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The Americus Times-Recorder
(THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR.
PART OF SMITHVILLE WIPED
OUT BY BORE YESTERDAY
Twelve Stores and Shops Went up in Flames as Result of
Worst Fire in History of Town. Loss Estimated at
From $15,000 to $20,000, Only Part of Which is
Covered by Insurance.
As the result of a disastrous Are,
which originated in the effort of a
negro preacher to demonstrate that
a heated iron would not explode :t
vessel filled with gasoline, twelve
stores and shops in Smithville were de
stroyed yesterday, with an estimated
loss of from $15,000 to $20,000 proper
ty damage. No one was hurt except a
small boy, Douglas Turner, who was
accidentally burned on the leg. .
Fanned by a rather brisk wind, the
fne, whch originated in the pressing
club conducted in the rear part of the
store of B. F. Christie, spread from
building to building, burning out
practically the section of the business
district north of the place Where it
began. The fire began just before
noon and burned itself out about 1
•o’clock in the afternoon.
With no facilities for fighting the
flames or of curbing them, the citizens
of Smithville who owned the buildings
and the stocks of goods in them looked
on helpless while the fire spread from
store to store. As there is no water
supply available except a small water
works system, which was insufficient
to cope with the flames after they had
gotten such a quick start, fire depart
ments from neighboring cities coul.l
offer no assistance. Chemical engines
would have had no effect on the flames
after they once got under headway.
Realizing their helplessness under
these conditions, many of the residents
of the town looked on in terror while
the fire spread. Breaking out as it
did about midway the principal bust
* ess street of Smithville, it was for
tunate that the flames spread north
ward rather than southward, as the
stores and shops in the northern sec
tion were far less valuable. If the fire
had once gotten/ started well across
the intervenine street from the Chris
tie store in that of .1. A. Hill, the entire
southern section of the business dis
trict would have been swept away also.
FLOOD LOSSES Will
BE FELT HERE TOO
Price of Western Provisions
Advancing
iconsumers, likie others,
are going to suffer to some extent as
a result of the floods in Ohio and In
diana, in the way of rapidly advancing
prices an articles of daily consumption.
Meat, corn, oats, hay and, in fact near
ly everything purchased in the west,
is soaring in price and going higher
daily.
Meat jumped a half cent a pound
yesterday, as if it were not high
enough already, and this commodity
will continue to advance,’local deal
ers state. The cash price here yester
day was 13 1-2 cents to 14 cents pc
pound. Foodstuff, too, is piling up
higher every day, and farmers who
buy corn, hay and oats must pay the
advanced price. Corn has advanced
ten cents and oats five cents per bush
el within the week and telegrams yes
terday to local dealers stated that all
such articles, including hay, would
doubtless go much higher. The loss
sustained by the granaries of the
flooded district is enormous, and the
reduced stocks, and demoralized con
dition of the transportation lines are
responsible for the advance in prices.
The fact that the Hill store was a
brick building prevented the spread of
the fire in that direction, though even
that building was damaged some
what.
| The fire is the most disastrous that
has ever happened in Smithville, and
a number of Smithville property own
ers and merchants lost heavily as the
result of it. Only part if this loss is
covered by insurance, probably not
more than fifty per cent. It was dif
ficult yesterday to even approximate
the amount of insurance or the gen
eral loss in the flames. An estimated
list of the losses, with the names of
those who suffered damage, was com
piled yesterday for The Times-Re
corder from the most accurate sources
obtainable. This list is as complete
and as accurate as could be obtained
yesterday and is as follows:
( B. F. Christie, stock of merchandise
valued at $7,000.
Ben Teasley, stock of merchandise
valued at $1,500; also two store build
ings.
S. T. Wilkinson, merchandise and
meat market, ssoo.
J. R. Edwards, meat market, SI,OOO.
! W. 0. Livingston, blacksmith shop.
S6OO.
E. B. Hill, two stores, $2,500.
J. A. Hill, merchandise, $750.
Mrs. S. E. Bass, millinery, $1,500.
W. C. Lunsford, merchandise. SSOO.
Mrs. W. T. Simpson, two buildings,
$2,000.
Peter Griffin, colored, pool room, sl,.
500.
Also several other small shops, run
by negroes, including a blacksmith
shop, the loss of which would proba
bly reach several thousand dollars.
Mr. Fort McAfee, the treasurer of
Lee county, gave invaluable assistance
j to The Times-Recorder in securing In
, formation concerning the fire, the tel
ephone communications having been
, paralyzed for some time.
