Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, March 30, 1899.
WAR RAGING IN SAMOA.
Gunboats Bombarding the Native Villages.
IT HAS CONTINUED EIGHT DAYS.
The United States Cruiser Philadelphia and the British Cruisers Porpoise and Royalist Co-operating In the Bombardment—A Number of Casualties Have Occurred.
AUCKLAND, March 30.—Advices from Apia, Samoa, dated March 23, are to the effect that the trouble growing out of the election of a king of Samoa have taken a more serious turn and resulted in a bombardment of native villages along the shore by the United States cruiser Philadelphia, Admiral Kautz commanding, and the British cruisers Porpoise and Royalist. The bombardment has continued intermittently for eight days. Several villages have been burned and there have been a number of casualties among the American and British sailors and marines. As yet, it is impossible to estimate the number of natives killed or injured.
As Mataafa and his chiefs, constituting the provisional government, continued to defy the treaty after the arrival of the Philadelphia, Admiral Kautz summoned the various consuls and the senior naval officers to a conference on board the Philadelphia, when the whole situation was carefully canvassed. The upshot was a resolution to dismiss the provisional government and Admiral Kautz issued a proclamation calling upon Mataafa and his chiefs to return to their homes.
Mataafa evacuated Mulinuu, the town he had made his headquarters, and went into the interior. Herr Rose, the German consul at Apia, issued a proclamation supplementing the one he had issued several weeks before, upholding the provisional government. As a result of this the Mataafans assembled in large force and hemmed in the town.
The British cruiser Royalist brought the Malietoa prisoners from the islands to which they had been transferred by the provisional government. The Americans then fortified Mulinuu, where 2,000 Malietoans took refuge. The rebels, the adherents of Mataafa, barricaded the roads within the municipality and seized the British houses.
An ultimatum was then sent to them ordering them to evacuate and threatening them, in the event of refusal, with a bombardment to commence at 1 o'clock on the afternoon of March 15.
This was ignored and the rebels commenced an attack in the direction of the United States and British consulates about half an hour before the time fixed for the bombardment. The Philadelphia, Porpoise and Royalist opened fire upon the distant villages. There was great difficulty in locating the enemy, owing to the dense forest; but several shore villages were soon in flames.
A defective shell from the Philadelphia exploded near the American consulate and the marines outside narrowly escaped. A fragment struck the leg of Private Rudge, shattering it so badly as to necessitate amputation. Another fragment traversed the German consulate, smashing the crockery. The Germans then went on board the German cruiser Falke.
During the night the rebels made a hot attack on the town, killing three British sailors. A British marine was shot in the leg by a sentry of his own party; another was shot in the feet, while an American sentry was killed at his post.
The bombardment continuing, the inhabitants of the town took refuge on board the Royalist greatly crowding the vessel. Many people are leaving Samoa, the captain of the Royalist urging them to go, so as not to interfere with the military operations.
The Porpoise has shelled the villages east and west of Apia and captured many boats.
The Americans and British are fighting splendidly together but there is a bitter feeling against the Germans.
Two men, a British and a German subject, have been arrested as spies. The bombardment of the jungle was for a time very hot.
The British cruiser Tauranga which, it is understood, was intending to annex the Tonga Islands (a section of the Friendly Islands in the Pacific), was intercepted at Suva, capital of the Fiji Islands, by order of the home government.
A Friendship Explained.
Oftentimes curiosity is aroused because of the fast friendship which has always existed between Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant and Mrs. Jefferson Davis. It is accounted for in this way: Long before the civil war, when Grant was stationed with his regiment in the far northwest, charges were preferred against him and were reviewed by Davis, who was then secretary of war. He took the young officers part and dismissed the charges with a gentle reprimand. "The silent man of Galena" never forgot this; neither has his widow.
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| Murder suspect John Truck. |
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| Virgil map segment, 1863, Library of Congress. |
THE MILLER INQUEST.
CORONER'S JURY BEGIN TAKING EVIDENCE IN THE CASE.
