New Britain Herald Newspaper, May 30, 1917, Page 9

JOWL FROM SHIPPER'S I the Way From Vermont to Texas .W'M’Upwm in Freight Rates. Washington, ~May 30.—Shippers from Vermont to Texas today added their protests against the proposed F\15. per cent. freight rate increase at : Interstate Commoru Commis- ll.n hearings. . From the = south and southwest cAme & continuation of arguments om. fruit and. lumber dealers: From v England representatives of ths | lad allied industries brought To wu the taking of testimony, if- of the hearings today were held fore & special examiner simultan- y. with _the hearings before. the ull commission. A compilation made by :the eastern ds represents 8§ cent. of ~eastern manufacturers, merchants, oards of fio. banks, business as- mociations individuals who hav. “aeiGgletters or telegrams on the sub~ , | ject, to the. commission urging. an te increase. same wmmlldm shows . 75 per cent. of .the, communications as ml the: general advance .of 15 Five hundred communica- fllo rallroad compilation shows ning from the important eastern c centers and urging the full 15 ral effect of the statistics the raiiroads from the ion’s records-is to show that ‘overwhelming. majority = of the pping interests recorded - favors v the railroads higher rates. “OLD GLORY IN ST. PAUL'S May 30, 1:08'p. m.—1It was another American day at St 's today, when the colors of the erican Legion In the Canadian con- K tingents ‘were played besides the al- itar, to remain there umtil after the War. | There were five flags, one from each battalion—the 97th, 211th, 212th, 18¢h and 237th. They were escorted: to the cathedral by 500 Canadian sol- dters. 7 As the troops pnud up tho contnl 'lfih the crowd. which filled. the . edi- % fice sang “Mine Eyes Have Seen the ;‘Aalory of the Coming of t i 3 Lord,” later “Onward Christian Soldiers’. kit the conclusion of the service ‘“The " ftar Spangled Banner” was sung fol- by “God Save the King.” service was attended by Am- {bassador Page, Consul General Skin- ‘ mer, high officers of the Canadian forces and physicians and nurses from the Red Cross units which have ar- rived here most recently from St. Louis and Philadelphia. The large silk flag of the 97th bat- ion has the place of honor, sur- ‘fendered by smaller flags of the other i four battalions. ALMOST 6,000 MEMBERS. hmmfl-umm—m 5,700 at 10 a. m. At 10 a. m. today the campaign of /. the New Britain branch of the Amer- GSh Red Cross had resulted in the ‘earoliment of a total of 5,700 new members.. As 10,000 members is-the ultimate goal, those in charge are op- timistic ‘and feel certain that many mpre than this number will be se- cured. The officers in charge of the con- today decided that no teams will Testricted to their particular divi- sions, but the city will be thrown open to all canvassers to seek members 'l%«vcr they care to solicit. certificate of organization has n, filed by the 1 Nelson, Inc., ith/the secretary of state. The au- capital is $3,000, divided in- ,shares. The officers are: nt. John A. Johnson; vice- t, Hulda Nelson; treasurer, Nelson. ._ Ending FREAK BLAMED FOR | MONGOLIA ACGIDENT Deetive Shell Theory Elminted by Boand of Tnquiry ‘Washington, Mey 30,—The accident Which caused the death of two nurses ‘on board the steamship Mongolia on the afternoon of May 20 was caused by the break-up and deflection of the fragments of a brass mouth cup on a cartridge. It was not-due to defec- tive shells or powder, ‘but ‘a‘ freakish accident, for which ths commanding officer of the armed guard and ith members were -not -responsible. * The shells on the Mongolia-and the ammunition used . were new. - The mouth cyp 18 used.to seal, hermetical- 1y, the brass cartridge and keeps thé powder from deteriorating. This type of ammunition had been used in the navy twenty yédrs without more than. two accidents {pcluding that of the Mongolia, accu in the United States or other navies, so far as:the American ordnance experts are aware. The shells ullq on the Mongolla were different from the old type or pre-Spanish ‘war ammunition which caused the St. Paul and St. Louis ac- cidents. “The ammunition on the. St. Paul and 8t. Louis was defective; that on the Mongolia was not. Thegp are the high lights of the re- port of the board of investigation which inquired into the Mongolia ac- cldent. The report reached the navy department late yesterday and was made public by Secretary Danfels last night. “The findings of, the board which was appointed in accordance with