davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
Explosion atBethlehem Works
Does Much Damage
LOSS ABOUT 100000
Bursting ShrapneIIs Continued
To Fill Air for Several
Hours
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l

Bethlehem, Pa, December 12.-An
explosion occurred in enc of the small
buildings Of the Bethlehem steel plant
this morning which wrecked the
structure but as faYas qnown no lives
were lost. President Grace of the
steel plant stated that he thought that
the loss would not exceed $4,000.
The force of the shock was felt as
far as Chester, Pa, where the concus
sion broke windows. Meager reports
from the scene of the explosion state
many of the employees were in great
danger, and that whether lives were
lost OF not could not be determined
owing to the fact that all wires be-
tween Wilmington and New Castle are
down.
Shrapnel was still exploding at $50
this morning. A loading station for
large shells had been established at
New Castle and acids and high eXplo-
sives were transported across the
Delaware. river from the Dupont works
to the plant where they were placed in
shell cases. One thousand two hun
dred men were employed at the plant
in three shifts. Every precaution in
the w + of concrete walls etc. had been
provided
One Man Killed.
The force Of the explosion was felt
eiehteen miles away. One man was
killed. Chief of Police Jacobson while
carrying q blazing case of ammunition
from the plant had his head blown off
by the explosion of the case he was
carrying.
The fire originated in the melting
room and spread to the munitions
| There were only ten men in the room
at the time ad they fed behind their
| concret protection. For over an hour
| there was barrage of shrapnel
! bursting in the air. One piece OF
shrapnel flew over a half mile and
struck building in Robinsdale. The
| flames were under control at noon
| Five workmen were slightly injured
Because of a blockade of the street car
lines, hundreds of men VINO would have
! otherwise been to work in the plant
/ had luckily not reached there Super
! intendent Paris is now making an in
vestigation as to the cause of the ex-
plosion
The loss is s2,0Oo.O00. Some persons
suspect incendiarism.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
YOUNG men At CAMP
DODGE GET GAS Hints
Will Be Given instruction In
New Mode of Warfare
DOMINIC OF The MASKS
Not Known When Next lnCre.
ment Selected Will! Reach
CantOnment
DOMINIC OF THE MASKS
limited Press Eispatch.l

Camp Dodge, Ia, December 12.-
The gas instruction of selectiVe serV-
ice men at the cantonment here will
begin i'll earnest shortly. While there
has been some instruction in the poi
son fume section of the military game,
the matter has rot been generally dis
cussed III the training of the drafted
men from Iowa, Minnesota, and North
Dakota who are quartered here.
The instructors in the gas school
came here from Fort Sill school in
struction for officers. British officers
who have been through the real thing
the Huns widest varieties of gas
also will aid in getting men ready O
get through an offensive and defensive
use of the fumes, that have played
such an important part in this war.
First the fundamentals of the gas
masks and other traps used in battling
the fumes were taught the men, pre-
pairing to take the special instruction.
Training Will Be Thorough
The training will be thorough. Spe-
cial training will be given, it is under
stood, in the use Of tear gas and in
battling its effects. While the tear
gas does not knockout" the victim
it leaves his eyes in bad shape either
filling them with tears forcing the
lids to drop. thus temporarily blind
ing the victim.
Instruction also will include drills in
trenches and dugouts where gas bombs
are used. The Hun has been throw
Ing out many gas bombs and the
drills in this method gas also will be
emphasized
While the preparations for gas
instruction continued the camp moved
alon" rapidly in other branches OF
drilling. The bavonet work was al
most completed, that is the pre!imin-
arv stages, and now the drafted men
will get their share of the steel
blade work-sans the steel blades, or
with points dulled
Just when the next increment of
drafted men will report to the camp
cannot be announced just now It is
understood the remainder of the
camps quota of the first draft army
will begin arriving soon. Preparations
are almost ready for the reception OF
the newest kaiser killers"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
w. s. FORREST.

