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The News and Observed. VOL.XLIV. NO. 75. Leads all Other North Carolina Dailies in Both News and Circulation. A Durham Volunteer Killed in a Wreck The Third Section of the Special Carrying the Troops to Florida Hap pened to a Head-End Collision, Killed one Soldier, Mortally Wounded Another, and Several Others Were Slightly Injured. PRIVATE W. M BARBEE KILLED Coming so Soon After the Tragic Death of Ensign Worth Bagley, of Raleigh, It Shocked and Stunned the People of the Whole State. PRIVATE J. M. COLCLOUGH MORTALLY INJURED The Young Man who was Killed and the Young Min Mor tally Wounded were Natives of Wake County —An Escort will Come Home with the Body—Private West, of Raleigh, Received a Slight Scalp Wound—Both the Dead and the Wounded were Held in the Highest Es teem by a Large Circle of Friends. Yesterday mornitig. about 10 o'clock, the \cn-s and Observer received a s|>eeial from its war correspondent, Mr. Fred L. Merritt, saying that the third section of the train was wrecked near Savannah, (la., one killed and several hurt. This was posted on the News and Observer's bulletin hoard, and in a few mo ments crowds gathered about it, shocked at the tragedy that had so soon come to the North Carolina troops. Shortly thereafter the following telegram came from Major Butler, commanding the battalion, as follows: Savannah. Ga., May 23. —(Special.)—Head end collision this morning at 5:40 o’clock, ten miles south of Savannah. Barbee killed; Colclough seriously in jured, and a few others slightly injured. All of Company I, Durham. The dead and wounded, with escort sent to Durham. Train delayed at Savannah until wreck is all cleared. GEO. E. BUTLER, Major Commanding.” The particulars were asked for, and soon the following dispatch was placed on * the News and Observer’s bulletin board. “Savannah, Ga., May 23.—(Special.)—Tin* third section of tlie special train bearing the First regiment, North Carolina volunteers, via the Florida. Central and Peninsula railroad, just after leaving Savannah this morning, about 5:45 o’clock, had a head-end collision with a freight train, near Burroughs’ station, killing one man and probably fatally injuring another. The .lend man is Private W. M. Barbee, and the injured man, Private L. M. Colclough. Both members of Company I, Third battalion, First regiment, North Carolina volunteers, and both of Durham, N. C. Several others were slightly injured. Barbee and Colclough were caught on the platform between two ears. Barbee was afterwards run over. A detail of seven privates and a corporal will take the body back to Durham. Colclough is now in the Savannah hospital. The Engineer of the freight train disappeared and nothing has been heard from him.” ESCORT WITH BODY TO DURHAM. Later in the afternoon the following special was received: Savannah, Ga., May 23. —(Special.)—The following were detailed to accom pany the remains of Private W. M. Barbee, of Company I, who was killed in a railroad accident, near this city, and ,T. M. Colclough, dangerously injured: Surgeon W. E. Fiteh, formerly of Durhahl, hut now of Savannah: Corporal Nelvin Eubanks, G. A.; Caudle, J. J.; 'Fringe, B. II.; Redmond, ('has.; Hop per, R. W. B.; Eubanks, John. PRIVATE WEST, OF RALEIGH, INJURED. Savannah. Ga., May 23.—(Special.)—Private West, of Company K, Raleigh, received a slight scalp wound. The rest all well. - Young Barbee, who was killed is a nephew of M. It. Barbee, of Raleigh. SKETCH OF YOUNG W. MATTHEW BARBEE. Durham, X. C., May 23.—(Special.)—W. Matthew Barbee, a member of Com pany I, First Regiment, North Carolina volunteers, who was killed in a railroad wreck near Savannah, Ga., was a native of Wake county. He was born in the upper part of Wake rtiunty, three miles smthenst of Nelson, in this county. His father, mother and three sisters constitute the home circle and still reside at the old homestead. He was unmarried. Ilis mother is in feeble health, and owing to this she never knew until Saturday that her favorite child and only boy had en tered the service of his country. All through last night watchers by her bedside thought tho flickering light would go out, but she still lives. Mat Barbee, as lie was so well known here, was 20 years old, and from the time he left the roof-tree, four years ago, had resided in Durham. For three years he has clerked for Mr. F. M. Cart lon, and as the tears rolled down the cheeks of that gentleman this morning,they told in eloquent terms of the high and manly character of his late employe. He was as gentle as the gentlest woman, and his warm heart and unobtrusive manners, drew around him a circle of true and devoted friends who ar ( * bowed down with great grief at this sad news. MR. COLCLOUGH A NATIVE OF WAKE COUNTY. Durham, N. C., May 23.—(Special.)