Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, February 26, 1916, Page 1

VOL. LVIlL—NO. 49 POPULATION 28,219 " NORWICH, CONN., Balletin SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1918 SIXTEEN PAGES. The Bulletin’s Circulation in Norwich ;& Double ¥ NO ABATEMENT IN BATTLE OF VERDUN Germans Are Attacking With Unprecedented Violence and With Large Forces . FRENCH SAY ATTACKS HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS Cabled Paragraphs Spanish Bond lssue of $20,000,000. Madrid, Spain, Feb. 25, via Paris, 5 p. m—A al decree, issued today, authorizes the issue on March 1st of 3 per cent. bonds to the amount of 100,000,000 pesetas (about $20,000,000). Serious Outbreak in Berlin. Amsterdam, via London, Feb. 24, 10.55 p. m—sThe Echo Belge, a copy of which has been received here, says it learns that a serious outbreak oc- curreq in Berlin three days ago. Caval- ry charged the crowd and in the fight which ensued over one hundred persons were killed. Rumania Calling Troops. London, Feb. 25, 1101 p. m.—Reu- ter's Amsterdam correspondens sends a report received there from Bucharcst to the cifec: that the Rumanian war cffice has announced that al! natural- ized Rumanian citizens beiween ibe ages of 21 and 16 must report them- selves for military service. ‘Artillery on Both Sides Along the Entire Line is Keeping Up | FOR REGULATION OF Incessant Bombardment of Opposing Positions—Heavy Casualties Are Being Inflicted on Both Sides—Fortified Villages East of the Meuse Are Declared by Berlin to be|10.50 p.'m—The Prussian Diet ended in the Hands of the Germans—French Are Bombarding Germans Positions in the Forest of Argonne and in the Vosges Mountains—Russians in the Caucasus Have Tak- en Additional Towns—Vienna Chronicles Drive of the Italians. { Along the front in the region of jVerdun the Germans and the French {continue the great struggle which be- 'zn.n several days ago, with the Ger- mans on the offensive, and their aim evidently the great French fortress of Verdun. Despite a heavy fall of snow, the Germans mnorth of Verdun have at- cacked, with what Paris terms un- precedented violence and with large forces, French positions at several points, but according to the French official communication the attacks were without success. Especially has this been true of La Cote du Poivre, about four and one-half miles north of the fortress, the attainment of which would give the Germans a fine vantage point from which to operate against Verdun. - Action of Artillery Incessant. The artillery on both sides along the {entire battle front is keeping up an incessant bombardment of opposing | positions. {~ So neavy are the detonations of the !big guns that the sound of them has penetrated eastward to the left bank of the Rhine in Rhenish Prussia. Heavy casualties are being inflicted by both sides, and the Germans claim that they have taken a goodly number of prisoners—the aggregate at last re- ports totalling more than 10,000. East of the Meuse the fortified vil- lages and farms of Chambneuville, Cos- tellate, Marmont, Beaumont, Cham- brettes and Ornes are declared by Ber- ‘lin to be in the hands of the Germans, as likewlse are French positions north of Verdun reaching to the ridge of Loudemont, which lies south of eBau- mont. Fighting in Champagne Region. Fighting also has been going on in the Champaszne region and bombard- ments of German positions have taken place in the forest of the Argonne and in the Vosges mountains. In Cham- pagne the French report the capture of a German salient south of S_te Marie-a-Py and the taking of 300 pris- oners, including 21 officers and non- commissioned officers. _Artillery op- erations have been in progress along the British front. Bombardments, in- fantry, attacks and fights with hand grenades have taken place in Russia and Galicia, but there have been no important changes in positions. The bombardments between the Austrians and Italians on the Austro-Italian front continue. Russians Take More Towns. The Russians in the Caucasus and in Persia have taken additional towns | from the Turks. Pursuit of the Turkish forces driven out of Erzerum con- tinues. Late reports from the British force surrounded by Turks at Kut-el-Amara say the Turks long ago ceased their at- tacks upon the besieged position. Italians Driven Back. Vienna records a further drive of the Italians before the Austro-Hun- garians east and southeast of Durazzo, Albania. Eleven Italian officers, how- wer, and 700 soldiers have been cap- ured. The Durazzo docks are under the fire of the batteries of the Teutons, which are hampering the embarkation of the Italians and their allies in their endeavors to escape. { # FEAR NEWFOUNDLAND | WILL FACE FOOD FAMINE '1f Action is Not Immediately Taken to Secure Better Shipping Facilities. St. John's, N. F.,, Feb. 25.