THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
iv W
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EPITOME OF EVENTS
PARAGRAPHS THAT PERTAIN TO
MANY SUBJECTS.
M. SHORT BUT INTERESTING
Brief Mention of What Is Transpiring
In Various Sections of Our Own
and Foreign Countries
WAR NOTES.
Secretary Garrison announced the
embargo against shipment of arms
Into Mexico from tho United States
had been restored.
Orders have been received at
tho Pugct Sound navy yard for tho
cruiser St. Louis to sail Immediately
for Mazatlan, Mexico, via Sa,n Diego.
Japnnobo government olllclals have
declared that the attitude of the Jap
anese government In the Mexico situa
tion was nuturally one of strict neu
trality. 1 Secretary Garrison lias received a
number of applications from citizens
of border towns appealing for protec
tion against possible attacks from tho
Mexican side.
Hear Admiral Badger, commander-in-chief
of the Atlantic fleet, has
recommended Admiral Fletcher be
kept In command shoro after the
army arrives.
,
The rich Tamplco oil fields general
ly have been abandoned. There are
u dozen or more Important oil com
panies In tho Tamplco Held, including
tome foreign interests.
Tho Navy department has received
a report from Admiral Badger nt
"Vera Cruz stating that all of the
-wounded are Improving and that the
surgical cases are doing "surprisingly
well."
"I am all right," was the text of a
cablegram received at Washington
from Arnold Shanklln, United States
consul general at Mexico City. The
cablegram wts addressed to Robert
B. Tommerson, brother-in-law of Mr.
Shanklln.
The American Smelting and Refin
ing company has ordered , all its
mines and smelters In Mexico closed
down. Instructons were sent to all
American employes to leave Mexico
Immediately.
.
"I'm sorry, terribly sorry," .were
President Wilson's first words when
news of loss of life In taking Vera
Cruz first reached him. The president
was sad and disheartened. As ho
walked slowly to his office through the
"White house his head was bowed and
hi8 face a study in deep feeling and
gavity.
.
That General Iluerta deliberately
planned the arrest of American blue
jackets at Tamplco and other offenses
against the United States, with a view
to bringing an armed Intervention and
uniting all the Mexican factions be
hind him, was the substance of a let
'tor received by a high government
official from an authoritative source
In Mexico City.
William P, Poinsett, a retired busi
ness man of Philadelphia received a
letor from his son, George, who waB
one of tho sailors written the morning
of Jhe day he was killed at Vera Cruz.
The young seaman In his letter ex
pressed joy at tho thought that he
would seen see active service. His
mother recently was injured In an ac
cident and Is in a serious condition.
-
Quick action on tho annual army
appropriation bill followed when
Chairman Hay of the military affairs
committee explained that on account
of the Mexican situation tho houso
conferees had agreed to all amend
ments. Tho houso at once concurred
In the amendments and the measure
want to tho president. It carries a
total of approximately ?100,000,000,
$(i.000,000 having been added by tho
senate.
DOME8TIC.
Tho Hotel Maryland at Pasadena,
California, was destroyed by fire.
Tho guests escaped. Tho loss Is sev
eral hundred thousand dollars.
Michael P. Mahoney, tho gray hair
ed man who shot at Mayor Mltcbel of
Now York and wounded Corporation
Counsel Polk, has been Indicted for at
tempted murder.
Heavy shipments of war materials
are being made from Fort Stevens to
tho Mexican border. Shrapnel shells,
field gun shells and primers consti
tute the bulk of iho shipments so
far made.
Angry because his wife refused to
pay half tho costs of a divorce action
Jo had Instituted against hor, John
Luggl of Bellaire, O., shot her four
times, inflicting probably fatal
A-ounds. Ho then, killed himBolf. Two
tf their young children witnessed tho
rugedy.
r
Four robbers blew open tho vault
. in tho Farmers' State bank at Phil
llppsburg, Mo., and escaped with $3,
000 More than a hundred shots were
fired by the robbors at persons who
attempted to Interfere.
Transvnil gold output for 1913 is
valued at $185,000,000.
