New Britain Herald Newspaper, December 14, 1915, Page 1

**! LOCAL NEWSPAPERS HERALD BEST OF ALL N EW BRITAIN HERALD "HERALD "ADS” lLBETI'ER BUSI PRICE THREE CENTS. NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, TUESDAY, DECEMBER “FOUR DEATHS AS RESULT OF |THRILLING RESCUE 14, 1915 —TWELVE PAGES. ESTABLISHE WORSTSNOWSTORM IN YEARS | AT $15,000 BLAZE _ IN THIS SECTION OF COUNTRY Three Men Known Dead, Two Others MisSing and Passengers Imprisoned in Twenty-five + Railroad Trains Near Poughkeepsie, N. Y. OVILA DUFAULT.OF HARTFORD DROPS DEAD WHILE SHOVELING SNOW New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Hard Hit By Storm—Traffic on All Steam and Llectric Lines Blocked—Fall N Some Places Reaches Thirty Inches, Poughgeejsie, N. Y., Dec. 14— Three men are known to be dead, two othors are missing and hundreds of #\ssengers are imprisoned in twenty- ve railroad trains near this ity as the result of the blizzard which tied up traffic to the Hudson river last night. The fatalities occurred at Beacon, Husson and (-lonia and the missing men are Milt~n Johnson and ‘William Bogardus of Poughkeepsie. New York Tied Up. New York, Dec. 14—The center of e of the heaviest snowstorms this section of the country has experienced in several yvears passed northeast of New York today leaving in its wake a tangle of broke telegraph poles and wires, raflroad trains stalled in snow drifts or long delayed, and a large portion of New York, New Jer- , Pennsylvania and New England nketed with snow from six to fif- teen inches deep. Snow was still falling early today although the severity of the storm had abated- The heaviset fall of snow reported in this vicinity was at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where it was fifteen inches deep. Some of the New York Central's through express trains forced their way through the drifts, hours behind thgir schedule. The whereabouts of other through trains was unknown to the railroad officials, and no one could say when they might arrive. Worst in Years. ¥ THe Hlecknde of the electric zone of the New York, New Haven and Hart- ford railroad between New York and Stamford, Conn., was described by the offidals of that road as the worst in years, Fleetric feed wires broke down and held up every train in the zone. Hundreds of passengers spent hours Jast night in the stalled trains or ma- rooned in the stations until , steam Jocomotives were sent out to pull the trains to their destinations. The elec- tic dervice was still suspended when thegnorning rush of commuters to the city began and the steam locomotive service was in effect. New Haven officials said that the through trains between Boston and New York began to move from six to eight hours behind their schedule early this morning and that the sit- uation was then clearing. They ex- pected that it would become normal befbfe noon by which time they hoped the electric service would be re- sumed. The snow was not deep enough to interfere with the move- ment of trains in the immediate vi- cinity of New York but in Connecti- | cut. many trains were heM up by drifts. Telegraph Service Cut. Telegraphic communication between New York and points west and north was cut by the breakdown of wires and poles under the weight of cling- ing snow- At one time the Western Union Tel- egraph company was virtually with- ut a wire leading from New York to THREE PERSONS BURNED T0 DEATH AT CHICAGO Score of Others Injured' in Fire Which Destroyed Rooming House. Chicago, Dec. 14.—Three persons were burned to death and a score in- Jured in a fire which destroyed a three-story rooming house at No. 55 East Grand avenue early today. The victims were: ’ Edward Barry, 27 years old. Mrs. Josie Barry, 26 years old. Aaron Barabro, 23 years old. Many trapped in their rooms when | the flames cut off the front and rear exits, jumped from the second and third story windows and sustained in- juries. Those who lost their lives oc- cupied third floor rooms and had no chance to escape, as the building burned quickly. The fire, it is believed, started from an overheated furnace. MUNITION PLANTS TO BE DESTROYED Factories at Aetna, Ind., and Ishpem- ing, Mich.,, Condemned By leged German Plotters. San Francisco, Cal, Dee. 14— Plans for the destruction of muni- tion plants at Aetna, Ind.,, and Ish- peming, Mich,, were revealed today when there were made public the de- tails of indictments returned yester- day against three alleged conspira- tors in German plots. “The most vital to the case of any vet discovered” became known today through the detailed report of testi- | mony alleged to have been given b; Johannes Henrikus Van Koolbergen, now in Canada. Van Koolbergen, it was learned, was the corroborating witness upon whom