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| Judge A. P. Smith. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 19, 1900.
CORTLAND IN 1870.
A CAREFULLY COMPILED RECORD OF INTERESTING EVENTS OF THAT YEAR.
Suicide of Mrs. C. H. Moore, Resulting in a Tar and Feather Episode—Explosion of a Boiler at the Normal School—An Interesting Suit Arising From the Civil War, in Which Solon Seeks Redress From Other Towns—Political Matters—Many Other Interesting Events Briefly Told.
(These historical and reminiscent sketches of Cortland events began with the year 1868, and will cover a period of a quarter century, one year's events appearing in each issue. The entire series will form a valuable record and be very interesting reading.)
During the year 1870 two startling events occurred in Cortland village, an explosion of a boiler causing the death of an estimable gentleman and a well-known lady committing suicide by drowning herself in the river.
EXPLOSION.
Shortly after 9 o'clock on the morning of February 21 one of the boilers used for heating the Normal school, located in a small brick building some 50 or 60 feet from the school building, exploded, killing Henry L. Danes, the engineer, and injuring a young man by the name of Curtis Moso. The brick building was totally demolished, and several pieces of the boiler were afterwards found upon the top of the houses on Port Watson-st. The body of Mr. Danes (who was the father of Chas. H. Danes, now one of the proprietors of the Homer Republican), was found 200 feet away, slightly bruised but fearfully scalded. Dr. H. C. Gazlay was the coroner [who was] called to investigate the affair, and he empanelled the following jury to hear and determine the cause of the explosion: Stephen Brewer, R. B. Smith, Julius P. Holmes, Horace P. Jarvis, A. C. Garrison and Lewis Bouton. The jury decided the cause of the explosion to be an insufficiency of water in the boiler. They further found that engineer Danes was a very careful man and remarkably attentive to his duties, and that he was deceived by a disarrangement of the steam gauge. Stoves were immediately secured and placed in the school building for heating purposes.
SUICIDE.
On the night of July 26 Mrs. C. H. Moore committed suicide by drowning in the Tioughnioga river, and the sad affair finally resulted in a tar and feather scrap. On the night named Mr. and Mrs. Moore, who had rooms at the Cortland House, were out walking on Main-st, when Mrs. Moore suddenly turned about and hurried to her room in the Cortland House. Her husband followed, and when he reached their boarding place he found the door of the room locked. His wife refused to open the door, so he passed out upon the piazza, where he entered into conversation with his wife. As was learned at the coroner's investigation, the couple had a disagreement on the street, and at the conference through the window a partial reconciliation took place and Mr. Moore entered the room occupied by the couple. He soon after retired, leaving his wife partially disrobed.
Mrs. Moore left the room in about a half hour, and as she did not return Mr. Moore dressed and went out to search for her. In company with his brother and George L. Warren they made diligent inquiry and search, and finally went up to the railroad bridge in the upper part of the village, where Mr. Warren found a lady's hat and other clothing lying on one of the abutments. Further search revealed the dead body of Mrs. Moore near the bridge. At the coroner's inquest subsequently held the following jurors were empanelled: Riley Champlin, foreman, P. B. Davis, D. J. Sperry, W. S. Hunter, E. F. Willett. Samuel Freeman, O. D. Owen. A. Sager, E. A. Fish, J. J. Pease. Considerable evidence was taken, and it was clearly shown that an intimacy had existed between Moore and a Mrs. Blye, which caused much dissension between Mr. and Mrs. Moore. As this was clearly proven to have been the cause of the death of Mrs. Moore, and as the coroner's jury was unable to reach that feature of the case, a crowd of Cortland citizens later took the matter in hand, and after tarring and feathering Mrs. Blye they rode her on a rail.
SOLON VS. HOMER.
