davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15
SELENIUM IS
FATAL TO STOCK
Thousands of Cattle and Sheen
Die Annually From
Poisoning
PLANTS ABSORB POISON

NEW YORK.-ThouSands Of cat
tie and sheep valued at approxi-
mately $4,000, 600 are destroyed an
nually through grazing on plants
that absorb selenium, a poisonous
element resembling sulphur, from
the soil Of certain regions Of the
Great Plains, according to DR.. Sam
F. Trelease, Torrey professor Of bot
any in Columbia university.
The problem assumes special
Importance through the possibility
of human injury from the consump-
ton of seleniferous grains, vegeta-
bles, and animal products from the
affected regions" Professor Tre-
lease pointed out.
This aspect Of the problem has
received relatively little attention.
1t is safe to say that no doctor would
be able to diagnose a case Of Sc
lenium poisoning if he encountered
one.
''An the wheat raised on certain
tracts of farming land in the Great
Plains contains selenium-often in
amounts that are poisonous to live
stock. Dangerous concentrations Of
the poison occur in some foods from
naturally seleniferous areas, and ex-
cretion of selenium in the urine has
been found in 90 per cent Of the
inhabitants Of some regions.
Strips Hair Off Pigs.
''Selenium poisoning CT horses and
cows is characterized by hoof de-
fornity, loss of hair and retarded
growth. The toxic grain will take
all the hair off a pig in two weeks.
Many Of the diseased animals die or
have to be destroyed. Very few
farmers in the seleniferous areas at
tempt to raise chickens because
most of the eggs do not hatch and
the few chicks that are obtained are
weak and deformed.
''Seleniferous soils are derived
from Cretaceous shales that were
deposited in a shallow sea during
the age of the dinosaurs. Nature
has protected some areas by apply
ing non-toxic surface soils through
the agency Of glaciers and dust
storms.
''Selenium - obtained as by
~~aI,,a+ 80 .,,or+or. haIoy,oc f0 tho
sulphur family. 1t has some COM
mercial uses in making photo-elec-
trio cells, coloring pottery, de-
colorizing glass. and in vulcanizing
rubber.
'Seleniferous soils and vegetation
have been discovered throughout the
entire western half Of the United
States in unevenly distributed de-
posits. The selenium area goes up
into Canada and down into Mexico,
and seleniferous wheat has been OBJ
tanned from South America. Europe,
Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
The problem is serious only IN re-
stricted regions. Raising of live
stock is no longer attempted in the
worst regions, and tractor farming
of small grains is the only kind OF
agriculture carried on.
Laboratory tests have shown that
the grains from the affected dis
tricts are very toxic to white rats,
and similar effects are seen when
salts of seleniurn are added artl-
ficially to soils in which wheat and
(Continued on Page Threel
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15

Subscribe to The Smyrna Times,
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Smyrna times., 1939-06-15
MARRIAGES

Harvey Hoffecker Weds Miss
Ida Morris Hoffecker and
Miss Ida E. Morris were quietly
married in st. PauPs NJ. E. Church,
Wilmington, Friday afternon, the
Rev. L. E. Barrett officiating. Miss
Bertha Hoffecker Of Smyrna, was
bridesmaid, and Harry j. Gutherie
was groomsman. The ushers were
J. J. Hoffecker, Of Philadelphia, N.
F. Hadley, Simson M. Cousart, and
r. r. Talley. Miss Eva Zebley
played the wedding marches.
About so guests were present. in
cluding the immediate relatives of
the contracting parties, and the
Sunday school classes Of the latte-.
The happy couple received some
fine gifts. Mr.. and Mrs. Hoffecker
are spending their honeymoon n
Washington.
Horace ]. Upham marries Miss
Mary Green The marriage of
Horace A. ]. Upham and Miss
Mary l.. Green took place at the
residence Of the bride in Milwau-
kee, Wis. Wednesday afternoon,
Rev Mr.. Forbush of the Unitarian
Church, officiating. A wedding
breakfast followed the ceremony,
after which the newly welded pair
took the cars for Washington and
New York. Col. George III. Ray
mond, of this town, was one of the
guests, the groom being brother
of Mrs. Raymond.
Charles f.. Maloney and Miss
Ella Beck Wed-In the Union NJ.
E. parsonage, on Tuesday after
noon, June 4th, by the Rev. Adam
Stengle, Charles E. Maloney, of
Wilmington. and Miss Ella Beck,
near Smyrna.
Rittenhouse-H Haston -- On Mon
day, June 10th, at the residence of
the bride in Brooklyn, ". Y, by FL
der f. Rittenhouse, Arthur w. Rit-
tenhouse 10 Miss Elea1ore j. Has
ton, both Of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Continued on Page six)
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15
NEED OF STATE
HOSPITAL ROOM
Dr.Tarumianz Suggests Trus-
tees Bring Overcrowding to
Assembly's Attention
MEETING THURSDAY

