Evening Star Newspaper, June 15, 1931, Page 1

THER. WEA' (U. 5. Weather Bureau Forecast). Probably showers Tow: uch change in_temperature. s est, 77, at 4 L and tomor- ; lowest, 66, at 5:30 a.m. 3 Full Teport on page Pages13,14&15 ss matter No. 31,821, ‘Faterad.on e D e HORRORS OF SEA TRAGEDY DESCRIBED BY SURVIVORS 442 ARE DROWNED, 8 SAVED AS STORM! SINKS PICNIC BOAT OFF FRENCH COAST Dozens of Harbor Craft Are Searching Bay of Biscay for Bodies of Victims, With| Eight Recovered. PASSENGERS STAMPEDE 'AS WAVES LASH STEAMER 8t. Philibert Goes Down Near St. Nazaire When Hurricane Breaks ‘With Sudden Fury; Chance Many Left Before Tragedy or Reached Say E WASHINGTON, D. C.,-MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1931—FORTY PAGES, x ursion ' Boat Salik After Pas- xc sengers Rushed En Masse to One Side to Escape Wind’s Violence. By the Associated Press. . ST. NAZAIRE, France, June 15— Daniel Duverger, a 20-year-old carpen- ter, sat over a steaming bowl of coffee in a borrowed suit of clothes today and told the story of the sinking of the ex- cursion steamer St. Philibert. He is one of the eight persons who escaped when more than 400 picnicks ‘were drowned. & ““There were 467 of us when the boat started from Nantes at 8 o'clock yester- day ' morning,” he said. “She rolled badly in the wind on the way out, and some of us were pretty sick, but when we got to the island (of Noirmoutiers) everybody forgot the bad weather and we had a happy time. “We put out on the way p.m. home at 5 weather was very bad and the e and everyl e would get home safely. “It was about 6 o'clock, I think, when tremendous waves piled r‘:& in the bay and the boat began to dreadfully. The wind was hitting us from the port side and it seemed to me that every- body decided all at once to get over on the other side. We rushed over to- fither. 1t was the worst thing we could ve dgne, but we were not seamen and 't tealize it then. ship keeled over from our weight. Several big waves came aboard one after another suddenly I - ized that we were in danger. I had a distinct premonition that we would sink. “I am & good swimmer, and when I felt the ship turning under my feet I dived into ‘water. “It was none t0o soon, ai though I was clear of the boat she dragged me down in the suction, and I (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) - BAKER CASE JURY Shore in Safety Is Held Slim. By the Aisociated Press. ST. NAZAIRE, France, ~—Dozens of harbor craft picked their way across the Bay of Biscay today with lookouts scanning the water for the bodies of more than 400 men, women and children drowned yesterday when a hur- ricane capsized the excursion - steamer St. Philibert. Eight persons were rescued and eight bodies have been recovered. It is possible that others escaped death and have not yet reported their safety, but the toll of the disaster was estimated with as much accuracy as possible at 442 dead. There was an admittedly slim chance that a final check would reveal that many of the passen- gers had left the boat before the storm struck. It was barely pos- sible also that some of those aboard may have reached the shore in safety between Pointe De St. Gildas and the Loire River. There can be no definite check until the families of those aboard the steamer have reported to the police, Carried Crowd of Picnickers. The &t. Philibert was a flimsy 100~ foot river steemer, She put out from Nantes yesterday afternoon With a crowd of picnickers on an outing run by a labcr organization. Steaming down the river to St. Nazalre and across the bay to the island of Noirmoutier, not far to the south. ‘There most of the passengers went ashore. The weather was threatening when the steamer started on the return trip and at first it was reported that a hundred or more had decided not to 80 back by boat. Later this was proved erroneous and it was said that less than 30 remained behind. Off Pointe De St. Gildas the storm broke with sudden fury. The passen: gers stampeded. to the leeward side, threw the boat off an even keel and she turned over. A lighthouse keeper saw her go down but was helpless. Rescuers Renew Cruise. ‘The