davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
COFFIN SAVES LIVES
OF FOUR SAILORS
PatroImon Learns of Dead
J Sons Remarkable Role.

An unusual story of one OF the wars
tragedies, in which the coffin containing
the body OF his dead son Walter was the
means of saving the lives OF four United
States sailors. was told yesterday by
Patrolman Charles Wilhelm. attached to
the correspondence bJreau at Police
Headquarters.
While they were examining the regis
tration cards OF several Young men
caught in the dragnet for draft delin-
quents Wilhelm engaged couple Of
sailors in conversation lie mentioned
proudly that his own son had died in
the service. and told how he had failed
to rally from an emergency operation
performed on the transport Covington
on which he sailed last May. Private
Wilhelm died later in an English hos
pital and the body in a dramatically
sealed coffin was placed on the deck
OF tine President Lincoln for return to
America.
why It was his body that saved four
OF u.s." exclaimed re two sailors.
IT developed that the two sailors had
been members OF the crew of the Presi-
dent Lincoln. which was torpedoed June
on her westbound voyage. AS she
sank the coffin containing young VIII
helms body floated off. Four of the
doomed steamships crew swimming
near by seized ana cIuny 10 II until
rescued a few hours later by the trans
port Covington, the very vessel upon
which the dead solder sailed from
America.
The captain of the Covington had the
coffin taken on board and II was de-
livered at an Atlantic port June and
buried with full military honors In The
Lutheran Cemetery.
Until he heard the story Wilhelm was
unaware that bis sons body had ever
been aboard the President Lincoln
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
The Sun Calendar
THE WEATHER.

For eastern New York - Showess
early this morning, followed by fair
and cooler; tomorrow fair and cooler:
moderate northwest winds.
For New Jersey--Showers early THE
morning, followed by fair and cooler; to3
morrow, fair and cooler; moderate north-
For northern New Ensl.ns s,-s we y to.
mont; Tomorrow fair; moderate southwest
For southern New EnEland-shOwcrs
cooler; tomorrow, fair and sooler; mod
crate northwest winds.
WASHINGTON. uept. 5.-The dis.
night has moved 10 the ST. Lawrence Wall
ley. with decreased Intensity and the at
tendant rain area for tho last twenty four
Valley and Tennessee. There were also
local showers in the Gulf and South At.
lantic States and some scattered showers
England From THE Mississippi Valley
westward to the Rocky Mountain region
pressure 10 moderately high. but with SHOW
srs IN the central Rocky Mountain region.
where the weather was fair. IL lie conslh-
erably cooler from the interior or east
Texas northeastward through the Ohio VAL
ley Into the lower lake region and slightly
warmer in the Atlantic States. In the up.
per lake region and the West temperatures
are still below the seasonal average ms q
rule, although somewhat higher than on
Wednesday. Showers will continue Friday
and Saturday in the South Atlantic and
east Gulf States. but elsewhere east OF the
Friday and Saturday. preceded, however.
by showers early Friday morning In New
England and the Middle Atlantic States
Atlantic. States and warmer saturday in
tho lake region and the Ohio Valley.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
SARGEANT, KILLED.
WRITES TO MOTHER
Letter Comes After Requiem
Mass for Soldier Had Been !,
Sung Before 5000.