A recommendation that the
board of trustees of the Delaware
State Hospital appear before the
Legislature August l in oredr that
the legislators may consider the
building program at the hospital
more seriously than they have in
the past" was made by DR.. M. A.
lTarumianz, superintendent, Thurs
day, at the meeting of the board.
Dr. Tarumianz brought the over
crowded condition Of wards to the
attention of the trustees, who, at
the last meeting, passed resolu-
tions on the housing situation and
directed copies sent to David w.
Steele, president pro tenn of the
Senate, and Frank r. Zebley,
speaker of the House of Represen-
tatives. The superintendent said
apparently, there is no response
to the resolution"
Commencement June 22
The commencement exercises for
the graduating class of the train
ing school vii be held in the audi
torium Of the hospital, Thursday
night, June %, at o'clock, stand
ard time. DR.. Lauren H. Smith,
physician in chief and administra-
tor, Institute and Department for
Mental and Nervous Diseases of
Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadel-
phia, will speak. The dedication
of the chapel in connection with
the fiftieth anniversary of the
founding of the hospital will be
held September z.
Contracts Awarded
1t was announced that contracts
for the following work have been
awarded: For metal ceilings in five
rooms to William Shinn Company,
$3.50; for metal ceilings for three
corridors to William Shinn Com
pany, $3.50; furnishing and erect
ing wire grills for "a windows to
Savery & Cook Company, S225;
material for heating and plumbing,
Desco Corporation, S260.75; lum-
ber, j. t. and L. E. Eliason of New
Castle, $119.58, and electrical sup
plies to Art-Craft Company,
S37.T2.
The following contracts for
clothing and drygoods were award
ed: Rhoads and Co, Philadelphia,
81, ,962.25; Rose Goudiss, New Cas-
tie, $54.50; New Castle County
Workhouse, $28; Gimbel Brothers,
Philadelphia, S27; Garfunkel g. Co.,
of New York, $221.25; Eppe's Inc,
$66; John w. Fillman Co., Phila-
delphia, $212.75; c. B. Barnes,
Newport, S247.10; Leibowitz Inc,
S20970; Levy's Kumfort Shoe
Company, S308.48, and Crosby and
Hill Company, s1,o7o.s5, total of
Sd, ,4O7.88. The New Castle Coun-
ty Medical Society will hold its an
nual outing at the hospital grounds
Tuesday, June 20.
1929 Patients In Hospital
DR.. Tarumianz reported 1,429
patients in the hospital, on parole
or otherwise still on the books, on
May 81. In the hospital, exclud-
ing the bservation clinic, were L.
1S5 patients of whom 627 were
men, and 558 women. There was
total of 80 persons admitted to
the hospital during the month, in
cluding Is men and IA women.
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15

1850 pounds, one of the largest
that has gone from this section.
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15
1929 Patients in Hospital
Wedding Announced

