Evening Star Newspaper, January 26, 1897, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. gee PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1301 Penneyivama Aveune, Cor. 11th Bt, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company. S. H. SR ASEPMANG rest Few York Offce, 49 Petter Building, he Evenl St erved to subscribers In the iy by cartieras on thelr owe account; at 10 conte month, Coples at ‘Sy mail—anywhere im the ‘aaada— postage prepaid—60 cents pic, tect Star. $1 per year. with e adkied, $3.0 fhe Test Omice at Washington, D. C.. Saturday foreign (Ent. CHIEF OF ENGINEERS General Craighill to Retire From Active Service Next Saturday. HIS LONG AND HONORABLE CAREER Splendid Record During and Since the War of the Rebellion. a es HIS PROBABLE SUCCESSOR Jee 7 SES Gen. William Price Craighill, chief of engineers, will retire from active service tm the army next Saturday afternoon and the selection of his successor will devolve upen Pri nt Cleveland. Gen. Craighill’s rel of his important office at this time is entirely voluntary and fs due almest entir a desire for @ short va- n, which he will improve in looking for more permanent employment of a con- nial character in civil life. He has been n active for forty-thre2 the nilitary service includ. exciting period of ars. ug the a Gen. Craighitl. civil war, and during all that time he has no- had over six months’ leave of abse He will be si ct to compu by operatio: however, pr of officers who cir own ory have pplica ivileze of which Gen ntage. He was our years nearly ed mental clegated to a has strong d for “age,” been his 1 of time but for estall it. 1s good retary of {from fur- proximo, Che Zvenmg Star. No. 13,698. WASHINGTON, D. ©. TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1897-TWELVE PAGES inauguration of a comprehensive system of fortifications in all parts of the country and by the inauguration and continuation of important river and harbor works for which iarge appropriations became avatl- able at the beginning of the present fiscal year. He has been a good friend to the District of Columbia, and has given his Col. J. M. Wilson, personal attention ana much valuable time to bring about an improved syst2m of water supply. He made a personal investigation of the Lydecker tunnel conduit and has made several strong appeals to Congress for its utilization in the general project for an increased supply of water. He also rendered valuable assistance in the matter of suburban street extensions and in _the improvement of Rock Creek Park. Gen- tle a modest, suave and obliging, he will always be remembered with pleasure by every one who has come in contact with him, either officially or socially. His Probable Successor. Although it may be somewhat prema- ture to hazard a prediction as to who will succeeed him as chief of engineers, it is accepted in army circles that the ce lies between Col. Henry M. Robert, division engineer of the northwest divis- ien, with station at New York, and Col. John M. Wilson, division engineer of the northeast division, and in charge of public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia, with the chances strongly in favor of the latter. Both these officers are well known in Washington through their services here. Col. Robert was formerly Engineer Commissioner of the District. They are the ranking officers in the En- gineer Corps in the order named, and both have four years of active service ahead of them. Col. Robert retires in May, 1901, and Col. Wilson in October of the same year. Col. Wilson is a Washington boy, born and bred, and 1s generally believed to be the President's choice for the appoint- ment. Col. George S. Gillespie, who stands No. 5 in the corps, is sald to be a for- midable competitor for the appointment. He has been stationed in New York city for many years, and has strong backing in at quarter, not the least of which is the Secretary of War. The appointment will Probably be made next week, within a few after the retirement of Gen. Craig- hill. = DENOUNCED AS HIGH-HANDED. Idaho Democrats Indignant at Inter- ference in the Senatorship Fight. BOISE, Idaho, January 26—In response to a dispatch from Chairman Jones of the national democratic committee, sixteen of the elghteen democratic members of the legislature have signed a dispatch to Mr. Jones, which say: “We denounce the arbitrary interference by federal authorities in local affairs as a violation of the Constitution of the United States, and a crime against free institu tion: “The democratic party having been rati- fied by an overwhelming majority at the polls, the adoption of your suggestion to support Mr. Dubois would stultify our party Virginia), ademy from years late of fifty mates were McPherson, Union side -rals Hood, -two “hambliss ar army. Ap ‘ ief of engi he was May 10 pp Ise ivil war he re and colon At various times e had ch Wash -olonel of are and ona . at West veral Craignill bureau in the from ISG to gine ‘are, and on the