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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 26, 1912
Page
1
The Decatur postoffice reports holiday receipts the largest in office history, at least 60 percent higher than last year. A single high day reached 127 dollars, compared with 63 dollars the prior year, with Postmaster Mogeley noting strong business.
Washington December 26 The commander of the U S 8 Birmingham reported that firing five inch shells at an iceberg caused little damage beyond holes. The Birmingham and Chester patrols in the Titanic disaster area said only a regional patrol could ensure safety and there is no other safeguard.
United Press reports Willie Gee rode a coconut tree to sea aboard the British freighter Foxton Hall. Storm damage left him clinging to the tree for three days until Captain Parker’s ship, the Whip, spotted and rescued him. He wore only a shirt and carried a garbled memory of the hurricane.
London December 26 Sir Fredrick Penson private secretary to King George said the king had a slight chill yesterday but is not ill today. The rumor of a serious illness was denied.
United Press reports that the Navy confines sailors as determiners for minor offenses and desertion instead of prison. The program keeps disciplined men in the service, allowing some to rejoin the fleet rather than be discharged as disgraced offenders.
President Taft departs in the afternoon for engagements with the University Club. The schedule includes exams of canal issues and related discussions ahead of a formal reception.
President Taft finished a canal inspection and will sail home on the Arkansas. He noted the dynamite blast aimed at a bridge occurred after his party passed and called it likely an accident. Panama's Porras protests and orders an investigation while Secret Service watches for suspicious characters.
William Jennings Bryan warns in the Commoner editorial that reactionary Democrats in the senate and house plan to seize key committee seats. He says the party faces a struggle over assignments driven by personal ambition, not public interests, and urges power be treated as the people’s.
Owners of soft drink stands in the Decatures and Morgan county have 24 hours to pack fixtures and move them out or face seizure and destruction or storage. Judge Thos Wert issued the order after a prolonged legal fight with enjoined dealers and fines. Sheriff McCollouch and deputies destroyed plate glass mirrors and moved fixtures to the courthouse yard before burning them. Ernest Carriger was enjoined for not appearing, triggering seizure. Many dealers have already begun packing and some seek new locations.
The Decatur Daily will host its guests tonight at the Masonic Theatre to witness Adelaide Thurston in The Love Affair. Thurston is praised as a charming actress with a strong supporting company, and the production is billed as well worth seeing.
El Paso reports General Blanco with 5600 federal troops defeated Balazer’s rebels at Rulos. Twelve rebels killed and wounded. no federal losses reported.
Prof. J. C. Tidwell was appointed County Superintendent of Education of Morgan County today by State Superintendent H. J. Willingham. Tidwell is described as well qualified and expected to serve with credit to himself and the state.
Washington December 26 The Interstate Commerce Commission suspended the proposed carload lumber rate raise from Tennessee and Mississippi points to destinations north of the Ohio River and Canada. The higher rates were set to take effect June 15.
Dr M W Hillis a veterinary surgeon and long time Decaturs resident died at his Fifth Avenue West home after illness. He was 68 and will be buried in Indiana. He left a wife and a son Culver Hillis a railroad mail clerk between Nashville and Montgomery.
Jackson Calvin, the 10 year old son of J A Calvin president of Tenertee Valley Printing Company, visited the Decaturs Daily office. He reviewed the editorial and mechanical departments and showed great interest in the Mactype machine and the Duplex press. He expressed himself well pleased with the equipment and his visit highlighted the paper's ownership by the Tenertee Valley Printing Company.
Detroit December 26 government sues Kellogg Corn Flake Company and executives Will Kellogg Wilford Kellogg and Andrew Moss under the Sherman act alleging manufacturers fix retail prices through copyright packaging to compel retailers to sell at set prices or face patent infringement claims.
Sheriff McCullouch and Deputy H H Wright raided a Bismark bar with writs of search and seizure and confiscated several half pints of whiskey. Deputy L L McCollouch then raided a Second avenue place, seizing a five gallon jug of whiskey after forcing entry. Proprieties face fines of 50 dollars and five days in jail.
Montgomery and other Alabama municipalities face loss of telegraph license taxes after a Monday Supreme Court ruling, per Associated Press dispatch. Attorneys Rushton and Williams caution details are pending but deem the decision potentially sweeping across cities counties and states.
Marvin Rankin, posing as Santa at J. W Murphree s home on Flint road, nearly burned as a candle lit beard caught fire. He managed to extinguish the flames on his robe with cotton trim, escaping with singed hair and eyebrows but no injuries.
Princeton December 26 Governor Wilson restrained by doctors at home with fever and cold symptoms. He planned to travel to Staunton Virginia tomorrow but only allowed essential visitors as physicians monitor his condition. Dr Carman reported the governor improved by noon.
Paris reports a new sport where fish detect sounds from a river bank detonator via a telephone receiver. An inventor patents the device and uses a mute button to trigger detonations, surfacing fish for collection.
In full regalia, the Knight Templars assembled on Johnson Street yesterday at 10:30 a.m. and observed Christmas exercises.
Washington December 26 In a playful moment in the Senate Senators crowded Ben Tillman of South Carolina who has been in ill health and joked about indicting his colleagues for conspiracy. Tillman quipped You’re all in this bluff to make me believe I’m getting well.
Washington observes noon as the official time of the United States. The little wooden ball atop the State War and Navy Buildings drops at exactly twelve, guiding ships at sea and thousands of clocks nationwide through Arlington radio and telegraph signals from the naval observatory.
Indianapolis December 26 Judge Anderson will instruct the jury to return guilty verdicts against the forty defendants in the dynamiting conspiracy cases. The charge may be given tonight after District Attorney Miller's argument, which ends at six o'clock.
New York reports that Collector Loeb of the Port of New York will resign and that Street Commissioner Big Bird Wards is expected to be appointed to the post. Edwards is described as a close friend of the President-elect and supported Wilson during the recent campaign.
At TaylordVille on December 26 John Belder shot into a wedding party wounding Mrs. Fisher and his brother-in-law. Belder and a guest remain in precarious condition as police sort details.
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