Mr.. and Mrs. John P. Hazel, of
Wilmington, announce the mar
riage of their daughter, Dorothy
Malcolm Fryer, to Charles Har-
rington Fleming, Jr.. son Of Mr..
and Mrs. Charles II. Fleming, of
Dover, on May 18th, at Elkton,
Md.
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15
GRAIN
CdESWOLD HAS FIRST CASE
UNDER IT'S NEW CHARTER: 49,

CHESWOLD HAS FIRST CASE
UNDER ITS NEW CHARTER: --
Cheswold, which was chartered
at the last session of the Legisla-
ture, and which has been withou.
the necessity of municipal law be-
cause of the god department of its
citizens, had it's first case on Sat
urday. 1t did not really belong to
Cheswold, for no liquor is sold
there, the darkey getting drunk in
Clayton or Smyrna and going
there to kick up disturbance. He
was arrested by the constable for
his disorderly conduct and carried
before the alderman, Brady Coop
er, who duly heard the case and
fined him, which with the costs,
amounted to over So, but in the
new situation for him, forgot to
collect the money, and besides los
ing his own fee, had to put his
hand in his pocket and pay the
constable.
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15

REV. w. S. ROBINSON TALKS
ON JOHNSTOWN HORROR--As
announced, Rev. w. S. Robinson
made the Johnstown horror the
subject of his Sunday evening dis
course taking for his text two or
three verses from jeremiah, that if
these had been the days of proph-
ecy and their fullflment, would
have answered very accurately to
Johnstown. He pictured the place
as he saw it three or four years
ago and what it is as result of
that five minutes of Getructive
flood. He said in preparing his
discourse he had taken down the
books from his library to find
something that would compare to
it in suddenness and destruction,
and it stood without a parallel
The nearest he found to it was in
1902 in Spain, when 600 lives were
lost and S7,000,0OO of property de-
stroyed. The address was full of
instruction parallelisms and sug-
gestive thought. In making the
application from the pulpit stand
point, he compared the warning
which they heard Of the breaking
of the dam unheeded, to the warn
ings which are weekly given from
the pulpit and go unheeded.
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15

THE FLOOD HORROR AT
JOHNSTOWN- week and a half
have elapsed since the overwhelm-
ing of Johnstown and the shock of
horror has in a measurable sense
passed away from the public mind
The larger part of the dead have
been buried and thousands Of men
are at work in bringing order cut
of confusion. Sufficient provisions
and clothing are arriving, and the
sanitary situation has so improved
that the representative of the
State Board officially announces
that the danger of epidemic Or the
pollution Of the water has passed
away. Governor Beavers visit re-
suited in the determination that on
this morning the State, acting
through a cimmission, shall under
take the entire charge of affSEs,
the task of clearing away the ms
to be completed at the expense of
the State, in order that the popu-
lar contributions may be devoted
solely to the relief Of the sufferers
The Governor has reached a deci-
sion not to call an extra session of
the Legislature. The fall of rain
on the fatal day Of the food was
nine inches, and in that region it is
stated there were two cloud bursts.
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15
HIGHWAY n
BIDS OpF11
Low Estimates Tot,l
ISL Work Includes
ing Streets at NH
OTHER PRoJEc7l

The low bids ,..., /
State Highway Ds9.,. rs,s,1sil
week for four project, r.
Sl82. 1880. The h {iS$ 3
oy George & Lynch s y y
low for construction rS1, T. -
Kent County 4.242 n niIsa 1a',
selected material n. -r..SS
bidding S44 231 40 ra. 14s y
cement and concrete -
Ject IN West Front St,s.. ~
Kent County. a distance r1ss !,
q mile. Old Linz ''-,s ~ !
Company Chestertovrs s0as T.
united the low bid 4 i
tor eement-concrete ri5.1,
road from Millsboro + h
land line BY way Of MI,
sex County a distance /
mics For constructio, /
Creek Bridge and apDro,,
osoted timber bridge sI5 !,
roadway the Spear. J9s,
Pany Dover was low tiJ1
966 80. The other bi55srs
Church Hill School r,91s
Contracting Company. yer
Sao44O.3O ". W. Truitt /
City Del. S21.516; Old Ii
struction Company. Cd
Md., S24,678.4O: Jane, III
mington. S22. .998.5O. ~
Walls Middletown. ID
Phillips Brothers. salisn7
553. 30.
West Front Street, Nita
W. Truitt, Lincoln CITY, .a,
Phillips Brothers, Salisrls
20; Old Line Cops
Company, Chestertown. sa
Millsboro-Marylan Ina
ndmdn and Burns, ,SallS1urI
1850; Phillips Brothers. !
S98,393.5O; W. W. Truitt,
City, S95,255.2O; Waller
Company, Salisbury S9461
Love Creek Bridge. Ned
Baltimore, $37,546; N. u
mott. Georgetown, Del, n,
EFF. Hammond, Delmar d
159: Old Line Constructi1
pany ChestertoWn, s2582,
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15

