Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 1908)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JULY 5, 1908. 3 YOUTHFUL HERD HONORED BT CITY Matthew Robson Saves Lives at Risk of His Own. 17 RUSHES INTO BURNING MINE Acclaimed as Hero by City of Pana and Given Gold Watch Mod estly Says He Did. as Others Would. PANA. 111., July 4. Eighteen-year-old Matthew Robson, of Pana, knows how sweet sound the words, "You have saved my life." Seventeen men. all hus bands and fathers, are alive today be cause young .Matthew was willing to rik death himself to rescue them when they were about to be hemmed in by fire in the depths of a coal mine. His act was inspired by unselfish, lofty courage, not by the desire for ap plause, not by any longing for personal aggrandizement. The Penwell mine, where the act oc curred, consisted of two great wings, one running east, one running west. The eastern wing had an outlet on a hillside through a tunnel. But to get out of the western wing one either had to go up in the elevator, the shaft of which extended down to the middle of the mine, or pass from the west wing beneatli the shaft into the east wing and out through the tunnel. But the. fire was in the elevator shaft. It had progressed downward and the names were licking the bot tom of the shaft, threatening to form a wall of tire between the blind west wing, where the 17 men were at work, and the east wing, with its outlet through the hillside tunnel. To save the lives of the 17 it was necessary for a messenger to go on foot through the tunnel, the entire length of the east wing, underneath the burning shaft, and on to the far end of the west wing, where the men were at work. Ignorant of their danger. Volunteers to Give Warning. Minutes were valuable. The messen ger must reach the 17 workers In the west wing, warn them and return with them before the flames should shut off ail avenue of escape. It was night, and the light of the fire cast a weird glow over the ashen faces of the spectators. Volunteers were called for to go into the mine and warn the men in the far west wing. Nobody responded. Then a slight fig ure sprang out of the surrounding gloom, it was Matthew Robson, clad In his miner's overalls. Without more ado he was gone. Into the black mouth of the tunnel he darted like a young deer, fleet of foot, steady of nerve, his torch flaring as he ran over the rough tunnel floor. "God bless the brave boy God save them ail in the mine," cried women with white faces who stood about, weeping and wringing their hands. It was more than a mile from the tunnel mouth to the western chambers where the 17 were working a long, weary mile to race with grizzly death. The watchers at the tunnel mouth saw the bobbing torchlight grow smaller and smaller, fainter and fainter, until it finally was blended with the red glow far within where the shaft opened. To the heoric boy It was a hot, forbidding, awe-inspiring glimpse of hell. His courage almost failed him as he drew near to that crackling, leaping, hun gry furnace. Hut he went on. He did not pause. The very seconds were precious. He saw that. And now the red flames were at his back. He was in the great west wing. He staggered on on on. Would he never reach the men? he asked himself. Tolls Minors, Then Collapses. Another minute, another superhuman effort, and he reeled into the first chamber where men were at work. "The shaft's afire." he cried, huskily, "run for your lives." The others were warned quickly. They were fresh, fearfully eager for the run out if the tire would let them out. But Mat., the hero, had collapsed. The long, hard run had been too much for hm. They bundled the exhausted boy into a coal car and whipped up the mule hitched to it. Away they went, an odd pro cession in an awful predicament. The lamps showed terror-stricken faces. Hut the 17 stuck to the boy in the coal car their savior. H was hot. painfully hot, at the shaft, and the ttames were red and hungry, but. thank heaven, there yet remained a path clear of fire. Through it dashed the men and the coal car with the boy in it. A little way ne yond the men heard a dreadful roar. They looked back. The walls of fire, as did the walls of water after the children of Israel passed by. had rushed together and closed the passu. They had been just in time. And they sohbed out their gratiuide, those strong men. down in the gloomy bowels of the world. Joy Over .Rescued Ones. A mighty cheer shook the hillside when the watchers without, at the