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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1921)
1 ( THE BEE: OMAHA, TUESDAY. MARCH 1, 1921. Operator Tells Of Train Wreck: Unable to Sleep Kiiinerr of Michigan Central Illumed for ignoring Block Snlislitnte Was in Tower. Ilj Jh AMiM'iHtcil l'rr. Porter, Jiul., Fi-t). 8. Charles Whitehead, telegraph operator in the signal lower which regulates the pas sage oi the trains over the crossing where a New York Central train last 'flight .smashed into a Michigan Cen tral train, killing more than 40, to night gave his vvrsion of the events in the signal tower preceding and (hiring the collision. lie substantiated the statement of Joe Cook, .signal operator, that the signals were set "against" the Mich igan Central train and exonerated Cook of blame. Whitehead tonight was back at his lob, outwardly calm. J I is eyes. Jeep set from loss of sleep, darted fi oiu one track to the other and many times he paced the floor. To railroad othcials he said he thanked God for his own narrow escape and was feeling tine, although his ap petite was gone. Regular Man Off. "1 send and received all messages Celling when, various trains will ar rive." he said. "I liavp linlhincr to ... o .-- oo wun tne operation ot me sig lals. ' "Ordinarily Tiering runs the lev, irs. but he wanted to take a' night off nd hired joe Cook, who is a- substi tute operator, to work. 1 "Because of the mass of switches, detours and the intersection, both of us must be on our toes and we were ast night. ' "Far down each track is an appli ance which rings a b.cll in the tower when a train hits it. Last night we were waiting for No. 151, the New York Central train. We heard the bell and looked up at the recorder, seeing it was the New York Central. About 30 seconds later the Michigan Central bell rang. Joe set the signals against the Michigan Central and opening the track for the New York Central. We sat peering down the New York Central tracks, watching the headlight grow larger and larger. We hadnt noticed the Michigan Cen tral. t "The New York Central enngine gradually grew larger and finally its outlines were visible. Suddenly I heard Joe shout: Comes Through Block. "My God, Charley, the M. C. is coining through the block.' "I can still hear that shouted warn ing. . "I turned quickly and there, not 150 feet away, was the Michigan Central No. 20 crashing down at 60 miles an hour. It was so close I "ould see the spaces between, the fender bars. Joe jumped for the door and 1 jumped after him. Some thing made us realize that to go downstairs would be , fatal. We -.grabbed the door and held on. :"Wc heard a terrific grinding smash. .There was a.lilss of steam, a' -cd glare lighted up the tower and our little building shook. The crash ing of glass the tower windows breaking tingled in my ears and the tower continued to rock. . "We lay ngainst the door for a moment and then collapsed. A few seconds later Joe got up and dashed downstairs. I followed. Runs Two Miles. "When I reached the ground joe was running full speed up the road to Chesterton, two miles away. I sra told that he never stopped until he reached thxe. "I went to the wreckage, the con ductor came up and tried to ask me something. He couldn't talk, he Was shaking so, and I guess I couldn't have answered. I don't re member much after that. I went home .but couldn't sleep. I kept seeing those two glaring headlights they seemed gigantic rushing down on me. I dreamed of them. "I'm all right now. but thank God for my escape. Fortunately the cars fell awav from the tower." , Whitehead eNplcained that the signal system was interlocking so that both tracks could not have been open at 'once. He said ' that the Michigan Central train probably was making o0 miles an hour, but that the New Y'ork Central was .traveling slower, probably 40 miles. . Cook Unable to Work. "They always travel nearly full speed, but last night the New York Central seemed to be coming slower. Perhaps the engineer saw the other train and tried to stop," he said. Cook was unable to work tonight, but was not needed. Every train in both roads were ordered to stop before reaching the wreckage and to .proceed only by hand signal. All