THE WFATHER
CLOUDY TO-NIQHT
AKD TO-MORROW
Meport. Pifft •
81™*"™?® VOL. 77—NO. 120.
HAN HELP!) IT
THE FOREST f IRES
The State Reservation
at Caledonia Suffers
Heavily in the Sweep
of the Flames
MEN FLEE TO
SAVE LIVES
Officials o' Forestry Department Say
Tliat If Precipitation Was General
Throughout the State the Worst of
the Work of Devastation Is Ended
The rain of last night and early this
n'orniug did a great deal toward check
ing forest fires that have been raging
in the Cumberland Valley, according to
it-formation received this foreuoon at
the office of the State Forestry Com
mission in this city. It was stated at
the offices of tho Commission that if
the rainfall was general throughout the
State the greatest danger from such
tires has probably passed. The Com
mission, however, declares that it is
keepiug a strict watch to prevent re
newed outbreaks.
Forest fire fighters in the Susquehan
na valley were aided by the rain which
was general in this valley, according
to reports coming to the local office of
the Weather Bureau. The rainfall
averaged .15 of an inch in the valley.
The heaviest precipitation was at To
wanda where .2S of an inch fell. Har
risburg had .19. The weather will re
main cloudy with a rise in temperature
to-morrow.
The Forestry Commission to-day re
ceived reports of two serious forest
tires ia the oil region, one of which
burned oil tanks and derricks, but the
lire-fighting system is now reported to
be pretty well organized in that sec
tion. and th° fires are about subdued.
Near Kane two derricks were burned
and an oil tank went up in flames.
In South Mountain Region
In the South mountain region the
fire raged with awful effect. A big fire,
started in the Cumberland Valley near
Huntsdale, is believed by the State au
thorities to have been the work of an
incendiary. It burned up the side of
the mountain, passed the crest and
Fwept down the other side with awful
force into the Hunter's run valley,
taking a eouise towards Pine Grove,
which fortunately it did not reach. So
close did it get to Pine Grove, how
ever, that it burned the bungalow of
Dr. C. J. Hunt, of the State Health
Department, just as he was preparing
to take possession of it for the summer.
The woods surrounding the camp of
the famous "Explorers" were burned,
just on the edge of Pine Grove. Men
started to fight the flames, but had not
gone far when they were confronted
by an immense volume of smoke that
nlmost suffocated them. Then came the
flames, at least twenty feet high. It
was useless to endeavor to combat such
a fire, and the fighters had all they,
could do to escape with their lives.
"Back-firing *' "had no effect whatever
and it had to be abandoned.
Caledonia Reservation Suffers
The Forestry Department force from
the State forestry reserves started to
fight the flames with the aid of volun
teers. but could do very little. If the
department had the means to throw a
line of patrolmen along the mountains,
the fire, it is contended, would not have
had such a spread.
Some of the State forestry reserves
were burned over, but the greater part
of the timber burned belonged to indi
viduals. Neither the Pine Grove nor
Mont Alto reservations suffered, but
some of the Caledonia tract was devas
tated.
FLAMES SWEEP"II TOWN
IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY
(Special to the Star-Independent.)
Carlisle, Pa., April 23.—At 1
o'clock this morning, about the time
that the forest fires in the South moun
tains, which had for the last three davs
been destroying thousands of acres 'of
valuable timber land, were extinguished
by the rain, a big fire broke out in
Jacksonville, four miles from Newville,
Cumberland countv. The loss amounts
to SII,OOO.
Jacksonville, known also by the name
of Grevthorne, has no fire protection
and the flames were fought entirelv bv
bucket brigades. Water was drawn
from the wells in the vicinity, which
practically all went dry by "the time
the fire was extinguished. There is to
day a lack of water in the town.
The fire had its origin—how is un
known—in the big building which ac
commodated the store af Jacob Mee
beth, the town hall and the hall of the
Junior Order United American Mechan
ics. It entirely destroyed the building
and its contents. Mecbeth's store was
valued at $3,000 and was uninsured.
