davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
FORESTS
CONTINUE
TO BURN
Hundreds Forced To Flee
From Homes in Northern
Counties.
CITY THREATENED
States Fire Loss Heav-
ier Than Ever Before,
Chief Declares.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10. U.P)
The forest fire situation through
out California remained acute to-
day.
The Badger Creek fire in the
northern part of the state constitu-
ted one of the greatest menaces.
This fire, which already has des-
troyed valuable stands of yellow
pine and cedar, a $4,000 automobile
camp and hundreds IF deer and
cattle, was believed checked yes
terday at the verT edge of the town
of llawkinsvillc.
This morning il was out of con
troll again, having Unexpectedly ly
swept up Cayuse Gulcl and into the
Big Humbug country, virtually en-
circling the town.
Residents fled for their lives
through the single narrow path as
yet free of the flames.
Emergency calls for aid were
sent ireka, two miles south. Busi-
ness in the latter city was practi.
cally suspended rs all available
men, armed with makcshift fire
fighting equipment, left TO join the
forest service rangers attempting to
save Iawkinsville.
Raachers in the IIawkinsville
area attempted to move belongings
in automobiles and trucks, bat many
were unable to drive through the
fire and had to abandon machines
and flee on foot.
Three thousand acres have been
burned over SO far.
The great san Luis Obspo fire,
which has already reduced 10000
acres to ruins, was being fought on
three fronts by more than 800 men.
Fire fighters included prisoners re-
leased from the county Jail at San
Luis Obispo.
United States rangers are direct
ing the Gordon of firemcn. Portable
radio sets are being used to core
late the efforts on the different
fronts.
In Tuolumnc county, buildings of
the Jumper mine at Stcnt were re-
ported burned. Loss was estimated
at $4,000. Another fire in the same
county, ut Groveland, has burned
over 10000 acres Of grgzing lands,
No additional dcpredations from in
ccndiarics were reported during the
night. Federal and state invcstiga
tion of the 50 fires set so far by
"firepots and un-glasscs con
tinued undated.
MADEIRA county reported ~ fires
with 1000 acres having been burn
Cd over. Loss viii reach nearly
100000.
High temperature, low humidity
and constant winds have combined
TO make 1929 the most disastrou,
year in California IS history from II
fire standpoint, according to State
Fire Ranger w. -. Winter.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
HetzeI COmmends
Plan Commission

In a communication received this
morning at chamber of commerce
headquarters from Leo Hetzel, its
president expressed himself as high
ly gratified at. the appointments
made by Mayor Clements, and ap-
proved by the council, of members
of the new city planning and coming
commission. Hetzel, with Dorsey
Whitelaw, city attorney, is attending
"A conference of city planners of all
Southern California, at Santa Mon
lea, called by the Los Angeles Cham
Der of Commerce to discuss changes
in the city planning and coming law
made possible by the last legislature.
These changes result principally in
extending the authority of the city
commission to permit them to reach
out into the countryside adjacent to
the municipality.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
NOTED HUMORIST
LOSES FIGHT TO
REGAIN HEALTH
H. C.. Witwer Loses Out
In Brave Battle To Re-
gain Health.

HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 10. U.D -
II. G. Witwer, nationally known as
n humorist and most famous for his
Icathcr pushers stories, is dead
here after a long fight to regain his
health.
The clever slang writer passed
away in his home late yesterday af-
ternoon taking bad turn three
weeks ago.
Witwer came to California in
1926. He enjoyed the country and
told his own story in Fighting
Back to Health in California;
Friends thought he had recovered
completely in the years that follow
ed, but apparently his physique was
not sturdy. He was 80 years old.
Witwcr began his career as an err
rand boy in butcher shop, then
took to bell-hopping in "A hotel and
later managed prize fighters. He
WAS a reporter on the st. Loud, Fla,
Tribune, the New York American
and the Brooklyn Eagle. In 1917
he was a war correspondent for Col
lier's.
There is a story told of Witwer
that his success did not really begin
until he started his fiction work. 1t
is said that his wife was the first
to realize the market value of the
little features in slang he did. She
pressed him TO send them to maga-
zines and when he did he was on
the road to public approval.
Best known among Witwer $
works are "Leather Pushers, y
Baseball to Boshes.' - "Alex the
Great, - ''Thcre is No Base Like
Home Rubyiat of a Freshman, y
Fighting Back "Classics in
Slang and play, $50 This Is
Harris.'
He is credited with 12j stories
for the screen, some of which were
adapted from his 375 magazine short
stories.
Witwcr s wife, Mrs. Soma Witwer,
and his son, Allan II. Witwer, were
nj his bedside when he died. The
authors mother. Mrs. Margaret
Lewis Nannery, is enroutc here. The
funeral will be conducted Monday.
Witwer was born i'm Athens, Penn.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
Loynds Depart
For Los Angeles

