A
DA
LY
Weather
Cooler
H
Local Ccilcn
22 Cents
VOL. XLIIL, NO. 222
GASTONIA, N. C. SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SEPT. 16, 1922
SINGLE COPY 5 CErT3
Aire DistAiuitedl Among Tuairks, ' It Is Claimed
25,000' GMs
NEW ORLEANS SUFFERS
$5,000,000 FIRE ALONG
THE WHARF LAST NIGHT
Government Warehouses and
- Army Advance Supplies
Are Burned.
FIVE REPORTED DEAD
Forty. Freight Cars J Loaded
With Various Commodi-
ties Destroyed. ;
, NEW ORLEANS, fiept. 16. It was
estimated early today that the loss from
thi firn which ruvfii nlniia tlin twiter.
front for three hours lust , night, de
stroying the long stretch of wharves of
the United States Governnieut commo
dity warehouse and vast quantities of
Army ordnance and commercial commo
dities,' would reach between five and
is million dollars..
KeDorts late last niirlit that five lives
Were lost during the pragress of the Con
flagration had not been confirmed early
' today. . Members of the crew of the
, German freight steamer Elsa Hugo
tttiuues declared a sailor on that ves
' set was burned to death on the wharf
r when lie uttenintcd to board the shio and
mat anoiuer-saiior wuo jumieu uwr
board was cut to pieces by the ship's
propeller. Another report inade to the
police was that three members of the
crew of the ' steamship Florence Lueken
buck' had jumped overboard and were
thought to have been drowned.
In addition to wharves- about forty
, freight cars loaded with burlap, cotton
and other commodities were burned. A
' lurge quantity of sisaV eottoii and oil
stored on the wharves, and a shipment
of rifles, helmets and machine guns own
ed by the Government, valued by Colonel
L. F. Glrrard, of the Quartermaster
..f ... A.TItfl 1WII1 ..la., -muara fin.
stroved. The munitions were being
' placed on freight cars for shipment to
ban rranciseo, ; , f
The fire was discovered by a dock
Doaru waiciiniun buuui oiou v ci
a freight ear loaded with burlup. It
spread quickly to the wharves in front
of the Government Army supply base
and was not cheeked until half a mile of
docks from Maiaut Street to Kentucky
Avenue and the two-story steel and sheet
' metals sheds owned by the Government
were totally destroyed. The steamship
Florence Luckenbaek, , moored at the
place where the fire started, was badly
scorched before being moved out into the
river.
Loss to the Government through the
destruction 'of t wharves and steel
Bhcds which Mere built in 1918-19 was
estimated to be in excess of .$3,000,000.
Three Government warehouses in the
rear of the sheds.crected at a cost of ap-.
proximately $15,000,000 were not dam
aged. . " . " '
Four thousand bales of burlaps, 4,600
"bales of cotton bagging owned by local
rm.s and roughly valued at $1,500,000;
4,000 rolls of print paper consigned to
two local afternoon papers ana a large
cargo of lumber assembled on the dock
for exports were burned.
LITTLE WORLD'S SERIES
OPENS AT ST. LOUIS
Yankees and Browns, Sepa
rated Only By Half a
Game, Open Series That
Will Decide the Pennant.
NEW YORK, Sept. 16. Separated
by only a half a game, the New York
Yankees and .St. Louis Browns today
will open a "little world's series" that
promises to have a decisive bearing oil
the outcome of the American League
race. The Browns tightened the con
test on the eve of the all-important scries
by taking the last game from Boston,
seven to one, while the Yankees were
stopped by the effective pitching of the
White 6ox youngster, Blaukcnship, two
to one.
The westerners were expected to be
strengthened for the big test by the re
turn of their injured star, George Sisler,
who declared his determination to play
regardless of his physician's orders.
Urban Shocker was slated to do the hurl
ing for the Browns while Bob Shawkey
was Hoggins' probable mound ehoice.
