ASHES OF COLUMBUS AND ONE OF THE OLD RESIDENTS

Statue of Christopher Columbus in Havana, Cuba.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, January 20, 1899.

ASHES OF COLUMBUS.

They Reach Seville, Spain, and Are Transferred to the Cathedral.

   SEVILLE, Jan. 20.—The Spanish auxiliary cruiser Giralda (formerly Mr. Calmont's yacht) arrived here with the reputed ashes of Columbus on board, which had been transferred from the cruiser Conde de Venadito, on which they were brought from Havana. The municipal authorities took charge of the coffin on board. The Giralda fired a salute, to which the land batteries replied, and the procession was then formed and the coffin transferred to the celebrated cathedral of Seville.

   The route to the cathedral from the wharf was thronged, troops and sailors being drawn up on each side the way. The chapter of the cathedral received the remains, which will lie in state until finally placed in the vault. After another salute the funeral service was celebrated in the presence of an enormous crowd.

   The cathedral of Seville, a structure of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, occupies the site of an ancient mosque. It is 400 feet in length by 260 feet in breadth and has a square tower, 337 feet in height, surmounted by a colossal bronze statue of Faith. The interior is still richly adorned, though many of its treasures were removed by the French, and it has numerous chapels, pictures by Murrillo and other great artists, organs and the tomb in which the remains of Columbus were first deposited. Around the edifice are the archbishop's palace, the chapter house, the alcasar and the exchange in which are the archives of Spanish America.

 

General Leonard Wood.

CUBA'S REQUIREMENTS.

General Wool's Views as to the Needs of the Island.

THE NECESSITY OF A VAST ARMY.

A Large Percentage of American Soldiers Incapable of Effective Service on Account of the Climate—Building of Railroads Advised—Native Cubans For the Army.

   WASHINGTON. Jan. 20.—General Leonard Wood continued his testimony before the senate committee on military affairs, dealing especially with the requirement as to troops on the island of Cuba. He explained at some length his estimate of 50,000 as the number of troops necessary to be kept in the entire island, saying that he had placed the number so high because the effect of the climate is such as to render a large percentage of American soldiers there ineffective for aggressive action. Malaria is the prevailing disease and as a rule while not more than 20 per cent [sic] may be on the actual sick list not to exceed 35 or 40 per cent will as a rule be found capable of effectual action. A day's active exercise would cause half of any force to drop out of any military force. Of his present force he did not believe that to exceed one half was now fit for effective service.

   As a matter of fact it could be almost he said that no troops stationed there had escaped the diseases due to the climate. This fact accounted for the non-aggressive character of the Spanish campaign in the island, and he thought explained why as many as 280,000 Spanish soldiers were required in the service there. He had found that the Spanish were affected by the climate just as the Americans are and also that the Cubans themselves were under constant liability to malaria. Often as many as 60 per cent of the Cubans were disabled. It was as yet too early to say whether our troops in the island would become so acclimated that they would be able to resist disease. This was an important point and if decided in the negative would require the frequent change of troops. He was hopeful that by an elaborate system of sanitation in the island improved conditions might be secured just as Great Britain had produced an improvement in Jamaica. Still it might prove as it had in India that Cuba was not a white man's country. A year or two at least would be necessary to decide this.

   Replying to a question from Senator Proctor, General Wood said that it was feasible to construct a railroad line between Santiago and Havana and that a Santiago firm had agreed to guarantee the funds for the enterprise. The most practicable route would be along the central plateau of the island and the general thought the enterprise would be a great civilizer. "It would," he said, "afford employment to many men in the interior whose present principal employment is that of carrying guns."

   He spoke at considerable length in this connection in regard to the resources of Cuba, saying that it could be made the market garden of the world. He thought that this government should grow there the vegetables used by the army in Cuba and said he meant to confer with the secretary of agriculture on this question.

   Speaking of the timber of the island, he said the cross ties of the railroads and the wharves at Santiago were composed largely of mahogany and other more valuable woods. General Wood also expressed the opinion that the native Cubans might be used to an extent as soldiers in the United States army.

