Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Jan. 24, 1909, edition 1 / Page 1
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X :W22L":crTo:D2y 20 Pajej-Ja-DJA TWO StaiONS i il . iAIH . H - SUBSCRIPTION PRICE t $8.00 A YEAR. CHARLOTTE, N. C, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 24, 1909. PRICE FIVE CENTS. ; STABiqxa KEi;OHT MADE JlOTTm BOOkT-KEEPlXG SYSTEM . Severe Criticism Made of Innuranoe sCoiumiioner Methods of Con ducting That DepartmentExperts Required by Committee to Make In vestigation liooim vrv in noaui ' vnrftun Lew Requiring Com- penies to Make Deposit Not Com- piled V 1U XMX"ru 01 we TSlk Kept Vest Pocket Book, A 71 UJi Entries la Pencil Many Du- Wtea of onto not Properly Ins Vbarged Jlah CommlaHoner ,KP Special to The Observer. ' Raleigh. Jan. 28. Th "legislative committee of the 1807 General A-, sembly. which haa been engaged the past month or longer hi the investi gation of the record and general of fice conditions la the State Treasury, the Auditor' office and th office of the State Commissioner of Insurance transmitted its final report to the General Assembly to--aay ana n. in cludes a number of sharp criticisms, especially of the Department 01 in ,....,.. . wrn an of. the Auditor' office for auditing claims not clearly grounded on the statutes cum m u h.i th iut is noisiblv a criti clem of the Council of State rather than the Auditor in several re-p-ci-, as the general condition and manage r.t tv, auditor's Donartment as well a that of the State Treasury are highly, commended. , j, THE insurance: department; After detailing the insurance car ried on State property by the depart ment, the aggregate being 32.J81.300, "Upon the examination of the books and accounts in tne omoe oi vo suranoe Commiaeloner, your commit -mrmm nnihia- to make any examt nation which would be satisfactory to them and Just to your Bnw body, to whom we were required to - . .v.. ..,,i a nup Investigation. iwyui i ku4 - - We, therefore, secured the services of an expert accountant 10 t making the examination, which we felt It our duty to make. We trans mit to your honorable toody the let ter directed to. us by the gentlemen who made this examination: " To the Honorable Board of Com missioners Appointed to Investigate the North Carolina State Offices, Raleigh. N.'Q. - ' "Gentlemen: w Agreeable with your request we have examined the books of James R. Toung, Stat Insurance AiMWilaa1nnap , ViWIlsjov"vi a w - . y5 month from December 1st, 1208, and ending January lei, " beg leave to submit the following re marks: BOOKS NOT PROPERLY KEPT. " "We find that the books have not been properly kept and balanced, and that no cash book haa heen kept, showing-the accurate receipts and disbursement of the fund handled during the nerlod of our investigation. Neither oould wf And any time be fere or since the period of our inves tigation b twmmjv.9Pl? ' aiieet had been Tenifored, showing the balance on hand IX any; therefore, we hava been unable to determine what balance. If any. the Stat Insurance Commissioner should have -had on hand or due the State on December 1st, 1808. However, we find that his bank pass books show a balance In bank December 1st, 106, of $11, 152.X, in which should have been 13,248.40 belonging to the Investiga tion of the fire fund according to the commissioner's record, leaving a bal ance of ,904.2. Owing tc" tht condition and manner. in which the . books have been kept, wo are unable to determine where it belongs, except that the commissioner claims It has been his custom to always keep some or $8,000 of hla. personal fund In this SUt depository bank to meet all balance that may be due to the State and not Included In his remittances to the State Treasurer. We are also unable (without con suming more time and going further back lftto the record than the com mittee felt it was their authority) to determine the accurate Jedger bal ance on December 1st, 19.0, tor the - reason that we found In some In stance where business handled dur- . In k the period of our Investigation, hul. K.Mn T)MmtMr 1st. llflCllftd v - been entered on the ledger prior to IV that date, but we did not go back enough to determine all charge against .the. commissioner for busi ness so entered that belonged to the period of our Investigation. " " 'In view of the manner In which the book have been kept and the absence of a proper cash book of receipts and disbursements, the best we were able to do, with the period you wish Investigated, was to estab lish ail charges and collections of State fund according to the records found and allow credits for disburse merits according to bank ..vouchers, which we have done, and herewith enclose statement of same showing a balance over In bank amounting to fl4,S5.0. and which settlement you ' will note does' not include the com missioner's fee, charter fees, apprl sals, cash - and coupons which . the commissioner ' ctalms were Item not due to the - State and were handled . as a personal matter and enter In his ledger account. NO DISPOSITION TO CONCEAL. TJsomoMoner gave usjall th mifaniu wa- oniilA nik for in 'fhfli- lng . the Investigation and showed no ' disposition, to conceal any of hi rec ords, and while. our Investigation did not disclose any evidence of dishon esty on the part of any one handling ' the fund wo think the system of - book-keeping ta very", unsatisfactory