PORTLAND, OREGOX, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1909. PRICE FIVE CENTS. VOL. XLIX.-XO. 15,286. MAIL FROM AST0R WESTERN ROADSTO FL000. DRIVES 200 WOMAN CONFESSES ST. CROIX AFIRE BEFORE SAILING? MAYOR DEALS BLOW TO GRAFTERS' SET INDICATES SAFETY TO FOURTH' HUBBY DRQPWALL STREET" BURNED TO DEATH FOLK F YACHT XOURMAHAL WAS IX SAX w. A. CLARK'S EX-SECRETARY SAX JFRAXCISCO'S EXECUTIVE FORGETS BOSSES. JUAX NOVEMBER 17. ' SEEKS DIVORCE. STATESMAN ROM 1 Mother and Children in Tree All Night. WEST SPRINGFIELD INUN0ATEO Heavy Rains Send Willamette River Out of Banks. HIGH WATER IN PORTLAND Twenty-Foot Stage Is Predicted by Friday, When Ixwer Docks Will Be Covered Rains Cease and Upper River Is Falling. JXOOD KTTTJ. TTOV IJT PACIFIC NOKTHWF.sT. PORTL.AN'D Willamette 15.8 feet aboT low water: 20-foot stage ex pected. EtTOE-N'E Two -hundred people driven from home In Weat 6prln fleld: river falling- after reaching- 21 foot mark. 5A1.EM Dock, under water: he--t and hop warehouaea lam arcd. OREGON C1TT Upper rtrar at 6.t-f"Ot mark: pulp mill domed. T.vrOMA Warm rains and melt ing snows flood all itreama. SEATTLE; Four Great Northern trains marooned In Caecade Mount ain!. ABERDEEN Boo ma hreak and $-joo.ooo worth of loga loat. MTSOl'LA Slides bloek trafflo on Milwaukee road. EUGENE. Or., Nov. 23. (Special) Two 1'iinrtred people of "West Springfield -were, forced to abandon their homes when a sudden on-rush of water flooded that dis trict today. In one Instance a mother and two chil dren climbed Into a tree where they spent last n'Rht. being rescued thia morning-. A family by the name of Ballsy, occupying- a residence in the delta between the river and the mill race here, were rescued this morning- from their perilous position after a narrow escape. Idttle Ones Are in Peril. The experience of Airs. M. A. Parker and her four children was most thllllng-. They resided In the river bottom. "When the flood waters began to pour Into the house, the family took refuge In the barn, hut this structure became unsafe and they climbed upon a fence. Finally this Refuge began to sway by the force of the current, and the homeless family climbed Into a tree, the elder boy holding h!s little Bister by the shoulders until day- lirht when they were rescued by boat men. ' The manufacturing district of Spring field is deserted, and all the wheels are silent. Poles of the electric transmission line were prostrated and service to Eugene was not resumed until late this evening. The flood also broke the gas mains, thereby causing much Inconveni ence to consumers. River Is Now Falling. At 3 o'clock this afternoon the crest of the flood had passed and by 6 o'clock the waters had receded three feet. It is thought all danger is past. The highest point reached by the flood today was 21 feet. River bottoms for a mile to the north are under water, and telephone lines to Springfield and Coburg are down. The McKenzie River rose rap Idly and Wednesday the Blue River stage was unable to get nearer Eugene than Leaburg. 21 miles up the McKen xie Valley. The road between Eugene and Springfield is several feet under water. The ' little house known as Coney Island resort. Just the other side of Judklns Point, was washed away during the night. Stages Unable to Operate. The stage from Coburg did not start out for Its trip today, as Coburg is cut off from Eugene In every direction. The ferry at Jasper went out yes terday. The Southern Pacific lost about 100 cords of wood yesterday. The water has reached the tracks of the Southern Pacific at Saginaw. As a result of the high water, a gas main at the plant of the Northwestern Corporation broke at 8:30 this morning. All the linotype machines in the daily newspaper offices were out of commis sion for a few hours this forenoon until gasoline burners could be Installed. LOWER DOCKS ARE COVERED Willamette at Portland Is Now Rag ing TrTrrent. Flood conditions prevail at Portland, and the Willamette is a raging torrent. The flood stage of 15 feet was reached yesterday morning, and at 5 o'clock last evening the official reading showed 15.8 feet. The lower dock at the foot of Ash street was covered to a depth of 18 inches, and a number of the lower decks of other docks are threatened. The Willamette is falling at Eugene and the Clackamas