North Carolina Newspapers

3 " ROBESONIA T 1 ESTABLISHED 1870. VOL. XXXV, NO. 84 Country, God and Truth. LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY. JUNE 17, 1004 SINGLE COPIES O CENTS. WHOLE NO. 1040 N APPALLING DISASTER Ho Snch mgedj Eur Before in Net York Htrbor. li Eicarcloa Udei Iltk i Ttoositl Women tod children Tiles Fin tad the Loss of Life Is Orer Fire Hudred New York, June 15 Tbe three decked excursion steamer General Slocuni. of the Knickerbocker Steamboat Company, burned to the water's edge it. liel J Gate this morning resulting in the death through burning or drowning of sHeast liOO jieraons, mostly women and children. Four hundred nud forty-seven bodiea had lieen recov ered tonight and divers were Ht work taking bodies from the hold of the steamer. The remains of many arsons who leaped into the river have not yet been found, and it will be many hours U'fore the list of dead is anywhere near completion. The General Slocum, one of tbe largest exoursion steamers in these waters, left Third street. East River at 9.:0 oo'lock this morning. haviDg on board the annual Sunday school excursion of tit. Mark's German Lutheran church, located in Sixth street Her destination was Locust Grove, one of the many resorts on Long Island soundj. The excursion was in charge of Rev. George C. H Haas, pastor of the church. Tbe vessel was commanded by Capt. William Van Schaik, one of the beat known excursion boat cap tains in New York harbor. He had commanded tbe General S locum for almost tbe entire time since she was built in 1891. The number of excursionists on board tndav in VArinimlv estimated at from 1,500 to 2,500, but according to an official statement issued by the Knickerbocker Steam boat Com pany, owners of the Siocutn, the number of passengers was 87.'f, that being one third of tbe vessel s licened caoaoity. Tbe steamer, after leaving her dock this morning proceeded up the East River, all three of her decks being crowded, with merry makers. Bands played and the great side wbeeler was decorated with Hags from stem to stern. The Slocum had reached a point near the Sunken Meadows off 135th street, Manhattan, which is at tbe extreme eastern end of Randall's Island, when fire broke out in a lunch room on the forward deck. Tbe blaze was caused by the over turning of a pot of grease. Tbe head way of the vessel and a high wind almost instantly fanned the insignificant blaze into fury Efforts were at onoe directed to subduing the fire, but they were futile. The blaze spread aft with almost lightning rapidity. Cap tain Van Schaik in the pilot house had bean informed of tbe outbreak of the fire, and realizing tbe danger to tbe hundreds of excursionists, decided to send his vesesl to shore at 134th street. At this point there are a number of lumber yards, and several huge oil tanks and the captain was warned that to attempt to land at this point would endanger tbe property and perhaps further imperil the scores of people, who had ' already been frightened into a state of almost uncontrollable excitement. Changing the big steamer's course slightly he beaded her for North B rother Island, half a mile ' away. "v By this time the flames were rushing by leaps and bounds from the forward Jpartof the ship aft. ' j The great open decks, built for excursionist, with little obstrotion from bow to stern, offered a clear sweep for the fire. As the Slocum dashed forward .the flames caught stanchion and cabin work, eating and tearing their way across the vessel. The excursionists but a few mo ments before in the full injoyruent of an ideal summer's day on Long Island Sound, were driven to the after part of the steamer to escape the heat, flames and smoke that were constantly increasing. Police men and deck . hands aboard tbe boat, struggled hard to'quiet the panic, but their efforts were in vain.. The wild disorder increased, M frantic mothers sought to find children wbo bad been at play abont tbe decks. Tbe steamer's whittle was blow ing for assistance and tbe tugs and other nearby craft answvmi to the call. Ilefore any of the boats oould reach tbe burning steamer, however, tbe frantio women and children began to jumpoverttoarvl. Tbe current was strong and there are many whirlpools in the chan nel. The boats that always abound in tbe vicinity picked many r ons from tbe water, but I he were only a small number of thoee that were sen struggling in the swift current. On the Slocum t tie first sweep; of tbe Haines cut off ecaspe from j the hurricane deck, where a great ; many ot the wjiuen ami cruitiren were crowded together, ami booh burned away the light wood of the uprights which came