The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume], December 03, 1913, Image 1

About The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917

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"GET THE HABIT"
THE WEATIIEI?
Read the Want . Ads. in The
Farmer classified cdlumns
there's some good opportunities
in "For Sales" and "To Rents."
Fair, Slightly Colder
VOL- 49 NO. 285
BRIDGEPORT, CONN., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1913
PRICE TWO CENTS
Mc ADQO DECRIES
PESSIMISM; IS
READY FOR CLASH
Five Hundred Millions In
Emergency- Currency
Available If Neces
' sary.
SUGGESTS TAX UPON
DENATURED ALCOHOL
Secretary Of Treasury Hopes
: ToPay Off Part Of Canal
Indebtedness.
Washington, Dec 3 Secretary Mc
Adoos first report to Congress, deliv
ered today, is largely confined to a re
view of the achievements of the Treas
ury Department in matters that have
"been of nation-wide interest; to rec
ommendations for Increased appropria
tions for bureaus under his authority
and for legislation, which, he declares,
necessary to the better conduct of the
government and the protection of the
people.
The Secretary discussed at some
length the subject of currency legis
lation, reviewing the activities in' his
department related to it. He, speaks
of an unrest in business circles fol
Ipwing the beginning of the special
session of Congress in April, refers to
a "propaganda of pessimism which
designedly or not, produced a condi
tion of extreme nervousness and ten
sion" and points to his announcement
in June, that the treasury was" ready
to issue $500,000,000 of emergency
currency under the Aldrich-Vreeland
act to prevent restriction of credits
and to ease any situation.
Mr. McAdoo details the treasury's
offer to loan to banks of the country
money to move the fall crops. The
sum of $46,500,000 out of $50,006,000
estimated to be needed, was appor
tioned among the states.
"It wh essential," says the secre
tary, ""that the action of the depart
ment should be non-partisan and non
political;, the crops of Republicans,
Democrats and Progressives,- and all
other classes of. people had to be
moved, and the earnest effort of the
department . was to have' the benefits
of this action diffused' as ' widely and 1
impartially as possible.'
After praising the psychological
value of these Incidents, the report
continues?
"They demonstrate clearly that any
Improvement in our financial system
which will permanently establish con-
. fid once win In Itself be an immense
gain, and if that improved financial
system iwiii ii the opportunity to se
cure at all times the necessary funds
and credits to meet the expanding and
legitimate needs of the commerce and
industry of the country. It will be an
achievement o enduring benefits.
"These incidents also show conclu
sively the enormous value of an al-
, truistic governmental agency in the
financial affairs of the country. So
I long as the government has the pow
.er to intervene n a beneficient and
unselfish way, the danger of panics
and of unjust practices will be largely.
If not wholly, destroyed. This is -one
of the chief objects sought in the pro
posed reformation and reorganization
of our banking and currency system.
The people of the country are to be
congratulated upon the early prospect
of sound legislation on this vitally im
portant subject. . Should the Congress
enact the fundamentals of the pena
Ing measure It is believed that perma
nent protection will be provided
against recurring commercial crises
and that adequate facilities will be
created for that legitimate and sound
expansion of credits so vital, to the
prosperity of our great and growing
country.
" Of the new tariff act. Secretary Mc
Adoo says it has not been in force a
sufficient length of time to make pos
sible an accurate estimate of its ulti
mate revenue-producing powers. He
asks Congress to Impose a nominal
tax-of one per cent, proof gallon on
til alcohol withdrawn for denatnra-
t ton and legislation requiring every
dealer in leaf tobacco to make an in
ventory of stock January 1 of each
year and make a report of his trans
actions quarterly or monthly, and
that every dealer be required to glv
bond.
The present oelomargarine law Is
declared to be unsatisfactory and the
government is said to lose more taxes
from Illicit practices in oleomargarine
than through moonshine stills. The
difference In the tax on colored and
uncolored "oelo" is held responsible
for the loss and Congress is masked tn
impose a flat nominal tax without anv
difference for color with provision for
individual stamped or original pack
ages of certain sizes adequately mark
ed and safeguarded. The law govern
ing the sale of adulterated butter Is
declared to have brought about un
fortunate conditions through the dif
ficulty of its just enforcement.
Among his principal recommenda
tions to Congress the secretary placed
the following:
enlargement of the public health
service and a closer co-operation with
State authorities to prevent and stamp
out epidemics or disease.
Building of four revenue cutters, for
need of which, the secretary points out,
the service Is seriously crippled.
Consolidation of the revenue cutter
(Continued on Page 4.)
HENRY GREENE GIVEN
ONE. YEAR-IN JAIL
Henry R. Greene, the real estate
and insurance broker who fled from the
city several months ago and was ar
rested for embezzlement upon his re
turn, was sentenced to jail for one
year by Judge "Walsh in the common
pleas court today. He pleaded guil
ty. It was alleged that Greene had
failed to- account for certain money
fc bad collected tor clients, .
PEQUONNOCK BANK, MERGED,
WILL MOVE GASH TONIGHT
Old Institution Will Be Replaced By Modern Office Building
Which Will House Reorganized First-Bridgeport
National Bank.
Share Holders of t First-Bridgeport Will Have Opportunity Of
Buying New Issue Of Stock At Par, Six Shares Be
' ing Allowed For Each Holder of Ten Shares.
The merger of the First-Bridgeport
and the Pequonnock National banks
was effected at meetings of the stock
holders of the two institutions today.
The following "statement was author
ized by the banks following the meet
ings: A meeting of the stockholders of the
Finst-Brideport National ' Bank "r was
held this morning, at which it was
voted to increase the capital stock by
$500,000 and also to take over the as
sets and the business of the Pequon
nock National Bank. The vote in fa
vor of this action was unanimous.
At the Pequonnock 'National Bank
there was also held a stockholders'
meeting at , which it was decided to
accept the proposition as made by the
Kirst-Bridgeport National Bank.
In accordance with the decision of
both institutions, the Pequonnock Na
tional Bank will terminate Its exist
ence tonight; all the securities and as
sets of -the institution will be trans
ferred this evening - to the First
Bridgeport National Bank, and here
after all its business will 'be handled
through this source.' .-
At the conclusion of the stockholders'
meeting of the Krst-Bridgeport Na
LIQUOR STILL
SOLP IN THE
TREMONT HOTEL
Following the publication exclusive
ly in the Farmer yeerTTay of the ad
ministration muddle which caused the
arrest of Henry O'Rourke,, proprietor
of the Tremont hotel on Middle-street.
the "Utmost confusion nas reigned with
in political circles with the result t
dajr that while Mayor "Wilson an
nounces that both the Hotel Auto and
the Tremont Hotel are forever clos
ed, liquor is being sold at the Tre
mont as of yore, and in the city court
today Prosecuting Attorney Albert J.
Merritt and Attorney Henry Green
stein for the . arrested hotel keeper,
consented to a mutual postponement
of the case pending inquiry -as to who
actually owns the license for the
place. , '
Henry O'Rourke was arraigned be
fore Judge Coughlin In the city court,
charged with violating the liquor laws
in selling without- a license. George
A. Stappera, the bartender, was sim
ilarly arraigned. Both asked for a
continuance through . counsel. The
case was continued until December
80th under bonds already fixed.
In a statement made to the press
after court. Attorney Greenstein in
timated that the continuance had been
with consent of the prosecuting ; at
torney, as the ownership of the-;-license
had to be settled probably in
another court ox by the County 'Com
missioners. It was further intimat
ed that, the final question would de
volve upon the identity and ownership
of . the man who Is alleged . to have
sworn the license was his.
The mayor issued statements to the
press that both the Hotel Tremont and
the Auto Hotel were closed and would
so remain. It is known that upon legal
advice given O'Rourlfe, liquor is today
being sold as usual, at the Tremont,
though the Auto is closed apparently.
Mayor Wilson referring to the clos
ing of the Hotel Auto in "Water street
and the Tremont hotel in Middle street
said today:
"The, closing of these places is "but
a continuance of the crusade which
was begun by this administration two
years ago to clean up Bridgeport. The
raid on the Auto hotel was made at
my suggestion. I personally was ready
to file remonstrances against granting
renewals of the licenses of both places.
"I have been assured by representa
tive of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Meyer
who coaduct the Auto hotel that if
they were permitted to take out their
liquor license they would dispose of it
to some one else and leave town at
once. In the meantime no. liquor will
be sold at the Auto hotel and I have
their promise to close their place aad
keep it closed until they leave town.
"I also had a promise from LaCroix
& Anderson that Henry O'Rourke -will
close his place and keep it closed un-
.til the license is disposed of. Liquor
will never be sold under license in
either of these places again.
"I sincerely trust that liquor prose
cuting agents will vigorously prose
cute any violations of the liquor laws.
I believe in times gone by, the pros
ecutors have been a . little too ready
to sign certificates on first convic
tions. I should like to see that prac
tice discontinued and an adherence to
the laws which will make Bridgeport
a cleaner city and a better place to
live In."
Mayor Wilson today sent the fol
lowing letter today to the Prosecuting
Liquor Agents, A. J. Merritt and A.
M. Comley: "I am writing to sug
gest, that in order to insure a better
observance of the liquor laws, It is my
opinion that if the prosecuting liquor
agents would refrain from signing cer
tificates, as has been the custom in
the past, on the first conviction, it
would work to the good order of the
city. There is no excuse for willful
violation of these laws. They should
be rigidly enforced and I believe the
city at large as well as most of the
liquor dealers would heartily lavor
the rigid enforcement of these .'laws.
I would appreciate your co-operation
along these lines.
"I understand there are a few li
quor cases now pending and I would
suggest that this policy be given pub
tional Bank it was decided by the" di
rectors to proceed at once with the
plans for the erection of a modern of
fice building on the present site of the
Pequonnock National Bank. This new
building will probably be ready for oc
cupancy by the combined institutions
on or before April 1st, 1015. -...'-
The capital stock of the new bank
will. e $1,000,000, with a surplus of
about the same amount.
The. present employes and -Officers
of the Pequonnock bank will occupy
positions carrying the same salaries
with the merged institution. Ratifica
tion of this arrangement about officers
and employes will be made at a. meet
ing: to be held on Tuesday next.
The terms of the transaction have
been published in The Farmer. The
new issue of stock of the First-Bridge
port institution will be placed within
reach, first, of the stockholders of the
institution, the holders of ten shares
being given the option of ' buying six
shares of the new issue at par. '
It was said that stockholders In the
Pequonnock who did not care to ac
cept shares in the merged institution
for their holdings might have the
cash, but it was expected that praoti
cally all would accept the stock.
licity by you and to affect all case-,
that may hereafter come to your no
tice for the general information, of
the public. I am taking the-, liberty
to submit a copy of this letter po the
press for their attention."- ''.-
DROPS DEAD IN
BROAD STREET
Henry P. McPha.il, a " commercial J
traveller living at 200 South avenue,
dropped shortly before 3 o'clock this
afternoon at Broad street and Park
Place as he was walking with his
niece. ' Showing indications of .distress,
he threw up his hands, staggered and
dropped to the sidewalk - athout . a
moan. Dr. "William H. OurTey . found
no signs of life upon his arrival. Dr.
S. . M. Garlick medical examiner, was
notified and allowed the request of the
niece that the body be taken to H. ' E;
Bishop's undertaking parlors instead
of the morgue. McPhail was about 55
years old.
COUNTY GRANGERS
RE-ELECT MASTER
AT MEETING HERE
Dr. J. Murray Johnson was elected
president of Bridgeport Medical As
sociation . at the annual session last
night in the Barnum institute rooms
of the organization: Dr. Philip W.
Bill was elected vice president, Dr.
George H. Warner, secret&ry, and Dr.
F. H. Coops, treasurer. Dr. H. B.
Lambert was selected as curator and
librarian. The executive committee
comprises Drs. ; DM Smith, G. E,
Ober and D. C. bewoife. Dr. Btain
bridge of New York, who has just re
turned from an European, trip, was
the speaker of the occasion and took
"Goitres" as his topic.
field County Pomona Grange
At the annual meeting of the Fair
field County Pomona Grange, held to
day, officers were elected as follows:
Master, Mrs. Edith W. Mitchel, New
town, re-elected for one year; over
seer, Clarence Stephens, raised . from
the lecturer's chair, town of Wes
ton; lecturer, . Mrs. Lena Holmes,
Housa tonic Grange, Stratford; stew
ard, Albert Buckhout, Rappowam
Grange, Stamford; assistant steward,
William Hawley, D anbury Grange,
Danbury; chaplain, Mrs. P. B. Selleck,
New Canaan; treasurer, D. A. St.
John, New Canaan; secretary, Mrs.
Nellie ' E. Blakeman, Stratford, re
elected for her eleventh year; gate
keeper, William TJlley, Canaan Grange
Canon Station; ceres Mrs. Frances
M. Hatch, Trumbull; pomona, Mrs.
Stella Joyce, Harmony Grange, Mon
roe; Flora, Mrs. Mattie E. Lange,
Far Mill River Grange, Huntington;
lady assistant steward. Hazel E. Sher
wood, Easton.
Member of executive committee - to
serve three years, O. C. Shelton, Far
Mill River Grange; pianist, Mrs. J.
A. Sherwood, Easton..
OBITUARY
Fred S.-Rahrig, a native of Bridge
port and a member of one of the old
est German-American fmtlies of thi
city, died at his home, 668 Park ave
nue, early today. A man of unim
peachable character and pleasing per
sonalty he was hed in highest es
teem by all with whom he came in
contact. For over 20 years hie held
a responsible position with the Smith
& Egge Co. He is survived by a
mother, a widow, two sons Stephen
F. and Fred A., the former a steno
grapher employed in the city clerk's
office, two daughters, Mrs. John F.
Lyons and Miss Julia M. Rahrig; two
brothers, Frank and August, and one
sister, Florence.
ALL BIDS REJECTED.
All bids for fire escapes on the
schools were thrown out at the meet
ing of the board of education last
night because none were within the
limit of $20,000 which the board de
cided was all that could be paid for
the work. The bids were as follows:
Coulter & McKenzie Machine Co.,
$63,355; James H. Tower Co., $43,500;
Adlerhurst Iron Co., $37,700; Standard
Mfg. Co., $33,990; Noe-Wadlow Co.,
$2ti,Sa6. New bids will be called for.
SERVANT GIRLS
FORCED TO SERVE
INHUERTA'SARMY
Recruiting Of Federal Forces
Is Kept Up By Curious
Means.
TAMPICO IS TEMPORARY
CAPITAL OF STATE
Train And Telegraph Service
Is Crippled By Action
Of Rebels.
Mexico City, Dec. 3 The rear ad
miral in command of the British
cruisers in Mexican waters, Sir Chris
topher -Craddock, was entertained at
dinner last evening by the' German
minister to Mexico, Admiral Paul Von
Hintze.' Nelson O'Shaughnessy, the
American charge d'affaires, also was
a guest.
The seaport city of Tampico was
today officially declared the temporary
capital of the state of Tamalipas. Gen
eral Antonio Rabago, the military gov
ernor who was forced to abandon
Ciudad "Victoria and who was erron
eously reported to have committed
suicide, has gone to Tampico under
orders from the federal government to
re-establish his governorship of the
state in the temporary capital.
It was announced today that Gen
eral Arizmendi and other federal of
ficers who fled from Cludad Victoria
to Cerritos, in the state of San Luis
Potosi, had been, ordered, to reorganize
their forces and march again upon
Victoria. V
On account of the long distances
and of the broken topography of the
country, the federal government will
find it difficult to handle its various
military expeditions without trains
how that the railroads have been
practically deprived of oil fuel by the
oil producing companies On some of
the divisions of the railroad system
coal may be had but at the best it is
probable, unless unforseen circum
stances arise, - that traffic other than
military trains, will be suspended
soon.
Reliable news as to the military
operations in various parts of the re
public, is very meagre in . the federal
capital and .what little there is does
not favor -the government. -
.Jelegraphiejeommunication along
the line of the National RailroacT'fias
been re-established here but it is un
derstood thatthis has been done with
the consent of the rebels, as they are
known to dominate: the line to the
south of Saltillo and to .within -75
miles of San Luis Potosi.
! A consular " report received here
from Saltillo reveals the fact that the
residents of -that city are kept in ig
norance of the military operations in
progress in the surrounding country
on account of the interrupted tele
graphic communications. Extraordi
nary methods continue to be report
ed to in order to secure recruits for
the federal army. ' The servant girls
of the federal capital display marked
caution when they appear on ' the
streets as they are aware that 'scores
of their fellow servants have been
drafted into the army as soldiers.;
One trick utilized by the recruit
ing officers netted, the federal army
65 conscripts in a single batch. The
bills posted outside a moving picture
show announced that the exhibition
was "For i Men Only". . The little
room was crowded some time before
the performance began. A series of
ordinary pictures was thrown on the
screen, - the first of them being one
of "The Virgin of Guadalaupe," the
patron saint of Mexico.
The crowd of men greeted this good
naturedly but when it was followed
by a picture of "The Lord's Supper,"
and this was succeeded by "The Cru
cifixion," the men, who had looked
for a different kind of entertainment,
started an uproar which resulted in a
raid by the police, who marched off
the majority of the men to the bar
racks where they were at once placed
in the ranks of the army.
Petitions for refuge in, case of local
disturbance are being continued by
the various foreign colonies.
H. S. Kidder, general traveling sales
n-seni ior xne waters-Pierce Oil Co
was released on a bond of $2,500 at
can luis .f otosi yesterday, after sub
mitting to a trial by the federal
authorities on a char ere of sedition
Apparently the , only evidence against
air. Kjoaer was that while he was rid
ing on the railroad he had talked in
general terms with the employes on
the subject of the prevailing condi
tions and had frequently looked
through his field glasses at the land
scape. . "
He was arrested on November 27
on suspicion of complicity in the re
cent dynamite outrages on the rail
roads. Kidder was formerly a loco
motive engineer and had lived in Mex
ico for many years. He bears a good
reputation. The American consul at
San Luis Potosi was present at the
trial.
AVIS CASE NOLLED FOR
LACK OF EVIDENCE
Hartford, Dec. 3. In the criminal
superior court today Judge Williams
sentenced Joseph Muschatsky, George
Blesso and Jacob Beckerman of this
city, to the state reformatory at Ches
hire. They were charged with con
spiracy to rob.
Madame Karla, accused of keeping a
house of assignation, was fined $100.
The case against Dr. W. R. Avis,
charged with abandonment of his wife.
was nolled for lack of evidence.
Ralph H. Grinder, of New Britain,
an agent of a loan company, pleaded
guilty to charging interest aggregat
ing 120 per cent, and was fined $50 and
costs, upon promise to discontinue
business in New Britain and Hartford.
Cases of measles have been reported
at the Department of Health offices as
follows: Michael and Helen Mikolas of
1 Steuben Court and Frank Mikolas
of 328 Willard street,. . , '. .
wentv Seven Men
f
ire Guts
Cities Come Under Scope
Of Workmen's Compensation
Law, Commission Declares
New Haven, Dec. 3 Municipalities
come within the meaning of the work,
men's compensation law which be
comes effective in all its provisions on
January 1, according to a statement
issued by the compensation commis
sioners today. The commissioners met
at the office of the chairman, Talcott
H. Russell, this morning, for the pur
pose of correcting final proof "-sheets
and arranging for the immediate dis
tribution of a bulletin of information
and such forms as. have not already
been distributed to the town clerks
of the state.
The commissioners in a statement
said that it would be wise for munici
pal officials to take particular notice
of certain features of the act which
might possibly effect them. They point
out this: ,
''Section 30 of Part B of the act
provides that 'every employer subject
to Part B who shall not furnish to the
commissioner satisfactory proof of his
solvency and financial ability to pay
directly to injured employes or other
beneficiaries the compensation provid
ed" by this act shall insure his full lia
bility under Part B in one or both the
following ways '
"Section 43 of the act provides that
'employer shall mean any natural per
son, corporation, firm, partnership or
Siray Bullet Hits
Black Rock Resident
A .92 caliber' bullet, fired from a dis
tance but travelling . at a speed to
cause trouble, struck Fred W. Brittin
of 150 Ellsworth street in the left
arm early today as he was working
about the'yardyof his' home, bored its
way through the flesh and -grazed the
bone. . No report wa3 heard and, un
til, he felt .the stinging sensation, he
was unaware that there was shooting
in that vicinity. Dr. J, D. S. Smith
of 459 Fairfield, avenue was called and
the police of the Third precinct sta
tion notified. Surgican- examination
determined that -serious results are
not likely unless there ' ase compli
cations or serious Injury to the bone.
Sergeant James Ramsey and Po
liceman George H. North were de
tailed to investigate and later Detec
tive Sergeant Edward Cronan from
headquarters. Sergeant Ramsey and
Policeman Ncrth secured a boat and
visited Fayweather Island as well as
scouring the creek. No clues were
found but information was gained that
there has been much early morning
shooting in that - locality and won
derment was expressed, that there
have not been more injuries as a re
sult of stray shots.
Work has been started by the po
lice, game wardens and agents of the
Connecticut Humane society to put
a stop to this promiscuous shooting.
DOUBLE CREWS WORK
TO RESCUE MINERS
Cripple Creek, Colo., Dec. 3 In ":a
last effort to reach the stope in which
three men were working when the
slide in the Golden Cycle Mine caught
them Monday afternoon, two crews
of 20 men each early today started
to clear away the debris in an ad
joining drift.
Two heavy machine drills were set
to work pounding at six feet of solid
rock that lies between the fatal stope
and the drift .Owing to the danger
ous -condition of the ground on which
the crews are working the rock can
not be blasted and it must be dug
away after being drilled out of the
rock wall.
Before noon it is expected the rock
will be drilled out and the rescue
crews be within 40 feet of the place
where the victims were when the slid
started. The slide in the interior of
th mine is still moving.
BLAZING HAY STACKS
IMPERIL DWELLINGS
(Special to the Farmer.)
Fairfield, Dec. 3 Ten tons of hay
belonging to Joseph Kotch of the Hol
land Hill district were totally destroy
ed and numerous dwellings threatened
by fire, which broke out ; at 12:50
o'clock this afternoon. Good work
by the Fairfield fire department sav
ed about 20 tons more of hay In a
nearby haystack and farm buildings.
The burning hay was near Mr. Kotch's
house and the sparks threatened a
general blaze. The Fairfield chem
ical with William MeGarry driving.
made the trip of six miles, or more.
in record time. Yv et blankets were
placed over the haystacks to prevent
the flames from spreading. The cause
of the fire has not been ascertained nor
has the loss.
NO CLUE TO DIXON,
STRANGELY MISSING
No clues have been found as to the
whereabouts or fate of George Dixon,
40 years old, who has been missing
from his home at 536 Noble avenue
since Saturday. It is feared that he is
wandering aimlessly about as a result
of injuries received Thursday when he
fell on some, cellar stairs and landed
on his head and shoulders. He com
plained of headaches afterwards. His
mother, sister and two children, with
whom he lived, are much concerned
over his absence.
Boston Lodgi
joint stock association, the state and
any public corporation within the
state using the services of another for
pay."
"Section 42 provides that 'any em
ployer who has accepted Part B of
this act and -who thereafter fails "to
conform to any provisions of Section
30 of Part B shall forfeit all benefits
thereunder and shall be liable as if he
had not accepted, the same'."
In referring to the law as given
above, the commissioners, without
ruling upon any question before It Is
actually presented to them, indicated
that it might be entirely possible that
municipalities might be liable to com
mon law actions for damages by any
of their employes and might be in
such shape that they were not able to
make any common law defenses un
less each municipality should make
formal application to the commission
er in whose district the municipality
is located for a certificate of financial
solvency, etc., under "section 30.
The commission says that It Is not
probable that any. commissioner would
hesitate to grant such a certificate
provided it was aipplied for by the
proper officials but on the other hand
no commissioner would feel authorized
to issue the certificate unless it were
asked for.
DISSOLUTION OF
NEW HAVEN MERGER
BEFORE McREYIIOLDS
Washington, Dec. 3. Conferences he-twe--n
representatives of. the New
York, New Haven & Hartford Rail
road ' and ' Attorney General McRey
noldswene continued today at the de
partment of ustlce.
Many difficulties 5 in the, way of an
agreement to prevent prolonged litiga
tion were understood ., to have been
solved, but several points remain to be
settled before the department will con
sent to a dissolution decree without a
court fight. -
Chairman Elliott of the New Haven
road and the attorneys- for the rail
road and some of the allied lines spent
several hours before the conferences
began In going over points in the pro
posed agreement that have not been
satisfactory to Attorney General Mc
Reynolds. -. . '
$87,5000 IS STOLEN
FROM GERMAN TRAIN
.Vervirs, Belgium, Dec 3 A pack
age containing $87,500 in German
banknotes was extracted from the
mail car of the express train which
left Brussels i for Cologne last night.
The money had beeri forwarded by the
National Bank of Belgium to a bank
at Cologne and was placed In a safe
which was forced by the thieves.
Another mail train- which arrived
an hour after the . departure of the
express -for Cologne also was robbed,
valuable packages being missing.
WOMEN NEED NOT
GIVE THEIR AGES
Chicago, Dec. 3 Chicago women
who qualified as judges and clerks of
elections will not have to tell their
ages. This concession was granted
yesterday by County Judge Owens
who will make the appointments.
"Legal age" will be a satisfactory an
swer to the question concerning age
qualification.
.Nearly 800 applications have been
received from women who wish to
serve as judges or clerks of elections.
Appointments probably will be made
within the next two weeks.
STREET CAVES IN
AFTER CAR PASSES
Chicago, Dec. 3 A downtown street
caved in last night for a distance of
125 feet Just after a crowded street
car had passed over it. The motor
man felt the car- sinking beneath him
and put ' on full speed. When firm
ground was reached the crew left the
car with the passengers. The cave
in was about eight feet deep. Excava
tion for a new building, which includ
ed tunnelling beneath the street, is
believed to have caused the cave-in.
A water main was broken and a
geyser of water shot into the air.
Within' a -few minutes the trench was
half filled with water. The water
was turned off by the fire depart
ment. ELECTION BILLS ARE
NEARING $5,000 MARK
Bills being presented for election
expenses in Bridgeport are swelling
the total beyond the four thousand
mark. Already the amount is re
corded as $4,420.01.
BURGLARS IN FRUIT STORE.
Burglars visited A. M. Dangran's
fruit and tobacco store at 1,283 State
street last night, forced up a rear win
dow and made away with $25 in money
and a number of cigars. No clues were
left. A report was made today at the
V. Third precinct police station.
luueo wnen
hg.. House
SCORES INJURED
IN JUMPING FROM
HOTEL -.WINDOWS
Only One Body Identified Of
All Those Who Died
In Flames.
PROPERTY LOSS IS
PLACED AT $25,000
Two Investigations Are Started
To Place Blame For
. Catastrophy.
Boston, Dec 9 Twenty-seven men
were killed in a fire which swept
through the upper floors of the Arca
dia 'Hotel, a cheap men's lodging house
in th south end, early today. Others
are missing and scores were taken to
hospitals suffering from bUra and
injuries received In Jumping from
windows.
Nearly all the bodies were terribly
burned and mutilated, making Identifi
cation almost impossible. The vic
tims 'were men in poor circumstances
who had resorted to the place for a
night's lodging. Many of them were
negroes. Caught in the crowded bunks
on the top floor of the five story brick
building and in the small rooms on
the fourth floor they were helpless.
When' they were aroused the stair
ways were in flames and there was a
mad rush , for the fire-escapes at the
rear. Practically all the men were
naked.
Madt were rescued bv th flrnn
and police. Others escaped by walk
ing a shaky plank stretched to an
adjoining building or jumping acmes
a five foot alley to neighboring roofs.
The property loss Is estimated at
$25000. The Arcadia was located at
the corner oX Washington and Laco
N..nia streets. The lower floors weri
occupied by stores.
The fire started, no one knows how,
in a hallway closet on the second
floor, v The firow swept up the woo l -en
stairways and burst throunh th
roof- According to William Walsh,
the night clerk, there were ITS lodsr
ers in; the building, whan the fire
was discovered by a passing newsboy.-
After turning in an alarm he
rushed into the building, awakening
the men with his shouts.
The top floor was one large room
filled with cots and bunks. On the
fourth floor, where the loss of life
was neaviest, mere were 30 tiny
rooms, like cells, with two cots In
each. A hallway ran through the
center. Nearly all those occupying
rooms in the front of the building
perished. The men in the rear rooms
opening on the fire-escape, had lock
ed the doors when thev went to bed
and those in 'front were unable to
reach the fire-escape.
When the firemen arrived, flames
were shooting 20 feet into the air fr-m
the windows on the fourth and fifth
floors and the fire-escapes and the
roof were a mass of shrieking, strug
gling humanity:-. Despite shouts of
assurance from below, three men
Jumped from the roof. Two were
instantly killed. The third, who had.
wrapped a mattress about himself,
escaped with a few bruises.
Life nets were quickly stretched by
the firemen and many were rescued
in this manner. Others were taken
down ladders with the flames sweep
ing about them. The Intense heat
soon drove the firemen from their lad
ders and made It neceasary to fight ,
the fire from the street and from the
elevated railway structure running in
front of the building.
The fire was in the heart of a crowd
ed tenement and lower class hotel dis
trict. Hundreds of occupants of ad
Joining buildings rushed to the street
when the great quantity of apparatus
called out by three alarms clanged
up to .their doors.
The excited foreigners crowded
about the burning building and im
peded the firemen in their work and
a large squad of police had great dif
ficulty in forcing back the thronfr.
It was nearly an hour after the fire
men arrived before they were ahle
to enter the lodging house. The flr-t
man to ascend a smoking ladder
shouted: - "My God, boys, that plai e
is littered with dead."
Medical Examiner George B. M.?
Grath arrived shortly afterwards and
soon was Joined by Dr. Timothy
Leary, associate medical examiner. It
was a gruesome sight as the bodies
were removed in the early dawn. On
lookers crowded about the automo
bile hearse but many turned aws.y
as the burned and mangled bodi-jj
were lowered one by one to the street
and placed, in the wicker baskets.
At daybreak the firemen were 'till
searching the ruins. The hospital
reported that many of those who es
caped were destitute. Their cloth
ing and meagre beloagings were lost
in the mad scramble to safety.
The only body identified was that, uf
George F. Adams of South Boston.
Most of the injured, 17 of whom
were taken to the city hospital, either
had no homes or lived here. One
of the sufferers said he was Frank
Harris, of South Market street, Chi
cago. Before, the ruins had cooled two in
vestigations were begun. One was
undertaken by the grand Jury, which
viewed the scene and who were pre
pared later in the day to hear te- .
timony regarding the manner in whih
the owners and lessees of the proper
ty had observed the building and fiie
regulations.
One other probe by the bulldin?
Inspection department of the city was
started under orders from Mayor Fitz
gerald. Emperor William forbids tansoir. r.
As always, makes people dance to ;Va
own tune.