davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
SscreIOf SuRksR Ship Is Buried
 Beneath the Waves
MAY HAVE REIN DERELICT
Every Effort of the Government and Steamship Officials to Identify the Ship Reported as Sunk Has
 Ended In Failure.

Norfolk, 1anuary a1-Hidden beneath the turbulent waves that roll wildly over Dia- mond Shoals, IA miles off Cape Hatteras, N. C., the secret of the identity of the mysterious steamer which went down there early yesterday afternoon with all hands on board remains untold
 The daylight of another day gave no ev- idence, furnished no clew to corroborate the testimony of those few aboard the Diamond Shoals lightship who witnessed helpless to aid, this latest tragedy of the well-named grave yard of the Allan tic.' When darkness fell upon the scene tonight not a single piece of wreckage had been detected, either on shore or on the oeean's bosom, and it may be sev- eral days before an} thing is discovered.
 Neither the government weather sta- tion nor the local commercial wireless sta- tions received any additional news rela- tive to the illfated vessel today No defin- ite news has come to the Norfolk navy yard from the revenue cutter Onondaga, which is at the scene of the reported dis aster.
 
 vannah, which arrived at Savannah today from New York. brought no news that might aid in clearing up the mystery. all though her wireiess operator caught the message from the lightship and was posi- tive that the ship was described as a sin gle-funnelied vessel.
 The government weather officials of the Norfolk ana Capt Henry stations, who are in direct telegraph and telephone com- munication with practically every point along the Virginia coast have had no word from any station that indications of shipwreck had been discovered, and in spite of the fact that those aboard the liglltship report that they saw the steamer sink, they arc slclined to doubt that a self-p1opelled N3se, with human lives fi'o..s x ,.sis t-f .it tse-
 Local shipping authorities declare that the steamer probably was an abandoned derelct.
 The wind, which blew off shore at a ve- locity of 45 miles an hour yesterday. mod erated tc some extent tonight onight a moderate rorthwester Is blowing off Hat teras.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
RECORD BROKEN
 BY THE WEATHER

Atlanta, January 31.-With the ther- mometer lowering around 10 degrees above zero since early this morning, previous records were broken in Atlanta today and reports received here indicate that the cold snap was general throughout Geor- gia, Alabama and Florida. The lowest temperature recorded in Atlanta was at o'clock this morning. 10 above zero; at Birmingham the coldest was Il above; at Montgomery, 16 and at Mobile, 23
 While the orchardists believe that the cold weather will be of inestlmable bene- fit to the peach crop in Georgia, reports indicate that strawberries and vegetables have been practically ruined as far south as the northern part of Florida. re- port from Pensacola says that the cold there today was more severe than that experienced in the freeze of ten years ago.
 High winds prevailed throughout the day, and several hundred thousands of dollars worth of property was destroyed by fire in Georgia and Florida.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
PLAN OF MITIGATION OF THE
 COLONIES OF SOUTH AFRICA

London, January 31.-The British do- mains of South Africa, so recently the scene of bitter war between English and Dutch are now the stage of a movement for unity which promises to be one of the most remarkable reconcilations in history, and to add to the British empire a great federation ranking almost with Australia and Canada in importance. Rep resentatives of four colonies-the Trans vaal, Cape Colony, Natal and the Orange River state-have been in conference for several weeks. The conference met first at Durban and afterward at Cape Town, where it's sessions are now being held.
 General Botha at one of the numerous social love feasts'' incidental to the con gress said they had met to consider; First, how South Africans can most ben eft the great empire to which we are proud to belong; and, second, how we can benefit South Africa" and he con cludes earnestly, "the people have a great opportunity for saying whether they will go forward as one or as different peo- pes."
 Thus far the proceedings have been se- CreL. le lOllll Ol SONtiiihASht PfetShiNtQ is a compromise between unification and federation. Most of the delegates prefer something approaching the Canadian plan of unficaton rather than a federation on the Australian system. The present boundaries of the four colonies will be abolished and they will be re-divided into six states for local control by single chamber legislatures, whose powers will be explicitly defined. All powers of gov ernment not conferred upon the local leg islatures will be exercised by the central parliament having an upper and lower house The two most important ques- tions before the congress on which there are differences concern the franchise and the status of the natives. The selection of a capital may breed trouble as Pre- toria and Cape Town are strong rivals
 Great difficulty is presented in devising a uniform franchise for colonies whose populations and customs are different Ma tives have the franchise in Cape Colony and the principal men of the colony wish them to keep it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Eight LiUeS Are Lost
 m ShipWreck On Lake
Schooner Is Lake Pontcharan Near New Orleans And All On Board Are Drowned People On Shore Saw Vessel Tn Distress But Were Unable
 to Render the Slightest Assistance.

