davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
TERRIBLE TRUTH
IS UNDERSTATED
F. Marion Crawford Relates
Some of Horrors Attending
Messina's Destruction
BY F. Marion Crawford

SAINT AGUELLO DE SORRENTO.
Italy, Jan. 4.-Messina has been COM
pletely destroyed, and it is doubtful
whether even one in a hundred of the
population escaped.
AT every step in the investigations
we find that the official messages great
ly understated the terrible truth.
Z The shock which destroyed the city
was felt at $50 a. m. December 2s in
Naples and its neighborhood, but the
first news of the disaster did not reach
the southern capital until that evening.
so completely and instantly was all
telegraphic communication destroyed.
A torpedo boat which was under
steam had escaped the vast destruction
of the first tidal wave. and running
many miles up the coast of Calabria-
where village after village already lay
in ruins-succeeded at last in sending
the first message northward. The rest
of this story is known, how a whole
fleet of steamers, large and small. soon
gathered in the fatal waters, the very
first on the spot having been two Rus
sian men of war that were lying at
Augusta, between Catania and Syra-
cuse.
BY this time the city of Messina, with
it's 100000 inhabitants. had already lain
in total ruins 36 hours.
Gas mains had burst and taken fire,
torrential rain was falling steadily
beneath which (it is not too much to
estimate) some $4,000 human beings
still alive, were imprisoned and in
agony.
Men and women, half idiotc with
fright or maddened with hunger and
thirst, were rushing about crying out
for food.
Whenever a boat approached the
wrecked water front, wild faced. starv-
ing creatures in bloodstained rags
waded out stretching forth their hands
and crying Bread. bread."
BY some evil miracle the prisoners
in the jail escaped alive. They were
considerable in number and instantly
set at work to rob the dead and ride
the ruins.
In the first confusion the thieves OF
all near parts OF Sicily made rush
for Messina, but within few hours
Gordon of troops and bluejackets was
established with orders to shoot every
suspicious character who tried to pass
the lines going In or out.
1t has been literally impossible to
count the dead, and the bodies that
have been extracted from the wreck.
in the first attempt at saving life
bodies were positively torn to pieces
heads, arms. feet and hands lay scat
tered among broken masonry.
A band of half maddened men and
women fell upon a volunteer rescuer
arriving from Naples, and the wild
creatures, streaming with blood. made a
furious attempt to wrench a bag from
his hand.
Not far of in small camp with FIVE
or six tents were q hundred infantry
men. Their uniforms were almost in
rags. The officer in charge. who had
been ordered to protect all valuables
and sums of money recovered, in a
voice shaking from exhaustion con-
fessed that for three days he and his
men had fed on cabbage boiled in sea
wafer
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
MARINE
POOLING RAISINS SAID
TO BE AGAINST NEW LAW
District Meetings in San Joa-
quin Valley Are Cancelled

FRESNO Jan. z.-Chairman Fair
weather OF the Raisin Growers asso-
citation today Cancelled all district meet
ings called for the purpose of getting
growers signatures 10 a contract pool
ing their raisins. San Francisco pack
ers, who had entered into a contract
TO handle and sell the goods, notified
Chairman Fairweather that they had
been advised that the proposed pool
ing OF raisins was in contraventIoh Of
the Cartwright antitrust bill
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
DILLINGHAM; CHOSEN TO
REORGANIZE OPERA HOUSE
Affairs Given Over to Noted
Theatrical Manager

NEW YORK. Jan. "A special com
mittee of directors of the metropolitan
opera house has asked Charles b.
Dillingham;, the noted theatrical man
ager and producer, to survey, from a
business standpoint, the financial af-
fairs and business methods in vogue
at the famous home of music. Dilling-
ham has accepted the commission
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
Reid Says He Will Stay

says whitelaw Reid told one of its rep
resentatives that he would remain in
London as the American ambassador
after Taft succeeds President Roose-
yelt In the White House.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
TAFT is UNDECIDED ON
FOREIGN APPOINTMENTS
Makes Statement on Report
That Reid Will Lose Job

AUGUSTA, Ca, Jan. 4.-With regard
to Whitelaw Reid's reported state
ment that he is not to be continued as
ambassador President elect Taft said
tonight: "I have frequently said.
and repeat. that I have not taken up
the question of foreign appointments.
and do not expect to until the personnel
of my cabinet is settled and an
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
SIXTEEN BRITISH JACKS
LOSE LIVES IN WATER
Drowned When Boats Pinnacle
Is Sunk in Collision

