davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

Two of Lakeland's progressive wa
termelon growers yesterday shipped
the first two cars of melons to leave
this section-the honor going to
Messrs. A. F. Pickard and J. e.
Swanson, between whom there has
been quite a little friendly rivalry
as to which would get the first car
out of Lakeland. Not to be outdone,
both of them shipped the same day,
and to both of these gentlemen goes
the credit for shipping the first car
Of the season. The melons were good
size and of excellent quality, and
good prices will no doubt be oh
tanned on the northern markets.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

The Ladies Missionary Society of
the Cumberland church will meet at
the church Monday afternoon at 3
o'clock. Every member. is especially
urged to be present as the DELICATE
10 the annual convention will make
her report. Every lady of the church
is invited Also the Young Peoples
Society is asked to attend this meet
ing.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

The Reading Circle will meet with
Mrs. w. H. Mitchell on South Ten
nessee avenue, Monday aftorncon, at
B o'clock Mrs. S. s. Grantham
will be the reader and all members
are cordially invited to attend.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

Mr. l.. w. Wolfson, who has
been resident of Lakeland for sew
sal months, left today for New
York, where he has accepted a posi-
ion as travelling salesman with a
ry-goods firm.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

Rev. J. w. Stokes and interest
ing family are in the city the guests
IOf Miss Leila Galloway and will be
here until Wednesday. Rev. Stokes
was former pastor of the First Pre-
|byterian church and has been invit-
led by Rev. Stacy to fill the pulpit
there tomorrow morning He is now
located at Decatur, Ga, where he
has a wide territory in which he has
charge of the Home Mission work,
in which he is making a great sue
cess.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

Miss Suss annah William, of Nc
Donald, Penn, arrived in Lakeland
and is the attractive guest
Of Miss Mary Jackson at her home on
South Kentucky avenue and of her
aunt, Mrs. j A. Walker on Palmet-
TO street. Miss Williams formerly
lived here and is being warmly
greeted by her many friends.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

The southeast corner of the park
was the battle-ground on which a
good deal of anti-bond oratory was
|Spilt this morning by Mr.. w. F.
Fannin and Mr.. ] H. Craig. Both
he and Mr.. Fannin spoke on about
the same lines as did the former at
Winston last night, an account OF
which appears elsewhere.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

Flood, Miss Helen Shaffer and Gladys
Wilson.
Those who were invited but were
unable to attend were Mrs. George
Warren, Mrs. Mcdonald, Mrs HagaE
and Mrs. Petersen.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

Miss Jessie May Williams, of
-badbourn, N. c., is the guest of
.sr sister, Mr.. B. H. Hartley. Miss
Williams will be here several
,onths.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27
Mems Hat Sale at Sollie's.

All Leaguers are requested to come
prepared to pay their uues at the
meeting tomorrow afternoon.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

The members of the Woman's Club
viii serve dinner in the park Monday
md will appreciate the patronage of
he public.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27
!
LACOWICS;
h case of fire phone 5000

Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. A. Waldo, of
srtow, were visitors to the city to-
AZ. attending to business and greet
d friends.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27
G. l. A. to B. L. E.
DELIGHTFULLY."- Entertained

The Orange Blossom Division No.
499 of the c. ]. A. TO B. l.. of +. were
very pleasantly entertained yester-
day afternoon by Mrs. r. f. Dun
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-27

The ladies of the Christian
.hurch will serve sandwiches and
,offee Monday.
The sun., 1916-08-20
nee PITS AIR AGAINST SEA I'M FIGHT FOR MILLIONS

ing in the privacy of his cabin Capt.
Blake became more and more con-
vinced that the washingtonian could
be saved. Hc had read with keen in
tcrest and satisfaction of some of the
salvage wonders wrought with COM
pressed air by w. w. wotherspoon of
New York city. and the more he
thought of It the stronger grew his
belief that air properly applied would
prove the medium Of the sunken
frc!ghter's salvation. Capt. Blake
set about in a practical fashion to pre-
pare for the task that gripped his
imagination.
First he studied his own ship inti-
mately and with Il thoroughncss that
had never engaged him before. lie
pictured to himself just how the Wash
ingtonian lay upon the bottom AMI
marked OFF by examination of the
Ohioan what structural features could
he counted upon to form air pockets
to insure sufficient buoyancy to bring
the sister craft to the surface. Next,
The sun., 1916-08-20

