Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 26, 1910, Page 1

'3 » 1 ( ) NEWS SECTION PAGES 1 TO 10 THE OMA hX DAILY BEE. VOL. XXXIX-—NO. 241, OMAHA, SATURDAY 26, MORNING, MARCH ANT BALLINGER AS LAST WITNESS Attorney Brandeis, for Prosecution, Asks that Secretary of Interior Appear in Pinchot Inquiry. COMMITTEE WILL MAKE DECISION Matter Passed Up for Time Being, but Summons May Be Issued. STEPHEN BIRCH TAKES STAND Manager of Morgan-Guggenheim Syn- dicate Questioned All Day. TELLS THINGS ABOUT ALASKA Conl Lands Come for Long Discus- slom, in Which Lawyer Tries to Show Up ‘“the Power of Morgan. /ASHINGTON, March 2%.—The Ballin- gor-Pinchot inquiry was resumed today af- ter an adjournment of practically two Weeks, tho sessions of last Friday and Sat- urday having been serfously interfered with by the fight against Bpeaker Cannon in the house of of representatives. AB s0on as the committee met this morn- ing, Attorney Brandels representing Louls | H. Glavis and others, sprang a. surprise by requesting that Secretary of the Interor Ballinger be called as one of hin witnesses, Mr. Brandels stated at first that he Wwished to identify by Mr. Ballinger two let- ters that he desired to introduce In evidence @t this time. Questioned further by mem- bers of the committee as to his intentions he admitted that he desired to conduct a @eneral examination of the accused cabinet ofticer. Counsel for Mr, Ballinger objected to this ,and called forth from Mr. Brandels the re- mark that from his letters he had always supposed Mr. Ballinger to be ready to ap- pear whenever and as often as any one connected with the Inquity desired. Some members of the committee seemed o think that Mr. Ballinger, as the person most interested inthe Inquiry, should have opportunity to make his statement first In his own way and not subject himself to & cross-examination. The = matter was | paseed over temporarily to be decided later in executive session. Manager Birch on Stand. The witness stand was occupled during the entire day by Stephen Bireh, managing | director of the Morgan-Guggenheim syndi- eate In Alaska. It was thought at first that Mr. Birch's testimony would be largely perfunctory in character and would follow | the ifnes of his statement recemtly made before the senate committee on ‘territories, Monibers of the commitje, however, be- oame deeply interestpq In the operations of the Alaske- syndi and they pled the witnes with an trony: . tically control Alaske: denled thia, > e y ““Well,” he was asked by Réepresentwtive Graham, “If the Guggenielms got control of coal lands In Alaska, what would there Mr. Birch sald’ he did not think this was o fair question to Ask him. He admitted that the Guggenhelm interests were large; that they had invested some $i5000,00 al- ready and had contracted for the expendi- ture of other millions. There had been no returns from these investments as yet. But the syndicate had “hopes.” ! As to the Cunningham claims, Mr. Bireh | produced the option which @ committee of the ¢laimants had given to Danlel Guggen- | heim, July 20, 1907. He declared that this option had been accepted by the Guggen- fielms December 7 of that year, The claim- ants, however, had never lived up to its terms. Cunningham, he said, In January or February, 198, had contended that the Guggenhelms themselves had volded the op- tion by changing thelr rafiroad base from Katalla to Cordova, and that, furthermore, ‘ the option was of no effect because a m: Jority of the claiman's had never ratified it. “The Power of Morgan.” Mr. Brandels sought to show that the Morgans and Guggenhelms, with their | “‘great power and influence in this coun- | &y, must have brought this influencing r to bear during the last two years !‘m effort to get patents granted to the ‘ hningham claimants. | Mr. Birch ‘declared, however, that he Bnew of no such efforts having been made, | “What ceuld we have done?