TERRIBLE TRAIN WRECK AT PREBLE, NEW YORK

Empire State Express, "Sam Sloan."

Another view of Engine No. 6, "Sam Sloan."

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 6, 1895.

A TERRIBLE WRECK.

The D. L. & W. Express Thrown From the Track Sunday Night at Preble.

ENGINEER AND FIREMAN KILLED.

A BAGGAGE AND A MAIL CAR, TWO PASSENGER COACHES AND THREE FREIGHT CARS BURNED—THE SLEEPER SAVED.

It was Evidently the Work of Train Wreckers—The Switch Locked Open—The Engine and Tender Wrecked—Wrecking Trains From Syracuse and Cortland on the Ground Early.

   The New York and Philadelphia express train on the D. L. & W. road due at Preble at 11:01 P. M. was completely wrecked at that station Sunday night, the engineer, George Young, was instantly killed, and fireman Webster Roof was so badly injured that he died not long after being taken from the wreck.

   The train, which does not stop at Preble, left Syracuse at 10:10 and is one of the fastest on the road. The grade is heavy from Syracuse to Apulia and trains usually make up the time lost in climbing this grade after leaving the latter station. At Tully the train was four minutes behind time and the engineer pulled the throttle wide open after turning into the straight track this side of that village, expecting to be on time at Cortland. It is estimated that the train was running at the rate of nearly sixty miles an hour when it struck the switch just south of the water tank at Preble. The switch had been fastened open and the train flew like lightning upon the siding, the engine telescoping three out of seven empty freight cars that stood on the siding before it pitched over on its left side and came to a stop some 40 feet from the north end of the passenger station. The freight cars were smashed and thrown to the right of the track and the express and baggage cars telescoped the engine and were in a heap. Fortunately the smoker and coach left the track but remained upright. The sleeper did not leave the track and was pushed back on the track away from the others. The tender slipped over the engine and dumped its load of coal on the fire box adding more fuel to the fire.

   The express and baggage cars caught fire from the firebox of the engine and were soon burning fiercely. The passengers, of whom there were about fifty, were all helped from the coaches, none of them being seriously injured. Every berth in the sleeper was occupied but no one was injured. The fire soon communicated with the smoker and coach and as there were no facilities for putting out the fire, the three freight cars, the express, baggage, smoker and coach were soon reduced to ashes.

   Fireman Webster Roof was found under the timbers of the express car. He cried loudly for help and the rescuers released him. He was conscious although a cut in his head had broken the skull. He was carried into the waiting room at the station and his wounds were dressed by Drs. Hunt and McDonald, the local physicians. As soon as possible after the wreck, wrecking trains were ordered by telegraph from Syracuse and Cortland and station agents along the line were directed to notify all the employes [sic] and section hands to board these trains as they passed the several stations. The train from Syracuse reached the scene at 3 A. M., and the Cortland train arrived at 2 A. M. A train was also made up at Syracuse to take the passengers to Binghamton. It arrived at Preble at 3:45 and fireman Roof was put on board and brought to Cortland. He died soon after being placed on the car and the body was delivered to Beard & Peck when it arrived here and was sent to Syracuse on the 10:00 A. M. train.

   The charred remains of engineer Geo. Young were found at about 5 o'clock almost embedded in burning coals near the fire box. The head, both arms and one leg were gone. Later, a part of the skull and a few bones were dug out and all were sent to Syracuse.

   The road has two tracks from Tully to Cortland and the south bound trains run on the west track and the north bound on the east track. The wrecked train was going south on the west track. The station at Preble is located on the north side of the highway running from that village east to the little hamlet called Baltimore and is on the west side of the double tracks. About thirty rods north of the station is a water tower standing close by the west track and some thirty feet north of the tower is a small building used as a tool house. Some twenty feet south of the water tower is a switch, which is used to turn trains from the west track on the siding which passes south on the west side of the station, crosses the highway and joins the west track again a few rods south of the road.

   The switch just south of the water tower is of the Latham Ball pattern. Near the end of the lever that operates the same is a heavy ball or weight cast as a part of the lever. When the ball rests on the long flat timber under it, the switch is closed and cannot be opened except by raising the lever. To prevent anyone opening the switch by raising the lever, an upright iron rod about two feet in length is fastened at the lower end to the lever and at the upper end to the upright standard that carries the signal. This end of the rod is locked to the standard by a strong padlock that is not easily unlocked except one has the proper key.

