The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 24, 1902, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, AT RDAY, MAY 24, 1902, TERRIFIC EXPLOSION DEALS OUT DEATH TO MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED MINERS IN THE COLLIERIES OF THE CROWS NEST COMPANY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA DRIFTS ARE WRECKED AND SCORES OF MEN CUT OFF FROM EXITS Those Who Survive the Shock Fall Vic- tims to the Deadly Gases That Soon Fill the Workings. ——e Rescuers Work Heroically and Succeed in Recovering the Bodies of Ten of the Unfortunates. 30 last management has a list known to have been were probably twenty-four a It is expected that remaining 109 are The n who a i there only se few, of the alive CAUSE IS NOT KNOWN. What caused the explic exploding th vas present i 2 of the d posi- tively a or it is doubtful if | any man wh »ws will ever reach the outer or be able to tell the| tale | took place in No. 2| . being repeated in a ith which it was | afts are situated six miles from always been consid- | 1s of the two, be- eous | ore than 100 em-| aped. From No, 3 nty-one men es- | @ Sttt b EAGER BRITONG AWAIT THE NEWS Crowds Gather in Lon-| don Seeking a Peace Bulletin. »out South African Dispatches In- timate That the War Is Over. | | 4 | LONDON, May 25.—There is | son to believe that peace in South Afn::a: is practically secured. How soon it will | be announced depends, apparently, more upon the convenience of the Boer leaders than upon the inclination of the British | Government | Private and official advices received to night in London from South Africa ali pcint to the same conclusion. The delay is technical, and to end the long war | seems to be the desire of both British | and Boer leaders. The latter, however, | are unable to convince all their followers | of the wisdom of acquiescing to the terms of peac Information as to what transpired at | tc-day’s meeting of the Cabinet is closely | guarded, but it 1s not likely that the Cab--| inet transactions were of vital import.| The surmise of one well-informed person places the sum total of the deliberations of the Cabinet Ministers at a decision re- | garding points of the peace agreement of | entirely minor importance. Another sur- mise Is that the Cabinet has merely sent rather a meek ultimatum to South Africa, which can be used by the Boer leaders in explanation to their forces. CERTAINTY OF PEACE. | These surmises probably contain an ele- | ment of truth, but neither can in any way | d belief in the b(‘s(-t | affect the widespre informed cuarters that the end of the war has come. In fact, those persons who are best acquainted with the actual details of the present qualify this optimistic expression of opin- ion by guarded reservations concerning the extent of the personal control of the Boer leaders over their commands. Were negotiations only the Boers a thoroughly disciplined force, dependent upon the action of their gen- ers] officers, peace would probably be proclaimed 'to-night; _but Botha, Dewet &nd the other generals seem themselves unable to positively guarantee the degree 1o which their example will be followed. | The delegates at Vereeniging, according | to information in possession of the War | Office are fairly evenly divided. Conse- guently extreme precautions are exerted | both in London and Pretoria to prevent any premature action or report which | might adversely influence the burghers. | The most pessimistic forecast heard to- | night only admits that a few {solated | bands of irreconcilables may be left in the field TERMS ARE LIBERAL. A member of the House of Commons, who is in close touch with the Govern- | ! borne to o | ence at Vereeniging were heated. SRR G Y “ x5 | DEAD RECOVERED FROM THE MINE. l STEVE MORGAN, FRANK SALTER, JOE SAUGALA, JOHN McLEOD, | WILLIE ROBERTSON, T. FEARFUL, | VICTOR JOHNSON, THOMAS JOHNSON, - | JOHN LEADBEATER, ONE UNIDENTIFIED. ‘ e —- - & COUVER, B. C., May 23— caped ne of the most terrible disasters| The first intimation of the disaster the frequent mine | which those on the outside received h Columbia oc-| was a rush of coal dust and fire to the in the Crows ght of more than 1000 feet above the s mine at raie, . Word was immediately sent to Fer- 100 men are either | nie, five miles from the mine, and { or imprisoned in the mine, and| within two minutes from the time of the little hope is entertained of rescuing | acciden: occurred relief parties were at y who may yet be work. R Drennan, Dr. Bonnell and True Weatherly were the first to enter the mine. When about 500 feet into the working Drennan was overcome by afterdamp and, had it not been for his companions, would have