1999
- 2003 --These pages are part of the Schuyler co., NY Genweb page.
Not for commercial use.
Hunting Story;
MacDOUGALL Reunions, 1905, 1906, 1930;
Harry STERLING death;
John BARRETT attempted murder, 1911;
Total Eclipse, 1925;
BOTSFORD dies on Titanic, 1912 (in 1932 article);
"Husband's Lucky Find".
Unknown Date & Year - Perilous Condition of a Hunter.
The Memphis Argus gives the following account of a providential
escape from starvation of a gentleman residing in Lauderdale Co., Tenn.,
near Hale's Point: --
"Last week he was out hunting in a large bottom in his neighborhood
and he observed a wild goose flying out of a cyprus stump, which was some
20 feet high. His knowledge of the habits of these geese led him
to believe that the goose had a nest in the stump. On the outside
of the stump were a number of vines, which he climbed up to peep in and
get possession of the eggs. After he had succeeded in gaining the
top of the stump, he discovered a large number of eggs some 6 or 8 feet
down inside. The next he supposed was on a firm foundation, and he
accordingly let himself down inside; but, when he struck the substance
on which the nest was built, he discovered that it had no foundation, and
soon found himself sinking to the bottom of the tree.
"The inside of the tree was rotten and would not bear his weight.
Now he was in a dilemma; five miles from any habitation, inside of a stump
2o feet high, with no prospect of any assistance, with nothing to subsist
on but the goose eggs. He screamed and yelled until he was nearly
exhausted, but no one came within hearing distance. On the third
day after his incarceration, two men were out hunting, and coming within
hearing distance, were very much frightened on hearing a man groan inside
of the stump, and for some time they could not reconcile themselves to
what it meant; but having learned that the gentleman had been missing from
home several days, they were soon satisfied that it was no ghost inside
the tree. They procured axes, and soon the prisoner was liberated.
He swears he will never attempt to rob a goose nest situated as that one
was again." [from Montour Library collection]
January 1, 1905 - The 22nd annual McDOUGALL Reunion.
The 22nd annual McDOUGALL Reunion of the McDougall families was
held Sat. at the residence of Marion McDOUGALL on the Ridge road.
[Near Millport, Chemung co.] Several members were unable to be present.
All those present enjoyed a very pleasant day. As follows are those
who responded: James McDOUGALL and wife and Fred STONE and wife of
Montour Falls; Chauncey STERLING, wife and son Harry of Millport; William
McDOUGALL and wife of Elmira; Marion McDOUGALL and wife, Ai McDOUGALL,
Miss Emily, Charles, Alonso, Harry, Jay, Gr_[Grace?], Burr, Mildred, George
and Libbie McDOUGALL of Veteran... [from Walt Samson]
January 1, 1906 - The 23rd annual McDOUGALL Reunion.
On Monday, Jan. 1, 1906, occurred the 23rd annual reunion of the
McDOUGALL family, which is held at the old homestead, now occupied
by Marion McDOUGALL. Those present were James McDOUGALL and wife
of Montour Falls; Joseph PELHAM, wife and daughters Frances and Julia
of Odessa; Chauncey STERLING and wife of Millport; Mrs. T. J. CARPENTER
and grandson Arthur THALHAIMER of Horseheads; Ai McDOUGALL and wife, Theodore
McDOUGALL, Ed McDOUGALL, wife and children Burr, Mildred, George, Libbie
and Raymond, Miss Emily McDOUGALL, Marion McDOUGALL, wife and children
Alonzo, Harry, Jay and Grace, and Chas. McDOUGALL and wife of Veteran.
1907 was much the same, but mentioned Mrs. William MacDOUGALL and daughter
Clara Bell of Elmira and also Ed. BROWN of Elmira.[See also McDOUGALL family
tree and Fred
STONE diaries.]
January 1, 1930 - 47th Annual McDOUGALL Reunion, Ridge Road.
The 47th annual reunion of the descendants of David & Sarah
MacDOUGALL was held on New Years at the home of Chas. MacDOUGALL in Veteran.
