VOLUME XXVIII. NUMBER 72.
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEWARD, ALASKA, MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1932.
PRICE TEN CENTS
BOB LEWIS, KILLEB
UNDER MIL ENGINE
ROUNDING CURVE SATURDAY
NIGHT RAN INTO SNOW
SLIDE
Bob Lewis, fireman on the Alas
ka Railroad passenger train which
left Seward Saturday afternoon for
the Interior, was killed between
12 and 1 o'clock Sunday morning
when the locomotive plunged into
a snowslide around a curve in the
vicinity, coming to a rest and part
ly turned over in the Susitna river.
Engineer Fred Brayford, it was
reported, was uninjured but was
considerably dazed.
The coaches did not leave the
track and no passengers were in
jured.
Wrecking crews and equipment
were dispatched at once from both
Anchorage and Curry.
This was the same train which
arrived in Seward three hours be
hind time Friday from the Inter
ior on account of being held up by
a slide on the southern division,
brought down by the earthquakes
on that day. The passenger train
left Seward at 2 p. m. Saturday
which accounts for the night run
ning.
The above details were phoned
to The Gateway from Anchorage
a few hours after the accident.
The following message describ
ing the wreck and details was sent
to The Gateway by General Man
ager Otto F. Ohlson:
At 1:15 a. m., train No- 2, En
gineer Fred Brayford and Fireman
Robert Lewis, traveling about 25
miles an hour, struck a snow slide
about eight feet deep and 45 feet
long on a six per cent curve about
two miles south of Talkeetna
causing the engine to turn over
and landing on the bank of the Su
sitna river with the front end of
the engine in the water.
Fireman Lewis was caught under
the engine and was suffocated but
still alive when taken out. Dr. Fel
lows, a passenger on the train,1
was unable to save his life.
Engineer Brayford was consid
erably bruised but not seriously in- i
jured.
No passengers or any trainmen
were injured. The track is not dam
aged.
An engine was sent from Curry,
24 miles to the point of derailment
to take the train on to Curry.
A wrecking train left Anchorage
as soon as notice of the accident
was received to pick up the engine.
The accident near Talkeetna
marks the third fatality to railroad
men since 1920. The first was when
a slide swept down the mountain
on Turnagain Arm, catching a
number of workmen engaged in j
removing a previous slide. Among |
those killed was the father of'
Sydney Black, now well-known!
young mine operator of Willow ■
Creek. The second fatality occured
on a curve near Hurricane gulch
when a bent gave away beneath an
engine and a snow flanger, toppling
the engine and killing Engineer
Elliottt.
In the sixteen years since the
railroad began construction and has
been practically in operation as
fast as steel was laid, no passenger
fatalities have occurred.
HDE
San Francisco, Mar. 28, --Three
caddies were arrested Saturday
for the murder of Oliver Olsen
who was shot through the heart
when assailants sought to drag
his sweetheart from his auto.
Carl Kalucky was identified by
Miss Wanda Kirk as the man who
shot her sweetheart; she also iden
tified his two companions, Wm.
Donohue, 23, and R. Graeve, 23.
The alleged murderer is said to be
24 years of age.
A group of suspects were lined
up and engaged in conversation.
Miss Kirk, out of sight, first iden
tified the voices of the men, and
then picked them out of the group.
MADAM IMPROVES
DENVER, Colo., Mar. 28.—Madam
Schumann-Heink, famous singer
who was taken ill last week, is
slightly improved.
* * * *
FAILED TO REACH VERDICT
SALINA, Mar. 28, —The jury
trying the case of E. Estes for al
leged murder of Wesley Hickey,
could not reach an agreement so
was discharged by the judge.
* * * *
GIANTS WILL BATTLE
NEW YORK, Mar. 28, —It was
announced here Saturday that
Jack Dempsey and Primo Camera,
will battle in Australia December
20.
