Evening Star Newspaper, November 9, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Fair tonight and tomorrow; perature near freezing tonight, rising Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. Highest, 45, at 3 p.m, yester- day; lowest, 35, at 7:30 a.m. today. temperature tomorrow. today: Full report on page 31. tem- Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 30 The ¥ —_— — No. 29,046. Fmersh post office Washingto as sacond-class matter . C. WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9. BAVARIAN REVOLT FAILS; - LUDENDORFF AND HITLER |14 PENNSYLVANIA PRISONERS OF TROOPS BREWERIESINRAID Von Kahr and Reichswehr Chief Confine Coup to Brew- house of Origin. BERLIN HALTS INTENSE ACTIVITY; ALL WIRES FROM MUNICH DOWN Railway Traffic Stopped and Gessler Forbids Any But Official Dispatches. Exchanges Are Depressed. By the Ascocuted Press BERLIN, November 9.—Gen. Ludendorff and Adolph Hitler, leaders of the Bavarian revolt, have been captured by federal troops. An official communique making this announcement say: “The Kommandatur building at Munich was taken this afternoon by swhich considerable losses reichswehr troop occurred on both after a struggle, during sides, and Ludendorff and Hitler were arrested.” The nationalist putsch staged in Munich, capital of Bavaria, by Gen. Ludendorfi and Adolph Hitler has been suppressed, and von Poehner, named premier by the revolutionis is under arrest, according to advices received through various trustworthy channels. Ludendorff and Hitler, who last night proclaimed themselves, re- spectively, military dictator and chancellor of all Germany, are reported 10 be barricaded in the war ministry building in Munich, which is sur- rounded by troops loval to the government. Advices from Rerlin and other centers show that Dr. von Kahr, Bavarian dictator under the von Knilling regime, and the reichswehr commander, von Lussow, arraigned themselves against the Ludendorff- Hitler organization, and that the coup was confined almost wholly to the Munich brewhouse in which it was staged. Intenxe Activity Dies Down. The intense activity in Berlin which followed the first news of the out- break has died down, according to direct dispatches from the capital, and the situation at midforenoon was that police guards were with- the government build- such drawn from inis Authoritative informa nich n from Mu- 7 suspended, railway traffic stopped an edict issued by War Minister Gessler forbidding publica- tion of other than official reports re- garding events in Bavaria. The Fren government, which yes- terday gave official warning in Ber- 3in that it would not tolerate estab- lishment of a nationalist military dic- tatorship, is watching developments close and Premier Poincare this morning was in conference with his war minister, while the council of ambassadors, representing all the,allied powers, ha: moned to meet at 5 o'clock this after- Toon to consider the situation. The revolt had a depressing effect on forelgn exchanges in the New Fork market, new low records for the vear being established by sterling, Spanish peset Norwegian and Danish kronen and Dutch guil- ders. French and Belgian franes also declined sharply. Cotton prices fell o BERLIN REMAINS QUIET. Ty the Associated Press. BERLIN, November 8.—The out- dreak in Munich has been suppressed. | Former Police Chief von Poehner, one of the leaders of the movement, who had been appointed one of the governors of Bavaria, has been ar- Tested. Gen. Ludendorft and Adolph Hitler have barricaded themselves in the min- istry of war. All the other bu are held by the regular Bavar government under Premier von Knill- ing The latest advices from Munich in- dicate that the Bavarian dictator, von Kahr, and the reichsweir commander, Jon Lossow, are not identified with the Ludendorff-Hitler putsch and have ordered the arrest of these two lead- ers Confined to Brewhouse. The coup appears to be wholly con- fined to the Munich brewhouse, where it was staged, and the federal troops are reported not to be participating §n the uprising. Berlin is quiet and the police pro- tection is also being withdrawn from the government buildings. The Federal railway is selling tickets only up to points along the Bavarian _frontier, the government here making good its threat to sever all official relations with Bavaria 4 until normal conditions are restored. " "1t is also expected that the reichs- bank will discontinue consignments %o the Bavarian banks, and that economic retaliations will be resorted %o in various directions. Cireular Is Issued. An official statement says the Bavarian government has sent a eir- tular telegram to all the local au- thorities throughout Bavaria instruct- ing them and all the poiice and mili- tary forces to refuse to obey the prders of the revolutionaries. The nationalist coup can be con- dered settled, says the semi-official Jolff Agency in a note quoting ad- Gices received through Wurzberg, Zorthwest of Munich. Aimed at Berlin Also, - The