Newspapers / The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, … / Jan. 15, 1904, edition 1 / Page 1
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C? VOL. XVII. TSTO. IH; WILMINGTON 3ST. C. FS1DAY- JANUARY 15, 1904. FIVE CENTS MOURNS GOOD R TRIAL JAPAN'S ANSWER TO RUSSIA SOUTH ITS DEAD OADS NOW ON ; f : y t 0 The Last Tributes Memory FUNERAL SERVICES IN ATLANTA From all Over the South There Hail Gathered Veterans and Citizens to Pay Their Tribute of Respect and Honor Everywhere in Atlanta Were the Signs, of Mourning Prominent Southerners Bore Testi mony to Gordon's Worth as a Cit izen and as a Leader Pathetic Services in the Church Attended by Hundreds A Great Concourse of Grief Stricken People Accom panied the Remains to Their Last Resting Place. Atlanta. Ga., January 14. This has been a day of mourning in Geor gia, and through the South, other stat.es have joined in paying the last tributes of respect .and honor to the memory o' Lieutenant .General John i. Gordon, whose mortal remains ucic laid in their eternal retting pla e. In every p.irt of the Southland busi ness has been laid aside and tens of thousands have gathered in memorial meetings in honor of the man who -i - ifiv.ii ms much lor his nersonal worth "as for his record in public life. An honored leader in the civil war, twice Governor of Georgia, three times representing the state in the United States Senate and since ' the va: leading .the struggle yoack to prosperity, his memory is revered, as that of no other in all the South. Few men have been borne to their last resting place amid such sur roundings and with such concourse from every rank, as was the body of General Cordon in Atlanta today. The body had laid in state in the ro tumbr of the state capitol from early Wednesday morning till the hour of the final services at noon today. Dur ing these hours, fifty thousand vet erans and citizens gazed on the fea tures that 'were familiar to so many. Men. women and children of both races have joined in the tribute of respect and 'the demise of the Con federate leader has been the occas ion of gathering more old soldiers from every part of the South than have been seen at any but the an nual meeting of the United Confeder ate Veterans, of which General Gor don was the firsthand only commander-in-chief, since its ( organization, thirteen years ago. The Signs of Mourning. Everywhere have been the signs of mourn in sr. On all nublie buildings flags have flown at half mast, from S o clock this morning until 4 mis afternoon guns have been fired at half hour intervals, making seven teen guns, the lieutenant-general's salute; during the hours of the fu neral, business generally was Sus pended and during the day bells on the city buildings and the churches were tolled at minute intervals. The streets were thronged with citizens and visitors from a dozen states. Exercises hi Representatives Hall. The first exercises were held in the Hall of Representatives at 10 o'clock, over which Governor J. M. Terrell, of Georgia, presided The great hall was crowded to its . limit .and in the audience and. on the speaker's stand were many of the leading men from all parts of the South. Addresses were made during the two hours by Governor Terrell. General Stephen D. Lee. - who succeeds General Gor don fts commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans; Gen eral Clement A. Evans, commander of the department of Tennesee. of the same organization; Judge Thomas G. Jones, of Alabama, who was a member of General Gordon's staff in the civil war; Governor E. C. Iley ward. of South Carolina; Chaplain John William Jones, of the Confed erate Veterans; General Bennett H. Young, of Kentucky; John Temple Graves, of Atlanta; Governor TV. S. Jennings, of Florida, and Albert H. Cox. of Atlanta. The burden of these addresses was th worth of General Gordon as f pn ivil life and in v-uVdie endeavor. Services in the Church. v At the-conclt:sion of these exercises the mdv was taken 'from the capitol to the Central Presbyterian church, across the street from the capitol, where the religious ceremonies of the dav were -held. The capacity of the church 1,500. necessarily limited the number of the attendance, and after tk- familv, the near friends and the r. -'ted visitors from other states had I ocn admitted the remaining space. lV r- rat-st of Mrs. Goraon w svca to veteran? and the doors were closed rr.d guarded by the police. Th.- casket was laid on a bier cov-c:- v.