davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
LAX SHIP INSPECTION BY UNITED STATES OFFICIALS CHARGED

the effect that stokers aboard the
Vestris blamed q cracked sea valve
in the fire room az causing the list
of the Inflated liner. Tuttle inIne.
diately took steps to obtain sworn
information bearing upon that point.
To Get Affivadits
IT will communicate at once with
the United States attorney at Nor
folk and have him take in affidavit
form the stories OF the survivors
who were landed there. by the
Wyoming" said futile. II think
they are important. If that cannot
be done, will send some of my
assistants to Norfolk to get the
stories.
II also want from Washington
any official reports bearing on the
disaster that have been made to
the Navy Department"
Capt. William J. Carey is not
here to answer the charge that he
should have sent out an s. o. s. on
Monday when the Vestris showed
an alarming list He is dead, with
the sunken Vestris his coffin. But
the officers who survived will tel
their side of the story today, If
they can be served with subpoenas
in time.
Subpoenas had been issued for
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16

ready have been hurled across the
witness table Of Tuttle's office by
the first witnesses summoned. These
witnesses, still shaken from their
experience on the brink Of death,
were unsparing in their singing re.
Dukes directed at the Vestris owners
and her officers and crew.
Among the outstanding accuse.
lions were those of disgracefully in
complete equipment caches aboard
the life.boats. Burying his head in
his hands as his story refreshed the
terrors of the tragedy In his mind,
Fred w. Puppe, German electrical
engineer. told the Federal investi-
gators that he saw his wife and child
go down with the ship when the
life boat they were jammed into
failed to get clear Of the vessel.
Never Got Away
Puppe said this boat and one
other filled with women and chill
dren were the first to be loaded but
never got away because OF lack Of
axes to cut away the cables which
had become jammed due to the list.
Puppe also charged that he was
informed when he boarded the
boat that his cabin steward was
drunk" He went into great detail
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
IS POLICEMEN
SHIFTED To
new POSTS
.rhotos 81 IntsrnaIIonaI

Thirteen policemen were trans
ierred today BY order Of MAJ.
Edwin B. Hesse, five OF the changes
being IN line with the mandate %
congress that uniformed men SHOULD
oe replaced by civilian employees m
clerical positions.
The five men to be replaced by
civilian employees are Samuel -.
Gibson from office of Inspector to
station clerk at Twelfth precinct:
III. r. Carr to foot patrol in Four
teenth precinct; G. III. CoWne, from
uniform board to foot patrol in
Eleventh precinct: ID. j. Roche.
from uniform board to foot patrol,
Thirteenth precinct; Al. ID. Mans
field, from office OF Inspector
Shelby to foot patrol, First precinct.
j.. =. Bennett was transferred to
the Fifth; I. r. Bridges to the
Ninth; G. r.. Douglass, to the Tenth;
w. b. Hopkins to the Third; r.. Al.
Burton, to the Fourth; +. ". Howes,
to the First precinct.
Several Of the changes were made
50 that the men could be nearer
their homes.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
REPRIEVE
EXTENDED

Robert Percy Loftin, youthful
slayer of the Police Chief of Nc
Comb. Miss, who was miraculously
snatched from the gallows recently,
through the efforts of two Washing
ton attorneys who obtained last
minute reprieve from the Governor
Of Mississippi, has been given IA
more days to live.
Loftin's reprieve was to have ex-
pired today. but yesterday the Gov.
ernor granted a two.weeks' extern
sion in order that Attorneys Ernest
G. Oliver and S. Robert Young,
Washington attorneys for the con-
demned man, might present their
petition for q writ OF review to the
United States Supreme Court.
The first reprieve for the slayer
created a nationwide sensation
when it was revealed that all mod
ern methods OF rapid communities
ton, including the air mail, were
brought into action in order TO
lodge" petition with the clerk
of the Supreme Court so the re-
prieve could be granted. The petit
ton was lodged" just a few hours
before the time set for the hanging.
The present extension of Loftin's
reprieve was granted when 1t was
shown to the Mississippi Governor
that the original stay would expire
10 days before, the Supreme Court
would convene.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
Captains Face Livid
AS All Left Boat

