ABlEKKaf 'KEiar BEFLSCTOR, MliUt.SK, KANSAS, DK i
GKSSBB FIRE "
; KILLS 23 FIREMEN
vTwo Spectators Also Dead And 37
Mjuredt
fACKING HOUSE WALLS FELL
-Lew Water preisure Prevented tht
Men Securing Early Control
of Blaxe Lota
1780,000.
Chicago, Deo. 23. Twenty-three
Ciwmen, among whom were Fire Chief
Junes Horan, Assistant Chief Wll-
Ham Burrouga, Capti. Dennis Doyle
ad Patrick J. Collins, and two spec
tators, were killed, 37 firemen were
Injured, and a property loss of 1750,
' : W was the result of a Are that broke
out In the packing plant of Morris a
Co. at the Union Stock yards.
The fire started at 4:08 in the huge
eef warehouse known as No. 7 on
4he edge of the packing district. The
weep of the flames was directly to
wards the vast storehouse containing
Millions of dollars worth of finished
jacking house products. A general
alarm was sent In by the first com
gieny arriving on the scene and this
-was followed at Intervals of only a
few minutes by successive alarms
which brought 45 engines 20 hose
' -trucks and finally a reserve force of
300 firemen to take the place of ex
smutted fire fighters.
The great loss of life, while primar
ily due to the falling of the east wall
( the Morris warehouse, Is aald to
be due to insufficient water pressure,
Firemen first on the scene say that
few well directed streams would
4ave conquered the flames early, but
tba water only trickled through the
tote. Coroner Hoffman has sworn In
Jury to determine whether any per
' -ema was to blame for the lack of
ju-oper pressure.
When Fire Chief "Big Jim" Moran
-arrived In bis automobile, fate brought
Aim nearest the east or Loomls street
Me of the burning warehouse. In a
Jffer be bad donned his rubber coal
mat helmet and was among the fire
Jghters who under Assistant Chief
"William Burroughs had attacked the
astern wall.
"Hun your lines over those re
sTrlgertton cars," cried the chief, as
db took In the situation at a glace.
"We'll fight her from under the
-canopy."
He led the way clambering up the
cy ladder of one of the cars that
tood on the siding and down the side
.loading platform protected by a heavy
wooden canopy, perhaps 25 feet high.
It teemed a position of comparative
asafety. The cars and the canopy shut
at most of the stifling yellow Smoke
. .which was billowing about the ware
house. The canopy promised .protec
tton from the heat and from stray
1 -falling bricks.
. Capt. Patrick J. Collins, of Engine
ft;. Capt. Dennis Doyle engine 39:
, Ueuts. Mike Fltigerald end William
Stam were on the heels of their chief.
They were backed up by an assort
ment of firemen, and plpemen from
M, SO, 49 and 39 and truckmen from
1 II, all eager to follow Horan any
where. They tackled one of the wide doors
. f the warehouse with their axes and
enade an opening through which sev
eral streams of water were played.
They went to work on another door
art the middle, of the warehouse.
"See bow she looks up above." was
-floran'i last order to any' one that
4ivea. , - -
A ouple of plpemen and Lieut. Jo
seph Mackey, chauffeau for the chief,
climbed to the canopy. They saw the
steed of hose on the canopy roof and
lackey started back to the chief to
report the fact.
Then came the roar of an eiplo--ion
from somewhere Inside the fur
, aaoe.. The east wall puffed out like
swollen cheek, tottered as If shake!
by an earthquake and crumbled up
like a house of cards.
- Tons of red hot bricks, mighty
:eams and girders tumbled down on
the oaaopy that a moment before had
promised protection. The place that
eemed so comparatively safe a mo
snent before had turned Into a trap of
-death.
la much leu time than It takea to
-Id It the canopy above and the Boor
f the loading platform were tem
porary tomb of Horan. Burroghs, Col--Has,
Dolye, Fltagerald, Stun and ao
tone yet knows Just how many
elmeted members of the- rank and
file. '
Fight With Monoboa Tribesmen.
