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About The Henry County weekly. (McDonough, GA.) 18??-1934 | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1907)
THIRTY DEAD; SEVENTY HURT In Frightful Impact Between Pas senger ana Freight Trains. A SCENE OF HORROR Victims Were Happy Excursionists Taking a Holiday-Cars Were Splintered and Occupants Mangled. Thirty people are dead and more than seventy injured, several of them seriously, as the result of a head-on collision Saturday between Salem, Mich., and Plymouth, when a Pere Marquette excursion train, bound from lona to Detroit, crashed into a west bound freight in a cut located at a sharp curve on the Pere Marquette railroad, about a mile east of Salem. The passenger train of eleven cars, carrying the Pere Marquette shop em ployees of lona and their families to the Michigan metropolis for their an nual excursion was running at high speedy, probably fifty miles an hour down a steep grade. It struck the lighter locomotive of the freight train with such terrific force as to turn the freight engine completely around. The wrecked locomotives lay side toy side, both headed eastward. Only a few of the freight cars were smash ed, and it was only a few hours’ work to remove all traces of them lrum the scene. But behind the two wrecked lo motives, six cars of the passenger train lay piled in a hopeless wreck. Four of the passenger coaches remained on the track undamaged and were used to convey the dead and injured to Iona; one coach was entirely undam aged, with only its forward trucks oft » the rails. These were the rear rive cass. The two coaches next ahead of these were telescoped. The next car forward stood almost on its end after the wreck, its forward end resting on the roadbed and the rear end high in the air, upon the two telescoped coaches that had been following it. Two eoaches were thrown crosswise of the track and lay suspended from bank to bank of the cut, five or six feet above the rails. Of the baggage car not enough ren.ained to show where it had been tossed. Portions of bag gage car and of the locomotoive ten ders and freight cars were piled in a tangled mass of debris. James Boyles, a farmer, was working in the field near the scene when the two trains approached from opposite directions. The freight came slowly up the heavy grade and had just reached the curve when the pas senger train appeared running at high speed. Boyles saw the passenger engi neer shut off his steam and apply the brakes and saw the crews of both engines junyj before the crash. He ran to the tracks, where he found tne un injured passengers from the rear coaches running forward and joined with them in pulling ou; the injured who could be seen on every hand. There was a panic among the pas sengers for a few minutes. Then, as the uninjured people realized that they had not been hurt, they rushed from the cars to tlie rescue of tbe.r friends and relatives who were pinioned among the wreckage. Families were scattered. Mothers ran screaming up and down, searching fer their children, while many of the young people were as frantically calling for their par ents. The dead were placed in a row alongside the track and the injured were made as comfortable as possible until the arrival of wrecking trains from Saginaw, Detroit ar.d Grand Rap ids made it possible to send them to lona and Detroit. Responsibility is put squarely upon the crew of the freight train by offi cials of the road, who arr.wd at the scene of the wreck soon after the ac cident, and who secured from the crew of the freight train the orders under which it was running, and which cleariy showed the position of the passenger excursion train and that the freight train had encroached upon the other train's running time. The freight crew explained simply that they had forgotten. The collision occurred at 9:13 o'clock, and tha freight train should have reached Sa lem at 9:10, to be within their or ders. The crash of the colliding trains was heard for a great distance up ai.d down the tracks r -5 HOST OF HEAT VICTTMS. Over Two Thousand People Prostrated at Philadelphia During Great Parade of Elks. The parade of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Philadel phia Thursday was marked during its progress by the prostration from heat of an army of persons estimated by the police and hospital authorities at 2,500. Never has there been such a whole sale prostration reported in the Qua ker City. For six hours the police ambulance surgeons and the Red Cross nurses were kept on the run loo’ ' ~ after persons who collapsed under the scorching rays of the sun, and largely because of their excellent service