WAR MEETING

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 5, 1893.

WAR MEETING.

Union Meetings in the Churches Sunday—Speeches by Prominent Citizens—Money Pledged to Enforce Law.

   Dr. H. A. Cordo had charge of the mass meeting held in the Presbyterian church last Sunday evening in the interest of the Law Enforcement association. Mr. Bentley presided at the organ and a quartette composed of Messrs. Farley, Hunt, Nowlan and Moran furnished vocal music. Rev. W. H. Pound offered prayer.

   Dr. Cordo made the first address. He said the drink evil concerned the pulpit, the church and all who had an interest in the people at large. High license [high tax] had proved a failure. It had done three things (1) It has reduced the number of saloons, (2) It has increased the revenue of those engaged in the traffic, (3) It has created a liquor monopoly.

   After music ex-Judge A. P. Smith was introduced and said he was not there to speak upon the moral side of the question, he was there to speak as a lawyer upon the present situation of affairs. The people had settled the question by their votes. The penalty for selling liquor without a license was a fine of $500, or imprisonment not to exceed one year. In 1854, when he came to Cortland, its population amounted to 1,800. Liquor was sold at the Eagle Hotel, the Cortland House and Centre House and there was a hole in the basement of the Squires building. How is it now? We have one of the handsomest villages in the State, but we have 46 cesspools of Hell. Judge Smith then gave a history of the laws governing the sale of liquor from 1840 to 1890, and then gave a statement concerning the law as it now stands on the statute books.

   Dr. F J. Cheney spoke of the situation with reference to the Normal School and its pupils and hoped the measure would be pushed to a successful result.

   Dr. F. W. Higgins confined his remarks to the question of raising means to carry on the war, and said that it was thought best to organize a stock company, which seemed to meet with the approval of those present, and stock to the amount of $56,000 was taken. It is intended to raise it to $100,000 if possible. Only a certain per cent of the capital stock is to be paid in as fast as the necessities of the case requires. It is understood that two per cent will be asked for on the first call.   

   Rev. C. E. Hamilton pronounced the benediction.

FIRST M. E. CHURCH.

   The women's union meeting was held in the First M. E. church and was opened with prayer and singing. Dr. Campbell introduced Rev. J. L. Robertson as the first speaker. He said that the law could only be enforced by a great struggle and that while women could not do much directly they could accomplish a great work indirectly. They could make the home pleasant and attractive and thus keep their husbands, sons and brothers from the baleful influence of the saloon Keeping the boys and girls off the streets after dark was necessary, a habit that was not much practiced in Cortland.

   Rev. G. H. Brigham said he had been fighting the evil for forty years. He had never seen a drunken woman in the streets of Cortland. Women should make the home pleasant and exert their influence in church and Sunday school.

   Dr. Campbell thought so many clubs were the curse of the town. Many men would go to the club after the day's work was done, even when they had pleasant homes to go to. The woman's crusade in the west had done wonders and he thought the same could be done here.

   After singing the meeting adjourned.

   Monday evening another meeting was held in the Congregational church. Between forty and fifty members were present. The ways and means question was discussed and a committee was appointed to secure a place in which to hold future meetings. The President read the by-laws which had been prepared by a committee appointed for that purpose.

   It was decided to hold a big mass meeting next Sunday evening, the place to be announced hereafter.

Nine More Liquor Men Arrested.

   The cases of The People vs. R. Burns Linderman and Charles Rowe were yesterday adjourned; the first, till Monday, Sept. 4, and the second 'till Thursday, Aug. 31. John F. Dowd, Theron Everett, A. J. Goddard, Thomas Welch, Jr., Irving Stevens, Tim Noonan, James Kane, James Reilley, A. J. McSweeney and William B. Hess were arrested last evening for selling intoxicating beverages without licenses They all furnished $200 bail for their appearance Monday, September 4.

  The case of The People vs. Frank Bates was held open till 8 o'clock last evening at the defendant's request, he stating that he would plead guilty at that time. He came before the court at 8 P. M. and proposed to try the case instead of doing as at first agreed. The jury was called for at 9 o'clock this morning, but up to 2 o'clock this afternoon no jury had been secured. Other warrants are in the hands of the officers and it is expected that more arrests will immediately be made.—Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 1893.

Court of Honor and Grand Basin, Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893.

THE WORLD'S FAIR.

Opened by President Cleveland—Immense Crowds Present From All Over the Earth.

