New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 15, 1923, Page 1

News of the World By Associated Press | ESTABLISHED 1870 AMERIC Agree With Neutral Writers That Early Part of April Will See Teu- tonic Industries Col- lapsing French to Disarm 10,000 German Policemen — At- tempts Reported of Ef- l‘orgu to Incite Poilus to Desert France, [ Paris, I'eb, 15.—~8ome Amerfean | and other neutral observers here, declared to be In a position to know with considerable preeision the coal stocks of both France and Germany, predicted today that the battle going on between France and Germany in the Rubr was likely to come to an end in the early days of April by the fuel starvation of Germany. These observers estimated that Germany il dhe struggle was not terminated sooner by negotiations would be unabla to opérate her rail- ways and factories after that time. If thé Ruhr battle is fought out on the issue of coal, it is forescen that fuel difficulties will grow throughout Central Europe and other points, 1 As for France's position, her nor- mal production is ‘4,500,000 tons monthly, but fi'!lh the Sarre and Mo- selle and other strikes this produc- tion is estimated to have been re- duced by 33 per cent. It included a half million tons of coke which had| been sccured from the Ruhr and which is unavailable in other quar- ters. . ['rance has on hand possibly a six-week supply but the domestic consumption and prices have not yet reflected the meagreness of the stock. The Ruhr production now is esq- mated at only 33 per cent of nor- mal, due to-the transportalion and other strikes with six million tons ofl coal estimated to be lying at the pit- heads. - To Disarm_Police. Duesseldorf, I"eb. 15,—(By the As- sociated Press.)—T8n thopsand Ger- man security police throughout un- cupied region are to be disarmed by order of General Degoutte because of the general attitude of the police to- ward the forces of occupation. Here after the Schutzpolizei are to be con- sigered by the I'rench as the protec- | tors of Ruhr comiaunities, without any connection with Berlin. In addition to the recent incident at Gelsenkirchen, the French consider that the police are inclined to use their arms too freely, especially when they get into disputes with IFrench soldiers, Headquarters here has on record twelve incidents where the po- lice used firearms against the mili- tary. It is ajso charged that in an- other instance a member of the force was discovered in the act of setting on fire a house where soldiers were billeted. Germans Are Boasting. The Germans are beasting that since February 6 unoccupied Germany has been receiving more Ruhr coal than «France and Belgium. They point proudly to the ‘statement that| during the past week 60 train loads have been shipped out, despite the efforts of the French to place sol-| diers at all posstble loopholes. However, they did not begin to boast until the French discovered the leakage., Occupation authorities say that actually the Germans managed to get through only 40 coal trains| which went into the interior over pri- vate railway lihes leading from the ‘migks and by other routes which the allies had not controlled properly. The I'rench announce that all such| gateways into the interior are now| guarded cautiously and that thescus- | toms ring, which aims to shut off| from the unoccupied region all sup- plieg of coal, coke and metals, is now welded tightly, Reported Attacking Morale, i Essen, I'eb. 15 (By Associated | Press). — Pamphlets printed in French, urging soldiers of the French army of occupation to revolt and leave Germany to herself, have been distributed through the bar- | racks of the military in various parts of the Ruhr. The Irench say that this is plainly a German trick to in- cite the soldiers. N0 DEBT VOTE TOHORRON Senator Reed, Democrat, Blocks At- tempt of Senate Leaders To Get De- cision on British Terms. ‘Washington, Feb, 15.—Objection by Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri, blocked efforts today of senate repub- lican leaders to arrange for a vote to- morrow on the British debt funding | bill. i State of Michigan Is in | Grip of Fierce Blizzard Detroit, t'eb. 15.