The New York Giants drew nearer to
another championship by taking their
seventh straight game and third in a row
from'Chieago, seven to six. while Pitts
burgh lost to Boston, four to one. With
a lead ..of six full games, the Giants
need win only eleven of their seventeen
games to clinh the pennant, even if the
Pirates should capture all fifteen of
their cotests. '
COTTON MARKET
CLOSING BIDS ON NEW
YORK COTTON MARKET
NEW YORK, Sept. 16. The eo'ttou
futures market closed barely steady at
ten points down, as follows:
January 21:31; March 21.43; May
21:40; July 21.20; September 21.13;
October 21.23; November 21.35; Decem
Iht 21.43; Spots 21-50.
THE WEUHEB
Fair tonight and Sunday; cooler.
General Chairmen of Southern
Railway Shop
Agree With Road's Officials
Hope 1 to Arrange Basis' of
Agreement Which Would
'-.'. End Strike.
CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED
Warfield-Willard-Jewell Pro
posal Is Basis of Set
tlement WASHINGTON. Sept. 16 General
chairmen of striking shop craft unions
of the Southern Railway and officials
of the road failed today to reach an
agreement to settle the strike on the
basis of the Warfield-Willard-Jewell
proposal adopted by the general policy
committee of the shot) rafts.
The statement was made by railroad
officials after a brief conference today
with the general chairmen that "the
Southern was willing to settle on the
basis of the 'Chicago agreement' and
presented this to; the shop chairmen for
tliejr signatures but so far they have
declined to sign."
The break-up of the conference rep
resented the first failure in negotia
tions . between - strikers and railroads
which were -understood to have sub
scribed to the Warfield-Willard-Jewell
agreement.
Southren officials expressed a willing
ness to continue toe negotiations but
the . general chairmen did not imme
diately disclose whether they would
make another move toward peace. t
The statemcut issued from the head
quarters of the Southern here after the
conference, said:
"A conference- between Vice-President
Miller of the Southern Railway
System and the general chairmen of
the six striking shop crafts adjourned
this morning without reaching an agree
ment for immediate termination of the
strike on the Southern;
"The Southern was willing to settle
on the basis of - the 'Chicago agree
ment', and presented this to the shop
craft chairmen for their signatures but
so far they have declined to sign."
Present as representatives of the
shot) workers when the conference began
were A.M. McGilli vray, of Birming
ham, for the - machinists ; T. G. Gar.
veyj of Bichmond, boiler makers; Ar
thur ; Gludhill, of Birmingham, black
smiths; W. H. Blalock, of Kuoxvillc,
sheet metal workers, aud J. H. Ellis,
of Spencer, N. C, carmen.; C. N.
Holland, of Meridian, Miss., represent
ing the electrical workers,, was expected
to arrive during the course of the con
ference. 1
CHICAGO, Sept- 16. Sixteen rail
roads had signed separate agreements
with various labor unions today through
pre-war methods in - vogue before the
United States Railroad Labor Board was
created , us arbiter of .' disputes between
railways und their employes.
These settlements, however, according
to Ben W. Hooper, chairman vt the
Board do not repudiate the Board but
rather are "entirely in accord with the
Transportation Act. ' ' His comment re
ferred to yesterday's agreement between
the New York Central Lines und the tram
service brotherhoods, and other pending
peace-negotiations.
Following settlements with the Ordi'r
of Railway Conductors uud the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, the New
York Central Lines opened negotiations
today with the shop crafts on the basis
of the Warfield-Willard-Jewell plan.
Separate agreements with the eugi
ners', firemens' and switchmens' unions
were in prospect, according to officials.
The Pennsylvania System was party to
similar agreements with rail unions at
Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Agreements on wages, and rules with
newly created shop unions were announc
ed by the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy, which had turned down the Warfield-Willard-Jewell
proposals.
Today brought a lull in the Govern
ment 's injunction procedings before
Judge James H. Wilkerson. Attorney
General Da ugherty and his aides rested
their case on the strength of 6U0 affida
vits supporting charges of violence, inti
midation and destruction of property
and attorneys for strike leaders will open
the defense Mouday. . '
Judge Wilkerson told the opposing
lawyers that the rest rain -order will not
be renewed when it expires September
21 unless the injunction hearing is com
pleted then.
If the injunction is upheld by Judge
Wilkerson it means tjie end of strikes
in which Interstate Commerce or the
United States Government are directly
involved, Attorney Daugherty said.