derailing switches were locked closed and all blocks weie set against on coming trains. Last night was the first night off the regular tower man has taken in over a month. His job is a seven-! ' day one. Tiering, was back at work this afternoon. Train Fireman Says He Has Story of Wreck to Tell Michigan City, liul., Feb. 28. (By The Associated Tress.) "The other fellows can chirp all they want to. We have our own story to tell yet," said George Block, fireman of the Michigan Central train wrecked at Porter, Ind.. last night. William Long, the engineer, and Block were found here awaiting a special train which took them and various Michigan Central officials to Niles, Mich., where an official rail road inquiry was to be held later today. Long was told he had been ac" cused o responsibility for the wreck by the Forter towerman and it had been reported also that the police . officials were seeking him, but he made no reply. Morris Plant at St. Louis Suffers $500,000 Fire Loss East St. Louis, 111., Feb. 28. The building housing the offices and cas ing rooms of Morris & Co., pack ers, was destroyed by fire today. Officials estimated the loss at $500, 000. It is believed the fire was caused bv crossed electric wires. r -About 2,000 men will be throvr out of l was juud. No Word Heard From Enginer in Wreck ttonllniit-d From Page On.) operator on duty last night, had closed the crossing against the Mich igan Central train and opened it for the New York Central train. Trainmen pointed to cuts in the Michigan Central ties as proof that the train had been derailed by the derailing switch and then had climbed hack on the track when it hit the "diamond" at the intersec tion. Cook's statements were substan tiated by his fellow worker, Charles Whitehead, also on duty in the tower. Possibility of an immediate in quest was set aside todav when Dr. H. O. Seipe!, county coroner, said he would not attempt to start an inquest until identification was fini.ihed. No Fire in Ruins. Town Trustee R. Huff, first town official on the scene, announcefl to day he intended to move toward limiting the speed at which trains passed the crossing. 1 hough this is the greatest dis aster Porter has ever had, it lies within one of the busiest railroad sections in the country and almost at Porter's doors an even greater wreck Occurred 15 years ago. This was the destruction of a Baltimore and Ohio emigrant train which ran head-on into a freight train and took hre three miles east of here. Failure ot fire to break out last night was a saving boon. The town marshal had placed his fire depart ment's hose on one side. Chester tons department soon appeared on the other. But electrification of the train lighting probably-prevented this diseaster, officials said. New York Central Plows. The New York Central had plowed through the middle of the other train. All except the two baggage and mail cars of the New Y'ork Central train remained upright, although bits of the wooden coaches of the Mich igan Central train were scattered for 50 yards. Passengers in the four coaches of the Michigan Central train behind the two death' ears were un hurt except for the shakcup and all of the passengers on the New Y'ork Central escaped. For no reason that railroad officials could assign almost all of the dead taken to the little morgue at Ches terton, across the tracks from For ter, received their fata) wounds in the head. Some were decapitated, accounting for the failure to identify nine of the 25 which had been taken there up to o o'clock. Towerman Blameless. "I was not to blame," Towerman Cook told an Associated Press rep resentative at his home in Chester ton early today. "I threw the block against the Michigan Central train while it was two miles back from the crossing. I do not know why they failed to catch the signal." An official statement issued from the office of the chief dispatcher ot the Michigan Central at Chicago also declared the Michigan Central engine crew apparently failed to ob serve that the crossing signal was set against them. The steel forward coaches of the New Ytrk Central train were almost unscathed, while the New York Central engine ran off the rails and turned over, tangled in a heap with the Michigan