Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME XIV No., 357.
KM CONSUL THREATEIO
AID CANNOT PROTECT CITIZENS
Zelaya Ready To Cast
Aside Mask of Retire
ment and Will Assume
Command of Government
Troops.
MANAGUA.—Jose cantos Zelaya, ex
president, Thursday was reported to be
ready to cast aside the mask of retire
ment and to assume command of the
remnants of the government troops.
With the news of General Estrada’s vic
tory over the Zelayans, and the rebel
chief’s definite plans to march on the
capital. Zelaya is said to have become
desperate, and to have determined on a
last struggle before fleeing the country.
The city is in a ferment. The senti
ment in favor of President Madriz ap
pears to be growing, but no one except
his native partisans pretends that he is
the real choice of the people of the na
tion.
Crowds Thursday gathered before the
American consulate, shrieking threats
against Consul Harry Caldera and Mrs.
Caldera, and shouting insults at them.
Although the consulate is barricaded,
Thursday the situation of Mr. Caldera
was critical, and he was unable to offer
protection to the other Americans that
appealed to him. They were all referred
to Admiral Kimball at Corinto, seven
hours away by rail.
TELEGRAM
HURRIED BATTLE
WASHINGTON. D. C.—From cable
grams received Thursday by Dr. Sal
vador Castrilio, special envoy of the
Estrada government in Washington,
it was ascertained by a reporter foi
the American News Service Thursday
that the incident which precipitated
the bloody battle at Rama was aar
intercepted telegram from General
Gonzales to Zelaya the day before the
battle, which read as follows:
“I have 300 sick men, including
four chiefs. Our provisions are ex
hausted and Estrada refuses to con
sider an armistice. What are your
orders?"
This dispatch was intercepted by
an American telegraph operator at
tached to Estrada’s army, who was
hidden in the forest behind Gonzales’
army. It was sent by courier to Gen
eral Estrada. Soon after receiving
the intercepted telegram Estrada,
Judging that the time to strike was
propitious, ordered a general attack,
which resulted in a complete victory.
ZELAYA
STILL IN POWER
The significance of the Gonzales
telegram to Zelaya, sent two days af
ter Dr. Madrlz had assumed the pres
idential office, lies in the fact that
Gonzales addressed his telegram to
Zelaya, not ito President Madriz,
showing that Zelaya still holds the
reins of power at Managua, notwith
standing that Madriz is nominally
president.
Dr. Castrilio received today sev
eral long letters from friends in Blue
fields, one of which explains the actual
manner in which Groce and Cannon
met their death. This communica
tion states that the two Americans
were captured in Costa Rican terri
tory, and murdered within six hours,
without any trial by court martial,
as is claimed by Zelaya. They were
simply taken out and killed. Before
their murder they were induced to
write letters to their families, with
the promise that later they would be
released.
It is not known whether the letters
tvfcre actually written by the condemned
men, or later destroyed by Zelaya’s or
ders in order to bolster up his claim that
they were convicted by a court martial
after having confessed to an attempt to
blow up one of Zelaya’s transports.
Mrs. Groce is now In Illueflelds, with
her two small children. Bhe Is being
cared for by American friends.
Dr. Castrilio this morning asserted his
belief that within five days Estrada would
be in Managua in full possession of the
government.
"He has the army, the moral force and
the sympathy, not only of all honest
Nicaraguans," declared Dr. Castrilio,
"but of the people of the United States
also. Of course, he will be president.”
It was learned Thursday that Secretary
Knox has practically abandoned his plan
to have Zelaya personally tried for the
murder of Cannon and Groce, notwith
standing the Raynor resolution introduced
in the Senate calling for his capture and
trial by the United States. The state de
partment refuses to discuss the matter,
but from authoritative sources it is
known that under International law Ze
laya cannot be seized as a common crim
inal by the forces of the United States.
