Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 222, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 January 1930 — Page 1

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FIRE DESTROYS HUGE CITY FOUNDRY

AID RUSHED TO SUFFERING FLOOD VICTIMS BY SQUADRON OF NATIONAL GUARD PLANES Posey County Families Brought Relief After Signals Are Noted From Skies; Food, Clothing Are Dropped to Refugees. AIR ONLY SOURCE OF ASSISTANCE Base Is Transferred to Evansville; Pilots Are Ready to Take Off on ‘Mercy Mission’ Once Again. BY CARLOS LANE Times Staff Correspondent To the skies, from which in two weeks came a deluge and cold wave to isolate them from food and shelter, hundreds of southern Indiana flood victims today anxiously awaited the return of birds of mercy, a squadron of Indiana national guard airplanes. Oi these planes depends all hope of relief of families marooned in Posey county, many of whom are believed to J>e in need of immediate aid. Three airplanes were to take off from Stout field at 1(7 a. m. for Evansville, which will be their base, until relief is administered. Proximity of Evansville to flood regions and availability of a heated hangar caused the change in base from Indianapolis.

Major R. F. Taylor, commanding officer of the One hundred thirteenth observation squadron, led the flight. Other pilots were Captain Carl Sweeney and Lieutenants Matt Carpenter of the national guard and D. D. \\ atson, United States air forces, now on detached service. Sergeants Stillwagon and Vance accompanied the pilots. First relief to families in Posey county, isolated more than a week, was carried late Friday in a plane piloted by Lieutenant Cecil Reynolds, of the One Hundred Thirteenth observation squadron, with the writer as companion, signaller and bomber. Circling low over a farmhouse north of Griffin, we were greeted by a half dozen men who ran from the house to an open patch of ice, carrying rolls of black panels. Stretches of Ice North of the house the Wabash swirled menacingly, a muddy streant dotted with huge icecakes. On all othe" sides were vast stretches of ice and open water. A beaten path: atop a levee led to another farmhouse, half a mile away, in which there were signs of life visible from the air. Swiftly the men spread their panels signaling us to “stand by,” and, as we wheeled half an hour above them, spelled out code letters that asked for coffee, sugar, boots and clothing. Ten persons were marooned there, their signals informed us. We waved good-by. Lieutenant Reynolds zoomed above the river surveying the land, ice and water covered for many miles for further signs of human habitation. Suddenly he dived near the ground. There another and larger group awaited us. Their signals said: “Fifty persons. We need bacon, beans, bread, coffee, sugar and clothing-” We circled over them more than half an hour. A young girl darted into the house and reappeared with a camera with which she snapped the plane, speeding past the house. The entire colony emerged from the house to bid us farewell. No Further Signals We tried to pick up other homes at which Liteutenant Zartman and I dropped panels Thursday, but although we swooped over several houses from which men. boys and dogs ran to greet us, we received no further signals. Between two homes, several city blocks apart, there was a channel of open water, and in the channel two men rowed a blunt-end boat. The helmeted head in the front cockpit turned and a hand pointed down. I nodded. We dived within a few feet of the ground and a scant fifty yards from the boat. In it was a bale of hay. The men waved and laughed as we sped by. The water was lapping at the doorsteps of their homes. Landing on a government emergency field at Vin:ennes, we reported the needs of the sixty persons to H. B Williamson, national Red Cross representative in charge of relief, and he ordered parcel cf food for us to distribute. Girl Near Death Major Taylor, who piloted Ad-jutant-General Manford G. Henley for a survey of the flood regions, took Dr. M. L. Curtner, Vincennes. to a colony of refugees where two women were seriously iIL One of

