Daily Bee
THE WEATHER
Unsettled
Night Service
to 1 0 p. m.
VOL. XLyi. NO. 215.
OMAHA. SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 21. 1917 SIXTEEN PAGES.
SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
The
Omaha
BRITISH FOOD
STOCKS LOWEST
IN NATION'S LIFE
.Premier Lloyd George Tells
Parliament Only Drastic
Measures Can Prevent
Disaster.
MOST HAVE MORE SHIPS
Imports of Food Will Be Se
duced end Production at
Home Increased.
LESS BEER AND WHISKY
London, Feb. 23. Premier Lloyd
George said in a speech in the House
of Commons today that the success
of the entente cause depended on the
ability to solve the. tonnage short
age which was now affecting the or
dinary needs of the national and
military exigencies.
The situation called for the grav
est measures. The premier said there
was no sure way to victory without
hunting the submarines from the
deep.
Enormcus sacrifices were neces
sary from the British public, said
Mr. Lloyd George. He" Mated the
government proposed to dispense
with al non-essential importations to
save tonnage.
The stocks of food in Great Brit
ain at the present time are lower
than they ever have been before, Mr.
Lloyd George said. It was essential
for the life of the nation, he declared,
that every possible effort be made to
increase home production. The im
portation of apples, tomatoes and
fruits wilt be prohibited entirely.
There was a crowded house at the
special meeting held today' to listen
to the premier'! statement on the re
striction of imports and the encour
agement of agriculture. Among those
in the diplomatic gallery were Pre
mier Borden of Canada, Premier Mas
sey of New Zealand and many repre
sentatives of allied nations and the
dominions.
Must Have Tonnage.
The premier said that ultimate suc
cess of the .allied cause depended on
' the solution of the tonage difficulties
with which they were confronted. Be
fore the war British tonage had been
just adequate and since that time
there had been an enormous increase
' in the demand for tonnage. More than
1,000,000 tons of British shipping had
- been allotted to France alone and s
very considerable amount had been
set aside for Russia and Italy. In ad
dition a considerable amount had been
sunk.
Mr. Lloyd George said that for
some time there has been a shortage
of tonnage required for the general
needs of the nation and even a slight
shortage in the tonnage for military
purposes. The nation should realize
absolutely what the conditions were.
Drastic Measures Necessary.
"If we take drastic measures," he
continued, "we can cope with the sub
marine menace, but if the nation is
rot prepared to accept drastic meas
ures for dealing with the menace dis
aster is before us.
"The government is hopeful of
finding means of dealing with the
submarine, but we should be guilty
of folly if werested tranquillly upon
the expectation of the realization of
that hope. We have to deal ruthlessly
and promptly with the tonr.age prob
lem by measures which impose great
sacrifices upon the country.
Three Sets of Measures.
"There are three sets of measures:
First, hy the navy, as described by
Sir Edward Carson (first lord of the
admiralty); second, the building" of
merchant ships; third, dispensing with
unnecessary commodities from
abroad, and production of as much
food as possible at home."
The , premier announced that the
government would guarantee a price
of 38 shillings 6 pence for oats this
(Continued on Paso, Two Colomn Four.)
The Weather
Temperature at Omaha Velerjaj.
lctc;n s :
tr 8 ft. m S
I- I m r
T10 a. m.. 10
11 . in
ti a p m is
L 1 P- n i
D p n
6 p. m m
8 P- m n
7 D. m it
8 p, m, .......... . is
Comparative Loral IWonJ.
1917. 19m. 1910.1914.
HlKhfMt yeatfrday . . , . is in 34 n'
L'lWfMt yeterdny . . tJ 7 25 'm
Mean temperature ....12 35 :ii 7
Proclpltlion 00 .00 ,n
Temperature and prirlpitallon departurn
from lh nurniHl at Omaha ulnCo Marrh 1,
and compared with the laat (wo yearn:
. Normal temperature ;' 2$
Ot-flriency tor the day 14
Total pxceaa alnce March 1 159
ornml preripiiatlon Os'inrh
Iefififnry for the dav 02 jTii h
Total rainfall ntnre March 1 ...JT.fiO (mhea
JefMenry elnce March rl 13.06 nhe
Iflclency fi.r cor. period, 1915. Inch
Deficiency for cor. period, 1814. 1.14 Inches
K porta From Statloni at 1 P. M.
