mim 9r VOT, T,X XO. 18 982 FMered at Portland JOregoM ulj I-'"i1"1 Piiwrnr. winil.riIH Matter PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1921 ' TRICK FIVE CENTS WASHINGTON GENERAL TAX LEVY IS REDUCED PEACE TREATIES ANTI-BEER BILL BOBS UP IN SENATE AGAIN PROVISIONS GIVEN TO STARVING CREW PERSHING RECEIVED NOISILY BY FRANCE EXPLOSION KILLS IS ARBUGKLE ADMITS OIL COMPANIES PREPARE FORM ATTACK REPORT GIVEN TO SENATE Tax Revision Bill Is Also 0 N GERMANY STATE MAKES 50 PER CEXT CUT AS REVENUE BASIC. ONCE 310RE DRY MEASURE IS SllUXTED ASIDE. NOTTINGHAM'S SIGNAL FOR GENERAL'S RETURN GREETED BY EVERY CRAFT IN HARBOR. HELP IS ANSWERED. Witness Recounts Reput ed Revelations of Actor. INFORMATION KEPT BACK Miss Rappe's Death Held Due to Comedian's Act. AL SEMNACHER ON STAND Use of Foreign Substance and Ice Figure In Testimony Before Los Angeles Grand Jury. LOS ANGELES. Sept. 21. Admis sions declared by Al Semnacher to have been made by Roscoe ((Fatty) Arburkle that the comedian used a foreign substance In an attack upon Mlsa Virginia Rappe during a part at the Hotel St. Frances in San Fran cisco were testified to today before the Los Angeles county grand Jury by Semnacher, according to W. C. Doran, chief deputy district attorney. Arbuckle Is held at San Francisco charged with murder of Miss Rappe. Ioran said Semnacher swore that Ar burkle told of applying Ice to certain portions of Miss Rappe's body. Iaformatloa Kept Secret. The testimony was given before the grand Jury and Chief Deputy Doran outlined It in confirming reporta that Semnacher hud, previously In his testimony today, made the same statement to him and at that time de clared that at no time prjvlous, even at the San Francisco Inquiry, had he divulged this Information Semnacher testified that tin the morning following the party In the Hotel St. Francis Arbuckle told him, In the presence of Lowell Sherman, actor; Fred Flschbach, director, and Harry McCullough. chauffeur, that he had taken Mlsa Rappe Into a room with him and had committed certain acts In connection with the alleged crime. These acta, according to Chief Deputy Doran. were of such charac ter as likely to have caused the Injury from which the death of Miss Rapps resulted. Chauffear Is Examined. The grand Jury session was called by Chief Deputy Doran In order to hear this testimony. Information con cerning which was immediately con veyed to District Attorney Brady at San Francisco. Harry McCullough, chauffeur for Arbuckle, who was present when these alleged statements were made by Arbuckle, according to Semnacher's testimony, was also examined by the grand Jury here today, but his testi mony was not made public Semnacher announced after the ex amination that he would leave Los Angeles for San Francisco tonight, either by train or automobile. Llqnor Kvldrnce Obtained. Orrly ArbucKle himself had the key to the cellar of his West Adams street residence here, according to Miss Katherlne Fitzgerald, housekeeper for Arbuckle, In testimony given today by Ralph Camarlllo, assistant district attorney. Miss Fitsgerald Mid. according to Mr. Camarlllo. that she understood Arbuckle' cellar was "generously docked" with liquors; that he alone entered It; that she did not know whether he had taken any with him when he started for San Francisco on the trip which resulted In hia arrest for the alleged murder of Miss Rappe; and. thu while she arranged for the payment of other household expenses, she never had seen a bill for liquor among them. Mr. Camarlllo stated Mlsa Fits, gerald's statements checked with evi dence already In the possession of federal officials who were investigat ing the source of liquor drunki at the Arbuckle party In San Francisco. FISCIIDACU'S REPLIES evasive Kcmnnclicr'a Testimony in Los Ang-ek-a Declared Contradictory. 