and does not properly represent all ; Accounts and items pertaining to the ' . office of the Commissioner of Insur '' ance as they should do, and wb rec- ommend that -there be immediately Installed a double entry set of books to show at all time the accurate Inndition of al affairs pertaining to office, which ehould Include fees, A nKpense. advance cost and all T bal- f see on hand In the shape of cashf and uncollected ledger accounts. We do not present the statement attach " ed to be absolutely correct because we ' do not-think that as absolutely cor rect one could be made without going " tack and checking up the entire busi . ries of the office since the beginning,' ' which we were advised was not destr abla at this time; ; therefore the statement ' presented Is the best w have been able to make for the pert- cd given us to Investigate, and the time allowed to do It in. - " Tour very truly, . i "SOUTHERN AUDIT COM PANT, , " Hy C. L. Smithy V. P. v TVe feel that the above letter fully explain the- situation and needs ne comment from - ' .--V , IjAW XOT COMPLIED WITH. -We find that under Section 4?0. l?vlal. companies depoeitlng secur Je with the Insurance Comaitelon- er are required to legally transfer same to him as Insurance Commis sioner and' film ntirniAr l nmnn fn, the common benefit of all the holders of their registered capital policies, la a great many cases Jlhl statute hat not been at all compiled with, and the fact that a great many of the securi ties deposited here are In the nature j of stocks and bond payable to- bearer snow tne importance of this law be ing compiled with. i "We further find that - under Sec 47s 4, Revlaal of North Carolina, the Insurance Commissioner Is required to keep a careful record of the se curities deposited by each company. We. regret to say that this section of fno law hi nnt Iiamm fal!nwl -at Wa find that ihn t nn dannalt in the office of the Insurance Commte- ece of members from the city and sloner securities aggregating l,0oJ 'CBrc"f 5, bilne ot Import to rmaea? rdThlchth. ?nur! TTo InJeCommSer hM of ThemTa ZT P"lJdna''aU1oSr'un; small book which he carries In hla .ilf?- ,c,k.ed. 'KJIl'S Ibroast pocket, and upon which some pef the securities appear, all of which are written in leaa pencu. xour placed IU stamp of approval on a committee desire to call special at- j batch of bills, most of them of re tention to this and recommends to stricted scope, favorably reported by your honorable body that this law be j committees. fully complied with at once. I Consciousness that a speedy ad- "We find that Sec. 4(88, Revisal of Journmant Is desirable, that to do lit North Carolina, requires that the In- tie Is not to do ill and that an Assurance--Commissioner should keep sembly's usefulness will not be Judged in permanent form record of hla , posterity on a basis of multiplicity proceedings, Including a concise , ' jw. was given expression again statement of the result of all official ! $J-dny. this time in the House, when examination of companies. This law la not kept and we have been unable to find where the Insurance Com mis- "Under Sec. 4828 the insurance Commissioner Is required to collect a tax of one-nfth of one per cent- on all the gross premium receipt of tha Are companies to defray the expense Of investigating suspicious fires, and keep a separate account of all money received ana aisDureea unaer sata chapter, and include same m his an nual report. This haa net been done and your committee 1 unable to find any record which Is satisfactory to them of the 'amount of receipts or disbursements under this section, and same is not included in the annual report filed by the commissioner ex cept In a lump sum, which In our opinion does not meet the statute. "We find that Sec. 4788. which re quires that the securities deposited by the life Insurance companies to pro tect their policies be registered, Is not complied with, a, we' find these securities are mingled with other securities placed by the companies for the , protection of . their guaran teed capital. We also find that the Insurance Commissioner makes hi fiscal year end on March 81st and recommend that It ' be changed an as to end on November 80th, as doe every other State Institution. "We find a complete and accurate record of the Investigation of fires such a he is required to keep." -In. conclusion the ' committee rec ommends: - , "Some of the State institutions are not required to disburse their funds' through the State Treasury, and the Auditor, and the committee recom mends that this be required of them all whether supported wholely or in part by the 8tate, thus giving the Stat an lnslgltt and supervision of their management. ' 'That all securities deposited un der Bee 4780, Revisal, . be submitted to the Attorney General, who shall with the Insurance Commissioner annrove the same, especially for the reason that the bond of the ' Insur ance Commissioner la only 825,000 and securities in his possession- ag gregate 81,000,000. , and the State Treasurer should be custodian of all funds which belong to (he State eith er direct or In trust. - "It appears that some of the State Institutions do not report their earn ings to the State Treasurer. This should be done an 4 statute passed, to thl effect." THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. Treating the conditions a the com mittee