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The Indianapolis Times Generally fair tonight and Sunday; somewhat colder tonight with lowest about 10 degrees.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 222

them. Miss Dorothy Witsman, 19, is said to be near death. The major landed safely and took off from a narrow field atop a large hill. The physician remained until today, when a plane was to call and remove him from the hilL At 4 p. m. Lieutenant Reynolds and I went up again, with three large sacks of supplies for the first home visited. It was late, and the plane was filled. We could not hope to reach the second, and larger group. Forced to ride backwards, halflying, half-standing on the food sacks, I was unaware of the approach to our goal until the lieutenant shook the wings, signalling a descent. Air Only Relief Source Struggling with the bag against the propeller wash, I hoisted it behind my body, watched the ground zoom up, saw a chimney close under a windtip, and hurled the sack overboard. It skidded on the ice near the group of men that awaited us. Twice again we wheeled over the house, and each time another sack hurtled from the plane to drop near the house. We circled to wave goodby and from the ground below, already partially in shadow as the sun lay close to the horizon, five men waved their thanks goodby. For the hundred persons marooned by ice floes and water in Posey county there is only one hope of immediate relief, and that from the air.

LAD, 8, IS RESCUED Charles Campbell Pulled From Fall Creek. Falling through thin ice on Fall creek near his home Friday afternoon, Charles Campbell Jr., 8, of 2435 Kenwood avenue, was rescued by two passing truckmen. The truckmen, J. G. Denton of 1428 Hoefgen street, and J. A. Harris of 1318 Finley avenue threw a large piece of canvas to the boy. who was clutching at the edge of the ice. They pulled him ashore and took him home. A boy companion’s screams attracted attention of the truckmen. The child suffered little from his immersion in the icy water.

Times, Indiana Theater Offer S2OO Cash Prizes The Indiana theater management today announced cash prizes totalling S2OO for winners of The Times-Indiana theater Sunshine Girl Contest. Winner of first prize, or the “Sunshine Girl,” is to receive $75 in cash; second. SSO; third, S3O; fourth, $25, and fifth, S2O. First preliminary is to be held on the stage of the Indiana theater after the last show Wednesday night, Feb. 5. The rules are printed in full today on Page 3. At this first preliminary, five girls will be selected by the audience and from this group audiences of the Indiana theater during the following week will select the “Sunshine Girl.” In each instance the winners will be determined by the amount of applause. The contest is open to all unmarried amateurs between 16 and 26. inclusive. The management of the theater has announced that entertainers of every kind are wanted as entrants, pianists, vocalists, dancers, monologists, specialists on instruments of any kind. Each entrant will be allowed one minute and a half in which to sing, dance, play, or entertain. The five girls selected at the first preliminary will appear in every stage presentation at the theater during the following week, starting Friday. Each prformance will be judged by the audience. By means of a point system, each girl will be graded on individual performances so that the total at the end of the week will give a true reflection of the audiences’ reaction to their work. An entry blank will be carried in Monday’s TIMES, with instructions as to filling out, mailing, etc.

Cupid Visits Hospital

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The unique wedding ceremony, pictured above, was held in a Los Angeles hospital because Dr. Violetta G. Shelton, woman plastic surgeon of Cincinnati, believes that weddings never should be postponed. Although Dr. Shelton had suffered a broken spine in an auto accident. and was held rigid in bed by surgical appliances, she insisted that her son Gilman, 19, and Eethel Raney, 18, marry on the scheduled date. Left to right are Dr. Shelton, in bed, the bride, Rev. J. H. Moore, officitating clergyman, and the groom.

LONG PRISON TERM FOR JO ALGER IS DEMAND OF STATE

BY DICK MILLER, Times Staff Correspondent WABASH, Ir.d„ Jan. 25.—Pointing out that four state witnesses identified Mrs. Josephine Alger as the driver of the car used by the La Fontaine bank robber, the state today urged a 10 to 25-year prison sentence for the wife of Gene Alger. In turn, the defense attorneys, in a barage of oratory, defended Mrs, Alger along three lines. That state witneses contradicted one another in their Identification and that the identifications were rehearsed and built up like a stack of children’s blocks; that Mrs. Alger asserts she was in Chicago at the time of the Lafontaine robbery, Oct. 16, and that her mother visited her in that city on Oct. 18, and that she is about tp become a mother and the rigors of prison life might result not only in her death but that of the child. The case is expected to reach the jury late today. An orgy of tears on the part of Mrs. Alger while on the stand Friday afternoon formed the background of sympathy, unuttered, which the defense sought to recapture for the jury’s benefit in its arguments today. For Jo Alger's baring of her soul

