VOL XT. YADKIN VILLE, DAY. JANUARY 6. 1909. NO. 45,
_-_^___ _i_:_
i :
Most Destructive In the Present Gen
eration VisitS Italy
WHOLE CITIES DESTROYED
Earthquake Followed By Tidal Wave,
Destroys City After City in South
Italy and Sicily, and Obliterated
Smaller Towns and Villages With
out Number.
One of the most disastrous earth
quakes in the world's history occur
red on Monday in the lower portion
of Italy including the island of
Sicily. The news of the appalling
disaster was not adequately conceiv
ed when the cables first brought the
message. No tongue or pen can de
pict the horrors of the awful calamity
that has fallen upon that region.
Later details covering more fully
teh horrible occurrence are given in
the following dispatches, and show
that the first news of the disaster
came nowhere near giving the full ex
tent of the devastation wrought.
The immensity of the disaster in
southern Italy and Sicily can only bo
measured by the fact that it is now
estimated that 110,000 people perish
ed in Messina and Reggio alone. A
score of other towns have been de
vastated and thousands of victims in
these places must be added to the
roll. In the face of this awful total
all Italy stands appalled.
Nor has the full death-list yet
been reached. Ship loads of fugi
tives have arrived at Naples and
other ports and the vast majority of
these are sorely injured. Other
thousands remain near the ruins of
their homes or wander half-starved,
half-naked over the land. The forces
that on Monday overwhelmed the
cities also destroyed the means of
subsistence. Telegraphic communi
cation has been established with Mis
sina, the apparatus having been in
stalled in a railway van, though they
have "been meagre in detail, show
that hope is gone. Nothing remains
of the city but a mass of ruins that
have been swept by fire. A mere
" andful of survivors are being cared
|r bv the rescuing forces, but their
! -7 "* prreat and it has been ill
sed Dy the violent icy wind that
f lowed the deluge of rain. Desti
tution is everywhere and appalling.
There is little food and less water.
Of Messina's 90.000 population it
is believed that fully 70,000 persons
perished.
Forty thousand people died in
Reggie.
Despatches state that the city of
Palmi contains 1,500 dead and twice
as many injured. Two-thirds of the
town was laid waste. All the vil
lages adjacent sufferied as severely.
The commander of the battleship
Admiral Makharoff, confirms the re
port of the death of the American
consul at Messina, Arthur S. Chaney
and his wife, who were buried in the
ruins of the consulate.
The British consul at Messina is
reported injured and his wife and
children dead.
This disaster has resulted in a
greater loss of life than any of our
wars for independence. Indeed the
situation is much worse, as, while
war is always preceded by a period
of preparation, this has happened
withoin forty seconds. While wav
only affects the young and strong
among the people, the present calam
ity has mowed down women and chil
dren, old men and youths. While in
war the armies are followed by the
most complete camp hospitals, the
numberless wounded in Calabria and
eastern Sicily have been left in many
100 Miners Entombed.
Mabury, W. Va., Special.—More
than 100 miners are believed to be
hopelessly imprisoned in a local mine
of the Lick Branch Ccllierv Company
as a result of a terrific explosion. All
night long reseurers worked tireless
ly. Up to an early hour 42 men had
been removed from the mine, 12 of
them dea<i. Only the main part of
the mine has been explored.
King and Queen on Scene.
Catania, Special—King Victor Em
manuel and Queen Helena arrived at
Messina on board the battleship Vic
toria-Emmanuele. They disembark
ed and made their way into the ruin
ed city. As soon as it was known
that the King and Queen had come
crowds of the terror-stricken popu
lace swarmed around the royal party,
prostrateing themselves in the mud
and crying; aloud for pity. This re
ception was too much for the Queen
who almost fainted.
Again at the Breaking Point.
London, By Cable.—Bulgaria and
Turkey are again at the breaking
point. Incensed at what he considers
the unreasonable indemnity demands
of Turkey and the “ Insult offered to
Czar Ferdinand in the Sultan’s speech
at the opening of ParJiment,” Bul
garia has sent a note to all European
Chancellors warning them that unless
they use their influence to curb Tur
key’s defiant attitude, a serious
breach may occur.
cases 48 hours without assistance.
