Morning Oregonian., February 21, 1914, Image 1

VOL,. LiIV. NO. 16,613.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1914.
PRICE FIVE CENTS-
V
V
BRITON IS BELIEVED
MURDERED BY VILLA
Rumor of Real Court
Martial Discredited.
CONSUL ANNOUNCES DEATH
Occurrence Causes Great Ex
citement on Border.
THREE OTHERS MISSING
outspoken Ranchman Known to
Have Declared He Would Speak
His Mind if Rebel General
Refused His Request.
MEXICO CITY, Frt. 20. Gossip la
current here tonight that certain Eu
ropean powers again are planning: to
urge the United Statea to aasame a
more active policy in restoring peace in
Mexico. Many persona expressed the
belief today that the Benton incident
night be seised upon as an opportunity
to Impress such a view on the Washing
ton Government.
Various diplomats intimated today
that they -would use the killing of Ben
ton as the baals of reports to show
thclr helplessness when it cornea to
protecting their nations in the greater
part of Mexico.
EL PASO. Feb. 20. The execution, or
murder of William S. Benton, a British
subject, by General Francisco Villa,
head of the Mexican rebels at Juarez,
became known here today and caused
Intense excitement.
Two other British subjects, John
Lawrence and a companion named Cur
tis, who went to look for Benton, are
also missing tonight
Gustav Bauch, who was being tried
for being a spy, also disappeared.
Thomas D. Edwards, American Consul
at Juarez, said that when friends of
Bauch went to visit him with bedding
and food, he was not In the cell where
he had been held incommunicado since
last Sunday, while his trial was being
held.
Shooting Reports Numerous.
Reports were numerous today that
Banch would be shot. The Consul is
confident that Bauch was not removed
to Chihuahua, as he watched the train
leave with General Villa on board.
Stewart quoted a rebel officer, whose
same he did not learn, as remarking:
"Well, we've gotten rid of three more
gringoes."
Benton was one of the most promi
nent foreigners residing in Northern
Mexico. Previous to adoptine resolu
tions In mass meeting condemning the
government for Its handling of Mexican
allalrs, El Paso citizens selarta
Governor Curry, of New Mexico, to
call on Consul Edwards at Juarez for
information concerning Benton's fate.
Consul Pledged to Silence.
"Mr. Consul," he said, "the people of
El Paso and the foreign refugees from,
Mexico are in a feverish state because
of the murder of William Benton. They
have been unable to hear details of the
crime and have asked me to seek in
formation. Any light you can shed on
the subject will be appreciated."
"I have telegraphed the Secretary of
State that Benton's death has been of
ficially reported to me," replied the
Consul. Other details I have forwarded
to Washington by mall. General Villa
said he did not dare to talk to the press
or public of the case, but gave me the
information for Mrs. Benton, the widow,
and the State Department. They are
at liberty to talk, but I promised the
General that I would remain silent."
Asked as to his careful use of the
phrase "officially reported dead." and
whether he personally thought the of
ficial report by Villa might have been
deliberately misleading, the consul said
that Inasmuch as the rebels had been
sending Chihuahua prisoners to Juarez
and Juarez prisoners to Chihuahua, that
ho had had a faint hope that Villa
might, for his own reasons, have lied
to him."
Villa's Version Credited.
Benton disappeared Tuesday and
there Is no disposition outside the
American consulate if it still exists
there to doubt the authenticity of
illas report to the Consul.
Mr. Edwards made his first inquiry
or villa yesterday on receipt of in
structions from Secretary Bryan, who
made the request at the Instance of the
British Ambassador, Sir Cecil Spring
Rice.
"Mr. Edwards," Villa is reported as
saying, "Mr. Benton is dead. You are
an official of the American Government
and I give you this as officially your
due. I have made denials to other in
quirers, as this is not a matter for the
public. It is for the information of
the widow and the State Department."
What else passed between them Mr,
Edwards would not say and Mrs. Ben
ton was unable to.
The Consul telegraphed the bare an
nouncement to Washington last night
and the news reached El Paso through
an Associated Press bulletin when Sec
retary Bryan . made the Information
public today.
Consul Informs Widow.
