THE WEATHER CLOUDY TO-NIGHT AND TO-MORROW Ottallel Heport Pat* I 1 n!x A " L, . s "® D VOL. 77—NO. 119. FOREST FIRE SPREADS IN CUMRERLA'D Whole Towns Menaced In Adjacent County Where Hundreds of Men Are Working FLAMES IN ALL PARTS OF STATE House of Representatives To-day Calls Upon the Governor to Spend Funds With Free Hand in Hiring Workers to Battle With Conflagrations (Special to the Star-Independent.) Carlisle, Pa., April 22.—The fierce forest fires in the South mountains, Cumberland county, which during the last two days have destroyed 2U,000 acres of State forest reserve aud at least five thousand acres of private property, and which yesterday passed over the little village of Laurel, leav ing behind the smoking ruins of sum mer cottages, are to-day advancing in many different directions. >in less than three hundred men are desperately fightiug the flames in their efforts to protect not only the timber land in th f which the fire is advancing, i i ive entire towns which arc serial i!y menaced. Flames on the edge of Hunter's Run this morning were fought for many hours by residents, but a- change of the wind came at a time when the dan ger was greatest and saved the town from partial if not entire destruction. At Mount Holly the flames reached the base of the mountain last night and threatened frame houses on Hill street. These houses were soaked with water and the dames were prevented froln spreading into the town and the park. The Holly Inn was for a time in great dan ger. Toland Clay Works 'lenaced Flames are this afternoon approach ing the Philadelphia clay works at To land and the Sandusky cement works about a mile from there. The employes of both these places have left their work and have, throughout the day, been engaged in fighting the fires in efforts to save the buildings of the two The flames i.re spreading rapidly north of Hunter's l»ur and the hun- dreds of men who are opposing them seem to be checking them but slightly. The employes of the clay works and the cement works number a hundred and fifty men in all. They are assisted in the fire-jghtin l>y a large force of men working under the supervision of deputies of the litate fire marshal. The flames this afternoon reached the J. il. Gardner farm, near Tolaud, and are spreading toward the estate of David Cameron, of Ilarrisburg. Cale donia Park also is in the path of the fires. There are reports of a big fire Centerville. Loss Now Totals $150,000 The fire which Tuesday night swept over Laurel, doing damage to the amount of $70,000, has been advanc ing northeast. That is the general di rection, but sparks have been the means of spreading the flames to all sides. A total of 25,000 acres of tim ber land has thus far been devastated, bringing the loss to-day to $150,000. The loss to the United Ice and Coal Company of Harrisburg, whose ice house at Laurel was burned to the ground, is estimated at $15,000. Sev enteen thousand tons of ice had been stored in the building. Much of it melted, but a large pillar of ice re " mains on the site of the structure. WANTS GUARD CALLED OUT TO FIGHT FOREST FIRES Alarmed at the great destruction of game as a result of many forest fires that are gow raging in Pennsylvania, the Wild Life League of Pennsylvania yesterday addressed a lcttor to Gover nor Brumbaugh asking him to use all of available resources at the State's command for fire prevention and to stay the progress of the flames and the further destruction of birds and ani mals. At the same time the League sent a letter to the sportsmen's asso ciations of the State asking them to help. The letter to Governor Brum baugh says in part: "In almost all the mountain coun ties and particularly along the rights of way of the various railroads of the State vast areas are being burned over, the small fire-fighting force of the Forestry Department being utterly in adequate to cope with the emergency in an effective way. "We woulu pledge the aid and sup port of the county organizations of the League in fighting this fire emer gency, and would respectfully urge that the entire force of state police, •very available fish and game pro- file 4tSS^ik StikfKtiknt BOUSE GIVES GOVERNOR FREE HAND IN FICBTING SPREADING FOREST FIRES Efforts on the part of the Btate of ficials to check forest, fires which are in every section of the state will be redoubled in response to a reso lution unanimously passed in th« House this