* * * *
DUELLISTS INJURE SIX
JUAREZ, Mex., Mar. 28, —Six
people were injured here Saturday
|from bullets from the pistols of
two men staging a duel in the
' main avenue. One of the duelers
was slightly wounded.
* * * *
OVER THE PHONE
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 28,
—New threats were received by
prominent residents, this time
over the telephone. The police an
ticipate having someone under ar
rest by evening.
# * * *
TROOPS WERE READY
DUBLIN, Mar. 28.—With the ap
pearance of posters, urging a break
with Great Britain and other indi
cations of a possible Easter out
burst, troops were held in readi
ness Sunday.
TELEGRAPH HEAD ILL
NEW YORK, Mar. 28.—Carence
H. Mackay, head of the Postal Tel
egraph System, must relinquish all
business activities for at least a
year, his physicians informed him
Sunday. He is seriously ill and
must take a prolonged vacation.
* * * *
INCENDIARISM?
PASADENA, Mar. 28. —Prepara
tions are being made to meet the
annual fire hazard. Four districts
have been organized throughout
the state. No itinerants will be em
ployed because it is thought by so
doing some of them may deliber
ately start fires in order to create
work.
* * *
ATTORNEY DARROW ILL
HONOLULU, Mar. 28.—Clarence
Darrow, who, upon his arrival here
last week rolled up his sleeves and
plunged into the work of preparing
to defend Mrs. Grace Fortescue and
three Naval men for the alleged
murder of a young Hawaiian, is ill
today.' Friends told him he must
adjust himself leisurely to the cli
mate and not over-tax himself.
* * * *
W. H. HOLMES DIES
COVINA, Calif., Mar. 28. (JP)—W.
H. Holmes, prospector in the Nome
district and who spent 15 years in
Alaska, died here. His ashes will be
spread in Alaska, the country he
loved. He became wealthy in oil
in Texas. He was a Republican
leader and and candidate for Gov
ernor of Texas and Alaska.
* * * *
NEW YORK STOCKS
NEW YORK, Mar. 28. —Latest
quotations: Am. Smelt. 11%; Am.
Tel. & Tel. 111%; Bethlehem Steel
17%; Cal. Pkg. 9%; Gen. Elec.
18%; Gen. Mot. 16%; Pac. Tel. &
Tel. 95; Pac. Gas & Elec. 33%;
Stand. Oil of Cal. 24%; Union Oil
of Cal. 12; U. S. Steel 40%; West
ern Union 36%.
' * * * *
GREET EASTER MORN
LOS ANGELES, Mar. 28. — An
enormous crowd of 100,000 people
gathered at dawn in various open
places throughout this State to
greet Easter morn. By far, the
greatest throng attended the serv
ices in the Hollywood Bowl.
* * * *
SECOND ALABAMA TORNADO
ELMORE, Ala., Mar. 28. —The
State of Alabama, not yet recov
ered from last week’s terrible tor
nado catastrophe in which over
300 lost their lives, close to 2,000
injured and thousands homeless,
was struck again by a tornado yes
terday, Easter Sunday. Six were
killed and scores injured but a
final checkup will undoubtedly re
veal a larger toll.
HP TROOPS DEPLOY
SHANGHAI, Mar. 28, —A dif
ferent light was thrown on the
peace attempts here late yesterday
when it was said the Japanese had
backed down on some of their pro
posals.
Japan has tempered her mini
mum peace demands, it is said, as
a military sub-committee of Japan
was to report to their main body
that the Japanese w;ould be willing
to evacuate all Shanghai territory
except portions of the Kiangwan
district and certain roads leading
to the Japanese division of the In
ternational Settlement which they
want to patrol. All the troops now
entrenched in various parts of the
city would thus be drawn in.
Previous to this decision it had
seemed that a deadlock would re
sult because the Japanese had re
fused to budge from their various
positions and wanted to carry out
her withdrawal by gradual stages.
The Chinese delagates referred
the question of neutral zone for
Washington to settle; this, to some
extent, has increased the tension.
