St. Louis Post-Dispatch
May 14, 1914

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LOUIS POST-DISPATCH | THE TRUE LIFE STORY OF =—=GEN. VILLA # Ai Only Evening Paper in St. Louis With Associated Press News Service. By an American Who Fought With Him IN NEXT SUNDAY POST-DISPATCH MEILEN TESTIFIES. |‘stsss'vewunetn bee RAN MANF HIM | PRESIDENT OF ROAD Witness Says He Negotiated: With Police Director Byrne; of New York in Trading $1,200,000 Worth of Stock' for West Chester Shares “Worth 10 Cents a Pound.” SAYS HE GOT SALARY OF $60,000 A YEAR Expresses Belief That West Chester Stock Was “Scat- tered Among Contractors and Placed Where It Would Do the Most Good.” PRICE ONE CENT. ST. LOUIS, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 14, 1914—24 PAGES. . Louisan, Killed at TRBUTE 10 DEAD. |[ Former Se. Louisan, Killed at (IF BARCES PASSING. EIINNER’S My ATF ‘era Cruz, Buried in Illinois THROUGH CANAL: IN ILLINOIS TOWN Reports to Panama Railroad Co. Coulterville Honors Memory of Show Traffic Began to L. F. Boswell, Who Was Move Saturday. Killed at Vera Cruz. ee “- oa eS VOL. 66. NO. 267. CONTINUOUS LINE a “ : yet a & TROOPS TAKE TAMPICO BY. STORM AFTER SAY Fl Invaders Find Progress Contested to Heart of City, Where Fighting Is Heaviest. * 44S Te ry ay ee Oe Oe ea oe ee Pa Oe set Sa ih, Ce aes CN, eee te» CONGESTION IS RELIEVED SERVICES IN A PARK Thousands Gather at Funeral Ceremony — Floral Piece From President Wilson. Closing of Mexican Road Caused Freight to Accumulate at Isthmus. _—_ -_- -_- -_ —_ -_- -_ -_ —_ 0K ee eee WASHINGTON, May 14—For the first time, water-borne traffic is passing through the Panama Canal, vesnasrn dt Mra lige rie May wegen; to the reports that have ben recived 14 - oa neat Bh sas tp reed at the headquarters of the Panama Reail- miles around to pay a last tribute to road in New York, forwarded here to- one of the nation’s heroes who died in day. ‘the line of duty, Louis Frank Boswell, Though confirmation of the report hag 2 years old, chief gunner’s mate of the not yet reached the Washington office vy. §. battleship Michigan, one of the 19 of the isthmian canal, it is known that killed in action at Vera Cruz, April 21 ample provision had been made »y Col. gna 22, was buried here today, with none Goethals for the institution of water or tn, pomp and ceremens of war service, limited at first strictity to put with the tribute of peace barges, beginning not later than May 10.: at noon every store and office was As a matter of fact, according to the olosed and flags were dropped to half Panama Railroad reports, the service mas at 2 o'clock the casket was actually began last Saturday and @ pjaceg tn the center of the town park steady stream of barges in tow 18 péss- 214 after a short service there it was ing through the canal. taken to the cemetery. The wrens Poon tenet reemgeem wnter- A year ago Boswell come home on « — furlough and told of the cruises mad+ oceanic commerce cxuused by suspen- sion of service on the Tehuantepec rail. ©” **!lor lads. Nearly every one knew road in Southern Mexico as an incident to the rebellion brought about this rather premature opening of the canal tw trade. Several of the great freight liners which, in conjunction with the similar service on the Pacific maintained trade lines between Europe and the Far East via Tehuantepec, recently have ap- peared at Colon and Panama offering cargoes for transhipment overland far beyond the capacity of the Panama rail- road. Finding that Col. Goethals was will- ing to assist them by clearing an ade- quate channel for barges at ‘east, through the Cucaracha slide, the com- pany obtained a lot of the barges that| have been used for harbor purposes at Colon and Panama and established this service as an overflow to assist the railroad, meeting the trace demands. Canal Virtually Finished. Col. Goethals has not yet reported to Washington just when the canal will be opened to merchant shipping, but the understanding here is that the water- way virtually is finished and that even By a Staff Correspondent of the Pcst- Dispatch. FEDERALS BLOW UP THEIR ‘BARRACKS AS THEY RETREAT By Associated Press WASHINGTON, May 14.—Details of financial methods of the New Haven Railroad in the acquisition of subsid- jaries, particularly the New York, Wes: Chester and Boston, were disclosed to the Interstate Commerce Commission to- day by Charles 8S. Mellen, former presi- dent of the New Haven. Mellen with apparent frankness told of his negotiations wjth former Police Inspector Thomas Ff." Byrnes of New York for the exchange of- 8000 New Haven shares for 24,000 shares of West Chester stock because he thought that Byrnes had influence with people whom ‘ii was necessary to reach.” Meilen bluutly said he would have beer wiliimg to deal with the ‘devil or any- bouy else’’ in the transaction. He said he thought at the time that the Wesi Chester shares were ‘“‘worth about lv ceits a pound.” Due Billa Torn to Bits. The due bills, which at times Mellen was obliged to give when the exchange of stock was made, as he did not have always either cash or the stock, are still outstanding, acording to Mellen, in considerable amounts. Many of them had been presented, he admitted, since! jo his retirement from the presidency . of ~~. the New Haven. Such as were can- | celled, he stated, he had “torn into small pieces and thrown into a closet.” Mellen said it had been his practice for many years to destroy cancelled checks and similar ‘“‘worthless” paper. As some of the documents and papers, called for by a new subpena served upon Mellen today were not in Wash- ington, an adjournment of the hearing was taken until next Tuesday. The scene at the hearing was one of unusual activity. Commissioner Mc- Chord and Chief Counsel Folk arrived CHARLES 8. MELLEN. Admiral Mayo, Ready to Send His Ships Back Up River, Probably Will Use Hospital ~““.— Ship in Caring for Wounded of Both Sidss. =—_— cee” oe FAIR WEATHER, AND WARMER TOMORROW THE TEMPERATURES. “I'll be home in three years, mother,” he said at that time. “My .third term will be up then and I will live with you and father.” Wednesday he returned to his home. a little vineclad cottage on the hill- side a mile from town. His white- haired mother, 66 years old, awaited him. The body was placed in the lIittle parlor. While the bodies of two of his comrades lay in state in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, he lay in the best room of the home which had been pur- chased for his parents out of his sav- ings as a sailor. Wreath From President. On top of the casket were floral tributes and a palm wreath from his captain, A. V. Niblack of the Michigan; ‘white roses and Jilies from the boys jaboard the Montana, the ship which ‘brought him home; red roses from those on the Utah who had fought side by side with him when he was hit by a sniper’s bullet; a laurel wreath from the Daughters of the American Rev- CR ib Sie” now there is a sufficient channel pe tn tae Gan eee LOUIS FRANK BOSWELL. through the Culebra Cut for almost any which he belonged, and flowers’ from , warship or liner, and that it is only ¢,;.n4s in St. Louis, where he former- : | from a desire to avoid a possible serious , y lived = - 2° By Associated Press. r VERA CRUZ, Mexico, May 14.—Confirmation of the fall of Tampico into the hands of the Constituionalists was received here ‘today in a message from Admiral Mayo and transmitted by Axd- miral Badger to the Navy Department at Washington. This report said the Mexican Federal gunboat Vera Cruz still was up the river at the railway bridge. The gunboats Bravo and Zaragoza left the river yesterday and anchored near the foreig warships. ; Admiral Mayo further reported that the Federal troops blew up their barracks before retiring from the city. By 4 o’clock yex- _terday afternoon, he said, the firing practically had ceased. «=~ Admiral Mayo has received from Secretary Daniels full power “to send American warships back up Panuco River to T Ss Ae in his judgment, conditions should warrant such action. | It is explained that while the Ad-fcannon would be brought up. eles mrial has full discretionary powegs to; that the gunboats either would be take his ships back into the river, hejor captured... os would not land any forces at Tampico] For an hour previous to this move, & except in the case of the gravest deafening rifle fire had been going os og emergency, without specific orders from/in and about the plasa, wi the Feb 3 the department. It is believed he | erals were endeavoring to cover their 'probably will place his hospital ships ‘at the disposal of the authorities at ‘Tampico for the care of the wounded, Yesterday’s Temperatures. High. .67 at 4 p. m. Low. .45 at 4 a. m™. “[ saw some- thing mighty nice in a show window yesterday,” said Mr. W. ‘What was it?’ asked Mrs. W. “See if you can guess. It was of- fered at $4.00 “It couldn’t hav2 been a new spring bonnet, because that would be a ridiculously low price.”’ “No, it wasn’t a bonnet. It was a watermelon.” “Why, John. You don’t mean to say they’re asking $4 each for water- melons.”’ “Yes. They’re a luxury.” ‘It would be foolish to spend money for luxuries when we need the neces- saries of life. I know where I can get a love of a bonnet for $30."’ Official forecast for St. Louis and vicinity: Fair tonight and Friday: _-_ -_- - -_- ~~ re ee eee a _—_ —_— _ TE OL a a i as _——_—_ retirement to the railroad trains which were to take them out of the city. The Federals fought every step of the way, using their cannon as well as small arms in staving off the assaults of the rebels. accident through an unexpected _ re- On top of all was a wreath of newal of the earth moves in the cut pain Saratoga palms tied with white that Col. Goethals has determined to al- ribbon and bearing a card engraved low a period for observation before “The President.” The mother en. actually opening the canal. ! gered the floral tribut ] It is understood this barge service is but always lingered eamnen: ae regardless of their allegiance. | One reason for the desire to send the |! American ships back into the river is first. Mellen and his attorney, J. W. P. Crim, arrived soon afterward. Some de- lay was caused by the necessity of mak- ing a change in the subpena to Mellen, so that it would cell for all papers and documents relating to the operations of the New Haven and its subsidiaries. “Assistant to Commissior.” When Mellen took gthe witness chair Chief Counsel Folk began the examina- tion. Q. What is your occupation? A. I am assistant to the Interstate Commerce Commission. Mr. Mellen smiled. Q. You were directed to produce all documents in reiation to the operations of the New Haven Railroad. Have you them with you? A. They are in posses- sion of my counsel. . “T think it becoming to say at this point,” interjected Counsel Crim, “that Mr. Mellen is willing to give a full history of his connection with the New Haven. In fact, he courts the opportunity.” Folk resumed the examination. Q. When did you become president of the new Haven? A. I became presi- dent about Nov. 1, 1903. =Imme- cie.ely prior to that I was president of the Northern Pacific Railway Co. Q. What persons were responsible for yur being made president of the New Haven? A. I think the person chiefiy responsible was the late Mr. Morgan. I had met him when I was second vice-president of the New Ha- ven between 1892 anid 1897. Tells of Meeting Morgan. @. Where did you mect Mr. Morgan to discuss the matter of the presi- “-ney of the New Haven? A. In his «fice fa New York. My c°nnection with the Northern Pacific required me to vistt New York about 10 times a yor and the fact that I was preii- &» of that read brought me into ec ° relationship with Mr. Morgen. IT é te RENE ee ty ine 2 . : ae a - PAO RE en mn — to be operated on about 12 hours’ sched- fearlessly. that from the President. “The President of the United States which allows about an hour’s delay in sent this to me and my boy,” she | would say when neighbors called, ani ;then from a near room she would ‘bring a letter from one of his ship- ON C..NAL FRAUD CHARGE mates and read this line: “Louis died like the man he was, He never had a chance, for the sniper shot from ambush, but he died with a smile on his lips jand met death with his face to the ' front.” At 1:30 p, m. the Odd Fellows from the entire county gather at the home. There was no gun carriage, but’ the hearse was draped iln red, white and blue. A guard of honor was composed of 20 Odd Fellows, wearing regalia. A band played “America” and the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and then the cortege moved to the park. Then the lid of the casket was taken off, showing the body in uniform in- side. On each side of the casket the floral tributes were placed, that ~ the President at the head. Three hundred schoo] children passed the casket one by one and as each reached the heat waved an American flag over the body. Dr. J. L. Crceasnut, pra.tor of the The- formed Presbyterian Church, from a platform, paid tribute to the man in the coffin and the 18 others vho died in Mexico. Then the casket was placed in the hearse again, the flowers werep placed in automobiles and the march to the grave began. The Odd Fellows performed -heir burial service. The band played “‘Near- er, My God, to Thee” as the casket was lowered into the earth. Tha father and mother stood side by side, arms Clasped together. A minister repeated the Twenty-Third Psalm. There was no volleying of musketry, no booming ©f cannon, but just the low- voiced words of the pastor repeating the psalm: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod and staff, they comfort me.” The crowd repeated the psaim after the minister. Then one of the town boys sounded “taps.”" John Boswell, 209A Worth Ninth street, St. Louis; William Boswell, 2817 Rlair avenue, St. Louis, a Spanish- American war veteran; Frederick Bos- well, 209A North Ninth street, St. Louis: George Boswell, Fresno, Cal., and Fran- cis Boswell, Coulterville, Ill, honorably Cischarged three months ego from the U. 8. 8. Virginia, on board of which" vessel he was a first-class gun-pointer, were brothers of Louls Frank oBswell. Mise Gertrude Boswell, Coulterville, TL, and Mrs. W.’A. Cuillen, 1107 Yale avenue, St. Louls, were sisters. The big automobile market for used cars—-Post-Dispatch Wants, Take your aes from today's offers. | | UUURT IN $107,000 SUIT SHE INRERITED Mrs. Elizabeth Knisely Asking Payment of Claim Her Late Husband Presented. Mrs. Grace A. Leathe, once known as the richest widow in St. Louis, and recently quoted as saying that she was “land poor,” appeared in the Cir- cuit Court Thursday afternoon as de- fendant in a suit for $107,500 brought against her by Mrs. Elizabeth C, Knisely. Mrs. Knisely also was in court. She and Mrs. Leathe sat opposite each other in the enclosure reserved for counsel] and litigants. There was no evidence of enmity, as the women were not originally the principals in the litigation. To each it was an in- i1eritance. Mrs. Knisely’s husband, Charles ge 4 WASHINGTON, May 14.—With the fa% of Tampico the line of advance of the Constitutionalist forces toward the south has been drawn from coast to coast and now embraces more than alf the Republic of Mexico. Close observers express the opinion that the taking of Tampice by the Constitutionalists forms one of the final secnes of the dictatorship of jen. Huerta. They believe that his| downfall is a question only of weeks and perhaps only of days, while some xive the ditcator only a few hours before his control in the Federal cap- ital ends in possible riot and biood- shed. Even if he maintains order in Mex- ico City they think that Ville’s guns of American troops and American ships are watching both coasts to s that no arms or may his harried forces. 4°: