North Carolina Newspapers

THE CALIFORNIA TORPEDOED. Passenger Steamer Sunk by U-Boat Off Irish Coast. Like Liner Lusita nia No Warning Was Giveh the 15oat. One American Citizen on Hoard Was Saved. Two Women and Several Children Are Reported Missing. Within the Past 24 Hours L'-lJoats Have Accounted for Many Ships. Washington, Feb. 7. ? The steady stream of reports telling of the de struction of merchant ships by Ger man submarines was brought to a cli max tonight by a telegram to the state department from Consul Frost at Queenstown announcing that the British liner California had been tor pedoed without warning, and that an American citizen was among the survivors. Whether this will prove to be the overt act to drive the United States into war no one would attempt to say tonight. President Wilson, who must make the decision, had retired when the news came and officials did not wake him. Late in the afternoon he had been informed of a message from Consul Frost telling of the sinking of the California, but giving no details as to warning or the presence of Americans. The President undoubtedly will wait for complete reports on the dis aster before determining whether the time has come for him to go to Con gress to ask authority to "use any means that may be necessary for the protection of our seamen and our peo ple." The consul's first dispatch said there was "one death and 30 hospital cases" among the more than 200 peo ple on board the liner. The second ad ded no information concerning cas ualties except that the survivors were landed at Queenstown tonight, among them being John A. Lee, of Mont gomery, Ala., the only American known to have been aboard, and that some still were missing, including two women and several children. The fact that the American escaped les sened in a degree the excitement cre ated by the news, but only in a de gree. More than a score of merchant craft have been sent to the bottom in the war zone within the past 24 hours, and 50 or more since the Ger man proclamation of ruthless warfare on the seas went into effect last Thursday. It is realized that if no citizen of the United States was among the victims, it merely was a fortunate aawdent and that it can be only a matter of hours before Ameri cans are "caught such wholesale destruction. The California, which was bound from New York to Glasgow, is the first big passenger steamer to be destroyed since the Arabia was tor pedoed in the Mediterranean months ago. Her sinking has about swept away the last lingering hope here that Germany after all, would permit passenger carriers to escape in an effort to avoid driving the United States to hostilities. ? Press Dispatch in Greensboro News. THE BUSINESS IN JANUARY. Commercial Failures Make Best Ex hibit for the Period in Years. Like other statistical comparisons, the insolvency Tecord reflects the gen eral prosperity of the country, Jan uary failures being the smallest in number for the period since 1910 and the lightest in amount of any year back to 1909. Commercial defaults last month numbered 1,540. against 2,009 in 1916 and 2,848 in 1915, while the liabilities were $18,283,120, as compared with $25,863,286 and $49, '>40,575, respectively, in the two im mediately preceding years. In each of the three years prior to 1915 Jan uary insolvencies exceeded 1,800, the average being above 1,850, and in 1914 the indebtedness was over $39, 000,000, with the average for 1913 and 1912 fully $21,000,000. Last Month's returns, as usual, disclosed more reverses and larger financial losses than in December, yet the numerical increase was less than in any year since 1909, and this also was true of the sum of money in volved. That such facts appear, with niore people in business than evere before, is one of the best features of j the times. ? Dun's Review. I WEDNESDAY IN LEGISLATURE. Two-Quarts- A- Year Bill Opposed by House Committee. Garnishment and Homestead Bill Gets Unfavorable Report from Senate Committee. Senate Passes Measure to Divide State Into Two Judicial Circuits and 20 Districts. Raleijfh, N. C., Feb. 7. ? The House committee on liquor traffic pave a long: hearing1 this afternon to advo cates of the Anti-Saloon League bill to reduce liquor deliveries to two quarts per year and make other sharp advances in the prohibition regula tions of the State, the two quarts al lowed being strictly for medical pur poses. The outcome was that the com mittee voted 7 to 11 for an unfavor able report of the bill which must now go to the floor of the House under a minority