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WEATHER. (Ο. Β. Weather Bureau Forecast ) Pair tonight and tomorrow; not much change Jn temperature; gentle to mod erate northwest shifting to north or northeast winds. Temperatures—Highest, 76, at noon today; lowest, 63, at 6 a.m. today. Full report on page 9. Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages 13,14 & 15 "From Prea» to Home Within an Hour" The Star's Carrier system covers every city block and the regular edition is delivered to city and suburban homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday's Circulation, 114,435 No. 32,273. Entered as second class matter post offli'e. Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, I). C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1932—THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. OP) Mean, Associated Press. TWO CENTS. COL ROBINS SEEN IN CHICAGO LOOP, FRIEND DECLARES Dry Leader, Hoover Friend, Disappears on Way to White House. BOOTLEGGERS' THREATS BRING FEAR OF SAFETY President Is Concerned Over Ab sence—Government Agents Join in Wide Police Hunt. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, Septemter 9—Mrs. W. Re Qua Bryant, friend of Col. Raymond Robins for 20 years, today said she saw the missing prohibition and peace work er on a Chicago street ye:t?rday after noon. "I am positive the man was Mr. Robins," she said. "I have known him since my childhcod when he visi'ed at our home. He appeared distraught and for that reason I didn't speak to him. I didn't know he was mteslng at that time." s Believed on Secret Mission. Mrs. Bryant's father, Attorney Harold L. Ickes, said he had talked at length •with his daughter, and was convinced the man she saw was Robins. Ickes was a lifelong friend of Robins, and they campaigned together for Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. he saic'. Ickes said he was inclined to believe Robins was in Chicago on a secret mission. Col. Robins was a social worker in Chicago for years, serving for a time as head of municipal lodging houses. Ickes advanced the theory that Robins' acquaintance in Chicago might motivate his coming here if he were a victim of amnesia. "It would be impossible for me to be mistaken in recognizing Mr. Robins," Mrs. Bryant said. ' Why, I even recog nized his characteristic fedora hat. I saw him at a dinner only a few months ago." President Anxious. With President Hoover and members of the cabinet watching developments close'y, anxiety over the whereabouts of Col. Raymond Robins, srcial economist and prominent prohibition worker, was heightened today tt no trace of him was found by Federal agents and police ot several cities. Col. Robins, whose disappearance was disclosed by his failure to keep a White Houîe appointment Tuesday, had been the recipient of numerous threats from "Florida bootleggers," his wife said at her Maine home in expressing fears of violence. Discussed by Cabinet. It was her statement that Robins may have been kidnaped or killed that led President Hoover and ethers to ex press concern and spurred official in quiries here and In New York, where Robins was last seen Saturday. The case was discussed informally at today's cabinet meeting, and later Attorney General Mitchell said special Investi gators from the Prohibition Bureau had been assigned to investigate the disap pearance. Mitchell said this was done because of repcrts that Robins might have been kidnaped because of his ac tivities against bootleggers. Amos W. W. Woodcock, prohibition director, said all the 16β special agents In the prohibition force had been In structed to join to the search. "This does not mean that every sin gle agent will be out working on the case at the same time." Woodcock told newspaper men. "But it does mean that they are to be on the lookout for any possible clues, while some of them work on the disappearance continually." Capital police have no indication that Col. Robins arrived here for a White House appointment. Detective Sergt. Richard J. Cox. member of what the metropolitan police terms the "out-of town squad." was assigned today to the Washington angle of the case. The as signment was made by Acting Chief of Detectives Bernard J. Thompson, who said he had instructed Cox to co-operate with Federal agencies active In the case. Dr. Fred B. Smith, a New York friend of the missing man, who also was a noted social economist, talked with the