   CHICAGO, May 1.—Grover Cleveland, president of the United States, surrounded by the members of his cabinet, by high officials of the various states; and a numerous and distinguished representation from lands across the seas, and by a mighty and enthusiastic throng of American citizens, today touched the button and set in motion the miles of shafting, the innumerable engines and mechanisms, and the labyrinth of belting and gearing which makes up the machinery of the World's Columbian Exposition.

   Up to the boundaries of the Plaisance the welcome had been distinctively American, but from there to the gates it partook of a cosmopolitan character. Arabs prostrated themselves and cried aloud to "Allah!" Cingalese in long white flowing robes described salaams, with their arms and shoulders; eunichs stood in line with beauties of the harem, and the donkey boy of Cairo knelt down beside his sleek-coated companion. The street in Bagdad was emptied of its residents and the Esquimo colony did not leave even the six-weeks-old baby indoors. The procession wound its way slowly past groups of Algerins, Mongolians, Africans, Japanese, Laplanders, Moors and Persians, through a Dahomey village and a Siamese camp; past to the blue grotto of Capri and the Moorish palace, the Japanese settlement and the Zoopraxiscope, under the captive balloon and through a lane formed of twenty score of female beauties from the many nations. Even the lions and tigers and panthers roared from the wilds of Africa, roared and growled a welcome, as the troops and carriages passed by. Never before, probably, had such a cosmopolitan greeting in the same length of time and stretch of territory been accorded to mortal man.

   In his address President Cleveland said: "I am here to join my fellow citizens in the congratulations which befit this occasion. Surrounded by the stupendous results of American enterprise and activity, and in view of magnificent evidence of American skill and intelligence, we need not fear that these congratulations will be exaggerated. We stand today in the presence of the oldest nations of the world and point to the great achievements we here exhibit, asking no allowance on the score of youth.

   "We have built these splendid edifices, but we have also built the magnificent fabric of a popular government, whose grand proportions are seen throughout the world. We have made and here gathered together objects of use and beauty, the products of American skill and invention; we have also made men who rule themselves.

   "It is an exalted mission, in which we and our guests from other lands are engaged, as we to co-operate in the inauguration of an enterprise devoted to human enlightenment; and in the undertaking we here enter upon, we exemplify in the noblest sense the brotherhood of nations.

   "Let us hold fast to the meaning that underlies this ceremony, and let us not lose the impressiveness of this moment. As by a touch the machinery that gives life to this vast exposition is now set in motion, so at the same instant let our hopes and aspirations awaken forces, which in all time to come, shall influence the welfare, the dignity and the freedom of mankind."

Severely Burned.

   Last Thursday afternoon Fred J. Phillips had his face and arm severely burned while looking after the fires in the Japan room of the Cortland Harness and Carriage Good's Co.'s shop. Gas had accumulated in one of the rooms and taking fire, exploded forcing the doors open. The drip pan caught fire and Mr. Phillips procured a piece of hose and turned water on the flames. The sprinklers began to work and what bid fair to be a serious fire was soon put out. Phillips was taken to his home on Richard-st., and the injuries were properly dressed.

A Great Scheme.

   Quite a little excitement and much talk have been caused among the farmers this spring in the southeastern portion of Cayuga county and southern Onondaga county over the extension of the electric railroad from the foot of Owasco lake to a point on the Skaneateles called Mandana, thence along the shores of the Skaneateles to Glen Haven, thence through the deep defile, at whose base runs the small stream which empties into the Skaneateles, then to Homer.

   The grade is an easy one, and the farmers along the route are quite in earnest. The recent cold and prolonged winter, together with the almost impassable roads, has awakened an interest which, if the capitalists of Auburn will take hold of, will result in the general good to all.  All along this line lie rich and valuable farms, the products of which through transportation would yield a handsome premium. Then the passengers over the road would soon pay the expense of building. The road has already been surveyed from what is called the white bridge to the head of Skaneateles lake, being part of the road which was to have been the air line from Chicago to New York city, said by the surveyors to be 400 miles nearer than any other road.

Senate Districts.

   The apportionment of Senate districts which has been in operation since 1879 has come to an end. Under the new apportionment the counties below the Harlem will have fifteen instead of twelve Senators. The remaining seventeen districts are made up as follows:

   16. Rockland, Orange, Dutchess.

   17. Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, Schoharie.

