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| William McKinley. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1901.
PRESIDENT'S LIFE IS TO BE SPARED.
Every Indication Now That He Will Fully Recover.
GAINS STRENGTH HOURLY.
Feeling of Joyful Confidence Pervades Everyone About Him.
Each of Attending Physicians, While Not Admitting Danger As Entirely Passed, Anticipates Nothing But Full Recovery at Present Rate of Improvement—Members of McKinley Family and Cabinet Members Leave the City, So Confident Are They of President's Recovery—Need Not Worry About Bullet, Says Dr. Rixey. President Cheerful and Talkative—Will Probably Not Be Able to Be Removed For Three Weeks.
BUFFALO, Sept. 10.—"God's contribution to the American people will be the sparing of the president's life." As the evening shadows were falling last night John G. Milburn, president of the Pan-American exposition, reverently uttered these words as he stood before the house in which the nation's patient was fighting so bravely with death. And all who have been at the Milburn residence reflect the view that the battle will be won and the prayers of the world will be answered.
Since Sunday night not an unfavorable symptom has appeared. Every hour has been a victory. Faith in the outcome grows stronger and stronger, and hope mounts higher and higher until in the minds of some the danger of all future complications is brushed aside and hope has become conviction. Indeed, many of the president's friends seem possessed with a sort of superstitious confidence in the president's recovery which nothing but an absolute change for the worse can shake. And the basis for the confidence that is expressed is solid.
There has been nothing but improvement, gradual and slow, but steady improvement. Every bulletin, every private and public word of the physicians in attendance breathes encouragement. The reports the physicians have given out are facts as they exist, the scientific standpoint unmixed with sentiment. Still, that the president is by no means out of danger is the verdict of each of them. Not one of them will risk his professional reputation with a statement that the president will live. All they will say is that with every hour the danger of complications from peritonitis or blood poisoning decreases.
Dr. McBurney, the most eminent of the physicians in attendance, expresses the opinion that if the improvement continues it will be a week yet before the president can be pronounced out of danger and convalescent. And some of his colleagues, like Dr. Mann, place the limit of danger still further away. The fear of peritonitis, it can be said positively, has well-nigh completely disappeared. With the expiration of the 72 hour period at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon danger from that source was almost gone.
Dr. McBurney's Statement.
Dr. McBurney, the famous New York surgeon, said to a reporter after the issue of the 3 o'clock bulletin that all the indications continued favorable.
"No bad symptoms have appeared," said he. "No one can say now that the president is out of danger and for a week still the possibility of complications may exist. At the end of that time if all goes well we may be able to say that he is convalescent.
"But I have known cases" put in Dr. Mann, who was with the noted surgeon, "to go well for ten days and then change for the worse."
"That is true, perhaps" said Dr. McBurney, somewhat deprecatingly, "but it is entirely unusual. If the president continues to improve for a week," he continued, "we may safely say that he is convalescent. It will probably be three weeks before it will be safe to move him. We must wait until the outer wound is healed and strong. The inner wounds through the stomach proper will be strong before the exterior wound is. How long it will be before he will be able to sit up will depend upon the rapidity of his improvement and I may say to you further that his improvement, if it continues, promises to be rapid."
Dr. McBurney was asked to compare the Garfield case and its treatment with that of President McKinley. He smiled as he replied that to do so would be to give the whole history of the progress of surgery during the last twenty years. "Besides" said he, "the cases are utterly different. Garfield's wound was an extremely unfortunate one in every way. It was difficult to handle. It was impossible to get at the bullet, while the wound of President McKinley is in many respects a lucky one. No comparison is possible."
Turning to the correspondent Dr. McBurney said; "You can assure your clientele that all goes well. The president's condition could hardly be more satisfactory. Furthermore, you can impress and emphasize the fact that the bulletins issued state the truth."
Dr. Mann said the president was not out of danger. He said that some nourishment had been administered yesterday through the rectum and he had taken water in the stomach. It was found that cold water did not agree with him and instead water as hot as the president can bear it is now being administered. The president's bowels moved freely yesterday and this is considered an excellent symptom.
Need Not Worry About Bullet.
