. Jmg iji wwitaw. '
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1908.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
VOL. XLVIII. XO. 15,003.
I
01$
KILLED BY
Ei
Towns of Sicily
and Calabria
Devastated.
MESSINA LAID IN RUINS
Tidal Waves Swamp Cities and
Cover Dead With
Mud.
HUNDREDS OF BOATS LOST
People Flee to Churches and
Pray to Saints for Mercy.
LIVE IN MOUNTAIN CAVES
Pope Pins Wishes to Visit Scene and
Relieve People, but Physicians
Forbid Southern Italy May
Be Totally Destroyed.
ROME Dec. 28. The three provinces of
Cosensa, Catansaro and Reggto dl Cala
bria, comprising the Department of Cala
bria, which forms the southwestern ex
tremity of Italy, or the "toe of the boot,"
were devastated today by an earthquake,
the far-reaching effects of which were
felt almost throughout the entire coun
try. The town of Messina, in Sicily, was
partly destroyed, and Catania was Inundated-
In Messina hundreds of houses
have fallen and many persons have been
killed.
May Destroy Southern Italy.
Owing, however, to the fact that tele
Craphic and telephonic communication
was almost completely destroyed, it is
Impossible to obtain even an approximate
estimate of the damage, but reports re
ceived here up to a late hour tonight In
dicate that the havoc has been great and
the destruction to life and property more
terrible than Italy has experienced In
many years. The uncertainty of the sit
: uatlon for many thousands has filled all
Italians with the deepest distress, for
: they still have fear that the day may
come when the part of the country which
teems to have been most blessed by Na
ture will be destroyed by the blind forces
of that same Nature, which nearly 19
centuries ago overwhelmed Pompeii and
Herculaneum.
AH reports show that the present catas
trophe embraces a larger area than th
earthquake in 1906. The tidal wave which
followed the earthquake shocks on the
eastern coast of Sicily sank vessels and
Inundated the lower part of Catania.
It is known that a number of persons
were killed at that place, but the rushing
waters carried everything before them
and caused surh an Indescribable con
fusion that it will be Impossible for some
time to estimate the damage and the lives
lost.
Immense Disaster at Messina.
Kor a period the town of Messina arid
the whole province of Reggio were com
pletely isolated through interruption of
the telegraph and telephone and by land
slides that obstructed the railroads. Ab
solutely nothing was heard from Reggio
throughout the day, while the first news
from Messina came in the form of a
dispatch which a torpedo-boat flying at
full speed along the peninsula carried
from point to point, always finding the
wires down, until It reached Nivotera,
where the telegraph lines were found to
be Intact. From this point the dispatch
was sent.
It briefly stated that the situation was
desperate, and after summarizing the
Immensity of the catastrophe, ended with
the announcement that Captain Passino.
commander of the local station for tor
pedo-boats, was buried under the debris,
after having, with other officials, per
formed heroic work In trying to save
others.
The Italian Government proceeded en
ergetically to relieve the widespread dis
tress, concentrating at the points of
greatest need troops and engineers. Mem
bers of the Red Cross were dispatched to
various places, and camps with provi
sions were Immediately prepared, all
available railway lines and warships be
ing used for their transport.
Thousands Are Killed.
The City of Messina has suffered prob
ably more than any other place, the
latest Information, coming directly from
that quarter stating that two-thirds of
the town was destroyed and several thou
sand persons killed.
The steamers Washington and Monte
bello, which were In that harbor, later
proceeded to Catania, loaded with in-
(Concluded on I'g 6-
IHOIMES
MOTHER SHOT DEAD
BY 9-YEAR-OLD SON
T.AI PICKS l"P GXTS FATHER
LEAVES OX TABLE.
3Irs. J. G. Morris Victim of Tragedy
In Farmhouse Xear Gor
vallis. CORVALL.IS, Or., Dec. 2S. (Special.)
Mrs. J. G. Morris was accidentally snot
and killed at her home one and a half
miles north of this city Sunday after
noon. A charge from a shotgun In th
hands of a 9-year-old son, who did not
know the gun was loaded, severed the
large artery of the right leg and the
woman bled to death in a very short
time.
