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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 1917)
The Omaha Daily Bee THE WEATHER FAIR V VOL. XLVII NO. 169. OMAHA, TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 2, 1917. TEN PAGES. 6a Tnlu. t UsttM, Hun susfc. tu., u SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. FORTY-SIX BURN WHEN ASYLUM IS SWEPTJY FLAME Sisters of Charity and Imbecile Charges Victims of Fire ' That Destroys Old Institution CHOSEN BY DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS TO BE SPEAKER. PEACE MOVES TO REST WITH NOTE SENT BIT WILSON Belligerents See Hope That Entente Allies May Not , Yet Close Door on Discussion. ' .j, , A Big Job for a Boy SOLDIER LADS . BACK HOME FROM BORDER SERVICE Hundreds of Parents, Sweet hearts and Friends Welcome Fourth Regiment Upon Its Arrival Home Sunday Intelligent ad-takers will help write , your want-ad. Telephone Tyler 1000 ! '''Vff Hill STRUGGLE WITHOUT HELP Remote From Habitations, Aid Does Not Reach Scene Till All Is Over. COLD ADS TO SUFFERING Montreal, Jan. 1. Fortyteix women were burned to death in a fire that destroyed St. Ferdinand dc Halifax asylum at St. Ferdinand de Halifax, Megan lie county, Quebec, late Satur day night, according to a report re ceived here. Patients of the asylum of whom there were 180, were all women. Meager reports obtained from avail sources give no intimation of the cause of the fire which started while the inmates were asleep and appar ently spread rapidly. Without Fire Protection. The asylum which cared for 180 fe male idiots virtually was without pro tcction from fire. The inmates of the asylum were uncontrollable and many of them were said to have leaped from high windows. Others in bewilder ment crouched in terror near the win dows until the flames caught them. One of the sisters died trying to rescue several of the girls, who were trapped by the flames. Owing to the intensely cold weather, the mercury registered 20 below zero, the water in the hydrants about the building was frozen and little could oe done to stay the orogress of the flames. Many of the girls who fled in ter ror were located by villagers wno took them to their homes. Thirty eirls. who were students at a convent adjoining the asylum, which also was burned, are said to nave naa narrow escaoes. The property damage is estimated at ?20O,0O0. No Outside Aid. Quebec, Jan. 1. Sisters of charity were without outside aid in rescuing inmates of the St. Ferdinand de Hall fax insane asylum at St. Ferdinand de Halifax, Megantic county, when fire destroyed the building late Saturday night, resulting in tne aeatn ot lorty hve women inmates and one sister The old buildin was in a remote dis trict, far from other habitations and not a single man reached the place until after the forty-six women had -perished- -and tie -sisters --had saved the remaining 135 inmates, and thirty girls attending a school conducted in a winar of the structure. A high wind spread the flames quickly. The sister who lost her lite was trying to save one of the inmates. Advices received here today said the lass would not exceed $luu,ouu. The cause of the fire was not known. Much Suffering from Cold. There was much suffering, as the night was intensely cold. 'XTter the flames had reached all parts of the building so that no further attempts at saving lives could De made tne sis ters turned their attention to caring for the survivors. . The building was owned by the Quebec torancn ot tne Sisters of Charity. By" arrangement with the government it was main tained as a regular government es tablishment- for the care ot insane women. Hamilton Wright Mabee, Editor and Author, Is Dead Summit, N. J., Jan. 1. Dr. Hamil ton Wright Mabie. assistant editor of the "Outlook," died at his home here Sunday. He was 70 years of age and was born at Cold Springs, N. Y. He is survived by a widow and one daughter. Dr. Mabie was graduated from Wil liams college in 1867 and from Co lumbia law school in 1869, and for several years practiced law in this city. Kie became associated with the "Outlook" in 1879. Dr. Mabie was the author of sev eral literary studies, but his most frequent contributions were to maga zines and newspapers in the form of essays. Some of his best known works are: "Norse Stories, Retold from the Eddas," "Natare in New England," "Short Studies in Litera ture," 'The Life of The Spirit" and "Life of Shakespeare." Three years ago he was received by the emperor of Japan at Tokio, while on a lecture tour of Japan. Dr. Mabie was president of the New York Kindergarten association, Secretary of the American Institute ot Arts and Letters, and a member of the Century association and other organizations. The Weather For Nebraska Fair. Temperatures at Omaha Yesterday. Hour.