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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 9, 1914)
4 THE MORNING OREOONIATf. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1914. " MAYOR TESTIFIES AT FIRE INQUEST Complaint Made as to Smoke. Not Danger of Burning Grain Debris, 'Albee -Says. HEARING RESUMED TODAY Cliier Dowell Ja ot Belief Refuse Did Not Start Northwest Door Com- , . pan y Blaze Members Ferry boat Crew Witnesses. Having heard Mayor Albee, Fire Chief Dowell, Assistant Chief Lauden klos, Battalion Chief Stevens and others tell what they knew of the circum stances leading up to and surrounding the death of two employes while try ing to escape from the Northwest Door Company fire last Wednesday, the Cor oner's Inquest adjourned last night to reconvene again .at ,3:30 P. M. today. The two men killed in the fire are Wil llam Sterling and Alex Balogh. Mayor Albee was the most prominent witness before yesterday's session, but ms testimony gave . the least actual information of events not already given to the Jury by other witnesses. His testimony was punctuated by clashes feetween him and Deputy District At torney Robison. Mayor Albee gave his address as 1040 East Ankeny street, and on being asked liis occupation, replied "Mayor." He Biuu no was zaxnmar witn rue grouna covered by the grain burning, and had been over the ground once since the dock fire of March 12. This visit, he Bald, was two weeks ago, and was out or curiosity, because he had not seen the debris of the dock fire and wished to see It. His chauffeur was the only (person with him. He said he walked over the area burned, found it was smouldering and smoking, and found two men on guard at the fires. He was there but five minutes, he said. j: Mayor Telia of la ventilation. He told of the permission given Allen '& Lewis to burn the grain thus: "In the latter part of April and the first of May we received several complaints, chiefly about the smoke arising from the grain, and about the first of May Mr. Greer, of Allen & Lewis, asked me for permission to burn the grain. I refused permission until I had In vestigated the circumstances. I talked to Commissioner Daly, and he said that it would be Impossible to burn the grain in the crematory, because the grain packed, and produced explosions. I then talked to Chief Dowell. of the Fire Department; Assistant Chief Laudenklos and Battalion Chief Stevens, and they agreed that the best and only feasible way to get rid of the grain was to burn it. It had already begun to sour, and there were complaints about it. So I called up Allen & Lewis, and told them to go ahead and burn the grain. I don't know exactly with whom I talked, but I think it was L. O. Ross." "Is there any law or provision of the city charter which says that burn ing of debris can be done only by written permission of city officials?" asked Robison. , ... "None that I know of," replied the Mayor. He went on to say that in case of small fires, the procedure had been for captains -in Are districts to authorize such fires. . The permission he gave was verbal. Witnesses' Testimony Conflicts. Touching on the possible danger of the fires in the grain, Robison asked Mayor Albee if he had talked about the danger, or the method of building the fires. "Mr. Greer said that if neces sary, they would use oil to start the fires," replied Mr. Albee. "I consulted with Chief Laudenklos, who has the district in which the fire was, but he said nothing to me about the danger, or about the time it would take to burn the grain." Laudenklos, on a previous day's hearing, testified that he told Mayor Albee it would take six months to burn the grain. "I want it made plain," continued Mayor Albee, turning to the reporters' table, "that neither by indirect nor direct statement, nor by inference was there any report made to me of the danger of burning the grain. I have spoken to the heads of the city bureaus and I find that nothing was said to them of the danger, and the only protest against the burning was be cause of the smoke and odor." "Did Mr. Warren, your secretary, tell you that Sam Connell, manager of the Northwest Door Company, had gone to the City Hall twice to protest !to you of the danger?" asked Robison. $fr. Council's Visit Mentioned. "No," replied Mr. Albee, "Mr. Warren said that Mr. Connell had come to see me, but had said not to bother me if I were busy, and had merely protested against the smoke." Asked as to the alleged conversa tion in which Robison thought Laud enklos spoke to Mr. Albee of the danger of the fire, Mr. 