first fragmentary advices from #funich were to the effect that the Febellion was only against the Von Knilling government, but as other re- ports were received the impression grew that the revolt was also aimed at the central government and that the leaders of the coup had pro- claimed the overthrow of the Ebert- Stresemann regime. This impression gained strength when a proclamation to the German people was issued in which the gov- ernment, announcing that steps to restore order had been taken and would be carried out “with the ut- most vigor,” asserted that “an armed and” in Munich had “arrogated to stself the right to institute a govern- ment of the reich,” had made Luden- dorff commander-in-chief of the Ger- man army and had established Hitler ms “arbiter of the destinies of Ger- goany.” Dr. von Kahr, who several weeks ®so was made militaxy dictator, of interallied | been sum- | demand | lavaria, was said to have accepted the governorship of the state “as a representative of the monarchy.” Gen. von Lossow, commander of the Ba- varian reichswehr, was named min- ister of war. while Herr von Poeh- ner, former chief of police of Munich, has been made administrator. Severs Bavarian Relations. When word of the revolt reached Berlin, the central government ered all relations with Bavaria, ap- se , ‘dirrct communieation | pointed Gen. von Seeckt as command- er-in-chief of the national army and announced the withdrawal of all fed- eral support from the rebellious state until constitutional conditions should be resum The government also addressed the following manifesto to the German people: “At this moment of great tension in the foreign and domestic situation some foolish people are endeavoring to_break up the German reich. “An armed band has overthrown the government in Munich, arreste Premier von Knilling and arrogated to itself the right to institute a gov- ernment of the reich. It has made Ludendorff commander-in-chief of the German army and has made Hit- ler, who was naturalized only some days ago, arbiter of the destinies of Germany. High Treason Charged. “There is no need to say that this decision to _carry a coup d'etat can have no effect. Whoever supports | this movement will be guilty of high treason. “Instead of helping in the Rhine- land and the Ruhr, our brethren who re fighting in Germany’s cause, such persons are plunging tha reich into a catastrophe, threatening its food suppli They are exposing it to an enemy invasion and they are destroy- ing all chances of economic improve- ment. “The recent measures of the reich in the monetary domain have had the effect of notably improving the po- sition of the mark abroad within the last twenty-four hours. This will be t if the attempt made in Munich ceds. Ve exhort all patriots to defend the unitys order and liberty of the h. All steps to combat the coup d'etat and to restore order have been taken wnd will be carried out with the utmost vigor.” ORDERS MARCH ON MUNICH. By the Associated Press. LONDON, November 9.—A Central News dispatch from Berlin, relaying a Munich message, said the govern- ment of Premier von Knilling is act- ing in concert with Dr. von Kahr, the military dictator, and that they were hopeful of mastering the “putsch.” Gen. Ludendorft and Adolph Hitler, the dispatch added, were locked in one of the rooms at the war ministry where they were in conference. A Central News dispatch from Ber- lin says the following message has been Teceived from Munich: “The putsch is considered to have ended. Ludendorff and von Hitler have bar- ricaded themselves in the war min- istry, which is surrounded by troops. Von ' Poehmer, who had assumed the premiership of the ‘new government, has been arrested. The reichswehr are loyal to the Berlip government.” “Gen. von Lossow, commander of the Bavarian reichswehr, has ordered all the south Bavarian troops to pro- ceed to Munich, while the troops in north Bavaria have been ordered to the Fuerth barracks, Nuremburg. “The frontier has been closed and no one is permitted to cross without a passport. “Orders have been issued for the arrest of Hitler, Ludendorft and all members of the nationalist party and fighting organizations.” The Berlin government, says anoth- er Central News dispatch, has re. coived a message from von Kahr and von Lossow declaring that Hitler forced them into the movement, but that circumstances arose enabling them to re ct. They expressed the confidence that the putsch would be quickly mastered. The message adds that the revolu- tionaries succeeded in occupying the headquarters of the army staff in Munich. REVOLT IS DISCOUNTED. By the Associated Press. BERLIN, November 9.—Wireless dispatches from Nuremberg and Stutt- Gart state that the Bavarian dictator, von Kahr, and the commander of the (Continued on Rage 2, Column 1) 4 ADOLPH HITLER. TAKING STRATEGIC POSITIONS IN RURR DISCUSSED IN PARIS | General Staff Forms Plans to i Check Menace of German Movement. By the Associated Press. PARIS, November 9.