The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930, April 14, 1908, Image 1

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    33rd YEAR. NO. 90
ASTORIA, OREGON, TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1908
PRICE FIVE CENTS
THOUSANDS
HOMELESS
Six Million Do i:
Chelsea
n
SOLDIERS GUARD RUINS
Scores of Persons, Including
Firemen and Policemen,
Overcome by Smoke
FOUND 3 CHARRED BODIES
The Fire Wii Discovered at 10.30
Sunday Morning st the Plant at the
Blacking Factory-and Fanned by
a Stiff Breeze Spread Rapidly.
From the embcs of yesterday's
conflagration in Chelsea there arose
today a well organized movement for
aid and relief to flic 10,000 homeless,
counting of the cost by Insurance
companies, whose representatives
placed their losses at $3,500,000 and a
determination by the city authorities
to rebuild the 350 acres swept over
by the flames, where stood before the
fire property valued at nearly '$6,000,
000. No further deaths are reported
today and of all the injured only two
were believed to be in a critical con
dition. Comparatively little suffering
Is reported among the fire victims
today. So prompt and efficient was
the relief work begun yesterday that
practically no one was without shel
ter during the night. Today the re
lief work was taken up by those who
handled the Massachusetts fund for
the San Francisco sufferers. Early
today Mayor Beck 'issued an appeal
to the country, but after a conference
with acting Governor Draper the ap
peal was amended to include only the
State. The announcement was made
ilnt i?(wwi 1.1,1 I.-.. I k k
senption in Boston before noon. In
addition the city of Chelsea appro
priated $10,000 and a resolution in
troduced into the Legislature calling
for $100,000 from the State. Many of
the nearby cities have announced the
starting of subscription papers and
the city governments' of others will
hold special meetings to act on the
matter.
BOSTON, April 13.Ten thousand
persons rendered homeless, at least
' ' J -'
three burned to death, half a hundred
injured, and a property loss of be
tween $7,500,000 and $10,000,000 sum
marize the record of disaster which
confronts the city of Chelsea as the
result of the great fires of yesterday.
A blackened and smoldered mass of
ruins marks the sites of some of the
finest public buildings of the city
historic churches, valuable . factory
and business structures as well as
hundreds of houses, covers a belt
three quarters of a mile wide, stretch
ing across the city for a distance of
a mile and a half.
The city was not formally placed
under martial law but as a result of
reports of looting, the entire burned
section and its environs were patrol
led by Marine from the Charlestown
Navy Yard and sixteen companies of
state militia, Infantry men and artil
lery men. '
The soldiers I were ' supplied, with
ten rounds of ball cartridges. Adju
tant Gen. Wm. H. Bingham of the
staff of Gov Guild had personal'di
rection of the work of the r militia.
Cen. Bingham said the situation did
not seem to justify , a proclamation
of martial law but after a consulta
tion with Mayor Jos. Beck of Chelsea,
stringent measures were being taken
to prevent, as far as possible) any acts
of vandalism. 1
Karly to-day a consignment of the
military from the state camp grounds
at South Framingham were placed
at the disposal of the relief committee
Hundreds of them were set up on the
public play grounds in Everett, an
adjoining town, while others were
erected on open ground in the burne
district was calculated that these
tents, each of which will accommo
date five persons would serve to shel
tcr about one-half of th e homeless
people. The charitable organ!
zations in .Boston and other near
by places are taking care of the re
mnindcr. .
While only three persons are posi
tively known to have lost their lives
in the fire, it is feared that a search
of the ruins by day light will dis
close more victims. The bodies of
the dead are at the North Grove
Street Morgue. They are burned
beyond recognition. Two of the bod
ies are those of women. The other
is that of a man. All met death ap
parently while fleeing from the flames
and their charred bodies were found.
in the streets whee they have fallen.
None of them had been identified
early to-day.
Scores of persons, Including many
firemen and policemen were over
come by smoke, while many suffered
severely from burns received in fight
ing the fire. At the hospital it was
said to-day that all of the more ser
iously injured were doing well.