White House after Mrs. Robins' state ment in Maine yesterday, and reported the President was "quite worried." Believed "Overanxious." Personally, however. Smith said he felt Mrs. Robins "may be overanxious." She had told of many threats on her husband's life for his active work in be half of constitutional prohibition and against liquor violators. "Col. Robins is a lone wolf," Smith said. "When he wants to learn some thing, to dig up something, it occasion ally happens that he will go off with out telling any one. and he goes it alone until he finds what he wants. "Threats against his life never feaze him. He just laughs at them." "But." he added, "of course. It does seem unusual that he should break an engagement with the President." Robins was last seen at the City Club In New York at a time fixed by employes at between 4:.'i0 and 5 ρ m Saturday. He had checked out. leav ing the Dodge Hotel in Washington as a forwarding address. This hotel, however, said Robins had made no reservation and had not bren there. His baggage was located today in the City Club check room. Ilcbins' unexplained absence was first, known at the White House by (Continued on Fage 2. Column 5.j STOCKS CLOSE LOWER IN SHARP SELLING Gain* of Morning Wiped Out in late Wave of Liquidation. Cotton Higher. Br Uie Associated Press. NEW YORK. Sep'emter 9.—Stocks tried to resume their rise today, but gave up the attempt in the last hour when another wave of selling sint lead ers to a lower closing. Previously, the market had been about »1 to $3 higher on a buying movement led by the rails. Cotton, after its drop of $5 a bale yesterday, was ftrm?r most of the day, filing about $1 higher at one time. Gains of the morning and early after noon were more than lost, on the aver age. in the late celling of strcks which e?a4n mbst?.-'t;»i volume, Brians sales to ab-u; î.QO.tQO thares. Midocean Airport Planned to Care For Mail Planes Mother Ship With Equip ment to be Anchored Be tween Africa and Brazil. By the Associated Presj. BERLIN. Septembar 9.—Plans for the first floating airplane landing "field" in the Atlantic were announced today by the North German Lloyd line, which designated the liner Westfalen to be anchored in midocean to serve as a mother ship fcr transatlantic mail planes flying between South America and Europe. The equipment of the ship will in clude a landing platform, the an nouncement said, as well as stores of tools and spare parts, radio equipment and weather forecasting apparatus. The liner is to be permanently an chcred, midway between Bathurst, British Gambia, cr a nearby point on tha African Coest, and Ferrando Ncrcnha, off the coast near Pernambuco, Brazil. JAPANESE CLAIM LYÏÏON APPROVAL Tokio Spokesman Says Re port Sanctions Advisory Role in Manchuria. I BY JUNIUS B. WOOD. By C&He to The Star. I TOKIO September 9 —A brief synop sis Of the League of Nations Com mission's 100.000-word report on Man churia which, according to latest an nouncements, is due for simultaneous publication in Geneva. Tokio and Peiping next Friday, was given out by the Giamusho, or Japanese foreign ο - flee, today. . . Preliminary to divulging the gist ο the report with a reservation that he could not answer to its accuracy, a spokesman of the foreign office ex i plained that Japan intends to request postponement of the publication of the report from Friday until November, in order to permit the reservations made by both Japan and China to appear simultaneously. "Manchukuo should have an au tonomous government under the sovereignty of China, though with Japanese advisers and foreign officers for its native police and soldiers, summarizes the commissions reputed compromise solution cf a situation that is threatening the peace of the world. Recognition Is Answer. "Will Japan accept such a su88este solution?'