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Newspaper
Topeka State Journal
Location
Topeka, Kansas, United States of America
Date
Dec 25, 1901
Page
1
The First Presbyterian, First Congregational, and Grace Cathedral hosted Christmas services with youth choirs, candy distributions, and festive pageantry. Volunteers from local churches and Sunday schools aided in gifts, hay, and meals for families, while Santa Claus visits and midnight services highlighted the season.
A Shawnee County audience watched Santa Claus arrive through a chimney as the Congregational church held Christmas exercises lasting about an hour. The scene featured a decorated tree, gifts, a Sunday school program, and a piano solo while the crowd enjoyed a festive, slightly unconventional departure from tradition. References to other church visits and the omnipotent Santa echoed across the night.
In Mattoon, December, the Southwestern United passenger train driven by Engineer William White struck a herd of cattle on the track at high speed. The engine and rear coach were severely damaged as splattered blood marked the scene. The engine was repaired in the city afterward.
The Pittsburgh district faces its worst car shortage yet with many mills shut or limited to partial operation. Mills along the Allegheny valley road including Carnegie City plants halt production and Hornstead and Duquesne plants may not restart for a week or more during the holidays. Some suppliers have stockpiled materials with no immediate removal and work in the refining sector is halted due to lack of raw materials.
Reported battles near Bohol and Batangas show insurgent chiefs including Gen. Samson surrendering to American forces. A detachment of the Twenty‑first Infantry under Lieut. Conky clashed with Insurgents in Batangas, one American private wounded. In Laguna a large Filipino company captured, and a colonial sweep by Col. Dougherty’s column advanced through Limapatoy killing and burning. Also noted is a Chicago record in diving under water for nine hours by Capt L Louis Surcho at the Coliseum.
Washington reports Secretary Long discharged Edgar Stanton Maclay, a Brooklyn Navy Yard laborer and naval history writer, after Maclay refused to resign and accused Secretary Long of bypassing civil service rules. The president directed the removal following a conference with Long. Maclay appealed for a formal civil service ruling.
In Topeka, Elizabeth Holliday and Eugene Hagan coordinate holiday giving. Holliday, under 18, spent $5 yearly to aid clothing and food for needy families, observing several children and reporting back to Hagan. The effort expanded to provide outfits, shoes, and warmth for multiple families, with grateful mothers sending tokens of thanks and a lesson in prudent charity.
Lincoln J. Carter announces The Elventh Hour at Crawford with Charl es A Gardner and Henry Warford in Shakespearean and modern works. The program includes The Taming of the Shrew with Hanford, noted as a peak in his career, plus supporting plays and a Friday Friday night showing by Helen Grantly and Melbourne MacDowell. Gypsum industry shakeup: United States Gypsum Company to consolidate leading gypsum firms to boost production.
A Kansas man Charla Kerfess escaped Ellis County Jail with a woman named Maggie Blick and fled toward Minnesota. Sheriff Mayer fired as Kerfess fled, the pair split. Blick later found in Sugar City. Minnesota authorities hold Kerfess on multiple requisitions from Kansas, while Blick faces uncertain charges.
The Market street railway system has effectively changed hands as a Baltimore syndicate paid the first installment of the purchase price. Purchasers plan extensive improvements to lines linking the system across San Francisco’s main streets.
Boston officials report H. B. Freeman of Portland Oregon won the 25 mile open professional bike race on the Purifware track last night. Os W. F. Rutz of New Haven placed second while Paris Memphis Tennessee and Nat Butler of Cambridge also competed.
A Topeka donor scene records hats bought for a dollar each and a Christmas donation from The Fike to the poor, slightly over FL50, with half to the Salvation Army and half to Police Matron Thorpe. The Elks' larger contribution follows last year's $50 and a meeting with Mayor Hughes and others yields a boost to over $150.
Washington officials reject sending high ranking Americans to the London coronation of King Edward VII. General Miles Admiral Dewey and Whitelaw Reid are not going. A Ke ar targe will replace the Olympia, with congress considering a formal U S attendance committee to travel to the event three weeks ahead of the ceremony.
A stern wheeler the Sun burned to the water's edge at the Memphis wharf at 6 o clock today after arriving from Fulton with Azteca passengers asleep aboard. Three identified victims include Jost D M Rainey and wife of 614 River Tenn and Mrs G M Tims of Richardson Landing Ark. a three months old child is missing. Fire started in seed cotton on the boiler deck, likely from the furnace. Value placed at 11000 with about half insured. cargo totally destroyed.
Des Moines, Dec 25. Governor Seanle M Shaw was seen departing a train after arriving from Dubuque. He stated he has not been formally offered the treasury secretaryship by the president but would accept if such a tender were made, and he will consider the matter further without delay.
To represent Topeka Leavenworth and Dec 37 cockfighting event in Leavenworth features an interstate match among Topeka Springfield Fordland Mo and other towns. Weighing 4 10 to 6 4 the birds prepare to face off for a $50 purse as fans from Hiawatha Chicago and Wichita watch.
Railroad officials announce appointments at Louis. Frank D. Gilkerson becomes assistant general passenger agent for Baltimore Southwestern, effective January 21. The move shifts responsibilities for passenger operations from St. Louis to the company’s main offices.
A concise note states rights advocates oppose federal power to carry out treaties, arguing the government should limit treaty-making authority to protect state sovereignty and reduce federal overreach.
In a lengthy discussion in the Italian senate, diplomats debated the treatment of Italian subjects in the United States and the possibility of a federal remedy. Baron Fava questioned progress on protecting Italians under treaties, while Italian officials stressed that federal guarantees are needed to secure protection equal to that given to American citizens.
A large fire near Shreveport destroyed a furniture establishment owned by Jacket Broa, causing about 100,000 in stock losses and 15,000 in business losses. The blaze prompted building reform talks and fire apparatus agitation while insurers withdrew funding amid ongoing investigations.
A garbled report describes a Christmas present theft where a man received a 5 unit gift plus jewelry and a watch. Witness J. WW stated an incident occurred at night with a purse and possible injuries. The fragmentary text mentions an unlocked item and a suspect or suspect actions, but details are unclear.
Sewell rallied to victory yesterday as a medical tie break fell through. Physicians reported a steady improvement and a comfortable condition for the patient.
Rochester shows a chaotic report with unclear text about machine factory activities and an incident involving three men felting. Officials estimate figures at an event. The fragment mentions Graham and local industry in Rochester with limited readable details.
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