Mrs. William J. Sergeant of S21 East
10th street left her apartment at that
address yesterday in answer to the post
mans whistle and walked downstairs
TO the letterbox with a heavy heart, for
her son, William. "a, was reported as
killed in action a week ago. A tribute
had been paid to him last Sunday in
the Church Of the Holy Rosary and 4
crowd Of 1900 had attended a solemn
mass of requiem IN his memory, but thu
ache was in the mothers heart in spite
OF Il all
Mrs. Sergeant opened the letter boz
and mechanically took a letter from IL.
But then her heart gave a great bound,
for she recognized her boys handwrit-
ing on Y. NJ. c. A. stationery. At tho
same time she remembered with a pang
that other mothers had received let
tiers from their sons written before they
died on the battle field.
Clasping the letter to her heart. she
hurried back to her apartment, where
IA service flag bearing a blue and a gold
star hung in the window. Then she
tore open the letter. it was from Ser
geant William J. Sergeant, and asked
how both she and his father were It
been received over there for more than
two weeks. and that Sergeant Sergeant
was becoming worried about the folk at
home.
Continuing, It stated that the writer
had been slightly wounded on July ls
Oast weeks report. was to the effect
that Sergeant had been killed in action
July 49,. and that three small shrap-
mel fragments had hit him in the leg.
ha nj oh
me fight in short time. Don't worry
about me when you read the casualty
lists" the letter read.
Mrs. Sergeant in reading through the
letter had failed to notice its date and
with trembling hands she turned back to
the first page. There it was in black and
white in her sons handwriting: August
l6. 1918"
The overjoyed mother lost no time ln
letting Sergeant Sargeant's father know
the good news and then she hurried
around 10 the Church Of the Holy Rosarv
to tell 1t to Father Thomas T. Kane and
TO say heartfelt prayer OF gratitude
" WAS nolsed through the neighbo
hood in no time that young Sargea.
was not dead. but slightly wounded ~ d
base hospital in France. and his marv
friends and acquaintance began to call
on Mrs Sergeant to congratulate her
''''iain caieedHN, Or, was not IN IL I
night when Sun reporter called at to
East lS0th street home. He had takrl
his sons letter down to Police Head.
quarters to straighten out such thinc4
as pensions and benefits, for Sargeau..
Jr.. had been a police recruit at ia
time he was called to the colors l4-I
September.
The young man went to Camp Uptor.
and on April ), which was his twenty
fourth birthday, sailed for Franc.
Shortly after debarkation on the Other
side he was made sergeant. and 1t wss
reported In Harlem last night that Ia
was slated for further promotion when
he was wounded last month
A short time ago "a number o. yong
women In the Sergeant nelghborhood il-
terested In church work received daisi,i
sent 10 ihem b. young Sergeant w.
each flower was the message 81 pic.,I
It IN No Mans Land Wear A AZ a
souNcair."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
MYSTERY SHROUDS
ARMY MANS DEATH
Registered at Hotel Under
Name Different From One
Given by Officers.

Two army officers from Governors
Island intensified the mystery CUR
rounding the death in the Hotel il
colt yesterday of a man wearing the
uniform OF a Second Ideuteant OF the
army when they declined to give
either the police or hotel managers any
information regarding the man beyond
the fact that he was Lieut. Jerome
Stern and that ne was attached TO the
L. S. Minelayer Mills
Apparently the man died a natural
death. having been stricken With a
hemorrhage in his room on tile second
floor Of the hotel. The mystery lay
in the fact that when he registered
Wednesday afternoon he signed his
name as John Sayer. u. S. A." He
spent most Of Wednesday and Wednes-
day night in his room.
A maid tried to get into the room
occupied by "Sayer" at . o'clock yes
terday afternoon and found it locked on
the inside. A bellboy procured ladder.
and looking through a transom saw the
officers body lying on the floor fully
clothed. DR.. Carroll, who was sum
mOneQ from hn1ChcTUoChfE IiOSpildi,
said he had been dead several hours
and that death apparently was due TO
natural causes.
Search of the suit case found In the
room revealed no papers or other means
OF identification. Officers at Governors
Island were notified and at O'Clock
the two officers, who declined to give
their names. arrived at the hotel. They
made close inspection OF the dead
mans uniform, especially of his puttees,
and then announced he was Lieut.. Stern.
The Mills, they said, was in dry dock.
They refused. however. to give the
dead mans home address. and were
equally reticent regarding anything they
may have known that would explain
why the dead man registered under an
assumed name. The body was removed
to the morgue pending action by the
army authorities, who told the police
the dead mans relatives would be noti-
Ned. They declined to say whether any
further investigation OF the man S death
will be made.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
AIR POSTWAR FAILS
TO REACH CHICAGO
First Plane in New Mail Ser
vice Forced to Land at
Cleveland.
CONVOY NOT HEARD FROM
Wind Blows Aviator Miller
Out Of Course in Flight From
Belmont Park.

