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| Major General of Volunteers Joseph Wheeler, USA. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 26, 1900.
WHEELER PRAISED.
Hoosier Volunteer at Manila Speaks Highly of "Fighting Joe."
MUNCIE, Ind., Jan. 23.—B. F. Whaley, a Hoosier volunteer, writes from Paniqui, province of Tarlac, Luzon, P. I., making the following reference to General Joe Wheeler:
"How could a single man in our ranks, be he veteran or 'rooky,' make even a wry face at his trials of war, when that venerable "cotton-headed'' Southern warhorse and hero of El Caney and San Juan, General Joseph Wheeler, is at the front of our column? He leads the way through swamps, across rivers and into dense jungles, now and then dismounting from his horse and bidding some exhausted soldier to get into the saddle, while he, taking the gun of the private, marches along with us, chatting with the men about him in a gleeful, familiar way, causing them to forget every sensation of hunger and fatigue and to remember only that they were the defenders of the flag. When we left Angeles in October General Wheeler gave imperative command that no soldier should start upon this march burdened with an ounce of unnecessary encumbrance. Consequently we are at present the raggedest, dirtiest, nakedest, most dilapidated and weather-beaten set of lads upon which the sunshine and rains of Luzon ever descended.
"Since starting on this Southern campaign we have been completely cut off from the rest of the world. We have met with but little resistance and no loss of life. In fact, the natives seem more inclined to welcome us as benefactors."
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Interesting Letter From Morgan McAllister to His Sister, Mrs. B. H. Lyon.
ZEGAN BAY, P. I., Nov. 29, [1899.] —We are on our way to Manilla Bay just now. We have about 100 Spanish prisoners on board. We were at Lingayean Gulf and came down to Zegan Bay, a distance of nearly fifty knots. We arrived there the 25th of November, and the gunboats Callao and Samar arrived in the evening. We called all hands at 5:30 A. M., had breakfast at 5:45 A. M., and then cleared the deck to bombard the Callao and Samar; went in near the beach and opened fire on the town, (Vigan). We got all the boats lowered and ready to land, then we commenced to bombard the town with six and 8 inch guns. The marines and blue jackets were landed under a shower of shot and shell. We were 170 strong. The surf was running high and did not allow us to get the boats near the beach, so we had to jump out and wade ashore as best we could, the water being about up to our waists and we had to hold our guns up above our heads.
As soon as we reached the shore we deployed out at distance of a couple of yards apart and advanced double time. We saw three French flags and went to see what it meant. Behind one large building were nearly eighty Phlippinos, mostly old men, some women and children, some naked and all a very scared crowd. As soon as we came up they all got on their knees and prayed for their lives. We did not touch any of them, but advanced at quick time and met natives on all sides, bearing bamboo poles with white shirts, handkerchiefs, table spreads, or any manner of white clothes that would answer as a flag of truce. They all greeted us with "Vevo Americano" (meaning Long live Americans.) Some of them yelled "Americano Mucho Buno," (meaning Americans very good.) They all lifted their hats as we passed by and some dropped on their knees and prayed. Finally we saw the American flag hoisted on a large church across the river, and large parties came running down on the beach with white flags, one bearing an American flag and we sent a detachment over to meet them. They came across the river carrying a priest on their shoulders and surrendered their part of the town. We, the other division, kept on up to the main part of the city. A band of music came out to meet us and marched with us back to the city. We all lined up in company. Front sounded colors and hoisted the proudest ensign that ever opened its folds to the breeze in this clime, the stars and stripes. We presented arms, the natives raised their hats and as the last notes of the bugle died away we had taken the town.
The stars and stripes floated over the city hall. The natives gave three cheers for the flag and country. We stacked arms and went to put a picket around the town and establish law and order. We occupied the city hall and made it our headquarters. Two companies of insurgents left the city just as we came in. Two women were killed outright and two men wounded. One had a large piece of flesh torn from his leg and another from his head. If there were any more wounded they took them with them.
We got a sealed message from Lieutenant Gilmore of the gunboat Yorktown. He was captured in Balar with several others of her crew, while going up a river where there were some Spanish prisoners. The message was in a bamboo cane, in wig wag ciphers. It was brought to us by an American prisoner who had escaped six times and had been recaptured each time; but this time when they got out to look for him, he was in hiding, and they did not have time to look for him, so he came out to meet us and give us the cane and message. One of the men took a cutlass and split the cane open. I do not know the contents of the message. The insurgents took some of the Spanish prisoners with them.
We got under headway this morning at 6 o'clock for Manilla. We have several women among our prisoners on board here. They are officers' wives. We have twenty-eight Spanish army officers. They have been prisoners [of Filipinos] ever since we took Manilla. A great many of them have died from exposure and not enough to eat. There are many more about forty miles below Zegan Bay. We may go down there some other time and take that place if the army does not.
MORGAN MCALLISTER, U. S. M. C., U. S. S. Oregon, Manila, P. I.
HERE AND THERE.
The Cortland hospital has received a check of $50 as a donation from Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Newton of Homer.
Perhaps some folks have seen just such January weather before, but it is seldom that more rainy and warm weather is seen during the first month in the year.
In addition to the splendid stock of groceries at his store, 177 Homer-ave., Philip A. May will have on sale at all times excellent home-made bakestuffs.
The revival meetings at the First Baptist church this week, in charge of Rev. George C. Needham, have been well attended and much interest seems to be taken.
The Jolly Tar minstrels will put in an evening of fun at McGrawville next Tuesday evening, giving substantially the same entertainment which delighted Cortland audience.
Is there any hog cholera about? If so, send 50 cents quick for Biggie Swine Book, published by Wilmer Atkinson Co., Philadelphia. It will help sick herds and keep well ones well.
Leland Rorapaugh, an employee at the Forging shops, had two fingers crushed Saturday afternoon under a drop hammer. Dr. Higgins found it necessary to amputate both of them.
B. J. Pratt of East River has sold his farm and stock at that place and has bought the property in Homer known as the Jas. Preston estate, consisting of a brick house and eighteen acres of land.
Our esteemed friend, Wm. E. Hunt, of Hunt's Corners has sent us a copy of the Cortland DEMOCRAT of Sept. 1, 1865, from which we shall make extracts next week, in connection with our historical series.
The Cortland Y. M. C. A. basketball team defeated the Binghamton Y. M. C. A. team last Saturday evening by the score of 34 to 4. The local team played in a business-like way and won the game on its merits.
The name Cortland seems to be quite popular all over the United States, there being towns of that name in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Michigan, besides our own beloved Cortland.
The January term of supreme court will begin next Monday, and unusual interest is centered in the term for the reason that the trial of John Truck, charged with the murder of Frank Miller, will probably take place.
J. Fred Barry, whose father, James A. Barry, was at one time proprietor of the Messenger House, Cortland, fell down an elevator shaft in a hotel at Northampton, Mass., Wednesday and it is feared that he that he has concussion of the brain.
Mrs. B. H. Lyon of South Cortland loans us a copy of the Manila Times, published at Manila, P. I., of date November 29, 1899. The paper was sent to Mrs. Lyon by her brother, Morgan McAllister, of the U.S. navy. It contains much interesting matter, principally of a war character.
A bill has been introduced in the Assembly which provides that in any city or village of the state, upon complaint of any person that they are annoyed by continued barking of a dog on adjacent property, a magistrate shall order the nuisance abated, and if it be not abated in five days he shall order the dog killed.
Who says so? Farm Journal says so. You must have it; so march up and pay for the DEMOCRAT a year ahead. We have a clubbing arrangement by which we can send our paper and the Farm Journal for nearly five years, the balance of 1900, and all of 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904, at the price of our paper alone. Pay up and be happy.
Dr. F. P. Howland, who recently moved his office and laboratory from Maple-ave. to No. 128 Port Watson-st., for the purpose of getting more room and manufacturing his proprietary medicines upon a much larger scale, has his office settled and is now ready to attend to professional calls. His office will be open days and evenings.
Farm Journal is the oldest farm monthly published. But it is not old and moss grown it is bristling and brimming over with good things. You should know it. Here's a chance. Pay up your subscription to the DEMOCRAT one year ahead, and we will send it nearly five years, the remainder of 1900, and all of 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904; both papers at the price of one.
The commissioner of internal revenue has decided that a physician who prescribes whiskey, brandy, or any alcoholic liquor, which is not compounded with any drug or medicinal substance for the purpose of forming a remedy, shall be required to pay the special revenue tax of $25 a year as a retail liquor dealer, provided he acts as a dispenser as well as a physician. The ruling is to apply even in cases where the liquor is prescribed strictly as a medicine and so used by the patient.
The colored work in Biggie Berry Book is an immense aid to berry growers. It shows the leading berries true to size, shape and color. They were first carefully painted by an experienced artist, and then reproduced by lithography at a cost of over one thousand dollars. Aside from the color work there are scores of reproductions made directly from photographs of berries, so that the reader may have an accurate idea of them. The price is 50 cents, free by mall; address the publishers, Wilmer Atkinson Co. Philadelphia.
Within a few weeks the locomotives on the Syracuse and Binghamton division of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad will be equipped with electric headlights that will blaze the way on a straight track for a distance of eighteen miles. The new electric headlight, it is claimed, will afford absolute protection from head-on collisions. On a straight track it can be seen for a distance of eighteen miles and will throw a light sufficiently strong to give the engineer a view of the track for a distance of at least thirty telegraph pole lengths.
Messrs. Wallace & Gilmore of the Cortland opera house now have a company on the road playing "Old St. [Stebbens]." Albany and Troy papers, where the Company played last week, speak very highly of all concerned.
