THE MORNING OBEGONIAN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1902.
MIGE START BIG FIRE
Sherlock Building Was Badly
Damaged Yesterday.
FIREMEN RESCUE DAZED HAH
Blase Eats Its Way Into Many Rooms
and Is Subdued Only After Peril
ous Fight of Fire Honrs
Duration.
Mice nibbling at matches accidentally
left, among waste paper In the janitor's
room started a 513,650 Are at the Sherlock
building, southwest corner of Third and
!Oak streets, yesterday morning at 5:20
. o'clock, and it was only after more than
Ave hours' desperate work that the fire
men were able to save the building. The
loss la mostly covered by Insurance.
Thomas Slndtt, a fireman belonging to
Hose Company No. 1, was burned on both
hands. At one period, six firemen were
cUt off by smoke and flame, and they were
rescued In the nick of time by the arrival
of comrades. But the most thrilling incl
dent of all was the daring rescue from a
flfth-story window of Alexander Chalmers
by Fireman William R. Castleman, of
Truck Company No. 2, and Fireman
Charles Menzles, of Truck Company No. 1.
The only occupant of the building when
the fire was discovered was Alexander
Chalmers, who Is a son of W. L. Chalmers,
the Insurance adjuster. Chalmers was
busy at his books, finishing up business
matters for the end of the year, and he
had been so much rushed the previous day
that he sat up all night to complete hie
task. Suddenly he smelled smoke In the
room he occupied, In the northwestern part
of the building, and on going out Into the
corridor he was surprised to find smoke
pouring up the stairway and elevator.
Thought It Was Burglars.
At the same time he heard the sound
caused by the breaking of window glass
In different parts of the building, and,
3azed by the smoke, he telephoned to Po
lice Captain Holman that he thought there
were burglars In the place. Patrol Driver
Johnson was told to see what was the
matter, and, taking his trusty revolver, he
started out, only to see that smoke was
floating from windows of the Sherlock
building. Dismissing all thought of bur
glars from his mind, Johnson ran to the
Are station of Hose Company No. 1, near
tho police station, and pressed a button
calling a ' still alarm."
The firemen awoke from their slumbers
at the sound of the gong. and. slipping
into their clothes, they came down, the
eliding pole on the run.
"Fire In the Sherlock building," yelled
Johnson, and away the horses raced. By
this time the fire had gathered In volume.
and, sizing up the situation, Police Captain
Holman sent in a regular alarm from box
No. 14, Second and Oak streets. The fire
boys from Hose and Chemical No. 1 were
already at work, and found that the blaze
was fiercely burning in Janitor Theodore
Thlel's waste paper room, on the third
floor, near the elevator. They went to
work with their chemical line, and poured
the fluid over the burning paper and wood.
Thick columns of smoke poured over them.
and it became difficult to breathe. To add
to their difficulties, their supply of chem
ical fluid ran out, and they had nothing
left with which to fight the Are.
Escape was shut off by smoke. Their
situation became one of extreme peril, and
more than one fire veteran thought that
his hour had come. They lay on their
laces, in order to breathe easier. Just then
up dashed engines Nos. 1, 3 and 4, chemical
.No. l, nose No. 2 and trucks Nos. 1 and 2.
The crew of Hose Company No. 1 got up
stains Just In time to rescue their imprls
oned comrades. It was a welcome bath of
water the six men of chemical No. 1 re
ceived, for It gave them an opportunity to
recover their breath, and also forced the
stifling smoke away to the westward. Here
it was that Slnott's hands were burned.
Meanwhile Chalmers sat on the window
sill of the flfth-story room, yelling for
neip. it looked as If he were thinking of
-jumping, and these below shouted to hold
on for a minute or two longer, as help was
near. Noticing the peril of the helpless
man. Fireman A. G. McClaln, of Truck
Company No. 1. went to the roof of the
Chamber of Commerce building adjoining
ana wavea a rope to Chalmers, saying:
"Make fast that rope around your body,
and I'll swing you to a window below me."
But Chalmers was either too scared to at
tempt this or he could not distinctly see
the rope on account of the smoke.
A big truck ladder was being raised to
the window where the despairing man
crouched, with Fireman Castleman peril
ously swinging on it As the top end of
the truck reached the flfth-storv window.
Castleman found his path blocked by tele-
grapn ana telephone wires, but, being an
expert lineman, in the employ of the
Portland General Electric Company, he
Knew wnat to do. As coolly as if he were,
standing on the street. Castleman cut sev
eral of the wires impeding his progress
and yelled to those below: "Now." His
cbmrades operating the truck quickly
swung the top of the ponderous ladder so
that It rested close to the window where
Chalmers eat, almost without hope. The
next Instant Castleman took the half-
smothered man Into his powerful erasn.
and. aided by Fireman Menkes, who was
ciose oemna mm, bore him down the lad
der, where Chief Campbell met them. It
was a gallant feat. There was no crowd
to cheer the firemen, as It was too early In
the morning for a crowd to gather, and.
xne nre happened in a business section,
where there are few residents.
t Smoke a Grave Danger.
