 |
| Maj. Gen. Elwell Stephen Otis. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, March 20, 1902.
GENERAL OTIS' VIEWS.
Tells Senate Committee He Worked Hard in Interest of Peace.
At the afternoon session of the senate committee, General Otis, referring to his proclamation, said he expressly omitted therefrom the word "sovereignty" because the Filipinos attached to it the meaning which the word conveyed to them while under the domination of Spain.
General Otis admitted, in reply to an inquiry from Senator McComas, that the act of congress limiting the service of the volunteer troops until July 1, 1901, their return to the United States and the forwarding of others to take their places, greatly hampered him in the pacification of the islands
When the trouble in China occurred, notice had been passed among the Filipinos that the United States would not be able to send more men to the Philippines and this emboldened them to resist the authority of the government.
Senator Patterson asked General Otis if the idea of the Filipino people regarding the hopes and aspiration for independence was a mistaken one.
"No" said General Otis, "Aguinaldo had his ambitions." Speaking very deliberately he said: "and he was sent over from Hong Kong for the purpose of driving the Spaniards out and then attacking the Americans, I suppose. We have the papers of the original junta." He thought Aguinaldo was performing a double part at that time.
"No man ever worked harder in the interest of peace than I," said the general. "But if the United States troops had attacked the Filipinos and driven them out of the city when they first got there, it would have been much better. They got very 'cockey' after a while and thought they could sweep us into the bay."
"When you were communicating with Aguinaldo," inquired Senator Patterson, "as the general in command of the Filipino forces, did you at heart believe him to be a robber and a looter?"
General Otis declared he did not say Aguinaldo was a robber and a looter. He characterized him as much better than the majority of the Filipinos. In money matters he believed Aguinaldo strictly honest, and then bringing his fist down on the table and speaking with great emphasis, the general said: "In duplicity he has few equals."
Asked by Senator McComas about the assassination of General Luna, General Otis said there was no doubt this was Aguinaldo's act.
"My opinion of justice," remarked Senator Patterson, "is that you should bring here the man who is accused of assassination."
VALUABLE DOCUMENTS
Found by J. O. Bingham of Solon, N. Y., Concerning the Louisiana Purchase.
Ex-Supervisor Bingham of Solon has found among his volumes of old newspapers, quite a number of papers containing the official proceedings, correspondence, etc, in the purchase from France, by the United States of the territory of Louisiana, in the year 1804. The correspondence of its purchase, its acceptance by Gov. Clairborne, the drafts of his official orders, etc. and the official orders of Gen. Wilkinson of the United States army, the message of President Thomas Jefferson, in regard to the same, the acceptance through him by the United States are among the papers. Mr. Bingham offered these papers at 50 cents each to the "Committee of Press and Publicity" of the St. Louis World's Fair and they forwarded payment for them all, and farther gave him Carte Blanche to find and purchase any other material regarding the Louisiana purchase that he could possibly obtain, for it was wanted, everything of that character and at any time.
PAGE FOUR—BRIEF EDITORIALS.
◘ According to all accounts, the Illinois state pure food commission is doing good work in showing up Chicago adulterations in many articles of food and drink, vinegar, flavoring extracts and imitation butter holding a prominent place among the impeached substances. The commission has already brought civil actions against a large number of local dealers and is pursuing more, showing that it fully realizes the importance of its function. It is evident that Chicago has hitherto been eating strange messes, which may possibly account for its occasional irrational conduct, but if it does so hereafter it will not be the fault of the pure food commission, whose good work furnishes an example worthy of emulation by similar officials in other communities.
◘ Colombia says it has no objection to a Panama canal, provided the terms can be made satisfactory. What it expects to get from the United States government for franchise and right of way would help considerably toward paying the expenses of another revolution, and Colombia would not be happy without a revolution.
◘ Some carping critics have been assailing Mr. Carnegie for being photographed in his evening clothes. But why shouldn't he do so if he desires? In spite of his library and college donations he still has money enough to buy the clothes and pay the photographer.
 |
| Cortland House above, Messenger House below. |
THE EARLY HOTELS
AS ESTABLISHED IN CORTLAND AND HOMER MANY YEARS AGO.
Extracts from a Paper Read by Mr. J. G. Jarvis Before the Daughters of the American Revolution—Also Facts Learned by Dr. F. B. Green from Early Records of Cortland County Medical Society.
At the last regular meeting of Tioughnioga chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Mrs. J. G. Jarvis read a paper on the early taverns in Cortland, Homer and vicinity. Brief reference was made to it at the time, but feeling sure that many of the facts brought to light as a result of Mrs. Jarvis, investigation will be of interest to our readers in general. We have obtained permission to make some extracts from the paper and to it have added a few facts which Dr. F. H. Green has learned from a search through the early records of the Cortland County Medical society, of which he is the secretary.
The first tavern in Cortland was established by Samuel Ingalls in 1810 on the corner where the drug store of Sager & Jennings now stands. Mr. Ingalls was a great grandfather of Mrs. C. F. Thompson of Cortland.
