Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel], March 29, 1910, Image 1

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

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16 PAGES
VOI. XXXVII.
NUMBER 179.
PRICE: 50 CENTS 1-KIl MONTH
FOR EVIDENCE
S.P. RESORTS
TO MAGAZINES
Railroads Show Weakness
of Their Case Against
Fruit Growers
END HEARING TODAY
Reicing Charges Piled on,
Despite Instructions
to the Contrary
ANNOUNCING thnt ho wan "traffic
statistician" for the Southern Pa
clflo Railroad dbmpany, J, k. But
lnr of Srin Francisco yesterday after
noon became amusingly entangled In
the network of crose-questioni thrown
out for him by Joseph H. <':lli and
other attorneys for the .1 'alifornia cit
rus fi uit grow.ers represented In the
present hearing before interatMv Com
merce Commtaslonen Charles A. Prou-
ty ami Franklin k. Lane, sitting in the
in ■ supreme court room iii tho Bul
l:ir,| block.
Mr. Hutler has boon in attendance
at the hearing ever since it Brat be
gan, and as he was known to carry
with him a. suit case supposed to 1."
Oiled with Important documents, it was.
expected by the fruit growers he
would be the railroads' Mar witness;
liut attorneys for the citrus growers
effectually devitalised any testimony
Mr. Hutler was expecting to give by
"cornering" him almost as soon as ho
took the wltn»U stand.
"Have you any actual connection
with the Southern Pacific Kaliroad
company?" asked Attorney Call.
' Yrs."
"State your position."
■ 1 am traffic statistician."
"What are your duties?"
"[ am employed to gather statistics
relative to tho movement of cars, their
diversions, earning capacity, cost of
maintenance, repairs, requirements,
and — •"
■I see. Now tell us how you accumu
late these statistics—from what
sources you compile them?"
Well, ] gather my data from pub
lished reports—"
Gets Data from Magazines
"From magazines, et cetera?"
"Vcs. ■
"liut you have no actual connection
with tinl railroad? —your position ll
merely theoretical?"
"No, 1 got paid for my work."
"But you have nothing to do with
the llxlng of rates or the actual oper
ation of tlie road?"
■ No. sir.'
"Then what llßtiros or information
you give i'" are largely hearsay? Your
testimony Is not based on actual ex
perience • You get It from magazines
»nd government reports?"
"Yes, sir." Then he added: "I al
v ays verily mugazinu articles."
Mr. Batter parried strenuously to
avoid this ad&nMton, and when it was
finally elicited there was an uneasy
shifting among the railroad attorney*,
who evidently had hoped to pass Mr.
Butler off as a traffic expert.
From the moment it was disclosed
that Mr. Hutler has not been connected
with any railroad expect In the com
pilation of "published data" the In
i In Ills testimony dwindled con
siderably. He was allowed, however,
to quote extensively from his suit MM
full of "government reports and other
published statements," from which he
had tabulated a formidable array of.
figures, and had drawn many theore
tical conclusions, which the railroad
attorneys had hoped would prove valu
able to them, but which In the light
of their true source became practically
undesirable.
Hearing Nearly Over
There is every Indication that the
commerce commissioners will soon
complete the hearing of the citrus caso,
a.nd *>y this evening, or tomorrow noon,
unless the Santa Fe company changes
Its decision to rest its case on the
showing made by the Southern Pacific,
the last of the evidence should be In.
A decision, however. Is not probable
for two or three months, although it
may be announced prior to the summer
vacation, which the commissioners will
take In June.
The case has in many respects been
one of the most important and compli
cated In the history of the federal
Inquisitors. On the face of It there
would appear to be a simple conten
tion involving merely an obviously un
just and arbitrary freight rate, which
threatens the citrus industry of Cali
fornia; but there are many complica
tions arising from this simple condi
tion. The railroads are aiming a death
blow at what is said to be one of the
greatest and most successful co-opera
tive enterprises In the United States.
The California Citrus union, which rep
resents over 90 per cent of the citrus
output of California, is declared the
most successful organization of its
kind in existence, and through the pro
cesses of wise co-operation has built
from the ruins ol' an industry once
throttled and routed by discriminatory
tactics and competition a wonderfully
pow ful and mutually beneficent in
stitution, the co-operative forces which
have enhanced the value and improved
the quality of its products, broadened
the market, decreased the foreign com
petition, encouraged and Increased the
production, and insured the producers
protection and profit.
