Evening Star Newspaper, December 23, 1928, Page 2

2 = WOMAN RELEASED IN'SLAYING PROBE Furnace Tender at Alleged Gambling House Is Still Being Held. Ida Kelly, the colored woman ar- rested Tuesday In connection with the slaying of Joseph Woodson, colored, in an alleged gambling establishment on the second floor of 514 Tenth street, was released last night after further questioning by the headquarters’ homi cide squad, following the inquest yes. terday in which the coroner’s jury he that Woodson came to his death at the hands of & person or persons unknown. James Davis, colored, furnace tender at the Tenth street address, is still be- | ing held under a technical charge of investigation. | hired him to run a gambling club there. As the result of Barbour's testimony he and Fuschini were charged with setting up a gambling table by the United States attorney’s office. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT GETS MILLION AS GIFT| Reported to Have Received Check From Father as Christ- mas Present. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 22—The PDaily News tomorrow will say that Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr. who recently . was reconciled with his father, Gen. Cornelius Vanderbiit, after a four-year exile from the family, has been given 8 $1000,000 check as a Christmas present. One-half was given by the General and the other $500,000 by Mrs. \lln-I derbilt, the News will say. Cornelius, | ir.. left tonight for his ranch near| Reno, Nev., to join his wife- for the | holidays. | He is quoted - as ‘sa) he would place the money in a trust fund to be added to the heritage his father had consented to release and would be used to pay off the creditors of his ill- starred- newspaper enterprises. PLAN ACTION ON D. C. BILL Commissioners Hope for Action Soon After Christmas. ‘The Bureau of the Budget will take action soon after Christmas on the pro- posad bill submitted by the District Commissioners for the projected mu- giclpfl center, it was indicated yester- ay. ‘The budget officers are familiar al- Bt int u:‘l)ls’ . "»é“fih‘é:‘ or, at some. | - fore it was formally submitted late yes~ terday. It is expected that;mn answer may be obtained fi the sident soon after Christmas & to w] the m& will be in gpnfiict “with his cial program. 3 F AR FIVE KILLED BY GAS. Recruiting Officer lnfi‘?!l But One in Family Found Dead. PHILADELPHIA, December, 22 (). ~—Sergt. Arthur Wadsworth, ting officer in the Marine Corps, and his wife and three children were found dead from asphyxiation in their home late today. Another child was unconscious when police broke into the gas-filled bouse and is in critical candition. A neighbor glancing through a cellar window saw Wadsworth lying across a - Box, and notified police. It is believed Wadsworth went to the cellar to in- vestigate & gas leak and was overcome by fumes. YOUTH’S TRIAL DELAYED. Church Society Intervenes $3,500 Blackmail Case. CHICAGO, December 22 (#).—The Lutheran Inner Mission Soclety Inter- vened today and obtained a continu- snce until Monday of the trial of Robert Eveler, 17, on a charge of at- tempting to extort $3,500 from Nathan Ritholz by blackmail. Eveler is Ritholz’ office boy and the #on of Rev. G. H. Eveler, Lutheran minister of 435 Quincy street, Wash- ington, D. C. The boy's idea came from reading detective stories, he said, MANY ARE INJURED AS BROWNING PLAYS SANTA FOR 40,000 (Continued From First Page.) in Jovially, as he scanned the afternoon pewspapers with their stories that *30,000 riot for Browning gifts” and “scores hurt in riot of 30,000 at Brown- ing's Christmas,” {llustrated with photo- graphs of himself and the crowds. ‘“Osn’t that fine. But where did they t those pictures? They aren't the it the papers have of me. I think they could have done better about the piictures. “And saying that all these people hurt. Why, you don't see any es or legs or arms lying around loose up here, do you? They behaved won- detfully up here. I never saw a better unch of kids in my life. Not a scratch oF an accident or a cross word up here. Make that clear, will ycu.” Nevertheless, despite Mr. Browning'’s| protestations, it remained a matter of | official rccord that surgeons of two embulan were called to the scene when it became apparent that some one was bound to be hurt in the maul- 2, greedy crowd that blocked Broad- y from curb to curb between Sixty- sécond street and Columbus Circle, and that had grown from a handful of early cpmers at 6 am. to many thousands by 10 am., treated five children and -8, woman for injuries and ordered two of n;ml children taken to Roosevelt pital. ¢In addition many others finally fought their way out of the mob to 35 home and nurse to themselves bruises and cuts and seek repair of smashed headgear and torn clothing. Most of those seriously hurt suffered their in- juries when the crowd pushed through the plate glass show window and door of