The i imaha N!.orning Dee
cloudy; nol much change In temper- A A m ™ ^ d« It, In just whai make.' the im ttir-t
ainr*. • _ _ ____—____=^====r: hind of a man. -lloOcrt l.ouls .-'tevcii
CITY EDITION ^ VOL. 53—NO. 242 OMAHA, TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1924. * TWO CENTS" SS?wUn^uttfc V.1!^--^
^ Br Mall (1 Taar): Dally and Sunday. II: Sunday. S*.5e. within the «th eu. Outalda tha 4>h Zn.ia (1 T-ar>- nail. and Sunday, li:: Sunday only. U. — ■— ■ _~
- - ^»a— ■■ ■■ . . ■■ - " — el. V - - ■ 1 r ■ 1
OIL PLANT BURPTFOLLOWING BLAST
_:_% -
Coolidge Is
Lacking in
Leadership
—JOHNSON.
California Senator Scores
President for “Hesitancy”
in Teapot Dome Inves
tigation.
Slemp Also Criticized
V.'hat was characterized as ‘‘Presi
dent Coolidge's lack of leadership”
furnished the main theme In a polit
ical address delivered here Monday
f night by Hiram Johnson, republican
* "candidate for the presidency.
For instance, he asserted the presi
dent attempted to dictate to congress
what it should do on the Mellon plan,
without effect. He held that Coolidge
observed a policy of hesitation in mat
ters relating to the oil scandals and
the Denby and Daugherty exposures.
“An excuse is being made for the
policy of Mr. Coolidge, that he had
inherited troubles and undesirable
men.” the senator said, "from the
Harding administration. It is cer
tain, however, that he did not inherit
£Hemp, who had been thoroughly ex
posed and discredited before Mr. Cool
Idge became president.”
The California senator referred to
the character of the campaign that
will be waged by the Coolidge man
agers until the close of the contest in
Nebraska. He asserted that many im
ported speakers, like Leslie M. Shaw,
will be sent throughout the state, de
fending and excusing the oil leases
and other Washington scandals, and
that the payment of money by Do
hen.v to Fall was a friendly act.
The Californian aspirant for the re
publican presidential nomination was
introduced bv C. E. Sandal, of York,
Neb., chairman of the Nebraska cam
paign committee for the Johnson pri
mary campaign. /
Denounces Oil Scandal.
Fremont. March 24.—Denouncing j
the “shocking anil lamentable’’ dla
closures at Washington, which, he
said, have destroyed faith in public
officials, and rebuking former Secre
t.ny Falls as principal in the Tea pet
Dome oil scandal, HU am Johnson,
candidate for the republican presl
'eullal nomination, addressed 500 per
otis in a district court room here
Monday afternoon.
Mr. Johnson had time only to cover
the high spots of the campaign sit
uation. asserting a need fo» “com
ulete house cleaning” existed In the
republican party and criticising At
torney General Daugherty, whoso
term of usefulness, he said, had
passed.
Senator Walsh, democrat, of Mon
tana. was pointed to as “one govern
ment official who deserves praise of
even- decent citizen In the United
States," In the course of the speaker's
address.
Senator Johnson denounced, also*
the world court and the league of na
tions, declaring them to be ineffectual
and dangerous to perpetuation of the
American republic. President Coolldge
came in for censure for his failure to
remove Attorney General Daugherty,
the JMellon tax plan was criticized cs
a “rich man’s measure.” and whal
Mr. Johnson called the lack of pro
hibition enforcement was deplored.
Civil War Veteran Dies
Glenwood, la., March 24. W. R
Cooper, 80, who died at Ills residence
here March 21, was burled today In
Glenwood cemetery. Mr. Cooper
served In the 15th Iowa regiment in
the civil war. He celebrated his
birthday anniversary, the day before
hia last Illness began.
r '
The Day in
* Washington
Curtis D. Wilbur took up his duties
as secretary of tlie nary.
.Nary advices from Honduras pre
dicted early collapse of the de facto
government.
ITIie house shipping board Invest!
gating committee laid further plans
for procedure.
Illness of Senator Wheeler, demo
crat, Montana, caused a postpone
ment of the Daugherty hearings.
Tlie house ordered Investigation of
the aircraft industry and the bureau
of engraving and printing.
