New Britain Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1926, Page 1

News of the World By Associated Press ESTABLISHED 1870 i £ YT N AR CHILICKI, IN DEFIANT M0OD, BLUSTERS IN POLICE COURT, HELD UNDER Bandit Resents Charge of Assault With In- tent to Kill and Sneers at Prosecutor. Changes Attitude When Judge Alling Tells Him He Can Be Sentenced to Prison for 55 Years. As cool and collected as any per- #on in the crowded court room, Peter Chilickl, 24 year old ex-convict who was returned to this city from Stamford Saturday morning, took the witness stand in police court this morning and brazenly told Judge B. W. Alling he objected to being charged with assault with Intent to murder George E. Fredericks of 132 Lyon street. Probable cause was found on the charges of robbery and assault with intent to murder, and Chilicki was bound over to the March term of superior court in $15,000 bonds, but not until he had | given a display of temper and de- flance of the court officials seldom witnessed in a court. Prisoner Closely Guarded ‘When the first charge was read to him by Clerk Emil J. Danberg, Chilicki, standing in the prisoners’ pen with a polic. guard nearby, calmly answered: “I waive examina- tion,” but when the charge of as- sault with intent to murder was read he said he did not quite understand the first part of it. “It says some- thing about murder,” he began, and Prosecuting Attorney J. G. Woods had it read again. “Not guilty,” Chilicki responded and seated him- gelt while Sergeant Patrick J. O'Mara, Officer Thomas J. Feeney, Supernumerary Officer Walter Wag- ner, Fireman Edward J. Conlin, Dr. D. W. O'Connell, Mr. Fredericks, and former Policeman eddrick Perry testified. Asked §f he carcd to make a state- ment, Chilicki walked smartly to the witness box and, raising his right ‘hand, swore “to tell the truth, the | whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Judge Alling warned him of his rights relative to making a slatement, and Chilicki nodded his ur 1erstanding. “I walved examina- tion on the first count, but that sec- ond .ount nced not be there,” he said. “The first count covers the firing of the revolver, doesn't it? And as far as Mr. Fredericks’ saying I said ‘to hell w.:h the children,” I believe I ordered him to do as I told | him and nothing would happen to him. I had full control of the gun hand. He did not have hold of it.” “Did you know what you were do- ing all the time?” Judge Alling ask- ed. “All the time,” Chilicki replied. Objects to Two Charges Judge Alling then asked him if he knew what the penalties are on the counts on which he is arraigned. Chilicki seecmed to change expres- sion as the judge read the maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on one count and 30 years on the other. “I didn’t know that,” he answered, looking, squarely at the judge. “Why put two charges against me for only one crime? I don't think Prosccu- tor Woods ought to put in that sec- ond count.” “Well, that is for the state’'s at- torney and the courts to say,” Judge Alling told him. “Did you know that one bullet went into the man® body about two inches from his heart? Did you know that?” the prosecuting attor- ney asked him. Swinging around In the box to face Mr. Woods, Chilic! a contemptuous sneer sai inches? ‘Why Dr. Conley (O'Con- nell) showed where the bullet went | witness (Continued on Page 17) ALICE NORTON LEAVES ESTATE OF $311,086 L}arold Croarkin, $15,000 BOND HURDERED BOY T0 HEEP HIM SILENT Wealthy Chicago Man's SouL Gonfesses to Killing HAD ATTACKED YOUNGSTER 26, Describes Brutal Slaying — Prosecuting At- torney Crowe Will Demand the Death Penalty. Chicago, Dec. 20 () — Harold Croarkin, 26, today confessed he killed six year old Walter Schmith in a northside barn loft in a panic of fright after he had attempted to mistreat the boy, fearing his victim would tell of his actions. The admissions of motive came at ithe end of a long hours questioning following the youth's voluntary sur- render on Sunday. had asserted that he did not know Iwhy he killed the youth, who was found dying Friday night in the loft |where the attack oscurred. Police said that C€roarkin con- fessed having taken liberties with approximately a dozen children in three months. As officlals were leaving the criminal courts building today with Croarkin, he was faced by C. B. Feeley whose daughter was molested