Cortland
Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, April 26, 1898.
WAR TALK IN CORTLAND.
Three
Officers on the Supernumerary List—May See Service.
Rumors have been afloat in Cortland in
regard to the reorganization of what was once the Forty-fifth Separate company,
N. G. S. N. Y., and inquiry in regards to it was made of Dr. E. M. Santee, who
at the time of the disbanding of the company was second lieutenant and acting
commander of the company. Dr. Santee said that the talk was nonsensical. The
government expects to call first of all for its assistance upon the present
members of the national guard, but if they see service they will have to enlist
and volunteer anew. The simple fact that they are national guardsmen will not
call them out. They will, however, have an opportunity of enlisting before a
general call for volunteers is made. But in the case of the old Forty-fifth company
there is not even that advantage for its members. The company was disbanded and
the state now has no more claim on its former members than on any citizens,
with the exception of three officers, viz: Fred L. McDowell, first lieutenant;
Ellis M. Santee, second lieutenant; and Dr. F. W. Higgins, assistant surgeon.
Prior to the disbanding of the company Lieutenant McDowell had turned over the
command of the company to Second Lieutenant Santee, and the step was recognized
by the state authorities, but his resignation had not been accepted at the time
of the disbanding. The other two officers never resigned. In consequence all
those are on the supernumerary list, and are likely to be given an opportunity
to enlist, if needed, the same as other national guardsmen.
Dr. Santee says if a general call for
volunteers should come he has reason to believe that a company would be raised
in Cortland, and some of them might be members of the old company, but they
would be members of the new company solely by reason of voluntary enlistment
and not by reason of any connection with the old Forty-fifth.
 |
| William McKinley. |
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE.
Asks for
an Immediate Declaration of War by Congress.
WASHINGTON, April 25.—The president sent to
congress to-day a message recommending the immediate passage of a resolution
declaring that war exists between Spain and the United States. The president
recites the fact of Spain’s summary ending of diplomatic relations with the
United States and urges speedy action so that the definition of the international
status of the United States as a belligerent power maybe made known and the
assertion of all its rights and the maintenance of all its duties in the
conduct of public war may be assured. The message was referred to foreign
relations committees in both houses.
WASHINGTON, April 25.—The house has passed
the bill declaring that war with Spain has existed since April 21.
WASHINGTON, April 25.—The senate has agreed
to the house declaration of war bill. The amendments of the foreign relations
committee were dropped.
Spanish
Fleet Still at Cape Verde.
NEW YORK, April 25.—A special to The World
from St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, says: The Spanish squadron concentrated
here remain. Neither of the expected battleships have arrived and the fleet
still consists of four armored cruisers, six torpedo craft and two transports.
The rumor that the warships will sail is still current, but is not confirmed
officially.
 |
| John Sherman. |
SECRETARY
SHERMAN RESIGNS.
Health will
not Permit the Arduous Duties—His Successor.
WASHINGTON, April 25.—Mr. John Sherman, the
venerable secretary of state, handed his resignation to the president at a
special meeting of the cabinet at 10 o’clock. This resignation takes effect at
noon to-day, and with it Mr. Sherman retires after a service of over forty
years, embracing the house of representatives, the United States senate, the
secretaryship of the treasury and the secretaryship of state. The reason for
the resignation is the condition of the secretary’s health, which is now
impaired as the result of years of devotion to the public service and the
arduous labors of a lifetime added to age.
The secretary’s resignation was covered in a
simple note tendering to the president the portfolio entrusted to him and
asking that it take effect from the close of to-day. The secretary declined to
make any statement beyond saying that he was carrying with him his resignation
and that he might have something to say later in the day.
While no definite announcement can be made
at this time as to who will succeed Mr. Sherman, it is altogether probable that
it will be Mr. William R. Day, at present first assistant secretary of state.
Mr. Day has been urged to take the office by the president, but is personally
more inclined to return to Canton to the practice of law there, though it is
believed here that he will yield to the president’s wishes in the matter. Mr.
Day himself is out of the city and is thought to be in Canton, O., arranging his
personal affairs. He has had entire charge of Cuban affairs almost since the
beginning of the present administration.
 |
| Fast mail train at Cincinnatus, N. Y. |
GRAND OPENING DAY.