the government depended to a considerable degree to support in- dictments returned yesterday by the federal grand jury against Baron George Wilhelm Von Brincken, C. C. Crowley, an admitted agent of the German consulate and Mrs. Margaret Cornell, Crowley’s agent. Each was charged with conspiracy to interfere with and destroy commerce with the allies and with use of the mails to in- vite arson, assassination and murder. Van Koolbergen, according to re- ports, was alléged to have represented to agents of the department of jus- tice that a German official here em- ployed him to act in violation of the neutrality laws and that Von Brincken whom he knew during the Boer war, hired him to make clock work bombs in thermos bottles at $100 a bomb, with a bonus for each ship destroyed. 600 RAILWAY MEN Al- ties up the Hudson river and all the sigal wires of the New York Central allroad used in operating trains were down. “Cable communication across the At- jantic was badly hampered by the 'failure of the cable companies land vires between New York and Nova Pcotia. Snowfall Six Inches. The snowfall in New York city is estigpated at six inches but a consid- erable part of it melted almost as ast as it feil. During the height -of he storm the wind Nere attzined a lvelocity of sixty-four miles an hour, he highe reported by any of the astern weather bureau stations. Be- ause of its unexpectedness the ktormp caused some damage to ship- inZ in the harbors and along the oast. Conditions Badly Demoralized. Though an army of laborers was at ork along the New Haven lines, con- Litions were still badly demoralized all srenoon. The Bay State limited, due jeave New York for Boston at 10 4 . was annulled but it was an ounced that the five p. m., Mer- hants’ Limited, New York to Boston, ould be run. Howard Elliott, presi- ent of the New Haven, issued a state- hent today, summarizing the storm’s ects. “The storm seemed to be most se- lere between New Rochelle and tamford, or twenty to twenty-five hiles along the main line of the New wvgn road,” said Mr. Elliott, “Here gx& all the telegraph and tele- bione poles were blown down so that {s difficult to have any communica- Contipued on Tenth Page.) AT CHICAGO STRIKE Belt Line Refuses to Maintain Pas- senger Service for Fmployes to New Terminal Yards. Chicago, Dec. 14.—Six hundred en- gineers, firemen, trrinmen and twitch- men employed by tre Lelt Railway of Chicago struck today and as a conse- quence thousands of tons of freight, including Christmas and other sea- sonable goods, food for the Pacific coast and war supplics for Europe are tied up. The walkout was caused by the al- leged refusal of the company to main- tain passenger service for its em- ployes to the new terminal yards at Clearing, beyond the southwest boundary of the city Einployes who live far from their work have, they assert, been compelled to walk nearly two miles twice a day. Every railroad entering Chicago was affected by the strike, 155 VISITS TO CAMPS. London, Dec. 14, 3:32 p. m—"'Since the system of inspection of British prisoner’s camps in Germany was in- stituted the staff of the United States embassy at Berlin has paid 155 visits to camps,” said Lord Robert Cecil, parliamentary under secretary for foreign affairs, in the house of com- mons today. “By their untiring ef- forts they have secured improve- ments, though even now conditions in some camps are far from satistactory” ON LEXINGTON ST. Hysterical Maid Taken Down Lad- der From Third Story By Fire- men Higgins and Hartnett SLOPER AND THOMSON HOMES BURNED OUT AT 2 A. M. TODAY Fire Department Has Hard Struggle ‘Through Storm and Auto Truck Gets Stalled in Drift—Alarm System Out of Order, Causing Costly Delay—Jap Valet Tries to Halt Flames With Garden Hose—Mrs. Sloper Hurt. Starting from a gas heater in the kitchen on the first floor, fire, which broke out at 2:05 o’clock this morn- ing in the house at No. 55 Lexington street occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam T. Sloper and Mr- and Mrs- H. C. M. Thomson, did damage of between $10,000 and $15,000. The entire rear of the house on all three floors was gutted by fire and water and a large portion of the rest of the house was flooded by water. This- fire was one of the most sen- sational as well as costly ones that has visited New Britain in a long tlme. Everything was present which would tend to make it exciting enough to satisfy the most blase. The crack- ling flames, fanned by a heavy gale, leaped and roared high into the air, reflecting their lurid glare on the white snow and lighting up the sky for miles around; the firemen, bat- tling against great odds; the heroic rescue of a suffocating woman from a small third story window by two fire- men; the