=a SUCCEEDING The Oshawa Daily Reformer he Oshawa Baily Times VOL. 1--NO. 97 OSHAWA, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1927 10 Cents a Week; 2 Cents a Copy. FOURTEEN PAGES I ALGER BLOCK FIRE LOSS OVER $90,000 ALGER PRESS AND BILTMORE HEAVY LOSERS Restaurant Damaged to Ex- tent of $12,000 With $6,000 Insurance INTERIOR IN RUINS New Beauty Parlor Suffers Thousand Dollar Loss With No Insurance Placing the aamage in connection With this morning's early hour fire in the Alger Press block in which the premises occupied by the Bilt- mofe Cafe, the McWattaer's Confec- tionery and 'Lunch' store, the Gar- row Beauty Parlor, the bond and brokerage offices of Cassel, Turner Crawford and Biggar, the Suitey Realty are located at over $90,000 is considered by those acquainted with the situation as being quite conser- "© vative. The Biltmore Cafe managed by Willie Lee, and owned by a partner- ship, is next to the = Alger Press Limited, the tneavy loser. This firm's entire establishment was gut- ted completely doing damage to the extent of $12,650, $6,000 of which is covered by imsurance. It will be necessary to rebuild, 're-decorate, and equip the entire cafe for every chatel of any value was wiped out. Where formerly neat and private stalls were arranged and where meals and lunches were served in privacy, today stands only charred ruins. Even the, chair and tables, With-theea a8 hauler balt. dozen chairs ee table ag burned beyond recognizance. A, CU. Lycett brokered insurance to the value of $4,000 on this firm Damage to the extent of $10,000 was done to the McWatter's Confec- , tionery and Lumch store, managed by W. W, McWatters, who came here from Lindsay several months axon. The beautiful white enamelled equip ment and fixtures today were =n mass of waste. He carried $5,000 in- surance, A new halr dressing and beauty parior equipment was installed at a cost of nearly $1,000 by the Misses Garrow, They were located above the MecWatter store. Their goods was not covered by insurance and all their books lost in the bufding con- tained data pertaining to the busi- ness, There was no insurance, Office furniture was damaged to the exten. of about $200 in the of- fice of Cassel, Turner, Crawford. ana Biggar, managed by Fred Carswell. Most of this, will have to be refinished, There was no in- suran-e, Office furniture and general of- fice equipment was burned in the of- fice of W. J. Bulley, realtor and insurance man. No insurance wus carried, The Alger Press Limited sustained the greatest loss, losing the block valued over $60,000 and in addition sustained heavy damages to printed matter and paper in the plant. One .job valued at about $8,000 was lost Water spoiled about $2,000 worth of Christmas caras, The building was well insured, A.C. Lycett aldo carried $10,000 fire on his block. All the establishments were doing a good business, the proprietors said today, and the loss of time re- quired to replace the premises, ete. will run into thousands of dollars. The office of the Excelsior Life Insurance Company also located in the Alger Block was completely gut- ted by fire and water, the main dam- age being to the office furniture and general equipment. The loss will run into several hundred dol- dars. MISS RUTH ELDER CONFINED TO BED WITH SEVERE COLD (By Associated Press) Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 26--Ruth Elder, aviatrix who arrived here with Captain Haldeman from the Azores, was confined to bed today with a cold and her departure for Madrid will probably be delayed. SENATOR CURTISS ENTERS THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RACE (By Associated Press) Washington, Oct. 26.--~Sena- tor Charles Curtis of Kansas, leader of the Sen- entered , the 1928 writing to "Ourgis for President" club of ¥ansas that he would be pleas- ed to be their candidate. wr Scene of Disastrous Fire in Alger Block The fire in the Alger block whic years. After the flames had heen sr above pictnre shows the firemen at TWO MORE PLACES ARE BURGLARY Bl rs Thieyes Enter the 'Homer of] Errol Bruton and A." Swartz vga; Two. further robberies occurred in this city last night, the loot including a gold watch, some clothing and about $28 in cash, From the manner of en- try in each case and the way in which the robberies were conducted, local rolice are of the opinion' that the thefts were made hy the same person that was operating in this vicinity a few weeks ago. Whether he left the aistrict and has just returned, or whe- ther he was just "lying low," is of ccurse, a matter of conjecture: One of the houses entered was that of Mr. Errol Bruton, who is the prom inent proprietor of a shoe store. on Simece street, and who resides at 167 Masson street. The thief entered by a back door, apparently using a skele- ton key, and proceeded upstairs, He removed Mr. Brutcn's trousers from his bedroom, and took therefrom a gold Waltham watch, which was a gift to Mr. Bruton and which he prized very much. No clothing was taken, and no rash, for Mr, Bruton never makes a practise of carrying any (Continued on Page 7) FINED $100 AND COSTS William