Image provided by: Hood River County Library District; Hood River, OR
About The Maupin times. (Maupin, Or.) 1914-1930 | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1921)
EXPLOSION SHAKES CHICAGO Big Blast Destroys Armour Grain Elevator. FLAMES FINISH HAVOC Structure, One of Largest of Kind in World, Was Erected at Cost of Ten Millions. Chicago. An explosion of grain dust rocked the southern Bectlon of Chi cago early Saturday night, wrecked one of the world's largest grain, ele vators and broke every window within a mile. Of the nine watchmen trapped In the structure by the blast, one Is known to be dead and four are missing. The elevator, which consisted of Bteel and concrete towers, was located in the southern outskirts of the city on the banks of the Calumet river. It was built at a cost of more than $10, 000,000 and was operated- by the Ar mour Grain company. The explosion was due, it was said by officials, to a fire that started in a chute. The blaze set fire to the dust-filled air and the resulting blast rent asunder the big tower, releasing thousands of bushels of grain. So great was the force of the ex plosion that it hurled great concrete blocks hundreds of feet and derailed a freight train standing on a near-by track. The few men in the elevator are thought to have been trapped by the flood of blazing grain. Up to a late hour only one body had been removed. Four others are known to have escaped. Heavy damage was caused In near by towns by the explosion. WlndowB were shattered in Hammond, Whiting and East Chicago. The property loss at Whiting, according to merchants, will reach $100,000. Normally about 2,000,000 bushels of grain are stored In the elevator, but at the time of the blast there was only about 600,000 bushels. This was de stroyed by the fire that followed the explosion. The explosion occurred just after 160 employes had quit for the day. According to one eye witness, there were three separate explosions, the last being the most severe. The ex plosions tore the top off the elevator. Early estimates put the property loss at $6,000,000. Nation In 30 Months Needs $17,000,000,000 rittsburg, Pa. Something like $17,--000,000,000 must be provided by the fedoml government within 30 months to meet its running expenses and re funding operations, Secretary Weeks doclnred here Saturday night in an address before the Pittsburg chamber of commerce. "This," he Bald, "Is a greater task than was ever undertaken by any na tion in time of peace and there is no one who does not view the prospect with more or less alarm. It is tho height of folly to undertake new com mitments if they can be avoided." The secretary discussed economy In government operations, recognition of fedoral activities in Washington, tax ation an( the tariff. He urged repeal of the excess profits tax, declaring that with fulling prices It was not an effective tax. He said there wore In numerable instances where concerns which made large profits lu 1019, pay ing a tax on these profits, lost so much during 1920 that on January 1, 1921, their resources were less than January 1, 1919. Many Are Hurt In Fire. Emporia, Kan. Three persons were unaccounted for following a fire which destroyed the Hotel Whltely Sunday. Several persons were burned severe ly and others suffered injuries when they fell from upper stories. Jack Fisher, a wrestler fell three stories whon a rope burned in two, but was uninjured. Ed Warner, Fish er's manager, jumped three stories and landed uninjured on the wrestler's back. The damage was estimated at $100, 000. Rotary Probes Relief. . Indianapolis, Ind. A survey of con ditions surrounding the care of dis abled world war veterans has boon started by 800 Rotary clubs, accord ing to a letter received at the Amer ican Legion's national headquarters from C. II. Perry, secretary of the Rotary Clubs' association. The purpose says the letter, is "to prove whether American Legion re port! are based on hysteria or upon fucts." INDUSTRIAL UNITY IS URGED Government Controlled Production of Goods Would Benefit Public Washington, D. C. Encouragement by the government of permanent, inti mate combinations or associations in ndustry, under federal supervision, was reeommended in the final report of the war Industries board, just completed by B. M. Baruch, chairman. The report holds that great public benefit in the way of prices and abundance of goods, resulting frem economies in production and distribu done during the war, and that the gov through the mutual co-operation of members of industrial groups, as was don during the war, and that the gov ernment policy of enforced isolation and costly competition is not condu cive to the general welfare. Pointing out that the same power born of association that makes for potential benefit also may make for potential injustices, the report recom mends that there be created a gov ernment