Nebraska Newspapers

    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»<*T<n|,kerlKHker Portland Cement ..
T pan.v, Albany, N, V.
. Mr. Hogstt With Mrs. Hogan Is
spending Christmas week In Omaha
will, relatives, Mr. and Mrs James
Muldoon. He has made his home nl
I /Albany, N. V., for iimny years where
■ be has been associated with the
-Aiitlckerlsa’ker Portland Cement etna
pany of which he la vice president.
Wits company, ha alnte*, is a branch
or division of the International Port
i land f>in*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 <?f that city to be the
."handsomest adventurer unhung."
The charge on which Major Mac
Fie was arrested is for the embez
zlement of $50,000 entrusted to him
by the American club on the Ri
viera for purchase of land on
which to build a proposed club
house. Of the money $30,000 has
been recovered in a bank at Monte
Carlo.
Invariably garbed as an undoubt
ed gentleman, soft spoken and in
gratiating. Mac Fie, who is about
40. has had one of the most plc
turesriue careers on record. Ac
cording to the police he originally
was cashiered from the British
army when the war broke out. He
had been in a Canadian prison,
from which his mother obtained his
release In order to permit him to
enter the army.
At the same time, it Is explained,
he is being sought by New York
authorities for murder. He had a
brilliant record on the French
front, won the D. S. O. military
medal and the war cross of the Le
gion of Honor. After the war he
was chief aviator In the British
expedition to Archangel. Next he
commanded a legion of the famous
"Black and Tans” sent against Ire
land by Premier Lloyd George and
It is alleged he was the man who
ordered the "Black and Tans” to
fire on the crowd at a football
game in Dublin where JO were
slain and 100 wounded.
New York Poultry
Barred in Iowa
Embargo to Continue for Dur
ation of “Fowl Plague’’
in East
Des Moines, Dec. 25.—An embargo
against the shipment of live poultry
from New Vork and New Jersey Into
or through Iowa, has been placed by
Mark O. Thornburg, state secretary
of agriculture, to continue as long as
the "fowl plague" exists In New
York city.
During the continuance of the em
bargo, all carF, coops and crates used
for shipment of live poultry In the
two eastern states must he disinfect
ed and cleaned under supervision of
the federal bureau of animal Industry
before they are permitted to enter
Iowa. , ‘''
Mr. Thornburg issued a statement
declaring that Investigations of the
department Inspectors found that no
r.ew poultry disease existed In Iowa.
"The eastern embargo against
western live poultry has been taken
as a means of protecting the trade
against loss of birds while In transit
and the action of the Iowa depart
ment Is taken to protect the health
of the chickens of the producers and
shippers In Iowa."
ENGLAND HAS ITS
USUAL NEWS FAST
By ROBERT 4. BREW,
Vfilter**I KptiIp* Mtff I ottp*ponde*»i.
Inndon. Dec. 24.—England began
Its annual news fast tonight, no pa
per* l*>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*<n
slat of roast i<ork, dressing, pie, cof
(fit- and Ugars.
Men Who Took Inebriate
Homo Stoal His Marhino
11 on* toll, Tex, Dfiv 25.— T*. N.
Thotnpaon had a drink or two 1h*
other night, he told tho polio*. II*
couldn’t nmkc hi* car go right, aontc (
how, although It was a new aedan.
Two nico young man nffaied t•»
drive H hom* for him They did
They hft him at hi* front door and
drove off In the car.
Itnmh Sent as Present.
Olendalc, t'a! l>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 ”* '