The tire was discovered v at 10.30
Sunday morning at the plant of the
Blacking Factory at the northwest
crn end of the city, and, fanned by i
stiff breeze, it spread rapidly. It
swept a path of ruin through the
business section aud destroyed ten
ement houses on either side, was only
stopped when it reached Chelsea
Creek, a mile and a half distant. It
is said tthe fire orginated in a refuse
pile on the citydump, where rag
pickers had kindled a fire to dry some
wet rags.
According to insurance men, the to
tal loss will exceed $7,500,000 and
may rcac $H),UU0,UUU. The insur
a nee is estimated roughly at $5,000,
000. The burned buildings including
the Frost Hospital, Children's Hos
pital Fitz library, Thirteen churches,
four schools, the state armory, the
county and Chelsea Savings Bank,
the Winnismet National Bank, the
Frovicdnt Co-operative Bank, the
Chelsea Trust Co., Chelsea postoffice,
Hotel Savoy, ' Chelsea Y. M. C. A.,
Metropolitan Sewage Pumping plant
and the W. A, Snow structural iron
plant. .
STRIKE AVERTED
Grain Handlers Struck on a Dif
ference of Five Cents
WAGE SCHEDULE THE TROUBLE
The Exporters Wished to Reduce the
.Scale in Force Last Year Which
Was 40 Cents Per Hour and 60
Ceuts For Overtime.
PORTLAND, April 13. A - strike
of grain handlers which began' this
morning over a matter of 5 cents dif
ference in the amount of overtime was
settled this afternoon by the grain
exporters agreeing to concede . the
point.
The exporters and grain handlers
have been trying to agree upon a
wage schedule for several days. The
exporters wished to reduce the scale
in force last year which was 40 cents
per hour with 60 cents per hour for
overtime to 30 cents and 45 cents. The
grain handlers and their employers
agreed on 35 cent wage for regular
work but the employees held pu,t for
50 cents overtime, i, No agreement had
been arrived at when the time to go
to work came this morning and the
gran handlers did not show up.
VETO PflW
EXERCISED
President Roosevelt Vetoes
the Dam Bill
IN A SPECIAL MESSAGE
Bills Now Pending Which Pro
pose to Give Away Without
Price Stream Rights
URGED IN VIGOROUS TERMS
The Establishment of a Policy Which
Would Safeguard the Granting of
Bridge and Dam Privileges and Re
quire Grantee to Pay For Them.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-In a
special message today vetoing the
dam bill, President Roosevelt warned
Congress that there are pending bills
which purpose to give away without
price, stream rights capable of de-
eloping 1,300,000 horsepower, whose
production would cost annually 25,-
000,000 tons of coal, urging in vigor
ous terms the establishment of a pol
icy, such as the filibustering minority
in the House demands, which would
safeguard the granting of bridge am
dam proviliges and require the gran
tees to pay for them, and definitely
announcing a future policy on hi
part to prompt the utilization of his
constitutional privilege of refusing his
signature to any bill that gives an ad
ditional three years to the Rainy river
improvement company, with which to
build a dam in Rainy river.
BRIEF SESSION OF SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April 13-A brief
session of the Senate today was de
voted to the transaction of routine
business and the delivering of i
speech by Scott, chairman of the com
mittce on buildings and grounds.
Scott appealed to the Senate to make
an adequate appropriation for public
buildings in Washington "City so that
the officialTwsiness may be transact
ed with the greatest efficiency and
economy.
PAPER TRUST.
Not Sufficient Evidence Yet to Jus
tify Legal Proceedings.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The
attorney-general, today sent to
Speaker Cannon a letter in reply to
the House resolution asking what
steps had been taken by the govern
metat to investigate the alleged combi
nation of "wood pulp or print paper
manufacturers. The attorney says
an invstigation is in progress but no
evidence has yet been obtained to
justify legal proceedings.
BEVERIDGE AT HARVARD.
CAMBRIDGE, April 13.-IIarvard
Union Hall was thronged with stu
dents tonight to hear the address by
Senator Beveridge. Earlier in the
evening Beveridge was dined by the
members of the Harvard' Indiana
Club in the trophy room of the
Union. '
ALDRICH BILL IN HOUSE,
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The
Aldrich financial bill as passed by the
Senate was handled without gloves
today by the speakers before the
House committee ' on banking and
currency which was the considering!
With the exception of
measure.