bodies of several woman passen- gers were picked “P this morning and they were completely devold of clothing —so powerful was the lashing fury of the waves. The body of on unidentified 18-year-old girl was still warm when fished out but life proved to be extinct after several hours of medical it- ment. The weather was beautiful and the sea was calm in contrast to yesterday’s savage outburst of the elements. Rescue boats renewed their cruising at daylight to find additional corp}s‘cl ml:h:J hvlk\:r‘: up any passengers who m cl‘:xg: to wreckage or drifted on to Focks. Stampede Is Blamed. Automobile loads of anguished rela- tives from numercus towns crowded St. Gildas Point. Throngs jammed into mewspaper offices and covered the docks in the vain wish that the names of their friends or kin would be among the meager list of the lving. Many elung to the hope that their beloved ones were among those who remained on the island because of the foul ‘weather. From the lighthouse keeper at St. Gil- das Point and the ailing survivors, au- thorities_began to plece together the (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) N SHIPS RACE TO CLAIM s s/ PICKED, TESTIMONY ENDED I 2 OURS Defendant Is Only Witness for Self in Wife-Slay- ing Trial. Less than two hours was required to- day to select a jury and hear all the witnesses for both sides in the District Supreme Court trial of Alfred C. Baker, charged with slaying his wife last April in their basement apartment at 807 O street. Baker was the only defense witness. Before breaking down and weeping during the middle of his examination he admitted he fired upon his wife in the last of a long series of arguments which had marked their marital life. Weapon for Self-Defense. The defendant explained he had pur- ‘chased the weapon used in the slaying after a friend told him his wife was | keeping tompany with a taxicab driver. | He addéd he had intended to use the gun in defending himself should he find his wife in company with the man. Pointing out that his wife had been itving with her relatives for several weeks prior to the fatal argument, Mr. Baker declared he sought to have her cook dinner for his three children the he shot her. “She said she didn't want to fool with ‘these brats,’” Baker testified. The witness said he was so nervous he didn’'t remember much of what was said just before the shooting. He de- clared he recalled his wife had told him he was crazy. “All I remember,” Baker said, “is that I fired point blank at her.” Sergt. John Flaherty, chief of the homicide squad, identified a statement signed by the defendant after he sur- rendered. Baker told substantially the same story in the confession. His con- fession added, however, that he had in- tended to commit suicide, but had changed his mind because he wanted to provide for his three small children. Shot in Back. Dr. A. M. MacDonald, deputy coroner, testified an autopsy revealed Mrs. Baker had been killed by a gunshot second ~precinct policeman, told of sending Mrs. Baker to a hospital. Viggo Larsen, a Police Department photog- rapher, identified a picture he had taken of the Baker apartment. No other witnesses were called. Four women, recently calied to the jury box, were challenged by Robert I. Miller, chief of defense counsel. As finally constituted, the jury consisted of men only, a majority of whom were married. The prosecution was conducted by John J. Sirica, an assistant United States attorney. MEXICAN HELD SLAYER Shooting of U. 8. Geologist Across Border Charged to Youth. . HARLINGEN, Tex, June 15 (#)— Refino Solis,'16, Mexican ranch hand, was held up by police in Mier, Mexico, today in connection with the fatal shooting of Kingsley C. Mitchell, 28, geologist, in Mexico last Priday. Mexican officers said the youth had made a statement. The bullet-riddled body of the gologist was b: ht across the Rio Grande to McAllen, Tex., Sat- urday. gicimy AUTOGIRO TRIP RENEWED . ISLANDS OFF BRAZIL @aptain of British Steamer Re- ports Finding Hitherto Un- observed South Atlantic Land. By the Assoclated Press. * RIO-DE JANEIRO, Brazil, June 15.