VOL. LXI-NO. 19,378
Entered at Portland Oregop)
Poatofflce &a Second-class Matter.
PORTLAND, OREGON. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1922
PRICE FIVE CENTS
HARDIMG QUERIES
EUROPE Oil MEET
Negotiations Revealed
' by Lodge in Debate.
BORAH PLAN IS CONDEMNED
-iFar of Embarrassing Pres
' Ident Pointed Out.
. r : .
V LIMITS ARE ATTACKED
Administration Believes . It Has
plan Outlined That Will In
( cure Amendment's Defeat.
r WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 27.
TBy the Associated Press.) The
first official disclosure that Presi
dent Harding Is negotiating toward
an International conference for the
consideration of European economic
problems was made by Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts, the repub
lican floor leader, during opening
debate in the senate, today on the
proposal of Senator Borah, republi
can of Idaho, for the president to
call 'an international conference to
discuss economio conditions and dis
armament. '
In opposing the Borah proposal,
which is In the form of an amend
ment to the naval appropriation bill,
Senator Lodge urged that the presi
dent be not embarrassed "In the efr
forts . . . -which he is now making
as a matter of fact."
Senator Lodge, in the course of an
hour's address against the ' Borah
amendment as presented, did not
oppose the Calling of an economic
conference, but said it should be
carefully and strictly defined with
such questions as reparations, al
lied debts and Immigration specifi
cally excluded from consideration.
Harding May Give Facts."
The state department, which -has
consistently maintained silence as
to any efforts the administration
might be making in reference to
improving economic aim business
conditions in Europe, declined jo add
anything to the statement of Sena
tor Lodge, but It was learned that
President Harding was considering
most seriously transmitting a let
ter to the senate giving informa
tion of his negotiations and at the
earns time deploring any interven
tion from congress whlch might
operate to hinder his efforts.
It is understood that through the
tate department the president has
been "sounding out" several nowers
regarding the desirability of hold
ing an economic conference.
"Whether the proposed conference
would be called by or held In the
United States y whether this na
tion would be a participant were,
however, important details not dis
closed. .
Debate to Be Continued.
The Borah amendment was dis
cussed for four hours In the senate,
Senators Lodge and Lenroot, repub
lican of Wisconsin, speaking in op
position, and Senators Borah and
Williams, democrat, of Mississippi,
in behalf of the proposal. No action
was taken on the question and fur
ther' debate went over until to
morrow. , The opening debate on the amend
ment developed the full force of ad
ministration disapproval for it as
drafted ana also bi-partisan support
and opposition. Administration lead
ers mapped out a programme to de
feat the amendment - on a parlia
mentary point of order if possible,
and on a direct vote If the parlia
mentary point should fail.
Before the senate convened about
SO republican senators gathered in
the office of Senator Lodge and
planned the fight against the Borah
proposal. It was arranged that Sen
ator Poindexter, republican of Wash
ington, in charge of the naval bill,
v should nake the point of order that
the amendment was not germane
and went far beyond the provision
. incorporated in the bill by the
house for a conference to consider!
armament limitation with reference
to naval vessels of 10,000 ons or
less and to military and naval air
craft. Borah'a Defeat Forecast.
Republican and also democratic
leaders said they believed the par
liamentary point would be sustained
and the Borah amendment thrown
out. The republican leaders ar
ranged, however, to carry on the
fight if the point should be over
' . ruled, and, as a last resort, propose
amendments, if necessary,' to pre
vent the reparations, allied-debt and
other Questions being considered if
the conference should be called. Sen
ator Hitchcock of Nebraska, ranking
democrat on the foreign relations
committee, and other democratic
senators also were considering
amendments if the Borah proposal
6hould be brought to a vote.
Republican leaders said they did
not believe a decision on the point
of order, which could be overturned
by a majority vote, would be ap
pealed, and declared positively after
a canvass that there were enough
votes, assured to defeat Senator
Borah's pending motion to make his
(Concluded on Page 6, Column 5.)
BERNHARDT RETAINS
HOPE TO GET WELL
NO CHANGE NOTED IN DAT,
DOCTORS ANNOUNCE. ,'
Two More Physicians Called In
for Consultation Regarding
. ' Actress' Condition.
