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| Gen. Frederick Roberts. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, May 31, 1900.
BRITISH IN PRETORIA.
Only Two Hours' March From the Capital Yesterday.
FEDERAL FORCES ABANDON CITY.
War Practically at an End, Although Guerrilla Warfare May Be Carried on For Some Time—Johannesburg Surrendered by Commandant Kraus.
PRETORIA, Wednesday, May 30.—British officers are now at Johannesburg dictating terms of surrender. The British advance guard is half way between Johannesburg and Pretoria. It is reported that there is a force at Hatherly. All the forces have been dismissed from the forts around Pretoria. President Kruger is now at Waterfallboven.
LONDON, May 31.—Yesterday at noon the British were only about two hours' march from Pretoria, and the Boer military forces had abandoned the city. This intelligence comes from the Reuter agent at the Transvaal capital and from the Earl of Rosslyn, in a press dispatch. The two messages left about the same time.
At 2 o'clock this morning the war office had received no news from Lord Roberts which the officials would make public; but it is assumed that the press advices are correct. Most of the London morning papers, through the courtesy of The Daily Mail, print Lord Rosslyn's dispatch and comment upon it, treating the war as ended. Some of the more cautious critics think that guerrilla warfare is likely to be carried on for some time, in various parts of the conquered territory.
Although the Boer forces are dissolving, Lord Roberts apparently has not yet taken any considerable quantities of artillery, arms or stores. Large bodies of Boers must still be somewhere in the field.
Watervalboven, or Waterfallboven, is 130 miles due east of Pretoria, on the Delagoa Bay railway. It should not be confused with Waterval, 10 miles north of Pretoria, where the British prisoners are. Watervalboven is a small place in a mountainous country. The seat of the Boer government—what there is left of it—will probably be Lydenburg, to the north.
A dispatch from Lorenzo Marques dated Wednesday, says:
"Commandant Kraus has surrendered Johannesburg to Lord Roberts. By last night's train from Pretoria, arrived a few Greeks, who say they were told to leave Pretoria Tuesday. They affirm that the train in which they left was shelled by the British and that half of the train was cut off, the remainder steaming away. This incident probably occurred at Elandsfontein junction.
"Passengers from Pretoria assert that the town is utterly demoralized. There is a mad rush for the coast. Five trainloads of fugitives are expected here tonight."
Union Jack Flying at Pretoria.
LONDON, May 31.—The Times says this morning:
"The war is practically over. By this time the British flag is flying in Pretoria. Mr. Kruger has fled and is ere this half way to Delagoa bay. Mr. Hay, son of the United States secretary of state, who holds the office of American consul at Pretoria, and who in that capacity took charge of our interests, thoughtfully insisted on a special step for safeguarding the large number of British prisoners."
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
◘ Pro-Boers and anti-Boers find much to commend in the pluck and determination of the 350 Afrikander women who, as reported in a dispatch from Pretoria, asked the government for arms and ammunition and offered themselves as a guard for the Transvaal capital. They suggested that they be allowed to do the work of the men, officials at home who, they protested, "ought to be fighting at the front." Whether the Boer cause be right or wrong—that to a matter about which a good many people seem to honestly differ—these women possess the courage of their convictions and prove that they have in them the making of heroines of the most resolute type. Indeed the Boer women all through this struggle have proved themselves scarcely less courageous than their fathers, husbands and sons. They are worthy to be the mothers and daughters of the sturdy and heroic race of men who are fighting at tremendous odds to retain the political and religious rights and privileges for which their fathers trekked to the remote mountains and veldts of South Africa.
◘ Ten or 12 years ago Wayne county, N. Y., supplied the mint market of the world, doing an extensive business in the peppermint oil industry. The production of this oil is said to have added more to the wealth of the county than did even the apple crop, for which that section is famed. The Rochester Chronicle reports that very little mint is now being raised there and that the mint stills are rapidly becoming extinct. The business has moved westward. The reason for the decay of this once flourishing industry is attributed to the sugar beet, Farmers are finding it more profitable to raise beets and are converting their acres to their cultivation. If the Wayne county farmers were able to make money producing mint and are now able to make still more in raising sugar beets, they certainly have no cause for complaint, though, upon the theory of the wisdom of diversifying crops, it would be well for them to keep up their mint beds and stills, while devoting the larger acreage to the sugar beets.