recently. Asked if Croarkin was the man who attempted to harm his little girl, Feeley shouted, “Yes, let me at him and I will save the state the expense of hanging him.” Richard Pospishel, 14, since last Wednesday, home today with a story prompted a police search for men. missing returned which two Will Demand Death “If this is not a hanging case yoi might as well abolish the penalty, State's Attorney Crowe sald early today after he and his aids questioned the son of a wealthy flour dealer. In latest Croarkin's statement which followed a number of ram- | bling declarations concerning the murder he sald that he had asked Walter to go after some coffee. They had no bucket and another boy ask- ed to go home for one. Brutal Murder Croarkin then went into the barn with Walter and after describing his actions there he =aid that he became alarmed, having been told in a pre- ! vious case in which he was named that his actlons constituted a penal offense. He then decided to kill the youth and asked him to go to the cecond floor. Selzing a hammer he followed. He then dared the youth to climb into the loft. There, he re- (Continued on Page 11) Previously he | had | Y YA 10 ""‘?,‘x i:::u RITAIN HERALD NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1926. —.TWENTY PAGES. PARISH BULLDING 10 GIST $20000 Sacred Heart Pastor Plans School and Community Honse BREAK GROUND IN SPRING Rev. Lucyan Bojnowski to Direct Erection of Structure Which Will Accommodate All Children and Provide Center for His Flock. Ground will be broken about April 1 for a new $250,000 com- bination school building and com- munity center for the Sacred Heart parish, Rev. Lucyan Bojnowskl, | pastor, announced today. This information was furnished a gathering of young men of the congregation last night when they met to take preliminary steps in club which eventually is to share headquarters in the new building with the many societies now exist- ing. The need for greater school ac- commodations has been felt for several years, but has been more acute in the past few, Every avail- able nook in the new and old school buildings on Gold street and Or- lange street has becn utilized and a |classroom set up, but even the {most careful planning can no long- er house the pupils, leaders in | parishactivities explain. 2,000 Now in School The Sacred Heart school has more than half the total parochial school registration in the city, its rolls now carrying approximately 12,000 names. A municipal statisti- clan last year computed the cost of building to be $500, and the cost per pupil for education in the cur- rent school year to be $103.27. Us- ing these figures as a basis, paro- chial leaders point to the fact that the Sacred Heart parish now saves the city an initial expenditure of $1,000,000 for classrooms, and a current expenditure for education |of $206,540, or nearly five milld on the present grand list for building and two mills for educational work. Community Center New. The community center will add | another institution to the rapidly | expanding parish. Its properties now | include a church, parsonage, sclool, convent, orphanage, day nursery, home for the aged, a printing es- { tablishment and a farm. | Nearly all of these buildings have been placed since Father Bojnow- ski came to New Britain. in the Polish colony has attracted international attention and he was | recently given an honorary degree | from Rome in recognition of his | labora. | For many vears the pastor has ! planned and visualized a recreation | center where practically every desir- | ed form of amusement might be | provided under one root and with | some degree of supervision and re- | straint. One of the institutions planned by | Father Bojnowski which has not yet become a realtty is a high school into which he would have graduates of the parish school advance for fur- | ther instruction. WORST SYSTEM OF LOOTING COUNTRY HAS EVER KNOWN, BORAH STATES IN ALIEN PROPERTY SCANDAL INQUIRY FOUR SMALL CHILDREN ARE BURNED T0 DEATH Father, a Clergyman, Preaching at Time—Tlatiron in Bed Started Blaze Newburg, W. Va., Dec. 20.