The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 1

A Ha. flier i. CAr.fffna.r Pwf.eer-f.r i JTmas Jfumber of The IPre Mine Disasters Pittsburgers Are Adopting Real Babies Instead of Buying Doll Authority Gives Scientific Explanation of Recent Babies This Year OUT TOMORROW Explosions and Suggests Remedy i LOCAL WEATHER FORECAST FAIR Forecast for Western Pennsylvania: Fair tonight; Sunday, snow or rain. THE PITT PRE CLOsroa Stock QuorATtoea ESTABLISHED 1884 PITTSBURG. SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21.

1907 TWELVE PAGES ONE CEN'l SBURG MINE PICTURES TAKEN ABOUT THE WRECKED OARR AIIVE AT JACOBS CREEK WEALTHY YOUTH IS MISSING FIRST U. P. CHURCH IS ROBBED rTr-tx 11 3jm i.i it 11 'tvg I1 4 mU win ti rrr r-r Surface Three More Bodies Brought to This Morning and Another Discovered in Swamp DARING RESCUER OVERCOME fg tlCll Photographs by T. 8. Mu naon.

Staff Photographer. -Stricken relatives of dead miners waiting for newi from the death 2 Some of the rescuers and three mine Inspectors, just before golns; BY CHARLES H. GILLESPIE, Staff Correspondent. Jacobs Creek, December 21. Three more bodies were brought from the ill-fated Darr mine at 5 o'clock t'his morning, bringing the total number of dead up to 12.

The horror of accident seems to be intensifying, the farther in the rescuers get, and every foot seems to show greater havoc. The last bodies are in very bad condition, being frightfully burned and mangled. Only the blackened trunk of one dead. poor wretch remains, the head being missing and both arms and legs blown and twisted off. Near this trunk Augustln Known W.

Curran, Well-Young Man About Town, Has Disappeared, and Relatives' Search Is Futile TOOK LARGE SUPPLY OF CLOTHES WITH HIM He Had Expressed a Desire To See the World, and May Have Started on an Extensive Tour Augustin W. Curran, a well-known young man about town and member of a wealthy East End family, of No. 226 Stratford avenue, has vanished. Despite the most strenuous efforts on the part of relatives and friends to locate him not the slightest clue to his whereabouts has been discovered, lie has been missing since Saturday. December 15- Young Curran.

who has a local reputation a fastidious dresser, left his home Saturday morning. week ago. and came downtown without leaving- the least impression that he contemplated going away. It Is known that h' transacted some business with an attorney In the Frick Annex, bought an extensive and theh attended an "amniemcnf resort fh the afternoon. wTiere he met feveral friends, with Whom he made engagements to see them the next day-He has been traced from there to a local restaurant, there the clue is lost and it cannot be learned whether he boarded nji eastbound express for New York, as a report said, or went to the South, as one of his friends states.

Before leaving on the trip Curran visited several haberdasheries and bought a tock of shirts, ties, collars, handkerchiefs and a miscellaneous collection of necessities. He took with him five suits of clothing, a riding habit and evening dress suit. These were taken out of his room some time during the night preceding his disappearance. Two suitcases. Which he also had in his room, were removed, as were a number of trinkets which he prized.

IS COLLEGE GRADUATE. Curran is a graduate of Notre Dame University. South Bend. and his room at home contained a cozy corner in which a number of college souvenirs were arranged as decorations. These were taken, too.

"When leaving fts home In the morning ha said nothing to hia mother, who Is almost heart-broken over hla absence, about going away, hut intimated that he would not be home for flmner that evening. During Curran's days at college he attained quite a reputation as an athlete, and It was at first thought that he had taken a hurried trip to see some of his Id school chums, who were to visit Indianapolis after the close of the schcol this month during the holidays. But in vestigation in this qunr brought the fame results as he had not been seen or heard from. Several times Curran is known to have mentioned to friends that he contemplated a trip to the West India Islands, as he hail a friend living there ho was a student at Notre Dame. A dispatch sent there In an attempt to locate him brought the same result, no trace.