   At 9:20 Sunday night, John Grace, who lives with his family in the north end of the station house, went to the switch and found the signal light burning all right and the switch locked shut as he had left it earlier in the evening. Immediately after the wreck an examination of the switch showed that the upper end of the rod had been broken, the padlock was gone and a bar fork had been used to fasten the lever up and a piece of hemlock joist about four feet long had been used to assist in holding the lever in an upright position. This locked the switch open. Take the board and the fork away and the lever drops and locks the switch shut. There is no doubt but that the switch was locked open by some miscreant after 9:20 and before the train came along. The water tower stands so close to the track that the engineer could not see whether the light was burning or not until he was too near it to prevent an accident. A brake equalizer taken from a pile of old iron near the tool house was evidently used to break the switch rod. There were marks on the equalizer when found near the tool house in the morning, showing that it had recently been used. The padlock was found a few feet south of the switch soon after daylight

   The following diagram will give a pretty good idea of the station and its surroundings:

   The engine was completely stripped of its mountings, the forward trucks were gone, and the front end of the boiler was broken completely out. The steam chests were badly broken and the tender and cab were burned up. From the station almost to the water tower the ground was covered with immense heaps of iron of all descriptions and these were twisted into all sorts of shapes. The wrecking trains were fully manned and the work of cleaning the debris was vigorously prosecuted, notwithstanding the rain storm that continued all day Monday. Before night a train load of flat cars was loaded with car trucks, wheels, brakes and irons of all sorts. The engine had been righted up, placed on the switch and a set of trucks put under the forward end, and attached to the train of flat cars she was towed to the shops in Syracuse.

   The engine was the "Sam Sloan," known as No. 6, and this is not its first experience of the kind. A few years ago it ran into a freight train on a siding at Rock Cut near Jamesville and was badly damaged. It was rebuilt and again put on the road and has done good service ever since. The disaster at Rock Cut was caused by a boy employe, who became rattled at the approach of the train and opened the switch just in time to turn the flying passenger train on the siding where it ran into the freight. The engineers and firemen of both engines were killed as a result of the boy's mistake.

   A new store house 30x40 feet, situated just west of the tracks, caught fire and was burned together with 600 barrels of apples which were in the same. The building and contents were owned by H. C. Crofoot and station agent W. W. Wright. Neither building nor contents were insured.

   Ex-Sheriff Miller, who had been spending some days with friends in Truxton was notified and drove over the hills and was on the ground early in the morning. Officer Sevenoaks of Syracuse came down on the wrecking train, and Deputy Shirley of Homer was there at an early hour. Several supposed clues to the guilty parties were run down by the officers but in every case the suspected parties were able to prove themselves innocent of the crime. Mrs. Sullivan, wife of the station agent at Little York, saw two men at that station at 1:30 in the morning. They seemed to be uncertain as to which way they should go, but they finally started off down the track towards Homer. It is not known who they were and they have not been traced. Sheriff Hillsinger, ex-sheriffs Van Hoesen and Miller of this place, deputy Shirley of Homer, detectives O'Brien of Syracuse, and Van Alstine of New York, and inspector Frank K. Baxter of the state railroad commission of Utica are all working on the case. It is also understood that the Pinkertons have men on the ground.

   The Bowery Girls, a theatrical company, was on the train and the baggage car contained a large lot of scenery belonging to them. It is believed that the scenery in this car acted as a sort of cushion and prevented a much greater catastrophe, as passengers in the smoker, coach and sleeper say that the concussion was not sufficient to throw them from their seats or to injure them by being thrown against the seats in front. The scenery was saved.

   Most of the mail was taken from the mail car, some of it more or less damaged by fire and possibly some of it may have been destroyed. James Dalton, the baggageman, was tossed about some in the car but was not injured.

   Coroner W. J. Moore of this place was notified and arrived early on the scene and empanelled the following jury: Morris F. Spore, foreman; Lorenzo Allen, A. A. Knapp, Philander Manchester, Duane Vandenburgh, John Ackles, Edwin Wilbur, John H. Gay. Seth Hobart, Day Harter, C. J. Sheppard, A. H. Vosburgh.

