davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
WORLDS GREATEST DISASTER
TOWNS WRECKED BY THE QUAKE

The towns in Sicily and southern
Italy reported wrecked by the earth
quake are as follows:
Messina, Sicily-Population 10000;
wrecked by earthquake and swept By
tidal wave; loss of life enormous
Catania-Third largest town in Sicily.
in ruins
Palermo, Sicily-Ten miles northwest
of Catania, 1900; heap of smolderipg
ruins.
Fittoria. Sicily-Town of 1900, en-
the Camarine river: wrecked.
Marc. Sicily-Population 1900; aalf
destroyed
Ali-Fifteen miles southwest of HES
sina, one of the most ancient towns in
island; population. $500; badly dam
aged.
Mineo, -Ninety-six miles north
west of Catania; badly damaged.
Patton the north coast of Sicily :;
wrecked.
Castoreal-Population 1900; twelve
miles southwest of Milazzo; badly
wrecked
Palmi, Calabria-On the southwest
coast; population. $4,000: in ruins.
Reggie, Calabria-Population 1850;
across the Strait of Messina from the
city OF Messina reported completely de-
stroyed.
Scilla. Calabria-Reported destroyed.
Bagnara-Sixteen miles northeast of
Reggie; population, 1000; reported wiped
out.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
INVITES TWO NATIONS.
President Roosevelt Asks Canada and
Mexico to Aid in Conservation.

Mexico to Aid in Conservation.
Announcement has been made at the
White House in Washington of a pro-
posed plan for a conference looking
toward the conservation of the natu-
raj resources of North America, to be
held at the White House Feb. IS next.
Letters suggesting the plan have
been addressed by President Roosevelt
to the Governor General and to the
Premier of Canada and to President
Diaz of Mexico. They will be deliv-
cred to the officials in person by Gift
ford Pinchot, chairman of the Nation
al Conservation Commission and chief
forester of the United States. whom
President Roosevelt has chosen as his
personal representative to convey the
invitations and to confer with the au-
thOrities of the two governments. Mr..
Pinchot first will visit Canada. He then
will carry the invitation to President
Diaz at the City of Mexico.
The proposed North American confer
ence is the Outgrowth of the two con-
servatiOn conferences held in Washing
ton, in which the governors of the
States and Territories were the princi-
pal conferees. The representatives des-
ignated by the Canadian and Mexican
governments will, under the proposed
plan, consult with representatives of
the State and other departments Of
this government and with the National
Conservation Commission The main
object of the conference, as announced.
will be to point out that natural re-
sources are not limited by the bound
airy lines which separate nations, to de-
velop a better knowledge of the natural
resources of each nation on the part of
the others, and to invite suggestions
for concurrent action for the protection
of mutual interests related to conser-
walton.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
SOUTH DRY; WAR ON.
Alabama, North Carolina and Missis-
sippi Are Now Prohibition.

Alabama, North Carolina and Missis-
sippi Are Now Prohibition.
The wave of temperance which has
driven the saloons out Of the States of
the South became effective Friday. The
law banishing the saloons from Ala
bama, Mississippi and North Carolina
went into effect at midnight. The
morning of the new year found State
wide prohibition in these three States
Other Southern States are already dry
or nearly so. The liquor men have re-
tanned an imposing array of counsel
and will test the laws in the courts.
The Tennessee Legislature will GER
tainly will certainly be asked to Gre
ate prohibition ia that commonwealth
Virginia is hewing nearer and nearer
to the line of prohibition. and is ut
least 90 per cent prohibition now. IN
Louisiana the Gay-Shattuck saloon reg
ulation law has closed many barrOOms
and many parishes of the State have
driven out the saloons by voting for
prohibition under the local option law
In Georgia many of the purveyOrs Of
'near-beer," the only intoxicant which
can be sold in the State, are closing
up, saying they cannot pay $500 Ii
cense just imposed. The rural sections
Of Kentucky have been for some time
largely dry
The longest single step toward gen
eral prohibition in the South was TAX
Ell Friday. Georgia is the only other
State wherein statutory prohibition ex-
lists. the law having been in operation
one year.
Having won their Statewide fights
in four States, the anti-saloon forces
have greatly enlarged the South's dry"
area, and they are now lining up for
early campaigns in several other States
where prohibition has assumed the
magnitude of a political issue. In Tex
as and Arkansas the voters probably
will be called upon this summer to de-
eide a constitutional amendment for
prohibition.
The Montgomery (Ala.) liquor men
will test the law. This much has been
decided upon. Leon We'll of one of
the largest law firms of the South will
demand license, and on being refused
will join with Mobile in testing the
legality of the act
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
NOTES OF CURRENT EVENTS

