THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JULY 7, 1918.
2 A
rnnairn
Biflvnn
run
IHIUn
OF NEW YORK IS
KILLEDIN FLIGHT
Major Mitchel Falls From Seat
as Plane Goes to Nose
Dive; Safety Belt Left
. Unfastened-
By Associated Press.
Lake Charles, La., July
John rurroy Mitchel, killed . today
when he felt 600 feet from the airplane
in which he was riding, dropped from
the pilot's seat and plungeu down
ward while his plane skimmed on
without a pilot for nearly half
mile, according to statements, tonight
by officers at Gcrstner aviation field
near here. An examination of the
wrecked machine developed tonijnt
that the safety belt was unustend
it the time of the accident, causing
Major Mitchell to fall from his seat
is the plane went into a nose dive.
winr k'irhv. commandant of the
field, declined tonight to speculate as
to cause for the belt being unfastened.
t is a rule that all fliers fasten them
selves in the place with the belt be
fore ascending.
The body was sint from here to
night to New York Where it will arrive
, Tuesday morning. Mrs. i.litchel
accompanied the body.
Regarded as Daring Pilot.
Major and Mrs. Mitchel came here
from San Diego. June 19. Major
Mitchel intended to complete his
training in pursuit work while at he
. Louisiana field. He was regarded
among the officers and cadets as a
daring and skillful pilot.
, Major Mitchel, in excellent spirits,
went out to the field early this morn
ing, with his instructor, Lt. John Mc
Caffery, also of ' New York. The
officers were discussing politics up
until the time the former mayor took
the air. The instructor remained on
the ground to observe the student's
climbing operations. When about
600 feet up, Major Mitchel fell from
his seat and his body struck tlmost
at the feet of Lieutenant McCaffery.
The airplane, a single seater scout
machine, went skimming on without
a pilot for half a mile and then fell
-.500 feet, completely demolished.
As soon as he was informed of the
accident, Major Luckie, seirfor medi
cal officer at the field, went to Mrs.
: Mitchel and informed her of the
death of her husband.
' Pittsburgh Graduate.
New York, July 6.-John Turro;
Mitchel, killed in an aviation accidenj
today, became a flyer for the army
'after having been defeated last fall
for re-election as mayor of New York.
He had served one term, the youngest
mayor ever elected to that office
July 19 next he would have been 40
years old.
Major Mitchel took the course, at
' Pittsburgh while he was major.
Upon joining the aviation crps he
was transferred to San Diego, Cal,
where, after successfully covering the
, cadet training he became a full fledged
flyer. He was frequently mentioned
as having shown uriusual daring.
, . Born in New York.
John Turroy Mitchel was born in
Fordham, New York, in 1879. He
."graduated from St. John's college at
. Fordham and afterwards took his A.
M. degree at Columbia university,
followed by two years at the New
York law achool, after which he was
admitted to the bar in New York.
He married Olive, daughter of Frank
lin D. Child of Boston.
His first municipal experience was
in 1906, when he was made special
counsel for the city.' The following
year he "was made comptroller of ac
counts and then president of the
board of aldermen, in which capacity
he was acting mayor of the city for
aome time.
He was elected mayor of New York
in 1914, at which time he wa holding
the position of collector for the port
'of New York. Mitchel was a reform
candidate and his defeat in 1917 put
Tammany back into the saddle.
RIVER WRECK DEATH
; TOLL EXCEEDS 100
Kir- a: : .
. (Continued From Pr On.)
cur arrangements accordingly," said
O. W. Frederick, captain of the Pe
kin unit of the home guard. "It is
likely it will be necessary to close
saloons before ' the night is over.
Many residents of this city were vic
tims of the disaster and our men are
angry. They believe that the crew
of the Columbia had been drinking
and were negligent.
While stretcher bearers carried bod
ies up the main street scores of wo
men and children, most of them in
tears, lined the curbs, trying tor a
glimpse of lost relatives. Somewhere
in the distance a cornet was playing
"Nearer My God to Thee" and as
each additional body was brought up
the noise in the saloons increased
At dusk more than 60 bodies had
' been brought down the river and
placed in the morgues for identifica
tion. Virtually alt were from Pekin.