The contents of the lodge hall included
all the instruments and other equipment
of the Jacksonville band, and the loss,
apart from the store room, was $5,000,
partly coveren by insurance.
Other Buildings Destroyed
The house and stable of Jacob Snoke
next caught fire and burned to the
ground, involving a loss of $2,000,
partly covered by insurance. The
sporting good< store of M. N. Fail,
which was also completely destroyed,
was valued at SI,OOO and was unin
sured. The home of John Campbell
was slightly damaged.
More than 400 men fought the
flames during the early hours of ihe
morning, including owners of the burn
ing buildings, residents of the town and
two circus advertising men who were
Cntlinril on Math Page.
START CITY FOREST OY
PLANTING 5,000 TREES
School Children Put Out the Saplings
in Wildwood Park To-day as Part
of the Arbor Day Exercises—Gov
ernor's Proclamation Is Read
More than 600 pupils of the Camp
Curtin school participated in Arbor
Day exercises in Wildwood Park this
afternoon in what it is planned to
make part of a municipal forest. Each
of the childreu aided in the work by
planting one or more of the trees.
More than 5,000 trees were planted.
The ceremonies took place just south
of baseball field and when the trees
grown to be giant red pines, white
pinee and Norway pines the baseball
lield will be circled and a small run to
the south will have a beautiful fringe
of trees. The locations of the trees
all had been mapped out before the
children arrived.
The children gathered at the school
building at Sixth and Woodbine streets
in the afternoon and marched to the
scene of the wholesale tree planting in
a body in charge of their respective
teachers. It was at first planned to
take a number of children from each
school building in the city but difficulty
of transportation narrowed it down to
the Camp Curtin, the building nearest
the park. District Supervisor J. J.
Brehm had charge of the school chil
dren.
Exercises preceding the planting of
the trees included the reading of Gov
ernor Brumbaugh's Arbor Day Procla
mation. It made a plea for the plant
ing of trees on this day. Members of
the Civic Club of Harrisburg partici
pated.
The exercises were arranged by
Park Commissioner M. Harvey Taylor
and City Forester Harry J. Mueller.
Among the speakers were Irvin C.
Williams, deputy State Commissioner of
Forestry,, and Miss Myra Lloyd Dock,
for the Civic Club. The children sang
several songs.
No general exercises were held in
the city schools outside the Camp Cur
tin building. Schools were open all
during the day.
ROB STORE OF EX-MAYOR
OPPOSITE POLICE STATION
Thieves Show Little Fear of the Au
thorities When They Make Away
With Cash. Cigars and Medicinal
Whiskey
Thieves operated successfully last
night in the drug store of former Mayor
E. Z. Gross, 119 Market street, almost
directly opposite headquarters.
This morning SS, eight cigars and
eight quarts of medicinal whiskey were
missing . It's hard to trace cigars or
dollars, but the police believe the whis
key, or the effects of it, will lead to
the detention of the thieves.
It is a puzzling case, for there is
nothing to indicate how the robbers
gained entrance to the store. It was
learned, however ,that a hasp was re
moxed from a back door to permit the
robbers to escape. The screws were
removed from the inside.
One theory as to how the thieves
gained entrance is that while the cellar
door was open during the day they
sneaked into the basement, waited
there and, after the store was closed
for the night, committed the thefts.
The cigar case is at the front of the
store and the thieves could easily have
been seen from the outside had any one
been lookiAg in at the time. The other
articles were taken from the rear of the
store.
GIRL SUES FOR AUTO INJURIES
Miss Gaither Beeks to Recover SIO,OOO
From George W. Reily
Although his chauffeur was the lone
occupant of the automobile when the
accident occurred, George W. Reily, of
this city, whose machine, it is alleged,
ran down and injured Miss Jessie Gai
ther, of Gait hers ville. Mil., on January
20, last, to-day was made the defend
ant in a SIO,OOO damage suit brought
by Miss Gaither. The accident oc
curred in Reily street, near Sixth, after
nightfall.
Miss uaither alleges she was hurled
thirty feet and that the machine passed
over her body ,causing cuts on the head,
torn and sprained ligaments of the an
kle, lacerations of both knees, body
sprains and contusions on the back.
