Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 34, Number 52, 30 December 1908 — Page 1

RICHMONB PAIXABriJM AND SUN-TETJEGRAiVI. VOL. XXXIV. NO. 52. RICHMOND, IND., WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECE3IBER 30, 1908. SINGLE COPY, 2 CENTS.

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HALF POP ULA TION IS DEAD, SUR VIVORS ARE WEEPING; FACE OF GLOBE IS ALTERED

CALAMITY ALMOST BEYOND GRASP OF All Italy is Entirely Stunned by the Terrible Calamity and the Loss Can Not Be Estimated. DEATH LIST MAY NOW REACH TOTAL 200,000 King and Queen Arrive at Scene of Disaster, But are Overcome by the Awful Scene. 0 MANY REFUGEES CRAZED Water Now Covers the Site of Former Prosperous Town of Calabria Pope Orders Prayers. Rome, Dec. 30. Half of the population of Calabria and eastern part of Sicily are dead or injured and the other half is weeping. As the great extent of the terrific seismic disturbances becomes apparent, it seems impossible to exaggerate the horrors which have followed them. The calamity which has overwhelmed Italy is almost beyond the grasp of imagination, not only because of the dead now known to number many thousands, but because of innumerable injured buried in the ruins, many of whom will perish, because it is impossible to resent tLem from the wreck of their fc homes. The whole of Italy is au-vlrtely stunned, and at the scene of disaster the bulk of the people are literally demented with the suddenness and the extent of the blow. Kln$ and Queen on Scene. King Victor Emanuel and the Queen Helena arrived at Messina today. As they made their way into the ruined town the scene of the disaster, the horror was too much for, the queen who almost swooned. Crowds of terror Btricken persons swarmed about the royal party and throwing themselves in the mud, screamed for pity and aid. Heart Rending Stories Told. Many terrible stories are related Jn connection with the rescue work. The' rescuers had to contend with a supersittion so deep rooted in the Sicilian mind,, that in many cases, injured men and women clung to the crumbling walls, refusing to let go their hold and seek a safer position. 200,000 Are Dead.. At six o'clock this evening it is estimated two hundred thousand human beings met death in the earthquake which swept Sicily and southern Italy Monday. Every additional report confirms or increases the gravity of the situation. Every hour brings fresh news of desolation. WWIVII IVI VIIIICJ Every effort is being made here to determine definitely the fate of Consul Cheney and his assistants and all correspondents have been instructed to make this their first work. The king and queen are at Messina, both so overcome that they are compelled to spend the greater part of the time in their apartments. Reggio Beneath Sea. Refugees are now arriving hourly from Calabria and other stricken sections and stories told by these are full of horror. Not a building remains standing at Reggio. according to Information brought by the wanderers and only a few score of people escaped death. The sea rolled in with mighty roar that was at first mistaken for, the rumblings of an earthquake. The sitea of the city today is covered 1th water. Looters Fired Upon. Italian soldiery were compelled to fire today on bands of looters in Messina district Public bank buildings were shattered by Monday's earthquake and vandals banded together with leaders, sought to enrich themselves at the expense of the awful conditions prevailing by securing the gold. Commands were given to open fire and a number of deaths are reported today. Marines from the ships bar also been given the prerogative Of firing on the looters and sailors

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have been landed assist in the work. Tourists Are Killed. It is known that thousands of tourists from many foreign lands have lost their lives. Thirty cities of size were swept into the ruins and many people have perished whose remains were incinerated in the fires which followed. The huge tidal wave also carried many bodies to the sea which are being picked up by ships. Trenches Are Graves. Reports from stricken districts say burial is being carried on rapidly and long trenches are being dug for this purpose, to prevent a plague from breaking out. No time is wasted in an attempt to identify the dead. No report from Sicily or Calabria, regarding the demolition by earthquake and the elements, can be pictured in phrases too lurid. The wild reports which first emanated from the ravaged lands are confirmed and then fade away before the newer and truer reports which come sifting in. The numbers now dead are growing with such rapidity that no one can foresee where" it will end. As yet no attempt has been made to estimate the damage. Numerous villages rebuilt since the earthquake of 1905 are completely wiped off the map. Kagnari and Palmi and Mileto in Calabria have been