   The jury viewed the bodies of the engineer and fireman and the inquest was adjourned to yesterday morning at 10 o'clock and is now in progress.

   Every train that pulled into Preble station on Monday brought and carried away a load of people who came to view the wreck. Farmers from a considerable distance drove in for the same purpose.

   Engineer Young was about 35 years of age, unmarried and was counted one of the most reliable engineers on the road. Fireman Roof was about 40 years old and leaves a wife and four children. Another crew had this run, but Young and Roof changed off with the regular engineer and fireman and thus met their death.

   Horace J. Woodmansee, Harry Greenman, Maurice O 'Connell, Mrs. R. B. Fletcher, Miss Margaret L. Townsend, Miss J. V. Sheeley, and Miss Fannie M. Galusha of Cortland were passengers on the train. They came home on the special that left Preble at 3:45 A. M.

CAUSED ONE MORE DEATH.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 4—Edward Clifford, who played a leading character part in "A Bowery Girl," died at his home in [Scraitbery], N. J., yesterday morning, from a shock received in the railway accident near Preble, Cortland county.

   When the accident occurred Mr. Clifford was asleep. He was thrown heavily, and it is believed he sustained internal injuries. Monday he complained of severe pains in his body. He played his part that night, and after the performance, went to his home. About 3 o'clock Tuesday morning he became very ill and died soon afterward.

The E. C & N. Railroad.

   Work has been resumed again on the new road and unless unforeseen complications arise it is expected that it will be pushed to completion. Contractor Benson commenced work on Tuesday with a gang of men near Solon, filling in behind the masonry of the bridges over Trout creek. The engine is hauling ties to the point on the Conable farm where track laying was discontinued two or three weeks since. The work will be resumed in two or three days at this point and continued until the farm of Frank C. Welch is reached near McGrawville, when the material will be hauled around his premises and tracklaying from that point will be pushed on towards Solon. It is believed that a decision in the Welch case will be reached next month and that it will be favorable to the company is the opinion of good railroad lawyers.

   Mr. Bunday [or Bundy] arrived here yesterday morning prepared to push the work along as rapidly as possible.

   The Commissioners in the condemnation proceedings of the railroad company against the Randall estate in this village have arrived at a decision and have awarded the latter the sum of $600 per acre for the three and [a half] acres of land to be taken by the company. This matter being disposed of, the company will proceed to lay a switch over this land south to the tracks of the D. L. & W. company. Everything looks favorable now for the road and if the weather permits it will not be long before track will be down to Gee Brook [at Cincinnatus].

 

EUROPE AND THE TURK

Sultan Abdul Hamid II of Turkey.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, December 9, 1895.

EUROPE AND THE TURK.

Sultan Continues to Dally With the Powers.

MANY WILD RUMORS AFLOAT.

Russia Reported to Have Sent a Peremptory Message to the Sultan, Demanding the Admission of a Second Guardship—Foreign News.

   CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 9.—The situation here on the question of the extra guardships of the powers remains unchanged and continues to offer a tribute to the powers of delay and evasion of oriental diplomacy as practiced by the Turkish government.

   Statements are constantly reiterated of the continued accord of the powers on the subject and their unyielding determination to insist upon a compliance with their demands. Less is heard, however, of the rumors which were of frequent occurrence in the early period after the demand had been presented, that the sultan had at length decided to grant the necessary firman [decree] to permit the passage of the Dardanelles, or even that he had actually issued them. Neither is there such explicit announcement any more of the period which is to elapse before a movement of the warships of the powers is to commence to enforce the demands made upon the sultan.

   Since the return of her majesty's steamship Dryad to Salonica bay no word has been heard of any actual order or movement to advance upon the Dardanelles.

   Opinion continues divided as to whether the delay in taking any action to enforce the demands is due to a fear of causing a fanatical outbreak against the Christians by the Mussulman subjects of the sultan or to a dread of a clash ensuing between the powers themselves.

   The reception by the sultan of M. Nelidoff, the Russian ambassador, in private audience, awakened the usual amount of speculation as to the true relation of Russia to the situation and the extent of her agreement with the views of the powers.