The plaintiff was visiting friends in
this city when the accident occurred.
She has retained as counsel Michael E.
Stroup, of this city, and Alex Kilgour,
a Maryland lawyer.
"HOP' OUTFIT STOLEN
It Doesn't Belong to Eugene Fairfax,
Who Made Complaint .
Among the things brought back
from Lancaster yesterday by City De
tective Ibach with Joseph Ure, colored,
wanted here on a charge of larceny,
was a hop outfit, which is among the
stuff the latter is charged with stealing
from Eugene Fairfax, 114 Short street.
Eugene, who made the charge, said
the "hop" outfit belongs to Herbert
Smith, a colored man, who was arrested
here on an Ohio warrant. Fairfax was
keeping a suitcase which contained a
suit and the outfit for Davis pending
the disposition of the Ohio ease. Fair
fax charged Ure with the larceny of a
gold watch, locket and chain, a gold
penknife and $5. Ure admitted to the
police of the theft of the suit case but
denied knowledge of the jewelry and
money, according to the police.
HARRISBURG, PA., FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 23, 1915-.14 PAGES.
IE cm is
HALED TO COURT
Veteran Axe Wielder
Protests He Knows
More About Forestry
Than the Forester
SPICY SARCASMS
ARE EXCHANGED
Nurseryman Who Fells Trunk In Front
of Daniel C. Herr's Home, Doesn't
Think It Necessary to Obtain a
City Permit
John R. Snavely, 125 Liberty street,
proprietor of the Dauphin county nur
series, was taken into police court yes
terday afternoon by City Forester Har
ry J. Mueller, charged with violating
the city's tree ordinance, the specific
charge being that Snavely chopped
down a tree in front of the residence
of Daniel C. Herr, 19 North Front
street, without first getting a permit
from the City Forester. It was the first
arrest every made under the ordinance.
The charge was specific enough but
the hearing developed into a heated
controversy between prosecutor anii
defendant as to which has had the
most experience in tree culture. Muel
ler admitted he had but t«n years ex
perience while Snavely said he had
more than thirty.
Snavely did not deny the charge of
chopping down the tree, but he said he
thought it was unnecessary for one of
his experience\ to go to the City For
ester for permission. The hearing led
a technical discussion regarding the
general health of the tree. Mueller
said that the tree could have been
"fixed up" for the price it cost to cut
it down. Snavely contended that the
tree was "sick onto death.'*
Harry B. Saussaman, attorney for
the defense, asked Mueller how he de
termined the condition of the tree, and
the Forester replied that he used the
"eyeball system."
Saussaman said lie was not familiar
with technical terms of forestry and
wanted that system explained.
"Why, 1 used my eyes," returned
Mueller.
Mayor Royal ruled out of order
Snavely's assertion that he once moved
a $2,000 tree, as not being relevant
to the hearing and then he discharged
the defendant, it being his first of
fense.
A city ordinance requires that a
permit be obtained for removing, spray
ing or trimming a tree.
"ENDURANCE RUN" FOR 15
WATER MEIER COMPETITORS
Commissioner Bowman Will Line Up
the Machines of the Bidders and
Select the Best on the Basis of the
Survival of the Fittest
Fifteen firms, manufacturers of wa
ter meters, have agreed to enter an
"endurance run" which is to be staged
by Harry F. Bowman, City Commission
er 0 f Public Safety, under a probably
unique plan devised by him to aid in
making a selection of meters to be
bought by the City for domestic use.
Bids for the meters were opened by
Mr. Bowman at 3 o'clock this after
noon, the competing firms all having
submitted samples of their products, in
addition to their prices. The Commis
sioner's latest plan of buying meters,
he said, me.ns that the meter to be
adopted will be, not necessarily the
cheapest, but tne one which shows up
best in the "endurance run" or test
that is to be given to all samples dur
ing the next two weeks.