—Tearing that the colony of Newfoundland will face a feed famine in May or June if laction is not immediately taken to se- lcure better shipping facilities, the St. {John's Board of Trade has made a Ivigorous demand to the colonial gov- ‘ernment to prosuce steamers. The Board of Trade asks that arrangements be made with the British government | to have steamers furnished, even if it becomes necessary for the colonial gov- ernment to liberally subsidize them. Newfoundland has already faced a similar problem regarding coal. Last December a coal shortage, caused by a lack of vessels to bring it here, obliged the gu\'eri‘nent to commandeer all of the available coal in St. John's and distribute it to the people in small lots. There is also a shortage of salt for fish curing. The colony usually uses 6,000 tons annually,” but so far only 10,000 tons have been received. ‘The colonial government, howev is negotiating with the British admiralty i to secure ships to import salt from | Spain and Sicily. | PLEAS OF NOT GUILTY BY GERMAN DEFENDANTS Entered in Trial for Conspiracies at San Francisco. ‘San Francisco, Feb. 25.—Pleas of not guilty were entered today by de- fendants in the alleged German ship- ping conspiracies to violate Ameri- can neutrality, in the United States district court. Date of trial will be arranged Monday, attorneys said. Sixteen individuals and three ship- ping firms answered to the charges. | Eight other persons have not been ar- rested. Most of them were members iof the crew of the steamer Sacramen- to, which was alleged to have sup- plied German warships off the Chilean coast late .in 1914. Among the defendants who appear- jed were Baron BE. H. Von Schack, |German vice consul-general, H. W. [, Kaufman, chancellor of the con- ‘sulate, and Maurice A. Hall, Turkish | consul-general. MOLDERS AND CORE MAKERS | ON STRIKE AT WESTFIELD. iIn One of the Plants or the H. B. | Smith Company. Westfield, Mass., Feb. 25.—One hun- }dred ang fifteen loop moulders and {core makers in one of the plants of | the H. B. Smith company, manufactur- ers of steam boilers and _rasliators, struck today because of dissatisfac ) tion with a recent increase in pay. The piece workers who received an eight per cent. increase, according to their estimates, ask for 25 per cent. The specific demands of the other strikers were not formulated today. It was stated that six hundred men would be mage idle if the strike continu- ed_tomorrow. In January both the plants of the company, employing 1200 hands, were \shut down as a result of the strike of {laborers, who finally went back at in- creaged wages. e e WHAT GIRLS REQUIRE OF MEN THEY WOULD MARRY Salary Range of from $800 to $10,000 —One Wants a “Dreamy Dancer.” Mimneapolis, Minnj, Feb. —The Minnesota Daily, the student newspa- per of the University of Minnesota, ich had asked the women students of the institution the question, “How much salary must a man receive be- fore you would consent to marry?” today received replies ranging from $800 to $10,000 a year. Most of the sirls were conservative in their de- mands, however, and the general ave- rage, based on early replies, is about $1,600. One girl wrote: “What is money to me; give me a true, loving husband and a cottage.” A large majority of the girls de- manded that their future husbands be good dancers, some said they must know the “latest steps” and one went so far as to say she would marry only a man who was a “dreamy dancer.” Smoking would be permitted, even demanded by a large number of the zirls, but drinking would be pdohibit- ed and those who advocated card playing say bridge should be substi- tuted for poker, although one girl con- cedes her future husband one night a week for the latter game. V. J. MAYO MUST £ SUBMIT TO EXAMINATION. Before Trial For Alleged Breach of Marriage—Sued For $250,000. New York, Feb. 25.—Virginius J. Mayo, a New Haven manufacturer, must submit to examination before the trial of an action brought by Wilhel- mina Meyer, or Wilhelmina Mavofi to recover from him $250,000 for alleged breach of marriage, according to a decision handed down _today by the appellate division of the su- preme court. The plaintiff alleges that Ma she went trron gk 4 marriuge ceremony in Brooklyn on April 2, 1904. She as- serts that at the time Mayo had a wife living, of which fact she was ig- norant; and that she and Mayo lived as man and wife for eleven years, till latter having brought suit in Penn- sylvania to obtain a diverce. The da- crce was granted 1o fhe first wife ac- cording to the plaintiff, in Schanton in June, 1915. Th> plaiati® then brought suit alleging breach of promise, fraud and doceit. =ne declurcs Mayo's in- come to be $100 090 1 year. STORM PLAYED HAVOC WITH TELEPHONE SERVICE. Manhole Troubles Disconnected Wires in Waterbury. ‘Waterbury, Conn., Feb. 25.