The Chattanooga chamber of commerce
adopted resolutions requesting President
elect Taft TO reappoint Secretary Wright
of the War Department
Vestments and furnishings of the sacris.
ty in the Church of st. Dominic. San
Francisco, were damaged to the extent of
$1,000 by some unknown person.
Fire at Enterprise. w. Va. DESTROYED
the ipple. slack bins. boiler house and
other buildings of Fairmont Coal Com
pany, The loss is estimated at $4,000.
cable message sent by the Duke of Alb
ruzzi to Miss katherine Elkins concluded
with the words Il will remember you for.
ever"
\ man in evening clothes and with a
Jimmy" in his pocket was arrested NJ
Yonkers. \. y. while picking lock at
the home of Foster Slade, a New York
engineer.
Francis Donohue. a laborer who per
sisted in ringing the doorbell of Mayor
McClennan of New York in an attempt
conduct He said he wanted to defend
the Mayor against plotting foreigners
Thomas il. Sheppard was appointed by
the federal court of PittSburg receiver foI
the WeisSer-Low Company, operating a
department store in that city.
W. II. Shinn. president of the Window
Glass Cutters and Flatteners' Association
of PittSburg, announced that the Amer
lean Window Glass Company had agreed
TO grant an increase in wages. This, it
is believed, will end the labor dispute.
Two years Imprisonment and a Gne of
$500 was melted out by Judge Kunkel in
Harrisburg, Pa, in the capitol graft
cases. but the defendants, John II. san
derson. James NJ. Shumaker. William 2
Snyder and William L. Mathues, obtained
a supersedeas and gave bail.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
SUGAR KING SPRECKELS DIES.
Founder of Huge Refneries Is Vic.
tim of Pneumonia

Claus Spreckels. widely known as
the Sugar king of the Pacific coast,
died at 80 o'clock Saturday morning
at his home in San Francisco in his
eightieth year The immediate cause
of death was an attack of pneumonia,
which developed with alarming symp-
toms during the past few days. His
condition Christmas night told his ply
slclans death was near md relatives
remained at his bedside until the hour
of his death.
Despite his advanced age Mr.. Spreck-
els had devoted a large share of atten-
ton to the various enterprises in which
ne was interested. and it is not more
than a month since he appeared before
the Ways and Means Committee of the
House in Washington as an authority
on the subject of sugar duties.
Apart from the Importance which at
tached TO Claus Spreckels as the pio-
neer sugar refiner of the Pacific coast
and as an investor of millions in Cali
fornia and the Hawaiian Islands. the
Spreckels family has for many years
been one of the most prominent in the
State
Claus Spreckels was born in Lam
stadt, Germany, In 1928. and came to
the United States in 1876 After being
employed for some time in Charleston,
s. c., and New York he came to San
Francisco, reaching this city in 1856.
He established a store there and later
conducted brewery. In 1868 he built
the Bay Sugar Refinery and began the
importation Of raw material from
Hawaii. Prospecting in this business,
he established other refineries and
promoted the beet sugar industry by
establishing reineries and engaging in
the farming of beets on a large scale.
He also built a refinery at Philadel-
phia, invested largely in the Oceanic
Steamship Company and many other
enterprises, including the building of
the San Joaquin Valley Railroad.
Many of his interests in Hawaii are
reported to have been disposed of by
his son Rudolph during the latter's
recent trip to the islands.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
NUBBINS OF NEWS.

