Newspaper Page Text
Beavers Says Curtailed Liquor
Sale Is Cause—Many Pretty
Celebrations Held.
Man Just From Saloon Catmi
Tragedy at Miners' Xmaa
Tree Celebration,
anything to sell?
The SUNDAY AMERICAN
Can Do It for Too
CIRCULATION OVER 100,000
The Atlanta Georgian
Read for Profit—GEORGIAN WANT ADS-Use for Results
VOL. XII. NO. 125.
ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1913.
Copyright, 1006,
By The Georgian Ce
2 CENTS. p ^°
HOME
EDITION
ATLANTA OBSERVES QUIETEST CHRISTMAS
C&3 C&3 C&3 C&J C§b 0?<3 C&) - C&3 C&) C&) C&3
HUNT MANIAC WHO STARTED FIRE FATAL TO 83
STOCKING FUND MAKES NEARLY 1000 CHILDREN HAPPY
SOUR
EASES
Some of the baskets which were distributed to the poor of
Atlanta through the generosity of givers to the Empty Stocking
Fund. Hundreds of homes were made happy in this way.
In addition to the baskets of
“goodies” and clothing, each
poor mother was given a $2 bill
to spend as she liked. It means
added joy to hundreds of homes.
Santa Claus made The Georgian
office his headquarters, where
good cheer in the form of food,
warm clothing and toys for the
poor kiddies was dispensed. So
far as Santa knows there were no
needy youngsters overlooked.
Atlanta Thursday celebrated
the sanest Christmas in her his
tory, marked by the absence of
much of the drunkenness and
carousals of former years.
From the time Police Court
closed Wednesday afternoon at
3 o’clock until 10 o’clock Thurs
day morning, only 83 cases had
been docketed at police head
quarters, and none of those ar
rested were charged with serious
crimes.
As many of these as possible
were turned out on copies of
charges in order that they might
spend Christmas with their fam
ilies and friends, and to-day
there are hardly half a hundred
men and women locked up in the
city jail.
The record of only 83 arrests dur
ing the celebration of Christmas Eve
and the early hours of Christmas
morning is regarded by Chief Bea
vers as an Indication that the people
of Atlanta are heeding the pleas for a
safe and sane Christmas.
Chief Beavers Pleased.
"In former years" said Chief Bea
vers Christmas morning, "we had all
the way from 100 to 250 arrests dur
ing the celebration of Christmas Eve,
and as a rule there were serious
crimes listed among them. This year
has been the quietest the department
has ever known. There have been
fewer arrests and fewer reports of
trouble.”
Grady Hospital officials said Thurs-
■ ay morning that that institution had
passed the quietest night in its his
tory. not an accident being reported
during the 24 hours. This in itself is
considered remarkable, as there are
usually scores of accidents reported
from premature explosions of fire
works, and many of these have re
sulted in permanent injury.
Locker Clubs Closed.
The police declared they did not
look for any trouble at all Christmas
Day. This is due somewhat to the
tain and the disagreeable weather, but
for the most part it is due to the
losing of the majority of the locker
lubs and the saloons, and the evident
^sire of the people to observe the
’\v and celebrate Christmas sanely
*»nd properly.
Through the charitable associations
;, nd the big hearts of the more fortu
nate people of Atlanta, joy and hap
piness have been brought into prac-
ally every Atlanta home, and every
fireside will be the scene of some sort
Christmas celebration.
Hundreds of persons have been
•'•eered with warm clothing and sub-
■ antial food, and many little ones
*oke Christmas morning to find that
Cuita Claus had visited their homes
the first time in their lives.
The Associated Charities, finely or-
- iRized for carrying relief to the poor
a nd the unfortunate, cared for scores
"* families, providing the Christmas
dinner and gifts for the parents and
the children.
Fund Great Help.
The Georgian’s Empty Stocking
• md provided shoes and clothing and
s for thousands of men, women
and children, hundreds of baskets
' ' ng sent out Tuesday and Wednes-
Many generous men and wom-
1 'ared for entire families, provid-
- in many instances a Christmas
* ■ to go with the donations of food
• 1 '1 clothing and toys.
Chick Evans Here
And Playing Coif
Rain or Shine
Charles Evans, Jr., usually known
as "Chick.*’ reached Atlanta and the
home of his host, George Adair, at
9 o’clock Christmas Eve, and before
it had got through raining Christmas
morning, Chick and Mr. Adair were
on their way to the links of the At
lanta Athletic Club at East Lake.
That’s the kind of a golfer Chick
Is—likewise George Adair. Rain or
shine—the game’s the thing.
The first match was arranged as a
foursome affair for Mr. Evans, Mr.
Adair, WHl Rowan and Stewart
Maiden, the ciub professional. The
announced intention of the quartet
was to play rounds in the morning
and afternoon—to play all day, in
fact.
While a guest of Mr. Adair, Mr,
Evans will play regularly on the pres
ent East Lake course and will go over
carefully with Mr. Adair and Mr.
Maiden the extensive alterations and
improvements that will he incorpo
rated in the famous East Lake links
in time for the summer play of 1914,
and the excellent acquaintance exist
ing between Mr. Evans and the clas
sic European courses doubtless will
produce many valuable suggestions
for the big work.
Mr. Evans also will play over the
other Atlanta courses while here.
Blease's Pardon List
Has Reached 904
COLUMBIA, S. C., Dec 23.—The num-
| ber of*pardons and paroles granted by
| Governor Cole L. Blease since he as-
I sumed. office three years ago. reached
I 904 when he issued two Christmas pa-
I roles and a pardon.
A white man serving a sentence for
manslaughter was among the trio re
leased.
Held in $1,000 Bond
For Express Thefts
Following close on the arrest and con
fession of James Thomas Turner, mes
senger for the Southern Express Com
pany. a second man has been taken into
custody and other arrests are expected
In connection with the systematic theft
of express articles from the Southern
Express Company during the past year.
The second man arrested was D. J.
Alexander, a resident in Mills street, a
railway employee.
Alexander was taken before United
States Commissioner Walter II. Col
quitt and held under a bond of $1,000.
He denied any knowledge of the rob
beries.
Plan Power Plant
On Witllacoochee
VALDOSTA, Dec. 25.—A proposition
to develop the water power on the Wil-
lacoochee River near this city, which
has been discussed for several years,
bids fair now to be pushed to a success
ful end.
Preliminary surveys of the stream,
beginning at a point three miles north
west of Valdosta, are now being made
by A. B. Langford, a well-known civil
engineer, for parties in South Carolina,
who are interested in the develop
ment.
Col. Sam W. Wilkes
Gets Rail Promotion
Colonel Ram W. Wilkes Thursday was
considering his promotion to division
.freight agent of the Georgia Railroad his
(best Christmas gift. He has been the
railroad’s commercial agent for several
years and has been connected with It
for 30 Christmases, having been its first
car accountant and its first soliciting
agent
Colonel Wilkes will have his head
quarters at No. 36 Central avenue and
his assistants will be L. B. Slaughter
and T. A. Yeargtm
Judge Orders Hotel
Not to Sell Liquor
AUGUSTA, Dec. 25.—Judge Henry C.
Hammond in deciding the Albion Hotel
case, the first against local near beer
saloons in which petitions to abate as
nuisances have been asked, held that
he had no right to forfeit the license of
the Albion, but he did issue a tempo
rary restraining order for the hotel
company to sell no liquor.
The case will be decided by a jury
at the next session of the Superior
Court.
Probationers Don't
Turn Out for Xmas
Dinners Like in 1912
37 Are Pardoned By
Alabama Governor
MONTGOMERY, Dec. 25.—Thirty-sev
en Alabama State convicts were given
heir liberty by Governor O'Neal to-day.
Seventeen of the number were convicted
f g murder either in the first or second
degree and three were serving life sen
tences.
Two of the prisoners freed were con
victed in Mobile, four in Montgomery,
our in Birmingham and others in dif-
erent sections of the State
$30,000 Given Three
Carolina Institutions
SPARTANBURG. S. C., Dec 25.—
Mrs. A. E. Judd, whose husband was
president of the first bank in Spartan
burg, has announced a Christmas gift
of $30,000 to be divided equally among
the Y. M. C. A., Converse College and
the Textile Industrial Institute.
