MORE BAD LUCK, PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN AND POMONA GRANGE MEETING

 

Fast mail train at Cincinnatus, N. Y.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 9, 1898.

MORE BAD LUCK.
E. & C. N. Y. LOCOMOTIVE WENT OFF A SWITCH INTO A CREEK.

Engineer and Fireman Injured—An Expensive Wreck for a Struggling Railroad—Experienced Trackmen to Blame.

   About 10 o'clock Monday forenoon a rumor was circulated in Cortland that a wreck had occurred on the Erie & Central New York railroad at McGrawville and that one man had both legs cut off. Another report had the fireman of a locomotive killed. A DEMOCRAT reporter immediately went to the scene and found the rumor partially verified, but happily the loss of life and limb was avoided.

   On account of a clambake at Cincinnatus, N. Y., Manager N. A. Bundy had arranged to carry a large number of people from Cortland and intermediate towns. The accident occurred to the forenoon train from Cincinnatus which should arrive at Cortland at 9:15, and which was made up as follows: The locomotive, "W. D. Tisdale," two flat cars with improvised seats for passenger traffic, a milk car and a combination passenger and baggage coach. The train was in charge of Conductor Charles Ford, with Engineer Henry Sevy of Freeville at the throttle and Maurice Ahern of Crawford-st., Cortland, fireman. In the coach were eight passengers besides Manager Bundy, Conductor Ford and the brakeman. The locomotive was running backwards.

   Engineer Sevy stated to the reporter that he left Solon about five minutes late and came down the grade at a lively rate but with steam shut off. At a point fifty or seventy-five rods east of the McGrawville corset factory is a side track south of the main track, and along this side track is a building used as a feed store by G. J. Stafford. The length of this track is about eighteen rods and it terminates at the bank of a ravine or gully some ten feet deep and twenty feet wide with running water at the bottom.

   Mr. Sevy stated that he noticed nothing wrong with the switch, but when the locomotive reached it and lurched to one side he knew of his danger for the engine was on the side track with only a few rods to the creek. He immediately put on the air brakes and jumped, rolling over several times, his left leg being broken just above the ankle. Fireman Ahern also jumped, but in the excitement he took the wrong side, striking the building referred to and receiving what was thought at the time to be serious internal injuries. The engine and tender plunged into the ditch, the force sending the tender or water tank clear across, while the locomotive lay partially on its side and apparently badly damaged.

   The wreck was caused by the carelessness of the Hungarian trackmen, who were working at that point. These men have been employed on railroads in this country for nearly ten years and are experienced railroad men, not "greenhorns." Just previous to train time they had opened the switch to push a hand-car out of the way and had neglected to close it. The hand car was crushed beneath the locomotive.

   Engineer Sevy was taken to Dr. D. E. Ensign's office, where the fracture to his leg was reduced and he was taken to his home at Freeville in the afternoon. It was thought Monday that Fireman Ahern's injuries would perhaps prove fatal but be is much improved and will fully recover. He was attended by Dr. F. S. Forshee and brought to his home in Cortland.

   The locomotive has been raised by a wrecking crew of the Lehigh Valley and will be sent away for repairs. Owing to the wreck the clambake which was to have been held in Cincinnatus was declared off.

 

LIGHTNING STRUCK.

Steeple of the Catholic Church Damaged and Fired at Top.

   Lightning is always doing queer pranks but during Tuesday afternoon's storm it did the queerest thing yet on record. It struck and shattered the large 8-foot cross at the top of the steeple of St. Mary's Catholic church and set fire to the very top.

   The curious part is that the blaze, 160 feet in the air, seemed little larger than one's finger and about the some shape, and as it flickered with the wind, it seemed impossible for it to live. Furthermore, at that height, neither the fire engine nor the waterworks, with pressure from the tank, would throw a stream on the insignificant looking blaze. In addition to that, it could not be reached from the inside with chemicals. An effort to extinguish it in this way was continued from about 6 P.M., the time it was struck Tuesday, till after 3 o'clock Wednesday morning. The opening nearest the top was reached from the inside, but the blaze was too well protected and out of range of a stream. Inside, the top is practically one solid piece for six feet down. Around the 8x8 inch standard of the cross the side pieces of the steeple are exactly fitted and outside of all was a solid forged steel band which prevented spreading in any way.

   Thus the men in the inside were unable to reach the blaze during the night, in spite of every effort, till the fire had burned downward enough to free the band and cross standard. When it became evident that this stage of the fire would be reached about 4 o'clock word was sent to the pump house of the Water Works Company, and Superintendent Taylor told the engineer to put on direct pressure and run it to 125 pounds. In the meantime the fire department was called out and a line of hose was run up the outside to the lattice work and then inside as near the fire as the men could go.

   As the pressure came up a stream was sent out the opening which the fire had made, and in a minute it was extinguished. The water was sent at least 15 feet above the top.