Even when rescued, it is impossible
to house them, everything available
having been filled by the dead. Lack
of care and starvation will complete
the work that the forces of nature
have left undone.
The King and Queen of Italy has
tened to the seene and disregarding
the dangers proceeded to
cuing trose injured beneath th«
ruins. An aged man who nad btcu
abandoned under a beam that appar
ently had crushed, out his life, reviv
ed for a moment at the shouts of
greeting to the royal pair. He stretch
ed out his hand and raised his head
long enough to call out:
“Now I can die happy. Long life
to the King.” He then fell back and
expired.
it was learned that Lfeneral Lola
lost his life at Massina.
The troops and sailors have been
obliged to shoot down robbers who
persisted in looting.
The rescuers at Messina are rapid
ly becoming exhausted. The fires
have not yet been put out and there
is no water with which to combat the
flames. Many of'the people still re
fuse to leave the ruins of their
houses.
A dispatch received here from
Deputy Felice at Messina says:
“ Organize a squadron of volun
teers for rescue work. Send us food
for we are dying of hunger. A num
ber of the survivors are leaving for
Catania. Receive them with love
and fraternity. It is the duty of
1 every family in Catania to shelter a
family from Messina.”
Only two*members of the munici
pal council of Messina survived the
disaster.
Great Earthquakes in History.
Guatemala, Central America, found
ed in 1524, destroyed by earthquake
and volcanic eruption in 1556; the
second Guatemala, established near
the site of the first, almost destroyed
by earthquake in 1773, succeeded by
the construction of the present town.
Lisbon, Portugal, almost destroyed
by quake and accompanying tidal
wave, November 1, 1775, with the loss
of 60,000 lives.
Caracas, capital of Venezuela, de-<
stroyed by earthquake shock in 1812.
Aleppo, destroyed in 1S22.
Naples, severely shaken, with ac
companying eruption of Vesuvius,
1857.
Many buildings in Quito, capital
of Ecuador, shaken to pieces, 1859.
I Manila, severely shocked, 1S63 and
, 1883.
Valpariso, Chile, badly damaged in
1880.
Earthquake at Colchester and east
ern counties of England, 1884.
Charleston, S. C., visited August
| 31, 1886, by a severe earthquake, that
! *hook down many buildings and caus
; ed loss of life and property damage;
disturbance felt over entire eastern
I section of the cuntry.
I St. Pierre and other towns of thfe
Island of Martinique, destroyed by
I eruption of Mont Pelee May 8, 1902 ;
I earthquake skocks through the West
' Indies and more than 30,000 lives
. lost.
San Francisco and neighboring
i towns shaken Wednesday, April 18,
11906, fire swept the ruined districts
I of the city and the property loss ran
into the hundreds of millions, with
hundreds killed.
Valparaiso and other towns in
Chile ruined bv earthquake August
16. 1906, and 2.000 killed.
| Kingston, Jamaica, partially de
i stroyed Mondav, January 14; 1906;
,800 killed.
British Steamer Taken by Chinese.
Hong Kong, By Cable.—The British
steamer Tai On was captured by two
' Chinese cruisers, near Kum Chuk.
j The reason for the capture is be
lieved to lie in the fact that the
steamer several months ago ran doAvn
a junk and drowned a theatrical com
pany AAThich was on board. Further
developments from the capture are
expected.
Labor to Suspend Unfair Catalogue.
New York, Special.—Notwithstand
ing the unanimous protest against the
jail sentences imposed on Samuel
Gompers, John Mitchell and Frank
Morrison, the Central Federated Un
ion here received from Mr. Gompers
a letter in which he notified the
unions that lie had discontinued on
the advice of counsel, the “We Don’t
Patronize” list in the future issues,
of The Federationist, the labor organ,
Upon hearing this, the Central Fed
eration union, also decided upon the
advice of the chairman to suspend its
unfair list for a while,
No. 35 Wrecked.
Washington, D. C., Special.—A mis
placed switch caused the derailment
of mail and passenger train No. 35 on
the Southern Railway at Stokeslandr
Va., six miles south of Danville
Tuesday at 8:15. Engineer Satter
field was killed and Fireman Davis,
colored, and three postal clerks were
injared. No passengers, as far as
is known, were injured. Engineer
Satterfield was from Spencer, N. C.