17ou!, France, November 15.-[By
Mail l-Salvaging the shattered nerves
and little bodies of French children
rescued literally from the mouths Of
enemy cannon was part Of the NAM
moth Red Cross work in France, wit
messed by The United Press here to-
day.
If American mothers could see how
their hard American dollars are being
spent among the Wal battered children
Of France they would doubly subscribe
st the very next opportunity. This is
the first account written and sent to
America Of how these American dol
lars are pulling French babies out of
q living hell and filing their impress
sionistic little minds with something
better 20 think about than constant
Continued on Page Two.)
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
EAGER TO JOIN THE ARMY
Rush al the MankatO Recruiting
Station Continued Una
bated Today

The rush at tie recruiting station
still continues, and it is possible that
today may see all records smashed for
the number Of men enlisted in one
day. This morning the room was full
by S:15, and Corporal Shores was
deviating from his former rules, and
all men stood undressed, ready for a
rapid examination. Formerly the
look over" was made in private, but
this is no longer the case. AS the men
will fight together, SO they now are
being undressed and examined to-
gether.
Several were rejected in short
order today because OF poor eyes.
Those who passed, undressed with
alarcrity when the order was
given They would all have given
anything to have heard the order now,
instead of tonight, to board the train.
Corporal Shores stated today that
he had received no orders in regard
to accepting men until December 10.
AS far as he knows no men of draft
age will be taken after tonight To-
night the last men of draft age will
leave for st. Louis. Those who went
last night were: Durham H. Freitag,
Mapleton; Lewis G. Thompson, How
ard, S. D.; Harvey McCurley, Madelia,
Herbert w. Schade, st. Peter; Emil
J. Hubert Lamberton; George w.
Lundberg, Mankato; Harold J. Nc
Gucbin, Mankato; Pierce Norton,
Mapleton; Lee w. Persona, Fairmont;
Sidney NJ Cox, Garden City; Charles
w. Keith, Big Stone City, S. D.; Wall
ter H. Schmidt. st. Peter; Paul J.
McGueggan, Mapleton; Lionel j.
Johnson, st. Peter; John e. Riley,
Medelia; Olaf c. Peterson, Window ;
Gene K Francis, Vernon Center.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
JEANETTE IS CHAMPION
CAUSE OF DANNY CUPID
Wants the W0man's Citizenship
Forfeiture Law Repealed
BY Congress
UNITED Press Dispatch.l

Washington, December 12.-Cupid
has a champion in the person Of Miss
Jenette Rankin Of Montana, who is
backing up the scantily clad, chubby
heart hunter, by asking for the repeal
CT the law which calls for American
girls forfeiting their American citi-
zenship when they marry aliens.
This law is in force in my own state
of Montana along the Canadian Dor
der. where | know a lot of girls that
just love nice Canadian boys, but do
not want to marry them and give
up their citizenship" said Miss Rank
in in championing the cause OF
Cupid.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
aged RESIDENT DEAD
Mrs. Jensine Anderson Passed Away
Yesterday Afternoon.

Mrs. Jensine Anderson, an old and
respected resident, died yesterday at
the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Charles Springer. on East Main
street, at the age of ninetysix years,
eleven months and seventeen days.
She was born in Stoe. Denmark, and
came to America in 1893 to Dell Rap
ids. S. D., where she made her home
with her son, t. NJ Anderson, for
twenty years. She came to Mankato
about four years ago making her
home with her daughter.
The remains will be shipped to
Dell Rapids tomorrow morning for
burial The funeral will take place
there Friday at one o'clock from the
Danish Baptist church.
She leaves to mourn her loss three
sons and one daughter. Andrew OF
Lennon, S. D.. T. NJ, of Dell Rap
ids, S. D., Christian Peter Of Wensy-
sell, Denmark and Mrs. Charles
Springer of Mankato, also grand chill
dren and great grandchildren. Mr..
and Mrs. Springer will accompany
the remains to Dell Rapids.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
VERDICT FOR N0RTHWESTERN
Jury Favored Defendant in Suit
Brought BY William Howe.

