davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-26

feet from the destroyed structure when
the explosion took place. Mr.. Welsh con-
Quoted an investigation of the explosion.
HHe said:
my investigation leads me to believe
that the explosion started in the vicinity
Of the second vibrating table.
THE evidence gathered came from the
men in the building.
THE first flash leads me to believe that
the trouble started in the neighborhood of
the vibrating table The explosion that fol-
lowed must have been shrapne
There were about 240 persons working
in the building the morning of April 10
when the disaster happened
"I don't think there sufficient pow
der in the loading room to cause a flash
similar to the one ] have seen. The ig-
hitting of pellets would have created a sharp
sound If they caught fire. A sort of puff
would have been followed by a sort of fire.
cracker sound"
Under crosSexamination directed by
Juryman Granger. the superintendent told
of the various times when matches were
found in the plant.
w. l. Schaffer, of Chester. attorney for
the munitions company, took the witness
stand.
HEART OF THE PLANT
THAT kind of powder will not explode
by detonation, but needs the touch of flame
to explode it," Captain Wilhelm said in
reply to his question. Then, backing up
his theory of generalization. he asserted:
Both for frightfulness and delay, this
place where the explosion occurred was
the most vulnerable in the plant There
is no other place in the plant where so
many lives could have been lost; there
Is no other place where so great n delay
In resuming operations would have been
caused 1t was the heart of the plant,
he declared
Captain Wilhelm was graduated from
West Point in 1904, he testified He served
the Government in various army posts and
plants, including two and half years in
the Frankford Arsenal
John C. Dunn. superintendent of the
shrapnel department of the Eddystone
plant followed Captain Wilhelm. He testi
fled along lines tending to support the
theory of an outside explosion.
THE first explosion was puff" he said
"It would have been impossible to get a
puff explosion in the vibrating room. I say
this after studies Of explosions continuing
since 1900.
Il believe the first explosion occurred
in the pellet ROOM" he declared.
Dunn admitted that rules for safety are
likely to be violated despite precautions.
What do you know about the finding of
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-26
Coroner Told of
Plots at EddystOne

Continued from Page One
number of Russian inspectors of shells
were employed. By some, strange coinci.
dence none Of the men working in this room
were killed.
Emma p. Parsons was the first witness
called to the stand. Her brother and sis
tsr-n-law. Mr.. and Mrs. Anthony G. Par
sons, of Chester were killed in the Eddy
stone blast. Questions were asked her to
establish formally the fact that deaths oc-
CURED In the disaster.
WILHELM INSISTS ON PLOT
Then Captain Walter NJ. Wilhelm, of 30
College avenue, Swarthmore. who is vice
president and general manager of the Ed
dystone Ammunition Corporation, was
called
A torrent of reasons for belief that the
tragedy was planned came from Captain
Wilhelm, when he was asked:
Have you any opinion as to the cause
OF the explosion
"Our investigation places it in such a po-
sition that / cannot believe it was an acci-
Dent" he cried.
1--WE had turned out 100000 shrapnel"
he continued We had often worked the
plant up to capacity of 10000 shtIls
day. All of this had been done without
accident. And on the day of the explo-
sion we were working at less than half
that rate. The guard system had never
been better, the inspection had peen per
fected and safety precautions were AT tneir
most highly developed state captain VIII
helm said. THE plant had been fully re-
viewed. Federal and State authorities mao
Inspected it, Munitions experts mad looked
the plant over All in all. the Eddystohe
plant was laid out on the most modern ilnes'
Nothing under ordinary CONDITIONS oouiu
have caused the explosion"
Many times in the past there was reason
to believe that persons were trying 10 oe,
stroy the shrapnel factory, the geherai
manager swore.
WARNED OF BLAST PLOTS
soften, especially at holiday times,
private detectives warned us that tne pan.
was to be blown up" he said. tensely we
have gathered evidence since the explosion
to show 1t came from the OUTSIDE.
Matches had been found the day before
in the vibrating room (this Is the room
where the fatal blast is believed TO nave
started).
"On one occasion screws were found In
the base of a shrapnel," Captain Wiiheim
swore Another time We found In the
plant matches wrapped with oil rags
Match heads were found ih tiis oase OF
shrapnel. And on the day OF the great
funeral a prominent Baldwin Locomotive
Works official was cautioned not TO al.
tend, although he had planned to DO SO.
The name OF the Baldwin official was not
given. However. Samuel Vauclain, vice
president of the locomotive works. had ar-
ranged to attend the funeral with ms
daughter Miss Constance Vauclam, ana
cancelled the plans on few hours notice.
q, = ~ vi ,,I,.1... .sv<ssn~ except tfst
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-26

