The river press. [volume], August 17, 1910, Image 1

About The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current

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The River Press.
Vol. XXX.
Fort Benton, Montana, Wednesday, August 17, 1910.
No. 43
TO CHECK FOREST FIRES.
Dynamite Exploded For Purpose of
Causing Rain.
Wallace , Idaho, Aug. 15.— Two
companies of infantry from Fort
George Wright, Spokane, arrived here
early today to aid in quenching the
great forest fire in the Couer d'Alene
national forest reserve. Conditions
continue to improve. Dynamite was
exploded in Wallace yesterday with
the hope of bringing rain and a small
shower fell during the night.
A ten-mile trench has been dug
aronud the Big creek fire and it is be
lieved that only a heavy wind will
cause it to get away from the fire fight
ers.
A large crew of men on the Borax
fire on Idaho mountain went on a
strike yesterday because they believed
the foreman was not a union sym
pathizer. Men were sent out today to
take their places.
Washington , Aug. 15.—The fury
of the forest fires in the Glacier nation
al park in Montana has not abated,
according to the latest reports receiv
ed here by the interior department.
Maior Wm. R. Logan, supervisor of
the new park, in a telegram received
by Acting Secretary of the Interior
Pierce today, made another appeal
that troops be rushed to his assist
ance. It is assumed, however, that
the dispatch was sent before Major
Logan received word that soldiers
were enroute.
Major Logan was instructed to com
municate with the commander of Fort
Wright at Spokane, Wash., who
would inform him how many soldiers
had been placed at his disposal and
when they would arrive.' If the force
proves inadequate, more will be sent.
It Produces Revenue.
Washington , Aug. 15.— Close tab
is being kept by treasury department
officials on the receipts and expendi
tures under the Payne-Aldrich law,
which is to be a big issue in the com
ing campaign.
A statement given out today by As
sistant Secretary of the Treasury
Hilles, shows that during the first six
weeks of the fiscal year beginning
July 1, 1910, the "ordinary receipts"
have increased over the receipts for
the corresponding period a year ago
by more than half a million dollars a
week, while the disbursements for that
period were one million dollars less.
Death of Famous War Nurse.
London , Aug. 14. —Florence Night
ingale, the former nurse of the Crim
ean war and the only woman who ever
received the Order of Merit, died yes
terday afternoon at her London home.
Florence Nightingale was born May
12, 1820. She was the first woman to
follow a modern army into battle a9
a nurse, and in the Crimean war
gained the title of "Angel of the
Crimea."
At the close of the war she was en
abled by a testimonial fund amount
ing to $250,000, to found an institution
for the training of nurses, the Night
ingale home at St. Thomas. She was
also the means of calling attention to
the unsanitary conditions of the camp
hospitals.
Inspecting Irrigation Projects.
Billings , Aug. 15. —Accompanied
by Senator Thoma9 H. Carter and
Congressman Charles N. Pray, the
army and reclamation engineers who
are inspecting the government irriga
tion projects, will leave here tonight
after having spent several days look
ing over the Huntley project. The
party will spend tomorrow atGlendive
and probably spend the night at Sid
ney. This will give them an oppor
tunity to look over the Lower Yellow
stone project.
As the schedule is now arranged, the
engineers will visit the Buford-Tren
ton and Williston projects in the Da
kotas on Wednesday, and then return
to Montana, arriving at Glasgow on
the morning of August 18. Two days
will be spent in the Milk river valley
and the party will arrive in Great
Falls on the morning of the 20th. Gov.
E. L. Norris, who left the party here,
expects to join it again at Great Falls.
The engineers plan to spend three
days on the Sun river projeot. They
will reached Browning on the morning
of the 24th. Three days will be spent
in going over the St. Mary's river
territory.
They Fear Cholera.
Washington , Aug. 13.—Rigorous
measures have been taken by United
States representatives abroad to pre
vent the introduction into this country
of cholera. At the instance of the
public health service at Washington,
the United States consular officers at
Hamburg, Bremen, Antwerp and Rot
terdam and other continental and
British ports are working under
cabled instructions which require them
to detain steerage passengers from
cholera infected districts in Russia and
to disinfect baggage prior to embark
ing for the United States. The in
structions were given obedience at
•hipping points.
Lind Declines Nomination.
St. Paul , Aug. 15.—In a letter re
ceived today by F. A. Day, chairman
of the democratic state central com
mittee, John A. Lind, of Minneapolis,
who is in Seattle and who was named
for governor by the democratic state
convention in July says:
"I cling to my original decision to
refuse to be a democràtic candidate
for governor, though 1 am without a
full knowledge of the situation."