the Nathanson Auto Exchange on the ground floor of the building, of which Mr. Browning's offices occupy the second floor, early in the forenoon. They were Helen Wese, 14 years old, lacerations of the right thigh and thT David Phillips, 12, lacerations of the legs; Madeline Phillips, 15, lacerations of the thighs; Anna Russell, 8, right The authorities were balked at the, hearing yesterday in attempts to de- | velop fusther testimony given at the | start of the inquest Friday by Garner | S. Barbour, who with Vincent P. Fus- ! chini, is charged with conducune| a| gambling resort at the place where, Woodson was killed. | Fuschini was put on the witness’ stand, but by the direction of his at- attorney, James A. O'Shea, refused to | answer all questions aimed at showing | the place was conducted for illicit pur- | poses. Fuschini also claimed his con- stitutional privilege when queried con-| cerning the name of the man who em- | ployed him. | On Friday Barbour testified that for the past eight months Sam Beard has THE SUNDAY STAfi, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMBER 23, 1928—PART 1. WHERE CHRISTMAS CHEER WILL FIND MOST APPRECIATION CAPITAL BEGINS 3-DAY CELEBRATION OF YULE HOLIDAY (Continued From First Page.) into masses of green, red, yellow, pur- ple and orange flowers of light within a second after the President presses the button in Washington. The cere- monies will begin at 7:30, when the United States Marine Band, under the leadership of Taylor Branson, will pre- sent a concert of Christmas music. On their arrival at tho tree the President and Mrs. Coolidge will be met by members of the national com- mittee, headed by District Commission- er Dougherty, who will pressnt the Chief Executive to the assembled citi- zens. After he has lighted the tree the Christmas greeting of the people of Washington will be pressnted to Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge by a Boy and a Girl Scout, in accordance with the annual custom. Loren Adams of Troop 100, eagle and ranking Scout of the District of Columbia, and Jaque- line Taliaferro Smith of Troop 32, golden eaglet of the Girl Scouts of the District of Columbia, were chosen to perform the ceremony this year. The program will be conciuded by the singing of Christmas carols by the National Capital Oratorio Association, comprising a chorus cf 200 voces under the direction of Albert W. Harned. The gathering 1l adjourn with the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner.” Through the kindness of the Presi- dent and Mrs. Coolidge the pubdc is invited this year, as formerly, to_carol singing on th2 north lawn of the White House at 9 o'clock. The vested chorus choir of the First Congregational Church will render the program. The choir, of 60 voices, is under the direction of Ruby Smith Stahl. A doubl> quartet from the Marine Band will play two Ohristmas hymns preceding the carols, the final number of which, “Bells of Christ- mas,” was written by the pes‘or of the church, Dr. Jason Noble Pi:vce. Paul| Gable, ‘the church organis, will be at | the piano. Georgetown Fete Tomorrow. Georgetown's annual Christmas eve celebration will be held tomorrow eve- ning at 7:30 in Montrose Park around the tree planted in 1927 by the George- town Garden Clup. It has been dec- orated by children of ths Jackson School. Five hundred school children will lead in the singing of Christmas carols, accompanied by a brass quartet from the Army Band. A community Christmas tree pro- gram has been arranged by the Leland, Md., Citizens’ - Association. evergreen on the grounds of St. John's Church, Wisconsin avenue and Bradley lane, has been selected’ and the lights will be flashed on simultaneously with those of the national tree. Carols will be sung by the combined choirs of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Episcopal churches and the glee club of the Chevy Chase-Bethesda High School. Edwin R. Ballenger, organist of St. John'’s Church, will play. The pragram will be opened with prayer by Rev. John Knox and the announcements will be A large | Above: Awalting Santa Claus’ visit at Children's Hospital. Center: Mrs. Violet Hartley (left) and Miss Julienne Ibarra with toys, clothing and food which the Associated Charities will give out to the poor. Below: Underprivileged children of the Gospel Mission, who will receive a visit from the mission’s Santa. —Star Staff Photos. committee in charge consists of Ben ‘Warren, Comdr. George E. Wilcox, Mrs. Albert B. Niers, D. Waring and Mrs. Maurice H. Phillips. P. N. Davison is president of the association. ‘Wesley Heights is planning for a real old-fashioned community Christmas, with a present for every child, tomorrow evening at 7:30 o'clock. The Christmas tree celebration will be held in front of the home of A. N. Miller, Forty-fourth street and Cathedral avenue. Following the slnglnlfi of carols an inspirational address will be delivered by