   18. Rensselear, Columbia.

   19. Albany.

   20. Saratoga, Montgomery, Herkimer, Schenectady.

   21. Essex, Clinton, Franklin, Washington, Warren, Fulton and Hamilton.

   22. St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oswego,

   23. Oneida, Otsego, Lewis,

   24. Onondaga, Madison.

   25. Delaware, Broome, Cortland, Chenango, Tioga.

   26. Cayuga, Wayne, Tompkins, Ontario, Yates.

   27. Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Seneca.

   28. Monroe.

   29. Niagara, Orleans, Livingston, Wyoming, Genesee.

   30. Part of Buffalo.

   31. Remainder of Buffalo and Erie county.

   32. Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany.

HERE AND THERE.

   Burgess & Bingham have a new advertisement on last page.

   Cortland bars are closed. Isn't it time to start the public water fountains?

   Wescott, the photographer, has moved into handsome rooms in the new Miller building.

   Mr. Thomas Briggs of Binghamton is in town with his patent apparatus for cleaning cess pools &c.

   The Razzle Dazzle's of Lisle beat the Normal's on the fair grounds last Saturday afternoon. Score 23 to 8.

   M. L. Decker the sewing machine agent, has purchased two new rigs this week, and put two new men on the road selling machines.

   D. W. Rowley Esq. has exchanged the Elm Tree House in McLean, with Mr. Julius Whiting, of this place, for the F. H. Hibbard farm two miles west of Cortland. Possession given next spring.

   S. H. Strowbridge and Jerome Squires returned Tuesday from Glen Haven where they have been spending a few days as the guests of game protectors Crosly and Brown. They brought home four lake trout that weighed 9 ½ pounds.

   The guessing on the gold watch given away by F. E. Brogden closed last Monday noon and the watch was wound. It ran just 32 hours and 40 minutes. The guess of Ray Tanner hit the time exact and the watch is his.

   It seems that the new law fixing the terms of supervisors and town clerks at two years, applies only to counties having not less than sixty thousand inhabitants. This county does not come in and the one year term will remain.—Ex.

   Miss Helen M. Burt of Blodgett's Mills, was the successful one in the spelling contest of the Teachers' Institute held in Marathon, April 25th. Miss Burt spelled correctly 96 words out of a possible 100, and was awarded a Webster's unabridged dictionary.

   Messrs. Dickinson & Boardman have closed their bakery in the Squires building, on account of inability to meet their obligations. It is said that they have sunk their entire capital in the business, which they have conducted but a year, besides leaving several hundred dollars indebtedness.

   The board of Commissioners of Excise met at Firemen's Hall last Monday morning and organized by electing Mr. J. W. Keese president and Mr. A. W. Gates secretary. An adjourned meeting was held in the afternoon, when thirty-one applications for license were presented. All were refused. Mr. R. F. Randall, the third commissioner, was present.

   Mr. T. L. Corwin of this place, formerly of Marathon, has purchased an interest in Tisdale's Flour Mills in Homer and the business will hereafter be conducted under the firm name of J. A. Tisdale & Co. The business has been successfully carried on for the last twenty-five years by Mr. Tisdale. Failing health caused him to take a partner. Mr. Corwin is a successful, wide-awake business man and will push the business.

   On Wednesday last, one of the Greeks employed in the tannery, created some little excitement by appearing on the street in the National costume of a soldier of that country. The costume was a very striking one, having plenty of snow-white skirts, like a ballet dancer, with a beautiful cape thrown over the shoulders of fawn colored velvet, trimmed with silver braid. Queer shoes that turned up at the toes, and a fez with a tasseled top, completed the costume. It was a very picturesque display of raiment.—Marathon Independent.

   Two teachers in attendance at the Institute last week attempted to while away some of their spare moments in navigating the boiling waters of the Tioughnioga in a boat. In some way one of them fell out of the boat, and the other in attempting to maintain the equilibrium of the craft, caused it to ship so much water that it, too, sunk. They were promptly rescued from their uncomfortable plight however, with no more serious results than a good wetting. They were E. Louise Strong of Harford Mills, and Ida C. Kimmich of Harford—Marathon Independent.

   All will be glad to hear the fine tenor voice of Mr. Mahlon Day Murphy, Jr., at the Keator Opera House, May 9th.

