Evening star. [volume], March 09, 1911, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
i weather. n! 'JfZK ' StffvVAd !f^5EHHSl
Fair tonight and probably Fri- M I 1 V V . flVf B^Y M W V I \ by many thousands than that of
dav, rising temperature; ^B I yl | Wf ^99 I I III I I I I 1^11 any other Washington newspaper.
moderate southwest winds. 1 WI IV ru>,, ~ '
XKW TOKK STOCK qfOTAWOXa
? 1 " ' ~ " "" " , . ...I i. ... m
No. 18,425. WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1911-TWENTY PAGES. ONE CENT.
MAY AUBE SAVED
Believed Crew of Steamship
Manchuria Is Rescued.
STORM CEASES ITS FURY
Work of Life-Savers Is Resumed as
G&le Passes to Sea.
TAKE EIGHT OFF AT NIGHT
Efforts to Bring Entire Crew Asliore
Had to Be Abandoned in
r.i>? nf St mm
NORFOLK, Va., March 8.?With the
passing to sea of the severe storm which'
wept the Virginia coast yesterday better
weather conditions prevailed today at
the acene of the wreck of the British
0teamer Manchuria, thirty miles south
?f Cape Henry, and gave promise of the
fescue of the twenty-tliree members of
the crew, who all day yesterday and last
night were in danger of being swept
overboard into the angry seas which
dashed over the vessel.
Baring a blinding snowstorm last night
the combined forces of four life-saving
tations succeeded in effecting the rescue
of eight men from the wrecked steamer,
leaving twenty-three men still aboard.
The last word received from the wreck
came Info Norfolk about 10 o'clock last
night, but after that time no news was
received on account of the coastwise telegraph
w ires being blown dow n by the
aform. Communication had not been restored
up to noon today, but it w as be- |
lieved hero that the life savers, with the
moderation of the weather, had succeeded
In bringing safely to shore the remaining
members of the crew.
Undaunted after a day and night of
continued battle In one of the worst
storms this coast has experienced in
years, life-savers last night rescued eight
of the men on board.
Rescue Made In Gale.
Blinded by a terrific snowstorm, w 1th
ft howling northeast gale dashing mountain-high
waves all over them and over
the ship, on whose decks clung the lifeloving
crew, the life-savers tried and tried
to shoot a line to them that meant at
least hope. When the wind caught the
line and threw It from its course, or
caused It to fall Just a few feet short of
its Intended goal, the brave nirn, who
fometimes stood in water waist high,
tried again. At last they succeeded, and
ftlmost with cheers the men on the deck
of the ship awaited the coming of the
fcreeahes bony.
Bat the victory was not won. Tha
tfaves were so high and struck the beach 1
With such force that the life-savers could
ftot make fast the anchor, and several of
the men were caught by the angry waves
$nd dashed high upon the beach. They
Came back to their task again, and finally
gnaking the life-line fftst. shot the basket
out to the stranded ship and brought
shore, one by one, eight members of the
crew.
The rescue was a thrilling one, and Its
ime pernaps may never oe seen again.
An the life buoy shot down the cable,
ometlmes it would be caught by a high
wave and the man in it would be completely
covered with water. Their JourBey
to shore was almost entirely under
water.
Forced to Give Up.
The storm Increased in fury until the
waves beat back on the beach for several
hundred feet, and the life-savers,
recognising that it would be suicide to
attempt to take off any more of the
crew, abandoned the work of rescue for
the time being.
From the Manchuria signals were
flashed which said that the ship was leaking.
but would probably withstand the
storm for the night at least. The vessel
has been driven nearer the shore, and
appeais to be buried deeper in the sand.
She appears slightly listed, but is said to
be in no immediate danger.
The wrecking tug Rescue that went
, to the assistance of the stranded vessel
yesterday, was forced to return to
Norfolk today out of the storm. She
will return to the scene of the wreck
at daybreak.
It is reported that the Rescue transferred
nine of her crew to the Manchuria
yesterday to aid in the efforts
Biade to float the vessel.
T k /v m* I ?e r? ?* -
luu nun in v-ape nenry went flown
with the storm yesterday. There are
thirty-four life savers standing watch
from the beach near the stranded ship.
They represent the crews of False
Cape. D&m Neck and Llttlo Island stations.
OUTBREAK OF PLAGUE
AT MISSIONARY CENTER
Btvere Epidemic Beported at the Village
of Siokhe, Near
Amoy, China.
