MA1IA,
SATJT
-
The Omahx Daily Bee.
NEWS SECTION
WEATHER FORECAST.
Tor Nebraska Partly cloudy.
For Iowa Fair.
For weather report koo paft 2.
PAGL3 1 TO 10.
VOL. XXXIX NO. 241.
OMAHA, SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 2(, 1910-TWENTY PAGES.
SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
WANT BALL1NGER
AS LASTWITNESS
Attorney Brandeis, for Prosecution,
Asks that Secretary of Interior
Appear in Pinchot Inquiry.
COMMITTEE WILL MAZE DECISION
Matter Passed Up for Time Being, but
Summons May Bo Issued.
STEPHEN BIRCH TAKES STAND
Manager of Morgan-Guggenheim Syn
dicate Questioned All Day.
TELLS THINGS ABOUT at.Aetta
Coal Lands Come In for Long; Dlscos
lon. In Which l.itrrr Trie to '
"how Vv "the Power of
Morgan."
" ashinqton, March 28.-The Ballln-gor-pinchot
inquiry was returned today af
ter an adjournment of practically two
Weeks, th sessions of last Friday and Sat
urday having been seriously interfere wifh
V by the f Ight against Speaker Cannon In th
hous of of representatives.
As toon aa the committee met this morn
lng, Attorney Brandels representing Louis
H. Glavla and others, sprang a surprise by
1-wiue.ung- mat Secretary of the Interior
jsamnger be called aa one of hla witnesses.
mr. urnnaeis stated at first that he
wished to Identify by Mr. Balllns-er twm l.t.
tors that he desired to Introduce in evidence
this time. Questioned further by mem
bers of the committee as to hla Intentions
he admitted that he desired to conduct a
, general examination of th accused cabinet
officer.
Counsel for Mr. Balllnger objected to this
, ana caned rorth from Mr. Brandels the re
i mark that from his letters he had always
supposed Mr. Balllnger to be ready to ap
pear whenever and aa often as any one
Connected with the Inquiry desired.
Borne members of the committee seemed
to think that Mr. Balllnrer, as the person
iost Interested In the Inquiry, should have
opportunity to make his statement first
in his own way and not subject himself to
a cross-examination. The matter was
passed over temporarily to be decided later
in executive session.
Manna-rr Birch on Stand.
The witness stand was occupied during
the entire day by Stephen Birch, managing
director of the Morgan-Guggenheim syndl.
cate in Alaska. It was thought at firat
that Mr. Birch's testimony would bo largely
perfunctory in character and would follow
the Hues of hits statement recently made
befora the senate committee on territories.
Members of the oommltfe, however, be
came1 deeply Interested Jn the operations of
the Alaska syndicate, and they piled the
witness with questions from vry possible
angle. Much of the Questioning" Waa ln-
tended to show that the Guggenhelms prao
tlcally control Alaska. 'Mr. Birch stoutly
denied thla, , ' ..
"Wall," he was asked by Repreeenta'tlV
Graham, "if, th Ouprgsnhelms got oontrol
of eoal lands in Alaska, what would there
be left?"
Mr. Birch said he did not think thla was
a fair question to ask him. He admitted
that the Guggenheim Interests were Vare;
that they had invested some liOOO.OOO al
ready and had contracted for the expendi
ture of other millions. There hod been no
returns from these investments as yet. But
he syndicate had "hopes."
Aa to the Cunningham claims, Mr. Birch
produced the option whloh a committee of
the claimants had given to Daniel Guggen
heim. July 20, 1907. lie declared that this
option had been accepted by the Guggen
tielms December 7 of that year. The claim
ants, however, had never lived up to its
terms. Cunningham, he said. In January or
February. 1908. had contended that the
Guggenhelms themselves had voided the op
tion by changing their railroad base from
Kalalla to Cordova, and that, furthermore,
' the option waii of no effect because a ma
jority of the claimants had never ratified It.
"The Power of Morgan."
Mr. Brandels sought to show thst the
Morgans and Ouggenhelms, with their
"great power and influence in thla coun-
tlry." must have brought this influencing
'er to bear during .the last two years
'J in effort to get patents granted to the
Cunningham claimants.
Mr. Birch 'declared, however, that he
hjiew of no such efforts having been made.
."What muII we ha doner' he protested.
