davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN
THE TRANSVAAL
Truce viii be Kept BY OppOs-
ing Forces
NOTHING WILL OCCUR TODAY
Duke Of Connaught Anxious to
Fight
| =s
Cos Z MENT REFUSED CONSENT
Frs en- offered His Services to LORD
| 20 berts-Boers Are Extending
Their Trenches and Are Said
~ to Be Well Equipped
Duke of Connaught Anxious to
z MENT REFUSED CONSENT

London, December 25.-4:30 a. m.)-The
war office has received a cablegram from
General Forester Walker, dated at Cape
town yesterday, saying: "Haye no further
| news of the general situation
It may be also safely predicted that moth
or informal. is being kept for the observ-
anee of Christmas by the opposing forces.
The Duke of Connaught again pressed to
be allowed to go to the front, but the gov
ernment declined to give its assent. Then
waiving considerations of rank, he offered
his services to Lord Roberts in any capacity
as a staff officer Lord Roberts consented,
but the government again declined.
The Morning Posts correspondent at
Chievley, telegraphing on Monday. Decem-
Der IS, and confirming intelligence already
cabed, says:
"At dawn today the column struck camp
and formed a new one, three miles to the
south, owing to the scarcity of water"
Beers Extending Their Trenches
A dispatch from Modder River, dated De-
cember IS, says
1.-THE Beers continue extending their
| trenches. They now have nearly twenty
| miles of entrenched works due north OF
| the British camp, which also is in an adj
mirable position for defense, as the sur
rounding country is perfectly level The
Beers, moreover, are compelled to keep a
force estimated at 20,000 in order to con-
front the British column. A large number
of Lord Methuen's wounded have reeov-
cred, and are ready to resume their places
in the ranks"
A dispatch to the Daily News from Mod
der river, dated December IS, says: 1--WE
are now waiting until England shall have
realized the actual facts. 1t has to be ad-
mitted that man for man, we have foun1
ourselves pretty well matched. but the
Beers have always had the choice of po-
sitions. Let England, then, become alive
to the need for further 100000 men. Such
a force will prove the truest economy in
both blood and treasure"
New Commander
1t Is announced that Colonel Mackinnon
has been appointed to command the city of
Lodon imperial voluteers. The Sixth
Laneers have been expected to proceed
from Bombay to the Cape to meet the
pressing need of cavalry. The Canadian,
Colonel Russard, has been appointed to
General French.s staff
1t is rumored that the Free State is about
to move the seat of government from
Boemfontein to Winburg, the former being
indefensible.
DR.. Leyds, who has again been interview
ed, asserts that the Beers have ample arms
| and ammunition declaring that they have
Mausers enough to give each burgher two,
and an equal number of Martini -Henris
The morning papers are severely criticizing
the fact that General Sir Chas. Warren's
Fifth division is being utilized to reinforce
various points, instead of being concen-
trated at one.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
The .sn,aif Ca,astropI,e

Rome, December pa. dispatch from
Amaef, the popular tourist resort on the
Gulf of Salerno. where the landslide oc
CURED or Friday, say that twelve persons
are known to have been killed, that at least
fourteen others were injured and that MANY
are still unaccounted for.
Among those killed We're Miss Weir, a
daughter of James Galloway Weir, member
of the British house of commons for Ross
and Cromarty. and her governess They
had escaped, but returned for their valua-
bles and were killed together. II now oc-
ours that some earth trtmors enabled many
to get away before the slide occurred The
mayor of Amlf declares hts belief that the
land slip was due to the fact that aeshuge
assure left after similar slip ten years
ago had been careless'y iilled with fasgo;s 5
and piecas of timber.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
DR.. Lieberman DiScredits Report
That His Men Killed Him.
WAS SHOT THROUGH HEAD
Quite a Number of Others Were Killed
at the Same Locality, Including
$50 Natives Many
Guns Taken