Cardinal Victor Lucian Sulpice Lecot
archbishop of Bordeaux, died at Cham
berry, France.
A special commission from Porto Rice
is in Washington for the purpose of Undue.
ing Congress to impose a duty of 3 cents
q pound on foreign coffee the PRINCIPAL
industry of the island
A bridge three miles in length win he
built by the Pennsylvania road over Hell
Gate, from Port Morris, a suburb of New
York, to Long Island. The center arch
will be 1000 feet long.
The Rev. Thomas A Kelly of st. Az.
nes' Roman Catholic church. Paterson
\. J., committed suicide in midocean hv
jumping overheard from the steamship
Arabic.
Chiefs of the native tribes in German
Samoa are threatening trouble. They
want independence and may appeal to the
United States and Britain for moral sun.
port.
An energy machine used in the Car
negie nutrition laboratory in Roxbury.
Mass, is said to make possible the caIcu-
Iation to a nicely of every fraction of en-
ergy exercised by the body and the amount
of nutrition needed for the best results
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07

recently in 1905 and 1907. Both Mes
sina and Reggie are on the seismic
line of contact or boundary between
the primary and secondary formations
which separate Mount Etna and Mount
Vesuvius. 1t is a veritable storm cen
ter of earthquakes, yet Messina stayed
for this last lesson in the light of mod
ern scientific knowledge.
This last overwhelming calamity will
alter the future history of Sicily and
southern Italy. 1t will be regarded as
certain that a considerable portion of
the population of this fair land will
bow before the wrath of the gods and
seek homes elsewhere Next to Italy
itself, America will feel the effect of
this calamity more than, any other
country, for a large proportion of the
stricken population will seek refuge
there as soon as the means of flight
can be secured.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
TRADE AND INDUSTRY.

Otter Tail (Aiinn.) county farmers are
claiming revenue of 800 per acre from
potatoes this year.
ST. Paul is to have a sealer of weights
and measures to see that dealers give
customers full measure.
The annual rabbit hunt in Pleasant
Mound township. Blue Earth county
Minnesota, resulted in the slaughter Of
204 rabbits. The game was shipped to
ST. Paul. and brought $25, which will
be used to pay for a big oyster supper
in the near future.
North Dakota bankers in session at
Valley City adopted strong resolutions
condemning the postal savings banks on
the ground that it took money of the
community. removed ta>~.ble property, in
creased government officials, consequently
lobbying, and removed property from due
process of law.
With the object. it is surmised, Of com
plotting the big lumber corporation or
combine. represents lives of the lumber in
terest5 of Washington and Montana. to-
gether with the Attorneys General of
both these States, have been in consul
tation with the Twin City lumber inter
ests this week.
The wall street summary has learned
through interviews and through CORE
spondence with DC per cent of the indus
trial machinery corporations of the Unit
ed States that the value of this years
production of textile and metal working
machinery will reach S65,O00000. This
is better showing than was predicted,
inasmuch as production did not exceed 90
per cent capacity of all plants until Dc
tober.
REPRESENTATIVES of the leading copper
interests of this country and Europe met
in New York for the purpose, 1T is de-
clared. of organizing an International as
ISOLATION Of copper producers, rehners
and manufacturers.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07

Bented by fright. One of these was
Fn army officer who telegraphed 10
Rome that the city had been entirely
destroyed and that the dead were num-
Derless.
They We're scarcely able to talk in
telligibly, but their incoherent stories
were sufficient to confirm the fate of
the city. One of them was mainly
impressed by having seen the sea over
the cathedral. Others were deafened
by the roar of the sea and falling
houses, which they compare to the
roar of heavy artillery
The ministry of marine at Rome re-
ceived wireless reports of the obstruc-
ton of the strait Of Messina, showing
its safe navigation to be impossible
until it is recharted, while Its future
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
BURGLAR GETS S29. 900.
Bank Theft Due to Faulty Repair
WnrL

But for the reversing of a spring in
the vault time lock burglar could not
have carried away S29,7OO from the First
National Bank of Monroyia, Cal. Four
days before the robbery an expert lock-
smith from Los Angeles overhauled the
lock. He did his work faulty and left
:he lock outwardly in good shape, but
actually useless. The fact that the burg
lar had still to open an ordinary combi-
nation lock has caused the belief that he
was skilled in the handling of locks.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07

The city had vanished as completely
as Aladdin's palace under the magi-
clans spell. Observations indicate that
Reggie was completely swallowed by
the earth's collapsing beneath it and
which advanced in a huge wave there.
as at Messina. Only five of the city's
$4,000 inhabitants have been account
ed for These unhappy wretches reach
ed Cattanzaro and Palmi half de-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
TROPICS SUPPLY q. S. FOOD.

