Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel], January 25, 1910, Image 1

About Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911

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16pages
vol. xxxvii. PPTPI?' ±C\ r'IOKTSS by carrier
MM UK It 116. .JT XViVvJtl* . 4U KjEjW 1O PER MONTH
INVESTIGATION
OF BEEF TRUST
IS SIDETRACKED
Federal Prosecutor Says
Routine Business Is
Too Pressing
TO ABSOLVE TARIFF
Attempt Will Be Made to
Show High Prices Due
to Limited Supply
Even Hetty Green Too
Poor to Afford Meat
NKW YORK, Jan. 24.—Mrs. Hetty
Green, who has many million* of dollam,
declared today tliat at present prices
meat wan too dear for her, and she cut
it out of her noonday order.
Mrs. <ireen entered a modest uptown
restaurant and scanned tbe bill of
fare. Steuk she found nt SOr a portion,
and roast lamb and roast heef at Ssr.
Mrs. c.rtvii took halibut, which was
15c a portion.
"Have you Joined the boycott?" asked
the waiter.
"Mo," said Mrs. Green dubiously, "but
meat Id too high. You don't get your
moneys worth. People really can't af
ford to act it. There are other things
just as good and cheaper."
In response to a lighter demand, the
price of beef in the Brooklyn wholesale
dMrii-t declined -'O per cent today, and
pork loins slumped sympathetically.
[Special to The Herald.]
CHICAGO, Jan. 24.—The long de
ferred prosecution of the beef
trust, which the government final
ly threatened as a result of the power
ful protest by the American people
against the exorbitant prices of meat
and the high cost of living, received
a backset today.
Tho federal prosecutor explained
•there was some routine business to
be disposed of first."
Just how vigorous Is to be the fed
eral prosecution of the trust remains
to be seen, but it was reported from
Washington today that the Republican
regulars, aided by administration
heads, would make a desperate effort
to show that the high cost of living
is not, as claimed by Republican in
surgents and experts, a result of the
Aldrich tariff, nor oil administrative
policies.
Before the actual prosecution of the
trust is instituted Uncle Sam's agents,
It is said, will present claims to show
that the high cost of living (including
the high price of meats) is caused by
"the scarcity of farm help, the arbi
trariness of grain growers, faulty
range conditions and the excessive
consumption of cities and the dimin
ishing production of the soli. In fact,
many and variable arguments will be
brought to bear In the case, following
the step already taken by Secretary
of Agriculture Wilson to attribute the
entire gamut of exorbitant prices to
the influx of foreigners and their re
fusal to work at agricultural pursuits.
Retailers Charged More
But how this will explain away the
astounding difference between tho job
bers' prices ia public institutions and
those charged to retailers is beyond
conjecture. Why meat is considerably
cheaper in Chicago and Kansas City,
the distributive points, than in the dis
tricts from which it is supplied is an
other .stunner for the politicians.
Why beef can be sold profitably at
7 cents to hotels and restaurants, yet
has to be sold at 2to 2 lfa cents higher
to retailers, and in turn at 10 to 15
cents higher by retailers to consumers
affords still another vexing problem.
In delaying the action against the
beef trust today it was stated that "a
change had been made because the
case against the packers was of such
grave importance that it was deemed
best that the twenty-three men Impan
eled on the federal grand jury before
Judgo K. M. Landis should familiar
ize themselves with grand jury proced
ure before considering the evidence."
It was promised, however, that tho
case would go ahead as rapidly as pos
sible.
The firms against which it is an
nounced the government will proceed
are Armour & Co., Swift & Co., and
Morris & Co., who, it Is charged, eon-
trol the National Packing company
for their own benefit and arbitrarily
regulate the prices and market supply-
Many Subpoenas Served
Deputy United States marshals early
today were put to work with more than
a score of subpoenas and writs to bring
before the grand jury all packing
house employes and books of the three
companies involved.