In Manchuria the situation be
tween Japan and Soviet Russia
took a menacing turn when Japa
nese troops were deployed in order
to attack the China-Manchurian
railroad from five directions, if!
the occasion arose.
MUSLIN EASTER LILLY
BECOMES SYMBOL OF
IRISH REPUBLICANISM
i
DUBLIN, Irish Free State, Mar.
28. — Imitation Easter lilies made
out of muslin which “Freedom
minded” men have taken to wear
ing in the buttonholes of their
coats has been chosen as a symbol
of the Irish Free State’s republi
canism movement and may yet re
sult in great disorders and possible
human courage. Even the women
of the Free State have taken to
wearing the Easter lilies.
The flower was chosen as the j
symbol of republicanism because;
it recalls the Easter rebellion of
1916 wherein many Irish patriots
were killed in an attempt to free
the Irish Free State people.
Special groups of men have been
posted around Irish cemetaries
where Irish patriots, who took part
in the 1916 rebellion, and who are
now martyrs to the people, lie
buried. The purpose of this move is
to prevent any violent disorders
from resulting when the people pay
their respects to these martyrs.
GEORGE FROMIIf OF
KODIIK FILLS FROM
DOCK ID DROiS
KODIAK, Mar. 28. (Special to The
Gateway)—Friday night at about
10 o’clock, George Fromin, aged 30,
fell from the government dock and
was drowned. It was his birthday.
Captain Brodtkorb and others
heard the splash of the water and
heard Fromin cry for help but be
fore any assistance was possible he ;
had disappeared.
Dragging for the body continued
all that night and is still being
done. Fromin leaves a mother, bro
ther, sister and half-sisters.
TRISECTS AN ANGLE
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Mar. 28.—A
17-year-old boy here was reported
to have accomplished the “impos
sible” by trisecting an agle. His
mathematics instructor at the high
school declared his solution per
fect.
SEEK REFERENDUM
LOS ANGELES, Mar. 28. —Peti
tions asking a “dry law” referen
dum were filed here. They bore
89,000 signatures. A vote is asked
at the November election.
CONTACT BEEN MADE
HOPEWELL, N. J., Mar. 28, —
The important developments a n
nounced during the last few days
has brought evidence that contact
has been made with the kidnap- j
pers of the Lindbergh baby and it'
is unofficially stated the baby will!
be back in his parent’s arms with- j
in a few days.
FORMER RESIDENT OF
SEWARD SROOTS IT OUT
WITH BANDIT IN STATES
EVERETT, Wash., Mar. 28.—Emil
Roberts, 28, alleged bandit from
California was in a critical condi
tion here after Patrolman Abner
Moehring fired five shots into his
body at close range.
Moehring, riding a motorcycle,
followed Roberts after an alleged
holdup and was forced into a ditch
when Roberts halted the car sud
denly. Roberts leaped from his
car, seized Moehring’s gun, but the
officer recovered it in a struggle
and shot Roberts five times in the
abdomen and chest as the suspect
fired several wild shots from his
own gun.
* * * *
Editor’s note.—Motorcycle Officer
Moehring is a former resident of
Seward, having left here three or
four years ago. Previous to com
ing to this city he was employed
by an Anchorage wholesale grocer.
In Seward he was employed in a
local grocery store and later with
the Standard Oil Company.)
HEAD’S CRACKED
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 28.—
A crowd of about 50 demonstrators
appeared before the Japanese Em
bassy here to protest Japanese ag
gression in China. Rioting devel
oped and dozens of heads were
cracked when police sought to
break up the demonstration.
DEMOS ASK GHER
TAKE STRONG HAND
ON DUE BILL
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 28.'
(JP) — Democratic House leaders |
called upon Speaker Garner to take j
a strong hand in writing through j
the revenue bill after Saturday’s i
session which saw the tax bill
nearly turned into a tariff bill.
Garner is represented as expect
ing the House revolt to die down
within a few days after halting the
apparent tariff measures.
