fcM V m mm' W IIO m "p j ii $, 4vv jyjiurir and coo)oHe1t and Tuesday gentle varflMfr Vvs Becoming northwest. KK EXTRA tMTEV.'VIU'tK Al KAUI HOUR Tftioliuiizi i 21 a-4fn 7trt7in7ry7oTtoTroT7oi r m 4 VOL. 'VII NO. 310 T""' Ent.red a ffewnd-CUiii Matt.r at tb foftofflcfl M ruilad.lphU. P.. Under th Act of March 8. 1870 PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1921 ruillbd Dallr Kxept Bunday. Bubwrlptlon rrl; in a Tear by Mall. Copyright. 1021. by Public dier Company PRICE TWO CENT!'" ? HI KLUX KLAM BREWING RACIAL AND REUG10US HATE Whiw-Robed Terror Spawning Perilous Doctrines of Prejudice Throughout the Nation uenura r w $? n$ " kr k IffiHE EMPIRE". HAS FflfllHOLD M If $5,000,000 Milked From Coffers of Emperor Proselyting in OUTRAGES AGAINST MEN LAID AT hnnermost Mysteries of Order SEES CONTROL OF COURTS Ritual find Propaganda Work, Despite Boast , of Well-Camouflaged Headquarters rAT IS TUB KU tt.LiU.fi. JvuUN i How 1ms it expanded from thirty-four charter members to a mem- ,7 . -e .,. Ui KflfV-finri in five & iiersmp oi hiuiu --...... - ., . h How have its "domains" and "realms" and "klans" been extended to forty-fivo States in.1 the Union, every State but Montana, Utah and New V, Hampshire? What arc t;ho possibilities of an order that preaches racial and ' religious hatred of the Jew and the Koman Catholic, of the Negro and ; the citizen of alien birth ? i What are tho possibilities of a secret organization that practices Y censorship of private conduct behind tho midnight anonymity of mask f 'anil robe, and with weapons of whips and tar and feathers? ', " What ought to be done about an order whoso members arc not in- itiated, but "naturalized," whoso oaths bind them to obedience to an '"Emperor," self-proclaimed and chosen for life? . What ought to be dono about an organization with such objects and methods, when its paid propagators work first among oflkcrs of the courts and police department? 'What ought to be dono i. BMohfto obedienco to an "Emperor," an order which peddles bigotry and irK hatred among the officers on tho reserve lists of tho military and 1, iiml forces of tho United States? ST" investigation of the" Ku Klux Klan which required thrco months triii covered the cntiro United States enables the Evening Public Ledger to rip away the veil from the Klan's inmost secrets, to expose tho mum meries of its ritual, the stream of gold pouring into tho "Imperial Palace" from hundreds of thousands of dupes and tho outrages com mitted by mobs wearing tho regalia of tho Klan. Photographic copies of tho Klan's ritual, of letters obtained from the "insido" of the Tjrder and views of "naturalizations" in halls and woodlands will be shown by tho Evening Pubuo Ledger. Tho "Invisiblo Empire" of tho Ku Klux Klan was called a dangerous public menace by a war veteran and former official of tho order who wroto a blistering letter of withdrawal to tho "Emperor" when ho discovered Jthe true naturo of the Klan. The letter is given fully in this opening article of tho series. To provide a background by which the reader will bo better able to, appreciate the. details of tho order's secrets it is necessary to tell -when and by whom it ,was founded. FORMER KLAN OFFICIAL "EMPEROR" LrpHB -Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Inc., were organized October 20, 1015, in Atlanta, Gn.. by William' Joseph Simmons, who at one period of lili life bad been nn itinerant Mrtho olit exhorter; at another, professor of Southern history at Lanier University, mail, newly organized institution in Atlanta, and nt htiU another a solicitor of members for the Woodmen of the World. Now the organization i active In every State of the Union but three. It has a membership of more than E00.0OO of 050,000, aecordiDg to the koasts of ita leaders. v When it was, organized it was di 'Kted against the Negro. Now the Negro has become a side issue. Today It is primarily antl-Jcw, anti-Catholic, anti-alien, and it is spreading more taan twice as fast through tho North and West as it Is growing in tho South. How has it managed to spread out ' widely and rupldly? Appeal to Itnco Ilulrcil First, by appeals to local or sectional prejudices and hatreds. On tho I'acinV wast it has beckoned to .Taponhobe " wnitpercd in their earn that the Wllow man is plotting (o incite tl Hack ninn I.. A. I ... l..