Americus times-recorder. [volume], February 27, 1917, City Edition, Image 1

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The Times-Recorder is the ONLY paper
in the Third Congressional District with
Associated Press Service.
ffHIRTY-XIXTH YEAR.
SINKING OF LACONIA
HELD AS “OVERT ACT"
IN VIEW OF THE PAST
Same As Lusitania
In All of The
Phases
THE WORDS “STBICT
jcmiwiir
Thirteen Lives are
Lost, Say The
Reports
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 27.—A
despatch from Consul Wesley Frost,
at Queenstown, dated 11:15 o’clock
last night, and received at the state
department today states Mrs. Mary
E. Hay and her daughter, Miss Eliza
beth Hay, were lost and four other
American caiin passengers saved
when the Laconia was sunk. Those
saved were F. B. Gibbons, a represent
ative of the Chicago' Tribune; Mrs. F.
K. Harris, wife of Col. Harris. U. S.
A., stationed at Fort DuPont, Mo.; Ar
thur Kirby, a New York business man.
and Father Warren, of St. Josepr’s
seminary, Baltimore, Md.
The despatch also communicated the
names of fifteen negro firemen, all
Americans, who were saved, and fix
ed the number of survivors now at
Queenstown at about 267, with 14
others known to be at Bantry. This,
Consul Frost said, left thirteen still
missing, of whom fixe were drowned
and eight, including Mrs. Hay and
her daughter, died of exposure. So
far as known, no Americans were
drowned.
Consul Frost's official despatch says
the “Laconia was torpedoed without
warning at 10:30 p. m„ February sth.
at a point 150 miles west of Fastnet
Rock, Ireland. A second torpedo was
sent into the sinking vessel twenty
minutes after the first went true to
its mark, after the first thirteen
boats had gotten away. Wireless mes
sages were sent out immediately af
ter the Laconia was torpedoed, and
boats with the survivors were picked
up by British patrol boats at 4 o’clock
next morning.” Bitter cold prevailed
at the time of the attack and it was
due to the severity of the weather,
combined with the haste with which it
was necessary to abandon their vessel
that several survivors perished of ex
posure.
It was said here this afternoon that
Cedric B. Ivatte, who was lost with
the Laconia, was an American citizen,
although born in England, but the
statement has not been officially veri
fied.
According to an authoritative ex
pression of opinion obtained after a
conference between President Wilson
and Secretary Lansing, the sinking of
the Laconia, involving the loss of
American lives, is looked upon by the
government of the United States as a
clear violation of American rights. No
further investigation of the incident is
considered necessary, in view of Con
sul Frost’s first hand information al
ready received at the state depart
ment.
While no formal action was taken
by either the house or senate foreign
relations committees, on President
Wilson’s request to be clothed with
authority to deal with the submarine
menace, both bodies show an unmis
takabl tendency to limit the authority
to be conferred upon the president.
The senate committee, it is stated, has
definitely decided to amend the bill so
as to make it authorize only the
arming of merchant vessels, the gov
ernment being instructed to furnish
owners of vessels with guns and to
supply competent gunners to be in
charge of the same. The house com-
IHE ONLY PAPER PUBLISHED IN AMERICUS AND THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH TELEGRAPHIC SERVICE
mittee, so far as is known early this
afternoon, has taken no action on ths
bill before it
Total of Thirteen Lost
LONDON, Feb. 27.—Wesley Frost.
American consul at Queenstown, tele
graphed the American embassy here
today that Mrs. Mary E. Hay and her
uaughter, Miss Elizabeth Hay, both
Americans and passengers aboard the
I.aconia when the vessel was torpe
doed without warning, died of expos
ure and were buried at sea.
A Central News agency despatch
fiom Queenstown states eight Amer
ican negro fireman, who shipped from
New York aboard the Laconia, also
died from exposure, but this has not
yet been officially verified by the
United States consul at that point.
According to Consul Frost’s tele
gram to the American embassy today,
the total number of survivors landed
trom the Laconia is now two hundred
and eighty-one out of two hundred and
ninety-four known to have been
aboard the ill-fated vessel. Appar
ently, this indicates the loss of thir
teen lives, but it is unknown whether
of not this number includes deaths oc
casioned by exposure after the pas
sengers and crew sought safety in the
ship’s boats. Six of the survivors.
Consul Frost telegraphed, are now in
Queenstown hospitals, but none of
there are thought to be in a serious
condition.
Sinking of Laconia “Overt Act.”
WASHINGTON, D. C. Feb. 27.