PARIS, Dec. 27. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Medical men attend
ing Madame Sarah Bernhardt said
tonight there had been no improve
ment In her condition since morn
ing, but neither had there been a
change for the worse.- The actress
herself was optimistic as ever.
"Tell them In America," she said,
"tell all my friends how much I ap
preciate their kind Interest. I shall
get well again, never fear." -
This message was sent out
through Madame Normand, the di
rectress of Bernhardt's household,
as the doctors forbade their patient
from receiving any visitors.
Two more doctors were called to
day besides Professors Obbissier
and Marot and after a long consul
tation they issued the following in
structions to the household:
"The undersigned physicians In
sist upon the absolute necessity of
letting no one enter the Blck room.
(Signed)
"Labbe, Desnos, Obbissier, Marot."
"These orders are clear," said
Madame Normand after scolding the
butler for permitting the corre
spondent to enter the house, "but
Madame insists upon seeing whom
soever she pleases."
The elderly nurse who is attend
ing the actress said:
""Madame Is a very headstrong pa
tient." The physicians have ordered that
the doorbell be disconnected and
that the telephone receiver be left
off the hook. The doctors do not
conceal their admiration for Mad
ame Bernhardt's courage, declaring
that she "Is the most wonderful
woman."
TWO MEN ROB GROCERY
Proprietor Scoops Day's Receipts
of $70 Into Hat.
The Vordahl Bros, grocery, 1442
East Glisan street, was held up and
robbed of $70 by two-armed men
early last night. Both were about
40 years old.
Otto R. Vordahl, one of the own
ers, and his wife were in the store
when the pair entered. Vordahl was
counting money at the cash reg
ister." He understood them to call
for cigarettes. - ;
"Just a minute," he said, without
looking up. x .'
"Np fooling, now, put your money
In here and be quick about it," said
one of the men, and he looked up
to notice the revolver for the first
time. The fellow shoved his hat
over the counter and Vordahl
scooped his day's receipts into it.
AUTO DEATH TOLL HEAVY
321 Die and 6393 Injured in Los
' Angeles During Year.
LOS ANGELES, Cal., Dec. 27.
Three hundred and twenty-one per
sons were killed in traffic accidents
in Los Angeles during the year 1922
and 6393 were injured, according to
a Teport today to the police statis
tician. Last year the death toll was
285 and 6362 persons were hurt.
The police records charged the
responsibility for Injuring 691 per
sons to speeders and that for 625
persons to Incompetent drivers.
Autoists who drove past standing
street cars hurt 425 more. "Jay
walking" accounted for 650 acci
dents. Nature of other accidents
was diversified.
The total deaths from traffic acci
dents in city and county were 483.
CAVE USED FOR STORAGE
Farmers Utilize Natural Cooling
.Plant to Keep Perishables.
(By Chicago Tribune Leased Wire.)
ST. JOE, Ark., Dec. 27. Cold
storage provided by nature the year
round is one of the advantages en
joyed by the farmers of this sec
tion, and it has been utilized to
the fullest extent this year in the
storage of a record fruit crop and
in caring, for meat and vegetables.
The natural cold storage plant
is a mammoth cave located at Zack.
It has been known for years as
"the Blowing Cave," because a cool
breeze always issues from its mouth,
but.it only lately has been fitted
with doors and bins and used for
commercial storage purposes.
It is probably the largest cold
storage plant in the world so far
as capacity . is concerned.
WORKING HOURS CHANGE
.
Sofia Government Cuts Day for
? ;- Office Employes.
SOFIA, Dec. 27. (By the Asso
dated Press.) A Beven-hour day
for office workers will be substi
tuted by the government for the
present eight-hour schedule begin
ning January 1.
The - new shift will be from 8
o'clock to 3, eliminating the cus
tomary two hours for lunch. It is
announced that hereafter time will
be designated according to a 24
hour clock. ... ' '
Manson, Wash., Man Badly Hurt.
BAKERSFIELD, Cal., Dec. 27.
His car turning over when he struck
a dog, J. S. Thompson of Manson
Wash., was seriously, perhaps fatal
ly injured today and taken to a local
hospital for treatment. Two other
occupants of the car 'escaped un
hurt. Thompson was en route to
Los Angeles when the accident oc
curred.
