davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1904-01-01
Might Have Saved 500 Lives.

Every public Official" continued Mr.. Nc
Gam, ''is aware OF the dangerous condition
to life and property which exists In this city
because of the restricted form of our munic-
ipal government. Two members of the Chi
cago fire department on duty In that thea
ter yesterday might have saved COO lives.
Instead of that a retired member of the de-
partment, not fit for the city's service, was
on duty
Every danger point in this great city Is
under the jurisdiction Of private interests
and Is guarded by men UNFIT for duty in
the regular police and fire departments.
Evening star., 1904-01-01
The time has arrived for this city to assert
itself.
Why Criminal Negligence Exists.

Wy SAAAA@AS~A 1sS6 A6 SASS ASAASso'
This criminal negligence exists, first. be-
cause the state of Illinois makes Chicago
ridiculous every time it goes to Springfield
and asks for legislation that makes the
proper protection of life and property and
the government of the municipality under
safe conditions possible. Next the people
here are responsible because they do not
wrest from the legislature laws which are
imperative to their needs.
Mr. Fire Chief" inquired Controller Nc
Gam. turning to Chief Musham, why
have you not members of the department
on duty In every theater in Chicago?"
II have tried to accomplish that" replied
the chief. but have not Jurisdiction. The
city has no money to pay men for that
work, and we have not now sufficient funds
to man the department"
Made the Recommendation.
'IIave you ever taken 1t up with the
theatrical managers?"
Yes, made that recommendation recent
ly. but the managers objected. They said
the men they had on duty were more
familiar with the playhouses. The argu-
ment is not good. but I am helpless. The
city can do nothing"
Chief Musham then went into the pro-
visions made by other cities for the protec-
ton of theaters In New York, he said two
members of the department. under the juris-
diction of the chief. are required by law to
be on duty in every theater, playhouse or
similar place whore large crowds gather.
"All fire protective arrangements In that
city,, he said. "are under the control Of
the chief, who is absolute and who Is held
accountable for their effectiveness"
Evening star., 1904-01-01

life Business today was performed with
the sole view to actual necessity and even
that much was carried out in perfunctory
manner.
Ordinarily. on New Year eve the streets
of the city are filled with merrymakers. but
tonight the only throngs to be found were
those around the morgues; ordinarily. num-
bers OF fashionable restaurants In the heaft
of the city are filled with light-hearted rev.
elers, who toast the year that passes ana
hail the year that comes.
Comparatively Deserted.
Tonight these places were comparatively
deserted. and some Of them closed entirely.
with doors locked and curtains drawn. Usu-
ally among the gay people are found many
members OF. the theatrical profession. To-
night not a single one of them was in evil
cence.
For the second time in her life the city OF
Chicago has been stricken to the heart.
Not only have many of her sons and daugh-
ters met death In a variety OF horrible ana
torturing forms. but the blow has fallen
almost as heavily upon the strangers with
In her gates.
There is hardly a village or town within
a radius OF 100 miles of Chicago whose peo-
Pile are not directly or indirectly interested
in the piles OF dead or in the injured which
fill the hospitals, or in the fate of those
who seem to have passed from human
knowledge, In the fact that 1t Is believed
they were in the ill-fated structure. and Of
whom no word has since been heard.
Seven Employees Arrested.
Seven employees of the Iroquois Theater
were arrested tonight on orders issued by
Chief Of Police O'Neiil. The charge against
them il at present that Of being accessory
to manslaughter They will be held pend
ing the verdict of the coroner's jury. The
men arrested are:
William Carlton. stage manager
Edward Cummings. stage carpenter.
Frank ]. JandroW.
r. NJ Cummings.
e. Engle
Thomas Mcqueen.
s. j. MazonL
Evening star., 1904-01-01
No Fire Alarm Box in Front.

