The Cortland Democrat, Friday, October 7, 1898.
BLACK AND WHITE SQUIRREL.
The particulars of a recent rather humorous hunting expedition have just leaked out. P. C. Nelson is a wire drawer at the Wickwire mills and has often boasted of his prowess with a gun. His fondness for squirrel hunting was well known to his friends, by hearsay, and when he started out over South Hill a few days ago with gun and ammunition, and a large game bag, his friends in the mill began to crave squirrel for dinner and all were promised some of the fruits of the trip. His wife was not to buy any meat for dinner as he would bring it home.
That evening he came into the Arlington hotel [Cortland] on his return with the pockets of his hunting coat all bulged out, but as he entered there came also a familiar but not loved odor. In conversation he related the particulars of one very fine shot he had had and reached in a pocket for a fine "black and white squirrel" which was the result. Well, he finally found and pulled [it] out of the pocket, and held it up to the admiring (?) gaze of the assembled onlookers, a—yes, it was black and white but squirrel (?) well, it was never known by that name before and Mr. Nelson was invited to step outside and leave the game. The rooms in the hotel all had to be fumigated and next day his hunting suit, etc., were seen on the line back of his house.
It is hinted that the black and white fellow was not killed at the first shot and that the hunter crawled upon him and finished the job by a blow with the gun barrel. At any rate there is a decided dent in the barrels, proving that the head of the animal was harder than the gun. He is contemplating sending the gun to the Brooklyn navy yard to have it rebored.
PROSPECTS FOR PEACE.
What They Are No One Knows at Present.
IT ALL DEPENDS UPON SPAIN.
If Her Negotiations Are in Earnest a Compromise Will Be Reached, but if Not Our Commissioners Will Be Recalled and Hostilities Will Be Resumed at Once.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.—It can be stated on authority that the various stories published relating to the work of the peace commission now in Paris wherever they assume to indicate a failure of negotiations, a renewal of hostilities and the dispatch of a naval force to the Spanish coast are purely speculative. As a matter of fact the commission has not progressed so far with its work as to warrant the attempt to draw a conclusion as to the outcome. It is not even possible to predict the length of the session with any accuracy. The proceedings may last one month or three. That will depend entirely on the views taken by the American commissioners of the situation in Paris. If they are convinced that the negotiations are being conducted with sincerity on the part of Spanish commission, there will be no effort made to force them beyond reason. But if it should appear that the Spanish position is not subject to change, that it is irreconcilable with American demands and that the Spanish commissioners with a knowledge of this are simply prolonging the proceedings, our commissioners are likely to be promptly recalled.
The Spanish government is now fully informed through its commissioners of the exact extent of America's demands. Whether these are absolute and not subject to abatement cannot be ascertained, for the responsible officials declare that it would be extreme bad policy to make any admission on this point. But the impression in official circles is that the conditions are absolute in their general scope, yet there may be opportunity for slight amendments in matters of details. As to those details, Admiral Dewey is one of the most trusted counselors of the American commissions and such information as he has been able to collect has already been mailed to the commissioners, and in addition the authorities here have cabled certain extracts from the admiral's observations which are believed to be of special importance just now.
It is believed that with his usual modesty the officer has refrained from expressing any opinion upon the very essential point as to the extent of the American demands in the matter of territory in the Philippines. He has not directly suggested that the whole group be taken nor that our claim be limited to Manila bay and the contiguous territory, but he has called attention to one very important consideration which has seemed to escape general observation up to this time, and which has been laid before the American commissioners. That is that with all the advantages in a commercial way possessed by Manila, the place is indefensible unless Subig bay be also held by the United States. This particular bay is on the whole regarded as being superior from a strategic point of view to Manila bay and the Spanish government has evidently been of the same mind for before the outbreak of hostilities it was about to embark upon an extensive scheme of defensive works in Subig bay.
CONDENSED WAR NEWS.
A great work has been accomplished by General Wood at Santiago since he took hold as military governor. From the greatest disease-breeding place on earth it has been made a fairly decent place to live in.
One hundred and fifty men are now at work trying to raise the Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa. They have succeeded so far as to fire up one of her boilers.
The report of Major General Wesley Merritt of his operations about Manila was made public at the war department.
The torpedo boat destroyer Farragut is ready for her trial trip on which she is expected to make 30 knots an hour. Lt. R. F. Nicholson, navigating officer of the Oregon on her famous trip [around Cape Horn], will command the Farragut when she [is] placed in commission. Her trial will take place off San Francisco in a few days.
FREETOWN ROAD COMPLETED.
Contractor Freer Gave an Oyster Supper Last Evening.