Winslow Hall at Virgil Filled With an Eager Crowd—Inquest Began at 10:30 This Morning—Two Witnesses Sworn This Forenoon—Testimony of John Patten and Silas Lowe—Mrs. Miller's Evidence to be Taken This Afternoon.
The inquest into the death of Frank W. Miller of Virgil, which was adjourned Monday after the new jury had viewed the remains in the vault at the Cortland Rural cemetery, was continued to-day in the town hall at Virgil.
The jury was called to order by Coroner Smith at 10:35 o'clock. The hall was crowded with people. Coroner Smith announced that he would call the following witnesses in the course of the inquest: Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, John Patten, William Seaman, Edward Bloomer, Silas B. Lowe, J. I. Homer, Wm. Bloomer, A. E. Brainard, Darius Allen and Dr. P. M. Emery.
John Patten was the first witness called. He said that he resided four miles east of Virgil on the road to Snyder hill. Frank W. Miller lived on a branch road running from that road up on Fuller hill. His house and Miller's were about 100 rods apart. On the evening of March 14 with his wife, Mrs. Jennie Patten, he had been to church at East Virgil. They had extra business to transact at the church after the close of the meeting, and it must have been 10 o'clock before they started for home. He looked at his watch once during the business meeting and it was then 9:15 o'clock and it was probably three-quarters of an hour after that before they started for home. They were on the road leading toward Miller's when they saw a light on the right hand side when within about twenty rods of the schoolhouse. The light proved to have been the reflection on the snow and ice of the fire over on the left hand side of the hill. They drove up there and saw that it was Miller's house burning. The kitchen part, or shed was pretty well on fire. The fire had broken out to the air, but the roof had not yet fallen in. There was no fire yet in the main part of the house. The house stood about a rod back from the road. It was about 16 by 20 feet in size, and a story and a half high. Mrs. Patten held the horse by the head and he ran up to the house to see if he could arouse Miller. He went first to the north window which opened into Miller's sleepingroom, but the cinders were falling so fiercely he had to leave. Then he went around to the window at the front and climbed up to the hatchway. The ground slopes so abruptly there that one enters the cellar on a level with the ground through the hatchway without going down stairs.
The hatchway had two perpendicular side walls of stone, each about 6 feet high. On top of that was a little frame building, above which was a window. He climbed up on this roof and tried to open the window which was directly above but could not get it open. He had on a heavy woolen mitten and broke in the glass. He put his head in the window and shouted "Frank" five or six times as loud as he could. There was no response. He doesn't think there was any smoke in the room. He did not feel any smoke or fire on his face.
He did not try the front door. He became satisfied that Frank was away because he received no response and getting into his wagon again, drove as fast as his horse could run down to Darius Allen's three-quarters of a mile away on the corner of the state road. He aroused Allen, waited about five minutes for him to dress and Allen went back with him; the three of them being in the buggy. He thought they were not gone from the house more than twenty minutes. Silas Lowe and Irving Homer reached the house just as they got back there. When they reached the schoolhouse at the foot of Miller's hill, Mrs. Patten took their horse up to their home and he went up to the burning house. The fire at that time was in the roof of the main part of the house. The wind was blowing from the east. The woodshed was pretty well burned down.
Homer and Lowe started to go into the hatchway. Mr. Patten shouted to them not to go in there too far for fear the floor would drop down on them. He did not notice the hatchway when he was there first. He did not see any maul at the door. Allen went to the barn as soon as he got there and reported that Frank was all right as his horse and wagon were gone and he was undoubtedly away. Then they went around to the upper side of the house and watched the fire burn.
Lowe, Homer, Allen, Wm. and Ed Bloomer were all that were there at the time that he was there. They thought that the other buildings would certainly not burn and he went home before the upright part fell in. Before he went he saw an object on the floor in the north room and thought it was clothing. It did not burn very rapidly. When be reached home it was 11:40 o'clock and his clock was substantially correct in time. While they were up back of the house they could see plainly into the north room; the wind blew the smoke out and it seemed to be all ablaze. He was probably there ten or fifteen minutes the second time. It was just about an hour from the time that he first discovered the fire until he started for home.