Hedges whs fined $100 and costs when he appeared before Magistrate A. F. Hind in the local Police Court this morning and pleaded guilty to a charge of having liouor unlawfully. Hagédorn made the mistake of having possession of liquor or not purchased from Gov- ernment Stores. This was the first time in his life he had ever ap- peared in Police Court, according to his Counsel, J. P. Mangan, and he was let off with the minimum. Crown Attorney Grierson ronducted the prosecution, © WEATHER Light to moderate winds, fair and mild, Thursda moderate winds, fair, stationary or sotnc- what lowcr temperature, / h occurred this morn'ng nothered, a blaze work at an early broke out again at hour Photo hy C City and Fi in Of Blag el RECOVER TWO BODIES FROM GEORGIAN BAY, ONE STILL MISSING (By Canadian Press) Midland, Oct, 26~~Bodies of Leonard Terry and Frank Ma- son, two of the three men drowned when the launch caught fire and sank in Geor- gian Bay last Saturday, were recovered today after unceasing efforts on the part of local and Toronto lifesaving and other officials, The bodies were found five hundred yards from the body of Fred Davis, FOUND NOT GUILTY OF STEALING BOAT Action of Custonss Officials Condemned -- Dr, Wellbanks Exonerated (By Canadian Press) Jelleville, Oct. 26.--Dr./Hedley Well- banks was found not guilty by Migis trate Mikel today of the theft of a motor boat, Verna, which he had tak- en from the Pa'mer Fish Company o* Rechester. Customs dfficers of tin United States seized the hoat whet owned by Wellanks fn Canadian wa ters, and this action / was condemned Magistraté Mikel, | Customs sold it Palmer company. by tc ' ie ily COMMON SENSE WINS Iondon, Ot. 26/--The general opinion of the South African flag questions' settlement is that "com- mon sense has won.' Strike in Toron Every Effort to Make Sym- pathetic Strike a Success--- Amalgamated Carpenters Strengthen Position -------- (By Canadian Press) Toronto, Oct. 26 --The strike of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters now appears to have developed into a contest between that organization and the amalgamated Union, a rival body, for the success or mon success of the sympathetic strike called in support of the Brotherhood claim for non-recognition of the amalgamated. A demand for wage increase has been relegated to a side issue while strik- "rs endeavor to complete a tie-up of J worse on the construction prograrci in- to Results In Contests Between Unions United Brotherhood Bending |" volving twenty- five inillions. John Doggett, of the Amalgamated Ca penters, declared that the "beginr- ping of the fourth week of the car- penters' strike finds the amalgamatedo -arpente:s' position in Toronto consi- dcrably stronger. 1 We are confident that the finish of this, turmoil will find the amalgamated banner still flying.' Mr. Doggett claimed that "on ten jobs where a partial sympathy strike exists only 102 men are on strike. In the same ten jobs 584 men of other irades anr callings ase still working. These gures speak for themselves." James Marsh, organizer of the Uni- ted Brotherhood, had no Statement to wake on the situation." The strike ex- of visiting works where building tradesmen are employed and endeavor- ed to swell the ranks' of the strik- ers, but up until noon there was ap- varently little addition te the number. this morning, gutted and offices and office furniture over the restaurant were badly damaged, ecutive, however, continued their plan |: was one of the worst Oshawa has experienced In noon but was soon extinguished, The The Biltmore cafe was completely ampbell; eut by Reed Engraving Co. ire Marshal Likely to Probe Cause n Alger Block * Matter will Come Before the Fire Protection Committee at Its Regular Meeting To- night -- Question of Sep- arate Probe By City Will Have to Be Decided By the Council -- One Opinion is Fire Was Caused By Burn- ing Grease Igniting Wood- work of Window That the Alger Block fire which reurred early today with an apprexi- mate loss of $100,000 will be probed both by city and the provincia fire m arshal's department was "strong- v intimated in official circles today The City Council fire protection com- mittee of which Ald. Marks is chair man, meets in regular session tonight and it is stated with autMority that the whole subject will be laid before them with a view to early action. While the committee, with the mayor's con- -urrence, can call in the fire marshall, he matter of a separate civic probe would have to be determined at the | ¢ ouncil meeting to be held on Novem- her 7. D.. T. E. Kaiser. M.P., whose resi- I lential grounds lie next to the Bilt- nore Cafe, believes that the fire was yrobably due te burning grease in the restaurant kitchen which, in his opin- mn, ignited the woodwork of the win- low in one sash of which there is a ventilating fan Due to that fan's position, ser believes that it did more than iraw off kitchen fumes. He has com- plained of the fan as a summer nui- sance, and believes that it served to catter hot grease over the woodwork ®hich, at the first touch of fire, blazed up like tinder#® Ii Dr. Kaiser's