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| Cleveland Trolley Strike, June, 1899. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 28, 1899.
TROOPS ANGER STRIKERS.
Rioting in Cleveland Continues in Spite of Arrival of Reenforcements.
THE MAYOR IS CENSURED.
All Hope of Settling the Trouble by Arbitration Has Apparently Been Abandoned.
Cleveland, July 27.—Four Columbus militia companies, together with the military organizations from Newark and Chillicothe, 600 strong, have arrived here to reinforce the soldiers already on guard to preserve peace during the street-car strike.
They were under the command of Capt. James L. Walsh, although Adjt.-Gen. H. A. Axline was on board. Upon his arrival here he held a conference with Mayor Farley and the latter's cabinet in regard to the situation. He will exercise command over all the troops at present in the city.
The newcomers were marched to Central Armory, where they established headquarters. Their presence is very distasteful to the strikers, and Mayor Farley is censured by them for calling the additional troops. The latter reiterates the statement that he will keep the city free from rioting and violence if it takes every soldier in the State to do it.
Mobs still rule the city. Although one thousand troops in addition to the regular force patrol the streets rioting is still going on, and the very heart of the town is unsafe. All along the lines of the Big Consolidated Railway Company disorder reigns. Stones, pistols and clubs are the weapons. The result is that citizens are in a state of terror. Cars are running, but carry few passengers. In some districts they pass through a line of missiles.
All hopes of settling the differences by arbitration have apparently passed. The railway officials say they will have nothing further to do with the men. Force, they declare, and only force, will now settle the strike.
Capt. Zimmerman has issued orders to his men to use their judgment about shooting, and when in tight places not to hesitate a moment about using gun or bayonet.
The strikers, in a daily bulletin called the Cleveland Artisian, accuse the railway officials of having committed the dynamite outrage of Sunday night on their own car for the purpose of casting odium upon the strikers' cause and to force the authorities to call out more soldiers.
The third attempt to blow up a car was made on Pearl street near Brooklyn Bridge. The car was ruined beyond repair and the motorman and conductor badly bruised.
Nitroglycerine was used on a Cleveland, Painesville and Eastern suburban car with the result that a number of the passengers were injured.
Reports of riots are coming in and a message from Collinwood says that a crowd of strikers there had a battle with soldiers, and won a victory, taking the militiamen's guns away from them and beating them badly.
Battery A with eight Gatling guns is still on duty guarding the most dangerous sections.
The Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen are talking of going on strike in sympathy with the street railway strikers.
Patrick Flaherty, 24 years old, was in a crowd at Woodland and Wilson avenues when the militia ordered the men to move on. They did not move as rapidly as the soldiers wanted them to and Flaherty was struck by a bayonet. He was taken in a buggy to the hospital.
POSSIBLY A STRIKE.
WORKMEN ON PAVING JOB DISSATISFIED.
They Demand $1.50 for Eight Hours—The Village Board Asked to Insist Upon Better Pay—The Employees Hold a Meeting.
Since last Saturday night trouble has been brewing among the men employed on the job of paving Tompkins-st. and Lincoln ave., and whether a strike is averted depends upon the decision of the Warren-Scharff Paving company previous to to-morow night.
In the specifications under which bids were made for paving these streets, the contractors were required to conform to the state law, which provides that mechanics, workingmen and laborers in the employ of the state or otherwise engaged on public works, shall be employed only eight hours, and that such mechanics, workingmen sad laborers shall receive not less than the prevailing rate of wages in the locality where such work is done. When the workmen were paid off last Saturday night they received $1.28 a day, or at the rate of sixteen cents an hour. This created much dissatisfaction, and on Monday evening a meeting was held in Firemen's hall to discuss the situation, and it was decided to send a committee to confer with the village board which was then in session.
This committee consisted of Devere J. Ashcroft, Frank V. Hinman and Wm. A. Ryan, and they explained the situation, asking the board to intercede in their behalf. President Holden stated that he had been appealed to during the day by several of the workmen, and he had conferred with Superintendent Reed in regard to the matter. The superintendent had stated that the company was paying the usual rate of wages.
The board sent for Mr. Warren, a brother of one of the contractors, who has charge of the Cortland job, and that gentleman made substantially the same statement that Mr. Reed had made to President Holden.
President Holden called Mr. Warren's attention to the statement of his brother at the time bids wore opened, when he announced that one of the reasons why the bid was higher than last year was because of the increased cost of labor under the new law making eight hours a day's work.