It was in 1870 that the celebrated case of the town of Solon against several other towns in the county was brought to trial. The particulars were as follows: In 1865 Judge A. P. Smith enlisted thirteen men at Newburn, N. C., for Cortland county at large, in response to a draft, but as all of the quotas for the county were filled except Solon, they were sold to that town, which paid the price asked for them by the war committee. By the state bounty law, passed in February, 1865, Solon became entitled to a re-imbursement of about $6,000 for excess of years' service of these men, credited to her in assigning her quota on the call of December 19, 1864. This reimbursement was drawn from the state by members of the committee which sold the men to Solon, and was paid by them to eleven other towns. The state paid to counties, not to towns, leaving the distribution to those having in charge the sacred trust. The towns had repeatedly been asked to pay the money over, but refused. The town of Solon could not go back to the state for it, so the town sued Homer to recover the amount which Homer had of the money. Judge Boardman, before whom the case was tried, said "Can it be possible there is no remedy for Solon? All the evidence showing several thousand dollars in the hands of these towns, belonging to her, and no way by which she can get it? It is ridiculous. I direct the jury to find a verdict for Solon, and against Homer for $707.35."
THE SUPERVISORS MANDAMUSED.
At the annual session of the board of supervisors in 1869 considerable slashing of bills was done after the fashion of the recent board. Frank G. Kinney, publisher of the Cortland Standard, presented his bill for printing, amounting to $800.20. The board allowed Mr. Kinney only $313.10, and that gentleman refused to stand any such nonsense. He later secured a writ of mandamus compelling the board to show cause in supreme court why the full amount should not be paid. The venerable Judge Murray, who will be remembered by many Cortland people, subsequently gave Mr. Kinney a judgment for $311.03, besides interest and costs.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
At the February town elections the following supervisors were chosen: Cincinnatus, H. M. Kingman, Rep.; Cortlandvllle, S. E. Welch, Rep.; Cuyler, Alex Dunce, Rep.; Freetown, Hiram Hall, Rep.; Harford, Samuel H. Steele, Rep.; Homer, Geo. W. Phillips, Rep.; Lapeer, Dann C. Squires, Rep.; Marathon, Wm. A. Bentley, Ind.; Preble, M. Van. Hoesen, Dem.; Scott, Phineas Hutchins, Rep.; Solon, D. I. Brownell, Dem.; Truxton, Wm. S. Maycumber, Rep.; Taylor, Irving W. Phelps, Rep.; Virgil, Sam'l M. Byram, Rep.; Willet, E. F. Nichols, Dem.
Cortland village elected the following officers, March 15: President, Hiram Crandall; trustees, Wm. H. Crane, R. B. Smith; assessor, I. M. Seaman; treasurer, B. B. Woodworth; collector, B. W. Richardson.
Delegates to the Republican state convention were chosen in September as follows: Chas. Foster, J. C. Carmichael, Clifton W. Wiles of Freetown, and D. H. Hammond of Homer.
At the Republican county convention held Oct. 3, N. H. Haynes was nominated sheriff on the first ballot, receiving 48 votes to 26 for E. C. Carley. Frank Place was nominated for county clerk by acclamation. For member of assembly Irving Taintor received 55 votes to 14 for Dann C. Squires, and the former was declared the nominee. The greatest strife was over district attorney, the first ballot showing preferences: Wm. J. Mantanye 39, Lewis Bouton 17, W. H. Warren 13, H. Hoyt 11, I. H. Palmer 6, B. T. Wright 3. On the second ballot Mr. Mantanye led each of the other candidates by nearly twenty votes, lacking only three votes of securing the nomination, and it seemed that when the break came, which it did on the third ballot, Mr. Mantanye would be the choice of the convention, but the latter ballot gave Lewis Bouton 44 and Mr. Mantanye 42. For superintendent of the poor, Silas Blanchard defeated A. Stone by a vote of 41 to 38. Justin M. Pierce was nominated for justice of sessions.
At the Democratic county convention the following ticket was placed in nomination by acclamation: Member of assembly, Henry S. Randall; sheriff, John D. Benton; county clerk, Geo. Murray; district attorney, Riley Champlin; superintendent of the poor, Wm. Alvord; justice of sessions, James Comstock.