This fatality Is the direct result of the
forgetfulness of Mr. Morris, the victim i
hiishanri- who. on returning from a hunt
ing trip, laid his loaded gun on the table.
The young son. who. It seems, had often
been permitted to clean the nrearm
nlrked it ud for that purpose. The gur
went nft and Mrs. Morris, who stood
by the stove, less than ten feet distant
rm-eived the full charge.
It is said that Mr. Morris is all but
insane over the tragedy. Mrs. Morris
was about 8 years of age and the mother
of a family, the majority of the children
being grown.
HILL GETS TEXAS LAND
Report Is Current That Big Merger
of Ranches Has Been Formed.
DENVER, Dec. 28. The Post today
says :
"According to private dispatches re
ceived In this city this morning, a
merger of Texas ranches in the terri
tory penetrated by the Colorado &
Southern Railroad is being formed and
will comprise 7.000,000 acres of land
worth $73,000,000. James J. Hill, who se
cured control of the Colorado & South
ern. Is named as the interest behind
the move.
G. W. Holdredge. general manager of
the Burlington road, accompanied by.
Mr. Maders, an Eastern attorney, ar
rived in Denver today to inspect the
terminals of the Colorado & Southern
and investigate the operating condi
tions of the road. He could not be
seen (luring the -day. The Post says
that, beyond the fact that immense
quantities of timber are known to be
located on tho land Involved in the
projected merger, nothing Is known
locally of the scheme.
RIOT LEADER ENCAMPED
Berry Simpson and Gnard En
trenched in Mountains.
DANVILLE, Ky., Dec 28. Berry Simp
son, the leader in the troubles at Stearns,
Is stationed at Point Rock, In the moun
tains. He dispatched two of his sympa
thizers to Captain Henri Waddell today
and agreed to surrender provided one
Warren, one bf the soldiers, be sent for
him.
Reuben West, wounded In the Christ
mas day battle. Is with Simpson, and 75
desperate men are also in Simpson's
camp; and the officers fear to send young
Warren. The messengers were told to
tell Simpson to come to Stearns. It was
later stated that he would be there, but
he failed to appear.
Sheriff Crawley Is acting in conjunction
ith the soldiers and United States of
ficials.
RENO GETS ITS OWN RATE
Sugar Shippers Deliver Ultimatum
and Railroads G(ive In.
RENO, Nev., Dec 28. Reno mer
chants have como out victorious in
their demand of the railroad company
for better rates on sugar from San
Francisco to Keno. Sometime ago the
railroad company announced a rate on
sugar from San Francisco to Ogden of
fi5 cents per 100 pounds. Shortly after
the rate from San Francisco to Reno
was fixed at 75 cents, 20 cents more
than the cost of shipping twice the
distance to Ogden.
Reno shippers demurred, served no
tice that they would tender the com
pany a rate of 55 cents and no more,
and that in case any trouble occurred,
an action in replevin would be brought.
Local railroad officials took the mat
ter up at headquarters, with the result
that the rate from ban f rancisco to
Reno has been fixed at 5a cents.
FOUR MUSIC HALLS SHUT
Sunday Performances Bring Grief to
Xew York Theaters.
NEW YORK. Dec. 2f. As the result
of the recent investigation under the
direction of Mayor McClellan of alleged
violations of the law covering Sunday
performances in the theaters. Corpora
tion Counsel Pendleton ordered the draw
ing up of papers for the revocation of
the licenses of the Victoria, the Alham
bra. the American and Hnrtlg and Sea
man, One Hundred and Twenty-flfth-street
theaters. These play houses are
alleged to have been persistently violat
ing the Sunday law.
SUSPECTS UNDER ARREST
Two Men Believed to Know Why
Roy Vestal Disappeared.
KLAMATH FALLS. Dec. 28. Spec1aI.)
Arrested pn a charge of larceny, but be
lieved to know something of the disap
pearance of Roy Vestal, of Bagle Point.
Charles Lisbey and Alfred Wallace are
held In Jail In this city.
Roy Vestal disappeared Thanksgiving
day. J
NEW EVIDENCE
FAVOR OF
Two Witnesses Give
Aid to Defense.
GRIME NOT-PREMEDITATED
Trip to Long Island Made to
Look at Property.
