Evening Star Newspaper, March 19, 1925, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair and colder tonight 30 degrees; Temperatures. lowest, temperature morrow fair. 71, at 11 a.m. 5 am. today Full report on about today; page 7. ; minimum to Highest, 44, at Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 N ¢ 20 549 Entered as second class matter Washin ston, D40 ch WASHINGTON, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C.,, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1925—-FIFTY PAGES. ¢ Foening Star. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 103,572 TWO CENTS "TORNADO DEATHS IN FIVE STATES MAY EXCEED1,000 LIST OF INJURED MOUNTS TO 3,000 - AND PROPERTY LOSS IS MILLIONS; | FIRES FOLLOW IN WAKE OF STORM 26 Towns Are Stricken, Indiana and Southern Illinois Bearing Brunt of Disaster. MISSOURI, TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY AND ALABAMA ALSO FEEL FORCE Re cue Workers Are Hampered as Cities Are Plunged Into Darkness—Bodies Blown a Mile by Hurricane. o Associated Press Byt CHICAGO, March 19.—~The most d. experienced in nearly half a century swept through portions of five Middle | Western States late yesterday, collected a dead and injured toll estimated | at upward of 4000 and caused property damage of many millions. in Alabama also claimed one life. So prostrated were portions of Illinois and Indiana, through which | A storm the tornado traveled in a series of erratic hops, that definite figures on loss of life and property were impossible, although available reports trickling in from territories in which communic off added to an uncertain casualty list, The reported death lis were injured. Several twister, of the barometric of the out low and e in the path which apparently came Ozark Hills, due to pressure in Arkansas, first struck at Annapolis, Mo., tually were destroyed, while fire many places added horror to havoc. Bodies Carried Mile. the force of towns in terrific was the storm that ried a mile, while timbers from the wrecked town of De Soto, Ill. were found in Dequoin, 15 miles away The greatest loss of life, Ac«‘ord(r!l( to available reports, occurred in couthern Illinols, where more, than 500 were reported killed as the tor- nado tore northeastward through Murphysboro, West Frankfort, De Soto and other larger towns of the At razed tants Soto a schoolhouse wa three of the 250 inhabi- escaping without in- De only reported n path of the tornado was than 200 miles in length, divisions of the twister hopped off in several rections. Starting from Annapolis, the storm moved northeast and after striking two other towns on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, jumped into Jllinois, traversed that State, divided near the Indiana State line and spent force in southern Indiana and northern Kentucky Hit Kentucky and Tennessee. apparently moved south- Annapolis, through . and struck iso- Another line eastward from A Cape Girardeau, Mo, Tenne: and Kentucky. A wind- storm was also reported from Ports- mouth, Ohio, but without serious A Viin its various offshoots, the tornado apparently traversed near 700 miles of territory, although only in the direct path from Annapolis, Mo., Princeton, Ind.. about 165 miles, the damage and loss of life heavy. The path of the storm ap- parently was not wide, in places it i eported 300 feet P iile Qetails of the desolation left by the storm came in on crippled lines of communication, relief was be- ing rushed Into the stricken area from many nearby towns, Relief workmen, doctors, nurses, medicine and supplies were dispatch- ed immediately from St. Louis, Chi- cago and other points : Troops were rushed into the district in Illinois on orders of Gov. Len Small, who also issued an appeal for ald In several towns in the path of the storm, especially in Indlana, local companies of militia were mobilized for guard duty and relief. Will Axk $500,000. It was announced that a bill au- thorizing $500,000 for relief would be introduced in the Illinois Legislature oday Y loss of life was reported from 26 towns, most of them in southern Illi- nois, but it was believed that death and destruction visited many others in the storm area from which reports werae still to be received. Volunteer workers, under the handi- cap of darkness, because of the pros- tration of lighting facilities in many places, worked through the night, re- covering the dead, aiding the injured and keeping guard over