Mysterious Disappearance -- A Sensation in Canandaigua.

Ira D. Durgy, of the well known grocery firm of Parkhurst & Durgy, of this place, left town on New Year's day under circumstances which have given rise to much speculation, and many sensational rumors, as to the cause of his sudden disappearance.  It has since transpired that he had sold his interest in the business to Mr. Parkhurst, with the understanding and agreement that he would remain in the store for a few weeks to assist in closing up unsettled accounts.  But that part of the contract, so far as Durgy was concerned, seems to have been only a blind to cover his real intentions.  Without saying a word to Mr. Parkhurst about going away or disclosing his purpose to any one, so far as we can learn, he started for the west by the mid-day train, leaving no explanation of his singular conduct.  It seems however to be understood among those most likely to be informed of his movements that he is now somewhere in Michigan.  What induced him to go there at this particular time, and under such peculiar circumstances, can only be surmised.  It has been currently reported that his sudden departure was prompted by financial embarrassments, and that some of his friends are likely to suffer through his crookedness.  Durgy is a man of rather unsavory reputation, and his unexplained absence very naturally suggests unfavorable conclusions.  There is probably some foundation for the damaging reports to which is disappearance gave rise, but so far the most diligent inquiry fails to elicit any definite information beyond what is stated above.  While the belief is general that he was largely in debt, our reporter is unable to ascertain the nature or extent of his liabilities, or the precise cause or purpose of his sudden departure.
Can. Times 

The family of James McDonough, residing on Catherine street, has had several cases of scarlet fever, five children being down at one time.  One death has occurred.

MAPLE SUGAR FESTIVAL - HIRAM DARROW'S SEVENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY

The birthday anniversary of Hiram Darrow, Esq. -- celebrated for a few years past, at a maple sugar festival, and reunion of old friends -- occurred yesterday afternoon, at the residence of Mr. Darrow, Seneca, four miles north-west of Geneva.  The day was bright, yet so cold that it was unpleasant to drive far; thirty or forty were there to join in the honors of the occasion.  Mr. Darrow was seventy-one yesterday; he has recently, for a few months, till now, been very ill, so that his presence, in fair health, for him, was a rare and greatly appreciated pleasure, not only to himself but to all who attended.  It was indeed one of the bright spots in many a life-time, to be in this company -- in which we, of the Courier, were happy to be counted.  The gravity of the occasion, though to numbers present the chief feature of the occasion (as the host tersely put it, it was possibly the last) was not by any means the feature most apparent outwardly.  The attendance represented three or four generations.  We have not in "years and years" witnessed a scene of more hilarious interest than the sugar festival.  The candied sugar was made from maple sap drawn that day, and boiled down in the woods near by -- (where in other years the festival was held); but this gathering was in the old family residence, near by the beautiful new mansion where the family now reside.  The jollity and the good humor; the feast in which all engaged with an abandon befitting the opening spring festival, with Darrow for the King uncrowned; and the merry contests for the victory, among those who sought, not to partake the most, but to dispense sweet hospitality to each other -- made a spectacle long to be borne in mind, as one very unique, and full of meaning, in many ways--most of all for its associations.  The number of these observances have made the spring birthday festival an institution, to last as long as Mr. Darrow's life is spared.

The Darrow homestead dates from the close of the last century, when the father of Hiram, Washington, and Miss Darrow, these three now living there, settled upon it, paying four hundred dollars for a hundred acres, and erected in 1806, a log house where the new mansion, finished two years ago, now stands.  The new one is the third in the series.  The log house (wherein Hiram Darrow was born) stood a few years and was burned.  The "stick" chimney, as the opening was called, in which hung the chain, suspended from a crow-bar, and holding the cooking kettles over the fire, itself took fire one night in 1817; and the flames were so rapid that Hiram and another one of the children were carried out in a trundle bed.  He relates how, from a lean-to, where the fire did not reach at once, the pork was handed out piece by piece through the little four-light window, then the respectable size.  Nine days afterward the family moved into a new building erected by the united efforts of the neighbors, so far as to be enclosed; that building was the family residence for about sixty-four years; and there the festival was held.  It is a quaint old place, not looking much as it did in 1817 -- for the "modern improvements" were put in and on, as the family's means increased.  Probably it will be kept for its associations.

The new house is among the stylish residences which make this region so sightly, and indicate the real thrift and independence which characterize this rapidly becoming the finest special feature of our American life.

In this home, surrounded by everything which might make life attractive -- affectionately cared for by those to whom he has ministered and who have ministered to him for the most of a long life time -- enjoying the confidence and love of neighbors and friends alike -- not deserving to have, possibly not having, an enemy in the world -- Mr. Darrow's years pass on; and it is the earnest wish and trust of all who know, appreciate and love him, that his health may so far recovered, as to render his declining years happy beyond any others that he has lived, and that, as ever in the past, "the air of youth, hopeful and cheerful, in his blood shall reign."

Mr. L. E. Barnes and family of Stanley, have removed to Geneva and will make this place their home.  They will be very cordially welcomed.  Their residence is on Elmwood avenue.  Mr. Barnes is engaged for J. W. Smith & Co., and will be glad to see his Seneca friends at his new place of business.

Mr. T. E. Rippey, of Stanley, is in Geneva, having become connected with the Express Company's office here.  His family will remove hither soon, and we have no doubt they will find this a desirable place of residence, and will have and deserve many friends.  Mr. Rippey is the popular Town Clerk of Seneca, who had only to be be placed on the ticket to get a very lively kind of majority every time.  Now that he has become a citizen of Geneva, wouldn't it be well -- but we desist.  Perhaps politics will have no further allurements.

An exciting runaway occurred on Monday on Seneca and Exchange streets.  A daughter of Joseph Childs of Seneca Castle was preparing to return home, but had not gotten into the vehicle, when the horse took fright and ran from the corner of Linden St., down Seneca and into Exchange, scattering the contents of the wagon on the way.  In Exchange street Dr. Rankine's wagon was run into and injured somewhat; we heard of no other injury.  The runaway horse came back in good style driven by Ed. Higgins, and went home to be a better horse in future we trust.

Edward Dougherty, of Phelps, got in too much of Geneva "tanglefoot" last night and Officer Mench gave him a bed in the hotel behind the engine house.  This morning Mr. Anthony thought $7 or twenty days would satisfy the demands of justice, and if Edward doesn't produce $7 in the next few hours, he will be the guest of his townsman Mr. Peck, for three weeks to come.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE - A Man Taking Poison, and Cutting His Throat - THE OLD STORY

At noon-time on Monday, just after the shops had closed to allow the employees to take dinner and just as many of our inhabitants were eating dinner, the exciting news that five weeks before had startled many homes, was repeated.  James Burns, who lived on Castle street, two doors west of Linden, had attempted to end his life.  It seems that Mr. Burns, who keeps house with his wife, daughter and son, has for many years taken a certain portion of his time to stop work; and doing nothing for a while, has got into the habit of imbibing more or less liquor.  This was done notwithstanding the fact that he was considered a first-class mechanic and always had plenty of work.  His business was that of carriage ironing, at which he was an expert, etc., and was done at former Enterprise Iron Works Building, junction of Main, Castle and Milton Streets.  It was during or after one of the periods that he was determined to take his life.  Accordingly, Monday forenoon he poured from a vial a quantity of muriatic acid into a teaspoon and then into his mouth.  It caused nesuses (sic), and he threw it off.  He persisted and took another spoonful.  This the stomach retained.

At noon, some time after the above occurrence, he went into the kitchen of his house and taking a heavy razor in his right hand he drew it across his throat, cutting it from the left side a little way from the ear around the wind pipe and well into the right side.  He made two or three other gashes, all smaller ones.  He fell on the floor and the blood poured from his neck in a stream.  Mrs. Burns came into the room and then called for assistance.  A doctor was sent for and everything possible done to relieve the injured man.  He lost at least two quarts of blood, and the blood ran in a stream, across the room for a distance of five or six feet.

Word was sent for medical attendance.  Dr. Weyburn arrived, and the gash was sewed up.  It was found that neither the trachea (wind-pipe) nor the jugular vein had been cut; although on both sides the wound was very deep.  Numerous smaller arteries were severed, from which came the large amount of blood.  The small amount of poison he had taken had little effect, considering the condition of the stomach, but the throat and mouth were very much burned.

Burns told the surgeon, when the latter was sewing the wounds, that there was no use of that as he would tear it open again.  He was finally persuaded, however, that it was not cut so badly as to be dangerous, and that breaking the wound would not accomplish his purpose.

Burns seemed to be entirely rational, and stated that he blamed no one.  He had no trouble with any one.  He had been thinking about the matter for several days and had decided to make way with himself.  Promises of reform made to his wife he could not keep, he said, and he had determined that in order to best settle the difficulty, he would cut his throat.

Mr. Burns is not so well to-day, of course, owing to the loss of blood and the heavy shock upon his system it is not expected that should feel so well.  But with good medical care the patient will probably live. He expresses a desire to recover.