found tlfem In the office of the State Auditor, the record are declar ed to be accurately and neatly kept and the work of the department en dorsed "except in that we recommend that more attention be given the law under which claim are filed against the State before the Auditor allows warrant on the Treasury for the same. This w tnink win do a one in f uturev" Then -follow a list of voucher lasued by the Auditor, the committee claim, without authority, and paid by the State Treasurer. RENTED BOAT AND OFFICE FROM ' nTlfdCT V I "We also report that the examina tion -of his accounts discloses the fact that Mr. T. a Meekins, fish commis sioner of the State, Is member or the firm of Evans & Meekins, uanteo, N. C and that in the discharge of his duties he W required to rent a boat and patrol the waters of North Carolina and see that the law In re gard to the fishing Industry Is proper ly enforced and that he 1 given au thority under - said act to purchase supplies for .said boat and crew, and that In persuance- of such authority he has bought a great many articles, for- which he has "rendered hi ac counts We And that each article of food supply for the past two years was bought by him from the firm of p-hA ""-f to the account' as a member of the firm and approved the account - as fish commissioner. We further find that he haa rentedTils own boat to the State.' for which he has received the sum' of 8(0 a month. : We fur ther find that he ha rented an office from himself for which he charge 88.28 a month. We feel that It Is our duty to call this matter to the atten tion of your honorable body as X la in violation of Sec 2578, Revisal." , Tha report Is signed - by -the full committed R. W. Turner and J. A. Holt, on the part of the Senate, n;l T. W. Blount, M. B. Stickler and T. E. Ownea, on the part of the House, Gen eral Assembly of 1907. . ' HILARITY IX THE HOUSED . id T With Committee on Rule3? he, u tn P"Uralnary Highway Commission Bill Introdac- l prof'' v T tTSTi WHkJK , ed I n Lower Branch Money For ivaryln? "JJSJi Kouipment' and Maintenance of to confuse the would-be elaaaifler ap : Trainin School Asked For Senate I cording to section, whose occupation lkr Nothing, Special to.' a? vbseryer. Ralela-Tw- Jan.' 2J:-In;' gale' f merriment, following - a peech by Mr. Henderson, of Caswell, the game legged veteran, in reply to the argu ment of the humorous leader of the minority, Mr. Harshaw, . of Caldwell, the House to-day pigeonholed the resolution of- the gentleman, : from Caldwell to adjourn sine die Febru ary 10th with the committee - on (Continued . on rasa TbreoL. KO OUOBUM IN THE SEN ATE ! THE STATE LEGISLATURE LOAFS w, . TT , . . W,.?61,tTork,I?11? ,1" b'Jw" 1 '"ke L Itftegh benator Pliarr iX'i'uples Clmir In tlie Upper Houxe ; vnruir wief session llcpresenu " Uvea ftom Hyde Oounty Heseei-U Legislature to Make Drainage Ap- Jroprlatioii The Situation Tragic to lesltlents or That hectiou More I'sy iTor the Cmunlasioners of Mecklenburg; Is Asked Jreat Va riety of Men Make Up Personuol of the LcgtMlatlve Uody. Special by Btalt Correspondent. Raleigh, Jsn. it. The contagious lethargy of the week-end. the ah commTttae meeting ' here nd thT. marking the afternoon. The House "'i'":JMive nannaw, me 3rnmi "? "0." Kepubll0ttn tTm Caldwell. C '"e- " poMd . few'Ua.s g senator El- lfotti fanedi yet'it evokd expens e of m sentiment whlih at heart is in perfect agreement. , The remark of a substantial Rep- resentative in private conversation give evidence oi a prevalent feillna ; 'nai -our ioiks sent us here to pre vent and not :o foment lek-laiatlJO. The level-headed lrnlcla.ors trom the County of Mecklenburg have their eyes on the agitation which is seem ingly arising among their people In regard to the depository plan of solving what may now be termed the prohibition problem. The fate of the Idea will of course rest with them, unanimity in Its favor being almost essential to Its success. Their atti tude In the matter thus far Is non committal. They will wrestle with that proposition when they have to and In the meantime are not courting trouble. PHARR IN CHAIR. " Senator H. N. Pharr, of Charlotte, this morning occupied the chair of the Senate during Its brief session, which was adjourned en the point of no quorum. Nine members are out of the city on committee service, and the motion yesterday to adjourn un til Monday failed of passage by but votes. A petition has been received by Mecklenburgers in the Legislature, .signed by citizens of their county, asking that the salary of the chair man of the board of Mecklenburg commissioners" be Increased ,4rjm I iLi a month to 2125, and the pay' of tne commissioners be raised from 82 to 24 a day. The proposition is under constfleratlon now. DRAINAGE OF MATTAMUBKEET. -Declaring that the qyerflow "and seepage from Lake Mattamuskeet In the heart of Hyde is repderlng value less the richest agricultural land In the State and rapidly- depopulating one of the must prosperous of coun ties, representatives of that section are .beseeching the Legislature to or der the take drained, the land re claimed to remain the property of the State. As an alternative proposition, they ask the State to grant the lake to them that they may do the work 1 at a cost estimated at from 8100,000 to 8200.000. ; The situation depicted appears to be serious as well as interesting. To tragic. "If