Evening Star Newspaper, March 24, 1929, Page 4

[ s FATE OF MAZATLN STILS INDOUB Rebels Renew Attack in Ef-! fort to Take City Before More Federals Arrive. (Continued From First Page.) glu.no and Jalisco, w ve been active for several years. An American aviator, said to be from the Mexican Federal air base at Naco, Sonora, was captured this afternoon when he landed and attempted to set fire to a railroad bridge near Santa Cruz between Naco and Nogales, ac- eording to a statement issue headquarters at Nogales, Sonora. Gen, Calles announced that Gen. Almazan was preparing an overland advance against the Escobar forces at Jimenez, which have wrecked about 100 miles of railway track between Torreon and Chihuahua City. Trucks and auto- mobiles commandeered at Torreon Will be utilized. U. S. CONSUL 1S UNHARMED. e the “fanaticos” Americans in Mazatlan Are Safe, He Tells Mexico City Embassy. MEXICO CITY, March 23 (#).—The United States embassy tonight received 3 signed by William T. Block- er, American consul at Mazatlan, filed at noon, stating that all Americans in that city were safe. (An unconfirmed report st Nogales had said that the con- sul had been killed during the battle at | Mazatlan.) An outnumbered federal garrison suc- cessfully had defended Mazatlan, one of the chief Mexican ports on ihe Pa- cific, against a 30-hour assault and to- night was mn‘ndznv. that its position ‘was impregnable. ‘The r‘r)l:eln federal army, united under Gen. Plutarco Elias Calles at Torreon, after successful campaigns in Zaca- tecas, Durango, Nueva Leon and Coa- huila, was divided into th{ee armies for &s many separate crmpaigns. A communigue issued by headquar- ters at Chapultepec Castle tonight said that the insurgents had been unable to make any imporiant advance on Ma- satlan, although they had obtained a foothold in & c:metery which enabled them to snipe at the federal position. at rebel | pe Manso and Topete; in Vera Cruz by ing in anguish for the government of | stage. Lust for Power Seen by Portes Gil as Revolt Cause. government's 'block- | 1 lmbll(on? of certain r The provision ine of the mat y had ent prepared he Btar and the N Newspaper Alliance first _signed public statement made by the President on the revolt. BY EMILIO PORTES GIL. CHAPULTEPEC PALACE, Mexico | City, March 23.—Not even the rebels themselves know for certain’ the causes which inspired their movement in my | country. i It is already well known that the re-| llion was headed, in Sonora, by Gens. | | | i | Gen. Aguirre, in . { Chihuahua by Gen. Cataveo, governor of the state, and in that substantially they fail to agree among themselves. The basic docu- ment of the upris- ing, the so-called “plan of Hermo- sillo,” subscribed to by the generals who rev]:lolud in Sonora, alleges that e e e Emilie Portes Gil. rebellion was a supposed presidential | imposition. ut it should be remarked that the electoral campaign was just beginning to be developed, and that even the can- didates opposing the government had been making declarations that they | were backed with sufficient guarantees| for their prepaganda, and that not only | themselves, but their followers as well, were freely exercising their civic rights without the slightest annoyance from officials of the federal government. Reforms Not Outlined, He Says. No programs of social or political principles were embodied in the declara- tions by the rebellious chieftains when they began their armed uprising, They plainly and frankly intimate that their e only reference to casualties said mu "o}aye federal was wounded” and that there were ‘“rebel 'c-nnmuf' Soldiers’ Strength Hidden. e government <‘"tement gave no T:‘es %? the numbers of soldiers on either side, but previous reports had been that there were about 3,500 rebels nder Gens. Cruz and Iturbe as against 2,000 constituting the defense force un- der Gen. Jaime Carrillo. Federal re- ihforcements were er route, but the first of them were no':e ;xpccud to reach the Jeagured city before tomoITOW. The fighting has been along the highways and hilly ground on the out- skirts of the city and for some miles out slong the, railroad and appros . The fed>rals were supported by bom- bardment from a federal Progresso, which was said to have made n:ie {ehbelmd";‘h;mwe“- yard and other. e ' cidedly uncomfortable. Land batteries of the federals have joined in this bardment. ) Gen. Carillo reported to the President T He that the vebels * their mmk with cavalry, ¥, and artillery at 3 the federal y. From this and several dster at+ ‘ the rebels were forced fo