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| U. S. Customs House. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 12, 1901.
NEW CUSTOM HOUSE.
OUR NEW YORK LETTER FULL OF INTERESTING MATTER.
Excavations for New Government Building Discloses Some Very Ancient Masonry—Immense Floral Display for Easter—Thousands of Bermuda Lilies Imported for the Occasion—Street Noises.
New York, April 11. —Down at the extreme lower end of Manhattan Island, known for at least two centuries as Bowling Green, the U. S. government is making excavation for the foundation of the new custom house. The old custom house on Wall-st. has long been inadequate to meet the needs of the service, and now the government is about to erect the largest and most complete building of its kind to be found in the country. In the process of removing the earth and sand for the foundation of the new structure, traces of masonry have been laid bare which the experts of the New York Historical society believe were parts of the old Fort Amsterdam, erected in 1624, or soon after Manhattan Island was bought from the Indians. The laborers found masonry fifteen feet below the lowest foundations of the buildings which had occupied the new custom house site for more than one hundred years. A rounded piece of stone was unearthed which is believed to have been a part of the buttresses of the ancient fort; a strong wall was also discovered built of rock and bricks, and the joints were of a peculiar sort of mortar apparently made by compounding sand with burned clamshells. The old Fort Amsterdam, or parts of it at least, stood until about the year 1795, when the last traces were removed to make room for the row of private dwellings, afterwards converted into steamship offices and which in their turn have recently given way to the new custom house.
The floral display in the city during Easter week easily eclipsed anything of the kind ever seen before, both in point of abundance and beauty. In years past florists have found the demand for flowers so great at Easter, that this year they made preparations on a wonderful scale; and nearly all of the fashionable ones were compelled to engage additional accommodations in vacant shops for their extra stock. One of the flowers in greatest demand was the beautiful Bermuda lily. Countless thousands of lily plants were sent to this city from Bermuda, their buds carefully wrapped in cotton which was removed a day or two before the festival. After the lily, the carnation seemed to have a high place in popular favor. Some of the newer varieties of carnations were mammoth in size and possessed of beautiful variegated effects. For Easter givers growing plants were even more in favor than cut flowers. the violet plants being especially pretty, mounted as they were in graceful purple wicker baskets, showing the half open cover with a great bow of ribbon to match the blossoms. Thousands of dollars worth of flowers were used to deck the churches, and there was a great amount of colored blossoms used in these decorations than formerly. A custom, which is growing more in favor with the coming of each Easter, is that of carrying great loads of fragrant roses and lilies to the cemeteries for the decking of graves. Easter seems to have grown from a church festival once notable for a display of spring gowns and bonnets, into a great day of rejoicing, feasting and gift giving. While many of the once popular holidays have seemed lacking in importance during the past few seasons, Easter has gradually become one of the most popular days of the season.
From time to time the newspapers conduct a crusade against the useless various city noises which sooner or later have their baneful effects upon the nerves of the city dwellers. Powerful as is the influence of the press, something even stronger is needed to suppress the noise makers. The chief offender seems, when he is informed that in a certain house there is sickness, to only shout the louder. During the entire year, in winter as well as in summer, the voice of the huckster is heard from rosy morn until dewy eve. He sells vegetables, fruit, brooms and various other things too numerous to mention, but you would not know that by merely listening to him, as his cries are unintelligible and remarkable chiefly for their strength and penetrating qualities. Next in rank to the huckster is the Italian with an old style primeval hand-organ. A jocular New York alderman recently introduced a resolution to the effect that any man caught on the street with an ancient hand-organ should be treated precisely as though he were a public enemy This resolution, much to the regret of certain citizens of New York, was turned down. There are other various noise making nuisances which excite the wrath of people with nerves. The ''cash, old clothes" man, the man who sharpens knives, singers who howl coon songs and sentimental ballads from the sidewalks, are all very offensive, and although they are engaged in an honest effort to make a living, yet their voices ought to be kept within bounds.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
A terrible mistake or something else by the barest chance missed resulting in a fearful disaster on the Southern Central division of the Lehigh railroad on Thursday afternoon of last week. The facts reported are as follows: A fast special bearing Supt. Titus, the new chief engineer and a number of other high officials, came off the E. C. & N. at Freeville, N. Y., to make the run to Sayre, Pa. Everything on the line was sidetracked for them and the train flew south at a speed of 60 miles an hour.
The northbound milk train with Engineer Taylor and Conductor Johnson, the oldest engineer and conductor on the division, had orders to take a siding at Barton. However, the milk train did not take the siding or stop at Barton, but dashed past, and on a long curve just beyond, where the track could be seen for a long distance, the special was seen coming. Both engineers applied the air brakes and the trains were stopped within a short distance of each other. There is scarcely another spot in many miles where the track is visible for sufficient distance to in this way avert what must have been a fearful disaster. It is not on record as to what the officials said when they observed the situation. It is reported among trainmen that Johnson proved that he pulled the emergency cord to set the air brakes, but it failed to work, though it did attract the engineer's attention. What excuse the engineer has is not reported. The trial of the men has not yet been held.—Tioga County Herald.
