OUR FLEET WATCHING AND A NATIONAL TEA

Rear Admiral Sampson.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, May 30, 1898.

FLEET WATCHING AND WAITING.

Details of the Doings of Admiral Sampson.

MEN GROWING IMPATIENT.

They Grumble at the Inactivity and the Scorching Clime.

   KEY WEST, May 30.—Waiting, watching in silent, sunlit seas; a group of great battleships, motionless under the tropical sun, broad decks scorched and seared by day, languid, and dreamy under the stars by night, a fleet of powerful seafighters, an army of brave men drifting at sea waiting for something to do—that tells the story of Rear Admiral Sampson's fleet for past days and nights. The ships of the fleet stand close together in small groups; hour after hour passes and the position is not changed. Great volumes of smoke occasionally issues from the funnels and curl unswayed by the wind into the sky.

   The men drag impatiently through the drills and crawl away into the shaded nooks of the decks and grumble at the inactivity. During the day the music swells out over the silent water, and at night voices are plainly heard from ship to ship. Stretching away to the sea line, the sky is gleaming and motionless and one can scarcely imagine it the same sea that has been rolling and tumbling for weeks past.

   It is a picture of tropical languor, but there is method in Sampson's inactivity. Until he is definitely advised that the Spanish fleet is imprisoned in Santiago de Cuba harbor he is here in position to move quickly in any direction where the Spanish ships may appear.

   If the Spaniards should escape Commodore Schley on the southern coast of Cuba and make for eastern sea ports of the United States he is in a position in a few hours run to cut them off in the Windward passage. One or more scoutboats are kept in that position constantly. On the other hand, if the Spaniards should come around the western end of Cuba with the hope of getting into Havana, he is here where he can intercept them on short notice. It is irksome to wait here day after day.

   A most vigilant watch is kept by the fleet day and night in apprehension, in hope, that the Spanish fleet may come in sight. The sailors hang over the rails scanning the horizon and the gunners lie in the shadow of the big rifles, long for a chance to set the great monsters thundering.

   "What a perfect day for a battle," they say, looking out over the motionless sea, but days and nights go by and the enemy does not come. At night the lights are all out and the torpedo boats and small gunboats constantly patrol the surrounding waters.

   The New York left the fleet Friday night with the torpedo boat Porter. The Porter has returned to the fleet with mail and dispatches. In the absence of the New York, the little Mayflower is the flagship.

Commodore Winfield Scott Schley.

SCHLEY HEARD FROM.

He Is Guarding the Entrance to the Bay of Santiago.

  WASHINGTON, May 30.—Official advices have been received from Commodore Schley. They give no information of such engagement as is reported from Madrid, although it is known that they were written after the battle is said to have occurred.

   The advices from Commodore Schley indicate that he is now, and has been for several days, guarding the entrance to the Bay of Santiago de Cuba. That he has Admiral Cervera and his Cape Verde squadron imprisoned in the bay is regarded by naval officials as beyond any doubt, although Commodore Schley did not make a definite statement to that effect.

Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt.

Second Expedition to Manila.

   SAN FRANCISCO, May 30.—There is no letup m the preparations for the embarkation of the second expedition to the Philippines. It will be about 10 days before all the troops are sufficiently equipped for the start and the vessels are in readiness. General Merritt will not give the order to start until his men are in good shape. He wants to land them at Manila in order to commence fighting right away, and is taking no chances on poor accommodations for the soldiers.

Rough Riders Start For Tampa.

   SAN ANTONIO, Tex, May 30.—The regiment of rough riders has left for

Tampa and 100 cars were required to transport them. The officers expect to reach Tampa early Wednesday morning. All the soldiers are in good health and eager to go to the front.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Memorial Day.

   This in the day set apart for the decoration of the graves of those who fought that the Union might be preserved, and for pronouncing eulogies on their patriotic devotion, their heroic valor and their loyal sacrifice. It is eminently fitting to-day to pay tribute to the memories of the dead, and to express gratitude to the veterans who still battle with advancing years, lest, in the turmoil of a later war now upon us, and in the general disposition to make Memorial day one of recreation, the present generation should in a measure forget those who participated in the greatest war the western hemisphere will ever see, and one whose results made more gloriously for the cause of liberty than those of any other conflict of the century.

   Memorial day this year is of more than ordinary interest, as it finds less of bitterness remaining because of the Civil war than ever before. North and South are again firmly united in the bonds of a common patriotism and loyalty. Old soldiers who once wore the gray, are now proudly wearing the blue. Citizens of every state vie with each other in their efforts to make the glory of the flag still more resplendent. So it comes to pass that this is fraternal as well as Memorial day, and South and North alike can enter into its spirit.

NEGROES LYNCHED.

A Mob Makes Short Work of Two Suspects at Concord, N. C.