Central engine. Aged Engineer Killed. A pathetic incident was 'revealed in the death of Albert Van Riper. He was an engineer employed by the Michigan Central and was to have been pensioned soon, having spent 50 years at the throttle, without hav ing met with a mishap. He had spent Sunday' in Chicago visiting relatives and was returning home. American Heiress to Weil Count Jacques of France Paris, Feb. 28, Announcement of the engagement of. Elizabeth, daugh ter of Mrs. Hejiry Ridgway, to Count Jacques, is made in the Faris edition of the New Yrork Herald. The bride-elect's mother is a for mer American girl, while the mother of Count Jacques was formerly Miss Lita Garner of New Y'ork. Rail Commission' Planning Appeal From Injunction Case of Order Restraining Body Interfering With Rate Raise, to Be Taken to Supreme Court. Lincoln, Feb. 28. (Special.) The Nebraska Railway commission is perfecting an appeal to the United States supreme court from the tem porary injunction granted the car riers at a federal court hearing in Omaha, Monday, February 21, re straining the commission from in terfering with interstate freight and passenger rate ordered by the Inter state Commerce commission, to su persede stale rates on or before March 22. The railroads immediately put the passenger fare increase into effect changing from 3 cents a mile to 3.6 cents. The authorized 'increase in freight rates, amounting to 10 per cent, is expected to be installed early this week throughout the state.. The carriers were required to give a joint ?200,000 to reimburse ship pers and travelers in case, on the final hearing on its merits, the state commission should win in its con tention that the government had no authority to upset established intra state tariffs. Nebraska has joined with 41 other states in the brief before the United States supreme court in the first of a group of test cases to come up for hearing an appeal from Wisconsin, where the passenger rate increase only is involved. This case was set for argument before the court Monday of this week. The briefs attack the construction and constitutionality of the so-called Esch-Cummins transportation act. Farm Loan Banks Valid; Millions Are Released U oiitlnurd Itom l'(C One.) the farm loan banks. The govern ment, the t-ederal Land Bank of Wichita, Kan., and the First Joint Stock Land bank of Chicago, on their own application, were made de fendants in order that the entire ques tion might be settled finally in one suit. Counsel for Mr. Smith asserted in substance that the farm loan act was an exercise of power which congress did not possess under the constitu tion. Further ground for attack was found in the exemption of the farm loan securities from taxation, as "instrumentalities of the govern ment. v William G. McAdoo, former secre tary of the treasury, submitted the government brief as special assistant to the attorney general in the argu ment of the case. He asserted that the banks were created as "fiscal agents" of the government and that congress had the clear right to set uo such institutions. Since assistance to agriculture pertains to the general welfare, it was argued, congress could have made direct appropria tions for the purpose in view, but chose to create these special agencies to provide the necessary funds. With regard to the tax exemption feature Mr. McAdoo contended that it was "simply a question for con gress to determine when the useful ness of its agencies would be en hanced by exemption. Important to Nebraska. Decision of the United States su prenie court, upholding 4he validity of the federal farm loan act, is of vast importance to farmers of Ne braska and Iowa, and indirectly to all business interests of agricultural sections. . The Omaha farm loan bank, or ganized under the act, loaned over ?20,000,000 to farm owners in its dis trict before the attack upon the law made it impossible to sell bonds with which to finance further loans. For more than a year no applications for 3 ElTD NewMctor Records; for March When Toscanini and La Scala Orchestra came to tour this country, it was a foregone conclusion that they would also make Victor Record9. The first two records are now announced and'they afford music-lovers