the Legislature turns us down, I'm not going to return heme," j declared one this morning In conver sation with the writer. "I'm going out to seek a position. I own 600 i wfc w '-' J be3t corn land within the borders of North Carolina. Tet In the last three years I have not made a bushel of corn. The population of the county has been reduced one-third. The la borer have departed and now it looks aa- if the landowners must fol low them to look for positions. The people of the State do not realise what -we are suffering." Mattamuskeet lake, the cause of all the trouble, is a body of water 20 miles long, t mile wide and at pres ent about 4 1-8 feet deep. It covers, it -Is estimated., 70,00 acres of the richest of soil. , Estimating the value of this at 810 an acre, the Hyde peo ple say, the Stat would have a prop erty worth 700,000, while in reality the land adjoining is worth or would be were It not for the lake. 840 or 860 an acre. Of this there are 40,000 acres which are devastated and made to .sink - when the wet season make the body of water rise. Drainage will have to be accomplished by pumps. The top of the lake Is two feet above Pamlico sound and also above tha lowlands. . - - Chief J. O. Wright of the United States bureau of Irrigation and drain age, haa investigated the matter and wltf l5w-hre-Moneaiy-4o-repbrUOno conference ha already, -been held with the Governor. ." "A few year ago" we shipped down Fairvtew canal 180,000 ; bushels of corn," declared one of the Hyde men. "In 1 we shipped 18,000 bushel; In 1907, 11.000; In 1108. , 000. And thus It goes." The wet spells have been visiting the section tor a long time. In 1887-48. 1877-78, 187-88 both low lands and highland were rendered unproductive. In 1888 the State cut a drainage canaL No bill has yet been drafted on the subject. .-'VARIED- LOT OF JELLOW8. The infinite variety of North Car olina's - people Is nowhere more eas ily seen than at the gathering of her statute-maker. At Stat convention a larger number of type find repre- is after-alt largely a matter of imag ination. , The General Assembly, how ever, arrays a body who members In a broadly general way r com parable.' - , t-1 i-'. -"---,K - What a State must thl hare been had not Tennessee been cut off! I contemplating the. almost - unexam pled diversity .of topographical con ditions which : characterise . North Carolina, many an orator, young and old, has felt ths ardor of eloquence kindle into flame within him. The Xar-reacnlng peaks, gun-kissed, which tower in solitude". in the West, an! the "thunder of the, -storm-tossed wa ters of the Atlantic" are unfailingly called Into service by the speaker who would convey a mental picture .of the State's greatness, and because they are both true and picturesque, the figures have lost none of their freshness from much use. There is in the present House of Representatives a man who lives on Ocrocoke island, 80 miles from the mainland. And yet he Is an accredit ed Representative of Hyde county, to which the island belongs. "I am the first Representative the Island has had In the Legislature," said J. W. McWllllams. "ins the war. Be fore the war my grandfather, Tillman Farrow, represented us for 40 years," The Island, which Is a mile wide and 11 miles long, has 800 inhabitants.- It is a health resort. North enters' coming there in winter to .shoot ducks. The people live largely by fishing. Then there Is Representative Pierce Hampton, of Currituck, who says his sole minion at the State's capital is "to take care of the ducks," regard ing ducks and water as the main as sets of his county. He ha been coming to the Legislature at least In termittently for two decades. The westerners, or "hill men," have derived unlimited amusement from the committee hearings in the Davie county contested election case, which Is highly tompllcatod. "I'd hate to live on . Roanoke Island," said one, af ter a host of witnesses had stolidly given pne another bad characters, and several more "tollable good char- ' actera." Attempt was made to make . capital out of an alleged delay of the - present registrar on the Island to get ) the returns to the county seat four 'years ago. He proved that he made ithe trip in two days, though the weather was bad. In the meantime officers had grown uneasy and "sont alter him." V. L. STEPHENSON. WILL NOT IXCIIEASE PENSION. House Votes Down Proposition to - Increase Mrs. Coghlan's reunion . Increase Sliuuld iio to the Widow of the Man Who Actually Fired the Unit Gun at Manila. ' Washington. Jan. 28. A motion by Representative Olcott, of New York, to Increase the penalan of Julia B. Coughlan, widow of Rear Ad miral Coughlan, Unjted States navy, from 850 a month as provided for in a pension bill, to 8100 a month creat ed a lively Interest In flie House of Representatives to-day. After a vig orous debate the amendment was lost by a vote of 42 to 108. Mr. Qlcott made an Impassioned appeal for the Increase. "It Is," he said, "for the widow of the man who fired the first shot at Manila, and that Is only one Instance throughout his life of his being pre pared for -every emergency." - Btronir opposition to the Increase wag- made by Messrs. Hull, of Iowa Loudenalager, of New Jersey; Cami belt. pf,. Kansas, and films, Ten-J nessee, on the ground that there was nothing unusual in, tne case to ae mand thl special consideration, Mr. Campbell declared . that the man who fired the first gun on Ad miral Colghan's battleship was a sailor whose name is not even knon and whose widow will get only 812 a month when he dies. 