v r—The Omaha N orning Dee ™"™™“ I# change in temperature. ^ * God la the I of the Infinite.—Hugo. CITY EDITION / VOL. 54—NO. 167. OMAHA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER26, 192L *’ TWO CENTSl> - ~ _ Hobart Dead to Be Buried in One Grave Recheck of Fire at School || House Party Shows 32 Died ™ by Blaze Started by Candle oil Tree. But 10 Can Be Identified By Associated Tress. Hobart, Okla„ Dec. 25.—With 32 bodies, most of them burned beyond recognition, lying in a temporary morgue in a two story building, and five persuns listed as dead or miss ing as a result of a Christmas eve fire at the district school house at Dabb s Switch, seven miles from here, Hobart citizens tonight were continu ing their efforts to identify the dead and were planning for their funeral. At a mass meeting today, called by V Mayor F. E, Gillespie, committees ! were named to look after every de tail of the slid task and the work Was going forward systematically. It has been decided to bury all the unidentified in one large grave in the Hobart cemetery and late today a crew of men broke the snow that blanketed the burial groilnd to throw up a long trench of gray red earth. Family Dies Together. Early tonight only 10 of the dead had been identified, despite the fact that the morgue was early thrown open to the public. A steady proces l i slon of grief stricken relatives filed * * all day long between the shrouded * forms, but so terribly had they been burned that it was impossible in most cases to mark the features of loved ones. Among those who hat e been recog nized is the family of T. O. Coffey, a farmer living near the Babb's Switch school. Six bodies, the father, mother adn four little forms, have been placed by themselves in a corner of the awesome room. Survivors tell a heart rending story of how the fam 11 v. standing in the center of the (((••V.izing school room, every meuns of escape cut off, threw their arms about one another and fell together into the inferno as blazing refters loosed from the roof struck them down. Amid the awful confusion of the scene, survivors say they were struck by the placidity with which the Coffey family ihet death. ”■ •'•teller Dies Saving Children. There, too, in a place apart, is the body of Mrs. Florence Hill, teacher at the school, who might have escaped had she not tarried in a futile effort to find some avenue of escape for her little charges. A woman from Fort Worth, formerly Juanette Clemmons of the Babb's Switch district; her laughter, Mary, 3, and A’esta Jacksan f (omplete the list of the identified dead early tonight. Death entered ill# Christmas cele liration suddenly, cutting off at its height the program rendered by the 1 children of the neighborhood. The last little girl had spoken her ''piece" and a jolly Santa in a red suit, and furs iiad distributed to each chubby pair of eager hands a little sack of randy, while parents and friends who packed the small one-room structure to capacity, looked on. Panic Sweeps Crowd. Santa reached for one of the few remaining candy sacks. His arm strugk a candle on the Christinas tree. The- tiny blaze fell from its perch and l pan Instant a ball of cotton on the ■| tree burst into flame. A rush to put out the fire ami the tree fell over, *' ^^Vintterlng blazing twigs. In an in f sttmt the room was in a panic. Men and women sprang for the Mingle exit at the rear and to the windows, beat ing out the panes, only to find tlie openings covered by a heavy wire net ting. The windows shattered, a brisk Wind blew through the room, fanning the flames and the flimsy structure caught like tinder. 'Many were crushed in the Jam be fore the door, and It is believed that (Turn to T#(e Two, Column Flte.f DLDEST WOMAN IN STATE DIES Kimball, Neb., Dec. 25.—Mr*. Anna B. Shafto, 102, died Tuesday evening at the home of her son. Judge M. K. Shafto, nt Harrisburg, Manner coun ty, according to word received here today. Mr*. Shafto, it Is said, was the oldest, woman It] Nebraska. She Wits born at Point Pleasant, N. X, In 1*22. Her father whs an ad juster for wrecked ships on the At lantic const. Mr*. Shafto was a resi dent of Banner county for 82 years. r We Have With Us Today j harles I,. Hogan, vice president, |fc»<*Tin*nt company that- distribute® It® product® all over tli* world y J Samaritan Robbed by Stranger , He Aided After lie befriended a stranger and purchased him supper and provided a place for the man to sleep Wednes day night, his efforts, as a good Samaritan, were rewarded by the stranger relieving him of his purso containing $50 and a- gold