destroyed in part. , Half of Towns Gone. The commander of the torpedo boat Messina which was lying off the town declares that the inhabitants were aroused from their slumbers and many were doomed before awakening to full consciousness of the disaster. He states that half the towns along the east coast of Sicily have been effaced. Signor Passia commander of the Italian cruiser Piemonte and his family were spending the night in the city and all have perished. GREAT LOSS TO CHURCH. News of Disaster Received by PopeAid to Distressed. Rome, Dec. 3 Six o'clock Special delegations visited the Vatican this afternoon relative to the woe wrought to the ecclesiastical centers in the earthquake stricken terltory. The Pope ordered daily prayers for the-afTlicted. The Vatican has reports of great damage done to church property. Many churches and cathedrals were swept away, relics of the Saints destroyed and many priests have perished. A large delegation was dispatched this afternoon to Calabria and Sicily to give succor to the suffering. Subscriptions from all over the world are coming in. TIDLE WAVE HIGH Rescued Sufferers Tell Vivid Stories of Catastrophe. Naples, Dec. 30. Six o'clock The Russian battleship Makaroff, bearing five hundred wounded and highly terrorized refugees from Catania and Messina, arrived this afternoon. Lurid tales are told by the sufferers confirming the belief that the disaster must have been the result of an earthquake changing the bed of the sea, this causing a great tidal wave which swept mountain high over the land. The steamship Therepia also arrived bringing a large quota of Messinians and Catanians. CHENEY IS DEAD. News of Destruction of Consulate Received. Washington, D. C. Dec. .10. The State department today received a dispatch stating that Consul Cheney, his wife, and official family have all lost their lives in the destruction of the consulate. The bodies are still ia tha ruins. GRAPHIC PICTURES. Dazed Refugees Tell of the Catastrophe. Rome, Dec. 30. The towns and villages on both sides of the Strait of Messina have been leveled to the ground, and nothing but ruins are left to indicate where they formerly stood. The coasts of Calabria and Sicily are separated by the narrow waters of the Strait of Messina, and were thickly populated. The earthquake has changed the aspect of one of the most picturesque and smiling places in Southern Italy. Reggio Has Vanished. The ominous absence of details concerning Reggio proves to be due to the fact that not only the city itself, but its whole population, with the exception of a mere handful, has disappeared. The warships which were ordered to relieve the 6urvivorswere unable to approach the coast, owing to the changed configuration of the strait. Ultimately a torpedo boat ran close to the coast, but was unable to discover a trace of the city. Where two days ago stood an aggregation of buildings and busy streets, there was nothing but rocks and earth. The city had vanished as completely as Aladdin's Palace under the magician's spell. It Is Impossible, of course, as yet to speak certainly of what happened, but such observation as Is possible indicates that Reggio was completely swallowed by the earth collapsing beneath it, and the yawning site was filled by J

the sea. which advanced in a huge wave there, as at Messina. Only five survivors of the city's 50,000 Inhabitants have yet been accounted for. These unhappy wretches reached Catanzaro and Palmi half demented by fright. They were scarcely able to talk intelligently, but their incoherent stories are sufficient to confirm the horrible fate of the city. One of them was mainly impressed by having seen the sea cover the cathedral. Tne others were deafened by the roar of the sea and the falling houses which they compare with the roar of heavy artillery. The Government is withholding the news concerning Reggio for the present, hesitating to publish the appalling tale until It Is fully confirmed. In view of these latest developments of the catastrophe, the death roll may well reach lu.OOO. There were 150 guests at the Hotel Trinacria, at Reggio, NO of whom were English and American. All of them perished. Relief Work Rushed. Relief funds have already been started, and a hundred ships and trains are on their way carrying supplies and re-enforcements to the South. Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples and other cities are sending physicians, police and firemen. Yesterday all the Ambassadors and Ministers expressed sympathy with M. Titoni, Minister of Foreign Affairs, whose emotion was profound. The Bourses and the theaters have been closed throughout Italy and dispatches of sympathy continue to pour in from all quarters of the globe. At the time of the earthquake the torpedo boat Sappho was lying in the harbor at Messina, and ont of the officers told of the occurrences as follows: "At 5:.50 in the morning the sea suddenly became terribly agitated, seemingly literally to pick up our boat and shake it. Other craft near by were similarly treated, and the ships looked like bits of cork bobbing about in a tempest. Almost immediately a tidal wave of huge proportions swept across the strait mounting the coasts and carrying everything before it. Many chips were damaged, and the Hungarian boat Andrassy parted her anchors

