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| Russian Minister Nicolai de Giers. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, May 15, 1899.
CHINESE ARE AGITATED.
Russia Makes an Exorbitant Demand for Concessions.
IT WILL NOT BE ACCEDED TO.
It Would Ruin the Greet Northern Railways in Which British Capital to the Amount of £2,000,000 is Invested. England Not Aware of the Demands.
SHANGHAI, May 15.—The Tsung-Li-Yamen (Chinese foreign office) has replied to the Russian minister at Pekin, M.DeGiers, that the government is unable to accede to the Russian demand made last Wednesday for a new railway concession connecting Pekin with Russia's present system in Manchuria.
Not since the taking of Port Arthur by Russia have the Chinese been so agitated as over this demand. Whether M. DeGiers named a specific route is not yet ascertainable, some officials stating that only a preliminary notice was given by Russia and others that she is asking for a line direct from Pekin to Shan Hai Kwon.
Certainly the British legation in Pekin had no previous knowledge that such a proposal was coming from St. Petersburg. The concession asked for would ruin the existing Northern Railways in which British capital to the amount of £2,000,000 is invested; but there seems to be no alternative route without interfering with plans for railway extension which the Chinese themselves have in mind.
It is believed that Russia's action in this matter is intended to demonstrate to the world that the recent convention with Great Britain respecting spheres of interest in China, which was notified to the Chinese government almost immediately before this latest concession was demanded, has not fettered the action of Russia at the court of Pekin and also to strengthen Russia's prestige with the Chinese which was unfavorably affected by her withdrawal of her late protest respecting the Northern Railways.
Regarded in a Serious Light.
BERLIN, May 15—It is believed here that Russia's latest claim in China will reopen the entire question of Russian and British rights there.
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| Czar Nicolas II. |
WILL NOT DISARM.
The Original Object of the Czar Will Not Be Carried Out.
LONDON, May 15.—There is no longer the least doubt that the original object of the czar in summoning the peace conference, which meets next Friday at The Hague, will not be secured. No European state entertains any illusions on the subject of either a reduction or limitation of armaments. After confidential exchanges of opinion the program of the conference has been modified with the approval of the Russian government.
Any question affecting armaments will be discussed, if at all, merely in an academic way. This is the result not only of mutual suspicions among the great powers, but particularly of the mistrust they all feel as to Russia. Count von Munster, German ambassador to France, one of Germany's delegates, has explained in the course of the preliminary interchange of views the motives that prevent Germany from consenting to either a reduction or a limitation of her military or naval strength.
The reason is the grievance of France towards Germany. German official organs are careful not take a cynical attitude, but the great body of non-official newspaper opinion in Germany is even more scornful than it was six weeks ago with respect to disarmament. The week has witnessed a remarkable outburst on the part of educated men of Germany against any suggestion to weaken the national defenses. Men of the highest scholastic rank like Mommsen are the most outspoken and the diplomatic hint from Russia that Professor Von Stegel, one of Germany's delegates, ought to be withdrawn because of his pamphlets defending war, has not been deemed worthy of the slightest consideration.
So far as questions affecting military and naval organization come before a conference, they will be discussed only in general terms, which in practice would place no restrictions upon any powers.
TO FIGHT ON.
Aguinaldo Decides to Conquer the United States at Once.
LONDON, May 15.—The Filipino Junta here has received a message from Aguinaldo, via Hong Kong, saying the Filipino government has decided to continue the war at all costs until independence is secured.
LETTERS FROM MANILA.
Written by Morgan McAllister Who is on the Oregon.
The two following letters from Morgan McAllister, who is a marine onboard the U. S. S. Oregon, were received last night by his sister, Mrs. B. H. Lyon of South Cortland. The letters were written, one on his arrival at Manila, P. I., the other at Cavite, P. I., where he has been transferred for a time to go on duty in the navy-yards. They are as follows:
MANILA, P. I., Sunday, March 19, '99.