Opening Markets

BY ELMER C. WALZER United Press Financial Editor NEW YORK, Jan. 25.—Some irregularity due to profit-taking was noted in the stock market list at the opening today, although the majority of issues advanced. Food shares featured the early trading. General Foods being the most active of the group. The stock opened 5,000 shares at 50% and then advanced to 51 up % on another 5,000-share block. Oils, rails, coppers and special issues were strong. Leading industrials, such as Westinghouse Electric and General Electric, moved up a point. American Can and United States Steel opened unchanged. In the oil group. Standard of New Jersey rose % to 63%, Atlantic Refining % to 37%, and Sinclair % to 4. Utilities were irregular, with small gains in Columbia Gas and Pifblic Service, and a small decline in Consolidated Gas, while American and Foreign Power held unchanged. Advancing tendencies in the rails were most marked in such issues as Katy, Atchison and New York Cen-

INDIANAPOLIS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1930

Friday and telling of her child to be born seemed to observers to be more an appeasing of courtroom crowd appetites than a jury softener, Joseph T. Mmphy, Wabash county prosecutor, opened state arguments today, followed by Frank Plummer, Wabash, counsel for Mrs. Alger. Claude Mcßride, Jeffersonville. closed for the defense, with D. F. Brooks, Wabash, having the final word for the state. After Mrs. Alger stepped from the stand Friday afternoon to close the defense case, the prosecution summed up her testimony for observers as follows: “I was not in La Fontaine at the time of the bank robbery. I was in Chicago Oct. 16, but I have no one to prove that conclusively. I am about to become a mother; have pity on me.” Circuit Judge Frank Switzer is expected to charge the jury shortly after court recess at noon. Opinion as to acquittal and conviction is evenly divided in Wabash with court hangers-on who heard her sobs at describing her marriage to Alger asserting that she would be found not guilty.

tral. Erie and Pennsylvania were down slightly. General Motors firmed up fractionally to 41%, but other motors moved irregularly. Tobaccos were mixed in a narrow range, as were mail order shares. J. I. Case featured the harvester issues with a gain of 31-2 points to 222%. United States Industrial Alcohol, Texas Gulf, Murray Corporation and Freeport Texas were strong specialties. Fox Film A spurted 114 to 8 on a block of 2,500 shares. New York Curb Opening (By Thomson & McKinnon) ——Jan. 2o—■ Allied Power 40% Am Super Power (A) 26 Amer Gas 122 Assoc Gas 44 7 a Cord 12% Elec Bond and Share 84% Ford of England l n % Fox Theater 6Vs Goldman Sachs .... 35% Gulf Oil 135% Marine Midland 33 ! /s Mid-West Utilities 25% Penroad 13% Pantepec 3% Petrol Corp 19% Standard OH of Indiana 52 % Standard Oil of Kv 34(4 Stutz Motor 278 United L and P (A) 37% Utility Equity 137* Walgreen 58% Chicago Stocks Opening (By James T. Hamill Cos.) —Jan. 25 AlKed Motors 16 Auburn 190 Ber.dlx Aviation 37 Borg Warner 37% Chgo Corp 13 Cord Corp 12% Cent Pub Ser 35 Const Mat com 14% Grigsby Grunow 15% Houd Hershev A 25% Insull Util com 59% Libbv McNeal 19 Middle West 25% United Pvt & Lt 18% Utility Industrial 18 In the Air Weather conditions in the air at 9:30 a. m.: West wind, 12 miles an hour; barometric pressure, 30.23, at sea level: temperature. 19; ceiling and visibility, unlimited; field, five inches snow. Celebrate French Role Bv Vnft' l Press PAR'S, Jan. 25.—President Gaston Doumergue will visit Algeria to participate in the celebration of 100 years of French rule over the colony, it was announced today. He will make the trip either in the cruiser Duquesne or the Suffereo.