IN his spare time, he set about having
duplicate fittings made of those aboard
his ship and which would have TO be
used as attachments to similar pipe
lines or vents in the decks or matches
of the Wash!ngtonian.
With this work done he reached
Philadelphia near the end of last April.
and as soon as he could leave his COM
mand he came on to New York to lay
his project before his employers, the
officials OF the line. His principals had
never legally abandoned their claim 10
the wreck. and Capt. Blake hoped to
interest them In the undertaking he
had in mind. His visit was upon Il
Saturday, short day, and his SUI
periors could give him little time. They
said they might be interested II he
could fnd people to take gamble
upon so manifest n venture. At the
same time they Informed him that he
was to proceed to Boston and to as
sumo command of another one of the
line scheduled to leave early the week
following This left Capt Blake u
woiully short time In which to recruit
The sun., 1916-08-20

assistance and to detail his scheme to
sympathetic ears. He had to return
to Philadelphia at once to the Ohioan.
But Capt. Blake is nothing II not
resourceful. He bethought himself Of
a kindred spirit, a naval architect Of
New York city. Theodore d. Wells.
He wired his friend to meet him Sun
day morning in Philadelphia. Mr..
Wells is youthful and likewise en-
thuslastic. During the conference that
Sabbath morning In the City Of
Brotherly Love the sea captain and the
designer Of ships threshed out the
problem from every point Of view
and. as result, Mr.. Wells took upon
himself the task Of securing the neces-
sary financial backing and the work.
ing out OF certain technical details
properly coming within the special
purview Of his profession. Mr.. wells's
task was not an easy one. even though
himself convinced Of the possibility Of
recovering the freighter. It was
necessary to find man Of wealth with
The sun., 1916-08-20

IA knowledge of the sea and sportsman
enough to play long shot. In short.
"A big man and one who would SEQ the
venture through with ready OPEN
mindcdness and generosity. The naval
architect. after long weeks OF effort.
found the sponsor he needed. but that
did not entirely clear the way.
Just about a month ago Mr.. Wells
wired Capt. Blake. then returning to
the Atlantic after long run back
from the Pacific via the Straits Of Ma
gellan, that he was ready for action.
II Was up to the American Hawaiian n
Line skipper then to get furlough
from his company. In the months
that had passed they had forgotten
about Capt. Blake's scheme to raise
the Washingtonian, and were much
surprised when he asked for leave.
However they readily granted his re-
quest and went still further: they
formally relinquished all claim to the
sunken freighter and surrendered their
claim to her to the United States Gov
crnment.
The authorities OF the War Depart
ment then bestlrred themselves 4. be.
cause the wreck was a menace to nav
igation. II had been necessary foI
them to shift the lightship on Fen.
The sun., 1916-08-20

freighter making the careful and
necessarily somewhat slow prepara-
tions preliminary to getting the Wash
ingtonian away from her submerged
resting place. The weather Is going
to play prominent part In the whole
procedure because the exposed position
In the open sea. about fifteen miles off
shore, means that the task can Nc
pushed along only when the winds are
light and the waves moderate.
More than that. the salvors cannot
make two bites of this great engineer
ing cherry. Once the ship is fioatcd
clear OF the ocean floor and brought 10
the surface she must he towed into the
haven at the Delaware Capes and
grounded upon soft bottom in sheltered
waters. Further, the wreckers have to
keep her heeled over much as she lies
| to-day. for should she right herself she
will sink at once and be beyond re-
covery. In other words IL she rested
upright upon the seabed in ninety feet
OF water In the open Atlantic even the
most daying salvor would not give a
moments thought TO the idea of her
relocating.
| The layman reasonably asks why
this is 30. because to him vessel
resting upright would seem to be an
easier problem to deal with than one
leaning far over on her wounded side
The sun., 1916-08-20

and money. No ship similarly sunk in
the open sea ninety feet down had
ever been salved. and past perfor-
mances commonly guide these gentry
in their undertakings The run Of
these salvors are hidehound lot and
il is only when "A man of engineering
cunning and initiative comes along that
II step forward Is recorded in the art.
In this case. however "A sea captain
and not an engineer inspired the pres
ent unparalleled venture. Youthful
zeal has insisted upon a hearing. The
pcrsuasiveness OF youth has won to its
aid the necessary capital and experts,
young In years but wise through cx-
perience, have Joined hands in attack
ing the seemingly prohIbtivc. The
story is well worth the telling.
One man never despaired of recov-
cring the Washington!an. lie is Capt.
Lester a. Blake. until recently in COM
mand of the Ohioan, Il sister ship of
the unfortunate craft and one of the
busy feet Of the Hawaiian
Line. While tramping the bridge dur.
Ing long runs at sea ana while ponder
The sun., 1916-08-20