William Chamberlain, who is with the Maude Hillman company playing at the opera house this week, was given an ovation last night. The Orris hose company and members of the Cortland Athletic association attended in a body, the former presenting Mr. Chamberlain with an elegant umbrella and the latter with a dress suit [case].
Robert E. Kerby, the Cortland representative of the Syracuse Evening Herald, gave a supper last evening to a few friends, the occasion being his birthday. The DEMOCRAT hesitates to state his age, as the knowledge might embarrass Mr. Kerby in the presence of young ladies. The supper was a most enjoyable affair, and Mr. Kerby presided with the grace and dignity of a veteran.
Wedding Anniversary.
Friday, January 19, 1900, occurred the thirtieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Bryan of Cincinnatus and over eighty of their relatives, friends, and neighbors assembled at their home to celebrate the event. Though it seemed a surprise to some of the household as load after load came from all directions, their own town and vicinity were well represented, while friends from Groton, Cortland, Freetown, Taylor and Union Valley were among the guests.
Substantial tokens of regard were presented in the course of the evening, after which Abundant refreshments were served and enjoyed by all. It proved a pleasant evening and one that will be long remembered by all who were present.
CHARTER ELECTION.
THE TEMPERANCE PEOPLE PREPARING FOR ACTION.
The Prohibition and Anti-Saloon Leagues Hold a Conference—An Independent Ticket with Prohibition Endorsement Probable—A Hot Campaign in Prospect.
The prospects now are that the approaching charter election in Cortland will be one of the most warmly contested that the village has experienced in several years, the various temperance elements proposing to exert their influence in favor of an independent ticket, one that is anti-saloon, in favor of the curfew, opposed to the present police force, and which will, if elected, restrict the sale of Sunday newspapers. This is in brief the platform upon which an independent ticket is expected to be nominated, and which will receive the endorsement and support of the two temperance organizations existing in the village.
Monday evening a meeting of the Prohibition league was held in Collins hall and about twenty-five members were present, the subject announced for discussion being "The Relation of the Prohibition League to the Coming Charter Election "The president, Philo W. Meade, was in charge of the meeting, with Albert Dilthey secretary. When President Meade announced that discussion was in order one member arose and said that he was in favor of a straight Prohibition ticket.
Lewis S. Hayes stated that he had always favored a Prohibition ticket, especially at general elections, but the conditions in Cortland just now seemed to warrant some concessions. "If the temperance people will come out for an independent ticket, let us help them," said Mr. Hayes, but at the same time he insisted that the organization must be maintained.
Walter B. Stephenson did not see how the organization could be maintained without a ticket.
Mr. Hayes then made a very calm, impassioned speech defining what he believed to be the duty of the Prohibition party at the present time. He said it cost something to be a Prohibitionist. To unite with that party meant the severing of all other party ties, and in many cases the man who took such a step was the subject of the worst form of abuse and vilification. Mr. Hayes said for himself that he left the Democratic party to become a Prohibitionist, and that for every two words of abuse from Democratic papers he had received a thousand words from the Republican papers of the county. He had been the subject of seven editorials in the local Republican organ, each abusing him for standing by what he believed to be the only true temperance principles.
During the discussion it was learned that the Anti-Saloon league desired to hold a conference with the Prohibition league at the Y. M. C. A. parlors, and in the interest of harmony it was decided to accept the invitation, and adjournment was taken to that place, Mr. Hayes being chosen as spokesman for the party.
When the twenty or more members of the league started for the Y. M. C. A. rooms the DEMOCRAT representative inquired if his presence at the conference would be objectionable, and was most cordially invited to accompany the party, two or three of the leaders saying that they always preferred publicity.
Arriving at the Y. M. C. A. rooms, only four or five members of the Anti-Saloon league were found, but the conference was immediately organized with the choice of Rev. O. A. Houghton as chairman. When the reverend gentleman realized the great responsibility which the conference had thrust upon him he became somewhat nervous, and the sight of the reporter for the DEMOCRAT in the room had a similar effect upon him that a red shawl has before a bull. He at once suggested that the conference sit behind closed doors, and while this did not please the members of the Prohibition league, they thought best not to antagonize the chairman, and a motion to that effect was carried by the votes of the four Anti-Saloon leaguers present. The reporter gracefully retired, wondering if the chairman had in mind the words found in John 3:19: "And men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
The principal speakers at the conference were Mr. Houghton for the Anti-Saloon league and Mr. Hayes for the Prohibition league, and at times the discussion became exceedingly sharp and witty, especially when Mr. Houghton denied that he was a Republican. The result of the conference will be the nomination of an independent ticket by the Anti-saloon league and its endorsement by the Prohibitionists.
The following committee was appointed to make preliminary arrangements for a caucus: First ward, M. H. Yale; second ward, J. A. Jayne, third ward, Chas. W. Collins; fourth ward, H. M. Kellogg; at large, M. L. Webb.
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