Evening Star Newspaper, September 17, 1928, Page 2

L1 "~ ARMEET PLANES VNG WAY HOvE Service Flyers Given Credit for Success of Coast Exposition. BY FREDERICK R. NEELY. Staff Correspondent of The Star. 1L0S ANGELES, September 17.—Like pigeons released from a coop, scores of | airplanes of every type and description soared out of Mines Field today, home- ward bound, for all parts of the United States after having participated in the | colorful and eventful 1928 nationals air | | ! | 1 - 5 races and aeronautical exposition which | #*x¢ closed here last night. The final day of the aeronauticcl show yesterday broke all previous rec- ords attendance, and California Aic Race Association officials, promoters of the event, dashed about with lighter step, sweeter smiles, kindlier voices and { courteous manners as that banner at- tendance recouped and surpassed the expenses that had piled up for the past several months. In other words, a | profit was made—how much could not | be determined—but the money l‘(‘r(‘i\'cd“ from the gate, the concessions and the | exhibitors exceeded the money spent in building the field, erecting the enormous grandstand and exhibition auditorium | and the thousand and one incidental | expenses that go with an affair of this | kind. The field from now on will be ! used as Los Angeles’ municipal airport. So commercial aviation, assisted by | the Army and Navy with its expensive equipment, its superlative pilots ard the free service of Col. Charles A. Lind- bergh, made a profit. Every one appeais to be happy over this, particularly the promoters, who in the main who in the are representatives of the real es- tate, motion picture, oil and automobile institutions of southern California. Services Saved Show. | As much as the services would like to be in the background at events of this nature and as much as the followers of commercial aviation would like to sec more of the civil side of flying, it was evident here that had the Army, Navy and Marines withdrawn the project would have fallen with a dull thud that could have been heard around the world. The services co-operated-—in fact, put on the show—as part of theiz program to report to the people at in- tervals on what is being done with the | public money. The California Air Race Association, or any other group seeking to promote an air meet, could rot have purchased the three and only headline acts that ran daily out here—Col. Lindbergh, as 8. regular performer in command of the Army's “Three Musketeers”; the “Three Sea Hawks” of the Navy and the thrilling flying of the various mili- tary aeronautical tactical units pres- ent at the races. Col. Lindbergh con- tributed his services free. The other military airmen received $8 a day from the committee and they actually col- lected it every day. Under the law governing flying in the Government| services, if an airman stays longer than 72 hours in one place he cannot collect expenses. So all the military pilots were wards of the race association, and all the mechanics likewise, the latter Teceiving $4 a day. | A canvass &f the higher aeronautical | thought here as to the results obtained from the meet leaves nothing definite. One faction enthusiastically declares it has done more for the education of the people who witnessed it than any- thing since Lindbergh's flight to Paris. | It has fired the interest of youth in flying to emulate the piloting ability of the colonel, Lieut. I. A. Woodring and M. L. Cornelius and his “Two Mus- keteers,” the “Three Sea Hawks” and the other pilots wno performed just 8s well in less spectacular roles. It bas given the older and more skep- tica! an understanding of the poten- tizl power of the airplane in time of ttar as well as iis ability in time of peace. Viewed as Dangerous. ©On the other hand, there were those who felt the eight days were given over to = flashy, dangerous and spec- tacular performance of flying, which will not hasten the adoption of avia- tion by the non-flying public at pres- esy ana some were 50 bold as to say that had it not been for the two serious crashes on the airdrome at the open- ing of the meet, and the timely ap- pearance of Col. Lindbergh to dissi- pate, with other things, the low fog of depression that hung over the field, the results would not have been the same. Regardless of who is right or wrong, more than 500,000 people, orderly and possessing all the characteristics of an “ideal crowd,” sacrificed much time to attend the affair. As a public getter the meet was the most suc- cessful ever held anywhere. The feature of ‘the closing day's aeronautical activities was the action of the Navy in tearing away the shroud of secrecy that has surrounded the new Boeing experimental single seater fighter, only two of which are in ex- istence. One is on test at the naval air station, Anacostia, and the other is being given