hundred feet down, this procedure Is
Wdshingt The wrcckers have to
mako the most of her existing struc-
turai strength and 10 place the buoy mt
air where her steel work and the
chance advantage of her posture make
II feasible to give her buoyihcy with
out risk Of rupturing decks and hav-
ing all oC their lahOrs count for naught
II just 50 happens that the three he
tween deck spaces have only a few
openings of amy considerable size --
these are the cargo hatChcs There are
number of vents OF small Cal.brc in
the decks ana these pipes have
threaded caps. by great good luck
these connections are placed we'll off
to the sides near the rail and are lust
whore air can he admitted To best adj
vantage into the water filed shin.
Again, connections leading from the
upper or shelter deck down to the
double bottom space make il feasible to
apply air AT the lowest point in the
Washingtonian's body. Now let us see
why her big angular heel is going To
help the wreckers.
Take broad shouldcrcd, fiat bot tie
of small neck and nearly fll IT with
watcA Then put n finger over the
| narrower sides to simulate the angle
The sun., 1916-08-20

This Is because he does not know all Of
the difficulties involved in raising q
ship by compressed air. which Is the
medium to be employed I'm this case.
Plainly the air must be blown into the
craft SO as to cxpel water and thus to
form buoyant pockets. Now II Just so
happens that ships are not built to
withstand even Il moderate bursting
pressure eXerted within and confined
between decks. nor are the covers to
matches sturdy enough to withstand
such an upward or outward thrust.
Sunken craft of course have been
raised by means ~ compressed air ap-
piled between decks. but these vessels
were submerged In sheltered and COM
paratively shallow waters. There
divers could get inside of the craft and
reinforce or brace the decks with tim
bers and thoroughly seal tho matches
and other vents. Lying as she does in
the full sweep II the Atlantic nearly .
The sun., 1916-08-20

facilitating her carriage irto the shell
tered shallowcr waters inside Of the
Delaware Capes.
For some time after her sinking the
exact position OF the Wash.ngtonlan
was not known. Nearly n month
later a stream OF black oil was
discovered on the water near the
lightship. AS the Washingtonlan was
an oil burner soundings were made
by the Government at that point and
it was not long before the wreck was
accurately located. a buoy was
planted az a warning To navigators.
but beyond that II then promised to he
OF no service. because among the
wrecking fraternity generally IL was
thousht that any efforts to rcnoat the
vessel would he "A certain loss OF time
The sun., 1916-08-20
Novel Application of Pneumatic Salvage Methods Bids
Fair to Net Wreckers Handsome Sum
Despite Big Handicap

wick Island Shoals in order to give
an additional warning to navigators
bound up and down the coast. The
army engineers next advertised for
bids covering the removal of the sub
merged menace. One salvage COM
pany proposed to pay the Government
III and to undertake the work at a
gamble. The successful bidder volun-
teered to do the same thing. but to
buy the rights for Sl01. For this con-
sideration, the award went to Mr..
Wells ana his associates, but the un-
successful bidder. the Yankee Salvage
Company Of New York city. was asked
to cooperate because OF its valuable
facilities and the rare experience nj it's
ranking expert. William Wallace
Wotherspoon. the latter making the
third OF the youthful spirits engaged.
A few days ago the wrecking fleet
sailed away from this port and at
present is over the site OF the sunken
The sun., 1916-08-20
Spectacular Effort Being Made Off Delaware Capes
to Raise Freighter Washingtonian Sunk
on Her Maiden Voyage

feet. and, In the language Of the sea,
she was 40 nearly unstable that she
verged upon what Is called "cranky"
among sailormen. The Elizabeth
Palmer. on the other hand, was run
ming light. and by the very nature OF
her overhansing bow and forefoot the
schooner was carried up on the
steamer, crushed the freighters deck
and bore her down by sheer weight.
AS n result Of the excessive heel thus
produced water rushed into the hold
or the Washingtonian and at a point
we'll above her centre Of gravity Now
see what followed
The sea was greedlly absorbed by
the upper mass Of the sugar cargo and
was not allowed to work it's way down
ward. AS Il result. hundreds of tons
The sun., 1916-08-20

of dead weight were in this way sud
denly applied at a comparatively high
point. owing to her already sensitive
condition. because of her deep lading
her centre of gravity was quickly
shifted still higher, the ship was over
balanced, and within n short time, as
told sh" rolled over filled and sank
To the sandy floor Of the Atlantic, Only
one man WAS lost. lie was deceived
by tho vessels sluggish motions i'm
mediately following the collision and
went into his quarters to get some
thing. Before he was able to return
10 tho deck the boat heoled over and
plungcd below the surface. Instead
of settling upright when reaching the
bottom the Washlngtonian assumed Il
final Dose that left her resting over
on one side at an angle of something
moro than II degrees. Strange ns II
may seem, this posture. which would
ordinarily add to the difficulty Of sal
ynec oporat!ons, in this case !s the
very thing upon which the wreckcrs
count to help them most In lifting the
freishter from tine ocean moor ana
The sun., 1916-08-20

