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¦WWWWWWWfWWi THE FAVORITE t SUNDAY NEWSPAPER IN MORE THAN 18,000 HOMES SUNDAY INDEPENDENT LEASED V/IRE TELEGRAPH REPORT TO 3 A. M. SUNDAY m» "WWl Tt'i THE WEATHER Washington, Dec. 9.—Eiistem Penna.: Rain or snow Sunday and Sunday night, probably followed by clearing and colder Monday. FORTY-EIGHT PAGES Entered at Wilkes-Darre, Pa., as Second Class Mail Matter WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, DEC. 10,1922 The Only Sunday Newspaper Published in Luzeme County PRICE EIGHT CENTS •powder blast costs 5 LIVES, $200,000 LOSS; WEST SIDE MINERS END PARALYZING STRIKE WOMEN BATTLE IN LOVE Wife Of Governor Russell ^ Defends His Reputation Against Charges Of Girl ALWAYS WITH HIM % \ Accused By Secretary Who Says Mississippi Executive Brought Her Moral Ruin SUES FOR $100,000 Oxford, Miss.. Dec 9.—Two women Iiattled in court here to-day over the good name and fortune of Governor Leo M. Kusstll, of Mississippi. Ono was the wifr. "fli-st lady " of tho State, sobbing bitterly as sho defended her husUmd from the charge that he be- tiiiytd Miss Kniticcs Hirkheud. The otliir was Miss Uirkheud herself, pInintifT In a |100,000 danuigo suit, culm, collected, haughty as she foiled every attempt ot tho defense lo black¬ en her character. The conflict between the two women' —ono claiming hor lifo had been wn>ckc<l by tin.- wiles ot a man in high position, tho other a middle-aged, grief-.stiiikon wife,—thrilled a crowd «if sen.siituui seekers, who packed tho Fed-'iul court room. Tho contrast tx-twocn tho women wns ^t^iIung,—ML-^.s Blrkhead complete nibtn:.i ot the situation, Mrs. Rus- bcli uuable to control her bobs. Mrs. Ku.sscU took the stand to de¬ ny that lit r buxbiind had any oppor¬ tunity to seduce Miss Ulrkhcad, as the latter alleges. Sho told of befriending the girl who asks damages and seeks to blast Gov¬ ernor llu.ssell's reputation. Tbo frioiiil.shlp was rep:ild by de¬ ceit and intrigue, shu chargys, whilo Mi£.'! Uirkbca<l relates bcr version of the age-old storj- of a wolf b\ sheep's clotliiag. Through It all Governor Russell, tbe etonn center, t-.it attentive, but un- niuvcd. Friends In Need Mrs. Rus.sell was taken over the w lidle couisc of the cuiio by attorney >. Khe ipiielly told how she and her buslxiud befriended Miss Ulrkhcad fullowlng an alleged seduction by Dr. Henry Itosworth, .-up. rinlendent ot tho State Tuberculosis Hospital, taking her bito iheir home and Kiving her cmploymeut as lOissel's .secretary, to "lulp her lead a straight life." Tho "flrst lady" sobbed before the gaping Court ri>om throng na the op¬ posing counsel sou;:lit to force con- I'es.sion of improprieties of Govemor Kussi'U. "It was impossible," the quiet little woman repln'il to a question whether It "vaa true t'lat tin- State executive had "ki.sseil Mi.ss iJirkhcud often as he left her." "Wo were together most of tho time —all three ot tis," sho sobbed. "They were seldoni alone." Will n sill! became composed, Mr.s. Rus-sell denieil authenticity of a "merry note" which Miss Birkhead's attorneys rl.iinieil was written by Ru.--sell anil .sliowtnl knowledtro of the girl's alleged condii ion." 'I'lircats I |Min Life Tbe "M" iu tho smnaturo was un¬ like Uu.sselTs, sho insi.-<te«l. In tearful voieo she told of her fears for her husband's lite as .1 result of the suit, .vuylag veiled threats had been received. Miss r.irkhead took Mrs. Rus.soll's placo in the witne.ss chair in rebuttal and cate^^orically denied every rollec- tlon on her name. Displaying a. brilliant memory, she recalled imrtions of previous testi¬ mony .ind ;!tto:npted to convince the aiaid Jurors that the counter charges wero false. tshe weat into dcbiil concerning the defense's charge that "sho was drunk n;i*t kicked up her heels" at a diincc ii< ir Yazoo City. Instead of falling to llll' floor in a stupor, sho insistetf she had been srizi»<l by a fainting spell •nd she laughed lightly at insinua- tlnos that sho had left the hall at fre¬ quent intervals with various partners. Second Girl Dies In Gasoline Fire Shitloy Mayer, 16 years old, died Jato ye:;terday In City Hospital from burns received in an explosion of gasolinj at the home of Abra¬ ham Hyman, 222 Lincoln street. Sho was the second person to die in the tragedy. The first death oc¬ curred Thursday night when Shir¬ ley Hyman, three years old, suc¬ cumbed to burn.s. .