Rev. John 2. Palmer. Open house is to be observed by the several hundred residents of the section. ‘This year's program has been ar- ran; by a committee including Charles H. Hillegeist, chairman; Roland A. Waddil, C. Melvin Sharpe, Comdr. Preston B. Haynes, Col. Charles Ham- ilton, William Freeman, Thomas Wood- ward, Horace L. Browning, Mrs. Ethel Holtzclaw Gawler, Mrs. Christopher Garnett, Mrs. George McGinty, Mrs. Thomas B. Webb, Mrs. Charles A. Do- ing, Mrs. Harry M. Horton, Mrs. Arthur N. Zinkhan, Mrs. Chester Caywood, Mrs. Willlam Freeman, Mrs. Preston B. Haynes, Miss Dorothy Sharpe and Miss Gretchen Daniel. Churches Plan Celebrations. Churches throughout the city are planning elaborate Christmas eve cele- brations. The charity of private citizens and welfare organizations will extend every- where. Even in the jails there will be & time of good feliowship and plenty. The Christmas festivities at the work- house and reformatory at Lorton will begin tomorrow morning with an ama- teur show and close Christmas night with a moving picture show. Soon after breakfast Christmas morning there will be boxing bouts between inmates of the two institutions. At the District Jail the only change from routine will be the special dinner. Police of the fifth precinct are plan- ning a celebration of their own, in charge of Capt. William E. Sanford. In the lobby of the station house there is to be a big tree, at the base of which will be piled larg> quantities of candy, nuts and toys for distribu- tion to the r of the neighborhood. Several hundreds of children are ex- pected and numerous requests for presents have already been received. In addition to the luxuries, there will also be a quantity of clothing dis- tributed to the more needy. The celebration at that precinct is an annual affair that reaches larger proportions yearly. Members of the precinct and, merchants doing busi- ness in the vicinity have made possible the large array of presents. At the Houst of Datention there are to be two Christmas trees, one in- side and the other on the lawn. The celebration planned by Lieut. Mina C. { Van Winkle, head of the institution, is to take ?lace at noon Christmas day. There will be singing of Christmas carols and exchange of presents among the personnel. AN of the chil- dren confined there will be remem- bered. Gift Bags at Gallinger. The only other precincy m which a celebrat’'on is planned will be the third. There will be a tree and a cele- bration by members of the force alone. A Christmas committee will fill 300 gift bags and trim a tree at Gallinger made by Rev. Clarence Prentice Parker. hand cut: Kathleen Hager, 13. shock end fainting attack; May Calbot, 34, Wesley Methodist Church of Washing- "son, Mrs. Whitman Oross, -Mrs. cut., Rev. Fred C. Reynolds, pastor of the ton, will retell r Christmas story. The “ Municipal Hospital. ‘The committee consists of Mrs. Richard Fay Jack- B. Ladue, Mme. Stepi s toff, Mrs. William Tewksbury, Mrs. W. A, Clark. , There. will be a bag and a Christmas card for each patient. % ‘The Central Union Mission has a full program. At 11 am. tomorrow Mrs. Coolidge will assist, as she has every year since she has been in the White House, at the annual Christmas tree party at Keith’s Theater, when there will be gifts for 1,400 children. The mission will distribute Christmas bass kets to 263. families tomorrow. It is prepared to feed 300 down-and-out men at 613 C street at noon Tuesday. At the same hour there will be a Christmas dinner and party for 41 boys and girls in the mission's Emergency 'Home for Children at 624 Louisiana avenue. The dinner is provided by the office force of George Washington Uni- versity. At 7:45 this evening & cantata will be sung in the mission chapel by the Gospel music class, under the direction of Mrs. Isabel Garvin Shelley. The Salvation Army has a similar program. Mrs. Coolidge will attend the observance at the Salvation Army Audi- torlum, 608 E street, tomorrow after- noon from 1:30 to 2:30, when baskets will be distributed. There will be music by a Navy Band Orchestra, prayer by Rev. James H. Miers and re- marks by Staff Capt. Ernest R. Holz. At 6 pm, at the same place, about 1,000 children will be entertained and gifts distributed. About 250 Christmas dinners will be served at the men’s so- cial department. At 10 am. Christmas morning Saks & Co. will give away 100 overcoats to poor boys. George D. Horning has con- tributed 250 pairs of stockings and 125 pairs of shoes, through the Central Union Mission. Bernard Harding, 300 Seventh street, has announced that he will give away 100 five-pound boxes of candy at the same time Saks & Co. are giving away overcoats, Judge to Play Santa. Judge Robert E. Mattingly will play the role of Santa Claus to 250 veterans at Mount Alto Hospital Christmas eve, when the George Baldwin McCoy unit of the American Woman's Legion will hold its annual party in_the hospital. An