lO
THE MORNING OREGONIAN. THURSDAY. AUGUST 1, 1907.
HOT DAY ON
THE ROCK PILE
Fifty-four Prisoners Swelter
in the Sun at Kelly's
Butte.
HARD WORK, NO PAY
Breaking Stone With Sledge Ham
mers in Rock Quarry Operated by
County Proves Exhausting Hot
Weather Occupation.
"Ah comes all da way from Green
RIbber, Wyorain', to grit dis 'ere Job. Un,
Bobs! For da Lord. If I's eber gits out
of dis re rockpile I's nebber comin'
'ere agin." '
So spake Mistah Rastus Johnson,
prisoner on the rockpile on Kelly's
Butte, about 3 o'clock yesterday after
noon, as he laid down his 12-pound
sledgehammer, rested irom , mamng
big- ones into little ones," and gazed
earnestly from under his dripping eye
brows at an Oregonian representative.
"What are you in for, Rastus?" he
was asked.
'NawtainV
"Want to come back?"
"Xo-o, sah. Boss. I tells you dis:
When I gits out ah 'ere I takes de
brakebeams for the town farthest 'way
from Portland I can gits; un I never
comes back."
"Treated right here, Rastus?"
"Yes, sah, boss, we is; purty fair,
purty fair. Da 'old man' es squarah
i wid us if we es squarah wid him, un
'he gives us uns de bery debil If we
hain't. Un de grub's good, too. But
' I works 'ere harder un I does on da
; section gang, un dar I gits ma two
dollahs a day for it, but 'ere I gits
nawthln'. Un ya sees dat der big
! white man up der in dat der little
j chicken coop wid dat der big gun?
i If we tries to git away we done gits
1 shot. No. sah, boss; I don't lub
' dis 'ere rockpile. Un I can't .quit,
either. Lordy. boss, it am a hot day!"
The views expressed by Mister Ras
1 tus Johnson seemed to sum up the
'universal opinion held by the 64 pris
oners yesterday at the Kelly's Butte
j rockpile. Breaking stone with sledge
hammers in the broiling glare, right up
against the wall of the quarry that
faced the afternoon sun, the men la
bored under the watchful eye of two
armed guards. Because the day suc
ceeded the- hottest ever known in Port
land, at least in select rockpile circles,
the prisoners were allowed to take it
comparatively easy, and when a man
gave out and sat down in the shade
the powers that be were mercifully
and ofntlally blind.
The End of the Day's Work.
Then the 5 o'clock whistle blew to
knock off, and with clattering wheel
barrows the men came briskly enough
to the gate to wash up, get in line, two
abreast, be counted and marched to
the cellhouse for the night. With
Chief Guard A. S. Briggs, unarmed,
walking In the lead, and with an armed
guard walking along the high plat
forms on each side, the gang tramped
down from the quarry to the yard and
halted to be searched. This was quick
ly done by feeling each man over and
lifting his hat to see if he had any
thing concealed there.
Into the concrete cellhouse they
tramped, talking and even laughing
like any ordinary section gang. Await
ing them were two long oilcloth-covered
tables, piled high with beef pot
roasted, boiled potatoes, bread, rice,
prunes and coffee. Each man is al
lowed all he can eat at each meal. He
helps himself till he is full. Then
came the evening smoke, for each man
is allowed 15 cents' worth of tobacco,
of any kind' he likes, every Wednesday
night. Supper was over at 6. The
lights go out at 9:30. Between these
hours the prisoners can do pretty" much
as they please. Some read, for there
are about 40 books at hand, ranging
from Dickens and Victor Hugo to ordi
nary trashy paper-backs; some play
- games with cards and checkers, some
sing or tell stories, some bathe in the
two porcelain bathtubs always at
hand, and at certain times the "kanga
roo court" is in session. The last fea
ture is a system of Jail government in
stituted by the prisoners themselves,
with which, all sensible Jailers the
world over have little to do, except
in extreme cases, to prevent cruelty.