 

POSTOFFICE APPROPRIATION.

Fast Mail Service In the South Will Be Abandoned.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.—In considering the postoffice appropriation bill, the house struck out of the bill the appropriation of $171,000 for the Southern mail and $25,000 for special mail facilities from Kansas City to Newton, Kan. This appropriation for the Southern mail has been fought annually for six or seven years, but has always been retained.

   The increase in the appropriation for the pneumatic tube service from $225,000 to $300,000 was knocked out by the elimination of the provision which fell under a point or order, for the repeal of the law against the extension of this service.

   The house adjourned with a motion to recommit pending. The motion carried instructions to strike out the words "newly acquired territory" in connection with an appropriation of $300,000 for mail facilities in Porto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

   General Wood's statement of matters in Cuba which he has seen, and of which he has been a part, is highly encouraging. "We went to Cuba to give these people liberty," says the general, "and it is my experience that they have demonstrated, thus far at any rate, that they are quite capable of appreciating what we can do." They have been impressed, by word and deed, that the Americans want to put Cubans in the way of helping themselves. They are confirmed in this by seeing Cubans selected to fill the offices. They realize the benefits wrought by cleaning up Santiago. Friction has disappeared. Americans and the American flag are respected in good faith. General Wood's methods have brought forth good results in the province of Santiago, and may well be followed in other parts of the island. The Cubans are found responsive to kindness, and yield readily to firmness exercised for the public good.

 

BASKET BALL.

Make up of the Two Teams for To-morrow Night.

   For Cortland W. A. Reynolds at center has probably had more experience and with his height will probably jump higher than any man he has faced. Because of his long arms and very handy jump many a forward too has wondered if he did not realty drop the ball into the basket that is ten feet above the floor. He is captain of the team and will play center.

   Chas. O'Connell is another long legged fellow who has in many a practice game kept the captain on his toes, while his basket throwing is exceptionally good. He will be a substitute.

   William B. Mills, last year's captain, has worked faithfully to hold his old position at forward and will be found there to-morrow night, the best all round man for the place.

   Mills' running mate in throwing for baskets is Johnnie Hotchkiss, one of the most popular men in the "gym." He is in the game from start to finish, and if you ask him can tell you how to play any position on the team, or how to umpire a game. He will play right forward.

   As substitute Capt. Callahan of the "Scrubb" is always there and but for his lack of experience in games would be a regular. Per Lee Smith and Ed Richards will occupy their old positions in the back field and with them in the way opponents will have to try more than once to get a basket.

   But the above regulars will have to put up exceptionally good ball to keep the two hustling substitutes from taking their places. These are Allie Gillette and Gustavus Dillon, each one being familiar with all the "old wrinkles" and having some peculiar new ones all their own.

   The lineup:

CORTLAND.        POSITIONS.        ELMIRA.

Reynolds               Center                     Mahoney

Hotchkiss              Right Forward        Sullivan

Mills                      Left forward           Donohue.

Richards                Right Guard           Deiste

Smith                     Left Guard             Drake

 

ONE OF THE OLD RESIDENTS.

Death of Mrs. Jacob Maus Schermerhorn of Homer.

   Many of the longtime friends of Mrs. Jacob Maus Schermerhorn of Homer were pained to learn of her decease at 5 o'clock last night after an illness of only five days from grip which quickly developed into pneumonia. It is a number of years now since her face, once so familiar to the older generation of both Homer and Cortland, has been seen in public or riding upon the streets in the family carriage behind the well-known pair of bay coach horses. In fact because of failing health she has not left her room since September, 1890, the fall after the death of her husband. But she has until recently been accustomed to receive in her room her most intimate friends and greatly enjoyed a quiet chat with them, and her interest has been maintained until the last in her friends, in the affairs of her native village and in the country at large.

   Mrs. Schermerhorn was a daughter of Jedediah Barber, one of the pioneer residents of Homer, and she was born in that village on June 2, 1810. Her maiden name was Miss Louisa A. Barber. On Oct. 26, 1831, she was married to Jacob Maus Schermerhorn and they went at once to Rochester to make that city their home. Ten years later they moved back to Homer and continued to live there till the death of Mr. Schermerhorn on Feb. 22, 1890, and now until Mrs. Schermerhorn's own decease. In 1881 they celebrated their golden wedding and the occasion was a very happy one and was observed in an appropriate manner.

