davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Indignant Citizens Hold Mass Meeting and Request a
 Special Term of Court
LOSS ID PROPERTY WILL
 AMOUNT ID ABOUT S5O,OOD
Solicitor Quarles Consulted and Ses- sion of Court Will Probably Be
 Called to Try Rioters-Re- r ward of $1ooo Offered.

Selma, December 26.-(Special.)-A ne- gro killed and his body cremated in the calaboose in which he had been incarcer- ated, over half the town destroyed by fire communicated from the burning building, the citizens indignant at the outrage in mass assembly requesting the presence immediately of Solicitor Quarles of the circuit court, tell the story of the past twenty hours in Pineapple thriving city in Wilcox county. about thirty miles from Selma, on the Louisville and Nash vile railroad
 From information gained tonight from passengers direct from the scene 1t is learned that on Wednesday a young white man by the name of Pig Melton, son of J. F. Melton, had quarrel with some negroes with whom he was shooting craps and one of the negroes shot him and escaped Christmas day negro said to have been his accomplice. was ar rested and placed in the calaboose.
 Vengeance Threatened.
 Rumor was current that vengeance would be wrecked upon the negro by Melton's friends, but the conservative cit ,zens thought they had cooled the hot heads down. In this they had not reck- oned with their hosts, and this morning at o'clock a mob broke open the cala- boose and after knocking the negro In the head poured kerosene oil over him and the floor and set fire to it.
 The flames quickly consumed the frame build,ne and a strong wind blowing, set fire to Jackson & Adams seed house. Next the cotton warehouse caught and then store after store went until the end of the street was reached, when the flames jumped across to Paul Davidson's wagon repair shop, consuming it entirely.
 coroner's Jury Empaneled.
 When the evidence was conclusive that the negro had been killed and the origin of the fire discovered, coroner's jury was empanelled and while it recessed for dinner an indignant meeting was held at tended by about 200 citizens presided over by J. A. Matherson. This meeting sent a committee to Selma tonight to ask Solicitor Quarles to come to Pineap- ple. and it is possible that a special ses- sion of court will be called.
 The total loss from the fire will amount to about s50O0O, with insurance amount ing to possibly half that amount. The heaviest losses were incurred by W. D. Feagin. store and stock $SOOO, and Pat terson Bros, stock ssOOo. The store oc- eupied by the latter is historical being the one the firm of Steiner & Loebman first started business in. The postoffice was burned Nine stores in all were con- sumed.
 The citizens are highly excited and have deposited 5000 reward with local bank for the arrest and prosecution of any nenher of the mob.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27

struck the Kiowa a powerful blow on the port side, just aft the main rigging. the sharp prov of the fruiter cutting in for a considerable distance. The dam aged craft immediately commenced to fill. The City of Boston tug Cormorant. which was passing at the time, ran along side the I<iowa and took off her captain and crew. This was a most difficult task, owing to the heavy sea and in at tempting to jump from their own vessel to the tug some of the Kiowa's men fell into the water. They were rescued by the Cormorants men and all hands were brought to this city. The Kiowa sank shortly after the accident.
 She had a big cargo of lumber cotton. naval stores iron and general merchant disc.
 The Kiowa was the latest addition to the Clyde line fleet, having been built ct Philadelphia early in the present year. She was a steel, two-masted, three-decSed vessel, 33O feet long. with % feet depth of hold, net tonnage 2254 tons, and gross tonnage 2949.
 New Hampshire shows that the storm has delayed the train service consider ably. About eight inches of snow fell in this city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Died From Cold.
t4eavv pamaoe in Indiana.
Will Fight Duel Today.

Paris, December 26.-Following violent altercation of the Dreyfus case duel with swords will be fought to- morrow between Captain Levy of the Fifth regiment of engineers and Henry DeMolroy, a leading anti-Semite. M. DeMolrey's seconds include the Baron DeGrand Clos. Captain Levy's seconds are Captain Mesuier. attached to the ministry of war and Commandant Mey- CT of the Twenty-second regiment of ar fiftprv
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
JAPAN IS TRYING
 TO BUY WARSHIPS
IN SPITE OF THE NOTE THE PLUCkY LITTLE COUNTRY CON- TlNUES HER PREPARATIONS TO FIGHT IF CALLED UPON.