DEAR SISTER LENA—We just arrived in Manila last night at 6 P. M. and dropped anchor in plain sight of the city. They are still fighting here on land. I shall land if I get a chance to, as I hear there is to be a detachment from the fleet to go on duty in the navy yards at Cavite. There was a fight in the suburbs here last night and five Americans were killed and twenty wounded. Loss on other side not known yet. The day before there were ten killed and eight wounded on our side, and 500 insurgents. I only know from what I am told in regard to the latter report.
The soldiers are doing police duty in the city now. Several attempts have been made of late to burn the city. Every one is supposed to be off the streets at 7 o'clock at night. If not they are arrested on sight. Any person seen on a roof at any time is shot at once, no questions being asked. Any one being caught making signals from church steeples or any other elevated position are shot also in the same way with intention to kill. Any boat rowing around at night, that does not answer when hailed, is also shot at. If you can kill them so much the better. One less to make trouble.
We were one day and a half at Ganon, Ladrone Islands, while on our way over here. There are thirty or forty ships here now. One English, one Japanese, one French, and one English Merchantman. Times are hot here yet; the weather is warm also. We are 650 miles from Hong Kong, China.
Last March 19, 1898, the U. S. S. Oregon was just leaving Frisco., Cal., for Cuba. Just one year to-day since then. She has run 45,000 miles up to last night, or averaged nearly 150 miles each day for one year. The distance from New York to Manila, the way we came, is 20,500 miles. That is the distance I have traveled on her since I came on at New York.
We have a lot of small river gunboats that we have captured here and are using them now for everything, like patrol boats and to carry soldiers off the ships and up the rivers.
Well, I will try and send you a paper from here along with this letter.
Direct all letters to Morgan McAllister, U. S. M. C., U. S. S. Oregon, Naval Pay office, San Francisco, Cal.
The following letter was written from Cavite, P. I.:
CAVITE, P. I., Wednesday, March 29, '99.
DEAR SISTER LENA—I have been transferred to Cavite, P. I., navy yards about twenty miles from Manila. The insurgents are all around us now, but the Americans never lose a single battle in the field. The monitor Monterey is continuously firing into the enemy's camp with her 10-inch guns. Pasta, the walled city, fell the other day. We are given orders to shoot any one approaching the navy yard in the night. No one is allowed to pass in or out. No one is allowed to walk across the yards after dark or leave the cascoes after dusk, or go on board one of them, or to ascend the steps leading into Fort San Phillippi or any other fort.
We have several hundred prisoners in here. They are guarded by the Iowa volunteers and some cavalrymen.
The horses are very small here and they use the water ox to draw carts. They are called water buffalo, and their horns are very large, being about the size of a bowl at the head; and each born is from 2 to 3 feet long. They have the sacred cattle of India here also. Monkeys are very plentiful in the islands and all kinds of fruit. The people go nearly naked here and in some of the walled refugees the children go altogether naked. There are many Chinese and Spaniards in here.
I was on post No. 5 last night from 11 o'clock until 1 o'clock, where there have been three United States regulars killed by the insurgents while they were on that post. The natives come in boats called "San Pans," made of a mahogany log hollowed out, and on a dark night they will creep up on the landing and when you walk past they spring out of a dark place and try to stab you in the back with a long knife. The Spaniards tell me they have had as many as eight men killed in a single month on that post, No. 5, when they were in the possession of the forts and yards. I keep a lookout for those fellows and if I ever see any of them, I shall kill them on sight.
Well, it seems good to be on land even at the risk of your life. I will close now with love to all.
From your loving brother, MORGAN.
Accompanying these letters was a Philippine monthly magazine and a thrice weekly paper called Freedom printed in Manila, Island of Luzon. The paper was printed in green ink, and inside the paper was enclosed a large silk handkerchief with Stars and Stripes for a border with a large picture of Admiral George Dewey in the center.
