Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 37, Number 55, 9 January 1912 — Page 1

fflC MOM) PAIXABIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM VOL. XXXVII. NO. 55. RICHMOND, IXD., TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 1912. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS.

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SEARCH SEAS FOR A TRACE

OF WARSHIPS

Three Torpedo Boats, Enroute to Cuba, Are Missing and the Navy Officials Are Much Alarmed. FORM "BREADLINE" AT ATLANTA TODAY Three Men Have Frozen to Death in Kentucky and Entire Country Is in the Grip of the Storm. (National News Association) NORFOLK, V.. Jan. 9. The battleships Connecticut. Louisiana, Ohio and South Carolina, reinforced by the auxiliary cruiaer Prairie and the cruiaer Salem were searching the storm ridden Atlantic today for trace of the mining torpedo boats Mayrant, McCall and Drayton, with more than 200 men aboard them. The boats had been wept out of their course by a terrific gale while bound for Cuba. Government wireless operators along the coast were ordered to keep the special calls for the missing ships until they were found. Naval officials here do not believe the vessels have gone down, but think they have been driven far out of their course, and perhaps their wireless rigging has been wrecked. FROZEN TO DEATH. LOUISVILLE. Ky.. Jan. . Three men have fro ten to death on the Kentucky roads during the zero spell. One victim was walking from an interurban car to his home near Lexington, when be was overcome. DIXIE SHIVERING. t ATLANTA. Qa., Jan. 9. Atlanta's coldest day of the winter, 22 above, arrived this morning. The city is covered with Ice following yesterday's now and the streets are dangerous. ' Many district! were In total darkness : last night, the current being cut off by broken wire. Two men are dead from wires In the streets. The bread line of the poor has formed in front of the city hall, where provisions and coal are being supplied. GALE ALONG C0A8T. NEWPORT. R. I. Jan. 9. The worst gale In many years is raging along the coast and much damage has been done. Cable wires have been damaged by the storm. The barometer this afternoon was 29.4, the lowest in thirty years. SCHOONER ASHORE. PORTLAND, Me., Jan. 9 The three-masted schooner went, ashore here near Richmond Breakwater, off this port today. Her crew is in the wreckage. Life savers were unable to reach her owing to high seas. IN CENTRAL WEST. CHICAGO, Jan. 9 The central west s once more In the throes of the cold, well below the zero mark, and death and intense suffering will spread. Records for cold spells continue to be broken in many states throughout the west. "In addition to the heavy human toll which the severe cold Is exacting crop loss Is very heavy, thousands of bead of cat 1 16 are dying, thousands of people are facing further suffering through lack of water supply and natural gas. cut oft by the cold. In many districts coal famines also exist. In the larger cities suffering among the poor is terrible despite thousands upon thousands of dollars being uour- , cd in by charitable organizations into supplies for the relief of the needy. Nineteen have died of cold in Chicago since the zero weather began. Tw of these deaths occurred during the past 24 hours. More than fifty deaths due to the cold weather have - been reported from . various sections during the past week. In today's dis- " patches many additional deaths are reported. These include two in Ham- ,. nond, Ind.; one in Gary, Ind.; one In .Wisconsin; one in Memphis. Tenn.; one In Norfolk. Neb.; where the tem- , pemture is 29 below; one In St. Louis. . a-snow slide In Utah, which killed t three men and two In Oklahoma. A desperate gang of hoboes seized the power house at Joliet. 111., as a place of; refuge from the fret-zing tem"perature. THE WEATHER STATE AND LOCAL Pair, tonight; cold. HIGH SCHOOL OBSERVATORY Forecast tor Richmond and vicinity: Fair tonight and Wednesday, slowly rising temperature. Highest temperature In last 24 hours. 23 at noon Monday. Lowest temperature in last 24 hours, 4 at 2 a. m. Tuesday. Temperature at 12:30 p. m. today, 6 above. -Barometer, SO, high, stationary. Directton and velocity of wind, south- , west. IS miles per hour. ,. Note The thermometer fell steadi1 ly from noon Monday, to 2 a. m. FriV day, then rose 4 degrees gradually to

