The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August
29, 1890.
PROJECTING DYNAMITE.
Dr. Justin Explodes Another Cannon at a
Public Test.
SYRACUSE, N. Y., Aug 26.—About 300 persons gathered at the side of the ravine near the
village of Perryville, Madison county, this afternoon, to see Dr. Joel E. Justin
of this city fire his patent dynamite shell from a large cannon. On May when
Dr. Justin gave a public test of his shell, one of them exploded in the chamber
of the gun and blew the piece into fragments. The same thing happened this
afternoon and spectators were entertained with a fine view of a canon weighing
30,000 pounds blown into the air.
The gun
went to pieces on the fourth shot. The gun was fired first with a small charge
of powder. Then a shell filled with sand and sawdust was fired successfully. The shell struck the cliff, three quarters of a
mile away. Then a shell weighing 275 pounds containing 14 1/4 pounds of
dynamite was fired against the rocks with a charge of 40 pounds of powder. This
shot was a success. The shell could be seen after it left the gun and when it
struck the rocks the dynamite exploded and sent great pieces of rock rolling to
the bottom of the ravine.
The
attempt to fire another shell resulted in the gun being blown to pieces. The dynamite
exploded in the gun. Many persons were within twenty rods of the gun, but no
one was hurt. The breech of the cannon was driven back from the gun with great
force for a distance of twenty rods.
Dr. Justin
said that the explosion of the dynamite before it left the gun was caused by imperfections
in the shell. The casting had not been perfectly done and there were numerous
blow holes through which enough gases found their way to heat the dynamite to
the explosion point. He says that he will endeavor to secure a shell made
entirely of forged steel. Among those present were: O. G. Staples, proprietor of
Willard's hotel, Washington, and Lieut. L. P. Davidson, of Fort Ontario, Oswego.
In the Cyclone's Wake.
The
cyclone of Thursday, Aug. 21, resulted in more damage than was estimated. Slate
was torn from the spire on the Baptist church in several places, two chimneys on
the northwest front of the Grand Central block were blown to the south and the debris
lies on the roof; had it fallen to the sidewalk much damage might have resulted.
The
Wickwire Brothers had the roof of their mill replaced in proper shape Wednesday
and the chimney and sidewalks will be built up as soon as possible. With the exception
of the machinery in the wrecked portion, work has continued in its usual course.
But the house will lose $3500 dollars through idle looms and repairing. The new
chimney will not tower quite as high as did the former one.
D. F.
Wallace & Co. can not exactly arrive at the amount of damage sustained owing
to the peculiar class of goods injured. Large piles of gilt and figured papers
on their upper floor and also stored in Taylor Hall, being more or less ruined by
the drenching rain immediately following the wind, and frequent showers intervening
before the completion of the new roof. Tuesday night was a busy one for those
who watched the stock in Taylor Hall as it rained almost continually and the
tin roof had not yet been laid. The figures $2,300 on building and $700 to $1,200
on stock will not be an over estimate of injury sustained by this house.
The
decorations and stage scenery in Taylor Hall is as good as done for by continued
weeping of the clouds since the roof has been under course of reconstruction and
repair. A small army of masons and carpenters have labored faithfully to close in
the damaged houses and by Saturday it is hoped to have order out of chaos.
The Hitchcock
Manufacturing Company will not be able to state the amount of damage to their
2,300 cutters which are being taken from the wrecked store house. While some of those finished and crated are
scarcely marred, scores are broken into fragments, the iron work and shoes bent
in all conceivable forms. A good percentage were in the rubbing varnish and
untrimmed, but it will take several days to clear the wreck and ascertain the
loss. The present outlook is that it will reach $5,000. It is hoped as the
clearing out progresses the wreckage may be revealed to be much less.
Too Quick for Elderly People.
Last
Thursday afternoon in just 40 minutes by the watch after the great cyclone struck Cortland, the DEMOCRAT had a four page
extra on the streets containing a full and very complete account of the storm and
its disastrous effects. In fact it is acknowledged by all to have been the best
account yet published. It was followed only a few moments later by the regular edition
of the DEMOCRAT which also contained a full account of the occurrence. Such
quick work in the journalistic line surprised everybody and was never before accomplished
by any establishment in Cortland. The Standard gives four columns
of minutae this week, just seven days after the occurrence. Our elderly neighbor
is altogether too slow to keep abreast of the procession.
The Public Schools.
The
public schools of this village will open on Tuesday, Sept. 2, Monday being a holiday. The
seventh and eighth grades will meet at the Cobble Stone school house which has
been fitted with new single seats and desks.
Pupils of
the first and second grades in the central part of the village heretofore attending
at the Cobble Stone will be accommodated at the white school house on Church-st. near Port Watson-st. The other grades
heretofore attending the Cobble Stone, will go to the ward school nearest the
residence.
All other
pupils will attend at their respective schools as heretofore.
Opening the Theatre Season.
Thomas
Addison, a Boston journalist, also a clever composer of musical burlesque, and
James B. Mackie, a powerful actor in stage comedy, supported by an excellent company, will present to the citizens
of Cortland and vicinity the portrayal of this American playwright's new
production, at the Opera House, Wednesday evening, September 3d.
In
"Grimes' Cellar Door" Mr. Mackie appears as "Billy Grimes,"
a precocious orphan of 16 summers, under the guardianship of his close
fisted-grab-it-all uncle "Josiah Grimes," of Maine, represented by
Mr. Charles Burke.
"Pandora,
the Goddess of Mischief," an exceedingly interesting and important character
of the play, is faultlessly presented by the charming soubrette, Miss Louise Sanford. The reality of the plot, interspersed
with just enough joviality to relieve the monotony, is stated by press critics
to make "Grimes' Cellar Door" the hit of the season and [opera house]
manager Rood has succeeded in securing this leading play for the opening night.
Tickets on sale at D. F. Wallace & Co.'s Monday morning. Prices, 35, 50 and
75 cents.
Married.
On
Thursday morning Mr. A. M. Jewett, the well known jeweler of this place, and
Miss Clara L. Smith, only daughter of ex-Judge A. P. Smith were married at the home
of the bride's parents, corner of West Court street and Monroe Heights, Rev. W. B. Clark, rector of Grace church officiating.
Only the immediate relatives of the contracting parties were present. Mr. and
Mrs. Jewett left on the 9:48 train south for Pennsylvania, in which State they
will spend their honeymoon visiting friends. Mr. Jewett is one of Cortland's best
known young business men and has a host of friends who will wish him a long and
pleasant married life. The bride is a charming young lady, who has won many friends
by her vivacious manners and lady-like deportment. The DEMOCRAT joins a multitude
of friends in wishing them a long life of prosperity and happiness.
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