Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, July 8, 1898.

CINCINNATUS CELEBRATED THE FOURTH OF JULY ON A GRAND  SCALE.

A Whole Day of Sports and Amusements—Races and Balloon Ascensions—

The Day Was Right and the Crowd Was Jolly—Fine Address by B. T. Wright of Cortland.

   The Otselic valley and portions of Cortland, Madison, Chenango and Broome counties celebrated the always glorious Fourth of July Monday at Cincinnatus, the eastern terminus of the Erie & Central New York railway.

   The morning opened bright and cool, and by 8:30 farmers’ wagons heavily laden with dinner baskets and carrying the whole family from the babe of two months to the grandmother of eighty began to roll into the usually quiet village situated so serenely on the banks of the Otselic river. But long before daylight the approaching celebration had been heralded by the firing of anvils and the ringing of bells. Ever since the first announcement of the celebration, which appeared in The Standard, the sturdy young farmer lads have been scurrying around making every preparation for spending the entire day at Cincinnatus with their best girls, and the array of buxom lassies there Monday showed that they had not been disappointed. The E. & C. N. Y. railway ran six round trip trains, and carried from Cortland and McGrawville to Cincinnatus about 500 people. It has been estimated that there were at least 2,000 people in the town during the day.

   The formal exercises of the day were held on the Academy grounds with Dr. Benjamin Kinyon as president. Prayer was offered by Rev. Edson Rogers, pastor of the Cincinnatus Congregational church. The Crescent quartet composed of Messrs. I. E. Nichols, A. E. Delevan, G. A. Haskins and R. E. Hayes sang a song, after which Attorney John H. Murray of Cincinnatus read a portion of the Declaration of Independence. After another song by the quartet, Attorney B. T. Wright of Cortland was introduced as the speaker of the day. In his opening remarks, Mr. Wright referred to John Adams, who over 100 years ago predicted that the day which saw American liberty should be celebrated in all days to come. And in common with that sentiment, the gathering there was to commemorate this event. Most nations have arisen from legends, but not so with this. We know why people came here, where they came from, and the spirit which was their incentive. Reference was made to the beginning of our government, a republican form, which was the principle that the first settlers brought with them along with a written constitution. Mr. Wright was brim full of patriotism, and his remarks were very frequently cheered.

   The address was followed by an original song by the quartet, which closed the exercises.

   The Willet band was in attendance all day, and furnished enlivening music alternately with the famous German, N. Y., drum corps.

   At 10 o’clock occurred the bicycle race of 1 1/2 miles for boys under 14 years, which was won by James Dunn of Cortland.

   At 11 o’clock the great and famous fusilier parade took place. The parade was equal to any ever attempted in the place, and had many funny and amusing features. It was headed by the Willet band, followed by the Water Witch Steamer & Hose company of Cortland, twenty men with steamer, and Excelsior Hook & Ladder company of Cortland with twenty-four men. The Cortland companies were in full uniform, and elicited many complimentary remarks. Later in the day, the steamer company gave a test of the steamer, throwing two streams of water from the river high into the air.

   Harry Hopkins of Cortland won the free-for-all 4-mile handicap bicycle race, Arthur Stewart of Georgetown was second and George Peak of Cortland third.

   Considerable amusement was furnished by the tape-chewing contest, which was won by Herman Odell of Cortland, who chewed about nine feet of half-inch tape into his mouth and received the 25-cent piece.

   M. V. Totman of Cincinnatus was the head man in the footrace for men over 60 years of age.

   At 3 o’clock the following twelve young ladies gave a fancy bicycle parade and drill on gaily decorated wheels: Mrs. F. L. Nichols, Mrs. G. A. Haskins, Mrs. H. C. Higgins, and Misses Pearl Fish, Annie Wheeler, Maude Corning, Melva Bennett, Rita Smith, Alma Maricle, Neva Gage, Isabel Baldwin and Annis Forbes.

   Porter Grant of McGrawville was the lucky one of the eight boys in the contest which consisted in diving the head into about eight inches of water for a candle.

   C. W. Storing of Texas Valley was first in the free-for-all 100-yard dash, L. Dickinson of Cortland second.

   Ralph Smith of Cincinnatus won the slow horse race, and George Wheeler of Cortland demonstrated that he could ride a bicycle slower than his competitors.

   The prize in the potato race was awarded to Arthur Skidmore of Cortland.

   C. D. Oothoudt of Cortland won the wheelbarrow race, and Charles Coleman of Cortland was the winner of the 100-yards boys’ footrace. C. R. Terry of Cortland won another 100-yards dash.

   Suitable prizes were offered for all of the races, but no record of time was made.

