davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25

Three hundred women, men and chil- dren and fifteen priests were thrown twelve feet into struggling mass when a church floor collapsed at Harrington Park, N. J.
 Two women were crushed to death and fifty persons were injured seri- ously.
 The throng, gathered from all the countryside twenty miles from Wee hawken, was attending services at the laying of the cornerstone of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Vic tory.
 The exercises had been begun by Father J. T. Delehanty, rector of the parish and head of St. Andrews Church, in Westwood.
 Three hundred persons were in the church and hundred more were about to enter when the temporary supports bracing the floor snapped in two. The centre of the floor sank into the base ment the boarding forming bowl like depression, into which the congre- gation was thrown, while three heaps of lumber that had rested on tho floor were piled on top of them. It was mainly the lumber that killed, crushed and injured those who were caught in the collapse It was fortunate that one hundred members of the congregation were still on the outside of the build ing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
.IEFFR|ES EXPECTS TOPROVE AN AL|b| Wife Will Swear He Was at His Home All
 Night

Nowata. okla, April 24.-At his pre- liminary hearing here tomorrow H. O.. Jeffries, editor of q Nowata newspaper, expects to prove a complete alibi by a number of witnesses and to be released from suspicion of having been connect cd with the killing of Mrs Irene Co., heen Mrs. Goheen is the newspaper solicitor whose dead body was found in the woodland near here April by the Associated Press correspondent. Mr Jeffries announced today that his wife would testify to his being at home the entire night in question. Employes or a livery stable, according to his state ment, will swear that his horse and buggy remained in the livery barn all night. He said they would testify that his horse was unshod The editors ar rest here yesterday in connection with the death of Mrs. Goheen created sensation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Protest Over Legislation

Boston. April 24,-An appeal to Christian Endeavor leaders in every state to protest against the enactment of Legislation in New Mexico Ito per nit the Johnson Flynn fightto be held in Las Vegas. July 1, Was sent out today by the United Society of Chris tian Endeavor threigh it's general sec retary, Williamy Shaw.
 A bin legafizing prize fighting has passed the house and is now before the Senate in that state. Mir. Shaw said be had received personal letter from sovernor Mcdonald expressing his op- position to the fight taking place in New Mexico.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Board of Trade Criticised

London. April 24.-Severe criticism of the marine department of the board of trade were made by Lord Muskerry at the meeting of the Imperial Mer- chants Guild this afternoon.
 Lord Muskerry declared the measure urged by the guild meets with bitter opposition and he hoped that the great disaster to the Titanic would lead the public to insist on full and search ing inquiry by an independent com yrittee into the methods pursued by the marine department.
 Lord Muskerry hoped that the ad- visory committee would insist on a reform of the marine department and on the appointment of a man possessing professional Knowledge of the sea as it's chief.
 Sir Ernest Shackleton emphasized the importance of having a committee con sisting of unbiased practical men. He continued:
 We do not want men like the arch
 ------------------~---~ doning ship, as is arranged on man. O war"
 It was not the Titanies immense size which spelled her doom declared Admiral Chadwick, but unwise navigation by run ming at full speed, though so amply fore warned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
No Comment by Press

London. April 25.-The British press is carefully refraining from any word of comment on the evidence given before the senatorial committee in Washington, all of which is published in the fullest de- tail and eagerly read and discussed. The interest of the general public is becom- ing more intense as a result of the testi- mony It is considered probable deten- Ttion of witnesses at Washington may de- lay the inquiry here. The anxiety of the public for a most searching investiga- ton increases hourly.
 A deep impression has been produced by the unexpected revelation of the pos sibility that all the Ttancs living freight might have been saved had the Californ- ian. Parisian and perhaps other boats in the vicinity had an efficient and con- tinuous wireless service. The revelation is likely to lead to a strong agitation in favor of placing more wireless operators op every ship.
 The Times in an editorial comedies the American inquiry has had good effect
 in hastening the inquiry in England by overcoming official lethargy, but adds that to the question as to whether the Wash
 ngton inquiry is of the kind best calcu- lated to attain knowledge and enable all nations to apply thorough going reme- dies it must frankly be said that sober opinion in England answers the question in the negative.
 The editorial proceeds to accuse the American investigators of remarkable ig- norance of everything pertaining to nautl- cal affairs and of seeming impulse to find and punish the scapegoat rather than of desire to discover the weak points of system and apply fitting rem edies
 "Americans,n said the Times, ''cannot fail to appreciate the feeling in England that the Titanic was a British ship, flying the British flag, and that the accident happened on the high seas, not in Ameri- can waters, and finally the investigation of personal conduct and responsibility therefor belongs to the duly constituted British courts. Parliament naturally will object when the inquiry tends to enter the sphere in which the British legisla- ture ought to be supreme
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
MATTER OF REFEREE IS FINALLY DECIDED