Given Ovation at Jackson Feast

WOODROW YOUTH HOT WANTED BY UIIITED STATES For Opening Letter Sent to a Friend Technicality Is Involved. After conferring with Charles W. Miller, United States District Attorney, P. J. Freeman, United States commissioner of this city informed the police department that he could do nothing with Fred Coneway, the young man who opened a letter belonging to a friend, with the expectation of finding a money order, which he could appropriate for his own use. As James A. Parker, the friend, had sent Coneway to the post office to get the letter, the district attorney stated . that Coneway was made the agent for Parker, and inasmuch as there was no money order in the letter the matter was out of the jurisdiction of the nited States laws. Parker and Coneway "bummed" their way into the city yesterday, and Parker told Coneway to go to the post office to secure a letter which he expected from his folks in Richmond, Va. Parker informed his companion that there was a money order in the letter. Coneway said that he would get the letter and take it to Parker, but although the latter waited on a street ocrner for an hour Coneway did not put in an appearance. . The matter was reported to the police and Coneway was found in the basement of the city building. He had the opened letter in his pocket but from the contents it was learned that no money order had been sent. A charge of tampering with the mails was placed against Coneway but the district attorney held that no offense, as far as the United States laws were concerned, had been committed. BOYS' BIBLE STUDY WORK IS POPULAR The remarkable accomplishment of securing an Increase of more than a thousand boys in Bible study work, over the preceding year, is shown in the annual report for 1911. issued today by Bojs' Director H. A. Pettijohn. During the past year, 3.659 marks the total attendance in Bible study, the association having an average weekly attendance of 136, and an enrollment of 368. During the month of December. 1911, the total attendance figure was 638. almost a record breaker in spite of the fact that many lads were at work during the holidays and could not attend classes regularly. I This was an increase of nearly 75 over the corresponding month in the previous year. With an attendance of 173 in the classes during the firs week of the year, officials of the association believe that the boys ar.e showing sufficient improvement over last year, when they ranked third in the United States, to entitle them to premier honors at the annual national examinations next June. SUGAR MEN MEET (National News Association) BURLINGTON, VL. Jan. 9. The nineteenth annual convention of the Vermont Maple Sugar Association began here today In connection with the State dairymen's convention. President G. H. Soule of Fairaeld delivered the opening address. One of the Interesting features of the gathering is an elaborate exhibition of maple products, sugar and syrup and of sugar making apparatus,

WILSON.

COUNTY BOARD TO MAKEJNSPECTIOII Of Bridges in East Before Taking Action on Local Bridge War. In order to become familiar with reinforced concrete constructed bridges of large type, that they may exercise their best judgment in approving plans for the proposed South' End bridge; over the Whitewater river, which will be built at either B or L streets this year, the county commissioners have decided on a junketing trip to Cleveland and Pittsburg and other points east sometime before spring. Concrete bridges which are located in these districts will be inspected. Indorsement of the proposal was given by the county council on Monday and an appropriation of $125 to cover the expenses of the commissioners while on the trip was approved on first reading, and likely will be ap proved on final reading Saturday, along with the other appropriations made to operate the county government during the remainder of 1912. Not until the weather moderates will the trip be undertaken and it may be the early spring before the inspection Is made. There is no real occasion for hurry, the commissioners say, as they do not intend to locate the bridge until spring. Furthermore it is doubtful if any definite action, in any respect will be taken by the board until after the Republican primaries in February. It is almost a foregone conclusion that South H street has been eliminated as a site for the bridge while the agitation for South L and South E streets continues as strong as ever. The reason South H street seems to be out of it is that a bridge at this point would be more expensive by many thousand dollars than at either of the other two proposed locations. The gorge at South E street is 42 feet shorter than at South L. street. South E street being 612 feet and South L street 654 feet. A bridge at South L street would be level, while that at South E street would have a one per cent grade. Engineer Jack Mueller who is working on South E street plans, and who has prepared South L street plans, figures that a three-span bridge would be sufficient at E street,' while his plans call for four spans at South L street. No structure at either point can be erected for les3 than $120,000, in the opinion of the county officials. There is about $45,000 in the county treasury to expend on the structure and the remainder would have to be secured by the sale of bonds. A delegation from the South Side Improvement association, and Richard Sedgwick, representing the West Side Improvement association, respectively advocating South NL and South E streets as the bridge location addressed the board. MEETS AT PARSONAGE The Ladles' Aid society of the First Methodist church win meet Wednesday afternoon with Mrs. J. F. Radcliffe in the church parsonage in South Fourteenth street

JUST A FRANCHISE FOR GAS IS ASKED BY R, L. H, k P, CO.