red and later. wrinkled pea1
until peach II abloom.
Vegetables may be divided
TWO classes. warm Temperatures
temperature" Smooth seeded
peas and onion seed can be p>&
naples leaf out red.
When cherry and plum trees src
som II is safe to sow In open e<6
things as lettuce. radish. parsley.
nips, cabbage. carrots, peas and 81
more tasty" wrinkled peas shou
planted until later. in full ped
time, as they are more liable to ~
ground than are the smooth varied
ihe apple trees bloom II is time 70
heat-loving vegetables, such az CO
wax ana string beans, sweet corn.
ana squash. When pears are abl6
usually safe to set out eggplants.
and peppers and to plant lima b.
dahlias. 1/21
The following table will be found
II groups common vegetables acco1
their ability, II planted in the open,
stand spring frosts. These directi0u
ever, do not apply to the planting 0k
in hotbeds or seed boxes to obtain
afterwards to be transplanted. X
Plants not injured by n llehe r.
sH~'N hi"s 't Wntn neANXIfXI
are over or usually as soon as the oc1I
be put In good condition. Cabbage. \
potatoes. early peas (smooth types ~
tinguished from wrinkled). onion seta. \
crops, such as kale. spinach and muet1r
Vegetables to be planted after dann1
hard frost: Lettuce. radishes, part
carrots, beets, wrinllled peas, carly b
corn. f
To he planted after danger os n
String beans, sweet corn (late varietIoI
Few early tomato plants may also be ct
but care should be taken to protect Il
from any sudden chilly weather by hi
ing shelter of newspapers, boxes,
This group should not be planted unit
danger of frost Is past and the ground
begun TO warm up. Included in this n
be cucumbers, melons, squashes, pump
lima beans, tomatoes. eggplant. p0p
Plants of tomatoes, eggplant and pei
which have been grown In boxes or hoi
should be ready to set in the open al
time. 3
In order to insure n steady sunni
vegetables, crops like peas, beans and
tuce may be planted every three or
| weeks, whenever the space is avail
| Some of these can be planted in the b
made available by removing the other q
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-26
BY JOHN BARTRAM

CtAFE planting time is a problem tina
- perplexes the homo gardener. Earl.
planting Is to be avoided by the amateur
one Of the best indications for planting tim
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-26
From a Late Garden

j. Il. W.--From June . to the end o. -,
tembcr you should be able to bring q nv 1510x
of things to maturity. provided YOU est k09x
with the planting soon as you arrive. an
of the view that you will have some, but net
big crop Of the bush limag. The Btrineie69
wax beans will give good crop and 20 VIII
the Valentine beans. Chard carrot ard be&1
also should give good crops and YOU should b
able to pack up some OF tho last two name
for winter in boxes Of sand or dry fps y
You should be able to have n couple OF ~
of cucumbers at least / fear II woute 3 y
too late to nut in II Husknelons. byt IQ1
might ask local advice on this. You Lsh0u{1
to buy plants, Even on the plot 20 BY 1p(
feet you should be able to provide for yru1
family. 1900
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-26
GARDEN QUERIES ANSWERED
Uncle Sans Potato Books

,F. G.-fnformation regarding the prcparatI6c
OF SOIL and cultural requirements of polat41l
asa- given In the following farmers bulietfu1
e,Gn! sr9W!inE 5Ss SSssctlcns t0I 'pot9toes as zrii
Procure Them; 54i, "Potato.Tuber Disea98@2
These may be obtained free from the unl&9
states Department of Agriculture, Wash{UG
ton. ID c.. as long as the supply tor free ~
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
PUZZLNG FIRES
RAGE IN READING
Business Section Menaced by
Two Conflagrations of
Mysterious Origin