The house adopted tlie Fish reso
lution to appropriate 110,000,000 for
tlie relief of German women and rhil
dren.
The Interstate commerce romm's
sinu ordered a rehearing on its order
for installation of automatic train
< on trot devices.
A senate committee begun Investi
gating charges h,v Senator Heflin,
democrat. Alabama, of land frauds in
the l/ower Kln-Graudo Valley of
Trxna.
I Tlie house immigration committer
In a report on tlie Johnson bill de
clared Immediate cancellation of the
gentlemen’s agreement with Japan
[would be justified.
The government's oil counsel an
nounced that presentation of evidence
in the criminal cases would lie start
ed before a district of foluniMu grand
jury alxiut April 10.
The senate finance committer en
tered a program of night sessions In
i mislderliig the reienue bill and re
jected amendments proposed by both
Uy> treasury and tbs house.
Shirts From the Senate Laundry
CONrOUND IT MAM
You've washed
MORE DIRT Into
it than you've
WASHED our |
ft
^POUT ic
—M
House Launches
Aire raft Probe
Committees to Be Appointed
for Purpose of Investigat
ing Alleged Fraud.
Washington, March 24.—The house
today authorized two more investiga
tions—one into the aircraft industry,
the other into alleged duplication of
government bonds at ths bureau of
engraving and printing.
By viva voce vote a resolution by
Representative Nelson, republican in
surgent leader of Wisconsin, provid
ing for appointment of a special com
mittee to conduct the inquiry, was
adopted.
Investigation of the army, navy and
air mall services’, as well as of the
aircraft industry generally, la pro
posed in the resolution, which was
presented several weeks ago by Mr.
Nelson after he charged on the house
floor that corruption could be proved
in the industry in Its relation to the
government.
Special committees will be named
by the speaker to conduct both In
quiries.
NEW SENATE
QUERY OPENS
Washington. March 24.—Another
senate investigation made a bid for
public attention today when a special
subcommittee of the committee on
postoffice and post roads was called
together to inquire Into alleged land
frauds in the Rio Grande valley of
Texas, with Will H. Hayes, former
postmaster general, summoned as the
star witness of Its opening session.
Senator Heflin, democrat of Ala
bama, who Introduced the resolution
authorizing the Inquiry, has charged
that R. B. Creager of Brownsville,
republican national committeeman
from Texas, was instrumental through
conferences with officials here In hav
ing in investigation of alleged frauds
dropped. ,
Four World Flight
Planes Overhauled
Seattle. Wash., March 24.-—Prepa
ration of the four army nlrcruieera
for the next stage of their Journey,
around the world la progressing rap
idly at the Sand Point aviation field
near here where they landed Inst
Thursday. All the planes will be
fully overhauled and repaired and
filled villi pontoons by Thursday. It
Is expected. Their tests will then be
gin ami continue until Saturday
when they will take part in an air
circus planned as a benefit for the
army relief fund. Early next week
they will hop off for Prince Kuppert,
L:. C., a 6.10-mile Jump.
District Speakers Chosen.
Wakefield, Neb.. March 24.—Three
speakers were selected at ft sub-dls
strlct declamatory contest held here
lo represent the Wakefield district In
a final contest to l>e held at. Wayne,
April 18. Twenty persons took part
in what was declared lo be the lat'K
est declamatory contest ever held
hete.
The winners were Hazel Hrogden
of laurel, Howard Jacobsen of Hart
ington and Margaret McQuIston of
Wakefield
$10,600,000 Fund for
Destitute Germans Is
Voted by House
Washington, March 24.—Disre
garding party lines, the house to
night adopted a resolution to ap
propriate $10,000,000 for the pur
chase of food supplies for destitute
women and children In Germany.
Sent to the senate by a vote of
240 to 97, the measure stipulates
that the foodstuffs are to be
bought In the United States and
transported to Germany In ship
ping board vessels.
Special Dispatch to The Omaha Bee.
Washington, March 24.—The Ne
braska delegation voted as a unit
today for the first time at this ses
sion when It cast a solid ballot In
favor of the Fish resolution calling
for a gift of $10,000,000 In food
stuffs for starving women and
children in Germany.