—The rain storm here today played havoc with the telephone service, about 1,000 sub-s| seribers being affected. Manhole trou- bles disconnected the wires for about 500 local subscribers, and all the wires between this city and Prospect were down. The toll lines between Water- bury and Bridgeport, New Haven and Naugatuck were down for a short time early in the day, owing to the ice storm of the night before. An ice jam just above the new bridge in Brooklyn, which threatened the structure, was broken up about § o'clock tonight by charges of dynamite. RUSSIAN CENSORSHIP. Diet Adopts Resolution Placing Re- strictions Upon It. Berlin, Feb. 24, via London; Feb. 25, its consideration of the censorship by adopting resolutions demanding that the censorship be restricted to questions imposed by the necess'ties of military operations; that it be uni- formely exercised and that civilian au- therities who fulill the duties of cen- sorship assume responsibility for their action. Another resolution demanding freedom to discyss the aims of the war was also adopted. The two day debate showed that the members of the Diet, like the members of the Reichstag, do not compiain of the military censorship but aczuse the political censorship of issuing indefin- able orders, especially complain of its lack of uniformity. Herr Bachmeisler, a national liberalr declared that one censor struck out sentences from an address by BEm- peror William' and that one newspa- per had been warned that it might comment on procgedings in the reich- stag only along lines laid down in the chancellor’s speech. The censor, Herr Bachmeisler declared, undoubted- ly followed political lines. MAIL POUCH STOLEN FROM HARTFORD DEPOT Found Later With Registered Letters Opened and Contents Removed. Hartford, Conn., Feb. ~—It was reported tcday to the federal and lo- cal authorities that a mail pouch con- taining registered mail had been stol- en from tke local depot of the New York, New Haven and Hartford 1- road last night and its contents rifled. The bag was found near the station today. Examination showed that r istered letters had been opened and the empty velopes returned to the bag. In some instances where the en- velopes contained checks the were returned. There far to the robbers, The pouch was brought to this o on the train which arrived from ton by way of Springfield shortly ter 10 o'clock. FEDERAL WARRANT FOR DR. J.. GRANT LYMAN | Fear He Might Obtain Release Under Habeas Corpus Proceedings. checks is ‘mo ‘clue so Feb. 25—Federal cials here, fearing that Dr. Lyman, held at St. Petersbur obtain release from the ties under habeas corp today went before Distric Phillips and obtained a the man. Marshal Reynolc tal Inspector Reese left for St. burg this affernoon to serve the war- rant. Chief of Police Easters, of St. Pet- ersburg, said over the telephone he was not sure he would give up T. man to any one save federal officer from New York. He said Lyman hed told him he would back to New York with: furthe - dings. NEW FREIGHT EMBARGO BY PENNSYLVANIA ROAD. On Consignments to Philadelphia Oth- er Than Foodstuffs and Perishable Goods. Philadelphia, Feb. 25.—An embargo on all freight consigned to this city except foodstuffs, perishable freight and livestock, was announced tonight by the Pennsylvania Railroad com- pany. The announcement declared that this step s made necessary by the congev'ion caused by the failure of consignees to unload their cars promptly The company is now holding 12,000 cars of freight destined for Philadel- phia, 5,982 on tracks in this city and 6,028 at various places on the rail- road. WANTS FINAL ACTION ON PHILIPINE BILL DEFERRED. Until End of the War—Merchants of Islaryls Send Request to Congress. B Manilla, Feb. 25—The Merchants' association, the membership of which is largely American, voted today to cable a nappeal to congress to hold off final action on the Philippine bill until the end of the war. The Brit- ish and Filipino members of the asso- j ciation declined to join in the appeal, the Britishers on the ground that they were foreigners and the Filipinos aft- er they had conferred with Sergio Os- nena, Filipino delegate to congress. OBITUARY. Prof. L. P. Chamberl Rocky Hill, Conn., Feb. 2: P. Chamberlain, former professor of agriculture at the Connecticut Agri- cultural college and at one time su- perintendent of the state reform school at Meroden, died at his home here to- night of infirmities incident to old age. He was 86 years old. He was a broth of the late Daniel H. Chamberlain, former governor of South Carolina. Two sons survive. Isaac E. Gates. New York, Feb. 25. — Isaac E. Gutes. at one time vice president of the Southern Pacific railroad and exe- cutor of the estate of Colis P Hunt- ington, his brother-in-law, died here today at the age of S4 yea’s. Hu was born ‘n Connectirat. Movements of Steamships. Glasgow, Feb. 24.