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' ‘ ODR WASHINGTON NEWS AND NOTES ITEMS OF INTEREST BRIEFLY CHRONICLED. FLEET FOR PACIFIC COAST Plan to Send Battleship. to Western Coast. Senator Perkins Urges Di vision of Atlantic Fleet. A plan is under way to divide tho fleet of battleships now assembled on the Atlantic coast by sending fully one half of them to the Pacific coast station. This movement is largely fathered by Senator Perkins of Cali fornia, who, while expressing himself as not at all apprehensive of an ap proaching conflict with Japan, yet be lieves that our enormous Pacific coast line should not be left practically with out naval defense. There are no battleships on the Pa cific coast at the present time. The principal units of naval defense there are the cruisers Charleston, Chicago, Boston, Princeton and York town and a few torpedo boats. All of these ves sels save the Charleston, are of old construction, and would be of very lit tie use in a conflict with a first-class naval power. The battleship Oregon one of the initial three battleships constructed for the navy and the bat tleship Wisconsin are at the navy yard at Bremerton, Wn., undergoing extensive repairs. It will be a year or more before they will be available for service. On the Asiatic station the naval power is represented by four large armored cruisers of the West Vir ginia class and the old monitors Mon adnock, and Monterey. The Monad nock is in reserve, with a skeleton crew aboard, and toe Monterey is out ‘of commission at Cavite. Added to •fhese are a number of more or fess ob solte gunboats for use among the Phil ippine Islands and a squadron of pro tected cruisers, the Baltimore, Cincin nati, Raleigh, Galveston, and Chatta nooga, These are not especially for midable either in respect to speed or otherwise. Senator Perkins also believes the naval plants at Brementon ami Maie Island should be thoroughly equipped for the construction of battleships and minor eraft, and to this end it is his opinion that one vessel, of the first class should always be under con ^traction at each of these years. The experiments made recently by the government in the construction of the battlships Louisiana and Con necticut by the Newport News Ship building Company and the United States government at the Brooklyn navy yard, respectively, shows that despite the handicaps imposed upon government construction generally, the time occupied in the building-of these two vessels and the expense • were practically the same. It takes time to assemble the needed skilled labor and the necessary appliances for the building of battleships, and it is deemed the part of wisdom to have such equipment as may turn these vessels out with the least pos sible delay, and in time of war ena ble the government to repair damage sustained in conflict and otherwise with the maximum speed. The Color of a Filipino. The school authorities of Washing ton have been called upon to decide whether a Filipino is white or “col ored. The problem was brought be fore them by Major M. F. Waltz of the United States army, who sent a communication asking that his Fili pino servant, twenty-two years of age be admitted to the white school of Washington. Major Waltz said that his servant had been denied admission to the pub lie schools of Atlanta on account of the prevailing race feeling. After much discussion the question was re ferred to a committee, which has not yet reported. Japs Do Not Seek War. “The Japanese do not want Hawaii or the Philippines and they do nol seek war,’ says Bishop Merriam C. Harris of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who has spent thirty-three years in apan, and who is home on a visit. ' He offered a prajer in the Seffcte and then went over to the House and talked with the members. There is no hard feeling toward the United States in Japan, he said, but an exclusion act would be resented and regarded as unforgivable, and might, he said, “lead to trouble.” To Experiment With Oil. The Bureau of Steam Engineering of the navy of which Rear Admiral Charles W. Rea is engineer iin chief, has decided to experiment with oil as possible fuel for United States ship3 of war. The first test will be made on the Wyoming, now at Mare Island. Should it