Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 262, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 January 1936 — Page 3

TAN. 10, 1938_

STATE MARSHAL LAUNCHES i PROBE IN PENDLETON BLAST; 4 KILLED, 13 ARE INJURED Town Hall \."recked by Explosion and Fire; Sewer Gas ip Cistern Blamed; Believe Transient Identified. (Continued From Page One)

member, sprained back and superficial burns. George Calvert, 60, lacerations of the face. Taken home from hospital after receiving first aid. Delbert Smith, rescue squad member, overcome by smoke and exhaustion. Taken home from hospital. Bonnie Jones, rescue squad member, overcome by smoke and exhaustion, possible lractyre of the left ankle. Taken home from the hospital. Fred Lund, 40, town laborer, lacerations of the scalp, fracture of the iright hand; condition not serious. Mr. Taylor touched off the explosion at 7:20 last night. He lost his spectacles down an open place in a lid over a cistern inside the building. He hac. been washing at a hall lavatory and they were balanced on the edge of the wash bowl. Entire Town Is Aroused After considering the problem of recovering them for some time, and talking it over with various persons, he went after them with a lighted match. The gas, apparently accumulated In great quantities, exploded and twisted the building into ruins. A fire started almost immediately, and burns were responsible for most deaths and injuries. Every person in the town heard the explosion and in a short while a large crowd had gathered at the scene, guided there by the flames. But because the fire department was housed in the building, no effectual fight could be waged against the flames, and no telling rescue iwork could be done. WFA Workers Aid Rescue Calls Were placed to other nearby towns for fire equipment and in 40 minutes the Anderson department had trucks and pumpers on the scene. WPA workers from a nearby project volunteered their services and were put to work exploring the wreckage for injured and dead as soon as the search was feasible. The state police barracks at Anderson sent a squad of 13 to the scene to assist in the search and to talk to witnesses. The fire burned or smoldered nearly all night, and although a continuous search for more bodies was conducted today, no one was expected to find more. “Felt Like Big Bertha” Eye witnesses said A hat with the terrifying detonation floors appeared to buckle, then crumble with their helpless cargo as the high walls collapsed. J. E. Popplewell, one of those nearby at the time, said ‘‘l felt a burst like Big Bertha. It almost knocked me off my feet. I threw my hands across my eyes, then looked back and saw the town hall going up in flames.” Volunteer rescue squads began a battle to break through the roaring flames as Anderson police, fire apparatus and physicians arrived on the scene. A detail of 13 state policemen from the Anderson barracks, four miles distant, directed an offensive on the blaze. One of the first saved was Mr. Silvers, 37, Town Board president. He is suffering a severely lacerated leg, cuts and shock, but was pulled by cable from the debris. While townspeople and farmers, attracted by the brilliantly colored sky, thronged to the scene, Mrs. Mary Wisehart, telephone exchange operator, spread an alarm throughout the locality. Roy Mills, 55, town night marshall, was approaching the building and within 20 feet of it when the blast occurred. Force of the explosion knocked him half way across the street. “It threw me clear to the street car tracks,” he later declared, “and I remember spinning around on the pavement. Then I must have fainted for next thing I new they had me in Dr. Hunt's office.” First water thrown on the blaze was due to the daring of Earl Fowler, a volunteer fireman. Plunges Into Flames One of the first to reach the fire, he plunged into the flaming building to reappear with a hose, part of the equipment stored in the rear of the building. With the help of several others, he attached it to a hydrant across the street. Three Anderson pumper trucks arrived here at 8:10. and within a few minutes had turned half a dozen hose lines on the flames. Two were dismissed half an hour later, when the fire was brought under control. As quickly as bodies could be extricated from the smoking debris, they were carried on stretchers to the Davis Sloane Funeral Home, a block away. While bodies of the two transients were burned almost beyond recognition, that of Mr. Wapienek was not badly burned. He apparently had drowned in the foot-deep water which soon filled the cistern floor. Reformatory Guards Aid Arriving almost simultaneously with the Anderson trucks were others from the State Reformatory, all manned by guards who joined in the rescue work. To a weird happy chance, Marietta! Brookbank owes his life. Almost immediately after the explosion and while the flames were mounting higher and higher against the night sky, an unidentified WPA worker was working about in the Wreckage. In his aimless investigation he stuck his hand under some twisted wood and concrete and another hand grabbed it. A voice called to him and asked for help. It was the voice of Marshal Brookbank, who miraculously alive under the wreckage and who had been seen *nd grabbed the hand. It was a full hour afterward that Workers were able to release him from his prison of wreckage. He suffered scalp and neck wounds and today was. seeking the WPA worker be-believes responsible for his life.