6IG111WD
TO AID EX-
" j
Suspect in Mob Mutf
Opens Legal Battlf
3
EXTRADITION IS CGNF :D
Friends and Wealth Rally to
Assist Mer Rouge Doctor.
GANG'S TRAIL FOLLOWED
Governor Confers With Special
, Assistants Over Plans for
Thorough Investigation.
BASTROP, La., Dec. il. A war
rant for the arrest of Dr.B. M.
McKoin, former mayor of Mer
Rouge, and who Is being held in
Baltimore on instructions of Gov
ernor Parker of Louisiana, was is
sued late today upon the request of
Attorney-General Coco.
BASTROP, La., Dec 27. Civil and
military authorities today followed
through the red, 'low hills .and
swamps of Morehouse parish the
trail they believe was taken by the
masked and robed men on the after
noon and night of August 24 when
five men were kidnaped and two
murdered.
The trail covered a distance of
about 25 miles from a point on the
Bastrop-Mer Rouge highway where
the men were kidnaped, to a ferry
landing at Lake La Fourche, near
where the bodies of two, of them
were found last week. .
The reconnoiterers were seeking
additional evidence Implicating those
responsible for the mysterious dyna
miting that released the bodies from
the bottom of the lake, where they
had been weighted down four
months..
Extradition Figbt Started. ,
The day was without develop
ments. All eyes were turned toward
Baltimore where Dr. B. M. McKoin,
ex-mayor of Mer Rouga was bat
tling against extradition to Louis
iana, where he is to face a charge of
murder in connection with'the case.
r The legal fight to bring him back
may develop another historic Inci
dent similar to the effort to get ex
Governor Taylor of Kentucky out
of Indiana to stand trial for the
murder of Governor Goebel of the
Bluegrass state in Frankfort, Ky.,
two decades - or more ago, in the
belief expressed today by friends of
the former mayor.
It developed during the day that
there will be unlimited funds avail
able and countless friends to assist
the physician, who does not want to
return here. His friends in More-
(Concluded on Page 6. Column 4.)
IY0
HAVING TJ3E STATE TEACHERS' CONVENTION HERE REMINDS US
CuV F&R AN
&e pans
1 Xvkt
3 MEN DEVOURED
BY TIMBER WOLVES
TRAPPER AND INDIANS FIGHT
'LOSING BATTLE.
' .
Jarcasses of 16 Animals Found
Scattered About Human Bones
and Bits of ,CIotlilng.
TORT ARTHUR, Ont, Dec. 2?.
A great roving band of hungry tim
ber wolves has devoured three men,
according to meager reports sifting
in today from the snow-covered
trails of the Sturgeon river country.
These reports told of a losing battle
fought by two Indians after a white
trapper had been downed and killed.
Last Saturday an' elderly trapper
left his cabin in the woods 70 miles
north of Ignace to mush down to the
settlement for his Christmas mall.
He arrived in safety. There was no
mail, however, and the old man said
he would come back Christmas
morning. At noon he had not arrived.
The postmaster sent two Indians to
follow the trail until they found
him. '
About two miles from the settle
ment the Indians found a spot
pounded down In the snow and
crimson hued. Bits of dog harness
torn to shreds were scattered aBout.
In the midst of them the Indians
found human bones. They hastened
back to report their discovery.
The lure of the bounty on wolves,
however, urged the Indians to take
the trail again, with extra ammuni
tion. They sped behind their dog
team into the woods as the 'villagers
waved goodby. They did not return.
Yesterday a new searching party
departed. They found another
patch trodden in the snow about
two miles beyond the first.
The two guns the Indians had
carried were lying there and scat
tered about were bones, bits of
clothing and empty shells.
The carcasses of 16 wolves lay
stretched In a circle about the
trampled patch of snow. ,
TRACE OF; SHIP F0UND
.
Buoy Keg of Missing Seattle Craft
Bears Sailor's Name.
PRINCE RUPERT, B. C, Dec. 27.
