davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
CHARGES ARE TO Be
PREFERRED AGAINST
CAPT. OSMAN BERRY
Government Will Attempt to
Prove Nantucket's Skipper
Was Negligent in Col
lisiOn With the Monroe

Washington, February 2.-Secretary
Redfield late today directed that charges
of negligence be preferred against Capt.
Osman Berry tentatively of the Merchants
and Miners steamship Nantucket which
collided with and sank the Old Dominion
liner Monroe with loss of Al lives off
the Virginia coast last Friday.
Investigation of the charges will be
entrusted to the local board of inspectors
at Philadelphia, with instructions that
testimyony be taken and decision re-
ported.
This action followed a conference at the
department of commerce on a report from
r. L. Tapley the departments inspector
of hulls at Norfolk, Va.
The secretary announced that evidence
brought out by the inspectors prelimi-
nary inquiry, held on board the Nan
tucket while that vessel was making her
way ino Norfolk with the Monroe's sur
vivors aboard, tended to show that
there was negligence on the part of Cap
tain Berry" He added, however, that II
would be quite improper to pass upon
tt't iucstAol at lillS llfHe, IuGInef stlan
to decide that there Is sufficient evidence
to require that charges be preferred
against Captain Berry and that the ques-
tlon of his innocence or guilt be made
the subject of further investigation"
No intimation was given as 10 the spe-
cifc nature of the negligence to be
charged against the Nantucket's skipper.
The two vessels met In a dense fog early
Friday morning, the Monroe bound up the
coast from Norfolk for New York and
the Nantucket steaming southwark from
Boston for Norfolk. The Nantucket
drove her bow into the starboard side of
the Monroe, causing her to sink within
few minutes.
While the charges against Captain
Berry are under investigation a special
committee of the department, George
Uhler, supervising inspector general OF
the steamboat inspection service, and
e. 7. Chamberlain, commissioner of nav
gation, will undertake a particular In
quiry into the facts and conditions sur
rounding the collision with the view to
suggesting action by the department or
Congress on the lessons taught by the
disaster.
A statement from the department an
nouncing the results of today's confer
ence said:
THE department has given instruction
to Inspector Tapley to prefer charges
against Captain Berry. This will be done
without delay, and the board of local in
spectors at Philadelphia will hear all the
testimony which may be produced on both
sides and render its decision. An appeal
may be taken from the decision of this
board to the supervising inspector of the
Philadelphia district and a further ap-
peal may be taken to the supervising in
spector general.
THE local board of inspectors at Phil
adelphia has been asked to conduct this
Investigation, because neither vessel sails
from that port and because the local
board at Norfolk will appear as bringing
the charges through the testimony taken
by it as above described
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03

Montgomery. February 2.-tSpecial)
Cullman does not want the state tuber
culosis hospital located on Eight Mile
creek, near that city. It has entered
protest with the governor and the
state BOARD of health, and has asked
that q conference be called so it can
appear and make known its reasons.
Several acres of land have already
been purchased and paid for and the
site was selected only after Florence
and other cities had offered to donate
tracts for the use of the hospital.
Cullman's protest now has caused great
surprise as the location means that
the county seat of Cullman county Will
furnish all supplies for the sanitarium
and the patients will be harmless as
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
|. B N. TO WAIT FOR
MEMPHIS TRAIN
Commission Orders South
ern No. 36 and l.. & N. No. 5
to Connect at Decatur

Montgomery, February 2-(Specal.)
AT the instance of the state railroad COM
mission the Louisville and Nashville pas
senger train No. known as the Birming-
ham and Decatur accommodation, will be
held at Decatur for passengers off the
Southern railway train No. SO, running
from Memphis to Chattanooga
The commission had received frequent
requests to have the Birmingham and
Decatur accommodation held at Decatur
for passengers off No. Sc. which arrived
just a few minutes after the other train
had pulled out, thereby necessitating a
long delay at Decatur on the part of pas
sengers going to Birmingham.
The order of the commission will doubt
less be of great interest to people living
in North Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
JUDGE VENTRESS
LOSES LIFE IN FIRE
Alfalfa Jurist Burned and G..
l.. Cox Injured in Early
Morning Blaze