SYDNEY, N. S. W., Jan. 4.-The pin
nacle of the British cruiser Encounter
was sunk in a collision with a collier
here today. Sixteen sailors were
drowned.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
INDEX OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO CALLS
TELEPHONE kEARNY SO
TUESDAY. JANUARY ). 1909
WEATHER CONDITIONS
NEWS TO-DAY

YESTERDAY Southeast wind; rain; maxi
mum temperature. 81; minimum, ~.
FORECAST FOR ToDAY-Showers; cooler;
light south Winds changing 10 north. Page IL
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
Indications of Clash

It was only yesterday, however, dur
ing the transaction here of important
business connected with the property
of the Fair estate. in which Mrs. Van
derbilt retains an interest, that certain
difficulties were encountered which in
dicated that the house of Vanderbilt
was not unanimous.
At the time of the financial panic 1t
was generally reported that william
K. Vanderbilt Jr. was pressed for
ready money. Negotiations were
opened for the sale of certain property
of Mrs. Vanderbilt in San Francisco
The matter was allowed TO drop, but
the transaction is now pending, and in
the arrangement of details to the sat
isfaction of all parties there came to
light certain differences in the house of
Vanderbilt
Neither Mrs. Vanderbilt nor Mrs.
Oelrichs, her sister, has taken her San
Francisco friends into her confidence.
and they have been specuIating on the
affairs of the family. Many local
people who have recently returned
from New York bring fresh echoes Of
the report of an impending sensation.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
EDITORIAL


Bolt Perkins with u.s. whisper bourbons to
Independent republicans. Page
Distribution Of patronage cause Of clash be-
tween bourbons and republicans Of the upper
house. Page
Phil Stanton OF Los Angeles gets gavel in as
sembly; Bob Beardslee gulping down bitter pill
and making the nomination in caucus. Page
Indications point to passage OF good direct
primary law. Page I
Herrin men frightened in senatorial eau
Gus when they discover strength OF the anti
programmers Page
Both houses Of legislature will oppose attempt
20 repeal Cartwright law. Page
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
MACMILLAN FACING
BADCH[CKCHARGE
Tilted Fiance of Edna Goodrich
Arrested for Gambling
Debt of $4,000
Especial Dispatch TO The Call


RENO, New, Jan. 4.--Harry MacMi1-
Ian. one time millionaire and more re-
Gently announced as engaged to marry
Edna Goodrich. who is now Mrs. Nat c.
Goodwin, stands charged with issuing
fictitious checks to the amount of
nearly $4,000.
The warrant was sworn to by James
May, Nevada's gambling king. in this
city today. Mcmillan is alleged to
have secured this money from
May one night early last month.
During a week he spent in Reno at
that time he gambIed heavily and at
one sitting won $4,000 over one of Mays
gambling tables.
Later he returned to gambling When
he started to lose he issued checks on
the John S. Cook bank of Goldfield for
his losses On each of these checks
May, it is claimed. paid Macmillan a
small cash consideration, the balance in
chips which were played over the table.
In doing this, it is claimed. the element
of a gambling loan was eliminated and
NJ MacMillan is liable to imprisonment in
the penitentiary for from one to ten
years.
Nat Goodwin and his bride, who are
now in Reno, learned of MacMillan's
troubles today.
Nat Goodwin. in an interview here
today, said: Il know this man Mac
MILAN but casually and through stories
he has ventilated through the press
linking his name with me and mine. 1t
has been very unpleasant to me. 1 be-
lieve, however. my firm has something
further to take up with him.
Macmillan left a sick bed tonight at s
o'clock and departed from Goldfield for
Tonopah.
Nc MILAN Arrested
TONOPAH, JAM Al. H Mcmillan
of Goldfeld was placed under arrest
here tonight by Sheriff Owens on teIe-
graphic instructions from Reno. Nc
MILAN will be taken to Reno tomorrow.
Mcmillan stated that he had given May
the checks in question, but had asked
that they be held for a short time be-
fore they were cashed,, as he did not
have the amount they represented on
deposit, but would arrange to cover
them
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
POLITICS

Taking OF testimony concluded in election con
tests Of J. A. MCGEE against John P. Ware
and Thomas F. Robert against George ]
Black. Page
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05