Reading, Pa, Jan. 24.-The busi-
ness heart of the city was visited at
o CLOCK this morning by the worst fire
In years and what is known as the Old
Academy building was wrecked. OF
the tenants, Charles +. PauFs gents
furnishing emporium, Joseph Loeb's
Jewelry establishment, the Tube res
taurant, Brunswick pool. bowling and
billiard parlors, the Ringgold band
hall and other places were burned out
Tenants in upstairs apartments fled
for their lives and for a time an en-
tire square of buildings was menaced.
The damage is estimated to reach
about S1T5, 900 and may even exceed
that figure. The building is owned by
Frank p. Lauer, brewer, and il is un-
derstood that the loss of the tenants
will be covered by insurance. The
origin of the blaze is an entire mys-
terry. A thorough investigation is TO
be made.
This fire was preceded by n blaze
two squares away at midnight. Fire
OF unknown origin in Himmelberger' &
hat store threatened the business sec
ton of the city and caused damage
estimated at $4,000. The stock of
lmber Brtohers clothing store was
ruined and part of the stock of Longs
candy store was destroyed. w. M.
Bischoff owned the building, which
was destroyed. The fire. which was
confined to tho hat store, gutted a
large section of that building,
These mysterious fires have thor
oughly alarmed officials and citizens.
During the past three months half a
dozen or more fires of unknown origin
have taken place.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
GREAT ARCHWAYS OVER
TENTH AND CAMERON SITS
Comprehensive Landscape
Treatment For Capitol
Grounds; Covered Ter
race Over Present Line of
Fourth Street; Additional
State Buildings Through
out Area

a number of definite matters re-
lating TO the Capitol Park extension
development were determined at IL
conference yesterday between Cover
nor Brumbaugh, State Treasure Young
and Auditor General Powell. compos-
ing the Board of Public Grounds and
Buildings, and Arnold w. Drummer and
Warren II. Manning, the planning en-
perts engaged by the Commonwealth
to work out the final treatment of
the Capitol Park zone.
1t was agreed to include in the
scheme plans for q great viaduct over
the Pennsylvania Railroad lines and
the Paxton creek valley at State street
instead of a subway, as heretofore dis
cussed. The proposed viaduct will
constitute a practical extension of the
Capitol Park perspective eastward, eX-
tending, from the western line of the
railroad to Il point on State street be-
tween the old lines of Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets.
Architects Drummer and Manning
believe the viaduct should be so feet
wide at least with possibility of 100
feet, with approaches from North and
Walnut streets by easy grades at the
Continued on Page 14)
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
ADVERTISE YOUR
GOODS EXPERTS
TIP TO FARMERS
Urged TO Be Honest and Not
Put Bad Fruit "at Bottom
of the Barrel
WANT STRICTER HYGIENE
Embargo on Importation of
Foreifn Trees Suggested;
Should Breed Intensively

More extensive advertising by
fruit growers and farmers.
Intensive and wider spread
cattle breeding.
Stricter milk and meat hygiene
legislation.
Embargo on importation of
trees and plants from foreign
countries.
Spraying and similar methods
to keep down losses by disease and
injurious insects.
These were some of the things urged
by experts addressing the five agri-
cultural associations in session in this
city to-day.
Meat production, livestock activities
and meadow and pasture problems
were discussed by the State breeders
The value of orchard and farm adver-
tising occupied the attention of the
horticulturists. Milk and meat hygiene
were the principal subjects under
discussion in the convention of the
State veterinarians, and the control OF
injurious insects and vegetable disease
were the main topics of discussion
in the meeting of the vegetable
growers.
The State Board of Agriculture
heard report from its Legislative
which recommended that
members of the State board be elected
on nonpartisan ballot in the general
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
Says Brumbaugh Asked For
Audit and That Any Inn
proper Bills Be Surcharged
to Him
SAYS COMMONWEALTH
OUGHT TO BE GENEROUS
Many Private Corporations
Allow Their Executives
More For Expenses Than
State Permits

Auditor General A. w. Powell to-
day declared that he had called the
attention of Governor Martin G.
Brumbaugh to the provisions of the
act placing the fund for travelling and
incidental expenditures of the Cover
nor and the conduct and maintenance
of the Executive Mansion at the dis
cretion of the Governor in May, 1915,
and that the Governor had informed
him that he wished the Auditor Cen
eral to audit them. If there were any
items charged by the Governor to the
State whose propriety might be ques-
toned by any one, said the Auditor
General, he assumed full RESPONSE
bility for passing them. Some of the
bills, remarked Mr.. Powell were
passed by people in his department
when if he had acted upon them per-
sonally he would probably have re-
ferred to the Governor for further in
formation.
The Auditor General said that in his
opinion it was entirely proper for the
Governor to charge to the account of
the State the cost of food for the staff
of servants at the Executive Mansion.
Mr.. PowclrS Statement
Mr.. Powell said when asked as to
the manner in which food for the
Executive Mansion was charged to the
State;
In response to the query as to
whether l had had any correspondence
with the Governor of the Common
wealth in relation to the expenditure
and audit of the fund, by US known
Continued on Page 81
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
Bailey Tackles Ash
Says He'll Solve 1t

