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| President Cipriano Castro. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, March 14, 1903.
ORINOCO BLOCKADE RAISED.
Enforcement Might Have Been Cause of Renewed Hostilities.
Washington, March 14.—The action taken by the Venezuelan government in raising the blockade of the Orinoco river was received here with great relief, for although there were no outward symptoms of trouble it is now known that the enforcement of the decree probably would have resulted in serious friction, perhaps involving a renewal of hostilities.
British interests next to our own being predominant in the Orinoco section, the British ambassador here was the first to move after the announcement of the blockade decree.
The United States government practically had decided to recognize the blockade if Venezuela stationed a sufficient number of ships at the mouth of the Orinoco to make it effective particularly if these ships were supplemented in their work by certain shore batteries in commanding positions. But the British government was not disposed to recognize the blockade as it would work hardship to the British colonies in Trinidad and Guiana which already are in straightened financial circumstances.
The Venezuelan government was given to understand that if the blockade was persisted, Great Britain would recognize the belligerency of the rebels in Venezuela, and moreover, applying the laws of neutrality with strictness, would close all British ports to Venezuelan warships, allowing them only the small privilege of putting in, in time of stress, for a very limited period. Even during the enforcement of the blockade last March the British government never went to this length and the threat dismayed President Castro. If the rebels were to be recognized as belligerents their cause would be strengthened immensely, for they might charter privateers and be put in a position to borrow money and conduct war on a larger scale.
Incidentally the revocation of the order has relieved the naval authorities here, who had decided if the blockade was to be re-established that it would be the duty of the navy to watch developments at the mouth of the Orinoco and that we should send three naval vessels to that locality.
STATUS OF CANAL PURCHASE.
Reply of the President to Senate's Resolution of Inquiry.
Washington, March 14.—The senate made public the reply of the president to a senate resolution introduced by Senator Morgan asking information as to the present state of negotiations or agreement between the new Panama canal company and the government of the United States, together with a copy of any agreements touching the sale of the property since December 1, 1902.
The reply is by Attorney General Knox. He says that all negotiations have been conducted with the understanding that the consent of Colombia was necessary to enable the canal company to sell and the United States to buy canal rights.
The cablegram of Mr. Knox of February 17, 1903, accepting the offer of the company to sell to the United States the canal property is given.
On February 19, President Bo sent a cable lo Mr. Knox saying William N. Cromwell was charged with transmitting the response of the council of administration.
A letter from Cromwell to the attorney general dated March 3, 1903, says the acceptance of the president as contained in the attorney general's cablegram of February 17 is accepted as being in conformity with the offer of the canal company.
Mr. Knox says there has been no other negotiation or agreement.
Protest Against Increased Tax.
New York, March 14.—Fritz Lindinger, president of the Liquor Dealers' association, said that a meeting of the executive committee of the association would be held Monday next to devise a plan for the direction of public sentiment against the proposed bill advocated by Governor Odell increasing liquor licenses 50 per cent. It is understood that in a few days a committee, representative of the German element, will go to Albany to protest against the measure.
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| Captain William Saxton. |
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| Courtesy Cincinnatus Area Historical Society. |
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| Captain Frank Place. |
WAR REMINISCENCES.
By Captain Saxton of the 157th Regiment, N. Y. Vols.
WAR MEETINGS IN CINCINNATUS, N. Y.
A Company of the One Hundred Fifty-Seventh Regiment Raised in the Eastern Part of the County—Frank Place Made Captain—The Departure from Home—In Camp at Hamilton, Madison County—Getting Organized—Regimental Formation.
CHAPTER NINE.
To the Editor of The Standard:
Sir—I graduated on the 2nd of July, 1862. The graduating exercises were held in the afternoon in the academy hall, which was crowded to the utmost capacity by the friends of the school.
I had chosen as the subject of my oration "Iron Hearts," and alluded to the nerve of Farragut in tying himself to the mast of his flagship in his fight with the forts at the mouth of the Mississippi; to Gen. Grant and the prominent military chieftains of the army. I called attention to the necessary qualifications of the soldiers in battle and in camp, of the need of the citizen and statesman at home, having iron hearts—hearts of steel, in order to discharge the momentous responsibilities that rested upon every one in this emergency. I thought at the time it was a pretty good oration, but in thinking it over now, it must have been pretty tame.
