davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
All Trains Are Late.

ST. LOUIS, Mo, Jan. PA big
advance in the price of peaches next
summer will be one of the results of
the blizzards which have swept the
middle and southwest during the past
two weeks, according to market men
here today Reports from southern
Illinois and all parts of Missouri.
great peach producing sections, state
that the crop was seriously damaged
by the cold last week and that the
present zero weather has completely
killed the crop The temperature
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
Firemen Work During Coolest Night of the
Winter with Many Obstacles to Battle
Against for Many Hours
THEATRE, OFFICE AND LODGE HALL
Three Story Brick Building Falls Prey to the
Flames Which Destroy Much Property
for the Tenants

poured against the walls, 1t froze
solid and the Fourth street side OF
the building is one mass OF ice from
top to bottom.
After the roof had been burned
away and fallen, dense volumes of
black smoke poured out and at times
the street was so filed that it was
impossible to see the building. In
spite of the bitter cold, many spec
tators stood about the location and
watched the efforts of the men.
Danger In Neighborhood.
The adjoining buildings were in
danger from the blaze and during the
fercest part OF the fire it looked as
though more than the one building
must go. Had the north wall fallen
upon the one story building next door,
there might have been bigger fire,
but the walls held. At the rear. a
big glass skylight on the roof of the
printing plant seemed to offer en-
couragement for the rear wall to top
pie over, crash through it and set fire
to this building.
Fortunately there was little wind
The slight wind that WIS blowing wal
from the northeast and blew thu
smoke across Main street. Had thu
wind been stronger and in another
direction, there would have been big
ger fire.
Nearly all of the business firms II
the immediate vicinity were notified
early in the morning of the fire and
were down at their places of bust
ness ready to start moving out IL
case the fire should spread to theil
property.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12

WIND BLOWING A GALE
Soldiers From the Garrison Called
Out to Assist the Firemen in
Preventing Spread of
Flames.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service
HALIFAX, N. S., Jan. 1.-THE en-
tire business section of Halifax was
endangered today by fire that was
fought desperately by the firemen
and the soldiers from the garrison,
whose efforts were able only to hold
the conf1agration within the block
bounded by Darlington, George and
Granville streets. The wind was
blowing a gale and burning embers
were carried through the city, en-
dangering the hotel section and the
Nova Scotia legislative building.
Among the buildings destroyed early
in the morning We're the plant Of the
Halifax Herald and the big drygoods
house of w. S. Munnie
The fire started shortly before three
o'clock, and because of the zero tenn
perature the firemen were unable for
long time to properly fight il. A
special call was sent to the COM
mandant of the garrison and he hur.
ried troops to the aid of the fire
fighters, Occupants of the big hotels
a short distance from the scene but
in the direct path of the flames If the
wind does not change, were ordered
into the street as precautionary
measure.
| Fire Took the Bakery.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. ia fve story
building occupied by Weyl's bakery
was destroyed by fire here early today.
Owing to the low water pressure. fire.
4 men were badly hampered and the
intense cold added to the difficulties
of fighting the blaze. The Columbia
! theatre, adjoining the burned build
| ing, was threatened for time, but
escaped with slight damage. Loss,
/ $4,000.
I 100000 Fire at Milwaukee.
/ MILWAUKEE, Wis, Jan. 12-Fire
/ starting at midnight totally destroy
ed the Bitker department store build
4 ing and threatened adjacent prop
erty A hundred persons occupying
! nearby buildings fled to the icy streets
! in zero weather. Many were frost
I bitten before being allowed by fire
men to re-enter their homes The
loss is estimated at 100000.
Gale and Frozen Mains.
GRAFTON, w. Va, Jan, 12.-Fire
i of mysterious origin broke out
shortly after midnight today in the
Grafton Wooden Works. completely
destroying the building and wrecking
all machinery, and three residences,
causing a loss of more than 100000
With gale tanning the flames. the
department was powerless. Frozen
water mains and icy streets added to
4 the handicap of the fire department
! Half a million is the rough estimate
of the damage done by fire which
razed a part OF the business section
here today.
The fire, driven by fierce gale
threatened several nearby hotels, and
the Nova Scotia legislature building
but was under control at 8 o'clock.
Loss of $4,000.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan 12.-Thres
firemen were injured in fire which
destroyed the show case factory of S
H. Sterling & Co., today. Loss $50,
0Oe.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
MASONIC BUILDING WRECKED
By SPECTACULAR MORNING BLAZE
Abeh is Heavy Loser.

