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OFFICIAL I'AI'KU Or .
KLAMATH FALTJI
Fourteenth Year No. 4019
KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1920
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WITNESSES
GIVE VERS ONS
OF HOTEL FIRE
Tim coroner' Jury Investlgut-
Iiik t tiu Houston hotel flrn, thin
afternoon returned u verdict
tlmt tlio victim muni to their
loath by liurnliiK: mid tlmt
.... uma w nulitunKM thai llist tV
MH7IU ttw iillttuiii.l asses. in -w
flrn wan of criminal orJR. Tha
nuinliurot vlctlmwa'l'ssVflted,
but 1'. L. Kountulii, foreman,
mild tlmt only ulna rumalna
worn recogulzablo an human
ltoillr. Ha nattl there might
linvn been inorii victim but It
could not bo proved eytfce,ra-
main vlnwod by, the Jury.
Justice or the I 'en re (I V Oflleld,
of Merrill, conducted tho examina
tion of witnesses In thu city hull yes
terday afternoon, morn than Mi roc
hours belnir ronstimnd In Uklngtes-
flmnny, thu monotony of whlchwat
truquvntly relieved by tha nrri
ui jiorsunui uxiirriunirii ujr
Who wore nmonjt Ihosa who c
from tlio hell or nre and name
which seemed to cut off their salt
from almost every quarter. flows
pardonable humor, and some plse
too, were Injected Into the proceed
ings but, summlnK It, up, there werel
no developments which c- bo In
strumental In tracing the origin of
tho Are or In placing Iho culpability
upon anyone
P. I.. Fountain, fereman: II. R.
(Irlgsby, K. Stigarmaa, Marlon
Hanks, John llrltt and fred , Noel
made up tha Jury, rack" of them aid
ing In tho InvsktsmtloaMwHa
at ralitht-t n-t h-orn ft Vllftfc V -
John Uhrllng, ati rmplpyr of the
street department,' wa tho first wit
ness called, Mr llhrllnic' testimony
wus not vliul except n on aid In de
termining the Hum tho tiro might
havn broken out, and In regard to
his efforts to send In tha alarm to ,
tho flrn department. Ho told about I
seeing thn fire, driving his truck to a
place whom It would noj block the
path of the flrn englnn, and then
nbout his hurried efforts to arouse
thu night clerk of thn Hotel Hall and
cause the alarm to bo turned In,
When tie learned that It was Impos
sible to ralso the flrn department at
once, ho ran toward tho flra station
to glvn tho nlarni In person. Flra
Chief Ambrose was already on his
way to tho flra before Mr. Uhrllng
reached tho station. Ho reached
thn Hotel Hall, ho said, about 3:30.
llert ITaII, proprietor of tho Hotel
Hall, wus tha next witness. His
testimony was brief. Ho said that
Mr, Uhrllng ramo to thn hotel nbout
3:30, nnd than told what he knew
about tho nxporlonro of tho night
clork, Carl Coleman, when tho lattnr
tried to send In tho alarm through
thn tnlephnno otllce.
Operator Itopomhil nt (lure
Mrs. Kdnu Ackloy, who resldos not
r
MICKIE SAYS
NfcHttOKf COW IN Mf M Mt1U "1
MM KNOCK OH MtOOM.'ClkVJit I
til OH't HHf 'thM t t IM
OOT TWS. H6MC -T'toBAMllW US I
OUT t' H fMI ', V4HS'Kt NIV I
CMl HA M9 OMCR fW VMOHCll
, HON ON OtT 1UM VJM , V POOOJ
' tav4fc y
FORECAST SHOWS
CROPS BELOW NORMAL
WAHIIINOTON, Sept. 9. Fore
cast of tlio coiintry'ii production of
prlnrlpiil grain cropii, estimated from
conditions of Hiiptumlinr 1. iiro mi
minuend by tha department of ngrl
ciiliuro iih rellnws:
Spring wheat 2.17,000,000 bushel
or 04.1 pur c lit normal.
