PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1908. PRICE FIVE CENTS. vol. xlviii. yo. 15,00.. IS ENSE ITALY Dead Number 110,000 in Two Cities. THOUSANDS IN OTHER PLACES Shiploads of Fugitives Swamp Nearest Places. FIRE ENDS DEVASTATION Sins and Quern Visit Messina and Weep as They Succor Injured. Starving People Seek Food. Nations Hasten, to Help. RESrLTS OF KAKTHQIAKE. Killed. 100.000 to 200.000. Injured. 300,000 to 500,000. Homeless, estimated at 1. 0O0.OOO. Cities over 10,000 population de stroyed. 15. Smaller town destroyed, estimat ed. 50. Warships sunk (torpedo-boats). 12. Ship sunk by tidal wave. 600. Many American tourists among the dead. Formation of Straits of Messina changed. Historic Fey 11a and Charybdls de stroyed. Etna and Stromholl. volcanoes. In eruption. Second and third shocks felt In Sicily. Cable to Aeolian Isles cut; disaster feared. ROME. Dec 30. The immensity of th disaster In Southern Italy and Sicily can be measured only by the fact that It Is now estimated, that 110.000 persona perished In Messina and Regscio alone. A score of other towns have been devastated and thou sands of victims In tese places must be added to the rolL In the face of these awful totals all Italy stands ap palled. Nor ha the full death list yet been reported. Shiploads of fugitives have arrived at Naples and other ports and the vast majority of these are sorely Injured. Other thousands remain near the ruins of their homes or wander half starved, half raked over the land. The forces that on Monday overwhelmed the cltle also destroyed the means of sus tenance. Mere Handful Survives. Telegraphic communication has been es tablished with Messina, the apparatus having been set up In a railway station. Messages that have come over the line, though they have been meagre In detail, show that hope Is gone. Nothing re mains of the city but a mass of ruins that have been swept by Are. A mere handful of survivors is being cared for by the rescuing forces, but their distress Is great and It has been increased by the recent Icy wind that followed the deluge of rain. Destitution is appalling. There Is little food and less water. Loss 10,000 in Two Cities. Of Messina's 90.000 population, it is be lieved that fully 70,000 perished. Forty thousand people died In Regglo. King Victor Emmanuel and Queen Helena were in Messina today. The King explored the ruins regardless of the dan cer to which he exposed himself. Ha was j?ten moved to tears at the heartrend ing scenes he came upon at every turn. The King was loud In hia praise of the plendid work accomplished by tlw Ital ian. Russian and English bluejackets, who aved many persons who otherwise would nave perished. The Queen spent the day In the wards of the Improvised hospitals, visiting the wounded, many of whom have lost all that was dear to them. ' Her majesty did her best to cheer them with words of consolation, often breaking Into sobs as she listened to their dreadful tales of suffering. The King left for Regrgio tonight. Catania People Unnerved. Catania, the largest city nearest the scene of the disaster. Is crowded with refugees, and the continuous stream of fugitives coming In, the sight of the wounded and the repetition of real or imaginary earthquakes have so alarmed the population that they are becoming uncontrollable. There Is no longer any place where the refugees may And shel ter. Cardinal Franclsca Nava di Bontife. Archbishop of Catania, has employed all WOE MM SUNNY the money in his possession to provide bread for the refugees, but the people of Catania also are In great need, as the or dinary business pursuits have been en tirely Interrupted. Fate of Foreigners in Doubt. The government la finding difficulty In ascertaining the fata of the many for eigners who were In the earthquake lone at the time of the catastrophe, inquiries concerning whom are coming from all quarters of the globee. Admiral Mak haroff. Russian commander of the battle ship which arrived with fugitives at Naples today confirms the report of the death of the American Consul at Messina, Arthur 3. Cheney, and his wife, who were buried In the ruins of the consulate. The number of Americans in Sicily and Southern Italy Is believed to be small, and several of them have been reported Concluded on