brave work of Mr. Sloper’s Japanese valet in fighting the flames alone until the firemen arrived: all went to make as exciting and spectac- ular a blaze as ever visited this city. Snow Hinders ‘Departme; The. fire department was handicapped from the start but did work of the highest grade. In the first place, at 11 o’clock last night the fire alarm telegraph system was broken down by the storm and when, at 2 o’clock an attempt was made to send in an alarm from box 13 it was impossible to do so. Accordingly, a telephone call was sent in to Engine company No. 1. Chief Dame at once ordered Engine companys 1, 3, and 4 to speed to the Lexington street house with all possible haste: The big hook and ladder auto truck was left be- hind because of the depth of the snow, but the automobile chemical was sent out. Between Commercial street and Main street the big car be- came stuck :n a snow drift and ex- perienced no little difficulty in get- ting out as the low hanging gasoline tank acted as an anchor. Once on Main street, however, the big car bucked the drifts and succeeded in reaching the scene. At No. 3 and 4 stations four horses were hitched to each of the two hose carts and the animals, after great exertion, managed to draw the wagons to Lexington street. Owing to the hard going and the depth of the snow the department was a long time in arriving, ‘When the fire department arrived more trouble was experienced by No. 4 company when the hydrant. was found to be frozen and had teo be thawed out. Several lines of hose were directed on the house and tha firemen worked with great energy. Th entire rear of the house was a mass of flames.. Clouds of black smoke were rolling from all the windows and tongues of flames were leaping fif- teen feet into the air from the roof and third story windows. As there had been no bell alarm the fire de- partment was furthermore erippled by lack of men, only those firemen who sleep in the engine house being pres- ent for duty. Maid Rescued by Firemen, On the third floor of the house are the maids’ and servants’ quarters. ‘The only entrance is by way of a staircase in the rear. It was up this staircase that the flames burned their way, cutting off all retreat for Miss Elzabeth Englesty, a maid employed by Mrs. Thomson, had.a room in the front of the house. The only win- dows to this room are small, flush with the floor. They are but two feet square and open inward. The panic stricken woman, her escape cut off from the rear and the dense clouds of acrid smoke suffocating her, threw herself face downward on the floor and shoved her head through the small glass window. Her terrified shrieks were heard by the firemen and, again hampered with having only a small ladder, Firemen John Higgins and ‘William Hartnett climbed to the second floor porch roof and from there shoved a ladder up to the window from which the hysterical woman was hanging. The two fire- men then dragged the maid through the narrow opening and carried her to the ground in safety., She was cut obout the body by the jagged glass in the window. But for the heroic work of the two firemen she would have badly (Continued On Eleventh Page.) AUSTRIAN EMPEROR’S LEGS PARALYZED Rome Also Has Information That Francis Joseph Has Lost Use of His Right Arm. Paris, Dec. 14, 5:15 a. m.—A re- port that Emperor Francis Joseph's icgs were paralyzed last year and that ihe Emperor also has lost the use of his right arm is forwarded by the Fcome correspondent of the Matin. He says it is understood in Rome that this information was taken to the vatican by Cardinal Von Hartmann, Archbishop of Cologne, who recently went to Rome for the consistory, According to this report, the Em- peror is able to sign no state papers and a special stamp has been made for use in his presence by his private secretary. MELLEN IS EXCUSED FROM WITNESS STAND .Delivered More Than Million Words of Testimony in New Haven, Case. of New over New York, Dec. 14.—By virtue the control of the New York, Haven and Hartford railroad the New England Transportation sys- tem, that territory enjoyed the benc- fits of the competition of western. trunk lines for its traffic, Charles S. Mellen testified today at the trial of the eleven former directors of the road under the Sherman law. New England was a great terminal yard for these lines and the New Haven road operating the terminal offered all the trunk lines access to its traffic on an equal basis. “Not only,” said Mr. Mellen, “did the New Haven have no objection to the other lines doing business in New England, but we did everything we could to encourage outside lines to bring raw material into New England and take away its manufactured goods.” This was Mr. Mellen's thirty-fifth day on the witness stand, and after Charles F. Choate, for the defense, had elicited this testimony he turncd him over to the government for what he termed re-re-direct examina- tion.” R. L. Batts, the federal prosc- cutor, questioned him briefly on the proposition made by the late . II. Tlarriman to buy the Boston and Maine, and at 11:30, Mr. Mellen was excused. He had delivered more than a million words of testimony. G. 0. P. CONVENTION TO BE HELD JUNE 7 ‘Washington, Dec. 14.