NEW YORK. Nov. 16.-From
the testimony Of Carlos QuirOs,
chancellor Of the Argentine con.
sulate. New York city:
II think the captain on that
boat had q wrong idea of his
role. When you buy 3 ticket
You have . right to comfort
and service. The captain is
nothing but q servant. to the
passengers. When the tables
collapsed, any one with COM
mon sense would have sent
radios asking for help. Girls
were crying and didn't want to
be separated from their huS-
bands. The captains face was
Hvid. He was upset, 1 suppose,
and maybe ne did not realize
what he was doing. Another
officer stood beside him, . man
with more pep than the cap
tain, trying to give orders and
still not forget that the captain
was his superior. One officer
tried to shoot q negro, who
grabbed the gun and threw 1t
overheard"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
STUNG IN
WILD. MARKET
Continued from First Pagsl

Continued from First Page.)
with a 10-point jump over Thurs
days final price; then Sears Roe
buck, up Sh. A block of 10000
United States Steel, the punching"
of overnight orders, sold ut 171h,
up IN.
Bethlehem Steel, gromed for a
new flight, opened the day with q
3-point jump to tn, also on a
10.000-share block. Chrysler Motor
jumped Az; Westinghouse Electric,
Az; Wright Aero. 8: Greene Can
anea Copper. 8: Radio, 5.
In the first 80 minutes the turn
over was S93. 900 shares, or at the
rate OF S,930.O0O shares for the
full day. Brokers groaned and
Resticulated under the pressure OF
frenzied buying and the tape
clogged up helplessly as buying
orders flowed in.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
No Order, No Lantern Oil, No
Life Boat Drill on Vestris

NEW YORK, Nov 16.-From the testimony q Wallace
M. Sinclair:
THE thing that impressed the most was the lack
Of any intelligent plan for lowering the Meboats Or get
ting the passengers in them. heard order given 70
don lifebelts So far as know there had never
been any feboat drill the ship Our boat had biscuits
on board No man on board was strong enough to
unscrew the can containing the flares One Of the
crew had Ratchet he kncked the top Of the can
off When nightfall came we went to light the
lanterns Two ones empty One old
one was about halffull Of oil *@ When we went To
light the old one the bottom fell out and lost the
oil No member Of the crew knew where the extra
oil should have been stored We later discovered in
our search there was none"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
Tuttle to Probe All
Stories Told by Crew;
To Seize RadiOgrams
By JAMES l.. KILKAI.LEN
Interna tIOnaI News Service

NEW YORK, Nov. 16.--United
States Attorney Charles II. futile,
who is conducting the Federal in
vestigaton into the responsibility of
the sinking of the Vestris announced
today that he would $50 to the bot
tom" of stories told by members of
the crew that the ship was in such
a condition at sailing time that
there was some discussion as to
whether to sail or not" He said.
too, that he would obtain all radio
messages that were exchanged be.
tween the captain of the ship and
officials Of the line.
"I am after the facts" futile de.
clared. II am confident we can
fix the blame. ! have called on the
entire criminal division of my staff
for assistance"
Shown an International News Ser.
vice dispatch from Norfolk, Va.
quoting Commander q. w. Simpson,
executive officer Of the s. s. wyo.
ming. one Of the rescue ships, to
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
u. S. Inspection Probe
To Determine IL Men
Were Lax in Their Duty
BY ROBERT s. THORNBURGH,
International News Service
Copyright, 1928, by International