- i... ftl. ,'& ,nan- Ia t!'o plti,H of tl" Jjentral Vest It lias pretended to devoir f. i.1!0 stBIPi'tC out radicalism. On ti A,VanVe Con8t il naf Preached that ik. 'len-born man or woman, even mongh naturalized, has no placo in America. Everywhere it haB banned s.Iu. m membership and made nnti mitism one of its many missions. Merywlicrc, nlso, no less positively but t,,v..? ,f,rankly. " ImH barred and nt ti .1,lomnu Catholics. -Wherever n SCtiT?. mcmbcr "ves. ho has been Promised that his ft aversion will bo n.Jm, ob.Jcct of K,n nation. emnWm.' tn. ""T lu 8rowtl t0 the fminent, of a ,arR "mbcr of pro n .n . l 8"lc"Je. who net the country 'MdS.Ui!'t0udale.sn,('8 organization und jwuj memberships on a basis of S4 for ffi??bcr tak" int0 'ho klan. ucm paid nrirnn ,npu .- i.-li... i t n6 iBitT-".i.. ;LwN":fc"h':;' "' lnmk. ",""" jcot, out eucn new Bek iu'i'i" a, d.0"tlon" of $10, of U.TLP1,6 ?,CflF teeps $1 and sends tf MM th?phtl K .1? Klffl8!C', Who pock- C ','' ,ih,J remaining ?5 xan 8Sh2 & ' ln'l'erinl" treasury of orni i,. Furth'uro, the Klan itself Nttlls iMnu'Pany. mnnufacturliis the Sjnua, which Is sold to the members for gW nd rout $1.25 to make. The - .--.-.. .U..M. ,.i,Mb i tu li?:.Hi WUim la liAl.l l ,l.n ... - I VW'MMturu w w.6u inj -:r.;.v? "'"j?r -- IH.1. 7." s"w ."..- 10 make. 'the n-fc. -... .'Jrltln citxra l !---- viuiiajauon" department Is iu art wnmff rAwsno-tfu, " f - " nu uu unu umuvra, . LHtv. i A iiik j, . i m . mm m Tf-JiMrrmTHMMM,wi'il.irfm - Y VhifTfflirrtliYTt ' . - .w-l.M..:. . -- iijiu.mmumim.mtii---i m j--: : z.-&.. .-.". - - -.-..i 1. "- -W --v ,,. . , k, tf AAa-LA. 45 STATES 1 Pockets of Recruits Into and Chief Aides. Philadelphia AND WOMEN DOORS OF ORGANIZATION Brought to Light in Expose of vonrn? about an organization demanding DENOUNCES IN QUITTING THE ORDER the hands of professional drive "leader. wlioso sole interest in Ku Kluxism is in the "split" just outlined. Profits Reach MilUons In tho last five years membership donations" and sales of regalia have yielded at least 55,000,000-probablv n considerably greater sum. Ku KIuxJiik from tho insido has been a paving enter prise, and it lucrativo possibilities have recently been increased by the decision to admit women as well as men to mem bership. Tho sisters can now como on in with the brothers at only $10 per como-on. ' Tho original Knights of the Ku'Klux Klan, Inc., modestly begun fivo yeurs ago, has become n r.ist. ontpmrUr. .'ii., a thriving business in the Bystcmatlc Pale of race hatred, religious bigotry and "100 per cent" nnti-Amerieanism. It has become and calls ittolf an "In visible Empire," ruled by an "emperor" and "imperial wizard,'' Colonel Sim mons, who is no moro legitimately a colonel than' ho 1 nn em peror or n wizard. Closely associated with him and making up tho triumvirate or "big Ihree" which controls its af fairs uro Edward Young riarkc, "impo rlal Klcaglc," a profesfiional publicity man and drivo promoter, and Clarko's business partner in tho management of tho Southern Publicity AsHoclation, ot Atlanta, Mrw. Elizabeth Tyler, who is the principal stockholder In tho Search light, a newspaper published in Atlanta ns tne organ of tho minement. Probcl In Forty Cities Driving n probo jnto tho heart of this widely ramified organlzution re quired investigations in more than forty cities, including Philadelphia. As ear nest as the inquiry was It could not have been successful without tho aid of certain persons who had knowledge of tho workings of the order such ns only "Insiders" can obtain, They wero, or had