davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24

st. Louis, Mo-, Aug. 23.-St. Louis
county Is recovering somewhat today
from the third calamity which has de-
scended on this community In as many
days-a flood which snuffed out at
least twelve human lives, possibly
many more-destroyed more than q
million dollars worth of property and
made two thousand families homeless.
Twelve deaths had been reported to
the coroner this morning and almost
a hundred persons were listed as miss
ing River men who are closely &C
quainted with the situation fear the
falling of the Meramec today may dis
close heavy toll in human lives. They
also said the bodies of many of the
drowned probably would be washed
into the Mississippi river, carried far
down stream and might not be recov-
cred soon because of the mass Of flood
debris now in the river, and of It's un-
usually strong current.
Equally distressing conditions pre-
vail throughout southeastern Missouri
and parts of western Illinois, where
the toll, less severe in the number of
lives lost is far greater in damage to
property and crops. Railroad, tele-
phone and telegraph facilities in many
counties are interrupted; the physical
damage may aggregate $5,000,000 and
tens of thousands of farmers and vii
layers are homeless.
More Floods Threaten.
In Greene and Jersey counties, ILL
nois, from ten to fifteen thousand
acres of farm land are under water as
the result of the breaking of three
levees in Madison and Saint Claire
counties, and all rivers and creeks are
flooded to the point of breaking their
levees.
All these conditions are due to a
branch of the Texas coast storm, which
last Friday swept through Arkansas
into Missouri and across the Missis-
sippi to Illinois. st. Louis had hardly
recovered from the effects of the tor
nado and it's accompanying record
breaking downpour Saturday when the
river Des Peres went mile out of its
banks and on receding disclosed
eleven dead Before the Des Peres
had fallen to it's normal level the Mera-
mec river, ten to fifteen miles west of
this city, went two to four miles out
Of it's banks with much more disas-
trous results.
Rise Comes Suddenly.
The Meramec rose during the night
while thousands Of campers and pic
nickers slept in club houses and sum-
mer cottages which dot the rivers
banks. From 2 o'clock yesterday
morning until last midnight the river
: :
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24
ANOTHER FLOOD
HITS MISSOURI
Heavy Toll Of Life Is Taken
AS Small Rivers Near
st. Louis Overflow
DAMAGE AMOUNTS
TO MANY MILLIONS
Thousands of People Leave
Homes and Take to the
Trees for Safety

Little Rock, Ark, Aug. 23.-
Flood water from tho White river
is coming over the Rock Island
Ievee at Newport and the town
will be flooded, according to re-
ports here today. The $25,0oo
causeway just completed over
Newport lake has been broken.
Hundreds Of volunteers this
morning were working on tho
Ievee and negroes had been forced
at the point Of shotsuns to Join
them. The Isvee at IngIeslde near
Newport has broken.
Reports wore received here last
night that family Of five persons
had been drowned In the bottoms
near OIL Trough.
In Newport all business has
been suspended. The water and
electric light plants have been put
-out OF commission by the water.
The damage to crops In White
river Bottoms will be enormous.
The steamers Muskosee and
Mary q. Lucas are running day
and night rescuing families from
the overfiowed districts, many Of
from trees.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24
CONTINUED on Page 81
AVIATOR ESCAPES SWISS
Interned Man Who Landed on Neutral
Soil Whom Motor Went Dead, Is
Back In France.

Paris, Aug 23.-Eugene Gilbert, the
French aviator who was Obliged to
land In Switzerland June ~ through
an accident to his motor, after bonn
harding the Zeppelin sheds at Fried
richshafen, ano was interned near
Saint Gothard, has escaped. Gilbert
arrived in Paris last night and report
ed for service at the French ministry
Of war today. aSes a s5
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24
ELEVEN MILLIONS
VISIT THE FAIR

San Francisco, Aug. 23.-The total
number of visitors to the Panama
Pacific exposition has reached 11,OO0,-
900, 1t was announced today. The
100000 mark was recorded August
9.
The average daily attendance since
the exposition opened February 20 has
been 59,919. The average for the last
two weeks has been 1927.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24
AMERICANS ENDANGERED.

London, Aug. 23.-There were seven
ty-seven Americans In the crew OF tho
steamer Baron Erskine, which was
sunk by a German submarine last
week. The Americans, who were
horse teenders, were landed sa1slZ
with the rest of the crew.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24
ISLAND EVACUATED.

