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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 1917)
f VOL. L,YII. NO. 17,699. PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. SUMPTER BURNS; loss is ajflo Every Business House in Town Destroyed. BIG LINERS TAKEN FOR TRANSPORTS SOLDIERS SEIZE GIRLS ID WOMEN COAST MAN TO BE ON SHIPPING BOARD 160 F WIN inn FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY HOT SINCE JCXE IS IN VAIN. GREAT NORTHERN AND NORTH ERN PACIFIC GO TO ATLANTIC. BAINBRIDGE COLBY, NEW YORK, SUCCEEDS JOHN B. WHITE. FRANK E. ALLEY IS FUGITIVE FROM LAW WITH YOU, HEART ID SOUL"---JnPAIi i Tokio Mission Safe at Pacific Port. rot OREGON D OS FINE BLOCK IS DYNAMITED Fight Now Hinges on Keeping Flames From Attacking Tributary Timber. WATER SUPPLY GIVES OUT Few Residences Left Standing and Little Except Clothing Is Saved by Anyone. BAKER, Or., Aug. 13. Two miners are believed to haTe died in the fire which wiped out the business section of Sumpter .today. Several hundred are homeless, and food and tents are being sent from here, and many are being brought here. BAKER, Or., Aug. 13. (Special.) Sumpter, once the Babylon of East ern Oregon, is tonight a smoking mass of ruins. The flames tonight were eating their way to the woods at the edge of the city and the hundreds of fire fighters were trying desperately to 6ubdue them before the blaze could get such a start in the dry timber that a forest fire might result. Loss Set at $200,000. The loss is estimated as high as . $200,000 and it is known that the in surance carried is comparatively small, so that tha once mighty me tropolis of this part of the country never may be rebuilt, at least it is certain that only a small part ever will rise from the flames. Every business house and nearly every residence, church and hall have been leveled by the flames. More than 300 persons are without homes and every effort to relieve the suffer ing is being made. Hospital Is Saved. Reports tonight say that the fire fighters saved the Sumpter Valley de pot, the Sumpter General Hospital and the Sumpter School and a few. resi dences, but all else is gone. Among those reported burned out are the Baird Grocery, Basche Hard ware Company, Columbia Hotel, Capi tol Hotel, C. P. Holly Harness Shop, Hub Clothing Company, Sumpter Trag Company, Sumpter Garage, Whited's '"ash Market, J. E. Hayden, grocery; Blue Mountain American, newspaper plant; Curtis Haley's liv ery, Charlie Foy, laundry; John H. Clark's livery; A. E. Dagany, soft drink parlor and lodging-house; Electric Theater and Sumpter Opera House, Del Fox, blacksmitr shop; Pa cific Telephone & Telegraph office, Walter Jamison's billiard parlor, Whitman National Forest offices, F. P. McDevitt & Co., dry goods; Metho dist Episcopal Church, New Sumpter Meat Company, Sumpter Postoffice, Kodgers & Frates, soft drink parlor; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, G. Harry Wilson, jeweler; Eagle's Hall and Ma sonic Temple. Water Supply Fails. The blaze' originated at 10 o'clock back of the kitchen of the Capital Hotel, owned by A. J. Denny, and, fanned by a strong wind, was soon beyond- control. It jumped across Granite street, despite desperate ef forts to stop the progress of the rushing flames ar.d it soon became apparet that the town was doomed. The fire department and citizens did valiant work, but the water sup ply gave out 30 minutes after the fire started and left the workers pow erless. Drnamiie Used Generously. As a last resort, the fighters dyna mited the Sumpter Drugstore, one of the principal business blocks of the town, owned by Jesse Edwards, but to no avail. Several other buildings In the path of the flames were blown up. but the fire raged on, consuming every thing in its path. The Sumpter Hotel, in which the telephone exchange was located, was burned, but the switchboard was taken out before it was destroyed, and after help had been summoned from Baker. No. Fatalities Reported. As far as is known, there have been no fatalities or serious injuries. Aside from a few who were able to save their personal