St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 1

rxmr-Anovs O9 Clock Edition. O' THE BIGGEST JANUARY. oiTiorsj. THE ONLY, ST. LOUIS NEWSPAPER WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DAY DISPATCHES.

TWELVE PAGES. COMPLETE. MARKET REPORTS. WANT AOS LAST MONTH 1H THE POST-DISPATCH. 4098 Eigser Than One Year Ago.

VOL. 54, NO. 168. ST. LOUIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5r 1902.

PRTPP 1,1 One nt. AVi-, Ontslite St. I.odI.. Tn Cent! ST. IS PATCH i LARGE THREE BODIES STILL IN THE FIRE RUINS: BRIBES OFFERED FOR THE GARBAGE CONTRACT SEVEN FIREMEN KILLED BY FALLING WALLS El Jexpect to make an investigation into the cause of the deaths.

Drs. Murrell and Chapman Admit Having Rejected Offers of $2500 Each for Votes in Favor of the Contract Facts Pre Mayor Welts. THESE MEN DIED IN THE FIRE (MAYOR WELLS NAMES COMMITTEE TO DISTRIBUTE POST-DISPATCH 1 VWV'CTRjeqHRnmBQBMJ I AND OTHER RELIEF FUNDS FUND FOR FAMILIES OF THE DEAD FIREMEN POST-DISPATCH 00 ii. l. i-reetorius and John bchroers for the Westltclie Post 100 00 Mayor Wells 1 (Mi fin 'tC'.

I YT -r isaac ii. iionDerger 5n oo Festus J. Wade or sented by the Post-Dispatch. One of the boodle deals under investigation by tnc graiuljury is tliat of the garbage contract, which Aval finally made after a long delay at a price double that of the previous year. The Post-Dispatch has unearthed important facts in connection with the deal and presents them to the grandjury and the public.

An offer of each was made to T)r. Albert Merrell and Dr. II. Chapman, members of the Board of Health, for their votes approving the contract. Drs.

Merrell and Chapman declare hey rejected the offers, but voted for the contract because there was no other way to take care of the city's garbage. Both have testified before the grandjury. It is understood thoroughly that the sum actually paid for passing the garbage bill through the Municipal Assembly was The go-between in this case is understood to be one of the leading members of the so-called Butler combine in the House of Delegates. The garbage contract was generally designated as Butler's garbage contract, because of Edward Butler' conspicuous identification with the corporations handling the garbage. The St.

Louis Sanitary Reduction Co. is the corporation holding the contractMor the handling of the city's garbage. The officers of the St. Louis Sanitary Reduction Co. are Chas.

F. Herman, president; John Scullin, vice-president; Walter J. Blakely, secretary. The board of directors is composed of the men named with the addition of James Campbell and Howard Blossom. Rothschild Bros.

Hat "Co 10 oo Daugherty Bros. Tent and Awning Co 10 00 fLetrtchen Cohen 1 00 ID. E. S. On Total $421 50 5 j.

fVf A vrc A VPP ATCCC ,1 uwiiin xj ivivv.iin.UL ivnioij qsoUiJU I --o I I Seven firemen met a terrible death in the heroic perfomance of duty in the JChestnut street fire last night. Two of the brave men were slain while working the fire. Assistant Chief Thierry and three others went to death in the noble AUGUST Assistant Chief. I jcrder of courageous and generous self-sacrifice, trying to rescue their com- 4 FRAXKL1X M'BRIDE- Dr. Henry N.

Chapman, member of the 4 lemons, ii was a nean-renuing caiamuy, not surpassed in pathos and high de- jvotion to duty in the glorious history gallant deeds performed by St. Louis i firemen. board of health that approved the Butler garbage bill and let the contract for the re CENTRAL TRACTION STILL ON BEFORE THE GRANDJURY OTHER CASES FOLLOW SOON duction of the garbage of the city for thref One of the men who perished leaves 13 children; another leaves five; all of years to the St. Iouis Sanitary stated them left near and dear if not dependent relatives. In positive terms to the Post-Dispatch giliSi Wednesday morning that an attempt had teen made to bribe him to give his approval NINETEEN WELL-KNOWN MEN OF ST.

LOUIS SUB-PENAED TO TESTIFY WEDNESDAY. to the bill and his vote to award the con tract. When first approached on the subject Dr. What shall the people of St. Louis do for the stricken families and dependents of these brave men, bereft at one blow of their dearest ones and of the means of living? The Post-Dispatch believes there will be a generous response to this question.