morning at the instance of Mr. Phillips, of Clearfield. The resolution requests Governor Brumbaugh to call in for consultation the heads of the Department of For estry. the State Fire Marshal, the State Police and the Adjutant General with a view of devising ways and means of extinguishing the fires. The Governor is given a free hand in the matter of expending money for this purpose. The preamble of the reso lution sets forth that forest fires are causing great damage to the parched woodland of the state and that the present methods of the state have prov en inadequate to extinguish the fires. "Forest fires prevail in every county in the State," said Deputy Forestry Commissioner Williams to-day, "but we have reason to believe that with the dying out of the high wind that was instrumental in spreading the flames we will soon have the flames now under control. The dry condition of the woods, with the terrific high wimls, created conditions that all the force engaged in fighting fires could not combat. Every man in the state who was concerned in fighting forestry fires was on duty, and there was some excellent work done, but so fierce was the wind that it was almost impossible to repel the advance of the fires. We have as yet no estimate of the damage done. Last night was damp and the wind has gone down, ami we now be lieve we have the fires almost under control. Secretary Kalbfus, of the State Game Commission, says that the destruction of forests was very widespread, and the people seemed powerless to stem the onrush of the flames. The grouse and turkeys are nesting now and hundreds of the birds were -destroyed. In Clin ton county especially the destruction of game birds has - been great. BABY COACH FOR LAWMAKER Representative Benninger Congratulated on Arrival of a New Republican Hundreds of congratulations and not a few presents were showered on Rep resentative Benninger, of Northampton, who made it known in the House this morning that he is the father of a baby boy, which arrived on Saturday. Mr. Stein, 'of Allegheny, after ac cusing Mr. Benninger of taking into Northampton a new Republican, pre sented him with a bottle of beer for '•personal use," saying that it was "fine stuff after the action of the House yesterday." Flowers aid a bp by coach were given immediately at ir ward. ' Mr. Benninger thanked the House for its gifts. RAILROAD DETECTIVE KILLED Caught Between a Locomotive and Girder of a Bridge Philadelphia, April 22.—George E. Johnson, 38, of 810 West Seventh street, Wilmington, Del., was killed here early to-day when he was caught be tween a locomotive on which he had been riding and a girder of a oridge which spans the Pennsylvania railroad tracks. Johnson was a railroad detective and operated between this city and Wil mington. He frequently rode on the tender of locomotives and it is believed that he misjudged his distance when he attempted to alight. $25,000 STRUCTURE TU REPLACE ONE BURNED Four-Story Concrete Building Will Rise On Site of the Montgomery Storage House—Changes in Man agement of the Company. Announcement was made this after noon from the offices of the Montgom ery Storage Company, whose South Tenth street storage building was de stroyed by fire on Sunday, that the company plans to build a massive four story concrete storage house that will cost in the neighborhood of $i2'5,000 on the site of the ruined structure. The building is to have a floor space that will more than double that of the frame structure destroyed by Are. It is to ibe of fireproof construction. With this announcement came also the statement that the management of the Montgomery Company has changed so that the business now is under the control of Frederick L. Morgenthaler, 11. M. Askins and J. Montgomery Trace. Joseph Montgomery, for many years head of the firm, has retired and the estate of W. K. Alrieks and J. B. Montgomery also have withdrawn from the business. Confirmation of the new building plans came when it was learned that one of Ilarrisburg's City Commission ers has been asked to introduce an ordinance at next Tuesday's meeting of the commission under which the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company will be permitted to extend a siding over Tenth street, 380 feet south of Market, to the proposed ware house. The siding is essential from an economic, standpoint, members of the Montgomery firm said to-day, and upon the assurance