SUPERVISORS & ASSESSORS
HELD A MEETING AT THE CORTLAND HOUSE TUESDAY.
To Confer with Hon. Geo. E. Priest, Chairman of the State Board of Tax Commissioners—Instructions in Reference to Assessments.
Hon. Geo. E. Priest, chairman of the state board of tax commissioners, was in Cortland Tuesday to meet the supervisors and assessors of Cortland county for the purpose of ascertaining the rate at which property has been assessed in the various towns throughout the county and to take steps to bring the standard of assessment to full valuation of property.
Mr. Priest presided at the meeting which was held in the court house. All the supervisors of the county, except the newly elected supervisor of Cortlandville, Mr. A. Roscoe Rowe, who has not yet qualified, were present. Nearly all the assessors of the various towns were also in attendance at the meeting.
Inquiries were made by Mr. Priest concerning assessments in the various towns, and the rate at which property is being assessed. Inquiries were also made concerning the assessment of the business blocks in the city of Cortland and Mr. Priest expressed himself as well satisfied with the city assessments in general. He raised a question over the assessment of bank stock and instructed the city assessor that such stock must be assessed at its full value and not at par value as heretofore. Instructions were given relative to the assessment of corporations and franchises.
Under the special franchise act all corporations and franchises are taxed, but this comes under the supervision of the state board and is out of the jurisdiction of the local assessor. The estimated value of the special franchises in the city of Cortland is from $200,000 to $250,000.
Instructions were given in reference to estimating land value and the law in reference to assessment of real values. Under the law governing cities the assessor must prepare a list of all property exempt from taxation and such list must be published once each week for three weeks immediately preceding July 1.
HONORS ANNOUNCED.
Seventeen Members of the July Graduating Class Get Appointments.
During chapel exercises this morning Dr. F. J. Cheney announced the following honor students in the July class: Florence M. Chaffee, Alberta E. Waterbury, Geo. O. Moore, Elizabeth E. LaMotte, Charles F. McEvoy, Floy A. Elliott, Dorothea E. Bull, William Holloran, Harriet A. Strowbridge, Grace F. Burghardt, John Carrol Slade, Louis Lindsley, Mabel E.Vickery, Ida M. Keater, Mary L. Tufts, Ellen S. McCarthy, Irene A. Elliott.
These honors were given in the order named. Miss Irene A. Elliott received two honors, one from the classical course, the other from the Kindergarten course. The first eight in the list and Miss Elliott will represent the class on commencement day, July 3. Twelve out of the seventeen appointments given were to classical graduates. Dr. Cheney made no principal's appointment, saying that the choice was equally divided between several members of the class, to all of whom he would like to give the honor.
The class marched into chapel this morning to the music of the Normal orchestra and took seats in the center of the hall and near the rostrum. The seats reserved for them were marked with small flags of the class colors, purple and white. The rostrum was decorated with the colors. Each member of the faculty wore the class colors and a white rose.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chas. R. Skinner has been secured to deliver the address before the graduates at the Opera House, July 3.
FACTORY RECEPTION.
About two thousand People Inspect Skirt Manufacturing at Gillette's.
About two thousand people attended the reception given last evening by the Gillette Skirt company at their extensive factory and watched with deep interest the rapid working of the machines. Russian tea was served by Mrs. Gillette, Mrs. N. H. Waters and Mrs. A. M. Jewett, assisted by Misses Maude Stevenson, Pearl Moss, Millie Townsend, Viola Youngs, Jenny Corwin and Maud Stevens, who are members of Mr. Gillette's Sunday-school class. The Homer band was stationed on the lower floor in the main department and furnished very fine music for the occasion.
Those who were unable to attend last night will be welcomed any time through the day to-morrow or Saturday. There was a constant flow of people to and from the factory all the evening.
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
Three Evening Concerts to be Given This Year.
