34 th YEAR. NO. 18.
ASTORIA, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1803
PRICE FIVE CENTS
S3 lUflll
ICHiGAd
Explosion of Powder Vault
.Starts Fire
46 STILL MISSING
0! the 85 Employed In the
Workings Only 39 Were
Rescued
SCHOOLS ARE ; DISMISSED
Wb News of Um Disaster Became
""Known Hundreds of Wives and
Children Anxiously Await Return
lof Tugi For Nwa of Loved Onet
CHICAGO. Jin. 20.-AI least S3
workmen are dead a a remit of a fire
tbtt bad iti origin today in a power
vault ittAched to the Immediate crib in
Lake Michigan used In the construc
tion of l water tunnel connection
with the south side of the city at 73rd
street. Ninety-five workmen were
employed In the crib and in the con
netting tunnel at the time of the fire.
Hospitals of the south side are filled
with the Injured. Tugs of the con
struction company are making fre
quent trips to the scene of the disas
ter through the heavy ice floes.
Owing to the difficulty small craft
experienced In reaching the crib dur
ing the winter a majority of the
workmen were employed on the work
and particularly those without faml
lies slept in temporary structures at
the crib. Just before these had been
awakened for the day's work, the ex
plosion occurred. So far as is known
the explosion had its origin in a small
powder house about 100 yards from
the crib structure proper, but part of
the general structure built on founda
tions resting proper, resting on the
bottom of the lake.
In this building George W. Jackson
Co., contractors, had stored enough
powder and dynamite for future use
in wig vuiiiiubuuii vi me wiiicr iuii-
nel. In some manner the powder and
dynamite exploded. It was not until
the heat of the flames and stifling
smoke penetrated the so-called "Liv
ing room," of the crib and tunnel be
neath the waters of the lake that the
full import of the disaster dawned
upon the little colony cut off almost
completely from assistances One of
the workmen made his way through
the smoke to a little enclosure In
TO PUSH WORK ON
THE SEATTLE FAIR
Senate Will Pass a Bill
Warrants so as to
OLYMPIA, Jan. 20.-Wcslcy L.
Jones was ' formally declared elected
as United States Senator in joint ses
sion of, the legislature today. . Jones
sent a telegram thanking for the hon
or and a joint resolution was passed
directing the president and speaker to
wire congratulations, ,To prevent de
lays in the work on the Washington
buildings at the Seattle Fair, the sen
ate will tomorrow pass a bill to in
crease the rate of interest of warrants
drawn on the ground which is secured
by the state shore lands and guarantee
Interest out of the general fund. . The
bill is designed to make the warrants
PERISH III HE
WATER CRIB
which telephone communication had
been established with the store sta
tion. A drowsy attendant at this sta
tion received this message: "The crib
is on fire. For Cod's sake send help
at once or we will be burned alive.
The tug-."
At this point the communication
ceased and through the fog an occa
sional burst of amok and unmistak
able odor of smoke made itself known
to the watchera on the shore that a
tragedy was probably being enacted
i mile and a half out on the lake. The
tug Conway was anchored a short
distance of the imperrilled crib and
this was early placed in service in the
work of rescue. The Ice made it im
posible for the tug to reach the im
prisoned men, lot small boats were
placed) in service to carry the injured
to the tug and the rescue of those who
had plunged Into the take.
After several hours, 39 workmen
were rescued. When the fire tug had
succeeded in quenching the flames 53
bodies had been carried ashore.
The first section of the tunnel starts
from shore. The crib, a mile and a
half out, marked the beginning of the
second section being built still further j
into the lake. The two sections had
not been joined as yet Until such
time as the rescuers are able to enter
the water tunnel it will not be known
how many persons perished below the
surface of the lake. Air pressure was
kept in this portion of the works, but
as the air generating plant became
disabled soon after the fire started, it
is probable that those in the tunnel
taunt h ptri.hcd. The south side
was transformed into a series of hos
pitals for the care of the injured.
Private homes were thrown open but
the need of physicians and nurses was
small after the tugs made two or
three trips to shore. Not a shred of
clothing was found on the bodies of
the, workmen who perished in the
flames. When news of the disaster
spread, the public schools were dis
missed and weeping wives with their
children huddleding about, watching
anxiously for the return trips of the
struggling craft with their cargoes of
injured and dead. According to the
records of the construction company
46 men are missing. The police have
already started an investigation with
a view to placing the responsibility
for the disaster and Coroner Hoffman
is empanelling the jury.
DANGEROUS TRIP.
Three Chicago Merchants Have Ex
traordinary Experience Down South.
