BABY-FARMING HORRORS

 

Baby farming in New York City.

The McGrawville Sentinel, Thursday, July 28, 1887.

BABY-FARMING HORRORS.

   MONTREAL, July 27.—Recent exposures in this city regarding the treatment of fondlings show that 90 per cent of the children die. The children are left at the Gray nunnery and from there "farmed out" to poor people in the city and suburbs, who are paid ten cents a day per head to care for them. These people take almost no care of the infants and simply starve them to death.

   A correspondent got a list of some of the people who have charge of the babies, and made a tour of inspection. They had learned that a visit would be paid to them, and most of them had made some preparations for it. The house of Mrs. Degenal, a professional "baby farmer," at Sault au Recoliet, was the first visited. At the door of the house lay three little children, each with bare legs, breast and arms, with a frousy bodice around its loins; each covered from head to foot with large black flies, which preyed voraciously upon the soft flesh; each exposed to the pitiless heat of the sun, which poured down upon them in untempered severity. The house was small and contained three apartments. In the kitchen were a stove, a table and a "settle bed" and three rude square boxes upon rockets for the children. The three children who had been upon the veranda, were placed in two of these cradles. In the third was a fourth child, but it was so small and was so completely covered with flies that it was not easily recognizable as human. It was a shocking spectacle of neglect and misery. The little thing was breathing heavily. It moaned feebly now and then and wearily opened two intensely blue eyes, in which there was unutterable appeal. An India-rubber mople, attached to a bottle containing what looked like sour, curdled milk, had been thrust into its mouth, and at this it sucked now and then, but was too feeble to draw the fluid from the bottle. Its arms were hardly larger than a pipestem, its legs not thicker than a grown man's finger. Its skin hung in loose folds upon the manikin frame and its face had the look of age stamped upon it. The flies devoured every feature. An intolerable effluvia, heavy and sickening, exhaled from the dirty clothes in the cradle.

   Of the four children one will probably survive, but they were all wasted; they all suffered from neglect; they all clutched at the India-rubber mople, which, when the children are numerous, is not even attached to a milk bottle.

   At another place a child lay dying, starved to death. The third house had six children, all of them marked for death. They were covered with flies. One woman said that she had had 24 children in her house in three years, and that all of them had died.

   In nearly every place visited similar scenes met the eye, and the women who had charge of the unfortunates seemed utterly heartless and cruel.

 

Pink line indicates Erie & Central New York railroad route between Cortland and Cincinnatus, N. Y.

CORTLAND NEWS.

PROSPECTS OF A NEW RAILROAD.

   It now looks as though there were a feasible plan for a railroad from Cortland to Cincinnatus and beyond. If the plan is not rendered abortive by somebody's notions there are a number of citizens of this place who stand ready to see the road put through at their own expense if they are allowed the privilege. Esq. B. A. Benedict and Eli J. Colegrove have visited all the towns along the route and have made this proposition: If the towns will turn over to them the right of way and whatever there is of the projected road, they will complete the road in three years and furnish it with rolling stock. If they fail to do this the road and stock shall revert to its former owners. Caleb Hitchcock and others will take large amounts of stock in the new enterprise and it is expected that the necessary funds will be immediately subscribed as soon as the agreement with the commissioners of each town is made.

   The division of the old Midland which extended from DeRuyter to Norwich will probably enter some arrangement with this company and so form a line through from Cortland to Norwich. It is possible that some of the connecting railroads will take hold of the enterprise and assist in building the road, or failing in that, the energetic men now interested will put it through at private expense. One thing is plain; if the towns along the line of the old absconded roadbed prefer to see the iron horse travel that way, and wish in the near future to reap the advantages that railroad communication would give them, this offer affords them a practicable and favorable opportunity to fulfill their desires.

   There is no doubt of the benefit that would accrue to Cortland. She would be a city one year the sooner for it. McGrawville wants the road and always has, but had come near losing hope. It would make Cincinnatus the center and outlet for all that part of the country and region around. Norwich has roads enough perhaps but would not object now that she is booming again. It is to be sincerely hoped that now the long looked for road will become a reality.

OBITUARY.

   The funeral of Mrs. Tirza Porter Benton (whose death occurred at 1:15 P. M. on the Monday previous) was held on Wednesday, July 20, at 3 P. M., from the residence of her son, Mr. H. P. Benton, in Railroad street, which has been her home the past few years. Her pastor, Rev. J. L. Robertson, officiated.

   Deceased came with her husband, Mr. Chester Benton, who preceded her to the better land, from Coventry, Conn., to this place, and both names were enrolled as members of the Presbyterian church here October 11, 1828. At the time of her death she was eighty-three years of age.

