Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 1

5 The Oakland a)d VicinityFair and mild tonight and Sunday; gentle west winds. Temperitnrea T6, min. 6 United Pre. CfcwoMotea Vtm Associate VOL. CXV THREE CENTS SUNDAY, TEN CENTS OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 22, 1931 24 PAGES NO! 53 Sv02 'fax it MaOTwinlDiiULii FORMER IDOL CHILD.

AND 5 STREET CAR FEDERALS IN LINDBERGHS May Wed Again LI LA LEE, divorced by James Kirkwood for desertion, declared to be "interested" in John Farrow, screen writer. She has gone to Tahiti on vacation. Lost 'Plenty' FERRIS HARTMAN. for half a century the grand old man of light opera dear to the hearts of Eastbay theatergoers, collapsed from starvation yesterday in San Francisco. Baby Killers Of N.

Y. Add Girl, 4, to Death List OTHERS DIE III GUN BATTLE REROUTE QUIZ CUBA GAINING IS ADJOURNED UPPER HAND vi I Capital in Doubt About Outcome of Battle With Foreign Legion Force In Vicinity of Cibara President Machado's Belief That Revolution Is Near-ing End Strengthened By His Latest Advices HAVANA, Aug. 22. OP) The capital was in doubt today about the outcome of fighting reported to have been resumed between government troops and a foreign legion of expeditionalres near Glbara. No statement as to its result was forthcoming from army headquarters or from opposition sources.

President Gerardo Machado was generally understood to have strengthened his belief that the revolution was nearlng an end. One rumor had it that he believed the Insurgency under sufficient control to return shortly to Havana, from the city of Santa Clara, where he has kept In close touch during the past ten days with the revolution, but this could not be confirmed. OUTCOME OP GIBARA BATTLE NOT LEARNED. Difficulty of obtaining information as to the battle at Glbara, renewed Thursday after a cessation of 24 hours, prevented knowledge as to outcome of the engagement. The foreign legion, made up of Americans, Japanese, French and Germans, was reported to have renewed activity against government forces in the wooded mountain ranges outside Gibara.

It was believed insurgent sympathizers throughout the Island were awaiting further news from the Glbara expedition and from other expeditions said to be planning embarkation at outlying but Important ports in the eastern section of the Island, before deciding their next move. Gibara started efforts at rehabilitation after being subjected, along with Its outlying suburbs, to heavy bombing by Cuban airplanes during fighting for 72 hours preceding its evacuation by the rebels. REBELS HOLD RAILWAY TUNNEL MANY HOURS. Scant information was available as to the little group of hard-fighting rebels which held a railroad tunnel outside Glbara for many hours after the city was occupied by government troops and engaged federal troops in brief skirmishes yesterday. Havana police continued their house-to-house search for arms and ammunition believed to have been segregated by rebels In prep-aration for an attack within the capital city.

Police represented virtually 100 per cent of the troops here, others having been concentrated in the eastern part of the island to prevent spreading of the insurgent movement from Glbara and other points. Three bombs were exploded in downtown Havana shortly after midnight. The noise brought citizens out of bed but damnge was confined to city pavements. Havana remained peaceful despite the tension which has spread over the Island republic. Heavy forces of troops guarded the city and there were few about the streets.

DO-X Reaches U. 5. Lands on Miami Bay MIAMI, Aug. 22. UP) Arriving in the United States on its Journey from Europe and South America to New York, the giant German flying boat DO-X landed here today after a flight from An-tllla, Cuba.

The ship was first sighted at 10:25 a. E. S. coming in over the Atlantic ocean. With its 12 motors droning, it swung over the downtown section, cruised a short distance up the coast and then( apt-led In Biscay ne bay, some distance off the inner Key harbor.

Condition of Pola uch I mproved SANTA MONICA, Aug. 22. (UP) The condition of Pola Negri, motion-picture actress, was so greatly improved today that an operation for appendicitis will not be necessary, her physician said. She was stricken Thursday. German Aviatrix Hops From Moscow MOSCOW, Aug.