ALL ADQ L & r. T E r. : =,
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BUIIDING SACRAMENTO.
JAN 4.-''The people have de-
manded a good direct primary law
believe the legislature VIII pass such
law and I viii sign any direct primary
law that comes to me from the legisla-
ture for my signature" said Governor
James X. Ginett today, summing up
briefly what. after all. is undoubtedly
the majority sentiment among the law
makers who have reported for the thir-
1y-eighth session. and who are for the
present most intensely concerned in
the divisions Of a limited amount Of
patronage spoils-
There is naturally enough, on the
part Of many legislators. a great deal Of
suspicion touching the intentions Of the
machine. The public has been told re-
peatedIy that no direct primary law
other than the merest makeshift would
be passed by this legislature and with
equal frequency that direct primary
law drafted in the interest of the Her
rim machine would finally ind its way
to the executive Office for Governor
Giuetts signature
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
EARTHQUAKE

Third consignment of $4,000 is sent TO Italian
sufferers from San Francisco. Page
Correspondents reach Messina and describe
awful ruin wrought by temblor, wave and
hre Page I
Fresh shocks predicted in stricken zone and
devastated cities will be abandoned. Pnxe
Father Buss Of Corpus Christi church organ
ICES big benefit performance TO be given at Va
lencis theater. Page 2
President sends message TO congress asking aid
for stricken people Of Italy. and house and sen
ate promptly appropriate $500. 600 for the pur-
pose. Page
Universal brotherhood is shown by caring for
wounded unfOrtunstes from Messina in Vatican
hospital Page
F. Marion Crawford describes horrors attend
ing destruction OF Messina by temblor and
IRE. Page 1
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
QuarreIs Are Rumored
Especial Dispatch TO The Call

Especial Dispatch TO The Call
NEW YORK, JAM Mrs. William
K. Vanderbilt Jr. would not be seen to-
night when a representative of The
Call visited the Vanderbilt residence. ss4
Fifth avenue, and sought to ascertain
the truth of a report that she and her
husband had separated Likewise her
sister. Mrs. Hermann Oelrichs. declined
to discuss the report
For some weeks it has been quietly
whispered in society circles that when
Vanderbilt left New York last month
on his yacht it was the elimination of
series of quarrels between them. II
is well known that both Mr. and Mrs.
Vanderbilt were in frequent attend
ance at the opera and both of them
were great admirers of Madame Caya-
lieri. The latter is not singing this
season. A Call representative ascer-
tanned tonight that she will sail for
Paris Wednesday. while at vanderbi,t,s
home it was stated that he is CRUISING
in the West Indies"
1t has been quietly gossiped for some
time that Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderbilt
have not been in entire accord over
matters affecting the Vanderbilt and
Fair estates.
1t was common gossip a year ago.
and was generally believed in Wall
street, that several members of the
Vanderbilt family had been caught in
the rich mans panic" and that one
of the heaviest losers was William K.
Vanderbilt Jr.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
Wright for Committee

It is within the range of possibility
that Senator Leroy A Wright Of San
Diego, who passed the direct primary
constitutional amendment TWO years
age. and who has given more study TO
rhe subject OF direct primaries than any
other member Of either house. will
head tie senate committee on elections
and election laws.
Assemblyman Walter Leeds OF Los
Angeles. who introduced a tentative di-
rect primary bill at the last session.
may be selected by Speaker Stanton as
chairman OF the assembly committee.
Leeds is disposed TO hirt with the o1d
discarded illinois idea, providing for a
conglomeration OF convention and d.
rect primaries. but admits he is open
10 conviction. Beyond all this there
really is majority in both houses
which --~~ts 80 mass a decent primary
law.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
Many Friends of Bill

Granting. for the sake Of argument
that the friends OF a genuine direct
primary enactment are not strong
enough TO pass an honest and com
prehensive measure through both
branches Of the legislature is by no
means a concession that they are not
suhiciently numerous 10 prevent the
enactment OF dishonest measure. II
they are forced to such an extreme 1
am not prepared to admit that there
IS even probability Of their being
forced into that position.
There viii undoubtedly be presented
several bills which on their faces Will
show that lack Of study which the
simplest Of election legislation must
receive. Then. too. there is that ele-
rsent both within and without the legis-
lature which hopes to make a seem
Ingly good bill worthless by cutting
81 full OF holes big enough for all the
gangsters IN California TO walk through
and deride the people.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
Offered Family Jewels

1t is now recalled that in an inter-
view Mrs. Hetty Green stated that a
prominent member of the Vanderbilt
family had sought to raise money, offer
Continued ON Page 8, Column .
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05

A" LUTTERING all the way across
~ the continent from New York
to San Francisco have come
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
ImnracticabIe Measures

