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| Windsor Hotel before March 17,1899, fire. |
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| Windsor Hotel on fire, crowd watching fire and firemen. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, March 21, 1899.
BETTER FIRE ESCAPES.
Several New Bills Called Out by the New York Holocaust.
ALBANY, March 21.—As a result of the terrible holocaust caused by the Windsor hotel fire, several bills were introduced in the legislature, notably those by Messrs. Greene, Harburger and Hoffman calculated to make more stringent regulations in regard to the placing of fire escapes in hotels.
As a direct result of the Hotel Royal fire in New York city several years ago a statute was enacted providing for fire escapes in each room of a hotel. These new measures are even more definite, stating the nature and efficiency of the appliances and making it mandatory that more general provisions for the safety of life be made.
One of the bills and which it is understood meets general favor, calls for daily inspection of appliances designed to prevent fire. The feeling in both houses of the legislature is that legislative action in this direction should be not only stringent, but immediate.
Hotel Men Seeking Fire Protection.
NEW YORK, March 21.—The Hotel Men's association of New York city met in the Grand Union hotel and appointed a committee to confer with the fire department and the building department to devise the best means of preventing a recurrence of hotel fires such as that of the Windsor hotel last Friday.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Guarding Against Fire.
The Windsor hotel fire and its appalling casualties naturally give rise to discussion of the condition of other hotels as subject to combustion. In general it is said that all the hotels in New York erected since 1892 are as secure against fire as they can be made. The president of the department of buildings says of one of these, one of the loftiest in the city: "A fire occurred there. They simply shut the door and let the fire exhaust itself." Of another house a fire commissioner says: "If I were on the roof and a fire broke out inside I would feel as safe as though I were on the ground."
The present law regulating the construction of buildings in New York to be used for hotels, theaters, hospitals, asylums and schools, was framed with the burning of the Royal in Sixth-ave. as an incentive. It requires that such buildings, exceeding 35 feet in height, must be fire proof. The regulation applies to all buildings over 75 feet high.
The majority of New York's hotels were built prior to 1892. The Windsor was one of these and its outfit of safety appliances conformed with legislative requirements as to then existing hotels. It was inspected only two weeks ago. The report on file shows the hotel had all the fire escapes the law required and more. Rope escapes were in the several rooms. Four stand pipes carried water to the highest floor. Hose was abundant. Hand grenades and portable fire extinguishers were in every hall. Four fire alarm gongs on every floor were electrically connected with the office.
The impressive fact is that with all these means of safety and precaution we have the record of Friday's fire, not at night when guests were asleep, but at a time when mankind is usually wide awake. There are many hotels in New York and elsewhere in the condition of The Windsor. They have the provisions for life saving that law and human interest prescribe. They would burn as quickly as did The Windsor.
The president of the New York building department argues that little can be done to improve the present conditions of hotels. If the buildings are safe, that is, substantially built, and proprietors conform to the law as to provisions for fire extinguishing and escapes, more can not be required. Unsafe buildings can be condemned and pulled down, but the owners of substantial structures can not be compelled to pull them down and rebuild in conformity to the law of 1892. President Brady is right as the law is. It is said there will be efforts made to secure legislation that all hotels in New York be brought into conformity with the provisions of the present building law. But danger from fire is confined to no city, and is non-associated with few structures. Individual care and watchfulness are precaution, and means of safety necessary and most useful under the best of laws.
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| Carl Schurz. |
◘ Carl Schurz, whose friends recently honored him with a banquet on his seventieth birthday, gave this little bit of personal history in his reply to the toast of the evening: "The brilliant scene here before me recalls to my mind with great vividness the September day in 1852 when I landed upon these shores as an exile from my native land. I well remember my first wanderings through the streets of New York, some of which were at the time decorated with the trappings of a presidential campaign, then almost unintelligible to me. I remember my lonely musings on a bench in Union square, the whirl and noise near me only deepening the desolation and forlornness of my feeling. Still, I was firmly determined that for better or worse this should be my home and my country for the rest of my life."
In that half century of exile Carl Schurz received some of the highest honors that his adopted country could bestow upon him. While, therefore, the narration was a tribute to his own fidelity of purpose, it was also a magnificent tribute to the country that held its arms open to him.
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| John Truck, Cortland Standard newspaper image. |
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| Cortland County Courthouse, jail annex on left. |
CORONER'S INQUEST
ADJOURNED TILL MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 27.
Truck's Dally Routine In the Cortland Jail—Reads and Sleeps and Chews Tobacco—Books Furnished, no Papers Permitted—He Is a Great Talker.