AMOY, China. March 0.?A severe epidemic
of the bubonic plague is reported
dt Siokhe, a village of the interior, on the
treat aide of the Lung Klang. and fifty
miles from Amoy.
Siokhe is the seat of a mission station
o?f the board of foreign missions of the
Reformed Church In Amerl-a.
Siokhe Is a town in Fo-Kicn province,
known also as Sioke. The mission of the
Reformed Church In America was established
in 1SS7. It is a branch of the Anioy
mission, founded In 1842. The workers at
Blokhe are Miss Zwemer, Rev. IL J. Voskull.
Dr. J. H. Snoke and Miss A. II.
Meenge. There are seven out-stations,
eleven places of worship, three day
schools, one board.ng school, a dispensary
and a hospital. The church membership
at the last report was tifty-nlne.
ONE MOEE JUROR NEEDED.
Mrs. Melber, on Trial for Murdering
Son, Recovers Spirits.
ALBANY. X. Y.. March 9.-Two additional
Jurors for the trial of Mrs. Edith
Melber. accused of the murder of her
little aon by poison, were heeded when
the ourt opened today. One of these
was secured after thirteen talesmen had
been examlnfd, and when the defense
had exhausted all but two of the thirty
peremptory challenges allowed it.
Mrs. Melber appeared In better spirits
today, and had apparently recovered
; from her indisposition of yesterday.
Many of the wltnessea wera on hand
.
HILL CALLED HOME
Ambassador to Germany Ordered
to Washington.
i
TO DISCUSS POTASH CASE
Denied That Summons Has Anything
to Do With Mexican
Affairs.
^ * ?* V
:; y^^s x ' >'
p%
mm' ''":
fm J^^^HBc
Hi - H^H <
- .-.%x;...v
Pjj^Kv; ;-?*^
B?> * .' JiLjvc\ ' ;:,
|5iSKp%
UVisfc v-*v > ?
^w
If?p3?
k>:-2v5&*'r&jm >
DAVID JAYNE HILL.
(Copyright l>y Harris & Ewlng.)
David J. Hill, American ambassador
to Germany, has been ordered to Washington
to discuss several matters pending
between the two governments. The
potash controversy, it is learned, will
be the principal subject for consideration.
It was made clear at the State Department
that the instructions to Mr.
Hill to come to Washington have no
bearing upon the Mexican or any other
political situation.
The potash dispute, which is now the
subject of diplomatic negotiation between
Germany and the United States, It was
said, will be t-hc principal question upon
which the State Department officials desire
to consult directly with Mr. Hill.
There are some other matters, it was
added, of lesser importance, which also
will be discussed.
Matter Still Unsettled.
The reply of the United States to the
German government's recent presentation.011
the potash matter will be delivered
to Count von Bernstorff today. State
Department officials were unwilling to
discuss its nature.
The fact, however, that Mr. Hill has
been instructed to return to this country
for the purpose of dfifecftssing the question
is taken to indicate that the matter has
not reached a finality, and that the reply
will be the forerunner of additional diplonvatic
exchanges between the two nations.
M. D:CHANGE LEAVES
Pdtrti ntPADiuniT
I UUinL VLI m\IITILMI
Auditor Resigns to Accept Secretaryship
of Economy
Commission.
Merritt O. Chance, auditor for the Post
Office Department, resigned that position
today to accept the secretaryship of the
President's commission on economy and'
efficiency in the executive departments.
Charles A. Kram of Pennsylvania was
this afternoon appointed to succeed him.
Both appointments, it is understood, are
the result of exceptional work in the reorganization
of the auditor's office which
; was begun two years ago by Mr. Chance
and in which he was assisted by Mr.
Kram.
So thorough and satisfactory was the
work that the attention of the President
was called to it. and the last Congress]
increased the salary of both Mr. Chance'
as auditor and Mr. Kram ae law clerk of
the auditor's office, the former and
the latter |u00.
Mr. Kram was Indorsed for appointment
as auditor by Secretary MacVeagh and
both Pennsylvania senators, Senator Penrose
taking a special Interest in the matter.
/Started as Law Clerk.
The new auditor is a native of Milton.
Pa., and for some years has been lawclerk
In the office in which he haj? nnw
been appointed chief. He entered the
government service in 1800 as a clerk in
the lowest grade. $1,000, and has steadily
risen to his present position through
merit. He was educated at the University
of I^wisburg, Pa. (now Bucknell
University), am} Is a graduate of the Law
School of Georgetown University, where
he received 'the degree of bachelor of
laws In IKC1 and the degree of master of
laws the following year.