Every precaution was taken to keep
tho Identity of the witnesses secret.
A large number of secret service oper
atives have apparently been brought
here from other cities and it is believed
they will be used in serving subpoenas
and supplying evidence.
At the city offices of the National
Packing company and Armour & Co. it
was said no subpoenas had been served.
Judge Landis in his charge to tho
grand jury today declared it was
through information furnished by him
that tho present proceedings were
started.
Judge Landis also said that after he
had notified the United States district
attorney in Chicago January 20 he was
surprised to see January 22 notices in
the newspapers coming ostensibly from
Washington that the government nitl
cials there had ordered tho Investiga
tion.
It was announced, howeyer.s that ac
tion on the beef trust investigation
would be postponed for a few days un
til some docket cases had been con
sidered.
"Having in mind the duty of the dis
trict attorney," said Judge Landis, "I
notified that office on the twentieth
of the present month that on your as
sembling here today tho court would
direct your attention to the subject of
the present investigation.
Regrets Publicity Given
•it Is a source Of profound regret
that two days liter there began wide
spread newspaper publication of mat
ter purporting to come from Washing;-
(Continued; »v Fage Eight)
LOS ANGELES HERALD
INDEX OF
HERALD'S NEWS
TODAY
FORECAST
For Los Angeles and vicinity:
Cloudy Tuesday; light north wind.
Maximum temperature yesterday 60
degrees; minimum 48 degrees.
LOCAL
Woman, nrreated on charge of being alien
and undesirable, released, has trouble
securing her bond money. PAQE 9
Women plan ■ unique auto rfde to obtain
funds to furnish reception hall at U. B. C.
PAGE 3
New receiving hospital soon will be ready
for use; present cramped quarter's to be
abandoned. PAGE 9
Montana visitor lauds Los Angeles on pub
lic enterprise; declares city is model for
entire country. PAGE 9
George A. Stone and wife, accused of mur
dering Morgan Shlvely, appear uncon
cerned and smiling in Alhambra court
room; examination continued. PAGES
City forestry department to be abolished
and trees will be placed under supervision
of park Biinprintendent. . rAfSS 5
Husband is accused of denying his society
to wife, and latter brings suit for divorce.
'- PAGE 6
Wife of former lieutenant governor of
Louisiana successful in suit for divorce.
PAGE D
Editorial, Letter Box and Haskln's letter.
PAGE 4
Chief of Police Dlshman arouses Ire of
police commission by talking to press.
PAGE
Hollywood becomes part of Los Angeles by
vote of more than 16 to 1. PAGE 1
Four babies are theirs, says Mrs. 'Wilson
concerning dispute over quadruplets. PAGE 7
Clan Cameron observes the one hundred and
flf ty-flrst birthday of Robert Burns. PAGE ft.'
Threatened vaudeville war may be settled
at conference of magnates here. PAGE li>
Members of Inland empire excursion at
chamber of commerce reception declare
Los Angeles model city. PAQE I\>
Arthur Letts tendered reception by his 1500
employes. PAGE It!
