Iowa City Press-Citizen from Iowa City, Iowa • Page 1

THE DAILY CITIZEN THE IOWA CITY CITIZEN THE DAILY CITIZEN TWENTY-mST YSA. IOWA CITY, IOWA. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7,1911 RATE'S GLOVE FACTORY IS BURNED TO THE GROUND AT EARLY HOUR THIS A. M. TOTAL LOSS ON BUILDING AND STOCK 18 ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $100,000 INSURED FOR $32,000.00 Flumes Start in Boiler Koom and llapid Headway--Five Story Total Wreck--Nearby Alw Tlu-eatened ROBERT TAFT President's San Barred by Formality from.Law Examination.

E. F. Rate's Sons' glove factory was tc tally destroyed by flames early morning. The entire loss is estimated at from $100,000 to $125,000 on the building and the stock of goods. This is insured for $32,000, which will cover but a small portion of the total loss.

The building we located on South Clinton street just south of the -tracks, and was formerly occupied by the glucose factory. Stalled in Boiler Rooms The flames weir-e first discovered: at about 5 o'clock and the fire alarm ai once turned in. The first general alarm failed to get out the full force and it was followed a few minutes later by another alarm. The flames had evidently started in the boiler rooms cn the east side of the building where the coal was stored. It is believed it was caused by spontaneous combustion in the coal, which had become greatly heated.

When first found it was confined to but a small territory but was raging fiercely in this part, and in a few moments had spread west to the main build- ins which was five stories in height and in which the factory work proper was carried on. also soon spread to the warehouse wherein was stored a vas-t amount ot materials and goods ready' lor shipment. These, on account of their inflammable nature, were rapidly devoured by the flames, and the firemen were powerless to stay the flames after they had spread to the larger building. Residences Threatened By this time the beat from the flames had become so Intense that the firemen were forced to give their attention to saving the residences across the streets, some of- which were already smoking from the beatf and which were being threatened -wfcli destruction every minute. Pressure Low Tho water pressure was inadequate to reach the building and the streams of water which: were played upon thei building extended only to the second story, so that after the flames had reached the third, fourth and ftfch, stories of the builfling, all hope of saving it was abandoned, although tbe fire department worked heroically an.

did all in their to bring the flames under control. Small Main. Oawho IjoW "The small main to which at- tathed thtree hose was largely the reason why more pressure could not. be secured," said Fire Chief J. Clark, in speaking of 'the low pica- sure.

water company sh'oild not be blamed as the pressure v.as about all that cculd be expected der the circumstances. The fact to that of the hydrants broke aid could 1 not be used and the long dfe- tan-ce which it was necessary to nn (the hose, all combined to add to tha! difficulties of fig tiling the fire in thi proper way." Falling Walls TCnclsmgw Lives After the five had gutted the inside of Che building and had been burning for about an hour, it bo came extremely dangerous for the firemen and workmen remain near the building on account of the tottering walls which were threatening to fall in all directions. One of the big walls foil with a crash straight out and refiounnted like a clap of thunder. The other walls crumbled from the top and fell In separate divisions as the air tuside became hot am) f-rrcced the walls to expand or as tlie wood-work on the inside, which served to support the burnt out atitl left them without props with great cracks made by the heat. Ropes were atrolclicd about the building and the crowd thus back out of the line of danger.

Hours ot Terrific Flumes For two hours the flames raged with great violence, and by this time the greater part of the building was practically totally desrtjreyed, although the flames are still smoulder- ing this afternoon. Will be Hofivr Albert Hate In speaking of the loss this morning stated that the loss thin time could not be accurately htd 04 hand great amount oE stock, being heavily loaded up for the fall trade, and which, we were just preparing to ship out to our customers. On account of this we will be unabla ts fill many of our orders for the fall supply. Our loss on stock will probably reach $50,000 at tae least. We were unable to save much cf the goods.

A very small proportion was taken from the building." Continuing he said, "The loss on the building will be hard to estimate. It cannot be replaced for and it would- probably require more than this amount to put up such a building to lake tie place cf the- ono burned." Insuvaucc Speaking of Mr. Rate said, "The a of insurance on building is but a drop in tbs bucket of what our total less will be. The total amount -cf insurance on the building and stock is $32,000. Tiie greater amount of this is on the stock.

