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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1908)
THE MORNING OREG0XIA FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1903. DENY EXISTENCE EMPTY BUILDING IN 51 SECONDS OF IN MERCHANTS TRUST BUILDING Sixth and WasHingtoi Leading Furniture Dealers Testify Before Council Committee. Fire Drill at Ladd School Shows Perfect Discipline Among 807 Pupils. BEHARRELL TAKES STAND ALL INSTITUTIONS SAFE 10 ,tv V - J :r.-Ssi- -t-i COMBINATION 1 1 K Only Exception Revealed by Inves tigation In W est Side High School, l"here Exit to the Fire Kscape Is Blocked. A an example of what can be done In the way of emptying a large school build ing1 of children by means of a fire drill, Charles M. Kljtgins, principal of the I-add School, and the 24 teachers of his staff, marched the 807 pupils of that Institution Into the street in 54 seconds yesterday ..afternoon. While it Is said that this Is perhaps better than the ordinary show j in- in discipline, it is asserted by those , In authority that excellent conditions as to drills, exits and all safety appliances ' obtain In all of the grammar school ' buildings and In the East Side High School. The only exception to the rule seems to be the West Side High School building, where Investigation revealed a blackboard nailed up over two windows leading to the fire-escape on the Alder street side. The fire drill at the Ladd School yes terday afternoon was a remarkable dem onstration of discipline. Both teachers and pupils were wholly unaware of what was coming, particularly so. because of the fact that the regular drill had oc curred but a few days before. Neverthe less, within 54 seconds from the time Principal Klggins touched the button that rings the electric gong, every person in the building had marched out and was in the street. The conduct of the children was admirable, although some of the lit tle ones at first seemed ' to be somewhat frightened. Their teachers, after march ing them out of. the building, assured them they were out of danger and that all was well. No Warning Is Given. No warning- Is given teachers or pu pils when a Are drill ts to be held, and the rules on this point are said to bo strictly enforced. A squad, composed of the larger boys, is In charge of the opening of doors to the exits, and at the first sound of the gong they spring t6 their posts. Teachers instantly drop their work, pupils fall into line and. without hesitation, all march out. The squads have their standing orders as to exits, each teacher being respon sible for those under her supervision. There is neither drum nor piano by which to msreh. as it is explained that either would cause a slight delay, all , of which, in an emergency, might mean the loss of lives. Books . and wraps are left behind, the purpose being to empty the buildings in the least pos- slhle time. The School Board holds the princi pals responsible for their respective school buildings, and the principals are required to give a fire drill once in every two weeks. They are obliged to report on each drill to the' board, and these reports are on file, showing that in every school building- in the city drills are of common occurrence. All of the doors in all public school buildings In Portland are ordered to be left unlocked during the study hours, and none of the doors opens in ward, ss was the case in the Collln wood disaster, where many children were Incinerated or trampled to death. Have Many Exits. It is the aim of the School Board to march the children away from the fire, should there be any, and because of this, no exits in basements are used for Are drills. In most of the larger school buildings, there are entrances on every side, and at the Ladd school, where the drill was held yesterday afternoon, thero are five exits, two being on the West Park street side. The children marched out four abreast, but. in an emergency, they could easily march six abreast. Fire escapes are not in general use. and are not considered by the school authorities to be desirable, as the ma jority of the pupils are too small to use them, and that method of empty ing a building is slow, it is said. Fire drills, numerous exits, unlocked doors, all opening outward, are regarded as the best means for the prevention of panics. While the public school buildings are nesrly all frame structures, the School Board regards them as safe. The members of the board, as well as t'lty Superintendent Rlgler and Fire Thief Campbell, declared yesterday that atl of the buildings are in g-ood condition. The one exception, so far disclosed by Investigation. Is the West Side High School, with respect to the Alder street fire escape. Superintendent Rlgler Talks. "I think everything is all right in all of our school buildings with regard to fires." said Superintendent Rigler. "f think there Is no cause whatever for apprehension. All of the rules and regulations pertaining to drills, un locked doors and exits are strictly en forced. Prills are held every fortnight, and we have a record of reports filed by the various principals. All exits are used in drills." "I make an annual Inspection of school buildings." said Chief Campbell, of the Fire Department. "The 1908 In spection is about due, hut as feel that an inspection at this time would create unrest and fear amonsr the pupils and