The Topeka state journal. [volume], December 27, 1904, LAST EDITION, Image 1

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
EVERYBODY
EVERYBODY
10 PAGES
10 PAGES
READS IT.
NEEDS IT.
LAST EDITION.
TUESDAY EVENING.
TOFEKA, KANSAS, DECEMBER 27, 1904.
TUESDAY EVENING.
TWO CENTS.
BLIZZARDJS HERE
All Night the Storm Kaged In
Topeka.
Bitterly Cold Weather Came
With It.
DOWN TO ZERO MARK.
Mercurj Stood at That Point
This Morning.
Street Car Traffic Is Suspended
For a Time.
Railroads Ilun Trains Under
Great Difficulties.
The first real touch of winter began in
Topeka last evening when under the In
fluence of a strong north wind the
weather began to turn cold and snow
began to fall.
The storm continued throughout the
night and early this morning the tem
perature was at zero. Street railway
traffic was entirely suspended during
the early morning hours and workers
who had to move down town at an early
hour had no other course but to walk.
By the aid of the powerful new snow
plow the street railway company was
able to gradually open the various lines
for traftic and the service was main
tained as best it could be throughout
the day.
The storm is general all over the state
of Kansas, and extended in both
directions east and west. The
storm has been more se-ere in the west
ern part of Kanas and Colorado and
over the eastern part of the state than
It has been in Missouri, Illinois and
Iowa.
Trains are late on all railroads and
telegraph and telephone service has
been greatly interfered with. West
bound trains are running nearer on
time than east-bound trains.
The Santa Fe railroad reports that
the storm has been general all over the
lines of that system in this state. The
temperature has ranged from 5 de
grees above zero up to about 30 de
grees above in various sections of the
Btate.
The telegraph department of the
Banta Fe has been experiencing con
siderable difficulty with the wires, and
the Santa Fe has just been able to
keep up communication with all parts
of the svstem for the handling of
trains. Very little of the other tele
graph business is being handled.
The Rock Island railroad is prob
ablv having more trouble with tele
graph wires than the Santa Fe. The
norm has been very severe throughout
the northwest iart of the state and
early thus forenoon telegraphic com
munication was cut off between To
peka and the northwest line of the
Rook Island railroad to Colorado.
The telegraph wires were working
well as far west as Herington, but
south and southwest and northwest the
operators were having no little trouble
in establishing communication. The
service was steadily, improved during
the day as the companies gradually
straightened out the wires.
Business has been practically at a
standstill all day. The stores have
been open but on account of the severe
character of the storm not many peo
ple have ventured from their homes.
The storm is more noticeable on ac
count of the extremely mild weather
which has prevailed up to this time.
The cold wave has caught many peo
ple unprepared for it and the coal
dealers have been deluged with orders
for fuel this morning.
Many of the large office blocks and
the large buildings were insufficiently
heated this forenoon because of the
sudden change in temperature.
The Santa Fe office building was
noticeable on this account. Monday
being a holiday the building was shut
tip and the steam was not turned on
the building in full force. For that
reason the clerks spent most of the
time this morning in standing around
with their hands in their pockets.
The government thermometer record
ed zero temperature at 5 o'clock this
morning and the mercury stood close to
that mark during the early morning.
The wind this morning was from the
northwest blowing 28 miles an hour.
The snowfall was estimated at the gov
ernment weather bureau at 9 o'clock
to measure an inch and a half of fall
although the wind drifted the snow and
an exact measurement was impossible.
The thermometer has stood practically
Stationary in Topeka all day. It regis
tered at zero at an early hour this
morning and at noon stood at about
four degrees above zero. The wind has
not abated to any appreciable extent
during the day and the' situation is
sbout the same during the afternoon
that it was during the forenoon.
The indications are that tonight will
be extremely cold and it is quite likelv
that the force of the storm will not be
spent before tomorrow.
The railway situation improved to
some extent during the day. The rail
ways were able to establish telegraphic
communication in better shape as the
day fore on. The wind interfered con
siderably in Keeping tne wires in good
working order.
The eastbound trains are running
from one to three hours late today on
all railroads.
Kansas City. Mo.. Dec. 27. This por
tion of the southwest today was in the
grasp of a genuine blizzard, the first
severe cold weather of the winter. It
extended through Missouri, into Ne
braska and Iowa, over the whole of
Kansas, and into Oklahoma and Indian
Territory. Snow fell to a depth of
nearly a foot and driven by a high
wind drifted badly. Street car traffic
In Kansas City was demoralized, while
railway trains in every direction were
delayed and some stalled. At some
1-oints. particularly north of Kansas
City, in Iowa and Nebraska, telephone
and telegraph wires were rendered
useless by sieet and for many hours
communication north of St. Joseph
Into those states was impossible. The
twrmometer was close to the zero
nark, showing a fall in temperature
since midnight of 11 degrees, and a
' i fall within 24 hours of 35 degrees.