- Def. 5 a. m 24 a. ra 33 7 a. ni tl I a. m !1 t a. in 23 10 a. m 25 11 a. ni 2 12 m 31 1 p. m. 2 p. tn 3 p. m 35 4 p. m 37 p. m 36 p. m 34 7 p. m 33 CampantiTa Laeal Record. 1117. 1911. 191 5. 1114. Htthtt yesterday.... 37 4 34 37 fewest jresterrtay 21 24 23 27 Mean temperature.... 29 35 29 32 rrerlpitatlon 00 .33 .00 .00 Temperature and prerlpltatlon departures from the normal at Omaha sine March 1, and compared with the last two years: Normal temperature 22 Kxceaa for the day 7 Total .excess atnee March 1 182 Normal precipitation 02 Inch Deficiency for the day... 02 inrh Total rainfall since March 1. . .16.72 Inches ftenclency since March 1 12.66 Inches Denclency for cor. period, 1919.. 1.94 Inches rjeflclancr for cor. jrariod, 1914.. 1.46 Inches George cJacJtson JACKSON CHOSEN SPEAKEROF HOUSE Nuckolls County Man Picked By the Democratic Caucus , at Lincoln. POTTS CLERK OF THE HOUSE (From a Staff Correspcr.dent.) Lincoln, Jan. 1. (Special Tele gram.) George Jackson of Nuckolls county was selected for speaker of the house at the democratic caucus here tonight after four ballots were taken. On the first ballot Jackson failed to get a majority, receiving only 24 votes, while OIlis received 10, Reifenrath 14, and Trumble 9. The second ballot went the same way and the third bal lot was thrown out because one too many votes was cast. On the fourth ballot Jackson got 29 votes, which gave him a bare majority. It appeared before the caucus that it was George . Jackson, former speaker, against tne field with J. A. Ollis, C. M. Trumble and J. H. Reif enrath and other candidates. A rumor about 5 o'clock had it that the opposition against Jackson had made up its mind to concentrate on Ollis, but friends of the other candi dates refused to confirm it and when the democratic house caucus was called at 7:30 there appeared to be much uncertainty to the .fight. This morning Senator Phil Kohl withdrew as a candidate lor re-elec tion as president pro tern, leaving the fieht between Beal of Custer. Mattes of Otoe and Howell of Douglas, al though few appeared to know wheth er the latter was a candidate or not. E. A. Walrath had no opposition as secretary of the senate and D. D. Car leton of Loup City, who held the jpb at the last session, will be selj.ted as first assistant. It is probable that George Dole of Stockville will be the other assistant. , Fight on Aids. Little or no opposition developed against the re-election of George W. Potts as chief clerk, but during the day considerable of a fight was de veloped for the jobs of first and sec ond assistant. Ted Metcalf-of Omaha, Jerry Kelfey of Custer and E. E. E. Kidgeway of Douglas appeared to be the most favored candidates, but as two of the number live in Douglas, it appeared that both would not land and that Kelley would be one of the favored ones. Before the caucus, Metcalf appeared to be in the lead. For sergeant-at-arms of the house there was a lively scramble, between ex-Representative Clayburn of Platte and Judson Pierce of Boone and when the caucus was (ailed it appeared that neither had much of a bulge on the other. Evans of Lancaster, who was early in the race appeared to be mak ing a good showing. - Pick Committees. A place on the committee on com mittees during the afternoon seemed to look good to many and congres sional districts took time by the fore lock and made their selections as fol lows: First District Defoe of Johnson and Relschlck of Richardson. Second District Bulla and Shannon of Douglas and Sass of Sarpy. Third District Oaterman of Merrick, Radke of Cedar, Day of Dodge. Fourth District Norton of Polk and Ful ler of Seward with Lamar as second choice, provided that Norton was made chairman of the committee. Fifth District Swanson of Clay and Hoffmelster of Chase. Sixth District Taylor of Cuater, Trumbel of Sherman and Anderson of Boyd. There is a lively contest on between Taylor of Custer and Norton of Polk for the chairmanship of the commit tee. The legislature convenes at noon tomorrow. If Governor Neville has arrived in the city he had not made his appear ance at 6 o'clock tonight and no one appeared to know when he would come. Aged Philosopher; and Teacher George Holmes Howison, Dead Berkeley, Can., Jan. 1. George Holmes Howison, professor of philos ophy, emeritus, at the University of California, died at his home here last night, 82 years old. Prof. Howison re tired from active work a few years ago. Among- his former pupils are many well known men in the world of thought and letters. Among them were C. M. Bakewell. professor of philosophy at Yale; A. O. Lovejoy, professor of philosophy at Johns Hopkins: C. H. Rieber, professor of logic, University of California; Harry