If
THE MORNING- OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1904.
NO SIR, JT WASN'T ME
Plenty of Excuses for Fireboat
Fiasco,
STOKER BROWJil INDIGNANT
Says Engineer Started Pumps With
out Clearing Exhaust-Pipe of
Water, Which Ran Into Fur
naces and Put Out Fires.
Just what caused the fireboat George
H. "Williams to cut up queer antics at a
vital moment at the outbreak of Saturday
evening's lire on the -water front is a
problem that the Fire Commissioners will
investigate today or tomorrow. Captain
Whltcomb, the chief navigating officer,
says it could not have been his fault;
Chief Engineer Kellogg says he is not to
blame, and Stoker Brown, who was sus
pended for having Insufficient steam pow
er in his boilers, is not inclined to have
the responsibility shifted upon his shoul
ders. These three members of the boat crew
and fire-fighting force each has logical
defenses of his part in the performance,
and is inclined to contend that it was
really nobody's fault, but rather the mis
hap of circumstances.
That the boat would not approach the
fire at the foot of Morrison street and
that the craft tossed helplessly about in
the river while $24,000 worth of property
was consumed was unquestionably due to
the fact that there was insufficient steam
in the boilers to operate the boat and the
pumps at the same time. The question
that the Commissioners will probe Is Just
why this steam was not in the boilers.
Captain Whltcomb steps from under all
blame with the assertion that his sole
duty is that of piloting the boat about
the river. He disclaims any responsibility
for the amount of steam carried at any
time. His place is at the wheel.
Chief Engineer Kellogg says that' his
stoker is under orders to keep at least 125
pounds of steam in one boiler at all
times, and have other fires ready to
spread at a second's notice. He says he
had all his pumps and his fire-fighting
crew ready to fight the fire of Saturday
evening, and was astounded when he
found there was not enough steam to
conduct operations.
Stoker Brown Has Grievance.
Stoker Brown, In his turn, offers a logical
explanation of the cause of the trouble,
and he directly throws the blame back
upon the chief engineer. He says that
the pumps were started up suddenly,
without the exhaust pipe having been
cleared of condensed water, whereas it
should have been worked off by the en
gineer. In this way. Brown says, the
water was fed down the stacks into, his
furnaces,- thus putting out his fires and
making it impossible to keep up enough
steam to operate the boat. He says he
called this state of affairs' to the atten
tion of Engineer Kellogg, and he also
claims that the water pouring into the
furnaces was observed by another mem
ber of the "crew, who had been sent be
low to help him with the fires. Stoker
Brown made the following statement of
the affair yesterday:
"I wish to say that it is impossible for
one stoker to do anything on short notice
when he has three fires in one boiler to
spread and three other fires to start.
"At the time the alarm sounded Satur
day, one of the boilers was full of water
half way into the steam drum, and that
had to be watched to keep it from going
dry. When the boat left its berth, there
was 150 pounds of steam in the boiler,
which was sufficient for all purposes. The
engineer knows that the steam can't be
kept up when running under lull speed,
and at the same time warming up the
pumps, as ho did the entire way to the
fire. Furthermore, the steam on the duty
boiler was cut down from 250 pounds to lo
pounds, and there was no chance to have
any surplus of steam on hand. Then the
steam was used up and there was no
force draft to be had to get up a quick
Sre in the other boiler.
Water Poured Into Furnaces.
"The chief engineer threw the pumps
wide open, and, as he knews, they drew
the water from the boilers thrpugh the
engines and then through the exhaust in
the stacks,, so that the water poured down
on the fires in the furnaces and put them
out. I told the chief engineer at the time
that he was putting the fires out. and he
said he could not help it. I think he could
have helped slow the pumps down a little
to give me a chance. It was the water
pouring on the fires in this way that
caused the most of the delay.