Captain Hansen of the fishing
boat. Iris reported today to United
States Consul.. Wakefield here the
finding of a buoy keg near Indian
harbor, Banks island, bearing in
blue pencil the name of Ole Rasmus
sen, a member of the crew of the
missing fishing schooner Conven
tion. The Convention, which .hailed
from Seattle, was given up for lost
several weeks ago.
MAJOR NICHOLSON OUT
Officer Who Criticised Army Re
moved From Service.
BOSTON, Mass., Dec. 27. Major
Malcolm Wheeler Nicholson, recent
ly courtmartlaled for his criticisms
of the regular army, has been In
formed by the war department of
his separation from the service.
In a letter to President Harding
he charged that "Prussianism exists
in the army."
He later wrote a pamphlet en
titled "Abolish the Army or Re
form It."
ME xFU NH V EL'S 1-
VlE
V- i I VI ST
37 VNOR
TEACWl
SCCfAS
SOWUtlKtS
DEATH RATE IN 1921
LOWEST IN 21 YEARS
SUICIDE AND AUTO FATALI
TIES ARE ON INCREASE.
Deaths From Heart Disease, In
fluenza,. Pneumonia and
Tuberculosis Decline.
WASHINGTON'.' D. C, Dec. 27.
(By the Associated Press.) De
clines In the death rate from heart
disease, influenza and pneumonia
and tuberculosis in all its forms, the
three principal causes of death in
the United States, were the out
standing features of 1921, which
shows' the lowest death rate record
ed in any year since the beginning
of the annual compilations in 1900,
the census bureau announced today.
Increases were shown in the rate
for cancer, automobile accidents
and injuries, diphtheria, typhoid,
suicide and homicide, and several
other causes.
While the 1021 death rate was 11.6
per 1000, compared with 13.1 in 1920,
a higher rate for 1922 is indicated in
the reports for the first six months
of this year, showing the rate to
be 12.6 for that period. Those rates
are for the registration area of con
tinental United States, comprising
34 states, the District of Columbia
and 16 other" cities In non-registration
states, with a total estimated
population on July 1 of 88,667,602,
or 82.2 per cent of the estimated
population of the United States on
that date, which was 109,249,393.
The total number -of deaths in
the registration area was 1,032,000,
compared with 1,142,558 in 1920.
The rate per 100,000 ' was" 1,163.9,
compared with 1306 in 1920. Based
on the death rate for the registra
tion area, the number of deaths for
the whole United States for 1921
approximates 1,271,444.
Heart diseases were responsible
for an eighth of 130,351 deaths in
1921, but the rate per 100,000 de
clined from 149.7 to 147. Influenza
and pneumonia in all forms caused
88,458 deaths, compared with 182,
205 in 1920, the rate declining from
208.3 to 99.8. Tuberculosis in all its
forms resulted In 88,135 deaths,
compared with 99,916 in 1920, the
rate declining from 114.2 to 99.4.
Cancer and other malignant tumors
were responsible for 76.274 deaths,
compared with 72,931 In 190, the
rate increasing from 83.4 to 86.
Automobile accidents and injuries
resulted in 10,168 deaths, compared
with 9103, the rate increasing from
10.4 tQ 11.6 per 100,000 of population.
Suicides numbered 11,136, compared
with 8959 in pvt. the rate increas
ing from 10.2 1 to 12.6. . Homicides
also Increase, numbering 7545,
compared with 6205 In 1920, the rate
increasing from 7.1 to 8.B.
WILSON 66 YEARS OLD
Ex-President to Spend Birthday
' Quietly at Home. -
(By Chicago Tribune Leased Wire.)
WASHINGTON, D. C. Dec. 27.
Ex-President Wilson will be 66 years
old tomorrow. The former president
and Mrs. Wilson will observe the
day quietly with a few ctose friends.
Intimates of Mr. Wilson say that
he is in better health than he has
been at any time since he became 111.
LOOK NCAV.;Vi-E: j
r
XNVMSIN THIS I HOW
SOvAH.TrALS
TURKISH-ALLIED
Old
Outcome of Conference
- Causes Alarm.
ENGLAND WON'T GEDE MOSUL
British Make Formal Reply
'S to Turkish Note.
ALL SEEM TALKED OUT
Final Roundup of Near East Set
tlements Expected to Take -Place
Next Week.