service trials on this coast. ‘The performance figures on this craft have been closely guarded as a military secret, but today it was entered as a “dark horse” in the Navy free-for-all pursuit plane race. Lieut. Thomas P. Jeter, formerly of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Washing- ton, piloted the plane around the 60- mile course and came in first with an average speed of 172.26 miles per hour. Lieut. Wallace M. Dillion, also a for- mer Washington officer and now in a fighting plane squadron with the bat- tle fleet, was giving a_description of the race through the “public address system,” and in announcing Lieut. Jeter's speed, he said: “You can ailow for 10 miles an hour lost on the turns end this will give you a straightaway speed of 182 miles per hour.” Attaches Present. H The air attaches of the British and | Italian governments were in the stands and witnessed the performance, which | exceeded by more than 12 miles per Hour the plane which placed second. Then a short time later this plane | entered an altitude race to 10,000 fe in competition with the same Curti: and Boeing single-seaters, which now are standard equipment, and won hands down, The performance of this littie ship has been guarded from other go ernments because these powers al tightening up on publicity regarding their new aeronautical creations. Probably the greatest piece of educa- tion derived from the meet was an ¥ nocent-looking contest called “dead- stick landing.” This required the com- peting civilian plane at 1,500 feet to cut the engine entirely, make a 360-degree circle and land to a mark on the field. As the engines were cut and the propellers whirled slowly to a standstill there were gasps from sections of the audience, as the fact struck them here was an air- Plane fying with no engine. i The various pilots maneuvred their planes for a landing close to the mark as ‘skillfully as though they had 1,000 horse- power in reserve, The winner was an ‘Aeromarine, low wing, plywood mono- plane resembling a mintature edition of a Junkers. This ship is of German de- sign and embodies aerodynamic quali- ties that give it complete controllability at stalling speed. It flies like a seagull and at times appears to stand perfectly still in the air, especially in the face of a breeze. The German monoplane. Thoto shows (left to right) Dr. L. | Sabelli, who may hop off from Old Orchard, Me.. today on a non-stop flight to This photo was taken at the Portland, Me., air- Rome in the monoplane Roma. port, near Old Orchard. ROMA MAY START OVER OCEAN TODAY Italian Plane Is Ready for Hop-0ff at 0ld Orch- ard, Me. By the Associated Press. OLD ORCHARD, Me., September 17. —The crew of the Bellanca monoplane Roma hoped to be winging their way to Rome some time before nightfall today. Word Bonelli, late yesterday from Pietro radio operator and navigator of the expedition, that auspicious weather was at hand and that he was speeding here from New York City, where he had been in consultation with Government weather experts, spurred his three companions to immediate activity. The big plane, in which the four will endeavor to negotiate the 4,500-mile trip, was taken from Scarboro Field, near Portland, for a test flight, during which it made a landing here. At the conclusion of the flight the machine was pronounced in readiness. Fourteen hundred gallons of fuel ‘must be poured into the tanks, but that was practically all that remaihed to be done. The expedition is headed by Cesare Sabelli, a former flight lieutenant in the Italian air forces during the war but now an American citizen. Roger Q. Williams of Richmond Hills, N. Y., a Curtiss Field pilot, will be the chief pilot, while Dr. L. M. Pisculli of New York, one of the financial backers of the expedition, will observe the effect in a physical way of the strain of the flight on the other three. The Roma is a land plane and is not equipped with pontoons. In event of a forced landing its chief reliance must be on the bouyancy of its gasoline tanks, Its crew admit that their chances will be slim if they are forced down in a rough sea. Sabelli announced that the Roma would broadcast hourly. The plane is uipped with a 60-400-meter set capable of sending a message 2,000 miles. The call number is WRCA. Death Due to }txck in Stomach. HIGH POINT, N. C, September 17 (#).—Police Capt. A. J. Morris died almost instanly here yesterday after- noon when kicked in the stomach dur- ing a tussle with Garland Shipwash, whon; he had just arrested for being drunk. i Photo (top) shows wreckage owing to its extreme controlability at tlow speeds. maneuvred up to wimz 4 total number of deaths to 11. Sant of the mark and won the THE EVENING STAR., WASHINGTON, D. C, MO: M. Pisculli, Roger Williams and Count ST CRO 1S KD T HRRCANE {Six Known Dead, 3,000 Are Homeless—Loss Placed at $400,000. BY CATHERINE CAMERON. Head of the St._Croix Chapter, American Red Cross. By the Associated Press. ST. CROIX, Virgin Islands, Septem- ber 17.