London December 26.-Japan is negoti- ating for the purchase of two Chilean warships, the armored cruiser EsmeraIda and another, probably the battleship Cap tain Prat, which are for sale.
 It is now only matter of prices Ne gotiations with other South American re- publics for the purpose of purchasing warships are now in progress.
 Baron Iiayashi, Japanese minister to Great Britain, said to a representative of the Associated Press today relative to the negotiations: We want more ships. Of course this is only a precautionary measure and it may be lot of expense all for nothing.
 'I have no indication of the nature of the Russian reply Personally scarcely expect it to be delivered for some little time.
 There is no truth whatsoever in the re- port that Japan's last note stipulated a time limit"
 Asked anent the dispatch from Berlin of December 24 saying the British govern ment had represented to the czar that Great Britain deemed Japan's demands just and earnestly expected that Russia would grant them, Baron Hayashi said. while he was not aware of the precise action taken by Great Britain at St. Petersburg, That the British government is well aware that Japan will be com pelled to go to war unless Russia modj- fes the position she has taken in her last note"
 At the foreign office here nothing vet is known of the probable nature of the Rus sian reply.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
MUST SATISFY COLOMBIA
 OR WAR WILL BE DECLARED.

WASHINGTON %Un peua eql uee NV the of General Reyes acco @
 her point or VIC" se General Reyes and Dr.
 
 This frankly tonight While davowing any oi ois speedy reply to the no government both he ana % conclusions at the earliest possible of obtaining light on hs p D residence MT Hay unable of his continued illness
 Dr. ierran that the the United States the propositions to The Hague filing the note was the United States and Colombia feeling asgreVd at with the further stipulation that said that Mir Hay has not
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
IS MOODY MERRILL DEAD?
If So His Bondsmen May Not Have to
 Pay Anything.

Boston, December 25.-The Boston police have taken steps to verify the report that Moody Merrill, the former Boston finan- cier. is dead at Silver City. N NJ, in order to dispose of an indictment held by them against Merrill. charging embez- element.
 If the death is proven, the indictment will be placed on file. civil suit brought by the commonwealth against the bonds- men for Merrill is pending. Merrill hay ing failed to appear for trial on the em- bezzlement charge If it should appear conclusively that Merrill is dead the court will then pass upon the question whether his sureties shall surrender any money to the commonwealth
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
COL. GRAY IS APPOINTED.
Former Georgian Is Made Attorney for
 the Borough of Qqueens.

New York December 2G.--Co. James G. Gray of Flushing. has been apointed as- sistant corporation counsel for the bor- ough of Queens. Colonel Gray was born in Calhoun, Ga. fin 1857. He formed a partnership with Hoke Smith, secretary of the interior under President Cleveland in Atlanta, and was democratic elector from Georgia in 1888 He came to New York in 1891 and formed a partnership with John R. Fellows. former district at torney of New York, but has been Iocgted at Flushing for the last five years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27

Newcastle, Pa, December 26.-Diligent search is being made for Nickel Plate car No 3oS7 which is supposed to have drop ped the rail which caused the wreck near Dawson. Pa. The car was billed from Friendship. Md to a local lumber firm, but has not reached it's destination. The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Mrs. croweII Dies Suddenly.

Bristol, Va. December 3G. Mrs. John NJ. Crowell aged 70 years, one of the wealth. fest women in Bristol owner of several business blocks and a prominent member of the Christian church died suddenly this afternoon of hemorrhage. Mrs Crow ell was the widow of q successful contract tor. and is survived by six grown children, all residing here
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
JACKSON A SCENE
 OF LAWLESSNESS
CROWD STANDS IN FRONT OF HARGlS BROS.' STORE AND FIRE HUNDREDS OF SHOTS INTO THE GROUND.

