davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
VILLA NEARLY THROTTLED.
Mexican Who Assailed Him Was Clubbed
Senseless By Villas Men.

Field Headquarters American expedi-
tionary forces, Colonia Dublan, Chihua-
hua, March 20 (by motor truck to Co
/ lumbus. y. NJ. March 3l.)-lt has been
learned here that Francisco Villa nearly
( lost his life few days ago on the Cor
I rllitos ranch short distance from this
place. where he tortured and put to death
| five Mexicans. One of his victims leaped
on him and was strangling Villa when
officers beat his assaihnt senseless with
the butts of their guns.
Alucio Polanco was the name of the
Mexican who almost succeeded in ending
Villas career.
The murder of five members of the Po-
lance family was said TO have been in
tended as warning to other Mexicans
against having dealings with Americans.
Investigation showed that the Polanco
family was involved with no political
faction in Mexico but that they had a
record OF uniform honesty and reliability
in dealing with the American managers
of the Corralitos ranch. where they were
born and reared.
When Villa. retreating from Columbus.
arrived at the ranch, he had a list Of all
the Polanccs, six men. the mother and
two daughters. He seized the men and
hunted foi he daughters, but the young
women had been hidden 50 well that he
never found them.
To five of the men. Grcgorio and his
two sons and Mucio and his one son. villa
said.
Il am going TO kill YOU because you
are too Americanized. You are griugo
lovers"
But instead Of killing them outright. 4
Villa had them partly stripped and then I
beaten with thc fats of heavy swords
Nlucio Polaneo broke aWay from his cap
tors and eat one hand locked about VII
la throat before De was beaten of
Next N5la ordered the Eve stool up
.cneath huce arehway. where hc told
them be would hang them Ropes were
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
LITERACY TEST
BILL PASSED HOUSE
There Was Overwhelming Majority Of
sos to- 81 and Perhaps Enough to
Pass Bill Over Possible
Veto,

Washington, d. c., March 3l.-Th'
Burnett immigration bill, with its lit
eracy test and Asiatic exclusion pro
visions unchanged, passed the House yes
terday by a vote of 30S to 81. IL now
goes TO the Senate, where favorable ac'
tion is regarded as assured.
The literacy test, about which the fight
against the bill had centered, was sus-
tanned 2S4 to l07 This provision has
been the cause of vetoes of similar inn
migration bills by Presidents Cleveland,
Taft and Wilson. The House passed the
bill over the Cleveland veto, but it failed
in the Senate. Motions to override the
vetoes of Presidents Taft and Wilson
were lost in the House by narrow mar
gins.
Representative Burnett, chairman of
the immigration committee, predicted
last night that there was sufficient
strength to repass the bill in the event
of another veto. The president has not
indicated his purpose to the House lead
ers.
Both record votes-both on the literacy
test and on the passage of the bill--were
without regard to party lines. Majority
Leader Kitchin voted for the literacy test
and for the bill. Minority Leader Mann
voted against the literaey test and then
for the bill
The literacy test as adopted would ex-
clude all aliens over l6 years old, physi-
cally capable of reading, who cannot read
English or some other language, except
certain relatives of persons already in
this country and certain classes of refu
gees from religious persecution.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31

placed about their necks and they wer'
jerked into the air, but were not permit
ted to die. Just when loss OF sensbility
approached they would be lowered e
earth with demands that they reveal tn,
hiding places OF horses said TO be hidden
about the ranch.
There were no horses so iar as nves-
tgation has disclosed. The prisoners
also were offered their lives if they would
tell where money was hidden or point
out valuable documents.
After several mock hangings, Villa or.
dered the five men taken into the garden,
where each one was shot five times. To
the residents Of the ranch, all Mexcans,
villa said;
you may bury them or not, as you
please"
They were all buried in one grave
after Villa left.
Before going, villa led one male mem
Der of the family, Gregorio, jr., aged 2l,
back to the young man1 mother and
said to her;
81 am going 70 leave you this one son
to support you. You ought TO thank me
for leaving him.
Next the bandit imprisoned each of the
workmen ON the ranch, placing them in
separate rooms. When he had them all
locked up he went to each one in turn,
warning him in these words:
81 am coming back and if | don't re-
turn someone else will come in my place.
Whoever comes viii kill anyone here
whom he finds working for Americans"
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
SALE is SANCTIONED.
Waterbury Light & Power Co. to Mont
pelier and Barre Co.