perished. On being removed to the outer air he re- covered and gave instructions to the rescuing party to commence repairing the overcasts. The overcasts are the pipes which connéct the air through the mine, and they had been almost com- pletely destroyed, rendering it im- possible to enter, owing to the after- up HEROISM OF THE RESCUERS. Volunteers were called for and a score of brave men sprang to the work. For nearly six hours this policy was pur- sued with tireless energy. Every few minutes the men would collapse and be the outer air and their -places y filled by new. volunteers. The first body recovered was taken from No. 3 mine about 11 o'clock ang was that of William Robertson, a lad 13 years. Several hours elapsed and then three more bodies were recovered. None of the victims gave the slightest signs of life and their remains were re- moved to the washout. At 4 o'clock this morning relief parties had pene- trated so far that the gas became un- bearable and operations had to be sus- pended for an hour or two in order to quick of as settled and that the British terms would be found upexpectedly liberal. The British public is still quite ignorant of the course of events in South Africa and there are no demonstrations to-night on the London streets, although on all the question as is, ““Is it peace?" On the other hand the stock exchange throughout the day was aj seething mass of brokers, who eagerly bought Scuth African shares, while long after the clos- ing of the exchange nearly a thousand brokers crowded Throgmorton street and did a frantic curb business on the strength of the peace outlook. The appearance of Brodrick, the Secre- tary of State for W: Service dinner to-night eagerly in the hope of of the Governmen rivate frame of m But Brodrick’s l'stéeners had to be content with one brief and adroitly turned reference to the present situation. Responding to the toast, “The Imperial ves,” the War Secretary said: ould go beyvond my duty should I enter into details of the communications which are now pending and which pre- cedc, as we all hope, the surrender of the Boers.” Brodrick then proceeded to reiterate the oft-declared intention of the Govern- ment not to be drawn into any compro- mise which would jeopardize future peace in South, Africa. A dispatch to the Stand; toria dated Thursday, v 22, says that up to the previous Sunday the discussions among’ the members of the peace confer- On Sunday calmer. counsel prevailed, and cer- tain points were suggested by the Orange Free State representatives themselves as offering a prospect of agreement. The deputation ~ consequently proceeded to Pretoria, and it is believed that a definite agreement has been drafted, and that this agreement has been signed. Much has at the Volunteer was watched zaining an inkling ard from Pre- | been due, says the dispatch. to the pa- tience and tact of Lord Kitchener and to the full facilities given to the delegates for discussion. - DEMANDS BY BOERS. Paper Publishes List of the Conditions for Peace. LONDON, May 24.—After the Cabinet meeting ended a meeting of the inner committee of the Cabinet was held. After this meeting Chamberlain, the Colonial Secretary, proceeded to Buckingham Pal- ace, where he had an audience with King Edward. Chamberlain returned to Buck- ingham Palace a second time in the even- ing. Lord Salisbury has gone to Hatfield House and the other Ministers have dis- persed. It is understood that the Boer demand for independence has now been completely abandoned, but that certain points con- cerning amnesty, compensation and repre- sentative government were submitted to the Cabinet, together with minor matters, and that at the meeting of the Cabinet committee the Government replies to these points was decided, and that this reply was cabled to Pretofia. The Daily News claims the Boer de- mands are as follows: First—Either an immediate grant of self-government, or failing that, to fix a date for the establish- ment of self-government. Second—In case self-government be deferred, that the Boers should be entitled to advise with their temporary rulers. Third—Amnesty for the rebels. Fourth—Permission to re- tain their rifles for defense against the natives. Fifth—Permission to retain their saddle horses. Sixth—A guarantee that the natives should not be treated upon an equality with white men. Seventh—That no limit shall be placed upon the money for rebuilding and restocking the farms. The Daily News is of the opinion that London muent, said that he believed !very(hingl with the exception of the matters of self- B e | | | CoKE SVENS Femrmie Tet the men clear the afterdamp. Among those who gscaped from No. 3 were: C. Burrows, James