effects and some of the merchandise in nbe stores, sev- (Concluded on Pas 2. Column 1.) Indictment ' Charges Using IT. S. Malls in Fraudulently Locating Persons on O. & C. Lands. Frank E. Alley, of Hoseburg, prom inent horseman and timber land loca tor, is a fugitive from justice. Agents of the United States have been seeking him since' his indictment last June on a charge of Using the malls in fraudu lently locating persons on Oregon and California grant lands and have been unable to find him. This became known yesterday when the case in which Carlos L. Byron, a Seattle lawyer, is a joint -defendant with Alley came b'efori Judge Wolver ton for argument on a demurrer. T. L. Davis, of Seattle, representing the defendants, asked to have the case continued, declaring ho was i.ot ready to argue it at this time. Judge Wolverton set the hearing on the de murrer for October 1, but ruled that Mr. uavis In the meantime must file his brief so the Government may have opportunity to prepare its answer. John J. Beckman, Assistant United States Attorney, Is handling the rase for the Government. He eaid that Mr. Alley's whereabouts are unknown at present to the Government. AGITATOR IS DEPORTED Haywood's Brother-in-Ijaw Escorted Out of Nevada. RENO, Nev., Aug. 13. Fifty armed business men of Lovelock went to Rochester mining camp at midnight, seized C. W. McKlnnon, brother-in-law of W. D. Haywood and ,an L W. W. or ganizer, took him to Lovelock, and shipped him away to Ogden early to day. Residents of Lovelock and Rochester are forming a Citizens" League. John Gilbert, resident of Rochester, also was deported. McKlnnon. 10 days ago, was driven out of the Yerlngton copper district by citizens. BLOOMER GIRLS IN MILLS Iloqulam Plant Puts Women to Work Wlien Men Cannot Be Had. HOQUIAM, Wash, Aug. 13. (Spe cial.) The first industrial plant on Grays Harbor to meet the war short age of labor by employing women, the Hoquiam Sash & Door Company, today put 12 girls at work In its plant here. The girls are employed at the ma chines. They are attired in bloomers; and take the places formerly filled by boys. During recent weeks It has been next to impossible to get labor for the work the women are doing, and the plant has had to shut down several times. FIVE I. W.- W. BREAK JAIL Quintet of Trouble-Makers Dig Way to Liberty at Centralla. CHEHALIS, "Wash.. Aug. 13. (Spe cial.) M. McLean. George Hill. C. W. Robosky. James Katz and Frank Scott, five of the I. W. W. held in the local jail, escaped some time last night by tearing the brick out of the wall under a barred window. Scott was picked up Saturday, but the others, who had been at the rock quarry at Meskill. had been brought back to Jail owing to their trouble-making dispositions. Fourteen I. W. "W. in all were In the Jail, but the remaining nine made no attempt to escape. RANCHER DIES IN FIELD .William McQuown Expires in Act of Drinking From Bucket. BAKER, Or., Aug. 13. (Special.) William McQuown. aged 60 years, well known Wlngville rancher, fell dead suddenly from heart disease this morn ing as he was stooping to drink from a bucket. " He was working In the field bucking hay and had gone over to a haystack to get a drink. Mr. McQuown is survived by his wid ow, a young son. Oral; a sister, Mrs. John Hammond; two brothers, Thomas and Alexander McQuown, and by his mother. ANGL0-GERMANWILL FIGHT Youth Declares Kaiser No Friend of German People. TACOMA, Wash., Aug. 13. (Spe cial.) William Stout, ,aged 23, born of ! German parents and a subject of Great Britain, waived exemption here today 1 and was certified for service In the ' ...... V. . . . nn ,.i.ntint ef Vl I f fnlllir trt take out his first papers he was re jected. "I am ready to fight the Kaiser," he said, "he is not a friend of the German people any more than he is of the United States." REDFIELD GIVES WARNING Secretary Urges Development of In ternal and Waterway Systems. WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. A warning that the facilities of the American railroads will be required more and more in moving war materials and that now is the