The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, December 31, 1903, Image 3

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\ t A BLIZZARD HORROR Frightfully Fatal Disaster on Railroad in Michigan. . TWENTY-TWO ARE DEAD Jn Raging Snow Storm Wind Extin\ guished Red Signal Light and Swiftly Moving Trains Crash in Head-On Collision. An eastbound and a westbound passenger train on the Pere Marquette railroad met in a head-on collision six miles cast of Grand Rapids, about six o'clock Saturday evening, just west of East Paris. The two trains were running at full speed, and the engines were reduced to tangled heaps of wreckage. The first cars were also demolished, and both trains left the track, except the last coach on each, so great was the l force of the collision. The eastbound train was due to leave Grand Rapids r.t 5:20 bound for Detroit and was a little late The westbound train was due from Detroit at 5:15. It was also late. Sunday the death list resulting from the collision stood at twenty-two, with twenty-sine injured, several of them probably fatally. It was the most disastrous wreck in the history of the Pere'Marquette system. and instead of being caused by v man's carelessness or mistake, is charged to the nigh wind which extin- j guisbed the red signal lamp in the j order board at McCords station, where j the westbound train was expected to j stop and receive orders. Two min- : utes before the train rushed by Mc- j v Cords the light was burning, says the j operator there, but in that brief inter- j val the blizzard that was raging ex- j tinguished it and train No. 5 nashed by ; the station to crash into the eastbound j rain No. 6 at East Paris'. The trains, j which were two of the 'finest on the ; system, were reduced to a promiscuous pile of broken and twisted timber and metal with dead and injured pinned down and crushed by the fragments of heavy cars. Five cars and two large locomotives were jammed into a space ordinarily occupied by three coaches and the wreckage was strewn across the railroad right of way from fence to fence. When train No. 5, westbound, whizzed by McCords instead of stopping, the frightened operator notified the dispatcher and then found that his j re dlight had been extinguished. He reported this fact and then there was but one action to take. The collision was inevitable. The dispatcher's office called for medical aid and gave orders to hold the train over the Saginaw branch at the depot and get the wrecking outfit under steam. They then * waited for the word they knew must come. There was no chance of the fast running trains to see each other through the driving blizzard to even ; slow down and in a few minutes | word came from the conductor of No. 5 that they had crashed together and that there was an awful loss of life. it was at the rear end of the smoker and forward end of the cafe car where all the passengers were killed and injured. According to. statements made by officers of the Pere Marquette, the westbound train wasi traveling down grade at the rate of 60 miles an hour. The eastbound train was climbing the hill at a speed of 40 miles an hour. The former carried seventy-five passengers, while the latter is believed to have been carrying at last 135 persons. The two trains collided at about the t . * middle of a long, sweeping curve threequarters of a mile west of East Paris. BRITAIN RECOGNIZES PANAMA. Citizens of Color Evinces Greatest Jubilation Over Announcement. Colon is in a state of joyful excitement following upon the news that the British government has recognized the republic of Panama. The foreign population of Colcn is largely composed of natives 01 ureat Britain, and the Britishers joined the natives in their jubilation. SENATOR KOAR LOSES WIFE. Death Comes to' Mrs. Hoar at Sena' tor's Home in Washington. Ruth Miller Hoar, wife of Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, died suddenly Thursday night at her home in Washington of angina pectoris. Senator Hoar, the family physicians and Miss Patterson, a friend, were with her when she died. Mrs. Hoar had been in poor health for some time, but an improvement in her condition had been noted recently, and her sudden demise caused a great shock to her family and friends. The body was taken to Worcester, Mass. THREE TOY PISTOL VICTIMS. Wilmington, N. C-, Has Most Strenu* ous Christmas Celebration. ' The deadly toy pistol claimed three victims in Wilmington, N. C., this Christmas, one white and two colored boys. The celebration was the most extensive in years. The police were kept very busy and the city prison was taxed to its utmost capacity. X WRECK VICTIMS ROBBED. A Revolting Feature of the Baltimore