In the burning building, the good work
of the firemen, and the fact that the win
dows of the light-well are made of wire
glass that kept out smoke and flame,
saved the upstairs portion from destruc
tion. If the flames had once got into the
light-well reaching to the. top of the build
ing, or through the ventilator, which has
a cover at every landing, the block would
in all probability have been gutted. The
emoke forced Its way through every floor,
however, and nearly suffocated the fire
men fighting it, and It was as much as
human effort could do to open the sky
light windows on the roof. The flames
had to be fought from east to west on the
third floor, and the only two rooms which
were entirely gutted were those used by
the Janitor. Stock In rooms used by tho
Moyer Clothing Company. M. Mason, rep
resenting a Cincinnati firm, and T. M.
"Word, a commercial traveler, was partially
hurried and also damaged by smoke and
water. Here, fortunately, the flooring is
three inches thick at the rear and four
inches thick on the Third-street side, so
that the flames were prevented from going
downstairs into the stores of the Salem
Woolen Mills and the Moyer Clothing Com
pany. The offices of Guo Rosenblatt, the Mutual
Life Insurance Company, of New York;
J. L. Oppenhelmer, I. L. "White and three
special insurance agents suffered much
from smoke and water, as these rooms are
located near the place where the flames
broke out. The offices of H. J. Hefty
architect; H. Hewitt & Co., Insurance, and
A. Berg, commission agent, located on the
Oak-street slde, suffered slight loss by
smoke and water.
Oa the upper floors all the damage was
caused by smoke, but the loss In this sec
tion Is slight. Nearly all the occupants of
these offices carry insurance.
Kye Had Other Troubles.
Jeff B. Nye, of the Hoffman House, will
lose about $1000, caused by water flooding
his artistically painted celling and damag
ing his expensive mirrors arid bar furni
ture. His loss is covered by $4500 insur
ance. When the upstairs rooms were blaz
ing Nye was busily trying to take care of
his bar furnlture and Just then, the tele
phone bell rang.
"Is that you, Jeff Nye?" asked a. far
away voice.
"Yes," said Nye.
"This is Long Beach speaking, and I'm
sorry to Inform you that your hotel and
grillroom has Just burned down. It's a
total loss. Thought I'd tell you about It,
old man. Sorry." And the voice died
away.
"Great Scott!" said .Nye to a friend,
"think of fire ruining both my saloons at
the same time."
"Hard luck," assented the friend.
Nye's property at Long Beach la valued
at $3250, and he was only Insured for $2000.
Ben Selling was promptly aroused from
his sleep when the fire first broke out,
and, under his energetic direction, his
clerks, assisted by firemen, spread tar
paulins over the stock in the store of the
Moyer Clothing Company. Tarpaulins were
also spread over the stock In the Salem
Woolen Mills Company's stoTe, saving it
from water damage. The loss in these two
stores Is about 7300 In all, but the loss In
the stockroom of the Moyer Clothing Com
pany, upstairs, will amount to about $1150.
910,000 Damage to. BHlldingr.
The owners of the burned building are
the William Sherlock Company, the agents
being Henry Hewitt & Co, The property
Is insured to the extent of $50,000, and the
loss on this Is estimated at about $10,000.
Mr. Hewitt and Janitor Thlel were sent
for when the fire broke out, and they gave
valuable directions to the firemen as to
the location of rooms, etc
Chalmers, who was rescued from the
flfth-story window, was easily revived, and
he afterward stood looking at the firemen
working at the upper windows, when an
elderly man walked over to hose awgon
No. L and said to a fireman:
"Say, what's this I hear 'bout some of
you fellows rescuing a man from that
flfth-story window?"
"That's so," said McAllister, of Hose 1,
the fireman addressed.
"It's pretty high," said the stranger, du
biously. "Why, I'm the man they rescued," said
Chalmers, "and I know they took me from
a flfth-story window or I wouldn't be
here to tell of It."
The stranger went away entirely satis
fled. It was late in the morning when the fire
men ceased their labors. They were -warmly
complimented by the business men
whose property they had etaved.
MAHOMET AND MOUNTAIN
Portland -Banket-Ball Team Conoid
em Going: to Seattle.
' The All-Star basket-ball team of the Y.
