Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1913 — Page 2

STRANGE HUNT FOR ATLANTIS

eminent astronomer recent- \ ly declared that all the mysI terious places of earth had y I been penetrated by advenfV' vj turous man. “There is left,” wLfc jhe said, “no portion of our A planet that he has not trod. fßjir I The star gazer is now the —'only true explorer. Man’s future discoveries must be

made with the telescope.” But there is still a large part of the earth’s crust that is as great and fascinating a mystery as the illimitable reaches of Bpace. Hidden there may lie the cities of a wonderful race, with vaults choked with precious metals an*d rare jewels. He who brings them to light will write his name beside those of Marco Polo, Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Livingstone, Peary and all the others who have extended our frontiers of geographical knowledge. Such a task has Bernard Meeker undertaken. This daring young Englishman is now on his way to the Caribbean sea. There he will sArch not only for a lost continent, but for a lost nation and all the treasure that it may reveal. He says he' has good reason to believe that he will find the very cradle of civilization and loot enough to enrich all those who have joined him in the* enterprise. Meeker’s expedition is the strangest treasure hunting outfit that ever left England. The chunky little steamer that was chartered at Liverpool carries the queerest cargo in its trampish career. First and foremost were two submarines. One was u t the conventional type no longer considered wonderful in spite of its great speed and carrying power. Four men could live comfortably" aboard it for weeks. Its lockers are capable of holding a large supply of compressed foods and the system of air renewal is of the most modern type. Its one unusual feature is its powerful searchlight that is set in a revolving turret, thuß enabling the men in the conning tower to distinguish objects at great depths below the surface. The second submarine is such a craft as Captain Nemo might have been proud to own It resembles some hideous crustacean of steel with tentacles to catch its prey. It is a veritable giant crab. Its claws are Ingenious metal ’ arms that can be operated by the men inside the hull. The tips are furnished with a sensitive electrical apparatus that might almost be called a man made sense of touch, for whatever comes into contact with these arms sets off a signal Inside the conning tower. Thus can this vessel feel its way along the bottom of the sea. like some huge half blind monster.

This unique Vessel has a name. Most submarines are nowadays simply numbered, but Meeker named his second submarine, and it was this name that let out the secret of the expedition. For months the explorer kept his plans strictly to himself. All that was known of them was contained in the simple announcement that he would sail for the coast of Yucatan to search for evidence of prehistoric civilization. This aroused little comment. for many others have preceded him In such a quest. In fact, the shores of Yucatan are filled with the remnants of great cities. But tho crablike submarine caused • great deal of speculation. Just

“MIRACLE” IN A CEMETERY

People of French Village Wrought Up to Groat Pitch of Excitement Through Reported Occurrence. The town of Beziers, Prance, Is Immensely excited by a remarkable story which la said to hare occurred In the old cemetery In the town. Nothing will convince the people that It is not true. According to the story, which Is printed with much detail, a woman

what the floor of the ocean had to do with the ancient nations of Mexico was a mystery. But when the Pinot was named Atlantis the secret could no longer be kept. Every explorer and scientist in England at once knew that Meeker was going in search of the so-called lost continent —Atlantis, whose existence has been a riddle since the days of ancient Greece. It was only when he knew that he could stave off publicity no longer that Meeker would talk about bis plans, says the New York Sun. And even this concession was obtained only on promise that nothing should be published until after he had sailed. “When this thing comes out I shall be laughted at from one end of London to the other," he said. “As a matter of fact I have always had a hard time to get even my Intimates to believe my story. . “Briefly the object of my expedition 1b the exploration of the ocean bottom at points below the surface of the Caribbean, where I have good reason to believe there lie the ruins of cities so old that the most ancient Egyptian structures are new by comparison. These cities once formed the nucleus of a great empire, which for want of a better name we have called Atlantis. Of course this is not an original idea of mine. For a great many centuries men have i thought that such a nation onee existed, meeting its fate in some awful cataclysm which caused a whole continent to sink fathoms below the surface of the Atlantic ocean.

