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About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 1913)
Ettftttft rOLTJME XII. J.A GRANDE, UNION COUNTY, OREGON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1913. NUMBER 61 pit Claims Mwmkn TM vVJ ENORMOUS CROP LOSSES CAUSED BY HEAVY FROST: MEiUHf IT 49 BELOW IK FRASER, COLO. FROSTS DO ENORMOUS DAMAGE THRMGdlOUT THE ORANGE BELTS. SMUDGE !FIBES BIG I Situation jn California lias Sot Been So Bud in Historj Reported Dead From Cold In San Francisco Last Night Santa Barbara Lemon Crop Complete Failure Soy Reports Los Angeles, Jan. 7. In many of .' the sections of California the ther i mometer never registered as low as 1 It did lastnlght. The new figures ! are record breakers.' There was no J wind and the frost was. nipping all ; nljht. Practically the entire orange crop of the Corvlnax orchard is de stroyed. This Is said to be one of ' the most valuable orchards in the state. The San Diego lemon districts suffered heavily, and the loss will be enormous. The loss in garden stuffs Is said to be in the neighborhood of a million In this district alone. Sinuu.v fires were kept burning all night. Orchardists Face Ruined Crops Redlands, Jan. 7. Orange growers face absolute ruin of the orange crop. It Is estimated that I more than 90 per cent of the years yield i de stroyed, representing a value of $5, 000,000. Rivertide Loss Complete Riverside. Jan. 7. The reported loss from the frost in this section is $3,000,000. Practically the entire or ange crop is destroyed. Many of the small ranchers are entfrely bank rupted. Santa Barbara Suffers. Santa Barbara, Jan. 7. The cold is unbroken and the lemon crop Is 'en tirely ruined. The damage Is esti mated at $200,000. Froxen to Death In 'Frisco. . San Francisco, Jan. 7 James Clark and A. G. LeFevre were found dead this morning, apparently the result of the cold weather. High winds have, subsided and the cold Is believed to V. 1 1. DMillflttnn. frnffl ttlO ' DC UIUHCII. t iciiu uwiiq weather bureau state another heavy frost Is due In the citrus belt to morrow. Seattle Storms Severe. Seattle, Jan. 7. Crews are work ing day and night to clear snow and dirt from the tracks In the Cascade mountains. Several avalanches have buried the track to such an extent that traffic cannot be resumed until three or four days. The snow Is melt ing and the rivers are swelling. A flood Is expected In the mountain gorges to tear away much of the track and do immeasurable damage. Pomona, Cal.. Jan. 7. Two hun dred thousand smudge fires built last night are believed to have saved the . greater part of the citrus crop In this section. The damage already done will totat $2,000,000. Storm needed for Vancouver. Seattle, Jan. ?. Southwest storm signals were ordered displayed In all seaport of Washington and Oregoa by the federal weather bureau at 7 o'clock this moraine The storm center Is approaching Vancouver Island and Is expected tJ cause southerly falsa. Laws Carry Queer Points LACK OF MONEY EXEMPTS DRINK CHAUFFEUR Drunk Auto Driver, Sentenced, but Escapes Sentence. (New York, Jan. 7. That the. entire lack of money and property may oc casionally prove to be a real advant age even in this city In which the possession of a goodly share ot means Is often reckoned as a most import-' ant requisite was illustrated here In u unique manner this week. This queer state of affairs developed as the result of the arrest of a chauffeur j for driving a car at excessive speed while he was intoxicated, endanger-1 Ing the lives of pearly 100 persons before he was gathered , In by a po - liceman. At his trial he was con- victed and sentenced by the Judge to a year in the pe.iitentiary. The . ; WRECKED chauffeur appealed and won a decl-' slon that the law under which he was $ Wjnd thl8 afternoon did exten convicted does not. authorize a pen- glve aamage to the fair grounds ally of imprisonment but only of a j florai building . and exhibition. flue. "Upon coming before the lower hal, 'The entire "cupoTa, running $ court again he was therefore lined $25, the Judge explaining that this was tile heaviest sentence he could impose and taking occasion to re- mark that he considered the law in question a Joke since it let the of- fender off with a fine of $25. The chauffeur's lawyer Immediately point- i'd cut that his cUent got off with less than that since he did not have $25. Ordinarily a person who has been fined and is unable to pay goes to Jail to work out the fine. In thi case however, a prison sentence could not be inflicted. The man had no money and no property which could ' be attached, so after having been con-1 victed twice and sentenced, once to! Imprisonment and once to a fine, he walked out of court scot free. Now a good many persons are wondering Just what protection they have against the whims of intoxicated auto drivers. t. 6 .0. P. STOCK I FENDING PEACE IN HIGH CIRCLES PROBABLE. j Local Fostofflce Appointment May! Come to Issue This Week. j Appointment ot a postmaster in La . Grande to succeed G. M. RIchey mayj come at any time even this week., Every political weather vane points' to a reconciliation between National Committeeman Williams and Senator Jonathan Bourne, and there Is a much greater possibility of a Republican name being sent to the senate for the' La Grande postofflce, than there was two weeks ago. Assumng that Williams and Bourne are willing to carve the ."pie" one with