Gadsden, February 2.-(SpeciaL Judge
Thomas Ventress wasA burned to death
and George l.. Cox was burned
and injured by falling down a STAIR
way and is in a critical condition. and
two brick buildings were burned with a
loss of $4,000 as the result of a fire
at Alfalfa, which was discovered at
$500 o'clock this morning.
Nentress and Cox occupied rooms on
the second floor. The fire had gained
great. headway before they were awak-
ened. They groped about in the smoke
and darkness and Cox fell down the
stairway.
Ventress failed to find the stairway
and his body was found in the hallway
after the flames had been extinguished.
Judge Ventress was 65 years old and
was the first abstractor of Etowah
county. He was prominent in politics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
CAPITOL THREATENED BY
FIRE EARLY YESTERDAY

Montgomery, February Especially
The governor of Alabama. state Off
oials and department clerks aided the
fire department early this morning in
eXtinguishing a small blaze which
started in the new wing of the state
capitol building. The fire was due to
defective chimney in the senate
cham Der. Some of the bricks in the
chimney had been accidentally loosened
by workmen engaged in erecting the
new annex two years ago.
The fire started in the wooden work
below the roof of the annex. adjacent to
the old building. The flames entered
the small attic through the loosened
tricks. caught some timbers and i'm
inediately attacked the roof
The blaze was observed a few min
utes after 1t began and a general alarm
was at once sounded. In the meantime
the governor and other officials rushed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
CAPITAL is TALKING
POLITICS AND LACY
AS is WHOLE STATE
tContinued From Page Onco

Continued From Page One.)
and the whereabouts of that tidy sum of
$4,000 which 1t has been charged was
stolen-is absolutely natural in his man
ner. his bearing, his facial expression,
and his speech
On the other hand, he does not wish
the people to believe that he Is defiant,
bold brazen or Indifferent to criticism
He is modest even retiring, in his ma
ture as he has always been. For that
reason, he declines to pose for the cam
era.
In this connection, an interesting story
is told. An enterprsing journalist-all
of the journalists are enterprising-car-
ried his private camera from Birmng ham
to Montgomery 1t was an excellent cam
era. Furthermore, it was concealed in
the folds of a newspaper. That it was
u camera, no one knew until this jour
nalist made his appearance at the jail.
He was greeted by Lacy-fondly. But,
well, the camera was useless baggage.
The story of the failure does not indicate
the existence of flaw in the camera or
In the journalist. 1t does indicate, how
ever. a refinement in the prisoner, a re-
finement without which any man should
be sent to the penitentiary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03

to the scene and assisted in extn-
gushing the blaze until the chemical
apparatus from the fire department
arrived. The fire was put out in a
short while after the arrival of the
chemical engine, with scarcely any
damage to the building.
The fire was kindled In the CRATE
I'm the senate chamber by workmen en-
gagged in installing the new furniture,
and 1t was they who first observed the
blaze
Had the fire started at night ii is
probable that considerable damage
would have been done to the build
ing, particularly the old building, which
is not flreproof This building might
have burned to the ground
considerable excitement prevailed
when 1T was learned that the capitol
was on fire The governor was one
of the first to rush to the scene and
he superintended the work of extin-
gushing the blaze until the fire de-
partment arrived.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
CULLMAN OPPOSES SITE FOR
TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL

Only those who have tuberculosis i'll
an incipient form will be confined
there.
The site was selected more than a
year ago, and no protest was made
until few days ago. Among the cit
liens of Cullman who have asked that
the hospital be not located near the
town are C. A. Stiefelmeyer, George
Stiefelmeyer E. c. Ginney, S. j. Grif-
fin and Mayor NJ. L. Robertson. When
the board of health was considering
sites last year several hundred acres of
land in Franklin county We're offered
and the tender was refused only be-
cause of bad transportation facilities.
Florence also agreed to donate tract.
The Cullman county site was decided
upon because of transportation and
other conveniences.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
LACY REMAINS IN
MONTGOMERY JAIL;
CANNOT MAKE BOND
Judge Brown Refuses to Re-
duce Bail From $4,000 to
$20,00O-Trial Set for
February "a
BY L. s. BETTY