If dictator takes tefuge In the Mex
ican consulate in Managua, or on a Mexi
can gunboat, he will not be molested by
this country or by Estrada. The pros
pects of Zelaya escaping punishment for
his crimes are good.
Tb* an nouncement absolutely corrob
orates the statement made exclusively by
the American News Service nearly one
week ago, that this govrnment does not
Intend to personally bring about the cap
ture of Zelnya; adding that under inter
national law the Nicaraguan government
alone, and not Zelaya in person, can be
held responsible for the murder of Cannon
and Groce: and tnat Zelaya would prob
ably be givtp an opportunity to escape to
n Mexican gunboat at Corinto or else,
where.
THE LEATHER
Conditions favor fair, continu
ed cold weather in this section
tonight, and fair to slightly
warmer Friday.
CONFERENCE
FEE PUESTION
County Commission Chair
man To Xvleet Officials
and Reach. Agreement
Over Moot Questions.
At special meeting of the county
commissioners held Thursday morn
ing it was agreed that the chairman
of the board should confer with the
judge of the superior court, the judgt
of the city court, the solicitor general,
the solicitor of the city court, the
sheriff or Richmond county and the
clerk of court before the February
meeting for the purpose of making an
amicable and economical agreement
on the matter of salaries and fees
now being received by these officials.
The resolution for this conference was
preceded by a preamble which read
as follows:
Upon entering office this board
found that a county tax of $116,172.02
had been levied for the year 1909, and
that the outstanding claims against
tile county aggregated the sum ol
$162,165.69.
We refer to these things not for the
purpose of re-opening a chapter now
happily closed; “let the dead past
bury its dead,” but in order to ad
dress ourselves to the living present
and show that in county matters re
trenchment is imperatively necessary.
In the course of our administration
of county affairs we have become
aware of the fact that the largest sin
gle item of expenditures is the ex
pense of the courts. It is in fact
about half, if not more, of the entire
cost. The pay-roll alone of the va
rious court officials amounts to some
$20,000, and the bulk of this comes in
the shape of additional compensation.
We here give a list of the various
charges, all of them paid out of the
county treasury:
Judge of superior court $ 2,000
Judge’s special bailiff 900
Solicitor general 2,000
Solicitor’s special bailiff 900
Stenographer 1,800
Clerk (insolvent costs.)
Sheriff (insolvent costs.)
The amount these officers draw
is not limited but is esti
mated 1,000
Judge of city court 6,000
Solicitor city court 2,000
Solicitor’s special bailiff 900
Stenographer 1,200
Clerk 1,200
Sheriff 1,200
Total $20,100
Without entering at all on the
question of the validity of the legisla
tion which occasions this heavy draft
upon the treasury, and considering
matters purely from an economic and
amicable standpoint, we favor a con
ference between a representative of
this board and the two judges
the two solicitors, the clerk
and sheriff with the hope that, In a
spirit of mutual concession and com
promise, a substantial reduction may
be made in above list.
It is therefore ordered by the
board of commissioners of roads anu
revenues for Richmond county that
the chairman of this board confer
with the two judges, the two solici
tors, and the clerk and sheriff on
above line: and report results to thiH
board as soon as practicable, not later
than its regular February, 1910 meet
ing; and that he is authorized to
secure such legal assistance in the
matter as he may deem necessary.
FEELING AGAINST SUGAU TRUST
RUNNING STRONG IN CONGRESS
Congressional Investiga
tion W ill Probably
Await Outcome of Crim
inal Prosecutions.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—lt became
known Wednesday that officials of the
departm-nt of justice are hoping that
there will be no congressional inves
tigation of the sugar frauds until
criminal prosecutions now under way
are terminated. It is held by them
that it would be injudicious on the
part of congress to open up inquisltory
proceedings until the department has
ended its labors.
It is admitted that feeling against
the sugar trust is running strong in
congress, and particularly in the sen
ate, and that the president also has
been thoroughly aroused by the frauds
that have been committed. It is pre
dicted, however, that Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham probably will be al
lowed to have his way in the matter,
on the ground that a congressional
investigation at this time perhaps
would give immunity to men whom
he hopes to convict, and would Inter
fere with the work of the legal end of
the government.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 23 1909.
jßjwßßw* :: sffir* ife.
! l£*?*gftdlr#B& , * l fo' , »*v v ",''«.v“.v,,-;v. :£w r *'.;.- <*<* •.- *.-. - -Nr- : V •;>*-••}►*. ■vv^*.*&i4w§J> vyfr!«W' w.
Mrs. Martin, mother of Ocey Snead, on her way to court. The heavy veiling she wore seems to be lti
line with her general habit <>£ dress. Pitch of the three sisters Involved In tills mysterious case have for years
gone heavily veiled, frequently indoors in their own apartments.
Slra'iir
NEW YORK. —An unusually large
crowd thronged the supreme court at
Mineola, L. 1., Thursday to hear W.
Gould Brokaw’, millionaire yachtsman,
testify in the suit of Mrs. Mary Blair
| Brokaw against him for separation
and $60,0(10 a year alimony.
Edward Weiss, the attorney whose
illness halted the trial Wednesday,
was on hand.
Brokaw, though lie has figured in
several suits, never before was a wit
ness and he appeared to be nervous.
On the day he was first expected to
testify he was prepared for the or
deal by a dress rehearsal examination,
conducted by his own lawyers before
going to court.
Brokaw first held of his honeymoon
in Canada in 1907.
“We went to the Seville hotel, I
think, when we returned, but we went
to so many that I am not sure,” said
he.
He gave his wife a bunch of flow
ers, he said.
“She asked me where I had been.
T told her I had taken a walk, and
she cried, ‘You’re a damned liar. You
have been to see a woman,’ ” the de
fendant testified.
He denied, he had been drinking.
Mrs. Brokaw, heavily veiled, enter
ed. The witness avoided looking at
her. He was nervous and fidgeted
constantly.
FORTY INJURED AS
TRAIN IS DITCHED
Chicago, Milwaukee and
St. Paul Passenger Was
Wrecked in Minnesota.
ST. PAUL, Minn. —port y persons
were Injured when a Chicago, Mil
waukee and St. Paul passenger train
was ditched at Good Thunder, near
Milwaukee, Minn., Wednesday night.
The train was running north at 35
miles an hour when it struck a spread
rail.
The mall ear rolled down a 30-foot
embankment and caught fire, but the
mall clerks escaped. The baggage
car and two passenger coaches also
went down the embankment but did
not overturn.
A relief train was rushed from
Mankatee and the Injured were tak
en to that city. None of the victims
Is believed to bo fatally hurt. En
gineer Thomas Clancoy remained he
roically at his throttle and the loco
motive did not leave the track. Traf
fic was tied up all night.
BIG RUSSIAN LINER
NEARS DESTRUCTION
LONDON. —The big Russian Liner
Korea ran ashore Thursday near
Cresswell, North Cumberland. A high
wind was blowing, and the sea ns
running heavy. The liner lay In a
bad position, and the situation was
reported to be serious. A fleet of
tugs was rushed to her aid, and ef
forts were begun to take off the
passengers, who were reported to be
In a panic.
The Korea Is owned by the Last
Asiatic Htenmshlp company, and
commanded by Captain Klerschfeldt.
She Is of 3944 tons and was built In
1399.
Ocey Snead's Mother on Way to Court
LID OFFICE 81
Cii.MMl
WASHINGTON.—That the llaliln
ger-Pinchot eor/roversy will occupy
the center of the legislative stage this
winter, a.nd will in all probability pro
ject itself into the political future, is
conceded on all sides.
The row between the secretary of
the Interior and tlie chief forester of
the government over conservation lias
ceased to be a conversational affair.
The lid Is about to be lifted and the
facts disclosed.
Some people say that back of the
Ballinger-Pinchot imbroglio lies a
conspiracy that will soon be laid hare.