— A British cruiser and a Brazilian war- ship today were steaming fcr two dots of Jand in the middle of the South At- lantic to lay claim to the islands re- ported on Saturday by the master of a British steamship. % The captain of the steamer Lelande the islands, “nm.mo unob- served in latitude 27.20 west, 1°ngitude 0.50" 1 near St. Faul's Rocks, off the an coast. H. M. 8. town and the Brazilian vessel are racing to plant_the flags of their nations on new was u land. thought here that the French might be interested for the sake airmail route to NAMUR DEFENDER DIES 'Baron Michel of Belgium, 80, Had Been Minister of War, Miss Earhart Hops'for Enid, Okla., on Way to Texas. OKLAHOMA CITY, June 15 (#). Amelia Earhart Putnam left here today | for Enid, Okla, in her autogiro after in a benefit air show yes- he Oklahoman-Times Milk and Ice Pund. From Enid she is expected to fly to Wichita Falls, Tex., and thence to Abi- lene, where she dama; another auto- last week in af Te. to show the people at Abllene “how an autogiro takes off.” wound in the back. Clarence Wood, & | jng 20-Hour Sermon Breaks Record of Colored Pastor Here By the Assoclated Press. LOS ANGELES, June 15—Dr. A. F. Futterer, 60, president of the Hollywood Bible Knowledge Soclety, brought a 20-hour ser- Bible at 6 a.m. Sunday and last evening passed the 12-hour mark set recently by Rev. C. Z. Brown, colored minister of Washington, D. C. His talk was illustrated b; slides and motion pictures. - MDONALD IN DARK ON REICH DEBT AIM Tells House of Commons He| Knows Nothing of Debt .Suspersion_Intentions. O SR By the Associated Press. LONDON, June 15.—Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald told the House of Commons today he had no information | that the German government proposes to ask for a suspension of war debt {nymnu. ‘When a member asked him f he had such “The answer is in the negative.” SITUATION WORRKIES FRANCE. Parley Decides to Send Mission for Central Europe Study. BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER. B Cable to The Star. PARIS, Prance, June 15.—France is worried over the financial and political situation in Central Europe. She not only declines to follow the example of | some American and British banks in brusquely withdrawing short-term cred- its from Central European countries, especmlfunemny. but appears to be consider! Various emergenocy m ures to to help Central Europe. Plerre Etlenne Flandin, French min- ister of finance, held an important meet- yesterday with Clement Moret, head of the Bank of France, and other leading Prench bankers. It was decided tosend a mission of six Prench bankers to Ger- many and Austria for an immediate study of conditions on the spot. Paul Reynaud, minister of colonies, in & speech last night, declared: “The wcrld’s situation 1s so serious that it is civilization itself which is at stake. ‘The misfortune is, he continied, that people do not understand the interna- tional nature of the crisis, but persist in demanding a national solution, which succeed, because all great prob- lems are now international and can be solved only by world-wide co-operation. Meanwhile France is rapidly pushing her scheme to help the agricultural countries cf Europe by- taking grain stocks off their hands under a preferen- tial arrangement in which Czechoslo- vakia will join and which will cost France $38,000,000 a year and Czecho- slovakia $24,000,000, to the profit of the aforesaid countries. P‘rench-.mfoshv negotiations are said irtually completed and will be announced to the Agricultural Commit- Jtee o(.t:l"se European Union, which meets une 23. SPECIAL SESSION- ASKED BY WALSH IN DROUGHT CRISIS Northwest, From Lakes to Pacific, Hit by Worse Dry Spell Than 1930’s. SENATOR DEMANDS CALL ON ECONOMIC FACTORS Caraway Plans to Propose Turning $65,000,000 Into General Revolying Fund. Disclosure of widespread drought con- ditions in the Northwest, worse, ac- cording to the Weather Bureau, than the blistering dryness of last year, to- day brought from Senator Thomas J. Walsh, Democrat, of Montana a de- mand for a special session of Congress to deal with that and other economic problems. ‘Walsh, who previously has urged a