If a man does not keep himself clean,
or otherwise is offensive to his fellows,
he is tried and various kinds of pun
ishment are meted out. It usually
takes the form of so many "cobs." The
offender is seized, bent over a bunk,
and a piece of .garden hose about three
feet long applied in the same manner
; as the small boy gets the maternal
slipper. Each blow counts as one
"cob." The "kangaroo court" is signif
icant as illustrating the capacity for
self-government of the Anglo-Saxon
race, even down to Its lowest strata.
Dogs Act as Guards.
Besides the 54 prisoners, who are
"In" for from 90 days to 1 years, at
one night watchman, one engineer, one
fireman and three rotkmen. The last
three employes are expert rockmen,
who attend to all the drillinsr. hlARHno-
.and other dangerous . work. Besides
)hR f rri n 1 1 1 v d n ro thrun trto-A utKa
roam around the prison yard at night
between the cellhouse and the high
yard wall. One of these is a small
black spaniel, one is a shepherd, and
the third Is a gigantic, grizzly, sullen
Great Dane, whom the prisoners fear
even more than they do an armed man.
The man might, for some reason, fail
to shoot, or he might miss; but those
iron Jaws of the Great Dane admit of
no argument or delay.
Seven o'clock sharp the year around
one whistle sounds for breakfast. At
8 o'clock another blast sends the men
to work breaking rock till noon. From
12 to 1 comes, dinner. Back to work
they go at 1 sharp, and labor like
Trojans till the now welcome whistle
" toots S. , Another whistle at 6 sends
them from the table to the cells for
the night, and a last good-night and
sweet-dreams shriek, means "lights
out.
The men sleep in double bunks, three
tiers high. The bedding Is clean , and
nlentiful. Three nrlRonprn not fif fnr
heavy labor, keep the cellhouse clean
as a warship, and do the cooking. The
men can bathe as often as they wish.
but are required to take at least one
' bath each week. When a mui is sick
he is sent, if the case is serious, to
the County Hospital. During the past
year, two men have fallen r.lck enough
to be so removed, and one has been
hurt. On Sundays and legal holidays
no work is done. When a man is dis
charged he is taken to the gate and
given 5 cents carfare u.nd advised not
to come back. But some are right
back on the rockpile tgain within any
time from a day to a week, especially
the drug fiends. A thief usually gets
out of town on the first freight train.
The plan was tried once of giving each
discharged prisoner a few dollars to
start him. but experience showed that
he always spent it at the first saloon,
although one man with a more gener
ous nature invested 5 in saws and files
and the next night poked them through
the rockpile. fence at a place agreed
on beforehand. So the 5-cent carfare
system was resumed, and the dis
charged prisoner was left to work out
his own salvation.
Clears City of Criminals.
The Portland rockpile has been In
existence for nearly four years. It is
estimated that its result in clearing
the city of the hobo and criminal ele
ment is equal to that of 12 extra po
licemen. At present, it is under county
control, and the City of Portland pays
Multnomah County 25 cents per day
for each city prisoner on the rockpile,
the same as it costs to board a pris
oner in Jail idleness. To society at
large, the Portland rockpile is finan
cially a paying institution. In 20 days
this month, 3500 square yards of rock
have been, quarried, crushed and
spread on the county roads, at a value
in the bunkers of $1.50 per square yard.
It cost about $50 per day to maintain
the rockpile. Figured out the cost for
the 20 days has been roughly $1000, the
results gross $5210, making a profit
represented in road construction of
$3250, or of something over $160 per
day net. But perhaps" the most profit
able thing about the rockpile, flgute
PICTURES
.fin . - . rvi
LARGE nriLDIXGS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PEJiNOTVER BIXCK, ON WHICH THE TRUSTEE COMPANY IS SOON TO ERECT A BUTLDTNG
TO COSfr NOT LESS THAN $300,000,
All of the buildings on the Morriaon-street frontage of the Pennoyer block have now been removed or torn down, and the work will soon begin on the excavation
for the large structure that i to cover this entire block. The Tnustee Company which has leased the property has not yet announced the character of the im
provement to ie made, but Is still considering several plans. According to the lease, the building Is to cost not less than $300,000. The lease on this property
extends for 50 years. For the first five years a rental of J1500 a month Is to be paid, and this amount will be increased 250 a month at the end of each five
year period.
financially or any way one pleases, is
that Mistah Rastus Johnson and his
kind, including thieves, hold-ups, dope
fiends, perpetual drunkards, wlfe-beat-
ers and other social misfits, prefer to
winter, and especially summer. In
some other city than Portland.