"I understand Chief Kellogg in his re
port to Chief Campbell did not say any
thing about having put the furnace fires
out, but put all the blame upon me. It
seems that when an official has trouble
in his department he never says whaf
part he played in the mistake, but lays
the blame onto some one else. Since
Chief Campbell did not ask me what was
wrong, it is up to the public, now that the
facts have been set out. to say whether
the delay at the fire Saturday night was
the fault of Chief Engineer Kellogg or
Stoker Brown."
Captain Whltcomb Not Responsible.
Captain Whltcomb takes vigorous ex
ception to the statement that he jock
eyed the boat around until the steam was
exhausted, and that the "trouble appears
to lie with the boat crew." On being
asked for an explanation of the matter,
he said: "I started across the river as
soon as the gong rang. I took the boat
through the west side of the Morrison
street draw; made the turn Into the dock
above the dolphin. When I got about half
way from the dolphin to the dock, they
started the pump and began throwing a
stream through the forward turret. The
moment the turret began working the
steam dropped down so low that it left
me helpless in the stream. I had rung no
stopping bell, and when I found her
stopped, I sent the pilot down to see what
was the matter. He came back and re
ported that the engineer said he could not
work her, as he had .no steam. Chief
Campbell was standing on the dock and
told me to come on in and get out a line.
I told him that I had no steam. We then
drifted helplessly until the steam rose
sufficiently to get into the dock. I again
headed for the dock, but before I reached
there the pumps started again and the
steam dropped back until the boat again
drifted helplessly. The slight wind and
the current set her over against the dol
phin, and I ordered her made fast and
kept here there until the engine-room re
ported that they had steam enough to go
ahead. I then ran her to the dock and
threw out a headline, which was taken by
Chief Campbell and made fast to the
dock, and after that there was no more
trouble. I was employed to navigate the
fireboat and get her to the fire as quickly
as possible. I fulfilled my duty so far as
it lay in my power, and object to being
blamed for something which I was pow
erless to prevent or remedy, from, my end
of the' boat."
TTFJ.Ti UP ON BUSY STREET.
John Vranizan Meets Highwayman
in Front of Oregonian Building. -
John Vranizan, nephew of P. K Thomp
son, a well-known restaurant man, was
held up and robbed of $1.75, all the money
he had in his pockets at the time, ac
cording to his own story, at 10 o'clock
Sunday night. In front of the Oregonian
building: at the corner of Sixth and Al
der streets, within a block of .numerous
passers-by and policemen.
Vranizan says he spent the evening at a
vaudeville theater, and shortly before 10
o'clock left the show to catch a car for
his home in Sunnyslde. As he passed
the Oregonian building on the Sixth-street
side, a man stepped suddenly from a
doorway, presed a revilver against Vranl
zan's breast and exclaimed: "Hold up!"
The robber then held the pistol cov
ering Vranizan with one hand, while with
the other he went through the young
man's pockets and relieved him of his
money. Vranizan was then told to move
on, and the highwayman walked rapldly
up Sixth street In the direction of the
Portland Hotel.
The robber wore no mask. He is de
scribed by Vranizan as being of medium
size, dressed roughly, wearing a slouch
hat and with a shaggy growth of beard.
Vranizan stated yesterday that he was
.much frightened when the highwayman
first made his appearance, hardly expect
ing to meet such a character In the -central
part of the city. He did not report
the niatterto the police yesterday, saying
that he did not think It would do any
good. Vranizan Is a mechanic and Jives
with an aunt at Sunnyslde.
HEATHEN CAN WAIT AWHILE
Minister Advocates Care of Church
at Home First.
"First build up the church at home,"
was the keynote of an address delivered
before the Methodist Ministerial Associa
tion, in the auditorium of the Y. M. C.
A., yesterday, by the Bev. Robert Forbes,
D. D., of Philadelphia, secretary of the
board of church extension of the Method
ist Church. After enumerating the small
individual sums given by members for
extension work, Tir. Forbes said:
"But the cities of the United States of
America are our greatest field of labor
the greatest field that the world affords.
