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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1909)
COVERS THE MORNING FIELDON THE LOWER COLUMBIA PUBLISHES FULL ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT PRICE FIYE CENTS 36th YEAR. NO. 41. ASTORIA, OREGON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1909 f "SB K '"JMHE'N V-'-1 '"lasffis 5 L4 1UU DISASTER AI FLORES PLAYHOUSE AT ACAPULCO Flames Caused by Pic- ture Film Burning RESCUE IMPOSSIBLE Besides the Ones Burned to Death Many are Crushed Beneajh Foot MANY FAMILIES WIPED OUT Special Performance Civto in Honor oj Governor Floret Attracts 10,000 ftopte to Theatre Fire Ecipt Mot Large Enough. MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Feb. 1$. Three hundred people were burned to death and many injured in lire which destroyed the Florei theatre in Acapulco lait night. Kewi of the dittitcr reached here thiet afternoon, telegraph communication! with Acs pulco having been deitroyed last night and today, owing to the fact that the telegraph office adjoining the theatre was burned and all wlrei were put out of commiaion. The theatre waa a wooden struc ture and last night more than 10,000 people crowded Into it to witness a apecial performance in honor of Governor Floret of the State of Guerrero. One of the numbera on the pro gram consisted of a terlea of moving pictures. While the operator was exhibiting these, the film caught fire and the blaze was quickly communi cated to tome bunting used for deco rative purposes, and In an incredibly abort time the flames spread to all parts of the structure. There were but htree narrow exits and the panic- HENEY THREATENED BY A WITNESS Sam Leake a Former Newspaper Man Warns At torney That He Can Hake Certain Revelations SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 15.-The Calhoun trial now entering its fifth week has produced no sensation ap proaching in interest of the proceed ings until today when the panel of 12 jurors was broken by the dis charge of one juror and when Assist ant District Attorney Hcncy resent ing one witness declaring Js,c had fix ed the line over where no living man could iiUhe future step. Two alleged cases of jury tampering were made public during the afternoon and while there was no substantiation in either Instance before adjournment, It is likelythe proceedings tomorrow will be devoted to the examination of witnesses summoned In connection with these and other affairs of same character. Sam Leake, a former newspaper man while on the stand in connection with one tampering cases warned Heney that he could make certain revelations concerning the prosecutor's past, Heney warned him to stop statins that lie did pro pose that the witness should make stricken audience rushed to them, many falling to be crushed to death, the bodies choking the way of es cape from others. Screams of those Imprisoned were terrific Owing to the rapidity with which the fire spread and its intense heat it was im possible to attempt to rescue, and those imprisoned were literally roast ed alive for the fire burned with little smoke and few were suffocated' The efforts of the fire department were confined to attempting to save adjoining buildings and the firemen succeed so well that the property loss was small. Telegraph office, pot office, and custom house were dam aged but all the government recorda and registered mall were saved. Today pitiful scene of grief were witnessed on the streets of the city. Men, women and children were wan dering about hunting for relatives or friends . Many of the dead are from the first familiea of the state- The affair at the theatre being of consid erable Importance and calling out the beat and oldest families for miles around. In some instances whole familiea were wiped out. Municipal authori ties today caused large trenches to be dug and into these bodies were laid. Identification was Impossible In most instances as the bodies were nearly all burned to a crisp. Tele grams, sent to the American consul at Acapulco by the Associated Press asking for namea of the American dead have not been answered. Acapulco is one of the best sea port cities on the Facific Ocean. According to a special dispatch received here tonight from Aguas Calientes, Dafticl Guggenheim, the head of the American Smelting & Refining Company is being rushed by a special train to the eastern seaboard in order to save his life. The physician, who was called, de cided that the millionaire's life de pended on his getting to sea level at the earliest possible moment. LANGFORD OUTCLASSED. PHILADELPHIA. Pa., Feb. 15. Owen Moran outclassed Tommy Langford here