Vienna, Aug. 23.--The admiralty
announced today that reconnaissance
on Saturday established the fact that
the italians had evacuated the island
of Pelagosa in the Adriatic sea, nay
ing destroyed all buildings and forti
fications.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24
Japan Decides to
GiDe Russia More
Help in Fighting
. *++*+*+*++*%*****

Toxic, Aug. %. The Koku-
min Shambun says:
Premier Okuma states that
Japan has decided to give great
er assistance to Russia to prose- ,
cute the war. He could not dis
cuss details, but allowed it to be
understood that this assistance
would take the form of the for.
warding of greater supplies OF
munitions"
The Associated Press learns
that Japan has decided to en-
ploy all available governmental
and private resources for in
creasing the output of muni-
tions for the allies, particularly
Russia.
The Japanese government
believes the time has arrived
for q more concerted action
against the enemies of Japan,
her allies.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24
ITALIANS DECLARE
WAR ON 7U Rks
AT CONSTANTl-
NoPLE REQUESTS PASS
PORTS; ALLIES VICTORY.

Washington, D. c., Aug. 23'-
With Italy's declaration Of war on
Turkey, the American embassy at
ConstantinopIe probably will be
asked to take over the italian in
terests in Turkey and those Of
Russia for whom Italy has been
acting.
London, Aug. 23.-Marquis Di Gar
roni. Italian ambassador to Turkey,
has handed to the porte a note de-
claring Italy considers herself in a
state of war with Turkey. At the
same time, the marquis demanded his
passports out of the country.
The above announcement was made
from Constantinople Saturday night
and it probably means that before
many days an Italian army and an
Italian fleet will be aiding the allies
to pound way through the Dardan-
elles.
The declaration Of war was no sur
prise as Italy has been considering
such a course for some time following
persistent affronts which she consid-
cred the Turks had offered
GaIIIpoIi Cut Of?
Persistent reports from the Oar
danelles claim that the allies have
succeeded in cutting the railroad on
the crest of the mountainous peninsu-
la This railroad is the artery by
which the Turkish ARM opposing the
allies is provisioned, reinforced and
supplied with ammunition. The re-
mort has not been oficially confirmed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24
CONTINUED On Page 81
coNvIcIs ESCAPE

Chicago, Aug. %. Guards of the
prison at Joliet, searching for Frank
Miller, alias Otto Riedle, and James
Morrison, convicts who escaped yester-
day had not recaptured the fugitives
today.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-24

Berlin, Aug. 23.-oerman troops
have occupied the fortress Of Os-
sowetz, which was evacuated by
the Russians, German army head
quarters announced today.
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
SLEUTHS WITHOUT
CLUE TO KIDNAPPED
ITALIAN CHILD

Detectives Oldani and Ellenstein
admitted, Tuesday. that they were
without any clue to the whereabouts
OF little Patrina Mazzola. kidnapped
from In front of her home, No. 110
Larned-st. east, last Thursday.
They, with Detectives Rogers and
Kolb, have searched all through the
Italian colony In vain for some trace
OF the little girl. and have followed
every Tip" without results.
Included in the wild goose chases
on which the officers have been sent
was one that led them to search
along the river front. and clear to
the Clinton river The little girls
father reported that he had infor.
nation that the little girl was held
captive In a boathouse.
After making a vain search, the
officers demanded the source of In
formation. and the father Of Patrina
reluctantly admitted that his wife
had consulted a fortune-teller, who
gave that Tip"
Mazzola has received two letters
from the kidnapers OF the child. The
first demanded that he pay S1.50t
"to some friend who would call upon
him"
The next lowered the ransom to
$500.
Mazzola says no friend has yet
called for any money.
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
New Ruling Is Planned
= to Control Aid to
Police Widows !.
PULL GETS MONEY
WITHOUT MERIT
Old Injuries Cited as
Causes of Death to
Get on Pay Roll