another, evidence for which statement seems plentiful, it Is only to be supposed that the late friendship pact will re sult In something like brass tacks business. Congressman Lafferty a few days ago made sure the consid eration of Mr. (Richer for the appoint ment by the usual red tape method and It Is now up to President Taft to say the word that either brings Mr. (Continued on Page Eight.) HAS REVIVED GRANDSTAND AND EXHIBIT HALL HARD HIT BY WINDSTORM T INTO Hi WFIS YE AlfS FIRST RAILROAD STRUG GLE WITH 8TOILM fl'f. (TltS TODAY. MERCURY STAYS HIGH HERE . WInd Blowing Over County Today Has Serious Effect In Hills M here Curts Drift Rapidly Snow Flow at Work on West End um ber Six Caught la Mountain Storms l ' j -j, ,j s ,ji 3, 3i j $$$. j fXlR GROUNDS BUILDING IS " Ml lengtb of 'the building, is' j, bown offi an1 the north gable & pn(f fa wrecked A ereatpr nor- tIon of the windows in the cu- poa are broken and blown down j oa the wegt roof anj damage $ nag Deen extensive In other parts j. of tne building. With the roof S j gonef it u no doubt probable $ j that the main structure will be & badly twisted should the pres- 3 ent storm continue. Unverified S j rumor8 received up town this' afternoon tell of damage to oth- . er buildings on the grounds. qqqqqqqqq.qqqqqqq Almost the entire north half of the grand stand roof at the fair grounds wus blown off this afternoon. The wreckage was strewn about tbe big building, which was blown down jusl before the roof was originally put on. In the reconstruction the framework was built so securely It was thought tluit nothing less than a cyclone would wreck It. Danger of grcnter disunite to the roof is apparent. Mountain cuts west of La Grande are being bored this afternoon by n rotary snow plow and Indications point to urgent need of help to traf fic east, especially on Union hill, as the first consequence of the Ysai's initial traffic-blocking snowstorm. On the heels of a cold snap that ssnt the mercury down to waterplpe-frecz-lng figures, a gale swept over East ern Oregon today, leaving disconcert ing effects here. The rotary left, west bound, Engineer Olson, at 11:30 this morning, with drifts between here and Meacbam to contend with. This rotary, however was tbe old No. 60 which has been In use ' for several years. The new rotary which arriv ed a few days ago, is held under full steam ready for emergencies on the east end, It Is not known this after noon if It will be needed if the old one can do both ends sufficient good the new one will remain in the round house until officially accepted. Rail roaders are anxious to see tbe ne one in operation 'for her 90-ton weight and 2-foot cut will afford an Interesting study. She Is one ot the largest rotarles In the world and the power needed to drive her Into the drifts will not be definitely (.titer mined until experience has hid Its lesson. Traffic Is Delayed. . Number ( was delayed today by engine troubles near Umatilla and thereby got Into .the storm ou the Blue mountains, 'she was working herself Into La Grande tnrough great Impediments, . however, and it was considerably after noon before she reached here. Storms iu Wyoming are holding westbound travel In check and schedules have to be Ignored. Trainmen are wondering If today's storm will reach such proportions as last year January tteup did. Big Drift Year Since. It will be one 'year ago tomorrow since the famous drift at Union when a passenger train was stalled in. tbe drifts away from all help of totaries. At that time the storm was unusually severe aud show deep, the weather being a degree or two worse than to day's blow and with more snow to fill with. Trainmen and officials dread the thoughts of a repetition of that drift and storm. Passengers were transposed to sledges and haul ed to Union. "Storms are severe east and weit, but more especially between here vl Macbam. The rotary, however, will be able to keep the tracks clear and traffic In motion unless prolonged and Increased storms are the order and In that event, we will have to do the best we can with traffic." Thermometer Stays up. Locally the weather la not unuBual ly bad, a heavy wind blowing dry snow about and drifting lanes bitdly. but the thermometer is high and no actual suffering Is possible. . The mercury reached 10 above last night and has been In the neighborhood of IS and 20 above during the entire day. Branch Service Late. Because No. 6 was late the Joseph branch was held until afternoon. No. 17 Is due about 8 o'clock tonight and what will happen to night schedules depends on the severity of the moun tain storms. Little trouble 13 anti cipated on the Joseph branch. 