—Telegraph wires that withstood Wednesday's gale brought stories today of railroad serv- ice abandoned, urban traffic paralyz- ed, industries and business halted, schools closed and populations still exerting their chief efforts against zero cold which grips Michigan today in the wake of the wind. Snow drifts — GERManv: v BY FUEL SUPPL NEW BRITAIN HERAL. NEW BRITA RQVERS FEEL CLAIM COAL COMPANY WILL NOT.CO-OPERATE Maine Fuel Administrator Blames D. & H. Branch for Part of Shortage New York, Feb, 15,~Bhipping and tonnage reports of the Hudson Coal company, desired by the Interstate Commerce commissioners in thelr hearing of coal distribution In New York, New England and Canada, will be avallable' Monday, W. ¥, Noyes, counsel for the company announced today. Mr, Noyes reversed the position he took yesterday, Fuel administrators who have asked an embargo on coal shipments into Canada in order to remedy the fuel situation they say is acute in New York and New Eng- land have testified that the Hudson company repeatedly had refused to co-operate with them in their prob- lems, A message from A, P, Lane, fuel administrator of Maine, in which he told of the unwillingness of the Hud- son company, which is a subsidlary of the Delaware and Hudson railway, to co-operate with him, was® read into the record, W. A, Towne, superintendent of the transport of the Boston and Mame’ railroad, said that his road, from April 1, 1922 to Feb. 12, 1923, had received from the Delaware and Hudson about 68 per cent of the amount of coal it received in the previous year. During the last year, he added, his road had shipped only 16 cars of coal into Canada. It. Van Ummerson, traffic manager of the Boston and Albany railroad, said he favored coal priority over all other shipments because conditions were acute in Boston and Albany. . v WILL OF JAMES M. DOYLE OFFERED FOR PROBATE Relatives, Friends and Order of Nuns Are Beneficiaries The will of the late James M. Doyle, who for 30 years was connect- ed with the New Britain “Record,” was filed this afternoon in probate court, The sum of $300 is to be used for the purpose of erecting a gravestone over the grave of the deceased editor at St. Mary's cemetery; to Michael English is left the sum of $500 and wearing apparel; to Kerin English, Helen Shechan' and Lilian English are left sums of §500 cach; Constance I3, Sheehan and Frank M. English are left $200 each; ank Iinglish is left $200 in trust for the use of his son, Wellesley; to the Society of Little Sis- ters of the Poor at New Haven, is left the sum of $100; to Howard A. Tim- brell, with whom Mr. Doyle was as- sociated for many years on the “Rec- ord,” is left $100 as a “token of my friendship,” and for the same purpose $150 is left to Mortimer H. Camp land Herbert V. Camp, who are also to receive fountain pens owned by Mr. Doyle; a bequest of $250 is made to J. 1. Doyle in trust for Walter J. Doyle. The rest and ‘residue of the estate is left to Miss Catherine A. Thomas. Mortimer H. Camp is named executor of the will, which was drawn September 27, Central New England Line Between Winsfed and Hartford Is Interrupted at Bloomficld By Drifts. Winsted, ¥eb, 15.—The Central New England railway between this city and Hartford is blocked by snow drifts in Bloomfield, the railway an- nounced today. Trains are being de- toured over the Northampton division by way of Simsbury and Plainville. A westbound feight train was stalled all night in Bloomfield and a locomo- tive sent from Hartford to assist the train also was caught in the drifts, A squad of snow shovellers was sent from Hartford today to dig out the engine and the freight train. Whiskey Worth $185,000 Is Stolen in Chicago Chicago, Ieb, 15.-— Approximately 1500 cases of whiskey with #n esti- mated value of $185,000 have been stolen from the warehouse of B. Me- Claskey and Son, distillers, Alfred | Martin, agent for. the company report- ed to the police. The burglar alarm was found disconnected. START JAIL TERMS. New York, Feb. 15.—The four La Montague brothers, Montague, Rene, William and Morgan, wealthy dis- tillers, who pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to violate the Volstead act, left today foy Essex county.pris- on at Caldwell, N. J., to begin sen- tences imppsed , by Federal Judge | Winslow. Montague is to serve two months and his brothers four months. 