and went, crashing Jnta othfiiuvessels. J Messina Bay was wiped out and the sea was soon covered with masses of wreckage which were carried off In the arms of the receding waters." Eight sailors from the Sappho were landed and took up the work of rescue. ' Officers and men from Italian and British steamers also went ashore as soon as possible, the Britishers having a family of five who were imprisoned in a burning house. Many prisoners from the jails made their escape and looted right and left. Hundreds engaged in the work of robbing the banks and business houses. In the opinion ct the officers of the Sappho half the population of Messina per. ished. The Devastating Shock. All accounts now agree that the time occupied by nature's gigantic spasm was but 32 seconds. It was seme time later that a great wave came to complete the havoc in the 111 fatec coast towns. The violence of the shock seems to have been unprecedei ted. except in volcanic eruptions of limited area. The buildings in Messina were not merely shaken down, their foundations were literally yanked f iom beneath them, to one side or the other they were toppled from the perpendicular and fell in alongside their original states; that was the experience of Messina. That of Reggio, on the opposite side of the strait, must have been more violent, for scarcely one stone remains on another of what was a flourishing city only three days ago. Messina probably will not rise again from her ruins and ashes. This last overwhelming calamity will alter the future history of Sicily and Southern Italy. It may be regarded as certain that a considerable portion of the population of this land will bow before the wrath of the gods and seek homes elsewhere. Next to Italy itself America will feel the effects of the calamity more than any other country for a large proportion, of the stricken population will seekj refuge there as soon as the means of Right can be secured. Th.e first stories of the rescue work at Messina reveal to the full horrors which accompany such catastrophes. In addition to tons of corpses, often hideously mangled, hundreds of injured are lying beneath the wreckage, many of the fair women and children in their night clothing. Shrieks and cries of pain are heard on all sides. Now and again some unhappy wretch, mad from terror or grief, is seen sitting in the mud the sea deposited in the streets or clinging with useless energy to some support, fearing the sea will return and wash him away. Instances are recorded of such de- ( Continued on Page Eight) THE WEATHER PROPHET. INDIANA Rain and colder Wednesday night; Thursday partly cloudy and much colder, with snow near the lake. OHIO Rain Wednesday night, with colder in west portion; Thursday partly cloudy ' and colder, with snow near lakes. I

