One Hundred Years Ago

[Rix Gins]

Here are some older memorial cards that I didn't get out due to scanner problems.  From last October.

Michl Brandner was a chauffer from the town of Konigsfee before entering the service.  He was a member of 3 Bavarian Infantry Regiment, 11 Company.  Michl was killed in Romania on October 24, 1916.  He was 21 years old. 

 
            Front of card.                              Back of card.

Joseph Hotter was born on November 17, 1896.  He died on October 25, 1916 in enemy territory.  He was in the 18th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment, 2 Company.

 
           Front of card.                               Back of card.

Joseph Inninger was a farmers son who joined 16 Bavarian Infantry Regiment, 9 Company.  Joseph was killed during a storm attack on October 27, 1916, after 27 months of faithful, soldierly duty.  He was 24 years old.   


                  Inside of card, folded open.

Joseph Ober was in the 8th Battery for an artillery regiment that I am unable to decipher.  He was also the holder of a medal that I am unable to translate.  I do know that he was killed on October 29, 1916, at the age of 24.  The bereaved relatives had the printer glue an actual photo of Joseph onto the card.

 
              Front of card.                                    Back of card.
 





 

[Rix Gins]

Three kids saw Mary appear to them while they were in a cave, 100 years ago today.

https://www.americaneedsfatima.org/ANF-Articles/first-apparition-of-our-lady-of-fatima-may-13-1917.html


Lúcia Santos (left) with her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, 1917.  By Attributed to Joshua Benoliel - http://www.santuario-fatima.pt in Ilustração Portuguesa no. 610, 29 October 1917, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6785257

[albrecht]

Three kids saw Mary appear to them while they were in a cave, 100 years ago today.

https://www.americaneedsfatima.org/ANF-Articles/first-apparition-of-our-lady-of-fatima-may-13-1917.html


Lúcia Santos (left) with her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, 1917.  By Attributed to Joshua Benoliel - http://www.santuario-fatima.pt in Ilustração Portuguesa no. 610, 29 October 1917, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6785257

The pope just canonized two of the girls, so they are now saints. And, as we all know, Art Bell knows the "3rd secret of Fatima" because Malachi Martin told him but made him promise never to reveal it, so he won't.

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireStory/pope-makes-fatima-children-saints-centenary-visions-47394845
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/world/europe/fatima-pilgrims-pope-francis.html

[Rix Gins]

The pope just canonized two of the girls, so they are now saints. And, as we all know, Art Bell knows the "3rd secret of Fatima" because Malachi Martin told him but made him promise never to reveal it, so he won't.

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireStory/pope-makes-fatima-children-saints-centenary-visions-47394845
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/world/europe/fatima-pilgrims-pope-francis.html

I wonder what Amélia did?

Lucia: And Amélia?

Our Lady: She will be in purgatory until the end of the world.

[pate]

I have been calling my younger co-workers "fookin' millenials" for weeks now.

Huh, THEY didna get it!  Oh my awfulness.

{mods please delete this obvious non-sequiter for any reason you see fit, TIA_}

[Rix Gins]

The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, May 14, 1917.

Two British Ships Sunk By U-Boats

  New York, May 14. The British passenger steamer Medina, 12,350 tons gross, owned by the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine April 28 when off the coast of Plymouth, according to American passengers arriving here-today from England. 
 
  On the same day in almost the same locality, the Omrah, 8,130 tons, owned by the Orient Steam Navigation Co., was torpedoed and sunk, the passengers said. 
 
  No lives were lost on either ship, but valuable cargoes went down. On the Medina were more than 300 persons, passengers and crew. This vessel was on her way from Ceylon to Great Britain. She remained afloat for about half an hour after being struck, which gave the passengers and crew time to get away.
 
  On board the Medina were crews of two other torpedoed ships, the Spithead and the Zambesi, both British, taken aboard in Port Said and Malta. The Spithead was a vessel of 4697 tons and the Zambesi was of 3,759 tons. 

(Ed.  It would later be reported that one person had died during the attack on the Omrah.  U-boat-52 was responsible for the sinking of the Omrah and the Medina was sunk by U-boat-31.)