   The flight of Said Pasha and his refuge in the British embassy are the subjects of the most sensational interest and the almost frantic efforts made by the sultan to induce him to leave there and to return to the Yildiz palace, indicate his fear, either that he has lost the most powerful intermediary that he could hope for between himself and the powers in evading the uncomfortable demands they make upon him, or the most dangerous adversary he could fear having in counsel with the powers.

   That the sultan lives in a state of constant apprehension of his life was indicated by his demeanor during the course of the ceremony of the Salamik on Friday, which involves the departure of the sultan from the walls of the palace and his appearance in public for a sort of review of the troops attended by the many high officials, followed by prayers at the mosque.

   On Friday, as the sultan was quitting the mosque, a man attired as a Turk and bearing a petition, forced himself through the soldiers to the sultan's carriage.

   The sultan was seen to become much agitated and deathly pale, but the man was promptly arrested and hustled off to prison without having accomplished any harm to the sultan's person.

   Explicit instructions were again received by all the ambassadors to insist upon the admission of the guardships, but, as has been stated, without effecting any change in the situation.

   Authentic details have now been received of the Sivas massacres. They show that the slaughter began on Nov. 12 and continued for a week following. It is known that 1,200 Armenians and 10 Turks were killed before there was a cessation of the bloody work.

   The manner of the outbreak is described as follows:

   Suddenly, at noon, as if by a preconcerted signal, the Turkish soldiers and police, the Circassians and even the laborers and Moslem women and children rushed into the market under command of the officers. All were armed, the laborers with tools or clubs or anything that could be used as an offensive weapon that came to hand.

   They attacked and looted the Armenian shops and pursued with relentless ferocity the unfortunate occupants, who seemed helpless with surprise at the suddenness of the onslaught. Many merchants and clerks were killed and their bodies stripped.

   As the importing business was almost exclusively in the hands of the Armenians, financial ruin must overtake Sivas when the fury of the storm of blood and greed has subsided.

   The stricken Armenians slowly gathered the mangled and naked remains of their kinsmen and buried them in a great trench in the cemetery.

   The Armenian villages in the vicinity were also looted and the people left to beg and die. The winter will bring terrible suffering to all the living victims of the outrages.

   A high official in position to know declares that the massacres were the deliberate act of the sultan's vengeance for having been compelled to grant the reforms in Armenia demanded by the powers.  

CONSTANTINOPLE DISPATCHES.

Powers Reported to Be Gradually Closing In On the Sultan.

   LONDON, Dec. 9.—The Rome correspondent of The Times hears from Constantinople that the ambassadors have agreed to propose a definite date for the sultan's acceptance of the demand of the powers for extra guardships.

   The Constantinople correspondent of The Times confirms the report telegraphed to The Dally News that M. Nelidoff on Saturday gave the sultan the czar's message insisting on the entry of the guardships. This correspondent adds: "I believe that an irade [edict] is imminent appointing the Kurd, Said Pasha, as grand vizier."

   The Times also prints a letter from Erzeroum, under date of Nov. 17, which says:

   "All the refugees in the American mission have returned to their homes, but the Christian schools have not yet started, nor is any divine service being held. Many children have died from the exposure and irregular diet.

   "The efforts of the government to compel the Turks to restore stolen property meet with scant success. The poverty is extreme. The vali feeds the poor with bread, but the quality of it is bad. The Armenians fear to reopen their shops and they ridicule the idea that any reform will be put into execution. The vali and other officials admit that 95 per cent of the Christians killed were innocent. Undoubtedly a few of the Armenians were blameable, but they might easily have been arrested without the necessity of a wholesale slaughter."

   A Rome dispatch says: "An official statement from Constantinople that the number of Armenian victims amount to 60,000 has produced a sensation."

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

  ◘ What to do with Constantinople would be the most vexing question in case of the partition of Turkey. Its advantages as a seaport and the key to the commerce between Europe and all the region tributary to the Black sea are such that no one power would be allowed by the rest to take it. Russia, to whom it would be worth both from the military and commercial point of view almost half her empire, as an outlet to the Mediterranean, certainly would not be allowed to retain it. On the whole, Edward Everett Hale's idea is not a bad one—that Constantinople be made a free city after the pattern of the former free cities on the frontiers of Germany, such cities as Frankfort, Hamburg and Bremen. When a city required that many different people should use it as an outlet for commerce, then the nations that needed it as an entrepot and depot for goods and passengers made it in medieval times a free city, governing itself, subject to no one nation. Mr. Hale thinks this plan should be adopted with Constantinople. The Turks, of course, have not intelligence enough to govern it according to the requirements of a modern city, but it might be governed for the present by a joint commission appointed from the various nations interested.