“Hitherto the existence of such a nation has been a mere theory based on the flood legends that occur in all religions, the distribution of certain distinct human types and the strange similarity shown in the architecture of ancient Europe, Africa and America. But recently divers have discovered cups, bowls and other utensils at the bottom of the Caribbean, far from shore and of designs that absolutely baffle archaeologists. These specimens are different from anything that any of the known ancient races manufactured. They are delicately wrought, showing a high degree of aftistic taste and knowledge of„ metal working.” At this point the interviewer repeated to Mr. Meeker the rumors that hts was a treasure hunting expedition. Tho explorer was at first reticent. “Treasure hunters always get themselves laughed at," he said. It was then that he exacted the promise to delay publication until his departure. “If you will agree,” he said, “I will spin the yarn for you, otherwise not another word do > you get out of me." The promise was made and the explorer went into another room, from which he soon returned with a smal metal bowl. He smiled as he handed it to the writer. There wras nothing strgnge In the shape of the vessel, but it gleamed in the lamplight. “What would you say it was made of?" asked Meeker. “Brass,” promptly replied the interviewer. “Wrong,” said he. “It is gold.” He then went on to explain that the bowl and others like it had been brought to the surface by divers in the Caribbean. At first It was thought to be a part of the cargo of a galleon that had sailed the Spanish Main in the days of the conqulstadores. Im-

was leaving the cemetery; where she had gone to pray at the grave of her husband, when she noticed a statue of the Virgin covered with moss. The condition of the statue Inspired her with pity and she tried to wash the moss from It with her pocket, handkerchief. She declares that the statue came to life, that one of Its hands touched the handkerchief, and that a voice said: “This cloth Is sacred now. Keep it, for I have blessed it to thank you for your act of piety." The woman ran-home to her cottage

mediately it became the center of a war of antiquarians. It was soon known beyond doubt that the vessel was not of European workmanship, either ancient or modern. Nothing of Oriental or African design tallied with it. As a last resort it was thought to be a Peruvian or Mexican product, but this theory, too, was exploded. Event the gold of which it was made puzzled metallurgists. It was an alloy, but of a different tvpe from anything on record. “Then I became interested in the argument,” said Meeker. “I found out the exact spot at which the strange find was made. The few men who knew this were keeping it quiet. Thdy had visions of treasure and were then trying to interest capital in an expedition. “After a deal of bargaining they agreed to take jne into the scheme, I, on my part, promising to aid them If there possibility of- success. I studied all the charts I could find. At last I came upon a drawing made by Ignatius Donnelly, who wrote a book on ‘Atlantis’ years ago. His map showed that the place where the divers found the gold bowls was only a short distance west of what might once have been the shore of the lost continent itself.

“It was a wonderful tale those divers told. The water, they said, was comparatively shoal where the discovery had been made. The floor of the sea seemed to be covered with unusual coral formations. ‘But it was the queerest coral I ever saw,’ one of them told me. ‘lt looked more like stone walls than coral, and there was a pointed sort of arch in one of the walls. I’ve seen coral arches, but this was different from any I had ever seen before.’ ” Mr. Meeker went on to relate that he and one of the divers had made a preliminary visit to the spot, but all that he would say was that he had seen enough to satisfy him that- the strange coral was nothing less than the wall of a building pierced by an arch of the most ancient type. “Our plans are simple enough. With our first or parent submarine w»i will explore the bottom as far as possible. The Pinot will be used at depths that would be impossible for the other to navigate. From the Pinot diners in especially strengthened suits, capable of withstanding great pressure, will go out whenever the Bteel arms of the boat Indicate some large solid object in our path. Powerful lights will be lowered from the surface whenever possible, but at very great depth we will have to depend on the light mounted in the bow of the Pinot. The divers will not descend into the sea from thd steamer or a raft, but will go out from beneath the surface from one of the submarines, from which the air Bupply will be pumped to them from a series of tanks containing air under pressure. There Is an air chamber in the forward part of both subma-' rines. Here a diver can be closed in and the air pressure gradually Increased until It is enough to keep out the water. The diver can then open a hatch and step out into the sea bottom. He returns to the boat by the same hatch. As soon as he closes it the air pressure is lowered to normal and he is admitted to the main operating room with the rest of the crew.

and told her sick daughter what had happened. She put the handkerchief on the gtel’s bed,'and the child, who has been paralyzed for several years, sat up, got out of bed and walked. Pilgrims are flocking to the ceme tery at Beziers.