He has had wide experience and personal
knowledge of the various kinds of
work in the auditor s office, and Is considered
to be exceptionally equipped for
ills new position. There are seven hundred
employes in the auditor's office,
which deals with financial transactions of
the government Involving more than a I
; billion and a half dollars a year. The
work of the office has been increased
i n?Uh riftrv HntlAd hw iha r\o?+ foe. ?
""" W?' // V"V J'OOV vuugice^,
Including the Inauguration of an accounting
system to deal with the new postal
savings system.
INQUIRY ABRUPTLY HALTED.
New Evidence Turned Up in Investigation
of Alaskan Frauds.
CHICAGO, March 9.?The government's
federal grand Jury investigation Into alleged
frauds In connection with the Alaskan
coal land claims came to an abrupt
halt today when new evidence was turned
up by Investigators of the Department of
Justice. The grand Jury took a recess,
while United States marshals hastened
out to serve new subpoenas. Extraordinary
secrecy as to the Identity of witnesses
and the nature of their testimony
is being maintained, the seven witnesses
here from Alaska being attended by secret
service men constantly. D. P. Townsend.
the assistant United States attorney
general, who Is preparing the evidence,
refused to announce the progress ""adt
or nature of the new evidence.
TAFT HARDAT WORK
Cleans Up Many Matters Prior
to Southern Trip.
WILL START LATE TODAY
I
Ambassador Discusses Mexican Situation
With President.
CAPT. BUTT TO BE PROMOTED
Will Shortly Become a Major.
Judge Knapp to Be Erdman
Act Mediator.
Tliat he might have a chance to clean
up some pressing work before leaving for
the south. President Taft today abandoned
the executive offices and remained
in his rooms in the private apartments of
the White House. Even there, however,
he did not get opportunity to tlnisb the
work he had in mind. He was compelled
to see a few visitors on important business.
Senor de la Barra, the Mexican ambassador,
asked for a conference, with the
President in regard to the Mexican situation,
and to present' information he
had received from President Diaz of
Mexico. He remained with the President
some time.
Associate Justice Hughes of Supreme
Courl and Secretary conferred
with the President as t\- tl personnel
of the postal rate commission that
is to pass on the question of second-class
mall matter and the rate of postage it
should pay.
president Taft has invited La-wrenee
Maxwell of Cincinnati, former solicitor
In the last Cleveland administration, to
become a member of the commission
! Mr. Maxwell has accepted.
Sees Ballinger and Fisher.
Two other prominent visitors were Sec
' rotary Ballingcr, about to retire as head
of the Interior Department, and Walter
L. Fisher, who is to succeed him in the
position.
Mr. Fisher will take the oath of office
Monday and assume his duties immediately
afterward.
The arrangement for the change in
the Interior Department were made at
1 the conference, which lasted some,
time.
' "I do hope there will be no occasion
for the United Spates to interfere
in Mexico," said Representative Cruinpa^ker
of Indiana, at the AVhlte House
today. "if we do there will inline- ;
diately begin an agitation throughout
the country for the annexation of
Mexico and all the small countries
clear through to the Panama canal. It
would be unfortunate for such a thing
to start."
Capt. A. W. Butt, personal aid to
President Tnft. soon wlU become a major.
HIp has passed all the examination*
necessary for promotion, and President
Taft will shortly sign his commission.
Capt. Butt today received the eWgratulationg
of everybody around the White I
House. As major, the promoted officer 1
will remain at the White House as personal
aid to President Taft. He held the
same position with President Roosevelt,
and his efforts to be transferred to
other duties failed under both administrations.
Aldrich at White House.
Ex-Senator Aldrich spent nearly two ^
hours late yesterday afternoon talking j
urlth ProvlHpnt T:jft nv#r nnlUlml and
other conditions. The former leader of J
the Senate was looking In fine health ,
after his trip to the south. The Fresl- ,
dent heard some good fishing stories from ,
him. Mr. Aldrieh returned to take up .
the work of the monetary commission.
He said he found that he was already
being forgotten in the precincts of the
Senate.
Yesterday he got in the private elevator
of senators, and the conductor
didn't know him. asking if he were a <
senator. Mr. Aldrlch had to confess <
that he no longer claimed that honor, <
but said he had once served in the Senate.
Under those circumstances he was
allowed to ride to the floor he was 1
seeking.