Sanction for the transfer of the prop
critics, rights, privileges and franchises
of the Waterbury Light & Power com
pany was granted yesterday by the Yer
mont public service commission on condi.
tion that the purchasing company as.
sumo all the first mortgage bonds of the
Waterbury concern amounting to Sl05,.
900 and the company further assume and
/ pay all other legal outstanding obliga-
tions Of the Waterbury Light K Power
company.
At the hearing on the petition held at
Brattleboro March %, it was set forth by
the said petitioning company, according
to the report of the public service COM
mission, that it the Montpelier & Barre
company is now fully able to meet all
its matured liabilities; that all of its
stock is now owned by the Montpelier &
Barre Light & Power company; that the
latter company is engaged in the bust
ness Of manufacturing and selling cleo
trieity for light. heat, and power in Yer.
mont; that IN order to operate the prop
critics of the Waterbury company as an
integral part of the other properties now
owned by it, said Montpelier & Barre
company desire to have transferred to
it all of the properties. rights, privileges
and franchises of the Waterbury COM
pany; that, ii this be permitted, the
Montpelier & Barre Light & Pawer COM
pany will assume all the existing obliga-
tions Of the Waterbury Light Pawer
including one hundred and five
thousand tsl05.010t dollars per value Of
first mortgage bonds OF the Waterbury
company now outstanding, which said
bonds are secured by trust indenture
under which the American Trust com
pany of Boston is trustee; that at
meeting of the stockholders of the Wat
erbury Light & Power. company, at which
al outstanding stock was represented, it
was voted unanimously that when this
commission shall have consented. said /.
Waterbury company transfer all its as
sets to the Montpelier & Barre Light /
( Power company in consideration Of the /
assumption by the latter company of all !
Obligations of the Waterbury company.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
CAPTOR OF SHIP
BOASTS SELF
GERMAN SPY
Ernest Schiller Who Single-fanded Cap
tured British Steamer Will Have
to Be Tried for
Piracy.

Lewes, Del, March 3l.-Ernest Schil
Ter, the young German who captured th'
British steamer Matoppo and terrorizet
the crew of So men Wednesday night
shortly after the crew had sailed from
New York with railroad supplies for Rus
sia, declared to-day he was a spy for the
German government.
Eyes, ] am spy for the German gov,
ernment," he said; Il got instructions
from the German government to &c
aboard to blow her up to prevent the
cargo from reaching Russia. | could have
blown her up, but the captains plea for
his wife and daughter was too much for
me and | hadn't the heart to do it,"
As Schiller's exploit took place outside
of the three mile limit he was told that
he probably would be taken to British
possessions in the West Indies for trial
for piracy.
The Matoppo sailed from New York
Wednesday for Nladivostok with cargo
consisting chiefly of barbed wire and farm
implements She passed out by Sandy
Hook at & p. IN. Two hours later upon
entering his cabin, Captain Bergner saws
he was confronted by young man with
a revolver in each hand
The captain was then bound hand and
foot and locked in his cabin, promising,
under penalty of death, not to raise an
alarm.
The stowaway, who is 20 years old,
then put the wireless instruments out of
commission and threw the ships six rifles
overheard. lie then returned to the cap
tain's cabin. rifled the safe and destroyed
many important papers. He had expect
ed. he told Captain Bergner. to find at
least f2.000 in English money aboard
the Matoppo, but there was not a penny
in the safe Later. however, Schiller
compelled the captain and the first officer
20 hand over their pocketbooks contain
ing about $50.
With Captain Bergner still a prisoner
in his own cabin, Schiller proceeded to
round up the crew Of SO men. all but a
few Of whom were IN their hunks. He
lined all hands up in one end Of the ship
and threatened that ii anyone made
move he would blow everybody to pieces
with bombs be said be had placed in diff I
ferent parts of the vessel.
At O'Clock yesterday morning Schiller I
released Captain Bergner and. stiu grip 1
ping q revolver in each hand. ordered the i
steamer headed toward the shore. Other 4
officers and members Of the crew were /
likewise ordered to their places and told
to put on AL speed for the Delaware
ape When the Matoppo came within [
sight 81 land about noon Schiller ordered /
} small bat lowered to take him ashore.
Meanwhile. the sffamer's signals asking .
% assistance bad been sighted b. the
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
WEEKS IN THE FIELD.
Middlebury Man Desires to Be Lieuten.
ant-Governor of Vermont.