   Before it was possible to get at the blaze in this way about six feet of the top had been burned off. But little water was thrown and it did no damage inside the church proper as of course the fire did not. Insurance covers the loss.

   The bolt of lightning which did the damage was one of the most severe ever known here. Its effects were plainly felt as far away as Church-st., and those in the immediate neighborhood received in some instances strong shocks. In addition to setting the fire, the lightning took many slats from the sides of the steeple and took out a section of one of the round windows on the east side and a few of the brick in the opening. On the south side it took the mortar from between some bricks. Those first to arrive picked up a dead white pigeon on the steps of the church from the breast and beak of which, the feathers had been completely stripped, better than it would have been done for cooking, for not a pin feather remained. It smelled as though singed and had probably been in the tower.

   Owing to the bad condition of Main St., some difficulty was experienced in getting fire apparatus to the scene.

   Lightning also struck a house owned by E. C. Rindge, located northeast of the village. The house was occupied by three families, employees of Mr. Rindge. The electric fluid entered every room, blackening the walls and setting one bed on fire. The people were all shocked, but not seriously. In one room it followed the gilt scroll of the border going clear around the room.

 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN.

A Large Attendance—List of the Teachers.

   The [Cortland] public schools opened Tuesday morning with a very large attendance. The two new rooms on the third floor of the Central school ease the pressure on the other rooms and form the academic department.

   The committee of the board of education, under whose charge they were finished off and equipped, deserve great credit for they are certainly very attractive and well appointed. Each will accommodate fifty pupils and they are in charge of Misses McCulloch and Galusha.

   The teachers in each school and the number of pupils registered Tuesday are as follows:

   Central School—Miss McCulloch and Miss Galusha 40; Ada J. Wallace 51; Pearle M. Skeele 54; Anna Flanagan 57; Anna May Knapp 40; Mrs. J. E. Perry 35; Lena R. Conable 49; Minnie F. Cleary 45; Ella M. Van Hoesen 54; total 425.

   Schermerhorn school— Mrs. O. K. George, Mary Van Gorden, Grace Mead, Clara H. Benedict, total 160.

   Owego School—Anna M. Sharp, Mabel L. Graves, Nettie E. Cole, Mary E. Van Bergen, total 163.

   Pomeroy School—Mrs. Wm. Forrest, Ella C. Garrity, Olive H. Parker, Mary E. Woodbury, total 165.

   This makes a total of 918 registered the first day. The departments of music and drawing are now separated and under two teachers, Miss Elizabeth Turner and Mrs. Mary B. Blackmer, respectively.

 

Gen. Wesley Merritt.

CONDENSED WAR NEWS.

   The removal of sick soldiers on hospital ships to New York city hospitals continues to go on steadily. Many sick soldiers who are able to walk are being taken away by train to be cared for in the city.

   The Rough Riders, First United States cavalry, will be mustered out at Montauk at their own request. Each man will be granted travel pay home but will not get the 60 days furlough.

   General Breckinridge is determined to learn the full truth about the hospital situation at Camp Thomas, and has begun a vigorous investigation.

   The Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Michigan volunteers left Camp Wikoff for home on a 60-days' furlough.

   General Merritt has reached Hong Kong en route from Manila to Paris to appear before the peace tribunal.

   The transports Nueces, City of Washington and City of Berkshire arrived off Montauk Point.

   The steamship Lafayette has arrived at Havana from Spain. Among the passengers is Miss Jesse Schley, the American young woman who went to Madrid to see the queen regent in the interest of peace.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Right of Criticism.

   A disposition has been shown by some newspapers to challenge the right of journalistic criticism of the administration's war policy. If this position be correct and such a doctrine can be enforced, then free government in America is at an end and despotism is fully enthroned. When the country is engaged in war, the manner in which it is being conducted and the purposes which the administration has in view are of vital importance to the people. To say that the administration cannot be criticized because there is a war on is equivalent to saying that it can with impunity perpetrate any outrage far-reaching and everlasting in character upon the plea that it is a "war measure."

   The principal reason given was that such criticism tends to destroy confidence in the administration and deter men from enlisting.

   In some cases that may be true, and criticism should never exceed the bounds of propriety. If it does, it may become treasonable. But, on the other hand, if the policy of an administration be weak and vacillating, if it fails to conduct the war with vigor or divert it from the purpose for which it was inaugurated, if it adopts measures that appear to be both unnecessary and injurious to the country, if it shows gross favoritism or attempts to use the war to secure a partisan advantage, in any or all of such cases criticism is not only justifiable, but it is a duty which every patriotic and self respecting journal owes to the American people.

   When a war is in progress, the great body of the people do not think of much else. If the conduct of the war cannot be discussed, the lips of the opposition are just about sealed.

   A war administration has great advantages anyway. Having absolute control of operations, to a considerable extent it can conceal its blunders and at the same time claim all the glory of success.

