The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, May 7, 1937, Page 1

- v (R 3 THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE VOL. L NO. TWELVF PAGES “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” _IUNEAU ALASKA FRIDAY MAY A 1937. MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN EN CENTS THIRTY DIE IN FLAMING HELL OF GAS * MYSTERY AS TO | CAUSE SHROUDS AIRSHIP CRASH Survivors Only Give One! Answer: “I Don’t Know What Happened™ FORMER COMMANDER TALKS FROM HOSPITAL| No Light Is Shed, However, on Disaster—Thorough Probe Is Started — | 1 AKEHURST, N.J., May 7.| —What caused the disaster to the great German Zeppelin Hindenburg? The first answer, from those who escaped the fiery, flaming craft is, “I don’ t; know. It happened so quick-! ly.” There is no second answer, not he answered until after a therough inquiry is made. The disaster today remains 2 mystery. i From his bed in a hospital, i where he is gravely injured,: Capt. pelin Commander during the World War and former com- mander of the Hindenburg, making the trip in an advisory capacity, said: “I do not know what hap- pencd. She just went up in a; fiery blaze and then crashed.” Cept. Maz Pruss, veteran airman and making his first voyage as commander, also lying gravely injured in a hospital, said: 3 how, I do not know. Explo- sion—yes I guess there was one 1 can’t explain what hap- pened.” 'and is planning to continue making Gill Wilson, State Aviation Inspector, announcing an im- mediate investigation of both Federal and State authorities said: “Something strange was the cause of the disaster. In all of my 21 years flying ex- perience, I have seen crack- ups. explosions and flaming airplanes, but nothing meas- ures up to this.” From Cra, Austria, came this from Dr. Hugo Eckener, forrder commander of the Hindenburg: “I cannot grasp that flames have turned our pride into a smashed skeleton.” Dr. Eckner further said: “I should say that if this disaster was caused by sabotage, only the firing of a Nazl Flag Flles { At Half Staff /In Waslungton WASHINGTON May 7. — The INazi flag flew at half staff here today to the memory of those who perished in the crash of the Zeppe- lin Hindenburg. The members of {the German Embassy have tear- stained faces over the great dis- aster. AMERICAN DEAD IN HINDENBURG Victims—Man, Daughter Die, Wife, Sons Escape known American dead in the zep- pelin Hindenburg crash is as fol- lows: Allan Hagaman, member of the | ping of flaming debris. Moritz Feibusch, of San Fran-| | cisco. John Pdnnes and wife, of N"W'moorlng mast and the groun d‘ as yet, and this will probably ; York. Edward Douglas, of New York. Hermann Doehner, of Mexico AIRSHIP CRASH San Francisco Man Among| LAKEHURST, N.J, May '7.——"['1’\6i ground crew who died in the drop-| HORROR GRASPS Giant German Zeppelm Hmdonlmrg Which Crashed in Flames SPECTATORS AT SCENE OF CRASH Giant Craft—S‘»;ings Grace- fully Toward Mooring Mast, Then Flames SCREAMS ARE HEARD ABOVE ROARING FIRE | Dazed Persons Ate Seén'in Wreckage Attempting to Escape Death LAKEHURST, N.J., May 7. The crash of the Zeppe- lin Hindenburg, early last eve- ning, will be remembered to their dying day by the com- |paratively small crowd gath- ered to what was considered a routine arrival of the gla.nl ‘ship. Spectators were watching ‘the big craft approach the| crew had lines in hand ready’ ‘lo carry the ship to a safe landing. Suddenly there was a| * * * * Ezght Survive in Invitations Are Being Prepared - Noted Weddmg Wallis’ Trousseau Is Com- Picture of largest alrshln taken recently when maklng {hght on BALL OPENING IS POSTPONED FOR ONE WEEK Baseball was once again very plete—Date Will Be | Announced Scon much in the foreground last even- wim at the regular monthly meet- “wrigg- of -the PFiremen's Club, -of - the’ Ernest Lehmann, Zep-! happened, what andja later from injuries in a hospital. Mrs. Doehner and two sons es- {flame, then an explosion nnd, {lin was enveloped in a fiery, BERLIN MflUHNSm~~- | GHE AT ms ASTE {though the eraft was 200 feet, lup in the air. leap, and then another, {then the Zeppelin came down g z 5 As the huge ship struck, Wll.h Hltlel’.—comml& dazed persons could be seen sion Coming, U. S. City. His daughter Irene, 16, died | | caped. /in lightning time the Zeppe- ; Screams could be heard, al-| i Then a body would be seen' TO HINDENBURG - suddenly. Nazi Air Mlmstry Confers| in the flames pushing through! the fire and wreckage to es- jcape. Spectators and members of ‘ |the ground crew rushed to the' scenc and assisted those reaching safety. | Ambulances were quickly lon the scene carrying the! BERLIN, May 7—A shocked and tearful German nation today sum- moned an official commission tor quick trip and investigation over- seas to fix the cause for the disas- | ter to the Zeppelin Hindenburg. In the midst of the great emo- tion, the nation rallied, however, such ships. MONS, France, May 7.