In 1913 over 240,000,000 barrels of
petroleum were produced In the Unit
ed States.
Mr. and Mrs. George S. Schermer
horn of New York City have been
married flty-flvo jearB and have never
been separated a day In that time. As
a result neither one has ever received
a letter from tho other.
Jacob Rlls, uplltter, lecturer and
chum of Theodore Roosevelt, Ib dan
gerously 111 nt a sanitarium In Michi
gan. Enlargement of the heart, Is tho
trouble diagnosed by phyBlans, who
hope to prolong his life if ho abstains
from all activities.
Tho University of Illinois won ma
jor honors at tho Drake relay meet,
and demonstrated in winning the two
111II0 event In 8 minutes fiat that its
team will bo a factor In tup race at
the University of Pennsylvania's lelay
meet.
A secret Indictment of 198 counts
wns returned at Boston in connec
tion with the Henry Slegel Company
of Boston. Tho Indictment Is under
stood to cover tho alleged receiving
of deposits in, Its savings bank In tho
two das prior to tho institution of
bankruptcy proceedings.
Tho defeat of Congressman Magulro
for re-election and the appointment of
F. W. Brown ns postmaster Is the
prediction made by memborB of tho
Nebraska delegation In congress, who
declared that Representative Magulro
and Secretary Bryan had locked horns
over the Lincoln appointment,
Indications were manifest in Wash
ington that tho treaty between Colom
bia and the United States, for ad
justment of the Issues growing out of
the seperatlon of Panama from Colom
bia would encounter opposition when
submitted to tho senate for ratifica
tion. Tho scout cruiser Salem, ono of the
fastost vessels In tho navy, has left
tho Philadelphia navy yard for Mex
ican waters. The Salem is attached
to Rear Admiral Wlnslow's squadron,
Which Includes tho battleships New
York and Texas. The cruiser will
carry a crew of 350 men and 70 ma
rines. Major General Kelm, president of
tho Germany army league, has started
an agitation for another billion marks
($250,000,000) for army purposes,
without which, he declares, the safety
of the country against tho expected
French and Russian attack cannot be
guaranteed. ' This demand Is In addi
tion to tho measure passed only last
year voting an extraordinary war tax
of $250,000,000, the grst installment
of which has yet to bo collected.
Secretary Daniels has Instructed
Admiral Badger at Vera Cruz to is
sue a proclamation Informing all
Mexicans in that vicinity that they
are free to come and go as they
please. This, It is hoped, would in
duce General Iluerta to permit Amer
icans to leave Mexico City, whero
they have been detained in conse
quence of the report that the Mexi
cans were not permitted to leave
, Vera Cruz.
Airs. C. J. Walker, one of the most
prosperous colored business citizens
of Indianapolis and one of the most
successful colored women of Amorlca,
is founding an industrial school In
West Pondaland, South Africa. Tho
school is modeled after tno Tuskegee
Institute and has tho endorsement
of Booker T. Washington. She also
Is maintaining at Tuskegee institute
scholarships, three boys and two girls,
with the hope that they will go to
Africa to engage in educational work.
She was left an orphan at the age
of 7 and has won her own way In the
world.
FOREIGN.
Tho returns from the election which
began throughout Sweden March 27
and continued to April 7, indicate tho
defeat of tho liberals,
Tho business ectlon of Brlson, Que
bec, county seat of Potlac, Cauada
was wiped out by fire. A hotel and
twenty-eight stores were destroyed.
A stormy scene was created in tho
houso of commons when Andrew
Bonar Law, leader of tho opposition,
domanded a judicial Inquiry into tho
naval and military movements re
cently contemplated by tho govern
ment In Ulster. The unionists chargo
a plot to provoke a rising in Ulster.
Angus McLcod, president of the
Newport It. 1. Trust Co., died, nged
G4. Ferdinand Griflln, prenldont of
tho Fall River National bank, died
In Fall River, Mass., aged 70. Both
men had been prominently identified
with New England financial Institu
tions for thirty years.
Tho condition of Emperor FranclB
Joseph is not bo satisfactory. The
doctors said: "His majesty's rest was
dlsturbod by fits of coughing. Tho
catarrhal symptoms show no signs of
abatement.
