if
The Omaha Sunday
Bee.
PAGES 1 TO 8.
.r.
NEWS SECTION.
ESTABLISHED JUXE 19, 1871.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUAIiV 20, ll0o T11IKTYTWO PAULS.
SINGLE COW LIVE CENTS.
A
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1
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' JAP LINE IS BROKEN
'fceport that Kouropatrin Succeeds in
"j Piercing Oyama's Left Wiig.
NOW Tt.RtATENS HIS COMMUNICATIONS
Russian Humored ti Hate Begun a Gen
cral Turning Movement
7 MAY FORCE JAPS FROM WINTER QUARTERS
f ' Cbbi Army Leses One Thouiand Men ia
Battle of Thursday.
BEGINNING OF GENERAL ENGAGEMENT
Reports Say Flsbt Has
la Progress foe Two I
aud that Russian Arc
Repulsed. ,
ST. PliTF.RSDURU. Jan. 19 U:M o. m.
Accerdlng to reports current In military
circles General Kouropatkln has broken
through Field Mars-haJ Oyama'i left wing
and threaten hl communications with
Ylnka-v. Whether or not the report is
true the Associated Press learns from a
high military source that General Kouro
'patkln has undertaken a general offensive
movement on both Hanks with the object
of threatening both lints of Japanese com
munications and forcing the Japanese
from their winter quarters. The Informant
Of the Associated Press said:
"After Oi'tieral Mlstchenko's advance
General Kouropatkln added that General
Oyama's position could be turned west
ward from the plains. The advance has
absolutely no connection with events in
European Russia. If. as has been re
ported, the Russians have already suc
ceeded In piercing the Japanese left, they
doubt les- will be able to reach a point
west of I.lno Yang. In which case the
Japane. 'will be outflanked. A similar
movemen southward from Bcntsiaputxe
will strls- the Japanese Unit of communica
tions toward Yalu. Although cold, the
weather I Ideal for winter campaigning.
The ground la hard and the rivers frozen
solid, making the handling of artillery
easy.''
No further official news was received
from the front Saturday night. General
Kouropatkln has something short of
800,000 men and 1.100 guns. The troops
engaged on the right, in addition
to General Mlstchenko's and General Ren
nenkampf's cavalry, are believed to be
principally Siberian and part of the First
Kuropean army.
Hasalan Loss One Thousand.
A telegram from Chansiamutun says the
Russians lost forty-five officers and 1,000
men killed or wounded at the capture of
the village of Bandepas January 28. The
Russians took 102 Japanese prisoners be
sides arms, wagons and ammunition.
The general start has received the follow
ing dispatch from General S&kharoff, Gen
eral Kouropat kin's chief -of-staff:
Our troops continue on the offensive at
Bandepas. South of there mir cavalry en
countered four Japanese battalions and six
squadrons of cavalry advancing from Hel
koutai. The Japanese lied, throwing their
'rms into ambulance wagons. One of our
columns' took thirty prisoners and another
captured twenty.
. General' Ena-asrement Bearlne. 1
. MUKDEN, Jan. 28.-10:44 p. tn. (Delayed
In Transmission) A general engagement Is
progressing. Only the left flank. Is not In
volved. The hospitals here and at Harbin
have been put In readiness to receive large
numbers of wounded, of whom about 1.000
have already arrived at Mukden. Several
hundred Japanese were made prisoners.
The battle commenced on the rtght flank on
General Kouropatkin's Initiative. The
Japanese were driven hack five miles from
their advanced positions defended by the
reserve brigades. The fighting extended
January 2ti to the center. The Japanese
endeavored to take Poutllff hill, but 'Were
driven back with heavy loss.
The men going Into battle ar well pre
pared for the weather conditions, being
warmly clad and shod, well fed and In
good spirits.
The activity of General Mlstchenko's fast
riding cavalry continues. A large Japa
nese transport train waa captured on the
extreme right of the west flank. ,
Plant I-asta All Day.
The most important cannonade sine the
first battle on the Shnkhe river, was main
tained all yesterday In a continuous storm
against the Japanese left, which Field Mar
shal Oyama has been reinforcing with
troops from Port Arthur since General
Mlstchenko's raid. The attack was centered
about seven miles west of Sliskhe station
and it resulted In the Japanese withdraw-
' Ing from Holantat and Funchuong-Chlatsu,
which the Russians have occupied. The
'cannonading and snowstorm continued un
diminished today. It Is considerably colder.
The cannonading Indicates that an ex
tended contest is progressing. The driving
wind and snow favor the Russians, thus
offsetting the advantage the Japanese hnd
last October when the sun shone In the
Russian' eyes.
Today's reports Indicate that the Japan
ese are continuing to fall back, while the
Russian cavalry have, It Is understood, ad
vanced tht-tr lines ten miles. The Japanese
yesterday flew a large kite Into the Russian
lines. The kite was covered with photo
1 graphs showing the treatment of Russian
prisoners tn Japan. It was evidently in
tended to attract the Russian soldiers.