Judge Wilkerson called for an investi
gation of remarks attributed to Mr.
Jewell commenting upon the strike and
published three days after the restrain
ing order went into effect.
two
BILLS FACEi EACH
OTHER FOR CHAMPIONSHIP
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 13. Wil
liam T. Tilden, 2nd, of Philadelphia,
American champion, and William M.
Johnston, of San Francisco, former title
holder, today faced each other for the
third time in a final round of a tourna
ment for the "lawn tenuis singles cham
pionship of the United States. '
"Big Bill" and "Little Bill't have
met ten times ip important tournaments,
and each has won- five times.
Workers Fail To
TREE CASTS SHADOW
LINCOLN'S PROFILE
LAWRENCE, KAN., Sept. IS.
Almost within a stone's throw of
the University of Kansas but prob
ably unknown to the vast majority
of students and townspeople is a
curious natural phenomenon. It is
an above 'ground formation of tree
roots which, in the light of an arc
street lamp, cast a shadow profile of
Abraham Lincoln.
The likeness of the Great Emm.
cipator is unmistakable. The bushy
hair, high forehead, lhaggy . eye
brows, deep set eyes, prominent nose,
thick lips, chin whiskers all are
faithfully reproduced in the shadow
picture which is nearly twice life
size.
Although the profile has appeared
nightly for. more than a decade, it
has changed sea rely at all.
CONGRESS PUTS BONUS
QUESTION SQUARELY
UP TO PRES. HARDING
Whether He Will Veto or Sign
It Is Question That Is
Uppermost.
EXPECT PROMPT ACTION
Senate Adopts Conference Re
port, 36 to 17 President's
Attitude "Up In Air."
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10. Presi
dent Harding was declared at the White
House today to have "made .up his
mind" with respect to the soldict bonus
bill on which congressional action i was
completed yesterday. '
This statement, however, did little or
nothing toward answering the question
in the minds of foes and friends of the
measure as to whether the president
would sign or would veto the measure.
-The White House spokesman also suid
that th bill, following th usual course,
would be referred to the treasury de
partment and that the president 'a ac
tion might be expected soon after its
return. , Secretary Mellon was out of
the capital for the week-end but treas
ury officials said his absence would not
prevent transmission to the White
House of the treasury views if the
president should ask for an early re
port. The treasury, it was stated, had
uot in any way changed in its opposi
tion to the present bill.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15.' Congress
today passed the soldiers' bonus bill
along to President Harding.
Prompt action by the executive was
anticipated, but opinion at the capitol
us to whether he would veto or approve
the measure still was divided .
This question entered largely into the
debate today which preceded , senate
adoption of the . conference report, 36
to 17. .
Conceding that while the question of
the president's attitude was, as Sena
tor Harrison, democrat, Mississippi, ex
pressed it,, "up in the air," Senator
MeCumber, republican North Dakota, in
charge of the bill, said he '"hoped to
God" the president would sign it.
' ''I think he ought to sign it," fie de
clared, adding that if senators who
wanted "to help the soldiers" would
remain in Washington until "a- final
vote" there would be sufficient votes to
pass it over a veto . , ".
If He Vetoes It.
Some leaders in the house were of
the opinion that if the president de
cided to veto the measure it aw-oul! be
returned to Congress early in' the com
ing week. In that event it was the
plan to bring up speedily in the house
the question of . overriding the veto,
l'roponeuts of the legislation were con
fident the' necessary two-thirds majority
could be obtained, the house having
passed the bill by a majority of more
than four to one.
Admittedly, however, there was doubt
as to the situation in the senate. Op
ponents claimed 34 senators in oppo
sition, two nioro than necessary to sus
tain the veto. .
During the senate debate today. Sen
ator Underwood, of Alabama, referred
to the probability of a veto, while Sen
ator Harrison said he had reports that
"word has ben passed down the line
that the president is going to veto
the bill."
Senator McCuinlicr told the senate he
still was in holies there would be no
veto, reiterating his opinion that the
measure as drawn met the objection of
the president and the secretary of the
treasury to the original cash bonus plan.
Provides Four Options.
