HARRISBURG SfSKk TELEGRAPH
LXXXVI— No. 87 20 PAGES
* GERMAN PLOT
SEEN IN RUIN
OF BIG PLANT
Officials Agree Series of Explosions in Eddystone Was Not
Result of Accident; Four Investigations Under Way;
Two Suspects Released; Revised List of Fatalities
Place Dead at 122 and Injured at 150; Many of
Whom Will Die
By Associated Press
Chester, Pa., April 11.—President Alba B. Johnson, of the Bald
win Locomotive Works, changed his theory that the Eddystone ex
plosion was due to an accident after a visit to-day to the plant. He
now agrees with the view of Samuel M. Vauclain, president of the
Eddystone Ammunition Corporation, that plotters caused the ex
plosion.
"Although we have only circumstantial evidence," Mr. Johnson
said, "it looks as if some one touched off a bomb or a time clock
with an explosive attached. 1 have become convinced, after a talk
with the Eddystone officials, that the catastrophe could not have
occurred through an accident."
The Chester police have released two suspects, father and son,
named Cohen, arrested last night. Nobody at present is in custody
in connection with the explosion but four different sets of investi
gators are at work and developments are expected shortly. The
Chester police say that if the explosion was the work of plotters
who ever caused it must have died with the rest.
President Vauclain said to-day:
"The disaster occurred in the build
ing devoted to loading shrapnel with
black powder, commonly known as
the base charge. The shrapnel made
in the building was three-inch shrap
nel for the Russian government. There
were 10,000 pieces of shrapnel in the
building.
"We will make a complete investi
gation as rapidly as possible. We can
not understand how it could possibly
have happened accidentally.
"There were three explosions, it
appears, in rapid succession, with
about ten seconds between the first
and last explosion.
Plant Well Designed
"The plant has been inspected by
the best experts in the country, and
been pronounced exceptionally well
designed in every respect. In the de
sign and construction of the build
ings, accidents were virtually eliminat
ed from the list of possibilities."
"Ignition by dropping is exceedingly
remote," said Captain William M. Wil
helm, the general manager and vice
president of the plant, commenting on
the theory that a shell, accidentally
dropped, might have caused the ex
plosion. "Black powder, of the kind
loaded into the shrapnel shells, will
not ignite by striking, but will ignite
by friction. For that reason no per
son was permitted in the destroyed
building except with rubber-soled
shoes.
Guards at Every Door
"There were guards at every door
and nobody could enter the building
without passing the inspection of that
guard. Secret service men also work
ed among the employes within the
building to see that all safety rules
were observed."
President Vauclain said the families
of those killed and tnjured would be
provided for by the company.
Replying to a rumor that the An
glo-French commission had taken
over the stock of the Eddystone com
pany, Mr. Johnson declared there was
nothing in it. "The stock of the Ed
dystone is all in American hands," he
said.
Sl* Score Dead
Revised lists of the fatalities result
(Continued on Page 5)
Seven Dauphin Countians
at Eddystone Plant; Their
Fate Is Still Unknown
At least seven Harrisburg and Dau
phin county young men are employed
at the plant of the Eddystone Corpo
ration, in which a disastrous explosion
occurred yesterday. Their fate is un
known.
Joseph Higglns. son of Charles II
Wiggins, of the Equitable Life Assur
ance Society of the United States, has
been employed at the plant for sev
eral months. He has many friends in
this city and Stcelton. Albert Miller
and Clark Bowman, of Millersburg-
Carolus Martin, Elizabethville; Newton
C. Elchelberger, of Royalton, and a
Mlddletown lad are other Dauphin
county natives working there.
ITHE WEATHER]
For Harrlaburg nnd vicinity! Fair
to-night and probably Thnrmlays
xllKhtl) warmer tn-nltcht, with
lowest temperature about 42 de
grees.
For Kastern Pennsylvania i Fair
to-night and probably Thursday*
somewhat wanner to-night;
moderate w eat to southwest
wlnda.
River
The Susquehanna river and prob
ably all Its trlbutarlea will con
tinue to rail. A stage of about
M feet la Indicated for Harris-
burg Thursday morning.
General Conditions
The North Atlantic coast storm has
Eaaaed off seaward and the winds
ave diminished In the Atlantic
States from Sooth Carolina north
ward. The weatern disturbance
haa divided, one center being lo
cated this morning over Lake Su
perior and the other over New
Mexico.