22. UP) Frau-leln Marga von Etzdorf took off from Novosibirsk this mnrn nr. continuing her solo flight from jaerun to TOKyo. OF COMEDY ILL. BROKE Ferris Hartman Faints at Hotel From Hunger After Being Weeks Without Work or Fixed Income Musical Play Star Who Once Sang 'I Got Plenty' Found Starving While Keeping Up Brave Show "I got plenty, more as plenty, more as I can use In the old days, when Idora Park was In Its hey-day, Ferris Hart-man, the beloved "musical clown" of the entire Pacific coast, made the children of the Eastbay and their parents, too shriek with laughter as he sang this old hit ong from "The Toy Maker." Today, in a.

voice barely above a whisper, with a twisted smile hovering on an emaciated face, Hartman, still the actor, always the clown, sang his song of happiness once more from a bed in the San Francisco county hospital. Starvation! That's the fate that overtook the grand old man of light opera, the musical partner of the late Paul Stelndorff, the hero of a hundred tuneful comedies which young and old enjoyed. FALLS UNCONSCIOUS FOR LACK OF FOOD They found him yesterday, unconscious on the floor of his room in the Dalt Hotel, 34 Turk street, San His legs, tottering from age and stripped of all strength by hunger, had refused to make the simple Journey from bed to dressing table. Charles W. Ward, manager of the hotel, heard the fall.

He and Martin Lauer, the bellboy, ran to the room. There lay Hartman, crumpled up in a pair of green pajamas. "Mr. Hartman!" cried Lauer as the old actor slowly regained consciousness. "I think we'd better get some of your friends." NOT A FRIEND IN WORLD, HE AVERS Then Hartman spoke the lines that revealed the extremity of his plight.

"It's no use, mjr son," he whispered. "I haven't a friend in' the world." Then he gave a smile of benediction at the two men bending over him, as if wordlessly to add: "Except you!" i For It was no secret, around the hotel that Hartman was weeks behind in his room rent; Ills empty pockets had been filled with small change more than once by Ward, who rejected all suggestions that the aged man be evicted, and by Lauer. The little gifts of money a quarter here, 60 cents there-stopped a week ago at Hartman's own Insistence. Up to that time, it was learned, Hartman had lived in a roseate dream that "some of the boys" were planning a benefit for him. EXPECTED SOON TO HAVE PLENTY AGAIN.

"I'll have lots of money soon," he toMvls hotel friends while accepting "loans" from them. "I'll pay you back." Last week he learned there would be no benefit. Since then he has pushed aside all proffered aid, with the proud statement, almost akin to bis "I've got plenty" song: "I've got lots of money." "We knew he didn't have a dime, but what could a fellow do about it?" asked Lauer. They came and got him in an ambulance and he lifted his hand in a farewell salute as he went through the hotel lobby, feet first, on a stretcher. BRAVE OLD BONO WILL COME TRUE.

Out at the hospital the word went around last night that Ferris Hartman was to have his brave old song come true. He was to have plenty, even If it was "more as I can use." There 'lies the hero of the old stage at Idora park, the man who made such gomn as "The Mikado," "The Wizard of Oz." "The Toy-maker" and "The Yankee Consul." a glorious memory to hundreds of thoiiRands ot buy region men and women. And from him isxues sllll his maxim and his walchwo "A laugh that's all there is to life." Duke of Gloucester Loses His Appendix LONDON, Aug. 22. UP) The Duke of Gloucester was operated on for appendicitis this morning and a subsequent doctor's bulletin said his condition was satisfactory.

The bulletin said: "An operation has been performed upon the Duke of Gloucester for removal of his appendix. The condition of hit royal highness is satisfactory." The duke, third son of King George, was stricken Wednesday 'while visiting friends in Leicestershire and was removed to a private nursing home. It was decided an immediate operation was necessary. He is 31 years old. Miss Elinor Smith Smashes Her Plane NEW YORK, Aug.

22. (B 'The hope of Elinor Smith, 20, to take off by September 1 for Europe was dashed' today when her plane ground looped at Roosevelt field as she landed. Repairs will take several weeks, as the Wing. and. were damaged.

She was unhsrt. IN DEEP FOG Flight From -Muroton Bay To Nemuro Fails When Sea Mist Engulfs Their Plane in Danger Area Landing Made at Shana, On Iturup Island, Upon Advice of Japanese Air Ministry by Radio NEMURO, Japan, Aug. 22. UP) Fog downed Colonel and Mrs. Charles A.