tonight in a six round bout. any more threats. "There is one conversation you don't dare to refer to," retorted the witness. "There was once when you went up the back way into the Call office and tried to go back on Phelan and Spreckels." "That's all there will be of that." said Heney. "I took that sort of thing for many months from Henry Ach, until it led to an attempt at assassi nation and after this I want it ua dcrstood that I don't take it from any man living. If I'm going to be shot again, I'll be shot in front, not from behind nor from the side." Lawyers for the defense excepted to Heney's remarks and asked that the jury be Instructed to pay no at tention to his remarks. It is believed that the District At torney should recognize his duty in the examination of the witness. Heney reiterated that he will take no villification and declared that he had drawn a line over which no liv ing man may step. BRIBERS AGAIN BUSY. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 15.-F. W. Wulzen, the 11th juror, acceped in the trial of Patrick Calhoun, in formed Judge Lawler today that he .had been approached by a friend named Bacon. He charged that Bacon told him that man named Hunter had tqld Bacon that Hunter haa been assured of a position in the employe of the United Railroads if he could find another witness to tes tify in such a way as to disqualify Wulzcn as a juror in the case. FLEET'S POSITION. NEW YORK, Feb. 15. A wireless from the battleship Connecticut gives the fleet's position as 8 o'clock to night as 34:17 north latitude and 48:03 west longitude; course north 63 degrees. WIRELESS IS SILENT. NEW YORK, Feb. lS-No word came from the homeward bound bat tleship fleet yesterday, none of the wireless stations in the vicinity of New York being able to get into com munication either with the Yankton, which is oreccdinsr the fleet, or any of the fighting ships. Thelatest report was received from the Yankton late Saturday night giving her position at 8 P. M. as latitude 34:15 north, longi tude 61 west. ob'en ogh-R etaoi taointaoinaoinoimi GOETPALS ALSO FAVORS CHAIRMAN OF CANAL COM MISSION WITNESS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. lS.- Chairman Goetpels of the Isthmian canal commission was a witness be fore the sub committee on appropria tions which is preparing sundry civil bill. Colonel Goetpelr spoke empha tically in favor of the lock system for the Panama Canal in preference to the sea-level plan. The latter he said would cost about $175,000,000 more than the lock canal which cost $375,000,000 including original pur chase price but not the interest on the money. BILL AGAINST SURETY CO'S SUSPENDED WASHINGTON HOUSE ALSO KILLS MEASURE OF STATE BOARD OF CONTROL, OLYMPIA, Feb. lS.-The two bills directed at surety companies were indefinitely postponed by the house this afternoon, One bill claimed to be in the interests of for eign companies places a limit on bonds Issued by domestic companies at 10 per cent paid up capital while the other required foreign com panies to deposit $50,000 in securities with the state auditor. The bill abolishing the state board of control was killed in the Senate. Charges and counter charges were made dur ing discussion of the bill. Putchin sen, the author of the bill, presented another measure calling for the ap pointment of legislative a commit tee to investigate all state depart ments and institutions and report to the next session of legislature. Res olutions providing for a joint ses sion Wednesday afternoon to be ad dressed by Former Governor Hanley of Indiana on the local option ques tlon was indefinitely postponed., LEGISLATUREHAS BUSY DAY Many Bills are Slaugh tered at Salem OREGON DAY0BSERVED House Suspends Activities to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of State's Admission SOME HEAVY APPROPRIATIONS House Passed Bill Totalling Appro priations of Nearly Three Quarters of a Million Other Important Action. SALEM, Or, Feb. 15. One of the busiest days of the Oregon Legisla ture was held today, although the house suspended activities for a time this afternoon while the 50th anni versary 1bf the admission of Oregon as a State was celebrated. In the Senate it was principally the day of slaughter of bills, while the House passed bills totallying nearly three quarters of a million dollars. Of these two were appropriation bills and a third was $75,000 for portage road. The Senate today passed a bill compelling railroads to install industry switches and another de claring long distance telephone com panies as common carriers and com pelling them to extend service to local Independent companies, the lat ter to pay tolls for