HELD TO THE GRAND JURY
Bartender Thompson Must Answer
to Charge of Embezzlement.
Haecard and weak, with his right arm
in a sling and leaning heavily on Chief
Deputy Probstel. J. T. Thompson, wno
escaped from Detective Joe Day by jump
ing from the train near Cheyenne, Wyo.,
limped into the Municipal Court yester-
' Thompson as He Appeared Id
Court.
day morning to answer the charge of em
bezzlement. Mr. Thompson waived the
preliminary examination and was bound
over to the grand Jury, the ball being
fixed at $2000. It is charged that Thomp-
son, who was a bartender, employed by
"Billy" Winters, robbed his employer of
Jewelry and money amounting In all to
about $3000 when left in charge of the
place. '
Condemns Right-of-way.
A condemnation suit was filed in the
Circuit Court yesterday by attorneys for
the United Railways Company against the
Security Savings & Trust Company. The
complaint alleges that the railway com
pany is building a railway from Portland
to Peak, that Its route is throug.i the
Caruthers' Addition, through which it
wishes to obtain a right of way 100- feet
wide, and that all its negotiations for the
purchase of the property have proved un
satisfactory. The plaintiff prays that
the court will assess the land at Its true
value and permit the purchase of the
right-of-way.
3. T. ' Thompson as He Appeared in
J Court.
OREGON
RIFLEMEN
TO BE SENT EAST
State Militia Sharpshooters
. Will Participate in Na
tional Competition.
ONE WEEK FOR PRACTICE
Team, Which Is to Be Named Today.
Will Leave About August 8 for
Port Clinton, O., Where
Tournament Is . Held.
In consequence of the splendid showing
made by the rifle teams of the Oregon
OF PROGRESS IN THE MAKING OF A GREATER PORTLAND No. 9
huTZ.
National Guard in thfj competition at
Roseburg the past week, a selected team
of 18 men will be sent to Port Clinton,
Ohio, within the next week or 10 days to
participate in the National rifle compe
tition at that point. The efficiency dis
played by the Oregon guard has again
won an invitation from the United States
Government to tnke part in the shoot. By
the terms of its invitation the Govern
ment defrays the greater part of the ex
penses incurred.
Announcement that the guard would
participate tfhls year was made from
National Guard headquarters yesterday
afternoon, following Adjutant-General W.
E. Finzer' decision to that effect. Pre
liminary .' arrangements were at once
taken urp. General FInzer directed that
the guard's best riflemen assemble at
once cm the range at Roseburg and en
gage in practice until August 8 or there
abouts, when the start eastward will be
made. The team will be absent about a
month, during which time all the Na
tional competitions at all ranges will be
taken part in.
The personnel of the team cannot be
stated as yet, although the names of pos
sibly a dozen-of the 18 -marksmen who
will go can be predicted from the list of
those who made the highest scores in the
competition Just closed. The men are now
on the rifle range, having been directed
by General Finzer to remain there Until
instructed to return home or prepare to
go East. Instructions to remain on the
range were telegraphed them last night.
The team will be made up at once, since
it is planned, to give the marksmen as
much time as possible to prepare for the
competition. After -a week on the range
at Roseburg the team will occupy four
days in traveling to Port Clinton. It will
reach there in time to have at least a
week of target practice before the open
ing of the competition. The National con
test extends through a period of about
10 days. The pick of Regular Army and
National Guard riflemen attends these
annual shoots. -
Last year the Oregon guard finished
ahead of 23 teams from state guards and
Regular Army garrisons. This year It is
Intended to take place among the best.
The local guardsmen. In fact, have de
signs on one of the National trophies.
That Oregon stands an excellent chance
of winning not one, but several, of the
competitions is Indicated .by the showing
made on the Roseburg range. Lieutenant
G. E. Houck, winner of the state's gold
medal, made 49 points out of 50 at a range
of 1000 yards. That is ahead of any score
ever made at a Natonal competition at
that range. Private B. F. Shields scored
GO out of SO in rapid-fire shooting at 200
yards. Obviously a better score could not
be made. - And the leaders In the compe
tition all qualified as all-around marks
men, maintaining ' high scores at all
ranges.
