North Carolina Newspapers

The Weather Today: Fair; Slightly Colder. The News and Observer. NO. 85. VOL. LI. L©adsall Worth Carolina Bailies in Mews and Cirettmuon NINE MEN DIE UNDER RAIN OF BLAZING METAL They Were - at Work on the Top of a Blast Furnace. A ROAR SHOOK THE EARTH And the Explosion of Oas Hurled Tons of Molten Metal Over Them. THEY WERE 120 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND Five Blown Off the Furnace by the Shock Are Yet Alive. Others Clung to the Rail ing Until Death Broke Their Grip. (By ihe Assocated Press.) Pittsburg, Pa., Dec. 19.—8 y an explo sion of gas in the Soho furnace of Jones & Laughlin near Brady street, this city, at 6:20 o’clock this morning nine men were burned to death, three injured so badly that they are not expected to live, and two others dangerously hurt. The damage to the plant will amount to $20,- 000. The explosion occurred in one of the big blast furnaces. The men were at work at the top of the furnace over 120 feet from the ground. Gas, which had accumulated in the furnace exploded and tons of molten metal, cinders and slag were thrown over the unfortunate men to the top of the structure. All the men .made a rush for the ele vator but it had gone down and there was no escape. The jump meant death and to-remain on the platform was just as certain doom. Tons of molten metal and flakes fell upon them and burned nine men to death. Their bodies dropped to the roof of the mill Bci feet below, every bone broken and an unrecognizable mass of human flesh. Ordinarily only three men work on top of the furnace but this morning about 6:15 o’clock one of the heavy iron wa gons used in taking up the ore to the top of the furnace got stuck on the top of the structure and the three men seat for assistance. A few men went up, but they could not move the wagon and more went up until the number reached four teen. It was while ttu-y were trying to get the wagon released that the fatal ex plosion took place. All the men at work on top of the furnace were Slavs and Poles. Eye-witnessed say that it was horrible sight they ever witnessed. They say that when the explosion took place there was one great loud report and the murky heavens were illuminated with a great sheet of flames showing the men on top of the furnace running about, gesti culating v/ildly. The flames and hot metal looked like a volcano in action. Five of the men were blown oft’ the top of the furnace and strange as it may seem, these men are the ones that are still living. The others hung oto the railing, some on the outside, others on the inside, until their clothing was burned off. Two of the victims hanging or the outside held on and remained tenaciously clinging to the railing until their fingers were burned off. They then fell to the roof of the mill, dead. Seven of the victims were found dead on th» platform of the cupola. These were completely denuded of clothes by the flames and their bodies were burned almost to a crisp. Hundreds of pedestrians on Second avenue had narrow escape from death when the explosion occurred. Toi)3 of ore, coke and hot cinders, some pieces weighing almost three pounds, rained clown on Second avenue and many had to run into houses and stores for protection. Car No. 369, of the Homestead division, was passing just at the time the gas le t 0,0- The coke and other material fall ing on the car, which had twenty-five 1 ♦ AMEND THE CONSTITUTION AND CONTROL THE TRUSTS Representative Jenkins Introduces a Measure Look ing to the Regulation of Trusts by Congress and the States. (By the Associated Tress.) Washington, Dec. 19.—Representative Jenkins, of Wisconsin, who proposed a constitutional amendment to control trusts in the last Congress, today intro duced a measure of similar character, rroviding for a constitutional amend ment providing that "Congress shall have power to regulate commerce in the United States. ‘‘All private corporations, copartner ships and joint stock companies in the passengers aboard, caused a panic and re any jumped oft and more would hive followed had not the coolness of the con ductor saved them. None of the pas sengers was in the least injured, but all were badly scared. Over two tons of the debris fell on Second avenue and a force of fifty men was put to work to dean it off the tracks. Traffic was impeded but within a half hour after the accident all the tracks were cleared. The people residing about the furnace and for blocks on either 3ide were badly scared. They rushed from their homes end a few minutes after the report had sounded throughout Soho thousands of people gathered about the furnace. Two cf the victims were found in the stock yard of the plant, 250 yards from the furnace. They were horribly burned but had they not. been they would have been killed by such a force. Every bone in their bodies seemed to have been bro ken. FOB THE NICARAGUA CANAL- Representative Hepburn Makes the Report for His Committee. (By the Assocated Pre.S3.) Washington, Dec. 19. —Representative Hepburn, of lowa, Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, today