139 Ask To "Shoot" Niagara In A Boat

1920

MANY ANSWER MOVIE COMPANY ADVERTISEMENT.

Most of Applicants Seek $1,000 Offered — Others Want Thrill or Experience.

NEW YORK, N. Y. — Think of going over Niagara Falls in a houseboat!

Death came to Charles George Stevens when he tried to ride the 153-foot cataract In a barrel.

Yet 139 husky, red-blooded American young men have gone on record as being ready to try the stunt in a houseboat.

An advertisement appeared recently in one of the New York daily newspapers calling for a man to go over Niagara Falls in a houseboat for a motion picture film. The reward offered was $1,000. The producer expected that possibly five men might apply.

Imagine his astonishment when 139 applicants put in an appearance. Among them was Allan Law, brother of Ruth and Rodman Law.

Majority ex-Army Men.

The majority of those who applied were ex-service men who were overseas. Having faced German bullets in France, they said they were more than willing to attempt Niagara for a thousand dollars. Another interesting fact was that the average age of the applicants was 23 years. Only a few were over 25. The oldest applicant was 48 years of age.

Practically every nationality was represented, and among them were two men who did not know what Niagara Falls is. Upon being informed and being shown pictures of the falls, one of them backed out. Of all who applied, this man and one other were the only ones who resigned.

Another interesting applicant was Frank Dupree, newspaper correspondent, who made the first long-distance aeroplane flight in 1913 from Dover, England, to Cologne, Germany.

Most of 'Em After the Money.

When asked the reasons for seeking so hazardous a job, the majority said "money." Others were lured by the chance for adventure. Practically all were fatalists, who did not for a moment consider the risk. Another interesting feature was the fact that among them were four bank clerks, three security salesmen and one life insurance salesman.

A specially constructed houseboat was made to be used. It includes the compartment and bulkhead construction principle used in lifeboats and the hulls of ocean liners. Tests of the craft show that its scientific construction has reduced to a minimum the risk incurred by the daredevil who rides over the falls.

Stevens, who lost his life in a barrel try at the stunt. was a barber in England, where his wife and eleven children live. He had made parachute drops, high dives and similar feats many times. He used to put his head in a lion's mouth in a circus.

But the question now is — will the motion picture stunt be called off?

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 3.

Wins French Bride in 13 Minutes

1920

Yank Voted Speed Demon of A. E. F.

SOMERSWORTH, N. H. — Paul J. St. Jean, wounded hero of this town, has returned with his French bride whom he met for fifteen minutes in Angouleme, France, while on his way to the front in 1918, wooed by mail and made a special trip to her home to marry.

Now the citizens of this ordinarily quiet village vote unanimously that Jean can claim the A. E. F. record for a speedy courtship. And Jean says nothing. His record speaks for itself.

Mrs. Paul J. St. Jean has settled down to learn the English language.

Private Paul J. St. Jean left Somersworth in 1917 with the Yankee Division for France. He went thru every battle from the engagement at Seicheprey to Chateau Thierry, where he was felled with a machine gun bullet in the first American push. Out of the fighting, he was invalided to Camp Hospital 5, near Bordeaux. For over two months he hovered between death and life, and on Sept. 29th left again for the front to join his division.

Could Speak Language.

Then Cupid got in his work. While serenely traveling by train at the rate of three knots an hour, the French Limited stopped at the town of Angouleme. On the platform watching the train pull in were three French mademoiselles. Jean had the advantage. He was the only doughboy on the limited that knew French without the aid of a "French Made Easy" book, so he engaged the young women in conversation.

Two of the girls talked. The other didn't. Thruout the fifteen minutes that the train waited, a quiet French maiden of 16 summers hung back, saying nothing but thinking a whole lot. That young lady is now Mrs. Jean.

Jean, like any enterprising Yank, took their addresses and corresponded from the front. The shy young miss, whose name was Gabrielle Deleichelle, and whose father was at the front during the war, made it known to Jean thru her sisters' letter that she wanted to write.

Kept Writing to Girl.

The soldier came home with his division and started on a course of vocational training in New York. Altho unable to visit his young friend on his way home, he kept up the correspondence, which grew more interesting with each succeeding letter. In June, 1919, the obvious happened. They became engaged with the aid of a 5-cent stamp and several pages of uncensored French.