Lieutenant Houck is being considered
for the position of team coach. He
proved himself an expert with the rifle
and is regarded as Just the man for the
position. His aggregate score for shoot
ing over all ranges was 268 out of a pos
sible 350.
Among those who seem assured of
places on the team are: Captain R. O.
Scott of Portland. Captain F. B. Hamlin
of Roseburg, Sergeant A. Q. Johnson of
Roseburg, Sergeant J. A. Royal of Port
land, Sergeant V. S. Howard of Port
land, Sergeant F. T. Stewart of Rose
burg, Private B. F. Shields of Roseburg,
Corporal C. S. Jackson of Roseburg and
Private O. Remains of Portland. Most
of these marksmen are now on the range
at Roseburg drilling. The personnel of
the team will be announced possibly to
day. That the Oregon team is going East is
a matter of much satisfaction in guard
circles. During the past two years a
local team has been sent to Seagirt, New
Jersey, with highly encouraging results.
It -has stimulated interest In marksman-
ship and given the Oregon guard a stand
ing it coul not have gained in any other
way.
SENT TO REFORM SCHOOL
Youth Convicted of Stealing News
papers From Subscribers.
In the Juvenile Court yesterday morn
ing . Judge' Frazer sentenced Hymas
Schwartz, aged 15, of 271 Baker street,
to the Reform School at Salem. The of
fense of which young Schwartz was
found guilty was the theft of copies of
The Oregonian from subscribers in South
Portland. F. M. Bowe, of 629 . Third
street, who is agent for the paper in that
district, had had several complaints from
residents of non-receipt of papers.
Schwartz, who was arrested for the same
offense about a year ago, had been sus
pected for some time of these petty
thefts and for that reason Agent Bowe
had been watching him and caught him
In the act early .Tuesday morning.
While escorting Schwartz to the police
station Mr. Bowe was approached by H.
Goldblatt,' of 625 First street, who de
manded that the boy be released. In
the dispute which followed. Goldblatt
struck Bowe and a fight ensued. A war
rant was sworn out for Goldblatt's ar
rest and he was arraigned in the Muni
cipal Court. His sentence was postponed
until this morning.
Young Schwartz has a bad record. He
was twice expelled from the Falling
School for fighting and has also been ar.-
L,
rrEV:
rested for various petty thefts during the
past year. His parents are indifferent to
his welfare and did not appear in court
yesterday.
ON VISIT OF INSPECTION
Colonel W. Duncan, of Volunteers of
America, in Portland.
Colonel W. Duncan, Regimental Com
mander of the Volunteers of America in
the West, is completing a trip through
his district, which comprises Oregon,
Washington, "California and Nevada
Starting from Is Angeles he has trav
eled through the mining camps of Ne
vada to Spokane. Aberdeen, Tacoma and
Seattle. . He is now on his way back to
California, and 1b visiting Portland camp
for a few days. He is to speak at the
Taylor-Street Methodist Church at 8
o'clock tonight.
F. F. MacMurray, who is accompanying
Colonel Duncan on his trip, was formerly
singing evangelist with the late Francis
Colonel Walter Duncan.
Murphy, and is said to be an exception
ally fine singer and organist.
The Volunteers are firmly established
in Los Angeles, a capitalist in the
city having recently erected a large
and handsome building In the down
town district for their use. The
plans were drawn by Colonel Duncan
and his staff. The branches of work In
cluded are the mission hall, coffee club,
men's shelter, reading room, free medi
cal dispensary, provident store and re
lief department.
At Reno, New, Colonel Duncan ne
gotiated for the erection of a large build
ing on property owned by the Volunteers,
the plan and purpose to be similar to the
one in Los Angeles. Colonel Duncan also
conducted the first open-air religious
meeting ever held at Tonapah and Gold
field, Nev. In these he was assisted by
Adjutant and Mrs. J. T. Foulkes, who
now have charge of the work in Port
land. Two Mistakes of Cupid.
