The San Francisco Call and Post from San Francisco, California • 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1902. 5 ADVERTISEMENTS. INSURANCE. INSURANCE. INSURANCE.

ELEVEN PERISH IN ST. LOUIS AND PATERSON SUFFERS FIRE FROM FLAMES PRICES TAKE ANOTHER TUMBLE, r-pr not obeyed, however, and there was considerable drunkenness. Late to-night the fire still burns, though it has been well under control since mid-afternoon. The fine interior of the Hamilton Club, which was the last of the buildings of prominence to suffer, was crackling and Its walls were reddened by the glow from slowly expiring flames within and around. Twenty-Five Blocks in Ruins.

The area of destruction foots up, roughly, twenty-five city blocks. From Main street to Paterson, between Van Houten and Market streets, there is little left. On the block bounded by Main, Ellison, Washington and Market streets not a Bingle building except that of the Paterson Savings Institution stands. All along the west side of Main street property is wiped out. as it is on the east side from Market to Van Houten streets.

Along the south side of Broadway, between Washington and Church streets, great damage has been done. Van Houten street is reduced to smoldering debris, as far as buildings are concerned, for some distance. Ellison street suffered from the neighborhood of Prospect street on its north side as far as Church street. On the south side of this street there is widespread ruin from a short distance west of Main street to the parsonage of the Second Presbyterian Church, near Paterson street. Market street is a pile of ruins from Main street to the Market-street church on the north side and on the south side.

Nowhere was the scene of devastation more marked than north of the Erie River, in the district bounded by Sixteenth avenue and Market street. There was simply nothing but ashes left to tell that a busy and populous section of the city had ever existed. On street, between Broadway and Market street, there is 'nothing left. Church street is wiped out on Its west side between Ellison and Market streets, as it is on the east side. It was in its newest and best built portions that Paterson suffered, though some of the property now lying in blackened ruins had an interest which came with age and usage.

Many Persons Reported" Missing. One death was reported as a possible outcome of the conflagration a Mrs. Brown who, it was said, was more than 80 years old and who was removed from her residence, 18 Broadway, just two doors from where the fire started in the car-sheds. She was taken to the residence of a friend nearby shortly after midnight and died an hour later. It was said that her death was hastened by the excitement consequent on her nasty removal to a place of safety.

Scores of persons were hurt and but the loss of life is not believed to be great. Many persons are reported to be missing, but in the excitement and fright most of these are supposed to separated from their families and friends. Reuben Islib, -while serving coffee to the exhausted firemen, was hit on the head by a falling beam and it is doubtful if he will recover. He was carried away-by the; firemen as they made their retreat from the doomed schoolhouse. George Fitzmaurice, a fireman, who had been acting as driver for Fire Chief Stagg.

is dying. He was drivin- an engine from Passaic, when the horses bolted and before Fitzmaurice could get them under control they brought the apparatus against an electric pole and Fitzmaurice, who had not waited to strap himself in. was hurled out upon his head. There is no chance for his living. Regular Retail Prices Virtually Gut in Two.

As Announced in Yesterday's Paper, the Pommer-Eilers Music Co. Will Sacrifice a Large Wholesale Stock of Choice Hew and Second-Hand Pianos. Asfoondingly Lew Prices and Also Most Favorable Terms of Pay-m nt. In effecting the organization of the Pommer-Eilers Music Company last week agreed with Eilers Piano Company to take off their hands their entire wholesale stock at their former warerooms, and on th way. It Is out intention to actively commence business on March 1st with an absolutely new stock of pianos and organs which is now being: selected at the various Eastern factories by the president of our company, and we have therefore determined to close out all the Instruments received In the above transaction.

"We realize that only the most unmerciful price cutting: will speedily dispose of this stock at this time. A vast number of pianos were sold by the Eilers Piano Company during: their recent great sacrifice sale by offering: them at ridiculously low prices, and therefore our only alternative Is slashing- prices again, and down they go. Now is the opportunity of your life. THE PRICES. Here are prices lower than have ever been made on reliable instruments of similar grade and value In -this country.

Every piano and organ has been marked down to prices absolutely without parallel in the history of piano merchandise: High grade Hallett Davis square piano In most excellent condition S5T.OO Zeck upright piano, fancy case, in perfect tune 863.00 Kirkman upright, nearly new, cost 5275 recently, now S6.GO Choice of nearly a dozen regular $275 uprights, now 136.00 Plainer cases, also brand $118. 00 20 regular $390 and $325 style, also brand new and fully warranted, now $176.00 and S183.00 One fancy Chickering Bros, upright (the Chicago make), the so-called 550 styles, now 8200.00 A large number of the very choicest mottled mahogany and walnut $375 and $400 styles, wholesale value $276 and $2S5. now S227.00 Plainer styles S21S.OO Still others at $196.00 Two very fancy mottled mahogany cabinet grand sample pianos, the very best made, with all the latest Improvements, Including the finest Wessel, Nickel Gross action, retail $450 and $475 respectively, now 8258,00 The very highest grade fancy 7 1-3 octaves pianos, with carved or plain panels as desired, full swinging duet music desk, revolving lock board, three pedals, the third a soft or practice pedal, the regular 5500 value, at a saving In price of exactly $1S2. Some a little plainer, yet very beautiful styles, for $266, $258 nd S245.O0 THE TERMS. TTith the exception of our three most want of It.