CARING FOR THE VICTIMS
Rations, Clothing, Tents and Othei
■Supplies Are Pouring in and the
Hungry and Injured Are Being
Cared For.
Rome, By Cable.—What chiefly
concerns the government and the peo
pie is the progress that is being
made towards the relief of those who
1 have suffered by the dreadful earth
quake in southern Italy and Sicily.
Considerable advance in this respect
has been made at Messina, where, ac
I cording to reports received here, the
supply service is beginning tb work
' satisfactorily. The different regions
on the coast have been allotted to
various warships and other ships as
centres from Avhich torpedo boats
and launches convey and distribute
rations and AA'ater to the different
villages.
The Minister of Justice has wired
from Messina to Premier Giolitti
that large bodies of troops have ar
rived and are now occupying all parts
of the town. The appalling extent
of the diaster renders anything like
a systematic search of the ruins is
impossible, but persons are being
dragged out all day long and are
quickly transported to the relief ships
as soon as their wounds have receiv
ed attention.
The appalling message came on
New Year Day that the Ripari Is
lands which lie just north of Sicily
had gone down with its 28,000 inhab
itants, but a messenger boat sent to
learn the facts has returned with the
news that the islands are but little in
jured. Only the cracking of build
ings make any real damage.
Estimates of Death List.
Rome, By Cable.—Estimates of the
dekth roll of the earthquake now
cease to concern the Italian people.
It is enough to know that the catas
trophe is overwhelming — figures
would add nothing to the grief of the
stricken nation, nor move to greater
efforts those upon whom the work of
relief and rescue has fallen.
Every channel open to the govern
ment has been utjized to this end,
and other nations have been quick to
come to its assistance, even before
the cry for aid went up. Shiploads
of fugitives have been carried out of
the stricken zone to Naples, Palermo,
Catania and other ports, and accord
ing to the Minister of Marine, rescue \
vessels to the number of 36 are now
centered in the Strait of Messina,
and 5,000 soldiers are being landed
on the two coasts.
Most important of .111 now is the
question of the living. Thousands of
those who escaped the falling walls
and the sweep of the tide are starv
ing and without clothes or shelter.
They can scarcely longer survive
their sufferings. The first thought
has been to carry food and covering
for these helpless people, and it has
now been decided by the government
to send a fleet of emigrant steamers
to transport them to other places.
Professor Ricco, director of the ob
servatory at Mount Etna, states that
his instruments have recorded 42 dis
tinct shocks after the first, but that
during the last 14 hours they have
been almost motionless. Etna and
Stromboll are now quiet and he is
certain that the earthquake was not
of volcanic but of geographical orig
in, similar to that of 1875.
The horror of the situation at Mes
sina and Reggio grows with every
fresh dispatch. One of the correspon
dents places the death roll through
out the entire territory as high as
300.000, but this appears to be ex
treme. Others make their estimate
200.000, but the official estimate as
made by the Minister of Marine still
holds to 115,000.
The tidal wave lasted much longer
than the earthquake. During all the
time vessels shivered intermittently,
as though shaken by some huge ma
rine monster.
A naval observer of the destruc
tion of Messina says there were four
tidal wpves, ranging in height from
12 to 30 feet. Thirty minutes elaps
ed between the rolling in of the first
and the destructive onslaught of the
last wave.
Thousands pf half nude individuals
of both sexes have gathered along
t]ie muddy beaches on either side of
the ruins of Messina seeking food or
trying to get away by sea. Many
children have died from exposure
and the cases of madness are increas
ing.
During the night the warships in
Messina harbor throw their search
lights on the ruins to enable the res
cuers on shore to continue their work.
The work of succor is going on fe
verishly but the forces are still woe
fully inadequate. The stench from
decomposing bodies is becoming over
powering.
A frightful scene occurred here
Thursday amid the ruins of the cus
toms house. Bands of famished in
dividuals were groping among the
debris in the hope of discovering
food. The first of the searchers who
were sucessful were attacked by
others with revolvers and knives and
were obliged to defend their finds
literally with their lives. The strug
gle was fierce. The famished men
threw themselves upon each other
like wolves and sevei’al fell disem
boweled in defending a handful of
dry beans or a few ounces of flour.
i
i
One of the unfortunates was ginned
to a plank by a knife, while clinging
to his hand was his little child, for
whom he had sought food.