As it goes to the president tomorrow,
the bonus bill would provide four op
tions: Adjusted service pay if the veteran 's
adjusted service credit at the rate . of
j$l a day for domestic Bervice and $1.25 j
a day - for foreign service did not ex
eee S50.
Adjusted service certificates having
- (Continued on page six.)
. Life Saver
"715
, X
r&
k. V . ' -
John Landau of the Brooklyn
navy yard experiments with a'
breathing apparatus recently per
fected by the Bureau of Mines. An
oxygen tank permits the wearer to
tay-under water 15 minutes and
to nass through thick smoke. "
TERMINAL AT CAPITAL
IS SEEN AS OBSTACLE
IN STRIKE AGREEMENT
Shop'fnen and 'Southern Offi
cials Confer This Morning
On Strike Question.
"WHO WILL BREAK ICE"
Question Is, What Is to Be
Discussed and How Will
It Be Started.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15. It was
thought at the general office of the
Southern today that the conference be
tween representatives of the shop crafts
aud 'Vice President Henry Miller, in
charge of operation, would begin tomor
row at 10 o'clock. It, is said that the
men were expected to nrrive here from
taiicago tonight over the Baltimore and
Ohio, and that it was customary to hold
forenoon meetings. J, M. Ellis, state
chairman for North Carolina, is in the
party headed for this city. Most W the
officials said again today they had no
idea what there was to talk uhout, but
some have considered it possible the
spokesmen for the shopmen will ring in
the Washington terminal situation, which
is giving the union chiefs no little con
cern. Upwards of a thousand men were em
ployed by the terminal company aud
when the strikers quit the superintend
ent told them good-bye, and this is the
attitude of the company today. Five
roads use the Washington terminal, but
only two, the Southern and Baltimore
and Ohio, have been directly interested
in the Chicago negotiations. It was said
today that if Mr. Willard's railroad can
not have "any influence over the more or
less independent terminal company here
it is certain there is nothing tho South
ern can do about it, even if officials had
the inclination to look about for troubles
not exclusively their own.
Begin Work Monday.
But barring complication the confer
ence should only be a matter of moments
tomorrow, and . in that case the men
should lie able to take up their tools
again Monday. It was remarked today
that it is costing the men who do the
work when they are at work, about 40,
000 a day to await the holding of this
formal conference, warn there may or
may not lie something to talk about.
' While not feeling very well today.
Senator irmnions fought for an hour
and a half in conference iu an effort
to induce the conferees on the rivers and
harbors bill to include in that measure
the amendment relating to the Dismal
swamps canal, in which it is proposed
that the government shall purchase the
old canal at a cost of half a million dol
lars. - The members representing the
senate stood by the North Carolina sena
tor to the end but the house members
were adamant. They did finally agree,
however, to take the amendment back to
the house to determine whether that
body would stand for it. Senator Sim
mans was successful in his efforts to in
duce a reluctant majority of the senate
commerce committee to report this a
niendment favorably, and he would regret
very much to see the measure lost at
this juncture. Congressman Ward has
hern sitting on the lid on the house aide
for several dnj'8 in the hoi that some
thing could be done to persuade that
body to approve the Dismal swamp pro
ject.
1. U c is Aiiacaea.
Senator Simmons today received tele
iCoauaued on paie J.
LATE DISPATCHES SERVE ONLY TO
MAGNIFY TALE SMYRNA TRAGEDY; :
TELL OFTORTURE AND MUTILATION
MURPHY AND THOMAS,
MOORE NEGROES, PAY
IN CHAIR FOR CRIMES
Guilty of Attacking Mr. and
Mrs. Ketchen, of Florida,
In Moore County ,
MOST FANTASTIC SHOW
Crowd Looks On It as Though
It Were a Double-Header
Baseball Game.
(By W. T. Bost.)
- RALEIGH, Sept. 13. With automo
biles purked about tho state prisou
grounds as though lialeigh and Durham
were playing a double-header, and
among which vehicles were two hearses
that were to carry them back to towu,
Angus Murphy and. Jasper or Joe
Thomas were electrocuted this morning
for crimes against Mrs. A. E.