\ third victim is in a critical condition at City Hos- Iiital. The two deaths were caused by an explosion at the Hym.in home Thursday aftemoon. Stella Woikas, a servant, struck a match over a pail of gasoline used for some cleaning work in an upstairs room. The lighted tip of tbi m.itcU dropped into the gasoline. When the liquiil flared ui), the Woikas Kill was wrapped in flames. Her screams brought Miss Mayer who attompted a fescue. In her own efforts to .save tho other girl, ^liss Mayor was burned. The excite¬ ment attracted the Hyman young¬ .ster whoso clothing caught fire from tho blazing garments ot the two girls. All were taken to City Hospital. The Hyman child dieil si'veral hours later. The funeral was held Friday. Miss Mayer was considered lo.ss seriously bumed than tho Woikas girl, but she suf¬ fered a rel.ipsc and diod at 4:45 o'clock yestenlay afternoon. OF ALL AMERICA IS HAN PLEA Reform Bureau Starts Cam¬ paign On Movies,Dry Laws And Sunday Games DEMAND MORE LAWS MKS. EI.IZ.\I5FTH ROtiKRS Mni. Kli7.;ibeth Koj;iT.s Sl years old. died at mulniRht Friday at tbo home pf hor brother-in-law, tJeorKO N. Mac- Mtillen. 1.", IVlawarc avenue, Wc.^t ritt.ston, following a brief Illness of heart trouble. Ono sister, Mrs. Charles W. Copp, of P.eaduig is the only sur¬ vivor. The funeial will Ito held Mon¬ day aftenuvin at 2 o'clock from the MaeMullen homo. Services will be in «hargo of Rov. Clark Callender of the West Pitt.ston M. thodist Episcopal Church. Uurial will be made In West I'lttston Cemetery'. PLYMOUTH BOY HIT BY MOTOR MAY DIE Washington, Dec. 9.—A vigorous IcglsLatlvo campaign to elevate and purify American morals was launched here today following tho close of the flrst day's session of the annual meet¬ ing of the International Reform Bureau. Gambling, horse racing, laxity In prohibltldo. onforcemcnt, "unclean* motion pictures, general Immorality and obscenity, and Sunday amuse¬ ments, all were attacked at today's .session, tho speakers for the most part being Senators and Representa¬ tives. ' Senator Sterling spoke again.st transmission of racing information by mail, telegraph, telephone or radio. Senator, Myers urged drastic movie censorship. Representative Up.shaw of Georgia and Kolly of Pennsylvania discussed prohibition enforcement. Tho reform bureau announced Its intention of "cleaning up America." Supt. Wilbur F. Crafts stated that the main purpose of this annual meet¬ ing Is to bring together Senators and Congressmen, who are leaders ot moral reform on the Inside, and the officers of thoso reform societies on tho "outside through which public sentiment is rallied to the support ot the bills which they introduce." Injection into the country of a now "Puritanism" is the ultimate goal of the reformers. "I'^uritanism," declared Secretary Franco of the Boston Watch and Wonl Society, "socks by legal means to suppress corrupting agencies. It demands that the crimes of vice shall bo put on a par with crimes of vio¬ lence. The particular corrupting agencies, which need to be fought hardest, .iro tho vices which center around tbe throe words—luck, lust and letho.—that is, gambling, im¬ morality, and dope." Senntor Myers of Montana attacked tho motion picture industry. "We certainly noed censorship of motion pictures." he .said. "Tho ap¬ pointment of Will H. Hays as hoad of tho industry has proliably worked some improvement, bocmso Mr. Hays is a shrewd man and ho .saw the gath¬ ering storm of public sentiment. How¬ ever, the wicked fleo when no man pursueth, but thoy vani.sh from sight a whole lot quicker when the Inter¬ national Reform Bureau ta after tbem." Enforcement of the Prohibition laws was tbe theme of an address by ^Vn,•^tor Willis of (.>hio, whieh was road to the convention. This ques¬ tion. Willis stated, "is the mos; EXTEND MINERS PEACE Operators Must Open Books To Show Truth About Both Wages And Profits >r HARDING'S POLICY President And Advisers Take Early Action To Save Coal Industry From Strike LEGISLATIVE HELPS Washlngrton, Dec. 9.—The adminis¬ tration today took a vigorous step de¬ signed to avert a paralyzing coal strike next year, .^t the personal re¬ quest of President Harding, Repre¬ sentative Winslow, Republican, Mas¬ sachusetts, today introduced a reso¬ lution in tho Hou.so vesting the United States Coal Commission with power to compel coal operators to open their books for inspection. This power wiil enable the commis¬ sion to determino whether coal operators are making alleged exor¬ bitant protlts, and whether thiy can uffoW to pay higher wages to nnners. This is the second step by the gov¬ ernment to head oft the possibility of another striko of 80,000 coal miners through the collapse of the recent operators-miners conference at Chi¬ cago. Yesterday John Hays Ham¬ mond, noted engineer and chairman of tho Coal Commission, extended an official invitation for the operators' and miners' officials to appear before the Commission within the next few- days to determine whether the points of difference cannot be smoothed out amicably. Hammond stated that he regards the situation as "precarious." He pointed out that, as the result of the lenjjthy coal siriko this year, industry in generai was threatened by para¬ lysis; that many plants were forced to curtail production or shut down al- t(mother, and that even now Tltmse- holdor.s are suffering for lack of an¬ thracite coal. Ellis H. Soarlcs, editor of the United Mine Workers Journal and ofTiciai spokesman for the Not Kidnapped; Only An Eloper Jlissing for two day.s, Julia Lom- Ijurdi. 