Official despatches confirming the
death of American citizens aboard the
ill-fated British liner Laconia, w’hich
was torpedoed without warning, es
tablish the destruction of the vessel
as an “overt act.” The sinking of the
liner is regarded here as another
Lusitania incident, in which case it
will be recalled. President Wilson
warned the German government that
he would hold them to “strict account
ability,” should future similar at
tacks occur.
The situation today remains un
changed, apparently, but the sinking
of the Laconia, it is expected, will
hasten action by congress on Presi
dent Wilson’s address delivered yes
terday. in this connection, it is indi
cated the first step to be taken by
this government will be the arming
of American merchant vessels, and the
hurrying of certain preparations for
war already well under way.
WOULD YOU SAY, “HE HAS
SICCED.” OR “HE HAS SI('CENT
ATLANTA, Ga., Feb 27.—A remark
able petition in which appear many
tense of the transitive verb, “sic, sic
cen. sicced.” together with its impera
tive tense, “sic ’em,” Mrs. Ruth Ellen
Lancaster sets forth that the dog thus
addressed interpreted the verb to mean
he should “tear her clothes ragged,
bend her steel corset and bite her
back.”
So that Mrs. Aline McWhorter, the
■eighbor who is accused of addressing
he words to the dog, is asaed to pay
SIO,OOO damages.
In addition to legaj interest, the lit
igation is of interest to grammarians
who have never been exactly certain of
•he status of “to sic.” Y’ou may say
sic ’em.” but can you say “I sic,” or
he sicced?” And would you say. “He
tas sicced.” or “He has siccen?”
COUNCIL MEETING
FOR CITY TONIGHT
The regular meeting of the mayor
and council of the city of Americus
will be held tonight at the council
chambers, at 7:30 o’clock.
Business of importance is said to be
r< adv for consideration, and the pro
credings are awaited with interest.
AMERIEUSTIMES-REEDRDER
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
OH, NO! XO BOYCOTT
CONSIDERED NECESSARY
ATLANTA, Ga., Feb 27.—While
there has been organized boycott
movement among Atlanta housewives
to shut off the use of staple foods
which have gone to prohibitive prices,
it develops that they have simply quit
buying such things as Irish potatoes,
onions, cabbage, eggs and other out
of sight” things, and the effect is the
same as of they had gone into an or
ganized movement.
Some of the more progressive re
tail grocers have discussed prices
very frankly with their customers in
newspaper advertisements, declaring
that certain articles at prevailing
prices are a luxury and should not be
boufiht, and the housewives have taken
the tip.
YOUTHS WEARING GORGEOUS
SHIRTS ON ATL A N A’S STREETS
ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 27. —Gorgeous
wali paper designs in Greek restau
rants, birds of paradise and peacocks’
tails, Solomon in all the glory of his
royal purple—none of these could
hold a light to the shirts Atlanta
youths are wearing.
Starting with checks and stripes
that dazzled the eye and astonished
conservative dressers by their seem
ing boldness, the haberdashers have
been getting stronger and stronger on
the color display until the first revo
lutionary styles would not be noticed
in comparison with what they are
showing now.
Flaming turkey red, navy blue,
orange yellow, dectic pink are some
of the solid colors; while for the
more advanced dressers they are offer
ing designs with a loud background
set off by flowers in flaming array.
And not only do the haberdashers
show them, but Atlanta’s young men
I wear them.
i ____________
REWARD BROUGHT RETURN
OF THIS LOST AUTOMOBILE
ATLANTA. Ga., Feb. 27.—That you
can recover a lost automobile in At
lanta, if you offer a reward sufficiently
large to interest the police authori
ties. or anyone else who may have
knowledge of thewhereabouts of your
car, was discovered by an Austrian
and a German who suffered the mis
fortune to lose a picture of Captain
Paul Koenig, commander of the fam
ous submarine Deutschland, which
they were more anxious to recover
than their stolen car.
The picture was in the flap on the
door of the car and when they emerg
ed from the rathskeller where they
bad dined they found that the car
was gone. Immediately they hastened
to a newspaper office and advertised a
reward for the recovery of the- car,
i saying nothing about the picture, and
,in less than twenty-four hours they
, recovered both the auto and the prec
: ious photograph.
STANDARD Oil FOR
LOSS IN INDEMNITY!
NE WYORK, Feb. 27—It is announc j
ed here today that the Standard Oil
' Company will seek monetary indem
’ nity for the destruction of oil proper
. ties in Rumania, owned by the com
■ pany at the time of the German invas
ion.
! Most of the Standard Oil property in
'hat country was destroyed by the re-,
treating Russians and Rumanians to
prevent the well falling into German
control, and the damage done wil’
j amount to a tremendous sum in the
. r,gregate.