   Ever faithful to her church, attendant upon its means of grace as long as health and strength would permit, being of a gentle and sympathetic nature, she won for herself a large circle of friends among both young and old. While we rejoice at the thought of her release from the intense suffering she was called to endure and that even now she dwells in "an Heavenly country" yet we miss her kindly counsel and cheering words, but we "sorrow not even as others which have no hope," remembering that "the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads."

HELLER-MAFFETT.

   The Williamsport, Pa., Sun and Banner of July 20 contains the following that will interest many readers: "A few friends met last evening at the residence of C. R. Harris, on Pine street, to witness the marriage of Mr. Harris' sister-in-law, Miss Mellie K. Maffett, to Mr. Samuel Heller, of this city. The ceremony took place at 8:30 o'clock, Rev. Mac Clymont officiating in his usual neat and pleasant way. After refreshments and a short time spent very enjoyably the happy couple took the 10:30 train east on the Philadelphia and Reading road, expecting to visit Philadelphia, Washington and some portions of Virginia before returning to this city, which they will continue to make their home."

   Mrs. Heller's many friends in this vicinity add their best wishes for her future happiness.

NEWS IN PARAGRAPHS.

   Mechanics band has an excursion to Sylvan Beach next week Saturday.

   New stone stairways are being put up in place of the old court house steps.

   Thomas Courtney was in Oswego and Rochester last week on legal business.

   It is announced that Will Riley will run a foot race with Steele of Moravia on Saturday for a purse of $100.

   L. Whiteson has bought a building lot of Dr. Dana and will erect a house there this season. Consideration $2,500.

   Rev. C. C. Wilbor is spending two weeks at the Thousand Islands. There will be no service at that church Sunday.

   Andrew Day and John Wells start to-day for Terre Haute, Ind., where they will work for the Sanford fork and tool company.

   Barney Keenan, who was taken before Justice Squires for examination on the charge of assault in the second degree, was held for his appearance before the grand jury. His bail was fixed at $500. Barney Dowd signed the bond.

   In the matter of Mrs. Frank Scott against the Hitchcock Manufacturing company there was rather an amusing incident a few days ago. Lawyer Bronson wished a piece of the boiler to have it tested and brought into court for evidence on the case. He plucked up courage to ask Mr. Hitchcock for the privilege of cutting off a piece and was told that he could cut off as large a piece as he liked. When he came accompanied by Frank Pierce and a couple of workmen with a kit of tools, Hitchcock ordered them away and in the end got one of his teams to haul the iron into the yard of the shop and then his men drove them off. Mr. Bronson was quite indignant and went to Mr. Hitchcock about it. He was promised the same as before, that if he wished to test the quality of the iron he could cut off a piece; but the lawyer is as yet too much afraid of his fingers.

   Union services will be held next Sunday evenings in the Congregational church, the pastor, Rev. A. T. Swing preaching.

   The collection of mail at 4 P. M. from the letter boxes on Main street was resumed on Monday. This will convenience many of our business men.

   LeRoy Hopkins has the contract of putting up the new block of stores on Railroad street. The brick walls are going up quite rapidly. The passenger train due here at 6 A. M., going north, did not arrive Tuesday until 2 P. M. owing to delays by washouts south of Scranton.

   The ball game last Friday between the Elmiras and the Cortlands resulted in an easy victory for Elmira. The score stood 12 to 3.

   The boilers of the Wickwire shops were thoroughly inspected last week Saturday by the insurance company of New York city, and found in good order.

   The Hitchcock Manufacturing company has bought of Mr. Tisdale the electric light plant. The dynamos will be removed to their shops and the wires center there.

   On Saturday afternoon a nine from the Wickwire shop played the Hitchcocks for a purse of $50 and gate receipts. The score stood 17 to 9 in favor of Wickwires.

   Rev. W. H. Latimer of East Syracuse occupied the pulpit of the M. E. church last Sunday morning, with marked acceptance. His many friends here were glad to avail themselves of the privilege of listening to him. His sermon was an instructive and helpful one.

   The Sanford fork and tool company have removed their machinery and works to Terre Haute, Ind. A carload of their best men went this week. Robert Nixon and family went on Friday last. Their old shop will be occupied by the Home ventilating stove works.

   The Homer and Cortland gun club had a very pleasant shoot at their grounds last Thursday. The club has a field opposite the gas works, with tent and traps. No very remarkable scores were made but the seven shake purses gave about every man a prize.

   There will be an adjourned meeting of the Cortland fire department Friday evening at 7:30, at Firemen's hall, to perfect arrangements for holding the next convention of the state firemen's association here. Citizens in general are invited to be present and assist in making the necessary arrangements.