10 and 12 feet deep were found” in some piaces. llmddmon each was fined $2,000. as | \, CON NECTICUT, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1923, | No Candidate Yet to Buck Klett, | | ‘USHED ' But Alcorn, Both Officially and Y SHORTAGE Personally, Opposes Selection Protests Against Appolntmont»llov:'evor. Are Not Un-| - usual—Conn, Senators Believed to Be Awaiting|SOUTHBURY HAS FIRE Definite Word From Republican Boss Roraback Tha He Stfll Wants New Britain Man Named, BY GEORGE M, MANNING (Washington Bureau of New Rritain Herald), Washington, 1), €, Feb, 14.~Con- siderable surprise has been aroused in Washington over the absence of any boom for a successer to U, B Distriet | Attorney Edward Smith of Hartford, | who died last Friday, | Usually when a vacancy of this| kind pecurs the senators and the jus-| tice department are swamped within | | eral candidates for the place, But although Mr, {has been recelved by Senators Me-| | Lean or Brandegee or at the deplrt-l ment of justice from anyone in Con-| necticut applying for the place or| urging appointment of someone else.| 1ooks Like Klett, | partly by Washington officials to the| impression which has become rather!| general over the state that G. W.| selected by the powers that he' {or‘ the general run of lawyers in Con- | necticut: who are qualified for the po- sition cannot afford to give up their ' May Seek Pardon Mayor, Probation Officer and Others Interested in George Evanoff, Sent to Prison in 1920, Backed by Mayor A, M. Paonessa, Probation Officer E. C. Connolly and a number of other city officials and welfare, workers, a movement is be- ing launched to place before the state board bf pardons next June, a petition for the release either through parole cr pardon ot George FEvanoff, now gerving a prison sentence of not less than 10 years-or more than 15 years {for killing his wife in this-city, March 16, 1920, H Sentenced in 1920. Evanoff was sentenced in superior | court during the June term of 1920, three months after the lifeless body of his wife had been found strapped with toy reins and concealed in a trunk at the Evanoff home at 652 West Main street. Simultaneous with the discovery of the body, Evanoff disappeared from the city. He was arrested in Bellevue hospital, New York, on April 12, after he had made an unsuccessful attempt at self de- struction in a New York hotel and had been taken to the institution for treatment. - On the following day he was arraigned in police court here, Judge John H. Kirkham bound the accused husband over to the June term of the superior court and in the meantime he was confined to the Hartford county jail. In superior court he was charged with manslaughter, Judge Newell Jennings at that time assistant state's attorney, presented the case and in the course of the trial admitted the existence, of extenuating circumstances connected with the actions of the al- leged slayer. An Ideal Prisoner. Since his confinement in prison, the New Britain man has been an ideal prisoner and is held in high regard | by the warden reports coming to this city indicate. He has been appointed a prison trusty and has been given numerous assignments which indjcate | appreciation of his trustworthiness. He has made himself decidedly popu- lar with his fellow prisoners at Weth- ersfield with his feats of strength and |is regarded as qne of the most skillful wrestlers at the institution. Young Son in Colorado. The prisoner has a son, Teddy, aged five years who is now living | with his uncle, Michael Evanoff of [l‘rmlcrivk, Colo. Shortly after the| | parent had been sentenced to prison, | the boy was sent té Colorado, mak- ing the trip alone through the agency of the Travelers' Aid socicty, agents of which met him at several stations along the route, furnishing him with food and such comforts as were needed. IFor some time prior to the killing, [the husband and wife had not been on the best of terms. The husband had been a patient at a hospital and his condition was such that he nul-* | fered mental anguish and the marital breach was constantly widening. His| wife, who was 20 years of age, was | a regular attendant at the local the- aters and