Those present were Mr. & Mrs. E. P. MacDOUGALL, Mrs. Mildred Upson
and son Arthur of Veteran, Mrs. Harriett STERLING, Mrs. Elizabeth STONE
and daughter Alice, Mrs. Burr MacDOUGALL, Mrs. Geo. MacDOUGALL and daughters
Mary, Evelyn and Jeon Louise, Mr. & Mrs. Vicner (?) WISE and daughter
Jean of Montour Falls, Mrs. Virgil FISHEL and daughter Marian of Binghamton,
Mr. & Mrs. Edward DYKES of Elmira, Mr. & Mrs. Jay MacDOUGALL and
daughter Betty of Starkey, Mr. & Mrs. Ray MacDOUGALL of Horseheads
and Mrs. Emma REED, Harry MacDOUGALL, Mr. & Mrs. Chas. MacDOUGAL and
daughter Helen of Veteran. [from Walt Samson]
Date unknown - Son of Chauncey STERLING Electrocuted at Millport.
Fri. afternoon Harry STERLING was killed at Millport by a live electric
wire. Harry STERLING was 14 years old and was the son of Mr. &
Mrs. Chauncey STERLING. He was playing along the banks of Catharine
creek north of the village, and near a point where the track of the Elmira
& Seneca Lake railway crosses the stream. It is supposed the
boy fell into the creek and in the effort to reach land, grasped a wire
charged with an electric current and was instantly killed. A frightful
cry was heard and several persons ran to the boy's assistance, among them
George CONKRITE [CRONKITE?], who in an attempt to rescue him, was badly
shocked. When he was released from the wife life was extinct.
Dr. Elliott BUSH of this village wsa in the place at the time and was called,
but could render no assistance, life having been extinct some minutes.
It is understood the wire which caused the accident was a loose gay or
telephone wire which had crossed the trolley wire in the recent rain
storm and flood. The awful death of the boy, which was witnessed
by the mother, has caused sorrow in every home in the village. Coroner
JONES investigated the case and Mon. afternoon examined several witnesses.
The funeral was held at the home Tues. afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.
Deceased was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal church and was confirmed
in April. He was a pupil of the Millport union school, where he will
be sadly missed....[from Walt Samson]
May 11, 1911 - Montour Free Press
- John BARRETT of Montour Falls Goes to Elmira with a Gun.
- Attacks Woman who would not live with him as a result of a quarrel.
Would-Be Murderer Struggles with Captors. Deep Remorse. [Elmira
Star-Gazette
Thursday.]
What possibly will be another cold blooded murder occurred at 8:40
o'clock last evening in Ansel Y. FOX's restaurant, 410 East Water Street,
when John BARRETT, 44 years old, a Montour Falls laborer, sent two 32-calibre
bullets into his wife's body and turned to fight men who grappled him.
These men were Proprietor FOX, who stood directly back of the drink-crazed
man when he fired the first shot, and Mitt FRENCH, an amateur boxer, who
was eating his supper. FOX pinned BARRETT's arms and FRENCH wrested
the revolver from him. When the first two shots were fired, Mrs.
BARRETT was on the opposite side of a large round table from where her
husband stood. The first shot passed her head and lodged in the wall
back of her. The second struck her in the abdomen and lodged in the
region of the back. It was after the second shot had been fired that
Mr. FOX threw his arms around those of the murderous laborer. While
FOX was struggling with BARRETT, before FRENCH reached him, Mrs. BARRETT,
after having been shot in the abdomen, savagely charged at her husband.
While FOX held BARRETT she faced the would-be murderer and again he shot
her. This time the bullet struck her in the groin and took a downward
course and was picked up on the floor after it has passed through her thigh.
FRENCH & FOX fought viciously with the ugly man before they
over-powered him. Mrs. FOX and Mrs. ROUTLEDGE, a waitress, who had
been witnesses to the shooting, rushed out of the place. Several
patrons also forsook their meals and left. They went running in all
directions calling "Police! Murder! Police!" The shooting was on
Officer STEWART's post, but he didn't happen to be there. Officer
Michael LYONS at the corner of Carroll and Lake Streets was the first to
respond to the summons. He rushed into the place and arrested BARRETT.