that permission will be given to construct it depends whether the building plans will be carried out. They stated further that the siding will be used twice a day, at 7 a. m. and at 12 o'clock noon. The ordinance may be offered at the next meeting of the Commissioners. HARRISBURG, PA., THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 22, 1915—12 PAGES. JURORS INBARNES-ROOSEVELTCASEANDSCENEAT TRIAL - __ "i |- ~ f-^<^^\^WlpyE^-i)jM^^H|H^BpM^^^^^^fc^B|^Bs^h||jSgßpj IPs | p- 'g^PP^ BARN6S'ALLEGBD SCHEIE OF GRAFT Excerpts From Report of Probing Commit tee Read at Roose velt's Trial for Libel COLONEL'S 3D DAY ON STAND His Cross-Examination at Hands of Barnes' Counsel Again Takes Up Much Time—William Loeb, Jr., Probably Next Witness By Associated Press, Syracuse, N. Y., April 22. —Tbeo- dpre Roosevelt again went upon the witness stand in the Supreme Court here to-day to submit to cross-exami nation at the hands of William Ivins, counsel for William Barnes, in the lat ter's suit against Colonel Roosevelt seeking $50,000 damages for alleged libel. It was me former President's third day on the witness stand. During the first part of his cross examination' of Roosevelt William Ivins brought from the former Presi dent the statement that he knew the constitution of the State of New York provided that no man is eligible to the office of Governor unless he has been a resident of State for five years prior to the date of his election and that he had made an affidavit the year previous to his own election that he was and for some time had been a resident of Washington. Colonel Roosevelt's counsel made no objection whatever to the line of ques tioning which resulted in these state ments. Papers and Records Galore Three bundles of papers containing notes and two suit cases of records and pamphlets were taken into the Supreme Court here to-day by counsel for Wil liam Barnes. The documents were to be used by William Irvins, chief counsel, in his cross-examination of Theodore Roosevelt. IMr. Barnes himself was said to have suggested many questions for his op ponent to answer. William Loeb, Jr., private secretary to Colonel Roosevelt when he was Pres ident, and later collector of the port of New York, was an early arrival at the Court House to-day. Mr. Loeb is under subpoena and it was considered probable that he would be the next Coatlnocd on Eleventh Page. SHANNON ELECTED COLONEL Chosen on Tenth Ballot As Commander of Fourth Regiment N. G. P. By Associated Press. Reading, April 22.—Brigadier Gen eral T. C. O'Neil, of Allentown, to-day conducted Sta election for colonel of the Fourth regiment, N. JG. P., to fill the vacancy caused by tnc recent pro motion of General O'Neil, *whe was ■colonel many years. » The candidates were Major Frank D. Biery, of Allentoiyn, and Major Edward C. Shannon, of Columbia. Major Shannon was elected on the tenth ballot. Machiniest Drops Dead in Street John D. Weibner, 58 years old, a machinist, residing at 549' Race street, fell dead of valvular heart trouble in front of hie home this afternoon, ac cording to information received from Coroner Kckimger's office. GENERAL SCENE,® SUPREME COURT, SyiZACUSE. Above are shown eleven of the twelve jurors who will decide the Barnes-Roosevelt $50,000 libel case, and a general scene at the trial. The eleven jurors are: Back row—No. 1, F. W. Pierce, carpenter, Syracuse, Republican; No. 2, l<eonaid K. Htingerford, contracting painter, Syracuse, Progressive; No. 3, Franklin S. Rhoades, farmer, Elbridgo, Republican; No. 4, Walter J. Zuill, manu facturer, Syracuse, Progressive; No. 5, Irving J. Mills, woodworker, Syracuse, Republican. Fr®»6 row-—No. ti, l J eier Js. Benek*,l/iverpool. Democrat; No. 7,- Edwnrd Burns, motorman, Syracuse, Republican; No. 8, George E. Boschert, manufacturer, Syracuse, Progressive; No. 9, John W. Brown, farmer, Memphis, Republican; No. 10, Ray Tanner, farmer, Marcellus, Democrat; No. 11, Henry Hoag, clerk, Fayette, Republican. CHARGES MINORITY SEEKS TO RUN A WATER COMPANY Holding Concern Obtains Temporary Injunction Against Group of Stock holders of Williams Valley Corpo ration in Court To-day How an effort was made to oust the {Sterling Consolidated Electric Com pany, a holding company, composed of up-county capitalists, from its con trol of the Williams Valley Water Company and also to dismiss the super intendent of the Williams Valley Com pany, which furnishes water in Wil