STIMSON FOR QUICK ACTION ONCRUISERS Proposes Consideration of Light Craft Reduction by Naval Parley. FRENCH ARE UNDECIDED Americans View Limitation of Battleship Already Achieved. **r BY WEBB MILLER United Press Staff Correspondent LONDON, Jan. 25.—A proposal that the London naval conference consider limitation of cruisers, destroyers and submarines ahead of every other question, has been made by Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson, the United Press learned from an authoritative source today. The American position, outlined after a long conference on the method of attacking the major problems before the conference, Is that limitation of cruisers and other auxiliaries is the main objective of the five-power parley, and that other questions, including those raised by France, should wait until this is settled. There is no objection to this procedure, at least, thus far, from the British and Japanese delegations, it is learned, but the French apparently have not decided what attitude to take toward Stimson’s plea. Final Action Monday The question has been discussed at length In inter-delegation conferences, and it was hojfed today that final action on the American proposal could be taken at the meeting of the “Big Five” plenipotentiaries Monday. It is the American viewpoint that limitation of battleships already has been achieved, and while the government has every desire to extend the present holiday, it is felt that this is less important than to check the race for cruiser strength. In the event Stimson’s program is accepted and cruiser limitation is discussed at once, the question at once arises whether limitation will be taken up on a basis of total tonnage, classification or a modification of both systems. The American delegation, It is understood, is wil’ing to determine the method after it has been agreed to give priority to the cruiser question. In Strong Position If it is agreed to take up the cruiser issue at once, the United States delegation is placed in an exceptionally strong position, with the battleship question held in the background, since America economically Is in a position to push a replacement program if it becomes necessary. England and Japan, on the other hand, are most anxious to defer replacements for reasons of economy. The Americans are said to prefer limitation by categories, that is, assignment of tonnages arbitrarily to certain classifications of ships. France opposes this system, arguing that each nation houla split up its allotment* of tonnage as it sees fit, to meet its own needs. Favor Boncour Plan A modified proposal known as the “Boncour plan” would be acceptable to the United States, according to a spokesman for the delegation. This plan would provide for an original assignment of tonnage to categories, but would give each nation the right to shfft its tonnage from one classification to another upon giving due notice to the other powers. Under such a scheme, it probably will be suggested that a limit be placed on the amount that thus may be transferred, probably 10 or 20 per cent, but no authoritative information was available on this point.

TERRE HAUTE FIGHTS HIGHER PHONE RATES Mayor Assails Company and State Commission on Increase. Bv United Press TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Jan. 25.—A vigorous fight against a public service ccmm-ssion order providing for increased rates to Terre Haute telephone patrons was opened today by Mayor Wood Pcsey, In a statement to the city council, Pcsey called upon its members to demand an audit of the company preparatory to a fight against the increases. The increases were termed “indefensible and unmitigated nerve,” both on the part of the commission and the company. The mayor further said, “unwarranted and unnecessary increases of this character will lead to the repeal of the putyic service commission law and abolition of the commission.” Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 17 8 a. m..... 14 7 a. m..... 15 9 a. m..... 17

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This striking picture shows airplanes flying in formation as a part of the celebration of the recent wedding of the crown prince of Italy and the Princess Marie Jose of Belgium, in Rome. More than 300 planes were in the air simultaneously.