—(@— our small children were burned to | death at Scott's Hill, near here, ast night, when their bed clothing caught fire from a hot iron which the mother had placed in thelr bed to keep them warm. The victims of the fire were the children of the Rev. nd Mrs. D. F. Hines, and ranged in age from one and a half to eight years, The father, a Methodist Episcopal circuit minister, had gone to Mt. Zion church to conduct Sunday eve- ning services. When Mrs. Hines put the children to bed, she placed a hot iron at their feet because of the sub- zero weather, McCarl Advises President of Alleged Irregularities Totaling Million — Offi- cial Probe Likely After Christmas. Washington, Dec. 20 (FP)—Declar- ing that Comptroller General Mc- Carl's report of the administration of alien property had disclosed the “worst system of looting this coun- try has ever known,” Senator Borah, republican, Ohio, indicated today in- vestigation would be ordered by the senate after the Christmas holidays. New York, Dec. 20 (®—Comptrol- ler McCarl in a special report to President Coolidge on the adminis- tration of the half billion dollars the organization of a young men's | iproviding a seat in a public school | His work | Smith Was Slain | 300 Drafted Chinese 1 Are Frozen to Death Peking, Dec. 20 (A —Three hundred coolies who were im- pressed into the Manchurian military forces were frozen to death en route to the Suiyuan || area, near the Mongolian border, and their bodies have been re- turned to Kalgan, Shansi prov- ince, from where they started, || says a dispatch received here today. PROTEST BLOCKS MASONIC TEMPLE i by Aggrieved Neighbors ; {CLAIM EXCEPTIONS ILLEGAL Actlon of Board of Adjustment | Termed Excess of Authority -nd‘ Arbitrary—Work on Building Cannot Begin Until Reviewed. An appeal to the superior court | to set aside the decision of the| board of adjustment to allow spe- | clal exceptions which will permit erection of a Masonic temple on Russell street, has been filed by At- |torney John T. Robinson of Hart- |ford, in behalt of six | owners, The appellants declare the board of adjustment assumed a power Inot given it by law, and that its |action was arbitrary and takes the |form of an award of special privi- lege. The effect of the appeal will be to stay work on the building until a review of the case is had |in_superior court. Those mentioned as appellants are: William C. Hungerford, Flor- lence A. Camp, Harry Bates, Ruth |S. Bates, Cornelia A. Mitchell, El- | mer B. Stone. The Masonlc Temple Corporation applied forsa special exception on front and rear yard requirements for Residence B under the zoning jact and were refused months ago. At a second hearing |December 8, exceptions on rear vard space and for the placement of a non-conforming building were granted. . 20 Allegations Among the 20 allegations made in the complaint are the follow- | ng: | That the Masonic Temple Corpo |ation did not at the time of the ap- i peal, and does not own th | property on which it is planned to uild; that no conditl which, literal enforcement of the law | would work a hardship, but that on |the other hand, grant of the excep- | Ition will work a hardship, and that it is unjust t8 the applicants and con- ‘Ln\ry to public interest; that the | property values of the remonstrants | consists chiefly of costly residences | |and that a lodge-room will depreci- | |ate these values; that the proposed | building will attract automobile traf- fic and parking to the annoyance of | the neighbors, and the street which !is now' termed by the applicants “the most desirable for residences in | the City of New Britain,” will no | | longer be so; that the excep | granted is contrary to law; that the | decision s arbitrary of justice or other legal reason; that the action is wholly illegal and the remonstrants | are aggrieved there | The applicants ask that the de- cision of the board of adjustment be |reversed and that such other rellot {be granted as to equity and justice | appertain. ARMY AND NAVY MEN | DIRECT P. 0. TRAFFIC iRecruiting Staff Helping to | | property several Senator Heflin Repeats Charge Apartment; ‘He Knew Too Much’ \Appeal Filed in Superior Gourt' | “Mellon’s money or | laid labout the Fall-Doheny verdict. | in Daugherty’s Declares Dead Man Had Been Appointed by Re-| publicans to Collect Twoi Million Dollars From Bootleggers to Pay Off Party’s Debt. FALL-DOHENY CASE | “FIXED,” HE ASSERTS Washington, Dec. 20 (P—The rec- | ord of a Mobile court proceeding| od in the senate today by| 1, democrat, Alabama, ring on his charge that Jess intimate of former Attorney Daugherty, sought during the Harding administration to col- | lect funds from