The House approved the excise
taxes on oil, coal, wort, malt and
grape concentrate as recommended
by the Ways and Means Commit
tee.
The revolt leaders promised to
go along on the program that ex
cise taxes be placed on industries
so as not to hit hard the less
wealthy.
MAIDEN FLIGHT
BUFFALO, N. Y., Mar. 28.—The
United States Navy’s new $170,000
flying boat made its maiden flight
along the Lake Erie shore from
Buffalo with five men aboard.
NO SKULLS WERE
DUBLIN, Mar. 28.—Sixteen years'
ago yesterday, Easter Sunday, Ire- I
land was wrapped in the throes of
a great uprising against England;
16 were shot and the present Presi
dent, De Valera, escaped execution
himself.
Sunday’s observance of Easter
and the anniversary of the Irish
martyrs was marked by 100 pa
rades and innumerable public
speeches but not a skull was crack
ed. The speeches were all directed
against England which was re
ferred. t£ as Ireland’s only enemy.
FIVE-YEAR CAMPAIGN
.MADRID, Spain, Mar. 28—A five
year campaign has been launched
in Spain to abolish illiteracy and
reduce infant mortality.
TELEGRAPH BREVITIES
i
STEADY WORK FOR 900
SAN PEDRO, Mar. 28—The Van
Camps Sea Food Products Com
pany announced their 1932 sardine
pack will be twice as large as last
year’s, or a total of 350,000 cases.
Nine hundred people are engaged
staedily by this firm.
. * * * *
WILL VISIT CALIFORNIA
SACRAMENTO, Mar. 28.—Gover
nor James J. Rolph has been ad
vised that the Rajah of Jubul of
India will visit California this
summer. It is also added that the
Rajah does not want to be saluted
with guns as is the custom when
welcoming foreign dignitaries.
* * * #
THE SAME OLD EYE
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Mar. 28
—Babe Ruth hit his second and
third home runs of the exhibition
season here as the New York Yan
kees lost an 8 to 6 decision to the
Philadelphia Phillies. Ruth’s cir
cuit clouts came in the third and
fifth innings.
* * * *
REHABILITATION WORK
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Mar. 28.—
The Red Cross, Salvation Army and J
other relief organizations are now
busy mopping up after the effects
of the recent devastating tornado
which wrought havoc in Alabama,
Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky.
They have already begun the work
of rehabilitating the various strick
en areas.
* * * *
CHICAGO DEMONSTRATION
CHICAGO. Mar. 28, —Four hun
dred alleged communists, includ
ing women and children, staged a
demonstration Saturday on the
fringe of the Chicago Loop district.
The demonstrators had permission
from police to meet and after an
hour, dispersed orderly. Signs were
borne with captions “We’ll hang
Hoover to the old apple tree.”
“We want shoes and food.”
* * * *
SENDS OUT SOS
NORFOLK, Va., Mar. 28. —The
Canadian Pacific steamer Duchess
of Bedford sent out an SOS Satur
day night in behalf of the Nor
wegian tanker Raila, helpless 300
miles off Cape Henry. The tanker,
bringing a cargo of oil to Baltimore
from Russia, was understood to
have lost its rudder and was out j
of control in a 75-mile gale.
* * * *
BAD MANS
LOS ANGELES, Mar. 28.—Gun- j
men who held up a conductor of j
the “Chief,” Santa Fe passenger
train, between Los Angeles and
Highland Park Friday night were
hunted today. Police believe the
robbers planned either to kidnap
some passenger or were engaged in
an underworld feud as no attempt
was made to loot the train.
* * * *
TO TIGHTEN REGULATIONS
RENO, Nev., Mar. 28.—Reno traf
fic officials have announced that
the traffic regulations of that city
will be more strictly enforced here
after. For some time there has
been a growing laxity among driv
ers to observe even the simplest of
regulations and it is now thought
expedient to start Enforcing the
regulations. Heavy fines will be
made for infractions of the traf
fic rules.