retreat. The Progresso, lyin; ent late on Friday afternoon. At 6:15 pm. the rebel cavalry, unable <to stand up under the shelling, re- “treated from its position the highways approaching the city. The communique referred to alrplane dropping propaganda on the city, but made no mention of any bombing. ‘The three separate troop movements today were under command of Gen. _ Juan A. Almazan, assigned to advance morthward toward Jimenez against the yebel army of Gen. Gonzalo Escobar. Gen. Cardenas, who led a second column to the relief of Mazatlan, and 12 ments of cavalry totaling about 5. men, under Gen. Saturning Cedillo - with orders to clean out “fanaticos” the government term for ~so-called Catholic rebels, in the states of Guanjuato and Jalisco. : _ Mexico City was somewhat mystified i @8 to the reasons which led Gen. Calles to make this offensive at this time. A"DERALS TO ATTACK N’OGALI.I. & rebel SAN LUIS, Sonora, Mexico, March 23 (#)—A federal cavalry .force B800 strong was dispatched from the gov- ernment garrison here late today with orders from Gen. Abelardo Rodrigues of the northern district of Lower Cali-, fornia to attack the rebel garrison at Nogales, Sonora. Gen, ez arrived here today with federal reinforcements from Mexi- eala, Lower California, which brought the infantry strength to 3,000 troops, he said. He added that an attack on | the rebel stronghold at Nogales would bs made as quickly as the cavalry eould cross the Sonoran Desert. Gen. 2z claimed that 12 bombinig planes for use in the attack on Nogales had landed here. An air- base sufficient for 20 planes has en establighed, he said. ‘To provide water for the troops cross- ing the desert, Rodridguez said trucks had placed 50 barrels at intervals in the desert. Troops also were Carrying wa- ter_supplies, he said. “The infantry stationed here will fol- low the cavalry within several days, Rodriguez said, being transported by trucks and tractors which already have penetrated a large section of the desert and pounded down a semblance of a road for marching formations. FEDERALS TRAVEL OVER U. S. SOIL | DEMING, N. M., March 23 (P).—Two | armored trucks loaded with Mexican | federal troops stopped here this morn- | ing for breskfast. The soldiers into the United States at Eagle Pass, Tex., and were on their way from Mex- | ieo City to reinforce the garrison at! Neco, Sonora, where an attack by rebels { has been expected for more than a week. The soldiers stopped here only s few minutes and then proceeded westward. NOGALES SECTOR QUIET. NOGALES, Sonora, Mexico, March 23 (#).—Actual fighting at Mazatlen, Sinaloa, and_ preparations for a rebel attack on Naco, Sonora, summarized the revolutionary situation in North- western Mexico today, as announced by 1 the revolutionary headquarters here. The Naco, Sonora, sector experienced . mnother rebel promise of te ! tack, in reports that Gen. Fausto To pete’s columns had been concentrated ! at Del Rio for the advance. Gen. Augustino Olachea, second in command of the federals at Naco, don- the federal airport to make a scouting i trip by air. H Additional ammunition for the fed- eral forces was transferred from Naco, Ariz., to Naco, Sonora, today. } A report that he had narrowly missed being captured when a federal plane was found down was denied by Gen.| Olachea tonight, He had not been in the air, he said. He admitted, howevcr, that “Buzz” gunboat, | ment, while Gen. Armenta, command- bom- | itself from Gep. Caraveo and coura- TN Eeiday afternoon E‘u@ o o {renches outside. the | Anbivion. had. Tesched sueh & dores ot g in the harbor | nothing to them when their lust for landing supplies, opened its bom- | gain and their business were at stake. ned goggles and helmet and rushed to | movement aims to gain the Fowm: From the first moment of the revolt it was possible to prove that the un- faithful chiefs had resorted to deceit to drag along the groups they com- manded. - ‘Three regiments which had accom- | peop panied Gen. Aguirre soon protested uulf loyaity and repudiated Gen, rre. Similarly, regiments commanded by Col. Dnmlngu. Gen, Encarnacion Vega Gil and 1. Macias disowned Oe'sl Urbalejo and ed to fight him, proceed: lvovl“n‘ their loyalty to the govern- men Later Gen. Agustin Olachea disowned Manzo and placed himself and men at the orders of the govern- 400 soldiers, protested against the rebellion and reiterated his loyalty to the government. In Juarez the small garrison tore usly defendedthe town when Gen. tias Ramos assumed the military command in the state of Chihuahua. thesise the LLH