bootleggers. Wanted $2,000,000 | The Alabama senator quoted the court record as it was read before| a secret meeting of the senate judi- mittee Ist April. Accord-! record, Aubrey Boyles then United States district attorney i uthern Alabama, told the t that a friend of his 1 had told hi Smith was e $2,000,000 to pay lican national committee nned to have “the men | in the or business and the brew- eries bute. Boyles himself was on the stand before the judiciary committee when this on of the court record was read, and he denied that he had te as the record showed be- fore the Mobile court. Answers Challenge Senator Heflin made his speech as of a request from Federal ict Attorney Buckner in New that he present any evidence & to support his charge in the senate last week that Smith murdered and that his death pre- vented the public from ever learn- ing the inside story of “corruption® while Daugherty was attorney gen- eral. Daugherty is to go on triat next month in New York on a con- spiracy charge. Boyles’ version of the story told by Bovkin, as it appears in the court recérd read before the judi- ciary committee, follows: Data of Record “He sald he had a three-quarter of an hour long distance telephone message from Jess Smith, “He said ‘You know Secretary Mellon loaned the republican na- tional committes $5,000,000 $3,000,000 has been repaid. is a deficit of $2,000,000. Je i3 harged with getting up ““The plan is to have the men in| the liquor business, and th ies contribute to this fun nit tates attorneys in some places have been arranged with. They will be cxpected to collect from the boot- leggers the money and contribute a tain portion of it to that fund’.” | Repcats Murder Charge | The Alabama senator told the senate that Smith was murder- 'd in Daugherty's apa t here, 1 that the coroner's verdict of suicide was wrong. i ‘He knew too much,” Heflin sald, “They had to get ride of him i Heflin added that he didn't know | whether the $5,000,000 said to have heen loaned the repub.ican com- mittee by Secretary Mellon was the govern- debt and p Smith rent's.” “I know that $3,000,000 was brought in to Mellon, and Jess mith was assigned to get the other 000,000, ‘Will Keep At It 1 It was a part of the plan, he continued, to have a man appointed United States marshal in southern Alabama who would act for Smith and help collect ‘“the loot.” *I am going to keep on until this thing is before the American people | shouted Heflin. “There is no self-| f- | respecting man in the senate who| objects to what I sald the other day “I take exception to that state- ment,” interrupted Senator Bru democrat, Maryland. “I believe the | judge in the case was an honorable, upright man.” “I don’'t know the judge,” re- turned Heflin, “He might be a very Returning to the room some time |Worth of alien property seized dur- Handle Christmas |intelligent man but he was appoint- [ed by the Harding administration, Average Daily Circulation For Week Ending Dec. 18th ... 14,015 PRICE THREE CENTS AT LEAST 30 PERSONS DROWNED AS LAUNCH, CRUSHED BY THE IGE FLOE IN HUDSON RIVER AT NEW YORK, SINKS Old Fisherman, Adrift 11 Days, Tells of Eatirg Flesh of His Dead_Ffi'eml Whom He Survived 69 Year Old Californian Tells Awful Story of Ex- Father’s Choice as King of Rumanians periences After Thrice ‘ Rescuing Companion When Latter Attempted Suicide Off California Coast. Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, Cal,, Dec. 20 (A—The startling ad- | mission that he had eaten the flesh ed when the two were cast adrift at sea in an open boat, was made here last night by Eli B. Kelly, 69, Redondo fisherman. Kelly was picked up on the beach yesterday and brought to a hospital after drifting for 11 d Find Mutilated Body The mutilated body of his com- panion, James McKinley, 63, was near here ing yawl off the end of the island. Kelly said he had been without food or water for eight days. His shipmate, crazed by hunger and thirst when supplies ran out, died was L(rom exhaustion after having jumped | overboard three times. Kelly said he rescucd his companion each time. According to Kelly's story, the two men set out on a fishing cruise from Itedondo December 8 in a 20-foot wl. On the second night out they an into a storm which stripped their main sail and swamped their auxil- iary engine. Carried Ont to Sea Manning their oars, they struggled iinst the storm which