This "endurance run" is to be what
Mr. Bowman calls a "twelve-year
test." From the records' in his office
he has ascertained approximately the
amount of water used in a home during
a one-year period. If, for example, a
family used 5,000 cubic feet of water
in one year, just twelve times that
amount will be run through each sample
meter.
To aceomplishe this and at the same
time to prevent a waste of water, the
tests will be made at the pipe line
shop, where at least half a dozen meters
will be "hooked" together and tested
with the same stream All meters, if
perfect, should register alike at the
finish line. However, before any meter
is put through this test it first must
qualify by undergoing a preliminary
accuracy test. If found'inaccurate, ad
justments will be made.
The principal test will require at
least ten or twelve days and nights.
There will be no handicaps aud cost
will not be considered until after th«
tests are made. As meters fail under
the test they will be "flagged" and
taken out of the running.
The "endurance run " will be start
ed . probably to-morrow or Monday
Bowman's recommendation for the
award of the contracts, he said, will not
be ready for at least two weeks and
possibly not for three.
POLITICIANS IIS
SEENBYCOLONEL
How He Viewed Them
In His Autobiogra
phy Told on the Wit
ness Stand
tiARNES NOTUP TO
PLATT AND ODELL
Didn't Consider Plaintiff In Suit for
Damages of Same Importance as
Former Senator and Governor—
Didn't Change Opinion Later
By Associate d Prcst.
Syracuse, N. Y., April 23.—Theodore
Roosevelt again went on the witness
stand here to-day for cross-examination
by William Ivins, chief counsel for Wil
liam Barnes. This is the fourth day
the former President has given testi
mony in the trial of Mr. Barnes' ?50,-
000 suit against him for alleged libel.
Mr. Ivins planned to take Colonel
Roosevelt through a series of questions
regarding things said to have happened
just before he became President. The
witness was also to be asked many
questions concerning his further rela
tions with Republican "bosses" and
with Mr. Barnes.
When court was opened Colonel
Roosevelt resumed his seat in the wit
ness chair immediately.
Hill and Croker Leaders
"Did you ever veto a bill in regard
to finance, passed by both houses and
which liiis since been passed by the leg
islature}" he was asked.
"I may have."
"In 1899 and 1900 was the position
of chairman of the Republican State
Committee recognised by lawt"
''l think not."
" Who was the Democratic party
leader then."
" L r p State it was David B. Hill, in
New York it was Richard Croker, with
the lntter growing in power constant
ly."
Issito Was With Croker
"Here is your autobiography; here
you said that during the campaign the
issue was between yourself and Croker.
I* that right.''
" Yes."
"Did ,rou mention Mr. Hill?"
"In page 301, I mentioned David B.
Kill."
"Do you know he got out of politics
in this State after he retired from the
B'Jcntcf "
"No. My understanding is decidedly
the contrary."
"In chapter 8 did you refer to Mr.
Barnes?"
"No. He w.is not then of the same
importance as Mr. Piatt and Mr. Odell.
However, vhen I published my auto
biography in 1913, I thought tfie same
of Mr, Barnes as I did when I wrote
tho article complained of here."
"Why did you do that?"
"I did rot want to make any ma
licious attack on Mr. Barnes. I refused
to attack any man in my autobiography
that I could help. In my statement I
wanted to appral to the voters of New
York State. ■'
Invisible Government
"Since this action was begun have
you referred to your autobiography?"
"I think I have.''
"Do you know your language on the
stand and in your autobiography has
at times been identical?"
"I don't know. Ido not think that
is the case. It might be.",
"In your statement you refer to in-
Contlaned on Mitk Pas*.
IB BOOSTLANDASSESSMENTS
Board Is Revising Figures On Unim
proved Property According to
the "Foot Front" Bule
Harrisburg's board of assessors, W.
H. H. Bickley, Howard C. Towusend
and Horace A. Chayne, to-day began
revising methods of assessing unim
proved land.
Property assessments, it is said,
are to be increased in general where
conditions permit. There are large
stretches of unimproved ground in the
Second, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and
Tenth wards, all of heretofore
had been assessed according to acre
age. Under the revised system, which
it is proposed to adopt, this ground
will be considered on the basis of
building lots and assessed according
to the "foot front" rule.