tun. ncl' mouth, caught the first sight of the oncoming lamps of the 17. Men and women rushed in to greet the on coming party. Pome laughed. Some sobbed. Some danced. Some sang. Some prayed. It was one of those in tensely dramatic scenes such as only the black coal belt knows. The res cued 17 were hugged and kissed hys terically. Kven the faithful old mulu that had drawn the car In which Mat rode hack ww hugged. And Mat! Tle grimy, weary, tow-headed boy was given an ovation as spontaneous, as heartfelt, as genuine as ever greeted hero of the battlefield. But he only slipped away to his own cottage home and threw his arms around his wid owed mother and told her with misty eyes and a lump In his throst that made his voice thick and unsteady. Just how happy he was to be back with her again. And who is Mat Robson, the widow's son, and what manner of vouth is he' His daily life Is that of a hero. A year or so ago his father died, leaving a widow, several small children, a mort gaged cottage, and Mat. the oldest child, the breadwinner, the protector He sought work in the mine, with brave, dry eyes and a high hope in his heart. A fraternal organization to which the father had belonged lifted the mortgage from the family cottage and assured the widow and her brood of a home. Mat set out to do the rest that needed to be done. City's Girt to Young Hero. Not long after the. fire Mayor Schuy ler of Pana called a mass meeting of the citizens to honor the boy. The Red Men's Band marched through the town and stopped before an open-air plat form where the speeches were to be ellvered. The Mayor was on the plat- , form, and so were all the prominent men of Pana. Mat was among them, although he had sought to be excused. They would not let him stay away. And the crowd shouted Itself hoarse. Then the band played some more, after which Rev. Frank Miller stood up and waved his hands for silence. Ho said that there had been few, if any, finer acts of heroism in Pana than that per formed by Matthew Robson when he saved the lives of 17 men. It was fit- I ting, said the minister, that some tes x timonial on the part of the people be given to the hero. Then he presented to Mat a costly gold watch, contain ing an inscription which declared that the watch was a token from the people of Pana to the savior of 17 lives. Per haps the crowd didn't cheer then! Hats were thrown up into the air. Men shouted till you would have thought their lungs would burst. "God Bless You," Say All. Trembling, shy, frightened at all the honors paid him more, a thousand times more than he would have been by the grimest danger the boy when called on for a speech stood up. He tried to say something, but he couldn't Tears bltnded his eyes and his voice shook so he couldn't speak. All he could do was to blurt out a simple "Thank you" and sit down again. But the crowd cheered as lustily and as long as though the most eloquent oration ever delivered had Just been heard. The mere "Thank you" of Mat Robson was speech enough for them, for his field was action, not talk. And then all the people crowded around the platform and shook the boy's hand, while he stood there with trembling lip and wet eye and bowed his head in acknowledg ment of their "God bless you. Mat." The demonstration in Mat's honor was a grand success, and he is very proud, indeed, of the gold watch and the purse of money presented to him by his fellow '.ownsmen. I!ut many of his friends believe that th younir man 6r;ould have more substantial recogni tion than he has had, so a movement has been started to obtain for him a Carnegie hero medal and the purse that goes with such an emblem of honor. As for Mat. he is seeking no honors medals, money or anything else. He doesn't -think he did such a wonderful thing didn't do more, in fact, than he thinks most any of the miner? would liave done for him. Only Practices Golden Rule. And, perhaps, at the bottom, that is the secret of Mat's heroism Just the Golden Rule. He went into the mine and risked his life the night of the fire because lie believes in doing for others what you would like others to do for you. He was seeking no plaudits nnd no glory. He was following the Golden Rule as he interprets it. Indeed, he rather deprecates his own act and Is excessively modest about his heroism doesn't admit at all that he is a hero. But if you should happen to visit Pana and should go among the citizens, among the wives and sisters of the. miners, or even among t.ie little chil dren of the men who work in