   ◘ Charles A. Dana speaks these eloquent words of the Cuban martyr, Jose Marti: "It was one of the pieces of great good fortune that have marked a career not short that I knew Jose Marti. I knew him intimately; he worked with me side by side; I gathered inspiration from the ideas that flashed forever from his unquenchable soul. He was a man of genius; he was a man of conviction; he was a man whose sympathies went over the whole range of humanity and sought for all what he sought for himself—liberty and the full opportunities of life. No man perishes who follows ideas such as be followed."

   ◘ Richard Harding Davis, writing in Harper's Magazine of the boundary dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela says, "If England succeeds, it means a loss to Venezuela of territory as large as the state of New York and the richest goldfields in South America."

   ◘ In any partition of Turkey likely to be made Russia would get Armenia and England would get Egypt out and out.

BREVITIES.

   —The dancing school will be held this week Wednesday evening at 7:30 o'clock in Empire hall.

   —Richard Norris delivered two pianos in Syracuse Saturday which A. Mahan had sold to parties there.

   —W. F. Hoar, the barber in the Standard building, has added a third chair to his well appointed hair parlors.

   —The new snowplow for the electric railroad arrived this morning. It will be used in front of the baggage car and will be propelled by this.

   —The regular meeting of the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Association will be held at 8 o'clock this evening in the Y. M. C. A. parlors.

   —The Crescent club will hold another of their popular parties in Empire hall Friday evening, Dec. 13. McDermott's orchestra of five pieces will furnish the music.

   —New advertisements to-day are— Warren, Tanner & Co., page 6; Warner Rood, page 5; Phillip Sugerman, page 4; Bingham Bros. & Miller, page 8; F. C. Brogden, page 2.

   —In Lincoln, Wayne county, the other day, fifteen bushels of potatoes were sold at 7 cents a bushel. There is said to be a surplus of 100,000 bushels in the country. This is worse than Cortland county.

   —The Ithaca Journal of Saturday night contained cuts of the exterior and interior of a new union station which is proposed for the D., L. & W. and Lehigh Valley railroads in that city. The plan seems very fine indeed.

   —The regular meeting of the Cortland Athletic association for the annual election of officers will be held to-night. The matter of another entertainment will also be discussed and it is essential that every member be present.

   —The condition of Mr. H. P. Jones of Lafayette, who was struck by a train at Homer Friday and who is now in the hospital, is to-day causing much anxiety. He was injured internally and … result will be his physician is not able to determine.

   —Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Dixie, who returned from Ithaca yesterday to take up their "Mikado" work here, report a large financial and artistic success for "Pinafore" in that city. The gross receipts for the four performances were very nearly fourteen hundred dollars. In addition to the Cortland musicians Mr. Dixie has engaged two violinists, a viola, violincello and cornet players, making an orchestra for "The Mikado" of eleven people. There will be a rehearsal tonight at the Opera House at 7:30.

  

Howard Stock Company.

   John A. Preston's Howard Stock Co. will appear at the Opera House Dec. 12, 13 and 14. The Gloversville Times says:

   "At the Kasson last night the Howard stock company produced the great melodrama 'East Lynne' to a large audience. This afternoon the house was packed to witness the presentation of 'Love and Money,' Each child present received a present."

Death of Mrs. J. T. Bates.

   Mrs. Sarah M. Bates, wife of J. T. Bates, died at her residence, 49 Groton-ave., yesterday afternoon, aged 73 years, 3 months and 26 days. Mrs. Bates was formerly Miss Sarah M. Hatfield and was born three miles west of Cortland toward Groton. On April 16, 1845, she was united in marriage with Mr. Joseph T. Bates of Cortland who survives her. Their golden wedding was celebrated last April. Mrs. Bates leaves one sister, Mrs. Amelia Buchanan of McGrawville, and two brothers, Ira Hatfield of Cortland and Albert Hatfield of Chicago, Ill. She also leaves two daughters, Mrs. C. W. Wiles of Delaware, O., and Miss Mina Bates of Cortland, also two sons, T. T. Bates of Cortland and William L. Bates of Moravia.

