VOL. VIII. ,
COLUMBUS; N. C, THTJ ft j)AV FEBK UAR Y J2, 1903.
NO. .44.
4
" - ' - - ' : i . ..
SWEPT BY A WAVE
Eighty Islands Swept By a Terrible
Hurricane
JOOO LIVES ARE REPORED AS LOST
Death nd Devastation Sweep Over
the Islands of the Pacific, and Ter
rible Consequences Ensue.
San Francisco, Special. News of a
fearful loss of life in a disastrous storm
which swept over the South Sea Isl
ands last month, reached here Sunday
by the steamer Mariposa, direct from
Tahita. The loss of life is estimated at
1,000 persons. On January 13 last, a
liuge tidal wave, occompanied by a ter
rific hurricane, attacked the , Society
Islands and the Puamoto group with
fearful force causing death and devas
tation never before equaled in a land
of great storms. The storm raged sev
eral days. From the news received up
to the time of the sailing of the steam
er, it is estimated that 1,000 of the isl
anders lost'their lives. It is feared that
later advices will increase this number.
The first news of he disaster reached
Papeete, Tahiti, January 26, by the
schooner Eimeo. The captain of the
schooned placed the fatalities at 500.
The steamer Excelsior arrived at Pa
peete the following day with 400 desti
tute survivors. The captain of the Ex
celsor estimated the total loss of life
to be 800. These figures compsised only
the deaths on the three islands of Hao,
Hikuera and Makokaa, whose ordinary
population is 1,800. On Hikuera Island,
where 1,000 inhabitants were engaged
in pearl diving, nearly one-half were
drowned. On an adjacent island, 1000
more were washed out to sea. Makokan
and Hao are depopulated. Conservative
estimates at Tahita place the number
bnslahds visited by the tidal wave and
hurricane at 80. All of them are under
thp rontrrvl of the French' eovernor at
Tahita. The surviving inhabitants are
left destitute of food, shelter and cloth
ing, all having been swept away by the
storm1. :
The French government, on receipt
of news of the disaster, took prompt
measures to relieve the distressed disr
tricts and dispatched two warships
with fresh water and provisions. As the
supply of fresh water and provisions
was totally exhausted by the storm,, it
is feared that many lives will be lost
"before the relief ships can arrive, as
fas as is known eight white people
were among (the drowned. Included in
these were Alexander Brander, N. P.
Plunkett, of Oakland; T. D. Donnelly,
formerly a fireman on the steamship
Australia, and the local agent of C.
Coppenrath, a, merchant of Papeete.
woman who committed suicide from
fright.
As the islands were barely 20 feet
above sea-level and were not sur
rounded by coral reefs, it was neces
: sary for all inhabitants to take to the
-cocoanut trees when the tidal wave be
gan to cover the land. These trees grow
to an immense height, many reaching
an altitude of 100 feet. All of the lower
trees' were covered by the raging' seas
which swept with pitiless force about
and over them. The natives in the tall
er trees were safe until the cocoanut
roots gave way and then - they, toof
were swept out into the sea. The 400
survivors brought by the Excelsior to
Papeete gained the ship's side by swim
ming three and four miles fromthetops
of the cocoanut trees. The Etemo,
though badly damaged by the storm,
was also brought off as many persona
as could swim to her side, she, like the
Excelsior, being unable to .run .close to
the shores because of the violence of
the ocean swell, which continued to
run abnormally high for a week after
the tidal disturbances.- Another
schooner,- the Gaulois, from the Mar
quesas Islands, 600 miles away, en
countered the hurricane while on the
way to the latter place and only the
timely actios of the captain in having
the cargo, consisting of 30 head of cat
tle, 35 pigs and 30 tons of cotton, jet
tisoned, saved the little craft froni de
struction. Even with this precaution,
iv in. aa was inst. "hv waves
tut; 11 iv ui " -, . .
sweeping the decks. - ;
Earthquakes In Middle West
Owensborb, Ky ., Special. A distinct
earthquake shock was felt here at
:45 o'clock Sunday night. Pictures
were shaken from walls and tables in
vthe second story of many buildings.