On January 17 there was a heavy cannon
ade on the light flank. It subsided entirely
shortly after noon and quiet now continues
throughout the center and right.
Oyama Reports.
TOKIO. Jan. 28,-The on Inactivity on
the Bhakhe liver was broken January 25
when General Kouropatkln advanced' a full
corps from the vicinity of Shcngtsu. Field
Marshal Oyama Immediately assumed the
aggrekslve and engagement occurred at
, Chenchlehpao and Helkoutul. Oyama re
ports that be defeated the Russians nt
Chenchlehpao. The engagement at Hel
koutul wss progressing when the field mar
hul reported. The official telegram does
not discloss the object of the Russians and
dues not indicate the prospects of a geu
erul engagement.
Oyama's report follows:
The enemy en the rlnht of the Hun river
began activity January 2a. Over one corps
advanced from the district south of Cheng
tsu toward lleikoulai and Chenchlchpuo.
Our urmy assumed the offensive Juiiuury
Sti. Our detachment repulsed a division of
the enemy at Chenehlehimo. The Russians
retired to Lautiuko. Another detachment
hits been ensuring a division of Russians at
llelkoutal since January 2ti.
Japs Csstore shim.
TOKIO. Jan. IS. p. m. The American
steamer M. S. Dollar, enroute for Vladi
vostok with a cargo of provisions snd
forage, was seised yesterday by the Japa
nese In the Pacific ocean east of Hokkaido
island.
A dispatch from Iondon. dated January
(Continued on Second Pago.)
STORIES OF LOUISE MICHEL
"Red VlrgHsi" af Prance a Woman of
Dees sympathy and Broad
Charity.
PARIS, Jan. 28-( Special Cablegram to
The Bee.) Louise Michel, whose death was
announced recently, was a pctroleuse. dur
ing the commune, helped to light the first
which destroyed several monuments of
Taris In 171, fought like a demon against
the Versailles, being severely wounded on
Issy fort, and at her trial by court-martial
cried: "When you charge me with having
had a share in the shooting f the gen
erals by the communards, I reply that had
I been there when they gave the order to
fire on the people I would have shot them
down myself."
Much more than this the "Red Virgin"
did and said, and yet she was the best,
kindest and most tender-hearted of women,
and if any one ever practiced Christian
charity she practiced it when she was not
revolutionising. 8he went literally hungry,
barefooted and in rags to help others, snd
It was no One flgur of speech, but the
actual truth, to say that she gave all she
had. Anecdotes of her boundless charity,
which no deception or trickery ever ar
rested, are Innumerable. Georges Clcnen
ccau found her one day In a wine shop
looking at a man eating a plate of soup
at her expense. Clemcnerau knew him for
a notorious regis, and whispered to Louise:
"Do you know that man Is a swindler?"
"I cun t help that," she said; "he wss
hungry."
When Henri Rochefort and she, with
other communists, were transported to
New Caledonia, Louise Michel distributed
all her shoes and stockings among her fel
low prisoners and remained barefooted la
bitterly cold weather. The captain of the
convict 'ship Vlrglnle snld to Rochefort, "I
r.hoold like to give Louise Michel a pair of
slippers, but she would never take them
from me. Here they are, you give them to
her." Rochefort passed the slippers to
Louise Michel through the bars of the Iron
cage In which, like all the prisoners, she
was confined on deck, and she put them on.
The next day she wae barefooted as be
fore. "I gave them to so and so," she ex
plained. "I did not want them so badly as
he did."
Nothing that she had belonged to her, she
believed, and she acted up to the belief.
Not many months ago she turned up at the
office of Rochefoit's paper, L'Intranslgeunt,
dropping with exhaustion, having had no
food for two days, and having tramped
across Paris, as she had not three half
pence to take the outside of a 'bus. Rochefort-
gave her a 100 frHiie note. On leaving
the office she met two anarchists, who told
her they were In want. She turned Into the
nearest wine shop, changed the note Into
two of 60 franc notes, gave one to each
man, and trudged home again supperless.
Another time, meeting Rochefort, she cried
to him Joyfully. "I am going to my pub
lishers, where I am to draw 30 francs."
That very evening, walking homeward by
the fortifications, she came across a family
In rags. She did not even wait for them to
ask for alma, but gave them the entire 300
francs.
INSISTS ON A CONFESSION
Parishioners Soy Children Are Re
fused Commanton for Failure
to Follow Rales.
LONDON, Jan. 2S.-tSpeclal Cablegram to
The Bee.) A petition has been presented
to the bishop of Chichester by seventy of
the parents who recently addressed him on
the subject of their children being1 refused
by the clergy of St. Andrews', 'Worthing, to
be presented to the bishop for confirma
tion, because the children had declined to
attend confession. The petitioners say
that they have been anxiously awaiting the
result of his lordship's promised Investiga
tion, "but In the meantime regret to learn
that most aggressive measures are being
taken against these children, some of whom
have already been expelled from the Guild
of the Holy Child, on the ground that they
had not been confirmed. The fact that only
twenty-six out of fifty-seven candidates
were presented Is quite sufficient proof that
no misunderstanding exists as to the cause,
and we feel that we should be utterly
wanting in our duty to our children If we
failed to use every possible means of re
moving the unwarrantable slur that has
been cast upon them, and confidently ap
peal to your lordship to assist us tn our
determination to do so."