train the boat was observed to be in dis tress. To those on shore it was apparent that it was badly crippled, and that it could not remain above water much longer.
 Those on board were evidently aware of their imminent peril. They made an effort to lower a small boat, but It was broken up on the schooner's side. AN
 Already efforts were bex ade on shore to send out boats tozSss.ks.A%emngly doomed little vessel. but t1- 2 ,empt was finally abandoned as hope r 1t was only a few minutes afterward W lhe schooner was finally swamped ay0 . nied down
 The woman is said tcf,s been the last of those on board t9. : . been swept into the water NSs
 The Ramsey w . of the numerous small, one-sail sf es Yrs that ply between points on Lake lchartrain and Lake Borgne and th ssissippi sound.
 Lake Pontchartf.un is generally regard ed as one of the most treacherous bodies of water in the entire country Compara- lively shallow, and only about 30 miles long and 20 miles broad, it is easily and quickly affected by high winds. Many boats have gone down and scores of lives lost in it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
TENNESSEE WITNESSES ARE
 ON HAND FOR LAND FRAUD CASE

Muskogee, Okla. January a.-Witnesses from Nashville, Tenn, who are called to testify before the federal grand jury in the alleged town lot fraud investigation began arriving in Muskogee today, among the first arrivals being c. w. Pyle, J. H. Bell, B. l.. Woodward and D. c. Wood ward.
 Attorney Sylvester R. Rush and District Attorney w. J. Gregg held conference tonight with all of the witnesses now here.
 The conspiracy to defraud allegations, it is said, will be based upon three propo- sitions: First, connivance of government representatives when the lots were sched- uled to dummies: second, knowledge of dummies" of the use being made of their names; third. conspiracy limited to the few who scheduled names of dummies" and subsequently tried to have all the lots quiit-claimed for their benefit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
WEST WANTS DUTY
 ON IRON REMOVED

Washington, January S1.-(Special) )-Tha ways and means committee has received the following dispatch from the United Metal Trades association of Oregon:
 Entire Pacific coast interests want duty on pig iron, iron ore and coke removed. The reasons for this desire are explained in a letter from the association, which has given great encouragement to those members of Congress who favor the re- moval of these duties The letter points out that pig iron is to the manufacturing industries of the country what wheat is to the peope-an actual necessity. It de- clares that pig iron can be made cheaper in the United States than in any other country in the world. and for this reason there should be no fear of foreign com petition.
 The German price of pig iron is given at S1425 a ton, while that of England Is reported to be $1201 In this country pig iron rarely goes below $1775 8 ton, not withstanding the fact that it can be manufactured as cheaply here as abroad. It is the contention of the coast association that the manufacturing interests of this country would be greatly benefited by the admission of foreign pig iron free, so that competition might be started. It Is the belief of the association that If the duties were taken off the arti- cles mentioned the Pacific coast states could and would produce thousands of tons of manufactures from iron and steel which now are produced in other parts of the country and can not be made on the coast without the payment of high freight rates The 100 concerns now in the association are compelled now to use foreign pig iron almost exclusively, as they prefer to pay the duty rather than the freight. They feel that with free raw material they could not only increase their domestic trade, but in a few years would supply most of the far eastern nations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Birmingham Party Is
 Entertained m Mobile
Delegation Present Silver Service to the Cruiser Has Ar rived and All Is Ready For the Ceremonies Which Will Take Place On the Warship At the
 Mouth of Mobile Bay