Kansas City, Mo-, December PA letter
received today by L. S. Leiberman from his
son, DR.. B. Albert Leiberman, major and
surgeon of the Thirty-third United States
infantry major Logan's regimenD, dis
credits the report that Major John A. Lo-
gan was shot 10y his own men.
The letter says:
San Fabian, Luzon, November u, 1S99.-
AS l wrote you day before yesterday that
we were to attack town, 1 will now tell
you that we did it, and although We
whipped them, it cost us several killed. in
Guiding Major Logan. We left here at
a. m and marched about two or three
miles, when we ran into the enemy, who
were in houses, rice fields and tops Of trees
along the road and entrenchments without
end. Corporal Robinson in the advance
was wounded by the first volley Major
Logan in passing him stepped over and
asked him If he had a first aid package,
and was shot through the head just above
the temple. l was only a short distance
behind, and l crawled to my acting hos
pital steward, MERCER, and we went for
ward to him. l took Major Logans head
and Mercier his feet, so as to move him,
heart by man in tree. I looked up and
saw the fellow about fifteen feet above
me, and drawing my revolver, l shot him,
and he fell from the tree Then right at
that spot several others were killed or
wounded, and when 1 established my
dressing station at that place the sharp
shooters made things very lively for us
until a detail of men cleaned out the tree
tops One hundred and fifty natives were
killed, fifty prisoners were taken and about
200 guns captured. The road was some
thing terrible, as 1t had been raining; the
rice fields were like lakes. and the streams
were greatly swollen, and the bridges de-
stroyed, so that we had to ford or SWIM
all of them. The natives all had Mausers.
and they knew how to handle them. The
battle lasted about three and one-half
hours. General Wheaton today sent us a
letter of congratulations on our victory
the biggest since the war started"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
Killed His Three Children and
Committed Suicide.
BODIES BURNED TO A CRISP
Crazsd With Grief Over His Wife's
Death-Had Frequently Told His
Neighbors of His Intentions.
Also Financial Troubles

Chillicothe, Mo-, December 24-The
charred remains of William j. Thomas, a
farmer, and his three children were found
in the ashes of their home, eleven miles
southwest of Chillicothe, early this morn
ing. The supposition is that Thomas mur-
dered the children, set fire to the house
and then took his own life.
About a year ago Thomas wife commit
ted suicide by taking poison. Thomas had
frequently told his neighbors that his wife
on her death bed exacted promise from
him that he would make way with the chill
dren and himself and follow her
The dead are: William Thomas, the IA
ther aged So; Edna, 10 years; David and
John. aged IA and is respectively
The affair was not known until early this
morning, when neighbor living about a
mile distant saw that the house had been
burned. He hurried over, and sickening
sight met his gaze. The house had been
totally destroyed by the flames, and the
blackened bodies of Thomas and his three
children We're lying in the ashes. He
aroused the nelghbors and in short time
there were hundreds of people at the scene
of the tragedy The coroner was notified
and an inquest is being held
Thomas had been the victim of a long Sc
ries of financial reverses. 1t was because
of these reverses that his wife took her
own life. A story is told that at the time
his wife killed herself, it was the under
standing between her and Thomas that he
was to kill himself and the children then
but his nerve failed him, and he did not
carry out his part of the agreement
On Saturday a Kansas City live stock
commission firm took under a mortgage
foreclosure his last hoof of stock Thomas
went to some of his neighbors to try to get
help to save his horses. but was refused.
Then he went to town, and borrowed a
pistol and target rife Returning, he
stopped at a school house, where his little
girl was attending a Christmas entertain
ment, and took her home. Not till this
morning was anything more seen of any
of the family. The bodies were burned be-
yond recognition, and the manner in which
they met death will probably never be
known. The iron of a pitchfork found in
the ruins leads to the belief that Thomas
had spread hay over the house after mur-
dering the children. and. shooting himself,
set the place on ARE.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25

