GENERAL PILAR KILLED ON FIRING LINE, STATE DAIRYMEN CONVENTION, AND WHOLESALE SENTENCING OF LIQUOR EXCISE VIOLATORS

 

General Gregorio del Pilar.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, December 14, 1899.

KILLED ON FIRING LINE.

General Pilar Dies at the Head of His Troops.

COVERING AGUINALDO'S FLIGHT.

Major March's Battalion Fight the Insurgents In a Mountain Pass 3,000 Feet Above the Sea and Rout Them—Hot on Aguinaldo's Trail.

   MANILA, Dec. 14.—The following dispatch, dated Cervantes, Dec. 5, has just been received from a correspondent of the press with Major March's battalion:

   "Major March, with Captains Jenkinson and Cunningham, Lieutenants Tompkins, Rucker, McClelland and Power and 125 men, is about starting for Bontoc, the principal town in the province of that name in the northeast, through an absolutely desolate country and over a mountain 10,000 feet high. He is pursuing Aguinaldo, whose escort, now reduced to 50 men, is known to be there.

   "According to the natives, Aguinaldo intends to disguise himself and to take a circuitous trail toward Bayombong, province of Nueva Vizcaya.

   "Major March, with 300 men, arrived at Cervantes in the heart of the Tilad mountains on the evening of Dec. 3, about 24 hours behind Aguinaldo, who had believed he had found an inaccessible refuge. On Dec. 2 the American commander had a wonderful fight in a cloud-enveloped mountain pass 3,000 feet above the sea, completely routing General Gregorio del Pilar's force of 200 picked men in a position almost strong enough to rival Thermopylae.

   "General Pilar died at the front of his men, urging them to make a stand, until the ball of a sharpshooter pierced his head. His followers tried to carry away the body, but were compelled to lay it down.

   "Two of the Americans were killed and were buried by their comrades where they fell. The others, carrying nine wounded, camped for the night on top of the mountain, an eminence of 4,000 feet, suffering greatly from the cold blasts. In the morning, they moved down the trail to Dagqui, where they learned that Aguinaldo with a few men and three women, all carried on litters borne by Igorrotes, had passed along the same trail to Cervantes, where he was during the fight. A runner had brought him the news of the death of his chief of staff. He was greatly affected and prepared instantly for flight.

   "General Concepcion with six officers who had deserted Aguinaldo, surrendered when Major March reached Cagayan, province of Lepanto.

   "On arriving at Cervantes, Major March's battalion was without food except rice, and had only a small supply of ammunition. Major March secured five days' rations, made arrangements for his sick and wounded and, having chosen 25 mounted and 100 dismounted men, resumed the chase at daybreak today."

   Mabini, former secretary of state in the so-called Filipino government, and Aguinaldo's ablest adviser, although of late withdrawn from official connection from the insurrection, has been captured by General MacArthur near Rosales. He will be brought to Manila. Mabini has been the leader of the extreme anti-American faction.

   General Tirona, commanding the Filipinos in the province of Cagayan, surrendered the entire province at Aparri on Dec. 11 to Captain McCalla of the United States cruiser Newark. Captain McCalla appointed him civil governor of the province, subject to the approval of General Otis.

   The surrender was with the honors of war. Captain McCalla reviewed the insurgents and General Tirona reviewed the naval forces. The Americans presented arms while the insurgents were stacking theirs.

   Captain McCalla has communicated with Major Batchelder's battalion of the Twenty-fourth infantry, which is now 90 miles south of Aparri and has been enjoying a pleasant march.

   The gunboats Princeton and Helena have entered the Aparri river. The latter will take supplies for Major Batchelder and the former will bring 300 surrendered rifles to Manila.

 

Paul Kruger.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Oom Paul's Prophecy Recalled.

   ''One more such victory," remarked Pyrrhus when congratulated on his defeat of the Romans near the river Siris, "and Pyrrhus is undone." The same idea is conveyed by General Methuen when he reports that the battle at Modder river was one of the bloodiest in the annals of the British army. If it was a victory at all, the victory, like that of Pyrrhus, was too costly to make it a cause for congratulation. According to such accounts as the British press censor has permitted to be sent out, it was, in the language of the prize ring, a draw. The loss was unquestionably heavy on both sides, the probability being that the Boers suffered more seriously than the British, though they evidently retired in good order and in position to renew their assaults.

   In view of the facts, so far as they are known, one cannot help recalling the statement made by President Kruger at the beginning of the hostilities. "We will be defeated," he said in substance. "We probably will be defeated, but at a cost that will appall the civilized world."

   That this was no idle threat is being amply demonstrated. The sturdy Afrikander yeomen will no doubt fight to the last ditch, and whatever Great Britain wins in South Africa will be at tremendous cost. Thus far British victories, particularly the so-called victory at Modder river, have every appearance of being of the Pyrrhaic order, and if actual gains have been made they have been far from commensurate with the cost.