theory is substantiat- ed by the Fire Protection Committee or other body investigating, civic au- thorities will be faced with the possi- bility that if action on a restaurant sanitation by-law had not been delay- ed for some years and still under con- sideration, Oshawa would not have'to add $100,000 to its 1927 fire loss total. SENTENCED TO ONE MONTH Having liquor in a public place is a serious proposition, as Johm Grodzinski found out in Police Court this morning, when Magis- trate Hind sentenced him to ene month in jail. Grodzinski pl guilty to the charge, which is second offense against the Liquor Control Act. He was also ordered to pay the costs of the prosecutiom, and in default of payment will have t serve a further week in jail. D, A. J. Swanson appeared for the ae- cused, Dr. Kai: BETTING EVEN ON DUNDEE FIGHT Los Aneles, Oct. 26.--The betting is even on_the Dundee-Ace Hudkins f'ght here Saturday night, when Dundee defends the welterweight ti- tle. + HOW FIRE LOSSES Loss¢#s in sonhevtion with the fhe early this maining to the Alger Block on King Street Kat ave estimated to be as fol- lows: Alger Ppess Limited, $70,000, partly coyered by insurance, siltmore Cafe, $12,000, part. ly coveved by insur: nee, McWatter's Confeetionery and Lunch, $10,000, with $5,000 insurance, Cassel, Turner, Crawford and Biggar, $200, not covered by ine surance, W. J. 8-Vev, realtor, $200, not covered by insur nce, Misses Garrow, beauty parlor, $1,000 net o vered hy insurance, The Excelsior Life Insurance Co., damage to furniture, $200, HOPING TG RESCU MOST OF SURVIVORS | OF SUNKEN LINER boy ning Battle off Brazilian Coast Cable... Seryice... to, ; a an Press) Rio de Janeiro, Oct. 26. Fighting what appeared to be a winning hat with death at least half a dozen shi~ today were standing by the islands of Abrolhos where the Italian steamshin Principessa Maffalda, seeking trace of two hundred or more persons still reported missing. Seven hundred and twenty persons were de- finitely accounted for while the Bri- tish steamship Avalona wirelessed Lon don it had picked up three hundr leaving about two hundred unaecount ed for. The French steamer Formos. had hopes of rescuing most of the survivors. Vieinity is usually c1lm so (Continued on Page 3) TRAVELL imes_. hy. | ER LEFT GRIP IN CAFE Rushed Into Biltmore This Morning and Salvaged Property § Incidents in connection with the early morning fire which gutted the Alger Press Block on East king street this morning were many. Just when the firemen were work- ing and battling with the fire a tra- veller rushed in from a city hotel ar wanted his club bag. He explained to firemen and police that he did not take it to his hotel Jast night but left it standing in the bilo: Cafe where he believed it wou bé quite safe. The bag, which the traveller, whose identity could not be learned, contain ed several valuable papers belonging to the firm for which he worked. The missing link was located standing in a corner. One side has been singed by fire, but it was in an otherwisc gond condition. Later in the same place a drawe was opened and in it was lying sev eral hundred dollars) in money. The bills were water soaked but when tak- en to the bank, it is understood, were redeemed. On opening another cash drawer water spurted out and with i came more dollar bills. These wert taken over today by the cafe manager WERE DISTRIBUTED Reczue Ships Fighting Win- | sank lat night, | tain Heavy Loss -- [Fine Block of Stores Gutted By Early Morning Blaze Which Originated in Biltmore Cafe i Firemen Battle Spectacular Blaze for Hours--One of Worst That Has Visited Oshawa for Years --Fire Chief Overcome By Smoke While Fightings Flames Inside Building -- One of Firemen Slightly Injured When Struck By Nozzle of Hose -- Owners and Tenants Sus- Insurance Carried on the Building and Most of Tenants' Offices -- Me- Watters' Loss Not Protected In cne of the mests spectacular fires that has visited Oshawa in years damage to the extent of over $90,000 was done to the Alger block on King street east today. this morning firemen battled the flames for hours before it was c~rrpletely extinguished. Heavy losses were sustained by the Alger Breaking out about 4 o'clock |P%e ess while the Biltmore Cafe, one of the city's leading restaurants, was gutted with the contents a total loss. | were vractically destroyed while Offices over the cafe the McWaters Confectionery and {1 unch store next to the Biltmore was badly damaged by fire and 2 he only fortunate part of the disastrous blaze was that no | nerson was sleeping in the building and consequently, there was n [Ines of life which would otherwise have been the case since it would blaze started is not known and fire department offici~ls ar» at a loss to advance any specific information that will enlighten on the Tmnatter. The matter, it is sa'd, will be probed. The fact that there was practically v wind saved the down town section af Oshawa from suffering untold dam- Lacek, . Had the wind been "head on the flamed Whi' at times-raged high wou'd have blown over the Dieney Block and probably would have jump- ed