The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-01
Record of the Year From
January to December.
HISTORY DAY BY DAY.
Notable Happenings Throughout
the Word.
NAMES ON THE DEATH ROLL.


Discovery Of the North Pole-Items
Of miscellaneous Interest-Destruc-
ton by Academia, Shipwreck,
Storm and FIoOd-Sporting Events.
A Chronological Review.
The record breaking year 1909, which
saw the discovery of the north pole,
was comparatively free from great
disasters so far as the United States
is concerned. Outside of the Cher
~ mine horror, the sinking of the
steamship Republic and the usual fires
and foods, nature dealt leniently
with this country, but in tie world at
large added the earthquake "A Persia,
the food at Monterey, Mexico, and
some minor catastrophes to her book of
death.
BY far the greatest event of the last
twelve months was the discovery of
the north pole. On Sept. 1 DR.. Freder
lex A. Cook came out of the north and
announced that he had reached the
goal on April 81, 1908. Six days later
Commander Robert z. Peary emerged
with the news that he had made the
discovery on April 6, 1909. Peary's
papers were approved by the National
Geographic society, but doubt was ex-
pressed as to Cooks claims. Several
months before the coming of Peary
and Cook Lieutenant Shackleton re-
turned to tell of dash to within Ill
miles of the south pole.
Other important events of the year
were the Inauguration of President
Taft, the departure of Theodore Roose-
welt on a hunting trip In Africa, the
passage Of the Payne-Aldrich tariff
bill, the 1900 mile tour of Mr.. Taft
over the country, the most romantic
feature Of which was the meeting with
President Diaz on the borders of Mex
leo; the return to Hampton Roads of
the sixteen American battleships after
their cruise around the world and the
decision of the United States circuit
court dissolving the Standard Oil trust.
In foreign lands the occurrences of
chief historic interest were the depos-
Ing of Abdul Hamid IL, the triumph
of progressive government in Turkey
and new ruler in Belgium.
The year saw the flying age fair
~ ushered in, the notable aeronau-
tic feats having been the crossing
of the English channel, the triumphs
ca Count Zeppelin with his dirigible,
In which he made various long flights
and once carried twenty-seven passen-
gers, and the flights of the Wright
brothers, including the rounding of the
statue of Liberty and Grants tomb at
New York and the high ascension of
1000 feet in Germany.
AS a memorial year 1909 eclipsed
all others owing to the galaxy of great
men born 100 years before. Centena-
Eies widely observed included Lincoln,
Darwin. Tennyson, Poe, Gladstone,
Fitzgerald, Holmes, Chopin, Mendels-
sohn, Samuel johnson 1.-TWO hundredth)
and John Calvin -four hundredth). The
one bundredth anniversary of the
death of Thomas Paine was also OBJ
served. In addition, several great eel
ebrations were held. including the
Hudson Fulton in New York, the ter
centenary Of the discovery Of Lake
Champlain and the Portola festival at
San Francisco.
The years deaths were notable, in
GLIDING In the world of letters such
names as Algernoni Charles SWinburne,
Edward Everett Hale, George Mere
dith, r. Marion Crawford and Richard
Watson Glider; in public life, Ethan
Allen Hitchcock, David A. De Almond
Governor John A. Johnson, Justice
Peckham Of the United States supreme
court and Prince Ito Of Japan; in army
otr l., De-
sky and Cervera and Generals Henry
Q. Corbin and o. o. Howard, U. S. A;
IN finance, Edward n. Hartman and
Henry II. Rogers; in journalism, The
odore Barth and Colonel A. & Nc
Clure; in the drama, Coquelin and Mod
jeska; in scientific research, Cesare
Lombroso and Professor Simon New
comb, and in the ranks OF royalty Leo
pold II. of Belgium.
JANUARY.
6 Fire: The Illinois club. with its gal
lery of fine paintings, destroyed in
Chicago; loss s325.OOo.
g. Political: President Roosevelt's mes
sage on the secret service rejected by
the house of representatives.
TO- Accident: % miners killed by gas ex-
plosion in Letters colliery at Ziegler.
Ill.
II. Accident: Explosion in the Lick Branch
mine Bluefeld. w. Va. caused the
death of 100 miners.
A. Accident: Firedamp explosion in the
Auka coal mine at Veszprin. Hun
gary caused the death of 240 men.
Obituary: Admiral Rojestvensky. com
mander of the Russian Baltic flee
when annihilated by Togo's ships
May, 1905. in the sea of Japan. in st
Petersburg; aged CO.
rs. Railroad Accident: n killed and man
injured in a collision on the Denver
and Rio Grande near Dotsero. Colo.
II. Fire: In Boston 34s autos in storage
destroyed.
e. Fire: At North Chelmford. Mass. loss
of nearly 100000 by fire in the wooden
mills.
Polar Research: Lieut.. e. Il. shaekle-