Pags 7.) AUTO GOES UP IN BURST OF FLAMES CRUSHED BETWEEN TWO TROL LEY CARS OX BRIDGE. Short Circuit Starts Blaze, Depart ment Called Out, Traffic Blocked and Women In Hysterics. Streetcar traffic from Grand avenue on the Kast Side to Second street on the West Side was blocked for half a hour Just at the "busy season" last night, by one of the most spectacular automobile accidents that ever has happened In Portland. Though no on was Injured, a dozen or more women passengers on Montavllla cars Nos 343 and 344, both of which figured i the collision, nearly went Into hysterics when the motor car, firmly pinioned between the two streetcars, caught flee and went up In smoke through the ex plosion of the gasoline tank, superln duced by a short-circuiting of the re spective trolley wires, which Ignited the Inflammable motive power of the auto. H. G. Terry, owner and driver of the motor car, and regarded as one of the best drivers In the city, was on his way home to dinner. With him as guests were Louis Bruce and Dr. F. Per kins. It was about 6:30 o'clock and Terry was running eastward on Morri son street at a moderate clip. He passed eastbound Montavllla car 343 at the west approach of the Morrison street bridge, and after mounting the Incline met westbound car 344 just af ter crossing the anchor span of the bridge. He turned to the right to avoid the inbound car, when the out bound car rammed the auto from the rear and keeled it over directly onto the track in front of car No. 344. The result was that Terry's auto was hope lessly jammed between the two street cars. The motor car took fire and was soon in a roaring blaze. This terrified the women In the streetcars and they sought to rush for safety. Cooler heads 'told them there was no danger and they subsided. It took fully half an hour to disen tangle the fnlx-up, and In the mean time a fire alarm had been turned In. A chemical engine responded, but its services were not required, for Terry's motor car was a wreck before the ap paratus arrived. NAVAL OFFICERS TO HIKE Physical Test to lie Arranged for Men Who "Pace the Deck." WASHINGTON, Dec 30. Regulations governing the physical tests to be given officers of the navy will very anon be promulgated by Secretary Newberry. These regulations provide for a physical test which is believed to be equivalent to that which haa been applied to the army and marine corps. A walking test, it is said, will be the basis of the naval regulation, but officers so desiring may have the option of substituting horseback or blcycle-rldlng endurance tests. Various details of the physical tests to be given naval officers were discussed today at a conference at the White House. It Is expected that regulation providing for a test will be announced wtthin a day or two. Immediately after the conference tha President went to the Navy Department with Secretary Newberry and visited the draughting room, where there are mod els of many vessels. His purpose was to familiarize himself with the various types of warships. VANDALS LOOT TEMPLE Second Peculiar Crime in Sau Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 30. The Tem ple Emanu-El on Sutter street was en tered sometime last night by vandals who placed a ladder against one of the hand some stained glass windows, which was completely shattered. After effecting an entrance, they tore the altar cloth from the altar. Btripped It into shreds and scattered the remnants on the floor. Several pews were overturned and an attempt made to get at the silver serv ices, but these were locked beyond reach. The men are believed to have been frightened away before completing their work of sacrilege. A similar outrage was recently perpetrated at the Church of St. Dominic. KILLED BY HIS AFFINITY Youth Bids Woman Good-bye For ever and Is Instantly Slain. WASHINGTON. N. C, Dec. 30. John Emerson Stone, aged 22. well conneoted In Boston and New York, a graduate of Holy Cross College. Worcester, Mass., was shot and killed here early to-day hy May Woolard. who then shot herself twice and may die. The tragedy followed Stone's call on the woman to say he was leaving her forever and going home. Stone had two brothers. Gilbert Stone, of New York, and Captain 'Edgar Stone, 17. S. A., stationed In Luzon, P. I. The former Is