Her Mother's Inquiry.

“The man I marry must have an income of at least $5,000 a year." “Do you expect to And that kind of a man among the young sprigs thaf you keep Inviting to oaH here?"

REDS NOW HAVE SHOW

For First Time/ Cincinnati Club Picked as Winner* '•%• !“*"• Jo* Tinker Will Strengthen Infield Where It Wai Weakest—Good , Haul Made When Beals Becker Was Becured From New York. Cincinnati, lor the first time In years, is picked to be an acute contender for the National league baseball championship. Its selection is dhe to Its having a. new and versatile manager in Joe Tinker, formerly of the Cubs. Cincinnati is said to bate had a missing link in its line-up ever since Tommy Corcoran left the team in 1906. Corcoran played short and the ex-Cub is now expected to supply the missing link that has kept the Reds from winning a pennant. It is generally conceded that with Tinker at short the Reds will be at least 60 per cent, better than last year, when they put up a remarkable fight. Baseball, men in President Lynch’s organization say the club would have finished better, and possibly would have won a flag, if Garry Herrmann had had an infielder of Tinker’s caliber. They expect she former Cub to place the club in the thick of the battle with Chicago, New York and Pittsburg. Their contention is that he has men who can hit the ball \\ith any other set in the organization, who can field as well, and who have the speed. If he can obtain better than fair pitching, it is thought he will give the first division teams a lot of worry. Tinker’s infield, taken at a glance, is not the worst in the league. It was only mediocre last season, and in spite of that did remarkably welL Tinker’s presence will make it one of ’the fastest in the league. No club in the organization, except Brooklyn, can boast of a better first baseman than Hoblitzell. His true ability has not been brought out yet, but it will be with Tinker at the helm. Egan is a sterling second baseman, but was handicapped by not having an experienced shortstop to help him. Assisting Tinker at Second, Egan is expected to be a wonder. > - The right side of Tinker’s infield and half of the left can be compared with any of the other seven teams. Third base is a perpelxing problem for the new manager. He has a competent man in Eddie Grant, but the latter has lost much of his aggressiveness and hitting strength. It is thought, however, with Tinker at short Grant will play as he did with the Phillies. Should he-do so, Tinker will have a good infield. He has fair utility men in Esmond and McDonald. Tinker’s duties are light when it comes to choosing men to play the outfield positions, although he did lose a good man in Mitchell. Some say the Reds will profit by the Mitchell trade. He had been with the Reds so long that he lost his enthusiasm. Marsans, the Cuban player, is an excellent man

Beals Becker.

to take his place. He is assured of playing regularly in right field, as he is a natural .300 batter, fast and showing development In his headwork. Bescher will be in left field and today ranks as the leader of the league, That takes into consideration his fielding, batting, throwing and base running. He fell below the .300 mark last summer, which should not have Happened, experts say. It is expected, though, that he will climb above this figure this season under Tinker’s system of playing. Bescher also ought to be better in base running and fielding with the spirit and ginger Tinker plans to inject into the cluj>. A fairly good haul was made when Beals Becker was secured from New York for the waiver, price. It is not likely he will play center field, as Tinker has a better man in Bates. Becker is fleet, but is only a fair hitter and fielder. Bates possesses all these requisites and like Bescher is assured of a regular berth. He injured his leg last season and played in only eighty-nine games for an average of .289. Cincinnati’s outfield Is to be ranked with the best, critics say.

Winds Bother Jackson.