CHICAGO, Jan.20.-Three promi
nent Chicago business men, J. W,
Thorne, J. W. Hall, and W. M Town
send, have just returned from a trip
down the Mississippi river, which al
most cost them their lives. While
thirty five miles south of Vicksburg
at lunch, Hall detected the odor of
Increasing Interest on
Avoid Delay in Work
more attractive to investors, a fair
commission having so far been able
to dispose of only $60,000 out of the
$400,00) warrants. A bill was intro
duced in the house today providing
for the equal suffrage amendment and
one providing for an eight-hour law
for women engaged in laundries,
hotel? and restaurants. In the Senate
a bill was introduced creating the
shorcland improvement fund from
proceeds from the sale of Lake
Washington shorelands and appro
priating $250,000 therefrom from the
construction of a canal connecting the
lake with the Sound,
gaoline, Thome, who was in charge
of the engine went back to iniptct.
He struck a match and there was
sudden whiff of flames, he says.whlch
knocked him over the side of the
boat. The flumes shot clear to the
bow, setting their clothes on fire.
Hall and Townsend leaped into the
water. ' ;' " " ..
While the men were struggling In
the river there was a loud report and
the entire launch went up In the air.
'I was half strangled," said Hall.
"I could not swim and was struggl
ing fiercely to keep above the water.
Thorne finally grabbed me, pulled
my mouth above the water, and drag
ged me until we reached the short.
We heard Towmend calling for aid
and we waded into the water and
pulled him ashore." The men had
landed on Urslna island, which is
low and marshy and sixteen miles
long. Townsend set off and finally
found a hut.
"When I knocked at the door," he
said, "a man with a gun in his hand,
poked hi head from the window and
asked me what I wanted.
I told him the story. He laughed
and said: 'I know you are from the
prison. There is no one else on this
inland. Git, and do it quick!"
"I got.".
The wrecked men eventually reach
ed the prison stockade when they
narrowly escaped being shot but
were finally admitted and taken care
of. ' '
Finn bill Her
WITH OPPOSITION
SENATOR FRAZIER OBJECTS
TO RE-INLISTMENT OF THE
SOLDIERS OF THE 25TH.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-The
Brownsville aflali.was taken before
the senate today. Senator Frazier
speaking in opposition to any meas
ure for the re-enlistment of the dis
charged soldiers of the 25th. He in
sisted that the guilt of some of the
men of the regiments had been estab
llshed beyond a doubt although the
individuals who had committed the
crime had not been determined. For
aker announced he would move next
Monday to take up his bill to re-instate
the soldiers unless an agreement
on the time to vote was made sooner.
The legislative executive and judicial
appropriation bills were under consid
eration today.
MAY UNSEAT HARPER
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20.-Two
hundred and fifty prominent citizens
of Los Angeles, at a meeting today at
the instance of the municipal league
voted to prepare and circulate peti
tions demanding for the election for
the recall from office of Mayor
Harper.
PROCEEDINGS SLOW.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 20.-A
single talesman ran the gauntlet of
inquiry in the Calhoun case today and
11 others were either challenged or
excused. The proceedings were al
most monotonous and there was not
a single clash between the opposing
attorneys.
, WHISTLE THEIR WIVES.
CH I CAGO, Jan.20. Engineers on
ihe Pennsylvania line have come to
the concliu-.on that the residents of
Brooklyn, and Park Manor are uncs-
thcttc. The people of these suburbs
have entered an objection because
the , engineers living there "Whistle
their wives" as they pass through in
the niftht. v '
The engineers say they have only
been following a little traditional
sentiment. It iias been the custom
of eng-'neers, night or day to pull a
long and loving whistle that the wife
may know her husband has piloted
his train safely home.
The objectors say the noise makes
the nitit hideous.
PRESIDENT FEELS
LESSfJUIED
.
UV6r Japai16S6 yiieSllOn
in California
CUriUnbaO nkUbVcUifries and Johnson was made by John
Anti-Japanese Legislation Caus
ed Apprehension in
Washington
ROOSEVELT GIVES VIEWS
President in Response to Gillett
States That Nothing Haa Absorbed
His Attention as Has the Immigra
tion Question.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. -While
such assurances as have come fronv
representatives from Pacific Coast
men regarding the improbability of
any legislation in California adverse
to the ; Japanese have undoubtedly
done much to relieve apprehension
that exists in administration circles, it
is a fact that the . deepest concern
exsts as to the future. Nothing that
has happened recently In congress or
elsewhere bas so absorbed the atten
tion of the president and Secretary
Root as threatened the anti-Japanese
legislation in California.
It is impossible for the president in
his response to Governor Gillett, to
tell of the influences that guide him in
making his unprecedented protest
against such action by California's
legislature. They are factors which
for diplomatic reasons could not be
mentioned in a letter which was sure
to be published but which are known
to members of the Senate and house
committees on foreign affairs and
which doubtless influenced conerva
tive Pacific Coast men in Congress in
deprecating such action as was pro
posed. .