M. C. A. Is still trying to arrange a game
with the much-vaunted team of the Seat
tle Association. A contest had been
scheduled for Christmas, but the sickness
of McDonald, the star center of the Seat
tle aggregation, caused the game to be
Indefinitely postponed. The Portland boys,
however, will not be satisfied until the
two big teams of the Northwest have
struggled for the championship. If the
Puget Sound team can not, or will not,
come to Portland for another month, as
the manager now declares, the local team
will Invade their territory. Both Tacoma
and Pullman have asked for games, and
the Washington trip will probably be
taken during January. The basket-ball
season for the Portland team will close
In February, as the manager believes that
a longer season would do more harm than
good to the team's prospects. The next
game here will take place on January 2,
with the Chehalis High .School, which
claims the interscholastlc championship of
Washington, having been defeated only
by the Seattle Y. M. C. A. five. The Boise
Y. M. C. A. team will play here on Jan
uary 16, and a good game Is expected.
The evening classes In the gymnasium
will resume the squad contest plan next
week. The entire membership of the
classes have been divided Into four
groups, and they will hold contests every
evening In Indoor baseball, basket-ball,
relay races, track events and swimming.
Captains have been chosen, who will
choose the men for their, groups. These
will be known as the Athenians, Gladia
tors, Olympics and Spartans. The meets
will be held every evening after the reg
ular gymnasium work. Five weeks will
be required for each team to compete
with every other group.
During the holidays the boys In the
younger classes are enjoying cross-country
runs and paper chases. The Interme
diate class was taken out for a 10-mile
run on Friday. The route was laid through
the City PaTk and over the hills by Syl
van to ZIontown, and the youngsters ran
all the way home from that point. The
Junior class will be taken out tomorrow
by M. M. RIngler, the physical director,
who will again lead the Intermediates on
New Year's day. Mr. RIngler says that
the young runners showed remarkable en
durance, and that they stuck close to his
heels throughout the long and difficult
run.
PERSONAL MENTION.
W. B. Jackling, who Is In Portland from
Seattle, Is a prominent labor union worker
in the latter city.
M. R. Hanley and N. A. Dibble, promi
nent stockmen of Harney County, are In
the city for a few days.
C. J. Whitaker, a physician at Pendle
ton, is in the city on business, and Is
registered at the Perkins.
Mrs. Ed Hendricks and son, of McMInn
vllle, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. James H.
Roberts, 491 Everett street.
F. A. Seufert, a canneryman of The
Dalles. Is in Portland to attend the meet
ing of salmon packers tomorrow.
President E. L. Smith, of the State
Board of Horticulture, Is In the city from
Hood River. He Is at the Imperial.
Captain J. M. Poorman, the Woodburn
banker, is In the city, accompanied by his
wife. They are staying at the Portland.
Sheriff B. B. Colbath, of Marlon County,
came down from Salem yesterday, and Is
registered at the Imperial. He was the
only Democrat elected to office In Marlon
County last June.
"Grandma" Munra, of the log-cabin eating-house
at Meacham, returned from the
East yesterday. Until Its destruction by
fire recently, this little eatlng-hoase was
one of the most famous places of refresh
ment on the Pacific Coast
NEW YORK, Dec. 23. (Speclal.)-Hotel
arrivals of Northwestern people:
From Portland J. S. Mitchell and wife,
Waldorf-Astoria; M. P. Baker, Holland;
G. M. McDowell, Z. Snow, J. B. O'Shea
and wife. Imperial; J. F. Dickinson and
wife. Park avenue.
From Sumpter, Or. E. F. Warner, Her
ald Square.
From Wilbur, Wash. E. J. Lauritzen
Astor. '
From Tacoma J. Bayley, Albemarle.
From Seattle J. M. Moran, Mrs. Bax
ter, J. H. McGraw. Imperial: A. T zv,n
Victoria; A. L. Wlllard, Sturtevant.
Trro Weddings.
ASTORIA. Or.. Dec. 2S. ThA mnrri.
of M. R. Pomeroy, traveling auditor of
the Vancouver TransnortaUnn r-nm,,,.
and Miss Mollle Sater. daiirhtor nt iv'
and Mrs. Knute Sater, was solemnized at
tne residence of the bride's parents here
this afternoon In the Dresence of to-m-
friends of the contracting parties. Mr.
and Mrs. Pomeroy left this evening for a
short trip, after which they will make
uieir nome in tnis city.
Word has been received her nt
marriage of Charles B. Trescott, formerly
heavily Interested in the cold storage
business on the Columbia River, and Mrs.
Julia V. Smith, of St Louis, which took
place at the residence of the bride's pa
rents in that city, on Thursdav. Di-r-mr
18. Mr. and Mrs. Trescott left last Wed
nesday to visit the principal European
cities.