Death Blow Is Aimed
The railroads have aimed, however,
not only a death blow at this co
operative system of production and
distribution, but it is claimed they
have aimed to take advantage of tho
improved conditions brought about by
the new co-operative plan.
Fruit growers maintain it is the am
bition of the railroads to compel tho
growers to patronize tho railroad pre
coollng plants, and by imposing an
arbitrary charge of $30 on every car
load of'fruit pre-cooled by the grow
ers to force the growers to abandon
their plan "'* erecting more and better
ore-cooling plants.
The. introduction of the pre-coollng
system undoubtedly lias revolutionized
the citrus industry, and has made It
possible lor the growers to enter mar
kets previously undreamed of, to mar
ket their product in si better con
dition and therefore to secure better
prices and eliminate much competition.
The railroads, it is claimed, want to
„ the great benefit to be secured
from these changed conditions. They
want to own and operate the pre-
(Continued on Fage Three)
LOS ANGELES HERALD
INDEX OF
HERALD'S NEWS
TODAY
FORECAST
For Los Angeles and vicinity: Fair
Tuesday, somewhat warmer; brisk
north wind. Maximum temperature
yesterday 62 degrees, minimum 43 de.
grees.
LOS ANGELES
Witnesses' tell of unfair method* used by
thn purity squad to trap druggist sell
ing morphine. PASS 3
FtnllromlM expose weakness of their caml In
commerce commission's Investigation
Into citrus frail rates. PAGES i and 3
Park commission want* to save $5000 a
year by abolishing watchmen pwitlotlfi
— PAGK 5
Reduction of election expenses In I.os
Angeles Is provldod for by ordinance. -
-' .' *;; PAGK 5
Superior judges belonging to chamber of
mmnn-rcn avoid trying damage suit
iiKalnnl orKanlzatlon. PAOE! 5
Garbage contract with Charles Alexan
d«l conslrlered In report to board of
public works. PA'IK 5
Will of late William lUley, Involving
$100,000 estate, declared to be vullrt.
I'AOE 6
New Knst Main street bridge completed;
contains novel features. «PAGF} 8
Long fleach psychologist faces charge of
obtaining money by f&Lsn pretenses and
also civil suits. PAGE! 13
Physician may din from %ijun<-s sus
tained In collision with taxlcab. * \
PAGE 1
Police commission passes order to free
department from loan sharks. PAGE 10
"Soli.l Three" of "supervisors grants
liquor licenses in- face of protests.
PA (IE 11
Editorial, letter box, Haskln'a letter.
PAOE 4
Marring* licenses, births, deaths. PAGE 14
Newt of the courts. PAGE 5
Municipal affairs. _ PAQE 5
Markets and financial. . PAOK 11'
Building permit*. PAOB 13
Automobiles. PAGE 11
:-■'i'-ty. PAGi-: U
Music and clubs. PACK 7
Theaters. PAOK 7
Citrus fruit PAOK 11
News of the waterfront. * PAGE 11
SOUTH CALIFORNIA
Santa Ana farmer Jumps from cart just
t'Ofore It Is struck by Santa Fo train;
horse killed and rig demolished.
PAGE 11
Mexican kills squaw and self with the
same knife at Las Vegas. PAGE 11
Riverside auto party storm bound In ■
mountains near Squirrel Inn. PAGE 11
Pasadena association launches campaign
to secure »100,000 In six days. I'AUI! 14
Edison Electrlo purchases site for new
harbor power plant; will expend mil
lions. ' • PAGE 14
Ocean Park trustees threaten to oust de
posed septlo tank operator by force.
PAGE 14
EASTERN
Dean of Chicago cathedral delivers an
Raster sermon on state* before troupe
still wearing madtup. > PAGE 2
Warships will try to communicate more
than 3000 miles from coast of Africa
to Maasachusetts. . PAGE I
Secret I Investigation of death of Alex- .
ander .1. Moody, wealthy Chicago
merchant, reveals he was poisoned by
arsenic placed In steak; death at first
attributed to ptomaine. PAGE 2
Justice Brewer of the United States
supreme court dies suddenly In
Washington following an attack of
apoplexy. I'AiiE 1
Orby Hunter, prominent In Chicago so
ciety, accused by police of robbing
blind and paralytic grocer of $250.