Coroner Smith went to Virgil this afternoon and adjourned the inquest into the death of Frank W. Miller till next Monday morning, March 27, at 10 o'clock, at which it will be continued at the Virgil town hall. This action was rendered desirable by the inability of District Attorney Edwin Duffey to be present at this time, as he is now acting as prosecuting attorney in several cases that are this week receiving attention at county court in Cortland. Two of the coroner's jury also have engagements here at this time, Darius Allen being a juror in a case now on trial in county court and John Downs being a witness.
John Truck, who is confined in the county jail because it seems possible that he knows more than he is willing to tell in regard to the death of Frank W. Miller on the night of March 14, is an exemplary prisoner. He makes no complaints and no fuss about anything that comes to him. He is an occupant of a cell off the north and south corridor on the east side of the jail on the lower floor. As one enters the jail through the heavy iron door just beneath the stairway leading up to the courtroom above he finds himself in a corridor extending east and west across the jail, having a grated window at each end. From the east window opening upon Church-st. the prisoners are sometimes to be seen by the passersby. But that is not the case now. This corridor is empty. Extending from this northward are two shorter corridors close to the outside walls of the jail with five cells opening from the inner side of each corridor. These cells come together at the inner ends, but are separated by a solid wall of stone masonry. The five cells in the west corridor are all occupied and the five prisoners are not permitted to go from it into the main entrance corridor, the heavy door separating the two corridors being closed and locked. Truck has a cell in the east corridor and has three companions in his corridor. They too are shut in from the main entrance corridor.
The four occupants of this east corridor while away the time as best they may. They are not permitted to have any newspapers to read just now as it is not considered wise to take the chance of Truck's finding anything that may bear upon his own case or that will help him to shape a story that will fit in with that told by any one else. Papers are also kept away from the occupants of the other corridor lest they might find something of interest and contrive means of communicating it. Books they can have in plenty. It is not classic literature that occupies their time, but a lot of light stuff that is found in cheap bindings. They read this from morning till night, when not sleeping, eating or talking. Truck is a constant tobacco chewer. He says he smokes too, but his pipe has not come down to him yet, and he has no smoking tobacco.
All of the prisoners now confined in the lower jail were there before Truck arrived. They do not even know what he is there for except what he has told them. Several new recruits have been added to Sheriff Brainard's boarders since Truck was received, but they have all been sent upstairs so that no one has had a chance to come in and post Truck or any of his companions upon what the papers say or on what people are talking about in the outer world.
The circumstances concerning Truck's arrival at the jail last Thursday afternoon are a little peculiar, and owing to the great interest in other features have not yet been spoken of. When the telephone message came at about 3:30 o'clock from Sheriff Brainard at Preble saying that the prisoner was on the way to jail the news spread quickly and a great crowd assembled up Main, Railroad and Court-sts., all waiting for a sight of the sheriff. It will be remembered that Truck was with Constable Dennis of Preble, the sheriff's horse having gone on to Syracuse with Officer Shirley, and the sheriff came back with the Miller horse and Truck's little buggy. The seat of this is very narrow and would no more than accommodate the sheriff comfortably, that official having fully reached man's estate in the matter of size. No one here knew Constable Dennis, no one knew Truck. The result was that they drove right down through the crowd without a soul among them giving a second look or perhaps even a first look at the two. They drove into the sheriff's barn behind the jail and before any one appeared Truck was safely in his cell. When the sheriff came along a half hour later, his horse not being as good a roader as Constable Dennis' the crowd began to inquire where was his prisoner and was bitterly disappointed at not seeing him.
But it should not for a moment be supposed that Truck's companions are unacquainted with the cause of his detention. He is a tremendous talker. Said one man yesterday who claimed to know him well, "Talk! He will talk a man blind if he will listen to him. He will get up at 4 o'clock in the morning to talk if he can get any one to pay attention to him." He has doubtless gave them a reason why he is there.
A STANDARD man has interviewed him several times and he has always talked freely and fluently. A question or two will set him going. He has never declined so far to answer a single question put to him. After he has answered a question if his interviewer remains silent a moment he will begin at once to enlarge upon what he has already said and will go on and give particulars. He has a convincing way with him too as he speaks. He looks a man squarely in the eye and talks in a decidedly emphatic way. He tells a very plausible story. If a listener points out deviations in facts as stated from the way in which these matters were told before, it never rattles him. He never backs up and says he is mistaken or he was wrong, but he immediately sets out on an explanation to show that both statements are right and that they harmonize, and that if there is any mistake about it, it was on the part of the listener and not of the speaker.
He met his wife Saturday afternoon in the grand jury room in the presence of several people for the first time since they separated Thursday morning before his arrest when he went from Barrett's house in Christian Hollow over to Reihlman's to close, as he supposed, his lease for the latter's house. As he came into the room where Mrs. Truck was he stopped some fifteen feet away and they just looked at each other. He stood with his hands behind his back. Finally he said, "Oh, you've come down." "Yes," was the reply. They scarcely said two dozen words to each other in an hour or more that afternoon.