Edwards waited until after his last
hope flickered away with the departure
of the train this morning before in
forming Mrs. Benton that her husband
was dead. She is a Mexican woman,
and although educated understands the
English, language Imperfectly. The
Consul spoke In his own tongue and
(Concluded op Pass 2.)
AMER1CANS-RETURN
FIRE OF MEXICANS
CAVALRY TROOPS ENGAGE IN
NIGHT BRUSH ON BORDER.
One Mexican Is Wounded and Two
Are Taken Prisoner; Fifteen or
20 Shots Are Exchanged.
EL PASO, Tex., Feb. 20. A squad of
soldiers of Troop M, Thirteenth Cav
alry, had a brush with a score or more
Mexicans tonight, during which 15 or
20 shot3 were fired. One Mexican was
wounded and two taken prisoners.
Captain Harry M. Cootes, of Troop
M, had received word that fillbusterera
might attempt to rush the barracks
where his detachment is housed, on the
outskirts of the city. In order to get
arms and ammunition, and was on the
watch.
Corporal Jansen first noticed the
presence of the Mexicans in an alley.
He called upon them to give an ac
count of themselves and was greeted
by a shot. He replied with a bullet
Into a crowd and was quickly rein
forced by some of his comrades, who
also shot at the Mexicans. The latter
returned a few shots and disappeared
In the darkness. The troopers pur
sued, but all but two escaped. The
wounded man escaped, but hobbled to
a hospital to have the bullet taken
from his leg. The incident occurred
near the river. In a. district known as
"Hart's Mill."
Captain Cootea was uptown at the
time, busy with his duties as provost
marshal, and the troopers were han
dled by Lieutenant Yancey.
CUTOFF WORK TO BEGIN
Arrangements Under AVay to Build
Coyote Route Near Stanfleld.
PENDLETON, Or.. Feb. 20. (Spe
cial.) Work on the. construction of the
Coyote cutoff virtually has started, ac
cording to reports received here. Rep
representatives of Twohy Bros, are now
in the field locating camps in which
hundreds of laborers will be housed
while the cutoff is being built. One of
the camps will be situated near Echo
and a second near Stanfleld.
It is reported the O.-W. R. & N.
Company proposes some line changes
between Echo and the upper end of
the cutoff in order to eliminate grades.
According to reports, the cutoff will
start from the mouth of the Butter
Creek instead of from Echo or Stan
field, as at first believed.
ALASKA BILL IS INSPIRATION
On Signing of Measure by President
Chamber Plans Celebration.
The Portland Chamber of Commerce,
upon the passage of the Alaska railroad
bill and on the day it is signed by
President Wilson, contemplates hold
ing' a special celebration in honor of
the event.
The railroad bill has long been rec
ognized as of vital importance to
Portland in relation to Its present cam
paign into the trade territory of
Alaska.
It Is suggested that the celebration
take fhe form of a banquet.
NOTED DIVA NAMES "RIVAL"
Schumann-Heink Adds Statutory
Charge to Divorce Bill.
CHICAGO, Feb. 20. The divorce bill
filed here by Mme. Ernestine Schu-mann-Heink-Rapp.
of San Diego, Cal.,
the grand opera singer, against Will
iam Rapp, Jr., of New York, was
amended by permission today and now
contains a statutory charge against
Mr. Rapp.
"K. E. Deans" is tho name given In
the amendment as that of the woman
In the case. Mr. Rapp was alleged to
have been acquainted with her in New
York in 1912 and 1913.
HELEN GAYN0R IS ENGAGED
Scion of Corn Products Magnate Fi
ance of Late Mayor's Daughter.
NEW Y'ORK, Feb. 20. Mrs. William
J. Gaynor, widow of the late Mayor
of New York, anno 3ed today the
engagement of her daughter, Helen, to
E. T. Bedford., second son of Mr. and
Mrs. F. H. Bedford, of Brooklyn. Miss
Helen is Mrs. Gaynor's third daughter.
She is 19 years old. Three of her
sisters are married.
Her fiance is a . grandson of Ed
ward Thomas Bedford, formerly a vice-
president of the Standard OH Company
STEAMER IS IN TROUBLE
Eureka, Buffeted by Heavy Sea,
Sends Distress "Call.
SANTA BARBARA. Cal., Feb. 20.