Homesteads On Coal Lands.
Pierre , S. D., Aug. 13.—Following
a conference yesterday of the congres
sional delegation of this state, Gov
ernor Vessey of South Dakota, Gov
ernor Burke of North Dakota, and
representatives of the settlers, Gov
ernor Vessey and Logan Berry of the
South Dakota settlers representative,
and J. D. Newton and the North Da
kota representative, started today for
Washington to attempt to obtain a
modification of the coal land with
drawals in the western part of the two
states.
They will ask that the settlers be al
lowed to acquire surface title without
delay and without preiudlce to the
coal title so far as the government is
concerned.
They will also ask for a ruling of
the department that when special
agents file an adverse report on the
final proof of a claimant, the agent
must within reasonable time sustain
his chsrges and not cause the settler
to prove his innocence. Such a ruling
would be a radical change from field
work as now conducted.
Floods in Japan.
Tokio , Aug. 12.—The devastation
wrought throughout may districts by
the recent floods in Japan is appalling.
Whole villages and towns have been
washed away and many lives have
been lost. In the lower sections of
Tokio alone, 30,000 houses are Bub
merged. Communication by railroad
throughout the flooded area has been
interrupted.
There is much suffering and in
many places the inhabitants are des
titute and threatened with starvation.
The monetary loss amounts to millions
of dollars.
Wyoming Range Trouble.
Salt Lake City , Aug. 13.—A spec
ial dispatch to the Evening News tells
of the breaking out of range trouble
near J ay Em, in Converse county,
Wyo. A sheep camp established be
yond a deadline set by the cattlemen
was raided and the wagon burned.
The Wool Growers' association is
gathering material for prosecutions.
Meeting of Governors.
Helena , Aug. 10. —Governor Nor
ris indorses the idea of Governor Bay
of Washington to hold a conference
of the western governors prior to the
meeting of the National Conservation
congress to be held at St. Paul.
Speaking of the matter Governor Nor
ris said:
"I think such a conference would be
of value, and have so informed Gov
ernor Hay in reply to his telegraphic
and mail invitations. There seems to
be some apprehension that it is the
purpose of some of the managers of
the National Conservation congress
to predominate by sheer force of
numbers.
"I was assured, however, when in
St. Paul recently, by the St. Paul
Business Men's association, that the
weBt would be given every opportunity
to present its views on the general
question of conservation. I have not
the slightest doubt that this will be
done, but at this time I feel that it
would be a good plan for western
governors to meet and reach some
definite conclusion with regard to the
attitude to which they can all sub
subscribe.
Practical Dry Farming.
Great Falls Leader.
The trouble with Montana dry land
farming would seem that it has been
practised more largely upon paper
than in practice, and words do not
sprout wheat. Those dry land farm
ers who practiced dry land farming
on the soil are reaping the result with
the reaper.
'•Printe Ail tta« M* we."
If any reader of the River Prbss
considers it worthy of recommendation
to friends, the favor will be very high
ly appreciated by its publishers.
BIG LAND SWINDLE.
Montana Residents Warned Against
Real Estate Fraud.
Washington , Aug. 13.—In a state
ment issued late today by the interior
department, through the reclamation
service, the promoters of a purported
land deal on the Yakima Indian reser
vation are denounced as "probably an
organized band of swindlers, posing
as real estate men."
Hundreds of letters have been re
ceived from Montana, asking for in
formation, and investment by Mon
tana people in the scheme is said to be
very large. These promoters have
widely advertised throughout the en
tire country that more than a million
acres of government land Is soon to
be opened on the Y akima reservation,
and glowing pictures are painted of
opportunities for homeseekers. An
authorized statement of the reclama
tion service says:
"The facts are that the government
does not contemplate any opening on
the Yakima reservation at this time,
and has not for some time; there are
nothing like a million acres to be
opened, and none of the land .to be
opened to entry is likely to be irrir
gable, or suitable for any purpose
whatever except grazing. It is not
probable that there is a quarter sec
tion of land on the reservation, out
side of what will be Included in the In
dian allotments, upon which a person
could make a living by farming. It Is
rumored that these swindlers are offer
ing to locate Boldiers' claims for 825
each."
Soldiers As Fire Fighters.
Washington , Aug. 13. — Major
General Leonard Wood, chief of staff
of the army, today asked the interior
department and the forest service to
agree on a joint plan for the use of
United States troops for fighting the
forest fires in the west.