nayy'regulations by Admiral Nathaniél R,"Usher, are as follows: “1. The United States navy guns' créws, on the steamship Mongolia, ‘While- that vessel was at sea on the afternoon of May 20, 1917, at about 2 o'clock, are engaged in- target practice. “2. That followln‘ the discharge of No. 3 gun, installed aft on board the Mongolia, which gun at the time was trained on aitarget about one point forward of the port beam, at a range of between 2;500 and 3,000 yards, certain pers Py name Edith Ayers and Helen Burnett Wood, were killed, and:/ one other, by name Emma Mat- zen, was injured, said injuries not be- lieved Hable to prove fatal; that said persons were all attached to Base Hospital No. 12, of Chicago, Il “3. That these persons at the time were located In s position with refer- ence ‘to the - gun which ordinarily would not be considered dangerous. “4. That the fatalities evidently re- sulted from the break-up and deflec- tion of fragments of the brass mouth cup of the type of cartridge eniployed. ‘That no .material damage to guns, mountings, oF appurtenances re- sulted at the this accident. “6. The her finds that no n-ponsfl:llfim Ao . accident in question attaches to” the commander of the armed x\llrd or any member thereof, “F. A. WILNER, “Captain, U. S. Navy, retired, senior _member. “H, C. POUNDSTONE, “Commander, U. 8. Navy, retired, member. - “JOHN J. MURRAY, ‘Chief Gunner, U. 8, Navy, member.” The witnesses exgmined "were 'Lieu- tenant Phillp Seymour, in command of the armed guard on board the Mon-' | golia, three of the gunners and Lieu- tenant Commander in N. Ferguson, inspector of ordnance in command of the Iona ammunition dépot. - The tes- timony of Lieutenant Seymour clearly established that the shell and am- munition functioned perfectly, the fiight of the shell being true and ac- urate ,and the discharge being abso- lutely normal and without fault in any way, shape, or fashion. All witnesses testified that the shells either regia- tered hits or struck near the target. Lieutenant Proves Case, The pleces of brass taken from the bodies of those killed further estab- lished that it was the bursting mouth cups.that caused the deaths.! On this point the testimony of Lieutenant Eey- mour was quoted as follows: . © “Further investigation showed me that the disastrous firing ' occurred from No. 3 gun, situated in the cen- ter line of the after part of the ship. For all six-inch guns on the Mongolia the amunition used is separate, hav- ing a shell and a cartridge case which contains the powder. The accident was caused by fragments of the brass cup which is put in the mouth of the cartridge case. In this particular in- stance No. 3 gun caused the disastrous firing. 7 “The brass cup broke into frag- ments when the gun was fired and it was carried outside the gun apparent- 1y maintaining a rotary motion which had been given it by the rifling of the gun. This centrifugal - force which had been imparted to the fragments was sufficient to carry them out ‘at right angles to the gun a distance of about 175 feet. One fragment, about 8 inches by 2 inches penetrated the left side of one of the nurses, killing her instantly, and another fragment, about % inch by % inch, penetrated the left - temple of the other girl, killing her instantly. The third girl was injured apparently with slight flesh wounds in the left arm’ and left thigh, and was taken to the United States Naval Hospital, Brook- lyn, N. Y. 'hese women, in ‘company & with forty or fifty others, were all sitting in their deck chairs, approximately 176 feet forward of the gun, this deck being about sixteen feet above the gun platform of the gun that caused the fatality. One of the frag- ments hit the after rail of the boat deck, and I am certain that this is the fragment that caused one of the deaths. A line through the mark left - on the rail by this fragment and through the point where the girl was sitting runs in a direction at. right angles to the direction of the beur. ing of the target which was flref (he ‘| which was one point forward port beam. This line also passes through a point approximately fifteen teet in front of the muszle of the No Tampering With Sheil. The testimony of Lieutenant Sey. mour also eliminated the theory th: the accident was due to tampering of any kind. The shells were put into each gun over night, the charges being kept in the ready ne chest, Twé men were on watch at each gun continuously, standing a watch in three. The reuiy magasines were under -dbservation, . and = the suards. were all armed with reévol- vers. No one not even.& member of the crew, was all hin fifteen feet of any gun. Lie t Seymour also testified as to the experienge of the men. All were trained gunners, fresh from practice in the.south. :’ Lieut, Commander Ferguson, asked as to the stability of the powder, stated that in all his experience with the brass mouth cups the ' Mangolia was the second that had ever come to his knowledge. Admiral Ralph Earle, chief of the buteau of ordnance supplemented the report with the following statement last night: #The shells on the Mongolia were a new lot, thoroughly overhauled &incs the accident with 8t. Louis am- munition, and placed on board shortly rifile or pistol: ‘In the operation of loading the gun, the !shell ‘welghing abont 105 bounds is first, by itself, shoved home into the bore of the gun; after this, a brass cartridge, contain- ing the powder charge and primer, is inserted in the gun. “One of the special considerations in handling powder is that of sealing it in such & manner that it cannot ab- sorb the slightest bit of moisture. If it does, fts ballistics are changed, its keeping qualities ate impaired and the shell will not go the distance de- signed. To hermetically seal this brass cartridge case, a brass mouth cup is provided, which makes a tight fit, and is driven by a mallet into the mouth of the case. 'This makes a moisture proof joint. “When the gun is fired, the shell, followed by the ‘brass cup, is expelled from the muszzle. The brass cup some- times~ remains whole and: -sometimes does not. But it, or its pleces, aré al- ways expelled some distance from the muzzle of the gun. The fact that these pieces or the cup itself might return on board has not béen seriously considered, because this type of am- munition has been fired constantly in the naval service for at least twenty years without such an occurrence in this or other navies, so far as is known. “This method of sealing the car- tridge cases has been used in the navy for twenty years and that such an ac- cident as this could occur had not even been considered by ordnance ex- perts. This brass cup was adopted after extensive researches and found . to answer the purpose ‘for which in- tended. “It iy known that the practice 'of certain foreign navies is to use =a zinc mouth cup where we use a brass mouth cup. However, we have ex- perimented with the zinc mouth cup and have found it not as suitable as the brass.” SOLDIER IN COURT AFTER DARING COP Angered Becanse Bartender Re- Tused .to Sell Him Drink —tre Still maintaining a defiant attitude and insisting that no mere policeman had a right to summons him, a wear- er of khaki in federal service, into a common court, Jullus Lorynec, pri- vate in Co. E, First Connecticut In- fantry, was arraigned before - Judge John H. Kirkham in police court to- day and subjected to a fine of $7 and costs for intoxication. “Well, you're here” was all the consolation he re- Lceived from ' Prosecuting Attorney George ' W. Klett while Judge Kirk- ham’'s only comment was a laconic ruling as to penalty. “Very drunk and very abusive” was the testimony of Chief of Police Wil- liam J. Rawlings while Supernumer- ry Policeman Edward B. Kerin testi- fled that the accused caused much juble on Hartford avenue last night, defied him and dared him to make the arrest, saying, that a mere policeman had ho power over a soldier. It was ‘testified that the accused became very abuaive when liquor was refused him in Dud’qh,, saloon at 2 Sexton.street because the eg, 'who Is stationed in Hart-: ford, testified _that he had a day off vestérday and came to New Britain to visit friends. y nothing,” was his complaint, when asked what he had .to say. Last night, when arrested, he contented: himself with abusing the policemen and refused to comment further about himself. As he was being arraigned strains of music from the instruments, of the First Infantry band, a part of a military funeral cortege were plain- 1y heard. . ; Lorynec seemingly did not_realize the solemnity of the occasion, laughed and joked with fellow prisoners 'in the dock and several times had to be restrained by Court Policeman Frank ! M. English. He strenuously objécted to being returned to a cell after court, desiring that word be sent to his su- |* perior officer: He was informed that his interests would be looked after. Wouldn’t Pay His Iare, Biclo Kelly, a gentleman of color all the way from Dawson, Ga., on a trip 'to