   Mr. and Mrs. Schermerhorn both united with a Presbyterian church in Rochester and upon returning to Homer transferred their membership to the Presbyterian church of that place, which some years ago was changed to the Congregational denomination. Her life has always been that of an earnest and consistent Christian, and she was accustomed to give liberally of her means to all benevolent and charitable objects, and many families will miss in her death the helping hand quietly extended here and there as she saw the need of it, without the public in general ever learning anything about it.

   She has lived to see children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up around her. She is survived by four children, Mrs. Lewis B. Henry of Orange, N. J., Mrs. John W. Fisher of Homer, and Messrs. George J. and J. Maus Schermerhorn of New York City; by eight grandchildren, seven of whom are sons and daughters of Mrs. Henry, the eighth being a son of Mr. George J. Schermerhorn; and by eight great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Mrs. Charles A. Oliver of Philadelphia, Pa., Mrs. Franklin Carter of Fall River, Mass., Mrs. Robert Stevenson of Orange, N. J., Miss Louise S. Henry of Homer, and Messrs. Edward S. and Louis C. Henry of Orange, N. J., who are brokers in New York City, and Mr. Jacob S. Henry, who is now in his senior year in Stevens Polytechnic Institute at Hoboken, N. J., also Schuyler M. Schermerhorn, the young son of Mr. George J. Schermerhorn of New York.

   The arrangements for the funeral have not yet been made, but notice of the time will be given to-morrow. Mrs. Schermerhorn's two sons arrived from New York on the early train this morning, and Mrs. Henry and Mrs. George J. Schermerhorn were expected to arrive this afternoon.

 

LOCAL PERSONAL.

   FRED H. GEE, formerly of Cincinnatus, has purchased and is publishing the Liverpool Telegram.

   MISSES JENNIE and Susie Sharpe of New York City are guests of their aunt, Mrs. J. B. Morris.

   MRS. DAVID ALGER of Oneonta is in town the guest of her son, Mr. Grant Alger, at 20 Washington-st.

   MRS. JOHN CARBERRY went to Cortland yesterday morning to spend a week with friends.—Whitney Point Reporter.

   MR. AND MRS. H. C. LOVELL drove down from Cortland last Friday and have been visiting at J. P. Wells' for a week.—Whitney Point Reporter.

   FLORIST L. N. HOPKINS, who fell in a fainting spell one day last week in the drugstore of C. F . Brown, striking his head on the base of a showcase, is still confined to his house at 140 Groton-ave.

   MRS. GRANT ALGER, who has been seriously ill with pneumonia at her home, 20 Washlngton-st., is very much improved to-day and her recovery is expected.

   DARWIN L. BARDWELL, the newly elected superintendent of schools, has in company with Superintendent R. H. Halsey, completed the circuit of all the schools in the city and examined the work being done.—Binghamton Republican.

 

Proof?

PAVING BOND ISSUE

Ordered by Village Trustees at Last Night's Meeting.

   The board of village trustees held an adjourned meeting in the office of Village Clerk W. C. Crombie last night and ordered notices sent to owners of property abutting on the new Main-st. asphalt pavement informing them that they can pay their local paving assessment on or before Jan. 31, and in case this is not done, it will be collected in ten annual equal installments at 4 per cent interest.