New York. April 24.-Controversy over the choice of referee fer the aout between Paekey Mcfarland of Chicago and Matt Wells, lightweight champion of England at Madison Square Garden on the night of April 26, was settled tonight by compromising. The managers of the two pugilists agreed upon Samuel C. Austin, well known newspaper man and one of the Licensed referees. in New York. Agreement on Austin as third man in the ring came after the state ath- letic commission had refused to grant license to Jack McGuigan of Phil adelphia in view of the fact that there were so many licensed referees in this city and after Mcfarland had declared that, ,Hnuess Billy Joh were referee he would forfeit the 5000 which he had rut up, declare the fight off and go back to Chicago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
FIVE MORE 'AXMEN' . ARE UNDER ARREST.

Coste of this parish today believes he has arrested all five of the uneducated negroes who,. with Ciementne Barnebet, murdered the Andrus family of five here several weeks ago, and startled the south with the series of ax murders which .ts- tailed 70 or 50 victims in Louisiara and Texas, all negroes Thosr arrested arc Raymond Barnebet, lis daughters, Glenn entne and Irene Ute Thomas and an- other negro whose name has not yet been made pubi1
 It is said that the five superstitious negroes believed in voodooism.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Germany Studies Problem

Berlin. April 2i.A conference of gov ernment officials and representatives of shipping companies and maritime societies to study the problem of insuring safety of steamers and to obtain material on which international regulation of the question can be based. has been convol<ed here at the personal instance of the German Elm perer. The sessions were opened this afternoon at the ministry of the interior.
 The most important points on the pro- gramme of the conference are an in- crease in the number of life boats and regulations concerning wireless telegraphy and water tight compartments.
 The Emperor is displaying great inter- est in the subject.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
NO DEFINITE WORD FROM CABLE SHIP MACKAY- BENNETT Not Known When She Will Return With Bodies
 Recovered
INTENSE INTEREST
 IN SENATE INQUIRY
England Watches Closely to See That Her Subjects Get Fair Play. Severe Criticism of the
 Board of Trade

Halifax. April 24-No definite word mad been received in Halifax up to a late hour tonight as to when the cable s-eamer Mackay-Bennett would return to Halifax with the bodies of the vic tins of the Titanic disaster which have been found. In all likelihood ths Mackay- Bennett will remain on tho scene until after the arrival of the Minia, which has gone to aid in the search.
 Relatives and friends of the victims ing able to identify some of the dead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
FILE SUIT FOR
 INHERITANCE TAX

San Francisco, April 24.-Suit for ap- proximately sl25.ooo inheritance tax was filed here today against Claus A. Spreckles of New York, Mrs. Emma c. Rerris. of. England, and Rudolph Spreekles of San Francisco. benefieicaries of the late Anna Christiana spreckles widow of Claus spreclNles, Sr
 It is charged Mrs. Spreckles transferred all her community interest in her hus- bands estate, then amounting to about g, 735 coo. to the San Christina Investment company. apportioning shares of the com pany among her three children. This the state charges was done in anticipation of death and to enable her children to avoid payment of the inheritance tax.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Message From Minia