News servce)
The independent investigation
which the United States Steamboat
Inspection Service has launched into
the Vestris disaster is aimed solely
at determining whether the Ameri.
can inspectors who approved the
last Saturday did their duty.
This fact, and the additional fact
that the Vestric was inspected I'M
der American laws. not British laws,
was disclosed to International News
Service today by Dickerson n.
Hoover inspector general of the
United States Steamboat Inspection
Service.
No British Certificate
The Vegtric, although of British
registry, did not carry a British GER
tificate. Hoover said, because she
piled principally between American
and South and Central American
ports, rarely touching British ports.
Consequently sch was examined
under American laws.
'"The Vestirs was inspected as to
her sea worthiness," said Hoover.
1.-THE inspectors presumably made a
thorough inspection of the hull. the
life saving facilities. the fire fight
inge quipment, and the boilers-all
to determine whether the vessel was
seaworthy, as required under Amer
lean laws"
Such inspections of vessels of
foreign registry are made under re-
ciprocal agreements with a number
of foreign governments, including
Great Britain. American ships clear
ing from foreign ports are similarly
inspected.
Under American Law
'If a foreign ship carries valid
certificate from the country of its
registry said Hoover. "it is in
spected to see If the equipment con
forms to the requirements of that
country's laws. If it carries nc
certificate as was the case with the
Vestris, then the inspection IL
under American laws. The British
and other governments do the same
for our ships.
"Once ship has received clear
ance papers she presumably has
met the requirements Of the law
The American Governments re
sponsibility in the matter, the in
spector general explained, is con
fined wholly to physical equipment
and general eaworthiness-and not
he emphasized, to the operation o.
the boat.
Hhe ships officers, Hoover said
are supposed to see that the Goa
doors are battened down upon leav
ing port, and theirs is the response
bility TO rthe conduct of the shir
once clearance papers have beer
granted.
In the case of the Vestris, thu
survivors have charged that there
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16

order was disobeyed point blank.
There was never any order to
don hfebelts. az far as ! know" he
said. I've Just secuted around and
found our own.
Hits Delay
Chancellor Carlos Quiros, Of the
Argentine Embassy, who followed
Puppe in the witness chair. said
that anyone with common sense
could see that we needed help and
that we should have sent for aid by
radio many hours before the o 8
was sent"
HE told OF the bailing and pump
ing that went on for hours as the
crew made a desperate attempt to
keep the ship in navigating condi-
ton in order to avoid an s OS call.
When the lowering OF boats
finally began" he said, "it was evi.
dent the crew had no experience and
knew nothing about handling the
apparatus. The Decentralization and
the drowning of women and children
was pitfful. One officer drew a re.
to obey an order and the negro took
it into the sea-"
Quiros then told of the refusal of
the negro crew in his boat to pick
up swimming survivors, of a hole
in the side of the boat and its
"leaky seams"
Insufficient Equipment
Other witnesses heard brought a
repetition OF the Puppe and Quiros
charges, with the additional accusa-
tons that the lifeboats did not
have specified equipment such as a
sufficient number of oars, water
and food. One witness said that
the water tanks in the lifeboats &C.
tually held only salt water.
From the testimony taken 80 far
before the commission. it is fully
apparent that we shall ultimately
be able to fix the blame for this
disaster" futile said today.
THE officers and men OF the
Vestris are next to be heard, and we
shall learn from them, IL anybody, |
the cause for the terrible loss 0f |
life when the ship had "a hours in
which to obtain aid before she |
sank"
Capt. F. Sorenson, sea veteran |
who was a passenger, together with |
Herman Ruckert, a German bust.
ness man, told how they deliberately
leaped from the lifeboat in which |
they had been lowered because the
craft was leaking badly and they
decided on their action in order TO
tighten the boat and brighten the
chances of the others. They were
later picked up.
Ruckert also said that for hours
preceding the abandonment order
members of the crew had gone about
with lifebelts on, but no order had
been given to the passengers to don
belts.
All witnesses told of the list which
long preceded the sinking, and bit.
terly attacked the officers for with
holding the o g call.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16

Frank Johnson. chief officer, and his
mates. But some OF the officers
did not appear in the courtroom
nor at the hotel where they had
been stopping, and 1t was not
learned whether subpoenas had been
served upon all of them.
Charges of cowardice, incom-
potency, lack Of discipline and indeci-
sion in the face of emergency al
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
First Life Boat Seen.
Passed Under Water