Springfield, Ma: where he expected to secure work as a waiter, learned that a ti‘Z-et from his home town to Hartford ns not permit side trips to outly mg [ Arraigned for appuennz was in ulform., s arrested for | lntex.lenlun and relu‘l w pay rail- road fare, he, the pecullar_drawl of the 'territory below the Masén 'and Dixon line being pronounced, told of buying the ticket to Hartford but could .not remember reaching there or boarding the “dinky” line for New Britain yesterday. He thought that he must have get intoxicated on the train. Conduttor J. W. Pease was unahble to explain Kelly's presence on the train but was sure he was in- toxicated snd said he had no ticket. He ‘also explained that Kelly refused with disgust the opportutity of work- ing at the Plainville transfer station and preferred arrest.- -Sergeant Wil- llam C. Hart took him into custody. at the local passenger station. Sixty days in jail were imposed with sus- pension of sentence, provided the ac- cused jolns the. agricultural brigade at the town farm, % Autos and ‘Trolley Collide. Charged with the reckless operation of an automobile on. Stanley street late last night, procedure that resulted In his machine side-swiping one of the “owl” trolley cars on that line, Peter Fedora of 7 Park street, Hartford, was fined $10 and costs. It was testi- fled that the accused had seven pas- sengers in his five-seated touring car and was running at an excessive rate of speed. Attempting to geét out of the car tracks from in front of the trolley car, approaching from the op- posite direction, the wheels caught in the car tracks. The front part of the automobile escaped being hit but the sides grazed the trolley car, breaking off the vestibule handles and knock- Ing the glass out of one of the win- dows. Three trolley car passengers were showered with splintered glass. The automobile, according to testi- mony, proceeded about 400 feet before it turned turtle, spilling its occupants over the street. Police headquarters was notified and official investigation was made in charge of Sergeant Wil- llam C. Hart. It resulted in the ar- rest of the accused. The automopbile was badly damaged and its occupants injured, several showing scars as they appeared in court today. One was un- able to appear- because of his injuries, his wife making the necessary explana- tions. Tt was testified that Fedora had a passenger to bring to this city and invited six of his friends to “tak a ride”. In passing judgment, Judge Kirkham said evidence showed that Fedora had already been punished:by the damage to his car and also that he realized the street in question is in poor condition. e Investigate Youth's Condition. In order to permit of a further in- vestigation into the mental and physical condition of the accused as well as probing of other details con- nected with the case, Clarence Tra- han, 18, said to be the son of a prom- ienent Providence, R..I. drugsist, committed to the Che#hire Reforma- tory in court yestérday for theft, was ‘held . until Monday under re-opening of his case with bonds fixed at $300. Harry H. Willlams of the Majestic Music Publishing company of Provi- dence, the concern which Trahan rep- resents as a traveling salesman and demonstrator, made a strong plea for the accused, asked for leniency and sald he desires to take him to' his parents. He was unable to explain the possession of a skeleton key by Trahan. A traveling companion of cused also made a strong plea for leniency and “a chance” but was, also, unabel to explain the possession of the key. He made damaging state- ments relative to alleged habits of the accused, which he alleged -had been confessed to him injtheir travels. But for the possession of the skeleton key and eévidence tending to show that the use of it was premediated, according to Prosecuung Attorney Klett, he would feel Ilike recommending -a different sentence, Because of the baffling work of clever ‘key workers” in this and- other cities, he was in- clined . to view with suspicion the possession of the _key . Pending the disposition of the case Monday, Probation Officer Edward. C. Copnolly was instructed to thoroughly investigate =and .communicate with relatives of the accused. “I can reform well at home. as at the state farm'in Norwich’ was the plea of Star W. Andrews of West the ac- Main street, arraigned ‘on an intoxi- | cation charge. Judge Kirkham favored the farm sentence but was willing to give the accused . “his chance,” imposing a fine of 30 days in Jail