Baker, P. McNeill, C. Dunlop, A. Farquharson. James Carr, James Dobie, John Sharp, | P. Monahan, H. Salter and a number of foreigners. Many acts of bravery were witnessed during the night. The heroic work of True Weatherby. who time and again entered the pit where men were falling ! all around him, was particularly no- ticeable. So far only ten bodies have been taken from the mine, and several horses and the right to advise with their rulers, the answers to these demands will generally be of acquiescence. | _The Times believes that there is good reason to hope the negotiations will re- sult in the surrender of the Boers, al- though it would be premature, say$ the | paper, to assume an immediate agreement | on all the chief points within s The | fact that the Free State delega been committed to discussion of the | ternls, from which all question of inde- | pendence has been excluded, marks a great advance, because the men who real- | 1ze that they are not fighting for inde- pendence will sbon ask what they are | fighting for. | DEADLOCK THE RESULT. | Free Staters Held Out for Independ- ence, but May Agree. PRETORIA, Transvaal, Thursday, May —The Boer delegates came to' Pretoria s the result of a complete deadlock at | Vereeniging, where the Free Staters held out for independence, and the majority of the Transvaalers, though anxious for peace, refused to abandon their allies. It was at first thought that the delegates would merely report a refusal to accept the Dritish terms. Everybody expected them to depart immediately and that hos- tilities would actlvely recommence. To the general surprise, however, the dele- sates are still here, 'and the hopefulness of to-day is the outcome of the general conviction that some arrangement is pend- ing which may solve the difficulty at Vereeniging. NEWPORT BEACH PASSES INTO SYNDICATE'S HANDS Corporation’ Purchases and Will Once Improve the Seaside - Resort. SANTA ANA, May 23.—One of the most Important real estate deals in the history of Orange County was consummared to- day when Newport Beach, the foremost seaside resort of this section, passed from the hands of the Newport Whart and Lumber Company to a syndicate of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Riverside capitalists, who will take im- | mediate possession of the 'property and «xpend large sums in its further develop- ment. y The transfer includes ‘the hotel, ware- houses, cottages and_ all holdings of the Newport Wharf and Lumber Company at the beach, covering the 880 acres of land of the resort, which is protected by a United States patent. en and teams will be put at work at once grading the streets of the town, new cottages will be erected and a gas and electric plant and water works are among the improvements contemplated. Confirmed by the Senate. WASHINGTON, May 23.—Confirmations by the Senate: Colonels to be brigadier s—Abraham A. Harbach, First In- Willilam F. Spurgeon, Fourth In- fantry. Gordon Paddock of New York. secretary of legation, to be Consul General at Seoul, Korea; Julius Jacobs, Assistant Treasurer at San Francisco. The Senate also confirmed all the nom- ipations of first leutenants of artillery made by the President to-day. —_— SANTA ROSA, May 23.—Paul Anderson, who was arrested on Thursday on complaint of his wife, charged with assault with a deadly wea- pon.’ was sentenced tais morning to serve six months in the County Jail, government, the retention. of saddle- | | at | . b R 2 S S S AR SN S IN THE VICINITY OF THE CROWS NEST COAL COMPANY'S MINES NEAR FERNIE, B, C., WHERE AN EXPLOSION HAS COST THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 100 MEN. s ~§ CHEAT STATE BY PADDING THE GENGUS Recount of Los Angeles School Children Shows Fraud. Figures Show That Fictitious Names Swelled the Former Lists. St Southern City Collects Two Hundred Thousand Dollars in Excess of Sum to Which It Is Entitled. — e Special Dispatch to The Call. LOS ANGELES, May 23.—By a recount of the school children of Los Angeles a falling off of 6000 names from last year's figures 1s disclosed. Three weeks ago the census was taken and the total then given showed such a wide discrepancy be- tween the years 1901 and 1902 that great surprise was expressed by the Superin- tendent of Schools and the Census Mar- skal was criticized. As the falling off in the number of scholars meant a corresponding decrease in the amount of public school moneys apportioned to Los Angeles, a recount was ordered. It has just been finished and the totals announced agree substan- | tially with the count made three weeks ago, supplying what is claimed to be con- clusive evidence that the rolls of the ceu- sus for the last six