f. There was no fire alarm box In front
of the theater, as customary. A man had
to run some distance and turn in an alarm
by word Of mouth, losing time of inesti-
mable value.
g. There was no shaft or flue at the back
of the stage for carrying the smoke and
flames away from the auditorium, such as
are in use In other big STRUCTURES OF the
kind, according to criticism OF the construc-
ton of the building published In the Fire
proof Magazine some time agb.
g. The method Of fireproofing the bal
cony and gallery is declared to have been
defective because metal lath was used In
exposed construction instead of being
buried in concrete. ~
Z. 1t is said that the means OF exit from
the balconies and galleries were not ade-
Quate diH ~
No Active Firemen on Hand.
"All citizens of Chicago are indirectly re-
sponsible for the fearful loss fof life In the
Iroquois 'cheater-responsible because they
have not .isen in revolt against the state Of
Illinois. which has compelled this city to
continue Its government under conditions
that are absolutely criminal"
This statement was made by Acting
Mayor Lawrence E. McGann today. He.
with Chief Musham. awaited the arrival of
Mayor Harrison. Both had been on duty
all night and under the greatest nervous
strain
Evening star., 1904-01-01
LOST SISTER AND NEPHEW.
Chales r. Waite Of This City Learns
the Sad News.

Mr.. Charles p. Waite of S03 G street
northwest who is employed in the bureau
of engraving and printing. lost a sister and
a nephew in the Iroquois fire in Chicago
Mr. Waite first learned the sad news when
his eyes caught the names of the loved ones
In the death list Later he received a con-
firmatory telegram from Chicago. Mr.
Evening star., 1904-01-01
MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY.
United States Embassy at London Re
ceives a Number.

LONDON. January Further messages
of sympathy in regard to the Chicago dis
aster have reached the United States en-
baSsy here.
They include communications from the
Anglo Saxon Society, the Australian cham
ber Of commerce and mayors of Cardiff and
Burnley
Evening star., 1904-01-01
WHAT CAUSED DISASTER.
Seven Striking Conditions That Con-
tributed to the Horror,

A dispatch from Chicago to the New York
Sun last night says:
These facts stand out In relation to the
Iroquois Theater fire:
1. There was. according to law. an as
bestos curtain which, IL lowered. would
have confined the flames to the stage, for a
time at least. This curtain was not lower
ed. Eddie Foy. the principal comedian,
says he called again and again for the
curtain to be lowered and got no answer
Others say some sort of an attempt was
made to lower the curtain. but that 1t stuck
part way down. If it had come down the
great loss of life would probably have been
ayertAd
Evening star., 1904-01-01
Intended to Go Away.

shifters. After being taken in custody by
the police four Of the men told Chief O'Neiu
Evening star., 1904-01-01
MANsLAuaHrFR THE CHARGE.
Chief Electrician Of Iroquois Theater
Placed Under Arrest.

CHICAGO, January 1.-Archibald Ber-
ilard, chief electrician Of the Iroqusis Thea
ter. was taken into custody by the police
Evening star., 1904-01-01
Exits Were Blocked.

q The exits. which were provided Dy law
for just such emergencies. were blocked by
irsn doors. and these doors were locked.
The struggling victims strove to batter
them down with their naked fists.
3. The audience was composed, nine-
tenths. Of women and children. 1t was a
Evening star., 1904-01-01
MANAGER SUMMONED.

Waite lived In Chicago before coming
Washington.
Evening star., 1904-01-01

bargain matinee day for Klaw & Err
langers "Mr. Bluebeard.' prices having
been reduced for the occasion, so that there
was large attendance, and an attendance
ncculiarlY helnless In ca sa of accident.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10

that while their country was a good,
big slice, it was not the whole of the
cheese This intelligence has been
gradually penetrating the entire body
polite. until now the country merely
laughs at what. coming from Charles
Dickens half a century ago, made it
distinctly mad.
We admit that with only two de-
liveries of mail a day in the residen-
tial districts this city is a trifie shy
on postal service, but some day we
hope TO vote and get more. We also
agree that our telegraph service and
our telephone service are expensive,
and none too good at the price, but
some day we expect that the stock
holders will have made all the money
they want and will be willing to give
the public the benefit of their natur-
ally generous instincts.
In the meantime. while wanting for
the blessings 20 come TO us that other
countries have as a matter of inher-
ent right, and enjoying all the priv
ileges of free-born American citizen
including those already mentioned,
together with no policing of rural dis
tricts, the comforting presence of
deathly excursion steamers, frequent
railroad accidents, and express com
panies which interfere with the mails
We reflect with becoming gratitude
that we are being trained in patience,
and patience we recognize as one of
the cardinal virtues.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
The Control of Colleges.