the bottom of the main shaft there was a
wall, which had been boarded up, and In
which the gas stood against the roof. 1
think it was this gas which exploded"
Superintendent Boyer, who is the superior
of Pit Boss Jones, when told of the above
statement, said: II know nothing of the
order to dispense with safety lamps" He
would make no further statement.
Mine Inspector James Blick said tonight:
"At the bottom of the two shafts the
mine is a complete wreck. Only enough
debris has been removed to allow of the
bodies being brought out. There are more
bodies in the mine, but how many cannot
be determined. There are undoubtedly a
number of corpses under the wreckage.
The lower parts of the mine are flooded,
and the water is rising, as the pumps are
disabled. The pumps will not run for day
or two, as the six-inch pipes draining the
mine have been twisted and broken like
reeds. Nothing further will be done to re-
move the debris until the water has been
pumped out None Of the men can posi-
bly be alive"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
NO BLAME
Attached to Officers of fIll-Fated Charles
ton-Watson's Report

Washington, December 24--.dmical Wat
son has cabled the navy der1Ttn-ent the
results of the court of inquiry into the
causes of the wreck of the United States
cruiser Charleston on an uncharted reef off
the north coast of Luzon some time ago.
The information contained in the dispatch
agrees with that given out In the Asso-
ciated Press dispatches, ana relieves the of
fcers of the ship from responsibility for
the disaster. The findings of the court will
render unnecessary any courtmartial pro-
ceedngs by the department.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
MODIFIED ORDER
Gen. Gatacre Takes Steps to Check In
surrection Among Colonists

Capetown, Monday, December B.-Gen-
eral Galtacre in order to check insurrec-
ton among the Dutch colonists and to pre-
vent disaffected persons giving informa-
tion or other assistance to the Beers, has
issued a modified reconcentrado order. by
its terms all males over II years, of what
ever nationality, residing outside Of towns
or villages, but Within radius of twelve
miles of military camps now established,
or hereafter to be established north of
Sterkstroom, are required Immediately to
vaeate their place of residence and either
to remove to some place outside the twelve
mile radius, or to form a camp in close
proximity to the nearest military CAMP
the spot to be selected by the officer conn
manding-where they must remain until
further notice, providing for their own
needs. All persons found within tho ra-
dus without passes will be arrested.
Adyices from Colesburg assert that not
many colonial Dutch have Joined the Beers
IN that district.
Certain residents OF Malmsbury celebrat-
ed General Gataere's repulse at Strombers
by dinner.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
ANOTHER SHIPWRECK
Small Steamer Stranded Off Newbury
Port, Mass.

Newbury Port, Mass, December a.
From wreckage which came ashore during
the night and the washing ashore of two
bodies today 1t became positively known
that the small steamer Laura Marion, of
this port, was wrecked i'm attempting to
cross Newbury Port last night. Capt. e.
W. Sargent, of Groveland, her owner; En-
gineer Nathan Johnson, also of Groveland,
and Capt. William ]. Pettingtll, of this
place, who were ON board at the time,
peeTlsIhed, the bodies OF the first two NAM
ed being washed ashore in the surf last
night.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY
Woman Accidentally Shot by Old Santa
Claus

Louisville, December PA fatal accident
put sudden end to the Christmas festiyi-
ties at the home of John Buechel, in Six
teenth street, near Grayson, this evening.
Jacob f. Hunlow BuechePs brother-in-law,
with the formers wife and four children
were among the merry makers. Hunlow
played the part of Santa Claus, and in his
outfit carried revolver While the frolic
was at its height this weapon was accident
ally discharged, the bullet striking and in
stantly killing Mrs. Hunlow. When he
realized what had happened Hunlow
threatened to take his life and became so
violent the police thought best to lock him
up
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
MAINE VICTIMS
Will be Inferred on a Grassy Knoll at
Arlington

Washington, December 24-Assistant Sec
retary Allen,, of the navy department,
Who has charge of the preliminary ar
rangements for interring the remains of
the Maine dead at Arlington next Thurs
day, has selected as site for their last
resting place a beautiful grassy knoll just
side of where the Santiago dead lie buried.
Captain Sigsbee will have charge of the ar
rangements on the day of burial and Chap
lain Chadwick, who was on the Maine
when she was blown UP. will perform the
funeral rites at the re-interment
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
wannamaker Behind Anson