'Albee said that Chief Laudenklos spoke to him of one firebox which had been rung in, but Laudenklos eaid he did not think it was a neces sary alarm, though he answered it with apparatus. Dr. Marcellus, head of the health bureau, . said Mayor Albee, advised him that it was better, to burn the grain than leave it on the ground to sour. "I -never heard the word danger used Jn connection with this fire," said Mayor Albee. "The burning was the least of the evils, burning, allowing the Brain to lie and ferment, or shoveling It off into the river." Mayor Explains Incident. Mayor Albee "fired up" after several pointed questions were hurled at him by Mr. Robison. "I can't understand why one branch of the city government would give per mission to a person to burn debris and another branch would go down there and put It out." said Mr. Robison. "Do you want to understand?" ques tioned the Mayor, sarcastically. On being assured that Mr. Robison did wish to understand, the Mayor ex plained that the particular incident re ferred to, in which a fire company dampened the blaze in the grain, was done because someone turned in a fire alarm and not to controvert his per mission to burn the grain. Mayor Albee made it plain that the complaints to him were as to the an noyance of the smoke and odor and not on the danger of fire. At one point he broke forth with: "Would you take time to go and play fireman when you have men trained to do it? It is strange that you can't detect . the difference between smoke and danger." A moment later he said: "Are you trying to make this ing Bound a certain way, or are you trying to get at the facta?" "I was sent by my chief to get the facts,"' said Mr. Robison in reply, "and I am getting them, and I will continue to got them in Just thia way." The crowd applauded and cheered while Mayor Albee said: "Why, cer tainly." Returning to the number of fire per mits given for the destruction of debris. Mayor Albee said that the Alien & Lewis permit was the only one he re membered to have given. All other per mits, he said, were granted through the regular channels in the Fire Bureau. He said he did not remember the de tails of ordinance No. 24014, which says that the fire permits shall be issued by the Chief of the Fire Bureau and may be revoked by any fire warden if the fire seems dangerous. - W. P. La Roche, City Attorney, ac companied Mayor Albee and Secretary Warren to the inquest, and several times interposed to straighten out tangles in testimony. Chief Dowell, of the Fire Bureau, with his arm in a sling from a recent accident,, told of the usual methods of securing permits to burn refuse. He said he did not remember any other occasion when the Mayor had given a permit to anyone to burn debris. Dowell Explains His Position. "Captain Laudenklos' friends lived near the scene of the fire and they wanted to put it out," said Chief Dowell. "My folks did not live any where near it. and so I didn't want it put out." Chief Stevens also, "he said, wished to extinguish the fire and have done with it, but Chief . Dowell said: want to help those grain fellows out. and I stalled Laudenklos and Stevens to keep them from putting out the ure. Chief Dowell said he did not think the fire caught from the grain piles at all. He said he first saw It hnrninr rapidly in the office of the mill and he later admitted the mill office was directly across the ferry slip from the uurning grain. "We talked it over, the other chiefs and I, but there was not a hint of any danger in it," he said. "We conferred also with the Mayor and nothing was isaia oi me danger." Hypothetical Question Answered. All the fire department officials called were asked a hypothetical ques tion by Mr. Robison: "If you were JMayor of the city, knowing what you uia aoouc tne lire and its danger, would you have issued a Dermit?" All said that they would, with the exception or Assistant Chief Lauden klos. When Chief Dowell was asked if it were a difference of oDinion. then. he. tween himself and Chief Laudenklos, he said: "Well. Mike got tired of tak ing engine 8 down to the place and he wanted to put it out." Jay Stevens, battalion chief, said mai mere was no hint- of danger to persons or property in the erain fire or he would have used his Influence to nave Jt abated. Mr. Stevens said his suggestion of a rireproor House, with oil on the grain ana a xorcea aralt to burn it, was not followed. Asked If it were fea.slhlA he said he thought so, but as far as he knew It had not been tried thoroughly any time. W. H. Warren, secretary to Mayor Albee, confirmed his chief's story of mo conversations witn Bam Connell. I guess I know as little about this ming as any one," he said. Lucius Allen Lewis. r .. Lewis Investment Company, who lives ai ut i-anc avenue, said that his mh ordinates took all the details of the burning on themselves and he knew very little about them. Two Kerry Captains