davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Railroad Track Is Sinking.

SALT LAKE. Jan. 1.-The track OF
the Ogden.Lucien cutoff is sinking
again, and the officials of the South
ern Pacific do not dare let the regul ar
trains run across it at the beginning
of the new year. Regular traffic was
to have begun directly across the
Great Salt Lake by January l, but
the engineers have encountered new
difficulties.
For months they have been fighting
two quagmires that have swallowed up
engines, cars and men. Several times
they thought they had triumphed.
Each time the treacherous quicksand
deceived them again. They have
swallowed 10000 tons a day and
yawned for more.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
CHICAGO Is MOURNING.
Hundreds Of Victims Of the Thcater Dis
aster Were Buried New Years Day.

CHICAGO, Jan. 1.-For the first time
since Chicago has possessed bells to
peal, whistles to shrek and horns to
blow the old year was allowed silently
to take its place in history and the
new year permitted to come with no
evidence of JOY at its birth. All Chi.
cago mourued for the hundreds of per.
sons who died yesterday in the fire,
panic and sutfoc alton at the Iroquois
theater.
At midnight only 2l unidentified
dead remained in the several morgues
The total number OF bodies that are
accounted for is 582. OF these, 56l
have been identified. The coroner's
office today issued nearly 300 burial
certificates for people killed in the
fire. Some of these were for persons
residing in other cities, but they were
comparatively few.
Chicago never witnessed such a d ay
of mourning as that which ushered in
the new year. In every portion of the
city almost, it seemed as though there
were funerals going on or undertaken
wagons arriving with the dead, taking
them to their houses for the last time.
While funeral professions were NOV
ing through the snow covered streets
to various cemeteries, the throngs
about the various morgues seemed al.
most as large as ever.
Continued sight of dead bodies ly.
ing huddled on the floors and tables
OF the various city morgues proved
too much for some of the jurors EN-.
panelled by Coroner Treager. Several
members Of the jury objected to being
forced to view the bodies, and one
juror, Joseph Cummings, practically
collapsed at Rolston's morgue, where
the jury was forced to step over the
dead bodies in their tour of inspec-
tion.
Archibald Bernard, chief electrician
OF the Iroquois theatre, was taken
into custody by the police today and
will be held pending an investig alton
into the causes OF the disaster. After
being closely questioned for two hours
by the police, Bernard was formally
charged with ''manslaughter." Twelve
employees of the Iroquois theatre were
arrested last night on orders issued
by Chief of Police O'Neill. The ch arge
against them is that of being acces.
sorry to manslaughter. They will be
held pending the verdict Of the coro.
ner's jury.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Reception at White House.

WASHINGTON, Jan. /. President
and Mrs. Roosevelt inaugurated to-
day the official social season in the
nations capital with a brilliant re-
ception at the white house. For more
than a hundred years it has been the
unbroken custom of presidents of the
United States to receive on New
Years day all the officials of the gov
ernment located in Washington, and
such citizens as might care to pay
their respects to the nations chief
magistrate. No distinctions of rank
or class were made, except such as
were rendered necessary by due re-
spect for order. All persons, rich or
poor, with or without rank, were Civ
en- a gracious greeting by the presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Porto Ricans Not Aliens,

W WASHINGTON, Jan. Ain an opin-
ion by Chief Justice Fuller, the su-
preme court of the United States to-
day decided that citizens of Porto
Rlco are not aliens of the United
States, and that they are entitled to
enter this country without obstruc-
tions. The opinion was delivered in
the case of a Porto Rican woman,
Gonzales, who ia 1902 was refused ad-
mission to the port of New York on
the ground that she was likely to be-
come public charge.
The decision was based entirely on
the immigration act of 1891 and took
the ground that the Porto Ricans
swear allegiance to the United States
and to no other government.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
CHICAGO THEATERS CLOSED.
They Were Not Provided With the Safety
Devices Required By City Ordinance.