be successful it is said at the Navy Department oil will be substituted for coal in a short time. " . Beer la Soldier’s Homes. Beer halls in the several branches of the national home for disabled vol unteer soldiers netted profits to the government aggregating $165,454 dur ing the last year, according to the an nual report of Col John L. Chamber^ lain, Inspector General, whose annual report to the Secretary of War i^ one of the strongest recommendation^ made for the retention of the canteeri featues of these homes. “The beer hall 1 believe to be a most valuable agent in determining the comfort, contentment, health and general welfare of the members. Near ly all members are of advanced age, their habits are formed and fixed be yond possibility of change. Their pen sions furnish means wherewith to drink, and those who desire drink can and will get it. In the beer hall they obtain beer of the purest and best quality, and the amount consumed can be and now is strictly regulated. If the beer hall should be abolished the money now spent in the beer hall—in fact a much larger sum—will be spent ia the neighboring saloons and dives. The profits which are now expended for the pleasure, comfort and conve nience and general welfare of the members will be lost to them and will go into the packets of the saloon keep ers. Reward for a Democrat. The following letter was given out at the White House: “The White House, “Washington, D. C., Dec. 17, 1906. “Dear Mr. Bonapiarte—Some three years ago Sheriff J. L. Merrill of Carroll county, Ga., lost his chanc.t for re-election by his action in beat ing off a mob of several hundred white people who were trying to take a ne gro out of jail and put him to death. Sheriff Merrill and his deputies fired on the mob, killing and wounding several men and beating the others off. Because of this he was defeated for reelection. Congressman Adamsor brought the matter to my attention saying that he hated to see a mor who had done such a service as 2 public official defeated because of the very fact that he had rendered the service. He told me that Governoi Terrell had offered Merrill a place the best he had to give, which carried a salary of $50 per month. I told the congressman that I thought I could beat that and got him a place foi $1200 a year as custodian of the grounds of the Federal prison at At lanta. I hear he has done well. If b« has done well can’t we give him s ! promotion? ‘ ‘ Sincerely yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. “Hon. Charles J. Bonaparte, “Attorney General.” The Milling of Rice. A delegation representing the rici interests of Louisiana and Texas wer< in Washington to confer with Secre tary Wilson in regard to the eifec; of the pure food bill, which goes inti effect Jan. 1, on rice manufacture The members of the delegation are C. S. Knapp, president of the Louis iana Rice Growers’ Association; F A. Godcheaux, of Abbeville, La.; S Ross, of Houston, Texas, and J. E Brousseard, of Beaumont. Secretary Wilson gave it as his opii ion that the present methods usee by the rice millers of the south an unobjectionable and will not be sun ject to change under the new laws He also stated that rice milled up tc t 1 nAff ‘ 11 1 _l £_ 'JailUflij JL -Lv V I W.i.1 tAVUl^/U j.A\sui the provisions under the bill. Mr. Wilson’s statement that glu cose can not be used for polishing was good news to the Louisianians and Texans, and they say that glucose is used to a great extent by foreign rice mills which comes into competi tion with American millers. An Investigation Ordered. No advices have been received at the War Department regarding ths reported firing on a car conductor by soldies at Fort Barrancas, Fla. Th« matter, however, unofficially was brought to the attention^of the de partment today, and the commanding officer of the fort has been called upon for information. Coming so soon after the affair ai Brownsville, Tex., which has received so much attention in the public press, army officers expressed their chagrin at the report of the latest disturbance. Fort Barrancas, which is located a short distance from Pensacola, is re garded as one of the most important posts in the service, five companies of the coast artillery, the Seventh, Ninth, Fifteenth, Twentieth, and flic Twenty-second companies being sta tioned there. Fire in the Studio Building at Bos ton caused $150,000 damage. “Newspaper Sensations.” Colorado Springs, Colo.