A majority were women and children.
Shrfl Condemned Long Ago.
Old-tinie river men were being in
terrogatrtl tonight by officials inves
tiizatin Ahe disaster in an effort to
learnithe condition of the sunken
striliboat, which they asserted was
crdemned 15 years ago.
jThey said the Columbia was placed
fcn the ways for overhauling a few
, 'months ago, but little was doneJ
toward repair with the exception of
painting and interior decorating. The
boat was launched at least 40 years
ago according to local river men
: Survivors stood about in little
groups tonight, telling tale of hero
ism and horror. When the fate of
the boat seemed sealed, according to
witnesses, Clyde Witcher. a Fekm
man, embraced his wife, then his two
children and the little family perished
clasped in each other's arms. Their
bodies have been recovered.
In the hands of the body, of another
. man, lound late today was a quantity
of his wife's hair. His attempt to
tare ner tailed, and tier body was
; brought up shortly after the searchers
lound her husbands corpse.
Dead Thick in Dance HalL
"When the crash came, the musi
; clans in the dance hall rnsHedto the
windows, said William Newman.
' v yelled at them and induced them to
b . f csujC playjng, ; Suddenly .the boat
swung sharply abo.4 and in an in
stant we were flooded. My feet soon
touched the floor and then I pushed
up so my head was above water. Then
I broke a window, passed out my
dancing partner and with the aid of
Ben Murphy, another passenger, suc
ceeded in passing out a few more
women and children. The dead were
thick in tUat dance hall."
Officials of the boat said that a faint
jar was their first intimation of the
approaching tragedy.
"It was not a hard blow," said
Capt. Herman Mehl. "We were headed
down stream and it was awfully
foggy. The boat had worked over
pretty well to the Peoria side. When
it hit I went up to the bridge as fast
as I could. It backed off, squared
away and headed down stream again.
Many of the passengers rushed to the
starboard s'de and it listed a bit.
"I ordered one of the crew to go
down into the hold, and he yelled that
there was two feet of water there. I
told the passengers to hurry upstairs
and instructed the crew to keep order.
"Then the lights, went out, and it
settled in a couple of minutes."
Story of Engineer.
L. L. Davison, second engineer, who
was on watch at the time the boat
struck, declared that he thought every
thing was all right until he heard
somebody cry: "Everybody upstairs."
A moment later the boat listed ana
the lights went out.
"I supposed we struck a log, he
said. "We were running on a slow
bell' and when the little bump came
it wasn't big enough for anyone to
notice much Williams (the pilot)
gave me the stop bell.'
"Then we backed ott and squared
away, we neaaea aown stream unucr
a 'slow bell' and then a fellow they
call 'Dutch Henry' came running in
the engine room and asked me, to turn
on the lights in the hold. I did it for
him and thought everything was all
right until I heard him yell: 'Iheres
about two feet down here.'
"A few seconds later the water
reached the dynamos, and the lights
went out.N I managed to get away
by jumping out of the engine room
window just as the water began
swishing around the cylinders."
All Over in Four Minutes.
"It was all over in less than four
minutes," said Ernest Langston, a
boy employed in the boiler room of
the steamer. "I can see those people
yet, crying and wringing their hands.
They go back and forth across my
eyes and I just can't brush the
thouehts of them away.
"I was in front of the candy count
er when the first alarm was given.
It passed like an electric shock
through every one and that was what
caused so many to lose their lives.
If they had not got so excited and
gone to one side of the boat, many
more would have been saved.
"The pilot threw his searchlight
out to one side and every one rushed
in that direction to see what was the
matter. I got upon a barrel to get
out of the way. It fell with me and
pinned me under it. The water began
nourinsr in but I didn't give up hope
for a minute. Women began sobbing
and gasping for breath and the cries
were just terrible. I was thrown into
the water and afterwards was picked
up."
Commends Actions of Crew.
A man named McKinney of Pekin,
another survivor, commended the
actions of the crew after the disaster.
"Captain Mehl crawled to the
bridge and shouted to everyone to
keep cool and ordered his crew to
observe the rule of the sea. 'women
and children first," said McKinney.
