davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
TRAIN WRECKED:
DEATH TOLL so
Bridge Span, Made Weak BY
Flood, CoIlapses - Train
Drops Into Stream
CARS PROVE PENS OF DEATH
Fast Passenger Train Drops Through
Bridge Near Casper, Wyonping-
Cars Submerged In Whirl-
pool of Flood.

Casper, Wyo.-A definite estimate
OF life toll in the wreck OF the Denver
bound Burlington passenger train
which plunged into a whirlpool Of
flood water in Coal Creek, 20 miles
south of here, is still a matter for
conjecture and it is thought the death
toll may reach sixty.
Rescue workers, rendered helpless
by rain and snow that fell intermit
tedly throughout the day and the ir-
resistible torrent that was surging
through the normally dry creek bed,
stood by, unable to do anything.
AS the day wore on it was noticed
that the cars were slowly settling be-
meath the water.
This afternoon the known dead con-
sisted of Nicholas Schmetz of Doug
las, Wyo., B. E. Schultz of Casper. a
baggageman and an unidentified hobo.
Out of the 80 persons believed to have
been on the train. about 40 have been
accounted for. The estimate Of the
loss of life is based on statements
made by passengers, who passed
through the day coaches prior to the
wreck. These coaches are under
water and the death figure probably
will not be known for some time.
Although the bodies OF several vic
tins are visible. an attempt to reach
them was out of the question. as the
creek is Is feet wide and extremely
swift. Everything possible was being
done, railroad officials said. but little
could be done toward recovering the
bodies until the waters recede.
L. D. Coburn, conductor: NJ. A. Rob
inson of Salida, Col, and d. L. Little
ton. a porter, saved many OF the pas
sengers OF the Pullman. Three times
Coburn and Robinson, guided by a
rope made from bell cord, entered the
car and rescued men imprisoned in
their berths.
A rope was strung from one end OF
the partly submerged day coach to the
bank and over this passengers who
were able climbed hand over hand
to safety. One woman escaped in this
manner. Flashes of lightning and the
glare from the headlights OF a loco
motive alone broke the darkness.
piled up cars. wretched people and
the lightning flashing through the rain
made a hell I will never forget" de
clared Dan ]. McQuade of Denver
who telephoned first news OF the dis
aSter.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
YOUTH is CAUSE IN
DEADLOCK OF JURY
Accused of Hoidup, Prisoner on
Trial Acts as Own Lawyer
and Wins Over Jury

Wilmington, Del-The eloquence Of
James Dudley Major, "a years old, as
his own lawyer on trial for a bold
daylight holdup, won him at least tenn
porary escape from the Delaware
whipping post and a 10-year prison
term, when the jury disagreed and
was discharged
Major, who is alleged to be an es-
capped Kansas convict, must now un-
dergo another trial on a charge of
highway robbery in a Wilmington
public park. For this offense. should
his barrister ability go into eclipse,
Major would face at least 40 lashes
at the whipping post and 20 years
Imprisonment.
The boyish-appearing prisoner, who
says he spent two years at a law
school, completed his examination of
the states witnesses and then sum-
med up his case in a noteworthy
speech on his behalf The state, he
charged, had not dared to call Joseph
Smith, his fellow-defendant, to the
witness stand.
They are afraid of his testimony,
because the detectives would not have
him under a blackjack in court, and
could not make him say what they
wanted him to say" Major told the
jury.
L am innocent, 1 am young, only a
boy. If you gentlemen of the Jury
convict me and send me to Jail for 10
years I'll be an old man when I get
out; not only in years, but physic.
ally"
Just before the case went to the
jury his co-defendant, Joseph Smith
who was represented by counsel. un.
expectedly pleaded guilty. on a Charge
OF assault, which enabled him to es.
cape with three-year term and NO
whipping,
This quickly aroused the sympa.
thies of the jurors for Major. who OBJ
jected to letting one prisoner off with
light term while the other ran the
risk Of a whipping and a long sen.
tence. There was a stormy siege OF
seven hours in the jury room, during
which the jurors divided, four for
acquittal, four for conviction and four
for mo verdict" Finally they report
ed inability to reach an agreement.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Many Aftsr AIIeaea sr,InaIsr.

