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| New Croton or Cornell Dam. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday April 16, 1900.
BATTLE THREATENED.
Italian Strikers Determined to Fight Their Cause.
500 TROOPS SENT TO THE SCENE.
These Mostly Cavalry, So That They May Move Quickly and Be Scattered. Strikers and Contractors Attend Same Services on Easter Sunday.
CROTON LANDING, N. Y., April 16.—While everything is quiet and peaceful in the neighborhood of the Cornell dam nearly 300 armed deputies are guarding the works and each one of them is guessing as to what today may bring forth.
The striking Italian laborers whose homes are in the vicinity of the works are behaving themselves excellently. But underneath their assumed quiet there is stubborn resolve not to go back to work nor let outsiders take their places until the contractors agree to pay the increase of wages demanded. Strenuous efforts are being made by the Italian consul, Branchi, and State Arbitrator Delehanty to bring about settlement of the difficulty. Much depends on the outcome of a conference held in New York between the contractors and General Roe and Sheriff Malloy. A great deal of weight will be brought to bear on the Messrs. Coleman and their partner Brenchand to give in, in part if not entirely, to the demand of the striking laborers, and if the contractors do not make concessions there is no telling what trouble may occur.
The strikers are very determined in their demands and swear that if outside labor is brought here they will fight tooth and nail to prevent it. They are all well armed with guns and pistols, and in this regard they have a decided advantage over the sheriff's deputies who have only long night sticks and 32-calibre revolvers. The deputies are in a valley, while the strikers command the adjoining hill. With the guns the Italians could rifle the sheriff's men, who in turn could not send a bullet from their revolvers half way up the hillside in case a fight takes place. There were several additions made to the ranks of the deputies today, and there are now nearly 300 of them at the works. Most of them are being fed at a nearby boarding house and many of them complained today of being insufficiently supplied with food.
In addition to this they claim that they are made to work overtime and threats of a strike among them are rife.
The feature of yesterday was the mingling of the strikers and the deputies at the Easter service in the little Roman Catholic chapel in the valley which was built by the contractors. The majority of the congregation is made up of the strikers and their families, and it was feared that when they would come in contact with the minions of the law there would be trouble. The very opposite occurred as the men greeted each other amicably.
Rev. Father J. J. Owens, the parish priest, celebrated the Easter Sunday mass, and in addition to the regular choir there was a mandolin and guitar quintette, the leader of which was the leader of the strikers, Angello Rotella.
The altar was tastefully decorated with flowers, the gift of Miss A. H. Coleman of New York, a sister of two of the contractors, and she also sent Easter cards and candies which were distributed among the children at the conclusion of the service.
Father Owens referred to the kindness of Miss Coleman after he had preached his sermon. This served as a preface to his remarks on the existing trouble. In the most earnest manner the pastor said:
"Now I wish to touch upon a subject that is of vital importance to us all. In all business transactions differences are bound to occur, hut I hope you will all act like men and not like brutes. In all communities, one or two black sheep can be found, and if you discover one in this vicinity let him be cast out. Use reason, not brutality.
"In fact shun anyone who will try to counsel you to do a brutal or unlawful act. I see a number of strangers here, armed with heavy sticks to do the bidding of the law, but I sincerely hope there will be no occasion for their authority to be exercised. They are the guardians of the peace, and to them as well as the strikers my advice is to do no violence.
"Avoid the saloons, all of which I would close within five miles of the dam if it were in my power.
"This is a serious time for us. Have respect for the laws of God and the laws of the state. Act like good men, obey the proclamation of the sheriff and do not gather in groups. If necessary to hold communication in regard to the condition of affairs appoint committees to do so. Avoid the appearance of wrong doing and remain at your homes."
It is generally believed that if a compromise is not reached at the conference in New York there will be no attempt made to put new men to work.
A meeting of the strikers has been called for today. They are to meet at the Bowery bridge, which is near the works and close to the homes of many of the striking laborers.
The fact that the advent of the county troops has been delayed by the action of General Roe was a matter for comment, but it was learned that the Mount Vernon and Yorkers companies are ready to start at a moment's notice.
TROOPS CALLED OUT.
Sheriff Sends for Five Hundred, Mostly Cavalry.
NEW YORK. April 16.—General Roe announced that he had received a formal written demand from Sheriff Molloy of Westchester county to call out 500 troops to go immediately to the scene of the Italian laborers' strike at Croton dam. He said Sheriff Molloy came down from Westchester and gave him the demand in person.
General Roe has decided to order out the Fourth separate company of Yonkers; the Eleventh separate company of Mt. Vernon, Squadron A of New York and Troop C of Brooklyn. The men were ordered out today. General Roe gave as his reason for ordering out so many cavalry and so few infantry that there are over six miles of territory to cover and it is necessary to have troops which could move quickly and be scattered. He said also that the topography of the country is exceedingly hilly. General Roe does not expect to have to call out any New York infantry and thinks that the 500 men will be sufficient to quell the strike.