I have nci locked up the policies to determine the exact amount upon each." Forty Employes Out of Work The destruction of the building wil Ithrow some forty employes out of work for an indefinite length of time. The factory has been running with full force, employing about tweruty-five girls and fifteen men. These will all be without work for some time, many of whom were depending on their weekly wages for their support from day to day. Owned by K. F.

Itate Thfc building itself was owned by E. F. Rate, the father of the proprietors of the factory. His logs will be heaviest. The factory was owned by F.

Rate's sons, as Lhe name of the firm indicates, and by one daughter. These are Henry H. Rate, Albert F. Rate, Robert G. Rate, Mrs.

Albert H. Bickett, all of whom live in the city and on whom the loss falls heavily. Walls ai-e Dynamited This forenoon the remaining tottering walls which were slill standing after the flames had subsided 1 wore dynamited and tern in order to avoid the danger of haviiig them fall on those about the grounds. It is also probable that the tall smoke etack will bo down as it is leaning heavily, so as to be in danger oi falling at any moment. Former The Rates seem to be especially afflicted with fires.

Several years xgo a glass factory which they owned Kirkwood avenue was destroyed. in 1906, en March the luilding which they occupied just smth of the building that burned 1st night, was taken fire and dc-s- luyed. One of tbe building birned at that time was occupied by tbj glove factory and the other was ocupied by the Pratt and Cannon pefume factory. In Business Since 1898, "he Rates have been in business 1898, occupying some part of thefactory all this time. The building was signally constructed by the lowv City Grape Sngar Glucose factory and was built in 1882.

After beint operated for some years the factor was abandoned having failed to da-elope as its owners anticipated it would No Plans Future. At present the Rates arc undecided as to what will do in the future, It is, however, possible that they rill secure a building elsewhere and aialn open up at an early date. More Mnfte plana will be made at THELORIMER PROBE HAS STRUCK SNAG SENATOR CULBEUTSON OBJECTS TO IMMEDIATE ACTION IN MATTER COMMITTEE REPORTED Big Glove Factory Burned This Morning Senate Committee Has Hearings on Canadian Reciprocity and Now Begins to Formulate its Report. Washington, June 7. The senate was in session about thirty minutes, adjourning to permit the vice president and senators take the train for Baltimore to attend the celebration in honor of Cardinal Gibbons.

Senator Dlllingham, chairman of the committee oa privileges and elections, submitted a report from his committee embodying the action of tha committee. The report provided for a select committee of eight to conduct an investigation into the Lorimer charges. Senator Dillingham asked immediate consideration of the resolution, but Senator Culbcrscn objected and it went over. Senator Dilljngham also submitted a report on a bill introduced by Sena-, tor Root, providing that a plurality of the votes oast for a senator may elect after twenty days unsuccessful voting jn a state legislature for senator, Mr. Hoct's bill was amended by the committee to provide that in any surti.

case the candid-ate for senator must receive at Vsast cne-thinl ot ail die membership oi the legislature, TLie senate committee on finance has concluded" its hearings on Canadian reciprocity and it was that the committee at Its meeting today would take up consideration of the bill with a view of reporting ifc and a report to the senate is expected not h.ter than Thursday, The committee was in session for a short time waiting for the appearance of Secretary Knox, but he finally sent word that he could not appear, but would' communicate his views in writing to the committee in time to be considered at the meeting today. BRIBERY CASES TO BE CONTINUED OHIO LEGISXiATORS WHO HAVE BEEN 1NTHCTKI WILL BE PROSECUTED. Columbus, Ohio. June prosecution of Ohio Legislators indicted for bribery will continue as originally planned, according to Prosecutor Turner despite the acquittal ot Representative George Nye -charged with soliciting a bribe $500 from State Printer Crawford. There'are still three indictments resting against Nye and: Prosecutor Turner announces that he will have to stand tlral on these.

The next one selected for trial lie stated would probably be one in which Nye is charged with soliciting a bribe from the Burns detectives. The next. ct the indicted legislators, however, to be placed on trial will be Representatives Evans charged with soliciting a $650 bribe 'to support a municipal option bill. 1-fis trial is slated to start Monday. PRES.

TREWIN IN TOWNJESTERDAY HKKK WITH ANII WI KAST TONIGHT. Pres. Trewin oE the Iowa Dcard of Education Is in town today on his way east to look after the matter oC a president for the State Agricultural College at Ames. While in Icwa City he attended a meeting of the faculty committee of the state board of education. Supervisors Allow Many Bills.

The beard of supervisors are bard at work attending to the massed fletail in paying small bills. No matters of special importance have come up KO far, except the insurance policy for the count house, l.which was renewed for five years longer. The board goes to the county farm Tuesday ou their quarterly iti'ip cf inEpfectica. I I 7 THE RATE FACTORY SOON AFTER THE FIHK WHEN THE FLAMKS SPREAD TO THE UPPER FLOORS. UNKNOWN SI AN KILLED Was Run Down by Great Western Train Near Melbourne (By United Press.) Matrshalltown, June unknown man, aged thirty-five years, was killed this morning near Melbourne on the Great Western railway.

The body was badly mangled and the head was severed frcm the drunk. He WES by the train crew on a south-bound train. JOHN P. IRISH COME CALIFORNIA A t'NAULK TO JIKACH IOWA CITY KOK HIS BROTHER'S I-TNKKAL. A telegram from Hon.

John P. Irish stated that he was away from home in Oakland, when telegram arrived annouixing the death of his brother, Gil R. Irish, and therefore ne would not be able to get to Iowa City in i for the eral yesterday. HP lie would visit Iowa later in ihe year. The funeral service was a beautiful and appropriate by Rev.

R. S. hoi-insr. of til? ian church and body was laid to rest in Oakland eemttry. occupying ground once included in Irish farm, and over which Uie Irish brothers plowed corn in an euvly day.

There were prtwnt a' the funeral a brother. Thc-mas M. Irish of Du- buquc, a neice. Chas. Preston, or Davenport; and Irish, who Iras been in iJavpnjwt for the greater part oi' but wlio will now remain in Unvu i Tor a liesiirely stay Utv iliuighter.

Miss Elizabeth Irish. TAFT AND TOGO MEET IN DENVER St'OH IS THE PREKUNT Pl.AX OF THB IENVKU (WAMJIKII OF COMMK1UTC. Denver, Ouiu- bring Altoniral Togo, head -c-f the Japanese navy, and President, Taft together in Denver this fall is the plan of the Chamber of Commerce. ATI Invitation already has been extended to President Taft. Togo has announced his intention ti visiting Atnerka after his stay -ia England RAILROAD COMMISSIONER DIED TO-DAY W.

EATON, WELL KNOWN JO- WAX. PASSES AWAY AFTER- SHORT ILLNESS. HEART TROUBLE CAUSE Was Itorn in Delaware County in 848 and His Wotfc as Railroad Commissioner for Iowa Made liim A Prominent Figure in History, (By United Piess) Osage, Eaton, former state railroad commissioner, died tere this morning. Death was -caused by heart trouble and a a i of the arteries. The deceased leaves a widow and cne son.

Allace. He was bora in Delaware county in 1841 and his con nection i the railroad commission of Iowa has made him one c-f the most prominent figures in this throughout the state of Iowa. EARTHQUAKEJARS THEWHOLECODHTRY SHOOK IN YEARS IS WC- AT WASH- THE WEATHER Vnwttlwl but generally fair toniglit and toinoirow. Ifi DEMANDMOHEY OR THREATEN TO MURDER BLACKMAILERS SEND LETTERS WARNING PROMINENT SO- ION FARMER. ASK FOR $1,000 OF HIS John L.

Adams, Living South of Sd- 011, Mas Been Followed by Giuig of Men for Past Two Weeks--One is Recognized. Three letters have been received by John L. Adams, a farmer, living south of Solon, demanding $1,000 from him and thTOaten ing his life if the demand was not. complies wita immediately. Last night a ot recognized cue of the attempting blackmailers as he was pursuing the rig in whicfl Mr.