years have been padded. By this means, it is asserted, Los Angeles has received in the aggre- gate $200,000 more than it was entitled to from the State for the support of city schools. In one ward, the Fourth, there is a difference of 2000 names between last year's and this vear's returns. John Stedman, the Census Marshal, who is responsible for the recent enu- meratipn, regards the supplemental work as a complete vindication of the totals turned in by himself and deputies. Sted- man says he is preparing a detalled statement, with which he will enlighten the public in a few days. He is con- vinced, he says, that the census has been padded for not less than six years past, and he estimates the total number of children’s names reported, though not’in existence, at close to 8000. ‘“‘Ag soon as the work in the Ninth Ward is accepted 1 will be prepared to show that the padding that now is X l{)- cabl parent has been performed systematically | nila 1 each year,” he said. “Whether or not the work was done upon instruction from anybedy I am not prepared to say.” NICKEL MACHINES HOLD GERMS OF A SCANDAL Agent Promises to Install “Pro- tected” Gambling Devices in Sacramento. SACRAMENTO, May 2.—An aroused public sentiment forced the suppression of the nickel-in-the-slot gambling ma- chines several months ago. About two weeks ago, Charles B. Shearer, who con- trols a large number of slot machines in Oakland, came to Sacramento, and at once rumors galned circulation that he had made overtures to the local adminis- tration for the reinstatemént of machines which he owned or controlled. Almost simultaneously with Shearer's advent more than sixty. slot machines were re- ceived af the freight depot. They were claimed by Shearer and stored in a Front- street warehouse, where they have since yremained. The Bee this afternoon exposed the scheme by which Shearer hopes, evidently with the cognizance if not the consent of Mayor Clark’s administration, to start all the machines running in the saloons of Sacramento, For several days past he has had an agent, Fred Myrick, call upon the saloonkecpers to obtain thelr signa- tures to an agreement, signed also by Shcarer, by which the latter contracts to place the machines in the saloons, stand all the expense of litigation and pay all fines that may-arise from their posses- sion, with the understanding that he shall collect all the money from the machines and divide the profits with the saloon- keepers. ! It is claimed that the contracts cover a period corresponding to the remainder of Clark’s term as Mavor. One of those who declined to sign the agreement was James F'riel, proprietor of the Oberon saloon on J street, between Seventh and Eighth. He said to Myrick that if Shearer could be allowed to run machines in this city he did not see why he could not put back the machines which had been suppressed several months ago, and claim all the profits himself. ‘‘Well,” replied Myrick, “half a loaf is better than no_ bread, isn't it?” Others who declined to sign the agree- ment are W. H. Hanlon, Miller & Buergi and Kuchler & Stussey. It is probable that the Grand Jury will probe the scandal and endeavor to ascer- tain the particulars of the arrangement b'};‘ which Shearer intends to start up ma- chines. L L Won Over by Union Men. SACRAMENTO, May 23.—A number of carpenters arrived this evening from San Francisco to take the places of the men now on strike, owing to trouble with the Subcontractors’ Association. It is be- lieved that many of the carpenters-have been induced by union men who met them at the depot not to go to work. —_— Blaze at Vacaville. VACAVILLE, May 23.—The large barn ‘and warehouse of Dr. W. J. Dobbins was burned to-night. The loss is $5000. Seven horses, farming implements and about 1500 fruit trays were destroyed. 0id Cable Way to Manila Too Long. Direct cable connections to the Philip- pines will be hailed with satisfaction by all Amerieans, says the Anaconda Stan- dard. At present the route over which e Mmessages from Washington to Mu- must travel is as follows: To New LEAP IN A G ICOAL DUST AND FIRE LOUD ONE THOUSAND FEET HIGH Dread Signal That Flashes the Awful News of Slaughter t - Qutside t o the Workers he Mines. Call for Succor Is at Once Sent to Fernie and Relief Parties Rush to the Scene of Disaster. days will elapse before all are recov- ered. p The mine is free from fire and the bodies will be removed as fast as the afterdamp is cleared away. The rescu- ing parties are working four-hour shifts and .the company is deing all in its power te assist in the work. General Superintendent Stockette and Superin- tendant Drennan have been on the scene ever since the disaster