—Arrived: Steam- er Cameronian, New York via Liver- pool. London, Deb. 24.—Arrived: er Corinthian, St. John, N. B. Steam- Steamer Aground. |Naval System in Boston Harbor| SeverelyCriticised INTERNATIONAL LINE STEAMER NORTH STAR IN NO GREAT DANGER Ship Pushed Her Nose Into Mud of Castle Island in a Heavy Fog— Passengers Transferred in Storm. Boston, Feb. 25.—The Eastern Steam- ship corporation’s International Line steamer North Star pushed her nose into the mud of Castle Island in_ a heavy fog tonight while working her way into the harbor with passengers BY ADMIRAL WINSLOW BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE FAVORS SEA TRAINING Says Education of Naval Academy is Wrong—Urged Restoration of Old Grade of Midshipmen in the Fleet. ‘Washington, Feb. 25.—The United States navy whole system of govern- ment_and operation, from educatien of officers to questions of ship and gun construction, was sharply criti- cized before the house naval commit- plated. tising however to accomplish his his statement will go right into good. sum into bring results. other city pays here. and far-reaching. The mayor of Philadelphia nor any other advertising unless he had been He kmows that it pays and what pay The Bulletin’s adverti It possesses the qualities which pay the advertiser. Where It Does the Most Good For the purpose of making Philadelphla one of the most widely known cities in the world as an industrial and commercial center, the mayor is going to advertise the city on a scale never before contem- He is going to use the old and well-tried medium purpose and fathers for a half million dollars appropriation as soon as can be provided for carrying out his plan. He knows what advertising has done in other lines of endeavor and he has faith in the belief that it will be able to accomplish just as good results for a municipality and the appropriation the newspapers and other publica- tlons—in other ‘words into printer’s ink—where it would do the most of adver- the the money will ask city acc rding to man would put that convinced that it would s in that or any service is thorough ng In the past week the following matter has appeared in its col- Bulletin Telegraph Local General Total Saturday, Eeb.19.." 76 165 1045 1286 Monday, Eeh: 21.5: 96 437 205 438 Tuesday, Feb::22. .90 142 250 482 Wednesday, Feb. 23.. 116 143 163 422 Thursday, Feb. 24.. 105 139 232 476 Friday, Eeh:25:.2388 127 188 403 Fotalev o orafirv 574 855>+ +12083 «~'3507 and freight from St. John, port and Lubee, Me Passengers Transferred. B, East- Although as said the steamer was in no danger, Captain Mitchell immediately accomplished a transfer ass! d th P t igers to tugs n, an ey were bro in a zht to The and w mer ran ashore at hi 11 held fast i it was hoped to release her w assistance of tugs at high de tomor- row. Efforts to tow her > during the night were unsuccessful. Unusually Dense Fog. nshrouded the har- to be denser own in re- I ry but Captain Mitchell s he would have made h the murk but for the ab nd until a day ORGANIZED MINERS FROM CENTRAL BITUMINOUS FIELDS. Are Drafting a Plan to Submit to Op- erators in Pennsylvania. New York, Feb. workers Organized mine from the central competitive uminous fields spent the entire day n. a plan which will show th s of Western Pennsylvania, Ind and Illinois the basic the miners are asking them to pay under the mine run system de- manded by the workers. There was no joint session today of the operators opera Ohio, rates nd miners, the latter having asked for a recess to work out the plan. The mine owner readily consented and will meet the delegates of the workers tomorrow morning. There is a possibility that the meet- ing of the joint sub-committee of the anthracite mimers and operators which was to have been held In this city xt Monday afternoon may be defer- d_several days, provided the soft coal situation reaches a point where o settlement can be reached promptly if negotiations are continued without interruption. President John P. Wkite of the United Mine Workers, said today he was anxious to clear up the bituminous situation before going deeply into the anthracite wage con- ference. INQUIRY INTO MILK TRANSPORTATION RATES Costs One Dairyman More to Produce Milk Than He Receives For It. Boston, Feb. 25.