   In the bicycle race of two miles, open to the town of Cincinnatus, Elwin Burnap was first, and Robert Smith second.

   Dancing was in progress in Perry’s hall both afternoon and evening, with music by the Willet band orchestra. The day’s program wound up with a grand display of fireworks and it was voted on all sides that the celebration was the best and most systematically carried out of any ever held in Cincinnatus.

 

Cortland Park.

THE FOURTH IN CORTLAND.

The Park Drew Large Crowds—Music and Fireworks.

   The Fourth was comparatively quiet in Cortland. The usual celebration, with bonfires and cannon the preceding night by the younger element was observed. Large numbers spent the day at Syracuse and at Cincinnatus. The ball games were well attended. There was a large crowd at the park both afternoon and evening, quite a number of people from out of town being noticeable. The Cortland City band gave a splendid concert in the afternoon and another in the evening, and the City band orchestra furnished fine music for dancing. The crowd was augmented by about 75 excursionists who came from South Otselic over the E. & C. N. Y. railway under the auspices of the South Otselic Sunday-schools. The day was all that could be desired, and the park afforded a most enjoyable and pleasant retreat for an outing.

 

A FATAL ACCIDENT.

Fire Crackers—A Runaway and Upset—Death of Mrs. George.

   Fire crackers caused a runaway at Freeville Monday night and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence George of West Dryden were thrown out of their wagon. Both of them were unconscious when picked up and Mrs. George died in a few minutes. It is believed that her neck was broken by the fall. Mr. George was injured internally and did not regain consciousness for a long time. It is impossible to tell how his injuries will result.

   The home of Mr. and Mrs. George is near West Dryden and the horse ran toward home for a long distance. It collided with the team of Willard Shazter and Mrs. Shazter was very badly injured. The result of her injuries is not yet known.

 

TO SUE FOR PEACE.

Belief That Spain Will Have Something to Say Pretty Soon.

   WASHINGTON, July 7.—Unofficial advices to the administration from sources heretofore accurate say that Spain will sue for peace this week. At the same time no suggestion from Spain, direct or indirect, has been received here. The government will listen to a proposition if approached in the proper way.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

After the Battle.

   The naval history of the world cannot show another scene like the following which was witnessed off Santiago as described by the correspondent of the New York Sun:

   Commodore Schley, coming alongside the Texas from the Cristobal Colon in his gig, called out cheerily, “It was a nice fight, Jack, wasn’t it?”

   The veterans of the Texas lined up and gave three hearty cheers and a tiger for their old commander-in-chief. Capt. Philip called all hands to the quarter deck, and with bared head, thanked God for the almost bloodless victory.

   “I want to make public acknowledgment here,” he said, “that I believe in God the Father Almighty. I want all you officers and men to lift your hats and from your hearts offer silent thanks to the Almighty.”

   All hats were off. There was a moment or two of absolute silence, and then the overwrought feelings of the ship’s company relieved themselves in three hearty cheers for their beloved commander. Capt. Philip is also quoted as saying:

   “The Vizcaya fired the first shot. As far back as history goes, in the days of Joshua, at Manila, here, everywhere, the man who fires the first shot of a battle on the Sabbath is sure of defeat. These Spaniards are a godless race, and their cause is unrighteous; that accounts for our early victories.”

 

   ◘ In the midst of our national exulting over the destruction of Cervera’s fleet, it is not merely justice to recognize the desperate courage of the foe. We owe that to the Spaniards, but we owe it not less to our own brave sailors. It is more creditable to the victor to have won from a hero than from a coward. When Lieutenant Wainwright grasped the hand of Admiral Cervera and said, “I congratulate you, sir, upon having made as gallant a fight as was ever witnessed on the sea,” the recognition, which was as genuine as it was generous, added to the gloriousness of the American victory all that it took from the sting of Spain’s defeat. We may as well confess frankly that if an American fleet had made so desperate an effort we should have been proud of the officers and men though it had lost; and that if a body of American soldiers, as ill fed and as hopelessly beset as the Spanish forces in Santiago de Cuba, had fought as obstinately and with as little hope of ultimate victory or escape, we should have been proud of them. It is too bad, from the standpoint of history, and they are fighting in so poor a general cause. As things are, Admiral Camara, though he be very brave, must have solemn thoughts as he sails toward Manila. He knows what happened to Montojo there, and doubtless now he has learned of Cervera’s fate.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Quarterly meeting will be held at Elm Stump, Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10.

   —Miss Anna L. Place very pleasantly entertained a company of invited young people Monday evening at her home on Tompkins-st.

   —Hereafter on each pleasant day a car will leave the Messenger House for the park at 10 a. m. and each forty minutes thereafter during the day.

