Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 1

1 I il I Bfc- -J AND 'COMMEHCIAL-STAR- i ') Ilxty-Third Year. No. 57 Entered as second class mall matter at Mattoon, Illinois MATTOON, ILLINOIS, FRIDAV EVENING, MAY 7, 1937 Published every afternoon except Sunday Price 5 Cents jiJES'riOfS GIANT DSESGiiiLE i' 11 i -virii. i i nm nimnim ricrxife Tn hait Great Airship Falling in Flames dLLI.lt) I IIHLI X. i 'v rAl I o'v v' kf ivs: VX I ilfmMv.

Above is shown a spectacular "picture of the giant dirigible Hindenburg, lighted by Its own flames against an evening sky, as it dropped earthward following a blast aboard it that occurred -as it prepared to land at Lakehurst, N. U. 8. Naval Air Station, Thursday evening. Of the 98 persons aboard, 37 arev known to have lost their lives, and the remaining persons aboard were more or less seriously injured.

GAWIG BAH D' BURSTS AS SHE I Tragedy at Lakehurst, N. Big Airship Is Now Mass of Ruins By International Nw Service. Lakehurst, N. May -7. At 10 o'clock to-.

the known dead as -a result of the disaster which destroyed the dirigible Hindenburg Thursday was definitely placed at 31. Six other bodies, it is almost certain, are be- neath the blackened ff ruins of the Zeppelin. There has been so much confusion that it difficult to arrive at figures that can be termed absolutely accu-. rate. Of the known dead, 27 bodies are in the temporary morgue in the big" hangar here.

The other four victims died during the night in hospitals near Lakehurst. Shortly before the in-quiry began the Zeppelin company announc ed that four passengers previously reported dead or missing, had been located alive at In Si-' Wf -a1 at" the- eir tomes, or homes of friends. By JAMES L. KILGALLEN (1 N. S.

Staff Correspondent) Lakehurst, N. May 7, Thirty-seven per sons are either dead or unaccounted for and '51 others miraculously scaped death in the mysterious fire and ex-plosioivwhich wrecked th'e giant Zeppelin as she jwas nosing into her mooring mast at 7:23 'o'clock last evening. Many of the 04 survivors ire believed to be Hcrioutsly injured. The cause of the diwiRter is tiot definitely known. One 'supposition is it whh luo to 'static electricity which ijfnit-Vj the highly influiiiiiinble hydrogen gas in the 1 linden-')urR.

The other theory that a backfire from one of 'the engines net fire to Mie Steps were taken by the United 8tnteH Xnvy and the SriaUon bureau of the le- partment of Connneree to -(induct InventigatloiiH to tie- leriuinc the cause the ca- fastrophe. Commander C. E. Roscndahl of lie Lakehurst naval air station announced, that 26 bodies had been ecovtrcd and that seven bodiu tUll vert unaccounted (or. In addition stated a civilian nembcr of the (round crew, Alan latorman of Lakehuret.

had died burns sustained in rescue work. Rosendahl aald he had Informed he Nary Department In Washing-on that "It Is entirely too early to muni any ueu as to the origin the fire and explosions." Investl-UloruK will be smarted today, he At dark crept across the the Hindenburg lay across the Irld, a mass of twisted and amoul-rlng wreckage. Coast guardsmen ordered to the -ent from all along the Jersey hnri formed a ring around the ulna. Spectator vert not allowed ithin hundreds of rrd from the ulns. i Twrnty-oos bodies had been tak from th wreckage up to dock this morning.

Nine of them oide by side In a room in the (CcnLaued on page mta ship HIE PICTURE OF WITNESSES TOT See Flaming Bodies of Victims Hurled to the Ground Front Airship Lakehurst, N. May With the stark realism of men who have looked death in the face, eyewitnesses today gave International News Service a tragic word-picture of the Hindenburg disaster. They told of seeing flaming bodies hurled to the ground from the windows of the crumbling "queen of the skies," reduced "in the fraction of a second," according to one, "to nothing but a blue-' white skeleton." Tells of Ghastly Blast. Harry -Bruno, American press representative for the operators of the dirigible, was one of those closest to the ship when the explosion occurred. "I was standing directly under the nose of the' Zeppelin when there was a terrific explosion," he said.