He saw Frank Miller on Tuesday afternoon going to East Virgil. He saw Miller at his mother's between 10 and 12 o'clock. Miller was driving the bay mare and the wagon with the yellow running gear. He also saw Miller's horse tied at Mr. Darling's at East Virgil between 3 and 4 o'clock.
Silas B. Lowe was the next witness. He lives on the first road north of Miller's house that runs east, about three quarters of a mile from Miller's. He was at home on the evening of March 14. They had company that evening. It was 10:35 o'clock when they spoke of going to bed; they probably got to bed in the course of fifteen minutes from that time. As soon as the light was out they discovered the light from the burning building. He got up at once and went over to Irving Homer's, a short distance away and called him and told him that Frank Miller's place was burning up. Miller's house was not quite in sight from his house, but he knew the range. It was 11:05 o'clock when he left Homer's house; he looked at his own watch and spoke of it to Homer, and it was also 11:05 by Homer's clock. They ran down as rapidly as possible and were not over ten minutes going. Mr. Allen arrived just as they did; Mr. Patten a moment later. When they got there the roof of the main part of the house had burned in. He thought the roof had fallen. The north, east and south sides of the building were still standing. The west side which was towards the woodshed was burned down. They tried to look into the north room; went up within 10 feet of the window, but could not see in. It was too hot to go nearer. The windows were burned out and the flames were pouring out of them.
Not long after going up back of the house they saw this dark object on the floor that did not burn. They thought it was a person. They kept watching it until the floor broke through and it fell into the cellar; he could not tell whether it had any clothing on or not. It looked first as if it were a pile of clothes; the more it burned, the more it looked like a human being; it lay in the middle of the room. Mrs. Miller came up there a short time after that and about the time they discovered the object. They said nothing to her about it.
Continuing Mr. Lowe said: I went home with Miss Miller. I heard her clock strike 12 as we reached her house. My watch said it was then twenty minutes past twelve. We told her that her son must be safe as his horse and wagon were gone, but we had our doubts about it after seeing that object, but we did not want to alarm her. When I got back to the house they were throwing water on the object which had fallen into the cellar. It fell with head downward and feet up and against the wall. It fell into the cellar before I went down with Mrs. Miller. Not long after I came back, we got a fork from the barn and Allen and Homer reached in from the hatchway door and brought the body out on the fork. They threw dry boards upon the burning embers to step on and prevent them from stepping on the burning coals. The sills were still smoking on the walls. The body was probably ten feet from the hatchway into the cellar. I examined the body some after it was taken out. On the breast was a portion of the shirt and the bib of his overalls. There was a portion of a coat also that lay under it. I could not identify the clothing as any I had seen Miller wear before. I went home soon after that and went to Blodgett Mills to notify the coroner and the sheriff.
I helped Constable Leech of Blodgett Mills sift the ashes that were in the cellar. We used a sieve from a fanning mill; it was fine enough screen to catch small shirt buttons. We worked all day and found a few buttons and buckles from his clothing also one shoe buckle. We found no trace of his watch and no trace of money, silver or gold, nothing that resembled it. We found portions of his trunk and casters from his bedstead; also the lock and the barrel of his gun.
On Tuesday, the 14th I helped Irving Homer cut wood in S. Homer's woods. I have known John Truck for some time. I went to Irving Homer's to dinner that day because it was nearer than to go to my own home. We saw Truck going up to Homer's back door just before we got to the house. We found Truck in the house. Homer asked him to eat dinner with us and he did so; said he had been looking around for a place and now he was looking for a horse; he did not say where he had looked for it; said he was living in Homer and had been pressing hay; he had a rifle with him and after dinner he went over to the woods with us. He did not mention Frank Miller's name. We asked him if he had been hunting, he said that he had. I told him it was a bad day for hunting, but he said it was a good day for game. He stayed with us about an hour in the woods. It was about 3 o'clock when he left us. He said he guessed he would go over to Ed Bloomer's and buy a horse. I did not see him afterwards.