liainstown, at an alleged "eontraven tional" meeting of the Williams Val ley stockholders, all is set forth in an injunction suit launched in the Duu phin county court this morning. Through this injunction action the Sterling company has obtained a court order primarily" restraining the Wil liams Valley stockholders, P. B. Shaw, George Parkman, R. W. McConneil, .lames A. Tanner and William J. Ken nedy, from carrying out their alleged plans to interfere with the plaintiff concern by ousting its superintendent, taking tfie books and money—some thing like $1,500, and collecting back water rents which total approximately $'2,000, dating up until May 1, next. Judge McCarrell directs the defend ants severally to appear in court next Tuesday morning, April 27, at 10 o'clock Rnd show cause why the in junction order should not be "made per- Continued on Fourth Page PLANTSTOPSFOR FUNERAL Whistles Blow and Bells Ring in Steel ton as Tribute of Respect for the Late Major Bent For the second time in 50 years every wheel at the big plant of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, in Steel ton, was stopped this morning from 11 to 11.05 o'clock as a tribute of in spect, simultaneously with the begin ning in Overbrook of funeral services for Major L. 8. Bent, former superin tendent of the plant. The first occa sion of Ihc plant closing down at, the time of the funeral of Samuel Pelton, father-in-law of Major L. S. Bent. The Steelton fire Bircn, on the .blast furnace, gave six blasts of ten seconds each with intervals of one minute. This salute was answered by the large whistle on the Bridge and Construc tion building. The bells on St. James' Catholic, Trinity German Lutheran and: Trinity Episcopal churches were tolled during the five-minute period. The flags on the various school buildings throughout the borough were at half mast the entire day. Among prominent men of the bor ough who attended tho services at Overbrook were J. V. W. Reynders, W. E. Abererombie, H. S. Gross, T. T. Mc- Entee, H. O. Smith and R. M. Ruther ford. • CHOSEN FRINC PAL FORCENTRALHIGH Howard G. Dibble, of Lambertville, N. J. f to Succeed the Late W. S. Steele 70 CANDIDATES TO CHOOSE FROM Successful Applicant Recommended by President Hadley, of Yale Univer sity, Where He Finished Education in Graduate School The Harrisburg Board of School Di rectors, meeting in special session at 2 o'clock this afternoon, selected How il JB A. nyH ■Hr - -JH mm am HOWARD G. DIBBLE ard G. Dibble, supervising principal of the schools of Lambertville, N. J., to the principalship of the Central High school in* this city. , In selecting Mr. Dibble the Board approved the report of the special com mittee selected for the purpose. The L'oaflatted on fourth Pace THAW. U. S. AVIATOR. IS REPORTED KILLED WHILE SERVING IN FRENCH ARMY Paris, April 22.—A report has been received here that William Thaw, an American aviator serving with the French army, has been killed near Ver dun. The report has not been confirm ed, however. A postcard dated the 17th sent by him to a friend showed that he was in good health on that date. Pittsburgh, April 22. —It was said at the residence of Benjamin Thaw, father of William Thaw, early to-day that no report regarding the death of Mr. Thaw nad been received and mem bers of the family v*re inclined to discredit it. The elder Mr. Thaw re turned from New York last 'night. It was said he has not heard anything from his son recently^ William Thaw 2nd., is the sdn of Mrs. Benjamin Thaw of Pittsburgh and New York. He joined the Second reg iment of foreign volunteers fight ing for Prance, soon after the war be gan at about the time he became of age. Hp offered to serve either as an engineer or an aviator, in both of which activities he had had consider able experience. Thaw is a nephew of Harry K. Thaw and did considerable work as an aviator in this country before the war. On one occasion he began a flight at New Haven, circled the Statue of Lib erty and flow under the four bridges acrQsn the East river. He was appoint ed to the French aviation corps in De cember ami was the first American to •be accepted as a pilot for the French service. Since that time he has seen considerable service in the air. Submarine Examines Dutch Steamer Stockholm, April 22, Via London, 2.45 P. M.