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| General Adna R. Chaffee. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, August 10, 1900.
VICTORY COST 200 MEN.
Most of These Were Killed In Yang Tsun Battle.
FIGHTING LASTED FOUR HOURS.
Japanese Discover Chinese In Strong Force at Wei Ho and Are Compelled to Retreat, With Some Loss—Routine Message From Sir Robert Hart.
LONDON, Aug. 10.—In the capture of Yang Tsun the losses of the allies, according to a dispatch to The Daily Express from Che Foo dated Aug. 6, purporting to give an account of that engagement, were 200, the majority of these being killed.
"The allies marched on Yang Tsun," the report says, "at dawn Monday. The position held by 15,000 Chinese was well entrenched to the east of the river. After four hours heavy fighting the Chinese were driven from their defense works."
Another dispatch to the same paper, dated Tien Tsin, Aug. 6, recounts a reconnaissance that morning by the Japanese beyond Hsik, the result being that the enemy was developed in strong force, well fortified at Wei Ho. The Chinese were superior in numbers, and after facing the fire of seven guns, the Japanese retired on Hsik, with three killed and 26 wounded, but having captured 200 horses.
With the exception of these messages, General Chaffee's report is the only account published by the London morning papers telling of the capture of Yang Tsun.
The editorials generally incline to view the progress toward Pekin as thus far splendid, but one which can not be maintained at the present rapid rate, as the concentration of supplies and the establishment of bases will cause inevitable delays.
The commissioner of customs at Shanghai has received a routine message from Sir Robert Hart, director general of imperial customs, showing that the latter is still conducting the business of imperial customs—a rather curious condition of affairs when taken in conjunction with the words "happily still alive," which he included in the dispatch which was dated Pekin, July 27.
Commenting upon Washington's latest communication to the Chinese government, the Daily Chronicle describes it as "idyllic diplomacy," and it declares the Chinese attempts to get the ministers to leave Pekin as described by M. Pichon, have convinced everybody, except the Washington officials, that a steady application of force is the only argument Pekin can understand.
TO ATTACK FROM THE NORTH.
Russian Japanese Force Secretly Flanking Pekin.
LONDON, Aug. 10.—An edict emanating from Pekin and authorizing Li Hung Chang to negotiate with the powers for peace has, it is reported from Shanghai under yesterday's date, been received there.
The correspondents at Yokohama again send the statement that a Russo-Japanese force is moving on Pekin from the north. The movements and number of this force are, it is further asserted, kept secret in order to prevent accurate intelligence from reaching Pekin.
The French consul at Shanghai says 8,000 Annamite troops will arrive there next week for the protection of the French settlements.
The Chinese merchants at Shanghai have petitioned the foreign consuls there to prevent the landing of troops, declaring that it will create a panic among the Chinese.
Li Ping Heng, the former governor of Shang Tung, personally commanded 15,000 Chinese at Yang Tsun.
A Chinese official at Shanghai says seventeen pirates and brigands were beheaded at Canton, Aug. 8.
Dispatches received here from Berlin say that Emperor Francis Joseph and King Victor Emanuel III have telegraphed to Field Marshal Count Von Waldersee, congratulating him on his appointment to the chief command of the allied troops in China.
Field Marshal von Waldersee it is announced here will sail Aug. 21 or Aug. 28 from an Italian port and that he will go to Shanghai first.
Lord Roberts.
A BOER PLOT
To Capture Lord Roberts and Kill All His Generals.
PRETORIA, Aug. 10.—The plot to make a prisoner of Lord Roberts and shoot all the British officers, discovered yesterday, included a number of townspeople who were in communication with the enemy. It was arranged that the capture and killing should take place on the eve of Tuesday last.
Intense indignation prevails throughout the British army, and the general opinion is that the leniency of the British invited such a conspiracy. It is considered that no measure for the repression of such plots can be too strong.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
The Wheel No Longer a Fad.
The annual meeting of the League of American Wheelmen, just held in Milwaukee, when compared to some former annual meetings, demonstrated the decline of what might be called professional cycling. A few years ago a convention of the league held in Philadelphia brought more than 25,000 visitors to that city, and the contest for the presidency of the organization was fought as strenuously as if the fate of a nation hung upon it. All the leading newspapers sent one or more staff correspondents to report the convention, and articles about it were eagerly read.