—The French lgvuor:ll aff foresees the necessity | for certain military measures to pro- tect the French troops in the Ruhr in the event of grave disorders in {Germany or in case there is the men- |ace of an armed movement against i the occupation troops. The first of these measures would | be to straighten out the military line \in Westphalia, as the Ruhr now forms a sort of square pocket exposed to | attack on three sid This operation would be accomplished by taking strategic positions to the south. Such eventual dispositions of troops could be executed without delay. If the circumstances should seem | to require them, France could easily | put in motion 200,000 men. Fifty-five thousand are already in the Ruhr, {95,000 more are in_the Rhineland, i while an additional 50,000 | sasy reach of the frontier. Other Troops Available. Large garrisons are stationed at Metz and Strasbourg, smaller ones are all along the Rhine, in Alsace, while there are reserves at Belfort, Epinal and Verdun, not far away. The French high command is not likely to be surprised by any devel- opment in Germany that is hostile to France, as its system of intelligence is understood to be most complete. German accumulation of gold cred- its abroad, part of which would be available for financing a nationalist revolution, are estimated by persons in close touch with international banking interests at the equivalent of about $3,000,000,000. Some of this is on deposit to_the credit of the gov- ernment, but®the greater part is to the credit of the heads of the Ger- man industries, who are in sympathy with the monarchist movement. Millions in Reserve. "wo hundred million pounds of the total are in London banks, according to a British official now in Paris, who is in constant touch with the bankers. It is estimated that equal amounts are in the United States, while £200,- ! 000,000 more is divided among de- positors in Holland, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries. The intcrallied council of ambassa- dors has been summoned to meet this afternoon to consider the situation in_Germany. Exchanges of views are proceeding between France and her allies as to the action that may be necessary if the movement in Bavaria extends to the other states in the reich. The French military secret service became aware of the movement in Bavaria yesterday morning and this prompted the French government to notify Berlin that it could not tol- erate the establishment of a military dictatorship. Premier Poincare today received ‘War Minister Maginot and Minister of the Interior Maunoury. SERB DEBT BODY NAMED. Belgrade Commission to Come Here to Discuss Payment. BELGRADE, November 9.—The government has appointed a com- mission to go to the United States and discuss Jugoslavia’s war debt. The debt amounts to approximately $60,000,000, with interest. Police Find 5,000 Places Dispensing Liquor in Gotham By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, November 9.— Liquor is being illegally sold in 5,000 places throughout New York city, according to a police census begun August 7 and completed last night. Detectives are said to have inxestigated each of the locations suspected by patrolmen.who con- tributed to the feporfe are within | WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION DRY FORCES SEIZE Score of Others to Be Pad- locked in Opening Drive on Eastern Beer. HAYNES SAYS CLOSING FOR YEAR WILL BE AIM Department of Justice and Pro- hibition Headquarters to Co- Operate in Campaign. A wholesale raid on breweries in eastern Pennsylvania to shut off the supply of beer admitted to be flood- ing a large part of the east was begun today by prohibition forces. Reports to Commissioner Haynes {from Philadelphia said twelve brew-] jeries were seized early today and that }a score would be padlocked before {night. (Philadelphia reports gave the {number seized at fourteen.) { Libel proceedings, Commissioner {Haynes said, would be brought late today to close up the breweries tem- porarily until the Department of Jus- tice can get into action to close them for a year. Raid- Planned Months. The campaign is in charge of E. C. Yellowley, chief of prohibition agents, and has been in preparation for sev- eral months. Similar campaigns are o be launched against brewers in ther parts of the country } Prohibition headquarters and the i Department of Justice co-operated in ithe ralds today and will act jointly 7in the subsequent prosecutions, in- fcluding the padlock proceedings and those against brewers arrested. Internal revenue laws well as the prohibition statute were invoked "in the Pennsylvania raids. One of he laws under which action was ‘taken provides for summary closing of breweries and distilleries operated in_violation of law and also for seizure of the property. “We have been building up these and similar cases for many months.” Said Commissioner Haynes, “and we believe that the action just taken will bring to an end flagrant viola- vions which have continued in spite of