THE CORTLAND DEMOCRAT SOLD, AND REGULARS FOR MANILA.

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, March 3, 1899.

THE DEMOCRAT SOLD.

Purchased by Fay C. Parsons, Its Present Editor.

   The Cortland Democrat this morning announced that the executors of the estate of Benton B. Jones, deceased, have sold The Democrat, the office, plant and good will to Fay C. Parsons, the present editor, possession being given on March 1. The STANDARD has been in possession of this information for several days, but Mr. Parsons naturally desired to make the first announcement of it himself and editorial courtesy would certainly permit him to do so, so we have refrained from heretofore making the matter public.

   Mr. Parsons is a son-in-law of Mr. Jones and was for some years his assistant on the paper. Next to Mr. Jones' son, Mr. Parsons is the most logical successor of the man who made The Democrat what it is. The son, Mr. S. S. Jones, does not care to undertake editorial work, and the succession falls naturally to Mr. Parsons, who for more than a year past has been the editor of the paper.

   Mr. Parsons is a practical printer and learned his trade in The STANDARD office having come into this office Sept. 2, 1888. He was for several years employed in the composing room of this paper, but it came about that The Democrat finally offered attractions for the young man which The STANDARD could not hold out—attractions which ultimately led to his family relationship with the editor of The Democrat and doubtless to Mr. Parsons' present purchase of the paper.

   After the death of Mr. Jones Mr. Parsons continued for some months as assistant upon the paper, Mr. Frank W. Collins being temporarily its editor, but for the last year and more he has himself been its editor and publisher. He is energetic and active and possessed of excellent ability, and the paper which he has produced during his occupancy of the editorial chair speaks for itself. The STANDARD'S relations with The Democrat during the long period of Mr. Jones' editorship were always very pleasant. They will undoubtedly continue so with the new editor at the helm, and The STANDARD offers to him its most hearty congratulations and good wishes both editorially and personally.

   It must be very gratifying both to Mrs. Jones and to Mrs. Parsons to know that the paper which was built up by the husband and father and in which they had so vital an interest is to be continued in the family as a family possession by the son-in-law and husband, and it is also pleasing to The STANDARD to see the advancement of "one of our own boys," as we have always considered Fay as a result of his period of faithful apprenticeship in this office.

 

WITH SUICIDAL INTENT.

JOHN H. DAY SHOT HIMSELF IN THE HEAD.

Used a 32-Calibre Revolver at 5 o'clock This Morning During Temporary Absence of Mrs. Day—Business Reverses Supposed to be the Cause— Recovery Considered Very Doubtful.

   John H. Day shot himself in the head this morning with a 32-calibre revolver, and while death did not ensue instantly there are very slight hopes that he can survive, and it may be that he will have died before The STANDARD reaches its readers.

   The deed was committed shortly after 5 o'clock this morning in the bedroom of his residence at 26 Church-st., and no one believes but that it was done with suicidal intent. Mr. Day had an attack of the grip last week and had just begun to get out, but last night complained of not feeling well when he retired. It was his usual custom to get up at about 5 o'clock in the morning and open the fires, but this morning Mrs. Day arose to tend the fires for him. While doing this she heard the report of a pistol in the bedroom, and hastening in there was horrified at the discovery of her husband lying on the bed with a smoking revolver by his side and with blood flowing from a wound in the head.

   Mrs. Day aroused other occupants of the house, and dispatched messengers for Drs. Higgins and Sornberger. The physicians soon arrived and found Mr. Day in a stupor. From appearances, it was thought that he had placed the muzzle of the weapon just back of the right ear, and the bullet had followed the skull up over the top of the head, and become lodged near the left temple. The shock to the man's system was so great that it was considered unsafe to attempt the removal of the bullet at that time, but if he should rally, which is very doubtful, this will be done.

   It is known that Mr. Day has met with severe business reverses, and it is believed that this trouble led to the act. Mrs. Day does not know how he came by the revolver, and did not know that one was in the room. Circumstances indicate premeditation.

   Mr. Day is about 50 years of age, and at one time ran a grocery business with his brother-in-law, W. E. Forrest, at the place now occupied by Mrs. H. M. Hopkins. He later conducted a boardinghouse in the new Wickwire building on Railroad-st., and then went to Homer where he had charge of the Windsor hotel a year, returning to Cortland about a year ago. He has one son, Fred Day, a clerk at Stoker's grocery, and one brother, George A. Day of Upper Lisle, and two sisters, Mrs. W. E. Forrest and Miss Nellie Day.

 

BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL.

