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| David Fagan. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, Dec. 9, 1901.
AFFAIRS IN PHILIPPINES.
Negro Deserter Decapitated By Native Scouts.
HAD LED INSURGENTS TWO YEARS.
General Torres Gets Another Chance for Life—Patterson's Case Still Pending—Jose Rizal's Birthday Made a School Holiday—Merchants Refuse Mexican Silver.
MANILA, Dec. 9. — Native scouts from Bangabon in northern Luzon have killed the American negro, David Fagin, a deserter from the Twenty-fourth (colored) infantry, who for more than two years has been leading Filipinos against the American troops. The native scouts decapitated their prisoner. The man's head, however, was recognized as that of Fagin's. They also secured his commission in the insurgent army.
Fagin had on one of his fingers the class ring of Lieutenant M. Altstaetter of the engineers, who was captured by Filipinos, supposedly under the command of Fagin himself, Oct. 28, 1900.
Fagin has been reported killed upon several occasions. The authorities are satisfied that former statements of his death were erroneous and that he has now been killed.
A military commission sentenced the Filipino General Yidoro Torres to be hanged after finding him guilty of ordering the assassination of Corporal Fieldner of the Twelfth infantry at Malolos last October. The sentence of the commission was disapproved by General Chaffee who finds that the commission had reasonable grounds to doubt whether General Torres personally ordered the assassination of the American soldier.
The case of Patterson, the Englishman, private secretary to Sixto Lopez, whom efforts were made to deport from Manila after he had landed there without swearing allegiance to the United States, is still pending in the supreme court. Patterson's attorneys claim that their client, once having landed, is beyond the jurisdiction of the collector of customs for the Philippines, who has been trying to effect Patterson's expulsion.
Jose Rizal a Filipino Hero.
MANILA, Dec. 9.—Superintendent Atkinson of the public schools of the archipelago has written a letter to Pedro Paterno, the Filipino politician, saying instructions have been given to every school throughout the islands to celebrate annually the birthday of Jose Rizal, the Filipino patriot, who was executed by the Spaniards. The life and history of Rizal will be recited in the schools on this day. Paterno, in a manifesto, has asked for contributions from the scholars, their parents and their teachers to be devoted to constructing the proposed monument to Rizal's memory.
Merchants Refuse Mexican Silver.
MANILA, Dec. 9.—The United States Philippine Commission has passed an act authorizing the insular purchasing agent to draw money in gold for the payment of supplies purchased, as the merchants refuse to sell goods for Mexican silver.
A general feeling of uneasiness prevails among the business men of Manila from the unofficial announcement that beginning January 1 the United States Philippine commission intends to reduce, by the difference of the fall in the price of silver, the present ratio of two Mexican dollars for one gold dollar.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
The fact that most of the immigrants coming to this country last year settled in the populous states of the east instead of going to the newer sections of the west, which most need immigrants, is a feature of the immigration problem likely to receive attention. In this connection the commissioner of immigration suggests that congress make laws, "for the purpose of distributing the alien population with some reference to the Industrial law of supply and demand." It is difficult to see, however, how congress can prevent the newcomers from going wherever they choose after they have once been admitted.
The sultan of Turkey has forbidden the circulation of American comic papers among his people. Here is where he has a great advantage over us.
Aaron Sager.
MAJOR AARON SAGER
Prominently Identified with Cortland for More Than Forty Years.
Major Aaron Sager whose death occurred suddenly in his store Saturday afternoon just before The STANDARD went to press, had been closely identified with all the business interests of Cortland for more than forty years. He was a prominent figure in every public enterprise and was probably as well and as generally known throughout the city and county as any resident of the place.
He was of Dutch parentage and his ancestors came from Holland at an early date and were among the founders of the city of New York. He himself was born in Guilderland, Albany Co., N. Y., Nov. 25, 1833, and was one of eight children, only one of whom had died before him and that one in infancy. In 1836 with his parents he moved to Albany, and in 1847 came to Syracuse and was there educated in the public schools. Medicine was his chosen profession and in 1855 he began its study with Drs. Hoyt and Mercer, two of the most celebrated physicians of Central New York, who were then in partnership. But he never completed his medical course, for before receiving his diploma he was engaged by a drygoods firm of that city to come to Cortland and close out for them a store in this village which in the panic of '57 had gone into bankruptcy and of which they were the largest judgment creditor. Here he met Miss Nancy Fisk, who in 1858 became his wife, and largely because of that meeting he determined to go into business and make this place his home.