—J. M. Colclough, mortally wounded, was also a native of Wake county. He was about 40 years old, (torn near Boys’ mill, on Neuse river, where he lived till a few years ago, when he moved to this city. He was a widower and leaves two small children. While here he was engaged in merchandising in a small way. He came of a most excellent family, and leaves many devoted kindred in this and Wake county, who will mourn his untimely death. The news came to Durham with a great shock. It was only yesterday that many of us had bid these brave and devoted patriots good-bye; and while we realized in its fullest sense the great dangers into which they were being rushed, none of us dreamed the end was so near. Ail Durham is bowed down in inex pressible grief over their untimely end. RALEIGH, H. C., TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 24, 18»8. SOLDIERS INDIGNANT Over the Carelessness That Caused the Death of Their Comrade. (Special from our War Correspondent.! Jacksonville, Fla., May 23—11:30 p. m.—J. M. Colclough was internally in jured and will probably die. It' he lives he will be disabled for life. lie has been given honorable discharge. The accident lias east a deep gloom over the entire camp here and the great est sympathy is expressed on all sides. “1 regret it exceedingly,” said General Lawton, “I sympathize most deeply with those made to suffer by this accident. It seems very hard that the State which has just given to the country Ensign Bagley, should so soon be called on to make another sacrifice.” Col. Armfield also asked mo to ex press his grief and sympathy through the News and Observer. Capt. Miehie did all in his power for the dead and wounded. His wife was also on the train and is very ill from the nervous shock. The Raleigh com pany was on the ear next to that occu pied by Durham, but none of them were hurt:—many of them jumped from . the train before the crash. The body of Mr. Barbee was, this af ternoon. sent back to Durham under an escort of eight comrades, as wired this evening. They will reach Durham to morrow. Investigation of cause of the accident will be demanded by the regiment. All tin* indications point to criminal negli gence on the part of the engineer on the freight and bagman on the military train. singular coincidence is that at'al most this identical spot an hour earlier the second section came to within ten feet of crashing into the rear end of the first section of the Pullman car occupied by the regimental and field officers. No signals* were displayed on the first sec tion as they should have been. This negligence has aroused great indignation among the troops. No railroad man was hurt. FRED MERRITT, THE BAD NEWS IN RALEIGH. Raleigh was greatly moved yesterday by the terrible news that came from the News and Observer's war correspondent at Savannah. Mr. Barbee, the private in the Dur ham company, who was killed, was a "ative of Wake county, a nephew of Mr. M. B. Barbee, of Raleigh, and was well known in this city. He was a young man of genial manners and high character, beloved and respected by all who knew him. During tho month he had been in camp here, he endeared himself to all who came in contact with him. Mr. Colclough. who is reported mort ally wounded, though a member of the Durham company, is also a native of Make county, and is well known in Raleigh as a man of character. lie leaves two children. * * There was great anxiety on the part of every mother in Raleigh who has a boy at the front to learn all the particu lars of tin* accident. Each one feared that her son was hurt. Early in the day Mr. Jim Bullock, of tile' Raleigh company, telegraphed his mother that lie was ail right, and none of the Raleigh boys were hurt. Later a telegram said that Private West had a slight -scalp wound, but it was so slight as to give no room lor alarm. * * * Then were many expressions like this: “lhe troops were ordered to march on Friday, ami Lieutenant Marshall had made arrangements for carrying the troops in three sections, one by the Atlan tic Coast Line, one b.v the Southern and one by the Seaboard Air Line. Af ter packing they were kept in nnconi fort able < i narters For two (lays. Tt turn ed out Saturday night that all delnv, resulting in inconvenience was for the purpose'of letting the Southern Railway gobble up the wlp.le business. "Whv not? Didn’t if give $250,00(1 to help elect McKinley while the other roads were attending to their legitimate railroad business i What is the comfort of soldiers the good effects of com petition, when compared with a big campaign fund? Hanna must give the r V,' UI thot Helped him out in tlie campaign.” That was the sort of talk 11,at was on many tongues yesterday. People do not lid iz u T,i "’ v bad alter making an agreement, to send a1! he troops via these routes, to keep hem n, discomfort two or three days, to gi\e all the business to one road. And they said so yesterday in plain | terms, about, the bulletin hoard and their places of business. * * * The question of and damages was freely discussed. ''A head end collision itself fixes the responsibility so far as a passenger is concerned.” said one prominent lawyers: ’’hut now.” In* continued, “yon will hear of the. railroad taking the ground tjiat Barbee and Colclough and the others in jured were not passengers at all; that tin* railroad had no contract, with them individually, hut was merely hauling them under contract with the govern tnent. like so much freight, and that, therefore, they are responsible, if respon sible at all, only to tho government, and not to the wounded men themselves, nor to the personal representative of the de ceased, Private Barbee.” ACCIDENT TO N. C. TROOPS. (Associated Press.) Savanna, Ga., May 23.