the depths, and should ask if there were any real heroes in or around the mines, the answer would be prompt and en thusiastic: . "Yes, there is. His name is Mat Rob son. and if there ever was a real, true, genuine hero. Mat's one." FOILED OF REVENGE EVIDENCE OF FOUL CRIME BODY, WEIGHTED, ARMS BOT7XD, FOUND IX COLUMBIA. Card In Coat Bears Inscription: H. E. Edmunds, Saunderson Bros., Richland, Or." HOOD RIVER. Or., July 3. (Special.) With hands strapped together and weight ed with rocks, the body of a well-dressed man was discovered lodged against a rock in the Columbia River Thursday morning, near Wyeth, by the crew of a tugboat which was passing that point. In the minds of the tugboatmen and the Cor oner's jury, impaneled to investigate the case, there is no question that the man was murdered, for when found his pockets were full of rocks. To one of his arms was attached a noose that had been used for the purpose of fastening them together, and depending from it was a ten-pound stone. From the condition of the body it was impossible to determine whether violence had been used before the man had been hurled into the river. It is believed the body floated drown stream from some upriver point. MOORE GOES TO DENVER Seattle's Democratic ex-Mayor Visits Portland En Route. En route to Denver to attend the Demo cratic National convention and to Dal las, Tex., to attend the Elks' convention. William Hickman Moore, ex-Mayor of Seattle, is in Portland and is stopping at the Oregon Hotel. Mr. Moore's political record in Seattle is very similar to that of Dr. Lane in Portland. Both are Democrats and both were elected Mayor of the respective cities, which are largely Republican. However, the Seattle Democrat met his political Waterloo at the. last election and' his defeat was due. it is said, to the fact that this is a Presidential year. Mr. Moore is a Kentuckian. born and raised in Shelby County, where Demo cratic majorities depend altogether on how big a Democratic majority is need ed. He wont to the city on the Sound some score of years ago and has, though a Democrat, managed to carry off mora than the average man's share of public offices. "We have the initiative and referen dum In our state," said Mr. Moore, "but haven't any Statement No. 1 yet. Mem bers of the Legislature, however, take a pledge, but It Is a pledge to vote for the parly's choice for United States Sena tor." Mr. Moore1 disclaimed any interest or knowledge of the approaching fight for the Republican nomination for Governor. However. It is said that ex Governor McBride will run a close race against the present Governor Meade. Mr. Moore is accompanied by his wife and they will leave the city this morning. REVOLUTIONJN PARAGUAY Hundred Killed and Wounded in Streets of Capital City. BUENOS AYRES. July 3. The latest advices received from private sources at Formosa, in the northeastern part of Argentina, say that there has been san guinary fighting in the streets of As uncion, the capital of Paraguay, where a revolution is said to have broken out recently, and that hundreds of persons have been killed or wounded. Edward C. O'Brien, the United States Minister to Paraguay and Uruguay, and Henry B. Owsley. Jr., secretary of legation, both are In Asuncion. Communication by telegraph and tel ephone with Asuncion has been cut off, and consequently there are disquieting rumors of a sensational character here- Young Italian Shoots at and Stabs Policemen. FIGHTS LIKE WILDCAT: . i Lies In Ambush for Men Who In- J vaded Home Bullets Miss and They Pursue Captured After Wielding His Deadly Blade. WILLIAMSBURG, N. J., July 4. (Spe cial.) The first gray streaks of dawn did not find all in bed and slumbering in the big tenements on Withers street, near Union avenue, Williamsburg, today, for young Giovanni Mallati had gone about from ' flat to flat among his friends and whispered that before daybreak at least one policeman would be murdered, and more, if his aim was sure enough. Then the boy he is 17 posted himself in the doorway of 3 Withers, street with a big five-shooter swinging free in .his right hand. He knew it was time for Sergeant Cahill, of the Bedford-Avenue station, and Patrolman Fagin, of the same command, to meet at the corner and stroll down past the house. Mallati bad promised to slay both these men in revenge for their invasion of his home a few nights ago and the dragging forth of two young men, who were sent to Jail as disorderly characters. He had been away from home on the night of the