—Six persons were known today to have been killed in the tropical hur- ricane which hit St. Croix Thursday, leaving 3,000 persons homeless. One hundred persons were injured. All the casualties were native negroes. In the chief commercial centers of Christiansted and Frederiksted the damage was estimated at $400,000. The loss throughout the island has not been learned but it probably was very great. It was the worst hurricane that ever struck the islands. Villages were razed. Several large estates were wiped out and planters’ houses destroyed. Sugar factories were damaged and the sugar crop destroyed. Boats in the harbor of Christiansted were either sunk or driven ashore. The cable, radio, telephone and light plants were put out of commision. Streets and roads were blocked by fallen trees and debris. Housing conditions are deplor- able. The government house escaped serious damage. Food supplies were thought to be adequate today. ‘The storm Yaged for 12 hours during which the wind reached a velocity of from 80 to 100 miles an hour. When the hurricene began at midnight Thursday, the wind was blowing from the north- east. After six hours it changed and blew for six more hours from the south- west. The barometer dropped to 28.65. A torrential rain continued for 48 hours increasing the distress of the inhabi- tants. pe . 7 A Tampa Schools Will Not Open Un- til Tomorrow. TAMPA, Fla., September 17 (#).— The Hillsborough County School Board at a special conference last night, de- layed the scheduled opening of the Fall school term today on account of threatening weather conditions. ' The order postponing the .opening until to- morrow affects more than 30,000 chil- dren. e ADMITS INABILITY 0 BAR SMUGGLING | Canadian Minister Claims There Is No Law to Curb Rum Going to U. S. By the Associated Press. WINDSOR, Ontario, September 17.— His department is powerless to prevent export of liquor from local docks to the United States, in the opinion of Wil-| liam D. Butler, minister of the depart- | ' ment of national revenue. | “I have no authority to stop this busi- | ness,” the minister said on an inspec-; tion trip here to investigate the local situation. “I am not a policeman. I am in charge of the collection of na- tional revenue. How is it possible for my department, as the law now stands, | to make any distinction between liquor and other free commodity of interna- | tional trade? “If Parliament were to pass a bill prohibiting the export of liquor that would be a different matter. As things stand, however, there is no such law and ‘the department cannot refuse clearances for liquor shipments any the shipment of furniture or any other article produced here.” Liguor exporters operating along the Detroit ‘River front here were recently fined for 1llegal storage of liquor. The announced purpose of the action, how- ever, was to uncover the illegal traffic into the United States. Forty-seven cases were d®ided against the export- ers, heavy fines belng assessed in those which went to trial. Many firms pleaded guilty. ROCKFORD DEATH TOLL REACHES 1 Three More Bodies Found in Wreckage of Chair Factory. By the Associated Press. ROCKFORD, Il September 17.— The list of missing in the Friday tornado was cut to four today through the finding of three more bodies in the debris of chair factory B. The bodit dug from the wreckage last night, brought the total number of tornado dead to 11. Hampered by crowds of curious who took advantage of the Sunday holi- day to visit the scenes of the storm destruction, rescue workers, neverthe- less, made appreciable progre: Trac- tors, steam shovels and abundant man- power combined to get to the bottom of bricks, timbers and tangled stcel on those factory properties against which the storm shot its greater force. The reroofing of hundreds of homes and the repairing of factories that were damaged. but not destroyed, gave em- ployment to many. Others, out of em- ployment by reason of the destruction of factories, found months of work ahead of them in an extensive rebuild- ing program wheih the Chamber of Commerce has put its energies. prajse the damage which now is con- servatively estimated at $2,000.000. plan is being formulated to aid indivi- duals and factory owners in financing rebuilding. Defends Politics in Special Dispatch to The Star. DANVILLE, Va., September 17.—Rev. James M. Shelburne, pastor of the First Baptist Church, last night de- fended ministers who conceived it to be their duty to discuss temporal af- fairs from the pulpits. He urged his congregation to “keep a cool head in the midst of conflicting currents, to find out what is best and vote accordingly.” Pulpit. WRECKAGE IN WAKE OF ROCKFORD TORNADO of the Rockford Chair and Furniture Co., factory “B,” of Rockford, NIL, in which many persons were buried when a tornado swept that section. More hodies were recovered from the debris today, bringing the Below is shown the building of the Eleo Tool Co, which - s wrecked hy the twister. ". & A. Photo. A. P. Photo. more than it could refuse clearances for | A meeting has been called to ap-| | {DAY. SEPTEMBER 17. 