1t is noted by observers of college
affairs that the tendency of today is
toward the Capitalization of power in
colleges, as elsewhere. In the old
time college the faculty decided ques-
tions by a majority vote, the presi-
dent having comparatively little
sway. Nowadays. to use the express
sion which would probably be used
by the average graduate, the presi-
dent is 1T"
In Chicago University President
Harper has the power of deciding
practically all questions pertaining 20
the conduct of the affairs of the in
stitution, and in him is vested the
appointing power II is said that
Benjamin Ide Wheeler refused to ac-
cept the presidency of another large
college without guarantee OF similar
powers. The acceptance of the posi-
tion of president of a college by some
man of marked views means that the
college will be managed in accord
ance with those views.
This is doubtless due largely 10 in
creased competition and continual
change in conditions. The president.
being obliged to consider problems in
cident TO meeting criticism, competi-
tion, and changes cf demand, may
justly claim that his powers should
be enlarged, since he will be held re-
spousifle for tAs -siiure of tho insti-
tuition TO achieve pecuniary success.
1t is not too much to say that
money success is the greet object of
tha modern school or college, and
that the ways and means of achiev-
ing this success form the great prob
lem of the management. 1t may also
be safely said that about one-third of
the schools and colleges now existing
in this country could ceaSe to exist
without any injury to the country's
welfare. Then those which remained
could probably afford to do thor
oughly good work.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
Modern and Other Essays.

A youth who was striving for a
prize in English composition in the
Topeka High School handed in sew
eral essays and received only the
mediocre mark 80. Then he copied
one of Lord Macaulay's essays, and
again received the mark 81 Then he
gave it up. and told on the teacher.
This may indicate to the superficial
mind that the Topeka teachers were
not good judges of literature, and it
certainly does prove that they were
not encyclopedias of the worlds best
literature But il may also prove
something else, namely, that the
style of Macaulay is no longer con-
sidered suitable for use in high
schools. and that is not such very
bad thing.
No doubt the works of Addison,
Burke. Macaulay, and Steele are ex-
cellent examples of English dictioa.
and should be studied in order to
make the student familiar with the
literary history of the race. But as
models for twentieth century compo-
sition they are not so good Of
course, this is heresy from the point
Of view of the old-time collegian, but
consider the common sense of the
thing.
A high school is supposed to edu-
cate children who may not get other
education. The kind of English they
ought to learn to write there is the
kind they will have TO use when they
leave school. No high school grad
uate should be unable to write let
ter to a friend or to the newspapers,
in correct English. or to put into
proper shape the report on any work
which he or she may do. In such
undertakings the language of Macau-
lay or Of Addison would be ridiculous.
Let us be practical first. and then, if
there is tine, we can be erudite.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
More Light on the Congo.

In an article on the Congo State in
the current Forum" Samuel Phillips
Werner declares for moderation in
eondemning the rule of the Belgian
King on the somewhat dubious evil
dence produced by habitually self
seeking English diplomacy.
After referring 10 the difficulty that
was experienced in getting able and
good men TO pioneer the country,
with the consequence that for num-
ber of years most of the white men
who went to the Congo were the
scum of Europe" Mr. Werner says
that these notable results have been
obtained in face of immense diff
culties:
The Arab slave trade has been put
down. The whole State has been
dotted with white settlements. A feet
of steamboats, ply the inland wa
ters, the pilots of which a few years
ago were cannibals. One railway has
been built and others are building.
Cannibalism prevails only in isolated
districts. Intarnecine wars are infre-
quent. Commerce has risen from
nothing to 100000 a year. Coffee
and rice plantations flourish. People
once naked are importing millions of
cotton goods.
The Congo he adds, has wit
messed fewer and smaller bloody in
surrections than any other African
territory approximating its size.
There have been no murders of mis-
sionaries, as in Uganda, and no sue
cessful revolts, as in Zululand tenn
porarily, and in the Soudan for over
ten years"
Mr.. Werner does not deny that the
petty officials gho stand next to the
savage are too often grossly ignorant,
incapable. inexperienced. full of
childish self-importance, but contin-
ues that there is no real evidence
that Leopold's personal intentions to-
ward the African natives are malevo-
lent or that his government pursues
policy designedly cruel and rapa-
cious. Such an accusation is absurd" :"
AS was stated by The Times several
weeks ago. there have undoubtedly
been numerous cases of outrages on
African natives by white men, mostly
state officials. Bnt as Mr.. Werner
states, many Of the offending officials
have been severely punished, and
some are now serving long terms in
prison.
This is the truth Of the situation
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
England and America.