LAYHELD REPORTS
FAVORABLY UPON
AMERICUS DAIRYMEN
I Dr. Rayfield and his assistants from
I the state veterinary department, who
| are on their regular inspection trip of
1 eairy herds over the state, report the
I condition of the herd of E. H. Buch
i anan in as good condition as any herd
i they have inspected in the state.
Dr. Rayfield states that he has vis
ited the greater portion of the state
! inspecting a large number of dairy
cattle and finds the herd of Mr. Buch
anan to compare with any over the
state in health and clean condition. |
AMERICUS, GEORGIA, TUESDAYAFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 27, 1917
4 DAILY WEATHER FORECAST ♦
♦ ———e
*■ The weather forecast for Amer- ♦
♦ icus and vicinity follows: 4
♦ Cloudy tonight. ♦
♦ Wednesday: Cloudy and cooler. 4
► ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦■♦ ♦ ♦ -t ♦
PENN. ROM) KILIS
PASSENGERS FOR
FIRST IN 3 YEARS
ALTOONA, Penn.. Feb. 27.—Twenty
passengers were killed in a rear-end
collision between the Mercantile Ex
press and a freight train on the Penn
sylvania railroad at Mount Union Sta
tion, near here, early today. The col
lision occurred directly in front of
the Mount Union depot, where the Ex
press train had stopped.
The freight was a fast one, not
scheduled to stop at Mount Union, and
crashed into the rear of the Express,
the passenger train, it is alleged, not
being properly protected by flag. The
rear sleeper in which most of the
killed were, was almost totally de
stroyed, the huge freight locomotive
ploughing its way through the steel
framework of the Pullman, crushing
victims beneath its ponderous weight.
Passengers in other coaches of the
Express sustained a severe ‘.shaking
up” but only a few of these were ser
iously hurt.
Announcing the accident, officials of
the Pennsylvania system stated that
this wreck is the first to occur within
three years on the entire system in
which the life of a single passenger
was sacrificed
GERMAN CLAIMS I
TOLL OHIDATS NOIN
NEW YORK, Feb. 27.—(Compiled by
the Associated Press from European
cables received during the day.)—The
German admiralty announced today the
sinking of a British transport by the
submarine U-19, but gave no details.
Lloyds’ shipping agency reported the
submarining of the British steamers
Aries and Sea Gull, the crews of
both vessels having been landed. The
sinking of the Cunard liner Laconia,
off Fastnet Rock continued to attract
attention, with most of those on board
accounted for.
Berlin reports that British attacks
near Ypres and on the Somme from
were repulsed, while the British suc
ceeded in entering the German lines
east of Arras. Subsequently, however,
they were driven out of these new po
sition by German machine gun fire.
According to last accounts received
here tiie British advance was within
three miles of Baupame, an import
ant railroad center and German
stronghold on the Somme front. Ene
my possession of this point has ena
bled the Germans to shift troops from
point to point along the French front
quickly heretofore, and its loss would
likely prove serious at this time when
a general Entente offensive is believed
to be in course of beginning.
In Mesopotamia. British troops have
passed Kut-El-Amara and continue
pursuing the Turks in the direction of
Bagdad.
ARNOW TH GO WITH BROWN
INTO ( OMMISSIONER’S OFFICE
ATLANTA, Ga.. Feb. 27.—1 t is free
Iv rumored about the capitol that
State Game Commissioner Charles S.
Arnow, in the event that he is not
re-appointed to his present position
by Governor-elect Dorsey when he as
sumes the reins of office this summer,
will receive a position under J. J.
Brown in the agricultural department.
It is said that Mr. Arnow was slated
to head the market bureau which Lem
U .Jackson is organizing for Commis
sioner Brown.
Mr. Jackson is to be given an office
place in the agricultural department,
it is said. Mr. Arnow’s term of office
will not expire until September, and
that will give Mr. Jackson plenty of
time to organize the marketing bureau
and get it on its feet before Mr. Ar-
SIX NEGROES IN
THREE DAYS DIE
IN GOLD OF NORTH
♦ ♦4-4 + 444 + 4-F4
♦ SEVENTH NEGRO IS ♦
♦ DEAD IX THREE DAYS. 4
♦ ♦
♦ Advices to the Times-Recorder 4-
♦ say that a second negro from this 4
♦ section has died in the north to- 4
4 day, making a total of seven for 4
♦ three days past. 4
♦ 4-4-4-4-4-4-»-4-44--f4*
Six negroes from this immediate
section who went to Connecticut and
Delaware have died in the past three
days, according to reliable advices re
ceived by the Times-Recorder. In
formation came here of three deaths
in the North on Sunday, two on Mon
day, and one today.