—Private Wil liam Barbee, of Company I. First re giment North Carolina volunteers, was killed, and Private J. M. Colclough, of the same company, seriously injured in a head end collision of tin* military train with a special freight train on the Florida and Peninsula railroad early this morning. The collision occurred near Burroughs, Ga.. eleven miles from Savannah. The military train was sec tion four of regular passenger train No. 37. from Columbia to Jacksonville. On if was the Third battalion. Major But ler commanding, comprised of compa nies from Durham. Raleigh, Concord and Charlotte. Three sections of the train had passed the siding on which the freight train awaited them. Engineer Nix. of the freight train, claims that the third section displayed no signal indicat ing that another section was coming, and he drew out on the main track, the col lision coming within twenty minutes. Engineer Carran, of the fourth section of the military train, saw the freight in time to bring his train to a standstill before the collision. Company I occu pied the front passenger coach in the rear of the box cars containing equip ments. Ample warning was given for men to escape through doors and win dows. Barbee and Colclough were caught on the front platform between a Imix car and the coaches. Barbee was crushed to death and Colclough was badly mangled about the shoulders. Several other privates were slightly bruised or cut. The comrades of the two men were in tensely excited over their comrade's fate, and violence to the engineer amt conductor of tlie freight train was fear- Barbee’s body was sent on to his home at Durham this afternoon, aceom panied by an escort. Colclough was also sent home in care of a physician. The engineer and conductor of the third section claim that their signal were correct, and place the responsibility on tho freight crew. The railroad of ficials and coroner have begun an inves tigation. WHERE IS THE OREGON? THREE AMERICAN WAR SHIPS REPORTED AT PARA, BRAZIL. These Ships "Thought to be the Oregon and Her Consorts-Reported Not at Key West. London, May 23.—Lloyds agent, at Para, Brazil, under to-day’s date, ca bles that three l American men of war arrived there at 1) o’clock this morning from Rio Janeiro. (The only American warships known to be on their way north from Rio Ja neiro are the Oregon, tin* Marietta and the Nictheroy. The Oregon was last re ported by officials of Lloyds at Brazil, May 1). and sin* is believed to have pro ceeded at midnight the same day. The distance from Bahia to Para is aim lit sixteen hundred miles, roughly speaking, and if the Lloyds’ report is correct, the Oregon and her consorts have been steaming very slowly. Other reports have placed the Oregon at Barbadoes. and even nearer still to the United States.) NOT AT KEY WEST. Key West. May 23.—The battle ship Oregon has not arrived here. FIGHTING THEIR WAY. Cubans Are Nearing the Coast—Force Spanish Cavalry Back to Havana. New 1 ork, May 23. —A Key .West spe cial says: “The Cubans are fighting their way to the coast, where they will join with our forces of invasion. Three hundred Cubans engaged a squad of Spanish cavalry on Thursday, fifteen miles of Matanzas. The battle was fiercely waged, in sight of the ships on the blockade station. The firing continued after dark, and Friday morning the Spanish cavalry, which had been re-inforeed during the night by a battalion of infantry, were seen retreating along the beach in the direction of Havana. MEDICAL I)EPARTMENT. Secretary Alger Asks for Deficiency Appropriation of $50,000. Washington, May 23.—Secretary Al ger sent to Congress to-day an estimate for a deficiency appropriation of $50.0)0 for the medical and hospital depart meat of the army, caused by the unforseen and large preparations and outfits re quired for tin* Philippine expedition and the necessary establishment of large general hospitals at Fort McPherson, Ga.; Fort Thomas. Ky.: key West. Fla., and Fort. Myer. Va., o»e„ ex {tenses <rf State hoards for the examination of physicians for the volunteer forces and other extraordinary expenses. FRANCE WAKING UP Realizes that American Friendship is Valuable. EXTENDS A COMPLIMENT HANDSOME PICTURE FOR THE EMBASSY AT WASHINGTON. SPAIN APPEALS TO THE POWERS AGAIN This Time Over the Alleged use of Her Flag by American War Ships -Spain Threatens to Resort to Privateering. Washington, May 23.