—A German submarine to day stopped a Dutch steamer outside of Gefle, on the Gulf of Bothnia, and examined her papery and cargo. From this incident the deduction is made here that Germany in this manner in tends to keep a close watch on the traf fic between Sweden and Finland. LATE WAR NEWS SUMMARY The German admiralty announced to-day that a British submarine was sunk five days ago In Helgoland bay which lies between the mainland and the island of Helgoland, one of the most Important German naval stations. It Is said British submarines have been observed and attacked repeatedly in this hay and that others prouably have been destroyed. In Petrograd It is asserted that at tacks of Austrian forces on the Rus sians who invaded Northern Hungary have failed. The Austrians attempted outflanking movements along the sec tion of the Carpathian line where the Russians succeeded in reaching the Hun garian plains, but according to the ln- CtaHiacl OB Fourth Face POSTSCRIPT PRICE, ONE CENT. GREEK SHIP HITS MINE; II ARE DEAD Captain, His Wife and Nine Members of the Crew Perish in the Aegean Sea VESSEL STRUCK DRIFTING MINE Turks Entrench Themselves Strongly Along Coast of Gulf of Saros, Ap parently 'to Resist Proposed New Attack on Dardanelles by Allies Paris, April 22, 1.15 A. M.—The Havas Agency has received the follow ing dispatch from Athens: "The Turks have entrenched thorn- selves strongly along the coast of the gulf of Saros from a point near Enoa on the mainland with particularly formidable works opposite Bulair. This move of the Turks is an apparent ef fort to resist the proposed new attack of the land and \ea forces of the al lies on the Dardanelles. "The allied fleet yesterday bom barded Turkish encampments near Bu lair, the position -of which previously had been indicated by aviators. "An allied aeroplane dropped bombs Monday on Tchesm e in the gulf of Smyrna. "A British torpedo boat bombarded a Turkish camp at the village of Katop panagi near Smyrna. "Information received at Piraeus states that a Greek sailing ship which left for Samos two days ago struck a mine in the Aegean sea and blew up. The captain, his wife and nine mem bers of the crew were killed. The mine is supposed to have drifted from the Dardanelles." DIES WITH SECRET ON LIPS Victor Hugo's Daughter, 85, Xidnaptd When Girl, Never Revealed Tragic Story of Her Life Paris, April 22.—Adele Hugo, youngest daughter of the late Victor Hugo, died yesterday at her residence in Suresnes, a suburb of this city, at the age of 85 years. The sad and tragic story of Adele Hugo many years ago aroused the sym pathy of the entire world. As a girl she was kidnaped at Guernsey by an English officer. All Europe was search ed for her *by her parents, but they ob tained no trace of her whereabouts. Several months later a girl found wandering alone in the streets of New 'York, apparently dementod, declared "I am the daughter of Victor Hugo." This was the only statement she ever made. She was sent back to Prance to her parents, hut her lips remained sealed until the end and the tragic story of her life never was revealed. She failed to entirely recover her reason and after the death of her father, lived a solitary existence in her villa, morose and sel dom speaking. When she did consent to converse it never was of the past. POSSESSES CHARMED LIFE B. & O. Fireman Has Had Seven Nar row Escapes From Death By Associated Press. Connellsville, Pa., April 22.—Wil liam E. Stewart, a Baltimore & Ohio locomotivo fireman, believes he pos sesses a charmed life. Tuesday night, Stewart was struck by lightning at his homo here and rendered unconscious for four hours. He recovered, however, and feels no ill effects. Recently he was hurled from an en gine when it blew up, but escaped with only a few bruisos. Stewart says he has haxi seven narrow escapes from death. Got $13,000 for Defeating Johnson Chicago, April <s2.—Thirteen thou sand dollars was the sum Jess Willard received for defeating Jack Johnson at Havana, the heavyweight champiou, tokl friends here yesterday. "Johnson received $30,000 and when I defend my title I am, going to get the same amount of money he did," Willard said. WALL STREET CLOSING New York, April 22.—Lowest prices were made in the last hoar, principal issues then showing losses of 1 to almost 2 points. The closing was Irregular. The dullest market in over a fortnight was accompanied by vari able movements. Leaders were lower, with strength in coppers and special ties.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers