Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 244, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 January 1927 — Page 2

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ms 0 MEET ON KOBE PLAN stigation of Indiana olitics, Alleged Graft a to Be Asked. ailed plans for the longexd Democratic demand for an tigation of alleged political corin in the State will be perfected conference at the Claypool to- . Among the participants will . Earl Peters, State DemoI chairman; Andrew Durham, rity Senate leader; Addison e, minority House leader and ird B. Bender, House caucus man. ntrary to the erroneous report tho Democrats had determined > make the investigation an is>arty leaders have been awaitn opportunity for malting the id. Challenge Republicans e will give the Republicans an tunity to launch their own nent for a house-cleaning,” said )emorcatic leader last week, If they show that the party is stronger than State loyalty, y are better Republicans than dans and would rather have itate besmirched with corruphan to expose party leaders, it will bo necessary for us crats to step in and make the id 'for an investigation.’ ” Two Plans o plans have been proposed, calls for a general legislative tigation by the House; the proposes a bipartisan investi--1 committee to conduct an investigation, so as not to ine with the legislative work e House. _ noeratlc members of the b will caucus after the conferof leaders to further consider ivestlgatlon. scope of the investigation -ia ted to be unlimited apd to inthe D. C. Stephenson charges, rs brought out in the recent jury fiasco and any other of corruption that may be ht befiore the investigators. lilts ORDERS :LAY IN INQUIRY , i Continued From Pago 1) tth attempt to obtain anew Ince Jan. 1. Routine Work First r completion of the routine Ii Jury foreman was lnstructiform the court, at which ecial instructions covering a of "Stephensonlsm" in ofoslerdom iV(ll be read,*Colr Prosecutor William H. went to the jury room with probe body about 9:30 a. m. irdered the jury to forbid nbers of the prosecutor’s be in the jury room at the he jurors are voicing irosecutor’s office is here to iu,” Collins declared, urging rs to call on the office of or William H. Remy “to in them out In legal matlllett Named Foreman Collett, retired attorney, 25 •ty-Thlrd St., was named iry foreman by Collins. WilMclCinney, Criminal Court! was temporarily named iry bailiff. Others drawn for el were dismissed by the previously selected for the Collett, Charles Clark, 2514 St.; S. S. Sutton, Cam by, arles Wheeler, 1717 N. Tale., and Lee Williams, Cam:and jury had been expected le at once the probe of corcharges which was tempo•opped by the previous jury nded Its term Dec. 31, withrnlng any Indictments. The lad extended over eleven Insi ructions Given of Collins’ special instructed 11, 1926, the court inthe grand jury serving that term, to inquire into charges that had been made public officials through the ■ one Thomas Adams of Vini period of eleven weeks this ary examined approximately jesses In an effort to arrive truth concerning these They completed their work, , without returning any into to this court, but recomthat the succeeding grand s-ht to continue the inquiry by the special instructions ?t. 11, and that until all witwho have not been heard and an opportunity to testify, f the evidence taken before is transcribed by the official of this court, and is now in tody of this court together the exhibits offered in evlnd which evidence and tranvill be delivered to the grand lenever they desire to have n you have completed the ornquiry given to you in the structions and you desire to witli the special investigation to by the former grand jury, •reman may so inform the id additional instructions will i to you at that time.” HILD SUFFOCATED td Prma iSTON, R. 1., Jan. 17. year-old daughter of Mr. and seph Nadeau, was suffocated te today when the house fire during the absence of

ALGER DEFENSE WINS FIRST CLASH

On Trial for Murder

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Above: Gene Alger, former Butler University student, who went on trial at Danville, Ind., this morning on a charge of murder. Below: the Hendricks County courthouse where the trial is being held.

MRS. ALGER TELLS MOTHER OF DEATH % En Route to Trial of Her Boy on Murder Charge, She Stops to Break News of Demise of Son’s Chum.

Mrs. Carl Alger, 1710 E. Ohio St., arrived late as the trial of her son, Gene, on a murder charge began In Hendricks County Circuit Court at Danville this morning. The mother, whose son the State will ask the jury to sentence to the electric chair for fatally shooting Traflicmaji John Buchanan, Negro, here July 9, was delayed because HELD ON MURDER COUNT Negro Shoots Another During Argument, It Is Charged. Horace Smith, Negro, 1753 Boulevard PL, was slated at city prison on a murder charge Saturday night after it was alleged he shot and killed Blanche Johnson, 35, Negro, 2136 Alfery St., and wounded Charles Thomas, Negro, 224 W. Eighteenth St., at the home of his sister, Nana Cqrtley, 47, 1757 Boulevard PL, following an argument over a dice game. Police said they found Smith at his home hiding under the bed. Thomas was taken to the city hospital and held for Investigation. Nana Curtley and Hattie Fentress’, 30, Neg*pes, of 1763 Boulevard Pl., who were N in the house at the time of the shooting, also were held for questioning. ATTACK ON REPUTATION Norris Defenses Turns on Character of Man Pastor Killed. Bn United Press AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 17.—The reputation of D. E. Chipps, wealthy lumberman, who was shot and killed by the Rev. F. J. Norris, was attacked today by defense witnesses as the defense of the fiery pastor* based on self protection, was continued. C. E. Littleton, owner of a cotton gin in Ft Worth, said he was a close friend of the slain man and that his reputation was known to be “bad.” Harry Connor, detectlvo, followed Litleton, and corroborated his testimony, particularly in connection with Chipps’ alleged drunkenness. TWO FROZEN TO DEATH Bii United Press DETROIT, Jan. 17.—Two were frozen to death here over the week-end when the temperature reached 4 below zero, the coldest so far this year. Both had been drinking. A third victim will have both Kgs amputated ' he fell asleep while drunk In his automobile and suffered frozen feet. With more than one foot of snow already covering the ground, the prediction today was for more snow and another cold wave tomorrow.

she had ben called upon to notify the sick mother of Gene’s school chum that her boy, Russell, was dead Russell Arnett, 18, son of Mr. and; Mrs. Elbert Arnett, 2135 S. Emerson Ave., died at St. Vincent’s Hospital at 10:12 p. m. Sunday, from tubercular meningitis. lie had been in the hospital since Nov. 9. Alger and he had been chums at Technical High School. Mrs. Arnett, who had spent long hours at her son’s bedside, collapsed on the porch of her home Jan. 2. Since then she has been in the hospital. The husband this morning asked Mrs. Alger to tell his wife of their son's death. She did so, missing the early car to Danville, which she had planned to take in order to be on hand to cheer her son as attorneys began the fight for his wife. She arrived in the courtroom at 11:30, a few minutes before court adjourned for the morning. Mrs. Arnett collapsed again when Mrs. Alger and her husband told her of her son’s death. She is in a serious condition, hospital attaches, said. INJURED WOMAN HOLDS OWN Bu United Press DETROIT, Jan. 15.—Mrs. Maude Daniels, formerly of Shelbyville, Ind., ■who was beaten unconscious Thursday by her husband, Thomas, before he committed suicide, is “holding her own,” according to Grace Hospital officials today. Her condition, however, was described as “extremely critical.” FLAPPER FANNY SAYS:. * 1 " £Mp MYf # „ Ctg THU ttWVK*. IWC. Baby learning the “crawl” doesn't mean it will grow up to be a swimmer.

JTHE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

State Objection to Question Asked Prospective Jurors Overruled. By Miss Kldora Field. Times Staff Cnrrcsvondent DANVILLE, Ind., Jan. 17>-The defense won the first clash at the trial of Gene Alger, 18, of 1710 E. Ohio St., Indiannpolis, accused of the murder of TrafHcman John J. Buchanan, a Negro policeman, on July 9 at Indianapolis, which opened here this morning. Special Judge Edgar Blessing refused to uphold objections of the State to this question the defense asked each prospective juror: ‘‘Do you believe in the law of selfdefense?” Nine Examined Nine jurors of the regular venire of fourteen and a special venire of forty had been examined tw the defense at noon. None had been definitely accepted. Two were excused by the defense for cause. A number of Central Normal School students were in the courtroom. The State is prepared to combat a probable wave of sympathy for the boy. Marion County Prosecutor William H. Remy is in charge, with Judson Stark his chief deputy; John T. Hume. Danville attorney, and George King Reibold, Hendricks County prosecutor, assisting. They will seek to convince the jurors, selection of which befcan toduy, that the boy deserved a death sentence. Remy was pot present at the morning session, but was expected later. Panic to Be Plea That the crime was unpremeditated and was the result of hysterical

panic, caused by fear, and deserving of a light sentence or release, the defense will attempt to show, with Attorneys Dean Griffith, Asa Smith and Fred I. King, all of Indianapolis, and Otis Gulley of of Danville, pleading for the defense. The case already show signs of drawing much interest from the Danville residents because of Its unusual aspects. Alger was a Butler University student at the time of the tragedy. The boy was arrested by two officers, whose attention had been called to him when he was said to have been trying to steal an automobile on Senate Ave., near the Statehouse. While the police had him in a nearby tire store, Alger broke from them, and firing a revolver he carried wrupped in paper, fled to Capitol Ave., where he entered the Beyer Hotel, 225 N. Capitol Ave., and forced the proprietor to hide him in a closet. Buchanan left his post at Capitol and Indiana Aves., and joined In the chase. This led him into the Beyer Hotel, where from behind the closed closet door, young Alger Is said to have exchanged shots witty the officer. Buchanan stagged down the hall of the hotel and died shortly after. ‘‘Who fired first?” Is one of the important questions which the Jury must decide. Alger, attempting escape a minute later, commandeered an auto at Illinois and New York Sts. and was captured after he was badly wounded by shots from officers’ guns. For several days the boys’ lifa was In the balance and at city hospital he signed a statement in which he admitted shooting Buchanan. Self-Defense It is understood that the defense will,-contend that Alger’s shooting of the officer was an act of self-defense and they will also contend that the arrest of the boy prior to the shooting was not legal or justified. The defendant’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Alger, 1710 E. Ohio St., are present at the trial. Public opinion in this tpwn seems to rather favor Alger. Three weeks ago the boy discovered and disclosed to Sheriff Henry Rodney, five hacksaws which had been smuggled into jail to a prisoner accused of robbery. MARINES PREVENT FIGHT Declare N ic-aragua Town Neutral as Liberals Plan Attack. Hu United Press BLUEFIELDS, Nicaragua, Jan. 17.—United States-Marines declared the interior town of Rama a neutral zone just as Liberal artillery was ready to bombard the Conservative garrison. General Dan Mena, Liberal commander, told the United Press in an exclusive interview granted aboard the captured river vessel Sea Lion in the Escondido I liver. Mena said ho and his army would continue to fight, although he thought the “United States Govern nient had given the Liberals a “rotten deal,” and that if the Liberals captured the entire country Admiral Julian Latimer, the Unitetf States naval commander, would pro claim the whole country neutral preventing Liberals from realizing their triumph. .

AMERICAN FIGHTS OFF CHINESE MOB WITH WIFE’S AID Baptist Minister Attacked— Call Sent for U. S. Gunboat. Bu United Press HONG KONG, Jan. 17.—A tense situation, resulting in a request for an American gunboat, developed in Swatow, China, today after an attack upon the Rev. H. Page, treasurer of the American Baptist Mission College six armed students. Dr. I’uge, who was Injured, repulsed his assailants, according to the students, with a shotgun. Mrs. Page, the students charged, Joined her husband and, with a revolver, aided in beating off the charge. Her shots woundqd two of the attackers, it was said. The dispute, which charges by the students that Dr. Pago had retained money belonging to them, has so wrought up antiAmerican feeling that the American colony there was reported fearful of further outbreak and has asked the consulate here to send a gunboat immediately. ATTACKS ORPHANAGE Chinese Mob Charges Murder of Children. Bu United Press SHANGHAI, Jan. 17—Rioting at Fuchow, which resulted in attacks on the Y. M. Cl A. and the Spanish Dominican Holy Childhood Orphanage, were caused by discovery of the bodies of several Chinese children who had died at the orphanage t dispatches reaching here today satfc The mob accused orphanage authorities of murdering the children. Fearful of further anti-foreign outbreaks, authorities were pushing the erection of defenses in the French concession. IEGIMIONFOR COLISEUM SOUGHT BY CITY C. OF C. Ways and Means for Erection Now Considered — Mayor, Others Confer. With Indianapolis’ long sought coliseum project again before a committee of the Chamber of Commerce, working in conjunction with Henry T. Davis, convention bureau manager, plans quietly perfected Jn the past eight months are developing into actual ways and means for securing the building. A sub-committee has been ap pointed to confer with Mayor Duvall ahd the administrative bodies of the c/ity Tuesday. Anothjer sub-committee was appointed to confer with attorneys and prepare a bill to be presented to the Legislature permitting the city to build or lease and operate a coliseum in a central locality. “Indianapolis heretofore has been unable to build a ooliseum because of legal difficulties and the committee has decided to secure legislation removing this obstacle,” Davis said. The 1927 coliseum committee of the Chamber Is headed by Henry R. Danner, chairman. Other members: J. Edward Krause, A. Le Roy Portteus, Henry L. Dlthmer and William L. Elder. Davis was appointed secretary. OIL LAW FIGHT OPENS Sinclair Company Obtains Injunc- , tion in Mexican Court. Bu United Press MEXICO CITY, Jan. 17.—The % legal battle between American oil companies and the Mexican government to determine the extent to which the allegedly confiscatory Mexican petroleum laws shall be enforced had begun today, a dispatch from Tampico said, reporting that the Sinclair company had obtained an injunction restraining a Mexican company from exploiting an oil concession granted by the Department of Labor and Industry. The injunction is expected to precipitate the ultimate diplomatic contest between the governments of the United States and of Mexico with respect to the propriety of the law.

WALTER WARD RETURNS Bv United Press HAVANA, Jan. 17.—Walter S. Ward, one of the heirs apparent to the bakery fortune of his father, George S. Ward, has emerged from nine months’ mysterious disappearance, but today Ward refused to submit to an interview or otherwise to permit publication of his story. Ward and his father were at the latter’s winter home. Mrs. Beryl Cnrtis Ward, the younger man’s wife, was believed in New York. Ward vanished from New York City in 1925, leaving behind a damaged automobile. Rheumatism Recipe Ex-Sergeant Paul Case, Room 256, j Grace Building, Brockton, Mass., | states that while serving with the j American Army in France he was given a prescription for Uheumatism and Neuritis that has produced most gratifying results in thousands of cases. He says the prescription cost him nothing, so he asks nothing for it, but will send it free to any one who writes him.—Advertisement.

Bur ford Rites Held at Residence

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* Funeral services for William It. Burfortl, 80, who was head of the printing firm bearing his name, were held tide afternoon at the residence, 1330 N. Meridian St. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery. APPROACHING CAR SAVES VICTIM OF TWO HOLD UP MLN Get Part of Cash—Pass Up Purse —Yeggman Fails to Complete Job. An approaching auto saved S6O for Max Reisberg, 53, of 1008 S. Meridian St., janitor State house, who was held up at Meridian and Ray Sts., by three bandit3 early today. Reisberg said he was waiting for a street car when the bandit auto drove up to the curb near him. Two of the men alighted covered him with a gun. They searched him partially, took $3.50 and jumped ba£k into the auto when the driver said, “Hurry up boys, here comes a car.” Reisberg said the S6O in his purse in a hip pocket was overlooked. I Yeggmen battered the combination from the safe at the Vogel Trucking Company office, 28 S. Richwine St., Sunday, but failed to get into the money compartment, which held SSO. Four men were questioned by detectives on the attempted burglary. While the family of W. J. McWilliams, 5770 N. Pennsylvania St., were away Sunday, a burglar broke a glass from a back ddor and took clothing and jewelry valued at $l3O. A police emergency squad searched the vicinity of Elder Ave. and Washington St. for a man who forced E. Nevins, 20 S. Elder Ave., from his home with a gun Sunday night. Nevins said when he arrived home the man was standing on a stairs landing. Before police arrived Nevins said the man came out of the house, fell into the snow-*nd was picked up by a companion and taken away In an auto. WIFE WEEPS FOR MISSHSBAND Man Believed Amnesia Victim or Killed. Belief that Orville L. Webb, 65, of 220 N. St., was killed in a hold-up or is a victim of amnesia was held today by Mrs. Webb has been missing since last 1 Monday when he r|L I® left home with j $275 on his person after a real estate . ! ileal. Ills last oona versation was with jjH 111 ° apartment JB tmi who said he apparently was in good |f spirits at lunch. Pm. JeHU anc * * ier another, Hl' are left In des--111 u t e circumOrville L Webb stances. A charity *P organization 1 s caring for their needs temporarily. “We want daddy to come back,” Is the cry of the wife. CARROLL OBTAINS STAY Time Allowed to Perfect Appeal In Bathtub Case. Bu United Press NEW YORK' Jan. 17.—Earl Carroll, theatrical producer, today was granted a thirty-day stay of execution of his sentence of a year and a day for perjury in connection with the Joyce Hawley bathtub case. The United States Court of appeals allowed the stay on petition of ’ Carroll’s attorney, to allow plenty of time to prepare an appeal to the United States Supreme Court. MUSICIAN KILLED I Bu United Press > CAPETOWN, South Africa, Jan. 17.—Bert Ralton, an American musician and leader of the Havana Jazz Band, died t\)day of gunshot wounds sustained during a hunting expedition In the Hunyanl district. The shooting was accidental.

MYSTERY IN' STABBING Woman Injured by Unknown Assailant; In Hospital. i Mystery in the stabbing of Mrs. Nonla Baldwin, 31, of 224 N. East I St., by an unknown assailant, at New York and Alabama Sts., puz- | zled police today. Mrs. Baldwin ! was taken to city hospital with a . cut under the left shoulder blade. Her condition is not serious. After she was cut, Mrs. Baldwin staggered into fire headquaters. She told police that a man passed her , and stopped until she overtook him. ! Then he stabbed her and ran. She i said she did not know him. GAS FUMES ARE FATAL TO 2 MEN OVERWEEK-END Railway Mail Clerk Official Found Dead in Garage— Another in Hotel. Gas fumes were fatal to two men over the week-end. Joseph Hawley, 46, of 649 N. Belmont Ave., president of the Indianapolis branch of the National Association of Railw'ay Mail Clerks, died a short time after his wife discovered him unconscious in the garage in the rear of his home. Dr. Paul F. Robinson, coroner, said that death was due to asphyxiation from carbon monoxide gas fumes from the haust of his auto. He was a member of the F. & A. M. Center lodge and Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 17. The funeral will be held Thursday at the Eighth Christian Church, Walnut St. and Pershing Ave., at 1 p. m. with the Masonic Lodge members in charge. Burial will be made in Crown Hill cemetery. His Widow, a daughter, a stepson and two stepbrothers survive. William 11. Geckler. 50.. of 307 Ogden St., was found dead in a room at the Puritan Hotel late Sunday. He registered Saturday after being released from the Methodist Hospital. Hospital authorities * say he was suffering from coke gas fumes that overcame him Friday at his home. Employes of the hotel found Geckler on the floor after a maid had tried to enter the room. Dr. U. B. Hine, deputy coroner, said the man had been dead several hours. The body was taken to the city morgue. A son, William Geckler, 1025 N. Alabama St., was notified by police. STUDIES DRUG TRAFFIC , League of Nations Commission on Opium Convenes. Bv United Press GENEVA, Jan. 17.—Opium and means of suppressing the traffic in the drug took first place in business of the League of Nations today with the meeting of the leagu’s permanent advisory opium commission. The United States was represented by Stanley Woodward, of the State Department, substituting for Pinckney Tuck, American consul hero. Arthur Woods, formerly police commissioner of New York city, who was attached to the commission as an expert in behalf of the league, did not participate in today's meeting, although represented by his personal secretary, Frank Dunham. It was understood Woods abstained because the commission last year refused to consider his suggestions for suppressing the drug traffic. MELLON MAY TESTIFY Ford Stock Defense Indicates Plan to Call Treasury Head. Bu United Press DETROIT, Mich., Jan. 17.—Possibility that Andrew W. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury, may be called as a witness in the $30,000,000 Ford st<?ck tax suit here, was admitted by counsel for the nine original stockholders today. The admission came during argument on the refusal of Government cotinsel to supply certain Internal revenue bureau information which the tax petitioners argued was essential to their case. AGAINST COOLIDGE’S PLAN Bu United Press WASHINGTON. Jan. 17.—Overriding wishes of President Coolidge and the budget bureau, the Senate Appropriations Committee provided money for three additional battle cruisers, increased Navy personnel, and more airplanes in the naval supply bill reported to the Senate today.

Shur Stop “The Automatic Fireman on the Wall” Manufactured by International Fire Equipment Corporation, New York, N. Y. A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION of this automatic) Are extinguisher will be given Tuesday, January 18, at 10 o’Clock A. M. • at Fire Headquarters, New York & Ala. Sts. Till* demonstration will be eondiieted by expert* from tile company’* laboratories. A GASOLINE FIKE will be cxtlnKuUhed Automatically— Gulf kiy—Silently. von are Intereeted in Fire Prevention, therefore attend tht* Safety First demonstration and be convinced. - NO ADMISSION CHARGED B & E Supply and Distributing Cos., Inc. 801 City Trait Bldg. Lincoln 8601 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

JAN. 17, 1927

PROPOSE CHANGES IN PRIMARY, DRY LAWS OF INDIANA Legislature May Pass Pay Boosf Bill Over Governor’s Veto. Tinkering with the direct primary law, an amendment of the Wright “bone dry” act and legislative investigations of sundry State departments and officials will hold attention of the Indiana General Assem bly this week, which reconvened to day at 2 p. m. Returning to their legislative tasks following a recess since Friday noon, both houses prepared to get down to business. Vetoes Increase Governor Jackson vetoed tho legislative increase In pay bill upon the advise of Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom that was unconstiutional, inasmuch as the $6 a day provision was in effect until 1929 and that the legislators could not raise their pay during the term for which they are elected. The reduction of Gllliom's salary to $6 a day will be proposed in a bill to be introduced this afternoon by Senator Earl W. Pay no, Bloom ington. The, measure provides that this reduction shall become effective immediately upon passage and shall continue in effect throughout the remainder of Gllliom's term. Gilliom now receives $7,500 per year. Indications are the measure will have smooth sailing through the Senate, the members of which condemn Gilliom’s attitude on the pay increase. Jackson’s veto Is expected to be presented this afternoon when an effort will be made to pass the bill over the Governor’s veto, according to leaders In the House and Senate. Scores Gilliom Representative Lemuel Pittenger says that the bill was passed upon favorably by judges of the Supreme Court and of the Appellate Court previous to its introduction, as well as by several constitutional lawyers of high sending. The attorney general has given the Legislature tho “double cross,” according to Minority Leader Addison Drake. “I thoroughly resent the attitude of the attorney general,” said Drake, “who, I am informed, advised that the increase in pay was constitutional before the appropriation was made and then declared otherwise afterward.” Friends of the State highway commission are prepared to ask for an investigation of that body, bringing out many of tho charges made by Thomas A. Adams, Vincennes publisher. Some highway commissioners arc said to favor such an investigation, claiming they have nothing to fear. Dry Measures Both modified and more stringent prohibition measures will be introduced this week. Issuance of liquor upon medical prescription would bo legalized in Indiana under the terms of a bill to be introduced, sponsored by the Indiana Liberty-League. Opposed to this will be a bill de signed to make the search and seizure part of the bone dry law more stringent. The Anti-Saloon League amendment would make the issuance of search warrants mandatory on hearsay. Committee hearings on the amendment to the search and seizure section of the statute introduced last week by John W. Scott (Rep.) of Lake County, will bring out friends and foes of prohibition in Indiana. Scott wants the law amended so the informer would be compelled to make affidavit. He thinks this will do away with "snooping” and the giving of information for “spite” purposes. Gubernatorial ambitions will determine some votes on the direct primary question. Friends of the various candidates in any move will see an advantage for some candidate other than their own. and be governed accordingly. Several investigation resolutions have been drawn and are ready for procuration. SHIP WITH 29 OVERDUE Bu United Press NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 17.—Grave fears are held for the steamer John Tracy, five days overdue in Boston, Allan R. Hoffman, agent for the Tracy Steamship Company, said here today. The ship, with a crew of twenty-nine, left this port Jan. 8, with a cargo of coal and was due to arrive in Boston last Tuesday. Two severe storms have occurred since the vessel left Norfolk.