ANNIS NOT SOUGHT THERE
Accidental 3Ieetlng Resulted In
Shooting, and Second Witness
Declares Thornton Hains Took
Xo Part in Fatal Gunplay.
FLUSHING. N. Y., Dec 28. The de
fense scored two material points in the
evidence developed in the trial today of
Thornton J. Hains, which the defendant's
counsel assert disprove the charge that
the author was a principal with his
brother. Captain Peter C Hains, Jr., in
the killing of William E. Annis at the
Bayslde Yacht Club, in Little Neck Bay.
An exhaustive cross-examination of the
two witnesses for the defense left the
main points of then- testimony unshaken
and Thornton Hains returned to Long Is
land Jail tonight declaring that the evi
dence proved his Innocence.
Testimony that Thornton Hains did not
go to Bay City "to kill Annls, but to look
at property, was testified to by Charles
Weaver, sales agent of the Hains Con
crete Mixer Company, who further de
clared .that it was at his urgent invita
tion that the Hains brothers, on August
15, postponed a trip to Sandy Hook and
went to Bayslde to inspect real estate.
Weaver almost sobbed on the stand when
he said that he felt responsible for send
ing the Hains brothers on the Journey
that ended In the death of Annis.
Hains Seemed Irrational.
The mental condition of Captain Hains
previous to the shooting was testified, to
by Mr. Weaver, who asserted that from
the actions of the Army Captain he be
lieved him to be irrational.
The second material point brought out
by the defense today was drawn from
John Tlerney, a garbage collector, who
said he was an eye witness to the trag
edy. Tlerney declared that Captain
Hains had ceased Bring before his brother
ran down to the float and the defendant
did not draw his revolver until Charles
Roberts, a club member, advanced toward
Captain Haines with the Captain's re
volver In his hand. Tierney said that
Thornton Hains did not point the re
volver at anyone on the float, but called
for an officer to arrest his brother. He
did not see Mrs. Annis on the float. A
severe cross-examination did not make
Tiemey waver in any essential.
Oontradlcts Skura and Fallon.
Joseph A. Shay, of counsel for Hains,
was called to tne stand when court
opened today. He told of his interview
(Concluded on Pare 5.)
THAT BAD
HAINS
PICTURES THAT SHOW ORE
GON'S RESOURCES.
In its pictorial features the an
nual edition of The Oregonian
which will be printed Friday will
be of exceptional merit. The first
page will be in color and will
present a striking view of a huge
ocean vessel in Portland harbor.
There will be another full-page
marine scene and a double page
showing the local port, with a
perspective of the railroad termi
nal yards. Groups of pictures
will also illustrate dairying, mod
ern farming methods, irrigation,
fruitraising and other industries.
One page will be devoted to the
Portland Rose Festival, with
I views of the parades and floats
J in last Spring's celebration,
t In its text the edition will
ewer a wide scope, making it a
I most valuable number to those
t wlirt ara i ti fptwctpfl in tliis state.
I It will be sold for 5 cents a copy.
HASTY COURTSHIP IN CAR
Soldier W ins Hand of Choice of His
Heart on Sheer Nerve.
CHICAGO, Dec. 2S. (Special.) George
Newman, a young soldier stationed at
South Chicago when on his way to the
Philippines four years ago. saw the face
of an unusually pretty girl. Miss Flor
ence Jacob, in San Francisco. When
he came back he haunted the streets of
San Francisco, but could never see the
face again.
Today he saw her on a streetcar here
and promptly clambered -aboard the car.
In one minute he had .introduced him
self, had proposed a minute later and
had been turned down, but immediately
possessed himself of the girl's hand and
again proposed, this time being accepted.
When the car rumbled down town, New
man hustled Miss Jacobs over to the
marriage license bureau and within an
hour from the time he had met her. Miss
Jacobs became Mrs. Newman. -
RACING TIPS NOT LEGAL
California Judge Says That "Form
Sheets" May Be Stopped.
LOS ANGELES, Cal., Dec. 2S. That the
dissemination of tips on horse-racing may
be prevented by municipal legislation is
the gist of an opinion handed down by
Judge Jamison, of the Superior Court to
day, In the case of Sylvester Saal, who
was prosecuted in Police Court charged
with circulating a San Francisco news
paper in which a racing "form chart"
was printed.
Judge Jamison cites decisions of the Su
preme Court upholding the police powers
of cities, and orders the Police Judge
who had thrown Saal's case out of court
to overrule Saal's demurrer and proceed
with the trial of the case.
CHINA CAPTURES STEAMER
British Boat. Seized by Cruisers for
Running Down Junk.
HONGKONG. Dec. 28. The British
steamer Tal On was captured yesterday
by two Chinese cruisers near Kum Chuk,
west of the river. The reason for the
capture is believed to be the fact that
the steamer several months ago ran down
a Junk and drowned a theatrical com
pany which was on board. Further de
velopments from the capture are expected.
FULTON BOY HAS GONE AND WIRED IT ON
GERMANY SEEKS
MINIMUM TARIFF
Will Be First to Ask
for Concessions.
BERNSTORFF'S FIRST DUTY
Try to Get Benefit of Reduced
Rates on Imports.
OTHER NATIONS ARE SLY
Forestall American Action: by Ad
vancing Rates With View to Sub
sequent Reduction Under Re
ciprocal Trade Agreement.
WASHINGTON. Dec 2S- There are in
dications that Germany will be amon
the first European countries to seek ad
vantage of an arrangement with America
to secure minimum tariff rates under the
terms of the new tariff act which is ex
pected to be passed at the special session
of Congress, to follow close upon the
adjournment of the present regular ses
sion March 4. ,
Count von Bernskorfr, who arranged to
day with Secretary Root for his presenta
tion next Wednesday to President Roose
velt as Ambassador from Germany, suc
ceeding the late Baron Speck von Stern
berg, is believed to have been thoroughly
equipped by consultation with the Ger
man Foreign Office before his departure
from Germany to undertake this task.
Indications are that the new tariff act
will be framed to take effect immediate
ly upon its approval by the President.
Therefore, in order to secure whatever
advantages may be expected to follow the
Inauguration of minimum and maximum
rates to the United States, it will be
necessary for the Foreign Ambassadors
and Ministers resident In Washington to
have arranged in . advance of that date
new treaty relations with this Govern
merit.
In the case of some European countries
a disposition has been shown to forestall
action by the American Congress and
guard their own export trade with Amer
ica by considerably increasing their ex
lsting tariff rates, with the design of
securing the basis of new arrangements
with America without sacrificing to any
considerable extent , the protection which
they now enjoy against competition with
American imports.
So far s is known here, this is not yet
true of Germany, and with this element
of good faith in bis overtures, the Ger
man Ambassador Is likely to meet with a
cordial reception at the State Depart
ment.
PREPARE DEMOCRATIC BILL
Clayton Says His Party Must Fight
for Radical Revision. '
WASHINGTON, Dee. 2S.-JHenry D.
Clayton, of Alabama, chairman of the
(Concluded on Page S.)
HILL WANTS LOW
GRADE TO GULF
WIM COSIBAT HARRIMAX IilXES
IX AGRICCXTURAIi FIELD.
Purchase of Colorado & Southern
Said to Be Part of General De
velopment Plan.
CHICAGO, Dec. 28. (Special.) In con
nection with his purchase of the Colo
rado & Southern road, James J. Hill
has determined to construct a low-grade
route from Denver to Billings, and also
a low-grade route from Kearney, Neb
to the same place. The latter route prob
ably will be built northwest to connect
with the Denver-Billings line at Orin
Junction, Wryo., or north of that point:
Mr. Hill is not satisfied with his pres
ent Billings line, as there are too many
heavy grades on It north and south of
Alliance, Neb., and there is plenty of
fruitful territory south in which to con
struct the new road. It is Mr. Hill's In
tention, it is said, to have a good low-
grade route all the way from the North
west to the Gulf of Mexico, as well as
to Chicago. .
The study of agricultural products of
the West and South will furnish an ex
planation of Mr. Hill's purchaso of the
Colorado & Southern for his Burlington
system. His main purpose is to capture
much of the tonnage which the Harriman
lines are now hauling bo.th into and) out
of his territory by reason of the fact
that he has no line to the Southwest.
ONE YEAR FOR EACH CENT
Petty Larecnist Gets Heavy Sentence
From Oakland Judge.
OAKLAND, Cal., Dec 28. (Special.)
One year In prison for each copper penny
he had stolen was the punishment meted
out to George Gross this morning by
Superior Judge Brown. He pleaded guilty
to the burglary of the store of G. W.
WeUnore, at Thirty-fourth street and
San Pablo avenue, about a month ago.
Thomas Driscoll was the companion in
the robbery, and the two of them secured
some tobacco and eleven pennies. Eight
of the stolen pennies were found on
Gross when he was arrested; and the
Judge sentenced him to eight years im
prisonment in San Quentin. Gross, who
is but 20 years old, pleaded guilty and
asked that sentence be passed at once.
Thomas Driscoll, Gross' companion in
crime, asked for another day in which to
plead, and his request was granted.
FIVE INJURED IN WRECK
Work Train on Snake River Branch
Goes Over Embankment.
PASCO, Wash., Dec. 28. (Special.)
About seven miles east of Snake River
Junction last night, engine No. 1388, a
work train on the Snake River line,
went down a high fill, Injuring the
crew, as follows:
W. F. Slmms, engineer; A Wlcken
fireman, both being badly bruised and
Wicken sustaining a broken leg. O.
Ostermeyer and W. F. Fagan, conduc
tor and brakeman, both were somewhat
bruised, and S. D. Monnell, S. P. & S.
civil engineer, was bruised.
Slmms, Wicken and Monnell were
sent to the Tacoma hospital on No. 15
tonight, and the Pasco wrecker has
been sent to the front to pick up the
wreckage.
THESPIAN SHOT IN HOTEL
Wronged Husband Takes Law Into
Own Hands In Denver.
DENVER, Dec. 28. Bert Edward Dury,
known on the stage as Byron Allenton,
who has been playing this week at the
Crystal Theater, was shot through the
head and Instantly killed late this after
noon at a rooming-house on Curtis street.
near Fifteenth, by Bert Bell, who es
caped, but later was captured.
Witnesses say that Mrs. Bell, who was
in the room with Dury, escaped the same
fato by climbing up a fire escape to the
third floor of the building. She was
arrested and taken to the City Jail in
a hysterical condition. Mr. and Mrs. Bell
were married In Cincinnati in 1906. Dury
also was a native of Cincinnati, where
his father now lives.
OREGON PROFESSOR WEDS
Samuel Eliot Marries Miss Madder
scheid In San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 28. (Special.)
The wedding of Miss Elsa von Mad
derscheld, a society girL of the college
town of Berkeley, and Samuel Eliot, pro
fessor of psychology at the University of
Oregon, took place here today at the
Sedenborgian Church. The ceremony was
performed by Rev. W. L. Wooster in tho
presence of several hundred invited
guests, and was extremely simple, the
couple being unattended. The church
service was followed by a dainty wed
ding breakfast and Professor Eliot and
his bride left on the evening Oregon
train for Eugene, where they will make
their future home.
GIRL ELOPES WITH PRIEST
Nebraska Man's Daughter Missing
After Winnipeg Wedding.
WINNIPEG, Man., Dec. 28. MIbs Sera
phlne Izponder, daughter of I. T.
Ixponder, of South Omaha, Neb., dis
appeared suddenly Sunday night after
acting as bridesmaid at the marriage of
her sister, -here. It is believed that she
has eloped or was kidnapped by a Polish
priest of Winnipeg. He is known to have
been enamored of Miss Izponder. The
police have traced the couple to the
southern part of the province.
CD50RQVE MUST
TAKE OATH NORTH
Can't Assume Office
Out of State.
ATKINSON GIVES OPINIO?!
Washington's Attorney-General
Talks of Situation.
MEAD WOULD HOLD OVER
Must Give Vp Office When Cosjrrove
. Returns If Governor-Elect Dies,
Xew Election Is XecessaryY
Cosgrove's Plans.
OLTMPIA, Wash.. Dec. 2". (Special.)
That Governor-elect Cosgrove cannol
qualify as Governor without returning
to the state, is the opinion of Attorney
General John D. Atkinson, expressed here
tonight. Mr. Atkinson had been informed
that Mrs. Cosgrove had made the state
ment that Mr. Cosgrove was preparing
to take the oath of office at Paso Robles,
and the Attorney -General's opinion was
in reply to the question whether or not
such action would be legal.
Mr. Atkinson's opinion on the subject
coincides very fully with that given out
by ex-United States Senator George Tur
ner, on December IS.
Mr. Atkinson believes that Mr. Cosgrove
can return at any time within the four
year period for which he wa3 elected and
qualify, but that until such time as he
does return to Washington and take oath
of office. Governor A. H. Mead will con
tinue to serve as Governor.
Xew Election If Cosgrove Dies.
In the event of Mr. CosRrove's demise,
without having qualified. Governor Mead
would serve, in the opinion of Atkinson,
only until a new Governor should be elect
ed, which should properly be in 1910. to
fill out the unexpired term of two years.
The Morning Olympian will tomorrow
publlsh-a special dispatch from Judge
J. W. Robinson, of this city, who was
one of Mr. Cosgrove's opponents for the
Gubernatorial nomination, and who Is now
in Paso Robles. In this dispatch Judge
Robinson says:
Coming Xbrth, Says Robinson.
"Governor-elect Cosgrove continues to
improve. He is gaining strength every
day. He now walks about his room and
rests in the sunparlor and seems per
fectly confident of ultimate recovery, in
(Concluded on PaBO 3.)
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDA YS Maximum tflmprrnture, 43 .8
degrees; minimum. 4j.1 degrees.
TODAY'S Probably fair; westerly winds.
Foreign.
Earthquak destroys whole olties In Sicily
and Calabria, killing thousand of peo
ple. Page 1.
Indian Congress approves Morley's reforms
Jn government and condemns agitation.
Pa kb 2.
Ieon Daudet wants Clemenceau'a brain
blown out. page
National.
Miss Ethel Roosevelt make debut In so
ciety. Page 3.
Germany will be- first to ask benefit of
minimum tariff. Pag 1.
Roosevelt will decapitate "Wiley, pure food
expert. Page n.
Charlotte Perkins Oilman condemns present
relations of sexes. I'ao
Defense of Hains offers evidence that tie
did not aid murder of Annis. Page 1.
Bosses of modern and ancient times com
pared. Page
Hill's plans with Colorado & Southern Rail
road. Page l.
Pittsburg grafters' trial to be hastened.
Page
Train wreck in Montana kills eight men.
Page 5.
Sport.
Boy weighing r2 pounds wins horse rare at
Oakland. Page 7.
Odds favor Kauffman In coming fight with
Barry. Page 7.
Amateur Athletic Union suspends six prom
inent men for professionalism. Page 7.
Pacific Northwest, -
Sensational charges filed against Milton
prichard, ex-v-uperintenaent Clark bounty
Schools, In effort to revoke certificate.
Page 6.
Corvallis woman shot dead by 0-year-old
t.on. Phk 1.
Gambling run wide open at Sump tor.
Page 6.
Cosgrove must come North to take oath,
pays Attorney-General. Pugj 0.
San Francisco earthquake pleasant dream
compared to experience in wreck, says
wife of Captain Gruggel. Pag t.
Forest Grove Board of Trade celebrates
completion of Oregon Electric. Pag tf.
Commercial mnd Marine.
Ioeal grain values maintained with trade
light: Page 15.
Heavy selling of May wheat at Chicago.
Page 15
Stocks and bonds In stronger demand.
Page i.j.
Four wheat ships will wind up foreign
grain business for December, page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
Taxpayers adopt majority report of board
of education, raising teachers' salaries.
Page 11.
Ways and means committee to decide to
day on $500,000 park bond Issue. Page 14
Finch case will go to jury today. Page 10.
Tax levy of 6.fl mills recommended by
ways and means committee. Page 10.
Commercial Club will retain Tom Richard
son. Page 14.
Conspiracy to get timber clalma disclosed
by suit brought. Page 11.
Railroad Commissioners of Oregon and
Washington confer with Portland jobber
on freight-rate advance. Page 9.
Trouble with draw blockades Madison
street bridge. Page
Bowerman still active although confident of
election as President of senate. Page 11.
6an Francisco forging ahead, says C R.
Walter. Page 9.