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| Major General Littleton T. Waller. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, Mar. 10, 1902.
TO PRESIDE AT TRIAL.
Officers of Marines to Be Court Martialed on March 17.
Manila, March 10.—Colonel James Forney of the marine corps will preside at the court martial to try Major Littleton T. Waller and Lieutenant John H. A. Day of the marine corps March 17 next on the charge of executing natives in the island of Samar without trial. The court martial will be composed of army officers and officers of the marine corps. The charges specify that Major Waller and Lieutenant Day killed three native stevedores on the streets of Basey, island of Samar, without trial. These stevedores were among those who accompanied the disastrous expedition of Major Waller and a detachment of marines to the interior of Samar last December.
It is claimed these stevedores mutinied and proceeded to the foothills where they dug camotes (a variety of sweet potato) and that they later concealed and refused to turn them over to the Americans, saying that when the marines died of hunger they would have a good supply of arms and ammunition.
Sympathy is expressed for Major Waller who at that time was suffering from mental and physical strain. Lieutenant Day apparently obeyed Major Waller's orders.
FROM THE PHILlPPINES.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM M. L. MCDERMOTT OF CORTLAND.
Tells of the Long Voyage from San Francisco—Arrival in Manila—Pleasantly Located at a Tagalog Summer Resort—The Schools—The Concentration Movement Among Natives—Reconcentrados to be Fed.
SANTA ROSA, Laguna, P. I., Jan. 16, 1902.
To the Editor of The Standard:
SIR—A few words from a far distant "maestro."
I left San Francisco Oct. 16 and after a journey of twenty-eight days arrived at Manila. While a month seems to be a long time, it appeared to pass very quickly. The time was spent in little parties, entertainments, and social gatherings of all descriptions. There were 321 teachers on board the transport Thomas, and with these teachers were ninety-five other cabin passengers, consisting of bookkeepers, stenographers and young officers. You will notice that I mentioned school teachers first.
I was really disappointed in not being seasick after all the preparation I had made to entertain Father Neptune, but most of the passengers were [sick] from one to three weeks.
The life saving trials were very interesting: A life preserver was dropped overboard, the ship stopped and turned around, a boat lowered and preserver picked up—all in about twelve minutes The rate of speed of the ship was about 300 miles per day.
While the trials were amusing, the storm of a week was not very pleasant. The bow of the ship seemed to rise and descend from 50 to 100 feet as the ship leaped the waves. If you lie down the ship would almost drop from under you. There was very little sleep on board that night. The officers said that this storm was the worst the Thomas had ever encountered. But there is an end to everything, and after passing a volcano called Faralyon de Pajaros, pronounced Faralyon de Paharos, "Peak of the Birds." This was an island covering about one-half acre, an active mountain sending forth clouds of steam and flames.
This, the most northern island of the Ladrones, was all the land seen on the voyage made directly across. That is the nearest way which was a large curve. But why?
I reached Manila Bay Nov. 12 and saw far in the distance the Spanish forts so called. Launches filled the bay as all unloading is done by means of these, as there are no wharves. On all sides were native "bancos" or boats hurried along by little brown fellows. It was very amusing for us to try to decide from what college these crews came, as the systems of oarsmanship differed.
We were well cared for by the educational department, and carried to the exposition grounds, the quarters of the lady teachers of Manila. These buildings were constructed by Spanish in 1895 for the bringing together of all the products of the islands. Here we were quartered and fed for $1 per day. Meanwhile we had been drawing full pay from the time we left home with all necessary expenses incurred on the way paid.
We had about two weeks to purchase light suits, see the sights and visit schools. But most interesting of all was to see the effect of Dewey's boys in blue. An amusing story is told in this connection. It seems that the Spaniards had been telling what things would happen to the Americans if they came, but the result of it all was that all rushed about in order to find a piece of cloth indicating how badly they wished to surrender. And they must have wished to surrender very badly because whole pieces of cloth were run up on poles.
Manila is not a pretty city and it seems as if I were placed back one hundred years. The great wall, the wide ditch or moat, and the draw bridge which was raised at sundown; this has not been raised since the Americans entered the city, and Manila from my wanderings about appears as safe as eastern cities.
The people are short, slim and of a brown color. They wear no shoes and no hat—the least amount of clothes possible by reason of great humidity of the atmosphere.
It was not my pleasure to see Mr. Little or Mr. Wedge, former Cortland graduates, as they are far to the south on the island of Rombion, about a three days' trip from Manila, but their division superintendent reported them well and enjoying themselves.
I am stationed at Santa Rosa, Laguna Province, about 18 miles from Manila on Laguna de Bay, really a lake about 40 by 5 miles in size. It only costs 15 cents to go to Manila. There are boats and mail every day. It is a beautiful place, dry and cool with breezes from the lake, temperature ranging from 60 to 80 degrees—a continual Indian summer. There are no flies and no mosquitoes. It is a summer resort inhabited by the richer class of Tagalos.
I have two schools at present in the city of 10,000 inhabitants, of 100 boys each. Two more schools are to be established this month and seven outside the town in the barrios or villages. I think it will be possible for me to find plenty of work to do. I can speak Spanish very well and Tagalo enough to make my wants known.
