• ASSOCIATED * • PRESS « • DISPATCHES ® VOLUME XXIII Insurgents and Federal Troops Meet on March After Brief Skirmish Troops Withdrew and Rebels Con tinued Their Advance To ward Mexican Capital. TAMPICO WILL~BE ATTACKED SOON Gunboat Will Assist the In surgents in Their Attack Against City—Celaya Now In Hands of the Rebels. \ era Cruz, Dee. 11 (By the Associated Press).—The forces of Adolfo ile la Huerta and General Sanchez which'are advancing toward Mexico City met a detachment of Federal troops yesterday near Reea del Monte on the Puebla-Vern ( ruz border. The Obregon soldiers re treated, reports said, after a b-ief skir mish. The insurgents then started for Temaycan to cover the distance of the troops which are to go forward today. Obregon soldiers under Gen. Topete are reported at Chnlchicomula and other points along the Mexican railroad. Will Attack Tampico. Vera Cruz, Dec. 11 (By the Associat ed Press).—Tile gunboat Zaragossa is preparing to sail for Tampico to assist in the attack on that city which is to be undertaken by troops of Governor laqiez de Lara, of Tamaulipas, in conjunction with troops commanded by Gen. Martinez. Advices received here say that Celaya, north of Mexico City, has fallen into the hands of rebels commanded by General Gabaya. A radio message from the headquar ters of Gen. Estrada, commander of the western forces, says that the advance on the capital from that direction is contin uing. Meanwhile troops are leaving Vera Cruz for the point of concentration from which the march on the capital to the west is to be started. Telegraph Communication Restored. El Paso. Dec. 11.-—Telegraph commun ication with Mexico City direct which was cut Saturday when rebels destroyed the railroad to Canitas has been resumed. Government officials here received mes sages from their chiefs in the capital today. Resumption of eommunication is taken to indicate that the Federal of ficers are again in control of the railroad line for its entire length. THIS IMPORTANT MONTH FOR SOUTHERN METHODISTS Wie** W» Be Five Smith-wide Confer ences in Various Sections. the Associated Press.> Charlotte, Dec. li.—Charlotte voters today were to decide whether or not $2,- 000,000 of bonds shall be issued for pub lic schools. The Concord Daily Tribune ************ - * * " *'COTTON PRICES * ■ * HIGHER TODAY.* ,* * i& (By rlio Associated Press) New York, Dec. 10.—A recovery * i* of , approximately $4.00 a bale * r * from yesterday's severe declines oc- * .* eurred today in the cotton market. * I* The rise was accompanied by trade * •j* buying which tarried January cor,- * . ;* tracts to 53.25 or 80 points above * U* yesterday's dosing quotation. * r |* * *********** 1 WHITE HOUSE FIRST | OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS i Now declared Unsafe and in Need of Reconstruction. Washington. D. ('., Deo 11.—That the White ITeuso has been declared unsafe • and in urgent need of reconstruction is net surprising, when it is borne in mind that the historic structure was the first public building erected in Washington. The site was selected by George Wash ington himself, who laid the cornerstone in 17!)2, and lived to see the building completed. John Adams, his successor iu the presidency, was the liist occupant in 1800. The building, which is 170 feet iu length and eighty-six feet deep, was part ly destroyed by lire started by maraud ing British troops in 1814. After its restoration the Virginia limestone was painted white to obliterate the marke of painted white to obliterate the marks of “White House" was first given to the building. The White House was not always tile presentable place it is today. In John Adams’ time there was a turbid little creek which almost surrounded the man sion, and when the President wanted wat er fit to drink he had to get it from u spring’a mile away. There were beds of growing vegetables in the White House grounds, and tfie streets surrounding it were deep in mud during a large part of tile year. The mansion has been several times re modeled and partly reconstructed. The main building continued to be both, the offices and residence of the Presidents until 1!K!2. In the spring of that year Congress appropriated $65,000 for the erection of temporary offices for the President and $475,000 for remodeling and refurnishing the White, House. The contract was let for the work, the stipu lation being that everything must be vwlthlm-*ftHV'' J i«#trMwr sor thaU-the family could again occupy the building nnd the President the offices. In that time great were to be worked out. While the work was going on in the summer of 11X12 