llanlla, Dec. II. A United States
ray private haa been killed and a
corporal and another private severely
weunded 1" a fierce battle, fought be
tween a detachment of the Third
Halted Slates Infantry and Moaobos
tribesmen In the Baslaman river dla
trirt, according to advices received at
military headquarters here. The dead
man la Private Holt A score of na
Urea were killed.
vhatone, France, Dec. 21 Ueutea
erst Ctmmerman made a flyrht of 145
-: with Captain Hugo.; as a pas-t-
"err without tasking a stop, thai
-s Wishing a world's record. The
vat made to Montlgay 8u Aube
1 rinim la four hours and thirty-
. ,e T. ;.'irs. ' '
OEM, NAVARRO SURROUNDED: AT
rtutnnxLto.
Reinforcements Have Arrived at Chi
huahua and Will Be Sent to His
Assistance.
El Paso, Tea., Deo. 23. That Gen.
Navarro, commanding the Mexican
federal troops In Western Chihuahua,
la entirely surrounded by Insurrectos
near Pedernales and is starving, was
the word that reached El Paso.
Navarro's supplies have been cut
off and Us men are reported to be
subsisting on horse flesh. The rebel
leaders have sent word to Navarro,
telling blm that should they capture
him, be will be immediately hanged
because be shot Insurgent wounded
after the recent engagement at Cerro
Prleto. His force Is now reduced to
lest than 200, many of whom are
wounded, and his condition It des
perate.
Nineteen cars of troops have ar
rived In Chihuahua and will be
hurried to Pedernales to relieve
Navarro.
Col. A. C. Sharpe, commandant at
Fort Bliss, Thomas Edwsrds, Ameri
can consul at Juarez, and Herbert
Cole, representing the United States
department of Justice, held a confer
ence here to consider means of main
taining strict neutrality along the
Mexican border.
RUSH TO DEFENSE OF DR. COOK
His Fellow Passengsrt Nearly Fought
In Their Eagerness to Defend or
Condemn Him.
New York, Deo. 23. By far' the
most Interesting part of the arrival
of Dr. Frederick A. Cook on the
steamer George Washington was the
attitude of the ship's passengers to
ward tbelr fellow voyager and near
polar hero. The doctor was calm and
said very little. But the passengers
almost fought among themselves to
make excuses or denunciations for
Peary's rival. An argument which
evidently had been growing on the
way over, broke as the reporters
came on board. And there was noth
ing listless about that argument,
either.
The doctor's sympathizers wished
It understood that he was received
with no shadow of discrimination by
the other passengers. His enemies
wished It made clear that he had
been shunned. The minute the re
porters who bad gone down the
harbor on a revenue cutter stepped
Into the saloon, representatives of
both sides assailed them. , Persons,
who In ordinary circumstances dodge
publicity as they would the plague,
button holed the reporters In their
eagerness to present tbelr case first.
GOVERNMENT SUES FOR GOODS
Civil Suit Against Duvsen Brothera
Would Confiscate the 600,000
Stock.
New York, Dec. 22. Papers In a
civil suit Instituted by the government
against Duveen Brothers, dealers in
antiques In Fifth avenue, were filed
In the United States district court by
Assistant District Attorney Wemple.
The action is brought to forfeit
practically the entire stock of the
concern, approximating In value
1600,000, because of grost under ,
valuatloni of imports which Is charged
by the government . against Duveen
Brothers. . I
The government alto hat the right
to sue for the forfeiture of all roods '
sold by the Duveen Brothers to cus
tomers on which It can be thown
there wat any defection In the pay
ment of duty. This has not yet been
done. But tuch a proceeding may be
expected in due time.
SNOW FALLING IN THE , WEST
Northern and Western Kansas, Utah
and New Mexico Receive
Moisture.
. Topeka, Dec 22 Rain, aleet and
anow, extending west of Wichita, Kaa.,
and north to at least the Nebraska
state line, generally broke tht drouth
of several weeks. The temperature
throughvit Kantaa began dropping
and the moisture will be of great
benefit to growing wheat .
At Smith Center, Kaa., four Inches
of snow fell. A message from Denver
aays snow Is falling heavily through
out Utah. Western and Central Colo
rado and Northern New Mexico and
Arisona, with no signs of the storm
oeaslng. The temperature west of the
Colorado-Kansas line la mild.