   The funeral will be held Wednesday from the house at 1:30 o'clock P. M. and from the Baptist church at 2 o'clock and will be in charge of Revs. A. Chapman and George H. Brigham. Interment in Cortland Rural cemetery.

Death of Irving J. Smiley.

   Mr. Irving J. Smiley died at 10:25 o'clock Saturday night, aged 39 years,  2 months and 8 days. Mr. Smiley had been ill with typhoid fever for four weeks.

   He was born in Dryden, Tompkins county, and most of his life has been spent in his native town and in Cortland. For the past seven years he had been a trusted employee of Frazier & Bouck at the Central meat market and last July went into business for himself in the Model market on North Main-st. Mr. Smiley had a large circle of friends and will be greatly missed.

   Besides a wife he leaves one brother, Mr. Sanford Smiley of Etna. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Smiley reside at Varna, Tompkins county.

   The funeral services will take place from his late residence, 10 Lincoln-ave, at 1 o'clock P. M. to-morrow and at 1:30 o'clock at the Congregational church. Interment will be made in Cortland Rural cemetery.

Police Court.

   Will Donegan this morning pleaded guilty to the charge of the illegal sale of liquor and was sentenced to pay a fine of $35 or be confined in jail thirty-five days. He paid.

   The cases of M. H. Ray, Hugh Corcoran and Wallace & McKean were adjourned to Saturday, Dec. 14.

Creamery at McGrawville.

   Mr. Joseph Laemmle of 202 Bleeker-st., New York, will be at the village hall in McGrawville on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 1 o'clock and will be glad to meet all dairymen with the idea of establishing a milk shipping station and creamery at that place. Mr. Laemmle has creameries at McLean, Whitney Point, Waverly and Haynes and is well spoken of. All dairymen and all interested are invited to attend.

 

HORSELESS CARRIAGES RACE IN CHICAGO

Duryea Motocycle.

Morris & Salom Electrobat.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, December 6, 1895.

HORSELESS CARRIAGES.

Winner of the Race Given the Second Place.

PHILADELPHIA MACHINE FIRST.

Other Points Beside Speed Were Considered And Several Machines Received

Mention For Various Good Points—Other Races to Take Place Soon.

   CHICAGO, Dec. 6.—The judges of the Times Herald motocycle contest met and carefully considered the claims of the vehicles which competed in the Thanksgiving day contest.

   They awarded the gold medal to the Morris & Salom Electrobat of Philadelphia on the following points: Cleanliness and general excellence of design and workmanship.

   The first prize of $2,000 was awarded to the Duryea Motor Wagon company of Springfield, Mass. This motocycle came in first in the road race and also secured favorable notice for range of speed and pull with compactness of design.

   H. Mueller of Decatur, Ills., was awarded $1,500 and is mentioned for good performance in the road race and economy in operation.

   The other awards were: Sturges Electric motocycle of Chicago, $500; R. H. Macy & Co., New York, $500; G. W. Lewis, Chicago, $200; Haynes & Apperson, Kokomo. Ind., $150; Max Heretel, Chicago, $100, and T. De Lacergne company of New York, $50.

   Morris and Salom and the Sturges vehicles were propelled by storage batteries and the others by gasoline or some product of petroleum.

   The race was run on a 54-mile course, a foot deep in snow and slush, but the awards are largely based on the results shown in an elaborate series of scientific tests, conducted by Messrs. Summers and Lundie of Chicago.

   A Canadian contest is scheduled for May, 1896, and an announcement is expected in a few days of a big race to be held near New York some time next summer.

Joseph Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Has an Actor Good Sense?

   A sentimental writer, bemoaning the suicide of two unhappy members of the theatrical profession, is moved to gush over thus: "Actors are generally emotional and irresponsible creatures." "An actor who loves his art is not a responsible being."

   This is not only bosh, but pernicious bosh, and the leading actors of all time would be the first to resent such imputations on their honesty and common sense. Let us see. There was the great Sarah Siddons, the most famous woman actor of the ages. She was conscientious and full of common sense, exact almost to a fault in money matters and one of the most level headed women of her time, as well as one of the most spotless morally. Shakespeare was something of an actor and playwright, and Shakespeare enjoyed the familiar friendship of the best people in his day, those who would never have countenanced irresponsibilities of any kind. Shakespeare wisely followed his own injunction to put money into his purse, so that at a comparatively early age he retired to his cottage in the country.

