davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-12-26
Lull in Battle
As Reds Frame
Rules of Party
saurday's Disorders Al
most Entirely Forgotten
~in Second Day Meeting
of Workers Organization
But One Discordanf Voice
HrckIer Of Previous Gather
inc Shouts s'Liar." but
Is Modified by Chair

constitution for the new Workers
Party Of America, 8 party seeking to
coslesce for political purposes all OF
The radical elements OF the country. re-
iscting at the same time the old-line
Socialists. WAS adopted yesterday at the
second days convention in the Labor
TSnple. e4S East Eighty-fourth Street.
The document formally sets forth the
purposes Of the organization as the
abolition Of capitalism and the cstab-
lsSmsnt OF q workers republic.
The session. as militant but not a.
rough As that of the opening day, was
Interrupted but twice by directors.
These evidently were followers Of
Harry Wston. whose championship Of
she Msrx-Engel Institute yesterday re-
suited in his expulsion from the CON
ysntion. Symbolic of milder feelings
xss the gavel welded by Caleb Harri-
son. the permanent chairman. Yester-
asy ne called for order by rspping tho
holsters of little penknife upon the
,pss kers table. Saturday he used
police billy.
Fhers were not less than 500 people
irAhe hsll, among them $50 women. At
the call to order, Alexander Trachten-
berg, one of the prime movers, made a
brief statement that explained the ejec-
ton Of Wston yesterday.
Unity First Requisite
-sOnly representatives Of parties or
fsnizsd for political purposes and wish
ing to merge into one political party"
Traci.tenberg said, are to be seated as
delegates. Socialist organizations, po-
Nstca clubs and fraternal organiza-
,lcns who do not intend TO merge into
de Workers Party of America are not
tsbe admitted % delegates"
2Ths brought the first rufle Of tho
meeting.
0sThats lie," came loud yell from
thf rear of the hail.
The chair explained that the Marx
gtgel Institute. not being political and
Intending to retain its independence,
could net be seated.
--HI am the young man who WAS here
yesterday," another voice announced,
referring to yesterdays rumpus, "and
that statement is not categorically
taS;, 1aa~.l~ -. chair answered m,,d,v
we shall be glad to hear you again,
l~l l--t gAeN INV.
1Nhie the constitution committee
was out, Temporary Chairman Burcher
called for songs. The "Tnternationale7
came first. followed by the Red Flag"
Hold the Fort' the Hungarian ''In-
,ernationale" and some parodies by an
eaSemporaneous quartet among the
spectators. followed by the new Bel
sbeyik yeti in English.
Plan Now Coyerr7nsnt
J. Lewis Engdhal read the constitu-
ton It provides for an emblem, that
Of Soviet Russia, hammer and sickel
crossed. and the motto "W orkers of the
World Unite" The supreme power is
Vested II the annual convention. under
which is the active party control, the
central executive committee of seven
teen members. Organization is to be
b. cites and districts.
Membership applications must be de-
hated in the applicants presence. The
local bodies are divided into Language
groups of those speaking tongues
other than English.
Although proposal to amend the
New-York tribune., 1921-12-26
Disturber of Mass Found
Seriously Hurt; Usher Held

MERIDEN, Conn, Dec. 25.-William
A. Schmidt, thirty-two years old, en-
tered Our Lady Of Mount Carmel
Church during the celebration of mid
night mass last night and refused to
take off his hat He was escorted out
side by an usher, Salvatore Ala.
1t is said that an alteration took
place outside, where Schmidt was found
a few moments later with deep cash
on his face. Although very weak from
loss of blood, Schmidt is expected to
live, while Ala is held on the charge
Of assault with intent to kill
New-York tribune., 1921-12-26
Debs Can't Be President
N0iU, or EUen Cast Vote

From The TrsbuHss Wdshtnoton Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-~-Thc
release of Eugene V. Debs from
the Atlanta penitentiary to-day
does not restore him to American
citizenship. The rights taken
away by his violation of war
time law were not restored by
President Harding's commuta-
tion of his prison sentence, and
therefore he cannot vote or hold
office in the United States. Only
full pardon would restore his
citizenship. Even if he were
candidate for office he could not
hold it If elected.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-26