· the spokesman was asked. "Within a few days Japan wrui nave recognized Manchukuo as an ^depend ont state having its own sovereignty, la, MS ;ροΓν he adding that probably Japan would not be stopped by Chinas insistence that Manchuria Is part C According to the synopsis, which Γ" S3»«S lu'exclusions are etatns auo ante in Manchuria is im possible but that annexation by Japan ' h* allowed and that even a protectorat? under Tokio's wing cannot & considered. Its boundaries both geographical and political, mustbe snecifled the report supposedly says, and the open door for equal opportu 1 nity to all nationalities must be maln UFrom the synopsis it is seen that the report contains a provision that .houia I anything occur to change the uitvw.tion I prior to its consideration, the commL tlon's conclusions may be mod.fled. Government Didn't Aid. Several of the five members of the commission, according to the Galmu£ho version, wanted the report to „tate clearly that Japan had established the new state of Manchukuo. To this, the other commissioners, presumably Gen. ~ ι Continued on Page 10, Column 4.) KREUGER EFFECTS BRING j high prices AT AUCTION ! Curio Hunters Scramble for Pri vate Possessions of Late ι Match King. ^ By the Associated Prf»s. I STOCKHOLM, Sweden, September 9. Curio hunters packed a sales room here today at the auction of the pri vate possessions of the late Ivar Kreu !£H££«s |thaththeri«ono^c de^esslon must be j a myth. FRANCE EXPECTED 10 PAV ON DEB1S TO WIN U. S. ANIIÎY Action, Unpopular in Paris, Taken as Forerunnsr to Reopening Whole Issue. HERRIOT'S CHIEF AID CONFERS WITH BRITISH Accord of Powers Sought on Answer to Be Sent to German Arms Demand. BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER. Specie! Dispatch to The Star. PARIS, September 9.—Efforts to sup plement Anglo-American and Franco British understanding by better Franco American relations with a view to seek ing peaceful and constructive solutions of outstanding international problems, are going forward apace. Acting on the unofficial advice of certain Influential Americans, the French Government seems formally to have decided to pay the next war debt | annunity due to the United States De- j cember 15, together with a year's back payments withheld under the Hoover moratorium—a total of some $20,000, 000. It will therefore not seek to take advantage of the additional moratorium facilities contained in Franco-American debt-funding agreement. Seek Favorable U. S. Opinion. This action, which will be unpopu lar here, seems to have been determined in conjunction with Great Britain for the purpose of favorably Impressing American opinion prior to the reopening of the entire debt question after the American elections. In the course of the Franco-Ameri can negotiations yesterday for a new ccmmercial treaty, which are being ac tively pursued here, the French agreed to lift immediately the embargo placed on fruit Imports from the United States a year ago. American apples anci peaches will therefore be admitted again beginning October 1. On Sunday there will be a big Franco-American celebration on the Marne battlefield. Speeches by Am bassador Walter E. Edge for the United States and Premier Edouard Herriot for France are expected to be of great international importance. It is be lieved that both will emphasize the universality of the new American doc trine that no forcible seizures of other people's territory will henceforth be recognized. Reed to See Herriot. Today or tomorrow Senator David A. Reed, accompanied by Edge, will be received informally by Herriot. While neither Reed nor Edge has been spe cifically charged with a mission. It Is believed that Reed will explain to Her riot once more the American viewpoint in the latest Far Eastern developments. It is hoped that France will be able to associate itself more and more fully with this viewpoint. _ Meanwhile Herriot's chief aid In for (,Continued on Page 2, Column T) FRENCH ASK EQUAL TRADE ADVANTAGES Premier Herriot Declares He Will Concede Nothing in Nego tiating Treaties. By the Associated Press. PARIS, September 9 —Premier Her riot was quoted by the newspaper Jour nee Industrielle today as promising a delegation from the Association of French Industry and Agriculture that he would concede nothing to countries negotiating trade treaties with Prance unless France received equivalent bene fits. The delegation asked abandonment of th? principle of the most favored na tion clause for the principle of reciproc ity, and insisted the latter b? applied most firmly in negotiations with the United States. It also asked that the quota system be maintained until Par liament readjusted the tariff schedules. On the other hand, the syndicate of si'.k manufacturers at Lyons, which Is Premier Herriot's home town, wrote the same newspaper deploring the effect the recent public protests against the nego tiations would be likely to have in the United States and refusing to join In them. CHARLES GIMBEL DIES Department Store Firm Member Was 70 Years Old. PHILADELPHIA. September 9 (IP).