davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
Transit Of Mercury Across Sun
First for Americas Since 1924

be more than an hour later than
Tsooma's sunset at 4:46.
1t will be nothing to look at
with the naked eye since one
squirt might mean blindness.
Let's see what scientist has
10 say about this show Monday.
Quoting J. Hugh Pruett. Pacific
director, American Meteor society.
"A transit of the little planet
Mercury across the face of the
sun-a phenomenon so rare it
occurs only Is times a century
is scheduled for the afternoon OF
Nov. IL. This will be the first
such event visible in the Americas
since 1924. and the only one I'M
I'll 1883 to be seen by earth dwell
ers anywhere. Not before 1878
will so favorable transit recur.
Astronomers welcome transits
as they give valuable help on the
incompletely solved problem of
Mercury's orbital motion. They
also furnish information on the
slight Irregularities in the daily
rotation of the earth, our standard
timekeeper.
Mercury eneircles the sun in SIS
days on an orbit inside that of the
earth's. This means that few
times each year this planet is al
most between US and the sun. But
because its orbit is inclined seven
degrees TO the plane OF the earth S
orbit. Mercury usually seems To
pass a trifle above or below the
sun.
When on such occasions Mer-
curry happens TO be on that part
OF its path which crosses the plane
of the earth's orbit. IL is lined W
directly between us and the sun
and appears TO be on the solal
surface.
Small telescopes-even strong
binoculars - firmly mounted snC
properly equipped with sun shade,
or used as projectors will show
Mercury as small. very rounC
dot on the solar face. Its sppar
ent diameter will be about 2ot
that of the sun. Ordinary sun
spots Of the same size will appeal
gray in contrast with the intens,
hlackness of the unilluminate,
side Of the planet"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
City Officials
Rush 10 Bridge

Mayor Cain and other commits
sioners present at the city hall
dropped all official business in a
mad dash to the bridge when the
first report Of its breaking up
swept through the city hall
Engineers from various depart
ments also joined in the exodus
which included all employees who
could get away.
Works Commissioner BerRersen
was attending a conference in Sc
attic when his office reached him.
He Immediately returned to Taco
ma.
Engineers were particularly in
terested IN exact details Of the
bridges behavior. and in the Gle
ments that were giving way first.
They said there had long been
q question whether the rigid con-
crete slabs of the bridge deck
would stand the strain of ribbon
action under certain WIND stresses.
One pointed out that the Mar
rows bridge with only a 40-foot
width TO a length Of $500 feet in
its main suspension was the mar
rowest bridge in the world in pro-
portion to lis length. The Golden
Gate bridge at San Francisco with
six traffic lanes had something
like three times the width TO
length proportion of the Tacoma
span which was l Of width to 20
of length.
The Tacoma bridge. they re-
called. was designed to take the
stresses of 100-mile an hour
wind-almost four times the maxi
mum wind recorded overnight and
through Thursday morning by Ia
coma weather bureau.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
Italian Troops
Captured, Claim
SOUTHERN EUROPE

The Greek ministry OF public
security asserted today at Athens
that 1000 Italian prisoners had
arrived at Salonika from the Flor
ins-Kastoria front. The high COM
mand admitted Greek troops had
fallen back slightly on their ex-
IRENE left wing. near the sea coast
on the southern or Epirus front
No details Of the withdrawal
were given.
An exchange OF artillery fire Is
taking place along the whole
northern or Florins-ksstoris front
the communiqte said
Ut is on the southern front,
where the Italian objective Is
Janina, that the Italians have been
claiming gains. The Greeks. in
turn. have claimed the entrapment
Of q large force Of crack Italian
Alpini troops on this front
The constantly developing
artillery fire on the front was
taken TO mean the respective
high commands are preparing
for big scale operations.)
II was asserted that the Greeks,
in capturing a new line Of hills on
the Florina-ksstoria front Tues
day. seized four Italian cannon,
nine howltzers and 81 machine
guns.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
Feature
La Couture
Art Exhibit Will
Open on Sunday