Lindbergh again today soon after they had resumed their tniinh tntftrnintAil flicht toward Numuro, compelling them 'to alight at Shana, on Iturup Island. It was the third, time they had been forced to descend in attempt ing to fly 897 miles over the foggy Kurlle island route from Petro-pavlovsk, Kamchatka, to Nemuro a stretch which they had expect ed to cover In a single hop. Leaving Muroton bay, Shtmushl- ru iBland, at 2:10 p. m. (12:10 a.

m. E. S. after having been held to that vicinity since early Wednesday by thick weather and motor trouble, the cquple expected to reach Nemuro, a distance of about 400 miles, without a stop. Reaching th? mountainous coast of Iturup, the largest of the Kur lies, In about two hours.

Colonel and Mrs. Lindbergh ran into heavy fog behind which lurked eight mountain peaks each 36.00 to 6000 feet high. ADVISED TO LAND IN SHANA VICINITY. Mrs. Lindbergh radioed their predicament to Ochilshi wireless station here and was advised that the safest place in that vicinity was at Shana, a email settlement on the Okhotsk sea side of the island.

The fliers followed the advice and soon were over Shana. Then they were confronted with the choice of landing on the choppy bay or on a small lagoon nearby. Lindbergh chose the lagoon. It proved to be a doubtful alternative but radio advjees said the landing was efeoCod1 without damage to the plane's pontoons. They lauded at 4:68 p.

m. (2:58 a. m. E. 8.

Having spent three days fighting treacherous ocean currents and fog and tinkering with the motor at Ketol island and Muroton bay, Lindbergh had been so eager to take off from the latter place that he arose at 6:40 a. m. to begin putting the engine in shape. He worked steadily until some time after noon, HOPPED OFF AFTER SANDWICH LUNCH. Early afternoon weather reports Indicated favorable flying conditions to Nemuro and Lindbergh paused only long enough to eat a sandwich for lunch before taking off.

During the morning Aviation Officer Tanaka at Nemuro radioed Lindbergh suggesting that the Japanese authorities were eager to furnish mechanics fti aid him If necessary but each time the colonel declined the offer with a "no, thank you; will soon complete It myself." Shana, where the Lindberghs are spending tonight, has a population of about 1000. Its chief industries are salmon hatching and fish canning. It also has a whaling station. There is a radio station, bathing beach and a weather observatory. Iturup is not only the largest but also the richest of the Kurlles.

It is 110 miles long and two to 20 miles wide. Among its eight mountain peaks there are five volcanoes, which sometimes erupt simultaneously. Recently all have been quiet. The Iturup region in August average three foggy days out of four. Shana, on the northwest shore of the Island, is about half way between Muroton bay and Nemuro.

Three Menlfilled At Tokyo Airport TOKYO, Aug, 22. UP) Colonel and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh, coming here on a vacation trip, will not arrive in Tokvo until Tn. day at the earliest, even though me tog wnicn stopped them today In the southern Kurlle islands lifts to let them through.

Three naval officers were killed today In the crash of their plane at Kasumlgaura airdrome, where the Lindberghs will be formally received on their arrival in the capital, under the auspices of the minister of the navy. The dead navy men will be burled Monday, The Colonel was notified of this accident, and advised aviation officials he would arrange his and Mrs. Lindbergh's schedule accordingly. I 'Catastrophe Quake Reported in Russia MOSCOW, Aug. 22.

UP) Dispatches from Leningrad today said the selsfhograph there had registered an earthquake of strength which appeared to have occurred In Pamir, on the Indo-Russlan border. That section Is' sparsely 3-Cent Cigarette Tax Effective in Texas AUSTIN, Aug. 21. UP) A t-cent package tax on cigarette took effect in Texas today. It affects only th brand that come "ready-rolled." Pip to ae 1 cigars, chewlna- tobaooo and snuff not affscted, Gloria Lopez Fatally Shot As Parents' Auto Is Caught in Gunfire NEW YORK, Aug.