Montgomery, February 2.-tSpeciaL)
nnjesty of the law and the honor of
Alabama. Judge Armstead Brown OF
the city court of Montgomery today
refused the motion of attorneys TO re-
aucc the bond of Theodore Lacy, nj
legged defaulter of the state convict
Aeuartment. from $4,000 TO $4,000.
enc Of the largest IN the history of the
state, and up to a late hour tonight
Lacy had failed to make bail.
Trial Set for February "a
The court set Lacy's trial for February
n He will be tried on four indictments
Of the grand jury, charging the embezzle-
ment Of $4,000 from the state convict de-
partment. Owing to the fact that the
states revenue is involved Lacey's case
has been made a preferred one. Reduc-
ton of L.acy's bond from $4,000 to $40, 900
was urged by Ray Rushton, one of the
attorneys for Lacy and by William T. Sell
bells. Montgomery county solicitor, who
returned nuIrleuiy from DaillIIOlt III
order that he might represent the state
at the hearing. Solicitor Seibels recon-
mended the reduction of Lacy's bond on
the ground that he had voluntarily sur
rendered. Mr.. Seibels told the court that
he believed Lacy had returned to Mont
gomery in good faith. and said he believed
he would not attempt to run away.
Ray Rushton intimated that the court
was 'trafffelting when it refused to
reduce Lacy's bond to $4,000 In reply to
this remark Judge Brown at once replied
that the court was not "trafficking,' and
expressed resentment that that charge
was made.
Refuses to Reduce Bond
Judge Brown refused to reduce the bond
to $4,000 because Lacy had not expressed
any intention of turning states evidence,
or of returning any portion of the money
alleged to have been stolen. 1t Is ex-
5ected that Lacy will remain in Jail sew
eral days before he is able to make bond.
The bond fixed by the court is said to be
one of the largest in the history of the
state, and indications are that the al
legged enbezzler may find considerable
difficulty in securing temporary release
from the Montgomery county Jail on bail
Many citizens of Dallas county are will
ling to sign Lacys bond for $4,000 but it
is believed that they will object to sign
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
ANTWINE'S REMAINS START
Birmingham Mans Body ACCOM-
panied by Relatives

Vincennes. Ind, February 2.-(Spe-
cial. 1.-The body of John Antwine was
taken to Birmingham at o'clock to-
night. accompanied by the widow and
son, John F., Jr.. and brother -in-law
Will Cutliff, and the aged parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Antwine. Large
delegations of knights of Columbus
and Elks Joined relatives and friends
in the procession to the Union station.
AntWin inc realized he was going to die
and two weeks ago wrote his mother
he was coming home to die. The end
was sudden, due to acute Brights dis
ease.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
Weather Conditions

Birmingham, February 2.-G p. m.)-The
weather has been generally fair over the
southern half of the country during the
past "a hours, and unsettled with rain or
snow over northern sections from Michi-
gan westward Rather low temperatures
prevailed throughout the Rockies, and
severe cold in Montana, North Dakota
and adjacent provinces of Canada. Light
SHOWS fell throughout these sections and
eastward to Lake Huron. Light rains
occurred over Illinois and the Missouri
valley. Moderate temperatures and fair
skies prevailed over the Atlantic slope
and sections south of the Ohio river
Cloudy skies were quite general in Texas
and Louisiana at T p. m, but no rain
was reported in any southern section.
Summary of observation made at
United States weather bureau stations;
Temperature
Lowest
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
Mrs. Alice d, MayO Ill

Mrs. Alice d. Mayo was taken sud-
denly i'll Thursday afternoon at her
home, 3466 Highland avenue. and her
condition is regarded as very preca-
rious by her physjcions. Mrs Mayo is
secretary of the home department sec
tion of the Birmingham District Sum-
day School association, and greatly be-
loved by a large circlue of friends. who
will regret to learn of her serious ILL
ness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
FIRE THREATENS
THE CAPITAL DEPOT
Damage Estimated at $4,000
Done by Flames at Union
Station Monday

montgomery, February 2.-(Special.)
Damage estimated at 5000 was done by
fire at the Union station operated by the
Louisville and Nashville railroad today
the third floor, and were under control
15 minutes after the fire department ar
rived.
The officers of trainmaster, special
agent and train dispatcher were dam
aged and closed for repairs. Investiga-
tions have failed to determine the cause
of the fire.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03

g. 49; 1895. e.e9; 1896, s4O 1887, 4S5; 1898. Sis;
1899, 526: 1900, $50; 1901 500; 1902, 379; 1903,
29O; 1904, 1884, 1905 $50; 1906, 9.75; 1907, 1856;
1908. 415: 1909 2G5; 1910. 3.75; 1911, SIC: 1911,
526; 1912, SOB; 1913, S.25; 1914, 1.S5. Norma
for this month, 532.
Deficiency of this month as compared
with the normal, 3.47. Accumulated de-
ficieney since January /, 347.
Wind: Prevailing direction, 5; total
movement. 6932 miles; average hourly We
locity, 81: maximum velocity Qor five
minutes, "a miles per hour, from north
west, on 2ist.
Weather: Number of days clear, l6;
partly cloudy, 5; cloudy, 10; on which 'Ob
inch or more of precipitation occurred, ..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
Weather Forecast

