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| Paul Kruger. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, September 30, 1899.
WAR IS NOW CERTAIN.
Hostilities May Begin Within the Next Few Hours.
THE EXTREME CRISIS REACHED.
Boers Expected to Commit an Overt Act Which Will Bring On Hostilities at Once—Troops in Active Movement in the Transvaal. Latest War News.
LONDON, Sept. 30.—Indications lead to the belief that in view of cabinet meeting the Boers will probably commit an overt act, which will bring on hostilities before the assembling of parliament. All the latest dispatches from the Transvaal show the liveliest activity on the part of the burghers.
Telegrams from Pretoria announce that artillery is being rapidly loaded at the station for the front, and military trains have preference on all lines.
The Cape mail is delayed in consequence of the large amount of rolling stock reserved for the forces. A large body of burghers have left for the Natal border, and another for Middleburg. Detachments of cyclists are being distributed among the different commands. It is understood that the first contingent of the Pretoria force has already left for the eastern border.
Commandant General Joubert addressed a crowd of burghers at the Pretoria station. His remarks were loudly cheered.
The officers of the German corps have left for the front, and the Hollander corps paraded in the principal square of Pretoria, and saluted President Kruger.
TOO LATE FOR PEACE.
Boers Are Confident That They Can Whip the English.
LONDON, Sept. 30.—The Cape Town correspondent of The Times cables: "A Free State proclamation has been gazetted, prohibiting the export of live stock, grain and provisions. Coliber and other places in Cape Colony near the Free State are known to be extremely dissatisfied. The English are daily threatened and some of them are going coastwards for safety. I have accumulated evidence that it is not mere street talk, but that there is a bonafide belief among the Dutch that the Boers can beat England. A prominent Free Stater says:
'''We are sorry for your soldiers. Our burghers will walk over them like sheep over the veldt.'
"Another Free Stater said:
"'You may have an even chance with us if you send 100,000 men, not less.'
"A Dutch lady of the southwest portion of the colony writes to a friend:
'''When Paul Kruger has beaten the English and taken the colony, wonder will he conquer England, too?'
"It is the existence of this temper which makes those here knowing the conditions of life in the Transvaal and now, for the first time, in the Free State, believe that the time has passed when a nominal acceptance of the British terms would avail for the English people to live in peace in South Africa."
GERMAN PRESS VIEWS.
British Government Generally Condemned for the Position Taken.
BERLIN, Sept, 30.—The Anglo-phobe tendency of the German press is in no way abated by the knowledge that the German government not only does not share, but seeks, though in vain, to repress it.
The Neueste Nachrichten says: "It would be more correct to speak frankly, regarding the South African crisis, for the question at issue ceased long ago to be confined to the Transvaal. The responsibility of the British government will, therefore, be all the greater if it should stir up war. By insisting that the Transvaal acknowledge British suzerainty, Great Britain cuts off every possible road to a peaceful issue, inasmuch as the return of the Transvaal to the convention of 1881 would be the signal for an internal revolution."
The Vossische Zeitung says: "England knows only might and particularly where smaller nations are concerned. She does not recoil from outraging the principles of a state whose population ranks among the most civilized peoples and which may be classed as of the same stock as her own."
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Verifying the Truth of History.
In the Paris Journal des Débats Admiral Cervera over his own signature, puts forth his plea for his defeat at Santiago, which is not only an extenuation, but which, we believe, will be generally regarded as a complete justification. It certainly shows him to be entirely worthy of all the courtesy he received in this country. According to the admiral's statement in January, 1898, some months before the storm broke, he was not sparing in the counsels he sent to high functionaries of state in Spain or in his plainly worded statements as to the relative strength of the Spanish and American navies. He wrote at that time:
"From a military point of view our situation vis-a-vis the United States has become worse and worse, because we are without money and at the end of our resources, while they are rich. We have only augmented our naval forces by the Cristobal Colon and the destroyers, while they have added numerous ships."
Again, just before sailing from the Cape Verde Islands, the admiral called a council of war and on April 22 sent the following extraordinary telegram to Madrid:
"It is impossible to give you any idea of the surprise and stupefaction of everybody on receipt of your orders to sail. Of a truth this surprise is well justified, for from this expedition nothing can be expected but the destruction of the fleet or its return in a demolished condition, while if brought back to Spain it might safeguard the country. I go to the sacrifice with my conscience at rest, but I cannot understand the decision taken by the general officers of the navy in spite of my opinion."
The record shows that Admiral Cervera and Rear Admiral Vallamil, his second in command who perished in the battle of Santiago, knew full well that in sailing from Cadiz they were going to their doom. They advised against the needless sacrifice but, receiving positive orders, obeyed them like brave men regardless of consequences. There was certainly nothing of cowardice or inefficiency on the part of Admiral Cervera or his officers, and the responsibility for the destruction of his fleet must rest with the Spanish administration and not with the heroic admiral, who implicitly obeyed orders.
THE SECOND DAY PROGRAM.