Society and clubs. PAGE 7
Marriage licenses, births and deaths. PAGE 14
News of the courts, PAGE 5
Municipal affairs. PAGE 5
City brevities. PAGE 5
Mines and oil fields. ' PAGE 13
Markets and financial. ■ PAGE 12
Automobiles. PAGE 11
Sports. PAGE 10
Theaters and dramatic criticism. PAGE 7
Shipping. PAGE 6
Building permits. PAGE 13
Citrus fruit report. PAGE 12
Classified advertising. PAGES 14-15
SOUTH CALIFORNIA
Peary Is praised. Cook called fakir by
James W. Davidson, explorer and diplo
mat. PAGE 14
8. H. Overacker, rancher near Santa Ana,' .
held for the the murder of his neighbor,
S. A. Wlnn. - : . PAGE 14
Wife of Los Angeles fireman attempts sui- •
cide at Santa Monica. ■ PAGE 14
Mayor Earley replies to caustic question in
- Pasadena water campaign. PAGE 7
Pomona Masons will dedicate new $30,
--000 temple tills afternoon.' PAGE 7
C. K. Hamilton files distance of 34
miles at San Diego; crosses Into
Mexico and returns. PAGE 1
COAST
Society attends opening of what promises
to be gay season In Santa Barbara, PAGE 7
EASTERN
Banker robbed in New York when woman
faints on his shoulder after financier had
done an act of kindness; $28,000 lost. PAGE 1
Three persons killed and two fatally injured
in auto which plunged over forty-foot
embankment in Kansas City, Kas. PAGE 3
Fhlladelphlans approve GouldT-Drexel match
and society is agog over announcement of
engagement. PAGE 3
Report Is submitted to congress relative to
waterways, and many recommendations
filed. PAGE 3
Court's refusal to render decision in
trust prosecution at St. Louis may
cause government to abandon case.
I PAGE 8
Mitchell pleads for "labor trust" and
-defends civic federation. PAGE 8
Prosecution of Pulitzer for libel Is under
way. PAGE 8
Investigation of beef trust sidetracked
because, according to ;federal prose
cutor, routine business la too press
ing. , ■ PAGE 1
Immigration commission threatened * .
with dissolution as result of congress' -;
refusal to provide further funds. PAGE 2
Hobo congress in session at Chicago. . .
PAGE 2
Philanthropist, 90 years old, Intends to
give away all las millions before
death. PAGE 2
Use of public funds probed by congress ./'
and ' land commissioner , denies
Hitchcock's charges. . PAGE 2
Secretary of War Dickinson plans trip
to Philippines. .; PAGE 2
FOREIGN
Twenty-seven Japanese, plumage hunt
ers arrested and 259,000 imir.s of
wing's seized in Hawaiian islands.
PAGE 3
Eighteen villages inundated, thousands
homeless, one. hundred dead, many. :
clinging to roofs, terrific rain falling,
streams rising rapidly, one-fourth of.
France is under water., and millions
of dollars losses sustained by deluge.
PAGE-1
Run started on Mexico City bank and,
leading officer In Institution forced
' to resign. PAGE 1
MINING AND OIL
California Midway well Is not damaged by
water. - PAOBI*
Strike on Black Butte at Diamond Held
looks like a bonanza. PAGE 13
Jefferson well at Coallnga enters light oil.
PAGE 13
New Bonnie Claire mine will soon install
hoist and machinery. PAGE 13
New device may make gushers out of oil
wells. , ' PAGE 13
Coaltnga crude petroleum used for drilling
first wells. . ... v , PAGE 13
Caribou Oil company makes its annual
report. • - ; ..-.'•. PAGE 1:1
SPORTING , -
Talent has excellent day at Emeryville.'
\ .-;, •-; ' PAGE 10
National 'Baseball league decides 'to play
168 games the coming Heason. ' PAGES 13
Swimming events at Y. M. C. A. attracts '
champions and near champions. PAGE 10
Prone - shooting Is not popular and scores ■ ■
made do not show vp # well. ■ - PAGB"ll
Manager W. W. Finn resigns all connection .
* with Utah Jockey club and P. p. Pom-'
--eroy will not be reappointed ' presiding »
judge at Salt Lake City. • . PAGE 10
Sam Lanmford arrives and his manager de
clares Jeffries will whip Johnson if half
ready; also says big fight surely will be '.
held at or near Suit Lake City. . PAGE 10
Coast ant] State • leagues hold Important
huslneus ■ meeting; State league accepts,
San Joae as sixth city to complete Its 1910
circuit. . PAGE 10
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 25, 1910.
AVIATOR FLIES
34 MILES; SOARS
HIGH OVER SEA
Hamilton Breaks World's
Record for Distance
Above Water
CROSSES INTO MEXICO
Makes Journey Without
Accident -- Ends with
Moonlight Trip
[Associated Frossl
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 24.—Charles K.