And this stands in contrast with deposits in savings banks without any commissions at all and but slight comparative cost of management, and with real investments in mortgages, bonds or good stocks, with no expense at all. Present Competition. Obviously one cannot afford to employ a life Insurance company-with its necessarily high expense rate to act as his savings bank, nor to regard its policies, however, phrased, as real investment bonds, nor to have his life insurance, on which his family depends, exposed to the constant menace of the wholesale withdrawal by others of the necessary reserves as if they were really mere deposits in bank. Yet it is precisely along these lines that business is most sought to-day, and the companies seeking it most eagerly are those that have the heaviest expense rate, and the business is secured in part at least through misapprehension. The expense, is concealed from the policy holder for the present by postponing dividends for long periods of years, with the expectation also that meantime many forfeitures will occur for the benefit of those who outstay, the period; the "5 per cent bond sells through concealment of its real cost and of the fact that for the same money one pays for a $10,000 "bond" he could have instead $13,000 cash down; and the companies turn themselves prao-mto savings banks, trusting luck that the run may never come which would destroy them as Insurance companies.

Lesson of Experience. And yet one of the most striking features of the experience of the companies competing by these methods for great growth for twenty-five years and more is the fact that, notwithstanding the enormous lapses and forfeitures which have occurred and upon which they have depended- for unusual profits to those who outlived and outstayed the deferred dividend period, the expense has been so great that the actual dividends have not even approximated the estimates upon which the business was secured. The Sound Position. It is because there Is but just the one thing that life insurance can do that no other institution can do, and because, at best, its necessary cost is relatively high, and because any other financial operation can be better and more cheaply done by some other institution organized for its own specific purpose, and-because a life Insurance company cannot do anything other institutions specifically undertake except at a Disproportionate and excessive cost, and yet more, because any other thing which other institutions undertake is, in specific aim, method and incident, in conflict with and more or less destructive of the proper aims, methods and results of life insurance and its administration; it is because of these things The Connecticut Mutual has refused to be led aside by the stress of competition, to deck out life insurance in the garb of something else, has adhered to the true and particular aim of life insurance and its necessary method, and has thereby accomplished its Intended result of perfect protection at low cost in an incomoarable degree; it is because of these things that it still so bases and frames and administers its contracts as to give to its beneficiaries sure protection at least cost and at an annual cost to the payer of the premiums, according to his own proper risk from whatever cause, protecting him against fraud by others and the cost of It, and not taking anything from him by any device for the benefit of some one else. It is in its business so conceived, so based and so administered, that your company has achieved that great strength, steady prosperity, and that steady and great volume of operation that have enabled it to serve its members to their unique advantage; and it is in holding to the same sure conditions and in the full fruition of their consequences, that it confidently hopes to render a future service of equal beneficence to dependent families, and of equal value to those whose duty it is to protect them.

The Operations of the Year. In its main results and In the conditions affecting the future with which it closes, the year 1901 was a satisfactory one. The details are given so fully elsewhere that we shall here deal only with the general features of the year's experience. The new business written was larger in amount than in the previous year; the number of lapses and other terminations was considerably, smaller; the increase in the amount of business in force was consequently greater, with a corresponding increase in premium income and in assets. Mortality.

Owing to the age of the company and the remarkably small proportion of lapses and surrenders and the consequent per sistence of its business, its risks have come to have a greater average age than those of any other company; it has also proportionately larger resources in the reserves held on the amount at risk. Although from the greater average age the mortality is necessarily large, it is far less than was expected and has been provided for by these greater resources, a corresponding part of which becomes each year a saving from the expected losses. This saving during the past year amounted to The volume of risks, their excellent character, their steady persistence and the care with which new business is selected to replace the old, all combine to give a mortality experience very favorable in rate and very uniform on the average. Throughout the entire history of the company its losses have been less than four-fifths of those exaected. Expenses of Management.

The same careful ecormy has been exercised as in all the past. For the last two or three years the expenses Incident to the care and repairs upon foreclosed real estate, which have been charged to expense account rather than to the property account, have carried our expense ratio temporarily higher than our usual standard. This difference will disappear as the property which has caused it is disposed of. The ratio for 1901 was less than that for 1300. Real Estate, Interest and Investments.

For the seven years prior to 1D01 foreclosures of mortgages were in considerable excess of sales. During the last year, however, the situation has changed; we took in properties costing us $217,814.35, and sold properties that had cost Some of these sold at a profit and some at less than original cost. Many of the properties sold -were among our older holdings in localities where changes of business centers had permanently depreciated values. We still have some properties In like situation, which will probably sell for something less than cost, and It Is our purpose to dispose of them as it can be done without unnecessary loss, and so Improve income and reduce expense. Upon the greater body of our holdings, however, we may reasonably expect some gain in a fair market.

