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| National Guard soldiers guarding cables over Croton dam. |
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| Dam building in progress. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, April 17, 1900.
SERGEANT MURDERED.
First Bloodshed in Croton Landing Strike.
SOLDIER SHOT BY ASSASSIN.
Member of Mount Vernon Militia, While Relieving Guard, Suddenly Falls, Pierced With Bullet Fired By Unknown—Excitement Runs Wild Over Affair.
CROTON LANDING, N. Y., April 17.—The first bloodshed as the outcome of the strike at the Cornell dam was the life's blood of Sergeant Robert Douglass of the Eleventh Separate company of Mount Vernon, who was shot dead by an unknown assassin while he was relieving guard at 9:50 o'clock last night.
The wildest excitement prevailed throughout the camp as soon as the news of the assassination spread to the different tents and the soldiers are frantic over the cowardly crime. The point where the sergeant fell is situated on top of the hill near Little Italy, where armed strikers were seen drilling or marching about early in the morning, brandishing rifles and shotguns. The spot is high over the huge pile of masonry, which when finished will reach as high as that point and from it one can command a view of the country for miles on each side up and down the Croton valley.
Douglass was talking to Corporal McDowell and other members of the guard when he suddenly slapped his hands to his stomach and said; "Load, boys, I'm shot," and then fell to the ground. It was pitch dark at the time, but McDowell and the others fired a volley into a clump of bushes nearby without hitting anyone.
No one saw the flash or heard the sound of the shot which killed Douglass, and it was a most mysterious affair. Meanwhile the men picked up the fallen sergeant and carried him down the hill on a stretcher, but as soon as they reached Douglass' tent the poor fellow died without saying a word other than what he said as he fell.
Lieutenant Glover with a squad of men went up to the hilltop where they made a thorough search, but failed to find any person there. Then the guards were called in and concentrated in the valley, with the exception of those placed at the cable station where the shooting took place.
SITUATION AT CROTON.
Seventh Regiment of New York Sent With Other Troops.
CROTON LANDING, N. Y., April 17.—With the arrival of troops at the Cornell dam yesterday quiet was restored and there is no indication of an outbreak by the strikers. At present the Fourth and Eleventh separate companies are in camp at Croton valley and the cavalry is reported to be at Ardsley, where they can be called for in case of trouble. Aside from the demonstration in the early morning yesterday the day has been a quiet one with the strikers. The morning meeting was held before 6 a. m., and the strikers finding that no effort was going to be made to work on the dam dispersed before 8 a. m. They hung about the Bowery and waited for news from New York.
From the newspapers they learned that troops were on the way. Before the hour for their arrival the Bowery was filled by Italians, who stood in groups and listened to the talk of the leaders. About 11 a. m. a telegram was received by one of the leaders from Consul Branchi, advising them to be quiet, and informing them of the fact that the militia was on its way to the dam. The telegram from the consul was passed about and had a good effect. Many Italians, who live in Little Italy hill, left the Bowery and went to their homes. There was no sign of a weapon among them a half hour after the receipt of the telegram from the consul. It was after noon when the troops arrived. Their arrival was noted by an Italian on a bicycle who remained long enough about the station to count them and then started for the dam. About half a mile from the village he was met by another strike messenger on a wheel, who carried the news about a mile, where a third messenger rode with all haste to the Bowery. Before the deputy sheriffs about the works knew of the arrival of troops in Croton valley the strikers were aware of it.
There was a blowing of horns, and while the troops were resting at the station waiting for the word to move, 40 armed Italians carrying an American and two Italian flags crossed from Little Italy hill to the Bowery. They were cheered by the men in the Bowery and watched with interest by the deputy sheriff.
Ten minutes after their arrival at the Bowery there were no weapons in sight. When the troops had been rested and the wagons carrying the camp equipage had been loaded, the march to the dam was begun.
It was then 1:10 o'clock. An advance guard of 12 men under Lieutenant Nugent of the Yonkers company led the way. Behind them came the remainder of the Yonkers company. They were followed by the Mount Vernon company with the wagons protected by a rear guard. The men carried blankets and haversacks, three days' rations and 10 rounds of ball cartridges. A couple of stops were made on the way, hut notwithstanding this the trip was made in an hour and 15 minutes.
Upon approaching the Bowery the order was given to load, and one man in the rear guard accidentally let the hammer fall on the cartridge. It exploded and the shot started the men and two men in the advanced guard nervously pulled the triggers of their rifles and the bullets tore holes in the earth 10 feet in front of them. The impression was that some one had fired on the troops and there was a halt.
Fortunately the accidents did not alarm the strikers. As the troops swung into the narrow lane called the Bowery, the strange sight met their eyes. About 200 men were on the board sidewalks. Women were hanging from the windows and crowded on the stoops. About 20 Italians with mandolins and guitars were seated on the walk playing a lively tune. In the center of the street a woman about 60 years old, called "Bowery Kate," was dancing.