Dr. P. M. Rixey, one of the president's attendant physicians and also the private physician of the president and Mrs. McKinley, said last night regarding the distinguished patient:
"I am not a specialist in abdominal surgery, but from a general knowledge of gunshot wounds I can say that the only possibility of complication is by blood poisoning or peritonitis, and that I consider both now a very remote probability. Peritonitis might set in as a result of two apertures in the stomach but up to this time—a time beyond the usual standard record—not the slightest symptom is manifest. There is not the slightest evidence of blood poisoning
"As to the bullet not yet extracted I do not believe we need worry about that. The presumption is that it is lodged somewhere in the muscles of the back. Pursuing natural courses it would now be encrusted and cut off from possible harm.
There will be no attempt to extract the bullet at present. I see no reason why the president will not recover rapidly."
Physicians Anticipate Recovery.
Dr. Herman Mynter, one of the consulting physicians of President McKinley, said last night: "I have always made it a point not to prognosticate in serious cases, for you know man proposes and God disposes. I consider the president's case a serious one, and so I do not predict, but I may say that at this stage of the occurrence the condition of the patient is, quite remarkably favorable and personally I can not anticipate anything but recovery."
Dr. Eugene Wasdin who was with Dr. Mynter said: "I, too, am averse to making predictions but I agree that the president's condition is one that strongly favors complete and rapid recovery."
Dr. D. Maun, who has Dr. McBurney as a guest, was seen after the last consultation last night. He said: "I am gratified at the excellent showing made by the president and the remarkable manner in which the case is progressing. I feel that although the danger point is by no means passed yet every day that goes by without any unfavorable signs is a distinct and decided gain toward recovery. I prefer to wait a time before making any positive declaration on the subject although I expect the president to get well unless unfavorable symptoms develop."
President Is Cheerful.
The president himself has been cheerful all day and has expressed confidence in his recovery. Yesterday he asked for a morning paper but this, of course, had to be denied him. It is with some difficulty that he can be restrained from talking. Colonel Myron T. Herrick of Cleveland is quoted as authority for the statement that he has spoken at intervals of several things he proposes to do in the future.
Yesterday morning he asked to be allowed to move his position and when permission was given, before he attendants could move him, he changed to the position he desired to assume without difficulty or pain. This speaks much for his general strength and spirits.
Mrs. McKinley saw him again yesterday for a brief visit and Secretary Cortelyou was admitted for the first time. No one else was allowed to see him, though he inquired several times who were below stairs. He was given nourishment yesterday in the form of eggs beaten in milk, administered through the rectum. The water which has been given heretofore cold did not appear to agree with him, and very hot water has been taken into the stomach through the mouth with splendid results.
If he continues to improve it will be gradually. If he should grow worse the change in that direction will also probably be slow. This is the opinion of Dr. Mann. There will be no crisis. If he arrives at convalescence, Dr. Park expresses the opinion that it will be three weeks before it will be safe to move him. It is expected that the interior wounds will heal first. The sutures of the lacerated tissue were made so soon after the bullet passed that they are probably healing rapidly. With the exterior wound it is a slower process.
The extreme optimism of the vice president and the members of the cabinet would be difficult to overstate.
"I am absolutely confident everything will turn out all right," declared the vice president, and he said he based his confidence on information behind the public expressions of the physicians. So relieved are Secretary Gage and Attorney General Knox at the steady improvement that they returned to Washington last night feeling strongly that their chief would recover but with the assurance of the physicians that if a change for the worse should come it would be gradual, and that they would have ample time to return. In the case of Secretary Gage there was also a public reason why he should be at his post.
New York financiers have appealed to him to relieve the situation in the money market by increasing deposits in national banks and he feels that he can hardly act at this distance from the scene if he finds that action desirable.
Hanna Will Remain to the End.
Senator Hanna will remain until the physicians give absolute assurance that Mr. McKinley will live. Comptroller Dawes and some of the other prominent men connected with the administration expect to depart today or Wednesday if the improvement continues.
Vice President Roosevelt has occupied a peculiarly delicate and trying position since the event which threatened the president's life but he has borne himself throughout this ordeal in such a manner as to win the admiration and respect of all. Not for a moment has he permitted the idea to be entertained that there was need for considering the constitutional disability of the president and the exercise of executive functions which this would impose on him. On the contrary Mr. Roosevelt has been one of the most positive in the conviction that the president would recover.
Twice during the day and again last evening the vice president called at the Milburn residence to inquire as to the president's condition. During the afternoon call he met several cabinet officers and Senator Hanna and spent a short time with him in informal discussion. On the streets Mr. Roosevelt has been a center of respectful attention, but he has met this with dignity and composure.