   The resolution authorizing this was a long one and was prepared by Corporation Counsel David W. Van Hoesen. It recites the total estimated expense of the pavement, the share payable by the Cortland & Homer Traction company, the share payable by the village at large, and the table of local assessment, all of which have been published in The STANDARD. These several amounts are as follows: Against the village at large, $17,797.12; against the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. [ink blot]; against the local property-owners, [ink blot]42,751.12. The resolution provides for the issue of bonds at once for $17,797.12 in the following lots:

   Number one for $797.12, due Oct. 1, 1899; numbers two and three for $500 each, due Oct. 1, 1907; numbers four, five, six and seven, for $500 each, due Oct. 1, 1908; numbers eight, nine, ten and eleven, for $500 each, due Oct. 1, 1909; numbers twelve and thirteen for $1,000 each, due Oct. 1, 1910; numbers fourteen and fifteen for $1,000 each, due Oct. 1, 1911; numbers sixteen and seventeen, for $1,000 each, due Oct. 1, 1915; numbers eighteen and nineteen for $1,000 each, due Oct. 1, 1916; numbers twenty and twenty-one for $1,000 each, due Oct. 1, 1917; numbers twenty-two and twenty-three for $1,000 each, due Oct. 1, 1918. These bonds will be sold by Village Treasurer Hubert R. Maine to the highest bidder, probably Feb. 1 or Feb. 2, at which time also bonds will be issued and sold to cover the amount then remaining unpaid on the local assessments.

   Village Treasurer Maine was present and called the board's attention to a clerical error in the village assessment roll, by which a vacant lot at 40 Arthur-ave. owned by Miss H. C. Henry was assessed at $2,200 instead of $200 as intended. The board authorized the payment of a rebate to Miss Henry to cover the difference in the tax $15.14.

   Mr. W. B. Warren of the Warren-Scharff Asphalt Paving Co., who was expected to be present and take some action toward turning the pavement over to the village, was not in attendance, but had written to President Stilson that he would be unable to reach Cortland before Monday night, and to that time the board adjourned.

 

TIOUGHNIOGA CLUB.

Whist Entertainment for Benefit of Cortland Hospital.

   There is every indication of a large attendance at the benefit whist entertainment at the Tioughnioga club rooms this evening. This entertainment takes the place of the regular ladies' night program and while admission to the rooms will be free all those who play whist will be charged 50 cents a couple. Refreshments will be served during the evening and there will be an opportunity for all who desire to do so to make a voluntary offering for the hospital benefit.

 

MARRIED SIXTY-FIVE YEARS.

Norman Palmer of Kansas, Brother of Prosper Palmer of Cortland.

   Mr. O. F. Allen, the Railway-ave. grocer, yesterday showed a STANDARD man a copy of the Atchinson, (Kan.,) Globe of Jan. 5, which contained a very interesting account of the celebration of the sixty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Palmer, who live at Nortonville, near Atchinson with their son-in-law, Dr. H. R. Maxson.

   Mr. Palmer and Miss Huldah Sabin were married at the parsonage of the Baptist church in McGrawville Jan. 5, 1834. The house is still standing, occupied by a niece of Mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmer was born in Homer, Dec. 5, 1810, and is consequently in his 89th year. He was the youngest of a family of seven children, his sisters all being now dead. He has but one brother living, and that is Prosper Palmer, who lives at 50 Greenbush-st., Cortland, and who with Mrs. Palmer celebrated the sixty-sixth anniversary of their marriage Jan. 3.

   Mr. Palmer never used liquor or tobacco in any form. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and has been a Republican ever since the formation of that party. He gets around well and reads and writes without glasses. Mrs. Palmer was born in Petersburg, N. Y., May 13, 1811. They have four sons and two daughters. They moved west from New York in 1855 to Miller, Wis.; in 1864 to Dodge City, Minn., and in 1882 to Nortonville, Kan. Mrs. Palmer has been blind for fifteen years, but is always knitting or sewing, and has made several quilts since being deprived of her sight.

   This record of one family is believed to be hard to beat— two sons, and each of them being able to celebrate his sixty-fifth and sixty-sixth wedding anniversary respectively.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Vesta lodge, I. O. O. F., will give another social hop to-morrow evening.

   —The Virgil Republican caucus is called for Monday, Jan. 30, at 1 o'clock. The Lapeer Republican caucus on Saturday, Jan.28, at 1 P. M., at the Whig schoolhouse.

   —Mr. A. E. Thompson and Mr. B. T. Coleman will address a meeting of the Christian Alliance at the W. C. T. U. rooms at 7:30 o'clock this evening. Everybody welcome.