A drop in the mercury

100 YEARS AGO

(1912)

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Like the missing horseshoe nail that cost a monarch his kingdom, the failure to provide binoculars spyglasses for the lookouts on the Titanic was one contributing cause of that ship's loss of more than 1,690 lives.

Two witnesses before the Senate committee investigating the incident have agreed on this.

They were Frederick Fleet, a lookout on the liner, and Maj. Arthur Godfrey Peuchen, Canadian manufacturer and yachtsman who was among the rescued passengers.

Fleet acknowledged that if he had been aided in his observations by a good glass he probably could have spied the berg, into which the ship crashed, in time to have warned the bridge to avoid it.

Maj. Peuchen criticized in strong terms the lack of experienced sailors on the Titanic.

He said that when the call to quarters was sounded, not enough of the crew responded to undertake the work required in lowering and filling the boats. Furthermore, he said, no drills had been held from the time the ship left Southampton, although it was customary to hold such drills every Sunday.

Major read a statement in which he said, "I do not criticize Captain Smith, but I do criticize the policies and methods pursued by the company."

75 YEARS AGO

(1937)

The mercury dropped to the 37 mark in Fort Scott last night, but there was no frost, according to E.A. Shaver, the local weather observer.

The task of ridding the courthouse grounds of the thick growth of weeds that had been overrunning them this spring, and of growing bluegrass in their place, has been accepted by County Agent Albert Brown.

While working over the sod on the courthouse lawn, workmen unearthed enough worms of assorted sizes to supply anglers for quite a fishing season.

Dee Filizola has added a complete line of Sherman gas ranges to the stock of home equipment and appliances carried by his firm, Filizola Office Equipment Co., 114 E. Wall St.

One of the many features of the Sherman range is a highly sensitive thermostat and electric timer, allowing unlimited adjustment of top burner flames.

It was too cold for the thin-clad performers at the girl show at the carnival at Othick Park last night and a fire started which soon assumed serious proportions. The tent was about gone when the fire department arrived.

A short in the wiring was given as the cause.

50 YEARS AGO

(1962)

Harry W. Fisher was named permanent chairman of the National Cemetery Centennial Commission this morning at a breakfast at the Downtowner Hotel.

Fisher will head up the group which is planning a commemoration of the cemetery on Nov. 10. The Fort Scott cemetery is National Cemetery No. 1.

National Cemetery Superintendent P.O. Crawford stated that about 40 acres of ground near the cemetery have been committed to parking space for the coming event.

It was mutually agreed among members of the commission that parking should be turned over to a Fort Scott civic group, the auxiliary police or the civil defense.

Plans were discussed to re-route Highway 69 so the full length of National Avenue could be used as a parade route, feeding about 30 bands.

Town and Country (By Melvin Anderson):

Some farmers reported at the Thursday livestock sale that corn was still being picked in parts of this area. This ground may not be ready for fall wheat.

Hog prices at the Thursday sale ranged up to about $15.60.

Photo caption: "Ray Hoover, 108 S. Crawford, caught a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass in a farm pond using a red worm. He also caught numerous pan fry perch."--Tribune photo