been. Klnnsmcu who joined in good fulth and were com pelled to withdraw becailso of tbo shock ing realities and potentialities revealed to them after they had passed insido tho "portals" of tho "Invisiblo Em pire." Chief among thrsu individuals was n man of well-established antecedents who joined the order and was Induced to tako mi active part in its propaga tion work. lor several months he fcrved as an ollicer and organizer of tho Klan. Then be saw the light and in a letter addressed to "Imperial Wizard" Simmons withdrew from his n: n...l f....n. ,Iia ..irnnl,, Hni rn. nun mm iivin tu .M., .......,. . pudiatlng on the griindsof patriot- oio fit, Column Unr TAKING OATH OF THE "INVISIBLE EMPIRE" Administering tho oath of tho Ku altcd Cyclops" is administering tho 1 BY PHILA. MEN Rotan Ready to Act as Soon as Official Complaint Is Filed With Himt POLICE WILL NOT PERMIT OUTRAGES BY "EMPIRE" Public officials and prominent lawyers of this city, ns well ns leaders of the various-groups which haro been declared anathema by tho Ku Klux Klan, are quick to denounce the purposes and the modus operandi ot that or ganization. The Klan, it is held, Is a menace not merely because it proposes a substitute for law and open courts, but because its wholo theory anil prnctico arc sub versive to the very principles on which tho American Government was founded. District Attorney Kotau: "I am op posed to unythlng against law nnd or der. Tho Negroes in this Stntc have ns much right to enjoy their liberties as the whites. I will look into thlh matter nt once. I nm merely waiting for a formal complaint against the so-calleu Klan." Director of Public Safety Cortelyou: "Wo don't need any Invisiblo Empire, or whatever it is, to direct tho destinies of our people. Our position In this mntter is that tho whole organization is directly opposed to the American scheme of government. Wo place tho detec tion of crime nnd the source of disorder in tho police forces of our communities. To permit n secret rrrdor to seize this power is to open tho way for grave abuses nnd for 'distinct mennces not only to individuals but tlie whole classes of our people. "No Intimidation" "Secret operation through intimida tion t ill not be tolerated, no mntter whether the operators call thcmselve llio Ku Klux Klan or something else. Tho claim that the order proposes Continued an Vase 8W. Column Mi COURIER CARRIES IRISH NOTE TO LLOYD GEORGE Dall Elrcann Sends Reply to Inver ness, Scotland Dublin. Sept. 12. (Uy A. P.) A courier of tho Dail Elrcann left Dublin tliis morning for Inverness, Scotlnnd, where Prime Minister Lloyd Ueorgo has been making his headquarters. Robert O. Rarton, who was the of ficial Dail courier in thu last exchange of riples with Lloyd George, did not make tho journey this time. This was considered to strengthen tho rumor thnt ho would bo one of tho plenipotentiaries for the proposed peace negotiations. The Dail Elrcann, it is stated, wlli bo ghen n free hand in tho selection of tho Irish Republican pleiiipotcntiurio-. Arthur Griffith alone, by icasoii of his position as Foreign Minister in tho Dull Cabinet, U certain of being designated. John JiaoNelll, speaker of tho Dail Elrcann, nlso isJUkely to bo selected. Dublin messages Inst night intimated tho Dnil Elrcann Cabinet had completed its reply to the latest nolo from Lloyd George. Rain Swamps Fields; Sports Arc All Wcl AiiRiihtus Q. Italn today won n flock of victories. As a xibt entry, hn put tho kibosh on baseball, mi tionnl tennis, women's tennis, polo, football practice, tho Tcndlcr Friedman bout nt tho Phils Park; In fact, anything and everything in tho outdoor sports department. To morrow, maybe, tho athletes will re sume their various stunts. KLAM DENOUNCED AS MENACE TO U Klux Klan on -Stone Mountain, twenty oath, whllo tho "Klaihl" and the "Klextcr," oilier oflkcrs, arc aiding In llio "naturalization" DEATH AND OUTRAGES IN PATH OF KU KLUX INVISIBLE EMPIRE Violations of the