The first air mail plane that ever tried
to make continuous flight from this
city to Chicago, a distance OF 500 miles
as the bee wings. came to grief at 9 80
o'clock last night, and dropped into a
field in the outslxlrts Of Cleveland. The
machine was slightly damaged. but the
pilot. Max Miller. escaped unhurt
As Miller climbed out Of the machine
with Its 400 pounds of undelivered mail
he explained that the big airplane had
been plcked>up by a heavy blow of wind,
against the strength Of which his power
full motor chugged and pulled in vain.
and he was carried approximately 100
miles out OF his course. The aviator
announced that he would spend the night
In Cleveland and attempt to resume the
flight this morning.
Tracing Miller and his machine across
the route between here and Cleveland
proved an almost impossible Job, and
up to an early hour this morning not
a word Of any kind had been received
from Edward V. Gardner. another Gov
eminent fiier, who started of in an
oticT dlIpIdHo Win hilleT 10 act as
the latter's escort. Where he may be
is a matter Of mystery. Not a word
has bean received OF his flying from
the moment he and Miller took the air
yesterday morning at the Belmont Park
air mail station.
Miller first was reported to have de-
scended and abandoned his flight for the
day at Logansport. Pa. after covering
only 800 miles of the nearly 700 miles
projected journey. Announcement came
from there early last night that he
would spend the night in Logansport. but
the aviator scarcely would have had
time for dinner before another bulletin
was received announcing he had dropped
to earth on the grounds OF the Cambridge
Country Club, at Cambridge. Ohio. That
was a good way from Logansport. and
the bulletin announcing his landing at
Cambridge explained that his supply OF
gasolene had been exhausted.
At Cambridge. however, Miller stopped
only long enough to replenish his gas
supply and to comment upon the strength
of the winds he had encountered in the
last miles of his journey. Then he took
the air again and got as far as Cleve-
land, where final ahneunceanfsnt was
made that he mad stopped flying for the
night.
The two aviators wnen they left this
end OF their journey expected to make
three stops between here and their des-
tination. one at Lock Haven. 200 miles
on the way; one at Cleveland. 400 miles,
and the third at Bryan. Ill. about $40
miles from this city.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
REWARD POSTED FOR SLAYERS.
Clues Fail I'm Case of Kupfer and
Miss fanny,

The Board OF Freeholders of Union
county, n, j., offered yesterday n re-
ward of $500 for the arrest and convic-
ton of the person or persons responsible
for the murder Of Arthur l.. Kupfer and
his nineteen-year-o companion Edith
fanny on the Perth Amboy railway
road on August %. The reward was
offered at the instance OF Walter L. IIet-
field, Public Prosecutor.
Kupfer and Miss fanny, both we'll
known to hundreds Of persons I'm Perth
Amboy and adjoining towns. were shot
to death in the formers automobile while
returning TO Railway after p dinner with
friends at Perth Amboy. Rumors have
been current in the Jersey community
that powerful Influences were at work
to retard the work OF the investigators
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
2 DIE AFTER SAVING OTHERS.
Workmen Succumb TO Sewer Gas
Poisoning in Wire Conduit.

Frank Giraffe and William Brady. both
of o57 West Sixteenth street. died in
Kn.ckerbocker Hospital yesterday after
noon from the effects of gas poisoning
in a manhole at Central Park West and
Ninety-sixth street where they were re-
pairing wires in a conduit Gas from a
nearby sewer had filtered In.
When George Rossin. 346 Ninth ave-
nue.. Astoria. and Sebastn Sapio l0s
Mott street. fell over unconscious Giraffe
and Brady Immediately entered :he man
hole with ropes and tied them around
their bodies. The unconscious men were
hauled out by passersby. Meantime the
fumes had overcome the rescuers and
another of the crew. Patrick Lehin. 2T7
West l53d street, who was trying to get
to their bodies which lay at the bottom
OF the manhole.
A rescue squad from the Consolidated
Gas Company recovered the bodies Le-
hin responded to treatment immed lately
and went home. The other two remained
Mt the hospital.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
ASKS VOLUNTEERS FOR DRAFT
Comfy Needs Men to Help Regis
tration Out Thursday.

Martin Couboy, director of the draft
for New York city. made an appeal last
night for volunteer aids to assist in the
registration next Thursday. The need
for more men for this work Is pressing.
Many OF the official and business
events scheduled for the day already
have been cancelled, and there is every
prospect that so many more cancella-
lions will have to be made that the day
will assume the aspect OF a holiday.
judge Roy Of the Brooklyn County Court
yesterday set Friday for the return Of in
dictments instead of Thursday. He was
moved to this action by the fact that
District Attorney Lewis. all his assist
ants, some court attaches. members OF
the Grand Jury, witnesses and defend
ants must register. Other Brooklyn pubs
lie officials who are 45 years old or un-
der are Borough President Riegelmann.
Sheriff D. ]. Griffin. Register Richardson
Webster and County Clerk William E.
Kelly.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
QUEENS GAS RATE STANDS.
issioner kracke Scores OIL
Companies for High Prices,

On motion OF Commissioner Kracke
the Public Service Commission yester-
day denied the request Of the Queens
Borough Gas and Electric Company for
permission 10 increase It's rate for gas
from sl.15 to $40 and for electricity
from IL TO II cents a ltilowatt hour.
II was held that proper reason for the
relief asked had not been given. but at
the same time Commissioner Kracke
scored the gas oil companies for the way
In which they had Increased prices, and
suggested that the commission appoint
a committee 20 take the matter up with
the United States on Administrators.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
SON IS CHIEF OF NUMEROUS
GIL ORLES OF CAPT. ARCHIE
Roosevelt Back in Hospital
After Happy Reunion at
Sycamore Hill.