   Mr. E. Dodge has moved his liquor store to the Hakes block in Homer, where he will be pleased to see all his old Cortland customers. Fine wines and liquors constantly on hand and sold at reasonable prices. [No-license applied to the Town of Cortlandville only—CC editor.]

   Mr. Hosea Sprague has just been putting ten or twelve cords of split wood into his wood-house, wheeling it all in himself. He also repaired his line fence in the rear of his lot which blew down in the gale of last Thursday. He drove in two or three posts and nailed on the boards himself. How is this for a man in his one-hundredth year?—Homer Republican.

 

A TIMELY REPEAT

Cortland County Legislators Vote for a Pay Raise But Questions Remain. 

Cortland County Pay Plan, September 24, 2015 Meeting.

On motion of Whitney, agenda item no. 23, Increase Annual Legislative Compensation - Cortland County Legislature.

              WHEREAS, the Cortland County Legislature is currently paid $6,000 per year, per Legislator, with the Chairman receiving $15,000 and the Majority and Minority Leaders receiving $6,500, AND

              WHEREAS, the above salary has remained the same for 25 years (1991 was raised from $5,000 to $6,000), AND

              WHEREAS, over the course of those 25 years additional compensation and/or benefits have been withdrawn, such as monthly meeting stipends ($25 per meeting), and eligibility to participate in the County Health/Dental/Vision insurance plan, AND

              WHEREAS, the Cortland County Budget & Finance Committee recommends an increase in salary for Legislators beginning in 2016, and an annual increase matching that of the Management Compensation Plan, NOW THEREFORE BE IT

              RESOLVED, that the Director of Budget & Finance, as Budget Officer, shall hereby include a Legislative salary of $10,000 per legislator, $19,000 for the Chairman and $10,500 for Majority and Minority Leaders in the 2016 budget, AND BE IT FURTHER

              RESOLVED, that effective January 1, 2017 any annual salary adjustment of Legislators shall match that provided to employees covered under the Management Compensation Plan.

     The Cortland Contrarian suggests that legislators review Local Law No. 6 for the year 1971, which has not been rescinded, or amended. It was in force when the September 24, 2015 vote was recorded. Annual raises suggested in Resolution 23 may be subject to an Article 78 challenge in Supreme Court.

LOCAL LAW NO. 6 FOR THE YEAR 1971.

A Local Law Regarding Effective Date of Board of Supervisors or County Legislators’ Salaries.

   BE IT ENACTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF CORTLAND AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1: Legislative intent. It is the expressed purpose and intent of this Local Law to provide that an election of supervisors or county legislators intervene between the time that the salary of supervisors or county legislators is approved by the legislative body and the time said adjustment becomes effective.

   Section 2: Section 200 of the County Law of the State of New York provides that the Board of Supervisors of a county shall have power from time to time to fix the compensation of its members for services rendered to the county.

   Section 3: The County Law does not expressly provide nor prohibit that an election of legislators intervene between the time that a legislative salary or expense adjustment is approved and the time said adjustment becomes effective.

   Section 4: Therefore, be it enacted by this Board of Supervisors that an election of Supervisors or County Legislators shall intervene between the time that a legislative salary is approved by the legislators and the time said adjustment becomes effective.

   Section 5: This Local Law shall take effect immediately.

Article 78: http://www.lawny.org/index.php/housing-self-help-141/housing-and-eviction-self-help-142/192-article-78-proceedings-how-to-appeal-an-agency-decision
How to file:

http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/1jd/supctmanh/Self-Rep%20Forms/Special%20Proceeding2.pdf

G. W. MCGRAW LETTER

Old Quarter, Panama City, Columbia..

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, April 28, 1893.

FROM A TROPICAL CLIME.

To San Francisco by the Way of Panama.

   Mr. M. H. McGraw has just received a letter from his son George, who started some weeks ago for San Francisco via Panama, and we are permitted to publish some parts of it. Mr. McGraw says:

   As you see by this I am in Panama in good health and spirits. I arrived in Colon or Aspinwall on the 5th after a fine trip of just seven days. There were only six cabin and two steerage passengers on the ship as the line is new and not known generally as is the Pacific Mail, but will in time I think cut that line out as the Col. line is in collusion with the Panama R. R. Co. which means a big pull. All the passengers were extremely pleasant. I was quite sea sick for the first two days. Only one of the passengers (Mr. Bacon of Washington) is going through so I was fortunate to find him a very pleasant and agreeable traveling companion. He is a druggist by trade and is going to Sacramento, Cal. to settle, as his health is poor in the east.