id Southern Cali- the surveys tor apeake of the aud Ate Important Craighill has n twice sent to osineering missfons and has five times i the Pacific coast on similar service. eeldent of the board appointed nd recommend to Congress sites ms oa the Pa- ber of the for sev- times been tent my at West Point. a member of the Ameri- rs, he became zation in 1su4, army who has He is «also a of the tnetion. American Association for ment ef Seience, the Historical Maryland and the American Association. In 1861 he com- Officers’ Pocket Com- he translated and pub- “Cours de Tactiqu: with Mendell, he “Precis de also translated G YArt de la Guerra. As Ch of Engineers, His record as ehief of engineers has been most creditable, and was signalized by the and forever damn in the estimation of our constituents every democrat elected by the majority in the Idaho legislatur “The action of Secretary Walsh in seek- ing to set aside the entire machinery of our state organization, before the cam- paign and now, is a most high-handed, un- warranted proceeding, and unparalleled in the history of American politics.” ee Se COMMENT 0 POKER GAME. French Consul at Yokohama Charged With Cheating. FRANCISCO, January 26.—The French colony in San Francisco and local diplomatic circles are taking considerable interest just now In the scandal which has followed C. Pernel, the French consul at Yokohama, to this city. The poker game in the Yokohama club, the accusation cf cheating made against the French consul and the enforced return of that official to France to explain the affair to the French minister of foreign affairs have proved the subject of considerable comment in this city since the accused official arrived here on the Gaelic, for the reason that Pernel is well known and has many friends and acquaintances in San Francisco. Some years before he went to Japan as the consular representative of his country Pernel filled the position of chancellor or vice consul in the French consulate in this city. ‘The scandal in the Yokohama club cre- ated a big uproar in diplomatic and social cireles in Japan, but In spite of the publici- ty that has been given the matter both in Japan and in this city, Consul Pernel deems it to be his best interests to make no state- The SAN ment or explanation for publication. At the Occidenta! Hotel, where he is staying, he is not to be seen. He has contented himself with authorizing the statement through the local French consulate that he has nothing to say. He is on his way to Paris to explain the affair to the min- ister of foreign affairs, and any previous statement would be, in his opinion, a breach San Francisco Considering Methods of Reltef. \ FRANCISCO, Cal., January 26.—A special meeting of the chamber of com- merce will be held Thursday afternoon to devise means for assisting in the relief of those who ere suffering from plague and famine in India. The merchants of the city have in the past readily responded to all calls for aid in cases of distress, and it ts their intention to show substantially that they sympathize with the sufferers in far India. This meeting will be to sug- gest ideas. It has been suggested by some to charter @ vessel and ship flour and wheat. If the vessel was to sail within a few weeks it will reach India about the time it is feared that the sufferers of the famine will be in the most need of assistance. —_-+——_ MRS. McKINLEY AT CHICAGO. he Has Gone to Look After Her auguration Gowns, CHICAGO, January 26—Mrs. McKinley, wife of the President-elect, arrived in Chi- cago this morning, the guest of Capt. and Mrs. MeWilliams, 3961 Lake avenue. She was accompanied by her cousins, Mrs. Mc- Barber and Capt. Heistand of Canton, Ohio. Mrs. McKinley came here to per- sonally look after the preparation of her inauguration gowns, and will remain in the city for several days. Major McKinley will not join his wife here for the present, but may pay another visit to the city later, OHIODIFFICULTIES|4 D0UBLE coLD wave Republicans Assert That the Story is of Democratic Origin. SET AFOOT BY M'LEAN-SORG PEOPLE Belief That the Whole Scheme Will Fail of Effect. THE SENATORSHIP TALK =e Ohio republicans in Washington assert that the present racket about filling the seat in the Senate soon to bec~™e vacant by the resignation of Mr. Sh . m is of democratic origin and designed to produce democratic results by assuring the election of a democratic legislature to make Mr. John R. McLean senator and a democrat: governor in the person of Mr. Paul Sorg. But they are certain that the scheme, shrewd as it is, will fail. The Democratic Scheme. It is explained that the McLean-Sorg People cannot but be alarmed at the pros- pect of a fight in the state next fall. with both the state and national administration co-operating to secure republican victory. Bushnell for governor and Hanna for sen- ator, both already in office and working together for a new lease of official life, would be a formidable combination for even McLean and Sorg