—Invita- tions are now being prepared for | the marriage of the Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Wallis Simpson. The trousseau of Mrs. is now complete. The date of the wedding may be announced next Friday, May 14. A friend of the couple said the ldate for the ceremony will be be- tween May 23 and June 3 and will be performed at the Chateau de Cande. The Duke's jeweler will arrive to- morrow to fit the wedding ring to Mrs. Simpson‘s finger. SYMPATHY IS EXPRESSED BY U. 8. PRESIDENT Simpson | | The Nazi Air Ministry was called Chancellor Hitler. | A relief fund for the families of the victims iias already been started with a gift of $12,000. Banquet Given Last Night for Music Students Beventy-seven students of the Ju- neau school music department were entertained at a banquet last even- ing in Percy’s Cafe, following which dancing in the large dance room was .|held until 11 p. m. The affair was given under the di- rection of Miss Ruth Coffin, Miss Helen Parrott, and Mr. Byron Mil- bullet into the bags could have ac- |ler. complished it and this seems high- ly unlikely.” Dr. Eckner suggested, as a pos- sibility, that some hydrogen, usually released when the ship is lowered, might have been suffeciently con- centrated as to be ignited by light- ning or a spark, or that the water ballast was released, fjorming stream to earth that might have served as an electrical conductor and bring up a spark from the ground; or someone was smoking aboard . ARNOLD HOMEWARD BOUND C. B. Arnold, Manager of radio station KINY, is a passenger for Juneau on the North Sea which left Seattle this morning. He went south several weeks ago on business. He is being accompanied north by Ed- Miss Coffin presided as toast- mistress at the affair, and the 31 students who attended the music festival at Ketchikan presented short speeches. Early Ice Break Forecast as Nenana Cuts Into Tanana Early break of the ice at Nenana loomed today as report from Fair- banks gave the lowest temperature last night as 30 above with the mer- cury rising to 32 above at 8 o’clock this morning. It reached a high of 50 there yesterday. ‘The Weather Bureau reported that the Nenana river had cut across the Tanana below the signal whistle win A. Kraft of Seattle, station owner. and there was some water in Chena Slough. this afternoon for a conference with | {moaning, some screaming, victims to nearby hospitals. The scene was horrible, the giaat Zeppelin a mass of twisted steel, framework, the cries of the dying and injured. Even strong men nearly collapsed attempting rescue work. ———————— 10 HALIBUTERS SELL, SEATTLE SEATTLE, May 7. — Halibufers selling price is as follows: From the western banks — Zenith 33,000 pounds, 8% and 6 cents; Sit- ka 33,000 pounds, Seabird 25,000 pounds, both selling for 8% and 6 cents, From the local banks—California 18,000 pounds, Ionic 18,000 pounds, | Chelan 18,000 pounds, Lane 7,000 cents; Matlock 13,000 pounds, Li- banon 15,000 pounds, both selling for 9% and 6 cents; Havana 25,000 pounds, 9% and 6 cents. BASEBALL TODAY The following are scores of base- ball games played this afternoon in the two Major Leagues: National League Pittsburgh 8; Philadelphia 3. Cincinnati 5; Boston 3. 8t. Louis 2; New York 8. Chicago 1; Brooklyn 12, { American League Washington 2; Detroit 4. a - collapsed pounds, all selling for 9% and 6/ Roosevelt _S;;is Message i of Condolence to Fam- ilies of Victims, Hitler | GALVESTON, Tex., May 7. Last night President Roosevelt sent a message to Chancellor Hitler ex- pressing deep sympathy at the Hin- denburg crash and also sent mes- sages of sympathy to the families' ter. {CHILD HEALTH WEEK PROGRAM PRESENTED | BY STUDENTS TODAY| Students of the fifth, sixth, sev-| a Child Health Week program at the grade school auditorium this morning, under the direction of the hygiene teachers, Miss Helen Par- rott, Miss Elma Olson and Helen Webster, and W. P. Hautala. Two introductory skits demon-| strated the importance of proper| care of the nose and eyes, while a| ithird showed a scene in a dentist’s| office with accompanying instruc-} tion in care of teeth. The main skit of the program was a class room scene in which the teacher, played by Violet Paul.‘ brcught before the class the im-; portance of various health rules. The program was opened by group | singing led by Miss Ruth Coffin. - e RAZING OLD BUILDING Lee Rox and Wes Russell have been given the contract by the R.