Louisville,' Ky. A slight earth
quake shock was felt here at about
6: 45. The vibrations caused windows
to rattle, but no damage was done.
Paducoah. Ky. A slieht
shock occurred here about 6:45 o'clock
Sunday night. No damage was done
and the duration of the vibration was
very brief.
The Shock Felt in Illinois.
Cairo, 111. An earthquake shock was
felt in southern Illinois Sunday
evening. The seimisic wave seemed to
move from north to south. "
Marion, 111. An earthquake shock
was felt he Preceding the shock a
roaring noise was heard.
Dishes Rattled in St. Louis.
St. Louis. Two distinct earth
quake shocks were felt in St. Louis
and vicinity between 6:20 and . 6:25
o'clock t Sunday night. The shock was-
sufficiently forceful to rattle dishes
and swing doors.
Policeman Shoots Another.
e
Roanoke, Va., Special Officer
Houston Childress, of the Bristol,' Va.,
police force, was shot and killed on
the streets of that city shortly after
midnights by Policeman Gratt Walk.
There had been bad blood between the
two officers for some time. They met
on the street and after some words, it
is alleged, Walk fired two shots from
under his overcoat, one of which
passed through Childress' body. Walk
escaped.
Police Chief Shot.
Bamberg, S. C, Special Chief of Po
lice J. B. King was shot and killed by
Joe Davis, at the latter's home. King,
it is said, went to Davis' house at the
instance of Davis' wife. The latter had
quarreled with her husband and. desired
him to bejplaced under a peace bond.
As King entered Davis ordered him to
stop. King advanced and tapped on
the door when Davis shot him from
a window rith a shot-un, killing him.
Hobson'Js Resignation Accepted.
Washington, Special. Naval Con
structor Richmond P. Hobson's resig
nation has been accepted by Secretary
Moody, wrlo has written Mr. Hobson
as follows'! "The Department acknowl
edges recespt of your recent resigna
tion tendered January 20, 1903; also
your telegram of February 5, 1903, de
clining to reconsider the same. Your
resignation from the United States
navy is accepted to take effect from
this date, February 6, 1903."
Death of flaj. Donaldson,
Baltimore, Special. Major Walter
A. Donaldson, superintendent of the
National Cemetery in this city, died
Saturday from blood poisoning, as a
result of a slight wound on his head.
Donaldson was also a veteran actor and
played with Junius Brutus Booth in
1853. In previous years, since the civil
war, he had been superintendent of
national cemeteries at Antietan, Mar
ietta, Ga.; Winchester Va., City Point,
Va., and Beaufort, S. C. .
For Liberlan Scheme.
Atlanta, Special. The republic of
Liberia, through Bishop H. M. Turner,
of this city, has donated to the Col
ored National and Commercial Asso
ciation the sum of $25,000 to assist in
purchasing a steamship to ply between
the United States and West Africa, for
commercial purposes, as well as for
emigration. It is the bishop's desire
that white as well as colored people
purchase shares in this enterprise, and
assist negroes who wish to remove to
Liberia. '
Civil War In Honduras.
Panama, By Cable. A cablegram re
ceived Tuesday iriorning from Hondu
ras announces, that civil war has bro
ken but in that country." According to
the dispatch Gen. Sierra, the retiring
President, having refused to give up
the presidential post to the President
elect Serior Bonllla, the latter has
started a citll war. The date or tne
revolutionary dtxtbreak is not known.
When you ! are only akio-milk in
ethics you cannot make up for it by
betnk cream In theoretics, v
: A Greater Need. .
A German physician has Invented
an apparatus by which milk can be
broughtinto . the form of a powder,
looking like flour. All it needs is the
addition of water to return to its
original condition. Somehow people
are all the time trying to find some
excuse to add water to milk. What Is
more needed is a method for adding
cream.
OUR LEGISLATURE.
Doings of Those Who Are Making
j Our Laws.
i Against Kissing Bible.