Some Of the bills viii be hopelessly
fupracticsbl bic, as, for instance, the pos
tai primary conceived by Congressman
Smith end fathered by Senator Rose
berry Of. Santa Barbara, whose motives
are not open TO question, but who evil
IDENTIFY had not considered carefully the
insurmountable obstacles that Califor-
MIA or any other American state would
present to a system which has failed
even in tiny Switzerland
So far the only simon pure conserv-
ative and workable direct primary bill
developed is that prepared by Senator
Leroy A. Wright and the special COM
lnittee OF the direct primary league. but
others may materialize. Be that as it
may. there are indications deeper than
surface that the whole subject viii be
thoroughly thrashed out in the COM
snittees. and that II the committees do
not bring out fair measure the whole
subject can be passed back to the
peopIe 10 insure the enactment OF a de-
cent law by subsequent Legislators.
pledged TO an honest redemption of
their parties direct primary pledges.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
EASTERN
FOREIGN
SPORTS

Prince regent alone is held responsible for di,
missal OF national councillor. Page
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05

Dritcr nil describe pilgrimage to the tomb and
home of Juliet next Sunday IN The Sunday Call
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
PRIMARY
MEASURE
ASSURED
GiIIett Believes Bill Will Pass
and VIII Sign New
Law
Friends of Proposition Thought
Strong Enough to Defeat
Machines Schemes
Indications Now Point TO AdOp'
ton of Good Direct Pri-
mary Legislation
Leroy A. Wright Of San Diego
May Head Senate Commit
tee on Elections
BY George Van Smith

iSpeoial Dispatch 10 The Call
Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-09-04
BIG CONVENTION
MAY COME HERE
Northwest Hardware Associa-
tion Preparing to Hold
Meeting in January.

There is move on foot now, and
with good prospects, to get the
Northwest Hardware association to
hold Its next meeting in this city,
about he middle of next January,
which will bring about a thousand
delegates from all parts of the west
to our city. The Commercial club
will take the matter up at Its regu-
lar meeting next Friday night. Mr..
C. E. Max is vice president of the
association. 1t would be a good
thing to get such a gathering of rep
resentative business men to come to
Occur d'Alene, and all should join
forces and see that it is brought
here.
Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-09-04
ANOTHER WRECK
VICTIM DEAD
P. M. Waters Passes Away After
Hard Suffering Remains
to Be Sent Home.

r, NJ. Waters, victim Of the re-
cent wreck on the electric line, who
has been tighting for life at tha
Occur d'Aiene hospital since the ter
rible accident, died At the above place
this morning and the body was at
once taken To the morgue OF the
.oenr d'Alene Undertaking company
The remains win be shipped 10 the
former home OF the deceased. Pleas
ant Lake. n, d.. tomorrow. accom-
panied by his son, w. j, Waters. and
bis sister. who came 10 the city today
to see their father and brother.
The deceased was b5 years of age
and leaves seven children 10 mourn
his departure. AT the time OF his
coming to the city to register In the
land drawing, and at which time the
accident occurred, be was the sta
ton agent al his home town for the
Great Northern Railway company,
over which line his remains will BE-
shipped. A requiem mass viii be
offered for the deceased at 1880 al
the Catholic church tomorrow morn
Ing.
Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-09-04
BIG GUNS co AFTER
.a THE FLY-LIOO GAME.
Senator Carter Wins. But Howard
Elliott Cleans the Bunch.


SPOKANE, Wash, Sept. Fly
loo, game popularized by the Chi
nese long before the advent Of Con-
fucius and since then the pastlme Of
the Fdlipinos. served to while away
several hours for three members OF
the United States senate, the head Of
a transcontinental railroad, his as
sistant and the chief of its legal de-
partment In the west at ,headquar-
tiers Of the government irrigation
project In Tieton canyon, near North
Yakima. Wash, the other day. How
ard Elliott. president Of the Northern
Poetic Railway company, who
'tbutted in" with coin borrowed from
the other players. after losing his
own, swept the boards and thus again
added support to a superstition gen
orally accepted by the sporting fra
ternity.
Senator Carter, OF Montana, and
Elliott. started the game by placing
Jumps Of sugar on the seat of i
camp chair. Each deposited dime
under the cube and waited for the
flies to pounce upon the sweets, the
argument being that the first fly
alighting on a cube declares Its
owner the winner of the pot. Carter
was trimming Elliott to a fragile
when Thomas Cooper, assistant to
the railway man. Joined, and still
Carter continued to win. Elliott Of
fered to bet big, red apples, but the
Montana senator declined.
Senators. Paynter, of Kentucky
and Chamberlain. Of Oregon, then
took hands and the former cleaned
up $3.50. Judge Reed, of Tacoma
also played in his loose change with
out as much as look in, when Ell
lott came back. Borrowing 80 cents
from Senator Paynter, he won from
the start and ended by taking all the
money in sight.
1t is limited that the secret Of Ell
liott's success was due to soaking
his cubes in clover honey; also that
he daubed his opponents Jumps with
ammonia-but that's another story
Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-09-04
CYCLONE KILLS ONE
INJURIES MANY.
Fears That Death List Will Be More
Than First Reported.