Having recently disposed of his
drug store to Arthur +. Shirer,
Elmo Loynd, who has been popu
lar resident of this city for the past
seven years, left this morning with
Mrs. Loynd and Elmo Jr
During his stay here Loynd was
active in the commercial, civic and
fraternal life of the city and he and
Mrs, Loynd leave a wide circle of
friends here. Their present plans
are indefinite, Loynd said today,
though they expect to remain in
Los Angeles for some time
The new proprietor, who has been
here for the past month, is greatly
pleased with the welcome given
him and is very gratified at haV-
ing located in FL Centre.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
l.. A. Man Heads
State Firemen


FULLERTON, Aug. 1o.U.H Cap
tain w. A. Myers, of the Los Ange-
les fire department, was reelected
to the presidency of the California
State Fremen s Association without
opposition at the closing session of
their seventh annual convention yes
terday.
San Francisco will be the 1880
convention city, the 1000 delegates
voted.
Other officers include r. f..
Thompson, of Stockton, first vice
president; w. c. Fox, Santa Ana,
second vice president; r. S. Ward,
Red Bluff, third vice president; A..
Olcovich, of Redlands, recording
secretary, and II. T.. Strasser, of San
Diego, secretary treasurer.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
Admit Attempt
To Wreck Train

SAN BERNARDINO, Aug. 10.U.P
. We did it just for fun.' This
confession of two Mexican youths,
Juan Acosta, 13, and Mariana AL
varez, 10, today cleared the mystery
attempt to wreck the Santa Fe
Chief, transcontinental limited train,
10 miles west of San Bernardino, the
night of August l.
Roaring along at 70 miles an hour,
the Chief struck an obstruction near
Fontana, and arrived here with a
railroad tie jammed in its guard.
Three other ties were found along
the roadbed.
The two boys confessed after be-
ing questioned for several hours last
night. Alvarez was arrested year
ago on as arson suspect.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
Fire Prevention
Bill Endorsed

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16.W.H -
The Southern California regional di
rectors of the California State
Chamber of Commerce voted last
night an unqualified endorsement of
the Englebright forest fire preven-
tion bill, to be introduced in con:
gress
In resolution to President Hoov-
err and to congress the bill was com
mended as providing funds for fire
prevention rather than fire fight
ing
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
L. A. Claims
Its Dry River
-A ~E '4l1F! EyS

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10. WR-
Injunction proceedings against the
cities of Glendale and Burbank
were authorized yesterday for. ap-
propriating water from the Los
Angeles river.
Water rights granted when Cali
fornia was Spanish province al
locate the waters of the river to Los
Angeles, officials claim. Glendale
and Burbank were "billed' some
year ago for water taken from the
river-which is mostly an under
ground flow in a sandy wash-but
civic officials decided that to file
the demands was the proper pro-
cedure.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
'Ehmke Denies
Mack's Claim

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 10. U.P)
Howard Ehmkc, pitcher of the
Philadelphia Athletics, denied to-
day that he was left behind on their
present road trip because he
bothers the players. -
Dispatches from Toledo, Ohio,
quoted Connie Mack, Athletics
manager as saying in speech to
the Philadelphia club after a lunch
con given them by officials of an
automobile concern there, that
Ehmke gets the players "riled and
dissatisfied. ae.ty4
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
Swiss AViatOrs
Feared Wrecked

PARIS, Aug. 10. U.R)-The fate
of three Swiss aviators who left
Paris for Lisbon on Saturday to at
tempt a flight across the Atlantic
remained unexplained today.
Neither the Swiss legation nor the
Farman Company had any informa-
tion of the flyers whereabouts, 4S
hours after they left here. Inquiry
all through France and Spain fail
ed to disclose any report that they
had come down. A bad storm was
over the Pyrenees Thursday night,
and it was believed the flyers,
Kaeser, Sehopp and Lusher, may
have been wrecked or forced down
in an isolated spot.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
Admits Marriage
To Stage Star

HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 10,W.H-
Lenore Uric, stage and screen star,
and her former leading man, Sidney
Blackmer, have been married, Black
mer admitted here today.
Blackmer declined to discuss the
details but it was understood the
wedding took place three months
ago at Croton- -on-the-Hudson, New
York.
Miss Uric expects to leave here
soon for New York to fulfill a
theatrical engagement while Black
mcr will remain here.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
WOULD DIVORCE CONVICT

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10. W.P)--
Mrs. Pear A. Sutcliffe has filed suit
for divorce against her wealthy
husband, Walter j. Sutcliffe, con
victed in San Franiseo recently of
assault with intent to murder Carl
Bengston whom he was said to have
found in hotel room with Mrs.
Suteilffe. She charged cruelty.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
DECISION REVERSED

Los ANGELES, Aug. 10. W.p -
The district court of appeals here
reversed a decision of the Orange
county superior court yesterday by
which the Orange court had award
ed Mrs. Verna Bowman sl9,07690
for damages sustained in AN automo.
bile accident. An error in instruct
ing the jury was the point raised and
Imperial Valley press., 1929-08-10
ARIZONA ROADS CLOSED

GLOBE, Ariz., Aug. 10.WH Road
crews were busy today removing
tons of dirt and rock from the Globe
Miami highway following Thursday 5
torrential rains.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22

at the walls of the legation compound.
No word could be had from the thou
sand foreigners penned up In the few
acres comprising this space. For weeks
none knew. whether they lived or had
persisted. At last. on the 4th of July,
Secretary John Hay got cipher mes
sage to Minister Conger through the
good offices of Minister WI Ting Fang,
and received the following message i'll
reply: For one month we have been
beSeiged in British legation under con-
tinued shot and shell from Chinese
troops. Quick relief only can prevent
general massacre"
Good news this. that the foreigners
survived. But there was suspicion lest
this be q fraudulent dispatch, intended
TO cause the Fastening Of the relief ex-
petition before 1t was sufficiently strong
to reach the capital. So Mr.. Hay sent
another message, asking the Minister to
mention. In his reply, the name OF his
sister. This came in due time, and the
name was correct. and then 1t was
known that no massacre had occurred.
But it was not until the 4th of August
that the expeditionary force Of about
10000 men, japanese, Russians. British,
Americans and French, left Tientsin,
and on the 14th the troops in various
columns attacked the gates in the
Tartar Wall. FsjputS and skins MADE
q dash for the Water Gate. which was
barely more than a tunnel for the now
of q stream and won their way into the
compound. In q few hours the lega-
tons were relieved.
U. 8. Marine on Guard.
That story was running through our
minds as we walked along the wall to-
ward the Chen Men Gate and saw a
solitary figure approaching. A Marine
sentry. he proved to be. He paid no
attention to us until we told him that
We were all Americans. Then he asked
US II we would like to go through the
gate. He tried to open barrier for
us, but 1t was stuck tight and we urged
him to desist. We had seen enough
We asked him how he liked service in
Peking-I should have written Peiping
Not SO bad" he replied. Better than
some other places I've been" They all
say this. these American Marines, mot
SO bad" Yesterday we met two coming
up on the train from the coaling sta
ton below Tientsin, just arrived with
a couple Of officers on the Grant from
Guam. One, q sergeant, had been in
Peiping before, at a troubled time. He
was eager to return. His buddy" a
young corporal, was non-committal.
But he felt assured that Peiping would
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
HOUSE DEBT ACTION
SOON IS EXPECTED.
Mellon. Berenger Agreement
May Be Put on Program of
Special Session.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
French ratification of the Mellon
Berenger war debt agreement. now
confidently predicted, is expected to re-
ceive prompt attention in the House
after 1t reassembles late In September.
Ratification of the agreement prob
ably will be added to the special session
program of Congress If, as indicated,
the French Senate agrees with the ac-
ton of the Chamber of Deputies Both
chambers of Congress will have to act
on 1t before 1t can be made finally
effective, but meanwhile. preparations
are being made to postpone the MATURE
ty date Of the s4oo. 900, 900 war supplies
debt which falls due August ], but is
provided for in the general $4,025, 000,-
600 agreement.
The House two years ago ratified the
general agreement, under which all of
Frances war and postwar obligations
to the United States are Jumped to-
gether for payment over a period OF 81
years. But the Senate declined to act
pending French ratification and the
subsequent Inauguration Of new Con-
gress has nullified the approval voted
at that time.
Despite some determined opposition
to the agreement in Congress on the
contention that it does not provide for
adequate payments to the United
States. Chairman Smoot Of the Senate
finance committee and other leaders
expect that little difficulty will be en-
countered in bringing about its rati-
fication. The last of the debt settle
ments arranged between the United
States and the associated powers 1t
helped to finance during the World
War, the agreement is similar to those
negotiated with the other nations, all
Of which have been ratified.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22

