The Pittsburgh Post from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 1

pittsbiJrgks GREATER 5t -i 52 ti 1 VI i JG THE WEATHER FORECAST Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio Fair Thursday and Friday; somewhat cooler. LAST EDITION ALL THE LATEST NEWS. SIXTY-SIXTH YEAR. THURSDAY 3IORMNG, JANUARY 2, 1908. TEX CENTS A WEEK.

8J 1 I 1 Pi, I L. if L. I II i.i 1.31 I 1 I 8 1 ti I 1 1 El Z-iJ A. jt STRINGENT LAWS DRIVE RAILROAD TO RECEIVERSHIP Seaboard Air Line, One of the South's Largest Roads, Applies to Courts, SOME OF THE FUNNY SCENES AT MONONGAHELA CITY YESTERDAY. FIRE THREATENS ANNIHILATION OF COAL CENTER.

Aid Rushed Into Mining Town! From Surrounding Valley Boroughs, MOLTEN STEEL POURED DOWN DPON WORKMEN Explosion of Converter in Ed-garThomson Works Kills Injures Many. BIG VESSEL SHATTERED AND BUILDING WRECKED, EARNINGS FALL OFF; INTEREST NOT PAID, THREE STORES AND CHURCH ARE CONSUMED BY FLAMES Water at Bottom of Metal Is Thought to Be the Cause, Tt 1 I KING MIRTH AND QUEEN MELODY RULE OLD MONON FIRE PLAYS HAVOC WITH DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING. 1 JST Ti ill id 3 Birth of 1908 Is Celebrated Historic Borough by 15,000 Revelers, in BIG PARADE IS AT ONCE GROTESQUE AND GORGEOUS Carnival Continues Until Long Past Nightfall Marred by No Untoward Incident, SPECIAL. TO THE PITTSBURGH POST. MONONGAHELA CITY.

Jan. 1. Revelry, lasting far into th night, reigned in Monongahela to-day when all the residents of the historic old town and at least 15,000 visitors turned out to celebrate the birth of 1908. Main street in the borough, resembled a carnival scene this evening after the afternoon parades had finally dispersed or marched about in small groups, and, until late, at night, revelers promenaded the main thoroughfare of the little town. And even the weather man turned in and helped, for the best weather of days prevailed no rain and the temperature ideal.

And, as the town policemen pointed out. there was really no use in their staying on duty, for everybody was so busy having a good time thttt there-was no opportunity to quarrel. Even what in two capes might have been serious accidents, when two large plate glass windows broke on Main street and came crashing two stories to the pavement, passed almost unnoticed. Dainty Queen of Carnival. Small in sire, but certainly not in importance, was the dainty little queen of melody Helen Haberman.

Her royal escort, aa godfather of the new year, was Master Waiter Eckbreth. king of mirth. These two ruled the carnival spirit, having been selected in a contest In which thousands of votes were cast. Each received more than 22,000 votes. They were a fitting, royal couple, and when they headed the enormous crown of several thousand carnival pa'raders they received the loyal admiration of the thousands of visitors.

The parade was the central feature of the day's celebration and, as one loyal inhabitant remarked, old Monon "sure done herself From all over Washington county and the Monongahela" valley, from Pittsburgh and towns even further away, visitors who had heard the fame of Monon's New Year's celebration gathered to celebrate. The town this morning was resplendent In its decorations of greens and bunting. Flags draped almost every building along the main street. The crowds began to throng the streets long before noon when the real celebration was scheduled to open. At nooa dainty Miss Haberman, a pretty childish CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.

1 Crowd watching procession; 3 Mayor R. L. Ellwood and Girl' FIFTEEN ARE INJURED; TRAIN ROLLS DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND BURNS. Passengers on Grand Trunk Express Have Remarkable Experience in Wreck, BY ABBOCIATKT PRESS. BARRIE, Jan.

1 The southbound Penetang express, on The Grand Trunk railway, was derailed about seven miles north of here to-night. The whole train with the of the locomotive, rolled down a 4')-foot embankment and made three turns before it reached the bottom. A stove In the second car set the train on fire and it burned. All the passengers, of whom 15 were injured, were taken out safely. The injured were brought to a hospital hre, where it is said their injuries are not W.H.