watch, John Phillips of Correctionville, la., reported to Council Bluffs police Thursday. The stranger's name was given to police by Phillips. Retailers Declare Holiday Business j Shatters Records Sales Will Exceed Those of Former Years by 10 Per Cent, Merchants Say; Outlook Bright. Owners of Omaha retail depart ment stores at the close of business Wednesday night announced that the Christmas season this year had brok en all previous years’ records. Several of the merchants said the sales this year will exceed former years by 10 per cent. Abe Herzberg of the Herzberg Tog gery, declared that his store was un able to take care of all the trade com ing into the store during the last two days of the Christmas holidays. Exceeds Wildest Hopes. Carrol Belden of the Thompson Belden company said the sales at his store exceeded other years by 10 per cent. "It was the greatest Christmas year In the history of our store," Mr. Bel den said. / At the Brandels stores, Karl I.ouis declared that the business this season had been very good. Thomas Flynn, president of the Hayden Brothers store said, "The un expected happened to us. We did a much larger business than ever be fore In the store's history. It lias given us added confidence that good times have returned to Nebraska." Other stores were as enthusiastic regarding the Christmas business. ( online Year Bright. William L. Hoizman at the Nebras ka Clothing store said business this year surpassed any' previous year. "We are satisfied with our holiday business," he said. Thomas Redmond of the Burgess Nash company said, "The business this year has not been as large as in former years.” He gar’e as his rea- | son that yie store had been on u strictly cash basis. All the merchants declare that the coming year will he a record break ing year from the standpoint of merchandising in Omaha. PARIS ENIOYS GAY CHRISTMAS! Bj lutm Paris, Dec. 2u.--Paris Iasi night and today celebrated Its Christmas with a zest that has seldom been equalled. AH the pews in Ilie churches were shotted far midnight, masses w ks ago, and many of the faithful were turned away. All the restaurants and cafes In the poorest and richest quarters (it the city were crowded with merrymakers who consumed great quantities of food and drink. The merriment kept up until dawn. Last night's price* In the cafes, on the whole. Were not excessive ex cept In the most elaborate establish ment of the Montmartre. Alter midnight In these places champagne cost 400 franca a bottle. All supper hills bore a tax of 27 1-2 pet- cent on the total, and the treas ury is counting on a respectable sum by way of a Christmas present. Another traditional feature of the celebration today was the swimming race In the Seine for the Christmas cup. There were III entries, includ ing one woman. Madeline Nissen. The race was won by the Hungarian. Dukasz. last year's winner. Ills time was 2:51 15 seconds.. Mile. Nis sen finished last. Santa Not Bothered by Contagion* Disease Contagious diseases don't mean a thing to Santa t'laus. If you don't he llevo It. ask John and James Chllde. sons of c. K. Chllde. manager of ih traffic bureau of the Chamber of Com merce. The two Iiojs are confined at their home, lit North Fifty-fourth street, with a mild attack (if chlckenpox. Their stockings were filled with gifts by Santa Claus some time dur ing Christmas evening. John Is ft years old and James Is 4 years old. Fmploynient Officer Suggested for Legion The Omaha poMt No. 1 of the Amer ican Legion Ih conulderlnfr employing an employment officer. 'Hip preeent employment bureau, officer* of the jMiut, nay, 1m becoming too email. If the employment officer I* aecur efl. It will l»e hi* duty l»» vl*lf Omaha Du Ml ne** flint* In an effort to neeure Defter poult ion* for e*-nervier men. \ Largewl On* Well in Sheridan Field Srui k Dunkirk, N. V.. Dec. 25. The Isrg cat gas well avrr struck In tin* Sheridan fields cainn In today with a dally flow of more than IJIOO.OOO feet. Autopsy ir McClintock Case Begun Pathological Examination of Body of Young Heir to Fortune Expected to Re quire More Than Week. To Question Shepherd Chicago, Dec. 25.—William D. Shep herd. foster father of young William (Billy» McClintock, the “millionaire orphan" and chief heir to his estate, will be questioned at the state's at torney's office as soon as he reaches Chicago, regarding the death of the youth at the Shepherd home three weeks ago, it was announced tonight. Ry V ,1. I.OKFNZ. I'ntversal Service Staff Correspondent. Chicago. Dec. 25.