The vocational training complete, on April 10th of this year, the Yankee hero sailed from New York, arrived at Angouleme, and on May 17th married the young lady who had kept the postmasters at Somersworth and Angouleme busy for nearly two years.

Mr. and Mrs. Jean then came home. They visited New York and spent three days in Boston. But the big cities displeased Mrs. Jean. She liked the quietude of country places like Somersworth, and So they arrived home on her eighteenth birthday.

Mrs. Jean admires her soldier husband, is amazed at the progressiveness of America, but says with a far-away look: "I will always love my old France and expect to go back some day," and Mr. Jean, who is of French descent himself, is quite willing to go, too.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 1.

Judge Fines "Dead Man" $15

1920

Soldier, Reported Killed in France, Hits Man With Auto.

ST. PAUL, Minnesota. — In the casualty list of August, 1918, appeared the item: "Killed in action, L. D. Caye." The same L. D. Caye, a contractor, appeared in police court, charged with running down with his automobile a street car switchman. His death in France was a clerical error.

Caye produced a citation of the War Department: "Died on the field of honor, L. D. Caye, August 9. 1918." Caye read from the citation and then offered it to the judge.

"Fifteen dollars" was the only emotion it awakened in the judge. Caye's emotions were deleted by the censor.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 1.

Note: It appears this incident happened in mid-July. I saw another reprinting (July 18) of an earlier article from the St. Paul Dispatch, essentially the same as above. And it gives the location of the accident, at Fifth and Wabasha streets.

The President on "Our Interests"

1916

The characteristic aberration of Mr. Wilson's mind and his self-complacent disregard of traditional American principles are never more clearly shown than when he discusses American interests and the relationship of them to the interests of the world at large. It is a favorite theme with him, lending itself with facility to that fashion of phrase-making which forms so dominant a part of his public utterances, and in dealing with it he displays not only the self-complacency to which we have already referred, but also a degree of inconsistency which is actually bewildering.

It was only the other day that in a public address at the capital he rang the changes of emphasis upon the proposition that we should never exert the physical force of America for our own interests, but only for the interests of humanity, or for our own only when they were identical with those of humanity at large. He was, of course, entitled to that view of the case as his own. But how presumptuous an error it was to declare that to be the traditional American policy, established by the fathers of the republic, is suggested by simple reference to Washington's Farewell Address, in which Americans are exhorted to adopt and maintain a course of policy under which we may choose peace or war as our interests, guided by justice, shall dictate"!.

Again, speaking of the European War, Mr. Wilson has said that Americans have "no part of interest in the policies which seem to have brought the conflict on." We are not sure that even his epochal "too proud to fight" comment upon the Lusitania massacre was more repugnant to humane feeling. We have, then, no interest in the protection of small nations from oppression and spoliation; no interest in the respecting of neutrality; no interest in the faithful observance of treaty obligations; no interest in the substitution of justice for brute force. Those would be astounding declarations for America to make in the twentieth century! Why, even a pagan comedian twenty centuries ago declared that because he was a man he was interested in everything that concerned humanity. Have we fallen below Terence's code of ethics? We should like to bracket by the side of Mr. Wilson's inhuman disclaimer of interest the studied statement of England's poet-statesman, Wordsworth, that "every independent nation is interested in the maintenance of the national independence of every other country." By the side of such a proposition how sordid appears Mr. Wilson's plea of "no interest"! — The Boston Transcript.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 8.

Reject Principle that All Submarines Are War Vessels

1916

Washington, Sept. 5. — To the proposal of the Entente allies that neutrals accept the principle that all submarines are vessels of war, the United States has dispatched a reply which it is understood holds to the principle that the characteristics of each individual submersible must govern the case.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

U. S. Will Retaliate Only as Last Report.

1916

Washington, Sept. 6 — What shall be the attitude of the Entente Allies toward American trade relation legislation, will be determined by the Grand Trade Council of the 10 belligerent Governments at Paris.

Entente diplomats here said tonight no action will be taken until authorization has been received from the council, and in the meantime all information on the subject obtainable is being forwarded to Paris.