raid, but had beard of the part Ca hill and Fagin took In it, and he swore, in every neighborhood wine shop that their" lives would pay the forfeit. Cahill and Fagin met with their cus tomary punctuality at 3:30 o'clock. It had been a pleasantly dull -evening for both, and they sauntered down the street to ward where the would-be slayer hid, talking of the weather. Shoots and Officers Pursue. They were three yards from the en trance of 3 Withers street when young Giovanni sprang from his ambush and fired twice before they could raise a hand. One bullet ripped the padding from the right shoulder of Cahill's coat and the other drove athwart Fagin's left ear with a. zipping twang. The flash of the gun had almost singed the two policemen, but before the boy could tire tigaiu Cahill's nightstick sang over his head, and he turned and ran. Both patrolmen leaped after him with howls of rage, dragging at their hip pockets for their guns. The boy was fleet as a deer and raced down to the corner of Havemeyer street, where he turned again, braced on his heels and emptied the three remaining cartridges of his gun at the onrushing policemen. Had they stopped one of the slugs might have reached them, but there was only rage in the hearts of Cahill and Fagin, and in their wavering, blind rush the bullets went by. His gun empty. Giovanni swung about again and darted down Havemeyer street and thence into North Eighth, where he vanished into the open doorway of No. 250, jumping behind the door and pulling it close upon him. Cahill was then not a dozen yards away, and he took the steps in one bound and burst through the en trance. Fights Like Furious Panther. The boy was crouching like a cat be hini the door,- and as the policeman blundered in, a ten-inch blade of steel flashed out and ripped down the breast of Cahill's coat over the heart. The knife slashed the coat from collar to shirt, tore through the shirt and under shirt and then caught and broke on the belt buckle. In another instant Giovanni was tripped and thrown, though he fought like an enraged panther with his teeth and hands and feet. But he was struggling with 400 pounds of muscle and brawn. There are no milder men in the Bedford-Avenue station than Cahill and Fagin, but when they got young Mallati out of the hall way he was Inert as a bag of salt. Magistrate Higginbotham held the youth on two charges assault in the first de gree and carrying concealed weapons for which he may get 25 years in Sing Sing. STOLEN, THEN REPLACED Wealthy Pittsburg Man Loses and Recovers $10,000 in Jewelry. LOS ANGELES, July 3. E. C. Con veiee, a wealthy resident of Pittsburg, reported to the authorities tonight that during his absence at dinner his room at the Hotel Hollywood had been en tered and a valise containing jewelry to the value of 310,000 had been re moved. By the time officers from this city had reached the scene the stolen property had been replaced. Converse's father is a director of the United States Steel Corporatien and an officer of various banks in the East. Merchants Savings 6 Trust Company 247 WASHINGTON STREET Capital$150,000 Pays interest on Saving Ac counts and Time Certificates. Receives deposits subject to check without limitation as to amount. Effects collections in any part of the country on most reason able terms. Acts as Trustee in all legiti mate relations. Cares for properties, collects rents, etc Interviews solicited with those contemplating any phase of our service. , New Idea Patterns Only lOo All styles, all alnea, lO. Enrf desln-n rM n be successfully nnd easily carried ont. lOt The most satisfactory paper patterns printed. fi setter pattern can be had at any price. The Most in Value, The Best in Quality New Idea Magazines Only 5c Slnn-le lme 5. Tirelve Month ly Insncn and a Free Pattern, BOc. With each anbaerlption tn the New Idea Ma as sine at SOe n year we will n-lvn a free Jiiew Idea Pattern. An Extraordinary Sale and Display of Swell New Pongee Silks There is no store anywhere that gives more attention to silks than we do, and, no matter what your wants may be, there is always an ample choice here. We are now showing the greatest and best line of Pongee Silks to be found in the city, comprising every new weave in all the new shades genuine Shantung, Chefu, Tussorah Rough and Kuhla Pongees. Priced for this sale as follows: "CLOTH OF GOLD" AT 91.95. A special offering in -the Silk Department of yards and yards of the real "Cloth of Gold." It comes 34 inches wide, is extra heavy and of the natural pongee color; extra wearing quality. This beautiful cloth is especially adapted for coats and wraps. An fc" QC extraordinary value, specially priced, per yard tpXiwtl PEKIN DUCK AT $1.50. A special offering of 27-inch Pekin Duck, a natural pongee, iu double weight pure silk ; one of the most popular weaves for jacket suits or separate wraps. Extremely good values. Specially fl f0 priced Monday and Tuesday, yard P X LI V CHINA SILKS SPECIALLY PRICED. Extraordinary price concessions on this season's most popular silks. 