~ SeA0
ire falls upon G. S. Abell. whose
electrical supplies in the basement
we're ruined. He stated this morning
before the blaze was under control
that he had stock worth In the
neighborhood OF $4,000 In the base
ment and expected this to be total
loss. At that time he could not enter
the cellar to make an investigation.
Besides being manager Of the
Dodge's theatre, Mr.. Abel is engaged
In the electrical contracting business
and carried an extensive stock OF
goods which were in the basement.
Theatre is Soaked.
Dodge's theatre suffers a severe
loss from water only. The moving
picture machine is enclosed in steel
room in order to protect the building
in case of a fire arising from the
machine. This steel covering saved
the machine from the water and no
damage resulted The chairs in the
theatre were spoiled by water and the
piano ruined
The theatre is naturally out of cons
mission.
Office Records Gone.
The Standard Oil Company suffers
great inconvenience as result of the
records being destroyed. Manager
M. F. King, Jr.. is out of the city at
present, being enroute west.
OF course the most important papers
and records of the office were kept in
the safe and were not damaged, but
all furniture in the offices was either
eaten up by the blaze or ruined by the
flood of water which was poured in
to the building.
High Robes of Office.
The Masonic order lost everything
in the hall. The paraphernalia OF
Eagle and Hardin lodges and the
other branches OF the order. went up
In smoke. The costumes used in the
Masonic initiation are very handsome
and expensive ones and loss of sew
eral hundred dollars resulted. Each
lodge carries its own insurance on
its paraphernalia.
Masonic hall was gorgeously dec
GRATED one and the lodge fittings were
of the very best. These were all
ruined and Masonry in Keokul is
homeless but not hopeless.
Arrangements will be made to hold
fha rpnofinoc nf ha ;,, afh
halls until a new home has been pre-
pared
Owned by Masons.
Twenty years ago last June the
Masons of Keokuk purchased the
building. There was $4,000 insurance
carried on the building by the COM
mittee in charge, $500 of this being on
the one story addition at the rear.
thus leaving but $500 on the prop
erty burned. The policies are as fol-
lows:
Liverpool London & Globe $4,000,
represented by the Hobbs agency
New York Underwriters $500, rep
resented by Blood and Brinkman.
Fire Insurance Co.. $1,000, repre-
sented by Geo. r. Parsons.
Palatine, $1,000, represented by
George R. Parsons.
A little insurance was carried by C.
S. Abel upon his stock and the Dodge
theatre loss is covered by insurance.
Danger From Wires.
During the progress of the fire there
was considerable danger from falling
wire. All wires which ran into the
building, were soon covered with ice
and became SO heavy that they were
in danger of falling. Firemen and
linemen cut all of these dangerous
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
CO[DEST WEATHER N Twenty
YEARS IS SWEEPING OVER COUNTRY

ranged from zero to ten below through
out Missouri and Kansas today. All
trains are from eight to ten hours
late. Sixteen below zero is the Of
ficial forecast for st. Louis tonight
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
Eiremen in Misery.