The jury returned yesterday after
noon with a verdict in favor of the
Northwestern Railway company, in
the Howe case. which had been in
court for almost week. The attor-
neys for Mr.. Howe signed a cost
bond for SIS for their client This
sustains the company's claim that
the $4,000 paid Mrs. William Howe
in 1916 relieves the company of any
further claims.
Court took a recess after this case
until the 18th of this month. Coun-
ty Attorney Schmitt moved that
when the court meets on the date, the
criminal calendar be taken up at
once.
Pursuant to it's adjournment of last
week, the grand jury reconvened to-
Gay, and has been sitting all day.
Reports are looked for at the end OF
the week
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
LIVE STOCK ON DISPLAY
Hundreds Head Shown at the Euui
ty Cooperative Exchange.
TINTED Press Disnatcr I ~-.

limited Press DiSnatch 7 ~7.
st. Paul, December 11.-Hunderds
of heads of the northwest's finest
stock were shown today, when the
big Equity Cooperative Exchange
livestock show opened in the Equity
livestock pavilion here
This is the first similar affair. It
takes the place of the annual Equity
Grain Growers convention The show
which lasts today and tomorrow is
under personal direction of F. e. Os-
borne, manager of the Equity live
stock department
Last month" said Osborne today,
"the Equity COOPERATIVE exchange
handled more livestock on the South
st. Paul market than nineteen other
firms and tied with the twentieth
firm. This means only eight firms
handled more livestock than the far
mers' own selling agency.
Il expect this show and sale will
focus greater attention upon this
selling agency, and will be of great
value to farmers who believe in CO.
operation
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
SENDING OUT QUESTIONABLE
Normal School Students Assisting
Local Exemption Board.

Questionaires are being stamped and
addressed today at the normal school
by students and faculty members, un-
der the supervision Of DR.. John A.
Hancock This is their service to the
country. About eighty girls were ex-
pected to be at work shortly after four
o'clock, and it was thought the work
would be finished before this evening
Saturday per cent of these will be
sent out to registered men, and five
per cent will follow on each secular
day thereafter. Mailing these question
aires is no small matter, for each one
contains sixteen pages. The members
of the exemption board feel much re-
lieved after turning the work over to
the normal school.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
LABOR OF RED CROSS
SAVED THE baby LIVES
Mary Infants Now Out Of
German Shell Reach
NURSES ARE DOING DUTY
Doctors Battling With Disease
In Dark Unsanitary and
BathIess Caves

Note.-The following, the first
of a series Of three articles writ
ten by w. S. Forrest, manager of
the Paris office of The United
Press, tells of the wonderful work
Of the Red Cross at Toul, France,
where hundreds of French chill
dren rescued after living three
years under German shell fire,
are being cared for The series
are the first to be published in
the United States telling of this
work.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
Anxious ~ E,I;e+.
limited Press Dispatch.

Chicago. December 12-Wben the
recruiting Office onanad this morning
thoro wa~a hundreds of vouro mon
standing IN liNn IN tako advp-tago of
tho lac+ days Orncrtunitv IN enlist
Yesterdays record OF 15GG men IT, is
expected will be surpassed today.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
May Be More Hangings.

FINlI"u PTNSS IISpdIch.I
Fort Sam Houston. Tex, December H.
Despite the fact that thirteen negroes
who took part in the Houston riot in
August last and that forty-five We're SEN
fenced to prison, the riot is not closed
incident yet. Other members of the
Twenty fourth infantry will be examined
as to what part they took in the riot
and other court martials are expected.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
FRESH TROOPS ADVANCE
Germans Are Being Rushed Up
Behind the Lines In
Flanders
rUnited Press Disnatch.1

With the British Armies. December
12.-British airmen today Observed
long lines of fresh troops being rushed
up behind the lines in Flanders. The
Germans used every endeavor to keep
the British from making observations,
and had more air planes in commits
sion today than for several months
no
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
EIiuibIe For Aviation CORDS

Charles Northrop received tele-
gram today from Omaha informing
him that his son, Marvin Northrop,
had passed the examination for adj
mission to the aviation corps of the
United States army. Young Northrop
will come to Mankato tomorrow to
visit his father and mother before en-
tering the service.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
DRAFT IS GIVEN FAVOR
Americans in Canadian Army Endorse
The Proposition.
limited Press Dispatch.1

UNITED Press Dlspatch.J
With the American EXpeditionary
Forces in France, December 12.-
Canadians among the American forces
were taking up the vote of their fell
low countrymen on the subject of the
Canadian draft. The general opin-
ion is among the men that the draft
is the only logical way of keeping up
Canada's good work in the present
conflict. Two canadian officers,
Americans, are about to be transferred
to Pershing's forces.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
CALL Mr.. HOOVER, QUICK
Here Is a Man Who Cheated" And
Got His Loaf Sugar
limited Press Dispatch.

United Press Dispatchl
Dallas, Tex, December IA little
more sugar, please" customer asked
a waiter in Dallas hotel, when served
but two cubes Of sugar with his coffee
Sorry, but we can only serve two
Jumps with each cup"
"Then give me another cup of cof-
fee''
And the customer took the addition
al Jumps, sweetened the first cup Of
coffee to his satisfaction, and left the
second cup untouched.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
Dcmobilizinu the Forces.
ecociate5 Press DiSnatch I
TOO MUCH PROSPERITY
Lumberjacks Get SO Much Money
Thew VIII Net Work Steadily

UNITED Press Dispatchl
Minneapolis, Mimi, December 12.-
Lumberjacks in Northern Minnesota
woods are getting such high wages
that they will not work all the time.
This WIS tho complaint" filed by
three Northern Minnesota numbering
companies with the state labor depart
ment today. The complaint cites
that the lumber jacks work only half
n month, because in that time they
make as much rs they formerly did in
a month, and that thereby they are
demoralizing the state labor situation.
The average woods worker gets SIS
p month and his board. cooks and top
leaders getting higher than this aver
age, the COMPLAINT saws.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
Casulalties at Halifax.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.

IAsSOciated Press DiSpatch.
Halifax, December ia revised
estimate today of the explosion casu-
alties reduces the death list to ap-
proximately 1900. The known dead
total 500. 1t is believed that nine or ten
hundred bodies are still in the debris.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
Barqes On Mississippi River

Washington December 10 -rhe first
@eInite steps looking toward the estab-
lishme',tS of cargo feet of barpes o.
the NFiesiss'nni river for the purpose of
relieving railwa fra fife we've taken to-
day when the shipping board appropriate
ed $3,360,00 for that purpose.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
Jerusalem Not Damaued.
UNITED Press Dispatch. ]

Rome. December 12.-The city of
Jerusalem was not damaged when
the British took possession, accord
ing to the statement of the Patriarch
Of Jerusalem in LIS report to the
vatican at Rome.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
WALKED INTO JERUSALEM
British Commander Entered tt
Holy City en- Foot.
isociated Press Dispatch. ]

London, December 12.-Premier
Lloyd George announce din the house
of commons today that General Al
lenby, the British com ander in
Palestine entered Jerusalem on foot
Tuesday.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14

Nar1ed Vice President IF ST ps,H
r. M. Calkins. who has been in charge
of the coulpany's affairs i'm Seattle is
anpointed vice president of the Chicago,
Milwaukee and St. parl ailwav COM
pany in charge of the freight and traf-
f1c department.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
CLIP COUPONS SATURDAY
Those Who Own Liberty Bonds Viii
Be Dcinu That Same Thiru.

Saturday will be coupon clipping
dav for those who own Liberty bonds
and wish TO join the Red Cross Sun
dav. The three and one-half ner cent
bonds ere nayable on that date and
will bring 81 cents for the $50 bonds
and SIZE for the 800 bonds.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
FIRST AMERICAN
SHOT WAS FIRED
AGAINST AUSTRIA
Associated Press Dispatch. !

italian Army Headquarters in
Northsrn Italy, Tuesday, December
11.-The First American shot against
Austria was fired by Representative
Tinkham of Boston, on the lower
Pave when he pulled the string firing
a large 149 mllmetre gun and send
ing shell hurting across the Piave
to the Austrian position.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
President Murchado Arrested.

limited Press Dispatch
Lisbon. Portugal, December 12.-
President Murchado has been arrested
by the officers of the new regime.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
BOLSHEVIKI POWER MENACED
SHORTLY WILL BE CR|MPPED
COSSACKS TAKING UP ARMS
GREAT. MASS OF FLOUR
Seventy Thousand Tons Moved Be-
cause of Shipping Facilities.

cause of Shipping Facilities.
Duluth, Mimi, December 12.-Seven-
ty thousand tons of -four, more than
would have been moved eastward
normally was moved through the eX-
tension of the lake shipping season
from November 80 to today. This is
the estimate Of state food administra-
ton attaches. The Great Lakes
Transit corporation, owning most of
the freighters of the federal food adj
miniStration.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
STRIKE IN Twin CITIES
/. CALLED BY THE UNIONS
Will Occur if Federal Officials
Do Not Intervene
GOVERNOR STANDS PAT
Refuses Request of Gompers
For Reopening of Street
Car Mems Case