Pablo Picasso's large painting
Ia Couture" has been loaned by
the Museum OF Modern Art in
New York. 70 be featured in the
exhibition 10 be opened IN the Col
lece n Puget Sound galleries by
tho Tacoma Art association on
Sunday afternoon
With tho painting a. center
theme the exhibition VII trace
the development Of Picasso's work
from 1000 70 Tho present Photo
graphs. color reproductions and
texts containing biographical and
critical information supplement
the original painting. Melvin Koh-
Ter. director Of the Art association.
VIII discuss the various periods in
the work Of Picssso at 4 p. m.
Sunday.
The exhibition in the upper gal
leries brings together the award
winners and a selected group Of
paintings from the Northwest An
nual jury show, held this past
month at the Seattle Art Museum.
The exhibit includes the much dis
cussed large non-ohiective paint
ing in oil. Modal Tide" by Mark
Tohev, and William Cumming :
simplified Worker Lifting A
Rock" tempera painting.
Tacoma artists works brought
over from the Seattle exhibition
include the work Of Mrs. A. II.
Hooker. Miss Maurita Shank Mrs.
Robert Hyde, Miss Peggy Strong.
David Moores wood sculpture
African Negress" will also be
shown.
The Picasso exhibition will he
shown for two weeks only, the
Northwest group continuing until
November IS. The galleries are
free to the public at all times.
They are open weekdays 1880 10
P. m, Sundays > to s p. M.
Monday evening Z 10 $50. The
galleries will be closed Monday,
Nov. Il, and Thursday, Nov. 81.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
II ERE'S MORE ABOUT
Pension Problem
STARTS ON PAGE ONE

could fix the amount Of pensions
He pointed out. however, the in
itiative provided that any of its
provisions could be set aside if
they failed to conform with the
federal law.
The state today is paying an
average of S22.59 10 10000
aged. The initiative would re-
quire IL to find additional
funds TO pay a minimum of
$40 TO about $4,000 persons,
IL was estimated.
Estimates on how much the
initiative will require In new
tax money 10 become work
able vary from $4,000. 900 to
100000 a year. Left-wing
leaders of the house and SEN
ate. who head the old age PEN
sion union. sponsors of the
measure. have drafted a series
of numerous tax bills for sub
mission to the l94l session.
which opens January Is. TO
raise the necessary money.
The state picture will be com
plcated by the fact Social Sc
curity Director Charles F. Ernst
has resigned and will leave office
December !. The governor vii
have to name someone TO act from
then to January IS.
State senator n. p. Akin
son, of Seattle, president of
the pension union. said the 10
new taxes to be proposed in
cluded tax on stocks, bonds.
promissory notes, capital
stock of banks. gifts. heavier
inheritance taxes. mortgages.
gross rentals, = 10 per cent
boost in liquor taxes and
two per cent sales tax on gas
oline.
No one al Olympia would pre-
dict what would happen II tbs
legislature refused 10 raise the
extra millions needed 20 quad
ripple the present pension program
The state general fund IS al.
ready 100000 in debt Unless
the 1871 legislature appropriated
the money 70 pay bigger pensions
II probably would be up TO the
next governor 10 pay $40 as pen
sions as long as existing money
lasted, then quit altogether. or els,
pay the mdespite lack OF legis-
lstive appropriation. which prob
ably would be illegal
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08

Eleven members Of the Future
Farmers Of America. en- route TO
the American Royal Livestock
Show. TO be held in Kansas City
November Gle. will leave Tacoma
on the Milwaukee roads olym-
plan at $50 ?. m. Thursday,
Nov. I.
The party will be joined by men,
bers Of the Future Farmers Of
America AZ various points on the
Milwaukee line in Idaho and Mon
tana.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08

ATLANTA. Lieut. W G Hogan COM
mandine. passed beneath the
bridge a few moments before the
crash. Is officers. noting the in
tense vibration and the evident
near panic or the shore SIDE. put
about and stood BY.
Concrete Cracks
Radio 10 the Seattle head
quarters caused two fast patrol
boats 10 be dispatched % the
scene 10 assist.
Spectators on the bridge bank
began u gather and highway Off
Gals a. the toll gate roped Off
the structure
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
TO SERVE OUT FINES

Two Gig Hsrbor men were IN
the county Jail in Tacoma Thurs
day beginning TO serve out 500
fines imposed by Justice H. r.
rhurston for being drunk and dis
orderly. The pair in jail. who must
serve IS days. were Edward Jen-
sen. 67-year-old iaborer. and Al
phonse LeCsre. 81, logger.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
Here's More About
Narrows Bridge Span Falls