to tackle. Hence this ef- fort to sow dissension in the republican ranks, and to arouse the fighting qualities of Gov. Bushnell and Mr. Foraker. The democrats would be happy indeed to have the republicans set to and destroy one an- other rather than stand together and come at them in solid phlanx. This democratic game, it is pointed out, is difficult, and, therefore, is not altogether well played. Gov. Bushnell is urged to be his own man and not to be dictated to even by Mr. McKinley. And yet all the talk is that Mr. Foraker does not want this thing or that thing done. The democrats sub- ordinate Gov. Bushnell to Mr. Foraker pre- cisely as they charge that the republicans are trying to subordinate, him to Mr. Mc- Kinley Democratic criticism of Mr. Hanna repre- sents him as being without other claim than that of the prestige of one campaign to consideration for a seat in the Senate. Gov. Bushnell has no more to his credit, and Mr. McLean, it is suggested, has yet to carry the state. All three are men of large wealth and men of business, who have demonstrated aptitude for politics, and are anxious now, after working hard for others, to share, themselves, in the honors that are going. The Story About Lieut. Gov. Jones. The suggestion that Lieutenant Governor Jones will be appointed to the vacancy is based upon a story that Mr. Foraker desires it done to redeem a promise made by him. Republican expectation is that if Mr. Foraker’s attention is called to it he will make short work of this yarn. He has great Influence at home, but he does not aspire to be considered as parceling out offices in that way. His own senatorship was bestowed upon him by the republicans of Ohio, and the same power, it is ex- plained, will be felt in the filling of the com- ing vacancy. Besides, Governor Bushnell, it is asserted, could not injure himself half so signally in any other way than he would by thus putting a man into the Senate for no other purpose but to hold the seat until such a time as he, Bushnell, might be ready to occupy it himself. Expect the Scheme to Fail. As already stated, Ohio republicans expect the whole democratic scheme for fomenting trouble in the republican camp to fail. It is very transparent to them. The Ohio democrats are very anxious to win next fall, not only for what such a victory would bring to them at home as for the value of it to the party in the national field. If Mr. McKinley’s own state can at the end of twelve months after helping to elect him President be transferred to the democratic colurrn the result will be hailed as the first gun in the battle leading up to the Congress fights on the cards for next year. For this reason Messrs. McLean and Sorg, in Ohio and wherever else they are able to pull strings, are represented to be busy advertis- ing distressing complications in local repub- lican circles. What Gen. Grosvenor Says. Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio declines to dis- cuss the rumor that Gov. Bushnell will appoint Lieut. Gov. Asa Jones to the va- cancy in the Senate upon the retirement of Senator Sherman, except to say that the sentiment in Ohio, as expressed in the newspapers, seems overwhelmingly in fa- vor of Mr. Hanna. With regard to the rumor that Senator Sherman might re- consider his acceptance of the state port- folio in case Mr. Hanna was not appointed to succeed him, he expressed himself most emphatically. Mr. Sherman,” said he, was tendered the premiership by Mr. McKinley on his own merits. He accepted, and he would have no right to repudiate acceptance bi cause of dissatisfaction with matters grow ing out of his retirement from the Senate; and, moreover, I can say most positively that he has no intention of reconsidering his action.” HARVEST. "S$ ICE If the Cold Snap Lasts It Will Soon Re Gathered. CHICAGO, January 26.—The cold snap, which ts causing so much suffering and in- convenience to many, has given employ- ment to over 12,000 men. The cold weather has brought to the icé dealers just what they wanted, as last week they were won- dering if they would be able to cut the ice needed for next summey. Thirty-five ice companies have plants at points on the Wisconsin Central and Chicago and North- western railroads, within 100 miles of Chi- cago, and twenty of these firms began op- erations on the ice fields today. From this city 2,500 men were sent to points along the Wisconsin Central, and many went out over the Northwestern. The ice fields south of Chicago will also be opened today, and before the week is over there will be about 7,000 men employed at ice gathering within sixty miles south from Chicago. If the cold weather continues the ice men say they will have one of the finest crops ever gathered. ————S Personal Mention. Capt. Francis V. Abbot, Corps of En- gineers, is in the city on business before the light house board. Pay Director Rufus Parks, stationed at Philadelphia, is on temporary duty at the Navy Department. Gen. Morgan having been retired from