PAGE 1
Dog may determine fate of negro col- ,
dlers discharged after the Brownsville
raid and now seeking re-enllstmenl.
PAGE 1
Beverldge defends the senate statehood
bill and urges It as substitute for the
house measure. PAGE 1
Grand Jury Indicts rich planter on a
charge of having offered a bribe to se
cure vote tor Percy In recent Missis- -
slppl senatorial contest. PAGE 1
Secretary Balllngcr denies charge made
by Congressman Martin that he once
represented the sugar trust as attorney.
,;„. PAGE 2
Charles Nordmark, a hermit, arrested at
Concordla, Kan., charged with having
killed Alexander l.liuluhl, a trapper,
niul his two children. PAGE 2
FOREIGN
Between 300 and 400 dancers burned
to death and 100 injured in building
at Oekoerlto. Hungary; only door of
hall had been nailed up to keep the
crowds out. PAGE 1
Nlcaraguan consul general at New Or
leans will ask federal court to pre
vent shipment of arms to Insurgents.
. PAGE 2
PAYS $21,400 TO PASS
ONE INSURANCE BILL
NEW YORK, March 28.—William P.
Buckley had a most uncomfortable
time today In the fire Insurance In
quiry, lie was on the stand practical
ly all day.
State Superintendent of Insurance
Hotchklss continued his examination
Into the lawyer's services in connec
tion with legislation at Albany, for
which Buckley is aaid to have received
many thousands of dollars from lire in
surance companies^
Aside from Buckley's testimony the
most Interesting incident of the day
was tho identification by George F.
Beward, president of the Fidelity and
Casualty company, of Edward H.
Brown of Middletown, N. V., as the
man who in 1902 asked for $10,000 In
behalf of Senator "Big Tim" Sullivan
to have the bill killed. This request Is
alleged to have been made in Sing Sing
prison. Brown later denied he ever
had such a conversation with Seward,
or had ever su\;n him before.
William B. Smith, general counsel
of the Travelers' Insurance company
of Hartford, testified his company paid
J21.400 to Buckley in 1903 to put
through the liability reserve bill.
'YOU'RE A TRUMP!'IS
ROOSEVELT MESSAGE
TO GIVER OF WHISKY
I-OHI.SVILKK, K>\. March 28.—Ac
knowledging the receipt of three gallons
of 30-year-old Kentucky whisky sent to
Africa hut fall. Gen. John U. C'aatlruian
today received tit') following letter from
Theodore Roosevelt)
"In the l,a<lo. Feb. - 1, IB 10.—Dear
Comrade: ' You're ' a trump. I heartily
appreciate the gift and •till more the
thought that lies back of It. We
have had i a great hunt and have »hot
ahnoKt as well as If we were Kent
lan». * Faithfully yours,
■■•-.-• " "THEOPORK ROOSKVET.T."
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 20, 1910.
APOPLEXY KILLS
JUSTICE BREWER;
DEATH ISSUDDEN
Aged Supreme Court Jurist
Stricken in Bathroom
in His Home
AFFECTS BIG CASES
Standard Oil and Tobacco
Trust Suits May Have
to Be Retired
[Associated Pressl
WASHINGTON, March David
Josiati Brewer, associate justice
of the supremo court of the
United States, died tonight at 10:30
o'clock of ii stroke of apoplexy. His
death occurred before he could be
carried to his, bed. Mrs. Brewer was
with him when the end came.
Justice Brewer was 7.'! years of age.
The end was altogether unexpected.
Although ho had not been reeling well
for the last few flays, the aged Jurist
was up and out today, and apparently
In good health and spirits. He was In
equally good spirits at dinner, and
■pent the. evening reading.
Shortly before in o'clock he retired to
lilh r<«<>tii. Within a tew ntinutea Mrs.
Brewer heard ■ heavy fail, ami went
to Investigate. She found her huaband
prone on the lloor of the bath room.
He did not regain consciousness, and
died before :i physician, hastily sum
moned, could reach the house
The two daughters of the aged Jur
ist, Mrs. James F. Karricfa and Mrs.
H. .1. Jetmore, were summoned at once,
but reached the residence too late,
Appointed from Kansas
Justice Brewer cam* to the supreme
court of the United States from the
federal court in Kansas. He was the
econd oldest member of the court.