NO EXTRA SESSION IS LIKELY
Governor Hints, However, There May
Be One If Certain Measures Fall
Governor Brumbaugh was asked to
day concerning rumors of an extra ses
sion to consider local option legisla
tion. He said he does not think it
likely, but he conveyed the impres
sion subsequently that in the event of
other legislation failing, meaning child
labor and workmen's compensation and
revenue measures, there might be oc
casion for a reassembling of the law
makers.
The Governor left this afternoon
for Philadelphia, to be gone until Mon
day.
Concrete Forms Being Set*
Workingmen for the Grace Construc
tion Company, contractors on the Cum
berland Valley Railroad bridge, to-day
began setting concrete forms around
the uprights in the Front street sub
way.
A JURY WILL PASS
OS THAW'S SANITY
Application by His At
torneys For Trial
Granted by Supreme
Court Justice
VICTORY AFTER
LEGAL BATTLE
On a Writ of Habeas Corpus Thaw's
Attorneys Succeed in Haying Judge
Hendrick Consider Case With the
Result as Stated
B;i Associated Prcs».
New York, April 23. —The question
of the sanity of Harry K. Thaw will
be determined by a jury. Supreme
Court Justice Hendrick in a decision
handed jlowu to-day granted the appli
cation for a trial made by Thaw's at
torneys on a writ of habeas corpus.
May 17 was set for the trial. Thaw
was in court when Justice Hendrick an
nounced his opinion. His face at once
lighted up with pleasure. His attorneys,
friends and others in the court room
rushed to congratulate him and he was
kept busy for nearly half an hour shak
ing hands before he was taken back to
the Tombs.
"It will be good news to my mother,"
he told newspaper men, "that's all I
want to say for publication."
The Court pointed out in the de
cision that the jury was called in "to
aid the Court by their advice" and
that the finding of the jury would not
be binding if the Court was satisfied
that it was not iu accordance with the
evidence and with justice.
The Court, he said, could disregard
the jury's verdict and render his own
decision.
"It is therefore evident," wrote
Justice Henrick, in his opinion, after
quoting authorities and precedents,
"that in this state there is ample
precedent for the impaneling of a jury
to aid in trying the issues of fact
raised upon the travereete the return
in a habeas corpus proceedings."
After reviewing the Thaw case, the
decision continued:
"It should be borne in mind that
Thav- is not confined as a criminal. He
has been acquitted of the crime with
which he was charged and there can
be no punishment for one who has been
acquitted. He is confined in a state
hospital for the insane as a precau
tion for the public. The commitment
can last only so long as he is insane,
and he has the right at anv time to
have his sanity determined/'
CITY SCALES ARE HERE AND
BRAND NEW SET OF RULES
They Will Be Set Up In the Market
Houses Next Week and If You
Think You Are Being Cheated, Just
Weigh for Yourself and See
Harrisburg's municipal scales were
received to-day by Harry D. Reel, City
Sealer of Weights and Measures, and
will be set up in the markets on Mon
day or Tuesday of next week so as to
be ready for use at the Wednesday ses
sions of market, so Reel announced this
morning.
The closets in which the scales are
to be installed all have been constructed
and everything is ready to receive
them. With a view to preserving and
protecting the scales against destruc
tion the sealer has prepared the follow
ing rules of regulation which he will
post at the scales:
"These scales are installed for the
convenience of tho public for the pur
pjue of reweighing any commodity.
'' Every black line on the dial means
one ounce.
"The capacity of the scales is fifty
pounds. Articles weighing more than
that amount must not be placed on the
w»iglit pan.
"If in doubt as to the accuracy of
the.weight of your purchase do not be
airaid to reweigh the same.
"Notify the Inspector of Weights
and 'Measures of any shortage in your
purchase, but be sure to remember from
whom purchase was made.
'' These scales will be tested and
their accuracy established not less than
on -e a month by the Inspector of
Weights and 'Measures.
"Any person caught tampering with
these scales will be prosecuted to the
full extent of the law.