Chicago, December 2i.-Caplain Anson,
former manager of the Chicago base ball
team, who returned from the east today,
says that he has the Backing of eX-Post-
master General Wanamaker to start a
company fer the manufacture of base
balls Anson also asserts that a large
department store in Chicago Is ready to
back him, owing to tae difficulty in Sc
curing other balls, which are sold direct
from manufacturer to consumers.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
REPUBLICANS FOR EXPANSION
Senator Beverage says Philippine Quef
ton Will Be Taken Up

Indianapolis, December Ex-senator Bev-
eridge said in an interview tonight that the
currency bill would undoubtedly pass the
senate the first thing after the holiday re-
cess, and that Immediately after it's pass
age the question of the Philippines will be
taken up. He says the republicans of the
senate will take a stand for expansion and
will fight for the annexation of these
islands. The issue, he says, will be one of
the leading ones in the next congress.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
Christmas Craps

AT a late hour last night John Hays, Will
Hood, alias Pete" and Allen Looney, ne
gro sports" were "pinched" by officers
johnson, Ritchey and Fair the men being
charged with indulging in a Christmas
game of "craps." The trio was "nabbed'
in MeAnnally's quarters, in Eleventh ave-
nue.. below Thirtieth street. They will face
the presiding genius this morning.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25

lives. Ships hands of deep water boats,
he thinks, take to the boats too often-a
practice not followed by men devoted to
coast navigation, who realize the opportu-
mites for rescue by the breeches buoy.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
Partners in Death

Akron, o., December 24-Samue1 Wall, a
prominent contractor, died shortly after
midnight of consumption. The news of his
death was carried to Albert Barns, his part
ner in business, who was so affected by it
that he was stricken with paralysis and
died a few hours later
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
Union De- OF for Columbia

Columbia, S. c., December A-The South
ern and Atlantic Coast Line railroads will
announce tomorrow morning that they will
build a union depot here at a cost of $780,
000. Work will commence at once.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25

London, December A.-The remains of
the Duke of Westminster, who srccunbel
TO pneumonia last Friday at his town rs
idence. Grosvenor House, were cremated
today. at Wokin cemetery.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
Caused by n Sudden Fall


II belive the explosion was caused by a
sudden fail, which occurred just before
the explosion 1 do not believe there was
enough gas in the mine to be dangerous
A. a matter of fact the coal itself gives
off little gas, but the gas comes chiefly
from the rocf of the pit.
The mine was well supplied with air.
The men were trapped there like rats and
9here is no hope that a single man is alive.
/ have never seen a more terrific mine ex-
plosion. Stone stoppings two feet thick
and cemented together were utterly de-
stroyed Not even particles of rock re-
n,ained. The stone was blown into dust"
William Pastorlous a driver in the mne
tells a sensational story. Pastorious, who
has lived in Brownsville for many years
and is regarded as man of intelligence
says that Pit Boss Jones on last Tuesday
morning issued a general order that all
safety lamps might be dispensed with, and
In their stead the miners were permitted to
use naked lights. Pastorious also states
that the lamps were unlocked, contrary to
reg ulation.
''The miners always prefer to use naked
lights said Pastorious, whenever possi-
BILE. as they give better light and are more
easily handled. l have been working kere
couple of months. and used safety lamp
until last Tuesday mornir~ At that time
nine safetles were in use by drivers and
others, VINO were constantly moving about
the mine and therefore exposed to a great
er risk than digger in room. Contrary
to mining regulations, the safety lamps In
use were in many cases unlocked.
Opsa Lamps AHswed
ION Tuesday the pitsboss issued an order
that the men could use open lamps, and
they Of course discarded the satctles, which
snaA.. light. About 100 yards from
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
nre. * IA Iaafornia