time to start develop ment of internal and waterway systems was Issued tonight by Secretary of Commerce Redfield. The Government, Secretary Redfield said, stands ready to aid communities in improving water commerce wherever it can. TRUST IS REGARDED AS KCNOR U. S. Battleship and Cavalry Guard Distinguished Men. THOUSANDS GREET PARTY Visitors Charmed With Welcome and Are Eager to Impress United States With Sincerity of Expressions of Loyalty. A PACIFIC PORT. Aug. 13. A Jap anese mission to the United States ar rived here today, and proclaimed, al most at the moment of landing, that its members came officially "aa com rades in a gigantic struggle, which in volves the liberties and the sacred rights of mankind." "We are here," declared Viscount K. Ishii, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, responding to an ad dress of welcome from the Mayor, "as the representatives of Japan on a mis sion of friendship and good will. "We come as allies in a common cause. We are with you, heart and souL" American Activity Welcomed. Tonight he referred to the Nation's war panoply, and its meaning to Japan. "We are particularly glad to be here Just at this time," he said, "when all America is showing courage, patriot Ism, energy and whole-hearted zeal. "Naturally, Japan is Interested in your preparations. We are glad to see them. 'Not a single sensible person In Japan sees anything in your prepar ations but great benefit to both coun tries In the future. "We have always had confidence in the fundamental Justice, sound senBer and broad vision of Americans. Wa are glad of your preparations on land and sea, because we Jciieve they mean an earlier peace. Mission Not Mysterious. "It is not possible or proper for me to speak of conditions, political or oth erwise, on our side of the Pacific We have been out of touch with the news. and in these days of quick changes, it would be unwise to rush into print. Then, you will readily understand that I cannot well discuss the subject of the object of my mission. True, there is nothing mysterious about it, and, in fact, you must all be getting accus tomed to war missions. "I am particularly pleased to be here because I have been to France and England since the war began and have had an opportunity to meet the great figures of the war, in the field and in (Concluded on Page 2, Column 2.) .......... ................. ............................ ........, X K " SOME JOB! l I'.. - , :,,.r-l-i Shipping Board Will Commandeer Only Coastwise Steamers Deemed Large Enough for Service. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Aug. 13. The steamers "Great Northern and Northern Pacific, plying between Flavel and. San Francisco, are to bo commandeered by the Shipping Board and transferred to the Atlantic for use as troop transports. The order taking them off the Pacific run has not been signed, but it is expected to issue shortly, this action having been def initely decided upon by the board. These two steamers are regarded by the board as the only ones in the Pa cific coastwise trade adapted to troop transport service and they may be the only steamers taken immediately from the Pacific Coast service. Before these steamers can be utilized on the trans-Atlantic run, however, they will be sent to a yard to h.ave their oil storage tanks enlarged or new tanks installed, as it has been found neces sary for all American ships crossing the Atlantic on Government business to carry enough fuel for the round trip, because of the fuel shortage- in Europe. It is the purpose of the Shipping Board to retain the - present officers and crews of these two steamers, if they are willing to stay with their ves sels, and when in the troop transport business, they, will receive increased pay, due to the hazard involved. Senator Chamberlain today was told by the Shipping Board, in reply to his presentation of the protest of the Port of Astoria, that the needs of the war are paramount to those of commerce. RAILROADS SAVE MILEAGE Mid-West Passenger Service Cut at 7,000,000-Mile Yearly Rate. CHICAGO, Aug." 13. Extensive re ductions in