but one case resulted fatally. James Rowley, aged 44 years, a citi zen, died in a hospital after being stricken in the street. The other strick en persons are said to be in good con dition with no prospect of fatal re sults. The parade ground was on Broad street for a distance of three miles north, and the same distance south of the city hall. The paraders counter marched the last three miles back to the city hall, so that they traversed upwards of nine miles. Those who succumbed were among the spectators, jammed all along the street in a solid mass from one end of the line to the other, it being esti mated that five hundred thousand peo ple witnessed the march. The temper ature hovered around ninety degrees, and the humidity was excessive, and as a consequence people sweltered. • WAR STARTS ON COLORED ELKS. Grand Lodge Objects to Negroes Using j Emblems of the Order. During the sessions in Philadelphia of the grand lodge of Eiks, it was decided to establish a flag day for Elks on June 14th. A resolution was adopted calling for the appointment of a commission to devise ways and means to prosecute outsiders who use the Elks emblems. A subsequent res olution calls for the appointment of a commission to confer with congress to find means to prevent the use of the embl ft 1. The Memphis ledge was authorized to prosecute the negro Elks in that city. In this connection a resolution was passed reprianding the Newark, N. J., for electing a man said to be a negro. A further measure instructs passed reprimanding the Newark, N. J., lodge for electing a man said to he cedents and if it is found that he is of negro extraction to expunge his name from the rolls. GOVERNOR COMER RESENTS INSULT. Refused to Address Press Association Be cause of Certain Resolutions. After being invited to address the Alabama Press Association at Mont gomery, Thursday night, Governor Co mer became offended at resolutions of fered of a nature not complimentary to him, and after expressing his regret at the treatment accorded him, left the hall. The resolution that while the governor had done much for the state, he had also done a great deal he should not have attempted. The association refused to adopt the reso lutions, and there was a lively session. ALL DEPOSITORS WILL BE PAID Is Confident Assertion of Receivers of Macon Exchange Bank. The temporary receivers of the Ex change Bank at Macon. Ga., which was put in their hands July 7, made a pre liminary report Thursday to Judge Whipple, presiding in Bibb superior court. The receivers say that they are encouraged to believe that by prudent management the assets should realize a sufficient sura to pay depositors and credittrs in full, and leave a dividend fer stockholders. COBB RESIGNS THE JUDGESHIP. Associate Justice of the Georgia Supreme Tires of H:s Job. Associate Justice Andrew J. Cobb of the Georgia supreme court, Monday morning presented to Governor Hoke Smith, his resignation to take effect on October 12, 1907. Justice Cobb de termined several weeks ago to retire from the supreme bench, to re-engage in the practice of law at Athens. Justice Cob, when he retires in Oc tober, will have served on the su preme bench for nearly eleven years. Georgia Callings Curtailed Items of Interest Gathered at Random. The matter is now in the hands of Solicitor Lester of the Fayetteville city court and accusations have been •worn out by Mr. Haskell against those working the mules at Shepard's camp, the camp of Perkins & Powell against W. F. Neal, G. A. Barbee and Val Dris coll. * * * New Railroad Chartered. The Gulf Line Railway company has been granted a charier* by Secretary of State Philip Cook. This is really a renewal and extension or tne charier of the Flint River and Gulf railroad, now in operation from Haw kinsville tnrough several of the couu ties named in the petition. It is proposed to operate t he Gulf Line railway through the counties ct Pulaski, Wilcox, Turner, Worth, Mltcfc ell, Grady and Decatur to a point c_. the Florida line in Decatur, thence through Florida to the Gulf coast. The length of the line in Georgia will be about 130 miles, and the capital stock of the company will be '‘s4oo,ooo. * * * After Railroad Contractors. Vigorous prosecution in the courts of Fayette county against five contractors doing grading owrk on the-new line 01 the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlun.ic railroad will be the result of a trip just made to several of these construc tion camps by Agent E. V. D. Haskell <ji the Atlanta Humane Soci ety. In some of these camps Agent Has kell found mules being worked that were better fitted, he says, to receive bullets in their brains to