   The new time card on the E. C. & N. railroad makes trains leave Cortland as follows: Going west, 3:52 A. M. and 2:40 P. M.; going east, 6:45 A. M., 9:50 A. M., and 7: 13 P.M. On Sunday a train will leave this place for Canastota and Sylvan Beach at 10:27 A. M. and returning arrive here at 5:30.

   Peter Van Bergen was knocked down with the edge of a shovel last week Thursday. Among the gang of men which he is superintending are two brothers, James and Barney Keenan. They are putting in the water mains on several of the principal streets. Van Bergen and Keenan were having a little dispute with Keenan below, and getting the worst of it, when Barney stepped up behind with his shovel. A few stitches held the flap in place and the hair will cover the scar.

   On Saturday last Louis Beaudry was arrested, charged with petit larceny. Will Tuttle, Andrew Carpenter and Charles Hollenbeck were arrested for public intoxication. Tuttle and Hollenbeck were fined $12 each or ten days in jail. They take the ten days. Carpenter was sent to Onondaga penitentiary for sixty days. Beaudry was sent to the same place for seventy days. William Richardson was arrested for public intoxication and given his choice, to pay a fine of $11 or go to jail for ten days. He took the latter.

   The new library building is being finished off interiorly. It will be ready for occupation in two weeks. The circulating library will occupy the lower room probably. If we only possessed some public spirited citizens of sufficient means, the corridors should be fitted up as a village museum. Eastern towns have such institutions which very naturally receive additions after a permanent building has been obtained and a nucleus has been formed. A little money would purchase cases in which many private collections throughout the county would come, either by gift or sale. The birds of the county, the indigenous plants, old books, Indian relics, curiosities from China and plenty of such material is scattered through the county only needing to be collected and arranged.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

   IN THE SENTINEL'S Cortland epitome of news to-day is mentioned the public library building that is now being completed and the likelihood of its being barren of the commendable features it was designed to contain. The building is a gift of a benevolent spirited man recently deceased, but in his will Mr. Hatch left no provision for its being filled or occupied, probably thinking that if Cortland appreciated the favor at all it would utilize it in some appropriate manner. Our reporter offers an idea of what would be useful and attractive in its corridors but no plan seems to be thought of whereby these collections or the procuring of funds can be made. The idea struck us some time ago that the various newspapers of Cortland could put themselves to no better use and serve no better public purpose than to organize themselves into receiving offices for money, relics, books, etc., for this use. If the three papers command the public influence that each pretends to wield, the building must needs have a valuable collection in a comparatively short space of time. Try it, gentlemen.

 

EDITOR'S EASY CHAIR.

   —George Way of Fabius was in town Sunday.

   —E. B. Fancher and wife are visiting friends here.

   —Chester Hoyt of Killawog visited his daughter in this place yesterday.

   —Prof. L. J. Higgins of Cazenovia is the guest of Dr. H. C. Hendrick.

   —The W. C. T. U. hold a regular meeting at the Baptist church Friday evening.

   —Miss Florence Gross has been quite sick for some time but is now improving.

   —Rev. A. C. Smith and wife are spending the week with their son in Cincinnatus.

   —Lucian Blackman and wife, of South Otselic visited at Well Dibble's last Saturday.

   —Robert Boul, wife and son of Cortland spent Sunday at David Crane's, South Hill.

   —E. Moore of South Hill is helping Horace Stafford in Cincinnatus finish up his haying.

   —Miss Hattie Fitch of Randolph, N. Y., is visiting in town, the guest of Miss Lizzie Corey.

   —Rev. W. H. Lattimer of East Syracuse spent a few days recently at the M. E. parsonage.

   —H. C. Higgins and wife of Cincinnatus were welcome guests of friends in town over Sunday.

   —The union service will be held at the Baptist church Sunday evening, Rev. E. H. White preaching.

   —Isaac Bolster of the Brackle, Cincinnatus, was the guest of H. V. Beckwith the fore part of the week.

   —Mrs. S. Pike of Whitewater, Wis., has been visiting in this place the guest of her sister Mrs. L. Babcock.

   —Master George Stafford of Cincinnatus has been visiting at Webb Russel's and E. Moore's, South Hill, for a few days.

   —A platform dance will be held at John O'Donnel's Friday evening, August 5, instead of July 29 as stated last week,

   —Wallace Hawyer and wife of Cheningo visited their daughters Mrs. M. Cody and Mrs. John Warren over Sunday.

   —We hear some complaint of girdling shade and ornamental trees in our village. It is hoped we may see no more of it.