The steamer Eureka, Ventura to San
Francisco, sent out distress signals to
night off Morro Bay and the steamer
Santa Clara has gone to her assistance.
This was the report sent here tonight
by the railroad agent at San Luis
Obispo.
The message said that both vessels
were being buffeted badly by the heavy
seas.
STEAMER GOES ON SHORE
Vessel Stranded Off Virginia Coast
Is Unidentified.
NORFOLK. Va., Feb. 20. An uniden
tified steamer was reported ashore to
night one mile north of Little Island
llfesaving station.
Lifesavers hardly will be able to
reach the vessel tonight, as there is
a severe storm sweeping the coast and
the waves are unusually high.
JUDGE'S ATTITUDE
GIVES THAW HOPE
New York's Good Faith
Declared Issue.
COURT FREE WITH COMMENT
Prisoner's Counsel Bitterly
Assails Mr. Jerome.
CRITICAL POINT REACHED
In Event Habeas Corpus Writ Is
Granted and State Does Not Ap
peal, Thaw Will Be Free Ar
gument Continues Today.
CONCORD, N. H., Feb. 20. (Special.)
Ex-Governor Stone, of Pennsylvania,
Harry K. Thaw's chief counsel, made a
bitter attack on William Travers
Jerome when the hearing before Judge
Aldrich on Thaw's habeas corpus peti
tion opened today. The hearing marks
Thaw's crucial battle against extradi
tion. Ex-Governor Stone assailed the
good faith of Mr. Jerome and attacked
the methods employed In securing the
indictment on which the extradition
request is based.
Judge Aldrich made several com
ments on the case as it appeared to
him and the Thaw lawyers were Jubi
lant at his indication that he consid
ered the question of New York's good
faith of importance in the case. New
York has contended that Judge Aid
rich must ignore all question of New
York's honesty in his decision.
Judge Interrupts Counsel.
Judge Aldrich's word on this ques
tion came while Governor Stone was
arguing. The judge interrupted to
ask:
How can I satisfy myself as to this
question of good faith?"
Ex-Governor Stone replied: "By
hearing of all facts."
When the hearing adjourned for the
noon recess Judge Aldrich made this
statement:
It seems to me that the important
question at this hearing is whether ex
tradition is the appropriate remedy.
not whether Thaw shall be returned to
New York. Secondarily, It is impor
tant to decide whether in the descrip
tion or the offense alleged by the State
of New Y'ork they have not left their
charge In the field of uncertainty."
Ex-Governor Stone made the opening
argument and openly charged bad
faith in the proceedings. He said:
"The record of this case is full of
evidence of bad faith. The intent to
(Concluded on Page 2.)
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INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
- The Weather.
TESTERDAT'S Maximum temperature.
62
degrees; minimum, 45 decrees.
TODAY'S Rain; brisk to high southeast
winds.
Bexico.
British subject executed by Mexican rebel
general. Pass 1.
Washington deeply stirred by new Mexican
developments. Page 2.
Citizens o 1 Paso denounce policy toward
Mexico. Page 2.
Foreign.
Polish count placed on trial for killing wito
and her nephew. Page 2.
romestic
Heavy rains contnnue- in citrus belt. Pag 1.
Jury breaks will of lumberman who out oft
wife and sons. Page &.
Harry Thaw still hopes to defeat extradi
tion. Page 1.
Aviator and millionaire go to sea in gale.
Page 1.
Americans and Mexican troops in brush on
border. Page 1.
Sports.
McCredie decides not to 'pass final Judg
ment on recruits at training field. Page 10.
Coral Sea trip nerve-racking on White Sox
and Giants. Pago 10.
University of Oregon defeats Washington
basketball team, 24 to 9. Page 11.
Bud Anderson loses to "Red" Watson in
fifth. Pags 10.
Multnomah gets even with Spokane at in
terclub tourney. Page 10.
Pacific Northwest.
Strike of shlngleweavers at Raymond fol
lowed by open shop. Page o.
Delegates to Eugene development congress
forecast heavy Booth vote. Page S.
O.-W. R. &. N. Co. soon to begin Coyote cut
off. Page 1.
Seattle Mayor denounces HI GUI In announc
ing he will take stump. Page 0,
Three passengers killed by robber on Great
Northern train. Page 1.
