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FRIDAY EVENING.
TOPEKA, KANSAk AJ AY 7, 1915.
. FRIDAY EVENING, ..
THIS EDITION 2 CENTS
LOS
i3
BIG LINER IS
TORPEDOED
OFMRELAND
Xew York and London Get Con
firmation of Disaster.
Catastrophe Follows Quickly on
Heels of Warning.
PASSENGERS' FATE IN DOUBT.
t'alls Sent Out for Help and
Aid Is Rushed.
Many Distinguished Persons in
Long List on Board.
New York, May 7. The Cun
ard liner Lusitania, one of the
fastest ships afloat, was tor
pedoed and sunk this afternoon
off the coast of Ireland, ten
miles squth of Kinsale.
She had aboard 1,253 passen
gers. The liner sailed from New
York Saturday, May 1, and car
ried in addition to her own large
passenger list, 163 passengers
transferred from the Anchor line
Cameronia.
The news of her sinking was
announced by the local office of
the Cunard line and was based
on cable advices received from
the home office of the company
in Liverpool. Three dispatches,
received in the order named,
were made public by the line,
and read as follows:
"We received from the Lands
End wireless station news of re
peated distress call3 made by the
Lusitania, asking for assistance
at once. Big list. Position ten
miles south of Kinsale. Subse
quently received telegram from
Queenstown that all available
craft in the harbor had been dis
patched to assist."
Thirty-Five Boats to Rescue.
The second message to the local of
fice read: - '
"Queenstown. 4 : 5 9 p. m.H Wire says
about 20 boats of . all sorts belonging
to our line are in vicinity where Lusi
tania sank. About fifteen other boats
are making for spot "to render assis
tance." The third cablegram . was dated
Liverpool and read:
"Following received by admiralty:
Galley Head. 4:25 p. m. Several
boats, apparently survivors, southeast
nine miles. Greek steamer proceed
ing to assistance."
Dispatches received here from Lon
don, Liverpool and Queenstown con
firmed the news. One of the messages
said it was believed that all the big
liner's passengers had been saved.
Xo definite news as to the fate of
the passengers had been received by
the Cunard line here early this after
noon. large Steamer Stands By.
Late today, Cunard line officials re
ceived a dispatch from Queenstown
stating that a large steamer and many
email vessels and boats were in the
vicinity rendering assistance. The dis
patch follows:
"Large steamer just arrived in
vicinity. Apparently rendering assist
ance. Tugs, patrols, etc., now on the
spot taking boats in tow. Motor fish
ing boats with two Lusitania boats
bearing probably for Kinsale."
This information came from Old
Head. via Queenttown, and the
Cunard line announced it would make
public, as fast as received, all dis
patches on the Lusitania, including
those relating to the fate o" passen
gers. The stock market was stunned
by the news. A torrent of selling
.THE WARNING!
When the Lusitania sailed she
had aboard 1.310 passengers. Some
ncnousnoss had been caused he
mu.se of the publication In the
morning paper of Saturday of an
advertisement warning intending
travelers that a state of war exist
ed 'between Germany and Great
Britain and her allies; that the
zone of war included the waters
adjaeent to the British Isles; that
in accordance with notice given by
the German government, vessels
flying the flag of Great Britain
were liable to destruction in those
waters, and that travelers sailing
in the war zone on ships of Great
Britain or her allies did so at their
own risk.
The advertisement was signed
"Imperial German enilmssy."
This warning apparently did not
cause many cancellations, for the
ship sailed with a very full pas
senger list.
Just before the steamer's depart
ure, a number of iasscngers re
ceived telegrams at Uie pier signed
by names unknown to them, and
presumed to be fictitious, advising
them not to sail, as the liner was
to be torpedoed by submarines. Al
fred Gwynne anderbilt was one
of the passengers who received
such a message. He destroyed the
message without comment.
Charles P. Sumner, general agent
of the Cunard Hue. was at the pier
and In a statement said the voyage
of the Lusitania would not he at
tended ,by any risk whatever, as
the liner had a speed of 25 H knots
and was provided with unusual water-tight
bulkheads.
WASHINGTON
IS STUNNED
BY DISASTER
News of Torpedoing of Lusi
tania Strikes Like Bomb.
Officials Face Most Serious In-
eident of War.
PRES. WILSON SAYS NOTHING.
German Submarines Known to
Be Near Kinsale.
Scene of Sinking Marked by
Other Attacks.