| J. Sommers Construction Company | for tearing down the old boat shed 'building on the new Standard Oil; {Company site on Willoughby Ave- nue ,to make way for the Stand- ard’s new construction and work is I now underway. of those who perished in the disas-|-. {tween the Moose and Douglas, Juneau Volunteer Fire Depaarc- ment. | Following discussion of routine, |minor business matters, the Firemen {turned their full attention to base- ball upon presentation of a motion that the Department immediately for the construction of a grandstand at Firemen's Park. Even though it is known that there will be no PWA funds avail- able before June, it was voted to apply for the loan now, in order to possibly establish a preference, and’ Fire Chief V. W. Mulvihill is to !seek the City’s approval of the ap- I plication at the City Council meet- ing tonight. It was also voted to immediately commence construction of temporaiy bleachers at the ball park, by voluntary labor. The comnittee composed of J. E. Pegues and Secretary Edward Swee- ney reported that it had appeared before the local Carpenter’s Union, lon Monday evening, seeking permis- sion from that body for voluntary workers on the ball park bleachers, dugouts and scoring booth, to use carpenters’ tools, without conflict with thie union carpenters. The lo- cal carpenters not only agreed to grant the Department’s request, but will supply a carpenters’ boss to oversee the work, and several of their members, to work on the bleachers and other ball park con- struction next Sunday morning. President William A. Holzheim- er, of the Gastineau Channel Base- ball League, was in attendance at the meeting last evening, and ask- ed the Department’s approval for the deferring of the opening of the league bascball season, one week from the scheduled opening date, to May 16. The department in- H | i | arriving here tpday, catches ang /S0th and eighth grades presented formed President Holzheimer that 9e had full authority to deal with the schedule and other league mat- ters as he saw fit; whereup Prexy Holzheimer announced that the Minor League schedule will take place, as planned, tomorrow even- ing at 6:30 o'clock with the Mer- chants opposing the Cardinals. President Holzheimer announced ready, two other reasons entered in- to his decision to postpone the sea- son opening. Second in import- ance was that the Douglas baseball team, scheduled to open against the Moose, has not yet received its new suits. Thirdly, the Elks’' ball team has so far been unable, because of weather, to get in sufficient prac- tice to round into shape, and start- ing the season a week later would |result In a better balanced league. As now planned, the season will open with a nine-inning game be- 5:30 o'clock Sunday, May 16. The three earlier games to have been played next week will be worked in as extra games during the first half lnl the regular season. (L apply for a PWA loan and grnnt! at! cheduled voyage from l-‘rlcdrlchslulen over Atflantic to Brazil. Japanese Plang Are Real Threat, ~ Alaska Industry -‘Commlssmner Bell Discuss- | es Floating Canneries PORTLAND, Oregon, May 7. Frank T. Bell, United States Fish- eries Commissioner, termed the Japanese plans to operate floating canneries on the Alaskan Coast, is a real threat to ruin the Alaska | salmon industry. “I think however, that a satisfac- tory agreement will be worked out 'by the Department of State so we 1wm not have to face a crisis,” Commissioner Bell said. The Commissioner also said the ladders on the Bonneville Dam will |prevent damage to the Columbia River salmon lndu.stry NEW PRESSURE BEING EXERTED, MOVIE STRIK National Bo;c;t and Wide- spread Picketing Gain | Headway, Hollywood HOLLYWOOD, Cal, May 7.—The »plan of striking film studio crafts- 1men to put new pressure on the pro- widespread picketing gained head- way today. John L. Lewis, C.1.O. chief, tele- graphed the leaders here that union workers, no matter what their af- filiations, should support the strik- ers. The General Executive Board of ¢he United Automobile Workers, C. 1.0 affiliates, have telegraphed a pledge for “solidarity of 300,000 au- tomobile workers.” ED SNYDERS HERE A FOR WEEK’S STAY akee arrived in Juneau by Alaska expected to remain here for about a week. Mrs. Snyder, who is suffering from a severe case of influenza, is where she is reported to be in fa- vorable condition. Mr. Snyder, leading merchant at Tenakee, is to conduct various bus- iness matters while here. He is stopping at the Hotel Juneau. e — McCORMICK ON NORTH SEA Deputy Marshal John McCormick is returning to Juneau on the North Sea after taking prisoners to in- stitutions in the States. Mrs. Mc- \Cormick, who accompanied him ‘south. is going: east for a several months visit with relatives and friends, PAF REELECTS OFFICIALS FOR ANOTHER YEAR Frank Taylor Chalrman of Board, Archie Shiels, of BELLINGHAM, Wash.,, May 7.