The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 5, 1900, Page 1

The @all VOLUME LXXXVII-NO. 67. SAN FRANCISCO, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1900. PRICE FIVE CENTS. THREE BLOCKS RAZED BY FIRE AT ST. LOUIS Conflagration Destroys Property Valued at Two Million Dollars. Crushed Under Falling Walls, One Fireman Loses His Life and Eight Others Are Seriously Injured. Rt e e g THE DEAD. CHARLES W. MEBUR, fireman. THE INJURED. face blistered by Chiet Swingley heat John Judge driver n, hand truckman, back cut ms, truckman, cut on internal pipeman urand, spectator, hip Rosber, pipeman, leg R R e e R R R o o R S S S o S o e R e Fire broke out at the five- soon every en- as at the scene or on the the south of Penny & Gentles, the flames communicated with the bulldings r Bros., dry goods, and a increased m ng great headway and leaping the east side of Broadway. In e 2 large empty store building er of Franklin avenue was de- yved, with those directly south, occo- by the Pebple’s House Furnishing Company the Marks millinery store, %il's dental parlors and Deere Bros.’ five 4 ten cent store. By 10 all the o’clock Nelson Distilling Comy Alcott Commission commission house, Bauer Flour d Willlam Bock's saloon. firemen were finally able to PP P0 0000000006006 000 00000000000 de 00 00-0=00-0-00-0 | Brothers’ e spread of the fire to the east, || but not until the interiors and stocks of merchandise of all these bulldings were destroyed. Before this occupants of buildings east on Third and Second streets, fearing a further spread of the fire, commenced to remove their stocks, but at 3 o'clock it became evident that the fire had been put under control. At this point Third street widens out, and this helped the firemen to keep the flames in check. If the fire broken beyond bounds here the loss would have been enormous. This s the middle of the commission district, where the streets are narrow and the bulldings old and their contents of a combustible na- ture. + Nothing could have prevented the fire sweeping everything to the river In the meantime stores and buildings on the north side of Franklin avenue, for half a block east and west of Broadway, ht fire from flying embers, blazes being started at half a dozen different potnts. Good work by the firemen, how- ever, prevented much loss at this point. Two ordinary stores and a few small shops, partially destroyed, were the heav- t losses. The trolley wires along Broadway and ue were a source of danger, ¥ were cut by the Mayor's there were numerous narrow es- capes from electrocution. While trying to get a derailed car out of the way of the firemen at Fourth and Morgan streets the car bumped into .a fire engine, crushing Fireman Hanmore. He was fatally hurt For hours after the fire broke out the scene was thronged by thousands of spec- tators, who had been drawn by the re- port that the entire city was burning. Every policeman available was hurried to he scene and rope barriers were erected around the fire section, but it was all they could do to keep the eager crowd back. The loss on both bufldings and stocks f goods is approximately $1,500,000. Defin- ite figures are exceedingly hard to obtain. There were six retail concerns which were heavy losers. The balance of the loss is livided, in varying proportions, among a score or more shopkeepers or firms. Only two concerns suffered losses of over $100,- 000—Penny & Gentles and Schaper Broth- ers. The buildings in which the two con- cerns were housed were owned by the Mary K. Knox estate, and were erected at a cost of $165,000. Penny & Gentles’ loss, which was covered entirely by in- and ntil orders bad | | | | | | | | | surance, is estimated at $135,000. Schaper | joss is estimated at $100,600. These two concerns occuplied about half the block on the west side of Broadway, south from the corner of Franklin ave- nue, and the buildings were entirely de- stroyed. The rest of the block on the west side of the street is taken up by the bulldings occupied by the Famous Dry- goods store, whose loss was compara- tively slight. back of Penny & the building occupied by the and Cloak Company suf- the stock of $40,000. pied by D. wrord & y and Franklin avenue, ed, with a loss on bufld- of '$70,000. ng Company, at 814 North s completely wrecked: loss, t §12 North Broadway, Deere rothers’ store, filled with a stock of 5 and 10 cent goods, sustained a $33,000 loss on buifldings and stock. The fire swept through the block from Broadway to Fourth street and burned all buildings from 527 to 809 N. Fourth street. These 1 g were old three and four- ry stru some occupled as tene- ments above and stores below, while others were vacant. Here the St. Louls Dressed Beef and Provision Company, the i Seed Company and three ores suffered a loss of $65,000, sses on buildings amount, to st ires rly § Among