at one time had taken a | minor part in “Very Good Eddie" | produced by a stock company in the Lyceum theater. ; On the mornifig of the deed, Mrs. A. W. Powell, a sister of the victim, | with whom the Evanoffs hnardcd.! saw the husband leave the house for work at about the usual time. Mrs. | | (Continued on Eleventh Page.) Payment of '$40,000 on | P. S. McMahon’s Insurance | The first settlement of life insur-| ance on the late Patrick S. McMahon, | was made yesterday by the Aetna Life Insurance Co. of Hartford, with fhe New Britain Trust Co. adminis. trator of the estate of the deceased. The settlement was on a policy of / $40,000. private practice for the salary of $4,- 800 a year and the political prom- inence that goes along with it The U, B district attorneyship are usually taken by men who eare more for the political atmosphere surround- ing the position thun for the meagre salary that goes with it Contests In Other Sates, Another factor that makes the sit- vation in Connecticut different from tors personally choose the district at. Smith passed | torney from among 10 or 20 candi- © away six days ago not a single letier | dates who make & contest for i, This|h7ee bulldings despite results in senators being swamped with applications and endorsements as soon | as there I8 a vacancy. In Connecti- cut the senators have adopted the plan of letting the state central com- mittee choose the man for the place This apparent apathy is attributed and passing the endorsement along to ! the department with their O, X, The death of U, 8. District Attorney Smith advances by four months the Klett of New Britain has already been | selection of his successor because it | was the intention of the justice de- this place, and also to the fact that partment to allow the democratic nlls.‘, trict attorney to serve out his term, (Continued on Iifth Page) For Principal " In West End Trunk Mam_’_er Case BIG GUNS SIGHTED FOR WAR ON BOOZE Givic League Gets Going in Fight Against Liquor Evil SPELLACY AND FITZGERALD Scoretary of State, Anti-Saloo. League Accuses Democratic Candidates —J. Henry Agrees Glynn Hesitated Too Long. “Congressman James P. Glynn came out with his pronouncement of being on thg side of the ‘drys’ just two weeks too late, and lost the elec- tion because he hesitated,” said G. Herbert Ekins, executive secretary of the Connecticut Anti-Saloon league at a preliminary meeting of New Dritain citizens at the Y. M. C. A, t eve- ning. There were 18 present and as many more sent in messages of co- operation in a moveent to empha- size stricter enforcement of the laws, with especial respect to the 1Sth amendment. The mceting was representative of the leading men of the city. There were ministers, lawyers, medical men, factory officials, city cfficials and business and professional men. At- terney A. W. Upson was seclected a temporary chairman and Rev. R. N. Gilman was named temporary secre- tary. A committee will be named by Attorney Upson today to bring in or- ganization and nominating plans for affiliating with the Connecticut Civic Safety league. Mr. Ekins, who was the principle speaker, was introduced by Rev, John I. Davis. Mr. Davis in his introduc- tory remarks commented upon the NEW AIR SPEED RECORD Sadi LeCointe, French Airman, Makes 80 Miles Per Hour. Besting General Mitchell’s Mark Here. 15 (By the As- LeCointe, tor, flying a 500 horse- power uport, today maintained a speed of 265 kilometers (226.80 miles) an hour for a distance of four kilome- ters. This eclipses the record estab- lished by Brig. General William Mit- chell, assistant chicf of the American air force, who flew 4.05 miles an hour at Selfridge IMield, Michigan, last October. Istres, sociated I'rench rance, IFeb. 4 )-—Sadi i av HARDING NAMES SPAULDING Washington, [I'eb. 15.~~Harry Spaulding of New Hampshire was nominated by President Harding to be comptroller of customs in district four with headquarters at Boston. S. 0. CO. DIVIDE New York, Feb. 15.—The Standard Oil company of New Jersey today de- clared ah initial quarterly dividend of | 25 cents on the new common stock. | regular quarterly dividend of on the preferred also was de- * WEATHER o | Hartford, Feb. 15 —~Forecast b THE | | for New Britain and vicinity: | Fair and ocontinued eold today | and Friday; strong northwest- erly winds, diminishing Friday. . | —_— | * w.