the Celina street intersection and on to the New Martin Theatre block. Witness of the conflagraticn today state there would have been no stopo- ing had the flames ever been fed by any kind of a breeze at all A pedestrian going to work at an early hour noticed the flames shocting | cut of the side window ef the Bilt- more Cafe and immediately called the fire department. Several nersons noti- fied the fire station and the numpers arrived just in the nick of time tH save the walls of the building. As it was the, fir had made considerable h-ad- wav and had started in several places thus causing a cave-'n of the ceilings First To See Fire H Kelly an employee of the Post Office going to work about 4.30 noticed the glow on the walls and later saw fire leap out with terrific force from a side window in the Biltmore building. He sent in a telephone call to the de- partment. Mrs. Kaiser, wife of Dr. T. E, Kaiger, M.P. was aroused by someone knocking on the door of their home and calling fire, fire. She also noted the fierceness of the blaze and notified as many she could possibly think of. The mana- gers of establishment in the building were told and many of them hurried down to their places as soon as they were able to clothe themselves. The fire department under the lead- ership of Fire Chief A. C. Cameron were on the scene shortly after 440 o'cleck and labored most of ithe day with the blaze. Smouldering runs occupied a great deal of time this morning. and for nearly three hours water at the rate of 1,500 gollons per minute was poured on. The blaze from what can be gathered (no person actually knows where or how it start- ed) gained considerable headway along the east wall and then spread through the second floor and up to the roof From there it must have spread over to the McWatter's store for the ceiline was a mass of charred lumber and caved-in after the fire had been going for several hours, Outside of a few chairs and a table there is practically noth'ng left of the Biltmore Cafe. The once beautifu' stalls where meals were served in pri- Just how the they battled the flames for hours. hose nozzle, Much credit is due the fire brigade for the admirable Tue tire 'chief was overcome' while directing his staff while one firemen was injured when hit by fire HAVING WELL EARNED BREAKFAST which smoke --hoto ow Cam; bell; eut Ly Reed Lpgsaviag Co. w persons affected as '® vate were a total loss, the fre having } ¢ impossble for a human being to survive the dense smoke which issued from the roof and windows. eaten them away completely. The par- titions between the kitchen and the restaurant proper were comple ely d:- stroyed. Utensils and other equipment went up in flames and will have to be entirely replaced. Damage here is esti- ms i :d at $12,000, apart from thz build- ' hie McWatters Confecticnery and Lunch: store; fikewise was a total loss, the proprietor' 'placing' his estimated loss at $10,000 when spoken to this morning. The counters and show cases as well as the windows were damaged beyond recognition. SalWage will not amount to one cent. Office Furniture Ruined Upstairs over the Biltmore Cafe and the McWatter's/ Confectionery and Lunch store, was located the stock and bond establishment of Cassel, Turner, Crawford and Biggar under the local | management of Fred Carswell. Here considerable office furniture was ruined and the estimated value is several hun- dred dollars. The furniture will be have to be rtfinished. In another section over the candy and lunch store was located the hair dressing establishment of the Misses Garrow and here the damage will be about $1,600, which amount was spent on the business when it was opened last December. The Misses Garrow were unable to state what their direct loss will be as they did a good busi- | ness in their line. Office furniture and equipment bo- longing to W. J. Sulley, auctioneer, real estate and insurafce man, to. the value of several hundred dolar; was also done. He was located directly (Continued on Page 3) Ccming Events RATES 8 Cents per word each insg: Minhnnm charge for ea~h MADAME NEVADA, PALMIST AT 267 French St. Hours 2 '0 8. | .95-97-99) THE PYTHIAN SISTERS RE holding a euchre at the Pythian Hall, Thursday evening, October 27th. Everybody come. Admission 25 cents. (97a) AFERNOON TEA GROUP ST. AN- drew's Ladies' Aid, Thursday, 3.30. (97a) SUNSHINE REBEKAH LODGE Bazaar, Friday, October 28, Odd- fellow's Hall. Tea room, apr fancy work. Fortune telling, mi eelianeons; Be sure to come. . (96h) MASQUERADE HALLOWE'EN enfertainment North Oshawa School, October 28. A good pro- gram. Lunch served. Admission 25 cents and 15 cents, (96h) TUMMAGE SALE AT THE MAR- ket Thursday, October 27, at two o'clock. King St. Mission Circle, (96D) "0 THE MEMBERS OF THE CANA- dian Order of Chosen Friends, do rot forget the regular meeting on Wednesday night. 96h) MADAME ROSE. PALMIST, 21 Maple street. Hours from 2 to 9. 4 (96h) ° DON'T wyag 7" OUE HALLOW- e'en Bazaar. O"hawa Cin» Rooms, top flat over St- dard Tan) Ad. mission free. Brine no made cooking and ~~» "or cale . Wednesday, October °%, x 7.30 pam. (952)