Mrs. Bernard Shaw, who was Miss
Payne Townond, has Just inherited
$150,000 under tho will of a cousin,
Canon Stewert, of County Amtrlm,
Mrs. Shaw already has an income of
$15,00 and a beautiful home near Ban
try. Shaw, himself, It 1b understood,
pays an Income tax on $75,000 a year.
SWIFTEST
Tho Cruiser Chester,
Vera Cruz.
fastest of
BROTHER TELLS
nBOUHLETCHEfl
Career of the Rear Admiral Who
Took Vera Cruz.
YEARNED FOR SEA WHEN BOY
Forced to Remain at an Executive
Desk During the Spanish War, He
Became an Expert on
Ordnance.
Chicago. Whilo Admiral Fletcher,
who captured, the city of Vera Cruz
Tuesday, has never resided In Chi
cago, ho has been a frequent visitor
here at tho homo of his brother, Thom
as J. Fletcher, 5237 Cornell avenue.
Tho latter Is treasurer of the Co-operative
League of Chicago. J. Fletch
er, a son of tho Chicago Fletcher, Is a
lieutenant on Admiral Fletcher's flag
ship. "We Fletchers do not come of a sea
faring breed," said the civilian Fletch
er at his home. "On tho contrary, wo
are Iowa men and we should by all
rights have lived and died landlub
bers. My brother Is an admiral now
because our representative In con
gress In Marshalltown, Iown. decided
he would fill a vacancy at Annapolis
by holding a competitive examination.
" 'Tom,' said my brother when ho
saw tho notice of tho examination,
'I'm going to bo a sailor. That's the
life for me. I never thought of It be
fore, but I seo now that I was meant
to be a hero of tho deep.' "
Leads In Examination.
Ho entered tho examination, just as
he said ho would, and took first placo
over 25 other boys. That waB In 1870
and he has been In the navy service
since.
According to tho Chlcngo Fletcher,
It wns ono of tho bitterest disappoint
ments of the admiral's career when
ho wnB compelled to remnln nt an exec
utive desk in Washington during tho
Spanish war. But the ndmlral, as the
result of that experience, became an
export on ordnance.
"Secretary Long promised him that
If he would remain bb assistant chief
of tho ordnance department until ho
could get things in (order, he could
have anything he wished. But be
fore his work was done there tho war
was over. You see, the country, was
totally unprepared for war and tho
ordnance department was placed un
der a terrific strain."
Invents Recoil Apparatus.
Admiral Fletcher hnd boon In tho
service but a short time when ho In
vented a recoil apparatus for quick
hrers, which haa been In uso ever
since. Ho also Improved tho Farcot
breech mechanism, thereby Insuring
the success of tho system. Whereas
to open tho breech of the big guns it
had 'been necessary before to depend
upon power from the engine-room,
the admiral's improvement made it
possible to move the hugo blocks
with ono hand. As commander
of the torpedo boat Cushing tho ad
miral, then Lieutenant Commander
,Fletcher, conducted an investigation
of tho behavior of torpedoes and dis
covered many errors in rango and in
alrnoHt ovory Instnnco tho correctness
of his deductions was proved. Ho la
regarded as ono of the first ordnance
oxperts of tho navy.
Born In Oskaloosa.
"Admiral Fletcher," said his kins
man In Chicago, "was born In Oska
loosa, Nov. 23, 1855. Ho was only
lllteen years old wLcn ho took tho
examination and entewl Annapolis.
"My brother was grnduatod In June,
1875, ono of tho honor men of his
clnss. Ho served as a midshipman for
ono year and then was promoted to
the rank of an ensign. On April 1,
1882, ho became a Junior lieutenant,
AMERICAN CRUISER, THE
its class In tho American navy, took part
and nt the outbreak of tho Spanish
war was a lieutenant and had at
tracted attention by his knowledge of
ordnanco. v
"After the wai ho was relieved of
desk work at Washington and ordered
to sea. In March, 1901, ho was pro
moted to the rank of commander after
having served ns commanding officer
of tho gunboats Kanawaha and Eagle.