June in Canton. Ohio Although he
admitted the truth Of the charges
against him and refused to fight FOR
freedom, his friends carried the YER
dict Of Cleveland judge to the
United States Supreme Court, where 1t
was affirmed. Debs began his sentence
at Moundsville, W. Va, but was soon
transferred to Atlanta.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-26

denominations Of tho city and We were
holding, religious services in the
Debs had been in the prison since
June 13, 1919. He was convicted in
September, 1918, OF violating the es-
pionage act In speech the preceding
New-York tribune., 1921-12-26

zens and IL the committee IL advised
long enough in advance of his arrivsl
he will bc welcomed by the largest
gathering he ever faced in his hons
town.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-26
Daugherty Expects Visit

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.--Attorney
General Daugherty said tonight he
expected Debs to call at the Depart
ment of Justice to discuss the commu-
taton OF his sentence by President
Harding.
When Debs was in Washington re-
Gently it was decided, Mr.. Daugherty
said, that in the event Debs was re-
leased or his sentence commuted, it
might be we'll for him to come to Wash
ington for a final conference There
was no reason, however, the Attorney
General added, that Debs should be
formally obliged to come here, as was
indicated by the released Socialist
leader when he stepped from the prison
in Atlanta.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25

mander's brother. Cathcart Maxfisld
who wired from st Paul that he had
been Officially notified OF Louis death.
Mrs. Maxfield. who Is visiting her
daughter, Mrs. Marshall Coke, here
has expected to remain for the ar
rival OF the ZR-2 in this country.
The grief.stricken mother. though
hardly able. to stifle her sobs. spoke
proudly OF her sons character and
OF his eighteen years in the navy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Maxfield declared tina,
recent letters from Commander Max
field about the big sirship were moi
encoura ging.
while Louis did not definitely say
there was anything the trouble with
the dirigible we gathered from his cor
respondence that there had been som,
trouble which accounted for the bis
delay in the expected flight" aid Mrs
Coke, the dead mans sister.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25

pieces. II was a terrible moment: a
veritable war scene.
THE heavier parts began falling
with great speed, but the envelope
seemed for an instant to hang In the
air. Within two minutes of the first
defamation the wreckage fell into the
Humber. ! could not see the after or
rear gondola as the wreckage came
down and concluded that 1t had been
blown TO atoms by the blast"
General Brook Popham, director Of
staff of the British air ministry. and
@. Cockburn. chief of the accidents de.
partment of the air ministry, accom-
panied by their stats. have arrived
here to institute a board OF inquiry.
They began their official Investigation
Immediately after their arrival this
morning.
Refuse TO Speculate.
All officials and representatives of
the air ministry said they would refuse
to speculate upon the immediate cause
of the disaster pending the official re.
port. Cockburn is the greatest expert
in Great Britain on the causes OF ali
disasters. He has made a special study
OF this phase OF aviation and aero
nautics since flying was In it's infancy.
Commander Maxfield's body lies in
the local infirmary. His wife ana
daughter have arrived from Pulham
to take charge OF It.
1t is expected that an American
warship will be furnished TO take back
to the United States the bodies of the
dead Americans.
Lieut.. c. A. Tinker, u. g. N. and
Major p. f. Van Nostrand. of the
United States army air force, who
/ were to have made the trip back TO
America on the ZR-2 as observer. have
arrived In Hull. Both were In London
at the time OF the disaster.
Lieutenant Tinker said that the
American naval men who had inspect.
ed the ZR-2 had every confidence in
the air worthiness OF the craft, and he
spoke sharply of widespread reports
in this country and the United States
that the airship was defective when
she began her flight at Howden.
Whatever was the immediate cause
of the disaster, IL was made more COM
plete by burning gases" said Major
Van Nostrand. Despite this disaster,
I am convinced that the perfection OF
lighter .than-air craft Is bound to forge
ahead amazingly. America will have
! this. advantage-she controls almost
| completely the worlds supply of he'll
| Ium, a non-inflammable gas"
The inquest will be opened by Coro'
| ner Adam Jackson on Friday.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25

