FIRE SWEEPS BLOCK;
LOSS NEAR MILLION
Continental Building, at Fif
teenth and Douglas, Com
pletely Destroyed.
MANY FIRMS ARE LOSERS
irontlnuod From Pan. On-
.streets was directing the operations
of a dozen pipemen when he was
pinned by r. falling timber. An in
stant later on Fifteenth street Cap
tain Cogan of company No. 9 was
injured in a similar way. Neither was
hurt seriously, but were taken home
and treated by police surgeons
Lodges Will Suffer.
The lop floor of the Continental
block was divided into three lodge
halls. One of these was used by the
.Modern Woodmen of America camps
No. 120 and Beech Camp No. 1454.
, The lodges owned the furniture and
fittings in thi hall. Clerk W. D.
Wood of Beech camp would not ma!.e
any estimate of his loss. He said it
was insured. '
Alpha camp, Woodmen of the
World, occupied another of the lodge
rooms and had converted a third
into a club room, which was lavishly
' fitted out. The loss here will he
rathe: heavy.
Police roped oil the burning ar a
to keep spectators thronging about
the scene from danger. Owners of
buildings near those destroyed stood
in the crowds estimating what it
would cost them to replace the broken
glass windows.
. Foley's Losses.
T. J. Foley estimates his loss at
$36,000. . He carried insurance for
$16,000. In his place was the largest
elk head "in the country, a personal
gift to the proprietor from the late
t "Buffalo Bill," who shot the animal
i himself. - Two guns which Colonel
Cody gave toS Mr. Foley were also
burned, as was a huge oil painting,
"Camp Foley," which was painted by
J. Farrington Ellwcll of Boston. The
. scene showed Colonel Cody seated
before' a brightly burning camp fire.
Friends said it, was a'very excellent
likeness of the old scout. Mr. Foley
said he refused $10,000 for the pic
ture, i
A fine old oil painting by Ellvell,
. depicting Chief Yellow Hand in the
act of truncating the scalplock of a
naturalized citizen, was one of the
relics which was destroyed in Foley's
... saloon. Three gold pieces, dated, 1844,
and which were inlaid in tire floor,
were among the other curios lost by
,Mf. Foley. He valued each of Hhe
pieces at f250.
General Alarm Sounded.
i Repeated fire alarms summoned all
the tire apparatus in Greater Omaha
to the scene. A fierce northwest wind
fanned the flames to fury and threat
ened buildings on every side of the
. Maze for enure blocks,
Thousands of people lodging in
' nearby hotels and rooming houses
rushed from their beds in panic to the
street in all stages of deshabille,
Every available police officer was
summoned to the scene to keep the
crowds from interfering with the work
of the fire fighters to keep them out
of the danger zone.
While Frank Rose, policeman, was
- Lansing in front of Hartman'a a great
pane of glass fell upon him, Ross
' -arried out a Chinese boy from Ahko's
i place. ' ! v
Value of Building. '
Th Continental Wock, which v is
lour stories high, is estimated by A.
C. Kennedy, former, local agent for
the building, to be worth from (150,
000 to $200,000. It is partially covered
by insurance. ' ,
; The building- was erected about
; thirty years - go. It is of brick con
struction. It is owned by the Buyers
Building and Farm comp...y of To
ptk, kanv The con pany is a close
'corporation, consisting of the four
teen heirs of Buyers, who erected tiie
. building. They ti l in various parts
i of the country. :
The present local agents for the
building are Wheeler and Welpton.
Hartman's occupies four floors, Berg
Jothiers two stories and the base
ment. Most of the fourth floor is
" used for the Modern Woodmen of
America hall. Various officers occupy
the bunding.
The building occupied by T. J.
by the Alvin sauna-
era, estate, while J. . A. Fuller owns
'the corner location of Jabex Cross
and Robert Beard owned the Beard
, building, . ; .
'. t. Berg in the East.