Justice Harian only being his senior.
He was regarded as the most demo
cratic of all the members of tin- court,
most affable, approachable and accom
modating. He was the one man on the
bench who bad proof copies of his
opinions prepared for the newspapers,
ud this he did consistently.
Another characteristic of the jurist
was that he never took any line of the
court or public in announcing his opin
ions. He reached the conclusion, prob
ably many years ago, that the audience
In the court room was ho extremely
limited it was a pure waste ol time to
read opinions there. He would give in
a few words his conclusions, and then
hand down the proof sheets of his opin
ion, always completely arranged.
Justice Brewer eaVßtttlatll was a
western man, and his sympathies were
always with the west. He was deeply
versed In corporation law, and will be
missed immensely durinK the framing:
of the opinions of the supreme court on
the momentous questions concerning
the Standord Oil and the tobacco cases
now under consideration.
Member of Field Family
In his earlier days Justice Brewer
camped regularly In the Rocky moun
tains, and was fond of outdoor lif «-. He
was a member of the old Field family,
being a nephew of the late Justice
Stephen J. Field and Cyrus \V. Field.
Justice Brewer's death raises a seri
ous question as to the action of the
court regarding the Standard Oil and
American TobaOCO company suits, ami
it is not improbable the oases will have
to be retried, since there now remain
but seven Justices to pass upon them.
Justice Moody not having participated
in the trials by reason of continued ill
ness.
Justice Brewer was the one member
of the supreme court who was in al
most constant demand as a lecturer
and after-dinner speaker. He was an
orator of unusual ability. With a pic
tureaqU personality, a rich voice and
a command of strong Knglish, he al
ways held his audience until his lust
word had died away. He expressed his
opinions forcibly and clearly on any
■übject, unless for some reason it
might affect a pending decision of the
court.
Born in Smyrna
David J. Brewer was lu>rn in
Smyrna, Asia Minor, June -'0. 1837, the
son of Rev. Josiali it ml Amelia Field
Brewer. He was graduated from Yale
in 1856 and the Albany Law school in
1858. He received decrees of LL. D.
from the University of lowa in 18S4,
Wnshburn college in .1888, Yale in 1901,
University of Wisconsin in 1900, \Ws
leyan university in HOI, University of
Vermont in 1904 and Bowdoln in 1905.
Justice Brewer was appointed to t In
supreme court by President Benjamin
Harrison to succeed Justice Stanley
Matthews, taking his seat January 6,
1890.
He was brought by his parents to
this country from Asia Minor in the
autumn of 1838. His mother, daughter
ter of Rev. David Dudley Field, and a
sister of Stephen J. Field, accompanied
her husband to Turkey as a missionary
in 1830.
After his graduation from the Al
bany, N. T., Law school he studied
law In the office of his uncle, David
Dudley Field, in New York. He en
tered the practice of law In Leaven
worth. Kas. There he progressed rap
idly in his profession. He was ap
pointed by President Arthur judge of
the United States circuit court, Klghth
Circuit, in 1884, and served tlve years.
Following this service President Har
rison, appotnted him to the supreme
court of the United States.
While upon the supreme court bench
of Kansas Justice Brewer handed down
the decision that women were eligible
to the office of county superintendent
of public schools and another sus
taining the right of women to money
possessed by them at the time of their
marriage and to all money earned by
them thereafter.
As United States circuit court judge
he entered the decree sustaining the
Maxwell land grant, the largest private
grant sustained in the United States.
Justice Brewer married Louise R.
Landon of Burlington, Vt., on October
3 1861. She died April 2, 1898. On
Juno 5, 1901. Be married Emma L.
Mott of Washington. D. C. •
Justice Brewer was appointed by
President Cleveland in 1896 to the
Venezuelan boundary commission. In
1899 he was a member of the British-
Venezuelan arbitration tribunal. He
was president of the Universal Con
gress of Lawyers and Jurists durbig
the Louisiana Purchase exposition at
St. Louis in 1904.
Justice Brewer was the author of
"The Pew to the Pulpit, rile Twen
tieth Century from Another View
point," "American Citizenship" and
"The United States, Christian Ntttlon."