The Y. M. C. A. and the Textile In
stitute are erecting buildings now and
Mrs. Judd's gift makes certain the ad
dition of a science hall to Converse.
THE WEATHER.
Forecast for Atlanta and
Georgia — Rain Thursday;
colder Thursday night; fair
and much colder Friday.
Maybe this old world is growing
worse, but you can’t prove anything like
that by S. J. Coogler, probation officer.
Here's why:
Last Christmas Mr. Coogler spread a
Christmas dinner at the Christian Help
ers' League of which he is superintend
ent. He invited all of his probationers
who weren’t doing well enough to have
their own Christmas dinners.
Seventy-two came to Mr. Coogler’s
dinner.
Same business this year. Mr. Coog
ler Invited all his probationers. Four
teen accepted—and Mr. Coogler had
more than that many Invitations from
other probationers to dine with them, In
their own homes, as a guest to be hon
ored by men whom he had helped to
put on their feet.
Col. Perry and Bride
In Atlanta for Xmas
Colonel and Mrs. •Jesse G. Perry, i
newlyweds, slipped so quietly into town >
Wednesday night that they avoided all j
rice and old shoes. Thursday they were j
at Hotel Ansley barricaded against any j
undue demonstration by their friends.
Colonel Perry, private secretary to
Governor Slaton, and Miss Harriet Ma
son, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. J
Mason and a prominent Georgia society i
girl, were wed at 4 o’clock Wednesday
afternoon at the home of the bride's
parents, at Ijavonia. Ga. The Rev. M.
K. Peabody, of Iva, S. C., performed the
ceremony. Only relatives and a few
close friends were present.
Officer Shoots Man
Who Pointed Pistol
In a desperate battle with Edward
Rachel, a negro, who terrorized Hol-
cmob’s alley early Christmas morning.
Policeman O. R. Jones narowly escaped
death. The negro turned his weapon on
the officer when Jones told him he was
under arest. and snapped It twice on
empty cartrdlges before Jones could
draw his revolver
Jones fired at the negro the bullet
striking him in the fleshy part of the
thigh. Rachel was taken to Grady Hos
pital. where his wound was dressed.
after which he waa locked up In the
city jail. ;
Old Santa’s Reputation Fully Sus
tained by the Good Fellows
of Atlanta.
To be sure, when the sun rose
Christmas morning. Atlanta didn’t
see It. Moreover, there was a heavy,
thick, wide and excessively damp
rain falling.
Would you call it “Merry Christ
mas?”
Absolutely, YES!
Tell you why, so you can add the
reasons to a dozen other (and maybe
better) ones of your own.
Here’s w’hy a certain bunch of At
lantans were able to crawl out of be 1,
and scrape the slumber-clouds out of
their eyes, and struggle into their
duds to the mellow thunder of the
rain on the tin roof—and still grin
while catching a street car, and say
"Merry Christmas!”
Even after getting to work.
How They Found Santa.
All day long, the day before Christ,
mas, a line of women passed In and
out of The Georgian office. They
went in a bit uncertainly, as if nop
knowing Just where to go, or what
to say.
They r came out carrying heavy,
well-filled baskets. And there was
no uncertainty in their manner then
and they seemed to know Just where
to go. As to what to say—
Oh, well that’s Santa Claus' secret,
you know. Just between go«jd friends.
Several hundred of them, going in
uncertainly, coming out with heavy
baskets. Maybe there were shining
eyes, too—but that’s all in the family.
Now, then, you people who made
this thing possible, take a look over
the layout and then forget to wonder
how a Christmas can be so happy
when it rains bucketsful and the sun
doesn't open up—and a good many
fellows have to get up early and go
to work, too.
Baskets to make Christmas happy
for nearly a thousand youngsters went
out in the long line that left The
Georgian office the day before Christ
mas.
And there was a $2 bill for the
Comes to Visit His
Fiancee; Find She
Is Bride of Another
Continued on Page 2, Column 5.