at least be better than Guam, where
nothing ever happens.
Well, there they are, across the street
from the hotel and some distance to
the west. those stout young Americans,
those Marines. Foreigners feel q good
deal safer with them and their fellows
Of other foreign services at hand to keep
order In case Of trouble between the
Chinese factions. Nobody looks for
trouble now, however. This is an era
Of comparative peace. President Chang
Kai Shek Is in Peiping at this hour,
having come up for a conference with
the leaders Of the Peiping Kuomintang,
the party which supports and, in fact.
constitutes the Nationalist government
Yesterday and declared that the fol-
lowers of Sun Vat Sen must turn
deaf ear to Communists and must work
for unification In China.
1t Is OF more than passing moment
that coincident with Chang Kai Shek's
visit to this city the authorities here
made raids upon number of Chinese
hotels and inns and arrested large
number Of suspects. 1t was printed this
morning that seven Of them had con-
fessed to being Communists. The raids
extended to Tientsin. It appears that
highly efficient detective force went
through the places Of public entertain
ment like fine-toothed comb.
Feng q Strong Character.
Yesterday on the train coming up
from Tientsin had long talk with
one of our Chinese guides who is at
tached to the Marking headquarters and
has been detailed to accompany us on
our tour through China. He expressed
the feeling that with the yielding of
Marshal Feng-which Is pronounced
"Fong"-to Nationalist authority the
cause Of Chinese uniication has been
greatly strengthened. Feng Is rated, he
said, as the strongest character In China
today, the ablest military leader and
possessed OF the most loyal devotion of
his troops. Feng he intimated, would
make strong leader for unified China.
But he represents, or did represent, the
old feudal spirit that has caused the
division of the country into war lord"
areas OF contention and conflict The
highly important factor in the situation
at present Is the announcement OF sew
eral of Feng's generals, leaders of large
divisions of his forces, that they stand
for unification and not for feudalism.
This, said my informant, was the rea-
son for Fengs decision to retire from
active duty and his voluntary retreat
into a province where he will be under
the direct supervision Of forces friendly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
SIX ACTORS SUPENDED
BY EQUITY ASSOCIATION
Ten Have Been Dropped Since
Fight for Recognition in
Movies Started.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
HOLLYWOOD, Calf, July o.
Frank Gilmore, president of the Actors
Equity Association, yesterday announced
that at a meeting Of the group held
Saturday night six members had been
suspended.
Those suspended, Gilmore said. were
e. j. Radcliffe. Joe Brunnell, Charles
Fellon, Emily Melville, Winifred Harris
and Hugh Ha:,ton.
The suspensions brought the total
number of actors to lose their member
ship in Equity to 10 since the associa-
ton began its fight for recognition in
motion pictures.
At the meeting, Gilmore said, the suit
Med by Equity yesterday against Tully
Marshall character actor, and Warner
Bros. Inc, film producers, was dis
cussed. Equity sued for 81, 0O0, 900 dam
ages and a court order restraining the
defendants from carrying out a con-
tract alleged to be in violation of
Marshalls agreement with the associa-
ton. Gilmore said during the discus
sion opinion was expressed that similar
suits should be filed against a number
OF prominent actors. The matter was
before Equity officials, he said.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22

