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| Ethan Allen Hitchcock. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, February 3, 1899.
STARVATION IN RUSSIA.
Famine Conditions as Reported by Ambassador Hitchcock.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.—Ambassador Hitchcock from St. Petersburg has reported to the state department on the famine conditions prevailing in certain parts of Russia. The report is taken from the statement of the Red Cross society in the official gazette. Ambassador Hitchcock says that before transmitting the report in question he called upon the minister of foreign affairs to ascertain whether the report as set forth was accurate and whether or not the imperial government would care to have the matter brought to the attention of the public in America with a view to enlisting the sympathies and action of our people who responded so generously to a call made upon them under similar conditions several years ago.
Count Mouravieff stated that the report might be considered official. Destitution following a failure of crops exists in seven eastern and two central provinces of Russia and the relief work is being carried on by the Russian Imperial government through the agency of the Russian Red Cross, because it was felt that direct government aid might foster a feeling among the peasant class that they had a right to demand rather than to request assistance even when their suffering was the direct result of their own laziness, as well as in the failure of their crops.
The Red Cross thus far has appropriated about $562,000 to the relief work. Eating houses have been established, children provided with food and clothing, and work furnished to the peasants who were able to work. The society has been careful to offer work wherever it could be done and those who refuse this form of assistance are not otherwise helped.
Count Mouravieff expresses his appreciation of the proffered aid from the United States, and of the actual relief that had been given in previous years, but said that the imperial government was in a position to deal with the present emergency.
CABLE TO MANILA.
President of the Pacific Cable Company Interviewed on the Subject.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 3.—The steamer Coptic arrived from Hong Kong and Yokohama via Honolulu, bringing a large number of army and navy officers from the Philippines.
Among the passengers was John A. Scrymser, president of the Pacific Cable company. In an interview he expressed himself as being encouraged to hope that the cable would be maintained and operated by the United States government. The Japanese government, Mr. Scrymser said, is willing to go into the proposition under certain conditions regarding the cost of such a cable. Mr. Scrymser said that $20,000,000 would not cover the cost for the reason that a duplicate cable must be laid. Such a cable would require a reserve fund of $300,000 a year being set aside for a renewal of the cable, 20 years being the average life of one.
Lieutenant C. C. Calkins, who stood on the bridge with Admiral Dewey during the bombardment of Manila, was a passenger on the Coptic.
Serious Freight Wreck.
GENEVA, N. Y., Feb. 3.—A serious freight wreck occurred on the Lehigh Valley railroad in which two cars were completely destroyed and the road blocked for two hours. The loss will be about $10,000. In one of the cars were a number of sheep. Over 100 of them were killed outright and many more were shot by the trainmen because of injuries.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Premature Burial.
A bill has been introduced into the New York legislature looking to the prevention of premature burial, and it has brought before the public an old discussion and not a few new facts. An estimate of the number of people who are buried alive every year is somewhat startling. A doctor of long experience who has given particular attention to this subject is of the opinion that 5 per cent of all the persons who are supposed to be the victims of sudden death are buried before consciousness has quite left the body. Especial attention is called to the unseemly haste which attends most funerals in common life, and it is pointed out again that there are no human means of determining the entire absence of consciousness in a seemingly dead body except the beginning of decay, for which the surviving friends as a rule will not wait. It is now proposed to furnish storage receptacles at the cemeteries, where all bodies may be kept under supervision until decay sets in. This practice is followed in several European countries.
SEEKING ANNEXATION.
Spaniards Urging the United States to Hold Cuba Permanently.
NEW YORK, Feb. 3.—A dispatch to The World from Havana says: A committee of Spaniards in Havana has issued a strong appeal to their compatriots throughout the island to unite for the purpose of bringing about the annexation of Cuba to the United States. The appeal repudiates indignantly any desire on the part of the Spaniards in the island to join the proposed new Independent party, now in process of organization by Joaquin Castillo. It states that 400,000 Spaniards are ready to vote for annexation, and that this number would be largely augmented by Cubans of wealth, position and influence who do not wish to see the revolutionary party in the ascendancy.