This year, according to the Milwaukee Sentinel, less than 1,000 people were in attendance at the league's gathering, and doubtless many of the readers of newspapers missed the few paragraphs that have been printed about its proceedings. This does not mean that the wheel is going out of date, but indicates that the public has now no considerable interest in professional cycling. The day of the scorcher and the foolish people who strive to see how many century runs they can make, at least in so far as the public cares about them, has passed. The bicycle has ceased to be a fad and settled down to its proper and useful mission—as a means of convenient locomotion, legitimate pleasure and healthful exercise.
◘ An article in the current issue of The Forum by Charles Denby, who as son of ex-Minister Denby, has spent much time in China, seems to supply though perhaps unconsciously, a rational explanation of the deep rooted Chinese superstition about digging up the soil with the result of offending the ancestral gods by disturbing burial places and releasing evil spirits that prey on human life. Some time ago there was a deal of digging in and about the new German town of Tsing Tau for roads, sewers and other public works, and much deadly sickness followed. The soil is disintegrated granite, like that of Hong Kong, where the same mortality followed the founding and construction of the modern British city. It is well known that epidemics fellow disturbing old soil in cities, and this is especially true m China. The whole soil of the country has been lived on so long by a dense population and is so thickly strewn with burial places that, with the exception of lands where it is aerated by agriculture, it must be heavily loaded with disease breeding germs. Thus Chinese superstition sees darkly the obverse of a plain scientific fact. The evil spirits that lurk in their soil and spread disease have a real existence. Scientifically they are known as bacteria and comprise a large family.
CONTRACT LET.
Central Construction Co. to Build the Home Telephone Company's Plant.
At a meeting of the board of directors of the Home Telephone Co. last night the contract for constructing the plant [in Cortland, N. Y.] was given the Central Construction Co. of Wausemon, Wis. They will have entire charge of setting the poles, stringing the wires and putting in instruments. The work is to be completed on the first day of December.
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Templars Drop "Sir Knights."
An innovation in the Templars grand conclave during its Rochester visit, in which Cortland commandery will participate, will be the elimination from its programs and banners of the term "Sir Knights."
"There will be no one but 'Templars' there," said Recorder G. H. Kennedy of the Cortland commandery. "Other organizations have been stealing our titles or mottoes, our uniforms and even our insignia. There are 'Sir Knights' of everything now, from labor organizations to temperance societies. We shall henceforth refer to ourselves simply as 'Templars' and then see if anybody wants to steal that term."
CINCINNATUS, N. Y., THE SCENE
Of a New Comedy—Drama Written by a Former Resident.
On Sunday night, Aug. 10, The Redmond Stock company which is now playing a summer season at Boyd's theater, Omaha, Neb., will present for the first time on any stage a three-act pastoral comedy drama which has been written especially for them by Mr. K. B. Smith, city editor of the Omaha Daily Bee, and a native of Cincinnatus, this county. The leading role will be taken by Mr. Ed Redmond, a finished and virile actor, and the piece will be staged under the direct personal supervision of the author.
Mr. Redmond is enthusiastic over the play, and predicts that it will be one of the season notable offerings. He has read it almost as fast as it was written, and his faith in the success of the play is demonstrated by his willingness to expend a considerable sum in giving it the necessary scenic investiture. A number of the personal friends of the author have also been permitted to read the manuscript, and they share Mr. Redmond's enthusiasm. Whether the public will accept the verdict of these critics is, of course, problematical and cannot be foretold in advance of the initial production.
The scenes of the play are laid in the village of Cincinnatus and the characters could easily be recognized by almost any of the residents of that charming hamlet. For the opening night, Mme. Dollie Rathbun-Chesley, one of the foremost operatic singers in the west who is a personal friend of the author has consented to appear and will sing at the end of each act. An effort will be made to make the first night a society event. In event of the play being a success that is anticipated for it, Mr. Smith will at once begin work on another, the scenes of which will be laid in the same place, for which he will endeavor to secure a New York production. Theodore Hayes of Minneapolis, northwestern representative of Jacob Litt, will see the play when it is given its first production.
FELL ON LIVE WIRES.
AUGUS MCDIARMID OF TRUXTON KILLED AT SYRACUSE.
Was a Lineman in Employ of Electric Light and Power Co.—Topples Over Upon the Wires from Top of Pole—Instantly Killed—No Mark of Injury upon Him.