When Homer and I reached Miller's house that night the hatchway door was open. I did not know whether it had been broken in. The hatchway door swung to the right against the north wall of the cellar, but it looked to me that night as if it had been pitched forward into the cellar and was off its hinges. I think it lay on the floor of the cellar. I warned Mr. Homer not to go into the cellar for fear the floor would break down. After the fire was well along we discovered a post maul lying on the wall of the hatchway. It was possible for the maul to be placed on that wall and lie there beside the timber of the roof of the hatchway. The hatchway roof was on the wall and was wide enough for it. When we discovered the maul the handle had been burned off and there was nothing but the iron head there.
Mr. Lowe concluded his testimony at 12:20 and an adjournment was taken until 1:30 this afternoon. It was expected that Mrs. Miller's testimony would be taken this afternoon but it is hardly probable that all the witnesses can be examined as an adjournment will be taken at 5 o'clock.
FREQUENTLY NEEDED.
A Chapel that can be Warmed at the Cemetery.
To the Editor of The STANDARD:
SIR—To very many among the readers of The STANDARD, who so justly appreciate and admire Cortland's beautiful, well kept cemetery, it may be a matter of surprise that any improvement should be suggested. In the estimation of the writer, the one seriously lacking feature of the cemetery is that of a commodious chapel in connection with the receiving vault, fronting on Tompkins-st., connecting by a covered carriage way with the vault. Into such a chapel, warm and pleasant, the friends of the deceased could enter for the final services, and from thence go to their homes with the assurance that the casket with its to them precious contents, will be duly and carefully deposited in the vault.
As it now is, the gathering of sorrowing friends, some of them worn out with anxious watchings, depressed by grief and not infrequently in a physical condition that exposure is to them imminent peril to health, or life itself, into the cold damp chill of the atmosphere of the vault, the gloom of the place and sickening odor of decaying flowers, is a risk too great to be longer tolerated if by any reasonable effort and expense it can be remedied.
The writer has had occasion during the past winter to frequently enter the vault with groups of mourners, and as often been impressed that it was at great peril to his own health and that of others. Will not the board of trustees take this matter under early and careful consideration, and by making provision for a suitable chapel, add a much needful feature to our beautiful cemetery, and thus earn for themselves the warm and lasting gratitude of the community, and of very many friends from other communities, who coming here with the bodies of their loved ones, would find a suitable and convenient place for such last services as they might desire should be had? B.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Mrs. Chas. Cook of Lapeer Attempts to Take Her Own Life.
Mrs. Chas. Cook, who has been living with her husband on a farm between Virgil and Lapeer, attempted to end her life yesterday morning by taking laudanum.
Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been spending the winter with Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Morse, who live on the J. E. Winslow farm about four or five miles from Virgil on the road to Lapeer. Yesterday morning Mr. and Mrs. Cook quarreled and between 10 and 11 o'clock. Mr. Cook came from their room and reported that Mrs. Cook had swallowed an ounce of laudanum. Mr. Winslow drove up just at that time and an emetic of milk and raw eggs was administered.
Mr. Winslow hastened to the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. I. Winters who lives near and Mrs. Winter went immediately to the house and Mr. Winslow went at once to Harford to summon Dr. Leonard but did not succeed in finding him. Meantime Mrs. Cook had begun to get sleepy from the effects of the drug but by walking her about they succeeded in keeping her awake.
Mrs. Cook is about 25 years of age and has been twice married. She had two children by her first husband and one, a little boy, by her second husband. No cause aside from the quarrel with her husband yesterday morning is assigned for the act.
McGRAW.
Breezy Items of Corset City Chat.
Floyd Atkins is teaching in the Hall district in Freetown.
Tuesday while W. D. Shuler was working in the woods he attempted to move his sleigh and his leg was caught between the sleigh and a tree in such a manner as to cause a fracture of the bone.
