New-York tribune., 1917-11-08
Parents Proud of Heroes
and Bear Sacrifices With
Fortitude
All Had Planned Gifts
Mothers in Every Case Were
to Send Comfort Kits
Abroad

Twelve families hereabouts yester-
day found a new meaning in the war.
Each had son among the missing sea-
men on the American patrol boat AL
cedo, which was sunk by German sub
marine in the war zone Monday.
In each case the mother was plan
ming gifts for her boy. Twelve moth
ers affectionately read scores OF times
the letters they had recently received
from their sailors boys-in this frame
OF mind and heart, they received the
news that the worst had probably be-
fallen them. Nine additional frmilies
in other parts of the country also had
sons among the missing.
The youngest local boy among the
missing is Edward r. Gozzett, OF 100
Vanderwenter Avenue, Astoria. Coz
zet was sixteen when the United
States joined the Allies. he had been
student at the High School Of Com
merce, where he organized military
unit. Edward James Gozzett, his
father, is vice president Of the Ameri-
can Apotnecary Company. Mrs. Coz
zett was knitting a sweater for her
boy when she learned OF the sinking
Mother Had Gifts Ready
A box of gifts for her son completed,
Mrs. John Bunkhsrdt, Of 314 VERIFIED
Street, Brooklyn, was about to send the
remembrance 10 her son. John Willism
Bunkhardt, twenty-five, when she
learned he was reported victim.
Heartbroken, she still hoped that he
might be picked up by passing ship.
Before enlisting on June IL last, young
Bunkhardt was employed in a Wall
Street brokers' office. He was a chum
of Richard Welsche, jr., who Is also
among the missing.
Welsche, who lived at 1912 Jefferson
Street, Brooklyn, was employed by the
Niagara Fire Insurance Company be-
fore he enlisted. He Is twenty-four.
His mother was prostreted when she
heard that her son was missing, but
she refused TO believe that all hope was
gone. Mrs. Welsche took from desk
postal card that had come from the
boy on October ~. IL read:
wen, pop VIM are you ROlHS W
vote for in this election? voted for
Hylan. We cast our ballots on board
ship"
Another Brooklyn boy among those
believed to have been drowned Is
Luther o. Weaver. Eighteen years
old, young Weaver, the son Of E. w.
Weaver, instructor in mathematics in
Boys High School, was graduated
tbaA ;,e ,.,fAb Grot
in 1916. and captured a scholarship for
entrance examinations and planned TO
study engineering, his father said.
Was Ready for College
But tie war came last April, and
young Weaver Joined the Naval Re-
serve. John, his twenty eight-year-
old brother, is in the aviation section
of the Signal Corps. Luther was
urged by his father to postpone his
enlistment until he became a little
older, but the boys earnest desire 10
serve won his parents consent.
Richard W. Riker, twenty-four years
old, a second-class seaman, who is
among the missing, lived near young
Weaver in Brooklyn. An excellent
swimmer, 4 basketball and baseball
player, Riker enlisted in the Naval
Militia on Nay ~. His mother re-
ceived her last letter from him Sat
urday. He has brother under the
colors at Spartanburg.
John Winnie was the only seaman
among the twelve who were married.
lie welded Miss Dorothy Joekel, OF
Washington Heights, on June 80.
Whine joined the Naval Reserve before
the United States formally declared
war on Germany, and was employed in
the Offices of the Central Railroad OF
New Jersey before entering the SER
vice.
Frank W. lingering, twenty-eight,
who is on the missing list, was soon
to be the recipient Of box of goodies
his mother had prepared for him. His
father died when young lingering was
an infant, and his mother married
again and became Mrs. c. Tamburin
She resides Jersey City.
Staten Island Mother Proud
Frank w. Higgins, missing yeoman.
is the son Of Mrs. and John J. Higgins,