San Francisco, December PA Chroni-
Gle special from Pomona says. "A South
ern Pacific train was wrecked here tonight
Five people were killed and many injured.
The train is a complete wreck.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
Kitchener At Malta

Malata, December A.-Gen. Lord Kttch-
ener, chief of staff to General Lord Rob-
orts, arrived here today from Alexandria
on the Br.tisa second-class cruiser Isis. He
went Immediately on board the British
cruiser Dido, which sailed for Gibraltar,
where he will join Lord Roberts.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
HORROR INCREASES
WITH EVERY HOUR
Brownsville Explosion Yields Forty Dead
te Date.
LAW POSSIBLY VIOLATED
Several Bodies In View But CanEOt be
Reached.
PRESENCE OF GAS WAS KNOWN
Not a Single Safety Lamp Was
Used in the Mine, and Open
Lights Caused the Gas
to Explode
PRESENCE OF GAS WAS KNOWN

Brownsville, Pa, December 24-The hor-
ror of the Braznell mine explosion grows
In intensity every hour. The number OF
the dead is now estimated at forty, and
may pass that figure. At the same time
there is a strong presumption that the laws
regulating mining were carelessly, and
probably criminaly, disregarded.
Today the first bodies of the victims
were brought out of the mines, and never
in the history of mine disasters were hui
man beings so horribly mutilated. 1t was
nearly II o'clock before the first five bod
les were taken out-twenty-eight hours af-
ter the explosion. At $50 three were
brought to the surface, and al 6:30 three
more came up in the cage of the main
shaft.
The dead taken from the mine so far are.
Henry Hagar, 80 years old; leaves wife
and six children.
Peter Orosory, So; leaves wife and four
children.
William Thomas, 80; leaves wife and four
children.
Michael Rohtell, "a; single
Samuel Meese, 80; leaves wife and three
children.
Albert Meese, 49, died after being res
cued.
Mike Mahoi, IS; leaves wife and two chill
dren.
George Kovitz, 40; single.
Joseph Potsky, %; leaves wife.
Joseph Magyar, 10; single.
William Molok, 33; leaves wife and two
children.
Paul Proloc "a leaves wife and one child.
Among the men missing and known to
BE dead in the mine are the following Hun
g..rians:
sIichael Parahek, Andrew Parahek, Paul
4 lndis, Thomas Koehulak and Andrew
arursizki.
The Presidents Statement
At least twelve other bodies are in sight,
nut cannot be reached on account of the
debris. The estimates of the number of
dead are conflicting. A. A. Braznell, pres
ident of the Stockdale Coal company, to-
day said that he believed but twenty or
twenty-five men had been killed. Men
who were working around the mine yes
Eerday morning say thjrty-five to forty
men were down the mine shaft. From
hfty-fiYe to sixty were in the mine and of
this number but twelve have been recov-
cred alive ALL the rest, whatever the
number may be, are dead.
john Meese one of the thirteen men who
escaped, is fearfully burned An evidence
of the force of the explosion was discover
ed today. On the hillside fifty feet back
of the main shaft were found an arm and
a foot. They were portions of a victim
killed los feet below the surface and blown
out of the shaft like a bullet from a rifle.
From statements obtained today it seems
clear that the presence of gas in quanti-
ties in tne mine was perfectly well known
and that naked lights were used for sew
eral days before the explosion. According
to credible authority not single safety
lamp was used in the mine by the working
crews since last Tuesday morning, four
days before the explosion. Fire Boss
James Ratcliffe, whose duty it was to look
after the safety of the mine, and upon
whose care and intelligence the lives of
the dlggers depended in a large degree
said:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25

FAIR ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY,
WITH FRESH WEST TO NORTHERLY
WINDS.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25

THOUGHTLEss-Men are thoughtIess who
J never think; merchants are thoughtless
who never think-to advertise. The Age
Herald is the medium, thinking men.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25

ION Tuesday the pitboss issued an order
thai the men could use open lamps. and
they Of course discarded the sa,ctles which
snaA. light. About 100 yards from