Formal notes of protest from the various Governments are not expected. It is thought no formal action will be taken unless the President actually puts into force the discretionary power of refusing clearance papers to ships discriminating against American goods, withholding the use of telegraphs and cable lines from subjects of discriminating Governments and denying import privileges to countries which restrict American trade.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

Greeks Plan for War

1916

Athens, Sept. 9, via London, Sept. 11. — "If the Entente and anti-Venizelist factions can only keep quiet for 10 days and not embroil the situation, Greece's entry into the war will be a settled fact," said a prominent Greek official to the Associated Press this morning. "If not," he continued, "it is the end of Greece."

King Constantine and Premier Zaimis had a lengthy conference on the situation today. On the whole, the situation with regard to Greece's entry into the war on the side of the Entente Allies seems favorable.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

Sweden and England Exchange Sharp Notes

1916

London, Sept. 10. — There has been a further, and rather sharp exchange of notes between Great Britain and Sweden regarding the difficulties brought about by the allied blockade and Sweden's retaliatory seizure of mails in transit between England and Russia. No solution of the problem is in sight. The British foreign secretary, Viscount Grey, insists that as a condition to submitting the matter to arbitration Sweden must promise not to interfere again with English parcels post matter in transit across Sweden. The Swedish government apparently is determined not to make such an engagement.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

Hindenburg at Western Front

1916

Amsterdam, via London, Sept. 9. — According to Berlin dispatches received here Field Marshal Von Hindenburg, the new German chief of staff, has arrived for the first time on the western battle front and will inspect all the principal positions in company with Crown Prince Frederick William.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

The Rumanian Campaign

1916

The German-Bulgar spectacular rush at Tutrakan has, according to a report telegraphed from Athens to the London Daily Mail, been speedily countered by an equally spectacular rush of Russians and Rumanians for Nish, the Serbian capital, after the fall of Belgrade, now in possession of Bulgaria. If the invaders manage to reach the neighborhood of Nish they will achieve a sensation and furnish a service to the Allied Balkan campaign of immense importance — the cutting of the Berlin-Belgrade-Constantinople Railroad.

The Athens despatch reports the Russo-Rumanian troops have already advanced more than ten miles into Serbian territory having occupied Negotin and doubtless pushed on at once. At Negotin the expedition is about seventy to seventy-five miles from the Orient railroad. Allowing for delays to despatches the invaders must have been in Negotin on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

The crossing of the Danube from Roumanian territory was made to Prahavo on the Serbian side, near the river. Prahavo is seven miles from Negotin. The success of this attempt depends entirely on speed and surprise. Doubtless the Rumania staff was aware that this section had been skinned of troops to furnish the Bulgarian rush into Rumania.

The crossing of the Danube unopposed substantiates this belief. The country through which the expedition is moving will afford it every assistance possible, as what inhabitants are there are entirely unfriendly to the Central Powers.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

Saturday's Summary

1916

London, Sept. 8 — An ever increasing cannonade by the British and French on the most intense scale is in progress along more than 30 miles of the fighting front on the Somme, preparatory to another rush through the Kaiser's "iron wall."

Repeated counter attacks by heavy bodies of Germans last night failed to move the French, who today pushed further into Vermandovillers Village below the river.

Meanwhile in the complicated struggle of southeastern Europe, where the fighting in large in open field and new developments arise every day, there stand out three great battles, whose result will count heavily before Winter benumbs war-like activity.

First in immediate interest comes the fighting in south Rumania, where a large Russian army has reached the victorious German-Bulgar-Turkish forces and is attacking them from the Black Sea to the Danube River.

Today's announcement of this new Russian offensive relieves Entente Allied capitals of anxiety over Rumania's sudden reverse at Tutrukai.

Lemberg's fate hangs in the balance while Brussiloff's armies drive Von Bothmer steadily across country from the southeast and press on its protecting forces on the east and north. The Germanic troops, retreating 25 miles in three days, have crossed the Guita Lipa River and are attempting to hold their pursuers to its eastern bank.

Passing the broad Dvina River near the Baltic, Russian troops have made good their foothold in the German lines on the western bank, for the first time since last Fall.