" On Christmas Eve a young man
who lives in Marietta came to At
lanta bent on celebrating with his
fiancee, Miss OzfeUe Wheeler, of No. 8
Williams street, on whose finger he
had but a few days before placed a
diamond ring.
He was to meet Miss Wheeler at 5
o'clock on Walton street. Five o’clock
came and Miss Wheeler came not. He
telephoned to her home, and was told
that his fiancee could not speak to
him.
“You tell her it’s So-and-So,” said
the young man.
And then L. R. Jeter came to the
telephone.
"You can not,” he told the young
man, "speak to my wife!”
For Mr. Jeter and Miss Wheeler
were married by Justice of the Peace
Edgar H. Orr at noon Wednesday—
with the other young man’s diamond
ring sparkling on her finger. They
left their boarding house at 7:30
o’clock, presumably to go to their
work, the young woman to the West
ern Union offices, where she is a ste
nographer, and Mr. Jeter to the of
fices of the General Accident Insur
ance Company.
And Christmas morning both went
to work again.
Senators to Aid Fight
On Roger Sullivan
SPRINGFIELD, ILL., Dec. 25.—As
a result of the organization of the
Wilson-Bryan League here. Senators
John W. Kern, of Indiana, and Robert
L. Owen, of Oklahoma, win be
brought to Illinois to open the fight
planned against Roger C. Sullivan,
candidate for nomination for United
States Senator, by his foes in the
Democratic party.
The two Senators will be invited to
speak at a banquet to be given In
Springfield probably on Washington’s
Birthday',
CALUMET, MICH., Dec. 24—
Police, private detectives and
citizens of Calumet to-day were
united in their efforts to find the
man who cried fire in the Italian
hall where last niffht 83 persons
gathered about a giant Christmaa
tree were killed in a panic. The
authorities feared the man would
be lynched. The dead were
members of striking copper min
ers’ families. It was understood
that the man who caused the
panic was not in sympathy with
the mine strike.
The real horror of the disaster did
not dawn upon the people of Calu
met until to-day when the city awoke
to the most cheerless Christmas in
Its history. There was little observ
ance of the day. Residents of all
parts of the city Joined In the general
mourning for the scores of dead.
The sorrow of friends of the dead
was Increased to-day by the remem
brance that the panic waa unneces
sary. There was no fire in or near
the building in which the celebrants
were gathered.
Several hundred miners, their wives
and children, were gathered about the
big Christmaa tree. The happy lit
tle folk were pressing eagerly toward
the stage In the front of the hall
where Mrs. Annie Clemens, president
of the Women's Auxiliary of the
mners* organization, was superin
tending the distribution of presents.
Christmas Joy reigned. It was the
happiest time In the lives of many
of the little ones. They had welted
weeks for this event.
Babies Trampled by Men.
Suddenly a door opened. A man
thrust in "his head- Trumpeting
through his hands he uttered a wild
cry:
"Fire!”
Instantly the hafl was a scene of
wildest confusion. Mothers were torn
from their babies and saw them
trampled to death under the feet of
panic-stricken men. The cry of Are
was taken up by a hundred throats.
Mrs. Henry Isola was holding her
little boy and girl by the hand. The
boy was jerked away from her. He
escaped from the building. The moth
er and daughter were crushed to
death by the frenzied mob. Christian
Klarich and his two little daughters
were trampled to. death. Mrs. Kla
rich escaped unhurt. There were
scores of such incidents.
The panic waa over in less than a
minute. Rescurers rushed Into the
building. They found bodies piled
to the top of the only regular exit,
a narrow stairway at the rear of the
hall. When order was restored there
were counted the bodies of 37 little
girls, 18 little boys, 15 men and 13
women.
Every undertaking establishment
was filled with bodies this morning
and bodies were given to the authori
ties, who arranged the dead in as or
derly a manner as possible to make
identification easier.
All through the night surviving
members of families that were nearly
wiped out went from place to place
seeking their dead. Friends sought
the bodies of those they had loved.
Sorrowing children who lost both
their parents were led from one im
provised morgue to another in an
effort to find parents, brothers and
sisters.
The Coroner’s assistants, checking
over the bodies, found that 54 fami
lies had suffered a k»ss of one or more
members.
When the cry of fire was raised