* he procested, “Ah, Mr. Birch, you can answer that far Better than 1" dramatically exclaimed Mr, Brande! As 1o his estimate that the coal In Alaska | was worth 50 cents a ton and that, there- fore, the Cunningham clatms represented an actual value of $26,000,000, Mr. Birch d el that it was just as sensible to that the lcebergs in Alaska were of inesti- mable value. The lcebergs, he sald, would be valuable if they could be brought to market (n this country, So it was with | the coal, but first the transportation facili- | tles had to be provided. | it was evident today that membecs of the committee are growing irritable and | that this Irritabllity extends to the counsel, There were frequent clashes and both Aessrs. Brandels and Vertrees made apolo- @les at the close of th% session for im- | patient remarks. Immediately after the committee met to- day Mr. Brandels sald that when Messrs. Firch and Steele, of the Morgan-Guggen- Relm syndicate had given their testimony R desired to call Secretary Ballinger and would like to have him appear today. Mr. Vertrees was on his feet In an in- tant. “Mp. Ballinger,” he sald, “is the person most Interested In this Inquiry. We ought 9 be allowed the discretion as to indicating when he should appear.” Mr. Brandeis sald he desired to prove by Secretary Baliinger certain letters that could be proved best by him. “Mr. Ballinger has already contemplated appearing® more than once before this com- mittes,”" continued Mr. Brandels. “His I ters to the committee show that he is .3 Naval Hearing Keeps Cruiser From Sailing Probe Into Alleged Harsh Treatment of Men on “Salem” Proceeds at Hampton Roads. NORFOLK, Va., March 2.—Owing to an Investigation begun today by Admiral Dil- lingham into charges of alleged harsh and cruel treatment to the men aboard scout cruiger Ealem, the safling of the vessel has been delayed. It was to have Joined the Birmingham, a sister ship, In & crulse to Bouth America and the west coast of Africa, from which points the two ships are to conduct long distance wireless tests during the coming summer with Brantok, Mass. After the words “Evans' Mad House” had been found painted on the side of the Salem, which is commande by Captain George R. Evans, a seama under sentence of Imprisonment for five years, Jeaped overboard. Inquiry at the Navy department developed the faot that for some time past complaint has been heard that Captain George Evans was applying the naval regulations with undue severity on board the Salem. It was alleged that the discipline was harsh in the extreme and that a lack of tact had been shown in handling the men, who were punished for trivial offenses, until the situation aboard ship became unbearable. The department by no means was satis- fled that these allegations were truthful, but to settle all doubt sent Admiral Dil- lingbam to Hampton Roads to make a perronal investigation of the state of dis- clpline aboard the Salem. The department is now awalting his re- port and if necessary will apply corrective measures, even If these involve a change in personnel. House Will Discuss Tax Amendments Hasty Action Will Not Be Taken on Senate Bill to Change Cor- poration Act. WASHINGTON, March 2.—The senate amendment to the corporation law pro- viding that reports required under the terms’ of that act shall only be made pub- lic when called for by resolution of the ate or house or upon the order of the president will not be accepted by the house until after full discussion. “The corparation tax was enacted Into law without the house having an oppor- funity to discuss it sald Mr, Fitsgerald today, when a request was made for the appointment of conferees on the legl: tive, executive and judiclal appropriation bill which contains the proposed amend- ment to the law. - “Now that it has gone into etfect and objections. have been made to it all over the ‘country, it is law without conslderasion here.” Under Mr. Fitzgerald’s objoction con- ferees on the bill were not appointed, which will give an opportunity for discussion in the hotise of the senato amendments: NOMINATIONS BY PRESIDENT District Judge for Baltimore a: Two District Attorneys Named, WASHINGTON, March 2.