Hamilton flew in his Curtiss biplane
across tho tiorder line of the United
States into Mexico and over the an
cient Mexican city of Tia Juana today,
surprising iiic inhabitants of that
sleepy little place into unusual life,
and then flew back to the polo field
at the Coronado Country club without
a stop. He was gone from the field
forty minutes and traveled thirty-four
miles. For the greater pnrt of the time
ho was over the Pacific ocean at a
height of 200 feet.
Not satisfied with furnishing this
sensation today, the aviator made a
flight by moonlight over the ocean,
staying up for three and a half min
utes and alighting on the field in the
deep shadows that had settled below
the sky line.
Botli of these flights may be said to
establish ijew records, for Hamilton
flew farther over the water than did
Bleriot In his flight over the English
channel, and he made the first flight
ever recorded where both start and
finish were in semi-darkness.
Slight Disaster .
Hamilton's first flight of the day re
sulted in a slight disaster. At 3:15 p.
m. he went up while a strong wind wag
blowing, and after zigzagging over the
field for three minutes and while he
was attempting to alight in the center
of the field, a sudden gust caught him
just as he struck the ground, causing
»he machine to bound for ten feet. One
of the rear wheels was crushed and
two ribs on the lower plane were
broken.
After an hour of tinkering Hamilton
had the machine repaired, and at 4:17
he was off for Old Mexico. Thousands
of people in San Diego city watched
him wing his way over the wide ex
panse of blue water, flying steadier
than the gull flies, while automobiles
raced over the boulevard that extends
along the ocean shore on the narrow
strip of land from Coronado to Point
of Rocks, trying to keep him In sight.
Dusk was gthering when Hamilton
ngnln alighted on the field, but tho big
throng was still there to welcome him
back, and when he said that he was
going up again as ponn as the moon
rose, many came over to his tent to
dissuade him.
Flies in Moonlight
But Hamilton did not heed their pro
testations and at 6.03 he left the
ground and made an indescribably
beautiful picture as ho soared to a
height of 200 feet against the dark
background of the distant mountains,
and then came suddenly against the
brighter blue of the sky in which a
great round moon sailed with him.
Tomorrow morning if conditions are
favorable, Hamilton will try for the
altitude record of the world.
Discussing his world's glide record
made late yesterday at Coronado field,
Charles K. Hamilton today said:
"In Los Angeles I had to take a,
chance on a glide when my propellor
shaft broke, and the experience taught
me something, I know now that I can
glide safely to earth from any height
I go."
This is in direct contradiction to the
belief generally held by Curtiss and
others that death a waited the avia
tor whose engine stopped while he was
any distance from the earth. Hamll
tin yesterday made two glides, the
first of some 300 feet and the second
of 575 feet, the latter being officially
designated as a world's record by H.
LaV. Twining, president of the Aero
club of California, whose presence here
is for the purpose of making official
any records Hamilton may make.
L. F. Walsh whose monoplane,
crashed into tho fence yesterday has
decided to construct a biplane, in
Which* he says, he r;\n fly successfully.
Paulhan Braves Wind
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24.—1n order
to please a few thousand people who
waited through a stormy afternoon to
ace him fly, Louis Paulhan, the French"
aviator, took chances against threaten
ing clouds today and rose over the
fields in a 10-mile flight from Tanfor
an park to San Bruno hills. To do this
he had to lift his machine from a sod
soaked ground. He came back without
mishap just before a hall storm, broke.
Paulhan made several short flights
during the early part of the afternoon.
but the wind was too strong to risk
leaving the ground far or for any con
siderable time.
WILL FLY IN UTAH
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 24.—
Louis Paulhan and his company of
aviators will appear In Salt Lake City
January 29 and 30 for flights. Nego
tiations to this end have just been
concluded. The Commercial club is
handling the event. Particular inter
est attaches to the proposed flights
here because df tho altitude, the start
ing point being four-fifths of a mile
above the level of the sea, and the
sustaining power of the atmosphere
diminished in proportion.