CHICAGO, Jan. 2.-To night every
theater in the city of Chicago is dark
and the doors are locked. Not one Of
them will open to the public until their
managers have complied in the fullest
manner with every section of the Or
dinances regulating playhouses. The
order compelling the theaters to close
was issued this afternoon by Mayor
Harrison after a conference with Cor
poration Counsel Tolman, who as
sured the mayor that ample legal
ground existed for his action. Seven
teen theaters and museums were closed
last night, and the sweeping order Of
the mayor today shut l6 more. The
II places of amusement which were
shut last night were closed for the one
reason that they were not provided
with asbestos curtains. The further
action taken today is in consequence
of violation Of other sections of the
ordinance regarding theaters.
Will +. Davis and Harry Powers,
proprietors of the lroquois theater,
and Building Commissioner Williams
are under arrest, charged with man
slaughter. They have been released
on $4,000 bonds and their hearing
set for January II. The warrants for
their arrest were sworn out by Arthur
X. Hull, who lost his wife and three
children in the fire. Mr.. Hull ex-
planned that his action was not in.
spired by any motive of vengeance,
but simply to make it certain that the
owners of the theater should not es-
cape any chance Of punishment tn at
was rightfully theirs, while stage
hands and electricians aud other en-
ployes were compelled to suffer.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Will Fight Beef Trust.

DENVER, an. 2.-John w. Spring
eI, president of the Nation al Livestock
association, left this city today for
Portland. Ore, going by way of Cali
fornia. to attend the national conven-
ton next week.
"Reports indicate that more stock
men are going than were ever at a
previous convention,' said Mr..
Springer. zone Of the principal top
les of all who are going is how to
fight the beef trust. We will certainly
take up that question. Then there are
questions of politics, of railroads and
the packing interests, and all of them
will come up for vital consideration" :"
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Investigating Fire Horror.

CHICAGO, Jan. 1.-THE investiga-
tion into the Iroquois fire horror has
passed beyond the stage of cause. seek
ing to that of fixing the responsibility
for causes. This work was taken up
today by Fire Inspector Monroe Full
kerson, who has the assistance and
cooper alton of the chief of police and
OF Coroner Treager. Every employe
of the theater is on the list summoned
for investiyat alton. Witnesses to the
number Of 6o will be examined.
Solely from witnessing the horrors
in the Iroquois theater fire, Miss Eta
Wild, % years OF age, a public school
teacher. is dead. The report of her
death brought the total number of
corpses to $50. Miss Wild was burned
slightly in the fire. Instead of re-
covering she has died of fright.
Physicians who attended her say that
the things she saw in the burning
thea y killed her.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
A Day CT Funerals.

CHICAGO, Jan. 3.-It was d ay of
funerals in Chicago and for the first
time in the history of the city all peo-
pie who desired to bury their dead
were unable to do so. The unprece-
dented deu and for hearses and car
riages would have been enough in
itself to tax the resources of the un-
dertakers, bat the heavy snow fall of
the past two days has Increased their
ditticu!tie, enormously. All of the
cemeteries in Chicago are miles from
the business center and residence dis
tricts, and with good weather and the
streets in a passable condition 1t is a
matter of several hours to reach one
of them.
The cemeteries were compelled to
keep men at work all through the
night, digging graves and in some of
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Mas Affect Irrigation prCj-et.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.--Iteprc9enta-
tive Dixon has addressed note to
Secretary Of State Hay. in which he
calls attention to protests being n ade
by the residents of Northern Montana a
against the proposal of the people of
Canada to build a canal just beyond
the Canadian border, which will have
the effect Of diverting the water supply
from the Milk river valley section.
Mr.. Dixon feels doubtful whether
this government can interfere in such
q matter, but thinks the Canadian
government might be inclined to act
favorably, should it be shown that
any considerable number of people in
Montana would be injured by dmn-
ishing the water supply OF the Milk
river valley.
The note was addressed to Secre.
tary Hay, as any correspondence with
the Canad government OF the sub.
ject would Of course be of diplomatic
character. 1t is perhaps somewhat
unusual, however, for the secretary of
state to be called upon to decide a
question affecting irrigation.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06

short time hundreds of men, women
and children were rushing tow ard the
theater. The building in which the
calamity occurred stands midway be-
tween State and Dearborn streets on
the north side OF Randolph street.
Although every available policeman
within call Of the department was inn
mediately hurried to the spot, it was
found for time almost impossible to
hold back the frenzied crowd that
pressed forward, many of them hav-
ing friends or relatives in the theater,
and anxious to learn something of
them.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
MORE WAR TALK.
Newspaper Correspondents Think Japan
Will Soon Begin Hostilities.

