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| President Grover Cleveland. |
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| Grover Cleveland. |
The McGrawville Sentinel, Thursday, July 21, 1887.
The President's School-Days.
President Cleveland's recent visit to Clinton, this state, and his reminiscence of early school days has brought about many more similar reminiscences. The Syracuse Standard thus relates the story of Cleveland's early life in Fayetteville:
As a schoolboy, Grover was no better and no worse than the average schoolboy. Such was the verdict pronounced by his old school fellows, Dr. Frank G. Tibbits, Howard Edwards, William Austin and Addison Cole. As a student he was rather above the average. The few pranks recorded of him are not of a serious nature, and it does not appear that he ever got into trouble. His most daring adventure, so far as known, is told by Henry Decker. One midnight Decker, Cleveland and J. O. Evans, who afterwards became president of the Mutual Union Telegraph company, climbed up the lightning rod of the academy and tolled the old bell in the belfry. The lightning rod was one of the ancient variety, possessing a diameter of an inch and a quarter, so that scaling it was not a feat of unusual difficulty. While thus engaged tolling the bell at the dead of night they heard somebody coming and made for the ground. Decker made the descent all right, but Grover, who came on next, caught his leg on a piece of iron split from the main rod, and could get neither up or down. Decker then climbed up and boosted him off the point of which he was impaled. When at last the three had reached terra firma their pursuer was close upon them, but the boys ran swiftly over into old Mr. Hoyt's orchard and made their escape. When they had halted Grover's leg was found to be bleeding profusely, and the other boys did up his wound with their handkerchiefs.
Addison Cole tells a story of how the boys one night drove an energetic bull calf into the basement of the academy, and then made an infernal racket with tin pans to attract the attention of the principal. That official descended into the basement to see what was the matter and the calf butted him all over. Dr. F. G. Tibbits, the dentist, who was one of Grover's closest friends, tells with unction how it used to delight Grover to get off a joke. He would retain perfect command of his features until his victim's back was turned when he would swell up, puff out his cheeks and snort and snicker, as if the other fellow's stupidity was intensely amusing.
After leaving the academy, Grover entered the drug store of his father's friend, Deacon John McVicker, as a clerk, and continued in that position for a year or two or until the spring of 1853, when he followed his father to Clinton. Dr. Tibbits was a fellow clerk. The store is still standing and looks almost precisely as it did 34 years ago. His family having left town, Grover boarded with the McVickers and became a great favorite with the young people of the village about that time.
"He went with all the girls," remarked a lady lately, "and I don't know as he paid attention to one more than another."
The McVicker family have in their possession a photograph of Grover taken about that time. After the fashion of that day, he wore a thick, long shock of hair, but his mustache according to the picture must have been very faint and thin. The eyes and the expression of the face is very similar to what they are now.
Dr. Hutchins, who was in the McVicker drug store at the time that Grover clerked there, tells how the young man returned from Fayetteville after a visit to his uncle at Black Rock, near Buffalo, fired with enthusiasm to become a lawyer. Eli Cook, a well-known criminal lawyer in those days, was defending a case in Buffalo and Grover went to the trial one day out of pure curiosity. He heard Cook's summing up, and when he got back to Fayetteville he talked of little else for weeks.
"Oh, if I could only plead like that man," said Grover to the doctor, "I would ask for nothing higher."
Cook's speech to that jury was undoubtedly a turning point in Grover's life. It decided his profession for him.
TOO HOT IN THE CAPITAL CITY FOR COMPORT.
How Could Washington Exist a Week Without the President and the Sentinel's Correspondent?
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., July 18.—Neither the president nor your correspondent are at the capital this week and the government at Washington will have to get along the best it can. The capital city became too hot for me, and I came to this usually breezy place only to find that the sun had anticipated my arrival. I know of but one hotter place (and Mr. Ingersol denies the existence of that), than the board walk along the beach of Atlantic City when the wind is still or seaward. But, when the wind is from the sea, as it was Friday, and you take your ease on the verandah of your hotel, or loll on the beach and watch the lithe limbed youth and maidens in their bathing costumes, life seems worth living even in July, and New Jersey, contrary to a common prejudice, good for something.
Of the many seaside resorts extending from Long Branch to Cape May, Atlantic City is the largest and also the most popular. It was founded in a lot of crude wooden cottages and boarding houses for denizens of the Quaker city who were daring enough to astonish their bodies with a sea bath. Their children have since grown up to like the use of water, and with more money and leisure than their father's had, built splendid cottages and hotels which are frequented by guests from Los Angeles to Boston. Those who suppose Atlantic City is merely a summer resort will be surprised to see steam-heating apparatus in the large hotels. The height of the season here, I am told, is in February and March. Society comes from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and New York, to recuperate from the rack and drudgery of ostentatious life, and to enjoy the winter air that has been tempered through the gulf stream with a dash of the tropics. But the occasional land breeze so Sahara-like in summer is freezing cold in winter, hence the necessity of steam-heating in order that the lenten guest may have other than "lenten entertainment."