'There is not a single extraordi nary feature in this case," saidV Mr. Loudenalager. "The widow tf the rear admiral was left property worth 18.700 and to allow this lnctease would be a criminal Injustice to oth ers who would be dincrlmlnated against." CROMWELL ON THE STAND. Negotiator of the Canal Deal Tells fa"ln passenger, was rammed duy Uie tirand Jury What Ho Know " thick fog at 6:20 a. m. to-day About ItOriginal Warrant Offered in Evidence. Washington. Jan. 22. Through -" r i.u... ,. William Nelson Chomwell, who nego- wa?er-"ht compartments, tiated the Panama canal purchase, the her passengers. Including 211 Federal grand Jury which la Inquiring 1" the 8teersge, were transferred Into the alleged libelous statements three hour after the accident to the of Tho New Vork World and The Italian steamer Florida, bound from Indianapolis News In connection with Naples to New York, but the officers that transatclon, to-day get at the and crew of the Republic refused to bottom of the facta In the case. leave the ship so long a there was Mr. Cromwell was under examlna-. a chance of keeping her afloat tion for over two hours. He brought , wireless telegraphy played an lm with him a large number of papers. port,nt part in the accident to the These were carefully gone over. Bo earnest was Mr. Cromwell In his state ments that at times his voice could .!rk.rt n,,th ht h m d French line; the Baltic, of the White hall, although nothing tnat ne saia ... ' . . ,., could be understood. i stf na A r He declined to make any state- " f apparent Jhat the Florida ment beyond the fact that he was mu"t have been between 80 or 40 leaving for New York this afternoon. mile off her course In being any An Interesting feature of the hear- I where near the Republic, as the east ing was the offering In evidence of j bound and westbound steamer lanes the original warrant for the 240,000,- here are that distance apart. 000 by which the government acquired As soon aa the Republic had been title to the canal ownership. The doc- ; struck and the "extent of the damage ument was framed and was brought ; had become known, wireless calls to the grand Jury room by S. R. Ja- ; for assistance, were sent broadcast cobs, a clerk In the offlce of the over tne Atlantic. All vessels within auditor for the State department, Other witnesses are to appear Mon day. - CLUNG DESPERATELY TO COACH Arthur Wither, of Winston-Salem, Badly Hurt While Beating His Way on Now 88. , Special to The Observer. Lynchburg, Va., Jan. 28. Arthur Wither; a; 1 -yearoio youth of Win-ton-6alem, N. C, was seriously in jured early to-day while beating his way on the Southern Railway's north bound Washington and Southwestern Limited,, and he la under treatment now at a local hospital. The boy was hanging on the step outside of the vestibule , of a Pullman and about 80 miles from Lynchburg was struck by something. His hip and back are badly ' bruised -and lacerated, and the surgeon in charge of the case cannot understand how the boy man aged to cling to the side of the coach until toe reached here- Womanhood Must Be Protected,' Say Negr Bishop. Franklin, La., Jan. as,! tand ready to go with the white to-day right Into hell to protect a woman, white or black, against a fiend." said Bishop E. W, Lamp ton, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, la his charge to the Louisiana Conference' of his Church here last night. "Wom anhood must be protected; let us do our part." . , ;. 1 Virginia Railroad Completed,' , ' Roanoke, Va., Jan. 21. With the completion to-day of the long bridge across New river, west of Roanoke, the last clip la the line of the Vir ginia" Raifroad. which ha been built by Henry H. Rogers,, trom the coal field to -the Va, waa closed and tha first train ws run through from Roanoke to Deepwater. W, Va, the western terminal. t , STEAMER KAMMED AT SEA PASSENGERS AND CREW SAVED White Star Liner Republic and the IJoyd Liner Florida Met In a lenn Ftg Thirty Miles Off tho New England Coast Republic Carried 761 KouK Including Her Crew, All of Whom Are Rescued by the Florida W tarries Telegraph Pnreads the News and Revenue Cutters and Other Vessels Are Rushed to the Scene Florida Loaded With Earthquake Survivors Sea Is IJght and the Republic May Be Saved. New York, Jan. 2S. Grave anxiety prevailed here to-day end to-night as the result of the thrilling maritime drama being enacted off Nantucket on the -coast of New England, to! lowing the ramming early to-day of the big White Star liner Republic with 761 souls aboard, by the Bt earner Florida, of the Lloyd-Italian line. The wireless telegraph played an Im portant' part In- the grave Incidents happening at sea, far from the shore, and proved Its utility as It had never done tefore. Bit by bit It told the tale, first an nouncing the news of the collision and the plight of the liner, which news cam direct from the Injured ship itself. Then it told of the rescue of the Republic's passengers. the condition from time to time of the sinking ship and finally sum moned from the adjacent seas the White . Star liner Baltic, the French steamer La Lorraine, the Cunarder Lucanla and the revenue cutters Acushnet and Oresham. To-night at 8 o'clock