The latest emigrant to pass away is
Will Barber, who died today at Wil
mington, Del., according to informa
tion received here. The main con
tributing causes to these and other
deaths have been pneumonia, and tha
cold facts bear out the constant warn
ings which have been given in this
section concerning the reasons why
the Southern negroes should not emi
grate in such hosts.
Since the Times-Recorder began
publishing accounts of deaths and pri
vation among the negroes who have
left here, there has been a constant
stream of information flowing into thu
office from people who know of inci
dents among the negroes who have
iett this immediate section.
The question is now annoying the
North, although this section began the
movement of the colored people. They
are now endeavoring to have the
Southern people, especially former
employers, to pay the return expenses
of these negroes. Much inconvenience
is being caused, and before the color
ed people gain full knowledge of the
truth, it is feared that large numbers
01 deaths will result. The Times-Re
corder is prepared to substantiate all
of the stories which have been pub
lished. and contrary to some of the
comment, it is not true that the stor
ies have been exaggerated, because
of a possible deterring influence on
the movement.
Homer Glover, a negro who died in
Hartford, Conn., a few days ago, was
brought to Americus Monday and bur
ied a few miles in the country, neal
-old home.
Henry Lightley, an old negro man
who went to Connecticut just a few
weeks ago, it is reported, died in Hart
ford Monday. Lightley is well known
about Americus, and his wife now re
sides over in Brooklyn Heights.
REEDS AMENDMENT
MUY YET BE LOST
WASHINGTON. D. C., Feb. 27.
The failure of house and senate con
ferees to break the deadlock over the
postal bill amendment to renew pneu
matic tube contracts for another year,
caused opponents of the Reed “bone
dry” amendment to hope this after
noon that the postal bill may not be
passed at this session.
ROBINSON FOUND READY
MARKET FOR PRODUCE HERE
A. Robinson, who resides nea"
Plains, was in Americus Tuesday,
bringing along a fine load of country
produce, for which he had no difficul
ty in finding a ready market. Mr. Rob
inson is one of Sumter’s progressive
farmers and raises lots of produce,
which he occasionally brings here and
exchanges for cash.
now takes it up.
The reported changes in the agricul
tural department were given currency
by the published report that J. D.
Freeman, of the Atlanta police force,
and champion trap shooter of America,
might bet the game commissioner ap
pointment under Governor Dorsey.
♦ SISTER OF PRESIDENT’S 4-
♦ WIFE DIES IX VIRGINIA 4
4 • ♦
♦ ROANOKE, Va.. Feb. 27.—Mrs. 4
♦ Matthew Maury, sister of Mrs. 4
4 Woodrow Wilson, died here late 4
4 yesterday, death following an op- 4
4 eration for inteestinal trouble. 4
4 4 4-4- 444-F-I-444
WEATHER IS SBEAT
■W FOB THE
FARMER FOB LARDR
ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 27.—1 f not an
other bale of cotton is exported, all
the cotton on hand will be practically
cleaned up at the present rate of
home consumption, is the view re
flected in cotton circles during the
week. In support of this view it is
cited that the consumption of cotton
in the United States reached 600,000
bales in January, the largest on rec
ord. During the six months, domes
tic consumption reached 3,367,663
bales, and around four million bales
have already been exported. In view
of this it is the prevailing sentiment
in cotton circles that the farmer has
nothing but rosy prospects.
Onlj unfavorable weather is pre
venting the Southern farmer from
carrying on his preparations for
planting large acreages to various
crops, is the substance of reports
coming from all parts of the South
except the extreme west, where there
has been little rain. Delivery of seed
and fertilizers has been held up by
bad roads and it is evident that many
farmers are holding back orders fo>.
supplies till weather is better. Al
though they have been urged to buy
fertilizers early because of freight
congestions and because of the possi
ble effect of an increase in the manu
facture of ammunition on some of its
ingredients, it is apparent that the
full requirements of the farmers have
not yet been made known. The fer
tilizer trade, however, reports a big
business and an evident purpose of the
farmers to fertilize heavily this year.
Even the serious loss from the win
ter-kill of small grains is not being
taken pessimistically. Farmers con
sider that they can recoup their losses
by planting to other crops on the
same land, in this year of high
prices.
The damage to winter-cover crops
is greater than was at first thought.