We believe that the people of St. Louis will see that the stricken families and dependents are taken care of and that the best memorial that affection and respect can offer will be tendered them. In appealing to the people to honor their brave dead by helping their surviving families the Post-Dispatch takes pleasure in opening the relief fund with a contribution of $1K. The Post-Dispatch this morning suggested that a committer of, citizens.be appointed by Mayor Wells, with himself at the head. Chapman refused absolutely to discuss the matter In any form for the reason that he had teen summoned as a witness before 'the grandjury and was under oath not to divulge any of the testimony he had given before It the fund icio rdng limJfiTOT' WITNESSES SUMMONED BEFORE THE GRANDJURY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON Alexander Ross, secretary Laclede Gaslight Co.

Isaac II. Lionberger, Attorney. Charles Nagel. former president City Council. manager Barber Asphalt Favlng Co.

Ueoi Murkier, Charles W. Francis, assistant health Franklin P. Hunklns, president Thorn Hunkins Lime and Cement Co. Fred G. Uthoff.

former member City Council. Louis Dieckmann, former speaker Hotff Delegates. George W. Baumhoff, former general manager St. Louis Transit Co.

Paulus Gast, former member City Council. Chatles Carroll, former member City Council. Charles Thuner. former member CUy Council. Kdgar Mepham, former member Hous of Delegates.

Hiram Lloyd, former speaker House of Dflesates. A. D. Brown, president Hamilton-Brown Siioe Co. John Scullin.

capitalist and former street railway magnate. Charles Gutke. former member House of Delegates. W. H.

Judy, former member House of Delegates. -deelra, "to yirobe Jnto the eitimony he had r'voti before the grandjury, he consented to listen to the questions propounded to him, and to answer, them If they did not conflict with his oath. One or two questions he refused to answer. Mayer Wells met the with hearty approval and co-operation. As an evidence of his own deep feeling he subscribed 100 to the Post- Dispatch michahhj j.

xehoe. fund. He named the following gentlemen to compose, with himself, the commit DANIEL, VT. STEELE. tee for the distribution of the fund: Voluntarily he made the following state ment: 'Unfortunately the session of the B.oard Isaac H.

Lionbergcr, Cyrus P. Walbridge, Charles Nagel, L. D. Kingsland. O.

L. Whitelaw. Rev. Tames' T. Coffev.

George J. Tansey, Rev. Samuel J. Juccolls. The mayor said he had not yet apprised the committeemen of their appoint of Health at which the Butter garnags ment, but he did not doubt that they would cheerfully accept the duty.

bill was approved and the contract let Vas executive and behind closed doos. Otherwise the public mlgnt nave known how bitterly It was opposed. The Board of Health was helplesB. Lesa than six weeks mignt The Post-Dispatch will receive and acknowledge all contributions sent to the Nineteen citizens of more or, less prominence, the majority of them very well known, have been summoned to appear paper and will turn over the funds to the above committee appointed by Mavor before the grandjury at 2:30 o'clock Wednes WAS BUILDING A FIRE TRAP? BY BUILDING COMMISSIONER LONGFELLOW. i as a regular fire trap.

looked at it this morning Uiat such a structure had stiod so long. It had never been condemned, however Inree years ago. this winter, there was a fire in it. but I was informed by John IT Randall, then chief inspector of buildings when I went into office, that the damage had been repaired and the made strong. BY MAYOR WELLS.

I have not yet had tirpe to any inquiry into the responsibility for the death of the members of the tire department in last night's re. I expect, however, to make an investigation I was informed last night that the building was condemned 10 years ago. I expect to have the records looked tin to ascertain if tins is true. 1 had a conference with Assistant Chief of Police Gillaspy and Fire Chief Swingley early this morning, hut it was only to devise wavs aivl means "for getting those poor fellows out of he debris as soon as possible. The responsibility was not discussed.

elapse before the old contract could expire. Wells for the purpose of receiving and disbursing this money. day afternoon. Circuit Attorney Folk stated to the Post-Dispatch Wednesday morning that the In- The ordinance called for the Herts system Js there anyone St. Louis able to give who will not give something to this worthy cause? for the reduction of garbage.