SS Omrah.  By Item is held by John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12375890


SS Medina.  Painting by Kenneth King.  By Unknown - scan of a postcard, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10232009


UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-52.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UB_148_at_sea_2.jpeg


UB-45 a U-boat similar to UB-31.  By Unknown - http://www.wreck.ru, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9847257

[Rix Gins]

The Tacoma Times, May 14, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

The Tonopah Daily Bonanza, May 15, 1917.



SALVITORE AND MATHEWS READY FOR AIRDOME FIGHT TONIGHT

  Danny Mathews and Arthur Dupont, accompanied by their trainer Antone Le Grave, arrived from Goldfield this morning on the T. & G. train and both of the Goldfield boxers look in perfect condition for the two big battles in which they will take part tonight. Mathews and Dupont have been resting up and taking things easy all day and both expect to make the weight easily when Mike Geary weighs in all the fighters at the Tonopah Club at 7 p. m.

  Salvatore and Dale did light road work early this morning and after a good rub at the firemen's gymnasium both stated they felt better than any previous fights they have engaged in for the past year.

  A tremendous crowd is expected to be in the Airdome tonight when Mike Geary calls the first preliminary at 9 sharp, which is a four round go between Chalky Miller, the local featherweight and Buck O'Brien, one of the toughest youngsters in the latter city. The second preliminary of six rounds is sure to prove interesting and exciting as both Arthur Dupont, of Goldfleld, and Kid Dale, of Bakersfield, are fast, clever fighters.

  The main event is a ten round contest between Solly Salvatore, of Sacramento, and Danny Mathews, of Goldfleld, for a purse of  $500.

  It is expected to be one of the fastest and best boxing bouts ever seen in this vicinity. These two clever boys fought a hard draw in Goldfleld about a year ago and both have trained hard and faithfully for tonight's battle, as the management has promised the main event to the winner in this city next Fourth of July.

  The entire Tonopah military band will start a concert on the streets at 7 sharp, which will be followed by a red fire parade starting at Erie Main, thence down Main street to the depot and countermarch to the Airdome at 8 o'clock.

  The doors will be opened at 8 sharp and the big show will get under way at 9 o'clock.

[GravitySucks]

Mortimer's first letter home

http://eyesofthearmy.dva.state.wi.us/blog1.php/may-15-1917

[GravitySucks]

Wages for various trades on this date in 1917


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/scribd/?item_id=476870&filepath=/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_0245_1919.pdf

[Rix Gins]

The Evening Star, May 16, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

The New-York Tribune, May 16, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

Tonopah Daily Bonanza, May 16, 1917.

BIG CROWD WITNESS A FINE CARD OF EVENTS LAST NIGHT AT THE AIRDOME

  Fight fans had a run for their money at the Alrdome last night when every seat in the house was filled by an eager, excited crowd bent on reviving the old game of the ring. The management was excellent and promptly at the hour advertised the gong called the men to the center of the ring for the first preliminary. This was at nine o'clock and from that time to eleven there was not a dull moment.

  In the main event Solly Salvatore had it all over Danny Mathews, who did not appear in his usual form. The men weighed in at 133 pounds at 7 o'clock. In the first round Danny drew blood with a tap on the nose but the next round was even. Feinting and sparring occupied the next three rounds, but in the fourth Solly opened his batteries with four stiff punches to the head which appeared to have the effect of waking up the Goldfield man who rallied in the sixth and seventh and made a strong showing.  From then on the Sacramento boy rushed the fighting and Mathews began bleeding from the nose and received a severe cut over the left eye which bled profusely. The tenth round was decisive, Salvatore pounding away and landing wherever he chose. The damaged optic was closed with a series of hard shots and Salvatore kept hammering away with the right to the face without a second's respite, forcing his adversary to the ropes and driving him about the ring. The cut over the left eye was extended down the side of the face and when the gong sounded Mathews was scarcely able to stand up. There was no need for the referee to declare the result, which was so palpable that the Goldfield men admitted that they were on the losing side.

  The preliminaries were lively and interesting. Just enough to key the spectators up to a high pitch for the main event. The first was between Buck O'Brien of Reno and Chalky Miller, the local favorite and a clever exhibition was decided for Chalky.