With the mercury crouching down
around the 20 below mark, the firemen
worked against great odds and were
in misery from the start. The water
froze almost as soon as it struck the
building and flying spray soon had
the workmen's clothing covered with
ice. The water pressure was poor
and in spite of the efforts of the men,
the blaze continued
The hydrants at Fourth. Fifth and
Main were frozen up but others We're
in commission and every available bit
of apparatus was called and several
lines of hose were laid.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
Total estimated damage. .... 1000
Total estimated Insurance.. SIP, 900


Only the skeleton of building, its
walls encased in thick coating OF ice,
nearly every wind ow gaping open, the
roof gone, the walls held in the wise
of ice and ready to pop and burst,
falling to the street with crash;
that is the Masonic building on the
corner of Fourth and Main streets to-
day as the result of the fire of early
this morning which gutted the build
ing.
The blaze started from the heating
plant in the cellar, crept through the
basement until it found the back STAIR
way beckoning to the flames to mount
higher. With roar, the flames rush
ed up this convenient flue and soon
the entire second and third floors were
ablaze. At o'clock flames were leap
| ing out of the windows and the build
| ing looked as though it was brilliantly
lighted on the inside. At 8 O'Clock
this morning, flames were still spurt-
ing out of the upper windows but the
blaze was then under control
I The Masonic order lost everything
The Standard Oil Company local OF
fee lost all furniture and fixtures and
nearly all of it's records.
1 Dodge's theatre suffered a heavy
loss from water and Ice.
4 C. S. Abel is a heavy loser.
The building suffered the greatest
damage, the roof and practically
the entire interior being destroyed
the walls possibly being rendered un
safe to be left standing and the erec
ton of an entire new building being
the possible result.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
From the Lakes to the Gulf and from Ocean to
Ocean Intense Cold is Causing Great
Suffering and Damage
SOFT COAL FAM|NEs ARE THREATENED
Charity Organizations in Cities are Working to
Relieve Distressed -Des Moines Faces a Coal
Famine 80 Below at Mason City

scheduled to brine eastern coal, have
caused the demand on local mines to
treble. Shortage for power purposes
also threatens to cause shutdown of
the streetscar service.
At Mason City the temperature fell
to 80 below zero and other parts of
the state report record-breaking low
temperatures.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
Three story Structure.


The building was a three story
brick, fronting fifty feet on Main
street and occupying the full half
block on Fourth street. At the rear
was a one story section occupied by
the Lutz & Stahl printing and binding
plant. This escaped the blaze be-
cause of the direction Of the wind and
the failure of the rear wall OF the
three story part to fall.
The property was owned by the
Masonic order of the city, which came
into possession some years ago, and
was kept up in the best possible con-
dltion. $4,000 insurance was carried
by the order.
The lower floor was occupied by the
Dodge theatre. On the second floor
the Standard Oil Company's offices
occupied the entire floor.
The third floor was used by the Ma
sons as their lodge hall
In the basement was located the
steam heating plant which furnished
heat for the three floors and for the
Lutz & Stahl building. 1t was from
this heating plant that the blaze start
ed in all probabilities
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
Coal GIVING Out.
Heavy Snow Promised.

NEW YORK. Jan. Ia blizzard
in which the mercury dropped to
twelve above zero, struck New York.
with the prospects for the heaviest
snow OF the season and zero weather.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-12
Coolest in twenty Years.


SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan. 12.
The coolest weather in twenty years
today prevailed throughout Texas.
San Antonio and the southern part of
the state is covered with two inches
of sleet and snow. The temperature
this morning was IS degrees above
zero
Great damage has been done to
crops while much live stock is suffer
ing from exposure and probably will
be lost.
26 Below at Lincoln.
LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 12.--After two
weeks of almost continuous below zero
weather, the mercury this morning
sank to 26 below, the low point for
the winter and within three degrees
of the record at the local United
States weather bureau. Many poor
families are suffering and the county
authorities and charity societies are
heavily taxed.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02
Mr.. CLARK SPENDS
NIGHT IN BALTIMORE
He Successfully Eludes All
Pursuers in Wash
ingtOn