—The president today sent'to the senate the nomination of John' € Rose, riow United States dlstrict atorney at Baltimore, to bo judge of the United States district court there, and John P. Hill, to be United States district at- torney to succeed Mr. Rose. Clarence R. Wilson was nominated by the president to be United States district attorney for the District of Columbia, succeeding Danlel W. Baker, resigned. To be secretaries of legations: Richard C. Bundy of Ohlo, at Monrova, Liberi Charles B. Curtis of New York City, Christiania; Richard O. Marsh of INinols, at Panama; Arthur Orr of Evanston, IIl., at Athens. To be second secretaries of embassies: Gustav Scholle, St. Paul. at Paris; George T. Weltzel, St. Louls, at Mexico City. SHACKLETON AT NEW YORK Antarctic Explorer Refases to Discuss Dr. Cook—Thinks Peary Reached Pole, NEW YORK, March 25.—“I have_littls doubt that Captain Scott's expeditio® will reach the South pole” wald Sir Ernest | Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer, when he landed today. “I have no intentlon of head- ing any expedition to the South pole while Captain Scott Is trying to reach it.” The British explorer arrived today, with Lady Shackleton. The explorer declined to discuss Dr. Cook. “I belleve that Commander Peary reached the pole,” he said. “I have absolutely no doubt of it." SHOOTS WIFE OF HIS FRIEND | | Verne Hartlerond of Wabash, Ind. Fatally Wounds Mrs. F. J. Webl WABASH, Ind., March 25.—After having tatally wounded Mrs. Floyd J. Webb, the wife of his friend, with a shotgun, Verne Hartleroad went to the coun:y jail late last nighit. “I'm the man you're after,’ said Hart- leroad, and later in @ cell he related that he had fallen in love with Mrs. Webb, and that she rebuffed him. Hartleroad, who is 23 years old, had lived with the Webb fam- ly for several years. Webb was away from home. last night. the | | toke THIRTY-ONE ARE HELD FOR GRAFT) Past and Present Councilmen of Pitts- | burg Are Indicted in Monstrous Civic Scandal. GRAND JURY UNCOVERS ®¢ Appalling Details of Alleged Are Most Sensational. | 7 | |SIX BANKS UNDER INVESTIGATION | Testimony Indicates that They Paid | Large Bribes to Aldermen. ORDER CITY FUNDS WITHDRAWN | Money Out in Big Institations Called Order that = Alleged “Givers” May Not Profit Farther. PITTSBURG, March %.—Laying bare the appalling detalls of Pittsburg’s civie un- righteousness, ordering Indictments against | thirty-one present and past counciimen and making & demand upon the directors of the city depositories to investigate the town | boards and ascertain the bribe givers ln{ connection with the ordinance designating | thelr institutions as city depositori:s formed the meat of two presentments made by the grand jury today. The presentments make a sensational story of the inside history of corruption in the municipal bodles in 1006 and the demand made on the banks named indicates that even more sensational developments than | have beén exposed are expected Monday when the bank officials, complying with the demand of the grand jury, make their report in court. A turther result of the procentments of the jury was the order of City Comptroller Morrow late today for the withdrawal of all city finds from the six banks and the practical nullification of the WBrdinance designating them as custodlians of city funds. There is about $3,640320 in these banks now and this would be increased many mil- | lons during the next week by the taxes that are being paid. According to “the comptroller the withdrawal of funds will be | &radual, however, 8o that the institutions | may not be embgrrassed or any undue | alarm caused deposijors. The extract from he presentment ealling on the bank direc- ors read: ‘We call upon the.directors of the six banks named as clty depositories to ln- vestigate who paid for each of the sald banks the bribes herein set forth and re- port the same to this grand jury not later than Monday, March 2, 1910. And we further demand that sald report be in writ- ing and certified to by directors of sald banks individually. Depositories Kilted. “We strongly recommend and insist that the proper uct'fitd}y_%, burg ke {mmedlate legal action #0°n th ordinance making the Farmers Deposit Ng- tlonal bank, the Second National bank of Pittsburg, - the German National bank of Allegheney, ‘the Columbla National bank of Pittsburg and the Workingman's Savings and Trust company of Allegheney as city depositories, In