LONDON, Jan. 3.-"Don't look for a
declaration of war; says the Daily
Telegraph's Toxic correspondent in a
dispatch which apparently throws
considerable light on the plans OF the
Japanese government. Continuing,
the correspondent says, "Japan
means business without waiting for
the convenience of others. If Russia
feels aggrieved, fortnight should
show the extent to which she will
venture. Interest should begin to
center nearer Seoul than Toxic within
ten days, but a naval demonstration
may maintain peace"
The Standards Tien Tsin corre-
spondent says that as result of ia
pans inquiries as to China's attitude
in event Of war, it is stated that the
throne has issued secret orders to Chi.
nese troops to assist the Japanese. It
Is proposed that Chinese army of
10000 men under Japanese officers
would in that case proceed to the Liao
Tung peninsula.
PEK1N, Jan. 3.-1n various foreign
legations here the opinion is. preva.
lent that war between Japan and Rus
sia is inevitable. This opinion is
based on the latest dispatches from
Toxic and on the conviction that it is
not question of detail which separ-
ates Russia and Japan, but vital
principle as to whether Japan posses,
ses the right to. voice in the settle.
ment of the questions connected with
the Russian occupation of Manchuria.
Advices from Manchuria represent
Russian officials there as being sur
prised at Japan's readiness to fight.
They expected that she would submit
at the last moment as she did in 1895,
when she surrendered Port Arthur at
the bidding OF the European coalition.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Dynamite Suspects on Trial

GEORGETOWN, Colo., Dec. 3d.
Hearing of evidence began today in
the trial of fifteen la Dor men charged
with completely in the Sun and Moon
dynamiting at Idaho Springs on July
2S, last, in which Phillip Fire, one of
the dynamiters, was killed. Forty
six witnesses have been summoned for
the prosecution, some of whom, it was
asserted by Attorney Ralph Talbot in
his opening statement, would divulge
a plot in which they were concerned
for the destruction of the Sun and
Moon prOperty.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06

the larger cemeteries they barely man
aged to make them with sufficient
speed. At one time this afternoon II
burials were in progress in Rose Hill
cemetery and all of them were remains
OF victims of the fire of Wednesday
afternoon.
The list of dead was increased to
5SS today by the death OF Leroy Rain
bold, a boy of four years, who was
severely burned and died at St.
Luke's hospital. OF the 10 bodies at
the county morgue four were identified
today.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
DISCUSSES CANAL MATTERS.
Presidents Message to Congress Revives
the Situation In Panama.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-President
Roosevelt's message to congress, GOV.
ering the Panama canal treaty matter,
Is an extended document of 1900
words. 1t covers the situation fully,
repe ats portions of his previous mes.
sage on the subject, points out the
evident bad faith of Colombia in re.
jecting the Hay-Herran treaty, which
made most generous concessions to
Colombia; declares that, II will not
for one moment discuss the possibility
OF such baseness as to abandon the
new republic of Panama." and in gen.
eral supports the policy OF the admin
istration. The message points out
that even should the senate refuse to
ratify the new Panama treaty it would
be impossible, under the enactments
OF congress on the subject, to go to
Nicaragua for a canal.
The message makes absolute denial
of the charge that this government in
any way assisted in the revolution by
which Panama became an independent
republic. In this connection the mesr
sage says:
| hesitate to refer to the injurious
insinuations which have been made of
completely by this government in the
revolutionary movement in Panama.
They are as destitute of found alton as
OF propriety. The only excuse for my
mentioning them is the fear lest un-
thinking persons might mistake for
acquiescense the silence OF mere self.
respect. I think proper to say, there
fore, that no one connected with this
government had any part in prepar-
ing, melting, or encouraging the late
revolution Oh the Isthlnus OF Panama.
and that save from the reports of our
military and naval officers, given
above, no one connected with this gov
ernueut had any previous knowledge
OF tne Revolution except as was access
slble TO any person of ordinary INTEL
ilgence who read the newspapers and
kept up a current acqu aintauce with
pu blic affairs.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06

