davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1924-12-25
IRESIDES
ARE PILED
H|GHW|TH'
PLENTY
Santa Leaves Trail of Joy
In His Wake-PossibiIity
of Snow Today

In the churches and the homes
of Washington, bedeeked with the
flame and the verdure of the
holiday season, around firesides
piled high with plenty and those
which make only a feeble but
valiant gesture toward the spirit
of the day-a story exactly 1924
years old, is being told today.
On this day, whether the merry
makers give it a thought or not,
the world celebrates the anniver-
sary of the birth of Jesus Christ,
in a stable at Bethlehem-the be-
ginning Of the Christian era.
Old Nick Pays Visit
Santa Claus, or Kris Kingle, or
Father Christmas, as the jolly old
fellow is Variously called, paid his
respects to. Washington III his
annual flying trip last night, leav-
ing a vast train OF toys in his
joyous wake.
There Is some measure Of happi4
ness in every home in Washington,
however poor or sumptuous it may
be, because Of that all.pervading
holiday spirit, making men and
women behave like little children.
Many a mechanical toy will be
wrecked beyond repair by fond
fathers today, before the supposed
ultimate consumer gets a chance to
wreck it himself. Many a mys-
FERROUS, tissued package will be
unwrapped with fluttering expect
ancy or dire misgivings.
Doubtful About Snow.
If the reader had looked at the
sky at the time these lines were
written, he would have sa d: Eyes,
sir, 1t certainly does look like sno y.
But you never can tell in Wash.
ington." And you can't. The
Weather Bureau is just about as
doubtful as any individual untu.
tored in prophecy.
1t seems that many parts of the
country will have snow today. If
Washington doesn't, that's what
might be called carrying the "vote.
less" situation little too far.
The President and Mrs. Coolidge
are spending the day quietly. Their
recent bereavement is not forgotten
and although their son is home
for the holidays, there will be 10
Christmas tree. Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Stearns, of Boston, are the
only guests. attending services al
the First Congregational Church
with the First Citizen and Mrs.
Coolidge
Coolidge Lights Tree.
Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge took part
In Washington's own community
celebration last night, when the
President pressed switch, lighting
the huge evergreen sent to the Ma,
tons Capital as gift from the
Amawalk Nurseries, New York.
AS the Chief Executives hand
touched the switch, hundreds of
colored lights flashed brilliantly.
The great throng which had con.
gregated in Sherman square and
its environs to watch the ceremony
joined in the singing of carols
under the direction of Robert
Lawrence, accompanied by a brass
quartet from the Army Music
School
The exercises were directed by
the community center department
OF the District public schools, OF
which Mrs. aCecil Norton Sisson is
President by OVID NJ. Butler. an
The Washington times., 1924-12-25
HAS BEEN
FRIENDLY To
BUSINESS
Rehabilitation M a de Vast
Strides Since Last Christ
mas-U. S. Prosperous
BY ROBERT s. THORNBURGH,
International News Service,

By ROBERT s. THORNBURGH,
International News Service.
Christmas brings to the United
States this year a remarkably
healthy condition Of commerce and
industry, promising a year Of
"good times" Government econ.
omic experts said today.
Both Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon and Secretary of Com
merce Hoover are expected to is
sue New Year statements, as is
their custom, pointing out in de.
tail progresses made by business
in the last year and forecasting
prosperity for 1926.
Conditions were described in Of
ficial quarters as vastly improved
over Christmas year ago, both
in the United States and abroad,
Progress In Rehabilitation.
Reports show that throughout the
world the progress of reconstfuc.
ton theoretically started imnned:.
ately after the war, has actually
progressed far enough to show
tangible results.
OF the important nations only
those of the Far East are apparent
ly In economic difficulties. The
Chinese war wrecked one of japan e
principal markets while her silk ex.
ports have been cut considera oily
because of the development Of arti
ficial silk manufacture in the
United States.
However, with theswar practically
ceased in China, Japan has hopes
Of the reopening Of this market and
Continued ON Page Q. column 81
The Washington times., 1924-12-25

