PANAMA CANAL, GRUESOME SIGHTS, BOERS, CONCERTS, AND EDGCOMB RETURNS TO CORTLAND

 

Senator John C. Spooner.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, June 20, 1902.

SPOONER SUBSTITUTE.

Adopted by Senate In Place of Hepburn Bill.

PURCHASE OF PANAMA CANAL.

If Title Is Perfect the President Is to Purchase the Property of the French Company for $40,000,000—Otherwise the Nicaragua Canal Shall Be Constructed.

   Washington, June 20.—An isthmian canal, while not yet absolutely assured, is nearer to construction than it ever has been. The senate by a majority of 8 votes adopted the Spooner substitute for the Hepburn Nicaragua canal bill, the vote on the substitute being 42 to 34.

   After two amendments to the measure had been adopted, one providing for a commission to supervise the construction of the canal and the other providing for the issuance of $130,000,000 of 2 per cent gold bonds to raise money with which to construct the waterway, it was passed by a vote of 67 to 6.

   It has been evident for several days that the Spooner substitute would command the votes of a majority of the senate. The Panama route was considered more desirable by the senate than the Nicaragua route. The only question left open is the title to the property, and that the president will determine if the house should adopt the senate's amendment to its bill.

   Mr. Morgan closed the day's debate with an earnest appeal for the adoption of the Nicaragua route. He had been preceded by Mr. Clark of Montana in support of the Nicaragua route, and Mr. Allison in support of the Spooner proposition. Only minor amendments except those indicated, were adopted, all others being voted down.

   The Spooner amendment provides that the president through the law officers of the government shall determine whether a clear title can be obtained of the Panama company's property, rights and concessions.

   If he shall be satisfied that such title can be obtained he shall purchase the property, rights and concessions for $40,000,000. If in his opinion a clear title cannot be obtained he shall proceed to construct an isthmian canal by the Nicaragua route.

   The senate had some debate over the trouble into which it has gotten with the house over amendments to the army appropriation bill and finally asked for a conference with the house, ignoring the "offensive" message which caused the trouble.

 

New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell.

Governor Odell at Ithaca.

   Ithaca, N. Y., June 20.—The feature of the afternoon's program which was laid out for Governor Odell during his visit to the university and Ithaca was the public reception held at the Ithaca hotel. After the governor finished his address to the alumni at their annual luncheon he was taken by President Schurman for a drive about the university grounds. He also visited the Psi Upsilon fraternity of which he is a member. After the reception Gov. Odell attended a private dinner given by President Schurman at his home. There were about 20 guests. At night Governor Odell left for New York. He will go to Peekskill today to be present at the weekly review of the state troops.

 

First Mt. Pelee eruption, May, 1902.

Gruesome Sights In Martinique.

   Those who visited the desecrated city of St. Pierre before the second eruption beheld the ghastliest of sights. Among them were United States Consul Haven, at St. Kitts, and his wife, says the New York Tribune. They said the corpses lay in the streets and houses just as they fell. Consul Haven in one house found a woman and three children dead. The child nearest the door had been terribly burned, but the woman and two little girls seemed to have died painlessly and without a struggle. The bowl of gruel and spoon from which two of the children had been eating stood beside their bodies. The woman had reclined on a cot beside the children, and her clay pipe, still half filled, lay on her shoulder with the stem only an inch or so from her lips. There was no distortion of the features. Dr. Haven said he was told by a gendarme that a man had been found with one leg thrown over a donkey, as if in the act of mounting. A gendarme said he had seen a corpse sitting bolt upright in a cart, to which the donkey was attached, both being as rigid as stone.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Spirit of the Boers.

   The world has had occasion to note during the past two years and a half the heroism of the Boers in war, an exhibition of courage, fortitude and self sacrifice that is scarcely equaled in history. The world has now an opportunity to witness the reverent yet dignified spirit with which they accept peace. There is something very noble and touching in the language of Acting President Schalkburger and General Botha, addressed to their "fellow brethren and fellow men," urging them to accept Great Britain's terms of peace. In the opening passage it says:

   We heartily thank you for your heroism, for your sacrifice of so much that was dear and beloved by you, for your obedience and for your faithful discharge of duty, all of which serves the honor and glory of the Afrikaner people. We counsel you all to acquiesce in this peace, to conduct ourselves quietly and peacefully and to obey and respect the new government.

   Here is no vain boasting of valor, no bewailing of their fate, no bitter resentment, no menacing hint of future hostilities. The letter gives a statement of the provisions made for the widows and orphans of the war, for whom the Boer leaders "pray God to give them strength to bear their cross," and closes with these lofty sentences:

   Now there is peace, and, although not the peace such as we longed for, yet let us abide where God has led us. We can with clear conscience declare that for two and a half years our people carried on the struggle in a manner almost unknown in history. Let us now grasp each other's hands, for another great struggle lies before us for the spiritual and social prosperity and welfare of our people.

   Casting aside all feeling of bitterness, let us learn to forget and forgive so that the deep wounds caused by this war may be healed.

   Truly these are a wonderful people. Great Britain will do well for herself in making smooth and easy the pathway to their complete reconciliation and absorption into the empire.