  Arthur Dupont, of Goldfield, appeared with Kid Dale, of Bakersfield in place of Phil Salvatore, who was suffering with a crippled hand, and for six rounds the audience yelled its approval of a very classy fight that ended in a clean knockout by which Dale took the count. Dupont apparently sized up his opponent during the first round and then he proceeded to deliver his punches in such telling fashion that Dale began going. The latter tried to come back in the third, but the slugging was too fierce and he found he was no match for the Goldfield boy who knocked him all round the ring until the gong ended the punishment.

  Mike Geary proved an acceptable referee and his decisions were applauded.


                    Solly Salvatore

[Rix Gins]

The Tacoma Times, May 16, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

Here is a patriotic song (Flag of my Heart) recorded by Reinald Werrenrath on May 16, 1917.  A somewhat clear recording, notable, I think, for it's periodic snare drum rolls...something you don't usually hear on these old recordings.

http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/700004941/B-19856-Flag_of_my_heart

Info on Reinald Werrenrath: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinald_Werrenrath


Werrenrath in 1917 at his piano.  By Bain - Library of Congress, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39377132

[Rix Gins]

Joseph Hoch was the son of an Economist from the German town of Grasdorf.  This particular German memorial card tells us that Joseph 'Died the heroic death for his home country after two years of war service, from a direct hit by a grenade on May 17, 1917, at the age of 23 years.'  Joseph was an Infantryman in the 6th Infantry Regiment, 11th Company.  The German War Graves Department has records that show that Joseph died in France and that he was buried at the Military Cemetery in St. Laurent-Blanay, France.  His marker can be found at Block 2, Grave number 965.

   
                  Inside of card, folded open.                    A prayer on the back cover and Jesus and Angels on the front cover.

[Rix Gins]

Here are some older German memorial cards that I didn't get out due to scanner problems.  They should have been posted last November for full 100 years ago effect.

Simon Mörwald was a shoemaker from the German town of Gars.  He was a member of the 17th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, Company 7.  Simon was killed after being hit with a rifle grenade on November 4, 1916, after 16 months of true soldierly service.   He was 29 years old.

An actual picture of Simon has been trimmed and glued to the front of this card.  This is a regular, single style card, meaning there is not an additional page that holds more info and religious prayers and images.  These single cards are slightly smaller than a regular playing card, and were more commonly produced than the double page cards.

 
               Front of card.                             Back of card.


Here is a so called 'double' card with it's typical front cover, two pages of photo and info on the inside, and a back cover.  These cards were usually folded and placed in bibles and purses, etc.  This one, of soldier Max Ernst, has a colored front and back cover that is somewhat rare.  Most German, World War One memorial cards are in black and white but every once in awhile you will come across one with a colored front and/or back cover.  I have yet to see a card where the soldier's picture is in color, or has been colorized.

Max Ernst was a Carpenter's son from Hadersbach.  He was a soldier in the 6th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment, Company 4.  Max was killed in the Carpathian Mountains on November 13, 1916 by I believe, a shot to the chest.  He was 19 years old. 


                   Inside of card, folded open.


                  Back and front cover of card.


Richard Eder was a member of his town's volunteer fire department before joining the 19th Infantry Regiment.  He died on November 16, 1916 at the age of 22.  Note, the card says 'died' as opposed to 'killed.'  Without further information, Richard could very well have died as a result of  a non battlefield injury or some type of illness.   Obviously, not all of the soldiers were killed in action, but sometimes you can tell that they were when the card describes the soldier as having fallen on the field of honor, or other similar descriptions.


                   Inside of card, folded open.


                 Back and front cover of card.

   

                                             

[Rix Gins]

The Selective Service Act was passed on this day in 1917.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-congress-passes-selective-service-act


Young men at the first national registration day held in association with the Selective Service Act of 1917.  By Bain News Service, publisher.  Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18464012


https://youtu.be/ZCwlFHJ4lJk

Special thanks to GravitySucks for the reminder of this history item.

[Rix Gins]

The Evening Star, May 19, 1917.






1326 Shepherd Street.

[Rix Gins]

Some interesting pics from May 19, 1917: https://imgur.com/a/49Kq8#RhvZ9Bc

[Rix Gins]

https://youtu.be/7a_KPzQ9IgQ

[Rix Gins]

British historian Richard Cobb was born on May 20, 1917. 

