Evening Star Newspaper, November 23, 1928, Page 4

SAYVESTRISLISTED LEAVING NEW YORK Survivors Tell of Confusion in Lowering Lifeboats Before Sinking. By the Assoclated Press. FEDERAL BUILDING, NEW YORK, November 23.—An afidavit submitted at the resumption of the Federal inquiry into the sinking of the liner Vestris by Edward Miles Walcott, a British citizen and a survivor of the disaster, today said he noticed a slight list to starboard when the vessel left New York. He said, however, he attached no importance to his observation at the time, as he had often seen such lists on other vessels. The affidavit, submitted through the British consul general in New York, was read by Federal Attorney Charles ‘Tuttle, who is conducting the inquiry before United States Commissioner Francis A. O'Neill. Walcott's affidavit said the liner ran into rough weather Sunday and the list increased steadily. When fellow passen- gers suggested interviewing the captain, william Carey, Walcott said he told them it would be unnecessary, as the skipper “would realize the ship was in danger.” Walcott sald that when he came up he saw Capt. Carey about five feet away. Captain Disappears. “T just remember seeing him with an overcoat on and no lifebelt,” Wal- cott’s affidavit read. “After a second he disappeared.” Wll.lco’;lt1 stated that he believed that properly trained men, Wwith proper emergency equipment, could have got the lifeboats over much sooner than they were lowered. His last recollection of the captain on board, he said, was seeing him on the 25-Year-Old Actress Has Married 3 Times And Had 2 Divorces By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, November 23.— At 25 Zelma O'Neal, actress, Bas had three husbands and two'di- vorces. When she married An- thony Bushnell, British actor, it was disclosed that Zelma Farne Schraeder of Rockford, Ill, had been Mrs. Reginald Buffington of Chicago and Mrs, Henry Burns of Chicago. and children into the first boats, with nobody to manage the boats,” he said. From the lifeboat he saw the Vestris go down. “Two boats, as far as I could see, No. 2 and No. 4, were still attached to the falls,” he said, “and they went down with the ship.” Chief Officer Picked Up. Johnstone said his lifeboat picked up, among other swimmers, the chief officer of the Vestris. “He told us,” Johnstone said, “that a rescue ship would be along about 4:30. ‘We had been rowing through the wreck- age picking up everybody we could, un- til we had 45 in our lifeboat, which was being constantly bumped and endan- gered by floating wreckage. When we had filled our boat, we stood by wait- ing for the rescue ship that was to come at 4:30. Capt. T. P. Jessop, the American nautical advisor, questioned Johnstone about the launching of the boats. “Were any passengers told to go out to the starboard boats?” Jessop asked. “We were not told that they were even going to launch the starboard boats,” he replied. “Was there at any time any tendency of officers or crew of the ship to assist the passengers,” Jessop asked. On Different Decks. “The officers were all on the hurri- cane deck and the passengers on the promenade. The second steward did excellent work, through going about ;ihnéong the passengers and encouraging m. Johnstone said that soon after mid- night Sunday, he saw one of the life- boats on the starboard side swung out. “That first made me realize that the difficulty was serious,” he said. Jessop asked him if the passengers were told to put on lifebelts. “We_were not,” he said. hurricane deck. shouting hoarsely his directions to the loading of No. 6 life- boat. “His voice was so hoarse,” Walcott £aid, “that it broke on the last orders. ‘This was just as the ship went down.” Says List Increased. ‘The list continued to increase, he said, and between 7 and 8 a.m. on Mon- day he heard some stewards and petty officers talking outside his cabin. “Aren’t you going down to Walcott said he overheard one of petty officers ask a steward. “No, it’s no use,” he said the steward replied. He said several passengers came on deck soon afterward wearing lifebelts, and one of the petty officers said, “What are you wearing lifebelts for? There's no danger, and you'll only upset the other passengers.” About the same time, ‘Walcott’s affidavit stated, a rumor was going about that a steamer was less than 50 miles away and coming to their assistance. No Crews for Lifeboats. Walcott in his affidavit stated that the lifeboats to which the women and children were assigned contained no crews to manage them. No. 8 boat, he said, contained only one white seaman and one colored