Broad intimations are given that as
a result of the warfare between
Richard A. Ballinger and Gifford l’in
chot an organization, composed In
large part of friends of the former
administration, may be formed for the
purpose of preventing the renomlna
tlon of AViillam H. Taft for republi
can presidential candidate in 1912.
It is openly charged by the friends
of the secretary of the interior that
at the outset of his administration a
movement was started to force him to
adopt a policy in administering the
laws relating to public lands and tho
forests in consonance with the views
of Gifford Pinchot.
This effort failing, it is alleged, an
effort was made by means of a cam
paign conducted largely In the maga
zine and periodical press to force him
out of the cabinet.
It is u mere coincidence, adminis
tration leaders declare, that the men
who are on the trail of Secretary Bal
linger held prominent places in the
Roosevelt administration.
MINERS ESCAPED
BY CLIMBING UP
A BLAZING SHAFT
WIUKKSiiARRH, Penn.—Climbing up a
blazing shaft, four miner* escaped Thurs
day from the burning Cnpouse mine when
all hope for them had been given up.
With u marvelous display of strength,
coolness nnd fortitude, the four men, de
fying smoke, flames and ashes, crept lip
the framework of the perpendicular hole
and emerged, blackened and gasping, In
the heart of the crowd surrounding the
shaft, vainly seeking a way to send aid.
When the fire broke out, the quartet
was trapped In an obscure corner of one
of the lower levels. The other miners fled
to safety, unable to turn a hand In aid of
the four believed to have been cut off.
Face to face with death, the prisoners
mapped out a clever and daring plan, and
followed it with a desperation that
brought success and life.
MARK TV/AIN SAYS
HE IS NOT DYING.
REDDING, Conn. —“I hear the
newspapers say I am dying. The
charge is not. true. 1 would not,
do such a thing at my time of
life.” That is the answer Mark
Twain gave today to reporters
who asked after his beakh.
“I am behaving as good as I
can. Merry Christmas to ’every
body,” was the rest of his staie
ment.
CODE STiLL LOST;
PERRY IST IK
LONDON. Various reports as to
the whereabouts ol Dr. Frederick A.
Look, the discredited arctic explorer
u'ero received here Thursday. One
from Paris, staled it was reported
that he had been seen there, passing
through the city on Ills way to Os-,
lend. Belgium.
WASHINGTON, I). <\ Commander i
Itobert E. Peary, ,IJ. S. N., returned 1
thiH morning from New York where
he was a guest Wednesday night at a
banquet given by the New England
Society.
When lie was asked if lie would eon- i
sent to submitting his proofs that he j
had found the. North Pole to the Uni- j
versify of Copenhagen, lie. said:
“I have no comment whatever to
make on that subject.”
He was then asked: “If the Na
tional Geographic Society should ex
press its willingness that your proofs
should be so submitted would you
object?”
To tills inquiry ho reiterated:
“As I have said, T have no com
ment to make on that subject what
ever. I refuse to discuss It.”
S. IF. If LEASE
HUSTft SOUTHERN
It 1h understood on good authority
that the officials of the Georgia and
Florida railway arid the officials of
the Augusta Southern are In negotia
tion and that the Georgia and Florida
will either lease or effect a trackage
arrangement with the Augusta South
ern by which the Georgia and Florida
will use the tracks of the Augusta
Southern from Keysvllle to Augusta
with the same rights as the trains of
the Augusts Southern.
General Manager J. M. Turner stilt
ed that the deal would not be per
fected until about the middle of next
year, when the division of the Georgia
end Florida known as the Swalnsboro
and Normantown division, will hav*>
been completed. Mr. J. A. White, su
perintendent of the Augusta Southern,
declined to give out any further In
formation than that the two roads
were negotiating at present and that
In all probability the deal would l<«
| consummated. j
SPECIAL MEETING'
COUNCIL TONIGHT
| There will be a special meeting of
I the city council In the council cham
| bor tonight to consider the United i
j States government appropriation for
the Savannah river Improvement.