—Jeremiah W. San- born, of Gilmantonfi N. H., a farm owner, who was formerly president of the Missouri State College of Agri- culture, asserted at the Interstate Commerce Commission inquiry into milk {ransportation rates today that the farmers of New England could not nd_the proposed increases. He testified that his stock yielded ag av- erage of one hundred cans of milk daily, about one thousand quarts, and that it cost him more to produce the milk than he received from the deal- er for it. He was at one time su- perintendent of the farm connected with New Hampshire State college and also founded the Utah State College of Agriculture. Mr. Sanborn described the condition of the farming industry in New Eng- land as prosirate. The number of cows had decreased and the boys were leaving the farms, he said. He fig- ureq the average revenue of the farm- er at about $318 a year. cause of | ch had marked | tee today by Admiral Cameron inslow, commander-in-c of c fleet. Without radi dmiral declared, a fully ble to the Brit- produced in 50 old committee the e general staff, compo shment © ed of active line (Continued on Page Three) CONGRESS IS PLAYING A WAITING GAME Determined to Take No Action That Wiil Embarrass Administration. Washin tled do ments controv between and Ger- ny w ing major- v of bo ly very d initely determined to no_action which mi embarra adminis- tration in the present of diplo- matic negotiations. A few of the more at advicates of legislation to keep Ameri off armed ships continued their activities and Former Secretary Bryan's support for them was shown in the form of a te gram, but most of them admitted there was no prospect of immediate action. So far as the administration is con- cerned, it was said oritatively to- sht that while any agitation of the ue just now was undesirable, there was no dispo: on to oppose a vote on the pending armed ship resolutions if their sponsors tred to force one. It was declared that reports from the capitol during the day showed con- clusively that both the senate and the house would stand behind Pre: dent Wilson in his refusal to permit any abridgement of the rights of American citizens on the seas, as out- lined in bis letter to Senator Stone last night. THICK FOG OVER NEW YORK BAY AND SOUND Hampered Movements of Shipping—All Sound Boats Delayed. New York, Feb. 25.—A thick _fog hanging low over the harbor, Lons Island sound and the bay tonisht hompered the movements of shipping. The sound boats Plymouth and Boston, due to leave at 5.30 o'clock tonight, remained at their docks until 10.25 and 10.30, respectively. Other sound boats also delayed their departure several hours. The American liner Finland, which Jeft early in the afternoon for Liver- pool, anchored off Quarantine about 5 o'clock, and at a late hour tonight showed no signs of continuing her voy- age. The sieamers Jamestown and Concho, inward bound from Norfolk and Galveston, respectively, dropped anchor off Sandy Hook, unwilling to venture through the harbor in the mist. COLLISION ON PLYMOUTH DIVISION OF N. H. ROAD Several Persons Were Slightly Injured —Accident Due to Fog. Boston, Feb. [25.—Several persons were slightly injured today in a col- lision between a local train on the Plymouth division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad and a light engine in the yards outside the South station. The accident is said to have been due to the fog. Two passengers sustained broken ribs. Oth- ers were cut by glass and bruised. Condensed Telegrams Warring Chine tongs at Portland, Ore., aln'ad a 30 day truce. Lieut. Ridgely Hunt, U. S. N., re- tired, died at Washington, aged 65. Inquiries for 11,000 freight cars are reported in the equipment market. The old state building at Lansing, AMich.,, was seriously damaged by fire. Astria-Hungary has taken steps to centralize and regulate foreign ex~ change. . Rumania has arranged to sell 100,000 carloads of grain to an Austro-German syndicate. Canadian munitions manufacturers have made large purchases of antimony in New York. Fire destroyed the H. L. Joyce furni- ture warehouse at Binghamton, N. Y., at a loss of $50,000. Lawrence Killian, said to belong in Boston, died of heart disease in a chair at a Hartford hotel. During 1915 the New York Central | handled 4,507,759 carloads of freight, | one every seven seconds. Great Britain is considering levying a heavy tax on American s0aps to re- | duce the quantity of imports. The Pittsburgh Steamship company | has ordered two steamers from the | American Shipbuilding company. The condition of the bakeries In New