Emperor Nicholas gave happy expression to the worldwide solicitude over the president in a message which was given out during the day. It is addressed to the president and after expressing his happiness at the president's improvement and that he joins with the universal world in wishing a speedy recovery.
Joyful Confidence Is Everywhere.
After the 9:30 p. m. bulletin had been issued from the Milburn residence last night announcing a continuance of the favorable conditions of the president there were many indications that the bulletins were but meagre indications of real improvement of the distinguished patient. At 9:45 o'clock Miss McKinley, a sister of the president, Dr. and Mrs. Herman Baer, the latter a niece of the president, and Misses Barber, nieces of the president, left the house and taking carriages announced their intention of returning to their homes. Abner McKinley accompanied them to the station and to the press said: "The nearest relatives of the president are so confident of his recovery that they have no hesitation in leaving."
In fact the entire temper of everybody about the Milburn residence seems to have undergone a radical change. The police last night did not even stop wagons from going by the nearest corner at high speed. The regular army guard was not so particular about those who passed up the guarded street. The newspaper men, scores of them, did not maintain the quiet that has prevailed for the past three days. Even those who came from the Milburn mansion stopped on the corner to laugh and chat. From sombre foreboding, the feeling has suddenly turned to joyful confidence.
At 10:50 the lights in the mansion, except those dimly shining in the sick room, were extinguished and by 11 o'clock quiet reigned.
WILL ABUSE HIS ATTENDANTS
Because They Won't Let Him Get Up, Says Dr. McBurney.
BUFFALO, Sept. 10.—Just before noon Dr. McBurney came out of the Milburn residence. He said: "There is a very remote possibility of peritonitis. He should be in very good shape in from two to three weeks. We generally allow three weeks in such a case as this. The president will be abusing his attendants in a few days for not allowing him to get up.
"He is in great shape. I don't think anything of it," he said, when asked "Do you consider the condition of the President serious?"
"I am going to the Falls now."
Dr. McBurney leaves for the east tonight, providing there are no further unfavorable developments in the President's case.
Got Off Too Easy.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.—Second Assistant Postmaster General Shallenberger yesterday summarily cancelled the contract of a mail carrier for expressing satisfaction over the shooting of President McKinley. The name of the person who was thus dealt with is Charles F. Cortright and he had a contract for carrying the mail between Homer, Cortland county, N. Y., and Spafford, in Onondaga county.
MAIL CARRIER REMOVED.
FOR EXPRESSING SATISFACTION AT SHOOTING OF MCKINLEY.
Charles F. Cortwright, a Resident of Homer, N. Y., Will No Longer Carry the Mail from Homer to Spafford—Publicly Said McKinley Should Have Been Shot Long Ago—Interviewed by Committee—Affidavits Forwarded to Washington—His Sureties Put in Charge of Route Till Other Arrangements Can be Made.
Charles F. Cortright, a liveryman of Homer, who had been appointed mail carrier on the rural free delivery route from Homer to Spafford, was yesterday dismissed from the service by Second Assistant Postmaster General Shallenberger for expressing satisfaction over the shooting of President McKinley. His mail route has been turned over to his sureties till other arrangements can be made, and they are expressly charged not to permit Cortright to have anything further to do with the service upon this route.
It appears that last Friday evening Cortright went into Bennett & Starr's shoe store and was solicited by a newsboy to buy a paper containing an account of the attempted assassination of the president, Cortright replied with an oath:
"What do I want of a paper? It's a good thing, I'm glad of it, he ought to have been shot long ago."
Mr. Bennett remonstrated with him and told him he ought to be ashamed of such language. Cortright answered that he "didn't know why he ought to be ashamed, for McKinley had been the cause of a good many being shot, and if it hadn't been for him there wouldn't have been any Spanish-American war."
As soon as this story spread there was great indignation felt on all sides over it and ten or a dozen men headed by County Treasurer Wm. H. Foster called on Cortright at his boarding place. Mr. Foster, as spokesman, recited to him the alleged occurrence and asked him if it was true. Cortright replied that the substance of it was.
Then he was asked if he said it thoughtlessly or jokingly or if he really meant it. Cortright disavowed one of the epithets he had applied to the president, but said he meant all the rest of it.
The committee then withdrew and called on Postmaster Collins, requesting him not to deliver the mail to Cortright the next morning. The postmaster asked Inspector Kyle of Syracuse for instructions and was advised to deliver the mail but to prepare affidavits and report to Washington.