tugboat and made for the wreck
age, which was still smoking and
steaming in the water. We put off
small boat and rowed TO the after
cockpit, which was partly on the
surface of the river and partly sub
merged. 1 went overheard and swan
up to the wreckage, thinking there
might be helpless wounded men whose
lives I could save. 1 found one body
and swan back to the boat with 1t.
1 went back a second time but could
not find any more bodies. l think
that a number of the victims were
pinned under the water. They never
had a fighting chance for their lives"
Survivors Describe 1t.
All the survivors emphasized the
suddenness with which the calamity
occurred This accounted for the
heavy loss of life. Elaborate precau-
tons had been taken to provide safe
guards for the men on board and
there was an individual parachute for
each. But so quickly did the Orders
break and the ship explode that the
men were caught unawares and only
q very few were able to take advan-
tage of the parachutes.
Sergeant Bushby. of the American
air force, was another eyewitness to
this aerial tragedy. He was watching
the flight. he said. when he suddenly
noticed fire amidships. He had not
noticed the sagging of the ship be-
cause of his position. Immediately
after flames appeared there came the
roar of two almost instantaneous ex-
plosions. The ship collapsed in the
center and the wreckage began fall
ing, with the gondolas spinning
around like tops and a long comet
like trail OF smoke and fire ranging
out behind.
According TO the British district
naval intelligence office at this port
the ZR-2 was 1000 feet in the air when
she buckled. caught fire, and blew up.
Despite her great height, 1t took the
blazing wreckage less than two min
utes to reach the surface of the river.
There was a tremendous splash, Il
squirt of smoke and steam, and then
the spectators on the shore who had
been held spellbound by the tragic and
spectacular sight gave a cry of horror.
An officer of the British naval in.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25
ENCLANDSHARES
FINANCIAL Loss
IN ZR-2 CRASH.
Contract for Airship Provides
one-HaIf Damage Must Be
Paid by British.

It 10 possible the United States will
not losc financially by the destruction
of the ZR-2.
The contract under which the diris.
ible was built by the British Air Min.
istry provides that Britain shall shoul.
der half the loss after delivery and
before arrival" in the United States.
The ZR.2. still on trial. had not been
delivered 20 the United States. Capt.
Wann, of the Royal Air Forcec. com.
manded her and he had conducted the
previous tests.
The Navy Department. however,
probably advanced $4,000 toward
construction, out Of the $4,000 900 ap.
propriated to purchase the ZRr2. The
contract reserves rs per cent OF the
price pending delivery.
So in any event the navy will save
$500, 900 from the wreck. 1t can hardly
do worse than get back another $780,
900, since the British agreed to bear
half the cost II anything happened to
the airship between England and the
United States while under command
Of American officers.
Has Spent $4,000, 900.
Our Government. however. has
spent moro than $4,000, 900 on an air
field and an immense concrete hangar
at Lakehurst, N. J. This was TO house
the ship and her future sister Fri al
the same time.
The British believe in insurance.
and probably the IRA was covered uT
to date of delivery. for Lloyds cablec
the navy asking whether the United
States wished to insure after the dirtg
ible had been handed over by the
British.
The Navy Department announced
today that In has been decided moi
TO hold an American court OF in
quiry into the explosion of the ZR-;
and as the ship was under turisdtc
ton of the British, to leave the In
vestigation to the British officials.
A court of inquest will be held
over the. dead Americans, however
in accordance with naval customs
to establish how the men met death
and that they died in line Of duty.
Information Sought.
Officials here are anxious to secure
information on these points:
1. Why hellum gas. which Is nom
explosive, was not used.
Whether faulty construction,
which caused the buckling Of sew
eral Of the Orders Of the ship on
July IS. had been entirely corrected
before the trial flight began.
3 What tests had been made
before the ship took off on Its
trial flight.
No naval authority would charge
today that faulty structure caused
the accident. but for some time the
belief has been expressed here that
there might be something wrong
with the big ships construction.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25
MAXF|ELD AND
ESTERLYF0UND
IN zR-2 RUINS
CONTINUED from First Pasel