has receded rapidly at Estacada. The Santiam River is fall ing at Jefferson, but the Yamhill is ris- (Conclude on Pass 8.) Much-Wedded Woman Tells "Last Spouse That She Has Others Living. TjOS ANGEL.ES. Cal., Nov. 23. (Spe cial.) That three weeks after his mar- riase his wife told him she had two other husbands living, is the ground on which Adam Underwood, former private secretary to Senator "W. A. Clark, bases a petition for an annulment of his mar Hjur'n to Mrs. Adeline Underwood. The petition for annulment was filed today In Judge Housers court. Twelve, years she was married, accord ing to Underwood, to Charles Schlmr, manager of the Orpheum Circuit here. Schlmr died) six years ago, leaving his fortune to his young widow. Then she married Peck Epplnger. After one year Mrs. Epplnger sued for divorce. The divorce was granted a short time before the San Francisco flre but before the decree became absolute, according to Underwood and his attorney. Mrs. Ep pinger met II. M. Klalr, a wealthy horse man from Louisville. Ky. They were married. Because of lncompatabllity they sep arated. Mrs. Epplnger-Klalr met young Under wood, who was then Senator Clark's pri vate secretary. They were married short time after. Only three weeks after their marriage Mrs. Underwood is alleged to have told her husband of her marriage to Epplnger and to Klalr. At first Underwood would not believe her. Cautiously he began to Investigate. He found Klalr and secured a deposition from him. Later he found Epplnger In San Francisco, and then Underwood sug gested that hli wife visit her relatives in San Francisco. EAST OBJECTS TO RATES Snnkane Decision Is In Disfavor Among Shipper. NEW YORK, Nov. 23. Delegations from 10 chambers or commerce ana boards of trade of Eastern cities met today to consider the new freight rates proposed by railroads of the Northwest, as a result of the famous Spokane rate case decision. A committee was- ap pointed to report on a plan for the crea tion of a central trafflo bureau to protect the Interests of the East. Commercial organizations of this terri tory already have Intervened in proceed ings before the Interstate Commerce Commission on the Spokane case, con tending that Eastern Interests would be adversely affected by the proposed changes. CANNON'S MAN IS ELECTED Moxley Goes to Congress From II- llnols District, Two to One. CHICAGO, Nov. 23. William J. Mox ley, Republican, was elected to Congress In the Sixth Illinois district today to suc ceed William Lorlmer. The latter was recently elected to the United States Senate In place of Albert J. Hopkins. Moxley has a two to one majority. 'Running against Moxley was Dr. Carl Barnes, an Independent Republican, who made this his battlecry: "If elected to Congress, I shall Join the Insurgents and do everything in my power to down Cannon." Speaker Cannon in a speech in Chicago last Thursday urged all who wouM not vote for Moxley to vote for the Demo cratic nominee rather than for Barnes. CLEW TO LOST MAN FOUND Washington Hall Believed to Have Gone Down With Yacht. NEW YORK. Nov. 2 J. A clew to the fate of Washington Hull, a Brooklyn architect who disappeared mysterious ly with his yacht, the Commodore, on November 8 last, was discovered today with the recovery from the waters of Jamaica Bay of the body of a sailor believed to have been with Hull on the missing yacht. The name "Alcatorda" on the sweat er worn by the man, whose body float ed in toward the Canarsie shore, indi cated that he wasTrygve Wold, a sail or of the yacht Alcatorda. CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH Mother Places Pan of Boiling Water Within Baby's Reach. HOOD RIVER, Or., Nov. 23. (Special.) A 20-months-old child of A. L. Davies died last night from the effects of being scalded m a pan of bolting water. The accident was caused by the child's mother taking the pan of water off the stove and setting it on the floor while she put wood in the stove. The youngster climbed on a chair to reach for some thing on a table and fell into the scald ing water. MARS NEEDS CLEAR AIR Observatory Being Built at 13,000 Feet In Arizona. FLAGSTAFF. Arls, Nov. 2S. In order that a clearer atmosphere may be se cured for the study of Mars, Dr. Lowell, of the Lowell University, is installing a 12-inch telescope on San