COLLAPSE OF AIRSHIP, CONGRESS, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, AND LOCAL NEWS

 

Santos Dumont's airship #6 above the Seine.

Alberto Santos-Dumont.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, Feb. 15, 1902.

COLLAPSE OF AIRSHIP.

Santos-Dumont Met With Disaster At Monaco.

AIRSHIP A TATTERED WRECK.

Aeronaut Had a Narrow Escape—Motor Lies at the Bottom of the Bay. Ballast Shifted and Oil Used to Run Motor Spread—Rescued From Water.

   Monaco, Feb. 15.—Santos-Dumont, the aeronaut, met with a disaster here and himself had a narrow escape from death. His airship is a tattered wreck, while his motor lies at the bottom of the bay of Monaco.

   At the time of the ascent a number of steam yachts and launches, including the Prince of Monaco's yacht, Prince Alice, were cruising about the bay with the intention of following the balloon. Cheers greeted Santos-Dumont as his airship rose.

   It was soon noticed, however, that instead of maintaining its usual equilibrium, the balloon rose and pitched in a way that created considerable anxiety among the spectators. The aeronaut, however, continued his flight and continued to ascend until the long guide rope was 20 feet out of the water. In turning the balloon the guide rope caught in the screw and this with the erratic working of the airship, created a situation of great danger. At the same time a squall arose and Santos-Dumont tilted the head of his balloon upward in order to disengage the guide rope but in so doing the ballast shifted and the oil used to run the motor began to spread. Fearing an explosion, the inventor pulled the emergency cord. This ripped the envelope of the balloon which at once began rapidly to descend.

   In the meanwhile the steam launches in the bay were making toward the spot where it was supposed the balloon would fall. The first to approach was the Princess Alice. Those on board seized the balloon's guide rope, which had became disentangled. The balloon which was then almost in the sea rose slowly for a few moments. But the motor stopped again and the airship descended a second time until Santos-Dumont was immersed up to his armpits in the water. The end of the balloon burst and the Prince of Monaco, who was on board the launch, then rescued Santos-Dumont from his perilous position.

 

Charles K. Wheeler.

IN CONGRESS.

Sensational Speech by Mr. Wheeler. Talk on Salaries.

   Washington, Feb. 15.—The monotony of a private pension day of the house was enlivened by a very sensational speech by Mr. Wheeler of Kentucky in denunciation of what he denominated "flunkeyism" to foreign countries. He took the recent statements emanating from Continental cabinets regarding the attitude of Great Britain during the Spanish war as a text for a wholesale attack upon the trend of our recent diplomacy. He severely scored Secretary Hay and declared that if Lord Pauncefote had sought, as was alleged, to circumvent us during the war of 1898, the sooner he was shipped across the seas the better. He also criticized the president for his reported intention to send his daughter to the coronation of King Edward and protested against the official reception of Prince Henry.

 

In the Senate.

   Washington, Feb. 15—A little flurry was created in the senate yesterday over the employment since the beginning of the session of a score or more of extra clerks and messengers to committees. The charges of extravagance made the reference of the whole subject of clerical employment to a committee for investigation and report.

   The bill creating a permanent census office was under consideration for a time but was not disposed of finally. After the passage of a large number of private pension bills the senate eulogized the life and character of the late Representative Brosius of Pennsylvania.

   The bill to provide for a permanent census office was taken up at the instance of Mr. Quarles, chairman of the committee on census.

   Mr. Allison, chairman of the committee on appropriations, made an argument against the committee amendment increasing the salary of the director of the census from $5,000 to $7,500 per annum. He pointed out that the proposed salary was greater than that paid any official in Washington below the rank of a cabinet officer.

  Mr. Quarles made a vigorous defense of the amendment and in response to an inquiry by Mr. Hawley said he did not think congress ought to impose such a humiliation upon the director of the census as congress imposed upon its members—the acceptance of a salary entirely inadequate to the services performed.

   Mr. Allison moved to make the director's salary $6,000 instead of $7,500—rejected 15 to 32. The committee amendment was adopted.

   At 3 o'clock under special order the senate began consideration of private pension bills. In 55 minutes the calendar was cleared of pension bills, 127 being passed.

 

Booker T. Washington.

OBJECT TO COLORED ORATOR.

Turmoil In Nebraska University Over Booker Washington.

   Lincoln, Neb. Feb. 15.—The selection of Booker T. Washington as commencement orator at the Nebraska state university next June has created considerable ill-feeling and may result in either the withdrawal of the invitation or of half a dozen or more members of the senior class from college.

   The objectors are all Southern young men who look upon the extending of the honor to a negro as an insult to them. A class meeting to discuss the matter has been called and five of the seniors have served notice on the class president that the invitation to Washington must be withdrawn or they will refuse to appear at the graduating exercises, even though they forfeit their diplomas.

   The majority of the class are firm in their declination to inflict such a discourtesy upon Mr. Washington as would be involved in the proposed alternative. Chancellor Andrews said that he had extended the invitation under instructions from the senior class, which had agreed on this by a majority vote.

 

A VALENTINE PARTY

Held at Parlors of the Cortland Business Institute.

   Mrs. A. U. Klotten and Miss J. M. Loveland gave a valentine party at the parlors of the Cortland Business institute last evening, and a very pleasant social season was enjoyed. The rooms were tastily decorated with white and red bunting and white and red hearts. Four tables of progressive pedro was played and first prizes were won by Miss Mabie and Mr. William Van Cleet, while the consolation prizes were awarded to Miss Ora Seward and Mr. Clyde Stone. Refreshments were served and the evening was pleasantly spent.

   The members of the party were: Mrs. A. U. Klotten and Misses J. M. Loveland, Bessie Mabie, Ora Seward, Bessie Benson, Elsie Gilbert and Miss Raber and Messrs. A. T. Weiss, A. R. Klotten, Neil Price, John Betts, William Van Cleet, Clyde Stone, Ralph Wright and Mr. Georgia.

 

BREVITIES.

   —About thirty couples of Normal students enjoyed a dancing party at Red Men's hall last evening. Kane's orchestra furnished music.

   —Mr. Jack Smith, 133 Clinton-ave., who was taken violently insane on Feb. 7, was removed to the state hospital at Binghamton this morning.

   —At the Science club meeting this evening Mr. Wm. H. Clark will speak on the subject, "Christian Science." Dr. G. H. Smith will review the paper of Dr. F. D. Reese.

   —A telegram has been received in Cortland of the death at Eau Claire, Wis., of Rev. Henry M. Grant, who was the husband of the sister of the late Mrs. H. F. Benton. The remains are expected in Cortland tomorrow for burial. No particulars whatever are known.

   There are all kinds of valentines in these days and every recipient is pleased, but Mr. and Mrs. Edgar L. Hopper of Mt. Vernon, N. Y., formerly of Cortland, believe they have the best one of all and are simply delighted. She weighs 8 pounds and has become a permanent fixture in their family—a second daughter.