on his way here to take charge of the body. ESSICK WAS MURDERED Heavy Hunting-Knife Found in Son's Room Next Door. COLORADO 8PRINGS. Dec. 30. Late developments In the Investigation of the death of C. P. Esslck, the aged' clerk of the Woodmen of the World, who was found dead In bed yesterday morning with stabs In his breast and a' bullet hole m his head. Indicate that the dead man was the victim of murder at the hands of some unknown person. A hunting knife with a one-edged blade has been found on a shelf In the room of the son. Paul S. Essick. whose room adjoined that of the father. It Is also learned that Mr. Essick carried Insur ance on his life aggregating $3,000. TELL TALES OF HORROR Pour Into Naples, Fam ished and Sore. CONVICTS LOOT AND ROB DEAD Prison Destroyed, but Most of Occupants Escape. RUSSIAN VESSEL ASHORE Thrown Into Messina Street by Tidal Wave Huge' Fissures Swallow Buildings Fugitives Meet Death at Reggio. NAPLES. Dec. 30. The steamer Thera pie is lying olT Naples, crowded with refu gees from Messina, bereaved men, starv ing women and weeping children, all with the stamp of great suffering on their faces. One of the refugees, a man with a German cotton firm In the lost city, said: Messina is utterly destroyed. Nothing remained when I left but a part of the citadel. A few soldiers are the lone sur vivors of the whole garrison. Slides Down Hope to Safety. 'I was asleep when the first shock came. I. lit my lamp, but all was quiet and I turned to sleep again. Suddenly fresh shocks occurred, violent and terri fying. I arose quickly, but the house was swaying and my door was jammed. I tore the sheets from the bed and made a rope and lowered myself from the win dow to the street. An Italian family of five persons escaped from the house by the aid of my rope. ' 'No sooner were we in the street than the house collapsed. I tried to assist in the work of rescue, but it was useless. The horror and contusion were Indescrib able. I wandered in the wrecked streets. No food could be secured. I had only a few nuts to eat, The head of my firm Was lost, and his brother had to go to the streets, begging for bread for his wife and children. There was no organi sation in the work of rescue. Convicts Loot and Kill. 'The prison was destroyed and the wardens killed, but most of the convicts escaped. They prowled about the ruins, robbing and murdering. They cut off the fingers of the dead and wounded to get the rings. Some of them were sing ing songs of liberty as they plied the knife. A Russian vessel lying in the harbor was thrown Into the street by the tidal wave. Other vessels foundered. Railway lines were swallowed up. The square known as the Campo Santo collasped and sank. Only the summits of a few ruined. buildings still emerged from the street. What remained of the population when I left was camping near the harbor." According to other refugees, not a sin gle hotel remained standing. A fissure (Concluded on Page 0.) SURVIVORS l ENCELADUS. ' "Sf iTHE SMOKE OK THE VOLCANO IS THE BHEATH OK KXCELADl'S) AAD WHEN HE SHIFTS HIS SIDE IT IS A.N EARTHQUAKE. ...... m t WATfiTT TOR THE ANNUAL TOMORROW. Every person who is interest ed in Oregon should read the New Year's Oregonian, which will be issued tomorrow. Even though a resident of this state, you will learn many facts about its progress during the past year which have not come under your personal observation. The re sources of the state are so vast and their development so rapid that no individual can keep in touch with all of them. But a large corps of writers will tell of them in the Annual, and their articles will be a record of re markable progress. It will make you prouder than ever that you are an Oregonian. XT -J. ' , ,1 Avtm.nl 1 1 T - 1 iUL uuiv rvau tiic xvum. self, but send it to your friends t in the East and elsewhere. Thou- sands of people are thinking of linitminor AsW1pnt of flip PflClfift Coast. A copy of the Annual will give them more information about Oregon than could be con veyed in scores of letters. It will make them want to call Ore gon their home. The Annual will be instructive, readable and altogether one of ', the best advertisements the state could have. Pictorially it will be ', especially fine. The price will ; be 5 cents a copy. Postage