Francisco peak at an altitude of nearly 13,000 feet. Professor V. M. Sllpher will have charge of the big task of erecting the instrument Serious Charge Made by Passengers. WIRELESS FAILED TO WORK Apparatus May Have Been Tampered With. INQUIRY WILL BE RIGID Vessel, Recently Destroyed Off Cal ifornia Coast, Said to Have Been Overlnsured by Fully $50,000. LOS ANGELES. Cal- Nov. 2S. (Spe claL) Ugly rumors In connection with the destruction of the steamer St. Croix on Saturday, six miles off the coast, op posite Point Dume, are to be 'investi gated by John Birmingham, supervising Inspector of the United States steam in speotlon service, assisted by O. F. Bolles and John T. Bulger, Inspectors of hulls and boilers. . A rumor emanating from passengers on the ill-fated vessel has it that the St. Croix was on fire before it sailed from San Pedro at 10 o'clock Saturday morn lnr. Steamship men say that, such a condition could not have existed .with out the knowledge of some member of the crew. Fifteen Miles From Wharf. It Is stated that at the outside the St. Croix could not have been more than 15 miles from the long wharf at Port Los Angeles when the fire was discov ered, and that the vessel could have been turned and run to this port In the time it required to run her In toward shore, man the small boats and take off the passengers. According to one passenger, the wire less operator was next to the last man to leave the burning vessel, and was dragged out "strugling to remain at his post." Yet he was unable, according to these reports, to' get his apparatus to work so that land stations or passing vessels might be advised of the plight of the steamer. The failure of the wireless apparatus Is one of the matters that will probably be Investigated thoroughly. Pumps Were Working. According to the chief engineer, the pumps were working when the ship was abandoned, and if it were so, the dyna mos supplying current for the opera tion of the wireless apparatus must have been in running order. That this apparatus was tampered with Is charged. The St. Croix carried no freight in her hold by which spontane ous combustion might have been caused. A San Francisco dispatch quotes Charles H. Hamilton, one of the owners, as saying that the St. Croix carried 175,000 insurance. When In Alaskan waters the vessel was insured for ap proximately J125.000. The vessel was estimated to be worth between $125,000 and $150,000. It was wooden' steamer, overhauled and con- erted Into a passenger boat. It cost originally $85,000. It Is said the Im provements and the cost of bringing it around the Horn, which alone amounted to $20,000. ran the amount to approxi mately $125,000. FOOTBALL "WOULDN'T THIS MAKE A DRUNKEN Members of Police Commission Named Are Xot Those "Sug gested. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 23. (Spe ciaL) P. H. McCarthy, who was re cently elected Mayors on the Union Labor ticket, has selected the members of the Police Commission, and the an nouncement comes as a severe blow to the union labor grafters who looked to McCarthy to reward them for their efforts In his behalf. Not a labor man figures among those chosen. Joseph Leggett, an old-time Demo crat and a man of sterling Integrity, remains on the board, while the two new men are to be William MacNevan, member of a real estate firm, and Louis Blot, who Is connected with downtown wholesale commission firm Not a man of those mentioned by the union labor bosses for a place on the commission was given consideration. It is significant that the retention of Leggett on the board is due to the Influence of one of the rich and pow erful law firms of the city. The labor leaders are already dis gusted with the Independence of Mc Carthy. One of them said, when asked how labor was faring with the Mayor-elect: "Aw, you can't touch him since he was elected." MESSENGER BOYS WILL GO Device Makes Telegraph Office of Every Telephone Station. NEW YORK, Nov. 23. (Special.) Offi cials of the American Telephone & Tele graph Company announced today that as a result of its purchase of a large inter est in the Western Union Telegraph Com pany a new device would be adopted that would put the messenger boy out of busi ness. According to these plans it will soon be possible for a telephone subscriber to write out his