parents. I will not Investigate Just now. I have reason to believe every thing Is sll right. When the last In spection was made, we found things in good condition. We made some rec ommendations, all of which are now In force It takes three weeks to inspect t all the school buildings. Since the Colllnwood holocaust, the principals and teachers of Portland schools have been besieged by parents for Information as to the condition of the local school buildings, and fire drills have been held in most of the schools. HKMAVO SAFE SCHOOLHOVSES Prevent Repetition of North Collin wood, O., Fire Calamity. PORTLAND, March 5. (To the Edttor.1 The North Colllnwood, O., school house horror, where a great many children have been burned to death, should aroui Portland to take all available precautions snlnst repetition of a similar disaster li.-re. Out of Son children, less than SO escaped unhurt. Noglipenee alone can not account for this. Those children were confined by some action arbitrary and criminal. Some malignant malefactor seeking the destruction of 300 children could hardly hope to succeed so well. Immediate steps should be taken In all schoolhouses wheresoever located to see. that all doors open outwards and are at all limes unlocked, with hall doors pre ferably open and so secured. Every exit door should be supplied with an ax Inside and out, and every room more than ten feet from the ground with a coil of rope ladder adjusted and in place. Schoolhouses should be as near fire proof as possible. There should be si shorter school course if necessary to pro vide Increase of cost. This question has been tip and opposed by School Director Wittenberg. So public spirited a citizen as Mr. Wittenberg, I hope, will be suffi ciently impressed by this object-lesson to reconsider his conclusions. Children are compelled to go to school. They should iiot be compelled to live in huge overcrowded firetraps. J. B. ZIBGLER. BLAGKBOAGD BLOCKS EXIT CONDITION AT WEST SIDE HIGH ' SCHOOL- BAD. . J Building Lacks Fireplugs, Hose am Extinguishers Board Will Inves tigate Various Omissions. Investigation of conditions existing in the Portland public school buildings, relative to safety devices for use in case of Are, yesterday, led to the discovery that the West Portland High School building needs prompt attention at the hands of the authorities. It has no fire plugs, no hose or extinguishers and the exit to a fire-escape from the assembly room, on the third floor, is blocked by a big blackboard, which Is nailed across two windows. So far as discovered, conditions at the West Side High School building are the worst existing in the Portland schools. Principal T. T. Davis, however, declares that, ip his opinion, the fire escape fea ture is not very serious, as, he says, there are sufficient .exits to make it an easy matter to clear 'the building. He also says there is access to the fire es cape through another room, which could be used in case all other exits were cut off. Just why the large blackboard was put up to block the exit to the fire escape, is not known. Principal Davis could not tell; neither could Suprintendent Rigler. It has been that way ever since school work was done in the assembly-room, some time ago. This will undoubtedly be a matter for the consideration of the School Board, which is scheduled to meet next Monday afternoon. After hearing from his daughter of the conditions existing at the 'West Side High School. H. D. Wagnon, a well-known Portland citiien, yesterday made the fol lowing statement: As I rad the headlines announcing that 200 prhool children had been roasted alive, as an offering to the rods of icreed and ignor ance on in part of the school officials o"? Ohio. I learned from my daughter that she mas seated, with 20 other high school pupils. In a room that has "Fire Escape" painted on the door, and that the window leading to the fire escape b boarded up by the blackboard, making this room, on the third floor, a highly efficient roaster, where we may be called on any day to offer up some of our boys and girls as burnt offerings to the crlmtaal stu pidity and Indifference of the School Board and other city oflcials who should see to It that such things are not allowed In a school room. I found thst the fire escape windows in the assembly-room were blocked up by seats so that they, too, would be uele9s In case of fire. In fact, this whole building Is a death trap of the worst kind, and shoujd be closed, as a school, at once and forever: and I belt ere that Thief Campbell should be ordered to burn It down, mm It would be much better to have It burn when empty than to let It burn when full of children. If the School Board docs not act in this matter, resignation will be In order- If not resignation, we will try the recall after July 1. School house poors Locked. PORTLAND, Or March 5. (To the Editor.) The Oregonian's comments on the recent frightful disaster near Cleve land are timely, and the practice which you suggest should be adopted: out, while the School Board is considering the question of fire drills. It would be well also to Investigate the matter of locking the schooihouse doors. A re liable man, whose duties require him to visit the schools frequently, informs me that it is a common occurrence to find some of the doors locked. The Ladd, Holman and Sunnyslde schools have been recent