President Taft will leave Washington
this afterfloon at 4:15 o'clock for the
south, to be absent until the 20th of
this month. Tomorrow he will be in
Atlanta, where he will speak before 1
the Southern Commercial Congress. To- I
morrow night he will go to Augusta to j
take a rest. He proposes to play golf ,
and stay outdoors in Augusta, return- 1
ing to Washington to take up the work ! J
preliminary to the extra session of j ,
Congress. Mr. Taft will be accom- \
panied south by Secretary Norton and 1
Capt. A. W. Butt, his personal aid. i
Mrs. Taft will join him in Augusta in
a few days.
The President and his party will travel
in a brand-new Pullman car, the Ideal,
built especially for his purposes, and t&
be put at his disposal In the future. 1
Judge Martin A. Knapp, presiding Judge
or tne commerce court, has been named
by President Taft as one of the mediators
of the Erdman act, in accordance with an
amendment attached by the last Congress '
to the sundry civil bill. <
Attorney General Wickersham today ]
sent to the White House his rerommenda- (
! tlons in the petitions of Charles W.
Morse, the New York ice king, and John 1
R. Walsh, the former millionaire banker
of Chicago, for pardon, the former being ,
now in the Atlanta federal prison and
the latter in the Leavenworth penitentiary.
Neither of the men has served long 1
enough to take advantage of the parole i
law. Mr. Wickersham is said to be in- 1
clined to suggest clemency in either or
both cases, as the President sees fit.
_ l
MAKES SURE OF DEATH.
TI ti.: 01 x_ w ?
Diuuac rroviucs ruisun, onooxs Aim* ;
self and Tumbles From Roof. i
NEW YORK, March 0.?Standing on the 1
edge of the roof of a Broome street tene-! <
ment house early today, an unidentified 1
man sent two revolver bullets Into his J
head. His body crashed to the street
live stories below, and ambulance surgeons
who examined It, said death from the
bullet wounds must have been Instantaneous.
That the suicide had Intended
' to make sure of dying if his revolver fall- I
ed hlro was indicated by the flnd'ng on I
j the roof of a bottle filled with a powerful i
acid. 1
In a memorandum book In Ids clothing 1
was written an incoherent note addressed
to "My brother-in-law." telling of the 1
writer's 111 health and poverty and asking
that his body be cremated. The'note
was unsigned and there was nothing
about the man to reveal his identity. ,
The body was sent to the morgue to j
awalt identification. ^
New Cable to Brazil. ;
LONDON, March a.?Word is received '
from Monrovia. LJberla. that the laying
of the cable from that place to Pern&mbuco,
Brazil, began March 3. This Is the
final stretch of the new line which is to 1
directly connect Oermany with South I,
America. ?? . ? 1
*
v.
ATPH>LADELPH\A
The \ *
CouMT^y \&
1
at
^pittsburgh
^ &Sfil'stjoncl
X/7 \
WHO if
/ ytfOUU) I
RUN awayv
FROM TNE.
\V*MlT
HOV>s?
*
News Note: ReprcscntatI
anticipation of the strenuous v
OFFERS J50 REWARD
mn ni iic m cmroiipc
run ulul iu rmLuuiw
Maj. Sylvester Making Investigation
of Numerous Fires
in East Washington.
MaJ. Sylvester, superintendent of police,
today offered a reward of $50 for
nformatlon leading to thn arrest 01
iny person Implicated In the starting
>f the numerous fires in sheds In East
Washington during recent months.
Tuesday night there were two fires
itarted in the block bounded by East
Uapltol street and North Carolina aveiue
and 9th and 10th streets.
A few minutes before the fire occurrad
in the shed in the rear of 903 East
Capitol street, the police learned yesterday,
a blaze was discovered in a
:an of trash In the rear of 906 North
Carolina avenue. A. B. Dent, occupant
jf the North Carolina avenue house,
extinguished the fire without calling
an the fire department for assistance.
Boys May Solve Mystery.
Fire Marshal Nicholson is assisting
.he police In their investigation of the
c V T ? 1 J A. 1 1 1 ,
numerous ures. rie saiu louuy ne naa
neard reports which Indicate that boys
mending one of the schools in the
southeast section of the city might be
ible to solve the mystery of the fires.
The police have not yet made any
arrests. Policemen were on special
iuty last night. No fires occurred last
night, however, and the members ot
the fire department were given a rest.
TIED TO A WILD HORSE.
Sddiers Believe Fapago Indian Was
Executed in This Manner.
YUMA. Ariz., March 9.?With the wrist
ied to the tail of a wild horse, the body
of a Papago Indian was found yesterday
by a detachment of the 1st United States:
Cavalry at the edge of the Gila rivei
near Mesa.