Butler, Pa.-Troubls appears to be
piling up for M. w, COzart, promoter
Of a securities corporation, and sales
man Of stocks and bonds. in jail here
for the last two weeks on charges OF
fraudulent conversion Of property. Co
zart is known in Pittsburgh, Union
town and Fairmount, w. Va. Sheriff
Harvey Hockenberry has been asked
to hold Cozart for the Fayette county
authorities after Butler is through
with him. A similar request was re-
ceived from Marion county. w. Va.
He is facing charges Of fraudulent
conversion in both places.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Helped Nominate Lincoln: pI.s.

st. Louis, Mo.-Chauncey Ives Fill
ley, who was a delegate-at-large to the
Republican national convention which
nominated Abraham Lincoln for Presi-
dent in 1854 and presidential olector
on the Grant ticket in 1853, is dead at
the age Of 80. He was a member OF
the Republican National Committee
from 1875 to 1892. He was born at
Lansingburg, N. Y, and came TO this
city in 1850. He was mayor OF st.
Louis during the Civil War.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Ward Acquitted of Murder.

White Plains, ~ Y-Walter s..
Ward. son of New York's bread mil
lionaire, is acquitted OF the muir
der of Clarence Peters. alleged black
mail plotter. After the jury room
door had swung open to permit IL
Westchester county citizens to report
the verdict of his innocence, it
slammed shut forever on the Ward
family skeleton" which has ratified
for release throughout the strange
trial. Safe in the bosom OF Ward him
self. and known only to his faithful
wife. his brother. his father and his
counsel, the secret which the accused
would not reveal even to save his life
remains hidden from a curious com
munity
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
ABSOLVES HIS
SUB0RDINATES
Captain Watson of the Honda
Disaster. Takes All Blame
Upon Himself
RELATES TALE OF CRASH
Commander Says Ships Could Not
Slow Up To Take Soundinqs
Without Permssion-Hearinq
Held Before Naval Court.

San Diego. Gala tale of the Hon
da disaster. told by the destroyer
squadron commander who two weeks
ago saw seven of his ships impaled
on the rocks near Point Arguello and
% OF his men go down to their death,
was heard before the naval court OF
inquiry investigating the wreck.
Capt. Edward H. Watson, chief OF
the Eleventh Squadron. was the COM
mander who told the story, and in 1t
he took. upon himself full responsible
ity for the catastrophe. He asked
that none of the blame be allowed to
fall on his "able and loyal subordin-
ates." against whom he had no COM
plant to make.
That the court was not entirely sat
isfied with Captain Watson's testi-
mony taking upon himself all of the
responsibility, however. began to be
evident when Admiral William "
Pratt, presidisg member of the inves-
tigating body, asked him to state
whether he had ever objected to his
division commanders asking inde-
pendtly for radio compass bearings
with which to check their squadron
commanders navigation, or whether
he had ever objected to their taking
soundings for the purpose OF making
sure that the squadron flagship was
right in its dead reckoning
To these questions Captain Watson
answered that he had never objected
to such independent soundings or re-
quests for bearings and that he did
not object to his division command
ers' checking his navigation for er-
rors or reporting such errors to him
If they discovered them.
Under cross-examination by coun-
sci for the division commanders i'm
volved. Captain Watson qualified his
answer by saying that soundings
could not have been taken while the
squadron was travelling at 80 knots :;
that a division commander would first
have had to ask him for permission
to slow down for soundings.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Grain Exports Increase.

Washington, d. C.-Detailed figures
OF grain exports given out at the com.
merce department showed the follow
Ing comparisons OF shipments last
week to those Of the previous week
Barley. 305.000 bushels against 364.
900; corn, $4,000 bushels against 14s.
900; oats, $1,000 bushels against 23
900; rye, 1,214,000 bushels against
177O00; wheat, 2,833,00O bushels
against 3,2e7 900; -four, $4,000 bar.
rels against 2S2,3OO Canadian grain
shipped from United States ports
amounted to $4,000 bushels against
247OO0 bushels the week before.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Boy Gets $4,000 pamansn.