Curran's two brothers, proprietors or a large downtown business establishment, are reluctant to give out any Information concerning the young man's disappearance, but they acknowledge that he has disappeared and rtate that they have had no news from him. Curran reasons for leaving home are not known. He had all the comforts that a young man could secure, an excellent home, good environment, many luxuries, and. being of a disposition which required plenty of leaverage. he was greatly indulged.

WANTED TO SEE WORLD. He had always expressed a desire to ee more of the world and it is thought Continued on Pace 2. FOUR BELIEVED DEAD INJG FIRE Flames Are Raging in Springfield, 111., Business District -Speading Rapidly By United Press. Springfield. 111..

December 21. Fire, ftartin in the window of the Johnson-Hatcher department store, which had been tilled with Christmas toys and a Santa Claus, so far has resulted in lh Joss of half a million of property, and is raging fiercely, threatening the entire heart of the business district. The State Register building and the Postal Telegraph Co. have caught and the department is now working to save these, as well as the John Eressmer Ftore, the largest dry goods house in Central Illinois. The Bessmer Co.

occupied an eight-story building. The power of the City Light Company is cut off and the afternoon papers will be unable to publish. Firs is still raging, although the fire department is confident it will be abl to confine it to one city block. Arthur Johnson, one of the members of 'he lirm. reported to the police he was sure F.

Posey, a clerk, and three customers, who were in the basement, were unable to escape. So far no trace of tha four bu been found. Thieves Enter Edifice Through Broken Window and Carry Off Manuscript: "Christ Cleansing the Temple" 4 INTRUDERS ATE A HEARTY LUNCHEON Third Robbery of Churches in Pittsburg Within Three Days Robbers Find No Cash In Boxes Thieves gained entrance to th First United Presbyterian church on Fifth avenue, near Boquet street, last night and after ransacking desks and cupboards left the rooms in confusiorv Entrance was gained by breaking a small stained glass window in the rear "with a stone or cjub. Tht stained glass was lying fit the ground and portions were on the floor of the rooms. The Rev.

Dr. W. J. Reid, th pastor, went to the church thin morning ani upon entering his study found papers and books scattered on the floor. His private desk had been opened and many papers were removed In an effort to find money." Two other desks were forced open but no money is thought to have been taken.

The thieves ued a candle, as grease marks were found on the carpets of various rooms. The Rev. Reid found that the thieves had carried away a manuscript on which he had been laboring for weeks. It was entitled "Christ Cleanses The Temple," and was for a United Presbyterian publication to which he contributes. He stated this morning that if ttv thieves read the manuscript they might be prompted to return it.

The police were notified and made at Investigation. It was also found that the thieves had entered one of the church, parlors where they had luncheon from supply of crackers left from a recent social gathering. The Rev. Reid attributes the theft of his manuscript and other papers to the same persons who entered two churches on the North Side early in the week. A missionary box had been robbed andl papers and books were scattered about when the cases were reported there.

ARREST DRUCE CASEJITNESS Robert Caldwell Taken in Custody on His Arrival in New York New Tork, December 21. Robert Caldwell, who was accused of perjury growing out of his testimony in the notej Druce hearing in London, was arrested today after leaving the steamer Kaiseiin Auguste Victoria, on which he came front Europe. Deputy United States Marshall Bernhardt arrested Coldwell on a warrant. He was taken before United States Commissioner Alexander, where he Is now awaiting a hearing. Caldwell has every appearance of being a very sick man.