SINGER THROWN FROM CARRIAGE IN COLLISION. Trolley Car Crashes Into Vehicle on Lower Federal Street Escape Injury, William H. Singer, member of the Sing-ers-Nimick Company, of Pittsburgh, and one of the wealthiest and most prominent residents of the Northside, narrowly escaped injury yesterday afternoon when a street car collided with his carriage. The accident occurred at Federal and Robinson streets, Northslde, shortly after 3 o'clock. Millvale car No.

563. city bound, was speeding along at a fair rate. The vehicle carrying: Mr. Singer and driven by his coachman, Bradley Keys, was crossing the street when the rear end was struck by the car. Both the.

driver and occupant were hurled several feet, landing on the sidewalk. Both escaped Injury. The vehicle was partially damaged, and the horse slightly Injured. WATTERSON. Damage Amounting to Done Before Blaze Is Under Control, DRUGS SERVE AS FUEU Overturned Stove in Grocery' Store, Starts Confia- -gVation, SPECIAL TO THE PITTSBURGH POST.

CALIFORNIA, 1. An overturned coal stove In a grocery store, caused a fire In Coal Center, Washing- i ton county, on the Monongahela river, 50 miles from Pittsburgh, at about 10 o'clock this evening, which gutted three wooden store buildings, completely de-' stroyed the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and for a time threatened to wipe out the town. The loss exceed3 $32,000, and is only partially covered by Insurance. The fire started in the grocery store of Samuel Yeutsy, in the center of the town. Before it was discovered the flames spread to the adjoining, building on the right, in which is located a drug store.

The drugs proved good fuel for the fire and by the time the fire department was on the scene a third building, another grocery store, was enveloped. Aid Came Too Late. A call for aid was telephoned to the different nearby towns. Fifty men of fire department of the State Normal school, of this place, responded, taking with them a carload of apparatus, but when they arrived, the three store buildings were already completely destroyed and the fire was raging in the Interior of the church building, adjaining Yeutsy's grocery store on the left. Aid was also received from California and several other towns, but not in time.

Only an hour after the flames broke out all hope of saving the etOTe buildings was abandoned. The firemen turned their attention to the church, but here. too. their efforts were In vain, for it was a battle against the wind. Ruin Was Complete.

At midnight only one wall of the church remained standing, while in the place of the other three buildings lay a heap ot debris. So intense was the heat throughout the time the fire lasted that It was impossible to save any of the contents from the burning buildings. Yeutsy's store was valued at $2,000 and the other two stores, owned by Piper Brothers, were valued at $15,000. The Cumberland church was burned down about ten years ago and was rebuilt at a cost of over $15,000. The total Insurance carried amounts to $10,000.

The policies on the Piper Brothers stores expired on December 31 and it was the -Intention to have them renewed after the first of the year. Fifty men went from Charierol on a special train taking fire-fighting equipment. Another train was sent from West Elizabeth In response to an urgent request for more help. Firemen and apparatus from West Elizabeth and other towns between there and Coal Center were hurried in. DIES WITH OLD YEAR; SENDS A GREETING TO HIS ABSENT WIFE.

East End Teamster Makes, Good His Threat to Commit Suicide, "I intend to die with the year 1907. When the w-histles are signalizing the departure of the old year, they will be sig-- nauzing as well the departure of my soul to the great beyond." John W'hittan, 30 years old, to friend in Frankstown avenue at 19 o'clock Tuesday night, thus dramatical-! ly foretold his fate. He went to his home, In Shakespearej street, near Shady avenue, drank about an ounce of corbolic acid, and was found dead at 6 o'clock yesterday morning. A few minutes before taking the po4- son, Whittan wrote a note to a neighbor, Joseph Thorn, and placed it under thai door of the Thorn home. In the Whittan had written: "Friend Joe: Please notify my wife, who is living with her parents in Alle-f gheny.

Give her my wish that she en- joys- a happy new year, and accept same, yourself." Illness and despondency are blamed, Whittan was a teamster. CHARLES J. ANDREWS DIES AT POTTS VH.LE., Was Brother of Republican. State Chairman and Andrews, Charles J. Andrews, of this city, brother of W.