   —The pupils of school district No. 7 will hold an ice cream social in the school building, located on the road to South Cortland, on Friday evening.

   —The Cortland firemen who went to Cincinnatus Monday speak very highly of their entertainment. They were given a free dinner in the academy building.

   —The annual reunion of the Seventy-sixth regiment, New York volunteers will be held in Cortland Oct. 4, the anniversary of the muster in of the regiment.

   —A 30-foot flag was Monday suspended across the street in front of the factory of the Gillette Skirt Co. So far as is known this is the largest flag in the county.

   —Miss M. Roe very pleasantly entertained about thirty ladies Saturday afternoon at her home 77 Railroad-st. in honor of her guest, Mrs. Brace of Washington, D. C.

   —The regular meetings of the Loyal Circle of King’s Daughters are postponed until September. A special meeting will be called when there is business to transact.

   —The Standard is indebted to Mr. J. H. Ulshoffer for some delicious currants of the Fay’s Prolific variety. Mr. Ulshoffer, who lives one mile south of Cortland on Owego-st., has a host of currants.

   —W. D. Tuttle as attorney for the mortgagee, Z. Lowe, sold at auction at the courthouse Wednesday a house and lot located on Owego-st. The land was sold subject to a mortgage of $1,200 and a claim of about $100, and was bid off by the mortgagee at $400.

   —The board of village trustees held a meeting Monday night. A petition opposed to the paving of Main-st., south of the Lehigh Valley tracks was presented and placed on file. No decisive action of any kind was taken owing to the absence of Trustee Sprague who is one of the jurors in the Galvin case.

   —There was no meeting of the board of village trustees Wednesday night, owing to the absence of President Stilson and Trustees Sprague and O’Leary. Engineer Allen was present with specifications for paving Main-st., but no action was taken. The next meeting of the board will be held Monday night.

   —A guard upon the wall of Auburn prison had a sun stroke while on duty Monday. It required five hours constant work on the part of physicians to restore him to consciousness. He may have lain on the wall an hour in the sun after fainting before his condition was discovered by reason of his failure to touch the electric guard bell which registers in the office.

   —The village board of Lyons has awarded the contract for paving Geneva-st. in that village to Contractor Horan of Medina, at the price of $4.78 per lineal foot, the street width to be 28 feet including the curb and crosswalks. There were three other bidders for the work, their price ranging up to $8.50 per foot. The specifications require that the paving stones shall be of the best Medina sandstone. Lyons already has quite a stretch of this pavement which has had a severe test for a series of years, and the new contract for more of the same kind shows that the pavement already down has given satisfaction. There are quite a number of our citizens who believe that this pavement would be the best for our own Main-st.

 

Little York, N. Y.

   Little York, July 5.—The report of Leon Baldwin’s death which reached us last week proved to be false and without foundation.

   Miss Nina McCormick is visiting in the family of our old neighbor Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Baldwin.

   B. J. Salisbury has gone to Venice, Cayuga Co., on business.

   Little York celebrated the Fourth by a boat race and a greased pig race. Will Shearer won both.

   Mrs. B. M. Perkins received a call recently from her daughter-in-law Mrs. Will Perkins of Cold Brook, who is in very feeble health.

   J. S. Lord celebrated the Fourth in Syracuse among his veteran comrades.

   Mrs. Will Isbell has gone to Lincklaen to spend a week with her parents.

   Frank Salisbury wrote home, May 29, from Klutena river about eight miles from Copper river, [Klondike], “which if we have no bad luck we shall reach some time this week. About ten days after we passed over the glacier; there were two snow slides at the foot of the summit which buried twenty tents and killed six men and harmed many others. We estimate that one-third of those who started over the glacier turned back before reaching the summit. At the head of this river we stopped to saw lumber and build a boat which took just a week. We had an idea that all there was to do after building the boat was to hoist a sail and let fly for Copper river thirty miles distant, expecting to reach there in about two days but we have been two weeks getting twenty-two miles and are ahead of any craft to reach this point. Have not seen Kelly since leaving Seattle, if he is on the trail he is far behind. White and my California friend are with us. The river has a current of eight to ten miles an hour, is very crooked and full of rocks and rapids; it is the toughest problem we have had to contend with since starting. This is one of the most delightful climates to be found, have had nothing but sunshine for four weeks, we have twenty-one hours of daylight the sun rising about 2:30 a. m. There are ten of us together and all in excellent health notwithstanding our hardships, our living is good, better than that of many of the farmers East, have had two meals of moose meat given us by the Indians who are very friendly. Will enclose some wild flowers gathered on the side of the mountain. We have not reached the point yet where all expect to find gold, no one is sure of anything, it is all uncertain, can tell you more about that probably in my next letter.”