-itsi a profusion of flowers sent fro; m all narts of the South. Among ih. -e contributions was a magnificent ih ordered by 'the ex-Confed-members of the present Con v. A double quartette sang "Lead of Respect to the of Gordon Kindly Light," "Just as I Am" and other selections that were favorites with General Gordon. The services were conducted by Rev. Orme Flinn, prayers was offered by Rev. TV. J Trowbridge and brief addresses were delivered by Rev. Charles R. Nisbet and Rev. Theron Rice, pastor of the church. The more personal charac ter of these services which were at tended largely by those who had per sonal acquaintance with General Gor don maVle th?m pathetic in the ex treme.. ' The beneaiction was pronounced by' Chaplain Jones and the procession to Oakwood cemetery was begun. Procession to the Cemetery. The order of the procession in eluded military and civic organiza tions, besides hundreds of private citizens. The long line was headed by a detachment of mounted police which was followed by numerous oth er bodies. These were the Sixteenth United States J nf an try- band; Six teenth United States Infantry, under Colonel Butler D. Price; State Militia led by the Fifth Georgia Infantry, wiiii regimental Dana; companies from Brunswick, Macon and other cities of Georgia; the honorary escort. hearse bearing the body, followed by carriages bringing the family, Gov ernor Terrell and visiting Governors; Generals Stephen D. Lee and Cle ment A. Evans; Mayor Howell, of Atlanta and the city council; Ladies Memorial Association of the Daugh ters of the Confederacy; Children of the Confederacy, Confederate Veter ans, camps from Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and other Southern states; Veterans from the Soldiers' Home, Daughters of the American Revolution, posts of the Grand Army of the Republic and a long line of private citizens. Among the veterans were seen some who insisted on going in the procession though their march was slow and crutches were needed, old broken down men with the weight of years, came from long distance to join their tributes with others to the dead commander. The throng that watched the procession numbered nearly 20,000 and included strangers from distant cities and states. At the Grave. ine ceremonies at the grave were simple. As the body was lowered into the earth, a squadron from the Fifth Georgia infantry fired three vol leys and taps were sounded. Prayer was offered by Rev. TV. G. Wood- bridge, pastor of General Gordon's church at Kirkwood, his suburban home. The hymn "Nearer My God to Thee" was played by the Fifth Regi ment, band and -this was followed with prayer by Chaplain Jones. Flow ers were strewn over and about the grave, almost hiding the casket from sight. I he benediction was pro nounced by Rev. Mr. TVoodbridge. Bryan Expresses Sympathy. The follow-ing message was received today by Colonel Clark Howell, from William J. Bryan, at Indianapolis, expressing,-ih.J sympathy at the death of General Gordon: "Please convey my sympathy to General Gordon's family. I mourn with them, the South and the Nation, the death of one whose loving hear and great mind combined to distin guish him as a soldier, orator and patriot." WILL WAGE WAR OX MILLS. His Nomination to be Brigadier Gen eral Will be Opposed in the Sen ate. Washington. January 14. The nomination of Colonel Albert L. Mills, superintendent of the United States Academy, who has' been nom inated by the President to be a brigadier- general, vice Colonel 'William "F7. Dnnsrritprv. to 1ia nrnmntprl rind retired, will meet opposition in the Senate. In- the Senate committee on raili tary affairs today objections to a favorable report of his nomination were made by Senators -.Blackburn and Scott. It is asserted by several Senators supporting the nomination of Brigadier General Leonard Wood to be major general that the oppo sition is not due to any antagonism of Colonel Mills, but is a movement consistent with opposition from some Senators to the confirmation of Gen eral Wood. Whether this is true or not. the committee passed the nomi nation, with a brief reference and it is understood that it will not be taken up again until the contest over the Wood nomination has been fought to a conclusion in the Senate. Colonel Mills wan promoted over the heid of a. large number of army officers! Riot in Which 4.000 Cooiies Take Part. Hong-Kong. January 1. A riot is reported to have occurred on the Hankow-Canton railway, about 4.000 coolies