the firms and individuals that suffered heavily from the fire are the fol- lowing, whose places of business were on east side of Fourth and west side of ets: A. Nasse, wholesale grocer; Krending Glass plumbing: establish- Alcorn Commission Jueller-Block Commission Distilung Company. Commission Compaay, wton, produce; Bawer Flour aw & Richmond, produce. t John Cummings, private of Penny & Gentles’, was ar- and is being held at the Four pending an investigation into the n of the fire. He was taken into tody as the result of a statement by a woman rooming opposite to the effect that she had seen a man answering the store previous to the fire. The People's | | tainty, for there is no doubt that news of day In regard to the British commander's more endeavoring to force his way ew through the Boer lines. One telegram SR vent so far as to assert positively that | he had crossed the Tugela. Up to an | | | s description lighting matches | Mr. Bennet Burleigh, who is with Buller's . | army, telegraphed from Spearmans Camp D e e b e o e e AR o o o e e e e e e e e ) SCENE OF THE FIRE IN ST. LOUIS. The fire started at Franklin avenue and Broadway, seven blocks north of the Court House, whose cupola is seen in the left of the picture, and which stands on Broadway and Chestnut street, within a couple of blocks of the end of the Eads !ridge, shown on the right of the picture. | Spectal Cable to The Call and the New York early hour this morning no confirmation of these statements was forthcoming, the War Office stating simply that it had ng news for publication. BULLER FIGHTING NORTH OF THE TUGELA RIVER Thunder of the British Cannon Gives Renewed Hope to the Gallant Defenders of Ladysmith. LADYSMITH, Saturday, Feb. 3 (by hcliograph via Signal been heard. Othe: no developments here. Ve The heéalth of the garrison is improved. - LADYSMITH, Feb. 4 (by heliograph via Signal Hill.)—The- hearing General Buller’s guns yesterday. The result of the engagement is massing near Ladysmith, also moving another gun toward Surprise Hill. contemplate another attack. R D A PP SIS Sy SS R S S S S Y D S S S S Y ® & ® L4 SUFFERERS B; THE WAR SERKING LTER FROM BOER SHELLS AT LADYSMITH - L e O o R R S T S S, ? )4 ¢ : + $ @ L § . : . ¢ t L 4 : : + ! ® / * be + ¢ ; g : % 3 ! : ) 4 .@—0-9—0-0—0—0-0-04-@—0-0—0—&-0—0-0- Herald. Copyright, 1900, by James Gordon Bennett. ONDON, Feb. 5.—Just one week ago to-day General Buller. in an address to Warren's division, bade the men to be of good cheer, for he -hoped to be in Ladysmith within a week. That the general's hopes have not yet been realized may be taken as a cer- the relief of Ladysmith would . not :be held up.by the War Office. Has he even vet begun an advance and crossed the Tugela? A host of rumors were current yester- movement in Natal, the general tenor s being that h 3 of the reports being e was once i ! ! 4 i ! ! ! ! b The Daily Telegraph's correspondent, # at 6 o’clock last evening that, aside from oceasfonal sniping and the advance of a small body of British troops to drive back Boer sharpshooters from the north bank of the Tugela at Potgieters Drift, the day was quiet. He added, however, that the troops were enthusiastic over the prospect of an early advance. On the other hand, one of the news agency reports says that Buller crossed the Tugela on Friday and is marching on Ladysmith. It s possible that Lord Dundonald’s recent reconnoissance’ to the most westerly of the drifts on the Tugela was mistaken for an advance in force. Another agency has a. message to the effect that on Saturday Ladysmith heard the guns of the army of relief. Then the Pletermaritzburg correspondent of the Dally Mail states definitely that General Bufler has undoubtedly secured a road to Ladysmith and will reach his objective point this week. This last message may be merely an echo of the general's Spear- mans Camp speech, but the other two telegrams are more definite. It is difficult to understand why, w'th- out large reinforcements, General Buller should succeed on this occasion after falling at Spion Kop, unless under the steady pressure which the strengthened British forces in other fields are beginning to exert the Boers have weakened their forces before Ladysmith and that Builer is aware of this. All over town one heard nothing but talk of a new attempt to relieve Lady- smith. During the day I met a gentleman from South Africa who gave me news some time ago of -what was.going. on at and swept east and southeast to R R R o HAVING A BRUSH \/ITH THE ENEMY NEAR URBAN, Feb. 4.—General Buller crossed the Tugela River on Friday night and is marching on Lady- smith. No definite news will be permitted to go out until Ladysmith is relieved. 5 Hill).