1928.° MAP SHOWING AREA TRAVERSED BY HURRICANE oreccHoBEE U PALM BEACH | CYRUS G. NORTHCOTT. GORDON STUART NORTHCOTT. —A. P. Photo. CLAIMS FIVE SLAIN ON “MURDER FARM” IN STORY TO POLICE (Continued from First Page) that two mysterious telegrams received by him from Canada, signed “Frank Lyons, barrister,” and “Mrs. W. C. Hudson,” were from his wife. He was quoted as saying that the latter name |was one sometimes taken by Mrs. | Northcott. The telegrams were believed | to contain veiled references to the mur- ders. ‘While Riverside investigators yester- day scoured the Northcott farm in search of the bodies of three boys and a Mexican youth wHom Clark said | young Northcott had slain, one officer uncovered a half dozen bones, still linked by flesh and skin, and a toe nail believed from the foot of a 10-year-old boy. All were taken to Los Angeles laboratories for examination. This was the first direct evidence that either Northcott or Clark’s stories might be substantiated, though it was at first reported three open graves anad been found in a chicken vard on the farm. Officers believed bodies had been removed from these graves hurriedly and destroyed, probably by fire or lime. Some doubt was cast on Clark’s story here hy the father of Lewis and Nelson Winslow, two of the reported victims, who believed his sons were alive, and had been seen in Texas after the date fixed by Clark of their deaths. Officers also reported Walter Collins, a third re- ‘ported victim, was alive and back in Los Angleses, although his mother re- fused to acknowledge the boy as her son. Young Collins was kidnaped last April and a boy said to be the same | youth returned to the mother from De Kalb,, Ill, a few weeks ago. CLARKE IS IDENTIFIED, ) AR Mrs. Northcott Reported in Saskatoon Last Thursday. SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Sep- tember 17 (#).—The 15-year-old boy who told the California police a story of a “murder farm” at Riverside, Calif., at which he alleges three boys were slain and_tortured, has been identified here as Sanford Clarke, a Saskatoon resident, whose father, John Clarke, a teamster, lives on the outskirts of this city. The mother is employed in a local department store, They are separated. Mrs. George Cyrus Northcott, wife of the man on whose Riverside ranch the murders are supposed to have been per- petrated, is sald to have been in Saskatoon September 11 and to have been seen here as late as last Thursday. Two British bfiips Blown Ashore on Cay and Wrecked By the Associated Press. TURKS ISLAND, September 17. —Two British schooners were blown ashore by the huricane on the north side of Salt Cay and were totally wrecked. The crews were rescued and some of the materials of vessels and cargoes will be salvaged. ‘The schooners were the C. Maud Gaskil\, which has been cruising among ' the Bahamas and West Indles since leaving St. Johns,N. F., and the William A. Naugler, which left Madeira Augugt 6 for Tri PALM BEACH RADIO HINTS AT MAMMOTH DISASTER ___(Continued_from First Page.) also go to make up this millionaires’ playground. The private yachts of many of the resort’s wealthy patrons lie at anchor in Lake Worth during the tourist sea- son. - West Palm Beach, however, is the chief business center of the two. Here are located banks, stores, newspapec of- fices and other branches of commercial activity that draw their support from both cities. TAMPA BELIEVED SAFE. Hurricane Passes to Northeast, Mete- orologist Says. By the Associated Press. TAMPA, Fla., September 17.—The tropical disturbance today had ap- parently turned north-northeast over the northern part of Polk County, W. J. Bennett, Government meteorologist, reported at 10 a.m. ‘The barometer which reached 28.98 here- early today, had risen two points at 10 am. and the wind had dropped. The highest wind velocity, he said, was 24 miles an hour at 7 a.m. The sky was overcast and an occa- sional rain squall came from the north. The barometer reading at 7 a.m. was 29.00, a drop of 27 points in four hours. ‘The,steamer Cuba, due to sail yester- day for Havana with passengers and freight, was anchored in Tampa Bay, to remain until storm danger is past, ac- cording to Peninsula and Occidental Steamship Co. offices. Advices fram a gulf and Southern Tampa ship due here yesterday with passengers and freight from New Or- leans, said she was riding out a stiff blow at the mouth of Tampa Bay and would dock as soon as the wind abated sufficlently for her to make