16 years old, of Browntown. and Leonard Ford, 23 years old, of South Main street, Pitt.ston, re¬ turned to their homes yesterday with the explanation that they had spent their time in Kingston and Wllkes-Barre. Police of Pitt.ston declared last night th.at-« marriage ceremony will be performed in this city tomorrow. The disappearance of the Lombardi girl from her home led her parents to report that sho had been kidnapped. They declared she had been abducted In a taxicab. Efforts to trace the couplo were futila While tho police were looking for them, the girl and Ford walked Into their homes yesterday afternoon. Thoy were escorted to police headquarters, but after being questioned by Chief Leo Tierney they were pormittetl to go home. IE ENTER DEATH PACT Execution Of Leaders Will Be Followed By Reprisals Against The Free Staters TO SHOOT AT SIGHT Dublin, Dec. 9.—Ireland tonight prepared for a "war to the death" he¬ tween Freo State forces and the Re¬ publican insurgents. Whilo the pub¬ lic was still stunned by the "eye for an eyo" executions ot "Rory" O'Connor and othor rebel leaders, full signifi¬ cance of the insurgent manifesto that "we will flght to tho last man" was realized. Tho Freo Stato government moved carefully, cautious to combat a men¬ ace that strikes from points least ex¬ pected.—the death dealing raids by tho De ValoraLsts rebels. Deputies of tho new Irish parliament, cabinet mem¬ bers and the executive officers of the Free State, were guarded by closely cordoned troops, with bayonets fixed and with orders to shoot to kill. Tho irregular leaderaC from their hiding places, let it be known that at¬ tacks will continue on the govern¬ ment and Its forces. This was as it in ansv.er to the threat of more cxecu- ..... ^v.. ...V, United j tions by the Free State if tbc suerilla Mine Workers of America, believes i warfare is not stopped. Win.slow's bill would force the opera-j "Shoot them without a trial I" was tors to admit huge i)iolits. IMblic'the cry from the Free State sympa- opinion then would operate to force j thizers, on the api)arent policy ot lower prices or bettor wage and forcing two rebels to face a flring working conditions, ho said. | squad for every one Free Stater shot. The Win.slow bill provides a penalty! of one year in jail and $5,000 fine for persons who refu.sc to give the in¬ formation requested by the Commis¬ sion. .Admini.stration leaders pledged I them.selves during the last coal strike I to make every effort to stabilize and ! bring peace to tho entire coal in- bold the public must have complete dustry. MARY DAVIS WINNER OF AUTO AT POLI'S Miss Mary D.avi.s. daughter of Goorge Davis ot 24.'; South Main street, is tho winner of the Overland automobile offered as first prize in the popularity contest conducted durinK the paiJt woek at Poll's theatre. The contest closed la.st night atter BCvcn million votes tiad been cast. Miss Ada Sharp was awarded second priie and was given a wrist watch. Other watches were presented to Miss Eleanor Strong and Mi.ss Hutter. Bracelets were awarded to twenty-flve remaining contestants. Imprisoned insurgents probably were most awed by this policy of ven¬ geance. Many huddled behind their bars, realizing that at any time acts of their own comrades may be tho cau.se of their being dragged out and shot, . Others openly nnd sneeringly defied their keepers, choosing to go to thoir deaths as martyrs to what they con¬ sider the just cause in Ireland's war of centuries. Martin Fitzgerald, Froe. State Sena¬ tor and proprietor ot tho Freem.in's Journal, is expected to defy the orders of the Irish Republican army to leavo Ireland. The rebel leaders sent word to Fitzgerald that he would bo slain it I he disobeyed the orders. This mark- ! ing of another man to be assassinated I by the "invtsiblc republic" warring on the visible government, substantiated the beliof tbat a series of killinsjs and retallationa are unavoidable. The warning to Fitzgerald was be¬ lieved in .some quarters to presage other similar ones to prominent Free Staters. The rebels plan a reign of terror by sending warnings and then shooting the marked victims down on tbe streets or in homos, it believod. It was in view of preventing .such a program as this that tbe govornmtnt strengthened its guards about .ill no¬ tables a' public buildin;,'s. Tha jails where su.iden sallies to frc> prisoneis aro feared, are al.so clo.sely wutchod. Free State troop.s, continuinjT their drive again.st R^ublican troop.s, re¬ captured Kenmaro. They .«:taged a successful "enveloping attack" from land and sea. BOY IS MOTOR VIGTIM Pitiful Accident On The West Side Crushes Out Life Of ^Little Movie Patron A FAMILY OF SORROW r 4,000 Union Men Return To Work Father A Patient At Retreat Hospital And Mother Too III To Know Truth MEETS INSTANT DEATH Thomas Corcoran, of 275 Popular stroet, h:>i%Uo wait until he was 31 years old and was happily married with a wife and t\vo children before he _ became acquainted with his mother. .serious problem in American history i I'>ut the approaching holidays will be nnd tho pre.sent disregard of the.se I all the merrier because of a happy re- tnws, is merely "feeding the fires of anarchy and Bolshevism." WILLIAM DONAHUE DIES OF PNEUMONIA Run down by an automobile In front of his heme last night Leonani Kar.ts, srven years old. son of Mr. .ind Mrs. Frank Karas of Bi» E;ist Main .¦nrcet, Plymouth, is in a serious condition in Mercy Hospital. He is suffering from intomai Injurii s. The boy w." struck by a Roo coupe d.-lveu by I; i>mond HanchcllT of Si>uth Main .'^iivet, Pittston. Sergeant 1 : tho l'l>niouth police, who 1 tho accident, carried the \Kiiiii ill the office of Dr. W.^C. Stiff und later tix)k him to the hospital. Henchcl.ff was released under $.^00 b.ail. Fn " tz was ijondsman. The mai : .•.•xling to tho police. IS owned by Si.aator P. F. Joyce of llttston. William Donahue, 38 years old, died yesterday morning of pneumonia at tho home of his sister, Mrs. Henry Tracy, 17 Searle street, Pittston. His illness Ijccame serious only on Wed¬ nesday. Mr. Donahue was tho son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Donahue, of Sebastopol. Some years ago he was considorod one of the leading amateur base ball pitchers in the State. He was a member of Holy Name Society of St. John's Church. The following brothers and sisters survive: Mrs. Henry Tracy, Alice: Joseph, an automobile salesman, and Helen Donahue, all of Pittston; Frank ot Newark. N. J., and Mrs. Frank Kearns. of Moscow. His funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock from the Tracy home. A requiem ma.ss will be cele¬ brateil at 9:30 in St. John's Church. Interment will be in St. John's Ceme¬ tery. union several days ago. The reunion occurred after Corcor¬ an and bis mother, Mrs. Charles B. Swingel of Dunmore, bad beer, separ¬ ated for practically thirty-one years. Incidentally, it revealed to the Io(fal man his own history for the first time. When John Boland of Scranton died, his wife and four children were force<l to separate because ot Kick of funds. At that time the present Thonws Corcoran, one of the sons, was three weeks old. With the other youngsters be w.as -sent to St. Joseph's liome In Scranton by his mother. A short time Later he was taken into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cor¬ coran of Bedford street. Forty Fort. He became a member of the family and assumed their name. It was only recently that he learn¬ ed his own storj-. Imniediately he be¬ gan n. search tor his mother. His ef¬ forts resulted in discovery of ber at Dunmore. Meanwhile his mother had lived in tho belief that he was dead. Some years ago, before her second marriage, she retumed to St. Joseph's Home for the children, but was in¬ formed that Thomas had died. When the mother mot her son sev¬ eral days ago she also met his wife 'and children. NON-PARTISAN LEAGUE APPEALS FOR MINERS Congressman-elect John J. Casey at the meeting of Non-Partisan Political League last night told of his recent trip to Washington where he attended a meeting of a group of congressmen and senators who term themselves "Progressives." Mr. Casey explained that tho men have not grouped to¬ gether for. the purpose of forming a third party but to work for the people who elected them and against special privileges. He said that one bill which will be introduced by a member of the group will call for an amendment to the Constitution calling for newly elpcted Congressional officers and I'resident j taking the oath of offico on the first! day of January and preventing the retiring Congress from meeting after! tbat date. -Another bill to \>c spon¬ sored by this group would eliminate • the electoral college system of elect- i insr a president. .V delegation representing the strik- i ing miners ot Lafayette and Wost- ¦ moroland counties made an appeal 1 for money and clothes for the striking' miners and their families, it was decided to help the miners in what¬ ever manner possible and to have the delegation confer with district presi¬ dents Brennan, Kennedy and Golden of United Mine Workers of America when they meet in this city on Mon¬ day. It is the plan to have the dis¬ trict presidents send letters to all local unions in their jurisdiction asking the members to donate clothes and money for the strikuxs miners. With his flngers tightly cla-spod aboui. eleven cents, the prico of admis¬ sion to an afternoon