The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 8, 1903, Page 1

cinan el ey e , AR PR VOLUME XCIV-—NO. 8. SAN FRANCISCO, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1903. PRICE FIVE CENTS. SCORES OF DOOMED MEN CROWD CRUMBLING LEDEE T. LOUIS, June 8 —Word was received here at 1 o’clock this morning that a levee near Madison, on which,gangs of men were working, gave way and fifteen employes of the American Car and Foundry Works lost their lives. About 150 men, it is reported, are imprisoned on a section of the levee that is slowly crumbling and all means of escape has been cut off. Word has been sent to the St. Louis side to rush the private yacht Annie Russell to the rescue. The Annie Russell started to Black Walnut last evening, but could not force her way against the cutment. It is feared she cannot make her way to Madison. { A steamer from St. Charles succeeded in reaching Black Walnut to-night and the 200 imperiled-residents, terrified and in great distress for food and shelter, were taken from the island in safety. All were rescued. FRENCH STEAMSHIP LIBAN SINKS AFTER C AND MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED PERSONS LOSE THEIR LIVES STRANGE COMPLICATIONS ARE SHOWN IN THE FAILURE OF EPPINGER & CO. Founder of the Famous Grain Firm Emerges From Crash Penniless While Associates Are Said to Have Garnered Private Fortunes to Ease Their Downfall FTER the crash of a magnificent nclal concern like Eppinger ere is a dumb moment of among business men, comes the inquiry garding those who have been injured in ry way. Already it is known t various banks and firms are in peril WILLIMTS & S ALELS G— — reason of the failure of | n broking firm, th assets from $400,000 to $600,000 to | e question that every one is now king is whe s dissipated this vast | etween securities and obliga- | ess that wa e conducte a mogt careful manner s supposed to ed by the failure? the business circles the way 3 al than the specula jon regarding the causes of this crash nce the days of the Comstock, when every e me the enrichment of some more ast ssociate. Certain it is that Jacob Eppinger, the d firm, to whose acu- exertions it owed all = as penniless as of the 1§ » and ¥ former prosperi ersor ts when he stirted as a young man to ac- quire his first few dollars in Solano Coun- | ty. This former rudged financier, the | sero of a thousand grain deals that stag- | gered brokers East and West, will wind | 1p his business career & wreck, physically and financially. For six months he has Jeen ill at the Palace Hotel and the shock vccasioned by the announcement of the | fatlure of the house which he founded and | made powerful may prove fatal. ALL HIS WORK GONE. All the ambitions, all the emoluments, the satisfaction of his lifetime go with the crash of his business, and he has not even the poor consolation of knowing hat, like Samson, he has puiled down ‘he temple upon himself. 11l health and advancing years have recently rendered impossible for him to take personal supervision of the business, and whatever auses have made the failure must lie at ¢ doors of those in whom he trusted. Fver since the announcement of the ure gossip has been busy with the se connection maintained between the m of Eppinger & Co. and the almost y prominent firm of I. L. Ettlinger which conducts a grain broking siness at 416 California street. L. L. t1linger s the son of Bernard Ettlinger, who is a member of the firm of Eppinger & Co. Young Ettlinger is not generally deemed impressive enough to conduct such a great business so as to instill con- & Co., | heads than — MAN WHO IS LEFT PENNILESS BY FAILURE OF THE GREAT GRAIN FIRM AND TWO OF HIS ASSOCIATES WHO ARE SAID TO BE NOT S0 UNFORTUNATE. fidence in those dealing with the firm and it was generally understood that wiser his were directing the af- fairs. For a long time he was a subordi- nate employe of Eppinger & Co. and then went into the business ostensibly as head of a new firm. Other mebers of the firm are Herman Eppinger Sr. and Bernard Ettlinger, who are also members of the defunct concern. The firm of 1. L. Et- tlinger & Co. is connected with the local wheat and oil exchanges, and is also a member of the New York and Chicago exchanges. To add to this involvement of the two firms, Josua Eppinger, a son of Her- man Eppinger of the ruined firm of Ep- pinger & Co., is a member of the firm of Ettlinger & Co. For the past six months, during