At the election in November the Democrats were jubilant over the choice of John D. Benton for sheriff by 298 majority, and of Henry S. Randall for member of assembly by 360 majority. Frank Place, the Republican candidate for county clerk had a majority of 1,468.
SOCIETY OFFICERS.
Cortland County Agricultural society elected the following officers Jan. 1: President, A. B. Blodgett; vice-president, C. B. Goodell; secretary, J. C. Carmichael; treasurer, M. L. Webb; executive committee, C. C. Taylor, Geo. Murray, John P. Hart, W. P. Randall and A. L. Chamberlain. The treasurer announced a fund in his hands of $1,900, which was drawing interest.
First National Bank: President, Thomas Keator; vice president, Hiram Crandall; directors, R. B. Smith, D. C. Squires, E. C. Carley, Samuel Keator, Arthur Holmes, M. Van Hoesen, O. F. Forbes, C. D. Kinney, J. P. Holmes, C. D. Hart and Robert Purvis.
Cortland County Anti-Thieving society: President, Geo. Miller; vice president, Allen B. Smith; secretary, Abner L. Smith; treasurer, N. Chamberlain.
The Cortland commandery, Knights Templar, was established in 1870, with the following officers: E. C., Wm. H. Crane; G., A. Sager; C. G., Geo. L. Warren; P., John D. Benton; treasurer, W. S. Copeland; R., D. H. Burr; S. W., M. A. Rice; J. W., F. Burdick.
Water Witch Fire Co., No. 1: Foreman, C. E. Gilbert; first assistant, J. A. Freer; second assistant, L. C. Galpin; secretary, C. E Ingalls; treasurer, C. K. Perkins.
THE RAILROAD AGITATION.
The proposed railroad from Elmira to Utica still received much attention from the newspapers and capitalists, an extract from the DEMOCRAT giving the following progress: "Between Cortland and Ithaca the route is fixed upon, and a railroad will surely be built. Between Ithaca and Elmira the rails of a road now in operation can be used for about 18 miles. From Horseheads to Elmira the track of the Northern Central is available. DeRuyter urges the line from Cortland east through that place."
BRIEF PARAGRAPHS.
The supreme court calendar for the January term contained 205 causes, 60 of which were for selling liquor without a license.
In January T. C. Pomeroy sold his stock of drugs and medicines to Dr. H. C. Gazlay, to be moved to Smyrna.
On January 21 Daniel S. Lamont of McGrawville was appointed engrossing clerk in the assembly, which was the beginning of his political career. So popular was Mr. Lamont with the legislature, it is recorded that at the close of the session he was given a magnificent gold watch by the members.
Cortland donations in those times evidently amounted to something, a benefit for Rev. J. T. Crippen in January amounting to $235.
A young man named Addison Benton, son of Isaac Benton of Virgil, while at work in the woods cut his leg, severing an artery and bleeding to death.
Mr. Michelson, who is still a familiar figure in Cortland, sold his house and lot in Cemetery-st. to Isaac Chatterton.
In February Benj. Taylor put up a ten-dollar billiard cue to be played for at his rooms. Several parties contested, the cue being won by Charles A. Burr, whose skill was doubtless due to the fact that he was a printer.
David Goodell of Scott was killed by a limb of a tree falling upon him while he was working in the woods.
In February Ferdinand D. Smith of New York came to Cortland and formed a partnership with Theodore Perkins in the hardware business. Mr. Smith still continues in the trade.
In March the postoffice was moved to the Taylor hall block, Horace A. Jarvis being the postmaster. He was re-appointed in May.
About the middle of March S. E. Welch, T. W. Thompson and T. Green formed a partnership in the dry goods business.
D. F. Wallace and A. Mahan formed a partnership in the book and music business in April, 1870.
The M. E. conference appointments for that year were as follows: Cortland, J. T. Crippen; McGrawville, W. D. Fox; Homer, A. A. Damon; Scott, A. Ensign; Preble, H. Harris; East Homer, H. B. Smith; Tully, W. H. Bunnell; Freetown, S. A. Luce.