The worker refused to give his name. Another remarkable escape, though it was tinged with tragedy, was that of Homer Thomas. Mr. Thomas had been standing talking to Mr. Taylor and had seen him drop his spectacles and left as Mr. Taylor started down into the cistern. He went to a washroom and was shaving. When the gas exploded the- floor went out from under him and he found himself prone near an opening in the wreckage and crawled out. He spent the remainder of the night walking about the wreckage and at his job in a nearby restaurant in such a dazed condition that officials were unable to get a plausible account of his experience. Victim Meets Ironic Fate Ironic was the fate of Convict Wapienik, the East Chicago trusty from the Indiana Reformatory, who was doing 2-to-14 years. He had driven a truck to the town and heard the explosion. He is reported to have bravely entered the burning wreckage and to have rescued at least one person. Then he went back into the inferno because he had seen another helpless in there. A wall tottered and fell over on him, killing him. He was to have been freed on a parole today. Mr. Kelsey, it was said, was in conference with board members regarding a contract for work contemplated by the group. Proximity of the two cities resulted in hundreds of Anderson people coming here soon after the alarm was sounded. Most uptown business establishments remained open until after midnight as groups gathered to discuss the explosion. The concrete cistern, unused since 1932 when the city installed a new water plant, measured some 20 by 30 feet, with a capacity of 23,000 gallons. As the walls toppled, they tore down high voltage power lines, throwing a part of the city in darkness. To assist in fighting the fire, electricians soon erected flood lights. Rescue Work Is Slow Difficulty in combating the blaze during the first 30 minutes was shown by the experience of Frank Lukens, a farmer living four miles southeast of here. Told of the blast by a sister, who had seen it at the outset, he returned to town in her car, arriving in time to assist with the first rescue work. Not until 10 was there any definite idea of how many might be trapped in the pile of timber, bricks and wreckage. The body of Wapienik was the first recovered and workers continued their frenzied search two hours before the first of the unidentified transients was found. Wapienek was serving time for grand larceny. Only 10 days ago he was assigned to the job of driving reformatory officers to and from here. He had stopped at Town Hall merely to converse with whomever might be there, while awaiting an interurban from Anderson. Everett Brattan, a farmer living nearby, was trapped for 30 minutes before rescuers succeeded in freeing him. His condition is regarded as extremely critical. Lee Rider, garageman and business partner of Frank Silver, hurried from his home to the scene to find his associate pinned to the north wall of the crumbled building. Rescued From Wreckage “When I heard the explosion,” he said, “I ran from the house to my car and headed for thp icene. When I drove up, Silver was still pinnned in the wreckage piled about him almost waist high. A couple of us threw him the cable and finally got him out.” “He wasn't badly injured, aside from his leg, and I loaded him into my car and drove to Anderson. He appeared quite rational, despite the shock, and we talked all the way to the hospital.” One of the tqjvn’s two fire trucks was pulled out from under the debris soon after the work started. The other was not extricated until two hours later. Both were so melted by the terrific heat that they could be scarcely recognized as vehicles. Fire Chief Claude Taylor was out of the city when the explosion occurred and did not arrive at the scene until an hour later, when he took charge of operations.

BUTLER TO ESTABLISH ALUMNI CLUB IN N. Y. President Putnam to Speak at Meeting There Tuesday. Dr. James W. Putnam, president of Butler University, will leave for New York Monday to be the principal speaker at a dinner for alumni of the university on Tuesday night at the Marston House. A Butler Alumni club of New York will be established at the meeting. There are 45 graduates and a large group of former students of Butler living in New York at the present time. All have been invited to the dinner. THIEF PICKS ON COP Enters Home, Steals Watches and Eludes Patrolman. Patrolman Edward Samuels was sleeping yesterday in his home at 2715 N. Meridian-st. He awakened with a start. Some thief had entered his rooms, turned on the lights and was making free with Patrolman Samuels* personal belongings. The patrolman jumped out of bed and gave chase, but the burglar eluded him. Missing was two gold watches, one valued at SSO. Packed to go but left behind were many of the policeman’s clothes. Aged Woman Found Dead in Bed Mrs. Nancy Phillips, 2048 Martin-dale-av, was found dead in bed today. She was 86. Dr. E. R. Wilson, deputy coroner, attributed her death to old age.