— Word was received here today of the death at his Summer home, at Lake Placid. Ν. Y„ of Charles Gimbel, 70, of the department store firm of Gimbel Brothers. He was one of the seven sons of Adam Gimbel, who founded the Gim bel Department Store business. MARRIAGE SPEEDS UP NERVES, SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS REVEAL 152 Couples Put Through Neuroticism Tests, Results of Which Are Given Psychological Session. By the Associated Press. ITHACA, Ν. Y.. September 9 —So far as Its effects on cases of "nerves" is ; concerned, marriage is no sedative. Instead, it speeds up the pace so much that 152 married couples deseribrd to . the American Psychological Association j meeting here rate distinctly m:re nerves than collegiate boys and girls. , The effect of having children is pecu liar. The arrival of the first baby has a "calming" effect on the husband and just the reverse on the wife. But couples with three or more children both seem to have conquered their nerves more ; effectively than ether married groups. This report is made by Raymond Royce Willoughby of Clark University nnder the hraôing "Neurotlci'm in Mar nag;.' Neurotic means any nervous maladjustment not caused by organic troubles. Shell shock Is the most shining example of neuroticism. Women, said Dr. Willoughby. have more of this s:rt of nervous upset than men, but the differences are not great and sex Is only a minor cause. "Are you interested In meeting a lot of different kinds of people?" was one question put to the 152 couples and the colleglates. "Yes" meant nervousness— a s:rt cf wanderlust, perhaps. "Yes," replied 40 per cent of the hus bands, 24 per cent of the wives, 14 per cent of the male students and 6 per cent of the female students. "At a reception or tea do you seek to meet the most Important persons pres ent?" was another. Husbands "v-essed* to 74 per cent, cCcaUiiuei oa Page 2, Column 1.) IS HtTftfiW Λ To MAKE ME THE foRGOTTEN MAN? ^rL°uTr'^ ia?s® SLASHES ΑΛΛ HlQrH Up SAlAR-IElS. ORDfcRS Major's typtK 5I\JE IwouSiNfc Tof)£ STORED -makes NE\m RNMEkl D^k t w Ê* ÛT Lowci /i? Moum^^Moik TAMMANY 10 BACK ROOSEVELT TICKET Resolution Is Quickly Put Through State Committee Meeting Today. By the Associated Press. ALBANY, Ν. Y„ September 9—After unanimously indorsing the presidential candidacy of Gov. Franklin D. Roose velt and selecting Albany for the State convention October 3 and 4, the New ι York State Democratic Committee ad journed its meeting today f:ur minutes after it had been called to order. The resolution indorsing Gov. Roore velt was introduced by John F Curry. Tammany leader, who had stood behind former Gcv. Alfred E. Smith during the National Democratic Convention at Chicago, where Mr. Rocsevelt was fin- ' a'.ly chosen the presidential standard bearer. It celled for "the active and loyal 1 support" of the Democracy of the State for the New Ycrk Governor. Walker May Be Issue. A possibility that the political fate of James J. Walker will be decided soon was seen as three of the five Democratic I city organization leaders left New York for Albany together yesterday. The power of deciding whether Walk- I er, who resigned as mayor last week. ! will be the organization candidate at the next election is In their hands. The question is one of the most pressing the leaders face, and is the object of national political interest. Curry has indicated there will be no formal announcement of the decision for about a month. McKee Seeks Economy. Meantime, Joseph V. McKee. who succeeded Walker as mayor, and who is not a Tammany member like his prede cessor, continued to attack the city's financial problems and to ignore pol itics. Factional differences that threatened to precipitate a fight to oust as State Democratic chairman. James A. Farley, who also is national chairman, were adjusted. Ed O'Connell, Albany County chair man, and head of the powerful Demo- : cratjc organization in the capital, said no fight would be made on Farley. CORPORATION FORMED FOR CARRIER RELIEF Railroad Equipment Finance Group to Handle $300,000,000 of R. F. C. Funds. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, September 9.