made the report of the committee in favor of the Nicaragua Canal Bill. As stating the terms of the bill, the report says in part: “The purpose of this bill, is to concen trate authority and responsibility for the construction of this great work in the hands of the President. It has been be lieved by your committee that this course would be a safer one to be pursued in carrying out the purposes of tne bill, in volving the expenditure of bo large a sum of money, all the work and all the expenditure to be made at a distance so far from the capital, than any other method that could be devised. We have tried to concentrate authority and re sponsibility rather than to disperse it among many persons.” The report refers to the “exhaustive report made by the Isthmian Commission, of which Admiral Walker is the head, in which every feature of this enterprise is fully and at length discussed,” and adds, “no doubt is expressed by the commission as to the practicability of the enterprise: on the contrary they join with a score of predecessors in expressing their belief that the work can be carried to a successful termination, within the limits of reasonable cost and reasonable time. All of the great political parties are committed to the policy of the con struction of this canal.” The report then quotes the declarations of the various party platforms and of Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt fa voring the canal. In conclusion it says: “In view' of the many thousands of pages written and spoken in advocacy of the immediate undertaking and com pletion of this work, in view of the pledges made by the parties that it should be undertaken and completed, in view of -recommendations made by the Presi dent of the United States and in view of the almost universal demand of the Amer ican people that Congress should at once do something effective in the inaugura tion and speedy completion of the Isth mian Canal, your committee content themselves with this brief report, em bodying their earnest recommendation that the bill pass.” FOURTEEN HOUSES BURNED- Charleston Has a Thirty Thousand Dollar Fire. Insurance Two Thirds. (By the Assocated Press.) Charleston, S. C. Dec. 19.—Fire today destroyed fourteen buildings in the upper part of the city. They were mostly frame structures and the loss is about $30,000. Among the places burned were several street shows, which had recently opened here for the exposition period. The loss is about two-thirds covered by insurance. Charged With Opening Mails. (By the Associated Press.) Bristol, Tcnn., Dec. 19.—Herbert Mat ney, assistant postmaster at Wytheville, Va., was arrested today by a postoffice ! detective, charged with opening mails. It is charged that Matney used this money. He was released on $5,000 bond. Fixing Wages For Women. (By the Assocated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19.—A bill was intro duced in the Senate today by Mr. Mitch ell fixing $2 as the minimum rate of wages to be paid to women in the employ of the government. United States Vj the con trol of Congre “Congress s ~ or In the United States octroi, pro hibit and dissc. and com binations in r or com merce. “In the abse ?! ..n by Con gress pursuant , all pow ers conferred s. - this ar ticle may be p several States.” RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA. ERIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 20. 1901. NAVY DEPARTMENT MAY REPLY TODAY \ • i Answer to Schley’s Excep tions Well Advanced. LONG WRITES TO SCHLEY Yea or Nay When Sampson’s Protest is Received. SCHLEY HAD REQUESTED TO ANSWER IT Sampson Will Object to Dewey’s Finding That Schley Was in Commind on GrounJ That Testimony on This Point Was Not Admitted. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19. —The Navy De partment has not yet prepared its an swer to the bill of objection filed yester day by counsel for Admiral Schley, but is so far advanced that it will be ready for delivery tomorrow, Captain Lemly and Solicitor Hanna having given a good part of today to the work. The following letter today was addressed (o Admiral Schley: Navy Department, Dec. 19, Office of the Secretary. Dear Sir—The Department has re ceived your communication of the ISth instant, wherein you request that if a protest is filed by Rear Admiral W. T. Sampson relative to the question of command of the American naval forces during the battle of Santiago and credit for the victory won in that battle, you FOR A NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS President Roosevelt Sends a Letter to Congress Ear* nestly Comending the Plan For a Great Forest Reserve. (By the Assocated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19.—President; Roo?o T velt today sent to Congress a letter strongly commending the plan for a na tional forest reserve in the Southern Ap palachian region. The letter accompa nies the report of flit Secretary of Agri culture on this subject. The President states that/ the facts ascertained set lorth an economic need of prime impor tance to the South, and hence to the na ♦ be accorded an opportunity to present through your counsel oral argument against such protest. In reply you are informed that when such protest is received you will be ad vised of the department's conclusion. Yours respectfully, JOHN D. LONG. To Rear Admiral W. S. Schley. The Gist of Sampson’s Protest. Washington, Dec. 19.