   Colon is about the same size as Cortland but very rough and uncitified. The town is surrounded by cocoanut palms which makes a pretty picture as the steamer comes in. The town is populated by almost every nationality, but the Chinese, Jamaica Negroes, Spanish and French are in larger numbers. There is very little to see in Colon except negroes and they are plenty. Of course it is very novel to see this tropical country to one not accustomed to seeing it. Col. Reeves, superintendent of the railroad, and De Lesseps residences are very pretty being laid out with gardens of cocoanut, banana, sago, fern and other varieties of palms and flowering trees.

   Yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock we started for Panama over the railroad and a very novel ride it is, right through wild and most luxuriant tropical foliage. The canal, or rather the ruins of canal and machinery which is seen from the train is indeed a sorry sight. Millions of dollars of fine dredging engines, immense dredging steamers, dump cars and locomotives lie there before you, some of it covered partially up with rank grass while whole trains of dump cars lie on the track rotting away. Of course in many cases the machinery is kept painted and housed, but this is an exception to the rule.

   There are nearly thirty stations between Colon and Panama. The town is occupied by Jamaica negroes who live in small wooden dwellings, but between the towns are small clusters of thatched huts, conical in shape, in which live the native negroes in a nearly wild state—no floor but the ground—and no clothing (for the small children) but their dark brown skins which by the way is an improvement to a great many of the other negro children, who wear perhaps only a nasty, greasy chemise or waist shirt. It takes the passenger trains (of which there is only one each way per day) over two hours to make the journey of 45 miles and the cars are very poor compared to our American cars.

   We drove to the hotel from the station on arriving at Panama. This hotel is the best in the city, but at that is simply "rank," but there are quite a number of Americans who live here who think it's all O. K. In the first place it is very, very dirty, and consequently the sanitary arrangements are bad, so bad that I only wonder they don't have cholera or yellow fever the year around. They are nicely situated however, as we look out at the plaza or garden square across to the large cathedral. This is the finest square in the city and the plaza is laid out with palm and beautiful flowering trees. The town is of about 25,000 population and now has electric light and car line. The buildings are largely of stone or stone and mortar, and are more substantial than at Colon.

   We shall sail to-morrow morning at 9 A.M. on the City of Sydney, Pacific Mail, for San Francisco as the City of Mexico does not sail until the 18 or 20. Will probably reach Frisco on the 24. Write me at San Francisco, 504 Stockton-st., as I will get mail there that you write now at about the time I make Frisco. We stop at several Mexican and Central American ports up. Give my love to all the family. With much love,

   I am your son,

   G. W. MCGRAW.

MONEY, WHISKERS, GOOD FOOD.

The Lack of These Causes A Strike Among New York Waiters.

   NEW YORK, April 29.—Unless enough money, whiskers and good food are given to the waiters of this city they swear they will leave everybody without enough to eat. They have crippled the restaurants of the Hotel Brunswick, the Hotel de Logerot and Delmonico's, and they threaten to do more. Twenty napkin bearers marching out of the Hotel Brunswick at half past seven last evening was the picturesque feature of the day's strike. The language used by some of the half fed guests was picturesque, too. The spectacle of the Marquis de Croisic trotting around with a tureen full of soup also gladdened the hearts of the twenty-four waiters who had suddenly abandoned him. Most of the hotel and restaurant keepers have promised to give their men enough money and good food and to let them grow all the whiskers they choose, but some of them are determined to fight to the end.

N. Y. Central Engine No. 999.

Dewitt Clinton Train.

   ALBANY, April 29.—Superintendent Harrington of the Mohawk division of the Central-Hudson road notified all agents that the Dewitt Clinton train would pass over his division, Monday afternoon, en route for the World's fair. It will be drawn by engine No. 999, just built by the New York Central company, and said to be the finest engine in the world. The train will stop Monday at all the stations in the Mohawk Valley five minutes to give the public an opportunity to see the first train that ever ran on the road.

To Visit the World's Fair.

   NEW YORK, April 29.—The admirals and flag officers of the American and foreign ships in the harbor received an invitation yesterday to visit the World's Fair. A special train was placed at their disposal by the New York Central R. R. and they were asked to name an hour when they could conveniently start. Henry Villard has charge of the arrangements. It is expected the train will start this afternoon.