BANDITS ROB PARTY 12 Matrons, Debs Relieved of Jewels, Cash. Bu United Press SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 25.—Two uninvited guests, masked and carrying revolvers, turned a dignified party Friday night in Mrs. M, Campbell Smith’s exclusive apartment into a thriller that ended with twelve society matrons, debutantes and their formally garbed escorts bound and gagged and out $20,000 in jewels and money. The bandits pushed into the apartment shortly before midnight and lined the guests against a wall. LON CHANEY IN TALKIES Signs Five-Year Contract After Previous Refusals, B\t United Press HOLLYWOOD, Cal., Jan. 25.—Lon Chaney, “man of a thousand faces,” is confronted with the problem of developing 1,000 voices to fit them. The star signed a five-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Friday to make talkies. He steadily had refused to appear on the audible screen because, he said, the voice could not be attuned to his bizarre characterizations. Only Charlie Chaplin remains as a major film star who has refused to make talking pictures. Chaplin believes voice would spoil his pantomime. League Names Officers Roy Thurman, president, and all other officers, were re-elected by directors of the Electric League of Indianapolis at the Columbia Club Friday. Other officers are: J. H. Campbell, vice-president; Ross Mercer, treasurer, and Ted C. Brown, executive secretary.

THREE BREAK JAIL, BUT ARE CAPTURED

Bjj Times Special DANVILLE, Ind., Jan. 25.—Locking a deputy sheriff into the county jail bull pen, knocking his wife down, and then locking her in the jail residence, three convicts escaped the Jail here today, but were recaptured after futile attempt to steal an automobile. The three, Louis Lantz, alias Richard Gibson, William Henry Miller and Harold Arthur, all members of a quartet, who drew sentences of two to ten years in prison on burglary charges in the Hendricks county circuit court Friday, today will be returned to court to face charges of Jail breaking and of being habitual criminals, the latter charge calling lor iili *irnff T ’f tt ft

Entered a§ Second-Class Matter at Fostofftce, Indianapolis

BLAZE TAKES $750,000 TOLL ON WEST SIDE Fire swept the foundry and adjoining buildings of the American Foundry Company, covering a two-block area in West Indianapolis, early today, causing damage of between $750,000 and SBOO,OOO, according to early estimates of company officials. , One of the most disastrous fires in Indianapolis in recent years, the conflagration threatened all the homes in two city squares adjoining the foundry property at the north and was not subdued until a third alarm brought the fire-fighting force to twelve companies. One fireman, William Yont of No. 4 company, living at 2449 South Meridian street, was overcome by smoke and heat while fighting the blaze. He started for the open air, but collapsed and was taken to city hospital, where his condition is reported “fair.’'

The company’s loss is covered fully by insurance, Superintendent G. E. Street announced. Blaine Miller is president of the firm. Discovered at 5:17 a. m. in the center of the huge main foundry building, where it is believed to have started from an overheated stove, the fire spread rapidly in all directions along 1 the dried timbers supporting the roof, and then to adjoining structures. Within twenty minutes the main building, two blocks long and approximately 100 feet wide was ablaze from end to end, lighting up all of west Indianapolis. Flames leaped 100 feet in the air as screaming fire apparatus from twelve companies sped to the foundry and directed scores of streams of water into the structure. Cottages Menaced A hundred cottages and small homes to the north of the plant were endangered when a stiff wind from the southwest sent the flames lapping toward their roofs and showered them with sparks. Restricting the blaze to the foundry property, the fire was brought under control by 7 o’clock, although streams of water continued to be directed into the east end of the structure, where fire burned stubbornly. Three hundred men were thrown out of employment by the disaster. The company manufactures motor blocks and gears, supplying blocks for the Chrysler Automobile Corporation, Stutz Motor Car Company of America and the Marmon Motor Car Company. Large numbers of gears also were manufactured for the Link Belt Company. Patterns Are Destroyed Expensive patterns, used In manufacture of motor blocks and other articles, were destroyed and distorted by the heat, damage to the patterns being estimated in excess of $250,000 by Superintendent Street. Many patterns, kept In a storeroom at the west end of the building were not damaged. Chrysler motor block patterns, alone, were worth more than $200,000, Street said. Three men were in the plant when the fire was discovered: Mike Elick and Ben Brown, night firemen, and Levi Fulton, 1104 Bellevieu place, night watchman there for the last sixteen years. “I was making the rounds," Fulton said, “with my dog, Queen. She has gone around with me for the last six years and knows my rounds as well as*l do, for she always trots around ahead of me. Dog Discovered Fire “At 5:15, I was approaching the No. 4 core room in the middle of the building. Suddenly Queen ran back to me, barking wildly, and