Mt. Etna As It Appeared in Recent
Eruption; Views in Volcano Section
w
CLAIMS DOG LED
RIOTING SOLDIERS
CAPT. C. R. HOWLAND BRINGS
OUT NEW FACTS
Animal's Presence in Raid May De.
termine Fate of Discharged
Negro Fighters Who Want
to Re-Enlist
WASHIXOTON, March 28.—A big
black dog may influence the decision
as to whether any of the negro soldiers
discharged for the famous "shooting
up" of Brownsville, Texas, are to lie
allowed to re-enlist in the United
States army. Such a dog is said to
have bounded ahead of the raiders on
their mission of lawlessness, August
13, 1906.
Capt. Charles R. Howland, recorder
of the court, today asserted this do^
belonged to Company B of the Twen
ty-fifth infantry, and scampered along
ahead of the soldiers.
The tale of the dog was told the
court when Captain Howland reached
t'.ie part of his argument dealing with
the raid through the town. As the
raiders went through Cowan alley, he
recalled that Mr. and Mrs. Odin heard
the noise and, looking out, saw a dog
leaping along ahead of the men.
"This big black dog, which has
heretofore been neglected In the case, '
says the recorder, "enters into it with
very illuminating effect, because, not
half an hour before, he was standing
watch at the Kate of the post."
Stress was laid by the recorder on
the testimony that the firing that night
was done by volleys. An attempt by
civilians to fire by volleys, he con
tinued, would not. have been sueessful.
Another point taken up by the re
corder was the locating of the bullet
holes found after the shooting
"Not one scrap of evidence," said
he, "has ever been furnished before
any tribunal or official, that a single
building or structure of any kind in
the limits of Fort Brown was struck
by a bullet fired from the direction of
the town of Brownsville. The town
was riddled with bullets during the
firing, and men, women and children,
residents of the town, and who be
longed to every dass of society, ex
cent negro, were exposed to danger."
YOUNG SOCIETY MAN
BANDIT, SAY POLICE
Scion of Prominent Chicago Family
Accused of Robbing Blind and
Paralyzed Grocer and
Wife of $250
CHICAGO, March 28.—Orby Hunter,
23 years of age, tire insurance agent,
bon vivant, society leader and scion
of one of the most prominent families
in Hyde Park, is und;ir bonda on a
charge of robbery and will be ar
raigned before Judge Fry In the Hyde
Park branch of the municipal court
Thursday. He was arrested in his
apartment* In the Holland hotel, where
he had been living since the family
home was closed last fall, when his
mother and two sisters went to Europe
for the winter.
The crime with which Hunter is
charged was committed the night of
February 11. A. K. Gardner, a blind
and paralytic grocer, and his wile were
knocked down in the hallway over their
store at 1.',15 Blast Fifty-third street,
and robbed of $250 which they were
taking Cram the store to'the flat for
safe keeping.
CATANIA, March 28.—Mount Etna
the grandest of European volcanoes, as
Well as one of the most destructive, Is
about quiet, much to the relief of the
native*. A new crater at Volta St.
Otacomo, between Albanellt and Cas
tello. bad opened, ami lava and smoke
rushed forth for a week. More than
DEFENDS SENATE
STATEHOOD BILL
BEVERIDGE URGES IT OVER
HOUSE MEASURE
Bitter Fight in Congress Over Elec
tion Provisions Certain —Demo,
crats Oppose the Al.
terations
• ■ [Associated Prwsl
WASHINGTON, March Senator
Beveridge today presented to the sen
ate the report of the committee on ter
ritories favoring his bill in preference
to that passed by the house for the ad
mission of New .Mexico and Arizona as
separate stales. .
The report defends the changes made
by the senate committee In vigorous
language, especially emphasizing the
refusal of the senate bill to recognize
the present election law of Arizona.
The effect of that law, it is charged,
would be to disfranchise a large num
ber of the oldest and most substantial
citizens of the territory by reason of
their inability to interpret the consti
tution of the United States in English.
The house bill would make the pies- |
cut Arizona law the teat of qualifica
tion! of citizens to vote. Tin- house
provision is favored by Democrats in
both houses, and probably will engen
der the hottest tight of any of the pro
visions.