President and Sirs. Roosevelt were at Oyster Bay. 1 poll their return in September they were quartered temporarily at a house in La fayette Square. In October Mr. Roosevelt moved into the new executive offices at the extreme west end of the west terrace, aud the family moved into the enlarged quar ters of the White House, the former exec utive offices there having been changed into bedrooms. T'ntil 1002 the sums available were never sufficient to accomplish anything like a thorough reconstruction. Refer -1 ring to the changes made that year, the | President in a message to Congress said : ! "Through a wise provision of Congress |at its last session, the White House, which j had become disfigured by ineongrous ad ditions and changes, has now beeu re | stored to what it was planned to be by Washington. In making the restoration j the utmost care has been exercised to | come as near us possible to the early | plans by a careful study of such build jings as that of the University of Vir iginia, which was built by Jefferson. I "The White House is the property of the nation, and so far as is compatible j with living therein it should be kept as it originally was. The stately simplicity of I its architecture is au expression of the character in which it was built and is in aeord with the purposes it was designed to serve. It is a good thing to preserve such buildings as historic monuments, which keep alive our sense of continuity with the nation’s past.” Cycle Mack Closes Campaign at Monroe. Monroe, Dec. 10.—ltev. B. F. Mc- Lendon closed his four weeks’ campaign here tonight with a sermon to au au dience half white and half colored. Each Monday night has been given to the ne groes, and tonight, although it was the last, was no exception. Yesterday he preached five times aud today several times. He has preached all over the county at odd hours while carrying on his meeting here. The service last night was perhaps the largest attended of any. Every seat was taken, every aisle filled, and the sides of the tent were lifted for standing room. The total collections for expeneese was about $5,000, and tbe free will offering to the evnngelist, taken on tbe last day, ran around $3,000. Mr. Melrfndon left tonight for his home at Bennettsvifle, S. C. WHAT SAT’S BEAR SAYS. - ' 1 Mostly cloudy tonight nnd Wednesday, probably rain in west nnd central por ■ tions; colder tonight. Fresji north and northeast winds. . CONCORD/N. C„ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1923 " *1 - Men You Will Hear Abput This Is Hie committee .representing progressives In -the House ot Representatives that conferred witli Floor Loader Nick Longwortb and ■ drew from him consent to liberalize the rules of that body. It was a really big moment in the history of the House. Left to : right: P.c-pra sentatlves Fiorello H. LaGuardia ot New York, John M. Nelson of Wis consin. and Roy Woodruff of Michigan. i ’’ f THE COTTON MARKET > Better Feeling Created by Sharp Rally ? j After Early Weakness in Live: paol. 5 (By the Associated Press.) I New York, Dee. 11. —A sharp rally 1 after the early weakness in Liverpool • created a better feeling in the cotton ' trade here today at the opening of the ’ market. First prices were first at ad ! vanoes es 20 to 45 points. There was some further scattering liquidation : brought in by the break of yesterday, which caused some irregularity. On the 1 whole, however, the selling was much i less active, and the marker soon turned j firm on covering, re-buyiug and trade: ■ buying. January advanced to 33.05 and \ March to 33.44 during the early trading. ! | making net advances of 54 to 60 points, j Private cables said the early break in ! ' Liverpool bad been due to continued bull 1 liquidation ami trade in Manchester was j 1 almost at a standstill, but later advices | reported strong interests were buying i there, and there was a recovery of about 85 points from tbe lowest in the Liver pool market. Cotton futures opened firm: Decem ber 33.40 to 33.50: January 32.75: March 33.30 to 33.4(1; May 33.40- July 32.60. -Must File Primary Expenses. (By the Associated Press.) New York, Dec. 11.