dispatch on an electrlo ma chine, which will reproduce it 'simulta neously in the pffice of the telegraph company. This will virtually make telegraph office out of every telephone station and will add enormously to the facilities of the telegraph companies. One of the highest officers of the tele phone company said today that he be lieved it would he possible after a while for the telegraph company to accept mes sages on a basis of 2 cent charges for a 15-word message, instead of a 10-word message. TAFT'S NIECE IS ENGAGED Seattle Lumberman to Louise Taft. Wed Miss NEW YORK, Nov. 23. Mr. and Mrs. Henrv W. Taft tonight announced the en gagement of their daughter, Miss Louise W. Taft, to George H. Snowden, of Se attle. Miss Taft is a niece of the President. Mr. Snowden graduated from Yale In 1307, and is now engaged in the lumber busi ness in Seattle. The wedding will take place in this city in the Christmas holi days. President Taft will attend. OWA BANKER SHOT; DIES Feather Catches in -Firearm, Dis charging It. WEBSTER CITY, la.. Nov. 23. F. A. Edwards, president of the Webster City Savings Bank, is dead as the result of the accidental discharge of a revolver at his bank this morning. He was dustfhg off a counter when a feather caught in the firearm, discharg ing it. . DeArmond Falls, Try ing to Save Grandson. ARMS ENTWINED ABOUT BODY Search of Ruins Reveals Hero ism of Congressman. WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPES Spread of Flames Too Rapid to Al low Attempt at Rescue Splendid Library Is Included in Loss of Property. KANSAS CITY, Nov. 23. It was in a vain effort to save the life of Ms little grandson that Congressman David - A. DeArmond. of the Sixth Missouri district. perished in a fire that destroyed his home In Butler, Mo., early today. The heroism of the Congressman was made known late this afternoon, wnen. with his arms locked around the burned body of the little boy, DeArmond's body was found. He had caujrht up the 6- y ear-old lad. David A. DeArmond, Jr. and rushed with him through the flames that filled his room. He fell with his unconscious burden and both sank through the floor to quick death. Boy Was Grandfather's IdoL What makes the tragedy unusually pa thetic Is the fact that the grandson was the grandfather's idol. Last night the boy wenl to his grandfather's house as usual, and. after a happy evening, tne two re tired. The next the family heard of them was early today, when, from behind the smoke and flames that enveloped the house the boy screamed: 'Oh. grandpa, get me out of here quick. I'm burning to death." "Yes, son; don't be afraid. Grandpa will take you out," was the calm reply. Then both went down to death. " The rest of the family sleeping In the house at the time Mrs. DeArmond, her daugh ter. Mrs. Clark and Miss Nettie Boles- were greatly shaken by their experiences. Mrs. DeArmond fainted and would have met death in the flames had not her daughter dragged her out into the yard. Son Restrained From Rushing In. Message's of condolence from all parts of the country were received by the De- Armonds this afternoon. Jaines A. DeArmond, editor of the Bates County Democrat, son of the Congress man and father of the boy who was burned, tried to rush Into the burning house to save his father and son, but was prevented by others. The cause of the fire is not Known. The house was two stories in height, and burned fiercely. The home was a large two-story frame structure set well back from the street. Congressman De Armond and his young grandson were in a room on the south side of the building, while Mrs. De Ar mond and Mrs. Clarke had a separate room on the opposite side of the house. Nettie Boles. 20 years old, a servant, had room on the west end. The servant escaped without injury- Mrs. De Armond Saved. The first knowledge of the fire came Mrs. Clarke, when she was awakened by sounds from her father's room. Urg ing her mother downstairs, the younger woman wltn difficulty succeeded in (Concluded on Page 5.) JOY - RIDER JEALOUS!' Letters Taken Aboard Steamer Just Before Sailing and Cuba Given as Next Destination. NEW YORK, Nov. 23. The Astor yacht puzzle is solved. Mail from Colo nel John Jacob Astor and his party reached New York today on the Insular line steamer Harry Luckenbach, whleh sailed from San Juan, P. R., November 17. 