Commercial and Marine.
Outlook is for active mohair market and
good prices. Paige 15.
Sentiment in commercial and Industrial lines
la optimistic Paga 10.
Stock dealings quiet and fluctuations narrow.
Page 16.
Chicago wheat firmer on reports of foreign
crop damage. Page 15.
Licenses of pilot and second officer of Gen
eral Hubbard suspended. Page 14.
River trade falls and abandonment of dredg
ing plans are threatened, page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
Ruling Market block may not be available
for auditorium causes fresh muddle.
Page T.
Armstrong counsel moves to drop case in
clvi; service scandal. Page 8.
Citizens Indorse Somers assessment system.
Page 14.
C J. Franklin resigns as general superin
tendent of street railways. Page 14.
Heedlessness of water meters shown by re
ports of lalz-13. Page .
Weather report, data and forecast. Page 15.
Recall committee opens office, but backer
is kept under cover. Page 4.
Early business' days are viewed by pioneers
of Portland. Page 4.
SMOKING BOBS UP AGAIN
Woman Requests Mr. Albee to Ask
Gentlemen to Quit Tobacco.
The question of the moral right of
persons to smoke during Council meet
ings while women are present, which
was the cause of much fuss during the
last days of the old Jity Council,
sprang up yesterday to bother the new
Council. While the Council was in ses
sion several persons were seated about
the table puffing at cigars.
Mrs. F. Eggert, who was one of a
number of women present, wrote a note
on a card and sent it. to Mayor Albee,
asking that gentlemen kindly be re
quested to refrain from smoking. For
tunately, a moment later the Council
session adjourned and it was not nec
essary to make the request. The smok
ing question is expected to bob up
again, however, as three of the five
Commissioners are smokers.
IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA -
1
OF ROBBER TRIO
KILLS 3 ON TRAIN
GreatNorthern Passen
gers Shot Down.
SAMISH, WASH., HOLDUP SCENE
One Desperado Drops Men as
Partner Shoots Out Lights:
ESCAPE IS IN WILDERNESS
Posses Quickly on Way From Bel
lingham, but Little Hope Held
Out for Capture Many Wom
en Faint; Others Give Purses.
BELLINGHAM, Feb. 20. When three
passengers on Great Northern passen
ger train No. 858, bound for Vancouver,
B. C, undertook to resist one ot a trio
of holdups who entered the day coach
when the train was running along the
edge of the bay nine miles south of
here tonight at 7:30, the robber pulled
an automatic pistol and shot the men
dead in their tracks.
The dead men are:
Thomas S. Wadsworth, a Canadian
Pacific conductor, of Vancouver, B. C.
R. L. Lee., a clerk at the United States
Navy-Yard, of Bremerton, Wash.
H. D. Adterson, a traveling salesman,
of Vancouver, B. C
Masks Donned on Train.
It is believed the three bandits got
on the train at Burlington, a few miles
south of the scene of the holdup. They
were seen to leave the smoking car and
enter the vestibule between it and the
day coach, where they tied white hand
kerchiefs about their faces.
One of the men then entered the day
coach and walked to the rear door. A
second one stepped Just inside the
coach, while the third remained in the
vestibule.
As the man reached the rear door
and started to lock the door the three
men who were killed leaped from their
seats and started grappling with the
robber. At that minute the bandit
who was at the forward end of the
coach began shooting into the celling
of the car and putting out the lights.
Many Shots Fired,
The robber, grappling with the three
men, then pulled out an automatic
revolver and began shooting. He fired
probably ten shots. Lee was the first
man to fall. The next two shots
killed Wadsworth and Adterson.
Lee was trying to crawl behind the
rear seat when the bandit turned his
gun on him and fired five or six shots
into his back.
None of the shots fired by the other
(Concluded on Page 2.)
AVIATOR VOYAGES
OVER SEA IN GALE
GLESX SIARTIX TAKES MILLION
AIRE OX WILD RIDE.
Wind So Furious It Takes 8 5 Min
utes to Go 3 6 Allies, and Men
Are in Peril of Lives.