—The State At torney General’s office today took pre liminary steps to compel the New York Anti-Saloon League to file an account of its fall primary and general election ex penses for 1922. i 1 ■ ll' ■ —J T AIMt - Caught In the Net Os Ormuz Khan ■ Phn Abingdon, prettiest ot English girls, moved among deadliest perils she knew I nothing ot, while two resolute men. Paul Harley, tbe super detective, and Nlcol Brlnn. American millionaire, worked desperately to save her. But Ormuz, head ot a far-flung murder cult, oriental in origin, but world-wide in power and activity, was a toe bard to beat. For that they threat ened his plana, be quickly doomed Harley and Brlnn as well. And here Nalda, high priestess of Omuz’s own order, but in love with Brlnn, enters into the plot. The story Is FIRE-TONGUE si SAX ROHMER BEGINNING IN THIS PAPER DECEMBER 13 . Every fiction lover knows Rohmer, author of tales to which east and west meet, of mystery, of furious action, of tensest ezoitemertt and the most gripping suspense and interest. The Romance of Hop eery. Tbs Devil Doctor. Brood of tbe Wltcb Queen. The Dream Detective are a few among his novels of the past- Masterpleces ah they are. Fire- Tongue surpasses all of them. From start to finish you’ll flod It hard to wait. Installment by ’ Installment, for development , | In this wonderful story. I m isms———i— ■ M.. ii REPUBLICANS MEET TO SELECT MEETING PLACE National Executive Committee in Ses i sion.—Nominations'-Ovcrshadr.w Work of the CcnimKtee. ■ (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec.. 11.—Developments in the contest for tlie Republican Presi dential nomination, so far limited openly (o the announced candidacies of Presi dent Cooiidge and 1 Senator Johnson, of I California, almost overshadowed the work ( today of the opening session of the ro ! publican national committee. The sup- 1 t port, given by administration leaders to I j Cleveland’s bid for the convention —a I i choice which appears Jo be sure of cati-j ficatiou by the committee —promised to | I take much of the usual uncertainty from J ! the committee's proceedings. Behind the | scenes, however, with 'milnagei-s of both President Cooiidge ant} Senator Johnson I busy with conferences the real contest of the P. 124 was starting Into full strife. South Dakota, in view of the endorse ment given President Cooiidge over Sen nt(sr Johnson in its recent republican proposal convention, looms an immediate factor in the Presidential nomination de velopments. Within a few days Presi dent Cooiidge and Senator Johnson are expected by personal action to enter the lists for the South Dakota primary en dorsement. . «' NORTH CAROLINA HIGH COURT {ASADS OTHERS Handles More Cases Per Judge During 1922 Than Any Other State in Union. (By the A**ocl%|eA Press.) Nashville. Tenn., I)e4. 11.—'The North Carolina Stale. Supreile Court led all =otWr*~i»She- forty«®itv Stat«» the-- Union in the handling of its 11122 dock et. according to a report compiled by John H. Denison, associate judge of the Colorado Supreme Court, and made pub lic here tonight by Tennessee Court of ficials. (North Carolina had 800 cases which were disposed of with five at issue making an average of 160 average cases l>er judge. Tennessee ranked second with 650 cases disposed of. 50 at issue and au average of 130 cases peer judge. The total number of eases disposed of during the period by all the State Su preme Courts was 17,700 or about 58 cases per judge per annum, considerably below the average number of cases han dled'by. the judges of the North Carolina and Tennessee courts, and Tennessee judges. MRS. HARDING DETAINED Remains in Marion, May Not Go Jo the Capital This Winter. Washington, Dec. 11.—Mrs. Florence Kling Harding, widow of the late Presi dent, who had picked Washington as her future home, probably will not come to the Capital this winter, according to her friends here. Word has been received that she has been detained in Marion by matters con nected with President Harding’s estate. She had intended to come here early this month, but friends who have been in touch with her say they do not expect her to take a residence in Washington until after the social season is over and | possibly not until early next fall. It ie understood Mi's. Harding may spend some time this winter in St. Au gustine, Fla., where she went frequently with President Harding. With Our Advertisers. The radio sets sold by the Concord Tel ephone Co. nre backed by the guarantees of the ■ largest manufacturers of the world. Y’ou will find a variety of attractive | styles and good values at Parker's Shoe Store. Have you seen the new Flint Automo bile at tile J. C. Blume Garage’’ Dressed ikdls for the little girls at Cline’s Pharmacy. Perfume atomizers SI.OO up at Gib soil Drug Store. Shirts for Christmas gifts for men at W. A. Overeash’s. , The following have changed ads. in our special guessing contest page today : C. 11. Barrier & Co., F. & G. Electric Co.. Dr. J. A. Shatters and Starnes-Parker- j Miller Co. Now Breathes Through HU Finger. Sydney, N. 8. W.. Deo. 11.