—The new Railroad Equipment Finance Corpora tion, established as a means of making available $300,000,000 of credit from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation for financing railroad rehabilitation, was formally started on its career today. William H. Woodin, president of the American Car & Foundry Co., is chair man of the new corporation's board of directors. Other officers are Harry A. Wheeler, president of the Railway Business Association, president; George H. Houston, president of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, chairman of the Ex ecutive Committee; Harrison Hoblit zelle, president of General Steel Cast ings Corporation, vice president, and George L. Alston, secretary and treasurer. The corporation has the backing and active participation of officers of a num ber of locomotive building and railroad equipment companies. ARBITRATING STRIKE British Official Negotiating· With Textile Workers. MANCHESTER. England. September 9 (TP).—F W. Leggett, assistant secre tary of the ministry of labor, arrived ! here today and began negotiations be tween the employers and strikers with a view to settling the textile strike in Lancashire. PLAN FLIGHT TO U. S. Joseph C. Grew, American Ambassa dor to Japan, reported to the State De partment today that three Japanese fivers in a Junkers single-motor mono plane will leave Tokio tomorrow for Sabishiro. whence they will attempt a flight to San Francisco with stops at ; Nome and Fairbanks. Filsudski Bank Official. WARSAW. Poland. September g <7P).—Jan Pilsudski, who resigned as minister of the treasury on Tuesday, was appointed vice president of the Bank or Poland today He Is Marshal Joseph Piisu&ki's brother. t 'The Show Goes On'; Chorus Girls' Calm Averts Panic at Fire Continue Dance as Flames Rage and Patrons Escape. By the Associat»d Press. CHICAGO, September 9.—The non chalant attitude of the chorus girls, who continued to play their part on the stage even as the boards under their feet grew hot and smoke poured up ward, was credited today with having averted a panic when Are broke out in the Garrick Theater. The patrons, warned by the manager that a serious fire had broken out In the basement, moved calmly through the exits last night as smoke filled the theater, which is located in the hear.; of Chicago's Rialto. Meanwhile, the show went on. Th? musicians remained at their post and the chorines went on with their dances. The prima donna of the chorus. Lottie Kroll. was singing her number. "Danc ing in the Dark," as firemen arrived. Not until the last patron had de parted did the chorus girls and musi cians leave. The fire, thought to have resulted from defective wiring, caused damage estimated at $15,000. ι DRY THIRD PARTY ISSUE RAISED HERE Canon Chase Puts Proposal Up to Board of Strategy Meeting Tonight. By the Associated Press. The National Prohibition Board of Strategy will meet here tonight with a definite proposal before it that a third party be organized and a dry candidate placed in the field in this year's elec tions. The proposition has been laid before the inoividual members of the board in a letter by Canon William S. Chase of New York, suggesting that either Senator Borah of Idaho or 0ov. Pinchi t of Pennsylvania be offered the united support of all the dry organizations in the country." Canon Chase had intended to lay the proposal before a meeting of 39 organi zations supporting prohibition which was to have taken place on Wednesday. This meeting was suddenly postponed , indefinitely. Chase said today that he j had been "very much disappointed when it was called off." Meanwhile, prohibition leaders from various parts of the country here at tending an Executive Committee meet ing of the Anti-Saloon League worked behind closcd doors in an effort to draft ■ a statement setting forth the position of the Anti-Saloon League in the1 campaign. Bishop Richardson of Philadelphia, : president of the Anti-Saloon League, said at noon that a committee would ! submit the proposed statement to the j full group later in the afternoon. LABOR FACING BETTER TIMES, SAYS WHITE First Hopeful Signs Since 1929 Noted by Assistant Secretary of Department. 