interesting program has been ar- ranged, including a Christmas tree, trimmed with a present for each vet- eran. . Mrs. Layra V. Dann, Mrs. Acheson F. Hassan and Mrs. Charles Demonet comprise the committee in charge. A full Christmas program has been arranged at the Y. W. C. A, starting today. From 5 to 6 p.m. will be the final advent talk by Miss Mabel N. Thurston. Carols will be a feature of this service. From 5 to 7 p.m. on the third floor, will be a German Christmas celebration with the singing of German carols. ‘The Girl Reserves will take part in a ceremony in Barker Hall at 4:30 this afternoon. Following this meeting, they will distribute 1,200 toys and dolls to boys and girls in Gallinger Hospital, Friendship House, Hilltop House, St. John’s Orphanage, Neighborhood House, Noel House, the District Train- ing School and through the Associated Charities. Carol singing will be a feature of the ceremonial, and a Christmas play, “The Christmas Spirit,” will be presented by Girl Reserves from the graded schools under the direction of Miss Sheila Doody. Appearing in the play are Marian Maynard, Jacquelin Churchill, Barbara Jane Murray, June Little, Betty Barker, Margaret Abell, Priscilla 8andoz, Ruth Ashburn, Margaret Abell, Hilda Maury Shannon and Mary Lindsay. Every day during the coming week at noontime in the various centers there will be carol singing under the direction of Miss Imogene B. Ireland, and on Christmas eve, a group of carolers will visit the national community Christmas tree early in the evening, and then will make the rounds of the Emergency, Providence, Children’s and Gallinger Hospitals. USRI et LR The United States consumes nearly half the world’s annual tin output, the Bureau of FepOrts. SECOND INFLUENZA WAVE SEEN LIKELY Plans to Study Situation at First Hand Begun by Health Officials. By the Associated Press. Jhe possibility of a second and more severe wave of influenza following the present outbreak was discussed yester- day by public health officials, who be- gan considering plans for studying the situation at first hand. While their program was not com- pleted, Federal authorities indicated they would seek to add to their knowl- edge of the disease through both labora- tory and field studies. “The percentage of cases in the United States for the week ending De- cember 15, it was said, “was as great as it was at the peak of the epidemic of 1920.” ‘The studies under consideration would be undertaken, they explained, in the hope that the information gained would prove helpful in combatting a second wave. Statisticlans completed a chart yes- terday showing that if the number of cases for the week ending December 15—200 per 100,000 population—con- tinued throughout the year, the annual percentage of cases would be 10,000 per 100,000 population. They had no indication, however, that the rate would continue to increase. ‘Officers were still puzzled at the great number of cases in this outbreak, and the relatively negligible mortality. Re- ports from 78 large cities showed 1,145 deaths from influenza and 5,608 from pneumonia during the period between October 28 and December 15. There were 500,000 deaths from influenza and pneumonia, it was stated, during the 1918 epidemic. INAUGURAL SESSION THIS WEEK LIKELY Plans at Stage Where Deci- sions Must Be Made at Once, Grant Holds. Lieut. Col. U. 8. Grant, 3d, chair- man of the inaugural committee, is contemplating calling a meeting of the executive committee this week to Whip into more definite shape the plans be- ing made for the celebration of Herbert Hoover's induction into office March 4. Col. Grant was reluctant to cali this meeting during Christmas week, but reliminary work, incident to the plans, ga.s reached that stage where decisions must be made if there is to be the pro- gress which he deems imperative at this time. He would like also to call another meeting of the general com- mittee during the week for an exchange of ideas regarding plans as they are now definite shape, but he will probably postpone calling it. Col. Grant announced last night the following additions to the general com- mittee: George R. , . C. Brandenberg, Dr. Charles Richardson, Wade Ellis, Wiliam A. Hill, Leon Tobriner, A. P. Clark, jr.; Frederick A. McKenney, Rev. J. R. _8izo00, - John Oliver LaGorce, Ord Preston ' and James M. Proctor. Joshua Evans, jr., chairman of the committee of legislation, announced the appointment of the following to be members of his committee: Charles J. Brand, vice chairman; L. R. Eakin, Walter B. Howe, Maj. Julius I. Pe; Thomas W. Phillips, Chester Wells, W. C. Hanson, Mrs, Edward E. Gann and Mrs. Jt:‘mu F. curt.la.r i To pay the expenses of offic inaugural ceremonies of President- elect Hoover, a supplemental estimate of $45,000 was submitted to the House yesterday by President Coolidge. This includes the pay for extra police. It is to meet necessary expenses in carrying out the program arran; the joint committee of the Senate and House appointed under a concurrent resolution. CONVIGTED.OF TRYING TO SELL SON'S BODY Woman Found Guilty on Five Counts of Using Mails to Defraud. By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, December 22.