—A pathological examination, so minute that It will require at least a fortnight to com plete, is being made of the body of William Nelson McClintock, youthful heir to a SI’,000,000 fortune, whose death, ascribed to typhoid fever. Is the subject of a legal Investigation. Chemists in the coroner’s office this afternoon took up an examination of the vital organs of the youthful millionaire, whose death thwarted the consummation of his romance with his childhood sweetheart, Isabelle Pope. Upon the eghumation of the body yesterday, a preliminary autopsy was performed by four pathologists. Every external scar, even to the num ber of marks from hypodermodic needles, were noted by stenographers, to permit the preparation of an ex haustive report by January 20, when it is believed the chemical analysis will have been completed. Solid Food Theory. As Chief Justice Olson, who ordered the Investigation into the elrcum* shinies of McClintock'* death, inti mated, particular attention is being given to ihe possibility that the mil lionaire patient may have been given solid food during the crisis of his malady, diagnosed by specialists as a severe casi of typhoid fever. Medical authorities pointed out that the ad ministration of solid food at such a time would have proved as fatal as poison. The preliminary report of the pathologists, which was not ampli fied by any statement, revealed black deposits of a foreign substance in the lung tissue and a number of pleural scars. ' The lymph nodes in the bronchial area were extremely small ' this re port added. "The spleen was en larged. Numerous punctures showed In tile pancreas." Evidence Withheld, The specialists In toxicology and pathology refused to say whether the\ had found evidenp that solid food Iqj-l liei-n given .McClintock shortly before hi* death. Justice Olson, It was learned, has called to Chicago "a noted expert on typhoid and typhoid germs. The Jur ist has held a number of secret con ferences with this specialist. While medical authorities were in charge of the scientific phase of the case, officials of the state’s at torneys department continued their examination of other witnesses, chief among them being Mis* Pope, Mc Clinteck* fiancee Ylls* Pope's statement* that Wil liam D Shepherd, foster father of her fiancee, discouraged the attempt of the young couple to have a sick bed marriage ceremony performed, It was intimated, formed the liasls of this parallel investigation into Me Clintock's death. Shepherds to Return. Such p marriage, the authorities pointed out, would have Invalidated the will which McClintock signed shortly after he reached his maturity last spring. In this will the major part of his $2,000,000 fortune was be quenthed to Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd, after an annuity of $N,000, was des ignated for Mis* Pope, but without provision of a trust fund from which this annuity might he paid. The Shepherds were reported ns having left Albuquerque. N. M„ vvllere they have been visiting at the home of James E. Davidson, a friend, since their wealthy ward was burled. Robert H Stoll, partner In the law firm of which Mr. Shepherd, the for mtr Snlina (Kan I druggist, was a member, declared that the Shepherds were hurrying back to Chicago to lake part ill tile Investigation they claim was prompted by disgruntled distant relatives of McClintock who failed to share In the estate. Vanderlip’it Condition Reported ‘‘Favorable** Ri’.i rhornuKh, N. T., I»er, Sf>.~ Frank A. Vnmlerllp, former financier, who la III at Ilia country home here with typhoid fever, la "lmldlnic Ida own," Dr. Norman ftutneaby, the family phyalclan, announced today, lie aaul that It will he two more daya before the i rlaia of the ailment Will have been paaaed Noted Sculptor Die*. PlfttiiH, Italy, | trt 25.- I'itntllo fin! loil, 1 ho noted sculptor, died sudden ly todny. Ills most noted works In diide a monument to fUrtltiUdl n rently erected In the tint dene of the Jenh ulum4 wt Home, end n moitti rnenr to hour Victor Kminuituel II. dedicated in 1011 at fluiiP ♦y -•— vVsque Adventurer, Wanted in f^'Jw York, Arrested by Italian Police Major Thomas Mac Fie, “Perfect Gentleman,” Has Amaz ing Career Checked on Ch arge of Embezzling $50,000 From American Club on Riviera; Alleged Slayer. By C. F. BERTEMJ. I'ntvrrsal Service Staff Correspondent. Paris, Dec. 25.