If you have never used Carter's Llttip
Liver Pills, go at once to the nearest
drug store and get a vial. They will sure
ly piease you. jjom forget this.
PLACES FOR CLERKS
Legislature Will Need Much
Clerical Assistance.
TO OBSERVE KUYKENDALL LAW
Compensation Varies from ?8 to 93
Per Day, and the Honrs of Labor
Must Not Exceed Eight Out
of Twenty-four,
At the organization of the Legislature
two weeks from today there will be quite
a crowd of young men and women around
the Capitol seeking employment as Legis
lative clerks. At the last session there
was an effort to follow the provisions of
the Kuykendall law relative to the em
ployment of clerks, and from the expres
sions heard from members of the Legisla
ture It is apparent that there will be a de
sire to abide by the terms of the law at
the coming session. While a very few
clerks were employed last session In 'ad
dition to those specified In the law, and
some extra compensation was allowed, the
Legislature showed a disposition to live
up to the spirit of what was conceded to
bo a very good measure. Those who are
thinking of going up to Salem next month
will find some valuable information in
the following sections of the Kuykendall
law:
"On the permanent organization of the
Senate the following officers shall be
elected by baaot: A president, a chief
clerk, a reading clerk, one assistant chief
clerk, one calendar clerk, one sergeant-nt-arms,
one mailing clerk, one door
keeper, three - pages, one chief and .one
assistant clerk for the Judiciary commit
tee, one chief and one assistant clerk for
the ways and means committee, one chief
and one assistant clerk for the committee
on engrossed bills, one chief 'and one
assistant clerk for the committe on en
rolled bills, one clerk for the President of
the Senate, three expert stenographers
and 12 committee clerks."
Enumerated above there are five clerks
who work In the Senate chamber, 20 who
work In committee-rooms and one who
worms in the office of the President of the
Senate. The three stenographers work
wherever required, but usually In committee-rooms.
"On permanent organization of the
House of Representatives the following
officers shall be elected by ballot: One
Speaker, one chief clerk, one assistant
chief clerk, one reading clerk, one cal
endar clerk, one sergcant-at-arms, one
doorkeeper, one mailing clerk, three
pages, one chief and one assistant clerk
for the Judiciary committee, one chief and
one assistant clerk for the ways and means
committee, one chief and one assistant
clerk for the committe on engrossed bills,
one chief and one assistant clerk for the
committee on enrolled bills, one clerk for
the Speaker of the House, five expert
stenographers and 18 committee clerks."
In this branch of the Legislature five
clerks are employed In the House, 26 In
the committee-rooms and the five sten
ographers wherever desired.
Under Supervision of Chief Clerk..
"The expert stenographers and commit
tee clerks shall be under the supervision
of the chief clerk, to be assigned by him
to duty on such committees as may make
application to him for clerks. The chief
clerk shall file all applications for clerks
or stenographers In the order of their ee
ceipt, and shall assign from the force of
committee clerks and stenographers
In the order of applications made.
It shall be the duty of all clerks
and stenographers after the com-1
pletlon of the work assigned to them
to report to tne chief clerk; provided, that
the working hours of no committee clerk
or stenographer shall exceed elgiht hours
per day.
"Anv member qf the House or Senate
may. upon application to the chief clerk,
have assigned to him the use of a com
mittee clerk or stenographer for one hour
dally, in case there Is such clerk or sten
ographer not engaged in actual work for
a committee, to act in the capacity of a
private secretary."
The compensation of the officers of the
two houses and the expense of maintain
ing the force per day Is as follows:
President and Speaker, $5 each $ 10
Two chief clerks, $S each 16
Two assistant chief clerks. $6 each 12
Two reading clerks, $G each 12
Two calendar clerks, $6 each 12
Two scrgcants-at-arms, 55 each 10
Two doorkeepers, $4 each s
Two mailing clerks, $1 each 8
Six pages, f2 each 12
Eight stenographers, $5 each 40
Eight cnief clerks on committees, $5
each 40
Eight assistant clerks on committees,
$4 each ; 24
Thirty committee clerks. $3 each 90
Two clerks for presiding officers, $5
each io
Total expense per day 5304
"In the Senate the officers, except the
President and three pages, being 30 in
number, shnll be elected one from each
Senatorial district of the state, If there
be a competent applicant from such dis
trict. In the House of Representatives
the officers shall be elected from the va
rious counties of the state, In the propor
tion that such county Is represented In
that body, so far as possible, provided
that there be competent applicants from
the several counties.
Xo Incompetents Allowed.
