Union Free School district No. 1 for a full term, and Albert W. Edgcomb was elected to the same office to fill vacancy. All the appropriations were carried by majorities ranging from 442 to 1,047.

A Republican Board Again.

   The ticket which was nominated by the regular Republicans was an excellent one and would have been elected without any question if it had not been for the split in the Republican ranks and the fusion of the Independents with the Democrats. If the regular ticket must be defeated it is at least gratifying to know that as a result of the election the board of trustees is again Republican. Last year it consisted of three Democratic trustees and one Republican, which with a Democratic president made it stand four to one. Now by the election of Dr. White, Republican in the Second ward, and of Mr. Sprague, Republican in the Fourth ward, the Republicans have half of the board and with Mr. Stilson, a Republican, as presiding officer they have control of the board again.

BREVITIES.

   —In Justice Kelley’s court Monday the case of Bailey against Bussing was settled and the case dismissed.

   —Mr. W. A. Russell has purchased of Mrs. Blackmer her house and lot at 68 Maple-ave. and will take possession April 1.

   —A resident of Cortland says he never remembered having seen eight beautiful sunshiny days without storm at the first of March, as this year.

   —The Philadelphia Supply Co. is cutting ice on Dryden lake to fill the icehouses at all milk stations along the Lehigh Valley R. R. in this vicinity.

   —Mr. Peter Strobeck died at 1 o’clock Thursday afternoon at his residence, 10 Washington-st., after an illness of nearly one month with a nervous difficulty. He was 80 years of age. The funeral will be held Saturday at 2 P. M.

   —In Justice Kelley’s court Wednesday morning judgment for $28.23 was rendered in favor of the plaintiff in the case of W. R. Biggar against E. C. Hilsinger, an action on a promissory note. Ferd Goldsmith appeared for the plaintiff.

   —In Justice Dowd’s court Tuesday morning the action brought by Frank Parker, a Marathon liveryman, against Frank Maycumber of Solon, to recover the partial purchase price of a horse, was finally settled out of court by the defendant paying $6.25 and costs.

   —A house and lot in Truxton was Wednesday morning sold by Bouton & Champlin at mortgage foreclosure at the courthouse. The mortgage was made by Emmett Clark and wife to A. E. Freeman. The amount due was $135.40 and the place was bid off by Philip Hickey of Cortland for $300.

   —Mr. William Young died Wednesday night at 12 o’clock at his home in Truxton after an illness of several days with typhoid pneumonia. The funeral will be held Saturday at 10 o’clock A. M. at the M. E. church in Truxton. Burial will be made in the Truxton cemetery.

   —Mrs. Cora Hobart, who was arrested Monday on the charge of violating a section of the penal code relative to the custody of children, was Tuesday afternoon discharged by Justice Dowd on the ground that the papers in the case were insufficient, and not on the ground of lack of jurisdiction as stated in another paper.