everywhere the opportunity to hear this famous organization. In this list also appears a new tenor, Beniamino Gigli, who has scored a triumph with the Metropolitan Opera, and in addition there are new offerings by such favorites as Alda, deGogorza, Galli:Curci, Heifetz, Homer, and McCormack a truly impressive company of great artists. Wherever there is a Victor dealer, you are welcome to hear any of these records. Number Size 10 r Thought of You Frances Alda 64927 John Peel Erailio De Gogorza 64923 Interludium in Modo Antieo Flonzaley Quartet 74667 When Chlori. Sleeps Amelita GalU-Curci 64929 Mefutof ele Dai canipi, dai prati (From the Green Fields) Beniaminq Gigli 64933 (a) Berceuse (Paul Juon) (b) Valse du Ballet Raymond Jaicha Heifetz 74660 Samson et Dalila Printempe qui commence Xoec-rr (Delilsh'i Song ol Spring) Mme. Louise Homer Lassie 6' Mine Edward Johnson 64930 Nina Violoncello Hans Kindler 64932 (a) The Next Market Day (b) A Ballynure Ballad John McCormack 64926 Symphony in E Flat Major Menuette (3rd Movement) (Mozart) 1 Arturo Toscanini and La Scala Orchestra J Symphony in E Flat Major-Allegro (Finale) (Mozart) ) Arturo Toscanini and La Scala Orchestra ) 10 12 10 10 12 12 10 10 10 Price $1.25 1.2S 1.75 1.2S 1.25 1.75 1.75 - 1.25 1.25 1,25 74668 12 1.75 h74669 Colleen o' My Heart A Young Man's Fancy Roses of Memory t I Hare a Dream I Cannot Sing the Old Songs Biddy Fox Trot Somebody Medley One-Step Honeydew Medley Walts Honeydew Medley One-Step Rosie Medley Fox Trot Honolulu Eyes Medley Waltz Broadway Rose Medley Fox Trot Sweet Mamma Medley Fox Trot Down by the O-HI-O Marimba (Sweet Marimba Mine) Rose of My Heart When I Looked in Your Wonderful Eyes I Used to Love You but It's All Over Now Dolly (I Love You) Beautiful Annabelle Lee Louisiana Medley of Irish Jigs Accordion Medley of Irish Reels Irith Pipes Gems f rota "Jimmie" Gems from "Honey Girl" H8718 10 18719 Reinald Werrenrath 64931 Olive Kline Lambert Murphy Merle Alcock ' Merle Alcock The Benson Orchestra of Chicago The Benson Orchestra of Chicago Joseph C Smith's Orchestra Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra Original Dixieland Jars Band Original Dixieland Jazz Band Billy Murray-Victor Roberts Billy Murray John Steel John Steel Henry Burr and Peerless Quartet Peerless Quartet j Charles Hart Elliott Shaw Sterling Trio John Kimmel Patrick J. Touhey Victor Light Opera Company Victor Light Opera Company 12 10 1.75 1.25 45215 10 1.00 45216 10 1.00 .85 10 .85 18721 10 .85 r 18722 10 .85 H8723 10 :85 18724 10 .85 18725 10 .85 18726 10 .85 h 18727 J-3570S 10 .85 12 1.35 Any Victor dealer will gladly give you an illustra ted booklet describing these new Victor Records and play any music you wish to hear. New Victor Rec ords on sale at all dealers on the 1st of each month. Victrolas in great variety from $25 to $1500. rco. u.. pat. rr IIS MASTERS VMCE Rcauaswr.opp This trademark and the trademarked word "Victrola"identiry ill our products. Look under the lidl Look on the label 1 VICTOR TALKING MACHINE GO, Camden, N. J. Victor Talking Machine Co. i Camden, New Jersey loans have been accepted and farm ers have depended entirely on pri vate sources. This, in the opinion of farm, loan bank officials, has been one reason why it has not been pos sible to relieve the financial strin gency soooner; Under today's de cision the federal farm foan tank ex pects to start loans within tft days. Officials declare, that this will per mit the farmers to pay off loans now held by banks and make money "easier" in general. Defeat for Bankers. The court decision, while a vic tory for the federal farm loan hanks, is a sharp defeat for the American Farm Mortgage Bankers' associa tion, which instituted the proceed ings. Members of this association have loaned millions on Nebraska land in past vears. Right o organize private joint stock farm loan banks is also con firmed by the court decision. One such bank now exists in Nebraska, the Fremont Joint Stock Land bank, a consolidation of a former corpora tion of the same name with the Peters Joint Stock Land hank of Omaha. This institution now ranks among half a dozen of the largest in the country. It, like the govern ment bank, lias had to suspend, pro ceedings