The United States supply ship
Celtic will go to Messina, after a
brief stop at Gibralta to give a mil
lion and a half of navy rations to
the earthquake sufferers.
New York on Thursday made up
a fund of nearly $100,000 as a relief
fund. Chicago’s contribution fund
aggregate $30,000. Th«^J\.«^eiican
Red Cress is co-opera* ^Bith the
Italian Red Cross forfe|Heiief of
the suffering.
Corpse Too Large >oors.
Kittaning, Pa., ,1.—Miss
Dora Yockey, thirty old, whe
died here Friday, is ;e that a
specially constructor |fc had tc
be ordered for hoc is casket
can only be takei o it of the
house by removi M the win
dows, its frame a! eighteen
inches of the wa : use. She
weighed over 60i She was
always large, but* al ed during
the last years w e similaj
to elephantiasis, eight in
creased enormous!., j**^*^-^ ~r
American Consul Victim?
Washington, Special.—That Arthur
S. Cheney, American consul at Mes
sina, Sicily, and jiid wife lost) their
lives in the eartluMirajyliasjjMi jphich
devastated that; ciPHHjHKited by
an official despatcj^HHHj by the
State DepartmentLup
ton, American vic^^^^HpMessina,
The despatch, which w^Hforn Malta,
fellows: “The aisula te de
stroyed and eonsp^Mp wifesuppos
Wyoming Mayor Death.
Sheridan, —The
body of John hRPMH^Pvho was
serving his fift^^^H^V^mayor of
this city, was S^^^^^HLelump of
bushes a mile oPHHKown, where
he had evidently"^ 1 qljb"o death. He
was thirty-eight ydrs of age and
leaves a widow anq two children.
Although the inaigpiral ball max
be held in the person building, let
the survivors have no false hopes.
Moving Pictujs Immoral.
New York^SDeciaB-Moved by the
protests df"^i^P^^bf^every .de
• y'e very
ture show free use. The order *NUJbe
mayor intiuwfes that this revoca
tion is only temporary, but the con
ditions under $iieh new licenses will
be issued anjsueh that hardly a
third of the Jenses revoked will be
re-issued.
Y<W I*dy Burned.
Burlington, N. C., Special.—Miss
Bessie Loy the 21-year-old daughter
of John L(V, it was thought, was fa
tally burnt!, though the doctors are
hopeful o! her recovery. She was
seated nea' the fire at her home three
miles fron Burlington when hei
clothing jecame ignited and was
burned fum her body. The flames
were extnguished after she was
burned alnost beyond recognition.
—T
Icfited to Jamestown.
Norfolk/,j Ya., Special.—Telegrams
have been smt to the members of the
Congressioral Committee on Naval
Affairs by Tarry L. Maynard, inviting
them to ome to Norfolk on Thurs
day for/m inspection of the James
town Eimsition gi'ounds, to see their
value '4Til advantage to the Navy De
partmen as a governmental training
and c^aing station.
To Cebbrate Discovery of the Hud
son River.
Nev York, Special.—An appropria
tion if $15,000 has been made to the
Metropolitan Museum of Art by the
Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commis
sion for an art exhibition in connec
tion with the 300th discovery of the
Hudson and the 100th anniversary of
the successful steam navigation. of
the same river. The exhibition will
last probably either three or six
months. *
The Disappearing Camera.
Two years ago a newspaper car
respondent died of dblackwater fever
iu Portuguese West Africa, in a lone
ly district inhabited by a tribe of
friendly Mampukukus. Recently his
grave has (been visited by an old
friend, who found a battered camera
on the mound.
iHe was informed by his native
guides that dozens of times this di
lapidated camera had disappeared, hut
it always comes back. What hap
pens is this:
The hyenas carry it off about twice
a week, and as soon as the natives
miss it all the men around scour the
bush till they find it, each time in
a little worse condition. Then they
replace it on the grave.
As the journalist was always seen
with it the whole tribe firmly believe
that -he wished it buried with him;
that its presence is an important part
of the white man’s funeral rites and
that vengeance would be wreaked on
the tribe should the camera disappear
altogether.—New York Sua, •
GOVERNMENT CONTROL
This, Under the Department of Jus
tice, to Prepare and Present Ail
Oases of Complaints After Inqui
ries.