To this communication a reply has been
received from the bishop stating that he
can only confirm those whom the clergy
present to htm as being properly prepared,
and are duly qualified for that Important
rite. His lordship was also understood to
say he had before him a statement nude
by the vicar of St. Andrews', that the
young persons In question were not pre
sented at the late confirmation service, as
In th opinion of the Bt. Andrews' clergy
they were not considered spiritually tit,
and for no other reason. This reply has not
been deemed satisfactory to the parents,
who are now endeavoring to induce his
lordship to hold an inquiry Into all the
circumstances and especially to hear the
parents' version.
CAKEWALK IS UNDER THE BAN
French Danclna- Masters Protest
Against Innovation by lVesrroe
of the West.
PARIS, Jan. 28. (Special Cablegram to
The Bee.) French dancing peoplo of the
academical, or conventional and classical,
school are now up in arms against the
Cakewalk and other modern Innovations
of the kind. An association has been
formed for this campaign, and It Is called
the Soclete Academlque des Professeurs do
Danse de France. The director of the as
sociation Is Prof. DeBrat, who proposes,
witl his colleagues, to run the minuet, a
graceful and elegant dance of old times.
In opposition to the exotlo and inartlstlo
terpsichorean movements borrowed from
the black people of San Domingo and else
where. All this, and more, appears In the pro
gram Issued by the antl-cakttwalkers who
have formed the new academy of dance,
and assert that they are determined to
make their Influence felt.
INTENSELY COLD IN ITALY
Eleven People Overcome la Tun el
and Trapplst Monks Are
Dead.
MILAN. Jan. 2S.I Special Cablegram to
The Bee.) Turin papers report that a
party of Italian workmen, numbering
eleven, while returning from Swltserland
through the St. Bernard pass, were over
come by the Intense cold of the night. Six
of them died from exposure and the other
Ave were taken to a hospital In a pre
carious condition.
Near Magaszano, In Lombardy, about
eighty Trapplst monks, recently expelled
from France, have settled. Their' rule
obliges them to sleep only scantily cov
ered on a little straw and without any tire.
Ten of the monks have succumbed, to the
Intense oued.
CAUSE OF UPRISING
Biuiani Issue Statement Telling of Hor
rors ef Police Action at Moscow.
PROMINENT MEN S uM THE MANIFESTO
Neither Age Nor Stx is Spared by Soldiers
of the Csar.
WOMAN STAMFED ifll HEAVY BOOTS
Hose Watchers Are Made Drunk Be ore
Turned cn Fopulace.
PRINCE MIRSKY RLFU :f.i 70 TAKE ACTION
sends t ynlral IU-M. t Protestants.
Telling; Idem He Cannot He Re-
sponsible fur Work of j
l.oral roller.
BERLIN, Jan. 28. tSpeclui Cablegram to
The Bee.) A sensational manifesto, rigut-d
by 150 of the most prominent men in Kus
Flan political, literal y and scientific circles,
has been published In the revolutionary
organs of 8tuttgart and Zurich, in the form
of nn address to the whole civilized world.
The signatures appended t- tl-.j manifesto
make it fn Important contribution to con
temporary history. It deals with the events
In Russia on December 11, on. the occasion
of the famous students' demonstration In
favor of pnlltlcal reform. The manifesto
Elves the following account of the scene:
"The dcmonstrat'nn began at 1 o'clock. A
troop of mounted poll 'e Immediately roile
out of a iilaie of ennculmciit t' disperse
the crowd. The student?, who were slnglmt
revolutionary hymns, ceased and offered no
provocation. The police, however, drew
their sword and charged the students,
slashing wildly rlttht and left. When the
students attempted to escape Other police
beat them with knouts.
"No warning was given to the general
public and the streets were full of people.
The police made no distinctions. They rode
over everybody, whether connected with
the demonstration or not. The dvornlks, or
house watchers, were even more aenlous
than the police, belaboring harmless men
and women with great brutality, knocking
out teeth and tearing out hair. In one
street 100 police and dvornlks surrounded
eight victims, some of whom were women.
They threw one woman to the ground,
satmped on her with their heavy boots and
finally threw her with great violence against
the wall.
Wonndrd Thrown tn Sacks.
"The bodies of wounded victims were
thrown Into sacks, In obedience to the order
of the commanding officer, who directed
that nil evidences of cruelty should be re
moved with the greatest possible rapidity,
Tho swords of the police were red with
blood.
"A number of female students who had
tnken no part In the demonstration, and
merely desired to get nut of the Way,
sprang on a passing trnmcar. A police offl.
cer saw them ant) sent a troop of mounted
police In pursuit. They held up the tram
car, dragged off the terrified women, threw
them violently to the ground and stamped
on them with thick nailed boots.