It should be remembered that at the [Mahan] music festival which occurs this year June 11 to 15 there will be three evening concerts instead of two, and that the afternoon concerts will be omitted, that time being specially given up to practice and drill by the choir. Reference has already been made to the attractions of Thursday and Friday evenings. On Wednesday evening, June 13, Mme. Barill, a niece of Patti, and herself a distinguished soprano, will sing. Mr. Farland, who is unquestionably the greatest performer upon the banjo in the world, will play, and Prof. Conrad, the eminent violin virtuoso, will appear both in solo work and as one of the Becker string quartet. This concert promises to be one of the best of the series.
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| Soldiers Monument and Normal School, Cortland, N. Y. |
MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES.
THE SOLDIER DEAD REMEMBERED BY WORDS AND FLOWERS.
Appropriate Observance of the Day by the Grand Army of the Republic—Eloquent and Patriotic Address by Rev. U. S. Milburn.
Memorial day exercises were held in Cortland yesterday under the auspices of Grover post, No. 98, G. A. R. The observance of the day was most appropriate and fitting, and the high character of all the exercises in connection with the day is a subject of much favorable comment by those who were fortunate enough to hear the addresses and singing or to review the line of march made up of surviving veterans and women of the Relief corps.
At 1 o'clock sharp the post and corps started from G. A. R. hall to march to the Opera House, where at 1:30 the exercises were held. The Cortland City band played "The Star Spangled Banner" to open the exercises. This was followed by a selection from the male quartet consisting of Messrs. George Oscar Bowen, John Byrne, L. L. Wellman and Herman Carver. Dr. O. A. Houghton offered a prayer. Mr. George Edgcomb then read Lincoln's address at Gettysburg, and the quartet gave another selection. Chaplain H. M. Kellogg read the list of the honored dead. Commander H. B. Greenman then introduced the speaker of the day, Rev. U. S. Milburn, who was warmly greeted by the large audience which filled every available place in the Opera House.
Mr. Milburn is the son of a veteran and his words yesterday were full of patriotism and love of country. He reviewed the purpose of a Memorial day and showed wherein it was the most sacred of all the national holidays. He made a strong plea for a more sacred observance of the day and stated that the action of the G. A. R. in asking for the change from the 30th of May to the Sunday nearest that date was a wise provision.
Mr. Milburn paid the veterans many glowing tributes, saying that the soldiers of the rebellion, like the veterans of '76 or '98, marched to the front without thought of fame or renown, but for love of country they left their cheerful firesides and loved families. But though they fought for something infinitely higher than fame, yet they achieved fame in the highest degree. Not only was this true of the officers in charge, but also of every one who supported or in any way added to the efficiency of the army.
The speaker was of the opinion that honor should be bestowed where honor was due, and no one in his opinion was more deserving of great honor than the man of the rank and file who helped to carry out the great events of war. True it is that the generals plan the battle, but the heroism of the rank and file make it possible for those plans to materialize. The last man in the rear ranks, who unhesitatingly follows his leader in the charge, is as great a hero as he who orders the charge. The "Man behind the gun" in Manila harbor, even though he be the one who fired the first shot is no more of a hero than the stoker who, far below the scene of action, gives fuel to the mighty furnaces, surrounded by the awful uncertainty, knowing that he must sink with his ship, unable to see the battle, unable to know if the shouts above him are the cries of victory or the screams of defeat. Your generals, men, planned the battles; you won them. Mr. Milburn concluded his excellent address by giving the poem, "Cover Them Over with Beautiful Flowers."
After the male quartet had sung another selection, Rev. Robert Clements pronounced the benediction. Seated on the platform with the commander and speakers were Mayor S. N. Holden, Alderman A. E. Buck and Verne L. Skeele.
At the close of the exercises, the line of march was formed from the Opera House with J. R. Birdlebough as marshal and Hiram Banks and E. D. Corwin as aides. H. R. Burrows was in command of the veterans and Commander Greenman of the [post]. The women of the Relief corps were in line just back of the veterans. A large flag was carried by six past commanders under supervision of Geo. W. Edgcomb. These commanders were Martin Edgcomb, H. M. Kellogg, M. E. Corwin, Geo. W. Edgcomb, Maj. A. Sager and G. W. Wolcott. The color bearer was Mr. L. Huguenin.