participating "in the disturb ances.' The United Stntes consul here has telegraphed to United States Min ister Conger at Pekin. Plan ot CoPeration Be tween National Gov- ernment and States PANAMA POLICY Again Discussed in tiie Senate, Mr. Newlamls Criticizing and . Mr. De pew Defending the President Mr. Latimer Spoke in Advocacy of the Improvement of the Public TVagon Roads of the Country - House Passes the legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation Bill, Carrying an Aggregate of $29,711, 700. Washington, January 14. The Senate today listened to speeches by Mr. New- lands and Mr. Depew on the Panama canal question and to a speech by 'Mr. Latimer in advocacy of the adoption of a plan for the improvement of the public wagon roads of the. country. Mr. JNewlands spoke in crit.cism of the course of the President in Panama, declaring that it was an act of war and in convention a loke of the treaty of 1S4G of international law and cf the constitution of the United States. Mr. Depew on the other hand praised the President's policy as patriotic and justified it under precedent and law. He reviewed the history of Panama and detailed the facts connected with the negotiation of the Hay-IHerran treaty, contending that Colombii haa over r,eached herself in her rejection of that agreement. The consideration of the poatofflce department investigation resolutions was postponed until next Monday. In accordance with his previous no tice, 'Mr. Latimer (South Carolina) dis cussed the subject of gcod roads. He based his remarks upon his own bill providing a plan of co-operation be tween the national government and cap various states for the improvement of the public roads. He. said that about one-third of our people, living in the country districts, bear the entire re sponsibility and cost of maintaining the common roads. He contended that this is an unjust discrimination against them and urged that the national gov ernment should bear a part of the ex pense. Mr. Newlands discussing the Panama question said it was doubtful whether the status which existed before could be restored. A new government has been created by the violent acts of the United States government. It would be difficult to undo what had been done. It would be difficult to compel again the surrender of the isthmus ana her people to the sovereignty of Colombia involving possibly the punishment of her people for offenses of -wca i'.ie United States government was itself guilty, but he insisted that "the honor of the United States demands prompt disavowal by the Congress of the Unit ed States, whose constitutional prerog ative had been invaded, of the lawless and unconstitutional acts of the chief executive." Such disavowal would mean compen sation in some form, either the restora tion of the thing taken, or damages for its taking, to be surrendered either by mutual agreement through the form of a treaty of amity, or by reference to some tribunal of arbitration such as The Hague. Mr. Depew spoke in support of the ad ministration in its conduct on the isth mus of Panama. After speaking of the importance of the canal, Mr. Depew said that the opponents of the tieaty are aiding the enemies cf the canal. "If," he continued, "there has ever been a concert of action among any great railway corporations to defeat this most beneficent work of commerce and civilization, I am not aware of it; but if such a combination does exist, then its allies and its most efficient assistants are to be found among ir.ese who, under any device or excuse, are endeavoring to defeat the treaty with the republic of Panama. The Senate adjourned until tomor row. v THE HOUSE. Washington, January 14. The House today passed the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill, carrying an aggregate of $29, 711, TOO and then adjourned until Monday next. This is the second of the big supply measures to pass the House. The House today by a vote cf 88 to 172 refused to sustain the action cf the committee of the whole wh.ch yester day adopted an amendment striking out the paragraph providing for tne sala ries andexpenses of the civil serv.ca commission, thus restoring the item t? the bill. Amendments adopted ; - "-----mittee increasing in one instance the salaries of territorial officers in New 'Mexico and Arizona and reducing the salary of the director of the census in another, met similar fates in the Hou-e. AiTamendment to the bill was adopt ed restricting the use of government horses and carriages to the President, his secretary and cabinet officers Mr. C. IB. Landis, who proposed t'i? amendment, said if the horses and car riages now used by governrneri ---cials were lined up on (Pennsvlv-sn a avenue, they would reach frr- - Peace Monument to the White Houce. He said that "unless Congress fx.e some limitation it would become a scandal. Ge added that it would only be a question of time until all thse oi the government pay roll, except Sena tors and Representatives would be rid ing n carriages at government expense. Mrs. Bechtel Charged With Being Accessory in Daughter's Murder THE JURY CHOSEN The Panel of Sixty Talesmen Was Exhausted and the Jury Was Filled fey Calling Upon Citizens TVho Were Among the Spectators Mrs. Bech tel Breaks Down During the Day's Trial Assistant Prosecutor Lutz Told What the Commonwealth Would Show A State's Witness Gives Evidence That is Strong for the Defense. Allentown, Pa., January 14. After consuming almost the entire day m selecting a jury, the trial of Mrs. Catherine Bechtel on the charge of being an accessory after the fact in the "murder of her daughter Mabel is now fairly underway. The entire panel cf sixty talesmen was exhausted and the court was forced to call upon citi zens among the spectators to nil the jury box. Three witnesses were call ed before court adjourned for the day. Their- testimony brought out nothing that would tend to prove the com monwe'alths'scpntention. Judge Trexler today discharged all jurors not engaged in ithe present case. This, would indicate that the trials of Mrs. Bechtel's daughter and two soils oh the charge cf complicity will go over until April. It is not likely that .in the event of Mrs. Bechtel's acquittal the charges against them will be dropped. During the. empannelling of the jury Mrs. Bechtel, overcome by her emo tions, gave way to a violent fit of weeping and was led from the court room. Her breakdown was caused by reference to the suicide of her son, which followed his arrest for alleged complicity in the murder of his sister. Assistant Presecutor Litz, in his opening statement, said the common wealth would show that there was a quarrel in the house on Sunday night October 25th ; that Mabel Bechtel was struck down by her brother Thomas; that the. body was hidden for two nights and one day and that the aged mother aided and abetted in the con cealment. He asked the jury for a verdict agaiinst the accused mother of being an accessory after the murder. The first two witnesses testified to the finding of the body of the girl in the alleyway early on the morning of Tuesday, October 27th. Mrs. Maggie Miller, a next door neighbor to the Bechtel family proved a good witness for the defense al though she was called by the Common wealth. She testified to occurrences' and conversations at the. Bechtel horn,? on the morning Miss Bechtel s body was found. She heard the Bechtei's dogs barking furiously at about mid night on Monday, confirming Mrs. Bechtel's statement made on the day the tragedy was discovered. Awakened by Mrs. Bechtel's .heartrending cries that morning, Mrs. Miller hurried to the Bechtel home, where she found Mrs. Bechtel hysterical and moaning her daughter's name. Mrs. Bechtel told the witness that as she opened the cellar door to get her washing ma chine in the underground alley, she stumbled over her daughter's body. Mrs. 'Bechtel said: "If she is dead, I shall go crazy." Charles Bechtel and the witness had to carry her home, where she moaned and cried for her daughter. The wit ness said she saw Mrs. Bechtel several times on Monday. She did not seem to be laboring under any excitement nor did she appear to be hiding a secret. Late in the day she saw hr sitting at the parlor window sewinc URUGUAYAN REVOLUTION. General 3Iuniz Has Resigned and Command of Vasquisez Takes Troops. Buenos Ayres, January 14. Accord g to a dispatch from Montevideo. Uruguay. General Munizat with 2,500 troops has been obliged to beat a re treat between Nicoperz and Santa Clara owing to the numerical superi ority cf the revolutionists commanded by General Saraiva, General Muniz is said to have re signed, later on the plea that he was suffering from heart disease. War Minister Vasquisez is expected to Lake supreme command of the Uruguayan government troops. The Uruguayan government forces were defeated Jan uary llth at Paso de Coros, losing twenty-five men killed and having forty five wounded. Xot Colombians. Only a Band or 3Iaranders. Washington. January 14. Admiral Coghlan cabled the navy department tcday frcm Colon as follows: - "Report of the appearance of Co lombian force between Colon and Chi riqui lagoon due to men now in JJiat vicinity who belonged to Colombian forces who would net j4in Panama men. but took to the mountains be hind David and are now unorganized maruders. There were originally about two hundred men; some unarmed have been seen about Sante Fe and Golfet riber. committe. repredations." s i i Described as Moderate in Terms but Resolute in Tone CLAIMS RESTRICTED TO KOREA SHIP SUBSIDY LEGISLATION1". Committee Has Hearing on Bill Pro viding for a Commission to Study the Question. Washington, January 14. The House committee on merchant marine and fisheries met today for the pur pose of hearing persons interested in ship subsidy legislation. Representative Gardner of Massa chusetts opened the hearing in advocacy of two bills he has introduced, providing for a com mission to investigate and report on the ship subsidy question. The various attempts to restore the Amer ican Merchant Marine by legislation in the past few years, Mr. Gardner said had developed the fact that there were three classes of men in Congress on this question. First, those who believed that other lines of industry prove more lucrative than shipping; second, those favoring the repeal of the navigation law, to permit the admission of foreign ship ping under the American flag; third, those who believed in some construe-: tive legislation. It was for this rea son that he believed the only way to get a proper foundation on which to work was to create a commission to study and repqrt on, not only the feasibility of a ship subsidy, but to consider the many legislative propo sitions which had been advanced. Mr. Gardner introduced Winthrop L. Marvin of Boston, who said the boom in shipbuilding which followed immediate cessation of the Spanish war had absolutely died out. There had not been a keel laid for a steel ship in the United States since 1901. We had less tonnage now than in 1893. In Congress, he said, the dif ficulty was notv unwillingness but disv agreement, particularly'- between - the two houses. For this reason the com mission was advocated. Former Rear Admiral Bowles, president of the Fore River. Company ; C. B. Orcutt, president of the New port News Shipbuilding Company; C. S. Cramp of the Cramps Shipbuild ing Company; A. R. Smith, of the New York Maritime Association; O. S. Sewall, of the Sewall Shipbuilding Company of Bath, Me., and DeCour ney May of Camden, advocated the creation of a commissiop. The committee decided in a brief executive session following the hear ing to take final action on the com mission proposition next Thursday. SAFE CRACKERS AT WORK. Blow Open Safes in the Heart of Cliarlotte's Business Section. Charlotte, N. C, January 14. Safe crackers early this morning blew open three safes in the heart of the business section of this city and with in half a block of the police station. When officers interrupted their work one of the burglars shot Policeman Shields in the breast, at close range. The ball struck a button ajld the offi cer escaped injury. The burglars secured $25 and escaped. The board of aldermen offers $400 reward for the guilty parties. LYNCHED BY UNMASKED MOB. In Broad Day Light, the Negro As saulter of a Young Girl is Hanged to an Oak Tree. Gainesville, Ga., January 14. A negro by the name of Jumbo Clark was -lynched at; High Springs this afternoon at 4 o'clock. Clark had criminally assaulted M'ss Jessie Mizell a 14 year old "'rl while she was on her way to scnool. The matter was soon reported to the authorities and a posse immediately went in search of the offender. He was captured seven miles from High Springs. Clark was taken to High Springs and made to confront his victim, who identified him. Officers left witn the prisoner for Gainesville, the county seat, but they were overtaken seven miles from the place and the prisoner was taken from them. He was hanged to an oak tree and his body riddled with bullets. There were fifty men in the mob and no masks were worn, although the lynching occurred! in broad day light. To Discontinue Dealing in Futures. Manchester, T?ng., January 15. A Federation of Master Cotton Spinners here today discussed a resolution rec ommending that members and non members discontinue buying or sell ing cotton futures.. The resolution sets forth that the present condition of the cotton trade has been caused by "the gamblers using futures in the market to artificially raise the prices of ; raw cotton." which makes trade practically impossible, ' except at a heavy loss. In view of the im portance of the resolution the vote thereon was postponed for a week. The Reply Denies Important Russian Propositions and Makes Counter Proposals, Wliicliit Is Said, Oui Not Prove Acceptable to Russia Japan Proposes a Neutral Zone, to Consist of Equal Territories of Korea and ManchuriaSo , Far as Gin -be Seen There Is no Change, in the Relations of the Two Pow ers and Negotiations Will be Con-tmed. Washington, January M4. Mr. Takashira, the Japanese minister.-hero today called upon Secretary Hay and informed him that the Japanese re ply to the last Russian note has been delivered them. The reply amounts to a denial of all the important Rus sian propositions, and Japan's count er proposals are of a nature that, it is said, will almost certainly make them unacceptable to Russia. There- 's fore the most pessimistic view of the future is taken at Tokio. On the other hand, advices that come to the state department from Paris. St. Petersburg, and Berlin are ' all of a pacific character. Ambassa dor Porter at Paris, cables that pres sure is to be brought to bear upon the would-be belligerents, and par ticularly upon Japan, by at least two of the sreat neutral powers, to cause them to come to terms and so avert open hostilities. The Czar also s reported to be extremely; desirous of preventing war. Taking these two conflicting sets of advices into con sideration the official opinion here is . that. Japan will, no t yield , toany such A pressure; ' Sir Mortimer Durand, the British ambassador, also had a conference today with Secretary Hay on the Far Eastern situation. Advices on the subject received at the British em bassy are of a gloomy nature. ELIMINATES MANCHURIA. ' Japan Restricts Her Claims in the Answer to Korea. ! Berlin, January 14. Japan's main points in her last note are under stood officially here to be that Japan consents to eliminate Manchuria from the controversy, owing to the signature of the commercial treaty between China and Japan, and Rus sia's assurances that China' com mercial conventions will be respected. Japan, therefore, restricting her claims to Korea, asks for a definite, written guarantee that Russia, will abstain from interference in the pol itics of that country, thus leaving Korea exclusively to Japanese influ ences. Japan, rejecting the proposed neutral zone as delimited by Rus sia, proposes a neutral zone, if Ttus Sia still thinks one desirable, which shall consist of equal territories ' of Korea and Manchuria, including the Yalu river, with all Russia's fortifi cations thereon. Finally, Japan fixes no limit of time, but earnestly ex presses the hope that Russia will not delay a definite and favorable re ply to Japan's reasonable, requests. Japan allude to her privileges of discontinuing the negotiations should it appear that Russia is unwilling to accept these minimum proposals. The note, although not altogether precluding further negotiations, has a certain finality in its tone Implying that the correspondence Is closed on the. side of Japan. It is not believed here that Russia will consider the proposed neutral zone as suggested by Japan. No au thoritative opinion 13 obtainable as to Russia's probable reply and it 1 said that the situation is likely to be prolonged for a good many days and possibly for weeks. THE CZAR WANTS PEACE. Russia's 1 Ruler Gives Cordial Recep tion, to the Japanese Minister. St. Petersburg, January 14. "I de sire and Intend to do all in my power to maintain peace in the Far East." These are the words which the Czar sj5oke to the members of the diplo matic corps at the New Year's re ception held in the winter palace at noon today. The Czar made a leisurely round of the great white hall with its beautiful coilonades In which , the representa tives of the various countries had as sembled. His Majesty chatted freely .with everybody. .. Keen curiosity was exhibited all over the room when his majesty ap proached Mr. Kurino,. tne Japanese minister to Russia. The conversation between the Czar and the minister was cordial and extended. His ma jesty emphasized the high value which he places upon the good and neighborly relations between Japan (Continued on Page Ffve.)
The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Jan. 15, 1904, edition 1
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