Station and. Slate Temp. Hlfh- Raln
of Weather. 7 p.m. eit. thi.
Davenport, Uoudy 2rt 2fi on
Denver, part cloudy.... 4i? 42 m
Dea Moines, cloudy.... is. I2 i0
Dodire City,. clear 4ll 44 o
Tander, cloudy 34 40 on
North Platte, cloudy... n j '
Omiha, cloudy 17 . Js nn
, Pueblo, clear r 14 to .00
napld nty, cloudy...;. 14 4 00
Salt Lake City, cloudy. 42 44 35
Panta Fe, cloudy 42 48 " 00
Pherldan, snow 24 34 T
filoux City, part cloudy. 12 .2 00
Valentine, part cjudy. . an k, 0i
"T" Indicates trace of precipitation,
L. A. WELSH, McteorologiHt.
y ma
G. 0. P. FILIBUSTER
THREATENS ENTIRE
B0ORB0HPR0GRAM
Republicans on Rampage in
Senate, and They May Force
President to Call an
Extra Session.
BLOW AT FOREIGN POLICY
Opposition to Reported Plans
of Executive to Ask Sweep
ing Powers Seen.
LA FOLLETTE ONE CHIEFS
Washington, Feb. 23. Republicans
of the senate began a filibuster today
that threw into the air all plans for
the remaining eight working days
me session, inreaienmg essential
pending legislation and foreshadowing
opposition to any request President
Wilson may make for authority to
deal with the international crisisr'after
congress adjourns. They did not
challenge charges on the floor that
they were deliberately seeking to
force the president to call an extra
session. .
Although democrats believed the
fight is aimed at the administration's
emergency revenue bill,, it drew
prompt and hearty support "from j
those opposing any grant of addi-
tional power to the executive which
might result in aggressive action to
protect American rights in the war
zone.
How Trouble Starts.
The trouble began when the ma
jority rejected an amendment modi
fying the profits tax provision of the
revenue measure. There was a con
ference presided over' by Senator
Lodge and participated in by lead
ers of both wings of the republican
party including Senators Penrose,
Smoot, Weeks and Brandegee of the
regulars and La Follettc, Poindexter
and Norris of the progressive group.
Returning to the floor the repub
licans began taking up time, speaking
one after another for hours on per
functory amendments, while the ex
asperated democrats in charge of the
revenue .bill listened helplessly. No
progress was made- during the day
or at a session lasting far into the
night.
Democratic leaders are considering
forcing all-night sessions in an effort
to tire out the filibusters and they
may begin tomorrow. It is realized
the republicans by persistent obstruc
tive tactics can prevent the enact
ment of the revenue bill and the nec
essary appropriation measures and
thus make an extra session imoera-
r-tive.
Some of the democrats hope, how
ever, .that the real leaders1 of the
movement are maneuvering only for
a compromise on bitterly opposed fea
tures of the revenue ill, and may
not carry out their threats against
the whole legislative program.
First Time Present for While.
Today's gathering of the minority
leaders was one of the few Senator
La Follette has attended for some
time. It was learned later that soine
of those present insisted that the
president sought too much power in
handling the strained international !
situation, that he should be compelled
to call an extra session through en
forced failure of legislation, and that
any request for special authority
should be fought to the end of the
present session.
On the floor. Senator Simmons
openly declared the republicans were
seeking to defeat important bills in
order to force a special session and
said he did not doubt they couldio
it. Besides the revenue bill, neces
sary to meet an expected treasury de
ficit, the, army and navy apprdpriation
bills are among the measures which
would fail should the filibuster prove
effective.