Mr. Warren made no promise of an increase, but stated that the company would consider the matter. If the men are paid only $1.2$ a day, to-morrow night there is every probability that Cortland will witness a strike on the job.
How Two Juries Viewed the Same Evidence.
The lamented Daniel S. Dickinson once said that the Almighty alone could tell what a petit jury would do in the way of rendering a verdict, and recent events in Cortland confirm the opinion that jurors have a wide range of judgment in considering the evidence in a case presented to them.
As announced in the DEMOCRAT last week, the jury in the case of the People against Myrtie Hudson, charged with keeping a disorderly house in Homer ave., returned a verdict of guilty. The men who composed the jury were, no doubt, conscientious and reached a decision which they considered in accordance with the evidence.
On Monday of this week Lillian Hudson, a sister of Myrtie Hudson, was tried on the same charge. The two girls occupied the same house, they were arrested at the same time by the same officers, and the charge was against the two jointly. Their attorney demanded that the two cases be tried separately, which was so ordered. The two cases were tried by the same attorneys, the evidence was exactly the same, and the jury in the case of Lillian Hudson brought in a verdict of not guilty.
The situation of the two sisters is this: Myrtie Hudson is under the heavy bond of $500, with a sentence of three years in the House of Refuge hanging over her head, while Lillian Hudson has been declared by the jury entirely innocent of the charge. We make no comments as to which verdict is right or in accordance with the evidence, but give the facts, which show that juries are an uncertain quantity in the courts of justice.
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| Skaneateles Lake viewed from the vicinity of Spafford, N. Y. (Wikipedia photo.) |
SPAFFORD, N. Y.
A History of the Town and Its Early Settlers, and Mention of Many Who are to-day Prominent as Business Men or Residents.
On a gentle, sloping hillside fifteen miles north-west of Cortland lies the town of Spafford. About this town much could be said, both in regard to its past and present history. Spafford is the south-west town of Onondaga county and is in every respect a rural district. It lies along the banks of the Skaneateles lake, and in point of natural scenery cannot be excelled by any town in Onondaga county. The town is approached from Cortland by way of Scott, and the drive is one of the most pleasant in Central New York. As the traveler leaves the Seventh Day settlement, (a suburb of the village of Scott,) the road is a gradual incline, constantly rising until the village of Spafford is reached. For about four miles before the village is reached the lake is in full sight and the scenery along this route is grand and inspiring. In a clear day the visitor can look for ten miles down the lake and behold the placid waters of this far famed sheet of water. One can also see upon the opposite side of the lake that most beautiful of all summer resorts, Glen Haven, and also the numerous cottages which at close intervals line the lake. The hills upon the opposite side of the lake are covered with a dense growth of timber, and in most instances are precipitous as they approach the lake. Upon the east side of the lake, and comprised within the town of Spafford, the slope of the hills is more varied, in some places too steep to admit of travel, while at other points the incline is more gradual. Not at any point along the main highway is the lake hidden from view, and the sight is one well calculated to inspire the thoughtful mind. The student of geology is led to consider the various causes of nature which in the past have been instrumental in forming such a wonderful basin as that which is now occupied by Skaneateles lake. Time or space will not permit us to dwell upon the various natural causes which have at some time been instrumental in producing this, but we must pass to speak briefly of the past history of the people who have at one time or another been residents of Spafford, and also to mention some of those who to-day are foremost in the management of the affairs of the town.
HISTORY.
Spafford as now known is twelve miles long and four miles wide, and lies between Skaneateles and Otisco lakes. It was formed by special act of the legislature in 1811 from portions of the original military townships of Sempronius, Marcellus and Tully. It was named in honor of Horatio Gates Spafford, L. L. D., of Connecticut. Mr. Spafford was a prominent man of his day and author of a gazetteer of New York state. As a recognition of the honor of naming the town he presented it with an extensive and valuable library.
Ripley Hill, in the southern part, is the highest point of land in the town and rises 1982 feet above tide water, and 1122 feet above the waters of Skaneateles lake.
FIRST SETTLERS.