WIFE SLAYER SENTENCED
GOLDFIELD, Jan. 24.—John Sheri
dan, who was convicted on the charge
Of manslaughter as a result of the
stabbing of his wife a year ago, today
was given the extreme penalty for his
crime. The court sentenced Him to
ten years and ignored the plea for
clemency made by the jury. Sheridan
stabbed bis Wife while In a drunken
frenzy, and she died some time after
ward.
FAIL TO GET JURY
RENO, Jan. 24.—The ninetietli tales
man was examined and dismissed this
afternoon in the trial of Mrs. May Tal
bot for the murder of her husband,
E. A. Talbot, without a jury being se
cured. Eleven men are in the box,
and the defense has one peremptory
challenge remaining. The state ex
hauste.] all of its peremptory chal
lenges this morning.
MONOPLANE WHICH MET DISASTER
IN ITS FIRST TRIAL AT SAN DIEGO
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The upper photograph shows the monoplane designed and built by C. F. Walsh of San Diego which was
wrecked in an attempted flight at the polo grounds of the Coronado Country club Monday. Below is the wrecked
machine after it had crashed into the fence.
RUN STARTED ON
MEXICO CITY BANK
GEORGE I. HAM IS FORCED TO
RESIGN
Depositors Become Uneasy and With.
draw Large Sums—President
Well Known in Los
Angeles
[Special to The Herald.]
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 24.—Following
the action of two other banks in plac
ing one of their men in charge of the
institution, a run was started on the
United States Banking company late
this afternoon. Twenty accounts, ag
gregating $200,000 (Mexican), were with
drawn.
The president and chief stockholder
of the bank is George I. Ham, well
known in Los Angeles, and whose spec
tacular rise from the position of a lo
comotive engineer to that of head of
one of the largest banks in Mexico City
has made him famous. Mr. Ham's
resignation as president was forced by
two big local banks from which the
Ham bank had borrowed $5,000,000 m
Mexican money.
Tho run started when it became
known that Hani had resigned. De
positors are being paid as fast as checks
are presented. Assurances were, given
that the bank will pay in full.
The National Bank of Mexico and
the Bank of Montreal have placed
James Forsythe, assistant manager of
the Mexican branch of the Bank of
Montreal, in charge of the affairs of
the United States Banking company.
Amassed Fortune
Mr. Ham is a Canadian and one of
the heaviest stockholders.
Since he came to this country ho is
saiil to have amassed a fortune of
$2,500,000 pesos, and is said to have
transferred all his personal possessions
to prevent the bank from closing its
doors. He is now in a sanitarium suf
fering from the effect of overwork.
The United States Banking company
is capitalizes at 2,000,000 pesos, with
deposits amounting to 8,000,000 pesos.
It is an institution without govern
mental concessions and therefore dOM
not enjoy certain banking privileges
accorded under the Mexican law, in
cluding the issuing of currency.
It is .said the bank recently borrowed
5,000,000 pesos from the Bank of Mon
treal and the National Bank of Mexico.
This was loaned to a local corporation,
which was unable to meet the obliga
tions when it becamo due. This is said
to account for the action of the two
banks in placing Mr. Forsythe in
charge.
Mr. Ham and his family are well
known in Los Angeles. Mrs. Ham has
been living in Whittier for several
months .with her daughter. Mr. Ham
and his son have made their home in
this city. In addition to his banking
business Ham was financially inter
ested in other enterprises, including the
Mexico Daily Record, an afternoon
newspaper published in English. He is
probably the most widely known mem
ber of the American colony in Mexico.
EARTHQUAKE IN ISLANDS
ST. THOMAS, D. \V. 1.. Jan. 24.—
Earthquakes have been felt In a num
bor of West Indian Islands. Sunday af
ternoon there ware two sharp shocks
at St. Vincent and Demerara, a slight
One at Trlnldttd and prolonged shocks
at St. Lucia, Barbados and lin-nada.
i image is reported.