Republican! in Arizona contend Its
recognition would make tile proposed
new state of Arisona certainly Demo
cratic and would handicap the Repub
licans in tiie territory to luch an ex
tent they would not fed inclined to
make a fight to control Hie state. The
requirement of the senate liill that the i
state constitutions be approved by the
president and congress is approved by
Senator Beveridge, as a measure of
justice to all. The same requirements
were made in the cases of Louisiana,
Alabama and Texas.
Differences Are Many
Another decided difference between
the senate and house bills is the re
quirement in the former that separate
elections be held for ratification of the
constitution and for the selection of
state and other .officers. A precedent
for such a requirement exists in the
case of the admission of Colorado.
Striking features of the senate bill
are the restrictions thrown about the
disposition of public lands, and the dis
position of 1,000,000 acres to each ter
ritory for the payment of county rail
road bonds already validated by con
gress. The house bill appropriated
3 00o]o00 acres to each territory and
contemplates the payment of all bonds
outstanding. The senato bill would
withdraw to the government all of the
saline lands of New Mexico.
Another decided difference in the
two bills is in relation to polygamy
and bigamy, of which Senator Bev
eridge says in his report:
'•The house bill would permit the
practice of polygamy and bigamy, not
withstanding the various prohibitions
thereof."
SINGLE COPIES: ON TRAINS. S CEfiTS
twoacore earthquake shocks were re
corded ..within the week, and the .ob
servatory sent out a warning that
greater and more eruptions might be
expected within the next ten days. A
dozen towns along- the coast were in
danger, and the horrors of 1853, 1592
and of a year ago caused the residents
to make every preparation for flight.
VARDAMAN ALLY
CLAIMS BRIBERY
MISSISSIPPI'S NEW SENATOR
INVOLVED IN AFFAIR
Grand Jury Indicts Rich Planter Who
Is Accused of Having Bought
Ballot for
Percy
[Associated Press]
JACKSON, Miss., March 28.—From
a maze of accusations *nd denials that
money was offered a member of the
stati' senate for !>is vote for Senator
Percy, successful candidate for the
United States senate from Mississippi,
the surface developments tonight, after
one of the most strenuous days Mis
sissippi has experienced politically in
years, are:
A grand jury indictment charging L.
C. Dulaney of lasaquena county, a
prominent planter, with tendering a
bribe to State Senator Theodore Bilbo.
The refusiU of the grand jury to in
dict Mr. KlLbo lor accepting a bribe.
A resolution pending in the senate
of the state demanding the expulsion
of BiiijM, held in abeyance until to
-111 irrow, when a statement will be
made by him.
All tills came in rapid sequence,
after :i formal declaration by Mr. Bil
bo that during the recent legislative
caucus he ha dbeen approached by Mr.
Duiuney and tendered $lUUU if ho
would lend bit support to Mr. Percy;
that a part of the amount, $G4f>, was
Sto be paid Immediately, the balance
after the election of enator Percy; that
he accepted the tender to be used as
evidence t" BUPPOrt charges that ir
regular methodi were being used to
encompass the defeat of Mr. Varde
man, of whom he was a supporter, and
that the money he received he hand
ed to a local minister with a state
ment of the facts. This Air. Bilbo de
clared, he told the Hinds county grand
jury.
CRAZED MAN'S PLAN TO
KILL BALLINGER FOILED
CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 28.—Wil
liam Scheldknecht, a Swiss, 46 years
old, who declared he was being forced
by anarchists to assassinate Secretary
Ballinger, was arrested here today. He
was committed to the state hospital
for the insane by order of the probate
court.
Scheldkneeht claims to have come
from rat.rson, N. J.. where he said
lie had been sworn to kill Mr. Ballin
ger. He asserted a man was follow
ing him to murder him if he did not
cany out his oath. According to phy
sicians, rieheldknecht is the victim of
permanent hallucinations.
BALLINGER LAUGHS AT STORY
WASHINGTON, March 28.—Secretary
Ballinger laughed when told tonight
that an insane Swiss had been balked
by the Cleveland police in a cheerful
plan to assassinate him. "I have had
experience with madmen before," he
said, "but I'm still unharmed."