active service, has, with Mrs. Morgan, left the city for Florida. Mr. Thos. Wheeler, son of Gen. W. Wheeler of Alabama, ‘who has been lying critically ill for some time at 2230 N street, is now in a hopeful condition. Naval Constructor A. W. Stahl, stationed at Norfolk, has reported at the Navy De- partment for temporary duty. Lieut. Col. Jas. C. McKee, retired, is on a visit to the city. ————-2+_____ Naval Orders. Commander W. W. Reisinger has been ordered to the Portsmouth navy yard as ordnance officer, and Ensign F. H. Scho- field to Hartford, Conn., as assistant in- spector of ordnance. That is What Washington is Now Suffering From. So Says Maj. Dunwoody, the Weather Expert — Looking for Warmer Weather Next Friday. Washington is still struggling in the icy grip of winter, and already people are be- ginning to ask how much longer this con- dition of affairs. is going to last. Things have come to such a pass that about all one ean do is to keep ow shoveling coal into the furnace, criticising the working of the steam heaters and trying to make the best of the situation. t Last evening the mercury in the ther- mometer hung about the 10-degree point, and there was every reason to believe that before sunrise this morning the zero point would be reached. Such was not the case, however, for the minimum for the last twenty-four hours was 8 degrees above. But that was cold enough to suit the most particular, for the genetal discomfort was greatly increased by the strong north and northwest winds that blew without ceasing through the long watches of the night. At no time was the wind comparable with the hurricane of last September, but {it was sufficient. A strong wind blowing at the rate of thirty miles an hour is enough to satisfy any one when the temperature that goes with it is 20 degrees or more below freezing point. At 2 lime like this it is but cold comfort at best to remember that we are well off in comparison with the people in the north- west country. We have come to expect almost arything in the way of weather from that part of the world, and {it does not suffice to keep one warm in Washing- ton merely to know that there are places in plenty where the thermometers have registered from 20 to 30 degrees below zero in the last twenty-four hours. In the re- gion north of Lake Superior it 40 de- grees below zero. At Manitoba—oh, well, if Manitoba had never been discovered we probably never would have known what cold weather really is. At the weather bureau {t is customary to lay the respon- sibility for all freak climatic conditions on Manitoba, so that it would really be in the interest of humanity if that geographt!- cal entity were wiped off the face of the map. Warmer in a Few Days. At the weather bureau today the cheer- ing information was given, cut this morn- ing that a better condition of affairs in Washington may he looked for in the next few days. Maj. Dunwoody, the forecast officer, to whom a Star reporter applied for relief ‘this morning, said that we are now suffering from the effects of a double cold wav Before we had time to get over the effects cf the first one the second was upon us, £0 that we are now having a taste of real winter weather for the first time this year. 3 First and best, Major Dunwoody said that the wind had about spent Its strength, and that, while tonight would probably be and ‘cold, the cold would not be anything ke as penetrating and disagreeable as it is wh carried along in the teeth of the gale. he chances are that the mercury will go as low tonight es #t did last night. but the average householder whose weather strips are a bit out of crder and whose fur- nace is not quite all the steve man claimed for it will hardly realize that fact. In the n.eantime the coal dealers are reaping a rich harvest and. are planning to take handsorne cotiages at Newport or Saratoga next summer. The Chances. The chances are that in Washington the temperature will rise slowly for the next few days. Unfortunately, it has a good ways to go, and there is little, if any, hope of things getting back to normal before the latter part of the week—Friday at the earli- est. Tonight will probably be clear. To- morrow gives promise of being partly cloudy, but there is no sign of snow in sight. They were having a taste of snow in northern Texas this morning, and In northern Florida the t:mperature has gone to freezing. There is reascn to believe now, however, that things will not be as bad in Florida as the weather bureau people first thought would be the case. Major Dun- woody sald today that the freezing weather would probabiy extend farther south than Jacksonville. This meang less damage tu the vegetation and less loss to the orange growers than was at first anticipated. There have heen vcry heavy gales along the North Atlantic coast, but fortunately they have teen off-shore gales, which mean compara- tively little danger to shipping. DENIED BY SECRETARY LAMO) A Report That Maj. Powell Had Been Relleved as