—The amazing ca reer of a "perfect gentleman" said to be wanted in New York for mur der, ended at San Remo, Italy, last night when on a warrant from Nice, France, the Italian police ar rested Maj. Thomas Mac Fie. Mac Fie is secretary of the famous Win ter club, at Nice, and is declared by the police lng printed tomorrow or Fri day, which also Is a holiday. King George will Join his subjects tomorrow night In an eager rush to the wireless receivers in order to hear a brief summary of the world'* news which will be broadcasted at 10 o’clock. The following day news summaries will be sent out In the afternoon as well as In th« evening. Saturday morning the newspapers w-lll apt>enr with three daye' new* In one Issue Itefore the wireless became popu lar In British homes the absence of news used to lead to most extraordi nary crops of rumors, mostly aliout Imaginary disasters the world over, but radio broadcasting has proved an efficient corrective to alarmist news toongerftig. Stormy weuther with sunny Inter vals Is promised for tomorrow. GREEN SAYS 1925 PROSPECTS GOOD Coshocton, O., Pec. 24—Prospect* for labor, considering the country at large, during 192S are "reasonably satisfactory,'’ 'William Green, newly elected president of the American Federation of l^lmr, declared here today. Green la here spending the holidays with his home folks. Ills belief, he any I, Is based upon two factor*. The first, he declared, I* the sla hlllslng effect of the operation of the liawes plan In Kurope. The moral effect of the settlement of the repara tions controversy upon the wot king class will he great, he asserted, lid ding that the market* thnf will ho created abroad will have a direct and Immediate effect upon Industry In till* country. The second factor Is Ihe absence of disturbing Influence* In the field of labor and Industry at the present time, be sets forth, lie pidhted out that there are no strikes or shutouts of labor of any major proportion any where In (ho country and that Ihete I* no Immediate prospect of any. IforrioU 1 |> For First Time Sinrr Ulnrs* Dmomltor 10 Paris, pec 25 Premier Harriot, who has licet! confined to lit* room by Illness since Itecembei III was il lowed to leave Ills bed fm Ihe fu time today The doclor*. howevei have ordered that lie iiiust slay off his feet, owing to the coitllitulnf stiffness In Ihe muscle* of tin- calf of mis I,f Ills legs. L'onset|Uently, for the ttnir bring, he will work In ,au ami chair, Mrs. W. W. Marsh Dies Christmas Day Resident of Omaha for More Than 50 Years; Widow of Late Captain Marsh. Mrs. TV. TV. Marsh, a resident of Omaha for more than 50 years, died at 2:30 Christmas morning at her home. S04 Pine street. Mrs. Marsh was the widow ofvthe late Capt. TV. TV. Mansh, who died in 1901. She is survived fiy three sons, Frank, William and Allan. She was born on February J, 1838, at North New Portland, Me. Sin- came west In 1859 to Sioux City, where a brother had already located. She le mained in Sioux City but a short time, then went to Ponca, Dakota county, Nebraska, to teach school. She also taught school in Ida Grove, la. In Januarv. 1863, she was mar rled to Capt. Marsh and in the seine year they came to Omaha. Mrs. Marsh had lived in Omaha ever since. Funeral services will he held at 2 p m. Saturday afternoon at the home, 804 Pine street. Rev. Frank G. Smith of tlie First Congregatloral church will officiate. Mrs. Marsh was one of the first members of the First Congregational church. Gertrude Marsh has recalled invi tations for a tea which was to have been given at her home, 5014 Chicago street, Saturday afternoon, owing to the death of Miss Marsh's grand mother, Mrs. TV. TV. Marsh. GREETERS ELECT ' EGAN FIVE TIMES A national record for the Greeters association was established Tuesday, when at the annual meeting of the Nebraska Iowa Greeters, charter No. 1, John F. Kgan. manager of the Hotel Sanford, was reelected to*the presidency of the organization for the fifth consecutive time No other presidents of local charters throughout the country have ap proached the record established by Mr Kgan. Other officers elected at Tuesday’s meeting were TV. H. Owens. Creston, la., first vice president: Henry Heckerf. 1-exlngton, Neb., sec ond vice president, and Charles Rynn of Omaha was re elected secretary for another year. Among the out-of-town Greeters present at the meeting were Archie Payne, Red Oak, la.: M M Mohney, Fremont, Neb., and Carl Meride, Sioux City, la. , Leopold and Loeb Will Spend Christina* in Cells H.v I nli.rani Servlr.. Joliet. Ill,, IW. 24.