fhmitttf jj (tepittm
M VOL. XLVL-yQ. 14,121. PORTL-LNX), OREGON, MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1906. PRICE FIVE CENTS. ft
NOHOPEFQ MEN
F
E
Flames Rage in Under
ground Galleries.
DEATH LIST IS PLACED AT 1100
Brave Fellow Brings Up Four
teen Bodies, Then Perishes.
CORPSES BURNED TO CRISP
QJroops Surround Mouths of llic Pits
to Keep Buck Frantic Relations
or Those Who Have Lost
Their Lives.
BODinS RECOVERED SLOWLY.
TJie recover?' of bodies Is proceeding
W' slowly. Only GO were brought up
yesterday, but last evening rescuers
reported that a hundred more had been
Aa attempt is being made to reach
the miners entombed in No. Z by way
or pit No. J, but then Is faint hope
ef success in this direction.
The mining company Ik arranging to
take a census of the surroundins: min
ing tillages. In order to ascertain who
if mlsrtng from them, as several com
munities have been almost denuded of
able-bodied men. The funerals win be
Cin Tuesday morning, when services
will be hfld In all the village churches
in the vicinity of the mines.
t
-
PARIS. March 11. The worst fears as
io the enormity of the mine disaster In
Tr Courriercs district of the Pas de Ca
la Is. Saturday morning have been realized
Tho death list numbers 1100 and the whole
of the region stands appalled at the ter
i1We tragedy, which lias broucht-sorrow
to 6000 fathers, mothers, wives and chil
dren.
The last Krcat mine disaster in France
ooanrrcd in 1SS5. when 2P3 persons were
kMod and SO injured, but that and all
others .sink into insignificance before
Courriercs.
Tho vast mortuary camn is under mill
lary guard, 400 soldiers having arrived
there to assist in holding In check the
wvMui ox uiBiranca mourners. For a
time hope had been held out to the peo
ple that tappings on pipes by the impris
oned men had been heard, but craduaiiv
tlrts hope vanished and tho people de
manded admission to see tho bodies, and
von threatened to break their
through the cordon of troops, who hnd
the greatest difficulty in keeping the
orowds from the pit.
Rescuer Perishes In Mine.
Oae man named Sylvester succeeded in
rwtorlng the mine, but he never re
turned. It is believed he groped about
aamao until he was overcome by the
sos and perished. It is reported that
a rescue party numbering 40 has been cut
off by the caving in of one of the gal
leries.
Minister of Public "Works Gauthfer
Minister of the Interior Dubief and the
focrotary of President Fallieres remain
on the ground, endeavoring to comfort
the distressed families of the miners.
President Fallieres has given 52000 to aid
in relief measures. The Ministrv will aAA
a further Hum to this, and the Chamber
or Deputies will be asked to vote $100,000
for tho purpose of alleviating distress.
Ministers Gauthicr and Dubief have re
ceived complete details of the catastrophe
from M. LavaureE, tho director of the
mine.
List or Men Underground.
"Of 1S00 miners who were down in the
pits when the explosion occurred." he
caid, "673 were working in pit No. 4, 4$2
wero in pit No. 3, J571 in pit No. 2 and
J he remainder in pit No. 1. Those rescued
wore taken out as follows:
From pit No. 4, 190; from pit No. 3. 15
escaped through pit No. 11; 450 came up
from pit No. 2 and 74 from pit No. 1. A
number of these were Injured and some
of them have died since. At the present
moment over 1P00 men remain Impris
oned." v
Another director declared that the Im
prisoned men numbered 1100. Minister
Dubief Inquired:
"Have you still any hope?"
To this the director replied: "No, I
believo all of them are dead."
This was whispered into the car of the
Minister in order that his words might
not be overheard by the palefaced min
ers who stood around the mine building
waiting for an official view on the state
of afTalrs.
Graphic Tale of Survivor.
Then the Ministers lietened to a graphic
description of the scene in the mine by
Leon Cerf, one of the men rescued and
who still is suffering from, tho terrible
effects .of his experience.