8.VV FRANCISCO. Sept. Jl. Fred Flschbach questioned today regarding testimony of Al Semnacher In Los Angeles that Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle had made admissions about his treat ment of Miss Virginia Rappe at the Hotel St. Francla party which led to her death, gave "evaaive replies." according to District Attorney Mat thew A. Brady. Flschbach was one of the persons to whom Arbuckle made the state ments, according to the story which W. C. Doran. deputy district attorney at Los Angeles, said Semnacher told the grand Jury. Ira C. Fortlouls. an other member of the drinking party in Arbuckle's suite, also was ques tioned today by the district attorney, hut Mr. Brady said nothing new had been Irarned from him. Semnncher's testimony before the grand Jury In Los Angeles contra dicted his grand Jurv testlmosy here, according to Isadora Golden, deputy district attorney, who said Sem nacher had denied discussing the f fair with Arbuckle, although he iiccompanled Arbuckle to San Fran cisco after the girl's death. From other witnesses, Oolden stated, had been received assertions that the film (Cvuvluued. uu i'atfe 2, Column 2.) Military Fund Also Pared, While Education Gets Rise and Bo nus Money Is Provided. OLYMPIA, Wash.. Sep', 21State tax levies for the several state funds this year,' as determined by the state board of equalization, were an nounced here today In a statement by the board as follows: 1K0. Mill. Fund Mills.' Villa. General 4 jo 1'S Military 30 .'M Public schools 4 So 8.34 University 74 1.10 State college 4a .7 Belllngham Nirni.1 J.-J .ao Cheney Normal tla . I."0 Ellensburg Normal 108 .12 Centralis Norma: 00 .10 Capitol building so ..10 Reclamation revolving 50 .50 Permanent highway 1.50 1.50 Public highway 1.00 1.00 Bonus bond retirement 00 1.00 Total all state funds li.au 14.638 The statement reads In part: "The Increased levy for the public school fund, from 4.80 mills to S.34 mills, was made necessary by a de creased valuation and the steadily growing number of school children. "The levies for institutions of high er learning were increased by the legislature from an agrregate levy for this purpose of 1.58 mills to 2.349 mills, and the bonus bond retirement fund of 1 mill voted by the people at the 1920 election. "The reductions were made In the only two funds over which the com mittee on equalization had Jurisdic tion or authority to change; First, the military, because It was Relieved that a reduction of 33 1-1 pr cent will raise sufficient money to pay the expenses under the present econom ical management; and, second, the general fund because It appears that with an actual overdraft in the state treasury on April 1, 1921, of $1,029, (4S.11, and 1311, 555. 74 of amounts out standing and $235,758.04 of audited but unpaid claims, entirely paid, and some $600,000 more in the treasury to the credit of the general fund than there was one year ago. It la confi dently believed that under the economic- and efficient operation of the adminlatrative code the general fund levy can be reduced 60 per cent and raise sufficient money to pay all bills and carry us. through the biennial with a cash balance in the treasury, while leaving the poll-tax receipts in tact, with which to pay the bonus claims In excess of the $11,000,1)00 for which bonds already have been issued." BOY IS KILLED BY TRUCK Youth Who Darted In Front or Ma chine Sustains Fracture or Skull. Charles Walton, 5-year-old son of Mrs. Mary Walton, 387 Davis street, was killed almost instantly yesterday afternoon when he was struck by a light delivery truck operated by How. srd C. Jobes. aged 22. an employe of the Automotive Sales company. The fatality occurred at the corner of Park and Everett s.treets. According to eye-witnesses the boy was playing In the park blocks, when he suddenly darted from the curb di rectly in the path of the machine. Jones was unable to avoid striking the boy, who was thrown to the pave ment with a fractured skul. Motor cycle Patrolmen Stilea and Tulley made an investigation and reported that Jones waa not at fault. Jones resides at Beaverton. It was not an nounced whether an inquest would be held. CATTLE MARKET BETTER Increased Consumption Factor In Improved Export Trade. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21. Im provement In the live cattle export trade and In the demand for dressed beef, together with better labor con ditions and consquent increased con sumption are factors In present mar ket conditions, according to a state ment Irsued at the offices of the Cali fornia Cattlemen's association here today. The statement adds that pains are being formulated rapidly for loaning a sum exceeding several millions of dollars. If necessary, to California cattle men through the federal war finance corporation and that the rate of interest on such loans will not ex ceed eight per cent, while It may, pos sibly be less. GIRLS FOR SIMPLE DRESS High School Students -Vote to Cut Out Expensive Apparel. SA.V FRANCISCO, Sept. 21 Girl students of the high school of com merce, about 1000 in number, voted, 1 to 1. today In favor of abolishing the wearing of silk stockings, trans parent waists, fancy frocks and pyra mid hair dressing and to wear cotton stockings, middy blouses and wash dresses. A decision to take a secret ballot was reached at a mass meeting of the girls yesterday. Members of the fac ulty did not advise the girls In the matter, according to Charles Murphy, principal. Canadian Visit Cancelede. LONDON. Sept. 21. An official an nouncement made yesterday Indicated that the Prince of Wales will not visit Canada on hla return Journey from his contemplated trip to India next month. The battleship Renown, on which the prince will make the voyage, will leave for Gibraltar Octo ber 28. Before Upper House. PROGRAMME IS CONGESTED Congress Reassembles After 30-Day Recess ANTI-BEER MEASURE UP Democrat Assails President for Let ter to New Mexicans on Eve or Election. WASHINGTON, D. C. Sept. 21. Re ceipts by the senate of the tax re vision hill from the finance com mittee and of the peace treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungary from President Harding were features of the reassembling of congress today after its recess. Only brief sessions were held, the senate, after reopening of warfare ever the anti-beer bill and a demo cratic attack on President Harding and administration policies, adjqurned until tomorrow, and the house, under Its agreement to transact no im portant business until October 4, ad journing until Saturday, after a per functory meeting. Three-day recesses will continue until next month. In the senate the peace treaties were referred to the foreign relations committee, which will begin their consideration tomorrow. Little time would be required by the committee. Senator Lodge said. Night sessions of the senate, republican leaders said, were being considered. Senate debate of the treaties. Sen ator Lodge announced, would be in open session. I'roara ramr la ConareNteet. Senator Lodge, Senator Sterling, re publican, South Dakota. In charge of the anti-beer bill, and other republic an leaders conferred today with the president regarding the senate pro gramme, which Is admittedly con gested. The- Immediate programme, it was announced, was to expedite the tix bill and the peace treaties. De bate on the former probably will be g.n Monday, with the anti-beer bill fight to continue at available opportu nities. The treaties, also, it was said, would be "sandwiched In." The railroad debt funding bill la expected to follow the tax measure, while the technical "unfinished busi ness" is the Borah bill to restore free tolls to American coastwise vessels using tbe Panama canal. This is fivxed for a vote October 10, with the tax measure being given place In the meantime. Numerous bills and resolutions were Introduced today and large crowds In the galleries of both senate and house witnessed the reconvening. Senator Harrison of Mississippi, democrat, today ttacked President 1 (Concluded on Page 2. Column 1.) ? e. .................................... .............. ............ I NOW FOB THE PENDLETON ROUND-UP. j Opponents Obstruct Efforts to Put Proposed Willis-Campbell Law to Vote. WASHINGTON, D. C. Sept. 21. John Barleycorn's ghost came back to haunt congress today when the anti beer bill bobbed up again In the sen ate. It met the same opposition over the aearch-and-selsure provision as before the recess and again was shunted aside. , Senator Sterling, republican. South Dakota, who had conferred with President Harding, called up the con ference report on the Willis-Campbell bill, which the bouse had adopted, but a call for a quorum, a motion to ad journ and other obstructive tactics prevented any real consideration. Senator Sterling promised tonight to continue pressing the conference report, but final enactment remained much in doubt. With opponents blocking a vote, republican leaders are insisting that the senate proceed with the tax revision bill. This would head off action on the anti-beer meas ure and leave its disposition subject to later senate consideration of the railroad bill, peace treaties and other measures. MOTORTRUCK KILLS GIRL Child Run Down in Walla Walla by Rancher of Oregon. WALLA WALLA. Wash.. Sept 21. (Special.) Virginia Routh, 7 years old. was run over by a motor truck and killed this afternoon at Fourth and Sumach streets. The driver of the truck, Ed Vonderahe. a rancher In Umatilla county. Oregon. Immediately reported the accident to the police, who turned the matter over to the coroner for an investigation. Afcr. Vondeahe, who was driving a heavy load of gasoline and oil to his ranch, said that the girl started to cross the street, then evidently be came confused and ran back, directly In front of his truck. The child was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Routh. Mr. Routh is with the Sicgel Stock company, in Wenatchee. while Mrs. Routh has been staying here to keep the three children In school. HOOD EXHIBITEN ROUTE Motortruck Is Ilaullngr Products to Oregon State Fair. ' ' HOOD RIVER. Or., Sept." SI. (Spe cial.) Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Manser left here today with a motor truck loaded with tbe greatest variety of agricul tural and horticultural products ever sent by Hood River county to an Ore gon state fair. It is thought that Hood River produces fruit alone, but some of the premier hay districts of the state will have to display top notch alfalfa to keep exhibits of Hood River alfalfa, grown by Mr; Manser and E- F. Batten, from taking first award. The big exhibit Includes about 20 boxes of earlier varieties of apples, grapes, hops, plums, potatoes, cab bage, pumpkins, corn, sweet potatoes, okra, walnuts, peppers, popcorn and various grains. Potted everbearing strawberry plants, laden with, ripe and fresh fruit, will form a unique I part of the display. I Rations on Vessel on Way to Port Townsend Give Out Before Port Can Be Made. COOS BAY, Or., Sept. 21. (Special.) At 6 o'clock tonight Captain Jensen received a wireless from the steam ship Resident stating that she had given the William Nottingham ten days' provisions and then continued on her way north. The local station was also informed that the cutter Snohomigrh had sailed with provisions from the sound. COOS BAT. Or., Sept. 21. (Special.) The Norwegian four-niaated schooner Will iam Nottingham. 06 days out from Buenoi Aires to Port Townaend. is Kill hovering off this port, awaiting delivery of food to the starving crew. The Nottingham appeared off thi port yesterday afternoon and signaled for hlp. Captain M. B. Jensen, of tbe local coast guard took a boat to sea, but did not overtake the drifting schooner until .he was 10 mile, off shore, blown by a south east wind, lie then learned that the crew had been on ratlona for several days, but these had been exhausted, despite the hope they would last until the craft reached her destination. An order for a ton and a half of food was given Captain Jensen, who was to make delivery this morning, but during the night the wind shifted and a storm made going to sea Impossible with a cargo. During the day the Nottingham was not sighted snd Captain Jensen be lieved she had proceeded on north when the southwest wind came up. fearing he would be blown on tho beach. The presence of the craft was reported late this afternoon by a passing steam schooner to the naval wireless st Engle wood. with her position about 14 miles north of Con. Bay and well to swa. BANK BUYS MILL NOTES 910,000 or Bratlle Bros. Securities Sold to Vancouver National. RIDGE FIELD, Wash- Sept. 21. (Special.) The Vancouver National bank of Vancouver, Wash., has bought a $10,000 block of secured notes of the issue of 175,000 made some time ago by the Bratlle Brothers' Mill com pany of Rldgefield. Investors are protected by a trnst deed, securing the notes, and is held by the Title & Trust company of Portland. The Ralph A. Blanchard company of Portland is financial agent for the mill corpora tion, which has one of the most mod ern mills In the Pacific northwest It is electrically driven entirely and cuts both shingles and cedar siding of high grade. A smaller shingle mill Is also owned by the mill company near the munici pal landing and te loader of the Lewis River Boom & Logging com pany. The largest mill was con structed during the summer of 1920. WATER DISTRICT VOTED Upper Hood Rler Valley Ranchers Will Bond Their Proect. HOOD RIVER, Or.. Sept. 21. (Spe cial.) Ranchers of the upper valley community In the vicinity of Park dale, by S3 to nine, have voted to convert the Middle Fork Irrigation company, operated as a Joint stock company. Into a bonded irrigation dls trict. Directors of the new district were named as follows: C. C. Walton, Isaac Beal and C. E. Mclntoeh. The district is the third to be formed In the valley. Next to the East Fork district, which covers