—Nathan F Leo poM. Jr., and Richard I.oeb. alayers of Robert Franks, will spend the greater part of (Ttrlattnae day In their cell*—In contrast to the yuletldes of former years, when they were sur rounded with every luxury thnt their wealthy pnrente supplied. Leopold* father and brother visit ed the young convict Onlay and brought him a box of food. Loeb'a mother United him lael week. The <‘hrl*lmaa meal In the peniten tint v which the amis of the t'hlcago millionaire families will share with the 2.otiu other prisoner*, will e*ec. 25. A homh In the form of a ihii*tnm* package re reived by KrneiM M Torch la ( an at loiury, exploded here early today . blowing off iil« left hand, driving fragment* Into hi* ImhIv and Injuring on* *\\ o Kmlly Torchlg, a daughter, ie i’dved laceration* about the face an l neck in the explosion which wrecked the room. Santa Claus Brings City Cheery Day Rising Temperature Marks Omaha's First White Christ mas in Four Years; Fam ily Reunions General. Special Church Services - Omaha welcomed Santa Claus Thursday. Christ maa cheer, remembrances and the spirit, the lack of which made old Scrooge famous, were out standing features of the day. And not least was the warmer weather which the old gentleman brought with him. Omaha was successful In having its white Christmas, the first in four ytars. Rut there were no tears shed when the forecast of the weather man. that the whiteness must be ac companied by a nearzero tempera ture, went wrong and the mercury began to climb. The mercury climbed so rapidly that by S Christmas evening ther mometers were registering about II degrees above zero. Special Church Service*. Special service* were held In churches throughout the day. The first service started at midnight Wednesday. From that time on al most every hour saw a service of some kind in some church somewhere, In the city. Parties were confined largely to family reunions. The annual parties of charitable organizations began Wednesday afternoon and continued on until afternoon of Chrtsunnr day. Hundreds of boy# and girls, entire families who might not have er.jo.veo Christmas quite so much, were cared for by th-s- organization#. Th< family reunions were neld ir homes in all pane of the < It- . In Benson the Joseph McGuires 7- e I eb ra od their 26th t'hrlstmne party. Be sides Mr. and Mrs. McGuire •her1 were seven sen- and daughters and seven sons and daughtersin-lnv and 14 grandchildren who gathered In th# dining room at 63u3 Wirt street. It was the 25th time tflat Joseph Mc Guire and his wife have celebrated Christmas in that same dlnlr.g room. Crippled Children Cheered. All of the parties were not con fined to homes. At the theaters the actors gathered on the stage between performances and did their bit to cheer each otnei. At the Hattie B. Munroe Home for Crippled Children in Benson, Santa Claus called In i>erso:i and cheered the tots with presents. Ringing eleighbells notified the hlldre ntha’ their patron* saint baa arrived. They crowded t the w!:. dows In an effort to -ee th# reindeers Santa Claus, but the reindeers we.e tethered or th» roof or behind tht woods,i-il or somew he- e out of sight Then, in walked .Santa Claus. He was a big mail, not so large of girth j as many of his pictures would indi cate, but a good big fellow, bearing a arlking resemblance to Charles Gardner of Ak Star Ben fame. Two Christmas Babies. At the Rlveraid# home thd dtory was repeated. Sant* galloped In. spread a good portion of cheer, and galloped out. At least two Chrtatms* babies ar rived on the heels of Santa Claus. At the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Thomas. 3427 Hamilton street, an eight and three-quarters pound baby boy was born. At th# home of Mr. and Mrs. R. gtbUia, 714 South Thirty-eighth a'# nue, an eight and one half pound baby girl was born. Th# Thomas baby was born at 10:20 Christmas morning. The Slbllta baby at 6:10 Christmas evening. Chicago, Dec. IR.—Whit# and cold, Christmas In t*blcago today brought happiness to thousands, misery- and suffering to other*, and death to two. It was th# coldeat Chrlatmaa day In many years, the mercury dropp'ng to Jive below zero early today and hovering near tha zero mark for the entire day. Two persona were found frozen to death, flva others suffered fro*en hands and feet and acore* reported nipped eats and nosee. Itesplt# the cold, the city made marry and thon sands of th# destitute and homeless were fed and i ared for by philan thropic agencies. Religious service#, big dinners and sn afternoon of en tertalnment featured program* In th# (alls, hospitals, charitable Institutions and homes for th# aged Numerous RohVrtea. The t *1irtstmis spirit failed to pei meal# the underworld and It* mem bers oalebrated the dav. Indulging In numerous holdups, roblierie* and kid niptng- line woman ws* robbed of it diamond ring valued at 21.ROC and 11 (10 In cash. Ice encrusted firemen apeut part of llie holiday tvattllng a blaze which practically destroyed a five story brick building with a loss of IJivnoO and a score of them probably saved their lives when, warned by th# crackling of breaking mortar, they scurried from the building Juat a# the (Turn te Paae Twe (el aw* brstj Her. Jolm Fox, 71, Dir*. ( Aston, En , I'er. 24—Rsv, John Fez, 71. a retired Presbyterian i|vln later and former secretary of the American Ulblc society, 1* dead. ( LINCOLN WOMAN DIES OF BURNS Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 25.