legnl rights of individuals by masked mobs wearing Ku Klux regnlln "Tnr-nnd-featlicr" parties conducted by masked regulators using Klan regalia .' Individuals seized and beaten by masked mobs iu Klan regalia White women stripped nnd beaten by masked mobs wearing Klan regalia. Specific warnings issued to individuals in the name of the Ku Klux Klan. Gcncrnl warnings posted in nnmc ot Klan to enforce moral censorship of communities Killed by supposed Ku Klux regulators Ku Klux regulators killed by intended victims PRESIDENT'S GOLF ! HALTED BY FARMER James Matthews Drives Up at Shore Long Enough to Shake Hands HARDING'S SCORE GOOD 7.1 a Staff Conesrondent Atlantic City, Sept. 12. President Harding played eighteen pleasant holes of golf ut tho Senvicw Golf Club, near Absecon, today, interrupted only by n delightfully human incident iu which n white-whiskered old farmer in nn nn cient buggy stopped to pay his respects. Tho President, playing a foursome with Clarence II. Gcist, presment of the club, for u partner, ngninst Sinn tor Frellnghuyseu and I'liiler Secretary of S'tuto Fletcher, had reached tho ninth hole, which is near tho roadside. Along panic a dusty buggy iu which rodo James Matthews, an Absecon farmer, with his wife. Matthews is brown nnd wrinkled, and is proud of a beard which is truly patriarchal. From afar off. ns his old nag jogged down tin road, he recognized the President, nnd with n loud "Whoa," drew up near the fence. Chief Jcrvis. of tho Secret Service, on duty with some of his men guard ing tho President, drow discreetly nenrcr when the occupant of tho buggy, wlioso whiskers perhaps aroused thoughts of Rolshcviki In tho Secret 'Service mau's brain, handed the reins to his wifo and jumped out. No Harm Meant "I'm not aiming lo assassinate you, Mr. President." Matthews called out, laughing, ns he approached, ond tho Secret Serico men looked relieved, "I've read about you," ho continued, "nnd I know you from your nlctures. You lmo .er.v fino principles, Mr. President, nnd I'm for you. I just wnnt tho honor of shaking jour hand." "Why, certainly," said tho Presi dent, beaming, Ho dropped his golf stick nnd strode forward to meet the farmer hnlt way. Tho two clasped hands cordially Mrs. Matthews was getting out of tho buggy to shnko the President's hand, too, but llm horso grew restless and her husband hurried back to the Conllnurd on rate Nlnrtfrn. Column One 5 OIL TANK BLASTS EMPTY HALF OF HOMES IN HALIFAX Terrified Residents Fear Repetition of Catastrophe of December, 1917 Halifax. Sept. 12. (Ry A. P.) Explosion of live tanks of tho Imperial Oil Company's plant at Dartmouth, on tho cast side of Halifnx harbor, early v..l ..!, Ii vitmlilf iif-a tlinf .... IaI lUlltl,, !!. ...HI,. . ,,l,.b .it.- ii:ii. In this eit, caused tho evacuation of I ..11 it. li.Miifiu 1 T Tn llfn v Will III" IUHivr in taimiiiA, riM.AU.t ii li hm frrmn t1iirtiir1t U a . a iiubu nw'u '(im i in' r a plosion of December. 1017, when tho munition ship Mont Rlniic blew up nnd wrecked n third of Halifax witli loss nf 1"00 lives. tllOllcht it wn nimtlmr such disaster. Indications wero that there had been neither loss of lifo nor serious injury iu todny's cxploslou. It wns a little after 3 o'clock thnt nnlifnx was shaken by tho first ex plosion. A bliuo In tho refining stills caused tho niasi, wnicn wus suecceedeil by a second and a third explosion within u few seconds. Glnss was shat tered in windows hero with each shock. Tclcphono service was disorganized. Aroused from sleep, people saw the sky light With the flames of burning oil und tlieio mis u rush to the trcetat miles from Atlanta, (ia. .The "Kx- 01 21 2.", 12 1 OPEN PROBES TO FIX Mayor, Coroner and County Commissioners Seek Cause of Bridge Crash CITY MOURNS 25 DEAD Three Investigation nrc under wny today to determine tho cause of the Third street bridge rollapso nt Chester Saturday night, which cost twenty-five lives. Major Ramsay, Coroner Drewos and the