 

THE STATE DAIRYMEN.

CONVENTION FORMALLY OPENED AT THE OPERA HOUSE.

Fine Address of Welcome by Judge Eggleston—Response by George G. Royce of Gouverneur—The President's Address—The Display at the Exhibition Hall.

   The twenty-third annual convention of the New York State Dairymen's association was formally called to order this morning at 10:30 o'clock by Vice-President George A. Smith of Geneva. At this time the floor of the Opera House was about two-thirds full, but others kept coming in till there was not a seat to be had on the floor. The overflow then betook itself to the balcony, and there is reason to believe that at the remaining sessions the place will be crowded.

   Mr. Smith introduced County Judge Joseph E. Eggleston who delivered the address of welcome. The judge was in his happiest mood, and the address was one of his best efforts. He was cordial in the warmth of his welcome; he had many serious things to say in reference to the work of the dairymen and their homes and he punctuated these with good stories and apt illustrations. He said he was there to press the button and his audience was to do the rest, and it was a very pleasing duty. Some one had said that the three sweetest words in the English language are "mother, home and heaven." He would add a fourth, "welcome." The gates of this town swing in, and not out. He remembered a sign that used to hang in a store where he was a clerk in his younger days, "If you don't see what you want, ask for it." With the full knowledge that the president of Cortland village and the four trustees were present and behind him he would recommend a better sign to them, "If you see what you want, take it."

   The judge said that the people of Cortland felt proud of their homes, their churches, their schools, their manufactories, but most of all of the outlying farms. The speaker now thinks that the happiest days of his life were those of his boyhood spent on a farm. But he didn't like picking stone and turning grindstone and he drifted away from it. But he feels that the schooling of a boy on a farm is the best training to lay the foundations for his future success. He thought he might be on delicate ground as a lawyer talking about farming. Gov. Hill once ventured on the ice in the same way when speaking at an agricultural fair when he said he was brought up between two rows of corn and a boy in the audience called out "Then he's a pumpkin."

   Reference was made to the farmers of this country, to the great wheat fields of the northwest and the assertion was made that we can feed the world. Great Britain could eat up in two months all the wheat she could raise in her possessions. If her ports were blockaded she would starve in four months if she could get no food from outsiders. Not so with our great nation. Great Britain is behind the times in her methods of farming. The judge told of seeing farmers mowing with a scythe and using hand rakes while in England last summer. A farmer who doesn't keep up with the times can't get a living.

   A warm tribute was paid to the farmer's wife, who doesn't get all the credit she is entitled to. She should have an [equal voice in the] management and in the finances of the farm.

   In conclusion Judge Eggleston welcomed all to Cortland, in the name of the village and of all the residents.

RESPONSE TO ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

   The response to Judge Eggleston's address of welcome was given by Mr. George G. Royce of Gouveneur. Mr. Royce is an earnest and forcible speaker and his remarks were well received. He spoke in part as follows:

   In responding to the very generous and cordial words of welcome by Cortland's distinguished citizen and in expressing appreciation for the hearty welcome and cordial greeting extended to the State Dairymen's convention by the citizens of Cortland that next to having the convention at Gouverneur again this year is having it at Cortland and I am sure that we shall all return to our homes at the close of the convention better men and women and better citizens than we were before we came here. We are pleased with Cortland and her citizens and with the welcome which has been extended to us. We are glad to note her evident prosperity and the beauty of her surroundings. You have in your midst a Normal school, second to none in the state, the influence from which is far-reaching and which each year is sending out a body of educated young men and women.

   On every hand we see signs of advancement. Agriculture is awaking from its Rip Van Winkle sleep and is taking on new life. Farmers are reading more good literature and are studying more than ever before. They are beginning to rely more on scientific truth than upon the phases of the moon. Farmers are beginning to realize the changed conditions and to take advantage of them. The speaker then referred to advancement along various lines and spoke at some length of the improvement in the dairy cow. He noted important inferences between the primitive cow and the modern dairy animal. The modern dairy cow is an artificial creation kept simply for profit to her owner.

   It is a mistake to assume that prosperity depends upon the manufacturer, the merchant or the mine owner. The farmer is the greatest manufacturer and the agriculturist represents the backbone of prosperity of any country.

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

   The president's address was delivered by S. Brown Richardson of Lowville, who spoke upon "Dairy Reform." His remarks were practical and timely. He called attention to the fact that during the last few years observing farmers have come to know that better milk, better butter, better cheese must be furnished to the consumers at less money, or the wheels of progress would run down. Dairymen who kept books found on the first day of January that the cow that had given milk only six months out of twelve and had given an aggregate of only 2,500 to 3,000 pounds at that had not paid her board. Man, the greatest product of nature, set out to determine how he could better things.

