davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

narrow, winding valley, lay Mineral
Point, Conemaugh. Johnstown, Sang
Hollow. Cambria, Nineveh and other
populous and prosperous industrial
towns. Johnstown was the chief Of
them all, founded just a hundred years
before by Joseph Johns on the site of
the Indian village of Kickenapawling.
1t was Friday, May 81. 1889. The
day before had been the nations holl-
day. For many days there had been
much rain, and Stony Creek and Cone
maugh Creek were raging torrents.
swelling South Fork into "A turbulent
food The lake was filled 10 the brim,
and over it, But the spillway was not
enough. The pressing food had bored
its way into the dam far below the sur
face until the whole mass was honey
combed. At > o'clock that afternoon
the water was pouring over the crest
Of the dam and squirting in jets from
holes near its base. Herbert Weber,
an cmploye Of the club, saw this and
stood for a moment transfixed with
horror as he realized its meaning.
Thirty feet in air, like the Jets OF
mighty fountain, spurted the deadly
streams
The property loss was $4,000 900.
The lives lost were =, li2. The whole
world was shocked and moved TO SYM
PATTY. From the President, the Queen
of England and from myriads in all
parts of the world came messages AMI
gifts for the surviving sufferers, The
cash contributions aggregating nearly
100000 To l2i widows the sum OF
$500 each was given, while 96j or
phan or half-orphan children received
pensions of so year each until the
were sixteen years old.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

~ HERE seems to be no particu-
larly convincing reason why the
month Of May should be marked
with floods, unless it be the old rule
that the month is so called because
il may rain, it may snow, il may
freeze. il may anything. which pretty
well describes IL in this and the ad-
iacent parts OF the world. But yester-
days fortieth anniversary Of the Mill
River food and the ride of Collins
Graves recalls the fact that this month
has been made memorable by at least
three Of the most notable foundations
in American history-to say nothing
about Noah and the Ark.
Concerning the last mentioned, we
must recognize the existence of some
differences of opinion. Chronologists
vary as to the date Of the Flood by as
much as 1000 years. Besides which,
there are the rival flood tales of Gill
gamcsh and the Satapatha Brahmana,
and what not else. But as John Blair
was the only one of them who had the
moral courage 10 fix not only the year
but the month and day on which the
Flood began. and on which IL ended, let
us give him the honor which such as
surance deserves. According 10 him,
then, the big rain began on December
: A. NJ. 1856; it was on May D A. NJ,
1857. that the Ark grounded on top OF
Ararst. ard it was on December Is Of
the latter year that Noah and the folks
got out.
one Of the greatest floods in May
time was forty years ago. in the hills
of Central Massachusetts. At Will
iamsburg there was great dam
on the Mill River. tributary OF the
Connecticut, constructed 10 supply wa
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

among the things to be observed
were the movements of individual par
ticlcs of water, and these were to be
traced az varying depths as they flowed
around and by the moving vessel In
fact. this was not done. but the mo-
tlGns OF small rods, attached TO moored
submerged huoys, answered well
enough. But YOU will probably won
der how these swayings we're recorded
SO that they could be studied at leisure
and properly evaluated Well, this was
done by means of a moving picture APP
raratus capable of taking pictures OF
the sub surface paths Of the little rods
Naturally the camera was not under
water. but was ingeniously placed in
front Of the towing carriage, and III
such 4 position that it could photograph
the images Of the swaying rods re-
nccted in a mirror just above the water
and beneath the towing carriage or
platform.
Afterward, when these films were de-
yeloped and run through a picture pro-
iecting machine, the movements OF the
rods Stimulating particles OF water
could he followed perfectly. The re-
suits were of the utmost interest ana
showed lust where the areas OF repul-
sion and attraction were set up in the
surrounding water, and also the reach
of these influences, sidewise and ahead
and astcrn or tic towea model BY
means of a large clocklike dial set
upon the towing car"iage-the mark
inrs Indicating stages o. travel along
the miniature river area-it was posi-
hIe thus in each picture 20 show eX-
actly at which point the records on the
Aim were made.
The model representing the 1,oO0-foot
vessel was actually fifteen feet long,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31
s. s. WATER D