At 9:3O o'clock tonight a message was received from the cable ship Minia stat ing she was 200 miles east of Sable is- land and should be in communication with the MackayBennett by wireless in the morning. Should the Mnia get into communication with the Mackay-B Bennett tomorrow that ship probably will sail im- mediately for Halifax and should arrive here about noon Saturday.
 The steamer Royal George arrived this afternoon from Liverpool and reports a rough passage. She reported having passed il icebergs Monday 90 miles north of where the Titanic struck and the next day passed one of the Titanic's life- boats. Yesterday afternoon the Mackay- Bennett was in wireless communication with her and stated she had so bodies on board
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Memorial Service for Hayes

New London, Conn, April 24.-Memo- rial services for Charles M. Hays. pres ident of the Grand Trunk railroad, who was lost in the Titanic disaster, will be held tomorrow at 80 o'clock by more than 200 employees of the Central Vermont road, branch of the Grand Trunk system.
 The employees will assemble at the wharf, where there will be religious serv- ices. Special telephone transmitters will be provided so that the services can be heard in every station from New London to Brattleboro, Vt. Superintendent w.. F.. Costello and B. F. Hobart of St. Louis, the latter lifelong friend of Mr. Hays. will throw into the waters of the harhor large wreaths of carnations, tied with the stars and stripes and the union jack. During this ceremony the entire audience will sing Nearer, My God to Thee"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Went to Help Another Steamer

Plymouth, April 9i-The Hamburg American steamer Ypiranga. which arr rived here today, reported that she would have been within one or two hours steam ing distance of the Titanic at the time of the disaster if she had not received a wireless message from Cape Race Satur- day. stating that the German Australian line steamer Augshorg was drifting help lessly in mid ocean. The Ypiranga went south seeking the Aussborg,
 Or Sunday night she received the Ti- tancs call for aid and proceeded inn mediately at full speed in the direction of the White Star steamer, but when within 50 miles of the scene learned that she was too late
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Admiral Chadwick's Proposal

New York, April 24.-Organization among messengers. in readiness for quick and orderly abandonment of sinking ship, Is one of several interesting points which Rear Admiral Chadwick, United States navy retired. raises in discussion of the Titanic disaster.
 Al least 800 more might have been saved" said the admiral, in q letter pub lished today, ''by careful organization be- forehand, such as giving to every pas senger on einbarlSing card with the number of the boat in which he was to go if the ship were abandoned. Pas sengers as well as crew should know their boat and place of muster For aban-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
ZIONISTS ADMIT
 ILLEGAL VOTING

Chicago. April 24.--one hundred and ninety residents of Zion City, H., founded by John Alexander Dowie, today pleaded guilty in Lake county court to Illegal voting in the Zion City election of April. 1911. The cases grew out of rioting at the polls after which General Overseer w.. c. Voliva and many of his followers were indicted The case against Noliva and two of his cabinet members still are pend ing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
bRYAN'S DUPuC|TY CAUSES COMMENT Speaks for Wilson While Pledged to Vote for
 Clark
Fly WALTER HARPER

Washington. April 4.--(Special)--W. J. Bryans duplicity in the present cam paign is causing considerable comment in Washington In Nebraska Bryan has been elected as a delegate to the national convention and has been instructed to cast his vote for Champ Clark. Today he is speeding to Florida, where he will be employed in campaigning for Woodrow Wilson.
 He is instructed and morally pledged to support and vote for Clark. How he can consistently carry this obligation and engage in a fight for the nomination of another man who is making determined fight against his candidate is hard even for politicians to understand
 Bryan explains that he would favor the nomination of any acceptable pro- gressive and is against any conserva- ton gauged by his own estimate of the oucstion But his explanation does not satisfy those who expect some sort of square dealing. even in politics.
 Bryan is pledged to Clark and it is considered poor grace for him to ignore his pledge by engaging in the fight for another candidate in Florida
 
 JOHNS Undertaking Co.,. Phones i00a
 
 LICE JOY. UDderrsker. Phones 70 SHAW. the Undertaken. Phones q.
 