6y the Associated Press. WELLESLEY, Mass., September 9 — j Robe Carl White, Assistant Secretary of Labor, believes that "everything por tends a better and brighter outlook for labor in 1933." "The country is fundamentally ; sound," he told delegates to the Na tional Business Conference at Babson Institute, "its great resources are es sentially unimpaired; the inventive genius and adaptability of tAe people, remain; and when this depression passes away, as it soon will, the men and women of this Nation will go for ward with renewed faith and courage to help build a better and healthier civili zation." White said that for the first time since 1929 "hopeful and encouraging signs are beginning to appear." and he characterised as one of the most hope ful signs for the future "the better understanding that has grown up be veen men and management." ι Shells Also Exhibited by Sur prise Witness—Dug Up at Camp Marks. A scarred German Mauser rifle and several shells were exhibited today be fore the District grand jury in support of testimony by a surprise witness that the California contingent of the Bonus Army was armed with 30 rifles during their stay at Camp Marks, Anacostla. Two other witnesses, who, like the third, are World War veterans and former member* of the Β. E. P., ap peared before the grand Jury to testify concerning pistols and guns which they have told the Department of Justice were seen In billets at Third street and Pennsylvania avenue, where rioting later broke out. A fourth veteran, who has made affi davits that he saw seven and a half sticks of dynamite and a number of detonating caps at Camp Marks was prevented from testifying by Illness. Nugent Dcdds, assistant attorney gen eral. In charge of the Federal investi gation of the bonus riots, said the man, who lost a lung as a result of war injuries, suffered a hemorrhage and was taken to Mount Alto Hospital. Rifle Was Dug lip. The rifle, with part of its stock burned off, presumably by the fire which devastated the camp during the evacu ation movement last July, was dug up on the site of Camp Marks "within the past few days," Dodds disclosed. The shells were found at the same time. The grand jury Is understood to have been told by William Edward Manning, colored, ex-fireman (third class). United States Navy, that the gun and shells were part of an arms supply which included not only enough rifles for a plat:on. but "a lsrge box of ammuni tion" with which to load them. Manning first made a written state ment to that effect In the presence of Inspector Ο. T. Davis of the Police De partment, who turned the statement over to Dodds. Manning declared he knew where one of the guns was buried and officers ac companied him to the spot and assisted in digging. The Mauser was found where the former sailor lncicated it had been hidden. Thinks Others Taken Away. The witness said he was not aware of the disposition made of the other rifles, but presumed they were taken awav when the camp was abandoned. The stained and fire-marked gun was taken to Dodds' office in the De partment of Justice this racrning by Manning and several officers. The group, with the gun wrapped in paper, went direct from the Department of Justlc-s to the grand jury room. According to the affidavit in the possession of the Government, Manning was in Los Angeles on May 19 last when he was "invited" by a chance ac quaintance to join the bonus march, then being planned. He went to Port land, Oreg., and joined a group of 200 other former soldiers, who embarked by freight for Washington. Came With Firit Unit He said he arrived here June 6 with the "pioneer" Oregon unit, which later wielded great influence In directing the administration of the affairs of the | bonus army. · On or about July 18, Manning as serted. he first saw the rifles and am- I munition, and he swore they were kept ~ (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) — HUNDRED FEARED DEAD AS BLAST BLOWS BOAT CARRYING 165 TO BITS Bodies Thrown to Nearby Roofs as Ferry Is Torn to Pieces in East River. 37 BODIES RECOVERED ALREADY; NEARLY ALL ABOARD INJURED All Witnesses Held for Inquiries as City, State and Federal Government Ageneies Start Investigations. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, September 9.—Thirty-seven men are known dead and nearly 70 others feared victims as the result of the explosion of the old wooden ferryboat Observation as it pulled away from the Eastr River ferry slip at the foot of 137th street this morning. The boat, carrying 165 ironworkers to Rikers Island where they were to work on the new city prison being erected there, blew to bits when it was about 25 feet off shore. Twenty-four bodies were brought to the ferry house and 13 others were counted in hospitals and at other points a few hours after the explosion. Police officials on the scene said the death list may easily exceed 100. Investigations were started immediately by the police, the district