Traffic Over All Eastern States Hampered Siotm
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
LXXXIV—
No. 304
SLEET ST
CUTS CITY OFF
FROM WORLD
Wires and Poles Down in
Every Direction From Har
risbarg; No Relief Yet in
Sight; Trolley Schedules
Way Behind; Telephone
and Telegraph Communi
cations Severed or Greatly
Delayed
TRAINS STILL RUNNING
ON SCHEDULE TIME
Trees in City Parks Lose
Branches; Some Fall; Rain
Freezes on Pavements as It
Falls; "Trouble Shooters"
Work Like Monkeys All
Over State
Rain and sleet which began to
fall early to-day, cut Harrisburg
off from communication with
nearly every point in the State.
Telegraph and telephone con
nections were broken north, east,
south and west, and the forecast
of rain this afternoon and prob
ably all night, indicates that no
relief is in sight.
Every minute brought more compli
cations. Wires and poles in many
places were down and the "trouble
shooters" of the telephone and tele
graph companies, although hard at
work, made little headway in repair
ing: any of the breaks. Officials said
at noon that unless there is a let-up
in the rain and sleet It will be useless
to attempt repairs until the storm
passes.
Streets and sidewalks covered with
a thin coating of ice made traffic and j
walking dangerous, although no seri
ous accidents occurred in the morning.
Service on the Harrisburg Railways
and Valley Railways lines was behind
schedule all day, particularly on the
rural lines. Cars were kept running to
every point, but the Icy coating on the
wires hindered all of the lines and
made it impossible to stay on schedule
time.
The Pennsylvania Railroad and
Philadelphia and Reading Railway
officials reported that most of the
»rains were either on schedule or a few
minutes late, and, unless the rain
freezes, no serious trouble is expected.
Precautions are being taken to safe
guard against big delays, it was said.
Communication to points outside the
city and nearby towns by telephone or
[Continued on Pajje 7.]
Big Jump in Price of
Gasoline Will Be Probed
Special to the Telegraph
Washington, D. C., Dec. 29.—With
the production of crude petroleum in
■ leasing the Federal Trade Commis
sion wants to know why the price of
gasoline has been going up by leaps
and bounds in recent months.
The commission, with its sweeping
powers of investigation and its effec
tive organization, is not satisfied with
the explanation that the increase in
price, which threatens to go to 2 5
cents a gallon, Is wholly due to the in
creased demand from Europe and the
increased consumption in the United
States, due to the growing use of au
tomobiles.
With a view to locating the respon~
sibility for the increase in price and
determining the justification for the
.•tdvance, the Federal Trade Commis
sion is preparing to make a genera in
vestigation. In fact, preparations have
been under way for several weeks and
a staff of investigators is already at
work.
THE WEATHER]
For Harrlslnirg aud vicinity: Ratu
this afternoon and to-night;
Thursday fair; not mueh change
In temperuture; lowest tempera
ture to-night about 35 degree.*.
River
The main river and the Juniata will
probably rlae somewhat. The
The North and Went Ilranehea
Mill probably continue to fall. A
stage of about 7.0 feet may be
expected at Harrisburg Thursday
morning.
Conditions
The southwestern storm has moved
northcaNtwnril with Increasing
energy and IN no«v central over
Kentucky. It ha* canned gen.
crnl mid In some localities heavy
ruin In the last twenty-four hours
In the Middle Atlantic, South At
lantic nnd <« II If Statea and Ten
neaaee. and mow and rain In the
Ohio, and Susquehanna valleys,
New Kngland and Texas.
Over nearly all the remainder of the
«*ountry enat of the Rocky Moun
tains there has been a general
rlae of 2 to 20 degrees In tempera
ture. West of the Hocky Moun
tains there has been a decided fall
In temperature, caused by an area
of high barometer that Is moving
down from the Northwest.
Temperatures H a. m., 32.
•••UII: Itlnes. 7:27 a. m.: nets, 4:47
p. m.
Moon: New moon. .Vanuary 4, 11:45
p. m.
River Stage: tt.O feet above low- i
water mark.
Yesterday's Weather
Highest temperature, 42.
l.owcst tcmpernture. 3!>.