special session to deal with economic conditions, said the Western drought constituted another forcible reason why Congress should now be meeting. He also said he would favor legisla- tion to make the $65,000,000 appropri- ated for.the 1930 drought available for any which might occur this year. ‘Caraway Offers Plan. Earlier in tI day, following the ‘Weather Bureau's disclosure of condi- tions in the Northwest, Senator Cara- way, Democrat, of Arkansas said he would prcpose at the next session of Congress that the $65,000,000 appro- priation be converted into a revolving fund for use in any additional droughts during the next five years. Caraway said the $65,000,000 could be obtained only by 22 States and that he would propose it be made available for any other States in which a drought might occur. The Weather Bureau today said much of the wheat and other crops were said to be beyond recovery, and the for relief py rain slight. The situauion was said to be “seri- ous” in Western North Dakota and eastern sections of Mon! Oregon (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) TAXES STEM TIDE OF DEFIIT TODAY Income Payments and War Debts Unite in Last Feeble Effort of Year. By the Associated Press. An income tax stream made shallow by the business depression today will Jjoin foreign debt payments in a last feeble drive‘ against the billion-dollar Federal deficit. This last day for second quarter in- " | come payments finds the Treasury pay- ing and receiving teller for over $1,- 500,000,000 in cash and securities, but | g when books close on the financial year of 1831, the deficit is not expected to be materially lower than toda fig- ure of $1,095,899,214—unless there is an unexpected shift in income pay- ments, Individuals and corporations are ex- pected to pour $290,000,000 into Gov- ernment coffers to complete the second tax installment on last year’s incomes. This fund must supply the chief weapon for scaling the deficit to the $900,000, 000 estimated by President Hoover for the close of the fiscal year June 30. $111,838,541 From Abroad. ‘With the income levies come pay=- ments of $111,838,541 from 13 foreign countries on the $11,000,000, debt. Interest payments comprise $91,- 873,016 of the aggregate. and will go to operating expenses to afford a tem- porary reduction in the deficit. ‘The remainder is payment on princi: pal and will retire a diminutive ent. of the $16,500,000.000 public debi. ‘The increase in the German bank | Treasury rate from 5 to 7 per cent, whereas the rate remains at 2), in London, 2 in Paris, Switzerland "and Holland and only 1'% in New York, is taken as a sign of grave distress. - Newspapers em?hlll.u that the Bank Internationa! today tlansferred to the United States more than $100,000,000 on account of Euro- pean war debts. Pittsburgh Contracts Probed. T e s est - ties in vnlrc‘l:ulng and ‘letting con by the cnyb’s“ Bgruu.;u be- % MVM is tuulsnot [ than the_ lo ad Mayor Charles H. Kline BABY GRANDS PLAY INTOXICATED BLUES TO TUNE-OF 65 CASES — ] Truck Load of Pianos Prow: Pvt. Richard McCarthy, 4énth pre- cinet, told the driver big early today that he' you, his music could he see the ‘They i | 3¢ gt “to, Be A}l Wet, So Driver | ds” and all to S o have been & better story if been hauling pianos unloaded. tta really had after all, but he wasn't. Sixty-five cases, the police 14, short-time certificates of indel Another major mfl&:n will 000,000 in interest Pormeflnbnmemm years the Government two weeks of the fipsincial year, record of baving it more than (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) PR R MAN SLAIN AT BEACH Killed as Another Tcies to Unload Shooting Gallery Pistol. LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 15 Walter 'S.” Wood, 41-year-old from Phoenix, N. Y., was day by Py— visitor yester. ,000 war | from H SUNDAY MORNING EDITION “From Press to Home Within the Hour” ‘The Star’s carrier every city block and stem covers regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. P Means Associated Press. 1l —1 REDS SLAUGHTER 20,000 CHINESE FEDERAL TROOPS Southern Communist Prov- inces Revolt Against Nan- king Government. By the Assoclated Press. SHANGHALIL, June 15.