M.J.G0RD0N ARRESTED
FOR EOBEZZLEMEHT
FORMER JUDGE OF WASHING
TON SUPREME COURT HELD
ON SERIOUS CHARGE.
TACOMA, Jan. 20.-M. J. Gordon,
former judge of the state supreme
court and until recently general west
ern counsel for the Great Northern
Railway was tonight placed under ar
rest by a deputy sheriff from Spokane
upon a telegraphic bench warrant
charging embezzlement..
BANK ROBBERS SENTENCED
KLAMATH FALLS, Or., Jan. 20.
Jack Hall and Roy Pricver, who
yesterday pleaded guilty to robbing
the Klamath County Bank, were to
day sentenced to the penitentiary.
Hall got a ten years' sentence and
Priever five years.
OFFERED A FORTUNE.
SAN FRANCISCO,Jan.20.-James
J. Jeffries, the retired heavyweig.it
champjo-i, who is filling a theatrical
engagement here has received an of
fer of $!00t00 for 33 weeks of spar
ring exhibitions on an eastern vaude
ville circuit. The offer was made by
Sam Wheeler the fight promoter of
St. Louis. Jeffries 'still refuses
to
arim't that Ih has any intentions of
.attempting to wrest the champion
fhip from Jack Johnson, but t'm be
lief i growing stronger each day
that he will be seen in the ring.
Although a trifle fat the retired
champion shows all speed that
made Mm tin wonder of the heavy
weisrbt division during his active
fighting days, and his sparring part
!nr partner, Sam Berger, is authority
f" the statement that the big fight
ers blows l ave not lost their steam.
$75,000 OFFERED FOR MATCH.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20-An offer
L. Sullivan according to a statement
by the former champion of America.
He said he represented a number of
men who are willing -ts put the
money up. .
SUBMITS ESTIMATES
FOR LIGHTHOUSES
SECRETARY STRAUS ASKS $150,
000 FOR LIGHT VESSEL FOR
OREGON COAST.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. -For
lighthouse establishment throughout
the United States, Secretary Straus
today submitted to congress estimates
amounting to $406,600. He asked
among other things for $150,000 for a
first class steam light vessel to mark
Orford reef, Oregon, and $41,600 for
six light and fog signals, in Fuget
Sound. . .
PIONEER FOUND DEAD.
. LOS ANGELES, Jan.20. Captain
A. C Harmon, 84 years old, a pioneer
miner i as found dead' in his cabin in
Plaicrila canyon, five miles east of
Newhall, by a party of hunters yes
terday. The body was rigid, death
having occured long before the find.
Caftan Harmon formerly was mas
tcr of a failing vessel. He owned
his ship and in 1849 sailed around
the Horn and anchored off the Cali
fornia coast titer a stormy voyage.
He disposed of his vessel and went to
the goldfields.. He has been a min
er since 1S50 and was well hnown to
old time prospectors. He is survived
by two fisters, who live in New York.
WAS A FORMER M. P.
Dead.
Irishman. At .Rawhide .Was
Once Very Prominent.
RAWHIDE, Nev., Jan.20.-Inves-ligation
into the affairs of Thomas
H. Niblork, the broker, who commit
ted suicide shows that his real name
was Thomas H. Prooban of the well
known family of that name of West
Downs, iroland. He served in the
Commons from West Downs and in
the zenith of his career eloped with a
celcW'td Irish beauty. Four years
later he left her in Paris and went to
New York. The day he left, his
companion was killed in a train wreck
and a man crushed beyond recogni
tion in the wrecked passenger
train was buried as Prooban
by the members of his family. Proo
ban read of the affair but maintained
silence and allowed his family to con
tinue in the belief that he was a vic
tim f the wreck. He came to Ne
vada and won and lost a fortune be
fore lie committed suicide in a fit of
despondency.
IN DEADLOCK.
SPRINGFIELD, Ills., Jan. 20.-
Joint session of the house and senate
on the election of United! States sena
tor was adjourned today in deadlock
after five ballots were taken."
ROOT DECLARED ELECTED.
ALBANY, Jan. 20 The state legis
lature in joint session today formally
declared Elihu Root elected to the
cilice of United States senator to suc-
ceed Senator Piatt.
Kill LOSES (111 PlfEUFi
IIEill'lO
FORMING JURY.
NASHVILLE, Jan. 20.-In the case
of Colonel Cooper and son being tried'
for the killing of the late Senator Car
mack but two jurors had been secured
up ot a late hour this afternoon.
DENIES STORY.