   Joseph Jefferson is a gentleman and a scholar and a first class business man. Would the writer above quoted hint that Henry Irving is "an irresponsible being?" Or have not any of these ''loved their art?''

   No. When compared with other people, actors will be found to be very much of a muchness with them as to conscience and common sense. They should be held to a strict accountability as to paying their debts and keeping their word. To deal with them any other way is degrading to them and their profession.

Empire Express train was wrecked at Preble, N. Y.

A STRANGE WRENCH

MAY BE CONNECTED WITH THE PREBLE WRECK.

It Was Found Near the Scene—Coroner's Inquest Adjourned Till Tuesday—More Witnesses.

   The coroner's inquest at Preble to determine the cause of the wrecking of the night express on Dec. 1 was continued by Coroner Moore Thursday afternoon.

   W. W. Wright, the station agent at Preble, was the first witness called in the afternoon. He testified that he had been in the employ of the D., L. & W. R. R. Co. since Nov. 15, 1869. He was at the depot on the morning of Dec, 1, 1895, from 9:30 to 11 o'clock A. M. and returned again at 6 o'clock P. M., worked on his monthly report until 9 P. M. When he went home at 9 o'clock he noticed that all four switch lights were lighted and in their proper position. It is his usual custom to notice these lights when leaving at night. He was called and got to the station not far from 11:20 P. M. and after lighting up reported the wreck to the Syracuse office. He remained there all night until 7 o'clock the next morning. Witness stated that not far from 1 o'clock A. M., Dec. 2, he saw James Doyle find a wrench from a milk car truck beam and did not think the wrench could have rode far in that position. No such wrench is kept around the depot. Car repairers have them.  This milk car had not been in the repair shop to his knowledge. All the milk cars came from the South. This car was shunted on the switch at about 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon, coming from the South.

   William E. Sinclair of Syracuse, a fireman, was on the wrecked train "deadheading" to Binghamton to get his train. After the wreck he went to the engine and called "Dicky" and "Dad" meaning the engineer and fireman. He looked all around, but saw neither and then went to the switch which was blocked up with a board and "dead lever," and the broken lock lay on the end of the switch tie. He put the lock in his coat pocket. He returned to the engine. Fireman Roof [or Rofe] raised up and gave a scream. He stayed by him until death came, which was at 1:50 A. M., near Little York on the train to Cortland. Every wrench the company owns is marked. Could almost swear that the wrench was not a company wrench.

   Thomas Flanagan, the head brake man of the train went ahead to Little York with a flag after the wreck, but saw no one on the way.

   Dr. W. G. McDonald of Preble reached the scene at 11:45. Roof died from an indented fracture on the top of the head.

   Dr. Jerome Angel of Cortland examined Roof's body on its arrival at Cortland. Every rib on the left side was broken.

   C. F. Black man of Cortland was a passenger on the train and his evidence was a repetition of evidence previously given.

   This closed the evidence for the day and an adjournment was taken to Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 10:30 o'clock A. M. Coroner Moore went to Syracuse last night to summon more witnesses.

ACCIDENT AT HOMER.

H. P. JONES STRUCK BY A MOVING TRAIN.

Was Crossing the Tracks—Didn’t Hear Whistle—Back Nearly Broken—Taken to Hospital.

   Another chapter was this morning added to the list of railroad accidents. This one happened at Homer when train No. 12, the southbound accommodation, was pulling into the station from the north at 8:41 o'clock. When a few rods above the station Engineer William Moran saw a man crossing from the northbound to the southbound track directly in front of his train. He immediately blew the whistle, but the man seemed to pay no heed, and before the train could be brought to a stop the man was struck squarely in the back by the engine and thrown several feet from the track.

   He was picked up by the trainmen and brought to Cortland. Beard & Peck's ambulance was summoned and he was taken to the hospital. Drs. Higgins, Reese and Didama made an examination. No visible marks were found to indicate where he was injured, but it was apparent that the trouble was in his back. Upon close examination it was found that the spinous [sic] processes of three or four vertebrae in the lower part of the back were broken, but the fractures did not extend deep enough to affect the spinal cord which was not injured as he could move his lower limbs. He was rational at times and gave his name as H. P. Jones and his residence as Lafayette, Onondaga county. He said he was sixty years old and had three sons, the oldest, of whom, Charles, lives at Lafayette.