—Gov. Her* bert . Hagerman of New Mexico, who is spending the week in this city, on his way home from Washington, characterized as “newspaper sensa tions” recent reports to the effect that certain politicians of New Mexico preferred charges against him, or have asked President Roosevelt for his removal from office, t ^ BOAT EXPLOSION KILLS MANY BIG DISASTER ON BENDS PACK ET SCOVELL. EXACT NUMBER NOT KNOWN But Number of Dead Between Fifteen and Twenty, Among Whom are Capt. Quackenboss, His Son and Laval Yerger. Vicksburg, Miss.—While the Stea mer W. T. Scovell, plying in the Vick •burg and Davis Bend trade, was load ing freight at Gold Dust Landing, seventeen miles south of Vicksburg, the boat’s boiler exploded with terrific force and without the slightest warn ing, killing and maiming the crew and passengers and blowing off the entire front of the steamer. According to survivors who arrived here on board of the steamer Senator Cordill, the dead numbers between fifteen and twenty. It is feared, however, that the exact number will not be known for some days, as the steamer was crowded with deckhands and passengers, and t&ose who escap ed were so stunned for a time that before assistance could be secured the bodies of many of the dead had dis appeared down the river. Dead and Injured. The known dead are Capt. John A. Quackenboss, master of the boat, Vicksburg. Wade Quackenboss, Vicksburg. Laval Yerger, cotton seed buyer, Jackson. Joe Smith, clerk of steamer, Yazoe ■City Miss. • Mack Clarke, negro porter. Two roustabouts, name unknown. Eight or nine negro deck passen gers. The injured are: Lennie Roberts, assistant pilot, Vicksburg, Mias., injured internally, seriously. John Dougherty, pilot, shoulder dislocated. Charles McKenna, passenger, pain fully injurer. -Butterfield, slightly injured in the head. Many Negroes Injured. iThe number of dead and injured negroes oan not be stated, but of a crew and passenger list of about fif ty, about half are missing, The ne gro dead were eared for at the place where the accident occurred, as are some of the injured. Vicksburg is much wrought up over the accident, Laval Yerger be ing very popular here, and also the two Juackenbosses, who both leave families. , The cause of the explosion is in doubt at this time. The steamer had been considered in first class condition although she was delayed here a few hours by being run into by tne ueiie of the Bends. This, however, could not have affected her boilers. The news of the explosion first reached this city by telephone to A. G. Russell, who heard of the steamer blowing up from Ashwood Landing. Mr. Russell, telephoned to Ashwood, and there John G. O’Kelly, a promin ent citizen, said that he had seen cot ton floating down the river and he would send a man on horseback at once to Gold Dust Landing, which was eight miles away. Gold Dust gin is twenty miles south of Vicksburg, on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi river. The Scovell left here on her trip to Davis Bend and was returning when the accideut occurred. Frank Hirch of this city is the agent and part owner of the boat. Steam Smothers Cries. Wade Quackenboss was heard to call for help soon after the explosion, but, according, to the reports of those who were on the boat, escaping steam soon smothered his cries. Capt Quack enboss was not seen after the acci dent. Pilot John Dougherty was blown several hundred feet into the river, but despite a dislocated shoulder, managed to ewim to me bank. Murry Wilkinson, the cub pilot es caped uninjured. Engineer John T. Bruce was not hurt. The accident occurred in about a mile of where the steamer Providenee was destroyed in a hurricane and twenty people was lost several years ago. Mr. Wilkinson's Story ( J, M. Wilkinson, cub pilot of the Scovell, arrived here on board the 1 Steamer Senator Cordill with others | who were on the Scovell. The remains jf Leval Yerger were brought here and will be sent to aekson, Miss., for interment. No other bodies were brought here j as they could not be found, there be ing, according to Wilkerson’s state ment, about