agency, which shall super vise such associations. The report recommends that purely as a civic measure legislation be adopt ed permitting the continued function ing of the industrial group represent ed by the war service committees and the related associations of manufact urers whose establishment was forced by the war exigency. Loss Is Shown in Census of Middle-West Prisons Chicago. Prison population of the middle and southwestern United States has decreased 12.4 per cent In the past six years, according to re ports collected by the Associated Press from state penitentiaries in 16 states. The decrease amounted to 2729 pris oners. The total penitentiary popu lation of the 16 states In 1914 was 21,947, in 1920 19,218. Date of the comparative figures was for the most part December 1 of each year. Falling off In the prison popula tion of the section is equivalent to more than the combined prisoners of Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin and North and South Dakota in 1914. Decrease, however, was shown not to be uniform throughout the terri tory. Six states had the reverse to show, reporting an increase, while one presented exactly the same figures. The decrease came from nine Btates. Lumber Rate to Pittsburg Cut. Washington, D. C The railroads operating west of Chicago have vol untarily reduced the rates on lumber from the Paclflo coast as far east as Pittsburg. The reduction amounts to about $2 a thousand feet and It Is thought will aid materially to broaden the buying markets of the consumers affected. This reduction does not ap ply to the seaboard territory east of Pittsburg because the eastern lines have refused to concur in any reduc tions on the long-haul rates. 15 Slain In Ambush. Cork. Seven soldiers and one po liceman were killed nnd several wound ed and seven members of the attack ing party were killed In the ambush of military and police near Kinsale Saturday, according to the latest re ports received here. The fatalities to the crown forces were caused by the blowing up of a bridge when three lorries were crossing it. Twenty Sinn Felners were captured, of whom seven were wounded, nnd the military took a large quantity of ammunition. Gas Caused Stampede. The Pas, Man. The reported dis covery of a flow of gas In the foothills near the Pasqua river, Saskatchewan, 100 miles west of The Pas, has re sulted lu a miniature stampede to that district. A dozen small syndicates have been formed and large blocks of land taken up. The district is not easy of access, and is little known. Indians visit It with superstitious dis cretion, although for many years they have gathered tar there for use lu cementing their birch bark canoes. State to Buy Old Shop. Nashville, Tenn. A bill appropriat ing $15,000 for the purchase and pres ervation of the llttlo building In Green ville, Tenn., which Andrew Johnson, 17th president, used ns a tailor shop before kls entrance Into politics, pass ed the sennte Thursday and now goes to the governor. The picture of this dilapidated little building has adorned Tennessee histories for years but the commonwealth has been slow to take steps to preserve it. Clara Hamon Baptized. Ardmore, Okla. Clara Smith Hamon, acquitted of a charge of mur der In connection with the death of Jake L. Hamon, Sunday was baptized In the First Christian church by Dr. C. S. Brooks, its pastor." Mr. O. J. James of Los Angeles, a sister of Mrs. Hamon, also was baptized. Accom panied by her family, Mrs. Hamon at tended the morning service, after which she approached the pastor and asked for the baptismal service. GTATT7 TMTTTirc t IN BRIEF. ... . tV! Prlneville. John L. Karnopp of Portland has been in the city the past week making arrangements for the new bank which under the articles of Incorporation will be known as the Bank of Prlneville. Eugene. The entire $11,000 estate of Mrs. Delia J. Garllnger, who died here March 13, was bequeathed to the permanent endowment fund of Wil lamette university at Salem. The will was admitted to probate Friday. Klamath Falls. Seaforth Queen III, ovyied by S. A. Hempe bf Union, Or., brought the top price for cows, $675, at the second annual farm bureau Short horn sale Friday afternoon. Oliver Martin of Merrill was the purchaser. Newport. A neglected industry of fering unlimited possibilities in Lin coln county te the growing of goats for mohair. The burned area covering hundreds of square miles, being well watered and covered with ferns, grass and salal, is just waiting for a man with a flock of goats. Salem. Night police officers late Sunday discovered 25 transients hud dled in a box car attached to a south bound Southern Pacific train. To pre vent the men alighting here the of ficers closed and locked the door of the car and ordered the trainmen to carry the travelers out of the city. Baker. Baker will place exhibits of its various minerals at the third Inter national