STRIKER? ALL TAKEN BACK
The Missouri Pacific Officials Make
No Esceptiona Among Former "
' Employes at Sedalla.
Sedalla, Mo.. Dec.' 21. All former
machlnlsta. . boiler makers, black
smiths and plpemen on the Missouri
Pacific and the Iron Mountala rail
way, who strck some months ago, wMl
be reemployed without prejudice to
personality, according to a atatement
made here by a St Leuit official ol
the company.
A. L- Prlngle, but loots agent of the
Sedalla machinists, and other anion
leaders who look aa acUve part In
managing tbe strike will go back to
work. It hid been aald that these
men would never be employed by the
railroad eratn.
Accident Occured At Factory Fire in
Philadelphia.
FOUR DEAD BODIES REMOVED
Whllt Ladders Were Covered With
Men Walla Gave Way Carrying
Them Into Matt of Blazing ''
Rulna.
Philadelphia, Dec. 22. With t crash
that could be heard for squares, three
walls of a burning leather factory at
Numbers 1111, 1116 and 1118 Bodlne
treet crumoled up like a house of
carda and burled 11 firemen beneath
the blazing ruins.
Four dead bodies have been taken
from beneath the debris, ,22 Injured
firemen have been rescued and It was
estimated' that 18 more were still
under tbe mass of brick and mortar.
Three of those still In the ruins have
been located and the rescuers were
able to talk to them, although they
could not reach them. These three
were underneath the ruins at the
Third street end of the factory, which
extended straight through from Bodlne
street where the fire was out and their
only danger was from suffocation or
death from their Injuries.
The remainder of the missing men
under tbe ruins at the Bodlne street
side and where the fire was still
blazing fiercely, adding this horror to
the danger that threatened tbe Im
prisoned men.
The north wall of the building, the
only one that did not go down In the
crash, waa ttanding but swaying
dangeroualy over the heads of the
rescuers, who were working frantically
to release their comrades before It
should fall.
When the firemen arrived In re
sponse to the first alarm the fire had
gained considerable headway. Lad
ders were run up alongside the Bodlne
street wall, tbe big tower ladder was
thrown into position and streams of
water were thrown Into the Interior
of tbe building.. Another squad
gained an entrance at the Third street
end. Upon the roof of tbe building
Chief Baxter and several , assistants
took their stand and from here Baxter
directed operations.
And then, without warning, the
crash came. The Bodlne street wall
collapsed first. It swayed for a
seoond and then toppled over, hurling
Into the very center of the ruins
flying cloud of bricks, burning timbers
and shrieking men., With the wall
came the ladders.
The tower truck was crushed and Its
ladders bent over. Every man who
was on the ladders waa thrown to tbe
ground. Most of them went Into the
building to be buried under the
rwelgfat of bricks that followed them.;
Some of them, more fortunate than
tbelr brothers, slipped from tbelr
perches and dropped Into the street,
to be knocked over by the scattering
portions of the wall that fell outward.
The men at tbe Third street end of
the building stood aghaat at the horror
of what they bad teen, and then came
a second roaring sound. Shaken to
Itt foundationa by the first craah the
south wall collapsed and piled on top
of the men who were already under
neath the Jumbled mass of what bad
been the Bodlne street wall, pulling
with It the Third Street wall.
At a late hour tbe rescuers were
still at work trying to remove tbe
enormous heap of debris under which
the firemen lay burled.
WANTS TO DEBATE BALLINGER
Hitchcock of Nebraaka Aakt That Re-
. port of Committee Be Taken
Up In January.
Washington, Dec. 22. A resolution
calling for a rule to bring tbe Bal-Unger-Plnchot
committee's reports be
fore the bouse of representatives for
a debate la January-was offered In
the bouse by Representative Hitch
cock of Nebraska. It provides that all
reports ahall be placed before the
house tbe laat Tuesday In January for
debata and action In accordance with
the recommendations they contain.
The resolution waa referred to the
rules committee.
On Chriatmaee Day, 104 Years Old,
Montgomery. Ala., Dec 22. Mrs.
Bather Deaa of Montgomery will cele
brate ber 101th birthday anniversary
Chrlstmaa Day. She was born In
North Carolina on . Big Coldwater
Creek, December 25, 1801, and has
been a resident of Montgomery for
forty-five years. She has a daughter
to yeara old.
' They Will Meke Arkanaat Laws.
Little Rock. Ark, Dec. 12. Ac
cording to a Hat tabulated by Secre
tary of State Ludwlg, there will be
37 farm era In the next Arkantaa bouse
of representative!, II lawyera, I doc
tors, t merchant, S newspaper men
and 1 druglets healer.
Te Offer It to Schnvrmacher.
Jefrersoa City, Ma, Dec 22. Cpoa
the return of Benjamin r. Schnur
macber of 8t Loula from New Tork,
the appointment aa supreme Judge to
succeed tbe lata Jadge Gavoa Dt Bur
gesa will be- tendered htm, acrordlnit
to authoritative Information her,
.':-.- ;n i 'J :-
COMMITTEE DECLARES HIM. EN
... TITLED TO SEAT. . .
Men Who Contested te Having Re
ceived Bribes Are Not to Bo
Believed.
Washington, Dec. 22. Senator Bur
rows, chairman of the committee on
privilege! and elections, presented to
the senate the report of tba Investi
gation of charges of bribery made In
connection with the election of Will
lam Lorltner as senator from Illinois.
The conclusion reached by tba com
mittee was as follows: .. ;
"That In their opinion tba title of
Mr. Lorimer to a seat in tbe senate
has not been shown to be Invalid by
the use or employment of corrupt
methods or practices.
Charges that four members of the
Illinois legislature were bribed and
that three other members paid bribes
are not Ignored by the committee.
The report declares that those who
confessed to receiving bribes should
not be believed and that the votes of
those who were charged with paying
bribes should be counted.
In relation to the charges that there
was a corruption fnnd used In the
Illinois legislature and that It was dis
bursed by Robert E. Wilson, the re
port says there Is no evidence that It
was used for the benefit of Mr. Lori
mer. The committee suggests that
any Investigation of the use of such a
fund should be made by authorities
of the state of Illinois.
- The report as presented was not
signed by members of the committee,
although It did not appear that there
was any minority. Op the floor of
the senate, however, Mr. Beverldge
made the statement that he had not
been able to concur with, or dissent
from the findings because of the vo
luminous character of the testimony
He skid he would digest the proceed
ings of the investigation committee In
the holidays. He asked that a specific
time be named for acting on the re
port, but objection was made by Sen
ator Oalllnger on the ground that the
matter was privileged and could be
called from the table at any time be
any senator.
THE FUNERAL OF JUDGE BURGESS
The Missouri Chief Justice Laid to
Rest at Linneus Many State
Offlcera Attend.
Linneus, Mo., Dec. 22. The burial
services for Judge Gavon D. Burgess
have been held. The honorary pall
bearers were Judge James B. Oantt,
Judges Henry Lamm, judge John Ken-
nlsb. Judge -Leroy B. Valllant, Judge
A. M. , Woodson and udge Waller B.
Oravea. The active pallbearers were
T. D. Allen, clerk of the supreme court
J. H. Finks, marshal of the supreme
court; Perry S. Rader, reporter for
tbe supreme court; H. L. Creel, C. A.
Stratton and Jamea J. O'Connor. Oth
er state officers attending were Judge
W. M. Williams, John P. Gordon,
state auditor; Cornelius Roach, sec
retary of state; Howard A. Gait, su
perintendent of tchoolt; Charlea Re
velle, assistant attorney general, and
J. M. Dawson, assistant attorney gen
eral. Brief addresses at the grave
were made by Judge John P.. Butler
and Judge Jamea B. Gantt
INDICTMENT FOR NORMAN PLASS
Former President of Washburn Col
lege Held for Using Malta to
Defraud.
Boston,, Dec. 22. The Rev. Norman
K. Plats, ex-president of Wsshburn
college of Topeka and formerly pres
Ident of the Redeemable Investment
company, Charles H. Brooks, man
ager, and John r. Traphaden, an
agent, have been indicted by the fed
eral grand Jury for using tbe malls In
a scheme to defraud. Plass and
Brooks were arrested after the com
pany waa raided by the federal au
thorities. Traphaden was taken Into
custody.
Blaine, Kaa, Elevatoro Burns.
Blaine, Kaa., Dec 28. Aa William
Shea of the Shea Bros.' Grain Com
pany started a gasoline engine in tbelr
elevator tbe gasoline tank overflowed
and eaugtt tiro. . In thirty minutes
after tlx blase was first noticed the
elevator of 15,000 bushels capacity was
In ruins. i
A Woman Slayer Acquitted.
Omaha, Dec 21 Mrs. Bertha Mott
waa acquitted by a Jury of the charge
of murder In killing Otis Hedy, a
neighbor, last Augutt. She allegea
that Hedy entered ber kitchen and in
tuited her, whereupon the secured a
revolver and shot him. He died two
day later.
Many Injured en Chicago Elevated.
Chicago. Dec 22. A dosea persons
fere Injured, one perhaps fatally. In
a collision between the Manhattan
Flyer on the Peantylvanla railroad
and a awltch engine oa tbe elevated
structure la the city limits.
Talked Reciprocity te Canadians.
Mott real, Dec 21 Governor-elect
Dlx of New Tors, la addressing th
board of trade here, urged reciprocity
and closer relations of all klndt be
tweea Canada and tbe United State
Strike Riot In Caneea.
Winnipeg. Mta, Dec t2. Van
ttreet esra have ba damaged la al
partt of the 'y ay striking streei
ur mm oc their tt.;-t-titr.
"'fl piM
k.ti..iiiJ iilil
MLZOhE
President Taft Will Urge Action At
This Session.
SETTLE QUESTION OF TOLLS
It la Contidered Especially Necettary
to Guard Against Railroad Con- -
trol of Steamahip
Companion.
' Wathlngton, Dec 23.--Preeident
Taft haa decided on a determined
effort to secure from congress before
Itt final adjournment tbe legislation
necessary to meet tbe conditions that
will arise upon the competition ol
the Panama canal. To this end Sena
tor Flint chairman of the senate com
mittee on lntero.ceanic canals has
been called Into conference and. during
the holidays a comprehensive plane
will be arranged that later will be
put into the form of a bill and pressed
to passage. .
In addition to the matter pf forti
fying the canal, it Is desired to ar
range In advance the question of tolls
for the canal, the plan of government
of tbe canal zone and to forestall cor
poration efforts which may negative
the commercial benefits which It Is
hoped to secure from the opening of
tbe great waterway.
With regard to the latter Senator
Flint has already, introduced a bill
making it unlawful for any railroad
or other common carrier subject to
the Interstate commerce law to own
or control or have any Interest what
ever Id, any steamship line passing
through the canal. This Is In accord
with a suggestion In the president's
annual messtge and it la Intended to
prevent, the railroads from securing
a manapoly of the' carrying trade
through the canal that would enable
them to maintain rates at a high level
satisfactory to the transcontinental
railroads.
Past experience hat proved that by
an absorption of the control of the
coattwlse steamers plying between
Atlantic and Pacific ports and the
isthmus- the railroads have been able
to prevent shippers from enjoying the
economy of transportation that was
afforded by the Panama canal rail
road. A stiff fight It expected from the
railroad to any measure looking to a
cheapening of transportation rates
when the canal is finally opened and
opposition to this particular bill of
Senator Flint Is already -being- Or
ganized.
COST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Department Statistician Has Fig
ured Out a Total of About 890,
000,000 This Year.
Washington, Dec 23. Victor H.
Olmstead, chief of the. agricultural
department bureau of ttatlttica fig
ured out that Christmas this year will
oost the American people about $90,-
000,000 In cashNand perhaps 85,000,000
In debts. Prof. Olmstead'e opinion Is
not more than half of the people will
make presents this year that cost act
ual money. Of the remaining 16,000,-
000 a few will not give presents be
cause they do not believe in the cus
tom. - Mora will not give because of
tbelr religious belief. Still more will
not make presents because they live
in out of the way places remote from
stores. A vast number will not give
because they have barely enough to
clothe and feed themselves and their
families.