favorable report. ? There were nine members of the committee absent. For the hearing J. A. Brown, of Chadbourne, as chair man of the Anti-Saloon League legis lative committee, was in charge and the discussion was opened by I)r. W. L. Poteat, of Wake Forest College. Other speakers included Rev. M. T. Plyler, C. H. Ireland, T. J. Markham, Dr. L. B. McBrayer, W. S. Taylor, F. S. Blair, W. T. Shaw, Frank Lyp fert, former Representative Bolick and J. D. Elliott. The Senate committee on constitu tional amendments gave an unfavor able report this evening for the North Carolina Merchants Association bill to amend the constitution to eliminate the homestead and to provide for gar nishment of percentages of wages and other incomes for debt. The vote was 5 to 3. The House committee did not vote, there not having been a quorum when the voting time fame. A. B. Justice, of Charlotte, and J. M. Broughton, Jr., Raleigh, were among the advocates of the bill who were heard. The House had a strenuous debate on the bill from the Senate that would amend the Revisal to raise the age of moral responsibility from 10 to 14 years and increase the age of consent to 18 years. It has passed the Senate, but was defeated in the House 47 to 57. The House sided with Cleveland County in the contest with Gaston over possession of Kings Mountain and passed by a roll call vote of 85 to 9 a bill to confirm Cleveland's posses sion of this territory through the elec tion two years ago that Gaston con tends was fraudulent. Judicial District Bill. The Senate passed the Warren bill dividing the State into two judicial circuits with 24 judges and 20 judi cial districts and rotation that will leave two judges always available for holding emergency terms under the direction of the Governor. The bill was sent to the House, having passed without opposition as a most happy solution of the complicated and con gested condition of courts and cir cuits. Senator Oates introduced a bill to empower the Governor to appoint a board of visitors to visit and inspect State institutions. Crop Lien Bill Progresses. The committee having under con eration the bill to amend the crop lien system of the State for the re lief of the tenant class, as agreed upon by the State Farmers Union and Governor Bickett gave a lengthy hearing this afternoon and practical ly agreed on the main features of the measure, but referred the bill to a sub-committee to adjust the feature designed to overscribe the cash price and the percerjt of additional profit a dealer is to be permitted to add for furnishing time supplies. Indications are that the bill in satisfactory ad justment will be reported favorably within a day or two. When the Senate was convened at 11 o'clock, Senators Griffin and Burg win were named as members of the joint committee to investigate the charges against the management of the State farm. The board of Gaston County com missioners met in Gaston Monday and appropriated on behalf of the county one-third of the amount necessary to secure the services of an all-time health officer. The City of Gaston will pay one-third and the board of educa tion the remaining third. The health officer will receive $2,500 a year, giv ing his whole time and exclusive ser vices to the duties of his office. AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER. Family of New baptist Minister to Arrive Soon. Deputy Flowers : Makes Two Successful Raids on Blockaders. Two Men Arrested for Check-Flashing. A Member of j The School Faculty Married to a Sinithlield Business Man. Numer ous Others Items of Interest. Benson, Feb. 8. ? Mr. P. B. John son was a visitor to Smithfield on business Thursday. Messrs. Alex Hodge and A. L. Barefoot were visitors to Lillington Thursday. Mr. Timothy Hudson, of Durham, spent a few hours in town Wednes day with relatives. Mr. Ed. Johnson, of Elevation, spent the day here Wednesday on business. * Mr. Joseph Coats, of Four Oaks, spent the day here Tuesday. Miss Bryant and Mr. John Parrish went to Florida this week where they will spend some time. Mrs. Allen Smith, of Smithfield, was a visitor here Tuesday for a few hours. Messrs. R. T. Surles and Alonzo Parrish were visitors to Raleigh Tues day. Mr. C. T. Johnson spent the day Monday in Raleigh with Mrs. John son who is in a hospital there. Miss Ruth Johnson, of Cardenas, has been elected to fill the vacancy in the Graded School Faculty caused by the resignation of Miss Mary Bishop. Rev. Mr. Rollins, the new pastor of the Baptist church, will arrive with his family about March the first. They