The Topeka state journal. [volume], February 12, 1909, LAST EDITION, Page 2, Image 2

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

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THE TOPEKA DAILY STATE JOURNALFRIDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 12, 1S09.
No
Less
More
So
Today we received 700 spring patterns, including the very latest London stripes
and Glasco plaids. Our fashion plate for spring and summer has the latest pockets
and cuffs. Two of these styles are the talk of NEW YORK. The Sophmore
and the Dartmouth.
FREE $5.00 FANCY VEST WITH EVERY
SUIT OR OVERCOAT MADE TO ORDER
NOW IS
THE TIME.
BIG BUILDING A WRECK.
(Continued from Page One.)
the entire force was at work almost
simultaneously with the city depart
ment The - Santa Fe was a potent
factor in saving the surrounding
properties and building.
The Loss Is Heavy.
The loss on the stock of mer
chandise owned by Parkhurst-Davis
amounted to $210,000. Of this amount
$110,000 was covered by- insurance.
The building, which is a total loss,
was owned by Joab Mulvane and was
valued at $45,000, and carried $30,000
insurance. " This would make the to
tal loss over and above the insur
ance $125,000.
The damage to the surrounding
buildings was light. The Topeka Cold
Storage Ice & Fuel company's plant
was damaged to the extent of $500.
The International Harvester com
pany's plant in the Sells building
which joined the ill-fated building on
the north entailed a loss of about
$300 to the building while the stock
was injured by the falling water to
the extent of $600. The Santa Fe had
a box car a short distance northwest
from the fire which was slightly
burned. A car load of baled cotton
was stacked on the ground near the
Santa Fe's car and this was burned.
' CiJnd Was Large.
From the time the alarm became
general until the last roar of the fall
ing walls had died away, and until
the last blaze became a glowing
ember, the crowd constantly gather
ing, crowded close to the lines
maintained by the police and watched
the great spectacle, the counterpart
of which many of them had witnessed
five years previous. It would be im
possible to estimate the number of
people in the crowd. They flocked
from all parts of the city. Residents
in every section as soon as they were
Informed of the location of the fire
thronged the corner of First and
Kansas avenue. As far as the human
eye could see in any direction with
the light of the burning building, peo
ple crowded in to watch the destruc
tion of the large building. The Rock
Island depot was taxed to capacity.
People thronged the upstair windows.
Probably during the evening 10,000
witnessed the great fire.-.
Mr. Davis Disconsolate.
W. H. Davis, when seen by a State
Journal reporter during the fire after
the building was known to be a total
loss, was in no frame of mind to make
a prediction for the future. He talked
but little when questioned by friends,
while standing near the spot where
Munson met his death, unconscious
that the ruined building had taken one
life with it.
"I do not know how the fire start
ed," said Mr. Davis. "It was in the
upperhalf of the building, and even at
the time I got there had not spread
over the entire house. I could see,
from the sudden spurts of the flames
that the gas was feeding the blaze,
and I immediately requested the gas
company to shut off the supply. I
was told that the gas company would
do nothing of the kind. Some men
were sent down here to cut off the
supply at the building, and one of
them was killed by the collapse of
that wall. I understand that the gas
supply can be cut oft by districts, in
the city, and that is what I wanted
them to do. Under the circumstances,
I think It would have been nothing
more than right for the company to
cut off the entire city for a few min
utes and give these firemen a chance."
While Mr. Davi3 was talking, four
streams of water were playing on the
fire in the part of the .building near
him, but the gas blaze was in no way
diminished. This was after the fire,
fed by the escaping gas, had been
burning more than two hours, and un
known to the spectators, who crowded
about by thousands, John Munson lay
dead upon a pile of red hot brick.