O. E. Berg, president of the Berg
Clothing company, was in Chicago
. yesterday, enroute home from New
' York. InTiis absence other Officials
of the company would make no esti
mate of, the loss, yfhe safe, which
contained valuable papera and which
had lodged on the balcony of the
main floor, had dropped through two
floors to the cellar. When it took
the plunge, firemen - say, its walls
were intact. But it waa buried in a
oile of burning debris and the fate
of 'the safe and its contents will be
unknown until workmen recover it
from the- ruins. ' The offices of the
Berg Clothing company will be at
716 Brandeis building for a while.
New Arrivals
in
Cheney Silks
Wonderful Variety
65c and $1.00
Quality Shop
214 So. 15th St
Berg's Loss Heavy
O. E. Berg, proprietor of the
Berg Clothing company, was re
turning from New York at the
time of the fire. He had been
buying spring goods. It was stated
that $150,000 worth of these had
been unloaded during the last
week. Among these was a car load
of overalls received Thursday.
Spring goods for the Berg ladies'
department had not arrived.
thanks to the offer of Thomas Quin
lan. manager of thr Brandeis stores.
Windows Broken.
All the big plate glass windows in
the stores on the south side of Doug
las streets between Fifteenth and
Fourteenth were cracked by the heat.
Damage by smoke will necessitate
the expenditure of thousands of dol
lars in repainting the walls in the
places of the J. T. McVittie cigar
store, Wolf furnishing, I'earl barber
shop. Beddeo clothing, Tracy Bros.,
Calumet restaurant, Rudweiscr sa
loon, Washington market, Besclin &
Son and Maurice Brndky
The Continental block was the
scene of a big fire twenty-two years
ago. One fireman was killed there.
It was at that time occupied by Or
chard & Wilhelm company and the
Continental Clothing company.
There waa a snow storm within the
two blocks south of the fire in the
early morning. Spray from the hose
congealed and fell to the ground in
great flakes, coating much of Four
teenth and Fifteenth street between
Douglas and Farnam streets.
Thought Calumet Gone.
"I would have taken $.1.50 for this
place at 4 o'clock Friday morning,"
says Sidney Swanson, manager of the
Calumet restaurant. "The north wind
was blowing a mighty gale and
brought sizzling blasts of heat across
the street from that furnace of fire.
Our big plate glass windows cracked
and pieces, half-melted, fell to the
street. The paint on our woodwork
blistered and I was just getting ready
to take all valubles from the safe
when the wind veered a bit and car
ried the fire down toward Fourteenth
street. It was a lucky and narrow
escape."
Plan New Budding.
Owners of the Continental property
will make plans at once for erecting
a-big new building on the site of the
fire.
This information is vouched for by
C. A. Patterson, rental manager of
A -
rev
Remember to try Budd first, and be lure to come up Saturday in the
morning. If you can, but we will be glad to serve you any time of the
day until 9 P. M.
Tk EWvttor
Stcond Flm Rom
Beaton's Prices
"Can't be Beat"
25c Palmer's Talcum Powder,. 14
2 60 Mustard Cerate 18c
50 Egyptian Cream 34
50c Nadinola Cream 29
50c Nedra Face Powder 29c
60c J. A. P. Rica Powder I7e
25e 3-Inch Scissors ISo
60c Ziora Antiseptic Mouth Wash,
recommended by doctors and
dentist , SOe
$1.00 8. S. S 79c
Pink-a-Lena 25c
(Restores any shade of pink)
50c Charles' Flesh Food J4o
10c Cubeb Cigarettes 5c
10c Charcoal Tablets Be
25c Nature's Remedy Tablets. 16c
15c DcMars' Glycerine Soap, H-
lb. cake ..A , 10
11.00 Malted Milk .69c
25c Mentholatum 16c
25e Grnvea' Tooth Powder. . . . 1S
50c Solid Alcohol Stoves. ., ,24
60c Kodol Dyspepsia Tablets. 29
SOe Orazin Tooth Past 34c
CIGARS
10c Hampton Court Cigars. . , .Se
10c George th 4th Cigars. . . .5
10c straight Moiart Magic, three
for . 13c
Mail Orders Receive Our Prompt Attention.
