Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-01-11
BIG EVENTS IN The YEAR 1917
Notable Historical Happenings During
the Twelve-Months.
Loss of Titanic and Deaths of Avi-
ators-Dynasty Overthrown in
china-victory of Demo-
cratic Party.


history was written in the year of
1912. Events of vast Importance and
of worldwide interest followed each
other in the quick march of the past
twelve months
The most significant of these, doubt
less, was the war of the Balkan states
against the Turkish empire, which
put a period to the sultan'S ancient
supremacy in southeastern Europe.
The sudden rise of the minor states
which comprised the Balkan allies is
one of the marvels of the age. No
less miraculous was the swift and
decisive way in which they swept the
Turks across the plains of Thrace and
forced them back almost to the banks
of the Dardanelles.
The fortunes of this war caused the
whole world to wonder. The very
map of Europe was changed from day
to day. Especially has this war
brought into significant power the
states of Servia and Bulgaria and
given them an important voice in the
diplomatic forum of Europe.
Greatest Marine Tragedy.
The most grievous occurrence of
the year. especially to America, was
the sinking of the Titanic on April
IA. The loss of this, greatest of all
ocean liners, with over 1 800 people
was the greatest marine tragedy of
all time. 1t was not only the multi
tude Of victims that made the catas-
trophe so overwhelmingly sad, but
the character and Importance of
many of those who sank-the appall-
ing figure being 1919.
In the middle of the night while
the ship was flashing with myTiads of
brilliant lights and the great vessel
was ringing with music and laughter,
the Titanic ran head on into a gi-
gantic iceberg while going at the rate
of over so miles an hour.
Death seemed to reign in the air
as well as on the water, during the
year 1912. The number of airmen
who lost their lives was unprecedent-
ed. And one American woman is
numbered among the victims-Miss
Quimby, who fell into the ocean from
the height of a thousand feet The
year claimed 80 airmen, bringing the
total of all up to PIT.
The year marked some improve
ment in the hydroaeroplane, but on
the whole the science of flying did not
progress to any material degree
air disa sters, it is quite peculiar that
death should claim, by sickness, the
man who invented the first practical
flying craft-Wilbur Wright. The
great American inventor passed away
at his home in Dayton, O., and was
given one of the most notable funer-
ais in the history of the city.
Remarkable Political Events.
| In the political realm the year 1912
witnessed many remarkable things.
Perhaps the most significant was the
completion Of the overthrow of the
Manchu dynasty in China and the in
stallation of the Chinese republic,
with Dr. Sun, a Harvard graduate, as
president.
] In America, of course, the most i'm
portant political event was the over
whelming defeat Of the Republican
party, and the return of the Demo
cratic party to power after sixteen
years, with woodrow Wilson as the
new president.
An interesting feature of the POI
litical movements in this country was
the birth of the Progressive party,
with former President Theodore
Roosevelt as it's godfather.
The year 1912 also witnessed the
discovery Of the south pole by Capt.
Road Amundson, the Danish ex-
plorer.
In the field of science great prog
ress was made, especially in surgical
experiments The Nobel prize for the
most notable achievement of the year
| in the medical field was awarded to
DR.. Alexis CarreI Of the Rockefeller
Institute. Although DR.. Carre1 is a
Frenchman by birth, he has labored in
America for years.
Deaths and Grimes.
The year 1912 has witnessed the
passing of many prominent men.
| Among the eminent Americans who
died during the year were Rear Adj
miral Robley D. Evans and Ambassa-
dor Whitelaw Reid.
The most sensational individual
| crime OF the year, at least in America,
| was the assassination Of Herman Ros-
enthal, the New York gambler. by
| four gunner acting as agents of Po-
| lice Lieutenant Charles A. Becker
| The latter and his four hired murder
ers are now under sentence of death.
| The immediate result of the Becker
crime was the opening of the alder
manic investigation, which revealed
the revolving details Of the alliance
! between the police and the under
world.
Another event which stirred the