1 The letters Indicate there was no unusual incident aboard the yacht. On that date an officer from the yacht Nourxnahal came aboard the Lucken bach with mall Just before the latter sailed for New York. This officer told Captain James Dalton, of the Luck enbach, that the Nourmahal was to sail next for Cuban ports. At the time, ac cording to Captain Dalton, the Nourma hal was safely at anchor and showed no signs of damage. The positive assurance that the Nour mahal was safe at San Juan on Novem ber 17 Just a week ago practically ends a 19-day search. TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 23. San Juan, P. R.,- ts completely cut off by a heavy bank of impenetrable atmosphere, as if it were walled In, all efforts to estab lish communication with the wireless station there having failed. Atmospheric conditions on the Gulf and Carrlbean Sea aTe unprecedented in wireless communication. With the discovery of the safety of Colonel Astor's yacht, another mys tery develops that of the identity of the submerged vessel sighted by the German steamer Wotan a week ago, Just off the northern coast of Cuba. PREACHER IS KICKED OUT Priest Sues for $20,000 to Soothe His Wounded Feelings. SEATTLE, Wash., Nov. 23. (Special.)- Rev. (John Power, In charge of a parish embracing Rainier Valldy, yesterday In - stituted suit against Edwin F. James, a wealthy real estate "..dealer, for 130,000 damages. The claim is based upon in Juries to the person and humiliation in cident to being kicked out of the office of Edwin F. James & Co., in the New York block. Being a "man of the cloth" with the Insignia of the church upon him, he could not resent with force the attack. He consequently meekly submitted and after a few days consulted James T. Lawler, the attorney, who yesterday filed the suit against Mr. James. FIVE MILES OF CANAL OPEN Ships Use Waterway to Transport Freight to Pacific. WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. Five miles of the Panama Canal have been opened to navigation. This includes the channel from the point in the Bay of Panama. Steamships plying between San Fran Cisco and Panama and the West Coast ports of South America and Panama are using this part of the canal daily. Should the Buffalo go to Panama for marines to be transported to Nicaragua this part of the canal will be utilized. 7 FAST MAILS ARE TALKED British Colonies to Consider Sir Wil frid Laurier's Proposal. OTTAWA. Ont., Nov. 23. A meeting of representatives of the Canadian. Brit ish, New Zealand and Australian govern ments will be held next Spring to con slder the proposal made by Sir Wilfrid Laurler for a fast passenger and mail steamship and train service from London to Australia and New Zealand, via fast trains across Canada and an 18-knot service on the Pacific. TAFT GETS BIGGEST PIE President's Thanksgiving Dessert Weighs 50 Pounds. NEWARK, N. J., Nov. 23. President Taft's 50-pound Thanksgiving mince pie was baked today In a Newark bakeshop. Tomorrow this pie. the largest ever baked in America, will be taken to Wash ington by a committee of the Bakers' Union. The pie. Is 25 lnohes in diameter and .three inches . deep. BOMB BLOWS UP 25 HOUSES Black Hand Blamed for Disaster at Danville, III. DANVILLE. III., Nov. 23. An explosion of dynamite in the fruit and wine house of Joseph Mascarl, 13 College street, early today, wrecked 25 buildings in the busi ness district. Mascarl, wh(j is an Italian, believes the Flack Hand is responsible for the ex jflosion. None Injured. LIGHTSHIP GOES ADRIFT Vessel Reported. 15 Miles Off Tilla mook Light, Steaming Xorthward. t STEAMSHIP ASUNCION, at sea, ' via wireless, via Astoria, Or.. Nov. The Columbia River lightship went adrift to night and at 10 P. M. was in a position 15 miles north-northwest from Tillamook Light. She was steaming Blowly Northward. Big Men of West May Boss Lines Soon. LAUNCH MOVEMENT SECRETLY Stigma of Bears and Bulls' Dictation Is Felt. - JOHN A SPOOR MAY LEAD Change Blamed for Adverse Legisla tion Rail Chiefs to Form Board of Control to Win Fa vor of Public. CHICAGO, Nov. 23. (Special.) A move ment which has not yet become well de fined Is said to have been started to place the Western railroads in control of Western men, 'so that their policy no longer will be dictated from Wall street. Great secrecy Is being maintained re garding the subject. John A. Spoor, president of the Chicago Junction Road, is said to be an important member of the new coterie of railway men who will shape the destinies of the Western roads. Mr. Spoor denies a knowlege of anything about the movement.