We have made a good deal of money on the whole on foreclosed real estate. The large addition to the Home Office building referred to in our last report is nearing completion, and is being followed bv changes in and additions to the old, which will bring the two advantageously together, with a good prospect of a satisfactory financial result. The interest rate on desirable loans and securities has tended to a still further decline, with a growing scarcity of satisfactory investments for funds in the nature of a trust. We have considerably reduced loans on real estate and increased our holding of first class railway securities. The balance or net profit of the year upon changes in securities and sale of real estate was $88,603.75.

taunted her with not being able to secure the money from Long, who. it appears, had also paid her some attention. During the evening she declares Donohue robbed the old man and then compelled her to start with him across a bridge over the Kaw. While in the middle of the bridge Lie man, she asserts, caught up with them, held Long and ordered her to hurry on and not turn back. A-moment later she heard a splash, she says, and knew that they had thrown Long into the water.

Donohue, Dave Moran, a nephew of the missing man, and the Taylor woman were arrested on Tuesday last and Goff was taken to-day after she had made the confession. All live in the bottoms along the river. Last night -Moran attempted to commit suicide by trying to cut an artery In his wrist. The nature of the charge against Moran Is rfot known. On the day before Long disappeared Argentine was furnished another mystery in the finding in his hut of the dead body of Thomas Carroll, 65 years of age.

who had lived alone for years. He was known to have had considerable money and wounds on hi3 head made It appear that he had been murdered by robbers. No clew to his assailants has been found. Following this, George Zimmerman, FIFTY-SIX rH ANNUAL REPORT of the i MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE i To the Members: One more has been added to the many years in which by the diligent exercise of carefulness, prudence- and economy your company has, in the fullness of strength and in a degree equaled by none other, been realizing for its great Membership the perfect intention and the ideal results of life insurance; absolutely reliable protection to the beneficiaries needing It, at its actual and lowest annual cost the person paying for it, with complete equity between the and what is of equal moment, It has steadfastly maintained' those principles of administration which are essential to enduring success; those conditions of vigorous vitality determined by the selection of Bound Uvea in healthy localities, low cost of business, the conservative extent and character of contract undertakings, with" their-proper financial basis and protection, which will still enable It as the years go by to fulfill to the letter, at least cost, and to the highest hope and trust of. the uependent family, the one specific service which life Insurance, alone among human institutions, can render.

The Secret of Its Success. It is by resolute adherence to these principles and the maintenance of these necessary conditions, against a competition inspired by very different views, that The Connecticut Mutual has come to that estate of solid strength in its membership, health and soundness in Its business, Its condition, and that steady uniformity of the best results year after year, which haVe been and continue to be among the most marked characteristics of its prosperous and beneficent career. While others strive for great and rapid growth, regardless of the great cost and enormous waste of business that go with their fierce competition, and would persuade the public that all who do not adopt their aims and follow their methods are deficient in ambition and energy, your company holds steady to the purpose of furnishing the best that life insurance can do at its very least attainable cost. What better can it do? What other or different thing ought it to strive for? What other or different thing can it, or any other company, undertake with real success? The True Aim. For consider: Life insurance contemplates and is adjusted to Just one end the immediate and sufficient protection of those dependent ones who are either not at all or insufficiently provided for in case their breadwinner dies, and for whom he can make no other provision at once, and can make no other at all except by the long process of yearly savings slowly accumulated in savings banks or by investment in safe securities bearing interest at a moderate rate, all subject to interruption and delay by unfortunate contingencies, and to be brought to an end at any moment by his death.

Life insurance changes all this: It, and it alone among human schemes, can provide at once, in case of death, the fund which could have been accumulated only in a long lifetime, which might never have been otherwise accumulated at all, which at best could have grown but slowly, and might have been stopped at any time. This is the one thing life Insurance can do; this is the; one thing which no other device of man can do. Every other thing that can be done for men with money, and with their money, can be done, and best done, by other financial schemes and the institutions designed and fitted to their specific purposes, but this one thing none other can do. Therefore must he on whose life others depend use it for their immediate and sufficient protection. The Limitations of Life Insurance.

In dealing with life insurance as one of the most useful and influential factors In the development of our socio-economic life, it is of the highest importance not only to recognize at its fullest use and value its true aim and single function, but also to recognize the limitations of that function by reason both of the singleness of the aim itself and by certain incidents inseparable from the conduct of the business as a business; which incidents sum up their effect in an expense of management necessarily higher than that of any other class of institutions used for the care and investment of money. Unfortunately the business is and apparently can be done only by solicitation, which is costly; and it demands the employment of large office and medical staffs and field organizations. While, then, the service life insurance renders is unique, its cost, even when kept rigidly down to a minimum, is unique as compared with that of savings banks or the investment of money in ordinary safe wavs. But because a man's duty to protect his family is imperative and because he cannot otherwise rightly and fully discharge it, he is justified in incurring that expense for that purpose. But he is not justified in incurring that, expense by using the company to do some other and different thing which can be done by some other instrumentality at far less expense.