"I was working with a gang when tho
explosion occurred." said Cerf. "The
foreman immediately shouted for us to
follow him, and. dashing Into a recess
in tho gallery, we were followed by a
blast of poisonous gases which rushed
by, however, without affecting us. Wo
remained there for eight hours, when,
feeling that suffocation was gradually
coming upon us, wo attempted to escape.
"We crawled in single file toward the
shaft, but several ef the men dropped
dead en the way, including ay sea and
the foreman. I carried my nephew or
My back fer 46 aiautse and succeeded ia
HENCH MN
saving him. It took us four hours to
reach the shaft."
Remains Arc Burned to Crisp.
For the time being the mine building
has boon traneformcd Into a mortuary
chamber, and all about in it lie the car
bonlzed and almost unrecognizable bodies
of miners which -were taken there as they
were brought up from the mine. Stricken
relatives arrive at the mine building from
time to time, searching for missing mem
bers of their families, and Indescribable
scenes of grief occurred as women recog-.
nlzed loved ones.
Heartrending scenes, too, are witnessed
about the mouth of pit No. 4, where, in
the presence of Minister Dubief and Gau-
thier the bands of rescuers arc continually
descending and returning with bodies.
The women with children in their arms
attempt to break through the cordon of
troops which forms a lane through which
the body-bearers proceed to the mortuary
chamber. Sometimes the burden consists
of a mere heap of burned flesh and in
nearly every case the body I terribly
lacerated. Only one-half of the bodies
recovered have been identified.
Death of Heroic Lifcsavcr.
Despite the dunger incurred the volun
tecrs, who include a number of those
who were successful in escaping at the
time of the explosion, do not hesitate to
descend the shaft. Some of thrm have
bef n down more than a dozen times. One
of thorn, after having brought up 14
bodies, was suffocated on his 13;n at
tempt, and it Is feared that other fatali
ties among the volunteers will follow as
the air in the mine is still Impregnated
with noxious gases.
A number of the men ensacod in res
cue work have already been brought to
the surface unconscious, and as they
wore driven to their homes In closed car
riages the women followed and broke
the windows
Several miners have come up from No
11. which is connected with nit No. 3
They effected their escape by means of a
ladder, and as they came from the mouth
of the pit they appeared to be bordering
on madness. All of them were more or
less Injured. When asked about their
comrades, one of them said:
"It is horrible. All cf them are dead."
A young mlm-r who escaped from ilt
No. 4. where about 500 men remain, said:
J was working about ZD feet from the
shaft. Suddenly I felt a puff of hot gas
and started toward the shaft. I was half
suffocated and was unable to advance
further because of the fumes. Flnallv.
however, I succeeded in reachincr the cage
ana came up In It,
"After the blast I neither heard nor
saw more of my comrades and I believe
that all in that gallery in whioli I was
woraing are dead."
Another miner said: "It is Indeserih
able. Everything was demolished or has
fallen In. I saw bodies lying In jJles.
My son is bolow."
One rescuer has asserted that he heard
voices in the mine and others found two
horses still living. Tills gives rise to
hope that some of the men are tili liv
ing.
Fierce Flames Follow Explosion.
Replying to an inquiry as. to whether
hope remained for the finding of more
men alive in the mine, an encineer who
had been down the shnft said:
"It is scarcely possible. The star of
the galleries Is such that clearing them
will be a difficult task, while the flames
were so fierce that many of the victims
must have been reduced to ashes."
It is thought hardly possible that manv
bodies will be recovered tomorrow on ac
count of the difficulty of reaching tho
bottom of the pits, the runners on which
the cages descend being broken or benu
The engineers are endcavorinc to dp-
vise means for locating the dancerous
zones in the mine and aeatlng the gal
leries. The shaft of pit No. 3 is com
pletely blocked and the authorities: arc
considering the advisability of dropping
a heavy mass of metal down the shaft,
in order to clear it and thus enable them
to descend and learn the worst.
ARGENTINE PRESIDENT DIES
Dr. Manuel Qulntana Passes Away
at Buenos Ayrcs.
BUENOS AY RES. Mntv'n n n.
Manuel Qulntana. President of the Ar
gentine Republic, died today.
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
Weather.
TESTERDAT'S Maximum temperature. 32
dec.: minimum, 27 dec.
