Evening journal., 1917-12-13
NEWS HAPPENINGS
ABOUT NEW Castle
Old Town Somewhat Scared
While Battle at Beth
lehem" RACES
MRS. HOLCOMB'S DEATH
SADDENS FRIENDS

NEW CASTLE, Del, Dec. i3.-New
Castle felt last nisht that it had a
great deal 10 be thankful for in esoap-
Ing the fate Of Halifax Two maya
zines fun Of the stun that blew mp
Halifax had been endangered by fire for
hours. tho danger appearing SO great
n one time that the city schools were
dismissed and tho children sent nome.
II the magazines had gone, New Castle
would have looked as If the Teuton
army had passed this way. Many resi-
dents, with The Canadian horror fresh
In mind stayed in their houses the
gHater part OF the day, while with
others curiosity was greater than ap-
prehension, and they were out in the
fields outside the plant collecting souv-
pnirs before the shells had ceased fly
ing. In the afternoon the fields were
thick with relic hunters from Whining
ton and other parts Of Delaware, as
we'll as New Castle.
The fence around the Bethle-
hem plant WAS rlddled with she'll
holes. and the ground in and around
the plant was pitted Ike a battle
: ground. A freight car loaded with
wheat, that had been left over night
on the Delaware road tracks, was made
into a sieve by the shells, and the
wheat had trickled out on the ground
Il was estimated that 1000 shells deto-
mated The magazines, which have the
external appearance Of a mound Of
dirt, had their roofs we'll peppered
with shell fragments.
Mayor Lavender early sent over in
quiries 10 know what help was needed
and could be given. The women of
New Castle were prompt in Offering
their homes for any injured people
there might be found. The Mayors
telephone was busy all day receiving
requests for information and offers Of
help from all over the State Cover
nor Townsend both telephoned and sent
q telegram to the Mayor, Offering all
possible help. Tho Wilmington Red
Cross and the Middletown Red Cross
Offer ed relief service. The warm wraps
and sandwiches and hot coffee sent by
Mrs. Florence Bayard lliles were great /
~ appreciated.
Mayor Lavender early in the day,
was called up by a Philadelphia news
paper. wanting TO know II their story
Of seventeen killed, 200 injured and
number OF houses blown up was cor
rect. The Mayor said the one correct
item was that It all happened in Della
ware.
Mayor Lavender went over TO the
plant TO confer with p. G. Paris, the
superintendent, in the afternoon. Mr..
Paris said he was deeply touched with
The kindness Of the people Of New Cas-
he and the state, and although the help
was not needed, he would never forget
their generosity aud interest. Mr.. Par
ris commended tho bravery Of Chief
Of Police Jacobson, the one man 10 lose
his life, and Of the fireman who work
ed amidst danger.
New Castle people are greatly con-
cerned over the misunderstanding in
the case Of John Lalli, the tailor. who
had been employed al the Bethlehem
plant a short time, and was one Of
the first to discover tho fre. Lalli has
the confidence Of the residents Of New
Castle, and that he has the confidence
Of the officials AZ the plant also is
shown by tho fact that he was told .
10 return TO his regular work at the |
plant this morning.
John Lalli was overseeing the load .
ing Of q truck with planks, when one
Of the colored men iu his gang looked .
through a window o. the shell-loading .
building and shouted that there WIS
a IRE insnde. Lalli threw opeu the +
door and shouted Fire" and then ran
away 70 warn other men in the plant. /
According % general orders, anyone .
not directly employed on the spot seen .
running away from place where
a. D. 80 o.
fslned By the guards even had It been
me Of the head officials. Lalli and
me men IN his gang were consequently /.
kept ~ the oflcei during the day but
were sent home az night as nothing
suspicious was found about their case.
Afrs. Lalli was almost Frustrated over
the affair, and both Mr. md Mrs. Lalli
have the sympathy and confidence OF
The community.
N,For the ilrst and only time, the en-
p1cyes ere blessing The street cars for
stalling and getting them late TO work.
The fact that the shells were loaded
wis1 powder instead of shrapnel bull
ieis rTas another factor that prevented
more riurf
Arrangements have not yet been de
c.le1 lInn regarding the funeral of
lheoc ,arslscn His widow.
youns tar ~ e. and his brother
from ae +ereeF are 40 Toe Hotel
Louise. There h also an infant son
surviving, and q sister who lives i'm
New Castle. Tho burial vi boz In New
Jersey. hut b. rs tho desire Of The
bethlehem guards that scr, iros DC held
In New Castle before Che Nc,N Jersey
funeral Chief Jacobson and his vie
were well known and liked i'm New
Castle, having stayed for some time al
the Hotel Louise.
The New Century Club has been
greatly saddeued by the death of Mrs.
y. r. Holcomb, for many years o mem
Der. No current events will be held ou
Friday, out OF respect 10 MIS- Hol-
comb, whose funeral will take place
hat afternoon at Emmanuel Church
The CHEF business at The December
meeting OF the club on Tuesday night
was the appointing Of q committee 90
draw up resolutions Of regret, as fol-
lows
whereas, Mrs. B. 7. Iiolcomb,
member Of the New Castle Century
Club. has been removed by death. BE
Resolved, that By her death we
have lost on esteemed member who
by her cheerful disposition brought sun
shine into our midst;
Resolved that copy Of these
be sent 10 the family.
.IH