ON THE WARPATH.

NAVAJO INDIANS DON THEIR PAINT AND FEATHERS.

Two Battles Already Fought in Which Eight Whites Were Killed—The Situation Looked Upon as Being Very Serious—Help Asked From the Government— Indians Well Equipped and More Bloodshed is Imminent.

   DENVER, April 29.—The long threatened war of Navajo Indians against the settlers of the country in the vicinity of their lands has come at last and with it the death of eight settlers.

   Such was the startling news received yesterday by Adjutant General Kennedy. At 9:45 o'clock the adjutant general received a telegram from Lieutenant Plummer, Indian agent of the Navajos, in which he stated that eight white men had been murdered by the Indians, who are now at war with the settlers. He declared that the situation was critical and asked that the troops be called out to prevent further bloodshed. The telegram was addressed to Governor Waite, but he is out of the city and the matter was referred by Secretary Lorentz to the adjutant general.

   Lieutenant Plummer stated that the people below Durango are in a wild state of excitement and grave fears are entertained lest the Indians should continue their warfare along the valley. In his message the lieutenant states that two battles have been fought. The first was early Thursday, when five men were killed, all settlers, while at another encounter three more whites lost their lives and further bloodshed is anticipated.

   The adjutant general forwarded the information to the war department at Washington, and it is not unlikely that orders will be issued from that source for the removal of the troops now quartered at Fort Logan. They can act outside the state and would be of more avail in a conflict with the Indians than state troops.

WELL MOUNTED AND EQUIPPED.

   Adjutant General Kennedy was inclined [to] regard the situation with a good deal of concern, although expressing the belief that the trouble would not extend very far north. He declined to give copies of the telegrams received and sent by him, stating that it was contrary to orders. In speaking of the affair he said that there are 250 bucks who are raising the disturbance.

   "They are all mounted and equipped," said he, "with the best repeating rifles and have ample supplies for a long war. They are a bad lot and revel in plunder and murder. There has been ill-feeling among them for a long time and it has at last come to a head. The settlers down in that country and the Indians never could get along in peace. The Indians are continually plundering and stealing from the whites who have submitted to the thefts until the past few days.

   "The present conflict was precipitated by the resistance of the whites to the depredations of a band of warriors who raided the stock of the cattlemen.

   "They drove off a large herd of cattle which they took to the mountains. This so incensed the stock men that they organized a large posse of cowboys and went to recover the cattle. The Indians fled on the approach of the cowboys at first and the cattlemen were rejoicing in what they looked upon as a very easy victory and after they had secured their cattle started to return to their ranches. They had proceeded but a very short distance, however, when they were attacked from the flank by the Indians as they were passing through a shallow canyon.

COWBOYS DEFEATED.

   "A desperate encounter followed in which five cowboys were killed and, it is believed, a number of Indians. The red men from their vantage points up above their adversaries fought with telling effect upon the cattlemen, who were finally repulsed.

   "They took with them a portion of the herd of cattle, which they had recovered, and retreated.

   "The Indians by this time were thoroughly aroused and started on a marauding expedition across the country."

   The reservation of the Navajos is a large one, covering some 12,000 square miles in the northwestern part of New Mexico and northeastern part of Arizona and extends up to the southern line of Colorado. On this there are thousands of Indians who are liable to go on the warpath.

   A band of 250 started from the reservation over in Arizona, crossed the line into New Mexico, going due east to a town called Jennett, going thence on the [San] Juan river and are now in that vicinity.

   A dispatch from Durango says: Three hundred Navajos have captured Tom White's trading post mission at Hog Back on the San Juan river, near Welsh's ranch. The homes of other settlers are surrounded by Indians who are threatening to kill and burn.

   James Hand arrived from the scene of action, which is about 70 miles south of Durango, and after securing a supply of ammunition for the settlers exchanged teams and returned at once.

   Agent Bartholomew wired the Indian department regarding the situation, but as the Navajos are beyond his jurisdiction he can do nothing.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   The situation with regard to Hawaii is this: Jan. 17 the revolutionists formed a provisional government and raised the American flag over their headquarters. President Cleveland ordered the American flag hauled down, and this was done April 1, the president thus disavowing the responsibility of the United Stated government for either the revolution or the new government, which latter, however, still remains at the head of affairs, its president declaring that it can hold out for a year. The American flag was hauled down, but the provisional government [flag] still waves.