Another Austrian defeat at the hands of Rumanians is confessed by Vienna, involving further retreat 50 miles north of Kronstadt.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

London Summary

1916

London, Sept. 11 — Armies of the five Nations have begun to turn back the German-Bulgar invasion of Greek territory. The British have crossed the Struma and driven their enemy toward Kavala in severe fighting. Under Serbian pressure on the other flank the Bulgarians have retreated toward Monastir, and the French, in the center, have let loose the full power of their artillery, pulverizing Bulgaria's defenses.

Greece is on the verge of war. A Ministerial crisis is imminent, and it is believed Premier Zaimis has already tendered his resignation, reports Reuter's correspondent at Athens. The Greeks, fired by the surrender of the whole provinces to the Bulgars without a blow, are flocking to the Allies for arms and a chance to drive out their bitterest foes.

While Russia is pouring troops into Southeastern Rumania, where the German-Bulgar army has conquered most of the Dobudja, it is claimed, the Rumanian forces are still advancing in Transylvania and overcoming vigorous Austrian resistance.

Vienna declares Russian attacks on Halics in Galicia and along the Kovel front in Russia have been brought to a standstill.

German counter-attacks against the British and French on the Somme front last night and today broke down without regaining any lost ground.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

The September Issue of "The People's Home Journal"

1916

Most illuminating are the glimpses into the hearts and minds of the People's Home Journal's great family of readers. Letters by the score are received in every mail, graphic, spontaneous, a running fire of comment upon stories, pictures, the cover designs, department topics, etc., all vital and helpful to an editor who wishes to know of what his many millions of readers are thinking.

Because the Journal stories are "alive," every character in them has personality, which Journal readers are quick to discover. On the "Let's Talk It Over," page for September a recent Girl on the Cover is discussed. She is so "real" that readers have even given her a name — "Ruby," "Ariadne," and "Ruth." One enthusiast declares that "capable kindness is the keynote of her nature. The sweet solemnity of her big gray eyes prophesises that the strength and wisdom of her as well as her love, will guide the man of her choice steadily and safely through all the labyrinth of life." Quite as bewitching is the September Girl on the Cover.

The first autumn issue of the Journal concludes an absorbing serial by Agnes Louise Provost, "The Woman in the Case," and caters to the lover of mystery in a thrilling novelette, "Old Rodney's Will." Josiah Allen's Wife" in "A Fortunate Mistake" tells a rollickingly funny story about a pair of bashful sweethearts. Arthur Preston Hankins contributes a genuine small town chronicle in "The Silent Witness," the story of an absentminded doctor, the laying of a town-hall cornerstone and a mix up in town records which eventually straightens out financial tangles for a young man who wants to marry the only girl in the world. Armiger Barclay in a hold-up-story, "Into the Lion's Mouth," and Agnes Louise Pratt, in "The Extract Man," round out a well balanced ration of wholesome and appetizing fiction.

There are poems by Nancy Byrd Turner, Anna Porter Johnson and Daisy D. Stephenson, and a capital Green Meadow Story for the children by Thornton W. Burgess. The Fashions, Cookery, Interior Decoration and Care of Children departments are well edited and helpful. (Fifty cents a year.) New York.


World War I Humor

"We've learned a lot from the present war."
"Yes, indeed. Everything except what it's all about." — Detroit Free Press.

An Elastic Tariff is the Need of America

1916

New York, Sept. 21. — Greater elasticity in the country's tariff system is necessary to meet trade conditions which will arise at the close of the war, according to reports submitted to the National Foreign Trade Council today by a committee which has investigated the foreign trade aspects of the tariff. The report says:

"All European nations will, with peace, have a large market to offer and may be expected to yield it only for opportunities to extend or protect from discrimination the foreign trade. The United States is normally the best customer of the United Kingdom and is one of the most profitable markets for France, Germany and all the other belligerents.

"With the exception of the United Kingdom all the belligerents have, in their tariff systems, ample resources for negotiations for tariff advantages and for retaliation against discrimination.

"The foregoing circumstance shows the necessity for greater elasticity in the American tariff system, regardless of whether the tariff is maintained for protection or for revenue or partially for each. It is obvious that the United States should have some method of adjusting the tariff to new conditions created by political or commercial change in the part of our competitors and our customers, without resorting to a general revision. The creation of the tariff commission should contribute to this end."