It developed yesterday that Cupid had
made two more mistakes. Effle C.
Chase filed suit for divorce In the State
Circuit Court against Fremont R. Chase,
whom she married at Spokane, March 2,
1902, W. J. Huntington applied for a di
vorce from Lydia A. Huntington, whom
he married at Sumas, Wash., in May,
1900. ...
' - 'x
CUSTODY IN DOUBT
Lawyer's Opinion Sought Con
, cerning City Hall.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
Executive Board Would Force Cer
tain Tenants to Vacate Quar
tersMore Room Needed
by Municipality.
Who is the custodian of the City. Hall
the Executive Board, appointed by the
Mayor or the City Council, elected by the
people? That is the problem which pre
sented Itself at a meeting of the Execu
tive Board yesterday afternoon and the
proposition has been submitted to City
Attorney Kavanaugh for an opinion. If
the Executive Board is declared the offi-
i'4
I:
cial landlord of the municipal building
some of the present tenants need not be
surprised if they are ordered to vacate
Among them are the County Assessor and
the Oregon Historical Society.
The question of the custody of the City
Hall building was raised in the reading
of a communication from' the officers of
the Juvenile Court asking to be given
quarters in that building. McPherson
wanted to know who had charge of the
City Hall but no one was prepared to
answer.
"I think it is about time some one was
getting control of this building." said Mc
Pherson. "The question of providing
quarters for the Juvenile Court was be
fore the City Hall committee ot the Exec
utive Board two months ago, but at that
time there were no rooms available and
that condition still exists. The city needs
all the room in its City Hall and I would
favor ousting some of the present tenants
of the building. The County Assessor
and the Oregon Historical Society are in
no way identified with the city and have
no place in a building owned by the city,
especially when the city has use for the
quarters so occupied. The county should
be expected to take care of its own of'
fleers."
Sabln and Greene were also of the opin
ion that the question of the control of
the city building should be settled. Dup
uty Auditor Grutze explained that the
county paid a monthly rental of $53 for
the offices occupied by the County Treas
urer and the County School Superintend
ent. In return for the rooms occupied
by the Assessor, ha said, the Sheriff col
lected city taxes.
"Well,- even if the ceunty does look
after our tax collecting," commented
Mayor Lane, "it would appear that it has
been well compensated for its services,
without considering the question of rental
at all. According to the report of ex
perts the county is about $100,000 behind
in its tax account with the city."
Other members of the Board thought
the authority for regulating the occu
pancy and use of the City Hall was an
important subject and should be decided
at once. By unanimous action a written
opinion was requested from City Attorney
Kavanaugh. '
The Executive Board will hold a special
meeting Friday afternoon to accept a
number of street improvements that have
been completed. At this meeting the
contractors will be ordered paid the bal
ance due them.
MAY CONSIDER COLUMBIA
Government Will Be Asked to Locate
Naval Station on River.
The statement trom Washington that
the Navy Department contemplates the
establishment of an additional Naval
station on the Pacific Coast has caused
the Chamber of Commerce to take up the
matter with the autnorltles at Washing
ton with a view to recommending that
a site on the Lower Columbia River, be
chosen as the new naval base.
Admiral Caps, Naval Constructor, and
Admiral Cowles, Chief of the Equipment
Bureau of the Navy, will soon- leave
Washington on a tour of inspection of
several sites which have been recom
mended for naval stations and the ef
forts of the Portland Chamber Is ex
pected to have the effect of bringing the
Columbia River to the attention of these
Naval officers for consideration in the
choice of location.
The advantages to be gained from the
establishment of a naval base near Fort
land cannot be over estimated. In ad
dition to the large number of mechanics
to be employed, there would be a large
revenue to this city from the purchase)
of supplies.
Davis Breaks His Parole.
It was thought that with the passing
HIS MASTER'S VOICE"
August Victor Records
NOW ON SALE
A list of wonders! Records you must hear,
records that every Victor enthusiast ought to be
familiar with.