Rodney Morse of Lestershire is in town.
Glenn Oliver of Cortland was in town on business Wednesday evening.
Miss Lenora McGraw is seriously ill.
Coroner M. R. Smith is in attendance at the Miller inquest at Virgil to-day.
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| SS Zealandia. |
ANGEL ISLAND, Cal., March 24, 1899.
We left Sacketts Harbor Friday, March 17, at 2:30 P. M., and after six days of travel by rail reached Benecia, Cal., where we were ferried across to Port Costa and arrived at Oakland about 3:30 and were ferried across on a government boat to Angel Island (about thirty minutes' ride from Oakland) where we are quartered until we board the transport Zelandia which sails on the 27th or 28th for Manila. The six companies of our regiment that arrived first are on board the City of Pueblo which sails to-night. Company K is stationed with us (Company D) at Angel Inland, two companies are at Presidio Barracks and the other two are reported as in camp.
We were on the road six days and passed through eleven states. Were about thirty-five hours crossing the Rockies and about the same through prairie and desert and it was a fine sight for any one who never saw it. Our train broke in two coming over the Sierra Nevada and the engineer lost control of his engine. We left Company K four miles back in the mountains. I was asleep at the time but some of the boys said next morning that they could not stand in the car we were going so fast. Lucky we escaped without an accident.
Angel Island is an old post and while not so nice quarters as Madison Barracks is far more pleasant. It is only about one and one-half miles from San Francisco. It is quite warm here but has been raining for a week steadily. Everything is green and flowers in blossom. I was so fortunate this morning as to get one of the only two passes granted. Went to Oakland to see my uncle, Capt. George W. Porter, who leaves next week for a two years' cruise in the Arctic regions, had a fine visit with him, went to San Francisco and saw the two transports we are to go on. Ours, the Zelandia, is much the largest and finest. I have to report to Angel Island to-morrow at noon. My uncle is going with me and [will] try to get my pass extended, as he has considerable influence. I think it will be all right. Am having a fine time and enjoying myself. We will probably stop at Honolulu and if we have good luck will reach Manila about May 1.
CHARLES C. PORTER, Company D, Ninth Infantry, U. S. A.
The Capt. George W. Porter mentioned was captain of the ill-fated whaler the crew of which was rescued by the expedition sent out by the United States government.
Dryden Springs Water to be Bottled.
Dr. S. S. Nivison is now making arrangements for bottling and shipping mineral water from Dryden Springs to Philadelphia. The water will be sent from Dryden to Philadelphia in carboys and carload lots, where Dr. Niverson has a carbonating plant, and there bottled and sold to the people for use as a beverage to take the place of the poor river water.
BREVITIES.
—Paddock & Daniels' undertaking parlors, 9 Court-st., have been connected with the telephone exchange.
—The Loyal circle of King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. L. N. Hopkins, 146 Groton-ave., Friday, March 31 at 3 P. M.
—The mothers' meeting (East Side) will be held at the home of Mrs. Mudge, 56 Hubbard-st., Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
—The Home Missionary society of the First Baptist church will meet with Mrs. James Tanner, 17 Lincoln-ave., to-morrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The ladies are cordially invited.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Model Clothing Co., New spring goods, page 4; G. F. Beaudry, Bicycles, page 8; W. H. Angell, Groceries and meats, page 5; A. S. Burgess, Easter goods, page 8; Smith & Beaudry, Wall paper, page 7; Baker & Angell, Sorosis shoes, page 6.
—At the next meeting of the Lestershire village board of trustees a date will be set for a hearing on the proposed new curfew law. The measure has many supporters, and a petition for its adoption has been largely signed.—Binghamton Republican.
—Two Leroy (N. Y.) girls recently broke out of a house where they were quarantined, in order to go to a party with two young men who flung notes up to their windows begging them to engage in the foolish enterprise. Both young men now have the smallpox, which proves that poetic justice still has an occasional inning here below.
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