Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 326, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 April 1927 — Page 1

Noon Edition Seventy-five thousand persons homeless. Give to the Red Cross Flood Relief Fund.

VOLUME 37—NUMBER 326 *

GREATEST FLOOD CONTINUES TO SPREAD

5 Killed, 25 Trapped in Factory Blast

Terrific Explosion Shatters Briggs Plant at Detroit. Hii I nitcd Press DETROIT, Mich., April 23.—A tremendous explosion in the Harper plant of the Briggs Manufacturing Cos. here at 8:30 this morning is reported to have killed five persons. Police reported that fifty workmen had been taken to the hospital and that twenty-five others were trapped in the building by flames which followed the explosion. Many Ambulances Used Estimates of the dead ranged as A high as fifty, but no early check was available because ambulances from every hospital in the city were taking the bodies and injured away in the maelstrom. The fire was still raging two hours after the explosion, and every available bit of fire fighting equipment was on the scene to try to rescue the twenty-five believed trapped. The cause of the explosion was unknown. Six Olliers May I)ie Twenty-five of the injured were brought to the Detroit Receiving Hospital. Dr. Thomas K. Gruber, superintendent, estimated that possibly one-lialf of them would die from thei severe burns suffered. , The plant was filled with paints and varnishes for automobile bodies, which hampered firemen attempting rescue work. There were approximately 2,000 men working in the building at the time of the explosion. YOUTHS STOLE 15 AUTOS, CHARGE Two 18-Year-Old Boys Under Arrest. La von Reed, 18, of 52 Spring St., and Merle Stephenson, 18, of 723 Spring St., were arrested by detectives today on vehicle taking charges. Detectives declared tie arrests would clear up the theft of fifteen automobiles and perhaps more. New York Stock Opening —April 23 Amrr Can 40*4 Amer Smelting 151’A Anaconda 47 N Atchslon 18514 Baldwin Loco 102*i B. & O 11!) Beth Steel 50 44 O. F. & 1 81 % Chrysler 4.3 Cons Gas 00 Com Products HI *4 Podge 17*4 Famous Players 107’4 Fisk Tire 18'4 Freeport 0." ’4 General Electric 08 General Motors . 105 Great, Northern pfd 87 Hudson Motor 73 4; jlupp Motors 10 ' , Houston 110 4} Kenn. Cop 00’4 Mack 100*5 Marl and 30'4 Mo Kans & Texas 31 >4 N Y Central 150*4 N TANARUS, N H & H 53 U Nash 63 Pennsylvania 01 *4 Pure Oil 37*4 Pierce-Arrow 17'4 Phillips 43'4 Radio 43’4 Reading 112*4 Rep. Iron and Steel 05 *i St. L. & S. F 116 U St. Paul pfd 23 % Sears-Roebuck 50 Sinclair 17*1 So. Pacific 11314 Standard Oil. Cal 54’ 4 Shelly 27 45 Standard Oil, N. J 3014 Stewart Warper 66 Studehakrr 55 Texas Oil 45 44 U. S. Steel 176 *i . Wabash 71 I White Motors 46 " WUlys-Overland 21 "4 Yellow Truck 28*4 New York Curb Opening —April 23 Cities Service 51 ’,4 51 *4 Cont Oil IS*, 18 94 Durant 10% 11 Ford (Canada) 404 405 Goodyear 46 ’i 46 ‘4 Humble Oil 5868 % Int Pete 31 14 31 ty Ohio Oil 55 % 56 Prairie Pine 156 158 Paatrie Oil and Gas 47 47'i Rr.o 21 31 ii Stilts'. '-'ii 16H Standard Oil. Ind 65 ! 06'* Standard Oil. Kail 17 17’4 Standard Oil. Ky 113 >4 114 Vacuum Oil ill’s 111*.

Covering the Flood The Mississippi flood stands out as one of the greatest disasters in United States history. Government officials expect the final damage to exceed that of the Florida tornado. The Red Cross spent $4,400,000 for relief in Florida. It has issued a first call for $5,000,000 for the flood sufferers. THE TIMES is prepared to give its subscribers the coverage that a news event of this magnitude deserves. GERALD P. OVERTON, manager of the Indianapolis United Press Bureau, left last night for Memphis, where with E. \V. Lewis of the Southern division of the U. P. he will have charge of the army of U. P. correspondents strung up and down the mighty river. The Times receives U. P. dispatches from three leased wires. Cameramen of NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE AS j SOCIATION, Scripps-Howard feature service, have been on the job for days. They are equipped with planes, boats and every other device necessary to get their pictures and rush them hack to The Times and other clients.

The Indianapolis Times COMPLETE REPORT OF WORLD-WIDE NEWsfIsKRVIC£ OF THE UNITED PRESS

Entered ns Second-Class Matter at I’ostoffice, IndlniiipniL

RUTH WAS OUTDONE LONG AGO Maurine Watkins Compares Snyder Case With Ancient Killings. By Maurine Watkins Author of “Chicago” NEW YORK, April 23.—A little sister of Lady Macbeth, Clytemnestra, Mary Queen of Scots and the apocryphal Judith. (We omit LuWezia Borgia, Vittoria Corombona and Catherine de Medici, as they dealt in wholesale murder, and so far Mrs. Snyder has only one notch in her belt.) This puts her in pretty good company—ritzy enough even for Peggy Joyce, who complained rather bitterly that such “common” people should be allowed to murder, and also squelches, we hope, some rather proud boasts that the Snyder-Gray affair is a hothouse product of our jazz-mad, black bottom, bootleg liquor age. Rough Stull' We’re. rather used to ladies with an itching trigger finger, who bump off lovers whenever they feel the urge, and it’s generally conceded that it’s nobody's business if a wife feeds her husband arsenic, wood alcohol or paris green during the open season (Jan. 1-Dec, 31); such playful little killings are “genteel and refined” —ladylike, so to speak; a pistol shot only takes a second and poison causes no unpleasant scene for the (Turn to Page 2) SPEECHES NEXT IN SNYDER CASE Jury Complete Opening Oratory Monday. By Paul W, White United Press .Shift Correspondent LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y„ April 23. —The procession of 390 talesmen into the jury box and then out of the courtroom in the Snyder-Gray murder trial —a procession which took five days to pass a given point—had ended today; the attorneys polished their opening statements; defendents prepared for a long ordeal. The prologue wag over and on Monday the trial of Mrs. Ruth Snyder and Henry Judd Gray, charged with the murder of Albert Snyder, her husband, magazin > art editor, who was beaten to death with a window sasn and choked with picture wire, will begin in earnest. Court was adjourned today- for a brief rest after the five-day struggle to pick a jury. The last man was selected at 7:06 p. m„ yesterday. He was the thirteenth juror selected, as one of those picked earlier was excused by Justice Townsend Scudder. The final juror was No. 390 on the list of talesmen examined. He is Philip McCabe, 36, married, a teacher in a trade school. STORES MAY DECORATE Merchants Asked to Take Part in Plans for Scottish Rite Ceremony. Indianapolis stores will be requested to decorate for the ground breaking of the new Scottish Rite Cathedral, May 3, on N. Meridian St., Edward J. Gausepohl, a committee member, said today. The proposal was made to the Merchants Association. Marion County Masonic bodies will be invited to witness the ceremony. DeMolay Commandery will participate in the parade from the S. Pennsylvania St. I Cdthedral to the new site. Meridian St. from North to Walnut Sts., will be roped off for the ceremony. Senator Arthur R. Robinson will speak.

WHOLE TOWN UNDER WATER

—Airp’.wi* Photo. Copyright. 10*1 V SEA Service. lac. And here is the result of the levee break—the ttiwn of New Madrid, entirely under flood water. A strip of levee still holding is shown to

TRICK SAFE FOILS ‘GASOLINE BANDIT’

Filling station bandits got about SSO in two hold-ups Friday night and this morning, but failed at one station where the attendant could not open the safe. Charles L. Anderson, 27, of 130 W. Walnut St., attendant at the Roxanna oil station, Lasalle and New York Sts., turned over $25 from the cash drawer to an armed bidit. The man’s demand to open tiie safe Killed, Wrecking Church Bu NEA Berrice LAFAYETTE, Ind., April 23. Charles Wiggims, 52, was dead today from injuries received when he fell from the Ninth Street Methodist Church, being torn down to make way for the proposed addition to the Jeffersonville High School. Local Livestock Opening Hogs—Receipts, 2,000; market, 10015 c higher; top, 310.85: bulk, $10.25010.85. Cattle—Receipts, 100; market, not established. Calves— Receipts, 200; market, steady; best vealers, $11.50. Sheep and lambs — Receipts, 50; market, nominal.