| J———— N —FOURTEEN PAGES o Average Daily Circulation : it 9,189 February 10th PRICE THREE CENTS 'TWO STEAMERS WRECKED IN PACIFIC, ANOTHER HELPLESS, FOURTH ON REEF; VESSEL ALSO SINKING IN ATLANTIC THAT CAUSES $10000 DAMAGES Three DBuildings of Diamond Ma Co, Paper Manufacturing Mant | | Are Destroyel, Conn, Peb, 15.—~Pire destroyed three buildin of the manufacturing plant of the amond Mateh company in the Routhford section of this town, The loss was estimated at $100,000 | "he fire was discovered about 3 a Routhhury, lnurly today paper 24 hours with tolegrams, letters and | that in the other states is this; In the | ™ and persons living nearby quickly petitions urging appointment of sev-) other states the United States .an..“"““"" # bucket "”“;"'; l"' :"; *"W: @& charge of ha 'he high wind {to eheck the fames rried the blaze rapidly through the the efforts of %, An office were not being lo- of the volunteer fire figh storehouse buildings the path the bullding and damaged, thes eated outside flames, The plant had been closed down for the lart six months and recently |there has been no watchman on duty, It was understood the mateh company was making its paper goods else- where, Valuable machinery was de- stroyed by the flames. The origin of the fire was unexplained, of TEMPORARY INSANITY I§ GIVEN AS TRAGEDY CAUS New Haven Coroner Claims That Durfee Was Crazed When He Killea New Haven, Ieb, | Mix, is a finding today, says that | temporary insanity, brought on by | financial difficulties was the cause of the murder of Mrs, Alfce Judd Dur- fee last Friday by her husband, Ed- ward L. Durfee, manager of an auto- mobile agency who committed sui- cide by shooting after he had stran- gled his wife. The coroner says that indebtedness of Durfee to two local banks and to an automobile company {were among the financial troubles which led to the traged: ROB JEWELRY STORE Wife d Himself, 15.—Coroner Establishment—Alleged Thieves Captured Later. Bridgeport, IFeb. 15.-~The window of the jewelry store of B Spector and bBros., wi smashed early today and a half dozen watches and several other pieces of jewelry were taken. The total value of the goods taken was placed at $200, Three men were arrested in a hotel later and the police claimed to have found several watches in their room. They gave New York addresses and were held in $3,000 bail each for hearing. LUMBER DEALERS ELECT Named J. C. Barry of Portland is Head of State Association—Temple- ton Addresses Banquet, Waterbury, Feb. ~—John C. Bar ry, of Portland, was elected presiden and N. B. Richards, of South Man- chester, vice-president, of the Con- necticut Lumber Dealers association {at the annual convention here today. Other officers elected were: H. H. Richards, of West Haven, treasurer; W. J. Riley, of Hartford, secretary. |The board of directors elccted for a j term of three years ¢ ts of . W, Chatfield, of .Derby, Albert Seibold of New Haven, I". 8. Bidwell of Windsor and John A, Dodd of Portiand fternoon the annual banquet gsociation s will be held and minent speakers including B. O'Suitivan and Governor Charles Templeton will be heard 21 7-10 Mills Tax Planned , For 1923-1924 Budget | Because he feels it is a step taken in the interests of the firemen and {the only means by which they can | hope for stem this | year, favors | the proposal of the finance board's ;"pmmnm committee” to recommend such a system with the pay of “h fireman cut 50 cents a day. The “pruning committee” will submit this and @ther recommendations to the full board tonight, recommending a tav of 21 7-10 mills for next on top of which a tax of 1 8-10 mills | must be collected for special appro- priations this year, making a total | tax of 23 5-10 mills. If the proposed 23 vide a tax of 1-10 mill less than was | actually required to run the city this year. The committee proposed build- | ing a fireproof addition gt the town home for a female ward, the cost of | which is $70,000. Of this amount $10,000 w be appropriated and $10,000 will be paid every vear for { the next six years, the money to be raised by the issuance of city notes. Report of French Ship Being Sunk Is Not True Constantinopie, Feb, 15.