[ The meeting 1: a most important
lone to those Interested in the river
I improvement. Gouncil will also favor
tii# resolution passed by the canal
and river commission at noon today.
DAILY AND SUNDAY, SO.OO PER YEAR,
EXPLORER COOK MURDERED
IS BELIEF OF 1113 BSOINEB
ON KiS WAY TO COPENHAGEN
NEW YORK. -William 1.. Cook,
brother of Dr. Frederick A. Cook, the
discredited explorer, Thursday gave
out a sensational interview declaring
ids belief that his brother has met
with foul play, perhaps has even been
murdered.
“For several days the suspicion
has been growing.” he said, “that my
brother lias met with foul play abroad.
Days ago he should have been heard
from, and I ought to have been able
to get some trace of him. 1 am post-
(EBERT FIRST
OF BELGIANS
Leopold The Bad Is Buried
And The Reign of Albert
The Good Has Begun
Amid Gay Scenes.
BRUSSELS. Brussels Thursday
tori down tin* mourning draperies,
and flaunted the gayest of colors. For
Leopold the Bad was buried, and the
reign of Albert tho Good began
A good-looking young man, hand
sonic In the uniform of a lieutenant
general, wearing the Grand Cordon of
the Order of Leopold, stood before tin'
representatives of his people and the
rulers of the world. He swore to up
hold the law, the rights of his sub
jects, and the national unity. By that
rite, simple in itself, a king was made.
The prince of Inlanders had become
Albert I. King of the Belgians.
Albert went from Laeken, when
Leopold died, t*» Brussels, us had his
1 uncle before him, 45 years before. The
! queen preceded him with the crown
•prince in a roach and six. Albert fol
lowed, part way In a coach, hut mak
ing the entrance to the city mounted,
ns became a ruler.
'l’iie three miles from the palace
without the city to the Porte Laeken-
Site of an ancient gate In the walls
j carried the king and his entourage
j through the shaded Alle-Verte—-a
I double boulevard along the Scheldt
j canal.
King Welcomed.
Before reaching the city limits, Al
beit left the coach and mounted his
restive horse*. At the porto he was
greeted by the burgomaster There
was a moment of speech-making; the
Iking replied, the queen bowed. Then
u detail of troops dashed down the
street, clearing the way with much
Hashing of sabres and scabbards and
'helmets, and Hie city was entered, to
the rising cheer of thousands upon
{thousands of throats, and tin* boom
of salutes.
Long before dawn the city was astir
and hours before the lime set for the
beginning of the ceremonies the streets
were crowded, every window along the
King’s route was tilled, and fringes of
humanity blackened the roofs.
icrowds were reinforced by thousands
Continued on Page 4.
SPANISH SHIPS
SINK IN FLOODS
LISBON- Two hliliih were wink fin<l
every vessel in the harbor imperiled
Thursday by (he Flood. With areal dam
age done to the country, the river Oporto
was si ill rising Thursday. 'Hie schooner
Juretcln and tiv tug Mars went to Ihe
bottom, as dbl a dozen londed snows,
which were washed over the hnr by the
river.
J. W. M. KIMBALL DIED
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
Tho (loath in announced of Mr. .).
W. M. Kiinliiill, whlc.li occurred Wed
Holiday ovonluK ill. Iho residence on
tho corner of Mclntosh and Reynolds
streets. He was fifty years old and
a member of two secret orders, the
Odd Fellows and the Junior Order of
American Mechanics.
Thp funeral service will occur at
I Wilson’s Chapel Friday afternoon at
4 o'clock.
THE RETAIL CO-OPERATION PLAN
Evidences from a number of sources'
show that Printers’ Ink Is .striking
responsive chord with advertisers
through its campaign to emphasize the
importance of good retail service.