property. Schoolhouses, churches, armories and all other available places were pressed into use as morgues and hos- pitals. In many instances it was nec- essary to move the dead and Injured to nearby towns, because of the lack of available places of shelter. Bonfires were built to provide light for the workers, while even automo- bile headlights were used. According to available reports the storm struck virtually without warn- fng and inhabitants of the territory traversed had no time to flee from its fury. Stories of the storm’s erratic be- havior come from many points. With an irresistible energy that crushed entire blocks of buildings, destroyed mine tipples, uprooted trees and snapped telephone poles like matches, the twister whirled through the air, dipping to earth time and again. Graln Elevator Shifted. Buildings were carried hundreds of feet, while at De Soto a grain eleva- tor was moved Intact to the middle of a road 40 feet away In only one instance was damage to a train reported, and it was not clear whether this resulted from the storm. Louis and San Francisco passen- ger train No. 105, southbound, went fnto a ditch near South Greenfield, Mo., and two coaches overturned, but no one was reported injured. At Annapolis, Mo, where-the first o was bodies were reported car- | but | | i stood around 1400, while approximately 3,000 blow fell, every bullding was wreck- ed or damaged, with the property loss in that town of 1,200 alone placed at a half million doilars. Small loss of life, but considerable property dam- age, occurred in three other Missouri towns—Biehle, Altenburg and Cape Girardeau, all on or near the Missis- sippi River But it was not until the storm jumped across into Tlinois and moved on into Indiana that its most devas- tating effects were felt. Five Principal Vietims. _The five towns in Tilinois hardest hit were Murphysboro, Weat Frank- fort, De Soto, Parrish and Gorham. At least 200 were thought dead in southern Indiana, with the principal damage to Princeton, Griffin and Poseyville. Thousands were homeless and arrival of shelter and supplies was looked forward to eagerly. The total dead in Missouri stood at slightly more than a score early to- day, while 30 deaths were reported in Tennessee, most of them In Sumner County, in the north central portion of the State. Thirteen were in Ken- tucky. The storm entered northern Ken- tucky from Indiana and apparently spent its force there. No loss of life was reported in Ohlo, although some damage was reported from the high wind at Portsmouth, in the southern part of the State. It was not known whether this was any isolated dis- turbance or the last breath from Kentucky and Tennessee. Damage Plles U Reports of terrific_ damage in southern Illinois piled “up early to- day. The tornado first hit Illinois at Gorham, on the Mississippi River, and proceeded northeastward Bush, Hurst, Murphysboro, Oakville, Benton and West fort All homes in Gorham, a town of 500 population, were reported de- stroyed, either by wind or flames, and only one building was left stand- ing in Hurst. The West End of Mur- physboro, a city of 11,000, was de- molished and still was burning early today. Citizens and organized fire squads used dynamite in an effort to top the progress of the flame: Parrish, I11, reports said, was vir- tually obliterated, with a loss of life at first estimated at 80. A score of other towns, Including Duquoln, Thompsonville, Logan and Dubols, suffered severely. Most of the build- ings destroyed were frame, as the affected area included many small towns and country districts One of the most pathetic stories came from De Soto, where the school- house was destroyed, with heavy loss of life. The twlister carried away the top story of the school and the lower walls crumbled, burying 250 children and teachers. Witnesses to the catastrophe said that the bodies of the child victims were piled on mattresses and blan- kets on the playgrounds, with few to claim them, most of the adult pop- ulation having been taken to hos- pitals. De Soto, Frank- May Not Be Identified. The story was told of the principal of the school, who, severely Injured himself and with blood streaming from his wounds, tried to give aid and comfort to the victims. Fire completed destruction of the school- house, and it was probable that many of the bodles might not be identified. A school building also was de- stroved at West Frankfort. This mining town