"No person shall be employed as clerk
or stenographer In either house who Is not
in every way competent to perform any
and all work he or she may be called upon
to perform, and any person may be dis
missed by the house making such em
ployment upon a majority vote thereof."
Clerks are required to report for duty at
9 A. M., except Sunday. The chief clerk
and calendar clerk of each house are re
quired to remain after the close of the
session and complete the Journal of the
session. They are allowed pay for this
work for a period equal to one-third ot
the length of the session.
Besides these clerks, a large but In
definite number of clerks are employed
for joint committees appointed to Investi
gate the books and accounts of the vari
ous state offices. The compensation of
these clerks depends entirely upon the
temper of the members of the Legislature,
but It averages about $i to S5 a day.
Prosperity Striken "Put" Smith.
There were not many residents of Port
land 10 years ago who did not know "Put'
Smith, money lender and money spender,
a driver of fast horses, somewhat rapid
himself, and always In evidence at race
meetings and sporting events of all kinds.
For a long .time he has not been about
town much, and an old acquaintance who
met him last Saturday for the first time
in year? was pained to notice that he
wore a skull cap fulled far down over the
back of his head and over this a large
fur cap, but otherwise he looked much
the same as of old, only a little older.
When asked what was the matter with
him and where he had been all these
years he said he went out for a bucket of
water a few evenings ago and stumbled
down a cellar-way and hit the back of
his head on a beam, and It still annoyed
him. He said that after the crash nine
years ago he found his available assets
reduced to $14. His wife Invested this in
a cow and they took up their residence in
the- country away out beyond the end of
Tillamook street. She milked the cow and
he peddled the milk, and they have been
In this business for all these years, and
now have 14 cows and are prospering. A
more radical change in life than that
which hard times brought to Mr. Smith
has been experienced by but lew, but it
has done him no harm. Prosperity has re
turned to Portland, and the rising wave
of hard times, wh'ich shipwrecked so
many nine years ago. Is almost forgotten,
as well as those who were swept away,
but occasionally one of those who were
stranded on the beach comes floating In
on the flood tide of prosperity and recalls
the disaster.
CITY'S GREAT FUTURE.
Influential Scotchman Praises Port
land's Progress.
"Portland is a more progressive city
than it gets credit for among its own
people," says WlJHam Mackenzie, man
ager of the Alliance Trust Company, a
wealthy financial concern of Dundee,
Scotland. Mr. Mackenzie had not been In
Portland since 1887 until yestefaay, when
he arrived to spend two week3 visiting
his agent here, William MacMasters, and
other friends. "The improvements that
have been made in the last 15 years, a
part of which period was covered by the
hard times, show that Portland Is ad
vancing and will -continue, to advance.
This Is a great country the best part of
the United States to live In and Its re
sources are almost unlimited. The time
will come, and should be hastened, when
Western Oregon will contain 1,000,000 peo
ple. Eastern Oregon will develop at a
corresponding rate, and perhaps more rap
Idly, under the influence of Irrigation en
terprises. The. development of these two
sections of Oregon, naturally both trib
utary to Portland, will give this city
such a growth as would now be scarce
ly believed. The greatness of Portland
depends chiefly upon the upbuilding of the
sections of the country the location of
which makes them tributary to this city.
"How can the country be developed?
"By bringing In more people people
who now reside In the states of the
Middle West. I learn that Oregon has
already entered upon an advertising pol
icy which gives to those people a knowK
edge of the opportunities that exist here
for home building. The next work should
be to make such permanent public Im
provements as will make this an attrac
tive country to every person who comes
to look at It I believe that Oregon can
do nothing that will help her more than
to enter at once upon a system of perma
nent road building upon a largo scale
so that In the next few years every part
of the settled portion of the state will
have good roads. There Is nothing that
would do more to keep people here after
you get them out In this Pacific Coast
country.
"Every person who comes herewlth a
view to Investing will take a ride
through the country to look at land or
to see the Industrial conditions. If he
rides over roads so soft and muddy that
It Is almost impossible for him to get
through with a team he will be in a very
poor frame of mind to gain' a favorable.
Impression of any property he may look
at. He Is more likely to get back to
town disgusted and to start back East
as soon as he can. If the roads are good
the distances seem shorter, the whole
country fieems more attractive, the visitor
enjoys his trip and the chances are that
he will buy a home and remain.