 Smiley-Gaudin-S Co.,. Phones G.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25

of the president in dealing with cor porate business. It is submitted that this case raises acutey a question of general policy of great importance, which must be, I think. determined now, and for which this case will stand as prece- dent.
 This case raises the question included in what the president has called good and bad trusts;' the question whether combinations, as such, shall be prohibited: whether the government is trying to for bid all combinations regardless of their methods or ends. or whether, on the other hand, it is going to pursue the policy, frequently stated by the President of reg ulation and control rather than of pro- hibiton.
 Finally, this case against the com pany is a civil not criminal one. Delay will not affect the case through any statute of limitation. If there is a good equitable case against the company it will be in a thousandfold better shape for trial after the investigation by the bu- reau than now.
 These considerations explain and justify the attitude taken by the Inter- national Harvester company, which at titude represents, I believe, that of T majority of the financial interests of the country"
 Commissioner Smiths letter to Pres ident Roosevelt was accompanied by letter of indorsement from Oscar Strauss. then Secretary of Commerce and Labor.
 Sensational Incidents
 The sending of the correspondence to the Senate was not without sensa- tional incidents Only few weeks ago Attorney General Wickersham flatlv refused to send it in response to a resolution by Senator Lea of Tennes- rec Today Senator Johnston of Ala bama called upon the Attorney General for the correspondence and within two hours 1t was in hand.
 Senator Bristow, an ardent support CT of the colonel. defended the former President in a spirited speech and warmly criticised the procedure, which he declared was presumably intended 10 reflect upon man who is a cap- didate for tho presidency against the present occupant" He charged in sub stance that the presentation of the correspondence had been prearranged.
 Nothing Heard From Roosevelt Oyster Bay, N. Y, April 24.-The hour at which the Harvester corres- Ipondence became available here tonight made it impossible to call it to Col onel Roosevelt's attention in detail be- Core his usual retiring hour Earlier n rhe evening. however, when the first news concerning the correspondence was communicated to the colonel, ho said that he would have nothing to say on the subject at that time. What over comment he might make would have to be deferred until the entire subject matter was available for his pe- -usal, he declared
 The report from Washington that President Taft had decided at a meet ing with his cabinet last night upon q severe attack on Colonel Roosevelt io be made in Massachusetts tomorrow was taken to Colonel Roosevelt "Frightful F'rightful.' was the only comment he would make. He declined to discuss his defeat in New Hampshire or the days developments in the po- litical situation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Pictures Prohibited

Detroit, Mich, April -Proprietors of moving picture shows were warned today by the police department that films DOT traying the wreck of the Titanic cannot be exhibited in Detroit. Public feelings shoudy not be narrowed by fake pdc- tures,'' said Police Captain Alt5nse Baker. |
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Tn Honor Phillips

Madrid, April 24.-The telegraphists of Madrid have decided to place the DOT trait of J. A. Phillips, the wireless oper- ator who lost his life in the Titanic dis aster in a place of honor in the prin- cipal operating room. They will also ask the international bureau at Geneva to take some steps towards perpetuatins the memory of the brave operator.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Over 100 Bodies Sighted