—A man has been discharged from a Sydney hos pital after a most remarkable operation. Some months ago lie became a patient, his nose having beeu eaten away b.v can cer. Tbe man’s hand was plastered firm ly to his faec, the middle finger being 1 placed where the bridge of the nose had ; been. After a period long chough to I enable the flesh to grow round the nose,' the finger was severed at the first joi-it,' the skin grafted over (lie finger, and holes j made for the nostrils. Indians Not on Warpath. «Br the Associated Press.l Nogales, Arizona, Dee. 11, —Reports from Hermosillo today officially deny j rumors that Yaquai Indians in Sonora j have' taken the warpath as revolution- 1 ists. i BAPTISTS OF STATE IN ANNUAL SESSION IN NITOBUY Enrollment and Organization and Representation of Re ports Among First Business of Opening Session. CONVENTION TO CLOSE THURSDAY y And Many Matters of Im portance to Baptists of the State Are on Program.— Five Hundred Present. I tty the Assncinlwt Pr.»»,, Gastonia, I><•«•. 11 Enrollment ;iml organ feat ion. presentation of reports for i>ast year, committee appointments ami the keynote address to be delivered by ('has. 1.. Greajes, of Raleigh, were the chief matters of importance on the pro gram of the opening session of the 93rd annual convention of the Baptist Church in North Carolina here today. The con vention was to be formally opened at 2 :30 this afternoon. • Many matters of importance to Bap- I ttsts of the slate are on the program for I the meeting which will continue through j Thursday evening. More than 300 miu i isterial and lay delegates already ace [ here. Attendance is expected to reach the 700 mark. Missions, education and social service will be among the matters of chief in terest, according to leaders already here. Falling undtr the bead of missions in the $73,000,000 campaign which has been underway in the state for some time, re ports showing progress in the collection of pledges will be one of the features. The annual convention sermon by Rev. .1. 11. Kincheloe of Rooky Mount, will be the feature of tonight's program. ONE-ARMED FATHER. AT 62. WELCOMES HIS 28TH CHILD Georgia Horse Trader Takes Pride in Fact All Were Born Under Ills Own Roof. Atlanta, Dec. 11. —“ The Lord's will be done.” says Leander Oolbert Gentle, 02, and one-armed, who has just been presented with llis 28th child, and whose philosophy of life is that the Lord will (help all fathers who help V " "t — Gentle has been married twice. By the firsti wife he had 10 children, and by the second, who is now 42, he has had IS. 17 of the young ones still being alive. Recently a prize was offered by his t'hmVh for the man appearing with the greatest number of children. Gentle won with 12.—Some time he hopes to gather the entire flock of 17 together, two of whom live in Baltimore, one in St. Louis, nine in Chattanooga, and the others in Atlanta. “I have never experienced a particle of trouble in providing a good comfort able home for them, and the new one is just as welcome as the first,” said Gen tle. “Thirty-three years ago I lost my left, arm, and but for that could have done much better by them. I am known as a pretty shrewd Jiorse-trader, and 1 can make a living for wife and chi’- dreri. The Lord has been good to me.” Gentle’s greatest pride lies in the fact that all his children have been born undei- his roof. “None of your hospitals and new-fangled methods for us,” he said. “ ‘Home-born and home-raised' is our motto.” One physician, Dr. ,T. TV Beck, lias officiated on 21 visits of the stork. Portraits of Page ami Grimes. (By the Associated Press.)' Raleigh, Dec. 11.—The acceptance by the State of the portraits of the late Wal i ter Hines Page and the late J. Bryan Grimes marks the first formal ceremony of this nature since the new ruling of the effective. Heretofore the portraits have State Literary Historical Society became beene accepted for hanging in the Hall of History when the families of the de ceased have offered them. This fall the Society decided that hereafter only por traits of those whose families had been invited, if they cared to present them to the State would be placed in the Hal! of i History, The first invitations of the So •eieety were extended to the families of Mr. Page and Colonel Grimes, the for mer American ambassador during the term of Woodrotv Wilson to the Court of St./dames, and the latter for 22 years Secretary of State of North Carolina. Big Before Christinas Sale at Parks-IJelk Company’s. The Parks-Belk Company will on Wednesday morning, begin a Great Be fore Christmas Sale, during 