—The republi- can national committee today decided to hold the 1916 republican national convention on June 7. The place will be selected later. Adoption of the sub-committee’s recommendation means that the re- publican convention will be held a week prior to the democratic con- vention at St. Louis, some among members of the committee believing an advantage will be gained in get- ting their platform before the country first. The full committee decided it would give a hearing to suffrage and anti- suffrage leaders after hearing claims of the various cities seeking the con- vention. In the contest for a convention city, St. Louis and Chicago were regarded as leaders. Philadelphia and San Francisco trailed after. The committee on apportionment at a meeting late yesterday, decided to abide by the action of the na- tional committee two years ago in reducing the number of southern delegates to the convention. This means, it is said, that the convention will have 985 members instead of 1,- 078 as in 1912. The committee on call also decided to abide by the laws of the various states, including those which select delegates by primaries although it reserved the right where the law dis- franchises the republican party to leave the final decision as to the seat- ing of delegates with the national committee. _-— GREECE COMMANDEERS SHIPS. London, Eng., Dec. 14, 3:44 p. m.—' The Greek government, it was learned here today, has conmandeered all Greek shipping in British and Ameri- can ports in an effort to supply the deficiency in food and coal which exists in Greece as a result of the en- tente allies’ restrictions. PICKETS WATCH FOUNDRIES. Pittsburgh, Dec. 14.—Pickets today watched the sixty-seven foundries where 1,500 molders and coremakers yesterday struck to enforce their de- mands for an eight hour day for $4, the rate they now receive for nine hours. WEATHER, Hartford, Dec. Hartford and vicini and colder tomight and 14 — Tor Fair Wed- nesday. I N S SN BULGARIANS CUT OFF FRENCH FROM BRITISH FORCES Break Through Allied Line in Balkans and Take Long Sec- tion of French Front HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED BY RETREATING TROOPS Serbian Town of Gievgeli Reported to Be in Flames—Gcrmany to Protest Any Further Concessions By Greece to the Entente Alies- I'alian Cham- ber of Deputies Holds Demonstra- tion in Honor of King and Army. Not only have the Anglo-French armies been driven out of Serbia by the Bulgarians as Berlin reported yes- terday, but previously their front was broken through and the French forces cut off from the British, according to an official statement from Sofia. Heavy losses were suffered by the retreating troops, the Bulgarian re- port declares. At one point a French battalian was rcuted and its com- mander captured. A Macedonian di- vision was the Bulgarian army unit which broke through the allied line and divided it. In the operations on the right bank of the Vardar a long section of the French front was taken by storm. Germany to Protest. Protests against any further con- cessions by Greece to the entente allies will be made by Germany, Athens ad- vices declare. Germany, it is said, al- ready has asked Greece whether Greek neutrality has been com- promised in any way by the new facil- ities accorded the entente. The Italian chamber of deputies has adjourned until March 1 after a dem- onstration of tribute to the king and “The victorious army at the front.” May Continue Peace Talk. Peace discussions may be continued in the Reichstag, according to a Leip- $lc newspaper, which says that thirty- four socialist members have signed a declaration expressing dissatisfaction with the results of the recent discus- sion. France has abandoned, as too cost- ly and ineffective, the plan to purchase a merchant fleet of fifty ships from a British firm, a Paris despatch states. Other means of increasing the fleet and decreasing freight rates will be sought, it is said. No Comment From Vienna. Unofficial Berlin has no intimation as to how the American note on the Ancona has been received in Vienna. It is not expected in the German cap- ital that the Austro-Hungarian news- papers will comment on the note until the Vienna cabinet decides definitely on its course. Paucity of war news from Europe