"The officers encouraged their men by
shouting, 'Give It hot to the rebel dogs.
See that they remember this day.' Several
police officers ordered their men to hold
girls while they struck them In the face or
fogged them with knouts. Four policemen
held a student while another stashed him
with a sword. Dvornlks drugged man and
women to cellars and backyards and treated
them with atrocious cruelty.
"It transpired that the police made the
dvornlks drunk before letting them loose
among the crowd and promised them liberal
rewards If they suppressed the demonstra
tion effectively. A protest addressed to
Prince Mirsky, minister of the Interior, led
to no result except a cynlcat reply, stating
that the prince could not be held respon
sible for the manners of dvornlks."
TURKISH SOLDIERS SUFFER
Officers and Men Are Not Paid and
Pawn Their Arms for
Food.
LONDON, Jan. 28. (Special Cablegram to
The Bee.) In an article devoted to the
work of Victoria hospital at Damascus,
published this week, Colonel Henry Knol
lys mentions a pretty incident which be
witnessed In one of the wards.
A little girl patient drew from under her
pillow her most cherished possession "a
rough, common, frayed picture, which she
had rescued from some sweepings of Il
lustrated newspapers, and which repre
sented Queen Alexandra. The picture was
bordered with colored paper and decorated
with a loop of blue ribbon."
Asked If she would like to send a roes
sage to the queen, the Arab child replied:
"Tell the beautiful woman In England I
end her my wish that she may have the
peace of God."
The lot of Turkish army officers In Da
mascus, says Colonel Knollys, Is a pitiable
ona, owing to their pay being withheld
from them by dishonest officials. Last win
ter a colonel would have exercised any
one's horse and a captain swspt out a
yard for a very small payment. A major
who appeared on parade without his sword
defiantly declared that he bad sold It to
buy bread for his children.
HAS FL0ATINGLAB0R BUREAU
Salvation Army Will Bring; a Thoa
and Idle London Mea to
Canada.
LONDON. Jan. 28. (Special Cablegram to
The Bee.) The first 'floating labor bureau
ever established will be on board the Van
couver, which sails from Liverpool to Mont
real on April 26. The vessel has been char
tered by General Booth. It will sail under
the Salvation Army flag and carry mora
than 1.0U0 workleaa Londoners to places In
which work is awaiting them.
Members of the Army's Canadian con
tingentlabor experts fully qualified to ad
vise British emigrants as to the fondltlons
of work and chances of remunerative em
ploymentwill be on board, and It Is hoped
that the Canadian government will also be
represented. Every emigrant who wants
work will enter hie name at the office of the
floating labor bureau, and any who are not
able to secure situations before landing will
be taken under the Army's wing to the
Toronto headquarters.
The emigrants. It Is expected, will be
chiefly unemployed clerks, artisans, un
skilled laborers and domestic servant. One
and all will go out with the certainty of
work being found for them.
Fifty families will be conveyed free of
charge at a cost of ft.non, but the re
mainder of the emigrants will pay the ordl
aary pussage money.
NEW SYSTEM JIS NOT LIKED
Some British Officers Think t'tiaaue
in Army Organisation is fte
Inproi r mrnt.
LONDON. Jan. 28. (Spicial Cablegram to
The Hee.) That the new system of otgani
cutlon detailed in a recent Fpecial army
order tsucd by the War office, does not
satisfy all military critics Is shiwn by the
following Interview with the Hon. Claude
Simmons, ii well-known military expert:
"Mr. Frederick." he said, "turni-d the
Army upside down and created Army Corps
which were costly an I unneedert. Mr.
Arnold Fester und the lis'.ier committee
huve brought in its place an equally costly
and fur more complicate.! sytt m. which 1
tirmly believe will not wo:k and will hac
u m j.shrooin growth. In t!i- nuantiaie of
ficers ure leavuiK 'he I'eguluM. militia an 1
volunteers wltlicin enisli if. and n thing Is
thought of its n means of iiltrae ;.nii good
recruits to the attnv; und tl.e War otlice.
In epIK of the optimistic mie utiles of lt.-e
parliamentary chief. Is in hope chaos
eye-ry war e:ffKiul. high und low. whom em.'
meets asserts this."
Speeifyll.g the chief grounds of l is ' b
Jectien to tho mw ord-r ot things, Mr.
HinnnoiiH sa&:
"I think thut the old 'livi!"n of the
country Into e'isiricts und.? u general, who
was entirely rcsponhiblu for nil thing in
connection with the troops under his com
mand, was the sound ft und best system
for cur army; it always wot keel Wvll. The
preyi nt change lias grown out of thu Army
Corps system anel is. in fact, min'ii the
same under another name. The appoint
ment of u separate sem rai ortlcer uieter
l' o area that e'omniatuler is n new dep .r-tuie-uii
outcome eif tiio llilier committee.