—(By Asso ciated Pre ‘here is absolutely no confirmation of reports, understood to have been telegraphed from here that a French destroyer had been sunk by Turkish gun fire at Smyrna. One of ficlal wireless from Smyrna today makes no mention of any such ref- erence. | Window Broken Out in Bridgeport | year, | | tax is accepted, the budget will pro- | RAIZEN TELLS OF HOW HE FORGAVE HI WIF Husband Takes Stand in Her Defense—She Is on Trial for Murder w York, Feb, 15,—Charles E Raizen, Hrooklyn toy took the stand today in defense of his wife, Lillan, on trial in Brooklyn on g murdered Dr, A Glicksteln, whom she accused of hay- |ing betrayed her Ralzen testified that when their honeymoon was only three days old, she told of previous relations with Dr, Glickstein “1 told her was passed,” {and told her | thing.” Albert | Ral that sald forget what was passed "1 forguve her the whole he to Mrs tnesses Conway, counsel n, read depositions of in iparaiso, Ind., tending to |that'the woman was under strong {nervous strain when they met her at Daytona, Fla.,, before the shooting Miss Helen F. Webe Mrs Ralzen as saying she nerve to kill an unnamed do Miss Weber set forth t she twice had deterred Mrs, [ from sui- cide; first by g then by poison. BUSINESS CENTER OF TOWN ' OF McINDOE FALLS BURNED | St. Johnsbury, Vt., Sends Soldiers and for show A} quoted d the tor,” Firemen to Rescue—11 Build- ings Destroyed, | Barnet, Vt, Feb. 15.—The [village of McIndoe Falls on the Conn: river in this town found itself with- out stores today and a number of its residents were homeless as a result of ja fire which was driven through s center by a high wind last night. The |loss is estimated at about $100,000, A | creamery, one of the principal indu |tries was saved as well as the Mc- Indoes academy. Eleven |were burned. | - The fire started in a building which oused a drug store on the ground floor and the Knights of Pythias hall Are/| was |above. The village fire brigade |unable to save the building and em- bers were blown through the village. | An appeal for help was sent to S Johnsbury, which sent on a specfal train a number of its firemen and | many members of company D, First Regiment, Vermont National Guard, who had been drilling. They made an | organized stand against the flames .und after several hours work stopped itheir spreading. MAKES PUBLIC BEQUESTS | i‘(.‘ullrunl Smith of Willimantic Whose Estate Totals $700,000, Donates To i Library and Y. M. C. A, —The and will of manu- Willimantie, I'eb. 15 Guilford Smith, banker facturer, who died la for probate today. state would aggregate 00. A large number of (institutions of various kinds, |cieties of the deceased are {the will. A trust tfund of $150,000 is set aside for the widow, who also is left the ings. Among bequests are: For the con- struction of a public library at South Windham, §25,000; to the Willimantic . M. C. A, $10,000, was said the about $700,- bequests to to so- ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED At a Valentine dinner by Mrs. Walter J. Bunce on Pearl court last [ment was made of the engagement of Katherine E. Bunce, of Berlin, Conn., |to Bdward I. Ogren of this city. Both lare well known and receiving | congratulations from many | friends. party at her home are their little | buildings made in | Smith home and its furnish- | given | night, announce- | 'Last Named is Italian Freighter, Reported by Radio to be 510 Miles Off Cape Henry, Va. Loss of Life Is Feared in Western Ocean Disasters | and One Boat Is Re- | ported Burned to Water's Edge. manufacturer, | San Francisco, 1%eb, 15 (By the Ase soclated Press)—Out of the wind whipped waters of the Pacific, off the Washington coust, came a series of wireless appeals today that told of two ght steamers on the rocks, & third drifting helpiessly fourth! aground, and & furthermore mysteris |ous report of a'glare south of Cap Flattery, that lo: like a ship afire lat sea. Scores Are in Peril, The scores of men forming the crews were in perll as the daylight lifted over the stormy ocean, The:! British freighter can Prince, ti lust to succumb to the gale, ree ported that she was “on the rocks and breaking up fast.” She was bound