had a silhouette view Of the children
of the household, gathering in giggling
interest at the doorway Of one of the
pavilions and peeping between Sits IL
the oiled-paper sliding doors at the
strangers. Then, with much more
handshaking, we were free to go to our
hotel, situated within the legation area,
a short block from the Water Gate"
where the expeditionary force OF 1900
made its first entrance into the be-
leaguered foreign compound and raised
the seiee of the Boxer War.
After q late dinner, several Of our
party took a walk over to the wall that
surrounds the Tartar City, the wall
that helped to save the legations 20
years ago. At the Water Gate. which
gives directly upon the railroad station
TO attention upon our appearance.
One of our members. with enough
Chinese to indicate legation, declined
their services. One of the rickiShaw
men asked us, in excellent 'pidgeon," If
we were going on top Of the wall.
Affirmative answer quelled what seemed
to be an incipient riot We walked
few yards to the west and by an easy
ramp assembled to the top of the wall.
1t is broad and tree-grown. with
smooth fagStone walks, q favorite pro-
menade for couples and seekers for the
cooler air of the night in Sumemr.
Wireless Towers on Wall.
Our idea was to see Peiping by moon
light. But the moon was scheduled for
too late an appearance for us, tired as
We were by our long journey from
Mukden. We walked around a bit,
identified some landmarks. such as the
Chen Men Gate, which abuts upon the
American legation compound, and.
further to the south, the great Chen
Men Tower. on one wall Of which some
motion pictures were being projected in
the interest Of an advertising enter
prise. Dimly through the night we
could discern slim wireless towers rising
high above the roofs Of the buildings in
compound. Two towers have their base
On the wall itself. Never again. while
the electric current holds out, will there
be any lack OF communication between
the American legation and headquar-
tiers at Washington.
AS we looked at those towers We
thought Of those anxious days in 1900.
when the Boxers were battering away
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
WIFE CALLS BURNS
"MENACE TO SOCIETY,"
Declares Chicago Publisher Re.
turned to Georgia Gang Manu-
featured World War Record.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Ga, July 22.-The State
Prison Board, considering a clemency
appeal for Robert Edward Burns, Chi
cago publisher returned to Georgia to
complete his sentence on the chain
gang, yesterday had an afidavit of Mrs.
Burns describing her husband as a
hardened criminal, "a menace to So
ciety" and fraud in his pretentions to
World War distinction.
Mrs. Burns said the editor had left
her for another woman, urging her to
obtain divorce, and that she had
tipped off" Chicago authorities he was
an escaped convict, thus causing his ar
rest. Burns was sentenced in 1922 to
from to 10 years for an armed rob-
berry that Melted him only few dollars,
and escaped a few months later,
eventually going to Chicago, where he
made good as publisher of q COM
nlercial magazine.
Mrs. Burns, in her afiidavit, declared
that following his escape from the
Georgia chain gang Burns had figured
in gun battle In st. Louis in which
four men were killed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
CLIMPSINC THE FAR EAST

BY GIDEON A. LYON.
orient Guests
o. Endowment International Peace
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22

to the Marking government. Had he
chosen to fight, as o few weeks ago 1t
seemed likely that he would, he could,
If defeated, have retreated to the west
and gained contact with Moscow.
1t may, indeed, be that the tide has
turned In China and that the National
list government is actually established
in position Of such strength as to en-
able 1t gradually to extend its author
ity into the various provinces. Up in
Manchuria the Young Marshal" Chang
Hseu Kiang. with 100000 or perhaps
100000 loyal troops, Is playing his own
game OF adherence to the principle Of
Manchuria first, with no interference
with the affairs Of Nationalist China.
So long as he continues in this role the
chances Of Chang Kai Shek are i'm.
proved.
A Difficult Study.
But these are purely speculative mat
tiers. What is going on under the sur
face Of things is beyond discovery. save
by veterans in the game Of finding out
the meaning of China. And whoever
essays to solve that riddle must make
up his mind to settle down here and
make 1t lifetime study.
Thus far We have seen very little of
Peking-there 1t goes again! This
morning j LOOK odyuBHC LOOK lTOIn LUe
top of the wall and saw the roofs Of
what appeared to be a modern city,
though I knew that just over the inn
mediate horizon lies a distinctly Chi
nese community. Later interviewed
Chinese tailor, brought over by an ac-
commodating member Of our legation
who last evening learned Of the desire
of members of our party for white
clothing for this hot region. The tailor
took away with him five suits of
clothes. representing as many individual
orderers of new attire, promising to be
back in the morning with the new suits
for try-on, with delivery on Monday.
Thus is one Of our pre-trayel impress
sions Of Chinese expedition with the
needle verified.
Came next q visit to the bank for
currency, getting a large packet of Chi
nese notes for a relatively small draught
on the letter Of credit. Then the haber-
dasher, for q sun helmet and a suit OF
shorts" in which combination doubt
less one OF the other camera sharp
shooters will later render evidence that
have gone Asiatic." But the weather
justifies almost any departure from con-
vention.
All except II Of Mcxico's 161 cotton
mills are now operating.