Engineer Commissioner. A well-defined rumor that Maj. Powei had been relieved from duty as Engineer Commissiorer of the District gained cur- rency at the District building today. Maj. Powell has recently cleaned up his desk, and this fact lent additional color to the rumor. To a Star reporter, who called upon him this morning, the major said he had heard that ke was going to be re- Meved, but had received no official notifica- tion to that effect Secretary Lamont told a Star reporter this afternoon that Maj. Powell had not been relieved and the situation had not been changed from what it had been for six months past. In anticipation of a change in, the engi- neer commissionership, the friends of sev- eral engincer officers are taking vigorous action in their behalf, Probably the two most active candidates for the office are Maj. Wm. T. Rossell, now at Mobile, Ala., and Maj. Thos. W. Symons, on duty at Buffalo, N_ Y., both of whom have hereto- fore served under tne District government. It ts a safe assertion that most all the captains in the corps would like the de- tail because of the increased pay involved. Among tlose mentioned as having a good chance of selection are Capts. Black ani Goethals, row on duty in the office of the chief ‘of engineers ————— THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY. Memorial of Messrs, Smithmeyer and Pelz as to the Proposed Tablet. The long struggle over the degree of credit that should be given various persons who have been engaged in the design and construction of the Congressional Library building was again revived yesterday af- ternoon by the introduction in the Senate of a memorial by John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J. Pelz. They were the original de- e¥gners of the bullding, and later Gen. Casey’s son did considerable work in the beautifying of the building. In the memorial introduced in the Senate yesterday afternoon by Mr. Blackburn. Messrs. Smithmeyer and Pelz condemn the Placing of the name of . Casey’s son upon the commemorative tablet at the en trance of the library as one of the archi- tects of the building, and object to the sep- aration of their names by a line chiseled in the stone so that they appear as the sub- ordinates of Bernard L. Green. The memorialists take exception to state- ments made in the last annual report of Mr. Green, who declared that ‘none of the plans, drawings or designs made prior to = Casey’s charge of the work have been us The memorial continues: “The arrogance and audacity of the engineer now in charge have overridden and contemptuously dis- regarded the express wilt of both houses of Congress, and can only be accounted for by the abnormal! exaltation fi his sud- ae and unexpected Seen Py the death of Gen. Casey." The memo: concludes by the declaration “commemorative tablet complained of i Blt: LOSS BY FIRE Nearly @ Whole Square in Philadelphia Burned. nee MILLIONS OF DAMAGE Flames Swept From Market to Filbert, 18th to Juniper Streets. WANAMARER’S STORE THREATENED Prompt Work Saved the Big Structure. a FLAMES IN CITY BUILDING PHILADELPHIA, January 26,—The most disastrous conflagration that has visited this city in recent years broke out shortly before 7 o'clock this morning in the rear of the basement of the big grocery store of Hanscom Brothers, 1317 Market street, and before the flames were put under con- 18; the Cafe de Blamberg, 20; Budd jewelers, 22; private residence and . 24; Huber & Weber, dry goods. 26: J. H. Stall, jeweler, occupied the firs floor of 28 North 13th and Wm. H. Steff, wall paper manufacturer, the remainder of the building. Foley's restaurant, at North 13th, and James Furlong’s saloon, at 2 and 34, Were the last in the row from Market to Filbert street. All of these buildings were completely gutted. In many instances nothing is left standing but the bare walls. The flames ate their way almost directly northwest from the rear of Blum Brothers’ building, gutting the rear of Showell & Fryer’s big grocery. On Juniper Street. The rear part of numbers 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, ly, 14 , 23 and 25 North Juniper street, which buildings were used as law ofliecs and private residences,was completely burn- ed out, leaving only the front walls stand- ing In some cases. The flames communicated with 1302 Fil- Lert street from the rear of Furlong’s saloon, and quickly burned out 1302 and 1304, dwellings occupied by lawyer Flames in the City Building. While the fire was at its height, flamy were discovered on the window sashes on the side of the big city hall which was ex- posed to the terrible heat. The city hall fire department ran a line of hose to the roof, and in a few minutes had the massive structure free from al! danger. ‘The walls of Hirsh Brothers’ factory col- lapsed soon after 8 o'clock, The other walls left standing resemble huge icebergs, being covered with a heavy coating of ice. Prior to the bresking out of the big fire, there were two other fires within half