Philadelphia pam award OF s3O.-
600 TO an eight year old Scranton boy
for the loss Of his sight was upheld
when Judge McCullen affirmed the
award and dismissed the appeal Of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railway Company, Chester Gesek was
blinded and manned when dynamite
exploded in his hand on the railway
company's property in Taylor borough.
An award of $4,000 TO Stanley Gesek.
the boys father for loss OF the boys
services, was cut in half BY the Judge.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Woman Hurt In Auto crsab.

Uniontown, Pa.-When an automo-
bile in which she was riding was
struck by another automobile and
knocked over a culvert into a field
on the Morgantown road near here.
Mrs. Ethel Newlan, aged so, suffered
decorations of the head and face. The
machine was driven by w. ]. New
Ian, husband Of the injured woman.
and was struck by car driven BIZ
Ralph Jenneway. Newland and Jen-
neway escaped with only slight in.
juries Both machines were wrecked.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
SCHOOLGIRL is
FOUND IN SWAMP
Body of 15fear.0ld Daughter
of Farmer Discovered =
Missing for 10 Days
THREE SUSPECTED OF CRIME
Father Claims Daughter Was "Wild
and Cared Too Much for Boys
Refuses To Attend Funeral
Condemned BY Citizens.

Millville, n. ]. Thomas Dixon. a
farmer OF Bricksboro. did not go to
the funeral of his 15-year-old daugh-
ter, Emma. whose body was found in
c swamp after she had been missing
from home 10 days. 1t was definitely
established that the girl had been
murdered.
While the last rites were being per-
formed scarcely a mile from his
home. Dixon was out in the garden
picking flowers.
THE girl was wild and cared more
for the boys than she did for her
father. She was always gallivanting
about the place and coming home late
at night" he said. in answer to in
quiries from indignant neighbors who
had asked him why he was not at the
burial.
After the neighbors had left the
Dixon home they held an informal
meeting and severely condemned
Dixon for what they characterized
his inhuman conduct. They denied
that Emma was a bad girl and point
ed out that her reputation in the dis
trict was unusually good.
Dixon did not report the absence of
his daughter until three days after
her disappearance. Police are close
ly investigating this phase of the
case.
Though none OF the family was
present, the murdered Millville sopho-
more did not go to the grave unat-
tended. Thousands Of neighbors and
folks from nearby towns came to the
little church here which accommo-
dates only 300.
According to the Millville police,
three. men are under investigation.
All three live in the neighborhood
and are the owners of automobiles.
One is said to be a well-to-do farmer.
The second is an unmarried young
man, while the third is middle-aged
man with wife and three children.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
swInaIns Hatehet; kII. Eathsr.

Pottstown, Pa. - Running amuck.
swinging a hatchet, Charles Gilbert.
% years old, cleared streets and sent
neighbors into their homes behind
locked doors Gilbert demanded a
sum OF money from his father. and
when he was refused grabbed a
hatchet and chased the family from
the house. Outside, his father in try
ing to disarm him, received a deep
cut in the shoulder which entered the
lung causing his death.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Voted for POLK In ta44

New York, N. Y.-Benjamin Keyser
aged 105, OF Ridgefeld Park, N. J..
who cast his first vote for James K.
Polk. eleventh President OF the United
States, in 1874. voted in the local pri.
mary election held recently for the
seventy-ninth time in his life. Key
ser was born in Ireland in 1920 and
came to this country when he was
20. He became a citizen shortly af-
terward and has voted every year
since 1874
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
erie Has s2oo.ooo Elrs.

Erie, Pa-Fire caused 5000 900
damage and for time threatened
with destruction the Parade street
business section Of the city before It
was brought under control Starting
in the Stanley Brothers Furniture
Company store, Twelfth and Parade
streets, the blaze spread to adjoining
buildings and leaped across two
streets, keeping fremen busy holding
It in check. The Stanley block with
its contents was totally destroyed.
other buildings wero damaged. Two
aran,an we're injured.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Alderman Becomes Actjno Mavor.

New York, N. MURRAY Hurlburt,
president Of the Board OF Aldermen
automatically becomes acting mayor
OF New York by virtue OF a provi-
sion in the city charter which vests
the head Of the aldermanic body with
full authority where the mayor has
been absent for 30 consecutive days.
Mayor Hylan, now recovering from q
severe attack OF pneumonia at Sara
togo Springs, left the city month
ago.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Women on jury Hold Woman.

