AWFUL CATASTROPHE, FANATICS RIOT, RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, SEA LION ON ICE, ESCAPED DROWNING, AND FIDELIA CONRAD EDWARDS

 

United States Cartridge Co. explosion site.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, July 30, 1903.

AWFUL CATASTROPHE.

Two Powder Magazines Blew Up In Lowell, Mass.

OVER A SCORE OF LIVES LOST.

Seventy Houses Demolished—Six of the Men Loading the Powder Blown to Pieces—Nitric Acid Mistaken For Water and Poured on Leaking Nitro Glycerine.

   Lowell, Mass., July 30.—Two small powder magazines in the midst of the houses of 50 mill operatives exploded yesterday with frightful concussion and the lives of more than a score of persons were cut off and 50 others were injured.

   Half a dozen men who were loading kegs of powder from one of the magazines were blown to pieces, four boys 200 yards away were killed by the force of the explosion and 14 frame houses within a radius of 400 yards collapsed as though built of cards.

   Seven of these houses immediately caught fire and were completely consumed. At least three persons were caught in the ruins and burned to death, while seven or eight others who were rescued, died subsequently of their injuries.

   It is estimated that 70 separate pieces of property, including those already mentioned, were destroyed while the force of the explosion broke windows within a radius of five or six miles, and its thunder was heard distinctly for more than 50 miles away.

Mistook Nitric Acid For Water.

   Glarendon Goodwin, the foreman of the men who were loading the powder, and Amadee Boulanger, one of his assistants, were not killed by the explosion. The latter, in explaining the cause of the explosion said that the men found that a can of nitro glycerine in the magazine was leaking.  Mr. Goodwin picked up what he thought was a jug of water and began pouring it on the nitro glycerine. As soon as the fluid from the jug struck the floor, he found that it was nitric acid. The floor at once began to smoke.

   The men rushed from the building, but had not gone 10 feet when the explosion occurred. This explosion was followed immediately by an explosion of the gunpowder in the three teams, and several seconds later by the second magazine.

   The entire catastrophe occurred within five seconds, but in that time the surrounding property was swept as if a small volcano had broken forth in its midst.

   Every house within 200 yards collapsed. Trees were blown down, the grass within 100 yards was mowed as if by a lawn mower, while bricks from the two magazines were hurled far across the river and all over the neighborhood.

 

FANATICS RIOT IN ASIA.

Members of Unpopular Sect Murdered In Persia.

PRIESTS HEADED THE RIOTERS.

Mutilated Bodies Dragged Through the Streets—Houses Looted and Women Beaten and Killed—Governor Compelled to Order One Man Blown From Mouth of a Cannon.

   London, July 30.—The Times this morning describes serious religious riots in the city and province of Yezd, in Central Persia, which lasted more than a fortnight. The outbreak was directed against religious reformers called Babis. For two days every Babi found in the city was butchered by the rabble and the mutilated bodies were dragged through the streets followed by the exultant crowds.

   Houses were looted, women beaten and killed and finally the priestly leaders of the riot enjoined the populace to bring all the remaining Babis before them or the governor for judgment. The governor refused at first to yield to the threats of the mob but his palace was surrounded by menacing men and the following day he consented. One Babi taken before him was blown from the mouth of a cannon and another was killed and dragged through the town. Order, it is reported, has been restored, but the Babis who escaped are in hiding.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Our Relations With Russia.

   Just what relation the "open door" in China bears to the slaughter of Jews at Bessarabia is not quite clear, though it is significant that on the day following the receipt of formal assurances from the Russian government that no further objection would be offered to the opening of the Manchurian ports, the secretary of state announced that the so called Kishineff incident was closed by the refusal of the Russian government to receive a petition in behalf of its Jewish subjects.

   Outwardly, of course, there is supposed to be no connection between these events, but the circumstances suggest something of the kind. However, as the matter of the petition is a "closed incident" it is not particularly important whether there was any diplomatic connection between it and the promise of Russia not to interfere with our trade in Manchuria. At any rate, the czar's government has a pretty clear idea of public and official sentiment in this country in regard to the Kishineff outrage, and possibly the moral effect of the protest is as great as though it had actually been presented. It went far enough to cause the Russian government to take energetic steps to punish the Kishineff rioters.

   As to the agreement of Russia in the Manchurian matter, the state department appears to have won a substantial victory. The United States had previously been assured that the Chinese government would "open as treaty ports several ports in Manchuria now closed to the world's trade." Now Russia, which practically controls Manchuria, assures us that it will not in any way interfere with the opening of these ports, as proposed by China.

   Although the ports to be opened have not been specified, it is gathered from communications that they are Mukden, the principal inland port of Manchuria, and Tatungkao, at the mouth of the Yalu river.

   If Russia keeps her promise, as the state department apparently believes she will, this action is of highest importance both to this country and other nations trading in Manchuria. It means the fulfillment of the American policy of the "open door" in China, which is practically the source of our contention in that quarter.

 

SEA LION IS ON ICE.

The Charges are $50, Which Boone Declines to Pay.