Continued From Page one1
Gals and engineers refused TO
comment
While the mile-long green span
writhed n commissions Ike some
living thing. a swiftly gathering
crowd Of spectators watched with
thrilled horror throue hout the
morning
Lamp Posts Lean
The man suspension cables
grosned and lashed. and the 425-
foot-high towers bowed and gyrst-
cd The roadway undulated and
rocked with quickly ponderous
heaves. Bordering lamp posts
leaned madiy At 45-degree angles.
first m one direction and A second
later in The opposite
To stand upright even short
distance from the approach was
utterly impossible The violent
twisting and whipcrsclting motion
caused waves estimated to be 40
feet high and unbelievably steep.
Pier Leans Over
After the center span fell the
east pier leaned over approximate
ly so feet. II was estimated.
Supposed-experts were at a COM
plete loss to explain the spans de-
struction.
Although whitecaps were promi-
nent on waters Of the Narrows. it
was acknowledged the force Of the
breeze was not sufficient alone to
cause the havoc.
Last To Offer Toll
J. H McMenamin. 6102 No. Park
ave. Tacoma. was the last person
to pay toll
Just as he and his companion,
Ed c McFadden were preparing
to drive over the bridge, wind
started swaying the span.
McMenamin. however. started
across to the peninsula to cover
his route lor the Carnation Co.
Seattle Movements as he ap-
preached the center span appalled,
him.
u decided wasn't going across
that bridge he said. There was
no turning around. so I backed up
to the toll gate and waited. fig
ured the motion would quit and
that l could 80 across.
But the movement didn't stop.
Then the bridge collapsed"
The money McMenamin had paid
for toll was returned
Engineers Tried
Coatsworth said the bridge
began to swing when he was about
half way across.
Il didn't think much about il
at first, he said, because it
swayed a little at the time"
Coatsworth jumped from his
sedan. leaving his dog inside.
AS he attempted to run from
the span. the whipping motion
threw him to the deck.
Cracks began to appear in the
concrete paving, then small
chunks broke out
Soon. as Coatsworth erawled.
huge blocks were opening up and
popping into the air like popcorn.
Engineers repeatedly had tried
to take the sway out of the
long structure, dedicated July /.
Heavy cables. anchored in con-
crete blocks at each side of the
Narrows. snapped as they were
being put in place the first time.
When the 2,500-foot center span
continued to swing and buckle.
cables again were installed. but
these. too. snapped today.
Cutter Was Near
With the swapping of the first
anchor cables, the span began a
long undulating motion.
The L. S. coast guard cutter
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08

Designed TO permit filing Of IN
formation pertinent to the consoi-
entious objeotor's claim for ex-
emption. il must be filled out and
submitted along with the general
form when prospective con-
scripts number is called.
II inquiries into the DIRECTORS
religious training and beliefs. his
general background. his participa-
ton in church and other activi-
ties. References qualified TO testi-
~ as 10 the directors sincerity
are asked.
The conscientious objector new
er comes before a military tribu-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
Draft More Liberal Than in 1917
Toward Conscientious Directors
Religious Sects
Opening Office
In Washington
BY BRUCE CATION

NGTO>-Although stf-
fer than the World war law in
most ways. the present selective
service act takes = far more lib-
eral and intelligent attitude
toward conscientious DIRECTORS -
for which reason the whole ques-
ton IL likely 10 be much less Of
= problem than IN 1917.
The World war draft law hard
IN admitted there could 10 such =
thing as a conscientious ohjector.
A rational policy for dealing with
DIRECTORS was not worked out I'M
I'll the war was nearly over. Hard
treatment was the rule; IL OBJ
jectors were sentenced TO be shot
(although all these sentences were
commuted) and 500 were SEN
fenced 10 prison. Many Of thoee
in prison were given extremely
brutal treatment
Today things seem certain TO 20
much more smoothly. Out OF the
Il. 600. 900 men obliged TO register.
authorities 80 far have listed only
% cases Of directors who refused
10 fiji out their cards.
SPECIAL FORM PREPARED
This Ia largely because the
problem WAS recognized in ad-
vance.
While the draft act was before
Congress the whole question was
carefully studied Both War De-
partment and Congress freely ad-
mitted that while they might not
agree with the stand OF the OBJ
Jector, they were going to have 10
deal with him and might as well
work out a common sense way of
doing IT, Accordingly, an elab-
crate program was set up.
A special form supplementary
to the general selective service
QUESTIONABLE has been prepared
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
H ERE'S MORE ABOUT
Train Kills Man
STARTS ON PAGE ONE

member Of the Methodist church.
Besides his wife, Lottie. at the
family home. 421 I'd Ave. n. E.
he leaves three sons. Paul of
Canada. Harold of Minnesota and
Quinn Albright of Iowa: three
step-sons. Everett Greeley of
Letah. Wash. Leonard and Paul
Greeley. Of Puyallup; one step
daughter. Mrs. Agnes Burke. Of
Tacoma: two sisters. Mrs. Mary
Farley. of Minnesota. and Mrs.
Rosina Stuart. of Kirkland. Wash:
one brother. Ed Albright. Of No.
Dakota. and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be announced
by Wrigley-Clemenfs mortuary.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
ACCEPT CONCRETE BID