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| Justice George F. Lyon. |
[STATE] SUPREME COURT.
Damage Case on Trial—Long List of Settled and Over.
A trial and special term of the supreme court was begun this morning at the courthouse, Hon. George F. Lyon, the justice prodding. The grand jury was first charged and retired to begin its labors. W. D. Tisdale was elected its foreman and James R. Schermerhorn its clerk. The balance of the forenoon was devoted to the hearing of motions and the call of the calendar. A long list of cases was reported settled and put over the term. Among the former was the libel case of Ellis N. Santee against the Syracuse Standard.
The case of Jane Benson, an administratrix of the estate of Christopher Benson, deceased, vs. the Elmira, Cortland & Northern Railroad was called and trial was begun. This is an action to recover $5,000 damages from the defendant on the ground of alleged negligence on the part of the defendant. Christopher Benson was struck by a train in a snowstorm on the morning of Dec. 27, 1894, and the claim of negligence is that Mr. Benson died from the effect of lying so long in the snow after receiving injuries and that the injuries themselves would not have caused death. The defense is understood to be that the storm was so great that the man who was a trackwalker was not seen by either engineer or fireman when struck. Benjamin J. Shove of Syracuse assisted by John Courtney, Jr. for plaintiff. Kellogg & Van Hoesen for defendant.
In the case of the Louisville Banking Co. vs. Isadora Whiteson, Bouton & Champlin, attorneys for the defendant, moved to vacate an attachment obtained by the plaintiff. Argued and motion granted. Dougherty & Miller for plaintiff.
Edward W. Hyatt appeared as attorney for George S. Gilkerson in an action for partition against Wm. R. Gilkerson et al., and asked for the appointment of a referee to hear and report. E. L. Stone was appointed the referee.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
To Learn the Cause of the Death of William L. Williamson.
The coroner's inquest seeking to determine the cause of the death of William L. Williamson and the circumstances attending it was begun this morning at 9 o'clock at the office of the coroner, Dr. F. H. Green in Homer. The jury as previously summoned and named in The STANDARD all reported except W. H. Foster, who was excused. The following testimony was taken:
EDGAR B. BEAN.
Edgar B. Bean testified in substance as follows: I reside in Cortland, N. Y., and am a motorman employed by the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. and was so employed on the night of May 11. The accident occurred about 10:13 P. M., May 11. The car had just passed the railroad crossing and was running at the usual speed towards the gashouse. Just before reaching the gashouse I saw a team coming towards the car, I did not notice at first that they were running. They were close to the track in the west roadway. I tried to stop the car by applying the brake. Then saw the horses were running, and it was impossible to stop the car before reaching them, so reversed the power. The car ran about forty feet before stopping after I reversed.
The front end of the car grazed the near horse and struck the corner of the wagon box. I saw a man in the wagon before we struck. He was sitting on the seat close to the front. He was leaning forward with his head bent forward and seemed to have no control of the horses. The car did not strike the man. He was thrown from the wagon and struck near the west side of the roadway.
The collision broke the side glass in the vestibule of the car and the wooden part was smashed in. The car was not running faster than twelve miles an hour when I first saw the team approaching. After the collision I jumped off the car, took the headlight and went around to where the man was lying. He was unconscious. Mr. L. P. Bennett came along just at that time and we thought best to put the man on the ear and bring him to Dr. Robinson's office in Homer. Mr. Bennett went on to Homer on his wheel and a man from the gashouse helped put the injured man on the car. We came to Homer, and carried the man to Dr. Robinson's office. There were no passengers on the car at the time of the accident. We run at the same speed on our trips whether we have passengers or not. The car was about twenty feet from the wagon when I reversed the power and ran about twenty feet beyond the wagon before it came to a stop. The horses went on with part of the wagon and we found them near the railroad crossing. There were no marks of blood on the car. I think the man was intoxicated. The wagon was badly smashed. The horses were running at full speed. The car was not going faster than four miles an hour when we struck. I am positive the man did not strike the car. I reported the accident to Mr. Maxwell, superintendent of motive power, as soon as the car returned from Homer, and brought him back with us on the next trip. I will swear positively that we were not running twenty miles an hour when the accident occurred. The headlight lights the track for some distance ahead and about 2 feet on each side of the track. We were at least 50 feet from the team when I first discovered them. The beaten track is about 3 feet from the rail at the point where the accident occurred.
