The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-10
STARTS WITH
A BIC FIRE.
Opening Day of the knights
Templar COnclaVe
Ushered In by the Burning of
the Richelieu.
GUESTS ALL ESCAPE
One Man Falls From a Second
Story Window.
Over 100 Communicates Have
Already Arrived.

PittSburg, Oct. 10.-E1re threatened
early this morning to throw mantle of
gloom over the first day of the triennial
cOnclave Of knights Templar. The
Richelieu hotel a four story structure
on Liberty street, opposite the Union
depot, caught fire at 8 o'clock and for
time the entire block was in danger of
destruction. The guests of the hotel
included a number of knights from diff
ferent Communicates, but fortunately
no one was hurt. c. NJ. Yohe of Pitts
burg was narrowly saved from SuffOca-
tiOn, and George Rupp, sergeant of
company A, United States infantry fell
from the second story while making his
escape from a third floor window on
rope. Neither will die. The fire was
confined to the cellar and hrSt HoOr of
the hotel building and the loss will not
be heavy.
The conclave is today well under way
and the streets are fairly alive with
white plumed knights. over a hundred
communicates came in from north,
south, east and west during the day
and the men on the Pittsburg reception
committees arose before the dawn to be
in waiting at the various railroad sta
tions, to act as escort to their guests.
Following is a partial list of the COM
rnanderies that arrived today: Grand
Commandery Colorado, Orient No 5,
Washington, D. C.; Sutton No. 16, New
Bedford; St. Omer, No. q, South BOS-
ton; Woonsocket No %, Woonsocket.
r. l.; St. Paul No. 40, North Adams,
Mass; Berkshire No.22, Pittsfield, Mass;
Grand Commandery New York; Central
City, No. %, Syracuse; Palestine No. 80,
Springfield, O.; Shanee No. IA, Lima, O.;
Grand COmmandery. Kentucky; Demo-
lay, No. u, Louisville; Occur de Leon,
No. a. Boston,; Boston No 2, Hugh de
Payne, No 20, MeIrose, Mass; VIM.
Parkham, Boston; Grand Commandery
Maine; Portland No. 2, Portland, Ne;
Grand Commandery, Wisconsin,; Grand
Commandery, Nebraska; Englewood
No. So, EnglewOOd, Ill; Grand Com
nandery, Texas; Galesburg No. s,
Galesburg, Ill; Trinity No. z, Augusta,
Maine; Huntingdon No. 35, Huntingdon,
Ind; Palestine No. ., st. JOhnburg, Vt;
Hamilton No. ., Bridgeport. Conn.
100000 Electric Lights.
The brilliancy of the city's street dec
orations marks an epoch in the history
of electric illuminating. Within a radi-
US of four blocks from the heart of the
city 400, 600 incandescent lamps burn ev-
cry night. Huge electric crosses and
other emblems of Templarism are sus-
pended on the sides and fronts of the
city's tallest buildings and there is
hardly a store or shop in the down town
district which has not an illuminated
design of some Masonic significance in
it's windows. The result at night is
that Pittsburg presents a perfect blaze
probably never been eQuaIled.
The five local communicates opened
their headquarters and started the ball
rolling. The day was largely taken up
f1ux of visitors, followed by a reception
in honor of Grand Master Thomas and
Governor Hastings of Pennsylvania
ssLOuisville for 1901"
The real work of the conclave will
commence tomorrow when the grand
encampment will be called to order at
the conclusion of the big parade.
Three Communicates from the Blue
Grass state-the Grand COmmandery of
Kentucky and DeMOlay and Louisville
No. 1 of Louisville-came in this morn
ing and marched to their headquarters
to the strains OF Dixie and 1.-The Old
Kentucky Home"
The Louisville men are making the
strongest effort possible to secure the
cOnclaVe of 1901 with apparently good
prospects of success. The leaders in
the fight for Louisville are: T. L. JEFF
ferson, De AIolay No. Z, chairman Tim
berlake Louisville No. 1, secretary; c.
c. Vogt, w. H. Meffert, J. A Stratton,
J. H. Shannaman, T. II. Sherley, c. r.
Woodruff, r. P. Satterwhite Jr., and R.
H. Thompson.
The KentuckianS brought 1000 white
satin badges with the inscription Lou
isville for 1901 and declare with all the
assurance of certainty that they will
telegraph victory to their city before
the close of the week. Niagara Falls,
Indianapolis. Minneapolis and Detroit
are all in the race for the conclave.