For several years the people of Freetown have desired a new highway opened to avoid the long steep hill known as the Freetown hill which at some seasons of the year is very dangerous. A number of serious accidents have happened upon this hill which in addition to being steep is very narrow and in several places it is impossible for teams to pass. It is nearly two and one half years ago that the Freetown people most interested presented their petition to Judge Eggleston asking that a committee be appointed to look over the ground with a view of opening a highway which would do away with the hill before mentioned.
Judge Eggleston appointed as such committee Messrs. Dwight N. Hitchcock of Homer, George H. Holmes of Cincinnatus and Walter L. Chaplain of Virgil, who decided in favor of a new road and made their report to that effect, and an order was made by Judge Eggleston that the road be opened.
The Freetown people at once did some work upon the proposed route in their own town, but no provision was made until the present year for raising the necessary funds and the work could not be completed.
At a special meeting of the board of supervisors held May 18, the matter was discussed and the town authorities were authorized to raise the money to carry out the provisions of the judge's order.
The new highway is nearly two miles in length and is about equally divided between Cortlandville and Freetown. It turns to the left at the foot of the hill and follows the bed of the creek part of the way.
Under the directions of Highway Commissioner Kane the work so far as Cortlandville is concerned is completed. Part of the work has been done by Mr. Kane, but under the highway law he could only expend a certain amount for this kind of work and as this amount was not sufficient to complete the road, Mr. Kane and the town board let the contract for completing the work to the Freetown line to Mr. W. S. Freer who commenced work Sept. 1 with a gang of ten men and two teams. Part of the way they encountered trees, stumps and bushes but all obstacles were overcome and the road is completed in fine shape.
Mr. Freer says it would be hard work to find a gang of men that would work more faithfully or more for their employers' interest than his men have done, and has only words of praise for them.
On Friday, Sept. 30, a visit of inspection was made by the members of the [Cortlandville] town board to look over the work preparatory to accepting the road at their next meeting. The party consisted of Supervisor David F. Wallace; Justices T. H. Dowd, J. A. Kelly, E. C. Parker and Wm. R. Bigger of the town board, ex-Supervisor R. Bruce Smith; Attorney Wm. D. Tuttle and Commissioner John Kane. They expressed their approval of the work done by Mr. Kane and Mr. Freer.
The road was accepted at the meeting of the board held last Monday.
Mr. Kane has a gang of men repairing the road at the Devil's Elbow where the storm of August 10 caused a severe washout, and if the Freetown people will make their road as good as the Cortlandville part it will be a great improvement.
Last evening Mr. Freer gave a free oyster supper at his home at Higginsville to the members of the Town board and his workmen. This supper was given in payment of a bet made between Commissioner Kane and Mr. Freer in regard to work on the road and was served in Mr. Freer's finest style. One of the conditions of the bet was that the winner should furnish music during the repast and for dancing and so Mr. Kane had an orchestra present. The company numbered about 75 people.
NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
TOMPKINS.—The Tompkins County Sunday School Convention will meet at Freeville Friday, Oct. 21.
The time for Teachers' Institute at Dryden has been changed to the third week in October, instead of the second. The sessions will begin Oct. 17.
It is rumored that the Ithaca Street Railway company contemplates purchasing a point on the west shore of the lake and turning it into a pleasure resort.
It is reported that the Dryden Presbyterian society which had charge of the dining hall on the fair grounds during the fair cleared $300 from their efforts during the three days.
The W. C. T. U. county convention, which was to have been held in Dryden during the third week in October, has been postponed. The time and place will be announced later.
James Mansell of Ithaca, who recently ran away from home, was taken before Recorder Van Kirk last week, who released him on parole, pending good behavior. The lad said he ran away because he did not want to attend school.
William Van Alstyne, a clerk in M. W. Quick's store, last spring finished his apprenticeship as a glass cutter. He has secured employment at $100 a month at his trade in a large glass works at Smithport, Pa., to which place be has gone.
The Ithaca Democrat of last week contains the following regarding the sad physical condition of a prominent citizen of that city: "Elias Treman is reported to be slowly yielding to the effect of his accident last June. His magnificent physical constitution has given his family and relatives a little hope at times of his recovery, but they do not hold any now. He has survived nearly a month longer than the distinguished surgeons from New York, who came up and examined him, said that [not] any person had ever survived such an injury—breaking of the spinal cord." Mr. Treman died the next Saturday.
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| Col. Theodore Roosevelt. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
Roosevelt bowed to the inevitable Monday, as he wants to run for Governor, and paid his taxes in New York. Thus, in the words of Robert Burns:
The amount was $1,005 with a rebate of $9.72. Nuf. ced.
The Republican convention decided that Roosevelt is eligible to be governor of this state but in so doing it was necessary to also decide that he swore to a lie when be made affidavit that his residence is in Washington. All the eloquence of Elihu Root cannot make the voters of this state believe otherwise any more than he can make black to be white.