a mile of Wanamaker’s, and just about the time the firemen had gained control of the gteat conflagration an alarm coming from a point within four blocks caused a portion 0” the army of fire-fighters to scurry away with their engines. Between 3 and 4 a.m. an alarm brought the department to 533 Chestnut — street, where flames had broken out in the fifth story of the building, occupied by O. S. Bunrell, wholesale stationer. The fire was xtinguished with a loss of about $10,000. Fire at Dobson's. Shortly before 6 o'clock another fire start- FILBERT st PUBLIC BUILDING. VUNIPER MARKET ST. WANAMARKERS MAP SHOWING THE property amounting in value to $2,500,000 or more had been destroyed. ‘The flames were first discovered by John Wagner, a resérve policeman, who was sing the big building at 6:50 o'clock. He immediately turned in an alarm. Before the engines reached the scene the entire rear portion of Hanscom & Dennett's big restaurant was ablaze. A second alarm Was then sent in, and a few moments lat a general alarm was sounded. Immediately adjoining Hanscom Broth- ers on the west was the five-story building usied by Blum Brothers, manufacture ladies’ cloaks. The fire spread with almost lightning rapidity and Blum Broth- ers’ buildirg was soon a mass of flames. The water seemed almost to freeze be- fore it touched the buildings, so bitter cold was the weather. The next building on the west to be eaten | up by the raging fire was that occupied by George Marshall as a restaurant; then ceme the hat manufactory of George P. Wells at 1323, and the rear of the whole- sale grocery of Showell & Fryer at 1: Market street. . Flames Going East. While the flames were sweeping west on Market street, the umbrella manufactory of Hirsh Brothers, the largest in the world, which adjoined Dennett's restaurant cn the east. caught fire. The inflammable nature of the immense stock of light silks addel fuel to the seething flames and in half an hour the beautiful eight-storv buildirg extending from 1309 to 1315 Mar- ket street was a ma of flames, On tke east of the Hirsh building between 1,09 and 1301 Market street were the fol- lowing tenants: The Mizpah Restaurant, 1307; Sterner & Ball, wholesale and retail cigar factory, 1305; wholesale and retail confectionery ‘of A.’ Nickolacky, 1303, and the big drug store of H. Hillman at 1301, the upper story of which was occupied by Potter Brothers as a photograph gallery. On Filbert Street. On the north side of Hirsh Brothers’ factory, immediately acrcss Silver street, stood the new seven-story building of Dun- lap Brotkers, the only printing firm in the stote with a capacity for printing the big blanket Australian ballots. This build- ing extended from 1306 to 1310 Filbert street and was 100 feet deep. The first floors were occupied by the Collins Car- riage Company. The flames swept through this big structure and gutted it completely. The small buildings on Silver street’ which run west from 13th to Juniper were ail gutted. The shop of Contractor Lewis Havens caught fire from the rear of Blum Brothers and three firemen were caught by a fall- ing wall. Frank Piper of engine company No. 30 was the only man seriously in- jured. Wanamnaker’s on Fire. At 8:15 fire was discovered in the tower ot John Wanamaker’s big dry goods store. A stream of water from one of the water towers was run up to the burning structure, but the supply of water was either too small or the apparatus defective, as tne | stream wuld not reach. The tower con- tained a handsome clock and chimes. At 9 o'clock the entire tower collapsed, the clock falling through to the first floor. Two lines of hose were then gotten on top of the gigantic structure and the flames which had threatened to destroy Philadel- phia’s most famous store were soon under control. The fire had been confined entirely to the Market street front and the loss sustained by Mr. Wanamaker was principally in the destruction of his clock and chimes, and the breaking of all the large plate glass windows cn Market street. The roof of the building was ablaze at one time ,and it seemed as though the entire structure was doomed, but the hose oper- ated by the employes of the big establish- ment kept the fire within bounds. On North Thirteenth Street. Up to this time the flames had been con- fined to the block bounded by Filbert street on the north, 13th on the east, Market on the south and Juniper on the west. The wind was blowing from the west, and car- ried the flames right into the rear of the buildings on 13th street. The first building to catch fire was that of Jacob Miller, gents’ furnishing goods, 6 North 13th. Then came the cigar factory of L. Tarbliss & Co., at 8 North 13th street; A. McCune & Co., manufacturers of picture frames, 10 and 12; E. Pither, ary goods, 14; 8. H. Shull, drugs, 16; Heines’ FIRE DISTRICT. ed on the sixth floor of the big carpet store of John & James Dobson, S08, 810 and SI? Chesinut street. Py hard work the flames were ccenfined to the sixth