"It was under the tail flippers. iiti i r- hiengers -were leaning -out of'cabin' windows and I saw two bodies, aflame, Hurtled to the ground. "The flames shot through the ship in a fraction of second. Mr. Von Meister (William von Meister, vice president of the American Zeppelin Transport Company) was standing with me and we both ran as as we could to get from under the big hulk that was enveloped in flames and descending upon us.

The ship struck with a terrific crash. irpTaluVhmanBadiyA BurncdV "I saw Captain Lehman picking himself up from the ground. He walked toward us. He was badly burned, and kept repeating: "I don't understand it. I don't understand it." See Sheet of Flame.

(Several news cameramen were al most directly beneath the airship f- when it exploded. One of them, Bob Seeley. said: "I was there with my camera, waiting to take pictures, when all of a sudden, and up shot a sheet of flame and then an awful crash. My face tightened by the heat. I ran for about IS seconds and then turned to take a picture.

"I saw men and women being taken from the ship. Some could barely walk and yietr faces streamed blood. Most of their clothes were burned off I heard, everybody Another cameraman, Larry Kennedy, said: "There was a noise like bullets coming from the gondola. I didn't see anybody jump. I ran back and then turned around and there, in a fraction of a second, was what was left of the Hindenburg nothing but a blue-white skeleton.

'Bodies were all around, some of their clothlni still burning." MRS, ETTA CORNELL; DIES LAST NIGHT Mrs. Etta Cornell, wife of Erneit Cornell, died at 10:40 o'clock Thursday night at her home. 1421 North Tenth street. She had suffered a stroke of paralysis about three hours earlier and had been In Impaired health several months. The funeral will be held at 2, o'clock Sunday aternoon at the Christian and Missionary Alliance church.

1205 Moultrie avenue, with Rev. Dan Pile officiating. Burial will be In the Odd Fellow cemetery at Humboldt. Mrs. Cornell was born June 16.

1800, about two and a half miles aouth of Mattoon, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Myers. 8he spent mast of her life in and near Mat-toon. 8he was married to Mr.

Cornell July 28. 1925. She leaves her' husband and mother, Mrs. Britten: Robinson of Mattoon; a brother," Harry Myers of Chicago; four slaters, Mrs, Norman Lucas of Tomahawk, Mrs. Wll- Uam Saveley, Mrs.

Rolland Leathers and Mrs. Howard Newell, aU of Mattoon. and nine nephews snd three nieces. FLOWERS Mother's choice. MsnU and cut flowers, every variety and price.

Bouquets, 41 and up. A. XX KINO ORHNHOUSE8. VORD RAGEDY UlU UllllUIULLI MAD A LENGTH OF 803 FEET Ill-Fated Ship Powered Witlr4 Huge Power Engines New York May 7. The Hindenburg, big dirigible which was destroyed Thursday evening, considered the greatest product of 'the science of construction; was the largest Zeppelin ever built 803' feet long.

Powered with four huge 1,000 horsepower Diesel engines, it had a maximum speed of 84 miles an hour and carried a crew of 40. Its payload capacity -of 13 tons constituted the largest combination of passengers, freight and mall ever lifted off the ground by aircraft. As a "flying hotel," it was the most luxurious of the 150-odd airships built In the 36 years since Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin made his first historical dirigible night. Elaborate interior decorations, featured by murals depicting the history of aviation, embellished the spacious passenger quarters. A promenade more than 150 feet long enclosed by unbreakable glass provided an unobstructed view' "in all directions.

Stateroom Equipment. Staterooms similar to those on ships were quipped with folding desks', and shower baths, with devices for measuring the consumption of water, which was distilled from air on the trip. The airship had a. completely equipped kitchen, with electric ranges and refrigerators and a large stock of linen, china and The huge freight compartment would -hold 24.000, pounds of baggage, and passenger were offered the service of taking along their cars or even light airplanes. The ship was piloted from a forward gondola, separate from passenger quarters, where were the levers and switches controlling the dirigible's rudders and gas valves.

