DREYFUS IS HOPEFUL, AND CORTLAND AFTER STATE DAIRYMEN CONVENTION

 

Capt. Alfred Dreyfus.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, August 8, 1899.

DREYFUS IS HOPEFUL.

His First Days Trial Was a Cruel Ordeal.

PRESIDING JUDGE VERY HARSH.

The Rigorous Examination Greatly Unnerved the Prisoner—The Town of Rennes Is Quiet and Showing No Excitement Over the Noted Trial.

   RENNES, Aug. 8.—The ancient capital of Brittany was never less moved, never more sluggish than on this memorable occasion. It seemed a hundred thousand miles from Dreyfus and his exciting case. There has been no disturbance of any kind and none is now feared, although a strict guard will be kept up during the entire trial.

   The Paris journalists who had come to report the trial seemed calmed by the quietude of this dead city. It was expected that the Dreyfusites and anti-Dreyfusites would shun each other and put up at different hotels, but they have tacitly agreed to sink their differences in each other's company.

   The first incident was the declaration of the president-colonel that he had unlimited power to call witnesses. He then ordered those of M. Quesnay Beaurepaire to be cited. The indictment is that of 1894.

   Dreyfus answered cautiously all questions. The judge was fair, but evidently not friendly. He showed himself, however, sensible and sober-minded and impressed everyone favorably.

   The accused is unfortunate in not being able, apart from his sufferings, as told by others, to command sympathy. His countenance only expressed a wish to hide his feelings. It is a reticent face, but not a bad face. One would like it to be more frank. The voice is not pleasing, and the dictation is less so.

   Dreyfus seems without dramatic feeling and lacks ease in all things. However, he passed through a cruel ordeal. It was trying, after the experience of the last five years, to find himself in the full blaze of publicity and stared at and scrutinized by 700 observers.

   Madame Dreyfus visited her husband after court and found him hopeful, although much unnerved, as the rigorous examination and especially the unfeeling demeanor displayed toward him by Colonel Jouaust proved a tremendous strain upon him.

   There are many persons who were present at the trial now under the impression that the harshness of the presiding judge was assumed and was intended to disarm the enemies of Dreyfus, who are only anxious to interpret ordinary courtesy into the grossest partiality toward the prisoner. If this be the case—and such an explanation is quite plausible—Dreyfus is naturally unaware of it and the effect upon his highly strung nerves may easily be conceived.

   A meeting of the correspondents of foreign papers was held to protest against the manner in which they have been treated in the distribution of tickets to the trial. The English and American press men, who are greatest sufferers from the unintelligent way in which the tickets were allotted, took the leading part in the proceedings, which ended in a decision to make the strongest representations in the proper quarters in favor of an amelioration of the conditions. Several prominent English and American journals were virtually excluded from the session in favor of insignificant continental sheets.

   The official list of the members of the court martial is as follows: President, Colonel Jouaust, director in the engineer corps; Lieutenant Colonel Bougniart, director of the school of artillery; Major De Breon of the Seventh regiment of artillery; Major Profillet of the Tenth regiment of artillery; Major Merle of the Seventh regiment of artillery; Captain Parfalr of the Seventh regiment of artillery; Captain Beauvais of the Seventh regiment of artillery.

 

SMALLPOX SPREADING.

It is Greatly Due to the Ignorance of Certain Physicians.

   ALBANY, Aug. 8.—Smallpox has broken out in various parts of the state and Dr. Smelzer, secretary of the state board of health, says it is in a great measure due to the persistency of physicians in diagnosing cases of smallpox as chicken pox.

   "If these physicians," said Dr. Smelzer, "would only rely on the experience of the officials connected with our board there would be fewer cases of smallpox in this state today than there are at the present time."

   The latest cases reported are at Cato, Cayuga county, and Seneca Falls, Seneca county.

 

Detained in Quarantine.

   NEW YORK, Aug. 8.—The Red Star line steamer Kensington, which arrived this morning from Antwerp with 114 cabin and 363 steerage passengers, is detained in quarantine by a case of smallpox in the steerage. The patient, a 14-year-old boy, was transferred to North Brother Island. The passengers will be vaccinated and the steamer disinfected.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

The Drama in Oil.