A correspondent remarks that an
Englishman, in claiming how much
better his country was than America.
declared that English cities have
sixteen deliveries and collections of
mail matter every twenty-four hours.
and citizens Of that country can send
ordinary kilograms for II cents.
Furthermore, he says that this same
Engiishman came 20 Washington two
years ago. has cleared $4,000 in that
time, and is now going back home
because we are too slow for him.
Certainly that particular English
man is TO be congratulated, and we
should be grateful for his criticisms.
OF course, We are great people. but
when a people begins to feel its own
greatness TO such an extent that il
refuses to learn anything from other
people. II is in quick danger of a
lapse.
A national campaign every four
years is a frightful strain on the
modesty, and the fact that the Amer
leans have gained more OF this noble
virtue rather than lost any indicates
the meritorious quality Of their ma
tional character.
Once upon a time the sovereign
American citizen habimally wore a
chip on his majestic shoulder and de-
fed the principalities Of the world 10
knock It of. But that before some
of him became millionaires and began
to travel.
These fortunate individuals grad
ually were impressed with the fact
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
MARIE.

Each Sunday in the daily press
! read her notes OF form and dress;
An odor, fine and delicate
AS when a ways!de rose 10 wet
With summer rains. exhaled 10 me
Her subtle femininity
And charm; her Sunday potpoarfi
Was signed, in flowing hand and free:
Marie
With gentle word and tactful truth
She laved the hurts of Grace and Ruth
And with her counsel sage and mild
Made parted lovers recOnciled;
In her sweet way she seemed TO share
The heavy loads Of grief and care
Her readers bore. and ministered
With gentleness and kindly word
Marie"
Unknown she was. and yet to me
Her grace and charm and witchery
OF style appealed; this winsome maid
A spell upon my rough heart laid;
And quite religiously l read
The Sunday press for what she said,
Until one day ! longed to see
The maid whose column captured me
Marie
So up I climbed the office stair
And shy1y asked some person there
Where was the shrine OF that sweet soul
From out whose gentle spirit stole
Those soulful thoughts. He took me in
A den, oh! far from feminine,
And pointed out man of ripe
Discretion with corncob pipe
Between his lips; stubby beard
Upon his either cheek appeared:
His hat upon his broad brow set
Atilt-and thus IT was I met
Marie"
! w. Foley in New York Times.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
ANGLESEY CASTLE IN
HANDS OF CREDITORS
Impoverished Marquis Must Now Con-
trive to Live on $4,000
Year.

LONDON, July e.-Anglesey Castle.
the stately Welsh home of the Mar
quis Of Anglesey. is in temporary
occupation of Messrs. Dew & Sons,
auctioneers, of Bangor. acting under
the authority OF a deed OF assign
ment TO his creditors which the mar
Quis has just executed.
The marquis effects are 10 be put UP
to auction shortly, but the exact date
has not yet been fixed.
The auctioneers are reported TO have
found a considerable quantity of valua-
bic jewels while making their inventory
Of the contents OF the castle. These
have been handed over 10 the custody
of a local bank.
Lord Angiesey. IT will be remembered.
was stated 10 have expended no less
than s213.O0O on the purchase of Jewels
alone. In a statement OF the marquis
affairs which was circulated yesterday,
Jewels, sold and unsold. figure among
the assets for only $1,000.
From this statement IL appears that
Lord Anglesey. after assigning all his
property 70 trustees for the benefit of
his creditors, is 70 have an allowance of
f2,000 a year.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
EMPRESS EUGENE
VISITOR TO MADRID
Spain's Royal Family Does Honor tc
the Aged Consort of Ma
poleon Ill

MADRID. July e.-The Empress Eu-
genie, who has at length paid her long
promised visit TO Madrid. Is staying al
the Liria Palace. which had been put
into apple-pie order for her reception.
She is accompanied by her great
nephew. the Duke of Alba, by Count de
Montijo. and Dona Sol Stuart, and is at
tended by Mile d'Allonville and NJ
Pietri. 1t is many years since her
majesty was IN the Spanish capital-not
indeed. since the fall OF the empire.
She is everywhere received with re-
spectful empressement. King Alfonso
and the Queen mother called on her on
one day. a s did the Infanta Isabella and
Eulalia, the latter remaining with her
for some time. ne Empress and Eula-
liza saw a good deal OF each other in
Paris during the winter, their interest in
and affection for the late Duchess OF
Alba constituting q bond between them.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
MAKES NEW RECORD
IN DISPATCHING CARS
George Congestionin Washington Freight
Yards by Sending Out $4,000 Cars in a Month.