   —Well Dibble has purchased the house and lot on Center street belonging to Dr. D. H. Stone and recently occupied by him.

   —Centennial Lodge. I. O. of G. T. goes to Blodgett Mills Saturday evening to unite with Garfield Lodge in one of the regular meetings.

   —Nathaniel Brown has sold his farm on the Hollow Creek road to L. A. Dibble of Killawog. Mr. Dibble takes possession in December next.

   —Mrs. A. D. Kinney of Washington arrived here Tuesday evening. She will visit her parents and other friends in this vicinity a short time.

   —Walter Forshee of Willett has taken out letters patent on a sap bucket, and G. M. Mitchell of Marathon has been granted letters on a combined blackboard and writing desk.

   —The Ladies' Aid society Presbyterian church hold an ice cream festival in Dr. H. C. Hendrick's orchard to-morrow evening. All are cordially invited. A pleasant time is expected.

   —F. N. Chapin & Co.'s mid-summer closing out sale begins at Cortland Friday, July 29. Rather than to have goods grow out of fashion they have made a cut in dress goods, notions, fancy goods, etc.

   —There will be a match race on the county fair grounds, Saturday, July 30, for a purse of $100 between J. O. Reid's ''Belle" and T. A Gifford's "Susie Belle." A purse of $30 will also be offered for running horses.

   —Rev. A. J. Kenyon of Clifton Springs occupied the pulpit on Sunday morning at the M. E. church preaching a sermon full of stirring thoughts from the text, Romans v, 8, and his illustrations were beautifully grand and convincing.

   —Dr. I. D. Warner and wife of Bridgeport, Conn., are visiting their numerous friends in town. A hearty welcome here always awaits the doctor and his family. Mr. Warner's daughter, Anna, is expected here in a few days.

   —A number of loads of cheese from the various factories in the eastern part of the county go through town every day on the way to Cortland. The new railroad would catch all this traffic. Besides this, McGrawville could assure good interest on the money invested from here to Cortland on the hauling of its freight alone, and the passenger fares would make no small item. These are points of inducement.

   —The suit of the village of Marathon against Bailey for penalty for violation of village by-laws, in peddling tea without a license, was decided by Justice Adams, on Saturday. A judgment of $59 was rendered in favor of the village.—Independent.

   —The second nine of Cortland and the factory nine of this place played a game of ball on Mr. Conger's land, Polkville, Saturday, and had a closely contested game, the score standing 11 to 9 in favor of McGrawville. These clubs promise to play here Saturday afternoon of this week.

   —We are glad to see at the factory of P. H. McGraw & Son not only new but so many familiar faces. The short vacation has had a most beneficial effect in making all apparently very happy. They have our best wishes for a season's pleasant and profitable work. Business seems to be decidedly booming at the factory.

   —The new firm of Mager & Stoker, Cortland, make their first announcement on the first page of the SENTINEL to-day. This house under its past proprietors has been well and favorably known throughout the county and in the change it will not lose anything in popularity. Read their advertisement and call on them.

   —We have just received one of the prettiest songs ever written, called "There's no one like Mother to me," by Charles A. Davies. For a nice home song, in which both the words and music are so very pretty, it is hard to equal. It can be played on the piano or organ, and will be sent to any address for only 11 two-cent stamps. Address the publishers, J. C. Groene & Co., 23 and 42 Arcade, Cincinnati, O.

   —The Webster Family will give a grand concert in Academy hall for the benefit of the McGrawville brass band Friday evening, August 5. This is not the same family that was here for the band last winter, but another one that claims a superiority. Entertainments under the auspices of the band have always been well received, for they are usually good and the people are always ready to help the boys along in some such way. We consequently predict a large turn-out.

   —The debating club in this place was recently reorganized, and its members, twelve in number, assembled at James Anderson's for the first debate last Monday evening. The question "Resolved, that the rich are happier than the poor" was decided negatively. The club decided to go to Blodgett Mills in the interest of church affairs there at some future date, and discuss the subject of intemperance and war. Next Monday evening the club meets at the home of Fred Morse and will debate on the preference of city to country life.

   —The Syracuse Journal has the following to say concerning a paper firm that furnishes a great deal of paper for publishers and business men of this county: "J. T. Outterson of the firm of J. T. & J. Outterson, paper dealers, has returned from a trip to Brownville, N. Y., where he has just completed and started a new paper and wood pulp manufactory for the purpose of making book, news colored and manila papers, such as they handle largely in their business in this city. The steam engine used in driving their paper machine is one formerly used by the Journal company. The boilers were purchased in this city. The mills promise financial success."