and Ohio Raiiway Disaster?List Reaches Sixty-Eight Dead. The summing up of the results cf Wednesday night's wreck of the DuQuesne limited on the Baltimore and Ohio, eight miles west of Connellsviile shows a total dead list 01 sixty-eight and nine injured. Thursday Connelsville was packed with curious people attracted by the wreck. The three morgues found it necessary to put guards on all doors tO K66p morula spt?Cl?lll>rs Aicriu cuo small rooms and walking over the forms of the dead. The streets were packed and in front of each of the undertaking establishments hundreds of people were grouped, eagerly waiting for a glimpse at the dead bodies. Friends and relatives of the victims came in on every train, and scenes at the morgues were most distressing. All but a few of the sixty-eight bodies have been identified and those who were still unknown were laid away in Hill Grove cemetery at the dawn of Christmas morning. Those who are still to be identified are mostly foreigners, and it is doubtful if their identity will ever be known. Considerable money was found on the persons of the unidentified, and tightly sewed in a belt on one foreigner was found more than $400, which was placed in the First i\ational ank. Sums ranging from $100 to $300 were found and this, like the balance, has been put in the bank until perhaps some time a relative may be located. Many of the victims of the wreck were robbed. There are several who are known to have had a large amount of money and jewelry on their persons. Not a single cent was found in the pockets of several of these, and it was plainly visible that rings had been taken from the fingers. Robbers were on the scene early and before many of * ? --I J tfie rescuers arrivea uiuau bc^uicu considerable booty, much of which con* sisted of baggage and hand bags that had been tossed about the cars in the wreck. A number of these have been recovered and it is the opinion of local officers that the bags were quickly picked up by the gang of thieves that operated there before assistance arrived. It has been learned that the car which dropped the timbers which wrecked the train was gondola No. 3,087, of the Nickel Plate railroad. Superintendent J. F.?Irwin, of the B. and 0., declares the b'ame must be fastened on the parties who loaded the lumber on the car. His theory is that the stakes at the side of the gondola were weak and gave way under the tension of the car when rounding curves. NO RESPECT FOR THE DEAD. Chicago Grand Jury Seeks to Have Strike Pickets Indicted. Scathing criticism of pefsons who have disturbed funeral processions in unicago were maae Dy ine gran a jury, which reported to Judge Clifford Thursday. The grand jury also criticised "irresponsible organizations" for creating disorder and defying the law. The report says: ? "We find that for several months irresponsible organizations have been creating disorder in this county, destroying property and defying the law. We have found that ordinary subpenas duces tecum make 'forthwith' and issued by this court, have been evaded. "It is public report that at present in this city houses of worship and houses of mourning are made the scenes of disorder by men calling themselves union pickets and that the bodies of the dead- are desecrated. We believe that these conditions justify careful examination and we "respectfully suggest that the conditions we have recited be made a special subject of inquiry by the January grand jury." CHRISTMAS CASH GONE. Cnwwwan/ of RailrnjM Cnnstriirtion Gang ,Missing with Large Sum. C. E. Lanier, employe of Brooke's construction gang for the Birmingham extension of the Seaboard, who had vouchers for upward of $1,400 to fce used in settling with the men on his payroll, is missing after having received the money from the bank at Austell, Ga., early Thursday morning. SLEW CHILDREN AND SELF. Farmer, Unable to Buy Gifts, Commits Horrible Deed. Brooding over his inability to purchase suitable Christmas gifts for his three motherless children, Joseph Phillips, a Hollowville, N. Y., farmer, murdered the three children's and then hanged himself in a neighbor's barn. Phillips had complained lately of his poverty, and it is believed his mind became unsettled. With ax in hand Phillips entered his house Christmas eve and crushed the skulls of Todo, aged 15, Frank, aged 11, and Carrie, aged 10. POLICE PROTECT THE DEAD. Officers Continue to Ride in Funeral Processions at Chicago. More hearses were used by the undertakers at Chicago Sunday in conducting funerals than at any time since the livery drivers went on a strike, but in every case policemen rode on the box with the driver. In one or two instances regular funeral processions of hearses and carriages drove to the cemeteries. \ dreyfOs hopeful I I ? I I Martyr French Army Officer! to be Given Justice, J ! CASE WILL BE REOPENED Special Ccurt Commission Makes Unanimous Report for Revision of Case That Has Attracted World-Wide Attention. A special from Paris, France, says: Captain Dreyfus, accused of treason to his country, degraded, dismissed from the French army and most bitterly punished, will have another trial, this time by a civilian tribunal. As a result of the examination of all the evidence submitted to the two courts martial which have passed on the question of Dreyfus' guilt, as well as upon the petition of Dreyfus for a new trial and the additional facts brought to light by general Andre, minister of war, the commission of revision, representing tne court of cassation, reached a decision Wednesday in favor of the revision ot the case by the criminal branch of the court of cassation. The court will assemble next month, and Dreyfus will then have full opportunity to make a compete exposition of the wrongs he has suffered. The former captain, as a result of this new trial, expects to obtain a full and complete vindication, followed by restoration to his rank in the army. Though it had been announced that the revision commission would reach i a decision Wednesday evening, there were iew persons ouisiae me ministry of justice, where the sittings of the commission were held, indicating that the interest of Parisians in the case is not as keen as it has been in the past. Dreyfus received the news of the decision of the commission through personal friends, who extended to him their earnest congratulations on his victory. There was absolute unanimity among the members of the commission. One member asserted that upon the facts presented, as the result of the investigation made by Captain Targe, an officer on the staff of War Minister Andre, another revision of the case was made possible. The details in the report of the commission have not yet ?een made public, but it is stated generally that the production of evidence which had nrkt Koon ciihmltto/? tr? tVio rmirt mar. tial at Rennes and the change of testimony on the part of some of the witnesses before the court martial, which entirely reversed. the view as to the guilt of Dreyfus, brqjight about the decision of the commission to refer the case for retrial to a civil tribunal. COLOMBIAN ARMY "LOST." American Exploring Party Can Find no Trace of Invaders. A Washington special says: Rear Admiral Glass, writing to the navy department from Panama, under date of December 13M reports that, with the view of investigating the movement of Colombian troops, he sent a scouting party fro mthe cruiser Boston to Santa Maria and Yaviza to communicate with the inhabitants and investigate the rumors of an invasion of the isthmus by the Colombian forces and ! to obtain information as to tne practicability of such an invasion. The district visited HRDL HRDLU RDLU scouting party reported all quiet in the district visited, and tnat they could get no knowledge of any movement of Colombian troops. Admiral Glass reports chat while an invasion is possible the progress of any coniderable force must be slow, as roads would have to be cut and facilities for transporting larger bodies of men by the rivers are inadequate. Reporting on a scouting trip of the Atlanta, Admiral Cochlan says that a trail was found by which small parties can go from San Bias to Colon, but that the party neither heard nor saw j anything of any Colombian troops havI ing been in that vicinity. COSTLY BLAZE IN QUITMAN. Georgia Town Suffers Heavy Loss in Destruction of Buildings. The most disastrous fire at Quitman, Ga., for a number of years broke out at 4 o'clock Sunday morning in the store of the Tillman Hardware Company, and spread to that of M. Elder, groceries, and then to that of J. O. Lewis, general merchandise, and the Masonic lodge over it. But for the heavy fire wall next to the Lewis store the whole block would have gone. The total loss is in the neighborhood of twenty-five tnousond dollars. MURRAY ASSISTANT SECRETARY. I Chicago Man Chosen to Act as Aid to ouriuiyuu. Lawrence 0. Murray, of Chicago, has been chosen assistant secretary of commerce and labor. The selection i was announced Wednesday by the president, who stated that the office i had been tendered to and accepted by I Mr. Murray and that the nomination ; would be sent to the senate immediatei ly aftec the holiday recess. GEN. WOOD HEARD FROM. | I Writes to War Department from Ma- ! nila and Takes Occasion tt> Rap Traducers of His Good Name. A Washington special says: The j war department has made public ! lie ! following letter: "Manila, P. I., July 16. 1903.?To the | Adjutant General, U. S. A., Washing-! ton.?Sir: I have the honor to invite j your attention to statements made j in the editorial columns of The New ! j York Sun of June 2, 4 and C, and later dates, which clearly charge'me with conduct of a most censurable character. perhaps, contemptible, would be a better word. I also invite your attention to the source from which the Daner claims to have obtained its infor Riation?namely, the statements of First Lieutenant James E. Runeie (late major United States volunteer cavalry) made to various reliable parties. and to request that matter j be referred to the inspector general of | the army for such action as may be I required under the circumstances, or j to any other authority which the war i department may deem proper. I in- J close herewith a statement of the facts in the case, together with true copies of leters, extracts from letters,, etc., bearing on the subject. "The matter is now one of three and a half year's standing, and during the greater portion of this period I have been within easy reach of the aggrieved party or parties. The statement inclosed gives tne addresses of most of the persons who have more or less knowledge of the affair. It will be noted that many of the letters are confidential in character, the originals of which are in the confidential official files 01 the secretary of war. Very respectfully, "LEONARD WOOD, "Brigadier General U. S. Army." DIPLOMATS FEAR WAR. Knowing Ones jn the Far East Believe Japan and Russia Will Fight Chinese Empire Imperiled. A dispatch from Pekin, China, says: The optimistic feeling in some quarters concerning war between Japan and Russia are not shared by the other diplomats at Pekin whose knowledge of the political situation of affairs entitles that opinion to the highest consideration. It is positively known that the Japanese government has drawn the line for a settlement beyond which it will not make any material concessions, and that she is determinj ed to fight before yielding what she considers to be her vital interests. It [ is believed that unless Russia conj cedes important points another exchange of notes will precipitate mat[ ters. It is also believed that Japan will I refuse any arrangement holding in abeyance the question of the evacuation of Manchuria, which was one of the terms of the proposed arrangements recently announced from St Petersburg, and wbicb It is now supposed was intended by the Russian government as a "feeler." This would be a violation of expressed pledges given to Japan and China. Minister Unichida is reported to have said he would be obliged to resign his post in tne event of such an agreement The most dangerous factors in the situation are the confidence of the Russian ofllcials in the Far East .that a war would mean an easy victory for Russia and the cnallenging tone of the Russian officials and newspapers. The intelligent Chinese officials await developments with tne deepest 'anxiety. They foresee the many perils menacing China in the event of war and the possibilities that a portion of the empire may result from China's inability to maintain the neutrality of her harbors and subjects. Largest Stationary Engine on Earth. .The biggest stationary steam engine on earth reached the world's fair grounds at St. Louis Wednesday on a? ri . - ?e rr n n ^ ~ iweuiy-oue cars it 15 oj. o,uui/ uuiac power. The engine is to he installed in the machinery hall. The total gross weight of the shipment is 720 tons, divided into 202 packages. CHICKEN SHOW BARRED. Mayor of Boston Protects Sacred Precincts of Faneu'I Hall. Permission to use Faneuil Hall for an exhibition of poultry was denied by Mayor Collins, of Boston, in a message to the board of aldermen, which had granted the privilege to the New England Light Brahma Club. "I regard such use of the hall illegitimate," he wrote. "The hall is a resort of all patriotic visitors who come to Boston, and its use lor a poultry exhibition or any kindred show is ridiculous and condemns its sacred memories. FIREBUGS DESTROY STEAMER. New Vessel cf Lucas Line Burned ai PalatKa, Fla. At PalatKa, Fla., Friday morning, the new Ocklawaha steamer, of the Lucas line, was burned at Boyd's ship yard. That the fire was of incendiary origin was indicated by an empty o:J can which was found floating astern of the wheel house where the blaze was first discovered. 8 BEAOPRE VACATES! I I I I Our Minister at Colombian! Capital Leaves His Post, j I i SAILS ON THE OLYMPIA! Admiral Coghlan Acted as His Escort j Great Crowd Was Assembled at Cartagena, But Americans Were Not Molested. Admiral Coghlan's flagship, the crui- j ser Olympia, arrived at Colon Monday j afternoon from Cartegena, with A. M. j Beaupre, United States minister to Co- I lombia, and Mrs. Beaupre, on board, j Minister and Mrs. Beaupre arrived i at Cartagena from Bogota Saturday j j and boarded the Olympia on her ar- j I rival Sunday afternoon. The Olympia j immediately sailed for Colon. Minis- i tor Beaupre will sail at once for New I | York on the steamer Yucatan. The ; ! rccepticn of the Olympia at Cartagena ; | was friendly. The naval authorities ! at Colon received instructions from Washington Christmas day not to send ; the cruiser Atlanta, the' converted j j cruiser Mayflower and the gunboat i j Castine to Cartagena with the Olym- j j pia, as previously projected. The Olympia, therefore, sailed for ' Cartagena along at daybreak Saturday and arrived oft' "the Boca Chicha en- j trance to the big lagoon on which Car- ; tagena is situated early Sunday morn- j ing. As the Olympia neared the en- j trance she descried the Colombian cruiser Cartagena four miles distant, j making every effort to reach the cn- ; 1 trance and to pass into the lagoon ' ahead of the Olympia, which she succeeded in doing. Passed Colombian War Ship. The Olympia steamed slowly to the tortuous entrance SeTween two old Spanish forts which apparently were deserted and found that the Colombian cruiser had taken up a position a short distance inside, but command-1 ing the entrance. It was learned sub- j sequestly that the Cartagena had j p-rrtnn^Pfj then* and that later s>he was i towed into port. The Olympia passed the Colombian warship and proceeded to Cartagena, which is a mile from the entrance. Anchoring about a mile from the town the Olympia hoisted the Colombian flag at her main and fired a salute of twenty-one guns. Shortly after the Colombian battery at the edge of the town returned the salute. Admiral Ccghlan then sent a boat ashore to communicate with United States Consul Orr, but it was learned that Mr. Orr had left Cartagena about a fortnight also for Baranquilla. The British vice consul at Cartagena, who is a very sick man and is hardly expected to live, had undertaken to look after United States' interests pending the arrival of Mr. Orr's successor. WOMAN SUSPECTED OF ARSON.. Sensational Arrest of Physician's Wife by Detective in Macon, Ga. On fhe police docket at Macon, Monday morning appeared the name of Mrs. R. N. Hicks, of Oakfield, Ga., wife of a prominent South Georgia physician, who was arrested by a detective, suspected of applying a match to room 46, of the Edgerton hotel, on Fourth street. Shortly after her detention, a telephone message was sent to her husband. The amount of bond, which was $200, was asked, and witmn an nour s time the president of a Macon bank called and signed the bond. , Mrs. Hicks left immediately after her release for her home. near Cordele. Sunday morning early the room, which was occupied by Mrs Hicks wa3 found ablaze. Holes had been cut through the plastering and kerosene poured in. The bed clothing had been piled upon that portion of the room where the kerosene had been used. The entire contents of the room were destroyed. Mrs. Hicks, it is said, lost her purse and two ten dollar bills. It is the general opiDion that Mrs. Hicks is innocent of the attempted incendiarism and other arrests are expected. SLUMMERS FOR THE SOUTH. Plan to Employ New York Tenement Dwellers in North State Cotton Mills. A plan to operate a chain of cotton mills in North Carolina by tenement dwellers of New York city, taken there an/i trained hv a few skilled workmen, is being evolved by men interested in the cotton business. If the scheme is carried out, it will result in the establishment of a self-sustaining charity, which will take hundreds of women and children from the dirty, overcrowded slums of the city into a healthy country life, wi'h cottages and schools. JELKS TO OFFER REWARD. Alabama Governor Hot on the Trail of Lynchers and Incendiaries. Governor Jelks, of Alabama, stated Monday afternoon that if the newspaper reports of the lynching of a negro and the burning of several residences and stores at Pineapple, Ala., were true, he would offer a large reward for those implicated, notwithstanding the $1,000 reward offered by The citizens. - m m ?