In order to secure the body it was necessary
to shoot the horse.
It is believed that the young Indian
tad been condemned to die in this manner
because of having violated some law
of the tribe.
The Papago Indian tribe, which is now
very small, has its camp eight miles up
the Gila river from here.
Nineteen Killed by Avalanche.
TIFL.IS, Transcaucasia, Russia, March
f.?An avmuicue encjji uun h ujjun ariu
:rushed a workingmen's tenement near
lere while the occupants were still asleep
*arly today. Nineteen persons were
killed outright and sixteen others rereived
injuries that probably will prove
fatal. Seventy more sustained minor infurles.
Sentenced for Smuggling.
NEW YORK, March ?.-Will am Rind,
the first officer of the American liner
3t. Paul, who was convicted recently of
smuggling diamond rings into this country,
was sentenced today to the penitentiary
on Blackwelle Island for one year
by Judge Hough in the criminal branch
of the United States circuit court.
Fire at Cincinnati.
CINCINNATI. Ohio. March ?.?Fire
early today destroyed the five-story building
occupied by the Murdock Manufacturing
Company, makers and dealers in
plumbing supplies at 4-26 and 4.28 Plum
street. entailing a loss estimated at from
^50,000 to $75,000.
No Change $t Albany.
ALBANY. N. Y.. March 9.?The fortyfourth
joint ballot for United Statea
Senator today showed no change la tfc<
eadlocfc situation.
0% \
Off*
ve Champ Clark has left Washir
vork of the extra session.
NOT IN CONTEMPT
1
' Speoial Committee's Report in
George B. Cox's Case.
ONE MEMBER DISSENTS
"Punishment for Contempt of Court
on Account of Libel Obsolete/'
Declares Majority.
CINCINNATI, March 9.?George B.
i Cox, indicted republican leader of this
: city, was today held by two members of
a special committee not to be in contempt
of court. The other member of
the committee filed a minority report In
: which it was held that Cox was in contempt.
The committee of three attorneys* was
appointed by Judge Gorman of the common
pleas court to investigate a statement
purporting to have been made by
Mr. Cox in a morning newspaper reflecting
on the grand jury which recently indicted
him on a perjury charge.
# *
Declared to Be Obsolete.
, One of the sentences in the majority
i report finding no contempt reads:
i "Punishment for contempt of court
t on account of libel or criticism of a
, judge has become obsolete."
The majority report was signed by
Edward Barton, general counsel of the
i Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern rail
road, and Clyde Johnson. Aaron A.
.Ferris reported mat tnere was contempt.
Mr. Cox wrote a personal letter to the
committee in whiich* he said that he
had been informed that the grand Jury
had been irregularly drawn and that
I that was all he intended to say in the
| published interview. "\I disclaim any
j intention or desire on my part," he
wrote, "to speak disrespectfully of
either the grand Jury or of its members
or of the judge who empaneled it."
MANY MINERS WILL STRIKE.
Charged That Operators Have Violated
Their Agreement.
CANTON, Ohio, March 9.?The national
board of the United Mine Workers of
America, in session here today, in conJunction
with the convention. of eastern
Ohio miners, is expected to set a date
when 14.000 miners in the Tuscarawas
(Ohio) field and a portion of the Pennsylvania
fields shall start a strike. This action
follows the decision of miners of the
Tuscarawas field at a meeting held at
I Wheeling. W. Va.. yesterday. The pro
posed strike is alleged to be the result of
violations by the operators of their agreement
with the miners.
? =o
"THE
SOVEREIGN
POWER."
What is the sovereign I
power?
Is It aviation, or empire. j
or love?
Read the new serial of this
name and you will learn?
and be glad you learned.
By
MARK LEE J.UTHER.
In the next
Sunday Magazine
of The
SUNDAY STAR.
I? I
I
AT
5Q.UASH CENTER. j
IhgE^
v AT
MM j| jC^n
s
lgton on a tour of recreation in
DIX OENIES HE ORDERED
WHITMAN TO M
Contradicts Rumor Regarding
Investigation of Carnegie
Trust Co. Affairs.
?
ALBANY, N. Y.f March 9.-Gov. Dix
today denied the report that he had
ordered District Attorney Whitman of
New York to withdraw from the investigation
of the affairs of the Carnegie
Trust Company, and that the district attorney
had been superseded by Attorney
General Carmody.