Mean temperature, 40.
Normal tcmpernture, 31.
CRIPPLED SHIP
FAR OUT AT SEA
SENDING S.O.S.
i Coast Guard Cutter Speeding
to Aid of Stricken
Vessel
I BOILERS ARE FLOODED j
[Greek Steamer Laboring To-!
ward New York at Rate of
Two Miles an Hour
By Associated Press
New York, Dec. 29.—Summoned by I
a wireless call for help, the coast
guard cutter Seneca is speeding to the
aid of the Greek steamer Thessalonaki,
which was in distress this morning
about 250 miles east of New York and
laboring toward this port at the rate
of two miles an hour.
The Greek vessel is bound from
Piraeus, Greece, to New York. Last
Wednesday when 700 miles from the
American coast she sent out her first
SOS call, reporting that her boiler
and engine room had been partly
flooded in a heavy storm. The steam
ship St. Denis hurried to her relief, but
soon received word that the Thessa
lonaki did not require aid.
Yesterday morning tne Thessalonaki
reported by wireless that she was 300
miles east of Sandy Hook and in no
danger. Early to-day the Atlantic
Transport liner Mongolia, lying at an- I
chor off Sandy Hook, picked up u. wire- ,
less message from the Thessalonaki
saying that she was again in distress,
giving her position and adding that
she was "making two miles an hour
toward New York."
SI,OOO Demand For Girl's
Return Made Over 'Phone
Special to the Telegraph
Philadelphia. Dec. 29.—Kidnapping
is the latest theory advanced for the
mysterious disappearance last Sunday
night of 18-year-old Ida Karp, of
1941 North Thirty-third street, and in
support of the theory the parents and
police refer to an unexplained tele
phone message to the Karp home late
yesterday afternoon, in which SI,OOO
was demanded for the girl's return bv
to-night.
Every effort is being made to trace
the telephone call, but without any
success as yet. A detective accompan
ied the mother and Charles Gould, a
friend of the missing girl, to the ap
pointed place, but no one appeared to
get the SI,OOO.
NEW YEAR'S FEAST
FOR NEWSBOYS
David Kaufman Will Give
Dinner; Plan Started For
Permanent Home
What with prospects of a permanent
home, a dinner Riven them by David
Kaufman, proprietor of the Kaufman
Underselling Stores, and theater par
ties as the guests of the Telegraph, this
promises to be a lively holiday season
for the members of the Harrisburg
Newsboy's Association.
The dinner by Mr. Kaufman will be
given on Saturday in celebration of the
beginning of the New Year. When
President Hoffman made the an
nouncement last night there were
rounds of applause and a vote of
thanks for Mr. Kaufman. There will
be turkey and all the "tixin's" that go
to make up a real boys' feast and no
expense will be spared to make the
event a success.
The idea of having a permanent
clubhouse of their own has been fos
[ Continued on Page 9.]
To Complete Reorganization
of C. V. T. Co. Monday
Incomplete reorganization of the
Cumberland Valley Telephone Com
pany was effected at a meeting late
yesterday afternoon in the offices of
Charles H. Bergner. Five of the nine
directors who will control the re
organized company were elected as
follows:
James Brady, Charles A. Kunkel,
John E. Fox, Henry M. Tracy and
William J. Lescure.
The other four directors will bo
elected at a meeting of the company
officials next Monday afternoon at 3
o'clock when the reorganization will
he completed. Officers of the re
organized company elected yesterday
are as follows: Henry M. Tracy, who
had been receiver of the company,
was chosen president: William J.
T.escure, vice-president; Oscar K.
Kines, secretary-treasurer.
The company was sold November
.1 al auction sale, the present directors
purchasing it for the stockholders'
protective association. At yesterday's
meeting the capital stock of $750,000
was placed in the company's treasury
for distribution among the stock
holders.
HARRISBURG, FA., WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1915.
PETROMORTIS,
NEW DISEASE,
IN HARRISBURG
Two Girls and Physician Arc
Stricken; Did Autoists
• Have It?