various administrative and legal brocesses which the federal govern- ment has tried to invoke. The are to secure a speedier léourts of eas 2 through the injunctive S {4nd seizure features of the prohibi- tion law, has determined the govern- ment to’ utilize also the means pro- vided in the internal revenue laws for securing speedier and more ef- fective enforcement. Beginning of Campaign. Proceedings begun against the brewers of Pennsylvania are but the Feginning of a campaign to be con- ducted throughout the country where similar conditions obtain. This meth- ol of procedure will be waged by | the Treasury Department, in co-op- etation and with full indorsement of the Department of Justice, until the iliegal brewer is made to fear or re- spect the law. “The government is determined to enforce prohibition and will use ev- jery means available to that end. | | RAIDS START AT 5 AM. {14 Seized Breweries in or Near . Philadelphia. { By-the Associated Press. FHILADELPHIA, November Fourteen breweries in and near Phila- delphia were searched and seized today by prohibition agents assembled here from different parts of the coun- try. Final details of the raid were planned last night, it is understood, with Maj. Roy A. Haynes, national prohibition commissoner; E. C. Yel- lowley, national chief of the field agents, and Reuben B. Sams, divi- sional chief of Philadelphia, partici- pating. Agents now on the premises of the breweries will stay on duty until the United States attorney has secured libels turning them over to the fed- i eral -marshal. The prohibtion agents started their work at 5 am., and re- portéd during the day to Mr. Yel- lowley, who established headquarters in a hotel. United States Attorney Coles, with Wwhose approval Federal Commission- er Manley issued search and seizure warrants, said that not all the brew- eries- in_Philadelphia were involved. The agents took no chances on any slip-up as compelled them recently to relinGuish their hold on a brewery here that they had seized. It was contended by attorneys for brewerles that only internal revenue bureau representatives had a right to enter brewery premises, To svercome this alleged legal ob- jection, the agents at work today Were sworn in as special deputy in- ternal revenue collectors. {DEATH AT AGE OF 112 SETS DISTRICT RECORD Mary Washington, Born in Vir- ginia Before Second War With England, Passes Away. Mary Washington, colored, is believ- ed to have established a new record for longevity in the District, when she died a few days ago at the age of 112 vears, eight months and one day. | The death certificate filed with the health department shows that she was born, in.King George county, Va., { March 4, 1811, one year before Ame: ijea's second war with Great Britain. She was fifty years old when the civil war begau. ‘According to the death certificate, she resided at- 631 3rd street north- cast, and had been a resident of Washingten for forty years. Veteran employes of the health office could not recall .a death ever having been reported a* such an advanced age. BANDITS SEIZE $4,000. FOREST CITY, fowa, November 9.— —After eutting all wires leading from Thompson 'near here, five bandits early today blew the safe of the State Bank and escaped with more than 24000, b R il 1923 —FORTY-. EIGHT PAGES. .3, DROPS PARLEY, - FRENCH INDICATE Semi-Official Statement Says Paris Limits Have Been Rejected. By the Associated Press. PARIS, November 9.—A semi-official statement issued by the French foreign office, through the Havas Agency, shows that the French government in- | sists upon the limitations to the expert reparation inquiry which have been re- jected by Secretary of State Hughes. | The Hughes declaration referred to was an announcement which, accord- ing to dispatches, Secretary Hughes was expected to make to the news- paper men at Washington at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, but which was delayed until today at the request of the French ambassador. The fact that‘the French ambassa- dor to the United States, M. Jusserand, has requested a delay in publication of | Secretary Hughes' declaration regard- | ing the proposed expert reparation committee is taken here as indicating that the United States will decline to participate in the committec. The chances of the committee being or- ganized, consequently are regarded as the slightest. There has been no announcement of a declaration from Secretary Hughes regarding the expert committee, other than the Hughes-Curzon notes and re- ports of recent conversations between | the Secretary and Ambassador Jus- serand. | COMPROMISE SEEN. Bix-Year Period for Experts’ Work Is Proposed. | BY DAVID LAWRENCE, | Premier Poincare has worked out a compromise which he hopes will prove acceptable to the United States gov- ernment. In a long communication | which expresses in detail the reasons for the French government's attitude, the United States is asked to agree | that the proposed commission of ex-| perts shall examine