Ketchen, of Miuml, Fla., seven weeks
ago near Southern Pines. ,
tut from tho most interestinz human
event incident to the snuffing out of
a life, this extra bill was the weirdest,
most fantastic show t but the sthte.lms
put on. The crowd which saw it
looked on it as a double-header base
ball game in which the state knocked
out Murphy in three innings and
Thomas iu four.' Of all the spectacles
in nearly sixty such sights, this had
the least, of the semblance of any hu
manity about it. The warden, the ma
chinery, ami the' undertakers did their
work well, but the men who occupied
the chair seemed so little like men that
one' a few hours from it recalls hnrdly
a circumstance which remarks the los
ing of two iH-rsonalities. ,
Many Visitors From Moore.
Indeed, the pair of blacks even with
incantations to the throne of grace, the
solemn recitatives - from the scriptures,
and tho singing before the mnrch to
death began, could not lift themselves
above . the abysmal, the subter-brutisli-
ness to which the crime of the elder,
Murphy, had chained them. The
strange new crowd had Been few electro
cutions. Many of the visitors, were
from Moore. Even ns the first dead
man was lifted before aictators' eyes
and dumped into the dead basket, one
could hear niumbling Moore people say
ing: "l seen them the1-morning they
brought them here," and "that ain't
any hard death, it is like tickling people
with an ostrich feather," "That's too
easy for such . ," and sundry
things.. Warden Bushec stopped this
buzzing conversation which became vuee
almost general.
The best the doublesliifts could think
or it was a ierfunetory state disposal
of some rubbish. . As for having any
solemnity, any " great moral lesson "
further than showing how impotent is
a state to teach morals, there was none.
Any November hog killing .-matched it
in solemnity. The state had a' gorilla
and an assassin on its hands aud got
them off the best way it could".
Four women stood through both cere
monies and saw it all. Two of these
were young folks, apparently under 25.
the other two were approaching middle,
age. They were nurses from Rex hos
pital and evidently came in a sort of
official way. "Have you your faulting
medicine?" Warden Busbee asked the
eldest at them.
The Crowd Laughs.
"I don't need it," she saiT, and ihe
crowd laughed outright. . The first
shift was now put and 12 witnessed, a
sort of apostolic cabal to band down
the truth, were reserved for witnesses
aud Warden Busbee called the first
victim. '
He was Murphy, the actual assailant
of Mrs. Ketchen, and the assailant of
her husband. The powerful fellow,
lighter than the gingerbread color of
his race, came first. Limp and his
nerve all gone after days of boasting
and swearing that he didn't give a
damn, he dropped into the chair, and
if he ever knew anythintr more, his
blank face did not show it. . He ap
peared to have fainted, though he may
have meant to go off in a trance.
Rev. E. C. Dwelle, pastor of one of
tne negro churches, read ' consolatory
scripture, but Murphy was dead tu it.
The current came 011, held on 72 sec
onds, and the heart was beating still.
On again and off again, Murphy "was
dVad in five minutes from the time that
he swooned into the chair. .
He was unlwund from the' chair,
dropped into the dead basket and the
first shift cnt out. A rush bad the
octagonal chamber full again iu two
minutes and Thomas was led in. Ho
looked the younger brother to the elder.
The current was four times applied to
him; it struck him as his lips moved
in prayer. Before electricity struck
Kim his right hand was waving nerv
ously as though the leathers were a bad
fit. The helmet was soaked as the
doctors listened for the heart-beat, the
hot current turned on again and flesh
browned and baked where .the electrode
touched the naked leg. There was no
unusual amount of this.
The 39th Victim of Chair. '
Thus ended the day '$ exercises, the
fourth double electrocution aud the 59th
(Continued on page six.) .
BODY OF CLERGYMAN AND
WOMAN FOUND DEAD
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J.,
The bodies of the Rev. Edward W.
Hall, jrector of the Protestant
Episcopal church of St. John the
Divine here, and an unidentified
woman were found under an apple
tree on a farm near here today.
There was a bullet woud in the
clergyman's forehead and three '
woundsin the woman's head.
HENRY FORD BEGINS
PROCESS OF CLOSING UP
Protest Against Paying What He
Thinks Is Exorbitant Prices For
Steel And Coal 100,000 Men To
Be Idle For Indefinite Period.