   The announcement that $5,000,000 of English capital has just been invested in American oil lands as a side move of an English syndicate against a Russian monopoly that has long had control of the English market is only one page of a long and interesting story of petroleum. Russia for a long time has had her eye on the oil lands of the orient. It is well known that the richest oil lands, so far as geology can determine it, lie somewhere between the Persian gulf and the Armenian range. There is historic evidence that cities were destroyed by petroleum in that region, and most of the asphaltum of commerce still comes from that domain. But the whole country is under the stifling blanket of Turkish apathy and tyranny. The jealousy of the great powers has prevented any one of them from exploiting that country as it deserves. What is known as the Mautascheff syndicate of Russia has in a measure been the analogue of the Standard Oil company of America, and these giants have locked horns several times in a struggle for the markets of the world. It will therefore be seen how important this move is on the part of English capital, which has secured 20,000 acres of what is supposed to be the richest oil land in America.

   ◘ Some shadow is thrown upon the sincerity of the professed liberality of the czar of Russia and his desire to promote the peace of the world by the exercise of his despotic power in the Russification of Finland. In violation of the solemn pledges of himself and his predecessors he ruthlessly overrides the long recognized rights of the Finns, abrogating their constitution and greatly abridging their civic privileges. As is well known, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are unknown in Russia, and the manly protest of the Finnish people is smothered. But the czar goes still further. He has now caused the Swedish and Norwegian foreign ministers to be notified that Russia will not permit its domestic administration to be openly criticized by any person holding public office in the two kingdoms without calling Sweden and Norway to account. Naturally the people of the Scandinavian peninsula, as the Finns are of the same race, sympathize with their neighbors, whose liberties are being wrested from them, and are highly indignant over the efforts of the czar to muzzle the expression of opinion and his threat to censorize Sweden and Norway. The indignation of the Scandinavians in this country is keenly felt and, as they have here the right of free speech, is emphatically expressed.

 

THE COUNTY FAIR.

Special Prize Offered for the Largest Load of People.

   There will be many special prizes offered by Cortland merchants to be awarded at the coming Cortland County fair, which is to be held Aug. 29, 30, 31 and Sept. 1. One of the first to be announced by the management is a $30 outfit given by Burgess the clothier to the man or boy living three miles or more from Burgess clothing house, drawing and exhibiting the largest number of people to the fair Aug. 31 at 2 P. M. Burgess will give a special prize $30 outfit free. The load can be drawn by either horses, oxen, mules or traction engine and any kind or style of wagon can be used.

 

AN OPERATION.

Luke McEvoy of Cortland at St. Joseph's Hospital.

   Mr. Luke McEvoy of Cortland was operated upon yesterday by Dr. A. B. Miller of Syracuse at St. Joseph's hospital for a floating kidney and for catarrhal appendicitis. The operations were apparently successful. More than a year ago Mr. McEvoy was seriously injured by a log rolling upon him, and the injuries for which the operations were performed resulted from that accident and the injuries which he received at that time.

   Mr. McEvoy's many friends will all hope for his complete and speedy recovery.

 

Miss Tompkins at the Islands.

   Miss Susan Tompkins has been very busy with her music at the Thousand Islands the past week. After her day's playing at The Pullman she has been leading the New York orchestra at Murry Hill evenings on account of the sickness and death of Mr. R. Bruno, harp manufacturer of New York, and father of the leader of the orchestra. The orchestra is composed of fine musicians, all of New York City. Mr. Bruno left his fine, old master violin for Miss Susan's use during his absence.

   Miss Tompkins is much pleased with the work at the Islands and will make an engagement for next year with her orchestra before returning.

 

Off for the North Woods.

   Messrs. H. H. Robbins and Adelbert Malmberg leave to-morrow morning for Strafford in the Adirondacks for their annual deer hunting expedition. They will be joined Friday by Attorney B. T. Wright and family, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Robbins and Mr. M. J. Peck and early next week the party will be reinforced by Messrs. Eugene Graham of Cortland, Allen Tyler and John C. Jones of Harford and Mr. Burlingame of Dryden. The party will remain three weeks.

 

FATAL ACCIDENT.

George W. Ault of Brookton Killed by an E., C. & N. Engine Last Saturday Night.