NEW YORK, NQx. 16.--From
the testimony Of Herman Ruck-
ert: II got IN No. 8 boat, and
there were 40 or 50 people In it
when it was launched. IL was
under water and the people were
swimming, and we tried to bail.
i and SOrenson and a lady de-
cided to swim for another boat.
But the other boats seemed to
go away from us, 50 we had to
swim very hard. / asked So
rensOn what TO do, but he said
not To go back to the boat we
had left. .
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16

was a cracked sea valve, and that
one coal door was only half closed,
flowing the sea to pour into the
hold.
should the investigation disclose, :"
said Hoover. that there was negli.
gence on the part of the officers
or crew. the action then must be
taken by the British government.
American responsibility IL wholly
whether the vessel was seaworthy
on leaving port.
Should our investigation disclose
negligence or inefficiency on the
part of the New York inspectors,
disciplinary action will be taken
Immediately
Hoover expressed the opinion
that the present American laws
governing steamship inspection
ARE adequate If they are en-
forced. -"
Are there plenty of inspectors
in New York;" he was asked.
YES" he said.
Complete in Week
No expansion of the service has
been asked from Congress, Hoover
said, because the present staff has
been deemed adquate. Tn whole
matter, insofar as the American
service is concerned, he said, comes
down to whether the inspection was
properly made at this end as to
the Vestris' seaworthiness.
This investigation, he said, would
be completed some time next week.
Chief Inspector Crone and a con-
siderable staff are row in New York
conducting it independently of the
investigation which District Attor.
ney Tuttle has started.
Steamboat inspectors are ap.
pointed under civil service laws,
Hoover said. and have to pass rigid
examinations before being granted
certificates.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16

in charging general inefficiency
even prior to the disaster, declaring
that the baggage and mail had been
carelessly handled.
The witness added that few orders
were given by the officers during
the crisis and that in one case an
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
Witnesses Agree on
Reckless Confusion
Before VeStris Sank

NEW YORK, Nov. 16,--Aided by
Robert w. Manley, his chief as
sistants and George .Mintzer and
Continued on Page 2s. Column II
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
Of FICIALS
To PROBE
RI||ll)R
- =!

Continued from First Page.)
through the indirect route of the
inspection service.
No definite steps can be taken
until Congress meets on December
3. BY that time District Attorney
Tuttle's investigation in New York
may disclose the need or the lack.
Of need FOR Congress to act.
Evening star., 1928-04-01

DOROTHY GRAY VS.,
5crfn tiff, Three Fsftb fr<saf. Ma York
Please send me The Stor, of Dorothy Gr4, am pa,
nculArl, interested 10 The IrcAtmeot ot Lines 4nd
Wrnklcs The Trcatmcnt OF Doubc Chm Ih5
treatmcnt foc Relaxed Muscles and Crep, Throat
The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-07-17
CHANGES IN CROP DISTRIBUTION.

Since the World War significant changes in the distribution of crops have taken place in the United States. From It, GOO GOO to 20,ooO,- 900 acres of crop land formerly required to feed horses and mules have been released for other uses. Moreover, considerable shifts have taken place from less productive to more productive crops per decrease has occurred in the cereals On the other hand the acreage de- voted to cotton, alfalfa, clover, fruits and vegetables has increased notably.
 These facts recorded by the United States Department of Agriculture. In the originally forested portions of the United States an almost universal decrease has taken place in crop acreage since the war, particularly in the hilly sections. On the other hand, increase in acreage has taken place in the prairie and Great Plains re- gions, where conditions are favorable for the use of large-seale machinery. Thus crop produc- tion has been stimulated the level lands of the West at the sacrifice of much of the poorer or less level lands of the East Increased standardization of agricultural work and the de- velopment of drought-resstant varieties of crops has had much to do with this change.
 Corn acreage, according to figures. has declined in almost every county east of a line from Lafayette Ind, to central Missouri and cen tral Oklahoma Northwest of this line on the other hand. a general increase in corn acreage has taken place. In like decrease in the area in cotton in Georgia and South Caro- lima has been than compensated by an increase in Texas and Oklahoma. Gotten acreage has increased also along the northern margin of the Corn Belt. where the boil weevil does less damage than in the cotton area farther south
 Acreage in oats decreased in southern Indiana and Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. This decrease, however, was more thah compensated bx~ iaerease dn* anxeaee~ of oats. in Ninassoss
The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-07-17
More OF Legs True