Mrs. Warner None the Worse for Her Long Cold Walk.

   Mrs. R. H. Warner of 4 Salisbury-st., who at an early hour yesterday morning walked in very light clothing to the home of B. R. Knapp near East River while out of her head, was yesterday afternoon brought down to the Cortland hospital, where she is now being cared for. She seems to be none the worse for her long walk through the snow, and is now very rational.

   When she reached the home of Mr. Knapp it was about 7 o'clock in the morning. She had made her tramp entirely on the railroad track till she reached a point opposite Mr. Knapp's house and then cut up across lots. She was very wet and cold and Mrs. Knapp put her to bed. She slept till toward noon and then got up and put on some warm clothing furnished by her hostess. It was plain to be seen at once that she was out of her head, for she told of a plot of two men to kill her and of the death of her husband, saying that she had just heard Mr. Knapp tell of it when he thought her asleep, which was of course not true. After a little she told who she was and where she lived and that Mr. and Mrs. Decker were her friends. Mr. Knapp came down for Mr. Decker and he went up and brought her to the hospital. The rest and sleep of last night have done much for her in straightening out her mind, and it is believed that she will soon get along well.

 

Lt. Richmond Pearson Hobson.

HOBSON'S PROMOTION.

Said to be Greatest Recognition of Gallantry in Naval History.

   NEW YORK, March 3.—A dispatch to The Tribune from Washington says: The president's nomination of Richmond Pearson Hobson to be advanced ten numbers from number one on the list of assistant naval constructors, is said by naval officers to constitute the the greatest material promotion as a recognition of gallantry in the history of the naval service. It will make Hobson a captain at the age of 30. His advancement amounts to two hundred and fifty numbers in the line of the navy, which is remarkable in comparison with the single number secured by Admiral Dewey, eight numbers by Admiral Sampson and from three to five each by other officers during the war with Spain.

 

Admiral George Dewey.

It is Admiral Dewey.

   WASHINGTON, March 3.—The president has sent to the senate the nominations of Rear Admiral George Dewey to be admiral of the navy under the act approved March 2, 1899, and Brigadier General Elwell S. Otis, U. S. A., to be major general by brevet to rank from Feb. 4, 1899, for military skill and most distinguished service in the Philippine Islands. Dewey's nomination was at once confirmed.

 

Maj. Gen. Elwel Stephen Otis.

REGULARS FOR MANILA.

Six Regiments Ordered to Proceed There at Once.

ALL HAVE SEEN TROPICAL SERVICE.

If the situation Is Such Upon Their Arrival at Manila That a Like Number of Volunteers Can Be Discharged, It Will Be Promptly Done, If Not All Must Remain.

   WASHINGTON, March 3.—The secretary of war has just ordered reinforcements to General Otis of six regiments. These are the Sixth infantry, now at San Antonio, the Sixth artillery scattered along the Atlantic coast, the Ninth infantry at Madison barracks, Thirteenth infantry at Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Twenty-first Infantry at Plattsburg, N. Y., and the Sixteenth Infantry at Fort Crook and neighboring posts in the middle west. These regiments have been ordered to make ready to proceed to San Francisco and thence to Manila.

   In answer to the direct question as to whether or not these regular troops are intended to relieve a corresponding number of volunteer soldiers at Manila, it was said at the war department that while this probably would be the case, it was not possible yet to make a positive statement. This means that if when the reinforcements arrive at Manila the conditions are satisfactory, the volunteers will be brought home; but if General Otis shall have need for all of the combined force then they must wait.

   The reinforcements are made up of troops who are not only regulars in the full sense of the term, but who have been through the Cuban or Porto Rican campaigns. They know what it is to be under fire; how to hunt Indians and also how to fight in the tropical jungles. With these replacing the same number of volunteers, General Otis will have a majority of regulars in his command, something the war department has earnestly desired to bring about at the earliest possible moment. The position of the American commander at Manila also will be safeguarded against the effect of a sudden and forced discharge of volunteers by the ratification of the peace treaty.

 

Emilio Aguinaldo.

No American Prisoners Taken.

   WASHINGTON, March 3.—The war department officials pronounce absurd the characteristic Filipino junta story to the effect that Aguinaldo has taken several hundred American soldiers prisoners and removed them to the Interior. As a matter of fact General Otis' bulletins have accounted for every man in the American army at Manila, and there is not on record a single case of missing. Secretary Alger has brought the report to the attention of General Otis, with a view to securing the most specific denial.

 

VITAL STATISTICS.

Report of the New York State Board of Health For January.