Using a mop and a piece of wire, the three constructed an instrument with which they picked locks of two cells in which they were confined during the night Friday. When D. Z. Richardson, deputy sheriff, opened the “bull pen’’ door to feed the prisoners at 7 this morning the three rushed him and locked him into the “bull pen.” Lantz, going into the jail residence, found Mrs. Richardson attempting to lock the front door to prevent the escape, after she had heard shouts of her husband. Lantz is alleged to have knocked Mrs. Richards down and then to have locked her in one room of the jail residence. Miller and Arthur escaped through a aide door.

EXTRA

Outside Msrlon County 3 Cents

TWO CENTS

slunk around my feet. Knowing something was wrong, I ran Into the core room and found the flames just breaking through the roof in one place near the flue. “I ran to the nearest alarm box, pulled it, and raced to the office in the northwest corner of the building, where I sent in another alarm. It was Queen, really, who discovered the fire.” The foundry building extends from Addison street to Warman avenue, a distance of two full city blocks. The Pennsylvania railroad is the south boundry to the property while it is bounded on the north by an alley, running eastward from 531 Warman avenue. Holmes avenue and Addison street come to a dead end at the plant. Three alarms were sounded, bringing twelve companies and two police squad cars to the scene. Fire Chief Harry E. Voshell took personal charge, assisted by Assistant Chief Harry Fulmer. Lines of hose were drawn to three sides of the long structure, but efforts to extinguish the blaze were futile, so rapidly had the flames spread along the roof timbers, dry as tinder from the heat of the blast furnaces. Firemen directed a heavy water barrage against the north side of the building to save adjoining homes. Hampered by Track* They were unable to reach the south side of the property, bounded by the railroad tracks. On this side were the sandhouse, oil shed and coke sheds and crane for unloading pig iron. With the blaze at its height the sheds were consumed, the oil tanks sending up dense clouds of black smoke. So intense was the heat in the addition housing the crane that steel beams were twisted. Bit by bit, the south wall crashed, sending up clouds of sparks. It was razed its full length, while portions of the north wall remained standing. The firemen’s battle was made hazardous by high tension lines strung along poles between the north wall and the high wire fence. Police Sergeant Dan Cummings recognized the danger and summoned linemen from the Indianapolis Power and Light Company, who cut down the cables, their insulation ablaze. Prevent Spread Firemen succeeded in preventing spread of the flames to the onestory, steel carbide shed north of the main building. Had it caught fire, an explosion probably would have added havoc. The brick carpenter shop and new steel garage north of the foundry were not destroyed. There was little damage to the office, situated in the extreme west end of the foundry. Pennsylvania switch engines sped to the scene and with shrieking whistles backed away with sixteen freight cars from the foundry sidings. Night firemen were relieved at 8 a. m. by the day shift which continued to pour tons of water into the smouldering ruins.

DISEASE AT STANDSTILL No New Cases of Meningitis Are Reported In City. No new cases or additional deaths from spinal meningitis were reported to Dr. Herman G. Morgan, city health office, since Jan. 23. Optimism over the temporary lull was expressed, but sporadic cases may be expected up until April, Dr. Morgan said. Deaths of Thomas Leonard, 45, Bedford business man, and Silas Cloud, the third victim at Indiana state prison, were reported from over the state. Drowned in Book Chase Bu Vnilrd Prrt* HAGERSTOWN, Md., Jan. 25. Pursued by three dry agents, John Twyman, 45, Negro, Bolivar, W. Va., was drowned when he attempted to cross Wnrnan rH—