Washington, May 7. News
of the ' torpedoing of the Lus
itania struck official Washing
ton like a bomb. While disposed
to await full details before ex
(pressing opinions, all admini3-
i a; f r ' 1 1 - j a 1 m . i
iraiion oniciais realized inac me
incident was probably the most
serious Washington has faced
since the beginning of the war.
Wilson Says Nothing.
Washington, May 7. President Wil
son was informed of the sinking of
the Lusitania, and White House offi
cials showc d keen anxiety to learn
whether any American lives were lost.
No comment was made.
Germans In Fated. Zone.
The presence of German subma
rines off the southern coast of Ireland
and along the line of travel the Lusi
tania would follow in going to Liver
pool, was made known in a dispatch
from Glasgow last night which recited
that the British steamer Cherbury had
been torpetoed in the Atlantic ocean
off the Irish coast. This was on
April 29.
Two other vessels were sent to the
bottom more recently the Centurion
and the Candidate. Just where these
ships were attacked has not been
made known, but their destinations
led to the belief that one or more Ger
n.an submarines have been operating
In the lines of transatlantic travel It
may be that they were waiting for the
Lusitania, and tn the meanwhile at
tacked such other vessels as came
within their range.
The Lusitania was a product of the
race for speed, which was carried on
for years among transatlantic steam
ship companies, particularly of Eng
land and Germany. When the Lusi
tania was launched she was the won
der of the maritime world. Her mas
tery of the sea, from the standpoint of
speed was undisputed.
Heard It Privately.
Washington. May 7. Officials did
not believe there would be complica
tions, however, unless American lives
were lost. A few days ago, American
officials heard privately that Germany
intended to destroy the Lusitania at
the first opportunity to terrorize Brit
tish shipping and restrict ocean com
merce with the allies.
It was taken for granted by officials
here that if there existed a plan in
the German admiralty to torpedo the
Lusitania, every precaution had been
suggested to the submarine comman
der to insure the safety of passengers.
The German embassy here from
time to time has declared that the
purpose of the German submarine
campaign was not to cause loss of life,
but to strike a bolw at British ships
and commerce. Should any Americans
lose their lives the case would be cov
ered, officials thought, by the warn
ing to Germany that she would be
held in that event "to a strict account
ability." orders poured in from every section
of the country. A period of intense
excitement followed.
Prices in war specialties broke 15
to 80 points within an hour-. Stable
issues dropped five to ten poinis.
Passenger List.
New York, May 7. The following
is an incomplete list of the first cabin
passengers aboard the Lusitania:
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Adams, Boston,
Mass.; A. H. Adams, New York; W.
McAdams, New York; Lady Allen and
maid, Montreal; Miss Anna Allan,
Montreal; Miss Gwen Allen and maid.
Montreal; M. N. Allen, New York;
Julien De Ayala, Cuban consul general
at Liverpool; James Baker. England:
Mrs. M. A. Baker, New York: Mr. and
Mrs. G. W. B. Bartlett. London; J J.
Battersby, Stockport, England; Albert
C. Bilicke and wife, Los Angeles; Le
onidas Bistio, Atlanta.
Ships Rush to Rescue.
Queenstown. May 7. Immediately
after the news of the torpedoing of
the Lusitania was received here the
admiral in command of the naval sta
tion despatched to the scene all assist
ance available. The tugs Warrior,
stormcoek and JnHa. together with
five trawlers on tlie local life boat In
tow of a tug, were hurried to sea.
May Be Salvaged.
Late this afternoon reports reached
here that the Lusitania either was
beached or sunk in water so shallow
that she can be salvaged. This is con
sidered likely, as all liners have made
the run through St. George channel
with all of their watertight compart
ments closed.
The reports received here are frag
mentary, but all agree that the big
liner began calling for help by her
wireless at 2:33. The first to pick her
up was the wireless at Lands Head.
"Big List Rush Help!"
The appeal was urgent;
"We have a big list. Rush help,"
flashed through the air.
Immediately orders were sent to the
nearest point to get every available
craft to the scene.
The fisihing fleets off Kinsale were
early on the scene and immediately
began the work of taking oa board the
passengers from the big liner. It is
LUSITANIA VICTIM OF GERMAN SUBMARINE
MAKING WAR FRLT
understood the Lusitania's own boats
were used to care for her passengers.
On all of her recent trips these boats
have been hung from her sides and
ready for any emergency and it is
possible that this precaution may have
proved the salvation of the passen
gers. Horror Quickly Made Public.