R. Andrews, Republican State chairman, and of William H. An- i drews, territorial delegate from New Mexico, died at Pottsvllle about 10:45 o'clock last night. Mr. Andrews was In Pottsvllle on business, and was stricken I on Monday.

He rapidly grew worse, and his family was notified that there waa no hope' for his recovery. Mr. Andrews was secretary of the Western Brewers' association, and had offices in the Maeder building, Fifth avenue. He resided at Emsworth. He was-known throughout the State, and had many friends.

HURT XMAS, DIES NEW YEAR'S, i Robert Moffert, 85 years old, of 1413 Middle street Sharpsburg, died' at bis home yesterday morning of ghock di to Injuries received on Christmas day. He fell down the stairs at his hom. jceivtag fatal Internal injuries Financial Difficulties Have Ben Known to Be Severe for Some Time, CAPITAL STOCK $62,000,000 Bonded Indebtedness Is and 2,611 Miles of Track Are Operated, SPECIAL TO THE PITTSBURGH POST. NEW YORK. Jan.

the railroad business the new year was Inaugurated by an application for the appointment of a receiver for the Seaboard Air Line Railway Company, a corporation with a capital stock of and a bonded indebtedness of and operating 2,611 miles of road, extending between Washington and Norfolk to Atlanta and Tampa. The application was made in the first place before Judge Edmund Waddlll, of the United States court for the Eastern district of Virginia at Richmond this afternoon. Judge Waddill referred the petitioners to Judge Pritchard, of the United 1 States circuit court. The reasons for the application for a receivership are understood tn he hauH upon the anti-corporation crusade which in North Carolina has resulted in a very radical action against the railroads and in other States of the South has shown itself in laws for the reduction of traffic rates. The company's earnings, as a result of these enactments, and general depression in the business and financial world, have fallen off greatly in the past few months.

The directors of the company have had several meetings in this city in the past few days and have discussed plans for carrying the company through its difficulties. Action Is Surprise. It Is known that the difficulties were giat, but the action for a receivership was entirely unexpected in railroad and financial circles. The Seaboard Air Line Railway Company is controlled through stock ownership by the Seaboard Company, which was incorporated In 1005 to acquire and hold the capital stock of the railway; company, in accordance with a plan to provide cash for improvements and to liquidate the floating debt of the railway company. Officers of the Company.

The of fleers of the company are: President, W. A. Garrett; directors, James A. Blair, H. Rieman Duval, N.

S. Mel-drum. H. Clay Pierce, Ernest Thalmann. Y.

Vanderberg, B. F. Yoakum. New York; T. Jefferson Coolidge, Boston; Thomas F.

Ryan, Oak Ridge. Town-send Scott, S. Davis Warfield, Baltimore; C. Sidney Shepard, New Haven; George W. Watts, Durham.

N. C. James H. Dooley, Richmond; W. A.

Garrett, Norfolk; Norman B. Ream, Chicago. The railway company is a Virginia corporation, and its general offices are in Ports-mouthy Va. Offer to Buy Coupons. Blair Company and Ladenburg, Thalmann Company, bankers, of this city, both of whom have acted as fiscal agents for the Seaboard, gave out a statement to-day, in which they offered to purchase interest coupons due January 1 on the bonds of various of the subsidiary companies and equipment trusts and equipment bonds of the Seaboard Air Line Railway Company, maturing yesterday or to-day.

SERMONS BY PHONE TO BED-RIDDEN WOMAN. Unique Arrangements Made to Provide Mrs. Lynch With Religious Comfort, Deprived of an opportunity to attend church for the last 10 years because of elephantiasis, Mrs. David Lynch, of Mc-Keesport, will soon be able to hear every sermon preached at the First Reformed Church, of which she is a member, although lying in bed at her home on the State road several miles away. Mrs.

Lynch recently remarked to Rev. A. A. Noll, pastor of the church, that she longed to hear a sermon ar.d the singing of the church choir, but feared she would never again have the pleasure. Members of the congregation will have a telephone installed in the church and one at the home of Mrs.