Mining convention to be held in Portland! April 5-9. It is planned to distribute at the convention a pam phlet, listing all mines and minerals of the county, as well as giving a com plete history of the geographical de velopment. Salem. The Pacific Spruce corpora tion, organized under the laws of Dela ware, has made application to operate in Oregon. The capital stock is $150, 000. F. S. Scritsmier of Portland has been named attorney in fact. Oregon headquarters of the corporation will be in Portland. The purpose of the cor poration Is to operate a lumber mill in Lincoln county. Prlneville. W. T. Smith, who last fall sold $1600 worth of turkeys to the Portland markets, is planning on doubling that amount this year., Mr. Smith lives on one of the tracts under the Ochoco project and asserts that the essential things in raising turkeys are plenty of space and food, also that great care must be used in keeping young turks warm during the cold spring days. Klamath Falls. Klamath county's tax muddle is causing bond buyers to shy at purchasing county or city bonds, Bald Carl S. Kelty, vice-president of the Lumbermen? Trust company of Portland, here recently. If tbe situa tion is not straightened out soon there will be no money' to' meet 'maturing interest on outstanding bonds. The first Installment becomes delinquent April 5.- So "far no collections have been made. '," ' ."' , Marshfield. In line with the gen eral trend In this county for better farm stock, C. C. Farr, county agent, has arranged with Oregon Agricultural college, for a public sale of pure-bred beef cattle at Coquille on March 25. Professor Oliver of-Oregon Agricultu ral college will accompany the carload, which la all from the college farm. The stock included Herefords and Shorthorns, 12 bulls and Blx heifers, coming 2 years. Salem. Bids for $1,000,000 of state highway bonds, the Issuance of which was approved by the state board of control here recently, will .be opened in Salem April 9, according to an nouncement. These bonds will mature in four years after Issuance and sale and will draw BVi per cent interest. Money derived from the sale of these bonds will be matched by the federal government for the construction of post roads in Oregon. Salem. The so-called public service commission recall committee, through W. E. Richardson, secretary, has sub mitted to the secretary of state a sam ple petition, which It will be neces sary to circulate throughout the state before actual proposal for recall of the commissioners can be placed on the ballot. Under the existing laws It will require 20,000 signatures of qualified voters before the question of recalling the public service body can be referred. Salem. There was one fatality due to Industrial accidents in Oregon dur ing the week ending March 17, accord ing to a report prepared by the Btate Industrial accident commission. The victim was Steven Baker, faller, of Hoskiss. Of the total of 397 accidents reported, 372 were subject to benefits under the workmen's compensation act, 24 were from firms and corpora tions that had rejected the law and one was from a public utility not sub ject to the provisions of the act ROBERT J. C 1 . STEAD Homesteader Author of "Thi Cow Copyright, All KIghta Reserved t runch f. btc "ALLAN." Synopsis. Dissatisfied because of the seemingly barren outlook of his position s a school teacher in Canadian town, John Harris deter mines to leave it, take up land In Manitoba and become a "home steader." Mary, the girl whom he loves, declares she will accompany him. They are married and set out for the unknown country. Alec McCrae, pioneer settler and adviser of newcomers, proves an invalu able friend. Leaving his wife "lth the family ot a fellow settler, Fred Arthurs, Harris and McCrae Jour ney over the prairie and select a homestead. Mary Insists on accom panying him when he takes pos session. (They build a shack and put in a crop. CHAPTER III Continued. It was not dreadfully cold, but the sky seemed only a vast turmoil of snow. Darkness came down very ear ly, but at last Harris began to recog nize familiar landmarks close by the trail, and Just as nfglit was settling in he drew Into the partial shelter of the bench on the bank of the coulee. The horses pulled on their reins per sistently for the stable, but Harris forced them up to the house. His loud shout was whipped away by the wind and strangled In r. moment, so he climbed stiffly from the wagon and pulled with numbed hands at the double 'thickness of carpet that (lid service for a door. lie fancied he heard a sound, but could be sure of nothing; he called her name again and again, but could distinguish no answer. But at last the fastenings which help the carpet gave way, and he half walked, half fell, Into the house. The lantern burned dimly, but It was not at the lantern he looked. Ip the farthest corner, scarcely visible In the