' DETROIT, MICH., Sept. 1
(By The Associated Press.) As a
protest against paying what he be
lieves to be exorbitant prices f or coul
and steel, Henry Ford today began
. the process of closing up his huge in
dustry. "
With the suspension complete '
when the hist shift of workers leaves
the various factories tonight, ap
proximately 100,000 men will have
been rendered idle for an indefinite
period. The plants affected include
the five factories in the Detroit area
and numerous assembling stations
throughout tho country. Other con
cerns, the output of which goes
chiefly to the Ford Company also are
expected to suspend operations.
In announcing the contemplated
closing several week's ngo. Mr.
Ford dclarcd uo coal shortage ex- -isted,
that brokers were holding
enough coal to supply the needs of
the country and that public was be
ing "gouge" by the dealers. He
also criticised Government agencies
for their method of - apportioning
coal. '. ; ' 1
The past week brought some Im-y
provement in' the fuel situation,
Ford officials asserted yesterday, but
, this, they said, did not warrant a
.change in the suspension order.
The first biy-off of men occurred
lust mid-night at the River Rouge
blast furnaces, whero about 18,000
are employed When shifts were
changed the workers turned in their
tools and were told not to return
until notified of a resumption of
operations. ' Two thousand men nre
to be retained at this plnt, how
ever, to tend the coke ovens, which
cannot be allowed to cool.
Inquiry today failed to disclose
any other Detroit manufacturers
who contemplated, action similar to
that of Mr. Ford.
CUTTING THROUGH 93 FEET
SOLID ROCK TO MINERS
JACKSON',' Cal., Bept. 16. Solid
rock is easier to cut through than the
mass of twisted steel rails, timbers,
rock and debris that blocks the end of
the .3,600 foot level of the Kennedy
mine, according to rescue crews en
deavoring to break through to the Ar
gonaut workings where 47 men now
have been entombed 19 days. As a
result today, they had abandoned the
task of clearing the final sixteen feet
of the level of this material and started
boring through , the stouo. They had
about fl.'S feet of rock to cut through.
Original plans were for cuttnig through
tho rock oor 77 feet only. The crew
on the 3,000 foot level has been cutting
turougb rock for several days.
Rescue workers were spurred on by a
report of the state chemical engineer
that an analysis of air in the. Argonaut
shaft showed not the slightest sign of
putrefaction to indicate that there is
present in the depths of the Argonaut a
human body. Gasses arising from de
composition would be disclosed by the
delicate tests made, he said.
BOY SCOUTS HEAR
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PROF.
BLUE RIDGE, N. C Bept. 16.
With an address by Dr. Norman E.
Richardson, of Northwestern Univer
sity, and reports of severul officials as
the chief events on the program, the
fifth day's session of Boy Scout execu
tives was carried out here today.:
Dr. E. K, Fretwell, of Columbia
University, was 011 the program 1 for
an address, "The Boy Scout, the Citi
zen," tonight. St. Elmo Lewis, of
New York, who has Ix-en taking a lead
ing part in the conference, v;ain was
a HtMflkpr
A "stunt" night, with Scout exe, u-!
tives representing twelve regions a,l
every state featuring all kin. a of taUim
eut, came as a climax to Friday's ac
tivities, which was also marked by a
visit of the Asheville Rotary Club.
NEXT WEEKS WEATHER.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16. Weather
outlook for the week beginning Mon
day: Middle Atlantic Slates: Generally
fair and cool with frosts probable iu
elevated regions.
South Atlantic and East Gulf States:
Generally fair with temperature some
what below ' normal ; occasional rains
prohalilc, however, along the coast.
Disturbance over eastern Carribean Sea.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 16. The
Soldiers' Bonus Bill, in Congress in one
form or another for three yars, liually
was' today before President Harding.
The President's attitude toward it
still was the one big question iu the
minds of both friends and foes. Aud
it was one to 'which they expected an
answer early next week4
ARMENIAN WOMEN AND
CHILDREN BEING PUTTO
SWORD BY TURK ARMY
Inhabitants of City, Crazed
With Fear, Throng the .