progress. Reports from the Peninsular Tele- ohone Co. officials said wires were down to Bradenton, Sarasota, Bartow, and further south and that they had lost their northern route through Orlando. Earlier reports sald they had lost a number of lines between Arcadia and Wauchula, southeast of here. The barometer reading at 7 o'clock this morning at Lakeland was 28.81, ac- cording to Weather Bureau reports. Houses Boarded Up. All along the west coast of Florida every precaution has been taken to prevent damage to property. Stores and dwellings have been boarded up and boats have been taken to sheltered waters until the storm has passed. Residents of Clewiston. Moorehaven and other towns on the south and west banks of Lake Okeechobee were re- ported fleeing to Sebring and other cities on higher ground, as it was feared the force of the hurricane coming out of the east and almost directly across the lake would blow the water out of the lake and flood the cities which are below the level of the lake. The fruit crop in the ridge section of the State is sald to have suffered as a result of the storm. Low Tides Recorded. ‘Telephone operators said the last word from Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice and other towns south of St. Petersburg had stiff winds, but had not felt the full effects of the hurricane. Extremely low tides was recorded all along the west coast. At 5 am. today. the barometer, which had been steadily dropping all night was 29.14 here, which was at least 10 points below the minimum recorded in the storm of 1926. The wind was blow- ing about 40 miles to 45 miles an hour and apparently was increasing steadily. At 1:30 this morning it was reported that the wind was blowing at Venice at the rate of 60 miles an hour with a barometer reading of 29.22. Communi- cation failed at that time and nothing further was heard from the southern part of the west coast after that hour. RELIEF PARTIES ON WAY. Miami Sends Aid to the Two Palm Beaches. By the Associated Press. MIAMI, Fla., September 17—Florida today turned to the administration of relief and a checking up of damages in the section devastated by the West Indian hurricane and to protective measures in places lying within the in- dicated path of the storm. Relief units were dispatched to Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, which were isolated late yeseterday, together with a dozen other communities. Before communication lines went . down, meager reports indicated that severe damage may have been inflicted and unofficial wind velocities ranging as hign as 125 miles an hour were reported. No report on possible loss of life had been received early today, but among the unconfirmed reports reaching here | was one made to H. H. Arnold, director of public safety, by the police depart- ment at West Palm Beach, stating that the wind was blowing 125 miles an hour at 6 o'clock last night and that roofs of buildings were “being blown about.” Before Arnold finished talking, the telephone line went down. Telephone and telegraph lines likewise were report- ed out north of West Palm Beach as far as Fort Pierce, but the Jupiter Radio Statfon, about 20 miles above the Palm Beaches, was said to be working with naval stations. Below West Palm Beach, communications were down to Fort Lauderdale. A preliminary check-up at Fort Lau- derdale, which was struck by winds estimated at 75 miles an hour, said that several houses had been unroofed and Mission Escapes Hurricane’s Fury, Board Notified ROBINSON READY 0 AIDIN RELIEF Nominee Will Have Own Car Attached to First Train for Stricken Area. By the Associated Press. MIAMI, Fla., September 17.—Senator | Joseph T. Robinson stood ready today to abandon temporarily his role of Democratic vice presidential candidate and become a relief worker during the Florida hurricane emergency. Should a call for assistance be re- ceived from the section of the State affected by the hurricane, which was crossing the State early today, the nominee, now in Miami, was ready to cancel all engagements here and pro- ceed immediately to the scene of the dizaster. The Senator was scheduled to speak in Bay Front Park tonight and plan- ned to give the address unless storm relief work should call him away. He and Mrs. Robinson, who is accompany- ing him on his campaign tour of the South, remained abpard their private car all night in the railroad yards here. Before retiring Mr. Robinson left word that his car, along with another Pullman attached to it for newspaper correspondents, should be attached to the first rellef train which might leave the city It was sald that Mr. Robinson fel$ that in the event of a call for aid his private car would be of service, inas- much as it was equipped with a kitchen and stocked with sufficient food to last for five or six days. If he should leave for the stricken area it was said that all engagements here for both him and his wife probably would have to be By the Associated Press. canceled, as it would hardly be possible for him to return in time to fill to- night's speaking engagement. NEW YORK, September 17.