the wireless brought - reassuring news from Cap tain Ransom, of the steamer Baltic, lie said that the Republic was still afloat; that the Florida, with her own people and most of those from the Republic aboard, close to 2,000 souls In all, was nearby and that the Baltic was near the scene, standing by ready to lend aid. The steamers La Lorraine and Lucania, Captain Ransom said, were also in the vicinity and the Republic through her wire less outfit was directing the move ments of the ships of rescue. FIiORIDA'8 BOW CRUSHED IN. It Is presumed here that the great load of human freight aboard the Florida will be transferred during the night, weather permitting, to the three staunch liners, and that all the ships will stand together until revenue cutters and wrecking vessels which have been despatched can reach the scene. The Florida has her bow crushed In. wireless mes sages stated to-night, which would Indicate that she was the vessel that crashed into the Republic early this morning In the thick-fog and caused the latter' plight. The fog Is still heavy to-night all along the coast, but the weather is mild, end there Is comparatively little wind and sea. a blessing In the face of the serious -situation. A harbor steamer, the General Putnam, has been chartered and Is iwaltlng at the Whits Star pier ready to steam to sea to meet the jrtortda .or any othni: yessel that may hring the rescued1 passengers to port. The Idea la to have the steamer meet the rescue vessels in the lower bay. take off the shipwrecked passengers and bring thorn to the city where they will receive every earn. The Vjfhite Star offices will remain open throughout the night and all of Sunday for the purpose of ex pediting relief matters and keeping the public informed of the situation. Among those on the Republic were James B. Connolly, the writer of sea tales, and Alexander R Rell. WIRELESS MESSAGE SUMMONS HELP. The White tar line steamer Repoh 11c. bound jfom New York to the Mediterranean, having on board 741 souls, of whom 2S0 wore American by an unknown vessel off Hantucket Island, and only escaped Immediate Republic, for It summoned about her in a few hours a fleet of three large ocean liners La Lorraine, of the range were asked to hasten to the scene. CUTTERS TO THE RESCUE. The call for help was first record ed on land at 'thNCharleetown navy yard at 8 o'clock thl forenoon. It said: "To revenue cutter Gresham, Boston: Steamer Republic In distress and sinking.. Latitude 40.17, longi tude 70, 28 mile southwest of Nan tucket The Greehara was not at the navy yard, hut Intercepted the appeal In Provldeneetown harbor. She started immediately for Nantucket. Other wireless apparatus also caught the flying meanag and In a short time the cutter Acushnet was on her way out from Wood' Hole; the Mohawk, another revenue cutter, had started from New Bedford, and the Seneca had been ordered out from New London,' Conn. ' The Mohawk soon " ran aground, while the Acushnet did net get out side of the Vineyard sound, and later cam back- to assist another vessel In distress. In the meantime the Baltic and La Lorraine, both of which had passed the Republic a few hour earlier and were speeding Into New York, heeded the call for assistance sad put-about-- .. -... - The Lucania, ' which ' was to the eastward of Nantucket lightship, also ' pressed - on to the assistance of the Republic. - i Th collision, being amidships, al most Immediately flooded the engine room of the Republic and of course rendered her , absolutely ' . helpless; Fortunately, her wireless equipment was well supplied with storage - bat teries and these were used, for more than six hour, until they gradually became exhausted. After that, re course to signalling -by mean of Jub marine bell was adopted. - v , 'PASSENGERS . TRANSFERRED In the -middle -f the forenoon the transfer of passengers to tha SJosl4 was made, and although the fog was very dense, unusually calm weather for this season of the year In the North Atlantic enabled the transfer to be made without accident. Only human beings were taken in the life boats which made the passage be tween the two vessels, all baggage be ing left on board the Republic. By noon the Baltic and La Lorraine were close to the scene of collision, but owing to the dense fog, were unable to locate the Republic, although the submarine bells could be heard fre quently. . During the forenoon the fears of the thousands of friends of the pas sengers on board, many of whom had besieged the officers of the White Star line were somewhat allayed by the receipt of a more assuring mes sage from the captain which read as follows: "Steamship Republic, off Nantuck et, when 24 miles south of Nantucket lightship this morning was run into by an unknown vernier. Engine room full of water. Can remain afloat. No danger. No lives lost. "SEALBY, Captain." After this came the still more en couraging report that the Florida had taken off the passengers with out accident. The Florida is about two-thirds the sice of the Republic and four years old. EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS ON THE FLORIDA. Her length is 881 cubic feet; her breadth 48 feet, and her draft 25 feet. The Republic's passengers found 900 returning Italians, many of them survivors of the earthquake, on board the Florida, which left Naples on January 8th. The prompt closing of the Repub