Following closely several days of
moist weather, the small grain has
made a tender growth, and were in
poor condition for withstanding the
severe cold. In the extreme South,
the damage is not so great as first ap
peared, but over other portions of the
South, the damage was greater than
was anticipated. Broadcasted or shal
low seeded fields in general schow
practically total loss. While drilled
grains show losses differing with va
rieties and depth of drill rows, none
o f it has escaped considerable dam
age. Alfalfa has also suffered se
verely.
Fields which have been in small
grain afford good seed beds with com
paratively little to be done to fit
them for replanting. While many
farmers are undertaking the resow
to oats, the uncertainty attending
spring-sown oats has inclined the agri
cultural leaders to recimmend seeding
tv soy beans, velvet beans or cowpeas
for hay crops. Cotton, corn and pea
nuts, however, will be looked to by
many farmers, as desirably to plant
in the grain fields, thus adding to the
acreage they had already planned to
give to these crops.
HOME OF E. E. COOK
LOST or FLUMES
The residence of Mr. and Mrs. E. E.
Cook, about three miles from Preston.
Webster county, was totally destroy
ed by fire Monday afternoon about
three o'clock. It is supposed to have
originated in a defective stove flue. It
was a beautiful country home of two
stories, and had only recently been re
n odeled. The home was the old place
cf John King, the father of Mrs. Cook.
The loss is about $3,000 with no in -
surance.
city
V EDITION 1
LEGISLATION TO
PROVIDE MEANS
FOR PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 27.— The
house foreign relations committee, to
which was referred the Flood bill em
powering President Wilson to deal
with eventualities in connection with
the submarine situation, has unofficial
ly agreed to strike from the adminis
tration measure the words “other in
strumentalities,” and substitute there
for “to use the naval forces of the
United States, including the naval
militia.”
BUI Introduced in House.
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Feb. 27.
President Wilson has gone before caa
gress for the second time in less than
a month over the German situation,
and the immediate response was tbs
introduction in the house of a bill ap
proved in advance by the president,
empowering him to furnish guns and
gunners to American merchantmwa;
, to “employ such other instrumenteD
, ties and methods” as may be rums
necessary, and providing for a
000,000 bond issue to be used in his
discretion for war insurance to en
courage American commerce to brave
the submarine peril.
The bill may be brought up in the
house today, with special rules for fls
immediate consideration. A similar
bill will be considered today by the
senate foreign relations committee.
The text of the Flood bill follows:
“Be it enacted by the senate and
Louse of representatives of the United
States of America, in congress aaacto
bled, that the president of the United
States be and is hereby authorized and
empowered to supply merchant ships,
the property of citizens of the United
States and bearing American registry,
with defensive arms, should it, in his
judgment, become necessary for him to
do so, and also with the necessary am
munition and means of making use
them in defense against unlawful w-t
--tack*, and that he be and Is hereby ■■-
thorized and empowered to employ
such other instrumentalities and meth
ods as may in his judgment and dis
cretion seem necessary and adequate
to protect such ships and the citizens
of the United States in their lawful
and peaceful pursuits on the high
seas.
“Section 2. The sum of one hun
dred million dollars is hereby appro
priated out of any moneys in the treas
ury not otherwise appripriated to be
expended by the president of the Unit
ed States for the purposes herein
stated, the said sum to be available
until the Ist day of January, 1918,
and the president is authorized to
transfer as much thereof as he may
deem necessary to the bureau of war
risk insurance created by act of con
gress, approved September 2, 1914, for
the purpose of insuring vessels, their
freight, passage moneys and cargoes
against loss or damage by the present
risk of war.
“Section 3. For the purpose of
meeting the expenditures herein an
; thorized, the secretary of the treas-
I ury, under the direction of the presi
i dent, is hereby authorized to borrow
| on the credit of the United States, and
, to issue therefor bonds of the United
I States, not exceeding in the aggre
gate $100,000,000, said bonds to be in
I such form and conditions as the secre
i tary of the treasury may prescribe and
to bear interest at the rate of not ex
ceeding 3 per centum per annum; pro
vided that such bonds shall be sold at
i not less than par, shall not carry the
I circulating privilege, and that aD
I citizens of the United States shall be
1 given an equal opportunity to snb
! scribe therefor, but no commission
shall be allowed or paid thereon; that
both principal and interest shall b*
! payable in United States gold coin of
the tresent standard of value, and. b
exempt from all taxation in any form
I of all state, municipal or local author
ities; that any bonds issued hereunder
' may, under such conditions as the sec
retary of the treasury may prescribe,
I be convertible into bonds bearing *
1 higher rate of interest than three per
' centum per annum, if any bonds shall
be issued by the United States at a
I
(Continued on Last Page.)
NUMBER Stt