The first settler in the town was Gilbert Palmer, a revolutionary soldier, who came from the east in 1794, and located on lot 70 (now comprised in the town of Marcellus). For eight years Mr. Palmer and son were the only white inhabitants. Capt. Daniel Tinkham came in 1802, and for many years resided upon the hillside overlooking Otisco lake. Dr. Archibald Farr was an early settler, coming to Spafford in 1800. Isaac Hall came in 1806 and settled on the farm afterwards owned by Asahel Roundy, the father of the present postmaster, Uriah Roundy. Mr. Hall drove the first team with a wagon load of boards from Scott to Spafford over a road which had been cut by John Babcock and Elisha Sabins in 1805. The journey was a laborious one and many were the occasions on this trip that Mr. Hall was obliged to widen the road and remove the fallen timber before Spafford was reached. The traveler of to-day, passing over the well-kept highway can scarcely conceive that such a condition could exist 100 years ago. So much for the energy and perseverance of the older inhabitants.
In the year 1806 the following gentlemen came to Spafford and settled at various points about the town: Peter Knapp, Samuel Smith, Otis and Moses Legg, Jethro Bailey, Elias Davis, Abel Amadown, Job Lewis, Capt. Daniel Tinkham, John Hullibut, Levi Foster, James and Cornelius Williamson, John Woodward, Benjamin Homer and Benjamin Stanton.
About this time, or at least prior to the war of 1812, Samuel Prindle, Elijah Knapp, Hon. Joseph Prindle, Jonathan Ripley, Lewis C. Davis, John and Ebenezer Grout, Joseph Enos and Leonard Melvin located within the present boundaries of Spafford, and many of their descendants now remain and are prominent men in their county. From this time on the record of settlers was steady, and the town soon began to assume an air of civilization. The sturdy forests were laid low and comfortable log houses erected. Small plots of land were cleared, and the nucleus of prosperous farms was formed.
EARLY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
In 1809 Jared Babcock opened the first store in the village of Spafford. Soon after another store was opened by Lauren Hotchkiss, a brother-in-law of Asahel Roundy. In 1810-11 Josiah Walker and Judge Walter Wood built two saw mills on Cold Brook in the south eastern portion of the town.
ASAHEL ROUNDY.
Capt. Asahel Roundy was one of the first settlers of Spafford, coming in on horseback from Rockingham, Conn., in 1807. In 1820 Mr. Roundy built the Spafford hotel, which now stands, and ran the same until 1843. Mr. Roundy also owned a fertile farm of 100 acres near the hotel.
He was the first postmaster of the town, the first justice of the peace, and the second supervisor. Two children, Prof. C. O. Roundy and Uriah Roundy, have since become prominent men in this section. Prof. Roundy was for twenty years a teacher in the schools of Syracuse, and first principal of the Syracuse High school.
URIAH ROUNDY.
Uriah Roundy was born in Spafford July 24, 1819. Uriah began business as a farmer in Spafford, but sold out in 1804 and spent one year in Michigan. He then returned to Spafford and for the 22 years following, conducted a general mercantile store at Spafford Corners, as the village was then called. Mr. Roundy has been a prominent man, having held the office of supervisor for three years, justice of sessions two terms, excise commissioner one year, and justice of the peace 27 years. He was appointed postmaster in 1878 and held the office until Cleveland's first administration. He was again appointed under President Harrison and now holds the office. Mr. Roundy comes of revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Uriah Roundy, having served with honor in that war. Mr. Roundy, although at an advanced age, is still hale and hearty. His mind is unimpaired and he recalls the history of Spafford during the last 75 years with wonderful exactness. Some years since Mr. Roundy rented his store to Caleb King, but still retains his post office, and at mail time can always be found in the office. Mr. King is his deputy.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The business of the town consists of two stores, one blacksmith shop and one hotel.
CALEB E. KING.
Caleb E. King, the proprietor of the store so long conducted by Mr. Roundy, was born in Tully, Feb. 23, 1863. He was a son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Bennett) King. Caleb, Sr. was a native of West Greenwich, R. I., but came to Tully at an early day.
Caleb E. King was educated at Vesper and at the academy at Homer. At the age of 21 years he came to Spafford and purchased the extensive stock of general merchandise of Uriah Roundy. In 1886 Mr. King married Mary Landphier, daughter of John and Marion Landphier. He was appointed postmaster during President Cleveland's administration and re-appointed during his second term. In the spring of 1878 Mr. King was elected supervisor, and his popularity is fully demonstrated by the fact that the town is naturally Republican by about 100 majority. Mr. King (Democrat) was, however, elected for the responsible position of supervisor and is now serving his second term. He carries a full line of dry goods, groceries, shelf hardware and horse goods. Mr. King is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge and deservedly popular both at home and abroad.