gether with officers of the Birmingham and prominent Mobilians.
 Tomorrow morning promptly at o'clock the party will board the lighthouse ten der Ivy for the run to the lower bay, where the Birmingham lies at anchor. The party will reach the cruiser about noon and immediately the presentation will take place. The silver service will be presented by Mayor Ward in a speech, while Capt. B. T. Walling, commanding the Birmingham, will respond and accept the service for the cruiser Rufus N. Rhodes will present to the cruiser spon- sor's cup from Miss Mary Campbell. the young woman who christened the vessel when she was launched. Following lunch con will be served aboard the Birmingham and at sundown the return trip to the city will begin. The officers of the Bir- mingham will accompany the party back to the city and tomorrow night the Blr- mingham party will give a dinner and dance in the Battle House to the officers of the cruiser. The cruiser will depart early Tuesday morning as per orders of the navy department and the Birmingham delegation will leave over the Louisville and Nashville Tuesday at noon for the return trip to their homes.
 Many of the members of the party are personal friends of Mobllians and tonight are guests in many Mobile homes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
UPTON SINCLAIR SORRY
 THAT HE IS MARRIED

am so prejudiced against slavery or against thlevery, or, if 1t comes to that, against murder.
 Marriage in this day is nothing but legalized slavery; that's the most polite word to call it, I fancy.
 "The average married woman is bought exactly as much as any horse or any dog is bought.
 This lovely blonde for half a mil lion, a little shopworn, going at half price.
 This gorgeous brunette, on the bar gain countey today, $20.000 a year will buy her. That's what it all means.
 Women will never marry for love and for love alone until they become economically independent.
 "The marriage of today is worse than a farce--it Is a hideous tragedy.
 How many happy married people do you know? About one couple in 10,- 000."
 But If all the people you speak of were not married to each other. MT. Sinclair. only just living together, without a ceremony do you think you would be happier thenT
 'sFAey would not 1ire tvSetf er.'' said Sinclair. When they got tired of each other they would quiet" And find some one else?"
 Perhaps" answered MT. Sinclair
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
Page i,

Page 1. Jerome is told to prosecute New York World. Eight lives lost on Lake Pontchar- train. Sea disaster is still mystery. Roosevelt letter to Gillette made pub lie.
 Town almost destroyed by fire Both sides pleased in Hundley fight. Upton Sinclair is sorry he's married. Affairs are bad in Messina.
 Page 2. Pupils promoted last week in Ensley schools. Barr takes charge of furnace plant Baker Is pleased with conditions. Scott will take charge of office
 Page 3. Organizing for law and order. Pension rolls need purging.
 Page 4. Editorial comment
 Page 5. Thousands turned away from Bryan speaking unable to gain entrance Rapid rise in mereury predicted for today. Larceny led all chimes in Birming- ham during January Fire department kept busy yesterday answering alarms. Page r. Hard problem Is bifore Congress.
 Page Slow progress in stock market. Sid Jones winning till. Pratt is captain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01

Washington, January a.-(Special.) )- Consul Lupton at Messina, who succeeded Consul Cheney, killed in the earthquake, writes the state department a second let- ter describing tie terrors of the Siciiian disaster.
 On January Il he wrote:
 There Is a mob of lazzaroni in front of the consulate at present bowling for as- sistance, but nearly all of them are carry sng bundles of food, obtained from some other relief station. They are so insis- tent that they nearly caused the death of the policeman on guard yesterday, crush ing him against the wall and nearly tear ing his clothes from his body.
 T cannot say that my present existence in Sicily Is pleasant, as l am endeavor- ing to fill the office of consul, hotelkeeper
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
TOWN ALMOST DESTROYED
 BY EARLY MORNING FIRE

Pensacola, Fla, January a.-The town of Milton. 30 miles east of Pensacola, was practically wiped off the map by fire today, the entire business section and sev- eral residences being destroyed. The total loss is estimated at between $15o.OOO and s2OO,O00.
 Among the buildings destroyed were thf two banks, the city hail. Waldorf hotel Santa Rosa Star building, two livery stables and dozen stores. The building of the First National bank was the hand
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Kentucky Will Supply Tobacco.