FUNERAL OF MR. POPE
WILL OCCUR TODAY
Death Came Yesterday After
Long Illness
Mr. Lewis Pope, who had been ill
for some time at the residence of his
sister, Mrs. Bernard Ball, on Jackson
street, died yesterday morning. The
deceased was forty-four years of age
and unmarried, and during a residence
of some length m Americus formed
the friendship of many here, who re
gret his death. The funeral services,
conducted by Rev. J. B. Lawrence, will
be held this afternoon at three o'clock
from Mrs. Ball’s residence, the inter
ment being at Oakgrove cemetery.
FIRST OF NEW NICKELS
CIRCULATE IN AMERICUS
Local Hank Has Supply of the New
Coins.
The first supply of nickels of new
coinage coming to Americus was sent
yesterday to the Commercial City
bank from the United States mint, and
are curiosities. The bank has re
ceived several thousand of the new
“bison nickels,” and will pay them out
in the regular course of business as
long as they last.
AMERICUS. GEORGIA. SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 6, 1913.
FIRST PRACTICE
OF LOCAL TEAM
HERE YESTERDAY
NUMBER OF MEN REPORTED
Monday Will Mark Practice
Reason Proper
Yesterday some of the men who arc
to try for positions on the local team
were tried out by Manager Weber at
the local baseball park. Only a short
practice was had, but it was snappy
and encouraging.
A number of the candidates for the
team reported yesterday and these
were the men who started the baseball
season rolling by taken the first work
out of the season. Monday Manager
Weber will get his men out early and
will take a good day’s practice work.
There were more than a half dozen
men to report yesterday afternoon,
while a number will come in today.
When the practice bunch lines up at
the park Monday afternoon there will
l e some lively working out of the base
ball chasers.
HARAHAN WAS HERE
ONLY SHORT TIME
On Return From Montgomery
to Savannah
President Harahan, of the Seaboard
railway, made a short stay in Amevi
cus yesterday morning upon his re
turn trip from Montgomery to Savan
nah, but the early hour of his arrival
and the further fact that no lengthy
stop could be made, precluded an/
form of entertainment upon the part
of the Board of Trade, as would oth
erwise have been extended.
President Harahan and officials jt
the Seaboard accompanying him upon
the tour of inspection of this division
of the Seaboard, arrived in Americus
at 7:10 o’clock, aboard a special train.
A short stop was made at the compa
ny’s shops here, affording the officials
opportunity for a very brief nspection
of that property, the party walking
through the yards and several depart
ments for a few minutes only. The
special left for Savannah shortly after
8 o’clock.
TAMMANY MAN IS SLAIN
BY NEW YORK GANGSTERS
Eugene]Smilh Shot to Death
There
New York, April 5. —Eugene Smith,
a Tammany political leader, was shot
and killed on Park Row early today
by four gangsters. He was on his
way from a ball of one of the East
Side democratic organizations at Tam
many Hail. The gangsters, who were
seen only by one witness, escaped.
A brother of the slain man said
that Smith had been mistaken for
some one else, but the police were
told that Smith had recently become
involved in a gang fu«d and had mov
ed to Brooklyn because of threats
against his life.
THE WEATHE'B; Fair and Fooler.
RECITAE FOR
GRADUATES ON
NEHTUESDAY
AT THE BELL PIANO SCHOOL
Program the Most Notable of
the Season
Most notable among the recitals of
the students of the Bell piano school
will be that of the graduating class to
be given Tuesday evening at the mu
sic studio. There are two graduates.
Miss Mae Sutnmerford and Miss Coc
inne Sills, who will receive diplomas
in connection with the exercises of the
evening.
In the interpretation of the musical
program, which is exceptionally va
ried and representative of the work ot
the most noted composers, the grad
uates will be assisted by the advanced
ensemble class, which adds a feature
of unusual attractiveness to the occas
ion for all music lovers.
The program for the exercises
which will begin promptly at 8:30
o’clock, is as follows:
Miss Summerford —Etude de Concert,
Op. 36—MacDowell.
Miss Sills—Sonata, Op. 10, No. 3
Beethoven. Presto. Largo.
Ensemble: Miss Sallie Johnson,
Miss Maude Hitt, Miss Bell, Miss Mary
Hawkes, Miss Louella Fields, Miss Co
rinnp Sills, Miss Helen Argo, Miss
Mae Summerford —“From Foreign
Parts,’’ Op. 23.—Moszkowski. Spain
Hungary, GermanjT'ltaly.
Miss Summerford—Clair De Lune —
Debussy; Prelude, F—Debussy.
Miss Sills—Hungarian Rhapsodic,
No. 15—Liszt.