County Commissioners are taking part iu the inquirv nnd It is expected thai the blnnio will be placed in n dny or two. Charges that "putrid polities" Is the real cause of the crash nrc being mndo. Tho bridge wns overloaded at the time of the crash, but It Is just ns certain that there was a weak plate nt the place where tho break occurred. Chester people nro talking of the tragedy with soft voices, but there Is nn undercurrent of strong fooling that sonic one should bo punished. Hags Are at Half-Stan Following a proclamation issued bv Mn.or Kamsny this morning, nil Chester's flogs are at half-start for those who lost their lives In the tragedy. Tho proclamation, which wns issued after a confcrcnco with the City Coun cil, reads: "Our city has ngain been passed into mourning bv the frightful disaster which occurred cm Saturday night in which twenty-five of your valued citi zens lost their lies, "Neither time nor space would per mit us to fully tell of the wonderful work done by our citizens In rescuing nnd helping thoso who wero caught in tho werck of tho bridge, but like nt nil other times when the citizens of Chester ha.o been called upon to render hemic serlcii scores responded, and to the police nuil (he departments, city of", licinls and privnto citizeiiM wo extend the appreciation of the city for their heroic cflorts. "Tho city mourns ns It did in the dajs following tho Eddystono explosion and we earnestly urge that flags be flown at half -mast and services of Conllnurd on I(hp MnptMn. ColuTiTn Tho ROBBED IN WASHINGTON Phlla. Salesman Severely Beaten by Thugs in Capital Harry Sclilfren, n jewelry salesman, of OTo North Frnnkliu street, was rob bed of a $000 diamond ring last night about SI o'clock by four men nt Thir teenth and E streets, Washington, Northwest, Ho was severely beaten. Schlfren wns picked up from tho side walk, where ho was left bv the rob bers, and taken to Emergency Hn. liltnl. lie has n broken linsn nn,l ,.,,, on IiIr head. The robbery and attack took place only two blocks from police hcaclqunrt inn. 4 ivw uciur uuer llio robberv detectives arreMed Charles James iiiiht-r, a luriiicr iiouco patrol driver Schlfren, according to tho police, ox liibited tho diamond ring iu nu 13 street club Saturday night. The ring caught tho eye of it lounger in the pltico nnd. after sumo bargaining, ho agreed to find ii purchaser. Last night tho same man approached Sclilfren and said thnt he had found komo one who would huv tho ring, tile police assert. Schlfren nnd his companion met four men who wero sitting in nn automobile. 'Iho engine of tho machine was kent running, the tiolleo allege. The rob- Vtj uu uuaui. iiuiuwpa. AM N ARBUCKLE TO FACE 1ST DEGREE CHARGE FOR GjO DEATH Comedian Accused of Inflicting Fatal Injuries on Film Beauty SAY FATTY HAD "WAITED FOR HER FIVE YEARS" San Francisco. Sept. 12. A formal chnrga of first-degree murder, San Francisco police authorities have an nounced, will bo preferred today against R'oscos C'Fntty") Arbucklc, tho motion-picture comedian, under arrest here In connection with the death Inst Fri day of Miss Virginia Rappe, film actress. Miss Rappe's death followed hor at tendance nt n party given In Arbucklc's suite ut n local hntoj n week ago. She died of Injuries which District At torney Matthew Rrndv. of Snn Fran cisco, nnd other authorities nllego were inflicted by Arbucklc. Arbueklp i hold without ball in tho Hall of Juvliee lino. Ho wn nrrosto lust Saturday niglit on I)inrrivul from Los Atijelos. jnd was booked on n charge of murder lie Is confined in 11 small cell. No. 12, mi tho Hull ot Jus tice tier known ns "felony row." Before Grand .fury Tonight The Arbucklc case is scheduled to bo brought before tho San Francisco Coun ty Grand Jury tonight. A coroner's in quest" into Miss Rnppc's death has been called for next Thursday. Arbucklc has requested that nono but his nttornejs bo allowed to sec him nt tho Hall of Justice. Me declined yes terday on