Philadelphia, PA special coron
er's jury composed OF six women, held
Mrs. Pauline Murosky of Bridgeton
~ j. responsible for the death OF
Mrs Evelyn G. Descamp Of Norris
town. Mrs Murosky. mother Of four
children, struck and killed Mrs. tDes
camp here while driving her aAtomo
bile through the city. Mrs M6r6sky
was held without bail at first by the
coroner but was later released upon
a $4,000 bond when her attorney
pleaded that her four children would
suffer II she went to prison.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
serenaders Not welcome, one Shot

New Cumberland W. Va-WilHam
Carey, 80 years old, pottery sales
man and bridegroom of five weeks,
is a prisoner in the Hancock county
jail, having been taken. prisoner by
the police after eluding mob of
Newell, w. Va, citizens, who threat
ened him after he is alleged to have
shot Russell Manson, IL years old. a
member Of a serenading party. An
gered, it is said, when serenaders
refused to disperse at his home,
Carey Is alleged to have fired into
the crowd, a bullet striking young
Maison just below the abdomen. Doc
tors say the boys condition is not
serious.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Murder and Suicide.

Massillon, O.-Joseph Brownwell,
aged 81, shot and killed his wife,
Ethel, aged 26, with shotgun in their
apartments and then committed sui
eide by shooting himself through the
head with the same weapon. Police
say the murder and suicide followed
a quarrel between Brownwell and
his wife. Brownwell tried to shoot
PatrOlman Dan Brady before killing
himself and wife, but the shotgun
failed to go off
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Girl Shoots suItor

New KensIngton, Pa-Mary Chi
doski aged 1S, was arrested after the
body OF her rejected suitor, Walter
was found I'm her room.
Mary told the police that she spurned
Cotzyask's attentions several months
ago and that when he confronted her
In her bedroom at an unusual hour in
the morning, she shot him
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Used Wife as Pie rarnet.

Chicago, fll.-Mrs. Joseph Fronzak
has filed suit for divorce because she
objected to be a test OF her hus.
bands versatile employment. She de-
clared she was used as a sparring
partner, because her hus' and was an
amateur boxer, and as target for
pie-throwing comedy rehearsals, be
cause her husband was also a Sub
stitute" comedy movie actor.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
HoIdup Bandits Get $4,000.

Detroit, Mich. - Forcing seven en-
ployes OF the Detroit Gold Refining
Company into a small closet at the
point OF revolvers, three bandits gath
cred up between $4,000 and $2O.OOO
worth Of diamonds and other Jewels,
gold and cash from the safe and dis
appeared The company's offices are
located on the fourth floor Of thea
ter building here.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Toadatools Eatal To ru.o

Milford, Del.--Frank Greco, wealthy,
wellknown Italian contractor, OF this
section, and his wife. each about So
years old, are dead and their only
child. daughter. Filemina, IA years
old. is critically in, but is expected to
recover. They had been eating toad.
stools, mistaken for mushrooms.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Butler To Have curfev siren.

Butler. Pa. - Council has ordered
an electric siren to be installed on
top Of the Central FIRE station for use
as a curfew signal. The siren will be
sounded at o'clock every night.
summer and winter, as a warning for
children aged under 16 to get of the
streets. Numerous petty burglaries
attributed to boys led to a demand
for cuTfew ordinance OF the city to be
enforced by the police
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Bridge collapses win Two Autos.

Du Bois, Pa.-Eleven persons rid
ing in two touring cars. and truck
miraculously escaped death or injury
when the steel bridge over Anderson
creek near Curwensville. about IS
miles from here, collapsed, precipitat-
ing the two automobiles into four feet
Of water and leaving the truck sus-
pended on the edge OF one OF the stone
abutments. Both of the touring cars
and the bridge we're wrecked. but
none OF the occupants outside OF
slight shock werS injured.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Babes Skull fractured.

Clarksburg, w. Va.-Milton Prince.
16-months-old son of L. NJ. Prince, a
farmer of Ireland, Lewis county, is in
critical condition in a hospital at
Weston with facture of the skull
received when his fathers automobile
collided with a car driven by l. p.
Henry, fire chief at Weston. The
child was catapulted against the
windshield. The father and mother
escaped injury.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Engine Hits Auto; Two Dead.