New York, April 24.-Over 100 bodies of the Titanic dead were seen floating on the water by the steamship Bremen which arrived here today from Bremen. The German liner on April 20 passed over the place where the Titanic went down.
 From the bridge, officers of the ship saw over 100 bodies floating on the sea, a boat overturned, and a number of small pieces of wood, steamer chairs and other wreckage.
 As the cable ship Mackay Bennett was in sight and having word that her mis- sion was to look for bodies, no attempt was made by the Bremen's crew to pick up the corpses.
 In the vincinity was seen an iceberg which answered the description of the foe which the Titanic struck, Smaller bergs were sighted the same day after 6isestablishment, but some distance further south.
 The officers of the Bremen did not care to talk about the tragic spectacle, but among the passengers several were found who gave accounts of the dismal pano- rama through which their ship steamed.
 Mrs. Stunke's Account
 ''It was between 4 and 3 o'clock Sat urday," she said, when our ship sighted off the bow to the starboard an iceberg. As we drew nearer and could make out small dots floating around in the sea a feeling of awe and sadness crept over everyone on the ship.
 "We passed within hundred feet of the southernmost drift of the wreckage and. looking down over the rail, we dis tinctly saw a number of bodies so clearly that we could make out what they were wearing and whether they were men or women.
 We saw one woman in her night dress with a baby clasped closely to her breast. Several women passengers screamed and left the rail in fainting condition. There was another woman fully dressed, with her arms tight around the body of a shaggy dog.
 Men Cling Together
 "The bodies of three men in a group, all clinging to one steamer chair, fioated nearby and just beyond them were a dozen bodies of men, all in life preserv- CTS. clinging together as though in last desperate struggle for life. We couldn't see. but imagined that uuoer them was some bit of wreckage to which they all chung when the ship went down and which didn't have buoyancy enough to support them.
 "Those were the only bodies we passed near enough to distinguish but we could see the white life preservers of many more dotting the sea all the way to the iceberg. The officers told us that was probably the berg hit by the Titanic and that the bodies and ice had drifted along together"
 Mrs Stunke said number of the pas sengers demanded that the Bremen stop and pick up the bodies, but the officers assured them they had just received a wireless message saying the cable ship Mackay- Bennett was only two hours away from the spot and was coming for that express purpose.
 Other passengers corroborated Mrs, Stunke.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25

bishop of Canterbury on this job"
 Sir Ernest Shackleton evidently re- terred to the fact that the archbishop of Canterbury is a member of the board of trade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
Turned Ship About and Rushed Back Through
 the Ice
BREMEN SIGHTED
 OVER 100 BODIES
Three Men Clung to One Steamer Chair While Dozen Bodies Were Clasped in Each Others
 Arms-Women Faint

St. John, N. B., April 24-The rumor that the steamer Mount Temple was with in five miles of the Titanic when she sank and, without needing signals of dis tress. steamed away, is indignantly denied by Captain Moore. who was in command of the vessel. His statement tonight is as follows:
 we received wireless message after midnight Sunday from the Titanic stat ing that she had struck an iceberg and to come at once. We turned. about at 12:a0 o'clock and steamed back to the position given us, arriving there at 4:30 o'clock. We encountered so much ice. however, that we stopped until daylight. We crulsed about, but could not see any sign of the ship. About a. m on the other side of an immense field of ice, studded thickly with bergs, we saw the Carpathia. We also saw the Californian, which was to the north of us, steaming west, then coming down to the south ward, and she met us. Sc did not com municate anything.
 Received General Message , At s:4s o'clock, ships time, we re- reived a general message that the Car pathia had picked up 20 boats We asked if they wanted assistance, but got no reply. Shortly afterward we received another general massage stating, Nothing more can be done; no need to stand by We then left the scene and proceeded on our way
 Captain Moore said that as soon as he started toward the Titanic he called all hands on deck and immediately put them to work getting boats ready to be lowered, allotting ropes and accommo- dation ladders in readiness for service He placed men in crews and had one sailor hoisted to the very top of the mast, instructing him to keep a sharp look out
 Took Big Risk
 When he turned his ship and rushed back among immense fields of ice he said he was doing so at great risk. for he had on board 1461 passengers be- sides his crew. Nevertheless, he avered that he promptly answered the call for help.
 Captain Moore said that when he turned away from the scene to continue on his course, the steamers Carpathia, califor- nian, Birma, Frankfort and tramp were in the vicinity. Furthermore" he said, what do the peopl on board my steamer know what I was doing or where I was going? How could they tell in what direction I was sailing? It was past midnight and they were be- low. The statement is absurd. Leaving humanity out of the question, do you not think that I would have liked to have been the lucky one to pick up those people?''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-25
"Suit Would Be Unjust'

As to the legal question where this organization has been Vio- lation of the Sherman law, l am not particularly interested, nor have l any fixed opinion on the subject. therefore feel that the starting of suit under the sherman law against this company would be a moral injustice and reversal or the correct and advanced modern policy