fifteen dead in all. He says that the boat blew up j while landed at Gold Dust gin, about 1 noon. He was sleeping at the time in the rear of the upper cabin, and ( when he woke he found the boat blew in half and his end sinking. He hurried out, ana reached tha bank, found the body of Laval Yer jer under a log, where also lay the body of a negro named Williams Hall, who had been making a cotton-seed leal with Mr. Yerger when the explo sion occurred. Senator Cordill to Rescue. Wilkinson says Dougherty, who was at the wheel, suffered a sprained shoulder and seemed to be in a bad way, but he does not believe he will die. A young white boy named Len Roberts, who was employed as watch man on the 'boat, was terribly hurt internally, and Wilkinson says that he believe he may die. Wilkinson states that as soon as he could realize that had happened he sent a negro out to hail the Senator Cordill, which was near at hand, to come to the relief cf the Scovell. The Cordill came promptly, and the crew did what little it could for the wreck ninnm ->» All i 1\ A OOriTA TV Cl C floating down the river. Wilkinson says he investigated the wreck and found that the boiler which blew up cut through the mastpola, blowing the entire front of the boat off and two hundred yards into a field. The story of the accident as told by J. T. Bruce, the engineer of the boat, is as follows: “We were lying at the Gold Dust Landing, taking on a cargo when 1 noticed a small quantity of water oozing through the boiler. I suspect ed that something was wrong and pro ceeded to make an examination. On Top of the Boiler. “About tliis time the Scovell broke her head line and drifted so that I did not have time to make a thorough examination at that moment. As soon as I got her back to the bank I crawl ed on top of the boiler and proceeded with the investigation. I had just got down from the boiler when the ex plosion occurred. The catastrophe, I believe, was due to a defective boiler plate.” When the Cordill arrived at Vicks burg, a crowd of several hundred per sons met her at the wharf.. There were anxious inquiries for friends and relatives. Owing to the heavy loss among the negroes aboard the landing was crowd ed with women and children of that race. The injured were taken to the various sanitariums and hospitals of the eitv. Dead Men Well Known. Capt. Quakenboss was one of the oldest and best-known residents of this city and was well known to every man on the Mississippi river. L. W. Quackeniboss, one of the kill ed, was a citizen of Vicksburg, well known in military circles throughout the state. During the Spanish-Ameri can war he served as a non-commis sioned officer of Company A, First Mississippi Volunteers. On the re organization of the Mississippi Na tional Guard after the close of the war he was appointed captain and commissary of the Third Regiment and was later elected Colonel" of the regiment, serving in that capacity but a short time, when he resigned. Laval Yerger, another of the vic tims, was bom and reared in Jack son, and was one of the best-known young men who ever went out from that city. He was a son of the late William Yerger and has a number of relatives in Jackson, among whom is the Assistant Secretary of State, Henry Yerger, and ex-Attomey Gen eral Frank Johnston. His family connection is extensive in Mississippi. Hon. Charles Scott, one of the candi dates for governor, is a relation. He was engaged in the hotel business for several years in Mississippi and Lou isiana and made a host of friends. The Scovel was built in 1895 at Jeffersonville. She is 160 feet lon& 31 feet wide, 3 feet 7 inches deep. She was bought at Nashville only a few months ago by her new owners, the Vicksburg and Davis Bend Packet Company. The boat was insured for $6000. A denial of the report that Presi dent Castro of Venezuela is dying was issued from Willemstadt. _ —) In a suit at St. Louis, the presi dent of the Republic Oil Company declared that the tntire business of that concern, outside of Missouri, had been turned over' to the Standard Oil Company. _ The garrison at Loja, Ecuador, was reported to have mutinied, killing their officers and a number of citizens. Bishop C. C. McCabe, of Philadel phia liedjffi New Yhrh. vvj - Congressman Bowers