Congressman Simmons was the
only Nebraskan to speak on the
| bill. ___ J
$75,000 ROBBERY
IN FRISCO STORE
I.os Angeles, Cab. March 24,—Cut
ting their way through the roof of the
Robbins Jewelry company store In the
heart of the business district, a gang
of expert burglars early today looted
the establishment of Jewelry valued
at $60,000 and wearing apparel worth
$15,000 and made their escape un
detected. _
Premier Macdonald Has No
Word of Disarmament Meet
Uondon. March 24.—Premier Mao
donald told a questioner in the house
of commons today that he had no In
formation concerning reports that the
United State's house of representa
tives had asked President Coolldge
to call another conference for consid
eration of naval disarmament except
what he read in the newspapers.
"Until the proposal, If there la one,
is in my hands," he asserted, "1 can
not say what I could do beyond wel
coming It.” __
Wheat Outlook Excellent,
Harvard Farmers Declare
Harvard, Neb.. March 24.—An op
tlinlatlc outlook for the wheat crop
la held by farmer* of thli vicinity,
following the recent heavy enowfall.
Most of the froet i» out of the
ground, they state, and the fields
slioufft receive the full benefit of the
rnoleture. With snow lying better
than a foot deep, on the level, farm
era were forced to resort to horse
and buggy conveyances when travel
ing over the country road*.
f ■»
Horse Comes Into Own
for One Day in Wilber I
Wilbur, Neb.. March 24.—The horse
and buggy came back Into Its own
for one day In Wilbur Saturday,
when 601 loam* and single driving
horses and rigs were counted hitched
on side streets. The number Is the
greatest since the automobile became
popular here.
The w’pckly merchants sole* con
test was the attraction which
brought farnvrs In town and had
toads made the use of horse and
buggy necessary.
k
Omaha Is Best
Cattle Market
Stock Shippers Promise
Greater Volume of Busi
ness This Year.
Special IH»patch t« The Omaha Baa.
Hannibal. Mo., March 24.—The
Omgha stockyards delegation, return
ing from it* two weeks tour of the
south, was due to arrive In Omaha at
C:40 Tuesday morning.
The party was entertained Monday
at St. Ixtuis as guests of the stock
yards. Following a tour of the yards,
which included a visit to the horse
anil mule market, the largest In the
United States, the party was enter
tained at the Missouri Athletic club.
"We anticipate an Increased vol
ume of business from the south, par
ticularly from the Texas Panhandle
country," Kverett Buckingham stat
ed In summing up the reeults of the
trip.
"The first part of the excursion was
strictly business, he said," and a
careful survey of Omaha's possibili
ties was made and presented to south
ern cattle raisers.
"Following the Texas and south
western cattle raisers’ convention at
Houston we mixed pleasure with busi
ness. although we lost no opportunity
of telling about Omaha.”
John Fit* Roberts, president of the
Omaha livestock exchange, stated
that Texas cattle ratsers have ceme
to consider the Omaha market the
best In the nation.
“A great many southern cattle
raisers told me that until a year or
»o ago they hardly knew about Oma
ha. Now they say that Omaha was
the best market they shipped to lsst
year. At every stop these men told
me that the would ahlp to Omaha
this year.” he said.
Midland Company Will Pay
15 Per Cent on All Claims
Sioux City, March 24.—A dividend
of 15 per cent nil all general claims
against the Midland Packing com
pany, amounting to $1,790,000, was
ordered today by Federal Judge T. C.
Munger of IJncoln, Neb.
According to the order, about $2BS,
500 will he paid on the general
claims. Thle money la available from
the sale of the Midland plant to Swift
A Co.
Coliimbu.i C. of C. to Probe
City Planning Systems
Columbus, Neb.. March 23.—Inves
tigation into the methods of city plan
ning commissions for cities of thit
size will be the subject of Investiga
tion by Herbert Hahn, secretary ol
the Chamber of Commerce. A num
ber of Illinois and Iowa cities the size
of Columbus have followed, on pro
portionate scales, many of the Ideas
employed by the Chicago planning
commission to create a city beautiful.
Stand on Record.
Bedford, la, March 24. Taylor
county democratic convention adopted
jio resolution*, deciding to let the ml
ministration* of the ln*t 12 years
apeak for themuelve*. Delegate*
ware rho»cn to th« atata convention, i
to ba held In Davenport April I,
Bossie Sold
Coal at $9,
City Claims
Records Show Sales at $8.50
and $7.50 a Ton, Account
ant Testifies at Audit
of Books.