with suspended sentence pending good behavior. Jacob Zypko of Beaver street was fined $1 and costs for use of improper language to James and Morris Savit- sky, merchants located at 130 Broad street while assault charges were not pressed. The accused was supposed to ‘have appeared in court yester- day when Joseph Kragel and Joseph Neidwicki were arraigned. It is al- leged by the police that the three are members of an east side gang that has made much trouble for - mer- chants 'and been the basis of numer- ous complaints ot the authoritie g a further investigation,’the Walter Fedovowicy, ‘aged 14, | charged with violation of probation was_continued until tomorrow. The accuged was'one of the minors. re- ‘cently. implicated in junk cases. _FOSTER-NILES NUPTIALS. ‘The marriage of Harry L. Foster and Miss Gertrude Niles “was solem- nized at 7 o’clock last evening at'the tiome of the bride on-Brighton street, Belvidere. - Rev. Dr. E. B, Cross, pas- tor of the First Baptist church, per- formed the ceremony. The best man was Fred Henderson® and Miss Ruth Niles, a sister of the bride, was brides- maid. ' They will live at 154 Black Rock ‘avenue upon their return from their wedd!ng trip. Card of Thanks. We wish_ to extend our sincere thanks to our neighbors and friends for their expressions of sympathy and consolation during the illness and death of ‘our son, Carl. We especial- Iy wish to thank the teachers and classmates and others who contribut- ed flowers during his illness and as- sisted us in our bereavement. i MR. AND MRS. JACOB WIEGAND AND FAMILY. § ernment’s purchases of steel, -in_exports for locomotive work by. Trahan. ] H. O. P. Shoes and Panama Hats For Men $1.50 to $7.50. Steel and Pig Iron Markets The Iron age says: The enormous volume, of the gov- those now under final negotiation and those expected in. the near future, tends to put prices higher for the manufac- turing consumer. Sheets are a conspicuous example, the Government's requirements turn- g out to be much greater than early estimates.-. The week’s advance here has been about $5 per ton, but gov- ernment orders are taken at 15 to 30 per cent, below the recent market. There is great interest in the plac- ing by the government of 7,500,000 shells for field artillery on which awards are looked for daily. About 50,000 tons of steel will be required. The . spectacular pledge ' made by steel manufacturers at their meeting in New York last week to give the government ship steel ,as fast as called. for, can be made good only by plate ‘and structural mills. Present ship plate capacity is about 150,000 tons a_month, and 75,000 tons a month more will be reldy early in 1918; some of it earlier. To bulld 3,000,000 tons of steel ships in 18 months would call for about 1,000,000 tons of plates and 300,000 tons of shapes. Fabrica- ting mills, under the new construction plans, will help in speeding up ship- ¥ard operations, but there is no pros- pect of a monopolizing of plate mill capacity by shipbuilding. Of the long awaited Russian car orders it is ‘significant that two have beey. given out through Washington for 5,000 cars each to the Standard and American & Foundry company shops. are. 45,000 to 500,000 tons. An item is 4,000 tons of tirea. Much has been made of shipyard possibilities . in. connection. with the | Steel Corpotation’s purchase of a. 60- | acre site near Newark, N. J., but there is no officlal statement except that the land has been purchased. The expected falling off in consump- tion of steel for automobiles has come. Makers of pleasure cars arp curtailing operations, and in some cases have asked for the holding up of shipments. So far as the mills are concerned, such requests are welcome, especially to makers of sheets and bars. At the same time government buying of motor trucks; more than 70,000 being under inquiry, will make a _heavy demand for steel:. One in- quiry has appeared for 20,000 tons of ‘base bands for rims: ‘The turning of a part.of the lead- ing fabricator’s capacity to the rivet- ing of steel for ship hulls is probable, and other capacity may be .similarly employed. Meantime. structural con- traets are largely: for government work—G5200. tond for a machine shop and foundry at Norfolk Navy Yard, 4000 tons for a crane runway at Brooklyn Navy Yard, and 1100 tons for hangars in Florldu. Pending navy yard work; calls for 8500 tons, and at Newport News a private y:.rd is in- Quiring -for 9000 tons. ' Wire manufacturers have had a two days’ conference this