CATANIA, Sicily, Sept. A ter
rible eyclone.swept through Scoredia,
In southeastern Sicily, according to a
dispatch received here today. and IS
were killed outright and $50 injured,
many fatally. IT Is feared. Hundreds
of buildings were destroyed and 1t is
feared that the loss OF life and prop
erty will be greater than now seems
probable, but indications point
strongly that way The inhabitants
are busy clearing the wreckage and
removing the dead.
Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-09-04
ANOTHER CLEVER GRAFT
NOW BEING WORKED.
Is Working the Bunco Game with
Great Success.

Is Working the Bunco Game with
Great Success.
While in Seattle George Everett.
at the request Of Judge Smell, his
partner, called ON w. w. Smith, the
independent banker" who a short
time ago left Seattle rather hur-
riedly, after buncolng Idaho and
Washington farmers out OF several
thousand dollars.
Smith. II Will be remembered, pro-
posed TO loan money on real estate a.
the rate OF per cent. According to
the terms Of the loan contract per
cent of the amount of the loan must
be sent with the application and the
abstract when the latter was sent to
Smith for his inspection. The fact
that Smith was anxious to loan
money to Idaho farmers at per cent
when he could loan any amount at
per cent In Seattle, without the
trouble and expense OF adyertiinsg.
looked very suspicious In itself.
Mr. Everett found that Smith had
an appointment in one OF the larges,
realty offices In the city. having
gained admittance thereto. as It
later developed, by the use OF forged
recommendations supposed to have
been written by prominent Denver
bankers. Smith treated Mr.. Everett
very conrteously until the latter In
CURED as to the reason that Smith
considered 1t necessary to have appii-
cAnts for loans advance that pc.
cent. Smith then became very busy
and had no time 10 waste, and re-
ferred Mr.. Everett to the contracts.
which, he said. would explain every
thing.
A few days later Smith decamped.
taking with him the per cent of
thousands of loans for which Idaho
and Washington farmers had APP
piled. II was a pretty game and
paying graft.
The federal authorities are after
Smith for using the mails to defraud
and 1t Is very probable that he Will
be apprehended. when he is there
are many farmers in 'daho vi viii
watch the result of his trial with
considerable interest Judge Smell
has turned over TO the postofiee de-
partment all of the correspondence
contracts aud advertising matter
which was sent here by Smith
Nampa Leader-Herald.
Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-09-04
COEUR D'ALENE TEACHERS
FOR COMING YEAR.
Are All in the City and Ready for
Work Next Week.

Following is the list Of teachers
who will teach in the Occur d'Alene
public schools during the coming
year and who viii be rendered q re-
ception at the Baptist church Monday
evening:
High School Charles Johnson, SUI
perintendent; James H. Frazier,
principal and teacher OF German;
Jesse v. Buck, mathematics; Charles
HI. French, mathematics; Sarah Lind
sey. English; Lillian Frost, English;
B. M. George, science; Coral A.
Smith, science; Anna Fulton. Latin;
Ellen Fulton. history; Bessie
Thomas, music.
Annex and Central Grades Miss
Myrtle Whitney, principal; Miss Wv
ian Williams, Miss Clara Klndlie,
Miss Emma Rauch. Miss Eleanor
Walkup, Miss Madge r. Smith.
Roosevelt-W, A. Stark. principal;
Clara Gilbertson. Ida b. Marsh,
Louise b. Taylor, Grace G, Allen.
Bryan Clara Morbeck, principal:
Ruth Thompson, Lula Tulley. Lillian
Pennington.
Sherman-Sadie Moray. principal;
Felitia Cross, Elizabeth Waldron,
Ella Carelton.
Park Building Hubert Klein,
principal Nellie Dawson, Mollie
Space, Winnie Olmstead.
Russell Hall--Bertha Hill, prlnci-
pal; Ethelyn Grier, Nellie Butts.
Lakeview-J. G. Copen, principal;
Jessie Mcdonald, Viola Fallon.
Huetter-Mr. Thomas, principa.
Katheryn Dawson.
Bestland-Lau Bundy.