According to the governor, no such letter
was written, and Attorney General
j Carmody said today that so far as he is
' ' I UCVI UU UVttUlIO IIU % VJ VvlllC tu
liim from the governor.
"I have received no communication
from Gov. Dlx, and know nothing about
such a letter as the governor is reported
to have written District Attorney
Whitman," said Mr. Carmody.
Asked Him to See Carmody.
Dix said later that he had sent a note
to Mr. Whitman asking him to confer
with Attorney General Carmody on the
civil side of the situation. This, it was
stated at the executive chamber, is in
line with the policy of the governor to
have state officers consulted In everything
in which they have a direct con- 1
cern. It was stated that of the state s
deposits with the Carnegie Trust Company
$40,000 had been recovered, and ;
that there was still due the state between
$150,000 and $100,000.
"I simply asked the district attorney,"
said the governor, "to confer with the
attorney general in his official capacity
of chief legal adviser to the state. This
lis merely in conformity with my geneial
i ineury umi omic uiulcib siiuuiu ue consulted
In matters pertaining to their department.
I made no official demand on
Mr. Whitman, but merely wrote a personal
note which I asked Mr. Collin to
deliver.
"As Is customary In delivering notes of
this character by personal friends, it was
unsealed. In this note I asked Mr. Whitman
to confer with the attorney general.
Mr. Whitman is coming up today to consult
the attorney general on several matters,
and I suppose these will include the
Carnegie trust."
POSSE IN PURSUIT.
Insane Negro Kills Deputy Attempting
to Arrest Him.
MONFORDVILLE. Kj\. March 0.?Doc
Massey, a negro residing in the Elmer
section of Hart county, became violently '
insane last night ana arter slaying George ,
Stuart, a relative, who had gone with
Sheriff Lobb to arre6t him, barricaded
himself in his house with his family,
consisting of a wife and nine children, J
and defied the officers and a big posse of :
men all night.
This morning he escaped to the woods '
under a fire of about fifty rifles and prat- 1
tlcally every man in the neighborhood
is in pursuit.
One rumor was to the effect that he had
killed his entire family, but officers who
entered the houes after Massey had left
found the members of the family uninjured.
Bequest for Reservation Denied.
HARTFORD, Conn., March 9.?The
supreme court sitting here has denied
the request of certain members of the
Knights of Columbus that a mortuary
fund of the order amounting at the present
time to between $500,000 and $000,000
be reserved for distribution among those
who were members of the order prior to
the year 1902. The supreme court in its
findings says that the corporation does
not hold the funds in the suit upon a
trust other than a trust in favor of all
insured members and their beneficiaries.
WILL HI CASE
Answer to Be Filed in Jewelers'
Suit Over the Hope Diamond.
VALUE OF GEM QUESTIONED
[ts Sale for $80,000 in Last Two
Years Reported.
STORIES OF ILL LUCK SCOUTED
I
- 1 i Mr.
and Mrs. McLean Kef use to
Make Any Statement Regarding
Action Against Them.
Edward B. McLean and his wife. Evelyn
W. McLean, will contest the suit filed
against them by Cartler & Co., Jewelers
of New York and Paris, for $180,000, alleged
to be the purchase price of the
Hope diamond, which was delivered to
Mrs. McLean January 2k.
Mr. McLean was served with a copy of
the declaration yesterday. His counsel,
Attorney Wilton J. I-ambcrt, today appeared
at the office of the clerk of the ,
District Supreme Court, and in the name
of Mrs. McLean accepted service for her.
Beyond stating that his clients have a
defense to the action, Mr. Lambert declined
to discuss the matter. He said
the answer of the defendants would be
filed within the legal period of twenty
days, when the public would learn the
details of the transaction from the standpoint
of the McLeans.
Value of Diamond Questioned.
Is the Hope diamond worth $180,000?
This question, it Is understood, will be
raised in the suit of Caitier against the
McLeans.
Diamond experts and New York Jewelers
have given it as their opinion that the
Hope diamond could have been bought in
the open market for less than JSO.'JUu during
the. last two years.
Mr. and Mrs. McLean continue to refuse
to make any statement In regard to
the Hope diamond or the suit which has
been brought against them. The jewelers
are also reticent in regard to the suit.
But it is said that even if Mr. McLean
signed a receipt for the diamond at the
time of the delivery at his home, it did
not necessarily constitute a contract to
purchase. It is pointed out that frequently
jewelers deliver gems of value at
the homes of prospective purchasers
merely on approval, and that receipts for
the gems aro given by the persons with
whom they are left.