in , the United States, Canada, Mex- ; ico or the Insular Possessions, 4 ! cents a copy additional ; foreign countries, 7 cents. , STARTS FOR NEW YEAR Government Will Indicate 1909 for Each Time Division. WASHINGTON, Dec. 30. The Naval Observatory here will send out four se ries of New Year's eve telegraph time signals, at intervals of exactly one hour, to mark the Instant of the beginning of the new year In each of the four great standard time belts Into which the United States Is divided. The signals will be transmitted vol untary by the various telegraph com panies as a matter of public Interest. The first series will begin at 11:65 P. M., Dec. 31, Eastern time, and at midnight will end. The second sending will be at 1 A.- M.,- January 1. Eastern time and is the middle sign midnight signal for central time, the third at 2 A. M. for mountain time, and the fourth at 3 A. M. for Pacific time. . ROBBERS' FENCE IN BANK Barbed Wire and Armed Guard Keep Back Citizens Two Hours, MUSKOGEE, Okla., Dec. 30. Three robbers heavily armed rode Into Wellston after midnight last night. They erected a barbed wire barricade around the bank, and while some of the gang went to work on the bank safe, others stood guard. The citizens were soon up in arms, and a lively exchange of shots with the rob bers followed. The robbers, however, were well armed and protected, and for two hours they stood off the citizens while their comrades worked on the bank vault. When they finally succeeded In gain ing the money It contained, five men rode off, covering their departure with a constant and heavy fire. It Is believed that 200 shots were exchanged. No one Is believed to have been hurt. FINCH IS GUILTY lil FIRST DEGREE Murderer of Ralph B. Fisher Convicted. JURY OUT JUST 30 MINUTES Judge Bronaugh to Pronounce Sentence Next Saturday. DEFENDANT STILL DEFIANT Tries to Appear Unmoved and De clares He Will Fight Case to United States Supreme Court. Verdict Is Popular One. COMMENT ON VERDICT. Circuit Judge E. C. Bronaugh I think the man had a fair and Im partial trial. The Jury was excep tionally good, composed throughout of conscientious men, and I know they gave the whole matter their careful attention and consideration and did their full duty as they saw it and with a full realization that the duty was a serious one. District Attorney Cameron The jury did Its duty and did It fully, and I believe this conviction will tend to make life more secure In the com munity than It has seemed to be in the past year or so. I feel that Finch should speedily pay the full pen alty of his crime. C. F. Lord. Chief Counsel for Finch 1 believe Finch shot in the defense of his own life and that he wilt never go to the gallows. James A. Finch, the convicted murderer nl fight this case right on up to the United States Supreme Court. They'll not railroad my soul to hell. "Well, If they are going to hang me, I'll die like a man, anyway." Puffing furiously at a big nickel cigar James A. Finch fought desperately with himself for self control and strained to affect an air of bravado and unconcern as he was led down to the death cell late yesterday afternoon with the Jury's ver dict of guilty still ringing in his ears; a verdict that meant he must- die- at the end of a hangman's rope for the devilish murder of Ralph B. Fisher, late prosecu tor of the Multnomah Bar Association. "But I'll fight this case right on up to the United States Supreme Court," he said. "Why, the records are chuck full of reversible error and I'll get an appeal. They are trying to railroad my soul to hell. But I'm going to fight. They may hang me. but they'll not railroad me. You can count on It that I've, got a couple of years to live. It took the Circuit Court Jury Just thir ty minutes to go from the courtroom to the Juryroom, prepare the verdict and re turn with It. It took .them only a few seconds to decide Finch must die. There was no dissenting voice, no discussion, no hesitation. The twelve men proceeded In (Concluded on Page 10) HAZED BOY BACK:- GONE NINETY DAYS KENTUCKY "U' BOY RAMBLING TALE. TELLS Willis Smith Says He Was Confined in Cave, but Parents Think Mind Is Deranged. LEXINGTON, Ky., Dec. 30. (Special.) Dazed and quite unable to give a coherent account of his experiences, Willis Smith a