—General 3uller’s guns have e it is very quiet. We are awaiting further news of h‘: progress. There have been 1ew Boers show northeast of camp. The majority are concertrated south and west. garrison was much cheered by not known. The Boers are again ‘We are quite ready for them if they he was so joyous his reply was that from reports he had received from a godd | source he was,confident that the losses of | the Boers had been enormous. “Considering their limited forces, mey! have,” he said, “had over 9000 casualties, | which they conceal with the utmost care | from the relatives of the dead. There are | thousands of letters at the Boer head- quarters which are undelivered becauze those to whom they are addressed are no | more. “I think that Buller is all right. The only thing to do with the Boers is to keep banging away at them. A few more such victorles as the Boers have had of lare and they will be finished with. The Boers can replace nothing of what they lose, whereas the English can fill up every gep | which occurs. That's why I say Buller is right, even if he has to retire again, to attack and keep harassing the Boers, who are in a bad plight, suffering men- tally and physically and falling short of | ammunition, shoes and clothing. “I have heard on the best authority that General Buller has gone on agiin and that the War Office is already in pos- session of important information but does not purpose to lay itself open to further criticism of haste by letting out valuable news’ prematurely. If Buller only gets| D e anan S S Sl e e e et u?lf::LLING To GEN L| BY HEL) JAND FLAG ERS coll REDOUBT. LADYS&MITH- D S e S S S e D e e e S g ; ! ! i ! ! ! | has not | before BLOODSHED IS AVERTED FOR THE PRESENT Republican Governor Taylor of Kentucky Causes the Re- lease of Walker. Democratic Legislators Will Not Attend the Session at London Unless Compelled by the Military. : : : z i : ? : | ? i possibilities the capital city o505 050 e steering committee. RANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 4.—Armed conflict between the civil authori- ties of Franklin County and the National Guard of thé State of Kentucky has been averted, and unless new causes should come to the front there is small likelihood that the | political situation will again become as it has during the last forty-eight hours. Governor Taylor this morning ordered the release of Alonzo Walker, for the posses- slon of whom Judge Moore had declared that Sheriff Sutter would swear In a posse and take possession of the Capltol grounds, if such an extreme became nec- essary. While not recognizing in his ac- | tion the existence of the writ of habeas corpus which had been sworn out in be- half of Walker, Governor Taylor by leasing the man removed the most threat- ening sign of trouble. The commanding officers of the troops which guard the Capitol grounds are care- ful to say that’the situation is entirely a i bontmrites Mt - icx gy v S reason military affair, and that they extend to the writ of habeas corpus very little con- sideration; but, whether they regard it or not, Walker is free and Sheriff Sutter will not be called upon to summon force in the attempt to secure his release. The appalling consequences which would follow such an effort on the part of the Sheriff were too much for the more con- servative members of the Democratic party, and it was decided to-day that, no matter what Judge Moore should say as an individual, there would be no attempt to take possession of the Capitol grounds by force of arms. Even if Walker had been held a much longer time than he actually was held, no effort, the Demc- cratic leaders had decided, should be made for his rescue after the habeas corpus had failed.. Both sides will take a rest pending the session of the Legisiature called by Gov- ernor Taylor at London. No Democrats will attend this unless they are taken CINCINNATI, Feb. 4—Thirty-two members of the Kentucky Legislature, all Democrats, are to-night making the hotels and homes of political friends in Cincinnat! an asylum of refuge from whatever unknown and unpleasant of their own State to-morrow might have in store for them. They report that four Senators and flve Representatives have been left in Frankfort, a number sufficient to convene the Legislature there. The legislative contingent lodging here expect to have the programme wired to them in the morning. They are no doubt acting under the orders of the In addition to the legislators there is an unusually large registration of citizens from Kentucky at all the hotels, A DeReR eBeRe BRI R ReNeRe RN Re N Ge BB R Ko Ko o5 1 I+ R AR S et Bie %ene “It is a trivial matter,” continued Colo~ nel Williams. “Since Mr. Walker's ar- prest we have hardly given the matter a thought, and his liberty was granted him simply for the reason that to keep him in confinement was not only a hardship to him, but to us also, as we had made no provision for prisoners. It will take some time to get together the judge-advocate