^ww?:,: CZAR YEARNS FOR PEACE. | Though Putting Up a Big Bluff, Russian Ruler is Disposed to Yield to Demands of Mikado. Advices from St. Petersburg state that the consensus of official opinion among those associated with the government, but not responsible therefor, * is ttait the czar is so peacefully disposed that he will make such conce>- ! sions to Japan as are necessary to prevent war, provided that no unforeseen events force the hands of the govern- - ;; ments concerned. At tne same time, ~; the czar, it is pointed out, agrees with J those who believe that preparations for ^ M war present the best safeguard for peace and that apparent willingness to allow matters to be submitted to the test of arms is more likely to lead to . a satisfactory compromise than an ex- Jj hibition of over much peacefulness. '?3 This unofficial opinion, however, believes the controlling party in Russia ; regards Korea as necessary to the con- [% solidation of Russian interests in the | Far East, and therefore it is deter- k M mined to prevent the peninsula falling " ijl into Japanese hands, and that any con- r' cessions Russia now makes to Japan will only be with the object of defer- \"jS ring the difficulty until a more season- :|I| able time. , In St. Petersburg official circles the ' 5| delay in presenting Russia's reply to ':"M Japan/ is not regarded as ominous. v|S On the contrary, the fact that Russia, .y|ji in accordance with Japan's request, :;|g is actually reviewing the matters in i|p dispute is regarded as a favorable sign. It is pointed out that had Russia ^|| replied immediately unfavorable deduc- /Jf tions might have been drawn* and although Russia believes her proposals were extremely conciliatory, contain- : ing ail the concessions! she can make, this does not exclude the possibility of finding alternative propositions in r some portions of the general scheme of settlement, which may more closely coincide with Japan's wishes. If care- JS IU1 r^CUU^lUCl (luuu uio^iuoto uuv V'VSSM bility of such a course, it is said that J||| there is every reason to believe it will gladly be embraced. ' - Iffi TO FIGHT FRANCHISE TAX. City of Atlanta Issues Fi. Fas. Against Several Corporations. At the request of Atlanta's city t|j i comptroller, J. H. Goldsmith, fi. fas. have been issued against tne Atlanta ;$3| i Gas Light Company, the Southern Ex! press Company and the Atlanta ! Standard Telephone Company by ,;V|S Comptroller General William A. Wright, of the state of Georgia, for "i the collection of their franchise and other taxes due the city, tnese compa* I nies having failed to pay their taxes /||j before the time limit expired. "'1m Several other companies have not. -'<3| j paid their taxes, but their checks hard I been held up and the matter is in lit!- 1?| j gation or will be, so that no fi. fas. I were issued in these instances. The '"J|| ' Seaboard Air Line still owes its taxes, "\'M but has until January 5 th to make payment. The amount of tnis road's taxes ^J| is $2,405.05. i :-m The amounts for which the fi. fas. 1 are issued are as follows: Atlanta Gas ! Light Company, which has paid all but.. its franchise tax, $1,843.75; Southern I Express Company, $2,609.90; Atlanta . ^ ! Standard Telephone Company,? $1.- -1$3 j 607.52. The fi. fas. state that the ~ amounts due are for taxes on the tanI gible and other property of the com pa- \>j|| j nies and upon their franchises, except L in the case of the Atlanta Gas Light Company, whidh has paid its franchise j These companies have paid their oc- - ;J1 cupation tax to the city and contend ^ ! that in paying the amounts tor which the fi. fas. have been issued they ' ||| should have deducted from these amounts the amount paid for the oc- . cupation tax. City attorney Mayson held that the law which allow such re- ;, 4| ductions applied only to street car com. * panies. Oppose Linotype Machines. Columbia Typographical Union No. :yf 1ft'1 ~ * TXr? nVi?r?rr+rm VlOQ flnnftintAd a ! VY acmuj, wu, ? committee to go before congress and ! enter an earnest protest against the in* ' ? stallation of typesetting machines in ; \ % the government printing office. The f ; | : claim is made that the machines can! not do government work. : LONG TERM FOR TRAIN WRECKER | Negro is Sent Up for Ten Years for | Derailing Southern Train : Arthur Lee, alias Charles Lee, col- . ored, was sentenced to ten years in 3 i state's prison at Halifax, Va., Monday ' ! : for derailing the Southern railway's train No. 3, at Milton station, Novem- y, i ber 1* ' ^11 j Lee was captured while removing i rails from the Southern's tracks at Jeffries Junction December 12. For . | this attempt to wreck ne received a, , five-year sentence, i The negro's scheme was to wreck a i train, and in the contusion rob the i ! cars. MONEY OR HIS LIFE. : Demand of Blackmailer on Superintendent of a Railroad. a Superintendent Perkins, of the Bur! lington road, has received a letter mailed at Watson, Mo., saying that he deposited $5,000 in a spot designated, the writer, "Odell Carter," would kill ' ' him on sight. Mr. Perkins has placed the letter in the hands of the postofficc authorltiea