Moreover, a life insurance company cannot undertake the obligations and operations peculiar to other institutions without using methods and subjecting its business to contingencies which contravene and Imperil the very structure Imposed upon life insurance by its own particular purpose. When a life insurance company in order to attract business undertakes to treat its reserves, created and held for the ultimate payment of all its insurance contracts, as If they were deposits in a savings bank, subject to withdrawal at the will of the depositor, and so to be looked on by him 'as an investment; or makes Its policies seem to be a "bond," comparable in cost and outcome with a real bond investment, it not only exposes its whole insurance business to the sudden paying out of the reserves necessary to Its integrity, but, if it regards its premiums as "deposits" or as "installment payments" for the purchase of "bonds," it has to charge these deposits or installments with not only their annual contribution to death losses, but with commissions to agents and other expenses, which take out of them every year a large percentage on each $100 deposited or paid in, varying according to the company's economy or KANSAS WOMAN TELLS OP A BRUTAL MURDER Rhoda Taylor Relates How Noah Long Was Put to Death. KANSAS CITY, Feb. 9. Rhoda Taylor has made a written confession to the police of Argentine, across the river from here, that Noah Long, the aged stonemason who disappeared mysteriously from his home there a week ago to-day.

had been robhed and that his body was thrown Into the Kaw River. Long was an old soldier and had drawn $210 pension from the bank on Thursday last. He visited a saloon in Argentine that night, which was the last time he had been seen. To-day the police are searching for the body in the river, which, except at the place it is alleged he was thrown in, is covered with thick ice. According to the woman's confession, which was signed In the presence of a reporter, Henry Donohue and James Goff were with her and Long at Donohue's house on the Thursday night Long disappeared.

Donohue, who was infatuated with the woman, had, she asserted, The market value of our securities has increased considerably during the year; and they are of a character to be least unfavorably affected by market fluctuations. Surplus and Dividends. As the cost of man's policy in a. mutual insurance company is the difference between the premiums charged and the amount returned to him by way of a dividend, the surplus earned and the surplus divided become very important factors in his experience with his company. Surplus can be earned legitimately in only three ways: 1 by smaller expenses than the premium provides for; 2 by a less mortality than is provided for; 3 by a higher rate of interest than is assumed as probable in computing premiums and reserves.

For many years the competition has had a bad effect upon the expense account of most companies; it has also led to a gooa deal of apparently doubtful experimentation In the selection of risks and in dealing with hazards: and the steady decline li the interest rate has eaten away mucn of a very important item of possible surplus. The matter is of somewhat special interest to uajat this time because the disagreeable task of cutting dividends has been in recent years and Is still belnsf quite largely performed by some companies; and any reference to their reduced dividends in comparison with the Increasing scale maintained by the Connecticut Mutual for now twenty-one years is met by the assertion that this company, too, must presently cut down its returns; that the rate of Interest is going down, ami that its surplus is already diminishing. We have never undertaken to prophesy. We do not try to prejudge events. prefer to meet them, and our duty to you under them, without pressure or prejudice from wrong preconceptions, or from having put ourselves in a false position, Whan we can no longer earn the surplus we are dividing and can no longer safely trench, upon the large existing surplus, kept up for the purpose, to maintain the present rate of dividend, we shall not hesitate to say so and to act as the facts may require.

History of Our Surplus. We only wish to call the attention of those in any manner Interested to a few pertinent facts: For many years this company has been governed by the Idea that, while surplus should be quite closely divided each year so as to make a man's payments as small as possible, yet, as it is impossible that an absolutely complete division can be made, and as a gradual if small annual reduction in payment tends to the persistence of the business, it is desirable in unusually good years to accumulate such margins of surplus as may be earned over and above ordinary surplus-earning capacity, to be used in maintaining the dividend rate in the years when the margins may fall below. It greatly helps the premium-payer, and, the proper adjustment by post-mortem dividend being made, It works no inequity to any one. During the decade 1870-80 the company had occasion to trench very largely on accumulated surplus in this manner. In 1K81 its surplus was $3,351,155.

which was 6.77 per cent of its assets. The conditions being untoward, it was decided to reduce the dividend scale to the apparent actual earning capacity. From this point we began to earn small items of surplus above the amount annually divided. In 1882 wa recast the premiums and reserves for all future business on a basis of 3 Instead of 4 per cent interest, which cut down the margin for expenses and increased the amount required for reserve. Notwithstanding, in 1392 the surplus had crept up to $6,059,156.

It was then deemed proper to liberally revise the scale of division; out the surplus continued to Increase until 1898 when it stood at $7,521,909. Since thea it has been somewhat drawn upon each year to maintain the long-continued scale of dividend. How long it may be necessary to do this, if it long remains necessary, or how far we may deem it wise and prudent to continue the process, we cannot predict. It is a Just and proper a well as the intended use of past accumulations of surplus so long as it is safe. When it approaches the questionable point we shall stop and frankly go upon a scale that squares with the facts and conditions likely to govern the future.

We could spare over $2,500,000 from our present surplus of $7,011,040, and yet have as large a percentage to assets remaining as when we made the last cut in 1S81. saying nothing of over $2,470,000 greater comparative strength in our reserves by reason of the 3 per cent interest assumption. We are maintaining the low cost of business: the sales of real estate will jrrad-ually reduce taxes and expenses and improve the surplus Income, and we shrunk our surplus last year only $180,308. And our situation respecting the use of surplus differs materially from that of most companies in this, that the bulk of theirs is held under a moral though not a legal or contract lien for the deferred dividends hoped for by those who outstay the next one to twenty years. It is not so with us.

It is not held as a speculation for a few, but for the benefit of the business as a whole. We ask careful scrutiny of the following record of the operations of fifty-six years: 5 a 9 i a 5 3 a 5 "3r "5 5 3 30 a. -j -a 3 5 2 3 2 ,5 a 3 Co- a. 3 0B IB 2. 00 6 2 A- 3B 3 H.

a (B 2" i hi 3 1 9 3 r- OB (0 IS 3 3 a 3 3 Ml to 3 Vj to to -i a ia 35 it l- ys 30 Vi a -i 3 -) 2 to Ci jo 45 S5 -I 3 i -1 13 iJ ce to 9 to CO 3 a K9 a to 83 10 The Connecticut Mutual has returned its policy holders and their beneficiaries 98 86 per cent of all it has received fron: them; what it has returned and the assets it still holds for the security of itj contracts are 128.98 per cent of what it has received for them; and its expenses ol management for all that time have beet but 9.13 per cent of its total income. It is the simple fact that no Americar company matches this record. And it if this record of the past, the present maintenance of the conditions which made possible, and a financial condition of unusual soundness and strength, that oiler as the best possible guarantees the future. Respectfully submitted. JACOB L- GREENE.

President. January 21. 1902. ACCIDENT IN CHURCH ENDS THIRTEEN LIVES Thirty Persons Injured in a Disastei in One of tho Towns in PANAMA. Feb.

9. An accident in thi of Horencitos. in Chiriqul. resulted in the death of thirteen persons an the severe wounding of thirty otners. 0.I.,I,.;,.I..;..H..filI-I-I..M I I I I H-M-H aged 63 years, a farmer, was found dea in his home, where he had lived alone six miles west of Argentine.

The bodj was frozen stiff. The Coroner, however decided that Zimmerman's death was du to heart disease. Nothing Is "Just as Good" as S. H. M.

If It was. other bindings would sell as well. ii During 1SS1 and 1SS2 the European lnv migration to the United State3 reached and amounted to 730,000 persons The number in 1885 was 332.00fl; in 1S91, 593,. 000; in 1897-98, In 1898-99. 311,000.

TEN MILLI9K DDLLUS1 LSSS B) FIRE Continued From Page One finally came to them they were grimed and exhausted. A partial list of the properties destroyed follows: Public building Olty Hall. Public Library. Old City Hall, folic; Station No. 1, engine house, patrol stables, high school, school No.

Churches First Baptist, Second Presbyter-Ian. Park-avenue Baptist, St. Marks L-pisco-pal. St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Barks Firfit National.

Second NaUonal (par-tlaUy) Paterson National. Silk City Trust. Hamilton Trust. Paterson Trust Clubhouses Young Men Christian Association Knights of Columbus, Progress Club. St.

Joseph's Hall. Hamilton Club. Office buildings Romaline build ng, Katz buildine. Marshall Ball. Cohn building.

Old Town Clock, one Klnne building, Stevenson belegraph companies Western Union. Postal Telegraph. Theater The Garden. Newspapers The Evening News, the bunday CToresQuakenbush dry goods; Boston store drv eoods: National Clothing Company Globe "store, dry goods; Kent's drug store! Kinsella's drug store, Muzzy hardware ftn general merchandise, Marshall Ball, clothiers: John Norwood, paints; Oberg's grocery: Werntendyke'a grocery, P. H.

W. H. Shields grocery store; The Paterson. dry goods store- Jordan's piano store, Sauter pianos; Feder McNair. shoes; Sendler's confectionery; Tappan's tea store; Ragowski's millinery Brohal Mueller, shoes; C.

E. Beach, automobiles; Moorehead Son. clothiers; Paterson Gas and Electric Company. Skye's drugstore. Mackintosh's drug store.

Five Hundred Dwellings Burned. An estimate made from a general Inspection of the smoldering ruins placed the number of dwellings and apartment houses destroyed at 500 and the number of families left without shelter at 1000. A re-estimate, when order succeeds confusion, may alter these figures. The fire began its work of destruction at the power house of the Jersey City, Hoboken and Paterson Traction Company, which fronted on Broadway and extended a block to the rear, on Van Houten street. It commenced in the car shed and was burning fiercely when one of the employes detected it.

It was leaping through the roof and the gale was lifting it in forks and 6wirls when the fire apparatus came into the roadway at Van Houten and Main streets. The firemen tried to hem in the blaze, but it speedily crossed Van Houten street in one direction and Main street in another and, gaining vigor as it went, burned unchecked down into the business district. Every piece of Are mechanism In the city was called out, but the fire and gale were masters. A great torch of flames arose high in the air, lighting up the country for many miles and carrying a threat and a warning to the people and property in its path. There were efforts to rescue furniture and stock, but the speed with which the fire moved gave the rescuers little time.

Property was often moved to a place of presumed safety, only to be eventually reached and destroyed. The warning to many was brief and they were forced to flee, scantily clad, into streets glazed over with ice and swept by the keen winds. Flames Raze the City Hall. Main street was soon arched over by a canopy of fire for a block and then for two blocks, as the flames fastened themselves upon building after building. The firemen fought with every resource of their craft and the impulse of desperation, but the flames found new avenues in Ellison and Market streets and got beyond all control.