down with a crash on these Mow It in thought that moat of those on tlx hurricane deck were burned As the fire increased, the utrug gle to gain a point of vantage at the stern became frightliil. oinen and children crowded auamat the after rail until it gave way and hundreds were pushed off into the river. After this there wan a steady stream of persons who jumped or were thrown into the water By this time thenhrieking whis tles of tbe Slocum had attracted the attentiou of river crafts for a considerable distance around this and tugs and other small boats were rusbina to the assistance of the burning steamer. These small boats rescued all those in the water whom they could reach, but struggled and Vetera' KaJ at Maeavltle. Over .'((). 000 people attended tbe opening exercises of the Veterans' ((union opened Tueexlay in Nash. ville, Tenn. It wVa the first con veotion In tbe history of tbe organ isation that tbe Sous of Veterans sat with tbeir fathers, and the cheer from the younger genera tions proved that the spirit of 1801 stills reigns and will for rears to coP)e. Ths Veterana were called to order by General Stephen D. I a-, the acting commander in enter: i haplalu Jones delivered the invocation ; in a splendid ad dress Governor J. B. Krazier. of Tennessee, welcomed t lie delegates, after which Colonel A S. Will inuiH, mayor uf NuahTille, extend ed the. city's welcome. General Gordon then drought forward General Stephen D Lee, as the permanent presiding officer and commander in chief Hn was re Labf Bridge Lecafs. Corrrt tA t ml Ik So b oa La . We have not ret learned oeived with round ni'ter round of enthusiastic npphiuae, and fo i several minutes was Kepi liowiug from side to side, unable to make himaelf heard. From the body of hia eloquent address, which thrilled to the hearts of his hear era, we quote the following: It is a source of joy to, every one of us, as we make our annua pilgrimage to meet together, when we see how prosperous our coun try has grown. At last I think we all feel tfrat the prosperity of the land is assured. When tbe savings of all previous genera ions were consumed in the com mon disaster, it seemed for awhile as if the South bad to faoe tbe bitterness of overty for genera mainy pCrgon tions to oome. Statesmanship, lit sunk before any I . ... ... ....;. help oould recah them. In tbe wake of tbe Slocum as she hurried up stream was a line of little black spots, marking the beads and bodies of those wbo bad sought to escape tbe roaring furnace cn tbe ship by throwing themselves overboard Few of those saved by the small boats had no life preservers. At no time during the progress of the fire was there an opportunity to either lower the life boats or get the life preservers out. The Lightning Rod. The pranks played by liirLlutng in era t ure, art, culture, flowers of leisure and opportunity, were to remain forever withered on toe soil onoe so congenial ; nothing was to be left but tbe bard struggle with adversity till tbe bitter end. "I think we are convinced now that the South is fully on its feet again, in material prosperity we have now not onlv reached, but surpassed, tbe ncbievments of our fathers; yet, when I look about me tor the men who are to enter into the garden which you, my brave comrades, have made bloom under such hard conditions, I can not but be sensible to the incom- thin city a few days ago makes lightning parable loss whiob the South 8U8- rod talk timely. Does tbe rod give any I tained. The tongne8 which would real protection against lightning If you I have commanded the applause of are a tarmer and womu asu me agem senates were never ueara atter tne that question in all seriousness, he would cry of battle was over; the genius talk you into at least three rods on your that might have directed the COUU barn and two on your bouse. Properly I eel of nations, breathed its last constructed the lightning rod does pro- upon some forgotten skirmish line, tect. The United States Weathe Bureau The very flower and pride of OUT gives its sanction to that verdict and has people perished in the battle front, issued a pamphlet of advice and instru?