the ndviee of counsel to make rny statement. His lawyers nlso ro fused to make a statement or discuss the case in any w ly. Police, joslerday wore busy examin ing witnesses whom they tar will be Kcsontec to tho Grand Jury tonight. Tiles, witnesses number twenty-two, nnd aic being guarded by police dctcc- "Waited for Her Fhc Years" District Attorney Matthew Rrady, of 1 Sun Francisco County', in.ji statement said Ihar , liji'nce jtttfp poWsioii "shows coriclushcly either that 1111 as sault or an attempted assault wns per petrated." "Mies Rnppe died ns a direct result of internal injuries." .Mr. llrady's statement said. "The evidence dis closes beyond question thnt this wn caused by Arbucklc. Wo know from the evidence that Arbucklc seized Miss Rappc and dragged her into ills bed room, stating, 'I hnve waited for jou for fivo jesrs nnd now I huc got you.' " Arbucklc is of huge build, weighing 300 pounds, nnd despite his size, is powerful and athletic. Examination of tho body of Miss Rappe, Dr. Shelby P. Strnhgo. acting autopsy surgeon, reported last night, revealed eleven bruises. Among the witnesses .who will bo Continued on I'liEr Two. Column three TRAIN FROM SH0REHALTS Breakdown of Local Delays Many Commuters Pascmers returning from Atlantic City on tin 7 o'clock train this 11101 nin and inonv commuters waiting for c'uiu dcii'bniind trains this side of Hnin moiitou were dcluycil for n half hour or more when 11 Pennsylvania locomo tive broke a connecting rod. Tbo 1 1 11 in to which the accident oc curred wna a loon I out of Hnmmontnn. which broke don 11 before it had giiiiu ten mile. The following Atlantic City tram o 01 tool, the disabled local and bad to hack to Winslow Junction, whore it v.is tlufted to the out-bound track nnd llms pacd around the (-lulli'il train. GOVERNJIENT SUES FOR BERGDOLL'S "POT OF GOLD" Colonel Thomas W. MUlei. ollen niopcity custodian. tVtay filed a bill in equity in the United States, Dis'tiict Cou:t to force Mrs. Emma Bcrgdoll to give an accounting of the piopeity hhe holds for hei son Giovei. the milllonalie slacker, who is now n fugitive in Gcimany. Beistloll'h property was seized by the Gov ernment Inst May and little lins been heard of the ?100.000 "pot of gold" nllcged to have been bm led iu the Maryland hills, which served ns hU excuse for escape, MAYOR MOORE ORDERS INSPECTION OF CITY BRIDGES Mnyui Mooie loclay oruercj Director of Public Works Caven to make an immediate inspection of all bridges in the city, in cluding those in Fnii mount Paik, to determine their safety, nil a precaution against repetition heie ot the biidge disaster in Chester Saturday evening. He said sevci.nl of the bridges iu the city are unsafe, citing- as nn example th South street bridge now being lccoiiitructcd. C BLUE MONDAY IS HERE Drizzle and Cloudy Skies Make Low-hanging clouds, which blanketed the city In dnrkiiess, began to drip mm shortly before U o'clock. Dense volumes of smoke joined the omiiilous clouds lu plunging, tbo olt into n winter-like gloumiug at lo o'clock. Electric lights wero Hushed on ill offices, stores nud.fnetorios. Low temperatures are rec'onled lu Hie West, ond the rain hero may be fol lowed by snappy weather. rnlm Ciordfn, 8Drt k Market. Opann tonlsht wllh MrlcMnnd's AtUnilo city orch. Cane. In .very tvento 80 to lcJitv, You Sec This Button Wearer Is a Klansman The "Kotop" button, reproduced hero, Is the emblem of membership in the Ku Klux Klan. The letters nrc an abbreviation ot "Knight of the Open Palm." The button sig nifies that tho wearer is a "citizen" of the "Invisible Em pire" and has taken nn oath of obedience and .loyalty to the "Im perial Wizard and Emperor" of the order. It also Indicates that the wenrer hns parted with n $10 "donation" to learn tho mysteries of the Klnn. It wiy bo noted that tho hand is open instead of gripping 11 whip or a tar brush, which hooded men wearing tho order's regalia, have used in many instances. r TORCH TANK EXPLODES