Wharves Asking Aid. f
ENTIRE CITY IS IN RUINS
Many Throw Themselves Into
Water Rather Than Face '
Turkish Soldiers.
CONSTANTINOPLE, ,SepL 16.
(By the Associated Press.)
Upwards of 2,000 persons perished -in
the great fire at Smyrna; 2,500
buildings were destroyed, and all ;
the American property wiped out. .
The catastrophe, say direct ad
vices received here, is of much .
greater proportions than the confla
gration at Saloniki in 1917 which .
caused $100,000,000 damage and
left 200,000 homeless.
A heavy rain continued to fall
after the fire, making the plight T
of the inhabitants and refugees
pitiable. Thousands of the frantic :
populace fled to the water front
and pleaded with the small forces '
of American bluejackets there to
give them shelter aboard the de- '
stroyers.
Many in desperation jumped into
the water and were drowned.
The city is without adequate
food and water, and the deplorable
lack of sanitary conditions is giv.
ing rise to pestilence.
23,000 GIRLS DISTRIBUTED
AMONG TURKISH SOLDIERS
LONDON, Sept. 16. "Twenty-fiva
thousand Christian women and girls
have been conveyed to the interior and
distributed among the Turkish sol
diers," says a dispatch to the Times
from M. Lascaris, editor of Kosmos, a
Smyrna newspaper, who has arrived on
the Island of Mitylene.
New refugees from Smyrna arrived
here this morning (September 13). in
cluding many Americans and English.
They say the .Turks are using machine
guns at the street corners, killing in
discriminately,'? the , dispatch adds. '
LONDON, Sept. 16. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Succeeding disnatche
from Constantinople, Athens aud other
eentersof information iu the Near East
only tend to magnify the tale of the
tragedy in Smyrna. , ,
The greater - part of the ' city is in
ruin, laid waste by a conflagration of
incendiary origin, and the flames, ac
cording to. the latest account, had reach
ed the waterfront, where the fluays
were crowded with fear-crazed Christian
refugees who fled to the city as the
nearest .port of escape from the Turks.
Many have thrown themselves into
the water, rather than run tho risk of
being burned alive or of facing Mus
tapha Kemal Pasha's soldiery, drunk
with victory aud fired with religious
fanatacism.
Others have not had the chance to
choose, according to dispatches from
Greek sources, which tell of horrible
tortures and mutilations, and wholesale
executions. Large numbers of Greek
soldiers have been . decapitated, they
say, and others forced into sacks and
thrown into the Bea. Allegations of
having served in the Greek army bring
death to the Armenians, and women
und children are being put to the sword.
Estimates of the number killed vary
greatly, sunt the latest Athens dispatch
iiuores an American reucr woraer as
declaring that up to Thursday morning
there had been 120,000 victims. It is
thought this figure may include th
wounded also, as previous reports placed
the number uf.deail ut frnm 1(1(111 to
2,000. . .
Landward from the city it is reported",
that all the villages are burning, and
that the whole countryside has been
devastated . . - -
Meanwhile the Turkish forces in the
north have continued tljir advance, and
al,,lost simultaneously with the news of
their capture of I'au.lerma, on the Sea
or Alannosa. comes
.aiarmou. comes inc aunouneemrnt
that the British fleet in the Darda
nelles has been ordered- to prevent ur
attempt to cross the straits, and that
no ship shall bo allowed to concentrate
for the purpose of transferring troops
in a movement toward Thrace. '
Jiigo-Slavia and Rumania are ako
watchiug any move in this direction. S3
they are opKsd to the Turks acain
securing a foothold in Europe. While
the Turks do uot osscss a navy they ,
control a swarm of light vessels, and
have a call upon some larger slips iu
the Black Sea.
The Turks are not without support
in their European hmhitions. Th
Russo-Angora treaty is undcrstiod tu
bind the Russians to co-operate with
Mustapha Kemal in the capture of the
Dardanelles in return for thu freedom
Of the Black Sea, and the Mdkuw gov
ernment is reiMirtrd to hava p'rpan I
for action all its forces in ti ':.
casian republics, aud to be hol l i. j 1 -Black
Sea fleet in readiurss. -. .
born in lOul, hitherto ei-i-; t !
(Continued on paje ..) t
I