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 JULY 2, 1917

Today’s weather forecast calls for cloudy, unsettled skies and very warm temperatures. The high will reach 92° with the low tonight about 68°. Over 278,000 people have used the city’s bathhouses and swimming pools to find relief from the heat since opening. There is the strong possibility of thunderstorms tomorrow which will cool the region considerably. The police are vigorously enforcing the prohibition on smoking in trolley cars traveling to and from the Navy Yard. This morning 16 sailors and 14 civilian employees of the Yard were arrested by officers from the 4^th & Snyder station for smoking. The penalty is a $5.00 fine or 5 days in jail. All but one of the arrested took the jail time. Smoking is permitted in jail.

In national news, race riots have resumed in East St. Louis, Illinois. The rioting began early this morning. A police detective sergeant, Samuel Coppedge, has been killed and 4 other policemen injured. The murder and injury occurred when a mob of blacks fired upon the policemen. The incident happened when the police were called to investigate a large group of negroes. Sergeant Coppedge asked what was going on and the men in the crowd told him it was none of his business and to move on. Coppedge responded they had come to protect negroes as well as white people. The blacks then fired upon the policemen. In response to this whites have begun attacking negroes throughout the city. Fifty negroes have so far been arrested. Six hundred Illinois guardsmen have been ordered to the city to stop the rioting.

WAR NEWS

A Philadelphia nurse, Miss Madeline Jaffray, of 1337 Walnut Street has been wounded in France. Miss Jaffray was serving at the American Hospital No. 1 at Dunkirk when it was bombed by German aeroplanes. Miss Jaffray has been taken to Paris for treatment. It is reported part of her foot was lost due to shrapnel.

America has its first regular army aviator in action flying missions over German lines in France. He is Major William Mitchell.

Upon America’s entry into the war Major Mitchell flew with French escadrilles, presumably as an observer. On the Alpine front, in retaliation for the Austrian bombing of Venice on Friday evening, Italian airmen have bombed Trieste. On the eastern front, a huge Russian offensive is underway in Galicia. The attacks began with intense artillery bombardment all along the Galician front. The Russians are aiming their attack toward the city of Lemberg.

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