Soon after this promotion he was
made inspector of ordnanco in chargo
of tho torpedo station at Newport,
where ho served until March 15, 1905.
"When ho again went to Boa It wns
as chief of staff of tho Asiatic fleet,
which position he gave up to tako
command of tho cruiser Raleigh. After
two moro years at sea ho waB ordored
to the naval war college at Newport,
and later he became" a member of tho
special ordnnnco board.
"In(1908 ho wns made a captain and
given commnnd of tho battleship Ver
mont. After leaving the Verlnont ho
became an aid on tho staff of Secre
tary of tho Navy George von L. Meyer.
It was during this service in October,
1911, i that he achieved flag rank."
May Succeed Badger.
Admiral Fletcher is regarded as a
probable successor of Rear Admiral
Badger as commander In chief of tho
Atlantic fieet, a promotion that will
carry with it the honor of command
ing tho great United States fleet that
will bo tho first to pass through tho
Panama canal when tho waterway Is
opened to the ships of tho world In
1915.
It was immediately following tho
assassination of President Mndcro
that Admiral Fletcher was ordored to
Mexican waters.
Enters Harbor In "Norther."
It will be recalled that Admiral
Fletcher In his flrBt cablegram record
ing tho seizing of tho custom-houso at
Vera Cruz said that he commenced
operations In tho face of an upproach
ing "norther."
The following extract from a navy
text-book on navigation may explain
why Admiral Fletcher acted without
undue delay In carrying out President
Wilson's orders:
"To attempt to run Into tho harbor
(Vera Cruz) in a 'norther' Is extreme
ly perilous, for It blowB moro power
fully within than without tho Bhoals.
No confidence can bo placed in nn
chors and no assistance can be given
from the shoro In case of accident."
Admiral Fletcher when not nt sea
resides nt 1441 Massachusetts avonuo.
Washington. Ho married Miss Susan
Hunt Stetson In 1895. IIo is n mem
ber of tho Chevy Ohnso and tho Army
and Nnvy clubs In Washington.
How Seizure Order Was Given.
Washington. Tho story of how
Prosldent Wilson ordered tho custom
house nt Vera Cruz to bo seized has
been revealed.
The president had gone to bod' Mon
day night after having read his mes
sage to congress. Tho senate was do
bating tho Joint resolution to approve
tho uso of tho nrmy and navy, and tho
prosldent had determined to withhold
action until tho resolution passed, al
though fooling that In an emergency
tho executive had ample authority to
act. '
At 4 o'clock Tuesdny morning Sec
retary Bryan received a cablegram
from Consul Canada telling of tho ap
proach of a German vessel with a
tremendous cargo of ammunition for
Iluerta.
A number of locomotives nnd many
cars woro in readiness to rush tho
arms to Mexico City
Mr. Bryan telephoned Secretary Tu
multy, who decided to awakon tho
president. Ho telephoned tho White
Houso. Tho servants woro timid, hut
Tumulty Jnslstod. Finally tho presi
dent came to tho telophono, and while
Secretary Tumulty was explaining tho
situation Sncrotnry Daniels called up
and was put on tho snino lino.
Ho, too, had a dispatch about tho
ammunition. Roar Admiral Flotchor
had sent a wireless that 15,000,000
rounds of ammunition and 250 ma
chine guns would bo landed from tho
German vessel by noon that day,
Tho prosldent listened in silence.
CHESTER
In tho shelling nud capturo of
"Whnt shall wo do 7" asked Secre
tary Daniels.
"Tell Fletcher to sclzo tho custom
house," replied tho president without
hesitation.
"Good night," said tho Becrotnry
Tho telephono conference ended and
in a fow minutes wireless dispatches
were on their way to Rear Admlrnl
Fletcher." Ho received thomosBngo at
10 a. m., and nn hour Inter American
marines had landed and taken posses
sion of tho custom houso.
No War Tax for Six Months.
Washington. Tho government's
finances are considered to bo in ex
cellent condition. Tho treasury olll
clals informed tho houso lenders that
thoro will ho no occasion for six
montliB, at least, to worry about rais
ing n war revenue.