lic's Water-tight compartments which kept her afloat and undoubtedly saved the lives of many of those on board. In the afternoon It was learn ed from the Baltic that the com partments were still holding the ves sel above water, but that the bulk heads and compartment door were under a fflwful strain and likely to give way at any moment. Notwithstanding this, the crew clung by the ship In the hope that the Baltic or the Lucania end per haps the La Lorraine would com alongside and take them off. The Republlo Is 870 feet long, 87.8 feetbesm, and had a draft of 24 feet. She registered 15,878 tons gross, and Is equipped with twin screws, giving her a speed of 18 knots. She Is fitted with a slafele funnel and with four masts. The hull of the Republic is extra ordinarily strong and Is of the cellu lar, double-bottom type. LAST OF MARINES LEAVE. Cnba Bids Farewell to the Last Ship Ixtad of American Marines Gome Announces His Cabinet. Havana, Jan. 23. '-The last - of the marines sent to Cuba aa part of the American army of pacification sailed out of Havana harbor thl afternoon on board the natal trans port Prairie-ion-Newport .News.. Thl last detachment consisted ot 400 men and officers, 1 Lieut. Col. Franklin J. Moses commanding, ' The transport McClellan will sail January 28th with the officer of the army who have been serving' In administrative capacities In the pro visional government aa the advisers of the native heads of various de- partments. The McClellan will fol low In the wake of the scout cruiser Salem, on which . Governor Magoon will take his departure immediately after the Inaugural ceremonies at the palace on Thursday next at noon. The battleships Maine and Mlsala-1 slppl will escort the Salem out of the harbor. President-elect Gome has made the following announcement of his Cabinet: Secretary of Government, Nicholas Alberdl; Secretary of State, Junto Garcia Veles; Secretary of Fi nance, Marcelllna, Dlaa de. VHiegas; Secretary of Justice, Luis Octavlo Dlvino; Secretary of Sanitation, Dr. Mathlas Duque; Secretary of Public Works. Benito Lagureuela; Secretary of Education, Dr. Ramon Mesa; Sec retary of Agriculture, Ortello Foyo. WILL NOT FIGHT SUIT. Mrs. Leavttt's nwiband Will Not Op pose Her Suit For a Divorce Peti tion is Based on Incompatibility of Temper and- Non-Support. Paris, Jan. 23. William Homer Leavltt received yesterday from Thomas 8- Allen, his wife's lawyer at Lincoln, Neb., notification that Mrs. Leavltt, who is a daughter of William J. Bryan, had filed a petition for divorce on the ground of incom patibility of temper and non-aupport. He was questioned on the matter to day, but declined to discuss It, saying he did not desire to embarrass his wife In any way. Mr. Leavltt will not oppose the suit. With hi mother, with whom he ha been living In Paris, he will leave In a few days for America. Hla departure Is in no way connected with the suit, but ta part of his plan to exhibit hla painting "The Last 8upper" In the United States. MT. Leavltt' friends In the Latin quarter, who esteem him highly as a serious and hard working artist, say his life has been exemplary. They are of the opinion that Mrs. Leavltt's decision to obtain a divorce Is due entirely to her nervous tempersment. She has suffered from neurasthenia for the last two years. Thirty-Third Degree Mason at Sa vannah. Savannah. Ga.. Jan. 23. Six mem bers of the supreme council of the Southern Jurisdiction Scottish Rite of Free Masonry win come to tsavanna n durlng to-morrow and Monday, for a meeting at which the llte-a-y policy of the Jurisdiction through Its official paper The New Age. will be determin- ed upon. The Southern Jurisdiction compri-e. all the world except sixteen tI0 fr veiir sYnei to manv It has been four years since so many aether '"S whollX" r" &? rMorSd N. F.' Pierce, Jrar.d chancellor. CalJ- forale: R A Nunn, grand minister . of State, Savannah: H. S. Cunning- j ham, first grand equerry, Oklahoma; I j. w. Moms, grand atanaarq nearer, ( West Virginia. All are thirty-third degree Masons. Y&Jilbitioa Bill Ready For Governor's ,. -. ' -.' -i-Signature. - Nashville. Tenn.. Jan. 13. The bill prohibiting the manufacture cf Intox icating liquor in the State which pass ed both house of the General Assem bly probably will go te the Governor Monday; when the .Executive will have five days in which to cot. aider It, It 1 not believed he wilt sign the bilL The general Impression is that It' will., be passed over hi "veta, " . T AFT CHARLESTON'S GUEST BIG BANQUET CHIEF FEATURES In Style AH Its Own Charleston Re. relres and Entertains the presl dent-Elect estops at the Country Club and Spends a Few Honrs oo the Iauks Before Taming Himself Over to the City Chief Speaker as Banquet Lat Night, Beins; Intro ducetl by. Mayor Hemphill Will Attend Unitarian Services Thh Morning aud fcpend the Afternoon in the Country Oniser North Car olina Passes Safely Over the Bar. Charleston. 