Ex-City Clerk to Explain
What became of the money col
lected by the municipal coal depart
ment for 200 tons of Kentucky coal
at $9 a ton?
Mayor Dahlman, who accuses
Claude P. Bossie, former city clerk,
with embezzlement of $2,082, says the
records in the city clerk's office show
200 tons of Kentucky coal sold.
Charles Stenica, accountant retained
by Commissioner Dan Butler, reported
at Monday's audit that Bossie’s ac
counts up to December 31. showed
sales of coal at $8.B0 and a few tons
at $7.50, but no sales at $9.
Bossie declared he would explain the
Kentucky coal feature at the proper
time, but the explanation was not
forthcoming yesterday.
The shortage that is alleged to ex
ist in the city clerk's office is the dif
ference between the number of tons
of coal delivered as reflected by the
payrolls of the haulers and the dupli
cate slips of orders taken at the city
clerk's office..
Accountant Stenica declared the
haulers had been paid for 5,095 tons
delivered, as against 4,754 tons sold
and paid for.
Bossie admitted he kept no detailed
records of deliveries made by haulers.
EIGHT KILLED
IN SHIP CRASH
I.ondon. March 24 —Eight persons
were reported killed, one steamship
was sunk and another beached in a
bollision between the United States
liner American Merchant and the Al
bion liner Mantua off Thames Haven
today.
The American Merchant was on
her maiden voyage, bound for Til
bury. She was beached after the ac
cident.
The Mantua, crushed amidships,
was sunk.
According to first reports only two
members of the Mantua's crew were
killed. A later dispatch from Graves
end to the Standard put the dead at
eight. In addition, several were in
jured.
SHIPPING BOARD
QUIZ RESUMED
Washington, March 24.—Investjga
tlon of the shipping board and emer
gency fleet corporation was resumed
today by a special house committee,
with several members of the board
and the corporation on hand to
answer questions relative to pending
steps affecting the government's mer
chant fleet,
BANDIT TRIO GETS
$15,000 IN CASH
Washington, March 24. — Three
masked men today held up the super
intendent and cashier of a Figgly
Wiggly store on Pennsylvania avenue
and escaped with a bag containing
between $15,000 and $20,000 in cash.
Nebraskan lo Be Head of
Fori Berthold Indian Agency
Tabla Bock, Neb., March S4.—H. P.
Marbel, recently superintendent of the
Southern Pueblo Indian agency. A1
buquerque, N. M„ has been trans
ferred to the superintendency c-f the
Indian agency at Fort Berthold, S. D.
Marbel Is the only son of M. H.
Marbel of Table Bock, a Nebraska
pioneer.
Marbel, before his appointment to
the Indian service, was in the news
paper business, publishing the Elk
Creek Sentinel and the Humboldt
Leader.
Opinion on Ice Creanj Price
Discrimination Is Sought
IJncoln. March 24.—The attorney
general wa* asked today to give an
opinion whether dSrrimlnation In
cream price* la punishable under the
Nehraaka uniform price law or the
anti dlacrlmlnatlon law.
Many complaint* hnve been received
i*f eaae* where cream aold at cooipeti
tlve point* bring* * -price higher than
paid for the same quality at non
competitive atntlon* nearby.
f-;
Bobbvil I lair to Make
Rare of Bald-lleaded
H omen. Says Report
v___:_j
New York, March 24.—Bobbed hair
i* a Mire mean* for causing baldness
and It won't he many >’•* tra before
the world la filled with hold headed
women, Joseph Byrne, e«litor of a
beauty magazine, said In addressing
the annual convention of the Ameri
can Master Hair Dresners association
today.
Milliners, lie explained. In order to
conform to prevent day hair style,
have hern obliged to make head hand*
exceedingly tight to keep the hat* on,
reHultlhg in the death of the hair.
Mr. Byrne iiascrlcd that girl* of the
present generation would be bald be
fore they reached maturity.
(‘halie* Nestle, vice president of the
Association, characterized the bobbing
of balr ns the "greatest misfortune to
com* to women In recent years, ’
*4
Girl School Teacher Dead, Father
Seriously Burned in Oil Blast
Special Iti-p'itcli to The Omaha Bee.