order that the bribe givers may not benefit by reason of thelr wrong- | doing and criminal conduct.” The presentments glve the full detalls of the plot of the pagt ‘of the councilmen to obtaln bribes from the six banks, the means adopted for paying the bribes are related and the story of the trdnsfer of $45,000 by an unnamed man to former @uncllman Charles Stewart in'the Hotel Tmperial, New York City, I8 told. It Is related that Max Leslls, former chalrman of the republican county commit- tee, recelved $25,000 by arrangement between E. P. Jernings and F. A. Griffen of the Columbla National bank, and that Leslie gave Willlam Brand, who was then presi- dept of common councll, directly or indi- rectly §17,600 to obtain the city deposits for the Columbla Natlonal bank. An unnamed man Is said to be Interested and concerned | in the payment of the money by Lesle to Brand, elther as intermediary or principal. Big Transaction Alleged. It is declared that Morris Einstein re- celved $15,000 from the Workingman's Say- Ings and Trust company to have that bank named a clty depository, but the name of the bank offislal who paid him the money 18 unknown, | It is further declared In the presentments | that the members of the grand jury are of | the opinion that the books of the Working- | man’'s bank has been mutilated, threo pages referring to this deal having been cut from the ledger. Einstetn, it is also declared, kept $,00 for his services In arranging | the deal. - | Further declarations in the presentment | are that two city clerks were given $1,000 | each, and that §1,750 was set apart for news. | | paper men and that Henry M. Bolger, the saloonkeeper already convicted of bribery, | was given $00 for his services in bringing | about the meeting between the officlals of | | the German National bank of Pittsburg ana | the counciimen, | The public 1s urged not to pass hasty | |Judgment on any officlals of the banks | | mentioned and stress is lald on the solvency | of the institutions, i | Lenleney for Kle | It is recited that John F. Kleln and Joseph C. Wasson, by reason of their con- ferslons and statements making possible the exposure of the facts, are entitled to great consideration, and a reduction of Kleln's sentence is urged, It is also recommended that no further indictments be found against Kiein or Was- ey o~ o 1 t Cat Up a Tree “So Hideous Police Are Called “What makes more nolse than a plg ready to come at any time." The committee will decide this matter in executive session,” ruled Chafrman Nelson, Protest from Brandels. “Bh 1 desire to be heard,” protested Mr. A then,” directed Mr, Nelson. “This Inquiry began” resumed the at- torney, “with the explicit statement on our part that we would lay before the, com- mittee Bich facts as seemed vital to the in- vestigation. We particularly declined to make charges. We desired the committes (Continued on Sixth Pagc) under a porch? “Two plgs. ‘Wrong. To be sure that's the old an- swer to this old riddle, but it's wrong. The right answer s “one cat up a tree. Life was hideous out in the vieinity of 407 North Twenty-third street Thursday night and on into the next day—so hide- ous, in fact, that & woman residing at that address went in person to the police station Friday morning and lodged a eom. plaint against a cat. ““Why, the thing has been up in a tree right by my house all night, making the most awful nolses that a human being Makes Life - ever had to listen to,” sald the woman, whose patience had been spent in her all- night effort to steal a wink or two of sleep. don't belleve anybody in the neighbor- hood slept. It was something awful the way that’cat went on. Why, It screached ! hospital 1910-TWENTY PAGES. WEATHER FORECAST. For Nebraska—Partly cloudy. For lowa—Fair. For weather report see page 2. SINGLE COPY From the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Flames Subdued Near Dunning After Burning Two Days. MANY RANCHERS LOSE HOMES Leaps Dismal Twice and with Diffi- culty Prevented from Coverimg Logan and MecPherson Countiés, DUNNING, Neb, March .—(Special Telegram.)