Lynch, with a megaphone attachment. The minister will stand in front of the instrument while talking and "central" will connect with the Lynch home. It is exnected to have the plan in operation within a week. M0RGANZA REFORMATORY T0BE RECONSTRUCTED. Will Spend $75,000 to Start With To Introduce Gymnasium, Extensive preparations are being made for the reconstruction of Morganza reformatory.

Superintendent S. Penn, of the institution; Architect Thorston Gillqulst and Edward McDonald, chairman of the bui'ding committee, will go East this evening. They will visit institutions similar to Morganza to get building ideas. The proposed new prison will be erected at a cost of $75,000 to start with, and this amount will be increased later. Gymnastics are to be Introduced at Morganza and for this purpose two large gymnasiums, one for girls and the other for boys, will be constructed.

i MACHINERY IN GOOD ORDER Glass Hurled Into Office and Secretary Is Nearly Killed, Following the explosion of a 15-ton converter at the Edgar Thomson steel works. Braddock, a huge mass of molten Iron wai hurled Into a circle of 17 workmen at 11:15 o'clock yesterdoy, kill-ins two and burning the rest. The 15 will recover. The Dead. PAUL KURISIK, 30 years old.

pit man In the converting mill; burned over the face and body. STEPHEN DOVIAK. 23 years eld, Northslde. Died at 4:30 o'clock at the Braddock General hospital. Entire body burned.

Injured. I ATRICK CLOUGHERTT, Robinson street, Braddock; burned over the face, chest and hands. Taken to Mercy hospital. AL. BOLESKT, River avenue.

Braddock; right Ifg broken. Removed to East End hospital. PHILIP FAIX. Braddock; burned over face and hands. Removed to Mercy hospital.

CHARLES FANSKY. "Washington avenue, Braddock; burned over face and hands, foot crushed; at Mercy hospital. FREDERICK SEIFELDT. burned over face, hands aud feet; at Mercy hospital. JOHN HOLMGREN, expert vessel man, Holland avenue, Braddock; burned about face and neck.

Removed to his home. M. GLASOWITZ. River avenue. Braddock: burned over face and hands; at East End hospital.

MICHAEL M'GREEVEY, expert vessel man, Jones avenue. North Braddock; burned about face, hands and chese. Removed to Mercy HEVERLY. Bessemer avenue, North Braddck. pit foreman: burned about neck and hands.

Removed to his home. CHARLES YOUNG. North Braddock; chest and hands burned. TONY KRANDRATSKY; burned about face and hands. JOHN MARKOVTTCH; burned about face, hands and neck, JACK KELEY, teamster; foot crushed and burned.

COTTLEIB WEIL, converter foreman. Holland avenue, Braddock; burned about face. No. 3 converter dropped to the bottom of the mill, scattering the thick, hot fluid In all directions. The plant's four big converters had but recently been renovated and the accident was a surprise to everybody connected with the plant, i Each vessel had been rellned.

The men were working in the pit below them. Shook Three Boroughs. The explosion was heard throughout Braddock. North Braddock and portions of East Pittsburgh. All physicians In Braddock were summoned, and the ambulances kept busy bringing the Injured to Pittsburgh hospitals.

Converter No. 3 had been working properly, making casts of steel. It exploded without warning. None of the men was struck by the metal, it was stated at the mill last night. They were all burned by the flames that spurted about.

Gas was gen erated and made rescue work difficult. All the helplessly injured were brought to Pittsburgh hospitals. The wounds of others were attended in Braddock, where they were left at their homes. Superintendent H. W.

Benn, of the converter mills, took charge, aiid prevented any outsiders entering the plant. Heartrending scenes were enacted by the wives i ad other women relatives of the injured. A vast crowd congregated at the entrance and clamored for admittance. Krulsck, was working with Doviak Immediately under the big cup. which contained many tons of molten metal.

Among those who had narrow escapes but who was injured severely was Mc-Greevy, of 414 Sokes avenue. Braddock. He had charge of the levers. Hurled Across Office. Joseph Rice, time clerk, was sitting in the office about 500 feet away from the converter.

He was near the window. Th? concussion broke the window and hurled him across the room. Window glasses were broken all around the neighborhood. The converter was. bursted and splintered.