Jackson, the Boston Braves’ out fielder, declafes the eastern winds interfere with his playing at Boston, and has asked Manager Stallings to trade him to either Cincinnati or St Louis.

VALUABLE AS HITTER AND AS BACKSTOP

Ed Sweeney, Catcher of New York Yankees.

One of the moat valuable members of the Yankee squad claims Chicago as his home. When Manager Frarik Chance opens the season with the New York team he will find Sweeney a valuable aid both as a hitter and as a backstop. Ed can be called a veteran player by now, having competed for several years in fast company.

Notes of Sportdom

Chicago and vicinity has 50 golf clubs. Stanislaus Zbyszko weighs 240 pounds. The City df Mexico has baseball league playing weekly games. Mayor Fitzgerald of Boston is president of the Municipal Athletic associaion. The Columbia university soccer eleven has Chang, a Chinaman, among its forwards. 1 Brooklyn billiard players, like the baseball men, seem to have the quality of coming close, but never quite land. Outfielder Weed of the Northwestern league has a record that would be hard to beat. He caught 612 flies in a single season. Henry Gowdy, who caught a few games and also covered first baße for a short time for the Braves, has been sold to Buffalo. , Glenn Warner denies he received s2,sooNtor Thorpe’s release to McGraw. Will Christy Mathewson kindly look into this? Joe Boehllng, Clark Griffith’s young Bouthpaw, says if there is anybody who is going to win a berth on the. Washington team it is he. Manager Stallings, of the Boston National club, states that there is absolutely no chance of Tyler, Perdue or Sweeney being traded by him. They say Chief Meyers didn’t know much more baseball when he joined the Giants than does Jim Thorpe today. Is that a knock or a boost? “Constant Reader” writes to say he likes baseball players on the field, but not as authors. But even that is not as bad as having them in vaudeville. Here’s a new scheme of Manager McGraw’s. On the trips of the club he will give the youngsters the lower berths and put the vets in the uppers. “Bud” Clement, former third baseman of the Philadelphia Central High School team, has signed to play with the Trenton olub, of the Tri-State league. “Congratulations on coming into a good town"—McGraw. “Thanks, Mac!” —•Chance. There was no knock in this. It was a case of showing neighborliness, that’s all. Five Cubans will appear in big league uniforms in 1913. Itisnow up to the newspapers of that island to triple their force ‘of correspondents in the United States. Now that Morris Rath has distinguished himself by trying conclusions with the concrete bottom of a swimming tank he may greet Hughey Jennings as brother. The St. Louis Browns will have a seasoned infield with Wallace at short, Austin at third, Stovall on first and Pratt, who showed so well last season, .ooklng after second base.

MANY WRITERS IN BASEBALL:

Another Member of Newspaper Profession Enters Ranks of National Bport as Secretary. When William Locke bought the Philadelphia National league team he was not the first-member of the newspaper profession to occupy the executive chair of a major league club. Ban Johnson, president of the American league, was a baseball writer in Cincinnati 20 years ago. Harry Pulliam was a Louisville city editor before becoming secretary of the Louisville club, and later became president of the National league. Ernest Barnard, vice-president of the Cleveland club, was a baseball writer in COlumbus. President Charley Murphy, of the Chicago Cubs, once wrote baseball for a Cincinnati daily, and ex-President Horace Fogel, of the Philadelphia Nationals, was a Philadelphia baseball reporter. Herman Nickersoh was sporting editor of a Boston newspaper before accepting the secretaryship of

John B. Foster.

the Boston Nationals, and John B. Foster wrote baseball in New York before becoming secretary of the New York Nationals. Mr. Foster succeeded Mr. R. H. Mo Cutcheon almost at the same time that Mr. H. H Hempstead succeeded Mr. Frank Brush (his late father-in-law) as president of the Giants. They will both keep close watch on Mr. Frank Farrell and Frank Chance, who aspiye to make the “Hilltop'* of the New York American league more popular than the Giants.

Altizer to Quit

v Dave Altizer swears be has quit baseball He is mighty old and It tail' be true.