story, but the water souked through every floor to the i The store was filed with ex- carpets, rugs and upholstery, and caused by water and smo! ex- $100,000. t 10:30 ‘a.m. a in Cochran's ¢ reet, four block: : ing on the same w to be ouly a minor affair confined to the third stery, and the loss to reet. This proved the flames being $2,000. it was while aimost entire depar ment was batthng against e tire at Dol § arm was sounded from 13th Everybody in Phi arm from t Wanamaker sinut streets, phia who bears of locality instinctively cries The great store covers tie entire block bounced by Chestnut, Market, Ith and Juniper streets, and as the building wWe constructed y rs ago, many cf the fir dern structure lacking. The firemen soon feund, how that the flames had attacked the opposite Wanamaker’s on the north, proof features of more m ari separated from the big store by Market street’s width of 120 fect. Saving Wanamaker's. When it was apparent that the block originally attacked was doomed, squads of firemen, with long lines of hose, were d: tailed to try and save Wanamaker’s. This structure, with the goods piled up within its four walls, represented a money vali of over $10,000,000. Despite the efforts of the city firemen, reinforced by Wanama er’s fire brigade, the high wind prevailing ferced the flames across Market street after they had been fought off for an h and a lalf. The fire first caught in the high tower on the Market street corner. This supported a big clock and chime: which rang out every half hour. Liv patches of flame made their appearance along the edge of the roof of the main structure, and the excitement among the firemen was intense. All knew that if the flames in Wanamaker’s once got beyond control there was no telling where the con- flagration would stop. All breathed a deep sigh of relief, there- fcre, when the announcement was made that beyend the destruction of the tower, the scorching of paint and woodwork on the Market street front and the cracking of the big plate glass windows, the iire would not further damage Wanamaker's. Smoke penetrated almost every portion of the store, and the damage to delicate dry gcods from this cause will be heavy. Had the flames enveloped Wanamaker's noth- ing could possibly have prevented the de- struction of scores of big buildings on Chesnut street, which is narrow and close- ly built. Mr, Wanamaker Not Disturbed. Mr. Wanamaker was early on the scene. At present he employes 4,200 people, and as many men in this army of employes as would be of use in fighting the flames were admitted to the store. The admirable pre- cautions that the inflammable nature of the structure had made necessary renderei the work of the trained fire brigade easy and at the same.time effective. Mr. Wana- maker said to an Associated Press reporter at 9:30 a.m.: “The fire is confined to the Market street ead of my store, and three hours efter the firemen are out of the place seven-eighths of the store will be ready 3 Ma mel r. Wanamaker was apparently the leas concerned man in the great crowd, ae fie quietly made his way from one part of the establishment to another directing the movements of his employes. Mr. Wana- maker does his own insuring, and his less is therefore covered in this way. A Spectator Falls Dead. Thrilling incidents were not wanting. While the fire was at its height an em- Ploye of the carpet firm of Ivins, Dietz & Magee, whose building is in the block Dde- low that devastated by the flames on Mar- ket street, was overcome by the excite- ment an@ suddenly dropped dead. James Furlong, proprietor of the saloon at the corner of Juniper and Filbert strects, is critically il of pneumonia. When th: flames began to eat their way to his place a. squad of firemen carried him from hi: sick bed into the bleak streets, and he was hurriedly taken to a nearby hotel. The ex- eltement and shock may cost him his life. Shortly before noon a second fireman was injured. ‘He ts William Gorman, aged thir ty-two years, assistant foreman of com- pany No. 1. He was struck by falling (Continued on Eleventh Page.) - TWO CENTS. | If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. SOMEWHAT WARMER Weather Slightly Moderates in Chi- cago and New York, RESPONSE TO MAYOR SWIFT'S APPEAL Fully Two Thousand Persons Shel- tered Last Night ——_----—_ NEW GLAND SURPRISEI ee oe CHICAGO, January 26.