BULLET KILLS SENATE PAGE
John Stiles, 13 Tears Old, Was Accl
dentally Shot by His Father
Word was received on Capitol Hill
this morning that John Stiles, 13
years old, a page in the Senate, who
was accidentally shot by his father,
Michael Stiles, at his home in Cumbola,
Schuylkill county, Monday, died at the
Pottsville hospital last evening,
v "Dad, you neglected to remove the
shells from this revolver this morn
ing," said the boy. The father'start
ed to remove them when the weapon
was discharged, the bullet striking the
boy in the abdomen. The father is
1 prostrated with grief.
STATE IS KILLING 30,000
BOGS IN PHILADELPHIA
Heroic Measures Being Taken to Check
Foot and Mouth Diseaae, Spread of
Which la Alleged to Be Due to the
Concealment of Infected Animals
Dr. C. J. Marshall, State Veterinar
ian, is in Philadelphia to-day personally
superintending the killing of from 25,-
000 to 30,000 hogs in South Phila
delphia, all of which have been de
clared to be infected with the foot and
mouth disease.
The prevalence of the disease was
discovered at the beginning of the
week and at once the force of the
State's examiners was sent to the "pig
geries," with instructions to.make the
most rigid examination. The result has
been, according to information given
out at the Capitol to-day, that thou
sands of infected animals were found
and they have all been put on the list
for execution.
At the same time it was ordered
that all stray dogs found in the locality
should be k lied. "Piggeries" that!
could not be disinfected are to be j
burned.
This outbreak of the disease is at |
tributed to the alleged concealment by j
the owners of a number of infected j
ogs when the first examination was!
made. In one man's cellar were found i
half a dozen hogs that had been infect- j
ed with the disease for some time, but j
their concealment had prevented in-1
spection. The spread of the disease j
revealed this concealment, and now, in !
the opinion of the State authorities,
nothiug short of heroic measures will
eradicate the trouble.
OERffIANSSINK TRAWLER IN
NORTH SEA: TWO LIVES LOST
Grimsby, Eng., April 23, 1.40 M. j
—The Grimsby trawler St. Lawrence
was torpedoed and sunk in the North
sea yesterday by a German submarine.
Two members of the crew were killed.
Seven survivois wore brought here
to-day by the trawler Queenstown,
whose skipper reports that the sub
marine fired on his vessel while engaged
in rescuing the crew of tho St. Law
rence. •
GERMAN BOATS ON VISTULA
TARGET FOR RUSSIAN BOMBS
London, April 23, 10.13 A. M.—A
Reuter dispatch from Petrograd says:
"There was much activity yesterday
on the part of Russian airships. One
dropped fifteen bombs on Plock. Sev
eral German boats on the Vistula were
struck as were the railroad station and
trains. *
"Two other machines bombarded the
railway station at '.Mlawa and the Ger
man aerodrome at Sanniky (f). Consid
erable damage was done to German
trenches."
CZAR ATLEMBERC; WARMLY
RECEIVEHYJIS TROOPS
London, April 23. 3 P. M.—Emper
or Nicholas arrived to-day at Lemberg
the Galician fortress which the Rus
sians wrested from Austria early in
the war. A Renter's dispatch from
Petrograd says the Emperor was met
at the railroad station by Grand Duke
Nicholas, the Russian commander-in
chief.
A crowd gathered in front of the
palace of the governor general where
Emperor Nicholns is staying and
cheered continuously until the ruler
appeared on the ii>aleon.v. Addressing
the crowd he said "L thank you for
this hearty welcome. Long live indi
visible Russia, hurrah."
The foregoing gives the first definite
news of the whereabouts of Grand
Duke Nicholas since the report of last
week that he had been shot by Gen
eral Baron Sievers, commander of the
defeated Russian third army.
LATE WAR NEWS SUMMARY
The capture of nearly a half mile of
' German trenches near St. Mihiel, the
southern extremity of the German
wedge which the French have been at
tempting for several weeks to force
back, is announced to-day in the of
ficial communication from Parts.