'caused by gases
I Lurks in Every Home, Garage
and Industrial Plant
in City
Petromortis. a new disease, is
lurking in Harrisburg. The germs
come from coal, automobile and other
gases. According to Dr. J. M. J.
Rauniclc, Petromortis lurks in every
household in Harrisburg.
Investigation of two recent cases at
the Harrisburg Hospital, attributed
to gas asphyxiation and the finding
of a local physician unconscious in
his garage, brought the discovery of
this new disease. An automobile
party found recently in a semicon
scious condition at Middletown were
believed to he victims of petromortis.
Dr. Runick says the disease!
conies from the inhalation of com
bustion gases, and *is not confined to
automobile and enKine gases only.
These dangerous germs can come
from the kitchen range, furnaces, and
industrial plants where buildings are
closed up tightly during winter, and
air is not circulating properly.
The most dangerous feature of this
disease is that persons attacked first
become ill, and go to bed without
having the cause of their illness in
vestigated. Once a victim becomes
unconscious the attack may prove
fatal. Dr. Raunick said:
"The most peculiar tiling about
petromortls is that you can have it
without knowing it.
"A woman who works a great deal
around a leaky gas range 1s also in
danger of contracting the disease,
unless she has an especially strong
constitution.
"But petromortls does not stop
there. It is a persevering disease. It
travels down the cellar and lurks
around the furnace. Therefore the
tired husband, who lias to go down
and battle nightly with the coal, can
tell his very careful wife that it
would be well to hire a man to look
after the fires at night in order to
escape death, or at least petromortls
bills from the doctor.
"Oil lamps give out a gas that is
dangerous. The one best way to pre
vent it is to take immediate notice
when the air of a room is not fresh.
Don't linger too long In closed auto
mobiles. If you feel 111 and drowsy
get fresh air into your lungs. That
dopey feeling may be caused by gases.
If you feel badly open the windows
and doors."
The two cases at the hospital were
both girls. They were found un
conscious at their homes. At first
it was thought tlie cases were at
tempts at suicide, but later an in
vestigation brought the discovery
that they were victims of poisonous
gases in their rooms. Trie physician
who was found unconscious Raid ho
was working about his automobile
and felt dizzy. Then he awakened
two hours later in bed, having been
found unconscious In his garage.
VISIT IN FI/OKIDA
Special to the Telegraph
New Cumberland, Pa., Dec. 29.—Mr.
and Mrs. Ira Buttorff have gone to
Lake Florida where they will visit
Mr. Buttorff's parents.
jMJLLIONAIRE YALE
| COACH IS DEAD
Thomas L. Shcvlin, Football
Adviser, Dies From Pneu
monia Attack
By Associated Press
Minneapolis, Ind„ Dec. 2 9.—Thomas
L. Shevlin, of Minneapolis, millionaire
lumberman and Yale football coach,
died at his home here this morning of
pneumonia. Mr. Shevlin contracted a
cold while training the Yale football
squad last Fall.
Shevlln's illness became serious last
Thursday and since then he had been
declining. Yesterday he suffered a re
i lapse. A telegram was sent to a Chi
! cago specialist to hurry to the sick
man's bedside by special train.
After leaving Yale at the close of
[the football season Shevlin went to
California to rest. Last Wednesday he
I returned to his home and the next day
j was taken down with pneumonia.
[Continued on Page 9.]
Accuses Wife of Having
"Affairs" With Others of
Long Island 'idle Rich"
Special to tlie Telegraph
Detroit, Mich., Dec. 29. —Sensational
allegations concerning the married
life of Murray Northrop, a St. Louis
Mo., society man, and Juliet, his wife,
who have been prominently identified
with millionaires of St. Louis, New
York and Detroit society, were yester
day revealed when the contents of new
documents in their divorce suit, filed
several weeks ago, were made public.
Helen Gould (Mrs. Finley Shepard),
a Mayor of St. Louis and some of the
Long Island "idle rich" are among
those who are declared to have in
fluenced somehow, the domestic life of
the young couple.
In his bill Northrop declares his wife
has had "affairs" with various men, in
cluding a professional dancer, Jack
Gillarn by name: William Rogers, a
young New York society man, and
others. He also spoke of her as
"drinking too much," of going to New
York roof gardens with strange men
and of meeting Rogers in various parts
of the country.