Pendleton Town Hall, Fire Truck Destroyed

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LOCAL MOTHER AIDS SON’S INSANITY PLEA Testifies in Murder Trial That He Was Dropped on Head. By United Press CINCINNATI, 0., Jan. 10— Mrs. Clara Keller of Indianapolis continued her fight today to save her son from the electric chair. She testified in Criminal Court today that Richard, accused of the murder of a laundry proprietor, was a kleptomaniac and was dropped on his head when a baby. Keller’s defense is insanity. Whether he would taka the stand was uncertain. Three judges who heard testimony similar to that of Mrs. Keller ruled her son sano. G-MEN GIVE COUNTY FINGERPRINT DEVICES Federal, State Prisoners to Be Booked at Local Jail. Fingerprinting equipment is being installed today in the office of the Marion County Jail to record prints of Federal and state prisoners incarcerated there in the future. The equipment is the gift of the Federal government, sent to Sheriff Ray by the Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice. Deputy Sheriff James Stewart has been instructed by a Federal man on the operation of the equipment. DRY LEADER TO TALK AT CHRISTIAN CHURCH Oliver W. Stewart Chicago, to Speak on Liquor Problem Monday. Oliver W. Stewart, Chicago, president of the Flying Squadron Foundation, a prohibition unit, is to speak on the liquor problem at 7:30 Monday in the Englewood Christian Church. Mr. Stewart is dean of the squadron's corps of speakers attacking repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. STORMS SWEEP ENGLAND Gales and Torrential Rain Claim at Least 10 Lives. By United Press LONDON, Jan. 10. Gales and torrential rains swept across England today. At least 10 lives were lost and extensive areas were flooded. So severe was the storm that Manchester police authorities broadcast an appeal for residents to remain indoors until it ended. There was a storm all day yesterday, in springlike temperature, and it hit the London area again this morning to do serious damage.

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

FEDERAL PAY LIST IS CHALLENGED HERE Maetschke Figure Wrong,, Says Insurance Body. Figures issued by the Federal government in Washington on corporation salaries, commissions and bonuses were inaccurate as related to C. F. Maetschke of Indianapolis, according to the insurance special committee of the General Agents and Managers Association here. The statement, issued by Mansur B. Oakes, secretary of the association, follows: “At a meeting of a special committee of the General Agents and Managers Association this noon to discuss the misleading story from Washington to the effect that C. F. Maetschke, manager of the Indianapolis Ordinary Agency of the Prudential Insurance Cos. of America, received a salary of $89,500 in 1934, I had the pleasure of assuring the committee that the Indianapolis newspapers desire to print the truth and not to create false impressions and that the erroneous statement was printed in good faith. “On that basis I was asked, as secretary of the association, to ask each paper in its next issue to give publicity to the fact that the sum credited to Mr. Maetschke represented the total gross earnings of all the agents in his organization, not the earnings of Mr. Maetschke. The figure relatively was the same as if the publisher of a newspaper were listed as receiving as salary all the income of the paper. “The hundreds of life insurance men in Indianapolis object to inflated figures on personal incomes because such figures reflect upon the character of the institution of life insurance.” BUT[ER JUNIOR NAMED Kenneth Golden to Direct Publicity for Student Federation. Election of Kenneth Golden, a junior at Butler University, as midwestern editor of the National Student Federation of America has been announced at the university. As mid-western editor Mr. Golden is to handle publicity for federation events at the 13 schools which belong to the N. S. F. A. in the district. Judge to Sentence Slayer By United Press AUBURN. Ind., Jan. 10— Judge William P. Endicott was to sentence Lyston Webb, 18, confessed slayer of his father, Earl Webb, 43, in Dekalb Circuit Court today.

DECEMBER DEATH AND BIRTH RATES DECLINE Drop Slightly From Figure for Same Month in 1934. There were slightly fewer births and deaths in Indianapolis last month than in December, 1934, Dr. Herman G. Morgan, City Health Board secretary, announced today. In 1935 there were 5848 births and 5375 deaths and in 1934 5883 -births and 5383 deaths. DAUGHTER OF JACOBY TO ADMINISTER ESTATE of Personal Property of Attorney Given at $10,000,, Miss Helen E. J tcoby today was appointed in Probate court as administratrix to the estate of her father, Elias J. Jacoby, Indianapolis attorney, who died Dec. 31. He left no will. The daughter is the only heir. Value of personal property was given as SIO,OOO. No value was disclosed on real estate held jointly by Miss Jacoby and her father.

Rink’s 29-37 N. Illinois St. Downstairs Store 490 New Spring HATS-Just 99c 1 1 A wonderful opportunity to brighten your winter coat with a chic hat. Pastel Felts- Taffetas Cello Straws Crepes Downstairs Store

The picture at the top shows all that is left today of the Pendleton Town Hall, which, last night, was wrecked by an explosion of sewer gas and burned to a black cinder, killing four and injuring 13. The picture below it is what now remains of ihe Pendleton fire department, which was housed in the razed building and could not be extricated.

TRIAL NEARS CLOSE IN POISONING CASE Domestic Discord Admitted by Accused Husband. By United Press PORTLAND, Ind., Jan. 10.—Closing arguments were scheduled today in the murder trial of Ray Dawson, Modoc, charged with the poison slaying of his 14-year-old stepdaughter, Mary Kritch. The defendant denied accusations of his wife, Mrs. Mae Dawson, who implicated him in the crime after serving one year of a life term imposed for participation in the murder. He admitted domestic troubles, but said they were because of the stepdaughter, who objected to their k “very poor” manner of living. He denied being at his wife’s home the night of Nov. 15, 1932, when his wife alleges he held Mary on the bed as she died in convulsions from strychinine placed in her medicine. Several character witnesses were introduced by the defense in an attempt to refute testimony by Mrs. Dawson that the defendant participated in the poison death of her first husband, Walter Kritch, in January, 1929.

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HOUSE ADOPTS BONUS MEASURE BY 355_T0 59 Entire Hoosier Delegation Lines Up for United Front Bill. (Continued From Page One)

mous bonus march of veterans on Washington in 1932. In contrast to the drama of previous House bonus votes, the galleries were only partially filled as the roll was called. National Commander Ray Murphy of the American Legion and James Zandt, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who had united forces behind the present bill, watched the scene. In one gallery was a crowd of exservice men, most of them poorly clad and some wearing sweaters. Speaker Joseph W. Byrns said the House would adjourn after the vote in respect to Rep. Ewsley Lloyd (D., Wash.), who d&d today. Byrns Demands Order Just before the bonus ballot started Mr. Byrns made a brief and unusual statement. “This is one of the most important roll calls of the session. It is extremely important that members be recorded as they vote. “Therefore, it is proper that every member of the House cease conversation and keep his chair during the call. The chair trusts all members will try to maintain order.” Despite Mr. Byrns’ request, the usual hubbub started in the House shortly after the clerk began reading the roll. House action was in the face of warning from Chairman Hatton W. Sumners (D., Tex.), of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. James W. Wadsworth (R., N. Y.), and Rep. Robert Rich (R., Pa.), that passage of the bonus now might impair the nation’s financial structure. The bill, which is sponsored by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans, would mean an additional cash outlay immediately of $1,000,000,000, its advocates claim. Ex-soldiers would be paid cash to the full amount of their certificates —less any loans against them—immediately. Those wishing to retain their certificates would receive 3 per cent interest on therm. annually from April 6, 1937, until* : l94s, when they are now due. The bill cancels unpaid interest on loans but does not provide a refund for paid interest. The 59 votes against the bonus included 28 Democrats and 31 Republicans. Democrats Biermann, Bland, Buchanan, Burch, Claiborn, Cox, Darden, Dobbins, Ford of California, Hobbs, Huddleston, Lanham, Lewis of Colorado. Montague, O’Day, Oliver, O’Neal, Peyser, Robertson of Virginia, Russell, Sisson, Smith of Virginia, Sumners, Tarver, Terry, Utterback, Whittington, Woodrum of. Virginia. Republicans—Andrew of Massachusetts, Andrews of New York, Bolton, Cavicchia, Christianson, Cole of New York, Culkin, Eaton, Gifford, Goodwin, Hancock of New York, Hartley, Higgins of Connecticut, Hollister, Lehlbach, McLean, Mapes, Merritt of Connecticut, Millard, Perkins, Rich, Rogers of Massachusetts, Snell, Taber. Tinkham, Tobey, Treadway, Wadsworth, Wiggles worth, Plumley.

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OFFICIAL WEATHER t’wltcd State* Weather Bureau __ Sunrise 7:07 Sunset 4:39 TEMPERATURE Jan. 10. 1933 7 a. m 43 1 p. 39 —Today—la. m ....... it a. m 30 7 a. m 2fi il a. m 33 3 a. m 56 12 (Noon) :>i 9 a. m 23 1 p. m 34 9 a. 23 BAROMETER 7 a. m 29.99 1 p. m 29.95 Precipitation 24 hrs. ending 7 a. m... .00 Total precipitation since Jan. 1 0 52 Deficiency since Jan. 1 59 OTHER CITIES AT 7 A. M. Station. Weather. Bar. Temp. Amarillo. Tex Cloudy 29 86 44 Bismarck. N. D. ... Snow 29 64 20 Boston Cloudy 29 44 38 Chicago Clear 29.92 18 ■ Cincinnati PtCldy 30 00 28 Denver Clear 29.80 40 Dodge City. Kas. ...Clear 29.86 24 Helena, Mont Snow 29 76 36 Jacksonville, Fla. ...Clear 30.08 50 Kansas City. Mo. ...Cloudy 29.84 28 Little Rock, Ark. .. Cloudy 29 48 34 Los Angeles Cloudv 30.10 54 Miami. Fla PtCldy 30 04 66 Minneapolis Cloudy 29 84 10 Mobile. Ala Clear 30.08 48 New Orleans PtCldv 30 06 50 New York PtCldy 29 68 40 Okla. Citv. Okla Cloudy 29 72 42 Omaha. Neb Cloudy 29 82 26 Pittsburgh Rain 29 88 30 ' Portland. Ore Rain 29.62 48 San Antonio. Tex. ..Clear 29.96 50 San Francisco Rain 29.94 56 St. Louis Cloudy 29 96 36 Tampa. Fla Cloudy 30.04 62 Washington. D. C... PtCldy 29 80 38

BUREAU BACKED IN U PLAN Independents Pledge Support for Establishing One Co-Operative Here. Ralph Poulton, Independent Milk Producers manager, today pledged his co-operative to a course suggested by the Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc., that looks to the establishment of one large co-operative in Indianapolis instead of three as at present. He was the only co-operative executive who made any overture to the Bureau. Clark Hedges, Indianapolis Dairymen Co-Operative manager, refused to comment, and J. D. Littleton, Indianapolis Dairy Products, expressed nothing but amazement at the proposal. The proposal, passed by the bureaus board of directors, is that administrative and managerial officials of three co-operatives resign and open the way for formation of a single marketing unit for the producers. Meanwhile, it was announced by the State Milk Control Board that there has been no decision on the proposal of Al. Feeney, local milk shed administrator, that a surplus in the check fund be disbursed to unorganized farmers who paid it. The board representative said it had not yet had a chance to get a ruling on the matter from its counsel. WOMAN INJURED AS CAR HITS ABUTMENT Husband Charged With Driving Aut4> While Intoxicated. Mrs. Hildred Potts, 1501 E. Maple Road-blvd, wife of Wallace S. Potts, manager of a livestock firm, is recovering today from injuries received in an automobile accident last night. Driven by Mr. Potts, their car struck an abutment of the Belt Railroad at E. Michigan-st and the impact threw her against the car frame knocking out all her teeth. She was taken to City Hospital. Mr. Potts was arrested and charged with drunkenness and driving while intoxicated.