FRENCH turned the gun over to the police. It is a sort of $3.50 Fourth
of July celebration affair designed for rim fire cartridges. He had bought
it at M.N. WEED's hardward store in Montour Falls immediately prior to
taking the 3:30 train to this city. He came here loaded up on bad
whiskey and planned to shoot his wife. At 6:30 o'clock at the BUCKBEE
house across the street from the restaurant where the shooting occurred,
he joined C.W. HOTALEN, a printer employed by the Chemung Printing company
with whom he had been acquainted for many years and whom he visited
Saturday night and Sunday when he had come here to see his wife.
He told HOTALEN that he was going over to the restaurant to see his wife
about "that divorce matter". He left HOTALEN on the steps of the
hotel. HOTALEN went back into the hotel to get a chair to place on
the porch. He was seated only several minutes, not more than ten,
when he heard the shots. He said he knew what had happened,
having been familiar with the situation for some time.
Crowd Gathers. A great crowd congregated immediately after
the shooting. The police were there quickly and Detective GRADWELL
was in charge. Mrs. BARRETT sank to the floor upon receiving the
second wound and was carried to a chair. There she suffered agonizing
pains and her moaning struck terror and pity into the hearts of all.
She was hurried to St. Joseph's hospital where she was immediately attended
by Dr. Abraham LANDE. Dr. LANDE stated late this afternoon that he
thinks the patient will recover. He doesn't consider either of the
wounds fatal. This is all good fortune. The doctor said that
the first bullet went through the right thigh at the right of the bone
and an inch in the right of an artery which, if severed, would have caused
death. The other bullet entered the body at a point low on the abdomen,
struck the bony pelvic framework and glanced down, passing through the
top of the thigh and lodging in the fleshy part of the buttock. Dr.
LANDE removed this bullet at 10 o'clock last night. The woman's pulse
is good and her general condition very favorable to recovery. Dr.
LANDE stated that blood poisoning, of course, may set in and result seriously,
but if it does not, he thinks she will recover. Had the bullet last
described struck an inch higher it would have passed into and through the
abdominal cavity, and resulted fatally immediately. The second shot
was aimed at her heart. As she rushed around the table she grabbed
the hand that held the revolver pointed to her heart and as it was
discharged she had forced it down so that the bullet struck her low on
the body instead of over the heart. Thus the wonderful gameness of
the woman saved her life - if she lives.
Coroner on hand. Coroner Frank W. ROSS was on the scene almost
immediately after the shooting. He hurried to the hospital and with
District Attorney BOGART, took an ante-mortem statement from the woman
which will be used by both officials in handling their several phases of
the case. This statement merely included the fact that BARRETT shot
her because she refused to return to Montour Falls to live with him.
They have been married about 25 years and have four children, the eldest
being 23 and the youngest 10.
John BARRETT, who is lodged in jail awaiting the outcome of his
wife's injuries, is a native or Granville township, Bradford co., PA.
He came to this section of the state about 15 or so years ago and established
himself in Montour Falls, where he since has lived with his family on Mulberry
Street, where he has his home. He worked for nine years in
the Bethesda Sanitorium of Montour Falls, as ground keeper and janitor.
When he left there h e became a laborer and mechanic's helper in turn in
the Pneumatic Tool company's plant, the Kronk-Carrier company plant (Cronk
& Carrier), and the plant of the Rochester Bridge Construction company.
He has a brother, Lee BARRETT, of 519 Balsam street, this city, who
is a photographer and who formerly lived in Montour Falls and Gillett,
PA.
John BARRETT's wife's name was Gertrude ALNY (?) of Gillett, PA.
She is about 43 years old and is a member of a respected family
of that section. She married BARRETT when she was less than 20 years
old. Their oldest daughter is Mrs. Leo WELLS of Montour Falls.
Miss Ethel BARRETT, about 20 years old, lives at 803 East Water St.
The two young boys live with relatives.
Why He Did It. When officer LYONS arrested BARRETT, he asked
BARRETT why he shot the woman. The man said he shot her because she
wouldn't live with him. That is all he would say for some time.