—After a struggle that required the combined etforts of alk citisens inthis and the surrounding country, the prairié fire that started near Heoln Wednesday morning was corralled between the junction of the Dismal and Loup rivers just east of here late last night, after it had jumped the Dismal piver twice. The damage so far reported s very meager, since all tele- phone lines are down in the fire district. The entire range was burned over at the government forest reserve at Halsey and it 1s reported thousands of troes weve de- stroyed, notwithstanding, tha pfompt rev sporee made by ‘citizend 6 the ol " for help made by the reservation afficer butldings, Clem Hewitt of Broketl Baw, Wil K ranch south of Mullen, lost ‘thirty-eight head ot stock and all his farm improve- ments, ‘Joe Drimmel lost seven head of stock and allof his hay and improvements in this eame nelghbarhood. - Full' reports will tndoubtedly show a great loss of stock throughout the éntire section, though there was not the usual number of cattle on the renge. ' Moartin Brennan, near Hecla, lost a big barn, hay and considerable grain. Homer Crane of this section lost his house, barn and grain and all improvements. I G. Thomas, a renter on the Cramer place, southeast of Hecla, lost his house, barn and all improvements. fh this valley a half dozen claim shacks were destroyed, all of which wero well supplied with provisions. F. R. Barnaby, near Mullen, lost his house, barn and all sheds, together with 1,000 bushels of corn and all farm implements. L. Q. Plerce, near Seneca, and E. Gordon's place, in tho same nelghborhood, were entirely burned out. Hay, fences and range losses are common with all. The fire reached a frontage twenty miles in a great number of plac Losses will run into many thousands when all reports are in. Big Triangle Burned Over. THEDFORD, Neb., March 25—(Speefal Telegram.)—The prairle fire which started trom some unaccotnted cause Wednesday southwest of Heecla, burned over u large portich of Hooker and 'homas counties. destroying bulldings on many ranches and homesteads and killed several hundred head of stock. It jumped across Dismal river five miles west of Black's ranch and extended into McPherson and Logan countles. The damage done in that region has not been ascertained. Fences and tele- phone lines were destroyed and it will be several days before a full account of the damage can bo estimated. The triangle between the Middle Loup and Dismal rivers, embracing an area of fifteen miles wide at its widest part, seems to be fully well burned over, Gift from Miss Carnegle. PASADENA, Cal., March 25.—Just be- fore leaving with her father and mother for New York yesterday Miss Marguerite Carnegle gave $5,000 as an endowment fund for a children’s bed in the Pasadena Mr. Carnegie says the time will come when the system of giving *which has been established will devolve upon her. The squeal of the stuck pig is again abroad in the land. It 18 some weaker, but those who have been waiting for it recognized the -cry of the World-Herald, jeal- ous of The Bee's daily gains in pald want ads. The reason of the squeal is that The Bee gained 42 per cent in paid want ads over the same week last year. The stuck pig may squeal and howled and meouwed until I thought 1 would yo erazy. Now, I want a police- man to g0 out there and get the thing.” Captaln Dunn was on the verge of ask- ing why some sleepless citizen in that part of town had not done that himself long ago, but he forbade and detalled Of- ficer Thornton, the cat-killing expert, to §0 to the relief of this besleged neighbor- but Bee want ads are growing by leaps and bounds and each time you hear the squeal you know that The Bee want ads are up another noteh. Watch them grow! ““Talk About Being President!’’ FIRE FIGATERS STOP BLAZE|House Elects Committeg by Unanimous Vote Slates Chogen by Republican and Dem- ocratic Caucuses Go Through Without Division. WABHINGTON, Mareh %.