passenger train r.ervice in addition to those already made are soon to go into effect in the Middle West. Between March 1 and July 15, the railroads in this territory effected a saving at the rate of almost seven million passenger miles a year in pas senger train service. The total reductions already made and those soon to be put into effect in this territory amount to over 12, 000,000 passenger miles. ' ' LOW BEEF PRICE FORECAST Drouth on Range and High Cost of - Hay Lead to Big Sales. ' ST. PAUL, Minn., . Aug. 13. Sun burned Western ranges with the price of imported hay ana reed almost pro hibitive, are likely to cause a decided drop in the price of beef before De cember 1, in the opinion of local live stock men. Shortage of feed already has result ed in an Influx of cattle from the West at the South St. Paul market. Idahoan Killed In France. OTTAWA. Ontario, ' Aug. 13. T: e Canadian casualty -list Issued tonight contains the following names of Amer icans killed In action:. W. H. Bland. Black Bear, Idaho. 2 0,000 Taken to Work in Fields. ACT MARKED BY BARBARITY Gerard Enters Protest, Ap parently Without Effect. RELIEF WORK INTERESTING Former Ambassador Witnesses Dis tribution of Food at Headquar . ters of American Commission to Hungry, Miserable Folk. BT JAMES W. GERAHD. American Ambassador to the Gorman Im perial Court. July 2S. 191;;, to February 4. 1917. fP.nOTt.ht 1(117 h th T.l V,! i. T H r-J- Company.) Feeding of the French population, which was carried on by the American Relief Commission, was a very inter esting thing to see, and in company with one of the members of the French committee we saw the workings of this system of American relief. We first visited a storehouse In Charle ville, the headquarters for the relief district of which Charleville may be called the capital. Food Districts Made. For relief purposes Northern France is divided into six districts. From the central distribution point in each dis trict food is then sent to the commune within the district, the commune being the -ultimate unit of distribution and each commune containing on the aver age about 500 souls. We then motored to one of the communes where the dis tribution of food for the week was to take place that afternoon. Here in a factory, closed since the war, the people of the commune were lined up with their baskets waiting for their share of the rations. On entering a large room of the faotory each stopped first at a desk and there either paid in cash for the week's al lowance o-f rations or signed an agree ment to pay at some future date. . The individuals who had no prospect of being able to pay received the rations for nothing. About one-third was in each class. The money used was not always French or real money, but was as a -rule the paper money issued in that part of Northern France by each .town and redeemable after the war. Food Most Last Fifteen Days. Signs were hung up showing the quantity that each person was entitled to receive for the next fifteen days and the sale price per kilo to each in habitant. For instance, in this par ticular period for the first fifteen days of the month of May, 1916, ' each in habitant could, in this district, receive (Concluded- on Page 3. Column 1.) Contracts for Construction of Two Government-Owned Ship Build ing Plants to Be Let Soon. WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. Bainbrldge Colby, of New York, was sw -rn in to day as a member of the Shipping Board to succeed John B. White, of Kansas City, whose resignation was accepted by President Wilson along with those of Chairman Denman and Vice-Chairman Brent. There remains one other vacancy on the Board which, it is understood, will be filled by the ap pointment of a man from the Pacific Coast. . The Board took up today the sub ject of contracts for construction of two Government-owned shipbuilding plants to turn out fabricated steel ships. The contracts will be let soon, but changes will be made in the plan of Major-General Goethals, formerly manager of the Emergency Fleet Cor poration, who proposed that builders of the yards be given an