carried 1em far out to eca. With prov for only 24 hours they nibbled ingly at the dwindling ratlons. After being tossed about on the waves for two days, McKinley be- e insane. Pointing to imagir dland, he demanded that they pull oars for the shore. A quarrel that sprang up when Kelly persisted in Crown P following his compass. Trics Murder and Suicide On the third night, McKinley, crazed by hunger and thirst, again took up the quarrel and suddenly lurched at his companion with a bait nife in his hand. Kelly overpowered im and bound him with the stern Even in this position ould not be subdued and three es he rolled himself over the unwales and plunged into the sea. hree times Kelly rescued him. Iinally McKinley died-of exhaustion. Tried Human Flesh With his, dead companion at his back Kelly returned to his oars, On the fifth day the last crumb of food ad been eaten. It was then that he attempted to appease his hunger with human flesh. He sighted land yesterday and ching this island, crawled on the beach. Dragging his tarpaulins after him he used these and a few sacks as a covering and lay down to dle. Ho was found by fishermen. McKinley | | mamed Ot his dead companion whom he sur- | | | |tound in the botiom of a smail fish- | PRINCE CAROL ‘ING FERDINAND NOW ANNIOUS TOABDICATE Said to Desire Restoration of Rights to Former Prince Carol Paris, Dec. 20 (® — King Ferdi- :and of Rumania wishes to abc ate the throne and restore former Carol to the rights | he renounced on January 4, last. ‘\ The king made this wish known to his ministers at a secret council held in Bucharest last week, it is lcarned from a high Rumanian po- litical source in Paris. As a result of the king's “ulti- matum” to his ministers, General Coanda was sent to Paris and al- ready advised Ferdinand that Carol willing to comply with his father's wishes, but under several conditions. nee has | These are first that King Ferdi- nand must acquiesce to Carol's di- vorcing Princess Helen — that if must leave the coun- ore his return — and sec- ond, that before he ascends throne, the present governmen must be thrown out and a demo cratic cabinet headed by Prot. Jor- ga and comprising the leaders of the new national-peasant party, must be given power. “I am a sick old man," ‘I-‘crdlnund is reported as i (Continued on Page 17) King having tiff Note to Public Works Board Chairman Says No Man Is Indispensable to Government. later she found it in flames. When Greater Part of Property Composed of Stocks and Bonds An estate of $311,586.41 was left by the late Miss Alice Norton of Kensington, according to an inven- tory filed today in the probate court by James J. Fitzsimons and Ernest W. Mildrum, apprais The entire estate is left to her sister, Miss Eliz- abeth Norton. A number of her holdings were loft to her by her brother, the late George Norton, also of Kensingtbn. She had numerous property interests, these totalling $6.656.19, including interest in several mortgages. Stock holdings were also numerous. A partial itemization of the estate is as follows: Land and mortgages, $6,656.19; elgth cows, $400; one bull, $50; two horses, $250; on~ utomobile, 1925 model, $1,200; cash, New Britain Trust company, $5,640.79; cash, in Berlin Savings Bank, $134.01. The remalnder of tho estate cons sists of stocks and bonds. Miss Marjorie Moore is administratrix c. her lone efforts to fight the fire with buckets of water proved futile, Mrs, Hines ran a quarter of a mile to the ncarest nelghbor but the house had been destroyed when help arrived. The charred bodies of the victims were found in the ruins. C. F. Brooker of Ansonia Dies at Florida Hotel Daytona Beach, Fla., Dec. 20.—(#) —C. F. Brooker, 179, of Ansonia, Conn., chairman of the board of g§- rectors of the American Brass com- pany, died here today. Death tollowed a long illness. Mr. Brooker had been here two weeks, oceupying a suite at the Clarendon hotel. He had been unconscious for a week, his physicians said today. ‘The hody w11 4 cant to Ansonia to- morrow afternoon. Investigation of Alleged Bread Trust Is Ordered ‘Washington, Dec. 20.