In Proposal Submitted by the Company to Board, No Mention of Its Electrical Business Is Made. 90 CENT GAS RATE MADE IN PROPOSAL However, This Includes the Ten Per Cent Deduction Term of 25 Years for Franchise Is Asked. John Beasley. of Terre Haute, attorney for the Richmond Light, Heat and Power company, appeared before the board of public works this morning and submitted a proposition for a new franchise for gas. No reference to a contract for electricity is made in the proposition. In presenting the proposition to the board, Mr. Beasley stated the proposal was merely tentative and that his company did not expect the board to act upon it immediately. The proposal calls for the furnishing of gas at a rate of $1 per 1000 cubic feet for all domestic consumers, with a discount of 10 per cent, if paid before the tenth of each month. This is a reduction of 10 cents on the present price of gas. For commercial and manufacturing purposes a discount of 15 per cent, 20 per cent and 25 per cent will be given, according to the amount used. The company is asking for a franchise for twenty-five years. Who Opened Question? The fact that the corporation is submitting a proposition at this time which is more than three years before its present contract - expires has brought forth the question as to whether the corporation or the cUy has asked for a new franchise. When questioned this morning Attorney Beasley answered that the corporation and the city had discussed it before and both believed it was now time to consider clauses which they desired incorporated in- a franciee. . ) "The mayor indicated that the city is willing to entertain a proposition at this time, as he believed a reduction in gas rates would compensate the city in retiring the present franchise and making a new contract," Mr. Beasley added. The city officials have been studying over a new gas franchise for some time and they have placed special stress upon two points lower rates for domestic consumers, and better quality of gas. In the proposition lower rates are specified, but from statements made by the members of the board of works the decrease is not enough. They say they want eighty or eighty-five cent gas. Quality of The Gas. As to the quality of the gas the proposition of the public service corporation provides for an average of 600 British thermal units, wheh is the recognized standard for heating gas. In the present franchise there is no specifications as to the heating units of the gas, and tests made by Fred R. Charles, city civil engineer, have shown the supply of gas to be of an inferior quality. The proposition provides for penal ties in case the corporation does not ! produce gas of the standard quality. The penalties are to be specified in ordinances while the city council may pass. Regarding the lighting quality of gas to be furnished the proposition specifies 18 candle power gas, while the present franchise provides for lighting gas of not less than 15 candle power. The minimum price of gas is fixed at 50 cents per month where the actual consumption at the schedule rate, less the discount, would not amount to fifty cents. One day's notice will be Riven, according to the proposal, to the city when the corporation desires to tear up a street in order to lay mains or service pipes. The corporation also agrees to place the street in good repair. E. M. Campfield and his attorney, A. C. Lindemuth, were present at the meeting and Campfield asserted that he desired to submit a bid for a gas franchise later. The board will be obliged to advertise for bids and Carapfeld said that whenever such advertisement was made he would present his proposition. Mr. Campfield's bid on the water works franchise is still in the hands of the board of works. A SURETY COMPANY GOES TO THE WALL Attorneys and others who have use for surety bonds have been informed the United States Surety company of Baltimore is In the hands of a receiver. The company did a considerable business in this city. Those who in! legal matters are under this com

pany's bond, including some of the of- i McGuire. M. C. Henley, I. M. Ridenour, flcials, it is said, will be required to ! E. G. Hibberd and W. D. Loehr. The give new bond as those held under the officers are George Cates, president, United States Surety company are re- j M. C. Henley and Edwin Cates vioegarded as worthless. presidents, H. J. Hanes. cashier.