HOLLYWOOD IS
VOTED INTO CITY
Returns from Election Show Consoli
dation Was Carried by an
Overwhelming Ma
jority
By a vote of more than 16 to 1 Holly
wood was consolidated with Los An
geles at the election held yesterday.
The total vote, as recorded at the of
fice of City Clerk Harry J. j Lelande
last night, was 6,618 for annexation
and 393 against. This means that one
of the prettiest foothill suburbs of Los
Aanseles is, barring a few preliminary
legal steps, to all Intents and purposes
an integral part of the Southern Cali
fornia metropolis. \ ' ..
That Hollywood was willing and
anxious to join hands with Los Angeles
is demonstrated by the vote, which
stood 409 for annexation as against 19
in opposition, when the count was
made at the Hollywood city hall last
night.' This shows the territory most
vitally affected by the consolidation
movement was 20 to 1, and better, in
its favor.
San Pedro's three precincts, only re
cently annexed to the city themselves,
came loyally to the polls and rolled up
a vote of 167 for the annexation, as
compared with 9 against it.
Colegrove, a near neighbor of the
town, nestling against the Santa Mon- 1
ica mountains, cast a vote of 67 to 2
for the annexation of Hollywood.
Before the actual annexation of Hol
lywood and its being made an integral
part of Los Angeles can be effected
the vote must be legally canvassed by
the members of the city council; a cer
tification of the legal canvass must
be sent to the secretary of state and
a return certificate must be received
by 1 the city clerk from Sacramento.
This means a matter of only a com
paratively few days, and it Is probable
that Hollywood will be an integral
part of Los Angeles in less than' two
weeks.
The vote by precincts at yesterday's
election was as follows: .—
Precinct. Yes. No I'reelnet. Yes. No
1 339 844 80 4
2.. , 116 7115 ', 93 WU
3 88 22 48 88 i
4 140 1147 72 1
5 0* 948 57 4
I! 80 3 49 71 7
7 .83 ' 250 71 ' »
8 137 B|sl 73 10
0 ISO JIM 21 7
10 135 9|53 53 8
H 98 11154 8* 5
13 119 OISS 63 10
18 110 ..50 44 8
14 29 .. 57 78 8
15 120 188 64 6
18........ 113 : , 158 48 18
17 . ... 73 .VHO 33' 11
18........ 135 ' « til ....... 23 ' 5
19 85 4162 15 14
20... 138 ' M 38 1
81 .... ii.-, 164. 99 15
22 90 605 30
23... 38 ..00 89 3
34 ...... 54 767 101
»5 135 188 104 4
UOy. 183 568 38 ,'
27 .11 .70 38 3
88 108 2 71 42 1
21) . 80 »273 97 5
SO JW »'» *•
81 -..I 674 4:1 V 3
S3 40 1175 38 2
83 28 .110 118 1
34 SO 377 28 1
85 40 . ..U8 67 *
38 73 ' ■:".» «i . 2
87.; ... 111 IIM 40 * ..
38 .... 117 51 ■» •-—. . -^-
89 13 ■ ..(Total cits- Ml 375
40. ....... 84 ,''»]' HOLLYWOOD
41.. 103 -B|Bl .... 40» 18
13.: '. 88 81 -
(3 ....... 80 .. JGrand tot, 6818 * 393
SIxSGLJiI OUIJJIIJS: on XIIAIXS. s cents
WOMEN ROB RICH
MAN Of $28,000
BANKER VAN NORDEN OF NEW
YORK LOSES BIG SUM
Supposed Thief Swoons on Shoulder
of Financier in Front of Waldorf.
Astoria —Two Suspects Are
Under Arrest
[Associated Press]
NEW YORK, Jan. 24.—Warner M.