Jackson Ky, December 26.-The lawless spirit made it's appearance in Jackson last night in open defiance of Marshal New land. A crowd stood in front of IIargs Brothers store and fired hundreds of shots into the ground and into Hargis' store and into the court house. Both the marshal and citizens seem to be very in- dignant today.
 N arrests have been made Charles Scott a baroer, was accidentally shCt through the foot His physicians think amputaton will be necessary.
 wreckage but 1t would require derrick to extrieate them. The wreeking train ran to the scene as soon as the track was cleared by the special returning here.
 Young Lady Talks. !
 "Three persons were killed right in front of my eye" said Miss Eva Streeter to- night, as she sat by the bedside of her mother in d hospital. "A man, woman and little boy were sitting just In front of my mother and she was one seat ahead of me We were going home to Grand Lodge. All that 1 remember was that there was a crash and when l opened my eyes the car was all wrecked and the bodies of those three could not be found. They were under the wreckage. l do not know their names"
 Lester A. Williams of Lansing was taken out of the wreck, his left arm torn from it's socket so badly so that the sur geons had to separate it from his body with penknife.
 F. M. Gold, a travelling agent of Chi cago. was a passenger on the train to ,Ir;., a.1y usaf1
 T was sitting in the smoker of tho train when the collision came. I was thrown into the aisle but miraculously escaped injury. Right at my side were several men bleeding from awful wounds. and with the assistance of two other men I pulled two of them out. The others were so fastened in the wreckage that we could not move them. Hearing the screams of pain. we joined the others in the rescue work of Post and Chambers from their terrible position between the cars
 Negroes Were Brave.
 T never saw such brave fellows as those colored men in the sleeping and cafe cars. One of them rescued woman who had been thrown under a seat and against the hot steam pipes. She was in such q position that she would have been shocklngy scalded by the escaping steam from the pipes, but the brave fellow en- tered the car and guided by her calls for help found her and brought her out in safety"
 Edmond ?. Robinson of Detroit escaped with what he considered only a slight in- jury on the head. His first instinct was for the prevention of another casualty. and tearing red lantern from the hand of brakeman, dashed down the track to signal any train that might be approach ing. Half an hour later man was sent to relieve him and found him in a faint on the ground, but the red light was still burning brightly and in the middle of the track The injury to Roblnsons head proved to be of little permanent conse- quence, although it had weakened him greatly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
RAIL DROPPED FROM CAR
 CAUSED THE BIG WRECK

railroad officials suppose 1t has been side tracked somewhere between Pittsburg and this place. and is now being searched for under orders from General Superintendent Wiley of the Baltimore and Ohio, in or der to inspect it and determine whether the responsibility for the wreck lies with those who loaded 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Intervention Justified.
Brewster Commits Suicide.

Cincinnati. December 2e-W c. Brew ster, member of the firm of Bolger & Brewster, underwear manufacturers of 2oG and 25S Church street, New York. committed suicide at a hotel here today by hanging himself. He had been here several days looking after the interests of the firm. For the past two days he had been suffering from nervousness. which it is believed caused temporary in- sanity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Morales Wants Reinforcements.

Cape TIaytlen. December 2G.-General Morales. acting president of Santo De- mingo. Is returning to San Domingo. where he will seek endorsements and att tack Porto Plata. officers of General Morales army have stopped a train and captured quantity of munitions of war intended for General Jiminez. The situ- ation in Santo Domingo Is grave and the consuls have called for warships.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Cyclone Passes Over Dothan.

Dothan, December 26.-Yesterday cy- clone passed over Dundee. small place on the Central of Georgia railroad. Sew eral houses wsre blown down and two children of John Draughaus were killed. Several other persons were badly hurt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
THE WEATHER.

Washington. December 26.-Fore- cast for Alabama: Fair, continued coId sunday: Monday fair and not so cold; fresh north to northeast winds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
JAPANESE TROOPS
 TO BE SENT TO KOREA.