In the Senate Wednesdav thp inrH-
ciary committee offered a substitute
for Senator Godwin's bill to prohibit
me Kissing of the Bible. The substi
tute instead of Drohibitinir
B.ole simply abolished nhe necessity of
kissing the book. D!ollock objected
to these innovations, eople had been
kissing the Book here fcr 200J vears and
tf these microbes hadnow got into the
mpiene. thought that It was time to
stop. People could get a new Bible.
Mr. Henderson explained the bill and
the sustitute. He was not an expert on
microbes, but he read that there were
10,000,000 in a pound of cherries and
he was sure there were many more on
a Bible cover handled by indiscrimi
nate crowds. He did not think the
change would detract from the solemn
ity! of the matter. Mr. Godwin, patron
or tne bill, argued for it. , The only
thing stricken out by the bill from
The Code was "and he shall kiss the
Holy Gospel." Most people did not kiss
the- book now but ladies and children
obeyed the judge when he says "kiss
the Book." Mr. Wellborn opposed the
bill. Mr.- Hicks, o Granville,, said that
thej court house kiss was not' the kiss
of jaffection and the witness was not.
expected to take half the Book in his
mouth. Mr. Granville said there was a
"white supremacy" Bible, the judge
haying ordered one Bible for colored
people and one for white. He appealed
to the Senate not to destroy this old
landmarks but he, wanted . the land
marks clean; Now if a man really
obeyed the jidge he would have to vio
late the rule of personal cleanliness.
He did not think it possible to keep a
court house Bible clean. Mr. White
said he would naturally be opposed to
restricting kissing but he favored this
bill! because he thought it would pro,
mote health. Kissing was growing un
popular, observed Mr. Baldwin. Men
formerly kissed each other and " now
some States wanted to license kissers.
He thought the right! way in which the
oath was administered . was often re
sponsible for per ju- iHe plead, for
preserving the" old custom. Mr. Mar
shall said that the men who would tell
a wilful lie would swear one. He sent
an amendment to strike out "so help
mo God," and substitute "in the pres
ence of the Almighty." Mr. Mitchell
moved to lay on the table. This failed.
The committee's substitute was adopt
ed. Mr. Marshall withdrew his amend
ment. The bill then , passed second
reading and went over upon Mr. Mit
chell objecting to its third reading.
In the House Wednesday the Watts
temperance bill was favorably reported
with amendments and made a special,
order for Tuesday next.
A number of' petitions and bills were
introduced, the most important being.
An act to prevent the, spreading of
contagious disease among domestic
animals.
An act to prevent the seduction and
abduction of married women.
An act to protect timber dealers.
I NEW BILLS.
Among the new bills in the house
Mr. Clifton, to amend the code in ref
erence to demurrers.
Mr. Wade, to outlaw slot machines.
Mr. Sinkler, by request, to provide
for a State bacteriologist; also a bill
to require towns and cities to fur
nish mortuary statistics. '
Mr. Gaston, relating to increase in
salary of coroner of Chester.
Mr. Hill, to increase number of mag
istrates of Colleton county
Mr. Rainsford, to provide for the sale
of the State farms.
Mr. Kelly, relating to a new jail for
Lee county,. ' -
Mr. Moses, to change and designate
certain. townships in Sumter county.
Mr. McMaster, to t extend the rights
and remedies of, employes of railroad
corporations as provided by the con
stitution to employes of cotton and
textile mill corporations and telegraph
companies.
There were a majority unfavorable
reports on Mr. Lanham-s bill tQyrequire
railroads to allow each pasenger 200
pounds i of baggage .without ., charge,
and Mr. M.- J. Johnson's bIH to pro
vide all railroads operating in ; this
State to protect the rates of freight
stipulated in the bill for carriage of
all freight; goods wares and merchan
dise, and to provide penalties - for the
violation thereof.
There was also an unfavorable re
port on Mr. i Mauldin's bill to provide
against usury. i:1A
Mr. Pollock's dispensary bin was re
committed to the joint committee on
public schools and the dispensary. This
bill proposes radical changes . in the
dispensary law.Uv-vi-' "
TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS, ETC.
Mr. Kirby's bill' to regulate the
granting of certificates to teach in the
free public schools came up as unfin
ished business and was killed. -
Mr. iD. O. Herbert opposed the bill.