week on the dis- tribution of the wire requlred for the government and “allied contracts for wire rope. The latter are now ex- pected to be much in excess of 25,000 tons. - A The situation in respect to deliveries of nearly every form of fiished ma- terial is tightening, as the hand of the government reaches into transpor- tation to secure preferential provision for the movement of iron ore and coal. Soft Bessemer and open-hearth sheet bars have been sold for early delivery at $100 T ton ‘at ‘maker’s mill. At Cleveland one mjll ‘has ad- vanced its price to $110, i ‘The . feature of the ‘basie pig-iron market has been the sale of. 35,000 tons in eastern Pennsylvania. steel company which bought 15,000 tons Iast week ‘for delivery this year has now taken 5,000 tons additional for such delivery, and 35,000 tons for the first half of 1918, ‘all ‘at $42 de- livered at Coatesville. A sale of 5,000 tons of eastern Pennsylvania basic for this year has been made at $42 at furnace, or $43 at buyer's works. A West Virginia steel company is in the market. for 9,000 tons. Pittsburgh re- ports that. negotiations have started for large lots of Bessemeér and basic iron, and that sellers are holding !or ahout $2 advance. A Low phosphorus’ iron in the u.ut presents the unparalieled situation of the practical selling up of product for a full year ahead. .Foundry iron is higher by $1 in nearly all ‘markets, and in the Val- leys of the central west $43 is firm- ly , established. One large Alabama producer has advanced its price for 1917 iron to $42 at furnace. The canvass of the ferromanganese situation by an officiat committee shows that independent steel makers have an average of three month’s supply. The help of the government to any extent necessary in getting shipments from Great Britain is as- sured. Lake Superior iron-ore shippers The rolled steel requirements | ‘The || NEW' YORK myum EXCHANGE. - i, ; TEL. have asked furnace-men to. take only sufficient quantities to run their fur- naces until June 1, 1918, the effort being to limit shipments down the Lakes to actual necessities. Other- wise, the Lake fleet, with the late opening and.& present shortage of 5,- 000,000 to 6,000,000 tons, compared ‘with last year, will be unabie to cope with the later season demand. MILITARY FUNERAL ‘Sexvices for Private Joseph Welch of . Company E, First Regiment, . Held st §t. Mary’s Church This Marning. The funeral of Private Joseph Weich of Company E First Infantry, was held from St. Mary’s ' church at 9 o’clock’ this morning with accompany- ing military honors. Casket bearing all that was mortal of the youthful soldier was draped in the = American flag, to defend which he had enlisted at the time of the Mexican trouble a year ago, and several squads of sol- diers temporarily relieved from out- pos duty attended the services. The firing squad was also from Company [E as were the six pall bearers in charge of First Sergéaht. James C. Kelly. Interment took place in St. Mary’'s new cemetery. where a last volley was fired over the grave and the regimental buglers sounded last taps, The services at St. Mary’s churc] were largely attended by friends an acquaintances of Private Welch. Rey. Fater Krause celebrated the requiem mass, assisted by other members of the clergy. First Lieutenant Ashley- J. Griffin and Second Lleutenant Robert V. K. Harris Jr.,, under whose com- mand Private Welch had served, at- tended the funeral and the Rirst Regis ment band was also here to take M in ‘the funeral cortege. . The pall bearers were: Sownlfi James C, Kelly, Sergeant Walter Bo- ‘ber, Sergéant John Curtin, Musician Gregory, Corpora]l Harold 'l‘lmln(lun and Private Joseph Carroll 4 A marriage license was issued to- day to Joseph Matthew Roéache of 21 Division street and Bertha May Hn.n mick of 18 Winthrop -mot. 2040, * Behind the British oflmdvo in fleld in France are the directink and hand of Lieutenant ¥ William Robertson, in picture shows General Wun- 4 he looks “snapped” in a London st Since Kitchener went General son ‘is looked upon In Great: as the nation's greatast . military genius, and should m ish smash the Hindenburg.line & hare ‘of- the- credit will be his. am perfectly confident of provided we sald Goneral. Bobom » fow ago. B A leerty Loan- Bond? Askyoursefithts Canlaffordnotto dm petson in the United States is sohdy supporting them? THE MERCI TRUSTCO. JOHN P. 68 BROAD ST., NEW YORK. ' KEOC NEW BRITAIN OFFICE, 166 MAIN ST, TEL, 1013, Private Wire to New York and Boston.