"Ah, Mr. Birch, you can answer that far
festter than I," dramatically exclaimed Mr.
Brandels.
As to his estimate that the coal la Alaska
was worth DO cents a ton and that, there
fore, the Cunningham claims represented
an aotual value of $26,000,000. Mr. Birch de
clared that it was Just as sensible to say
that the icebergs In Alaska were of Inesti
mable value. The Icebergs, ha said, would
be valuable If they could be brought to
market In this country. So It was with
the coal, but first the transportation facili
ties had to be provided.
It was evident today that members of
the committee are growing Irritable and
that this Irritability extends to the counsel.
There were frequent clashes and both
Hessrs. Brandels and Vertrees made apolo
gies at the close of the session for Im
patient remarks.
Immediately after the committee met to
day Mr. Brandels said that when Messrs.
Ilrch snd Steele, of the Morgaa-auggen-nelm
syndicate had given their testimony
b, detlred to call Secretary Balllnger and
would like to have blm appear today.
Mr. Vertrees was on his feet In an In
stant. ,
'Mr. Balllnger," he ssld, "Is the person
most Interested In this inquiry. We ought
t be allowed the discretion as to Indicating
when he should appear."
Mr. Brandels said he dealred to prove by
Secretary Balllnger certain letters that
could be r roved beat by him.
"Mr. Balllnger has already contemplated
appearlut,mor than once before this com
mittee," continued Mr. Brandels. "His let
ters to the commute show that be is
ready to com at any time."
Th commute will decide this matter In
executive session," ruled Chairman Nelson.
Protest front Brandels.
"P I desire to b beard." protested Mr.
Bran Ma
"PiVeed. then," directed Mr. Kelson.
"This Inquiry began," resumed th at
torney, "with th explicit statement on our
part that we would lay before th, com
mit Ue such facts as seemed vital to th in
vestigation. W particularly declined to
mak charge. W desired th commltt
(Continued on Sixth Page.)
Naval Hearing
Keeps Cruiser
From Sailing
ao
Probe Into Alleged Harsh Treatment
of Men on "Salem" Proceeds at
Hampton Roads.
NORFOLK, Vs., March 25 Owing to an
investigation begun today by Admiral Dil
lingham into charges of alleged harsh and
cruel treatment to the men aboard the
seout cruiser Salem, the stilling of the
vessel has been delayed. It was to have
Joined the Birmingham, a sister ship. In
a cruise to South America and the west
coast of Africa, from which points the two
ships are to conduct long distance wireless
tests during the coming summer with
Brantok, Mass. After the words "Evans'
Mad House" had been found painted on
the side of the Salem, which Is commanded
by Captain Gorge R. Evans, a seaman,
under sentence of Imprisonment for five
years, leaped overboard.
Inquiry at the Navy department developed
th faot that for soma time past complaint
has been heard that Captain George Evans
was applying the naval regulations with
undue severity on board the Salem. It
was alleged that the discipline was harsh
in the extreme and ' that a lack of tact
had been shown In handling the men, who
were punished for trivial offenses, until the
situation aboard ship became unbearable.
The department by no means was satis
fled that these allegations wero truthful,
but to settle all doubt sent Admiral Dil
lingham to Hampton Roads to make a
personal Investigation of the state of dis
cipline aboard the Sxlem.
Th department Is now awaiting his re
port and If necessary will'' apply corrective
measures, even if these involve a changj
In personnel.
House Will Discuss
Tax Amendments
Hasty Action Will Not Be Taken on
Senate Bill to Change Cor
poration Act.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The snat
amendment to the corporation ' law pro
viding that reports required under the
terms' of that act shall only be made pub
lic when called for by resolution of the
senate or house or upon the order of the
president will not be aocepted by the house
unin aiiar run discussion.
"The corpqratlon tax was enacted into
law without the house having an oppor
tunity to discuss it," said Mr, Fitsgerald
today, when a request was made for th
appointment of conferees on th legisla
tive, executive, and Judicial appropriation
bill whloh contains the proposed amend
ment to the law. - '
"Now that It has gone Into effect and
objections . have been made to it all over
th 'country,' it. Is "proposed ' to -amend the
law without MnslderfcUOHjher,".
Under Mr. Fitzgerald's objection con
ferees' on th bill were not appointed, which
will give an opportunity for discussion In
th hous of .the senate amendment..