and the ew York at southampton FL
dicatcs another: while the disaster 70
the Titanic passing berg perhaps suS-
gests "A third.
THE immediate question is that of
the minimum permissible width of the
fairway i'm the Hudson River opposite
New York city. Having at present
width f $500 feet, it may when used
by 1,OOO-foot ships be-looked upon as
CONSTRUCTED waterway 1t becomes
advisable TO take account of the
hydraulic reactions set up by these
large ships. Professional htera-
ture furnishes no sufficient discussion
Of the conditions involved
Accordingly. Naval Constructor ID.
w Taylor. collaborating with Colonel
II. G. Newcomer, OF the corps of engi-
noers OF the United States army, set
about Transforming the model expert
mental basin at Washington into
miniature replica of the prime physical
features of the North River. between
Chelsea and Castle Point. Models were
prepared To represent l,00O-foot liner,
and Ranking piers were arranged upon
a corresponding scale in which models
could lac placed for the purpose of see
ing how they were affected by the pas
sage up or down, az right angles, Of
the supposed giant liner. The elaborate
provisions made for observing and re-
cording all OF the phenomena were
essentially novel and upon an extensive
scientific scale never before attempted.
The object was TO leave the determine
ton of certain moot questions 10 the
absolutely impersonal or unbiased dis
closures of the experimental apparatus
In this Naval Constructor Taylor and
Colonel Newcomer were eminently sue
cesSful
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31
Miniature Liners
in Miniature River
Basin at Wash
ington.

~ID YOU ever put your foot in
middle and watch the way the
- water rose or spread further at
it's edges? Well. after a fashion this
homely similc is very much AKIN 10
New York's harbor problem Fsther
Knickerbocker has put his foot in IT,
so to speak. already. The troueie the
Vstcrland had in docking on her ar
rival at this port brought out TINS fac'
in a striking manner.
II this port is to be the prime centre
for the transatlantic trade II is abso-
utelv essential that we should have
channels for the travel of these mon
ster craft and also piers where they
may load and unload Equally ncces-
sary is IL that they should be able 10
move within the relatively confined
waters OF the harbor without imperii-
ling other traffic or other ships lying
at the docks.
II is only a brief while ago that the
city finished its splendid Chelsea piers
and the concrete upon them was hardy
set ere along came the Olympic, so big
that she overlapped the permanent
dockhead by quite a hundred feet
What was done? WHY, a temporary
addition was built out for the required
distance so that the stern of the snip
should not be endangered by river
traffic. That fabrication Of open pilins
pro oked an earnest controversy be-
tween the engineering experts OF the
Dock Department of New York CITY
and the army engineers. who had pre-
viously drawn line which put limit
TO any further encroachment upon the
flow Of the North River between the
Chelsea piers on one side and the dock
heads over on the Castle Point shore
The extension for the Olympic over
stepped this boundary fixed by the gov
crnmcnt authorities.
Now comes the Vsterland, the great
est Of them all.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31
INFLUENCE OF GREAT LINERS ON
NEIGHBORlNG CRAFT.

But quite apart from the effects OF
pier extensions are the influences that
the great liners entering and leaving
New York exert upon neighboring craft
these influences growing in proper
ton To the size of the liner, her speed
and the speed of the tide at the time.
Here we are face TO face with that
erstwhile mysterious problem of sue
ton between ships-something tina;
even the Admiralty courts OF this
country refused to recognize until
Naval Constructor ID. W. Taylor made
the first of his experiments.
The army engineers knew of these
Investigations and believed that thcy
had a suggestive value in the case Of
our pier problem, In fact, Colonel
William T. Rossell more than a year
ago, as senior member Of the Harbor
Line Board, urged that the model OK
permcntal basin at Washington be
used to settle points upon which that
government body and the dock ex-
ports OF the city could not agree.
Colonel Rossell said: at has long
been observed that vessels moving IN
CONSTRUCTED waterways set up reactions
dangerous TO themselves and TO other
vessels. Hitherto, by reason of dis
parity between the widths OF fairways
Of this port and the dimensions Of line
vessels using them. questions as 10 the
nature and intensity OF the reactions
have been Of comparatively small I'M
port. But now recent incidents indi-
cate that these questions have become
Of urgent concern. Thus the collision
between the olympic and the cruiser
Hawke in southampton water Illus
trates one possibility; the narrowly
averted collision between the Titanic
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31
WIDTH OF NORTH RIVER AT
CASTLE POINT.