A food Of applications from
widows of police ofl1csrs VINO have
died, in the last few years, has
caused the pension fund commission
TO adopt a new ruling and In future
the corporation counsel will pass on
Oh pension applications before they
ire submitted TO the council and a
hearing ordered.
Under the charter provision. the
widow Is entitled to . pension II IN
o6icsr IL killed In the discharge OF
his duty. This provision has been
stretched to great lengths to obtain
pensions for widows, especially
those whose friends and relatives
were credited with having a strong
political pull. widows Of oficsrs
who died apparently from natural
causes, several years after receiv.
ing slight injuries in the service
have been given pensions. Applica'
tions rejected by the committee ~
unworthy have been promptly re
newed time and again. often until
the committee acted favorably on
the petitions.
I'VE have got to stop this pen.
sion grab somewhere" said Control
Ter Engel. member Of the commits
sion. Each applicant comes be
fore us with the testimony OF physi.
clans that injuries. however slight
had or might have resulted In the
death of the deceased offscer. In
one instance an oflcer served for
six years after being injured. and
now the widow is claiming a pen.
sion on the ground that the injury
caused his death"
Mrs. Emma Monberg. wife Of Otto
Monberg. the police off,cer who was
shot in the Warsaw cafe out Michj-
gan-ave.. by Reuben Smith. a broth.
or officer. was denied a pension.
Tuesday morning. on the ground
that her husband was not shot
while in the performance OF his
duty. The shooting grew out Of a
drunken row In the cafe. Smith,
who was acquitted OF the shooting
charge by a fury recently. was on
duty at the time.
Mrs. Monberg did not appear be.
fore the committee. In a previous
meeting when her petition was first
presented. she was also absent. Aid
John Kronk appearing for her both
times.
Mrs. Ida Redmond. wife OF Pc.
ter Redmond. former precinct de-
tective. and Mrs. Catherine Pietrow.
ski will be given hearings next
Monday morning.
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
DIVES IL FEET TO
4 FEET OF WATER,
BOY PARALYZED

BLOOMINGTON. Ind. Aug. 81
Because he dived OF a bank IL feet
above the water into Salt creek,
which was only four feet deep,
Erastus Smith, son Of Stanton
Smith. a prominent farmer east OF
the city, is paralyxed from his
shoulders down as q result Of strik.
ing his head on the bottom. When
Erastus made the high dive and
failed to come up. bis brother, Ed.
ward, became alarmed and made q
dive after him. He succeeded In
getting the unconscious boy out Of
the water and. with assistance. car
ried him to a farmhouse, where
physicians were summoned. The
physicians state that the youth has
about one chance In 10 to get well.
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
MUD ACCUMULATION or l32
CENTURYBEZNC SCRAPED]
WATER WORKS SETTLlNGHA&

The big settling basin In water
works park has been drained and
the bottom Is being cleaned for the
frat time since the construction of
the basin nearly q half century ago.
In 1886 the basin was drained at
the request Of the common council.
An inspection Ct the bottom of the
basin by Mayor NJ. II. Chamberlain
and q delegation OF aldermen failed
toreveal the deposits of refuse
theJ expected to find, and the water
was immediately turned into the
basin again.
The basin u being drained at this
time TO remove about 10000 cubic
yards Of mud that has settled on the
bottom. and restore the basin to It's
original depth. Engineer Theodore
A. Leisen figures that It will take
about four weeks to do the work.
First II was necessary to pump 25,-
10000 gallons of water out of the
basis, and now the layer Of mud ID
being removed in liquid form. Four
hose streams under pressure are
used to liQuidize the mud which ID
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04

then emptisd fron ~ -
through . centrtfugaj pnQA
fiow containing about 10 u ~ :
cent mud. The liquid mud isfbc
used to MI In the marsh aAjolQ
waterworks park on the est s +,
The peculiar fcaturs - cQnnoQ'
tion with the oinpaying q ~ l|,|
basin. was IN, absence q nsh Il tn;
enclosure. only . few small 1G
were found on the muddy bottq
after the water had been pUmDQ
out. For many. many years xisitoG
In the park heard the story 49,
the big fsh that inhabited the 6a11
They were rlpposed TO have con1
through the intake pipes q sn61s!
nows and to have grown TO me-
strous proportions In the basin fruG
which they conld not escape.
The fact that fishermen were pgos
hibited from trying their luck In tho'
basin lent color to the stories Abo6<
the big fsh that dwelt there. MamY
people watched the water being IoNk
cred In the basin In the hops ~
| catching . glimpse Of the fish. u
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
CONNOLLY
IN FAVOR Of
PURCHASE
Get Rid of D. u. r. as
Political influence"
He Says
CONSTANT SOURCE
OF IRRITATION