—{—An in- vestigation of charges that a bread trust has been created was ordered today by the senate judiclary com- mittee in compliance with a resolu- ta tlan of Senator LaFollette, republi- can, Wisconsin, |ities, says a Washington dispatch to the World. The president, says the World, |treasury and to Senator Borah, chalrman of a committee to inves tigate the allen property situation. A transscirpt of the report, the {World says, among other things re- veals: “Excessive amounts, aggregating millions, were pald for attorne fees, for commissions to depositories and other expenses. “Corporations supposed to be li- quidated are permitted to continue for years, for the benefit only of |officers and attorneys. “Salaried government employes were pald additional amounts from trust funds. “Limitations placed by congress on expenses of administration were disregarded in big matters and small. “Funds were left for years in the possession of certain individuals without a serious attempt at col- lection. “Interest on trust funds were withdrawn fron: the treasury, which pald more than 4 per cent and plac- ed in banks paylng less than 3 per cent. (Continued on Page 17) {ing the war reveals many irregular- | |and should have never sat in th {has sent coples of the report to the | larrangement with Patrons Entering the final week of Christ- mas mailing, Postmaster Herbert I. |Erwin today announced plans for handling what is expected to be a record breaking week of business at |the local office. A feature of the service this year will be the placement of three re- cruiting officers in the lobby to serve as information clerks and to pre- serve order generally. By arrange- ment with Major William A. Stock of the army recruiting service, Cor- porals William Bullock and Charles Compowick will be on duty, and by Capt. Thomas Shock of the naval recruiting se First Class Torpedoman Raymond Dordelman will be on duty, the post- master announces. All three are overseas veterans. To divert some of the congestion from the package weighing and rat- ing windows, two extra stamp win- dows will be opened in the money order department, and there will be | a like number of insuring windows. Discussing the latter feature, Mr. | Erwin sald oday: “We, of course, urge that all per- (Continued on Page 17) There fsn't an intelligent, honest| ACUNE on complaints against em- citizen in the country, outside of the | ployes of the department of public senate, who has mot grave sus-|works, Mayor Weld today addressed picions about this case.” e = = : e ey ¢ to Chafrman Regtnald Tow Senator Heflin then enlarged upon severely reprimanding those his charge that Albert B. Fall and (28ainst whom the reports had been led and calling attention to the fact Edward L. Doheny never would « have been brought to trial on the oil t the services of no employe are spensable. | The mayor's letter reads as fol- lows: “Dear Chairman:— “I am not particularly pleased at | some of the reports I am receiving |about the manner in which some of |the employes are doing thelr work. “Personally I consider no man in |the city government indispensable and probably the sooner some of |them understand that their places can be filled, the quicker we may ex- pect more efficiency. | “Respectfully, “GARDNER C. WELD, “Mayor." The mayor declined to amplify the statement contained In his letter. He also refused to state whether the | complaints concerned a particular branch of the public works service, or whether high officlals or common laborers are involved. |ers (Continued on Page 17) = i Stores Remain Open In Evening Until 9 Stores In this eity will remain open evenings until 9 o’'clock this week with the exception of Iri- day evening when they will close at 7 o'clock to allow employes to prepare for their observance of Christmas. THE WEATHER New Britain and viclnity: Rain probably tonight and | Tuesday; warmer tonight. | | rr— . Displeased With City Workers, Ma}iq _Weld Protests to Towers | TW0 DEAD IN AUTO New Jersey Man, Married, and Un- identified Girl Believed Asphyxiat- ed in Closed Car. Perth Amboy, N. J., Dec. 20—(M ~— Candy T. Oakes aged 22, of Pleasant Plains, Staten Island, and an unidentified girl were found dead today In a closed automobile in the Kinzy section of this city. Police sald the ccuple had apparently been overcome by the exhaust gas from the motor which they left running when they parked. Otto T. Smith, father-in-law of Oakes, told police that Oakes left his home in Pleasant Plains yester- day afternoon alone in his car. Oakes had been married about a ear and lived with his wife in Pleasant Plains. BIG FIRE IN POUGHKEEPSIE Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Dec. 