"The building of good roads Is an
economical expenditure of money when
viewed only from the standpoint of the
saving In the power required to haul a
load. To this can be added the com
fort people get in riding over good roads
Instead of roads In which the carriage
wheels sink to the hub. From another
standpoint the building of good roads is
a profitable Investment As soon as a
first-class road has been constructed
through a section of country the value
of the property Increases enough to make
up for the expenditure. In New Zealand,
w.here the land will not produce any bet
ter than In Oregon, land rents for $10
per acre a year, while land of the same
kind in Oregon could be bought for $30
an acre. The only reason I can see for
the difference is that New Zealand has an
almost perfect system of roads. In any
way you look at It, it will pay the state
to build good Toads and build them Im
mediately. "The usual method of road building Is
a waste of money. Farmers go out . on
the roads every season and scrape loose
soil upon the highway, until they have
worked out their taxes. They call that
road building. The only proper way to
build a road Ig to ma"ke It a permanent
structure by doing a good piece of work
In the first instance. A permanent r6ad
will be of as much benefit to the people
of the next generation as to those of this.
The proper policy, therefore. Is to raise
a fund by issuing bonds and then build
roads with this money. There will then
be money enough to complete a road In.
stead of throwing on a little dirt each
year and never having anything to show
for It
"Centralization is essential to success
In road building. I mean that there must
be one controlling authority which out
lines the policy and directs the work. Com
petent engineers should be employed and
the work done right. All heavy grades
should bp avoided, as also cuts and fills.
When ail the main thoroughfares have
been constructed by a central authority,
the branch roads may be left to local
control. I believe that convict labor
could very profitably be used on the high
ways. In France, in Germany, and In fact
In every country where permanent roads
have been constructed, you will find that
the work has been conducted under the
control of a central authority and that
the work was done on a large scale;
"I emphasize this matter because I be
lieve that building good roads will do
more than anything else to add to the
population of the country and that the
increase. of the population in the territory
tributary to Portland is essential to the
future greatnero of this city. In saying
this I do not overlook the need of keep
ing the Columbia River open and taking
advantage of every "opportunity to add
to the commerce of the port The devel
opment of tho Interior will do much to
ward building up the city's commerce."
Mr. Mackenzie came to Oregon first in
1S78, when his company began business
here. In that year ho visited, the State
Fair at Salem and In going to the Fair
Grounds he rode through mud and water
nearly hub deep. He wonders how good
a road there Is now from Salem to the
Fair Grounds. He visited Oregon again In
1SS5 and In 1887. During those visits he
formed a wide acquaintance and became
familiar with almost every section of the
Willamette Valley. After an absence of
15 years he remembers the names and
location of all the principal farms In the
Valley, though he was here but a short
time. As his company has large Interests
In this state he hopes to see the country
progress as rapidly as possible.
BARBERS' LAST CHANCE.
Wonld-Be Tonsorinl Artists Mast
Pnss Today or Get Ont.
About 20 young barbers will make appli
cation for licenses to practice today when
the State Board of Barber Examiners
meets. The examinations will be held at
266 Alder street today and tomorrow un
der the charge of S. H. Howard, presi
dent; H. G. Meyer, secretary, and F. T.
Rogers, treasurer. At the last examina
tion there were a number of applicants
that failed to pass the examinations.
They asked that their time be extended
and that they be given another chance.
The meeting that Is called for today Is
for their benefit. Others who wish to
take the examinations, however, may
avail themselves of the opportunity.
Those who failed at the last examination
have many of them been working on per
mits since, awaiting a second chance to
pass. Others who have come in since the
last examinations have secured permits
and have been working until the time for
the examinations. They will .all have to
pass this time or get Into some other busi
ness.
I Meier (3b Frank Company Meier f& Frank Company
Clearanc
tarts
Also
Meier & Frank Company
DULL TIMES IN HONOLULU
PRICE OF SUGAR HAS FALLEX, BUT
MAY RISE.
Negro Sentenced to Life Imprison
ment for Stealing? $100 Many
.Portlanders in Islands.
Frank Turk, who was born and raised In
Portland, and who Is now a shipmaster at
Honolulu, returned to the city yesterday,
after an absence of three years. Mr. Turk
said that when he left the Islands things
were very dull. Sugar had gone down to
4 cents a pound, but there was a prospect
for an Increase In prices. There was some
trouble In the sugar fields, as the Imported
Porto RIcans and the Tennessee negroes
did not prove to be good laborers. Most
of them "were too lazy to work, and the
few that were willing left for the Philip
pines as soon as they earned money
enough to pay for then- passage. Some
of the negroes proved to be hard charac
ters, and one of them, known as "Nigger"
Woods, stole $100. for which, upon convic
tion, he was sentenced to life Imprison
ment. Woods escaped from the officers
twice, but as he had no means of leaving
the Islands, he was speedily recaptured
each time.
As the Imported laborer did not do sat
isfactory work, some of the planters were
thinking of asking Congress to let them
bring In Chinamen again. The absence of
the Chinese had left many fields un
touched, but as there was a growing sen
timent against the Celestials as laborers,
It was doubtful whether the movement
would receive many supporters.