David Hannum.
THE LATE DAVID HANNUM.
Unpublished Anecdotes of This Eccentric Character.
It was late one dreary afternoon in March when a simple passenger alighted from a Lackawanna train at Little York. He was a stranger, and after taking a hasty and anxious glance over the broad expanse of open fields he entered the station and inquired of agent Smith Mead the way to a hotel. The agent directed him about a half mile to the west. He then inquired concerning the geography, topography and general contour of the country. He mused. A parrot near the window swore, which called forth thanks from the stranger, who then gathered up his grip and started for the village.
The highway finally assumed the character of a street. The stranger approached a store—the only public building in sight. Having aroused an occupant he again asked for a hotel, and was directed to a spacious residence- like mansion at the farther side of a four acre lawn, which sloped towards the highway. The premises have little resemblance of a public house. Having summoned the host, the stranger inquired for Mr. X.
"Oh, yes, I know him well. He lives fully—miles from here; yes, fully—miles, and a hill road at that."
"Can I get there to-night?"
"It is nearly dark now."
"But I want to go.''
"The roads are bad, terribly bad."
"But I am anxious to get there tonight."
"It is fully—miles; at least—miles; it is late and the roads are awfully bad.''
"Can I get some one to drive me over?"
"You might try."
"Where?"
A half dozen or more names were suggested, and the stranger started out in search of a team, but later returned with no result.
"Well, now, I suppose I might drive with you over there myself," said the landlord.
"What will it cost?"
A liberal sum was named.
"We will go at once," said the stranger.
"I was in hopes you would think the price too high, and decline to go," said the landlord with evident sincerity, but he pulled on his boots, donned his buffalo overcoat, and ten minutes later the twain were on the way.
During the journey the stranger incidentally asked the driver if he ever knew David Hannum, and this aroused the landlord to a talkative mood.
"Yes, sir, I did. I knew him well. I was constable in the town of Homer for twenty-four years. Towards the last of my term I served a great many summonses on David Hannum. He always took it good naturedly." This little mare," resumed the ex-constable, "is seventeen years old. I have the mate to her in the barn, having bought the pair when they were four years old. Some one here in Little York wrote an article about the team for a Cortland newspaper, saying that I had bought a fine pair of ponies, and I wouldn't have to take any man's dust. A few days after the publication of the article I drove to Cortland, and on the return home, as I was driving along, David Hannum came up in my rear at a fast pace, and I let him go by. Hannum then slowed up. He had a good team, as was his custom, but I made up my mind to give him a tussle, so I spoke to my ponies, and before David Hannum knew what was up I had passed him. Then he made another attempt to go by, but I let my ponies out and he urged his horses for all they were worth. We went up through Homer village like the wind. He followed me a mile this side of Homer before he would give up the contest."
"One time I saw Dave Hannum make ten dollars easy. It was in the old Homer hotel. An agent who was present made the remark that his town had the homeliest man in the world. Dave offered to bet him ten dollars that Homer had a homelier man, and said he would leave it to the agent himself to decide. The bet was taken and the money put up. Dave sent out to the barn for the hostler, an old negro. Somebody put the darkey on to the bet, and when the old fellow came in he bent himself over to look as bad as he could. Dave recognized the unnatural position and said sharply: 'Stand up as God Almighty intended yon should. You look bad enough then.' The negro straightened up and the agent took a good look at him. 'Give Mr. Hannum the money,' said the agent. 'He has won the bet.'"
"One time David Hannum and Deacons Hobart and Hitchcock formed a stock company to build a cheese factory in Homer. After the factory was ready for business, Dave called a meeting of the stockholders to see if it should be run on Sundays. The discussion was lengthy, and finally they decided to take a vote. The two deacons voted yes and Dave voted no. After that, when the good people of Homer protested against making cheese on Sunday, Dave would tell them that he had called a meeting of the stockholders to consider that very question, and that he voted against it, but the two deacons were too much for him."
By this time the destination was reached, and the driver started homeward, little suspecting that his David Hannum stories would get him into print.
Ministerial Association.
The following clergymen were present at the regular monthly meeting of the Cortland Ministerial association, held in the Y. M. C. A. rooms Monday: Revs. H. L. Rixon, W. W. Way, G. H. Brigham, G. E. T. Stevenson, O. A. Houghton and Robert Clements of Cortland; W. P. Garrett, McGrawville; C. W. Negus. Homer; J. E. Fish, Marathon; F. W. Sessions and Edson Rogers, Cincinnatus; L. Heinmiller, Preble; E. E. Merring, Scott; A. H. Wells, Summerhill; H. R. Squires, Syracuse.