'which they will offer big price reductions' in every | department. They want ,to reduce their enormous stock before stock-taking time. Besides thousands of other tilings, they have the greatest line of toys ever shown in the city at prices that will surprise you. Fix the kids up for Christmas. Look up the full page ad. iu this issue. ~9 P. M. j Will be closing time for our I Store until after Christmas. jNew closing time schedule begins this date. i PIGGLY WIGGLY , A Favorite "" " * HI BPjfiuK IMM ! OMimi Derba’s name is magical with Mexican theatergoers. She’s one of the most popular actresses on the other side of the Rio Grande. And pretty, too, don’t you think?. SMUGGLERS AND DRY FORCES IN BIG FIGHT j . Second Battle of Christmas Off Rnm j Row Now in Progress. New York. Dec, 11. (By the Asso- 1 elated Press).—Smugglers and dry forces I today arc fighting the second battle of j Christmas off Rum Row. A score of liquor carriers coming from | the Bahamas and ether points have found i themselves blocked from landing their supplies in quanity by the coast guard cutters, harassing landing parties afloat and dry forces snatching the liquor as if touches the beaches. But Rum Row although checked, does not concede itself defeated. It now stretches along (lie coast from Tsing Is land far down t\e Jersey shore, so as to render an attack of the coast guard less concentrated, and keep land forces on the jump. These hind forces are what are keeping smugglers most worried at present. Highways and “byways leading inland from the wet spots near the coast are under constant patrol by armed op eartors scouring the countryside in au tomobiles. The rum fleet has retired beyond the 1-2-ittile limit, j- SHRINERS IN CHARLOTTE FOR FALL CEREMONIAL All Parts of State. Represented at Fall Meeting rs Oasis Temple. (By (he PrexM.) Charlotte, Dec. 11. —Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine were here today from all I parts of North Carolina for the annual j fall ceremonial of Oasis Temple. The i ceremonial opens today but at the prelim inary meeting held late yesterday it was announced Asheville has a chance to ob tain one of the chain of .$2,000,000 hos pitals the Shriners plan to erect through out the country. It also was decided to incorporate for the dedication of the new Shrine temp re here. AMERICAN DESTROYERS OFF FOR HONG KONG Vessels Ordered to China in Connection With Situation at Canton. I Manila. Dec. 11 (By the Associated Press I .—Five destroyers of the American Asiatic fleet, left here this afternoon bound for Hong Ivong. The vessels were ordered to the Chinese port in connection witli the situation at Canton and that vicinity. The destroyer Peary, flagship of the squadron of the 43rd division of the Asiatic fleet, heads the detachment, which includes also the destroyers Pope, Fillsbury. Flrebton and Sieard. They are expected to arrive at Hong Kong on Thursday morning. MRS. VANDERBILT AGAIN TO HEAD STATE FAIR Was Chosen Without Opposition.—Dr. Joseph 11. Pratt Reelected Vice Presi dent. (By the Asnociated PrewO Raleigh, Dec. 11.—Mrs. Edith G. Van derbilt was reelected president of the North Carolina Agriculture Association here today. There was no opposing candidate nominated, although 'the elec tion of Mrs. Vanderbilt was preceded by a treated discussion between Governor Morrison, Colonel Cameron and General Julian S. Carr. Dr Joseph H. Pratt was reelected vice president and at -2 o'clock balloting for other officers was still in progress. Hiram Johnson Will Carry His Cam paign to Coolidge’s State. New ork, Dec. 10.—Senator Hiram Johnson, of California, will make a personal campaign in Massachusetts, home state of President Coolidge for the Republican presidential nomination, it was announced today by A. B. Murtha. one of the senator's eastern campaign managers. Mr. Mjirllia commented upon reports from Washington that President Ooolidge's friends p'anned entering the California primary fight and declared Senator Johnson would go to Massa chusetts “personally to speak his can didacy frankly nnd fair'y to Mi<* men and women who have enrolled in the Republican party.” . • “He is going to lead a drive aud take the whole delegation away from Mr. : Coolidge,” said Mr. Murtha. William Pinkerton Dead. (Bj- the Associated Press,) Ix>s Angeles. Dec. 11.—William Pink erton, world famous detective, died here this morning at the Hotel Biltmore. 