IN CITY HALL; ONE HURT Force of Blast Knocks Workman From Scaffold Tho fnnk of an acetylene torch ex ploded in Room 07(1, on the sixth floor of City Hall at 0:15 o'clock this morn ing, knocking a workman from a scaf fold and cnusing a small fire. Noise of tho explosion was heard throughout tho building and caused con stdcrablc alarm among 'he hundreds of employe who jnmmed the elevators on their way to work. James Cohen, 11 City nail guard, sta tioned 011 lite sixth floor, ran to the room, snw .flames and vapor shooting from tho tank nt tho center of the room mid guvc an nlarm. A dozen engine compnnlcs arrived n few minutes Inter, ond firemen, attach ing a lino of hoo to n plug nu tho sixth floor, quickly extinguished tho blnzc. Nichlo Sepo, twenty-eight yenrs old, lfi2.' North Lawrence street, was in jured. Ho was standing on 11 scaffold painting n wnll of tho room. The force of tho explosion caused him to fall twenty feet. He was severely cut and bruised. Room 070 wn formerly used ns the prisoners' dock of tho Municinnl Court. It Ih now being remodeled ns n part of the District Attorney's suite of of- iiccs. ROOT DECLINES TO SERVE .. AS WORLD COURT JUDGE His Refusal Increases Chances of John Bassett Moore Ocncu. Sept. 12. (I5y A. P.) Elihu Root has definitely declined to bo considered for election ns Judge of the International Court of Justice. In n cablegram lo Dr. Munley O. Hudson, who is hero in the capacity of American observer, Mr. Root declares lie will bo unable to scive on the court because of hi age. It wus stated by league officials that Mr Root's inossngo definitely disposed of Ins candidacy. They expressed be lief that it was certain the names of both John Unssclt Moore and I'rofes mr Rox-iio Pound. Americans, would he placed in nomination and that the one developing tho grent strcngtli after the lirt or second bnllot would bo elected Tho league has been informed thnt either would accept election. Mr. ltoot's cablegram was in' rcph lo a pcrvonal message nf inquirv. Ho said he deeplj regretted ho could not serve, ns it was too great a rcsponsi bilit. for one to assume at tho age of s onlj -mv. There were many expressions of keen regret at Mr. Root's action, and u number of delegations to the League a!omhlv indicated they would substi tute the name of Moore when the elec tion t.il-os place on Wcdnesdav. iiiMtm1 Adnr. former president of Suiterland. was elected honarary provident of tho assembly today. 250 LEGIONARIES RETURN Americans Back From Dedicatory Visit to France New 'oilc, Sept. 12 -U$ A. P.) -Two hundred nid llfij members of tn Aiiicrii-n.il Legion, houded by National Commander John G. Emery, who left here August I on the George Washing. In lo attend tho dedication iu Fllrej, France, of a monument to the . E F icturiied today on the Hciimshlp Leo".' poldinu from Havre. Tho party was met at quarantine by the iiolica boat John F. Itvlnn. ra.in. moro than n hundred Legion iooji ns u welcoming committee. J, ulti&i WLiiW BOLT HITS GASOLINE TANK; THREE FALL Fire Still Raging in 10,000-Gak Ion Container at 58th Street , and Schuylkill River MEN WITH ICE IN HELMETS ARE FORCED BACK BY HEAT FIGHTING FLAMS Llg'ilning struck n 10,000'gallon as ellno tank at the Gulf Refining Com-, pnny. Fifty-eighth street nnd the Sehujlklll River, nt 10:45 o'clock this morning, nnd made so hot a firo that firemen dropped from the heat, though they wore lump of Ice in their helmets'. Those who collapsed wore: Captain Simpson. Truck .1, taken to University Hospital. William Forbes, Truck 13, revived on ground. .Mike! Holland, Truck 13, revived on grounds. The firo was stiill burning furiously at 1 o'clock, the firemen who had re sponded to two alarms brnving thi danger of an explosion to stem tha tide cf blaze and especially to keep It from til tacking ten other tanks nearby. Tho men fighting tho fire in the blaz ing tank wero subjected to a heat m terrific thnt it was almost beyond human ondurnnco