Washington, February 2-Forecast for
Alabama and Mississippi: Partly cloudy
Tuesday; probably local rains; Wednes-
day fair
For Tennessee: Fair in east, local rains
and colder in west Tuesday; Wednesday
fair, colder In east.
For Georgia: Fair Tuesday; Wednes-
day unsettled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03

sites for-the creation of THE greatest
governor the state has ever known
(by his own admission). then con-
sign me forever to political oblivion
of the darkest hue, then bury my re-
mains in the deepest political grave
that Alabama's time-honored democ-
racy can possibly procure"
1t is regarded as certain that in THIS
dramatic utterance of Ciceronian elo-
quence, this terrible invective like those
under which Cataline quailed Mr. Seed
had in the eye of his mind a candidate
for governor, who was formerly gov
ernor Mr. Seed did not say So 1t is
the guess of this correspondent
What Is Soap Stock?
The third gubernatorial candidate en-
countered was Charles Henderson Mr.
Henderson is feeling fine. He is of the
opinion that things politically are begin
ming to break his way. He was with his
campaign manager, Sam p. Kennedy.
Mr.. Kennedy is regarded as a rate ex-
pert.
He said: "Mr. Conner promised the peo-
pie a 21a-cent passenger rate. He didn't
give that rate to the people. He used
club. The people have that rate. 1t was
produced by Charles Henderson. He used
diplomacy.
Mr. Conner promised the people,
the Georgia rate on commodities.
There are $50 and more commodities.
Mr.. Comers commodity bill contains
no articles. Read the list. Included
in the number are granite, soap stock
| and beer. If any man in Alabama
| has ever received any granite. | Will
| innict on myself the burden of ascer-
tanning lust what soap stock is. Mr..
| Conner did not put in his commodity
| bill coats, shoes, pants, shirts, collars.
ties, hats, stockings, or anything else
that YOU wear. It's joke-that COM
| modify bill.
| And the classification of railroads,
| Because the Alabama Great Soutern
| accepted the rate of 2la cents, that
| railroad was put in the third class of
| carriers and may charge
| higher freight rate than car
| iiers of the first class. In Georgia,
| concerning which Mr. Conner so
often speaks, the Alabama Great
| Southern is in the first class. The
Louisville and Nashville did not ac-
cept the 21s passenger rate. The Louis
! vile and Nashville was put in the first
class In Georgia, the Louisville and
Nashville is in the third class And
so it goes to the end of the chapter"
RushtOn Candidate
| Col. H. Y. Brooke, examiner of public
accounts is mentioned as possible can
didate for congressman at large. Up to
the present time, Congressman Aber-
| crombie is unopposed. When Mr.. Brooke
was questioned today in regard to the
| report, he became unusually evasve.
II have nothing to say in that re-
| gard" he declared. However, you
may say that NJ W. Rushton of Cren-
shaw county, will be candidate for
chancellor of the southeastern di-
vision to succeed Chancellor Lucien
D. Gardner appointed recently to the
bench of the supreme court"
Other candidates for this job are j. A
Carnley of Elba and Mr.. Chapman OF
Dothan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
Summary for January

Atmospheric pressure, reduced to sea
level; inches and hundredths: Mean, 30.10;
highest 30.46 date, 11th; lowest 29.65;
date, 9th.
Temperature: Highest, "A; date. %; low
est %. date, u. Greatest daily range SO,
date. 30; least daily range, 2. date, 2.
Mean for this month in 1894, so; 1895, Al;
1896 As; 1897 4s; 1898, 81; 1899, As; 1900, As;
1901. 4s; 1902, Al; 1908 AZ; 1904 ~; 1905, SO;
1906 Al; 1907, "a; 1905 "A; 1909, 40; 1910, 49,
1911, 90; 1912. 40; 1913, 81; 1914, AZ. Normal
for this month. 45.3.
Absolute maximum for this month for
q years, n; absolute minimum for this
month for q years, Z. Average daily eX-
cess of this month as compared with the
normal, 2.1.; accumulated excess since
January l, 6S; average daily excess since
January /, 81.
Precipitation: Total this month, 1.S5;
snowfall, 90. Greatest precipitation in "a
hours, 1.01; date, 80. Snow on the ground
at end of month, 0.
Total precipitation this month in 1894,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
The Political Discussion