The troops will number 150 infantry and 359 cavalry. Squadron A will furnish 200 men and Troop C will have 150.
On Saturday night General Roe held a conference at the Grand Union hotel with Italian Consul General Branchi, Deputy Sheriff Breeze of Westchester County, Contractor Brenchand and Contractor J. S. Coleman. He could not tell the result of this conference. General Roe also denied that he recently countermanded an order of Sheriff Molloy's calling out troops. He said that he couldn't refuse a written or verbal demand from Sheriff Molloy, but that the sheriff had no authority to order out troops on his own authority.
EDUCATIONAL REPORT.
State Superintendent Skinner Gives Some Interesting Statistics.
ALBANY, April 16.—State Superintendent of Public instruction Charles R. Skinner in his annual report gives the following educational statistics:
During the school year there were 9,369 students in attendance at several state normal schools with an average daily attendance of 8,025. Diplomas were issued to 1,110 graduates, making a total of 15.988 since the opening of the first state normal school.
Five years ago there were only 104 kindergarten teachers in the public schools of the state, with 3,305 pupils. In June last there were 440 teachers, with 14,000 pupils.
During the past school year, 23,200 children were arrested for truancy, of which 1,322 were committed to truant schools, and 618 parents were prosecuted for illegal detention of their children from school.
During the past school year, 9,883 districts observed arbor day, and 16,357 trees were planted. In eleven years, 214,571 trees have been planted on arbor day by the school children of the state. Several cities and villages of the state have by municipal authority adopted the curfew ordinance and the following towns report most astonishing results under the operations of its ordinances: Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Painted Post, Hornellsville, Geneva, Waverly, Attica, Wayland, Corning, Friendship, Elmira and Wellsville.
The superintendent says it is gratifying to note that the first statue erected in the capitol is in memory of an educator—Dr. Edward V. Austin Sheldon, erected by the school children of the state.
The total expenditure for all school purposes for the year ending July 31, 1899, was $28,052,990, a decrease of $422,881 from that of the previous year; for teachers salaries $16,484,647, an increase of $1,328,369 over that of last year; total number of teachers employed 33,992, an increase of 919.
The number of children of school age enrolled in the public schools was 1,179,351, an increase of 10,357 over the preceding year. Of all the number enrolled, 720,532 were in the cities, an increase of 28,989, and 458,819 were in the towns, a decrease of 18,632. The average daily attendance for the state was 849,430, an increase of 21,778.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Protecting Feathered Sanitarians.
According to a circular just issued by the committee on the protection of birds of the American Ornithologists' union, the agents and employees of the dealers in millinery supplies are making such vigorous and ruthless attacks on the sea birds as will bring the various tribes of gulls on the Atlantic coast close to the point of utter extermination. The committee therefore appeals earnestly to the public to aid in stopping this slaughter. The matter is one of no less practical than sentimental and aesthetic interest. The gulls are not simply harmless and beautiful creatures, the presence of which lends animation to sea and shore and is a source of endless pleasure to all in whom the commercial instinct has not destroyed the higher and gentler emotions, but they are feathered sanitarians, and every one of them works hard and tirelessly at the task of keeping our harbors and bays clear of material repulsive to human eyes and dangerous to human health. But for them many of the beaches along the coast would become uninhabitable.
The British government imposes a heavy fine for the killing of sea gulls, essentially upon the ground of their usefulness in warning mariners against the dangers of running their ships on rocks and reefs.
It is the special purpose of the Ornithologists' union's protective committee to guard the breeding places of the gulls and prevent their destruction by the purveyors to fashion's devotees. Much has already been done in this direction at Great Gull island and the Vineyard group off the Massachusetts coast, and similar oversight is greatly needed at a number of islets along the coasts of Maine, Long Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. The committee should certainly have such aid and encouragement as it is in the power of the public to give.
TRUCK WANTS HELP.
ASKS JOHN COURTNEY, JR., TO TAKE HIS CASE.
Attorney Hyatt Who Defended Him Sends Him Word that There is Nothing More that can be Done for Him—Truck Says He isn't Guilty and that He Will Take His Medicine Like a Man.
A special dispatch from Auburn to the Syracuse Sunday Herald says: John Truck, the Cortland county murderer, does not want to die in the electric chair in Auburn prison during the week of April 29. He has broken loose from his lawyers and has made a final appeal to John Courtney, a Cortland attorney, to take his case in hand, believing that there is still some chance left for securing a new trial. The condemned man was informed during the week that his counsel had decided to take no further steps in his behalf, and he immediately wrote a letter to Mr. Courtney of Cortland, who has in no wise been identified in the case, asking him to secure a stay of execution and carry the matter to the court of appeals.