LAUSANNE, Dec. 27. (By the
Associated Press,) Great uneasi
ness is spreading throughout near
east conference circles as the time
approaches when there must be a
final reckoning on all important
questions which have been passed
by only partial agreement or no
agreement at all between the Turks
and the allied powers.
Lord Curzon's positive announce
ment today that Great Britain would
not cede Mosul to Turkey anfl did
not propose -to discuss that ques
tion furtherwas the forerunner of
less positive statements from the
other delegations on various ques
tions, which indicated that the con
ference was reaching a climax and
that preparations were . under way
for a final showing of strength
British Position Outlined.
-The British position was outlined
in a letter sent by Lord Curzon to
Ismet Pasha, head of the Turkish
delegation, covering the formal
reply of the British delegation to
the Turkish note of Sunday last,
which insisted Mosul belonged to
Turkey. . '
Lord Curzon stated that the.
British government had expelled the
Turks from the Mosul area and oc
cupied and administered It. The
British had taken a pledge to free
the area both from Turkish rule and
establish the government of the
Irlak and England since then had
repeatedly given her word that the
Arabs would not be interfered with.
- Lord Curzon added that Great
Britain had given her solemn pledge
to let no foreign power take any
part of this territory and thVt she
would steadfastly adhere to her
promise. 'r
Boundary to Be Defined.
The foreign secretary, however,
said that Great Britain was pre
pared to have her experts meet the
Turkish experts to define the north
ern boundary of the Irlak.
The British delegation's formal
reply to the Ottoman note questions
the reliability of the statistics put
forth by the Turks to justify their
claim to Mosul. Although the Turks
ruled this district for centuries they
never collected exact information, it
was pointed out, and no confidence
could be placed in their statistics.
The sub-commissions are making
little progress. Rlza Nur Bey was
less turbulent today In the sub-
commission" on minorities, but the
Christmas rest apparently did not
Improve the temper of the Turks
materially, and the allied d'elega
tlons are clearly becoming less
tractable in preparation for a final
and complete statement of the max
imum they will yield.
, x Outcome Is Uncertain.
The indications are that this final
roundup will come early next week
and the contending parties are so
far apart on capitulations, control
of the straits and the rights of mi
noritles that the outcome is uncer
tain. It Is clear that further meet
ings of the commissions and sub
commissions' will be of little use.
Seemingly everyone is talked out.
Kurds, Arabs, Assyro-Chaldeans,
Armenians, Greeks, Turks, Bulga
rians and Russians are .watching
with tense interest ..as the allied
leaders meet daily in private confer
ences, which are really deciding
what the map of Asia Minor shall
be. Lord Curzon, Marquis di Gar-
ronl and M. Barrere had a long dis
cussion today on capitulations,
which, after Mosul oil, probably is
the most stubborn question for set
tlement.
The three leaders made no an
nouncement as to what decision had
been reached.
TURKS DELIVER TWO NOTES
Demand Made to Keep Warships
Out of Smyrna Harbor.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 27. (By
the Associated Press.) Dr. Adnan
Bey, representative of the national
ist government ' in Constantinople,
today handed to the allied commis
sioners two notes from his govern
ment. The first of the communica
tions stated that no warships or
submarines exceeding 1000 tons
shall be permitted to remain in
Smyrna harbor; that no second war
ship shall be admitted to the har
bor until its predecessor has gone
and that no men shall be allowed to
land in Smyrna without permission
of the Turks.
The second note provides that the
Turkish authorities must previously
be advised of the intention of any
(Concluded on Pass 2, Column 2.)
Fll M MAN'S fcllTO I
( WRECKED BY BOMB
PANIC IS CREATED BY EX
PLOSION IN SEATTLE.
Diners in Residence District Are
Frightened by Blast, Which Is
Charged to Labor Troubles.
SEATTLE, Wash.. Dec. 27. The
automobile of John Danz, who oper
ates several Seattle motion picture
houses, was wrecked by a bomb
that was thrown Into it while It was
standing empty in front of his home
tonight.