 

Cortland City Band.

BAND CONCERT

At the Park Saturday Night—Cars now Run Clear Through.

   There will be a concert by the Cortland City band at the park on Saturday night. Cars on the electric road are now running clear through on the Elm-st. short line so that no transfer will be required.

 

Elm Street trolley bridge, looking west from Salisbury hill and the park.

ON THE SHORT LINE.

Cars now Running Through to McGraw and Park on Elm-st.

   The first car to run the entire length of the new Elm-st. line of the Cortland County Traction Co. was put over the Lackawanna tracks at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The car that has this distinction is the McGraw car and the first run over the entire length of Elm-st. was made on the return from McGraw to Cortland. Hereafter the McGraw car and the park cars will make regular trips over the new line.

 

COMMENCEMENT CONCERT

Of the Conservatory of Music—A Brilliant Event.

   The commencement concert of the Conservatory of Music was held at the Opera House last evening and was attended by a crowded house. As a musical event it was a great success and one of the most brilliant affairs of its kind that Cortland has been favored with for a long time. The selections were all of high character and their rendition was a splendid testimonial to the fine instruction given at this institution. The great orchestra played in a way to surprise those who had not heard it before, and even those who have been so favored were delighted at the improvement in its playing. Mr. Parker of Syracuse university who was present made the remark to a musician of Cortland not in any way connected with the conservatory that the university itself could not boast of such an orchestra nor could such a one be found among professionals in Syracuse. The piano solos with orchestral accompaniment were a very fine feature and were rendered with a skill and expression that was marvelous. Every number was a gem.

   At the close Rev. W. J. Howell with fitting words presented the diplomas to the two graduates, Miss Mabel Ingram Rynders and Miss Emma McConnell.

   Messrs. Bentley and Darby the proprietors of the Conservatory and the instructors are fully entitled to the hearty commendation which was so generally expressed after the concert. They have done much and are doing much to elevate the standard of musical taste in this city as well as to instruct in actual execution.

 

Serenaded by Drum Corps.

   Mr. M. Mathewson, who lives on Locust-ave. and is now well advanced in years, has been a famous fifer in his day and his services were in demand all over the surrounding country to play in martial bands. Though he plays very little now there is nothing that he enjoys more than to hear martial music. Last night a party of more than a dozen of his musical friends forming a finę drum corps gave him a serenade. It was about 8 o'clock when they arrived at his home and for two hours or more they played almost constantly. Mr. Mathewson got out his fife and joined in the music and enjoyed it all as much or even more than the younger ones.

 

A BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Lady Friends Surprise Mrs. Wheeler and Spend the Afternoon.

   Last Wednesday a few of the neighbors accidently learned it was the birthday anniversary of Mrs. Chas. Wheeler of Park-st. In the afternoon about a dozen of her friends called on her, and after serving refreshments and spending a pleasant hour in visiting all left for their homes wishing Mrs. Wheeler many happy returns of the day. All of those present carried away sweet thoughts of the occasion for, although Mrs. Wheeler has been confined to her home many months by illness, she is ever ready with a cheerful and kind word for every one. Those present were Mrs. Moss, Mrs. Bassett, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Moon, Mrs. Pettit, Mrs. Wilbur, Mrs. Williamson, Mrs. Lester, Mrs. Weyant, Mrs. Southworth, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Shattuck.

 

RETURNS TO CORTLAND

And Purchases the Cortland Business Institute.

   Mr. Louis E. Edgcomb, who has been the principal of Brown's Business college at South Norwalk, Ct., has resigned his position and has returned to Cortland, having bought the Cortland Business institute. He takes possession July 1, and on July 7 will begin a summer school there. There will be a short session and special rates of tuition. Mr. Edgcomb has had large experience in this line of work and has for the last year had excellent success in placing his graduates in paying positions. The latest and best systems of instruction by competent teachers will characterize the school and every effort will be made to prepare young people in a thorough manner to accept and hold lucrative positions.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The graduating class at Cornell university yesterday numbered 386.

   —Three new free delivery routes will be started from Freeville July 1.

   —Cazenovia is planning for a Fourth of July celebration that will eclipse anything ever attempted there before.

   —Dr. W. S. Hubbard died very suddenly June 18 in Albion, Pa., aged 43 years. Dr. Hubbard was a nephew of Mrs. M. H. B. Hubbard of this city.

   —New display advertisements today are—W. W. Bennett, Hardware, page 7; Gas Light Co., Gas ranges, page 7; M. A. Case, Dry goods, page 6.

   —The first straw hats of the season for horses are out and in use on the street. They are not panamas, but perhaps horses are not so particular as men as to what they wear.

   —Colgate university at the commencement yesterday conferred the degree of LL. D. upon Hon. Sereno E. Payne of Auburn, chairman of the ways and means committee in congress.

   —The dog which was lost yesterday and which called at this office to be advertised as noted in yesterday's Standard [sic], reached his owner at about 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The owner was in the city and chanced to be where The Standard is regularly taken. He was already anxious about his dog and no sooner did the paper arrive and the notice appear than he started at once to claim the dog.