Mr. Turk said that the hanging of Tan
barra Gusboro, the Japanese boy who
killed Captain Jorgenson, of the schooner
Fred K. Wood, bound from Portland to
the Orient, was to have taken place Sat
urday. At the trial the Japanese, was
stoical, but when sentence was pronounced
he seemed to realize his position, and he
was unable to speak.
Of the former Portlanders who are now
In the Islands, Mr. Turk says that John
Epplnger Is conducting a shipping guide,
and Is also head bookkeeper for a mercan
tile firm. Edward Dekum Is connected
with the Commercial Advertiser. J. W.
Allen, formerly clerk at the Hotel Port
land, and who left this city to take the
management of the Moana Hotel, the prin
cipal hostelry of the Islands, recently re
signed his position and returned to the
Pacific Coast.
MANY VIOLENT DEATHS.
Suicides, Accidents and Attempted
Suicides.
NEW YORK, Dec. 28 Nine persons met
violent deaths In Greater New York to
day. Four were clear cases of suicide,
and the others resulted from a variety of
causes.
Mrs. Hugh Mooney drank carbolic acid
and died before a physician could attend
her. Her husband said she had tried 12
times before to commit suicide.
Mrs. Mary Clarke, aged 45, wife of the
chief officer of the steamer Beverly, died
from the result of gas poisoning, self
admlnlstered. George Simon, 46, and Jacob Schwartz,
35 years old, died after drinking carbolic
acid.
Mary Stack, aged 24, of Whitonsvllle,
Mass., was found dead In a hotel. Escap
ing gas Is given as the cause. An un
identified man was found In her room
unconscious.
Mayor Series, aged 38, drank wood alco
hol and died In a hospital.
Henry Bunkey, aged 27, was found on
the sidewalk with a fractured skull and
died later.
Two men are dead as the result of falls,
one In the power-house of a street rail
way company and the other In a lodging
house. An 13-year-old girl' unsuccessfully at
tempted suicide by swallowing carbolic
acid, and a woman 32 years old hanged
herself In a police station, but was cut
down In time to save her life.
Canprlit the Man on the Horse.
EUGENE, Or., Dec. 28. (Special.) Sher
iff Withers returned last night with David
Humboldt,' whom he arrested on the Mid
dle Fork road, near the mouth of Fall
Creek, on a charge of horse-stealing. A
few days ago a horse was stolen from
Ben Davis, near Henderson Station. Sher
iff Withers started In pursuit of the thief,
whom he caught yesterday riding the
horse along the road. The horse was
easily Identified, and was left with Its
owner last night. Humboldt, In making
his defensive statement, claims the horse
was his own, and that he had ridden It
here from, Wyoming.
Portland-St. Lonii-Memplili.
If you are thinking of going to St.
Louis, Memphis and other Southeastern
points, call up O. R. & N.. Third and
Washington, and learn about the new
tourist car service. Route takes you via
Denver and Kansas City. 1
Sale
Fme
Great Annua
Thi
the Annual
jj Meier & Frank Company
Und
fj Established 1868 VjfjjO
We will announce on this page
tomorrow (Tuesday) morning a
magnificent lot of surprises in
store news. Preparations for our
Surprise Reception are not quite
complete today. We shall be all
ready tomorrow.
6th & Alder Sis., Portland, Or.
SAYS HE IS NOT THE
EUGENE COWLES SUFFERS FROM
CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Famous Basso Is Accused by San
Francisco Newspaper of Some
what Sensational Career.
The newspapers of San Francisco are
publishing stories about Eugene Cowles,
the big singer who appeared to such good
advantage here Saturday night, that have
caused that gentleman more astonishment
than he ever experienced before. Some
body dug up the history of a man of the
came name who was conspicuous a long
time ago, and his picturesque career Is
now" being advertised In San Francisco as
that of the famous basso.
Mr. Cowles is stopping at the Portland
Hotel, and yesterday mornhig at breakfast
he saw his name In the headlines of a
newspaper from the California metropolis.
He read In the headlines that he was a
burglar and a kidnaper, and he followed
up the article with all the Interest that
comes naturally to an artist traveling un
der the auspices of a Y. M. C. A. lyceum
bureau.
After saying that 'the villain, having
played In Portland, was en route to San
Francisco, the article went Into details of
Mr. Cowles past life. It said:
He Is the son of the late Edwin Cowles,
owner of the Cleveland Leader. After leaving
college Eugene worked on his" father's paper
for a time, but as a newspaper man failed to
make good. He was fond of music, of which
he had made a special study. Ho sane In a
church choir In Chicago, and also belonged to
a concert quartet. One night he sang at a
Press CIud entertainment, at which Barnabee
and Macdonald were present. They liked his
voice, and asked him if he would Join their
company. The Idea pleased Cowles, and he
wa3 readily induced to go with them. Before
winning honors on the stage he had married
Lizzie Hale, daughter of the multi-millionaire.