   It is satisfactory to know that the fastest cruiser of her size in the world is the new United States man-of-war Detroit. Foreign naval officers will examine her with especial interest. Her contract called for 17 knots an hour, but she can travel 20, and this fact wins for her builders the handsome bonus of $150,000.

BREVITIES.

   —The board of excise will meet Monday morning at 10 o'clock in Firemen's hall.

   —Mr. Lewis Dickinson has lately started a boot and shoe repair shop at 26 Railroad-st.

   —The Lisle Razzle Dazzle base ball team arrived in town on the 10 o'clock train this morning.

   —As many will be unable to listen to the chimes at 5:30 o'clock this afternoon they will be rung again at 7 P. M. to-day.

   —Mr. L. R. Van Bergen of Tully died yesterday morning. He was a brother of Mrs. H. T. Dana and Mr. P. Van Bergen of this village.

   —The first new mail carrier under the present administration has arrived in town. She is a girl and is chaperoned by Mrs. Theodore Sheeley this morning.

   —Mr. C. E. Rowley has rented his large brick house on Tompkins-st. next to the Standard building to Mrs. C. C. Gay of Syracuse who will next week open a first-class boarding house there.

   —Two stairways have been taken out of the store of F. Daehler during the past week. The cellar has been dug and the foundation walls are now rising up for the addition to the rear of the store.

   —So great has been the pressure of new students at the Central school that it has been necessary to open a new room in the building this week. Miss Ella Van Hoesen has been engaged to take charge of it.

   —We publish at the head of our brevity column to-day a poem quite appropriate to the use of the Grace church chimes to-morrow morning, the hymns referred to in this poem being the ones to be played at that time.

   —An empty malt bottle was this morning found in one of the large package mail boxes on Main-st. by the carrier. As the no-license law is to go into effect Monday probably some one thought it would be well to send all bottles out of town.

   —Mr. John Jordan of 118 Railroad-St., one of Cortland's leading wagon makers, is making a road skeleton that will carry 600 pounds and will weigh only 75 pounds when fully equipped. The wagon is a beauty and is especially designed for speeding roadsters.

   —The contest for the Fitzgerald diamond badge waxes warm among the members of the C. M. B. A. Six applications have been received this week. The contest closes July 1 and it is expected that fifty new members will be initiated by that time.

   —Dr. F. D. Reese was traveling on what appeared to be a hard and zigzag path this noon. He was seated in his shirt sleeves on a pneumatic safety [bicycle] and with the assistance of a friend was learning the intricacies of the wheel. He is probably busy by this time dressing his own wounds.

   —Union temperance meetings will be held at the Presbyterian and First Methodist churches to-morrow evening at 7:30 o'clock. The former will be for men and the latter for women. At the Presbyterian church a male quartet will sing and at the Methodist church the regular choir will furnish the music.

   —Quite an interesting game of base ball was played on Court House hill [presently Cortland State campus--CC editor] yesterday afternoon between the High school nine, under the management of Mr. Robert Barker and a nine composed of scholars in the intermediate department of the Normal, under the management of Mr. Ross Pudney. The high school team won by a score of 25 to 23. The winning team is open for challenges which may be sent to the manager.

   —This will be encouraging news for farmers. It is said that warm weather always comes when the bobolinks get along and their corn can be planted without fear. Mr. A. P. Rowley has kept track of the time when the bobolinks have arrived in past years and he reports the dates as follows: 1883, May 4; 1884, April 23; 1885, May 4; 1886, May 3; 1888, May 27; 1889, May 7; 1890, April 29; 1892, May 2; 1893, April 29. The bobolinks arrived to-day so lookout for warmer weather.

   —We learn from several of our subscribers that occasionally one or another of our carrier boys gives as an excuse for failure to deliver a paper that he has not been given papers enough at the office. This is no excuse whatever, as our delivery clerk knows how many papers each boy is to take out and the boy himself knows. The clerk counts the papers very carefully and then turns them over to the boy who is expected to count them himself before he leaves the office, so that when he starts out he, in every case, has his proper number of papers. If he fails to deliver a paper it is for some other reason and we should esteem it a favor if any person failing to get a paper would at once report the fact at the office. We intend to have the papers delivered promptly and accurately.

   —An interesting letter from Miss Irene A. Head, now of Oakland, Cal., a graduate of the Normal in the class of last June, is to-day found on our sixth page.