In her cross bill Mrs. Northrop de
clares all the things of which he ac
cuses her are the results of too much
liquor and too many clgareta. ,
r CRISIS IN BRITISH J
PREMIER HERBERT ASQUITH AND T>AVTT> LhOYD-OKOROH
London—The crisis in the British cabinet has been heightened by the
threat of David Lloyd-George to resign unless Premier Asquith adheres to his
pledge to apply compulsion to unmarried "slackers" If they fail to present
themselves for enlistment under Lord Derby's recruiting plan.
The whole cabinet threatens to split on the conscription issue and in case
of a downfall of the Asquith government, Lloyd-George is the logical suc
cessor to the Premiership.
W. A. M'ILHENNY
NAMED DAUPHIN
PRISON WARDEN
Succeeds Sheriff-Elect Cald
well; Buffington Gets
New Place
Dauphin county's Board of Prison
Inspectors this morning elected Wil
liam A. Mcllhenny to succeed Sheriff
elect William W. Caldwell as warden
of the jail.
Major Dane S. Hart, was re-elected
president and B. Frank Ober was
again chosen secretary for the ensuing
year. The office of clerk to the board
was abolished and the office of "store
keeper and clerk" was created instead.
This combines the duties of keeping
the prison store and attending to tho
clerical work of the board, llarrv F.
Buffington was chosen to fill the place.
[Continued on Page 7.]
RUSS OFFENSIVE
IS NOW ASSUMING
BIG PROPORTIONS
Arc Pounding at Austrian
Line Along Bessarabian
Front
i The Russian offensive on the Bes
sarabian front apparently is assum
ing formidable proportions. Unoffi
cial reports from Berlin says the Aus
trian lines have held so far, although
the Russians have attacked eight
times since Christmas night, with
lavish expenditure of ammunition and
men.
Further progress by the Russian
troops in Persia is reported from Te
heran. They have occupied Kashan,
a city of about .10,000 population 100
miles south of Teheran and are ad
vancing on Ispahan, 100 miles further
south, the advices state.
[Continued on Page 5.]
Arbitration of Disputes
Between American Nations
Advocated by Congress
Washington, Dec. 29.—Arbitration
jof all disputes between the American
nations was the keynote of practically
all the addresses at to-day's session of
the Pan-Anierican Scientific Congress.
While many delegates were engaged
in scientific discussions in the sections
into which the meeting has been divid
ed, the general subject of political
means of binding al lthe American
closer was the outstanding feature of
all the conferences.
Economic aspects of the war were
discussed before the American Eco
nomic Association, meeting in connec
tion with the Pan-American Congress.
[ The money cost of the war to July
21, this year, exclusive of the capital
ized value of human life, was estimat
ed by speakers at $37,69G,774,000. Hy
January 1, the aggregate would bo
$55,000,000,000, and should the war
continue at the end of the second
year next August, it would reach SBO,-
000,000,000. At the end of the second
year the probable human loss was es
timated to be 12,000,000 lives. The
capitalized value of those lost workers
was placed at $35,196,000,000.
Denmark Will Give Ford
Delegates Warm Welcome
By Associated Press
Stockholm, via London, Dec. 29.
Mme. Roslka Schwlmmer and other
members of the Ford peace mission
left here Tuesday night for Copen
hagen to make advance arrangements
for the reception of the expedition
there.
A telegram received from Copen
hagen citizens by the party snla that
Denmark was ready to give the Ford
delegates the warmest of welcomes. The
mesage stated that Denmark look 3 with
favor upon every sincere effort to end
the war. The members of the party
said that an they advance toward the
Hague there ts every Indication that
the project is taken more seriously.
(CONSCRIPTION IN
MODIFIED FORM
WINS IN CABINET
British Decide For Compulsion
of Unmarried "Slackers,"
If Found Necessary
Special to the Telegraph
London. Deo. 29.—The Cabinet yes
terday decided by a majority that it
is bound by Premier Asquith's pledge, j
and generally approved the principal |
of compulsion as a result of the Derby;
campaign.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir
Reginald McKenna and President of
the Board of Trade Walter ltunciman
have resigned, but their resignations
have not yet been accepted. Other
resignations are looked for.