Chairman Underwood of tho ways
nnd means committee snld:
"No plans arc being considered for
ralBlng a war fund. I have, consulted
with the secretary of war and tho sec
retary of the navy and they both as
sure mo that tho current appropria
tions for tho nrmy and navy will bo
sufficient for tho present ncedB. Sec
rotary Daniels told mo that It would
coBt no moro to maintain tho navy
and the marine corps In Mexican wn
teis than In tho waters of tho United
States.
"If wo are forced Into a prolonged
war with Mexico, which-1 do not bo
Hovo will happen, wo can eafllly ar
range to raise tho revenue necessary
to finance It by tho snmo measures ns
wero taken during tho Spanish-American
war. Tho extraordinary taxes
then Imposed Increased tho rovenuea
of tho government approximately
$100,000,000 a year, and tho same
taxes applied today would yield oven
a larger return."
Thoro wns talk of a now Ibbuo ol
$200,000,000 of bonds out of tho au
thorized Issue of $240,000,000 Panama
canal bonds, which nre still In the
treasury, .but Secretary McAdoo nu
thorlzed the statement that no such
action was planned. Tho bonds nro
available at any tlmo and can bo Is
sued at tho pleasuro of tho president,
without any further action by con
gress. It was pointed out that President
Wilson has authority under a section
of tho Pnyne-Aldrlch net of 1909,
which has not been repealed by the
Underwood tariff act, to ralso $450,
000,000 from bond Issues, 1 ' necessary,
to defray tho expenses of war. Un
der section 39 of tho Pnyno-Aldrlch
act, tho secretary of tho treasury can
uso $250,000,000 of tho bonds "to re
coup tho treasury for moneys used In
tho building of tho Pnnama canal,"
which have never been Issued.
Wilson Could Raise $200,000,000.
Under section 40, also, tho socro
tary enn Ibsuo 3 por cent bonds up to
$200,000,000, It being specified that ho
may tako such action If ho dooms It
necessary Tho Bectlon of tho law per
mitting tho Hecrotary of the trensury
to ralso $200,000,000 for emergencies,
renda as followB'
"That section 32 of iho net provldltm
waya and menus to moot war expendi
tures, approved Juno 31, 1898 (tho bo
called Spanish war stamp act), bo and
tho snino Is hoieby amended to rcud
as follows:
"That tho secretary of tho troasurj
Ib authorized to borrow from tlmo tc
tlmo at a rate of Interest not exceed
Ing 3 per centum per nrinum, such
sum or sums nH, In bis Judgment, may
bo necessary to meet public expendi
tures, and to Issue therefor certifi
cates of indebtedness In such form ns
ho may prescribe and In denomina
tions of $50 or multiples thereof, nnd
ench certificate shall be payablo with
tho Interest accrued thereon at such
time, not oxceedlng ono yonr from tho
dato of Issue, as tho secretary of the
treasury may proacrlbo; provided,
that tho sum of such certificates out
standing shall at no tlmo exceed $200,
000,000 and tho provisions of existing
law respecting counterfeiting nnd oth
er fraudulent practises aro horoby ox
tended to tho bonds and cortlflcntog
of Indebtedness authorized by this
act."
NEWS FROM STATE HOUSE
Precinct assessors are now gathering
data for tho 1914 crop statistics. Tho
questions nro numerous nnd complete,
covering every phased of farm life, va
tor power development nnd irrigation.
Dr. Edwin Mnxoy, professor of pub
lic law and diplomacy at tho Unlver
slty of Nebraska, has been called east
by the government to a conference on.
forolgn relations. ,Dr. Mnxoy la rtn
authority on International law, and 13
well versed in tho diplomatic tanglo
of the Mexican situation.
Tho stnto board of control haa
awarded n contract for the construc
tion of an addition to tho stato ortho
pedic hospital at Lincoln. It Is to bo
of pressed brick, throe stories and a
basement with nu attic finished foi
use. Tho loglslnturo appropriated
$4,',000 for this purpose.