1
NOMINATIONS BY PRESIDENT
District Jadge for Baltimore
Two District Attorney
, . ?inined.
and
WASHINGTON. March 25,-The president
today sent to the senate the nomination of
John' C Koue, now United States district
attorney at Baltimore, to be Judge of tho
United States district court there, and John
P. Hill, to be United States district at
torney to succeed Mr. Rose. Clarence R.
WlUon was nominated by th president to
b United States district attorney for the
District of Columbia, succeeding Daniel W.
Baker, resigned.
To J3 secretaries of legations: Richard C.'
Bundy of Ohio, at Monrovia, Liberia;
Charles B. Curtis of New York City, at
Chrietianla; Richard O. Marsh of Illinois,
at Panama; Arthur Orr of Evanaton, 111.,
at Athena
To be second secretaries of embassies:
Gustav Bcholle. St. Paul, at Paris; George
T. Weltsel, St. Louis, at Mexico City.
SHACKLETON AT NEW YORK
Antarctic Explorer Ilefasea to Disease
Dr. took Thinks Peary
Beached Pole. '
NEW YORK, March 23. "I have little
doubt that Captain Bcott's expedition1 will
reach th South pole," ald Blr Ernest
Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer, when he
landed today. "I 'have no Intention of head
ing any expedition to the South pole while
Captain Scott Is trying to reach It."
Th British explorer arrived today, with
Lady Shackleton.
The explorer declined to discuss Dr. Cook.
"I believe that Commander Peary reached
the pole," he axid. "I have absolutely no
doubt of It."
SHOOTS WIFE OF HIS FRIEND
Verne Hartlerond of Wabash, Ind.
Fatallr Wonnda Mrs. F. J. Webb, '
Who Rebnffed Advances.
WABASH, Ind., March 25. After having
fatally wounded Mrs. Floyd J. Webb, the
wife of his friend, with a shotgun. Verne
Hartleroad went to the couu:y Jail late
last nlffht
"I'm the man you're after," said Hart
leroad, and later In a cell he related that
he had fallen in love with Mrs. Webb, and
that ehe rebuffed him. Hartleroad, who is
23 years old, had lived with the Webb fam
ily for several years. Webb was away from
home last night.
Cat Up a Tree Makes Life
So Hideous Police Are Called
"What makes mora noise than a pig
under a porch?"
"Two pigs."
Wrong. To be sure that's the old an
swer to this old riddle, but It's wrong.
Th right answer Is "on cat up a tree."
Life was hideous out in the vicinity of
71 North Twenty-third street Thursday
night and on into th next day so hide
ous, in fact, that a woman residing at
that address went in person to th pollc
station Friday morning and lodged a com
plaint against a cat.
"Why, th thing baa been up In a tre
right by my hous all night, making th
most awful noises that a human being
THIRTY-ONE ARE
HELD E0R GRAFT
Past and Present Councilmen of Pitts
burg Are Indicted in Monstrous
Civic Scandal.
GRAND JURY UNCOVERS
Appalling Details of Alleged
Are Most Sensational.
SIX BANKS UNDER INVESTIGATION
Testimony Indicates that They Paid
Large Bribes to Aldermen.
ORDER CITY FUNDS WITHDRAWN
Money
Oat
In Big Institutions Called
In Order ' that ' Alleged
Givers" Mar Not Profit
Farther.
PITTSBURG, March 25. Laying bar the
appalling details of Pittsburg's clvlo un
righteousness, ordering indictments against
thirty-one present and past councilmen and
making a demand upon the directors of the
City depositories to Investigate the town
boards ami ascertain the bribe givers in
connection with the ordinance designating
their institutions as city depositor!-s formed
the meat of two presentments made by the
grand Jury today.
The presentments make a sensational
story of the inside history of corruption In
the municipal bodies in 1008 and the demand
made on the banks named indicates that
even more sensational developments than
have ben exposed are expected Monday
when the bank officials, complying with
the demand of the grand Jury, make their
report in court.
A further result of the prnrentments of
the Jury was the order of City Comptroller
Morrow late today for the wtthdfawal of
all city funds from the six banks and th
practical nullification of the Ordinance
designating them as custodians of city
funds.