Chester, Neb., March 24.—Leota
Brunbaugh, 19, teacher at the
Mount Zion school near here, is
dead and her father is in a critical
condition as the result of burns
sustained when Miss Brunbaugh
threw kerosene on supposedly dead
coals in the kitchen rangy.
The father, with Leota and a
younger daughter, had driven to
Belleville, Kan., and on their re
turn Brunbaugh built a fire in the
range and went out to the barn
_
yard. Leota, assuming that the
fire had gone out, picked up the
kerosene can and poured its con
tents upon the coals.
At once she was enveloped In
flames.
Her father, rushing to her assist
ance, was seriously burned.
The tragedy in the Brunbaugh
home is the second within a week,
a 17-yehr-old brother having died
six days ago from Injuries.
A 12-year-old daughter is left at
the home and three married sons
live in the vicinity.
_
Sinclair Cited
lor Contempt
bv Committee
j
Action Follows Refusal to Ap
pear Before Body In
quiring Into Teapot
Dome Scandal.
Washington, March 24.—The United
States senate today held Harry F.
Sinclair, inulti-inillionpire oil magnate,
who leased Teapot Dome from ex
Secretary of the Interior Fall, to be
ill contempt of congress.
There was only one dissenting voice
in (lie senate's action. It came troni
Senator Klkins, republican, of West
Virginia, who admitted dealing in
Sinclair oil stocks. The * vote was
72 to I.
Washington. March 24.—Harry F.
Sinclair, millionaire owner of the
Teapot Dome oil lease, this afternoon
was formally cited to the senate for
contempt for refusing to answer ques
tons propounded by the senate public
lands committee investigating the
leases of ex-Secretary of the Interior
Albert B. Fall.
It was the first time In years a
senate committee had chosen such
drastic means to require a witness to
testify, and the senate sat In pro
found silence as Senator Ladd, re
publican of North Dakota, chairman
of the investigation committee, read
the committee's citation.
When Ladd had concluded. Senator
Walsh, democrat of Montana, the
chief prosecutor In the oil probe,
recommended to the senate, that Sin
clair be certified for contempt, to
the United States attorney for the
District of Columbia and held for ac
tion by a federal gpand jury.
The text of the citation sets forth
that Sinclair, when called before the
Investigating committee on March 22
refused to answer questions. Thta
action, the citation holds, is not only
in contempt of the committee, but
also In contempt of the senate itself.
HONDURASTREBELS
GAINING STRENGTH
Washington, March 24 —Early col
lapse of the de facto government in
Honduras and ultimate success of
the revolutionary forces headed by
General Ferrera was predicted today
in dispatches to the Navy de
partment.
argentineXrmy
HEADS IN DUEL
Buenos Aires, March 24.—General
Justo, the Argentine secretary of war,
fought a duel Sunday with General
Dell, commander of the first division
of the army. General Justo was
wounded and unable to continue the
duel.
Indian Nurse Appointed
at Winnebago Reservation
IJneoln, March 24.—Mrs. Abbie
Boucher, a full blood Winnebago
Indian, was appointed Indian nurse at
the Winnebago Indian reservation.
Governor Bryan announced today
Pits will receive a salary of 1150 a
month.
Her work will be educational and
advisory, centering around attempts
to reduce the Infant mortality among
the Indians.
Mrs. Boucher ha* taken a four
year course In nursing In Illinois.
Board to (Jive Hearing on
Rock Island Assessment
I.incoln, March 24 —Bock Island
railroad excess assessment bearing
will be held before the board of equal
isation.
The Nebraska supreme court re
cently liandd down a dcision holding
that the Rock Island assessment of
$10,000,000 was excessive.
The equalization board must, there
fore, it was announced, either Increase
all other assessments or reduce the
assessment of the Book Island.
Superior M an Drops Dead.
Superior, Neb., March 21.—J. P.
Hoallc. til. resident of Seymour for
the past .10 year*, dropped dead a*
lie entered the lobby of the Varntcis"
State hank here. He hod suffered
a slight stroke of paralysis eight
monjli* ago. llostic was dead when
a physician arrived.
The only surviving nictnbei of the
family Is a wife by a second mar
riage, living hero.
Dixon Debater* \\ in.