the east Sid's orchards and ranches of the lower valley. It Includes the largest acreage of the fruit section, approxi mately 9000 acres lying under the system. Plans for Combating Unions Forming. CALIFORNIA STRIKE HOLDS Law and Order Committee Is Denounced. CHARGES ARE ANSWERED Absolute Order Prevails In Etrlke District, Declares Head of Oil Worers' Union. TAFT, Cal Sept. 21 (Special.) A definite course of action to be pursued by the oil producers in combating the strike of the oil workers in the west side fields will be formulated in San Francisco following the report of a special committee of the oil producers' association, wh'ch was here today making a survey of conditions. This committee, composed of F. L. Bell, Al lard de Heur and D. S. Ewlng, w'll outline to the association a definite plan of procedure in combating the strike. The committee held conferences to day with the superintendents of the various properties in the fields and made a general survey of conditions. Alleged violations of the law by members of the law and order com mittee of the strikers were reported to the committee by the various su perlntendents. One superintendent charged tha Ruben H. Bare, a pumper In the Elk Hills district, had been kidnaped by the law and order committee, taken away from the county and left at San Berg's roadhouse. This was cited lm a typical example of the action of tte strikers. Shooting to Be Probe-A In an effort to test the legality of the method used by tbe strikers, wit nesses) were sought In Bakersfleld to day by District Attorney Dorsey In connection with the shooting by pa trols. sal dto be composed of striking oil workers, of the automobile officer, W. R. Warden of the Boston Petrol eum company, last night a he was re turning to his home In the Kern river fields. Dictatorship by the proletariat Is an established fact in the west side fllds of California, according to oil prop erty superintendents. These superintendents, representing the principal oil companies in tbe f.eld, were frank in their denuncia tion of the method of the strikers. They charge that it la striking a blow at American institutions to subject citizens of the state who are passing on the roads to inquisition and arrest on technical suspicion thta they are "bootleggers," while the real reason is to prevent workmen from coming into the fields to exercise their lawful r.ghts to obtain employment Mob llule la Charged. They charge that it is illegal and inequitable fur strikers to be made officers of the law to enforce the de cisions of the central strike commit tee. This, they declare. Is "class law" and "mob rule." On the other hand, the strike lead era declare thier rule is a democratic cne and represents the will of the majority of the citizens of the dis trict Harry Baker, vice-president of the International oil workers' union, said today: "If the tactics now being used by tbe strikers were legitimate fur maintaining democracy in Flanders, we feel that it is Just as legitimate to use them to maintain industrial de mocracy in California. The object of the tactics is to establish industrial democracy by keeping out armed thugs and bootleggers who would precipitate a crisis, thereby prevent ing a practicable, gentlemanly solu tion of the present controversy. "The strike is entering its eleventh fty. There have been no acts of vio lence, and you cannot find even a black eye in the entire strike district Compaay Property Guarded, "The properties of the company have been guarded and protected, the Volstead act has been enforced to the letter in fact, better than it has ever been enforced in any other com munity In the United States. I have right here an official document from the federal authorities co.-nmendltg our work and asking for our further co-opuratlon in this particular. We have seised and turned over to the federal authorities lurga quantities of liquor and have seised several stil!s. "How about the legality of depu tising union men who are on strike to enforce the law? Have employers ever hesitated to have guards and strike-breakers deputised by sheriffs in times of Industrial disputes? 