Photo and info on Richard Cobb: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cobb

From Wikipedia: 

The wry tone that Cobb so frequently employed in his scholarly writing was in regular service in his daily life. An inveterate joker, he would even deflate his own greatest passion with a pointed jab â€" a quote often attributed to him is, "Wonderful country, France ... pity about the French."[25] His sardonic humour dovetailed with the traits of many of those minor characters in his histories for whom he had a clear admiration. After a fellow historian told him that he "wrote, spoke and thought like a Parisian street urchin", Cobb called it the greatest compliment he had ever received.[26]

[Rix Gins]

The Evening (Sunday) Star, May 20, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

Here are a couple of 100 year old German memorial cards that should have been shown last December.

Max Odermatt was an assistant in the pension office from the town of Buchloe.  After the war started, he became an Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer) for a year and was awarded the Military Service Cross 3rd Class with Crown and Swords. 

This card is somewhat rare in that it doesn't mention which Regiment or Company that Max was in.  It does state, however, that Max was badly wounded and died in the fight against Romania, on December 26, 1916.  The soldier was born on January 7, 1892, so this bit of info allows us to compute that he was just a week or two short of his 25th birthday at the time of his death.

The front and back cover for this card are the same as that of soldier Richard Eder, shown above.


Inside of card, folded open.


Army soldier Matthaus Butz was a Farmer's son from the town of Legerstadt.  He was in the 16th Infantry Regiment, Company 16.  Like Max Odermatt above, Matthaus was killed in the fighting at Romania (the town of Bilbor, as a matter of fact) on the same date, December 26, 1916.  He was 27 years old.

An interesting feature with this card is that the photo shows Matthaus wearing a black armband on his left arm.  That's something that you don't see very often on these WWI memorial cards. 

The front cover of this double card has the typical close up of a crown of thorns wearing Jesus while the back cover is the same as that of soldier Simon Mörwald, listed above.


Inside of card, folded open.

Photo of modern day Bilbor, (Transylvania district, I think) Romania:  http://timp-liber.acasa.ro/vacante-calatorii-291/vacanta-in-bilbor-zona-cu-cel-mai-pur-aer-din-romania-13233.html

[Rix Gins]

The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, May 21, 1917.

STOCK MARKET

  New York, May 21. The week on the stock exchange opened with a confident resumption of the recent advance, industrials and war issues again leading. United States Steel was conspicuous by its rise of two points, to the new high of 124 8-8. Other stocks of the same class gained one to two points in the first half hour. Shipping's rallied from last week's setback and important railroads made fractional gains. Specialties and utilities were featured by Industrial Alcohol and Ohio Gas at advances of two to three points. Aside from a further moderate decline in Denver & Rio Grande preferred there were virtually no exception to the higher trend.

  Metals, oils and sugars joined in the broad trading at the first hour. The turnover of that period aggregated almost 300,000 shares, of which United States Steel supplied about 30 percent. Short covering and fresh buy-ins- fully offset profit taking. A temporary lull and moderate recessions in leaders proved to be in the nature of a breathing spell, prices mounting higher toward midday. Equipment's and associated specialties continued to dominate the market. Another reversal in motors and accessories and the heaviness of People's Gas and United Fruit exerted little adverse effect. Bonds were firm, international issues displaying unusual activity.

[Rix Gins]

There was a mega-big fire in Atlanta, Georgia on May 21, 1917.

Detailed info and fascinating photos:  http://www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/second-burning-atlanta/

[Rix Gins]

The Seattle Star, May 21, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress:

Photograph shows Helen Campbell, a Hunter College student who received a license as a wireless operator during World War I. She worked for the National League for Women's Service as a wireless operator. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015, The New York Times, June 10, 1917 and The Sunday Oregonian, May 20, 1917)

Wireless operator Helen Campbell, 1917.  Library of Congress/George Grantham Bain Collection.

[Rix Gins]

The Evening Star, May 22, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

The Aberdeen Herald (Washington) May 22, 1917.