Concerto: Miss Summerford, first
piano, Miss Bell, second piano. Con
certo G. Minor, Op. 25. —Mendelssohn.
Miss Sills —Etude, Op. 25, No. 9
Chopin; Etude, Op. 25, No. I—Chopin;l—Chopin;
Etude, Op. 10, No. s—Chopin.s—Chopin.
Ensemble: Miss Sallie Johnson,
Miss Maude Hitt, Miss Bell, Miss Mary
Hawkes, Miss Louella Fields, Miss
Corinne Sills, Miss Helen Argo, Miss
Mae Summerford: March Tannhauser
—Wagner-Liszt.
Miss Summerford—Rigoletto—Verdi
Liszt.
Miss Sills—Caprice Espagnole, Op
37—Moszowski.
Ensemble: Miss Sills, Miss Sum
merford—Valse Caprice, Op. 7—New
land.
Awarding of Diplomas.
Reception.
FRANCE TO CONTEST WITH
GERMANS IN AVIATION
Is Jealous of Success of
Germany
Paris, April 5. —Vast aerial prepa
rations being made by Germany have
caused widespread interest in France
today, and the French cabinet de
cided upon a bill designed to maintain
the country’s boasted pre-eminence m
aviation.
Even the outlines of the new meas
ure have been kept secret. It will be
presented to parliament on May 7.
It is agreed, according to the of
ficial announcements that “the condi
tions on land and sea have been so
cnanged by the progress made in the
navigation of the air that France
must put forth fresh efforts in this di
rection.
France already possesses 600 aero
planes, but is deficient in dirigible
balloons capable of dropping explo
sives on battleships, arsenals, ship
yards and other objective points.
DEBATE FOR
HIGH SCHOOL
NEXT FRIDAY
BATE HAS BEEN SETTLER ON
Warrenton Students Prepar
ing for Contest
Next Friday evening has been chos
en definitely as the time for the con
duct hers cf the inter-schoo! debate
between the Warrenton High school
and the Americus High school.
Great interest is being aroused both
locally and in Warrenton in the ap
proaching contest between the debat
ing teams and the two schools, which
will prove a lively one. Students cf
the local school who will take part in
the debate have been working stead
ily on their arguments since they were
*
chosen in that capacity.
A message has been received from
Mr. H. B. Carreker, principal of the
school at Warrenton, that the students
*
cf the High school there are greatly
interested in the debate, and that th*»y
will come to Americus in force to en
joy the occasion hei.
TWO WOMEN WITH TORCHES
ARE CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Firebugs Caught in Act of
Firing Buildings
London, April 5. Two suffragette
“fire fiends’’ were captured this
morning red-handed, while setting
fire to the new grandstand on the
Kelso race course in Scotland. Rags
saturated with petroleum had been
placed beneath the stand and ignited
when watchmen sprang out of their
hiding places and captured the two
women.
The grandstand on the Ayr. race
course, also in Scotland, was burned
this morning with a loss of $15,000.
Several suffragette placards an!
a bundle of suffragette literature were
*
found in the vicinity, leaving no doubt
in the minds of the authorities as to
who was responsible for the fire.
A large number of window break
ing and telegraph wire cutting out
rages were committed during the
night by militants in various parts of
the country.
NO MUZZLE FOR BOGS
SATS MAYOR WOODWARD
Ordinance of the Cnnncil is
Vetoed
Atlanta, Ga., April 5. Mayor
Woodward has vetoed the dog muz
zle ordinance, just as he said he
would. In a message presented to
council this morning explaining his
veto, Mr. Woodward characterizes the
measure as “cruel in the extreme.”
He says further, “it was evidently in
tended to reach worthless dogs which
have no owners and fill our streets,
but this class of dogs would not be
muzzled if the ordinance became •»
law, while the good and valuable dogs
would have to endure inhuman pun
ishment of wearing muzzles.”
“MICE AND MEN” WILL BE
NEXT AMATEUR OFFERING
Americus Dramatic Association Will Present Bright Ro
mantic Comedy of the Eighteenth Century on Even
ing of April 15th. Indications of Largest Attend
ance Yet Known for Amateurs.
With a play that will strike a dis
tinctive note in their efforts to give
the playgoers of Americus something
that is worthy and at the same time
unique, the members of the Americas
Dramatic association will present on
the evening of April 15 ’Mice and Men
an eighteenth century comedy of vi
vacity and attractive romantic ele
ments.
There are four acts in this bright
comedy, which is from the pen <f
Madeline Lucette Ryley, an acknow
ledged master in the art of comedy
and comic play-writing. The introduc
tion of costumes to suit the period por
trayed will serve to increase the ef
fectiveness of the production. Mrs.