Of the bags was still full of gas.
and we were afraid II was going
TO blow up. saw an American
naval officer hanging head downward
~ his coat. 1t was caught on a
njsca of Sirder. He was dead and
was up so high we could not reach
him."
can force. was one OF the volun-
tear workers and he risked his life
in his duty. He tore through the
wreckage with his bare hands ana
did not want to leave as II began
to sink under the water. He said
he was going to keep up his search
for he might find some Wounded
whose lives he could save. We had
to drag him away by main force.
Maxfield Dead When Found.
1T helped bring Commander Max-
fields body on board the TUG. 1t
was found hanging on piece OF
the wreckage He was lifeless when
we found him.
I'VE saw another man in the water
by tho debris. He was alive and
we thought he was not hurt We
hauled him ON board and he turned
out to be Lieutenant Wann. who was
In active command Of the airship.
He was 90 exhausted he could not
speak a word.
All hope Of finding any more sur
vivors was given UP at noon. Divers
were then preparing to 50 down into
the river to search for bodies pinAed
under the wrecked dirigtbies.
The survivors have ben taken TO
the air station at Howden. The
bodies Of Lieut.. Charles G. Little and
Lieut.. Marcus II. Esterly, OF Wash.
ington. ID. c., were embalmed during
the day and made ready for their
transportation homeward.
Esterly Terribly Burned.
Esterly was terribly burned. Little
had been drowned.
Norman o. Walker, another Ameri-
can, was on board by chance. He
took the place of a member Of the
crew who was sick.
All night long boats filled with
British and American navy mon cir
cled tho wreckage. One moro body
was recovered during this night vigil.
Those who saw the wreckage at
close range declare that none Of II
can ever be used again. 1t In q tan
gled, twisted. charred mass of metal.
cloth. and wires. Air experts believe
that all OF the bodies never will be
recovered. They say that undoubted.
ly the explosion blew some of the men
| to pieces.
Official photographs have been
taken OF the wreckage and Will be
sent to the Navy Department al
Washington.
Among the American naval officers
who were to have been members OF
the crew on the trip to the United
States, but who were not on board
the ZR-2 on her fatal voyage, was
Lieut.. Ralph G. Pennoyer, of Berke-
ley. Cal. He was to have been one
of the navigation officers on the
trans Atiantc voyage. He made an
unofficial survey today for the
American Navy Department and later
will submit a formal report.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25
Muslin That Has Stood the Test of Years
READY.ToUsE

Since our grandmothers filed their wedding
chests with muslin articles made from Fruit
OF the Loom, there has been no change in its
manufacture, excepting to improve II.
Fruit of the Loom has been proving its de-
pendabiliv for over seventy years. 1t wears
splendidly, is easy to sew on, and does not
lose rs Wilderness or fine, smooth finish though
Numbered again and again
You win have Just the same satisfaction and
pleasure in making up this material as have two
generations before you
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25
Other Disasters
Recorded In
Air History

Previous notable airship acci-
dents, exclusive Of war casualties,
were:
1910-Non-rigid dirigible air
ship America, commanded by
Walter Weilman, journalist and
explorer, started from Atlantic
City October Is to fly across ocean.
Wrecked by gale, but crew rescued
off Cape Hatteras two days later
by steamer Trent.
1912 Dirigible Akron, COM
manded by Melville Vaniman,
started from Atlantic City July I
to cross ocean. Exploded at 1900
feet altitude. Commander and four
men killed.
1914-Austrian Parseval dirigi-
BILE rammed and exploded June 20
near Vienna by military airplane
in sham battle maneuvers. Seven
killed in dirigible, two in airplane.
1916-Zeppelin LIZ, new ship
destined for war service, exploded
near Johannesthal, Germany, Oc-
tober 16; twenty-eight killed.
1919 - Commercial dirigible
caught fire and exploded over Chi
cago, falling in flames through
roof OF Illinois Trust and Savings
Bank. July 5; thirteen killed; sew
eral saved by parachutes.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25
Of
D,C,A|RNEN
RECOVERED
Continued from First Pages

Continued from First PageJ
IN five seconds. There was no sign ~
anything being wrong as we started to
pass over Hull. / was in sole control
Of the ship.
Petrol Exploded.
From what I saw and heard I
think one of the Orders in the fore
part of the framework must have
gone first. The petrol tank was evil
IDENTIFY penetrated by the wrecked CIR.
ders and exploded. Fire broke out at
once. enveloping the gas bag and send
ing UP much smoke"
Harry Bateman, formerly of Hall.
fax. a member of the English crew
which was running the ZR-2. had a
slightly different version. Bateman
saved his life by leaping overheard
with parachute. He told the follow
ing story:
Going Mt High Speed.
THE ship had passed in over the
coast from the North sea and was go
Ing at high rate of speed. 1 was in
the after part of the craft near the
yrudder. AS we passed over Hull the
controls were being tested and appar-
emily everything was safe and sound.
Then came the disaster, and It
came with awful suddenness. l think
that one or more Orders amidships
must have broken or buckled. There
was a series of sharp shocks and the
craft began to fall swiftly, nose first.
Gas she started down. the petrol
tank exploded with a loud roar and a
burst of fire. j was thrown down by
the shock and instantly realized that
the ZR-2 was doomed. There was A
parachute nearby and had sufficient
presence of mind to seize the ropes
and go overheard"
All the stories agreed that the ZR-2
first buckled and then blew up. There
was no sign of smoke, fire or explosion
until after the crafts back broke and
she began to sag downward:
Charles Harrison Brown, of the
United States air forces, who was an
eyewitness of the disaster, was one OF
the first to reach the wreckage in the
Humber river.
Nose Went Down.
THE first intimation that had that
something was wrong was the peculiar
movements of the ship" said Brown.
81 saw her nose go down. and l knew
Instantly that something had hap
pened. for the craft would not attempt
a landing over a city; so I kept star
ing at the dirieible, and II must have
heen less than two minutes afterward
that / saw her break clean in two.
The parts shot downward into the
Humber.
LAS quickly as could I procured
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25
Americans Who Lost
Lives in Disaster
International News Service.