—1 t was stated to-day at the navy department, at the close of office hours, that no dispatches of any kind relating to tin* movements of the fleets or the prospect of an en gagement had been received during the day. and that the only dispatch received related to an inconsequential prize case. As the ships are now at sea, there is no expectation of reports until a decisive engagement occurs, and a dispatch boat gets to a port, or it is found Cervera has eluded our search. In tin* meantime, there is a complete lack of official data by which to forecast the coming engage ment. A report was current during the day that the big battleship Oregon had arrived at Key West, but the department officials would notice it only by enter ing a general denial that word had been received of any important vessel's movements or arrival. Late in the day the Associated Press dispatch from Madrid, giving the sharp debate in the eortes over the alleged Hy ing of the Spanish flag by American war ships, created much comment in diplo matic circles. Spain’s protest to the powers that this use of the flag was “cowardly and iniquitous,” was dismiss ed by naval officers, with the statement that international law writers agreed on the right to use an enemy’s flag for the purpose of deceit, so long as the flag is hauled down before a shot is fin d. The United States naval regulations make a specific provision on this point. The statement made by the Spanish Minister of the Interior, that the govern ment is likely to resort to privateering, dues not cause any apprehension among officials here. It is felt that Great Brit ain. Germany and France will have con siderable to say in case Spain resorts to privateering. The commerce of these countries with the United States would suffer very severely by Spanish privateer ing. and its effect would Is* far more disastrous to these foreign interests than to the shipping of all the 1 ’uitl States Commander Hemphill, who has charge of the naval enlistment, lias made out a table, showing that the recent recruiting of tin* navy has swelled that branch of the service to (’>,72!). The following are some of the States from which recruits have lieeu secured: Virginia, 255: North Carolina. 1)5; South Carolina, 115; Georgia, 17: Florida, 113. The French government has taken the opportunity t« pay a graceful compliment to this country, by informing tin* French embassy that an artist lias been instruct ed to make a copy of the famous pic ture, “The Battle of Yorktown,” which is one of the priceless treasures of the French national gallery at Versailles, to la* sent to the embassy at Washington. Tin* picture shows the notable incident in American history, when the British commander. Lord Cornwall, surrendered to General Washington. The announcement byway of Baris, that the Italian government had pro tested against the continuance or the blockade of the Cuban coast, on tin* ground that it was ineffective, met with prompt denial at the State department, and it can he stated definitely that neither in Washington nor Rome lias any representations on this subject licen ad dressed to the United States govern ment. As to the allegation that the blockade is ineffective, it is said Unit on the con trary it lias been particularly successful and that so far as known not a single neutral ship subject to detention has passed the lines without the consent of our government. The Montserrat, it is true, did enter Cienfuegos harbor before our blockading ships had time to get around the south side of Cuba and estab lish the blockade and sin* did manage to get out at night. But she is a Spanish ship and Spain is perhaps the only na t on in the world that has lost flu* power to enter a protest against the blockade, being a combatant herself. Ii is only for neutral powers to enter such protests, and none of them has as yet had the slightest pretext for such action. With the beginning of the present week the Spanish vessels in the Uni-| fed States ports, jvhich sailed after the | outbreak of war, are subject to seizure. | as well as all Spanish merchantmen | 1 found on t..e high seas, save where they j left port for the United States before April 21st last. The President’s proola- 1 niation of war allowed such ships lying, in our ports or bonnd for them thirty; days in which to discharge cargoes andj also insured them safe 'passage home, i That period of time expired SaturdayL night. This it is expected will tend to free the State Department from compli cations. Under the energetic management of Captain Bartlett, who was recalled from tin* retired list into the active service of I the Navy Department for the purpose, i there has just been perfected a most ad- 1 mirable and thorough system of coast < signalling for war purnoges. Tin* Navy I Department itself established thirty sta-* 1 rHIRD EDITION. PRICE FIVE CENTS. tions on the const manned by naval mi litiamen. Then it called into service l.Oiil) light, house employees and 1.000 ate