The Franco American Food com
pany has reprinted some of the artl
eb m which ha ve already appeared and (
Is distributing them to salesmen and
dealers. The advertising managers
of at least two large concerns have iff
d lea ted their hearty interest Iri this
campaign. One large automobile ad
vertiser says that in every case where
branches have been established, ex
cepting the larger cities, the step has
been forced by the incompetent and
unwise service of those who former
ly had agencies.
Another prominent advertising man
ager says that the situation is such
the I hat, in such a crisis as this, he
would not remain in hiding.
I got a letter from him early this
've;*k, but couldn’t make out where it
was I rom. He wrote it on a steamer,
bul Ihe stamp was black with ink and
ihe postmark blurred. In that he told
me that he was hastening to Copen
hagen with his original proofs. He
planned to be there when the univer
sity gave out its finding--was, in fact,
to have presented the original docu
ments to the commission before then.*
DON'T BELOE
PEART UR GROK
FOUND POLE
Norwegians Will Send
Captain Nielsen To Find
The North Pole Foi- Thera
If Possible.
NISW ORLEANS.—Captain Thor
vnhl Nielson, one of the best known
Norwegian shipmasters who have sail
ed out of this port in the Central
American trade will leave for Norway
to take command of n polar expedi
tion .soon. It was stated that he had
been selected as the most suitable of
lleer to take charge of the steamship
Irani, which Is being fitted up by
Hu- Norwegian government to take
an official party to the North Pole.
The Norwegians have doubts as to
the authenticity of the discovery of
tin* North Pole by either Peary or
Look and intend to discover It them
selves, starting from tho most north
erly port in Norway. It Is said that
Captain Nielson will be about six
veers on the polar expedition, as a
t borough exploration will be made.
hoiduraTrly
II FIGHT REBELS
WASHINGTON, D. C.-Refcrrlng to
tin! dispatches in Thursday’s papers
l<> tin* effect tlial a hostile movement
In about to he made against Honduras
by forces now In Guatemala, Dr. Lulz
Lazo, minister from Honduras, said
that It lias been publicly known for
some time that a number of Hondur
anian exiles in Guatemala were pre
paring to Invade Honduras under the
leadership of General Manuel Bonilla,
wlm with a number of other Hondur
anian rebels, had soiled from New
Orleans for Beliz, some days ago.
Dr. Lazo said he had received no of
ficial advices from his government
that the rebels aro about to begin
the invasion of Honduras, but that
he Is enabled to say that his govern
ment Is fully advised of the Intention
of Bonilla and his men and Is fully
prepared to attack them as soon as
they <mler Honduras.
BIG KANSAS CITY
BUILDING BURNED
KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Rialto
building, a six-story structure in the
(.■liter of the business district, was
destroyed by lire early Thursday and
adjoining buildings were damaged.
Tile loss In estimated .at $600,000.
The fire started at 4 o’clock from
some unknown cause and an hour la
ter the Rlallo building, in which many
of the city’s roost prominent physi
cians have their offices, was entirely
destroyed, with Its contents.
Firemen turned their attention to
adjoining buildings us soon as It was
seen thut the Rialto was doomed, and
fought to save them.
The Rialto building Is located at
Ninth street and Grand avenue and
tlie three other corners are occupied
by the Federal building, the Scarritt
block and the Grand Avenue M. Hi
church building.
that unlesH tin* retail merchants edu
cate themselves more widely in ser
vice to the customer and In far-slght
"l retailing principles, it is not un
likely that the large national adver
tisers will some day get together and
from a standpoint of mutual interest,
establish th«*lr own retail outlets.
This somewhat startling possibility
i •• d not become an actuality If re
tailing is brought up to higher stand
ards us fast as possible. Most na
tional ; dvertls'Ts are ready to do even
more than their share to protect the
b*.ih r arid help him establish a per
manent, profitable business. It is
dlstlctly up to retailers.
Never before have live retailers been
able to g< t so much selling help from
manufacturers as today, and never has
there been sueh opportunity for good
retailing.