Augusta, Special.—In reply to nu
merous inquiries received here re
garding President-elect Taft’s new
plan for government control of all
corporations doing an interstate busi
ness, it may safely be said that Mr.
Taft will do all in his power to estab
lish the reform as outlined in his
speech of acceptance and his cam
paign speeches. N
In carrying out this plan the Presi
dent-elect will need certain additional
necessary legislation by Congress in
volving a decrease of the powers of
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
an increase of the powers of the Bu
reau of Corporations m the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor, and
the creation of a practically new bu
reau on the Department of Justice.
The Interstate Commerce Cimmis
sion will exercise a purely and only a
quasi-judicial function. This Bureau
of Corporations will be given jurisdic
tion over all corporations doing an in
terstate business, including the rail
roads, and will have as its duty the
work of preparing and presenting to
the Interstate Commerce Commission
all cases brought up by complaints
from individuals and all cases made
necessary by the bureau’s own inves
tigation.
The Department of Justice will
have a bureau whose duty will he to
assist the Bureau of Corporations i/j
preparing and prosecuting eases
whenever the Bureau of Corporations
feel the need of calling on the De
partment of Justice for certain legal
and technical co-operation. It is not
likely that the new executive will
recommend the Federal licensing of
the corporations that will come under
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of
Corporations, but he will probably
favor some provision which will com
pel these concerns to submit them
selves to the most thorough scrutiny
of the agents of the bureau. This
will apply to the matter of rates,
methods of operation, accounts, hooks
and all features affecting the public
interest.
It is an ambitious plan and by it it
is doubtless hoped that much oft the
wasted energy which is now the rule
un the regulation of corporations will
be done away wi^h. At present the
operations of the Iffterstato Com
merce Commission, the Bureau of
Corporations, and the Department of
Justice frequently overlap, and one
of the three sometimes finds that it
is only repeating the work of the
other. But by the new scheme, the
powers and duties of the Bureau of
Corporations will be so increased that
this bureau will be the originator of
all cases dealing with corporations,
and this will make it impossible to
have any repetition or overlapping
in the work.
The plan is also in direct line with
the frequently expressed wish of Mr.
Taft to do everything in his power
to expedite the administration of
justice in this country. Ever since
he was nominated he has repeatedly
emphasized the necssitv for making
more prompt the deciding of all cases
at law, both by the government and
in individual legal procedure before
the courts. He has taken this view
because he is convinced that the de
lays in the law which are now the
rule serve only the purpose of the
rich man, who is able to endure long
waiting for decisions, and mitigate
against the poor man to whose in
tei'est it is that every suit he brings
should be decided at the earliest mo
ment possible.
Capt. Minus Retired.
Washington, Special.—Capt. J. C.
Minus, commandant of cadets at
Clemson College, has been retired
from active service in the army be
cause of poor health. It will be nec
essary, therefore, for the war depart
ment to name his successor at an
early date. It is not yet known who
the new man will be.
Stricken Blind While in Pulpit;
Can’t Recover.
Springfield, 0., Special.—Physic
ians say there is little hope that Rev.
Wilbur S. Y. Davis, who was strick
en blind during a sermon Sunday,
will recover his sight.
The bravery of the minister, who,
rather than alarm the congregation,
finished his sermon in total blindness,
and in spite of excruciating pain, at
tracted the attention of the clergy
throughout the country, and he is
the recipient of hundreds of mes
sages of condolence and admiration.
Troops Protect Mine Property.
Stearns, Ky., Special.—State troops
are patrolling this place and Worley
to prevent s.n attack of miners and
their sympathizers who threaten to
burn the property of the Stearns
Lumber and Coal Company.
Berry Simpson and others for
whom warrants have been issued, arr
hiding out in the hills and a deputy
marshal will lead a posse of 5P
against them.
WILL COVER A CONTINENT
Convention Called to Meet in Wash
ington February 18.
Washington, Special. — Announce
ment was made at the White House
•Sunday of a proposed plan for a con
ference looking toward the conserva
tion of the natural resources of
North America, to be held at the
White House February 18 next.