While the war department has been
rushing soldiers to the aid of fire fight
ers as quickly as requested, General
Wood told officials of both services
that the efficiency of the troops would
be greatly Increased if a plan coHld
be decided on which would prevent
duplication of requests and clashes of
authority. Such a plan probably will
be presented to him today.
The war department has troops all
around the fires in western Montana
and northern Idaho, either at mobili
zation camps or at home posts. By a
joint plan of action troops nearest the
individual fires will be sent to fight
them. General Wood says the Indian
and forestry services will be given all
the troops they may need during the
emergency.
Two companies of infantry from
Fort Wright, Wash., have been order
ed to Wallace, Idaho, and one to Kal
is pell, Mont., to aid in fighting forest
fires. The two companies now en route
to Glacier Peak will be divided and
one will be dispatched to Kallspell,
giving that section two companies.
Filling the Jails.
Los angeles, Aug. 11.— The jails
of Los Angeles and Long Beach are
fiilled to capacity with striking labor
ers arrested during the last week on
charges of violating the ordinances
against "picketing," enacted recently
by the two cities. In Los Angeles are
more than 5,000 brewery workers and
iron workers, who walked out some
weeks ago. They have purposely
caused their own arrests in order to
test the "picketing" law, which is de
clared by attorneys for the laboring
men to be unconstitutional.
The men have all demanded jury
trials. E. P. Kramer, the first to be
tried, was convicted and sentenced to
pay a fine of 950 or serve 50 days in
jail. His case will be appealed to the
supreme court.
Conspiracy Disclosed.
Memphis , Tenn., Aug. 11.— Dlsclo
sures of almost sensational nature in
volving high former officials of the
Illinois Central railroad in the con
splracy by which the Memphis Car
company defrauded the railroad of
hundreds of thousands of dollars, was
made here today when a decree was
issued in the chancery court.
H. McCourt, a general superintend
ent of the Southern lines of the Illi
nois Central and W. S. King,'general
superintendent of the Yazoo & Miss
i8sippl railroad, have made voluntary
restitutions of $13,000 in cash, it is
said.
Mentioned in the decree as stock
holders also were the names of Frank
B. Harriman, general manager of the
Illinois Central; William Renshaw,
until May 1, 1909, superintendent of
machinery; Joseph E. Baker, assist
ant superintendent of machinery, and
John M. Taylor, general superintend
ent of the Burnside shops, Chicago.
A deed was recorded in the regis
ter's office here today by which the
Memphis Car company transfers to
the railroad all its property in this
elty.
This transfer, it is understood,
•mounts to about «200,000. The rail
road sued for 9300,000, alleging large
frauds in charges made against it for
the repair of ears, and alleged that
njen in the road's employment had
baen in collusion with the Memphis
Car company.
Charged with Manalaughter.
Boise , Idaho, Aug. 11.—Today at
Weiser, Idaho, E. M. Heigho, presi
dent of the Pacific, Idaho & Northern
railroad was held for trial in the dis
trict court on the charge of man
slaughter. He was released on 85,000
bail.
The accusation against Heigho arose
from the death from heart failure, of
Mrs. Sylvia Reigelman of Omaha,
who was visiting her son, Wesley
Barton, cashier of the First National
bank of Weiser, when Heigho appear
at the Barton home, called Barton
out and assaulted him. In the course
of the fight, it is alleged, Heigho act
ed as though he intended to shoot.
Mrs. Reigelman fainted and died in
20 minutes.
CONSERVATION CONGRESS.
Many Notable Men are Scheduled to
Speak at the Meeting.
St. Paul , Aug. 12. —"I know of no
public question that could bring so
many representative men together in
a convention as that of conservation,"
said Thomas R. Shipp, secretary, in
speaking of the coming congress to be
held in St. Paul September 5, 6, 7, 8. 9.
"A glance at the list of speakers is
sufficient to show that the country's
best men are behind this movement,
and I have no doubt the second con
gress is going to set a pace that will
be hard to follow In the future."
The list of speakers to which Sec
retary Shipp referred contains such
narres as William H. Taft, president
of the United States; Theodore Roose
velt, former president of the United
States; Gifford Pinchot, Senators Bev
eridge, Dolliver and Nelson and such
representative men as James J. Hill,
Wallace D. Simmons and James R.
Garfield.
There has been a lot of talk about
politics in connection with the con
gress. That there will be in St. Paul
at that time members of the United
States senate, members of the house,
governors of many states and mayors
of many cities, is sufficient cause to
say that there will be some political
pow-wows on the side, but it is the in
tention of the officers of the congress
to keep politics out of the proceedings
as far as possible.