There Is about $3,640,330 in these banks
now and this would be increased many mil
lions during the next week by the taxes
that are being ' paid. According to ' th
comptroller the withdrawal of funds will be
gradual, however, so that the institutions
may not b embarrassed or any undue
alarm caused depositors. The extract from
J tho Pntment ealltng on the bank dlrec
tors read
"W call upon the directors of the six
banks named as city depositories to In
vestigate who paid for each of the said
banks' the bribes herein set forth and re
port th same to this grand Jury not later
than Monday, March 28, 1910. And we
further demand that said report be In writ
ing and certified to by directors of said
bank Individually.
Depositories Kilted.
"We strongly recommend and insist that
the proper officials of the city of Pittsburg
tsJt immediate legal action o"nuliify the
ordinance making th Farmers Deposit Na
tional bank, the Second National bank of
Pltlsbusg, - the German National bank of
Allegheney, ' the Columbia National bank
of Pittsburg and th Worklngman's Savings
and Trust company of Allegheney as city
depositories, - in order that the bribe givers
may not benefit by reason of their wrong
doing and criminal conduct."
The presentments give the full details of
tho plot of' the pai;t of the councilmen to
obtain bribes from the six banks, the means
adopted for paying the bribes are related
and the story of the transfer of $15,00 by
an unnamed man to former Cmncllman
Charles Stewart in'the Hotel Imperial, New
York City, Is told.'
It Is related that Max Leslie, former
chairman bf the republican county commit
tee, received 125,000 by arrangement between
E. P. Jennings and F. A. Griffen of the
Columbia National bank, and that Leslie
gave William Brand, who was then presi
dent of common counctl, directly or indi
rectly $17,600 to obtain the city deposits for
the Columbia National bank. An unnamed
man Is said to be Interested and concerned
in the payment of the money by Leslie to
Brand, either as intermediary or principal.
Bin- Transaction Alleged.
It is declared that Morris Einstein re
ceived $15,000 from the Worklngman's Sav
ings and Trust company to have that bank
named a city depository, but the name of
the bank official who paid him tho money
Is unknown.
It is further declared In the presentments
that the members of the grand Jury are of
the opinion that the books of the Working
man's bank has been mutilated, threo pages
referring to this deal having been cut from
the ledger. Einstein, It Is also declared,
kept $5,000 for his services in arranging
the deal. '
Further declarations in the presentment
are that two city clerks were given $1,000
each, and that $1,750 was set apart for news
paper men and that Henry M. Bolger, the
saloonkeeper already convicted of bribery,
was given $500 for his services In bringing
about the meeting between th officials of
the German National bank of Pittsburg and
the councilmen.
Th publlo Is urged not to pass hasty
Judgment on any officials of th banks
mentioned and stress is laid on the solvency
of the institutions.
I.enlearr for Klein.
It Is recited that John F. Klein and
Joseph C. Wasson, by reason of their con
fenslons and statements making possible
the exposure of the facts, are entitled to
great consideration, and a reduction of
Klein's sentence is urged.
It Is also recommended that no further
Indictments be found against Klein or Was-
(Contlnued on Second Page.)
ver had to listen to," said the woman,
whos patience had been spent In her all
night effort to steal a wink or two of sleep.
"I don t believe anybody In the neighbor
hood slept. It was something awful th
way that 'cat went on. Why. it screached
and howled and meouwed until I thought
1 would go eraiy. Now, I want a police
man to go out ther and get the thing."
Captain Dunn was on th verge of ask
ing why some sleepless citizen In that
part of town had not done that himself
long ago, but ha forbad and detailed Of
ficer Thornton, th cat-killing expert, to
go to th relief of this besieged neighbor
Wksf
... Mil k kXMJm?M
-1 mmmmMmmmm "
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
FIRE FIGHTERS" STOP BLAZE
Flames Subdued Near Dunning After
Burning Two Days.
MANY RANCHERS LOSE HOMES
Leaps Dismal Twice and with Diffi
culty Prevented from Covering
Logan and MePherson
Counties. '
DUNNING. Neb., March S5.-(8peclal
Telegram.) After a struggle that required
the combined efforts of all, cltlsens in this
and ( the surrounding country, th prairie
fire that started near Heola Wednesday
morning was corralled between th Junction
of th Dismal ' and Loup rivers . Just east
of here late last night, after It had Jumped
th Dismal niver twice. The damage so
far reported Is very meager, sinoe all tele
phone lines are down In the fire district.