   George W. Ault of Brookton, who was 35 years of age, was killed by an engine near Brookton on the Elmira and Cortland branch of the Lehigh Valley last Saturday night.

   Mr. Ault left his home about 9 o'clock Saturday night, later he was seen at the railroad station and the last seen of him was when he started toward the Caroline station.

   About 7 o'clock Sunday morning when the first train came through, the fragments of a body were seen scattered along the track for about a quarter of a mile. By articles of clothing the remains were identified to be of George Ault.

   Coroner Brown of Ithaca was called and upon investigation he decided that the man had met death by having either been sitting or lying upon the track and was struck by an extra engine which ran through Brookton between 10 and 11 o'clock Saturday evening.

   It is generally supposed that the man was intoxicated and that he had fallen asleep on the track. The coroner decided that death was accidental and did not summon a jury. Undertaker Chas. Davis of Slaterville Springs took charge of the burial.

 

Cortland House and Opera House (left rear view)

Cortland Opera House and Cortland House (adjacent building with dome on right).

AFTER STATE DAIRYMEN.

ANNUAL CONVENTION IN DECEMBER—INVITED TO CORTLAND.

Board of Village Trustees Issued it Last Night at Regular Meeting—Pearne-ave. is Accepted and Called a Street—Routine Business Transacted and Bills Audited.

   There is a possibility and a very strong probability that the annual convention of the State Dairymen's association to be held next December will be held in Cortland. The convention was held in Cortland in 1897. Mr. Willard H. Knapp, a prominent farmer of Cortland, appeared before the board of village trustees at its regular meeting last night and stated that he thought the association could be brought to Cortland if the proper efforts are used. In his opinion it would bring 4,000 people to Cortland. From conversation with a number of business men he was certain that the necessary amount, about $300, could be raised for the entertainment of the convention. The Opera House would be needed for the meetings, and another large hall for exhibits of which there will be a large number and a large variety. The $300 to be raised will be used for advertising the convention and for hiring the halls. The association offers large cash premiums, and the convention will be in session two days. Among the places making bids for the meeting are Jamestown, Cobleskill and Weedsport.

   The board unanimously authorized the clerk to issue the following invitation and place it in the hands of Mr. Knapp:

   To the New York State Dairymen's Association:

   We, the president and trustees of the village of Cortland, in behalf of the people of our village and the surrounding towns, extend to your honorable body our heartiest invitation to hold your next convention with us in our village. We feel that we can extend you this invitation with the assurance that no other town can afford such advantages. Our village is situated in the heart of the great dairy section of the state and being so situated it is most convenient for thousands of dairymen to meet here. Cortland has three railroads with lines extending to all points of the compass to bring visiting delegates. We are also less than an hour's run from the New York Central railroad. Electric street cars meet all trains and all electric lines run to a central point near the Opera House. Cortland has fine hotels and restaurants to cater to the traveling public, all of which will hospitably receive and care for your delegates to the best of their ability. Cortland also has one of the finest opera houses in central New York which may be used for the various meetings of your association and ample room for an exhibit of dairy appliances will be afforded near the Opera House The people of Cortland, knowing the great educational advantages of such an organization as the New York State Dairymen's association and the great, advantages of having them convene in our midst, will do all in their power to make this twenty-second annual convention the greatest yet held and will co-operate with you to secure reduced rates on all railroads and each and every one will do his part to further extend the interest of your association.

   The regular routine of business was taken up. Upon the request of Chief Barber of the fire department, the board voted to pay each of the five fire companies and the board of engineers their annual appropriations of $100.

   A petition signed by all the property owners on what has been known as Pearne-ave. asking for the acceptance of the street as a public street of the village was presented, and the request was granted. The street was designated "Pearne-st." as the term street is more appropriate than the term avenue.

   Trustee Thompson was authorized to see about securing a proper place to house the village street sprinkler.

   The clerk read a letter from the attorney general's office upon the labor question, stating that the new labor law had not yet been construed. It gave no opinions.