lust where the North River flows
abreast of Castle Point the stream mas
a total width of $500 feet, and this. IN
fact. is relatively narrow passage
way for the tidal flow AT the PERIODS OF
greatest activity. In short, TINS sectloh
of the river is a yeritable bottle-necK-
ing of the movement, and this is re-
peated in effect again at the Narro"s'
between Staten Island and the oppo-
site Brooklyn shore. You have prooapiy
used garden hose and found that
when the nozzle was off the water
pressure, or head" was not enough
u throw the stream any distance put
when the nozzle was in place the water
VAS thrown much further by the same
pressure.
Where the tide sweeps through the
Narrows and the channel between the
Chelsea and the Castle Point shores II
moves q good deal quicker than through
The intervening expanded areas OF the
river and the harbor, and, accordingly
vessels at these points have more 10
contend with when navigating against
the stream. OF course, at the Mar
rows this is not a matter OF 80 much
concern. because shipping is moving IN
or out to other detectives and the VOL
ume of traffic is not so heavy. But
AT the Chelsea section matters are en-
tirely different, because there ii is that
tho great ocean liners must halt TO
dock or leave their piers and swing
right across the channel and turn TO
mart seward. The state of the tide
WIENER running at normal full force
or when augmented by the outbound
raod due to heavy rains upstate-Very
much affects the problem of handling
the ocean giant, and at times, for TINS
reason. the docking of a ship that
should be accomplished in an hour may
take three times as long. Meanwhile,
what happensf
The deep draft liner acts to a con-
siderable degree like further extern
sion OF a pier-we might almost say
like an island in the sweep of the
ytrcam-and because of this narrow
ing the waters must move through the
channel Just that much faster in order
to keep up the volume OF flow. So much
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31
MISS MURPHY AND HER LATEST

$4,000 apiece, but an expedition TO get
them direct from Africa would bring
up the total considerably. They've
been sold from this park to zoos all
over the world. There's a great de-
mand for them"
shes a nice, quiet, tractable BEAST
said Keeper Slchcrt, who has charge Il
giving Miss Murphy her fifteen IodVes
OF bread and bucket Of carrots per
diem. so long as she doesn't think YOU
intend to worry the kid. But she's
very suspicious. I've had TO give up
going into her cage, for she's chasea
me out four times already.
when she's good tempered you can
do what you like with her. Wheh
she's up on the upper level OF her cage
all that you've got 10 do is 10 say
Murphy. downstairs" and she goes as
ouiet as a lamb. She likes 10 ne h'
the sun, and the hotter IT is the better
It's a curious sight TO see her, 70;
hippo perspires blood, and on a sur
shiny summer day it trickles all over
her.
II can't just recollect the names o!
all OF her children. There were f"-
TINA. Pete, Caliph II. Iris, Lotus
Heiney. Lulu and Sirius. We nayen
made any plans to christen the young
ster yet. Maybe some one will sue'
gest a suitable name. I've thought my
self that Marguerite would be ~o>
one-or possibly General Hucrta
Maybe you don't remember the ="
ter that Mayor Gaynor wrote "H'N
somebody told him that hippo had 10
right in the world TO bear the grshN
old name Of Murphy. The Mayor sa'u
i can't rccollect the wording OF h-~'
any rate he said that ne was ieepN
concerned at the writer's kick but wv
hippo didn't mind II in the least
always liked the letters that Gayno'
wrote. They went right TO the po'n'
OF things.
If you haven't a good photograp"
come up again. a picture OF bao'
hippo is worth getting. Were soipr
To open up the house 10 the puphS
soon. and the pair will be some popu'
lar, take il from me-"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

is this the fact that the movement OF
some kinds of water borne traffic, such,
for instance, as towing, has been prac-
ticallv restricted 10 the hours Of favor
ing tides. This is the result of Father
Knickerbocker's missteps in the past
Now. if we New Workers eject to eX-
tend Governors Island, build out great
piers on the Grcenville shore, or run
the city docks and those on the Jersey
shore further and further into the
channel way, why we are substantially
placing "A number of soodsized feet
right into the puddle, which we will
call the harbor basin. What follows?
We can't displace the original water
and push it oceanward, because the
broad Atlantic offers a wall of opposi-
ton. Where. then, is the ousted water
to go? Why, upstream. and that vol
ume of the tidal influx which used to
come TO rest in the harbor must now
move onward through the Chelsea bot
tie neck-increasing the velocity Of
movement there-as it speeds up
stream to nd temporary halting
place. Possibly you don't know how
far these pier enchOachments etc,
have reacted upriver. Well, let us en-
tighten you, because this problem,
while seemingly a purely local one, e
quite the contrary.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

peeYish.
To photograph her is embarrassing
as well as difficult. fo~ she stays the
whole day in her bathtub. And the
only way to take her is to let the water
out. When the last dying gurgle mas
been uttered Miss Murphy poses for tho
photographer just as she is.
"She is a fine beast said Keeper
Bill Snyder, and N justice | want
YOU TO say that her real name is Mrs.
Caliph She was a widow when she
married him, lut just for old times
sake we called her Miss Murphy. II
isn't quite fair.
"She came here twenty-eight years
ago. she was caught on the River Nile
and we bought her from HagenbecH.
She's sat in this tank ever since. Had
thirteen children and reared nine OF
EN-. Young hippos cost from $1,000 to
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

@ID you ever put your foot In
4 puddle and watch the way 'ne
water rose or spread further at
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

listing IN the harbor Any increase in
such currents must cause a further in
crease of the power to be provided In
other words, these canal boats must
have engines of at least double the
power required for canal navigation in
order TO meet the local conditions for
a short distance here This means a
much higher initial outlay and uneco-
nomical running for the greater part
OF the time when the over powerful en-
gines are operating up river or through
the canals.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

the river, with an increased cost Of OPP
Grating expenses This is no small
item.
For example, boats using the canal
system of the state will be restricted In
speed there to four miles per hour, and
for economical reasons will be provided
with power accordingly. Such a boat
must have power sufficient to double
this speed to be able to navigate with
safety in the rapid currents now ex-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31
MODEL Of NORTH RIVER TO SOLVE HARBOR PROBLEMS
Many Puzzles in
Movement of Biz
Ships in Maroon
Channel.

and il was upon this ratio 10 reality
that the channel way in the model
basin vas made to represent the river
between Castle Point and the Chelsea
Piers Also. a false bottom was sux-
pended in the basin. which could be
raised or lowered 10 indicate the dif.
ferences i'm cross sections OF the river
and the volume of water flowing at
either high or low tide. In order TO
typify restricted channels below the
surface Of the water. panels. or par
utions. held in place by bags Of ball
last, were placed upon the false bot
tom Of the tank. so that the effects
likely 10 follow the still further mar
rowing of tho Chelsea Castle Point sec
ton Of the river could be studied pro-
gressively.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

M 100 vi l II llcS llth ii'i N.iit
MI teenth child and broken all Zoo
records. In doing this she has
earned for the Central Park menagerie
some $4,000 \ lady hippopotamus
who can earn the salary of a magnate
is a living hacker for the argument of
the "antis" that the place of the gentlcr
sex is in the home.
In the cool seclusion of her concrete
boudoir Miss Murphy nuzzles her lat
est with tender care, brushing his back
with a mustache that makes a wal
russ seem like a Yale seniors as to
huiliness. IL you think that she is
clumsy click a graflex at her at close
range. Have one hand on The bars
and be ready to vault them-or, better
still. do as the writer did and poke
your camera through the grating
Mother love has made Miss Murphy
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31
A TsN-FoOT MODEL FOR FUR.
Their INVESTIGATION.