ATiddlebury. March 3l-Speaker John
f. Weeks of the Vermont House has an
nounced his candidacy for lieutenant
governor of Vermont in the following
statement:
81 have been asked by many friends
whether | would be candidate for lieu
tenant governor. 1t is perhaps due 30
those who have kindly Offered me their
support, and also fair to other possible
candidates. that l should announce at
| this time that / will be candidate for
! the Republican nomination for this Office
If | am nominated | shall try to do
my part toward a vigorous and earnest
campaign. If ! am elected. l will co
what can TO secure as prompt dispatch
of legislative business as is consistent
with thorough consideration and fair
ness to every interest.
81 believe that the future of Vermont.
depends not so much upon highsound
ing phrases in party platforms as upon
the selection of capable, fair minded men
as legislators and state officers. ] stand
for everything that can be done TO assist
both the agricultural and manuiactur
ing industries of the state, for the great
est economy consistent with efficiency in
the management of state institutions for
the continuation of the Vermont good
roads policy, for equity in taxation, for
fair labor legislation, and for endeavor
to inforce more strick the laws we have
rather than to enact a large number OF
new ones.
"NNhile l am a Republican, the duties !
of the lieutenant governor are so large /
lv concerned with state matters that il I /
receive the nomination / shall appeal for 1
support to men of all parties. and if 4
elected. will try to perform the dutie,
Of the office solely in the interest of Yer.
mont"
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
ARE STILL HOLDING
THE OUTSKIRTS
Were Forced to Withdraw
from the Village Itself Be-
cause Positions Became
Untenable-The Germans
Failed to Carry by Assault
Their Lost Position in
AvOcOurt Wood

Paris, March 3t.-The Germans deliv.
cred fierce night attack on three sides
of the village of Malancourt, says the
French official statement to-day, and the
French retired from the village proper,
which was in ruins. They continued,
however, to hold the outskirts. The
fierce infantry fighting lasted for the en-
tire night before the French withdrew
from their untenable positions in the vii
lage itself
The Germans again tried to carry by
assault the position which the French
had won back in the Avocourt wood, but
they were repulsed. East of the Meuse
the night was calm.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
THINKS MEN WELL PAID.
General Manager Jarvis Replies to De-
mands of Company Employees.

Rutland. March 3l--Yice president and
General Manager George T. Jarvis Of
the Rutland railroad were yesterday
presented with the demands of the un-
ionized employees OF the Rutland road in
conjunction with the organiza tions of all
eastern railroads. in which the men ask
for more pay. less hours and general re-
arrangements of the present schedules,
and. in turn, the proposals of the rail
road company for certain changes were
submitted TO the committee received nc
the general managers Office. The de-
mands were presented by Chairman j. r.
Stuart and Secretary =. 5. Paige of the
Order of Railway Conductors; Chairman
+. p. Gordon and Secretary J. w. Dom
nelly Of the Brotherhood Of Railway
trainmen; Chairman W. +. Sweeney and
Secretary Il. s. Eggleston OF the Br0th-
erhood of Locomotive Engineers and
Chairman B. J. Mangan and Secretary
Thomas !. Franklin Of the Brotherhood
oi Locomotive Firemen and Engineers
In the reply made by General Manager
Jarvis De intimates that the company
feels the men are already well paid for
.hrir services. The demands Of the en-
Stoves are not refused. neither j. the de-
nani made by the railroad company for
be acceptance of their proposals. These
.re submitted for consideration Of the
mPioyes-
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
TWO SUSPECTS
IN CONSPIRACY
UNDER ARREST
U. S. Government Announces that Men
Alleged to Have Been in Plot to
Blow Up wellsnd Canal