—After only a short deliberation, a jury in Fed- eral Court convicted Mrs, Alice Sawyer of Long Beach, Calif., today on five counts of using the mails to defraud in connection with her efforts to sell the alleged petrified body of her son. She faces a maximum penalty of five years’ sentence on each count and Judge E. E. Henning set December 31 for the pass- of sentence. S rs. Sawyer was tried on the com- plaint of John L. Stuts, Meridian, Miss., railroad engineer, who charged that she obtained $32,000 from him on assertion that she could sell her son's supposedly petrified body to some scientific insti- tution for a huge sum. The proposed sale of the body came about when the grave in a cemetery at El Centro, Calif., caved in shortly after the youth's burial in 1923. Upon re- moving the coffin, the body was ob- served to resemble petrification, but a physician at the trial testified that excessive use of embalming fluid pr ably caused the condition. ‘With one full shopping day remain- ing to swell the volume of holiday busi- ness, Washington merchants are begin- ning to take stock of what appears to have been one of the most prosperous but difficult Christmas seasons the local retail trade has experienced in recent years. Compared with earlier examples of frantic shopping, managers of the larger department stores seem agreed that the old days of slam-bang Christ- mas buying are gone—probably never to return. For the styles are changing, too, in the manner of holiday shopping. The 1928 style of Christmas shopper, ever alert for something new and dif- ferent, made her appearance this sea- son. She had more money to spend this year than ever before, but a more practical and discerning hand held the purse strings. Buys More Useful Gifts. “What goes for the female of the species goes also for the male,” remark- ed one observer. Friend husband evi- dently has taken a leaf from his wife’s handbook of shopping. While he in- dulged his manlike fancies beyond the limit of his prearranged Christmas budget at times, perhaps, it was noted that he bought more useful than merely pretty gifts this year than ever before. “Yes, this has been an exceedingly practical and difficult period of Christ- mas shopping,” the observer added. “Whatever the cause—thrift campaign or lessons in economy—the average woman who is doing her shopping now is more shrewd, discriminating and even more sophisticated this year. “She knows what she wants and knows what she buys. Goods are sell- ing more than ever on their merit alone. The demand for the old line of staple holld!:}’ goo&s is passing. wants some new, dlvldunllsnc."m‘ As an indication of the practical bent of. the Christmas trade, about every department store reports increased sales in the more useful line of goods. It applies even to the toy department. Fewer Shopping Days. Despite a handicap of fewer shop- ping days in December than last year the volume of Christmas business was reported as “very satisfying” on the whole. The final accounting, it is be- lleved, will disclose a comfortable margin of increase over the total of last year. Thanksgiving came on No- vember 29, taking three days off the usual number allotted to the Christmas trade. Then there was the additional ‘)’l::\dlup of five Sundays in Decem- The peak of the Christmas shopping was reached on Saturday, December 15, and the following Monday. Those were the banner sales days reported everywhere. - Deliveries were sald to have reached their peak about the mid- dle of the week just passed. Nearly $8,000,000 in Christmas sav- Ings funds deposited in local banks broke all previous records. These were withdrawn before the season barely got under way. While it was estimated in banking circles that about 25 per cent of the Christmas funds go back into permanent savings or in install- ment payments, nfl:mxlmnuly $6,000,~ 000 found its way into Christmas shop- ping channels. different and in- Pacific Air Mail Takes 2 Tons a Day; Breaks U. S. Record By the Assoclated Press. LOS ANGELES, December 22.