davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14
Nineteen Believed to Have
Been Killed by Explosion
Yesterday Morning
BUT THREE WHITES
HURT IN ACCIDENT
Forty White Men and Eighteen
Negroes, at Work in Mine at
Time of the Explosion,
Got Out Alive
Nv w. .ZRINnEN

Abernant, August s9.-Nineteen negro
miners were killed outright and three
white men seriously injured in an ex-
plosicn here this morning at 800 o clock,
in the. coal mines Of the Abernant Coal
company.
Superintendent Sam Dlllworth of the
Abernant mines was on the scene of the
explosion and through his efforts 70 white
men and IS negroes who we're in the
mine at the time OF the accident were
saved from death.
over IS men, white and black, were
down in the entries at the time of the
Der Is. 1900 feet from the mouth OF the
mine. II was entry No 10 in which the
accident occurred. Fortunately for those
Who We're further down in Sther entries
the effect of the explosion was confined
to entry 15 Every bit of mining material,
roof props and coal cars was completely
Gestroyea in entry No. Is. either burned
by the flames or crushed into uselessness
Rescue Work Begins
About an hour after the EXPLOSION. &
rescue crew was formed ana theavorS o
removing the bodies. from the mine be
bdi' ny u Cioch last night OILY II pouiei
Lad been taken from the plaoa, dealt
dealing pit. and according to the tall!
sheets of the mine foreman, two NOR
were inside. Although a repeated searcl
was made for these bodies, up till
O'Clock in the evening, they had not beef
J found
For a time during the morning the res
cue workers We're greatly hampcred b,
| the large crowd of distressed friends ant
relatives pressing close to tie mouth
watins anxiously for news from inside
All the telephone lines between Ahernan
and Johns, Ala, and Birmingham were
| down. owing to the recent fierce storms
in this section, and 10 procure aid from
johns, some eight miles away a messen-
ger on horse back was sent there. Mayor
II. NJ. Parsons of Johns sent q squad of
men to the scene Of the disaster, and
word was sent to Mine Inspector Nesbitt
In Birmingham by messenger on the local
train that left here AT noon.
Four hours after the accident became
known in Birmingham, the Johns Under
taking company of that city had estab-
lished ambulance service between Besse-
mer and Abernant, and late in the even
ing, several undertaxers and embalmers
of that company were on the scene pre-
pairing the bodies for the baskets, which
arrived tonight.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14
PERSONAL

Mrs. Augustus Stollensworth of Bal
timore is the guest of Mrs. w. G.
Shackelford, while en- route from Mont
gomery to her home She will be in
the city only few days.
H. ]. Porter Sr.. will leave this
morning for New York on a PURCHASING
trip. Mr.. Porter only recently re-
turned from trip to New York,
Business has been exceptionally good
in July and SO far in August however,
which makes another trip necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14
YEARLING COLT
SELLS FOR $4,000

Paris. August 1s.-The yearling,
Mont. Dor. son of Val Dor and Lon
liness. was purchased by an agent of
J. r. NVidener of Philadelphia for $780,
900. This is said to be the highest price
ever paid for a yearling in France.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14