We cannot afford to send money to Cal
cutta and Bombay and neglect New York,
Boston, Chicago and Portland. The
mightiest -victories of the cross are to be
won In our own cities. We may build
churches in Asia when we have the
money. The heathen needs the teaching
of the Bible. He has waited a long time
for it, and he can wait a little longer, or
until our own people are saved.
"The most valuable man in the saving
of our own people is the presiding elder.
If he Is not the right man, he Is a most
expensive burden to the church. He is a
man who must make a mistake occasion
ally, for the man who never errs never
progresses. I know of a conference that
has not taken a step forward for 25 years
because the elder at the head of it was a
wise. Judicious man, and was never known
to make a mistake."
The old-fashioned minister, now retired
perhaps, has a friend in Dr. Forbes.
"They must have their breakfast and
their supper," he said. "They made the
church for us. They performed heroic
service, and they should be cared for in
their old age. Their methods may not be
the same as yours, but those methods
were great and glorious. Let the heathen
wait for his religion. You will be old
yourself sometime."
LIKE TO LOOK AT RELICS. .
Nearly 2000 Persons Visit Historical
Society Exhibit in August.
The register in the rooms of the Oregon
Historical Society shows the total number
of vlsltbrs registered during the month
of August to be 1918. Thlrty-slx states
are represented besides Oregon, with a
total of 570 visitors; five foreign countries,
with a. total of 27, while 145 towns in Ore
gon are represented. The rooms are open
daily from 1 to 5 P. M., except Sundays
and holidays, and are free to everybody.
Strangers in the city find much here to
interest them In the line of quaint and
once-useful articles, used by the men
and women who crossed the American
continent when oxen were the motive
power that brought their scant effects.
These people fought the savages, with
stood the heat and cold storms and floods
of a six months' Journey of 2000 miles
to reach the land of Oregon, where they
hewed out for themselves homes from the
mighty forests, where today fine homes,
rich fields of grain, orchards and mead
ows greet the eye on every side. Truly
the pioneers should be revered.
Many pictures of the pioneers may be
seen in these rooms, and relics of -the
past, such as a wagon, chairs, bedstead,
splnnlng-wheel, loom, trunks, cooking
utensils, stoves, bakeovens, guns, pistols,
swords, knives, Indian stone implements,
tomahawks, bows and arrows, arrow
points, old paper money, old papers and
books.
DO NOT HAVE TO J?AY NOW.
Twenty Thousand Passes to. Fair
Grounds Issued to Fraternal Orders.
Twenty thousand passes to the Lewis
and Clark Exposition grounds were sent
out yesterday by Corporation Secretary
Reed. for distribution among visiting
Knights Templar ;and Oddfellows In
San Francisco. Ten thousand 6f these
passes go to each organization, and are
in the form of a request to -visit the Fair
grounds before returning to their homes
all over the country. The passes are good
until September 20.
The Idea of sending passes to the
grounds is generally regarded by Exposi
tion officials as an excellent advertising
scheme, and that It will be followed by
definite returns there Is no doubt. Large
numbers of the San Francisco visitors are
reported to have already announced their
Intention of returning by way of Port
land. The distribution of the passes will be
superintended by Judge T. F. Ryan, of
Oregon City, who Is now In the Bay City,
in attendance upon the Knights Templar
Triennial.
DENIES HE CUT BATES.
Fred T. Merrill Says He Is in No Au
tomobile War.
Fred T. Merrill emphatically denies that
he Is renting automobiles for ?3 an hour.
He declares that, on the contrary,, no au
tomobile ever leaves his garage at a rate
less than 54 an hour. If mora than three
passengers are taken out $5 an hour is
the rate charged without exception.
The rate war among the auto people, ac
cording to Mr. Merrill, Is entirely confined
to a few former employes of the large
garages who have- gone into business
themselves and cut down rates to get the
business they would In no other way ob
tain. In this case he 'blames Art Hayes,
a former employe, for telling other auto
men that the Merrill shop was cutting
rates.
IF GOING TO ST. LOUIS
Learn Abont the Splendid Through Service
Offered by the O. K. & X.