There has been n general rise of 3
to 23 degrees In temperature from
the Plains States eastward to the
Atlantic ocean and over the
Northwest States.
Temperature i 8 a. ra., 42.
Hani Rises, Bi2B a. m.
Mooni Rises, 12t14 p. m.
River Stagei 0.0 feet above low
water mark.
Vesterday's Weather
Highest temperature, 51.
l-owest temperature, 28.
Mean temperature, 40.
Normal temperature, 48,
Munitions Explosion Declared to Be Result of Pro-German Plot
HARRISBURG BOY
CRUSHED UNDER
MUNITIONS PLANT
Falling Walls Crush Youth
Who Is About to Be
Rescued
Graphic, dramatic stories of their es
cape were told by, the survivors as the
deft surgeons and nunti dressed their
wounds in the hospitals and armories
at Chester yi sterday. Others were un
able to tell how they reached the in
stitutions, their saviors and rescuers
being unknown to them. Others told
tales of remarkable heroism on the
part of the men, women and girls Im
prisoned in the flames, some of whom
apparently yielded their lives that oth
ers might live.
Michael Hydock, twenty-five years
old, of Freeland, never knew the man
(Continued on I'ago 8)
Roosevelt Sends Letter
Regreting His Inability
to Make Address Here
Theodore Roosevelt, who was asked
to be the principal speaker at the Pre
paredness meeting te bo held here
April 23, has wired Captain H. M.
Htlno that ho will be unable to be pres
ent. Following Is the letter received
from Mr, Roosevelt:
My Dear Mr. Htino:
"I thank you. but as things are
how, I dare not make an engage
ment of any kind or sort.
With regret,
"Sincerely yours,
THEODORE} ROOSEVELT."
Mr. H. M. Stlne,
County Commissioner,
Horrisburg, Pa.
Plans For Great Patriotic
Demonstration Will Be
Made By Committee
Captain Henry M. Stine, chairman
of the "Everybody's Patriotic Demon
stration" committee, has called a
meeting of the committee as an
nounced In the newspapers for this
evening at 7:30 at the courthouse.
Plans for the parade, April 23, will
be made. All committeemen as well
as others interested ind especially
representatives of organizations are
urged to attend.
Suspects in Eddystone
Explosion Reported to Have
Been Arrested Near Here
Reports that two suspects were ar
rested this morning on a Pennsylvania
Railroad train near here created con
siderable excitement in this city. The
men, it was said, know something re
garding the explosion at Eddystone
yesterday.
The men were Germans and
boarded a train at Lancaster intend
ing to go to Lebanon. Railroad offi
cers took them in charge after the
train left Conewago. According to
the story told here, the men were
taken oft the train at Mt. Gretna
where an automobile was in waiting,
and the officers and prisoners went
overland to Mt. Joy at which point
they met an eastbound train.
Inquiries at the office of Captain
Paul L. Barclay failed to bring any
verification of the reports. It was said
that two trespassers had been ar
rested and sent to Lancaster. Train
men at the Pennsylvania Rallrond
station said the arrest was bonaflde
but the charges on which the men
were arrested were not given,
GOVERNOR OFFKRS AID
Governor Brumbaugh In a telegram
to Alba B. Johnson to-day offers any
services the Htate tnay be able to
render In the disaster at Bddystono.
The Governor calls attention to the
fact that representatives of three Htate
Departments are already on the
scene.
HARRISBURG, PA., WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 11, 1917.
RECRUITING TENT
MAJESTIC GETS QUICK RESULTS
UAI iE>L . -jyH •■•■iM iicM
rwsnm >-. <-■■•.
■ w ,v>;.WaA> BKlS^^k.vflfiKLAvßlrSv M +■& /'
,181 IImHtS F ■■■ hi Ifejf * ■
. ' [Photo by Roshon Studio]
The orchestra struck up "The Star Spangled Banner," the entire company of performers at the Majestic
Theater mobilized before the footlights and sang the National anthem, the big audience stood and reverently
Joined in the patriotic song and then, as the curtain lowered the big crowd began to file out toward the street.