Kxiepi in ea s tif princtj.le. or policy, he
may correspond direct with the War of
fice. Thl. system will not work, und wll!
proihuc Je-alou.sy and friction, as elld the
authority riven to the adjutant gcniral.
quarter master general, director general
of ordnane-e, mid lnspee tor general cf forti
fications to go direct to the sccretury of
state behind the back of the commander-in-chief
(Lord Wolsele'y) when the duko of
Cambridge left the Wnr el!!ce.
"The commander of nn army area shoulel
be supreme In all thine:.': concerning his
command. Dual cotnniaiuiH me always
preidtiitive of friction, und ennfueien and
that the actual commander of the troops
should nut be allowed to have a say 111
their administrative arrangements is un
workable and absurd. Fancy a business
conducted on such principles."
MERCHANTS T0 ORGANIZE
Great Britain Hopes to Win Trade
by Making: a Systematlo
Effort.
LONDON, Jan. 28. (Special Cablegram to
The Bee.) British merchants nre taking n
great interest In the movement looking to
the formation of a Merchants' and Manu
facturers' association, with a view to tho
promotion of British trade abroad.
The Express, commenting on the move
ment, says: "Let us begin In a small way
anel start right by educating ourselves to
the requirements of people In other lands.
If there Is a man in Portugal with whom
you wish to elo business, do not write to
him In English, but send him a letter in
Portuguese. He will like it better, and will
probably be able to read it. In any vase.
It will put . you on a level with your Ger
man competitor, who is almost certain to
have written to him In his own languuge.
If you Intend to do business with a man In
Aunt i la, do not send hlm, as we frequently
do from this country, a young man who
Is only able to express himself in Eng
lish and who regard all foreigners as in
ferior beings for whom anything Is good
enough. That mode of doing business has
long ag;o been exploded. . What we re
quire is alertness, coupled with proper
qualifications, particularly the knowledge
of languages and customs of the people
with whom we trade. If wo once break
through the old tradition that anything
British which Is goesl enough for us must
be forced wllly-ntlly down the throats of
continental customers, we shall be on a fair
way towards realizing that Ideal of af
fairs for which we all pruy so earnestly.
"It would be an excellent thing for trade
in general If an association of British
merchants and manufacturers , could be
organized with a view to grappling with
the vital question of keeping ourselves In
the forefront. Associations of this kind
are already flourishing In the United
States, in France and Germany. There are
also in this country several similar organ
izations, which, however, do not seem to
answer the purpose. Whether it Is due to
petty Jealousies or Incapacity, we have
not yet been able to reach that stage which
gives us a wider vision over affairs abroad.
Insularity has Its compensations In that It
gives us a glow of satisfaction at our own
self-sufficiency, but It also has Its draw
backs In reduced dividends."
BEATS INSURANCE COMPANIES
French Conspiracy Has Been Effective
in Insuring; Mea Ready
to Die.
PARIS, Jan. 28. (Special Cablegram to
The Bee.) The French police have made
a number of Important arrests in this
city and the provinces In connection with
a series of ingenious frauds on Insurance
companies, notably La Monde. La France,
La Conservateur and La Victoria. The
men In custody Include a picture dealer
named Frager, the chief of the gang, and
a doctor named Lacumbe.
When the latter was called In to atteni
a patient, who could not live more than
a few months,' he would give his name to
Frager, who U ai presented himself at the
sick man's house and persuaded him to
Insure his life for a large sum, telling him
that by means of a certain system of
counter Insurance It would not cost him a
penny.
The necessary papers were then given to
a third accomplice In sound health, who
personated the Invalid and was duly In
sured. When the patient died Dr. La
combe furnished plausible explanations and
the money was paid. By their syBtern of
swindling the gang are alleged to have
made a total profit of 200,000 (11,000,000).
LIBERIA AND FRANCE DISPUTE
Black and White Republic Eab
Claim Valuable Land ia
Africa.
PARIS. Jan. 28.-Spec4al Cablegram to
The Bee.) Some 6.000 aeiuare miles of terri
tory In West Africa are at present tbe
subject of dispute between Liberia, the ne
gro republic and France, which claims the
region as part of the Ivory coast.
The Llberlan government admits that Its
soveieignty over this territory has never
been asserted, and recent attempts to en
ter Into closer relations with the. Inhab
itants have met with opposition, but It
Is contended that tbe Llberlan explorer,
Anderson, made a treaty with the king
of the territory which conferred upon the
black republic certain political rights.
FIRE LOSS OVER SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND
One of Most Disastrous Biases in History of
City in Wholesale District.
TENANTS OF MERCER BUILDING LOSE ALL
Occupied by Cemmisiion Houses, Dry
Goods Warehouse and Drugs.
JUMPS ALLEY TO KIRKENDALL SHOE STOCK
Firemen Make Great Fitrht Here and Save
. Two floors.
S0UTH OMAHA AND THE BLUFFS HELP
Fire l Xoiv I nder Control. I,nt it
Mill Be Hours lie fore Firemen
M ill Be l,le In ,
I.en If.
l.OSF.n AMI I.OsSF..
. II. yiercer,' nn hul Id i n . . . .
M. K. Senile h - Co.. nn slock..
J. It. Snyeler A. Co., nn atiicle..
Blnuliam 4i Sons, on Stiirk..
('. II. 1 ii II lit A Co.. on Btetck..
Marsh A lnrsh. on stock. ...
Ire in nine, Moore ,t Co., on
stock
ViiKele Jt IHnnlnir. on stork..
l'orter-lt ersoie-lliiolilrr Co.,
on stock
tl'.KI
If IO
,i .-'
OlMI
.'via
,.VM
K)
(ll
,Oii:
:l.l(
3,
1011,
t;:
I P. K lrh.cn Tn1, stork
K. V. Ivirkendull, linlldlna . .
Total.
, .aiMll,SOO
Smoke Issuing from the front doors of
the room occupied by J. R. Snyile-r & Co.,
commission dealers, at the northwest
corner eif Kleventh and Howard streets,
about !':ji hist night, leel to the discovery
e.f a ilrs that destroyed over $iM,it worth of
pre.peTty. It gave the Omuha fiivmen tho
hardest fight they have had in many a day
and Anally defied their utmost efforts, and
merrily lattfihed . awuy with all It could
reach. Assistance in the tight that finally
checked the flames was given by the fire
men of Council Bluffs and South Omaha,
The building is owniKl by S. D. Mercer,
und was a five-story brick and stone struc
ture. On the first floor, with the base
ment, were five commission firms, J. R.
Snyder & Co., C. II. Mullin & Co., Marsh
& Marsh, Tremalne, Moore & Co. und R.
Bingham & Sons. Snyder and the Blng
hunis carried heavy stocks, while the other
commission linns were rutins small con
cerns. The four upper floors were occupied
by M. E. Smith & Co. us u warehouse
where duplicate stock was stored. On the
Howard street front were Vogcle & Din
ning, manufacturing confectioners, and the
Porter-RycrsonHoobler Drug company.
The entire building was gutted from the
foundation to the sky.
Defies the Firemen.
When the first engine company reached
the fire It was thought that the blaze was
In tho Snyder store, but this was soon
discovered to be a mistake. The fire had
caught In the Mullin store, apparently
from an overheuted stove, and was spread
ing rapidly In both directions. The nature
of the contents made it almost Impossible
to reach the blaze, but tons of water were
poured on the muss of crates and boxes,
and by a little after 10 o'clock It seemed
that the blaze was under control. The
construction of the partitions was such
as to baffle the flrenien, and Just when it
looked like the water had done its work
the flames broke out on the second floor
among the dry goexls stored there.
Fall Force in the Fight.
Now the fight was on In earnest. Chief
Salter had already called for the second
battalion, and he now brought In the
reserves. For the first time the monitors,
recently purchased were put into service
and the water tower was connected up.
The firemen were greatly handicapped by
bursting hose.
Every window In the second floor was at
tacked, men standing on the Iron covered
porch that ran along the east side of the
building with hand hose, and pouring In
steady streams along with those from
the slamesed connections of the monitors
and tower. And Just as steadily did the
fire gain. Flames, the first real glimpse
of the fire, burst from the north win
dows on the second floor and then the ad
vance was from window to window. Again
and again was the fire driven back, so It
seemed from the street, but beyond ihe
reach of the water It was gaining head
way. Beautiful But Costly peetaelo.
Just before 11 o'clock the flames broke
through the windows on the second and
third floors, and then the fight was to keep
the fire confined to the one building. A
heavy fire wall separated the building
burned out from' the one next west, oc
cupied by the Vogele Dinning company
as manufacturing confectioners, but the
flames ate their way through this. 'Wnen
the flames burst out on the third floor, the
real spectacle of the affair was afforded.
Great billows of dense black smoke curled
away from below, while above the flames,
red and angry, licked up the sides of the
structure and lighted the scene that had
been clouded by the dense fog of steam and
smoke the light wind could not lift It was
but a few moments until the entire building
was blazing like a torch. Just about 11:15 a
portion of the facade facing on Howard
street fell, but no one wae In the way. The
floors had been giving way with dull
crashes and the roof soon followed the
facade, and the flames ahot through, high
Into the air, lighting up the sky magnifi
cently. It was thought the heavy wall between
the eastern half of the Mercer building and
that occupied by the Vogele & Dinning
company, manufacturing confectioners,
would be sufficient to check the spread of
the fire. It was not, nor was the similar
wall between Vogele & Dinning and the
rorter-Rycrson-IIoobUr company, manu
facturing pharmacists, sufficiently strong.
These establishments went in succession,
but the heavy west wall of the main build-
THE BEE BULLETIN.
Forecast for Nebraska Snow Sunday.
Monelny Fair.
XKWe K Tl(
1 ttnsslana Break Japanese Line.
Omahn linn lllsnstrnus Fire.
2 Foreigners in nnnsla Fesrfnl.
a lobby In F.tMcnre nt l.lnrnln.
e from ll Parts of ebraska.
.1 Tuft Toll., of Philippine Tariff.
International Kiinrntinnal Scheme.
Knllronds Want Time In Tax Case.