of 12,000 suffered heavy loss of life and property, with about one-third of its residential and busi- ness districts demolished. It also saw the destruction of the Orient mine, second largest in the world. Carbondale, which escaped damage, was the rallying point of rescue forces In the southern part of the State. Its armory and hospitals were filled with dead and injured, trans- ported there from towns in the storm’s pathway. The storm, elemental in its inten- sity, was meteoric in its flight. Strik= | ing Annapolis at 1:30 o'clock in.the afternoon, it had completed its course in a little over three hours. _ Rea Cross relief is being handled through the central division at St. Louis, and the headquarters at Wash- ington sent instructions to Henry M. Baker, director of disaster rellef, at Sulllvan, Ind., to proceed to the tor- nado zone. / . The first Chicago train, organized by the Chicago Herald and Examiner, left Chicago at 10 o'clock last night with 200 doctors, nurses and assist- ants aboard. The special carried two vastating storm this country has| tion virtually was cut | through | Dead and Injured in Storm By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, March 19—Reports of casualties from the tornado and storm which, on Wednesday, struck five Midwestern States, compiled at 1 p.m. today, were as follows Murphysborags I11. West Frankfort De Soto Parrish Gorham McLeansboro Logan Benton Enfield Hurst Thomsonville Bush Carmi Crossvilie Beaumont, Ky Glasgow Scottsville Springfield Lexington Cape Girardeau, Mo. Biehle Annapolis Altenburg Wiltham, Tenn Griffin, Ind. Princeton Owensville Elizabeth Posyville Dead 250 to 300 116 to 150 35to 50 25to 50 30 to 100 17 14 13 12 Injured 300 to 500 300 to 400 150 to 300 100 to 150 150 85 to 30 to 50 to to 40 60 50 100 50 75 60 335 Estimated total dead, 708 1, 000BELIEVED DEAD 102 BODIES DUG 0UT IN MINING TOWNS NEAR CARBONDALE 200 Seriously Injured Sent to Injured Expected to Total 3,000 Within Radius of 25 Miles of Hlinois City. By the Associated Press. CARBONDALE, 111, March 19.—Up- ward of 1,000 persons are dead and probably 3,000 injured, with thou- sands of others homeless, within a radius of 25 miles of this city, as a result of yesterday's tornado, accord- ing to reports filtering in here this morning. A tabulation based on estimates of persons reaching here from the stricken and devastated towns fol- lows : Murphysboro, with a population af 13,000, reports between 250 and 300 dead, upward of 700 injured, 1,000 to 1,200 homes wrecked or burned and 4,000 to 5,000 made homeless. At 9 o'clock this morning fire, which burned or wrecked 20 square | blocks, was stlll raging, but was re- ported under control after dynamite had been used. One company of the Illinois National Guard was on duty in Murphyboro and another was re- ported at West Frankfort Wext Frankfort Isolated. West Frankfort, a thriving mining town of 18,000, was practically cut off | trom the outside world with 87 known dead and estimates placing the num- ber at from 300 to 350. More than 500 persons were injured in this city with many homeless. Gorham, a few miles south of Murphysboro, was isolated and was reported practically destroved. In the village of 500 upward, 100 or more were reported dead, and scarcely a per- son escaped injury. 5 De Soto, a little town of 500, was practically wiped off the map. The village, six miles from Carbondale, did not have a dozen homes left in- tact today, with from 100 to 125 dead and 150 more injured. Nearly 30 school children were killed at De Soto when the schoolhouse collapsed as the youngsters, ranging in age from 6 to 10 years, struggled frantically to escape. Several were reported dead and injured at Ziegler and Christo- pher, small mining towns, and many were hurt at Bush, Hurst, Parrish, Royton and Benton, according to mea- ger reports recelved here this morn- ing. Carbondale, one of the few towns In the storm area to escape serious dam- age, was practically swamped with dead and injured. More than 40 bodies were brought here early today, prin- cipally from De Soto, while hospitals, the Elks' Lodge, churches and pri- vate homes were filled to overflowing with injured and more were being brought in hourly by automobiles from the stricken towns and citles in this district in the path of the tornado. Country Sections Escape. The district in the path of the storm, after a night of suspense and uncertainty, dazedly looked