The committee believes that if a vote were to be taken to-day on the broad issue the result would be decidedly in favor of union with America, even if the negro element in eastern Cuba was allowed to exercise a free franchise.
Steps will be taken by the Spaniards to put their views before the American administration, as they believe that if an independent government is contemplated in the near future, the trade of the island will be brought to an immediate standstill. In any case they think the United States should retain control for a considerable period. American capitalists here interested in the island concur in this view.
OUR SOLDIER BOYS.
How Situated and What Doing in Camp at Greenville.
The following letter from Mr. Ernest E. Butterfield of Cortland will interest all friends of the Cortland volunteers who are now in camp with the Two Hundred Third regiment at Greenville, S. C.
To the Editor of the STANDARD:
SIR—The Two Hundred Third Regiment, N. Y. Vols., in which there are many Cortland boys, is now in camp at Greenville, S. C. There are six regiments of troops here in all, but the Two Hundred Third has, by far, the best location. It is situated on a slight rise of ground and is not more than half a mile from Greenville, which in a typical southern town of about 16,600 inhabitants, the majority of whom are colored.
The weather here has, on the average, been fine, although the nights are quite cold. Last night a blinding snow and sleet storm set in, and is continuing to-day, keeping the men confined to their tents, where the time is mostly spent in reading and writing letters home. But the guards are not allowed this privilege and must continue to walk their beats with gun on shoulder, clothes wet through, and facing a blinding storm. There has been snow but once before this winter, and it lasted but a few hours.
Col. Schuyler has been promoted to brigadier general and W. Cary Sanger of Waterville, Oneida Co., is now colonel. This is very satisfactory to the men, as Sanger is one of the most popular officers in the regiment.
Private Mattica of Syracuse who, while on guard shot, killing one and wounding another from the West Virginia regiment, has had his trial, but the decision of the court martial has not yet been made public, but it is thought that he will be permitted to return to his home, as the shooting was not intentional and he was obeying orders.
The men are as a whole anxious to be mustered out and return to their homes although some would like to see service in Cuba, but it does not seem probable that they will at present.
The Cortland boys are mostly well and are enjoying themselves as much as possible under the circumstances, but all would be glad to see home and friends again. They are very indignant at reports around home that they have been in guard house, fined, etc. This is false, and not a one has been confined in guard house, all having a good record.
There are now three tents merged into one large one, there being from seven to ten men in each one, making a tent 24 feet long and 10 feet wide. Every tent has a stove which is simply a hollow cylinder, being placed in a large pan of dirt. Fire in these burns well, but to get warm one must be within 2 or 3 feet of them. The chimney, which covers the whole top of the stove, projects upwards and passes through an opening in top of tent. The government furnishes wood, but the men have to saw and split it.
E. E. BUTTERFIELD, Greenville, S. C., Jan. 28, 1899.
FIREMEN ARE INTERESTED
In the Baseball Fair to be Held All Next Week.
That the only fair yet announced to be held in Cortland this year should receive a generous and liberal patronage cannot be doubted.
Taylor hall will, each evening next week, be the scene of a fair which should command and receive the heartiest support, because it is in the interests of the Cortland State league baseball team in which every citizen should take a large amount of pride. The fair will open Monday night. Season tickets cost but $1 each, and they can be procured of any member of the Baseball association or of Treasurer O. K. George
The firemen are taking a lively interest in the contest for the beautiful couch offered by O'Leary & McEvoy. On Tuesday evening the entire Homer department and Orris hose of Cortland are invited to be in attendance, on Wednesday evening the Water Witch and Excelsior Hook & Ladder companies of Cortland, on Thursday evening W. J. Buchanan hose of McGrawville, and the Emeralds of Cortland, and on Friday evening Hitchcock hose of Cortland.