4 second model, 10 feet long. was
built representing vessel 500 feet In
length. This little vessel was used to
find ont what might be tho effect upon
craft lying at the wharvcs when the
model of tho lOOO-foot liner passed by
This 10-foot model had no motive =,
power of its own, and there was nov
need for il. because its part in tho cX-
periments was passive one The rea.
son for its making lay in the narrowly
escaped accident when the suction set
up by the Titanic in backing ont Of
her dock at Southampton was strong
enough to pull the New York away
from her pier and make her break her
heavy mooring cables. The army en-
gineers wanted TO know what might
happen to our shipping at the docks
if any of the great new ocean-goinS
giants swept by and near them IN
moving to and from their own piers
The 10-foot model was so placed
beside her wharf beneath checker
board screen that any movement OF
the little vessel could he photographed
by the picture machine-the checker
board serving to give an indication of
the direction e the motions and their
speeds. The information obtained IN
this fashion was Of an exceedingly m
terestng and valuable nature, and had
to do with the actions set up between
solid piers or those of open construc-
ton like the temporary extension al
lowed for the Olympic
PIERS OF OPEN CONSTRUCTION
FOUND OBJECTIONABLE.
one other vital point to be cleared
up was the effect Of the big liners
moving in restricted channels, when
passing other shipping also in motion
In other words, to discover how strong
might be the forces set up in the water
tending alternately to repel or TO at
tract other craft-thus drawing them
away from their courses and inviting
collision either with the liner or with
other neighboring vessels. In sub
stance. the experiments showed that
big liner moving at any considerable
speed set up disturbing forces in the
water reaching away upon either side
for distance four times as great as
her own beam or width That is 10 say
vessel a thousand feet long and hay-
ing a breadth of 1919 feet, would have
a total danger zone on both sides OF
$50 feet. The measure Of these dis
turbances was found 10 increase with
growing speed on the part OF the liner
and with the narrowing Of the chan
nelway. Therefore. as the army en-
gineers declared. any further encroach-
ment upon the path OF the river al the
critical section, especially with bigger
liners, would mean that much more
danger 10 other craft Even In the less
active seasons Of the year as many as
100 boats an hour pass up and down
the river opposite West 23d st.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-14

ton was communicated to Secretary
Bryan by tho British ambassador.
Invaders Must he Driven BRck.
Thursday. Sept lO-The French am
bassador called on Secretary Bryan. and.
Il is understood. discussed the point OF
view OF France Ambassador Herrick CO.
incidentally reported the earnest wish Of
France that there might be peace, but
pointed out that until the French had
driven the invaders from their territory
and Belgium had been compensated. terms
OF peace could not be negotiated. During
the afternoon the ambassadors report
Of his conversation with Sir Edward Grey
also reached the White House. Great
Britain. according TO Ambassador Page,
was determined TO make no peace until
German militarism had been crushed. be-
cause OF its danger TO the worlds civiliza-
ton. On the same day came personal
messages from Emperor William and
President Poincare OF France concerning
the use OF dum-dum bullets.
Friday. Sept 1l-President Wilson and
Secretary Bryan conferred on the general
situation and. It is understood, deter
mined TO await tho reply OF the German
government TO the inquiry sent on the
previous Monday before acknowledging
the two personal messages from Emperor
William and President Poincare. Should
the cmperor's reply he a favorable one.
the president may take advantage OF the
message addressed 20 him TO express a
hope that the atrocities complained Of
may be ended through the making OF
peace.