I'VE have tackled the ash problem
in Harrisburg in real earnest to-day"
Edward P. Bailey, representative of
the American Surety Co., bondsman
for the Pennsylvania Reduction Co,
told a reporter, "and we intend to see
that the ashes are collected and that
collections are made hereafter system
atically and promptly"
The biggest trouble we are now
facing is that of labor supply" Mr..
Bailey continued. and in order to get
men su "a cient to do the work before
us we have sent out automobiles into
the towns roundabout to hire every
able-bodied man who wants a job.
The situation here is lamentable, but
it is far from hopeless. After we get
the city cleaned up it ought not to be
difficult for the contractor to keep it
so. The great trouble has been that
behind and with this handicap and
difficulty in getting men 10 do the
work, on account of labor being at a
premium in mills and factories, con-
ditions have become aggravated to a
point where the people generally are
protesting.
II am here to solve the difficulty
and all ask is a little patience OFT the
part of the people until l can get a
full grasp on the situation and the
men to make the collections" Mr..
Bailey said to-day.
Council may meet Friday to hear a
report from Mr. Bailey and he expects
to have something definite to say to
the members in day or two.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
Finds Overwhelming
Sentiment Among Guardsmen
For Universal Training

Washington, Jan. 24.-Representa-
tive A. p. Gardner told the Senate
subcommittee on universal military
service to-day that figures he had
compiled among national guard regi-
ments in the FL Paso district showing
an overwhelming sentimen. among
the State troops in favor of such
legislation. A total of 672 answers
were receive to list of Questions sub
mitted through Brigadier General
Bell, commanding the district. They
showed. Mr., Gardner said, that Is
colonels. $50 captains and PA first
sergeants. or total of 500, had de-
clared In favor of compulsory mill
tary training and service. THE views
of the generalissimos of the national
guard Mr.. Gardner said. II already
knew. What l was seeking was the
opinion of the junior officers and
enlisted men"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
OLD TEACHER DIES

Miss Nellie G. Glennen for more
than twenty years teacher In the
city schools, died this morning at 8
o'clock at her home, 591 South Front
street, after u two months Illness.
She is survived by two sisters, Mrs
James Walters with whom she made
her home and Miss Elizabeth Null
len of this city. Funeral services will
be held from the Sacred Heart Church
Saturday morning ut o'clock and
burial Will be made In Mount Calvary
Cemetery. Miss Glennen was one of
the most successful of the city teach
ers and taught In the Forney building
for time before going to the vii.
lard school on State street, where she
was long associated with Miss Fannie
l.. Johnson and where she was of the
faculty at the time OF her death.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
Birth Control Advocate
May Be Forcibly Fed

New York, Jan. "a. = If Mrs Ethel
Byrne, who is serving a sentence OF
thirty days in the penitentiary for dis
seminating information of birth con-
troll, persists in her refusal to eat, the
New York penal authorities will have
to deal with their first real hunger
strike. Mrs. Byrne says she las eaten
nothing since Monday morning.
Commissioner of Correction Lewis
declared to-day that he was not in
clined to take her threat seriously.
but II physicians reported she was
dying he would order her forcibly
fed.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
Continued on Page 81
President Urged to Try
rs Cents a Day Living

Washington. ID. c., Jan. 24.-Presi-
dent Wilson was urged to try per-
sonally a 25-cents-a-day diet. used by
a squad of New York policemen 20
demonstrate how inexpensive foods
may reduce the high cost of living.
Mrs. Euls McCleary. agent for the
movement, suggested that the experi-
ment at the White House would have
a good effect on the country.
III do it if Mrs Wilson will con-
sent" Mrs. McCleary quoted the Presi-
dent as replying. She said she would
call at the White House again Thurs
day and bring with her a menu to be
prepared by experts connected with
the movement especially for the Presi-
dents use.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
One German Torpedoboat
Badly Damaged and Two
Others Slightly Battered,
Berlin Officially Reports on
North Sea Engagement
LONDON HEARS TEN
VESSELS SENT DOWN
British Admit Loss of 47
Men; Engagement Known
to Have Been Fought in m
tense Darkness and Bitter
Cold; Corpses Hewed
Loose From Decks