20 (F— Fire swept through the Windsow garage block between Catherine and Crannell streets in the center of the city early today, burning out the garage, seven stores and a dozen apartments and destroying 25 auto- mobiles. The loss was estimated at more than $250,000. ITALIAN NAVAL CHIEF DIES Pisa, Ttaly, Dec. 20 (P—Admiral Diego Simonetti, commander-in- chief of the Itallan navy, died to- day, aged sixty-one, About 100 Workmen Were on Boat Being Transported From 95th Street Pier to Factory at Edgewa- i ter, N. J. {Survivors Suffer From Cold — Ship Reported Passing Without Giving Aid—Death List Likely to Grow. 381 !E:u Assoclated Press. | New York, Dec. 20.—Singing |at the prospect of employment, {80 men answering the help { wanted advertisement of a New ersey manufacturing plant | sank to their deaths in the icy | waters of the Hudson river to- | day when ice floes crushed the | launch transporting them. | The death list was expected | to be increased to almost 40 ' when the work of police boats | with grapplers had been com- i pleted. Besides the known dead nd the missing, 24 men were | confined in hospitals suffering from submersion. COrushed in the Ios The launch left the 95th street pler for the Spencer Kellogg & Sons plant at Edgewater, N. J, | with about 100 men on board. Off | 254th street, the Bronx, it was | caught between great cakes of fce and crushed. Water poured in and |within a few minutes the boat had | sunk. All available river craft speeded to the rescue of the men struggling in the fcy waters, many of whom | were suffering severely from sub- mersion of almost half an hour. Po- lice helieve that the death list might be much higher when a com- plete check up of those in hospi- tals had been made. The first boat to reach the scene was the tug Buffalo, with the Num- ber One tug of the company own- ing the Buffalo a close second. More than a score of almost frozen men were taken on board and rushed to the 129th street pler where an emergency hospital was |established and ambulances had | assembled. May Be Women Too Police attempting to check up on the number of persons who had |been on the Linseed King received videly varying reports. Some esti- tes were as low as 40 while sev- men taken to hospifais gorous in their assertions |that there had been at least 150. | Most reports sald only men had |been on the boat but police inves- tigated unsubstantiated rumors that several women had been among hem. Reports at Varlance Several of the survivors reported {that before the tugs came to their |assistance an oll tanker passed | within 200 feet of them, going |downstream, and paid no attention |to thelr cries. Reports as to the éause of the accident also varied. While most observers blamed the ice entirely others asserted that the launch capsized because it was crowded “like a subway jam” and that when it tipped to one side everyone rushed to the other side in an at- tempt to right it and it upset. Disregarded Shouts One man who first of all might possibly have brought ald to the drowning men did not go to their assistance because he thought their |screaming was merely a continu- |ance of singing they had been do- |ing on the pler. | This man, named Marshall, was |in charge of a lighter tied up at the pier from which the Linseed | King left for the Jersey shore. | After the launch left he went into the cabin of his own craft and | when he heard the shouts pald no attention, “The piler was Jjammed this morning,” he sald, “with young men dancing and singing and gen- erally trying to keep warm. About 86 to 100 men got into the launch, which I wouldn't call a strong craft. As the launch started out they were still shouting and sing- ing. “There was a terrible lot of fce in the river this morning and most of it in large cakes. The launch went north to 96th street and then headed for Jersey and I went Into |my cabin. Soon after that I heard a crunching sound and thought the launch’s propeller must have churned up an ice floe. I heard velling too but I thought it was the men still singing and I didn't go outside.” Captain’s Statement According to the captain of the craft, John Rohwelder of Jersey City, there were 62 persons aboard the boat. Captaln Rohweider was thrown from the lauch and attempt- ed to swim to the Jersey shore. He was picked up by a rescue boat and questioned by the Edgewater pelige