will live at the Parsonage on Church Street. There were services at the Method ist church Sunday by the pastor. Mr. Holder, of Wendell, spent the day here Sunday with his sister, Mrs. W. D. Boon. Lonnie Maxtor and Lonnie B. En nis were arrested here Sunday for check-flashing and placed in jail for lack of bond to await the next term of the Superior Court of tljis county. From all reports they are both in need of some assistance from the strong arm of the law to stop their wild ca reers, both having been in trouble and guilty of violations of the law at dif ferent times before. Mr. R. L. Flowers made a special visit out on. Mingo last night and brought back with him a 60-gallon copper still. He also caught at the still Setli McLamb. McLamb was ar rested and taken before the U. S. Commissioner at Dunn and bound over to the Federal Court. From all reports it seems that Ben son is afflicted with some very un-de sirable citizens. Some days ago the people of Dunn got busy and chased out from her borders ^some women of the under-world. These women have moved into the suburbs of our town, so it is reported, and are giving a great deal of annoyance to the citi zens who live near the place they live. If the owner of the house refuses to move these undesirables from his premises, then the moral citizens of our town should notify them to va cate at once, and if this don't move them we think they should be forced to leave in broad day light without ceremony. Mr. Robert Flowers returned from Salemburg, Sampson County, where he had been employed by the citizens of the town to do some work chasing the blockaders and whiskey makers. He caught one 25-gallon still and three men, Larkin Young, formerly of Harnett, and Needham V. Pope and T. C. Pope, boys 14 and 16 years of age, destroyed 75 gallons of beer and several fermenters. This still was be ing operated in the Salemburg Model Community of Sampson County and in three hundred yards of the house of the township Constable. The pris oners were taken to Fayetteville and given a hearing before U. S. Commis^ sioner and bound over to the Wilming ton Federal Court. Miss Mary Bishop, of the Graded School faculty, and' Mr. Allen Smith, of Smithfield, were married here last Thursday night, Rev. A. T. Lassiter performing the ceremony. Miss Bish op had been in our midst for some time and had made a large number of friends who regret to see her leave. Mr. Smith is a young business man of Smithfield. The couple will make their home in Smithfield. The people of Benson wish them much happiness through life. \ THE NEWS OVER SELMA WAY. ? Report of Cold Weather for Several Years. Coldest Weather Here in 25 Years Was in January, 1893 When the Thermometer Went to Fve He low and Again in February 1899 When Six Below Zero Was Regis tered. Selma, Feb. 8. ? The Selma corres pondent of The Herald will tfe glad to get any items of interest of any cit izen of Selma. Miss Mattie Ellington, of Richmond, Va., is here on a visit to Mrs. W. H. Call. Rev. Mr. Proctor, pastor of the Methodist church here, preached two excellent sermons here last -Sunday, and also made a talk in the audito rium of the school on "Adolescence" in the afternoon. The music on that occasion was fine. At that service Miss Mattie Ellington sang in a quartette, composed of Miss Mattie Ellington, Mrs. N. E. Edgerton, Rev. Mr. Proc tor and Mr. John Jeffreys. They sang several selections. In my notes of last week regarding the Shrine Minstrels in Raleigh and the possibility of getting them, either here or in Smithfield, several lines were left out, which destroyed the sense of the article. The Selma Graded School and the Civic League will entertain the teach ers of Johnston, Saturday. Let all come and receive a regular Selma welcome. , Mr. Wr. D. Driver, Mrs. Geo. Noel, Misses Annie Hood and Perdue mo tored to Raleigh Thursday to see George Driver, who is in the hospital. Captain John F. Brown was right badly hurt last Friday by his foot slipping off the tender step, throwing him acros:; the track rail. He is able to be up now, but not able to be out. Dr. W. B. Johnson, our excellent dentist, spent Sunday at his father's, in Sm' afield township. Miss Minnie Peedin has accepted a position with Hudson Belk Co., in Raleigh, and will be pleased to have her friends call on her when in Ral eigh. Mrs. Geo. Noel and son, George, Jr., arrived Wednesday to spend some time with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Hood. Miss Perdue, milliner for Miss An nie Hood, arrived Tuesday morning. As a