of Mississippi demanded the punishment of negro policeman at Washington for alleged burial treatment of bis son. ^ p i. m Democratic Senators will unite to oppose the policy of centralization outlined in Secretary Boot’s recent speech. Secretary Wilson xceeived a dele gation representing Louisville audi Tettaa rice intereata. .... MISSISSIPPI STATE HAPPENINGS TEMS OF INTEREST FROM ALL SECTIONS. IN EPITOWE OF THE NEWS lulled From Important Happenings Throughout the State During the Past Week and Reviewed in Brief for Our' Readers. Peonage Charges. A peonage charge was filed in the Federal court by a negro named Dan January against James Patrick, a orominent Rankin county farmer who I ives about seven miles north of Bran Ion. The affidavit alleges that January was held in involuntary servitude, together with his wife and six chil dren, by a man named Carter who then sold him to Patrick for the sum af $1090!95, alleging a debt in that sum to be due, and Patrick refused to release him from custody until the debt was canceled. January states that he was whip ped by Carter with a buggy trace un til he was bloody from head to heels, and exhibited to Commissioner Mose ley his bared body showing huge gash es and welts across the flesh. He is still too feeble to walk, and states that was unable to move for ten days af ter receiving the whipping. Mr. Patrick was arraigned before Commissioner Moseley. Judge John R. Enochs of Brandon appeared for the defense, and Hon. W. B. Banks, as sistant district attorney for the gov ernment. The evidence failed to show where in Mr. Patrick was in any way in volved in the act of holding Januarj in peonage; that he had merely pur 1 ■» VI, 1 X?_rtlVW CUaSttU a ucuk uiauu nuui i posing that the negro was willing tc work it out, and that he knew noth ing whatever of any cruel or inhu man treatment that had been accord ed the negro by Carter, anuary ad mitted that Mr. Patrick had always treated him kindly. Commissionei Moseley then dismissed the defendant and the Federal deputies, it is under stood, will next endeavor to ascertair the whereabouts of Carter. That the negro has been inhumanlj treated by some person is very evi dent from an examination of his body The bruises and gashes on his bodi have not yet healed, and it is believei that he also sustained internal inju ries from the lashing administered. Woman Suffragists. While men are planning and con templating plans for the political can paigns to be fought in Mississippi which are to be practically on thi one-party principle (that of the whi:< man and the democracy), there ii a little band of women who are gift ed with the ability to 3ee and act foi themselves, and who consider it not unseemly or unwomanly to themselves who will take a hand in the game ol politics. The fact is, the woman suf fragists of the State are preparing l< hold a meeting here on Friday anc Saturday of this week, in response t< a call issued some time since by Mrs Hala Hammond Butt, of Clarksdale President of the Mississippi Associa tion of Woman Suffragists. It is noi stated in the call that the ladies an contemplating the putting of a ticket in the field or even a candidate, un less it be for the office of Superinten-. dent of Education, and this is only s tentative and inferential suggestion President Butt has asked the ladies to get together and take up the work of systematizing the conditions that exist and * LUO muii&uii. XI I.vrnv*. --- — tion assembled decide that it is ad visable to take an active hand in the game to be played next year, the:: the plans will be laid for a series ji meetings at the various centers, anc some energetic missionary work will be provided for. Bank Revived. The Mississippi Savings Bank and Trust Company, a banking institution which was chartered several months ago to be located at Meridian, is be ing revived and will be organized in a few days. The concern was charter txl about the time of the Meridian cy clone and the plans of the company were disarranged; but the incorpora tors have recently desired to revive the charter and establish the concern. It will have a capital of $100,000 with $50,000 paid in, and will be one of the Wrongest institutions in the state. French Religions Law. Paris.