 |
| J. Hood Wright Memorial Hospital. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 12, 1901.
OUR NEW YORK NEWS.
AWFUL EFFECT OF THE HOT WAVE IN THE CITY.
500 Deaths Due to Heat—Hospital Overcrowded and Ambulances Unable to Care for Patients —A Plucky Young Woman Captures a Big Burglar— Moonshine Whiskey Made in the City.
New York, July 9.—The hot wave which hovered over this city for the past two weeks was the worst known in many years, and the loss of life directly due to the heat was appalling, at least five hundred deaths being credited to that cause.
Several of the hospitals were hardly able to attend to the calls sent in. Their service was crippled owing to the loss of horses. The work of answering about 700 calls had used up not only the horses, but doctors and nurses as well.
The J. Hood Wright hospital had to send a notice to police headquarters that it could not attend to any more cases owing to all their horses being used up and its failure to secure others. As a last resort automobiles had to be pressed into service.
Often an ambulance which had gone out for one patient returned with several which had been picked up on the way. Police patrol wagons were pressed into service, and when these could not be secured any vehicle found handy was taken, and in several instances an ambulance, a police patrol and an ordinary street wagon rolled up to the door of a hospital at the same time, each with its quota of heat victims.
Unclaimed dead packed the morgue in the early hours. At one hour 97 bodies were in the various compartments of the morgue, and 20 calls had been sent in from various parts of the city for the dead wagon.
◘ A young, pretty and plucky woman has suddenly become a heroine by capturing a big burglar last Friday with her own little hands and holding on to him at the risk of her life. The young lady had occasion to leave her rooms for a short time, and on her return saw a big ugly looking negro closing her parlor door. She asked his business. He said he was a poor man looking for work.
The girl threw open the door he had closed. A watch she had placed on the table was missing. She accused the man of taking it. He said it was on the table and, walking into the room, he dexterously replaced the watch in the place he had taken it from.
But Miss Lonsdale saw the movement and grabbed the thief by the arm. He tried to break away, but Miss Lonsdale held on and did not mind the choking she received while calling loudly for the janitor to help her.
The burglar found that he could not get rid of the plucky girl and pointed a revolver at her, saying that he would kill her if she did not let him go.
"I dare you to shoot me!" cried Miss Lonsdale The big burglar did not have the courage to accept this desperate challenge.
The struggle had exhausted Miss Lonsdale's strength, when Janitor John Perkin came to the rescue and together they held the thief until the arrival of a policeman.
◘ The startling discovery was made last Wednesday that moonshiners had been operating right in the heart of the city. On the afternoon of that day the fire department was summoned to put out a fire. For a few minutes nothing out of the ordinary was noticed, until one of the firemen mounted to the second story of the house where he discovered a complete plant for the illicit distillation of spirits. Notice of the find was telephoned to the internal revenue office and officers were sent to make an investigation and arrest the operators if possible.
It developed, however, that as soon as the fire broke out, caused by the heat of one of the stills, that the tenants locked the front door of the house and were seen by two men, who ran to the rescue, making their escape through the rear door. The revenue officers found on the premises two new copper stills with capacities of from forty to fifty gallons: thirty barrels of mash ready for use, ten gallons of spirits, and a cistern in the rear of the house, cleverly covered with a grassed flooring in which the refuse had been buried. These goods were seized and carried to the revenue office.
THE PAN-AMERICAN.
THE DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE VIEWS THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
The Miniature Railway a Novel Exhibit—Magnificent View From the Electric Tower—The Art Ceramic Has a Large Representation at the Exposition—A Building Especially for Grangers.
For fifteen cents visitors to the Exposition can take an elevator in the electric tower and go up to what is termed the "'loggia," 270 feet from the ground, where a grand view of the buildings and surrounding country is obtained. Cities and villages, Lake Erie and the Niagara Falls are spread before one's gaze as on a map. Niagara Falls seems but a few hundred feet away. Fortunate are those who can view this scene on a bright, clear day.