Charles C. Glover, president of the'ehorage before the appointed hour.,
Riggs National Bank of this city none
of the speakers favored the passage of
an emergency measure. The senti
ment was almost ' unanimous if a
permanent financial bill cannot be
come law now no attempt should be
made to amend the present laws.
PUT OUT OF BUSINESS. -
LOS ANGELES, April 13.-As a
result of the municipal elections to
day in the cities of the sixth class,
licensed saloons have been put out of
business entirely in Riverside, , Co
rona and San Jacinto counties, the
two remaining counties where the li
censed saloon had a firm foothold,
going dry.
UNLOOKED FOR PROGRESS.
House Busy on Naval Appropria
tion BUL
WASHINGTON, April 13.-Un-
looked for progress was made by the
House today. It considered the naval
appropriation bill. When it was laid
aside for the day, it had been only
half disposed of and the advocates of
four battleships were aligning them
selves in preparation for the fight on
that subject which will probably oc
cur tomorrow. The hopes of the offi
cers of the navy and marine corps for
an increase in pay were dashing to
the ground when on a point of order
by Madden of Illinois, there was
stricken out of the bill the provision
for such an increase. On a similar
point by Mudd of Maryland an
amendment by Martholdt of Missouri,
appropriating naval or marine bands
accepting private employment in
competition with civilian musicians
was lost - .
CONTINUES HIS ATTACK.
PORTLAND, April 13. F. J.
Heney continued his attack on Sena
tor Charles W. Fulton tonight before
a large audience in the Centenary
Methodist Church. The prosecutor
read anew an affidavit from another
member of the State Legislature be
sides going over several documents
which he has alluded to in his prev
ious speeches. Mr. Heney did not
leave for San Francisco tonight as
was announced earlier in the day.
WAITING FOR FLEET
San Diego Elaborately Decorated
and Crowded With Visitors.
WILL REMAIN TILL SATURDAY
The Battleships Are Only 100 Miles
South of San Diego According to
Wireless Reports Late Last Night
and Steaming at Nine Knots.
SAN DIEGO, Cat, ''April 13.-The
fete days for the American battleship
fleet will begin tomorrow afternoon
when the 16 armored cruisers of the
navy's most notable war craft . cast
anchor off Coronado Beach. San
Diego is crowded with ' visitors and
sightseers and never before in the his
tory of the City has, there been such
elaborate decoration of streets and
buildings. Governor Gillette, accom
panied by his staff and a distinguished
party of guests arrived tonight. The
governor left a sick bed in San Fran
cisco to attend the fete and is quite
11 tonight. If Hi is sufficiently recov
ered tomorrow heywill go out to the
Connecticut tomorrow after to pay
his respects to Admiral Thomas.
Later in the day the admiral will re
turn the governor's visit. The, fleet
will cast anchor at 1 o'clock and Ve
main here until Saturday at 6 when
it will proceed to Los Angeles. The
battleships are only 100 miles south
of here according to wireless reports
late tonight. They are steaming at
the rate of 9 knots per hour, but this
speed will doubtlessly be reduced so
las not to bring the ships to their an-
REGULATING
INJUNCTIONS
Bill Governing
tice Favorably
the Prac-
Reported
IT'S STRICT PROVISIONS
No Circuit Nor District Court
Shall Issue Temporary In
junctions TESTIMONY BEFORE 3 JUDGES
If a Majority of the Judges Believe
an Irreparable Damage Would Re
sult a Temporary One May be
Issued For Five Days. '
WASHINGTON, April 13.-
Through the efforts of Senator Over
man, the Senate committee on the
judiciary, favorably , reported today a
bill regulating the practice of grant
ing injunctions by the United States
courts. The bill provides that no
circuit nor district court shall issue
such temporary injunctions restrain
ing the operation of flie law. , on
the grounds of unconstitutionality
until testimony shall have been taken
by three judges and only then in case
a majority of the judges concur. It
is provided however, that if a major
ity of the judges believe an irreparable
damage would result to the applicant
pending a period of five days' notice
which bill provides shall be given to
the governor and attorney-general
before the hearing shall be had, they
may cause a temporary 'injunction to
issue for that period but no longer.
STRIKE BREAKERS.