The building and part of the machinery were wrecked. One theory as to the cause of the accident held by old workmen Is that the converter was damp on the bottom. The coroner's representative was informed that cold water had been poured upon the converter to cool it preparatory to tilting It for moulding. John Holmgren, one of the expert steel blowers, was standing on the ledge about 15 feet from the converter, working the -lever that moves the vessel on its axis, after it is fully "blown." Holmgren" was almost ready to turn down the vessel to empty Its contents Into the ladles, to make ingot moulds, when it suddenly let go. Holmgren was close to the line of shooting flame, but escaped serious burns.

Wrecked Mill Structure. The roof of the mill was blown off. The west and north walls of sheet iron and brick were shattered. A. 1C.

Black, private secretary to General Manager Charles E. Dinkey, had a narrow escape. He was sitting at his desk, when a huge sheet of plate glass fell with a crash, large pieces falling on the back of his chair. As he was leaning forward he was saved from Injury. The officials at the plant could give no definite explanation of the causi of the accident.

DIES AT AGE OF 119. HILLSBORO. Jan. Mary Ramsay Wood died to-day at her daughter's home at the age of 119 years. Mrs.

Wood was a native of Tennessee. Old National Casket Company Quarters in Grant Street Ruined by.Flames," LOSS IS ESTIMATED AT NEARLY $40,000, One-Legged Man Nearly Meets Death, but Reaches Safety by Fire Escape, Fire nearly destroyed toe old National Casket Company's building at Grant street and Sixth avenue, now known as the Excelsior building, and owned by H. C. Frick, at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. The fire bureau estimates the loss at between $30,000 and $40,000, P.

G. Rowe, who has but one leg, narrowly escaped death. Fire Captain William Zipf fell from a ladder on the Grant street side, was severely injured and sent to Homeopathic hospital. James Jordon, the mulatto Janitor, known as "Janitor Jim," discovered the blaze, 1 and while the building was in flames did not leave until he had made a tour to ascertain that all the tenants were safp. His thoughtfulness saved Rowe's life.

The cause of the fire is not known. Rowe is an agent employed in the Pittsburgh branch of the J. F. Rowley Company, of Chicago. Howard Potts, the manager, was at his home In Cadiz, O.

Rowe was sleeping on a couch in the office. The other tenants were alarmed without difficulty and escaped in ample time, but when Jordon knocked on the door of the Rowley company's office and cried to him. Rowe did not awake. Jordon continued around the building. Rescue of Cripple, In the interim the fire descended the elevator shaft and the four upper floors were in flames, which leaped and danced about the windows, while within the walls were baking and cracking.

Almost overcome with heat and smoke, Jordon realized that Rowe had but one leg and was still in his office. He groped his way back to the door, hammered upon it with all his strength and cried loudly to the agent. At length Rowe gave an answering yell, leaped from the bed on one foot, and adjusted his cork leg. Jordon rushed down to the street. When Rowe had dressed, all escape through the building was cut off.

He ran to a window and descended a fire escape. While this was going on inside, a second alarm was turned in and soon 11 engines were on the scene. Electric wires were burned and broken and fell sputtering to the ground, endangering the firomen and creating intense excitement. Throngs of spectators crowded into Grunt street and Sixth avenue and a Jarge detachment of police hurried to the corner, keeping the sightseers behind the lines with difficulty. Trolley and all other traffic in the two streets were sus pended for more than three hours.

Trol ley wires were down, but were detached by the railways company's emergency corps. A portion of. the wall in Sixth avenue fell and a huge mass of brick debris covered the sidewalk and part of the street. Tenants Suffer Total Loss. The contents of nearly every office In the building were a total loss.

The tenants were: John C. Thompson, attorney and notary public; William J. Jordon. attorney: United States chemical works, F. Champrey, manager; P.

G. O'Xeil. dentist; F. R. Steward, attorney; Barnes School of Anatomy and Embalming; M.

Jacob, architect; Rowley Company. Union Restaurant bakery, and a few others. A big stock of graphophones was taken out during the fire. Most of the damage was by smoke and water, with a loss of a few thousand dollars. The Union Restaurant bakery was in the basement, where the fire did not penetrate.