The soliciting committee is meeting with a generous response, and among contributions from out-of-town firms are goods valued at $20 from Albion Box & Co., wholesale liquor dealers of New York City, $12 from Sonn Bros. of New York, $12 from the Pleasant Valley Wine Co. of Rheims, Steuben Co., and $12 from Caldwell & Garlock of Syracuse.
Some of the prizes were placed on exhibition in the show window at F. D. Smith's hardware to-day.
Mr. William Grady is the general manager of the fair, and all committees are to report to him, and any one having suggestions to make are referred to him.
A PRESENTATION.
Employees Give Superintendent Mooney a Handsome Chain.
On Tuesday evening Mr. F. P. Mooney, who that day closed his labors as general superintendent of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co., was called to the office of the company and there found a number of the employees assembled. Mr. J. A. Maxwell, superintendent of motive power, and first assistant to the general superintendent, stepped forward and expressed the regret of the employees at the departure of Mr. Mooney and spoke of the pleasant relations that had always existed between them. He then in behalf of all the men, both those present and others who were then engaged in their duties on the road, presented Mr. Mooney with a beautiful solid gold watch chain and locket with diamond setting. Mr. Mooney was taken completely by surprise, but expressed his pleasure at the gift, not alone because of its beauty and its intrinsic value, but also because of the kindly spirit and feeling which it revealed toward him on the part of his employees.
Mr. Mooney expects to leave soon for Utica, where he will spend a few days before proceeding to New York.
REVERSAL OF JUDGMENT.
Fourth Trial Ordered in a Celebrated Cabbage Case.
A decision has just been handed down by the appellate division of the supreme court in the celebrated cabbage suit of Tobias L. Rose against Harrison Wells, the latter a prominent produce buyer of Cortland. This action was brought in justice's court more than five years ago to recover the value of a quantity of cabbage which the plaintiff alleged he had sold to defendant. At the trial injustice's court in January, 1894, the plaintiff secured a judgment for $116.
The case was appealed to the county court, and at the trial in March, 1895, the plaintiff secured a verdict of $82.43. This verdict was set aside and a new trial ordered, and in county court in March, 1897, the plaintiff again secured a verdict, this time for $116. An appeal was taken and arguments were made at Albany by Irving H. Palmer for the plaintiff and David W. Van Hoesen for the defendant. The decision, written by Justice Landon, all concurring, reverses the judgment and grants a new trial with costs to abide the event.
BREVITIES.
—The Prohibition caucus occurs at Collins hall this evening at 8 o'clock.
—Mr. Edward R. Beach has sold his house and lot at 64 Tompkins-st. to Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald.
—The Democratic town caucus for Cortlandville has been called for Saturday evening, Feb. 4, at 7:30 o'clock at Fireman's hall.
—The principal's reception for the graduating class at the Normal, the faculty and the local board occurs at the Normal [School] parlors this evening.
—New display advertisements to-day are—M. A. Case, New Embroideries, page 6; Rochester Post-Express, Photographic Views, page 4; Opera House, "The Royal Box," page 5.
—Wallace & Gilmore this afternoon secured an engagement at the Opera House for next Wednesday evening, Feb. 8, for Charles Coghlan and a strong company in his celebrated play "The Royal Box."
—Hon. George S. Sands yesterday introduced a bill in the assembly entitled, the "Bicycle Sidepath bill for Cortland county," which authorizes the county judge to appoint sidepath commissioners and to provide revenue for the construction, maintenance and repair of sidepaths for bicycles.
—The following discharges in bankruptcy have this week been granted to residents of this locality, in the following cases before Hon. Chas. C. Stone, referee in bankruptcy, as reported by Messrs. Risley & Love, solicitors in bankruptcy, Herald building. Utica, N. Y., David Grodquisky, Wm. Barber, John E. Thompson.
—Residents along the line of the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. will take note of the fact that under the change of time on the L. V. R. R. which goes into effect on Sunday it will be possible to make a trip from their homes to Ithaca or Elmira and return the same day. A change of time on the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. goes into effect on Sunday to make the connections.
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