ORSON B. SMITH.
Orson B. Smith, the conductor in charge of the car at the time of the accident, was the next witness. His testimony was as follows: I have been employed by the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. nearly three years. On the night in question we had passed the railroad crossing and I was standing in the rear doorway when I felt the power reversed. I was thrown three or four steps ahead by the sudden stopping of the car. As soon as the car stopped I jumped off and ran back, but could not see any thing until Mr. Bean came with the headlight. The night was very dark, it had been raining some. We found a man lying in the road with his face toward the ditch.
The evidence of Mr. Smith as to the arrival of Mr. Bennett and taking the injured man on to Homer corroborated that of Mr. Bean.
The car was not running faster than ten or twelve miles an hour. I will swear positively that it was not running twenty miles an hour. I heard a crash and I knew we had struck something. We were on time when we crossed the track and were running at the usual rate of speed. We were three or four minutes late when we reached the north end of our trip after the accident.
LESTER P. BENNETT.
Lester P. Bennett was called. Mr. Bennett is manager of the Champion Milk Cooler Co. in Cortland. On the night of May 11 he was returning to Homer on his wheel and was only a short distance behind the car when the accident occurred. He testified as follows: Just as I reached the railroad crossing the car stopped and the conductor got off. I passed the car then and the car passed me again about 50 feet beyond the crossing. The night was very dark. My light was out and I was proceeding slowly. When near the Ryan house I heard a crash and saw a team running toward me. I dismounted until the horses ran by. Then rode on towards where the car stood. By the light which Mr. Bean had I discovered the man lying in the road. I went on to Homer and stopped at Dr. Robinson's office where the injured man was brought and helped carry the man from the car to the office. I did not stop long at the scene of the accident. I knew the man was badly hurt, but did not stop to examine the extent of his injuries. I do not know how fast the car was running, but do not think it was faster than usual. The man was lying partly on his side with his head towards the west. His head was near the west wheel track and he was lying almost at right angles with the track.
I saw what appeared to be a deep gash on his forehead and blood was trickling down his face. The car was 20 or 30 feet north of where the body lay. I do not know whether or not the man was intoxicated. As we were carrying him into the doctor's office I detected the odor of liquor, but I cannot say where it came from.
WILLIAM THOMPSON.
William Thompson resides on the west road to Little York about a mile northwest of Homer. On the night of May 11 he had started for home on foot. When a short distance north of Hotel Windsor, Williamson overtook him. He did not know Williamson, but saw he had no load and so asked him to ride. The two men had some general conversation and when just past the first bridge Williamson stopped, turned the team around and started back towards Homer. When Williamson turned around Thompson jumped out and went on home. It was then about 8:30 o'clock. From his general appearance and action Mr. Thompson judged the man was intoxicated.
HARMON H. DAVIS.
I saw Mr. Williamson Thursday May 11 about 5 P. M. at Cortland. He was on Main-st. and was trying to get a car for Homer. We missed the 5 o'clock car. It was after 6 when we got the car for Homer. I do not know what time it was, but think it was between 6 and 7 o'clock. It was not as late as 7:30. We were on Main-st. nearly all the time. The conductor did not seem to want to take Williamson on the car for some reason or other. I think it was because he was intoxicated. I finally coaxed one of the conductors to let him on. Williamson had been drinking a good deal, but did not drink anything while I was with him. A man by the name of Brown, who knew Williamson, got on the car with us. Williamson and I got off at the Cortland House barn and waited until the next car came along. Brown went on to Homer and we came on the next car. I do not know exactly where we got off. We went over to the sheds in the rear of the Congregational church, where Williamson's horses were hitched. I left Williamson there and went home. That was the last I saw of him.
Upon being questioned by the foreman of the jury as to whether he and Williamson went into any hotel, saloon or any other place while in Cortland the witness said he could not remember, but did not think they did. He had been drinking some himself that afternoon; he had met some parties from Truxton whose names he could not recall and they went back of some block and had a drink out of a bottle. Williamson was not with them at that time. He could not remember having seen Williamson drink at a bar while they were in Cortland. He did not come to Homer without Williamson as he did not want to leave him in Cortland in the condition in which he was at that time.
After the testimony of Mr. Davis the inquest was adjourned until 1:30 P. M. The witnesses to be examined this afternoon were Dr. Bradford, Constable G. F. Jones and Superintendent J. A. Maxwell. A subpoena was issued this morning for Brown, the man who is said to have been with Davis and Williamson while they were in Cortland and who boarded the car with them when they started for Homer, but he was reported to be ill and the officer could not find him.
At 3:50 this afternoon the jury brought in a verdict that Williamson came to his death by colliding with the car while unable to control his horses because intoxicated. No negligence on the part of any one is found.
DEATH OF MR. PAGE.
One of the Directors of the Traction and Electric Companies.
Mr. Plummer S. Page, one of the directors and principal owners of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co., and of the Cortland & Homer Electric Co., died at his home in Scranton, Pa., yesterday as a result of the bursting of a blood vessel in his head. His age was 58 years, and he was a native of Vermont. He built portions of the D., L. & W., the D. & H., the Erie & Wyoming, and the New York Elevated railroads, and he owned large interests in the Long island Traction Co., as well as in the local traction company. Mr. Page had come to be well known here by reason of his frequent business visits.
A FINE DAIRY.
E. E. Kenyon's Up-to-Date Butter Making Establishment.
Mr. E. E. Kenyon of Cincinnatus has one of the largest dairies and conducts one of the best and most up-to-date private butter making establishments in the eastern part or Cortland county if not in Central New York. Mr. Kenyon recently informed a STANDARD man that he kept forty choice dairy cows and manufactured the milk from the entire herd into prime gilt edge Jersey butter with the exception of that used in raising a few extraordinarily fine heifer calves for dairy purposes. Mr. Kenyon said he manufactured on an average forty pounds of butter per day. The cream, after being cooled and separated from the milk, is churned in a revolving barrel churn of 75 gallon capacity, both separator and churn being propelled by horse power. Mr. Kenyon further said he supplied the markets in several of the surrounding cities in central New York with the product of his dairy and very often Schermerhorn & Graham of this village purchased the entire output for several months at a time.
BREVITIES.
—A regular meeting of Grover post, No. 98, G. A. R., will be held to-night.
—There will be a regular meeting of Grover Relief corps, No. 96, to-morrow, May 10, at 2:30 P. M. sharp.
—Regular meeting of W. C. T. U. on Tuesday, May 16, at 2:45. Consecration service led by Mrs. Hinman. Subject of program which follows, "The Temple."
—New display advertisements to-day are— Stowsll, New Idea fashions, page 8; Pearson Bros., Big bargains, page 6; G. F. Beaudry, Bicycles, page 6; McKinney & Doubleday, Bicycles, page 7.
—The STANDARD is indebted to Mr. J. H. White of Hector, Potter Co., Pa., for a copy of the Potter County Journal containing; an obituary notice of Abner Redner who recently died there at the age of 103 years. Mr. Redner formerly lived in Tompkins county, N. Y.
—The meeting of the University Center to-night will be led by Mrs. J. W. Keese. Two papers will be presented, one by Mrs. M. H. McGraw on "The War of 1812," and the other by Miss May Knapp upon "The Missouri Compromise."
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