The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-06
GREEK AND ROMAN
CHURCHES AT OUTS
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SHOW EX-
IRENE JEALOUSY IN CHURCH
MATTERs-PRECAU TO PRE-
VENT INTRODUCTION OF PLAGUE

ST. Petersburg, February 5.-(Special)-
The relations between the Greek and the
Roman churches have become strained
and the ministry of the interior has dis
patched a circular addressed to all the
Roman Catholic bishops in Russia, in
forming them that papal orders not pass
ing through government channels are
mot obligatory upon Russian subjects"
The ministry points out that recently va
rious acts and encyclical letters, including
the Motu Proprio, were not communicate
ed to the Russian representative at the
vatican.
1t is not likely that anything serious
will come of it, but Russia is extremely
jealous In church matters, and is sus-
picious of anything out of the routine.
The Russian Christmas was celebrated
in lively fashion, complete police returns
showing that there were as a result of
the festivities in st. Petersburg q sui
cides or attempted suicides. 5000 arrests
were made for drunkenness, Is per cent of
the offenders being women, and over 80
deaths from alcoholic poisoning were reg
istered at the municipal hospitals.
Extraordinary precautions are being
taken by the Russian government for the
prevention of the introduction of the
plague from Manchuria. Strict quarantine
regulations have been established and
will be vigorously enforced. According to
the latest advices the situation in Man
churia will now become much worse be-
cause the Russian doctors are all leav-
ing the infected districts in consequence
of the distrust manifested by the Chinese.
The Chinese complain that the Russian
physicians are the slaves of use and want.
and unwilling to allow for the idiosyn-
crasies of the Chinese inhabitants
A most remarkable story Of gallant
fight for life by Russian seamen comes
from Odessa. The steamer Bulgaria was
set fire by an explosion in the midst Of
deckload of benzine and turpentine In
carboys. Xxx
The liquid, overAowing the deck, got into
the hold, where it ignited and like Wild
fire the flames spread wherever 1t flowed.
The engine room staff were quickly COM
PEELED to leave their posts. The chief Of
fcer and a couple of firemen were Sc
riously burned. All this had taken place
in very short space of time. The bridge
was enveloped in flames and the captain
was compelled to abandon his post.
In the after part of the vessel there Is
a long room, where the f1rst-class ac-
commodation Is situated, and there the
DOCTOR second officer, chief steward and
boy were sleeping. 1t was impossible
for these four to get to the fore part OF
the vessel, then bridge being enveloped
In flames. With great difficulty they got
on the poop, and took shelter in the after
part Gradually the flames advanced to-
ward them, until they saw that their
only hope was to risk drowning Downing
lifebelts and making stout rope fast
over the stern, they threw themselves
into the Icy water and made for the rope.
They continued hanging to this rope for
some time, the boy, whose strength was
giving out. having to be supported by the
second officer
At last the fire reached the rope and
burned 1t through, and >.thinE remained
for the men but to endeavo> % swim to
the fore end of the vessel, in the hope of
being seen by their fellow shipmates This
they succeeded in doing. the second Of
ficer swimming with the boy on his back.
Whilst all this had been going on the
captain, chief officer, and the remainder
of the crew were gailantly fighting the
flames against the greatest possible odds,
as without any steam from the donkey
boiler for pumping water on the flames,
and with all their buckets burned or
burning, they had to make the best SUBJ
stitutes they could from barrels. The ship
was rolling heavily, and as they had