It is stated on excellent authority
that the Cabinet lias virtually decided
[Continued on Pago ".]
STRIKE PLOTTERS
READY TO GIVE
THEMSELVES UP
Labor Council President and
Former Ohio Attorney
General Surrender
By Associated Press
New York, Dec. 29.—0f the eight
men indicted yesterday charged with
conspiring with agents of the Ger
man government to foment strikes in
munition factories two had surrend
ered to the Federal authorities before
noon and a third was in town. For
the four others warrants were issued,
j These will be forwarded to Wash
ington for immediate execution unless
| assurances that they will voluntarily
[Continued 011 I'ugc 5.]
Two Children Killed,
Three Others Hurt, When
Powder Keg Explodes
By Associated T'rcss
Punxsutnwnoy. Pa., Dei-. 20.—Two
children of John It. Hass were killed
I and IIJ'SS and three others severely
| injured last night by the explosion of
I a keg of powder in their little home
| near Tinblin, Pa. James, a sod 14),
• started for bod at 10 o'clock, lighting
I his way with a minor's lamp. It is
I thought that sparks from the naked
1 tlamo dropped into the open keg as he
j passed.
Vienna Note, If Drastic,
Will Be Placed Before
Congress by President
Special to the Telegraph
Washington, I). C., Deo. 29. —Presi- I
dent Wilson will lay before Congress!
the Ancona note in the event the reply!
of the Austrian government to our
sharp note should compel a severance
;of diplomatic relations. This course.
|it was asserted to-day in official
circles, would be taken only in the
j event the note might plunge this
country into international difficulty
The Senate has become restless In
the last few weeks over our foreign
policy and it Is believed the Presi
dent will try to overcome the enmity
existing between the Senate and the
Administration by taking this body
into his confidence on the pending
controversy. It is pointed out by the
President's advisers that the Senate
is entitled to this information, should
the situation become grave, as all the
President can do if Austria's note Is
unsatisfactory is to sever relations.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE
KISSED, SHE INSISTS
Charged with forcibly kissing Mrs.
Annie Skojlc, a pretty widow of Mld
dletown. Andy Kaeman, of Middle
town, was held for court by Squire
Gardner of Steelton, after a hearing
yesterday. Kaeman, it is alleged,
went to the home of Mrs. Skojlc, grab
bed her and kissed her.
ALLEGED GERMAN
PEACE TERMS ARE
BEING SENT OUT
Include Restoration of Belgium
Sovereignty Under Cer- )
tain Conditions
WANT COLONIES BACK j
Will Consider End of War If
Poland Is Set Up as King
dom Under Prince
By Associated Press
Berlin, Dec. 28, via London, Dec.
29.—The Wolff Bureau to-night circu
lated among the German newspapers
an exhaustive summary of an article
from the Neue Zuericher Zoltung of
Zurich, Switzerland, purporting; to
give in considerable detail Ihe terms
.upon which, according to the news
| paper, Germany is ready fo consider
! peace. These correspond gener
ally with the outline of ine probable
\ peace terms sent to the United States
!in October by the correspondent of
i the Associated Press,
j The terms named include the
i restorat ion of Belgian sovereignty
under certain conditions, no annexa
ton of French territory, the separa
tion of Poland from Russia as an in
dependent kingdom under a German
prince, the restoration of all the Ger
man colonies, the payment of an
indemnity which would asume the
form of transfer to Germany of Rus
sia's indebtedness to France, amount
ing to some 18,000,000,000 francs
and tho payment for a term of years
of an annual contribution by Belgium
equal to the amount hitherto spent
annually on the Belgian military es
tablishment. A similar contribution
would be expected from Russia or
Poland, this point not being clear In
the article.
Whether the Belgian territory
would be restored entirely is not
specified in the newspaper but it is
stated that the country would be
policed, that is, garrisoned by Ger
many until the payments of tho con
tribution were ended and that meas
ures Would be taken to prevent Bel
gium from serving as an Anglo-French
| outpost either by treaty arrangements
jor perhaps through "pledges" turned
• over to Germany, the latter phrase
apparently referring to the retention
of the Meuse fortresses.