offenders in this re gard. Probably this is done by the janitor without the knowledge of the teachers, but this only makes it worse. If the teachers In the Colllnwood school had known that the way was barred, they might have taken the children to some other exit in safety. J. P. NEWELL Read Sharkey'a Sunday ad. SCHOOL, CHILDREN MARCHING OCT OF THE LADD SCHOOL, FOUR ABREAST, UIHISG THREE THOUSAND ATTEKB I'CXKRAIi OF JIEXRY SHAFFER ATTRACTS GREAT CROWD. lAne of Marchers Following Casket to Grave Nearly Three Miles Long. Three thousand people attended the funeral services over the body of Henry i ifur1 -71 t cXSTJ7V: ?' ' I I MISS DOWNS' ROOM, THIRD FLOOR. WEST SIDE HIGH SCHOOL, SHOWING HOW BLACKBOARD BLOCKS WAY TO FIRE ESCAPE JVST OUTSIDE TWO WINDOWS IN PICT t HE. Shaffer, victim of Patrolman Suitter's re volver, yesterday afternoon. Tue Shaffer V . i I K, VaT1 &'' J v , v . ' .Fi . I W ft 7 ' - " ' 1 ' ''"'1 U Is1 Vs' ' : home and yard was packed by people and hundreds' stood out in the street. The funeral was held under the aus pices of the Longshoremen's Union and fully 600 men, wearing- the union insignia, fell In line as a funeral escort when the long trip to the cemetery was taken up. From the family residence, at 334 Fail ing street, to Morrison and Srona streets is a march of nearly three miles, but the entire route was covered by the marchers. An hour and a half was required for the march, the cortege crossinj? the Steel bridge and proceeding up Third to Mor rison,' thence east to Second, where street cars" were taken for the Rose City ceme tery, where interment occurred. The services at the home were con ducted by Rev. Mr. Krauffe, of the Ger man Lutheran Church. No reference was made to the manner of Shaffer's death. Only a few dozen people were able to get inside the small house, but. the im A : V - Kit i Ki.4V- 1FTEB THE DRILL, AT THE . . . aw.-. . i' wnvueojo joroc w. . . . y.- ... v. .v. .Av.v.-.v.-.- 7, .x-' v- . . ' v. . FIRB URILI., mense throng of people, nearly all Ge: mans, waited respectfully outside until the close. The funeral cortege was headed by De Caprio's band and -covered naif a dozen blocks, the-marchers being arranged in column of two. The hearse and a car riage with Mrs. Shaffer and several close friends, brought up the procession. TEAM FOR EAST SIDE Business Men May Back Trl-City League Nine. H. K. Smith, secretary of the Tri-Clty Baseball League, submitted a proposal last night to the East Side Business Men's Club that the club supply uniforms for the baseball team of the East Side, the uniforms to be suitably lettered. The proposal was received with favor, and on motion of Dan Kellaher. W. M. Jackson, H. K. Smith and H. H. Pomroy, were authorized to wait on the business men of the East Side and Interested property- owners and ask contributions for the pur chase of the uniforms. O. El. Helntz and George Dilworth were appointed to investigate the proposition submitted b,y Mis Griffith to conduct a stock company theater if a suitable building near East Morrison street can be secured. Miss Griffith said that it was the Intention to establish a first-class stock theater and offer good plays. The committee is to confer with property owners and endeavor to induce them to erect a suitable building. In the matter of Grand avenue and East Morrison street the club decided to demand that Improvement work be expedited. Secretary Jackson was in structed to write the management of the Portland Railway, Light & Power Com pany to ascertain when the company in tends to put in the permanent tracks at the intersection of Grand avenue and East Morrison street. This action was taken In order to have these streets ready for the Rose Festival automobile parade. ' Secretary Jackson was instructed to ac quaint the several push clubs with the S50 offer the East Side Business Men's Club Is making for the best floral arcn on the route of the parade, and to ask what action they will take. He will visit the clubs In company with a rep resentative of the Rose Festival Associa tion. 1 I, ADD SCHOOL WIS OVER, Frankly Declare That His Faith in Honesty of Counoilmen Generally Is Limited Has Xo Apology to Offer for Statements. Xo "trust" greement or combination, tentative or otherwise, exists in the wholesale or retail furniture trade In Portland, according to W. H. Beharrell and William Gadsby, two of the moat widely-known furniture men of the city, who so testified yesterday morning before the special investigating committee of the City Council. Mr. Beharrell is manager for the Hfywood Brothers 4b Wakefield Company, wholesalers, and Mr. Gadsby is at the head of the retail firm of William GAdsby & Sons. While there were slight discrepancies in the state ments of the two witnesses, both being examined much as if before a grand Jury, with all other witnesses excluded, each made a clear-cut declaration under oath that there ts no arrangement of any sort at the present time whereby prices are maintained or independent firms boy cotted. Incidentally. Mr. Beharrell told what he thought of the City Council. Without mincing matters he informed Chairman Vaughn that, judging from the published report of the proceedings of the Council, from the last annual message of Mayor Lane and from general reputation, that body is considered open to graft charges; that the Councilmen had called each other liars and grafters, and had gener ally conducted themselves in a ridicu lous manner at their sessions. Proceedings 'Are Dlfgiisting. "The newspapers have been full of re ports of most dlagusting performances in the Council," said Mr. Beharrell, when aaked to explain what he meant in a recently published letter in which he said he thought the Councilmen were inflicted by a disease known as "itching palm." "The newspapers have quoted certain members of the Councilmen as calling each other liars and grafters, and if you call each other those names, how can you expect the public to think that you are not what you call each other?" he said: "Furthermore, the Mayor, in his last message, .charged that Councilmen ac cepted free passes fro.m the streetcar company. If you will do that. I thought you might take something else." Mr. Beharrell acknowledged. very frankly, that he had no specific charge of "graft" to make against any Councilman, or other city official, but had formed the opinion from various sources, he said, that the Councilmen were a band of graft ers. He said he would not apologize for his statement in The Sunday Oregonian, but prefaced his remarks by stating that the "itching palm" paragraph "perhaps was ill-advised." Assistant City Attorney Grant. Chair man Vaughn and Councilman Baker, Mr. Baker being present as a spectator, took Vart In examining Mr. Beharrell, but the latter proved himself to be an excellent witness, and not once did he become con fused. Admits One Charge. Getting down to the furniture business, Mr. Beharrell scored the Council for or dering an Investigation of what has been termed "a trust." 'He declared that, not since "the Federal indictment, last Sum mer, has there been any semblance of a combine in the trade here. He admitted that he would not sell goods to the In dependent Furniture Company, or to the auction-houses and so-called mail-order firms. This, he said, was because he was in duty bound to protect the interests of dealers 4n the city and in the interior. He eald, for instance, that he would not sell to the Independent concern because it was located just across the street from the store of William Gadsby & Sons, the latter being -heavy purchasers of goods from the establish ment of which Mr. Beharrell is manager. Mr. Beharrell expressed great displeas ure at the action of the Council in calling an Investigation for the furniture trade, and in making it public through the press. Mr. Grant thereupon explained that the So. - Best Location . in City Modern Equipment Throughout FOR ROOMS APPLY TO MERCHANTS SAVINGS 8 TRUST COMPANY 247 WASHINGTON ST. city charter makes all committee ses sions public. Mr. Gadsbv followed Mr. Beharrell, and corroborated" the latter In every detail, except where Mr. Beharrell said that he could not sell to the Independent Furni ture Company because If he did Mr. Gadsby would resent it. being an Im mediate competitor and wishing goods of an exclusive line on his floors. Mr. Gadsby said he would have no objection to the sale of goods to the Independent people. DR. SILAS C. SWALLOW ILL Prominent Prohibition Worker Has Typhoid Pneumonia. '1 HARRISBl'RG, March 6. Bev. Dr.- j Silas C. Swallow, of this city. Prohibi tion candidate for President In 1904, is seriously ill with typhoid pneu monia. Dr. Swallow is editor of the Penn sylvania Methodist, and has been ac tive for years In reform work. In 1897 he published an expose of politi cians, for which he was tried and ac quitted. Running on the Prohibition ticket, he received 11 8. 000 votes for treasurer in 1897. and 182,000 votes for Governor in 189S. He was again a candidate for Governor in 1902. and Prohibition nominee for the Presi dency in 1904. Olympia Beer. "It's the water." Brew- , ery's own bo tt line. Phones. Main 671. A 2467. - - .- Metzger. Jeweler, optician, lit Wash. Read Bharkey's Sunday ad. NEW YORK DENTISTS 4TVkaTD.BoTo9' CHALLENGE THE WORLD No charge for Painless KxtimctloB when other work l ordored. Wo wero the first and only Eastern Specialists to advertise and do first-class dent istry absolutely without pain at mod crate prices. We have always associated with OS the world's most Famous Dental Experts. Do not be misled by unscrupulous advertisers who resort to scare-beau advertisements to entice the unwary to their offices. Pay no fancy fees until you liave consulted us. Our continued success Is due to the uniformly Dish-grade work done by gentlemanly operators. Ws make a perfect set of teeth for I5.no. When they are mads by the DENTISTS They are guaranteed with a pro tective guarantee for 10 years. Gold Filling Silver Filllnas -J Sold Crowns, Stk 5.00 Bridge Work, S2k B.00 We ars making a specialty of Porcelain Bridge Work. Largest and best equipped dental establishment in the world. DR A. C. FROOM, PROPRIETOR. Hours 8:30 A. M. to B P- M. "QUEZAL" GLASS VASES A XEW IMPORTATION OPENED THIS WEEK. A ftuprem achievement of fh European artificer skilled in the product of rare glaBaware. The "Quesal U eald by con nolsseura to rival In delicate pria m&tic colorings and exquisite modeling the famous Tiffany glass. The vases shown this week pre sent a fascinating pJay of opales cent colorings peculiar only to the transparent beauty of tha "Queza.1" product. A large display of unique shape and patterns. Price Range. f2.M to fU.Ot. Bailey 8 Company Vjjg WasKinfitoii St. J