8. C, Jan. 23. Without 'ponsum on the bill of fare, without official pomp or ceremony, Charleston is entertaining the President-elect with her own quiet and unique but full-hearted brand of Southern hos pitality. Her cup of pleasure Is doubly Ailed, for not only is Mr. Tart her guest for two days, but the big cruisor North Carolina has demon strated that there Is at least "30 feet of water over the bsr" and Is lying at anchor within a stone's throw of the dock waiting for sailing order Mon day, when the President-elect and his party embark for Panama. The Montana, a sUter ship, will arrive to morrow and is expected also te enter the harbor. While Mr. Taft la provided with en tertalnment without Interim, the fea ture of his visit was a banquet to-night -t when his hosts were 175 of "his friends in Charleston." And the pro gramme called for no speeches save by Mr. Taft, who was presented briefly by Kdltor J. C. Hemphill of The News and Courier. Mr. Taft reached the environ of Charleston Bhortly before 1 o'clock to '. day when the special train which , brought him trom Augusta reached Magpolla, where he alighted for luncheon and a game of golf at the country club. It was dark when, af ter tea had been served and many of his friends had chatted with him at the club, h reached his quarters In the Charleston Hotel. At 7 o'clock he was receiving his dinner hosts and the evening's, entertainment was on. ' KNOX AND HITCHCOCK EXPECT ; ED TO-DAY. . "Just take this vase of violet from, me, and don't forget to send me postal card." With all of her wee might, little Josephine Bass, of Branchvtlle, de- -llvered this unfaltering message to the Preldent-elect to-day. Sh was -held up to him over the heads of the . crowd to which fa had expressed his . pleasure at greeting. Mr. Taft took the flowers and pledged the card. And this waa the only Incident of the trip from Augusta. A foursome on the link of the country club occupied ; Mr. Taft for a couple of. hour. - To-morrow he will advise with Messrs. Knox and Hitchcock, who are expected In the morning. He is to at- , tend at the Unitarian church, and spend - the balance of the day la the 1 country, taking lunch a the guest of Mr, Edwin Parsons, and tea on the original tea plantation of the country, near Summerville, a the guest of Charles U. Sheppard. ? Mr.,. Taft is : expected In the morning. ' . After a very brief Introduction by Mr. J. C. Hemphill, Mr. Taft remark ed apropos that to make a President out of a mere newspaper reporter took a great deal of work at which he had grieved. j, Charleston came In for a round of praise which ended with the facetious remark that his visits were now re quiring more and more courage on no -count of the political explanation which his entertainers seemingly nave to make. In this connection he spoke of the two "Democratic papers, urn wanted to get hoi dot "that gander" that he might make it a mascot on the cruiser North Carolina. He had reference to the Bryan campaign con- . tii button gander which Editor Hemp hill acquirer and raffled, diaries P. Had Nothing to Do With Canal Case.. - i Savannah, Ga.. Jan. 33. "I have had no hand in the prosecution - of the alleged Panama canal libel case." said Charles P. Taft brother of the President-elect, who with the brother-in-law of President Roosevelt, was referred to in a pointed way In re gard to the sale or tha canal tQ the United States. "I simply was sub poenaed and I testified before- the grand Jury, but I did not start and am not pushing tha case, though the publications were certainly libelous. Mr. Taft, with his wife and ,1 uh ter, are here, guests of Mr. and Mrs. George Baldwin and are on their way to Cuba. "My brother ha hott the time of hi life In Georgia," h said, LEGISLATIVE iXJMXITTEE VISIT. Inspection of State Hospital at Mor gantoft Heauil Apparently Satis factory. Special to The Observer. Morganton, Jan. 28. Sub-commit, tees of the Senate and House- oom mlttees of the Legislature on Insane asylums arrived here Thursday night and departed this morning, having devoted the Intervening time to the Inspection of the State Hospital, the . buildings and grounds, . the farnv stock and cattle, and to acquiring nil the information possible about the operation of the institution In all its details. The visitors were: For the Senate, Messrs. J. W. Burton falect ed chairman of the joint committee), J. A. Spence, B. T. Holders Edward Hawes. F. P. Latham and J. O. Mat thews; and for the House, Messrs, J. T. Foy, F. B- Hooker, J. M. Julian, J. O. Butler, J. M. Mitchell, J. R, Smith, J. 1. Campbell and R. J. Gaston. These gentlemen applied themselves. most diligently to their task, visiting the Hospital in all Its departments an(1 SUrround!ngs, Including the eol-- ony Mi asking every variety " of : que,tion about it financial affairs and ptic workings. It was a serloua- minded dy of men, which evidently h b t obJect , mtau to.wlt. th a acqulslUon ot u knowledge that could be of any valu to It In frammg ,. , wtn m k ..,. befrom SfZ ons lve that the tjpln-'on "t the members wm favorable, and they missed tittle, having been busy day and night, , ,-- - - - . . The visitor were entertained at the i insmuiiun anu -i uui soucu patients weeirty dance, which , they seemed te enjoy greauy. Negro Fireman Run Over by Wagon. tvotat to X ne-Otrvr ' i , . Durham. Jan. 28. While rushing to a fir this afternoon that had originated In the barn of Mr.-H. ' A. Foo-bea, John Bareett was thrown te the pavement an.1 sun ever by the arewagoa.. The colored fireman was badly tejeu-d by the kavy wagon that passed entirety ever him. There were no broken boots, so far a a . could be learned, and tt Injured man vUl recover, (...-.--.
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 24, 1909, edition 1
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