GLADSTONE PASSES AWAY, WAR NEWS AND CORTLAND-FREETOWN ROAD

William E. Gladstone.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, May 19, 1898.

GLADSTONE PASSES AWAY.

His Life Ebbed Out Early This Morning.

FROM SLEEP INTO DEATH.

Unconscious For Many Hours Before the End Game.

   HAWARDEN, May 19.—William Ewart Gladstone, the Grand Old Man of England, is dead. His heart stopped its pulsation at 5 o'clock this morning, just after sunrise. The members of his family were with him, waiting for the last. When the end came it was scarcely perceptible.

   Gladstone knew that his life was coming to a close, and for many hours previous to the death he showed a reluctance at taking food. He saw no need of prolonging a life which had been spent. His attendants, however, kept his lips moistened with spirits and water. His strength was sustained beyond all expectation in a great measure by his extraordinary constitution.

   Mrs. Gladstone for many hours previous to the end did not leave her husband's bedside. She kept constant hold of his hand and, though extremely distressed, bore up with remarkable fortitude when all was over. Yesterday morning and last evening the Rev. Stephen Gladstone read prayers and hymns in the dying man's room and chanted Mr. Gladstone's favorite, "Rock of Ages." When, this was finished Mr. Gladstone was heard to murmur "Our Father. This was yesterday morning. Last evening he made no response, but seemed to be lost in deep slumber.

   It is difficult to place the date of the beginning of the illness which has resulted in Mr. Gladstone's death. It may have been in 1894. It is thus generally placed.

   During his stay at Biarritz, in February, 1894, a London journal announced Mr. Gladstone's retirement, but the report was contradicted in very guarded terms. After his return to England the rumor was renewed, and in the midst of the uncertainty Mr. Gladstone delivered his last speech as prime minister in the house of commons on March 1, the occasion being the lords' amendments to the parish councils bill.

   The next day his resignation was made public, and the discovery that the premier was suffering from cataract in both eyes was given as the chief cause for such a decisive step. On March 3 Mr. Gladstone, in an audience with the queen, gave up the seals of office. A successful operation was performed two months later, by which the cataract was removed, and Mr. Gladstone recovered wonderfully during the ensuing summer. After a visit to Cannes, in the early part of 1895, the octogenarian statesman made a stirring speech on the Armenian question at Chester in August. His long connection with the house of commons terminated that year, as he did not seek re-election at the general election which took place at that time.

   Since that period Mr. Gladstone rarely took any part in public affairs, but made some exceptions, when he interested himself in favor of the Armenians. While at Cannes, in March, 1897, he wrote and published a letter to the Duke of Westminster pleading the cause of Crete and Greece as against Turkey. A stained-glass window was unveiled in Hawarden church in recognition of Mr. Gladstone's efforts in behalf of the oppressed Armenians, and Mrs. Gladstone was presented with a portrait of his holiness Mighriditch I., supreme patriarch of the Armenians.

Capt. Gen. Ramon Blanco.

CONDENSED WAR NEWS.

Account of Events Deprived of an Extended Embellishment.

   All Cuban cables, except those running to the United States, are to be cut, thus cutting off General Blanco's communication with Madrid.

   Major General Otis, who will head the first detachment of troops to go to the Philippines, has arrived at San Francisco with his staff.

   Commodore Schley's flying squadron has reached Key West and it is believed that a combined attack will soon be made on Havana.

   The [Spanish] torpedo boats Ariete, Halcion and Azor, which were formerly with the Cape Verde fleet, have arrived at Cadiz.

   A second troop of Nevada cavalry is being organized. The war department has authorized its formation.

   It is stated that in the next call for troops the president will ask for 30,000 negro volunteers.

   United States warships Yale and Minneapolis have arrived at Cape Haytien, Hayti.

JAPAN'S POSITION.

She Has Not the Slightest Intention to Interfere.

   WASHINGTON, May 19.—The Japanese minister, Mr. Hoshi, saw Secretaries Long and Alger and secured credentials for Lieutenant Karita of the Japanese navy and Major Shiba of the Japanese army, who will act as observers of our naval and military movements against Spain. Major Shiba took an active part in Japan's war against China, and has been detached from the Japanese legation at London in order to come here as military observer. Lieutenant Navita is an expert in naval construction and has looked after the construction of Japanese cruisers in American yards.