Washington. ID. C., March 3I-Tbe Off
eials Of the department Of justice an
nounced to-day that two alleged con-
sirators with Captain Hans Tauschcr in
q plot 60 blow mp the Nelland canal are
under arrest in New York. that a third
il under surveillance IN Ncw England
and that they expected the arrest Of q
fourth In q feW days.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
Firemen Think There Were Two Fire
BODIES TAKEN TO STOWE.
OF Mr. and Mrs. Lyman A. Atkins,
Burned to Death

Mansfield, Mass, March 3l.--The re-
mains of Mr.. and Mrs. Lyman Fl. Atkins,
who were burned in the fire which de-
stroyed their home here Tuesday morn
ing, were taken yesterday afternoon to
Stowe, VT. They were accompanied by
the daughter, Mrs. Elsa Atkins. AT Stove
funeral services will be held.
1t developed here yesterday that the
books OF the Spring Brook Cemetery as
socation, Of which Mr.. Atkins was SUI
perintendent. were consumed in the fire
and the associations accounts are de-
stroyed
Money, watches and other valuables
have been recovered from the debris, but
the books were in the section of the
house where the blaze ragged the hottest.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
FUNERAL OF MRS. wAseATT.
Held at Her Late Home on Washington
Street.

The funeral 81 Mrs. Martha r. Was.
gait. wife of r. stanton Wasgatt. whose
death at her bome. is9 Washington
street Wednesday morning followed an
illness Of only . few hours. was held at
the house. this afternoon at 2 o'ciock
Rev. =. ~. Barnett. pastor of the Barre
church. officiating. Mem
hers of Ruth chapter. No. 33. %. r. = u
which Mr.. Wasgatt belonged. a. weIi
as women Of the ladies aid society. were
among those who ATTENDED tie services.
To-morrUw morning 80 1885 o'Ciatk.
ths remains u5H D. taken over tire Cen
trail Vermont railroad b. North jay. Me.
.pr iuterment-
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
Notice Union Men and Families and Pur.
chasing Public in General

The Vaughan store. having seen ia to
accept the clerks -bill are now rhced On
the fair list of merchants and deserving
OF your patronage. Onlv those that are
union clerks or those intending to b.ecomc
Wiii D. cmuioyei Nou can exuert fair
treatment ami "a hundred cents for YOUR
dollar at the store that i fair 70 you and
it, clerks. Clerks Unioa local sll.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
AS Flames Spread Through
Their Home at Law
renee, Mass.
TWO MORE PERSONS
WERE BADLY BURNED
An Apartment Building De-
stroyed and Adjoining
House Damaged

Lawrence, Mass, March 3l.-Two lives
were lost, two persons were badly burned
and heavy property damage was done
this morning by fire which destroyed
one building and partially burned an
other.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31

pilot boat Philadelphia, which immedi-
ately responded 10 the call and took the
small boat in tow disregarding the
threats of Schiller, who threatened TO
shoot anybody who laid hand on him.
Schiller was captured later.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
BRITISH CASUALTIES IN MARCH
Amounted to 1907 officers and 1887
Men.

London, March 3l.-The British casual
ties in March, as compiled from the pub
lished lists, amounted to l,l07 officers
and 1917 men.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31

Berlin, via London, March s1.-The
capture of the village of Malancourt in
the verdun region, west of the Meuse,
was announced by the war Office to-day.
The Germans took 32s prisoners. ,......
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
Germany Said to Be Waiting.

Berlin, Tuesday via London, Friday
March 3l.-Inquiries in government cir
cles developed the statement that moth
ing is known here concerning the explo-
er Sussex beyond the newspaper reports
from abroad. Officials are refraining
from comment in the absence of definite
information.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
PERSHING'S CAVALRY
GOES SOUTH OF HIM
Detachment of U. S. Troops
Is Believed to Be to South
of Guerrero, Where on
Wednesday Villa Is Re-
ported to Have Massacred
172 Carranza Men