JOHN G. VAN BENSCHOTEN.
On the opposite side of the street from Mr. King's you find the well conducted store of John G. Van Benschoten. Mr. Van Benschoten was born in Summerhill in 1844 and came to Spafford in 1862. He was engaged in farming until 1881, when he purchased the Spafford hotel of Dr. G. E. Barker. He successfully conducted the same until 1890, when he sold the building to Thomas McAuliff and Andrew Lieber. The same year Mr. Van Benschoten formed a partnership with Mr. King in the store which continued for five years. He then commenced business for himself in his present location. He carries a large stock of general merchandise, and enjoys a fair share of the business of the town. He is ably assisted in the store by his daughter.
JAMES L. VAN BUSKIRK.
We desire to speak especially of James L. Van Buskirk, one of the representative young men of the town. Mr. Van Buskirk was born in Preble in 1804 and was a son of Leonard Van Buskirk, a prominent farmer of that town. Mr. Van Buskirk was educated at Homer academy. For thirteen years he has successfully followed the business of teaching and has well earned the high reputation which he now enjoys. He has held the office of justice of the peace for the past three years and has proven an excellent justice. His name has been prominently mentioned as a candidate this fall for the office of school commissioner in the southern district of Onondaga county. Seemingly no wiser choice could be made. Mr. Van Buskirk's long experience in the school room, his natural ability and his sound judgment render him a desirable man to superintend the schools of the county.
THOMAS McAULIFF.
In 1889 Thomas McAuliff and Andrew Lieber purchased the hotel property of Mr. Van Benschoten, and for one year ran the house together. Mr. Lieber then disposed of his interest to Mr. McAuliff, who has since successfully conducted the same. The house is well papered and painted, and although one of the landmarks of the town, is still in a good degree of preservation. The table is first-class and is prepared under the immediate care of Mrs. McAuliff. Situated upon a high elevation overlooking the beautiful Skaneateles lake, the bracing air, which at all times is noticeable, renders this hotel a favorite resort during the sultry summer months. The rates are reasonable and the service unexcelled.
CHURCH.
Only one church is now existing in Spafford, known as the Union church, but used at present by the Methodist society. It was built about 1839. A Baptist church was built in 1840, and for many years was used as a house of worship, but through lack of members the society failed and the building was purchased in 1860 by Uriah Roundy and converted into a general merchandise store. It is now occupied by Mr. Roundy as a postoffice and Mr. King's store.
TOWN OFFICERS.
The following are the town officers for the present year:
Supervisor—Caleb King.
Town Clerk—Irving Harrington.
Justices of the Peace—Uriah Roundy, Mark Stanton, Francis Ide, James Van Buskirk.
Overseer of the Poor—Wm. Emmons.
Assessors—Chas. Mason, Wm. Barr, Arion Woodruff.
Collector—Frank Burns.
Highway Commissioner—Wm. York.
Constables—Chas. Powers, Robert Manley, James Crofoot, John Purchase.
Mr. Purchase is also a deputy sheriff of the county of Onondaga.
DR. G. E. BARKER.
Dr. G. E. Barker was born in Spafford in 1848. His early life was spent upon a farm just south of Spafford Corners, and his education obtained at the Spafford school, and later at Homer academy. After completing his school work at Homer he at once took up the study of medicine, attending the Homeopathic Hospital College at Cleveland, Ohio, during the seasons of 1874 and 1875. In 1875 he returned to Spafford and commenced the practice of medicine, in which profession he has been highly successful. The doctor has an extensive practice. For seven years he was located at Truxton, and for fourteen years at Tully. About one year ago he returned to his native town and now enjoys an extensive practice in the surrounding country.
ODD FELLOWS.
In 1894 a very nourishing I. O. O. F. lodge was organized in Spafford, and weekly meetings are held in Van Benschowten's hall. New members are constantly being added and a marked degree of interest manifested by the members.
AGRICULTURE.
The principal occupation of the inhabitants of this town is agriculture, and many beautiful farms are here situated. The land is fertile and under a high state of cultivation. A large amount of hay, grain and potatoes arc raised in this town and marketed at Homer, some twelve miles distant.
PROMINENT FARMERS.