U Past Werk In Omaha Society.
tnmnn In flub anil Charity.
funtrlhntlons to Letter Box.
t ProveiKerf I hnnifa In the C harter.
McHfnley t Inn's Annnal llanqnrt.
Affairs at Smith Oninha.
S ll lew of Colorado Labor Wnr,
First Werk of Hrvlval Meetings.
Affairs nt South Omaha.
O Past Wrek In Omuha Knclely.
7 Council HI offi, and Iowa .Vcvvs.
H Rate Wnr Una Brann In Knrnrst.
limber Broke I llarrlmau Slnte.
F.D1TORI it. HF.t TIOS
0 Frrlarht Rates anil Price of firaln.
fw Juvenile Conrt Law.
Pension liny In Ihe House.
IO Editorial.
l.t Flnaiielul and Commercial.
14 Condition of Omaha's Trnilo.
i
hai.f-tom: f,ctio
t Portrait of Es-Kovernor Thwyer.
Proitrrss In the Illretrlrnl Field.
I.onaln Cone-ernlna oteel People.
3 Plnys, I'lnyrra nml Piny houses.
Muslr anil Ihe Musicians.
fl Filipinos a Temnerule IVtil-.
I I'll n a RIk Deal Was Pinched.
4 Home of Omaha's ev llne-quet
t Inb.
Anierle-nn Military Mnn In Man
phnrln. ft Features of Modern Fnrmlntf.
Thomas Dixon anal Ills Work.
A In the Diimaln of Woman.
T Sportlnar Brvrw of the Week,
8 llrlaht Stories of Little People.
Some Tersely) Told Talc-a.
COLOR SKCTIOX
1 Buster Brown.
2 Marries In Spite of Blindness.
From Far and enr.
a Phylrnl Culture for Delicate
Bnbies. v
4 Two Famous Novels from One Ho
rn n ne'e.
Brothers Who Married Two Sisters
5 Two Thousnnd Offers SHU Wait
ing;.
Queen of Medieval Beaoty Show,
fl Philosophy of Kissing-.
T Top o' the Mornln".
8 Career of ( holly Caahrnller.
Alice nnd the Phonograph.
O The Shot that Told.
Famous Horses of Fiction.
1Q Farina- the Audience.
Prettiest Feet in Paris.
Temperature at Omaha Yesterdayi
Hnnr. De. Honr. Dear.
fl a. in It 1 p. m 8
e a. in IO a p. m O
T m. m H a p. m IO
8 a. m 7 4 p. m 11
O a. m 5 p. ra It
10 a. in O p. m IO
11 n. m T T p. m O
12 m..
ing proved again strong and stopped the
fire before it entered the-Great Western
Type Foundry plant
Great Fight for Shoe Stork.
In the meantime the flames had crossed
the alley to the north and Ignited the roof
of the big five-story building occupied by
F. P. Klrkendall 4 Co., as their shoe and
rubber warehouse. The flames burned
down through the top floors, but were
checked at the second floor. This was the
most stubborn fight of nil. At one time It
looked as If thei entire building with Its
Immense stock of goods was doomed, but
Chief Baiter directed -every available man
to the work of checking the blaze and
Anally succeeded In holding it. The great
crowd watched this part of the Aght with
more Interest, probably, than any. Men with
hose were on the roof of the building oc
cupied by the type foundry and were
snt UP the stalra to the Interior of the
Klrkendall building-, while the monitors
and tower emptied tons of water through
the windows. . It was not so spectacular,
maybe, as the struggle ,wlth the Mercer
building, but It was more successful.
It was I o'clock before the fire was fairly
under control, and for hours afterward the
ruins were blazing, tha heavy timbers and
great plies of goods requiring the constant
attention of the full fire fighting force of
Omaha, aided by a company from South
Omaha and one from Council Bluffs. The
M. B. Bmlth stock was all In the original
packages, and tha Klrkendall stock was
mostly boxed, also Vogele & Dinning had
Just finished putting In the last of four car
loads of sugar, and the drug company was
welt stocked for the opening of the spring
business.
The Insurance In detail could not be ob
tained last night, and may not be entirely
known for several days. The Bmlth stock
was Insured In companies represented by
Isaac E. Coles, Webster & Howard had tha
line of the drug company, John W. Rob
bins wrote the Insurance for Snyder and
E. B. Howell carried most of the Dinning
line. The Klrkendall Insurance Is all writ
ten by eastern underwriter, the belief
being that none of the local agents have
any of It. '
Owners Are Hammoard.
The Interested owners were early sum
moned to the scene, but could do little be
yond watch the destruction of their prop
erty. Ward M. Burgsss of the Bmlth com
pany estimated ' the stock In the burned
building belonging to Ms company at 176.
000, which he said was fully Insured. J. R.
Bnyder could not give exact figures, but
aid his company's stock would reach at
least 120,000, fully covered by Insurance.
W. W. Bingham placed the loss of his
company at not less than tlu.Ouo, with full
Insurance. The other commission Arms are
said to be without Insurance.