TODATS Occasional Hunt lain or now; not
so enldr easitrv vtnrfr
JtBeitlc.
New York gamblers and minings' rylng to
Anthracite operators deny all propo ad-
icea uy me juine-K-orxenr tnion. rag 1.
Stockholders cast longing eye on big surplus
in Union Pacific treasury. Tape S.
Fatal train wrecks in Ohio and Nebraska,
Foreign.
Over 1000 miners lost in explosion In pits In
France. Tare 1.
Grandnlece of President Van Ruren sends titled
Italian husband to jail, race 1.
No National wddlng rift for Prince Ena.
who lias becon a Catholic Page Z.
Busnlan reactionaries are apparently ursine
National.
Senator Bailey expected to solve the railroad
rate prooiero wiui amendment. Fare 3.
Representatives will discuss restriction of ex
penses oi inree orancnes or tne Uovernment.
Face 3.
Change said to be contemplated la the Pres-
larnta tamneu rare 2.
Pscinr Coast.
Freak rtorm la reneral all over the Pacific
onnweiu rage J.
Mayor-elect Moore, of Seattle. r"fun to stand
sponsor tor municipal onnersiup. Fage 4.
Marion voters' have many to chocs from for
the tate Ierlsiature. Face 4.
Hcrrlek Hall, at Pacific University, is de
stroyed by are. l'age .
8pert.
Garvin expects to come to an agreement with
McCredie- Page 15.
Portland and Yldakjr.
Fire destroy entire block in P.u Johns, and
for tile time the whole business- section is
e.nda&cered. Pare 1.
Labor party baa itresueaa day in convention.
Face 8.
Portland firemen kept busy responding to
alarms, rage .
Colonel FltzGeraid declares the San of Banal
una ia me xeaeian retHraed to earth.
Pace IS.
Colonel Hawkins death cauae for jnucfa tor
row bi Portland. Page 8.
Rabbi Landau talks of tke mtsrepreeeatatleR
of the Jew In literature. Page 8.
Police court lax. declare Dr. Wlleea la feU
semes. Page ft.
Unprecedented weather far Marafe iHtt Port
land with Men winds a4 extreme eeM.
Page 14.
TlteaM ia Uw'xalyHa et tke Hr. Fa S.
CLERGY IS ALLIED
WITH GAMBLERS
Intent on Putting an End to
Racetrack Betting in
New . York.
MORALITY AND REVENGE
Tjayiiig of Wagers Now Is Illegal In
the Empire State Everywhere
Except Where Swift Steeds
Strive for Mastery.
NEW YORK. Marcii 11. (Special.)
Politics makes strange bedfellows.
and the most unique alliances are fre
quently made because of mutual In
terests. But the combination of forces
to down racetrack gambling- Is some
thing that nas never been seen in New
York.
Poolroom keepers and ministers!
That Is the alliance which has caused
the public to sjt up and take notice.
Tho ministers are actuated by a de
sire; to suppress gambling of every de
scription; the poolroom men are eager
only to obtain revenge.
Gambling' is Illegal in New York
State, unless-you go to the racot racks
If a man pays an admission fee of
from $1 to J3, he can bt all th money
he can bog. borrow and steal, and no
body will Interfere with him. but If he
ventures Into si poolroom he Is likely
to be clubbed, arrested and fined.
Governor Gives mi Illustration.
This year a serious effort Is being
made to deal a death blow to racetrack
gambling-, and a bill to that effect has
the cordial and public support of Gov
ernor Higgins.
"I cannot see." he says, "why some
thing- that is legal on one side of tho
fence, should be illegal on the other.'
In this he was paraphrasing- an ar
gumcnt which Anthony Comatock has
made with considerable effoct, and
which shows the utter hspocrisy of the
prosnnt law.
"If I sat on the fence around si race
track course," he said, "and with my
right hand accepted the cash for a bet
from A Inside the fence and with my
left hand took money from B. outside
jtnc fence my right-iMtd action would
be perfectly lawful, while my left hand
would -b committing a felony."
. And. this is precisely the situation
that prevails at present.