Tho advlstory board of pardons Inst
week heard, applications fdr pardona
for Edward ,S. DoPuo and V. If. Swan
sent up from Ogallnla, convicted of
killing n Btoer which they did not own
Both mm havo largo fapllles, nnd
they told tho board they killed thu
animal because their families ueedqd
food.
Thirty university endots have been
given resorvo national guard commis
sions preparatory to spring graduation.
Among tho numbor nro one. colonel,
one lieutenant colonel, two majors nud
ton cnptnlns. Tho entire number will
bo designated as socond lieutenants In
tho roservo organization.
Petitions for "university week" nre
now being circulated about the cam
pus. It Is proposed to designate n
special week in tho year for tho ox
plotting of tho ndvantngos of the uni
versity among tho pcoplo of the state,
At that tlmo' various organizations
would bo sont out for advortliMUg Pr
poses.
Susan Tj. Stppell, administratrix oi
tho estate of Charles F. Stppell, do
censed, has brought suit against tho
Missouri Pacillo Railroad -company for
$20,200 damages, tho action being
brought in tho district court here. Mr.
Sippell was killed In tho switch yards
of tho defendant nt Kansas City on
Soptember 22, 1913.
Tho district debate series In thu
stato debate leaguo contests are near
ing an end nnd tho district champion
ship debates aro on. Tho twelve dls
trlcts will each have hold tho final do
bates deciding tho champion school of
each district in a few weeks, propnra.
tory to tho seventh annual state chnm,
plonshlp debate to bo held In Lincoln
on High School Fete day In the middle
of May.
Eight hundred moro cattlo which
were recently shipped Into Nebraska
without tho proper credentials from
federal Inspectors showing that they
had been Inspected for tuberculosis
and found froe from tho disease nro
now being hold In quarantine, subject
to tests under tho direction of State
Voterlnarlan Kigln, as tho result of a
trip taken by that official to the west
ern part of tho stato last week.
Out-of-thc-BtauTprlntlng firms may
bid on and receive contracts for state
work. The stato Huprome court said
so In effect when It dismissed n suit
brought by President C. D. Trnphngon
of tho Stato Journal company to limit
such printing to stato firms. The
stato holds that tho commissioner of
printing has n right to oversee the
lotting of printing contracts and that
this includes supremo court reports
over which the suit wna instituted.
At a mooting of several well known
educators of tho Btuto at tho Commer
clal club a tentntlvo plan wns adopted,
.'or tho formation of an organization
of boards of education from cities of n.
certain class within the state. Such
towiiB, cities and districts whoso popu
lation entitles them to six board mem
bora will bo ollgiblo to Join tho pro
posed association,
From thirty to fifty boys of Omnhw
and Lincoln will likely ninko the trip,
to the Rocky mountains this summer
ns members of tho boys' camp. It will1
bo held under tho direction of thor
University Young Men's Christian
association. Prof. C. B. Cornell of tho
dopartment of philosophy will bo at
tho head of tho Nebraska camp. Tha
tents will bo reserved at Estes park
and the camp will be in cor.ectlon with
tho regular Young Men's Christian
association cumpa at that place,
- State Food Commissioner Harmon
has put a ban on tho push-In stoppers
of nop bottles. Tho stoppors aro
made of wire and rubber and In the
opinion of tho food commlslsoner they
are gorm collectors and cannot ha
cleansed by bottlers.
That many young men and women
who hnve been raised In Christian
homos nre InfidelB whon they gradu
ate from tho university Is tho belief
of the londera of tho unlvorslty Chris
tian associations, nnd thoy aro taking
stcpH to prevent this condition.
An npeal to tho stato suprome court
has been taken by Martin A. Spurn, n
Norfolk saloonkeeper, and a surety
company which had signed his bond.
Judgment wna rendered against thorn
In tho Madison county district court,
which awarded a verdict of $9,000
against the saloonkeeper and $5,000
against tho surnty company In favor
of Mrs. Mlnnlo Bergman nnd her chil
dren. Mrs. Borgman's husband. Wil
liam Bergman, was killed by a North
western train Juno 14, 1913, while he
was driving from Norfolk to his homo
In tho country His widow filed suit
against sovcral saloonkeepers,