- and the blood of OUT race lost much tion to the people at l-rge. It is prepared of its mo8t magnificent strain when by a Unive-sity professor and says that they went to their graves. the first di-tideratum is what the elec tricians call a '"good ground" that is, close and permanent connection with'a large mass of high electrical conductivi ty, like dtmp soil or an expensive system of metallic pipes. The lightning rod itself shtttild be a wide band, a thin walled tube, or a wire cable, rather than a solid wire, for so is the conductivity of a given amount of metal largely in creased. And of extreme importance is it that the roursscf the rod to tbe ground should be as short and straight as possi ble If the pathway provided for the "bolt" be devious, the impatient mcssen- ger from or utiie ciounds win not fo1low it, no matter how much is 6pent for glass 6r other insulators, while tf the path be straight tbe insulators aie need less for any charge the rd can carry. What happens when a good lightning rod is put to test is thus described by a man who went through the eiperience at a mountain hotel in New York State "I w is standi ngo nthe piazza when the most tremendous shock or concussion conceivable took place. I bad a sudden dazzle in the eyes, a bitter tast in the mouth, a violent singing in the ears, a pungent, sulphurous odor in the nose, and a severe headache. Then I learned that the house had been struck by light ning; that is to say, that the conductors had functioned effectively and had safely conducted the electricity into the lake, instead of the discharge falling upon the hotel and wrecking it " Let no one speak of the lightning rod in scorn. Charlotte Chronicle. who will be the successor to Mrs. M. B McDonald at the McDonald House. Mr. W. A. Cbason tbe veteran hotelllst take care of all boarders and travellers. Kev. J. I). Cross goee over to Bed Springs every Thursday night and conducts a prayer meeting ser vice in his church there. Miss hettie Brown, wbo has b:en abroad about a year for atudy haa reached her native land and may be exiiccted at home ere Ions. Rev A. M. McLaughlin has decided to change bis field of labor from L In hires. Texas, to rort Worth. He ia making a short visit now to fits old home near Antioch. Mr. Jack Singleton and family went down to Wimington this week an 1 combined biiMineaa with pleas ure Dr I) Hughes went over to Shannon to worship last Sunday, It was communion day. We learn as we n these lines that all the sick among us they are not many are lietter. Rev. P. R. Law will preach a Antioch next Sunday. Mr. D. A. Smith ban a large field of the largest and most luxurian corn we have seen anywhere this year. Mr. J. C. McPbail shows ex cent ion a I enterprise on bis farm e notice from tbe view we get from the public road the growing of corn, cotton, tobacco, cucum bers, cantaloupes and potatoes. He has evidently cautrbt the spirit and set the example of diversify ing. Mrs. Daniel McLeod who has been in Morven Georgia is spend ing sometime with mends and kindred around her old home at Cross Roads. Miss Mary D. Law is spending day or two with Mrs. M. B. McDonald at Hope Mills. Miss Mary Pope most pleasantly entertained a number of her friends at her home Tuesday evening. Don't be too modest. Because of its modesty the lowly violet is frequently trampled under foot. The Disgrace of Doing Nothing. The carl v Indian builders of the an cient district of Tabasco, in Centnl America, hid a word in their language which stood for the definition of "noth ing." This word, so far as its history has or can be traced, contained thirty-two syllables and was unpronounceable. As the Tubascans said: "It stands for 'nothing,' and therefore cannot le spoken." When some man of the district, or woman, or even wayward child died, whose life the hi hpriests and teachers felt had been utterly worthless, helpless to all that still lived, they placed at the point of burial, grave, tomb, or funeral pyre, a block of stone bearing the same of the dead and this one unpronounce able word. This custom prevailed more than seven hundred years go among a strange and now extinct people, but the force of bt irg a negative or useless character in tbe world is still as potent today as then. The unpronounceable word of Tobasco has been forgotten by all but students, but not the nselessuesi of a life that is given wholly to selfishness or idleness. It is a singular thing that in the history of every nation known to man there ap pear in one form or another the two phases, "Do light!" and "Do things!'' Right living, helpful living, is "always active, always working. It strives to keep the pure .mind, tbe clean tongue, the helping hand, the tender heart. It accepts the cross in place of that dis honored block of stone of Tobasco, u op which there was "always carved a word that no person could pronounce. The Boy's World. Ashpole Iteeas. Correspondence of The Robesonian. We had none of the severe bail elf by our neighbors of Kingsdale and Sterling last Friday but have tbe cold weather which it brought. We were glad to bear that Miss ECate Saanders, wbo left here sick, arrived safely at home in eastern Virginia, and was improving. 