   If its shortcomings and mistakes cannot be pointed out by the opposition, the latter has almost nothing upon which to go before the people.

   Had there been a strong peace party in the United States urging that the war against Spain were unjust and ought to be stopped, the case would be altogether different. But it so happens that there was no "peace party." There have been a few individuals who were anxious for "peace at any price," but so far from constituting a "party," they were merely a fair sized fraction of the president's own party.

   The complaint of the Democrats, Populists and Silver Republicans has been that the war was not vigorously pressed; that the manner of its conduct was not consistent with the purpose for which it was inaugurated and that it made it a pretext for the enactment of financial legislation, wholly unnecessary, vicious and indefensible.

   The parties constituting the "opposition" have done their full share in the prosecution of the war, and they naturally feel that they have a right to talk about the manner in which it was conducted.

   If they have not, it would be quite as well to hold a plebiscitum and elect an emperor at once.

 

Pomona Grange Meeting.

   The third quarterly meeting of Pomona grange was held Tuesday with Worthy Overseer B. R. Knapp in the chair owing to the illness of Mr. Webb. Committee reports, etc., occupied the morning.

   In the afternoon the obligations were given several new members and a committee was appointed to arrange for a farmers' institute in the near future. A resolution of sympathy with brother and sister Kirkup of East Homer was passed.

   Worthy Lecturer W. L. Bean then took the chair and the question box was opened. The important topics discussed were as follows:

   "Can any patron who does not belong to McGrawville grange compete for a prize at the grange fair to be held in McGrawville in the near future?" This was answered in the affirmative.

   "In what condition should ensilage corn be cut to be put in the silo in order to obtain the best results?" Responded to by Geo. H. Hyde: Would cut it at same time as if he was cutting it to husk and crib, as it makes better ensilage; the cattle do better and the milk is of a better quality than it is when put into the silo when it is too green. Just as it is out of the milk is about the best time to put into the silo.

   "Can you feed butter fat to cows?" This brought out the recital of quite varied experiences with different results.

   "What is the best method to keep flies from annoying horses?" Spraying with kerosene, or kerosene and a trifle of carbolic acid mixed with it, or crude petroleum, or kerosene and a little turpentine.

   A song was sung by Mrs. Hall, "The Beautiful Valley of Dreams."

   "Is the method of agriculture of the present day superior as to results to that of thirty years ago?" Responded to in the affirmative by W. P. Robinson, Geo. H. Hyde and by Brother McUmber. W. L. Bean and George Moore in the negative. The worthy master decided in favor of the affirmative.

   "What shall we do with Cuba, Porto Rico and Philippine Islands?" Responded to by Bros. J. D. F. Woolston and W. H. Robinson, who were not favorably inclined to annexation at the present time and by Bros. W. L. Bean, B. R. Knapp, George Moore and Wm. Petrie, who were inclined to think favorably of annexation.

   As it is a very busy time with farmers the attendance was not large but those that were there thought it interesting and profitable.

 

"Bill" Nye portrayed by McDougall.

Edgar W. Nye.

HERE AND THERE.

   It costs money to run an up-to-date printing office, and therefore we will begin this week a systematic effort to collect. You can tell by the label on your paper whether you owe us or not. If you do not come in and pay we will go and see you. Please pay up and save us the trouble; besides we're sure to stay to dinner, which will make more expense for you.—Ovid Independent.

   Mrs. Nye, widow of the late famous humorist Edgar W. Nye, has removed with her children to Ithaca, on account of the exceptionally fine school advantages to be found there.

   The Normal [School] opens next Tuesday.

   Those entitled to premiums at the Cortland county fair can receive them by calling at the office of G. J. Maycumber.

   Newton Cone is now occupying the building at No. 10 Elm-st. as a grocery.

   Our Dresserville correspondent tells of a pumpkin vine with seven pumpkins, the smallest of which is 44 inches in circumference.

   According to the Marathon Independent, J. H. Webster of that town received first premium on his Clydesdale horse at the State Fair last week.

   The "Forever Devil's Auction" drew a good audience at the opera house last Friday evening and was even more pleasing this year than formerly.

   The twelfth annual convention of the W. C. T. U. of Cortland county was held in the Homer-ave. M. E. church Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

   The Cortland Conservatory of Music has opened with flattering prospects. The attendance is the largest in its history. A permanent choral society is talked of in connection with the Conservatory.

   Cyrus Terpening of Cortland married his second wife last spring through a correspondence courtship, Last Friday Rochester papers contained an account of her attempt at suicide while on a visit to her former home. It is thought she will recover.

   This paper in common with many others has published the statement that coroner's juries were to be a thing of the past after September 1. This was an error as explained by a letter from Senator Brackett, who introduced the bill, as follows: "The bill did not become a law. Its provisions were that the coroner should act without the presence of a jury, but in the haste of providing an amendment that left out New York city from its operation, certain sections of the code were repealed that ought not to have been, and the bill was therefore allowed to die."