option to pur chase. The new Board, it is understood. Intends that the Government shall re tain ownership and also will ascertain the exact cost of fabrication before the contracts are approved. Chairman Denman, of the old Board, held up the fabricating plan on the ground that builders would have de rived an undue profit on the transac tion. EGG WEIGHSJF0UR OUNCES Clackamas Farmer Reports Record- Breaker From Cross-Bred Hen. J. P. Wistrand, a farmer living near Clackamas, believes that one of the hens in nis poultry pen has laid the largest egg on record. This egg weighs four ounces, is eight and one-half inches In circum ference one way and six r.nd a half Inches the other way. The hen is a mixture cf Wyandotte and White Leg horn. BOMB THREATENS WATER Ogden Police Nip Explosive Put Under City Supply Main. OGDEN, Utah, Aug. 13. Placed so that it would have destroyed a 36-inch water supply main to the Ogden city reservoir and the embankment of the reservoir, thus allowing the Impounded water to rush down upon the city, a dynamite bomb with two feet of its four-foot fuse burned, was found early tonight by the police. "Earth Currents"'llit Wires. . SAN .FRANCISCO. Aug. 13. "Earth currents" hampered operation of all telegraph wires between Winnemucca, Nev., and Omaha, Neb. for several hours today, according to reports received here. This phenomenon was caused, it wn said, by un unequal distribution of electricity on the earth's surface. Some disturbance was felt in the vicinity 'of Spokane, Wash. . . INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 81 degrees; minimum, 58 degrees. TODAY'S Fair: moderate westerly winds. War. Gerard tells of soldiers forcing French girls and women to work in fields. Page 1. Germans capture Roumanian town. Page 4. Turks lay country waste. Page 2. Foreign. British training race of supermen to win warv Page 2. German paper makes futile attempt to dis credit Gerard's letters. Page 3. New regime In Germany, Emperor's organ says. strengthens his independence. Page a. . George N. Barnes named to succeed Arthur Henderson in British War Cabinet. - Page 13. National. War Department announces successful candi dates at Presidio training camp. Page 1. Senators argue against tax to carry war, favoring bonds. Page 5. Polndexter bill proposes National eight-hour day for lumber industry. Page 4. Orders issued to entrain draft - Army. Page 8. Pacific Coast man to.be named as member of Shipping Board. Page 1. Wheat control will become effective Sep tember 1. Page 5. Shipping Board commandeers Hill liners for transports. Page 1. Domestic. "We are with you, heart and soul." says Japanese mission to America. Page 1. Thirteen Americans lost In sinking of British steamer. Page 2. Sports. Women's golf pay opens at Gearhart. Pag 14. Open season for deer is allowed. Page 14. Oaks and Beavers open series here today. Page 14. - Pacific Northwest. Town of Sumpter wiped out by fire. Page 1. Forest fire at Dee menaces uncut timber. Page 4. Grain yield In Oregon estimated at 63 per cent. Page 8. Commercial and Marine. What business In Northwest stopped by Hoover announcement. Page 19. Chicago wheat closes heavy at big decline. Page 19. Sharp rise in hog prices at local stockyards. Page 19. Rail shares higher on encouraging crop news. Page 1. Shipping board representatives coming to arrange details of wages and closed shop. Pa.ge 1. Portland and Vicinity. Oregon pledges its spruce to allies. Page 20. Tong cases are set for trial. Page 12. Belgian colonists to be located in Coos and Klamath counties. Page 13. Filling of Oregon quota on time is assured. Page 8. Peace terms of Seattle car strike received in Portland. Page 13. Northwest lumbermen will supply spruce for airplanes. Page1 9. Mother and father at odds over son's enlist ment. Page 8. Julian Eltlnge and players arrive to take scenes for motion picture play. Page 15. Frank E. Alley, of Roseburg. fugitive from Justice. Page 1. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 16. 80 of Portland List Are Successful. JUDGE DAVIS MADE MAJOR Magistrate Only Oregonian Above Captain. 