hearings by the land law commission.
Senator Gibson told the commission
OF the desert lands in his state and in
other parts Of the west and made sug-
gestions as to their Improvement. Mr..
Mondell spoke of inducements being
offered to settlers by the Canadian
government, and told the commission
that many people are emigrating from
the western states into the Northwest
Territory.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Shot Across Boundary Line.

SOMERSET, KY, Jan. LIN fami-
~ quarrel in the southern end Of
Wayne county, J. j. Smith and his
son fired upou Diane Blevins and his
two sons, killing Blevins and fatally
wounding both sons. Smith is
Blevins' son.in.law. At the time of
the shooting Blevins was standing on
the Tennessee side of the border and
Smith on the Kentucky side. 1t is
argued that Smith cannot be tried in
Kentucky for killing man who was
not in Kentucky.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Hay For the Philippines.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. l.-Ninety.
two and a half cents is the average
price per 100 pounds of hay that the
San Francisco houses bid for the gov.
ernment shipments to the Philippine
islands. The price ton will be from
$3.50 to Sl9. Seattle's offer was from
1927 l-2 to 40 per 100 pounds. The
5000 tons required will probably be
accepted from San Francisco.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Theater Panic Prevented,

NEW YORK, Jan. 2.-The immense
holiday audience at the Thalia thea
on the Bowery, at today's matinee
performance. started stampede when
shrill, false cry of "fire'' rang
through the house. Several police.
men in the lobby checked the wild
rush of the audience with clubs and
fists the moment it began, forcing the
crowd into the seats. In few mo.
men1s the crowd became quiet.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Designs for Mckinley Monument.

CANTON, Ohio, Dec. 30.-Two plas-
ter model designs for the Mckinley
monument, one weighing half a ton
and the other 300 pounds, were re-
ceived at the local Office of the Nation
al Mckinley Memorial association
today. On Friday the time limit for
the submission of plans expires, and
many drawings are coming into the
Office,
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
President Expresses Sympathy.

CHICAGO, Dec. 3l.--The following
message was received this morning:
"Washington, D. c.. Dec. 81
Hon. Carter H. Harrison, Mayor,
Chicago: In common with all our peo.
pie throughout this land, l extend
through you to the people of Chicago
my deepest sympathy in the terrible
catastrophe which has befallen them.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Investigating Alleged Scandal.

WASHINGTON, Jan. .-Treasury
department experts today instituted
an Investigation of the accounts of the
interstate commerce commission. The
action is ia ken at the instance of Act
ing Chairman Clements, of the com.
mission, as a result of persistent
rumors of irregularities in the draw
iug Of vouchers, etc.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Largest Ship In the World

London, Jan. lit is reported that
the White Star line has ordered a
steamer 755 feet in length or 30 feet
longer than the Baltic, the largest
ship iu the world. The construction
OF the vessel, it is added, will begin
immediately at Belfast, Ireland.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-01-06
Discussing Land Matters.

WAsHISGToN. Jan. l.-Senator
Paris Gibson of Montana, and Repre-.
sentative Mondell have been given
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-14
Duty ON Philippine Products.