Th.ere waa; friendly disposition towards the bill while it was runuing the municijal gauntlet. Lighting and Garbage Cases. Th appearance of Alexander Hoss' nam among tha list of witnessss Is taken as a.i li.dicntion that the grandjury l.itends to delve more deeply Into the "lighting scandal." Chatles Om of tb Laclede Ga Li tit Co. was before th Jury Tuesday. Th fact thiit Assistant Health Commissioner Francix has ben dlr.sctet to apt'u In tnu grandjury room Is not taken as e-vi-dencn that th: grandjury wants to learn from him anything about the tetanus caua.

lnvcHtiKHtion of which it began Tuesday. It Is construed rathr as an Indication that the grandjury intends to probe tha circumstances surrounding the grant.ng of the last garbage contract to the corporation In which "Col." Kd Butler i only one plant of the kind in the city. JThat was owned by Butler or was supposed to be. See the significance? There was only -T- u'td PITT. MERCHANTS EXCHANGE RAISES one bia presentea.

iriAi. vestigations of the grandjury would contlnued "along the same lines" that It has been following the past few days. Many of the names of those subpenaed give eloquent testimony that the Central Traction bill will be the subject of further conslderatfon by the grandjury Wednesday afternoon. Fred G. Uthoff, Paulus Gast, Chsrles Carroll and Charles Thuner were members of the City Council that passed the measure over the mayor's veto.

Uthoff Is thu man who cast the vote that made the bill a law. LER'S. It was double that of the year h.fnr in no mlstakable terms I de chants' Kxchange, representing as It does the business Interests of the city, see to it that the families of the men who are gone do not suffer because of their valliant service in the interest of the city. "Those who believe that we owe a debt to these brave men," said President Tansey, BY FIRE SECRETARY BEN SWINGLEY. There was nothing rash in the dash of Assistant Chief Thierry and a squad to save their comrades that were canszht when the rear wall fell.

It a nku aa nounced the letting of the contract at the meeting. I opposed It chiefly, however, for another reason. An attempt had been made to bribe ma with J2500 i Three thousand and twenty dollars were I ubscrtbed In three minutes for the families bereft by Tuesday night fire. The sub- seriptions were iven by members of the St. Iouis Kxchange at a noon mass meet-lng.

i Bacaua the notice of the meeting was not widely circulated until the noon editions 'Ct the afternoon papers appeared the attendance At the citizens' mass meeting on the floor of the Merchants' Exchange, called by President George J. Tansey. was attended mainly by members of the ex- change. of heroism. There was no warning that the other walls might fall.

The collapse came suddenly and unexpectedlj-. I don't know whether the building had ever ifie question of street Improvement enn- "should come up and subscribe such sums as they feel they can give. I appoint the The vote the of t.aHsinir the tracts, or the manner In rollowing committee to solicit subscriptions and draft an appeal to the citizens." President Tansey read these names: K'lwards Wfiluker, 11. o. Stanard.

Chairman. "A BRUTAL PROPOSITION." "Who offered you this "I will not give hia name." "Did he offer It on his own account? Or was he the agent of some other man?" "He was the agent of another man. He came to me and told me he was my friend. He said to me: 'If you will approve and vote for this contract I can get you iXM. itruwm, Mircrav-i a.teron.

mem. may De taken tip by the grandjury Aertnesflay also. The summoning of Mr. Crarie cf the Unrber Co. Is taken as evidence in that direction.

Messri. Scullin and Baumhoff are former railway managers of prominence, it presumed that the grandjury uesires to elicit 'from them information ss to th methods employed by the street railway companies to secure franchises from Ihe municipal asxembly. It lr thought that the grandjury msy la-vest a report that three members of thi laAt Iiuute of Delegates d-mandd m.rn tne Huhurban Railway 'o. as "hush money." The story that this trio knew of the existence of the fund of and threatened to talk unless was forthcoming. The report further Is that h.

bill in the Council over the mayor's head, as the House had previously dont, was up for consideration and only one vote of the number necessary was lacking when L'thoff's name was called. Had ne voted "nay" the matter of passing the measure would have been "up to" president But Uthoff voted "aye." Charles Gutke was a member of the House of Delegates which passed the Central Traction mil. He was an important member of that body and hHd conniileraDie to do in deciding "the faie of important measures that came before that binly. UiecKman Mephani have mIso been subnenaert to tell what they know of the Central Traction b.li. Mepham was not a member of the House at the tinia of its passage, but is credited wuh having worked for Its enactment into a law.

Dieckman Is nctn conaemnea. aon Keep sum rccoro in tins omcc. BY CHILES 0. BRUNK, CHIEF INSPECTOR. "The building at Chestnut street was safe until tlifirc weakened it.

There was a fire in the place about three yeirs ago. The building was inspected and repaired according to instructions from this department. "Of course." it was an old building and constructed in the old-fashioned way. but the joists were strong enough to support it so long as they were not weakened by outside causes. "The caving in of the roof, should say, caused the floor to fall and the wails to BY FIRE CHIEF SWINGLEY.

"I cannot say who or what was responsible for the loss of the firemen's lives said Chief Swingley to the Tost-Dispatch at noon Wednesday. "The hnildintf ought not to have given way under the circumstanrec W. A. Gardner. Henjamlti K.ucmin, S.