Overstreet, professor of philosophy, University of the City of New York, and H. E. Mews, president of the University of New York. Last sum mer he and his wife gave $70,000 to the University of California to finance the Howison foundation, by means of which tbe aged philosopher had planned to perpetuate his work of discovering and7 training new philosophers. . x UL ish That Press Exprr Next Nt More CarefullJ Drafted. HOW GERMANS TAKE IT Washington, Jan. 1. The reply of the entente allies to Germany's peace proposals had not been forwarded to day, and the indications were that it would not be sent on before tomor row at the earliest. ' There is no intention to delay it be yond the time necessary to make cer tain that a comolete and accurate copy is being forwarded to all the central be liferents. The hope that the entente reply to the German proposals had not closed the door on further negotiations was undnmshed, but the German em bassy's attitude that they had been made doubtful by the reply was re flected generally. The hope for prog ress toward peace negotiations now has turned to the replies to President Wilson's note. No Second Note to Neutrals. The American government, it was made known here today sent no sec ond note to neutrals subsequent to the dispatch of President Wilson's peace note, but American diplomats at neutral capitals were instructed that in transmitting the peace note they should convey a suggestion that if the neutral governments thought it wise to take action on peace the United States considered the time op portune. It was stated definitely that no other government knew the United States was contemplating action, that no other government was asked to ap prove its action before it was taken, that the American government acted entirely on its own initiative, and that no attempt was made to act in con cert with any other nations. While the form of the instructions to the American diplomats transmit ting the American note to neutrals was not disclosed, it was learned that the president considered the instruc tions immaterial. What Might Have Happened. It is aaid to be possible that some J American representatives- may nave made it appear as though the United, states was directly urging tne co-operation of other neutrals. This idea was based on the note from Spain to the United States in which mention was made of a second communication. Spain's suggestion for an entente of neutral nations to define rights of neutrals was not commented on today by officials. ' Delivery of the Amercian note to neutrals is not construed by adminis tration officials as an effort to invite their co-operation. In discussing the question today officials made clear that there was no such intention on the part of the president. The United States, it was said, will continue to act on its own initiative. It was reiterated again today that as welt as being a move for peace, the president's note was also intended to point out that the position of the neu trals was becoming intolerable. . Berlin Regrets Tone of Reply. Berlin, Jan. 1. (By Wireless to Sayville.) "The text of the entente note replying to tha peace offer of the central powers," says the semi official Overseas News Agency, "reached Berlin as transmitted from Paris by the Havas News Agency. The general impression here is if this version is correct that the en tente answer to the sincere German offer, while verbose, nevertheless is a flat refusal to end the war. This is especially regretted for the sake of the neutral countries suffering from the consequence of the war. "It is pointed out as especially re markable that the entente note men tions the right of nationalities, al though one of the avowed war pur poses of the entente is the conquect of Constantinople and the Straits." Reply to Wilson Next. London, Jan. 1. The hope is ex pressed by the Manchester Guaradian that the forthcoming note of the en tente to President Wilson will be written by a different hand and in a different spirit than the reply of the allies to Germany several things must be remem bered in extenuation of the poor qual ity and poorer expression of the al lies' reply to Germany," says the Guardian. "Obviously it is not a good translation from the French. More over, the French original clearly" is not the French of a Frenchman. We should say it is a French rendering of a Russian original, passed with out sensibe modification in Paris and finally badly done into English in London. "Aside from these blemishes, in substance the reply was very much what was expected and inevitable. We venture to think nothing was added to its form by the verbal em bellishments with which it was en larged and weakened. These emo tional appeals continue throughout the note until the postscript, which is strong, clear, logical, Convincing and obviously by a different hand, dealing specially with Belgium. Let Balfour Write Note, "Nevertheless we see no reason wily, if Germany is willing publicly to state what it. is prepared to of fe: . we should not follow with state mint of what we demand. The next exchange of views will be between the allies and President Wilson. This is a different and. in many respects (t'oatiaoed oa fmg Two, Cvtuma Tm.) 