22. (UP) Baby killers ot gangdom today added the name of a four-year-old girl to the casualty list ot their outlaw insurrection in a 12-mile running battle yesterday. Five others were killed and 12 were wounded. Little Gloria Lopes died today from gunshot wounds, because her parents' automobile crossed the trail of bloodshed that began in a payroll holdup an hour before. She was the second baby victim of gangsters within a month.

Michael Wneghallo, died after the "Little Italy" baby massacre in Harlem, shot down with four playmates. Gloria's mother and father also were wounded by the gunmen. The mother, expecting another child soon, was asleep in Morrisslania hospital when the child died. All night long she had been there, watching, hoping the child would have strength to pull through- A blood transfusion spurred hope. "She must not die," th mother cried.

"We wanted her so badly for 10 years. We were like children with a doll when she came. Don't let her go." Finally the mother dropped oft In sleep as the father, wounded by bullets from the same gangster guns, prayed in another room. In the early morning hours Mrs. Lopez awakened and was told the news.

"Mother of God," she cried, and ran from the hospital, away from her dead. FALL IS HINTED Labor's Position on Budget Critical Kingr Baldwin Speed to London LONDON, Aug. 22. UP) A political crisis of the first magnitude confronted Prime Minister Mac-Donald today as he and his colleagues resumed their struggle with finances. In fact, the Morning Post, an organ of the conservative party, went so far as to say that "there was every Indication last night that the life of the Socialist government could be counted In hours." Other commentators were not prepared to accept such an extreme view of the situation, but the opinion unanimously expressed was that the government's position was so critical that It was impossible to predict the outcome.

The chaotic nature of events was exemplified by the' fact that after MacDonald had conferred with opposition leaders last night he summoned an emergency cabinet meeting, KING TO RETURN TO, LONDON AT ONCE. The Evening News said today King George is coming back to London immediately from Balmoral, in view of the political crisis, and will be at Buckingham palace early tomorrow. Stanley Baldwin, leader of the conservative party which is the second strongest in the House of Commons, is hurrying back from France. Should MacDonald step out Baldwin would be called upon to form a new government. The cabinet is caught in a dilemma In its efforts to bridge a gap in the budget estimated by the May economy committee at more than $600,000,000.

The. conservatives insist economies shall hold first place in the program and that drastic cuts must be made In the dole. The general council ot the trades union congress holds the altuatlon fchall be met by raising additional revenue and there shall be no reduction in the dole. The liberal oppose a revenue tarff. BALDWIN-LLOYD GEORGE COALITION SEEN.

Should MacDonald resign It would not necessarily mean a gen-oral election, which would bring disruption of the nation's business for a month of campaigning. The king probably would call upon Baldwin to form a new gov ernment nd, It the conservative leader, succeeded, an election would not be Should this crisis force MacDonald out, a coalition government probably would succeed his government, political observer agreed. Baldwin would be prim minister and David Lloyd-George, liberal leader, is the most likely possibility a chancellor ot th exchequer. British Urge Armies Be Limited by Budget LONDON, Aug. 22.

UP) Disarmament by limitation of budgetary expenditures for military purposes was stressed in a not from th British government to the League of Nation, published today as a preliminary to the 1(32 disarmament conference, Th point was made by Implication tor the official summary given out by the government calls attention to the limitation of the memorandum to fact and figurss, and say "unlike the re cent memorandum of the French I government it contains a isous- lorn 4 i DONALD Robbers Slay 2 Policemen And Are Shot to Death At End of 12-Mile Chase Amid Hail of Bullets Bandits' Taxi Driver and 4-Year-Old Girl Among Dead; 12 Others Wounded In Hair-Raising Rid NEW YORK, Aug. 22. UP) A gun battle between police and two payroll robbers extending for 12 miles in streets of upper Manhattan and the Bronx and lasting an hour and a half cost six lives, including that of a 4-year-old last evening. Twelve other person were wounded by bullets. Two policemen, one robber and a taxi driver accompanying the robbers were killed outright.

The other robber died in a hospital as did the child who Was hit by a stray bullet. Three policemen, two firemen and seven bystanders. Including two women, were sent te hospitals with bullet wounds. The city's 19,000 policemen were under orders today to put every unlicensed gunholdsr behind bars. LIST OP DEAD AND WOUNDED.