Riley Champlin was appointed district attorney in place of A. D. Waters, deceased, the appointment being made in May.
The hardware store of C. F. Wickwire & Co. was entered by burglars during the night of May 19, and $150 worth of cutlery stolen.
Liquor license fees were fixed at $50 for hotels and $30 for saloons and stores.
The marriage of five persons still prominent in business circles in Cortland were as follows: February 17, at the Baptist church, I. H. Palmer to Miss Maggie A. Hunter. Sept. 5, Benj. F. Taylor, to Miss Sarah Van Rensallaer. Sept. 5, Ferdinand D. Smith to Miss Jennie K. Valentine. Sept. 13, Otis C. Smith to Miss Millie PerLee. Sept. 8, Lewis Bouton to Emily A. Lamont.
W. A. Pierce became a partner with A. Sager in the drug business in May, Mr. Sager having been engaged in the trade in Cortland since 1857.
Two handsome residences were built in in this village during 1870, one in Tompkins-st. by H. P. Goodrich, and the other in Owego-st. by Mark Holston.
During the last week in July Cortland put on gala attire, the occasion being the semi-centennial anniversary of the Cortland academy. The principal oration was delivered by Hon. Andrew D. White, then president of Cornell university.
The Marathon Independent was started in July, 1870, by Wallace Kelley.
A young man named Harrison Heffron was killed in the town of Harford, July 21, by a limb falling upon him.
The official census of 1870, as given in the Cortland papers of that year, gives Marathon a larger population than Cortland, the figures being as follows: Marathon 6,111, Cortlandville 6,096, Homer 1,810.
The only fire recorded during the year was in December, when a building located near the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western depot, owned by J. R . Hathaway, was burned, together with a quantity of kerosene and lubricating oils and two top buggies.
CHINAMEN DEFEATED.
French Have Taken Possession of Kwong-Chau-Wan Bay.
TACOMA, Wash., Jan. 16.—Oriental advices state that the French in Tonkin have succeeded in disposing of the Chinese troops under Marshal Su at Kwong Chau Wan. In several hard fights early in December the Chinese were victorious. The French finally brought six cruisers and gunboats to Kwong Chan Wan bay. The warships went as far inland as the depth of water would permit, shelling half a dozen towns. The Chinese troops were driven out and many killed. Dead bodies were found in the trenches when the French troops ventured out.
Twenty villages along the bay were occupied by the French. At the village of Vongture the Chinese regulars were found strongly entrenched behind fields of sugar cane. After a severe fight of four hours the Chinese broke and took to flight. The French pillaged the village and burned it, together with many others. On the French side two battalions of infantry and two sections of artillery were employed. Four men were killed and 28 wounded. The Chinese loss is unknown.
Several of the mandarins in that locality submitted peacefully, thereby saving their towns from pillage and fire. Adjutant Rogie of the French forces was killed. The French troops now occupy the disputed territory at Kwang-tung province and will hold it despite Chinese opposition.
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THE STEAMER LEAKS.
Chief H. P. Davis of the Cortland Fire Department Reports the Steamer in Poor Condition.
Harley P. Davis, chief of the Cortland fire department, believes that the steamer belonging to the village should be thoroughly repaired. At a conference last Saturday between Mr. Davis, President Holden, Trustees Wood and Thompson and Horace Silsby, vice-president of the American Fire Engine Co., the chief announced that the engine was leaking very badly in both tubes and crown sheet, and that at best it could throw but one stream at seventy pounds. Even at this pressure the engine is unsafe and, in his opinion, it was asking rather too much of the men who had seen many years' service and had been of inestimable value to the department, to ask them to risk their lives in handling the engine as it now is, and that if there was no use for such a machine it should be put out of service
The steamer originally cost about $5,000 and Mr. Silsby estimated that to put the apparatus in a safe and proper condition would cost about $1,800. It is very probable that the board will decide to submit the matter to the voters in the form of a resolution at the annual election.