In one hand she held a half of a brick and in the other a club. The advance guard passed by her and she fell in back of them marching along. The Italians laughed and continued to play. The advance guard swung up the street and over the Bowery bridge into the works. On the hills were over a half hundred or more Italians who clapped hands as the troops came into the works. Inside, the work of selecting a camp and throwing out pickets was begun. A crowd of officers after an inspection of the ground held a conference, and it was decided to pitch camp in the valley. The tents were set up on a bank of earth and stone that was taken from the excavation made for the foundation of the big dam.
A line of pickets was thrown about the works on the hill where the strikers reside. A patrol was established at Bowery bridge and admission inside the lines was denied to all but persons with passes. A cavalryman from Ardsley reported at 5 p. m. that the troopers were at Ardsley and would be up in the morning.
The troops now here are under the command of Major Denick, in the absence of Colonel Emmett of the First regiment. They are the Eleventh Separate company of Mount Vernon, Captain Fred Schneider; Lieutenant Ralph Glover and 75 men; the Fourth Separate company of Yonkers, Captain John I. Pruyn, Lieutenant Nugent and 73 men.
Everything is quiet and the company says it will make no attempt to begin work until General Roe says so. The strike leader, Rotella, said last night there would be no trouble.
Seventh Regiment Ordered Out.
NEW YORK, April 17.—Late yesterday afternoon Major-General Roe ordered the Seventh regiment to assemble at its armory. Last night companies B and H. under command of Major James C. Abrahams left the armory for Croton Dam.
STATE LAWS.
Some Important Measures Which Have Received Governor's Signature.
ALBANY. April 17.—Governor Roosevelt has signed the following laws:
Mr. Apgar, appropriating $50,344 for rebuilding and refinishing the buildings recently damaged by fire at Sing Sing prison.
Mr. Fowler, appropriating $25,000 for cleaning out and deepening the outlet of Chautauqua lake, and also for dredging and deepening the lake.
Mr. Fish, appropriating $15,000 for the erection of a steel bridge over the outlet of Cazenovia lake reservoir.
Mr. Hitchcock, appropriating $20,000 to improve the Glens Falls feeder.
E. E. Kelley, appropriating $12,000 for establishing the boundary line between the counties of Herkimer and Hamilton counties.
Mr. McCreary, appropriating $15,000 for the construction of a steel bridge over the Erie canal at Watervliet.
Mr. Vest, appropriating $12,000 for the construction of swinging bridge over the Champlain canal at Waterford, Saratoga county.
Senator Raines, appropriating $11,500 to provide for accommodations for the director of the New York Agricultural Experiment station.
Senator White, appropriating $10,000 for the improvement of navigation in the Oneida river.
Mr. Fowler, appropriating $35,000 for the drainage of the Conewango creek.
Mr. Gale, providing that a full and honorable discharge be granted to volunteer firemen who are deprived of the right to serve their full term by the organization of a paid department.
Mr. De Graw, fixing the salary of supreme court attendants in the second judicial district at $1,800 per annum.
Mr. Henry, incorporating the New York State Medical association.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Telegraph and Cable Lines.
A writer in Ainslee's Magazine has collected many interesting facts about the telegraph and cable lines in the world, in the course of which he notes the extent to which rates for messages have been reduced. When the first Atlantic cable was laid, the price of a 20 word message from New York to London was $100, or $5 a word. The commercial rate is now 25 cents a word. To send ten words from Chicago to New York in 1866 cost $2.05, while the same service now costs 40 cents. A telegram from New York to Manila costs $2.45 a word. To pay nearly $25 for a ten word message to the Philippines seems extravagant, but as long as it must go three-fifths of the distance around the globe and pass through the hands of half a dozen different companies it is as reasonable a price as is likely to be given. It costs but little less to telegraph to some points in the West Indies or in South America because the message must go by way of Europe and be flashed twice under the Atlantic. It is probable that we will have in a few years a Pacific cable of our own, when rates of communication will doubtless be greatly reduced.
◘ It is insinuated, not without some reason, that Kentucky would be better off if it would keep whisky out of its politics and that South Carolina would be better off if it would keep politics out of its whisky.
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| Main Street, Cortland, N. Y. |
ENUMERATION BEGINS.
THIRTEEN LOCAL MEN START OFF THE WORK.
Under Direction of State Excise Agents They are at Work To-day in the First, Second and Third Wards—Will Take but Two or Three Days.
Thirteen local men started in this morning in the three wards lying west of Main-st. to take an enumeration of the city's inhabitants. These men are working under the supervision of the Raines law inspectors, and the list is made up of Fred G. Dibble, Floyd Griffiths, O. P. Miner, J. R. Birdiebough, Fred Birdlebough, C. E. Van Gorden, Frank Place, Jr., L. L. Gillet, Fred W. Kingsbury, Joseph Jarvis, Delevan Brusie, Frank E. Phelps and Edward Carley. They will probably finish the first three wards to-day and be ready to begin work to-morrow in the wards lying east of Main-st.