I. Cien, John Wahl. T. It. franc U.

Wni. J. Imp. Jr. 1.

I. BiL-hnell, Bfck Joius. V.liiiani A Si-iHjiler. W. S.

jr. The mass meeting, the call asserts, was to organize a movement to raise a fund for the etrlcken families of the brave firemen who lost --fceir lives Tuesday night In the American Tent and Awning Co. fire. Fresldeot Tansey eald In his address that W. T.

iSiirsiH T. R. Ballard. J. tl.

IllokmaQ. Fetiw J. Wade, William H. Lee. K.

C. Orthwein, Marriis Btmlielrcer, It. B. (iiaham. Junra V.

Newell. Clark II. KinMHKHi. I'd hate to Say the word and it is yours suppose you can see you lose this. twi.

uuuib una seen a nmantmn. i 'would aee more in the future The fire on rrnird street had -ost a ine nrst subscriber was the president. Ife gave J100. A second hundred was given by E. O.

Stanard. A third came from Will-lam Ijemp. number of brave Suburban Htld the nione oney ytnen'a Uvea, It Was fitting that the Mer to a Deroocratlo each of the trio IbmO politician, wno irav ais credited with havlrg displayed ana Kept IIO.OUO himself not know that it was unsafe, and there was nothing to indicate danger. It th total collapse could have been foreseen, I would not have allowed Thierry and the three men with him to go into the building. Kut nothing of the.

kind seemed likely. r. Two Men Went Down With Falling Floor in Fire at 312-14 Chestnut St. and Four use it?" "Was this man a friend of yours "I hardly knew him. I had seen him frequently, but that is all.

I did not get angry with him. I simply told him that he had come to the wrong man. He said: 'Why, U'a all right. It's ther for you if you want I replied that while it might be right from his standpoint it was not from mine and dismissed him. There was no third party present at the time and I could not prove that he had offered to bribe me, or I shauld have had him arrested at once.

I saw that It would no no good to talk so I kept It to myself. Later I told Dr. Merrell about It. because he and I were more or less Intimately connected. "Did he Intimate that he came from an "The three men nrst uie ouuaing were not sent tnere fcy me.

A foreman has the authority to eo wnerever ne tntnks a line is needed, and 1 suppose Steele went on his own responsibility, taking the ether two with Xo danger was apparent to anybody. "I knew nothing of the lnnl.hng con and the oniy way I rau judge of it now is that the building fell when the fire had affected only the two upper floors." to sign the contract Is Influencing the direction the inquiry Is taking. it is known that the men having knowledge of the offer of 49 have gone before the inquisition. None of these men can tell the public what lhty revealed. They are restricted by the oath Foreman Dean of the grandjury administers.

The men who received offers of l-iioO are Dr. Albert Merrell. Washington boulevard, and Dr. Henry N. Chapman, 1538 Mississippi avenue.

Both approved of the contract, but both opposed th ordinance get to work and do what Is possible to gel an ordinance passed that will mak competition possible and protect th city from another holdup like this on. "Dr. Chapman, and jou must know, art not only a minority in tha health board, but for all practical purpose are cypher. The public does not understand this health board ordinance business. Not long ago Dr.

Chapman and I addressed an open letter I th papers on the tuberculosis bill. We tha explained that most of the so-called health board bills in th Municipal Assembly ar i.uoi iiieir uives vvnen xne Building Collapsed. THE DEAD FIREMEN. other man to offer you this money for your vote on the contract?" 4:20 o'clock. The excavators who recovered the dad bodies believe that the two.

who were the victims of the first acldent, must have making it necessary and both were for a-fnver considered in th health "board at aJi. -I knew from whom he came, but I will been takan out to die in the arms of his rescueaa. At 10 o'rlock a force of 30 meu from the water department, under the lirection cf Bn Adkins. chief engineer, arrived and re-enforot the seenod shift of roustaijouts and other laborers who were lab ir.nc wlin shovels and litfkx undtr th. I never saw the garbage reduction ordi not 'say who it was, nor will I tell who offered me the money." been on the third floor with their line of hose, and that the floor fell througrh to the Was the bribe offered by Inunendo?" 'Hi, It was one of the most brutal and time in favor of rejecting the contract, even after the ordinance wss passed.

"We were up against It." Dr. Merrell said, at his home Wednesday morning. "We felt, as did the mayor, that there was no possibility of getting capital to take hold of the disposal of the garbage In the short time at command. Th garbage could not tne enure Dunaing it is oenevea cold-blooded propositions 1 ever llstenod to. 1 was plainly asked to sell myself for 2800.

nance until It was printed. I understand It was drawn up In th sanitary ofdc by to nsslstant and fathered by the ht-arth commissioner. The assistant health commissioner Is not necessarily a creature of the board. His appointment and confirmation may be mad without the beauTs II I responsible alone to Mr. Btarkloff.