WHITELAND GIRL WINS JOHNSON COUNTY ‘BEE’

Spells for Ninety Minutes to Floor Twenty-One Others at Franklin.

Varla McClain, 12. seventh grade pupil in the Wliiteland public schools, is Johnson County Spelling Champion. She outspelled twenty-one other gilds and boys at Franklin, Thursday night, and was crowned champion before a crowd that taxed the capacity of the Franklin High School auditorium. She will represent that county, as the result of her victory, in the State Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Times, in Indianapolis late in May. It was Mary Mount, seventh grade pupil rn the Masonic Home school at Franklin, who pressed Varla for county honors. She finished second. Harvey Jacobs, of District School No. 2, Hensley Township, was third. The Johnson County Bee, sponsored by the Franklin Star in cooperation with the Indianapolis Times, attracted attention of pupils and parents throughout the county. The Franklin auditorium was filled with delegations from the twenty-two schools whose champions were competing for county honors. -County Superintendent of Schools Robert Hougham pro-

INDIANAPOLIS, SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1927

was defeated when Anderson showed him how the money dropped into the strong box through a slot and protested no one knew the combination except, the collector. The bandit escaped in a confederate's car.Louis Lovenger, 26, of 2922 Park Ave., attendant, and Kenneth Jeffries, 3027 N. Talbott Ave., a friend, were chatting in the Western Oil Filling Station at Thirtieth and Delaware Sts.. Friday night when a bandit entered, covered them with a gun, took $25 from the safe and cash register. Police lea.rned this car was stolen from T. B. Foster, 5668 Guilford Ave. VOTE TRIAL ADJOURNS Testimony in Muncie Case to Be Resumed Wednesday. Bn Times Special MUNCIE. Ind., April 22.—Trial of the Humphries-MoAuley election contest suit over the sheriff's office stood adjourned today until Wednesday. Two voters testified this week they cast two ballots fn the election.

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Yaria McClain

nour.ced the words from the McCall Speller. Professor Clowman. of Edinburg and Superintendent of Schools Wiley of Greenwood, were judges. An hour and a half was required (Turn to Pago 2)

the right. This scene Is typical of millions of acres and scores of toons thronglmut the Mississippi valley, where the Red Cross faces the greatest Bisk it lias had to undertake since the war.

FOR FLOOD SUFFERERS Indianapolis Chapter, American Red Cross, asks persons who desire to contribute to the fund far relief of Mirs ssippi River flood sufferers to fill out this blank and forward it v ith the contribution to: AMERICAN RED CROSS. 100 War Memorial Bldg., 777 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, Ind. I am sending for the Mississippi Valley Flood Sufferers' Fund. Name Street City .... Make checks payable to Frank D. Stnlnaker, Treasurer.

SYMPATHETIC GIVE CASH TO FLOOD PERIL ZONES Citizens of Safe Cities Contribute Funds to American Red Cross to Carry on Relief Work.

Indianapolis today was asked to do its part to care for the 75,000 homeless in the Mississippi River flood area. Some contributions to the- relief

FROST DAMAGE HEAVY IN STATE

The second killing frost of the season Friday night resulted in heavy damage to tender fruits in Indiana and Marion County. The frost was more severe than the night before. The mercury dropped to 30 degrees at 5:45 a. m. today, according to the United States Weather Bureau. “Temperatures were a degree oi two lower throughout the entire State last night than the night before,” said Meteorologist J. H. Armington. “The damage probably will be rather severe, particularly in the northern part. Frost was much heavier as it usually is the second night of such a spell.” Arniington said frosts and freezing temperatures inflicted serious and age as late ns May 25, In 1025, but that last night's frost was the heaviest in April in the State s'nce 1022. Nurserymen and orehardfsts found a heavier coat of frost on piants and trees this morning, but said they would not be able to estimate the total damage for several days. Howard Johnson, who has a 200acre orchard at Mooresville, declared it was the most serious cold spell in April in the last seven or eight years. “The damage would be much worse if the stage of the bloom was the same, but it varies with different varieties," said Johnson. C. Henry, county agricultural agent, said the loss was considerable in Marion County.

Outside of Marion County 12 Cents I’er Week. Single Coplea

j fund are already being received at local headquarters, 777 N. Meridian St., and more are expected as the need becomes more apparent. Unless cities outside the peril zone contribute generously, hunger and disease will take a heavy toll from the thousands driven from their homes by the angry tides of “The Father of Waters,” local Red Cross officials said. William Fortune, chairman of the Indianapolis Chapter. American Red Cross, reecive'd this telegram today from James L Fisher, National Red Cross chairman: "Emergency situation is extremely grave. The Red Cross is caring for 75.000 homeless people and the number is constantly growing. It is imperative a large relief fund be raised immediately. Every Red Cross chapter must do its part.” Dozens of requests are being received by Red Cross headquarters for aid in locating relatives of local pe- -ons in the stricken area. Wires are being sent to Red Cross workers nearest the last address of those sought, but no replies have been received. BRITISH, CHINESE FIGHT Sailor* Use Bayonets In Attack on Raiding Coolies. P" I'uitrri Prrm UONDON, April 23. —British sailors at Wuhu used bayonets against a group of Coolies today, an Exchange Telegraph dispatch from Hongkong said, when the Coolies attempted to raid a British mercantile hulk. A few Coolies were wounded. Large fires were raging in Pukow today, the dispatch continued, as a result of Nationalist artillery fire from across the river at Nanking. Northern Ciiinese soldiers hold Puko wand the armies have been exchanging artillery fire for several day*.

THREE CENTS

Forty Known Dead—Homeless Reach 75,000 —Area of Inundation Placed at 8,500 Square Miles

DISASTER IN BRIEF

Crippled transportation facilities hamper relief work by Red Cross. Six thousand refugees crowd Greenville, Miss., city of 12,000 population. Crest will reach New Orleans and other low delta country May 5, is forecast. Levees guarded against dynamiting by residents desiring to divert water from own property regardless of damage elsewhere. Bo l ofted Press The Mississippi River flood has become the most serious in the memory of rivermen. Two score dead have, been counted. There may be as many more who will be listed as misiijg until the receding water reveals their fate. It is estimated 8.500 square miles of territory is inundated in Illinois, Tennessee. Missouri. Kentucky’, Mississippi and Louisiana. The number of perons driven from their homes is increasing so rapidly it cannot be estimated. There are at least 75,000, probably 100,000 and possibly 150,000, homeless. The end is not in sight. Instead, the creeping water is stretching inland in new places. Overnight developments included breaking of other levees in southern Illinois and Louisiana. The latter State had hitherto escaped major destruction. The river attacked Mississippi yesterday. Advance of the flood crest southward means inundation of a large per cent of the best cotton land in the South and complete ruin of the crop.

Louisiana , Arkansas and Mississippi Experiencing Highest Water Bii l nitrd Press MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 23.—Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi today were experiencing the highest flood in history. River people are fleeing.

Louisiana was first hit yesterday. The situation in Arkansas and Mississippi became even more critical. George C. Schoenberger, chief engineer of Louisiana, said this was the worst disaster in the history of the State. Although the main levee was holding in Louisiana, breaks were believed ihevitable, as the water raised to the top of the walls and ate away startling apertures at several points. Delta Area Flooded The flood continued tc> pour through the Stopps Landing break into the Mississippi delta, country. Thousands were marooned and the death toll there is expected to mount as boats penetrated the area. In Arkansas, where the St. Francis River basin and other large sections were already under *vater, the flood swept into the Yazoo valley, one of the three great lowland sections of the State. The crest of the flood is due here tomorrow and will not reach New Orleans until May 5 or later. Death and destruction will follow it south. Twelve thousand Inhabitants and 6.000 refugees were reported in Greenville, Miss., today. The water supply was limited and crippling of the power and light system was threatened. Two More Breaks Two more breaks north of Vicksburg early today threatened another large section in Mississippi. Alarms were sounded when they gave way and citizens hurried to help with levee work. More than 200 persons were reported marooned at Clarendon, Ark. Part of the city was swept away by the flood. Two hundred more were said to be marooned on a levee at Helena, Ark. 125,000 Unprotected Anew crevasse below here at Etah, Miss., north of Stopps landing, fed more water into the territory affected by the first break. Approximately 3,000 square miles with 125.000 inhabitants were left unpro-