The miniature railroad is a feature of the Exposition that attracts much attention from visitors, as it is a novelty seen nowhere else. On a track not more than eighteen inches in width is a locomotive made after the pattern of the huge New York Central engines, not more than two feet high, finished in handsome style, and attached to it are three or four cars carrying four passengers each. The engineer sits astride the tender with his feet drawn up to keep them from the ground. Having secured a load the train starts and away it goes around curves, through the woods, the whistle sounding its "'toot! toot!" after the fashion of its prototype, the Empire State express. This is really one of the curiosities of the grounds.
I referred briefly last week to the electric display, of which much has been said and written, but I fear that this beautiful feature of the Exposition was not given the prominence that it deserves. The public is scarcely aware of the magnificence of the scene which is created by the use of incandescent lights in such generous profusion about the main court of the Exposition and the buildings immediately surrounding it. The number of these lights when I was there was 235,000, but this number is to be increased to 300,000. Nor does this include all the lights that are used in the general illumination of the grounds, for on the Midway several concessions are using as many as 2,000 lights each. In the buildings and about the border of the grounds are arc lights, while incandescent lamps are used by many individual exhibitors. The entire illumination is not only astonishing and novel, but truly artistic.
The electric fountain is another display that should not be passed by. At the western end of the lake, near the Elmwood-ave. entrance and just in the rear of the New York building, is an artificial island, from which several large streams of water are forced into the air to a great height, reminding one of the celebrated geysers in Yellowstone park, as they are pictured in illustrations, and at the base of these fountains are many colored lights, making a beautiful evening scene.
The art building is the only spot where I suffered from the heat, nearly every building except that having a current of air passing through it. But the art structure has no windows on the sides, the nature of the exhibits requiring light from the roof. But if one can stand the heat, the many ancient paintings are well worth viewing.
The 10th of October next has been set apart as National grange day on the Exposition grounds, and it is probable that thousands of grangers will be present on that day, in fact arrangements are being perfected to bring together at this time the greatest number of grangers that have ever assembled before at any one time and in any one place. A grange building has been erected in the midst of the agricultural and live stock exhibits, just east of the dairy building, and here every granger will be shown every courtesy and given all information possible.
Lovers of the art Ceramic will find much to admire in the way of porcelain and pottery.
One of the interesting sights of the Exposition is the Alaska building which, I was told, is an exact reproduction of the famous mission building at Juneau, which was the first structure erected in Alaska by the invaders. Previous to that there had been nothing but ice huts and the mission was built by priests who found their way down the frozen Yukon and then south to Juneau. The building at the Pan-American is filled with curios from the frozen North, and it contains a complete but miniature mining plant, demonstrating the manner in which the gold is taken from the mines. An exhibit of wheat shows that this grain can be raised there equal in quality to that of any climate in the world.
Before closing the sketch of what I saw at the Pan-American, I will briefly allude to two or three outside matters relating to the trip.
Many visitors to the Exposition will doubtless wish to see Niagara Falls. Trolley cars run from Buffalo to the Falls every half hour and the fare round trip is 50 cents. Om can stay as long as he pleases, the tickets being good for return at any time. Upon reaching the Falls a round trip covering Lewiston, and the gorge route can be taken for one dollar, and this is one of the grandest rides in my entire journey.
Another delightful trip was a twenty-five cent steamboat ride from Buffalo to Crystal Beach.
I wish to further add that in Buffalo one can ride on the trolley lines, by means of direct fare and transfers, twelve miles or more for the insignificant sum of five cents.
NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
News Gathered and Condensed from our Wide Awake Exchanges.
The Ithaca Gun company is turning out 900 guns per month.
Genesee county farmers have turned cattle into their ruined wheat fields.
Ithaca hopes for a pure water supply to be taken from a newly drilled well.
Firebugs are operating in Hornellsville. Several places have been burned.
Hornellsville has decided to buy its water works plant at a consideration of $300,000.
Batavia's W, C. T. U. is to erect a $600 drinking fountain and keep it supplied with iced water.
About 300,000 pounds of wool has been bought in Batavia this season—the price averaging about sixteen cents per pound.
A glass bedstead made at one of the Corning glass factories is on exhibition at the Pan-American Exposition. It is said to be valued at $3,000.
A Watertown firm has just sent a large shipment of cheese to Alaska. This is the first shipment of cheese from northern New York to the Yukon country.
The large apple and pear orchards on Hon. I. H. Babcock's farm near Lockport are being cut down, owing to the San Jose scale having attacked them. The state expert made the discovery and ordered the trees destroyed.
The new tannery to be built at Endicott, near Binghamton, is to be the greatest fine leather tannery in the world, will cost about $200,000, and employ 500 hands. The main building will be 900 feet long by 60 wide.
W. S. Havens of North Lansing had missed a number of chickens. One day last week he killed a black snake four feet long in his dooryard. It had a chicken in its mouth. Next day another snake appeared on a similar errand, which he killed.
The Jamestown Journal reports a volunteer soldier just returned from 18 months in the Philippines as saying that during this entire service in the army he was not as much affected by the heat as during the present torrid term here. Monday and Tuesday he was nearly prostrated by the heat, while not once in the Philippines was he seriously inconvenienced by the sun's rays.
EARLY MORNING FIRE.
L. R. Lewis and Others in Railroad-st. Damaged by Water.
Just how it occurred is not known for a certainty, but it is supposed that a fire-cracker or some other of the many Fourth of July explosives caused a fire to break out in the second story of the Wickwire building in Railroad-st. on the morning of the Fourth.
Young America was making a howling success of the usual demonstration preceding Independence Day, burning boxes and any old thing found in alleys and by-ways, firing crackers and blowing tin horns, and at about 8 o'clock in the morning a street cleaner, who proposed to get in his work before Old Sol could retaliate, saw a fire in the room over L. R. Lewis's store. An alarm was at once sent in and Water Witch Hose company soon extinguished the blaze, but not without thoroughly drenching a stock of tin and galvanized iron belonging to Mr. Lewis, and slightly damaging goods and material in Bliven's bicycle store, the Post-Standard office and S. J. Parmiter's.
And the Cortland Standard adds important information that a calf bellowed.
 |
| Cortland Park. |
THE CORRESPONDENTS' PICNIC.
To Be Held at Cortland Park on Friday, July 26.
Every authorized correspondent of the Democrat from the various villages and hamlets is requested to so arrange his or her work as to be able to attend a basket picnic, to be held at Cortland park on Friday, July 26. We hope there will not be an absentee from the entire list, as we are sure the occasion will be one of pleasure and profit to all present. Further particulars will be announced next week.
On to Cincinnatus, N. Y.
To be in the "social swim" one should take a ride to Cincinnatus on the observation train. On those improvised cars so ingeniously arranged under the supervision of Manager L. N. Fredericks, one can meet with sociability on every side, and can hobnob with his neighbors, with his neighbors' wives and with his neighbors' daughters without fear of breaking over the conventional line which should never be, but which is too frequently drawn between rich and poor.
The train run from Cortland to the metropolis of the Otselic valley last Saturday evening was crowded to the extent that scores of people were obliged to stand, a hardship which was not a serious hardship, for the reason that the range of vision was more easily brought to bear upon the rich scenery along the route and upon the cows grazing along the track. But the engineer was a careful fellow, and when a bovine seemed to have the right of way, the speed of the train was reduced to the safety point.
When the train left Cortland perspiration was the rule; before Cincinnatus was reached coats and wraps were comfortable; and on the return trip to Cortland light overcoats would have been very acceptable.
We have wandered up and down Broadway in New York at all times of the day and evening, and that greatest promenade in this country was tame compared with the crowded streets of Cincinnatus. It seemed as if every person within a radius of forty miles had taken that occasion to visit the village. It was as impossible to walk along the sidewalk as it would have been to force one's way through a ten-foot stone wall without a battering-ram. The most popular way was for a group of five or six to arrange themselves in single file, clasp hands and make a bold push; the clasping of hands was delightful, whether any headway was made or not.