Checking Up Lists.
1t probably will be late today OF
tomorrow before a check-up can bt
completed on the total list of deaC
and injured, according to Sheriff
T. P. Shadock.
The school house is seven miles In
the country. At the fire last night
three automobiles were burned which
had hampered the removal OF injured
to Hobart.
Death Of Heroine.
In the midst of their sorrow
stricken citizens are paying their
tribute to a heroine.
Among the bodies in the impro'
vised morgue which houses victims
of the Christmas eve schoolhouse
horror is that of Mrs. Florence Hill
the teacher at the burned Babh
schoolhouse.
Survivors of the fire said today
there was no reason for the teach
er's body lying charred alongside
the silent little forms of her pupils
She could have saved herself.
Mrs. Hill was near one OF the ex'
its when the fire was first seen to
be surgtng over the puny efforts
to stifle it. She could, say the sur
vivors, have rushed from the build
ing in safety.
Saves Many Children.
Instead she hurried to the front
and dragged child after child through,
the press Of the hysterical throng
keeping to the outskirts, and finally
pushing them, through one window
on which the wire netting was torn
Several times she went back into
the crowd. gathered a child in her
arms and dragged it to the window
then plunged again into the scream
ing mass over which the flames
were licking.
She was last seen, her hair burned
off and her face blackened, falling
in the light Of the flames with a
pupil in her arms,
Delayed BY Wire Windows.
There was no chance to save the
building, and those who escaped
were at the rear of the room near
the door There was virtually no
water near the school house, and
efforts to drag some of the children
to safety were halted until heavy
woven wire over most Of the win
dows could be torn away
Some of the children rescued
were saved after frantic farmers
had torn the wire through with
their hands.
Hysterical parents became sepa-
rated. Many of them had come
miles from farm homes.
Many Of them not knowing wheth-
er their children had persisted IN
the flames, walked back to their
farms in the frantic belief that
the only way they could find their
loved ones would be that they had
escaped and some way made their
way home.
II, after waiting at the home, no
one came, then Christmas and life's
joy ended for that family.
Identification Is Difficult
Today even these have had re.
newal of hope. Silently they
throng the hospitals at, Hobart and
the half dozen temporary morgues.
There they walk along the sheet
covered forms. A sheet is lifted
now and then, mother cries out,
and another victim is identified.
But IL - many OAnaD - bodies
The Washington times., 1924-12-25

| are so burned and blackened that
there is little hope of identity.
Now and then q trinket or the
CHASTITY gold of a blackened tooth
| filling, perhaps a stray lock of
hair that has not been entirely dis
colored by the flames brings that
cry of anguish-and identity, or
belief in identity, comes again.
That Is the way the Duke chill
dren. John and Nina, were found
But today, too, there are those
scores of parents who have the
worst sorrow to bear-the uncer-
tainty of not knowing-the look at
childish body, burned beyond
recognition. and the knowledge that
their own baby has not yet come
home.
Canvass of Farms.
That is Hobart's greatest grief,
perhaps, this Christmas-those who
DO not know. And among them will
be those who never will be sure
that the coffin over which their tears
will rain In the next day or SO con-
tains the body of their own child.
FOR Hobart's attempt to check the
list OF its Christmas dead is more
oirhlcult than those of other TRACE
dies of its kind.
There was a rush of survivors
from the blazing school house-a
mad desire to get back to their own
homes with their hopes. So many
disappeared in the hours right after
the fire that only by farm to farm
canvass today is the identity of the
dead being established.
So there are scores of automobiles
which were to have carried Hobart
families to Christmas dinners and to
have been vehicles of Yuletide joy
that today are driving sad-faced men
and women to homes of sorrow in
an effort to learn who did die in last
nights tragedy.
But even in grief-stricken Ho.
bart's environs there Is joy, too
For as this tour of the countryside
is being made, the searchers come
upon home after home where they
had thought to find mourning and
they find that a child reported dead
, Is alive-then It Is Christmas in
Hobart.
Plans are being made today for
the holding Of a coroner's inquest
tomorrow in Hobart to determine
the cause of the fire.
1t is understood that the flames
started when a candle ignited q
ball Of cotton at the top of the
Christmas tree and that the tree
then fell and in a moment was a
mass OF flames.
Panic Follows Blaze.
The dry branches burned rapidly
and swept with fire those first rows
OF children crowding around 1t.
They never had a chance.
Followed panic, rush for the
doors and the trampling under foot
OF many of the children.
With prospects that the final
check Of the dead will not come
until late tonight or tomorrow, some
sort Of order is coming today out
OF the efforts. a
1t is expected that the bodies will
Continued on Page 2, Column 81
The Washington times., 1924-12-25
Stage Star Is Santa
For D. c. Family