No reply has yet been received by Truck, and in event of Attorney Courtney's refusal to take hold of the case, Truck will abandon all hope and prepare himself for the fate which awaits him. Truck was visited during the week by an uncle, Daniel Donovan of Scott, who is the first caller he has received since his arrival at Auburn prison. The interview took place in Principal Keeper Tupper's office and lasted for several hours. Mr. Donovan was seen by a Herald reporter after he left the prison. He said that he had called on his nephew at the request of Attorney Edward W. Hyatt of Homer, who was Truck's counsel during the trial, to inform him that there was absolutely no hope for him.
"Mr. Hyatt sent his heartfelt sympathy to John," said Mr. Donovan, "and told me to tell him that he had done all that could be done for him. He said that he could carry the case to the court of appeals by filing notice of appeal, but it would only be a useless procedure as when the case came up he would not know what to say or where to begin."
"When I told John this he did not seem to like it and spoke at great length concerning his trial and denounced his lawyers for their defense. 'I would rather have gone right on,' he said, 'and have given them a good square fight.'
"Now tell me, John, seeing there is no hope, did you kill Miller?" asked his uncle.
The condemned man drew himself up to his full height and with great emphasis, replied: "No, sir."
In answer to questions from his uncle, Truck said that he was feeling pretty well and was enjoying himself. "I have all I want to eat," he said, as if that was sufficient to make any man happy.
When told that there was no hope for him and that he must make up his mind to die during the week of April 29, Truck said with an air of bravado, which appeared to be assumed, "Well, I've been kicked around from pillar to post all my life and I don't known but what I am as well off dead as alive. I'm going to walk up and take my medicine like a man, if I have to. I'm not afraid of the chair and I guess the chair isn't afraid of me."
Mr. Donovan said that he was sorry for Truck. "Being a relative and having known him intimately all of his life, I know him better than almost anybody else and can testify to many good qualities in the man, as well as bad ones," he said. "I am the only one of his relatives who have not abandoned him, and if I could do anything to help him I would."
A STANDARD man called at the office of J. & T. E. Courtney this morning to inquire in regard to the letter referred to. John Courtney was out of town and T. E. Courtney said that he didn't know whether his brother had come to any conclusion in the matter and that for himself he had nothing to say upon the subject.
A CHURCH QUARREL.
The Sheriff Summoned to Willet, But All is Quiet.
Sheriff Brainard was telephoned to from Cincinnatus Saturday afternoon and asked to come to Willet to quell a riot in which it was found that blood would be shed. The sheriff was hardly in good walking order on account of the shooting episode in Virgil a couple of weeks ago, but the Willet parties insisted that his presence was needed, and so he went on the 6:20 train, taking with him Deputy Sheriff P. J. Dwyer of Truxton who chanced to be in town at the time.
He was informed that the Baptist church had become split up over the question of whether or not the pastor should remain longer. The trustees were opposed to his remaining and when with some others the pastor started for the church on Saturday afternoon to hold a meeting the trustees anticipated them and took possession first. Some over anxious party started the sensational report of danger of bloodshed, and of fear of riot sent for the sheriff. When he got there he found all quiet and no prospect of war or of even a skirmish. So he returned home. The members of the church who are thus unwillingly dragged into notoriety will no doubt settle their differences in an altogether peaceable way and without outside interference.
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| David B. Henderson. |
HIS FOURTH LEG.
This is a Good One and Will Require no Cane.
NEW YORK, April 16.—Speaker David B. Henderson of the house of representatives left this city last night for Washington, taking with him a new false leg. The speaker lost one of his legs at the battle of Cornith. His new one is the fourth since that calamity and the first one which he has been able to use without also carrying a cane. It is of rubber, light and pliable, and provided with artificial knee and ankle joints which perform their functions almost as acceptably as the real ones.
VISITED BY SPECIAL AGENTS.
Probably an Enumeration of the City Will be Taken.
Assisting active deputy commissioner in charge of Special Excise, Agent Albert J. Gilbert, with special agents J. M. Blatner, B. B. Maxfield, Alfred Tanner, Geo. A. Lord, H. M. Fisher, I. N. Deyo, I. J. Rich, H. B. Smith and F. S. Colebrook arrived in Cortland this morning probably with the intention of taking an enumeration of the city of Cortland to fix the liquor license rates. If it is found that Cortland has a population of more than ten thousand the licenses that now are fixed at $300 per year will be raised to $350.
Subdivision 7 of section 11 of the liquor tax law provides that at least one of five contingencies must arise before the commissioner of excise is authorized to cause an enumeration of any city or village, and it names the five contingencies. The second one seems to fit the case in Cortland, and is as follows:
(2) Where a city or village has been incorporated or reincorporated since the last state census.