while the law has been in court. Demand Is Great. "This decision means the world to us," said E. D. Morcom, treasurer of the Omaha Federal Land bank "It means that we can now sell our bonds and within six weeks we will be able to loan money in unlimited quantities; subject oulv to the giving of proper security. The demand is great. The agricultural interests are straining at the leash and this means life to then t." 1 Youth Is Under Arrest For Shooting Brother I'ontiac, Mich., Feb. 28. Warren Branfickl,, 11, was detained by the police here today, pending in vestigation into the killing in a woods near Farmington yesterday of his 9-year-old brother, Clare. The older boy shot and killed his brother, "to put him out of his misery," he said, after aecidcntally wounding him. He said he fired the first shot "to see how close he could come, ro his brother without killing him." Bee Want Ads little, but mighty. Marshall Is Given Qilimi 1 At imr fiii Ull V I HJ III" Vli c 1 11 1' I I t'lll-IIL IM lli'l lllllll I of Gills rrom Colleagues. Washington, Feb. 28. A tall sil ver loving cup was presented to Vice President Marshall today by the senate as a '"going away" gift, the republican and democratic leaders. Senators Lodge of Massa chusetts and Underwood of Alabama expressing the esteem and good wishes of the membership in pre sentation speerhes. A gold eyeglass case, a rigar bolder and a box oi cigars also were presented to Mr. Marshall, who will leave Washing ton March 5 for a six weeks' lecture trip, traveling from coast to coast. After a visit with Mrs. Marshall's mother in Arizona. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall will sail for Europe Mh 14, going first to Switzerland in com pany with others representing the northern jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite Masons at a world conference at Lausanne. v Black Silk Lisle Hose 75c a pair A full fashioned, medium weight hose; splendid for wear. Garter tops and double soles insure good service. Center Aisle Main Floor Children's School Umbrellas Umbrellas with loops for the arm for girls, with crook handles for boys. All sizes for $1.50 to $3, according to quality and size. . ' A$L50 Umbrella Has - been an unknown quantity for several years. These are a 26-inch size for women , and have loops in the handles. For Men Twenty-seven and twenty-, eight-inch umbrellas are $2.50 to $10 each. A suit case style is $6. ' Z To uW Left As You Enter Crepe de Chine Teddies for Only $3.50 and $425 Lace trimmed with either built up shoulders or rib bon shoulder: straps. At tractive : and - unusually fine for $3.50 and $4.25. '. "Second Floor The Store for Blouses Has Varied Spring Displays Crepe de chine overblouses,, for instance, in high colorings, are an important part, but the hand-made batistes are of greatest interest. . Blouses of undressed batiste will not rumple under one's suit coat, and blouses that are marvels of fine handiwork will be a con stant delight to the wearer. Their prices are so reasonable, too. Starting at $5 and rang ing to $35.- There are machine-made batistes that are quite fine for $3.50 to $6.50 each. Store for Blouse- Third Floor Irish Linen Table Cloths With Napkins Round floral and scroll designs. 2x2-yard cloths are $10 each; 2x2i-yard cloths are $12.89; 20 inch napkins to match are $10 a dozen. Linent Main Floor Make Your Own Lampshades It is very satisfactory and interesting "work. We have frames in all sizes, a beautiful array of silks, fringes, tassels and braids, and we assist you until the shade is com plete. rtneedIework Second Floor A Lower Price on 1 30 Retired Popular For a Limited Time Only - Dance, Song and Popular Selections These are all standard Columbia Records, and were all made within the last eighteen months. In order to keep down the size of the Columbia Records Catalog, these 130 numbers will be disposed of at This lot includes records by such famous artists as Al Jolson, Van and Schenk, Harry Fox, Ted Lewis' Jazz Band, Art Hickman's Orchestra, etc. Never before have such records been offered to you at such a cut in price. On Sale Tomorrow Morning Store Open at 8 A. (VI. Sixteenth Between Harney and Howard Sixteenth Between Harney and Howard 1