-he German admiralty's report to-
day of the recent torpedo craft en-
gagement in the North Sea declares
only one of the German craft, tor
pedoboat, which put in in distress at
Ymuiden, Holland, was more than
slightly damaged. The sinking of one
British destroyer is reported, while
n second British boat of this type was
observed in a sinking condition after
the engagement. The British ad-
miralty yesterday reported the sinking
of a German destroyer in an encoun-
ter on Monday night and the torpedo
ing of a British destroyer, with the
loss of forty-seven men.
Berlin, Jan. "a, via London. - one
British destroyer was sunk and an
o,Aer was observed TO be in a sink
ing condition in the North sea naval
engagement the Admiralty announces
One German torpedoboat put in at
Ymuiden in a damaged condition.
The other returned with slight dam
age.
The announcement follows:
In the course of an enterprise un-
dertaken by portion of our destroyer
forces an engagement occurred early
in the morning of January 23 with
British naval forces, One enemy de-
stroyer was sunk during the fight
After the engagement a second was
observed by our airplanes to be in a
sinking condition.
One of our torpedoboats which
was in distress owing to damage Sus-
tained according to news RECEIVED, has
arrived at Ymuiden. All the other
boats returned with slight damage.
The official British account of the
engagement which was given out last
night sal dthat a British destroyer
was torpedoed, with the loss of Al
men and that a German destroyer was
sunk.
London, Jan. "a. - Special dis
patches from Holland give stories of
the battles between German and Brit
ish destroyers in the North sea, but
the details, which on some points are
conflicting, are mostly and avowedly
derived from hearSay and not Substan-
tiated. 1t seems. however, certain
that the main engagement began
about o'clock in the morning and
lasted until about Z. 1t was fought in
intense darkness whilethe severity of
the cold can be judged from the fact
that eight corpses on the V-69, the
German flagship, were so frozen TO the
deck when the boat arrived at Ymui-
den that they had to be hewn free
with axes.
Practically all the details of actual
damage to the ships refer to the V-69
CONTINUED on Page 81
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
PATRIOTISM TO
Be KEYNOTE OF
CHARITY BALL
Mrs. Roy G. Cox Will Sing
America; Sousa'S "Stars and
Stripes" Will Open Event

The Charity Ball, January so, which
in all details will emphasize our own
America and her wish to send peace
to the warning world, is occupying
the thoughts and hearts of hundreds
of busy people. They have laid aside
everything else to make trumpets of
flowers, and great punches of white
lilies and blue Canterbury bells to
transform the Chestnut Street Audi
torium into a glorious background for
the waving flags of the warning ma
uons, and the focks of white doves,
each bearing an olive branch in its
mouth, carrying a message from our
country to each suffering land
Mrs. Roy G.. Cox as America, with
her guard of honor, will sing My
Country, 'Tis of Thee" and a grand
march to Sousa's Stars and Stripes
Forever" will open the ball. Two or
chestras playing alternately will assure
continuous music for dancing, and sup
Continued on Pare 61
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
MILLION MORE roR PAPER
Governments Bill For PAPER to n
Nearly Double Last

Nearly DOuDte Last
Washington. ID, c., Jan, ~. - Uncle
Sans paper bill for this year will be
approximately $2,950,000 an increase
of nearly $l,000,000 over that of last
year, according to bids Just submitted
to the joint committee of Congress on
printing, The Governments paper bill
FOR last year was sl,371 200,
Although the compilation of the bids
have not been finally completed a heavy
increase is noted all along the line.
the increases amounting to from so to
100 per cent. over the figures submit-
ted last year Many of the committee
members have said that they will point
to the present high bids as a reason
for the support of the Tavenner bill for
a Government paper plant, already re-
ported faVorably by the House print
ing committee,
1t is predicted that a number of the
bids will be rejected. and that the
committee viii readVertise for bids
The compilation of the bids will be COM
pleted Saturday, when the joint com
mittee viii meet to consider them,