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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 j ]