Tbe building occupied by the Porter-Ryerson-Hoobler
company was the scene
of a Are six years ago. In which four Are
men lost their lives by being electrocuted.
This fire occurred during the afternoon.
Large Crowds Witness the Fir Despite the
Late Hour.
i
EASILY CONTROLLED BY THE P0LICC
Street Railway Company Kuns Cat Until
After Two O'clock,
i
WATER FREEZES ON WALLS DURING FIRS
Firemen Are Also Scon a Mass ef Ioe from
Head to Foot.
Captain newhouse only one hurt
( aught by Fnlllna- ( rllln la Klrk
eadnll Rnllillnar and is Taken
to the Methodist
Hospital. '
t'ntll an early hour this morning theft
was a steady stream of people to the Are.
Another throng, which was on the seen
earlier in the evening, moved away from
tho blazing district. At 3 o'clock Sunday
ineiruliig Kleventh street was a tangle of
hose between Howard and Harney streets.
A solid cordon of people lined the street on
one side and extended up Howard and
Harney streets for nearly the length of tha
block.
At 1 o'e-lock excitement was caused by the)
falling of Mrt of the north wall of the)
Mercer building. A story was circulated
that two firemen were burled under tha
falling walls and thu crowds begun surging; '
toward the alley where It was believed tha
men were burled. Fortunately no one hap
pened to be within range of the walls when
they fell.
At 2:30 o'cloek a. wait of red flame waa
shooting upwards through the center of
the building. Shortly afterwards the west .
wall of the building swayed and a moment
luter leu witn a roar.
lee Coat the Walls.
Nothing remained of the building but ,
wall anel this was outlined against tile
background of flume like an Ink drawing.
Desplto the heat tho walls became Auted,
and caked with Ice, which added to the
Bliectacular effect of the conAngration.
Although extra men. were sent for, tha
police found it difficult to keep tho crowd
back. Howard and Harney streeta were
kept fairly clear, but Twelfth street, where
the flro showed to Its bejet advantage and
the human stream pressed forward In spits
of tho best efforts of the police.
Spray Freeses on Men.
A few of tho business places near tlisj
scene of tho Are were kept open and oc
caHlonully Aremen wont Inside to get warm
or change a pair of gloves. On most of
the men tho spray froze In a sheet ot
armour and the men who handled the noa
zleB were practically living Icicles.
There was a constant shower, of sparks,
but thoy wera curried upwards by the
heat of tho blazing builulngs and they fell
within the streets surrounding the burn
ing buildings. There was a manifest lack;
of the spectacular features which usually
attend a conflagration of this kind, owing
to the fact that practically no air was
stirring. Occasionally the boom of a falling
section of wall or the rumble of a sinking
floor gave some excitement to the scene,
but otherwise there was a dearth of tho
incident which usually attends a Are ot
this kind.
The flames ate their way with slow, meas
ured and obstinute persistency through the
adjoining walla In spite of the light put up
by tha firemen. All the hose that could be
filled with water was pressed Into service,
but water Beamed to have little effect. The
flames until 2 o'clock seemed to have Just a
trifle the best of the light. Long before
that hour they had found their way under
the iron blinds of Klrkendall's warehouse
and the top floor of this building wae soon
one colossal torclu
Fire spreads Downward.
At one time It looked as If the flames
would be confined to the rear of thla build
ing. but they gradually ate their way north,
and west, and shortly before 3 o'clock they;
had eaten their way down to the floor be
low. The efforts of the firemen were then
directed to saving the lower floors, and at t
o'clock the dull glow at the windows showed
that they were getting the best of the Are.
The only accident reported was to Cap
tain Newhouse of No. 6, and Fireman
Waiuwiight of No. 4 hook. They were
caught by a falling celling In the Klrken
dall building. Walnwright managed to ex
tricate himself and companions got New
house out. The captain waa so badly In
jured he was taken to the Methodist hos
pital In an ambulance. He suffered Injuries
to hta back and the right hip, but tha
physicians at the Methodist hospital where
he was taken believe that his Injuries are)
not fatal.
Bluffs and Booth Omaha Help.
Chief Salter very early realiz'ed the des
perate nature of the struggle he bad on
hand, and lost no time in calling for all the
foVce of the .Omaha department. Later he
sent a call for reUef to Council Bluffs and
South Omaha. One company from each
city responded, and Chief Nicholson, front
Council Bluffs,' came over and gave assist
ance In the direction of the forces. Ths
night waa cold enough to freeze the water
as It fell In sprays, and soon thu firemen
were heavily encrusted with Ice and snow,
which fell lightly during the greater part
of the time. In the streets tha water ran
in torrents and turned the snow Into deep
slush, adding another difficulty to the work
of the companies and the handling of the
hoso. Tho fire engines In service gave ade
quate pressure to the water at all times,
but tho direct toiip)l lines were a little
feeble In their streams.
Police Kept Busy.
The pollee were kept busy with the
crowds, but had little trouble In keeping
them In restraint. Officer Hee-lai was the
victim of a cowardly assault by some
unidentified man. Heelan was stationed at