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, OCTOBER 1, 1917
There will be fair skies over the city today with cooler temperatures for this first day of October. The high today will be about 62° with the low near 50°.
The Second Liberty Loan drive began this morning with the ringing of the bell in Independence Hall tower and a show in the sky by aeroplanes. The government wants to raise Three Billion Dollars to help smash the Kaiser, his despotism and Prussian militarism. Philadelphians are being asked to contribute fully 1/10th of the total subscription. As an added inducement to subscribing, Uncle Sam is giving away $4.00 in gold to anyone lending $100.00 for a year. Of course, the lender will receive their $100.00 back in full at the termination of the loan. Already today over 10,000 people signed up to pledge loans starting as low as $50.00. The Boy Scouts of our area have collected over 7800 subscribers equaling almost $500,000.00 in loans.
There were more arrests in the continuing investigation of the murder of policeman Eppley and the violence in the 5th Ward. Sam Maloney former leader of the 5th Ward and ex-harbor master was one of those arrested. Maloney is now the manager of the Val O’Farrell Detective Agency, which is believed to be behind recruiting the New York thugs that perpetrated the murder and violence.
On the sports beat, the Phillies and the Athletics are off today. The Phillies are traveling home from their doubleheader victory in St. Louis yesterday. They will close out the season here with doubleheaders Tuesday and Wednesday against the Giants. The A’s will finish their season up in New York with one game on Tuesday and a doubleheader on Wednesday. In boxing tonight at the Olympia A.A., Broad & Bainbridge, Johnny Dundee, the number one contender for Benny Leonard’s lightweight championship belt will meet this city’s own, Lew Tendler. Four other bouts are also on the card. Admission is 25¢.
WAR NEWS
After a lull of almost 7 months British troops are again on the offensive in the Middle East. The British have inflicted heavy casualties on the Turks about 60 miles northwest of Bagdad near Ramadi. In the fighting the Turkish commander, Ahmed Bey, was captured. In the air war, French planes dropped bombs on Stuttgart Saturday evening. The raid was in retaliation for the earlier German bombing of the little French town of Bar le Duc. Bar le Duc is known worldwide for the production of the wonderful jelly named after the town.
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