Claims Enemies Are Corrupt. ‘The afc tioned fll““i"ho for e} thelr “"nmov o such & ‘edrruption that respect for the tions and obedience to law tu- ‘meant It can thus be explained how they were able ' to establish feudal cliques and amass enormous fortunes. - y The government, in har- mony ita program of moralization, which it has been developing with no confpromises whatever, raf itself as an obstacle to the ambition of those men, Purther, the policies of the govern- ment, which at improvement of the social and economic conditions of the working classes, were also consid- ered by those chiefs as directed it them, as they had become large land. holders and controlled certain indus- tries, and felt no longer identified Wwith | organ! & government of advanced ideas. Peasants Defend Government. As soon as the government learned of the rebellious movement it proceeded to crush it. Units were organized with peasants and workers, who hastened to defend the government and fight the disloyal forces, and who, in many. cases, have gained decisive victorles. . ‘This undoubtedly has been one of the main influences in the demoralization of the rebel forces, which have been convinced that the humble classes of the country unanimously support. and defend the government, because they feel the government has fulfilled its duty in heeding their call for social improve- ment. I believe this rebellious movement is a natural phenomenon in & people who are yet going through the formative period. I also believe that in the long run it will prove highly beneficial to the country. The abnegation displayed by the immense majority of the army and of the people in rallying to the defense of the institutions embodied in a civilian government is eloquent, and speaks loudly in favor of authority. (Copyright, 1929. by -the North American Newspaper Allfance.) e . Mrs. §. §. Hess Dies. IOWA CITY, March 23 (#).—Mrs. S. 8. Hess, mother of H. Bellas Hess, head of the New York mail order house of that name, died here yesterday, Her father was the first president of the Phflldelghll Chamber of Commerce. It is not necessary to have had an Account at this Bank to Borrow Easy to Pay Loans $120 $180 | $540 $45.00 i $1,200 $100.00 | | $6,000 $500.00 | '} THE MORRIS || PLAN BANK Under Supervisios U. 8. Treasury 1408 H STREET, N. W. Morrison of Reno, Nev., 71 aviator with ¢ r,me federal forces, not vet had returned % %< trom scouting duty. | national policy by “Renovating Movement” Hit at Moral Redemp- tion, Says Valenzuela. One of the foremost figures in the lexican uprising. Gilberto Velenzuela. anti-administration candidete for Presi- t November's election. who d with Gen. Obregon as Ambassador to Grest Britain, an secretary of the interior. in the followine article written for The Btar and the North American Newspaper Alliance. defines the opposition of the revolutionary movement to the admin- istration now in power. dent at nexi BY GILBERTO VALENZUELA. HERMNMOSILLO, Sonora, Mexico, March 23.—The present movement is mainly directed against the Calles dictatorship, which is a dictatorship of crime, vice and corrup- tion. ‘The people of Mexico had been wait- Portes Gil to effect a radical change in the initiation of an era of order, law, justice and of de- cency. But when their hopes were de- frauded and the realization was born that Portes Gil was nothing more thaa a blind and servile instru- ment for the indef- inite continuation of the Calles dicta- torship, they were placed in the abso- Val la. lute necessity of e st resorting to revolution as the only prac- | tical and effective means to free them- selves from this shameful situation. Outlines Restoration Program. The program of restoration embraced by the renovating movement may be synthesized as follows: Strict and absalute respect for human life, origin and source of all rights, whether natural, civilian or political. Effective guarantees for the exercise of individual liberties, in all their mani- festations, and especially in those phases which have been so barbarically and criminally mocked and jeered by the Calles dictatorship, such as the freedom of conscience, freedom in re- ligious matters, freedom of the press, freedom of labor, ete. Absolute effectivity of the basic prin- ciple of our political organization, which is the following: “All public power comes from the people and shoulld e To make this principle a living reality it is of the utmost necessity to create examples of honesty, sincerity and good faith in our democratic practices and to restore the fundamental law of