From the control gondola, a passageway led fo the wireless room, which had the latest developments in all types of radio communication apparatus. On either side of the lower passageway through the ship were the huge containers of crude oil which fed the engines. The gas which held up the sky behemoth was contained in 32 balloons arranged In a continuous chain from bow to stern. Movement around the ship was provided by two corridors, tine running through the bottom of the vessel, along which were located all fuel and water tanks, crew's quarters, supplies, and the other running through the center of the shlo from tip to tip The latter, a primary' girder In the- structure, served as a passageway for gas cell Inspection. The ship was moved by four four Waded wooden propellers mounted on four power cars, two op either side of the ship on the outside.

The ship was constructed of a series of aluminum longitudinal girders, giving It 3 "sides." Joined by a series of rings and various cross girders. The Hindenburg had a cruising range of 8.500 miles sufficient for a wmstop round trip from Lakehurst to Germany, or from New York to Shanghai. China. Besides the 25 staterooms there were a dining ropm, a writing room, a lounge and a smoking room, the latter a unique airship feature. The rooms had heating and cooling systems, and the walla were In-nutated with aluminum foil.

Exhaust gases from the motors wers used to heat the sir. The ship was maneuvered by a system of gear and cables running from the control car to tha rudder and other apparatus.X Tl'SCOLA TRUCK MAN FINDS SNAKE COILED IN SEAT Tuscola, 111, May 7. Everett Chaplin, dellveryman for the.Hocl grocery, has nothing particular against snakes, but when he mounted hi truck yesterday and found a big snake coiled In tha driver's seat well, that was carrying' the thing too far. "Either you get out or I don't get In." said Everett. The snake was finally ousted.

Earlier In the -day Mr. Hoel had hauled a bale of hay In tha truck. The snake probably entered with the hay and crawled on up in the aest when disturbed by the loading of groceries. VPA II IN RURAL AREAS Ohioan Says It Is Not Needed There Seven Months Out of Year Washington, May '7. A proposal to abolish the Works Progress Administration's -operations In rural areas seven months of the year went before Congress late Thursday.

Representative kloeb of Ohio, on the basis of a survey made In the farming district he represents, told a House appropriations subcommittee he believed WPA could be suspended In 2,000 counties of the United States from May 1 to Dec. 1 "without injury." The Ohioan said if his suggestion were adopted relief expenditures for the year beginning July 1 could be held "substantially below Committee Receives Proposal. The House committee which received Kloeb's. proposal Is considering President Roosevelt's request for 81.500,000,000 to finance next year's relief. Chairman Wood rum of Virginia, has predicted it will recommend holding the appropriation to in the interest of economy.

Senator King of Utah proposed that Congress trim the President's request still further, cutting it to 8850,000,000 and abolishing WPA and other federal relief "I want to get this Hopkins organization swept out of existence, he declared, urging that federal re lief money be made available only to states whose own. funds were In adequate, King also proposed that three senators be appointed to Investigate WPA. particularly the number of its employes and their salaries. SUDDEN DEATH OF JOHN BUTLER Special to Tha journal-Qatatt. Coles, III, May 7.

John H. Butler, a farmer residing south of this village in Moultrie county, died sud denly Thursday a half hour after suffering a heart attack In a local elevator office. Ho was 70 years old. The funeral will be held at 2:30 o'clock afternoon at tha family home, with Rev. R.

A. Evans of Lerna officiating. Mr. Butler was born on a farm in Coirs county, but he had resided on a farm in Moultrie county mast of his life. He married Miss Willamette Snapp March 4, 1894.

She died a year ago. Surviving Mr. Butler are four children, Ward Butler of near Windsor, Mrs. Bessie Wright of Gays, Mrs. Zclma Wiley of near Gays and Miss Zcta Butler, at home.

RANTOIL FLYER INJURED PLANE CRASH NEAR PARIS IN Paris, 111, May Burk-ley Nelson of Chanute Field. Ran-toul. suffered minor Injuries late Thursday when his airplane crashed in a forced landing near here. The plane, a new government attack ship, was damaged badly. Nelson, who was alone in the plane, blamed motor trouble.

TheWeather Chicago. May 7. Following are th weather Indications for Illinois for thltty-sli hours ending al sn tn. Saturday: Fair and cool tonight; Saturday fair and some what warmer. LOCAL WEATHER AND TEMPERATURE (Temperature from 11 a.

m. Thurs day to 11 a. II a. C3 3 p. 68 p.

69 0 p. 60 II p. 53 m. today.) 1 a. S3 3 a.

50 6 a. m. .47 9 a. m. 52 11 a.

51 Weather conditions at 11 a. fair. Barometer reading at 11 a. 29.74. 8un rose today at 4:52 and seta at 7:02.

Moon rises at 3:48 m. Minimum temperature today, at 6 s. m. Maximum temperature yesterday, 69 at 5 p. m.

Prevailing wind today, northeast. 4MII1IGIBLE i Lakehurst, N. May The disaster which overtook the German dirigible Hindenburg last night on her maiden voyage of the 1937 season was the fourth maor llghter-than-alrcraff disaster in America. On Sept. 3.

1925, the navy dirigible Shenandoah 'was caught in a line storm over Ohio and broke in half. Fourteen of her crew of 43 were killed. Lieutenant Commander Charles Roscndahl, the present commandant at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, was aboard and free ballooned the forward section of the broken ship to the ground. On April 4. 1933, the Akron, then the largest sky cruiser in existence, was destroyed at sea In a thunder storm off Barnegat Inlet.

All but three of her crew of 78 perLshed. Early in 1935 the sister ship of the Akron, the Macon, was wrecked at sea off California while participating In naval maneuvers. Mast of ljer crew were saved. The ship's electric generators were In a tightly closed compartment amidships, snd furnished current for lighting, radio, steering gear, magnetics compasses, giant searchlights and cooking. KANSAS MAN SPEAKS AT ABC MEETING A talk on "Twenty Years From by Will Lauhrr of Kansas.

111., poet and philosopher, was the feature of the weekly dinner meeting of the American Business Club at the Hotel U. 8. Orsnt Thursday evening. Mr. Lauher said that every man's position 20 years from now depends on his conduct today, especially In regard to treatment of his fellow man.

Even if a msn acquires great riches and neglects making friends he Is even poorer than a man of rather meager means who has been attentive to his fellow-bclngs and made friends. He recited a number of poems of his own compo-altlon. Guest beside Mr. Lauher wer Marvin Stuhlbarg and John 8. Bowman.

PROF. W. A. BORING, FORMER U. OF STUDENT.

DIES New York. May 7-Prof. William A. Boring, dean of the faculty of the School of Architecture at Columbia University, died Wednesday of complications, fallowing an operation several aeeki ago. Prof.

Boring wajr bnrn at Carllnvirie. Ill In 1858, and attended the University of Illinois, Columbia and the Ecols Dca Beaux Art In Paris. DISASTER IN 18 Difigible Disasters in Last 23 Years Washington, May 1-r-There have been 18 major dirigible disasters in the last 23 years three of the major ones Involving the Uriited States dirigibles Akron, Macon and Shenandoah. The disaster list: Feb. 12, 1935-The navy dirigible Macon destroyed off the Pacific coast Two died, II saved.

April 4, 1933 United States Navy dirigible Akron crashed in electrical storm off New Jersey coast; 73 dead, 3 survivors. Oct 4. 1930-Britlih dlrigHble R-101 exploded over France while enroute from England to India; 46 dead. May 15. 1928 Italian dirigible Italia crashed In Arctic In night to North Pole; I dead.

gept 3. 1923l'nited State dirigible Shenandoah, formerly ZR-1, wrecked In itorm In Ohio; 14 killed. Dec. tl. 1923-Frenrh dirigible Dlxmude, presumably struck by lightning over Mediterranean; 52 killed.

Feb. 21, 1922-l'nlted State dirigible Rome, bought by United Slate from Italy, crashed In flame near Hampton Road army base; 34 killed. Aug. 24, 1921-Dlrlgible ZR-2. bought In England for United State, frame buckled over Ilumber river; 42 killed.

Jan. 29, 1921-BritUh dirigible R-34, wrecked In gal In Howden. England; no live lost July 21. 1919 Dirigible burned over Chicago; 10 kUled. July 13, 1919ItritUh alrthlp NS-ll struck by lightning over North Sea; 12 killed.

June 20, 1914 Alrthlp and airplane collide at Vienna; I killed. SepL 9. 191J Zrpprlln destroyed off Heligoland; 13 killed. Oct 17, 1913-Zeppeltit L-t exploded over Johannlslhal Airdrome; 21 killed. July 2, 1912 Balloon Akron exploded at Atlantic City; killed.