—Christmas eve cheer turned to tragedy for a Lincoln family when Mrs. H. F. Lud wig. mother of three email children, died In a hospital from burns receiv ed when she poured kerosene on the kitchen fire. Death occurred at 1:15 a. m. today, seven hours after the accident. Mrs. Ludwig had returned from a shopping trip, buying gifts for the children when she poured oil on the fire to "hurry It along." Mrs. Wickham’s Condition Critical: Husband Improves Doctors Report Contractor and Son Out of Danger; Services Today for Nurse Killed in Crash. Mrs. E. A. Wickham was still in a critical condition as a result of In juries suffered when a Rock Island freight train craahed Into her hus land's automobile at the South ave nue crossing in Council Blues 1A ed nesday afternoon. Mr. Wickham and Bernard Wick ham. his son. were pronounced out of danger early Christmas day by hos pital authorities. Mrs. Wickham suffered a com pound fracture of the right arm and the fracture of several ribs, as well as severe cuts and brulsea about the head and body. Burial at Wahoo. Bernard Wickham's youth is aiding in his rapid recovery from his inju ries. At the time of the accident it was thought that he was one of the more seriously injured. A bad gash across his head led physicians to be iiei e that he might have a fractured skull. An Xray examination dis proved this theory. The body cf Miss Florence Brodahl, i ut»e, who was killed In the crash. ill be taken to Wahoo. her home, for burial today. Her father. John Brodahl, was unable to reach Council Bluff* Thursday. He is In 111 health ft ht* home. Inquest Tuesday. ‘'owner L. Henry Cutler chose his jury Thursday and began collecting information about the accident. He deck.red that he would not hold the inquest until after some member of the Wickham family Is out of the hospital and can be present at the hearing. Mr*. Dan Farrell, Mason City, la., mother of Mrs. Wickham, arrived in Council Bluffs Christmas morning. She went directly to the hospital and has been at her daughter's bedside ever since. Dr. William Farrell, a brdther. Is on his waj to Council Bluffs and 1a expe. eu to arrive this morning. CONTRACTS LET FOR HOSPITAL 't anhingioii. Dee. 25.—Contracts f' ■.’i-.'-trii, "ion of a 232 bed hospital at San Fernando, Cal., to cost ap prximat#l> 11,000.000 hate been awarrte dby Director Hines of the Veteran's bureau. The North Pa cific ‘ 'Destruction Co . of Los Angeles, was giren the general construction contracts on Its bid of 755,9??. Other accepted bids were: heating. T. K. Thomas, plumbing snd heating company. Ogden, I'tah. $53,221; plumbing, J M. Eustace. Los Angeles. $111,952; electrical, Oans Brothers, Inc Los Angeles, $55,730. Fifteen blda for general construction were opened, the next lowest being $22,000 higher than the accepted btd, and the highest belt g $230,400 in excess. Plans for the hospital were drawn to permit enlargement to a 1,000-bed capacity. MmumI ‘ Thief Steals “(iood Fellows’ *' Toys Denver,'v'olo . Dec, S.V—There Is no spirit of Christmas In this story. Bather it Is a tale of the meanest man In Denver today. While an automobile filled with toy* and food stuffs to he delivered hy an organlaa tlon of good fellows was parked In front of a home In a residential district, a thief stole all of th* toys, laick of time and fear of being ap prehended probably caused him to leave behind the footatuff. Birmingham. Ala.. Pec. J5.—After Santa I’laue had come d^wn the chimney a "meanest'’ thlev entered a side window of the home of Ike Kel ler here last night and departed with n $7.’> fur coat for Mra. Keller, a new hat and overcoat for Mr. Keller and toya for the children. City detectives are Investigating. Fire Dcotrovs Hotel. Huntsville. Ala., Pec. lb.—The Me * lee hotel and several btialness houses 1 adjoining were destroyed by fire to dsv with an estimated loss of $200. 