Germany's ca-| pacity to pay for the next six years— that is, from January, 1924, through | December 1930. | When the six-year period has| passed. Premier Poincare suggests | that the commission of experts or| another body similar to it shall re-| sume sittings and inquire then into| the capacity of Germany to pay in subsequent years. M. Poincare ar- rived at the six-year idea by a close study of the provisions of the Ver- sailles treaty and particularly this provision: “On_the following questions una- nimity (of the reparations commis- sion) is required: Any postponement, total or partial, beyond the end of 1930 of the payment of installments falling due between May 1, 1921, and the end of 1926, inclusive.” This means that the French gov- ernment feels it cannot at this time £o beyond 1930 and yet comply with the provisions of the treaty requiring unanimous consent of all the allied and associated_powers interested in reparations. Furthermore, Premier Poincare contends that if an inquiry can be made into the capacity of Germany to pay during the present disturbed period and the reconstruc- ! tion era that is hoped to follow any settling down of affairs in Germany in the next few years, it will not be a difficult matter to assess German capacity for payment in the normal years which might follow the six- year period Feels Position Sound. The French premier feels that his reservation is not unreasonable be- cause no human mind can calculate Germany's capacity for payment over a period of fifty or a hundred years, for no one knows the recuperative power of sixty or seventy millions of people, especially when the German birthrate is increasing so rapidly. M. Poincare faces an internal politi- cal situation which has been no small factor in his present course. On No- vember 13—which is only next week Zthe French chamber of deputies re- convenes. M. Poincare must go be- fore that body and explain what he is doing. He wants to be able to say he has not entered into any arrange- ment committing France to anything beyond 1930. He would not venture to take responsibility for any longer time. As for the viewpoint of the Ameri- can government, it will not, of course, be disclosed until after the French viewpoint has been thoroughly exam- ined. But the decision before Presi- dent Coolidge and Secretary Hughes is a critical one. “To say that noth- ing could be accomplished in an in- quiry which is to determine German capacity for payment in the next six (Continyed on Page 2, Column &) i ening. Star. The Star is Sunday mot 60 cents Yesterday’s “From Press to Home Within the Hour™ delivered every evening and rning to Washington homes at month. Telephone Main 5000 and service will start immediately. Net Circulation, 93,129 TWO CENTS. Metal Workers Get $125 to $150 Week in Chicago By the Associated Press. CHIC November 9.—Sheet metal workers have taken a posi- tion with lathers and plasterers in the affluent grqup of building chanics. some unexplained reason have become so scarce in Chicago that they are being paid from $125 to $150 a week and their helpers from $65 to $70, according to Fred W. Armstrong, manager of the citizens' committee to en- force the Landi ward. “BLOODY" CONFLIGT BLOCKED IN MEXICO Federal Governor Says Troops’ Timely Nipping of Strike Halted Outbreak. By the Aseociated Press. 7 MEXICO CITY, November 8.—The prompt action of the federal authori- tles in frustrating a movement for a general strike is regarded as the first tep toward énding the critical sit- uation that has arisen from the vio- ent campaigns being carried on by ithe Calles and de la Huerta parties. The government asserts that the strike plans, which were nipped by a dieplay of federal military force, represented an attempt to turn the working classes against the army and_provoke a conflict that was in tended to result favorably to the I national co-operaista party, which is supporting Adolfo de la Huerta in his campaign for the presidency. Forced Ban on Strike. Under orders issued by Ramon Ross, the new governor of the fed- eral district, strong forces of police anq military presented such a threat- ening front that the Federation of Street Railwaymen in the federal district was forced to call off a strike which it had scheduled for last mid- night. At the same time plans for a general strike of the telephone em- ployes, the bakers, the cotton mill workers and the street railway men in Tampico and San Luis Potosi were postponed until a delegation of lead- ers had had opportunity to confer with President Obregon, who is con- valescing at Lake Chapala. The government's determined stand also is said to have frustrated plans for dynamiting the electric power cables that lead from the great pow- er plant at Necaxa which supplies Mexico City, Pachuca, Puebla, El Oro and neighboring towns with light and power. Notice had already been given that the water supply of Mexico City would be temporarily cut off to- day, might be made. A statement issued at the office of