The ovens were saved, but about $1,000 was lost on flour, 7 butter and other goods and on the fixtures through smoke and water. The Rowley Company's loss will amount to about $4,000. It is the opinion of firemen that the flames originated somewhere on the fifth or sixth floor and ate their way to the closet on the third floor through a flue. A young woman, giving the name of Margaret Carter, added to the excitement during the fire by declaring that her father was in the building and would be burned. She fainted in 'Sixth avenue and was taken into the Public Safety building, where she was revived and joined by her father, who had escaped unknown to his daughter.

THEEMOMETER BELOW ZERO. LACROSSE. Jan. 1. To-day was the coldest day of the winter thus far in the Northwest.

At Wisconsin and Southern Minnesota points the temperature at zero, at Duluth two below, at WiiMstcn, N. 12 below, and at "Winnipeg 10 below. POWERS CASE GOES TO JURY. GEORGETOWN, Jan. 1.

wue Attorney Franklin finished his speecn this afternoon in the Caleb Powers case, the jury decided to wait until morning before deliberating. 2 Ex-Mayor Bentley, alias "A Gibson friend. OUTLOOK FOR YEAR 1908 IS FAIR, SAYS CARDINAL GIBBONS. Blessings Vouchsafed by Provi dence Outnumber Trials Imposed, He Avers, BY ASSOCIATED PRESS. BALTIMORE, Jan.

1. Cardinal Gibbons to-day, expressed his opinion of the outlook for the next year in the following words: prospects for 1908 appear very-fair. The most reasonable way to judge of the future is by the light of the past, and we find that if" Almighty God has inlikted upon us some trials the blessings Ho has vouchafed have always exceeded them. "This has been the experience in the years gone by. and.

I think, we may rely upon the same goodness and protection in that upon which we enter to-day. "There may be some things that will probably enter to certain minds discouraging, but under the will of divine Providence I am sure we may hope for the best." SWITCHBOARD MAIDS HOLD ORANGE FEST. Commence Year With Gastronomic Stunts; Neither Now Can Even "Line's Busy," SPECIAL TO THE PITTSBURGH POST. MARION, Jan. 1.

Hazel Hosier and Cuba Crissinger, each 14 years old, telephone operators at Agosta, began the new year, with an orange-eating contest. They ate so many oranges that both became ill and two physicians were called. Miss Hosier is said to have devoiured 1'0 and Miss Crissinger IS. Each also ate two bananas. TOWN UNSHAVED; BAHBESS ILL.

SHARON, Jan. 1. West Middlesex, with population, has had to go un-shaved the last week, because the town's three barbers are ill with the grip. Henry Watterson, Famous Ken-tuckian, Says There Is Woeful Lack of Morals After painting a gloomy picture with an analysis of the wickedness in high places in this country, Henry Watterson. the famous Kentucky editor, last night turned on the sunshine by declaring there is good in every man, and that the national character is in the ascendency.

Colonel Watterson was speaking before a I large audience at the Rodeph Shalom synagogue. Fifth avenue. I In his brilliant, characteristic manner, I Mr. Watterson scored those who are for getting, in their fight for money, all principles of honorable manhood, ami denounced those who use public position to increase personal wealth. The devil of and the devil of hypocrlscy, he declared, are the dangers which threa'en the national character.

His subject was "Men and Morals." In part he said: Money Versus Intellect. find man men to-day who have more money han intellect or morals. They crush down every honorable instinct if it threatens to intterfere with their fight for the dollar. We have the able embegler, the clever defaulter and the trust cashier of savings accounts, who perform in defiance of law. "Money, is a good thing if honestly obtained and discreetly disbursed.

Who has not thought of the good he could do if he had a certain sum of money. After they get it there is a different story to tell. 1 have heard of men in Pittsburgh who think they could not get along on less than $50,000 per year. I Know of m-who could do on half that amount CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE. Declares Money and Hypocrisy Threaten to Destroy National Character in America.

COL. HENRY BRILLIANT KENTUCKY EDITOR LECTURES ON "MEN AND MORALS' i AT TEMPLE RODELPH SHALOM. A.