000, Hotel guest* in night dress were driven Into the street with a col-tl wind blowing and the mercury around; 20 degrees shove sero. Weather | . > Tpr J| hMnt on4ln* T r tvi . I her ft Tree inn* n,v« nrhn *n4 h tui4re,l! he Total 0 Total tne* Jtmitrv 1. til .1** j ft* \ < I* Hour I* Tonipomturo*. * • * \ i» m . IX * * 1 t v. P . . u 10 Virgina Homes Are Swept Away Improvised IIu»pital in Drug Store Cares for 35 Injured, While Parties Search for Victims. Death Toll May Increase Roanoke, Va., Dee. 25.—Six persona are known to be dead and nine are missing as the result of the breaking of a “muck” dam of the Mathieson Alkali works at Saltville last night. . Thirty-five are in hospitals at Abing don and Saltville, some seriously in jured. Most of the Injured were said to be lying In an improvised hospital over adrug store at Saltville. Physicians and nurses rushed from nearby towns were aiding those hurt, while other relief was given those left homeless. Searching parties were scouring the banks of the IT- » ton river for mlle3 below the alkali works in an effort to recover more t odies. It was feared that some of the missing may be buried beneath the tons of murk re leased with the waters when the storage dam gave way. Trapped in Homes. The flood which bore down at 10 upon the mill settlement nestling be low the impounded waters, came with out warning, and the victims, trapped in their homes, were unable to escape. All the missing are believed to have been swept into the north fork of the Holston river. One body, that of Mrs. Harry Traitor, the only identified dead, wa found four miles below the scene of the disaster at her home, in the first house below the dam. A Christmas party was said to have been in gro gress. and it is thought that most of the missing were guests at the Traitor home. Harry Traitor, the father, was among those unaccounted for tonight. Ten houses occupied by workmen were swept sway and the bottom land* of the Holston river, as far as Tum bling creek, six miles distant, were covered with the sediment that was stored behind the dam. Telephone messages from the scene of the disaster indicated the death toll would possibly reach 13. By Vaiirrwl Srrrife. Bristol. Tenn , Dec. 25.—Five are known to have perished and others are missing following the bursting through of the dam of the Mathieson AHraii works at Saltville, Va.. on the north fork of the Hoistein river, 43 miles north of here early today, re sulting from the recent torrential rains. Property damage of $500.r-M* *«> caused and many homes aiojig the hanks of the stream are tonight mass es of wreckage strewn along the river banks. Searching parties today found a number of injured and discovered hundreds of heads of livestock drowned. Rescue Work Difficult. The known dead are four members of a family named Pauly and W. H. Scott, who lost their lives when their homes were swept into the swirling wafers. Rescue work is made difficult be cause of the high water which pre \a!le today. The river at Saltville is out of its banks for more than a mile. So rapid was the rise that a num ber of homes were swept into the surging water while the occupants were still asleep, their warning be ing the crashing of the timbers and the Inrush of the Icy flood. It t» feared that the known fatalities will lie added to when a complete check up is possible. Mennonitr? Awaiting Transportation Sou tit Saskatoon. Saak. lv*e. N—On* hundred Mennonites with their house hold effect* tn railway cars at Hagvi* anit Osier, near here, were awaiting today the fulfillment of a promise they Raid had been mad* by th* Mexi can government to transport them, free of charge, to a settlement 500 mile* south of the t'nlsed Slates bor der. Leaders of th' Mention)!** said that th* minister of railways of th* former Mexican administration had promW*(I them fro* transportation and they ex pected to receive word from th* minis ter of th* new administration, con firming the agreement made by hla predecessor. Vltru-M Club Santa (Mama. The Altrusa club played Santa Oau* to the crippled children at th* Hattie It Monroe home In R*n«on, Wednesday afternoon t'har'es (Gard ner took the role of Santa t'laua. Th* children worn civ en toy* and candy. A sa> k full of toys aid y ei'ow cab* taken from th* Christmas party of the notary club. Wednesday lloon by Gardner and Ira Jane# were also giv en th* children. Ib.lk.in 1 SMIOA to Ht* Divt'IRjiftl 1 Vo. —lYmkr Tiankoff, it tutor *n wtfn^nH'Dt of th* .lu*>v Slav lam aiuI KutmuSAii u nwniv.rnt*, Vft tonight f 't Hotgmotv amt Ibb b.r. b‘ ncKoikit«' uniiiM'ttUit«1iuyt Mining til* lUdkatt state* op vaiiou* pressing Issue* N'i^ details ft |h» premiers program wer* KUea evrt h$ th* 'iulgai uu» s"' ercuueatj ”* '