'The rights of persons having legi timate business in the district are protected, and I have today issued re newed instructions to our patrols im pressing upon the mthe necessity of using calm, deliberate judgment and above all treating with the utmost courtesy the persons they atop and Interrogate." Cltiseas Bark Strikers. Merchants and citizens generally, iu this district express their approval of the present method of handling iCvocluucd on i'tf i Co.umn 1.) Regiment of Infantry Lines Quay and Great Crowd Cheers With Enthusiasm. HAVRE. Sept. 21. (By the Asso ciated Press.) General John J. Pershing, commander of the Ameri can armies during the war, returned to France today. The liner Paris on which General Pershing crossed the Atlantic, was escorted Into the port of Havre this morning by the French battle cruisers Strasbourg and Metz, ten torpedo boats and ten destroyers. The general stood on the bridge of the Paris, as guest of Captain 'Maurrar of the liner and received a noisy and enthusiastic welcome as the vessel steamed up the roads. Every craft in the harbor, from fishing smacks to palatial liners, dipped their flags and sounded their sirens, while the batteries on Cape De la Heve boomed a salute of 21 guns. A regiment of Infantry lined the quay and a great crowd cheered en thusiastically as General Pershing landed. He was presented with a bouquet of American Beauties by delegation of school children and was welcomed in the name of the city by Mayor Meyer. A feature of the general's welcome to Havre was the hearty greeting ex tended him as he rode with Marshal Franchet d'Kaperey in a motor car to the city hall, with the 123d regl ment band, escorting him, playing the Star - Spangled Banner," and the "Marseillaise" alternately. Fully 10,000 persons lined the route. LOGGER IS HELD SLACKER l'ailuro to Register for Draft in 1918 Is Charged. TACOMA. Wash.. Sept 21. (Spe cial.) Charged with being a war slacker. Frank E. Morris, a logger from Katonvlllc, was arrested today by John Secrist, United States deputy marshal, and Is now held In the county Jail with ball set at $1000 Morris gave his sge as 39. The specific charge for which Morris is held Is that he failed to register for the second draft in 1818 The Information on which the arret was made came from local sources and not from the list sent out by the department of justice to the Ameri can Legion posts, according to John Boyie Jr., assistant district attorney. NEGROES TO GET CHANCE Execution of Six Convicted Arkan pus Blacs Held Up. LITTLE ROCK. Ark., Sept. 21. Federal Judge Trieber today granted a writ of habeas corpus In the esse of six Elaine negroes sentenced to be electrocuted Friday, and Issued a temporary restraining order enjoin ing state authorities from executing sentence pending hearing of the case Monday. Friday is the third date set for the negroes' execution since their convlc tlon of murder in connection with the Elaine riots In 1919. REPLY TO IRISH DELAYED Lloyd George to Consult Special Committee About Answer. LONDON, Sept. 21. (By the Asso elated Press.) Premier Lloyd George's reply to the latest telegram of Kamonn de Valera Is unlikely to be made before next week. The ministerial conference In Galr loche today considered the tenor of De Valera's telegram so doubtful as to make It advisable first to submit the telegram to the special cabinet committee appointed to deal with Irish affairs. Pope Appeals for Russians. GENEVA, Sept. 21. (By the Asso ciated Press.) Pone Benedict has ad dressed to President Van Karnebeek of the assembly of the league of na tions an appeal for the famine suf ferers of Russia. 20,000 Oddfellows Parade. TORONTO. Ont.. Sept. 21. A parade of more than 20.000 Oddfellows was the principal event on today's pro gramme of the sovereign grand lodge In session here. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Wenther. TESTERDAT'H Maximum temperature, 66 desreea: minimum. 03 degrees. TODAY'S Fair and warmer: variable winaa. Domestic. Republican elected tn United States senate by New Mexico, t'ass Z. Arbuckle reported to have admitted attack on Miss Rappe. Pane 1. rarlflc Northwest. Lower care costs boon to livestock Industry. Pass a. General tax levy of Washington cut 50 per cent. Pass 1. Wilbur Jacks, shot by Raleigh Matthems, dies from wounds. Page 5. Oresnn Agricultural college has suspicious opening. Page 7. Day spent seeking murder trial Jury. Page 11 Portland to have, first muaic week Novem ber -7 to December 4. Page 12. Senator XcXary leaves for Washington. D. C. Page . . C. Howard ChlMa, notorious tail-breaker, lodged In state's prison. Tags li. 8 port. Pacific CoeFt league reaulti: At Portland J. San Kranciaco 4; at Seattle 1. to Angeles 0: at I.oa Angelea, Salt take tt. Vemnn 4; at San Krancl.co, Sacramento , Oakland 2. Page 14. Johnson eliminate. Oulment from golf tourney, page 14. Commercial and Marine. Oreron apples bring good prices at New York suction. Page -3. Europe reported to he oversupplled with American wheat. Page i':t. Redl.count rate reduced by New Tork's federal reaerve bank. Page 23. Gray-Rosenbaum company charters S ahlpi to carry bulk wheat. Psgs Chemical Plant and Town Razed; 2000 Injured. CEMETERY IS SHATTERED Workmen on Trains Are Bur led Under Wreckage. FRENCH AID IN RESCUE 4000 Tons or Xitrous Sulphates la Warehouse Reported Source of Giant Upheaval. 