the use. Both bills passed in face of a hard fight by the attorneys representing the in terest affected. The Senate also pass ed a bill to make it necessary to com mence libel suit against a newspaper within one year after the alleged libel was committed instead of two years as at present. To enable prosecutors to gain evidence against the persons selling liquor illicitly in dry coun ties a bill was passed making a cer tified copy of revenue license prima facia evidence. The Senate resolu tion giving municipalities incorporat ed in the future rights of home rule in regard to the sale of liquor was passed but recognized and killed be cause it was suspected it would open up the local option question. Addition al iudee for the second district was voted today, despite the judges of that district who have written than an additional judge is unnecessary. MAKE RICH HAUL. TACOMA, Feb. 15.-Blowing the safe in the general store of Schu Bros, at Kapowsin, two yeggmen last night' escaped with $1000. They are believed to have made their way to this city. - . REGULATING ATTIRE. NEW YORK, Feb. 15. Those of the republican committee who maki up the delegation to act an escort to President Taft on inauguration day are instructed to attire themselves as follows: . Dark citizens attire, high silk hats restricted to the vintage of 1909 and gloves. Summer golf and lawn tennis shoes "Not In it," neith er are rubber boots or slippers. The personnel of the delegation will be made 'up at a meeting Thursday. Direction as to attire was sent out yesterday.' JLi JL Amt 'lmmAmeWm K 1 gJVaJLlJ! OFF FO PHILIPPINES. NEW YORK, Feb. 15.-Several days later than scheduled the United States army Transport Kilpatrick will leave this port for the Philippines on Wednesday, bearing a number of officers and men of the field and coast artillery. Among the officers who will make the trip is Major W. P. Du vall, who has been ordered to Man- ; tla to relieve General T. H. Bliss in command of the Philippines. The Kilpatrick will go by way of the Suez canal and will arrive at Manila dur ing the middle of April. Captain J. D. Tilford, who is a Princeton grad uate, will pilot the transport in her voyage. The vessel will crry 65,000 pound of fresh meat. iJECIl TO ' REMOVED KNOX SALARY OF SECRETARY OF STATE REDUCED BY THE HOUSE TO $8000 WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-So far as congress is concerned, the consti tutional bar to the acceptance of Senator Knox of State portfolio in the cabinet was removed today when the house passed the bill reducing the salary ef the secretary of state. The bill which at first was defeated brought the failure of two thifds of the members to vote for it, but it was brought up a second time under j special rule and was passed by ma-. jdrity vote. Without a dissenting vote the bill granting separate state hoods to Arizona and New Mexico also was passed. Capron of Rhode Island announc ed the death of his colleague, Gran ger, and the House adopted resolu tions of regret. As a further mark of respect recess was taken until to morrow at 11 o'clock. The contention of those members who opposed the Knox bill was that it was unconstitution, or at least it was evasion of or a species of jug glery with that document . Principal cns1rr in onnosition to It were Olmstead, Williams, CUrk and Caul- field- The first vote on the bill re sulted in 179 for and 123 against As this fell considerably short of the necessary two-thirds majority, a spec ial rule was adopted requiring only a majority and ballot was again taken, this time resulting 173 for and 12) against the measure. The house committee on rivers and harbors has practically concluded its consideration of emergency mainten ance bill carrying nearly $10,000,000 which it proposed to report to the House Wednesday. DISAPPEARS OPPORTUNELY. ALBUQUERQUE. N. M., Feb. 15. A special from Taos, N. M, says that news has been received there that Albert Twining, the former bank president of Asbury Park, N. J., sen tenced to six years' imprisonment for speculating with the bank's funds in mining properties in Taos county, has disappeared and that his bonds men are liable for $50,000. The case has been in the courts for four years and last Tuesday the Supreme Court ordered Twining to commence serv ing his sentence. ONE LEGGED HERO. SAN FRANCISCO. Feb.' IS- Al though William Dockrill has only one leg, he did not hesitate to jump into the bay here to rescue John Olsen a sailor, who was sinking for the third and last time. He jumped into the bay from the Mission Street dock. Dockrill fastened a rope to the uncon scious man and with the assistance of several persons who had been attract ed to the dock, pulled the seaman ashore and revived him. . dill DUDS THAT POLICE EWE THE LAWS D. & R. G. SLUMPS DENVER, Feb. IS. The semi-an nual statement of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad for the half year ended December 31, 190 showed a falling off in the earnings of $500,000 from the earnings of the similar per iod of 1907. ALASKAN INDIANS DYING. WASHINGTOnT Feb. 15.