   "Jack" Boone's sea lion is dead, but it isn't buried. The lion escaped from Boone's summer resort in this city [Cortland, N. Y.—CC ed.] in June and was killed in the Chemung river at Elmira last Saturday by parties who were trying to capture it.

   The carcass of the sea lion, packed in ice, is at the New York Central freight office in Syracuse. It was consigned to Mr. Boone in Syracuse and there are $50 charges. Mr. Boone has refused to take the carcass and railroad men don't know what will happen when the ice has melted.

 

PATRONS OF INDUSTRY

Entertained at Home of Mynard Pennoyer— Fine Evening.

   The Patrons of Industry and their friends to the number of about eighty were very pleasantly entertained last evening at the home of Mynard Pennoyer and his mother, who did all in their power to please and gratify their guests. The reading given by Mrs. Edith Latimer was received with hearty applause and very highly appreciated by all present. Vocal music given by the members of the association added to the pleasure of the evening. The refreshments were of a dainty character. All expressed themselves as having spent a very pleasant evening.

 

ESCAPED DROWNING

But Were in the Icy Cold Water of Otisco Lake

FOR UPWARDS OF THREE HOURS.

Ray F. Smith, G. Ray Harrington and a Syracuse Friend Upset in a Sail Boat—Lost their Clothes, their Money and a Watch—No One Came from Shore to Help Them.

   Three members of a camping party at Otisco lake, two of whom are well known Cortland men, had an experience Monday, more tedious and dangerous than pleasant, and one which they have no desire to repeat.

   The party, which consisted of Ray F. Smith and G. Ray Harrington of Cortland and a fellow camper named Blackwell of Syracuse, was out in a sail boat Monday afternoon. When out in the middle of the lake, the boat for some reason capsized, tumbling the passengers into the water. The boat filled with water and it at once became evident that the only way to reach shore was by swimming or by clinging to the boat until some one noticed their predicament and came to their relief. As the water in Otisco lake is very cold, making a continued stay in it dangerous on account of cramps, the party thought it better to hang together and stick to the boat, thinking that it would be but a short time before they would be noticed, especially as it was early in the afternoon and only about 2:20 o'clock. They began to work their way toward the shore taking advantage of what little breeze there was. As time passed and the cold water began to chill them to the bone they began to look more and more anxiously for help, but no one on shore appeared to notice them or to be aware of their distress.

   The afternoon gradually wore away and the progress toward shore seemed distressingly slow seeming at times as though no progress was being made.

   As the hope of succor from camping parties left the tired swimmers, they began to lose hope and bade each other farewell thinking it impossible that all could reach the shore alive.

   Finally one of them struck bottom with his foot and with renewed hope they kept on and finally reached shore at 5 o'clock so weak that they could scarcely stand.

   Some one with a glass finally noticed the sail floating out in the lake and started to search for the party. Finding them they took them to Pierce's cottage and looked after their wants. They had lost their clothes, their money, and Mr. Harrington also lost his watch.

   Their many Cortland friends will be glad they will probably suffer no alarming consequences from their unenviable experience.

 

MRS. JAMES E. EDWARDS

Passed Away this Morning After a Long Illness from Bright's Disease.

   Mrs. James E. Edwards died this morning at her home, 12 Crandall-st., Cortland, after a long illness from Bright's disease, in the progress of which she was a great sufferer. The funeral will be held at the house at 2 o'clock on Saturday with burial in the Cortland Rural cemetery.

   Mrs. Edwards, whose maiden name was Fidelia Conrad, was born in the town of Marathon 56 years ago. Thirty-five years ago she was married to Mr. Edwards and all their married life has been spent in the towns of Marathon, Willet, and for the past sixteen years in Cortland. She early united with the Baptist church of Texas Valley, of which she remained a consistent member. She never transferred her membership from that church, but was a regular attendant of the church of that denomination in Willet and in Cortland.

   She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Mrs. Rosa Carl of Windsor and Mrs. Jennie Seamans of Cortland; also by two sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Henry Hammond and Miss Ana Eliza Conrad of McGraw and James M. Conrad of Cuba, N. Y., and Jerome Conrad of Michigan.

 

BREVITIES.

    —The Woodward family will hold its fifth annual reunion at Cortland park Thursday, Aug. 13.

   —The corner stone of the new First M. E. church of Syracuse was laid at 4 o'clock this afternoon.

   —The capital stock of the Solvay Process Co. at Syracuse has been increased from $5,000,000 to $6,000,000.

   —The twenty-eighth reunion and picnic of the Hammond family will be held at the home of Samuel Hammond near Marathon Friday, Aug. 21, 1903.

   —Lucy J. McGragar of Groton has sold to Mary F. Gould of Cortland property in the town of Groton for a nominal consideration.—Ithaca Journal.

   —The new display advertisements today are—G. H. Wiltsie, Specials for Friday and Saturday, etc., page 6; Gardner's 5 and 10 cent store, All silk ribbons, page 6; W. W. Bennett, Asphalt roofing, page 6.