1 be children sday service at tbe Methodist church last Sunday was a very enjoyable occasion. Mr. Ash by 's address to the chil dren was very good indeed. Rev. W. T. Walker was here Sunday to fill his usual appoint ment at tbe Presbyterian church. m -vk 1 ne rsaptist parsonage is com pleted and Rev. J. A. McKaughan and family moved in last week. The brick work of Mr. H. S. Floyd s store on Center street is finished and it is in the hands of the carpenters. i loyd Bros, are finishing a two story annex to tbeir store in which they expect to keep fine furniture. Capt. F. C. Jones is off enjoy ing bis summer vacation visiting Mt. Olive and other points. A fire in the woods near by cre ated quite a sensation for a short while last Friday during tbe high wind, but fortunately the rain came in time to prevent damage. In the death of Mrs. C. A. In man, which sad event occurred last Monday, our community loses one of its most elect ladies. She 111a is 1. was well oeiovea oy a Host ot friends and relatives and will be Badly missed. Tbe sympathy of all is with her bereaved family. Mre. W. W. Carlyle, of Lum bertdn passed through here last Monday on her way to a visit to relctives m South Carolina. Mrs. Mary Hughes joined her here for tbe visit. Mr. Pate, of Dillon, S. C.'was here last week erecting a lovely little monument to tbe grave of little Miss Mvrtie Ratley, the daughter of Mr. N. A. Ratley, who died last year. 5waltowlag Colas. If the coin is swallowed, there Possibly you have observed that lots of girls marry during leap year who never married before. is sal' dom any danger. The best thing to do is to take a slight aperient, and in all probability it will pass away all right. If it enters the windpipe, medical aid should immediately be sought, and the only thing that could be done would be to seize the individual bv the . legs and ho'.d b'.m upside down, and strike him violently on the back, whin it may be coughed up Exchange. TstlP NOTRS. Staff C or rrtpod ace. That is a beautiful piece of rod leading from I.om barton toward Fayettevilk. By tbe way, the more of Robeson county we travel through tbe prouder of our county do we feel. And no little cauee for our county pride is the con dition of her roads which is an index to tbe spirit of progress and improvement that our icopie and their leader oeees. If others oounties would inspire in their people a spirit of county pride, let their men of influence come to Rob- ron and no considerable driving, go back and agitate the matter of good roads until they can hoaat such roarli as we have. Who can rive over the roads leading from L imU'rton to Ashpole. Rowland, Pembroke and Buie without a Uinii r nut tiieaa are not nil Our trip to Marker's Rome tune 2o was one of pleeaaure. Some of the finest crops e have seen were thos on the tirat r ad men tiorted. We have the opinion that in the vicinity of Barker's i excel- lent trucking land It has (een proven by a few who have grown them on a small scale that straw, berry growing would be a profita ble industry for this section The community seems to fxs makii g splendid improvement in farming. Perhaps along no line has this section improved so much in re cent years as along the line of ed ucation. Barker's High School and Business University is a credit to tbe oounty and merits its pride. We attended tbe recent com menoement of this school and were more than pleased with what we saw and heard. Tbe exercises by the school were of a high order and reflected muoh credit on teachers and students. Evidenoes of thoroughness in classroom work were not far to see. The sermon by Rev. J. C. lfassee on tbe sub ject of "Tbe Man, Christ Jesus,' was a masterful discourse that moved the audience. Rev. T. A. Smoot's address was one of power and inspiration. A bountiful din ner of good things prepared by those hospitable people was served j irom a long taoie in tne grove. Twelve baskets full were taken up after tne large crowd and tbe "Robesonian Man" bad eaten Since we were here two years ago the dormitory and school building have been enlarged and painted Prof, and Mrs. Colson and Prof. Bunch treated us with the greatest hospitslity. The same faculty will be in charge again next year. We spent a snort while very pleasantly in the borne of Mr. J. W. Powers. We were interested in a recent visit to tbe Alfordsville and Hill side communities. This is a great farming section. One can see hundreds of acres in a field. Tbe cotton acreage is very large. Labor is scarce. Soe mbave lost a ereat deal this spring in damage to cot ton, for want of chopping al though 75 cents a day was offeree. 