27-ineh China Silks, 65c values, special 50 27-inch China Silks, 75c values, special 65 27-ineh China Silks,' 85c values, special 75 27-ineh China Silks, $1.00 values, special.. . 83 27-inch China Silks, $1.25 values, special ....95 CHEFU PONGEE AT 85. A special offering of real Chefu Pongee, in natural color only, medium weight, bright, lustrous finish, pure silk; one of the most popular patterns, full 24 inches wide. Exceptional values, Q K Special, yard OO w JAPANESE SILKS AT 50. 27-inch genuine Japanese Wash Silks, the ideal fabric for cool Sum mer wear; they are soft, clinging, durable, stylish, and no other fab ric will wash quite so well ; come in plain colors, in all the best shades; cream, white, champagne, black, blue, green, tan, etc., etc. Silks that usually sell at 65c yard. A real bargain special for K f g- this sale, yard UUv SHANTUNG PONGEE SILK AT 98. A great special offering of Shantung Pongee Silk, full 34 inches wide and real silk; nine hundred yards of this beautiful silk to be sac rificed. Regular $1.50 and $1.75 values, special for QQ this week j O UNDERMUSLINS Surprisingly little prices to pay. The variety of styles is remarkable ; it is our best Spring and Summer display, and its popularity is proven by the great business we are doing. Every garment advertised for tomorrow is decidedly nnderpriced, and careful shoppers will not over- - look this splendid saving opportunity. CORSET COVERS ESPECIALLY PRICED. An extra good showing of Corset Covers, made of fine nainsook and daintily trimmed with embroidery, laces and baby ribbon. Extra good values, specially priced for Monday and Tuesday .50 CORSET COVERS, 50c VALUES, 35. An extra fine showing of Corset Covers, made of excellent quality nainsook and trimmed with lace, embroidery and ribbon ; all sizes 32 to 34. Best 50c values, special for this sale .35 MUSLIN GOWNS SPECIALLY PRICED $1.00. A special offering of women's muslin Gowns, made of nice quality nainsook or soft-finish cambric, in the high or V-shaped neck, with long, half-length sleeves, daintily trimmed with fine embroidery or lace insertion; another line in the low-neck, slipover style, with short sleeves. Reg. $1.25 and $1.50 vals., spc'l Monday and Tues..$1.00 MUSLIN DRAWERS SPECIALLY PRICED 50. An extra fine showing of muslin Drawers, made of good quality cam bric and trimmed with rows of neat hemstitched tucks and deep embroidery ruffle; another line with fine lace insertion and lace edge. Extra fine values, specially priced Mouday and Tuesday..50 MUSLIM DRAWERS, 39c VALUES, 25. A special offering of muslin Drawers, made of good quality camhrie, with rows of neat pin tucks and fine laee edge. Best 39o values, special for Monday and' Tuesday 25 WOMEN'S SKIRTS SPECIALLY PRICED $1.50. A fine showing of women's muslin Skirts, made of excellent quality cambric, with deep embroidery flounce; also a line trimmed with rows of fine laee insertion ; all made extra full and finished with dust ruffle and cambric underpiece. Best $2.00 and $2.25 values, special for Monday and Tuesday $1.50 Wonderful Sale Embroidery, in Special Lots Embroideries, wonderfuly beautiful! We invite yon to visit our store to inspect the largest assortment of dainty Embroideries we have ever before displayed. All new goods, just received. Heaps of snowy white Embroideries extending the length of our counters awaiting your critical examination. LOT 1 Contains dainty embroidery and insertion to match, with edges from 3 to 6 inches "1 fg wide; vals. up to 25c yard, special, yd. LOT 2 Contains embroidery and insertion to match 3 to 10 inches wide, made of fine sheer swiss and nainsooks ; values up to 35c yard ; fl O !y g special, yard ' LOT 3 Consists of wide bands, insertions, edges and flouncing, 6 to 18 inches wide, also new Trench patterns in 18-inch corset cover embroid ery. All this season's newest produc- "fl Qf tions; values up to 65c yard, special... LOT 4 18-inch fine St.' Gall corset cover embroid ery, from