—A cablegram reading “All safe; no cause for anxiety,” was received to- day from the Marina Neighborhood Home, at Mayaguez, Porto Rico, by the Presbyterian Board of National Missions. Ten workers are on the staff of the home. Mayaguez is near Agua Dilla, where 10 persons were reported killed. it was believed they would be able to withstand the blow. ‘The Weather Bureau believed the storm center passed inland in the vicin- ity of West Palm Beach, but in the ab- sence of definite reports, was unable to fix the exact passage or trend of the storm. Hurricane warnings, however, were out along the West Florida Coast, which the bureau said the storm “likely will reach not far from Tampa” during today. Residents in Flight. If the storm pursued the northwest- ward course it has followed since the sweeping through the West Indies, it would have crossed last night a sparse- ly inhabited region bordering Lake Okeechobee. Many inhabitants of the lake towns fled for safety to Lakeland, Avon Park and other places in central Florida. Residents from East Coast cities joined the caravan, after the issuance yester- day from the hurricane warnings, and were said to have filled the highway leading across the State. Many auto- ists sought safety by driving northward up the East Coast Highway. Several cities in central Florida re- ported increasing winds last night, but damage, if any, was minor in most of them, according to available reports. Increasing winds were reported from west_coast cities and towns, but the inhabitants were prepared for the blow, which. they believe, will not be severe. It was belleved that the storm would blow much of its power out on its trip across the peninsula. Before striking into the Floride coast the hurricane apparently passed over near Nassau, capital of the Bahamas, isolating the group from communica- tion with the outside world. Two op- erators have vainly been calling from the tropical radio’s station at Hileah here for the several wireless points in the islands, but had been unable last night to raise any of them. Shipping Is Safe. No distress was reported from ship- ping. Vessels had been warned in ad- vance and put into the first available port to await the passage of the hur- ricane. Mountainous seas were report- ed.from the vicinity of the path taken by the storm, one vessel wirelessing that it had encountered 90-mile winds. Weather Bureau reports were that winds of 100 miles an hour velocity accompanied the storm as it advanced upon the Florida coast. Correspondents of the St. Petersburg Times, who started for the east coast, got through a message to that news- paper early today from Prost Proof, saying that they had encountered a heavy storm there, with the wind blow- ing in_excess of 50 miles an hour. Frost Proof lies in the central part of the State east-southeast of Tampa. They reported that as they neared the town they were asked for a ride by a man and five little children, who said that their home had been blown over. In Frost Proof they found large numbers of people huddled together in an arcade building for protection. WEST POINT BURIAL FOR COL. G. P. HOWELL Services for Retired Engineer Corps Officer to Be Held Here This Afternoon. - Funeral services for Col. George P. Howell, U. 8. A, retired, who died at Walter Reed Hospital Saturday, after a short lllness, will be held at Gawler's chapel, 1730 Pennsylvania avenue, this afternoon at 5 o'clock. The body will be taken to West Point for burial in the cemetery at the Military Academy. Col. Howell was from North Carolina and was graduated from the West Point Academy in June, 1893, and assigned to the Engineer Corps, in which he served continually until his transfer to the retired list December 1, 1922. He was subsequently recalled to active duty and was serving as division engineer at Charleston, 8. C., when stricken with his fatal illness. He took patt in the Spanish War, the Philippine insurrection, the Mexican border campaign and the World War, and had tours of duty in this city in 1895-1898, in 1909-1910 and in 1914- 1916. His widow, Mrs. Louise K. Howell, will accompany the funeral party to West Point. COMBINE FOR STORM AID. Fourteen Porto Rican Groups Con- tribute Money for Relief. NEW YORK, September 17 (#).