The provinces of Laguna and Batangas, situated from ten to fifty miles south of Manila, are under military rule. A concentration movement is in force, as all the people are compelled to come into the city limits. They are permitted to go under guard to gather their rice. This is the movement that Wyler of Cuba liked so much, only the poor are to be fed, while those of Cuba were not fed but were left to die. This is really the only policy to follow, as the people of the two provinces have been aiding the Insurrectos by carrying to them rice, etc. The good effect of this policy has been realized in the surrender of a colonel, three lieutenant colonels, ten majors, 400 men and 200 guns. These were a part of Malvar's forces, who have been located in the mountains in, as the natives say, an impregnable position. This is considered next in importance to the surrender of the mail [sic] or Insurrecto forces. Quite a number of Americans have been killed there this last week. Millions of pounds of rice have been seized from these storehouses and towns burned.
The island of Samar is being cleared. Everything is being killed—men, women, children, pigs and dogs and all the villages burned. This was told to me by soldiers just arrived in Manila from there. They seemed to think that this was the only way to pacify the island. School teachers can go anywhere without any danger, as they are liked very much.
I enjoy my work very much and get much pleasure in teaching a class that knows not a word of English, and suppose you [teacher] do not know a word of Tagal. What are you going to do under those circumstances?
I send kindest remembrances to all Cortland friends and any letter sent to me at Santa Rosa will gladly receive an answer. I am very respectively,
M. LAURENCE MCDERMOTT.
MURDER, FIRST DEGREE.
ARREST OF J. C. HOUSE AND TWO SONS SATURDAY.
Charged with Causing the Death of George Bennett—Orson A. House said to Have Done the Shooting—Comptroller Miller and H. E. Wilson Retained to Defend the Three Men—Examination Adjourned to March 21.
John C. House, Orson A. House and John H. House were arrested Saturday afternoon at about 6 o'clock by Sheriff A. R. Overton at their home 2 miles west of Marathon on the charge of murder in the first degree. They were taken before Justice of the Peace John H. Miller, at Marathon who issued the warrant for their arrest, and were committed to the charge of the sheriff. They were held by the officer at the Hotel Lynde in Marathon until yesterday morning, when they were brought to Cortland and placed in jail.
This morning the three were taken back to Marathon before Justice Miller for examination. State Comptroller Nathan L. Miller and Attorney Henry E. Wilson have been retained by the accused men to defend them and Mr. Wilson appeared for the defendants today while E. C. Alger represented the district attorney. By consent of both sides the examination was adjourned till Friday, March 21, at 10 A. M. at village hall in Marathon. The prisoners were to be brought back to the Cortland jail on the afternoon train.
As was stated in Saturday's STANDARD, George W. Bennett, whom the Houses are accused of shooting, died at the Cortland hospital at 8:15 o'clock, Saturday afternoon, having lived about five hours after his leg was amputated. District Attorney Thomas H. Dowd and Sheriff A. R. Overton were at the time in Marathon looking up evidence in the case. They were at the office of Justice Miller preparing to swear out a warrant for the arrest of the three on the charge of assault, when the news of Bennett's death was telephoned to them. They immediately changed the charge to murder in the first degree and made the arrest as stated.
According to the statements of the sheriff it is admitted by the Houses that Orson did the shooting. In the outhouse, where it is thought Bennett was at the time the shooting occurred, was a pool of blood. There was a track of blood from this building to the woodshed, which indicated that he had either dragged himself along to the woodshed or had been dragged there. There were three bullet holes in the out building, two of which entered it at about the height of a man's chest. The other was lower down and is thought to be the one made by the bullet that shattered Bennett's leg. These shots are said to have been made from the woodhouse chamber window. There were also several bullet holes in the woodhouse and there were also two bullet holes through the floor of the chamber down into the woodhouse.
Today Photographer George E. Butler of this city is taking photographic views of the premises where the shooting occurred for use of the district attorney in the prosecution of the case.
Coroner F. H. Green of Homer was notified by the district attorney of Bennett's death Saturday afternoon and viewed the remains at the hospital. He then gave permission for them to be removed according to the wishes of his friends. The remains were taken by Briggs Bros. to Homer, N. Y., and the funeral was held today.
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| Charles Grandison Maybury. |
OLD DAYS IN SOLON.
MR. MAYBURY TELLS OF THE BLAKE FAMILY, HIS ANCESTORS.
Descended from Revolutionary Stock—Some of the Descendants Still Living in Solon—Returns to Story of the Son Who Went to Massachusetts—Another Incident Concerning General Hatheway.