TRAINS
FROM CORTLAND TO CINCINNATUS ON THE E. & C. N. Y. R. R.
Four
Excursion Trains Each Way—Great Celebration in Cincinnatus—Speeches by
Prominent Citizens—Music by Two Bands —Athletic Games—Free Lunch for Visitors—Whistles,
Bells, Cannon, Fireworks.
Thursday, April 28, will be the opening day
for the Erie & Central New York R. R. Trains will on that day run through
from Cortland to Cincinnatus. That
notable event will be celebrated all along the line, but particularly in the
village of Cincinnatus. Elaborate preparations have been made for a grand reception
at that place. Dr. Benjamin Kinyon will be the president of the day. Upon the
arrival of the first train from Cortland at 7:51 A. M. there will be the
blowing of whistles, ringing of bells and firing of cannon. Athletic games will
be interspersed through the day for the amusement of all. There will be two
brass bands in attendance. Rockets will be fired from the last train back from
Cincinnatus all the way to Cortland.
The special timetable for this day only will
be as follows:
*From now on Willet station will be located
at road crossing, near east end of long trestle. Trains will not stop where
time is not given. F indicates that trains will stop on signal. A indicates that
trains will stop to leave passengers.
B
indicates that trains will stop to take on passengers.
RATE OF FARE FOR APRIL 28.
Cortland to Cincinnatus and return, 75
cents. McGrawville to Cincinnatus and return, 60 cents. Maybury’s Mills to
Cincinnatus and return, 60 cents. Solon to Cincinnatus and return, 40 cents. East
Freetown to Cincinnatus and return, 25 cents. Cincinnatus to Cortland and
return, 75 cents.
PAGE
FOUR—EDITORIALS.
First Day
of War.
April 22, 1898, is the date of the opening
of actual hostilities between the United States and Spain. On that date the
North Atlantic squadron set sail from Key West for the blockading of Cuban ports.
If that movement did not denote the beginning of war the action of a member of
the fleet did. The gunboat Nashville spied a ship of Spain and, not piratically
as did Captain Kidd but in pursuit of lawful hostilities, fired a shot across
its bow. The capture of the freighter and taking it into port was the first overt
act of the war.
Formal announcement of the blockading of
Spanish ports in the West Indies was made by the president. Congress passed the
volunteer army bill. A call for 100,000 volunteers was prepared, to be issued,
it is understood, to-day. Preparations for gathering a force to land in Cuba
were pushed forward as rapidly as possible.
It is intended to make the army of invasion
large enough to insure success from the start. Until such an army can be formed
and equipped, the fleet will simply blockade Cuban ports, not attempting the
reduction of any fortifications. With a force ready to operate inland the bombardment
of the Havana forts will begin. Meanwhile there may be repetitions of the
opening day’s capture of Spanish freighters or merchantmen, and perhaps a brush
with some of the small war craft of Spain remaining in Cuban waters.
Let the
Cubans Help.
It is gratifying to learn from Washington
that the war department has consulted the Cuban authorities in this country
upon the subject of co-operation and that arms and munitions will be supplied
to the troops under Gomez and Garcia.
It is estimated that the Cubans can place
50,000 men in the field. This force will be useful, and properly armed might be
able to dislodge the Spaniards from several coast towns with the aid of our war
vessels. Several coast towns would be untenable with an army in the rear and
our ships in front. The complete isolation of Havana should be a matter of a
short time.
Cubans are acclimated, and past events have shown
that they are eager for the opportunity to strike a final blow. Arms should now
go to them freely. The blockade of our coasts by our own navy in Spain’s
interests has undoubtedly ceased. Our neutrality obligations were discharged
when we advised Spain to get out of Cuba or take the consequences. We are no
longer neutral but enlisted in behalf of liberty, humanity and reparation for
the destruction of our battleship.
BREVITIES.
—J. T. Davern is putting in a quantity of
new shelving at the rear of his store.
—The clothing store of Bingham Brothers & Miller has been
connected with the telephone exchange.
—Major A. Sager expresses his sympathies for
Cuba by displaying a Cuban
flag in
the south window of the drug store of Sager & Jennings.