the illness of Jacob Ep- pinger, Joshua Eppinger, a partner in an ostensibly rival firm, was installed as manager of the concern which has an- nounced its faflure to carry on business further. The close relations existing be- tween the two firms at first gave rise to the report that both were involved in the crash, but it is now said that I. L. Ettlinger & Co. are in no way affected and will be ready to handle all business tendered to them, The secrets of the business done by Ep- pinger & Co., their customers, shipping operations and, in a word, all the valu: able information gathered in the course of long years of immense business must o inevitably become the property of I. L. Ettlinger & Co. because of the intimate relations sustained between some of the members of the fallen concern and the nominal owners of its more youthful rival. This is perhaps the most valuable asset left by Eppinger & Co., but it is one on which its creditors can realize nothing. Information is not attachable and its only value is to those who possess it. ATTORNEYS ARE ANXIOUS. Attorneys are anxiously inquiring re- garding the status of the several mem- bers of the defunct firm as regards lia- bility for the immense debt which it has confessed itself unable to pay. All are agreed that Jacob Eppinger financially is hopeless and that his energies have pald the full tribute to a life of exertion so that he may never again be able to re- gain his former financial standing. Other members of the defunct firm are said to be more fortunate. It is hinted that Bernard Ettlinger has a private fortune of large dimensions, and the firm of Thomas & Ettlinger own valu- able real estate possessions on Ryer Isl- and. It is also said that Herman Ep- pinger Sr. of the defunct firm is pos- sessed of ample means outside of his in- terests in “the ‘firm of Eppinger & Co. Attorneys for the creditors are getfing ‘Continued on Page 3, Column 5. N | were drowned. Big Dessel Is Run Down by the Insulaire. Futile Attempt to Reach the Shore. Other Craft Res- cue Scores of Persons. MARSEILLES, June 7.—More than 100 persons perished to-day neah Marsellles as the result of a collision between the Insulaire and the Liban, passenger steamers belonging to the Fraissenet Steamship Company. The Liban left Marseilles this morning on its regular passenger ‘trip to Bastla, Corsica, and was run down and sunk by the Insulaire off the Maire Islands. The collision was witnessed fromi the pilot boat Blechamp, which was about two miles distant. The Blechamp immediately repaired to the spot to render assistance. The force of the collision had cut a great hole in the Liban's side and it al- ready was filling rapidly. The captain saw that the only chance was to run the steamer aground and the Liban was headed full speed for, the shore; but with- in seventeen minutes after the collision and while still in deep water, the fore part of the steamer plunged beneath the waves and a few minutes later had dis- appeared. SPLENDID RESCUE WORK. In the meantime the Blechamp, the steamer Balkin, aiso belonging to the Fraissenet Company, and other vessels had-drawn near the siuking Ship and were making desperate efforts to rescue those on board. The Blechamp picked up forty persons, many of whom were at the point of exhaustion. The Balkan rescued thirty-seven passengers and up to the present it is known that in addition to the passengers seventeen of the crew were saved. Officers of the Steamer Balkan describe the scene just before the Liban disap- | peared, as a terrible one. As the vessel | was sinking it was inclined to such an angle that the masts struck the water, causing an eddy, making the work of rescue most difflicult. A mass of human beings was clinging to the foundering vessel and uttering despairing cries as it went down. At the same time the boilers exploded, intensifying the horrors. For a few moments the victims were seen struggling in the sea. Then the waves closed over them and all was silent. Of about 200 passengers who were aboard the Liban, it is feared that half The Balkan launched three boats and the other vessels did all possible to save the victims in the short time that elapsed between the time of the collision | and the sinking of of the Liban. Up to 5 o'clock this afternoon thirty bodies had been recovered. The steamer Liban was a three-masted schooner-rigged vessel, 208 feet long and of 2308 tonnage gross. She was built