—At 9 o'clock th! morning the government therm howed a temperature of 15 degr ow zero. This is 3 degrees warmer than the same time yesterday, but Uh was little comfort derived from that fact, i being one degree colder than at 2 am The signal service today reported the coli area extending all over the west and nort} west, and no prospect of a material let-. tensity of the cold for at le twenty-four hour All trains today more or less delayed by snow drifts inability wer to make steam. A general com piaint was raised by the people living in the suburbs, At many of the suburban stations no shelter is afforded the passen gers, and many cases of frost bite have oc curred. The proclamation issued by Mayor Swt aS met with a hearty response. Bes over $! im im cas hundreds o' tons of pro: most unlimited supp! have been sent in 1 promptly Seven hundred of the mor of destitution have already pved, and the work is being ca ied on without cessacion, Thousands Fully 2,009 people were given night at the different police st Salvation Army barracks. The new isola tion hospital was thrown open today, the council having appropriated $10,000 for tha purpose, and 1 will be used for cases of coitagious disease among the poor It wil also have the effect of relieving the con- gested condition of the city and county hos tals, which are >wded that not a case of contagious di se has been taker in since Frida Eight hundred new ¢ last tions and families immediate aid were : today and supplies were furnished fast as - At 11 o'clock the government thermom« registered 11% deg ow zer morni low n present degrees was recorde rmometer t above yesterda In West P. PITTSBURG, F PennsyWania is keeping musyivanin. Western the January in the is still grasp of worst blizzard in twelve years. Last nig the mercury in the signal service ther mometer dropped to 5 degrees below zx bat more exposed thermometers registered anywhere from 3 to 10 degrees lower, The cold caused great suffering among the poor, and one life was sacrificed. Mrs Mary Morris, a colored woman of Ho: stead, Was Overcome on the street ar in a few minutes. Michael Connelly iramp, who ded 2 Panhar train Yhio, was taken from a cattle dead, but premp tention 5 him. All freght trains and many passenger trains were zard y erday and bitten hands, feet an among waimm slightly warm almo revivg VER, Col., January weather continu in tern © do, thermometers ering W degre relOW in this city this morning. A litt snow fell last night. Today the weather is clear with ro wind. It is a curious faci that the cold wave did not extend to the moun tain region until night, forty-eigt hours aiter it reached the plains At Leadville the temperature was 1 lers w tempe street last nil kk. While t moderation in the today as compared with S$ So slight as to be not ap- the tig ures showed temperature her sterday, it w At 4:30 a.m. the offi 1 3 degrees above zero, the ve y 1 being fity-two miles an hour ock the mercury had risen to 4 degrees, the wind having subsided some- what meanwhile. 1n the interior, there has been a more marked rise in temperature ation being also nd and Canada places in this is uncloudea. —This c! was swept all night by a sixty-mile bree which made the Weather seem more severe although the coud moderated somewhat. At than on the quite markec Snow is reported in state, although here the mode many sky BUFFALO, N. Y., January 20 8 a.m. the thermometer registered 12 de grees above. Buffalo is again experiencing a water famine. In all parts of the city the pres sure this morning w impotent to caus water to flow from second-story fauce and in some sections it was impossible to draw any water at all. The trouble is caused by slush ice in Niagara river, which is sucked in at the inlet pier and clogs the pumps, forcing the engines to shut down at times. NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y., Janu ‘Lhe cold is intense here, and the ice bridge has formed in the gorg frozen spray upon the trees of the parks and the faces of the -liffs presents a daz- zling spectacle, and Central trains are bringing many sightseers. WATERTOWN, N. Y., January 26.—The weather in this city has moderated con- siderably since yesterday. The thermome. ter at 8 o'clock this morning registered 2 degices above zero. A*heavy snow fell during the night, and continues. The high wind continued all night, filling in the cuis on the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensbury: railroad. The railroad is tied up, passen- ger trains being hours behind time. At Baltimore. BALTIMORE, January 26.—The cold snay continues here with unabated force, wit! high northwest winds, but with uncloudei skies, which makes it less uncomfortable The minimum temperature thus far regis- tered by the official thermometer was + degrees above zero at 5 o'clock this morn. ing, the maximum being IS above at . pm. yesterday. Much suffering is reportec among the very poor, and public and pri- vate aid is being given them. The suffer. ing among the Chesapeake bay boatmer and oystermen has been very great, but nc fatalities have been reported. Warmer in New England. BOSTON, Janvary 26.—Contrary to the prediction of the weather man vester- day, the temperature has moderated al! over New England, and reports at hand to- day show that the mercury stands from 10 to 20 degrees higher than it did yester- day. The wind is still sharp trom the northwest, ———_—__ A Defaulting Omicial Sentenced. PENDLETON, Ore., January 26.—George R. Lash, defaulting city recorder, who pieaded guilty, has been sentenced to three and a half years in the penitentiary an¢ fined $4,000.