Government Report Shows Growth
of Imports in Few Years.
The growing dependence of the United
States on the tropical and subtropical
world for its food and its manufacturers
materials is illustrated by figures in the
annual report of the chief of the bureau
of statistics Practically 100000, 900
worth of tropical and subtropical pro-
ducts now come into this country yearly,
against S2OO.OOO,OOO worth in 1879 and
about $3OO,O00,OOO in 1895. These pro-
ducts form about half of the total i'm
ports of the country.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07

navigation is likely TO be extremely
difficult The tidal wave wrecked the
lighthouses in the strait, including
Faro beacon, and they crashed into the
sea. The news caused a deep impress
sion in Rome, for its consequences
from commercial and military points
of view will be incalculable.
Other towns and villages on both
sides of the strait of Messina have
been leveled to the ground and nothing
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
BAD SIS BILL FOUND.
Counterfefters Make Silver Certif-
cate, but 1t Is Easily Detected

Counterfeiters Make Silver Certtf-
cate, but 1t Is Easily Detected.
A counterfeit 50 silver certificate which
appeared in Philadelphia has been discov-
cred by the secret service 1t is of the
series of 1899 and bears the portrait of
an Indian chief. Possibly the easiest
way to identify the counterfeit is by the
fact that the shading under the words
United States of America looks like a
picket fence in bad repair instead of be-
ing regular in its formation. Part of
the note is lighter in color than that of
the genuine, while the color of the back
is a trifie darker green. Some of the
words are imperfectly formed, the words
this certificate is receivable" being bad
ly reproduced.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
NO MERCY FOR THE REBATER.
Interstate Commerce Body Pleased
by $4,000 Fine Mt Little Rock

individuals as well as corporations and
railroad companies are to be vigorously
prosecuted for rebating, and may expect
no mercy. Great satisfaction was ex-
pressed at the interstate commerce COM
mission in Washington upon the receipt
of advices from Arkansas to the effect
that 7. H. Bunch of Little Rock had
been fined $4,000 for Relating Bunch
was indicted for receiving rebates upon
shipments of grain from Omaha and
Kansas City to Little Rock and for ac-
cepting unlawful ele Sation allowances. He
pleaded guilty to ten counts and the re-
manning forty were dismissed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Fist Blow for Vice Crusader.

Anthony Comstock, the vice crusader,
was knocked down in a New York street
as ne was experimenting the unloading of
n quantity of pamphlets that he had
seized earlier in the day. The blow was
delivered by a man whom Mr.. Comstock
iostled. 1t landed squarely on Mr.. Com
stocks jaw.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Parents Fight; Baby Is Killed

Alfred Turner, aged 10 weeks, was kill.
ed during a fight between his parents in
Philadelphia. William Turner. the faith
err. according TO the report. attacked his
wife because she did not have breakfast
ready. Mrs. Turner dropped the child to
the floor She was subsequently knocked
down or fell upon the infant, crushing it
to death.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
GOLD DUG IN 1907 500, 435, 700.
Output Decrease of $4,OOO,OOO
from Previous Year.