The city's board OF contracts
and awards Thursday announced
award OF a contract TO c. s. Bar
low & Sons for ready-ulixed con-
crete 10 be poured into sidewalks
on So. Alder ST. from 6sth 10
72nd SITS. The cost is S2,S52-5i.
Labor viii De furnished by WA.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
TRAFFIC ARRESTS

Careless parking Of automobiles
has resulted in issuance OF police
court summons to Merle Mas
teller. 1911 So. Sheridan, accused
Of blocking = driveway. and Clar-
ence Anrys. Of Woodland. ticketed
for blocking q pedestrian crossing.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
CHURCHES SET UP OFFICE

Meanwhile. the three religious
denominations whose tenets most
strongly oppose the taking of
human life-the Quakers, the
Mennonites and the Brethren -
have opened an office here in
charge of Paul Comfy French, for
mer Philadelphia newspaperman,
to see that the conscientious OBJ
jector gets a fair break Far from
opposing this, the War Depart
ment is cooperating and has as
signed staff officer TO work with
French.
French il by no means out to
promote objection to the draft. He
sees his principal job as explain
ing to all directors just what the
laws provisions are. His first
task. for instance. was to make
clear that since the law recog-
nized the DIRECTORS rights the OBJ
iector was under a moral obliga-
ton to register.
For example: a week or more
before registration day, French
went 10 Massachusetts, 10 talk tc
a group of 70-odd pacifist students
from various New England col.
leges. He found most of then
rather confused about the situa.
ton and talking rather vaguely
about how they would 60 to jai
rather than register.
He spent two days explaining
things TO them; all registered. a.
result, stopped talking about
/ Jail. and prepared TO make thei
pleas in the regular manner i
and when their names wer'
called
Right now French is conferrin!
with the authorities regarding tn
kind OF work conscientious OBJ
jectors may be assigned 10. HI
points out that in England a grea
many DIRECTORS are serving Of
such ultrs-perilous assignments a
naval mine-sweepers-they refus
TO take life, but they do not refus
TO risk their own lives. In add
ton, various government expert
here are considering the sort o
work directors might do in tn
fields Of soil conservation. publ
health. and SO on.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08

Tacoma amateur astronomers
will have special interest in
Armistice day next Monday
since IL will be marked by the
rare celestial phenomenon known
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
Critical Four
Years Ahead
For I'D. R.
Wor-Peoce. Depres'
sion-ProsperitY
Are in Bolonce
BY LYLE c WILSON

NEW 4 " X n - PRESIDENT
Roosevelt today leads the
United States and the western
hemisphere into four years,
in which war or peace. pros
perity or depression will be in
the balance.
A $4,000, ooo. 600 re-armament
program Is stocking the furnaces
Of industry for defense Of the
United States and TO make II the
supply depot of democracy's world
wide resistance to aggression.
Continuing tremendous expendi-
lures foretell q business boom.
On the pledge TO lend all pos
sihle material aid to those nations
which resist aggression. the
United States hazards the issue Of
war or peace. That pledge has been
under~ritten by a smashing polit-
ical endorsement.
Roosevelt is chief Of state today
a. no American has been before
him. with overwhelming popular
approval for his policies of social
reform and aggressive short Of
war-defense Of democracy.
No vital changes In New
Deal policy are Indicated.
Rco>evelt's few words since
his reelection porfended mere
~ "scme more Of the same"
But the tempo Of aid 20 the
British. the sternness Of dis
approval Of Japan's activities
seem due 20 Increase. The
matter of loans 10 Great Brit
ain. and Of legislation which
would make them possible, IL
just around the corner.
And It is notable that some of
our military observers are soberly
reporting that they believe it viii
be necessary. in the long run, to
give Great Britain naval aid and
at least the assistance of trained
American flying personnel IL the
totaliiarian powers are to be
defeated.
Roosevelt Is known to feel that
social security provisions. includ-
ing old age pensions, fall short by
millions of reaching as many peo-
pie as they should. And he may be
depended on to seek TO remedy
that.
And hot in domestic politics is
whether social gains Roosevelt re-
CARDS as vital should be relaxed.
on the ground that relaxation
would step up national defense. He
has promised they won't be.
The nation looks up from its
weeks Of preoccupation with do
mestic politics. to find the world
still aflame. There are cries from
all sides for national unity. Will
kie was vigorous even in defeat in
approving continued aid TO the op-
ponents of totalitarianism.
Herbert Hoover. in a statement
from Palo Alto. Cal. urged fun
cooperation Of both parties in the
vital purpose" of avoiding war.
ALI NJ. Landon, whom Roosevelt
defeated four years ago. addressed
an American united rally" here.
pleading for national cooperation
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column ~
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08