upon the devastation with the coming of day- light and then organized the hap- hazard relief work. A speciai relief train from Chicago traveling over the Tliinois Central railroad arrived here at 7 o'clock with more than a hun- dred doctors and half as many nyrse Half the nurses and doctors were kept here and within an hour were administering to the more seriously injured, while flying squads of other doctors and nurses were rushed to the more seriously stricken areas. At local hospitals and at the Elks Home Carbondale doctors and practitioners from surrounding towns labored tire- lessly throughout the night. Matters became so desperate that sweating surgeons finally resorted to opera- tions without administering an anes- T (Continued on Page 4, Column 5.) | (Continued on Page 6, Column 2.) OFSTORMRUINS AT WESTFRANKFORT Hospitals and Property Loss Over $2,000,000. By the Associated Pre WEST FRANKFORT, 111 —Early this morning been extricated from buildings wrecked here in yesterday's tornado and more than 200 serfously injured taken to hospitals Two hundred and fifty buildings wero leveled, and Sherlff Dorris esti- mated the property loss at more than $2,000,000. Two National Guard units are in control here, but the town has not been placed under martfal law. March 19. 102 bodies had Rivals War Scenex. Dawn today in West Frankfort pre- sented a picture of desolation that rivaled the war-stricken portions of France in the most hectic days of the struggle. As far the eye could see ‘he landscape was a huge irregu- lar mass of twisted debris It was extremely difficult n many instances at first to determine a: curately details of the picture. Here a whole house had been moved com- pletely from its foundation, at an- other place a side had been ripped off, while in other cases what had once been homes were nothing but little piles of twisted wreckage. From the field north of the Orient mine, one of the town's chief sources of livelihood, the dark outlines of rescue workers probing the debris for bodles were visible. Here and there could be heard the pitiful cries of injured, still pinned beneath the wreckage. One of the most pitiful sights that greeted the rescue workers was that of a mother lying, terribly mangled, while a tiny infant, crying lustily, crawled about her inert form. Finds Wife in Debr At another home the body of a woman was found on the porch, & deep gash in the head. She appar- ently met her fate while endeavoring to fles from the fury of the storm. In one instance a miner, still in his pit clothes and carrying the limp form of a five-year-old child, walked de- jectedly in the path of rescue work- ers to a pile of wreckage that until yesterday constituted his home. In the debris were found his wife and another son, both terribly Injured. The morgue was filled to overflow- ing with bodies of victims. On one side of the structure the bodies of 18 bables were In one group. Practically every delivery truck in the city was converted into ambu- lances, while scores of private ma- chines were pressed into service. Business houses were closed and all joined in thework of rescue. One hundred special policemen, sworn in immediately after the storm by Chief of Police Norman, pa- trolled the stricken districts. TEACHER DIES, AGED 102. BERLIN, March 19, —Friedrich Harnisch, Germany's widely known school teacher, is dead here at the age of 102 years. He was pensioned some years ago after having taught for 46 consecutive years. His favorite saying was: ‘When 1 don’t smoke I have no ideas, and when I have no ideas, why, 1 don't smoke.” PRISON WARDEN CLEARED. DENVER, March 19—Thomas J. Tynan, warden of the Colorado State Penitenttary, was exonerated of the charges of prison mismanagement, brought by former Gov. Sweet, in a decision’ of the State civil service commission by & 2-to-1 vote today, IT's Goin’ To BE HARD To PLAY SOLITAIR SUCCESSFULLY As THE CARDS' C. A. CULBERSON, 10, EXSENATOR, DEAD Texan Had Distinguished Ca- reer as Lawyer, Governor and Legislator. Former Senator Charles A son of Texas died at in Meridian Mansions, street, early today Death followed an enza, which prostrated the distin- guished Texan legislator and jurist on Sunday and developed into pneu- monia late Monday. He passed into a coma several hours before his death occurred, at 5:40 o'clock this morning. At the bedside were Mrs Culberson and her sister, Mrs. Mary Schulter, and Dr. Sterling Ruffin, who