The entire range was burned over at the
government forest reserve at Hilsey ' and
It is reported thousands of trees were de
stroyed, . notwithstanding, the prompt ror
spore made by .'citizens' to the cihU 'for
help made by the reservation officers' ,ys
Urdsy. Th buildings, howeveftwere all
Laved. ' '' '; ..-. i ;.;v- ' ....
Clem Hewitt of Bta)keti BoW, ; trtiVhas a
ranch south of Mullen, lout thirjy-elsht
head of stock and all his farm Improve
ments, 'joe Drlmmel lost ' seven head of
stock and all of his hay and- improvoments
In this eamo neighborhood. Full' reports
will undoubtedly show a great loss of stock
throughout the entire section, though there
was not the usual number of cattle on the
rcrge.
Martin Brennan, near Hecla, lost a big
barn, hay and considerable grain. Homer
Crane of thin section lost his house, barn
and grain and njl. Improvements. .. I. . 1.
Thomas, a renter on the Cramer place,
southeast of . Hecla, lost ,hls house, barn
and all Improvements.
fn this valley a half dozen claim. shacks
were destroyed, all of which wero well
supplied with provisions. F. R. Earnaby,
near Mullen, lost his house, barn and all
sheds, together with 1,000 bushels of corn
and all farm Implements. L. G. Pierce,
near Seneca, and E. Gordon's place, In tho
same neighborhood, were entirely burned
out.
Hay, fences and range losses are common
with all. Tho fire reached a frontage ot
twenty miles In a great number of places.
Losses will run into many thousands When
all reports are in.
Blar Trlunale Burned Over.
THEDFORD, Neb., March 2K. tBpeclal
Telegram.) The pralrla fire which started
from some unaccounted cause Wednesday
southwest of Hecla, burned over a large
pcrtitii of Hooker ani Thomas counties,
destroying buildings on many ranches and
homesteads and killed several hundred
head of stock. It Jumped across Dismal
river five miles west of Black's ranch and
extended into McPherson and Logan
counties. The damage don in that region
has not been ascertained. Fences and tele
phone lines were destroyed and It will be
several days before a full account of the
damage can bo estimated. The triangle
between the Middle Loup and Dismal
rivers, embracing an area of fifteen miles
wide at Its widest part, seems to be fully
well burned over.
Gift from Miss Cnroeale.
PASADENA. Cal.. Maach 25. Just be
fore leaving with her father and mothet
for New York yesterday Miss Marguerite
Carnegie gave $5,000 as an endowment
fund for a children' bed in the Pasadena
hospital. Mr. Carnenle says the time will
come when the systom of giving whlch
has been established will devolve upon
her.
The squeal of the
stuck pig is again
abroad in the land.
It 1 some weaker, but those who
have been waiting for It recognized '
the cry of the World-Herald, Jeal
ous of The Bee's daily gains in paid
want ads. ,
The reason of the squeal ia
that The Bee gained 42 per
cent in paid want ads over the
same week last year.
The stuck pig may squeal
but Bee want ads are growing
by leaps and bounds and each
time you hear the squeal you
know that The Bee want ads
are up another notch.
"Watch them growl
8
"Talk About Being President!"
House Elects
Committee by
Unanimous Vote
Slates Chosen by Republican and Dem
ocratic Caucuses Go Through
Without Division. .
WASHINGTON. March 25. By an unani
mous vote the house today adopted a reso
lution naming a committee On rules, com
posed of six republicans and four demo
crats, in pursuance ot the provision of the
Norrls resolution.
Mr. Currier of New Hampshire reported
a resolution, naming as a committee on
rules:
Dalsell of Pennsylvania; Walter I. Smith
of Iowa, Boutell of Illinois, Lawrence of
Massachusetts. Fassett of New York. Smith
of California, republicans, and Clark of
Missouri, Underwood ot Alabama, Dixon of
Indiana and Fitzgerald of New York, demo
crat. , After a brief discussion, which mad it
a matter of record,' that the . members
named in tba resolution had been, selected
In party caucuses, - tba house by viva
voce vote, adopted, ha resn'rtitton.. ;
"Yeas .and nays" demanded Mr. Currier,
although .no one ycAed In th negatfru,' to
order to put th Insurgents on record In
voting, nominees of the caucus.
Numerous protests against having a roll
wer heard and only a handful of member
arose to insist on the demand. ' 1
"Not a- sufficient number." ' declared
Speaker Cannon,' looking over the house.
"The vot was unanimous," added th
speaker, who by that statement made th
record clear that no Insurgents ' had ob
jected to the personel of the new en
iargrd committee on rules.
Incendiary Fire
at Morganficld, Ky.:
Masonic Temple, Bank, Theater,
Church and Big: Store Are
Destroyed. .-
MORGAN VILLH. Ky., March 25.-Flre
svpposed 4o have been of Incendiary origin
today destroyed business property here to
the value of $200000. The Green River de
partment store, Masonic temple, the opera
house, th new Baptist church and par
sonage and the Bank of Union Couny .were
among the buildings burned. - Managers of
the' Green RIVer department store, wheit
th fire started, claim to have received
several threatening letters lately from the
Black Hand.
TWO ITALIANS ARE INDICTED
New York Merchants Charged with
Attempt to Blackmail Earleo
C'amao.
NEW YORK, March 25. The two pros
perous Italian business men, Antonio Cln
cotto and Antonio Mlslano, who wcr ar
rested on March i charged with attempt
ing to blackmail and extort $15,000 from
Enrico Caruso, the operatic tenor, were
Indicted for that offense today in ' the
county court in Brooklyn. Both' pleaded
not guilty.
BIG SHIPMENTS OF CATTLE
San Antonio Railroads Have Order
for Over Fonr Thousand Car
Before April 10.
SAN ANTONIO", Tex.. March 25-Rall-roads
operating out of San Antonio have
orders for 4,200 cars between now and April
10. ' to handle the greatent rush of cattle
ever known from this section to Oklahoma
pastures'. The drouth and the high price
of feed is causing ranchmen to move' their
cattle to Oklahoma to pastures.
t
Supreme Court
Ownership of
FORT SMITH, Ark., March 25. The state
supreme oourt of Arkansas today granted
an appeal to the United States supreme
court In the case growing out of th eon-
test to determine whether what Is. known
as the ''Choctaw strip" is a part of Okla
homa or. Arkansas.
The Choctaw strip Is twelv miles long
and . two in les wide, and adjoins Fort
Smith,- t originally wsi a part of the
Indian Territory, allotted to th Choctaw
Indiana, but later was ceded to Arkansas
by congress so th local authorities, could
have police Jurisdiction ' over It.
The strip had bec: a refug for out
laws and during th border day eighty
ACT TO REDEEM $5,000 BILL
Bank of Minden in Fair Way to Get
Money Janitor Burned.
BANK EXAMINER SAW NOTE
In This Circumstance Alone Lies
Instigation' Protection Good
; Road . Gospel to Be
Preached In State. '
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, March 25. tSpeclal Tele
gram.) Senator Brown Introduced a bill
today authorizing the secretary ot tho
treasury to redeem In favor of th First
National bank of Minden, Neb., one $5,000
gold certificate. This certificate was held
as reserve and had been so held for some
time. It was destroyed by fir and what
is most remarkable and will make Its re
demption possible, a bank examiner saw
th bill. Tho denomination Is now unusual,
for th $5,000 bank certificate Is not now
printed' and one is easily traced. Orr the
day th bank examiner examined the books
Of the First National bank, less than a
month' ago, this ; gold oertlfloat was
shown.''" "" ; "" ' ' ' -'' '
I, The bill had been In-an-old eavdoe,
but Inadvertently had been left on th
counter of the bank. When . th Janitor
cleaned up this old envelop, with other
scraps bt papr, ;wga; put. Into. th waste
basket' and 1 burned. " Th Treasury ; de
partment was Immediately notified ty th
bank examiner and got . busy. It was as
certified that this particular gold cer
tificate had been Issued to th Bankers
National bank of Chicago, which in turn
had endorsed It over to the First National
bank of Minden. In cases of this kind,
with evidence as conclusive as it is, an
indemnifying bond will be demanded from
the bank to safeguard the treasury and
the passage of the bill Should not be long
delayed.
Senator Brown today secured the promise
of Director Logan W. Page of the office
of public roads to attend the state con
vention of the Association of Commercial
Clubs at Columbus, Neb., April 27 and 28.
Should anything prevent th attendance
of Mr. Page he will : send the chief en
gineer, Vernon M. Pierce. .
Senator Brown Is, also negotiating for a
good . roadu expert to make the trip along
the Northwestern railroad, stopping at Fre
mont, Norfolk and other cities, to speak ';o
commercial clubs on the subject of better
highways. The schedule for these meet
ings has not been arranged.
New Bridgeport Bank.
'The First National bank of Bridgeport.
Neb., has been authorised to begin busi
ness, with $25,000 capital. Homer K. Burket
is president; J. L. Johnson, vice president,
and John O. Burket, cashier.
Rural carriers appointed are as follows:
Nebraska Able, Route 1, Theodore B. Sem
rad, carrier; Ed Kreink, substitute. Braln
ard, RouU S, Elijah C. Merrick, carrier; H.
R. Merrick, aubstltuta Clearwater, Route
1, August Screer, carrier; Ann Screer, sub
stitute. Scofcf Bluff, Rout 2, Robert 8.
Walker, carrier; Rosa A. Walker, substi
tute. Iowa Andover, Route 1, John C. Gehlsen,
carrier;' Herman Gehlsen, substitute.
South Dakoa Canton, Rout 4, W. H.
Feldman, carrier; Ida M. Feldman, substi
tute. Gregory, Route 2, Frank J. Shaffer,
carrior;' no substitute.
Pcutmasters appointed are: Nebraska
Arborvllle, York county, Charles W. WhH
temore, vice J. H. Dorsey, resigned; South
Bond, Cass county, Jerry E. McHugh, vice
E. Stursneggar, resigned.
. Iowa Grimes, Polk county, ran!el O'Don
nell, vice C. L. Biaok, resigned.
South Dakota Clayton, Hutchinson
county, George A. Buehner, vie G. Bueh
ner, deceased.
'Captain Mnrphy Is MUalna;.
ST.' PA ITU March 25i-Fearlng that Cap
tain Timothy- Murphy, head of the Volun
teers of America In St. Paul, has met with
death or accident, the police today are
searching for him. -
, . i -
to Settle
Choctaw Strip
men were hanged ther after being sen
tenced by th Arkansas courts. By a de
cision of th United States circuit oourt
here on December 28, 1S08, th strip was
taken away from Arkansas because the
state had failed to accept the land by con
stitutional amendment.
Th Oklahoma constitutional convention
adopted a resolution drclsrlng th land to
be a part of Oklahoma
William Bowman, under sentsnc to b
hanged" in Fort Smith on April 8 for crimi
nal assault, was today granted a reprieve.
Bowman's crime was committed In th
strip and th conteat over thla land had a
bearing upon th granting of th reprieve.
SIXTEEN 1'EKISH
IN CHICAGO EIRE
Victims Are Trapped Behind Wall of
Flame on Fourth Floor of
Furniture Factory.
DEATH ROLL MAY GH0W LARGER
Danger from Totterinjj Walls Makes
. . Recoyery of Bodies Hazardous.
UNFORTUNATES MOSTLY WOMEN
Workers Rushed to Stairway, Only to
Find Eccape Cut Off.
CIGAR LIGHTER CAUSES BLAZE
Spark from l.lttle Contrivance In
Hands of t'lerk Srt Fire to Qnon
tlty of Benslne In Repair
Hhitp.
CHICAGO, March 25.-SoBrch of tho
wiecknge for the remnlnlng bodies of thoso
who lost their lives In the Fish Funiltur
company's fire here today was discontinue.!
this afternoon, owing to danger from tot
terlr.g wal!s. hut not until after twelve
of the bodies had been recovered anil
eloven of these Identified.
While enrllfr rstimnfs placed tho number
of victims trapped cn the fourth and fifth
floors of the building as hlrh as twenty,
later and more thorough Investigation Indi
cates that there wore hut sixteen. Two
of theso escaped with their lives, which
leaves but two more to b? ncotinted for.
The search was abnndoned for the day
on the report of Building Inspector Short,
who declared that three of th- walls weri
In a dangerous condition. If theso are
still standing In the morning the work of
A coroner's Jury which was cmpnnoled
this afternoon viewed the bodies at tho
morgue!, but tho Inquest was postponed
until April 2.
Cigar Lighter Starts Bins.