   ALBANY, March 3.—The bulletin of the state board of health for the month of January, showing the vital statistics for that period, just issued, states: There were 12,421 deaths reported during January, an average daily rate of 400, against 350 in December; the number of deaths exceeds that of January, 1898, by 2,800. Common epidemic diseases caused 800 deaths, against 765 in December, and 900 in January, 1898.

   It was estimated that grip caused 1,800 deaths in December. This month it is estimated that it has increased the mortality by 3,000, this number having been either directly caused or hastened by it, or nearly 25 per cent of the total mortality of the month. The fatality was relatively greatest in the rural parts of the state, the city of New York with half the entire population, having but 600 of the 2,800 increased mortality over last January.

   There was one death from smallpox in New York city; the cases at Rochester and vicinity have nearly recovered; in Genesee county smallpox continues at Le Roy, and cases have recently developed in the town of Darien; and in the adjoining county of Erie, there is a case at Tonawanda, the origin being not yet ascertained; there is also a case at New Hartford, Oneida county, coming from Nebraska.

 

FISHING CONTEST.

Seth Greens vs. Izaak Waltons for Members of the Y. M. C. A.

   The second annual membership contest at the Y. M. C. A. has been successfully launched. The contest is disguised under the name of a fishing trip and the members are directed under the leadership of Per Lee Smith, who captains the Seth Greens, and Floyd Stoker, who captains the Izaak Waltons. The emblem selected is a fishhook burled in the lapel of the coat, with a knot of ribbon in the eye of the hook to serve as a distinguishing badge. The Seth Greens chose green, naturally, while the Ike Waltons sport a deep yellow. Every dollar in fees adds one point to the side securing that dollar. Renewals and new memberships constitute the source of income. Over fifty members gathered in the parlors last evening to get their instructions how to bait the hook and where to fish. A membership was never worth more to its owner than it is now. Don't be afraid to bite when the chance is offered. All members are requested to look over the following list of fishermen and find out on which side they are drafted and to hustle for the sake of their officers and for the cause at large. The contest closes March 22. The time is therefore limited. See to it that every man and boy eligible has the opportunity offered him to join the association and to avail himself of its privileges, or at least pass the privileges on to others if he himself cannot use them.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Special train to Ithaca 6:45 to-night.

   —The Binghamton Odd Fellows have decided to erect a new building in that city for their own use.

   — Four girls all under 14 years of age were yesterday arrested in Binghamton for stealing jewelry.

   —The Wideawake Literary club will meet at Mrs. J. F. Dailey's, 45 Evergreen-st., at 7:30 o'clock to-night.

   —The city of Chicago is considering the sprinkling of its asphalt pavements with oil to keep down the dust. Here is a suggestion for Cortland.

   —Frank C. Jones of 38 Madison-st., a carpenter, while at work yesterday fell, breaking one of the bones of the right wrist. Dr. Charles E. Bennett attended.

   —The Ladies’ and Pastor’s Aid society of the Homer-ave. M. E. church will hold a dime social at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Dale, 33 North Main-st., this evening.

   —It is said that Samuel A. Paine of Binghamton who is well known to many Cortland people under the name of Major McFlipp of the Elmira Telegram is one of the heirs to an estate of $8,000,000.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—V. A. Case, New Goods, page 6; C. F. Thompson, Pickups, page 6; Glann & Clark, Closing Out Sale, page 7; Model Clothing Co., Hats, page 8; C. F. Brown, Drugs, page 6.

   —Binghamton has sent a delegation to New York to attend the grand council of Red Men of the state of New York in the hopes of securing the location in that city of the state Red Men’s home which it is proposed to build.

   —Among the business changes April 1 will be the removal of F. J. Hackett, harness dealer and maker to the Sarson block on North Main-st. now occupied by Barnurn & Bugbee, who will take Mr. Hackett’s place in the Bauder building.

 

Obituary.

   We feel that more than passing mention should be made on the death of our beloved sister and friend, Mrs. Mary A. Bennett, who departed this life Feb. 26, 1899. She was left without a mother at the tender age of 7 years, and has since maintained herself by hard, physical labor. She was married to Fred C. Bennett, Dec. 2, 1875. Four children blessed their union, of whom one son, Theodore Bennett, survives her. She was for a number of years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Cortland. To know her was to respect and esteem her. Always manifesting her willingness to help those who were in trouble or sick, it can well be said she was a kind and loving friend and neighbor and will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends. Much sympathy is expressed for the sorrowing husband and son. She was indeed a true and loving wife and mother.