Paul' Humphrey Resigns
As Kinkaid's Secretary
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
Washington, Feb. 23. (Special Tel
egram.) Paul N. Humphrey of Brok
en Bow, Neb., who has been associ
ated with Judge Kinkaid as private
secretary tor ten years, as well as ;
having served as' secretary of the!
Sixth district republican congression
al committee for nearly as long a
period, has tendered his resignation,
to take effect March 4. Mr. Humphrey
plans to practice law either in
Oklahoma City or Tulsa, having
graduated from the law school of
George Washington university a year
or more ago. During the spring
months Mr. Humphrey will be dis
bursing officer and secretary 'to a
committee of congress authorized to
investigate Indian affairs throughout
the United States, of which his fath
er-in-law. Representative Stephens of
lexas, cnatrman ot the Indian af
fairs committee of the' house, will be
chairman.
Grain Prices Drop, After "
Holiday On Exchange
Due tii) embargoes and refusal of
eastern lines to accept wheat for de
livery east of Chicago, all grainprices
were off after tfie holiday of Thurs
day. Wheat suffered the most and
lost one-half to 2 cents, 'here was
a decline of one-fourth to a half on
corn and about the same on oats.
Wheat receipts were sixty-eight car
loads and sales were made at $1,79(0;
M3'i per bushel. Corn sold at 94Mfe
96 '4 cents and receipts were 106 car
loads. Oats fetched 55(5:56 cepts'
per bushel, w ith forty carloads on the
market. v
Wilson Signs Vocational
Bill With Four Pens
Washington, Feb. 23. With four
different pens made especially for the
occasion at a boys' vocational school
at Buffalo, ,". Y., President Wilson
this afternoon signed and made law
the Smith-Hughes' vocational educa
tion bill. It grovides a. federal co
operation with the states in estab
lishing industrial schools, appropriat
ing $1,700,000 this year and increasing
to f,juu.ij in lune years
Fire Sweeps
Berg, Hartman, Foley and Beard Stores Are
11mW t U . sJi,S r V x - h i
SCENE ON
STATE JEWELERS
FOR ADVERTISING;
One Hundred Dollars Put Into I
Fund to Push Along the
Publicity Campaign.
COME TO OMAHA AGAIN
Al Jf. Hastings, Arcadia, was elected
president of the Nebraska Retail
Jewelers' association at the close of
their two days' convention yesterday
afternoon. s
F. A. Haunis, York, was elected
vice president, and Ed, B. Fanske.
Pierce, secretary-treasurer, and Rob
ert A. Meyer, Grand Island: John
Markussen, Minden, and Fred Bryan,
Scottsbluflfs, directors. ' .
Six delegates were appointed to at
tend the national convention in St.
Louis the last week in August. They
were John Hendrickson, Omaha; A.
n. Hastings, Arcadia; T. L. Combs.
Omaha; Lou Fanske, Wayne; F.d
Fanske. Pierce, and E. O. Furen,
South Omaha. Others may be ap
pointed as delegates later.
Omaha was selected as the next
meeting place, and the dates Wednes
day. Thursday and Friday, February
21, 22, 23, 1918.
Money for Advertising.
Alter T. L. Combs, Omaha, had
given a strong talk on the importance
of the national campaign of jewelry
advertising, it was votel that the Ne
braska association subscribe $100 to
the Associated Jewelers national ad
vertising campaign, and pledge itself I
to produce 100 indiyidual subscribers!
to the national campaign besides
In the "solutions, the jewelers
voted to endorse the national adver
tising campaign and to give it hearty
co-operation; urged the passage of
the Stephens bill for .price main
tenance of trade-marked goods; urged
manufacturers to stamp all their
goods with a trademark for purposes
of identification; endorsed the Dore
mus bill for the elimination of time
guarantees in watch cases, and rec
ommended that the representatives in
congress be urged to pass the Steneer
son misleading advertising bill.
Not All Luxuries.
"You must discourage the idea that
goods sold in jewelry stores are all I
luxuries." said Harrv E. Rvan of !
Omaha in his talk on national adver-
tismg.
"We have a stable business, and the
UUUlll 11IUSI UC III4UC IU KNOW 'p. , , . , . , .
We sell more goods that are really bf a,rr'vc.d hJre at 1 oclo.ck
stable and necessary than we do ffidy- "corted by four companies
luxuries in the jewelry business.!0' artillery ,n full dress uniform
Everyone wears a watch, and every
one has clocks. The world could not
get along without clocks ud time
pieces. , Even longitude and latitude
could not be figured without time ! " r unc"verea. ,nea5
D;eces 1 z!m8 raln was braved by thousands of
pieces.
"gain, people must eat, and they
do not eat with chop sticks as the
Chinese. Every family, no matter
Jiow Commonplace, uses silver knives
and forks and spoons, and these are
sold in the jewelry store. And so it
is down the line."
Wants National Advertising.
Mr. Ryan told the jewelers he
hoped they would take definite action
in the association on the matter of
a national advertising campaign pro
moting tjje jewelry busiuessand the
wearing of jewelry. He traced the
success of the campaigns of 1915 and j
again of 1916 during the Christmas1
seasons in Omaha, and hoped this ;
system could be made national. '
J. V. liarborka of Denison, la.,
again opened the convention with
two classic solos from his harp.
Paid Secretary Plan
For Nebraska Editors
(From a Rlaff CorrennandHiii.)
Lincoln. Feb. 23. (Special Tele- j
gram.) Nebraska editors will enjoy
the novelty of having a paid secretary, :
about fifty members of the Press as- i
sociation meeting here today and I
adopting that plan. Members in towns
of more than 1,000 population will'
pay $10 and those in less $5. J
Block of Business Houses, Loss Near Million;
NORTH SIDE OF EOUGLAS
IBODY OF FUNSTON
IS LYING IN STATE
Thousands of People of San
Francisco Pass in Review
During Day.
DEATH WATCH ON GUARD
, San Francisco, Feb. 13. The body
of Major General Frederick Funston j
is lying in, state tonight in the f
tunda of the city hall. The American
flag draped the casket, which rested
on a catafalque covered with jonquils.
Thousands of citizens of San Fran
cisco passed in review throughout
the afternoon and night."
A, death watch, of thirty-two cor
porals, many "of whom had served
with Funston. guarded the body. They
were relieved at intervals of twenty
minutes.
Opened Today Few Minutes.
The casket was not opened by the
express wish of his widow. It will
be opened for 3 few moments tomor
row morning at the First Presbyter
ian church, where the funeral serv
ices will be iheld, in order that near
relatives may look upon the face of
General runston tor the last time.
,, I
Messages of condolence from
sections of the country were received 1 W ashington, 1'eh. 23. A lis
today by Mrs. Funston. ' j patch from Consul Keblinger at Mal-
l liey came from army and navy of- j la sa.y ,,llt the French liner Athos,
ficers of high rank, including Major " hldl. Kcv- Robert Allen Haden,
General Hugh-Scott, chief of staff of a" American missionary was killed.
the army, his assistant, General Task-
H. Bliss, and from staff officers
j 'be southern department of which
runston was commanding, wnen la
tally stricken at San Antonio, Tex.,
last Monday night. Organizations of
war veterans and the governors of
Arizona and Kansas sent condolence,
Mother Arrives From Kansas.
Mrs. K-H. Funston, the mother of
the general, and his brother, John, ar
rived tonight from Iola, Kan.
The funeral procession composed of
two regiments of coast artillery, head
ed by Major General J. Frankiin Re
commanding the western department, i
his aide and members of his staff, to-!
gether with, a contingent of blue I
jackets from Yerba Buena island, rep-
resentatives of military veterans' or- ;
ganizations. will leave the city hall
tomorrow morning at 10 o clock forj'Oe 1th. When the ship was struck
Ine church. Interment will be made he went to the aid of the Chinese on
" 'he National cemetery in the Prcsi
j dio reservation with full military rites.
D . ,. . i
Brave Drizzling Rain. ;
city hall, where it was .received by
Mayor James Kolph, in the name of
San Francisco, Many army and navy
officers of high rank marched by the
nier witn uncovered heads. A driz
civilians who blocked entrances and
.exits in their desire to express their
reverence.
The rotunda was ' decorated with
floral pieces and flags sent by various
military and semi-military bodies.
Reichstag Votes War Credit
Of Fifteen Billion Marks
London, Feb. 23. Renter's Amster
dam correspondent, quoting a Berlin
dispatch, says the German Reichstag
has voted in all its stages a war credit
of 15,000.000,000 marks.
Watch Sunday's Bee
A Fascinatipg
P
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UZZLE
ICTURE
Worth-havingPrizes, too,,
for the ten best answers
Exclusive in The Bee
STREET AFTER FLAMES' FURY SPENT.
TROOP SHIP LOST;
AMERICAN VICTIM
French Steamer Athos, Carry
ing Soldiers and Laborers,
Sunk in Mediterranean,
CONVOYS DO NOT SAVE IT
Paris. Feb, 13. The French st
cr Athos. carrying Sengalese tr
cam-
troops
and colonial laborers, has been torpe
doed in the Mediterranean sea.
The torpedoing occurred, notwith
standing the fact that the Athos was
escorted by the French torpedo boat !
destroyers kameluk and Enseigne
Heur,v. which aided" by a gunMiat,
saved 1,450 persons from the steamer.
The French steamer Athos of 12,000
tons gross, according to the New
York maritime register, was last re
ported as arriving at Kobe, Japan.
January 17, from Marseilles. France.
.The Athos was a steel twin screw
steamer and was built in 1MI4 at Dun
kirk, France. It was 508 feet long. 017
feet breadth and 45.1 feet in depth
and owned by the Messageries Mari
times of Marseilles.
American Killed.
ws itfiiyuig iroups hiiu may nave
been a transport. No steps can be
taken until this fact is definitely de
termined. This government probably
will have no cause for action if such
is the case
The dispatch added that Haden was
drowned while going back to the ship
to assist some others and that the
.submarine showed neither flag nor
number by which it might have been
identified. The later dispatch, how
ever, established that the Athos was
torpedoed without warning.
A summary of the consul's dis
patch given out by the department
follows
"Robert Allen Haden, Presbyterian
missionary, stationed at Foo Chow,
China, was drowned when the French
liner Athos was torpedoed without
warning 210 miles east of Malta on
hoard. Otherwise would probably
have been saved. Reported large
number ot troops on board. ot
,if.fi1.ilrlv :,r,;,i,.ri if .hi aa
transport.
More Vessels Destroyed.
Lontlon, Feb. 23. The sinking of
two fishing smacks was announced
by Lloyds' shipping agency lodav
The sinking of the British steamer
John Miles of 087 tons, reported in a
news agency announcement last
night, was confirmed.
The British steamer Wathtield of
3,012 tons gross has been sunk, says
another Lloyds announcement. I he
crew . was landed.
Belgier is Sunk.
Lloyds announced tonight that the
British steamer Belgier of 4,588 tons
had been sunk.
The British bark Invcrcauld, the
Central News says, has been tor
pedoed. The crew landed.
The Invercauld of 1,416 tons, sailed
from Gulfport, Miss., December 31,
for Fleetwood, England. It was built
in 1890 and owned in Aberdeen.
The Belgier left New York, Feb
ruary I, for Norfolk whence it sailed
February 5 for La Pullice, France. It
wa,s 385 feet long.
List of Vessels Sunk.
Paris, Feb. 23. An unofficial list of
vessels sunk between February 20 and
February 22 issued today contains the
following:
Doravorc (Norwegian steamer 2.
760 tons).
Ape (British steamer 464 tons).
San Michele (Italian three-masted
bark 583 tons).
Giovanni P. (Italian Brigantine 103
tonsi. 11
Aelina ( probably the Italian sail
ing vessel Adclina of 528 tons).
Estimated Losses
(Largely covered by insurance.)
On Buildings.
Continental building, including
Hartman's $175,000
Foley and Ahko building 20,000
Beard building ... 15,000
Parlpr theater building 17,000
Cafeteria and Tobacco com
pany building 5,000
F. J. Kennard building (Cross
saloon) very silght
H. M. Johannssen building. very slight
Karbach building (to glass
and interior by heat and
smoke) 2,000
Minor damage to other build
ings by smoke, water and
heat 5,000
Total on buildings $239,000
On Contents,
Hartman Furnjture end Car
pet company ..1200,000
Berg Clothing company 250,000
T.J. Foley Saloon ........... 36,000
Louis Ahko restaurant 17,000
T.J. Beard & Bros 40,000
Parlor theater 5,000
Welch Cafeteria 2,000
Omaha Tobacco company... '3,000
Jabez Cross saloon very aright
H. M. Johannszen Class and ,
Paint company (by water in
basement) 1,000
Continental block tenants on third
and fourth floors:
M. W. A. offices 1,000
M. W. A. halls . . 5,000
W. O. W. Athletic club . 10,000
Omaha Chess and Checker
club JOO
U. S. Navy recruiting branch
station w 400
Dr. L. N. Carpenter 3,000
Demosthenes club, Greek 100
Mrs. Emma Steele, manicurist, 1,000
Other damages to contents
of .buildings .in .neighbor
hood (slight) ... ,. 2,000
Total on contents, fix
tures, etc $577,000
. Grand total (estimated) . .$816,000
Man Who Killed"
Wife and Children
Probably Will Live
Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 23 "f have
not made a success out of life." That
is all that Rudolph Krause, the far
mer living near Tobias, Neb., who, it
is alleged, killed his wife and two
children Thursday morning while
they slept, will say in regard to the
motive for his alleged crime.
He was brought to a Lincoln hos
pital today ai T local physicians de
clare that he has a good chance for
recovery, despite the three self-in-
nictcd bullet wounds in his body.
Krause described the killing, say
ing that he shot his wife and 2-year-old
son while they ilept. He says
that he seit one bullet into the body
of his little 4-year-old 'son and that
the boy awoke and attempted to
arise. He then fired the fatal shot.
After all this, he calnil sat down,
wrote a letter, and then sent three
bullets into his own body. He then
went to bed and it was there that
the officials found him.
Live Stock National
Increases Capital Stock
Washington, Feb. 23. (Special Tel
egram.) The comptroller of the cur
rency has approved increases of capi
tal hi national banks as follows:
Live Stock National bank of South
Omaha, Neb., $200,000 to $400,000.
Peoples' National bank of Perry,
la., from $50,000 to $75,000.
First National bank of Howard, S.
D from $25,000 to $50,000.
Berg Company's Temporary
Office in Brandeis Building
Temporay ofheies of the Berg
Clothing company were opened in the
Brandeis building yesterday, Manager
Quinlan of the J. ,L. Brandeis Sons'
company, turning his rooms over tq
members of the company until such
time as other arrangejuents can be
made.
Wiped Out
Worst Blaze in History of
Omaha Has Long Start When
Discovered, Wrecking Con
tinental Block and the
Nearby Structures.
FIFTEENTH AND DOUGLAS
Estimated Losses to the Build
ings and Stocks Reaches
to High Total of
$816,000.
COLD HINDERS FIGHTERS.
Business District Put in Danger
by Brands in High
Wind.
TWO FIREMEN INJURED
Fire, which did $800,000 worth of L
damage and destroyed almost (he
entire half block of property on the
north side of Douglas street, between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, was
disc'ovefed at 13 yesterday morn
ing in the Hartman Furniture and
Carpet company at 1414 Douglas
street. A stiff north wind, which reg
istered as hjgh as thirty-five miles an
hour in fitful gusts, .started ten other .
tiros, one of which was at Thirteenth
and Pacific streets, fifteen blocks
away. Hut these were quenched be- 1 ,
fore iiiiicn damage was done. There .
was no loss of lite, although two fu-'
men were hurt when the west wall
of the Continental block collapsed.
It was the worst fire in Omaha's
history, Chief Salter said. The water
pressure, whose supposed power is
ninety-live pounds, was only . about
sixty pounds in the early hours of
the the tire-fighting, firemen estima
ted. Fourteen companies, including
all of the city's apparatus, except ,
South Omalu s, had thirty lints of
hose playing on the seething caldron.
But it was not until about 8 o'clock '
that the fire was under control.
Sparks irom the fire started con
flagrations in the following places: .'
Roof at 1310 Jones street; rubbish in
rear of Krutt theater; cellar and bal-
cony of til" Paxton hotel; balcony vf
the old Murray hotel, a Paxton anr
nex; Yates block; roofif Dresher
Bros.' block; fourth floor of Karbach
building; roof at Thirteenth and Pa
cific street; roof over Welch's res
taurant on Farnam street, between
Fourteenth and fifteenth treeti.
It was a 2:15 o'clock wheMiulk.- - r ;
man Fritz Franks discovered the fire'
when a plate glass window in the
Hartman store cracked from the heat
and fell clattering to the pavement.
In an Instant the draft caused by the J
opening mot a wall of flame half war
across Douglas street.
Franks turned in an alarm, but be
fore the first fire. engine had arrived
from a station only a few blocks dis
tant, it was, obvious that Hartman's
store was doomed. ' Within half an
hour the entire Continental block wasv
a seething furnace, and firemen who
manned tha scores of fines pouring 7
water into it' were blistered unmer-
rcifullv.
Police Captain Heitfeldt policed the'
entire district with watchers looking
out (or new fires started by the sheets '
of sparks which were being carried ' v
for blocks by the high wind.
Leveled Wreck it 4 A. M.
At 4 o'clock, the corner which for
twenty-five years has been covered
by Continental building, once one of . -Omaha's
most impressive commer
cial buildings, was a leveled field of
debris. -
When the walls tumbled to the
street with a thunderous roar, Doug
las street and Fifteenth were sud-,
denly filled with tons and tons of
bricks, kindling and charred debris.
The collapse of the building was a -
spectacular sight. -
A solid mass of orange flames sev
eral hundred feet high, intermingling
with smoke conveniently IHted by the
winds, was thrilling, but after burn
ing thus for half an heur, eating out
tire Hoor9 andN ceilings of the build
ing, there was nothing left in a short,
while but four walls and a tangle of
electric wires. .
Crossed Wfres Flash. - ' .
Suddenly there waf a blinding flash. J
Something had happened to the elec
tric wires. A sheet of fire, white as
silver, blotted "out the orange flames
for an instant and then subsided again. '.
The Fifteenth street wall teetered for
a moment and groaned. The Douglas
street wall did likewise:
Then there was a roar and while
the throngs of watchers fled to points
of safety the structure toppled to '
earth, showing complete ruin of
everything from Fifteenth street clear
t the beginning of the Foley build-
ing. This building had been on fire
for some time, too, but a lire wall
stands between it and the Continental ,
block and this held filenames back
for a long time.
When the Douglas street wall fell 4
Captain Joe Hoffman of the fire com- . ,
pany stationed at Seventh and Pierce
tC'OBtlngad on Pare Two, Column One.)
Money Lost
through vacant rooms
can not be recovered.
You can prevent fu
ture losses by placing ,
a "small Want-Ad in
the Furnished Room
column of The Omaha
Bee.
Call Tyler 1000
before 9 o'clock tonight. I
You are as close to
Tha Bm Want-ad Dept.
' as your phone is to you.
I