The excise enumeration now being taken is calling forth a great deal of speculation concerning the results. That Cortland will show a population of more than 10,000 is the opinion most frequently expressed. This is based upon the fact that the houses in Cortland are better filled this spring than they have been for years, in fact, it is quite the exception to find a vacant house.
The enumeration is being taken with the utmost care and precaution. The men are thoroughly instructed in their work and Cortland people will soon know just what is the population of the new city.
"The Missouri Girl"
"The Missouri Girl" is booked for to-morrow night at the Opera House. One of the brightest things in the theatrical firmament that has cropped out of late years, is Fred Raymond's domestic play, "The Missouri Girl," which depicts principally the country life in southwest Missouri during the exciting times when lead and zinc ore was being discovered in large quantities in nearly every farmer's dooryard or cornfield. Mr. Raymond has discovered an entire new set of stage characters that are out of the ordinary run of those usually found in plays of this class. The plot is interesting and keeps the audience spellbound from start to finish. The comedy is natural and not forced, and is excruciatingly funny. A number of original ideas are brought out in such a way as to bring forth an immense amount of laughter. The scenery used in the production was reproduced from photographs taken in the picturesque Ozark mountains, the principal lead and zinc mining district of the world.
SIDEPATHS AND REPAIRS.
Seasonable Suggestions With Reference to the Purchase of Badges.
The balmy spring-like atmosphere of the past two days has brought out the cyclists in profusion, and Monday the pavements were literally sprinkled with wheels, which moved about from place to place and rightly give the impression that the season for riding is at hand.
What then about the sidepaths?
In a week, at least, the cycling season will be in full blast. The riders will be impatient to leave the pavements and get out for a spin on the sidepaths that already extend, for a little ways at least, in every direction from the city. These, then, must be placed in good order immediately. The open winter which has just passed raised havoc along some of the wheel-ways. The recurring freezing and thawing was productive of considerable damage, and there are always plenty of other agents to break up the paths in places; to even up these rough spots and to put the paths in good rideable condition again is surely going to take money, and the money must come through the sale of badges. The repairs are not of so serious a nature as to occupy along space of time for their completion, provided that the riders furnish the cash that is needed.
Then there is also the matter of extending the sidepaths of the county. Cortland is going to do her share this year toward building a bicycle path that will extend from Syracuse to Binghamton, and about the first work that the commissioners will do after repairing will be to extend the Little York path on through to the Onondaga county line. Then a wheel-way will be built along Groton-ave. to the brick schoolhouse, thence southward to Gillet's grove, and from that point back to the South Cortland path, making a delightful runway of about five miles.
In order to make the needed repairs and to extend the paths which were so well started and finely kept last season, money must be forthcoming at once. To this end every wheel owner ought to possess a badge. Cyclist, you will soon be ready to take a trip to one of the many pleasant summer resorts about Cortland. At this time be properly equipped with a 1900 wheel license that now costs you but 50 cents and gives you path privileges for the whole season, not only here but also in any county of the state in which you happen to be riding. The sidepath laws will be strictly enforced this season, and already special police have been appointed and are out on the paths to look after this part of the work. The sidepaths and the manner in which they are kept are of interest to every owner of a wheel. How many miles of new road are built in Cortland county this year and how well they are maintained depend entirely upon the individual cyclist. Buy a badge, that's all; the commission will do the rest.
Died of Scarlet Fever.
Mrs. Cushman C. Lord died at her home, 11 Evergreen-st., at 10 o'clock last night of scarlet fever, aged 44 years. The burial will be held at 4 o'clock this afternoon.
University Center.
The following is the program for the meeting of the University Center which will be held in the W. C. T. U. rooms this evening:
Goethe and Schiller, Miss Hubbard.
Schiller's Ballads, Prof. L. J. Higgins.
Goethe as a Scientist, Dr. F. W. Higgins.
Goethe's Faust, Mrs. Whitmore.
Monstrosity in Eggs.
Bernard Clineburg of 12 Washington-st. has shown us an egg laid by his half Bantam, half Brown Leghorn hen that is drawn out in the twisted shape of a summer squash. The shell upon the egg is perfect, though the whole is a little under size. But it is one of the queerest looking specimens of hen fruit ever exhibited.
BREVITIES.
—The Normal school reopened this morning after the Easter vacation.
—The Wide Awake Literary club and Opposition club meet at Mr. J. F. Daley's, 45 Evergreen-st., at 7:30 this evening.
—The Fortnightly club will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock with Miss Cornelia L. Brown, 15 Reynolds-ave.
—New display advertisements to-day are—M. A. Case, Dry goods, page 6; Warren. Tanner & Co., Ready to wear goods, page 4; J. T. Davern & Co., Millinery, page 6; City Cycle Co., Bicycles, page 4; Smith & Beaudry, Wallpaper, page 4; G. F. Beaudry, Bicycles, page 5; F. I. Graham, Paints, oils, etc., page 4.
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