Full whuat 77,000,000 bushels, or
74,1 pur cunt normal,
Corn 3,131,000,000, or 80.4 pur
cunt normal.
far from tlio bunii'd unction, (entitled
(trinity that she saw tb flro ItlnzlriR
i from tint Kacond street side of tint
hotel about 3:30, and that she tola
phonnd tlio alarm nt onco, tha opera
tor at central responding Immedi
ately. llert Cook wan nslcnp In tha hotel
when tha (Ira started, und wan awak
ened by somoono who shouted "Hoy
there!" throtiRh a back window,
Ho stated that Mr. Cook tried to net
Into a front to Icli-phono an alarm,
but was forced back by thu seething
llamas which nlmost overcame her as
sho opened one or tha Inside doors.
Mrs. (loldle Houston, connected
t itll tho hotel managumont, testified
that there wore forty rooms In thn
houl, and that they worn nil occupied
on tha night of thu (Ire. Ilesldes
i llheso rooms, slio stated, thoro were
"'4aAirt MMPltHAnta . 1fiAum war nil
occupied. Pour cots, said Mrs.
Houston, woro placed In front
raoni, Ja order ,to accommodate
guwnfwho cou)d)rtot secure rooms,
tlnT. .Houston's testimony disclos
ed the fact thai they employed, no
regular night clerk, and that there
was no clerk In chargo that night.
The register, she said, wss not re
covered, thus disposing of a current
rumor that one of the guest nad
time enough and aufflclent presence
ot mind to rescue It before he left
the biasing building. No .trouble
toad been esaerleaeed wMhNlr Uc
trie wiring In the hotel, although
occasionally it ruse would hum out.1,, M ,,. or oarcr Thcn whcro
necessitating replacement. i,,,,, lh ,s.ninlllo , ln tattlnc
Night Patrolman M. I.. Harnett
wss tho next wltucss. As near as 1km
cun determine he tlrst saw tho fire
at 3:17, utter ho hud gone to his I
' riiitit tiMMt tit iiitdt nflift IsibvIms7 Kit sir i
, ...v,w.. v. .-.... v "iK0 nt0 u,p burning hotel because
"""" ',,;",, "" " ""'" v"""" he feored to create a draft by opon-
than usua. provided the town wus (,oor nm, do mm hrm ,,,
quiet, so thut he could bn present at , am fco gua he wng (oo oWf
thu I.bor Day observunces which (o mayg ttc ,n n burn.
wore scheduled to begin about ten, a cd from ,
o'clock thai morning. hen Mr. , ro,e he a(1
Harnett llrsl saw tho lire, It had noti, . ..', .u .i. ,..,..
. , , .. .. . . .. . In an endeavor to wako tho Inmates.
yot burnod Its way throught tho topi . ,, . ....,, ,-
... . .... . ,, . ... Patrolman Itarnott li supposed to
ot tho building. Tho tiro nt that ... . ... . ,.
time could bo seen about one-third ot
tho dlslauco from tho cerner of tho
building up Second street hill.
Mr. Uurnutt ulso told about seeing
tall mun carrying a bundle, who
walked toward tho hotel not long
before tho flro was discovered. This
man wus also seen by Mr. Uhrllng,
1
but thoro wa nothing in his action IJ'W- PC,BI nigniwaicnman reiaineo
to Indicate that homlaht havo beeni" business men of tho city, through
intent upon Incondlnrlsm
Aftor dlscnvoilng thu tire, Mr.
Harnett, according to his toatlnumy, n tno Jowc' cnfo wnon tho n,arm
hurrlod to tho hotel, dispatched a'wns doundod, nccordlng to credlblo
younger nnd moro ngltu man to turn report, hnvlng stopped on his round
In tho ulurm, und then did his best 'or lunch.
to iiroiiBo the Inmates of tho hotel. '
Ho also assisted soveral porsous who
hud Jumped from wIiiiIowh und had
fallen, Injured, to thu street. Chief
Amoroso arrived nbout eighteen
minutes nfter Mr. Harnett discover
ed thu tire or, to bo exact, at 2fi min
utes to four, Thu alarm, wus turned
In ut thut time, ho It boenmo evident
through this testimony, that tliero
was not u minute lo.U In reaching the
llro.
Mr. Ilnrnctt said that ho saw no
Joyrider In front of the hotel, as
rumoiod, nt any tlmu, und neither
did ho hear any. The fire, ho said,
evidently hud uotgaluod much hoad
way whon ho wont to his room, be
cause If It had he would liuvo aoen It.