— Air mail planes of the Western Air Express out of Los Angeles for Salt Lake City carried 438,642 pieces of mail from Monday to Saturday of this week, officials of the company reported today. The company termed it the “greatest load of air mail ever carried from any city on the Pacific Coast.” In relation to per capita of population, the company said their records showed it ex- ceeded any air mail shipment in American aviation history. The week’s shipment approxi- mated more than two tons of air mail a day in the six-day period. Today's shipment was made up of 94,120 pleces, about 4,000 less than yesterday's record of more than 98,000 pieces. DISPUTING NATIONS SEND REPLIES HERE Complete’ Answers Expected From Bolivia and Para- guay Tomorrow. | Preliminary messages were received in Washington last night from Bolivia and Paraguay in reply to inquiries from the Pan-American Conference on Conciliation and Arbitration as to the conciliatory ‘methods those nations would -prefer the conference to pursue in settling peaceably the recent fron- tler crisis. ‘While neither message was complete enough to warrant calling the special by | mediation committee of the conference in special session tonight, Dr. Victor M. urtua, chairman of the com- mittee, summoned Charles Evans Hughes, a member of the committee, and James Francis White, Assistant Becretary of State for Latin American Affairs, to the Hotel Mayflower for a conference. After this conference, which lasted less than an hour, Dr. Maurtua an- nounced that formal and complete re- plies should be received by tomorrow and he thought it would be to call the committee together on that day. A plenary session of the full conference may be called late tomor- row afternoon to receive the commit- tee's recommendations for conciliating the frontier crisis between Bolivia and Paraguay. There was no evidence of undue alarm over newspaper dispatches from South America saying Bolivia was fantry and cavalry to the frontier. Delegates to the conference expressed doubt that Bolivia would make a war- like move after having accepted the conference’s offer to conciliate the dis- pute. They were confident both gov- ernments would use every precaution to prevent another fatal clash of their troops in the Gran Chaco, where san- guinary clashes several weeks nearly brought the nations of South America to war. Sir James Barrie Is IIl. LONDON, December 22 (#).—Sir James M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, the admirable Crichton, and many other notable stage and fiction characters, is ill in his London home. He suffered a zv;:i chill and physicians ordered him Children's Hospital Is Gayly Decorated: Each Ward Will Have Christmas Tree BY GRETCHEN SMITH. In a ward of the Children’s Hospital, a little boy went happily from crib to cot yesterday placing on the foot of each a red poinsettia or a garland of bright- ly colored papers. e had made the decorations during the long hours of convalescence. Some nurses were add- ing to the festive spirit, hanging bright holly berries about the room. As the little boy with the poinsettias stopped to place' his tribute at the foot of a crib, the occupant, a baby not yet 3 years old, st up and lisped excit h “Santy’s tumin’—he's tumin’ thru’ winda!” It was no place for the cynic who says there is no Santa Claus. In a far corner, & boy of 10 leaned dil tly over a frame which lay before him. On it lay a pattern of bright wools over which the child was working with a long wooden needle. & t are you making, Warren?” in- quired & nurse. “It's Sam’s bag, and I'm finishing it for him while he's so sick,” Warren replied, “He wants it to give to his nurse for a Christmas present,” he add- ed. The nurse glanced over at Sam, ‘Warren’s buddy, who lay in a nea cot, miserable from a tonsil operatio performed that mprning. She paused h-+ the cot of & small " boy, strapped flat to a cast. The child's spine was injured, but his eyes were happy. ~“Well, Elmeg” the nurse greeted him cheerily, “Christmas is al- most here—what do you want Santa to bring you?” “A talking machine, a engine and a—orange,” Elmer replied promptly. The nurse laughed and patted his head. “I know you'll get all you want of the last,” she said as she continued KING TAKES STEP TOWARD RECOVERY Only One Bulletin Will Be sending additional large forces of in- |y 880 | affairs and has_expressed his her inspection. . A tiny girl, now well enough to move about, came running up to the nurse, “Pleath, Mith C——" she “tell T want a baby doll and & baby “You will have them, May,” Miss C—— answered, "lnd'.hflm know, you are going downtown afternoon to ;e;u §mu Clays, who has a present for Leading her visitor into a parlor, the nurse continued to tell of the prepara- tions for Christmas. There were plans for a Christmas tree in each ward, as well as the nurses’ sitting room and din room. A number of churches, schools and the Red Cross had donated trees, which were to be trimmed. number of friends of the hospital were to send gifts. The Needlework Club ::“ flnm :f‘flxelgumk.. another lend sen stockings to be given to the children Christmas Eve. L A | the Issued Today, Doctors Announce. By the Associated Press. LONDON, December 22.