The council adopted a resolution directing that the council bring to the attention of the President, Congress and the Tariff Commission, when organized. "The necessity that the American tariff system shall possess adequate resources for the encouragement of the foreign trade of the United States by commercial treaties or agreements of executive concessions within defined limits and its protection from undue discrimination in the markets of the world."

Iceland Ship Arrives

1916

New York, Sept. 23. — The Gullfoss, said to be one of the first Icelandic ships to visit the shores of the western hemisphere since the days of Leif the Lucky, tied up in New York harbor yesterday with a cargo of herring. Aboard the Gullfoss, a little steamer of 886 tons, is a crew of Icelandic sailors, officered by Icelandic navigators, and speaking virtually the same language that Leif, son of Eric the Red, spoke when he landed at Cape Cod about the year 1000. The ship is under command of Captain Sigurdur Pjeturssen, who told of the remarkable prosperity that has come upon Iceland since the European war started.

The Gullfoss brought twenty-eight passengers, mostly merchants, from Reykjavik, the capital, and other cities, who came to buy goods in American markets. On its return trip, the first of next month, the Gullfoss will pass a sister ship, the Gothaloss, bound for New York with a cargo of fish. Captain Pjeturssen said he hopes to see established a regular trade with the United States. The two vessels are owned by the Icelandic Steamship company. They sail under the Danish flag.

Amazingly high prices for products of the island have brought prosperity in the last two years, the captain said. The war created the first millionaires in Iceland, he declared, and also gave the island its first experience with labor troubles and other disorders of modern civilization. A strike of the fishermen's union on the island lasted throughout last summer.

Germany Will Protest Against Tanks

1916

London, Sept. 23. — An exchange telegraph despatch from Geneva says it is understood there that the German government proposes to lodge a complaint with the International Red Cross against the use of the so-called "tanks." The complaint will be on the ground that the use of these new engines of war is contrary to recognized methods of civilized warfare.

Submarine Sunk a Aeroplane

1916

Berlin, Sept. 22. — The French submarine Fousaus has been sunk in the southern Adriatic by bombs dropped from Austro-Hungarian naval aeroplanes, the Austrian admiralty announced today. The entire crew of 29 men were rescued and made prisoners.

Germans Take Dutch Steamer

1916

London, Sept. 23. — The Dutch mail steamer Prins Hendrik, which left Flushing this morning for London, having on board a number of Russians, French, Belgians and British, including some escaped war prisoners, was captured 20 miles out from Flushing by the Germans and taken to Zeebrugge, where approximately half of her 64 passengers were taken off.

Several Americans were aboard the steamer, including Herbert C. Hoover, chairman of the American commission for Belgian relief, but these were not molested.

The steamer was later released and returned to Flushing. It will proceed to London Sunday.

Portuguese Gain in Africa

1916

Lisbon, via Paris, Sept. 23. — An extensive invasion of German East Africa by Portuguese troops is reported in an official statement issued by the war office. The statement says:

"After the passage of the Rovuma river our columns advanced eight miles and occupied Miobo. The left column seized Katibus and the German barracks and then proceeded toward Nacoas. These columns on the centre and right, marching toward the Migomba depot, reached Taketo on Rovuma Bay. The enemy retreated in the direction of Sasawara, west of Lindi. The natives willingly accepted Portuguese domination."

Two More Zeppelins Vanquished

1916

London, Sept. 24. — Of the 12 zeppelins which invaded the British Isles last night to deal death and destruction from the skies, two were destroyed.

One came down a flaming torch, as did the zeppelin L-21, destroyed three weeks ago, while the second, disabled by gunfire, effected a landing, which saved the lives of the crew, who tonight are prisoners. The crew of the first raider died in the consuming flames of their own ship.

Many who saw the shrapnel bursting like skyrockets above the invader which subsequently caught fire, think there must have been several direct hits. Many aeroplanes were aloft and attacked the zeppelins from all sides.

The raiders took a heavy toll of lives before their destruction, 28 persons being killed and 99 wounded in the metropolitan district of London. Two persons were killed, probably four, and 17 were wounded in the provinces.

The roar of dropping bombs was heard in many districts where the raiders were invisible.