Later, on the way to the station, he said he hoped she would live and that
he merely wanted to hurt her a little but that he hoped she would get well.
Mrs. BARRETT was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in the police patrol wagon.
BARRETT was led to the police station by Officer LYONS and Enoch
LITTLE. Before he had gone a block h e was remorseful and begged
to see his wife. He was lodged in jail and left there for several
hours before being examined by District Attorney BOGART. The whole
trouble is the out-growth of differences that caused a rupture between
the couple on March 6 last. When Mrs. BARRETT left her husband and
came to this city to work. Sydney CAREY, about 19 years old and his
sister, had boarded at the BARRETT home in Montour Falls for about
a year prior to March 1. Yound CAREY worked at the sanitarium and
was supposed to pay the board of himself and sister at the BARRETT's.
John BARRETT says that young CAREY never paid a cent of board and for that
reason and no other, he repeatedly demanded that they leave the house.
He said he was willing that they should stay if they paid board but that
he objected to supporting them at his house as they were not relatives
of his. He said that his wife always protested against turning them
out and that as a result he and his wife quarrelled. He denied that
he ever said or believed young CAREY came to this city with his wife or
that he was suspicious of her actions in that regard. He emphatically
stated that it was the question of the board of the CAREYS and nothing
else, which caused the trouble. On account of the numerous arguments
on this point, Mrs. BARRETT departed on March 6. BARRETT closed the
house and the other children came to this city or went with relatives.
He continued to live in Montou Falls and worked at the Tool works.
Comes to City. He came here Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock
and joined C.W. HOTALEN, a printer employed at the Chemung Printing company
plant. HOTALEN is boarding at the BUCKBEE House. He lived in
Montour Falls several years with the BARRETTS and knows all the family.
BARRETT on Saturday afternoon went to the FOX restaurant and demanded to
see his wife. He was so menacing in his action that he was put out.
He had inquired of Officer LAWES the location of the place. On Sunday
evening he succeeded in seeing his wife and they went down on Fox street
and discussed their troubles for an hour or more. They agreed to
disagree. She demanded a separation from him and finally he said
he would come here and let her have it. He told HOTALEN what the
result had been but didn't talk about it much and said that he was going
to do as he agreed. He went back to Montour Falls Sunday night.
Orders Meal. Yesterday he came here with the cheap revolver
which he told the police he purchased to kill cats. He drank whiskey
and when he entered the restaurant all the people connected with it were
rather nervous. He ordered a meal and paid for it, telling Mrs. FOX,
who waited on him, that she could have all the money that fell on the floor.
He let some change drop on the floor as he said it, and she didn't make
any effort to pick it up. He ate two eggs and drank a cup of tea.
Then he leaned over as if to pick up the fallen coins. That gave
him an opportunity to arrange his revolver for use in the next room where
his wife was washing dishes back of a board partition. When he first
entered the restaurant he took a seat but did not remove his hat.
Mrs. FOX, when she took his order, removed his hat and said "I'll put it
on a hook over there." He scowled at her but said nothing.
After fixing his revolver he arose hurriedly, stepped 10 feet to the door
in the partition. As he stood with the gun pointed at his wife across
the table, Mr. FOX stood directly back of him washing his hands at a sink.
The first two shots were in rapid succession and then FOX seized him.
Mrs. BARRETT had worked at the restaurant three weeks as a dishwasher.
She had been steady, agreeable and quiet. She never had done anything
to show that she was not all right. She had said she was afraid of
her husband. District Attorney BOGART took several affidavits of
witnesses during the evening and later questioned the prisoner. His
answer to the question "What made you do it?" was "Whiskey". He told
the story just as related here. He said he had been chagrined because
she would not live with him and that he had become enraged and come to
the city and shot her while in that state of mind. His mind was clear
as to all incidents connected with the shooting and leading to it, when
he was questioned by the district attorney.
Full of Remorse. BARRETT was a pitiable spectable in his cell
this morning. He had come to his senses. He begged for information
about the condition of his wife, declared that he wished he never
had done it and that he hoped she would get well. He said that
he never had been arrested and that he loves his wife. He begged
to be allowed to have her picture, which had been taken from him
when he was arrested. BARRETT is a small man of good appearance.