Van Norden, the banker and president
of the Van Norden Trust company, was
held up and robbed of $28,000 last
Wednesday night as he was leaving
the Waldorf-Astoria.
With the arraignment of Bessie Rob
erts, alias Kitty Dowdell of Chicago,
and Annie Williams, alias "Chicago
Margie"l same the story how Mr. , Van
Norden's exceeding graciousness cost
him his fat pocketbook.
■ He left the hotel and was about to
take his automobile when he saw two
women walking along: Fifth avenue.
One of the women dropped a pocket
book, and Mr. Van Norden politely
picked it up and returned it.
A hearty slap on the back was the
somewhat startling manner in which
one of' the women signalized ! her
thanks. There was a profusion of
thanks and bows and one of the wo
man fainted suddenly on Mr. Van Nor
den's shoulder. ... -
Roll of $28,000 Stolen
She quickly revived and the banker
went home in his machine. Then ho
discovered the $28,000 was missing. The
women have been IWd in $30,000 bail
for further examination.
Van Norden at once reported his
loss to police headquarters and on his
descriptions of the women Inspector
McCatferty said he was sure the yung
er woman was "Margie Williams" of
whom the police havo heard much
recently.
Kitty Dowdell, or Bessie Roberts,
was arrested yesterday and the Wil
liams woman was found later.
They admitted they had spoken to
a man as he was leaving the Waldorf.
The William:: girl, who is described
by her associates as the "big- blonde,''
denied she had robbed any one or that
she knew of any robbery.
"If Dowdell got away with any
body's roll,' she observed, "she didn't
give mo any of it. I wasn't wise to ■
the operation." •
■* ' »
RECOVER FOUR BODIES
SUDBLTRY, Ont.. Jan. 24.— re
covery of four bodies and the Identi
fication of two women found yesterday
was the net result of today's work at
the scene of Friday's wreck at Spanish
river. The bodies recovered today
were those of Miss Mulroy, Cache Bay,
Ont.; — —Hansen, a man of 40,'ad
dree unknown; Mrs. Kelley, wife of
Joseph Kelley of Leavenworth, Wash.,
and Florence Kelley, 10 years old,
daughter of Mrs. Kelley, . .
« • » 1 ... _
TO PROBE INSURANCE
VICTORIA, B. C. Jan. 24.—An In
surance commmisslon, consisting of R.
S. Lennie, D. H. McDowell of Victoria
and'A, B. Ersklne of Vancouver, was
appointed by the provincial ■ govern
ment today to lveitlirat« lire insurance
matters in British Columbia, Including
the operations of American companies
in tho province. , The ■ commission will
report upon tho advisability of legisla
tion for, the regulation of foreign;fire
: insurance associations.'..; <
*^ CENTS
18 VILLAGES IN
FRANCE FLOODED;
HUNDRED PERISH
Fourth of Country Under
Water, Rivers Are
Still Rising
THOUSANDS SUFFER
Food Prices Soar—Famine
Is Menacing Poor of
Many Districts
(Special Table).
PARIS, Jan. 24.—With one-fourth of
France under water tonight,
eighteen villages inundated, thou
sands of homes flooded and hundreds
of persons reported drowned in the de
partments of the Seine and Marne, tho
situation tonight is the worst in tho
nation's history.
The heavy snowfall of yesterday was
followed today by a terrific downpour
of rain, and tonight every river in east
ern France is a raging torrent, pouring
in great volumes over quay, dyke and
levee, driving thousands of persons to
their housetops and tearing up trees
and fences for many miles. The larger
rivers are filled with cattle, trees and
debris.
The dyke at Saonc-Ah-Doubs broke
tonight, and ten villages were flood
ed. The streets of C.'haions-Sur-Saone
arc five feet under water, and several
persona have been drowned in at
tempting- to escape from their hoi
Hundreds of persons at Chalons are
clinging to the roofs of buildings ery
*lng frantically for help. The scene
presents innumerable appalling fea
tures.