HERMIT FOUND DEAD IN CABIN

  William Sherwin, known to woodsmen throughout this section by his sobriquet of "Billy the Bear," was found dead in his cabin last Thursday by hunters, 15 miles north of Wishkah Falls. He had been dead more than a month. Sherwin had lived the life of a hermit a good many years in the woods. He was about 50 years old.

  The body was found by Claude Nutter, William Barrows and Alex Kellerman, of Montesano, who were on their way into the Olympics on a prospecting and claim developing trip.

  Sherwin had only stumps for hands and feet and was badly crippled otherwise as a result of an explosion in a mine in Nevada. Although so badly crippled he spent most of his time alone in the woods and formerly, when the state was paying bounties, used to appear frequently with wild cat and even cougar pelts.

  It is said he was a good shot and was well able to look out for himself. His crippled condition came near costing him his life many times. Once, he told the auditor last summer, he tripped and fell into deep water in one of the streams in the foot hills and being unable to swim it was only by chance that he was able to make shore.

  Since July, 1915, the county had allowed Sherwin $10 a month toward his living expenses, for after the bounty was taken off wild cats he had no way of getting money, but he continued to live in the woods and foot hills.

  He was buried Sunday in the woods, 22 miles above the Falls, according to his expressed wish.


WOMAN NARROWLY ESCAPES DEATH

  While Dr. and Mrs. George L. Bowlby were fishing in the Wishkah river Sunday, Mrs. Bowlby had a narrow escape from drowning. Mrs. Bowlby was fishing from a log when a splash was made from the dam above. The rise of water swept her log down stream at a furious speed, but Mrs. Bowlby kept her head, and as the log swept around the bend at the Forks, she managed to climb from the loose log onto the boom at that point, and from which she was taken by Dr. Bowlby, who crossed the river on a log. Aside from a few bruises and a thorough wetting, she escaped injury.


The Wishkah River near Hoquiam, Washington.  By kelly - Flickr: Wishkah River, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17841414


AN EMBRYO WHALE

  An embryo whale about 18 inches in length is attracting attention at the Eaton drug store. The curio is preserved in alcohol and has a resemblance to a young pig without legs.



Simple Ways of Doing Common Things Best

  When the eyes are very tired bathe them with hot water and drop a few drops of diluted boracic acid in the eyes with an eye dropper. Use ten or fifteen drops of the acid to one ounce of distilled water.

  The habit of raising the brows continually will also tend to produce wrinkles, more quickly than the passing years. Before combing your hair place long, narrow strips of court plaster just above the center of the eyebrows and reaching halfway to the hair line. Every time you raise your brows this will be a silent reminder, and soon you will learn to know when you use those muscles that you know work unconsciously, and this will soon break you of the habit. Wear the plasters when ever you can until broken of the habit.



OUR QUERY AND REPLY DEPARTMENT   

  Question: Would grinding the cylinders and cylinder head of an engine make gas tight fits without a gasket?

  Answer: Yes, if the grinding was done accurately enough. Gaskets are as satisfactory, with much less machining cost. Furthermore, in replacing the head after once having removed it great care would have to be taken to be sure that the surfaces were clean. The gaskets also serve well to take up any warping which may occur in the metal.

  Question: What was the condition of the American army when it went into winter quarters at Valley Forge?

  Answer: That was the winter of 1777-8. In December, 1777, Washington wrote: "We had in camp on the 23d inst, by a field return then taken, not less than 2.898 men unfit for duty by result of being barefoot and otherwise naked. Besides this number, sufficiently distressing of itself, there are many others detained in hospitals and crowded into farmers' houses for the same causes." In a letter to Governor Livingston of New York Washington said: "I sincerely feel for the unhappy condition of our poor fellows in the hospitals and wishing power to relieve them were equal to my inclination. Our difficulties and distresses are certainly great and such as wound the feelings of humanityâ€"our sick naked, our well naked, our unfortunate men in captivity naked:" The commissary of the army reported to General Washington: "Many of the troops are destitute of meat and are several days in arrears. The horses are dying for want of forage. The country in the vicinity of the camp is exhausted." In a letter to Governor Clinton, General Washington urged prompt action and said: "For some days past there has been little less than a famine in camp; a part of the camp has been a week without any kind of meat and the rest three or four days. Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery, that they have not been ere this time excited by their sufferings to a general mutiny and dispersion."