man. wm%c said hetmd another mslennns- senger dragged two woman passengers up the sharply slanting deck and helped them iato lifeboat No. 6. He was help- ing anotrer woman, a colored wofnan, he said, when he hecame entangled in wreckage. While ke was struggling to free himself the ship turned over and sank, aragzing him with her. He freed himself under water, he said, and after a teriffic struggle managed to rise to the surface. lowing the reading of Walcott's affidavit, H. C. Johnston, hwo had been 197 the As Johnstone was excused from the stand, Tuttle said that, “in view of the clear and comprehensive story of Mr. Johnstone,” he did not believe it would be necessary to call any more passen- gers. Quartermaster Called. Lionel Licorish, quartermaster of the Vestris and one of the heroes of the disaster, followed Johnston to the stand. He said the ship seemed to be list- ing Sunday afternoon, but he did not know the cause. He was at the wheel at this time, he said. Sunday evening in the sailor’s quar- ters he heard a crash and was pitched across the ship. Cargo crashing through a wall fell over him, he said, but he extricated himself and went on deck to see what had happened. By 9:30 o'clock, he said, the cargo had shifted more and the list had in- creased. Monday morning “it was rumored that water was flowing through the coaling half door, and orders were given the carpenter to repair the leak,” he said. Orders to bail were given early Monday afternoon and a short time later Jjettisoning of cargo was ordered. Later some men began lowering boats after the liner was ordered abandoned. He said the captain tried veering the vessel after lowering boats began to take advantage of wind direction, but she proved uncontrollable. Began to Carry Messages. Licorish said he began to carry mes- sages between the captain and the radio room about noon Monday. “They ‘were all sealed in enveloj he said. He said he carried none on Sunday. Licorish said he assumed command of lowering two starboard lifeboats mentioned several times in the affidavit too the stand. Johnstone is general manager of the Trinidad Leashold, an oil-producing concern in idad. Also Noticed List. Johnstone said, he too, noticed a slight list to starboard hen he boarded the Vestris, and he noted that all the passengers’ baggage aws put on the port ide. Johnstone said that Monday morning about 7 o‘c‘lo':::! he suumd‘o m& u: delegation of passengers tnem:-pmm and ask what was being done to insure their safety. “But nobody agreed with me, so that matter was dropped,” he said. “I thought the passengers ought to be in- formed.” “For God's sake, lower some of the starboard boats,” Johnston said he told one . of the officers while they were struggling to get the port lifeboats down. Says He Warned Captain. “‘Oh, no,’” he sald tr;‘ethshlp'sd of- ficers replied, “‘we can ge! ose down any.time and were lowering these first because they are the most difficult.” “Well, if you don’t watch out, they'll all go down with the ship,” Johnstone said he told him. Johnstone said he got the impression that ‘when the lifeboats were loaded, “alk previous arrangements were scrap- ped’ “They simply huddled the women HOMES!! Hundreds of them will be sold for TAXES Do not lose your life long sav- ings by permitting your home to be sold for the want of a few hundreds of dollars with which to pay your taxes. Under our Easy-Payment Plan, we may be able to help you in this or some other equally worthy object, THE < MORRIS PLA Easy to Pay Monthly $300 $360 $540 $45.00 $1,200 $100.00 $6,000 $500.00 It is not necessary to have had an Ac- count at this Bank to Borrow. THE MORRIS PLAN BANK Usder Supervision U. S, Teeasury 1408 H STREET, N. W, after the second officer disappeared. One boat, No. 14, he said, he released THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. ©, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 19%8. gomhnuvm]mufluchlpvent lown. “I released her on the deck,” he said, ;‘l’o she'd float after the ship went In this boat, which he boarded alone, after jumping off the keel of the ship as she turned over, Licorish rowed back into the wreckage and :éscued 20 per- sons. Licorish said that on previous trips “last January or February,” the Vestris had a list of about 10 degrees, because of the stowing of her cargo. Court adjourned until 2 p.m. as Lico- rish left the stand. Federal Attorney Tuttle announced that Harry Wheeler, marine superintendent of Lamport & Holt Line, would be the first witness at the afternoon session. % VICTIMS OF VESTRIS MADE HURRIED WILLS Man and Wife Wrote Testaments on Ship Stationery Just Before Sailing. By the Associated Press. g LOUISVILLE, Ky, November 23.