Calls for relief went out to every city in this portion of the country and the Jaded firemen labored on through the hopeless hours of the morning. The City Hall, a maflniflcent structure, surmounted by a great clock tower, situated on Washington. Ellison and Market streets, finally caught, and with it went all of the splendid business structures that surrounded it. They made a great furnace of Are that burned with a fierce roar. There was a series of explosions and scores of walls fell when the fire left them strengthless.

Flying firebrands carried the conflagration over some buildings and around others, and it therefore burned in an Irregular course. Those brands finally cleared the tracks of the Erie railway and Ramapo avenue, and alighting on Straight 6treet started another great area of fire, in which the destruction and desolation wrought was nearly as great as in the other. Fire Stops at Cemetery. This second great fire started at the angle of Park avenue and Washington 6treet and swept almost unchecked until on these two thoroughfares there was no more fuel. On the right hand side of Market street It encountered Sandy Hill cemetery as a barrier to check it, but on the left hand side, at Carroll street, it claimed St.

Joseph's Church, a great classic stone building. It was on this second great fire that the volunteer firemen from the outside cities did their most heroic and effective work. They fell back only when they had to and when the natural obstacle interposed they seized their chance and stopped the fire. The final and one of the most desperate fights of the day occurred In mid-afternoon, back in the first fire area, at the Hamilton Club, situated at the corner of Church of Ellison streets. The handsome clubhouse caught and the exhausted firemen were rallied around it.

They were anxious to 6ave the structure, and, besides, failure meant that the fire might take new headway among the properties adjoining the clubhouse. The building was doomed, but a torrent of water kept the fire confined to the premises. The four walls of the clubhouse stood, but the roof collapsed and the interior was completely burned out. Sightseers Pour Into City. Paterson rests in a valley and the conflagration was an imposing spectacle from the hills that wall it in.

Columns of flame climbed high into the air and shed their light for miles. Hundreds of persons hurried Into the city before daylight to watch the work of destruction at close range, and when the day came thousands more joined them. The fire became a great popular spectacle that claimed patrons from New York and every outlying town in New Jersey. They crowded the regular trains of the railways operating through here and compelled the dispatching of extra Once in the city they crowded around the firemen ani at times hampered them in their work. Police lines were impossible and through the day they poured in an endless stream through the desolate streets.

Great pinnacles of ruined brick stood in every street, but the crowds passed under them unmindful of the warings of police and firemen. With the crowds came thieves and looters, but there was not much pillaging. Under orders from Governor Murphy, Companies and of the Fifth Infantry, National Guard, assembled at their armories and were held as a reserve force. The police, deputy Sheriffs, hundreds of special watchmen and firemen united in protecting property during the day. Move to Prevent Crime.

To check disorder and prevent crime, Mayor Hinchcliffe and Sheriff Sturr tonight issued a proclamation that all persons shall refrain from traveling or being upon the public streets of the city of Paterson, within the limits of the burned district, after the hour of 7 o'clock p. and any person refusing or neglecting to obey this proclamation shall be subject to arrest and punishment. Householders and property owners within the district will be allowed to pass upon giving satisfactory reasons and proofs to the officers. Three relief meetings were held during the afternoon, the principal one of which was attended by Governor Murphy and Mayor Hinchcliffe. In a few moments $800 was handed to th Mayor for immediate use.

but the chief magistrate said that while the city had suffered a terrible visitation, he was in a position to say that there was very little distress. The business section of the city had been practically wiped out, but the residence portion which suffered was that in which well-to-do citizens lived. Despite the precaution of the authorities, there is much confusion in the streets to-night. The destruction of wires left the city in darkness, save for the dull glow given off by the acres of embers in the two great fire areas. Hundreds of belated visitors crowded around the depots and struggled In the dark for places In the overcrowded trains.

The street railway system was badly damaged through the burning of its wires. Early In the day the Mayor issued an order forbidding the sale of liquor. It was ELEVEN PERISH IN ST. LOUIS FIRE Continued From Page One scene the whole front of the building was in flames and the interior was a seething furnace. By that time all who escaped death had got out of the building by Jumping from the windows or climbing down roDes made of A few escaped from the ground floor through tho front door, borne or the escapes were very narrw.

Almost everybody who got out suffered some Injury or was frost-bitten. Some saved their clothing, which they carried in their hands, but others were not so for. tunate.losing everything. After some delay near-by houses were opened to the unfortunates arid they were given shelter from the biting cold weather. It was one of the.

coldest nights of the winter, the ground being covered with ice and and every one suffered from exposure. The suffering ones were put under the care of physicians. Harry Cline, Walter Johnson, Henry Robinson and an unknown man, who died later, were taken to the City Hospital. Robinson recovered enough to be taken home. The others named will be laid up for some time.

All of the Bodies Recovered. After a short fight the firemen got the flames under control and, assisted by the police, made a search of the ruins. The first body found was that of John C. Lue-ders, who was killed by Jumping from the third story. His head was crushed in.