SAN DIEGO, CaL, Feb. 20. Buffeted
and tossed about like a feather for an
hour and 25 minutes by the furious
wind which swept the ocean, Glenn
Martin, accompanied by Frank Garbutt,
a Los Angeles millionaire, today piloted
his biplane from Oceanside to North
Island in what probably Is the most
hazardous and spectacular flight ever
undertaken on the Pacific Coast.
The men ascended from Oceanside at
10:45 this morning and made a safe
landing at 12:10 P. M. They followed
the coast line and the full danger of
their flight may be judged when It is
considered that had Martin, through an
accident to the motor of his machine,
been compelled to volplane, both he
and Carbutt would have been either
drowned or dashed to destruction on
the rocks.
The wind was so furious that the
aivator was unable to make greater
headway than 36 miles in 85 minutes.
Martin claims that his biplane Is capa
ble 'under ordinary weather conditions
of a sustained speed of 75 miles an
hour.
CARL GRAY T0HEAD FRISCO
Great Xorthern President, Resigned,
to Begin When Receivers Quit.
ST. PAUL. Feb. 20. (Special.) Carl
R. Gray, who has resigned from the
presidency of the Great Northern Rail
way, wllL become president of the St.
Louis & San Francisco Railroad as soon
as that corporation passes out of the
hands of the receivers. This announce
ment was made in St. Louis and veri
fication was given at Mr. Gray's offices
here today.
The vacancy on. the board of direc
tors of the Great Northern caused by
the death of William H. Dunwoody has
been filled. P. L. Howe, president of
the Imperial Elevator Company, has
been named. Mr. Howe is a director on
a number of philanthropic and civic
boards, including the Minneapolis Y.
M. C. A.
DANIELS DOMESTIC 'ANGEL'
Secretary yolnntarily Arranges for
Admiral to See Family.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19. While Sec
retary Daniels is encouraging matri
mony in the Navy, he likewise took
cognizance today of the domestic hard
ships of Naval officers who are away
from home for a prolonged period.
The Secretary sent a wireless today
to Rear-Admiral Fletcher at Vera Cruz,
asking him If he would like to have a
visit with his family and when the Ad
miral replied, Mrs. Fletcher and her
two babies, with only a few hours'
preparation, left on the Presidential
yacht Mayflower, which sailed today
for Mexican waters.
WATER MAY BATTLE RUM
Commission Planning to Fight
Demon With Drinking Fountains.
The City Commission may decide to
fight the liquor traffic with water.
Commissioner Brewster at an informal
meeting of the Council yesterday In
troduced a plan to install drinking
fountains at various places in the
North End.
Mr. Brewster said fountains would
prove a serious handicap to the liquor
traffic. The plan met with the ap
proval of other members of the Com
mission. Ways and means of providing
driftklng places may be taken up in
the near future.
MILITARY BALL BRILLIANT
General and Mrs. Potts Honored by
Affair at Barracks.
VANCOUVER BARRACKS. Wash.,
Feb. 20. (Special.) The most elaborate
military ball of the season was held
here tcnlght in honor of General Ram
say D. Potts, commanding the Seventh
Brigade, with headquarters here, and
Mrs. Potts, who recently arrived from
the Presidio, at San Francisco. Many
society folk from Portland were present.
In the receiving line were General
Potts and Mrs. Potts, and Colonel
George S. Young and Mrs. Young. Music
was supplied by the orchestra from
the Twenty-first Infantry band.
FRILLS NOT FOR FARMER
Committee Told Rural Credit Will
Not Mean Extravagance.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10. The Amer
ican farmer is not squandering his
money on frills and furbelows, John
T. Colter told the Joint Congressional
rural credits committee today.
"The farmers of this country need a
rural credit system," said Dr. Coulter.
"They will not run to extravagance if
money is made cheaper for them. The
American farmers borrow .money, ac
cording to my investigation, for good
and useful purpose..."
GEORGE TURNER RESIGNS
Ex-Senator Quits Place on Interna
tional High Commission.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. George Tur
ner, of Spokane, Wash., ex-Senator from
that state, resigned today as a member
of the International Joint Commission.
He will be succeeded by ex-Governor
Glenn, of North Carolina.
FURIOUS TORRENTS
CARRY DESOLATION
Rainfall Continues in
Citrus Belt.
BUNGALOWS ARE SWEPT AWAY
Orange and Lemon Groves
Suffer Serious Damage.