Still humming the tune that seems to have a hypnotizing effect that thrills one with patriotism, the hundreds
of vaudeville devotees moved through the lobby and into the street. But there were two members of the audi
ence who weren't so quick to leave. A pair of healthy-looking young men halted in front of the official recruiting
station that, through courtesy of Wilmer & Vincent, has been established in the theater lobby and then there,
five hours after the branch was opened, the first Majestic recruits to Uncle Sam's army were enrolled.
"We'd been thinking about enlisting," said one of the young men, after both had signed the papers, "and
after we got in here and heard this big audience sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' we decided not 'to wait any
longer. We're ready to fight for Uncle Sam."
Captain William F. Harrell, who was quick to accept Wilmer & Vincent's proffer of space in the lobby for
a recruiting station, believes that many a soldier boy will be enlisted from the ranks of Harrisburg's big vaude
ville army.
ACTION ON WAR
FUND FOR STATE
OFF UNTIL MONDAY
Governor Would Eliminate
Auditor General From Board
For Business Reasons
There will be no actipQ the State
appropriation of j2,rib6;oCO to meet
the war situation until the Senate
meets next Monday evening at 9
o'clock.
Governor Brumbaugh sent a long
message to the Senate to-day agree
ing to the proposal of Senator Vare
and others that the money be expend
ed under the direction of the Gov
ernor, the Lieutenant-governor, the
Auditor General and the State Treas
urer, excepting insofar as it related to
the Auditor- General. The Governor
gave as his reason for desiring to ex
clude the Auditor General from the
(Continued on 7,' age 5)
NO NEED TO TAKE
OVER COLLECTIONS
OF ASHES-BAILEY
Bonding Company Representa
tive Says Men Are Keeping
on Schedules
Speaking of Commissioner Gross'
latest decision on the ash question,
Edward P. Bailey, of the American
Surety Company, the bonding concern
that has been pushing the Pennsyl
vania Reduction Company in an ef
fort to solve the collection problem,
said:
"So far as the matter of the city's
taking over the contract for the re
moval of ashes is concerned, there is
no necessity for it now and we will
see to it that there will be npne."
More Complaints Pouring In
More complaints by card of no ash
collections for weeks in various dis
tricts of the city reached the City
Health Bureau to-day and are being
lied according to localities.
With fair and warmer weather, it
is believed some of the accumula
tions which have been reported, can
be removed.
Mr. Bailey seemed well pleased
with the progress that is being made
tinder the circumstances. He declared
that four gangs of men now at work
are keeping ahead of their schedule
and are collecting on the back surplus
that has piled up in boxes, buckets,
cans and other receptacles over the
winter.
Plans have already been started to
prevent a repetition of conditions next
winter similar to the situation which
has caused no en dof trouble for city
officials during the last few months.
New Crusers Christened
With Famous Naval Names
Washington, D. C., April 11.—Names
of historic naval vessels have been giv
en to the five battle cruisers being
built for the navy. They will be called
the Saratoga, Constellation. Constitu
tion. Ranger and Lexington, after the
famous frigates of the first American
navy.
The ancient frigates Constellation
and Constitution will be known here
after as the Old Constellation and the
Old Constitution. The former is being
used at Newport as a training vessel
and the latter is laid up at the Boston
navy yard.
Tire present cruiser Saratoga will be
renamed City of Rochester, and another
name will he chosen for the gunboat
Ranger, In the service of Massachusetts
as a schoolshlp, There Is no eLxlng
ton now on the navy list
&he Star- 2Tni>cpmbrnL
REGULAR ARMY TO
BE RECRUITED TO
FULL COMPLEMENT
Secretary of War Declares He
Will Call For 287,000
Men
By Associated Press
Washington, April 11. —Secretary
Baker, concluding hia testimony be
fore the House Military Committee
to-day, announced that he had decid
ed after consultation with army of
ficers to take immediate advantage of
the authority to increase the regular
army by all the increments author
ized.
Un4er the present plan the War De
partment will immediately increase
the regular armv to Its full comple
ment of 287,000 men, instead of to
203,000, as was contemplated. This
increase is wholly apart from the new
army to be authorized by selective
conscription.