It is an abrupt and unnecessary
junketing trip for the State, board of
education. It also means that grad
uates of normal colleges must stand
these examinations when the object
of normal polleges is to prepare teach
ers for their work. He objected par
ticularly to members of the State board
of education traveling around over the
state granting certificates. He objected
to giving college graduates merely one
year certificates. - :
Mr. KIrby defended the bili on the
same line of his speech Monday. Mr.
Herbert had endeavored to find all the
bad points in it, but had overlooked
the good features.
Mr. Fraser opposed the bill. The ad
vantages of a college education do not
consist in the knowledge of a number
of isolated facts, but in the training of
the mind to fit itself to work. There
is but one examination for doctors and
in other professions, then whyj should
teachers be subjected to such harrass
ing examinations every few years.
Mr. Barron, of York,, opposed the
bill. In behalf of the most legislated
against class in the State, the common
school teachers who gets a miserable
pittance for five days' hard v work, he
opposed the measure. Qualifications to
teach do not consist in the knowledge
of a few facts, but in common sense,
patience and general intelligence.
There is already a paucity of teachers
in this State and such requirements as
this will still further cripple thd pro
fession. This was Mr. Barron's j first
effort in the house, and he acquitted
himself very well. j
Mr. Richards declared that the bill
had been reported unfavorably j by all
of the committee except the author of
the bill. M
The house killed the bill by an over
whelming vote. jS
There was considerable discussion
over a concurrent resolution to provide
offices in the State capitol for the
State superintendent of education. The
resolution was killed on motion of Mr.
Moses. : , i
; Mr. Wingo contended that it I was
"side tracking" this official to have his
offices on Main street. Mr. Moses re
plied that these offices are really imore
comfortable and as accessible as those
In the State house. 11
Governpr Hey ward informed the
house that Lieut.-Gov. John T.i Sloan
had resigned from the board of trus
tees of the South Carolina college. Re
ceived as information. j
The house killed Mr. Wade's bill to
provide for the office" of commissioner
of agriculture to receive $1,800 per an
num out of the privilege tax fund. The
house did not seem to be much inter
ested, v i I
Mr. Wade declared that agricultural
interests are lagging, and the only sal
vation is diversified farming. This is
an agricultural State, but the agricul
tural interests are neglected. Clemson
College has not come up to Its expec
tations. Commissioner Stevens isjworth
a million dollars a year to Georgia. He
cited instances in which farmers had
made great success with innovations
in farming.' The average farme j is a
"slow coach" and doesn't catch on to
ideas quickly. They don't subscribe to
agricultural papers. We need a bureau
where outsiders can get information.
This is a very serious question and a
very important matter. The salary of
the commissioner, $1,800 was to come
out of the privilege tax fund and he
thought tliis a mere bagatelle in com
parison with the good it would do.
Mr. Tatum supported the measure.
The bill was killed by an
whelming vote.
Thursday's Session.
qver-
Thursday the compulsory school law
was considered.
THE BILL.
The features of the oaT which pass
ed the third reading are as follows:
, Section 1. That it shall be unlaw
ful for any parent or guardian living
in this State to neglect or refuse to
cause or compel any person or persons
who are or may be under their I con
trol as their children or wards, to at
tend and comply with , the ' rules of
some one or more public or private
school or schools,, for a term of eight 1
I weeks or more, .. during each succes
sive year from the time said children
or wards are eight years old until they
are' 12 "-years old, inclusive, unless they
may be; prevented by illness or reside
more than' two miles from a school
house, or by reason of already being
proficient from attending such public
or private schools, and provided that
in such case they shall be excused by
the boards of trustees of the school
district in 5 which said children f or
wards may. live at the time of such
failure to attend such public or private
school or schools. ' : j
v i Sec; 2.- That any person or persons
violating this act shall he subject to
a fine of not less than five dollars,; nor
more than twenty; dollars tor each; and
every offense. Said' fine shall be' im
posed by any court of justice having
jurisdiction on sufficient evidence of
the same'being furnished by- two i or.
more creditable witnesses, and ) all
fines so collected shall be : placed in
the school fund of the school district
In which the fines are collected: Tro-
J vided, That no prosecution shall' be
'instituted under tnis act except upon
the affidavit of one of the trustees of
the school district in which the offend-
ing parent or guardian resides, andt
such affidavit may be made on infor
mation and belief I
BIENNAt SESSIONS. x
Mr. Raysor's ; bill providing for bi
ennial session of . the general assem
bly passed a third reading and was
sent to the house.