end their suf fering. The matter is now in the hands of Solicitor Lester of the Fayetteville city court and accusations have been sworn out by Mr. Haskell against those working the mules at Shepard’s camp, the camp of Perkins & Powell, and against W. F. Neal, G. A. Barbee and Val Driscoll. * * * * Matkeson Approves Refinery. Dr. K. G. Mathesou, president of the Georgia School of Technology, has been in conference with Mr. Boyd of Spalding in regard to the latter's bill now pending before the house appro priation commitcee seeking to secure from the state SIO,OOO, to bn added to a similar sum to be raised through private subscription with which to in* stal la cotton seed oil refinery at the Tech. He has assured Mr. Boyd of his cordial support in the measure and declared that he would do all in his power to aid him in the matter. ‘‘We have a place for the refinery at the Tech already,” stated Dr. Math eson in discussing the measure. “It is the basement of our new chemical laboratory Just recently erected. This place could be fitted up very easily, and would be most accessible to our very elaborate and complete chemical laboratory. “This is one branch of the cotton business which the Tech has not touch ed upon. The matter of refining cot ton seed oil and for that matter ex tracting the oil is just in its infancy and we expect great results to fol low.” * * * Prisoner Took Care of Deputy. One of Ben Hill’s deputy sheriffs went to Macon a few days ago to bring back a negro held in the Macon jail. The prisoner reached Fitzgerald safely on the train, bringing the depu ty so drunk he- did not know where to get off the train. The negro states that the Macon official turned him over to the deputy, who proceeded to take in the town, and narrowly escaped being arrested for disorderly conduct. They ueceed ed in making the train for Fi zgerald, and when they reached the city the negro had the deputy, his grip, revolv er, handcuffs and a quart of whiskey all in his charge. The deputy was so drunk he refused to get off the train, and had to be taken off by force by the police and was taken to jail. No one know that the negro was a prisoner until the police were putting the deputy in jail, when he touched one of the* officers on the arm and said; “Hold on, boss, I goes in there, too,” and they let him go in. • • • May Raise State Tax Rate. The increasing expenses of the state and the small receipts with which to meet necessary expenditures are view ed with grave consideration by the committee on appropriation in the legislature. While the appropriations for last year amounted to approximately $4,- 700,000, it s expected tha: these fig ures will probably reach SG,OC§,OOO for this year—and maybe more. The state will not have any additional revenues, unless the tax rate can be raised from 4.8 mills, the present rate, to 5 mills. It is understood that this increase will be recommended by the_ appro priations committee. This rate is the maximum as prescribed by law, and on account of the growing expendi tures the committee will, so it is said, base their aprpopriations upon this in crease. It is understood that this in crease was recommended last year, but former Governor Terrell did not deem it expedient to advance the rate. The appropriations for pensions this year will carry with it one of the largest increases in the apportionment list, amounting to $950,000, against $90,000 last year. There was a deficit of $43,000 last year in the appropri ation. Under the siatute appropriations will have to be made to cover every pension that is recognized. * * * Discrepancies in Valuations. Here ore two pertinent facts bear ing upon Governor Hoke Smith’s m 3 sage to the general assembly concern ing the taxation of railroads; Major A. G. Adams of the Southern swears that the tangible value of the property of his company iu Georgia, for the purpose of taxation, is $12,052,- 926. Freight Traffic Manager and Vice President J. M. Culp of the Southern swears in the United. Slates court that the tangible value of the South ern in Georgia Is $48,150,000 F’irst Vice President A. li. Lawton of the Central swears tha the tangi ble value of (he Central’s property In Georgia for (he purpose of taxat.oll Is $13,522,077. Second Vice President W. A. Win burn swore in the United States court that the tangible value cf die Central s property in Georgia is $33,600,999. In the case of the Southern, there is a discrepancy of $30,087,074 between the oaths of Major Andrews and Mr. Culp, In the case of the Central, there Is a discrepancy of $20,144,322 between the oaths of First President- Lawton and Second Vice President Winburn. Governor Smith has