The day before graduation the battle of Malvern hill was fought and that very day, July 2, McClellan was retreating from his strong position to Harrison's landing under cover of the gunboats.
War Meeting in Cincinnatus.
July 1, President Lincoln called for 300,000 more volunteers for three years, or during the war. As soon as the apportionment was prepared for New York state, war meetings were held in all the towns. These meetings were addressed by prominent speakers, and at the close the young men were urged to enlist.
Frank Place, a former student of the academy, came home from the Tenth New York cavalry and started to raise a company. He called a meeting at "Union Hall" on the night of July 26, and when an invitation was given to come forward and enlist, LeRoy Cole, of whom I have spoken as being in the first Bull Run fight, came forward and was the first man to sign the rolls of the company.
Jerry Johnson enlisted on the 30th. I was working in the hay fields in those days, keeping posted as well as I could, on the movements of the army, and doing a great deal of thinking. Considering whether this demand for more soldiers did not mean me, I talked with Captain Place and a good many of the boys, and men too, of my acquaintance about the magnitude of the war, of its liability to continue for some considerable time, and the urgent need of more men.
The confederate army around Richmond began its northern move, which culminated in the battle of Antietam, the 1st of August, and on the 9th President Lincoln called for an additional 300,000 men. On the night of Aug, 11 a great war meeting was arranged for in the Presbyterian church of our place. All that day while at work mowing or pitching hay, I was considering the matter of enlisting. Should I give up my plans of being a teacher, and go into the army? Should I offer my services and my life, if it need be, to my country?
A Question of Duty.
I don't think a young man ever went over all the considerations more carefully than I did, and yet this is but a single experience of the tens of thousands of young men who went into that war. I realized that it meant an entire change in my plans for life. It might mean sickness, wounds, loss of limb, and even life itself. It certainly would mean hardships, privations and suffering. But my country was in danger. Did not my country need me more than I needed what I had planned for myself? In fact if my country was not saved, what would my plans amount to anyway? Others had gone, more must go. Was it not my duty now to go also? In the afternoon the matter was settled. I had arrived at a conviction and a conclusion. My country needed me. It was my duty to respond. I would go. When I came in to supper that night I told my father my decision and, with tears in his eyes, he said, "God bless you, William, if you have decided it is your duty to go I shall not say no."
Signs Enlistment Roll.
That night at the war meeting, after the speaking was over, I went forward and signed the enlistment roll promising to serve my country for three years, or during the war. That same night there enlisted with me, Barney Barnes, Albertus J. Doran, William P. Henry, Manson K. Messenger, Thomas Reagan, Thomas White, Adin D. Eldredge, Almon W. Angel, Joseph H. Lyon, Arthur B. Fox, Buel Rorapaugh, Orson Strobeck, James W. Sturtevant, Lorenzo D. Widger, Ebenezer Cole, Russell Rice and Leonard H. Patchin, eighteen of us. At Willet, 4 miles south, eleven more enlisted for our company the same night. There subsequently enlisted or went from our place in the company, James L. McDonald, Merritt H. Burdick, R. Walworth Bourne, Levi W. Loomis, John P. Smith, Henry A. Smith, Isaac Walker, Jay Vanslyke, Abel Dickinson and James Johnson.
Completing the Company.
From Aug. 11 to 20, the time was occupied in securing the necessary number of enlistments for a full company of one hundred men. These were mainly obtained from the surrounding towns of Marathon, Solon, Freetown, Taylor, Pitcher, Willet and Lincklaen.
During these eight days of probation I helped my father finish his haying and visited my friends.
Arrangements were made with citizens to take the company across the country in wagons to Hamilton, Madison county, about 40 miles from Cincinnatus, where we were ordered to rendezvous.