Sold in 1909 for $80,000.
A prominent New York Jeweler made
the following statement today in regard
to the Hope diamond:
"There have been printed stories ad
nauseam about the prices at which the
Hope diamond has been held, but most
of this talk has been instigated by merchants
who have tried to boom the price
of the stone for some prospective purchaser.
"At the Hotel Drouot in Paris in 190?
the Hope diamond sold for SSO.ouO. I
myself attended the sale, and, although I
very much wanted the gem, I refused to
bid over that figure. At that time the
Hope diamond was set in a circle of
smaller diamonds, which perhaps added
about $a.??00 to its value. I have heard
that the single, unmounted diamond could
have been had before the sale for
JtiM.OOO.
"The jewel was purchased at the Hotel
Drouot auction by M. Rosenau, a diamond
broker. Although there have been various
reports that Rosenau sold it to an American
collector, there has never been any
proof of such a transaction. The name
of the mysterious purchaser was never
made public.
"If Mr. and Mrs. McLean agreed to pay
$180,000 for the diamond the price represents
more than 100 per cent profit on
the price paid by Rosenau."
Imported in November.
When imported to this country last November
the Hope diamond was unmounted,
and accordingly a 10 per cent duty
was paia on it. nau n wo# m u?? souwi
in which It was sold at the Hotel Drouot
auction the duty would have been much
greater. Inquiry at the customs house
and the appraisers' stores in New York
elicited the reply that it was contrary to
long-established practice to reveal the appraisement
of goods upon which duty
was paid in the regular way.
Those Jewelers who would discuss the
government's appraisement of the stone
said that it was probably less than <80,l>00,
for the reason that, even with a setting
of d.amonds, it brought only
at auction sale. The majority estimated
its value as imported between $70,<>jO and
J7t>,000.
Scouts Stories About HI Luck.
T. Edgar Wilson, editor of the Jewelers'
Circular Weekly of New York, is
skeptical as to the stories of 111 luck that
have attended the Hope diamond. He
made the following statement today:
"Although the writer has been connected
with the jewelry trade press for
nearly twenty years and haa been especially
Interested in the hitOry of the
great diamonds of the world, be never
heard of any stories connected with the
Hope diamond until a senaational article
appealed a short time after It was
brought to this country In 1901 Aa far
as he can learn the authentic history of
this gem goes back only to 1830, when It
appeared in the hands of a Mr. Daniel
E'hason, and was subsequently bought by
Henry Thomas Hope, the banker, through
whom it came into the possession of the
family of the Duke of Newcastle. It was
held by the heirs of Mr. Hope and was
in the possession of the present Duke of
Newcastle from about 1884 to 1901, when
it was sold in London at auction.
"It was later brought to this oountry
by Joseph Frankel's Sons, and then went
back to London. It was tinally sold to
one Habib in Paris, and though It was
rumored that he bought it for the Sultan
of Turkey, the stone was again put on
the market when the Habib collection
was sold at auction about two years ago.
"This stone is believed to have been cut
from the blue diamond of 67^? carats
that formed part of the stolen French
regalia, and Edward W. Streetor. the
London gem authority, contended that it
was part of that stone, though this fact
has never been proved absolutely.
Fictitious Incident of Misfortune.
"No mention of any ill luck having befallen
Eliason, Hope or any of their descendants
was ever made. The Franke Is
surely were very prosperous While the
stone was in their possession, as were
the dealers who held It In Europe. Habib's
misfortune referred to In the newspaper
accounts occurred long after he
I sad sold the stone.
"These stories first appeared In con
necticm with the Btory that the stone
lad been owned by Lord Francis Hope
and worn by May Yohe. As Francis Hope
never had (the stone and May Yohe probably
never saw it (at least sheaiever had
it) the newspaper accounts at the time
mentioned were laughed at, but since
then it has been the custom not only to
revive these stories every time mention
af the stone appears in the public press,
but to add to them fictitious incidents
af misfortune as to alleged possessors of
the stone at various times."
I
UNREST IN MEXICO
CAUSEOF CONCERN
Public View of Troop Movement
to Texas Justified by
Creditable Admissions.
AMBASSADOR PAYS CALL:
COMES AWAY SATISFIED
Denies Tale That President Diaz's
Health Is Alarming.
OTHER POWERS TOOK HAND
Informally Discussed Conditions In
Mexico With the American Stats
Department?Knox to Continue
Trip.