   Bills were audited and ordered paid as follows:

   Street commissioner's payroll, $574.90

   Cramer & Hollister, 6.45

   James Grant, 31.00

   S. E. Welch, 6.30

   D. F. Waters, 45.03

   Cortland Standard Printing Co., 33.05

   C. O. Smith, 12.02

   Martin & Sprague, 5.94

   Cortland & Homer Electric Co., 254.35

   Wickwire Roller Mill Co., 20.68

   J. J. Gillette, 11.25

   F. C. Parsons, 3.00

   E. A. Didama, health officer, 10.00

   H. C. Allen, engineer, 53.48

   H. F. Benton Lumber Co, 84.69

   Engineer Allen submitted his first estimate of the cost of the paving to date on Lincoln-ave., less 25 per cent which is $1,306.50. The estimate on Tompkins-st. less the 25 per cent is $475.92, and orders for these amounts were ordered drawn in favor of the Warren-Scharf Asphalt Paving Co.

 

Deal in Real Estate.

   Hon. David W. Van Hoesen has purchased of Dr. H. T. Dana a strip of land at the west side of the latter's lot at the corner of North Main-st. and Lincoln-ave. adjoining Mr. Van Hoesen's lot and having a frontage on Lincoln-ave. of 40 feet. Mr. Van Hoesen will improve the land by regrading it and setting out shade trees, and the increased space will make a very pretty and spacious lawn.

 

MRS. MILLER DEAD.

Her Husband Notified and Returned to New York.

   Mr. Robert Miller, whose wife attempted suicide in New York last Friday night, received a dispatch late yesterday afternoon stating that Mrs. Miller had died. Death was due to the nervous exhaustion following the excitement attendant upon the attempt at suicide. Mr. Miller left on the first train for New York.

 

BREVITIES.

   —A regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum will be held this evening at G. A.  R. hall at 8 o'clock.

   —Binghamton has a new envelope factory. Thirty hands are now employed and more will be added later.

   —The fourth annual reunion of the Stafford family will be held at the home of Henry Stafford, Fairview farm, McGraw, N. Y., on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1899.

   —The father and brother of Elihu Root have both held professorships in Hamilton college, where they were known among the students as "Cube" Root and "Square" Root.—New York Mail and Express.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Bingham & Miller, Clothing, page 8; D. McCarthy & Sons, Suits, page 8; Palace Confectionery Co., Candies and ice cream, page 5; Palmer & Co., Corsets, page 4; J. A. Jayne, Shoes, page 7.

   —The annual reunion of the Beebe family will be held at the old homestead now occupied by Garrett P. Rockwell in Taylor on Thursday, Aug. 17. Mrs. Albert H. Clark of Cortland is the secretary of the association.

    —Invitations are out for the wedding of Mr. Fred Priest and Miss Laura V. Brandenstein which will occur at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Brandenstein, Wednesday evening, Aug. 23, 1899, at 8 o'clock.

 

L. Bradford Prince.

ANTIQUARIAN RELICS.

Ex-Governor Prince's Stone Idols Being Photographed for Uncle Sam.

   G. W. Hodge and exploration party of the bureau of ethnology at Washington have been engaged for the last few days taking photographs of the unique collection of some idols belonging to ex-Governor L. B. Prince at Santa Fe. It consists of over 1,000 stone idols collected in all parts of New Mexico by ex-Governor Prince in the last 17 years and is the only complete collection in existence. The idols were all recovered by excavations made upon the sites of ancient pueblo villages. Many of them are so brittle that they have been broken, despite the most careful handling. The appearance of the idols is curious, and, besides representing human beings with faces expressing all sorts of emotions and having their hands folded in a peculiar way across their chests, there are representations of all sorts of animals and peculiar decorations or inscriptions.

   The idols are sculptured out of sandstone, pumice, lava and other material. Some are light enough to float in water. Some of them are almost six feet high. It is difficult to tell the age of the idols, and it is only known that they were used by the ancestors of the present Pueblo Indians before the Spanish conquest, says the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The collection of ex-Governor Prince has been seen by comparatively few persons thus far, but for seven years the bureau of ethnology has been anxious to obtain photographs of them. Governor Prince will probably send them to the Smithsonian institution. Governor Prince also possesses pottery and charred corn taken out of the excavations in which the stone idols were found and has in preparation an exhaustive treatise upon the aborigines of New Mexico.