Persons planning a trip to St. Louis will
do well to learn of the new daily Stand
ard sleeping-car arrangement offered by
the O. R. & N., landing the visitor in St.
.Louis in the morning. September 6 and
7, October 3, 4 and 5, the O. R. & N.
will sell 90-day return-trip tickets to St
Louis for $67.50; to Chicago. $72.50. Stop
overs allowed going and returning. Par
ticulars of C. W. Stinger, city ticket
agent, Third and Washington. Write A.
L. Craig, general passenger agent of the
O. R. & Portland, for a copy of the
elegant St. Louis Fair folder, issued by
the Union Pacific
ItEEFHNGr.
Latest styles In Winter Woolens.
Any one can take Carter's Little Liver
Pills, they are so very small. No trouble
to swallow. No pain or griping after tak-lns..
IOOO Pr. Women's Shoes
Equal to the Best $3.50 Values
1O0O pairs of women's new Fall and Winter Shoes at a
phenomenal low price, made up to onr special order from
selected leathers We will pnt them in competition with
the best $3.50 Shoes yon can buy anywhere abont town.
Big variety of styles, including vici kid lace, heavy sole;
Cuban heel, patent tip, and doll lad top; vici kid Blucher
ette, light sole, Cuban heel, patent tip, dull top; patent
colt, wing vamp, lace, Cuban heel, dull kid top, all sizes
and widths Buy your Fair dress and
street shoes today, at per pair
$2.22
French Underwear at Off
2 1 rfRRI
r y 1 1 1 i Assist : v
Choose from our entire matchless stock
of hand-made French Lingerie at one-third
off regular prices Gowns, Skirts, Chem
ise, Drawers and Corset Covers Magnifi
cent pieces, an assortment three times
greater than any display in the city For
Today, Tomorrow, Thursday and Friday,
your unlimited choice at a discount of 1-3
50c Two-Toned Ribbons
3QOO yards of beautiful new two-toned
Ribbons, turquoise, light blue, gray, red,
pink, all other leading shades,
best 50c values for only, yard si-JjC
Butterick Patterns and Pub
lications
The Meier Frank Store
Ostermoor" Elastic Felt
Mattresses
Portland's Largest and Best Store
81x90 Sheets 55c
100 dozen 81x90. sheets, reinforced
center seam, splendid quality
muslin, bleached; other stores
call them great value at 75c
each; we invite comparison with
other sheet bargains ad
vertised around town. . . .
55c
Pillow Cases at 13c
1
300 dozen, 36x42 and 36x45 Pil
low Cases, best muslin and we'll
guarantee them the best bargain
in town today '
at, each 3C
Pillow Cases at 8c
Thousands of good muslin Pillow
Cases, torn and ironed, size 42x
36 inches, the grandest pillow
case value ever offered in Port
land on sale today at the
low price of, each
8c
The Largest Trunk and Bag Store on the Pacific Coast on Third Floor
Closing Out All Baby Carriages and Go-.Corts at Prices Below Cost
"Peninsular" Steel Ranges on the Easy-Payment Plan, $5.00 Down, $1.00 Weekly
Great Sale of Hat Drapes
Another great sale of Hat Drapes for today and tomorrow A second special pur
chase to supply those who did not come early enough to share in the great values
of two weeks ago Best styles and colors suita
ble for veils or hat drapes
$5 Hat Drapes at $1.39 Each
10 dozen beautiful Veils and Hat Drapes, of splendid
quality chiffon, silk applique border, leading shades,
brown, tan, gray, blue, etc., 1-yard
lengths, values $3.50 to $5.00, for H
$ 1 .50 Hat Drapes at 45c Each
30 dozen Silk and Chiffon Yeils and Hat Drapes, iy2
yard lengths, in an immense assortment of styles and
colorings ; values $1.00, $1.2d and $1.50 ;
your choice at the low price of, each
45c
Basement Bargains
For today and tomorrow, useful
housekeeping articles at prices
far below actual value.