The bill now under consideration in tho
Legislature repeals what is known as the
Pfircy-Gray law. which stipulates that
bets inside a racetrack arc legal. The re
peal measure Is warmly supported by or
ganizations of ministers, and good gov
crnmcnt clubs all ovor the state, who
have urged the passage of legislation "on
the ground of morality."
Black and Checks Hobnob.
The poolroom men take another view
of the case. A day or so ago, on the
Empire State Express, two men got Into
Conversation. One was garbed in black.
the other In a gay chocked suit, with a
diamond the size of a walnut In his tic
"I am going to Albany," confided the
man in black, "to urge the repeal of the
terrible racetrack gambling bill."
"So am I," retorted the roan in checks.
"My dear friend," cried the man in
black. Joyfully. "I am so glad. I am a
member of the Ministers Alliance, of
New York, and I will appeal to the hearts
of the committeemen."
"And I," replied the other, "am in tho
poolroom business, and will appeal to
their pockets. If we guys can't do busi
ness I don t see why any other guys
should. You work the moral end of. It,
and 111 look after the real business."
The racetrack men arc making the bit
terest kind of a fight, and declare that
MIW. WHITF.I.AW HEII). WHO
WOrtn PRICELESS JEWELS AT
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.
5 -a
Mrs. Whitrlaw Held, whose diamonds
outshone the Jewels worn by other
women In the House of Lords at the
ojsenlnr of the British Parliament. Is
the wire of the American Ambassador
to the. court of St. Jam. She was
Elisabeth Mills, daughter of D. O.
Mills, and was married to Mr. Held
April 26. 1SSL She has two children,
Ogdea Mills RekS and Jcaa Templeton
Reia. Mrs. Held Is noted as a hostess,
not only at New Tork. Washington
aad the celebrated Ophlr Farm, oa
the Iftulaon tint .l.n ( T nn t
. ... -vmwwu, MilcrQ
recently she was one of the most popu
lar women at a reception riven by
the Marchioness of Lassdowne.
Mrs.
HeM's sedaJ
taleats are assay and
varied.
''s' "jj
i .
It II ... . .
EVENTS OF THE COMING WEEK, t I I I L ft! V
.EVENTS OF THE COMING WEEK.
Fermlnc New Frraeh Ministry.
Jean Sarrien. bavin r undertaken the.
formation oi a MIntery in nieces
alon to that of M. Rouvier, which was
defeated in the Chamber of Deputies
last week, interest in French affairs
win center in tho selection of indl.
vidua! members of tho Cabinet and
In the chango which Is likely to rnult
In the policy relative to the applica
tion of the law providing for the sep
aration of church and state. It was
through the vote of one faction fa
vorlnr a. more rigorous administration
of the law. and of another element
which held that the ktw wait beln; en
forced in an oppressive manner, that
tho Rouvier Mlntetry was defeated.
Leon Bourseols has already accepted
the Ministry of Forelsn Affairs, ami
as bis views are known to be In gen
eral accord with tbcee of M. Rouvier.
no change In the French attitude 'rw
gardinc Moroccan reforms is to be
anticipated.
ConceaIon Expcctedat Algeclra.
The outlook'at'AlRWlraPtS'TawaWe
to a pacific adjustment of the Fraixw
Germsy "controversy. Conciliation Is
apparently In the air, and the Indira
tioas arc that mutual concessions will
be made in the matter of the Moroc
can bank, after which the police querv
tten will come up. with prospects much
In favor of a satisfactory adjustment.
CriftU In Con! Mlnlnc Situation.
The week should xve a decision, one
way or the other, of the question of
a strike of coal miner- in both the
anthracite and the bituminous fields.
The operators havln- sent to the min
ers their reply to the demand of tba
United Mineworkers of America, in
which they reject the proponalrt f tho
anthracite workers, the mlntrs will
probably go into conference Immedi
ately, and their decision ought to be re
ported soon and the subject of a strike
settled.
A a direct result ef Prudent
Roosevelt letter to President Mlteh
II. a special meeting of the llalfd
Mineworkers of America will assemble
In Indianapolis. March 15.