E. B. Hale, ot Cleveland. The wedding was
one of the swellest affairs of that city, and
was attended by President and Mrs. Hayes,
James A. Garfield and other distinguished peo
ple. But the Cowles had not been married
long when the wife became unhappy. Her hus
band's flirtations kept her constantly in a
state, of Jealous unrest. One day she packed
her trunks and left him. There were some
sensational developments following this step,
and talk of a divorce. Cowles senior, who was
very fond of his son's little child, took the
wife's partr
Mr. Cowles read all this Interesting In
formation to his wife at breakfast. While
waiting for the second course, he waded
through tMo-
When Edwin Cowles died It was found he
had left a most peculiar will. His estate was
appraised at over $1,000,000. and there were
Ave heirs. To these he left $5000 a year, the
will stipulating that when the accumulations
had reached a certain sum the Income to each
heir was to be Increased. A provision was.
made that one-half of Eugene's share should
go to his wife, and that an additional sum of
5500 a year should be paid by the father for
his. child's support. Therefore, Eugene was
left with only $2000 a year. He could not,
with bis luxurious habits, make this sum meet
White
ermuslm
Meier & Frank Company
his needs, so he made his wife a business
proposition. His physicians told him that ha
had only a short time to live, and that at
least six months of the year he must reside
In California, 'New Mexico or Italy. Cowles
suggested to his wife that If she allow him
the whole $5000 during his life, on his death
she could take all. As Mrs. Cowles was rich
anyhow, he thought this a fair proposition.
But she would not listen to It. Then Eueeno
kidnaped his child and lied to Canada. Ho
threatened to hide the child forever unless the
mother would come to an understanding.
Before the hot cakes were served, Mrs.
Cowles found that she had about as much
Interest In the affair as her husband, for
the merciless story went on:
But Mrs. Cowles was no indolent dreamer.
With her brother she pursued her husband.
They caught him, and during a trying alterca-j
uon Bowies was snoi in me necK. rw neuru
of this denouement, as it was uqlckly hushed
up. In 1807 Mrs. Cowles sued for an absolute
divorce and obtained It. She mentioned Miss
Louise Cleary as tho co-respondent. This was
the fascinating chorus girl for whom the basso
had long cherished a passionate Infatuation.
When the divorce wa an assured fact. Miss
Cleary and Cowles were married, and when
they left the Bostonlans both Joined Alice
Nielsen's company.
Last night Mr. Cowles, lounging about
the Portland's lobby, said that either his
press agent had been overworked, or that
some journalistic faker had caught hie
trail.
"The wound In my neck Is doing well,"
he said, "and there have been no police
men after me for nearly half an hour."
Pressed for a serious explanation of the
affair, the famous basso replied:
"There really was a man of the same
name as my own who had the adventures
described, but I have no idea how my Iden
tity and his became mixed. He has been
dead for 10 years died, I understand,
when he was private secretary to Lyman
J. Gage, of Chicago, ex-Secretary of the
Treasury. I never met him, and he was
no relative of mine. Mw. Cowles Is some
what apprehensive that we will both be
put in jail when we get to San Francisco,
and I have been getting all sorts of tele
grams from my friends there, but I am
taking a kind of melancholy Interest In
the fact that, no matter what happens,
things couldn't be worse. My criminal ca
reer is something complete In itself."
Mr. Cowles and hfa company will leave
for California today.
LOW EXCURSION RATE.
Tho Nqrthern Pacific Railway Company
has named a very low excursion rate to
Kansas City and return on account of
the National Livestock Association meet
ing to be held In that city in January.
Tickets will be on sale January S and 9
only, and good for 30 days to make the
round trip In. For full particulars call
on or write A. D. Charlton, A. G. P. A.,
No. 255 Morrison street, coirer of Third,
Portland, Or.
BUSINESS ITEMS.
Ii.Bahy Is Cnttlncr Teeth.
7 anr .nil m. thnf rt nnd u.Ot . .
Mrs. Wtnslow's Soothing Syrup, for chlldrei..
iceiuius. ii ouumes me emia. -joiiens me gums,
allays all pain, cures wind colic and diarrhoea.
Going: to Memphis T
Beforp Btnrtlntr rail nn Ci i jp. xr ti.b.,
office and ask about the now tnnriot m
service via Denver. Kansas City and St.
Louis. City ticket office, Third and Washington.