* * * *
LEAD TOSSED AROUND
NEW YORK, Mar. 28.—Gangster
bullets were unleashed in the Little
Italy quarter of Harlem Saturday
night. An auto drove up to an al
leged notorious night club, point
ed a snub-nosed machine gun thru
the curtains and unleashed a hail
storm of lead. The fusillade proved
fatal to one bystander who was
killed. Another bystander was bad
ly injured and another person es
caped death by only a mere/
chance. i
* * * * ;
NO EASTER BONNETS
I
SILVERTON, Colo., Mar. 28.-^
Residents of this city did not have
any new Easter bonnets, or suites,
to wear on Easter day—and th.e
depression was not to blame for at
either. This city is still isolated
from supply houses by impassable
roads and it was impossible for ihe
merchants to secure their ijiew
Easter stocks in time for that faish
ionable date. /
LINDBERGH CIO
MAY BE RETURNED
TODAY, IT IS THOT
THREE MEN THOUGHT TO BE
IN CONTACT WITH THE
KIDNAPPERS
NORFOLK, Va., Mar. 28.-^L H.
Curtis, one of three prominent men
who reportedly received a direct
communication from the kidnap
pers, left his home at 7 o’clock
'Sunday morning. He did not go to
his office. At his office his asso
ciates said he had gone fishing. At
his home it was said that he was
on a trip to Hampton and Foxhall,
a town near Hampton.
The Rev. Dr. H. Dodson Peacock,
who has been working with Curtis
and Rear Admiral Guy H. Burrage
in an attempt to obtain return of
the Lindbergh baby, was at his
home last night. “You may as well
rest until Monday,” the clergyman
told newspapermen. “I might have
Some definite news for you then.
There are no definite developments
today.”
Unconfirmed reports said the
three men have established defin
ite contact with the kidnappers
and that Curtis has gone off to
negotiate payment of the ransom
money and obtain the child.
This operation, according to the
reports, was to be carried out with
the utmost secrecy and nothing
was to be revealed until the child
is back at Hopewell, N. J.
Later—Mr. Curtis returned t o
his home Sunday night, and be
fore retiring said negotiations for
the return of the Lindbergh child
were*' practically assured and that
thproaby will be returned to its
hcnne this week. It was further
learned that the baby is on board
a vessel not far from Norfolk, Va.
TO WALKOUT TOES!
PARIS, Mar. 28. —This city of
gayety faces a bleak April with all
of its public amusements closed in
protest against government taxa
tion. Tuesday the place that beck
ons Paris and travelers alike to the
theatres, the night clubs, the mu
sic halls, the boxing exhibitions,
etc., may be darkened as the na
tion-wide lockout goes into effect
Some of the world’s greatest
places of frolics will be closed and
theatre owners say the walkout will
continue for a month. The lockout
is a demahd for suppression of the
war tax and the poor tax. The
government has countered with an
agreement to curtail the amuse
ment tax on theatres but not on
the movies. Theatre owhers re
fused.
Tuesday the amusement places
in Montmarte, along the boulevards
and back into the country will be
closed, they said. It is estimated
the government will lose 30,000,000
francs revenue in one month’s
closing.
EXPLORER MIMS HE IS
SAN FRANCISCO, Mar. 28.—The
death of Dr. Arthur Torrance,
famed scientist and explorer, was
definitely refuted here. Dr. Tor
rance denied his “death” from the
liner President Coolidge which is
bringing him to San Francisco.
Tokyo dispatches Thursday said
Dr. Torrance had died of fever in
Inner China. His death was re
ported once before during an ex
pedition to Africa.
PEACE IN OFFING
NEW DELHI, India, Mar. 28.—
Hopes for peace between the gov
ernment and India were revived
here following a conference of the
President of the Nationalist Con
gress with Viceroy Lord Willingdon.
No idea of the subject discussed
was forthcoming.