9Tf dford Postofflce IRobbed Medford. Ore., Jan. 7. Authorities are endeavoring to locate the burg lars who rifled the postofflce of $6.00 In pennies, and escaped on a hand car lart night. Americans Need Protection. El Paso. Jan. 7. Sixteen American residents of the mining town of Cln- Iguillas. state of Durango, where i three American companies are locat-j ed today demanded protection against ' rebels, from President Madero. It IsJ understood the state department at j Washington will be asked to act. T GET A CURT NOTICE GIVEN UNTIL SATURDAY TO MEET DEMANDS. Mar Will Be Declared Immediately After Tlrtit Date Is Report London, Jan. 7. Balkan envoys have given the Turks until Saturday tlatlons. This was the semi-official announcement made today by one of( the diplomats In the English capltol. It Is tbe prevailing opinion among men who are conversant with the trend of things that the allies will not go to war again, because the! powers are exerting their Influence to prevent another clash. It Is thought they will Interfere before Saturday. I The Turks were exchanging tele-( grams 'with Constantinople during the entire night Vienna reports that the commander of the Turkish forU-j flcations In Adrlanople Is ready to surrender to the allies. - Another re port states that the Greeks drove the' Turks from the fortresses of Janlna. Both of the rumors are unconfirmed OIL STEAMER SPIT. SINKING THREE. THEN TWO, CLING TO RIGGINGS OF SUNKEN SHIP OFF NORTHHEAD AT COLUMBIA'S MOUTH GALE EPS LIFE SAVERS Lines Can't Be Shot Across Pilot Signals That There Is No Hope When Ship Strikes Early This Morning Bodies Washed to Sea and Cannot Ba Recovered for Several Days. Astoria, Jan. 7. Peacock Spit lias claimed an awful death .toll if fears entertained here, at Cape Disappoint ment and Northhcad are true. . The Associated Oil steamer Itosecrans, with a crew of 40 men, Captain L. F. Johnson, sank this forenoon and so far as known none were saved. At 11:55 a special from Northhead point one and one third miles from the scene of the wreck, says two men are clinging to the rigging of the sunken vessel. The Rosecrans struck the spit early this morning and the vessel succumbed to the pounding of the furious sea at 10:30. This much is determined from Cape Disap pointment which is so close that the progress of the wreck could be seen. At that time three men were cling ing to the rigging but iio hope was entertained fpr them. The outcome of the disaster is indefintc, but there is no other conclusion plausible at this time than that the en tire crew have gone down with the ship and their bod ies washed to sea save the three who first sought re fuge in the riggings. It is momentarily expected here that the two survivors it is not known when the third let go his hold have dropped off or been exhausted and washed away. At all points of lookout anxious crowds are watching for bodies. The situation is not brightened by any ray of hope for the crew and officers. Crippled wire service into Portland and outside is an other item that tends to hold back the details. Tele graphic wires between Portland and Eastern Oregon have been crippled most of the afternoon and the same is true between Astoria and Portland. Astoria, January 7. The Rose crans went Into the spit early this morning while trying to nego tiate the Columbia river bar, en route to Portland. She left Monteriy January 3. She wedged herself In tight and the waves were washing over her early In the day. The pres sure on her sides was what the pilot In meagre dispatches deemed the fatal phase of the accident and his early reports were to the effect that none would be saved. The deck works were carried away quickly as the waves washed completely over her. Life Savers Are Foiled. A wind was blowing 60 miles an hour, preventing the life saving crew from Cape Disappointment shooting a line to the vessel. Her doom was early foreseen. ' Carried OH Cariro, Soon after she struck the rigging went down. She carried $18,000 In oil cargo. Portland Get News. Portland, Jan. 7. Local officers o. the Ill-fated Associated Oil steamer have established telephone communi cation with Cape Disappointment but news Is fragmentary on account of the storm raging. The reported ef fort to launch life boats Is uncon Armed. Wreckage Going Seaward. The wreckage Is being washed sea ward, say the reports from Cape DIs' appointment, and the bodies will not be recovered for several days. The sea Is so high that It Is possible for tugs, standing by, to reach the vessel. To make matters worse, the storm Is Increasing adding to the complete Inability of life savers or tugs to alJ la any war. The Rosecrans was built In Glas gow. Scotland. 1M3 and was 3J feet long, 8be was valued ft $100,000. OH I STRIKES WITH 40 MEN AWAY FROM THE WRECK The first mate was Thomas Mull- Ins, Chief Engineer Richard Orundeli, First Assistant Engineer J. McPher son. Second Assistant Engineer Adam The other officers and names of the crew have not been learned. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. Surplus of La Grande National Rank Added to by Ten Thousand. Usual dividends were declared and $10,000 were added to the surplus of the bnnk. by the last monthly meet ing of the present directorate of the La Grande National bank, last even ing. This brings the surplus tip to $130,000 and raises the standing of the bank In the "honor roll," an hon orary distinction confirmed on such banks as raise their surplus t a level with their capital. "As the La Grande National now has $30,000 more In Its surplus than capital stock It brings us well up in the honor roU" declared P. L. Meyers, cashier, this morning. "Reports of optimistic fin ancial situations In all correspondent hanking circles came to tin direc tors last evening," continued Mr. Meyers. The stockholders' meeting will be held a week hence. Hoclin Hears News. Leaven worth. Kas., Jan. 7. Hockln learned today that the other labor Ites will be released on bonds. He asked "What has been done about my release?" He was advised the Inter national onion has taken no action. Hockln had no comments to make. It Is understood that Aactlag Presi dent McClory of the Tronworkres, left enough money to pay expenses of tha laboritM to their