— All Directors of the Pacific Am-| erican Fisheries were reelected at the annual meeting of the stock- holders Thursday when the dh;c- tors reelected all officers including Frank Taylor, of San Prancisco, as Chairman of the Board and Archie | Shields, of Bellingham, President. No announcement was made con= cerning the reported planned expan- sion, President Shiels said he had “no | comment” on the widespread re-/ ports regarding negotiations for the purchase of an interest in the Al- aska Stenmshlp Company. 'BARR FLIES HIGH TO MINE THIS A.M. to the Polaris-Taku Mine | ' Flying with Richard Holmes, mining equip- | ment man, as passenger, Pilot L.| F. Barr took off from the Juneau airport this morning in his North Crash of Zeppelln GIANT AIRSHIP IS WRECKED BY BIG EXPLOSION Hmdenburg Comes Down at Naval Airport Carry- ing Many to Death TRAGEDY STRIKES QUICK AS LIGHTNING American Troops Rake Over Smouldering Ruins for Bodies LAKEHURST, N.J., May 7. —Trapped in a flaming hell of high explosive gas, 30 per- |sons are today listed as known dead or missing in the ciash of the mammoth silvered Zep- pelin Hindenburg which oc- curred at 6:23 o’clock last evening, or 3:23 o’clock yes- terday afternoon, Pacifie Coast time. The tragedy, striking with lightning swiftness, occurring Atlantie, left 68 survivors, jured. | Twenty-six bodies had been |recovered up to dawn today. throughout the night and are |continuing today to rack over {the smouldering ruins tor |more bodies. Allan Hagaman, member oi' ithe ground crew at the Naval Air Station, who was prepar- |ing to assist in the mooring of the blazing debris spilling from the air in a fiery rain land was killed. Between Life, Death | Dozens of survivors who ‘wexe either first voym across the North ' !many terribly burned and in- American troops worked |the Zeppelin, was caught amid Canada Air Express Piigrim plane | jand catching himselt plenty of al-|came stumbling dazedly out | titude, flew stralght across the ice of the holocaust, hover today | ducers by a national boycott and| Mr. and Mrs. Ed Snyder of Ten-| i (Alr Transport yesterday and are| s that besides the stands not being| now confined to 8t. Ann’s Hospflsl,l |from the mine by the same route | this afternoon, arriving at the land- |ing field about 2 o'clock. | Barr is scheduled to make an- jother flight to Atlin, B. C., tomor- row, following the arrival from the ,souLh of the steamer Princess Lou- | 1se. — e DR. CARLSON BAILS tometrist, left today aboard the Northland for Wrangell on a short | business trip and is scheduled to . {return here by the first of next| week. e L S KIRKS RETURNING Mr. and Mrs. Willlam B. Kirk, wellknown Juneau residents, are passengers from Seattle on the | North Sea for their home in Juneau after an extended trip Outside. P R S M | STOCK QUOTATIONS | e NEW YORK, May 7. — Closing quotaiion of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 127, American Can 101%, American Light and Power 10%, Anaconda 52%, Bethlehem Steel 87'%, Calumet and Hecla 14, Commonwealth and Southern 2%, Curtiss Wright 6, General Motors 59%, International Harvester 108%, Kennecott 55%, New York Central 48%, Southern Pacific 60%, United Sta Steel 104%, United Corpora- tion 5%, Cities Service 3%, Repub- lic Steel 38%, Pure Oil 19%, Holly Sugar 34%, Pound $4.93%. DOW, JONES AVERAGES The following are today's Dow, Jones averages: industrials 175.89, rails 60.63, utilities 29.28, Dr. Rae Lillian Carlson, local op- | !cap to the river. Pilot Barr retumed[between life and death in Inearby hospitals. Anxious relatives scanned the charred and matilated forms lying in the temporary |morgue in the airport garage as the Army troops picked ithruugh the still smouldering ruins. | Sabotage, Theory A Federal Investigating Committee has begun to \prt)l,e the disaster, having in- |timations that the mystery explosion “might have been caused by sabotage.” The sabotage theory was |advanced by dirigible experts |and the first suggestion came from Cra, Austria, from Dr. Hugo Eckener, veteran for- mer commander, also from Count C. C. von Zeppelin, nephew of the famed German inventor, who is now in Chi- cago. — e —— " The Weatler | | | (By the U. S. Weather Bureau) | | TForecast for Juneau and vi- | cinity, beginning at 4 p. m., .[Mny 7: Cloudy tonight and | Saturday, probably showers; | moderate to fresh southeast | winds. : as the giant air crdtlhw 5 catapulted or