BUREAU CRIMINAL

1I1TIFICATI0N IS URGEDIKMESSAGE President Roosevelt Will Attept to Force on Congress Merger of Various Secret Service Police. THE MEASURE HAS VERY MANY ENEMIES President's Plan Supported by Chief Wilke and AttorneyGeneral Bonaparte Intricate Spy System. By Sheldon S. Cline. Washington, Dec. 30. President Roosevelt's proposal to merge the various secret police systems of the government into a bureau of criminal investigation under the supervision of the Department of Justice is likely to meet with determined opposition on the part of Congress. Just at this time, with the mind of Congress inflamed by the President's pointed reference in his annual message to the need of investigating the conduct of Its members, the fate of such a measure is extremely doubtful. In fact, the present open hostility to any extension of the secret service along the lines proposed by the President, may yet result in a serious rupture between the legislative and executive branches of the government. The Proper Solution. The President believes his proposed merger will provide the only proper solution of the problems growing out of the various secret police systems of the federal government. His plan is to consolidate these secret inspectors, which include Chief Wilkie's secret service, the Postoffice inspectors, the internal revenue special agents, the customs inspectors, pension examiners and land office agents, into a central bureau. He contends that it not only would save the government thousands of dollars annually, but by this means the overlapping of the work of these several separate branches would be avoided. In this he is supported by Chief Wilkie and Attorney General Bonaparte, both of whom have had frequent conferences at the White House to advise with the President regarding his plan. Another Message. It is understood that the President, in a message to Congress next week will recommend the adoption of this bureau of criminal identification. His idea is to have it under the supervision of a chief who shall be in charge of the special Investigating work of all the federal government. Under this plan the country would be divided into four districts to be known as the northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest divisions, each of these divisions to have a subchief or deputy. The headquarters would be in Washington. The most serious obstable to the success of the plan will be that Congress has always viewed with extreme disfavor whatever seemed to be an attempt on the part of the executive to link an extensive spy system to the workings of the government. In recent years the impression has become flxe4 that any extension of the activities of the secret service would be to create a secret spy system, such as is deemed a necessary part of an European government. If this is to be considered a reasonable argument against the President's plan, the plan is likely to fare badly when proposed to Congress. Wilke's Spy System. How far this government is at present fostering a spy system, far outgrowing the original intention of congress is shown by the rapid growth of Chief Wilkie's secret service bureau since Its establishment. This service was created by Congress to investigate and stamp out counterfeiting, to investigate frauds in connection with county claims, and to safeguard the person of the President. Its expenses, as provided for by Congress anuually, have increased in twenty years from aboit $10,000 to more than $125,000 and its ramifications extend so far beyond its original scope that it Is no longer a secret that Chief Wilkie's men serve in whatever investigating capacity they are called upon. In this connection, it may be said that the resentment of Congress is due largely t the activity of secret service men in gathering information about its members. Senators and Representatives alike, at the will of not only the President, but also of the heads of federal departments. The presence of secret service men at the Capitol became so frequent last winter and so objectionable to members of Congress that at one time a plan to expel them from the building was considered imperative. At the present session their presence has not been so marked, and had It not been for the utterances in the President's message much of the U&sioa would bare .been relieved, .

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Bob" McCoy, Crosses

Former Chief of 'Jordan's Chapel, " Died Last Evening at County Infirmary.

"Bob" McCoy, a Richmond character who was widely known among older citizens, died last night at the Wayne county poor farm of which institution he had been an inmate for a year past. 'Bob," as he was familiarly known to hundreds, was most prominent during the existence of the to-called "Jordan chapel," which was, in reality, nothing more than the restaurant conducted for so many years by James Jordan on West Main street between Fifth and Sixth streets. The piace derived the name "chapel" from the fact that it was the rendezvous of many of the most prominent men of Richmond. Famous Jordan's Chapel. It flourished from civil war days to the early eighties and no such gathering point in Richmond, before or since was quite like it. It was there that "Bob" McCoy, as a valued employe of SHIVELY IS NOW REGARDED STRONG EACIOR III RACE South Bend Man Gaining Strength Daily in His Candidacy for United States Senator. KERN, SLACK, SHIVELY SAID BE RUNNING EVEN Expected Kern will Take Lead When Balloting Begins Slack is Confident of Success. Palladium Bureau, Indianapolis, Dec. 30. The rest of the candidates for United States senator had better keep their eye on B. F. Shively, of South Bend. He is stronger than .he has been at any time during the campaign for senator, and he is going some, too; Not only has he lined up the six democratic votes in his own district, the Thirteenth, but he has already gathered in several outside of his district. He has the one lone democratic representative from the Tenth district, John B. Faulkner, of Michigan City, on his side. He has also several votes in the Third, one or two in the Second, at least one in the Ninth and probably two in the Eleventh. It will not be surprising to see Shiyeley start Into the balloting with about as many votes as any other candidate. Three on Even Footing. In fact, it looks like Kern, Shively and Slack will be practically on an even footing when the caucus begins. Shively is a favorte among a large element of the democrats of the state. They recognize that there is no man in the state who has worked harder or more consistently for the party than he has. It is pointed out that he is a brilliant orator and that he would be fully able to take care of himself on the floor of the United States senate or anywhere else. They count him a giant in doing effective work. Kern Lead at Start. Of course, everybody is expecting that John W. Kern will be in the lead when the balloting begins. He may even have enough to nominate him on the first ballot in the caucus. He is claiming that in addition to his own district, he has enough promises from representatives over the state to make his nomination certain. These, be says, are in writing. He says further that there are several members of the house throughout the state who have told him that they stand ready to vote for him even on the first ballot If he needs their votes. These men, he says, live in other districts that have candidates of their own, but who prefer him to their own candidates. Just how many of these members will fool Mr. Kern when the time comes tto vote, remains to be seen. Slack Is Confident. L. Ert Slack, of Franklin, believes he has the best chance of any candidate to be elected United States senator. He says he has almost as many votes lined up solid as any other candidate and that he is the second choice of more members than anyone else. He says the fight thus far has been a clean, dignified contest. "It will be very much like the state convention." he said. "There my strength grew until the opposition had to withdraw the leader in the race in order to beat me. I will get stronger in this fight, too. as the time goes on. I am strong as second choice of a good many members. Take my own