Conference of American Universities
Fifteen unlvcrrttle of th!. country
will be represented at tke seventh con
ference .f the Association of Ameri
can Universities at San Franetao,
March H-u. Among the delegate
who nil! mke part in the 'discussions
arc: President Renjomln Wheeler, of
the University of California: Prtfessor
David Starr Jordan, ef the Lelaad
Stanford University: Profcjror William
Jam en. of Harvard; Theodore Woolsey.
of Tale, and Andrew F. White, of
Princeton.
ConuInr Reform Contention.
A National Consular Referra Conven
tion will be held In WaiOMnsten. March
15. Do'sxate from varleu cltlM and
chambers of comment will be present
and an intercsUn; meeting Is antici
pated. the passage of the bill win tn
ing dead as a door niii in .
an Illustration of the magnitude of the
TV. "owing list of cash prizes,
paid to owners of winners at the various
races In the state last year, is of Interest.
erpn.ai nay track
Belmont track
oTl.-VO
3iu.C0rt
32T..4M
2S.1.840
129.WVI
Graveend track '.'.I'.'.'.
nrirhton mMr .......
Saratoga track..."'.
Jamaica, track
Aqueduct track
Total
THREE LOXEnfiAV
.?C.10I,5.V)
This Is exclusive of the valuable rlnt
distributed as trophies In many of the
events.
What It Costs the Public.
On the other hand, enemies of raeiiir
have prepared figures showing that the
tracks cost the people of the state some
thing like UCOOI.OW a year, that hundreds
of embezzlements can Iks traced directlv
to this one cause, and that evervbodv
.would be wealthier and happier If all the
tracks in the state were razed to the
ground.
Badng men admit that they cannot
continue in business If the gambling i
cut off, and declare that defeat here will
sound the death knell of racing all over
the United States. They are brinrins-
powerful pressure to- bear, and In the
cities public opinion Is generally with
them.
'We will have a solid "city vote, and
will buy up enouch countrymen to give a
majority." is the way they size un the
situation.
And while they arc working tho minis
ters an praying and the poolroom rrwm
are hustling. It Is a peculiar combination
all around, -and the final outcome is In
doubt.
But the racetrack men are not worrvln-
hnlfvs much as are their foes, and they
arc men better qualified to gaugo legisla
tive sentiment, and know how to con
trol IL
JUL FOR TITLED HUSBAND
ITALIAN" COUNT IS CONVICTED
OP ADULTER!-.
Complaint Made by American, the
Grandnlece of President
Van Burcn.
GENOA. March 11. On pnmnblnt if
hlswife. who was Edith Van Burcn, of
New York, and whose brother is the
American Consul at Nice Count di
Castetmenardo was today convicted of
adultery and sentenced to three
months' Imprisonment and to pay the
costs of the action. The Count has
taken an appeal frdm the verdict of
tho court.
The Countess di Castelmenardo is a
daughter of the late General Van Bu
rea and u great-grand niece of Presi
dent Martin Van Buren. She was mar
ried in London In 1903 to Count Vesai
chlo Gurgl di Caatclmeaardo, who Is
a son of the Duchess Tortora Brayda
di Belvedere Giuditta. Ours dl Castet
senardo, of Naples;
Fire in Texas Town.
AMARILLO. Tex.. March 11: The
Carson bulldlag. - the largest in the
city, whs totally destroyed by Are early
t44&3e Xrf&9f ar $1&$949
ULII
MADE BY MINERS
Anthracite Operators Favor
Continuation of Methods Es-'
tablished by Commission.
SUGGEST THREE-YEARTERM
Contention Is Made That Conditions
Do Xot Warrant Any or the
Changes Asked for by the
United Mineworkers.
NEW YORK, March 11. The proposals
of the United Mineworkers of America
for a readjustment of wages and condi
tions in the anthracite coal fields, as a
whole, have boen denied by the commit
tee representing the anthracite operators.
As a counter proposal, the operators sug
gest that the awards made by the anthra
cite coal strike commission, the principles
upon which they are established by the
commission and the methods established
for carrying out their findings and
awards, shall be continued for a further
term of three years from April 1. lf.