—By an unani- mous vote the house today adopted a reso- lution naming a committes on rules, com- posed of six republicans and four demo- crats, in pursuance of the provision of the Norris resolution. Mr. Currler of New Hampshire reported @ resolution, naraing as a committee on Fules: Dalsell of Pennsylvania; Walter I. Smith of Io Boutell “of Illinols, Lawrence of Massachusetts, Fassett of New York, Smith of California, republicans, and Clark of Missour, Underwood of Alabama, Dixon of lndl“l.nl and Fitzgerald of New York, demo- ora | After a briet discussion, which made it & matter of record, that the members viva Numerous protests against having a roll were heard and only ‘s handful of arose toinsist on the demand. 3 “Not - a" ‘sufficlent number,” ' deciared Speaker Cannon, looking over the house. “The vote was unanimous,” added the speaker, who by that statement made the record clear that no insurgents had ob- jected to the personel of the new en- larged committee on rules. | 1 Incendiary Fire at Morganfield, Ky. Masonio Temple, Bank, Theater, Church and Big Store Are Destroyed. MORGANVILLE, Ky, March 25.—Fire sLpposed 4o have been of incendlary origin today destroyed business property here to the value of $200,00. The Green River de- partment store, Masonic temple, the opera house, the new Baptist church and par- sonage and the Bank of Union County were smong the buildings burned. 'Managers of the Green River department store, where the fire started, clalm to have receivea several threatening letters lately from the Black Hand. |TWO ITALIANS ARE INDICTED New York Merchants Charged with Attempt to Blackmall Earico NEW YORK, March 25.—The two pros- perous Itallan busin men, Antonio Cin. cotto and Antonio Mislano, who were ar- rested on March 4 charged with attemipt- ing to blackmall and extort $15,000 from Enrico Caruso, the operatic tenor, were indicted for that offense today in the county court In Brooklyn. Both pleaded not gullty. BIG SHIPMENTS OF CATTLE San Antonio Rallroads Have Ord for Over Four Thousand Cars Before April 10. | SAN ANTONIO, Tex., March 2.—Rall- roads operating out of San Antonio have orders for 4200 cars between now and April 10, to handle the greatest rush of cattle ever known from this section to' Oklahoma pastures, The drouth and the high price of feed is causing ranchmen to move their cattle to Oklahoma to pastures. TWO CENTS, | ACT TO REDEEM §5,000 BILL Bank of Minden in Fair Way to Get Money Janitor Burned, BANK EXAMINER SAW NOTE In This Circumstance Institution’s Protection — Good Roads Gospel to e Preached in State, Alone Lies (From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, March 2.—(Special Tele- gram.)—Senator Brown Introduced a bill today authorizsing the secretary of tho | treasury to redeem in favor of the First | Natlonal bank of Minden, Neb., one $5,000 | gold certitioate. This dertificate was held | 83 reserve and had Been #o held for some | time. Tt was destroyed by fire and what 1s most remarkable and will make its re- | demption posstble, -a bank examiner saw the blll. Thoe denomination 1s niow unusual, for the §5,000 bank certificate is not now printed” and one is easily traced. Om the | y the bank examiner examined the books | of the First National bank, less than a | eounter ‘of the bank, When the janitor cleatied up this old erivelops, with other | soraps ot ptp‘x:‘é- ut Into the wabte (banket' ahd ‘ burhed. The Treasury | de- | partment was: immiediatély notitied by the bank examiner and got busy. It was as- certified ‘that this partfoular gold cer- tificate had been lssued to the Bankers Natlonal bank of Chicago, which In turn had endorsed it over to the First Natlonal | bank of Minden. In cases of this kind, | with evidence as conclusive as it is, an Indemnitying bond will be demanded from the bank to safeguard the treasury and | the passage of the bill should not be long | delayed. Senator Brown today secured the promise of Director Logan W. Page of the office of public roads to attend the state con- | vention of the Association of Commercial | Clubs af Columbus, Neb., April 27 and 2, | Should - anything prevent the attendance of Mr. Page he will send the chief ‘en- gineer, Vernon M. Pierce. Benator Brown is. also negotlating for a g00d roads expert to make the trip along | the Northwestern railroad, stopping at Fre- | mont, Norfolk and other citles, to speak to | commercial clubs on the subject of better | highways. The schedule for these meet- | ings has not been arranged. New