Imported by Chester Traction Com
pany Mix up With Police,
CHESTER, Pa., April 13.-A strike
of conductors and motormen and oth
er employes of the Chester Traction
Company followed by the importa
tion of about ISO strikebreakers and
the summoning of the state constabu
lary precipitated a series of clashes
between the strike sympathizers and
some of the police today. The police
were stoned and mobbed and several
officers and cilivians were hurt
though none dangerous.
INVESTIGATE WALL STREET.
ALBANY, N. Y., April 13.-The
bill providing for the appointment of
a commission of nine to Investigate
Wall street speculations as recom
mended last week by Governor
Hughes was introducted to the Sen
ate tonight.
TO TAKE TESTIMONY. ;?
NEW YORK, April 13.-Josiah
Cohen, of Pittsburg, was today ' ap
pointed a commissioner to take the
testimony of' seven Pittsburg wit
nesses in the Thaw divorce case. I ,
TEN JURORS SECURED.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 13.-Thc
sixth day of the Ruef trial was pro:
ductive of four jurors making 10 men
who thus far have been passed sub
ject to the peremptory challenge. ,
HEAVYWEIGHTS MATCHED.
NEW YORK, April 13-Unless
one or the other backs out at the last
moment, Jack Johnson and Tommy
Burns will be formally matched to
day to fight for the heavyweight
championship of the world. Burns'
manager is here with a proposition
that the Canadian boxer will take
Johnson for a bout of 45 rounds or to
a finish, provided he (Burns) can have
$20,000 of the purse, win, lose or .
draw, and Johnson will airree to a
side bet of $5000.
Sam Fitzpatrick. Johnson's mana
ger,, said he would accept the terms
and would sign articles today. He
said:
"We are willinz to fiffht Burns frr
nothinc. because Trihnsnn pan he-it
him and will then have a chance to''
get the money later on." ,
ASIATIC SQUADRON CRUISE.
MANILA, April 13.-The Ameri
can Asiatit squadron is assembling at
Subig Bay. , It starts on April 15 on
an annual cruise in command of
Rear Admiral Joseph N. HemphilL
The squadron which will be absent
for four months will show the flag at
the principal ports of China and
Japan. One part of the squadron will
accend the Yang Tse Kiang to Han
kow, the other part will go to Vladi
vostok. . The cruisers Galveston and
Chattanooga will remain here to re
ceive the Japanese training squad
ron and will subsequently cruise to
Saigon, Bangkok and Singapore. '
DIPLOMATIC FRIENDSHIP.
SHANGHAI, April 13-The Brit
ish minister to China, Sir John J.
Jordan has returned here after a pro
tracted visit to Southern China. He
is on his way to Pekin after having
visited the viceroys of Nanking and
Wu Chang, following a visit to these
officials of the American minister, W.
W.' Rockhill." Tfls" understood "tTiat
the British minister conferences with
viceroys had to do with the Tatsa
Maru incident and , was intended to
indicate in a mild way the friendship
between China and Great Britain.
KNIFE BLADE KILLED HIM.
NEW YORK, April 13.-For 20
years or more Jacob L, Hyland of
Brooklyn lived with a piece of.knife
blade imbedded in his right lung.
Hyland thought he was suffering
from tuberculosis. He died at St.
Luke's Hospital ignorant of the fact
that it was a broken knife blade that
had slowly kilted him. Physicians at
St. Louise found the knife blade when
they performed an autopsy on 1 the
body. How it got there is a mystery
which may never be solved, but the
physicians say it is likely the knife
blade entered Hyland's lung when he
was a boy. '
PASO ROBLES, April 13.-Ad-
miral Evans is much better tonight
and early in the evening was able to
attend to his correspondence.
T
Suspended Students Must Not
go on the Campus.
WILL INTERFERE WITH SPORTS
President Jordan Today Issued a
Statmeent Denying the Report Re
cently Issued by the San Francisco
Alumni Criticising the Committee.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Cal.,
April 13. The -.. students who were
recently suspended for participation
in a parade today received notices to
remain away from the campus for the
remainder of the semester on a pen
alty bf permanent expulsion. The
new order will grea'tly interfere with
the training of the athletes as several
captains are among the suspended
students. President Jordan today is
sued a statement denying the report '
recently issued by the San Francisco
Alumni, criticising the student affairs
committee for undue severity, repre
sents the opinion of the organized
body of alumni. -
PER P
y
ORDER