That the people should be willing
to pay something to get rid OF the
Detroit United railway as q political
influence and en- undesirable bust.
ness partner. Is one OF the principal
reasons advanced by Judge William
F. Connolly why. In his opinion. the
proposed contract for the purchase
Of the street railway system should
be ratified.
Judge Connolly has only Just re-
turned from a vacation trip and
had not had an opportunity to study
the purchase plan In detail when
seen. Tuesday. but he discussed the
proposition in a general way.
IF II enables us to get rid of the
d. U. r. on anything like a fair
basis, I'm for It," he said. 1T is
profitable for a town to pay what
might at first seem a high price to
free itself from a constant source
OF Irritation so that II may give It's
attention TO other matters vital to
the welfare of the people.
For the past 25 years the street
car question has practically engross-
ed the whole municipal thought. We
were. way behind on schools and hos
pitfalls until very recently. Here we
are city OF nearly three-qusrters
OF a million and are just getting
started on public Fairgrounds.
II have felt that the city made a
mistake in not accepting the plan OF
settlement proposed during Mayor
Thompson's administration, which
gave the right to acquire the lines
on six months notice. The proposed
plan brings us to where we would
have been long ago under the
Thompson plan. and II ought to be
considered In a broad way. The only
question that should govern the vot-
ers Is whether II Is a good thing for
the town. regardless Of it's effect on
anyone's political future. II it en-
ables us 10 get rid Of the ID. u. r.
at what under all the circumstances
Is a fair price, let's have It, and the
sooner the better"
Alfred Lucking. attorney for the
street railway commissioners, said
Tuesday morning. that he had no
statement to give out Immediately
regarding the d. U. X. settlement.
Mr.. Lucking Is holding up his
statement until he can receive addi-
tional information on important
points. He has sent for this mate
rial. and expects to have II digested
and In shape for publication by the
flrst part Of next week.
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
BUSINESS
IMPROVES
Best Since 1909, Says
Bank of Commerce
Trade Letter

"The area Of poor business coudi-
tions In the United States continues
to diminish and at present covers
only a part Of the southeastern
states, including q strip along the
Atlantic coast from South Carolina
to New York." says the August trade
letter of the National Bank Of Com
merce. 1.-THE central west is partic-
ularly active and the business map
Of the whole country today 10 a.
good as 1t has been at any time
since 1909. Arbitration of the exist
ing and threatened strikes and lock
outs would Immediately make 1t bot
ter"
Figures published beai out the de-
ductions.
Compilations for the year ending
June 80 show an increase In exports
of $435. 600. 900 and q decrease in i'm
ports OF S234.000, 900. giving an In
crease In our favorable trade bal
ance over year ago Of 3670. 0.o0o. 900
I'VE are finding the way to dc
without some OF the things which we
have been accustomed to get from
Europe and II 10 to be hoped that
We can still further reduce our i'm
port record" says the letter.
Exports for the port OF Detroit fol
June were $9.44O.506. more than dou
BILE those Of June a year ago.
Detroit bank clearings for June
were about S10.000.000 higher than
for June. 1914. Clearings for the
country were about one per cent
higher than last year. and for New
York two per cent higher.
Ship building and production oi
pig iron show great increases over
a year ago. The untitled tonnage OF
the United States Steel corporation
is the largest reported for q year.
Commodity prices have reached
the highest point In the history OF
the country.
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
Ruling Barring Public
Funds Not Sound,
Says Carpenter
MOTION WILL
BE FILED OCT. l
City Agrees to Provide
Money for Tempo
rary Maintenance

Former Justice William l.. Car
penter, who believes that the ma
jority decision Of the supreme court
judges, holding that the city has no
legal right to pay for the mainte-
nance of the Detroit Art Museum,
the board Of trustees being only a
semipublic body, Is erroneous. Will
file a motion for a new trial, Oct. i.
Dexter NJ. Ferry. president Of the
board of trustees. appeared before
the council committee on ways and
means, Tuesday morning, and read
Judge Carpenters letter attacking
the supreme court decision and ad
yising motion for a new trial.
"rhe members of the board take
Judge Carpenters view," said Mr..
Ferry. I'VE feel that the art mu.
scum Is a public institution Of an
educational character. The fact that
many works Of art and other valua.
bles have been turned over to the
board OF trustees by private citizens,
raises a serious question In my mind
II the city has any right to take
over the institution.
New York and Chicago are now
operating their art museums just as
we have been. Last year $4,000
visitors were given free admittance
to our art museum"
President Ferry asked that the
council continue to give temporary
support to the art museum until such
time "a the case is definitely decid-
ed. Corporation Counsel Dingeman
said that the giving Of temporary re-
lief was entirely up to the commit
tee as Q matter of policy. The COM
mittee readily agreed to help out.
This will mean an expense OF about
$4,000 a month for at least three
months. The money will continue
to come out of the amount appropri-
ated for the support of the art mu-
scum before the supreme court de-
cision was handed down.
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
CHAPTER XII.