9 TODAY'S 9 9 NEWS 9 9 TODAY 9 99999999 NO. 291. INSURGENTS POWER NS THE)HOLD OFF (IJ§' ELECTION ,~lblieans Are to Elect Senator Cummins to the Chairman ship of I. C. Committee. NO CHANCE NOW FOR ELECTIONS Insurgents Seem Determined to Keep Up Fight, Which at Present Seems to Be On For Next Several Weeks. (By the \*Mocialed Press.) Washington. Dec. 11. —Senate Repub jlienn leaders today faced an indefinite 'deadlock over the nomination of Senator Cummins, of liowa. president pro-tern of the chamber, for the chairmanship of rite Interstate Commerce Commission With some members predicting that the insurgents' fight against re-election to that post would continue several weeks. 1 alike the House, however, which was jiu recess while (lie republican and demo . cratie committees were pressing forward their work of making selections for the j various standing committees, the Senate I was able to function, nnd a resumption of the voting on the Interstate Commerce chairmanship was put off till late in j the day. The Senate democrats, mean j while, withheld their contemplated move I to force electio nos a president pro-tem, I which, if it develops is exjieeted to pro duce another deadlock after the present fight is finished. Three ballots laken yesterday gave no sign of weakness on the part" of the insurgents or either of the regular party groups. Seven insurgent votes went steadily to Senator I.nfollette. of Wis consin. leader of the insurgents, and a ranking republican of the 'committee, and tlie democrats voted solidly for Senator Smith, of South Carolina. The Senate resumed balloting today for the election of a chairman yf the Inter state Commerce Committee, and Senator Cummins, republican, who now holds the dual position as chairman of tile com mittee and president pro tern of the Sen ate, received 41 votes for the chairman ship on the first ballot to 39 for Sena tor Smith, democrat, of South Carolina, and 7 fqr Senator LoFoilette, This left Cummins three short of the necessary ma jority. The vote was the same on the second ballot. Cummins' vote dropped to 39 on the next ballot. Smith holding his 39 and Ln- Follette his 7. M ith Cummins four short of a major ity the Senate went into executive scs | sion and later adjourned till tomorrow, 1 when there will be more balloting, with ! but little clinuce of a break iu the dead lock. Favorable Report on Kellogg. Washington, D. C., Dec. 11.—Nomina tion of former Senator Frank B. Kel logg. of Minnesota, to be ambassador to Great Britain, was ordered favorably re ported today by the Senate foreign rela tions committee. View on Reparations. Washington, Dec. I.—The Washington government “would view with favor” par ticipation of American experts in the reparations commission inquiry commit tees now under consideration, it was an nounced today at the White House. it was emphasized that the government itself could not participate in any offi cial way or appoint official representa tives on the committee, but it was said, participation by American economic ex perts in their private capacity would be approved. Treaties sent to Senate. Washington, Dec. 11.—Several treaties negotiated during the recess of Congress, including the two-claims conventions with Mexico, were sent to the Senate to day by President Coolidge. MORE READJUSTMENTS FOR VETERANS’ BUREAU Latest Flans Call For Redistricting of Inspection Service With Eight Dis tricts. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. 11,—■■Flans for fur ther readjustments in the Veterans Bu reau were said by Bureau officials today to include redistriefing of the inspection service with eight districts instead of fourteen. Under the ad minis; niton dis trict offices, and their work carried on in dependently of other activities. Trinity to Unveil Portrait of the Lat) Angier B. Duke. Trinity College, Durham. Dec. 10.— A portrait of the late Angier B. Duke, who was drowned iu a yachting accident on Long Island sound during the past summer will be hung in the parlor of cast Duke building the unveiling to lake place in a short time. The portrait, a three-quarter life-size reproduction, the work of a well-known artist was presented to Trinity by Benjamin N. Duke, of New York, |ather of the de ceased. In connection with the arrival of the portrait the Trinity Alumni Register is publishing a poem. Ave Atque Vale Frnter, by Plato Tracy Dur ham. author, and professor of church history at Emery university. The iioem. which is dedicated to his life-long friend and associate, Angier B- Duke, has been pronounced by capable literary critics a work of exceptional merit. Among the December-born notables were Milton, Arkwright, Eli Whitney, Beethoven. Heine, Humphry Davy, Whittier, Carlyle nnd Gladstone. See “Green Stocking” at Central School ( on the night of December 14th.