Paris, December 26.-It was learned in authoritative quarters today that Japan is about to send a large military force to Korea for the purpose of restoring and maintaining order at the disturbed ports. The departure of this force is imminent. U Will prooaply consist of division of 15,000 men.
 Japan has been assured that Russia will not consider the sending of troops to Korea to be an unfriendly act or a casus beli.
 It IS anticipated that the departure of troops will revive the war rumors which. however, 1t is pointed out in the authori- tative quarters, will be unjustifed in view Of Russia's acquiescence
 During the recent exchanges of com munications between Russia and Japan the former fully recognized the needs of the presence of strong military in Korea and conceded that Japan was in inc best position to send troops to the disturbed districts.
 The sending of the troops. nevertheless. IS construed as having an important bear ing upon the present negotiations, as if will be first conspicuous evidence of Japan's actual exercise of paramount an- thority over Korea. It is said in the same quarter that preparations for this expe- dition were the cause for the recent great dttiNly at the japanese drSenalS and dock yards which it is asserted have been erroneously ascribed to preparations against Russia.
 information has also been received that Foreign Minister Lamsdorf has personally received Japans reply, and that in view of its terms he is said to have expressed surprise at the reports of Japan's bel- ligerent attitude. This, it is added. is re- garded as clearly showing the amiabIe spirit in which the negotiations are pro ceeding.
 Intervention Justified.
 Paris, December 26-Durins A discussion or the foreign affairs office budget in the senate today. foreign Minister Delcasse Justified the intervention of Russia and Austria into Macedonia.
 Reviewing the various groupings of inc powers in Europe, he said that none ap- peared to him more ideal than that of France and Russia from the point of view of national interests and sympathies France, he said desired to remove all misunderstanding. and to this end had re-established commercial relations with Italy and had signed an arbitration treaty with that country yesterday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Bodies Recovered.

The first body recovered in the wreckage was that of Engineer Stoddard of the east bound train. Close by was body so crushed that positive Identification was then impossible. but it was supposed to be Stoddards fireman. Edward Burns. Charles l.. Chambers of Ionia. and John Post of Clarksyille, Mich. were found close together. pinned down by tons of de- bris Chambers was conscious and urged the reseuers to extricate his unconscious companion. Post.
 The first efforts only succeeded In loos- ening the mass of debris, so that it bore down heavier on Chambers. who was suffering aeonies. More powerful levers and more helpers finally lifted the mass sufficiently so that the two men could be pulled out. Post recovered consciousness only long enough 10 give his name and address on the hospital train. When the special returned to Grand Rapids. It brought five bodies in addition to it's load of injured. Rescuers claim that they saw at least three more bodies under the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
sNoWsToRM IN GEORGIA.
Two Persons Are Killed and Loss to
 Property Is Heavy.

Amercus, Ga, December 26-A destruc- tive snowstorm passed over this section Friday resulting in the death of two per- sons and considerable loss to property On the McNeil farm several houses were destroyed, and one man was killed by flying tmbers. On the Larter plantation a house was blown down and man met his death by the violence of the storm. Several tenant houses were destroyed. The plant of the Willis Canning company near Americus was blown down.
 On the Morris plantation every tenant house was destroyed and more than n dozen mules were killed by stables falling on them. Miles of fence was carried away.
 Died From Cold.
 omaha. Neb.. December 26.-One death. that of Addison l.. Moore. colored, re- suited from the extreme cold today. Moores body was found stiff in the rear of a coal shed of the street car company.
 Heavy Damage In Indiana.
 Princeton, Ind. December 2G.-The heavy storm of yesterday did almost Sl00000 dam age in southern Indiana, blowing down buildings trees, fences and telephone and telegraph wires. The Southern railway was unable to move trains west until noon
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Entire County is Wrapped in
 Ice and Snow
.SEVEREST BLIZZARD OF
 WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND
During Binding Snow Storm Vessels Run Together and Various Other Casualties Are Reported-Wind
 High in New York.