There is Good Fellow in Washington who is ready
tell the entire world that she enjoyed happy day
before Christmas than the she spent yesterday This
Good Fellow Constance Bnney, the tiny stage and
star appearing in "Swee Little Devil the musical comedy
at Polls Theater.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11
COny Basketeers to
Tackle Waterville-
Girls Play Alumnae

With the practice of the last week
and the addition of Babe" Lapidus and
Ernest Burns to the basketball squad,
the Cony High basketball team will go
onto the floor this evening against Wa
terville much stronger and more conf
dent than they did last week. In Wa
tervllle they have an opponent that
never fails to put on n good. snappy.
polished game, and it seems that Wa
terville has a little better team than
usual.
The Cony boys have been smoothing
up several bad places that were uncov-
cred in the game last week and they
promise to make a much better show
ing than they did on that occasion. The
probable lineup for the Cony team will
be: winslow If. Howell rf, Poor c.
Boyd re-. Lapiduc liz. Burns. Overlook.
Stiles. Plummer and the two Haydens
will be on the sidelines ready to enter
tho game IL needed.
The girls game with the alumnae
will start promptly at 7.15 and will
be completed before the boys. game,
which starts at s o'clock sharp. Fol-
lowing the hoys' game dance will he
held with music by Douglas Melody
Men with seven pieces.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11

Margaret Lindsay, aged IL, clad.
only in a makeshift garment as an
outer dresss. which she had cut
from khaki army blanket with
nail file, made desperate break for
liberty from the State school for
Girls at Hallowell Thursday eve
ming, which eliminated in this city
in the recapture of the Lindsay girl
together with a companion. Marie
her in her second try for freedom.
The Lindsay girl with another in
mate of the Industrial School named
Annie Raynor, had run away from
the institution shortly after 8 o'clock
yesterday morning. and after a
spectacular recapture on lower Wat
er street in Hallowell, had been sent
to bed for punishment, and her
outer clothing had been taken away
from her. Making a rope ladder
out of torn strips of her bedding and
wearing the hastily made dress, put
together with pieces of the army
blanket, Margaret lowered herself
from her third story window at
about Gas Thursday evening and
fed to Augusta.
She was Joined later by the
Coughlin girl, who slipped away in
some unknown manner, and the
two went to the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. Arthur T. Hoffman. 10 Pleas
ant street, where one of the girls
had previously been employed.
Neither wore a hat. and being but
poorly protected against the winter
night, they were practically forced
to seek shelter in their desperation.
The Augusta police had been no
titled of the getaway, and word
was telephoned from the Hoffman
home that the two fugitives were
there. Two officers were sent for
them, and the frantic girls, reluct-
ant to relinquish their newly gained
liberty. fought against their remov-
al to the police station. Even after
the two officers had placed them I'M
der lock and key they wildly en-
deavored to break from their bond
age. They will be returned to the
Hallowell institution this morning.
In the morning attempt at escape,
the Lindsay and Raynor girls ran
away, clad in house dresses and
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11
DESPERATE EFFORT AT ESCAPE
FROM INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL ENDS
IN CAPTURE OF TWO GIRLS HERE

aprons, one with sweater and the
other a light coat. but no head COW
erings. They were seen by two 9TH
err girls who gave the alarm and
started in pursuit There ensued
before their recapture and return
to the Industrial School. one of the
widest and most exciting chases
ever seen in Hallowell outside of
the motion picture theatre.
The pursuing girls enlisted the
aid of Timothy Murphy, who COM
Wandered the G. B. Warner closed
car and chauffeur. The runaways
sought hiding place in the back
yard of the Mckelvey house on Wat
er street, but were discovered by
Mrs. McKelvey who was getting
her little daughter. Hulda, ready for
school. Noticing the peculiar be-
havior of the two girls: and sus-
pecting from their dress that they
were State School girls Mrs. Nickel
vey demanded an explanation of
their presence there. They told her
an improbable yarn about being
hunted by a brutal and crazed man.
Mrs. Mckelvey engaged them in
further, conversation in the hope
Of OBTAINING them until someone
should come for them. In the
meantime Winfield Pettee, an en-
ployee of the institution, accompa-
MED by one of the teachers had
started out in search with the school
team.
Mr.. Murphy with the Warner. car
and the two pursuing girls arrived
on the scene first, soon followed by
Mr.. Pettee and the teacher. The
rebellious girls had retreated into a
bedroom of the McKelvey house
and heavily barricaded the door.
When forced from the room they
not only declined to enter the auto
mobile but fought furiously. and a
great crowd was attracted to the
scene. Their resistance was finally
overcome and the struggling incor-
rigibles taken back to the school af-
ter short lived liberty. which re-
suited in the Lindsay girls forlorn
effort last evening.
At the Augusta police station
where the Lindsay and Coughlin
girls were confined last evening,
even after they realized that they
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11
DORMITORY CLUB
PLANNED AT "Y"