Evidence in the Boiles Will Case.
Henry A. Dickinson as referee was engaged Monday and yesterday taking the testimony of Dr. Mary Walker in the contest over the will of the late Mrs. Dr. Boiles. The evidence of Dr. Walker is the most important that can be produced in behalf of the plaintiff, Mrs. Ida E. Seeley, as it was through her instrumentality that the alleged adoption was made, and the plaintiff desires to secure it to guard against say contingences. N. L. Miller appeared as attorney for the plaintiff, and O. U. Kellogg for defendants Knox and Ingersoll.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
Another Political Machine.
The Albany Argus hits the nail on the head when it says that the division of sentiment on the educational unification scheme is not partisan. It is not Democrat against Republican. It is Governor Roosevelt and a little coterie of visionaries or self-seekers, arrayed against popular sentiment, and seeking to destroy popular control of the public schools. The Watertown Times, which is the leading Republican paper in Jefferson county says that although Supt. Skinner of the Department of Public Instruction is favorable to the bill, "we hardly think the people who support the schools will agree. They are well satisfied with the progress the schools are making under the present control, The unification bill provides high sounding titles and high priced salaries and an expensive bureau for doing the same work that is done now in an effective and satisfactory manner by a plain superintendent of public instruction at a moderate salary and with a moderate office force. Every new department created seeks to enlarge itself, its salaries and expenses and soon becomes an excessive tax on the state. That has been the experience of the past. Plain, practical methods by men with plain titles and ordinary pay do the work of the plain people much better than 'chancellors' and 'regents' and bureaucratic methods."
Railroad War.
Baldwinsville, a thriving town between Syracuse and Oswego, is likely to suffer greatly because of a war of rates between the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad and the Syracuse, Lakeside and Baldwinsville Electric road. A correspondent at Baldwinsville says that probably two thirds of the travel from that place is over the electric road. At the beginning of this railroad war, passengers from the north on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road would purchase a ticket from their starting point to Baldwinsville and then get a return ticket from this place, making a difference of 40 cents in their fare. The officers of the road put a stop to this, ordering the sale of tickets stopped upon the arrival of the trains. The result is that the electric road sends a free omnibus to the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western station and conveys travelers to the trolley, taking them to Syracuse and back and saving them 30 cents. Some think the fight will kill the town if kept up any length of time. It has already damaged the omnibus and carting business. Merchants buying goods in Syracuse can bring in a supply cheaper than they can pay the freight. Without a doubt if the war is kept up till summer it will do much damage to the business part of the town.
The King's Daughters Election.
At the recent annual election of officers of the Loyal Circle of King's Daughters the following officers were chosen for 1900:
President—Mrs. Relyea.
1st Vice Pres.—Mrs. M. K. Harris.
2nd Vice Pres.—Mrs. G. W. Bradford.
3rd Vice Pres.—Mrs. E. D. Wood.
4th Vice Pres.—Mrs. A. A. Sprague.
Secretary—Mrs. M. S. Bierce.
Treasurer—Mrs. C. F. Thompson.
Superintendent of Local Charity—Mrs. Eliza Jones, 50 N. Main-st. Mrs. Jones will be assisted in the work of this department by the following ladies: 1st Ward—Mrs. A. S. Brown, Mrs. Edwin Robbins, Mrs. W. D. Coburn. 2nd Ward—Mrs. E. D. Parker, Mrs. L. N. Hopkins, Mrs. S. Doyle. 3rd Ward—Mrs. Homer Smith, Mrs. Morgan Wright, Mrs. A. McElheny, Mrs. F. Watson. 4th Ward—Mrs. M. K. Harris, Mrs. J. O. Hammond, Mrs. Frank Kenyon.; Superintendent of Employment Agency, Mrs. S. Rindge, 57 North Main-st.; Chairman of Fruit and Flower Mission, Mrs. S. N. Gooding; Chairman of Finance Committee, Mrs. E. D. Parker; Chairman of the Sewing Circle, Mrs. W. D. Coburn; Chairman of the Hospital Committee, Mrs. Julia Hyatt; Chairman of the Literary Committee, Mrs. Geo. C. Hubbard; Assistants, Mrs. A. A. Carley, Mrs. Grant Thomas, Miss Ina Parmiter; Chairman of the Entertainment Committee, Mrs. Frank Cobb; Assistants, Mrs. Geo. Hollenbeck, Mrs. Homer Smith, Mrs. J. O. Hammond, Mrs. A. W. McNett, Mrs. DeWitt Rose, Mrs. D. W. Carr, Mrs. E. E. Ellis.