Baltimore, July 1.-Speaker Clark spent
the evening at the city home of Mayor
Preston, near the convention hall. Sew
eral members of the Missouri delegation
met him at the Preston home. 1t was
said he would remain in the race.
Washington, July 1.-Speal1er Clark sue
eessfuIly eluded all pursuers today. He
was not to be found at his offices in the
capitol and could not be located at his
home, Rumor said he was in Baltimore
at the home of Mayor Preston In con-
ference with his political advisers.
His lieutenants here simply said he was
hidden away for the day, getting some
sleep. All efforts to find him were fu-
tile.
All the government departments oper-
ated today in technical violation of the
law which forbids voluntary service, on
the assurance of leaders in Congress
that a resolution to cover their operations
would be passed by night. This was
necessary because many of the big APP
Precipitation bills stlll remains to be pre-
scented TO the Senate and the treasurer
covld not pay out any money.
After the resolution had been rushed
through the House and Senate Speaker
Clark's mysterious absence threatened to
wreck the whole plan.
Chairman Fitzgerald of the appropfia-
tons committee and Leader Underwood
sought him in vain and finally hit upon
the plan to put Mr. Alexander of Missouri
in the chair
Late tonight nobody in Washington ex-
cept MIR. Clarks cloest lieutenants knew
where he was and they would not tell.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02

TAFT SPEAKS At
SAENGER bUND
COmmends the Germans of
America for Fostering
Love of Music

Philadelphia. July Recommending
the Germans of America for fostering
the love of music and for promoting an
art which he says perhaps contributes
more to the happiness and enjoyment
of life than any other. President Taft
spoke tonight to the Northeastern
Saenger Bund.
The spirit and motive of these sing
ing societies" he said. constitute that
which Is difficult to translate into Eng
fish Gemuthlickeit the pursuit of art
by the many. with the unit of the FAM
lily interested under conditions which
good comradeship is made the chief in
cdent. 1t is a custom that we have
borrowed and this liberalizing and
broadening of our family and personal
pleasure are due to the influences of
those of our citizens who continue and
maintain In this country the delightful
customs of their fatherland.
There are many Philistines who hold
lightly the practice of many arts with
which they are not familiar, but they
are blind and do not realize that the
cultivation of each branch of art only
wldens the opportunities for the enjoy
ment of life and adds an additional re-
source for the promotion of individual
happiness.
Il therefore thank our fellow citizens
who have labored hard and success
fully to preserve these valued and valu-
able German customs, and | wish to ex-
press our gratitude as Americans for
the debt on this account due to Ger
man civilization"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02
BILL VINES SAYS THE DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION is AS HARMONIOUS AND
CALM AS THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN
BY BILL VINES

wealth were to lay their Shiny hands upon
the convention and form entangling all
lianees with some of the leaders and COR
rupt them and thus betray the people
Had they known this they would not
have been 50 gay. Haw they but known
it they would have shuddered a long, deep,
shivering shudder at the horror of the
situation.
Imagine a democratic statesman's nor
rer over the fact that predatory wealth
is getting its hooks in the party without
consulting him! But all was not lost
Not so as you could tell it. Sherlock
Holmes Bryan, with an eye single to the
peoples interest can smell Wall streeter
40 miles around the corner and no drop
of predatory wealth has ever got by him.
He stands with drawn sword ready TO
make a speech over the people He does
not care whom the convention might NOM
mate for the presidency so long as they
do not nominate a man objectionable to
the people, Inc people, alter consuhtahs
Mr.. Bryan, advised him who ought to be
nominated. but Mr.. Bryan has not d.
vulge the secret.
Mr.. Bryan could not betray the people.
Six and one-half million of them voted
for him, fact that he reluctantly adj
mitted eight or ten times on the floor of
the convention.
So he won't give the people away. But
the moment the convention opened he
put a cockleburr under the saddle on
the democratic donkey and no candidate
has been able to sit therein.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02