   CHARLOTTE, N. C., May 30.—Miss Emma Hartsell, daughter of Frank

Hartsell, who lives four miles from Concord, was assaulted at her father's home between 2 and 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon. After she had been assaulted her assailant cut her throat from ear to ear.

   Two negroes, Joe Kiser, 25 years old, and Tom Johnson, aged 20, were arrested later in the evening on suspicion of being the guilty parties, and locked up in the jail at Concord. At 10:30 a mob of 1,500 men overpowered the jailor and took the two accused negroes and hustled them out to the vicinity of the crime and hanged them to the same tree. The bodies were filled with bullets and left hanging.

IN HONDURAS.

Cortland Prospectors Now Two Hundred Miles in from the Coast.

   Mr. D. C. Beers has received a letter from John H. Howard, who with B. A.

Dresser and others left some time ago for Honduras. Mr. Howard writes that they are 200 miles in from the gulf coast in Honduras, and have already found gold. The letter was dated May 6, but was delayed in transmission across the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Howard wrote that they had just heard that war had been declared against Spain, but knew nothing further. Mr. Beers this morning mailed them a large quantity of newspaper clippings about the war, which they will be glad to receive. Mr. Beers says that he has been there himself, and knows with what greed they devour the contents of a newspaper, when it is their good fortune to get one in their possession.

Miss Mary F. Hendrick, Normal School Teacher of Rhetoric, Reading, Elocution and English Literature.

A NATIONAL TEA

Given by Mrs. Twiss, Miss Hendrich and Miss Booth on Saturday.

   One of the most artistic and highly enjoyable receptions of the season was that given on Saturday afternoon by Mrs. Julia F. Twiss, Miss M. F. Hendrick and Miss C. E. Booth at their home, 16 Church-st. The invitations, decorated with miniature flags and inviting to a National tea, had been sent to about 270 ladies, and nearly that number were present.

   The decorations of the spacious rooms both floral and flag were arranged to produce most charming effects, the red, white and blue combining to please the aesthetic sense as well as to stir the patriotic sentiments. Flags in graceful folds and knots formed portieres and draperies, and red tulips, white lilacs and forget-me-nots among other choice and beautiful cut flowers made a dainty and suggestive ornamentation for mantel and table.

   Mrs. Twiss, Miss Hendrick and Miss Booth greeted their friends in the parlor and were assisted in receiving by Mrs. S. H. Briggs and Miss Briggs of Rochester, Miss Hendrick’s sister and niece, who had come to Cortland for the occasion.

   The unbonnetted ladies were Mrs. C. P. Walrad, Mrs. Geo. P. Hollenbeck, Mrs. Ernest M. Hulbert, Mrs. Wm. H. Clark, Mrs. W. A. Stockwell, Mrs. D. F. Wallace, Mrs. R. H. Duell, Mrs. George W. Edgcomb, Mrs. J. G. Jarvis, Miss Martha Roe, Miss Marguerite Force and Miss Mina W. Bishop.

   Tea was served in the back parlor from cups of proper color by Mrs. O. A. Houghton. Mrs. H. K. Brown served lemonade from behind a daintily decorated table, whereon rested the punch bowl, and in a sequestered anteroom the Susan Tompkins harp orchestra discoursed music of an appropriate and pleasing character.

   The diningroom afforded a new field for ingenuity in carrying out the patriotic idea. The refreshments consisted of ices, cakes and confections of red, white and blue, the colors even extending to the table linen. Mrs. A. W. Edgcomb and Mrs. B. A. Benedick presided at the table and were assisted in serving by Misses Elizabeth Turner, Carrie D. Halbert, Mary H. White, Maude Fitzgerald and Caroline Kellogg. All these ladies had arranged the American colors to some degree in their toilets, each following her own taste and producing a delightful individuality. Special mention should be made of the costume of Miss Turner who appeared apparently wrapped in a Cuban flag.

   The sun deigned to shine upon the occasion, the spirit of the hour was magnetic, and altogether it was a social event as unique and pleasurable as anything of the kind ever held in Cortland.

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Stowell, sugar, flags, screens, page 8.

   —Miss Halbert's music recital will occur to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock at her studio in the Wickwire building.

   —A company has been organized in Canastota with a capital stock of $3,000 for the purpose of sinking a test gas well.

   —Decoration day exercises have proceeded this afternoon according to program. A full report will be given to-morrow.

   —About 160 baseball enthusiasts went to Auburn on the special train this afternoon to see the second Cortland-Auburn game to-day.

   —Spot Cash Baldwin is to-day moving his grocery into his new location in the Standard building, the store formerly occupied by Tanner Brothers.

   —Mrs. Pamela E. Burdick died at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the residence of H. W. Seaman, 9 Willow-ave. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock and will be private. The remains will be taken on the 9:38 train to DeRuyter for burial. Mrs. Burdick was 85 years, 11 months and 2 days of age.