1 1. TT. ior nanus, i nis is a prosperous country agriculturally and finan cially, but where are the churches? Their frequency and appearance must indicate a country's progress along some lines. We have visited Rowland and Maxton again since last report We propose to talk about Parkton, Red Springs, Fayetteville, Dunn, Lillington and Buie's Creek next JAS. A. PARHAM. HEWS OP THE WAR. FijhtiflJ Still lo Progress Kur Port Arthur. Reported Etjijistat it iiputsi Pn itdti Cnlutui IusUi Squtoi Betweei Urn ni Jipu Seruti;. London. June l.V Tbe corrf jRjndent of the Central News at Liso Vang telegraphed today at follows : The fighting at Vafaniriw. 'about .Vi miles north of Port I Arthur, was renewed today and i (utill proceeding No detail i obtainable, but there are t: j tent rumors that the R.isiaus e-t partly aiiceaiiii, destroying tnr trpiadrons of cavalry and making prisoners of l 1 men. The Kusai-. casualties in the fighting veetenuy were three hundred and eight m i killed and wounded. 'The Jaiianese casualties art not known. ' "Later a section of Russian ca -airy marching in tbe direction of Tafan-Chow and Lun-Koo, diaoov ered on its right flank a great foro of Japanese cavalry. An engage ment ensued, and according to tbn latest dispatches, fighting is pro ceeding all along the line, tbe Jap anese having obtained reinforce ments from Vafangow, consisting of three infantry divisions with artillery and cavalry." Tokio, Jane 15. It is reported here that the Japanese protected oruiser Vladivostock squadron off Tsu Island, in tbe Strait between Korea and Japan. This report, how ever, lacks confirmation. Tbe Japanese transports Van and Fuyo, homeward boond, met tbe Russian vessels near Oki Island. Tbe Russians pursued them snd fired 16 shots at tbe Jap anese ships. Tbe transports escap ed and reached Katsumoto. Tokio, June 15. Reports of cannonading have been received here from various points, such as province, Oki Island It Ait . A Some society women have better clothes than manners. Tbe Bingham School. - - We are in receipt of the Bingham school Catalogue for it its I nth year, tbe best year financially in it history. We note tb.it beside its North Carolina contin gent it has attracted more than 140 pupils from outside of the State, representing an area which reaches from Connecticut and Nebraska, through Flordia'and Tex as, Mexico City and Ten nua tepee, to British Honduras; and we note also that it is refusing pupils instead of increasing its ; accommodations, We congratulate Colonel Bingham that the success of the t school is even ereater at Asheville that it was in Orange County. Mr. J. P. McNeill returned this morning from Raleigh. . Mrs. White, of Gastonia, who has been a guest in the home of Mr. John Kinnear for several days, leaves this afternoon for (ireensboro. Cbi-Kuzen and Tsuzhimi, but tbe exact nature of tbe operations of tbe Russian Vladivostock squadron is not dis closed. The Japanese warships in the vicinity are hurrying to tbe scene. Sasebo is being oTosed. There is a strong possibilty thsta naval engagement will take plaoe soon. No southern city in Japan is exposed to attack, but this Rus sian raid may prove expensive to shipping. London, June 15. A dispatch to the Central News from Tokio, filed at 6 p. m. today says: A dspatcb just received from Moji says the cannonading at sea stopped at 1 p. m. There was a heavy sea in the straits all day. Ten Japanese merchant steamers are known to have left various ports for Moji and tnere is much anxiety about their fate. It is rumored tonight that the R'iaian warships have gone east ward. Tokio, June 15. Three Japa nese transports, out bound from Shimonoseki, met tbe Russian warsuips this morning outside the straits of Korea. The Russians fired 18 shots at tbe Japanese ships. One transport escaped. Tbe fate of tbe other two is not known. It is believed at Sasebo that a naval engagement is imminent. He Wasn't Hurt. Pat was working on the railroad. and was staying at tbe town hotel with a number of his fellow labor ers, rat s room was on tbe third floor, up two flights of stairs. One night a severe fire broke out in tbe hotel. Pat was awakened from hia deep slumbers, and immediately realized bis danger. He dressed hurriedly, and in bis excitement be put on his trousers front side be hind. He rushed to the window. and jumped to tbe ground. He was at once surrounded by bia riends, wbo thought him serious- hurt. "Air ye hurt, Pat?" was heard on all sides Pat got up, shook himself, an J then poticing the appearace of bia trousers, said, ''Oi don't belava Oi'm hurt, but Oi'm fatally twist ed. "Selected.