Adams was. driving home, and today they are searching; the country to capture him. there is more, than one man in the gang of blackmailers, is not known, but cfflcers of the declare they recognized the man last night and although they refuse vulge his believe have his in custody by this, The first letter demanding OO or his life was ams May 27, at which 1 let-r ter containing the was dropped Into his mail box. The second missive was mailed on the ening of Meow-rial day from the postoffice at Solon and third came to him same place last Monday morning. The third letter read: "We are going money if we 'have to chcp.it cut of you," Upon receipt of the third letter threatening his life, Adams told his friends of his exp-arleaces.

Last night as he was- drivingi home a strange man was following him. He told of the posse of "citizens, termed. (th.eniselv.es into a searching party. Tie man, was seen and name Is being -withheld. Officers are in searea of him ilinute details -the manner, jn which the package of money should be delivered Were contained in the letters sent to Mr, He was to drop an cllea 1 paper package from Ms rig at night as hej.dfoye homeward, but not until he iheaitf three whistles from the road side.

Needless to say the community IB greatly aroused over affair, 'and curiosity as to the identity of the attempting blackmailers is keen. Bigger Hose. Fire Chief Clark this morning expressed himself as being of the opinion that it was largely due to the fact that ithey were not equipped with a larger hose that they were unable to better ccpe with the fire. One of the hydrants also went wrong, and this further delayed ilhem alter first connecting with the one which, broke. In addition, the walls ot the building, itself, were so old and rotten that its was extremely dangerous for men tc g-o iusias or even on the roof cf dlie main building.

If we had had an engine fire apparatus" said Fireman Paul Schmidt, "we could have reached all parts of the flames and would probably have had better luck than -we did. As it was we were rendered almost helpless under the circumstances." BLOOD HOUNDS AFTER ROBBERS Washington, June siesme- graphs recorded this morning the worst a a shock recorded in- ysars. Building rocked violently. They i thai the center of shx-l; was lour to iivo thousand miles from the city. tltimbulrit t'nmmrnre-ment HU.MBO1DT--Twenty were graduated from the Ihnnboldt high school this week, The week will clcse with the ahirani baseball game and the alumni banquet, year.

Injured Ham! MODALE--His hand becoming caught, in a feed Rrimler Friday Ing, a farmer, lost his third U-: on-'iCERS GET DOGS Al'TKR THE THIEVES WHO LOOTKO SAFE (By United Press) Carlisle, 7. Bloodhounds have been placed on the trail of robbers here who last night broke UILO and looted the safe the FTed Iati- man meat marte.t. Entrance was gained by the robbers through a rear window. BOHBREDSPEBSH IN EARTHQUAKE riTY STRICKEN WITH PIONEER MAIL CLERK IS DEAD CLARK9ON MILLER'S ORAKDw FATHER PASSES AWAY AT 1)ES (By United Press) Des Moines, June J. Milter, superintendent of mails at here, died at II o'clock last night from appoplexy- He was a veteran of the United tates mail service and had ao almost fatal connection with the famous Burlington wreck of a third of a century ago wherein he sustained a horribly burned face.

For two years he was lingering between life and deata- but finally recovered. He teas one of the earliest of PoJk county pioneers. coining here in 1S56. He has a grandson, J. Clarlison aiiiler, attending school at the state university.

CITY TRADE MARK URGED AD MEN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING HKLIt LAST EVENING BY THK itAZKi TO Mexico City. June At an early hour this morning, one of th-e worst earthquakes ever -experienced here, tcppled over buildings and crushed the from sixty people, Among the buildings thrown to the earth, was the government Artillery barracks, where seventy soldiers were tpjrlej 'under the ra "Advertised Trade Markde Goods from a Retail Dealer's Standpoint," and Advertising from a Manufactur- fers' Standpoint" were the subjects Of enthusiastically received a-Jidreea- es given last evening before a meeting of tbe Iowa City Admen's ctwb by H. Conant, manager ot the Boeoer Pry Company, and Will S. Thomas, of the Thomas Hardware store. Following the meeting at waich many valuable suggestions were received for boosting Iowa City manufacturers' goods, a ccnimittee appointed to consider, wayt means to augment sale la city of articles Another general discussion brought out the advlftabiUtr of trade nark on.