Washington, Dec, Ex-senator Fora
ker gave notice IN the senate that he
would not press his amendment reduce
Ing the duty on Philippine products
coming into the United States. This was
done because Of complaint that the
amendment took unfair advantage OF
senators who supposed only the govern
ment bill was TO be voted upon when
an agreement was made to take a
vote ON the 10th instant,
Admission free OF duty Of all articles
which are the product and growth Of
the Philippine Islands except tobacco
and sugar, Is provided for IN an amend
ment proposed today by Senator Fora.
ker to the act providing for the admin
istration Of the affairs OF the civil gov
eminent Of the Philippine islands now
before the senate, The proposed amend
menut fixes the duty on sugar and to.
bacoO at only 20 per cent OF the Ding.
ley rates. II Is provided also that all
duties shall be paid into the treasury
Of the Philippine government to be ex-
pended for the benefit OF the islands.
The present duty Is rs per cent Of the
Dlngley rates.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-14
CONSOLIDATION
Of IS DISTRICTS.

The consolidation Of the 50 school
districts Of the county outside the city
into only two districts VIII again be
considered by the board OF county
commissioners at the meeting late this
afternoon For many months past the
consolidation has been agltated and
considered not only by County supt,
Of Schools Ashton and the commission
ers but also by the residents OF the
county districts In mass meetings.
When the matter was first considered
by Supt. Ashton and the commissioners
II was the Intention 10 consolidate In
70 eight districts. This plan met WIN
some opposition from the trustees VINO
stated that II there was going 70 De
a consolidation they would rather nave
only two districts, The commission
ers api the superintendent lhen COM
menced to consider the two-dlsulct pan
and have communicated with ana Sc
cured expressions from nearly all OF the
trustees on that plan.
Under the proposed plan the county
will be divided In TO a northern ana
southern district, the dividing line
passing east and west near Murray
The northern district viii take IN the
Highland Boy smelter and the Ameri-
can Smelling and Refining compahys
plant ana the southern district NHllAke
IN the smeters at Bingham Junction
and other valuable property at Blns-
ham canyon.
one district viii be known as the
Granite school district and VIII be conf
posed OF Districts a, 25 26, rs, 70, 30,
81, 81, %, IS, 81, 81, 80, Az, As, Al, IS, 80,
SO, Go, 50 and GA. The other district
win be known as Jordan school dis
trlct and viii include Districts y, p,
% q, "a, IS, a. a., iS, "A, A. VI, 81 and
g.
II Is claimed by the consolidation the
tax for school purposes can be more
eqlitably distributed and that II Will
also be more favorable for the estab-
lishment Of high schools. II Is pro-
posed to make the consolidation and
then petition the coming Legislature
to change the law so as create county
districts Of the first class which shall
be on the same basis as school dis
trcts In elites Of the second class,
There VIII be only six trustees II the
plan is adopted, three for each district,
II is believed that the commissions
ers Will adopt the proposed plan as II
is known that two OF them are In
favor OF 1t, namely Chairman Ander-
son and Commissioner Wilson. Com-
missioner standish Is opposed to It for
the simple reason that he thinks the
Legislature should act on the matter
first, lie contends that there Is no
telling what law the Legislature may
pass IN regard to the matter and the
commissioners might have to resclnd
their action entirely If the matter IL
put through now
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-14

ordered Just such a suit OF clothes, and
the package was no doubt intended
for him. The needless pOstmistress
let Ames have the suit dyspepsia tabs
lets and all, and he Immediately put
the clothes on.
In the ordinary course OF things
there was an inquiry from the Chlca-
20 conslBnor as 10 the possible or I'm
possible whereabouts OF that package
That indefatlgable Sleuth OF the post
office department Inspector r. g.
Sharp. traced the trail Of the lost
package TO Lyman and found that
Mr. Ames WAS the proud p0ssessor"
OF the sam9 The postmslress was
notified 10 recover the yalne " the
goods from Ames. but was Informed
that he was a poor man from whom
such a collection was likely to be made
about the times the COWS came home
The postmlstress was then informed
that 1t was mp TO her 20 settle for dam
ages However the Chicago firm said
that II the suit OF clothes could be re-
covered, they would not bubble about
the dyspepsia tablets, or the ribbon SO
Ames was made TO give up the suit.
which was NOT much worn. ms he had
kept them FOR best" and the post
mistress escaped having to pay the
bill