student in the University of Kentucky, who mysteriously disappeared three months ago, turned up unexpectedly at his home in Owensboro, Ky., today. He talked ramblingly of being forcibly taken from the university, carried off to W consin and held prisoner in a cave In that state by four men. His brothers and sisters did not press him today for a de tailed account of his life since he dlsap peared. Smith's mind seems clouded, and It is suspected the story of forcible re straint In Wisconsin may be a figment of Imagination. Smith's unceremonious leaving created a sensation here in the middle of Sep tember. Large rewards were offered by the family and students for his recovery Detectives came from far and wide to loin in the search. Newspapers made feature of the quest. All torts of sensa tional stories emanated from the uni versity and town. Smith had been the victim of a hazing shortly before, and it was feared his mind was unbalanced by his experience. BATTURS SUCCEEDS SHOUP James O. Parsons Goes to Louisiana in Harriman Service. CHICAGO, Dec. 30. (Special.) Several changes In the traffic department of the Harriman lines have been announced for the first of the year. Frank E. Batturs, general passenger agent of the Southern Pacific's Louis iana lines, has decided to return to his native state, California, and haa been given the place of assistant general pas senger agent of the same road, with headquarters at San Francisco. Mr. Batturs will be succeeded by James S. O. Parsons, for a number of yars chief assistant to B. O. McCormick, assistant tariff director of the Harriman lmes. Paul Shoup, for years assistant general passenger agent of the Southern Pacific at San Francisco, has resigned to accept a position with the chief counsel of that road in the same city. $12,000 RANCH SURPRISE Wife of Poor Miner Given Deed to Valuable Property. NORTH YAKIMA, Wash., Dec. 30. (Special.) Mrs. Lucy J. Chrlsholm, the wife of a poor miner at Roslyn, has Just been awarded land In the Yakima Valley valued at over $12,000. The land was left to her by her mother, but her father mar ried again and there has been litigation. When the deed to SO acres was given her she was overjoyed. The land is located at Belma, this county. It has a fine bearing orchard and also produces hay and grain crops. The family will at once move to their ranch. FARWELL MAYGET PLACE Chlcnco Man Mentioned to Take Garfield's Plate Under Taft. CHICAGO, Dec. 30. The Record-Herald today prints the following news article under an Augusta, Ga., date: The newest name suggested for a mem ber of Mr. Taft's official family is that of John V. Farwell, of Chicago, a former Yale man and one of the best-known business men of the western metropolis. It is lil&ly that Farwell will be asked to take the portfolio of Secretary of the In terior. Mr. Ballinger, of Washington, has. been mentioned for the place and it was considered possible for a time that James R. Garfield would continue at his post. It is certain now, however, that Mr. Gar field will be made an Ambassador, prob ably at Rome. It is believed now that Mr. Ballinger haa been eliminated. STILLMAN MAY QUIT BANK Frank Vanderlip Slated for Presi dency of Richest Institution, NEW YORK, Dec. 30. At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Na tional City Bank of this city on January 12, It Is expected that James Stillman will retire from the office of president and will be elected chairman of the board of directors. It is expected that Frajik A. Vanderlip. now vice-president, will be elected president. The National City Bank has deposits of more than 3200, 000,000. NEAR-BEER IS UNDER BAN Heavy Penalties Provided In Albany for Selling Stuff. ALBANY. Or., Dec. 30. (Special.) The City Council last night passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of near beer In Albany. Fines of from $50 to $100, or imprisonment of from 25 to B0 days are provided for violations, each sale to constitute a 'separate offense. Italian Must Be Hanged. LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30. Fabriano Ma chucha, convicted of the murder of Mrs. Refugia Yorba at her home In Wilming ton, on the night of August 18, was sen tenced to death by hanging by Judge Jamison today. The execution was set for March 19. A