attorney's office and the Steamboat Inspection Service of the Commerce Department. The Observation, which was built in 1888, was about 25 feet from the pier when people ashore were stunned bv a terrific roar. The ferry disappeared in a dense cloud of smoke from which catapulted bodies and fragments of wood and iron. wncn tne smoKe cleared mere was nothing left of the beat but debris float ing on the oily water. Police, Coast Guard and commercial boats flocked to the scene and joined in saving the injured and transporting the dead to shore. Priests came to the ferry house and, kneeling amcng the rows of dead, ad ministered last rites to the dying. Mulrooney on Scene. Police Commissioner Edward P. Mul rooney and Bronx District Attorney Charles McLaughlin directed the rescue work. One workman. Ted Maureau, was saved by tardiness. He arrived at the dock Just a minute too late to make the ferry and was standing watching it when it exploded. He helped in the rescue of his follow workers. Capt. Joseph Rogers of the municipal ferry Greenwich Village gave a graphic account of the explosion. "I heard a blast and saw the boat blown to smithereens." he said. "When the clouds of smoke and steam had cleared away we could see the passen gers struggling in the water over a large area. Our ferry boat was in its slip at East 124th street at the time, just two blocks from the pier where the Observations had backed out into the water. Picked Up Many. "We lowered our lifeboats and cruised about among the wreckage. We picked up 4 bodies and 10 injured per sons. Other people were putting oui in small boats and they also picked up bodies and the injured." All witnesses of the explosion were taken to nearby police stations for questioning. Among them was Alex ander Forsythe, captain and owner of the boat. "The boilers exploded," he repeated over and over, and that was the only explanation he had to offer. A short time later, the Alexander avenue station reported to police headquarters that Forsythe. who was under cetention, was near death. His father, co-owner of the boat, also was seriously hurt. Mayor Joseph McKee was told of the explosion at City Hall. He said he would not go to the scene, but would depend upon Mulrooney for a report. When the explosion occurred the body of one workman was tossed 50 feet into the air and landed on the roof of a building near the waterfront. Another body was hurled a similar distance to the roof of a building of the New York Edison Co. Life Guard Aids Rescue. Peter Collins a life guard at a Sum mer camp, saw the explosion. He called workers from a nearby power house and ran ιο the waterfront to give aid. Today was the workers' regular week ly pay day and many had reported for duty early. Warden Morehead said that no city employes were on the Observation, all the men being employes of the con tracting firm which was building tfce new penitentiary. Most of them were iron workers. As soon as the Observation exploded all men already at work cn the peni tentiary were sent home to reassure their families and work was su psnded for the day. One diver was sent from the City Department of Docks and two more from the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Commissioner Mulrooney commented that't was at this same ferry dock that in 1904 he arrested the captain of the excursion steamer Gen. Slocum. which sank in Hell Gate with a loss of 1,021 lives. The Observation was at one time in sightseeing service for carrying tourists around Manhattan Island. It ssnk at its pier at Kearney. N. J., about a year ago, but was raised and recommissioned. Its last inspection by the United States Steamboat Inspection Service of the Department of Commerce was last April THREE BURN TO DEATH IN PLANE; SAFETY BELT SAVES COMPANION Ship Piloted by Reg Robbins' Cousin Strikes Mountain side—Searchers Find Wreckage. By the Associated Press. EL PASO, Tex., September 9 — Tightening ο f his safety belt saved George A. Davidson's life while his three companions on an airplane trip were burned to death when the ship struck the side of a mountain. Pilot W. J. (Bryant> Robbins of the American Airways, his co-pilot, Fran cis W. Briggs, and Victor Ellman of St Louis, a passenger, as was Davidson, were killed. The plane, wrecked yes terday morning, was found early today by two other American Airways pilots. Ira McConaughey and Victor Miller. Davidson, who lives in Richmond, Calif., was burned