Bud Ray of Pekin, who swam to
the shore after the wreck, said that
he was dancing when he felt the first
shock. The orchestra stopped play
ing for an instant, but continu$d al
most immediately in response to cries
of "on with the dance." Almost im
mediately, however, the electric lights
went out and water began rushing
through the windows. A mad scram
ble for the two narrow doorways fol
lowed, being ended in less than two
minutes by the plunge of the boat
to the bottom of the river.
Airplane Chief Named.
Washington. July 6. Appointment
of Maj. B. H. Gitchell. national army,
as chief of the industrial relations sec
tion of the aircraft bureau, was an
nounced today by the War depart
ment. He succeeds Charles P. Neill.
chairman of railroad board of adjust
ment No. 1.
"THE STORE
Browning,
Hi
'Wf Pmm v..:- lii
vrv
ifff:a v.
After-lnventorySALE Of
MEN'S FURNISHINGS
"Starts Monday, July 8
In the face of ever-increasing cost of merchandise this After In
ventory Sale is of immense importance.
We Recommend Liberal Purchases
SHIRTS
(Soft and Stiff Cufft)
$1.50 Shirts $1.15
3 for $3.25
$2.00 Shirts
a for $4.00
$2.60 Shirts
3 for $4.75
$3.00 Shirts
3 for $5.75
$4.00 Shirts
3 for $7.75
.$1.35
.$1.65
.$1.95
.$2.65
SILK NECKWEAR.
. . ,35c; 3 for
50c Quality,...
65c Quality
$1.00 Quality
$1.50 Quality
$2.00 Quality
...45c; 3
. . .65c; 3
.$1.00; 3
.$1.35; 3
ATHLETIC UNION SUITS
$1.60 Union Suits 95c; 3 for
$2.00 Union Suits $1.45; 3 for
See Our Fifteenth Street Windows.
C
;aiff''t'il'',ii'Hli!iiili'i:'ii'l:'!T'i!!:.li;'l::
Browning,
jaa.Tjnsas.ijei
CONFERENCE ON
RUfSIA IS HELD
AT WHITE HOUSE
Important Decision Reached,
But Not Yet Made Public;
Waiting Policy Under
stood to Have Ended.
By Associated Press.
Washington, July 6. America's
waiting policy in regard to military
action in Russia is understood to
have ended today at a conference at
the White House between President
Wilson and Secretaries fcansing,
Baker and Daniels, Admiral Benson,
chief of naval operations, and Gen
eral March, chief of staff.
There was no announcement after
the conference and probably will be
none for the present, but it was said
unofficially that an important de
cision had been reached.
Urgent appeals from the allied gov
ernments for American approval of
and coODeration in joint measures
to meet the German menace through
Russia have been before President
Wilson for several days. Until now,
however, there has been no intima
tion that he had changed his position,
based upon recommendations of his
military advisers, that a successful
military effort in Russia was not
feasible.
For military reasons strictest se
crecy is observed concerning the ex
act nature of steps proposed by the
allies. American and allied naval
forces now are guarding war supplies
both at Vladivostok, terminal of the
Trans-Siberian railroad, and Kola,
terminal of the railroad on the Arctic
coast, which is reported threatened
by German forces in the interior.
May Use No Great Force.
Belief among the majority of Ameri
can military men that no expedition
on an extended scale should be un
dertaken in the east apparently has
undergone no change. An official in
timated the decision did not mean the
sending of any great military force.
Any military measures that may be
put into effect along the trans-Siberian
railroad or southward from Kola
will not interfere with the American
plans for lending material aid.
When news came that the bol
sheviki were offering no resistance to
the efforts of the Finnish-German
troops to cut the railroad to Arch
angel and Kola and seize the military
stores at those places and the whole
Murman coast as well the military ad
visers of the entente pointed out the
great danger that impended to the
closure of the only channel of com
munication between the entente pow
ers and the interior of Russia except
that in Siberia.
Yesterday's meeting in Paris of the
supreme war council is believed to
have taken action which influenced
the administration here.