motion for a new trial was heard and overruled. FOUND l'j FIT BESIDE DEAD MAN Sensational Testimony in Erb Case. MURDER FOLLOWED QUARREL Evidence Indicates Mrs. Belset Fired Fatal Shot. asserts Self-defense Immediately Alter Tragedy She Asked, "What W ill They Do to Me for This?" Servant Tell of Frequent Rows. MEDIA, Pa., Dec. 30. The trial of Mrs. M. Florence Erb and her sister, Mrs. Catherine Beisel, for the murder of Captain J. Clayton Erb, progressed rap Idly here today. Nearly the entire morning of the trial was taken up with the serv ant In the Erb home at the time of the tragedy. She said Mrs. Erb, Mrs. Beisel and her self had spent the evening of the tragedy at the Village Green Hotel, nearby, where they had several drinks. Returning to the house with Mrs. Erb, Miss Matsui heard quarreling and later a crash of glass. Then there was an Interval of a few minutes during which Mrs. Erb tel ephoned for her sister to come to the house from the hotel. Shortly after she arrived the shooting occurred. Found in Faint. Yesterday's contention of the District Attorney that Mrs. Erb may have done the shooting was not sustained by the testimony of the witnesses. Describing incidents subsequent to the shooting, the witness said Mrs. Beisel jvas. found In a faint on the floor near the dead man. and when revived asked: "What will they do with me for this?" Later she asked the same question of her sister, and Mrs. Erb replied: "I don't know what they'll do with you. Leave It to God and trust In him." Ten witnesses wero examined, among them the servants in the employ of the Erb household and some of those who Investigated the crime. Lawyers for the defense said the testimony tended to sus tain the contention that Mrs. Beisel, as she has maintained from the first, fired the fatal shot. Direct Testimony. There was no direct testimony, however. to uphold tier contention that she acted in self-defense. The testimony In no manner associated Mrs. Erb with having done the shooting. Quarrels and fights at Red Gables long before the tragedy were described by the servants, and one witness testified that Mrs. Erb had said that her husband once threw her down stairs. That she feared her husband and always slept ' with a revolver under her pillow, was also testified. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. TESfKRDAY'S Maximum temperature. 4J degrees; minimum, 3tf.t. TODAY'S occasional rain, northerly winds. Karthqiiake In Italy. Loss of life 110,000 In Messina and Regglo alone; thousands die in oilier places. Page 1. King and Queen relieve suffering at Mes sina. Page 1. Refugees pnur Into Naples telling terrible experiences. Page . Ail nations hasten to send relief. Page 6. Governors Mead and Chamberlain utius proclamations calling for aid. rage 0. Foreign. Cjunt Bonl loses control of children, but they may visit him. Page 2. Venezuelans burn Castro In eltlgy. Page 3. Domestic. Captain Halns" brother tells, with tears, of his mental ruin. Face J. Kentucky student returns half crazed after severe hazing. Page 1. Night Riders- families all testify to alibis. Page 3. Mathnes. convicted Pennsylvania grafter. dies suddenly, page a. Trial of Mrs. Erb and Mrs. Beisel for mur der of Erb begins, page 1. Politics. Fight on Burton In Ohio carried forward with Increased vigor. Fage 7. Sports. Whltworth College will meot Multnomah to morrow afternoon. Page 7. Pacific CotAt. Boy plays with matches and Is burned to deatn. Fage o Commercial and Marine. No domestic demand for Oregon hops. Page 15. Weather wheat market at Chicago. Page 13 Stock market alTectod by Italian disaster. Page 15. Sail tonnage offering for 1T 6d exporters willing to give 15s. Page 14. Portland and Vicinity. James A. Finch convicted of murder In first degree. Page 1. Auto burns up In spectacular Are on Morrison-street bridge. Page 1. Council completes sale of improvement bonds. Page 10. Taxes for Multnomah County will be In creased more than $1,000,000 next year. Page 14. Discussion of city tax levy arouses bitter controversy at Council meeting. Page 14. Railroads supposed to be picking up valu able terminal sites In this city. Page 14. Anti-statement forces still hope to defeat Chamberlain for Senate. Fage Company will not turn off lights for aa otber ten days. Fage 10.