Testify. The crew of the ferryboat Mason were witnesses during both the morn ing ana afternoon sessions. They testi fied as to their actions on the pvpnino- of the fire. Previous witnesses had mm that they failed to turn back or at tempt to otherwise save the lives of the two drowned men. Captain Henrv Van Aulcn tha lar master of the boat, who was not on duty at the time of the fire, said that he could not understand why the crew of the boat had not assisted in saving the lives of the two men. He said that boat drills and other life saving preparations were part of the auties or tne crew, and had been car ried out under his orders. Captain Van Auken was followed by Captain Dan Brunger, of 390 Failing street, who was substitute cinbiin f the ferry at the time of the fire. Cap tain Brunger testified to seeing the first man of the three on the mill dock Jump to the top of the women's cabin nt Y,a ferry. He said he had no natural curi osity, after a query by Mr. Robison, and said he did not look back after the boat had got out Into the middle of the stream. Safety of Passengers Songht. Asked if the ferryboat whloh v h- clared he wished to save, was heatort or burned at all by the fire. Captain Brunger replied that It was not. x wanted to save my passengers," he said. Later testimony was to the -frt the crew were nearly the sole persons vu. me ierry in its trip to the West Side away from the burning buildings. "It was hot clear on the West Side when we docked," said Captain Brunger. Recalled, a moment later, he k.ia that his whole object was to save his boat, but that he had received no special orders for such an emergency. in. a. niru. fireman on the ferrv. .nid that he had been a firemen on the Mason three years. He said he saw the two men who were afterwards drowned, . one carrying a tool chest, walking along the river front of the burning mill toward the northeast cor ner of it, next to the boat. Just at that time the boat started out TT said he thought nothing unusual of it in spite or a steadv Errillinp- h mv Robison he continued to say that he did not think of stopping to pick up the men. He said that he was paying attention to his fires only. iwery man on the Mason Ktiifir nobly to his post," he said. Mr. Robison came back with "Eip man on the Mason looked out' for one man, men nimseir?" The witness nodded his head. Engineer Relates Crew's Actions. S. F. Gill, engineer on the ivrannn who lives at 233 Killingsworth ave nue, gave the most significant part of the testimony in regard to the actions of the Mason's crew. "When we were about in the TnMio of the stream, I got a signal to go back, then to go ahead, then to go back, and then to go ahead atn When we were going ahead as fast as we could, the captain leaned out of me caoin winaow and shouted to put on all steam. There is a speaking tube from the pilothouse to the engine- room, but he shouted through the window." " A tense moment came a little la tor. when they were discussing the nature of the signals given to the engineer. "When you get queer signals such as you have described, what do you think of them?" questioned Mr. Robison. l don't think this is half as funnv as you seem to think from the smile on your face," returned the witness. Tso, and I don't think It l fnnn either, Mr. Gill," returned Mr. RobiHon. It Is a mighty serious business Tt is only the stories told by the neonla concerned that are funny." i-oiiowing the dismissal of Mr. nm the Inquest was adjourned tn i -an P. M. O.mnndnon Veiled to Captain. Testimony last nisrht dealt chief! v with the actions of the ferryboat W. S. Mason, and Captain Brunger's conduct in leaving the scene of the Are without rescuing the men on the wharf. Among the witnesses was George Osmundson, who was caught on the wharf with. Sterling and Balogh. but esrinnL bv jumping to the deck of the Mason. 1 helped Balogh down from the nr- per floor." said Mr. Osmundson. "He had his toolchest I lifted the chest to the floor. Then I ran for the Mason. I caught one of the davits and swung myself on board the women's cabin. -u. yelled to the captain that there were two more men on the dock. He replied that the fire was scorching the boat, and that the fire boat would save them. Then he yelled to the engineer for more steam," QUORUM CASHIER FAILS FOR COMPANY Only 33,053 of 59,600 Shares of Stock Represented at Stockholders' Meeting. SOME HARSH WORDS PASS Hints at "Deal' and '"Whitewash.' Are Met by Counter Assurances by Officers That Concern's Affairs Are Healthy. Failing by a big margin of having a quorum of stock represented, the an nual stockholders meeting of the United States Cashier Company, at the Y. M. C. A. yesterday, resolved itself into an unofficial gathering, which heard