Republican papers are devoting much space to the speech of Elihu Root at the Saratoga convention in which he tries to defend Roosevelt from the charge of being a tax dodger and to make him a resident of this state during the last past five years. It is an excellent combination of rhetoric, but the distinction between "domicile" and "residence," is so finely drawn that it will not stand, nor will it fool the voters.
Now that Elihu Root has located the residence [Oyster Bay, N. Y.] of Theodore Roosevelt, maybe the tax gatherer will be able to get that from which he has been defrauded by affidavit. But then, this will probably not cost Roosevelt anything, for his bargain with Platt for revealing his residence and becoming a candidate probably included the payment of those taxes out of the Republican campaign fund. Augustus Van Wyck [Democratic candidate for governor—CC editor] always pays his own taxes, when and where they are due.
What a saving it would have been to Theodore Roosevelt if he had kept out of politics. He would then have retained the complete respect of the nation for his gallant deeds with the Rough Riders and which he has lost by surrounding himself, as M. Z. Haven said in his speech nominating McGuire at the Syracuse convention, "absolutely and without condition, to the most desperate and degenerate organization of political 'tough riders' of the state of New York. In a financial way he will also be a loser for it became necessary to have a residence and a man with a residence has to pay taxes on his personal property, if he has any. Monday Teddy walked up like a man and paid the tax of $1,005. That was the first manly act he has done since he was mustered out. Then, just think of the assessment Platt will make on him which will profit him nothing, for after November 8 Theodore Roosevelt will live only in memory as the Platt candidate of 1898.
HERE AND THERE.
The Cortland Normal has now enrolled the largest number of students in the history of the school.
Evening classes began at Joiners' business school this week. The school is now under the regents.
We are now ready to receive about twenty cords of wood on subscription and allow market prices.
Don't miss the remaining entertainments of the Kirmess to-night and to-morrow afternoon and evening.
Mr. John Bulkley of Albany, formerly of Cortland, was married last week to Miss Bertha Glenn Avery of that city.
The C. A. A. [Cortland Athletic Association] held a club run to Little York last Friday evening where an oyster supper was served at the Raymond house.
Truant officer Birdlebough has been very active the past week and a number of lads are now in school who were not there before.
The marriage of Mr. Frank Herbig and Miss Ella Kennedy was performed at St. Mary's church Tuesday morning by Rev. J. J. McLoghlin.
Blaney's "A Hired Girl" gave an excellent entertainment at the opera house last Saturday evening. It is seldom that we see anything better.
John Wood, an aged resident of the village, died Sunday at his home, No. 43 Owego-st. aged 71 years. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
Frank H. Sears has been elected delegate from the local branch of the Five States Milk Producers association to the meeting of the route division to be held in Binghamton next Tuesday.
It should be known that milk, which is kept even at considerable distance from a sufferer with infectious disease, is likely to absorb the infection and thereby convey the disease to other people.
The Marathon Independent this week contains a letter from Dr. Fred M. Miller of that place who is in Europe. The letter tells of his ascent of Mt. Blanc and the hair breadth escape attending it.
Canastota's abandoned gas well has suddenly become famous by flowing twenty pails an hour of mineral water. The fluid is to be analyzed and if as valuable medicinally as is thought will soon be bottled and on the market.
Invitations have been issued to the wedding of Mr. Homer Cook Howard of Cortland to Miss May Imogene Colby, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Colby of this village. The ceremony will take place at the residence at 12 o'clock October 12.—Groton Journal.
Arthur O'Connell of Homer was arrested Wednesday morning on the charge of cruelty to animals in failing to provide proper feed for his stock. He was brought before Justice T. H. Dowd, who fixed bail at $100. The case was held open.
We have received, too late for use this week, a very interesting letter from Mr. J. K. Phelan, who is the only Cortland man with the army of occupation in Porto Rico. He is at Mayaguez with Company I, 11th Infantry. It will be published next week.
Doctor and Mrs. Charles Walton Sanders have issued invitations to the marriage of their daughter Miss Mary Noxon Sanders to Mr. William Henry Hays which will occur at the Madison-ave. Baptist church in New York city at 4 o'clock on Wednesday, October 19.
Monday of this week it was extremely sultry and hot and seemed like midsummer. Ten years ago that day there was three inches of snow on the ground, it having fallen the night before during a performance of a circus in town. Monday evening at 8 o'clock the thermometer stood at 74.
The Reid Ice Cream Co. has constructed a dam across the creek near the milk station, and Potter Bros., are excavating for a pond just east of the building. This will be filled from the creek and it is expected that a supply of ice can thus be secured conveniently and cheaply.— Cincinnatus Times.
It is the opinion of Albert N. Ackley that
not 30 per cent of the pupils at the High
School remain permanent-residents of Ithaca. The young men stray away in quest
of engagements and the young ladies to a remarkable extent wed Cornellians whose
homes are far distant from this beautiful valley.—Ithaca Journal.
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