Among the prominent farmers of Spafford special mention should be made of the following:
R. O. Woodruff, Perry Woodruff, Ed Bishop, Martin Kane, Wm. Emmons, Myron Lawrence, John Powers, Lyman Bennett, Mrs. Matilda Fisher, Ed. Fisher, George Brown, John Keehan, Chas. Lawrence, Henry Lawrence, Mrs. Justus Knapp, John Maxson, J. Lester Prindle, Charles Barker, Wesley Craig, Abram Craig, Chas. Mason, Harley Craig, Irving Harrington, George Hill, John Odell, Joseph Cole, Fernan Prindle, Perry McKay, John York, Alva Randall, Mrs. Minerva Breed, John Ripley.
JOHN PENDERGAST.
John Pendergast conducts a blacksmith and general wagon and repair shop in the village of Spafford, and receives a liberal patronage from the farmers of the town.
BORODINO.
The village of Borodino is located within the town of Spafford and about four miles north. Of this village we propose to speak more fully in a succeeding issue.
HERE AND THERE.
The half of Cortland will be in Ithaca next week, attending the firemen's convention.
Messrs. Keator & Wells are making arrangements to place a new boiler in their wagon plant in Elm-st.
An exchange suggests that instead of automobile we say "autogo," Let 'er go at that certainly. They autogo; the price is high enough.
The Republican county convention will be held in Taylor hall on Friday, August 11, at 1 30 o'clock. The caucuses will be held August 5.
The A. O. H. excursion to the Thousand Islands last Saturday was a grand success, the crowd being large and the journey being a delightful one.
The aeronaut who made the balloon ascension at Sparks' circus Wednesday evenly landed in a tree in the yard of E. D. Phillips. He was unhurt.
The milk producers are already reaping considerable financial benefit from thorough organization, the price of milk being higher than for many seasons past.
Our business men are doubtless keeping the county fair in mind. This is an institution that should receive the hearty endorsement of every citizen of Cortland.
Those desiring to join the new University Center should send their names to John Kenyon at once. He is now collecting fees and issuing certificates of membership.
Since the appearance of last week's DEMOCRAT it is apparent that the homeliest man is rather to be envied than the handsomest one, especially when they are both lawyers.
It will probably surprise many Cortland people to learn that 4,700 chairs have been given away at Hayes' chair factory on the premium cards issued by merchants of the village and vicinity.
Jason E. Taylor broke a leg Monday while at work removing one of the trees from in front of Hotel Brunswick. He was taken to the hospital and the fracture reduced by Dr. VerNooy.
Rev. J. J. Cowles of McGrawville preached in the Presbyterian church last Sunday forenoon. The pulpit will be supplied next Sunday by Rev. George P. Eastman of Massachusetts.
The numerous signs in the Presbyterian church windows last Sunday morning would lead to the supposition that Saturday night was Halloween. "Please keep off the grass" was displayed in at least five windows.
The village board in regular session Monday evening voted to pave Port Watson-st., in accordance with the request of the petitioners. The specifications will soon be prepared by Engineer Allen, and bids called for.
The Cortland ball team known as the Terriers attempted to terrorize the McGrawville team last Saturday, but the latter didn't scare worth a cent. On the contrary they defeated the Terriers by the score of 15 to 14.
Two trolley cars met at the corner of Elm and Pendleton-sts., Sunday afternoon, coming together with sufficient force to crush the forward end of the McGrawville car. Two children were thrown from the park car, but they were hot seriously injured.
The president and trustees of the village had a lonesome time, Friday night, at the meeting called to hear objections to the paving of Port Watson-st. It is evident that the people of that street are all of one mind, which shows a degree of harmony that is commendable.
When the proper time comes the Cortland board of health should follow the example of boards in other villages and cities, asking the legislature to enact a law against the general use of blank cartridges and the toy pistol with percussion caps. It seems accepted that a very slight wound caused by the wadding or by a flying piece of these caps is far more likely to cause lockjaw, if received on the hand, than a severe shot wound.
Had it not been for his son, a Cortland man would have used the kissing bug dodge with good effect one day this week. He appeared on the street with a badly swollen lip and won the sympathy of his acquaintances by explaining pathetically that he had been the victim of a kissing bug. Later in the day the man's small son came down town and was asked how his afflicted sire was getting along. "O, he ain't hurt much," said the young hopeful, "but ma says she'll give it to him worse next time if he don't come home earlier."
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