   From papers found on his person his identity was established and it was also believed from memoranda found in a sort of diary that he had been in Newark Valley, Richford, Dryden, Freeville and Homer.

   He carried a 22 calibre revolver loaded and also had in his pockets rocks, soap, matches, tobacco, a pipe and everything usually found in a tramp's outfit. He stated that he was a hunter and fisherman and memoranda found on scraps of paper would indicate that this was so. He was seen in Cortland hanging around the depot yesterday. His son at Lafayette was notified this morning and will probably be here this afternoon.

The Case Was Dismissed.

   The case of The People against L. and M. Rood of Brewery hill charged with stealing turkeys was called in police court this morning, but was dismissed. The boy who gave the information to the person making the complaint stated to the court this morning that what he said in matter was false, that he had been hired to tell the story that he never saw the turkeys stolen and knew nothing about who stole them.

BREVITIES.

   —The first sleighs were out to-day.

   —The Y. M. C. A. penmanship class meets to-night at 8 o'clock.

   —New advertisements to-day are— C. F. Brown, page 6; Kellogg & Curtis, page 6; Warner Rood, page 5.

   —Mr. Zeno Clark has a bound volume of the work's of Rev. John Flavel, published in Glasgow in 1754.

   —The usual Friday service will not be held at Grace church this evening, but services on Sunday will be as usual.

   —The Sewing school held in the W.C. T. U. rooms will meet to-morrow at half past 1 o'clock instead of at 2 o'clock.

   —A ticket for the Franklin Hatch library makes a very acceptable Christmas present, is good for one year and costs only one dollar.

   —A new generator has been added to the machinery at the power house of the Cortland and Homer Traction Co. for running the incandescent lights.

   — Lewis M. Wheeler, postmaster at Park Station on the E., C. & N. R. R. between Erie and Swartwood, was arrested yesterday charged with the embezzlement of money order funds. He was taken to Elmira. The amount of his embezzlement is not yet made public, if known.

   —Syracuse is to have a soda fountain day on Dec. 28 for the benefit of the Woman's Christian association. The idea was suggested by the great success of trolley day a short time ago. Already eleven druggists have offered to donate the use of their fountains. Young ladies will attend to them. Regular prices will be charged.

   —A new element of danger is discovered in the binding twine used for binding grain. Mr. John Card has had the misfortune to lose two horses recently under circumstances which led to an investigation and the finding of a mass of binding twine, that had apparently been eaten with the cut feed given them of late, and, being indigestible and not of a nature to pass off, had accumulated until it stopped all passage of food and resulted in death.—Dryden Herald.

SOLD BY THE SHERIFF.

Wyoming Bill Wild West Advertising Car Disposed of Wednesday.

   Most of our readers will remember that the Wyoming Wild West Show was advertised to appear in Cortland on Aug 26, and that it got stranded in Canada and did not materialize. Its advertising car with a force of ten bill posters was in Elmira. The wages of the employees had not been paid for several weeks and the E., C. & N. R. R. had a bill against the troupe for transportation. Legal papers were secured and the car was attached by the sheriff, the claim being about $350. The car has stood on a switch on the E., C. & N. yards in Elmira ever since. On Wednesday it was sold at sheriff's sale and was purchased by M. Washburn, the circus proprietor, for $340. It will be used for advance advertising purposes for the Washburn circus. It is probably the first time on record that such a car was ever sold for so paltry a sum.

Stranded in Seneca Falls.

   The "Faust'' company which was to have appeared at the Opera House to-night is stranded in Seneca Falls without money enough to get here. Manager Rood had some intimation a few days ago that they were in straits and telegraphed to them. The reply was that they were all right and would be on hand.

   This morning he received another telegram saying that they were stranded and they asked him to advance enough money to "get twenty-three people to Cortland. Mr. Rood thought that if that was the state of affairs they might better stay in Seneca Falls than to have them spending a vacation here with himself considerably out of pocket. The result is that they will not show here to-night.