Beside th Zeppelins L-l and L-2, Count Zeppelin lost four ether great peace-tiro dirigible In accident, the Zeppelin aad I and th DcuUrhUnda 1 and 1 "NATIONAL HOSPITAL DAY" IS TO BE OBSERVED MAY 13 Plans art being completed for observance of "National Hospital Day" Wednrsday. May at Memorial Hospital. Mrs. George Kael-berer, hospital superintendent, announced today. T7; observance.

Mrs. Kaelberer states, will In the form of "open house." and th ei-erat public will be Invited. Among Ui features of the "open house" will a display of the-new X-ray equipment just lasUllcl Graz. -Austria, May 7. INS) Dr.

Hugo Eckener, designer and first commander of the giant dirigible Hindenburg which crashed in flames at Lakehurst, N. last night, blamed the tragedy on pos sible sabotage. 'The disaster was most likely due to sabotage," he stated. Eckener's words, presaging rigid investigation by the German gov ernment of every detail of the death-dealing explosion aboard the huge airship, came with dramatic and ominous suddenness as German officials expressed amazement at the sad news from the United States. "We received anonymous threatening letters warning us not to land the Hindenburg at Lakehurst," Eckener sld.

"It Is Impossible that the explosion was due to lightning. The Hindenburg was equipped with the mo6t modern preventive apparatus against huhtnlng accidents." DECISION IS PARTIAL VICTORY FOR DRYS Sptelal to Tha Journal. Oatettt. CharleMcn, 111.. May 7.

Potu "intervening defendants" in the suit contesting the recent election In which that- part of Charleston township outside the City of Charleston was voted dry', won a partial vlctonUn the county court late yesterday afternoon when Judge John T. Klncald upheld their cbjectlon to the allegations in the petition of the plaintiffs as to the result of the election. Judge- Klncald overruled, however, their objections to allegations as to the validity of the election. He granted attorneys for the plaintiffs until May 13 to amend their petition. HONOR MRS.

WENTE OF NEOGA AT BIRTHDAY PARTY Sptelal to Tha Journal-Oatajt. Neog. May 7 -Mrs. Peter Wente was honored with a surprise psrty Tuesday evening at her home in observance of her birthday anniversary. Those present were Mr.

and Mrs, Ray Hay ton. Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Swtngler. Mr and Mrs.

John Walk Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wente. Otto Springer, Mr.

and Mrs. James Worland. Mr. and Mra. A.

F. Walk, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Wente and Mr. and Mrs.

Leo Wente. HONOR MOTHER By taking hrr (o church Sunday, Eht will appreciate it. 8-7 HAIUUSBUHO PACK2NQ CO. Special to Th Journal. GmtW.

Charleston. 111., May 7. One alleged gambling establishment was ordered closed and all slot machines and other gambling devices ere ordered removed Thursday night as the first official act of Charleston's new chief of police, Rhodes Berry. The order specified that Its should be complied with before 5 o'clock this afternoon, but officers reported today that Indications of compliance were apparent within a few hours after the ultimatum had been Issued. They said that an alleged gaming establishment in the old Chamber of Commerce office In Monroe street was closed Thursday night and that a number of slot machines were hauled out of taverns and poolrooms.

Slot machines have been operated here at intervals during the past year. It was said. II. S.lEBTHOl'1 Washington, May The U. S.

public debt crowed the mark today for the first time In history. Treasury figures disclosed the debt as I3S.039.B58.335. A year ago today It was TICKET11TT2 FOR ILLEGAL PARKING Enforcement of the two-hour parking law In the business district was begun by local police Thursday, but apparently Mattoon folk were cll prepared to observe the law. for police ticketed only 12 violators. At least nine of the violators were out of town residents, who were excused on reporting at police headquarter.

Two of the other three were fined, and the third has yet to report. Those fined were Kenneth Ooble and Robert Carlyle. Each was fined glandcoaU.a total of 83, by Police Magistrate Morgan F. Phlppa. All other found guilty this week will likewise be fined and cost.

Next week, the magistrate says, the fUie will be 83 and costs. "Enforcement of the purklng law met with favorable responsa from almost, everyone," Chief of Police Robinson said today. Eagerness of motorists to observe the law and avoid arrest, made many more parking spaces available in the business IS Mi.