New York. December 26.-A driving snow storm accompanied by furious squall sthat at times rose to almost hurricane force. struck the city early today Lowering black clouds meeting a heavy sea fog. and the dense character of the snow fall com bined to produce for nearly half an hour so deep a darkness, that lights were lit In all the downtown streets and along the river front. During this period many ferry boats and other craft lost their bearings completely, and the harbor re- sounded with the whistles of vessels cautiously groping their way through the gloom. One Brooklyn boat. heading for the Manhattan side. found herself off the Battery, several blocks away from her slip. Ocean steamers, bound in and out. were compelled to stop and lie to until the darkness lifted. The ferryboat John c. Carlisle, carrying immigrants from FL lis island, crashed into the steamboat Taurus off the battery, but both vessels escaped with slight damage.
 Mercury Tumbled Fast.
 The darkness lifted almost as quickly as it settled down. and the snow was suc- ceeded by clearing skies, high gales and rapidly falling temperature, the mercury going down 10 degrees from 34 to 19 with in three hours. So fierce was the gale during the afternoon that many pedes- trians were thrown and in some instances were seriously injured
 Around Cape Flat Iron" at Broadway and Twenty third street, the wind ragged in gus.s of ..lzfos cyclonic fury. Here one mah wir.sfJngerously hurt by being struck with fragment of a large plate glass window, blown out of an adjacent building.
 Towards evening the wind, which had at times attained a velocity of 60 miles an hour. died down. the mercury con tinuing to drop until at 10 o'clock 1t touched degrees above zero, with in- dlcstions of still lower figures during the night In all about a dozen persons were reported injured, but the police think more have been injured by flying pieces of debris during the day. The total snow fall was only about half inch. WILD WINTERS STORM
 OVER NEW ENGLAND.
 Boston, December 26.-After one of the midest Christmas days for many years n wild winters storm broke over New England today and as usual was account able for 6 number of marine disasters. Up to o'clock tonight three wrecks had been reported while several other ves- sels had been In distress during the day. One of the wrecks. a dredger, which sunk within six miles of the wharves, of Boston, resulted in the loss of three men, but in the case of the other two the sinking of the steamer Kiowa, off Boston Light, and the wreck of the barge John w Mackay off Watch Hill, Rhode Island. every one was saved.
 The storm center passed over northern New England during the forenoon. and the snowfall throughout that section was heavy, especially in mainland New Hamp- shire, while wide velocities reaching more than 50 miles hour were reported from some points.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27

Take your meals at Gelders'
 no N Twentieth st
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
Wind Blew Out Light.

The east-bound train received it's orders to this effect and the west-bound should have received this order at McCords. h. stead it rushed by this station, and the operator thereafter reporting this fact. found, on going out to the platform, that his red signal lamp. which had been b1irn- ing two minutes before, was out presum- ably extingulshed by the high wind that was blowing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
The Killed.

Engineer Charles A. stoddard Detroit William Helmerich, Grand Rapids. Charles A Devin, Grand Rapids. William Smith, farmer, Saranac. Allen Ii. Wells, Grand Rs pids. Peter W. Weirengo. sirand Rapids. Seven unidentified bodies ot men. Two women and boy uadentitied. Fireman Edward Buras missing and supposed to be under the vfe k Lester Williams of Boston died in hos ptal
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-08
STATE PRESS COMMENT.

The Marble Falls Messenger says that in
stead Of making an appropriation 10 increase
the presideut: salary congress should make one
TO fight the toli wesyil with.
The Mckinney Courier says nothing but
hrst-class depot will suit Mckinney
The Garland News sa7s obstacle ism t
something put IN a mans path to black him, but
20 make him climb.
- The Round Rocl; Leader says it gets many
words OF encouragement but that it does not
take them on subscription.
The Boston Herald says that getting in
debt rs as easy as falling out OF a balloon and
TINT getting out Of Debt Is as easy falling
back into the balloon
John T. Davis has disposed Of the Texas
Mssqutsr to J. X. Richards and Mrs S. E.
Richards
- The childress Index in its last issue gave
very complete and yell illustrated writeup Of
Cnildcsss
- The Itasta Item says to Agitate and edu-
cate
- The Grandyiew Tribune says there are
1000 oonvlets in the penitsntiaries who should
be put to work on the roads