The singing by the new chorus choir at the First Presbyterian church is remarkably good.  The rendering of the anthem "Mighty Jehovah," on a recent Sabbath morning, was highly praised by all lovers of fine music who heard it.  The following are the names of ladies and gentlemen who constitute the new choir:  Director - Prof. M. Sheehan; Sopranos - Misses Anna Covert, Eva Hemiup, Bertha Buckoltzh; Altos - Misses Ida Campion and Brooks; Tenors - Miles Campbell, Albert Fowle, A. C. Nellis; Bassos - M. Sheehan, Dr. F. A. Greene, Herbert Jamerson.

A Terrible Accident - We have received the following particulars of an accident which occurred at or near Flint Creek on Saturday night last.  As the freight train was coming north on the Northern Central Railroad, it struck a horse and wagon, killing the driver, a man named John Miller, a son of Geo. Miller, who resides in that vicinity.  The locomotive was thrown from the track and the whole train, it stated, was somewhat wrecked.  The engineer of the train, H. B. Judd, was badly cut in the head, and the brakes-man of the train had his foot badly injured, while the fireman, Mr. Sandford,  was so badly injured that he will probably not recover.  The horses escaped.  Miller, the teamster, was so badly mangled that he was hardly recognized by his own people.  Our informant says that Miller was under the influence of liquor at the time, and had indulged quite freely during the day.  An inquest was held Monday afternoon at four o'clock, and a verdict rendered according to the above stated facts.

Brutal Conduct of a Husband and Son-in-Law - Well authenticated reports reach us of a most brutal case of assault and battery perpetrated by Charles Carson of Seneca, the victims being his wife and her father, Hugh Monagle.  The parties reside together on a farm belonging to the latter, located west of Stanley, near the Gorham line.  It seems that Carson, at periods of drunkenness, had shamefully abused his wife and her parents.  But on the occasion more particularly referred to -- Monday night,  26thNov. -- Carson came home "ugly drunk" as the saying is, and pulled his wife out of bed by the hair.  Her screams brought her aged father to the rescue, (he is about 70 years old) when Carson turned upon him, knocked him down, stamped upon his prostrate body, and broke two of his ribs!  The injuries are pronounced by Dr. Allen, who was called to attend Mr. Monagle, very serious indeed, and may endanger his life.  The aggrieved parties, who are highly respected, feel deeply the disgrace brought upon them by the misconduct of the ruffainly husband and son-in-law, and would gladly have had the matter hushed up, but the community have been so stirred up with indignity by it that they have instituted proceedings in the name of the people for his trial and punishment.

From Geneva Gazette 28 December 1883

The Carson-Monagle Affair in Seneca - Another Version of the Story

Two or three weeks ago we wrote out and published substantially as related to us, on what we deemed as a reliable source of information, the circumstances of an alleged outrage in which Charles Carson was said to be the aggressor and his wife and father-in-law (Hugh Monagle) the victims -- all the parties occupying the same house near Stanley.  We are furnished with another story of the affair, which if true makes it far less aggravated, and it comes to us equally as well authenticated as the original story.  It is to this effect:

Mr. Carson came home badly under the influence of liquor; as admitted.  After going to his bedroom and pulling off his boots with the intention of retiring, he says his nervous system became so unstrung that he decided to descend to the cellar and "brace up" with a drink of cider, which he did.  On returning, his hands became entangled in some vines of a house plant, and he tore them down -- seeing which his wife sprang out of bed and sought to protect her treasures.  Carson thrust her aside.  She observed then that he looked wildly as if crazed, and she ran down stairs for help falling a few steps at the bottom.  Her mother first came to the rescue, and Carson also pushed her away.  Mr. Monagle then came up and, as alleged, seized a boot and with it struck Carson on the forehead.  Carson pushed him violently against a table, which caused the injury to his side and ribs.  It is denied most emphatically that Carson knocked his father-in-law down, kicked or stamped upon him -- that his ribs could not have been broken or seriously injured, as he was enabled to go out immediately and call at an uncle of Carson's across the way to come over and quiet the latter.  We are also informed that the trouble, whatever it may have been, has been amicably settled in the family, no proceedings at law being regarded as necessary or justified by the occurrences.  We will be only too glad to know that the present version of the affair is the correct one, and that happy relations are restored in the family, which numbers among its kinspeople some of the most worthily respected citizens of Seneca.

One night recently, Mr. Geo. C. Seeleye, met with a severe accident.  Two men were driving at a rapid rate of speed, and just as Mr. Seeleye was crossing Castle to Linden street, the horse came so near as almost to run him down.  He jumped back, but in so doing, fell heavily upon the stone walk which injured his hip badly so that he was laid up for several days, and was not able to be at the store until yesterday.  He cannot walk without the aid of crutches, but he may recover in a few days.  Such rascals in driving horses at such a rate should be brought to justice, and severely punished.