The Wolff Bureau is careful to dis
avow authoritatively that the article
is interpretable as a German peace
feeler.
( KILLED WHEN TRAIN HITS AUTO 2
M C
\
# c
C THIRTY THREE CHILDREN LED FROM FIRL .c|
\ ... Dec. 29. *
% to irly to-day by Mrs. Clark, the matron whe K
J McKean County Home at Dogolia, near here, was destroyed fil
a by fire. The institution was without fire protection, and fire Al
% &
■ \
Jf v. '.th a loss of SIO,OOO,
I • LABOR PARTY TO DISCUSS CONSCRIPTION jl]
M London, Dec. 29, 4.00 P. M. A conference of re, re- £1
J entatives c Labor Party is being arranged to consi C
# the decis ft |
# service The question is being canvassed eagerly at trades fij
r union centers. • JEj
I BULGARIAN REGIMENT MUTINIES £
# Paris, Dec. 29.—The eleventh Bulgarian infantry regi- «|
# ment stationed at Gumuldzina, Bulgaria, has mutinied, ac- Mi
# cording to information reaching the Athens correspondent of fl
# the Petit Journal. Kj
1 CARRANZA TO REMOVE NONSUPPORTERS fl
J Laredo, Tex., Dec. 29. —Reports from Mexico City to-
M day said that first Chief Carranza has decreed that office' fl
9 holders who have failed to support the Carranza cause k]
» shall be removed from public office. Advices are that .the @
F decree is being applied leniently. The decree says officers V
r thus vacated shall be filled by supporters of the constitu- fl
C tional cause. 1
f THREE MORE ARRESTS IN MURDER CASE 1
€ jovic and Mile Idenovic, of Steelton, were ( 9
| c t.crday by Constable Haines, charged with | I
# aiding in the murder of Yoso Bakic late Wednesday night in < I
C South Third street, Steelton. Mike Novokovic is being held < |
I as a witness. The men will be given a hearing together
I wi,h Mikolo n (
X .lonpfT lioivatli hnil Anna Hukovea. Steelton. (
W l.enls Klhutr. I*lttnlmrich, mill Avid l.nnretta (.rove, city. W
& i.eon Wnulilnffton Tumi>klnit nntf Mamie Adele Thi>mn*, dt7.
POSTSCRIPT— FINAL
10 PAGES
T. R. MILITARISM
PAPER THEME OF
ANIMATED ROW
Assorts "War Like Nations
Musi Be Held in Check by
Ability of Neighbors"
REFERS TO ARMENIA
Cites Stricken Country as Ex
ample of Applied Theories
of Pacificists
Special to the Telegraph
Washington, Dec. 2 9.—After a pa
per by Colonel Theodore Roosevelt,
advocating a vigorous policy of nation
al defense had been read before
(he American Sociological Society here
to-day, several of the delegates in dis
cussion pronounced the colonel's
theory fallacious.
"Infinitely the most Important fact
to remember in conectlon with the
war and militarism in relation to
"moral and social values," wrotp Mr.
Roosevelt, "is that if on unscrupulous,
war-like and militaristic nation is not
held in check by the war-like ability
of a neighboring nonmilitartistic and
well-behaved nation then the latter
will be spared the necessity of dealing:
[Continued on Page 9.]
Jitneys Can't Run
About Without Licenses
After Next Monday
Beginning Monday the luckless jit
ney which runs about the streets ot
the city without having obtained the
proper license under the new regula
tions, will be liable to a stiff penalty.
The jitney ordinance goes into ef
fect the first Monday of the new year
and the jitney drivers must file their
bonds for $2,000 each before they
may operate. Scores of inquiries
relative to the bond, its form, etc.,
have been received by City Solicitor
D. S. Seilz.
FOOT OF SNOW IX 90 MINUTES
Meadville, Pa., .Dec, 29. front
eight to twelve inches of snow fell
here this morning in ninety minutes.
It was with the greatest difficulty that
trolley lines were kept open here anil
through the surrounding country.