N't-wnsilr Dixon county debater*;
\v$*n from t>d«r county debater*
when the Pon«*n High school team
met the ItartlngUm High achool team
at linrtington and argued the immi
gration queatlon, The x*oto of the
Judge* was two to one in fax or of
Ponca.
\
, •
Threats Made to
Clind Children
of Edsel Ford
Letters Received Demand
Payment of $1,050,000—
Youth and Women Held
as Suspects.
Detroit, March 24.—Existence of,
letters threatening that if Edsel
Ford, president of the Ford Motor
company, did not pay over Jl,050,000.
his three children would be blinded in
an unnamed manner, was disclosed
late today by Detroit police. At the
same time, Waslov Simek. 23, and
Mrs. Annie Hladik, 25, were arrested
in connection with the alleged plot.
According to Chief of Detectives Ed
ward S. Fox, three letters were re
ceived at the Ford office March 5, R
and 12, respectively. They were
crudely printed, vague in terms and
apparently written by some one bare
ly able to understand English. A
handwriting expert has identified the
letters as being written by Simek, Fox
declared.
Simek declared, according to the
police, lie was forced to write the let
ters by Mrs. Hladik. with whom he
has hoarded since coming here four
months ago from Czecho-Siovakla.
The woman denied all knowledge of j
the alleged plot.
BRITISH TO HOP OFF
ON WORLD FLIGHT
fly fniTersel Service.
London, March 24.—In the presence
of Brig. Gen. I/>rd Thomson, secre
tary of state for air. the British at
tempt to fly around the world will be
gin tomorrow, weather permitting.
The leader of the adventure,
which, on account of the virtual co
incidence of dates, competes with the
attempt made by four American fli
ers, is Stuart MacLaren. who special
izes in long distanoe flying and who
now possesses nearly every available
distinction in the war flying services.
With him are Flying Officer Plen
derleith as pilot and two engineers.
The world fliers will start from
west to east, making their first land
ing at Lyons. Other stages of the
flight will be to Brindisi, Athens,
Cairo, Bagdad, Besra, Karachi. Cal
cutta, Rangoon, Burma, Hong Kong,
Tokio, Aleutian Islands. Vancouver.
Toronto, Bt. Johns and homeward.
AMBASSADOR FROM
MEXICO SELECTED
San Antonio, Tex., March 24.—At
bert J. Pan), minister of finance In
the cabinet of President Obregon of
Mexico, has been officially designated
ambassador to the United States, ac
cording to word received here today
from Mexico City.
I .eon Salinas will succeed Panl as
minister of finance. .
Woman Is Qandidate
Against Her Husband
Shenandoah. Ia.. March 24—Mrfc
Walter Hooker la competing with her
huaband for tha office of city treae
urer In tha Blanchard municipal
election. March II. Mr*. Hooker 1*
a candidate on the woman s ticket,
headed by Elva Bean for mayor.
Guide Rock Pioneer Dies.
Guide Rock. Neb.. March 24—Mrs.
E. .1. Moore. 69, a resident of Guide
Rock for the past S3 years, has died
at a Hastings hospital and burial will
1-e her*. The family came from
Illinois and settled on land near here
in 1891, Th# survfvors are the hus
band. ef Guide Rock, and one son,
Frank B. Moore, president of Rider
Rnslnpss college. Trenton. N. J. One
son, Everett, died here last August.
Jugoslav Cabinet Quits.
Belgrade, Jugoslavia. Marrh 24.—*
The Jugoslav cabinet, headed by I’ve
mler Pachltch, handed its resignation
to the king today. All the minister*
belong to the radical party.
8 Dead in M reck.
Palin, March 24.—Eight ivrsoitN
were killed and 11 Injured at Met;
IchIhn when the OMende Haslo >>
crashed Into a freight train.
The Weather
___/
For ?4 hour* ntdlni T p m Mirch *4
rrwll«ilAt*»»n. IttfliiA AWtl lliiti«ttv<ltt4«
Tolil T Total •Im# .iAit. 1. ? IT; r\
ins. Of
llmtrl* 1>t»»|»ernlH!T«.
a a m. .... . .♦» t p in ,,,. . . 44
ti a m. ...... 1T * v . i
T a. 44t. ......ST !? in ..4
4 R 11), ■ * 4 |> m lb
9 A * 4 ... . I 11
I ft % tn 9 • -pm ‘
it a m . .,. 4J 1 p m. 4’«
1J Book .,....-44 I p. ui. ......4.