WILSON TO VETO ,
PRICE OF WHiiAP
(Continued From Fas e One.)
reached a compromise today. While
the senate adhered to the $2.50
price it Decame unaerstooa mai
if the house, upon vote, stood
out against the increase, the sen
ate would yield. The friends , of
the wheat producers took the
matter up and submitted and sup
ported a compromise of $2.40 at the
primary markets.
This proposition was carried through
by a vote of ISO to 106. Members
from the southern states and those
from some of the large cities in the
extreme east had, up to this time,
prevented the adoption of the sen
ate amendment or any increase over
that fixed through are president's or
der of j$2.20. The adjustment is a fair
compromise. It was merely splitting
the difference between $2.50 and $2.20
and adding 5 cents to cover the in
creased freight charges recently put
on by the director-general of the rail
ways." "
OF TffiS f OWfT
King & Co.
;
ill
SILK SHIRTS
Shirts $3.45
3 for $10.00
$5.00
$6.50
$8.00
$9.00
Shirts
3 for $13.00
Shirts
3 for $16.00
Shirts
3 for $17.50
.$4.45
.$5.45
. $6.00
.$6.65
$10.00 Shirts
3 for $19.50
$1.00
$1.25
$1.75
$2.75
$3.75
for
for
for
for
...$2.75
,...$4.00
King & Co.
7
GERMAN ENVOY
SLAIN IN MOSCOW
BY TWO CALLERS
Assassins Escape After Putting
to Death General
Count von
Mirbach in His Pri
vate Office.
By Associated Press.
Taris, July 6. General Count Von
Mirbach, German ambassador to
Russia, has been assassinated at Mos-.
cow, according to a Berlin report
received by the Havas agency.
Two unknown men asked for an
audience with the German ambassa
dor this morning, then attacked him,
wounding him with shots from a re
volver. They followed this by
throwing grenades. Von Mirbach
died almost immediately.
The assassins fled and have not
been arrested.
General Count Von Mirbach has
been active in netiations between
Germany and the bdtsheviki. A de
spatch July 6, from Moscow June ?0
said he was that day successful in
obtaining the release of six Finnish
officials detained by Russia in ex
change for Leo Kammeneff, bolshevik
ambassador to Austria-Hungary, who
had been held as a hostage in Fin
land. Count Von Mirbach formerly was
German minister to Greece. The
bolsheviki government consented to
his nomination as ambassador to
Russia last April. In May a despatch
from Moscow said that the demands
presented by the German ambassador
would virtually make Russia a Ger
man colony.
On May 27, the Russian govern
ment agreed to the appointment of
Count Von Mirbach as an inter
mediary between Russia and the
trans-Caucasian government. On
May 31, he obtained from Russia an
acceptance of the German proposal
for peace negotiations between the
bolsheviki and Finland.
MEN FOR BALLOON
SERVICE WANTED
AT FORT OMAHA
(Continued From Page One.)
requests by mail, telegraph or in per
son will be considered by the com
manding officer of the United States
army balloon school, at Fort Omaha
from those desiring to enter the ser
vice as regularly enlisted men.
Promise Active Service.
Those accepted will be assigned to
active duty promptly. Request will
be made for the induction of desir
able men within the draft age and
those under and above the draft age,
if between 18 and 40, may enlist.
The balloVm service requires auto-
obile mechanics, truck drivers, mo-
torcyclers, chauffeurs, fabric workers,
riggers, electricians, stenographers,
telegraph and telephone operators,
Most
Miles
per
Dollar
1 1 1 1 resilience also means a road grip
men familiar with the manufacture
or handling of hydrogen gas, and
others possessing special qualifica
tions. Former enlisted men will be given
preference. Application for officers'
commissions as balloon pilots are
now considered from men who have
had a certain amount of military ex
perience. Get Technical Training.
At the present time the recruiting
of men will be limited to such num
bers as can be accommodated at the
post and prompt application will be
necessary. The technical training re
ceived by men in this branch of the
THOMPS0N.BEIHEN s-Cq
Cfhe fashion Center fir
Parasols
For Summer Suns
For the children, a great
variety of new shapes and
pleasing colors. Many of
the handles have arm
loops, 50c to $5
Two-in-one parasols that
are sun proof and rain
proof. Shown in plain
colors, plaids and stripes;
handles are short and
come with arm loops, $5
to $8.50.