the annual report of President Frank Menefee, discussed the affairs of the company and adjourned to meet within 90 days, at the call of the presi dent and the board of directors. There were 33,053 shares of stock represented, while 59,600 would have been a quorum. Several stockholders hinted at conniv ance among some of the larger stock holders to prevent a quorum, so that an election could not be held and the present officers thus "be continued. It was suggested that at the next meet ing a statement of sock holdings be presented, so that it may be determined what stockholders are not represented. President Menefee, director; S. M. Mears and W. M. Cake, attorney for the company, all assured the meeting that there was nothing on which to base a suspicion of a "deal. ' The closing moments of the meeting was disturbed by a stockholder who demanded of Director Mears in a loud voice how he got his stock. Mr. Mears had said he was perhaps the largest holder of company stock. "How did you get it?" asked the stockholder, angrily. "Did you get it like the stories printed in the papers said you did? If you did, it's a pretty note us poor devils putting in our money against that sort of thing. Mr. Mears Indignantly denied the truth of charges filed in United States District Court, in the suit of B. F. Lepper, a Montana stockholder, against the company, its president and direc tors, which were the basis of the news paper story relating to his connection with the company. "That s a lie," he said. "The only mistake : the company made is that it didn't make you a director, and then everything would have been all right Another little storm was in progress at the same time, over the motion ot J. L. Stockton to tender a vote of con fidence in the officers and directors of the company. A.. W. Orton objected strenuously. saying that, while he hoped everything was all right, he was opposed to a whitewash" of the officers and direc tors. A request for an itemized financial statement from the company was made by several stockholders," but President Menefee objected, saying it would be unadvisable at this time, with the company attacked in court. He called on Attorney W. M. Cake to sustain him in this attitude, and Mr.-Cake said it would be folly to dis close the company's case to its enemies. "The directors are confronted with two suits, one in the state and one in the Federal Court," Baid Mr. Cake, both of which aim at the disintegra tion of this company and at the inter ests of every stockholder." He expressed an opinion that the suit in the State Circuit Court never would come to trial, because of its trumped up character. President Menefee, In his annual re port, told how the North American pat ents and the company's dies and ma chinery had been transferred to a new company in Indiana with an author ized capitalization of 12,000.000, by which 11,270,000 worth of stock would be issued. Of this $900,000 worth had been given the Oregon company for its patents and machinery, he said, and this amount of etock, when the debts of the Oregon company had been paid, would be reduced to about $750,000, which i would represent the Oregon company's interest in the Indiana com pany and constitute a majority of the issued stock of the latter. Mr. Menefee, Director Mears and At torney Cake applauded the directors in transferring the company to Indiana. Twelve machines are now In satis factory use in the Middle West, Mr. Mears said. One of the machines stood In the rear of the hall In which the meeting was held. BSE! it GOWAN MAKES DENIAL STATEMENTS OF DR. C. A. FRTOR REFUTED WITH DOCUMENTS. Money and Property la DUvate Were Returned to Head of El Fas Film Company, Is Allegation. In refutation of statements made by Dr. Charles A. Pryor, head of an El Paso, Tex., film company, L. F. Cowan, through his attorney. R. W. Wilbur, made a statement yesterday and sup ported it by original documents. ' Estelle Raher, now Mrs. L. F. Cowan, was divorced from Sam J. Raber in Missoula, Mont., June 27, 1911. and was married in the same month in Walla Walla to Mr. Cowan by Rev. Raymond C. Brooks. They are now living in Portland. Mr. Cowan denies Dr. Pryor's state ment that he is a cabaret entertainer. He says he is a graduate of Iowa State College and the University of Wiscon sin, a member of Kappa Sigma frater nity and a civil engineer. All money or other property, said Mr. Cowan, over which there was any dis pute between him and Dr. Pryor were returned to Dr. Pryor. He denies ever having received the property which Dr. Pryor alleges he received, and says that, as a matter of fact, he put up the $1000 cash ball on Which Dr. Pryor obtained his release from jail on a San Francisco charge, Bince dismissed. The transactions