Despite the use of hundreds of boats
at rhalons, the work of rescue is at
tended by unusual difficulties, owing
to the torrential downpour of rain.
Four inches of rain has fallen in
two hours this afternoon —a record
unprecedented, and bringing the pre
cipitation almost to tho proportions
of a cloudburst.
Water Rising Fast
The Marne at Rheims is reported to
be rising at the rate of two inchest
an hour, with no prospects of the flood
crest passing Ilheims before tomor
row morning-, even should the rain
cease falling immediately, of which
there is no indication.
Tours-Sur-Marnc is completely under
water. Ten large structures in that
town have collapsed, and several per
sons are bleieved to have met death
in the wreckage. Twenty-seven other
buildings are said to be seriously men
aced.
Ruin and consternation prevail
among the inhabitants, and municipal
authorities held conferences late into
the night to decide measures of relief.
The situation in Paris tonight is the
most critical In the last century. The
Seine continues to rise, and three
fourths of the city is in darkness. Tho
Hoods drowned out the large ek
plant in tho chamber of deputies, and
the deputies tonight were compelled to
meet by lamp light to consider steps to
relieve suffering.
Premier Briand has introduced a bill
carrying approximately $400,000 for tba
immediate relief of the homeless and
destitute.
The soldiers and gendarmes have
done heroic work in saving lives and
protecting property from ghouls.
Food Prices Soar
Owing to the difficulty of getting
food Into the city, market prices have
almost trebled in the last threo days,
and the poorer classes In many in
itancet are reported on tho verge of
■tarvatlon.
Thousands are without beds or shel
ter of any kind except that which is
provided by the government ;illli mu
ni' Ipal authorities in the parka an.l
public, places which so far are not
under water.
Twenty-live thousand factory men
have been thrown out of work along
the river-front warehouses.
Many narrow escape* from death are
reported. The explosion of boilers in
Inundated factories is an occasional
nt of danger.
An enormous amount of live stock 19
reported to have been drowned in th?
departments of Marne, Aub'e, Aisne and
It is now believed the Kiffol tower,
the foundations of which were threat
ened by the waters, is no longer in
danger of collapse. However, the wire
less station at the top of the tower has
been abandoned temporarily.
The rivers Rhone and Loire are re
ported falling ami the situation ac
cordingly improved at Lyons, Lymogcs,
Troyes. Annecy and Auxerre. Tho
property damage cannot be estim
with any accuracy, but.it will be very
great.
President Tours District
Late this afternoon President l-'al
lieres and Premier Briand made a tour
of tin 1 flooded districts. Tho crest of
the flood had then almost touched tho
top of the arches of the Poni Alma.
Preparation!! were made to blow up
the span with dynamite, If # lc should
become necessary.
The sewer in tho Plae'! Havre lias
caved in and tho Avenue M 'iitaignn
has been invaded by the water*. Tl o
schools in the inundated suburbs havo
been closed.
The trains in the subway am be
ing sent out only from the stations at
St. Lazare and the Invalides. The
lower Btretcben of the road have been
adoned. In the submerged dis
tricts women fled from their homes
with their children in their arms.
Two thousand homeless persons hive
arrived in Paris seeking shelter.
The Seine has risen nine inches sinco
L' o'clock and the river now registers
7.68 metres at Pont Royal. This H
the highest since ISO 2, when it reached
B.SO metres, the highest point recorded
in the history of France except in tho
Hils.
A terrible tempest of rain and wind
which broke over the city at daylight
only adds to the horror of the situa
tion and to the sufferings of the poor
and homeless.
Although the waters of the Seine af
fluents above the city are still rising
rapidly, the municipal authorities wera
hopeful this morning that the maxi
mum stage of tho waters would be
reached by nightfall.
Sight Awe.lnspiring
The river presents an awe inspiring
A miarter of a mllllos
people In a drenching rain throng the
{Continued on Fas* Eight).