HERE AND THERE.
Many of the village crosswalks are in horrible shape.
The new night train on the Lackawanna road is called the "Owl" train.
Mrs. E. L. Knickerbocker of Watertown spoke in Grace church yesterday afternoon on the work of the Woman's Auxiliary.
A good scriptural injunction for several days the past week would have been, "Let him who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."
The proceedings of the board of supervisors in book form are ready for distribution and copies may be obtained at the First National hank.
The Homer fire department and the Homer band will hold a joint fair next Monday, and the members of the several fire companies in Cortland are invited to attend.
In some portions of Cortland shoveling sidewalks has become a lost art. It may become necessary to establish a training school for that particular branch of industry.
The locomotives from the main line of the Lackawanna road, which have been in use on the Syracuse and Binghamton division, are bringing the through fast trains into Cortland nearly on time.
The remains of Mrs. Glenn Cuyler, who died in Brooklyn on Monday, were brought to Cortland on the early train yesterday for burial. Mrs. Cuyler was formerly a resident of this village and was a teacher in the schools.
To-morrow evening an exciting contest will take place between the Binghamton and Cortland Y. M. C. A. basket ball teams. Last year Binghamton beat Cortland by only two points, and it is probable a strong game will be put up to-morrow night.
The Syracuse Evening Telegram quotes Cortland as being much pleased with the workings of the curfew law. This will be good news for the advocates of the measure, who until the Telegram announcement were not aware that this village had a curfew law.
Philip A. May, who resides on Homer-ave., opposite the county fair grounds, has opened a grocery store in a portion of his house. Mr. May proposes to keep everything in the grocery line, and as there is no other in that locality there seems no reason why he will not enjoy a profitable trade.
The editorial management of the Ithaca Democrat has passed into the hands of Chester C. Platt, who is the city clerk of Ithaca. Mr. Platt is a Democrat through and through, is a genial gentleman, a vigorous writer and a hustler, and we predict that the Democrat will become more popular under his management than ever before.
The editor of the Chenango American speaks for Cortland girls as follows: "It is said that Cortland has a youthful minister, who is eligible to marriage and that he received eight sofa pillows, besides several pairs of slippers on Christmas day from young lady admirers. The young ladies of Cortland have the ministerial fever in its worst form. Well, girls, a young minister is as good as anybody, if he behaves himself."
Science has found a new way to make amputations painless by means of electrical currents introduced above and below the point where the cut is to be made. In this manner a leg can be taken off or an arm cut away without making the patient insensible, because the anaesthesia produced is merely local. Hail to science and hail to the new method! If the inventor can now apply his machine to people's heads and amputate ambitions without pain, he would prove an angel in disguise to many who vainly seek fame.
After the first vacation in his career as a musician, necessitated that he might recoup after extraordinary exhaustive labors, Sousa will begin his sixteenth semi-annual tour with his famous band on January 31. The great leader is in superb health again, strong, ruddy and wonderfully refreshened after two months of hunting in the Carolinas, the far South, and a leisurely tour into Mexico, and returns to his work full of spirit. The forthcoming tour includes portions of the East, and the middle West. The soloists are Miss Blanche Duffield, soprano, and Miss Bertha Bucklin, violiniste.
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