EQUI

TABLE LIFE

BURNED FIVE ARE DEAD,

HE MUST FORFEIT LIFE jORJUROER Rev. Clarence Richeson Carried to Court to Hear the Death Sentence. (National News Association) BOSTON, Jan. 9.--The Rev. Clarence Richeson this afternoon pleaded guilty to first degree murder for poisoning of Miss Avis Linnell. He was sentenced to be electrocuted during the week of May 19. Richeson was pale as a sheet and so weak he was not required to stand up during the plea or sentence. In a low voice, replying to the question he said: "Yes, guilty of murder in the first degree." Strict discipline was maintained in the court room, none being allowed to stand. When sentenced, Richeson flushed, then trembled in every nerve, when electrocution was mentioned. CARRIED TO COURT. BOSTON, Jan. 9. So weak that he had to be carried from the Charles street jail to the prisoner's van in a chair the Rev. Clarence Richeson was taken to the Suffolk county court today to plead guilty to the murder of Miss Avis Linnell. Deputy Cronin was called into the judge's lobby before the hearing and received special instructions from Chief Justice Aiken regarding the action of all people in the court room during the hearing. Cronin came from the judge's lobby into the crowded court room at 11:20 and announced the special rule. No person, he said, not even the president of the United States, would be allowed to stand during the proceedings. He instructed the newspaper artists that no sketching would be allowed, then be made the unusual announcement that to avoid confusion the formality of standing would be waived while the death sentence was passed, if one should be passed. Among the spectators were five girl clerks from the probate court office. .: Richeson left the Charles street jail for the courthouse at 11:40 a. m. During the morning the prisoner's overcoat was sent over to the jail from the office of William Morse, Richeson's counsel. Richeson was dressed in a dark blue suit. The prisoner was very pale and seemed weak. He managed to take his hat and screen his face from view wh'en he saw photographers poising cameras at him. Richeson reached the court at 12 : 22. During the arraignment the court ruled that none should leave the room. LOCAL BANKS HOLD ANNUAL ELECTIONS The First and Union National Banks Retain the Same Officials. Reports of the First, Second and Union National banks for the fiscal banking year just ended, were made Tuesday at the meeting of the stockholders of these institutions and approved as reported. The administration officials of the different banks were reelected in each instance without opposition and will serve for the ensuing year. The First National bank directors re-elected, include James A. Carr, William D. Foulke, II. Gayle, president of the Gilraar Coal company, Cincinnati, Daniel Moss, J. J. Rife, a practicing physician at Boston, Richard Sedgwick, Charles E. Shiveley, S. E. Swayne, A. D. Gayle and F. M. Taylor. The officers re-elected include A. D. Gayle, president, S. E. Swayne, vice president, F. M. Taylor, cashier, and Alton T. Hale, assistant cashier. The organization of the Second National bank includes John B. Dougan, president, D. G. Reid, vice president, C. W. Elmer vice president, S. W. Gaar, cashier, and W. C. Seeker, assistant cashier as the officers. The directors include the officers, excepting Mr. Seeker and the following: Howard Campbell. Clem A. Gaar, Henry Gennett, John J. Harrington. E. G. Hibberd, E. G. Hill, John R. Howard. Frank B. Land, George W. Miller, P. W. Smith, Henry C. Starr and S. S. Strattan, Jr., and FJwood McGuire, the latter newly elected to the board and one of Richmond's prominent manuBfacturers. The Union National bank directors, ; include George Cates, Edwin H. Cates. j H. J. Hanes, Charles McGuire. El wood

NSURANCE

Estimated Loss of Famous New York Structure is Placed at Seven MillionsFiremen Had a Terrible Battle,

DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF A

(National News Association) NEW YORK, Jan. 9 Seven millions of dollars loss was caused today by a fire that destroyed the magnificent building of the Equitable Life Assurance society. Five are known to be dead: Deputy Fire Chief Walsh; William Chapman, watchman: John Conti, cook in the cafe Savarin: John Sazzie, cook in the cafe Savarin. and an unidentified man.- Three persons are missing. The seriously injured are William Giblin, president of the Mercantile Safety Deposit Co., and three others. They were taken to the hospital. The fire, which destroyed the Equitable building, a nine story marble and granite structure, here tofore regarded fireproof, started at six o'clock in the basement storeroom of the cafe Savarin and gained serious headway because the night employes attempted to extinguish the flames before sending in an alarm. Before nine o'clock the destruction had been completed, despite heroic work in the biting cold by the entire fire department. President Giblin was trapped in the safety deposit cafe for nearly an hour and was badly burned. He came near being roasted alive before the iron bars could be removed. Fire Chief Walsh was trapped on the fourth floor after ordering his men to make their escape. The Equitable building was in the heart of the financial district, surrounded by skyscrapers. It also housed the Mercantile Trust company; the Mercantile Safety Deposit company; Kountze Brothers, bankers, and the offices of the Harrtman Line of Railroads. Many valuable documents were lost and financial affairs of the stock exchange hampered. The loss to the building was four million, and loss to contents three million. Wind Hampers Firemen. A strong southwest gale , hampered the firemen and threatened . . tor a time to spread the holocaust over the entire financial district, as the Equit able building was located in the very heart of that section. Streams of water turned upon the burning structure were hurled clean across the street by the wind and live sparks and tongues of flame were carried by the raging wind. Many of the fire-fighters were injured by flying debris and one of the most thrilling and heart-rending scenes of the conflagration was the death of three men who were trapped j inthe cupola. All perished when the Lroof fell. Despite the tremendous exertions of the firemen to keep the flames confined to the lower flowers, the blare lapped its way upward and within half an hour the fifth and sixth floors were effgulfed with fire. The seventh and eighth caught next and shortly after 6:30 the flames burst through the roof, sending up a shower of sparks and flame like the eruption of a huge volcano. Fanned by a high wind which was driving in from the bay, the tongues QUIZ RAILROAD MEN On Transportation of Dynamite in Indiana. (National News Association) INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 9. Fedaral grand jury began calling in railroad officials, conductors and stationmen today, which led to the belief that the dynamiting investigation is rapidly drawing to a close, indicating as it does that information now sought concerns transportation in and out of Indianapolis of explosives. Examination of eight Ohio witnesses concerning explosions in that state was concluded before noon. EMPLOYES KICK Complaints, about the heating equipment of the city street cars are being registered with the officials of the company by motormen and conductors, and a petition is being circulated by the employes of the company, asking that this matter be remedied. It is said that General Manager Todd has also been appealed to and that he intends to inspect the local cars within the near future and ascertain If the complaints of the employes are true. BENNETT ESTATE Caroline L. Salter, administratrix with the will annexed of the estate of the late Anna M. Bennett, widow of the late General Tom, Bennett, mayor of Richmond for. several years, has' filed final settlement reports. The assets of the estate amounted to 729.03. The liabilities equaled this amount. It being necessary for the attending physician to reduce his claim in order that the creditors be paid in full.