PBritain are not satisfactory to the board of health of that city. | | A targe acid and chemical manutac- turi plant will be erected at Wash- { ington, Del., by the Pyrites Co., Ltd. | The giant Cunard liner Mauretania, ister ship of the ill-fated Lusitania, will resume its trans-Atlantic schedule. Hartford has the oldest postman in i point of service in the Unitad States. | He is William H. Shaffer, 74 years i old. | _Burglars blew o | Patrick’s church at | escaped with service articles valued at | $1,000. a safe In St The Merchants’ & Miners’ Steamship Co. steamer Junita, Baltimore for Bos- ton, is fast ground in Vineyard sound, Mass. Machinists from all_shops in Rich- mond, Berkeley and Portsmouth, Va., voted to go on strike for higher wages and shorter hours. Canada has officially decided to hon- or the martyred Edith Cavell. British war nurse, by naming a large western mountain peak for her. Hans Wagner, veteran star of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the oldest ac- tive player in the biz leagues, cele- brated his 41st birthday. President Wilson has consented to low the Georgia Democratic dele- tes to the National convention to se his name for renomination. A strike involving 450 employes took i t the Williams and Clark the American Agricultural Chemical company at Roosevelt, N. J. A call has been issued for all Con- men_who attended camp at gh, N. Y. last summer % the New Haven Lawn club |2 grain dealers and growers that the probable wheat been reduced 25,000,000 v the coating of ice on the Nearly 1.000 employes of the Erie Railroad shop in Meadville, Pa. are to be given an Increase in wages. The advance amounts to from one to two cents an hour. The Swedish steamship Roland, jbound’ for Hartlepool, England, from { Norway, England, from Norway, has been sunk in the North sea. The crew was saved. Senator Walsh’s amendment about which the fight on the Shield dam bill has centered in the senate for sev- eral davs, was defeated yesterday by a vote of 34 to 18. About 54,000 square feet of land on Halsted street, Chicago, has been pur- chased by the Baltimore & Ohio rail- road Termi Co., at a price report- ed to be $435,000. C. C. James, United States post of- fice inspector, famous for the detec- tion and capture of many post office robbers, dled at his home at Sauger- ties, N. Y. aged 67. The pay of 1,700 employes wil] be increased by seven and one-half per cent. beginning March 1, it was an- nounced at Houghton, Mich.,, by the Quincy Mining company. Damage of $20,000 was caused when the 3Z-inch field gun of Battery B of Purdue university, Lafayette, Ind., and 1,200 Krag rifles with 7,000 rounds of ammunition were destroyed by fire. A woman secured naturalization pa- pers in the United States court at Hartford, giving as her reason that it would be easier golng back and forth between this country and Den- mark. The John Hubbard Curtls prize at Yale, the income of a fund of $2,500, has been awarded to Morris Hadley. son of the president of the university. The prize is awarded for excellence in literary work. Myron T. Herrick of Cleveland, former United States ambassador to France, was filed with Secretary of State Hilderbrant, of Ohlo, his declar- ation of candldacy for the republican nomination for United States sena- tor. Three large steamships, the Venezu. ela, Colombia and Ecuador, have begn purchased for the Panama Canal trade by the American International Cor- poration of New York from the Royal hO‘t!I'Ch West Indla Mail for $4,000,- 900. Salesman Found Dead in Providence. Providence, R. I, Feb. 25—John H. ‘Waller, 42, of Brooklyn, N. Y, sales- man for a New York mat~h concern, who came here to demcnstrate his goods at a food fair, was fuund dend in bed today at his hotel. The medi- cal examiner said death was due to heart trouble. Hotel in Philadelphia and | PRICE TWO CENTS ~of Any Other Paper, and Its Total Circulation is the Largest in Connecticut in Proportion to the City’s Population Did Fight Occur in Engine Cab? BETWEEN ENGINEER CURTIS AND SWEENEY, THE THIRD MAN CORONER MIX PUZZLED Only a Scuffle or That Curtis Dropped Dead of Heart Disease Can Account for His Running Past Caution Signal. New Haven, Feb. 25—Coroner Eli Mix’s probe into the Milford wreck today resolved itself into an effort to solve the mystery of Engineer W. R. Curtiss' cab. In the cab of Train No. 5 were En- gineer Curtiss, Fireman Edward Mc- Ginnis and Harry Sweeney. The coroner today learned, that on- Iy two or three minutes before the wreck affairs seemed to be normal in the cab. - But what happened after that, is as much a mystery to the cor- oner as to everyone else. And it may never be cleared up. Apparently