Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-05
THOUSANDS SEE
SHIP LAUNCHED
Roads and Cars to Hog
Island Crowded to
Limit
I SCHWAB'S GREAT DAY
Proudest of NV Life" Says
the Director General of
U. S. Shipping
SCHWAB'S GREAT DAY

The army of spectators started to
move on Hog Island at an early hour
this morning. In fact, when the first
guaras got on the job and opened the
4 main gates TO the. big plant they found
few hundred enthusiasts outside.
Reminds me of worlds series
game" remarked a former. philadelphia
COP who had been on duty several times
Z at Shibe Park in the days when Mack's
famous White Elephants were busy
winning worlds championships.
Virtually all the first Corners brought
their lunches and were evidently pre-
pared to spend the day. They pleaded
with the guards to be allowed 10 enter
and grab b1posts of vantage but. act
Ing on orders, the gates were not opened
until O'Clock. BY that time several
thousand persons were waiting outside
and the crowd was increasing every
minute.
Trains and trolley cars were jammed
with people hanging on at every point
where they could get toehold.
Confusion at stand
stand reserved for persons bearing spe-
cial invitations. Many. who had these
Invitations were unable to get in, and
the fight they made for admttance
caused the jam in which most of the men,
women and children taken to the hos
pitfalls collapsed.
Some of the most prominent persons
in Philadelphia were refused admttance
by the guards a the stand, despite their
special invitations.
]. L. Ackerson, Director General
Schwab's special assistant, was one OF
these. Mr.. Ackerson appeared at the
gate .with his wife and two children
and the guard refused to let them in. Mr.
Ackerson explained who he was, but the
guard was obdurate.
sss The argument between Mr.. Ackerson
! and the guard drew the attention of
some who already were in the stand
and finally Mr.. Schwab learned of IT.
He rushed to Mr. Ackerson's assistance
and passed him by the guard.
Berry's Experience
William H. Berry, Collector of the Port
Of Philadelphia, had, similar exper'
fence. He appeared at the gate with a
special invitation, and brought with him
two friends. The guard refused TO lei
them pass, but word was sent to oficiah
s in the stand Instructions finally game
back to let Mr.. Berry in, but that his
friends must stay out.
Some of these who could not get in
< were fortunate enough to be In the shade
Abut most of them had to stand in the full
rlare of the sun, packed like sardines,
and jamming the street in front OF the
stand Those in front were crushed ur
against the fence stockade that had beer
built to keep the crowd In check, and
those deep in the crowd suffered intense
ly from the heat.
Big Rush of Autos
BY 10 o'clock the two roads leading
(. to Hog Island which are available FOL
motorcars were choked with machines
The line stretched in solid array all the
way to Broad street on the east and a:
far along Tinicum road on the west as
the eye could see.
Two parking places for cars had beer
set aside, one outside the main gates
for employees and the general public, the
other INSIDE the enclosure ana not 1al
from the scene of the launching for tht
machines of the special guests.
Nearly a thousand uniformed guards
were on duty besides several companies
Of soldiers and hundreds of plain-clothes
: men. The mounted police of the yard
were held in reserve ready to. respond
promptly to any sudden call Guards
were stationed at fifteen-foot intervals
4 along the roads leading to the yard and
along the three streets inside the yard
which were used by spectators. NJ
etraggling was permitted and no one
was allowed to wander aimlessly around
a the place. Visitors were firmly but
eourteously shepherded to their places
4 and requested TO remain where they
had been placed until the launching was
over.