The first word reaching London of
the plight of the Lusitania was an un
confirmed rumor received at the gen
eral offices of the Cunard line. It
stated the big steamer was in trouble.
The line officials made it public and
promised to keep the public informed
of everything that happens.
There was much excitement.
There had been some doubt that the
Germans were in earnest when they
threatened to attack the passenger
carrying liner. The sinking of the
Falaba had been considered the great
est violation of this kind, but when
it was recognized that the biggest pas
senger liner in commission had fallen
victim to the war, London was aghast.
St. Joe Man Aboard.
St. Joseph, Mo., May 7. William
Mitchell, a St. Joseph seed merchant,
who is a subject of King George, was
a passenger on the Lusitania. No word
has been received concerning his fate.
London, May 7. A dispatch from
Liverpool to the Exchange Telegraph
says it is not known how many of
the Lusitania's passengers were saved.
Queenstown, May 7. (7 p. m.)
The admiralty officers here have no
news concerning the safety of the pas
sengers and the crew of the Lusitania.
1.ondbn Aghast.
London, May 7. The sinking of the
Lusitania was the hardest blow of the
war to date - so far as neutral com
merce was concerned.
FLOATS FOR TWO HOURS.
Vessel May Have Not Gone Down
at Once.
Queenstown. May 7. The Lusi
tania's wireless call for assistance was
received . here at 2:15 o'clock this
afternoon. . , ., . .
. This read: '
"Want assistance; listing badly."
Admiral Coke -dispatched all avail
able tugs and steam trawlers to the
scene. It would take most of them
about two hours to reach the spot
where the Lusitania is reported to
have sunk. The Lusitania waa seen
from the signal station at Kinsale to
be in difficulties at noon. She had
completely sunk at 2:33 p. m.
This would indicate that the liner
floated for two hours and a half after
what evidently was the beginning of
her trouble.
DOWN IN 20 M1NUTKS.
Twenty Boats on Spot at Time of Tor
pedoing. London, May 7 (6:52 p. m.).
Official announcement was made this
evening that the Lusitania had re
mained afloat at least twenty minutes
after being torpedoed and that "twen
ty boats were on the spot at the time."
The Cunard line said that there are
about 20 boats in the vicinity of the
spot where the Lusitania went down.
Sixteen more boats, the line says,
have been dispatched tp the scene for
rescue work.
The 20 boats on the spot belong to
the Lusitania. The sixteen other boats
were sent from nearby points.
FAVORABLE TO RESCt'E.
Weather Favorable to Work of Saving
Lusitania's Passengers.
New York, May 7. The weather is
favorable to the work of rescuing the
Lusitania's passengers, according to
a cablegram received by the Cunard
line from Queenstown. The message
said : '
"Weather here beautifully fine
Wind southeast; light."
Of the 1,253 passengers aboard, 290
were in the first cabin.
Saving Pasaengers.
New York, May 7. The Cunard line
made pulic this afternoon the follow
ing cablegram received from Liver
pool transmitting a dispatch from Old
Head:
"Motor fishing .boats towing two
boats; probably number of passen
gers fifty. . Tug Stormcoek making
Kinsale. Some passengers aboard.
Many vessels are now apparently mak
ing Queenstown." -
. (MORE PARTICULARS IN POST
SCRIPT EDITION OF THE STATE
JOURNAL AT 5 O'CLOCK.)
- Weather Forecast for Kansas.
Probably fair tonight and Saturday;
continued cool and probably frost to
FROST IN KANSAS
Freezing Temperatures in West
ern and ?forth Central Parts.
Few Spots in the State Escaped
the Rain.
Light to heavy frosts and freezing
temperatures generally prevailed early
this morning in western and north
central Kansas. Tr eastern and
south-central sections of the state es
caped frost. There are few spots in
the state that escaped rain which was
h .iviest in the southern portion.
Between noon Thursday and 7
o'clock this morning, at Topeka, the
temperature was not higher than 44
degrees or lower than 43. The latter
temperature is 9 degrees below the
normal minimum temperature for this
date. The rainfall late Thursday was
.03 of an inch. An additional .1 of
an inch fell Thursday night. The sky
cleared early this morning.
The forecast indicates the probabil
ity of fair weather tonight and Sat
urday with a possibility of frost to
night. Wichita, Kan.. May 7. An inch of
rain fell over central and southern
Kansas Thursday evening. Reports in
dicate that the fall was general over
most of Oklahoma. Trains are run
ning behind their schedule over the
entire southwest, stated railway offi
cials. The mercury rose rapidly today. The
thermometer reading at 2 o'clock was
65 degrees, making the temperature
for the entire day three degrees above
normal The wind was blowing 20
miles an hour from the west this
afternoon.