at Glasgow in 1862. The list of the passengers on board the Liban has not yet been issued, the offices of the Fralssenet Company being closed, but it is believed that more than 240 em- barked at this port. CAUSE OF THE DISASTER. It is said that the collision was due to the following circumstances: The Liban was putting out to sea Just as the steamer Insulaire was making for the harbor. Maire Island, which lies off the entrance to the port, hid the vessels from one another until it was too late to avoid a collision. One of the survivors a pas- senger, gives the following details of the disaster: “The weather was splendid when we steamed out of Marsellles harbor, and all of the passengers were below at ta- bles when the shrieking of whistles gave the alarm. On coming on deck I saw the Insulaire approaching us at full speed. The captain gave several orders, but no attempt apparently was made to change the steamer's course. Some of the passengers reproached the captain for his negligence in this matter. “When the Insulaire crashed into us a great panic prevailed on board. Attempts were made to lower the boats, but only one bapt was got away and in that I and a few others escaped to the Blechamp. CAUGHT IN A DEATHTRAP. “Ag¢ the vessel sank bow first the pas- sengers took refuge on the after deck, which was covered by an awning. This, as the Liban foundered, became a cage, in which the passengers were caught and dragged down beneath the waters.” Many of the rescued were badly injured in the colislon. The Insulaire sustained considerable damage to her bows, but managed to reach port safely. Thou- sands of persons gathered around the morgue, ships and quays throughout the evening. Thus far only four bodies hnvel been identified. —————— Father Harty to Be Archbishop. WASHINGTON, June 7.—It was stated — OLLISION IN A FOG EDRESIDENT OF THE FIRE CdMMlSSION SENDS HIS RESIGNATION TO MAYOR M. H. Hecht Severs His Connection With Municipal Board Which Has Been Besmirched by His Former Associate, J. S. Parry, Whom The Call Exposed — mind several times to resign and Com- missioner Watt, who was also disgusted with Parry’s policy, often threatened to do likewise. Calmer co 1 prevailed, however, and in the interests of the de- partment, which they have both fuiith- fu rem; served, Hecht and Watt decided to ain on the board. TIME TO RESIGN. Parry's promine part in a question- able transaction was the last straw that broke the camel's back, and Hecht rea- lized that it was time for him to resign from the commission. Hecht was ap- pointed by ex-Mayor Phelan in January, 1900, when the charter first went into ef- fect, for a term of one year. Hecht had so clearly proven his worth as a member of the board that Phelan reappointed him H. HECHT, president of the Board of Fire Commission- ers, sent his resignation to Mayor Schmitz last Satur- day. Coming on the heels of The Call's expose of the fact that Fire Commissioner John S. Parry had accepted $25 from W, 8. Scott in payment for a colt belonging to the city and had made no re- turn of the money to the commission, Hecht's resignation is significant. Hecht's letter to the Mayor severing his, connec- tion with a board upon which Parry has brought disgrace, 'notwithstanding his whitewash by the Mayor, is terse and as- signs no reason for his action. It reads as follows: To the Honorable Mayor Schmitz—Dear Sir: 1 hereby tender my resignation as president and member of the Board of Fire Commission- ers, to take effect at once. Sincerely, M. H. HECHT, President. When asked last night if there was any connection between his resignation and the proofs of Parry’s guilt submitted by The Call at last Friday's investigation, Hecht evaded the question, saying: HECHT EVADES QUESTION. “I do not care to make any statement cn that question.” # “What explanation do you make for your resignation at this time?” was then asked of Mr. Hecht. “I do not desire to make a statement as to the causes of my resignation,” an- swered Hecht. “If I did T would certainly give it to The Call if to any paper.” Hecht's resignation has been looked for ever since Parry was appointed Fire Com- FORBIDS EXPERIMENTS WITH PLAGUE GERMS German Government Decides That Knowledge Gained Does Not Jus- tify Danger Incurred. BERLIN, June 7.