Aug. 20 we said good bye to friends and started at 7 a. m. Sidney Smith was going to take his brother, John P., in a, buggy and invited me to ride with them. We stopped for dinner at Georgetown, drove on ahead of the company and arrived at Hamilton at 3 p. m. We reported at once to the examining surgeons' office at the Wickwire hotel, the headquarters of the regiment, where we stripped naked and were examined for physical defects, and our heights taken; all of which was accomplished before the company arrived.
In Camp at Hamilton.
Hamilton was a town of 1,000, or l,000 inhabitants, in Madison county, northeast of Cortland county. It was a college town, the Madison university, now Colgate university, being located there. At that time it had no railroad, but a canal ran through it from Utica to Binghamton. Our camp was at the fair grounds, north of the village. John P. Smith and I did not report there that night, but accepted the invitation of his brother and stayed with him at the hotel. Aug. 21, reported at the camp and found a large circus tent pitched to accommodate the regiment as sleeping quarters. The buildings of the fair grounds were occupied as offices, diningrooms and guard house. After breakfast Captain Place came with the "descriptive lists" and other papers to be made out. I helped at that during the forenoon, with several others. In the evening the company went down town to a war meeting at the Baptist church. Came back to camp and slept (?) in the tent. Probably 500 of the regiment were already there and what one could not think to do 499 others could. You may imagine the performances. It passes my power of description. This was before "General Military Discipline" had gotten hold of us and straightened us out. The officers, except the officer of the guard, stayed down town at Hotel Wickwire.
The Company Officered.
Aug. 22, some of us Cincinnatus boys got passed out at night and slept in somebody's hay mow. Aug. 23, came back to camp at 5 a. m. and after breakfast the following announcement was made in regard to the officers of the company. The commissioned officers were: Captain, Frank Place; first lieutenant, James A. Coffin; second lieutenant, Job D. Potter. The non-commissioned officers were: First sergeant, Charles H. Paddock; second sergeant, R. Walworth Bourne: third sergeant, Albert, M. Hazelton; fourth sergeant, William Saxton; fifth sergeant, Charles H. Isabel. The corporals were LeRoy Cole, Lorenzo D. Widger, Jerrie Johnson, Judson H. Coffin, Joseph Wiles, Oscar Courtney, Adin D. Eldredge and Joseph H. Lyon.
Company Organization.
A full company consisted of three commissioned officers and 100 enlisted men. From these hundred men were selected the non-commissioned officers, five sergeants and eight corporals. The commissioned officers were captain, first lieutenant, second lieutenant. The five sergeants were first sergeant, second sergeant, third sergeant, fourth sergeant, fifth sergeant. The eight corporals were first, second, third corporal, etc. The formation of a company in line is in two ranks, thirteen inches apart, called the front rank and the rear rank, the men touching each other's elbows. The eight corporals are placed in the front rank as follows: The tallest corporal is placed on the right and the tallest man behind him in the rear rank. Each front and rear rank man is called a "file." The next two tallest men are placed to the left of the first file, and so on down to the left of the company, whose last file is the shortest corporal and shortest man. The company is divided in the center from right to left, and the right half is called the first platoon, the left half the second platoon, each of these platoons are divided in the center in the same manner into sections. So we have in the company two platoons composed of four sections. The corporals are placed at the right and left of each section, according to height. The captain's position is on the right of the company in the front rank, touching with his left elbow the right of the tallest corporal. The first sergeant is immediately in the rear of the captain in the rear rank. The remaining officers and sergeants are posted as "file closers," and are two paces behind the rear rank. The first lieutenant's place is opposite the center of the fourth section. The second lieutenant's opposite the center of the first platoon. The second sergeant's opposite the second file from the left of the company. The third sergeant's opposite the second file from the right of the second platoon. The fourth sergeant's opposite the second file from the left of the first platoon. The fifth sergeant's opposite the second file from the right of the first platoon.
A company formed in this manner is said to be "in line" or "in line of battle." The right end of the line is the right flank and the left end the left flank.
W. S.
Johnson-Isaacs.