The boys of the Y. NJ. c. "A. dor
mitory held a get-together Meah mes,
ut which tentative plans for Dor
mitory Club" were made. Twenty
one of the boys were present to en-,
JOY the fine supper which was served
by Miss Ethelle Garside and a COM
mittee of girls. Mr.. Haney OF the
United Y. M. c. A. schools of New
York spoke briefly to the boys during
the evening.
After the supper the matter was
talked over and a committee con-
sisting of several from each floor
was appointed to draw up plans for
the organization. The committee con-
sists of H. S. Weymouth, chairman,
e. H. Curtis from the lower floor,
Paul Clich and A. K. Wallace for the
top floor and Leland Stacey for the
Y. M. c. A. The committee Will re-
port next Wednesday evening at an,
other supper which is to be held
in the assembly hall.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11
HOCKEY PROSPECTS
AT C0NY bRIGH
WITH SEVERAL VETS

The new ice rink on Ruel Williams
field. is an ideal place for the Cony
High school hockey team to practice.
and it appears that the team, which
for the first time is classed with the
major sports of the school, will make
fine showing on the ice surface
this year.
1t will be remembered that last
year, some of the hockey devotees
of the school got together, construct
ed a little rink of their own and
practiced as much as possible. They
played several games under the
school name although not recognized
as school team. They played three
games with Coburn Classical Insti-
tute of Waterville and won two of
the games. One of these was in the
Winter Carnival tournament and the
Cony team afterward lost to the
snappy Westbrook aggregation,
which was without a doubt one OF
the fastest hockey teams in the New
England states. Cony also won from
Skowhegan High School. AS re-
suit of their showing last year hoe
Ike was made major sport at Cony
High school to rank with baseball,
football and basketball.
OF the last years team, only two
were lost. They were Soup" Austin
and Bagley. Ellis, Gardiner, Ran
dali, Bradstreet, Quimby and Nc
Donald all played last year and GER
tainIy, with the limited facilities for
practice, they made a remarkable
showing. Several of the above men,
toned boys played at different times
en- the Augusta City team which
played with the Waterville, st.
Dominique and other fast teams IN
various parts of Central Maine. The
training which they received IN those
games will stand them in good stead
this year. Upon one occasion at
least last yehr, five OF the SIX men
representing Augusta were members
of the Cony High team.
There are about 80 men out LOT
hockey this year, with four good
teams, so that the large 80 foot by
100 foot rink Is the scene each AFTER
noon of two lively games. Inc hne-
IN for the "a" team, which Will prop
ably make up the Cony varsity team
ia as follows, Gardner. c: Randail
and Ellis. wings; Bradstreet ana
Ouimby, defense; Mcdonald, goal.
For the "B" team there are FOLSOM
and Gregoire, defense; Reid and NC,
Cauley. wings; Gidings. Savage ana
Eastman at center; n. Hayden goal.
There is no game scheduled ZOE
this Saturday at the rink but IL
nossible a game will be staged ne
tween the Cony boys and picked
IN team from the city. If this Is
done. the rink will be thrown open
to the public and no admission VIII
be charged.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11
AUGUSTA ELkS
EAT BAKED BEANS
AT ROUS|NG meet