attended Senator Culberson In his last illness. Arrangements for the funeral not been definitely completed today, pending the arrival early tomorrow of Senator Culberson’s daughter, Miss Mary Culberson, and his brother, R. U. Culberson of Houston, Tex. The funeral and burial, however, will be at Fort Worth, Tex., Monday or Tues- |day. The funeral party will leave | here tomorrow afternoon via St Louts. Had Been in Bad Health. Mr. Culberson, who was 70 years old, had been in ill health for several years, following a stroke suffered more than 15 years ago. Virtually no hope had been held for his recovery | since he was taken seriously i1l last | Sunday. Before his retirement from | the Senate, in 1922, it was necessary for him to use a wheel chair in go- ing about the Capitol. Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas, a colleague of Mr. Culberson in the Senate for many years, rose from a sick bed today to pay his respects, and Senator Culber- son's apartment was visited by sev- eral other Senators who had not left Washington following adjournment of the Senate yesterday. Senator Culberson had made (Cortinued on Page 2, Column 2.) TOKID RUSHES BIG RELIEF BARRACKS Scenes of Horror Like Those of Earthquake, Follow Fire Disaster. Culber- his apartment attack of influ- had his By the Associated Press. TOKIO, March 19.—The hand of horror and devastation gripped Toklo today as a result of fire that swept Jover the northeastern section of the city and left thousands homeless. Starting in a factory at Nappori Junction, the blaze burned its way like wild fire in a southwesterly di- rection, consuming wooden houses like s0 much tinder: The conflagra- tion was alded by a fierce gale that made fire fighting difficult. When the flames were reported controlled late last night 2,000 houses had been de- stroyed, 300 persons were reported injured and 10,000 refugees were de- pending upon the aid of other sec- tions of Tokio for shelter. Rellef Rushed as fn 1023, Scenes incident to the major earth- quake and fire at Tokio in 1923 were being repeated today when construc- tion of a large barracks to house victims of the fire was begun. A public subscription list headed by the Emperor has been opened, and those in charge of relief expect to meet the immediate situation by this means. The burned area was made up of small homes, small factories, schools and temples. Victims rendered home- less were generally poor. Roughly, the loss is estimated at 5,000,000 yen. Radio Brggran;s—Page H. ' (e 2400 Sixteenth | i i Severe Operation | Performed Upon | The Earl of Ypres By the Associated Pross LONDON. March Ypres, who as | French, commanded the British army in the fleld during the great war, underwent a severs and pro- longed operation today. A medi- cal bulletin says “Lord Ypres' condition after the operation is as satisfactory as could be expected, but it must of necessity give rise to anxiety for some time.” LITTLE HOPE LEFT " FORMEN INMINE 19.—The Ear! of Field Marsha Feet Into Shaft, But Find No Trace of 34. ° | | | Bs the Associated Press FAIRMONT, W. Va. March 19.— Tireless rescue workers continued | their struggle today to reach the 34 miners entombed by a terrific explo- on that, Tuesday night, wrecked mine No. 41 of the Bethlehem Mines Corporation at Barrackville, three miles from here. Late last night the mine had been penetrated more than 4,000 feet. No bodies had been found, nor were there indications that any of the men caught far in the work- ings were alive. Hope that some of the entombed men may be rescved has not abandoned, but it is the belief of e perienced mining men that those the property at the time of the plosion have perished. R. M. Lambie, chief of the West Virginia department of mines, an- nounced last night, after a trip into the mine with a rescue crew, that fire was burning in the right heading. He said the flames probably would be confined to a small area. Twenty- two men are belicved to have been trapped in this heading and 12 in the left heading. in WOMAN IN AUTO BATTLES THIRTY ARMED MEXICANS Fired Upon by Drunken Agrarians, Ranch Owner’s Daughter Uses Revolver. By the Associated Press MEXICO CITY, March 19.