the air crowds itself into the triangu-
lar space In the upper shoulder. Put
the bottle In a bucket, still keeping 1t
| In the same position, and even though
the finger be removed from the open-
ing the air will remain confined above
the upper line of the neck. The neck
In this case represents the hatch comb
ings in the shelter deck. Triangular
pockets o. the same sort exist within
the Washingtonian between her decks
and upturned side and make it possible
TO crowd into these spaces, without
fear of rending the ships structure,
enough air to nearly raise her from the
sea bed. This would not he possible
| If the freighter were upright. because
the air would either lift off the decks
or blow it's way free by way of the
matches. The man In the street must
now realize why it Is necessary to keep
the ship heeled over.
But Mr.. Wells has planned to i'm
prove in degree upon Capt. Blakc's
scheme lie is going to make COM
pressed air tilt the Washingtonian still
more toward her wounded side so as
to be able to increase the size of the
air pockets between decks. Here Is
where the connections with the double
bottom are to figure. or course ii must
he understood that all Of the deck vents
are Joined with hose leading up to the
salvage vessels. ON these boats II spe-
cial equipment of air Conprcssors has
been installed. so that there will al
ways be available an abundant reserve
of the buoyant element. But the de-
tails Of this equipment do not concern
| US now.
by forcing air into the double bot
tom. which Is virtually a very strong
and tight compartment or tank, the
air will rise to the highest pOint as 1t
displaces the water. and at the proper
| moment will tend 10 lift the bottom and
| to incline the ship more and more un-
Ill her deck stands nearly up and
down. In this fashion more than a
| third Of the WashinCtonian's interdcck
space can he turned into a great buoy
ant chamber. This viii he ample To
break the craft away from the grip II
the sea bed and to bring her to the
surface like a gigantic submarine Ia
the "awash' condition.
This may all sound rather simple,
but juggling with sluggish ship part
ly filled with air and with most or her
body below water oven when at the
SuIIdt" lS nhi N!'HoHN . S'IIhhS uil-
hculties. Any movement "r rolling on
the part of the vessel mi-ht easily tend
/ I" let the air out III great gulps and in
Quantities larger than the storage
tanks on IN" saIVag" craft w"uld he
ah!e 10 replace quickly or frequently.
Therefore the tr'!ghtfr mas got IN be
kept over on h'r sid'' ana III" buoy
ancy n hef douhIc bottom, tending To
uil h'r more must n' 'oui'' 'Fp'I"hced
OF equaiiZed hy anpthcr ana external
i't"'lIS iHeu'""'' 'i'I' AKA" 'le ma
sai hr'h''ct cunning mas anticipated
"Ee'op,,en's'
wis us'S ''i' f''haihs'S h'aSI
u, Wv "">"'''N ''N'a" as "'e, u
'"''N ','c "u'S ''', III NV u"""'c DOL
"','' '"' !" h'ci' 'n' ''''' "''' va ..r
.r WIFI 'n' S'I t''' =, '''t'-'' !"
ma c'id ne "aS P.'""'n Er'i' puoF
W ,'""' ''i'"' "a ,'''.' w. ""'' u 'a'
,, '''s -, " ~ '" a., -,
-, W. '',,'' ','
The sun., 1916-08-20

An interesting and possibly tragic
turn to the salvage Of the Washing
tonian developed after the foregoing
was written. AS told in the news COLI
umns of THE SIN last Sunday, divers
discovered u new wound in the upper
side Of the sugar frcigh,cr AZ this
s!do ~ the vessel Is fully thirty-nve
feet below tho surface, it is believed
only n submarine could have done the
damage. The WashlnGtonian lies di-
rcctly In the theoretical courses of the
Deutschland and Bremen. Gcrmany's
underscas freight craft,
The Washingtoniaus new wound,
experts believe. will MT interfere with
the salvage operations.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-23
CL DOM CAST ON.
J S. A. R. BANQUET
THROUGH WRECK
Distinguished Men, Expect
ed To Attend, Are Caught !.
In Crash. -,