and members of the court-martial, and we have no desire to inflict any needless hard- | ship on Mr. Walker."” \ writ of | there by the military forces of the State, | and no attempt will be made in this direc- | tion by Governor Taylor until he has af- forded them every opportunity to go to | London of their own accord. What will be done when it has been made certaln that the Democrats will not visit London been definitely determined by Governor Taylor. It is likely that mat- ters will on both sides be allowed to drift until after the funeral of Governor Goe- bel. psrc R ALKER RELEASED BY TAYLOR’S ORDERS He Is Informed That He May Be Court-Martialed at Any Time for Inciting a Mutiny. FRANKFORT, Feb. 4—Alonzo Walker, the stenographer who was placed under arrest on the charge of Inciting the sol- diers of the State Guard to mutiny while pinning a notice of a proposed applica- tion for an injunction upon the door of the office of Governor Taylor, was re- leased this morning. The release was not made In response to the writ of habeas corpus which Sherift Sutter tfled in valn yesterday to serve upon Governor Taylor. The latter | concluded that Walkgr had remained in custody for & sufficient length of time and told him to go home. The charge of inciting to mutiny has not been quashed, but Walker may not be brought a court-martial as was at one time contemplated by the officers of the | State Guard. At 10 o'clock this morning Colonel Roger Willlams entered the room in the executive building and remarked to Walke: “Well, Mr. Walker, we have agreed to | an exchange of prisoners and yoy are to be given your freedom.” “I can go, can 17" asked Walker. “I guess so,” was the reply, and the colonel then added with a laugh, “We have exchanged you for one Zulu and | three Filipinos, and as we expect them just one vietory the war is half over.” In the clubs, where accurate informa- tion is usually to be obtained, I found the | same impression prevailing. There nhas returned also a general feeling of confi-| dence, just exactly the opposite to what | is represented In certain foreign news- | papers, which deseribe the British nation | as nervous and the military position as | hopeless. To-day war overshadows everything. | People—women just as much as men—will | not talk of anything else. BULLER MAY SOON REACH LADYSMITH LONDON, Feb, 5.—The Pietermaritzburg correspondent of the Dally Mail, tele. graphing yesterday, says: “General Buller has undotbtedly se- cured the road to Ladysmith and should reach his' objective point this week. It is belleved here that the object of the Boers in occupying Ngutu, Zululang, is to secure the road from Dundee to Vryheid in case of retreat. “I learn from a reliable source that Gen- eral Joubert was seriously Injured by a shell In the fight at Willow Grange, and that he will never be able to command again on horseback. My informant says that he has, in fact, retired from the field. “The Boers admit that the attack on Ladysmith was a serfous blunder, and would not have occurred if General Jou- bert had been in command. General Lu- cas Meyer played the coward at Talana and sheltered himself in a Red- Cross wagon, shamming sickness. He has been every minute I guess it will be all right for you to have your freedom.™ Mr. Walker was then allowed to go, after notice had been served upon him that the charge against him was still pending and it could be pushed at any time if the military authorities should so decide. He told Colonel Williams that he intended to remain in Frankfort. Various rumors were circulated in re- gard to the reasons for the sudden re- lease of Walker, among them being a re- port that his release by order of Gov- ernor Taylor was in deference to a tele- gram from Washington advising his dis- charge. Governor Taylor was too busy to-day to be seen in regard to the matter, but Adjutant General Collier said that no such reason existed for Walker’s re- lease. “The idea is absurd,” said General Col- Her. “Mr. Walker's arrest was simply a.matter of military discipline. He was not discharged, but was given his lib- erty - until arrangements could be made for his trial by court-martfal. When this will be has not been determined as yet.” Asked if Walker's release was influ- enced at all by a desire to forestall any possible application in the Federal court for a writ of habeas corpus, Adjutant General Colller said: “Not In thd least. A wrong impression apparently prevails in regard to the rea- gons for the arrest. Mr. Walker was heard to make statements two days before his arrest that were regarded as mutinous, and persons overhearing his remarks made affidavit to that effect. The order for his arrest was accordingly made out by Governor Taylor, and we were only waiting for a favorable opportunity to arrest him. His arrest at the time it did occur was as unlooked