New Levee Break Menaces Southern Illinois Area flu L'nitcit Prmu ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 23.—. lust as the battle against the Mississippi River appeared won in Southern Illinois, anew break in the levee near Cora City today threatened to inundate some 35,000 acres of rich farm land between Chester and Cairo. The river burst through the protecting wall at the Degonia and Fountain Bluff levee at Patoto Bend.

Headwaters of the flood were expected to reach Gorham, ten miles west of Murphysboro, today. The water will probably rise to a ninefoot level and other walls will be threatened. Farmers Leave The flood-harassed farmers quit their lands, driving livestock before them as the waters poured through a 100-foot gap in the levee. Warnings were sounded when the 18inch top wall was swept for a distance of nearly 200 feet. Enormous losses will be suffered In the region about Chester and Cairo not only by the immediate damage to buildings and farm equipment, but to the corn crop. Many farmers fear that seed could not be put in the ground this year. Expect Crest Monday Wheat farmers left the lowlands around St. Louis when the Mississippi climbed to the 85-foot stage. Although the waters are expected to rise still another foot today and Sunday. No damage is anticipated unless the east side dikes give wa^.

Forecast Increasing cloudiness tonight ; Sunday probably showers; slowly rising temperature.

MARION COUNTY

TWO CENTS

tected by these openings. The Louisiana situation was wqrst at Ferriday, just across the river from Natchez. Miss. The levee there was reported crumbling. Another break was threatened at McCarthy’s, La. According to aviators who carried supplies to Little Rock. Ark., the entire country from Memphis to Little Rock is under water except a strip of land about forty miles long. The water starts at the foot of j bluffs here and extends westward sixty miles. Relief Hani|>ered The Red Cross was earing for thousands of refugees at camps which have sprung up at high places throughout the inundated territory. Its work was constantly more difficult because of crippled transportation lines. The need everywhere was for more boats both to rescue the marooned and carry supplies. Every available craft was being pressed into service. The situation in Kentucky and southeastern Missouri had improved today. Hickman, Ky., was considered out of danger and victims from surrounding territory were taking refuge there. The Texas bend levee, north of Charleston, Mo., was also believed out of danger and residents of Charlesston, East Prairie and Bertrand are more comfortable. Leeves Unguarded Guards continued to patrol all levees In this section. Three attempts to dynamite the. levee at Birds Point have been reported. Property owners know that by breaking the dike in certain sections, pressure will be lessened elsewhere. The St. Francis basin, where thousands were driven from their homes by breaks at New Madrid and Dorena., Mo., appeared to have passed the worst of the flood. Inhabitants were in refuge camps and the water was falling in some places. The river was still on the rise, however, at Marked Tree, Gilmore and Dali.

The crest is looked for on Monday followed by recessions and relief from the worst floods in the history of the area. PLAN CARNATION SALE Spanish War Veterans Auxiliary to to Sell Flowers Dewey Day. A carnation sale will be conducted next Saturday by MaJ. Harold C. Megrew Auxiliary No. 3. United Spanish War Veterans, celebrating Dewey Day. Proceeds will be used for patriotic and charitable work. Mayor Duvall has issued a proclamation designating the day as Carnation day and asking the public to buy flowers. Mrs. Paul Grause, auxiliary president, has appointed Mrs. Marie C. Williams Carnation day committee chairman. Hourly Temperatures 8 a. m 31 9 a. m 38 7 a. m...... 34 10 a. m 37 t a. m. it