for Seattle from San Francisco, Relief ship on Rocks. The steamer Santa Rita, which lef§ {San Pedro for Seattle February 10, {apparently deviated from her course | last night to look for the steames Nika, earlier reported in distress, y today the Santa Rita broads cast the news t she was on the | rocks near Tatcosh at the entrance to Puget Sound, Her captain expressed the belief that she would not. sink, though he said she was being pounded by heavy seas, | Helpless Before Gale. The Nika, a wkooden vessel, sent S O 8. last night, reporting that the had lost her rudder aff Umatilla Reef, south of Cape Flattery, and was help- less before the gale. The fire at sea was reported near this position and shipping men feaved it was the Nika, Motorship Wrecked The motorship Coolcha, aground near Victoria, B. C., was believed be- yond salvage. Her position was dan- gerous. Her crew has been removed, All night the staccato stories tra- velled up ‘and down the coast from the wireless sets of the distressed ships and from the shore stations. The coast g cutter Algonquin was searching for the Tuscan Prince this morning, while the steamer Ke wanee, Wi preparing to aid the | Santa Rita. | Loss of Life Reported . Seattle, Feb. 15 A number of lives were believed to have been lost early today when the British steamer Tuscan Prince went ashore near Na- tevan, Vancouver lsland, according to a message received here from the tug San Morch, . Tuscan Prince, which went ashore {a few miles south of Cape Flattery, is undoubtediy a total loss, Harold Bur- chard, representative here for the Furness Withy company, agents for the Prince line of l.ondon, owners of the vessel said today. The steamer was commander by Captain J. Chil= vers and had a crew of 42 men aboard. | | | | | Saved as Ship Burns | Seattle, Wash., I"eb. 15.—The coast guard cutter Snopomish has taken all | members of the crew from the steams er N vhich was burned to the water's edge. This information a message from the commande Snopomish. No d¢ were given and the position of ip was not stated was contained in the s O Cape Flatiery steamer Kewanee reported by wirel today that a ship supposed to be the steamer Nika was apparently |on fire south of Cape Flattery, The glare of the flames could be secem{ The | ' (Continued on Twelfth Page) | THREE 9 STORY BUILDINGS BURNED . TO GROUND WITH $2,000,000 LOSS - AT ARMOUR PLANTAT SOUTH OMAHA [More Than Thousand Men Put Out -of Employment— Blazing Lard Runs in Little Rivulets—Firemen, En« crusted in Ice, Are Frozen to Their Hoses. | Omaha, Neb., Feb. 15.—~A fire that till was burning fiercely early today and that was called by veteran pack- ing men the most destructive in the history of America's packing indus- try had destroyed three nine story buildings of Armour and company's plant in south Omaha with an estim- |ated loss of $2,000,0f0. Two other large buildings used ag lard refiner- ies were threatened. More than 1,000 men already temporarily were without employment as a resuit of the fire, Twenty-one fire companies were |concentrating their efforts on prevent- ing a further spread of the flames. | T. C. Willis, general manager of the plant, said that the fire started in the | ninth story of building 19, from a de- {fective elevator motor. The fire was discovered at 5:45 o'clock sterday morning. Firemen experien 1 great difficulty in making ‘water connections because of the sub—‘ 7ero weather and low pressure further ihindered them streams barely {reaching the sixth story at times, | Muge stocks of lard melted and ran building iquid fire, nui- efforts ¢ firemen and made the firc the most spectacular as well as the worst, in Omaha's histor: Firemen became encrusted with ice land some them literally froze te | their hose "lines M. J. Dineen, assistant fire chiefy was blown eight feet into the air by the explosion of an ammonia tank and |was taken to a hospital. Six other firemen were overcome or injured. Thousands braved the cold to watch the fire and police reserves were necs essary to keep the crowds back Swift and company’s plant was threatened when the roof of the feed elevator ignited from burning embers but four fire companies quickly eze tinguished the blaze, the over the lified the of the | «