15 May 1911
Page 1
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This newspaper page contains 19 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Boston Post
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Date
May 15, 1911
Page
1
A sailor aboard the steamer Arkansas reports seeing a balloon with a woman as its sole occupant drifting far from land. The ship, arriving from Copenhagen and Christiania, left Copenhagen April 22, and at dawn April 26, about 2000 feet up, Leif Hardangeren observed the balloon dipping in and out of a cloud bank miles offshore.
Hardangeren reports a distant gas bag with a possible woman figure hanging over the balloon basket as dawn light faded. Sailors recall no prior Norwegian balloon sightings, and Captain Petersen’s log mentions no such craft though wind came from the coast.
In heavy fog near White River Junction two freight trains on a single track collided on the bank of the Connecticut River killing five men and injuring several. The dead include R I Webber Ralph H Fairman James M Livingstone Roy Kendall and Mackay with one more death cited during wreck clearing. The south bound Central Vermont freight from White River Junction to Springfield and the north bound Boston and Maine freight from Springfield to White River Junction were involved.
The severely hurt include William T. Pellissier of Northampton engineer of the Boston and Maine line with three head gashes and serious back and arm injuries E McDonald of St Albans Central Vermont engineer badly burned before escape W G Wenfech of New London Central Vermont fireman badly cut face and body Others also injured but aided in rescue and battling flames at the wreckage.
Fred Eugene Jones a 50 year old widower and expert accountant with the Massachusetts Railroad Commission was found dead in a Back Bay hotel at nine yesterday morning. A chambermaid discovered him fully dressed on the bed with a bullet wound to the temple and a revolver on the floor, indicating suicide.
The maid summoned Dr. B Stephens who declared the man dead. Medical Examiner Magrath said the death was self inflicted by a bullet to the brain, the victim dead about five hours. No one nearby heard the shot. Jones, a Brookline native, had led the Railroad Commission’s work, widow Mrs Jones had died a year earlier, leaving him taciturn and morose, living at the hotel since.
President Taft addressed the Brotherhood of Railroad Men in Harrisburg on May 14 and opposed affiliating organized government clerks with the American Federation of Labor. He warned that granting government employees the right to strike or boycott would threaten the government and the republic.
A fragmented OCR entry lists times and dates with references to AM and PM, page and column indicators, and calendar markers. It mentions day numbers and spring day counts, rendering little clear news content beyond timing cues.
The forecast for Boston and vicinity calls for fair skies and a rise in temperatures on Monday and Tuesday. Winds will be light to moderate and variable, shifting from east to south.
Levi Lincoln born 1749 served as Massachusetts attorney general and governor. Thomas A. Crittenden born 1819 became Civil War brigadier general. Thomas Lake Harris born 1828 founded the Brotherhood of the New Life. An American army entered Puebla, Mexico, during the period.
Yesterday's temperature readings are listed by Thompson's Spa with times and figures. The document notes an average temperature of 56 and compares to the previous year, indicating slight variations across several times and locations.
Yesterday's scores show Detroit and Chicago tied 6 to 6 while Cleveland led St. Louis 14 to 6 and Washington beat New York as Boston and Philadelphia also played. The Red Sox nearly overcame their opponents but trailed late, marking a week of high batting totals across both leagues.
President Taft rushed back to Washington as Mrs Taft fell ill during a New York banquet. The attack echoed her two years ago and prompted daughter Helen to travel from Bryn Mawr. Sons Charles at Watertown and Robert at Harvard were informed but not summoned. Henry Taft stated the illness was not alarming. the president appeared tired and anxious after the trip.
A series of eight fires struck 8 Prince Street and 6 Still Street over 18 hours. Fire crews evacuated residents, with ten jumping into nets and eight rescued by firefighters including three carried out. Repeated cellar and roof blazes, police guard set at 8 Prince Street, and a hallway fire reported in the same address.
An alert mysterious fire bug kept North End families awake as 80 fires in crowded tenements were set in the past month. City and State officers, aided by the fire marshal, patrolled the district while firemen answered calls through the night and into the early hours.
Charges of disobedience to Deputy Chief John Grady will be filed against Captain William Coulter of Ladder 8 after the East Boston fire. Coulter and four crew members barely escaped death when the building at 137 Sumner Street engulfed into collapse after Grady ordered them not to enter. Ladderman Carl Bowers was among those involved in the perilous incident.
Continuation note references page 7 across a fire column and a fourth column, indicating the ongoing discussion or column content continues further in the issue. The brief item signals readers to turn to page 7 for the rest of the column.
President Taft visits his wife at her brother's house after a day of steady improvement. Mrs Taft is reported much improved and likely to return to Washington within days. Helen Taft stays with her mother while Miss Taft and Mrs Henry Taft aid her care. Horace Taft, a Watertown resident, is briefly visiting. May 17 1909 marked her first breakdown due to hospital operation stress and heat.
Beverly article notes President Taft is expected to depart Washington if reciprocity passes and spend the summer at the Peabody estate Parramatta. Secretary Hilles rents a cottage opposite for HQ, with gardens prepared and the executive office force planned to be stationed there.
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