—Victorious on one front in its campaign against bandits, the Nationalist government ad- mitted today it had received a crush- ing defeat on another battleground. At least 20,000 government troops were slaughtered or otherwise disposed of by Reds in Kiangsi, Hunan and Northern Fukien Provinces recently, an official announcement said. 1n Hupeh Province, however, an an- nouncement st Hankow safd, Nationalist troops routed 15,000 Reds and captured several Communist strongholds, ‘Ti'e government said it had made no effort to ascertain the death toll among peasants of Kiangsi, Hunan and Fukien. Rush 200,000 Troops. ‘To combat the Red menace, the gov- ernment announced it had rushed 200,- 0C0 troops into Kiangsi Province and thousands of additional soldiers into Fukien and Hunan. Nationalist leaders regard the Red threat as the most serious ever to confront the present government. President Chiang Kai-Shek, head of the Nationalist regime, said he would leave within three days to lead the ment that he would “suppress the Red menace or die in the attempt.” Fear for Foochow. Details of the wholesale slaughter of government troops in Kiangsi, Fukien and Hunan were lacking, as were facts | concerning the reported victory of thel euf . i tucky, New York and orses Tying Flag on End Of Lumber Truck Sends Driver to Jail A tern American flag used as Warn| signal on projectin, planks in the rear o.i of a truckl of lumber cost Minzie Owens, 29, colored, 15 days in jail today, fol- lowing his arrest in front of the ‘White House Saturday. Police Court Ju John P. McMahon sentenced Owens today for violation of the law forbid- ding mutilation of the flag de- spite his plea that it was “just an old flag around the house and I tled it on to the lumber because there was no other red cloth around. “I didn’t know it was wrong,” Owens declared. Policeman W. J. Liverman ar- post the money. NFLEAN-STALLION SUD FIR $2108 The Porter Brings Top Price at $75,000 Forced Auction in Leesburg. Soecial Dispatch to The Star. LEESBURG, Va.,' June 15.—The Porter, one of the most famous stal- lions in the racing stable of Edward B. McLean, publisher of the Washington Post, was bought today by Mrs. J. H. (Jock) Whitney of New York for $27,000 at a forced sale to satisfy a $32,000 trust deed. Brocatelle brought the second highest price, going to the Brookmeade Stables, Upperville, for $22,000. Porter, sire of many fioted horses.|” | and the first thoroug! hbred in the Me- Lean colors to achieve notable winning approximately $7 races, was one of sev horses which went uni ammer lg‘lltlenlthepu s estate near ere. ¢ The Porter, a3om of Sweep and Bal- Iot Girl, near the top of produc- has sired winners of ing sf -and 4 321 races”and $547,420. With the ex- of Colin, unbeaten in 16 stake ‘aces more than 20 years ago, The Porter was the best known of the Mc- Lean horscs. 5,000 Attend Auction. The auction was attended by nearly 5,000 persons from various parts of North America; including the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Ken- Canada. The by sold ht i . broug approximately A Washingtonian, Dr. W. C. Collins, bought two -mares—Giarle, $600, and - 26 | i Chen, supposedly n return from brief exile in Japan, tele- Southern leaders he was ad- (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) FREIGHTER FOUNDERS, 29 TAKING TO BOATS Collides With Liner Rochambeau, ‘With 24 - Americans Aboard, Off Ushant, France. lvvnu'nwmuam HAVRE, PFrance, June 15.—The Ital- ian freighter Ungheria sank yesterday Qo‘l‘den D:nc“e; $1,300. . ik rs. Whitney also purchased o torum, half-sister of Wave Top, the price being $5,000. b Other Mares Sold. ‘The other mares sold were: ° . Codina, bought by Admiral Cary T. OI]:M for u.ooo.