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a Character

the River Styx Mr. Jordan, acted as chef and a a dispenser of oysters in "all styles" which made the "chapel" almost as famous as did its regular nightly visitors. He became indispensable. "Bob" remained at his post until the chapel was no more and from te day that death removed his friend and benefactor, his mode of living was precarious. McCoy was a member of one of the old families of Richmond, was born here and his entire life spent here. He was noted in late years for his quiet demeanor, seldom speaking unless addressed. He was often declared to be "queer." but he probably was without an enemy in the world, and his life, though of the simplest, probably was never marred by misconduct of any sort. "Bob" will live long in the memories of those who knew him and if across the Styx there should ever be a gathering of the "chapel" celebrities, the function would ot be complete unless "Bob" was there. DR. STAIISFIELD MAKES DEFENSE OF MINISTERS Indianapolis Divine ax Y. M. C. A. Meeting last Night Resents the Statements Made by Mr. Shuey. ALL BUSINESS MEN ARE NOT SUCCESSES Speaker States There Many Preachers Who Good Business Men teresting Address. are are InTaking the opportunity to answer the arguments advanced by Hon. E. L. Shuey of Dayton, in which he declared the minister had no right to a place in the management of the Young Men's Christian Association, Dr. Joshua Stansfleld of Indianapolis, one of the best known 'ministers of the capital, last evening declared before the meeting of the pastors and members of men's church organizations, that thn minister bad such a right. Due to the inclement weather the attendance at this meeting was very small. It was composed almost entirely of ministers of the city who were instrumental in the erection of the building, and who, therefore were somewhat indignant over the remarks made by Mr. Shuey, the evening before. There were few in attendance who had not inspected the building and among these few the new edifice passed the same careful inspection as it has by the majority of the citizens, and was graded "A." Dr. Stansfleld was much impressed with the beauty of the furnishings, declaring it to be one of the most handsome buildings he had ever visited and an ideal home for the boys of the city. ' Address in Lecture Room. The ministers and church workers were received by the officers and directors in the Y. M. C. A. They were shown into the lecture room on the second floor where the discourse of Dr. Stansfleld was given. Secretary George L. Goodwin of the Y. M. C. A. introduced the speaker of the evening and In his Introductory remarks he declared that the association members believe in the church and felt the need of its assistance in the work, lie also declared the officers would not have thought of carrying on the dedicatory work without having one of the public meetings especially for the pastors and church workers. Before Dr. Stansfleld spoke, Rev. H. II. Keats of the South Eighth Street Friends church led those assembled, in rpayer. Defends Ministers. Dr. Stansfleld stated that inasmuch as a minister was going to speak, it was a had night. He stated that he was used to such performances of the weather man and did not feel the embarrassment of a rather small attendance, for he was certain that there were more pastors and church workers in the city. He spoke of the two previous meetings, gaining his information from press reports and personal conversation with9 the officers. "I was much pleased with the press report of Monday evening's meeting, but not with Mr. Shuey's charge," stated the speaker. He then proceeded to defend the rights of the minister in connection with Y. M. C. A. management. Minister is a Man. The present age. was declared to be one of pronounced reaction and it was true in the ministry as well as in other professions. He said the time was when the minister was nothing more

, (Covtimiiel on Face Three.)