—The chamber of deputies decided to take up the debate on the new religious law tomorrow. The postponement demanded by M. Pelletan, radical socialist, led today to an energetic outburst from Pre mier Clemeneeau, who characterized this demand as a manouver by false friends desiring to embarrass the gov ernment. A ■j^faStH's BirAf&f ►••rtools ar Bii-Pfe?^ ^ OLIVER'PINMB GROCER CO. „ „ Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 27, 1906. i I I Mr. R. G. Winter, j Houston, Miss. I Dear Sir:— I As to Business Colleges, there are quite a number I here, but the only one of which we know personally is the w MACON & ANDREWS College. We have employed quite a number ■**"***^****""^**"*-n' T' of their graduates at vanous times and found Our References them all satisfactory and properly fitted for Tiwnaadt ot tacctstfai stud«nts their work. Yours very truly, latlMn Sn, linluri, Mlnictars THE OLIVER-FlNNIE GROCER Co. _ By Milton fl. Hunt, Manager. It pays to attend a Business College recognized and patronized by business msn—our students are employed by nearly every business house in Memphis and throughout the South. Positions secured free. Every graduate employed Now is the time to enter. No vacation. Our system cf Shorthand was again unani mously adopted by the Board of Education to be taught in the Memphis High School ; ;he entire commercial department of the Memphis High School is under our di rection. Write for a beautiful college souvenir FREE. T MACON & ANDREWS COLLEGES, Memphis, TENNIS ei*rldlan. All**. _ Jackson, Alias/ jfc* O W S Ci. ® Jg?* O Emei?jB?eiioles 1 See BEN R. KUYKENDALL, Cashier of the BanK of Kemper, and and let him “ write you up " in the f 1 MISSISSIPPI'S Lamar Mutual, co»™ay. Eastland s Drug Store S3 Pure Prugs Are plentiful at my store, because I run a drug store and carry a stock that belongs exclusively to the drug trade I have a fine line of Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Coloring Brushes, Etc.—in fact, all a painter !i ?. I also carry a good line of Stationery, Tooth Brushes, Combs, Hair Brushes, Soaps, Perfumes, and all Toilet A i ;'e?. Prescription Work a Specialty—day or night, and all pure drugs used. Prices the lowest on all things. I keep an up-to-date line of CIGARS. I sell in quantity lots at wholesale prices. I am willing, and anxious to serve all. SCOOBA, - - MISSISSIPPI H. W. RENCHER, Physician & Surgeon. Scooba, Miss. Offers his professional services tc the people of Scooba and Kempei Counties. Special attention given tc office work. J. B. MOONEY, Physician & Surgeon Scooba, Miss. Particular attention given to sur gical cases. Office,. Ward’s Drug Store. W. C. ANDERSON, Physician & Surgeon, Will respond to calls Night or Day Office at Eastland’s Drug Store, Scoo ba, Mississippi. T. T. CHILES, Physician & Surgeon, Wahalaa, Miss. Tenders his professional services tc the people of Wahalak and vicinity Calls answered Day and Night. Geo. B. Neville. R. E. Wilbourn NEVILLE & WILBOURN, Attorneys-at-Law, Meridian, Miss. Offices: Masonic Temple Building Fourth Street, between Twenty-see ond and Twenty-third Avs. Rooms 24 26. Branch Office—Scooba, Miss. GEORGE H. ETHRIDGE, Attomey-at-Law. DeKalb, Miss. General law practice in all th< Courts of Mississippi. Special atten tion given to legal writings and col lections. J. E. TINSLEY, Dental Surgeon, Scooba, Miss. Offers his professional services t< the people of Kemper County. A1 kinds of dental work done neatly an< promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. / ... k Ijf&Ull !P THE TROY STEAM LAUNDRY, ’ Meridian, Miss. Wilido your Laundry Work Neally, Checpiy and Promptly. JAS. D. FRENCH. Agent at Scooba. Trade Marks Designs Copyrigh, s Ac. Anyone sending a sketch and description may Quickly ascertain our opinion free whether aa Invention is probably patentable. Comrcunic®, tlons strictly confidential. HANDBOOK on Patent •eat free. Oldest agency for securing patent#. Patents taken through Munn At Co. recetff, 9pedal notice, without charge, in the Scientific Jfmcricasi. A handsomely Hlnstrated weeily. J.argoet el*, eolation of any actontldo Journal. Terms, 18 a year: four montba, $L Sold by all newsdealer*. MUNN & Co.se,Broadway New York Branch Office. 62$ F St- Washington. D. C. Job Printing W AT THE nr Herald Office