The real significance of the hiiud> 11 mobilization
of a. quarter of the United
States army and a formidable portion of
the navy along the Mexican frontier and
in the waters adjacent to the ends of
the international boundary is gradually
leaking out In Washington.
FYom various sources, yet without the
possibility of official verification, credible
admissions have been obtained, which
pieced together In the light of know n
facts, make up a whole that goes ta:
to substantiate the interpretation placet
by the public upon the great movement
of military forco now in progress.
It is said that about the time of the re
turn to Washington of Henry L<anc Wilson,
ambassador of the I'nitod Stat'-b to
Mexico, the administration received advices
indicating Increasing unrest in
Mexico and that the revolution, notwithstanding
assertions of the Mexican government
to th? contrary, hud extended
In many directions.
Anti-American Feeling Strong.
Th? whol? oountry was said to b? in
a condition mad? the more serious t?
what was said to be a precarious state
of the health of President Dlaa There
Is known to b? no little antl-Amerlcan
feeling among th? Mexican people generally,
and It was feared that developments
at any moment might precipitate a
chaotic condition, with probable demonstrations
against foreigners.
This alleged state of affaire, It Is aaiA.
was discussed with deep concern at the
White Houses with the result that a suggestion
was made that It would be the
part of forethought to concentrate near
the Mexican border a force sufficient to
meet any situation which might arias.
This movement was to take the form of
maneuvers, and all parties to the plan
olnoorslir hnna/i that nnthlncr nlso WTktllfi
CW1V.CI v?^ UV'^VU t>t?hW UWM?t?Q ?- <wv VTWW?
be necessary.
The Interpretation which was Instantly
placed upon the move by the newspapers
and people of the country is
said to have disconcerted the administration,
and the President and his advisers
hastened to relieve tne tension
of feeling In this country and in Mexico
by emphatic declarations of the harmless
Intent of the movement
Maneuvers It will be, and maneuvers on
American soil exclusively, according to
this view of the situation.
Meanwhile accurate information as to
the real state of affairs In Mexico, especially
as to the health of President
Diaz, la awaited in Washington with intense
Interest and no little concern.*
Calls at White House.
The Mexican ambassador, Senor de la
Barra, today appeared to be fully satisfied
with the good intentions of the
United States, after a long conference
with President Taft at tho Whits
House. He said the President assured
him that the attitude of this government
continues to be friendly to Mexico
as In the past
8enor Limantour, the Mexican minister
of finance, with whom Senor de la
*"* *- --..Ui- i __ XT
oarrs naa ocvu cuubuiiirk in now
York, will not see President Taft, who
leaves Washington this afternoon. lie
will, however, see the acting Secretary
of State should he come to Washington.
"The President was very cordial in receiving
me today," said the ambassador,
as he was leaving the White ?Louse. "I
talked with him for some moments with
regard to the assembling of troops on our
trontler, and he asured me that the
statement made to my government and
published in Mexico City yesterday was
the sincere position of the United States.
"This was quite satisfactory. I am convinced
that tne friendly relations between
the United Htates and the government of
Mexico are undisturbed, and will remain
undisturbed throughout all this seeming
trouble.
"There is no apprehension on the
part of the Mexican government as
to the object of the United States in
mobilising so many troops on our border.
This I am able to say without
qualification. There have been many
misleading reports sent out concerning
I this disturbance ami the activity of
the American Army. I can say again
that my government is not concerned
further over the situation.
Declares Diaz's Health Good.
The ambassador was asked if the reports
concerning President Diaz's condition
of health were true. He was toi?l
that the aged president was reported to
be in extremis.
"That is all a mistake," said the ambassador.
"President Diaz is in excellent
health and has been lie is quit*
as strong as lie has been for some years,
and the suggestion that he is ill and
unable to keep his commanding place in
our government is an error."
The question of the safety of foreign
interests, in Mexico arising from the dis
turbed condition of affairs In that republic
has been the subject of Informal discussion
by foreign nations with the gov- ,
eminent of the United State*. Tliat information
was ascertained from official ^
sources today, but it was added that the
discussions had been very Indefinite and
did not reach the stage of representaIt
is generally believed in Washington
that the Mexican government was acquainted
with the intention of the United
States to concentrate troops along the
frontier before the orders were Issued by
the War Department.
However that may be. it is generally
accepted that President Taft's comrauni- H
cation to President Diaz and his assurance
personally to Ambassador ds la
Barra will dissipate any fears which
might have been entertained by the peo- H H
pie of Mexico and serve as an emphatic
assurance that the movement of irooys la II