the governor of the federal district says: “The inhabitants of Mexico City were about to become the victims of terrible attacks, had not the author- ities discovered opportunely the ma- chinations of certain political ele- ments which were attempting to take advantage of a strike provoked by the red elements among the street railway workers for the purpose of provoking a bloody conflict between the workers and the police and fed- eral forces—a conflict with incalculable consequences.”” In the course of the recent debate in the chamber of deputies on the charges of mismanagement of the treasury department under de la Huerta preferred by Alberto Pani, the present secretary, Jorge Prieto Laurens, president of - the co-opera- tista party, and a member of the cham- ber, said: “Gen. Obtegon threatened de la Huerta that it might be necessary to sacrifice two, three, four or five lives, and that at least it would be neces- sary to cut short one daring to con- front Calles.” The quotation is taken from the text of the debate as printed by the offi cial gazette. so that repairs to the valves| \ | | | | ‘ : | 1 VITAL 1925 BUDGET FIGURES APPROVED Coolidge, Weeks and Lord Accept War Department Estimates Today. The 1925 budget is virtually com- pleted. At the White House this morning President Coolidge, Director Lord of the bureau of the budget and Secre- tary of War Weeks reached an agree- ment as to the major features of the War Department budget, the last of the big departments over which there | was any great difference of opinion. Although the entire group of de- | partments and establishments had lowed under the economy program of the administration, it was understood that the 1925 budget brought within the required limit of $1,700,000,000 exclusive of the public debt and the appropriations for the Post Office Department. Such a figure represents a cut under the appropriations for the present fiscal year of about $126,000,000. Much of the budget already is in | type at the government plant, and more is going day Minor changes may be made in sev- eral departments, it was learned, alterations being possible on proof sheets, before the huge book of the budget is finally printed. The entire report will have the final approval of President Coolidge, it was said, before it will be sent to the presses. But with the large amount of work necessary to be done it was thought there would be just about enough time before Congress meets for the budget to be prepared for submission by the President. e printing by day. SCHOOL BOARD IS UPHELD! ON FRATERNITY ISSUE Corporation Counsel Reaffirms Opinion Power Exists to Con- trol Organizations. Corporation Counsel Stephens has forwarded to the board of education a legal opinion upholding his decision of several years ago that the school authorities have power to control the activities of fraternities and similar school organizations. The matter was revived by parents of two children who sought informa- tion from the board as to whether they were bound to answer a qu tionnaire brought home by the chil- dren for the purpose of finding out what school sacieties the pupils be- longed to. STOKES CASE NEAR END. Hotel Man’s Attorney Sums TUp Argument for Divorce. NEW YORK, November 9.—Max D. Steuer, representing W. E. D. Stokes in the retrial of the hotel man's divorce suit, today resumed his summation, with indications that the jury would get the case this afternoon. He charged that unfair methods were used to beat down his client's witnesse: and prejudice the jury. = PERSHING SEES POINCARE. PARIS, November 9.—Gen. Pershing | Wwas received this morning by Premi Poincare, The American commander was accompanied by Lieut. Col. T. Bentley Mott, American military at- ache. 'Mrs. Van Winkle Tells Chicago Nation’s Girls Growing Worse By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, November 9.—Ameri- ca's boys are becoming better all the time, while the girls between the ages of twelve and twenty are becoming more wayward, accord- ing to Mrs. Mina C. Van Winkle, chief of the women's division of the department of police of Wash- ington, D. C., here to study police conditions, Gay cabaret life and cheap liter- are making the majority of ¥ American girls unfit to become wives and mothers, Mrs. Winkile said. veyen “Too many women want a car in business, away from home,” she asserted. “The only career in every girl's life should be the de- veloping of a real home.” Most of the wayward girls turned over to policewomen come from the mid dle and rich groups of America, she explained, stating that poorer families think more of having a good home than dancing and had been | SPECTACULAR FIRES GUT 2 WAREHOUSES HERE WITH LOSSES NEAR HALF MILLION Storage Structures of Levy Furniture Co. and Wilkins Grocery Co. Razed; Flames Spread, Defying Firemen. HEAVY SMOKE SUSPENDS WORK IN WHOLE SECTION Workman Overcome, Rescued by Other Employes; Surrounding Buildings Saved by Quick Work of Department; Thousands Gath- er at Scene; Police