In case the enumeration is taken the result will be watched with interest to see what our population really amounts to.
Reed-Birdlebough.
A quiet home wedding occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Birdlebough Saturday evening at 6 o'clock at which time their daughter, Miss Bertha L., was married to Mr. Willard S. Reed, Rev. W. J. Howell officiating.
Mr. John Betts acted as best man, and Miss Mabelle McGuire of McGraw, as bridesmaid. Miss Birdlebough has for a long time been a stenographer in the law offices of Bronson & Davis and Mr. Reed is a representative of the Western Supply Co. The newly wedded pair started Saturday night on a wedding trip.
Thomas Fitzgerald.
Thomas Fitzgerald died Sunday evening at the home of his daughter Mrs. Henry O'Neill, 64 Hubbard-st. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock at the house and at 9:30 at St. Mary's church.
Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by three daughters and two sons, Miss Margaret Fitzgerald, Mrs. Jerry McCarthy, Mrs. Henry O'Neill, and Messrs. Edward and James Fitzgerald all of Cortland. At the last village election Mr. Fitzgerald was the Democratic and Republican candidate for village collector and was elected by a large majority but was legislated out of office by the new city charter which provides that the city chamberlain shall perform the duties of [tax] collector.
SHE IS HOME.
Aged Mrs. Schutt Wishes to Finish Her Days in Cortland.
Heavily bowed down with the burdens and cares which her ninety years have brought, yet with a radiance beaming from her face that bespoke untold joy and perfect contentment, Mrs. Elisa Schutt was assisted from the 9:27 train Wednesday morning, after journeying all the way from Plattsburg, Mo. Mrs. Schutt's return to Cortland after an almost continuous absence of twenty years was at her own request. She had no relatives here to greet her, but staunch friends of former years gave her a right royal welcome, and with these friends she has come to live out the remainder of her days. She has outlived all of her six children. Her husband, Henry Schutt, died about twenty years ago, and now without any one whom she may call next of kin this venerable woman of four score and ten rejoices that it has been her privilege to return to scenes with which she became familiar while in her years of activity, and with which the idea of home has always been most pleasantly associated.
The story of Mrs. Schutt's life in Cortland, of her subsequent life in other places and of her return here, as told by her to a STANDARD man Thursday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Howe where she is stopping, is particularly interesting. About forty years ago with the earnings of their hard labors, Henry Schutt purchased a small house and lot on Groton-ave. near its intersection with Prospect-st. Here they lived till about thirty years ago when they moved to the vicinity of the [plank road] toll-gate which was located between Cortland and Homer, and of which Mr. Schutt was the keeper. At her husband's death about twenty years ago, Mrs. Schutt went to Mexico, Oswego Co., to live with her daughter. There she remained for six years, making each summer a visit to Cortland. At the end of this period the daughter in Mexico died and, at an already advanced age, Mrs. Schutt went to Missouri to live with a son. Scarcely had she reached this land of almost entire strangers when her son's wife died which, followed soon after by the son's death, left the old lady with two granddaughters, her nearest relatives. Her advanced age naturally prevented her from forming new acquaintances, and she longed for her old time friends, a longing which gave her courage to attempt a trip that is seemingly far beyond her strength, but which she stood remarkably well. Perhaps the thought of home coming played a part in this.
Mrs. Schutt seems to be perfectly happy and her face is radiant whenever she speaks of being again with friends whom she has known so long, and the memory of whom she has cherished during all the years of her absence. When asked if she did not like Missouri, Mrs. Schutt said that it was not like Cortland. Her grandson by marriage, Mr. E. E. Thomas of Plattsburg, Mo., accompanied her here. If happiness ever came to a tired traveler returned from years of wandering, then Mrs. Schutt has possession of this quality and it is all summed up in the thought which seemed uppermost in her mind, "Well, I am home again."
BREVITIES.
—The regular meeting of Grover Relief Corps, No. 96, will occur to-morrow, April 17, at 2:30 o'clock.
—District Deputy Grand Master J. D. Durham of Oneida will be present tomorrow evening at the regular communication of Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. and A. M.
— Hon. George W. Ray of Norwich was on Saturday at Binghamton nominated for the sixth time to represent his district, the Twenty-sixth, in congress. The nomination is of course equivalent to an election.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Bingham & Miller, Notice, page 4; Burgess, Humanic shoes, page 8; F. D. Smith, Summer heat, page 6; Buck & Lane, A subject for investigation, page 6; C. F. Brown, The best paint, page 6.
—A regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will be held on Tuesday, April 17, at 2:45 P. M. Consecration service will be led by Mrs. Edith Cotton, followed by the usual business meeting. The program will be under the direction of the superintendent of Sabbath observance, Mrs. Anna Bentley.
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