The present agreement terminates March
31 of this year. '
Announcement of the anthracite oper
ators decision and their counter pro
posal was made tonight in a long, formal
statement, which was given out for pub
lication. In this statement, which In
eludes the correspondence on the subjects
at issue between President John Mitchell
of the United Mlneworkrs. acting for the
miners, and George F. Baer. president of
the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron
Company, for th operators, discusses the
miners proposals in detail.
In every Instance the contention Is made
by the o porn tors either that the conditions
In the coal fields do not warrant the
chango proposed by the miners, or that
the questions at Issue already have been
passed upon by the strike commission.
Slund for an Open Shop.
The demand of tiie miners that the op
rators enter Into an agreement with the
union it declined on the ground that the
antnracite operators "stand unalterably
for the open shop, and again decline to
make an agreement with the United
jimoworscr. an organization controlled
by a rival Industry."
Of the demand for an eight-hour day.
the statement says the operators know of
no change In conditions that can be used
to sustain the renewed demand for a re
duction In hours: declares that the execu
tion of the strike committee that the re
duction from ten to nine hours should not
result in any decrease In the output of
tho mines has not been realized, and
adds:
We might Justly say that with the experi
ence ef the ia.it three years the ten-hour day
ahouW We restored, but we are wlllinr to
abWe by the decision, of the commlMlon.
Thp proposal that a uniform scale of
wages be established In the anthracite
fields is met by the operators with the
reply that this would be Impracticable,
by reason of the varying capacities of
the workmen and the varying conditions
existing In tho region aud at the col
lieries.
Advanced Wages, Higher Coal.
"We cannot increase wages without ad
vancing the price of coal, and we are not
willing to advance the price of coal." Is
the roply to the demand for a general in
crease In wagos.
The request that the operators shall col
lect from each employe certain stated
sums for" the support of the mineworkers'
union is denied, on the ground that, "as
a matter of policy we would not make
such an agreement as you inquest, and as
HENRY 31. BEARDSLEY. Y. 31. C. A.
PRESIDENT. NAMED FOR
.MAYOR AT KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY. March 10. (SpeciaL)
Henry M. Beardsley. who has been
nominated for Mayor by the Republi
can, la president of the local Y. M.
C A., and has been a member of the
upper bouse of the Common Council
atnee lSCO. He was born la Ohio la
l&SO and lived for a while with his
parents at Champaign, 21L In 1879 he
was graduated from tho -University of
nilnour. then became a tutor ia the
university, and In 1362 -nras admitted
to th bar. Mr. Beardsley came to this
city u ISM and entered into a law
partnership with Alfred Gregory. Ia
religious work he always has taken aa
active part, and for several year he
has bea the executive oC the Y. M.
a a.
a matter of law we are not permitted to
make It."
The operators decline to agree to any
change in the board of conciliation as
established by the anthracite coal strike
commission, taking the ground that the
system proposed by the miners would
simply involve the creation of a series of
minor boards, whose decisions might be
conflicting, and from which appeals would
have to be taken, thereby creating- more
delay than now exists. The complaint of
the miners that the board of conciliation
does not act promptly the operators de
clare to be not warranted by the facts.
The demand for a new sliding wage
scale is denied on the ground that the
sliding scale fixed by the anthracite coal
strike commission covers practically all
the propositions In the proposed new
scale.
Would Stick to Present System.
In conclusion, the statement says:
It has 'been our hope and. wo trust, the
public expectation as well, that the effect
of the exhaustive Investigation and Hndlnss
of the distinguished citizens who constituted
the anthracite strike commission, would be to
establish a Just and permanent adjustment
of the relations between the operators and
their employes. Therefore,. wc regret the sug
gestion that an entirely new and untried sys
tem should be made which is only to last
one year.
It is not to the interest of employers and
employee, nor of the public, to have the min
ing buslnesM. as well as the general business
and comfort of the people, eeriously disturbed
by these yearly contention.
Neither can stand these progressive and
enormous increases in the cost of the produc
tion or anthracite coal, followed necesjarily
by corresponding increase in the price.
It ki particularly fortunate therefore that
exlstlntr conditions have all been the result
or arbitration by third persona; that neither
party can ear that it ha tint hn.t win.
slderatioc There can be no doubt that the
good of all concerned will be served beat by
adhering to the results thus reached.