saving men, making a total force of over 3.000 men who patrol the great shore line from Bar Harbor to Galveston night and day, and in all weathers, watching for the aproach of an enemy or for a signal from any passing United States warships. It has been arranged so that all of these watchers can communi cate in the course of a few minutes with a telegraph or telephone station all cen tering in the office of Captain Bartlett in the Navy Department, who is thus prepared to give the war hoard instant notice of any significant ship movements on the coast. It is said at the Navy Department that il will be at least five days before the Monterey can la* started on her long journey from San Francisco for Manila, the delay being on account of the prepar ations that must la* made for the very exceptional service required of tin* ves . sel. THE PRIZE COURT SITS. Judge .ocUe Reserves His Decision- A Terrific Explosion Off Coast of Cuba. Key West, Fla., May 2.”. —Tin* officers * of one of the United States cruisers, > which arrived hen* to-day, say that * while off Cape San Antonio (file western extremity of Cuba), yesterday afternoon a terrific* explosion was heard from the - direction of the shore, but apparently . many miles away. There was an up- I lieaval of water all about the ship, and the cruiser herself vibrated with tin* * shock from stem to stern. Many are » inclined to think that the phenomenon , was an earthquake. There are no bat- teries near enough Cape Sail Antonio to , account for a detonation of such volume. and it is thought if any naval disaster ’ had occurred news of it would have reached here. Judge Locke, of the United States dis trict court, to-day heard arguments in three of flu* most important cases, those of the Buena Vista, Miguel Jover and Catalina. A number of counsel appear ' ed, and it was contended on an extended ’ citation of authorities that ail three ves sels should he condemned as lawful ' prizes. * Arguments against this contention were made by an array of counsel repre senting the various interests, including ' the owners of the vessels aml their ear goes. Judge Locke reserved his deci * sioti. VIRGINIA TROOPS TO TAMPA. i 1 Col. Baker Receives Orders to Proceed 1 Then* With His Commaud Inline * diately. 1 Richmond. Va.. May 23.—Late this as ( ternuon. Col. Baker, of the S***-.>ud Vir ginia regiment, rw-eived orders from the War Dejuirtuient to proceed immediately j with his command to Tampa. It j> «a derstood that the reiriinent will start Wednesday, if traitsportatk’ii can Is* se eured by that time. ► HEAVr FIRING HEARD FURIOUS CANNONADING IN DIRECTION OF NORTHERN CUBA. The Firing’ Heard Thursday and Saturday-* Presumed to be Bombardment of Guantanamo. (Copyrighted 1898 by Associated Press. * Port Au Prince, Hayti, May 23.-The following dispatch has l*eon reeeiv»*d from Port do Prix, dated Saturday last, land telegraph communication having been interrupted up to to-day: “A furious cannonading was heard on the 19th (Thursday last) in the direc tion of tin* north of Cuba. To-day, Sat urday, tin* cannonading continues in a very lively fashion.” Port de Prix is in tlie northwestern part of Hayti, and tin* firing referred to may have been from any part of the eas tern extremity of Cuba. As the Span iards claim Guantanamo was recently bombarded by American warships, the sound of firing may have come from that direction. ZOLA'S SECOND TRIAL. It Began in tin* Court of Assize Yester day—Zola Hissed i(nd Cheered. Versailles, May 23.—The second trial of M. Emile Zola, on the charge of criminal libel, contained in charges which In* brought against the officers o lio conducted the Esterhazy court mar tinl• commenced in the assize court here to-day. But few of tin* general public \'ere admitted within the precincts ot tin* court and rigorous measures were adopted to preserve order. There was no incident upon the arrival of the ac cused. M. Labori, counsel for the accused, im mediately questioned tin* competency of the court on the grounds that the alie* ed offence was committed in Paris, and (hat only a Parisian jury was compe tent to try the ease. The procureur general. M. Ber drand, of the Paris court, who acts a?, public prosecutor, upheld the competency of the court to try the case, whereupon M. Labori announced that lie appealed to the court of cassation upon that point. The trial was then adjourned pending the hearing of the appeal. On leaving the court M. Zolu was greeted with cries of “Down with Zola," intermingled with cheers for Zola and cheers for tin* army. VOLUNTEERS MUSTERED IN. Washington, May 23.—At a late hour to-night Adjutant General Corbin announced that advices received by him from tin* State camps to-night indicat ed that volunteers will have been mustered into the service of the' United States.
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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May 24, 1898, edition 1
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