More snow with a continued fall in
temperature was predicted.
Wichita. Kan., Dec. 27. The fir3t
real blizzard of the winter, which be
(aa late yesterday, was still in force
early today. The thermometer stood
at 6 degrees above zero at 7 o'clock
this morning, the coldest weather of
the winter. Street car traffic was tied
up for an hour this morning and is
still crippled. All railroad trains are
late.
SHOT ANDjdLLED.
Herman Dura! the Victim of
an Assassin. '
Bullet Pierces IJodj While Wife
Is at His Side.
Herington, Kan., Dec. 27. The people
of this place are greatly excited over
the murder of Herman Duval, a Rock
Island brakeman by Henry Hirt, who
was also employed by the Rock Island
as a car repairer.
On Sunday evening Duval was walk
ing along Walnut street with his wife.
When near Main street Hirt, who was
intoxicated, ran against Mrs. Duval.
The husband protested and Hirt called
him vile name. Mr. Duval then struck
Hirt with his lantern which he had in
his hand and knocked the man down.
When he arose he drew a revolver ar.d
shot Duval in the left side just below
the heart. Mrs. Duval had hold of her
husband's arm when he was shot and
the report of the revolver and her
screams brought Policeman Dary, who
was only a short distance away, to the
scene and he arrested Hirt who sur-
rendered the revolver he held in his
j hand without a protest. The street was
I crowded and Mr. Duval was at once
j carried into the Avondale hotel but he
' was dead before he reached the hotel.
The bullet had pierced an artery leading
to the heart and death was almost in
stantaneous. He did not speak after
he was shot.
Hirt was locked up in the city prison
and on Monday was taken to the eoun-
: ty jail at Abilene. There was talk or
! lynching but no attempt at violence
! was made by the excited people. Hirt
! was arraigned and charged with mur
, der in the first degree and was held
i without bail. He is little more than a
boy and came from Parkerville only a
short time ago. He is single.
Duval was well known here. He had
a wife but no children.
POLICE HAVE A CLEW.
Bessie Ronton Believed to Be Cutler
Mountain Victim.
Denver, Colo., Dec. 27 Bessie Bouton,
believed to be the young woman who
. was found murdered on Cutler moun
tain, was a guest at the Albany hotel
from May 20 to July 13. She was ac-
icompanied by a man and the coupie
i registered as G. Bouton and wife.
i Bouton was a familiar figure at sport
ing resorts and when he left Denver,
some time in August, said he was going
; to Syracuse, N. Y.
i Santa Barbara, Cala., Dec. 27. Mrs. I
Charles Nelson of this city believes that
the dead woman found near Colorado
Springs was her sister. Mrs. Bessie
Bouton. The main conclusion is the
peculiar nature of the dental work
shown on the teeth of the dead woman.
Other circumstances support this con
clusion. She says Mrs. Bouton left
Santa Barbara last August for Los
Angeles, going thence to Denver. It is
said she traveled in company witn a
traveling salesman who is said to have
given her several thousand dollars worth
i of diamonds.
i a
SMASHED ON A BRIDGE.
Two Wagons Wrecked by Locomotive
Man Drowned In Consequence.
Kansas City, Dec. 27. Two wagons
were run down 4y a Wabash engine
Just south of the draw span on the
Hannibal bridge at 6:30 o'clock last
evening. Charles Blackman, one of
the drivers, narrowly escaped death,
and while clearing away the wreckage
afterward, W'esley Lee, the engineer
of the draw span, slipped and fell from
the bridge into the river and was
drowned. His body was r.ot recovered.
DO NOT FOLLOW FLAG.
Laws of Vnited States Are Not Ap
plicable to Panama.
Washington. Dec. 27. In an opinion
rendered today by Frank L. Campbell,
assistant attorney general of the inter
ior department, it is held that the laws
of the United States are not applicable to
the Panama canal zone. The canal zone
1 is described in the opinion as not being
' an organized territory of the United
States and the assistant attorney gen
eral holds that there is no provision in
the treaty with Panama or the laws or
regulations making the laws of the
' United States generally applicable.
The question at issue was wnetner or
not the patent or trade mark law ex
tended to the canal zone.
Voted $150,000 for School Houses.
Moscow, Dec. 27. At the meeting
of the Moscow zemstvo today in the
presence of a great audience resolu
tions of confidence and congratulation
were passed on the appointment of
Prince Peter Sviatopolk-Mirisky, as
minister of the interior, and at the
I prospect of closer relations and mu
tual confidence between the govern
ment and the people. The zemstvo
then voted $150,000 for the construc
tion of school houses to mark its sat
isfaction. It is reported that Chief of
Police Trepoff, who took an active
part in the suppression of the recent
student demonstrations, is about to re
sign and proceed to the front.
Cnrzon Receives Ameer's Son.
Calcutta, Dec. 27. Lord Curzon,
viceroy of India, received Prince
Inayat Ullah. son of the ameer of
Afghanistan, with great ceremony to
day in the throne room at the govern
ment building. Both the viceroy and
prince were attended by brilliant
staffs. The scene was most affective.
The price was evidently delighted with
nis reception.
Taken to the Penitentiary.
St. Louis, Dec. 27. Thomas E. Bar
rett, former marshal of the St. Louis
court of appeals; John P. Dolan, for
mer chairman of the Democratic city
central committee and Policeman Frank
Garrett, convicted of naturalization
frauds, whose ten days of grace expired
today, surrendered and were taken to
the state penitentiary.
TO OUSTTELLER.
Colorado Republicans Map -Out
Elaborate Programme.
Plan to Seat Peabudjr and Undo
Senatorial filectiou.
TROUBLE LOOKED FOR.
Political Riots and Bloodshed
Likelj to Follow.
Democrats Are Determined to
Maintain Their Rights.
Denver, Dec. 27. Political riots, un
ion labor violence and bloodshed are
predicted for Colorado as a result of a
programme outlined for the reseating
of James H. Peabody in the governor's
chair and for the unseating of United
States Senator Teller. The programme
was mapped out by the Republican
leaders. It was no sooner announced
than Democratic and union labor lead
ers made threats of resorting to force,
if necessary, to prevent the consumma
tion of the plan.
In a word, the Republican programme
consists of an appeal to the legislature
to reseat Governor Peabody " through
throwing out ballots cast at the Novem
ber election that are declared to be
fraudulent. The assembly is Republi
can in both branches, this by reason of
the supreme court's action in ruling on
election cases that have already come
before it.
To seat Governor Peabody it will be
necessary for the assembly to reject
over 10,000 votes, for that is the plurali
ty accredited to Alva Adams, the Dem
ocratic claimant to the governorship,
since the supreme court threw out the
vote of five Denver precincts because
of wholesale proceedings against Dem
ocratic election officials.
The assembly will meet January 4.
The Republican majority is at least 30
and the Republicans will act as one
man, it is asserted, when the assembly
canvasses the vote for governor.
Claim Plurality for Peabody.
It is proposed to have the general as
sembly appoint a special contest com
mittee of nine to twelve members, to
which will be submitted the evidence of
wholesale election frauds in Denver and
possibly some other counties. The Re
publican managers maintain that with
the fraudulent vote of Denver elimina
ted Governor Peabody will have at least
7,000 plurality in this county and of
9 oon In the state.
These politicians do not intend that
the legal votes shall be sifted from the
illegal and then counted, or that the
legislature shall reject the entire vote
of Denver county, because to do this
would not accomplish their purpose to
reseat Governor Peabody, but they pur
pose that about 1.800 Democratic pre
cincts shall be thrown out on the ground
of fraud and that the vote of the Re
publican precincts shall be counted.
They assert that the supreme court has
established a precedent for such a pro
cedure. This programme is opposed by some
conservative Republican leaders, in
cluding Judge N. Walter Dixon of Pu
eblo. Democrats Map Out Their Fight.
The Democratic leaders are preparing
to contest vigorously the attempt to re
seat Peabody. Mass meetings are to be
held in Denver, Pueblo and other cities
to protest against the line of action
mapped out for the legislature by the
Republican leaders. The Liberty league,
a political organization of union work-
ingmen, is also preparing ii ' j
active part in the efforts that will be .
made to defeat the attempt to continue j
Governor Peabody in office.
The Democratic managers declare !
there is a monstrous conspiracy behind ,
the disclosures of fraud shown In con- j
tempt proceedings before the supreme
CThey say that the bunches of spurious
ballots, all In one handwriting, found
in the boxes from different precincts,
could not have been placed in the box
es on election day without having been ,
observed by the watchers, and charge
that the boxes have been tampered
with since the election legal votes be
ing abstracted and spurious ballots sub
stituted therefor.
No proof in support of these asser-
tions has Deen vicarmw,
Democrats point out that the boxes
were left unwatched for two days
after being delivered to the election
commission, and that for another day
thev were in charge of only two Re
publican watchers.
Troops May Guard Assembly.
Governor Peabody, it is expected,
will hold his office while the contest is
in progress in the legislature. He has
frequently announced that he would
nreserve the peace at all hazards and
it is thought he will have the militia
on guard at the capital. He made so
many enemies among the labor unions
of the state through his vigorous
repressive measures during the min
ers' strike that it is believed hordes
of union men will invade the capitol
grounds in their effort to sway legis
lators against his cause either by argu
ment or intimidation.
Governor Peabody will brook no
such interference; he believes his
cause is just and that the assembly
will so decide if not intimidated.
It is because of the determined
plan of the Democrats to fight the
Peabody programme to the last ditch
and because of the known hostility of
the labor unions to Governor Peabody
that riots and bloodshed are feared.
On more than one occasion the fire
brands among the union leaders have
boasted since Governor Peabody an
nounced his purpose to contest the
election of Adams that Peabody would
never be allowed to remain in the ex
ecutive chair for another term.
What purpose they have in mind is
problematical, but whatever it is it is
certain the state authorities have pre
pared to provide against all emergen
cies and obtain a fair contest in the
assembly.
Seek to Vnseat Senator Teller.
Frauds unearthed when Congress
man Bonynge made such a showing
that John haforth resigned his seat
in congress may be the basis for' a
memorial from the Colorado legisla
ture to the United States senate asking
for the unseating of Senator Henry
M. Teller. The frauds made public by
Bonynge were so patent that Shaforth
acknowledged he could make no de
fense. Those same frauds caused the
election of a majority of the state leg- I
islators who elected Teller. j
The Republicans, In handbills which'
have been scattered broadcast over
Denver and the state and in advertise
ments in many newspapers, charge
that the state legislators by the advice
of Senators Patterson and Teller un
seated Dick and McDonald for the
sole purpose of re-electing Teller. The
handbills further assert that this was
done without the opening of a single
ballot box and without- any investiga
tion and that the action disfranchised
7,241 voters.
If Teller's seat should be declared
vacant by congress while the legisla
ture is in session the power of naming
a senator to nu nis unexpired term
would lie in the legislature the gov
ernor would have the power of ap
pointing. NEEDS MORE EVIDENCE
i
District Attorney Jerome Is Working
on the Dodge Case.
New York, Dec. 27. District Attorney
Jerome is working hard to obtain cor
roborative evidence in connection with
the confession of Charles S. Dodge,
who was brought here from Texas on
a charge of perjury which grew out of
the Morse-Dodge divoree entanglement.
This confession is said to involve a con
spiracy on the part of men well known
here to defeat the ends of justice, but
the district attorney is understood to
take the position that corroboraion of
the statements is a necessity to secure
a conviction.
Dodge, who returned from Texas last
week in charge of United States Mar
shal Hanson, to answer to a charge of
perjury, suffered a collapse In his room
at the Broadway Central hotel yesterday
and a physician was speedily summoned.
Later a second physician was called in
consultation. During the remainder of
the day one of them was in constant
attendance.
Attorney Garvin called on Dodge and
was later asked concerning his condi
tion. He replied: "Mr. Dodge is a very
sick man and under the constant care
of a physician.
"He is suffering from sore throat, ma
laria and general undermining of the
system."
County Detective Jesse, one of the
district attorney's office force guarding
Dodge, said that he was in a highly
nervous state as a result of the reac
tion after the excitement of his arrest
arraignment and discharge, followed by
the comparative quiet and ease of the
past two days.
Mr. Garvin called on the former hotel
man for the purpose of securing his sig
nature to a transcript of the stenogra
pher's notes of his statement to District
Attorney Jerome. Mr. Garvin declined
to discuss the case in any of its phases.
Messrs. Jerome and Garvin spent
most of the day in their offices work
ing on the Dodge case. Mr. Jerome
refused to be interviewed, and said he
could not say when he would present
the case to the grand Jury.
James W. Osborne, counsel for Dodge,
said there were no new developments.
TIME TQ TELL TRUTH.
Russian Newspaper Criticises Naval
Policy. -
St. Petersburg, Dec. 27. In an out
spoken article in reply to the Russians
not to openly criticize the condition of
the navy, the Russ today declares the
time is passed for silence in view of
the fact that the old system of con
cealing facts is responsible for the lo.ss
of 150,000,000 rubles worth of war
ships and has covered us with shame
and grief. It would be absurd to hide
the defects that can still be repaired
in the ships which remain at Cron-
stadt and Libeau. We have already
criminaly wasted enough time.
The Russ enumerates the defects in
the ships still In .Russian waters,
averring that the peculiarities of the
structure of several vessels destined
for the far east make the voyage dan
gerous, and the torpedo boats are in
such a Shocking condition that it is a
matter of surprise that the authorities
accepted their delivery. Torpedo boats
intended to reinforce Vice Admiral
Rojestvensky must clearly not be dis
patched with the numerous defects
which have been proven to exist in
them.
In conclusion the Russ says: "Even
if Admiral Rojensvensky is a clever
leader and his 12,000 comrades are
heroic sailors, every one knows that
we have imposed upon them an almost
superhuman task in consequence of
our not being furnished with a true
account of the gravity of the events
which have" occurred since the fatal
night of February 8."
QUARRELS WITH CHINA.
Russia Demands Restoration of Am
munition That Was Seized.
Pekin, Dec. 27. The Russian offi
cials here demanded of the Chinese
officials yesterday the restoration of
the three million rounds of ammuni
tion, apparently destined for Port
Arthur, seized by the Chinese authori
ties at Fengtai, near here, four days
ago. The Russians assert that the
ammunition was intended only for the
legation guard.
It is learned at the foreign office
that the Chinese intend taking a
strong stand in view of the frequent
attempts to smuggle arms and am
munition. The bales of wool contain
ing the cartridges seized at Fengtai
were consigned an European resident
who is at Tien Tsin taking part in
the investigation into the affair.
KILLED INSTANTLY.
Nude Woman Leaps From a Third
Story Window.
New York, Dec. 27. A woman of 21
years known as Cisel Hall was killed in
stantly by jumping from the third story
window of a house near Broadway and
West Forty-sixth street. Her act created
a commotion in the neighborhood, where
it was declared that the girl was scream
ing for help when she was seen to fling
herself in a nude condition head foremost
from the window.
The coroner gave it as his opinion that
the girl had been detained against her will
and was attempting to escape.
Geo. K. Letcher Arrested.
Columbus, O., Dec 27. A telegram
from Detective Fox at Flagstaff, Ariz.,
states that he has arrested George E.
Letcher, wanted at Bryan, O., on a
charge of arson, and that he will arrive
at Bryan Wednesday. Letcher was ar
rested some time ago at San Francisco.
STORMJjENERAL
Bain and Sleet Follow Snow in
New York. -
Traffic and Telegraphic Com
inundation Great! Impeded.
SLIPPERY CAR RAILS.
Delay All Trains From the West
and North.
Hundreds of Theater Goers
Compelled to Walk Home.
New York, Dec. 27. Rain and sleet
with a rising temperature, following the
recent heavy snow storms have greatly
impeded traffic In and about New York.
Telegraphic communication has been
considerably handicapped and nearly all
through trains from the west and north
are delayed owing to Blippery rails.
In the city the rain and sleet which
froze as soon as it struck the ground
made walking during the night hazard
ous and wherever there was a grade on
the surface roads there was great trou
ble. Brooklyn appeared to suffer more
than Manhattan. There the trolley lines
were in trouble, both overhead and
underground. Hundreds of persons who
had attended Manhattan, theaters were
very late in reaching their homes after
the performances. At times the entire
road system of the borough was prac
tically tied up. The snowfall of Sunday
amounted to five inches, and before the
rain and sleet began last night the
bureau had succeeded in getting to
gether only 3,000 men and 400 carts, so
that little was done toward clearing the
streets.
New York, Dec. 27. Rain and sleet,
followiner the heavy snow storm, have
played havoc with transportation facili
ties and the telegraph service.
Falling on top of the snow covered
pavements and sidewalks the rain has
formed a hard crust of ice, and New
York today was like a great skating
pond. The rails of the surface cars and
elevated trains were so slippery that no
effort was made to keep anything like
schedule time. The suburban trolley lines
were almost paralyzed and trains were
reported late on. every line. How badly
the telegraph and telephone wires have
ben crippled co. d not be estimated
early today. All through the east and
in Pennsylvania, the wires are coated
with ice and the extra weight has
broken many of them.
In addition to the delay caused by
the sleet the congested traffic of the
upper harbor and the North and East
rivers, crowded with ferry boats, was
hampered by a fog so dense that it
was still almost dark at 7:30 a. m., and
ferry boats bringing the thousands of
people employed in tms city rrom jer
sey City and Brooklyn, poked their
way slowly from slip to slip in con
stant danger of collision. No serious
accidents were reported. '
Covers Mississippi Valley.
Washington, Dec. 27. --Reports to
the weather bureau today say the
storm that reached the Oregon coast
Saturday morning moved southeast
ward to the Texas coast, where it was
central Monday morning and thence
northeastward into the middle Missis
sippi valley. In the last 24 hours it
has increased greatly in intensity and
forms today the most severe wind and
rain storm of the season throughout
the middle and lower Mississippi val
ley, Tennessee and the east Gulf states.
Heavy downpours of rain accom
panied by thunder storms and high
shifting winds have occurred in the
lower Mississippi valley, Tennessee
and the lower Ohio valley and rain,
sleet and snow in the upper middle
portions of the Mississippi valley and
the west portion,pf the lake region.
Rain, snow or sleet has fallen at prac
tically every station west of the Mis
sissippi, while a cold wave prevails be
tween the Mississippi and the Rocky
mountains. The Mississippi valley dis
turbance will move northeastward
during the next 36 hours.
Wind 40. Miles an Hour.
La Crosse. Wis., Dec. 27. A blizzard
prevails in Wisconsin today. At Su
perior the wind reached a velocity of
40 miles an hour. Traffic is delayed.
Snow in Illinois.
Bloomington, 111.. Dec. 27. The
first severe snow storm of the winter
raged in central Illinois today follow
nig a heavy rain of two days.
Blizzard in Minnesota.
St. Paul, Minn., Deo. 27. This part
of the state is in the grip of a blizzard
and the snow piling in drifts is delay
ing trains. Street car traffic is badly
handicapped.
The storm extends over the entire
northwest and all trains are more or
less late today. The coast lines were
hard hit. One Great Northern train
due Monday afternoon was reported
20 hours late. The Northern Pacific
coast train was reported almost six
hours late. I
Rain in the South. I
Louisville, Ky., Dec. 27. The south
has received during the last 36 hours
the fiercest soaking rain in many
months. In the territory from the
Ohio river to the Gulf and from Texas
over into Georgia the springlike
weather of the last few days has been
broken by heavy rains, followed by
high winds. In several places a cold
wave has sent the mercury scurrying
to the bulb, a fall of 9 degrees in one!
hour being recorded at Nashville. At
Louisville there was a rainfall of two
Inches. Mountain streams are filling
up and crops will be greatly benefited.
A boating stage in the Ohio seems as
sured and many places suffering from
a shortage of coal will soon have their
wants supplied.
Rain Starts a Thaw.
Philadelphia, Dec. 27. Traffic of
every sort in this city and vicinitv was
badly hampered during the early
hours today by a dense fog. Rain fell
during the night. A heavy thaw re
sulted and this, following the two days
and a half of snowfall, converted the
streets into rivulets. Train service was
irregular.
Death From an Explosion.
Pittsburg. Pa., Dec. 27. John Guy,
foreman of bricklayers, was burned to
death and five others seriously injured
in an explosion today in furnace "J"
of the Edgar Thompson plant of the
Carnegie Steel company at Braddock.
TWO DEAD IX CHRISTMAS FIRE.
Women Fatally Burned by Overturn
ing of a Lamp.
New York, Dec. 27. Two women
lost their lives and two other persons
were overcome by smoke in a fire in
Allen street yesterday. The dead are
Mrs. Fountain, 50 years of age, and
Miss Skelly, aged 40. In a hospital in
a serious condition are Owen McGrath
and his wife, who were overcome by
smoke and were taken out of the
building unconscious by firemen.
The fire followed a Christmas cele
bration and was caused by the over
turning of a lamp.
LOOKllPJAYHOFF
Humor That Teachers Will In
restigate His ltecord.
His Expenditures as Superin
tendent the Point in Question.
Opening Meeting of State
Association Tonight.
Delegations from Chanute, Columbus,
Great Bend.Kansas City, Kan., and
Pittsburg, have arrived for the Kansas
Teachers' association. Other delegations
will arrivsr this evening and the remain
der will come in on the morning trains
of Wednesday. Thus far, on an esti
mate, about 200 teachers have arrived.
They are securing acccommodations at
various places over the city though the
Copeland hotel has been designated as
the headquarters of the association.
President Bushey is in receipt of a
letter from G. Stanley Hall, president
of Clark university, Worcester, Mass.,
stating that he would leave there on the
25th, arriving here some time today.
Last year Dr. Hall was not able to come
and the lecture which he was to give
was consequently postponed. This time
such a disappointment will not be ex
perienced. His lecture will be given to
morrow. One of the things which promises
sensational developments is the rumor
that Superintendent DayhofTs record
in the matter of personal expenditures
while in office will be Investigated by
a committee appointed from among
the members of the association. The
charge is made that Mr. Dayhoff has
been taking advantage of his position
as a public official and charging up
items of a personal nature during his
trips to his home in Hutchinson.
The feature of this evening's open
ing programme will be the reception
which the Commercial club of the city
will tend to the association in repre
sentative hall at the state house after
the programme. In the receiving line
will be Governor W. J. Bailey, Right
Rev. Frank Millspaugh, J. R. Burrow,
I. L. Dayhoff, Frank Dyer, Chief Jus
tice W. A. Johnston, Mayor W. S.
Bergundthal, Colonel J. W. F. Hughes,
Supt. L. D. W'hittemore, Dr. Norman
Plass of Washburn college and Rev.
F. E. Mallory of the Topeka board of
education.
TO BE COLDER TONIGHT
Mr. Jennings Expects Mercury to
Reach 10 Below Zero.
The expectation of the government
weather bureau forecaster is that the
temperature in Kansas will reach 10 de
grees below zero by Wednesday morning.
The thermometer at the government
weather bureau fell steadily from eight
o'clock Monday morning, when the tem
perature was 34, until six o'clock this
morning, when the mercury touched zero.
The wind changed from northeast to
northwest at 2 o'clock Monday morning,
and since then has blown cold and strong
from 2S to 35 miles an hour during last
night and tais morning.
The barometer at the weather bureau
office began rising this morning, which in
dicates increased colder weather. The
forecast for Kansas sent out today is:
"Generally fair tonight and Wednesday;
colder tonight."
Director Jennings announced the official
measurement of snow fall this morning to
be two and one-tenth inches.
The weather through the north and
northwest has been cold. Minnesota sev
eral days aiO reported 20 degrees below
zero, Moorehead 14 below, Qu Appelle 20
below. Bismarck 10 below.
The hourly temperatures recorded since
the cold wave began were as follows:
8 o'clock 34112 o'clock 8
- 9 o'clock 331 1 o'clock 7
10 o'clock 33 2 o'clock 5
11 o'clock 32 3 o'clock 4
12 o'clock 2S 4 o'clock 3
1 o'clock 24i 5 o'clock 1
2 o'clock 22 6 o'clock
3 o'clock 20 7 o'clock 1
4 o'clock 18 8 o'clock 1
6 o'clock 17 9 o'clock 2
6 o'clock 1610 o'clock 3
7 o'clock 1511 o'clock 4
8 o'clock 1312 o'clock 4
9 o'clock 12 1 o'clock 5
10 o'clock ll 2 o'clock 7
11 o'clock 10
Zero.
Wind, 24 miles from the northwest, at
2 p. m.
HE SUGGESTS BRASS COLLARS.
Conductor's Amusing Reply to Train
master Austin.
Trainmaster Austin of the Santa Fe
at Topeka was in Kansas City Monday
and gave a Kansas paper a story of a
new order which he has issued to pas
senger conductors on the Santa Fe.
The order is reprinted in the railroad
news of today's State Journal, and it
provides that passenger conductors
must not wear celluloid or rubber
collars while on duty.
A conductor who always looks upon
the humorous side of everything has
sent the following open letter to Train
master Austin:
"Mr. A. B. Austin. My Dear Sir
Your order requiring passenger con
ductors to discontinue the wearing of
celluloid and rubber collars is a source
of much surprise. It seems that it
would be more reasonable to expect
the conductors to wear 'brass collars'
similar in pattern to those worn by
yourself and the traffic and operating
officials. Very truly, ."
Another New Bank.
The Citizens' State Bank of Chaney
has applied for incorporation under
state laws. It has been doing business
as a private bank. It will increase its
capital from $5,000 to $15,000, and
take out a charter. .
Weather Indications.
Chicago, Dec. 27. Forecast for
Kansas: Fair tonight and Wednesday;
colder tonight : fresh northwest winds.
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Pittsburg Training School to
Appeal to Legislature.
Will Ask $100,000 Appro
priation for a Building.
A CHANCE TO SEE.
Exhibltof the Work Is to Be
Shown. .
Proposed Labor Bills Are to Ba
Considered.
At the coming session of the legisla
ture, the Pittsburg Manual Training
Normal school will make a strong effort
to get an appropriation for a $100,000
building.
Among other things, it proposes to
have Installed at a convenient place for
exhibition, a lot of samples of the work
done by students of the school, for the
purpose of showing the members of tha
legislature that the institution is a
good thing for the state. The exhibit
is already in Topeka, and is being ex
hibited in tne postorrice room of Repre
sentative hall during the state teachers'
j convention. Principal Russ, and all tha
I members of the manut trlVrig facul
ty are here with the jLuioit, and soma
of them will be here during a good
j share of the session of the legislature,
j The exhibit which was sent includes
; a large and interesting display of work
j from the wood working, joinery and
turning classes, a display of pastry,
cookery and canned and preserved
fruits from the domestic science class,
specimens of sewing and needle work
from the sewing class, and a nice dis
play of basketry, Indian bead work
jand other work from the manual train
ing classes.
I When Pittsburg was selected as the
place for the Manual Training Normal
school, the town agreed to build a suit
able building for the accommodation of
the school. This has not been done,
and for this reason there may be soma
objection to the proposed expenditure
or money ror the purpose of building tn
scnooi a come.
There is to be a meeting of the legisla
tive committee of the State Bureau of '
Labor and Industry in this city in about
a week for the purpose of considering,
with Secretary W. L. A. Johnson, some of
the bills which it is proposed to intro
duce at the coming session of the legisla
ture. The committee is composed of J. Curry
of Topeka, chairman; W. O. VanPelt of
Pittsburg: Eugene Bramlet of Mineral: C.
O. Churchill of lola.
The last session of the legislature pass
ed several laws which were advocated by
the Bureau f Labor and Industry. Among
these were the plumbing bill, the barber
bill and the bill providing for the position '
of inspector of weights and measures at
the mines. There are a number of legis
lative propositions which are to come be
fore the coming session with the O. K. of
the labor society. Among other interest
ing matters the society will probably ad
vocate a bill making contractors liable for
the safety of scaffolding which is used in
the construction of buildings. It is some
times held that if a laborer is injured
through defective scaffolding which h
himself has constructed the contractor
can not be held liable for damages. Tha
proposed law will make it obligatory on
the contractor to see to it that all scaf
folding is properly constructed and safe
before men are allowed to work upon it.
It seems likely that this is the last year
which the sugar beet raisers of Kansas
will get a bounty of $1 a ton on their
beets. The industry is now practically
self-sustaining and is no longer an ex
periment. I. L. Diesem, a member of the
state board of agriculture, and a resident
of Garden City, says: "If the coming leg
islature wants to do anything special for
us it might make an appropriation of per
haps $5,000 to experiment in destroying the
grasshoppers. We have had much troubln
with grasshoppers this year. I think it
would be money well expended. A great
deal of fun was made of that appropria
tion to exterminate prairie dogs, but it
was a good investment for the state. It
reclaimed a large amount of land that
the dogs were destroying. I do not know
just what could be done in the way of
exterminating grasshoppers, but they
might be inoculated with some disease as
chinch bugs wore. We lost our last two
cuttings of alfalfa this year on account
of the grasshoppers."
ROOSEVELT WORKED. '
Monday Was Not Much of a Holiday
for the President.
Washington, Dec. 27. Christmas
Monday was observed as a holiday in
the national capital. All executive de
partments of the government were
closed and there was a general sus
pension of private business. The
weather was disagreeable, and tha
ground was) covered with sleet. To
President Roosevelt the day was less of
a holiday than to many of his fellow
citizens. He spent considerable time
in his office and also kept a number
of engagements which had been made
for the day. During the afternoon
the president in company with Senator
Lodge went out for a walk. The
Christmas dinner of the presidential
family was given at the usual hour
and was a fine affair.
ANOTHER GAS FRANCHISE.
The Kansas Natural Gas Company
Wants One In Topeka.
The Kansas Natural Gas company
which has started in to do things on a
grand scale in the Kansas Gas fields
will come before the council Thursday
evening with a request for a franchise.
Gleed, Ware & Gleed are the attorneys
for the company and are engaged in
drawing up the franchise.
The rates specified in the franchise
are 40 cents per thousand feet in the
residence district and 3 0 cents per
thousand for gas furnished in large
amounts. This is a 5 cent cut from
the rates specified in the franchise
granted to. the Continental Gas com
pany a year ago last summer. Mr.
Holliday claims that he has no con
nection whatever with the company
seeking a franchise.
Temperatures In Large Cities.
Chicago, Dec. 27. 7 a. m. temper
atures: New York, 32; Boston, 34;
Philadelphia, 40; Washington, 32;
Chicago, 36; Minneapolis, 20; Cincin
nati, 58; St. Louis, 82. ,