Jimmy Barrett, well known
tiler of this vicinity, died on Mon
day after a weeks illness.
Smyrna times., 1939-06-15
SMYRNA DOINGS
OF so YEARS AGO
Notes of Marriages, Deaths
and Matters of Interest
of Half Century Ago
ISSUE OF JUNE 18TH, 1889

Taken from our old files Of
corresponding week, as near
date of this issue as possible
Fifty Years Ago. This column,
now a regular feature of the
Times, will call to mind people
and events of the older genera
tion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-03
aboard to equip each civilian as we'll

aboard to equip each civilian as we'll
as the seamen.
The decision for Capt. Dram to
come to the surface was regarded
as logical because he had special
qualifications to assist in salvage
operations, having survived one
other disaster and having since be-
come the squadron commander.
But another question mark entered
here. 1t generally was understood
that Dram and the three other sur
vivors said their companions in
tended to attempt to follow imme-
diately.
Apparently several did and lost
their lives in the attempt. The adj
miralty acknowledged "unconfrmed"
information of at least two such
cases.
One of these cases was Stoker Will
fred Thomas Hole His wife eX-
pecting a message from him today
the first anniversary of their we'd
ding Instead, she received a tele-
gram from the admiralty which was
brought to her and her baby 1t
said her husband was believed to
have died while endeavoring to es-
cape from the submarine" and
added that this will be confirmed
when definite news is received"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-03
A. A. Speer, go, Dies;
Had Been Manufacturer

Archibald A. Speer, 90-year-old
retired lumber manufacturer and
father of Alexander Speer. acting
director of the power division of the
Public Works Administration, died
yesterday at the home of his son,
James A. Speer, in Purcellville, Va.
He was born in Washington. the
son of DR.. Alexander and Maria
Coyle. Speer, and attended the old
Emerson Institute on Fourteenth
street. He was graduated from
Princeton University in 1869. For
many years he was engaged in lum-
Der manufacturing in Pennsylvania
and West Virginia. Since his re-
tirement Is years ago he has lived
in Purcellville.
Surviving are three sons, Alexan-
der Speer of Alexandria, Va: James
A. Speer of Purcellville and Fitz-
hugh Coyle Speer of New York, and
a daughter, Mrs. Junius L. Powell
of New York
Funeral services are to be held
tomorrow afternoon in Purcellville.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-03
Cutting Hole in Hull
OF 1hetis Was Found
NOT Practicable
Operation Would Hove
Token Too Much Time,
Says Statement
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BIRKENHEAD, June "a semi
official explanation issued today said
rescue workers considered cutting a
hole in the stern of the sunken sub
marine Thetis during the many
hours 1t was exposed yesterday, but
this was not found practicable.
Only a tiny compartment was in
that part OF the stern exposed, the
statement said. and If a hole had
been cut and a water-tight man.
hole inserted 1t would have taken
some time"
Then the trapped men, many of
whom by that time must have been
in weakened condition, would have
had to climb up steep incline and
be dragged through the hole out
OF the compartment" the state
ment added.
Time Too Short.
1.-The tide allowed an hour or two
for this work and 1t was not pos
sible in the time Any pronounced
movement of the ship would have
doomed the men instantly. AS it
was, the stern actually did go down
and did not come up again on the
o'clock (ebb) tide last evening.
THE submarine was held only by
her nose at the bottom and was
moving about slightly under the in
f1uence of the very strong tide which
runs at this spot. Eventually she
toppled right over and was not seen
again from the surface.
An airline was ready in a rescue
ship, but the operation of cutting
even small hole in the stern and
welding this line into it so that fresh
air could be pumped to the men on
board also would have taken longer
than tidal conditions allowed.
-Four men escaped by the Davis
apparatus and it is understood those
engaged In rescue work believe three
other men lost their lives in at
tempting to escape.
Davis compartments for equal
izing pressure before escapingD are
at either end of the vessel and are
principally for use when it is on
an even keel.
In the Thetis, the four men who
escaped had to crawl up the ship
to the stern chamber. don their ap-
paratus, open the door which ad-
mitted water slowly and then when
the water was up to their necks
open a second door which admitted
a rush of water which shot them
to the surface.
Capt. Dram, one of those who
left the submarine successfully,
| described his escape as a most
| nerve wracking experience"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-03
Scoop Box Derby Rules