Caldwell got his first news of the Issuance of a warrant for him through wireless message received on the steamship yesterday. The announcement agitated him intensely and It was with quivering anxiety that he scanned the docks for the expected policeman as the vessel drew up to the pier. Caldwell's testimony in the Druce case led to the issuance of a warrant, charging perjury, but when the London poller visited his lodgings, they found he had already left the country. The Duke of Portland, against whom he was a witness, then cabled to his American representative, asking that Caldwell be arrested when he arrived and held pending extradition. He is 70 years old.

very weak, is said to suffer from BrigVs disease and Is be lieved to have but a short time to live. Caldwell first came Into prominence In 1900, when he accused Judge Hilton of forging A. T. Stewart's will and ex huming the merchant's body. He failed to substantiate his charges and dropped into obscurity, only to re-emerge when the Druce case, long pending in the English courts, came up for trtf.

Caldwell professed to have engineered; a bogus funeral for T. C. Druce who really -was, he asserted, the Duke of Portland and to have buried 200 ponnag of lead In a coffin. Druce's coffin is soon to be opened. THREE THEORIES FOR DARR DISASTER Three theories explosions of gas.

coal dust or the two combined are advanced as the cause or the explosion in the Darr mine by the experts in the employ of the Pittsburg Coal Co. Vice President Woodford announced yesterday that the experts will be unable to reach a de cision until they explore the inner work ings or the mine. "We are devoting our efforts now to recovering the bodies." said Mr. Woodford. "It will be time enough' to talk of future plans when everybody has been brought to the surface." Mr.

Woodford was Im-nressed with the fact that little effect of the terriftc. explosion could be noted on the surface. three feet4 were picked up. Shortly after noon today, one more body was discovered in the swamp about two miles in from the main entry. The body is that of a foreigner, but the rescuers were unable to bring it out.

There is no fire in the mine, nor has there been at any time to POSTPONE PAY DAYAT MINE BY C. J. BcBRIDE. Jacobs Creek, December 21. This forenoon notices were posted In the offices of the coal company here, stating that payday would be postponed until next week.

The men had begun to gather in expectations of receiving their money today. The reason for this delay was stated to be the desire to avoid confusion and also to insure that none of the pay envelopes get Into wrong hands. The Gun Was Loaded. Chico, December 21. Arthur Roberts.

9 years old. was killed yesterday by being shot through the head during a military drill of the school children in the Dayton school district. The children were armed with old guns, supposedly unloaded, and one of the children aimed a gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced the head of the Roberts boy. causing instant death.

A rigid investigation has been ordered. day or last night. Inspector "Williams, of Conneltsvllle, who or me out at 11 o'clock, said: -Ifs death to go beyond the place now reached." The ventilation is said to have been deranged ajlowlng an accumulation of gas in the mine. A safety headdress will be tested this afternoon. It was brought by A.

K. Davidson, of New York. an inventor. It is called a smoke fume helmet and it is claimed for it that a miner can work in any kind of black damp for an hour and a half. It developsd that Deputy Inspector Daniel Blower, of the Nineteenth bituminous district, began an Investigation of the Darr mine on December 1.

but never finished it. Why this was done is not known. i One of the bodies found this morning is thought to be that of either Joe Storey or George Newhouse, both trapper boys of Smithton. Another of the bodies taken out this morning is said to be that of Tine Hood, aged 15 years, a trapper boy. The three bodies located yesterday art- I ernoon were brought out at 7 o'clock and positively Identified as John Forsythe, Joe Sharpenburg and Sol Hough.

I FOLLY NOT TO STICK TO THE CONTRACT Mayor Guthrie Clarifies the Situation for Indignant South Side Men Company Would Break Contract HILLTOPS HAVE A WATER SUPPLY TODAY A Dhase of the water supply situation on the South Side, explained by Mayor George W. Guthrie to the committee of the Hill Top Board of Trade that called on him yesterday, may cause the com mittee not to press its demand that the city drop the proceedings' to have a valuation placed on the plant, with a view to purchase by the city and lay city mains in the South Side wards. 'the mayor is said to believe that the committee realized the importance of what he said. The mayor told he committee that in his opinion the company would gladly agree to a revocation of the contract between the company and the city and would welcome an attempt of the city to law water mains on the South Side. The company is operating under a charter it obtained from the Manufacturers' Water Co.

in 1887. This charter was granted in 18S6, under the act of April -9. 1874, and it conferred exclusive and perpetual rights on any company granted a charter under its provisions. The act has been amended so that exclusive privileges are no longer possible under it, but the amendment was not adopted until after the Manufacturers Water Co. had obtained its charter.