The list of 'dead and Injured follows: THE DEAD. Patrplman Walter J. "Webb, IK. Patrolman Edward Churchill, 36. Gloria Lopez, 4.

John Prechtl, 20, robber. Martin Bachorik, 20, robber. Herbert Hasse, 27, taxi driver la bandit car. WOUNDED. Patrolman Franeis McPhllllps, 82.

two bullets left thigh. Patrolman David Lewis, 25, bullet in chest. Patrolman Michael Lyons, 2d, bulletin right Hip. Fireman John Lopes, shot in nose and right eye. Matilda Lopez, his wife, slight injuries to face.

Fireman Vincent Hvde, J2, shot In right chestj critical. Rubin Katx, 24, shot in neck; critical. Sophie Van Zerkorn, 4 shot In right leg. Thomas Cullen, 23, injuries1 to fac. Jacob Slegel, taxi driver, hat in right arm.

Nicholas Klein, taxi driver, shot in right forearm. James Girodano, 13, arm fractured by bullet, ROBBERS SEIZE 4fll PAYROLL. Patrolman Walter D. Webb and Lloyd Fromhoff, paymaster for th Mendpza Fur and Dyeing Company, arrived in an automobile at th company' yards on East lJSrd street at 4:10 yesterday. They brought a payroll of $46 It from a bank.

Two robbers accosted them In an areaway. A Webb reached for his plstot both robber fired, killing the policeman. The robbers threw Fromhoff Out of the car and drove to Third aVe. nue and 163rd street, where they abandoned it and got into a taxi driven by Herbert Hasse, 27, and resumed flight. At Boston Post road Motorcycle Patrolman Edward Churchill, suspicious at their dlzaiy speed, raced after theiti and fired.

Two bullets hit hint in the abdomen and be fell off bis machine dead. Vincent Hyde, a city fireman, who happened by, snatched the. policeman's pistol, bopped a taxi and fired at the fugitives. A bullet dropped him, too. He was erionsly wonnded.

Three other including Gloria Lopez, age 4, were struck by robbers' bullets at this point as the Lopez family automobile swung Into the line of fire. Gloria died ten hour later. TWO MORE POLICEMEN FELLED BY BANDITS Three policemen in a taxlcab closed in but the gunmen sped away toward Morris avenue and 162nd street, where two more po. Ucemen attempted to shoot them. (Continued on Page 2, Col.

1.) Jellicoe Welcomed On Canadian Visit QUEBEC, Aug. 22. UP) a 10-gun salute, fired from the Citadel, today welcomed Adralinl of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe on hi arrival her aboard the Duchess ef York. Earl Jellicoe has come to Canada to officially open the Canadian national exhibition at Toronto, August 28, and to preside over tin. fifth biennial convention of the British Empire Service leagu at Oshawa, September 3.

MOON OF DELIGHT: A full page installmri-t 1 of a. new and coJotf serial. about veil and charming cigru girl, blending romasu adventure and intii' In the Sunday Mag ii of tomorrow's 1... Contending Forces in Proposed Eastbay Railways Changes Granted Truce to Sept. 16; Company Rests Assistant Vice-President Is Cross-Examined on Debarkation of West-Bound Riders on 38th Ave.

Line Contending forces in the battle over the proposed rerouting of the Oakland avenue street carlines today were resting on their arms in a truce called by Commissioner Fred G. Stevenot late yesterday until September 16. The Eastbay Street Railways, rested its case at yesterday afternoon's session of the hearing at the city hall, leaving the re mainder of the argument in behalf ot the rerouting application to the Uptown association, whose chief counsel, former Railroad- Commissioner Ezra Decoto, opened up by presenting Harry A. Lafler as his first witness. Lafler, a real estate dealer, came up from Monterey and took the witness stand burdened down with maps.

ATTEMPTS TO SHOW CITY GROWTH TENDENCIES. Lafler and Decoto attempted to show tendencies in Oakland's growth based on census figures by the old political wards and other data, referring to the response of shopping district to the location of buying power. Commissioner Stevenot made It plain that the relative buying power of one district to another would not be the basis of the railroad commission's decision on the application, and that he was more interested in present conditions than In tendencies of growth. "If there is anything In the argument that the shopping district has moved out to Twentieth and Broadway because the residents of Piedmont have large purchasing power," said Judge Everett J. Brown, counsel for those opposing the re-routing at one juncture, "it would be just as logical to tell the people served by the Thirty-eighth avenue street car line that they needn't worry If deprived of street cars altogether, because the shopping district will come right out to them." WEAPON PUT INTO JUDGE BROWN'S HANDS.

Lafler put a ready weapon Into the hands of Brown at the outset his testimony when he referred to the' Washington street shopping district as a "decayed and district. Brown picked up the phrase, opening most of his questions with It, and the witness persisted in his contention that the district was on the decline even If It could be shown, as his questioner repeatedly declared could be done, that pedestrian traffic In that shopping area Is more than four times as dense as In the upper Broadway area. Lafler's use of the term caused Brown to shoot a question at Frank Richards, counsel for the Eastbay Street Railways, as to whether his clients were Joining In the testimony of the witness. Richards replied that the street railway concern had closed Its case. At the close of the street railway's case, Decoto -questioned J.

P. Potter, assistant vice-president in charge of operations of the company, to establish the information that most of the westbound passengers had debarked from the Thirty-eighth avenue cars by the time they turned Thirteenth and Washington streets. Brown had stressed the fact, earlier In the day, that from the street railway's own figures, less than 25 per cent of the patrons of the line transferred on Broadway to cars proceeding north. CONTENTIONS LEAVE COMMISSION TO DECIDE. The opposing contentions of Brown and Decoto, the former insisting that the greater majority of passengers continued over Thirteenth and' Broadway Into the Washington street shopping area, and the latter stressing figures to prove that the majority alighted before that intersection was reached, apparently left the commission to decide where the departing passengers proceeded as their final destination, When Lafler took the stand with (Continued on Page 2, Col.

4) Soviet to Check on Amundsen Plane LENINGRAD, Russia, Aug. 22. UP) The Soviet Arctic Institute said today it would make every effort to check the possibility that an Obtect shown In a nhttnvranl. taken during the Arctic cruise of ine urai Zeppelin might be the remains of an airplane, perhaps that of Roald Amundsen. FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany, Aug.

22. UP) Dr. Hugo Eckner, discussing a photograph takon while passing over Nova Zembla on the recent Graf Zeppelin erulse, said today he was sceptical that a shadow on the photo represented the plane of Roald Amundsen, noted Arctic explorer, who was lost on a rescue expedition in 1928. "If Amundsen had been forced down on Nova Zembla," he said, "he would know how to rescue himself. For him that would not have been a very dangerous spot However, until I receive an enforced nhotorranh I cannot van.

ture an opinion as to what else the piane-snaped Blotch may be." iliilii Actress, Divorced by James Kirkwood, 'Interested in Screen Writer HOLLYWOOD, Aug. Re ports that LUa Lee, motion picture actress, might be married to John Farrow, screen writer, were cur rent In Hollywood today after James Kirkwood was granted a final decree of divorce from Miss Lee. The actress recently returned to Hollywood after spending more than a year in an Arizona sani tarium. While there, her most frequent visitor was Farrow. He went to visit her several times by airplane.

Kirkwood was granted custody of a son, James, Jr. He obtained his decree on the grounds of desertion. Miss Lee left Hollywood a few daya ago on a trlpo Tahiti. She did not contest the suit. SIJSNI BREAK FDILED Prisoners Caught Digging Tunnel When Just Foot From Freedom RAN JOSE, Aug.

22. A well planned Jail break by three ex-convlcts, one of them a dangerous gunman, fell short of its goal today when a deputy sheriff in the county jail here surprised the trio at work digging a tunnel to the outer yard. 1 The three ex-convlcts are Fred Prescott, Frank Saunders and Mark Monroe. Suspected of being Involved In the attempted break with them are J. R.

Cassldy and T. M. Chevington. Prescott admitted planning the Jail break plot, according to Sheriff William J. Emlg, admitting that he had done most of the digging.

LEAVE CELLS AT NIGHT TO DO DIGGING The prisoners, leaving their cells at night by picking the locks, had dug a 12-foot hole In the little tank of the county Jail. The hole had been dug through a concrete floor and extended down two feet below the outside wall foundation. At the bottom of the escape pit, (Continued on Page 2, Col. 6.) Akron Tested for Its Maiden Flight AKRON, Aug. 22.

OP) Motfhanlcs warmed up the motors of the big dlrlglhle Akron today, and worked with feverish speed on the final touches of its construction, in preparation for its maiden flight to be made possibly as early as Wednesday of next week. Inside the enormous hangar a force of workmen swarmed over the finishing the painting. Officers and engineers hopped in and out ot the cabins and hull, making penciled notations of various tents. Tests completed show that the Akron is relatively far stronger than any other Zeppelin type ship ever constructed, If was said by engineers. M.

Basso. He brought his wife and children here three months ago from New York. Officers were unable to explain the explosion. They said It probably resulted from accumulation of natural gas, but may have been bombing by racketeers. Fire attacked tht, remnants of the rooming house and the adjoining vacant frame building, leaving only Junk and embers.

No sign of any bodies was Neighbors told officer they saw the Basso famly yesterday In their automobile equipped with camping gear and apparently ready to. leave. TERY BUST JARS EASTBAY Authorities Seek Source of Heavy Detonation Heard About 11 :26 P.M. The source of a mysterious explosion which rocked the Clare-mont district of Oakland and Berkeley shortly before midnight last night was being sought by police of the two cities today. Hundreds of persons heard and felt the blast and police and fire departments were swamped by telephone calls asking the cause.

A taxlcab driver stationed at Bancroft way and Telegraph avenue fixed the time of the explosion at p. m. He said he was seated In his automobile and the concussion of the blast deafened him momentarily. RESIDENTS AWAKENED BY HEAVY CONCUSSION Motorists driving In the vicinity of the Claremont hotel reported that their cars were shaken, while residents of the same district said they were awakened by the vibration of windows and doors In their homes. Scores of calls were received from the vicinity of Ellsworth and Blake streets, residents reporting that the blast appeared to have centered in the hills between the Grizzly peak lookout station and the Claremont hotel.

A few calls came from as far as Went Berkeley. Powder companies In Oakland and Pinole denied that the blast had occurred in their plants. Construction companies said there was no blasting being done in the district and naval authorities told police there had been no heavy gunfire. JAR FAILS TO MAKE SEISMOGRAPH RECORD. Perry Byerly, University of California seismologist, said that the blast was not recorded by the university seismograph.

He expressed the belief that it was "purely local" in character, the effect being confined to a comparatively small area. Any disturbance of sufficient intensity to jar the earth, he said, would have been recorded on the delicate apparatus used at the university to detect earthquakes. Police said It was possible that a hidden still might have blown up and a search of the district was In progress today. A check of hospitals failed to reveal anyone injured. Relief Appeal Made By London Council LONDON, Aug.

22. UP) Thirty members of the London Common Council have signed a petition urging the lord mayor to'summon the ancient court of the 'council and address an appeal to Prime Minister MacDonald on the "distressed state of the people." It la unusual for the court of the common council to intervene in political affairs, but the proposed action Is not without precedent. In 1842 the council passed a resolution demanding Immediate remedies for relief of industrial depression. Sir Alex, Mackenzie Keeps 84th Birthday LONDON, Aug. 22.

(W Sir Alexander MacKenzIe, England's "grand old man of music," celebrated his eighty-fourth birthday today. He is one of the few men who can look back on a friendship with Liszt. Queen Victoria knighted him in 1896. Guards Fire on Job Hunters; Kill Three VILNA, Lithuania, Aug. 22.

UP) Border guards who are accustomed to repelling fugitives from Soviet Russia today clashed with a group of 60 unemployed going the other way looking for Jobs with the soviet power project on the Dnei-per. Three men were killed and 22 i IS Family Feared Annihilated By Bakersfield Explosion BAKERSFIELD, Aug. 2. (UP) An explosion that rocked the city this morning destroyed two build ings at and Twentv.flrat tr.t. and possibly annihilated a family oi tour persons.

The explosion, lifted the roof 25 feet off a two-atorv rnnmlnar hnnu and blew the sides out, hurling mem 100 teet distant. Windows within a two-block radius war shattered. The family that may have been destrovsd ennslHtftd Af Jmnmnmmm couple and their two children. The bead of the family ipaa known as.