Mote to boys: The Star and
the American Legion again are
sponsoring a Soap Box Derby
this summer for boys of the
Washington metropolitan area.
The Derby is a race of motor
less. gravity-powered, mini
allure automobiles or coaster
racers, built and driven by boys.
The winner OF the local Derby
on July 8 will represent Wash
ington in national and interna-
tional finals at Akron, Ohio, on
August 49,
These rules are your guide
for the second WASHINGTON
SOAP BOX DERBY:
/. Eligibility: Boys OF WASH
ington and vicinity not younger
than 10 nor older than Is may
enter. A boy who has passed
his 18th birthday on the day
of the local race is ineligible.
Members OF the immediate
family of employees of The Star,
the Chevrolet Motor Co., Chev-
rolet dealers or employees OF
Chevrolet dealers will not be
allowed to compete.
2. Official rule books and en-
try blanks: Secure these and
sign your safety pledge at the
salesrooms of your nearest
Chevrolet dealer in Washing
ton, Alexandria or Clarendon,
Va; Silver Spring or Hyatts-
vile, Md. You must be &C
companied by your parent or
guardian, who must also sign.
Read The Star Regularly TOR
Derby NeUs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-03
Says U. 5. Embargo
Favors Dictators
By the Associated Press.

By tie Associated Press.
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee said
yesterday that by its law embargo
ing arms shipments to warning ma
tions, the United States lis cooper
ating with the militaristic powers in
their efforts to dominate peaceful
powers.
Senator Pittman said German
seizure of the Skoda arms works in
Czecho-Slovakia has very largely
prevented the Balkan states from
obtaining sufficient supply of arms
and ammunition
These states are dependent upon
such works to meet their necessi-
ties" he added 1T is evident that
it would take many years for Ru-
mania and the other Balkan states
to construct such works for them
selves"
Senator Pittman has supported
Secretary of State Hull's proposal
to repeal the embargo provision of
the Neutrality Act.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-03
Squalls Tunne|ing
Expected 10 Start
Early Next Week
Three Divers Narrowly
Escape Injury, Fourth
Lost for Time
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., June s.
Despite disheartening mishaps, of1-
GERS directing salvage of the sunken
United States submarine Squalls
said today they hoped to begin tun-
nenng early next week to clear a
path to the crafts propeller struts.
The tunnels will permit the fix
ing of chains to the struts and at
tachment of pontoons for the first
lifting effort in which the Squalus
and the Is dead men in her will be
towed to shallower. warmer waters
where divers will be able to work
with less peril to their lives.
Three divers narrowly escaped in
fury yesterday in mishaps under the
sea and a fourth was lost" on the
bottom for time Another acct
dent caused the work Of three divers
to go for naught. One had carried
an air hose to the bottom, another
moved it to the designated position
on deck and the third went down
to attach it only to find the con-
nection broken.
Diver John Sibitsky lost his foot
ing on the subs deck and fell Is or
20 feet to the muddy bottom but
'aoated" himself back to the job
with the use of his air valves.
Divers Roland Fielder and H. w.
Ross popped to the surface from
the eO-foot depth when their suits
filled with air and had to be sent
down again to come up in the 10
foot steps of decomposition.
R.. Agness found his lines fouled
during a descent and by the time he
had oriented himself and found the
submarine the time limit for his
dive had expired and he had to be
brought up.
Nine dives were made during the
day. more than on any other day
since the salvage work started
shortly after the Squalus went down
in 40 fathoms off the Isles Of Shoals
May % with SO men aboard.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-03
Mrs. Rose E. Murray
Dies at Home Here