Mr. Danz attributed the explosion
to labor controversies he has had
recently. The explosion created con
sternation among diners in homes
near, the Danze residence, which Is
In a leading residence district. Chil
dren and pedestrians were on the
street, but it is said that none was
nearer than half a block and no
body was hurt. Mr, Danz had been
in his home 30 minutes when he and
shis family were startled by the
explosion. f
Police (started ah investigation.
AUTO BURNS ON HIGHWAY
Machine Bursts Into Flames as
Garage Man Lifts Hood.
ASHLAND, Or Dec. 27. (Spe
cial.) A five-passenger automobile
was destroyed by fire while coming
toward the city yesterday. When
the driver,' Walter Roblson, garage
man, lifted up the hood to investi
gate the . cause of a bit of smoke
the machine burst into flames.
Though little remains of the car,
the gasoline tank did not explode.
Two autos collided on the Pacific
highway south of here when a
tourist, California bound, crashed
broadside into a machine driven by
John Crosslin. When called upon
to stop, the tourist yelled that he
did not have the time to spare.' His
number was not taken.
TRAFFIC VIOLATION QUITS
Judge's Rule to Show Off Law
less Drivers Effective.
SALEM, Or., Dec. 27. (Special.)
When Justice of the Peace Unruh.
several weeks ago, announced that
he would, sentence all traffic vio
lators to ride through the business
streets of the city in an automobile
labeled. "This man is being taught
the rules of the road," he had little
idea that the results would be fa
vorable. Since the judge issued the order
not a traffic violator has been ar
raigned in court
LIQUOR SHIP IS CAUGHT
Launch Captured After Chase by
Coast Guard Cutter.
SEATTLE,' Wash., Dec. 27. After
piaffing hide-and-seek with the
coast guard cutter Guard for sev
eral days, the speed launch 911-K,
loaded with 39 cases of whisky,
was run down and captured near
Anacortes, Wash., today, according
to word received by customs offi
cials here. r
Herbert Hodges and M. A. Nelson
were arrested and were to be taken
to 'Beilingham this afternoon for
examination before a United States
commissioner.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
TODAY'S Rain, with touthweat winds.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature.
K9 deereea. Minimum. 52 derree..
59 degrees. Minimum, 52 degrees.
Foreign.
Premier Mussolini balks at reparations
talkfest. P&se 3.
Bernhardt retains hope to get well.
Page 1.
White trapper and two Indians fight los
ing battle with timber wolves. Page 1.
Britain may remit Boxer indemnity for
education of Chinese youths. Page 7.
Turkish-allied showdown near. Page 1.
Foreign explorers anxious over law that
would ruin archaeology in Egypt.
Page 2.
National.
Death rate in 1921 lowest In 21 years.
Page 1.
Lodge reveals Harding Is negotiating
with Europe as to conference. Page 1.
Borah's proposal for economic confer
ence scares politicians. Page 3.
Domestic.
Big sums raised to aid extradition tight
of Mer Bouge's ex-mayor. Page 1.
Playmate Is sought as accidental slayer
of little New Tork girl. Page 2.
Keeping up racial energy declared civ
ilization's greatest problem. Page 2.
Pacific Northwest.
Effort to keep municipally-owned utilHIes
out of general1 taxation develops op
position. Page 5.
Washington state budget takes care of
, all increased demands, Page 5.
Seattle movie manager's automobile is
wrecked by bomb. Page 1. .
Sports.
Many sports clubs of city to meet next
month to elect officers. Page 18.
Eastern elevens cease long trips. Page 16.
Commercial and Marine.
Bullish feeling in northwestern wheat
markets. Page 22.
Bond selling heavy with list generally
Steamer iff held
up by bridge draw.
Page 14.
New Tork market
reacting slowly.
Page 23.
May wheat price highest
of
season.
Page 22.
Portland and Vicinity. !
City in semi-darkness for nearly two
hours as result of sub-station mishap.
Page 1.
Gales off coast do minor damage.
Page 7. .
Oregon-Washington conference correlates
recommendations for. uniform traffic
regulations. Page 14.
Dave Lightner to start for prison today.
Page 15.
Murder mystery cleared by Helen
Learys confession that her story was
false. Page 12.
Representative council of state teachers'
association approves placement bu
reau plan. Page 15.