—Mr. Theall. act ing for Mr. Stayton, counsel for Rear Admiral W. T. Sampson today called at the Navy Department to see Judge Advo cate General Lemly. Mr. Theall stated that the objections to the findings of Ad miral Dewey will not be filed with Secre tary Long until tomorrow morning. In brief, the statement will object to Ad miral Dewey’s finding that Admiral Schley was in absolute command at the battle of Santiago Bay on the ground that testimony touching this point was not admitted during the sessions of the court of inquiry. Stayton and Campbell have been given until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning to flic their brief, and it will not leave New York until tonight. Bill to Make Schley Vice Admiral. Washington. Dec. 19.—Representative Pearre, of Maryland, today introduced a bill reviving the grade of vice admiral of the navy and authorizing the appoint ment of William T.. Sampson,. Winfield Scott Schley and Charles E. Clark to the grade of vice admiral. As Mr. Pearre represents the district from which Admiral Schlfey comes and has been an active adherent of the Ad miral, the proposition to unite Admirals Sampson and Schley and Captain Clark, of the Oregon, in advancement to the rank of vice admiral is regarded as a conciliatory step. Penrose Introduces it Into the Senate. Washington, Dec. 19.—A bill was in troduced in the Senate today by Mr. Penrose, reviving the grade of vice ad miral of the navy and promoting Ad mirals Sampson, Schley and Captain Clark to that rank. One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fir/ (By the Assocated Press.) Clarksville, Ark., Dec. 19.—Fire origi nating early today in .the McConnell block destroyed property valued at $100,009 w!i» but little insurance. CANAL BILL FIRST AFTER HOLIDAYS House Calls it up January Seventh. CONGRESS TAKES RECESS Won't Meet Again Until Sixth of Next Month. THE SENATE REFERS THE TARIFF BILL De Armond Declares That Statements That He Had Caused Action on Free Delivery Routes to be Held Up Were l ies. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19.—Before the House adjourned today over the holiday recess a special order was made for the consideration of the Nicaragua Canal Bill, beginning on Tuesday, January 7, and to continue until the bill is disposed of, the order not, however, to interfere with revenue or appropriation bills. The session of the House was brief the major portion of the time being oc cupied by Mr. DeArmond, of Missouri, in making a personal explanation regard iftg reports circulated in this district concerning his course in the matter of the extension of the rural free delivery. Mr. DeArmond sent to the clerk's desk and had read a letter sent by him to the First Assistant Postmaster General, ask ing that official what his status was to be in regard to appointments in the rural lion as a whole, and they point to the necessity of protecting through wise use a mountain region whose influence flows far beyond its borders with the waters of the rivers to which it gives rise. Afte v referring to the marvelous variety and richness of plant growth in this region ■ the President says it is unsurpassed for purposes of a hardwood reserve and he earnestly commends the project to Con gress. ♦ free delivery service in his district. Mr. Payne, of New York, made the point of order that the letter did not constitute a question of personal privilege. Speaker Henderson held that a contro versy with a department about patron age did not constitute a matter of privil ege. If it were, he said, members might constantly arise on such pretext to air their grievances. "Upon Mr. DeArmond’s representation that he would develop a question of pi ivilege, however, the Speaker allowed him to proceed. A second letter from Mr. DeArmond to the Postmaster General was sent to the desk, but as soon as it was read, both Mr. Payne and Mr. Gros venor renewed the point of order that no question of personal privilege had been presented. The Speaker ruled that no question of personal privilege had been presented, whereupon Mr. DeArmond asked and ob tained unanimous consent to make a per sonal statement. He proceeded to ex plain that reports were circulated in his district that he had caused action on free delivery routes to be held up du ring his absence in the Philippines; that those reports were circulated by those who lied and knew they lied. He read letters addressed by him to the First Assistant Postmaster General Inst. April, none of which, he said, had elicited a reply. Mr. DeArmond declared that the de partment had not treated him "frankly, fairly or in a manly way.” It had not answered the pertinent question regard ing the division of carriers betweerT the parties. He charged that