| view which am willing to sign and swear
to is the first and only statement made by
me to the representative of any paper AS
regards the killing of Herman Rosenthal
| | have made no confession. | have Moth
| Ing to confess. Mr. Whitman knows this.
THE paper men who have asked me
| for some statement know 1t, but / think
| some of them have wanted to make a
| little money out of misstatements. When
] was taken in custody postmaster John >
son took FROM me a setter received
from Jack Rose and a reply / had writ
ten TO him. He promised to seal them
| In an envelope and hold them subject to
District Attorney Whtman's orders.
Il, fearing some sentence in those let
ters might be misconstrued by those not
| knowing everything connected with the
| Rosenthal case, requested that they be
returned to me or given In the care of
| Police Captain George Powell, or Police
Chief Leonard. This was not done
II was powerless, not knowing wheth-
err any charges had been made against
me. | understand these letters have
been used | want to say that their use
was In my opinion Illegal and llbelous
My attorney will examine this feature
when | return to New York.
Il fear no person or agent In New
York city but since II seems to be legal
that Mr. Whitman has a right TO demand
witness | have demanded my right as a
detained witness against whom no
charge of crime has or can be preferred.
TO be given into the custody of none ex-
cept Mr.. Whitman's authorized represen-
tatives.
| First Statement Issued
| II want to repeat that this is the only
authorized statement | have made for the
representative of any paper or press as
| ISOLATION
Il want Mr. Whitman to know that the
| only authorized statement / have made, -
| he asserted, was given to the represent
tatlve of a reputable press service. |
have said nothing about what | may hear
as witness In the Rosenthal case |
promised my friends | would not, Z
have not and ! will not until talk per-
sonally with Mr. whitman
The Hot Springs hotel Hobbies are
alive with newspaper reportersf Some
of them are here from the larger cities.
others from the smaller ones.
"SwarminR around here like flies
about a lump of sugar" Schepps said
| Last night Schepps was said TO have
been technically a federal prisoner be-
cause his arrest had been effected by
Fred Johnson, postmaster of Hot
Springs, who Is also United States
deputy marshal
Today and tonight he is actually IN
custody of the Hot Springs police and
will be held until Whitman's represent
tatiVes arrive.
Johnson made no claim as to having
custody of Schepps.
Schepps today made himself at home
In Leonard's office. He was permitted
liberties about the city hall, but did
not 90 out Of sight of the officers,
because, first. as he says, he don't want
TO make any false move, and these men
have treated me with kindness and
courtesy and second, the authorities
feel bound to keep the man under their
eyes.
The only exception to this rule was
during the forenoon when Schepps die
tated the statement quoted In the fore
going.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14
7fss777177-7-77-------
Will Talk of F0rei~n Missions

W. W. Lucas of Meridian viii deliver
addresses tonight at s p. m. at St Paul
African M. u. church on foreign mts-
sionS
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14
Dilw0rth a Hero

1t was stated here today among the
miners that Superintendent Sam Dill
worth had forever won the friendship
of the men in. the camp because of his
heroic work in the rescue of over 40
white men from the gas filled mine.
AT the time of the explosion Mr., Dill
worth was on the tipple at the top
of the slope, talking TO the mine fore
man. Almost before the rumble from
the mines had died away the superin-
tendent was rushing down the slope
crying to the men above him ~ set
the cable aud prepare to lower" Tho
force of the explosion had been heard
all over the hillside and from every
house and lane women, children and
men came running, breathless, anxious
With over 500 wives and children
watching shls every movement and those
of the men who were preparing To low
err the cars into vthe black mouth OF
the mine; with a hundred feverish
hands trying to assist them, Superin-
tendent Dilworth. with three coura-
geous men, We're lowered into the
mine. 1t was Drawing death in one of
Its worst consolidation by the
poisonous gases--yet. without falter
or hesitation, four men went down
there to bring back, no one knew what
Down In the mine 1T was battling
dangerous york. None knew where the
explosion had occurred. nor whether
IL had been local or had penetrated
throughout the entire length OF the en-
tries. Down, down they went. They
got out of the cars and with their
hands felt their way as the condition
of the atmosphere would not allow a
light At last, almost a half mile from
the entrance. the four braye men met
three men, crazed and running about,
and not knowing where to go Then
with wonderful system and marfelous
endurance, superintendent Difworth
directed the work of leading the
Blinded men to the mouth IT. was nec-
essary to change the rescue crew ev-
cry 20 minutes as they were overcome
by the gas and no helmets were OBJ
tainable, yet the superintendent stayed
in the mine until the last man alive
had been led to the mouth of the shaft
and to safety.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14
Nesbitt Arrives

Mine Inspector Neshitt arrived here
this afternoon at $50 o'clock and attempt
ed an investigation of the cause of the
disaster but owing TO the accumulated
gas and debris In the entry ways this
was found impossible. Inspector Nesbitt
when talking to a reporter last night
said the probable cause of the explosion
was dust and gas, over which some in
experienced miner had fired windy shot
or that a defective explosive cap may
have fired the black damp IN the mine.
The explosion of today has been the
first In this mine for many years and
by far the most disastrous The mine
Is slope, running hcross entry and
although sprinkling system had not
yet been established by the company
the mine has been considered perfectly
safe. According TO the officers of the
company the plant Will be in operation
In three days. as the damage is of
such nature that it can be repaired
in a very short time.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14
Eve Witnesses Testify
Schepps Returned to johnson

Hot Springs, Ark. August 13-Fearing
efforts of New York police agents, re-
ported to have come TO Hot Springs today
to take Sam Schepps from them, police
here tonight returned Schepps to the
custody of Fred johnson. postmaster and
United States deputy marsha Johnson
declines TO say just where Schepps Is,
but gave the assurance that he will be
produced when District Attorney Whit
mans representatives arrive. They are
expected tomorrow. The police had held
schepps three days, the time limit under
the law.
Representatives of Distrlc. Attorney
whitman of New York failed TO arrive
here tonight to take in custody San,
Schepps, held by the police as a material
witness in the Rosenthal murder case If
agents of the police department arrived
during the day, they are Keeping under
cover j. r.. Rubin, assistant district at
torney. telegraphed the Hot Springs po-
lice that he would arrive tomorrow.
Rubin, with Detective Stewart was ex-
rpected today. Detective Thomas is also
en- route to Hotasprings. coming by an
other route thar Rubin and Stewart.
schepps declined tonight to comment
upor tie dispatch from New York stating
that bernard Sanders, his attorney had
started for Hot Springs and had tele-
graphed Schepps not to start for New
York until Sanders arrived mere. lie
would neither confirm nor deny the state
nent that Sanders is en- route and had
telegraDhed him.
Mention in Hot Springs newspaper to-
day Of rumor that a New York detec-
tive ser1t by Commissioner Dousherty has
been here all day. and IS ahadowing
scheIps and Police Captain Howell ere
ated some interest at Hot Springs police
headaIlarters, Police Chief T.eGrard ex-
pressed the belief that If such repre-
sentative is here, he may have secured
certain letters and kilograms that nave
disappeared from files in the city hall
These include the kilograms from Whit
man and other correspondents bearing
directly on the detention of Schepps. The
rapers in question are the only authority
for Holding schepps specifically for the
district attorneys office. and failure to
be able to produce them if called upon
in court, il is feared. might cause the
delivery OF Schepps % the New York po-
liceman, rather than 10 District Attorney
Whtman's representatives. The police
take hope because SO far no EoS- York
police agents that may be here hays
made themselves known as such.
If Schepps we're demanded Of the Hot
spi ings police by New York policemen,
two courses would be omen to the for
n,er--demand that Tequisltion be shown,
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15
NOISY BUTTERFLIES.
One Species Produces a Sound Like
tho Snap Of Whip.

One Species Produces a Sound Like
tho Snap of Whip.
One does not think Of butterflies as
making any sounds. nor Of caterpil!ars
as noisy creatures, vet according to the
late Samuel Hubbard Scudder in
"Frail Children Of the Air" the care
full student will find some use for his
ears when observing the habits of
both. Says the author:
It is a fact that certain butterflies
produce sound during certain move
ments. The whip" butterfly when
surprised makes noise like the snap
of lash by opening and shutting its
wings in quick succession. Some hi
berna ting butterflies when disturbed
make faint kissing sound by slowly
depressing and raising their wings,
The noise thus produced resembles
that made by blowing slowly through
closed teeth. Other sounds resemble
the friction of sandpaper.
large number Of caterpillars make
sound by striking the head against the
leaf on which they are resting or by
swinging the head from side to side
catching the mandibles in the rough
ness of the leaf or on the silken
threads spun on it. 1t is said that q
certain kind Of chrysalis when disturb
ed emitS a slight, sharp chirp or click
ing noise.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15

because industry has been simply
marking time the last two years and
there are big gaps and empty shelves
that must be filed.
A somewhat frmer undertone is de-
veloping in the money market. Home
demands are increasing and bank re-
serves are low. Should trade improve
in accordance with expectations we
may look for still f1rmer rates as the
year progresses. Prices are high, SO
that the purchasing power of funds
does not go as far as formerly. More
over, it is probable that additional
large capital applications will be made
if the investment market continues
satisfactory. Similar conditions exist
in Europe. Heavy new issues are be-
ing made in London, and likewise on
some Of the Continental money mar
kets where large national and munich
pal loans are pending. Moreover,
trade abroad is active; more active
than in the United States, and this
fact will tend to keep money active
abroad. Nevertheless we are still in
a position to draw gold from Europe
if needed, our credit balance there
being heavy.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15
NAPOLEON LOVED SNUFF.
And He Punched the Boxes as Well &:
the Punqent Dust.

the Punsent Dust.
Napoleon loved snuff; not emily on tbs
battlefield, but at home in the coun
Gil, he had recourse to the dust, es
pecially when his schemes were IN
favorablY received and he wished tt
hide his uneasiness or Impotence. Tn
able to sit still In his elbow chair, he
would try in thousand ways to divert
attention from himself, and amons
other devices, as soon as he saw z
members eye fixed on him woulG
hold out his arm and shake his thumL
and forennger, to signify that he wish
ed for pinch Of snuff. Not less thar
four, and even six, snuffboxes dis
appeared in this manner during sin
gle sitting. and it was not till he haC
left the council chamber that he be
came aware Of the larceny. So con
firmed was this habit that some of tn;
councillors. whose snuffboxes were
heirlooms or presents from foreisi
princes, hit upon the expedient OF car
rying cheap PAPER mache or woodel
boxes for the emperor to pocket. Thu
snuffboxes, however, always return
ed to their owners and in doing
were often found to have undergone
a very pleasant metamorphosis. By
some necromancy wooden or tor
toise shell box, on coming out from the
imperial pocket, was usually trans
formed into one of gold, set around
with diamonds, or bearing the emper
ors NINA ture on the lid.-William
Matthews, Hours With Men and
Books"
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15
SAUERKRAUT EXPLODES.
Yes, Indeed, the Worry Best Kinds
Whom the Cabbage Ferments.

That German delicacy. sauerkraut. Is
made in large quantities in this coun-
try, and tons and tons Of cabbages are
shredded up to supply the demand.
The Germans stoutly declare that all
of their kraut is strictly handmade and
that the imported kind is vastly SUI
perior to the American machine made
article. They say that there is no way
to obtain the long, slender delicate
tendrils of cabbage of which the finest
quality Of sauerkraut should be made
other than by having it sliced up with
a sharp knife in the hands of skilled
workman. Nevertheless the greater
part of the sauerkraut eaten over here
is the product Of an American labor
saving method.
Sauerkraut does not look like a par
ticularly highly volatile substance
when it appears on platter alongside
of a pink pigs knuckle or as the foun-
dalton or groundwork upon which Is
placed the plump. brown frankfurter
sausage. But it does frequently ex-
plode. sometimes with sufficient VIC
lence to wreck its container. This hap
pens when fermentation sets in. And
if carload of Sauerkraut goes up bar
rel after barrel the wreckage is great
and the loss complete. while the walls.
roof and floor of the car are likely to
be covered with the picked cabbage
inches thick.-New York Sun.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15
CHURCH LAYMEN TO
HOLD BIG MEETING
Men and Religion Forward
Movement to Reach Gil
max in N. Y. City.
National News Asgociatfon)

/ NEW YORK, April 15.-The great
lest religious meeting of laymen in the
history of the United States will begin
here next Friday, when the men and
religion Forward Movement reaches
Iclimax in the assembling of the first
christian Conservation Congress, in
|Carnegie Hall, to continue in session
Through the following Wednesday.
Leading men from this country and
canada, and several prominent British
speakers will address the convention.
among them President Taft. William ].
bryan, Ambassador James H. Bryce, of
England; T. A. Macdonald, editor Of
the Toronto Globe; Rev. James E.
Freeman, of Minneapolis Rev ]. Stu
art Holden, of London; John Mitchell,
FORMER president of the Coal Miners
Union; Rev. ]. s. Wardell Stafford, Of
London; Ex-Governor Northern Of
Georgia; Congressman Richard P.
Hobson: Archdeacon Thomas F. Mad
den, of Liverpool; Gypsy Smith, of
london; President William T. Slocum
of Colorado College, President Frank
Strong, of the University of Kansas;
Booker T. Washington; Governor
Glasscock of West Virginia; William
#. Stead, of London; Secretary Of the
Interior Walter G. Fisher; Rev. A.
Herbert Gray, of Glasgow, Scotland;
Miss Jane Adams, of Hull House,
Chicago; Bishop David H. Greer, of
New York, and Rev. John H. Jowett,
Of New York.
Speakers and delegates to the con-
gress have already begun to arrive,
and indications are that the three
Thousand capacity of Carnegie Hall
will be taxed to the utmost. In event
that the attendance is too large for
Carnegie Hall to accommodate all of
the delegates-which is regarded as a
foregone conclusion--special "over-
flow meetings will be held in the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church,
the Central Presbyterian Church, the
broadway Tabernacle and Calvary
Baptist Church. where there also will
be held sectional meetings.
The Men and Religions Movement.
which embraces men of all denomina-
tons, and had it's inception in a meet
ing in this city in 1910, thereafter
growing steadily and rapidly in scope
and extent, is being particularly urged
by the following church societies and
brotherhoods: Brotherhood of st. An
drew, Brotherhood of Andrew and
Philip, Baptist Brotherhood, Congrega-
tional Brotherhood of America, Broth
erhood of Disciples of Christ, Gideons
Commercial Travelers) International
Committee of Young Mems Christian
Associations of North America, Inter
national Sunday School Association,
Lutheran Brotherhood, Methodist Bro
therhood, Otterbein Brotherhood
Omitted Brethren church,, Presbyter-
ian Brotherhood of America and Unit
ed Presbyterian Brotherhood
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15
BRYAN NOW IN OHIO
Commoner Will Begin His
Attack Upon Harmon.
National News Association

COLUMBUS, O., April 15.-Winiam
J. Bryan arrived in Columbus today
from New York to begin a series of po-
litical speeches which the opponents
of Harmon believe will do anything
but advance the Ohio governors candi-
dacy for the Democratic presidential
nomination. Mr.. Bryan, whose bitter
position to Governor Harmon's presi-
Dental aspirations is we'll known, bill
be heard in Columbus and in several
other Ohio cities during the week. The
Harmon campaign managers, speaking
in reference to the Bryan program. de-
clared today they had no fear what
ever that anything the Nebraska lead
er could say in his speeches would in
jure the Governor in the least.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15
A Hard Eace.

Bobby's papa, who is a naval ON
Ger. took him to call upon the family
of a brother officer who had just re-
turned from a cruise to the tropics.
Among the treasures exhibited was
large red and blue parrot, whose ap-
pearance and conversational powers
proved most fascinating to the little
boy. While the grownups were en-
gagged in talking over old times Bob
by, left to his own devices, drew near
er to the parrots cage. bent on max
ing friends.
Presently there was a squawk from
the parrot and a little frightened cry
from Bobby, who ran to his father.
exhibiting a bleeding forefnger.
The little man was brave. though.
as beftted the son OF a sailor. He
brushed away his tears and said:
Gee, papa, but that bird has hard
faosl.~RaEpAr'o Na0ak11A
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15
Yhe Renorter's Instinct.

Reporters become star reporters be-
cause they observe things that other
people miss and because they do not
let 1t appear that they have observed
them. When the great man who is be-
ing interviewed blurts out that which
is indiscreet but most important, the
cub reporter says, That is most in
teresting. sir: I'll make note of that"
And so warns the great man into si-
lence. But the star reporter receives
the indiscreet utterance as though it
bored him, and SO the great man does
not know he has blundered until he
reads of it the next morning under
screaming MISUNDERSTANDING Harding
Davis in the Saturday Evening Post.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-15
Tips to Travellers.

Take a candle in your bag and a box
of safety matches. When they are
wanted You will be glad they were
put in. The space required for them
is small. A passenger on a steamer
that was wrecked had a small candle.
which enabled her to collect some of
her most valuable possessions when
the lights went out after the collision.
Garry few pens in your bag if you
do not use a fountain pen. You will
find that it is worth while, as the
pens provided at some hotels and 9TH
er public places are often so bad that
it is impossible to use them with any
satisfaction.-San Francisco Chronicle