Carving Set $3.45
3-piece Carving Set, stag handle,
fine steel blades, put up in pretty
box; best $4.50 val., J f
on sale today at, set. .
200 9-inch glazed Jardiniers, as
sorted colors, best styles, regular
$1.00 values ; your choice f-
today and tomorrow tC
Toilet Sets $3.5?
10-piece fancy decorated Toilet
Sets, handsome decoration, value
extraordinary for today and to
morrow only at this
low price p3J
" Peninsular' ' Wood and Coal
Heaters, largest line in the cityt
40 models, all sizes and styles;
" Peninsular' ' Steel Ranges and
Cook Stoves. Easy payments for
parties "of good credit.
Dinner Set Sale
100 Dinner Sets at
manufacturing
prices The best
values you have
shared in this year.
Desirable styles,
pretty decorations,
enough to please
everyone Sale continues one week
Semi-Vitreous Dinner Sets, Drown 'flo
ral decorations, great special value at
100-piece set, sale 7.14 . 60-piece set, sale $4.88
Semi-Vitreous Dinner Sets,' green, floral decorations, gold on
knobs and handles ; great values at
60-piece set. $5.99 100-piece set $9.13
Best English" Semi-Porcelain Dinner Sets, green decorated,
gold on knobs and handles ,
60-piece set $6.57 100-piece set $9.45
Fruit Jars, Jelly Glasses and all Canning Utensils can be pur
chased here at the very lowest prices.
BOYS' SCHOOL CLOTHING
Boys' School Suits in two-piece,
double-breasted styles ; neat
brown and gray plaids and mix
tures, ages 7 to 15 years ; the best
values in
town at., pJv
Boys' School Suits in two-piece,
double-breasted styles ; strictly
all-wool Cassimeres and Che
viots, extra well made; brown
and gray checks, plaids and pret
ty mixtures ; ages 8 to 16 years ;
great values; extra trousers to
match at $1.00 pair,
for, suit
Little Boys' Overcoats in dark
blue and dark Oxford, double
breasted styles, wih belted back,
brass buttons, 2y2 to 8-year
sizes $3.50 to $600
Boys' Reefers in tans, grays, Oxfords,-
2Y2 to 10 years,
at $3.85, $4.50 and $5.00
Boys' Overcoats, belted backs, full
length, grays and mixtures, 6 to
15 years... $3.50 to $10.00
Sept. Sale Blankets
1500 pairs of the best Blankets
money can buy are offered at prices
every housewife is interested in
Hotel and boarding-house keepers
who want good blankets must also
appreciate the saving effected by
taking advantage of this great Sep
tember sale All' the grades offered
are of full weight and size Superior
quality Colored borders Silk
bound and finished.
'
$6.00 Blankets for, pr. . $4.89
$7.00 Blankets for,- pr. . $5.79
$8.50 Blankets for, pr. . $7.19
$10.00 Blankets for, pr. . '$8.50
$11.00 Blankets for, pr.. $9.35
$12.00 Blankets for, pr.. $10.15
$15.00 Blankets for, pr. .$12.65
$20.00 Blankets for, pr. .$16.50
All grades of Comforters at the very lowest prices.
Brass and Iron Beds Big variety of styles, all sizes Springs,
Pillows, Mattresses, etc.
Sole Portland agents for the famous "Ostermoor" patent
elastic felt mattresses, superior to hair mattresses and the cost
about one-half. Third Floor.
Baby Carriages and Go-Carts Below Cost
Our entire stock of Baby Carriages and Go-Carts marked at prices
far below actual manufacturing cost Best models Big variety of
styles Ball bearing, cushion tires, etc. Prices include rod and
parasol Third Floor
All $10.00 Carriages and -Go-Carts $6.15
All $15.00 Carriages and Go-Carts $9.65
All $18.50 Carriages and Go-Carts ...V. $11.65
All $20.00 Carriages and Go-Carts 7 .... $12.45
All $25.00 Carriages and Go-Carts $16.40
All $30.00 Carriages and Go-Carts $19.45
See them before buying elsewhere.