It's a big thing to be an American
soldier who has actually driven back
the Germans. It's even bigger to have
won compliments for valor from a great
French General and the Croix de Guerre,
which went with the compliments. Per-
haps 1t Is still bigger thing to have
Theodore Roosevelt for a father. But
what about having a five months old
son that one had never even laid eyes
on until wednesday night--a fve
months old who can ciench his fists like
grandpa and who Is already alleged to
have emitted syllables singularly re-
sembling those which compose De
lighted" and by George!"?
All these distinctions are those OF
Capt. Archibald b. Roosevelt. who was
back in the Army Base Hospital at
Williamsbridge last night after one Of
the happiest homecomings that q young
man ever had. with only one thought
to mar its perfection, memories of his
brother Quentin, killed in action In air
fighting.
Capt. Archie arrived at the base hos
pital Wednesday. and there met his
father. mother and wife. who was Miss
SraCc o. LOCkWOOQ OF bOstOn. lney
were in the midst OF the family reunion
when the surgeons asked the Captain
to report in the examination room. A
minute examination of the left arm,
which had been so badly shattered by
shrapnel. was made. Then. boyishly
enough. the patient confided to the
surgeon in charge that he had never
seen his baby son. Army surgeons are
perfectly human persons and the Will
iamsbridge chief took about Ave seconds
to make UP his mind that Capt. Archie
ought to be allowed to go to his fathers
home, for the night at least.
The family travelled by automobile to
Oyster Bay and the famous house on
the hill. and In the late afternoon Capt.
Archie had the thrill of seeing his boy.
The smallest Of Roosevelts was slumber-
ing at the moment. tucked away in a
baby carriage. and when he was awak-
ened by the Colonel. his grandfather. he
shattered the quiet OF the lawn with his
protests, all of which dee-lighted the
Colonel.
Capt. Archie laughed, but he took the
child in his arms and gave 1t such a
bear hug that tears came into the eyes
of the younger Mrs. Roosevelt.
upon the Colonel spent ten minutes de-
scribing to Capt. Archie the merits of
Archie, Jr.. stating in substance that
Archie, Jr., was unquestionably the
finest youngster in either hemisphere
and that he (the ColoneD had detected
certain extraordinary traits In the child
that resembled traits OF his own
Meanwhile Archie. Jr.. reached for the
>Croix de Guerre and displayed intelli-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
TOO MUCH FOR ONE BURGLAR.
Food and Drink Missing From sa-
loon Near Police Headquarters.

Audacious burglars-the plural Is used
advlsedly because no one person could
have eaten or carried away the amount
Of food and drink that the managers say
Is missing-rapsacked the saloon of
Flanagan Bros. at Grand and Centre
streets, early yesterday morning. The
place is less than 100 feet from Police
Headquarters and In full view from The
windows OF several department heads.
Just 10 show their utter disregard for
the proximity OF the law enforcers. the
thieves then entered a barber shop next
door and carried Oft number OF rszors,
The days receipts were locked IN the
safe and were intact. but the proprietors
had to do business yesterday through
only one Of the three entrances because
the visitors carried or the keys to the
other two.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
JEWISH YEAR BEGINS TONIGHT
Two Days Occupied In Celebration
of Rosh Hashana.

This evening is the beginning OF Rosh
Hashana, the principal holy day of the
Jewish year and Jewish New Years
Day. While Saturday, September Z, is
the new moon of the seventh month
(TishrD the religious importance OF the
month so emphasized this particular new
moon observance that it gradually be
came adopted as New Years Day. It Is
the beginning of the cycle known as the
ten days of repentance" ending with
the Day OF Atonement.
As usual. the observance begins at
shutdown this evening. and In the ortho-
dox synagogues lasts until shutdown Sun
day. two days being observed instead Of
one.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
smileage Book Drive Opens.