Demands of Mineworkers.
The demands of the mineworkers.
which were prepared by a committee of
seven, wun jonn Jittcheli as chairman.
were forwarded to President Baer, chair
man of a similar committee representing
the anthracite operators February
They sought to provide for an agreement
between the representatives of tho United
Mineworkers of America and the various
anthracite operating- companies that cer
tain wages, rates, hours of labor and
conditions of employment should become
effective April 1. 1MJ. and continue In ef
fect until April 1. 1907.
The proposals Included the establish
ment of an eight-hour day for all nersons
covered by the agreement: a readjust
ment of wages with an increase of 10
per cent above the award mado by the
strike commission for contract miners; a
new sliding scale providing for an in
crease of 1 per cent In wages for all mine-
workers affected by the agreement for
each increase of 3 cents In the aver
age price of coal in the sizes known as
grate, egg. stove and chestnut, sold at
or near New York above W.30 ner ton.
the rate of compensation in no case to
be Iesa than that fixed in the agreement;
the recognition, of-a mine committee from
the union with full authority to take un
with the officials of a company any dis
pute or grievance which may arise at a
colliery.
Reference or Grievances.
In case of a failure of the mine com
mittee and the officials of the company
to bring- about a settlement, the erlev
ance, under the plan proposed by tho
miners, would be referred to the offl
clals of the district, who would take the
matter up with the general superintend
ent or manager of thecompany for In
vestigation of tho failure of these nffl
cers to agree, the complainants then
might present the grievance and the com
panies answer to board of conciliation.
It was proposed that the whole anthra
cite coal region bo divided into three dis
tricts and that the bourd of conciliation
be made 'tip of four representatives from
each of these districts, two mombers from
each district to be chosen by the miners
and two by the operators. In event of
tho board falling to reach an agreement
upon any grievance. It was proposed that
they then should select an arbitrator, to
whom the grievance should be submitted
for prompt decision.
Rules for the Employes.
The demands also provide that each
employe be given an itemized pay state
ment at least ono day before pay day;
that a discharged employe have the rluhr
to present his grievance in the same man
ner as provided for In the case of
other grievances: that no person he re
fused employment or In any other 'vay
dissrimlnated against on account of their
membership In any labor organization:
that the companies collect from each em
ploye such amounts as mlKht he Ievfrvr
by their organization monthly, the
amounts thus collected to be turned over
to an authorized committee at the col
liery: that all employes who are required
to work a safety Lamp should receive 10
per cent extra. In addition to the rceular
wages or prices, and that the violation
of any provisions of the agreement either
by tho employers or the employes should
not Invalidate any of Its provisions.
Mitchell Gives 3IIners' Reasons.
President Mitchell, actinr for thA min
ers' committee. In a letter to the com
mittee of operators, outlined the reasons
upon which the domands of the miners
were based as follows:
We favor a uniform scale of
paid by the day, hour or week, because of the
fact that men nerformlne orecliu.lv th
character and. indeed, the same amount of
jaoor. cannot wort with any degree of con
tentment while the comDensatlon mvir.
them la not uniform. At the present time
thte condition exists in the anthrax
We feet that the proposition whioh we have
submitted, following uniform rates for simi
lar classes of tabor, will appeal favorably to
the member of your committee and that the
ratea themselves are entlrelr consarraMv
not In excess of rates paid to man performing-
pracucajtj-. n not exactly, use same cla&a of
labor In bituminous mines.
We propose an Increase of 10 nr tit in v.
rates paid to contract miners for several rea
sons First The general industrial, commer
cial and trade conditions of the country Jus
tify an increase of wages to all classes of
labor. The prosperity of the coal-carrying
reads la nnprecedented. aa is dtmnnitnt
by the reportsd earnings and the enhanced
vaiue or. laeir stoexs.
Standard of Eight-Hour Day.
v7e favor aa eight-hour workday because
eight heura Is the standard working- day of
coalmine workers in nearly all the bituminous
districts of oar cofmtry, as well as la many
ef the mlalac district of Great Britain and
Out ceatteeat. and eight bears is aa lone am
a maa can work In & coal mine, withoat doing.