K. P. Miller, proprietor of tho
Lakesldo rooming house, ulso saw
the llro In It earliest stages. While
his wlfo callod contrul'to give the
alarm, he went out to see what he
could do to help the llroltghters. A
half-dressod man, he said, was rac
ing madly toward him. He stoppod
the fleeing mnn and took him Into
tho rooming house. The flro, he
teitlflod, was bunting through the
back center of the building,
Grant Hllderback, ot Ashland, who
lost his wlfo and daughteV In the
Are, Buocoeded Mr. Miller on tha
tand. Mr. Bllderback, with hi twq
FIRE M LONG
STARTIFTHESE
TIIESI RIGHT
If Patrolman Ilnrnctt dlscovorod
tha HniiHton liotnl flra at 3:17
o'clock, why wax tha alarm not
turned In until 3:307 Thin In a qlie-
Hon that In boliiR linked following
testimony Klvcn at tho official In
vesllgutlon yeiitcrduy.
According to bfflccr Harnett' tes
timony ha wan on Main street In
front of tha postofflco building, with
in approximately 100 feet of tho cast
end of tha Houston hotel at about 3
o'clock a. in., and wldo awake. At
3:17 a. m still wldo awako but In
I his room and not inoro than 100 foot
I from tho hotel, ho board scroams and
descended tho stairway to tho street
and saw tho hotel was aflro.
According to John Uhrllng and
corroborating witnesses It was 3:30
n. m. when thu night clerk at tho
Hotel Hall called central. Uhrllng
was at Main and Fourth when he
aw a man approaching from tho di
rection of tho Houston hotel. The
man Informed him that the Houston
hotel was aflro. Uhrllng gave hi
team In chargo ot tho man and went
across tho street to the Hall hotel
and had tho night clerk call central
and give tho alarm, fixing tho time
at 3:30.
Oftlcor Ilnrnctt say the hotel wa
on tiro at 3:17. therefore the time
consumed by the man who notified
Uhrllng In coming from Second to
Fourth on Main, and by Uhrllng and
the Hotel Hall clerk In calling cen
tral, was 13 minutes. Uhrllng did
not testify whether the man ap
proached him on the run, or walked
or crawled. ;
If Darnelt discovered tho flra, at
(,, - ,..,, ,k . ),.. .n
,,. nlnrm , ,h . ,.. ,,-..
... . ,, AIA , ,-
Ill IIHItlVIl 0IU IIU
In an alarm tint nont anothor man
In nltnnil fn that, lift did not
. . .
milium vii 111117 uni. " viuvm .,. .uu
i morning, but he y Chief Wilson
guvo him permission to go to bed at
3 o'clock, Monday morning so he
might enjoy tho Labor day relobra
Hon next day.
Inquiry has also been'jajriade re
garding tha whereabouts of C. C.
!. . . . . .5 .-.-.j
collectlvo subscrpltlcn, to project tho
business district. Mr. Low wns cat-
EVERYTHING BUT THE CROWD
;aHBKl. Country. .Hcini CUfltl fw Sf '
t - . i I i
STOCKMEN'S
MEETING HAD
GOOD RESULTS
Tho executive commlttoo of tho
State Cnttlo & Horio Raisers' asso
ciation convened la open meeting
Tuesday evening at tho courthouso.
Tho meeting wa well attended by
represcntatlvo stockmen throughout
thu county, nnd resulted In uniting
tho local Cattlo tc Horso association
with tho state organization.
11. A. Ilrattaln, of Paisley, Oregon,
second vlco president of the stato or
ganization, presided at the meeting,
and gave a very Interesting talk on
the work ot tho organisation. 8. O.
Corrnll, secretary of the stato organ
ization, outlined tho policy of tho
stato association and explained the
various activities upon which they
were nngaged, seeking remedial leg
islation In tlm state legislature, look
ing to tho Improvement and develop
ment range conditions and the In
crease of purebred livestock on tho
open range A short address of wet-
como was given by W. C. Van Emon,
secretary ot the Klamath Cattle ft
Horse association, and a general dis
cussion took place along stock Indus
try lines'.