After Truck had gone back to his cell Mrs. Truck made the remark that she supposed it was better for her to see him, but she feared he would never get out again. She was down again yesterday and brought him a clean shirt and pair of socks and a plug of chewing tobacco. The sheriff has provided him with some clothes, having taken away all those which he wore when arrested and having taken possession, for the present, of all his clothing found at his house.
He seems wholly unconcerned and eats, sleeps and reads as though satisfied with all in the world and with every thing.
THE NEW VILLAGE BOARD.
ITS FIRST BUSINESS SESSION HELD LAST NIGHT.
Three of the Five Members are New in the Business—A Supreme Court Action the First on the Docket—Another Heritage from the Last Board—Bond of Police Justice Davis Approved.
The first meeting of the new board of village trustees for the current year was held last night in the office of Clerk Crombie.
The board has three new faces upon it, those of President Samuel N. Holden, Trustee C. Fred Thompson of the First ward and Trustee Elbert D. Wood of the Third ward. The fact that President Holden and Trustee Thompson were each elected by a majority of one vote, did not deter them from taking an active part in the deliberations of the session. They seemed to feel just as secure in their positions as did Trustee Wood with his majority of 39, Trustee Sprague of the Fourth ward was the only member of the former board present, Trustee White having made an engagement for the evening before receiving notice of the meeting. President Holden has the requisite avoirdupois to hold down the presidential chair in good shape, and makes a model presiding officer. Trustee Thompson is a long man, in feet and inches, consequently it must follow that he will be a far seeing man of much value to the board. Trustee Woods form fits very nicely into the aldermanic chair of the Third ward. He has the proper idea of the duties of a trustee and took hold of the business last night with the ability of a veteran. Mr. Wood is a man of sound common and business sense, and the village will find him a conscientious and valuable public servant. Trustees White and Sprague have had a year's experience in their duties, which will materially aid the new board in transacting its business.
After the approval of the minutes of the last session of the old board, the board realized its first experience of receiving a summons and complaint in a damage action brought in supreme court. The plaintiff in the case is Thomas Conway, who is going to seek the recovery of the sum of $2,000 alleged damages by reason of injuries claimed to have been received by falling into a gutter at Main and Port Watson-sts. one night during the time of the construction of the pavement. The old board had become so accustomed to such actions as these that it did not flinch in the least when one was commenced, and this board after recovery from the first sensation did the same as the other, referred it to Kellogg & Van Hoesen. The attorney in the case for the plaintiff is T. H. Dowd.
Notice of the claim was filed last fall. This is one of those actions which, the village claims, the Warren-Scbarf Asphalt Paving Co. has given a bond to defend, so really there is not very much alarm felt in municipal circles.
The bills audited were those of H. R. Maine, express charges, $16.25; F. C. Parsons, printing, $214; Geo. Givens, labor, $10.50; telephone, $.45; D. E. Call, coal, $10.50; Miss M. E. Riley, typewriting, $3.
A heritage which came from the old board was a couple of old bills from A. G. Bosworth of $5, and Frank Geralds [of] $7.50. Messrs. Bosworth and Geralds were quarantined during the smallpox scare last fall, and put in claims for the same. The board of health had not taken action on the bills, but had simply referred them to the board of trustees. No action was taken on them and there seemed to be a feeling that it is hardly probable that they will ever be allowed.
The bond of Police Justice-elect Rowland L. Davis in the penal sum of $3,000 with F. H. Cobb and B. F. Taylor as sureties was approved. The bond of George V. Clark, who was elected treasurer was presented, but the board declined to accept it until the justification of the sureties had been made.
The applications of Daniel Geer and D. M. Totman for the appointment as street commissioner have been filed with the village clerk, but action on all appointments was deferred until the next meeting, March 28, to which time the board adjourned.
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| Ferdinand E. Smith. |
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| Truant officer J. R. Birdlebough. |
MR. CARLEY RE-ELECTED.
AGAIN CHOSEN PRESIDENT OF BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Superintendent Smith Again Made Secretary—Record of Attendance Made at the Central School the Best in the State—Board Upholding Truant Officer In His Efforts—Bills Allowed and Paid.
The first meeting for the present fiscal year of the board of education of Cortland Union free school district, No. 1, was held in the office of Superintendent Smith in the Central school building last evening. All the commissioners were present except Commissioner-elect M. H. Yale, who is in New York and has not yet qualified. Mr. Yale is the only new member of the board, he succeeding George L. Warren.