DISASTROUS FIRE
IN ST. JOHNS
WholeBusinessSection
Was Threatened.
AN ENTIRE BLOCK IS BURNED
High Wind Adds to the City's
Peril.
SEVERAL MEN ARE HURT
Loss Is Estimated, at About Eight
Thousand Dollars Only by He-
roic Erforfc Is Progress of.
Plonics Stopped.
ST. JOHNS THREATENED.
The entire City of SL Johns was
seriously threatened by fire between
the hours of 7:45 and 0 o'clock last
evening, when a blaze, starting over
Elliot's drug store, spread rapidly to
the adjoining structures on the same
block, and In a very short space of
time the whole block was ablaze. The
volunteer fire department worked hero
ically to Have the rwt of the city, and
that this was accomplished In the face
of the high east wind prevailing Is
regarded by the citizens of that vicin
ity as little short of marvelous.
The total loss by the Are Is esti
mated at SS00O. which Is covered by
Insurance to about half that amount.
Fire last night destroyed a whole block
of business houses in St. Johns, causing
a loss of about JSC0O, of which $4300 was
covered by Insurance. For three hours
the fire department of the citizens of St.
Johns fought the flames, which threat
ened to devastate the entire city, and it
was only by the hardest kind of work
that the fire was confined to the block in
which it originated.
The- fice was first discovered .over a
building occupied by Elliot's drugstore. It
is thought that It was started by two
boys smoking cigarettes. "Within, a few
minutes after it broke out of tho rear of
the building the flames enveloped tho
whole structure. A high wind was blow
ing, and it fanned the flames until thoy
spread to adjoining- structures. Building
after building caught fire from the
myriads of firebrands which filled tho
air, and for a time, it was thought that
the whole town would be destroyed.
Stop Progress of Fire.
Men manned buildings across the 3trcet
from the burning block and prevented
the flames from spreading- further. A
bucket brigade was formed, and this alonn
saved the business blocks which surround
the one that burned. The boat was so
intense that plateglass windows across
the street from the fire were broken.
The fire department of SL Johns did
valiant work, and those who were present
at the fire are unanimous In their praise.
Many of the firemen risked their lives In
getting to advantageous positions from
which to train water from the hose upon
the burning buildings.
The losses and Insurances were: Elliott's
drugstore, loss J4000. Insurance $2000; va
cant building owned by H. "W. Light, loss
$-"000. Insurance 51000; two-story buildlnjr
occupied by Hazelwood Confectioner!"
Company, loss 52000. insurance 51000; office
building occupied by Dr. Rossitcr.
Spread to Adjoining Buildings.
From the Elliot place tho flames com
municated to the adjoining empty build
ing belonging to II. "W. Light, of Salem.
and about this time the fire fighting bri
gade came into action and endeavored to
quell the fury of the flames, but their
efforts were fruitless in the face of tho
high wind prevailing, and seeing the fu
tility of wasting energy and water on tho
burning structures, the chief sent his
men to save adjoining property and the
buildings across the street- In this work
they were joined by almost the entire
population of the city, for every one as
sisted as members of bucket brigades,
and In the face of Imminent danger of
Instant death from contact with many
live wires hanging loose, the gallant band
worked with might and main to save tho
business section of their city and the ad
joining- homes of the citizens.
Four Families Escape Flames.
Over the Hazelwood confectionery store.
is a rooming house which was occupied
by four families, all of whom escaped
without Injury and managed to save a
few of their effects, through assistance
rendered by friends.
The fire fighters atter vainly endeavor
ing to save the Hazelwood structure on
one side and tho office of Dr. Rosslter on
the other of the burning buildings,, turned
their attention to the saving of the St.
Johns bank building. "Wilson's jewelry,,
store, the St. Johns Hotel and other
vmallor buildings, which were separated
from the furnace by a street 100 feet wide.
In most of these buildings the glass win
dows facing east are cracked and In some
Instances shattered by the heat.
Dlckner's bbj department store was se
riously threatened for a time, and it was
while engaged in carrying water up a
ladder to the roof of this building; that
Charles Cates, a member of the fire de
partment, met with an accident through
the breaking of the ladder, which, precipe
itated him to the pavement, and resulted
23
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