FALL CLOTHING FOR MEN
Smart Fall Apparel for men Clothing, Furnishings
and Hats The best America produces in assortment SSSg
second to none and at nrices 25 aer cent below what iSSmSSlSl
equal grades and fashions cost you at the exclusive
clothing store We've convinced thousands of this
fact the past few seasons We won't have any trou
ble winning you over The old prejudice men had
about buying their outfit in a department store is a
thing of the past Our clothing store is entitled to a
great share .of the credit for wiping out this feeling
always offering the best merchandise, and one price
to all and that the very lowest
New Fall styles in Men's Black Unfinished "Worsted
Custom-Tailored Suits, finest materials; all the latest
modes; $15.00, $18.00, $20.00 up to $25.00.
New, Fall styles in Men's Business Suits, big assortment
of desirable materials and designs at $15.00, $18.00 and
$20.00 a suit.
Men's Belt Overcoats in new models, $17.50 and $20.00.
Fine medium weight Black Overcoats, handsomely tai
lored and perfect fitting, new exclusive styles: $25.00
garments at $20.00.
New Fall Trousers, best materials and patterns, at $4.00
to $8.00 pair.
New Fancy Laundered Shirts, neat patterns, immense
variety. , l
New Golf Shirts, the celebrated "Star," "Cluett" and
"Manhattan" makes,. $1.00 to $2.00 each.v
New Silk Neckwear in four-in-hands, Imperials, English
Squares, solid colors and fancy designs, 50c, 75c, up to
$2.00.
New "Hawes" Hats, Derbys and Soft styles, alwavs $3.00.
New "Stetson" Hats, the best that's made, $3.50j $4.00
and $5.00.
ismrsW mi mm
Lace Curtains at Lowest Prices
Two great lots for this September Sale
Lot 1 Odds and ends of all
kinds of Lace Curtains One,
two and three-pair lots at
$2.50 values for, pair $1.45
$3.00 values for, pair $1.80
$3.50 values for, pair $2.10
$4.00 values for, pair $2.45
$6.00 values for, pair $3.70
Third Floor.
Lot 2 Irish Point Lace Cur
tains, newest and best styles,
immense variety to select from.
$4.50 values for, pair... $2.90
$6.50 values for, pair... $4.10
$8.00 values for, pair... $4.90
$11.00 values for, pair... $5.95
$12.00 values for, pair... $6.95
$14.00 values for, pair... $7.95
Portland's Leading Cloak Store
In fact as well as name The greatest varieties of the best
styles The largest and best department The best value
for your money Supplying satisfactory ready-to-wear
apparel for women and children is our great specialty
Ail we ask is the opportunity of showing you what attrac
tive, reasonably-priced garments we have for your choosing
September Carpet Sale
The great September Carpet Sale is at
tracting the attention of every person
having carpet needs to supply In addi
tion to the exceptionally low prices pre
vailing we offer a special cash discount
of 5 per cent or if payment is made
within 60 days Parties of good credit & Q
call all fcUljc iui cuajr yyccimy yujrmcufco
70c INGRAINS 52c
Melrose Ingrains, in pretty
wood effects, big variety to se
left from; best 75c grade is of
fered during this sale, sewed,
laid and lined, at the
very low price of, yd. .
S 1 .80 AXMINSTERS $ 1 .63
Royal Axminsters, in the new
two-tone and floral effects and
Orientals, very large variety
to select from ; price quoted in
cludes sewing, laying and lin
ing; best $1.80 tf fl"
quality, yard H 8J
$1.10 BRUSSELS 87c
Tapestry Brussels, floral and
Oriental effects, carpet of
beauty and durability; the
grade sold everywhere at
$1.10 the yard; you can buy
here, sewed, laid A7r
and lined, at, yard.... C
$1.25 BRUSSELS $1.15
The celebrated "Windsor Brus
sels, mostly Oriental and two
toned effects, carpet guaran
teed fast color and can be
washed with soap and water;
includes sewing, ri l e
laying, lining, yd. .V
i
i