the course of the department was in the interest of certain Republican bosses in Missouri, one of whom hoped to get into the United States Senate. Mr. Hepburn asked unanimous consent that the Nicaragua Canal Bill be made a special order for Tuesday, January 7. Mr. Cannon asked whether the passage of the bill would embarrass the executive in securing the right of wav through Ni caragua cr Costa Rica. Mr. Hepburn said he knew of no nego tiation that would be interfered with by this legislation. On the contrary he said legislation must precede acquisition, the bill itself providing means for the acquirement of the right of way. Mi. Richardson, the minority leader, said this was in no sense a political question, and there was no objection to the proposition on his side of the House. Mr. Cannon said he was in favor of the building of the canal, but he thought there should be a place to put the canal before it was authorized. As this was a request for consideration, however, .he said he would not object, and after some further discussion the ord»r for the con sideration of the bill was made. At 1:45 the House adjourned until January 6, 1902. The Day in the Senate. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19.—1 n the Senate to day the bill temporarily to provide reve nue Tor the Philippine Islands, which was passed by the House of Represejvta tives yesterday was referred to the Com mittee on Philippines. After a brief executive session the Senate adjourned until January 6, 1902. CHAFFER REVIEWS COURT MARTIAL CASE IN LUZON “No Powerful State Was Ever Erected on Such Immoral and Unenlightened Founda tionv,” He Declares (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19.—“History affords no parellel of a whole people thus prac tically turning war traitors, and in the genius of no other people was ever found such masterful powers of secrecy and dissimulation; but it is needless to say that no powerful State was ever erected or even can be erected upon such im moral and unenlightened foundations. This statement made by General Chaffee, in a review of one of a number oof court martial cases in the islands, the records of which have been received at the War Department, was one wherein seven natives were tried jointly on a charge of murder. The accused were soldiers in the insurgent army, who after defeat by the American army, took up their residence at Taytay, in Morong province, Luzon, a place protected by an American garrison. Here they organized secretly a bolo band. After the native population within the lines o fthe army of occupation had been authorized to establish civil government the bands came forward under the leadership of a resident padre, who dictated and se cured their election as municipal offi cers of Taytay, and they entered upon their duties under American authorPy. In all lawful matters they served with due appearance of loyalty to the Ameri can Government, while at the same time they labored secretly and diligently in the interests of the insurrection. This dual form of Government, says General Chaffee, existed everywhere, in strongly garrisoned cities like Manila, as well as the smallest barrio. The municipal offi cers of Taytay next entered upon a series of murders and continued their deadly work until the growing number of mys terious disappearances from the com munity led to the discovery of the perpe trators by the American authorities. Six o fthe seven natives were sentenced to be hung, but General Chaffee commuted the sentence in the cases of three of them to imprisonment at hard labor for li'e. The seventh native, Leonardo De Posey, a regularly ordained priest, who was held to be the chief agent in the Taytay murders, contended that while the par ticipators in the wholesale murders in Taytay would confess the same at con fessional. he was restrained by his sa cred office to keep silence. General Chaffee said that the confes sional does not lay upon any man, the obligation of suppressing knowledge of crimes being committed by third parties, the consummation of which could have been prevented without violating the secrecy of the confessioftal. His sentence was commuted to im prisonment for twenty years. • DANCT IS SELECTED. Collector of Port of Wilmington For Becorder of District of Colombia. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19.—The President has selected Dr. J. R. A. Crossland, of St. Joseph, Mo., to be minister to Liberia, and J. C. Dancy, collector of the port of Wilmington, N. C., to be recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia, vice Henry P. Cheatham, whose term of office soon expires. Both of the new appointees are negroes. College Day at the Exposition. (By the Associated Press.) Charleston, Dec. 19.