A telephone message from Syracuse was received in Truxton last night telling of the death in that city of Augus F. McDiarmid, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson McDiarmid of Truxton, N. Y. The Syracuse Post-Standard of this morning gives an account of the accident which caused his death. It says:
Augus F. McDiarmid, a lineman in the employ of the Electric Light & Power company, was electrocuted while fastening a dead wire to the top of an electric light pole at the corner of South Salina and Temple-sts., twenty-five feet from the ground at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Eleven hundred volts of electricity went through his body, which dangled from the charged wires until undertakers and linemen lowered it by means of a rope fifteen minutes afterward.
McDiarmid was 23 years old, unmarried, and was born and brought up on the farm of his father, Johnston McDiarmid, at Truxton, this state. Upon leaving school he went to work for his father and two years ago he came to Syracuse to take a position with the Electric Light & Power company.
He remained with the company about a year and then left. Two weeks ago he returned to work for the power company and the managers say he was such a good workman that they gave him every opportunity to advance himself.
Yesterday McDiarmid and another lineman and two helpers under Foreman William Gilmore were sent out to string a dead wire from the corner of South Salina and Furman-sts. to the electric light station. The company has two wires running along this circuit and both of them were charged while the work of stringing the third wire was in progress.
When McDiarmid ascended the pole at Salina and Temple-sts., the other lineman went up another pole close by and the two helpers stood on the ground so as to be ready to assist them. Just how the accident happened is not known.
One of the linemen happened to glance toward the top of the pole and as he did so he saw McDiarmid topple over upon the two charged wires a couple of feet away, his foot over the cross arm of the pole. He did not make an outcry.
The current of both the charged wires calls for 3,150 volts and it is almost certain that at least 1,100 volts passed through the man's body. He remained in a stooping posture over the wires a couple of minutes, his feet dangling in the air, and when the workmen below came to a full realization of what had happened one of them sent in a call for Burns & Gaynor's dead wagon.
Two of the linemen went up the pole and with the aid of the undertakers they lowered the body to the ground with a rope. There were no marks of injury. One hand was slightly scarred, but McDiarmid is said to have carried this mark for several days.
The body was taken to the undertaking rooms and the parents of the dead man at Truxton were notified. Coroner Weaver visited the undertaking rooms last night and to-day he will make an investigation. There will be no postmortem and the body will probably be sent to Truxton some time to-day.
Superintendent E. B. Doen of the plant of the Electric Light & Power company said to a Post-Standard reporter last night that he was unable to account for McDiarmid coming in contact with the charged wires. The lineman was a trusted employee with considerable knowledge of electricity and he had always been careful, Mr. Doen said. He added that the man's death looked like carelessness on his own part.
McDiarmid has boarded for the past two weeks at the home of Mrs. Morrison, No. 236 West Onondaga-st. Besides his father and mother he is survived by three sisters, Gertrude, Irene and Elizabeth McDiarmid, and one brother, Archie McDiarmid, all of Truxton. He has one aunt in this city, Mrs. Neal Daley of 902 Montgomery-st.
Ithaca Band, Patsey Conway conductor.
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| M. F. Cleary. |
PARADE DAY AT AUBURN.
It was Blistering Hot and the Line of March was Long.
Yesterday was parade day at Auburn and the last day of the annual convention of the Central New York Volunteer Firemen's association. The entire [?] fire departments from Cortland, Homer and McGraw attended. They left on a special train of seven coaches at about 7 o'clock yesterday morning, each place having its own band along. At Syracuse the train was run into the New York Central station and after a half hour's wait four coaches were added and the trip was continued to Auburn, which was reached at 10:20. There the companies fell into line and marched to their respective headquarters. The Cortland department was entertained at the Avery House.
During the forenoon the races and sports were the attraction. Cortland was not entered for any of them, and so the boys devoted themselves in fullest measure to keeping cool for it was blistering hot. At the driving park between 3,000 and 4,000 people were assembled to see the contest.
The prize drill was won by Endicott Steamer Co. No. 1, of Lestershire, the only other competitor being Redfield Hook & Ladder Co. of Phelps.
The hose race was won by the Torrent Hose Co. of Ithaca in 43 1/4 seconds. Chief Davis of the Cortland fire department was one of the judges in this contest.
The hub and hub race was won by Hydrant Hose Co. of Waterloo in 23 ½ seconds, with Johnson Hose Co. of Lestershire second and Conger Hose Co. of Groton third.
