15 Jan 1918
Page 1
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Newspaper
Bridgeport Telegram
Location
Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of America
Date
Jan 15, 1918
Page
1
Edgeport officials and merchants representing the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce voted to close wholesale air and other business at 5 o clock daily with certain exceptions, except Saturdays. The plan to start soon will extend at least until March 15, 1918, aiming to conserve fuel amid rumors and confusion about lighting and use.
At a city council meeting last night Mayor Clifford B Ward and heads of the Fuel Committee S C Parker and Carl F Sie joined by Alderman Ken H Stagg and the illumination committee to push a report on reducing municipal hire way lighting. The group plans to study the city minimum consumption pact and seek permission to abrogate contract liens or extinguish portions of the white way lights. A meeting for Friday was arranged in the city clerk's office to finalize details and request cooperation from the illuminating company.
Hartford report notes Fuel Administrator Thomas W Russell issued a circular via state defense council urging all manufacturers not on government contracts to cut coal use by 25 percent to prevent delaying government work and ensure household supply. He warns strict light restrictions may cut electricity. Washington reports railroads urged to move coal and food only under storm conditions, even if factories close for a few days. McAdoo will decide.
Reported extension of the armistice to February 18 and shift of negotiations from Brest Litovsk to Warsaw. Delegates haggle over territorial terms and a peace clause. Russian internal strife spreads as Bolsheviki push out Cossacks on the Don and seize Ekaterinlav. mutinies, looting, and food shortages unfold in Petrograd and surrounding regions. Contituent Assembly Socialists oppose peace at Russia's expense, labeling Bolsheviks usurpers amid civil war fears.
Federal agents claim a German spy posing as helmsman William Swanson sailed the Alaska liner Spokane and steered it into rocks off Idol Point, Vancouver Island, November 22 1917, while bound from Alaska to Seattle with 17 aboard. The intruder joined the crew as a deckhand and passed as quartermaster. No lives were lost. Suspects Wise and Wiltse were detained and released.
Rear Admiral Delby N. Chester reports that U S Navy destroyed numerous German submarines. He states the United States has the best of the situation and emphasizes naval gains. The address was delivered at the Yale Club in New York.
Bridgeport Knights of Columbus launched a drive to raise $50,000 with $13,000 already pledged yesterday. At a Stratfield hotel dinner about 300 attendees praised workers, with leaders from city and state delivering speeches and announcing sizable donations from First Bridgeport National Bank Warner Brothers, Bridgeport Hydraulic, D M Read, Howland, Connecticut National Bank, Bridgeport Trouts, and others.
A Maine Central Railroad locomotive and 30 freight cars ran uncontrolled for nine miles down Crawford Notch in the White Mountains at 60 mph. The engineer was killed. fireman and brakeman seriously injured. Air brakes failed and hand brakes could not hold the train on the icy steep grade. The engine derailed at a sharp curve below Cranford Station, plunging into a meadow by Nancy Brook and scattering several cars.
At last night’s Common Council meeting vigorous opposition emerged to a proposed diagonal street from State and Main to Wall and Water streets. Opponents cited extravagance and impracticability with potential damages to bank buildings and blocks. Some supporters from Bridgeport Trust Company and Marshall property favored traffic relief, while others, including S. Beardsley for Pete’s Savings Bank, objected to all plans.
Daniel B. Willard and Bernard Baruch urged centralized one man control of all war supplies in the United States. They proposed a munitions administration directly answerable to the President, responsible for procurement and distribution for army navy shipbuilding and Allies, without cabinet status. Baruch favored broader centralized power and individual contracts. Willard backed Baker’s plan but wanted stronger authority and reliance on voluntary cooperation.
Frederick L. Small a former Boston broker was hanged at the state prison in Concord New Hampshire at 12 13 this morning for the murder of his wife Florence Arieen Small at their Oxsippee home. He faced the execution with calm saying I am resigned God s will be done The governor s council rejected a last plea to spare his life after a five hour session last night
Night school attendance fell about 50 percent since Christmas. Superintendent Sammel J. Slawson reported at the board meeting. Six teachers resigned, four were appointed, and adopted texts include Bly & Wicker economics and Long's History of Literature. He warned room closures if attendance does not rebound.
Norfolk officers depart for Baltimore with Walter Sporemann a suspected active figure in plots tied to Captain Royed former German attache and believed army captain. He was arrested while attempting to blow up a magazine near the unfinished army aviation field north of Newport News. Documents found in Baltimore implicate Boy edl and others in Washington and Baltimore in a spy network. Sporemann linked to German spy system. arrival in the U S reportedly aboard a German U boat last year. He visited Hampton Roads base before his capture as a naval agent shadowed him from Newport News to the aviation field. A reference to 890,000 is noted in a letter from Boyedl.
John F. Simpson of 74 Center Street Bridgeport is near death after an accidental revolver discharge at Camp Devens Ayer Massachusetts He was inspecting his weapon before guard duty when it fired passing through his chest and left arm to strike wood support in the guard room Physicians at the base hospital treated him while state forces recorded another pneumonia death at the camp Private Claude Buffam of East Wallingford Vermont also died from pneumonia and James Allardice from New Haven was badly injured by a mule kick at the base hospital Camp Devens plans a big postwar recreation dance in the Army Service Club as soldiers cope with training and discipline ratio versus leisure.
Washington January 14 Francis S Peabody head of the coal production bureau told a Senate investigating committee four plans to improve coal supply. Proposals include producing and distributing zones with shipments limited to those zones. a clear government price policy until the war ends. placing priority decisions in the hands of experienced officials. and a premium on clean coal to boost output by about 28 percent by freeing up cars and reducing idle mines. He warned uncertainty over government pricing could delay necessary plant improvements and warned spring production would fall as utilities seek Pennsylvania coal to cut long hauls amid severe winter.
Washington January 14 plans for recruiting a volunteer reserve of 250000 shipyard workers were announced by Chairman Hurley of the shipping board. Men will be enlisted with aid of state defense councils and labor department agencies. It is estimated 100000 will be placed in five months. Senate commerce committee approved a 50000000 housing bill. Officials expect the entire reserve to be at work before 1919. Congress sought 713000600 already authorized with contracts set.
Former prime minister Joseph Caillaux was arrested at his Paris apartment on a wartime peace plot inquiry. Police, with a military warrant, escorted Caillaux to Santé prison after brief detentions and immediate notification to the military governor. The probe linked to papers and funds in a Florence bank tied to Caillaux’s alias Renouard.
Archibald McNeil, visiting Bridgeport, pressed Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels for a larger coal supply for Bridgeport. He urged priority fuel orders for munition workers and shops, noting Bridgeport's significant Navy orders and met Daniels briefly.
Five alleged gunmen from New York and Hoboken were captured after a clash with police on Water street near the railroad station. Arrested were Frank Dunn, 15, Hoboken. Patrick Reilly, 18, Hoboken. Peter Vostelio, 20, Hoboken. John Lutjin, 22, Hoboken. and Henry Schroder, Hoboken. Evidence included a loaded .38 revolver, a .32 patent firearm, and a blackjack.
The widow of Vincenzo Pasti describes the fatal shooting at 41 Lexington Avenue. Witnesses include Joseph Zsango and Joseph Luria, both hospitalized with gunshot wounds. Coroner John J Phelan will press for an ante mortem statement as the inquest continues at St Vincent’s hospital. The incident led to five arrests at the Lexingon Avenue scene, arraigned in City Court with bonds set at 1000 dollars.
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