—King George took another feeble step toward health today and his doctors announced that only one bulletin would be issued to- morTow. This will be the first occasion since his illness became serious that only one bulletin has been forthcoming on any one day. It was taken as ition of an added de{;:e of confidence on the part of the physicians that though they were unable to report any striking progress, the royal patient continued to hold his own. The visits of the doctdrs today again were comparatively short. The ultra- violet ray experts came as usual in the evening to administer their light treat- ment and all of the medical men de- parted early except Sir-Stanley Hewett, ‘who, as a matter of precaution, contin- ues to sleep at the palace. He, Lord Dawson of Penn and Sir Huj Rb‘u.l‘l?e’ h'-mmh‘;ah;mzmgdmm no change progress to report. No further bulletins will be issued until Sunday evening.” Morning Bulletin Terse. ‘The morning bulletin, signed by the same trio, was almost terse. It consist- ed of this single sentence: “The King had a fair night and his condition remains un Lt ‘The confidence of the physicians was 80 impressive that in palace circles it is said that a strong belief prevalls that should there be no further setback in the next few days it is quite possible that they will have a Christmas gift for the nation in the shape of an official a-unnee that, the King is out of anger. In any case, it now is evident that the royal family, which will be completed by the_arrival of the Duke of Gloucester on Monday, will be able to celebrate the day with & degree of quiet confidence which had seemed impossible only a week ago. It will be, nevertheless, the first o{hmunu for & dtwl..n” 1:% Ee royal family has spen n = stead of at Sandringham. Large Family Gathering. It apears that the Queen does not intend to issue a Christmas message to the nation, but it is understood that her majesty has expressed privately her desire that the country should not per- mit the illness of the King to interfere in the slightest degree with the usual Christmas observances. There will be nll;n u:uh;s.unuy large fam- gathering at Bucl ham ace on the holiday. Celebrations will include the presentation of the usual gifts and, if the King still is improving, a Christ- mas tree. The dinner party will include the Prince of ‘Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Princess Mary, ths Duke of Gloucester, Prince George and the sisters of King George. It is understodd that his majesty now is_well enough to talk about domestic about gifts to the doctors, nurses and others who have faithfully attended him during his illness. HINT CABINET POST FOR H. E. COFFIN Washington Reports Indicate En- gineer May Be Secretary of Interior for Hoover. Washington heard reports yesterday that Howard E. Coffin of Detroit, en- gineer and manufacturer, is likely to be Secretary of the Interior in the cabinet of Herbert Hoover. Mr. Coffin is to be the host of Presi- dent and Mrs. Ooolidge on his estate at Sapelo Island, Ga., during the Christ- mas holidays. It was said, however, that this coming event has no con- nection with the fact that he has al- ready been considered by President- elect Hoover for the post mentioned, _— VOLUME OF CHRISTMAS TRADE | HERE REPORTED SATISFYING Business Well Over Last Year's Indicated, With Number of Shopping Days Re- duced—Trend Is to Useful Gifts. BYRD COMPANIONS ENIOY ADVENTURE Crew Finds Life Pleasant Despite Struggle Against Ice Floes. BY RUSSELL OWE By Wireless to The Star and the New York ‘Times: ON BOARD THE CITY OF NEW The public, yoRK, December 22.—Our days go on bumpingly. Ramming the pack, push- ing huge cakes aside, now backing, now struggling ahead a little, the sturdy little ship makes its way slowly south. Always there is the grumbling and crunching hiss of ice along the side, the shouts of orders from those con- ning us through, the barking and whining of impatient dogs. Outside is the white field of snow-covered ice, smooth and rolling or broken and twist- ed into a thousand fragments that have been welded together under the touch of Winter cold. Life goes gayly, nevertheless. Busy with their many tasks or resting in their bunks between watcles, the men joke and hurl good-natured gibes or break into song. Humor Among Crew. ‘There is much humor in a_ crew of this kind, with scientist and stoker eating side by side and commenting with that good fellowship which finds refuge in banter on each other's foibles. We would be very uncomfortable if we could not laugh. As it is, no more loyal and unselfish crew ever sailed the seas. Down in the tiny forecastle, forward of the larger forecastle and messroom, Sverre Strom, the first mate, is playing his big accordion. It is a small room with four large bunks along each side in two tiers. An elet:mk ic ‘bun; m;x‘ yella;hthmm gh the smoke of many pipes. e blue haze makes dim the corners of the room. A litter of packing cases, bags and suit cases is on the floor, which is paved with the things which tired men drop and forget to pick up. Pictures Tacked on Walls. Some pictures of those left behind are tacked on the inner walls of bunks. Sverre Strom, his huge form lean- ing back against the wall, looks up at the deck above as