The affidavits of four prominent citizens were accordingly prepared and forwarded to the postoffice department Saturday night.
Upon receiving this information, duly supported by the oaths of the persons who had heard this statement made, General Shallenberger, according to a Washington dispatch received tonight, took prompt steps to cancel Cortright's contract upon the ground that a person capable of such sentiments is not a fit custodian of the mails of the government.
Following is the full text of a letter General Shallenberger wrote to Cortright's sureties:
Mr. Michael Murphy and Mr. F. M. Briggs, Homer, N. Y.:
GENTLEMEN—It has been shown to this office by the affidavits of four creditable citizens that on the evening of the 6th inst. Charles F. Cortright, contractor with the government for carrying the mail on route 7890 from Spafford to Homer, N. Y., expressed his appreciation of and satisfaction over the shooting of President McKinley.
This department believes that the transportation of the mails is unsafe in the hands of a person who would deliberately gloat over the attempt of an assassin to take the life of the chief executive of this country and is not willing to longer entrust the mails to the said Charles F. Cortright.
You, as his sureties on his contracture therefore hereby called upon to immediately assume the carrying of the mails on route 7890, in accordance with the terms of the contract and to notify this office of the date on which you begin service. You are directed not to permit said Cortright to have anything further to do in this connection with the performance of the service on said route.
(Signed) W. S. SHALLENBERGER,
Second Assistant Postmaster General.
The Syracuse Post-Standard of this morning, commenting upon the occurrence, says:
That there should be one citizen in Central New York who could find it in his heart to rejoice at the cruel tragedy of Friday night is a matter for grief and disgust on the part of all the people of this loyal and patriotic section of the country.
Just what ails Mr. Cortright, who was up to Monday the mail carrier between Homer and Spafford, we may leave his friends and his family physician to decide, but the sanity and patriotism of his fellow citizens are sufficiently demonstrated by the promptness with which they have caused his sudden removal from the office which he dishonored.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Settled by Being Left Unsettled.
The net result of the campaign of the western powers in China can hardly be regarded as a consummately great accomplishment. The British consul general at Shanghai on his return to England gives this view of the situation:
From the standpoint of foreign interests the position of China is far worse today than before the international occupation of Peking. Formerly the Chinese believed foreign interests were, at any rate to a certain extent, identical. Thanks to recent events, they are better able than ever to play off one power against another, so patiently have the latter's interests been shown to diverge. A feeling hostile to foreigners exists in many parts of northern China, and local disturbances may be expected.
In much the same spirit The Saturday Review of London remarks that "the Chinese question has been settled by leaving everything of real importance unsettled," and The Spectator says, "When the next catastrophe occurs, which should be in about three years—that is, in 1904, when the first installment of the Indemnity falls due—it will probably be found that the legations are in as deep a fog as they were when Bishop Favier for the first time shook their previously immovable optimism."
Meanwhile Count von Waldersee is being lauded and decorated by the emperor of Germany for his "feat" in China, and the Russian government has conferred upon him highest honors. The whole spectacle at this distance would have the appearance of comic opera were it not for the tragic elements in the situation.
THE FIRST LOT SOLD.
Miss A. M. Eadie to Build on the Randall Tract.
The first lot on the Randall tract which has recently been surveyed and plotted has been sold to Miss Angle M. Eadie of Cortland and her brother who now lives in the West. This is the lot on Port Watson-st. next east of the house of Wm. R. Hill. It has a frontage on the street of 57 feet and is 200 feet deep. The purchasers are considering the idea of securing 10 feet additional off the next lot to the east to widen their lot and they have the option of doing so, if they wish. It is their intention to build there very soon.
For years this great tract of splendid land, comprising upwards of a hundred acres, has remained unoccupied in the heart of this thriving community. The streets upon three sides of it are thickly built up, and each house has had before its front door an open, unobstructed view across the fertile fields.
With the death of Mr. W. R. Randall preparations were made to cut it up into building lots, and to offer it for sale. Mr. W. R. Huntington, the executor of the estate, has had it surveyed and plotted. There are twelve blocks of lots lying between Main and Pendleton-sts., with Church and Greenbush-sts. projected south through the tract to the Lehigh Valley railroad which forms the southern boundary of the tract. Intersecting these streets at equal intervals are William, Randall and Huntington-sts., the first mentioned being the northern most and nearest to Port Watson-st. Union-st. is continued east of Main-st. into the tract and intersects with Church-st. and there comes in contact with the Lehigh Valley property which crosses the Randall estate at a slight angle bearing to the north as it goes eastward. While the lots differ a little in size they are all in the neighborhood of 60 feet wide by 200 feet deep. Mr. Huntington was asked what he held the lots at and replied that while there might be a little difference in the price according to location he expected to average about $30 a front foot for them.