On Oct. 15, 1858, he opened the first drug store ever conducted in the place. It was located in a building on North Main-st., which is now a wing of the Churchill house and which stood upon the site of the present residence of Jas. M. Churchill at 15 North Main-st. Shortly after he moved to a small building on Court-st. owned by James A. Schermerhorn and which stood where the parlors of The National bank are now located.
When the [civil] war broke out Mr. Sager was one of the first to enlist. He had had some experience before in military life, having been a member of "The Grays," a celebrated militia company of Syracuse. This company supplied to the Union army during the civil war more than one hundred officers, which is a greater number than it ever had of men upon its roll at any one time of its existence. It was as a member of this company that he had paid his first visit to Cortland, prior to taking up business interests here, coming down with it for "general training" which that year was held on the Randall flats south of Port Watson-st., and there the company camped while in the place. Mr. Sager in the fall of 1861 sold his drug business to Dr. T. C. Pomery [sic] and entered heart and soul into the effort, to raise a regiment in this county. Seven of the ten companies which formed the Seventy-sixth regiment were recruited within the boundaries of Cortland county, and on Sept. 16, 1861, Mr. Sager was mustered in as first lieutenant of Company G. Upon the promotion of Captain Lansing in the spring of 1862 he became the captain of the company, which he continued to command while at Fredericksburg and on [Gen.] Pope's retreat, participating in the battles of Rappahannock Station, Warrenton, Sulpher Springs, Gainesville and the second battle of Bull Run. In this last battle while cheering forward his men against vastly superior numbers he fell wounded in two places. One ball entered near the ankle joint and the other passed entirely through the body in the region of the intestines. For months it was believed that he could not recover from the effects of the latter wound, but he did and in 1863 was honorably discharged from the service on a surgeon's certificate. He afterward received the brevet of major.
In 1863 Major Sager resumed the drug business in Cortland in the Barnard block at the corner of Main-st. and Clinton-ave., which has been the location of his store ever since. On Jan. 11, 1869, he took in as a partner Thomas W. Dalton, the style of the firm being A. Sager & Co. Mr. Dalton retired after a year and May 23, 1870, W. A. Pierce became his partner, but this firm was continued for less than two years. Upon April 1, 1876, the firm of Sager & Jennings was formed which has continued unchanged up to the present time. In 1872 Major Sager rebuilt the block where his store was located, having purchased the building in 1866.
Major Sager was a prominent member of the New York Pharmaceutical association, having been elected third and first vice-presidents and in 1888 being chosen as its president.
As a soldier Major Sager has been identified with Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., from its formation and has held nearly all its offices. He was an active fireman in his younger days and was one of the organizers of Excelsior Hook and Ladder Co. Afterward he was a member and officer of the Protective Police. He was at one time chief of the fire department and was for six years its treasurer.
He was an enthusiastic member of Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M. He was also a member of the chapter and commandry [sic] and was a thirty-second degree Mason.
Major Sager has always been interested in the sciences, but especially during the last ten years has he devoted all his spare time to their study. His specialty has been conchology, and the study and collection of shells has been his pastime and recreation. He had one of the finest private collections of shells in the country and only a few weeks ago made arrangements with Chancellor Day of Syracuse university to have the entire collection presented at his death to the university where it will be classified separately as the Sager collection of shells. As a collection it is far superior to anything which the university now has and it will be a valuable acquisition to the science department of that institution.
Major Sager was one of the original members of the Cortland Science club. He was one of the most regular of the members in his attendance and his talks, which were usually upon his favorite subject, shells, were always interesting, instructive and profitable. His presence at the bi-weekly meetings of this club will be greatly missed.
In boyhood Major Sager united with the First M. E. church of Syracuse and when he came to Cortland transferred his membership to the First M. E. church here. On Jan. 28, 1889, he was one of the committee appointed by the official board of that church to secure a site for a mission chapel. The outgrowth of this chapel is the Homer-ave. M. E. church and Major Sager has been a member and a trustee of it from the very outset. He has been an active and earnest worker in his church and has always been a true and consistent Christian.
