Semi-weekly herald., 1909-05-24

outcome.
CHARLOTTE. N. c.. May 20.-Pres
ident Taft's presence in Charlotte to
day lent notable interest to the annual
celebration Of signing Of the Macklen-
berg declaration Of Independence,
which is claimed was the first step to
wards liberty taken by American col
onists. The presidents participation
marked the elimination of three
days celebration.
The Mecklenberg declaration has
long been subject of stubborn con
uoversy. 1t Is declared by It's sup
porters TO have antedated the famous
declaration of July 4, 1916, and. on
the other hand. has been denounced as
myth" The differences between
upholders of the Mecklenberg docu
ment and its critics has long been
considered irreconciliable.
| II was with great elation, however,
that the people Of North Carolina OBJ
tanned the acceptance Of President
Taft TO attend the festivities on the
closing day OF the celebration of 1909.
| Ii is claimed, that the Mecklenberg
declaration was signed May 20, 1875.
A body OF colonists met at Mecklen-
berg near Charlotte and resoluting
themselves into a committee of safety
drew up the declaration of independ.
ence. Today the date OF May 20 Is
emblazoned ON the great seal OF North
| Carolina, and the declaration appears
In the statute books OF the seat. and
each year the anniversary is observed
Among the residents of Charlotte are
many descendants of those who claim
ed to have framed and signed this
first declaration OF American independ
ence.
The president, who yesterday WAS
a guest Of Petersburg Va. was met at
the railway station upon his arrival
here by an imposing committee of cit-
zens and escorted to the Selwyn ho-
train bearing the presidents car cross
ed the city limits the presidential sa-
lutte of twenty-one guns was fred by
the Charlotte artillery.
Arriving at the hotel the president
held a reception. Then, with score OF
Union and Confederate veterans for
his escort, the president. accompanied
by Mrs. Stonewall Jackson, proceeded
to the reviewing stand from which he
witnessed the passing OF probably the
most noted parade ever held In thia
city. There were eight divisions and
a large detachment of National Guard
both from North and South Caroline
In line. The industrial, colonial and
floral divisions were made up hand
somely decorated floats. More than
200 farmers were in line on horseback
Many were accompanied by their
wives and children who appeared in
colonial costume.
| LONDON, May 20.--A mysterious
aeroplane or airship. the alleged per.
iormance of which has been mention
ed, is becoming perpetual night.
mare. Newspapers for some time past
have recorded testimony of various
persons who declare they heard or
have seen 1t flying over eastern coun-
ties and the North sea. Now this
latest flying Dutchman turned up In
the neighborhood of Cardiff, where a
~ayfarer saw the cigar shaped air
snip aground on the summit of Cae-
phiiiy mountain at midnight. This
morning he tells circumstantial
story. He relates how he watched two
men forming the crew apparently re.
pairing the machine until they saw
the watcher, when they hastily en-
barked and scared away.
A newspaper reporter went to the
scene and found the ground torn as
II by plowshare and various printed
papers. one in French containing tech,
nical directions and numerous news.
paper cuttings dealing with aeronau.
tics.
While some papers profess skep.
ucisnl, all printed the details. A large
proportion of the public possessed of
the anti-German mania, are convinced
their arch-enemy is among them.
! NEW YORK, May 20.-John F.
Wood overdid his acting as an insane
man in the hope of avoiding trial on
the charge of killing his niece, and
by his own admission he was feigning
insanity. will be placed on trial to.
morrow.
| When Wood was first arraigned a
few days ago he appeared in court
with his vest on backwards, a hand.
kerchief over his head and carrying
his shoes. He mumbled jargon and
there was so many evidences of in.
sanity that the court was led to be-
lieve there were too many for reality
| Thereupon two celebrated alienists
Were appointed and after they exam.
ined Wood and talked with him fire.
ouently he broke down and admitted
that he was not insane. but had been
pretending.
BLuEFJELDS. w Va, May co.