‘ Belmont, 8 A N. Y., $3,300. Papissiere bought by Mrs. OFFERS FOR POS T0 B PRESENTED T0 CORT TODAY Justice Adkins to Hear Pro- posals of David Lawrence and Others. The proposal ta sell the Washington Post goes before Justice Adkins, in District Supreme Court this afternoon. A hearing, to be held in chambers, was arranged at 3 o'clock, when the trustees of the estate of John R. Mc- Lean, owners of the paper, were to present the offer of David Lawrence, publisher of the United States Daily and president of the Gonsolidated Press. Lawrence is reported to have offered $3,000,000 for the paper. Edward Beale McLean, publisher of the Post and one seriously ill at his home. Other offers besides that by Lawrence are also to be outlined to Justice Adkins, it is understood. Delay Anticipated. ‘There was the possibility of an mediate decision as to the sale, § favorable to the propoesi Mr. Lawrence, there E: due to the opposition of ‘Walsh McLean, publisher, who ex] n a hitch Mrs. Evi d wife father, John J. McLean. Guafdians to Af L ‘The children are the guardian- ship of Luclen H: Mercier and Ralph K. Quinter, who<also will attend the hearing today-to make any recommen- dations they may have concerning the proposal. Counsel for Mrs. McLean also are -attending. The source of the offers other than that of Mr. lawrence has not been made public. Justice Adkins, it was said, is sitting in the present case because he has handled other matters in connection with the McLean estate. BANKER DIES IN FIRE Wife and Son Escape When Home, at Hume, Ill, Buins. HUME, IIl, June 15 (#).—Frank K. | Page, 55 years old, president of the Hughes State Bank, was burned to death today when his home was de- stroyed by fire. Mrs. Page and their 13-year-old son were severely injured. All were asleep when the fire started. The boy jumped while neighbors cor- ried his mother down a ladder. BERLIN ANSWERS' POLAND Sharp Reply 8Sent to Protest Against “Steel Helmets.” BERLIN, June 15 (fl;—m govern- ment todsy sent a sharp reply to a i Ponty. Orangs County, v o lu . , Va. ' Colinder, bought by Raymond Bel- mont, $1,000. 5 port, bought by J.. F. Phipps, Colin Mt , N. Y., 81, ). Tady Floe, "aish mought by Phipps, | o $1,700. (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) Polish protest filed last week against a demonstration by the “Steel Helmets” at_Breslau on May 31. ‘The note asserted that the Steel Hel- ets are an unofficial, organization of private citizens and the mmld not be held responsil AWO CENTS. NATONAL LEAD .00, 3108 N FFTH NG Get to Sam Gray After Four Scoreless Innings of Play. GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAY OF MATES AIDS FLINGERS Levey Turns Cronin’s Liner Into Fast Double Play in Open- ing Chapter. SCORE BY INNINGS StL..00OOOO Wash. 00003 LINE-UP. Gray. ‘. Umbires BY JOHN B. KELLER. ‘The Nationals were leading the St. Louis Browns this afternoon at Griffith Stadium in the fifth inning. The score was 3 to 0. FIRST INNING. : ST. LOUIS—Bluege threw out Levey. Burns bounced to Kuhel. Goslin took a third strike. No runs. ‘WASHINGTON—Myer dragged a bunt by Gray for a single. Sam Rice singled to center, sending Myer to second. Gos- lin came in for Manush's hoist. Cronin lined to Levey and Myer was doubled off second, Levey to Melillo. No runs. SECOND INNING. ST. LOUIS—Schulte flied to Sam Rice in short right. Kress filed to Manush. Melillo singled to center. NcNeely loft- ed to- Sam Rice. No runs. WASHINGTON—Gray tossed out West. Kuhel popped to Melillo. So did Bluege. No runs. THIRD INNING. ST. LOUIS—Ferrell singled to center. Gray sacrificed, Brown to Kuhel. Cronin 8ot Levey's grounder and Ferrell was caught at third, Cronin to Bluege. Levey ;u caught stealing, Spencer to Cronin. 0 Tuns. ‘WASHINGTON—Spencer flied to Mc- Neely. Brown flied to Goslin. Myer took a third strike. Ng runs. ST. LOUIS—] Goslin fouled to Spencer. ush. of the trustees of his father's estate, js | Manush a single to center, scoring Spencer, while Brown stopped at second. Manush forced Sam , Melillo to Levey, Brown .vh;% to third. Cronin f¢ to Kress. ree runs. Batteries—Whitehill and Hayworih; fing and Dickey. At _Philadelphia— Cleveland 010 Ruf- NATIONAL. At Boston cago. Batteries—Sherdel and Spobrer; Smith and Harinett. Brooklyn-Pittsburgh game postponed; rain. YACHT AND $300,000 RUM CARGO SEIZED Captured Within 12-Mile Limit After Leaving ‘“Mother” Ship. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, June 15.—Coast Guard forces seized the steam yacht “Surf” off