The Fourth" the day We cele-
brate. fell upon Sunday.
Probably never before had a
ships deck undergone such changes.
A fiume made from sheet iron start
ed up in the skids. and dipping and
bending wtdsned into a big basin
on the spar deck. grew narrow
again. extending out over the ships
side. II was lined with stones and
moss. and set about with countless
pots of Japanese ferns. flowers and
shrubs. When the pumps set to
work Q hidden hose supplied the
water; It ran and jumped and
sparkled. overnowing the lake, on
which sailed q six-foot yatch. then,
trickling into feathery bamboo
forest that completely shut OF the
ships rail, fell in graceful natural
waterfall into the bay.
Since 1776 It has been customary
for all English men-of-war in for.
eign ports to 60 out cruising on the
Fourth OF July. But on this occa'
sion they not only dressed their
ships In Americas honor, but the
crew OF II. M. 8. Undaunted attend
cd our afternoon entertainment As
they came aboard they were each
presented with one Of the printed
programs. And gallantly they pinned
to their neckerchiefs the little silk
flag that lay between its leaves.
The program went OF without a
hitch. but I am fain to write II
that the number not down was the
one TO win the laurels.
The fencing contest between Jap
anese sword masters was over, and
the victor was making his salaams
to the audience, when one Of our
bluejackets stepped out and by ges'
ture challenged him again to com
bat. The vanquished. realizing the
purport OF his maneuvers. unbuckled
his armor and offered II to the sea
man, who declined all save the he,
met and sword. This he welded
like a ball bat. and in Q much short
er time than he had taken to win
his laurels the victor was vsn'
quished; and only for the interfer'
ence OF the audience the setting sun
would have trailcd his last Elcam
upon a Japanese corpse under the
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
Water Board Lays Off
Man Charged With
Graft
INVESTIGATION
NOT COMPLETED
W0rkmen ay They
Paid John Healy
to Get Jobs

John Healy. foreman of the water
board, who has been accused by a
number of Bulgarian employees of
the board Of charging them various
Sums for giving them jobs. and TAX.
ing II week tribute from them for
keeping them at work. has been sus-
pended by the board. pending In.
vestigation.
Healy. who lives at No. 653 L.:
Townsend-ave., was not at home,
Tuesday morning. His wife declined
to discuss her husbands predica-
ment.
According to Trifun Korach. who
acts as interpreter. an investigation
OF the charges made by the men has
been going on since last Tuesday,
before Supt. Leisen aud Commits.
sioner Oakman. Monday, Korach
led about dozen men 10 Supt.
Leisen's once. but all but one de.
MED that they had paid any money
to Healy. The one man said that he
had paid Heally $40 a wek for about
10 weeks.
Last week. however. several en-
ployes Of the board, according
kcrach, told Supt. Leisen that they
had hnd TO pay money 10 Healy.
Supt Leisen refused to discuss the
investigation, Tuesday. saying
he would have nothing TO give out
until he had formulated report to
be made to the commission. He ad.
mitted that Healy was under sus-
pension.
The Detroit times., 1915-08-04
BUS BOYS HELD
FOR JEWEL THEFT
IN HOTEL TULLER

Detectives Donovan and Boersig
solved a real Jewel mystery" when
they recovered the diamond ear
rings OF Mrs. George c. Leitch. of
No. 125 Peterboro-st.. which were
whisked away in real romantic style
In the Hotel Tuller Saturday even
ing.
Mrs. Leitch and her husband were
just leaving the hotel. after dining
there. when she noticed that she
had failed to pick up her purse. con-
tanning the diamond earrings and
about $40 in cash. which had slid
out OF her lap while she was eat.
ing.
She hurried back to the table. but
could find no trace Of purse or
jewels,
The detectives were put to work
on the case Sunday.
They learned that two "bus boys"
employed 10 clear away the dishes
from the dining room had left their
work Saturday night and the oficers
promptly took the trail OF the pair.
They recovered the diamonds from
pawnshop and Tuesday morning,
rounded up the two "bus boys" who
are said TO have confessed.
The prisoners gave their names rs
Dikman Bastig and. Mesak Sarkas-
ian, both f3 years old. and both Civ
ing their address as No. 81 Adams
ave. east.