John H. Wallace, Jr., one of the best
known citizens of Montgomery, freely
admitted his regret today that this writer
in The Age-Herald of Sunday indicated
that he might withdraw from the race
for governor.
He was profuse and emphatic in denial.
1t is unnecessary to state, however, that
he retained his characteristic charm of
manner. Boiled down, his expression was
this:
1.-The senatorial situation has COM
pletely overshadowed the race for gov
ernor. l am convinced that 75 per
cent of the voters have not made up
their minds. Therefore, 1t is reason
able to suppose that / have just as
good a chance as any other individual.
am still in the/race and will remain
in the race even unto the end
Another gubernatorial candidate seen
by your correspondent in Montgomery
was Walter d. Seed of Tuscaloosa, who
at the present time is lieutenant COVER
nor. Mr.. Seed will make a speech next
Monday That speech will contain new
evidence tending to prove, according to
Mr.. Seed, that Mr.. Conner should not be
governor again. The candidate has been
in seclusion for several weeks. The rea-
son-the preparation of his speech 1t
required some time to gather the facts
and some time to prepare them for pres
entat.on In the manner in which Mr.. Seed
is fond Of presenting his facts.
Seeds Significant Statement
seed made 1t very plain that he
would prefer oblivion to victory as re-
suit of unsavory methods. In this re-
gard, he said:
III must constantly delude the peo-
pie into believing statements as true
which are either untrue or only par
TALLY true; II l must frequently make
statements which are at variance with
the real truth; IL for reasons l am
unwilling to divulge I must have my
son-in-law withhold from the legally
established treasury $250.000 each
quarter with no valid excuse, and re-
sultant therefrom cost my state $780,
900 and not repay the amount so
lost; IL while county commissioner
/ must lease the county convicts to
the lessee Of my wife's farm (and
make his bond. too) at the mere pit
tance of 81 per month, a price less
than one-flfth the price secured for
the county convicts by my successors
in office four years later. If I must
rob the school children and the Con-
federate veterans of a part of their
dues as demanded by the democratic
platform to raise officers salaries
and curry favor with the more infiuen-
tial; IT, due to Unsuitable greed, while
manufacturing cotton into cloth I
must manufacture into money the
blood and bone of innocent children of
those tender ages spared by all but
two other states; II these are requi-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
Several Witnesses on Stand

Several witnesses were on the stand to-
day, among them j. III. Lumplin of Dal.
las county, who attempted to prove the
taxable worth of citizens of Dallas county
who had signed Lacys bond for $4,000.
He stated that one of Lacy's bondsmen
on the $4,000 bond was worth between
800 600 and s30o.00O and that other suretiea
on his bond were worth more than $4,000
Friends of Lacy are making a strong
effort TO make his bond, and while it may
be several days before they can do so.
1t is believed that they will utimately
succeed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
RATES ON
COAL DEMANDED
Montgomery Business Mems
League Want Cheaper Rate
From Birmingham

Montgomery, February 2.-(Special) }
Better rates on coal from the Birming-
ham district We're demanded by the
freight bureau of the Business Mems
league In exhibits filed with the rail-
road commission Monday to support a
petition which was entered several
weeks ago The rate of s1.10 ton be-
tween the coal mines and Mobile and
Pensacola is one of the strong points
in the exhibit.
Montgomery merchants are charged
VI ton, while railroads having coal
shipped to Montgomery are required
to pay only 80 cents. The freight bu-
reau contends that if Mobile rate of
1.1O Is equitable, that Montgomery
about half way between the coal fields
and Mobile, should have a lower one
than 80 cents or ST.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03

Jere King is circulating among the
voters in Blount today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03

Blount now has two announced can
didates for representative, Dick Slath-
am and the Rev. Adams.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
RushtOn a Candidate
NONJURY TERM ON
IN BLOUNT COUNTY

Oneonta, February 2.-(Special)
The nonjury term of the Blount coun-
ty circuit court convened this morn
ing with Judge j. f. Blackwood pre-
siding. The docket is light and Will
perhaps take only two or three days.
Johr A. Lusk of Guntersville. an at
torney, is attending the court this
week. Also NJ L. Ward of Birmingham
is here attending court.