BUILDING

IS THREE MISSING of fire were carried dangerously near to adjoiuing structures and the firemen had to keep playing water on them to prevent their burning. Roof Crashes. The roof crashed In about 7 o'clock, carrying down with it the men who were there fighting the flames. The crash was accompanied with a mighty roar and a shower of flames J!" "fT "T' T via? uvui to fa saui cv itliu OCCVU' ing interior. Thousands of spectators, who jammed the streets near the fire, saw the men on top of the building swallowed up as the roof fell. The firemen made daring efforts to rescue them but were powerless in the face of the terrific heat' The early apparatus on the scene carried ladders that reached only to the fifth floor. Firemen worked , lengthening the extensions with the flames beating from the windows Into their faces. Many were seriously burned, but stuck to their places. At 8 o'clock the fire was still burning fiercely, though every resource of the department was by that time being utilized. Many firemen were injured by flying debris, which was blown from the root by a high wind. The Equitable building was one of the finest in the downtown district, housed the offices of the August Belmont, the Union Pacific railroad and many other large enterprises. Word of the fire was quickly telephoned to officials of enterprises housed in the Equitable building and adjoining buildings and they rushed to the scene. One of the exciting incidents occurred when a part of the building came crashing down on a hook and ladder and engine. The firemen were barely able to escape in time to save their lives. The horses wre saved as 'they had been early taken from the shafts. . A large part of the wall remained standing however, and tongues' 'of flames leaped from every, part of it. Chief Kenlon became alarmed lest the 30-story National Auditing Co. build ing at Cedar street and Broadway would catch Are when this remaining wall should fall, as it was plainly evident it must within a short time. Lines of hose were run into it to be handy to extinguish any burning parts of the Equitable wall that might crash through the windows with its fall." Firemen, policemen and reporters became covered with Ice. and waded through the water In a chilling gats. In the frantic effort to save adjoining buildings and rescue those firemen and others imperiled by the flames, the dead bodies of two men Isy on the sidewalk of Broadway at Cedar street uncovered and uncared for. - Chief Kenlon and a party of twenty II re men narrowly escaped death from a falling portion of the Broadway wall when they heroically rescued Mr. Giblin. Volunteers for the rescuing party were called for by Chief Kenlon. All of the firemen available responded. LIFE AilO BASEBALL Compared by Ren Mulford at Local Church. In "Running Life's Bases," the subject selected for his address Monday, evening before the men's club of the i First Presbyterian church. Ren Mulford of Norwood, a suburb of Cincinnati, formerly one of the leading sport writers of the country, declared : that the human life is compared to the National pastime. He declared that be-, cause these similar features, baseball is so popular. His talk followed a banquet served by one of the women's societies of the church. - - The diamond of the human life, as depicted by Mulford, has four stations just as in baseball. First base In life Is called faith, second base, hope, and third base, charity or love. Home In baseball is' home in the human game he declared- To accomplish the most, in both baseball and . life he said, it was necessary for one to abide by all of the rules, leading a clean and upright life and exerting every effort to win a victory. Indifference to success in either game, he said, was harmful, and In life's game a positive sin. "Bonehead" Merkle came in . for much praise. Mr. Mulford declared . that a man who had lost a pennant and the possibility of a world's' pennant by falling to ran sixty feet smd' touch second in order to technically complete an "out," and who could come back, and "play the game" as -Merkle has demonstrated he could 'do. -

Is a genius, a wonder, and a ntasu lSul- . -ford said. - , .. ? . ,v "

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