'BRITISH VIEW SIMPSON MANAGER HEWHORSECONCERH Grand Island Horse Men Take Over the Horse Interests of the Omaha Stock Yards. TO MAKE LEADING MARKET At a meeting of the stockholders of the Omaha Horse and Mule Commis sion company. Perry W. Simpson, formerly president of Hilliker-Simp-son company of Grand Island was elected general manager and treasur er. Mr.. Simpson's notable achieve ment was in developing the Grand Island market and broad experience in other centers, makes him one of the best known figures in the busi ness. . .,'... The new company announce offi cers as follows: W. E. Hilliker, president; N. A. Proctor, vice presi dent; Frank F. Simpson, treasurer and general manager. Other members oi the board of di rectors are Maurice Davis and Frank Snyder; other stockholders are Victor Smiley, R. Tally, John Roddy, Al Challis, William Walker, J. P. Aiken, Thomas Thompson, Roy Fletcher and Shinstock brothers. The New Organization will be known as the Omaha Horse and Mule Commission company, and has leased the entire South Omaha Stock Yard company's horse and mule plant, and the extensive sheep-feeding plant of Burt, west of South Omaha. This place will be entirely remodeled for the care and feeding of branded army horses. Mr. Simpson says that with the un equalled railroad facilities of Omaha, tributary to the best horse raising country, and with the co-operation of Omaha people, the new organiza tion intends making Omaha the first horse market of the world. Arrests for Intoxication in Oes Moines Show Big Gain Des Moines, la., Jan. 1. Police de partment statistics made public today revealed that there were more arrests during 1916 for intoxication than dur ing 1915. Total arrests for drunken ness, in 1916 were announced by the department as 3,472. In 1915, which includes six "wet" jnonths and six "dry" .months, 2,956 persons were ar ested, charged with being intoxicated. Saloons were banished from Des Moines six months before state-wide prohibition went into effect. Retired General Joins French Army as Private Poroienan. France. Ian. 1. General Gerard Amanrich, commander of the Legion of Honor, who had retired from the service, has joined the army as a private in an artillery regiment. General Amanrich is 65 years old and is now at the regimental depot at Versailles. New Names Are Given Companies After Experiences on the Border battalion have new appclations upon tchir return from the border. "The Mule Shooters" is the com mon; name now attached to Company C, commanded by Captain lrvin V. Todd. The name ws acquired when Private Sammy Rasmick was placed on outpost duty, the second night the Nebraskans arrived. Sammy heard a rustling in the underbrush. "Halt, who goes there," he challenged. "Ad vance and show yourself." But the rustling continued and the enemy did not advance or show himself. Where il n Sammy pumped his rifle five m.ies at the foe. After the entire camp had been aroused and prepara Omaha Speeds Old And Gives New Churches Observe Holiday With Watch Services, While Hotels Entertain Merry-Makers. A"double-header" holiday served well to speed the parting and to wel come the coming year. It was a time of much rejoicing in Omaha wajeh- had just finished "tKe greatest year of its history. The snow of Sunday morning made the out doors look "holiday-like" and ' the temperature was just pleasant. ' , Sunday was a big day in the churches. Many of the ministers took their topics from the thought of the day, the resolve to make the new year better than the old one. The hymns and choir music partook of the "same spirit. A number of the churches had spe cial watch services in the evening. Plymouth Congregational had one be ginning at 8:30 o'clock and lasting till after midnight, including music, ?reaching, social hour and hot re reshments and stereoption entertain ment. The Luther league of KounUe Memorial Lutheran church had a Americans Purchase Lafayette Birth Place For Museum Purpose New York, Jan. 1. The historic chateau in . France, which was the borth place of Marquis de. Lafayette, has been purchased by Americans to be restored and prepetuated as a me morial, museum and home. The pur chase was made possible through the efforts of Mrs. William Astor Chan ler and John Moffat, associated with other prominent Americans and the chateau will become the proptry of the French Heroes' fund. The estate was sold by Marquis Gaston de Lafayette, wHo inherited in 1890 from Senator Edmund de Lafayette, The present marquis is a grandson of General Lafayette's only son, George Washington Lafayette. The Chataun de Chavaneauic La fayette in the province of Auvergn in south France, some 400 miles from Paris. The purpose of the French Heroes' fund, it was announced, is to make the chatucau a complement to Washing ton's home at Mount Vernon. In it tre to be kept records of colonial days as well as those of the present war. It will be a home for orphans and soldiers, who have been disabled. Among those associated with Mrs. Chanler ind Mr. Moffat, Clarence Mackay, John G.'Millburn, George von L. Meyer, Dr. John Grier Hibben and Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler. tions made to repel an attack, it was found that a stray mule had caused the commotion. "Yep," he missed the mule, of course," a private from a rival company replied. Company B, commanded by Charles W. Hamilton, is now known as the "millionaire" company because a number of the rank and file are said to have considerable coin of the realm. ; "The Sears Rifles" is the new name otCompany C, commanded by Cap tain F. Yates, because Judge Sears of the district court sent that company a rather substantial fund. The "Headache band" or "Agony" is the appelation that the band from Friend is best known. ' Year On Way Hearty Welcome watch service beginning at 11 p. m. There were many others. Hotel and cafe men say that New Year's eve was never before cele brated in Omaha with such "eclat" as this one was. The Fontenellc, Black stone, Rome, Henshaw, and all the rest of the hotels and cafes were filled to capacity with merrymakers, joyous over the going of the old and still more joyous over the coming of the new year. ,. ' . -.. 4 At the theaters'" the spirit was abroad, too. Most of them and some of the moving picture houses gave special performances after the regular evening performance. The street rail way company had a spe'eial service of cars that left the downtown corners for all parts of the city up to 3 a. m. And after all this festivity came the big day itself, the first day of 1917. All the stores and banks and public of fices were closed of course and every body gathered at home where mother and wife and sisters were busy pre paring the big dinner to gladden the day and start the folks well on the new year. Altogether it was a double day of f;reat joy and festivity and Omaha clt it had much to be joyous and festive about and feels that it will have just as "much to be joyous and festive about in the next year. J,A,M'Intyre,Well Known Auto Dealer Dies at 52 Years J. A. Mclntyre. president of the Mclntyre-Hayward Motor company and well known along automobile row since 1909, died at his home, 3106 Woolworth avenue, Sunday. He was 52 years old. Mr. Mclntyre was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1864, and came to Omaha in 1897. He is survived by his widow, his mother, who lives at Villisca, la., and one brother and four sisters, all living in Iowa. Although not a member of any church, Mr. Mclntyre attended the First Methodist church regularly. He was a member of the Field dub and the Seymour Lake club. Funeral services will be held from the Taggart undertaking parlors', 2212 Cuming -street, at 2;30 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. Interment will be in West Lawn cemetery. Stanton Soon to Be Enlivened By Two Mountain Canaries ' It isn't all burros, especially Texas burros that are inclined to bray with an alto twang. That's why Major lver S. Johnson of the second bat talion and Captain Chris L. Anderson of Company G sent two of the hy phenated quadrupeds as pets to their home town of Stanton from the bor der. "They were some pets," said the major, "and their brays, they were wonderful. They cost us $1 each on the border, but the express company charged us $16.60 to express them to Stanton." . Other officers who heard the major express his comments on the burros agreed that they were wonderful. One lieutenant remarked that they were so wonderful that no one within the camp could sleep when the "mountain canaries" started an animated conver sation. Observes New Year by Taking His Own Life Sioux Falls, S. D., Jan. 1. The body of Oscar Peterson, 30 years old, a brine worker, was found hanging to a tree in the business section of this city early this morning. Associates said that Peterson had been acting aueerly lately and was extreme rest less last night, walking the streets un til an early hour, this morning. CITY DADS AEE ON HAND Mayor and City Commissioners Extend Hand of Greeting to Khaki-Clad Youths TEN DAYS TO MUSTER OUT "Glad to be back, glad to have gone." That was the feeling of the 660 clear-eyed, tanned, healthy-looking khaki-clad figuies and the fifty-two officers comprising the Fourth Ne braska regiment as it detrained at Fort Crook Sunday afternoon after doing border dutv since July 6, 1916. Friends, sweethearts, parents and onlookers were there by the hundreds to greet the returning soldiers. Mayor Dahlman and the city council were also on hand to welcome back to Nebraska the young men who had so loyally joined their country's colors. The Postoffice band did not put in an appearance, owing to the uncer tainty of the time of arrival of the troops. This uncertainty was also responsible for a large number of persons staying away. As it was, the hundreds of parents, sweethearts and friends came to the post and waited several hours for the arrival of the soldiers. The first detachment, comprising companies A, B, C and D of Omaha and E, F, G and H of Wayne, Blair, Stanton and Madison, respectively,, arrived at the post at 2:30. The men started to detrain immediately and took possession of the warm bar racks that awaited them. The .sec ond detachment, made up of Com panies I, Gordon; K, Osceola and Seward; M, York; Supply company, Wisncr; Sanitary detachment! Lin coln, and the Headquarters arid Ma chine company detachments, arrived in half an hour, but could not dW train until the first section had un loaded. Dinner Is on Time. By 6 o'clock everything had been unloaded and the cooks had prepared warm meals for the soldiers. For the field officers provision had been made to house and feed them in the of ficers' row, across from the Soldier barracks.. f - --,," t -; While the soldiers unloaded their paraphernalia and otherwise put their, barracks in condition for the evening, friends, sweethearts and parents cir culated among the guardsmen, renew ing acquaintances and making merry over their return. A few mothers sobbed softly as they embraced their soldier boys, while it was not uncommon to see sweethearts kiss their returning heroes. Sleepers for All. - On the return from Llano Grande the soldiers declare that they had a much more enjoyable trip than going to the border. Although the trains moved slower, the equipment was much Setter, each having a sleeper. The first detachment consisted of twenty-two cars, all of which were sleepers with the exception of four freight cars. The second section was made up, of twenty-seven cars, all sleepers except seven baggage cars. ' The troops left Texas Wednesday evening at about 7:30. On the way up they paraded at Houston, Tex., Little Rock, Ark., Coffeyville, Kan., and Wagoner, Okla. This was more for exercise than exhibition. 1 The men, as they swung off the cars, presented a far more healthy appearance than when they left. All were bronzed and showed the ef fects of six months of outdoor life. Only two were left behind in Texas because of sickness. The manner in which they set about the task of unloading the cars, and the discipline of the men showed more than anything the evolution which they had gone through. They presented the aspect of regulars in every sense of the word. While the men all seemed anxious to get back to Nebraska, none of them seemed sorry that they had en listed. They all were of the opinion that the experience had done them good, but would not care to repeat it unless actual warfare broke oul; Ten Days to Muster Out . Just how long it will take to muster out the men is a question the an swer to which none of the officers seems to know defiinitely. Colonel George A. Eberly, commanding of ficer, said that he thought it would be at least ten days and possibly a much longer time. Four United States army officers are now at Fort Crook to aid ill mustering the men out. They ab Captains Bates, James, King and lr vington. The work of mustering out the sol diers is in fact not a mustering out in the true meaning of the term. Strictly speaking it is aTelease from federal duty, the officers and men go ing back to the National Guard for me rerni or incir enlistment. Tl.. -B, urA-lr in 1 1. nrnrx. a the making out of the muster rolls. This has already been accomplished by the officers of each of the com panies. This will be followed by a physical examination in wnicn an phvsical as well as mental defects will be noted. This is done so as to protect the government in case any of the officers or men afterward J; aonlv for pensions. Next will follow the real muste ine out. This consists of the count ing of the property. Everything is sued to any of the soldiers must be , checked and accounted for. Each soldier has a hundred and one odd things that must be accounted for (CMtltUwd m Face Three, Cvlama Out.)