News of the disaster and the fact
that more. than 20 Of their delegates
were caught IN the Milford d., wreck.
Edwin S. Greeley, aged so, one Of
the speakers. cast a cloud over the
26th annual dinner and meeting of
the Sons of the American RevoIu-
ton held yesterday afternoon at the
StratfieId. While severely injured
General Greeley's condition was not
considered serious this morning
General Gree1ey1and= the other dele
gates from New Haven county board
ed the special passenger train at New
haven. =. f
The dinner was held at its scheduled
time, 1 o'clock, but the program was
shortened considerably because the
delegates were worrying about Gen
eral5 Greeley's. condition. ~. -ixzea -.
Louis Earnes of New sork scity,e pres
ident of the Empire State society of
Sons of American Revolution and
John Merrill, of Oranges N. j., head
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-23

q. H. Dillon &c Co, HOS Main
street, are Offering many interesting
values in reliable fur scarfs and
nauffs, silk and wool sweaters, silk
petticoats, shirt waists, and winter
winter millinery at half prices.@Adv.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-23
MAKE HOSPITAL
OF STRATFIELD
FOR SURVIVORS
Score Brought Here in Spe-
cial Train and Given Med
ical Aid at Hotel.

= -
More than a. score of victims of the
wreck we're brought to The Stratfeld,
in this city yesterday afternoon by
the Bay state Limited. Many Of
them spent the evening in the hotel
some are there today but most have
continued on their journeys.
The BAY state Limited is the No.
10 train. 1t proceeded to the wreck
after q halt at washington Bridge,
andk took on some of the injured
Then it backed to Bridgeport, instead
Of proceeding to Danbury because the
painb11ry line is not electric and this
train had a motor.
those at The Stratield were:
Murphy J. J.. Hartford slightly
injured.
scalds, shock and cuts from glass
Hendrickson, G. f. Mrs, New Ha-
ven. scaIdss severe shock
Masterson, Miss Elizabeth, North
ampton. Mass, slightly injured
Connolly, Miss Anna, Holyoke,
Mass, slightly injured
CarufaI, Miss Minnie, Springfield,
Mass, slightly injured.
NgaIey, Miss Alice. Springfield,
Blake, MRS T. G.. Hartford,
Sl'T Faliion. IN MISS Erzabeth, Hartford,
slightly injured.
Brookin. Mrs. Hartford. slightly
Howard. F., Hartford. slightly in
jufed.
Ford. Gen. George Hair, New FIas-
ven, leg wrenched.
Greedy, Col. A. ~, New Haven
muscular injuries. great shock. lac
erations.
Bsrkiey, NJ G p New York, re
abrasions of body and shock.
Knowles, Mrs. J, F., slightly in
HinsdaIe. H. Neriden. slightly
injured.
selmann. Helmnt. Branford. upper
teeth knocked out
Timson, John f., Jamaica Plains,
Boston, deep 1aceration on nose.
DE-. George S. Ford, house physi-
clan of The Strathe1d, had been call
ed at 1 o'clock to attend John r. Kill
patrick, former Yale football star;
Allan sCoreysf son of the steel mag
nate; Ford johnson of New York,
and Morgan OsBrien, Jr., son of Chief
Justice O'Brien Of New York. He
found them suffering from bruises
and slight wrenches. O'Brien had a
laceraAion on his scalp.
After treating them, DR.. Ford re-
ceived word that a special train was
on theSway ITO Bridgeport with a score
of survivors who would be taken to
The Stratfield. He awaited their
coming, meanwhile obtaining six
trained nurses from a registry.
When they arrived they were made
/ as comfortable possible. Those
less seriously injured left the hotel
after being treated Others stayed
for further treatment and to recuper-
ate from their experience.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-23
.F [ GEMS
STREWN AROUND
SMASH-uP Scene
Pearl Salesman Loses Life
and Property is Scattered
About Tracks.

Tt issebe1ieved that there are many
hundreds of dollars worth Of valuable
jewe1ry,and particularly pearls, strewn
about the tracks or in the wreckage.
It is known that one of the victims
was a jewellery broker dealing in
large amounts of pearls. It is be-
1ieved that he had a quantity about
his person or in his luggage at the
time of the wreck Officials made
search yesterday as far as possible,
locking all Pullman car doors and tax
ing charge Of many pieces of luggage
butlth big coach was dump ped uneere-
raof1fousIy into the ditch as soon as the
dead were removed that the tracks
might be cleared. fr"s ~
Owing to the steel structure of the
coaches it will be a problem to dispose
of the coaches that are wrecked. 1t
is said that, unlike wooden coaches, it
is practically impossible to repair them
in their present condition. 1t is estf-
mated that damage to the coaches
alone will total more than 100000.