great many* are saying "thjs is the coldest weather ever in this country," I will give you the dates of some of the coldest days since 1893. It will be seen from this that the coldest weather known in Johnston since 1893 was in January, 1803 when from January 6th the thermometer only went above freezing on the 8th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 22nd, 23rd, and then only a few degrees, till the 23rd. On January 20th it was 5 below zero and J on the 21st 4 below. On January 20th there was a heavy fog which froze, | and that was the prettiest sight I ever saw. The fog on the trees, twigs and grass was frozen to near % of on inch, and when tho sun came out and shone on the frozen fog it was a sight never seen here before, and one never to be forgoten. There was also sqme cold weather in February, 1895, when for six days the thermom eter did not go above 32 degrees (or the freezing point). Also in February, 1899, when on the 10th the thermom eter went down to 11 degrees, then at 12 /o'clock on the 11th snow began to fall and kept on falling till 4:30 p. m. on the 13th. There was a snow fall of 17 inches, and on the 14th the ther mometer stood at 6 degrees below ze ro; and on the 15th at 4 degrees be low zero. It would be well for those interested to cut this out and k* ep for future reference as it is correct and taken from the United States records kept by Dr. Noble, who kept the re cords until he turned the instruments ovef- to Mr. E. S. Sanders, of Smith field, in 1911. WEATHER TABLE. The first row of figures given below indicate the minimum or lowest tem peratures and the last row indicates the maximum or highest tempera tures for the given dates. 189.J. Min. Max. January 6th 15 28 January 7th 15 30 January 8th 20 37 January 9th 15 35 January 10th 22 30 January 11th 6 29 January 12th.. 30 40 January 13th 16 26 January 14th 9 34 January 15th 21 30 January 16th 6 23 January 17th 5 24 January 18th 8 27 January 19th 21 30 January 20th, 5 below zero 28 January 21st, 4 below zero 34 January 22nd 6 10 January 23rd 11 48 1894. December 29th 10 27 December 30th 12 30 1895. February 8th 5 18 February 9th 12 31 February 10th 19 32 February lltli 19 29 February 12th 23 28 February 13th 12 29 February 14th 3 30 February 15th 19 34 1896. February 21st 10 32 1897. January 28th 13 24 January 29th 12 32 1899. January 29th 8 44 February 10th 11 25 Februiry 11th 15 22 February 12th 10 18 February 13th 9 14 February 14th, 6 below zero 30 Februr.ry 15th, 4 below zero 40 1900. January 2nd 11 31 February 1st 12 25 February 2nd..../ 12 35 1901. February 24th 10 39 1905. February 14th 13 32 Febnfary 15th 18 35 February 16th 12 34 REGIMENT BACK FROM BORDER. Members of the First Glad to Get Back Home. The Two Asheville Companies Banquetted at the Lan gren Hotel. The First Lost Two Men While Away. Asheville, Feb. 7. ? With flags fly ing from all public buildings and dozens of business houses, mothers, wives and friends gathered in large numbers to greet them, Asheville foot soldiers, companies F and K, of the flrst North Carolina regiment, unload ed here today, after the long and te dious journey from the border. A rousing mass meeting at the city au ditorium, which was presided over by Mayor Rankin and addressed by Com missioner Ramsey, and a banquet at the Langren hotel tonight, helped to complete the reception given by the citizens of this city to her soldiers. The first regiment band went with Colonel Gardner to Shelby, regimental headquarters, where it will be muster ed out. The band will make this city headquarters, but will be under com mand of Capt. A. W. Freeman, of Canton, adjutant of the regiment. The local companies will be mustered out at once, Captain Benton of the Unit ed States coast artillery being here for that purpose. There will be mus tering officers for each company of the regiment. The first has been more than lucky in that but two men of its 12 com panies have lost their lives since the regiment was mobilized last June. Jack Wycoff of E company, States ville, was drowned at Camp Glenn and Pat Thornburg of A c(*uipany, Hick ory, although a resident of Newton, was killed yesterday at Knoxville when he was knocked from the top of a car on which he was standing by a low bridge. But one man of the local companies was ill when they left Texas or arrived here and he was left in the hospital at El Paso. The first arrived here early this morning, traveling in two special trains, composed of 18 tourist sleepers and eight freight cars. Unloading the local companies, two