is explained as due to the storm, which has interrupted communication along the land routes of the cable companies. Break Through Allied Line. Berlin, Dec. 14, by Wireless to Sayville—Bulgarian troops have brok- en through the Anglo-French line and cut off the French forces from the British, according to an official state- ment, dated Dec. 12, received here to- day from Sofia. It is stated that a long section of the French front was taken by storm, the French forces suffering heavy losses. Pursuit of the allied troops tinues. con- Text of Statement. The statement, as given out by the Overseas News Agency, follows: “The Bulgarians continued pursuit of the Anglo-French troops on both banks of the Vardar, in the direction of Gievgeli and Doiran. “On the right bank of the Vardar the Bulgarians stormed the whole French front between Milektovo and Smokavitza, southwest of Kovanetz, French regiments Nos. 45, 84, 145 and 284 suffered heavily. “The French killed or captured be- longed for the most part to General Bailloud’s division, composed of regi- ments No. 175 and 176 and the Second Regiment of Zouaves. “The British pursuit continues.” About 2,500 priscaers were brought in. Gievgell in Flames. London, Dec. 14, 9:22 p. m.—The version of the Bulgarian official state- ment of December 12 received here from Sofla says that the city of Giev- geli, in southwestern Serbia, near th: Greek border, is in flames. Germany After Greece. London, Dec. 14, 9:42 a. m.—Ger- many apparently has no intention of permitting Greece to grant any fur- ther concessions to the allies without a vehement protest. Reuter's cor- respondent at Athens says German diplomats already have 1ken steps which are likely to add considerably to Greece’s difficulties, if pressed. No official communication has been issued this far at Athens regarding the exchange of views hetween Ger- many and Greek diplomats, but Greek (Continued Hn Eleventh Page.) 1 TROLLEYS AND PLOWS CONN. CONGRESSMEN ON COMMITTEES | Oakey, Tilson, Hill, Freeman and Glynn Assigned to Important Posts. Washington, Dec. 14.—Assignment !o(‘ republican and progressive repre- sentatives to committees, announced today by republican Leader Mann, discloses that veteran republican members elected to the present con- gress after having been defeated in the presidential year of 1912 will not be returned, in several instances, to { important commissions in which they had held membership before.. In other instances returning representa- tives assigned to such committees are not allowed to displace in rank mem- bers who served last year. Representative Cannon of Illinois, for many years speaker, is given sixth place on the appropriations commit- tee. Years ago he was chairman of this committee. Minority members of the naval and military committees, which will deal with national defense problems are: Naval—Butler, Pennsylvania; Rob- erts, Massachusetts; Browning, New Jersey; Farr, Pennsylvania; Britten, Tiimots; Kely, Michigati, and Steph- ens, California. Representatives re- appointed: Stephens, progressive, and Mudd, Maryland, a new member. Military-—~Kahn, Calif; Anthony, McKenzie, Illinois; Greene, Morin, Penna; Tilson, Con- necticut; Crago, Penna; Hull, Towa, and Delegate Wickersham of Alaska. Messrs. Tilson, Crago and Hull are new members. New republicans on the ways and means committee are: Reps., Hill, Conn, Longworth, Ohio, and Fair- | child, New York. Representative Cooper, Wisconsin, is retained as ranking republican on the foreign affairs committee; the republican members being Foss, | Tinois; Miller, Minnesota; Mott, New York and Kennedy, Rhode Island. All of the minority members of the military and naval committees | are for some degree of preparedne: Representative Oakey was assigned to committee on District of Columbia. Freeman to committee on public lanés and Glynn to committee on patents and census. TAFT AMONG STORM BOUND. New York, Dec. 14.—Former Presi- dent Taft was among the storm bound travelers on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad last night. He boarded a train for New Haven at Grand Central station only 1o be informed that because of a break in the electric feed wire there would be indefinite delay. “Never mind,” said Mr. Taft, “I'll be quite comfortable here,” and, dozing, he waited patiently until, with the aid of a steam locomotive, the train crawled out of the station. Although he first climbed aboard at 2 a. m., it was 7 this morning when Mr, Taft reached New Haven. PASSENGER STEAMER SAFE. Port Jefferson, I. 1., Dec. 14— Anxiety over the safety of the passen- ger steamer Park City, which. was due here yesterday afternoon, was re- lieved today when word was received from Bridgeport, across the Sound, to which port she runs, that the steamer wasg tied up there. The steamer started for her home port yesterday but on account of the storm was forced to put back and the passengers were compelled to remain in Bridge- pert over night. With the clearing weather it was expected the Park City would return here today IN BOSTON. Seventeen Other Mass, Cities Also Choosing Municipal Officers. Boston, Dec. 14.