Demonstrations all day today and tomorrow;
come in and hear them hear Alice Nielsen and Con
stantino in their great individual records and in
their duets hear the three new Homer records,
the new Gogorza record and the Homer and Abott
duet; hear May Irwin in her four new records, and
any of the rest of the 52 new August numbers.
v Remember, Victor records can be used on any
disk playing machine and remember also that we
have little books, which we give away, containing
pictures of the artists and descriptions of the
records. You should receive one of these everv
month; if 'ou don't, then send us your name.
LITTLE PINS FREE Every lady or gentleman
calling this week will be given a little Victor pin
. containing a reproduction of the Victor dog. Quite
a clever novelty, well worth having.
Among these August records are:
Six Records by Arthur Pryor's Band.
A New Victor Orchestra Record.
A Cornet Solo by Emil Keneke.
A Whistling Solo by Alice Shaw,
'A Violin and Cornet Duet by D'Almaine and Keneke..
A Bell Solo by Chris Chapman.
Three Records by Alice Lloyd, the English Comedienne.
Four New May Irwin Records.
A Duet by Stanley and Macdonough.
A Duet by Collins and Harlan.
A Duet by Miss Jones and Mr. Murray.
Two New Haydn Quartet Records.
A Tenor Solo by Harry Macdonough.
Nine New Red Seal Records by Nielsen and Constantino.
Three New Homer Red Seals. "
Two Witherspoon (basso) Records.
A Duet by Homer and Abott. A Magnificent Gogorza Record.
Sherman Jfpay & Go.
STEINWAY PIANOS VICTOR TALKING MACHINES
Corner Sixth and Morrison Streets
of sentence on the young hoodlums who
assaulted a Japanese near Troutdale July
4 the Incident had closed, but It came up
again yesterday when Deputy Sheriff
Bulger returned from The Dalles, bringing
with him Clarence Davis, a member of
the gang. Young Davis was brought be
fore the Juvenile Court some time ago
and found guilty of contributing to the
delinquency of a minor. . He was sen
tenced by Judge Frarer to serve one year
on the rockpile, but was released on
parole during good behavior. He was
instructed to report to one of the of
ficers of the court at stated intervals.
He was to have reported last Sunday. He
left Portland Saturday night and beat his
way to Umatilla, where he was taken In
hand by the station agent and held untU
officers from The Dalles could arrive.
Davis will probably appear before Judge
Frazer today.
Double .Wedding Solemnized.
A double wedding was solemnized
last night at the home of William E.
MacLeod, near Northern Hill, on the
St. Johns electric railway, his two
daughters choosing life partners. The
couples were Miss Pearl MacLeod and
Mr. A. W. Buchanan and Miss Chassle
M. MacLeod and Mr. R. L DeBott. Rev.
Harry Waltz, pastor of the University
Park Baptist Church, performed the
ceremony in ' presence of a number
Have One Doctor
No sense in running from one doctor to
another. Select the best one, then stand
by him. Do not delay, but consult him
in time when you are sick. Ask his
opinion of
Ayers Cherry Pectoral
V REVISED FORMULA
for coughs and colds,
not, just as he says.
The new kind contains no alcohol
We have no secrets to hidel We pub
lish the formulas of all our medicines.
J. C. AYER CO. Manufacturing Chemists, Lowell, Miss.
of invited guests and intimate friends.
Following the ceremony the entire
party assembled on the lawn, which
had been illuminated with Chinese lanterns.
Plead Guilty and Par Fines.
H. B. Sill and F. G. Lilly appeared be
fore Judge Wolverton in the United States
Circuit Court yesterday and pleaded
guilty to the indictment charging thfem
with participating in the Northwest furni
ture trust. They paid a fine of $10 each.
"Toots" Bryant and his associates of tha
postoffice robber gang, were to have been
sentenced yesterday but on motion of
United States Attorney Bristol the tlma
for Imposing sentence was postponed un
til October 1.
Strikes North Yakima Suddenly.
NORTH YaKIMA. Wash., July 31.
(SpecUl.) The hot weather has come on.
suddenly here after a cool season. . Yes
terday the Government Instrument re
corded C9 degrees in the shade, but today
the record went up to 103 in the shade.
At 9 o'clock tonight the temperature Is
95 and there is no breeze. The health,
of the city is excellent.
PARADE PHOTOS FIESTA.
Ktser Photo Company. Imperial Hotel'
Then use it or