Spirited fighting in Belgium also is re
ported and the admission is made that
the Germans compelled the allies to
retire from positions near Ypres.
Two women were killed by the
blowing up of a British trawler In the
North Sea by a German submarine.
The other seven members of the crew
were rescued.
An attack by the Russian Black Sea
fleet on the Turkish coast near the
Russian border is said in Petrograd
to have resulted in the demoralization
of Turkish forces encamped In that lo
cality. Considerable damage was done
to the Turkish barracks and a number
of Turkish vessels laden with supplies
and ammunition were sunk.
The opinion was expressed by a
prominent Italian statesman that
CMiluad OB Nlatfc Para.
POSTSCRIPT
PRICE, ONE CENT. .
TURK FORTS
AGAIN UNDER
HEAVY FIRE
t
4 British Warships En
ter Dardanelles and
Hammer Fortifica
tions For 3 Hours
SMYRNA MAY BE
IN NEW ATTACK
Heavy Firing Heard Since Yesterday
Morning Leads to the Supposition
That Forts at Latter Place Are
Again Being Bombarded
Paris, April 23, 5.10 A. M.—A
' Haves dispatch from Athens says ad
| vices received from Chois stated that
! heavy firing had been heard there
! since yesterday (Thursday) morning,
j which leads to the supposition that
bombardment of the Smyrna forts ha#
been resumed.
Four British warships entered the
Dardanelles yesterday and bombarded
the forts for three hburs. The Turkish
fortifications also were subjected to
{ an indirect fire from the gulf of Saros.
| They replied vigorously to the attack
i of the warships. French mine sweepers
are continuing their operations ac
tively.
Petrograd, April 23, 12.40 P. M.—J
The Russian Black Sea torpedo boat
squadron bombarded the Turkish coast
between Archava and Artasichan on
April 19. This fifteen-mile strip of
coast, in which was located the quar
ters of the Turkish army operating in
this region, was owe, t with shell and
the barrack anil provision stores wore
ignited and destroyed. A large num
ber of Turkish coastwise vessels laden
with ammunition and supplies was
sunk.
Turkish land forces were initiating
i a sortie under cover of their artillery
at the time. They were thrown into
a panic by the Unexpected bombard
ment from the sea and their support
ing guns were immediately silenced. On
| April 20 all the Turkish efforts to start
! an offensive in this region ceased.
EIGHTDEAD INJEXASSTORIIfI
! Heavy Property Damage and Railroad
Washouts Caused by Severe Rains
Throughout the State
By Associated Press.
Dallas, Tex., April 23. —At least
eight persons nre dead, a heavy prop
erty damage, wire communication in
terrupted aud railroad schedules dis
; arranged by washouts, soft track aud
threatened bridges, was the known re
sult to-day of a raiu, electrical and
wind storm over nearly all Texas and
the eastern portion of Oklahoma late
yesterday and last night and which
continued early to-day in some locali
ties.
The storm was especially severe at
Austin aud that city was in darkness
last night. It was said about twenty
houses had floated to and were packed
against a bridge, threatening the
structure. Kescue squads were busy all
night taking endangered persous to
higher ground while the rain eoutinu
; ed to fall in torrents.
Probably Twenty Lives Lost
Austin, Texas, April 23.— Floods
that swept down Waller aud Shoal
creews here last night took a toll of
fifteen or twenty lives, according to es
timates to-day. Houses were jammed
in Maisse against the bridges and the
high water flooded many business
houses. Heroic work was done by citi
zen rescue parties and by the fire and
police departments. Eight persons in
ono house which was swept down Wal
ler creek, all but one are believod to
have perished.
Commissioner Eby Very Weak
County Commissioner John H. Eby,
who is confined to his home in Lykeus
suffering from a nervous breakdown,
was reported still very weak to-day.
WALL STREET CLOSING
By Associated Press,
New York, April 23.—Late dealings
reflected some confusion, with com
paratively heaviness in St. Paul and
New York Central. The closing was
irregular. Standard stocks moved with
in narrow limits to-day, while special
ties showed conflicting gains and
losses.