Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 214, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1917 — Page 2

FOUR ENGINES CRASH HEAD-ON IN FOG

COLLISION BETWEEN FOUR BIG LOCOMOTIVES

View of remarkable accident on Southern Pacific line showing the huge engines and the block, through which both trains passed within a period of approximately five seconds. The collision is believed to be without precedent.

HARD WORK AHEAD

Men Build Railroads and Dugouts While Under Terrific Fire of Guns. TROOPS PUT DOWN STEEL ROAD Diary of Wounded Sapper Furnishes Interesting Reading, Because It Tells So Much Without Any Attempt at Flourish. His company had been laying a line over what some time ago was “no man’s land.” The British infantry had moved forward and the guns, quickfiring and heavy, had followed up. Behind them again came railway troops, patting down the steel road to facilitate the feeding of the fighting troops. This sapper had jumped into an old Herman trench and had landed on a slightly covered hand grenade, writes Victor MncLure in Chicago Dally News. The grenade exploded, and lamed film, with the result that after a smooth Journey to England he lay In bed In a London hospital. He was a splendid type of sapper, heen on his work, proud of the achievements of his fellows in France, glad that he had helped and conscious of -the value of the railways laid by the plate-laying companies to the fighting men proper. He had been in France for 28 months, unbroken except for two short leaves in England, and during that time he had kept a diary. It Is good reading, this sapper’s diary. It tells so much without flourish; It shows more than would a more scholarly report just how much had been accomplished behind the lines in France. It is written by a man who knows his work and who apparently is always eager that that to which he Bets his hand should be done in record time and In workmanlike fashion. Prepared for His Work. "He came to the army, as do so many of the sappers in the new army, with his trade at his fingers’ ends, and more than half his training done. The -work he did in France was not new to him. The conditions were different—much of the work was done* within range of the guns. Unlike-most of us, whom the war found unprepared,, his work was ready for him and he knew how to carry it out. He spent a short time in England until he knew what every sapper must learn beside his trade —how to fall into line at the word of command, when to turn and how to handle his rifle. Because the corps of royal engineers js popularly supposed to be noncombatant —a mistake, be it said—there is hardly any branch of the service where infantry drill is so carefully instilled into the men. Sapper Blank’s company arrived in France in the early days of the war and within a day of landing on French asoll had started work “on a big ordnance yard. The company was there about ten weeks, and there we were Joined by other R. E.’s.” Major Liked the Work. The major addressed the men and gaid hdw splendidly they had done the Job intrusted to them, and how much he appreciated the way in which it was carried out "I am proud of you. and am very grateful to you all!” he said. “You are a credit to the corps to which you belong and to the officers of your company. Go on, men. Do as you have been doing, and always try to bear In mind that no job is beneath you. You are doing your bit by this plate-laying and your work Is Just as important as filling a cannon or firing In the trenches.” The diary next records a route march In a way that reminds one of Pepys. The company had moved to another place for a rest. “We went for a route march to some woods adjoining the town; we had a pleasant time, picking primroses, etc. Onr officer reminded us that we should probably look back on that time in after years, when we walked in the peaceful woods, hearing the nightingale singing, when away In the distance we could hear the sound of the big guns firing in the terrible battle that was raging at Ypres.’’ The battle of which the sapper talks was the u-• * '

memorable second battle of Ypres, with the first use of gas by the: Germans. Works Under Ypres' Fire. The battle was not over when .the sapper's company moved up ' near Ypres. They laid out the material for some work allotted to the platoon to which he belonged. Following this, they commenced making formation for the roads. They completed the task as far ns construction work was concerned during May. Then followed a move nearer to Ypres. “Here we were instructed to make sufficient dugouts to shelter the whole of the company In the event of the enemy’s shell fire. When the formation took us nearly to Ypres the shell fire began to get very The shells usually came <fver just after we had a visit from enemy aircraft.” In the month of August there was another move, “and here for a little while we were occupied with route marches and daily drills and other odd jobs. Then we were taken out to certain points by motor lorries every morning to construct a light railway near a village, the buildings and cottages of which were a mass of ruins by the enemy shells. Our platoon commenced the construction of this line, and were exposed to shell fire every day. This line -was completed about three weeks after our arrival.