the three men weren't paying much attention to each other when last seen allve. This noon Coroner Mix consented to talk, to a limited extent. Three Persons in Cab. Mr. Mix said that this morning he examined a witness who was at the Woodmont tower when Train No. 5 passed there, south bound. This wit- ness saw a man in citizens’ clothes, presumably Sweeney, sitting in the fireman’s seat; Fireman McGinnis was on the left side of the engine, leaning out of the window. On the right hand side the witness saw a man in work. ing clothes in the engineer’s seat; t man apparently being Curtis. The fireman, in overalls, was looking into the landscape, and when passing the tower he put up his hand in greeting to the witness witness also shook his rm, as a signal of greeting. Thus it is established that three persons were in the cab when the train passed Woodmont tower. This witness also looked at the fir: signal of the block. This sisnal wa: set against Curtis. nal Plainly Visible. This slgnal is plainly visible from the Woodmont tower. According to indications Curtis did not slow speed, kept on going just as if no signal were within a hundred miles. Except for the fireman the gther two figures in that cab sat as still as if carved out of stone or dead. The coroner also examined W. B. Btandt, conductor of Curtis’ train. Mr. Mix did not care to divulge one particle of his testimony, evident considering it of the highest impor ance. When asked whether the con- ductor knew that Sweeney was rid- ing in the cab, the coronmer declined to answer. Asked as to his activity today, the coroner replied, that he examined one witness concerning the air hose, and that he expects to finish his inquiry within an hour or two. Why Sweeney Was in Cab Clear. How Sweeney came to New Haven from Stamford and why he was in the cab going back to Stamford was not made clear thus far. The report runs that Sweeney was engaged as a coupler of electric en- gines at Stamford. At 6 a. m. the day of the wreck he went to work as usual, but at 8.15 o'clock he presented Lis resignation to the foreman. Then Sweeney came to New Haven. It is not certain what he sought here, but it might be that he applied for a job in the New Haveq terminal, was turn. ed down and rode back with Curtis. Coroner in Dark on Many Points. In fact the coroner professed that he was completely in the dark on these points. Curtis Had Fine Record. Curtis had a fine seven-year record back of him; he ys spoke well of the road, and it is said that Sweeney didn’t. It is likely that Sweeney ex pressed his soreness over being turn- ed down, that Curtis calied Sweeney to account, and that in an instant af- ter passing the Woodmont tower there was a fight in progress. Only a fight or that Curtis had dropped dead in his seat of heart disease can ex- plain that he ran past the caution sig- nal, killed a human signal, Flagman Tourtelotte, then ignored the danger signal and a mile further on crashed into the rear of Train 79. is Not DEMURRER FILED BY CHARLES S. MELLEN Against the Amended Bill of Minority Stockholders of N. H. Road. Boston, Feb. ~—A demurrer was filed in the supreme court today by Charles S. Mellen, former pz#Sident of the New York, New Haven and Hart- ford railroad, against the amended bill of Ralph S. Bartlett and other mi- nority stogiholders of the road, who seek to recover $102,000,000 alleged to have been illegally expended by the di- rectors about ten years ago in pur- cha_:mg street railway and steamship lines. Mr. Mellen says that the amended bill does not allege that the directors of the stockholders in voting to re- fuse to bring suits in the name of the company against the directors who served between 1904 and 1909 were fm- properly influenced by the defendants, or that they were wilfully disregard- ful of the Interests of the company or were in corrupt consideration with the defendants. The demurrer also pleads the statude of limitations. In previous demurrer filed last Wed- nesday in behalf of the company, it was claimed that the plaintiffs had not shown that they were acting in be- half of all the stockholders. BRIDGEPORT TROLLEY CONDUCTOR FATALLY CRUSHED Was About to Start Car When Another Car Ran Him Down. Bridgeport, Conn. Feb. 25—As Wal- ter Shaw, a trolley conduftor, was changing the trolley at the end of his run at the Ash creek bridge, Fairfleld, tonight, preparatory to starting back into the city, another car on the same track, headed toward Fairfield. ran him down and crushed both his thighs, He died within an hour in a local hos- pital. Shaw, who was about 30 yeare old, came here about three weeks ago frem Providence, and little is known about him here.