LONDON, Jan. 20-Duke D'Abruz-
zi left today for Turin. The Italian
embassy denied the story that the
Duke intends to renounce title in or
der to marry Miss Eikins.
PROHIBITION BILL PASSED.
NASHVILLE, Jan. 20.-The Sen
ate refused to sustain the governor's
veto of the Holladay prohibition bill
today. The passage of the bill caused
a wild demonstration.
FOUR KILLED; 10 INJURED.
NEWARK, N. J., Jan. 20.-Four
were killed and 10 injured in a powder
mill explosion at Lake Hopatong to
day. .
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
..LOS .ANGELES, Jan.20. J.. A.
Krohn, of Newburyport, Mass., fa
miliarly known as "Colonial Jack"
arrived ir Los Angeles last night. He
is walking around the borders of the
country. He put in more than
forty miles jctlerday in spite of a
irai'-.td ankle. Ie left home Jut
1. 'If he completes his journey in
400 days he will win a wager of $1000.
He rushes a sixty pound wheelbar
row,' which contains his wearing ap
parel. . He has worn out six pairs of
shoes and two suits of clothes. He
is 29 days ahead of his schedule. He
is headed for San Francisco.
APPROPRIATIOri BILL BE-
FORE MOOSE
FOira AMENDMENTS TO THE
MEASURE ARE OFFERED
BY REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-After
adopting without opposition a resolu
tion by which Governor Lilley of Con
necticut ceases to be a member of
Congress, the house today proceeded
with the naval appropriation bill.
Four amendments were offered to
the measure. Representative Foss,
chairman of the naval affairs commit
tee, had charge of the bill on the floor;
and Tawny, Fitzgerald, Gaines, Ma
con and others, spoke. Representa
tive Mann occupied the chair during
the consideration of the bill which
will probably have the attention of
the house on Friday.
INTRODUCE BILL TO
KILL STATEMENT 1
0.
That Anyone Circulating
Referendum Shall he
SALEM, Or., Jan. 20. That any
one who is hired to circulate a peti
tion on initiative and referendum shall
be guilty of misdemeanor, as well as a
man who hired him is the penalty car-1
ried in one of the measures introduced
in the legislature today. In line with
the same measure is one making it a
misdemeanor to make a pledge while
a candidate for the legislature. Should
these acts become laws, they would
seriously impair the effect of the di
rect primary law, A bill is now under
consideration which prohibits a wom
an from using a hatpin more than ten
1,100 Feet of 0. R. & fi.
Roadbed Swept Away
RESULT OF BIG RAINS
Big New Dock at Megler Also
Badly Damaged by the
Storm 7
LINE IS BADLY CRIPPLED
Traffic on the Ilwaco Lino is Sus
pended Perhaps For Weeks Bciore
the Necessary Repairs Can be
Made,
PORTLAND, Jan. 20.-Reports of
heavy damage to roadbed, bridges,
trestles and other property of the
Harriman lines in the Northwest are
being received today. The most ser
ious mishap as the result of the down
pour of rains and high winds is the
destruction of 1100 feet or nearly a
quarter of a miles of the roadbed on
the new extension of the Ilwaco line.
The heavy winds and high tides which
have prevailed off the coast, working
together, swept this long stretch of
track into the sea, and it will probab
ly take weeks before the storm's ha
voc can be repaired. Rails, ties and
all were carried away completely.
Traffic on this line, while not heavy
at this time of the year, will be wholly
paralyzed until temporary tracks can
be laid. The actual loss to property
here will run into the thousands. The
big dock at Meglers, also new, was
badly damaged by the storm, the tide
having beaten down and carried away
. . . . t e :i : t:t. -
long sircitucs ui puuig wuita uiiui i
the building, the boat landing and its
approach. For a considerable distance
west of Meglers the tracks have been
washed away. It is further reported
that there are a number of smaller
washouts on the Ilwaco line, which
will necessitate practically rebuilding
of the portions weakened or carried
away. '; i
CODE OF "ETHICS",
CHICAGO, Jan. 20.- A code of
ethics which will bring closer toge
ther the medical and pharmaceutical
professions and results in the better
ment of public service has been de
termined upon by the Chicago Medi
cal Soiiety and the Chicago Retail
druggists and a committee from both
organizations will formulate a gen
eral code of action. -
Petition on Initiative
Guilty of misdemeanor
or
inches long. Other bills introduced
are for the creation of state fixe mar
shal; creation of insurance depart
ment; for the establishment of normal
Schools in Portland; a bill prepared by
the conservation commission propos
ing a water code; providing for a chil
dren's playground in Portland and for
tax necessary to establish it. There is
befcre the Senate memorial to have
the state capital moved to Portland.
At a joint session of the two houses
today, George E, Chamberlain was
declared elected United States Sena
tor. No vote was cast.