occurred and are working heroically. b/ The town is terror-stricken, heartrending scenes meet the eye every side. mine have been crowded by anxious friends and relatives of the imprisoned men hurryifg to the scene of the dis- aster. A meeting of the Board of Trade has been called to organize a relief fund for the sufferers. MINES POORLY EXCAVATED. The mines are six miles from Fernie. Three seams are being worked, and in the initial stages of development, the Government officials say, the manage- ment took great risks, their workings being irregular and made to hurry the production, as the demand was in ad- vance of development. Nos. 2 and 3 mines are connected, and the Inspector of Mines pointed out in his reports that an explosion in the one would be apt to affect the other. In the opinion of the inspector a proper use of the ven- tilating fan, which the company has kept constantly in use, an enlargement of the airways, keeping the brattice close in to the face, putting in stopings as’'required, and maintaining good dis- cipline, should result in a fair exemp- tion from danger. No. 1 tunnel enters the face of the mountain on the right side of Coal Creek., This tunnel is gaseous, the miners operate with safety lamps, and the mine. being ventilated by the sep- arate split system, by a Chandler fan and in other ways. The mine is dry, but not dusty, and the coal is brought out by electric motors. OWNED BY VICTORIANS. Opposite No. 1 tunnel, and entering and on York by land: to Valentia, Ireland, by cable; to Brighton, England, by cable and land; to Havre, France, by cable; to Mar- seilles by land; to Alexandria, Egypt. by cable: to Suez, Egypt, by land; to Aden, Arabia, by cable; to Bombay, India, by cable; to Madras by land; to Singapore, Malayan peninsula, by cable: to Saigon, Cochin China, by cabie; to Hongkong by cable; to Manila, Pnilippine .Islands, by cable. The total distance is approximate- ly fourteen thousand miles. —_—— AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVES IN HIGH FAVOR ABROAD Tests Recently Made in France and Germany Show Their Superiority. American locomotives in their prelim- inary trials between Miramas and Arles, France, have maintained a speed of 7145 miles an hour, according to a report re- ceived at the State Department from Consul General Skinner at Marseilles, un- der date of Novcmber 6. Moreover, Mr. Skinner reports that the speed at certain moments reached as much as 77.67 and 80.77 miles an haur over an espegially good portion of the track. and that the results of the trials as regards reguiarity of speed and general stabllity were most satisfactory. e “I have been informed,” says the Con- sul General, ‘“that after the American locomotives had been erected the control- ling forces of the roadmaster’s depart- ment objected to their use because of the fact that the weight was unevenly dis- tributed over the various sets cf wheels. It was thereupon concluded to miake such changes in the mechanism as would even- ly distribute the weight to the satisfac- tion of the roadmasters. This has now been done and the machines are in par- tial commission. While they are thus, in- deed, American locomotives, it does not appear that they are absolutely of the type commonly anufactured in the United States.” Consul General Mason at Berlin informs the State Defiur(ment that a Berlin news- paper publishes a telegram from Munich concerning the results of the experiments of the royal railway administration with American locomotives. “The difference between the American locomotives (which are easily recognized by their unearthly Wwhirtle) and the German engines.” says the report, ‘“‘consists principally in the fact that they have on each side three cylinders, placed vertically one above the other and cast in one Pleca with the valves, chests and saddle. In other re- spects the American machines are char- acterized throughout by the greatest sim- plicity in all parts, and thelr manage- ment differs very slightly from that of anLy other locomotive.” onsul General Mason says that the re- Sults of the tests and observations has been entirely satisfactory. He adds that the general director has secured the pat- ent of the American Bauclain and av- thorized the construction of a locomotive according to that system, with certain modifications! These machines are now in process of construction, and-it will de- perd upon their efficlency and durability Whether the system shall be further atii- ized. The cost of the Bavarian locomo- tive is nearly 36000 greater than that of the -American.