sleepers and freight car were sent to Waynesville, the shelby contingent, consisting of Colonel Gardner and his staff and the band proceeded in a special to Shelby. Statesville, Hickory, High Point, Two sleepers each were sent to Winston-Salem and Mt. Airy. ? Greensboro News. ______________ Patrick L. Thornburgh, aged 24, member of company A, first North Carolina infantry, died Tuesday af ternoon as the result of an accident that happened as the special train carrying his regiment home from Texas was leaving Knoxville. Thorn burgh had climbed on top of a car and was waving a farewell when his head struck viaduct supports and he was knocked to the ground. He died later in a hospital. fiiomhurgh's home was at Newton, N. C. HOUSE PASSES DEFENSE PLANS Congress Makes Big Increases In Ap propriation Measures. $15,000,000 More For Navy. Bill Authorizing $150,000,000 Bond Issue To Speed Up Warship Construction Introduc ed. Washington, Feb. 6. ? Big increases were added to national defense ap propriation measures in Congress to day, and plans were made to put through quickly other far-reaching provisions requested by the Adminis tration to prepare the country for whatever may fallow the break with Germany. The House, hurrying the annual na val ^bill toward completion, wrote in to it additional appropriations total ing $15,000,000, of which more than $5,000,000 is for ammunition for mer chant auxiliaries of the fleet, and nearly $2,000,000 for anti-aircraft guns to defend naval stations. In the Senate an executive session to consider nominations occupied virt ually the entire day, but a bill was put through increasing the penalties for making threats against the Pres ident of the United States, and the Republicans agreed at an informal conference to support a plan for au thorization of 100 submarines, at a cost of $4,000,000, in addition to those provided for in the regular building program. While the House was debating the naval bill, the Military Committee brought in the annual army appro priation measure, carrying a total of $247,000,000 and including a provision requested by Secretary Baker yester day, under which the full membership of the army general staff may be brought to Washington in emergencies to work on war problems. Among the largest items for new equipment are authorizations of $8,000,000 for avia tion, $11,000,000 for equipment and stores of the reserve corps, and $5, 000,000 for automatic machine guns for the army and National Guard. De bate on the bill will begin late this week. Another of the bills would author ize a $150,000,000 bond issue to pro vide funds for insuring quick delivery of naval vessels now under construc tion and a third would apropriate $1, 000,000 for Government purchase of basic airplane and seaplane patents. Republicans and Democrats, de claring partisan consideration should be forgotten in the face of the inter national crisis, joined in approving without question the increase appro priations recommended by Secretary Daniels in the bill under debate to day. MANY SHIPS FIRST DAY'S TOLL. Seven British, Five Norwegian, One Russian, One Swedish and One Spanish Ship Were in the List. One Was a Large Passenger Steamer and It Is Feared Lives Were Lost. Fifteen ships of 47,580 tons aggre gate were the toll of the first day of full-fledged U-boat warfare, says a London dispatch dated February 6th. The period of grace given by Ger many to neutral shipping in the "barred zones" expired early this morning and the day's havoc raised by the U-boats is believed to be indi cative of the proportions to be main tained hereafter in Germany's cam paign to starve out England. The vessels sunk today included seven British, five Norwegian, one Russian, one Swedish and one Spanish ship. There is nothing in the reports to show definitely that there was loss of life. Grave fears are entertained, however, for the bulk of the passen gers on the Commonwealth and Do minion liner Port Adelaide ^f 8,181 tons. Only 96 of her passengers and crew are thus far reported to have been picked up at sea. The vessel's captain was captured by the U-boat commander. The aggregate tonnage sent to the bottom today alone is 5,693 tons in excess of the total tonnage destroyed in thF first five days of the new war fare from February 1 to 5, inclusive, during which period only 41,887 tons were sunk. If today's rate should be maintained, the U-boat blockade would mean the , destruction of a million and a half tons a month, or half a million in ex cess of the figure estimated in Berlin despatches.