the dainty small pattern to the large scroll effect, embroidered on fine grade swiss, chiffon cloth, nainsook and Hamburg. Not a pat tern in the entire lot less than 75c and up to $1.25. Special to close tho lot, the Q g Exquisite Laces Here's the most extraordinary value it has been our good fortune to secure in many a month. A leading manufacturer in St. Gall closed out to us his entire surplus stock of laces at about half price, the largest se lection we have ever shown, at ridiculously low prices, really the greatest bargain ever offered in the City of Portland. This great sale consists of venise bands, galloon bands, Irish point bands and edges, galloons and festoon medallions, appliques and combination venise and baby Irish insertion. Values up to f)K $2.00 a yard, SPECIAL FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY, yard 0 15 ''''' mm mmmmm Women's Sweater Coats Specially Priced $2.50 to $6.50 An extra special offering of women's fine all-wool knit sweater coats, in cardinal, white oxford and navy, in all the latest Clfl (( weaves. These fine coats range in prices from $2.50 to.J w. C vr WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR SLEEVELESS VESTS AT 17 An extra special offering of women's fine bleached swiss ribbed, low neck, sleeveless vests, nicely trimmed yoke; regular 25c values; "i ty special for Monday and Tuesday . UMBRELLA PANTS. BEST 40c VALUES, AT 25 A special offering Of women's fine jersey-ribbed wide-knee, lace-trimmed pants, made both French band and tight top, trimmed with O K g fine torchon lace; regular 40c values, special for this sale. J WOMEN'S HOSE. 50c VALUES AT 35 An extra special offering of women's fine tan gauze lisle hose, made with garter top, double heel, sole and toe. Regular 50c values, O K g special for Monday and Tuesday JU CHILDREN'S HOSE 40c VALUES AT 25 A special line of children's and misses' hose, made of fine quality lisle, in colors, tan and black, all sizes; regular 40c values; spe- O cial for this sale & Jr Men's Spec'ls MEN'S UNDERWEAR AT 49 A special offering of men's lightweight merino shirts and drawers in natural gray; the shirts are made with fine ribbed cuffs and bottom ; front and neck bound with fancy tape. The drawers have fine ribbed anklets and suspender straps and good pearl buttons. The best 75c values; special sale price. 49 MEN'S SHIRTS AT '79 A special offering of men's negligee sat een shirts in plain gray or tan, made with soft button, drawn eolhtr; sleeves have two buttons, seams are all filled. These fine shirts are cut good, full size. The best $1.00 values, special sale price, each 79 MEN'S GOLF SHIRTS AT 79 A special offering of men's golf shirts, made cuffs attached, or with otne pair separate cuffs. These excellent gar ments come in light, medium and dark patterns of checks, stripes and fancy patterns, in sizes from 14 to 17; regu lar $1.00 values, special 79 J Special Clean-Up Sale Summer Wash Goods The very Wash Goods that most every woman wants for Summer wear, here in tremendous lots, at the lowest price ever quoted for equal qualities. ORGANDIES, LAWNS, BATISTES, SILK GINGHAMS, ZEPHYRS, SUITINGS, PERCALES, VOILES. ETC, ETC. 1 5c, 18c, 20c, 25c Vals., This Sale Only at 10c Yard OVER 8000 YARDS THIS SEASON'S MOST-WANTED WASH GOODS UNSURPASSED ASSORTMENT OF STYLES AND COLORS. NEW HAMMOCKS We are showing an unsurpassed assortment of Ham mocks for both home and outing use. They come in new and attractive patterns in all the desirable shades. You will never know the real luxury, comfort and enjoyment to be had from your porch until you have one of these fine hammocks across the corner. They range in prices from $6.50 down to 95 FEATHER PILLOWS A fine line of feather pillows, filled with real goose feathers. These excellent pillows are 18x26, and ' weighing 21i lbs. They are covered with strong blue and white striped ticking; exceptional values; priced at, each .60 FEATHER PILLOWS An extra fine offering of feather pillows, in size 20x27 inches, weighing 3V lbs. They are covered with the best quality flowered and striked ticking. Specially priced, each $1.10 COTTON BLANKETS An extra special offering of good gray cotton blan kets, full size and made of excellent quality cot ton, heavy weight; special, pair 85 COMFORTS A fine assortment of comforts, filled with nice white cotton and covered with good quality silkoline. They are made good, full size and eome in medium and dark colors. Extra great values, special for Monday and Tuesday, each $1.35