Then there are other Christmas
celebrants, farmers for tbe moat part.
who will aend a fat turkey, duck or
some farm animal to relatives. Of
those who will actually buy presents
several million are children whose
expenditures will range from ten
cents to $1. A few of these children.
a very few, belong to very rich fam
ilies and will spend many times 1,
Tbe estimated average Chrittmaa ex
penditure of the children It 50 oentt.
The greatest number of Chrlatmat
givers are clerks, young men whose
salaries run from 1 75 to 8150 a month.
They spend according to their sal
aries and their mental state. Mr.
Olmstead estimates that the clerks
with seml-soclety bent will spend on
aa avearge about 85 for gifts. , Tbe
home loving clerks will average
amout 81.
Altogether It Is estimated that about
K.0OO.000 persons have already
bought or will buy presents and that
their gifts will average a little leat
than 83 a person. '
Battle Shine te Visit Germany. K
Berlin, Dec 23. A dispatch from
Ketl aaya that the American battle
hip fleet will vlalt Kiel January 10,
following a call at Wllbeimshavea.
The report kaa caused a stir here aa
the original Itinerary of the vessels
did not Include stops at German
ports. The American embassy here la
without Information concerning the
Kiel dispatch. ,
Hyde Hearing Set Back.
JeRerooa City. Dee. 23 Tbe B.
Hark Hyde murder rase, from Km
sat City, waicb It docketed for bear
lag la tUe tupreme coert ea Jaaaayy
S. xlil be reset for bearing after Jan
uary 10 Attorneys ajtve IM wita
tbe r:smc tiifl a iipuia-!oa for
if:iirg the ae.
FLf.
5. L. Moora . H. L. Humphry
, M002E A nUHPHEEY,
S .T.
Atwiueis skBW -at
Examination of Abttractt, Lan
! Specialty. ; -.. ,
Practice In all courts State indi
Federal. . - . . ..
. p I
If. S. WOOLVEKTON
AUCTIONEER
Farm sales a Specialty,
MUafaetlOB guaranteed , ,
J-".
: Beat of references tirea. :
.'all Browa phone No. IMS, or addieas Abi
lene, Ksaiaa. - Aui.tf '
Date book can be seen at Bhockey A Landee
Abilene,
In Hew Location
I have moved my Jewelry store
to Second street In the room eaat at
the Abilene National Bank. 1 wait
all my old trlendt to come and tee
what a fine place I have. New cus
tomers will be made welcome. I
have a good selection of diamonds,
watches, silverware and all kinds ef
Jewelry. Watch repairing a special
ty. W. L. COOLEY
Second street, east of Abilene NtK
: tonal Bank.
TUFTS a G IS II
Funeral Directors ' i '
Lady Assistant
J. A. TUFTS, Licensed Embalaaer..
No. 251.
Charges mott letuKmaBtt.
Prompt and courteons treatment, .
Vpthaw Block, Abilene.
W. H. EICK0LT2 CO.
UNDERTAKERS
The Same Careful atten
tion that has been given to
the Eicho'.tz business for the
past thirty-nine years.
H. K. EICHOLTZ,
H. H. EICHOLTZ.
LloentecUEmbalmere -
Abilene
Kansas
That OHS Reliable- Healing Salve
UTTLCVUnL
Hf kavir (MtaMl etedt-i.
1
Hull ajukkly, mraJw, ma m bttsa.
tltatgrhstt Qt)., an. A, AMU, Baft.
CATARRH
---j-j i -s
Ely's Cream Calm
ur to Clvt) Satisfaction,
crvta acutF at ones.
A deaaaae, aDoUMa, heals asd prater Rh
taeaw-d aarmhtmne rwilttBt- fnas CUr-s
and Mra mr a OoM ia t Haii awk Iv.
Heetoras the SntMis of Tu and Hmrh.
Vf to Contains taa irinriuaa 4m
0Wil into the --;nl and nrt4
v,r !, 60 ewts at DnwsHsta or K
vsJ. ! -. : J Cmm ima' r- it
Km..:tstK em la,
at i?ift. II ea8t Hew -,-'
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