Leo Stoeckel, a clerk for the Fish com
pany, who, by accident, was said to have
stsrted the fire, told his stary to Fire At
torney Hopran this afternoon. Although
Stocckel, who lu" but 20 years of age, Is
admittedly unfortunate. Attorney H-kt
oays he will bring some charge agnlnst Ilia
young man to Insure his attendance at thJ
inquest.
Stoeckel was brought before the fire at
torney with his herd, which had been
burned, swathed in bandages. Ha appeared
heart-broken and told hla story with diffi
culty. "About 8:45 o'clock this mornlns,"
Stoeckel said, "Mr. Mitchell, who Is a
member of the firm, gave mo three pocket
cigar lighters - and told me to go to tho
finishing room on the fourth floor and fill
them with benxlne. I had filled two of
the lighters out. of the five-gallon can hnd
was working on the t'.ilrd when ther wua
an explosion. . "
"A sheet of flame almost blinded me. I
did not fully regain my senses until I had
reached the street. The lighters contained
a conlrlvanc to make a spark, but whether
I Ignited one of them or not I do not know.
I either dropped the can of benzine when
the flames shot up in front of me or It was
blown out of my hands."
Anions; the Victims.
Following is a list of the identified dead:
HARRY DARLINGTON, aed 40, painter.
ETHEL ANDERSON, ae.'d 18, stenog
rapher. M1NUR W. BELL, advertising manager.
WOHlli; BRl'NKK, age.i 17, stenographer.
MRS. HANNAH nUHuKN, aged SO,
widow, forewoman folding department.
LILLIAN SULLIVAN, aged 18. folder.
WILLIAM UHKEN. aged 24, clerk.
ETHEL LIC'TENSTLLX, aged 18, stenog
rapher. HARRY M. MITCHELL, auditor of com
pany, member of firm and brother-in-law
of Simon Fish.
VERONICA M'GRATH, agVd 17, stenog
rapher. UEKTRUDE QUINN, aged 20, folder.
The missing are:
Mary Wargo, aged 20, folder.
Birt St. Clair, aged Z8, confidential clerk.
Three others whose names could not bo
ivaiiitu mo msu lopunea among me miss
ing. One of the bodies was Identified by Flor
ence Sullivan as that of her sister Lillian.
She said she recognized a stuie taken from
one of the bodies as one which had been
worn by her sister. . Florence, who Is 13
years old and a switchboard operator,
might easily have shared her Bister's fate.
She was to have gone to work for the Fish
company at noon, taking the place of an
other girl.
Alexander Bush, a street car conductor.
Identified one of the bodies as that of Roil
Brunke, whom he was to have married
Easter Sunday. He recognized her through
the medium of a number of trinkets, In
cluding an engagement ring.
Victims Mostly Women.
Ten women and girls, It Is said, wer at
work on the sixth floor when the explo
sion occurred. The spread of the flame
throughout the upper floors was almost In
stantaneous, and when the girls rushed to
the Btalrways they found their escape cut
off. They next turned to the front of th
building smashing the windows.
Then suddenly one of the girls stepped
out on the window ledge and screamed for
help. Then she leaped. She fell on the
awning over the front entrance to the store
where she lay unconscious until a man,
crawling out on the canopy lifted her up.
She was taken to St. Luke's hospital only
a few blocks uway, but ded soon after
wards. She was Idanttfled as Emma Lych
tensteln, 20 years old and was employed
as a filing clerk. Death wa due to In
ternal injuries received in her fall.
Soon after Miss Lychtansteln struck a
crash as If floors falling was heard and
the people at the windows disappeared.
Isaac Fish, secretary of the Fish Furni
ture company, had entered the elevator
when the explosion occurred. The elevator
came to a stop between the third and
fourth floors.
The door of the car was automatically
locked, but In a frenzy Mr. Nash and th
elevator boy which was In the cage suc
ceeded In breaking It down.
Cans ot Benslne Explode.
According to Mr. Fish the fire started
when an employe went Into the finishing
dopartment on the fourth floor to get soma
alcohol for a cigar lighter. The electric
spark of the llghtar, according to Mr. Fish,
started the fire, which quickly reached cans
of benxltva and explosions followed. Mr.
Fish expresKfd the belief that all employes
on th fourth floor escaped, but could see
no hope for those above.
The financial loss Is placed at $300,000.
equally divided between building and
stock.
The Fish Furniture company occupies two
buildings separated by an alley, on build
ing fronting on Wabash avenue, wner Uta