It is likely that when once the sale of them is fairly started a considerable number will be taken.
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| S. S. Knox. |
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Waterways, Curbing, Sidewalks—Moving of Buildings All Considered.
All the members of the board of public works were present at the adjourned meeting of that board last evening, which was held for the purpose of considering the matter of building covered sluicewavs to carry the water on Railroad-st. under the D., L. & W. tracks. Commissioner Becker, however, stated that he had not been able to see Superintendent Schwarz of the railroad company in reference to the sluiceways, and so the matter had to go over the meeting. The board seems to be unanimous in their opinion that the D., L. & W. Railroad Co. will have to help in building the waterway at the Railroad-st. crossing as the benefits are mostly in the company's favor.
Superintendent Becker reported that he thought it best to take out some of the accumulated matter from the beds of Otter creek and Dry creek and to fix up the banks of these creeks a little in order that they may be kept from overflowing and thus doing damage in the western section of the city. The question, however, of taking control of private property was brought up, and it was learned that the property holders in the vicinity of these creeks owned the ground where the beds are located; that they have interfered with the course of the streams and that the flow of them has been hindered by throwing in the creeks old cans and other refuse matter. The board seemed to think that the work of cleaning the creeks belonged to those who have retarded its flow.
Chairman S. S. Knox reported that the Jamestown Construction company had not made any reply to the last offer of the board in the matter of a settlement of the Railroad-st. pavement.
Mr. S. L. Buck came before the meeting and asked for permission to move a small stable from Port Watson-st, to his premises at 39 Cleveland-st. The board granted the request, provided the usual bond of $10,000 be furnished.
Mr. B. A. Benedict came before the board and stated that he had just heard that the city was about to begin building a walk in front of his lot on Groton-ave. When he was before the board a few weeks ago he understood that the matter was to go over till another season, as there was some difficulty about the established distance of setting the walks from the curbing. He said he had not made the repairs to the walk in front of his lot on that street because he had sprained his ankle and was confined thereby to the house. In reference to the matter of someone getting hurt on the walk in front of the Benedict flats on Madison-st., he said that he had positive proof that the party was injured on Main-st., near the Madison-st. corner. The board decided to wait a week before deciding the distance from the curb at which the walks should be established, in order that the members might look over the street in the vicinity of Mr. Benedict's lot. Mr. Benedict favors placing the walk back three feet and states that he is ready to build when the distance is settled. The Madison-st. walks will be begun by him at once.
On motion, the meeting adjourned till next Monday night.
BREVITIES.
—The sixty-sixth term of the Normal school begins tomorrow morning at 8:45 o'clock.
—The Ladies' Literary club will hold its first meeting after the summer vacation at the home of Mrs. Apgar, 21 Tompkins-st., on Wednesday at 3:30 o'clock.
—Of twelve graduates of the Binghamton High school of last June five enter the Cortland Normal school, five the Oneonta Normal school and two the Oswego Normal school.
—Mr. A. P. Rowley of South Cortland has found in an open field on his farm free from sheds and other known influences a horse radish plant the leaves of which are all a creamy white.
—Mr. Ogilva Mather died very suddenly at the home of his daughter Mrs. Wavle, 8 Excelsior-st., at 1 o'clock this afternoon from shock. His age was 75 years. The funeral arrangements have not been made.
—All the Republican caucuses of Cortland county occur this afternoon or evening. All the caucuses of the city of Cortland are this evening from 7 to 9 o'clock. See the call at the head of the editorial page for places and hours.
—New display advertisements today are—W. W. Bennett, Sterling ranges, page 7; M. A. Case, Dry goods, page 6; E. M. Mansur, Groceries, page 7; F. E. Brogden, Dandruff cure, page 6; McKinney & Doubleday, Normal students, page 4.
—After today trains 290 and 291 running between Freeville and Auburn on the Lehigh Valley road will be discontinued. Those are the trains leaving Freeville at 6:30 A. M. and arriving at Auburn at 7:45 A. M., and returning leaving Auburn at 4:25 P. M. and reaching Freeville at 5:40 P. M.
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