Saturday's Session.
Saturday's session in the House was
featureless, a great many member
having gone home on leave of absence.
The Senate took up a! few third read
ing bills, and a number of enacted laws
Were ratified.
N E WS YGLEA N I N CS.1
London policemen patrol 2445 miles' -of
streets.
Third-class railway fare in India Is
less than half a cent aj mile.
The dam in the Nile at Assduan will '
throw back water 140 miles. .
More than 150 books on the war in
South Africa have been published.
The Kansas Legislature has tabled)
a bill that proposed to. disfranchise the
negro. -
In Berlin 833 public buildings are
owned by the state and 497 by the mu
nicipality. A lock of the Duke of Wellington's
hair brought $20 at a London auction:
the other day. ,
- The Russian military barracks just
completed near Warsaw are the larg
est in the world. . j
France is discussing the advisability
of inaugurating a Supreme Court after
the American plan. ,
The Paris Figaro . may publish an
America! edition at the Exposition in
St. Lou,cMo., during 1904. '
There is an authenticated record of
ninety-six shee'p being killed by a sin
gle lightning stroke in Colorado.
It Is proposed to license all music
teachers
in Illinois through a State
Board appointed for that purpose.
The British Board of Trade is af
work on the improving of the consular
and commercial representative ser
vices. ; ' ;' . " t
British Guiana is enjoying a diamond!
boom. In 1901-02 the number of stones
found was 91,206, against 4981 in the
precedlngTear..
German shipyards In the past year
built 227 steamers, of 212,283 tons, a
decrease of three steamers and 49,000
tons in comparison with 1901. (
Forty of the 240 public school teach
ers in Washington County, Maryland,
have resigned their positions within a
year because of the small salaries that
were paid to them.
y" v r LABOR WORLD.
Dundee, Scotland, has started even
ing classes for its policemen.
The standard rate of wages for stone
masons in England is $10.50 a week.
The company, to rewire the: city of
Hamilton, Ont., must employ union la
bor. Street car conductors in Switzerland
are paid eighty cents a day of twelve
hours. j
In Canada street railway cars must
be vestibuled from November, to March
inclusive.
Telephone girls at Butfe. Mont., have,
secured an increase of $15 a . month af
ter a short strike.
Coal miners at the Dark Lane Col
liery, Mirfield, England, liave been on
strike for 112 weeks.
Weekly pensions of 7s. 6d. have been
granted to aged employed of the Leith
(Scotland) gas works.
Building trades at Birmingham, Ala.,
will form an alliance and act as one
body for mutual protection.
A large number of British navvies
and railway laborers are being engaged
in England for South Africa.,
Clothing cutters at Baltimore, Md.,
will receive an increase of twenty-five
cents a day beginning April 1.
Laboring men of Beatrice, Neb., have
organized under a charter from the
American Federation of Labor.
Providence (R. I.) labor unions are
projecting a new labor temple to be
erected and owned by union men.
Chicago electrical workers 'will de
mand an increase of 51 a' day begin
ning April 1. Their scale is now $4.
In Belfast, Ireland, district, no f ewec
than 70,000 people are employed in con
section with the linen manufacture.
Glove makers at San Francisco, CaL
will present a new wage j schedule toj
their employes to go into effect oxr
March 1; : ; . ,'.,
i A new scale of wages to be presented)
by the hoisting and pile driving engl-j
neers of Omaha, Neb., has been ap'
provea oy tne central ijaDor union.
Rooster's Legs Too Long. ( T
The Peterson, la., Patriot tells of a
young rooster in that town which is so
long-legged that it cannot eat off the
ground. The bird was slowly starving
to death when its owner noticed the-,
trouble and placed the food on a high
shelf.
i!
Ii
4 :
-ll
1 '