On account of the heat the parade was delayed till 4 o'clock and in the meantime a trolley ride down to the lake proved quite an attraction. Many visited the prison. At 2:20 o'clock 678 people had been shown through, and the hall was then so full of people who wanted to go that the outer doors were locked and no more were admitted. Two keepers took squads of about forty at a time through the most interesting parts of the prison.
The line of march was lengthy and the firemen were pretty warm when it was over. Of course they had to wear their uniforms closely buttoned up. No shirt waist men were admitted to the parade, and when they finished and disbanded the fellows were ready to lie down in any cool place in the shade if they could find one.
At 7:30 o'clock the famous Ithaca band under the leadership of Patsey Conway gave a fine open air concert in Seward park [sic], which was listened to by thousands. A grand ball was held in Music hall last evening and, notwithstanding the heat, the floor was crowded with dancers.
It was 11:45 P. M. when the special train started for Cortland and it was 3:15 when it pulled into town with a tired, hot but happy crowd on board.
NOTES.
The Auburn Advertiser is to be congratulated upon the able way in which it reported the convention. Its reporters must have been numerous and omnipresent, for nothing escaped it, and the facts were presented to the public in highly attractive form. Cuts of the prominent firemen of the city and the convention, and cuts of the Auburn fire department, apparatus and buildings added interest to the whole.
Chief Davis and the board of engineers of the Cortland fire department marched in the parade under a Japanese umbrella about 10 feet in diameter which completely protected them from the sun and which furnished no end of amusement to the crowd.
Mr. M. F. Cleary was awarded a fifty pound sack of flour which had been offered to the fireman having the largest family. Mr. Cleary's family numbers fourteen. There are twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, and he has reason to be proud of them all. There has never been a death in the family.
The Cortland fire department was awarded a forty-pound water melon for having the largest colored porter in the line. He marched at the head of the division and carried the department banner. His name is not known here; he was an Auburnian whom Chief Davis picked up after he got over there, and he was a bouncer too. He was warranted to tip the beam at 400 pounds, and the boys say he did it all right. He got the melon also and the department thinks that he was able to get away with the whole of it unassisted, and they believe he did it too, for they didn't find any of it reserved for them.
BIG DEAL IN TEA.
H. B. Hubbard Not to be Affected by War in China.
The war and commotion in China will make prices of tea higher. Within a short time H. B. Hubbard has placed large orders for the new crop of teas. Yesterday the first lot of twenty-five chests containing 2,000 pounds was delivered at his store, and he expects another shipment to arrive a few days later. Mr. Hubbard buys teas in large quantities, as his retail trade in these goods is very extensive. This is no doubt due in part to the great assortment of teas he keeps in stock. In addition to the famous Sun Dried 35 cent tea he sells fine Green and Uncolored Japan, the best Formosa Oolong, English Breakfast teas, and also keeps a full line of Lipton's Ceylon and India teas. [Paid ad.]
Who Owns the Sidewalk?
The following will be of interest to people generally who think so long as they are on the street they have a perfect right to occupy a person's sidewalk, doorstep or fence as often or as long as they like. Judge Clayton recently in charging a jury in a case in which the rights of the sidewalk were the bone of contention, laid down the law in reference to pavements in such a manner as to clear up some points concerning which there has been much apprehension. He said: "The owner of real estate also owns the sidewalk in front of his property subject to the right of pedestrians to use it for traveling back and forward, but outside of this he owns the sidewalk as much as any part of his property. It cannot be used for roller skating or playground for children or other purposes without his consent. If it is, he should first order them to leave, and if they resist he may use as much force as is necessary to remove them, but no more.—Oxford Press.
BREVITIES.
—The Spencer family reunion will be held next Thursday, Aug. 10, at the home of Mr. Wm. Swartz, 104 Port Watson-st.
—The Democratic county committee has engaged the rooms in the Wickwire building on Railroad-st., lately occupied by H. C. Harrington, for its headquarters during the fall campaign.
—Chaplain H. M. Kellogg of Grover Post, Aide-de-camp upon the staff of General Albert D. Shaw, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, has received with his commission a beautiful staff badge which will be worn at the Chicago encampment by the national officers. The badge is an artistic piece of work printed upon heavy yellow silk and contains a fine picture of General Shaw, the national commander.
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