This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 14 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Boston Post
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Date
Mar 19, 1917
Page
4
Advertisement claims Orrine destroys desire for whiskey and intoxicants with two forms No 1 secret treatment and No 2 voluntary treatment. Sold for 1.00 a box with a refund guarantee. Sold at Liggett's Riker Jaynes drug stores, Washington DC.
An advertisement features The Plant Juice Man at the Drug Department store praising Plant Juice as a health aid for women. It cites a Washington society woman, Mrs Catherine Donovan of Cobart Street NW, recounting relief from stomach and bladder troubles after using Plant Juice and endorsing its benefits publicly.
From London comes word that the American freight steamship City of Memphis has been sunk by shell fire. The crew includes forty eight Americans by birth or naturalization and nine others possibly naturalized. The ship valued at $600,000 had previously weathered wartime voyages in European waters. Some crew members are reported missing.
Ocean Steamship Company vessel City of Memphis 6252 tons, loaded 9653 bales of cotton worth 600000, sailed New York Jan 23 for Havre. She was halted by a German U-boat off the Scillies, condemned as carrying contraband, and sunk while returning home in ballast. Captain L P Borum of Norfolk led the crew of American born and naturalized officers.
The City of Memphis built in Chester in 1902 carried cotton and general merchandise worth over 6 million dollars including its last cargo. Chartered by the U.S. government in May 1914 to transport supplies to Vera Cruz, she faced gunfire from a German freighter as she sailed from Boston. After later voyages to Italy Rotterdam and France, Captain Borum earned plaudits as a fearless American skipper. In Spezia she ferried licorice cargo to McAndrew Forbes and endured shelling near Scalanova while acting as a neutral trader. The ship flew American flags with night reflectors to deter attacks.
The Vigilancia a Ward Line steamer built in 1890 sailed from New York Feb 28 for the Azores and Havre after a crew strike delay. Crew demanded a 75 percent war risk bonus, a compromise allowed sailing. Cargo valued near 750000 dollars plus ship over 1 million, with coffins reportedly aboard. Vessel details: 4115 tons gross, 820 feet long, 45 feet beam, built at Chester Pennsylvania. Crew of 45 with 21 Americans led by Captain Middleton. 18 Americans named on file with various ports of origin.
Fitchburg March 18 Mrs Walter Scott 821 Fairmount street doubts Walter Scott Jr of 23 is her son and second engineer on the Vigilancia. She recalls he joined the New York last Labor Day and sent muddled replies about Europe and a Panama Canal voyage.
Rome via Paris March 18 The Chamber of Deputies approves the government with a confidence resolution by 869 to 43 after debating economic questions.
Of the fleet, only the Vigilancia was torpedoed without warning and did not surface. The captain, first and second mates, first through third engineers, and 23 crewmen were landed at the Scilly Islands. The fourth engineer and 13 men are missing.
Despatches report the American steamer City of Memphis sunk by a submarine near the Irish coast with 57 crew on board. Survivors were landed at Schull and later at Baltimore while other reports state gunfire and torpedo hits, with several nationalities involved among the rescued and missing.
Third Engineer Thompson described the City of Memphis voyage from Havre to Cardiff attacked by a German submarine. The sub fired a warning shot and ordered abandonment, then 10 to 11 shells and a massive explosion sank the ship within 20 minutes. Crew endured exposure overnight. The captain stayed to evacuate as ordered.
A Dorchester boy and wireless operator aboard the torpedoed oil-tanker Illinois recounted the chase by a German torpedo boat. The crew faced heavy seas and cold winds as they regrouped, with two boats rescued by patrol vessels after flare signals. Survivors listed include Chief Officer C. G. Laird and several engineers and wireless operators.
The report states the Memphis was first shelled and sinking when a terrific explosion followed. Third Engineer Thompson confirms the vessel trembled from the blast, suggesting a torpedo attack occurred after the shelling.
Walter Pitts, a Boston cook aboard the American vessel Vigilancia reported sunk by a German submarine, is thought to be a British subject born in Descouse Cape Breton. He is linked by cousin Daniel W. Pitts of 27 Hollis Street. Walter disappeared about three years ago and would be about 35. He previously worked on Gloucester and Boston fishing schooners.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.