for by us as it was by him, and was more of an accident than design. It is simply nonsense to say that he was conflned because he pinned a notice on the Governor's door., In response to a request Colonel Wil- llams produced from the flles the order for the arrest. signed by Governgr Taylor and dated February 2. It sa; “It appearing from information given to me that Alonzo Walker has been gullty of the offense of encouraging. advising and inciting mutiny and desertion among members of the regular State militia from Kentueky."” Mr. Walker will return the notice of the service of the Injunction summons to- for not reporting earlier. GOEBEL WILL BE BURIED AT FRANKFORT Simple Funeral Service Will Be Hald at His Old Home in Cov- ington. FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 4—It has been practically decided that the remains of Governor Goebel will be burfed in Frank- fort, in the cemetery overlooking the Kentucky River, where lie the remains of Daniel Boone, Vice-President Richard M. Johnson and several Kentucky Governors, eminent jurists and soldiers. Arthur and Justus Goebel, Senator-elect Blackburn, D. S. Hackelford., Clerk of the Court of Appeals, and Warden Lillard visited the cemetery to-day and spent some time se- lecting a suitable spot. Though no definite decision was reached, a spot in the vicin- ity of the immense shaft erected In honor of Kentucky's dead soldlers, nearly the highest point in the utiful cemetery, will probably finally be serected. Although the burfal will take place in Frankfort, in accordance with the wishes of the friends of the dead man, the funeral ser- vice will be held in Covington, his home. The remains will be taken to Covington to-morrow on a special train, which will carry the pall-bearers, the relatives of | the dead man, members of the legislative committee, Judges of the Court of Ap- peals, and others. Tuesday morning the remains will be conveyed to Odd Fellows' Hall, whera they will lie in state from 8:30 In the morning till 10 o’clock at night, the hall being kept open in the evening to allow the working people an opportunity to view the remains. The funeral services will be extremely simple, In deference not only to the wishes of Governor Goe- bel, but also of the members of his fam- fly. Outside of a guard of homor, con- sting of fifty citizens, there will' be no ceremony or display of any kind. Even the funeral cortege will be lacking. Wednesday morning the remains will be | brought back to Frankfort and placed in the big ballroom of the Capitol Hotel, where they will lie in state all that day. It is believed that from thirty to fifty thousand strangers will be in the city to view the remains and bitter feeling en. gendered by his death may result In a clash. Precautions are being taken, ir- respective of party, to prevent trouble. The interment will take place Thurs- day from the Capitol Hotel, but the actual arrangements for the burfal have as yet not been decided on. Plans for the raising of funds by pop- ular subscription for the erection of a monument to Governor Goebel's memory are rapidly taking shape. Besides this, Democratic leaders say the Legislature will make an appropriation for a monu- ment in his honor, following the usual custom in Kentucky on the occasion of the death of a Governor. A suitable tablet, to mark the spot where Governor Goebel was shot, will also be provided for. -— DEMOCRATS CHOOSE LOUISVILLE AS CAPITAL Legislature Will Meet Each Day and Adjourn Until Matters Are Settled. LOUISVILLE, Feb. 4—This city is te be the seat, temporarily at least, of the Democratic State government. To-mor- row the Democratic members of the Leg- islature will meet here, and it is pur- posed to make Louisville the headquarters of the executive and legislative branches of this State government as long as the presence of troops keeps them from Frankfort, or until the present conflict of authority In the State is settled. The detalls of this plan were decided upon at the conferences held by leading Democratic leaders at Zelbach's Hotel during the afternoon and evening. News- paper men were carefully excluded from these councils, and every effort was made to keep the deliberations . secret. The plans to have the Democratic members of the Legislature meet here had already well matured. Preliminary steps, in this direction had been taken at the meetings of these members held in the Capitol Ho- tel at Frankfort since the State buildings have been surrounded by soldlers. The Democratic legislators there adopted a concurrent resolution for adjournment to Loulsville, and this fact was made known early In to-day’s conference. It was stated by members of the Legislature present that threats had been made at Frankfort by persons connected with Governor Tay- lor's administration that membefs of the — e Continued on Sixth !‘fl,