The Dewey Celebration on Land Continued All Day.
NEW YORK, Sept. 30.—The Dewey program for to-day:
7 A. M.—Sub-committee of the reception committee boards the police boat Patrol at West 40th-st. to take Admiral Dewey off the Olympia.
7:30 A. M.—Admiral Dewey boards the Petrol.
8 A. M.—Admiral Dewey lands at the Battery and is driven up Broadway escorted by Squadron A.
8:30 A. M.—Dewey and his escort reaches the city hall, where he is met by the mayor and the city's guests.
9 A. M.—A loving cup is presented to Dewey by the mayor on behalf of the city, and hundreds of school children sing patriotic songs.
10 A. M.—Dewey and city's guests are driven to Warren-st. pier, where they board the Sandy Hook, which lands them at 129th-st. Breakfast is served on the boat.
11 A. M.—Dewey takes his place near the head of the parade line, which starts from 122d-st. and Riverside drive, marching south down the drive to 72d-st., east , along 72d-st. to Central park west, down Central park west to 59th-st., east along 59th st. to Fifth avenue, down Fifth avenue to Washington Square. Dewey will leave the line at Madison square and review the parade just before it passes under the triumphal arch.
2 P. M.—Parade due to reach Madison Square, where Dewey will review the column.
6 P. M.—Last of the line is expected to pass the reviewing stand.
7 P. M.—Dewey will dine with his relatives on shore.
8 P. M.—Performance of "The White Squadron" at the Metropolitan opera house for the benefit of the Dewey Home fund.
8:30 P. M.—Smoker for the sailors of the Olympia at the Waldorf-Astoria.
Veteran of Santiago Campaign.
Rev. George F. T. Stevenson, pastor of the Memorial Baptist church [in Cortland], is a veteran of the Cuban war and was a participator in the Santiago campaign. When the war broke out he was a student of the University of Chicago and at the same time pastor of Grant Park Baptist church in that city. He was invited by Gen. Green B. Raum to become the chaplain of his provisional regiment. He left Chicago one Saturday night and arrived in Tampa the following Tuesday. After looking over the ground for a couple of days he came to the conclusion that the regiment to which he was attached would not get to the front for some weeks if at all and he enlisted then and there as a private in the First Illinois regiment, U. S. Vols., and on the following Saturday, one week from the time he left Chicago, he was on a transport bound for Cuba. He was at the front all through the Santiago campaign, and reached New York on his return after the war Aug. 13.
To-morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock at the Y. M. C. A. rooms Mr. Stevenson will speak to men on "Personal Experiences in the Santiago Campaign." All men cordially invited.
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
One of the Cortland Boys Relates His Experience at the Front.
Mrs. William Robson of 70 Groton-ave. has received the following letter from her son George who is now in the army in the Philippines:
SAN ARIKA, Aug. 13, 1899.
DEAR MOTHER—To-day is Sunday and we are having a rest after having a hard week of it. Last Sunday we got orders to pack up and be ready to make an advance north of San Fernando, but it began to rain so hard that we had to wait until Tuesday. Tuesday night one troop of the Fourth cavalry relieved us from outpost and we got to San Fernando at about 12 o'clock and we slept along the railroad until 8 o'clock Wednesday morning, when we went out to the trenches to relieve two companies of our regiment who were doing guard there so they could join us at daybreak. The Ninth, Twelfth and Thirty-sixth were on the left of the railroad and the Seventeenth, Twenty-second and Fifty-first were on the right.
Just at daybreak all the artillery began to shell the insurgents and we formed a skirmish line and began to advance. Just as soon as we had deployed the insurgents' outposts began to fire on us, but five or six volleys drove them off. The hardest fight was on the left and the rice and cornfields was full of water and we went into the mud up to our knees.
It is very hard and slow traveling. We reached Calamoo about 1 o'clock and our company which was held as reserve had our first chance that day. The other company of our battalion were having a sharp engagement in front of us on the right of the road and we were in the road when the insurgents tried to flank us on the left. We could see where the insurgents were and we commenced to fire volleys at them. After five minutes firing we started them a hustling again. We had one man hit in the leg. As we entered the town we found a Spanish officer who was wounded. He told us that Aguinaldo had left early that morning.
We had three killed and about fifteen wounded of our regiment, and about a hundred killed and wounded for the day. It was a great deal better on the north line than the south for there is a great deal more water and not so many rice fields. We had to stay in Calamoo the following day to get our rations and that day we started out to capture San Arika and we did not have to fire a shot to do it. Some of the insurgent army had left the day before. It is a very nice town, about the size of McGraw.
Yesterday our battalion and a Gatling gun had to go out to see if we could locate the insurgents. After going six miles we heard some firing right near us and two scouts went out to see what it was. They found Col. Bell with ten cavalrymen with him and the insurgents were firing from outposts. Col. Bell joined us and took one company and routed the insurgents out after they had wounded one man of our company who was shot through the foot and another of Co. E in the arm. We got back at about 8 o'clock very tired. We expect to go out again to-morrow. The country is very nice through here.