HULL, Eng, Ang. u.s.
The following Americans lost
their lives on the ZR-2:
Commander l.. II. Max
field, of Washington, D. c.
Lieut.. Commander Valen-
tine M. Bieg, of Washington,
d. c.
Lieutenant M. H. Esterly,
Of Washington, d. c.
Lieut.. Commander Emory
Coll, of Marietta, Ohio.
Lieut.. Henry W. Hoyt, Of
Clearwater, Fla.
Lieut.. Charles G. Little, Of
Newburyport, Mass.
A. D. Pettitt, Of New York
City.
~, Maurice n e Day, of Green's
Charles I. Aller, Of Denver,
Colo.
Robert NJ. Coons, Of Ow-
ensboro, KY.
John T. Hancock, Of Lon
don.
Lloyd E. Crowl, of s. c.
George Welsh, of Elgin, Ill.
wv. j. Steels, Of cambridge,
Ind.
William Julius, of Calf.
Albert L. Loftin, Of Los
Angeles.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25

telligence office snve the following
version of the tragedy.
1.-THE ship was travelling rapidly and
smoothly about 1000 feet up, when
suddenly, and so far as I could SEQ
without any previous warning, there
was a terrific explosion. Before the
roar had died away there was a second
explosion. Through the smoke and
flame / could see flying debris from
the body of the craft. Then the ships
back broke and she went into two
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-25
Maxfield Wrote
Hint of Danger In
Letters to Mother
BY international News Service.

BUFFALO. N. Y. Aug. 25.-The
last glimmer of hope that her son
might yet turn up alive was snuffed
out today when Mrs. Louis II. Max
field, of st. Paul. Mimi. received Of
ficial confirmation that Commander
Louis III. Maxfield, who was to pilot
the zR-2 to this country, persisted in
yesterdays disaster.
1t came to her from the dead com.
The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-05-12
The Bamberg Sick.

n. P. Smoak, who was recently
operated on in q Charleston hospital
for appendicitis, has returned home,
and his friends will be delighted to
know that he is able to be up and
around the house, though still un-
able to be at his place of business.
w. D. Coleman, cashier of the
First National Bank, has been con-
fined to his home for the past two
weeks. but is now on the road to re-
covery.
S. A. Merchant, of the wholesale
grocery. is confined to his home by
illness, but is now getting along nice
ly.
W. T. Rice, who swas recently op-
Grated on in Orangeburg for appen-
dicitis, is recovering rapidly, his
friends will be glad to know.
The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-05-12
Thursday, May II, 1921.

1t was sad thing to notice the ab-
sence Tuesday at the memorial exer-
cuses of number of faces amoog the
old veterans. Several veterans who
had always made it rule to attend
these exercises have been laid to rest
since the last memorial day. The
gray line grows thinner each year;
it will be but short while now when
none of them will remain with us.
The custom of paying homage to these
old heroes who battled bravel7 for
the traditions Of the south is beau
tiful one and will continue as long as
one remains. The cause of the south
was lost, but the principles live and
will lives as long as democracy sur
wives in America.
The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-05-12
Death of Mrs. j. j. Minis.

Olar, May/7.-Mrs. J. J. Minis, 73
years old, died suddenly Thursday
noon, April %, at the home Of her
daughter. Mrs. W. A. Bessinger. Mrs.
Minis had been in failing health for
some time, but for the past few
months had greatly improved, and
her death came as great and dis
tinct shock to the family and entire
community.
The funeral was conducted at Elko,
her old home. and the remains interr-
ed in the family burial grounds there.
Mrs Minis is survived by three
sons, W. L. Minis, Williston, R. L.
Minis, Elko, and G. A. Minis, Char
lesion; one daughter, Mrs. W. A.
Bessinger, Olar; and ten grandchil-
dren and a host Of friends to mourn
her death.