They as on ma.n. nn. The Interview did not last long, but it was AUGUST THIERRY, assistant chief. CHARLES KRENNI.N'O, No. :2.

CHARLES WE8TENHOF. No. 14. MICHAEL, A. KEHOE, No.

13. VKANKI.1N BRIDG, No. DANIEL. W. STEELE.

No. 12. WILLIAM UC.VDON, No. 23. Seven firemen were killed by the collapsing cf the floor and walls er the old four-tory brick building at S12-14 Chestnut trret Tuesday night.

Two met their death while fighting the Bre. a floor giving wsy teneath their feet, i Five went their iojm In an effort to re'Ctie their lirnri.soue 1 I'Omuiin, the walln fall'tig and burjirg beneath a of 1 ricka end 'timih'rt. "be thrown In the river, for Uncle Sam ob The bodies recovered are those of Kehoe, Westenhof, the last named at 1:05 Wednesday afternoon. Steele and Dundon. Fire was discovered In the building, which was occupied by the American Tent and Awring abjut 8 o'clock.

By the lime of the collapse, the flames were practically und control. DEPARTMENT'S GREATEST LOSS. Secretary Ben Swlngley of the Fire Department Mid Wednesday that Tueaday night's lo of life was the greatest the d-rrtmfnt hits ever Buffered. "The next greatest loss man In the fire In Ptehjup Sycara' factory on Main street, tv-tv-en Wahlngtnu aveiue and Vine street. Ausr.

1. rs7," he said. "I ive r.iep jtrish-vl in the flames WHERE FIREMEN MET DEATH. In the cellar near th rear end of the wwt building the bortlea of Steel and Kehoe were to the point 'and his dismissal was curt. That was the chief reason why I opposed the Butler garbage contract so bitterly in the board of health.

But this board was up jects. The Excelsior Trantfer and Hauling Co. is under contract to deliver the garbage IN EXTRA SESSION. tb sanitary works, or in rase the works against a 'cinch' and could not escape It." Flte broke out about 8 o'clock in the building, and the department had It under control when the catastrophe happened. The falling of the walls completely subdued the Are, leaving a more arduous task for the surviving firemen the digging away of the debris In a vain attempt to rescue the doomed nen.

At Tr45 o'clock this morning Chief Charles K. Swingley and Assistant Chief Rucker, who had Iwen In charge of the work on drrl4 since the falling of the wail, home and the wurk was left ur.Jr the direction of Assistant Ch'rfs Barry and Busch. At o'clock the- first shift, of laborers, 90 were on the second floor, covered with tne debris from the tloor. above. The failing walla and upper floors then forced them Into the basement, which was filled with debris for several feet under their bodies.

Tfco first body feund, that of Dundon, at o'clock, was farther to the front. Indicating that rthe five rescuers had not reached their two burled comrades. As Assistant Chief Thierry was believed to have Been In the had. the earc.ira continufd ihe hunt for his body near the where the boTiifs of Steele and e-hoe had been discovered. The bodies of Me Bride and Krenntnj were sought in rulna near, tha placo where Pun atUI Jlvav but unconscious, had DR.

MERRELL ON THE DEAL. The methods by which the St. Lou: San itary Co acnuired Its present thre-yea' are unable to receive the garbage, then to any point the health board may direct. BiNler would not dump the garbage In the river because of the It would not Jo to huvp It dumped on the levee. Thre was no plate In city where it could be deposited without endangering the public The sanitary company bad th city on tfco hip.

Dr. Chapman and I decided to "Th ordinance was discussed, byv. th health board In esecutlv eslon, but only after It was before the Municipal I am not at liberty state -what, occurred in an exeeutlv se-nion. 1 will however, a 1 that tti-fe ucght to 1.0 to nerutl of public ImnsX-J. The jutlC ought to jl.tviw wl.t gtaug on.

My, posidon this: The garUtge should be disposed of tn some manner tJkreg th faeaithiot tb city majr be jrliJJ, Er3 garbs kl- contract with the city are said to have fvrnied the hasia for Invest igatiun iy the j.reiwnt grandjury. It is beUeved to be probable that a rejected offer of 12500 each to two members of i Four bodies have txsn recovered. Three tlll in the debris, which Is being i ileared away by a large fore of men. a heaJtn board a inducement tor thorn found within a fe wfeet of cb. other at COJiTXNTSP ON.

FAQS ign th temporary' contract that, to i.