Washington, January 31.-Tobacco con sumers over a great part of the world will continue to look, as they have for some time past, to Kentucky and the bordering states for their supplies of the fragrant weed, according to a bulletin issued by the department of agriculture on the cultivation of tobacco in Ken lucky and Tennessee. Kentucky and the bordering states produce annually 376,647,- 900 pounds of tobacco, being more than one-half of the production of the United production.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01

Washington January S1.-(Special-)- Were Judge Hundley's friends in the Sen ate bunkoed when they permitted the Hundley nomination to be sent back to the judiciary committee? That is what some of them are asking themselves to- day.
 They expected that at the hearings last week some new points would be brought out against the judge.
 Not a thing new was uncovered; little was added to the proof of alleged incom- potency piled up at the last session of Congress.
 What does it all mean? they are ask ing.
 Some are inclined to believe that the Hundley hearings last week were only
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Eulogies In the House.

Washington, January 31.-The House of Representatives convened in special ses- sion today for the purpose of hearing eulogies on the life, character and public services of the late Representative Llew- elyn Powers of the Fourth Maine Con gressional district, who died on July 2S of last year. Those in addition to the speaker who delivered addresses in eu- logy of the late Maine Representative were Representatives Guernsey of Maine who succeeded MT. Powers; Gaines of Tennessee: Stanley of Kentucky, and Lloyd of Missouri
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
AFFAIRS ARE VERY BAD
 IN THE CITY OF MESSINA

for stranded newspaper men, general in- formation bureau, policeman and relief of ficer. to say nothing of being at the old consulate at odd times to be ready to identify anything that may be found When the earthquake came had $4 in my possession, had lost the greater part of my effects, spoke but little Italian and nearly livery person whom I had met in the city was dead. I have not had a hat for two weeks and did not get my clothes for 10 days after the quake Shocks still continue at short intervals, there having been seven last night and six this morning.
 T do not wish the department to sup pose that I object to staying here, but am merely stating conditions, so that my seeming slackness in sending reports may be understood Order is slowly being re- stored"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Socialists Cause Riot.

Hanover, Germany, January a.-Social- ist demonstrations held here today in protest against the Prussian election laws resulted in a collision between the soclal- ists and the police. The police used their side arms against the demonstrators and in the fighting between 20 and 90 persons were wounded. The police also made numerous arrests. Order was finally re- stored
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
BOTH SIDES IN HUNDLEY
 FIGHT SEEM PLEASED
sx WAT PERSON srsrsE

held for gaining time and nothing more. The opposition has five days for filing brief the Hundley side another five days and then the opposition has three days more.
 This embraces nearly two weeks and leaves less than three weeks after the nomination gets out of the committee for the fight on the floor of the Senate before March 4.
 The Hundley men are mighty well sat sf1ed with the evidence brought out at the hearing but the anti-Hundley commit- tee went home smiling at the shrewd way in which they Topped off two weeks of valuable Hundley time
 At this period time is worth more than all the witnesses who could be hauled from Alabama to testify against the judge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
No Wreckage Seen.

Savannah, Ga., January 3I.--The wireless operator on the City of sa- vannah which reached her dock today states that the message from the Cape Lookout lightship yesterday telling of the sudden sinking of an unknown steamer, described her as having only one funnel instead of two, as was re- ported. The City of Savannah had evi- dently passed to the south of the light ship before the steamer sank, but the steamer saw no vessel here answering the description of the wreck, and saw no Wreckage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01

pleted at a cost of s35 GOO.
 The fire broke out just at daybreak and was soon beyond control of the local fire-fghters Assistance was asked from Pensacola and a special train with an en- zine and company went from here and finally succeeded in extinguishing the flames after they had started their work of destruction in the residential section.
 strong north wind famed the flames and soon 20 business houses had been con- sumed and the fire was making progress in the residence district when the Pen- sacola fire-hghters reached the scene :
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
An Agreement In Sight.