feeble light, stood his wife, and at her shoulder was the gun, trained steadily upon him. "Mary Mary, don't you know me?" he cried. She dropped her weapon to the floor, where it went off, harmlessly burying its charge in the sod wall. "Thank God, oh, thank God I" she exclaimed. He threw off his wet overcoat and rushed to her side. But she sat silent on the bed, staring absently at the light flickering uncertainly In the wind from the open door. He hastily rearranged the carpet, then, returning to her, he took her hands In his and rubbed them briskly. But she still stared vaguely at the light Suddenly1 a thought came to him. He rushed outside, to find that the horses, of their own accord, had taken shelter beside the stable. Here from the wagon he drew a little bundle and hurried back to the house. She was sitting where he left her, Bhivering slightly and watching the play of the light as it flickered up and down the, wall. He tore the package open and . spread its contents before her. At first she took .no notice, but gradually her eyes found the outline of soft cloth and dainty feminine de vices. With a great joy he watched the color returning as her set face re- "Mary, Mary, Don't You Know Me7" Ha Cried. laxed in a smile of innffable tender ness. She raised her face to his and slipped her arms about his neck, and he knew that for the moment he had snatched her out of the valley of the shadow. Harris, made no more attempts to market his wheat that winter. His wife's health now became his first con ((deration, but, even had there been no such problem, experience bad shown Hint nothing was to be gained by making the long and expensive trip to Emerson. The cost of subsistence of man and. team on the way devoured all the proceeds of the wheat; Indeed, there were instances on record In the settlement where men who attempted such trips during the winter actually came back poorer than they left, while those who could show a gain of a bag of sugar, a sack of flour, or a box of groceries were considered fortunate indeed. "What shall we eat?" said Harris to his wife, when, after a full discussion, It was decided that no more grain could be marketed until spring. "Oh. we shall not suffer," was her calm reply. "We have over 500 bush els of wheat." "But we can't eat wheat !" "I'm not so sure of that. I heard Mr. McCrae say that lots of families had wintered on wheat. Indeed, boiled wheat is something of a delicacy. Even the best city families rarely have It, although it is more nutritious than flour and much easier to prepare." Harris thrilled with joy over his wife's vivacity. The strange gloom that oppressed her so much of late had cost him many anxious hours. So. in high spirits, they planned for their winter. There were long hours, and little diversion, and the desolation of bleak, snow-bound prairies on ev ery side, but through It all they kept up their courage and their hopeful ness. Mary spent much time with her needle, from which John, when he felt she was applying herself too closely, beguiled her to a game of checkers or an hour with one of their few but val ued books. And there were frequent visits and long evenings spent about a cozy fire, when the Morrisons, or the Grants, or the Elleses, dropped in to while away the time. The little sod house, was warm and snug, and as the men played checkers while the women sewed, what cared the pio neers for the snow and the cold and the wind whistling across the plains? At last came the crisis. At 4 In the afternoon Harris kissed his wife an affectionate farewell, hitched his horses to th sleigh, and started out post-haste for PInlnville. He drove by way of the Morrisons, where a few low words sent Tom to the stable at a trot to hitch his own team, while the good wife bustled about In the "room," almost overwhelmed with the Importance of her mission. "I will go for the doctor, Jack, and you go back and take the wife with you," was Morrison's kindly offer, but 'Harris would not agree. It was dark by this time, and he felt that he could trust no one else to make the journey to Plalnvllle. Besides, there was more than a chance that Dr. Blaln might be Incapable, and in that case it meant a drive of 30 miles farther. "It's good of you, Morrison," he said, "but you are more used to your wife's bidding than I am, and you can be of good service there, If you will." And without waiting to argue he sprang into his sleigh again and was whip ping his team Into the darkness. "Night, Hnrrls," said the landlord, who had a speaking acquaintance with every settler within 20 miles. "Ye're drlvln' late. Ye'll have a bite of sup per an' stable the team?" "No, Hank, not tonight, thanking you the same. But I'm after Dr. Blaln, and I'm in a hurry. Is he here, and Is he fit?" There was an anxiety In the last words tliat did not escape the host. "Nothin' ser'ous, I hope? Frost, or somethln'?" Then, without