— power disrupted. There were no re- ports of injuries to inhabitants. Meanwhile, a Red Cross unit here left for the Palm Beaches to render aid if necessary. Units in other sectlons of the State were prepared to enter the arena should investigation prove that aid Is needed. Before becoming isolated, West Palm Beach reported that the American Legion any emergency. The inhabitants were d to atay inside their. homes snd Representatives of 14 Porto™ Rican groups last night organized to aid their countrymen in the hurricane-stricken section of Porto Rico. A collection totaling A‘l,lfl'k 59 was PORTO RICO DEATH TOLL INCREASES; RELIEF IS ASKED (Continued _from_Pirst Page.) officials to meet to assist in formulat- ing plans for organized relief. Gov. Towner urged the Secretary of War to send immediate funds in what- ever amount available and more when possible. He asserted the island had suffered the worst hu ne ever re- corded in the West Indies and that facts “are worse than have been re- ported.” Appeals to Red Cross. The governor also urged presiden- tial approval for a general appeal for aid through the American Red Cross and asked that a Red Cross rehabili- tation unit be sent to Porto Rico. Energetic efforts to stop profiteering in food and supplies were made by Gov. Towner. As a result of great damage to the crop, coffee jumped from 48 cents a pound to 65.cents in some stores. In some places milk jumped from 18 to 22 cents to 50 and 75 cents a quart. The city was largely without ice. The price of lumber soared from $45 to $75 a thousand feet and cement was boosted $1 a bag. A careful check on damage resulted in an estimate of $65.000,000. with many items unlisted. These, it was believed, would increase the damage above $100,000,000. Damage to per- sonal property, public buildings, such as schools and hospitals; roads, stores and merchandise was not estimated. ‘The itemized list of estimated losses was: Coffee crop, $10,000,000; coffee trees, $10,000,000; sugar cane crop, $20,000,000; sugar factories, $5,000,000; citrus crop, including loss and damage to grove, $5,000,000; tobacco, $5.000.000: minor crops. $5,000.000: Porto Rico Railway, Light & Power Co., $3,000,000, and telephone and telegraph. $2,000,000. Some hurricane insurance is carried on crops and buildings and contents, but this probably did not exceed $10,- 000,000 for the whole island. Essential services were partly restored in San Juan and hundreds of men were clearing debris from the roads. SOUTHEAST BUS FARE REDUCTION IS ARGUED Hearing Held on Petition to Cre- ate 8-Cent Zone to District Line. Arguments on the joint petition of the East Washington and Bradbury Heights Citizens’ Associations for aboli- tion of the fare zone east of Minnesota avenue on the Washington, Mariboro & Annapolis _motor bus line were heard by the Public Utilities Commis- sion today at the District Building. Elimination of the zone would have the effect of reducing the fare from 15 to 8 cents between Ninth street and Penn- sylvania avenue and the District line. E. P. Hazelton and B. F. Welsh of the East Washington Citizens’ Associa- tion appeared before the commission in support of the petition. L. L. Altman represented the company. ‘The commission will hold another public hearing Thursday morning at 10 o'clock to consider an application of the Washington Interurban Railroad Co. and the Washington Railway & Electric Co. for authority to discontinue free transfers between the busses and the street cars at Fifteenth and H streets northeast and the establishment of a 2-cent transfer charge between the carriers of each of these companies. Five Actors Killed i:; El’llh. ELKHORN, Wis., September 17 (#). —Five persons, members of a vaudeville troupe, were killed when their automo- bile rammed into a Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad passenger train a mile east of here this morning. BAND CONCERTS. By the United States Marine Band at the Capitol, 7:30 o'clock tonight. March, “When the Sergeant Major’s on Parade” Longstaffe Overture, “Tannhauser”. .. Wagner Solo for cornet, romantique, “Southern Cross” ...........,Clarke Scenes from the opera 0 “Herodias™ -Massenet Santelmann “Scenes Pittoresque”...Massenet ‘Marche.” “Alr de llet.” “‘Angelus.” “Fete Boheme." Excerpts from “The Show Boat”..Kern ‘Two_concert numbers, “Cinderella’s Bridal Processiop.” Dicker “Whispering Flowers' von Blon Rondo, “Capriccioso”. . ... Mendelssohn “The Star, Spangled Banner,” TOMORROW. By the United States Soldiers’ Home Military Band, bandstand, at 5:30 o'clock, John S. M. Zimmermann, band- master; Anton Pointer, assistant leader. March, “The Golf Girl - Woods Overture, “At the Well" e from “The New World lange, “Favorite Tl Operas of Offenbach” ym- rak hemes From - Ansell taken at the organizatioh meeting, and plans were laid for a campaign to raise relief funds. Manuel Arguesos was had taken over relief | chosen chairman of the relief commit-| Waltz, “Happy Go Luck; measures there and was prepared for|tee and Juan Ramos, president of the|] Finale, “Charge of the Porto Ricagl International Corporation, treasurer. % bl P Fox trot, “Lonely Little Bluebird, Woods Lane”. Meyer ht Brigade,” a). Py M: ull “The Star Spangled Bannes,