New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-11-08
FRANK J. WISCHEk
WHIRLED TO Death
Body Caught in Shafting at
Higgins Cider Mill
HOT TIME IN OLD TOWN

Crowds Gather Early on Streets and
Have Uproarious Time Even II Ger
man Delegates Didn't Sign the Arm
istice.
Frank J. Wischek, a machinist en-
ployed by Louis Higgins, was the man
who was killed here yesterday. He
was employed by Mr.. Higgins and the
two men as reported this morning
were fixing some machinery in the
Higgins cider mill 1t was around
that time that the news of the report
ed signing of the armistice by Ger
many was received. Mr.. Higgins left
the mill and was walking away from
it when suddenly he heard g. thud. He
hurried back to the building. Wischek
was being whirled around the shaft
ing at a terrific rate Of speed. 1t took
but little time to stop the machinery,
but life was then extinct Medical Ex-
am1ner c. w Moody was called and
pronounced death due to an accident.
How Wlschek became caught in the
machinery will of course never be
hlioWu ollS lSdSlDlo statement was
heard, however. When last seen at
work the dead man wore linen dust
er and the events of the afternoon
may nave excited him and while pom
dering over them he went too near to
the revolving machinery and the dust
er probably became caught in the
shafting and pulled him with it. He
was resident Of this town and lived
IN Mr. Higgins house on East street.
He was fifty years old and is survived
by his wife. The funeral arrange
ments are not complete, but burial
viii be IN Falrview cemetery, New
Britain.
Plainville went wild last night and
clearly demonstrated the fact that the
town Is there when it comes to eel
ebrating. Never in the history of the
town has there been such an occasion
and of course this occasion as is we'll
known now was based on an uncon-
frmed rumor. But the very spirit of
victory seemed prevalent and rumor
or not the people simply had to get
that spirit out Of their systems And
what parade and celebration it was
Manufacturer and laborer walked side
by side talking of the great event.
Inc men owning autOm obiles walked
while more demonstrative youths took
the cars to round up a drum corps
and some noise of some kind The
town was not tardy either in starting
When the first news reached here it
was quickly communicated to the peo-
pie by the BLOWN gof whistles and the
ringing of bells. Then the Rockwell
Drake factory closed and the employees
started toward the center of the town. |
1t was then that the real fun started.
Headed by Superintendent Bennett,
the ROckwell-Drake crowd joined the |
parade which started and this in turn |
was added to all along the way. Up
at the head of the parade was Edwin |
Hills, president of the Plainville Bust |
ness and Improvement Asso., with |
the American flag of the local COM
pany of the Conn. State Guard Next |
came a man with the real stamp of |
John Lamb, who despite the !
fact that untold sorrow came to him a
few weeks ago when his son Harold |
was killed, waving a flag and pro- |
the real spirit of an Ameri-
can. His boy Merton, whose interesting |
letter appeared in this paper last |
week, is in the thick of the fighting. |
Representatives. elect John +. Wade Jr. |
was at the head of the parade.
The parade of the afternoon was not |
the only one for the celebrants started |
another one at night. This one was |
in charge of Lieut.. Peter F. Duffy. |
At the center there was an attempt |
made to have speeches but the spirit |
was for cheering and noise in general. |
But before it is forgotten there should |
be mention of the resurrection of the |!
Plainville Drum Corps which was con-
sidered dead for some time. The |
people were surprised as the boys |
made their first appearance in years. |
Called to Garden City.
The local draft board has been no.
titled to send a. quota of men to Gar
den City, Long Island, n. Y, on Nov. |
Is. Many of the men called to leave !
at this time are men who were unable |
to leave for Fort Monroe due to sick |
ness at the time of the epidemic of |
There are three Plainville !
boys on the list of men going. They |
are: Conrad J. Doty, Bradley street; |
Paul Joseph Cunningham, Maple |
street; and John Mace Seery.
Volunteer Day Tomorrow.
Although Monday is officially set as
the day for the opening Of the United |
War Workers campaign, the cam
paign will start in this town tomor- |
row. 1t will be known as volunteer |
day. Upon the outcome of volunteer |
day depends the amount OF work |
which must be done during next week |
by the canvassers. The people Will |
have to give eventually and they Will
assist materially by giving their sub
scriptions at the bank tomorrow. The |
of the various factories
were prepared for the opening OF the |
campaign by half-hOur speeches at
the factories this noon.
Corwin May Win Commission.