With the plebeian bean as the ma
5or attraction, one of the largest and
Heveliest assemblages Of the season
was on hand at the Elk's club at
supper time Thursday evening. to
partake OF the pork and bean feed.
prepared by and served under the
direction of Brother W. p. Perry. 1t
was a sumptuous supper in all re-
spects. and all Of the previously ac-
knowledged champions OF this little
food element, and also many new en-
thusiasts united in declaring Fred's
supper to be one Of the NOSE enjoy
able Of the series which have been
preceding the bi-weekly meetings.
Not only were there baked beans In
great abundance. but also pork. cold
ham, Johnny cake OF corn bread,
pickles, gingerbread and coffee were
on the menu. Exalted Ruler Mac
Nichols query as to whether the In
ner man had been satisfied. after
about forty-five minutes OF close ap-
plication to the business OF eating,
only elected a feeble murmur, feeble
because the boys were too gorged
with the good things of the supper TO
be more emphatic, but call Tor
show of hands on the same question
ELECTED unanimous response.
1t was announced Dy EXALTED puIer
MacNichol that the supper at the
next regular meeting two weeks from
last evening, would be supplied by
the members Of the house committee.
The indications are that with the in
creasing popularity of these pre-
meeting feeds, from week to week,
there will be a record number pres
emit on the oath, to participate in the
hospitality to be dispensed by the
house committee. Chef Loi Haskell
said that they would have provisions
for 900 people and that II there were
ltany more than that number present,
they could shovel the snow Off the
lawns and serve the supper out OF
doors.
Brian NJ. 'Brim" Jewett was pres
ent at the meeting last evening and
gave a report on the very successful
three nights presentation OF the John
E. Rogers show, "Bimbo" at Man
chester, n. H.. recently. Mr.. Jewett
! directed the production at Manches-
ter, which was heralded by the press
as the most successful and entertain
ing musical show ever staged in that
city by amateur talent. The Elks
we're pleased to hear about "Bimbo"
as 1t Is the production which will be
presented in this city by the Elks
this year, and Mr.. Jewett will come
directly to this city from Bangor to
start directing the rehearsals on Feb
ruary 4.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11
Funer.l Of William e. Elwin

Funeral services for William e. FL
win who died at Cambridge. Mass.
Sunday, were held at . o'clock Thurs.
day morning at Plummer's funeral
pariors. sl6, Pleasant street, with the
Rev. Andrew +. McWhorter ofiiciat-
ine. The interment was in the family
lot IN the Sand Hill cemetery at
windsor.
M. Edwin 10 survived by his wife.
who Was> . sister Of the late Lyman
n Weever OF this city; five daugh-
eero, lfrn. W. II. Terrell OF Warren,
Naso. lGiss Ida Edwin, Mrs. Lillian
shaw, and Mrs. Minnie Martin of
Bonneville. Mass. and Miss Harriet
Edwin OF New York City; and by two
sons. Everett and Ernest Edwin of
0omerville, Mass. Frank Shaw, a
grandson accompanied the remains
10 this city.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11
Merrill. Bagley

A wedding of considerable local
interest, which will also be surpris-
ing news to their many friends and
acuuaintances, took place very quiet
ly Wednesday evening at the Con-
gregational parsonage. when Miss
Evelyn Mae Bagley, younger daugh-
ter of Mr.. Frederick Charles Bagley
of Augusta became the bride of
james Wyman Merrill, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Herbert l.. Merrill also of
this city. The ceremony was per-
formed by the Rev. Andrew T. Nc
Whorter of the South Parish Con-
gregational parish.
Mrs. Merrill is a former resident of
Montreal. Canada, where she grad
uated from Westmount high school.
and from McGill University. She
came to Augusta to live about a year
ago, when Mr.. Bagley, her father
became general manager of the CuSh-
noe and Kennebec Paper Company.
Since then she has been a member
of the teaching faculty in the city
schools and at the present time is
teacher of Grade 7b at the Smith
grammar.
Mr.. Merrill is a graduate of Cony
High school and attended the Uni
versity of Maine for a short time.
IlS uoW dSoOCAalCN III DuSIHcSs Will
his father in the Daylight Store in
this city. He is a member of Beth
lehem lodge. F. and A. NJ, the Sigma
Chi fraternity, and Augusta lodge,
B. +. o. E.
Mr.. and Mrs. Merrill left on the
afternoon train Thursday for a brief
wedding trip to Boston, and upon
their return will reside at 81 Green
street.
The young couple were entirely
successful in keeping their inten-
tons from their friends. and it is
understood that when they left Au-
gusta to go on their wedding trip,
not more than one or two of their
most intimate acquaintance were
aware that they were newlyweds.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-11
JUDGE BEANIE I'LL
JUSTICE SPEAR
WILL PRESIDE

Justice Albert M. Spear was ap-
pointed Thursday by Chief Justice
Leslie c.. Cornish, to take charge of
the January term of the Superior
court until such time as Judge Fred
Emery Beane is able to preside.
Judge Beane was i'll Wednesday and
was obliged to so to his home Thurs
day.
No cases were heard Thursday. as
all that were set for that day were
disposed of in some other manner.
He intends however to return to the
court in time to take charge of the
calling of the criminal docket which
has been set ahead to-Tuesday morn
ing at 1890 o'clock.