17 LOCAL MEN CAPTAINS Nearly 1400 of Flower of Country's Young Manhood Change Trl Color Ilatcord of Candidate to Gold and Black of Officers, OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Aug. 13. Eighty Portland men and 80 others from Oregon will receive commissions in the Officers' Reserve Corps or in the regular Army on Au gust 15, as the result of proficiency shown at the officers', training camp at the Presidio, San Francisco. The list of commissions to be issued, made public by the War Department today, gives Oregon an honor list on which appear 160 names. George N. Davis, of Portland", Judge of the Circuit Court of . Multnomah County, carries off honors for Oregon, having won a commission as Major In the Infantry section. Officers' Reserve. His is the only commission going to an Oregon man for grade above Cap tain. Seventeen Portland Mem Captains. Fourteen Portland men are to be commissioned Captains of infantry and assigned to the O. R. C. Charles M. Hodges, Jacob Kanzler, Frank S. Sever, Charles H. Abercrom bie. Austin B. Richeson, Laurence A. Milner, Lester W. Humphreys, Chester C. Klingel, Daniel J. Coman, Halvor H. Hasch, Floyd J. Cook and Edward C. Sammons are to be Captains,' lnfan- tary section; Joseph L. Lamb is to be Captain, cavalry "section, and J. Andre Fouilhoux to be Captain, artillery sec tion. Albert E. Cooper, Albert Rolling and John S. Maginnis. all of Portland, are to be Captains of infantry in the Na tional Army. . The following Portland men attained the rank of First Lieutenant in the branch of the service indicated: Arthur A. Murphy, John C. Burgard, Ralph J. Hurlburt, Lloyd S. Spooner, Cornelius W. Meyers, and Glenn H. Ticer, infantry section, O. R. C. Hamilton F. Corbett, Edgar J. Rob erson, George M. White, Gorham L. Goodell. Roy K. Terry, Rogers Mae Veagh, and Aubiey R. Watzek, field ar tillery section, O. R. C. Many Made Second Lieutenants. The following Portland men are com missioned Second Lieutenants: Earnest A. Wyld, Jr., Victor F. Mc Farland, Albert M, Closterman, Gua E. Ledbetter, Harold H. Barbur, Lam bert A. Beard, Harold P. Vickery, Cyril L. Meyers, Herman Amos, Bert B. Courts, .Walter H-.Keck. Harry F. Travis, infantry "section, O. R. C. Charles M. Ross, Infantry, National Army. Thomas W. Glllard, B,reston W. Gil lette, Kenneth S. Reed, and William E. Graham, cavalry section, O. R. C. Elmer R. Block, Frank S. Buckley, Joseph W. Kehoe, Lyle F. Brown, Har vey N. Black, Colin Livingstone, James H. Cellars, Clarence J. Budelier, How ard C. Charlton, field artillery section, O. R. C. Hamilton B. Shawe, field ' artillery. National Army. Henry L. Archer, William J. Cassel berry, Elton C. Loucks, Walter C Car ter, George L. Koehn, Christian Floer, Earl E. Grant, Carl H. O'Deen, Charles F. Savage, and Dean H. Knowles, Quar termaster Corps, National Army. . Changes Made In Grade. Alexander Adair, P. Lee Menefee, William W. Boon, infantry section, O. R. C, assigned to "duty with the regu lar Army. Gerald Fitzgerald, cavalry section, O. R. C assigned to duty with the regular Army. Harold H. Hilton, Held artillery sec tion, O. R. C, assigned to the regular Army. Arthur L. Fish, cavalry. In National Army. In addition a number of Portland men, members of the C. R. C. prior to the establishment of the San Fran cisco training camp, have had their grades readjusted as the result of the tests they have gone through. The following changes in' this class have been made: Robert M. Alton. Francis M. Phelps and James West, from First to Second Lieutenant, O. R. C infant!.'. John M. Colon, from First Lieutenant, infantry, to Second Lieutenant, field artillery, regular Army. Joseph C. Dirk and Leland L. Smith, from First Lieutenant, infantry, to Second Lieutenant, Quartermaster Corps, regular Army State Ust Big. Commissions have been issued to other Oregon men at the training camp as follows: To be Captains, infantry section, O. R. C: Frank Heath, Marshfleld; Walter L. Tooze, Jr., Dallas; Harry E. Williams, Gladstone; Andrew B. Marker, La Grande; Charles C. Vlnler, Pendleton; tCotttinued on Page 6, Column 1.)