The hourly readings:
7 o'clock 44
8 o'clock , . . . .47
9 o'clock 53
10 o'clock . . .-. .58
1 1 o'clock . .
1 2 o'clock . . .
1 o'clock . . .
2 o'clock . . .
. .61
. .63
..4
. .65
STEAMER IS TORPEDOED
British Ship Candidate Lost. But Crew
- Is Saved. -London,
May 7. The British steamer
Candidate has been torpedoed by a tier
man submarine off Waterford. Ireland.
Xbe members of her crew were saved.
NO WORSE THAN
TOPEKOESAYS
Representative Holbrook Flays
Capital City Elections.
"Conditions Here .Overshadow
Situation in Kansas City."
HE TELLS OF A HOUSE MEETING.
Cites Instance as Example of
Wyandotte Practices.
Everyone Anxious to Investi
gate Capper Charges.
"Election conditions) in Kansas City,
Kan., are no worse than in North To
peka or any other town with a con
gested voting population," declared
Charles Holbrook, Republican repre
sentative from Wyandotte county. "I
don't defend the election activities in
Wyandotte county in every instance,
but if there has been anything corrupt
in the practice,'. I have never heard
of it."
That was the expression today of
Charles S. Holbrook, a Republican
and member of the state legislature
during the 1913-15 sessions. Hol
brook represents the now famous
First and Second wards of Kansas
City, where Governor Capper declares
election practices have been In opera
tion which "would make Terre Haute
look like a Sunday school town."
Holbrook was in conference today
with. Governor Capper. He declared.
. Continued on Page Four.l
ITALY WARNED
BY THE KAISER
Wilhelm Says to War on Aus
tria Is to Strike Him. .
Declares Great German Army
Would Face King's Troops.
NATIONS RUSH WAR PLANS.
Premier and Von Buelow in
Constant Conference.
A1I. German Institutions ovr
Closed to Public.
IRv Alice Rohe.)
Rome, May 7. Italy has been warn
ed of the consequences of entering the
war on the side of the allies. Tele
graphing from Berlin, to which he
had returned after an inspection of
both battle fronts, the kaiser notified
Prince von Buelow that the Kngiisn
troops in the west are useless and
within a fortnight the Russians will
be driven out of Galicia. Italy was
warned under direct instructions from
the kaiser, that Austria's cause is
Germany's and that Austria's enemies
must be Germany's. Because of this,
should Italy come into the war, she
will be opposed by a great German
army.
War Plans Rushed.
The Italian government continues
its war preparations. The army is
concentrated at strategic points. The
fleet is ready for action and the first
thing to be done after war is declared
will be the gazetting of the Duke of
Abruzzi as commander in chief of the
royal fleet. The government has is
sued a royal decree, authorizing the
suspension of telegraph and telephone
service without notice.
Premier Sallaodra and Prince von
Buelow were In almost constant con
ference yesterday. The German am
bassador is trying to persuade Italy to
remain neutral, but it is admitted he
considers the attempt a very serious
one. The cabinet met today. It was
announced that the question under
consideration was the parliamentary
program, but this statement was not
taken seriously.
By order of the German embassy,
the principal German schools, the Ger
man library and other German Insti
tutions heretofore opened to the pub
lic have been closed.
The government has sent a sharp
note to Turkey questioning the truth
of the report that Turkish officers
now command the rebels in Tripoli.
- Austria Seizes Railroads.
Advices from the frontier show that
Austria is continuing all her war
preparations at top speed. All passen
ger service was held up last night
owing to the taking over of the fron
tier railway lines for the transfer of
war munitions. Enormous guns of the
latest Austrian type have been mount
ed at the various points where the
Italian invasion is possible and the
troops now on the border are declared
to be first line Hungarian soldiers and
first line Germans.
All of the correspondents of the
Austrian and German newspapers
have sent their families home. It is
said the reason the Austro-German
members of religious orders and ec
clesiastical students departed Wednes
day night was because of a suggestion
from the Vatican. It was held that
their presence In Rome at thfs time
would be a real menace.
BASEBALL TODAY.
AMERICAN LEAGUK.
Cleveland at Chicago game post
poned, wet grounds.
PEDERAt 1.EAGCK.