For tho protection of th'e stockmen
tho state association Is urging tho
enforcement of the inspection law In
shipping cattle and horses, and the
production ot hides upon demand,
from the miscellaneous farmer and
rancher who are butchering beef for
the market and 'logging camp.
James Straw wa re-named a live
stock Inspector for Klamath county
for the ensuing year.
Thn state association Is doing ex
cellent work In co-operation with the
forestry bureau In settling disputes
and making recommendation to the
forestry department for the use of
tho forest range.
Tho various discussions were In
teresting and threw many sidelight
on tho rnngo condition In Klamath
county, both on the public domain
and In the forest. The stato officer
urged a stronger and closer co-opera-
tlon among tho local stockmen, set
ting forth that more can be accomp
lished by united action than by In
dividual efforts.
Tho executive committee left
Klamath Fall yestarday morning at
8 o'clock for Fort Klamath, where
they expected to hold a meeting at
10 o'clock, after which they proceed-
od to Medford for a meeting there
this morning.
UK) ODK8HA HANCH ,
HOLD TO C. R. WOllDKN
C. K. Wordcn has completed a deal
In which he bought tho Frank Cor
tado ranch of 700 or 800 acres near
Odosan. Mr. Cortado plans on going
oast for n visit with his parent us
soon ns his business affairs will
allow.
CAMPAIGN FOR
ORGANIZING D. A. R.
Mr. John A. Keating, stato regent
of Oregon und Daughter of tha Amer
ican Itovolutlon, has announced tho
appointment of Mr. It. K. Walton
burg as organizing regent for a chap
ter at Klamath Falls.
' All who aro interested and aro
qualified to form a chapter here aro
roquostcd to moot with Mr. Watton
burg Saturday afternoon, at 2:30
o'clock at tho homo of Mrs. J. Fred
Doollcr, 234 South nivorslde.
In making tho announcement of
tho meeting Mrs. Wattenburg said
that tho Society of tho Daughter of
tho American Involution la growing
In membership and Influence a aro
fow other organizations of women In
this country. It Is to be hoped, she
said, that a large chapter may bo
formed here.
CITY PROUD
With practically the vory last
touch of completeness Placed upon
It, tho K. K. K. Store Is today stand
ing, a It were, upon a pedestal
preening Itself with the justOabla
prldo felt from a realization that It
occupies a position as one ot Ore
gon's finest business establishments.
It Is a atore In which Klamath Falls
and Klamath county feels a proudful
Interest, for it marks tho advance
ment of the community Itself. If
Klamath Falls were not reaching a'
position In the business world that
makes It one of the leading builneaa
cities on the Coast, such store Ba
the K. K. K. would not be possible.
When the 'owners of the K. K. K.
Store decided to change location It
became part of their plan to equip
their establishment with tho Tory
beat and latest fixtures. A repre
sentative ot the leading manufactur
ers ot such equipment canus hero and
ho was given carte blanc. The re
sult speaks for Itself. Everything'
that would add to the effective dis
play of merchandise, Its proper care
and protection was Installed. Thcso
fixtures wero so placed that each de
partment has relation to Its neigh
bor and ell so arranged a to effect
the greatest degree ot efficiency In
the service and convenience and
comfort ot the patron. Practically
all ot tho merchandise is enclosed In
dust-proof cases, fitted with plate
gloss fronts for display, so that the
customer can pass down the aisles
and make selection without haste
or confusion. On tho left as one en
ter the store aro tho collar cases,
with their special display fronts,
contalng the drawer with an unique
hanging hinge, making It unneces
sary to remove them, yet exposing
tho contents for easy service.
Continuing around tho store to
the loft ore tho cases for the sweat
ers, clothing, tho shoe department,
tho heavy woarablcs, such as over
alls, Jumpers, slickers, etc., then tho
hats and caps. Down tho contor ot
tho store aro tho cablnots and solid
Plato glass show cases, containing
tho shirts, nocktlea nnd all of tho
habordashory to bo found In a store
that Is tho last word In men's mer
chandising. A largo basement Is
used tor tho storago ot surplus
stock.
Tho storo Is a real show plnco, one
that must bo visited to bo appreciat
ed nnd ono that Is sure to bo a point
ot Interest not only to tho permanent
residont, but to tho translont visitor,
who wlshos to tako away with htm a
complete knowledge of the city's
business development.
