On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. So, check back often for new editions. To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – MONDAY MAY 13, 1918
The Weather Bureau is predicting rain all day today and into this evening. Today’s high will reach 83° with the low overnight near 64°. The Municipal Band gives its first concert of the season tonight (weather permitting) at Fairhill Square, 4th Street & Lehigh Avenue. The Band will open the evening with Rossini’s “William Tell Overture”. Point Breeze Park opened for the season over the weekend to capacity crowds. The park is under new management and has added many new amusements for both children and adults. The park is also scheduling many sporting events for the summer.
In baseball today the A’s beat the White Sox at Shibe Park, 6 to 4. The Mackmen were led by centerfielder Tillie Walker who went 4 for 4 including a home run. Shoeless Joe Jackson did not play today. He has been ordered to report for duty with the army on June 1 and it is rumored he left Philadelphia yesterday with his wife. The Phillies played to a 3 -3 tie out in St. Louis today. the game was called after 10 innings due to severe storms in the area.
WAR NEWS
The casualty list released today contains 96 names including 10 killed in action, 9 deaths due to wounds, 5 deaths from disease, 2 deaths from accidents, 1 from other causes, 12 severely wounded and 19 wounded slightly. Thirty-eight soldiers are listed as missing. These men are mostly from New England and may have been captured by the Germans at the battle of Seicherprey. Philadelphians on the list include Corporal Elwood T. Bauman, listed as severely wounded and Lieutenant Adam Dambrauckas, 4764 Melner Street, listed as slightly wounded.
It has been learned from the British that G.A. Willet, 20 years old of 2681 Braddock Street has been taken prisoner by the Germans. Willet enlisted with the British army on August 21. He was serving with the Royal West Kent Regiment. It is believed he is being held at Cassell, a German prison camp.
A Philadelphian has been awarded the French Croix de Guerre. He is Marine Lieutenant Colonel Hiram I. Bearss of 1321 Spruce Street. Lt. Colonel Bearss (shown below) arrived in France in August and was shortly thereafter transferred to an army regiment. He is 43 years old and has had a long and distinguished career with the Marine Corps serving in the Philippine insurrection, the Boxer Rebellion in China, Santo Domingo and at Vera Cruz in Mexico.
Lieutenant Colonel Hiram I. Bearss
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Hiram Bearss is one of the Marine Corps’ legendary figures. He was born in Indiana and was stationed at the Navy Yard when America entered the war. Nicknamed “Hiking Hiram” he reportedly never accepted a desk job without filing a written protest. His actions in the Philippines led to his being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. In France he fought at Belleau Wood and Saint Mihiel. His service in World War I earned him the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Distinguished Service Metal. Along with the Croix de Guerre, France also bestowed upon him the Légion d’honneur. From Italy he received the War Merit Cross and from Belgium its Croix de Guerre. The “U.S.S. Bearss” launched in 1943 was named in his honor.]
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