The Hague, January 81.-Jose J. de Paul the envoy of Venezuela, who is visiting Europe in an endeavor to settle outstanding differences between his coun- trv and Holland and France left today for Brussels. He says he is satished With the progress that has been made here ana believes that an agreement between Holland and Venezuela will soon be ,-ao aha ad
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Theodore Weems Reported.

Baltimore January S1.-All fear that the steamer reported from Elizabeth City N. O., yesterday as having found cred off Diamond Shoals might be the Theodore Weems, bound from George town. S. C., to this port, was dispelled today when the Weems was reported passing in at Cape Henry, Va.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Ships Identity Unknown.

Hatteras. N. C., January 31.-No de- tails are known in this locality to as- sist in establishing the identity of the stea amship reported to have foundered yesterday near Diamond Shoals light ship. No wreckage has drifted up here and none has been seen from the shore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Elect Leaves Tanaier.

Tangier, January sl.-Rear Admiral Wainwright today received radiogram from Rear Admiral Sperry instructing him to join the fleet tonight, and as d consequence the battleshps Georgia and Nebraska sailed for Gibraltar at m.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
pr. Bull Qoinu We'll

Savannah, January 31.--Dr. William T. Bull. the noted cancer specialist, has felt no i'll effects of his trip from New York to Savannah. according to a state- ment issued by his physicians tonight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Views on Panama Canal.

Paris. January Sl.-M. Bunau-varilla has accepted an invitation from the Bos- ton Commercial club to make a statement before the club of his views on the Pan anna canal. He will sail for Boston in a few days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
Action In Washington.

Washington. January 3f.-An impor- tant step in the Panama canal libel proceedings before the grand jury of the District of Columbia will be taken tomorrow morning when District At torney Baker will ask Justice Ashley M. Gould presiding in criminal court No. l, to compel J. Angus Shaw, sec retary treasurer of the Press Publish- ing company, publishers of the New York World to answer certain ques- tions pertaining to the inquiry, MT. Shaw having declined to answer any questions except a few of a formal character on the ground that it was his constitutional prerogative not to re- spond upon matters which might in- criminate himself.
 DuMont Clark, president of the Amer ican Exchange Bank of New York and trustee of the Press Publishing com pany, and three or four otlier witnesses from New York will appear as wit nesses before the grand jury tomorrow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
District Attorney StimSOn Writes Letter to Jerome About
 the Case
FEDERAL PROSECUTIONS
 MAY NOT BE HELD UP
Action VIII Be Taken In Washingsssi By District Attorney Baker, Who Will Try to Compel a Wit
 ness to Testify.

New York, January 31.-Henry L. stimson, United States district attor- ney for the Southern district of New York made public tonight a letter in reply to one written by District At torney Jerome on the subject of begin ming an action for criminal libel In tho state courts against the publishers of the New York World, because of pub lished charges regarding the Panama canal purchase. MT Stimson tells Mir. Jerome to go ahead, and assures him that such action on your part will in no wise be regarded as an interference. but on the contrary we shall regard 1t our duty to cooperate with you in all proper and lawful ways"
 MT. Jerome had asked if action in the state courts on behalf of Douglas Rob inson. the Presidents brother In law, who is a resident of the city and who was mentioned in the article would be an unwise interference with the ac- tions begun in the federal jurisdictions.
 Mir. Stimson answers this question negatively but he does not state that the federal inquiries or prosecutions will cease in the event MT. Jerome be- gins an action It Is apparent from the wording of the letter that while the federal authorities concede to MT. Jerome the right to appear us the pro- tector of Douglas Robinson's good name, they reserve to themselves the | privilege of acting in defense of the reputation of "a gentleman who occu- pied the position of head of the war department" in any federal jurisdiction where the case applies.
 The reference to the gentleman who occupied the position of head of the war department" gave rise in some quarters to speculation as to the per son meant by Mir. Stimsol. An official of the government who declined to per init the use of his name said the state ment was intended to refer to Elihu Root. who was Secretary of War when negotiations for the purchase of the Panama canal property was concluded, though the deeds of the property were actually turned over to this country when William IT Taft was secretarv