JITNEYMENARE
GIVEN HEARING
BY COMMISSION
Sixty-Seven Local Men Apply
For Certificates; Give Their
Testimony
Commissioner Michael J. Ryan, of the
Public Service Commission, heard tes
timony to-day . in the case of the Har
risburg jltneymen, sixty-seven of
whom have applied for certificates of
public convenience. Testimony was
take nto ascertain whether or not a
certificate as applied for should be
granted. Testimony was also heard In
the complaint of the Harrisburg Rall
v ays Company against the jltneymen.
Nearly the entire morning was con
sumed by the counsel and the commis
sion in an effort to reach some agree-
[Continued on Page 18]
Start Street Repairs
in Downtown District
After a delay of weeks because no
supply of sand could be obtained, re
pnlr work on the many holes in the
city streets was started to-day.
Highway Commissioner Lynch has
started work in the downtown section
and will rush repairs 011 the streets
which are in worst condition. No
further delay is expected.
Work of surfacing Swatara street
between Eighteenth slnd Twentieth
streets, will probably be started in a
few days. Other plans include pav
ing in the West End district; and in
Chestnut street, between Nineteenth
and Twentieth streets.
As the funds for paving street In
tersections are almost exhausted.
Commissioner Lynch said. It is not
probable that anything wil he done
In connection with the proposed pav
ing of Cameron street, between Herr
and Maclay streets.
A Comparison
Speaking of results, and the
"pulling power" of classified adver
tising, how's this? A newcomer to
Harrlsburg inserted a "Rooms
Wanted" advertisement In each of
the Harrlsburg paptrs. The ad
ran 3 days In each paper. The
TELEGRAPH brought the adver
tiser TEN replies, the other two
brought ONE, that, one being a
duplicate of one of the replies re
ceived from the TELEGRAPH.
(The name of this advertiser on
request).
"FULL CREW" LAW
REPEALER AGAIN
IN LEGISLATURE
Would Cloak Public Service
4)
Commission With Power to
Decide Size of Crpws
A bill providing for the repMtl of
the full crew act of 1911 and for
cloaking the Public Service Commis
sion with authority to determine
whether any railroad is operating in
the State with or without a sufficient
number of employes was introduced
in the Senate to-day by Senator Miller,
of Clearfield.
Introduction of the measure ws de
cided upon at a conference of promi
nent railroad officials who believe that
the Governor may not be unfavorable
to a full crew "repealer" at this ses
sion.
The Governor's Attitude
When the Governor vetoed a full
[Continued on Page 18]
'PROMPT ACTION
IS EXPECTED ON
BIG BOND ISSUE
Administration Bill Authoriz
ing $5,000,000,000 Loan'
Before House
By Associated Press
Washington, April 11.—President
Wilson went to the House of Rep
resentatives to-day for conferences
with Speaker Clark and other lead
ers on the war program. Demo
cratic Leader Kltchin, who will pi
lot the war revenue measures
through the House, was summoned
and the President, the Speaker and
Mr. Kltchin entered into a confer
ence.
| Washington, April 11.—The admln
| istration bill authorizing a $5,000,000,-
] 000 bond issue of which $3,000,000,000
will be loaned to the entente allies,
I was laid before the House to-day as
j approved by the Ways and Means Com-
on Page 5)
Noted Penna Artists
to Be Given Opportunity
at Capitol Decoration
The Board of Public Grounds and
Buildings yesterday decided to give
Pennsylvania artists other than Miss
violet Oakley opportunity to have
their works in the State Capitol. Miss
Oakley has many beautiful paintings
on the walls of the Senate and else
where throughout the building and the
board feels that some other noted
Pennsylvania painters should be given
consideration when there is more
work of the kind to be done.
Discussing this action of the board
[State Treasurer Young to-day said:
I It is the disposition of the present
board not to extend, or rather, not to
I make new contracts with Miss Oak
, ley. Notwithstanding the excellence
of her work the board realizes that
there are other equally eminent mural
painters who are natives of Pennsyl
vania, among others John Sargent and
Maxfield Parrlsh, whose work it would
be desirable to have represented In
the embellishment of the Capitol
through means of the fine arts.
"Speaking for myself merely, I sin
cerely hope that the lunettes in the
north corridor may be filled by Max
fleld Parrlsh."
Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION
ALLIES CRASH
INTO GERMAN
BATTLE LINE
British Push Forward Unchecked For Big Gains on Teuton
Front; Famous Hindenburg Position Broken; More
Than 11,000 Prisoners Along With Rich Booty ol
Guns Taken; Birdmen to Fly Under U. S. Colors
Paris, April 11. lt was decided to-day that the
LaFayette flying squadron composed of Americans who
have distinguished themselves at the front, will change from
the I'rcnch to the American military uniform and hereafter
carry the American flag at the French front.
Vigorously pressing their great offensive on the Arras-Lens
front, the British have pushed further into German-held teritory
behind the famous Ilindenburg line.
To-day's official statement from London reports the capture of
the village and heights of Monchy Le Preux, nearly five miles
southeast of Arras and just north cf the Arras-Cambrai main road.
Satisfactory progress alnog other sections of the fighting line
is announced, one of the points taken being the village of La
Uergere.
Apparently the first swift rush of the forceful offensive is over
but the reports from correspondents indicate that the. work of con
solidation the ground won was taken up speedily and done thorough
ly while during the progress of this task there was no interruption
of the pressure upon the retreating Germans. Already more than
11,000 prisoners and guns in excess of 100, many of them heavy
pieces have been taken by General Haiag's victorious troops.
The minimum advance has been ef- been followed by any other of the
fected in the sector of Vimy ridge. the South or Central American nations but
northern pivot of the Hindenburg line, advices from Rio .laneiro declare that
now turned by the British where the similar action on the part of the othei
German resistance was naturally stiff- of the South American countries is ex
eat In view of the importance of the pected in diplomatic circles there. A
commanding hill positions. Neverthe- dispatch from Argentina reports thi
less the-British accounts show further government knnouncing that It sup
gains against the Germans there. ported the action of the United State-
Brazil's decision to sever diplomatic in reference to Germany. Urugua
relations with Germany has so far n however, has declared her neutrality.
]
FIEND MANUFACTURED BOMB 1
TC\ BLOW UP EDDYSTONE PLAV
CHESTER, APRIL 11. "THE EXPLOSION WAS !
STIIE RESULT OF A DIABOLICAL* PLOT CONCEIV
ED IN THE DEGENERATE MIND OF A DEMON IN '
'HUMAN GUISE," A HIGH OFFICIAL Ol THE !
EDDYSTONE AMMUNITION CORPORATION SAID
THIS AFTERNOON. A BOMB MANUFACTURED
FROM A SHELL IN THE PLANT BY ONE. OF THE ]
EMPLOYES CAUSED THE EXPLOSION WHICH
C COST AT LEAST 116 LIVES, HE DECLARED £
C SUBPOENA FOR POWELL f
| - When Auditor' General Powell to-day *
& notified the jcint special appropriation committee that he C
j would not attend the session because he was very busy and m
m for the reason that as his term ends soon he 4s not interest I
m ed in appropriations. Senator Snyder moved a subpoena be j
J iittM ; for his appearance neat Tuesday. The motion i
adopted. K
1 ABOLISH BUTTER AND EGG SPECULATION 1
• Chicago," April 11. Speculation in butter and e^ t J
■ through the Chicago Butter and Egg Board was abolished J
J "as a patriotic duty," by unnamous vote of the director? \
m to-day This was accomplished by abolishing all rules S
■ covering deals in these products fot future delivery, J
# SENATE VOTES $278,000 000 TO ARMY I
V Washington, April 11.—The army appropriation bill 1
r carrying $278,000,000 for the existing regular army was. %
i passed to-day by the Senate, amended so that it-becomes a
■ immediately available. a
( TO INSIST ON CONSCRIPTION I
* Washington, April 11.—President Wilson after a con
| ference with House Leaders to-day indicated that he would
! insist on the selective conscription measure in the army |
bill. Sentiment is said to exist for first trying the volunteer (
I plan.
MARRIAGE (
Samuel M. Conrad. Hoynlton and I. or cm- Painter, Mlddletown. f
Robert * raneln IIIKUN and Fanle Uarbra White, Baltimore. %
1 nnd Maker. Steelton. /
r }},!!! " m •r l **"!er Wheeler and iNiihell Halley, Harriabarc. &
William E. Ooden, Wleonlaeo, and Myra 1.. Ibberaon, l.ikenn.
( harlea Jake Myera and Vera niadyN Iteevea. Steelton.
I Edward Luther Geary and Helen Marcaret Garberlch, Penbrook. (