Margaret Anglin. actress. opened yes
terday the two weeks drive for the sale
OF smileage books which admit the sol"
der holders to the Liberty Theatres in
the forty-eight camps throughout the
country. She bought 500 worth OF the
books Miss Anglin turned them over
TO Miss Fannie Dupre to he placed In
the stage Women's War Relief XII; bags
for soldiers. Another rally IN the sane
cause viii be held at noon to-day at
Broadway ana Nv enty -ainth street
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
FIRE DAMAGES SHIPS CARGO.
Blaze Discovered in Porto Rican
Liner Brasos's Hold Monday.

With a blaze raging In hold No. 3 the
steamship Brazos of the New York Porto
Rico Line reached an Atlantic port yes
terday, Engine companies and a fire.
boat which had been notified OF the
ships plight were waiting for the vessel
when she locked. They had little diff
Guilty IN extlnsuishing the flames A
part OF the cargo OF sugar tobacco and
fruits was destroyed. >Officials Of the
company refused to give an estimate Of
the damage.
The blaze was discovered late Monday
Skipper John Foss had the hold closed
and flooded with steam. He lost no time
In making for port.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
MT. VERNON CASE SUBMITTED.
Justice DonneIly Reserves Decis-
ion on Hearst Injunction Suit.

Supreme Court Justice Donnelly re-
served decision yesterday on a motion
made by William A. De Ford. counsel for
the Star Company. for an Injunction re-
straining Mayor Brush and other off,
Gals Of Mount Vernon from interfering
with the sale OF the New York Epenino
Journal and the New York American in
that city.
Decision will be given following the
trial Of suit to have the Mount Vernon
ordinance regulating the sale of newspa
pers declared unconstitutional.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
mpersture. veloc.
MINIATURE ALMANAC.

MINIATURE ALMANAC.
United States Coast end Geodetic Survey
Standard Time.
Sun rises. :, .s:2s A NJ Sun sets. 30 p v
Noon rises. .....I :3s A NJ
HIGH WATER THIS DAY.
Sandy Hook. 800 A NJ Gov. Island. :cs A u
He'll Gate-11:32 A NJ.
Low WATER THIS DAY.
Sandy Hook. 100 A " Gov. Island. IS 30 A N
He'll Gatc......5:B A NJ
Note-The foregoing liable has been cor,
rected TO conform to new artificial time"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
EVENTS TODAY.

Celebration of the lslst anniversary Of
the birth Of Lafayette and the Battle Of
the Marine. Aldermanic Chamber. City
Hall. 3:15 =. NJ.
Twenty-ninth annua, convention of the
National Association OF Life Underwri.s
ers, Hotel Aston, 10 A. NJ
Celebration at the statue of Lafayette,
Union Square. auspices of the Sons u
the Revolution. IL A. NJ.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
Insects Bite Kills Woman.

Mrs Alice Hart Zucler. c., o, POM.
Breeze, Far Roekaway. died in ner home
as the result CT an insect bi,e
Angus 80, The small bite grew worse
uL;.- l7ally C:ys.pe.as developed.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06

gent interest in his fathers service and
wound stripes. Altogether It was one
Of the happiest evenings. and the next
morning was one of the happiest morn
ings, ever known in the mansion on Sag
ainore Hill. Yesterday Capt. Archie was
returned by automobile TO his room at the
base hospital. having suffered no discom-
fort or setback from the trip.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
LOCAL WEATHER RECORDS.

highest temperature, rs, at T. NJ.
Lowest temperature. 81, at 4 A. NJ.
Average temperature. ".
Observations yesterday at United states
weather Bureau stations showing atmos1
pheric conditions in the various cities:
Tempsraturo veloc-
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-07-02
Routine Business
Before Aldermen

The common council held a very
short meeting last evening the most
important item of the assembly being
the recommendations of City Attorney
William H Comley on the new Plaza
project. He recommended that
damages paid to Morris. Rome be
raised from $1S,4S5, as set by the
Board of Appraisal, to $4,000, and
that Vincent Condinello, Of Bank
street, who was overlooked in the
damage assessments, be paid $340.
He also recommended the paying of
S1,237.61 to Max Buechler for the es-
tablishment Of a twelve foot building
line on Main street from Charles
street to Federal street.
Alderman Blakeslee asked that no
assessments be charged at the bath
houses at Seaside park. This matter
was referred to the Park Commits
sion.
A resolution was adopted granting
$35, 900 to use on the construction of
the Grand street bridge, and the in
terest on the notes not to exceed five
| per cent.
The meeting adjourned until July
| 18th, on the mayors request.