—Dis- patches from Puebla to El Universal today report that 30 armed Agrarians, tresh from an alleged drinking bout, fired upon Mrs. Valentina Azzcue Bernot while she was riding in an automobile, accompanied by her two daughters, on ber ranch, El Batan, in the State of Puebla. Miss Josefina Bernot returned the fire with a re- volver, defending her mother and sis- ter. The Agrarians, adds the dis- patch, accompanied by members of the local Agrarian commission, previ- ously had taken possession of a part of the ranch and held a “wet” cele- bration, at which the attack was de- cided upon. Troops were immediately sent to the ranch to protect the Bernot family. PLAN ‘BUSINESS CABINET. Prussian Diet to Select New Pre- mier at Election Today. By the Assoclated Pres: BERLIN, March 19.—Former Chan- cellor Marx has declined the Prussian premiership because of the failure of his efforts to form a cabinet com- manding an entire majority in the Prussian Diet. It now is proposed to form a “busi- ness cabinet,” and the election of the man for the premiership is expected today, [ Relief Crew Penetrate 4,000 been | ex- | | | [ | Code hereby (taken so until Judge Schuldt Rules Part of New Traffic Law Is Now in Effect. Defendants in driving-while-intoxi- cated cases which occurred after the signing of the new traffic bill will not be given the right to demand trial by a jury until the remainder of the bill providing for severer penalties also becomes a law This ruling was handed down today by Judge Gus A. Schuldt, in Police Court, who, after careful considera- tion of the act of Congress, declared | that the part limiting the right of jury trial is now in effect, and the part increasing the fines and sen- tences for drunken motorists is not in effect until 60 days following the af- fixing of the President’s signature to the bill known as the traffic act His ruling caused considerable con- sternation in Police Court, when an- nounced this morning. Anxious law- vers and more anxious clients quickl but carefully scanned the section upon which Judge Schuldt based his ruling. Basix for Ruling. It was as follows ‘Section 4. The second paragraph o section 44 of the District of Columbia is amended to read as follows: In all cases where the ac- cused would not by force of the Con- stitution of the United States be en- titled to a trial by jury, the trial shall be by the court without a jury, unless in such of last- named cases wherein the fine or penalty may be more than $300, or imprisonment as punishment for the offense may be more than 20 days, the accused shall demand a trial by jury, in which case the trial shall be by jury. In all cases where the said court shall impose a fine it may, in default of the payment of fine im- posed, commit the defendant for such a term as the court thinks right and proper, not to exceed one year.” As under thi present regulation driving while intoxicated cases may be given a fine not to exceed $300 or 90 days, maximum sentence, or both, according to Judge Schuldt’s ruling, no jury trial can be demanded. How- ever, when the new regulation re- garding the driving while intoxicated cases, providing a fine of $300 and 6 months” maximum jail sentence, goes into effect, om or about May 1. jury trials can be again demanded in such cases. Ruling to Speed Cases. The above ruling' will greatly expedite the business of hte court, and by the time the gew regulation is in effect many of the pending cases of such nature will be out of the way. Jury trials demanded in cases previ- ous to the passing of the bill will be held, but none after the trafiic meas- ure was passed. Many lawyers and clients, it was said today, do not belleve it proper that one section of the bill can be made effective and another part not May 1. If the old regulation is still in effect the regu- lation changing the’ right of jury trials should be also, they believe Or, on the other hand, if the right for jury trial is changed under the new law at the present date, the other regulation providing for sever- er sentences should be under opera- tion also. Lawyer Ware and his client, Mar- shall G. Moore, colored, were the first to come under the new ruling. Moore was charged with driving while in- toxicated, falling to obey a traffic policeman’s signal, no permit and col- liding. Wae entered a plea of not gullty in the first three charges and demanded a jury trial. Judge Schuldt accquainted Ware with the ruling and the case went before the court. Found guilty on all charges, the defendant was fined $5 for disobeying the policeman's signal, $40 for colliding, $40 for no permit and was sentenced to jail for 30 days on the charge of driving while intoxicated. g Peace Act Passed in Japan. fiy the Associated Press. TOKIO, March 19.