called upon the legislature to help him adjust these glaring differences. GUARD PROVED A GOOD SHOT. Brought Down Two Escapes and Bluffed Another Into Surrendering. Armed with r tolvers and firing re peatedly at die guard who attempted to prevent their escape, three white convicts who were serving their s n tences by working at the manufactur ing plant cf the Palmer Prick Compa ny, Atlanta, Tuesday, made a bold dash for liberty, which was foiled only by the remarkable shooting of Camp Guard O. Duncan. The guard shot two of the convicts, Ben Beasli y and H. L. Hartman and Beasd y died as a re suit of his wounds a lev.' hours later. Luther Gloer, the third convict, was brought to a halt and surrenderee!. A feature of the attempted escape, which puzzled he officials of the camp, is the fact that each of die desperate men was argued wiih a loaded re.oivtr. BRYAN CLEARS THE ATMOSPHERE. Relegates Question of Government Owner ship of Roads to the Rear. William Jennings Bryan does not favor government ownership as a par amount issue in (he 11 xt campaign. He believes first in rigid rtgulation and urges the states to stand fast for their rights in curbing of the corporations and to leave regulation solely in the hands of the federal government. This, he says, is the current hnue of iris paper, The Commoner. ALL MISRE 4D THE ORDERS. Strange Admission of Crew of Death-Deal ing Freight Ttain. General Sup: rin en lent Trump of the Pere Marquette ra l:o„d, has made public the following result of his ex amination cf Conductor Hamilton of the local freight tiain, which collded with the lonia excursion tram, causing the less cf thirty- wo lives and injuring over a hundred. The con due or mat d that he. the engine-r, fireman and rear brake man. all misread :heir or ders. R. O. JACKSON, Attorney-at- Law, >li DONOUGH, GA. Office over Kim Store. E. M. SniTH, j Attorney at Law, Me Donotjgh, Ga. Office ever Star Store, south sido square. All work carefully and promptly attended to. Am pro mured to negotiate loan* on real estate Terms easy. HELP IS OFFERED TO WORTHY YOUNG PEOPLE We earnestly request all young- persons, no matter how limited their mean* or education, who wi3h tx» obtain a thorough business training and £<*nd pool, tion, to write by first, mail for our great half-rat* offer. Success, independence and probable fortuat are guaranteed. Don’t delay. Write today. The G*.»Al*. Business College. Macon, Ga* TOBACCO SS a delicious chew, made from the best North Carolina leaf; a leaf that has a spec ial texture, a special flavor ard which makes RED EYE a specially fi * >e and satis-1 fy ing chewing tobacco. Most people prefer it I to tobacco costing one dollar pei. pound. Ask your dealer for it and | insist on him keeping it. S MERCHANTS Write for Special Prices. 1 'Wi . M . Vyym Mm wi A pfc WINSTON N C I JAMESTOWN Tercentennial Exposition April t November, 1907. Exceedingly low rates have berm authorized by the Southern Railway to Norfolk, "Va and return, account Jamestown I* i Centennial Exposl tion. Stopovers will be allowed on sea son, sixty day and fifteen day tickets, same as granted on summer tourist tickets. Tickets will be sold dany commencing April 19th, to and incut ding No vein hr i 30th, 1907. The Southern Railway is taking a very- great interest in this exposition and doing everything within their power to promote its welfare for the reason that it is located on historic and southern grounds, and has evi dence of being one of the most import ant and attractive affairs of this kind that has ever been held. Through train service and sleeping car service to Norfolk during the ex position has not yet been announced, but it is expected that most excel lent schedules will be put in effect so as to make the trip comfortable and satisfactory in every way. Full and complete information will be. cheerfully furnished upon applica tion to any ticket agent of the South ern Railway company. tf RICHARDSON ON RAMPAGE. Haywood’s Attorney Denounced Everybody on Other Side of Case. Forsaking thr theory of vengeance, as Orchard's mo.ive for the murder of former Governor Steunenberg, F. F. Richardson argued in court at Boise Tuesday that Orchard was in the em ploy of hr Pinkerton detective agency when he silled Steunenberg and mat the murder wus a part of a conspiracy to hang Haywood. This sudden depart ure was followed by a denunciation of Captain McPharlland and the Pinker tons and passionate vituperation of Orchard. Governor Gooding of Idaho, Senator Borah, Governor Peabody of Colorado and, in fact, all who have act ed on he side of the prosecution of Haywood came in for a share of the avalanche ol Richard's peroration.