— Belief that Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Brown- field of Louisville, victims of the Vestris disaster, had a presentiment of danger two days before they were lost in the Atlantic prevailed among friends and relatives of the couple here today when it was revealed that the Brownfields had made wills on stationery of the ¥esfi{fls on the day they sailed from New ork. The wills, which were properly wit- nessed and identified, had been for- warded to John O. Davis of Evansville, Ind, a relative, and were admitted for probate here yesterday. Mr. Brownfield, who was chief en- gineer of the Kentucky Rock Asphalt Co., left an estate estimated at $150,000, while his wife’s property was estimated at_$12,000. ‘The will apparently had been mailed from the Vestris to Evansville a few moments before the ship sailed. POLICEMEN SUSPENDED FOR SPOILING PARADE Twelve in Memphis Accused of Laying Down Smoke Screen on Colored Marchers, By the Assoclated Press. MEMPHIS, Tenn. November 23.— Twelve Memphis traffic officers began a three-day suspension today because they were held guilty of laying a dense smoke screen while riding at the head of a colored Armistice day parade, which caused the negroes to abandon the procession. The officers were said to have back- fired continually and to have manipu- lated their motors so that the exhaust pipes left a heavy wall of black smoke in the path of the paraders. ‘Two other traffic officers who had been assigned to the parade detail were exonerated of the charges. FULLER FUNERAL RITES. Remains of Former Patent Office Employe to Be Buried Today. Funeral services for Luther Fuller, 81 years old, retired inspector of the United States Patent Office, who died at the residence of his nephew, Dr. H. G. Fuller, 1616 Belmont street, yester- day, will be conducted at the nephew’s home this afternoon at 5 o'clock. Rev. U. G. B. Plerce, pastor of All Souls’ Unitarlan Church, will officiate. The body will be taken to Mr. Fuller's birthplace, Scotland, Conn., for burial. Mr. Fuller entered the Government service here in 1884. He was retired four years ago. He was a graduate of Yale University, a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, the Soclety of Mayflower Descendants and the National Geo- graphic Society. He was § second cousin of Gov. Fuller of Massachusetts. He is survived by two nephews, Dr. Fuller of this city and Hubert B. Fuller of Cleveland, and a niece, Miss Helen C. Fuller of Washington. ENGAGEMENT IS DENIED. Amelia Earhart Declares She Was Not Betrothed to Lawyer. CHICAGO, November 23 (#).—Amelia Earhart, first woman to fly across the Atlantic, arrived today to attend the Dartmouth-Northwestern foot ball game tomorrow. She made haste to deny all published reports about her having broken a bethrothal to Samuel Chap- man, Boston lawyer, and to add that “an 'engagement could not be broken if there never was one.” Miss Earhart said she had merely told reporters that she would not discuss the matter of an engagement, but that when she did marry she would do so without announcement. COURT HALTS SUIT AGAINST SISTERS Proceedings to Have Women, 95 and 97, Adjudged of Unsound Mind. Stopped. Legal proceedings to have Miss Martha Virginia Berry, 97 years old, and her sister, Miss Lucinda Alice Berry, 95, adjudged of unsound mind were halted today by Chief Justice Walter I. McCoy when Attorneys Morgan H. Beach and Samuel S. Beach, representing Washington relatives of the sisters, pointed out that the sisters had been prevented from reading the petitions and writs which were served on them by a deputy United States marshal at 2538 Wisconsin avenue. These relatives are opposing the ad- judication. The jury was excused until Monday morning and the court intimated that the respondents be given an oppor tunity to learn of the proceedings. The two women were recently rescued from a fire at their home, 3100 Dumbarton avenue, Great Niece Testifies. Miss Annie Price Craighill of Balti- more, a great niece of the two women, testified that her mother, Mrs. Anne Mary Craighill, who filed the petitions, is unable to leave her home in Ralti- more. Her mother had been reared from infancy in the Berry home, she stated, and the witness during the past six years had attended to the financial affairs of Miss Martha and for several months for Miss Lucinda. She never permitted the elder woman, the witness said, to know anything about the house- hold and cther bills because of the desire to save her from worry. The younger