His first wife died Aug. 28, 1870, and on May 1, 1871, he was married to Mary F. Shaw, who died Dec. 21, 1882. On Jan. 16, 1884, he was married to Mrs. Julia Bridgford who survives him. Mrs. Bridgford was a daughter of Major Andrew J. Grover who went out from Cortland as captain of Co. A, of the Seventy-sixth regiment and was killed at Gettysburg on the first day of the battle. Six children have been born to him, and all are living: Miss Cora A. Sager of New York, Albert F. Sager of Cortland, Mrs. D. J. Chadwick of Syracuse, Mrs. Augustus S. Perry, Aaron Sager, Jr., and Robert T. Sager, all of Cortland. It will always be a great source of satisfaction to the family to remember that they were all together in a family reunion at the old home on Thanksgiving day, and though the father was not in the best of health the occasion was a very joyous and happy one.
Major Sager is also survived by three brothers and three sisters: Abram H. Sager, George J. Sager, A. Park Sager, Mrs. George K. Collins, all of Syracuse, Mrs. Albert Becker of New York and Mrs. N. C. Hubbell of Syracuse.
The funeral was held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the house, 22 Lincoln-ave., and was very largely attended. The Masonic fraternity, the veterans of the G. A. R. and the Science club were each present in a body. The services were conducted by Rev. H. L. Rixon, pastor of the Homer-ave. M. E. church; assisted by Rev. Dr. Charles E. Hamilton of Rochester, the first pastor of the Homer-ave. church, Rev. Dr. B. W. Hamilton of Homer and Rev. O. M. Owen, pastor of the Free Methodist church. Mr. Rixon and Dr. C. E. Hamilton, both made appropriate remarks, touching upon the life of the deceased, his work in his church, his military record, and his general helpfulness to mankind and his usefulness as a citizen of the community. The Masonic burial service was conducted at the house by District Deputy Grand Master S. S. Knox, the other brethren of the order joining in the responses.
The bearers were the two brothers of the deceased, A. Park Sager and George J. Sager of Syracuse; his son. A. F. Sager; and his business partner for more than twenty-six years, E. F. Jennings.
At the close of the services at the house a procession was formed headed by the comrades of the G. A. R., who were followed by the Masonic fraternity. These led as an escort for the remains on the way to the Lackawanna railroad station where the 4:38 train was taken to Syracuse. The remains were then to be taken to the vault at Oakwood cemetery and the burial will be at the convenience of the family. At the chapel at the cemetery brief services will be held tonight upon the arrival of the funeral party and will be conducted by Rev. W. H. Annable, who was formerly a pastor of the First M. E. church of Cortland while Major Sager was one of its members, and who is now pastor of a church in Syracuse.
All the brothers and sisters with their respective wives and husbands were present at the funeral in Cortland today except Mrs. Becker of New York who was detained at home by the serious illness of her son. All of the family went to Syracuse this afternoon with the remains.
Death of Dr. Woodward.
Dr. Horace P. Woodward, a native of Homer, died at his home in San Diego, Cal., Oct. 24, at the age of 77 years and 6 months. He is survived by his widow and two daughters. Dr. Woodward was born in Homer, N, Y., April 17, 1824, and practiced there till 1862, when he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Fifteenth Michigan infantry and served for a year in the war. He then settled in Ohio, and subsequently moved to Kansas and then to California.
BREVITIES.
—The annual meeting of the Cortland Fire department will be held on Wednesday evening. Dec. 18.
—The regular meeting or the Y. M. C. A. Auxiliary will be held Tuesday Dec. 10 at 3 P. M. in the association parlor.
—The Broome county board of supervisors has decided to make sheriff, county treasurer and district attorney salaried offices and has about agreed on the salaries as follows: Sheriff $3,000, county treasurer $2,600 and district attorney $2,000.
—Mr. M. J. Turner, who has been ill at the hospital for several weeks, underwent an operation this morning. The operation was performed by Dr. N. Jacobson of Syracuse assisted by Dr. S. J. Sornberger. Dr. Jacobson returned to Syracuse on the forenoon train.
—About twenty young ladies were last night with the customary appropriate ceremonies received into the Young Ladies' sodality of St. Mary's church at the regular vesper service of the church. The services in connection with the reception were as usual very impressive.
—The loser of a pocketbook and the finder of it met this afternoon in The STANDARD office, the former having come to insert a "lost" advertisement and the latter having just had a "found" advertisement written. The STANDARD office is the place whore losers and finders come together. It pays to advertise.
—New display advertisements today are—City Cycle Co., Toys, games, etc., page 7; McKinney & Doubleday, Suggestions for Christmas, page 6; Hudson Crockery Co., Closing out sale, page 8; Warren, Tanner & Co., Dry goods, page 7; J. W. Cudworth, Optical talks, page 5; Opera House, "Mildred Holland in Power Behind the Throne," page 5.
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