4 MATENCE, Germany. Sept 21. (By the Associated Press.) A great explosion today at the chemical prod ucts plant of the Biidlsche Anlllnfa brik company at Oppau on the Rhine wrecked the town and spread death and destruction. The number of killed Is estimated at from 1000 to 1000 and the injured nearly 2000. One report says there were 2000 men on the spot, and It la believed tbout half of them were killed. Oppau Is a scene of desolation, more than one-third of the houses having been destroyed while the roofs of the others were swept off. Here also many were killed or injured. . Funnel-Skaped Hole Left. The explosion is attributed by some to excess pressure in two adjoining gasometers, this part of the works being pulverised. Where the gasome ters stood is now a f unnel-shuprd hole 130 yards wide and 45 yards deep, while twisted girders and debris lie scattered about. For several hun dred yards not a wall Is .left stand ing. The directorate of the company is quoted as saying that tha explosion occurred In a storehouse containing 4000 tons of nitrous sulphates, which was believed to be.freo from danger of explosion."' - Tombstones Are Detroyed. All nearby workmen's dwelling were razed. At Mannheim, across the river, 85 persons were seriously In jured and 200 or more slightly In jured. Ludwigahafen reports say three workmen on trains were burled under the wreckage and many chil dren Injured. Heart-rending scenes were wit nessed. At the l'ttle cemetery near Oppau there are already more than 200 bodies on the grass. Numerous tombstones were hurled In various directions. There was not a door or window left iptact for a radius of three miles. French medical units are aiding In the rescue work. Assistance also has been rushed from neighboring towns and all public and private motor cars and vehicles were requisitioned. A regiment of colonial Infantry and the first Madagascar regiment from Ludwlgshafen Immediately proceeded to Oppau to preserve order an aid in the work of rescue. Disaster la Described. Describing the disaster, a captain of the first French colonial infantry, said: "I was riding close to the factory at 7:30 o'clock In the morning, when I heard a dull rumbling. The earth seemed to quiver and an Immense column of flame and. smoke shot up a few hundred yards from me, following Immediately by an explosion and a rush of air which hurled me and my horse to the earth. When I picked myself up an emnense cloud of dust and smoke hid that part of the fac tory near the gasometers. Al) sorts of objects rained down on the road. "Hearing cries behind me I turned end realized that the village of Oppau was destroyed as by an earthquake. Shortly after main buildings of the plant burst into flamea and the air was filled with ammonia fumes. Twenty minutes aftertho first ex plosion there was another, but less violent. Help Arrives Quickly. "The alarm was quickly given an"! In less than half an hour help ar rived. Unfortunately as further ex plosions were feared, the rescue parties were not able to get to work properly before 9 o'clock." A late statement Issued by the management of the Oppau factory ays that the explosion occurred in reservoir containing 200 tons of ammonia sulphate. It add that all r.ecessary precautions had been tskert so that an explosion appeared Impose slble. An Inquiry hss been opened. BIG FORCES REMOVE INJURED Rescue Forces Hampered by Lack of Transportation. FRANKFORT ON THE MAIN, Ger many, Sept 21. The Badische Anllln fabrlk company, according to the Krankfurtre Zeitung, states that Its plant at Oppau, where today's explo sion occurred, was "partially de stroyed." Further explosions. It was stated, were not feared. The company's plant at Ludwlgs hafen, one of the largest in Germany, was not harmed. The Frnnkenthul (Cuuoiudsd ea i e , Coiui&a f Jl