Mrs. Rose E. Murray. SIS, wife of
Timothy Murray. assistant engineer
of the United States Capitol died
late yesterday at her home. 908
Longfellow street NV, after a long
illness.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Murray
is survived by her mother. Mrs. An
ME Sweeney; five daughters, Mrs.
Genevieve Carroll, Mrs. Imogene
Colcord. Mrs. Helen McGaha, Mrs
Marvel Werner and Miss Joan Muir
ray; five sons, Alvin, Ernest, War;
rem, Dale and George Murray; three
brothers, Edward, Herbert and
Stanley Sweeney; a sister, Mrs.
Agnes Suit, and seven grandchildren
Funeral services will be held at
2:30 pm. Monday at the residence.
Burial will be in Cedar Hill Gene
terry.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-03
Boy Scout Executive
Discusses Aims
Of Soap Box Derby
Mere Winning Of Race
Is Small Port of Good
To Be Derived, He Says

Learning TO overcome difficulties
IN completing job once begun IL
far more important than the mere
winning Of race, Linn c. Drake,
Boy Scout executive for the National
Capital Area Council, said yesterday.
Speaking over Radio Station
WMAL in one of series of broad
casts on the Soap Box Derby, spon-
sored in Washington for the second
year by The Evening Star and the
American Legion, Mr.. Drake said:
Only few may actually win
places and prizes. But every boy
who enters may profit from the fact
that he has tried, met others better
than himself, had fun and gained
experience"
Most OF the men giving time and
effort to the Derby's promotion are
| interested in it because they believe
it helps in the building of men, Mr..
Drake declared.
That's the interest of us in the
Boy Scout movement" he said. 1--WE
long ago gave over the promotion
of events because they lead to the
choosing of winner. We are in
terested in activities primarily be-
cause through them, in reality, all
may win
Mr.. Drake pointed out that If the
Derby builder is a Scout. he will
| have fulfilled in the building of the
racer, many of the requirements for
the merit badges in handicraft, car
/ pentry and woodworking. and per-
haps in metal work and painting.
Following Mr.. brakes talk. An
nouncer Raymond Michael inter-
viewed four Derby entrants. The
boys are Carl Cederstrand. II. Ben
! Murch School; John Currin, IA. Lee
land Junior High Bethesda. and
Francis Horning. 10, and Robert
! Ware. 13. Nativity School
! Meanwhile six more BOYS were
Z registered for the Derby. to be run
July 8. Added to the growing list
were Perry G.. Curtin. 10. TIA Rock
| Greek Church road NV. Park View
School; Donald Fentemsn. 10. 1857
Lawrence street NE, Taft Junior
High School; Randall P. Zones. jr.,
| 10. 29l9 Bellevue Terrace NV, Cor.
don Junior High School; Frank S.
Hoffman, II, Landover. Md. Blad-
ensburg Junior High School; John
Letterman, IA. 2030 F street NV.
Gordon Junior High School. and
Richard W. Nagel, IS, Glen Arden
road, Landover, Md, Bladensburg
Junior High School.
| watch The Star for Derby NelUs./