Output Decrease of 100000
from Previous Year.
The United States produced 800, 49,,
700 worth of gold and $37, 800, 100 worth
of silver in 1907, according to statements
obtained from minis, assay Offices, smelt-
ing establishments and the product of
mines. AS compared with the previous
year, 1907. this is a decrease of $4,000
GOO in gold and about S1,0O0.O0O in the
silver produced. The rank of principal
gold-producing States is as follows Colo
RADIO, Alaska, California, Nevada, Utah,
South Dakota, Montana and Arizona
Vermont appeared as a gold producer for
the first time in many years. Twenty
the silver.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Wears Fur Coat; Killed as Bea,

Mistaking a drunken man, clad in a
long buffalo overcoat, for a bear, Thomas
Deckmar, a farmer, shot and killed
Thomas Andrews near Lafayette. Tenn.
Andrews had been in Jail, but was pa
rolled that he might go home. Instead.
he got drunk and sat down to sleep in
a doorway.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Conscience Puts Man in Hail

\. J. Donnell has surrendered for the
murder of James Bennett at MadiIl.
Okla, several months ago. Donnell as
serts he acted in self-defense. DonnelI
said the thought of the shooting was
driving him insane, and he asked to be
locked up.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Fire i'm Moving Picture show.

In moving picture show in Thompson
street, New York, a film took fire and
the eighty persons present were thrown
into a panic. However, all escaped. The
box in which the operator of the ma
chine was stationed caught fire and the
flames spread to the second floor before
the fremen arrived and extinguished
them
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Robbed of $500 and Killed.

C. w Massingale, aged 30 years, of
Valentine, Neb.. was robbed in Edo
RADIO. Ark. of about 5000 and killed. His
body was found near the school building
Lee l.. Combs. farmer is held in con-
nection with the killing.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Bomb Hurled from 81" Train.

Following the receipt of "black hand"
letters by merchants in the neighborhood.
a bomb was hurled by an unidentified
person from a Second avenue Il" train
in front of 1166 Second avenue, New
York. One woman and two men were
injured when the bomb exploded.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
RED CROSS RELIEF STARTED.
Appeal Is Issued for Money for the
Earthquake Sufferers.


The American National Red Cross
sent out telegraphic requests to all of
its branches for relief funds to be applied
to the sufferers from the earthquake in
southern Italy. The Italian Red Cross
Society, being so fully organized, it will
not be necessary for the American so
ciety to do more than to send money con-
tributions which will be done as promptly
as possible.
The Red Cross will have to wait until
contributions are received in response to
the appeal sent out as the balance re-
manning in the treasury is but $4,000,
which will be kept in reserve for emer-
gencies within the United States. On
the occasion of the eruption of Vesuvius
$4,000 was sent to Italy by the Ameri-
can society. There are no American naval
vessels in the vicinity of southern Italy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Rob Treasury of S5.OS7.

County Treasurer Michael Meir was
held up in his office in Woonsocket. S. D.,
by two masked men and robbed of So OS7
in cash. The robbers locked him in a
vault, but the door was not securely
fastened and he was able to escape, but
the robbers had fed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Bomb Follows Money Demand.

A bomb was exploded under a tene
ment house in ellis street, in the north
end of Kansas City, occupied by Antonio
Armenia. saloonkeeper and his family.
None of the family was injured. Ar
MEMO recently received an anonymous
letter demanding 5000. He ignored the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Print Paper Famine Feared.

That famine in the news print paper
market is likely to result from a contin-
uance of the dry spell in paper making
territory is indicated in statements made
by officials of the international Paper
Company. Many mills will be forced to
shut down entirely within four weeks IN
less rain falls, the officials say.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Convicted as Chinese SmugeIers.

Captain Harvey c. DAILY of the schoon-
err Freddie w. Alton, and Philip NJ.
Springer. Boston florist, were found
guilty in the United States District Court
in that city of conspiracy to smuggle Chi
nese into the country. Sentence will be
pronounced later.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Cholera Kills Many in Russia

st. Petersburg continues to suffer from
the Asiatic cholera. There were eighteen
new cases and five deaths from the dis
ease Sunday. This has been the daily
average for the last month.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Beaten, Robbed. Cremated.

J. A. COLLATION., 70 years old, of Broad
ford, Va, was beaten, robbed and incin-
Grated in his own house, which was set
afire by tramps, who are thought to have
known that the old man had money
around the premises.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-07
Disbarred attorney Loses Office

Judge Jones of the Circuit Court in
Sioux Falls, S. D., has decided that
George W. Egan, who was elected States
Attorney after his disbarment by the Su-
preme Court, is not eligible TO hold the
office.