the republic, the principle of non-re-elec- tlon, barring all those who have been constitutional Presidents of Mexico from ever rising to the presidency again. Sanction and consolidation of the so- cial, political and economical redemp- tion of the workers of Mexico and of Mexico’s exploited classes, by faging all national problems, especially those re- lated to industrial and agricultural Iaborers, with & serene criterion, wholly separated from all individual aims and inspired only by public interest, justice and good faith. Moral Redemption Held Vital. To attain this goal it is necessary to replace the poisonous idea of revenge which has been rhnted in the minds of the humble classes by professional reapers of hate, with the saving notion of harmony, equilibrium and co-opera- tlonl,‘you a plane of order, justice and uity. Systematic moral and Intellectual re- ‘demption of the people. to make of this redemption the firm basis of organic peace and of the empire of our institu- ons. To achieve this a policy of moral puri- fication is needed, especialy in official circles, which, to the shame of the country, have been converted by Calles in schools of crime, of selfish commer- cial interests, of vice and of corruption. ‘The rooting of this program of resto- ration in the heart of the people has no parallel in the history of Mexico. ‘The army of the renovating movement is received everywhere with applause and flowers, in the cities as well as in the country. More than 50,000 civilians are now fighting with arms a t the Calles dictatorship, besides the powerful and ized army, units which, in com- pliance with their duty, have cour- usly espoused the cause of the peo- ple. ‘Were it possible for the directors of the movement duly to satisfy the de- mands for arms and ammunition which daily are received from all corners of the republic, more than 200,000 men would be available for war duties in less than 15 days, ready to finish once and for all the ignominious regime of Calles. ‘The final triumph of the revolution cannot be doubted. ~The sweeping force of its armies is-fundamentally based on the moral strength of justice, of sound ideals, and of faith. There is no human power capable of drowning in blood or shackling with chains the irrepressible longing for freedom, order and justice which are nested in the national conscience. (Copyright, 1929, by North American News- paper Alliance.) Honduras Changes Alien Law. ‘TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, March 23 (#).—Congress today approved, after various reforms, a new immigration law requiring ‘Turks, Palestinians, Syrians and Chinese to have $2,500 for entry into Honduras, These nations must deposit with the government $250 which will be returned to them if they leave within three months. renovating | M be used for the benefit of the! THE SUNDAY STAR. WASHINGTON, BOTH SIDES IN MEXICO SOUTHERNSTORNS L35 MISSNG 'Tornadoes and Floods Lash | Scction From Louisiana to Virginia. | (Continued From First Page.) | Cairo gauge, but ha believed they would | | prolong high stages of the Mississippi River between Cairo and New Madrid, | Mo. | Meanwhile, because of local rainfall, | F. W. Brist, Memphis meteorologist, raised his crest prediction for the Mississippi here for Tuesday from 40.8 to about 41 fect, six feet above fluod | The river has crept up the foot | of Beale avenue, making it necessary | for traffic to the wharves to use an-| | other route. | | _The Yazoo River is above flood st It showed a rise of 1.8 feet at Yazoo| |city, Miss,, today, and water was spreading over unprotected lands. The spreading_checked the rise. Following | | a 4.32-inch rainfall Friday, the Tombig- | bee River passed the 32-foot gauge at Aberdeen, Miss., and was expected to| | reach 35 feet by Sunday. That stage, it was predicted, would cause thousands | of acres of land to be overflowed and some highways probably blocked. The | Tombighee does not affect the Missis- sippi River. | KENTUCKY TOWNS HIT. | No Casualties Are Reported, However, | as Result of Flood. | LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 23 (#).