Minneapolis, December 12.-OnIy
federal intervention, union leaders in
dictated, could prevent strike of APP
proximateIy forty thousand men in
Minneapolis and ST. Paul tomorrow in
sympathy with the twin city street
car men who demand the right to wea.
union buttons despite ruling to the
contrary by the Public Safety COM
mission. Conferences continued in the
two cities today, while representatives
also met with the officials in Wash
nston.
Washington, December 12.-Govern-
ment officials are keeping themselves
info imed as to the progress of the
efforts to avert general strike in
Minneapolis and st. Paul, but inter
vention of the Council of Nationa
Defense is not now contemplated.
UNITED Press Dispatch.l
st. Paul, December 12.-Forma
votes to decide whether local unions
will join in the sympathetic strike
were being taken today. 1t is under
stood that if the strike should be pro-
longed, the railway shopmen will urge
all shopmen at division points to also
walk out every place there is round
house or repair shop.
What Leaders Claim.
Union leaders CLAIMED this afternoon
that canvass of the votes taken by the
unions as to whether they would par
take in the strike shows that 90 pei
cent is ready to walk out tomorrow. The
project of bringing armored motors into
action for use of the home guards was
abandoned.
South ST. Paul has voted 50 600 toward
q fund for teh home guards who it is more
than likely will be called upon to guard
the stock yards.
Governor Blu nouist today in comment
ing on the situation sta ted that in this
sContinued on Page TWo)
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
ANOTHER VOTE OF CREDIT
England Is Spending More Than 81,
Million Dollars Per Day.
TASSo~;c+AT Press Dispatch

London, December 12-Andrev
Bonar Law, chancellor of the ex-
chequer, introducing a vote of credit
in the house of commons said he
estimated the present vote would car
nv the expenditures to the end of
March, 1918 He declared the average
daily expenditures for the last sixty
three days were 6,794,000 pounds.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-14
HAND OVER pETROCRAD
DEMAND OF TEUTONS
One of the Provisions in the
Armistice, Is Report
DISARM BLACK SEAFLEET
That Is Another, So Story Goes;
Rum0r KorniIOff Is
Defeated
United Press Dispatch

The Associated Press today gave out
the following:
The bolsheviki power in Petrograd
is being menaced more seriously. as
the opposition becomes solicited. Po-
Iitical leaders opposed to the extrem-
lists expect their military forces to be
able to depose of the bolsheviki soon
and that by spring they will have a
formidable fighting force to meet the
Germans. The whole force of 100000
Cossacks. it said in London where
direct communication has been es-
tabIished with General kaledines, will
back the ter-revolution.
"There is unrest in Petrograd and
Moscow, the extremist strongholds,
and the Cossacks have already ad-
vanced from the Don river northward.
1t is declared that the anti bosheViki
forces is composed not only of Cos
sacks. but also the leaders of other
political parties in Russia. Allied sup
/, port is counted upon by Leaders of the
counter revolution if it is to be sue
cessful and it is hoped an American
army may be sent to Russia to aid the
friends Of the allies in re establishing
order and solid fighting front against
the enemy.
London. December 12.-According
to the latest reports received from
Russian sources. one of German terms
of the arnistice between the Russians
and Germans was that Russia should
evacuate the city of Petrograd pend
ing TIE negotiations and permit Of
German oceunaticn, also the disacma-
ment Of the Russian Black sea fleet.
Unofficial reports state that General
Korniloff was defeated in his first
clash with b0lsheviki. but that General
Kaladines is rushing up reinforce
ments to K0rniloff. Tho battle started
Friday and is still continuing.
Petrograd. December 12.-General
Kaladines PROFANITY arrested an en-
r7issary frop7 the committee of the
Russian Black sea fleet sent to ne"o-
tiate with him fer the bo,sheviki
forces.
Dcmoblizinu the Forces.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l
COPENHAGEN, December PA semi
official German news agency SAYS that
the rehabilitation of the Russian
forces have already begun and peace
negotiations restricted to the Russian
frCnt have been authorized.
Jassy, Rumania, December 12.-Of-
fetal announcement was made today of
the signing OF an arnlistice in accord
arce with which hostilities were suS-
pended last night until further notice