What voluptuous nomads we Americans are growing to be. The women and men of wealth are more at home any where than under their own roof-tree. They flit from Canada to Florida, from New York to Paris. The palace-car and trans-Atlantic steamers are their vehicles. The hotel is their home. The "son of toil" as he is called in the parlance of demagogues strikes from city to city traveling with greater state and comfort than was known to kings and emperors fifty years ago. We are making rapid strides whither? It would be pessimistic to suggest the place in our bright American Ingersolian lexicon; it is still well to ask—whither?
Tens of thousands of these "sons of toil," their wives and children, come here in excursions every week and spend money in a way that the wealthy of the old world would call extravagant. Their amusements and pastimes are law. Beer gardens, minstrel shows; dancing halls with surrounding influences extremely bad.
President's Party In Peril.
FORESTPORT, N. Y., July 20.—The connection rod of the engine to which the president's car was attached broke on the run from Clayton Saturday night and the engineer was killed. None the president's party was injured. The accident happened about 10:15 o'clock. The train was running at a high rate of speed. It had just whirled from Carthage to Lowville, twenty miles, in seventeen minutes, when the occupants of the single drawing-room car heard several sharp whistles and almost immediately the car was enveloped in steam.
Superintendent Hammond ran in from the forward compartment and pulled the safety rope. Then, and not till then, did the train begin to lose its momentum. It was a mile and a half before it fully came to a standstill, half a mile to the north of Glendale.
The connecting rod between the driving wheels on the engineer's side of the engine had snapped short off at the lug on the forward driver. It flew back, smashing the cab, stove a hole in the boiler, and hurled Riley over on the fireman. Then Riley disappeared from the engine. The broken bar pounded the ties at every revolution of the wheels and pebble stones rattled like hail against the car windows.
For twenty minutes the steam escaped in clouds from the boiler, and the engine and car were completely obscured. Fireman John Perego, of Utica, groped his way over the tender and appeared in the car, drenched to the skin with steam, and blood trinkling from several deep scratches on his head. He was a little faint, but recovered in a few minutes. He said something had burst in the engine; that Engineer William Riley had jumped from the cab, and that the shock had nearly carried him out also.
The president sat perfectly calm in the rear end of the car, simply explaining when he was told what had happened: "I thought something serious had happened, as I saw the clouds of steam." The ladies knew nothing of what had occurred until after signal lights had been sent ahead and to the rear.
The New York train from Clayton was thirty minutes behind. The president's car was attached to it, and the train backed down the road to find the body of the engineer. Parties who went in search of him reported that they were unable to find him. A brakeman, however, claimed that the body had been found at Stiles Bridge, a mile and a half above. Riley was 36 years of age and leaves a widow and two children in Utica.
The New York train left the president and his wife, and his brother and his wife, at the Alder Creek station twenty minutes after-midnight. The car containing General Manager Britton and his friends had already been switched off the special train at Watertown Junction.
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| Daniel S. Lamont. |
CORTLAND NEWS.
THE PRESIDENT PASSES THROUGH TOWN.
A crowd of four or five thousand people filled every available space around the E. C. & N. depot Tuesday evening. Many of the principal democrats were there to be seen, and many of other parties because Cleveland is the president of the whole country and not of one party only. Many children were there to see a real live president, and a great many women were there to see Mrs. Cleveland.
The car was a "special" which started from Cazenovia at six, arriving here soon after half past seven. Cortland fired off the biggest guns she had and two bands were doing their best to do honor to the caller. As the car rolled in Mr. Cleveland was seen standing on the rear platform, white hatted and smiling. Mrs. Cleveland stood in the car door. The ubiquitous Colonel Lamont soon appeared on the platform, and also Mrs. Lamont. The manager of the train called loudly for O. U. Kellogg who soon appeared and mounted the steps. There was some hand-shaking but no speeches. In about ten minutes the bell cord was pulled and the train moved slowly off—and it was all over. We noticed J. B. Lamont and wife sitting in a buggy where all could be seen.
NEWS IN PARAGRAPHS.
Parsons' new directories were delivered to subscribers last week.
The prohibitionists have called a county convention to meet August 22.
Twenty-five new letter boxes have arrived, which will be placed around town.
The funeral of Mrs. Ezra Rood was held at the Methodist church Monday at 2 P. M.
Mr. Wallace has been doing a beautiful piece of decorating on the halls of his new block.
The runner of F. N. Harrington's is as nice a specimen of horse flesh as one often sees on our streets.
Stephen D. Freer, an old resident of Cortland, died at his home on Port Watson street a week ago Sunday.
Anybody can find work now at laying water pipe. Mill street and Clinton avenue have been already finished.
More meetings have been held relative to the Cortland and Cincinnatus railroad. The project should be successful.
Morris Congdon was captured Tuesday and is now lodged in jail to await the action of the court which sits in October.
Mason Ingalls has been on a weeks' fishing trip at Fulton. We have seen some four pound bass he has sent to his friends.
The post mortem examination of Gus Sanders, who died of injuries received at Sylvan Beach the Fourth, revealed concussion of the spinal cord.
The Mutual Aid of the Cortland Wagon company has an excursion next Saturday to Pleasant Beach on the Onondaga lake. The fair is one dollar for the round trip.
The Howe Stove company is organized with $180,000 capital to occupy the Sanford Fork and Tool company's building. C. B. Hitchcock is president of the company.
The Elmira ball club play ball with the Cortlands Friday afternoon at the fair grounds. It will undoubtedly be the best played game of the season. We are not betting very heavy on our club.
The Methodist church and Sunday school have an excursion to Pleasant Beach on next week Wednesday. An extra train runs on the D. L. & W. railroad starting at 8 A. M. and returning at 9 P. M. This makes a good opportunity for a day's pleasure or to visit Syracuse.
The base-ball game last Saturday between the Central Citys of Syracuse and the Cortland Giants was quite an interesting one. Cortlands won by a score of 16 to 9. Bert Kinney played third base to entire satisfaction. He got in a three base, two base and two one base hits. Roberts pitched in place of Corcoran. Wells' catching was fine.
EDITOR'S EASY CHAIR.
—George and Ed Martin visited in town Sunday.
—Art Brainard of Marathon was in town Sunday.
—We need a few good cross-walks in town—some on our main streets.
—John Warren has moved into the house recently vacated by George Rodgers.
—Charles Waterman of Killawog was in town over Sunday, a guest at Well Dibble's.
—Rollo Dibble and Nellie Goodell visted Mr. Dibble's parents in Killawog over Sunday.
—Mrs. O. A. Manzer and her daughter Nellie returned home in Camden yesterday.
—Rev. E. H. Dickinson preaches at the union service in the Presbyterian church Sunday evening.
—Misses Anna and Ridie Moore of New York are guests of their uncle's, William Moore's family.
—Mrs. Daniel Monroe of Binghamton, is the guest of Helen Monroe. They visited in Ithaca Wednesday.
—A harvest dance will be given Friday evening July 29 at John O'Donnel's. All are invited to attend.
—Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Palmer, of the corner store, have been visiting his brother in West Eaton the past week.
—After a week's vacation for taking inventory, etc., the [corset] factory is again in full operation and under very favorable auspices.
—Mary Phillips, who has been the guest of friends in Homer for some time past, returned to her home in this place last Thursday.
—The Elmira, Cortland & Northern railroad is doing an immense carrying business in freight and passenger travel. It is reported that ninety-five loaded cars in one train, drawn by four engines, passed over the road last week.
—Among SENTINEL readers from out of town who have been in McGrawville the past week are Samuel G. McVean, of Groton; J. C. Rogers, Taylor; Isaac Samson, W. S. Carruth, R. C. Rogers and Simon Edwards, Cincinnatus.
—Our village fathers have seen fit to put new sills under the pagoda the past week. The old ones were entirely rotted out. Now why could not the second floor be made slanting enough to shed water, and a temporary roof be placed over it winters to protect the firemen's apparatus.
—A correspondent in Homer writes that Nathan Salisbury died at his home in Cold Brook Saturday morning, aged 94 years. His funeral occurred Monday morning. Mr. Salisbury was born in Cranston, R. I., October 10, 1793, and in 1807 moved with his father to Homer, where he has since lived. He was at his death one of the oldest settlers, if not the oldest, in the vicinity.
—Colonel and Mrs. D. S. Lamont, of Washington, came here last Monday and were guests of their parents during the day. Tuesday they went to Cazenovia and united with President Cleveland's party during its stay there. The special train bearing the party stopped at Cortland Tuesday evening where Mrs. Lamont left it and came back here.
—Collins & Daehler, the reliable clothiers of Cortland, make an announcement in an advertisement on this page that will pay you to read. Their business has rapidly increased from year to year and they keep their stock clean and in style by having occasional special sales of left over goods. They are all desirable goods, and besides they keep all kinds of men's furnishing goods.
—We learn from reliable sources that P. H. McGraw & Son have perfected arrangements to manufacture here both the paper and wooden boxes they use in their factory, instead of having them made in Syracuse, and for that purpose one building of about 40x100 feet is very soon to be erected, and others are likely to follow. This will add very materially to the number of employees of this firm.
—Miles Crampton of Homer, aged eighty years, fell from a hay loft to the ground Monday afternoon, cutting a wound in his scalp eight inches long, so that when it dropped down it nearly covered his face. The lower jaw was also broken, and he sustained several bad bruises on other parts of the body. Mr. Crampton,, whose mind is a trifle dull, has no recollection of the accident or how it could have occurred, and his family first knew of it when he appeared in the kitchen door almost unrecognizable from blood. It is thought that he may recover.
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