Baltimore, July 1.-(Special)-At each
session of a national convention the first
thing is the prayer. This is offered by
a perfectly respectable preacher of the
gospel, who can prove that he has abb
solutely no connection with delegates on
the floor, or is not aligned in, any way
with predatory wealth, or the big inter-
ests The moment he offers UP the pray
er he hastily leaves the convention hall
and hurries away. 1t certainly is no place
for minister who expects to hold his job
When the republicans were holding their
convention in Chicago and Teddy was out
there biting up the furniture and per-
sonal friends around the Congress hotel
and mussing up all Tafts chances to
come back" and milk the White House
COW for the next four years, our demo-
cratic statesmen were patting each other
on the back and, fairly bubbling over in
high glee.
"Wait, and we will show them what real
harmony is, they declared. when the
old democratic party gets together in Bal
timore,'' they said. wen make a prayer
meeting in Quaker village seem rough
house in Chinatown beside us.
I'VE are going to hand out the real
peace and affection stunt printed on little
pink tracts to every delegate as they ar
rive. Nothing shall mar the view
I'VE have but one idea, one single pur-
pose, one grand motive, the good of the
party
But, alas! They did not take into ac-
count that Wall street and predatory
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02
Exuna and Weat1erly Return
and Discuss Big Convention

are earnestly. patiently and steadily
trying to work out the best results
for the democratic party. At no time
have they been swayed off their feet
by Bryan or any other orator. During
the entire proceedings there has been
less oratory, less flambouyancy and
less applause than any other conven-
ton l ever attended. If Bryan or any
one else talked at random, he was
quickly called down.
In the convention there Is a great
body of independent. votes and while
tied down by the unit rule. they will.
at the proper time, vote their own con-
victions. They have tried out Clark and
are now trying out Wilson, and Will
later try out Underwood, and then
something will surely fall l have
strong hopes for Underwood, but 1t
may be a dark horse. and who that may
be / am not prepared to say.
Underwood is wonderfully popular.
I roomed next to the proxy for the
national committeeman from California,
who was first for Clark. Later the
regular committeeman came to the con-
vention and they both assured me of
their high admiration of Underwood
and stated that he would get good
vote from California when the vote
broke Tennessee and Virginia VIII
give him at least 10 votes each; Con-
necticut will give him 10 out OF Ia
Michigan will give him good vote,
and there is scarcely any doubt but
that he will get the 90 from New YORK.
He would have got them before this
had 1t not been for the reason they
did not want to hurt his chances, and
are simply waiting for some other big
state to take the lead. OF course, these
figures are merely estimated
II did not hear a single adverse eX-
preston to Underwood on account OF
geographical lines from any prominent
source. The boosters from Alabama
did good and effective work and MADE
an excellent showing. The Baltimore
people treated the delegates and VS.
itors with much hospitality and eN-
orbitant prices were the exception and
not the rule While the Alabama dele
cation was not as well provided with
! hotel accommodations as they would
have been had not the Eutaw hotel
burned down, still they Jared well I'M
der the circumstances.
my trip to Baltimore proved that my
position In refusing to stand Tor re-
election as national committeeman, as
1 was urged by many friends, was cor
rect, for there are manifold duties at
tached to the Office which | realized
would make greater demands on my
time than could give. | am glad
to be back, hut had 1t not been for the
press of city business | would have
seen the convention through, / again
repeat that Underwood's chances are
excellent and | sincerely hope he will
win the nomination,''
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02

FOURTH COMPANY
GRANTS DEMANDS

Boston, July 1.-The fourth stee .nshp
company having headquarters in Boston
to grant demands of the striking sea-
men, marine firemen and oilers was an
nounced tonight as the Harper Transpor-
tation company. Earlier in the day the
Chesebro Steamship company met the de-
mands and previously the Eatern Steam
ship company and the United Fruit COM
pany had yielded. BY the concessions
the men are given an additional IS per
month, making the pay of the seamen
$40 per month, the marine firemen $40
and the oilers $50.