"Insurgency" is pretty well repre
sented on the program with Pinchot,
Garfield and Senators Beveridge and
Dolliver as speakers. This in itself
is a refutation of the statements that
have been made concerning President
Taft's connection with the program.
It was said that the president insisted
upon certain changes being made be
fore he would agree to speak.
When Governor Eberhart returned
to St. Paul after heading the commit
tee which visited the president at Bev
erly and tendered the invitation, he
said the president did not even ask to
see the program and made no sug
gestions whatever concerning it.
Idaho Towns in Danger.
Spokane , Aug. 12.—Blazing em
bers carried by the wind from the
burning forests on the mountain sides
were falling in Wallace, Idaho, today.
The dense smoke made it Impossible
to see objects 200 yards away. A hun
dred families packed up their posses
sions and fled to Spokane or other
towns. Should the wind become
stronger, it is believed nothing can
save the town.
Forest fires in the Placer creek dis
trict, five miles from Wallace, have
destroyed the compresser buildings,
boiler plants, blacksmith shops and
cabins owned by the Wentworth Cloth
ing company and the Vienna National
Mining company, the Arctic, the
Smuggler and Golden State com
panies. Owing to the dense smoke
and falling embers it is impossible to
get into the camp to estimate the dam
age.
Mullan, Murray and other camps
are in danger. At Mullan firemen
and citizens are keeping the roofs
soaked. Near Murray two men spent
the night in a tunnel with their heads
covered with wet blankets. Timber
on Kellogg peak, close to Wardner
is blazing but the town is said to be
safe.
CASE IS HOPEFUL
Mayor Gaynor's Condition is Regard
ed as Encouraging.
New York , Aug. 10.— A consulta
tion of physicians over Mayor Wm. J.
Gaynor, who was shot by a discharg
ed city employe yesterday, was held
this morning, after which the follow
ing bulletin was issued:
"11:00 a. m. The mayor continues
to do well. It is the unanimous opin
ion of the surgeons that no operation
is necessary at this time."
The condition of Mayor Gaynor is
regarded as encouraging, although It
continues to be a source of great anx
iety. The first bulletins of the day
were hopeful in tone, indicating that
the patient was resting easy and tak
ing occasional" nourishment, and the
bulletin issued at 11 o'clock was re
garded as favorable. The wound it
self is not causing serious trouble, but
the doctors are giving their ohief at
tention to overcoming the dangers of
possible infection. The mayor re
mains calm and keeps cheerful.
Shortly before 10 o'clock Mayor
Gaynor was allowed a little more
nourishment in the form of chicken
broth and was permitted a taste of
coffee. His appetite was by no meanB
satisfied, however. He said he was
very hungry and laughingly suggest
ed to Secretary Adamson that the lat
ter smuggle in a little more broth for
him. The mayor was in no pain and
continued talking freely on various
occasions.
A formal bulletin Issued at 7:30
o'clock was preceded by an informal
and equally reassuring statement by
Dr. William Arlitz, who left the
mayor's bedside at 6 o'clock, bring
ing word that the patient had passed
a good night and that no untoward
symptoms had developed.
While the mayor's condition is ad
mittedly very serious and the physi
cians would not commit themselves
on a statement as to the outcome, Sec
retary Adamson who was one of those
who remained with the patient all
night, said he considered the outlook
very hopeful.
Fire Conditions Improved.
Washington , Aug. 10. The Are
conditions in the national forests have
improved.
A telegram received today by Asso
ciate Forester Potter from Associate
Forester Silcox at Missoula. Mont.,
under whose jurisdiction the forest
fires have been, reported the fires in
the territory were now under control,
except those in the Clearwater and
Coeur d'Alene reserves in Idaho. He
said the federal troops from Forts
Harrison and Missoula in Montana
were co-operating with the forces in
fighting the flames.
Mr. Silcox estimated that about 200,
000 acres have been burned over. For
est officials here are unable to ap
proximate the monetary loss with any
degree of accuracy, because they are
without definite information as to the
extent of devastation from the burned
over area. It is thought, however,
that the loss will be very large.
Back Haul Tariffs Suspended.
Washington , Aug. 9.— What are
known as the back haul tariffs from
Portland, Seattle and Tacoma in the
state of W ashington have been sus
pended by the Interstate Commerce
commission pending an inquiry into
their reasonableness. The tariffs
were to have become effective August
1 on the Northern Pacific, but the
action of the commission restrained
the Une from putting them into effect.
The proposed advances in the back
haul rate were made by the Northern
Pacific in the face of a decision of the
commission that the rates ought to be
reduced 20 per cent.