Bridgeport Bank. | The First National bank of Bridgeport, | Neb, has been authorized to begin busi- ness, with §25,00 capital. Homer K. Burket | is president; J. L. Johnson, vice president, | and John @. Burket, cashler, Rural carriers appointed are as follows: | Nebraska—Able, Route 1, Theodore B, Sem- rad, carrier; Ed Krelnk, substitute. Brain- | ard, Routs 3, Elifah C. Merrick, carrier; H. | R. Merrick, substitute. Clearwater, Route | L August Screer, carrier; Ann Screer, sub- | stitute. Scotts Blutf, Route 2, Robert S. Walker, carrier; Rosa A. Walker, substi- tute. Towa—Andover, Route 1, John C. Gehlsen, carrier; Herman Gehisen, substitute. South Dakoa—Canton, Route 4, W. H. Feldman, carrier; Ida M. Feldman, substi- tute. Gregory, Route 3, Frank J. Shaffer, carrier; no substitute. & Pcstmasters -appointed are: Nebraska— | Arborville, York county, Charles W. Whit- | temore, vice J. H. Dorsey, resigned; South Bend, Cass county, Jerry E. McHugh, vice E. Sturzneggar, resigned. lowa—Grimes, Polk county, Dantel O'Don- nell, vice C. L. Black, resigned. South Dakota — Clayton, Hutchinson county, George A. Buehner, vice G. Bueh- ner, deceased. Missing. ST. PAUL, March 2%.-Fearing that Cap- tain Timothy. llurphért head of the Volun- teers of America in Paul, has met with death or aceldent, the police today are searching:for him. Supreme Court to Settle Ownership of Choctaw Strip FORT SMITH, Ark., March 2%.—The supreme court of Arkansas today granted an appeal to the United States supreme court in the case growlng out of the com~ test to determine whether what is known as the “Choctaw strip” is a part of Okla- homa or . Arkan The Choctaw strip s twelve miles long and . iwo injles wide and adjoins Fort Smith, [t originally was & part of the Indlan Territory, allotted to the Choctaw Indlans, but later was ceded to Arkansas by congress 60 the local authorities. could have police jurisdigtion over it. ‘The strip had beccfie & refuge for out- Isws and during the border days elghty men were hanged there after being sen- tenced by the Arkansas courts. By a de- clsion of the United States eircult court here on December 25, 1%8, the strip was taken away from Arkansas because the state had falled to accept the land by con- stitutlonal amendment, The 'Oklahoma constitutional convention adopted & resolution declaring the land to be a part of Oklahoma. Willlam Bowman, under sentence to be hanged in Fort Smith on April 8 for crimi- nal assault, was today granted a reprieve. HBowman's crime was committed In tne strip and the contest over this land had a bearing upon the granting of the reprieve. IXTEEN PERISH IN CHICAGO FIRE Victims Are Trapped Behind Wall of Flame on Fourth Floor of Furniture Factory. DEATH ROLL MAY GROW LARGER Danger from Tottering Walls Makes Recovery of Boedies Hazardous. UNFORTUNATES MOSTLY WOMEN Workers Rushed to Stairway, Only to Find Eoccape Cut Off. CIGAR LIGHTER CAUSES BLAZE Spark from ttle Hands of Clerk Set ontrivance in ire to Quane tity of Densine in Repa Shop. CHICAGO, March ~Search of the wieckage for the remaining bodles of those who lost thelr lives In the Fish Furniture company's fire here today was discontinued this afternoon, owing to danger from tote tering walls, but mot until after twelve of the bodles had been recovercd and eleven of these identified. While earlier estimat‘s placed tho number of victims trapped un the fourth and fifth floors of the bullding as high as twenty, later and more thorough investigation Indi- cates that there were hut sixteen. Two of these escaped with thelr lives, which leaves but two more to be accounted for. The search was abandoned for the day on the report of Building Inspoctor Short, who declared that three of the walls wers in a dangerous condition. If theso are Ul standing In the morning the work of removing the debris will be resumed A coroner's jury which was empaneled this afterncon viewed the bodles at tho morgué, but the inquest was postponed urntil Aprit 2, Clgnr Lighter Starts Blase. Leo Stoeckel, a clork for the Fish com- pany, who, by accident, was sald to have started the fire, told his story to Fire At- torney Hogan this afternoon. Although Stoeckel, who fs"but 20 years of age, ia admittedly unfortunate, Attorney Hogan says he will bring some charge against tho young man te insure his attendance at thy inquest. Stoeckel was brought before the fira at- tornay with his herd, which had been burned, swathed in bardages. He appeared heart-broken and fold his story with aiffi- culty, “About 8:45 o'clock this morning, Stoeckel said, “Mr. Mitchell, who is a member of the firm, gave mo three pockot olgar lighters ‘and told me to go to the finishing room on the fourth floor and fill them with benzine. 