Blaze May
Cost Life
of Foreman
Clothing Ignited in Explosion
Which Blows Off Roof of
U. S. Oil Company
Works.
Second Plant Threatened
_\
Fire originating from an explosion
of undetermined origin destroyed the
yard plant of the U. S. Oil company.
Eleventh and Seward street*, at *
Monday afternoon and perhaps fatally
burned Axel Swanson, 25, yard fore
man for the company.
More than eight lines of hose wers
laid from six hose companies respond
ing to the two-alarm fire. The blaze
broke out with a terrific explosion
which, according to witneeses, blew
Ambulance Hit by Street
Car on W ay to Hospital
Tlie ambulance In which Axel
Swanson was being rushed to a
tospital crashed with a street car
between Douglas and Farnam
streets on Sixteenth street. The
car was wrecked and the front
vestibule of the street car was
radly damaged. Swanson suffered
no further injuries.
The ambulance was going sooth
on Sixteenth street and, after
rrossing Douglas street, swung
wide to pass a Swift A Co. truck.
Clifford Drefahl, driver, went too
far across the street and hit a
north-bound car head on. The
Swift truck was driven by C. An
derson, Drefahl reported.
Force of the shock tore off one
rear wheel from the ambulance
and badly damaged the entire ma
chine.
The police ambulance was called
and took Swanson on to the hos
pital where his condition is re
ported critical.
x_ J
the root of the plant's office building
high Into the air.
Swanson ran, flame-enveloped, to
the street where Knowles, employe
of the 'Sinclair Oil company, and C.
H. Van Nostrand of the Van Ness
Construction company attempted to
extinguish the flames. He was re
moved to Nicholas Senn hospital
where his condition ia reported as
critical.
On the way to the hospital, the am
bulance carrying Swanson, who ran
from the blazing office with his cloth
ing in flames, collided with a street
car.
Sinclair Plant Threatened
Oil pouring from burning barrels
In the office, flowed Into the street,
and for a time threatened the plant
of the Sinclair company. It gave off
dense clouds of thick, greasy smoke.
which quickly collected a crowd of
spectators.
For a time, also, tank oara filled
with oil. standing on tracks nearby
were threatened, but firemen succeed
ed in diverting the blaxmg steam
from them.
The building where the explosion
occurred, is a one-story frame stucco
structure. The roof was completely
torn from the walls by the force of
the explosion.
Swanson, the foreman, ia the aaly
man known to have been tn the place
at the time of the explosion. A. J.
Knowles, across ths street In the Sin
clair office, heard the blast and
rushed into the street. He braved
flames which already were envelop
ing what was left of the office, and
dragged out Swanson. The latter was
so badly burned that patches of skin
dropped from his body when he was
brought Into the open air.
Soon In dor Control
Effort* of firemen were devoted to
keeping the blare from epreadlng to
the giant oil storage tanks near the
building, and also te save the plant
of the Sinclair company.
It was feared that If the flame*
reached on# of the tanka, an explo
sion might result which would shake
the entire section of the city where
the yard is located.
The fire was reported tinder control
at I SO p m. Hymle and Mom*
Milder, owners of the V. S. Ol! com
pany. were unable to give an esti
mate of the loss.
tiaa Cars Moved.
Firemen and scores of bystanders
pushed five large cars of gasoline a
Mock down the tracks out of rang*
of the fire at the risk of their live*.
The first water played onto the bir
tank turned Into steam on account of
the extreme heat.
Firemen believe the fact that the
wind was from the south eared *
good i>avt of the property. The fire
Is to the north of the yards.
Men vv ho were m the y ards anJ
buildings at the time of the explosion
were W. 1. lllsUing, Frank Fetigcr
und Alex Applegate.
Swanson, who was severely* burned.
Is plant manager. A brand new Ford
car belonging to Swanson that was
standing In the garage was totally
destroyed.
A Ti'Pgallon tank wagon that was
in tin« building at the time of the fir*
was also destroyed.
Firemen were hampered in fighting
the fire by a gee teed from the big
tanks in the yard that was leaking
and causing flimes to teach t!e men.
Office of the works was entirely
demolished The Milder brothev*
who were at the scene of the fire,
tnev. d the - fc that was in the office
to the aucct.