In the hearing of the back haul case
last autumn by the full commission it
was agreed by the railroads that the
reduction of 17 2-3 per cent probably
would be fair. In spite of this state
ment, however, the advance of 25 per
cent was made. It waa this advance
that the commission suspended.
The hearing in the matter will take
place in Chicago August 29 before
George N. Brown, ohief examiner for
the commission.
Damaged by Fire.
Reno , Nev., Aug. 10.—Fire which
started in the changing room of the
Best & Belcher Mining company yes
terday afternoon and raged among the
surface buildings of the company and
over the mouth of the shaft, destroyed
the hoisting works of the company,
causing a loss which at this time is
estimated at 850,000, partially cover
ed by insurance.
Although the Best & Belcher shaft
is the "uptake" of all the Gold hill
mines, work in the other properties
will not be interfered with, owing to
the fact that the fire did notreach the
shaft and Foreman Fred Black stated
this morning that so far as he la able
to learn there has been no damage to
the underground workings. The fire
was extinguished at 1 o'clock thia
morning. A few sets of timber aronnd
the mouth of the shaft are damaged
and will have to be replaced.
The residence of former Senator
Jones, which is on the hill near Belch«
er, caught fire, but waB extinguished
before any great damage was done.
The cause of the fire is unknown and
no theory has been advanced. No men
were hurt. There were no men In the
mine at the time the fire Btarted.
Forest Firea Still Burning.
Washington , Aug. 11—The forest
service has called upon the war de
partment for aid to fight the forest fires
in Montana. General Leonard Wood,
chief of staff of the army, has directed
that a battalion of the Fourteenth in
fantry, now maneuvering at American
lake camp, be ordered immediately to
Missoula, Mont.
Serious forest fires are raging again
on the Flathead Indian reservation in
Montana and the situation in the
Coeur d'Alene national forest in Ida
ho, continues extremely critical.
The conditions in other national for
est reserves have materially improved,
according to advices received by the
forest service.
A telegram received today by Act
ing Secretary Pierce of the interior de
partment from Superintendent Mor
gan of the Flathead Indian reserva
tion said that seven distinct fires were
beyond control and asked that com
panies of troops be sent to his aid.
The war department complied with
Mr. Pierce's request.
THE OKLAHOMA SCANDAL
Even Papooses Signed Contracts for
McMurray.
McAlester , Okla., Aug. 11.—II
was brought out In the congressional
investigation of the Gore bribery
ohargea today that baby Indians, as
well as adult ones, had "signed" the
McMurray contracts providing for
the sale of 830,000,000 worth of land
on a 10 per cent "attorneys' fees."
The names of the papooses were
signed by the parents or guardians,
witnesses testified. It was incidental
ly developed thatracesuicideisfarfrom
being threatened among the Indians,
as families of six to nine children are
common.
J. M. Perkins, a Choctaw, testified
that he had nine children, all of whom
had signed the contracts.
"We were led to believe that the
contracts were a good thing," said
Perkins. "We considered that Mc
Murray knew better than our congress
men and senators how to go about
selling the land. We believed that by
signing the contracts we would realize
quicker on our claims against the gov
ernment. That is why I and the child
ren signed up."
Dr. J. B. Miller, a Choctaw by in
termarriage, testified that he and his
eight children had signed thecontracts.
The present great wealth of the Okla
homa Indians was brought out in tes
timony.
Indian witnesses took the stand and
told of measuring their land by the
thousand acres. One Indian testified
his family owned 1,200 acres of which
1,000 acres were under cultivation,
with cotton, corn and potatoes. The
land is rented out, he said, giving him
one-quarter of the cotton crop, and
one-third of the corn without labor
from him.
Mayor Gaynor Improving.
New York , Aug. 11.—Mayor Wil
liam J. Gaynor showed greater
strength today than at any time since
his life was attempted on the steamer
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse on Tues
day. Not only were the physicians
encouraged by the mayor's oondltion,
but Thomas L. Gaynor, his brother,
left for a three days' visit in Balti
more. Mr. Gaynor said there was no
cause for worry. There will be no
further consultation of physicians un
til tonight. The official morning bul
letin was encouraging, showing Mayor
Gaynor's temperature was 100 15 and
pulse 76.
Bailey's Boom.
Galveston , Tex., Aug. 10.—After
indorsing Senator Bailey for the
democratic president In 1912 and nomi
nating a full ticket headed by Oscar
Colquitt for governor and A. B.
Davidson for lieutenant governor,
the democratic state convention ad
journed this aaternoon. Both Ctilquitt
and Davidson are antl-prohibitionists,
notwithstanding the fact that the plat
form declares for the submission of a
prohibition amendment to the people.