waiting for reply, he continued: "Yes, doctor's here. Upstairs, bed to the right as ye go up. Just got In a little back. As for fit dig 'im out an' Judge for your self." Harris lost no time scaling the lad der which led to the upper half-story bf the building. It was a gnrrct nothing better where the cold Btars looked through knot holes In the pop lar shingles, and the ends of the shin gle nails were tipped with frost. An other wall lamp burned uncertainly here, flickering in the wind that whis tled through the cracks In the gables, and by Its light Harris found "the bed to the right." The form of a man lay diagonally across It, face downward, with arms extended above the head, and so still that Harris paused for a moment In a strange alarm. Then he slipped his hand on the doctor's neck and found It warm. "Come, Doctor," he said, "I want you with me." But the sleeping man an swered with not so much as a groan. "Come, Dr. Blaln," Harris repeated, shaking him soundly. "I want you to go home with me." He might have been speaking to the dead. In sudden exasperation he seized the doctor by the shoulders, and with one heave of his mighty arms set him up right on the floor and shook him vig orously. Dr. Blaln opened hi eyes and blinked uncertainly at the light "Whatche doing, Harris?" he said at length, and the recognition brought a thrill of hope. " 'S no use Got ta sleep It off. 'S no use, Harris. 'S no use." And he crumpled up in the bed. But Harris was desperate. "Now I'm not going to fool with you," he said. "You get up and come with me or I'U take you. Which It it?" But the doctor only mumbled '"S no use," and fell heavily to sleep. Throwing open his coat to get free motion for his arms, Harris in a mo ment wrapped the sleeping man in a couple of blankets from the bed, threw him over his shoulder, carried him down the rickety ladder, and deposit ed him, none too gently, In the sleigh. There was a mild cheer from the men about the stove over these r heroic measures, and one of them thoughtful ly threw the doctor's satchel Into the sleigh.. The next moment all were lost in the darkness. Harris drove for an hour, watching the trail keenly In the whitish mist of the winter's night, and urging the horses to the limit of their exertions. He had almost forgotten his passen ger when he felt a stir In the bottom "Watche Doing, Harris?" of the sleigh. Looking down closely he found the doctor trying to extricate a flask from one of his pockets. With a quick wrench he took It from hlra, and would have thrown it into the Rnow, but the thought struck him that it might be needed, and he put it into his own pocket. The doctor struggled to his feet. "Say, Harris, you're friend o' mine, but don't take too many liberties, see? 'S no use tryin' without It Jush give me that bottle now, or I'll get out an' go home." Harris was so plensed at the signs of returning coherence that he could have hugged the doctor, but he only said, "You've had enough for tonight And you won't get out, because if you try to I'll knock you senseless in the bottom of the sleigh." After thnt the doctor remained si lent for some time. Then suddenly he demanded : "Shay, Harris, where you takln' me to, anyway?" "I'm taking you to my home." . "Wlia' for? You're all right 1 guess "' Suddenly the doctor stood erect. "Harris, is your wife sick?" "That's why I came for you." "Well, why the devil didn't you say so? Here, give me that whip., Har ris, Harris, what did you waste time arguing for?" "I didn't waste much. The argu ment was mostly on your side." "Harris," said the doctor, after a long silence, "you think I'm a fool. You're right. It Isn't as though I didn't know. I know the rond I'm go ing, and tlie end thereof. And yet in a pinch, I can pull myself together. I'm all right now. But it'll get me again as soon as this Is over. Any good I am, any good I do, is Just a bit of salvage out of the wreck. The wreck yes, it's a good word that wreck." Just ns the dawn was breaking be knelt beside her. Her eyes were very large and quiet, and her face was white and still. But she raised one pale hand, and the thin fingers fondled In his hair. She drew his face very gently down, and big silent tears stood in his eyes. "We will caU him Allan," he said. The changes of a quarter of a century, (TO BE CONTINUED.) Ornamental Thimbles. At one time, apart from the shape, which is imperative, thimbles were decorated with all kinds of precious stones at the tip and these were, ot course, designated more for ornament than use, when it was the fashion, ai Sheridan remarks, for fine ladles to play "at fine work," according to the Irish World. Ladles in our grand mothers' days, besides seeing to the household and personal linen, gen erally worked In delicate material In silks and satins, when a smaller thim ble was brought Into play and used with oome of the witchery of the fan.