Reserves Out Fanned by strong wintry two four-alarm fires today swept two large business houses, destroyed property valued at near a half mil lion dollars, and enveloped Northeast Washington in a dense pall of chok- ing black smoke for many hours be- fore half of the city's entire fire- fighting force got them under con- trol. Both structures were used as store- houses, and in each instance larg: quantities of oily and similar highly inflammable materials helped the flames to spread beyond control ever before fire companies responding to first alarms could reach the scene In neither case did early discovery of the flames succeed in saving | structures they visited. The plants destroyed were Warehouse of John H. Wi Company, Inc., wholesale grocers, cated at 523 Rhode Island avenue northeast. ‘Warehouse of Philip Levy & Co. furniture dealers, located at 90 L street northeast. Their local retail store is at 735 Tth street northwest Blaze Spectacular. The blaze that gutted the latter | warehouse was one of the most spec- | tacular that has been seen in Wash It started in the wind | l‘inglon for years. {asked more money than can be al-|furnace room in the basement and, | although the place was filled Wwith | workmen, the fire raced from cellar to roof in less than fifteen minutes, | gefying every effort of firemen re- ! sponding to four regular alarms and one private alarm to overcome it for several hours. Fireman Injured. O seriously | eno e ne fireman was injured ugh to require his removal | Sibley Memorial Hospital and a scorc of others were made ill by the smoke. | The_injured man is John §. Trodden lof No. 23 engine company, who s | tained contusions of the head and a lacerated hand when he toppled from ladder after being made dizzy by the smoke. falling ten feet to the [ground. The other men affected by | the fumes were able to continue on |duty after receiving treatment at | attending_ambulances. A colored laborer first saw the ames eating their way among flim- packing cases near the furnace | Shouting a warning to Benjamin Mil- ler, syperintendent of the building, the man started to throw buckets | of water on the blaze, while Mr. Mil- {ler sounded an alarm from the private box that brought three companies of fire apparatus to the scene. Workman Is Rescued. So rapidly did the flames spread that the colored workman whose | name was given as Robert Jones, w | trapped and overcome by smoke. He | was rescued by a score of other em- ploves who had formed a bucket brigade while awaiting the arrival of | the firemen. The captain of the first | company to reach the building, real- |izing that the flames were far be- i yond control, ordered another alarm. and this was followed closely by three more calls from a regular box. The warehouse was literally jam- med with crates of furniture Philip Levy & Co. were storing for Christ- mas sales. The highly varnished fur- niture emitted & veritable screen of smoke that successfully bafled every effort of firemen to enter the struc- | ture for nearly half an hour. Finally half a score of men equipped with s masks carried pipe lines to lower Windows and succeeded in making heir entry. Floor of Building Falls. In the meantime dozens of other high-pressure lines were being played upon the building from the roofs of nearby business establish- | ments. Within half an hour after the first alarm had been sounded the first floor, loaded with $25,000 worth of Christmas rugs, crashed into the cellar and the fire department chiefs ordered their men to continue the unequal battle from safer distances The flames were already pouring from upper story windows and, realizing that the place was doomed, the firemen centered their attention upon confining the blaze to the one building, which they succeeded in doing only after a heroic battle that lasted well into the afternoon. Business was virtually suspended for blocks around the scene of the fire, choking smoke from the bwr- ing furniture making it literally im- possible_$0 comfortably remain in- doors. The smoke found its way up around Union station and even to the Capitol, and several thousand specta- tors hurried to the scene. Police re- serves were rushed from several sta- tions and, under the personal direc- tion of Maj. Sullivan, kept them at safe distances from the burning build- ing. The fire was located in the heart of one of the most dangerous districts in Washington—the wholesale dis- trict. Close by it were numerous storehouses of packing companies and warehouses for general merchan- dise coming into the city at Union station, only a few blocks distant it- self. The building was owned by Wilbur F. Nash, 122 M street north- west, and rented by Philip Levy & €o. N. P. Shriner, manager of the 7th street store, estimated the value of the furniture in the place at $100,- 000. He pointed out, however, that his company’s actual loss will be far greater, because it will be impossible now to obtain_additional shipments = (Continued on Page 2, Column 33 .