—In consequence of the death from plague at the Berlin Hos- pital of the young Vienna physician, Dr. Milan Sachs, the Government has decided to issue a decree forbidding further ex- periments with plague germs, the risk of spreading infectlon being considered more dangerous to the public health than the knowledge gained in studying a deadly microbe justifies. Dr. Sachs caught the plague in Dr. Koch's bacteriolagical laboratory for in- fectious diseases. The laboratory is isolated and the most minute precautions are taken at the doors and windows to prevent the escape of the germs. No one is allowed to approach or enter the build- ing except the investigators. The decree forbidding further experiments was de- here to-day that Rev. H. H. Harty is to be Archbishop of the Catholic church at M% , and not Bishop of Manila, as reported. s ¥ .o B termined upon at a conference yesterday ary and police authorities, in which the Emperor's physiclan, Dr. Leuthod, Pro- ln the Ministry of Education of the sani- -+ B e 9 | | ! | 1 | /%/f%»/ 7 o ' b Pl ;j' 3 d s AT T | FIRE COMMISSISNER WHO RESIGNED BECAUSE HE CARED NO | LONGER TO SERVE ON A TAIN TED BOARD, AND MAYOR WHO AC- | CEPTED HIS RESIGNATION. »:o— —— - l missioner by Mayor Schmitz, in January, 1%02. No sooner bad Parry assumed office | than he began to make it disagreeable for the other three members of the board— Hecht, Rolla V. Watt and John H. Grady, the last named having been succeeded last January by John J. Barrett. Parry tried in various ways to throw odium on his associates and made himself so obnox- | jous that it was said at the time that he | would certainly demoralize the Fire De- partment if he did not quit his offensive tactics. Hecht remarked one day that the | board had always been harmonious until | Parry’s advent as one of its members. To a man of high qualifications, such as Mr. Hecht possesses, Parry’s course was | to tell just what caused him to resign. in 1901 for a term of four years, which would have ended in January, 195. The Mayor stated last night that he had accepted Hecht’s resignation and that he will probably appoint his successor this afternoon. “I can assign no reason for the resigna- tion,” said the Mayor, “unless Mr. Hecht was dissatisfied at the publicity given to the charges made against Parry and feared that more trouble might be in store for the commission on that aceount. I have not communicated with him on the matter, and, of course, it would be hard I shall appeint his successor at once, but do not care to state yet who I have un- very distasteful. Hecht made up his| der consideration for the appointment.” tessor Renvers and other noted special- ists participated. Dr. Sachs was sent here by the Austrian Government, who intend- ed to use his services in perfecting the sanitary arrangements in Bukowina. ————————— ENGINE STRIKES A SPIKE | AND DASHES INTO RIVER PORTLAND, Or., June 7.—Running at| the speed of thirty-five miles an hour, | the Spokane flier, eastbound, on the Ore- | gon Rallroad and Navigation Company line, struck a spike placed upon the rail of an eight-degree curve near Latourelle Falls, thirty miles east of this city, to- night and was derailed. The engine gnd tender were dashed down the bank into the Columbia River, but the engineer and fireman escaped in- jury. None of the passengers were in- Jjured beyond a slight shaking up. A search was made for the cause of the accident and a spike was found on the ground at the spot where the engine left the track. About 100 yards farther down the track three more spikes, placed up- right upon the rails, were found. Super- intendent J. P. O’Brien thinks the spikes were placed upon the track by boys who were playing in_the vicinity. WHOLESALE EMIGRATION OF MINERS FROM AUSTRIA Unprecedented Stagnation of Irom Industry Is Driving Work- men to. America. VIENNA, June 7.—Thers is a wholesale emigration of miners and workmen in the fron districts of Austria to the United States in consequence of the unprece- dented stagnation of the iron industry. Hundreds of men have been discharged since the beginning of the year and the mines and iron works are operating onm short time. Wages have fallen 3 per cent and In many instances the men are earning less than 50 cents a day and their families are suffering severely ——————— MAN’'S DECAPITATED BODY FOUND AT STEVENS CREEK SAN JOSE, June 7.—The body of 2 man was found to-day in a shallow stream, near the source of Stevens Creek, with the head severed from the trunk. Death had occurred a month or more’“ om- clal Investigation will be made to-morrow.