1 had filled two of the lighters out.of the five-gallon can ana was warking on the talrd when there was an explosion, “A shest of flame almost blinded me. I aid not fully regain my senses until T had ireached the street. 'Tho lighters cohtilined & contriyance to make a spark, but whother i Ignited one of them or not I do not know. either dropped the can of benzine when the flames shot up in front of me or it was blown out of my hands.” Among the Vietims. Following is a list of the identified dead: HARRY DARLINGTON, aged 40, painter, ETHEL ANDERSON, agcd 18, sienog- rapher, MINOR W. BELL, advertising manager. ROSIE BRUNKE, agel 17, stenozrapher, MRS, HANNAM SURDEN, aged 0, widow. forewoman folding department, LILLIAN SULLIVAN, aged 16, folder. WILLIAM GREEN, aged 24, clerk. ETHEL LICTENSTEIN, aged 18, stenog- rapher, HARRY M. MITCHELL, auditor of com- pany, member of firm and brother-in-law of Simon Fish. VERONICA M'GRATH, aged 17, stenog- rapher. GERTRUDE QUINN, aged 20, folder, The missing are: Mary Wargo, aged 2, folder, Bert 8t. Clair, aged 28, confidential clerk. ‘Three others whose names could not be learned are also reported among the mibs- ing. One of the bodies was identified by Flor- ence Sullivan as that of her sister Lillian. She sald she recognized a shoe taken from one of the bodies as one which had been worn by her sister. Florence, who is 18 years old and a switchboard operator, might easily have shared her sister's fate, She was to have gone to work for the Fish | company at noon, taking the place of an- other glrl, Alexander Bush, a street car conductor, identified one of the bodles as that of Rosle Brunke, whom he was to have married Easter Sunday. He recognized her through the medium of a number of trinkets, in- cluding an engagement ring. Vietims Mostly Wouren, Ten women and girls, It 1s salq, were at work on the sixth floor when the explo- slon occurred. The spread of the flames throughout the upper floors was almost in- stantaneous, and when the girls rushed to the stairways they found thelr escape out Off. They next turned to the front of the bullding smashing the windows, Then suddenly one of the girls stepped out on the window ledge and screamed for help. Then she leaped. She fell on the awning over the front entrance to the store where she lay unconsclous until a man, crawling out on the canopy lifted her up. She was taken to St. Luke's hospital only a few blocks away, but dled soon af wards. She was identified as Emma Lych- tenstein, 20 years old and was employed as & filing clerk. Death was due to fn- ternal injuries recelved In her fall, Soon after Miss Lychtenstein struck a crash as if floors falllng was heard and the people at the windows disappeared. Isanc Fish, secretary of the Fish Furni- ture company, had entered the elevator when the explosion occurred. The elevator came to a stop between the third and fourth floors. The door of the car was automatlcally locked, but In a frenzy Mr. Nash and the elevator boy which was in the cage suc- ceeded In breaking it down. Cans ot Ben: According to Mr. ¥ fire started when an employe went into the finishing department on the fourth floor to get some alcohol for a cigar lighter, The electrio spark of the lighter, according to Mr. Fish, started the fire, which quickly reached cans of benzine and explosions followed. M. Fish expressed the bellef that all employes on the fourth floor escaped, but could see no hope for those above. The financlal loss Is placed at $300, equally divided between bullding and ish Furniture company occuples two separated by an alley, one bulld- ing fronting on Wabash avenue, where the