ACTIVITY III THE

POLITICAL GAME TO BEjilTIIIUEDj Action Taken by Indianapolis J Central Labor Union Indicates Course of All State . Organizations. LABOR HAS MUCH AT . STAKE SAY LEADERS

County School Superintendents Meet and Plan Legislation Which Involves Several Much Needed Reforms. . ' - vuA " Palladium Bureau. Indianapolis, Dec. 30. . Action taken by the Indianapolis Central Labor Union, last night, indicates the political action that is to be taken by organized labor throughout the state. Of course, it is only one branch of organized labor of the state, but it is the largest and numbers In Its membership some of the state officers of the Indiana State Federation of Labor. So whatever the Indianapolis Central Labor Union may do along that line gives a pretty good indication of the course that Is likely to be followed by labor throughout the state. Took Active Part. During the campaign just closed organized labor took an active part, even going so far as to hire a special train and send Samuel Gompers and other noted labor speakers over the state to work against the republican ticket , There has never been any question that this activity on the part of organized labor had something to do with the defeat of James E. Watson for governor and the small plurality given Taft In Indiana. The Central Labor Union had a committee during the campaign that was known as the political activity comtnittfe, and at the meeting of the central body this committee made a final report. In the report it told of all the campaigning that labor had done and reviewed the whole work, . Report Approvtd. The report was approved by the central body and a motion carried to continue the political activity committee for future campaigns. The speakers wbo favored such action pointed out that labor has much at stake and that unless it takes care of itself It will get the worst of It It was pointed out In the speeches that a city election is to be held next fall in this city and that other elections are coming on also, and it agreed that labor should continue in the fight. Whether other organizations throughout the state will follow suit is not known, but there Is every reason to believe that they will. At least some of the Indianapolis labor leaders say that the propaganda will be pushed. Altogether it is looked on as an Important move In labor circles. . School Legislation. The county superintendents oY schools from all over the state were here yesterday planning the legislation they will ask from the coming session. They wish their sasrles Increased first of all. A committee that has had the matter in charge has arranged the following scale of salaries which the legislature will be asked to embody in a law: In counties having more than 16,000 children of school age, $2,250; from 12,000 to 16.000, a salary of $1,950; from 9,000 to 12.000, a salary of $1,750; from 5,000 to 9.000,. a salary of $1,550; and In counties where the enumeration is under 5,000 children, a salary of $1,400. At the present time county superintendents receive $4 a day for time actually employed. Out Reach of Politics. Other things that the county sup, intendents will ask are more strict qualifications for county superintendents, taking the office out of politics as much as possible, an extension of authority by giving county superinten- . dents Judicial power to locate buildings, erect buildings, select sites, abandon schools and to employ teachers. It is also proposed to authorize the employment of a deputy county superintendent in counties where one Is needed. It was held that a man should not be eligible to become a county super intendent unless he is cspable of holding a sixty months teachers license, a life state license or a diploma from a professional course in an accredited normal school or college. More Profit For Dealers. Changes are also proposed in that law for hauling children to school In the country. It is proposed to change the school book law so as to make a larger profit for the dealer. One of the superintendents said in his speech that he favored the re-establishment of some of the district schools In the country. The eigbt members of the Indiana delegation in congress, who sre to retire to private life March 4, are planning to return to Indiana. Men wbo lose out in public life are often tempted to settle down at the national capital, but no such temptation seems to have taken hold ot the Hoosiers this ' (Continued on Page Three,)