COULD RAISE RATES. The Monongahela Water Co. was reorganized in 18S8. after the charter of the Manufacturers Co. was obtained.

The Monongahela Water Co. claims, in view of its possession of the charter, the exclusive right to furnish water on the Continued on Page 2. Tr. "Walters and Controller Booth strolled along Wood street together yesterday afternoon. They were busy in conversation and neither observed the approach of a man well known in the city.

'How are you, mayor wai hla salutation as he passed, the two politicians. "How do yon dor said Dr. "Walters. How do yon dof echoed Controller Booth. An observer says that each first looked foolish and straight ahead, then stole a sly glance at the other.

Rumor says that a laugh was forced eventually from each, followed by this colloquy: Walters Say, Frank, tell me, are you really going to be a candidate? Controller Booth Doctor. I was just going to ask you he same question. Just then the wind swept up the street from the river and future developments will have to tell what the answers were. I. Into the mine opening to search for the 3 The temporary, morgue, near No.

Clambering aboard the "Sky order to reach the stricken town. o. 5 One of the state troopers TDEAT National Organizer of United Mine Workers Makes Startling Statement, Based on Membership Records SYSTEM OF CONNECTING MINES BEING BLAMED BY C. H. GILLESPIE, Staff Correspondent.

Jacobs Creek, December 21. That at least ,,00 miners have losi their lives in the Darr pit was the startling statement made by Michael Hallapy, national organizer of the United Mine Workers. Mr. Hallapy bases his assertion on the records of the local membership, which he said had reached over 350. "I have ascertained today that not mora than 5 men.

all Russians, stayed away from work Thursday in observance of the feast of St. Nicholas," said Mr. Hallapy. "and It is almost positive that all the rest were in the mine when the explosion took place. I base this estimate of loss of life on the bcoks of the association, and by membership dues.

The claims of the company that there vrerc only ISO to 200 men at work are absurd." The rescue work is going steadily forward, the whole operation being confined solely to forcing a passage straight back along the main entry to the right, to get as soon as possible to the swamp entries which lie in the district from two to three miles In from the pit mouth. The labor has been slow and arduous as new bratticing must be constructed r'-'e whole way and new temporary over-. eaks built to assist in the flow of the current of fresh air. CROWD KNEW OF IT. All the break work has been found to be demolished, but the general condition of the interior Is much better than was to be expected from the violence of the explosion.

Hundreds of loads of planks and rails have been dragged Into the Continued on Pace Z. AT LEAST 300 HAVE the mine entrance. ferry," to cross the Vonghlogheny, In guard at the mine. DOES WOT OF BROT Rescuer Helps To Carry the Blackened Remains of His Relative From the Ill-Fated Darr Mine RECOGNIZES CORPSE LATER AT MORGUE Carrying the corpse of his own brother, whom he did not recognize in its blackened condition, from the ill-fated Darr mine, George Markey, aged 28 years, one of the rescue party, was overcome, with griefc when a short time later he recognized the body of John Markey, yesterday. He resides on Doyle street, Wrest Homestead, and has been an employe of the Homestead mills.

When the explosion occurred he went at once to Jacobs Creek, knowing that his father. Martin Markey, and his two brothers, James and John, worked at the mine. The father and son James were not on the shift with John, and to this fact they owe their lives. Markey went from West Homestead to assist in the recovery of the bodies, knowing that Johk Markey, his brother, was among the dead. Yesterday he carried out several bodies, which were taken to the improvised morgue in the blacksmith shop.