   When Mr. Hoshi's attention was called to the report concerning Japan's activity in the Philippines and Hawaii matters, he added some interesting information in addition to the specific denial he had previously made as to Japan's purpose to protest against our occupation of the Philippines. As to Hawaii, he said that Japan had no objection whatever to annexation of the Hawaiian group to the United States. The only question now involved, he said, was the payment of a suitable indemnity by Hawaii for the exclusion of Japanese immigrants.

   As to the Philippines, Mr. Hoshi said Japan naturally looked with interest on movements affecting that island, for there were many Japanese there and geographically it was closely allied to the archipelago constituting the Japanese empire. At the same time Japan had not, he said, shown the slightest purpose of interfering with the present course of events. The fact that reports of a Japanese protest came by way of London were regarded by the minister as suggestive.

USS Charleston (C-2).

OFF FOR MANILA.

Cruiser Charleston Starts on Her Long Journey From San Francisco.

   WASHINGTON, May 19.—The cruiser Charleston, which started on her long journey to meet Admiral Dewey at Manila, should arrive there in about

24 days, allowing a couple of days at Honolulu for coaling.

   Nothing better illustrates the value of the swift long range cruisers of the type that make up the Spanish flying squadron than that fact that one would be able to make such a run as this directly from San Francisco to Manila without stopping anywhere for coal, at a speed about 25 per cent greater than the Charleston.

   Admiral Dewey's cablegrams show that he is able to maintain the ground he has gained until reinforcements arrive in the usual course, so the Charleston will get there in time to serve his purpose. The stock of ammunition which the Charleston carries is believed to be the great essential just now, the fierce engagement at Cavite having consumed a large part of the American admiral's shot and shell.

OREGON SAFE ONCE MORE.

End of the Long Trip Around the Horn.

THIRTEEN THOUSAND MILES.

Spanish War Fleet Not Encountered by the Battleship.

   WASHINGTON, May 19.—Secretary Long gave out the welcome information that the battleship Oregon, the second largest craft in the American navy, had successfully completed the long trip from San Francisco, making the entire circuit of South America and was now safe. Whether or not she has joined Admiral Sampson's fleet, the secretary would not say. The rigid secrecy of the navy department was relaxed only enough to make known the best news the navy department had received since the battle of Manila, as it meant not only that the Oregon was out of harm’s way from a concerted attack on this one ship by the whole Spanish squadron now in southern waters, but also that her great fighting strength would be added to Admiral Sampson's force in the near future, if indeed it had not already augmented the admiral's strength.

   The Oregon left San Francisco about six weeks ago, before the war had opened, and at that time it was not admitted that she was to join the ships in Atlantic waters. She stopped at Sallao for dispatches and then went around the Horn and then up the east coast of South America. In all the trip covered more than 13,000 miles. The last stretch from Bahia to the Windward islands has been followed with anxiety by naval officers, for by a strange coincidence the formidable Spanish squadron of armored cruisers and torpedo boats approached the Windward islands at the very time when the Oregon was due there. It had been suspected that the Spanish admiral would try to intercept the battleship with his superior force, and before leaving Bahia Captain Clark of the Oregon was warned to keep a close lookout for the Spanish fleet. In reply Captain Clark expressed his confidence in being able to hold his own single-handed with the Oregon against all the Spanish cruisers. The only apprehension he felt was as to the torpedo boats under the Spanish admiral's command, for these are a new and practically unknown element against the modern battleship, and Captain Clark, while confident of holding out against these also, said a chance blow might be struck by them.

   Notwithstanding Captain Clark's assurances, the navy department continued to feel that a meeting between the Spanish squadron and the American battleship on such unequal terms was far from desirable and might bring most serious results. For this reason the official information reaching the authorities was a source of most hearty congratulations. Where the report came from was not made known, but the mere fact that Secretary Long regards the Oregon as safe makes it evident that she has passed well to the northward of the Windward islands.

   Aside from this bit of information, Secretary Long said that there was no further news to be given out.

TO BUILD THE ROAD.

New Highway Between Cortland and Freetown to be Completed.

   [Cortlandville] Supervisor D. F. Wallace took advantage of the presence of the supervisors in town yesterday to secure signatures to a petition calling for a special session of the board, which was held late in the afternoon. The object of the session was to give Supervisor Wallace the power to raise funds to be expended in laying out a certain highway from Cortland to Freetown. Some two years ago Judge Eggleston ordered the laying out of such a road, and to carry out the provisions of this order of the court an appropriation was submitted to the taxpayers of the town in February, 1897, and the proposition was defeated. To obey the order it was necessary that the town authorities should be given the power to raise the necessary funds, and the supervisors promptly voted to comply with the request of Supervisor Wallace.

   The town of Freetown has built its share of the road.

   This matter was brought up and discussed at the meeting of the board of trade last night with a great deal of satisfaction for this has been one of the objects of the board of trade for some time.

WOLCOTT-SNYDER.

Cortland Young Man Seeks a Bride in Besemer, Tompkins Co.

   A very quiet and pleasant home wedding occurred at Besemer, Tompkins Co., yesterday afternoon in which a popular Cortland young man figured very prominently. The parties directly interested were Mr. W. Clifton Wolcott of Cortland and Miss Belle Snyder, a highly esteemed young lady of Besemer. As the society reporters say, "the ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's parents by Rev. J. C. B. Moyer, pastor of the Homer-ave. M. E. church of Cortland." Only the immediate relatives were present, those from Cortland being Mr. George W. Wolcott, father of the groom, and Mrs. W. O. Nivison, a relative of the bride.

   Mr. Wolcott is the highly efficient bookkeeper at the department store of Palmer & Co., and the bride has many friends in Cortland, having formerly been a student at the Normal. The young people have hosts of friends who will extend to them the heartiest of congratulations.

   Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott have gone to Albany and other places for a week, and until Sept. 1 will be at home at the residence of the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Wolcott, 46 Maple-ave. After that date they expect to occupy the new house which is being erected on the vacant lot just east of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Howe, 14 Maple-ave.

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—F. Daehler, Outing Shirts, page 7.

   —No one should fail to read the biographical sketch of William E. Gladstone which appears to-day on our third page.

   —The parlor meeting which was to have been held to-morrow afternoon at

Mrs. S. N. Holden's is postponed until Saturday on account of the funeral of

Mr. Geo. T. Latimer.

   —The Clionian society will hold an Admiral Dewey sociable in the Normal gymnasium, Saturday evening, May 21, at 8 o'clock. There will be a short literary program and refreshments served. All will be most cordially welcome.

   —A meeting of representatives of the young peoples' societies in the various churches was held Tuesday evening, at which it was decided to engage Rev. A. H. Hopkins of Elmira to deliver a series of four lectures on "Temperance from an Economical Standpoint" early in June.

HOMER, N. Y.

Gleanings of News from Our Twin Village.

   HOMER, May 19.—Yesterday afternoon the Homer Stars and the Cortlands crossed bats on the academy grounds. The game was not in the least exciting by brilliant playing on either side, as the errors were without number. But it being the first game of the season for either team, they played exceptionally well, holding the score down to 11 to 10 in six innings in favor of the Cortlands.

   The teams played as follows:

      Cortland…Homer

   Mills…Catcher…Buckley

   W. Gerard…Pitcher…W. Bates

   Northrup…First Base…J. Bergen

   Dillon…Short Stop…Klock

   Wheeler...Second Base...C. Bates

   Kernan…Third Base...D. Enright

   Hartnett…Right Field…L. Porter

   Hayes…Left Field…Maher

   Callahan…Center Field…Sullivan

   A return game is to be played next week at the fair grounds.

   Mr. Benj. Burdick, who has been visiting friends and relatives at DeRuyter for the past two weeks, returned home last evening.

   Hose, No. 4, were out drilling last evening. As they have several new members they think it wise to commence to teach them the new movement preparatory to attending the firemen's convention at Cortland.

   We are promised in about a week some better electric lights. Several new lamps are to be put in about town in the place of some which are nearly worn out and a new dynamo is to be placed in the powerhouse to run this circuit. We would have had lights by to-night, but in transporting the dynamo from the cars to the powerhouse the wagon gave way and caused the machine to be broken.

   There will be service in Calvary Episcopal church this evening at 7:30 o'clock, to-day being Ascension day.

   A "Sanctuary Chapter" consisting of the following young ladies was organized last evening by Rev. L. J. Christler:

   Directress—Miss Mary Flagg.

   President—Miss May Hoyt.

   Secretary and Treasurer—Miss Nettie Flagg.

   Miss Gertrude Samson and Miss Harriet Shepard [sic].

   This chapter will have charge of the sanctuary and altar of Calvary church, and the care of church furnishings, together with the church decorations.

   The members of the Dorcas society will hold their fair in Zimmer's hall Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings of the first week in June. An extensive program is being prepared.