Moses Hopkins, a leading pioneer, was the second landlord, his house standing where Taylor hall block is now located. Then followed the tavern built at Port Watson by a company of eastern men who believed that this was to be the site of the future village and city.
About 1818 Nathan Luce built the tavern that first stood on the site of the Messenger House, which was afterward enlarged and was known for many years as the Eagle tavern. This was burned in January, 1862, and the present hotel was erected on its site. Hiram J. Messenger announced that if the site of the old Eagle were tendered to him he would cover it with a hotel not surpassed in Central New York. The offer was accepted and the hotel he built was an ornament to the town and the boast of the county.
David Merrick built a hotel just west of the present Cortland House and later his son, Danforth Merrick, in [182?] erected the Cortland House. That was purchased by Delos Bauder May 1, 1868, who in 1882 and 1883 spent $19,000 in enlarging and improving it. This is well remembered by the four broad piazzas on two sides, which were the favorite spots on circus days. This building was burned Nov. 28, 1883, about three months after the repairs were completed, but the present hotel was put up in 1884 and was opened Jan. 28, 1885.
The old Center House which stood on the site of The Kremlin came into the possession of Captain Enos Stimson in 1840. In 1850 J. S. Samson purchased it and for one year kept it as a temperance house under the name of Star of Temperance. He issued a unique poster as an advertisement before opening the hotel and it contained the following announcement:
A LIGHT SHINING IN A DARK PŁACE.
The subscriber would respectfully inform the public that he has lately purchased the old Center House in Cortland village, first founded by Major Stimson, and lastly kept by C. Etz where he has now established himself in the capacity of an inn-keeper. Being somewhat familiar with the wants of both man and beast, he will provide the most ample means for their comfort and happiness, as the certainty of a center depends on the limits of the circumference. He considers the name of his house inappropriate, and therefore shall assume the name of the "Star of Temperance."
Having professed to be a temperance man he claims the high prerogative of manifesting his faith by his works, and therefore inflexibly perseveres in prosecuting to a happy period what has been so gloriously begun and hitherto so prosperously conducted. Making no pretensions to being a star of the first magnitude in the great galaxy of
Tavern Keepers,
but rather as emitting but a faint ray, with a determination to impart all the light he may receive from the true sun from time to time, to all those who will please come and see.
The Public Servant, JOHN S. SAMSON.
Cortland Village, Nov. 1, 1850.
In 1851 Mr. Samson sold the hotel to Daniel Rose and in 1865 Daniel J. Sperry bought it. His son-in-law, W. F. Burdick, was afterward associated with him and, they conducted the hotel till 1870, since which time it had a varied history till it was rebuilt, remodeled and refitted and opened Oct. 28, 1896, as The Kremlin.
The Dexter House was built by L. Dexter in 1866.
The first tavern in Cortland county, so far as known, was kept in Homer village by John Ballard and was opened soon after Mr. Ballard came to the town in 1808. It was located on the ground where now stands the residence of the late J. M. Schermerhorn on the west side of Main-st. This soon fell into the hands of Captain Enos Stimson.
On account of the ravages of smallpox Mr. Stimson was compelled to send his wife and child away the spring after he secured the hotel. During their absence twelve Onondaga Indians called one evening and drank quite freely and finally became very hilarious and demanded more liquor. Being refused they became threatening and prepared to attack Mr. Stimson who was compelled to seek [safety] in the second story and he pulled the ladder up after him. In a very few moments all the bottles and decanters were emptied. In the midst of this revel one old Indian found a bottle half filled with picra and swallowed its contents. The effect was pitiful, though comical. The others supposed the Indian was dying. The Indians not guarding the hole through which Mr. Stimson had disappeared above bent over the unfortunate victim. One Indian in the glorious condition of uncertainty rushed hurriedly out of the tavern and mistaking the well curb for the yard fence gave a leap over it and landed in the bottom of the well. The old warrior yelled and cursed, but his cries were so in harmony with the noise inside that it was some time before he was drawn out with blankets. With the coming of the morning and the going of the liquor the besieged landlord was permitted to descend.
Shortly after this, Captain Stimson opened a hotel in Homer where the Sautelle House now stands and a part of the original frame of this early hotel is now incorporated in the present building. This hotel is the one which it is thought that Mr. Westcott described as The Eagle in David Harum, where John Lenox spent his first weeks in Homeviłle. In just what year Captain Stimson secured this hostelry it is not able to be ascertained, but that it was doing business in 1808 is shown by the following extract from the records of the Cortland County Medical society, whose first meeting was held there Aug. 10, 1808, the same year that this county was set off from Onondaga. At this meeting a committee was appointed "to prepare a set of by-laws and report at the next meeting to be holden [sic] at Captain Enos Stimson's tavern on the third Wednesday of October, 1808, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon." Under this date is noted in the secretary's book, "There being a deficiency in members to form a quorum no meeting was holden."
The Mansion House in Homer was built as early as 1812 and probably three or four years earlier. Judge Bowen was its first landlord and afterward his son Oren Bowen.