mentioned by Dr. Pryor, said Mr. Cowan, were on account of property deals completed in San Francisco and recorded there prior to the Portland trip. When released from the city jail Sat urday after being locked up over night when Mr. Cowan surrendered him as bondsman. Dr. Pryor alleged that Mr. Cowan had transferred his property. This Mr. Cowan "denies. MARCONI COMPANY BUYS Site for Most Powerful Station on Ooaet Near Astoria. ASTORIA, Or., June 8. (Special.) A deed was filed for record today Ready Travel Money Tourists have stopped worrying about the "foreign money" problem. They use American Express Travelers Cheques. For 24 years these Cheques have been cashed throughout the world by banks and accepted generally by leading hotels, mer chants and transporta tion companies. Apply at the nearest American or National Ex resa office or at your own American Express TRAVELERS CHEQtlES whereby C N. Hess sells- to the Mar coni Wireless Company' about 16 acres of land on the south -'de of Youngs Bay. The consideration Is said to have been In the neighborhood of $200 an acre. The property Is to be the site of the most powerful wireless station on the Pacific Coast, and work on the estab lishment of the plant will be com menced as soon as the material for the steel towers arrives from the East GHAPIN IS CONVICTED JURY FINDS OLD FRIENDS WERE DEFRAUDED OUT OF $3500. Wife of Prisoner Weeps When She Learns of Verdict Trial of E. C. Her low on Similar Charge Soon to Begin. Guilty as charged was the verdict reached at 9:30 o'clock last night by the Jury in the case of W. H. Chapin. indicted for larceny by bailee of $3500 from Mr. and Mrs. William Grace In November, 1912. Four ballots were taken. Judge Gatens, who was in his cham bers, was summoned to receive the verdict in place of Judge Kavanaugh. There was a wait of almost half an hour before Chapin, who with his wife had been attending a moving picture show, appeared. Judge Gatens called the roll of Jur ors and read the verdict Mrs. Chapin did not come into the courtroom until after the verdict had been read. When she entered she saw by her husband's face that the worst had happened,, and she fell sobbing on his shoulder. The penalty for the crime of which Chapin has been convicted is from one to 10 years' imprisonment . His at torneys. A. King Wilson, George Ross man and J. J. Ferguson will make a motion today for a new-trial. E. C. Herlow, Chapin's partner in the Chapin-Herlow Mortgage & Trust Company, who was Jointly indicted with Chapin, will be tried at an early date. The charge against Chapin and Her low is that they received $3500 from Mr. and Mrs. Grace, old friends of theirs, under representation that they would lend the . money out on first-mortgage security. They gave Mrs. Grace as security three notes. BUSINESS AND PLEASURE Are Combined in Shopping Here Regular $S, Special $6.25 A genuine cowhide case, straps all around, reinforced corners, shirt fold, -with straps. A case well worth $10. A few Traveling Bags at $6.47. These are regular $8.50 values and are well worth your inspec- tion. Come in and let us prove to you gage and Trunks ask no favors l-ELIs.! 5"" T- -!" t. 56 2 Reg. $ 1 2, Spec'l $ 1 0 Heavy cowhide, leather lined, reinforced corners, straps around. A real bargain. all why ''LTKLY" Lng- of the baggageman. 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KAHSAS CITT 60.00 DEJITER. S5.00 SEW YORK, rHnADftxrBIA 108.50 VASHINOTOir. 107.SO Fl 1-1-SB TJRQ. . .................. 91. SO BOITOir. 110.00 BrFPAlO, ..M.m'H.M.M. 92.00 DETROIT. . .. . .. S3.SO 17TDIAJVAPOI.M. . ............. TS.90 KKW ORJLBAlfS. 9S.20 KOITTKBAI. mm.... 105.00 Itela-tt-retr Low Fares to All Other Selnts Yellowstone National Park SEASON JUNE 15 TO SEPTEMBER U "WORTH COAST UMTKIV" m ATX-ANI'IO BXFKBSS," TO CH1CA00 TWO DAILY nwHOUK TRATJTS. Northern Pacific Railway Grand Standi Parade Tickets 2) OKFICIAIj CRANDSTAXDS 2 Rose Festival Association. C C Colt. President Reserved Seats Are Now Selling at Baker Theater Ticket Office PARADES PASSIN-Q THESE STANDS June 10, Wednesday afternoon. Floral Parade, 2 P. M. Jnmo 12th. Friday saornlns;, Mllltary-Fraternal-Indoatrial parade, Ili30 Juno 12th. Friday evening, Electric-Historical Paseant, SiSO P. M. GRAND STAND- POSTOFnCB BLOCK, MORRISON STREET, Fifth and Sixth Streets Reserved Seats This Stand. 50d Each Parade GRAND STAND- SWEENEY BLOCK, MORRISON STREET, 13th and 14th Streets Combination Tickets This Stand. Good for All S Pnrades, Price. SI NOTICE Combination Tickets will be Issued ONLY for the Grandstand located on the Sweeney block. Morrison street, 13th and 14th. Theae tickets are Belling; at $1 each and entitle the purchaser to the same Beats for all three of the above parades. n