He has ruddy complexion, light hair, dresses well and appears bright.
He will be held in jail pending the outcome of the case at the hospital.
He has not retained an attorney.
November 12, 1924 - Total Solar Eclipse in January, 1925.
The people of Schuyler County on January 24, 1925 will be able to
witness a total solar eclipse, the first that has taken place since the
eighteenth century. Such an event will not take place again, astronomers,
say, until the year 2024. Watkins is fortunate in being situated near the
very center of the eclipse. [contributed by Irene Crout Johnson]
April 1932 - Elmiran Lost with Titanic 20 Years Ago
W. Hull BOTSFORD 1 of 1,595 Passengers and Crew to Sink--Disaster
Caused Ice Patrol of North Atlantic to Avert More Calamities.
Thurs. (April 14) was the 20th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic,
chronicled in history as one of the worst disasters in a half century.
An Elmiran, W. Hull BOTSFORD, whose home was at Davis & Fifth Streets,
was lost when the ill-fated White Star liner struck an iceberg. He
was returning from a trip through Europe and Egypt, on which he had studied
architecture. First reports said the vessel was safe, but the next
day came the startling news that 1,595 lives of passengers and crew had
been lost. A total of 2,340 persons, including the crew, were on
board. The Carpathia, which went to the rescue, saved 739.
If the man on the street ever asks himself why this disaster has never
been repeated, he may find his answer in a small team in the German Government
budget. This item is never omitted, regardless of crisis at home
or abroad. The entry calls for payment of 80,000 marks annually to
the American Government (roughly $20,000) for the ice patrol in the North
Atlantic. The patrol is maintained by 14 nations whose liners ply
the North Atlantic, and was instituted because so many lives were lost
when the Titanic crashed with an unseen "berg". [fromWalt Samson]
A Husband's Lucky Find
(from old newspaper clipping - exact date unknown, but circa early
1900s)
The Elmira Star-Gazette tells this story, which it says is true:
A few nights ago a well-known resident of the West side returned
home about midnight, after a week's absence from the city. He went
to his home and entered quietly as was his custom. Knowing that his
wife has difficulty in returning to a night's rest after being disturbed,
he took advantage of a bright moonlight and lighted no other light in the
house. Going to his room which was sufficiently lighted by the moonrays
through the windows to permit him to retire, he spoke to his wife, assured
her of his presence, undressed quietly and retired without disturbing her
very much. He had retired but a short time when the wife aroused
her husband and assured him that she was not feeling well. She was
suffering from cramps and a certain remedy which had been used before in
the household was not available and he must go to the drug store and have
the prescription on the bottle label filled. The husband arose, again
by the moonlight, secured the empty bottle and hastened to the druggist's,
got him out of bed and went to the drug store nearby to have the emergency
prescription filled. While the druggist was filling the prescription,
the Westsider recalled that he had placed his wallett under his pillow
and the only money he had in his trousers pockets was 70 cents in
change. As he expected, the prescription was 75 cents, a very modest
charge for so valuable a vial, secured in the middle of the night.
The husband made the usual excuses about unfortunately having to owe the
druggist a nickle, at the same time reaching for the 70 cents in the trousers
pockets. The druggist may have been surprised at the alarmed expression
which came over his customer's face when he withdrew his hand from
his pocket, but his surprise was nothing to that of the devoted husband
who had gone out in the middle of the night to buy medicine for his wife.
Instead of 70 cents, he pulled out a roll of bills, which a few minutes
later he discovered contained an even $1,300 in bills of large denominations.
Then he took a look at the trousers, and when he saw that though they were
a pretty good pair they did not belong to him. Being of a modest
disposition, fond of peace and very saving, the husband returned home with
the medicine, cured his wife's cramps, retired and instead of wasting the
$1,300 in riotous living, he went to his bank the next morning and
deposited the money to his account. They even say the trousers are
a very good fit, and the Westsider is wearing them, as disastrous as may
be the result when some local sleuth may match them with a coat and vest
of the same pattern.