—Washington Star. —,———————— South Germany's oldest monastery, the Benedictine abbey of Wessobrun, has been restored to the Benedictine order by Baron von Cramer-Klett, a Pratestant, and will soon be reoccupied by monks. The Baron bought all the lands’and re- maining buildings of the old atbey from the Bavarian state for 90,000 marks, and sold them to the Benedictinas for a nom- iral sum. ¥ 3 All day the trains to the the face on the other side of Coal Creek, is No. 3. No. 2 is worked (as far as ventilation is concerned) in con- nection with No. 3, the same fan being the motive power for ventilation in ws Nest Coal Company, pro- prietors of the Fernie mines, is the out- growth of the enterprise of a syndicaie of Victorians. In 1886 William Fernie, who resides here, learning that the Gale Company had applied for a charter through the Crows Nest Pass, interest ed a number of other gentlemen, who put an exploring party in' the field with Fernie at its head. One week after tak- ing the field, in 1887, the party found the first seam on Martin Creek. Ledge after ledge were discovered the year following. FERNIE BECOMES A CITY. For a time the company was threat- ened with extinction by the Central Pacific ‘Railway, but mainly through Fernie’s efforts, who hung on to his holdings when others weakened, the co-operation of Senator Cox. Robert Jaffray, Silas Rogers, Colonel Pellatt and other influential capitalists, includ- ing James J. Hill, was enlisted, and the future of the company was assured. Since that the British Columbia | Southern Railway has been constrtict- ed as a feeder to the Great Northern. Enormous coke ovens have been built and Fernie itself has sprung from a hamlet to one of the most promising cities in Canada. The output of the company’s mines is , almost daily in- creasing, while the superior céking qualities of the coal make it desirable for the finest steam purposes. It is estimated that the company has in its lands a coal deposit of 22,000,000,- 000 tons. NANAIMO, B. C., May 23.—Imme- diately upon receipt of the news of the Fernie mine disaster Mayor Manson of this town, which has a population of about 1000 coal miners, authorized the taking of subscriptions at the gates leading to the grounds where a celebra- tion is being held. The amount will be devoted to alleviating the suffering at Fernie. A 3 . CHEERING WORDS AT THE PARTING Dr. and Mrs. Jordan Give Reception to ‘the Students. Classmen Leaye for Home and Stanford Campus Appears Deserted. Special Dispatch to The Call. STANFORD UNIVE The quadrangle presented a strangely de- serted ‘appearance to-day after the busy days of final examination that have Just passed. The undergraduates are de- parting on every train, only the seniors remaining to get their degrees and a few of the ‘“‘undergrads” to enjoy the festivi- ties of senior week. Many of the alumni grre edxpecte?' to ahrrlveI between now and uesday, when the alumni meetin; be held. =y President and Mrs. Jordan held their an- nual reception to the graduating class in Roble Hall this afternoon and the parlors of the girls’ dormitory never appeared more beautiful. Potted palms, slender stalks of bamboo, sprays of pepper trees and cut flowers in profusion were taste- fully arraged. Vice President and Mrs. Branner received with President an. Mrs. Jordan and were assisted by the Misses Clara Stillman 1%1, Minna Stillman 1901, Mary Gilman 1903, Ethel Traphagen 1306, Alice Joiner 1903, Elizabeth Peckham 193, Sue Porter 195, Jean Henry 1905, Helen | Ely 198, Marie Burnham 1905, and Messrs. H. B. Jordan 1904, C. H. Baker 1903, W. B. | Barnhisel 1903, R.'C. Leib 1903, H. S. Bonte 1905, O. D. Kehrlein RSITY, May 28— Duft and Doyles Hall, in Menl was the scene of the senior smokec: & | the alumni to-night. A large number of alumni from San Franeisco and nearby towns arrived to enjoy senior hospitality jand the affair was one of the most pleas- ant ever held here. The Glee and Mando- lin clubs, the college monologists and comedians and several of the promiment u':ledam\leemem and gay- college songs were sung and the varsity and class yefl: given by the crowd of merrymakers. To-morrow will be class day and with it comes the class day exercises in the morn- ing, including the reading of the class his. tery and the class will, the laying of the 1902 plate in the quadrangle and the sentor reception in Encina Hall in the evening. On Sunday forenoon the baccalaureate sermon will be delivered in the assembly hall bv Rev. Frederick W. Clampett of San Francisco and the anniversary of the Christian associations will be observed i the chapel in the evening. —— —_— A Baron’s robe has two rows of ermine, that of & Viscount two and a half rows, an Earl's has three rows. a Marquis’ three and a' half and a Duke's robe four 4 complete rows. \ ' %