his big fingers find the many keys of his instrument. His eager, lean face is burned by the blast of many an Arctic night; his medi- tative and deep-set eyes, under bleached scraggly sycbrows, look far away as he plays the songs of his own land. Old Martin Ronne, the sailmaker, leans on his sewing machine, a smile creasing his leather cheek on each side of his beaked nose, his eyes bl continuously. Bernt. Balchen, the aviator, sprawis on a pile of bags, contentedly listenin; as Dean (Babe) Smith, another pilot, z‘t,te'etches his long legs half way across room. ‘There is something very fine about this man strom whose life has been spent in the eternal ice of the North— & gentleness and courtesy more marked because of his strength. He plays a gay song. ‘The forecastle sways sideways as the ship runs up on a floe and slides off again. and a rumbling, tearing soun comes through the planks. Long Table for All Through the open door to the larger forecastle, which runs almost to id- ship, can be seen the companionway steps, coming down from the hatch. Th!enl‘nhnlgma-ublehonmesld’;é large room every otte, includ- ing Comdr. Byrd, eats, and around th- sides are bunks for 50 men. The roor fades away into a dense shadow. Dishes clatter and there are cries for more soup and demands to know whc became of the butter. Even di the meals some of the men are sleeping there, nondescrip curtains cutting of some of the lights. Bags are everywher ! under foot and clot hangs frr lines in the semi-ol Y. noise, are read- 15 i thelr DuRks or or ape sitting near the hatch smoking, sewing on clothes or writing letters which will be sent home some day. We eat in - three messes, Charles Lofgren, major domo, having brought order out of the.chaos which existed when every one tried to eat at once. He is resplendent in Dun- dreary whiskers and carries a towel around his neck. His hands are the cleanest aboard, for which all are thankful, as it is Charley who dips out the soup. Syd Greason, the steward, and Dick Conter, the assistant steward, help him. There are always late arrivals who meet with the best ble defense the scathing sarcasm of Lofgren as he in- forms them to the minute just how late they are. Spilled Soup No Worny. ‘The ship lurches and Lofgren spills on some one’s hair and down his Pictiresaue objections. . Lofgren caimmy 1 jue objections. ly mops up his vljcnm with a towel. Stumble up the deep sf to the deck and through the accumulated con- fusion is cleared a way on one side to the galley. A breath of warm air. laden with the smell of roasf meat and new bread floats out of open door. It is warm in there and some one is gen- erally hugging the stove and chatting with George Tennant, the cook. Wwith_a calm which nothing can disturb, George smiles upon all who come and discuss in & low mono- tone, the things which the men do out- side the galley. No matter how we roll, George imperturbably turns out good things to eat. He is a bit skeptical of human intelligence in motives, but it is only necessary to go to with a sad expression to get a cup cocoa. egg is George, whose cynicism 0t robbed him of his hi 3 ting wing an%‘lelkflfil‘llulflv‘m dams, & d“u““ " A the second mate, conning us through. He wears a fur hat with a silk crown, hence his name. his shoulders hunched up, if he had been shriveled (Copyright, 1028, by the New Y. Co. and Couis "Post-Dispaten, Al sh- and the rights for publication reserved through. out the world.) PR o WOMAN FOUND SLAIN; POLICE SEEKING MAN Body Discovered at Residence of Andrew J. Hawkins, Colored. Ruth Watkins, colored, was found shot to death last night in a room at 1506 Twenty-sixth street, the residence of Andrew J. Haw] . ‘8lso colored. A lookout fdr Hawkins was sent to 4 and will confer with Mr. Hoover in Florida. soon after the coming Presi- dent has taken uj -inauguration uarters. at m’m’?u his South tour. Mr. Coffin has served on several Government assignments, including his work as a dollar-a-year man during the war, and later as a member of the President’s Aircraft Board - in™1925, when the charges of inefficlency in Government aircraft development by Col. William B. Mitchell led to a gen- eral investigation of the situation by He was also a member of the advisory commission of the Councll of National Defense from 1916 to 1918, and chair- man of the 't Board of the United States from MY, 1917, to April, 1918, e iy police throughout the city at ht. | ‘The woman was shot several in ' the heart by a .32 caliber pistol. The Bolice.™ Fhe ‘Body ‘was. discovered ny. iibcit Buriey, Solored 20, & recumr av- the place, who furnished identification. ght for m.fia:{‘;‘.t, wld“po'-lhl:. -l sou l, left her husband early in October and that since then Ruth Watkins had been living there. Coroner J. Ramsay Nevitt was notified of the death. = —ieif i The Clyde Shipbuild! & re td., Port olh‘uwm mm“d. Giyde Shipvard o close Mithin eche ¢l ‘months. ey -