I found out the other day that the fellow who was killed on the 10th of June lived in Taylor. His name was Hutchinson. When we left San Francisco we had 110 men for duty, now we have got fifty, so you can see what we have to go through.
Well, I haven't any more time now so I will close with my love to you all. I will write again as soon as I get a chance.
GEORGE.
THIS MAY BE A CLUE.
Thought That the Two Recent Robberies in Cortland Were Committed by Same Parties.
It is thought by the local police that perhaps the parties who robbed the drygoods store of Warren, Tanner & Co. Thursday night were also concerned in the thievery at Kingman's bathing house a few nights previous.
Warren McGee, a 15 year-old lad, was found at the back door of the bathing house by Dr. Kingman, and immediately ran down the river, pursued by the doctor, who captured him. It is expected that the examination in McGee's case will be completed this afternoon in police court. The lad's explanation of his connection of the affair is that he walked from the D., L. & W. tracks over to the Rickard-st. bridge and there saw a man fishing. He watched him a few minutes and then went back by the bathing house where he heard voices inside. He went around to the back door and looking in saw two fellows whom he had previously seen near the bridge. As he was standing in the doorway, Dr. Kingman appeared around the corner and the boy started to run. His description of the two strangers tallies almost exactly with the description of two of the men who came into Cortland on the 1 o'clock freight yesterday morning as related to Officers Nix and Smith by a young lad who was on the train and saw them.
It is believed that the parties guilty of the robbery at Warren, Tanner & Co's. boarded the early morning express at Homer yesterday and rode as far as Apulia station, where their funds gave out and they were compelled to get off. They had some packages with them and one package was broken open, showing silver mounted tooth brushes.
TIOUGHNIOGA CLUB.
Ladies' Night Next Wednesday—More Members—Improvements.
Ladies' night will be observed at the Tioughnioga club on Wednesday evening, Oct. 4, at which a musical program will be rendered under the direction of Prof. George Oscar Bowen, from 8 to 9 o'clock, after which cards, games, etc., will be indulged in. Prof. A. E. Darby will be present with an orchestra, and will furnish music throughout the latter part of the evening in addition to assisting in the program. All members, both resident and non-resident, are requested to attend with their lady friends. It is intended that these monthly entertainments shall be quite a feature in the social matters of Cortland during the coming winter, as the ladies' nights are to be continued.
The musical program will be published in Tuesday's STANDARD. The club has decided to improve its already attractive rooms and increase its membership, and that this fact meets with general approval the large number of applications for membership shows full well.
Mr. Hopkins, the owner of the block, has decided to redecorate the rooms, the billiard tables will be thoroughly put in order, the reading matter revised and many improvements made in the interest of the club, all of which will no doubt increase its popularity and make it more than ever a place of comfort and convenience to its members.
Funeral of H. C Blodgett.
The funeral of Mr. Hiram C. Blodgett was held at his late home, 113 Port Watson-st., at 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon and was attended by many neighbors and friends. A great number of roses and Japanese lilies were strewn over the casket as it rested in the parlor. The services were conducted by Rev. John T. Stone, pastor of the Presbyterian church, who read appropriate Scripture selections, offered prayer and made some very comforting and helpful remarks. The bearers were selected from among the nearest relatives of the deceased and were Messrs. Charles H. Van Tuyl of Hamilton, W. D. Tisdale, W. H. McGraw and E. D. Blodgett. The burial was in the family lot at the Cortland Rural cemetery.
Among the relatives present from out of town to attend the funeral were Prof. and Mrs. C. H. Van Tuyl of Hamilton, Mr. Frank H. Hale of Syracuse and Mr. Charles S. Sanderson of Seneca Falls.
BREVITIES.
—To-morrow night the services at the churches change from 7:30 to 7 P. M. for the winter season.
—A snowstorm in Cortland on the last day of September. When has that been heard of before?
—The Normal football team left this morning for Manlius to try conclusions with the St. John's team.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Bingham & Miller, Open evenings, page 8; A. S. Burgess, Men's shoes, page 4; Mrs. J. T. Davern, Millinery, page 6.
—Rev. Stanley B. Roberts, pastor of Bethany Presbyterian church of Utica, has been called to the pastorate of Bethlehem Presbyterian church of Minneapolis.
—Next Monday at 3 o'clock is the last moment at which corporation taxes can be paid at 1 per cent. Collector Buckley will be at C. F. Thompson's store till that time to receive them.
—Mrs. J. F. Bosworth of 52 Madison-st. entertained a number of friends last evening in honor of her friend, Miss Emma Hall, of Binghamton. The time was pleasantly spent in games and social intercourse, and light refreshments were served.
—Mrs. Beardsley picked a quart of luscious red raspberries on Mrs. J. L. Gillet's farm west of the village this morning, the last day of September, and the same noon there was a snow storm. That is a combination of weather and season indeed.
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