The impression you get from q once over of the feminine faces IS that the manufacturers of rouges and powders must have a whaling big income tax to pay
 The last person a sculptor would pick as q model for a statue of Patience would be a married man waiting the minute his wife said she'd be changing her dress and dabbing a little powder on her nose.
 The surprising thing to the aver age married man is that stores actually think it worth while to advertise bargains in men's spT,zs clothes as well as women's.
 | is getting so the preacher is not any more supposed to Use a Goraian Knot in tyng ID 3 couple than he is to ask the bride # shell obey the gent she is taking ,for her meal ticket
 Honey is something bees ffoduee and wives use as a substitute for you biz fool when they are cut ill company
 Getting elected President could not make some men feel as import ant as getting a badge labeled Reception Committee' on the la pc, Of their coats can some other men.
 Every girl knows the knowledge that is power is the knowledge that beauty attracts more men than brains.
 A man likes to feel he is getting his moneys worth when he spends his cash, but judging from the con. tented look on the faces of those coming out Of beauty parlors wo- men don't feel that way about the coin they blow in. Even the husband who never kisses his wife is considered pret- ty good sort of husband if he doesn't go round kissing other mems wives.
 No greater faith can any mother show in her dauGhter than by not ], worrying about her when she goes out on joy ride with no chaper- on but her own conscience.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-07-17
The Failure.
Cincinnati Enquirer.

It needed not the additional testimony of State Director of Welfare Harper to confirm the opinion of that part of the Ohio public which believes in sound principles of government that prohibition in the State is a failure as a crime deterrant
 Prohibition in Ohio, as elsewhere has not solved the crime problem, it's adherents prom ised that ii would do. On the contrary as Mr. Harper asserts crime under prohibition not only has increased but has increased tremendously.
 The Welfare Directors analysis is official and dlspassonate The State prisons crowded as never before, having doubled since the enactment or the Crabbe act. He says so, and puts the blame where it properly belongs
 One by one former supporters of the prohibit lion policy among distinguished men and women of the country. who have not been wholly oh- sessed by the devil of fanatcism are coming forward with statements of remuneration of the pellef that morals be commanded by law that law itself become sacrosanet
 The Welfare Director is in position to speak With authority. Not all the fulmnations of the Antl-saloon League and it's hired or deuded followers can explain away cold facts and figures
 As The Enquirer often has said prohibition import and significance; the principle involved Tn the effort to enforce it is un-American un- democratic and unmcral To use intoxicating hquofs IS not wrong per SC. How can such act. III democracy be. declared to be legally q crime? But so the matter stands and so it shall stand untl the leaders of public thought in amerlca have awakened to the menace of such iaiiacious reasoning and practice.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-07-17
A "MOyIE. GOING PEOPLE.

Distinctly the inhabitants of the United States are movie going people. Nearly one-haf of the motion pictures in the world are in this country says survey made by the Department of Commerce American movie houses number approximately 20,500 while the world total is placed at 51 103. In IS years since 1910, they have increased in this country from 5000 to over 10000, a growth of more than loo per cent
 Next to the United States, Germany possesses the most picture houses, with 4,293. England is in third place with 3,760, France s354, Italy 2,000, Spain 1,500, and Sweden 1,016 All of Europe has about the same number as the United States. In the Far East there 3,629, Australia having 1,300 Japan $50, New Zealand 426, India 100. the Philippines 250. Latin America is served by 3,59S theatres, Brazil with 1900 Mexico TOO, Cuba 400, Argentine 349. All of Africa has only GA movies
 It is estimated that the film theatres in the United States have combined seating capacity of IS $50. 1000 persons Their annual box office revenue is placed at S750,000,o00 Each yea approximately S200 900 is expended for theatres in this country.