Gloor children to get portion of estate.
Page 17.
State chambers to discuss Oregon devel-
- opment here. Page 22.
Geographic film to be shown here. Page
17.
Oregon City bridge to be opened with
. ceremony today- Fage'6.
TOWN
DARKENED
NEARLY 2 HOURS
Mishaps at Sub-Station
Puts Lights Out.
POWER ALSO IS SHUT OFF
Cars and Elevators in Parts
of City Halted.
CANDLES ARE IN DEMAND
Trouble All Due to Burning Out
of Bushing at Lepts Station
of Traction Company.
A porcelain bushing, burning out
at the Lents sub-station of the Port
land Railway, Light & Power com
pany yesterday afternoon, taught .
Portland the true worth of common
place mechanical inventions.
For almost two hours the down
town district was In semi-darkness.
Candles were the principal means of
lighting. Elevators In ,many plants
were stalled between floors and
tenants and "workers In many big
office buildings used stairways.
Streetcar service was Interrupted,
machinery In a few factories was
stilled and the industrial and com
mercial Portland suffered as if sud
denly paralyzed.
Power Instantly Cnt Off. .
' The bushing burned out at 4:24
o'clock and it was 6:15 o'clock be
fore power was entirely normal.
During this period, though, the
steam plant of the Northwestern
Electric company. In the sub-basements
of the Pittock block, was
working and supplying light and
power to that company's patrons.
.According to power officials of
the traction company, the exact
cause of the trouble Is unknown.
The high-power wire, carrying
"juice" from the. Cazadero power
house, enters the walls of the Lents
sub-station through the bushing. In
some manner this burned oct. "In
stantly all power supplied by . the
traction company to its Subscribers
in the city was shut off. Provisions
are made for such emergencies, and
in a -space of from 5 to 20 minutes
the sub-stations supplying the out
lying and industrial sections of the
city were at work again.
' The principal trouble occurred at
the Alder street plant, in the base
ment of the Electrical building. In
attempting to start the generators,
one machine was put out of com
mission when an oil switch burned
out and another refused to work
when a lining tore out. That left
Ae downtown or "underground"
section of the city completely with
out power. A '
Breakdown Halts Cars.
Streetcar service was interrupted
for 5 to 13 minutes on the various
lines. With the breakdown occur
ring at the rush hour of the day,
when the cars resumed operation
traffic was congested and the cars
were literally loaded to the guards.
The principal loss caused by the
blowout was that suffered by mer-
. ... ,, t!.
chants. Until closing time many Of
the smaller shops of the retail sec
tion were in total darkness. Big
stores, depending on their auxiliary
plants and the Northwestern serv
ice, were not affected. Restaurants
were especially hard hit and in
scores of places meals were served
by candle light.
The city was a checkerboard of
light and darkness. One building,
supplied by the Northwestern com
pany, would be ablaze with lights,
while its neighbor would be as dark
as night. One shop would be
crowded, and its next door neighbor
deserted.
Candle Market Rushed.
Bh'e candle market was depleted
in 15 minutes. Luckily, it was the
holiday season and the stores stli'l
had Christmas candles. Busy office
boys hurried from store to store,
bought supplies for their employers
in order that business might not
what the power company's
loss will be could not be estimated,
officials said. Emergency crews were
sent out as soon as the blowout oc
curred. No attempt was made - to
discover the real cause of the mis
hap until after service had been re
stored. During the two hours that the
lights were out the company's tele-
pnones were busy constantly,
An
jemergency crew of operators was
put at work answering the hun
dreds of calls for information. Some
of these calls were politely worded,
it was explained. Others from irate
citizen's who relieved their feelings
by expressing their opinions to tha
telephone girls, were in well, very
naughty language.
Oregon Electric Affected,
Oregon Electric trains were de
layed for about an hour on account
of the power trouble as the interur
ban company obtains its power from
the Portland Railway, Light & Pow
er company.
Theater patrons also were hard
hit. by the sudden shutting off of
juice." The Liberty and the Peo
ples theaters are on the traction
company's lines and about 4:20
o'clock the power suddenly com
menced to weaken. The organ
stopped, the motion picture ma-
t Concluded on Page 2, Column .)