Warren, Pa.-Thrown from an au-
tomobile in which they were riding
when it was demolished by train
on the Pennsylvania Railroad at Say
brook, seven miles east of here, two
men were killed instantly They are
Leonard Nelson, aged 10, OF Sheffield,
and Lorraine Pluskett, aged 20, of
Sheffield
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04
Calf Bellows Fire Alarm

Middletown. N. "a calf tied in a
barn on the farm OF Andrew c. Cush-
man, near Edmeston. gave an alarm
OF fire when the flames burned OF the
rope holding the animal. The calf
ran believing from the building. The
blaze destroyed two barns. a milk
mouse, granary and a silo recently
filled
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Huntington-Mss Edna Howard, Of
Cowen, has taken up her duties as
home demonstration agent for Cabell
county. Miss Howard is a graduate
of West Virginia Wesleyan and has
taken postgraduate work in Colum-
bia university and Carnegie School
for Women.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Parkersburg-Niss Doris Devore,
local music teacher, has accepted ap-
poictment as director of music at the
William Woods college for girls at
Fulton, Mo.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Huntington-Merch cash and
securities totaling between $4,000
and $1,000 were stolen from a de-
partment store by burglars who broke
open two safes, lelsurely selected a
number Of highest quality fur coats
and dresses from the stock, packed
them into nineteen suitcases and load
ing them into an automobile. parked
in front Of the establishment, drove
away as a score or more pedestrians
moved along the street, unaware Of
the theft.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Fairmont-William A. Shanes, run
ming amuck with a shotgun at Farm
ington, near here, shot to death his
daughter, wounded the mayor of the
town and a woman, and then killed
himself. Police say that he and his
wife had been separated for some time
and that he had gone to her to per-
Suade her to return home.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Parkersburg-J. d. Thompson, 60.
was instantly killed, DR.. w. ID. Cline
and an unknown woman and a ten
year-old child slightly injured when
the automobile in whclh they were
riding, was struck at a crossing in
Williamstown by a Monongahela West
Penn traction car. All involved are
from Williamstown.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Charleston-Free garbage collection
will be started in Charleston by Octo-
Der l as the furnaces of the old incin-
orator have been rebuilt and are ready
for operation. Mayor Wertz announc-
ed. The city will be districted and
garbage taken from residences once
week according TO the plans.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Bethany-Bethany Colleges drive
for an addition of 100000 to It's en-
dowment has been successful, Pres.
ident Coyd Goodnight announced.
The general education board Of New
York had offered 100000 provided
the college authorities succeeded I'm
raising 100000. This latter task
has just been completed. The addi-
ton of 100000 brings the total Of
Bethany's endowments TO St7JO,OOO
with the added income, Bethany will
be able to equip itself I'm a manner
equal to the best small colleges in the
country. The college now has stu
dent body Of 300. with faculty num-
bcring %.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Martinsburg-O F. Collins, a
prominent young business man, re-
Gently instituting divorce from his
wife, has also filed preliminary pa
pers in two suits against his wife's
mother, Mrs. Sophia Matthael, one for
$4,000 and the other for $1,000. The
first is understood to be for the al
legged alienation of his wifes affec-
tions.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Huntington-The Western Virginia
conference of the Methodist EpiscO-
pal church, South, will hold its 1924
convention at Barboursville, 1t was de-
cided by the conference in convention
at Morris Harvey College at Barbours-
vile. The action was taken on rec
ommendation of the board of enter
tainment committee in it's annual re-
port.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

West Union-J. L. Mccormick, r.
G. Gray and B. G. Hamrick, well
known West Onion business men, will
make application to the town council
for a franchise to install and operate
a complete electric and power plant
here, for the purpose of supplying cur
rent for electric light and power to
meet all the requirements of this city.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-10-04

Clarksburg-Three families, total
ing ten persons, were found living in
one room here by DR.. r. L. Osborn,
city physician, and John A. Tierney.
sanitary officer. The families were
ordered to find better quarters by DR..
Osborn and they intimated that they
intended moving over the district bor-
der, where no fnicky health depart
ment could tamper with their mode Of
living.