At the monument the line of march halted and the quartet gave another selection, which was followed by prayer by Rev. W. Jasper Howell. After the monument had been fittingly decorated, Commander Greenman addressed the large assemblage of people that had gathered with a few remarks. He stated that from the earliest existence of the nation to the present time, it has been the custom of families to strew flowers upon the graves of their departed loved ones in token of sacred memory and love. It was fitting, too, for them, as members of the G. A. R., with later defenders of the Union, to deck with flowers the graves of departed heroes. The line of march was then taken up to Rural cemetery where detachments were sent to each veteran's grave and also to the Catholic cemetery and to Blodgett Mills. Rev. Geo. E. T. Stevenson of the Memorial Baptist church who participated in the Cuban war was detailed to decorate the grave of Reed Lucas who died in that war. The line of march was continued back to G. A. R. hall where the guns were stacked and lines broken, ending a series of exercises that were profoundly interesting and helpful.
The comrades of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., have placed a marker and flag upon the grave of Reed Lucas, son of R. J. Lucas of Grover post, late of battery K, Second New York artillery, who died in Cuba, the only representation in our cemetery of the war with Spain. It was fitting and proper, that the only comrade In the ranks yesterday, who was of that campaign, the Rev. G. E. T. Stevenson of the Memorial Baptist church, should be detailed to decorate the grave of his comrade.
A delegation of comrades of Grover post and ladies of Grover Relief corps went to Blodgett Mills last evening to assist in Memorial day observances in that village. Exercises were held in the M. E. church, Rev. W. P. Garrett delivering the address. Fifteen graves were decorated by little children assisted by comrades of Grover post.
Death of Ethel Blanchard.
Ethel Blanchard, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Blanchard, died at the home of her parents on Tompkins-st. at 5:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, aged 15 years. The cause of death was peritonitis and her illness extended over a period of only about ten days.
Among her friends and schoolmates she was a general favorite and she will be greatly missed by those with whom she had been daily associated, especially by the members of the eighth B grade at the Normal [School] of which class she was a member.
But it is in the home where her loss will be most keenly felt, where she will be missed the most, and the sympathy of all goes out to her parents and sisters in the hour of bereavement.
The funeral will be held Friday morning at 10:30 at the house.
PLAYED GOOD BALL.
THREE STRAIGHT GAMES TO THE CORTLAND TEAM'S CREDIT.
Defeated the Romans Tuesday and Won Both Games from Binghamton Yesterday—Mullin, McFall and Crowe Pitched the Games in Great Shape—The Results.
Well, well, Cortland is playing ball these days for all there is in it. Not satisfied with giving the Romans a severe trouncing on Tuesday, they spurted out on Decoration day and did what no other team in the league did, take two games in one day. The batting has been to the Queen's taste and to that of the fans. Nadeau, in the game with the Romans, let out a long fly into left field, which took up its first territorial meeting place far over the head of Fielder Hanley. From here it bounded clear over the fence and rolled far into the rubbish. This was enough for the fleet-footed right fielder to score on, and with Quinn on third by his own three-bagger the game was won.
Score:
In the afternoon, the Wagonmaker hit the ball and won easily. There was a large attendance at the game who were sadly disappointed in the way the contest ended.
Score:
BREVITIES.
—The Cortland praying band will hold a cottage prayer-meeting Friday evening, June 1, at the home of Mr. J. Ballou, 4 East-ave. All are welcome.
—A regular meeting of the A. O. U. W. will be held Friday night, June 1. A large attendance is desired as several candidates are to be initiated and other very important business to come before the meeting.
—A special meeting of the W. C. T. U. is culled for to-morrow, June 1, at 3 o'clock to take action on special gospel temperance work which must be decided at once. It is of great importance that there be a large attendance.
—New display advertisements to-day are—W. J. Perkins, Miss Fralick of New York, etc., page 6; Mrs. J. T. Davern & Co., Great sale of flowers, page 6; Buck & Lane, Gas heated laundry irons, page 6; F. Daehler, Men's clothing, page 8.
—The band concert at the park tomorrow night on the occasion of Hospital day will begin promptly at 7:30 o'clock, so as to get through in time for dancing to begin at 9, some of the players belonging to both band and orchestra.
—The entertainment which was to be given in Good Templar's lodge rooms tomorrow evening will be postponed on account of the death of a member of the lodge. A special meeting will be held this evening at 7:30 at which every member is requested to be present.
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