Not tho least of the. Interesting
features of tho K. K. K, Store Is Its
growth. With an almost Insignifi
cant beginning It has reached Its
present pinnacle ot success. Back
In tho early days ot Klamath Falls It
was the typical country store ot It
kind good for the size of the com
munity, but lacking everything In
the way ot modern equipment. By
gradual development and moving in
to now quarter, it finally reached
the atneo attained whon It occupied
tho room In the Odd Fellow build
lng,u where for nearly ten year It
was tho Mecca of men, women and
children from all over the vast ter
ritory tributary to Klamath Fall.
Then came the big Idea, the one big,
final itep, the opening ot a new ei-
OFNWT
STATE OFFICER
HIVES FOR
' FIRE PROBE
Gilbert W. Allen, deputy state fire
marshal, arrived last night from
Salem and today began on Investiga
tion ot the Houston hotel flro. Mr.
Allen said he would go thoroughly
Into the situation and If any laxity
In enforcement ot the state law or
local ordinance wa responsible for
the tragedy tho responsibility would
bo fixed.
A year ago, said Mr. Allen, the flra
marshal' office prepared a report o t
tire conditions here and submitted
It to the city conncll and part of his
Investigation will be directed toward
ascertaining whether the council took
action after receiving the resort.
Councilman Brandenburg said to
a Herald representative after Monday
night's council meeting that he
brought the whole matter of flra
risks before the conncll a year ago
butthat no definite action resulted.
Mr. Allen held a conference tkla
morning with District Attorney Di
can regarding the enforcement ot tha
state law. One atatuta require all
hotels of three stories or more to be
provided with fire escape of Iron or
Incombustible material. Two-story
hotel muat have knotted rope at
capes, 'ono for every window.
Conference with city officials, tko
fire chief and general iavestlgatloa
of all .circumstance that might taad
to 'fix responsibility ware part- of tka
deputy'a program today. Ha will re
main here as long aa the situation re
quire. Outside probe of the Jfoa
ton fire, ke will devote attention to a
general Inquiry Into fire kaxarda aad
Is especially lastrncted by Governor
Olcott to look Into housing condi
tion heroand If an emergency ex
ists the state will take relief aeaa
ure. m ,
Mr. Allen Indicated a belief that
there had been negligence, laying:
"Someone Is responsible for the loss
ot life In tho Houston tire and we are
going to probe tho entire matter
thoroughly."
ES
FIECTfJFim
i " " " -
At a recent meeting ot the board
of directors ot the First National
bank ot Merrill, George W. Oftleld
was elected director.
Mr. Oftleld is one ot the substan
tial citizens ot Merrill who has also
bocn Interested M good schools; good
living conditions, and other things
tending toward the development ot
the Merrill section.
Tho Merrill bank ha grown stead
ily with the developing ot the com
munity and now has deposit totaling
1290,000, having total asset ot
lAMPA AAA m -,..... - T
.' " u.r., uwrs. -.
anon, cu.uiei, m "" '.
assistant cashier, aro employed reg
ularly and additional help is required
at heavy seasons.
The officers ot this substantial
little bank look forward to u greater
development as tho great Tule lake
section is largely tributary to Merrill
and Is being linked MP with tho Mer
rill territory.
TWO SUITS TO COLLKCT
ON' NtOMIKHOUY -NOTES
Suits to collect a note for $'300
has been Hied In the circuit court by
the Bonanza lodge ot Odd' Fellows
against J. O." Hamaker and sop.
Another suit to collect on a note
la that of F. H. Tobe against Mike
Pudoff and William Checkoff, fa
volvlng f 82 Interest and fee-
fruition l found In the present
store, a dream ot plate 'flaps, and
'oak, enamel -and modern sultjmeat,
fronted wltn display wmapws inai
are ponders In themselves,-" $
Klamath Falls I jqitlyproad'tef
tae,K. X.' K. Store, because It I
milestone, in the cltys development
and beoawe it marks with "oeaos
the'careera'ot,tke yonf jspa. wfcaao
MNUR
4. 1
&
, habllshment that would be, the last
ladetsiliuahle .energy,
nr.ais
M
lnteiKliykare'made It
(Continued on Page Four)
word tor a ran's store. , And Its nil