FL Paso, Texas, March 3l..-Francisc'
Villa has crossed the great continental
divide and is heading southeast to hi
old headquarters at San Andres, accord
ling to reliable information received to
day Keen interest in the chase has
been aroused once more on the border
by the renewal of the possibility that
the bandit may he trapped before he car
swing south of the pershing squads.
The American troops sweeping down
| from the north on the eastern side 0i
the divide should be, by all calculations
within striking distance of Hangeroni-
mo ranch, where the bandit was last
known to be. Another detachment or
Pershing's cavalry is believed to have
swung southeast from MADEIRA, passing
wen south of Guerrero, where Villa is
said to have massacred IT2 Carranza
troops, and to be striking for Cerro
Prieto in the hope OF cutting off the
brigand from the southeast which is pre-
sumably closed by several thousand men
whom General Gutierrez Is said to have
in the district around Chihuahua.
The Massacre of 172 Carranzistas.
San Antonio, aAlrch 3l.--After killing
every one Of the l72 men in the garrison
at Guerrero, Francisco Villa moved north
ward Wednesday and now is somewhere
near the head waters of the Santa Marin
river, according to unofficial informa tioI
secured by General Funston last night.
At the head of considerable forcc,
Villa was reported to be on the San
4 taV- ,aI, hn ia. nah
and troops of both the United States and
Mexico were believed to be closing III
on him.
This information was regarded by Gen.
Funston and his staff as probably cor
rect. If correct it appeared probable
that soon Villa either will have to face
his pursuers in fight or make another
break through the tightening line OF
troops.
Whether his assault on the garrison !
1T Guerrero was the same engagement |
reported by General Pershing, was not |
known, but it was regarded as likely /
since the action reported by General
pershing occurred March II somewhere /
n that region. Details of the engage
nent were not reported.
General Pershing has been advised of
he report as to Villas location and it is
,nown that the disposition of his troops
nd that OF the Mexican government are
uch that Villa cannot easily escape
without fight. American troops are
in columns from the north
nd it was indicated that part of them
ad gone so far south that they would
e able to join with the Carranza forces
n preventing his escape in that direction.
Other than that no supplies for the
roops in the field has crossed into Mex
20 from FL Paso for shipment over the
orthwestern railway, no news concern
lg that development of the situation |
'as given out last night. h
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
DEAD SILENCE ON
REQUEST OF GERMANY
Washington Hears Nothing from Anbas-
sador Concerning His Inquiry if
German Vessels Torpedoed
Sussex and Englishman.

Washington, D. c., March 3l.-Cha,r
man Stone of the Senate foreign rela-
tions committee and Chairman Flood OF
the House foreign affairs committee went
over the submarine situation fully with
Secretary of State Lansing to-day. The
situation with Germany was described
officially as not beings imminent and it
was said that the two committee chair
men did not visit the state department
by appointment but had gone apparent
ly seeking information for guidance OF
the members of Congress.
The officials declared they We're not
worried because they had not heard from
Ambassador Gerard who had been in
structed to make inquiries of the Ger
man foreign office whether a German
submarine torpedoed the steamers Sus.
sex and Englshman because of the de-
lays in communication. Meanwhile the
was described as waiting one.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
The Badly Wounded:
DAVID CURRIER.
MRS. JAKE KATY

Mrs, JANE hAlL.
The fire broke out in the home of the
Curriers' in a building owned by Jake
Katz. Mrs. Currier and her daughter
were burned to death as they slept pa
vid Currier, aged 0, managed to get out
of the burning building but was serious.
ly burned. Mr.. and Mrs. Katz occupied
the other apartment in the building and
Mrs Katz also received burns as she
fled from the flames.
After completely enveloping the Katz
residence the flames jumped to the house
of Joseph Walworth nearby and that
was badly damaged before the firemcn
brought the fire under control. The to-
tai loss is estimated to be $4,000.
Firemen Think There Were Two Fires.
The authorities later announced that a
thorough investigation is being made on
the strength of reports Of ineendiarism.
The firemen said that the blaze in the
Walworth residence apparently started in
the cellar and was not due, as far as as
certained, to the fire in the Katz house
next door
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31

sunday l. communion day for members
& J.. a.. 4. ID. u. Members arr request
r. meet in h. of c. laIl at ss8a Juve-
miles also.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-31
The Dead.

MRS. AARON A. CURRIER.
MISS ELLA CURRTER.