Letters suggesting the plan have
been addressed by President Roose
velt to the Governor-General and to
the Premier of Canada and to Presi
dent Diaz, of Mexico. They will be
delivered to the officials in person by
Grifford Pinehot, chairman of the Nat
ional Conservation Commission and
Chief Forester of the United States,
whom President Roosevelt has chosen
as his personal representative to con
vey the invitations and to confer with
the authorities of the two Govern
ments. Mr. Pinehot will first visit
Canada, leaving Monday. He will
then carry the invitation to President
Diaz at Mexico City.
The proposed North American con
ference is the outgrowth of the two
conservation conferences held in
Washington, in which the Governors
of the States and Territories were
the principal conferees. At the sec
ond conference, on December 8, rep
resentatives of the Canadian Govern
ment were present and expressed their
interest in the movement. Out of this
grew the idea of a North American
conference “to consider mutual in
terests involved in the conservation of
natural resources and to deliberate
upon the practicability of preparing
a general plan adapted to promote the
welfare of the nations concerned.
The representatives designated by
the Canadian and Mexican Govern
ments will, under the proposed plan,
consult with representatives of the
State and other departments of this
Government and with the National
j Conservation Commission. The main
object of the conference, as announc
ed will bg. to point out that natural
resources are not limited by the
boundary lines which separate na
tions, to develop a better knowledge
of the natural resources of each na
tion on the part of the railroads and
to invite suggestions for concurrent
action for the protection of mutual
interests related to conservation.
College Building Burned.
Front Royal, Va., Special.—Tht
handsome three-storv brick building
of Eastern College, containing the
recitation rooms, art studio and dor
mitories, was totally destroyed by
fire Christmas afternoon. The orig
in of the fite is supposed to have
been from the overheating of a stove
on the third floor, account of
lack of water, the plug be
ing fully a quarter of a mile r*
the building, the firemen could- only
save the contents. The loss is par
tially covered by insurance. I. F.
Mather, dean of the faculty, stated
that in spite of the fire the Eastern
College would open after vacation a«
if nothing had happened. Already
plans are under way to rebuild at
once, as the building destroyed was
only one of the four. Practically no
interruption will result.
To Call Cuban Congress Together.
Wasington, Special.—The War De
partment Saturday cabled Governor
Magoon authority to call the new Cu
ban Congress together for organisa
tion at any time prior to January
28th. It is stated that the Congress
probably will be assembled soon after
New Year’s Day. The Congress after
receiving the electoral college, the
credentials of Senators and Repre
sentatives, considering possible con
tests, and other details for organiza
tion, provided for by the Cuban con
stitution, will take a recess until
January 28th.
“Sugar Sling” Dead.
San Francisco, Special. —■ Claus
Spreckels, widely known as the
“Sugar King” of the Pacific coast,
died at 4:30 a. m. Saturday at his
home in this city in his eightieth
year. The immediate cause of death
was an attack of pneumonia which
had developed with alarming symp
toms during the ptist few deays. De
spite his advanced age, Mr. Spreckel?
had appeared before the ways and
means committee of the House of
Representatives in Washington as an
authority on the subject of sugaj
duties.
Did the Wrong Killing.
Hopkinsville, Ky., Special.—Broodr
ing over the fancied disgrace t© his
family because his father had been
whipped by night-riders, Roy Rogers,
the 20-year-old son of Prear,ley Rog
ers, a prominent planter, committed
suicide on Monday. The mother on
returning from a visit found the boy
dead with a revolver hy his side.
No. 35 Comes to Grief.
Washington, Special.—A misplaced
switch caused the derailment of
mail and passenger train No. 35 on
the Southern Railway at Stokesland,
Va., six mileg south of Danville, at
5:50 p. m. Tuesday. Engineer Sat
terfield was killed and Fireman Davis,
colored, and three postal clerks were
injured. No passengers, a! far as is
known, were injured.
SOUTH’S RAILROAD WORK
Review of Railroad Construction in
tko Southern States During Past
Year Shows Only About Half as
Much Done as in 1S07.