—The House of | Peers today passed the peace preser- vation act, a measure designed to curb all forms of radical activity, | | Beacn LOOTERS BLOGKED NS4 00D HOTEL BLAZE N FLORIDA Ashes of the Breakers and Palm Beach Hostelries Are Raked for Valuables. MILLIONAIRES USE RUGS AS BEDS ON GOLF LINKS Two Washingtonians Among Guests Driven Out—Exodus to North Begins. By the Associated I PALM BEACH, F Mora than $4,000.000 rty lay in ruins here fire of thr Beach early last night ugh the Breakers hotels destroy shops and and tion of 1 cottages reatened the destru Smoldering remained of two hotels of the playgrou aires as the dam rumors life. ashes efforts were that there had e rumor t and woman Breakers. ad Hunt for Valuables. The city pr ad scene in the early groups paused in the du graying embers to disct make an effort to ident valuables that had bee windows during the the late afterno Farther away groups of mi | pensive rugs the floors a bulldings, u tramp of soldiers patrolling the bridge between Palm Beach and West | Beach. Others of several thousand persons rendered homeless by the fire quartered in other hotels and pri homes the city. Less happil quartered were persons to them negroes, arrested on charges o looting after the fire, while thousan of dollars of none clothing chey alleged stolen was being guarded bs of ewels poli Guards Placed at Ruins. In heap ma the neighborhood of the g king the the Pa Beach Hotel guards were stationed t protect a pile of trunks, furniture other articles valued at approximate 1y $30,000. Other guards, compr members of t Florida Guard, patrolied highways county in an effort to recover thousands of dollars’ worth of pr erty alleged to have been stolen f the two hotels during the conflagr tion. The estimated property of g nishings of t hotels thems building alone $1,000.000, H. E ager of the E properties here, said, and the Paln Hotel sustained an estimated loss of one-fourth that amou The cause of the fire had positively ascertained. It ously said to have origin carelessly thrown cigarette, a plum: er's torch and an electrical appl in the hands of a woman guest da ests of d the the hotels structures and ives. The Break represented a Bemis st general man Coast Hotel from a Fire Startx on Upper Floor. The flames originated floor of the south wing of the Break ers and quickly spread to other pa of the hostelry. Pandemon sulted, as guests were alarrn W smoke spread through the hallwa and the flames burst through the roof of the structure. The highly infl mable wood furnished splendi for the fire. Guests scurried ways to safety. Others, more ed over the salvation their ables, paused to wrap them in linen or toss them desperately from win dows, hoping to recover them later All Palm Beach fire apparatus was summoned to the scene, while calls were sounded for that of West Palm Beach and Lake North, and a genera alarm summoned equipment other citles in the neighborhood in an u through the from Many Volunteers in Fight. In the meantime the fire had eaten its way through the Breakers and spread to the P’alm Beach Hotel. Al though thousands of people assem- bled and volunteer firefighters aug mented the efforts of the firemen several shops and cottages were burned and the flames threatened to extend to Bradley's Club, long noted as a playground for wealthy Palm Beach habitants. The roof of Hotel, besieged the Royal Poinciana by flaming embers. smoldered and threatened to burst into flames, but otherwise was not damaged. As a precautionary meas- ure, however, guests were ordered to leave the structures. The Breakers was about 20 years old and succeeded the Palm Beach Inn, built by Henry Flagier in 1895 and destroved by fire a score of years ago. Driver Discovers Fire. John McDonald, driver of the chil- dren’s tram car between the Break ers and the Royal Poinciana, said that he and Ground Supt, Brannon ‘wers probably the first to discover the fire. McDonald said he noticed a burst of smoke from the south door of The Breakers and called to Superinten dent Brannon that the hotel was afire Guests reclining in porch chairs on he veranda of The Breakers had not noticed anything out of the ordinary until a shout from Brannon brought them rushing from the burning building Trunks were thrown from windows and chairs were dragged from porches to the adjoining golf course where (Continued on Page 5, Column 8.)