To the Editor of The Standard:
SIR—Ebenezer Blake from Stoddard, N. H., was an early settler in Solon, N. Y., coming in about 1808. Mr. Goodwin's history of the county says he was a soldier of the American Revolution, and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He enlisted when quite a young man and served seven years or until the close of the war. He died on Aug. 14, 1843, aged 82 years. He drew a pension of $8 per month until his death, through tbe agency of A. P. and G. N. Lyman, merchants of Cortland. After his decease his widow obtained the pension which was continued during her life. He was the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters. The eldest was adopted by a family in Massachusetts when he was quite a young lad and lived there during the remainder of his life. The other sons were Jason, Ebenezer and Wooster. The daughters were Dorcas, Sylvia and Charlotte. Jason and Ebenezer were famous and lived and died in Solon. Jason had three daughters, now living in the town. Dorcas who married a Mr. Cooper, owns and lives on the old home farm. Wooster married and emigrated to Columbus, Columbia county, Wis., in 1843 where he died a few years ago.
Dorcas Blake married Josiah J. Maybury, father of the writer. She lived most of her life in Solon and died in Blodgett Mills, Feb. 20, 1878, at the age of 75 years and 2 months. Her remains with her husband and father rest in the beautiful hillside cemetery in McGrawville.
There is a little romantic history connected with the life of the son, who was adopted by the Massachusetts family. The writer when a young lad has heard his mother say, she wished she knew whether her oldest brother was living, so she related to us children how when a young boy he went to Massachusetts to live with a family who wished to bring him up as their own son. Postal facilities in the early days were not the grand and complete system which we in these days enjoy. Money was scarce and postage on letters was high. Therefore, the father and son after a time lost all knowledge of each other and oblivion reigned supreme as to the existence of each to the other.
Just about the close of the civil war there came a letter to the Solon postoffice addressed to the town clerk of the town. That officer was Melvin Maybury, father of James F. Maybury, postmaster of Cortland during President Cleveland's last administration, also of M. M. Maybury, formerly in the drug business in Cortland. The letter was opened by the clerk and passed to the hands of the writer's father. The letter was an inquiry as to whether there were living in town any children or descendants of Ebenezer Blake, a revolutionary soldier, who many years since resided there. This letter was written by Henry W. Blake, a son of the young boy who was given away by his father so many years before. The writer's home was in Foxboro, Mass., 20 miles from Boston. He was seeking information concerning his father's family, of whom he had heard him tell for a score or more years. Finally, being a practical man of business, he concluded he would write and endeavor to unravel if possible the mystery of a lifetime. Mr. Maybury, the clerk, answered Mr. Blake's letter and told him there were two of Ebenezer Blake's children still living in Solon; that Ebenezer, Jr., had recently died, leaving some estate, which was just to be divided among the heirs, and suggested that he come up as his father was one of the legal heirs, according to his statements. He came and enjoyed a most pleasurable visit with his own kindred, whom he had never seen before, and the Solon members of the family were rejoiced to meet the son of a long lost brother, who had been mourned as dead, but who—as remembered—was then living, an aged man. The estate was divided and the son returned to his home.
In January, 1872, the writer was visiting the old home in Cortland county and contemplating a visit farther East to Boston and other eastern cities before returning to the West. Mother asked if I would go to Foxboro, and visit her brother's children and relatives. I promised her, and while in Boston made a visit to Foxboro and there found a large company of her relatives. All were well situated and I enjoyed a most pleasant visit. A part of the relatives were living in Attleboro, a town celebrated as a jewelry manufacturing city. Foxboro is known as a great straw goods town, the finest straw goods in the New England states being made there. After a visit of a few days I bade them adieu amid earnest invitations to come east in summer and join them in their annual outing at the sea shore. That young lad most have fallen into more than the average of families, to have been so well reared, being the honored father of such a large family of good citizens.
The following is given by a local resident.
General Hatheway used to ride his favorite horse, Old Jake, into the meadow and follow his haymakers and hurry up operations, as doubtless was sometimes necessary on account of slackness of a portion of such help. One day they were pitching on hay out of the hay cock and every time they had a cock half on, the general would start up the team, so that they had to throw on the last part of the hay very quickly. They did this for quite a while, until getting tired of being rushed so, they left the bottom of the cocks that were on the opposite side of the load from which General Hatheway rode. The general observing this and concluding that the men had the best of him galloped off to the house for the rest of the afternoon and left them to pitch at their usual leisurely ratio.
The boys were in company one evening with Major Rice, who when in good company would not object to taking a social glass—a custom that in those days was not looked upon with that degree of disrespect as in the present day. The major had partaken several times and when solicited to again come up and have something said "I'm with you, boys, but I'm here yet." C. G. M.
Winona, Minn., March 5, 1902.
BREVITIES.
—The Church Protective union will meet in the W.C. T. U. rooms on Wednesday evening.
—There will be a regular semi-monthly meeting of Cortland Lodge of Perfection this evening at 8.
—A regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum council wlll be held Tuesday evening at G. A. R. hall at 7:30 o'clock.
—The Farther Lights society of the First Baptist church will hold a work meeting this evening at 7:30 at the church parlors.
—The regular monthly meeting of the board of directors of the Y. M. C. A. will be held in the association parlor this evening at 8:15 o'clock.
—The conference between the city officials and the representatives of the Water company occurs tonight at the city clerk's office at 7:30 o'clock.
—Mr. O. P. Miner reports a large flock of wild geese flying south this morning. That is not a very marked evidence of spring. They ought to be going in the other direction at this time of the year.
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