—This was South Carolina College day at the Charlestoo Exposition, being the celebration o' the State institution’s centennial. Hundreds of the alumni and students were here to participate in the event. Exercises were conducted at the exposition during the morning and consisted chiefly of wel coming addresses and congratulatory addresses. Tonight a banquet was given at which several distinguished graduates spoke. Many men prominent in the South spent the day in Charleston participating in the celebration, among them General Wade Hampton, an alumnus of South Carolina College. Postmasters Appointed. (By the Assocated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19.—The President to day sent to the Senate the following ap pointments of postmasters: North Carolina—G. W. Reed, Biltmore; J. F. Dobson, Goldsboro. Virginia—L, P. Harper. Suffolk; James Craig. Waynesboro. Covers the World. Yesterday two companies were incor porated in the office of the Secretary of State. One is the lonic Lodge of Free, Ancient and Accepted Masons, Company No. 72, of Winston-Salem. The second is the Twin-City Lodge, No. 5, Knights of Pythias, of North America. Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. bIX/nr, NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLESTON Regiment to Accompany Gov. Aycock. AND SLATE OFFICERS Four Companies From Each Regiment in State Guard to go. NORTH CAROLINA WEEK APRIL 7TH Governor Aycock Notified Yesterday of the Acceptance of the Week That Begins Th n. The State to be Well Represented. North Carolina week at the Charleston Exposition has finally been agreed upon. It is the week beginning April 7th, 1902. Governor Aycock yesterday received a letter from Col. Hemphill informing him that the exposition directors had sanc tioned the selection of this week. North Carolina will make a big display at Charleston during the dates agreed upon and a representation, worthy of the State, will be present. Not only will Governor Aycock and the various State officials attend the expo sition North Carolina week, but an entire regiment of the State Guard will accom pany His Excellency. This has been defi nitely decided, though as yet Adjutant General Royster has not made public the arrangements for the movement of the militia. The regiment that is to accompany the Governor and State officers is to be a provisional one, composed of four Com panies from each regiment in the State Guard. It will be commanded by the Senior Colonel of the Guard. The Adju tant General and his staff and the Gover nor's personal and general staff will be in the party. The official representation of -(lie will be such as to attract thousands of Tar Heel citizens, many of whom have purposely delayed proposed visits to the exposition until the selection of the date for North Carolina week was finally agreed upon. The date is in every way an admirable one. The exposition will be in its zenith at that time and the advancing spring weather will make the trip all the more agreeable. The curator of the State Museum, Mr. Brimley, left yesterday for Charleston to assist Secretary Bruner in the in stallation of the North Carolina exhibit. It is liardly expected that the. State ex hibit will be full and complete until Die latter part of January. BOTH ENGINES WRECKED. Two Lives Are Lost in a Head-on Collision at Upland California. (By the Associated Press.) San Lucas, Cali., Dec. 19.—The north and south bound Southern Pacific Sunset Limited trains came together in head-on collision at Uplands, at 1:05 this morn ing and two men, the fireman and bag gage man were killed. Four Italians, who were In the smoking car of the north bound train were bruised and scalded, but not fatally. Both engines were demolished and the baggage, smoking and chair cars on the north bound train were burned, one of the cars on the southbound train were in jured and none of the passengers was hurt. The killed are: FIREMAN GERBER. BAGGAGE MASTER GARLAND. It is stated that the cause of the ac cident was the failure of the southbound to wait at a siding at Uplands. Instead of waiting the train went past the siding at the rate of thirty miles an hour. Half a mile beyond the siding it crashed into the north bound train from Los Angeles, which was going at an equal rate of speed. Just as ihe crash came both engine crews jumped for their lives. All escaped but Fireman Gerber of the northbound engine, who was crushed to depth. Both engines were completely wrecked and the baggage car piled on top of the engine. The smoking car of the north bound train in which there were half a dozen Italian laborers, was also smashed, and four of the Italians were badly bruised and scalded by escaping steam. None of them are believed to be fatally hurt. One of the Best. The Baptist Orphanage has no better friend than Mr. W. A. Cooper, of this city, member of the firm of Cooper Broil ers’ Marble Works, of this city. Yester day’s Charity and Children had this to say of that generous gentleman: “Mr. W. A. Cooper, of Raleigh, always ready to do a kind deed for the orphan age, 4 spnds us $25 worth of goods which he solicited from the business men of Raleigh. We thank him and them with all our hearts.” Norfolk Peanuts. (By the Assocated Press.) Norfolk, Va., Doc. 19. —Peanuts dull: fancy 2%; strictly prime 2>4; prime 2 to 2V = . New—Fancy 3; strictly prime 2% to 2 7 4; prime 2% to 2%: Spanish 7214 to 75.