He carried the body of a miner on a stretcher with a companion, which did not particularly attract his attention at the time. Later the grime was removed by the undertakers in charge, and Markey identified the corpse as that of his brother John. He was overcome with grief and notified his father and brother James. Last night he returned to West Homestead to his family and this morning he went bax'k to Jacobs Creek. John Markey was a mine foreman and left a widow and four children at Jacobs Creek.

The brother said this morning that he had arranged to have the body of his brother shipped to Dunbar for interment. The father and son James, together with John's family, live at Jacobs Creek. KNOW BOOT TITLE CAUGHT THESE TWO MEN Walters and Booth Promptly Responded When They Heard the Word "Mayor;" Then Each Insisted on Knowing the Plans of the Other Complete list of Identified deadt JOSEPH W. MURPHY. HERMAN TANZKEY.

W. S. CAMPBELL, mine foreman. ANDY KOSIiOSKY. PETER LINBAU6H.

JOHN FORSYTHE. JOE SHARPENBURG. SOL. HOUGH and BODY NO. 5, supposed to be Nicholas Murphy.

All the bodies so far recovered have been lying in th main entry or haulage way. No attempt has been made to explore the side entries nor the butt entries or rooms, and a large number of bodies are thought to be scattered among them. MOST IN SWAMP ENTRIES. The greatest number, is thought to be in the swamp entries, about three miles back from the entrance to the mine. There, It Is said, will be found between 200 and 3o more bodies.

The llfFemlty of the rescue work Is hourly Increasing, as black damp Is being fmiDil In even greater quantity than before. Continued on Page 2. tcf thrifty living and constant labor, bad provided a comfortable little home, and 1 there today she sits alone with her great grief- mourning for her "man's- cheery. tears for the two fine young sons so lull of8laVr 'd ase- uiu, fwi lui gc a.xiu mi, ii iy lor Ills BgB, anu joe, agea in years, was a son any mother might well be proud of. But for the transient sickness of a neighbor.

Max Sprecht, Joe would likely be alive todav iustead of lying, charred and disfigured, in the far recesses of the mine workings. in Sprechfs absence, Joe took his place as a machine worker, and gladly availed himself of the chance to get a couple of 'days work. He was doing Sprechfs work when the fatal explosion occurred, I Oeorge helped his father and did almost a full grown mans labor TWO SONS AND HUSBAND DEAD Mrs. George Kroboth Has Lost the Boys She Loved So Well, Besides Her Hard-Working Husband Accident Caused Loss of One 7 Throw a stone in Kentucky and you will probably hit a colonel. Repeat the performance in Pittsburg and the disfigurement of a man who has visions of himself occupying the local throne as mayor of the greater city is likely to be the result.

If your principles are opposed to stone throwing make use of the title, "mayor," in addressing somebody in the first crowd you encounter in Pittsburg and you will probably evoke a chorus of responses that "will startle you. Ask. County Controller Franklin P. Booth, chairman of the Republican city committee of Pittsburg, or Dr. E.

R- Walters, president of select council, as to the situation. They can enlighten you. These two men, each of whom is considerably in the lime light, are said to have covetous eyes on the office over which George W. Guthrie presides at present. Dr.

"Walters, in talking with friends, does not strenuously deny the soft impeachment. Controller Booth well, he thinks the mayoralty election is a long way off and he refuses to arlmit that he Is thinking of being; a candidate. RY Rll I PQP1F Ul vs. II. UiLUtorit, Staff Correspondent.

Tacobs Creek Pa IWpmhpr 111. One Ot the most complete and pathetic cases of bereave- vvuii, i v-iiv. iii i i i v. uic- astei. is Tuiind here in Jacobs in the person of Mrs.

Creek Georjre V- ft 1V Lit UII German woman. The terrific explosion, which will make the Darr mine disaster rank among the greatest of this country's mine horrors. snatched away her husband and two sons. her only children. She is not only triply bereaved, but deprived of all support, and her condition is most piteous.

Her nusbani, Georga Kroboth, by years 1,.