—A dozen or more cities and towns in East- ern and Southeastern Kentucky were affected by floods of the same nature that caused extensive damage in Ten- nessee today, but no casualties were re- ported. Early estimates of the property damage varied from $500,000 to $1,000,000. The flooded towns include Jackson and Hazard in the Kentucky River val- ley and Somerset, Harlan, Pineville, Middleboro, and Burnside in the Cum- berland River valley. Five thousand or more persons were forced to leave their homes for higher ground, but all had ample warning, the rise had been checked in all places tonight, and the water was falling in most of them. Most of the property loss was due to washed out bridges and tracks on branch railroad lines to coal mines and to the damage done to homes and busi- ness houses by deposits of mud always left behind by mountain floods. LEVEE STARTS TO SLIP. QUINCY, Ill, March 23 (P).—New trouble loomed in the flood-swept dis- | tricts around Quincy tonight when the | main Mississippi River levee of the Gregory drainage district started to slip. A hurry call was sent to Keokuk, Iowa, | bringing additional workers and a boat- | load of sandbags to carry on the fight | against the encroaching waters. ‘With the 20,000 acres of farm land in the Indian Grave Drainage district well covered with the overflow as a re- sult of two breaks in the levees, concern was felt for the region on the other side of this city. The dikes surrounding the South Quincy Gardens were weak- ening and there was considerable seep- age of flood water. Company G of the Illinois National Guard, composed of residents of Quincy, kept constant vigil over the precious dikes and Adjt. Gen. Carlos E. Black, State commander, was expected here to- morrow to make a personal inspection of the area and determine the need for additional troops. The stage of the Mississippi River remained at 20 feet, although a rise was predicted. B. L. Waldron of Han- nibal, Mo., weather forecaster, said the river would go up 2 to 4 feet between Keokuk, Iowa, end Louisiana, Mo., dur- ing the next 24 hours. Drainage experts explained that-‘ad- ditional men were needed to keep close watch on the levees, which give way fast and with little warning once thor- oughly soaked with water. The weight of & man walking over them or the jar of a nearby passing train Js often enough to aid the water in bursting through. The drainage districts on the other side of the river, in Missouri, were rc- ported in good condition, the weakest spot in the North Fabius levee appar- ently having given no more trouble, The Fablus River, choked by the back- water of the Mississippi, into which it opens a few miles south of Quincy, is within a few feet of the top of the levee. VIRGINIANS FLEE FOR LIVES. NORTON, Vi March 23 (A)— Rapidly rising streams early today sent residents of many communities in Wise and Lee Counties fleeing for their lives and resulted in extensive property damage. Highways were inundated and tonight a number of places were damaged. Live stock ‘was swept away, bridges demolished and railroad beds were washed out in & number of places. A wall of water rushing down Powells River at 5 o'clock this morn- ing caught §0 convicts at State Road Camp No. 5, at Big Stone Gap, asleep in their bunks. The camp was flooded before guards could remove the manacled prisoners to safety, but none was thought to be injured. Eleven bloodhounds out of a pack of 12 at the camp were drowned and the camp hospital and all medical supplies were carried away. The rushing water, re- ported to have been 10 feet deep, car- ried away a poultry house with a large number of chickens and a quantity of the camp food supplies. In Big Stone Gap a section of a 50- D0, A break in the Mississip the Indian Grave drainage gap in the levee. foot wall was washed out by Powells River flood. At Andover, a mining camp in Wise County, a night watchman roused the several hundred inhabitants at 2 o'clock this morning before the place ‘was flooded by rising mountain streams. In the Pound section Guests River went on a rampage this morning and carried away a dwelling before the family had been warned in time to vacate. The family was rescued from its floating prison with great difficulty. The water was reported 10 feet over the new State highway leading to Lynchburg. In Lee County water was reported in the mines and railroad tracks were washed out. Mine operations will be suspended for several days. A wash- out on the Southern Railway had pre- vented trains from reaching St. Charles. Pennington Gap, in Lee County, was partially isolated when a bridge over Powells River was demolished. All along the course of the Powells River there came reports of destruction. ‘Wreckage and carcasses of cattle and hogs and other live stock could be seen floating down the river today. N Esserville, in Wise County, was flooded and the postoffice at Ramsey, :e::;u miles from Norton, was carried “MAYBE 20 FOLKS” DROWN. Harriman, Tenn, Officer Reports Certain Death of 19. NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 23 (#).