performance of a movio picture show, Wallace Kaza- kiewicz, thirteen years old, ot 830 North street, Luzerne Borough, was instantly killed by a passing auto¬ mobile driven by D. H. Millard of 416 Wyoming avenue, Kingston, yester¬ day afternoon on Main -street, Lu¬ zerno. The accident was witnessed by a largo number ot children who had congregated nexir thf movio picture theatre. On tho opposite side of the .street In a storo window was a buck deer that was shot by Luzeme gun¬ ners. It appears that Kazakiewicz's attontion was attracted by his com¬ panions who were admiring tho ani¬ mal. Suddenly he decided to join them and dirted across tho street directly in front ot tho advancing automobile. Death was Instantaneous. Ho was picked up and carried to the offico ot Dr. Marvin, who pronounced tho boy dead. D. H. Jlillard, who drove the car, stilted that he was driving in a care- ,ful manner and that his view of tho street was somewhat obstructed by a Buick car that was parked, and that tho boy pa.ssed this car which pre¬ vented him from seeing him until he wa.s struck. Ho stoppe<l the car and gave him.s<>lf up to Chief of Police Thomas Ford. He was given a hear¬ ing bofore Justice Blair la-st night and held under the sum of ono thousand dollars bail for a further hcaruig. I'articularly tragic is tho boy's death be<.auMe of the distressed condi¬ tion of tho family. The father is a patient at Retreat suffering from miners' asthma, and the mother is conflned to h"r bed in a serious con¬ dition. The shock of her son's death may prove fatal. Tho family has had only one girl working and she has of lato been staying homo to take care of the mother. Chief of Police Ford Is making In- ¦estigation ot the case and will en¬ deavor to find whether Millard was guilty of reckless driving. His future action will depend on an inquest which will be held in tho borough building by Thomas F. Barry, Depu¬ ty Coroner, on Tuesday evening. Considerable criticism is directed at tho public oHicials for not having an offlcer directing traflic on Main streot, Luzemo Borough, durin:? tho day. •nictically every Saturday in the icinity where the boy was struck, .crowds of youngsters g-.ither. The traffic that pa-sses over the street at this point is heavy. The chief of police Is on duty iu tho evening. This is the secoad fatal automobile accident that happened on the West Jlde during the past week. On Wednesday in Swoyerville Eddie Lewis, eight yoars old, son ot Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lew is ot Shoemaker street, was struck by a truck owned by the Fadden Ice Cream Company of Forty Foit. The accident happened directly in front of the boroush build¬ ing in tluit town. On Monday occurred a third fatality among youngoter-s. John Edwards, six years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Edwards, of 925 South Main street, Nanticoke, w;u in.stantly killed in front of his homo by a passing Ford car. Tho toll of automobile accidents among children is increasing to an alaraiing extent. Many of the au¬ thorities are passing the mo.st string¬ ent law3 to protect the highways, particularly in the vicinity of school.s. School zones in most boroughs are be¬ ing established. MUST HELP MOTHER IN PLYMOUTH CASE Pour thotisand miners will re¬ turn to w'ork tomorrow at six Larksville mines of the Hudson Coal Company after a strike last¬ ing nearly a week. The end of the tie-up was assured yesterday af¬ temoon through arrangements for an immediate conference between Supeiintendents Britton of the company and a committee of min¬ ers led by Chairman Richard Houlihan and District Presidenl William J. Brennan. The order to resume work was accepted by the miners after learning from their grievance committee that the com¬ pany is willing to meet tho mon. Following Friday night's meeting when the strikers refused to end the suspension. President Brennan communicated with Hudson offi¬ cials. It was agreed that a con- fer<>nce for the puritose ot deciding various questions of tho strike will he held tomorrow morning imme¬ diately after No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 mines as well as the Boston mine swing into opera¬ tion. Besides Chairman Houlihan, tho miners' grievance committee is composed ot Daniel Blaine, David Evans, Jacob Gomelko and John Cook. The .strike went into gen¬ eral effect last Tuesday morning although men at tho Boston mine had quit work several days prior to that time. T E ASEAMIirOFIG E But Old Man Must Not Inter¬ fere With Children's New Ideas On Life AGREES TO TERMS •New York, Dec. 9—After a week of anxious waiting and worry, sick of loneliness, broken and despondent, Bcngt Carl.son late this aftemoon met a member of tho family of ten which deserted him and arranged a reconcil¬ iation ot sorts. The meeting was superintended by a friend and took place in a small hotol room. The old man, trembling from excitement and joy at the prospect of onco more see¬ ing the wife, children and grand¬ children who left him, bag and bag¬ gage, while he slept, was mot, not with the warm affection which he ex¬ pected, but with a propo.sition, an offer. Ho was told that ho mu.st not Inter¬ fere in tho affairs of tho children he loved, the sons and daughters that for years he had been trying to protect from what ho thought the wrong paths and tho wrong ways of lifo. Ho was told that he was old, that his ideaa wero old and that people 'in this generation must have more liberty to do as" they wish. He discovered , that what he had considered affectionate protection and tender caro, was thought by those who received it to bo merely Interfer¬ ence; it annoyed them. And so Bengt Carlson promlsc<l that he would Interfere no more. He prom- isoil to alfow his children to do as they wish. He would be merely an on¬ looker, watching from the outside the life of his family. -And in return for this his family will como back to him . But that is enough* for him. The pretence in tho house of "the wife and children he has loved for so many years will sufl^ce, happy again. Bengt Calrson ts IS; PLANT WIPED OUT IN DREAD TRAGEDY BY MYSTERY FIRE Death Visits One Home Second Time In Week. Eye Witnesses Give Vivid Account Of Incidents That Attend Horror At Mill Of Black Diamond Company WILL CLOSE MILL SIX MONTHS j^ Property loss amounting to $200,000 was caused yesterday by the explosion which wrecked the plant of the Black Diamond Powder Company at Suscon, Pittston Township, resulting in the deaths of five persons and injury to five others. John B. Wallis of Ashley, general sales agent for the company, estimated the monetary loss last night after returning from an investigation of the havoc wrought by the explosion of 3,500 kegs of black powder v.'hich besides can-T^'ing death and injury, did heavy damage to all nearby buildings. He declared that it wiil lbe six months before the company, controlled by Jocal capital, can re¬ sume operations. An inquest will be )ield in Pittston City Hall during the present week, Deputy Coroner C. E. Howell of that city an¬ nounced. The exact time of the probe has not been determined by him. Several v.itnesses who claim fire preceded the terrific blast, will be callc^. Five Lose Lives The dead: Frank Garren, 40, manied. Plane street, Ash¬ ley. Survived by a wife and seven children. Pwalph Brumm, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Erumm, 180 William street, Pittston. His father is superintendent of the plant. . William Wright, 28, married of Suscon. Survived by a wife and two children. Raymond Schlaugh, 26, single, of Suscon. Sebastian Fabian, 24, married, of i?uscon. wife in Europe. The injured: Edith Mathen, 20, of Suscon. bris while at her desk in the company office. Hayden Francis, 30, of West Avoca, Suffering from juries to his eye. Mrs. Harry Sherwood, 45, of Suscon. Injured while at her home. Walter Hutmaker, 30, of Suscon. Covered by debris while standing at a point about 200 feet from the explosion. Sidney Warner, 30, of Suscon. Sti"uck by debris. Meet Instant Death All of the dead were instantly killed with the exception of Fabian who died about 1 o'clock yesterday aftemoon in Pittston Hospital. Following the explosion he was found at the edge of the territory covered by the plant with the clothing almost en¬ tirely torn from his body which was completely covered by bums. Garren, of Ashley, employed as a tnick driver, had arrived at the plant a short time before the fatal blast and was assist¬ ing in the loading of his tmck at the time of his death. Bmmm, who was employed at the plant only on Saturday, was killed instantly and it is said that his head was blown from his body .by the force of the explosion. Wright and Schlaugh were in the glazing houst: when the explosion occurred and when found their bodies were terribly mangled. Hutmaker, one of the Injured men, I ground had been consumed by flame.s. Survived by Stmck by de- m- waa blown a distance of thirty feet by the forco of the explosion but escaped with minor bruises. Miss Mathen was thrown from a chair on which sho wasi sitting at her desk and for a time it was thought that her .skul had been fractured. Mrs. Sherwood, proprietre.ss of a boaailing house near the scene of the explosion, was injured by flying glass and her husb.and, who is bedfast with typhoid fever, is reported as suffering considerably from shock. Two eye witnesses last night gave graphic descriptions of the .scenes during tho explosion and the incidents th.-it followed. One of these was F W. Haltzcll, of Suscon, foreman at the plant, and the other was Hutmaker, one Of the injured. Eye-Witness Stories Haltzell had Just left the company office. He was 100 yards distant from; jj'e and his wife the glazing mill when he saw alj^onth.s' old .son. Everywhere thero appeared black¬ ened, twisted powder cans originally containing the explosive. Mr. Wallaco and other oflicials of the company declared last night that they have l)een unable to determino the cau.se of the fire prior to the ex¬ plosion. It is believed, however, that a spark from machinery or friction In tho powder rollers set off tho gigantic loree. In one ot the build¬ ings metal barrels that continually re¬ volve aro used In tho preparation of powder and thc-^e may have caused bparks to lly. it was .said. A.1iictetl iiomes Aside from the deaths of the flve men, there were a number of otber circumstances thut added to the sense of tragedy, ii.in'on, the Ashley vic¬ tim, met I'cath' ju.st two days after had hurried .a five Tho funeral of tho Philip Stein, of liymouth, was scored in domestic relations court by Judge Jones yesterday for failing to contribute to the support of his mother and was held under $?00 bail to pay her %j a month. Atter. he realized that the alternative was a term in jail Stein agreed to pay. It sooms that the aged woman is residing with hor son-in-law, Richard James, of Plymouth, and she a.sked her other childre»n to give something for her support. -Another son, Fred Stein, agreed to pay $2.50 a month, j and that was accepted by tho court i because he had a wife and nine chil-: dren. It w-as alleged that Philip has j no children and operated an automo-'. bile and the court held that he wasj able to pay J5 a month. The judge pointed out that the de¬ fendants owed much to their mother and that they should be the first to go to her aid and assistance. > Edward Stormer, of Miner's Mills, who appeared before Judge Jones, as the defendant in a non-support case, i chose a jail sentence in preiextnce to: suprortiug his wife and smail child, i Attomey James H. Shea of East South street was robbed of $4,600 In uxsh and checks in Scranton •>ester- aay aftemoon by a pick pocket whilo •boarding a Laurel Lino train bound for Wilkcs-Barre. Police ot Scranton arrested a suspect who admitted be¬ ing a resident of this city but refuJsed to givo his name. As ho climlx-d on the 4:10 o'clock express at tne Scranton terminal, Mr. Shea was jostled by a stranger. He did not realize his lo.ss until the train had started. The only cash mi.ssed by him was $100. Include*! tongue of flame leap up. Instantly i youngster was held from their home there was a deafening roar as tons of! last Thursday. Tbe infant died of powder ignited. The air was tilled I ,^.}io„ping cough. with smoke but through it he could ^he widow of Wright, a Suacon see flaming debris and the bodies ot j resident, was i;,'norant of her hus- a couple of the dead who were rock- bund's death for nearly two houra. eted out of the building. With her daughter the woman was Hutmaker was about the same dis-! ^niong the first residents of the settle- tance away from the scene of the ex- ; ment to rush to the plaht. When sho plosion when the glazing mill went' could not fln.l her hu.sband. ahe was up a second ahead of the doing| told by someone that he was engaged house, the packing house and the wheel mill. He also s.'iw the mys¬ terious flame leap into the air. Tvvo explosions occurred, he said, but thoy were so close together they sounded as one. The tlrst blast, which occurred as the glazing house was blown to pieces, left him stand¬ ing, but the second and more power¬ ful concussion bowled him over. Be¬ fore he could regain his feet he had been knocked unconscious by falling debris. Besides the four buildings de- with it was a check in the amount of Lstroyed. other units of the plant suf- $4,300 m.ide pay.ible to Sheriff John fered heavy damage. The niachine MacLuskIa Other checks were those shop constructed of sheet metal, a ot tho Second National Bank, the Heights. Depo.s-t Bank and tho Ed¬ wardsville Bank. One was mfide out to City Solicitor Charles F. McHu=rh and another was by Thomas Callahan, real estate man of Swoyerville. Mr. Shea reported his losa lo police here w^bo notilled Scranton authori¬ ties. Announcement came from that city last night that an alleged pick pocket had been arrested at tho Park Theatre atter robbing John L. Beratti of Ka.st Rutherford, N. J., tempor¬ arily residing at 302 Spruce avenue, Scranton, _of $9. An alleged accom¬ plice escaped. David Perwine, another Scranton resident, reported he had been picked. Banks ot this city were noticed yesterday that a $10 counterfeit bill had been cashed at Ziegler's storo on North Main street. Federal In.spector Schrador of Scranton began un in¬ vestigation. in rescue work. Some time later sho followed his body to the morgtie of Deputy Coroner Howell in Pittston. Slaugh, another ot the instantly killed, was a former service man. When he retumed home after serrlce in France he was accompanied by a war bride but she later returned to Europe. Garren'9 bo<]y was taken to his home in Ashley la.st night. His fu¬ neral will be held tomorrow or Tues¬ day. Besides his wife seven chlldrea survive. The funeral of Brunatn, son of tho superintendent, will lie held Tuesjlay afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from tho garage and a big storage house, were i j,ome of. his parents in I'ittston. Ser- rocked and partly demolished by the shock. .\ score of other employees Immedi¬ ately assumed the work of rescue. Every available telephone line was worked to summon physicians and nurse.s from Pittston and vicinity. Rev. Charles Murray and Rev. T. C. White, Catholic clergymen, and Rev. J. M. Hempstead, a Methodl.st minis- vices will be conducted by Rev. A. D. I>ecker of Methodist Episcopal Cliurch. Interment wili bo in West Pitt.stjJn. The bodies of the other victims v/ere claimed by relatives who had not decided last night as to the timo of burial. Local capital was heavily Invested in the Black Diamond Powder Com- ter, raced to Suscon in automobiles pany. E. B. Brumm of Pittston, l)e- to give spiritual aid. They also helped tbe injured. These people and others wh* flocked to ihe little mountain settlement were met by scenes ot utter desolation. Houses a half mile away showed ¦broken windows. Treea had been cut off at their roots as if by an ax. ¦Where thr^ of the destroyed build ings stood, only their sides being superintendent was also president and treasurer of the com¬ pany. H. C. Hoover of West Pitts¬ ton was secretary. SLIGHT FIRE E.\TINGl HHED Company No. 4 was cuHed to tho home of Mrs. William Hersbbergcr ! shortly after noon yestenlay, where a foundation.s i slight Arc bad slurted in u chimney. were visible. Timbers had been blown I The blaze wus cxtingulsbed without into the air and after Ucndins on tho' the hoiu of flremen. »tJ«;^i .v«? jBc^sx .¦.¦?ic.x;w3«i9ii^a
Object Description
Title | Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent |
Masthead | Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent |
Date | 1922-12-10 |
Month | 12 |
Day | 10 |
Year | 1922 |
Publisher | Wilkes-Barre Independent Company |
Coverage | United States, Pennsylvania, Luzerne County, Wilkes-Barre |
Type | Sunday Newspaper |
Source | Microfilm |
Format | tiff |
Subject | Wilkes Barre PA Sunday Newspaper |
Description | An archive of the Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent newspaper. |
Rights | Public Domain |
Description
Title | Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent |
Masthead | Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent |
Date | 1922-12-10 |
Month | 12 |
Day | 10 |
Year | 1922 |
Publisher | Wilkes-Barre Independent Company |
Coverage | United States, Pennsylvania, Luzerne County, Wilkes-Barre |
Type | Sunday Newspaper |
Source | Microfilm |
Format | tiff |
Subject | Wilkes Barre PA Sunday Newspaper |
Description | An archive of the Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent newspaper. |
Rights | Public Domain |
Sequence | 1 |
Page | 1 |
Technical Metadata | Image was scanned by OCLC at the Preservation Service Center in Bethlehem, PA. Archival Image is an 8-bit greyscale tiff that was scanned from microfilm at 300 dpi. The original file size was 44240 kilobytes. |
FileName | 19221210_001.tif |
Date Digital | 2008-04-26 |
FullText |
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THE FAVORITE
t
SUNDAY NEWSPAPER
IN MORE THAN
18,000 HOMES
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
LEASED V/IRE TELEGRAPH REPORT TO 3 A. M. SUNDAY
m» "WWl Tt'i
THE WEATHER
Washington, Dec. 9.—Eiistem Penna.: Rain or snow Sunday and Sunday night, probably followed by clearing and colder Monday.
FORTY-EIGHT PAGES
Entered at Wilkes-Darre, Pa., as Second Class Mail Matter
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, DEC. 10,1922
The Only Sunday Newspaper Published in Luzeme County
PRICE EIGHT CENTS
•powder blast costs 5 LIVES, $200,000 LOSS;
WEST SIDE MINERS END PARALYZING STRIKE
WOMEN BATTLE IN LOVE
Wife Of Governor Russell ^ Defends His Reputation Against Charges Of Girl
ALWAYS WITH HIM
%
\
Accused By Secretary Who Says Mississippi Executive Brought Her Moral Ruin
SUES FOR $100,000
Oxford, Miss.. Dec 9.—Two women Iiattled in court here to-day over the good name and fortune of Governor Leo M. Kusstll, of Mississippi. Ono was the wifr. "fli-st lady " of tho State, sobbing bitterly as sho defended her husUmd from the charge that he be- tiiiytd Miss Kniticcs Hirkheud. The otliir was Miss Uirkheud herself, pInintifT In a |100,000 danuigo suit, culm, collected, haughty as she foiled every attempt ot tho defense lo black¬ en her character.
The conflict between the two women' —ono claiming hor lifo had been wn>ckc |
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