as a Washington car was emptied Lee
would start il for Bay View. Nd, which
is six miles beyond BeitimOre. There
the engines would leave It, and come
straight back to Washington. He gave
the crews eleven hours TO get TO Bay
View and back, and they were paid over
time II it took longer. While the train
crews were taking q twelve-hour layon
the engine crews were taking the empty
boxes out of the Anacostia yards TO
Bay View.
All this time there were 500 cars COM
ing direct TO Washington daily, and go
ing out. cars whose contents We're as
signed TO persons In this city. Lee gave
them his strict attention. and kept them
on the move with his engines Ihe
through trains likewise received similar
care. There were from 2.00 TO 300 Of
these cars daily.
Nearly a,4oo in a Day
From May 25 to June %. when the
congestion was finally cleared, Lee
moved nearly $1,000 ears in and out OF
Washington The record for one day
was 1880. and the daily average about
z.1oo. The amount of money paid out for
'vertime work during the month OF
May, before Lee took hold, was s. 900.
For the month of June il was $l.500
For the month Of June, which practi-
cally comprised Lee time or control,
there were 40 per cent more cars moved
in and out of Washington than for any
previous month in the history of the
Pennsylvania Railroad. IN fact. local
railroad men generally say that Lea
made record for the whole country.
Lee is only thirty-one years OF age,
but knows his business Thoroughly Ths
local officials Of the Pennsylvania wrote
him letters commencing him highly for
the work he had done, and the South
> ~ I'm - = =
annual PASS as a token OF their apprs-
citation.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10

To George r. Lee. chief train dis
hatcher OF the Pennsylvania Railway
Company, at Washington, belongs the
cretIi, of having invented and put into
effect a method Of clearing the yards or
freight cars that got his employers out
of a very bad hole and won for him the
unstiuted commendation Of his super
fors in the company
During the latter part Of May ter
rife block occurred In the local freight
wards. Never before had there been such
a congestion. Freight cars were held
nm here by the hundred and the local
officials were tearing their hair. Mer-
chants and business men Of Washington
were calling every day to register com
plaints. Something had to be done and
done quickly. on May % Lee was sent
for and told to take charge of the mat
ter and clear the yards.
Lee has been in the employ of the
PENNSYLVANIA since 1897. when he entered
the service as a messenger boy. In lsSe
he became an operator, and two years
later was promoted 10 the position OF
train dispatcher. For the past five years
he has been chief dispatcher. Lee went
10 work on the block and after going
over the conditions carefully. he hit upon
a plan which he thought would work.
Choke Grew Worse.
At that particular time there were
about 1000 Washington cars coming into
the yards every day. In addition 10
these through trains from the South
going North with perishable fruit and
vegetables. were pouring in constantly.
Lee had thirty-one freight engines and
crews at his disposition. So he began
double-heading. and sending the cars
out as fast as they came in. AS soon
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
STEAMBOAT IN AN ORCHARD.

Thomas Mellor was born in England
In 1913. and came to the United States
In 1880 He moved to Cooper county.
Mo, in 1874, travelling up the Mississippi
River by steamboat That was the year
OF one of the greatest floods that ever
took place I'm that part OF the country;
and when the water was high a year
ago Mr. Mellor recalled an interesting
incident OF his voyage fifty-nine years
before The Mississippi River was far
out of its banks, and Mr. Mellor said
that the steamboat stayed one night
IN an apple orchard, being anchored TO
tall tree.
The Washington times., 1904-07-10
PRIEST FATALLY STABBED
BY CRAZY SEXTON

youngstown, Ohio, July 9.-Rev.
John P Barry, pastor of st. AIMS
Roman Catholic Church in Brierhill. a
suburb of the city. was attacked and
fatally stabbed today by the sexton of
the church. John Berry. The sexton is
thought TO be insane.
The attack was made in the street.
Berry using a pocketknife. He slashed
the priest across the abdomen and
buried the blade TO the handle in the
priests eye. Berry had been looking for
Father Barry since early morning. He
was released from the asylum last win
ter. Berry was unconcerned about the
assault. and gave himself up. The
hospital authorities say Father Barry
will die