Silk gingham parasols in
large plaids, pongees in
natural, and all the dif
ferent summer shades;
several new styles, $2 to
$12.
New Novelties in
the Baby Section
Hand-painted, celluloid comb
aid brush sets of from two to
five pieces; also separate combs
and brushes, 50c to $3.50.
Decorated silk carriage straps,
coat hangers, hot water bottles,
record books.
Infants' costumers, thirty-six
inches high, $2.25.
Down powder puffs, powder
shakers, soap boxes, teething
rings, rattles, roly polys, balls
and numerous other pretty gift
things, 25c to $3.50.
Mahogany Trays
at Smallest Prices
Solid mahogany trays with glass
bottoms and removable backs.
$1 ones, 50c; $1.25 styles, 75c;
$1.50 trays, $1.
Art Dept., Third Floor
Vacation 'kerchiefs
Plain embroidered and initialed
styles, all of pure linen, in very
fine qualities, 20c, 25c, 35c, 50c
Handkerchief centers for cro
cheting. Madeira, hand"" embroidered,
50c, 75c and $1.
IET us keep your trucks on the
j fco. That's our business. And
we do it successfully because
we have the right tire for
every need and a complete
service shop to make any
repair or change quickly.
Firestone Truck Tires are built of
the right compound to give most
protection to truck, combined with
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That's why trucks bn Firestone
Tires require fewer repairs. This
ce also means a road
V. TSvk. 2.1
service will be valuable to the men
who receive it in civil life at the
close of the war.
The Fort Omaha balloon school
ranks as the leading camp of instruc
tion of its class in the country today
and it possesses an enviable reputa
tion for efficiency. It is turning out
whole squadrons of trained men very
rapidly and many of the. .units in
structed there are now "over there"
and are making glorious history.
In order to accommodate the
growth of the work at the fort more
ground will be necessary and the
rumors that the facilities of the
school are to be enlarged are more
than likely to be confirmed soon.
The July
Dainty Summer Dresses
At One-Third Original
Prices
Including a number of
Georgette gowns, besides
Summery frocks of voile,
organdie and linen in late
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reduced to new prices that
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styles of dependable garments.
Silk and Woolen Sweaters
Here-for Buttons
Plain and fancy pearl but
tons in all sizes. Plenty of
small, pearls for trimming
blouses. Summer skirts and
dresses call for medium and
large sizes, both of which are
here in abundance. A good
twb-hole pearl button, one
dozen to a card, 5c and 10c
a card.
Toilet Section
that prevents skidding and a help
to the engine which saves gasoline,
Hydraulic Press and Thorough
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prompt, thorough service. We
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Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
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Office and Factory, Akron, O. v
Branches and Dealer Everywhere.
Hydranlle Press,
Capacity 150
Tons.
Prisoner Leaps From Fast
Train to Escape Officers
Bismarck, N. D., July 6. Tony
Zalatorious, a Chicago, bank clerk, ar.
rested at Glendive for alleged com
plicity in a $40,000,000 swindle, clad
only in underwear, leaped from the
North Coast Limited train between
Bismarck and Jamestown early today
and escaped with handcuffs on him.
When arrested in Glendive $31,000 al
leged to have been taken from a Chi
cago bank by Zalatorious and Charles
Klamaus, recently arrested in San
Francisco was found on him.
Womef0
Sales of
Misses' Tailored Suits Arc
$18.75, $29.50 and $37.50
and Slip-Overs on Sale
They are limited in number,
but ever so desirable in style and
color. Come early.
$45 Sweaters, $30
$30 Sweaters, $20
$15 Sweaters, $10
$10.50 Sweaters, $7
$7.50 Sweater's, $5
All Sales Are Final
Toilet Articles
Creme Oil soap, 10c.
Good nail files for 10c.
Nail polish (cakes), 15c.
Silk Undergarments
Silk top union suits in pink
and white. An excep
tionally good quality for
$1.50. Extra sizes, $1.75.
Lisle vests with silk tops
are $1.25.
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st.
f.BK
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