-That the death rate among the native in dians of Alaska is very large and the population estimated at 2d,000 is rap idly decreasing by reason of contact with civilization is the claim made be fore the House committee on terri tories in connection with the bill which proposes to give police powers to teachers in Alaska. In a letter to the committee the Secretary of the Interior states that fully three fourths of the native villages are unprotected from 'the criminal or otherwise unlaw ful acts of white men. The judicious enforcement of a sanitary code, com pulsory at school and the re-estab lishment of the influence of the teach ers on the morals of the natives by giving them legal authority to con trol in major offenses, are the most important objects of the bill. IS GIVEN FAREWELL. WASHINGTON, D. C-, Feb. 15. In the little Grace Reformed church which he has attended ever since he has been in Washington President Roosevelt was tonight given a fare well reception by members "of Con gress. " B STARTLES IE YORK ITALIANS EXPLOSIVE DROPPED FROM ELEVATED TRAIN INTO THE STREET. NEW YORK. Feb. 15-The neigh borhood of Second avenue and 106th street, largely inhabited by Italians, was thrown into confusion late to night by the explosion of a bomb dropped from an elevated train. The explosion wrecked windows and a number of stores and caused injury to eight passersby. This is the sec ond time in less than two months that a bomb has been dropped in this neighborhood from a passing tram. The police believe the Dome was intended for Joseph Arana whose store faces the elevated road and to whom a number of blackhand letters had been sent- PARTY OF 7 SNOW BOUND IN TUNNEL Six Men and a Woman Alpine Tunnel BUENA VISTA, Colo., Feb. 15.-Snow-bound at the crest of centen nial in the Alpine Tunnel on' the Col orado & Southern Railroad is a party of seven in imminent danger of starv ing according to the report of a party of nine men who reached here last night, after a terrible struggle through the deep snow, which in places ranged from 25 to 50 feet 3 Will Cut Off Salaries if They Don't SOME SAY "FOOLING" Resolution Is Introduced by Councilman Curtis Last Night TEACH RESPECT OF LAW Various Other Matters of Interest Arise For Discussion and Settle ment at Regular Meeting of the Common Council Last Night The interesting feature of the ses sion of the common council last night was the appearance of Council man Curtis in the role of a reformer. Mr. Curtis introduced a resolution demanding that the police enforce the state and city laws against gambling and open saloons on Sun day, and in case of their failure so to do, providing that their salaries will be off. This resolution was adopted by unanimous vote and now it will be a curious study to see to what uses this resolution will be granted. If enforced it can raise the Old Harry with either the police or with the vio lators of the law, but a swift survey of the matter would tend to show that in the minds of some there goes with the resolution a conviction that it either contains a "joker" or else will never be heard of again. Yet those who take that view of the matter perhaps do not know the temper of the members of the pres ent council of the city of Astoria. The resolution reads: , "That the chief of police and all oolice officers of the city of Astoria are hereby directed and instructed to enforce all laws of the State of Ore- eon and the city of Astoria govern ing gambling and the closing of sa loons on Sunday, irrespective of any and all orders or suggestions to the contrary emanating from the police commission of the city of Astoria, and a failure on the part of the said chief of police and police officers sc to do will work a forfeiture of the salary of such chief of police and police officers." , The discussion of the matter was (Continued on page 4) Reported Imprisoned in Without Food deep. According to their story the party in the Alpine Tunnel consist! of Larry Waters and his wife, who run an eating house and five track men, three of them sick. They had nothing to eat except a limited sup ply of coffee, and flour enough to last about two days. Yesterday's storm makes it problematical when the ro taries will be able to break through.