The fourth hotel in the town of Homer was kept in the building that now stands next south of I. M. Samson's on the east side of Main-st. Part of this was once used for a church further up the street, but was moved down to its present location and became a part of the hotel. This building was afterwards for many years the residence of Andrew Burr, the grandfather of Prof. George L. Burr of Cornell university, and it was here that Prof. Burr himself was brought up. It is now used by C. Keefe as a cigar factory.
The fifth hotel was built in 1816 by Joshua Ballard. Judge Harris of Albany owned it in 1839 and at that time George Washington Samson lived there. Afterward it was owned by Hiram Bishop, and G. W. Samson bought it of him April 1, 1850. In 1846 the third story of the hotel was added, it being built by Smith P. Brockway, a famous carpenter and builder in three days and the grandfather of G. A. Brockway. In 1852 I. M. Samson, formerly proprietor of the hotel at Cincinnatus, bought it and maintained it as a hotel till 1878, since which time he has conducted a store in the corner and retained the rest of the building as a residence.
Another tavern was kept by Daniel Knapp near the four corners of the road at the present Homer cemetery in the first twenty-five years of the last century.
In 1812 George W. Samson, above referred to, came from Plympton, Mass., and in 1814 erected and opened a tavern a half mile south of East Homer, naming it Mount Etam, from the Bible history of Samson, This was for many years a popular and well known stopping place on the turnpike. At this time there were only four families in the East Homer school district. The buildings were erected on the steep hillside, an excavation for that purpose being made by the roadside. From a spring on the side of the hill he brought water in a pipe for the house and to supply a reservoir at the roadside for travelers. Near at hand he set up a post on the side of which and protected from the weather by a glass was posted a paper on which was inscribed the following poetic effusion:
THE INVITATION OF THE FOUNTAIN.
Come, traveler, slake thy parching thirst,
And drive away dull care.
Thou needst not broach thy little purse,
For I am free as air.
My source is on the mountain side,
My course is to the sea,
Then drink till thou art satisfied,
Yea, drink, for I am free.
STRAIGHTEN OTTER CREEK
And Clear it Out and All Difficulty Will Probably be Obviated.
[Cortland] Engineer Farrington, who investigated Otter and Dry creeks yesterday, is busy today making estimates of the cost of a map giving full data in regard to the present conditions and the changes that will be necessary in opening up the streams. He is of the opinion that there is plenty of [gravity] fall in Otter creek to carry off all the water that would naturally come through that channel, and that all that is needed is to get the creek straightened and dredged out.
CALL FOR PUBLIC MEETING
To Discuss the Question of Water for City of Cortland.
The following call has been presented to Major Brown and will explain itself.
To his Honor, Charles F. Brown, Mayor of the City of Cortland, N. Y.:
Coming to our knowledge through the public press, that the contract of the city of Cortland, with the Cortland Water Works company, will expire on the 1st day of April, 1902, and that the said company wish to renew said contract for the term of twenty-five years at a greatly advanced price, and that the advisability of making such a contract with said water company is to be discussed at a meeting of the board of aldermen on Tuesday evening next.
We, the undersigned citizens and taxpayers of the aforesaid city, would respectively request you to call a public meeting, prior to Tuesday next, for the purpose of giving the citizens of this city an opportunity to discuss the advisability of purchasing the Water Works company's plant, under the existing statute and of extending the same, so that all of the citizens shall have the benefit and protection of the water, and of reducing the cost to the city and its citizens.
G. J. Mager, A. H. Winchell, Samuel N. Holden, F. M. Quick, J. W. Cudworth, W. G. Mead, James J. Glann, A. S. Burgess, Delos Bauder, I. N. Holcomb, J. M. Churchill, Wm. Martin, E. F. Jennings, A.F. Sager, N. J. Peck, Fred I. Graham, W. D. Riley, H. J. Harrington, J. B. Kellogg, F. Daehler, F. J. Doubleday, Wm. G. McKinney, James E. Tanner, Geo. L. Warren, Robert H. Beard, John Lanon, H. M. Kellogg, L. M. Loope, E. A. McGraw, Fred W. Kingsbury, Edward Robbins, Chas. E. Thompson, Samuel Keator, F. P. Saunders, M. J. Peck, D. E. Smith, R. B. Smith, H. B. Hubbard, W. R. Cole, Benj. L. Webb, J. A. Graham, Theo. Stevenson.
The public meeting will be held at Firemen's hall tomorrow evening at 7:30 o'clock.
BREVITIES.
—New display advertisements today are—W. J. Perkins, Paints, page 6; Purity Candy Co,, Pure candies, page 6.
—The Assembly party will hold a dance in Red Men's hall tomorrow evening. McDermott's orchestra will furnish music.
—There is no stock report today as the wires are out of order and the local stock exchange is not in communication with New York.
—The musical service announced for next Sunday evening at the First M. E. church is postponed, as the church will be closed in order to join in the farewell service to Rev. Robert Yost on that evening.
—The oil boom seems to be at an end in Cincinnatus, N. Y. The drill was broken off in a flint rock 2,400 feet below the surface and the drillers have become discouraged and returned to Pennsylvania. Whether there will be any more work at this well remains to be seen.
No comments:
Post a Comment