on his hands and face, but filtered no serious injuries. ι The searchers found him about two miles from the plane. He had stopped to build a fire because he could not find his way in the darkness and needed warmth against the chill air of the Guadalupe Mountains, where the ship crsshed. The mountains are about 75 miles east of El Paso. He said he was nervous as Robbins tried to pilot the plane over the Guada lupe chain in foggy weather. As a pre caution, he tightened his safety belt. When the plane hit the mountainside the three others were thrown forward and probably stunned. Davidson's belt kept him in his seat and left him able to leap from the plane an instant be fore it took fire. Almost in a moment, the other men were burned to death before his eyes. Unable to help them, he remained (Continued on Page 2 , Çoluom 1.) i i . . and at that time it wss marked "Ο. K." ! for one year. The inspection included life preservers, boiler and hull. Hit by Falling Body. Willam Donoghue, 38, of Long Island, one of the survivors, said: "When the boat exploded I went high In the air and then sank deep into the water. When I came up again I was hit by a body coming down, and went down for the second time. Upon com ing up again I could hear the hiss of live steam and saw fragments of the boat floating all around me. I had sufficient presence of mind to swim under the water until I was sure there was no further danger." E. G. Wallenstik, 21. of Yonkers, said: "I was sitting on the top deck with six of my companions after the boat had backed out. Suddenly there was a terrific explosion and we were all hurled high into the air. I came down in the water and saw that the boat had been blown to bits, and grabbed » life saver. I could not see any of my companions, except one man named John Bailey. We both swam ashore, where somebody lifted us up and we were taken to the hospital. Wallenatik's injuries included two cuts on each arm and a discolored eye. Worst Tragedy Since 19Î6. After surveying the situation at the scene. District Attorney McLaughlin ordered all witnesses to his office, which he said would be headquarters for the inquiry. It was the worst river tragedy here since 1926. when 58 men were drowned as a work launch was crushed in the ice-choked Hudson. The launch was the Linseed King and It was carrying a load of newly-employed men to their first day's work in New Jersey. It Was just before Christmas and the men set forth singing with joy at their fortune in finding work. Ice floes broke the little beat to bits and they drowned or were ground to death. ESCAPED CONVICTS BELIEVED LOCATED 60 Armed Officers Surround Wood When Dogs Trail Si* Fugitives Into Growth. By the Associated Press. OAKLAND, Miss.. September 9.— Sixty heavily-armed officers surrounded a wood near here today under belief that six escapjd convicts from the State Prison Farm had taken refuge there after terrorizing two colored fam ilies in securing clothing to replace their prison garb. Led by Rouey Eaton, notorious moon shiner, who was serving a life term for killing a Federal officer, the fugitives invaded the two homes early this morning, confiscated the men's clothes and fled into the forest on foot. At one dwelling they made the house wife cook them a meal. Having eaten heartily, they departed with her hus band's Sunday suit. Bloodhounds guided the officers into the wood. O. S. Tann, superintendent of the prison, said he expected a des perate flght as the convicts are armea with guns they took from the prison hospital after over-powering guards and locking them in cells. A prison automobile in which they fled was abandoned two miles west of here. REPORT SAYS REDS FIRED UPON STRIKERS Eye-Witness Account Claims Troops Were Used After Riots and Food Raids. By Cable to The Star. LONDON. September 9.—Soviet troops fired on striking workers at Ivanovo Voznesensk after the latter had rioted and looted government food shops, the Moscojp correspondent of the Lon don Dally Express reports today. He says this news reached Moscow from an eye-witness despite the rigid censorship. Ivanovo Voznesensk is about 100 miles northeast of Moscow. If true, it is highly significant of the temper of Russian workers at this mo ment. as Ivanovo Voznesensk has been the prize exhibit of the Bolsheviks as a model textile town, with model fac tories and model living conditions for workers. (Copyright. 1932.) Radio Programs on Page A-12 >