—P. J. Peckham has sold to Geo. W. Carter of
Bryan, O. his Great Dane dog, Lenodius Antonius, which has been a familiar
figure for some time about the streets.
—The Oneonta Star has purchased a new Cox
duplex perfecting press. The
Star is
always up with the times. We congratulate The Star. Our Cox press has done us
good service.
—Previous to each baseball game this season,
both admission and grand stand tickets will be on sale at McKinney & Doubleday.
This will accommodate many who desire to avoid the crowds at the ticket windows.
—The dispatches from Washington announce the
appointment of John W. Roe as postmaster at Little York in place of D. T. Bowdish,
resigned, and of Augustus K. Bennett at Taylor in place of George W. Gage, deceased.
—The funeral of Mrs. Henriette J. Merrick, wife
of Miner Merrick of Blodgett Mills, who died Saturday afternoon of pneumonia,
will be held this afternoon at 1 o’clock. Her age was 64 years, 1 month and 8 days.
—Invitations have been issued for the wedding
of Mr. Bertrand Charles Hollister and Miss Eva Marguerite Job, both of
Cortland, which will take place at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Smith L. Job, 42 Madison-st., Wednesday, May 4, at 8 o’clock P. M.
—W. G. Mead, the jeweler, has bought the
block on Main-st. recently owned by Isaac Edgcomb, and the first floor of which
was lately occupied by the boot and shoe store of Edgcomb & Maritt. Mr.
Mead will make a number of improvements in the place and will start his jewelry
store there early in May.
—Mrs. Julia A. Stimson died early Monday morning
at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. C. Hemenway, 130 Clinton-ave. from the
effects of a shock [stroke]. She was 74 years, 7 months and 21 days of age. She
was a sister of Mr. W. S. Copeland. The funeral will be held Wednesday
afternoon from the house at 2 o’clock, and burial will be made in Cortland
Rural cemetery.
A SMALL
BLAZE.
Palmer’s
Bucket Brigade Extinguished It Before the Department Arrived.
A small fire in the living apartments of Mr.
and Mrs. John Greeley on the third floor of the Ives block on North Main-st. Saturday
evening might have proved quite serious had it not been discovered as soon as
it was.
At 10:45 o’clock some of the clerks in Palmer’s
department store discovered flames issuing from the windows in the third story
of the building. At about the same time Mrs. Greeley raised a window and gave
the alarm. Palmer’s clerks formed a bucket brigade, and with two of them, F. W.
Lanigan and H. R. Cone at the head of the stairs pouring on the water as fast
as it was passed up to them, the flames were very soon extinguished. Some one
turned in an alarm of fire and the department responded, but its services were
not needed.
The fire was located in a small store room,
and how it could have caught is a mystery, as it is said that no one had been
in the room in several days. The damage is slight. Mr. Greeley is the bartender
at the hotel of R. B. Linderman, and Mrs. Greeley had retired. Before she could
reach the window, she became nearly suffocated by the dense smoke in the rooms.
 |
| Typical railroad hand car and crew, sometimes called a "new train." |
McGRAW,
N. Y.
Breezy
Items of Corset City Chat.
The reports from James K. Greenwood are
about the same, although he is naturally weaker as he has taken no nourishment
in thirteen days.
Hon. Deloss McGraw is in Cincinnatus this week.
Mr. Kellogg, whose family resided upon the
farm now owned by W. L. Bean, prior to 1837, is visiting the scenes of his
boyhood. In 1837 the family started for Wisconsin by wagon, taking their household
goods and farming implements with them and were thirty-one days upon the road.
It is interesting to those of this generation to hear of the hardships of
travel through the then wilderness and the crossing of the Niagara river in
rough boats. A trip west in the days prior to railroads and telegraph was almost
as much of an undertaking as to the Klondike of to-day.
Friday evening a new train was run on the E.
& C. N. Y. R. R. For a rainy night the roof was somewhat open, the power used
was the “Armstrong” system. The crew were L. L. Wellman, C. D. McGraw, E. F.
Kinney, H. K. Alexander and A. H. D. Mudge, Jr. On the return trip A. W. Chapin
and Clyde Beers were taken on as a relief force, both to their feet and the arms
of the crew.
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