Hon. Alburtis A. Carley, who has been the board's able and courteous presiding officer during the last year, was tendered a unanimous re-election. Superintendent of Schools Ferdinand E. Smith was also re-elected clerk of the board.
The following letter from the state office of the superintendent of public instruction bearing date of Feb. 27, explains itself:
Supt. F. E. Smith, Cortland, N. Y.:
MY DEAR MR. SMITH—Your letter and the report as to the attendance is received. I believe that the Central school beats the record. It is certainly very gratifying to find in the state a school which can show for one-half of a school year an actual attendance of 95 3-5 per cent. Could we obtain such results throughout the state, we should be more than gratified. Your other schools did remarkably well under, I presume, less favorable circumstances. I shall use this record for the encouragement of others in some of my speeches. I thank you for your prompt compliance with my request.
Very Truly Yours, A. M. WRIGHT.
This is a record in which Cortland's citizens can take much pride. But none can be more proud of it than can Superintendent Smith and his able corps of teachers, and also Truant Officer J. R. Birdlebough who has kept a close watch of would-be truants. The question of truancy was pretty thoroughly discussed at the meeting, and the board stands as a unit behind the truant officer in whatever he may do.
It was decided not to close schools during the week of teachers' institute to be held at the courthouse beginning April 10, so that the schools may close with the week of Regents' examinations in June.
The following five bills were allowed and ordered paid: Benj. Smith, brooms, $2.70; H. F. Benton, lumber, $8.93; J. A. Nixon, insurance, $18; estate of B. B. Jones, printing, $14; F. C. Parsons, printing, $3.
SPARKS FROM THE DIAMOND.
Sayings and Doings in the New York State League.
A meeting of the State league for the purpose of completing the circuit is to be held in the course of the next week or ten days. It looks now as though the league would be composed of Albany, Auburn, Amsterdam, Binghamton, Cortland, Oswego, Rome and Utica. J. Louis Bacon, who last season piloted the Lyons team, is stirring up enthusiasm in Binghamton and will probably manage the Parlor City team. Owing to lack of suitable grounds within easy reach, Schenectady is out entirely, and Amsterdam will probably become Albany's running mate.
Ed Lauzon, who was with New Orleans last year, has signed as an outfielder and change catcher with the Oswego club.
Stanley Yerkes, who accepted $25 advance money from Oswego last season and failed to report, will not be allowed to play again until the amount is refunded. Manager Sayer has received notice from President Young that Oswego will be protected in this matter.
If the clubs in the State league adhere strictly to the salary limit they will have no difficulty in keeping above water. But if last season's mode of procedure is followed, the league will soon be in difficulties. The team Oswego has secured is inside the figure fixed by the league and will remain there, winning or losing.—Oswego Palladium.
Utica's team is now complete. It consists of 14 players as follows: Pitchers, Mackey, Mills, Lipp, Reynolds and Buckley; catchers, Hurley and Kockel; first baseman, Earl; second baseman, Gilbert; third baseman, Ellis; shortstop, Kuhn; left fielder, Hallman; center fielder, Hill; right fielder, Tieman. Earl will manage and captain the team.
Manager Hank Ramsey, now manager of the Cortland State league team, formerly of the Canandaiguas, writes Canandaigua friends that the report that he is to negotiate to bring his team to this place is without foundation. He has had no such intentions. Cortland, he says, has more ready money than any of the other State league teams. The recent fair there cleared for the baseball association some $1,000 and the team will start the season under very favorable circumstances.
Manager Ramsey states that he has an excellent team signed. His outfield will be composed of Ketchum, Gannon and Lawlor, the last two being former Canandaiguans, and Ketchum was on last year's Cortland team. Mullen, a last year's Cortland twirler, and McFall, the star pitcher for the Canandaigua team in the two pennant winning years, are both on Ramsey's team. He has two other good pitchers and two first-rate catchers. He states that his infield will be stronger than any he has yet had, but he is not yet ready to announce the personnel.
BREVITIES.
—Mr. E. U. Wright's undertaking rooms on Clinton-ave. have been connected with the telephone exchange.
—The Wide Awake Literary club will meet at the home of Mrs. Porter Bunnell, Fitz-ave., at 7:30 o'clock to-night.
—The case of Gillett vs. Perkins which was begun in county court yesterday afternoon is still on trial and promises to occupy the greater part of the afternoon. It is said that the case of The People vs. Erving Congdon will come next.
—New display advertisements to-day are—McGraw & Osgood, Shoes, page 8; D. McCarthy & Sons, Do you shop by mail? page 7; Glann & Clark, We have rented, etc, page 8; Warren, Tanner & Co., Curtain and window draperies, page 7; Opera House, "Faust," page 5.
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