The body of Lueders and those of the others found later were taken to the Morgue, where friends and relatives identified them. Sarah Harris was found on the first floor. The remains of the other victims were found in their rooms, where they had been suffocated or burned. J. J.

Lally, who managed the hotel for his brother-in-law, J. W. Glllam, had rooms on the first floor. He said there were four rooms on the first floor, nine on the second and seven on the third. If all the guests occupied their rooms thirty-six persons, including the colored porter and the chambermaid, were in the building when it burned.

Lally said he had no means of knowing just how many persona were in the house at the time the fire broke out. Some of them were in the habit of staying out late, and it is possible all were not there then. He was awakened by hearing Cornelius Ryan, one of the roomers, crying "Fire!" Lally said he grabbed his clothing and money and hurried into the hall, which was ablaze, and without stopping to dress stepped out through the front door. Both stairways were on fire and he barely had time to get out. Lane, Ryan and a man named Nicely escaped the same way.

Tho only way for the others to get out alive was through the windows, the burning stairways cutting off their escape that way. Some jumped and sustained injuries more or less serious, while others who took time to improvise ropes from their bedclothing got down safely. To-night most of the guests have been accounted for in the list of dead, injured and escaped. Among those unaccounted for is A. Goldberg, a stranger, who came in late and went to bed without registering, and two students, whose names are not known.

It is not believed there are any more bodies in the ruins, which have been carefully searched. For this reason it is believed the missing men will put an appearance. 1'OTJRTEEN" PERSONS INJURED. Three Hundred Thousand Dollar Loss in a Brooklyn Blaze. NEW YORK, Feb.

9. An official estimate of the damage done by the fire which destroyed the plant of the Shadbolt Manufacturing Company in Brooklyn early this morning fixes the loss Fourteen persons were injured and taken to the hospitals and a number of others were attended by ambulance physicians on the spot. The list of the more seriously injured follows: Patrick Nevins, superintendent of the repair shop of the Brooklyn braneh of the fire department; Edward Treuer, William Moran; George fireman of Engine No. 110; Captain Oswald, aide to Fire Chief Croker; Louis Jeroskey, James Kelly, Roundsman Henry J. It.

Tabor, Peter F. Martin, Edward Hibey, William Moore, John Reilly, Stephen D-lapp and Joseph Kelly. The loss to the Shadbolt is given as $250,000. fully covered by insurance. This loss includes the building and stock of wagons and carriages manufactured by the company.

The total loss to the other buildings in the vicinity is placed at and includes Bainbrldge Sons, stationery manufacturers, four-story brick structure, directly opposite the Shadbolt premises, $10,000, insured; DIckersons Brown's hat factory, behind Shadbolt factory, $1000: J. Parker shirt manufacturers, George McHedden'3 frame stable and eighteen of McHedden's horses, total loss $2000; three-story brick tenement owned by Stephen Cantonlc of Jamaica, L. $4000: building owned by Dr. M. Camador, $6000.

The blaze was first discovered on the ground floor of the Shadbolt building, which was a mass of flames before the first relay of fire engines arrived. Eventually two-thirds of the Brooklyn force was at work. The marine fire corps of the Brooklyn Navy Tard was employed. Fire Destroys Georgia Town. ELBERTON, Feb.

9. Fire here early to-day destroyed nearly all of the business section of this city, doing dam-8ge estimated at $100,000. Among the firms burned out were: Stillwell Govern, W. H. Corley.

T. J. Hulmes, E. B. Tate Sons two stores, the Tate block, the llverystables of R.

E. Hudgins and M. H. Maxwell, Tabor Almand, S. Hawes, M.

E. Maxwell, Joseph Cohen, the T. M. Swift block, and the new plant of the Southern Bell Telephone Company. Miss Fanny Leland.

CHICAGO, Feb. 9. Miss Fanny Leland, daughter of the late Warren F. who was managing the Windsor Hotel at New York at the time of its destruction by fire, died to-day at the Leland family residence on Drexel boulevard. Miss Leland was 27 years of age, and, while never of robust health, has failed steadily since the death of her father, which occurred shortly after the destruction of the Windsor Hotel.

General William L. McMillin. COLUMBUS, Ohio. Feb. 9.

General William L. McMillin died this afternoon at the home of his stepson in this city, aged 72 years. General McMillin served throughout the Civil War, retiring with the rank of brigadier general. He participated in many battles in the West. His brigade was sent from Memphis to the relief of General Thomas at Nashville.

Mrs. Sophia Jane Vance. SAN' JOSE, Feb. 9. Sophia Jane Vance, wife of Police Captain Vance of this city, died here to-day, aged 68 years.

Mrs. Vance came from Tennessee to this State in 1860 and had resided in San Jose since 1870. Captain Vance has been an active member of the local police force since 1870. The couple celebrated their golden wedding two years ago. James W.

Dickinson. CLEVELAND. Feb. 9. James W.

Dickinson, former chief of the Cleveland fire department and one of the best-known fire-fighters In the country, died to-day after a long illness. He was connected with the Cleveland department for nearly a half-century. J. M. Baldwin.

SUISUN. Feb. 9. J. M.

Baldwin, for nearly forty years a resident of this vicinity, is dead at his home In Sulsun Valley, aged 75 years. Among his children are Mrs. A. L. Cunningham of Oakland and Mrs.

Alden Anderson of Sulsun. Daniel W. Guernsey. NEW YORK, Feb. W.

Guernsey, a Civil War veteran, lawyer and politician, died here to-day, aged 68 years. He was a leader in Tammany Hall, through which organization he was made Water Commissioner. THE DAY'S DEAD. JERSEY CITY PIER BURNED. Loss Aggregates a Quarter of a Mil-' lion Dollars.

NEW YORK, Feb. 9. Fire destroyed pier 7 of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company in Jersey City this morning, and the loss, including damage to shipping, was $250,000. Fire tugs fought valiantly from the riverside, but the city fire department was obliged to drive over a mile of railroad tracks to reach the pier, which was doomed before the department reached it. The steam canal-boat Dale, owned by Joseph Pinnaro, who lived with his wife in the cabin; the tug Mildred, the Lehigh Valley barges President and Pittston, and the two-masted schooner Meteor, lying close to the pier, were soon on fire.

The Dale was cut loose and towed about 100 feet toward the river, where it sank. Pinnaro and his wife escaped over other craft to the wharf. The Meteor is nearly a total loss. The other boats were saved. The pier was 500 feet long and 120 feet wide, and had a second story.

It was covered with corrugated iron. The floors were of yellow pine. It contained 211 carloads of flour in barrels and sacks. Carloads vary from 150 to 200 barrels. There was approximately 40,000 barrels of flour on the pier, valued at $3 a barrel.

TWO GIRLS RUN AWAY FROM HOME Continued Prom Page Three. of dancing, and at every opportunity went wherever that amusement might be afforded her. She also had dreams of becoming a fancy dancer and making her mark behind the footlights. Mrs. Lang-ford opposed the girl going to some dances, especially with Norma Dobson, and although the girl always acquiesced to her mother's wishes, apparently, she generally found an excuse to leave home and indulge in the terpsichorean sport.

Otherwise Grace's home life was happy. She lived alone with her mother, and both toiled mutually to keep the larder supplied with food and place clothes on their backs. On Tuesday, night Grace stated to her mother that she was obliged to return to work and would not be home until late. After her departure from the house Mrs. Langford was surprised to find the girl's scissors in her lunch basket, and this discovery excited her suspicions.

She then remembered that Grace had dressed herself unusually well before leaving the house, though at the time she attached no especial significance to this observation. When midnight approached Mrs. Lang-ford went to Norma Dobson's home and ascertained that the two girls had gone to a dance. She waited through the night for them to return, but neither came. Then she notified the police, and Captain Seymour detailed Detective Coleman on the case.

On the day following both girls were seen several times. In the morning a friend saluted them on Tenth street, and they were last heard from at Third and Howard several hours later Grace had but 10 cents when she left her mother and Norma had but $1. This is strong evidence that they had been en couraged in their act of leaving home and had been promised aid. Norma Dobson resides with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.

W. A. Cox. Her father and mother are not in the city. She seldom had difficulties with them and never dropped an inkling of dissatisfaction at the life she was living.

The girls had planned their departure. Grace placed one of Norma's dresses over her own, and the later wore two of hers Miss Langford is a short, stout blonde' and wore a dark dress. Miss Dobson was attired in a long ragrlan and is about five feet four inches in height. GREATEST TYPEWRITER SALE ON RECORD The Austrian Minister of Justice Orders Smith Premiers for Every Court. Feb.

7. The greatest single purchase of typewriters ever made has been ordered by the Ministry of Justice which, after three months of exhaustive competitive tests, has contracted to equip the entire Ministry with not less than 120-J Smith Premier Typewriters, supplying every court. L. M. Alexander, 110 Montgomery street, are the Pacific Coast dealers.

His Son the Condor's Commander. NEW TORK, Feb. 9. Among the arrivals on the Cunard steamer Lucania today was Sir Charles Cameron, a former member of Parliament. He is the father-in-law of Commander Clifton Slater, of the British naval ship Condor, which is supposed to be lost in Pacific waters.

He is going to Esquimault, B. C. to Join his daughter, Mrs. Slater, and look after her affairs. elaborate and expensively hand-carved fctyles, the factory cost of which slightly exceeds $350.

and on which terms will be no less than JoO and $20 per month. All pianos are for sale on terms of $25 down and $10 pr month, and some instruments may be had for as little as $6 down. ORGANS range from $28 for a secondhand Packett in good order to $68 for a beautiful walnut cased Kimball organ, and terms are or $10 down and $4 or $5 per month. V- Since all prices are based on actual cost price of the goods, those taking advantage of the above named easy terms will pay interest on deferred payments of 8 per cent per annum. FULLY GUARANTEED.

Every piano and organ sold will be accompanied by the factory's unconditional five years' guarantee, which guarantee will be countersigned by us, thus fully protecting the customer In every way. This sale as above will be at our new etore, 653 Market street, San Francisco, and If every one in this city could but realize the exact situation as it Is, nothing would be left for sale by Tuesday night. Store open day and evening until closed out. POMMER-EILERS MUSIC 653 Market Street..