St. Louis at Buffalo game post
poned, wet grounds.
- Panama Fair Athletic Meet.
San Francisco, May 7. Track teams
from all the leading Pacific coast col
leges hold their tracX and field meet
for the championship at the fair
grounds bere today.
PEACE BETWEEN
JAPAN AND CHINA
Most Obnoxious Demands Are
Withdrawn Officially. ,
Cessation of Jap Warlike Prep
aration Seems Certain.
WARSHIPS READY TO STRIKE.
Great Fleet of Japan to Enforce
- Her Demands.
Second Squadron Is Preparing
for Demonstration.
Tokio, May 7 Peace between Ja
pan and China wan amarrd today
when article 5 of the Japanese de
mands, most obnoxious to China and
other powers, was officially with
drawn. Group 5 of the Japanese demands,
according to the text handed the Chi
nese government in February, contain
ed seven articles providing for Jap
anese power in China's political,
financial and military affairs and oth
er comprehensive concessions.
With this Important concession on
the. part of Japan and the reported
acceptance by China of Japan's other
demands, peace seems certain. A
cessation of Japan's warlike prepara
tions Is expeceted to follow today's of
ficial announcement.
U. S. Would Know.
Washington, May 7. The Tint
ed SCates within tlie last 24
hours, through Its ambassador
abroad, has consulted Great Brit
ain, France and Russia, as the
allies of Japan, to learn their at
titude toward tlie present status
of the Japanese-Chinese negotia
tions. Tokio, May 7. More than 40
warships, including the battle
ship Hizen and the battle cruis
er Kongo, are preparing at
Sasebo for possible operations
against China. A second squad
ron under Admiral Nawa has
arrived and is hastily embark
ing supplies. Rear Admiral
Kamimura's fleet, including the
battleships Sagami and . Suwo,
has been ordered to the gulf of
Pechili to be in readiness to take
aboard Minister Hioki in case of
necessity. -
The police are protecting Professor
Ariga, Japanese adviser to President
Yuan Shi Kai, whom speakers have
denounced "as a Chinese. -
Peking, May 7. There is good rea
son to believe China is preparing to
concede everything demanded by Jap
an, realizing that the situation Is hope
less. This possible outcome to the
present tense situation is not generally
comprehended In Peking; consequent
ly a number of foreign residents as
well as Chinese themselves are today
packing their personal belongings anil
otherwise preparing for eventualities.
Continued on Page Four.J
VAST WHEAT CROP
Agricultural Department Fore
casts 693,000,000 Bushels.
More Than 40,000 Acres and
Condition Is 92.9.
Washington, May 7. The depart
ment of agriculture's May grain re
port today announced:
Winter wheat area to be harvested,
40,169, 00 acres; condition 82.9 ner
cent; indicated acre yield, 1 7.J bush
els; indicated production 693,000,000
bushels.
Rye condition, 89.8 per cent:
meadow lands condition 89.8 per cent.
Hay stocks on farms 8,468,00".
Rye condition 89.8 per cent. Mead
ow lands condition 89.8 per cent. Hay
stocks on farms 8,468,000 tons or 1Z.1
per cent of last year's crop.
Pasture condition 87.2 per cent
Spring plowing was 78.8 per cent com
pleted May l.
Spring planting was 6S.3 per cent
completed May 1.
NEW TRIAL DENIED
Major Van Sickle Is Sentenced
to the Penitentiary.
For a Term of From FI?e to
21 Years.
A motion for a new trial, made by
attorneys of W. H. Van Sickle, mayor
of Olpe, convicted on a white slave
charge, was overruled by A. W. Dana
in the - first division of the Shawnee
county district court today, and Van
Sickle was sentenced to serve an in
determinate sentence of from five to
twenty-one years at hard labor In
Lansing penitentiary. Van Sickle's at
torneys served notice of an appeal to
the supreme court. They will have
ninety days in which to ma an appeal
bond.
Van Sickle sought a new trial on the
ground that the court had erred In
permitting the Introduction of the
family Bible of the Stephenson family
to prove the age of Alma Stephenson.
17-year-old girl in the case, ana siso
contended that improper instructions
had been given the Jury. The Judge
overruled both objections.
Slag Charges Investigated by I. C. C.
Washington. JJ. C, May l. ine in
terstate commerce commission, at its
hearing today, is considering the an
nounced plan of the railroads to make
charges for the hauling of slag from
furnaces - in eastern Ohio, western
Pennsylvania and West Virginia.