woman handled her own busi- ness affairs until a fall some months ago, when the witness was given a limited power of attorney from her. The cross-examination of Attorney Samuel 8. Beach disclosed the doubt of the women having read or heard of the petitions when the witness asserted she was confident they did not know about it and remarked, “If I thought they had to know I never would have had th: procedings started.” In halting the procedings the chief Justice said he appreciated the humane motive not to shock the old people, but the law requires that they be apprised of the contents of a paper claiming them to be of unsound mind. Mrs. Craighill, who filed the petitions, was represented by Attorneys Henry S. Matthews and James E. Burroughs, jr. The Misses Berry have large real es- tate holdings in Georgetown. STUDENTS SEE EXHIBIT. District school pupils have been granted permission to absent themselves from certain sessions to inspect radio broadcast and reception devices demon- strated by an educational exhibit at the Lansburgh & Bro. store, put on by the Radio Corporation of America. George Clark, one of the pioneers in radio, with three assistants, will be present daily to explain the apparatus. g\fo wonder tea guests are frankly amazedto hear that a pineapple layer cake like this can be bought at a grocer’s. BY ALICE ADAMS PROCTOR T oo fuf layers of spongeicedand Jilled with Iuscious fresh pineapple Jruie frosting, I s @ veal treat! WHITNEY'S ESTATE TOTALS $1%4.328.514 Appraisal Largest Ever Re-|! corded in America, New York Figures Show. By the Assoctated Press. NEW YORK, November 23.-The largest estate ever appraised in this cnunt;iv is l?at of &he late Payne Whit- ney, financier and sportsman, toials $194,328,514, ke It exceeds by nearly $90,000,000 the gross value of the estate of Mrs. Anna Harkness, which previously held the high record. The estate aiso will pay 'I"HE Hostess Pineapple layer cake I o ffer in this advertisement is served in millions of America’s most discriminating homes. Its delicate flavor . . . its light feathery texture have won it enviable success wher- ever it is sold. So with complete confidence, Madam, I urge you to try it, too, You see, I know the sunny, immaculate kitchens where this famous cake is made. $1,000.00 in CASH! HOSTESS CAKE PRIZE CONTEST Closes December 1, 1928 Ask your grocer I know the talented pastry cooks who bake it. I know, too, the ingredients that are used. Carefully selected eggs. Fresh sweet shortening, Specially selected flour. Pure " refined sugar. If this cake satisfies, T suggest you try the other Hostess Cakes. Chocolate Layer. Silver Bar. The famous Hostess Cup Cakes. f copy 4 oF ,7,', u,,,,"’, ) Genuine Hostess Cakes are always fresh. detailed information ~ Demand them by name. - HostessQ Cakes A Continental Product R ER—— the largest death tax ever colle $20,000,000. Of this amount sl5.60§%& will go to New York State, $400,000 to other States and $4,000,000 to the Fed- en’II!hOtovegnmenL at the State appraisal was v estimate of the me:mry weallhl \IA:‘; pointed out in financial circles, where attention was called to stock being list- styles? And where as at Hahn’s? Emphasizing gold or Also sil one’s costume. ble “Hahn Specials” .. And this smart low-heel Black or creation. silver buckle, high or heel . Set. brown kid, contrasting Saturday Special Misses’ unusually good quality tan Russia calf Good- year Welt oxfords. ‘Wide Foot-Form last and unusual style. Excellent $4 values. Sizes 1115 to 2..$2.99 Party Slippers for gala evenings moire satin that may be dyed to match pumps and sandals in inimita- Cooler Days Suggésfi “Closed-In” Footwear ¥ or black suede is fine looking and most practical in all !’6-50 weathers . “Ritzie” Pumps —very striking! Another new “Hahn Special” suede, wide instep strap, large Cutting a wide dash with the Youger Patent leather black Kaffir or Java Snug and warm about the ankles, as well as most unusual in appearance. ed by the appraisers at their marks value on the day he died, May 25, 1’0;1‘, whereas prices since have greatly in- " Shares of Amerl res of can Telephon; Telegraph, appraised at ;'3.426',39'% would at yesterday's price be worth well over $9,750,000, and shares of Standard %1; of Nf: .l:l'fie};é wm aised at $34,533, , would at yesterday': $49,933,369... " S o i v?'ther appraisals of large estates fol- Henry C. Frick, $92,953552; Jacob Astor, $87,212,791; J, Ple;’p%‘:l‘: Morgan, $78,149,024; William K. Van- derbilt, $54.530,966: Willlam L. Hark- ness, $54,387,146; Frederick G. Bourne, $42,867,615; James Stillman, $40,338,- wlg;h gll;')eerhfl. Pas};geél;.?’