Beaton Drug Company
,i , ,. 15th and Farnam.
THE BEE:
the Wheeler & Welpton company,
representing the owners. He said:
"I know the owners of the property
are financially able to rebuild at once
and that they are progressive prop
erty owners. I am sure they will at
once go ahead with plans for a fine,
modem structure to replace the one
just destroyed."
E. K. Marquis of Kansas City is
said to be the active business repre
sentative of the owners of the Con
tinental property. He has been noti
fied by telegram of the fire.
D. B. Welpton of the local rental
agency was in Chicago and was also
notified by wire of the conflagration,
lie is expected home Saturday morn
ing. It is said that the Buyers company
four years ago refused an offer of
$330,000 for the Continental build
ing and grounds, which include a
quarter of a block.
"It was very remarkable that the
fire department stopped the fire when
it did," Fire Warden Edward Morris
declared. "The strong wind and the
old-fashioned type of construction of
the Continental building offered ev
ery opportunity for the blaze to gel
entirely beyond control and spread
through the business district."
The building was erected, or rather
rebuilt, after a similarly disastrous
fire years ago, when the Continental
Clothing company occupied the loca
tion. Fire Warden Morris was one
of the bricklayers who worked on the
job.
He said that it was a good build
ing, complying with building ideas
and standards of those days. It was
of lumber and mill construction, con
tained wooden lath and few partitions
and incorporated no fire-proof qual
ities. In addition to being a poor risk
for a congested district, the furniture
stork added to the fire hazard, he de
clared. The loss from the big tire is well
distributed among many fire insur
ance companies, according to local
agents, and so will not hit any one
company very hard.
"Still doing business" is the motto
of the Hartman company. Manager
Harry Fellheimer haa opened tem
porary offices at 116 South Fifteenth
street. Leon Hartman and other
heads of the company are hastening
to Omaha in response to telegrams.
They will rapidly formulate plans for
continuing their furniture and carpet
business in Omaha.
Sewers in the fire district were
taxed beyond their capacity by the
immense quantities of water poured
onto the fire by Chief Salter's men.
Many basements of buildings not
touched by the fire were flooded.
Ladies Saturday
Specials
Serviceable shoes in gun
calf, vicl kids; dressy
shoes in patent leathers ;
button or lace. Our reg
ular $4, $4.60 end $5.00
shoes, special price .. .
FOR THE LADIES
who wear neat, comfort
able shoes In soft) leath
ers with low heels, in
button or la.ee, our $4.50
2
$945
and $5.00 grades
specially priced,
at
ART BOOTS
That for these atyles you r ex
pecting to pay $10
to $1?, are special-
ly priced.
ulUtng
ISA ml farnam 8ts,
10c Jap Rose Soap, per cake. . ,7c
$1.00 Tan Lac 7c
10c Haarlem Oil (Gold Medal) Sc
50c Hays' Hair Health 34
$1.00 Plnaud'a Lilac Vegetal. 59c
75c Pompeian Massage Cream, 48s
25c DeWitt's Cold Tablets. .. 16c
25c Zymole Trokeyi 16c
$1.00 Wade's Nervine Tablets, S9o
Beaton's Cold Cream, in tubes and
jars 25c and SOe
25c Peroxide 10c
$1.00 Hood's Sarsaparilla....78c
60c Rubber Sponges. ,l4e
60c Father John's Remedy... 42c
$1.00 Hair Brushes 89s
25c Toileteer, for cleaning sinks,
toilets, tile floors, etc 17
60c Lantz Red Kidney Pills.. 39e
86c Castoria 21
RUBBER COODS DEPT.
$2.00 2-quart Combination Foun
tain Syringe and Bottle. . .$!.
$1.60 2-quart Hot Water Bottle
for TSc
$3.60 Whirling Spray Female
Douche, for $2.38
$1.50 Shoulder Braces. . I . .$1.00
$2.00 Shoulder Braces. .. .$1.50
Abdominal Supporters, complete
lino, from $1.75 to $4.00
OMAHA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1917.
BRITISH FOOD
STOCKS LOWEST
IN NATION'S LIFE
(Ceathnei Frees Pace Oee.)
year, 32 shillings for the next two
years and 24 shil.ings for the three
following years. The price of po
tatoes would be guaranteed for the
coming season only at 6 a ton.
The opinion was expressed by the
premier that food prices were not
likely to decrease for a long time
after the war, inasmuch aa Germany
would then be a heavier purchaser
than ever before. Therefore, it was
safe to grant to the farmers a mini
mum price over a definite period of
time, which was the only way to
bring about immediate action.
The premier also proposed a mini
muni wage Tf 25 shillings weekly
for agricultural workers.
For wheat the government will
guarantee the farmer the following
minimum prices per quarter: For
the present year, 60 shillings; for 1918
and 1919, 55 shillings; for 1920, 1921
and 1922, 45 shillings.
Brewing will be cut down to 10,
000,000 barrels annually. A similar re
duction will be made in the output of
spirits, effecting a saving of 600.000
tons of foodstuffs.
The importation of aerated, mineral
and table waters will be prohibited.
Power will be given the Board of
Agriculture to compel land owners to
cultivate their ground.
The minimum wage for farm labor
announced by Mr. Lloyd George, 25
shillings a week, represents an in
crease of 50 to 80 per cent over the
present prevailing payment
The importation of paper, the pre
r .
A Special Representative
of the)
Ladies' Home Journal Patterns
Is Now at Our
Pattern Department
Mrs. M. Sadowtkl, who is thor
oughly familiar with the fashions
for the coming season, will be
pleased to advise you regarding
the excellence of Ladies' Home
Journal Patterns for Spring.
Th Horn Book of Fashions, a
beautifully illustrated journal of
styles for Springtime wear, is now
ready.
Patters Section, Basement.
White Dotted Swiss
For Waists and Dresses
This is to bo a White Season
all Indications point that way, and
surely nothing could be daintier or
more satisfying than Dotted Swiss.
Qualities range in price from SOe
to $1 a yard.
Special for Saturday: A - 28
inch Dotted Swiss, 30c regularly!
for one day only, 19c a yard.
Llnon Section.
Silk Hose Special
Black and White Silk
Hose, regular and out
sizes. An exceptional val
ue for
$1.19 a pair.
Saturday Toilet
Goods Specials ,
"Ideal"Rubber Cushion Hair
Brushes, waterproof, $1.10.
Ricksecker'a Face Powder, 15c.
Nail Enamel (stick), for 10c.
Almond Lotion, 17 He a bottle.
Warner's Misses'
Corsets
The foundation of a beautiful
figure, designed to give a correct,
natural support to the growing
girl. An efficient aid to healthful,
symmetrical development.
Saturday, Warner's Model
A208, for $1.00.
Corset Section, Third Floor.
Filet Curtain Nets
The new, much in demand
filet lace weaves, in attrac
tive patterns ; ecru and ivory,
25c a yard.
Basement.
Washable
Leather Gloves
Very practical for present wear.
In white, ivory and gray, $2.26.
In white, Newport and Smyrna,
$1.78.
Sorosis Models for Spring
Wherever Fashionable Folk
Gather Yon Will Find a
Majority Wearing
SOROSIS SHOES f
Black Kid with white kid topa - $9
Patent Leather, ivory kid tops $10
Light Gray lace boot - $10
Dark Gray Kid, button . $11
Field Mouse Brown with
white kid topa - - . $10
mier announced, must be curtailed by
a further 640,000 tons annually.
The only exceptions made in the
prohibition of fruit importations will
be in the cases of oranges and ba
nanas, in which the amount brought
1 in will be restricted 2o per cent. 1 ne
same restriction will apply to nuts.
Canned salmon importations will be
reduced 50 per cent. The importation
of foreign tea, coffee and cocoa is
prohibited and even the amount of
India tea which may be brought in is
reduced.
The premier said it was expected
to save 900.000 tons of shipping yearly
on foodstuffs.
In announcing the decision to re
strict the importation of paper .Mr.
Lloyd George said the government
had arrived at the conclusion that a
very substantial reduction was nec
essary and that the amount would be
cut to half of what is now allowed.
This would reduce the allowance to
640.000 tons. All essential articles
of food, he continued would be on the
free list, but certain articles would
be reduced or prohibited. Th stop
page of importation of coffee, tea and
cocoa for the time being was due to
the fact that large supplie: were on
hand. The premier said he regretted
verv much the cutting off of certain
luxuries which came from France
and Italy.
Man Wedged Between Roof
Of Barn and Bale of Hay
It took a pulley manned by four
men to free Joe Sergenglant, employe
of Ed Uobonka,,from his place be
tween a bale of hay and the rafters
in the roof of the hay barn at Twenty-fourth
and Q streets. He was driv
ing a load of hay and was perched
on the top when the accident oc
curred. Physicians at South Side
hospital fear ihat he may have suf
fered internal' injuries that might be
fatal.
Thompson Belden&G)
Mr. Robert Nicoll
Th Pcrtonal Representative
of Thompson, Belden A Co.
In New York City
HAS ARRIVED IN OMAHA
TO SPEND A FORTNIGHT.
COMING DIRECTLY FROM
AMERICA'S FASHION CEN
TER AFTER AN EXTENDED
STAY, MR. NICOLL IS THOR
OUGHLY WELL VERSED IN
THE LATEST IDEAS OF
FASHION AND WILL BE
PLEASED TO ADVISE WITH
YOU CONCERNING ANY
STYLE PROBLEM THAT
MAY SEEM PERPLEXING.
The Store for
BLOUSES
First Time Showing
of Recent Arrivals
Exquisite Georgette Blouses,
for $10.50, $16.50, $25, $35.
Dainty Wash Blouses, lin
gerie and tailored styles, $1.95,
$2.85, $3.50 and $5.00.
Second Floor.
Redfern Corsets
$3.50 Upwards
tJ
Senator Martine
Introduces a Bill
For Food Embargo
Washington, D. C, Feb. 23. Sena
tor Martine today introduced a bill
to empower the president to declare
an embargo on food exports. It was
referred to the foreign relations com
mittee. Similar resolutions are pend
ing without prospect of actions.
Senator Lewis of Illinois today in
troduced as an amendment to the
revenue bill a provision to authorize
the president to seize foodstuffs
deemed to be monopolized in viola
tion of law. Foodstuffs so seized
would be disposed of at public sale
under government supervision.
Date Set for Mustering Out
The South Dakota Soldiers
The date for mustering out the
Fourth South Dakota infantry now
at Fort Crook, has been set for
March 3 by Captain James Evering
ton. The Nebraska Field Hospital No.
1. will be restored to its former status
of a state organization on the same
date.
The South Dakota troops will
establish a record in the time required
for them to be mustered out. It took
fifteen days for all work necessary
to muster out the Fourth Nebraska
infantry and thriteen days for the
Fifth. It will be but nine days from
the time the South Dakota soldiers
arrived at Fort Crook to the time they
are sent to their homes. The fast
work of the South Dakota regiment
is attributed to the fact that they did
a great deal of the preliminary work
necessary to being mustered out,
while still on the border.
Belding's Quality Silks
Obtainable in Omaha Only at
The Thompson -Belden Store
Why pay more for ordinary ailka? Belding'a are all
yarn dyed, wear guaranteed. New arrival daily
Fifty Piece New Pure Dye Chiffon Taffeta.
Fifty Piece New Satin Raye.
Fifty Piece New Silk-and-Wool Poplin.
Twenty-five Piece Fancy Stripes and Novelties.
AH at Laat Season's Prices
These new fabrics are now to be had at a saving of
10 to 20. Silks, when present stocks are gone,
cannot be duplicated in price. Twenty-five new
Printed Shantungs, specially priced at $1.50 a yard.
An extra heavy Pongee in excellent prints with plain
color to match. Headquarters for Silk Shirtings.
The New Silks First
May We Show You Saturday?
South Aiile, Main Floor.
Saturday New Fashions
In Suits
New tailored models, $25, $35, $45.
In Coats
Popular attractive stylet, $25 and $35.
In Skirts
Much in vogue silk models, priced, $25.
saiuraay
A Display and Sale
TAILLEUR
and DRESS
HATS
In New Spring Styles
At $10
They have been arriving daily from New York and
from our own workrooms. New Spring colors, clever
combinations of fabrics and straw braids, beautiful -imported
trimmings all combine to make a wonder
fully interesting display of hats suitable for imme
diate wear.
Millinery Section, Second Floor.
At Last
$ 1 Does the Work of $2
You'll smilingly say when
you discover that Saturday, a
fine lace trimmed Brassiere, in
stead of costing $2, will be
only f 1.00.
We find that the maker i
unable to furnish us'with sites
in this particular style, so we
intend to dispose of all we have
left.
1.00 for a $2 Brassiere is
true statement of facts.
Corsot Section, Third Floor.
Outing Flannel 12e Yd.
A splendid weight in
fancy light colors, also
plain white; full bolt,
12Vic a yard.
Basomont.
WILSON WILL TAKE
OATHJN PRIVATE
President Will Be Sworn In
Sunday and Special Session
of Senate Meets Monday.
DETAILS NOT ARRANGED
Washington, Feb. 23. Plans for
President Wilson's inauguration, hith
erto indefinite because March 4 falls
on Sunday, were cleared today by
announcement that the usual special
session of the senate will be called
for March 5 to consider nominations.
This will permit the inauguration of
the vice president in the senate cham
ber, as is the custom.
President Wilson himself, it was
also announced, will take an oath of
office privately in the White House
Sunday, March 4. It was not made
clear whether he has decided to take
the oath again at the public open-air
ceremonies on the plaza at the capitol
on March 5. or whether "he merely
will make the ceremony the occasion
for delivering his inaugural address.
Piles Cured In 6 to 14 Dsn.
ttruesnti refund money It PAZO OINT
MENT fall, to cure Jfrhlng, Hllnd, fileedlns
or Protnirtlnft PlleB. First Application slvM
relief. 60c. Advertleement
1 Wreck Bank Vault.
Oreenefork, Ind., Feb. !S. Safe blowere
wrecked the eefe in the Flrat National bank
here early today and escaped with about
$8,000 in currency.
8pin Act in Islands.
Waehmston. Feb. 113. At the requeet ol
the German government fipftln haa taken
over Oermstn consular Intereata in Porto
Blco and Huwall. . .
Give your Want Ad a chance to
make good. Run it in The Bee.
Needlework Orders f
Those who wish to have work
done in a most attractive man
ner, will find our service cor
rect Orders taken for Stamp
ing, Embroidery, Beading, Cro
cheting, and all kinds of needle
work. Third Floor.
Mme. Leemax
Rubber Sheeting
You can use good rubber
sheeting in many ways and for
many purposes when there ia a
baby in the home. Mme. Lee
max sheeting is of the most dur
able and dependable quality and
is highly sanitary.
Sheeting, 50c and 76c a
square yard.
Leemax Baby Pants, in (mall,
medium and large sites, 25c
and 50c.
Infanta' Wear, Third Floor.
n
4