TWO MORE ARE DROWNED
Region Hard Hit by Freeze of Jan.
uary, 1013, Again Sustains
Blow Trunk Line Traffic
Continues Demoralized.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20. Orange and
lemon growers of the citrus fruit region
about Los Angeles, who suffered se
verely in the freeze of January, 1913,
sustained another hard blow in the
storm which began early Wednesday
and continued today. Groves that were
nipped and shriveled by the frost a
year ago were washed out today by tor
rents that rushed down from the moun
tains and tore madly through the val
leys. In many Instances homes and
other movable property floated off on
the crest of the swirling currents with,
the trees.
Summarized, the flood situation about
Los Angeles tonight was as follows:
Pomona, center of a large fruitgrow
ing district Orange and lemon groves
razed by the storm waters. Every
grove damaged more or less, each suf
fering loss of from J500 to 110,000. All
railroad and electric lines washed out.
Woman Rancher Drowned.
Covins, a town In the citrus belt
Menaced by floods held back only by
a temporary dam hastily erected. Two
drowned, Miss Susan Beville, a woman
rancher, and her cousin, H. M. Seitz.
Ranchers striving to save homes and
groves.
Ontario, San Bernardino County City
water system damaged by storm. Many
groves flooded.
Monrovia, in the foothills Citrus
groves and streets damaged by torrents
dashing down mountainsides. Scores
of homes of poor families In the low
lands inundated. Many collapsed when
a riprap, or temporary dam, erected to
protect railroad tracks, gave way.
Pasadena Surrounding citrus groves
suffered. Steam and electric traffic
interrupted.
Whittier All bridges gone, roads
washed out, suburban service demoral
ized. Fruit orchards damaged. Large
areas of lowlands flooded.
Santa Ana, Orange County Bridges
washed away; train and trolley sub
urban service cut oft.
Inglewood, south of Los Angeles
Town flooded when storm waters over
taxed sewer draining Los Angeles and
burst monster pipes.
San Pedro Harbor traffic demoral
ized. Railroad and trolley track under
lake spreading to a width of 15 miles
and extending nearly 20 miles to Lo3
Angeles.
Playa del Rey Pleasure pier weak
ened by rain floods, partially wrecked
by ocean swells raised by high wind.
Long Beach Railroad traffic sus
pended, back country Inundated; ocean
front lashed by heavy tides.
Venice Canals overflowed; founda
tions of homes weakened; heavy ocean
tides.
Ilnln Continue to Fall.
The storm confined its rainfall today
to the citrus country. In the city little
rain fell, but cloudbursts in the moun
tains sent down torrents which swept
arroyos leading Into the city and flood
ed streets In various suburbs, besides
sweeping away several bungalows.
Railroad traffic in and out of the city
was still in a demoralized condition.
Three trunk lines continued to route all
trains over a branch line through Ful
lerton. MILLIONAIRE'S SOX DROWXS
Rural Mailcarrler Also Reported
Lost in Storm.
SANTA BARBARA. Cal., Feb. 20.
Reuben Hamlin, 22 years old, son of
R. W. Hamlin, a millionaire resident
of Glendora, was drowned at sea to
day, and J. C Rockwell, a rural mail
carrier in the Carpenterla district. Is
supposed to have lost his life in a
freshet.
Hamlin went to his death shortly
after the gasoline launch Marie sank
In the surf and his companion, James
Weeks, of San Pedro, saved his own
life by clinging to a 50-gallon distil
late drum and was carried to the
beach.
It is believed almost certain that
Rockwell also was drowned. His
horse came home near Carpenteria late
today. Rockwell had undoubtedly at-,
tempted to drive through a road which
was badly flooded. Near this gully his
scattered mail was found.
The tug Orient, Captain Chllds. of
San Pedro, which last night brought
12 passengers and mail from the south,
is believed to be wrecked in the har
bor while at anchor. The total rainfall
today was 3.01 inches and for the
storm 7.56 inches.
STORM HEAVY IX BAY REGION
Vessels From North Held BacU..
Lightning Strikes Observatory.
SAN, FRANCISCO. Feb. 20. (Special.) .
The heavy storm which has been de
(Concluded on Fage 2.)
X