Reached by Shell Fire. “Our job was situated in a spot where people were living within a mile of the trenches. I do not think that I have seen dwelling houses occupied so near the firing line as at that point. Both platoons were subjected to rifle and shell fire at intervals. On one or two occasions we had to abandon work and go back to the train. Our duties in this locality were particularly dangerous, owing to the fact that we were practically surrounded by batteries of our own artillery and the enemy’s guns, assisted by his aircraft, were continually sending over shells to put these batteries out of action. During the months we were there our officers, Captain and Lieutenant , carried out their duties in a very praiseworthy manner and were very keen on the welfare of the men.” Sapper Blank then records a -narrow^ escape on the last day of this job. “It was about the nearest shave I ever experienced in France. The enemy sent over five or six six-inch shrapnel shells, two of which burst about five yards above my head. I was seated with six others, fiavingjunch. The shells came over in quick succession all around us and we considered ourselves very lucky when we gathered our wits together and found that none of us was any the worse for it.” More work in different places Is described in detail, which brings the dlnry up to Christmas, 1915. “The officers of the - company did their best to make Christmas as pleasant as possible for us and the occupants of each living van were provided with an equal share of good things by their generosity.” The captain made a Christmas speech to the men and the diarist records that he said, “This company has heen indented for a much bigger job than . It is a distinct compliment to the company, and I have no doubt that you will all do your best to carrv out the work in the .appointed time.” > Then there follows a description of the town where the “bigger job” is to place. The sapper tells us about the old buildings here. “On New Year’s day we started to work and we were informed by the captain that part of the construction was to he ready In two months.” The work was finished in record time, though the latter part of the job was hindered by floods. „

LOWER EXPENSE OF HAULING

Trucks Are Being Used to Move Freight in Antofagasta—Cost of Mule Feed Is High. * A ? "~ The cjuestkm of the use of trucks for hauling freight to and froip docks, stations, and warehouses in Antofagasta Is now being studied much more than ever before. One truck has been In use for the last few months, five more have just arrived, and others have beep ordered. The high rates of freight charged by the coasting steamers make the cost of hay and grain for mules very expensive, so that there Is great interest In the truck as a means of reducing the cost of haulage.

THE; EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INP.

Joe’s Menagerie

By F. L. HENDERSON

(Copyright, by W. G. Chapman.) “For land’s sake! what Is that man bringing home this time?” projected Mrs. Huldah Green and hurried to the door to find out. ' She was the mother-in-law of goodnatured Joe Beamish, and because she recognized and appreciated the fact that her son-in-law of five years was just that, they had got along famously. “She knows I’m a harum-scarum, Irresponsible piece of humanity,” Joe was wont to chuckle to his familiars, “but she likes me and I count It a double blessing to have won the daughter and the mother at the same time. I coaxed her to rent out the old farm where she lived and come with us, and I wouldn’t have her leave us for a fortune.” So, with Joe and his mother-in-law strictly friendly and harmonious-and Mollie the happiest little wife and daughter in the world, they were an Ideal family. Joe had his feelings, or rather his fads. He had rented a 20-acre farm and was making a fair living out of it, but nothing more. Nothing more, because he invested his surplus in pets. Joe was born to love nature and all her marvelous works, particularly dumb creatures. His team of horses were treated like fellow humans. There were half a dozen dogs and double that number of cats at the Beamish farm. As to his chickens, there was scarcely a week that Joe did not add some new species of duck, hen or gander to his already populous brood. He had to cart his product 20 miles to market and this gave him a wide range to select from. Such investments used up his surplus, took up his time and meant considerable In the way of care and feeding of his motley aggregation. Thfr limit was reached when Joe began on on actual menagerie basis. One day he appeared, buoyant and triumphant, with a crate on the old farm wagon containing a great, placid, but cumbersome bear. He passed a delightful week in rigging up comfortable quarters for his new accession. The following week he added two silver-tailed foxes to his list. “I’ve struck It rich!” he announced grandly, a month later. “Go out, mother and Mollie, and look at the two cages in the wagon. Lion in one and a genuine royal Bengal tiger in the other. Don’t be afraid —the lion is toothless and the tiger old and gentle as a kitten.” “But, Joe,” remonstrated- Mollie, “what in the world do we want them for?” “That’s so,” nodded Joe soberly. “I never thought of that. They were selling out a stranded circus and I felt sorry for the poor critters; they went cheap, and —oh, I like to have them around. Just as Ido you!” shouted the light-hearted fellow, seizing his mother-in-law and giving her a swing and a kiss. “I suppose It will be a camel or a rhinoceros this time!” observed Mollie on the present occasion, as she crowded to the door after her mother. “He’s capped the climax!” gasped Mrs. Green, and both started in wonder. Hitched to the wagon by a chain and clumsily keeping up with its progress was an elephant. It was scarred and aged. One ear resembled a tattered sail. Its tusks had been sawed off short and it was minus an eye, but It was an elephant, and, stringing after it were half a dozen village chilffren, taking in this great free menagerie treat. “The bargain of my life,” announced Joe enthusiastically to the two dazed women. “A bill poster took old Romeo for a debt, but the animal was eating its head off and he could not afford to keep it.” “Then how can you?" ventured Mrs. Green mildly. “Oh! we’ve got a farm and can raise Its feed.” Alackaday! not for long. The Inevitable developed. At the end of the season Joe was unable to pay up. his lease. Two cereal crops failed. The futures loomed ominously. There was a week of anxiety and uncertainty. Then the great blow fell. The owner of the farm found a new tenant. “Don’t be discouraged, Joe, dear,” soothed mother-in-law. “We’ll just go back to my old farm and begin all over again.” “Yes, but the animals,” remarked Joe pathetically. “Give up that fad and get down to practical work, son," suggested Mrs. Green. “You must sell off everything except the furniture and that like. Mollie and I will go on to Moorside and get the old place in trim for you." It took Joe a week to make all due arrangements. It was when he came to the animals that he found himself all at sea. No one would buy his royal Bengal tiger, nobody wanted Romeo. It looked as^ though he would either have to abandon his menagerie, or turn its members adrift. He advertised In the city papers, but no clients came. He was living alone at the old place, but was due to report at Moorside in three days. Dally Jre fed and petted his animal friends. He had almost decided to lead

them to Moorside and brave the decision of his mothCivin-law, when one morning two automobiles came swinging around a bend In the road. They we're filled . with pretty girls and smart-looking men, laughing and singing. taking In life In its fullness. The evident leader of the group halted the advance machine, leaped out and walked to where Joe was cutting up some feed. “Can you give me a pitcher of water and a glass?” Inquired the stranger. “The ladles out yonder are thirsty.” “All our kitchen ware Is gone. We’re moving,” explained Joe, “but I can give you a bucket and a tincup.” “Grand!” voted the man, and when he carried the water to the road Joe stood quite enraptured as the strains of “The Old Oaken Bucket” rang out. Then he stared as a sancy-faced damsel came rushing past him with an: “Oh, mister! a real ostrich!” and she sped for the lnclosure where Ihe had made out that member of Joe’s household pets. Out from the machines there came piling the others. They massed about the Inclosures that held bear, lion, tiger, elephant and the rest of the animals. They drowned out the clatter of the fowls with their excited and delighted appreciation of this extraordinary discovery of a menagerie In this unexpected quarter of the world. „ “Say, friend,” spoke the leader of the noisy visitors, “what you got here, anyway, and how did you come to get it?” Joe told. There was a shade of sadness in his tones as he came to the calamity phase In his nature-loving experience. All the others had crowded about to listen to the unpretentious and pathetic narration. “Why," exclaimed a bright-eyed miss of the party, “It’s like a movie romance.” “Moorside,” repeated the leader of the group, “why, that is near where we are building a movie studio. See here, I’ve get a-big Idea l” The “big idea" was to buy the whole menagerie outfit, for these were movie

He Found Himself All at Sea.

people, and engaged in that Industry in a pretentious way. A bargain was struck. ‘’lsn’t It wonderful!” jubilated Joe to wife and mother-in-law on his arrival at Moorside a little later. “I got six thousand dollars for my collection and half that a year to ride once to the studio grounds each day and see that the animals are well cared fori Just to think of It!— they won’t be starved or 111 treated. You ■see, folks, my menagerie fad hasn’t Out so bad an investment, after all!”

LED HIM TO THE SLAUGHTER

Chorus Girl Neatly “Worked" Admirer When They Went to Buy Her Diamond Brooch. In “My Own Past,” by Maude Ffoulkes, the authoress tells some good stories of her experiences as a chorus girl. One of the best concerns a girl whose rather mean-minded admirer had at last been persuaded to make her a present of a diamond brooch. “Something simple for me,” she told him. “I hate clusters and twirls.” “Well, dear, I admire your taste. Something simple let it be,” answered the careful lover. “I’ve been thinking,” said the artless girl, “how nice It would be to have my name made Into a brooch. Will you go with me and order one?” “He came like a bird,” she told her appreciative audience In the dressingroom, “and I those a fine brooch—nice large stones, too.” “Well, I never!” cried an amazed listener. “Fancy that! But your name is so short; it couldn’t have cost much. You were a fool, Ida.” “My name wasn’t ‘lda’ In Bond street,” said the young lady demurely. “I asked him to let me wear the name by which mother called me before I went on the stage. . “‘And what is that, darling?’ he asked. “ ‘Gwendoline,’ I said, “but, girls, I tell you that I didn’t dare look at him when I said it.”

Easy Payments, Too.

Tom —Justwed claims "everything In his house is right up to the minute; Jerry—No doubt, he bought it all on time. —Town Topics.

CLUBS of HAVANA

ONE of the most striking features of the general social life of the Cuban capital Is the unique development of its clubs. The city has a population of about 350,000, and according to recent statistics at least 125,000, or over one-third of all the Inhabitants, are members of some club. On the face of it, such a statement would seem hardly credible to a clubman in a city of the United States or Europe. The further assertion that there is one club in Havana whose membership has reached the enormous total of 45,000 seems equally unbelievable, and yet these statements are absolutely true, according to the Bulletin of the Pan-American Union. Practically every man in the city is a member of a club, whether heybe a millionaire sugar baron or a hod carrier; and of the two, the latter has greater incentive to belong to this large social organization than has the former to join the select and exclusive club to which wealth and position in society are requisites for membership. This state of affairs is, to say the least, rather unusual and is due to certain features that are peculiar to a number of these organizations, and the following account, chiefly based on data furnished by Sr. Francisco A. Godoy of Havana, may serve to elucidate the matter: “'The leading clubs of the city, considered from the standpoint of number of members and wealth of their treasuries, are the various organizations known as “centros.” These were originally organized by Spanish residents of the city whose purpose was to unite in » social organization those of their compatriots who came from the same section of Spain. Thus the “Centro Gallego” was organized primarily for the benefit of the Galicians, the “Centro Asturiano” for natives of Asturias, and the various other sections of the mother country were similarly represented. Mutual Aid and Benefit. In addition to its social and recreative functions, the “centro” soon developed mutual aid and benefit features that have made it not only a pleasant luxury but a real necessity in the lives of the people of Havana. The “centros" have in recent years not confined their membership to persons from the respective sections of Spain which have given their names to the various organizations, but most of them are still chiefly composed of Spanish-born or the immediate descendants of such. The exception to this rule is the “Centro de Dependlentes,” one of the three largest and wealthiest of these organizations, which is the most democratic, and to which most of the Cubans and residents of foreign birth belong. This remarkable “Clerks’ club” counts among its 25,000 members not only clerks, but merchants, professional men, artisans, men of wealth and leisure, as well as men who must work hard for their daily bread, and men of practically all nationalities who make their permanent home in the Cuban capital. Its doors are closed to n<* one who is honest and trustworthy, howevey rich or poor, if he can but keep up his modest dues of $1.50 a month. The club was founded about 37 years ago, and has grown to be one of the greatest_social organizations in the Americas. Its magnificent building, which occupies an entire square of the city, and cost $1,000,000, has all the appointments, conveniences and attractive features of the large social clubs of other American cities. Its immense ballroom will accommodate 8,000 couples at a time; its dining room contains 200 tables; and its billiard hall is said to be the largest in the world. Elegant reading rooms, a large library, well-equipped gymnasium and modern bathrooms, are all adequate to accommodate- the huge membership. In these features, as well as in its social entertainments, balls, etc., it is not different from the typical social club; but these form but a part of its attractions. Features for Humbler Member*. The features that most appeal to the modest workingman, clerk, small merchant, and others of limited means may be briefly summarized as follows: The club maintains free night schools for Its members, where those of limited education may improve their general knowledge, study shorthand, bookkeeping and various cither subjects; it maintains a kindergarten for the benefit of their small children; grammar and high schools for larger boys and girls; domestic science classes, where their wives and older

Home of tho Centro Gallego.

_ daughters may take courses in cooking, sewing and other domestic branches; it employs its own staff of surgeons, physicians, oculists and dentists, who attend to the wants of the members free of any charges save perhaps for the material used in filling teeth or the lenses prescribed for the correction or aid of sight; it also maintains its own hospital, a sanitarium for consumptives, and an asylum for the insane. All these advantages belong to each and every member, not as a matter of charity but as a matter of right. He pays his dues of $1.50 a month and thereby becomes a partner in the organization, and is entitled to any of these privileges he desires. These mutual aid and benefit features are not peculiar to the “Gentro de Dependientes” alone; several of the other “centros" have practically the same features. Of all of them, the “Centro Gallego” Is the largest and wealthiest. It has a membership of 45,000, an annual income of over sl,000,000, and Is housed in a palatial structure that cost over $1,000,000. The second largest is the “Centro Asturiano,” which has a membership of 37,000, composed chiefly of Spaniards, but with a considerable Cuban contingent that is also represented on the governing board. It has one of the handsomest buildings in Havana for its home, covering an entire square and Including one of the best theaters In the city. Some of the “centros,” such as the “Balear” and “Castellano,” admit women as well as men to membership, and for an additional tee of 50 cents a month give medical aid to other members of the family of a member. Although the medical services rendered are the chief attractions of these latter institutions, they also have a clubhouse in addition to the sanitarium. In addition to the “centros,” Havana has a large number of other clubs that differ in no material respect from the typical social, athletic and political clubs of other large cities. For the sake of convenience these may be divided Into city and country clubs. Among the former the foreign clubs occupy an important position, and of these the Spanish Casino is the largest; second comes the American club, founded in 1902, which has steadily grown in membership until it has something over 300. It occupies a well-appointed building on the Prado, Havana’s beautiful boulevard, and has all the typical modern club features that are found in similar social organizations In the United States. Among pther foreign clubs are two Chinese, which include in their membership the important persons of that race. Of the strictly social clubs, the oldest and most exclusive Is the Union club, a Cuban organization, which is restricted to men only and to whose functions the ladies are never invited.

MOST DEADLY AERIAL BOMB

Will Explode Six Feet Above Ground, *lo Matter From What Height It May Be Dropped. An aerial bomb which explodes about six feet above the ground, regardless of the height from which It is dropped, has been tested out by the ordnance department, and probably will be manufactured In large numbers!. The novel feature of the bomb, which Is described in Popular Science, Monthly, Is that it explodes before It hits the ground, whether It is dropped from a height of 2,000 or 20,000 feet. The difficulty with bombs used Is that they have been fired by contact with the ground, burying themselves In the earth before exploding. Thus 90 per cent of the force of a bomb dropped on ordinary ground Is expended against earth, Instead of scattering its fragments over a wide area above ground. Inventors have been aware of this deficiency of the pear-shaped bomb for a long time. The idea uppermost In their minds has been to develop a bomb that would explode hea'd high and whose bursting fragments would cover a wide circle before reaching the ground. So far as IS known, no foreign country has such a bomb In Its possession. The bomb which comes closest ~to realizing the maximum of efficiency, as the ordnance department Interprets that term, is this bomb, devised by Mr. Barlow.

First Alumnus—And don’t things look familiar thodgh? Second Alumnus —They sure do—was at a dance last night and saw my old dress suit. —Widow.

Old Familiar Traces.