On Tuesday evening, March 10, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. Z. Tuttle, occurred the marriage of Egbert H. Johnson and Lucetta M. Isaacs, both of Freetown, N. Y. The ceremony was performed by Rev. A. S. Anderson in the presence of a few near relatives and friends, after which the company partook of an excellent repast served by the skillful hand of Mrs. H. Z. Tuttle. The bride was becomingly attired in a white brilliantine waist and blue broadcloth skirt and presented a very sensible and attractive appearance.
It is expected that Mr. and Mrs. Johnson will make their home in Freetown, where Mr. Johnson, in company with his brother Earl Johnson, is very successfully engaged in the creamery business. A very large circle of friends unite in wishing Mr. and Mrs. Johnson a happy, prosperous life.
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| Judge Alton B. Parker. |
THE ANNUAL REUNION
Of the Cortland County Society of New York City.
The third annual reunion and dinner of the Cortland county society of New York City will be held this year on Friday evening, April 17, at a place yet to be announced. The price per plate has been fixed at $2.50. These dinners have come to be looked forward to as one of the features of the life of the natives of Cortland county who are now located in New York or its immediate vicinity. Distances are so immense there and the pressure of business or society so strenuous that the best of friends sometimes do not meet for a whole year at a time. But all try to save an open date for these reunions and they become the happiest occasions conceivable. The gathering is usually at 7 o'clock and the people come promptly so as to make use of every minute. For an hour and a half there is a reception and social assembly in the parlors, then in groups made up according to desire they gather about the tables and after the menu has been gone through with comes the speaking. This largely takes the form of reminiscences and the old days are recalled, the years roll back and all are young again. It is the happiest kind of a gathering. There is little of formality and much of sociability.
The officers of the society would like to give this notice the widest possible publicity. A notice will be sent to every former resident of Cortland county who is now in New York or vicinity whose address is known, but there are doubtless many who have changed their addresses without notifying the secretary, and there are others who have moved to New York within the past year. Their friends in this county will read this announcement, and it will be a favor if information regarding this reunion can be sent by the home friends to the New York representative of the family, or if the addresses of the latter can be sent directly to the secretary, or left at the Standard office and they will be forwarded. It will also be a favor if any one will leave at this office the name and address of any friends whose name should be in the possession of the secretary of this society- A further announcement of the dinner will be given later.
The present officers of the society are as follows:
President—Judge Edward B. Thomas.
Vice-Presidents—Judge Alton B. Parker, Franklin Pierce.
Secretary—Dr. Charles O. Dewey, 747 Macon-st., Brooklyn N. Y.
Treasurer—Seymour M. Ballard.
Executive Committee—Dr. Charles M. Milne, Rev. John B. Calvert, D. D., R. A. S. Norton, L. B. Baldwin.
BOARD OF HEALTH
Forbids the Building of More Cesspools on Several Streets.
The [Cortland] board of health at its adjourned meeting last night decided to start the sanitary inspectors at once in making inspections under the card system that was introduced by Commissioner Stockwell at the last meeting. Each commissioner has the appointment of one inspector for his ward, and the records that are obtained will be permanent ones.
Commissioner Bliss of the Fourth ward introduced a resolution against the further building of new cesspools along sewered streets. The board unanimously passed this measure. A penalty is attached to this resolution of $25 for each and every violation of its provision.
This action has been favored by the board of health for some time past, but no decided steps in the matter of doing away with cesspools had been taken prior to the meeting last evening.
The matter of collecting fines from parties that disregard notices to clean up was discussed and it was decided to enforce the payment of these in every case where the city has to clean up the premises.
BREVITIES.
—The new display advertisements today are—W. T. Crane, Piano sale, page 8; M. A. Case, Dry goods, page 6; Opera House, "At Piney Ridge," page 5; Haight & Freese Co., Stocks, bonds, etc., page 7.
—The new quartet choir will sing for the first time at the First M. E. church tomorrow. It consists of Miss Maud Collins, soprano; Miss Anna Saunders, alto; Mr. R. H. Ames, tenor; Mr. G. W. Bowker, bass.
—The members of the W. R. C. are requested to meet at the home of Mrs. Charles Pitts, 159 Railroad-st, Monday at 2:30 to attend the funeral of Mrs. Miller which will be held at the home of M. E. Corwin, Pomeroy-st.
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