- but his recent entry Into the board of the Chicago. Great Western Road is said to be part of the plan. Wall-Street Link Tires. It is the opinion of nearly all Western rail presidents that an almost constant .linking of names of Western roads with Wall street operators is responsible in ' "l larS measure for the wave of adverse ii ii'iu.iuii i,, nebcin cm n. .ns a, njai in of fact, the people own most of the Western roads. Why not let the stock holders run them instead of Wall-street operators? is the question being asked. With the idea of effecting a gradual change In this respect there has been general .movement toward electing strong Western men to the various boards of control. Board of Control Planned. It is understood that as soon as a suffi cient number of strong Western business men have been elected directors there will be established a pseudo Board of Control, which shall shape the policies of all Western roads Insofar as those policies affect the traveling and shipping public. In this manner it is thought the Western roads can get away from the Wall-street stigma and so shape their policies that the public will understand that the railroad managers believe, in truth, that the Interest of the public and of the railroads Is one and the same. INDEX 0E TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY Maximum temperature. 61. S decrees; minimum. .11.2 degrees. TOD AY Rain, fresh southwest wind. Flood Situation. Two hundred people are driven from homes ny high water at West Springfield. Pace J. i Four Great Northern trains are marooned In Cascade Mountains aa result of washouts. Tage 0. High water is general all over Pacific Northwest, page. i. Wind storm In Umatilla County blows ware- - hons In front of train. Page 6. Railroads promptly repair flood damage. Page 0- National. United States delays move against Nica ragua, awaiting more definite informa tion. Page 5. , Dottiest Ic. Hope, of finding more live men In Cherry mine abandoned. Page J. Passengers on ill-fated St. Croix stoamer declare vessel was afire before leaving port of sailing. Page 1. Charles W. Morse wins point In being al lowed to move new trial. Page 5. Mall from Colonel Astor Indicates safety In Han Juan November 1- Pig 1. Western railroads to name Western men as heads to break away from the dicta -tlon of policy by Wall Street. Page I. Prosecutor of Alma Boll says state would not hang woman. Page 3. San Francisco's , Mayor-elect deals severe blow to union labor grnfter through, Police Commission appointments. Pago 1. Sports. Mullnomah-O- A- C. game tomorrow one of real championship style. Page 7. Livestock show directors subscribe $25."rtfl for bigger and better exposition In lttlO. Page 7. Holladay wins grammar school champion ship from Shattuck by 10 to 0 score. Page 7. Oregon football team leaves for Seattle to- day. Coach Forbes confident of victory. Page 7. Pacific North went. Kelso votes to retain saloons by majority of 3. Page 4. Mike Ryan found guilty of manslaughter by Pendleton Jury. Page S. President Ixvett announces he will spend millions on Northwest roads. Page A. Trackwalker charged with murder for leav ing post before O. R. & N. wreck oc curs. Page 9. Hamilton is not released; hfs trial begins. Page 4. Portland and VIHnJty. Proposed new milk ordinance probably will be adopted by Council today. Page In closing of saloons Saturday at midnight to be ordered by Chief Cox. Page 32. Portland's hard-surfaced streets will flushed hereafter, assuring cleanliness. Page 20. Mudtnomah County gives Portland sit near Kelly Butte for detention hospital. Page 1". British ship Poltallock libelled; United States Marshal in charge. Page 13. Portland ready to consume turkeys at Thanksgiving feast. Page 12. Woman paroled after being sentenced to serve two year f.r eloping, is taken back by 'husband. Pngo Senator Coffey's announced candidacy fr Secretary of State may encourage Re publican candidates fur Governor to an nounce themselves. Page 14. V