nal. II called mp. he states his
case to his local draft board.
which has authority 10 assign him
to non-combatant duty in the
army or to some form OF war
work in civil life.
He has the right Of appeal from
his boards decision and may get
hearing before the Department
Of Justice which has set Up a
special unit under Linton n. Col
Inns, special assistant to the at
torney general. to handle all such
cases. II in the end his plea is
overruled and ne simply refuses
to serve, he gets tried by a civil
court
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
Fife Girl
Fall

Call it prescience. or merely
womens intuition. call 1t anything
you like, but the fact remains
Carol Peacocke, Fife high school
girl, predicted the collapse of the
Tacoma Narrows bridge.
A member of the journalism
class, Miss Peacocke. Wednesday
along with other members Of the
class. was assigned to write
spot announcement for a radio
program.
Somehow Miss Peacocke didn't
understand the order. Instead Of
a spot announcement. she wrote
a headline And this is what she
wrote:
Tacoma Narrows
Bridge l. Torn
Down by Storm
A remarkably apt headline. but
Miss Peacocke's teacher, Miss June
Dunning, graded her with fail
ing So per cent because she had
not followed instructions.
to relieve the congestion during
the early afternoon.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
Italy Fights
To Break
Stalemafe
But Greeks Hold:
European Air
War Is Bitter
THIS WARNING WORLD

Greece and Italy battled 10
break a staIemate on the Bal
kan war front today. Great
Britain and Germany traded
heavy air blows and. in the
Far East. Japan limited at a
new move toward the South
Pacific.
Conflicting reports OF the war
along the Greek and Albanian
frontiers continued TO come from
Athens and Rome but it appeared
there had been stiff fighting on
both the northern and western sec
tors without any important change
in positions
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
PRISONERS ARRIVE

Athens dispatches said 1000
Italian war prisoners had arrived
at Salonika. that Greek troops and
artillery fire dominated the Ital-
ian base of Koritza in Albania and
that all Italian troops had been
driven from Greek soil on the
northern tkoritzal front guarding
the road to Florina and Salonika.
But, while the Greeks seemed to
be holding the advantage in their
counter-offensive on the northern
front, the Italians claimed land
Athens partly sdmitted) that the
Fascist offensive was rolling for
ward on the western front toward
the town of Janina.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
FASCISTS PUSH on

A dispatch from Reynolds Pack
ard, veteran United Press war cor
respondent now with the Italian
army in Greece, indicated the
Fascist forces were making prog
ress on some sectors at least.
Packard reported he had covered
a large part of the fighting front
from the coast near Corfu toward
the eastern wing, and that the
Continued on Page 9, Column 81
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
RIVER Is CROSSED

The Italian communique said
Fascist forces had crossed the
river Kalamas. in Greece. and. in
cooperation with airplanes, had at
tackled along the road TO Janina.
The crossing of the Kalamas
river, however. seemed to support
Greek claims that the Italians had
been severely set back in the west,
as well as in the north, since the
Fascist forces had reached the
Kalamas about a week ago and
apparently have been stalled there
until yesterday.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-08
WAKE UP YOUR
LIVER BILE

u11hsa csini-A.i Yssu - o. 4
- = H. Aaung karn 10 C
n liver shsuld pour piufs Of HE ;uics
an1p your bowels every day. II this hile b
- - - -, 49, /, ~ - ~. y ny re- o.
% h1naxs NJ your stomach You get con-
sfips1s1 You fssl sour. sunk and The World
too1u punk.
Il taxes those GOOD. old Carers Iiffse
HvE fills % set these 2 pi1ts Of hiie ho--
CT . package today. Thke q directed.
Annzing In making bile hov freely. AK
- CaEtW's Gr1s Ivsx PliA 1os And -
Adv