—Although this an ‘Off year” so far as election of a mayor is concerned, it was expected that an unusually large vote would be polled in the city election today. Seventeen other Ma chusetts cit- ies also selected municipal officers today. ND ARMY- RRome, Dec, $:35 p. m.—The | chamber of deputies adjourned today | until March 1. Adjournment was taken after an imposing demonstra- tion in tribute to the King and the army, CITY IN BLIZZARD’S GRIP STEAM AND TROLLEY LIN PARALYZED BY BIG ST( Electric Power Fails Last Evening and are Abandoned for Night on and Interurban Lines OFF RAILS / AND ENTIRE SYSTEM IS TIED Trains Hours Late, Slowly ing Through Drifts—New People Marvoned in Night—Storm Costing Olty Day-—Narrow Escape At Main Street Crossing. Locked in the embrace of ti king for hours, New Britain emerging from its shackles All day long, man and machi been bucking the drifts, op rail communication with oth and straightening out the caused by last night's blizzard Interurban communication ley and steam ceased to exl carly hour. The electric pows early in the evening and trolle stalled all night whereever th pend to be at that momen trolley system was completel; lyzed and passengers were fo wade through the drifts a ing patiently for the return electric current. Trains Hours Behind, Travel by the New York, Haven and Hartford was imp Where trains were being run they were hours late. Man Britain people who had gone tol ford and other cities early i evening were forced to remain) all night and many did not in this city until 9 o'clock this ing. Plainville, Bristol and bury were also erased from the ule by the storm. All trains New York ana points this side metropolis were hours behind regular running time. The trai ieft Meriden at 6 o’clock last e did not discharge Its New passengers in this city until 1 o ‘“his morning and it was neces: attach two locomotives to the coming from Berlin to this city, The streets were deserted o for the forces which were th snow. Because of the lac power, the battle of the Conn company employes to keep the open was a losing one and by night not a wheel was turning. leys and snowplows were o fast for the night, Long before, daylight, efforts being made to clear the tracl make matters worse, cars and were lifted off the rails, blocki lines still more effectually. The lighting service, both p and domestic, was frequently iy 1upted during the night, streets homegs remaining in darkness for periods. Costing City $200 Per Day. Until the snow is cleared crosswalks, streets and sidewalks) which the city is responsibile, storm will cost New Britain app inately $200 per day. The p works department had fifty labo und a dozen carts engaged in rem ipg the snow today but this fore far too small and the department use all the men it can hire or ki | was Efforts were first directed to remo the snow from the crosswalks eidewalks and then attention turned to Main street, High wages being paid in the fi tories is a factor in keeping down romber of men employed by rublic works department. It cd even before the blizzard b that the situation would be despen and this prognostication is now established fact. The departy simply cannot secure all the m can use. Laborers prefer a, waf factory with steady and assured ployment to spasmodic work she ing snow, The Connecticut comp is face to face with a similar situ tion, Many Lost in Storm. Many chidren lost in the storm we; reported to the police yesterday afte noon and evening hut in every 4 stance they were found At : o'clock last evening the police wel notified that a five year old boy 1 ing at Hartford avenue had beel lost since 1 o'clock in the afternoo, He was later found, having takel refuge in Herman Schmarr's saloo; At 8:55 o'clock last evening word wa received thut Florence Schmildt, fourteen years old Grammar szhos girl living at the Appleby home Plainville road, was lost. She way later found. At 11:50 o'clock Prinel pal L. P, Slade of the High school not ified the authorities that Geongs Skinner of Plainville was lost enro from the school to his home. The bl later found waiting for a PJ ville bound train at the depot. Tho last call came to headguarters at 1780 when a person who refused divulge his name said 4 man had been] overcome near the South church and was Iying face downward in the snow. . m (Continued On Eleventh ’age.)