   Improvement has come along several lines. The first is economy of production. The product of the dairy must be put on the market at less cost to the producer. Invention came in here to help the dairyman. Next comes the beneficent lesson that "cleanliness is next to Godliness." There must be no carelessness in farm management. A greater variety of products had its place in helping out the farmer. New markets have been found. It is the duty of the State Dairymen's association to walk in the front rank and to occupy the advance line of dairy progress. It is unalterably opposed to all kinds of vicious substitutes and fraudulent imitations of honest dairy products. We should invite and encourage the co-operation of other states in cutting this plague spot from the body of our dairy industry.

EX-PRESIDENT J. S. SHATTUCK.

   At the close of Mr. Royce's address Ex- President J. S. Shattuck was introduced and addressed the convention upon "Dairymen's Mistakes." Some of the most common mistakes of dairymen are the fact that they do not always make the best of what they have under the circumstances. Another is that farmers often try to keep too many cows. Better keep fewer cows and keep them well than try to keep more.

   Farmers should raise more of their own cows and not depend upon buying them. A good dairy cow can be raised cheaper than one can be bought at present prices. He referred to the change brought about in dairy affairs by shipping milk instead of making up the product at home as in early days. Mr. Shattuck's remarks were enthusiastically applauded.

   The convention adjourned till 1:30 P.M.

   The convention this afternoon is proceeding according to the program yesterday published in The STANDARD. It continues to-night and to-morrow.

EXHIBITS AT THE SHOW ROOMS.

   Everything is now well underway at the Dairymen's convention exhibit room, and large crowds are taking advantage of this opportunity for viewing one of the finest displays of dairy products and dairy machinery and utensils ever seen in this section of the state. The hall is tastefully decorated with colored crape paper, flags, bunting, artistic posters for advertising purposes, and a large display of medals.

   The Champion Milk Cooler Co., of Cortland with the Thatcher Manufacturing Co. occupies a central position directly in front of the main entrance. They have a full line of their coolers, cheese factory, creamery and milk dealer's supplies. A Champion milk wagon is also among their exhibits. The DeLaval cream separators and Facile milk testers, for which the Cortland company is agent, are displayed on the left.

   Other exhibits include the Mosely-Stoddard Mfg. Co., with separators, vats, churns, etc.; the Wells, Richardson & Co., Butter colors; the Creamery Package Co.'s machines; Hansen's butter colors; Taber Pump Co.'s pumps; St. Albans Tread Power Co.'s tread powers; Blizzard stalk cutter; empire state and union milk cans; diamond crystal salt; Worcester salt; Genesee salt; Sharple's cream separators; Alderney butter colors; farmers favorite feed cutters; perfection milk coolers and aerators; Reed improved dairy appliances; Vermont Farm Machine Co.'s machines and the improved United States cream separators.

 

WHOLESALE SENTENCING.

Violators or the Excise Law Get Fines or Imprisonment.

   At county court this afternoon all of the defendants in the excise cases which were on the calendar of this term of county court who had not already been convicted pleaded guilty to the indictments with the exception of Ollie Ingraham and William Hess, whose case is still held open, and of George I. Crane whose case has not yet been disposed of in any way.

   Judge Eggleston then imposed sentences. The defendants were divided into four classes and were brought before him in that way. The sentences of the first class were as follows: John Murphy and Clayton Jacobs each $300 fine or sixty days in the county jail. Fred Donahue $200 fine or sixty days in the county jail.

   Stanley Raymond, Daniel Kernan and George L., each $250 fine or four months in Onondaga penitentiary.

   Charles Rowe, Michael Ray, John Andrews, Patrick Dowd, James Riley, Sr., George McKean, A. J. Goddard, J. Huller—each $350 fine or six months in Onondaga penitentiary.

   R. Burns Linderman and Frank R. Robertson—each $500 fine or one year in Onondaga penitentiary.

   Of the fines imposed under this law one-third goes to the state and two-thirds to the particular town of the county where the offense was committed.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Lyman C. Howe of Fredonia will deliver a lecture on "Spiritualism" in Good Templars' hall this evening at 8 o'clock.

   —The snow comes down as though there might be a Christmas run of sleighing. It would be a cause of rejoicing to merchants if that could be the case.

   —Many of the visitors to the Dairyman's convention have availed themselves of the fine opportunity which the Tioughnioga club has given them to visit the rooms.

   —Through the slip of a pen yesterday which was not noticed till after the paper had gone to press Judge Knox was referred to as the "administrator" of the will of the late Mrs. Bolles. Of course he is the "executor" of the will and not the "administrator," as the use of the term used was entirely incorrect.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Warren, Tanner & Co., Christmas almost here, page G; B. M. Welles, The Blizzard, page 5; Smith & Beaudry, Christmas presents, page 8; McKinney & Doubleday, Books, stationery, etc., page 6.