(S CENTS
HUNDREDS BURN
TO DEATH BEHIND
DOOR NAILED UP
Hungarian Villages Deso
lated by Appalling
Tragedy at Dance
300 DEAD; 100 INJURED
Blazing Revelers, in Panic,
Fight for Life as the
Flames Devour
MATE-SZALKA. Hungary, March
28.—The village of O«k0«rltn
si ml tin; adjacent districts have
been thrown Into mourning by a ter
rible disaster at the former place, last
nleht, Which resulted In the death of
between 300 and 400 persons, and the
serious injury of 100 others.
A public ball WM announced to be
held iit the hotel, where the coach
house had been fitted up as a ball
room, It wai a great, barn-like struc
ture, decorated with tinder-dry Juno
branchei left from a previous enter
tainment, to which were added, for the
occasion, other decorations and Chi
nese lanterns.
The festivity attracted pleasure
■eekeri from the surrounding country
and the building was so packed just
before the ball commenced that tho
■Ingle door that afforded entrance and
exit, was nailed up to prevent the ad
mittance of scores who clamored out
side.
While '.:ie dancing was in full swing,
a pine L ranch caught fire and fell to
the floor. It blazed furiously and ftl
most instantly the dresses of se,
Women burst into flame*. The fire
spread with astonishing rapidity.
dreadful panic ensued, the re\
losing their heads completely. M.m"
of them, with flames shooting £ror.
their garments, rushed toward the
barred exit, where a surging mass waa
Jammed together.
Womefo and men fell and were tram
pled under foot. Those in front vain
ly endeavored to tear open the door,
but Were crushed helplessly by the
pressure of the crowd behind.
Blazing Roof Falls
Soon the roof crashed In, the blaz
ing wreckage falling on the helpless
victims, so that many of those who
had hitherto escaped the flames were
struck down by beams or buried under
debris.
When the door was finally broken
open some of the persons escaped, but
moat of these collapsed befoVe they
got far. Inside th.> building were
heap* Vf charred corpses. Screams and
groans still were audible, from the
I smoking piles.
A detachment of troops was ordered
U the scene to clear the wreckage
and help bury the dead.
The official estimate, as given to
night, states that 290 persons perished,
but it is believed the total death roll
will prove much larger than this, as
many persons have not been accounted
for.
GOES HOME AFTER
12 YEARS; ARRESTED
Frank 0. Abraham of Los Angeles in
Trouble at Sacramento Through
Attempt to Get Chi I.
dren <
SACRAMENTO, March 28—After
twelve years Frank O. Abraham of Los
Angeles took a sudden notion recently
to visit his former family, now living
here As a result he was arrested to
day because Mrs. S. E. Brown, who
was formerly his wife, objected to the
manner In which he tried to take her
children from her. They were divorced
twelve years ago. He wrote letters to
Mrs Brown concerning the three chil
dren in which threats are said to have
boon made if the youngsters were not
given to his custody.
The letters were of such a nature*
that the eldest son declared he would
whip his father unless he left town. To
prevent this Mrs. Brown applied to
the police for the arrest of Abraham.
For twelve years not a word had
been heard by the members of the fam
ily from Abraham. The divorce was
granted on the ground of cruelty, and
Vbraham and his wife parted enemies.
PHYSICIAN STRUCK
BY AUTO; IS DEAD
Member of American Hospital Asso
ciation Staff Receives Injuries
from Which He Died Two
Hours Later
Dr. D. F. Howell, connected with the
American Hospital association, was run
down by an automobile at the corner
of Eighth and Spring- streets shortly
after 12 o'clock last night and, died
about two hours later at the receivingl
hospital. Dr. Howell suffered a frac
ture of the left leg, several broken ribs
and a fracture of the skull.
The automobile which struck the
man was driven by A. M. Shuster,
employed as a chauffeur by the Alex
andria Taxieab company. Shuster was
going south on Spring street with three
women passengers when Dr. Howell
started to cross the street. He was
struck by ' the auto and throw ten
feet
The women left the auto and boarded
an electric car for their homes, while
Bhuster, with the assistance of spec
tators, picked up the injured man and
took him to the receiving hospital.
Howell was unconscious and unable
to talk but from cards found in bis
Dockets it was ascertained that he
lived at 315 "Whitney avenue and was
employed by the American Hospital
association. .■
Shuster was unnerved by the acci
dent and explained that a garbage
wagon was standing at the corner of
Eighth and Spring streets/which pre
vented him from seeing Dr. Howell
until too late to avoid striking him.
The police accepted Shuster's version
and no arrest was mada