Marshall Martin has the play in
charge, and under her direction the
local amateurs should appear in their
best.
The proceeds of the performance
which bids fair to be unusually well
attended, will be given to the Hospital
building fund. This worthy charity
will servq to add to the attendance at
the performance as the Hospital has a
host of loyal friends who are always
ready to come to the support of that
institution.
A synopsis of the acts and the cast
of characters is as follows:
Act I.—Mark Embury’s Study.
Act ll.—Living room in Mark Em
bury’s house 2 years later.
Act 111. —Anteroom at Belsize House
during a masquerade ball.
Act IV. The garden at South Cot
tage.
Mark Embury (A scholar, scientist
and philosopher) Mr. Lee Hans
ford. •
Roger Goodlake (His friend and
neighbor.)—Mr. Walter Page.
Captain George Lovell (.His nephew)
—Mr. Earle Williams.
Sir Harry Trimblestone—Mr. Edwin
Murray.
Kit Barniger (A fiddler and proses-
TRAIN CRASHES
INTOJTATION
One Kilted and Several In
jured
_ i
Toledo, Uhio, April 5. Baltimore
and Ohio passenger train No. 6 crash
ed through an open switch at Hoyt
ville at 11:30 o’clock last night, de
molished the station and turned tur
tle. Fireman Jackson, of Garrett,
was killed; Grant Mason, of Hoytville,
who was in the station, was fatally
injured, and a score of passengers
were seriously injured. Five others
may die.
The train was traveling at the rate
of 60 miles an hour. Six of the seven
coaches were overturned. According
to Engineer Cost, there was no
switchlight to give warning. The
switch was left open by the crew of
a local freight train, it is alleged.
It w r as said that because of some
trackage trouble the train was not
running on the main track and that
it was going at a high rate of speed
when it struck the open switch.
.The locomotive pulled the baggage
car and five coaches from the rails and
then tearing itself loose, It crashed
sor of deportment)—Mr. Alatstbews.
Peter (Embury’s servant) —Mr. John
Mathis.
Joanna Goodlake (Wife of Goodlake;
—Miss Lynn Mathis.
Mrs. Deborath (Embury’s bousekeeji
er) —Miss Emma Mae Borum.
Peggy (“Little Britain") —-Miss Ma
rie Walker.
Matron (Os the Fondling Hosjutal)
Miss Mary Mathis.
Beadle (Os the Fondling Hospital) -
Mr. Davis.
Place: Old Hemstead; Period: About
1786.
BKENAU STI DENTS WERE
RECIPIENTS OF HONORS
Phi Beta Sigma Membership Increased
At College.
Atlanta, April 5. —The Brenaxi fac
ulty has announced the new member -
ship for this year of the honorable ■so
ciety known as the Phi Beta Sagrai.
This is one of the most important an
nual events in the life of the Brenau
students. Election to membership In
this organization is considered a great
honor, and is based on scholarship and
general excellence. This year seven
members were accorded the honor. The
occasion was formal in character and
as the name of each student was an
nounced, she was called upon the stage
and clothed in the purple robes of the
order. The ceremonies were conduct
ed by President T. J. Simmons and H.
J. Pearce, and the new members elect
ed this year are Miss Maud Carter,
Jasper, Ala.; Miss Inez Castleberry,
Gainesville, Ga.; Miss Laura Harris,
Dalton, Ga.; Miss Sadie Lipscomb,
Gaffney, S. C.; Miss Estelle Netting
ham, Frankton, Va.; Miss Laura 'Wed
dell, Tarboro, N. C.; Miss Mary Wool,
Lumpkin, Ga.
Membership in this society is a
coveted honor among students at
Trenail.
AMERICUS PARTY SPENDING
WEEK IN JERUSALEM
Misses Hanold Are Enjoying
Trip Abroad
ft - —«f.Zt. l , jr
The many Americus friends or
Misses Anna and Elizabeth Harro’l
who have been spending nearly » year
in Southern Europe, Egypt and the
Holy Land, will be interested in know
ing that at present they are stopping
in Jerusalem, having arrived there
from Jericho on Palm Sunday and
spent Easter in the Holy City. Tht
Misses Harrold write most interesting
letters to relatives at home of their
delightful trip abroad. They were in
Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt, during
the month of January, and after a
trip through the Nile region they went
to the Holy I .arid for an extended stay..
The Misses Harrold will return to
Americus in the late summer.
through the little depot, demolishing
that structure.
Fireman Jackson was killed in
stantly. ~ Grant Mason, the other vic
tim, was killed in. the depot waiting
-MR BEK 83
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