"I do not know yet that we will re
build," said Mr. Davis, while sorrow
fully reflecting on the loss of two large
building on the same site, "We did not
Keep a night watchman. We had one
at the time of our fire five years ago
and ha did no good. Since we have re
built we have employed the special
night policeman, Anderson. It was he
NOW SHOWING NEW
SPRING GOODS
IN ALL DEPARTMENTS
Suits, Overcoats, flats, Shoes,
Manhattan Shirts
We Invite Your Inspection
629-631
f liiiyliuil if Ifil iuilulLL
No ffifl C- No
More si -11 Less
We surprise the world with this price. REMEMBER these are
are the same as you pay your regular tailor $25.00 and $30.00 for.
532
Kansas Avenue
who I think sounded the alarm and
who telephoned to me."
Mr. Treleaven Explains.
Manager L. G. Treleaven of the lo
cal gas company, said after the fire
that the reason the request of Mr. Da
vis was not granted, was that ha asked
for all the gas in the city to be shut
off during the fire. This would have
been dangerous to the public safety,
Mr. Treleaven asserted, coming as it
would without the slightest warning.
As soon as the real nature of the trou
ble was known, Manager Treleaven
ordered Munson and Jones to shut off
the valve where the city main led Into
the building.
The falling of the walls was attended
by great crashes. The east end of the
south wall was the first to fall. The
brick and debris buried Munson. A lit
tle later the south end of the walls on
the Kansas avenue side of the building
fell to the ground. About fifteen min
utes later, the extreme west end of the
south walls fell. This was attended by
the greatest report and the ground
shook for several blocks around.
The falling of the walls and the In
tense heat was responsible for many of
the electric wires in the vicinity being
torn to the ground. All danger from
this source however was removed by
the Edison company and the city elec
tric light plant who shut off all the
current from this end of town.
That the Sells building on the north
of the Parkhurst-Davis building was
saved was due to the good' work of the
fire department. As soon as the danger
became threatening at this point. Chief
vv ilmarth ordered tne aerial truck up
to the roof and several of the firemen
carried a hose up the ladder to the
roof, which was directed on the flames
with telling effect. One of the big
"Siamese" streams attached to the
steamer reached far above this build
ing and the water was directed high in
the air and allowed to fall on the blaze.
Destroyed Five Years Ago.
It is a remarkable coincidence that
the same firm should suffer total de
struction by fire at two different times
within one day of five years apart. The
fire on the early morn of February 13,
1904, was quite similar to the big con
flagration of last night.
The former fire started at 2:26 a. m.
the alarm being turned in by Patrol
man Frank Asher. then a member of
the police force. The fire was well
started, presumably by the explosion
of chemicals, and was well under head
way before the department was noti
fied. The total loss was $413,000. At
that time, the Parkhurst-Davis stock
was totally destroyed, the McCormick
Harvester company suffered material
ly. The William Schick branch house
was badly scorched, the Rock Island
passenger station received damages.
the Parkhurst-Davis building was a to
tal ruin and the Topeka Ice company
lost heavily.
The main trouble In fighting the fire
at that time was found In the water
pressure which at one time during the
fire reached the low mark of five
pounds. With these conditions. Chief
Wilmarth and his men were unable to
cope with the fire.
The temperature on that night was
but a few degrees above zero. The wa
ter froze to the firemen, and falling
upon the ground the water froze, mak
ing a slippery fighting ground for the
nre department. .
Despite the cold weather, and the
early morning hour, several thousand
people were awakened and left their
homes to watch the big building and its
contents devoured by the fire.
John Munson Died In Line of Duty.
Thinking that he was doing a duty
to the fruitless work of the fighting
firemen, thinking that he was acting
in accordance with the order of his
company, and thinking of nothing but
nis duty, jonn jviunson, nignt watcn
raan in the employ of the Consumers'
Light, Heat & Power company lost his
life last night at three minutes of
twelve, his body being mangled be
neath the falling bricks and timbers
which at one time constituted the
third and fourth floors of the south
side of the burning building.