to stond the strain. They worwked horoionllv until tliev etnggered with bent exhaustion, then were drag ged back to their comrades nnd doused, with water from the hose, while fresh men took their places. -, 10,000 Gallons In Tank The fire wn in the Gibson's Point plant of tho Gulf Refining Company, on the river. Tho .big tank, filled to ho top with its 10,000 gnllon of easo line, went up i n puff nnd n flash when the lightning bolt struck it durinr the brief thunderstorm this .morning. An nlarm was sent In Immediately, nnd some time after tho first fire tiglitersr arrived a second was struck so there would be men enough to keep hose lines playing on the oUier tanks. riio nearest of these tanks Is only about twenty vards away from the. bis blaring container. The firemen an? fighting the flames, m ten-minute shift, from a distance of about twenty y&t&8 all around the tank. While some of the fircraeu on the nrst lino keep their hoso trained on tho blazing tank others n little distance to the renr ployed n steady stream of water on the coats of the crew further in. Even under n contnnt drcnehlnp. ft, v coats of the firemen nro kmnlrln .ui. tho heat, their faces blistering nm! ft,!,. tongues parching. At ton-minute In- -tervnls, tho men ore staggering out of the lire Hue. to be relieved by others who have had u rest. Stagger From Mantes Several times men holding a hoso Una ..... Bii-ii i urop k una stagger out, leaving the hose to writhe nnd double on the ground, before their tcn-minut shift wore up. They had to get out ' or collapse. Tho next crow each time, wailing and ready, dashed in nnd cap tured the bucking hoso, facing the In-' lene heat iu their turn ns long as pos sible. So intense was the beat thnt tols graph wires at u distance of thirty jnnN were melted nfter the insulation had been burned off. The great heat of the blazing gaso line houtod the cntiro rim of tho big lank lo u distance as low ns tho gas ' had burned, until the metal was incan descent. The big tank has a drainage system for emcrgeiii-). ns all such tanks hnve, nnd the pumps wore started as Mon as ' iho fire broke out. to drain off the gas oline into a lescryo safety tank. When, bv burning nnd draining, the ' gasoline had Leeu reduced to about one fourth of tho (inutility originally in tli s lank, it wns necessary to discontinue the pumping, becnuso thonsolino had iisolf become i superheated that it wns no longer safe to handle or pump into the icscno tanks. SPIKER FAMILY ROMANCE 1 SHATTERED BY GUY'S WIFE Young Englishwoman Disappears, Tired of Her Husband Baltimore. Sept. 12 iltvA P ) The romance of Mrs. Emily Kuowlcs Spiker, which created a sensation tvp icars ago. when, ns tho mother of Re lej Spikr's child, sin came to Aracrli from Euglniid to wed his brother, Gi Sjilkcr, has bei n shattered. Mr Spiker. who lived with Cuv Splkor East Baltimore, ha disopi eared. The child, which hod been adopted Perley Spiker's wife, when Mm fo gave her Husband for his infidelity xvhl with tho American army overseas, Is t the home of the Perlev Spiker. Tin English zirl left her home several weeks ngo, nceording to her husband, having n nolo saying lint she no lon ger cured to live with linn. "She went of her own free will." said !iiv Spiknr last night, "and shi can st-iv." Guv Spiker has been out of work for Komo tune ind his wifo sought em plnjincn'. For more than n month. It is understood, she hnd been employed at u military -.imp. TOO MUCH "MOONSHINE" P. R. PT. Passenger Was Annoyed When Asked for His Fare MA moonshine party is no cxcujo for assault nnd bnttcry." said Magistral Costello iu holding George Hutkn, 202B Almond street, in $000 bail for th Grand Jury. Charles Ruehler, 3410 Frankford art. niie.n P. R. T. conductor, said Kulkn rut his nose nnd blackened l.nilc both ' ' i ' u tor tits f 7 y . t t , r. J". J 41 II iiiiLiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
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