A fine display of fireworks was given by the E. & C. N. Y. railroad company, and an immense amount of ice cream was punished by the visitors, all of which was doubtless pleasing to the Cincinnatians.
We have one suggestion to make to the people of Cincinnatus, and that is, that more light be given in the covered bridge. It was terribly trying to the Democrat representative's nerves to enter that chasm of darkness with the sum of fifty cents in his possession.
Laurel Cafe Sold.
John McDermott, who is known far and wide as a musician of prominence, has bought of Mrs. Jameson the Laurel cafe in the Democrat building and will take possession Sunday morning. Mr. McDermott proposes to make this one of the most popular restaurants and dining-rooms in the city. Mr. McDermott will pay special attention to catering for parties and other gatherings.
Two of Harford's Busy Men.
There are two men in Harford, at least, who in spite of the warm weather find time to answer the wants of their many friends.
Mr. E. D. Huson is a general blacksmith and a good one at that. Furthermore he is one of the best all around bicycle repair men that can be found in the whole Owego Valley, as our bicyclist will do well to remember. In addition to this he has a lucrative trade, aside from his blacksmithing, in repairing furniture of all kinds. He is not a member of the trust, therefore he is all right.
The other gentleman is Ogden Allen, also a general blacksmith and carriage repairer. He makes a specialty of horse shoeing and has, it is said, not an equal in the Owego valley. His work and the patronage he receives, speaks for itself, and the Democrat cheerfully recommends his work as of the higher order and prices reasonable.
Both gentlemen are pleasant men to meet, very sociable and entertaining. Our readers will do well to give them a call when in Harford.
PAGE FOUR—BRIEF EDITORIALS.
The census returns show that almost one-half of the county's population is now in the cities. The movement during each recent decade is from the country to the towns and cities.
McLaurin's talk about "commercial supremacy" might not be conclusive evidence that he has turned Republican but his reference to "God's purpose in expansion" settles it. No man can be a modern Republican long without trying to establish a joint partnership with the Deity.
We suggest to the Standard that it would be a gracious act if that paper would recognize the "city" of Cortland. Although Cortland became a city about sixteen months ago, the Standard still insists that it is the "official paper of the village and county." How long does it take our contemporary to learn such important news as that Cortland has outgrown village clothes?
Remarkable Catch.
Here is a story that might be termed "fishy," but it is true, nevertheless. A. D. Holmes, recently of East Homer, is now working for Peck Bros., and he with Miles J. Peck went to Erieville reservoir, near DeRuyter last week, on a fishing trip. Upon returning to shore from a cruise, Mr. Holmes exhibited as his catch one fish and one good fat woodchuck, the latter having been captured a mile from shore. Although the result in avoirdupois was satisfactory, the quality of the catch was not such as desired.
HERE AND THERE.
If you think the weather of the past week or two is too hot, just pause to consider the hereafter and mend your ways.
The Cortland Wagon Company's large buildings near the Lackawanna tracks are looking very pretty with their new coat of red and white trimmings.
Adieu, base ball.
Let every correspondent remember July 26.
Huckleberries and black caps are in the market.
Another excursion this evening to Cincinnatus.
The ''tower'' on top of the Burgess block has been taken down.
The Cobb block in Railroad-st. is receiving its first coat of paint.
A new night clerk at the Messenger House in the person of George Mead.
The Dr. Frederick Hyde house in Tompkins-st., has been sold to I. Dan Lester for $150. It will be moved to a vacant lot on the same street.
Alderman E. M. Yager is about to build a new livery barn, 60 by 60 feet square, on the premises recently bought by him on Maple-ave.
The disgusting spectacle of a drunken woman trying to navigate a bicycle in Main-st. was an unpleasant scene Monday evening.
The state law strictly prohibits Sunday fishing. Cortland people are law-abiding and have no use for such a law.
No comments:
Post a Comment