?jfi'l.fllj Jo- 8 . mar, .282,920; Woolworth, 30701004, deviisme Xpensive automobiles, horses art works are included in the whlt;’:g estate as listed by the appraisers, the most valuable of the art works being a :;B‘G;ogtnfio?w Ir:pes',ms valued at X wo Ispahan (TRt P rugs, valued One horse in the Whitney stables, St. Germans,, a stallion by Swynford- Hamoaze, is valued at $40,000, while ;n%n:;vrh!']leeunlgfll?nwn, by Hurry On- ododaktylos, which is now in is valued at $30,000. e There are 29 automobiles, including four Rolls Royces, valued at $35,985, Ciechoslovakia plans a reform of its entire tax system. S0 many meritorious values, at any price you may wish to pay— At our F St. Shop and other women’s departments. silver trimmed ver kid 5650 oxford of brown brown Cuban $6:50 The new, “Show Boot” lizard calf strap. “Hahn Special” novel winter sports oxfords Storm Shoe, with or oxfords. for misses. Tan or straps, knife pocket, Great values. $3.50 black calf or patent extra storm welt, & $4. leather, lizard calf overweight soles, $5.50 trim—$4 & §5. & $6.50. Big boys’ moccasin “Swagger Junlors” ) high shoes. Wonder- This unusual boot BOYS ‘Gro-Nups” ful wearing, $3.50 to with strap and turn- Collegiate, Scotch $4.25, Moccasin shoes down collar, having a Gral Brogue Ox- and oxfords for great vogue. Misses’ fords. The very best. misses and children, sizes—$4.50 & $5. $5. $3.25 to $4.25. For smaller children $3 & $3.50 fleece-lined handy about the All sizes to Pictured from left to right Boys' tan grain high Special selling boys’ and girls’ warm, AGRONOMY SOCIETY SESSION NEAR END Group Prepare to Adjourn Today—New Officers Are Elected. The twenty-first annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, which assembled 300 soil experts here yesterday from all quarters of the world, was prepared for adjournment this afternoon. The election of officers ‘was held last night in conjunction with a banquet at the Willard Hotel. M. J. Funchess, professor of agriculture at the Alabama Polytechinc Institute, was chosen president. The meeting drew an unusual at- tendance of foreign members, including two from Russia, three from South Africa_and several from Honduras and other Latin American republics. Dele- gates today held group conferences on topics of soil erosion and soil analysis research. Other officers named at last night's Thanksgiving—then Xmas So many different footwear needs now come up for each member of every family. Where will you find so many attractive “Women’s Sho Sh to tio: When little these pretty 1 ers, tan calf sheesllskin moccasins. So ouse. 950 {18 3212 14th “Man’s Shop,” 14th at G $6-50—$8.50 FASHION B 3.90 season. row ends it take notice! chase, smart suedes — in black, brown, bur- gundy, blue. lizard calf, alli- gator, patents and others. Sale at 7th St. and First Steps tan or smoked elk and patent leath- - rTmiaes Sizes 4 to 8 with wedge heels ......... meeting were Clyde McKee, University of Montana; W. W. Burr, University of Nebraska; A. B. Beaumont, Massachu- setts Agricultural College, and 8. A Marksman of Rutgers University, vice presidents. Co-operation of the States with the Department of Agriculture in the early completion of the national soil survey, with a view to a more profitable ex- ploitation of this potential wealth, was urged last night before the society by Dr. A. G. McCall, chief of soil investi- gations, Bureau of Chemistry and Scils, and president of the association. Another feature of the session was announcement of & $5.000 award by the Chilean Nitrate of Soda Research to four internationally known scientists, three American and one Canadian, for conspicuous service in this field during the past year. They are Dr. Jacob Lip- man, dean of agriculture at Rutgers College; Dr. T. L. Lyon, professor of soil technology at Cornell University; Dr. Erwin Broun Pred, professor of ag- riculture, University of Wisconsin, and Dr. Frank Thomas Schutt, Dominion chemist of Canada. In urging the completion of the soil survey Dr. McCall said this data must be available as a basis for a program of fertilizer research, so that various fer- tilizers can be developed and manufac- tured for use in areas peculiarly suited to them. Indian laborers in Ceylon are plan« ning a separate labor union for In- | dians. ! 7th & K p,” 1207 F St, Tomorrow Last Day of this very important SALE SHOES Easily the oe Sale of the But tomor- Please Due a fortunate pur- offering best Also At a frac- n of their worth. ‘Arcade” stores only. feet first start walking, little shoes care for little and two-tone effects. $1.95