John Munson and the foreman of
the gas plant. H. P. Jones, approached
the south side of the building a few
minutes before midnight to cut off the
gas lead which was valved just under
the platform. A big flame twenty feet
high and spouting like a volcano was
Issuing from this point where the big
main into the building had broken. If
Kansas jdvenve
Sore J jj Less 1
NEVER BE THE
LAST TO BUY
World's Largest Tailors
HARRY MILLER, Mgr.
this main could be closed the gas sup
ply all -over the building would have
been stopped and the combat between
the deadly gas and the firemen would
have ended in favor of the fire fighters.
When these two men walked to the
valve shielding their faces from the
intense heat of the burning structure
and the spitting gas flame there was a
breathless suspense on the part of the
thousands of people who were watch
ing every movement made by the men.
Then the firemen closed in behind
them covering them with sheets of
water and helping them in every way
possible to do their perilous, duty.
Munson reached the valve first and
lying on his stomach he crawled to the
edge of the tracks which run along
beside the platform closely followed
by Jones. The two men had reached
in under the platform and had suc
ceeded in giving the valve one turn
to the right. Jones was crouching on
one knee and Munson was lying with
arms outstretched.
Suddenly a lightning like crack ap
peared in the hot wall, the inside
floors and rafters broke loose from
their support and with a crash that
shook the very river bottom, two
stories, the third and the fourth, broke
loose from the dizzy heights and came
down with a deafening roar, followed
by a volcanic eruption of flames.
sparks, burning timbers and smoke.
For a second the awe stricken thou
sands stood breathless with wonder
and the smoke and debris hid the fire
men from view. When it had cleared
up a man was lying across the Rock
Island tracks twenty-five feet away
from the heated ruins stunned and un
conscious. Amid the uproar he was
carried In the depot nearby and given
iresn aia ana water. This man was
H. P. Jones, the foreman of the gas
plant, who had accompanied his
watchman to the fatal valve. In the
midst of the wild scramble for safety
and the scattering of firemen, hose and
fire lines John Munson was forgotten.
The firemen were the only ones who
were aware of his work near the plat
form as the spectators behind the po
lice fire ropes had lost sight of him
when the firemen had closed behind
him with the hose and water. In the
straightening of the hose lines and the
recovering of their equilibrium the
fire fighters had forgotten the two men
and the work of quenching the flames
was continued. The hot walls had
fallen in a mass crushing the steel
covered platform to the basement and
piling high the debris it had fallen
In such a manner that the first track
near the building was covered with
brick and steel. The roar of 1flA tnna
of brick could be heard all over the
city and the earth shook like a minia
ture earthquake. And when the mass
of onlookers commented on the sure
death of anyone who might be under
such an avalanche they little imagined
that John Munson was a martyr and
was under those white heated bricks
bleeding and burning nobodv k
whether he suffered or whether he wa
knocked unconscious and his life ebbed
away wunout nis knowledge. In fact
the unfortunate man was not found to
oe missing until nis companion who
had been carried to the Rock Island
depot was revived. When Jones re
gained consciousness he jumped to his
feet and with his eyes wild with horror
he gasped:
Missed by Jones.
"My God. men. where Is .Tnhn'-i,!!
you found him did he get out of it Oh
God, men find him quick," and he fell
into the arms of his rescuers in a fain
spell. The alarm was spread at once
and under the orders of Chief of Police
Eaton four policemen and five firemen
risked their lives beneath the tottering
walls, clearing away the heated hHMra
with their bare hands, frantiraiiv
hunting for the man who was buried
under the debris. The search lasted
for over a half hour, the men working
until their hands bled from th ev,on
bricks and the cutting steel.' At 22
minutes or i a fireman who was work
ing by himself just west of the blaz
ing gas furnace Jumoed hn ck with a
cry of horror and turning his baked
face to the brave men working at his
side he gasped:
Here he is, boys, here he is."
And he stood looking at the hlnnd natr.
ed face of John Munson, peering ghost
like out of the mass of brick, his black
hair smeared with blood and dirt and
his mouth drawn ud In nain. Th rost
ers stood for a few seconds stunned by
the ghastly fearful sight and then as
a man they tore away the bricks and
timbers and felt of his body, still warm
with the rapidly flowing blood and the
heat of his fiery grave. His left hand
was burned until nothing wan left hut
a stub to the crouch of the thumb On
his head was an ugly gash and his
skull was fractured. It was from this
blow that he receivedhis death nn.
doubtedly. His blue overalls and his
boots were not burned or even scorch
ed and his black felt hat was just un
der his head, filled with blood and cut
into a number of .slits by the falling
brick.
Carried Into the Depot.
He was carried to the Rock Is lji nd
depot by the officers while the nolice
forced a passageway through the horror-stricken
crowd. The doors of the
depot were locked and the coroner. Dr.
Keith was called. Meanwhile a frantic
appeal ' for a physician was made
through the vast crowds and taken up
and echoed around the block, up and
down Kansas avenue and even down in
to the Rock Island yards. There did
not seem to be a doctor in the big
crowd and while the men were each try
ing to test the poor man's pulse, Ray
R. Ufford, a medical student from the
Washburn medical school volunteerd his
knowledge and bending over the man's
body he placed his ear to the still heart.
Not a throb was felt and other tests
were used but with no avail. The few
officers and firemen who stood around
the body waited in silence for the ver
dict of theyoung student and when he
finally completed his examination and
shook his head in sorrow the big
brawny men turred their faces to the
side and muttered a word of sorrow
ana a word of Braver. It was a touch
ing scene and the seriousness of it
could not dawn upon the men until Dr.
xvcjlh arrived and cave the otneiai an
nouncement of th man' lifeless body,
- Lo-ivcii bi once to me amuuiauvc
ana an inquest was held today.
Leaves Family of live Children.
A death-like solemnity fell over the
anxious crowds who were crowding
around the depot for blocks trying to
hear the first piece of information and
in a iew minutes the thousands ot spec
tators broke up in groups and lines
and plodded homeward to all parts of
the city thoughtfully and sorrowfully.
It is a bad blow to the city to endure
such a loss of property and such a loss
oi employment tor so many employes
but when a human beine is sacrificed
and a sad family is deprived of its
fatherly love and care the loss is felt
more keenly and sinks deeper into the
nearts ot a sympathizing city.
John Munson lived -at 285 Arter ave
nue, Oakland, and he is survived by a
wife and five small children, ranging all
tne way from the age of 2 to 10 years.
He was 36 years old and joined the
woodmen but a few days ago.
Water Pressure Good.
The water pressure during the fire
was good very good. . It started out
at 150 pounds-from the water plant
and 110 pounds in the city. Naturally
when the steamers were attached and
the fire plugs for blocks around were
put Into use the gauge showed a loss
at the fire headquarters. But this loss
was on the city side of the fire and up
to the lines of hose the pressure could
not 'have been better. The Harrison
street station was not used at all and
the big pumps out at the waterworks
did yeoman service. The lowest pres
sure of the evening was 60 pounds
and this quickly jumped up to an av
erage of 95 pounds. The two fire en
gines were used each throwing two
streams of water and seven single di
rect pressure streams were played on
the fire from the time of the first con
nection. This is a hard drain on the
water mains, but they held out In fine
shape. The streams from the steamer
reached to the top floors of the struct
ure and the first streams threw a good
stream into the second and third story
windows. The aerial truck was hoisted
at the northeast corner of the building
on Kansas avenue and stayed here un
til the walls threatened to fall. Four
men remained on this ladder during
the entire time and it was through
their efforts that the fire was held in
check thus saving the International
building on the north. Superintendent
Shaw of the water department was
seen several times during the fire and
he was well pleased with the flow of
water. He said: "I don't see what else
could be expected tonight. If it was
not for that gas and the terrific spread
and range of the fire I am sure that it
could have been stopped.
With the exception of the work of
the firemen in saving the international
Harvester building just north of the
Parkhurst-Davis structure, the pluck
iest fight of -the evening was on top of
the power house of the Topeka Cold
Storage Ice & Fuel company, just west
of the hottest part of the fire. The lit
tie breeze from the east blew the heat,
the sparks and the burning timbers on
top of the cold storage plant and when
the fire had broken through the roof
of the P-D building it looked as
though the frame ventilators towering
five stories Into the air would eaten
fire at any moment and the whole
power house and storage plant with
its thousands of dollars worth of
equipment would "be wiped out. At
first men with buckets and sacks
mounted the roof of the building and
quenched the numerous blazes "in this
manner, but soon the. heat became so
fierce that in a hundred places . the
wood commenced to smoke and
smoulder and a touch of fire would
have thrown the whole thing into one
big blaze. A small hose was stretched
to the top of the building and two men
kept It playing on the different parts
of the roof as they would break out
into a blaze. Later the firemen ran
two lines of hose to the scene and by
constant soaking and sprinkling they
saved the plant. W. w. weDD, repre
senting one of the insurance compan
ies that holds the insurance on the ice
plant, was wild with Joy when the
building was safe at last. His com
panies lost considerable on the Parkhurst-Davis
building, but they consid
ered themselves lucky to escape from
the Topeka ice plant adjoining. While
the men were working on the roof and
in through the galleries of the plant a
portion of the Parkhurst-Davis wall
fell to the ground tearing out the elec
tric wiring. This left the building in
darkness and the men depended upon
the blazing building for light.
In accordance with the governor's
request that churches observe Lin
coln Day with ' appropriate services,
First Church of Christ, Scientist, cor
ner of Polk and Huntoon streets, will
hold a special service, to which all are
cordially invited, Friday evening, Feb
ruary 12th, at 8 o'clock. Subject,
"Freedom."
Oakland in 3Iournlng.
Mr. Munson has been in the employ
of the gas company for nine years. He
has been night watchman for six
years. All of Oakland is in mourning
over his death. He was one of the
most popular men of the place. He
leaves a wife and five children, three
girls and two boys.
The oldest girl is about 9 years of
age. The girls are Virginia, Julia,
and Alice. The boys are Tom and
John.
His parents are living in Scandia.
The Munsons have lived in Oakland
for several years. Mr. Munson was
born in Republic county, April 19,
1874. He was married in Oakland
some twelve years ago to a Miss Han
son. He was a member of the North
Topeka I. O. O. F. and was insured for
about $2,000.
Mrs. Munson has lost both a hus
band and mother by fire. About five
years ago, her mother was burned to
death in a fire which destroyed her
home at Chester and Center streets in
Oakland.
The Munson house is fairly well fur
nished and gives evidence of the thrift
of its occupants. The scene at the
home this morning was pathetic in the
extreme. The younger children of the
family seemed to realize the loss of
their father as well as Mrs. Munson.
The little ones sobbed continually with
their grief stricken mother.
"Papa's gone. Oh, our papa's gone!"
they cried, while sympathizing neigh
bors tried to comfort them.
Jones Is Not Badly Hurt.
Harry P. Jones who miraculously
escaped death from the falling walls
while working alongside of his fellow
workman, John Munson, who was
killed, is not as seriously injured as
was at first supposed and was at the
scene of the fire this morning. He
was struck a glancing blow on the
side of the head .by falling brick and
a hole was torn in the right side of
his face near his nose.
His most serious injuries however
were occasioned by a glancing blow
from the falling wall which struck
him on the right side injuring his
chest and right leg. He does not
know how he escaped the fate of his
companion who was crushed to death
and buried under the falling wall.
"We knew about where the cut-off
was located," said Mr. Jones, "but the
box was under water and it took us
several moments to find its exact loca
tion. We had ' inserted our wrench
and given It a twist but the valve
turned hard. We were tugging at it
when the wall fell without warning.
"If-any one -called -to us of our
danger, we did not hear them. We
were working in water over shoe top
deep and the roar- of -the flames,
snorting of the steamers and swish of
the streams of water were such that
we could not have heard a cry of
warning if one had been given. The
smoke was so dense that it was im-
pof.Sl?le to see the toP of building.
The first thing that I remember
of I was stumbling and falling away
from the building and there was a
sense of a mighty force impelling me.
I suppose that the falling wall struck
me in such a way that it threw me
from the place of danger for I was in
reality thrown twenty feet away and
onto the Rock Island tracks.
"It was a close call and luck was
with me or I would have been killed,
for if I made an effort to escape it I
do not know of it. There was a
deafening crash and I picked myself
up twenty feet or more from where
I was working. I was so dazed that
I can hardly tell how it all hap
pened." John Munson who was killed did
not suffer a fractured skull as was at
first supposed but his entire right side
was crushed and the ribs torn lose.
There is a bad cut on the back of his
head and the fingers on his right
hand were burned away. The left
side of his face and head were bruised
as was his entire body. After viewing
the remains Coroner Keith announced
that he did not believe that the neces
sity for an inquest exists and none
will be held.
Chief Wilmarth Active.
Chief Wilmarth whs alwavs In the hot
test places during the conrlagration. A
state journal reporter attempted to follow
him around and watch his tactics but
naturally the trail was not followed very
consistently. When the fire first broke
out he dashed into the building followed
closely by his men. Not until the intense
smoke and gas drove him out did he leave
and then he was not content to remain
outside the building, but would dive first
into one door and then Into another. At
one time he was fighting on the second
tioor wnen tne names burst through the 1
iiili
- , t , 'ft
V .1-1
i
' "-V' s'i
''&l ri'n K
-.f Jtf t xrk'x
5 'f.
I - 1 - Iri.
Guy Standing as "Charley Steel" In "The Right of Way.'
ceiling above himself and men and he
was forced to retire rather hurriedly
the ceiling falling down and the gas ex
ploding just arter ne nad lert tne room.
When asked concerning the fire he said,
between orders to his men and between
the small opening that separated his
face from the sides of his hat:
I think that everything possible was
done by the men tonight. The fire was
simply too great for the companies and
our equipment and our force was not ade
quate. Every foot of hose in the city
was used and we had plenty of water to
use through it. The fire was too much for
us especially since it. was fed by some
thing other than woodwork and boxes it
must have been gas. Ana l ratner ihuik
that if the f ir -had not trained so much
headway before we received the alarm we
would have been able to control it. But
I am satisfied with the work of the men
and can think of no manner in which we
could have saved the building. The death
of John Munson was a. most unfortunate
and sad affair and I will always regret
the death of the brave man."
Railroad Loss Is Small.
The railroad companies were rather ror
tunate in their losses. Generally there are
any number of cars standing on the
"kitchen" tracks on the south and west
sides of the building but last night a
Rock. Island switch engine succeeded in
pulling out the cars standing in the track
just south of the building. This car was
used as an aerial by the firemen until it
grew dangerous and then the yard mas
tw nripwfi ihp triors from the track. It
was thoughtful and accommodating of the
Rock Island officials to leave these cars
at this point as it undoubtedly was a
great aid to the firemen. However, there
were three coal cai-s, loaded, and one
empty box car on the tracks just west of
the burning building. A line of hose laid
across the track and the Rock Island al
lowed the cars to remain there rather than
disturb the hose. As a result the coal
cars were badly scorched and the box
car caught fire four or five times and
one side was burned out. It was ex
tinguished by the chemical.
Police Helped Firemen. '
The police, under their chief. R. W.
Eaton, kept the fire ropes stretched in
mighty good form and tne whole day and
night force" was given the "riot call" for
the purpose of handling the crowds. Every
one in Topeka who was awake and who
could, possibly visit the conflagration was
on the scene and long lines of faces pack
ed the streets from the Melan bridge
south as far as First street and west
down to the Rock Island freight house. In
the east yards the box cars and engines
KrMittert with onlookers. The live
electric light wires that fell to the ground
continually and the danger of falling walls
made it necessary ior ins iwncc ivcj
a ctrirt ii-utrh nn the nushine: excited
crowd3. A rope was stretched for blocks
and a policeman was stationed every few
yards. The police helped the firemen to
a great extent also, and Chief Eaton is to
be congratulated on the performance of
his men.
Conditions Favorable'.
The fire was a fortunate one in many
respects. In the first place there was not
a sign of a gale of any kind especially
tha it-inri thflt hn hpfn Rweeninsr Topeka
during the last week or so. A gentle
breeze from the southeast drove the smoke
and sparke over on to the Topeka Cold
Storage, Ice and Fuel company plant and
drooped huge burning brands upon the
International building. Piles of railroad
ties and bales of excelsior were burned
just west of the fire but the loss was
slight. If there had been a gaie the
whole collection of buildings in this dis
trict would have been burned. A breeze
from the north would have leaped over'
into the Rock Island depot, thence to the
Chesterfield hotel and on up Kansas ave-
nue. It is hard to tell what would have
happened then. Another lucky condition
of the weather wai the temperature. The
nignt was warm not cold enough to freeze
the water that ran through the streets.
A zero night resembling the last few
nights would have Incapacitated the fire
men until their fight would have been at
tempted suicide. The fire pressure was
good. Five years ago at this fire it waa
down below ten pounds. Last night it
never dropped below 60 pounds. Another
lucky incident connected with the fire was
the close escape of a company of firemen
who were working on the Kansas avenue
side. They were closing in on the building
when the third and fourth inside floors
fell with a crash. This weakened the big
wall and first swaying from side to slrte
it slowly tottered Into the street. The
firemen saw it just in time and they made
a leap for safety. Some of them ten and
half leaping and half crawling they got
out of range of the flying bricks.
Had $25,000 Worth of Sugar.
An interesting business proposition has
been found since the fire lust night. The
Parkhurst-Davis company have been buy
ing up sugar for the last few months since
it has been priced low and it was known
throughout the state that they practically
had a "corner" on the sugar market. All
of this immense amount of sugar was
stored In the third floor of the building
and it was being prepared for shipment.
It is estimated that there was $25,000 worth
of sugar in the building at the time. It
made a fierce fire and the flames from
the sugar were especially spectacular on
account of their extreme redness.
Only One "Bromo Quinine"
That is Laxative Bromo Quinine. Look for
the signature "of E. W. Grove. Used the
world over to cure a cold in one day. 25c
RIGHT OrWAY TONIGHT.
Play One of the Greatest of Recent
Productions.
One of the most successful stage
productions of recent years is "The
Right of Way," the dramatic version
by Eugene W. Presbrey of Sir Gilbert
Parker's famous novel. The play
was produced in the east last year and
is now in the west for the first time.
"The Right of Way" will be seen to-
night and Saturday with a Saturday
matinee. The same company played
in Kansas City in November, a week's
engagement, and made such' a tre
mendous hit that a return engagement
of a week at the . Willis Wood was
played In January. Of the two lead
ing characters, Guy Standing as
Charley Steele and Theodore Roberts
as Joe Portugais, Frank A. Marshall,
dramatic critic of the Kansas City
Journal, said:
"Mr. Standing, an actor of fine at
tainments, begins his characteriza
tion of Steele with one of the most
vivid bits of character portrayal the
stage has known. The scintillating
cynicism, the whimsical, sardonic bit
terness, of Steele, the man of splen
did intellect but morally unmoored,
drifting on a turbulent sea of what
Is after all the tragic cheapness of the
most sophistical of abnormal creeds,
stands out clearly throughout the first
two acts. Mr. Standing enlivens the
picture with flashes of bitingly grim
humor which reveal the terrible
seriousness of Steele's under nature.
"Hardly second to Mr. Standing's
portrayal of the central role is the
magnificent piece of character work
done by Theodore Roberta as Joe
Portugais, the rough-hewn French
Canadian riverman, swayed by the
primitive passions, delving into no
psychological depths, unhappy only as
he is made the victim of the animal
triangle, otherwise faithful, in his
dog-like way, contented and true
hearted. Mr. Roberts amply sustains
his reputation as the greatest charac
ter actor of our stage and his
audience last night paid him the un-
I , ; r -" - ( ' n -4 - I
- -y 'ttt 5 "K-
fW
i - A, - v- v - 's '
X CELLO
Is the name of the new Shirt we are
handling. The prices are
$1.50, $2.00, $2.50
The name is yery appropriate, as they
EXCEL all others for FIT and WEAR
We are exclusive agents
NEW SPRING LINE HAS ARRIVED
The
602 Kansas
This Store
Quits
Marshall Bros. Drug Company,-
now located at 5th and
Kansas ave., have leased our
store room and will take pos
session just as soon as we can
dispose of this stock of shoes
and get out.
The entire stock of Boots,
Shoes, Oxfords. Slippers and
Rubber goods located at 615
Kansas ave., will be closed out
at Bargain prices.
Our new spring styles have
just been received.
See the show window display.
Everything goes In this closing
out sale at Bargain prices.
Nothing Reserved
The entire stock goes, here
are some of the prices:
Men's $4, $5 and $6 Q CZf
Shoes at pO.OU
Men's $3.50 and $4 O OP
Shoes at.. .0J
Men's $3.00 ty
Shoes at..................
Men's $1.75 1 OP
Shoes at iJ
Men's $1.50 1 "t f
Shoes at............. lalvf
Ladies' $4 and $5 O Crt
Shoes at..
Ladies' $3.50 and $4 OP
Shoes at . . . .. '. . 'OJ
Ladies' $3.00 O OC
Shoes at
Men's $2.50 O ff
Shoes at . . .. VU
Ladies' $2.50 -t QC
Shoes at . ... ,10J
Ladies' $1.75 - Ofi
Shoes at .,. .,. . . I'M
Ladles' $1.50 1 1 It
Shoes at J.O
Boys' . $3.00 O OP
Shoes at
Bays' $2.50 O f(
Shoes at
Boys' $2.00 I ((
Shoes at
Boys' $1.50 1 1C
Shoes at
Girls' $2.00 Shoes 165
Girls' $1.75 Shoes J
Girls' $1.50 J 25
Infants' $1.50 Shoes .. QQ-at..-
. . . . . .. - -"..
Infants' $1.25 Shoes 75c
Infants 85c Shoes 60c
Infants 25c Moccasins 10c
NOTICE
I have leased the
room at 515 Kansas
now occupied by The
Shoe Co., to Marshall
store
Ave.,
Ellet
Bros.,
Drug Co.
(Signed.)
FRANK KLINGERMAN.
Agent.
ELLET
JOHN L r.l .1 .r. I HENRY u
SHOE CO.
515 Kansas Avenue.
usual tribute of interrupting him sev
eral times with spontaneous applause
at his great acting. Hi Portugais is
the most notable of his many sue
cesses." ROYAL VISIT ENDS.
King and Queen of England Leave
Berlin for Home.
Berlin, Feb. 12. King Edward an
Queen Alexandra left here for London
at 5 o'clock this afternoon after a
visit of four days in the German
capital. They were accompanied to
the railroad station by the emperor
and the empress and their military
suites and Prince Henry of Punsia.
The leave taking was affectionate,
his majesty kissing the emperor three
times on the cheek.
Everybody reads the State Journal.
Avenue
Toggery