The morning sermon was preached by Rev W. P. Garrett of McGrawville, and was a very clear exposition of the text found in II Timothv 2:8, "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to the gospel."
At the afternoon session Rev. W. W. Way read a paper on the work of Martin Luther.
MARRIED AT TRUXTON, N. Y.
Contracting Parties Are Well Known in Cortland.
A wedding occurred in St. Patrick's church, Truxton, Wednesday morning which is of considerable interest to our Cortland and Truxton readers especially.
Mr. Lawrence Reagan of Cortland was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie O'Donnell of Truxton, who has been for some time past a clerk in M. A. Case's store, this city, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Thos. Conway.
The best man was jolly Thomas McAuliffe of Cortland, whose services on such occasions will doubtless be in great demand in the future, and the bridesmaid was Miss Belle Sheedy of Syracuse.
Mr. and Mrs. Reagan are moat estimable young people and their Cortland friends will be pleased to know that they will reside on Lincoln-ave., this city.
VIRGIL HOTEL SOLD.
Watts S. Freer Becomes Owner and Dana Metzgar the Landlord.
Watts S. Freer, who is favorably known as the Higginsville humanitarian, has recently bought the Virgil Hotel, located at Virgil Corners. Mr. Freer thoroughly understands the cuisine needed in a hotel, but he proposes to remain at Higginsville, where he can be reached more conveniently by his many Cortland friends. He has leased his new purchase to Dana Metzgar, who will conduct the hotel with the view of pleasing his patrons.
W. H. Hall, who has conducted the Virgil Hotel for several years, has bought a farm near that place and will move to the same this spring.
Wheelmen posing in front of Dexter House, Cortland, N. Y.
New Landlord.
The Dexter House is being repaired and improved for the new landlord who took possession April 1. Mr. Frank E. Mabie, lately of the hotel Almond in Syracuse, has leased the premises He is an old hotel man and quite well known in Cortland. Papering and painting are being done and some new floors laid and the entire building will be heated by steam.
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Warren, who have lately conducted the Dexter house, moved to their farm, so Cortland will not entirely lose them.
THE HOME TELEPHONE CO.
Two Additional Switchboards—About Five Hundred Phones Now in Use.
The directors of the Home Telephone company very naturally feel highly elated over the phenomenal success thus early achieved. Last fall when they predicted a service of four hundred phones within six months, it was generally supposed that, as a small boy would express it, they were "talking through their hats," but their prediction is more than fulfilled, as a supplementary list issued yesterday swells the total number of phones to about five hundred.
Two new switchboards arrived this week and they will soon be in operation.
The line to Syracuse will be completed in two weeks and conversation can then be carried on with that city and all villages between the two places. Of the service nothing but praise can be said, as it is as near perfect as possible.
HERE AND THERE.
Another bear must have seen his shadow about April 1.
Now that Lent is over, amusements are coming along thick and fast.
Those who attended the Universalist church Sunday morning last enjoyed a season of delightful Easter music.
Cortland city has thirty-one practicing attorneys. Of this number not more than three or four ride bicycles.
The Loyal Circle of Kings Daughters will meet with Mrs. E. R. Wright, 16 Groton-ave., this afternoon at 3 o'clock.
After April 20 the public dumping ground will be the gravel pit between Cortland and Homer, recently bought by B. F. Taylor.
Among the novelties in Cortland is a locomotive with a cowcatcher at each end. It is used as a switch engine at the Lackawanna depot.
A most beautiful sight was granted us yesterday, when the sun shone forth in all its glory, after ten days of hide and seek behind the clouds.
The sign "Republican League" still remains on the door at No. 15 Railroad-st. It is about time the sign came down, or the league reorganized.
The Easter cantata given by the Oratorio society at the First Baptist church Sunday evening was one of the finest productions of its nature ever given in Cortland.
Our thanks are due Hon. George E. Green, state senator from this district, for a copy of that valuable work, the Red Book, and for other public documents.
The switch engine at the Lackawanna yard in Cortland backed into the round-house with such force Wednesday that it went through the back end of the building.
The laborers in the employ of the superintendent of public works found a portion of the brick pavement at the west end of Railroad-st., Monday. It was an interesting find for the business men of that locality.
Mason Larrabee, an employee of the Cortland Wagon company, lost a portion of his right thumb last Saturday, by too close familiarity with a buzz saw. The wound was dressed by Dr. Paul T. Carpenter.
The Young Ladies' Sodality of St. Mary's church will give a supper in Empire Hall on Thursday evening of next week, April 18. This is an excellent chance to get a good 15-cent super. Literary and musical entertainment will also be given.
One of the most interesting features this issue of the Democrat will be found in the Cincinnatus department, in the form of a letter written over fifty years ago by [Hon. Thurlow Weed], who many years previous to the date of the letter resided in Cincinnatus, N.Y.
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