— The chief of police at Harriman, Tenn., told the Assoclated Press by telephone tonight that he was certain 19 persons had been drowned by floods in or near Harriman. He said “maybe 20 " lost their lives. X % folk His list of known dead follows: * Mrs. Maud Hill and four children; Bob Underwood, coal dealer; Mrs, F.O. Jenkins and four children; Lon Bran- ham, his wife and one child; Will Wright, wife and one chil Jonah Smith, “an old gentleman,” and Jim Gryman, a factory night watchman. No bodies had been recovered, the chief sald. . The officer reported a few minu later than “a Mrs. McElroy” also was drowned. He said most of the dead lived at or near Harriman, but that no details of the deaths were available. Five large plants, including an ice plant and woolen mill, “were wiped away,” the police chief said. Sixty- eight homes were swept off their foundations, some floating away with th;c crest. X cars swept through low-lying streets or floam? about r:flrold yllm. changed suddenly to lakes, More than 30 feet of water swept through the fac- tory section, the chief reported. The water started pouring into town about 3 am. and within three hours reached its crest. There was no warn- ing. Most of the residents were asieep and awakened only by cries of nighbors or water pounding against their homes. After reaching its crest, the water started falling rapidly and tonight was receding about one foot an hour. ALLEGED ROBBER HELD. American Consul to Montreal Helps Trap R. G. Simmons. Robbed in an apartment hallway Pri- day evening of his pocketbook, watch, knife and a trinket, Harry M. Lakin, American consul to Montreal, Canada, stopping at 1310 Sixteenth street, yesterday afternoon led Headquarters Detective Howard E. Ogle to teenth street and Pennsylvania avenue, the spot set for a second meeting with the man to redeem the watch for $25, and the alleged robber was arrested. He was booked as Robert G. Sim- mons, 27, of 307 E street, and charged with robbery. !\.\’5 % J -" Cerfe ROOF MAIN OFFICE-6™ & C.Sts. S.W. CAMP MEIGS-5 & Fla. Ave.N.E. BRIGHTWOOD-592I Ga. Ave.N.W. ain-teed ING_ Building Materials For Less Money, Always! Plumbing Millwork MARCH 24, 1929—-PART 1. i River levee near Quincy, Iil, flooded more than 12,000 acres of corn and wheat lai istrict. The above photo is an aerial picture of Wisconsin Spring Weather Marred By Snowstorm By the Associated Press. SUPERIOR, Wis., March 23. —King Winter laughed today when some careless TS0N chanced to mention that it was the third day of Spring. It was & hearty laugh. It shook all the snow out of his long white beard and sent great puffs of wind over the countryside. The snow, carried on the crest of a 35-mile wind, covered 10 counties in the northern part of the State to a depth varying from 4 to 6 inches. In many places it drifted to a depth of several feet. Superior bore the brunt of the gale. Within half an hour street car service was disrupted. VOICE IN LEGISLATION ASKED FOR CITY HEADS Miss Boardmarn, Ex-Commissioner, Addresses City Club at Dinner. Privilege of the floor of the House of Representatives and the Senate should be extended to the District Com- missioners in order that they might wolcd their opinion of legislation affect- ing the city. Miss Mabel T. Boardman, former * Commissioner, declared last night when addressing the Women's City Club, at a dinner. Miss Board- man also voiced -prmvll of the plan to give residents of the District na- tional rej ntation and the right to vote for ident also. Other speakers on the program were Mr. and Mrs. Jesse C. Suter, Mrs. Eliza- beth Sullivan, vice president of the Progressive Citizens' Association of Judge Mary O'Toole, J. Garfleld and Miss Mary E. Lazenby. The dinner completes the club's civic program. ds in the water pouring through the 200-foot PLANES ARE ASKED | TO SMASH ICE GORGE Missouri Imperils North Dakota. Section. | By the Assoclated Press. | MANDAN, N. Dak, March 23—An | appeal to President Hoover for bombing | planes to smash a seven-mile ice gorge | in the Missouri River was telegraphed to Washington today by the City Com- missian and Chamber of Commerce. Millions of dollars of damage will re- sult, the telegram said, unless the gorge at Schmidt and Huff, 14 miles south of here, is broken before a heavy wall of water, coming downstream, reaches this point. A request to the 7th Corps Area heazjuarters for planes to break the gorge brought the reply that Army of- | ficials considered such a move not | feasible. O. W. Roberts, United States meteo- | rologist, said that unless the gorge at | Huff is broken, waters from the upper river will flood this city. Damage to farm lands near Schmidt and Huff is already estimated at $250,000. ROBBERS OVERLOOK CASH CARRIED BY THEIR VICTIM ‘There was nothing thorough about the two robbers who accosted Simon S. Messer last night. While one, palpably nervous, pressed some sort of a weapon against the victim's back, his co-worker made a perfunctory search that netted only two of the $22 Messer had on him. Then the robbers, both colored, made off with amateurish haste. Messer of 1339 Park road was on Thirteenth near T street at the time. Police of the pair. Messer could not tell whether the rob- ber behind him was armed with a pistol, since he never flourished the weapon. | Wall of Water Rushing Down| eighth precinct Georgetown; Mrs. Merritt O. Chance, t.h'c s o ieeion e ookoN e BLIZZARD HALTS COLORADD TRAINS San Juan Basin Swept by One of Winter’s Worst Storms. By the Associated Press. DURANGO, Colo., March 23.—A bliz- zard described as the most severe of the year swept into the San Juan Basin late today, and tonight all railroads leading into Durago were blocked by huge drifts and snowslides. All high- ways were impassable. The Denver & Rio Grande Western Rallroad between Durango and Alamosa was blocked by huge drifts in the nar- row Cumbres Pass. It was reported that drifts many feet deep were form- ing over the right of way in the nar- Tow passes In the lower altitudes of the San Juan Basin heavy rain fell throughout the afternoon, and it was feared the rain might result in flood conditions throughout that section of the San Juan district. Advices from Silverton said that town was in the grip of the worst storm of the season. Heavy snow, borne on a high wind, swept h the town. The Siiverton branch of the Denver & Rio Grande again was blocked by & | heavy snowslide. The slide was de- seribed as being 200 feet long and filled with a large amount of ber and heavy roeks. ’rhye Rio Grande Southern Railroad ! petween Durango and Telluride was | blocked at Lizard Head, where the heavy rain that preceded the snow | loosened large quantities of earth that | covered the tracks with heavy mud and large rocks. ‘Heavy rain and snow caused land- slides that blocked the Farmington branch of the. Denver & Rio Grande between Durango and. Farmington, N. Mex. |RAINS SOFTEN TRACK, TRAIN WRECKED, 4 HURT ‘Engine and Two Coaches Overturn in Alabama—Engineer Is Pinned Beneath Wreckage. By the Associated Press. ‘BROOKWOOD, Ala., March 28.—The engine and two coaches of a Loulsville | & Nashville mixed train operating be- | tween Birmingham and ‘Tuscaloosa turned over at Sarles, Ala, near hers today as it was passing over a soft track caused by heavy rains. W. E. Wrye, engineer, suffered in- juries to his right arm and bruises and cuts. He was pinned beneath the wreck- age of the engine and was rescued by passengers and trainmen. Mrs. Edward Morris of Birmingham, wife of an engineer, who was a passen- ger on the train, suffered internal in- furles. She was taken to a Birmingham hospital. A colored woman and the czaored fireman, Bob Davis, suffered slight injuries. {DYNAMITE DISCOVERY | HALTS SLEDGE HAMMER Explosive Amid Seized Gambling Equipment, Chicago, Enough 1 #® Wreck Court. | By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, Mar¢h 23.-—Enough dyna- mite - to have’'wrecked the Criminal Court Building’ was foind in a store of seized -gambling paraphernalia, directly beneath the State's attorney's office today. Chief Bailiff Charles Mugler, armed with a sledge hammer, had taken a couple of fusty whacks at an assortment of roulefte wheels, faro tables and slot machines which he had been ordered to destroy when he discovered the ex- plosive. It consisted of 30 strands of wire, ori each of which was a percussion and six sticks of dynamite. lice said the dynamite had been seized in raids on criminal haunts, and had evidently been placed in the store- room with the gambling equipment by a careless attache. G WATER HEATER Upstairs, downstairs, you will always have hot water. It never gives out—it never needs attention. Light the new Pittsburg the day it’s installed—and it will guarantee you constant hot water be- cause it’s automatic. It’s low priced—in fact it’s so inexpensive that for once it’s not a question of “can we afford it” but “how soon can we get itP” See or Call Your Plumber—Your Gas Co. Edgar Mor;;s Sales Co. 1305 G St. N.W. Factory Distributors <« g™ National 1032