Baltimore, Md., Special.—In pub
lishing this Avcek its regular annual
review of railroad construction in the
South, The Manufacturers’ Record
says:
“The total number of miles con
structed during 1908 in the South, in
cluding Missouri and Oklahoma, was
1,760 miles. In 1907 there Avere over
3,300 miles built. In the South prop
er—that is, leaving out Missouri and
Oklahoma—there Avere 1,682 miles
built in 3908; last year it was 2,987
miles. This is the loAvest record of
ncAv construction in the South for
many years, hut the prospect for 1909
is that 3,256 miles will be construct
ed, although this may be exceeded if
more encouragement is given to the
building of railroads.
Construction by States.
“The folloAving table shows the
amount of new line built in 1908 and
also the construction proposed for
1909 in each State covered by the re
view ;
1908. 1909.
Alabama. 118.7 273
Arkansas. 213 278
Florida. 69.9 247
Georgia. 96.5 216
Kentucky. 45.1 111
Louisiana.. .. .. .. 177.5 111
Maryland. 8.5 12
Mississippi. 64 35.5
Missouri. 25.8 74
North Carolina .. .. 124.3 107
Oklahoma. 52.2 175
South Carolina .. .. 9.5 223.5
Tennessee.119.4 125.3
Texas.. 7. 339.9 958.3
Virginia.210.5 81
West Virginia. 86 229
Total.. .. «. .. 1760.8 3253.G
Gave Dinner to Old Negroes.
Columbia, Special.—One of the
most appropriate and deserving char
ities of the Christmas season was
the dinner given Christmas day to
the poor old negroes of the city un
der the direction of Richard Carroll.
There were thirty-one negro men and
women Avho sat doAvn to the dinner,
and there were twenty others to
Avhom dinner Avas sent, on account of
their inability to get out by reason
of age and infirmaties. Carroll had
solicited contributions from the peo
ple of the city, and was supplied
with everything needed for a good
Christmas dinner, from turkeys to
tobacco. The old negroes enjoyed
the feast, of -cmrse, and before din
ner was served (jai.iV r^d out to
them the list of their benefactor,
and as each name was called there /
were fervent cries of “God, bless,
him.” An hour was spent in praxf*^"“
the negroes praying fervently 1
their benefactors. Then Carrol
ed on them to tell their
| recounted their,
v tliuurv. COpj
professors, contented
telling of old plantal
slavery times. Carrol:
the negvo churches m^e
to look after the wants
of their race, and he will
dinner every Christmas here;
Mistakes Drunken Man For
and Shoots Him.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Special.—Mi^^J
taking a drunken man clad in a long
Buffalo overcoat for a bear, Thomas
Deckmar.'a Avell-known farmer, Fri
day night shot and instantly killed
Thomas AndreAvs near Lafayette,
Tenn, Andrews had been in jail but
was paroled by the sheriff that he
might go home for Christmas. In
stead of going home he got drunk and
sat down to sleep in the doorway of
a house occupied by a AvidoAv. Deck
mar prodded the form with his gun
and getting no response fired. A cor*
oner’s jury rendered a verdict of jus
tifiable homicide.
Two Boys Drown When Ice Breaks.
Jewett City, Tenn., Special.—A
double drowning occurred here Sat
urday Avhen Robert Jeffrey, aged 17,
and Hector Gingras, 15, broko
through the ice while skating on a
small lake and perished in sight of
their companions, who made every
effort to save them.
The bodies were recovered in a
short time.
Crew of the Warner Moore Picked
Up and Brought Into Port.
Norfolk, Va., Speeial.—The scoon
er James Paul, Capt. J. A. Meech,
arrived in Hampton Roads, bringing
Captain Frank Crockett and six men
composing the entire crew of the
scooner Warner Moore from Charles
ton, S. C., to Province, R. I., lumber- .
laden, which was caught in the recent
coast and lost. Captain Crockett ^
and men were picked up by the James
Paul off Winter Quarter lightship
after having been all night in an open
skiff. The last seen of the Warner
Moore was when, broken to pieces, J
she was drifting to sea.
■ 1 ■ ■ - " 1 ^^^k
Congressmen off to Panama. I
Washington, Special.—To familiar^!
ize themselves with conditions undef
the present form of government J
the Panama canal zone and
sider what*ebanges, if any,
sirable, 12 members of the
committee on foreign and
commerce left Cv,ai',°*t'm
day for Colon.