100 years ago in The Saratogian

Tuesday, April 24, 1917

Two Saratoga Springs women suffer painful burns when their clothes catch fire in separate incidents today, The Saratogian reports.

Lena Mohr lives in the home of her aunt, Mrs. Henry Schrade of 110 Nelson Avenue. She’s “attending to household duties” this morning when her clothes ignite. “How Miss Mohr’s clothing became ignited is not known,” a reporter writes.

Mohr rushes outside, where a greenhouse foreman smothers the flames with a strip of carpeting. She is “too ill to be questioned” about the cause of the fire at the time this evening’s paper goes to press.

In the afternoon, Mrs. Jane H. Montgomery of 48 Bryant Street is raking leaves and burning them in a bonfire when her clothes catch fire. Montgomery “undoubtedly saved her own life by unusual presence of mind in rushing into the house and throwing water upon herself from a faucet,” the paper reports.

After putting herself out, Montgomery asks neighbors to take her to Saratoga Hospital, where she’s treated for burns on her right arm, shoulder and chest. Dr. J. B. Ledlie expects her to make a full recovery. Mohr is treated at her home by Dr. B. J. Murray; it’s unclear whether she is hospitalized or not.

World War I

The Saratogian reports today that a French war commission made it safely through submarine-infested Atlantic waters for a conference with American and British counterparts at an undisclosed location. The U.S. declared war on Germany on April 6. France and Great Britain have been fighting the Germans since the summer of 1914.

President Woodrow Wilson signs legislation today authorizing the sale of $7,000,000,000 in bonds for the war effort. Americans have already pledged to purchase at least twice that amount, and $200,000,000 worth of bonds are sold “so fast that the administration has called a halt for breath.”

The House and Senate are debating legislation authorizing a “selective draft.” Speaker of the House Champ Clark opposes a draft, but it’s unclear whether Democrats in the lower house will follow him or another Democrat, President Woodrow Wilson. Opponents of conscription believe that the U.S. can wage the war with a volunteer army. Former President Theodore Roosevelt, a hero of the Spanish-American War, reportedly has asked permission to raise a volunteer division for combat duty in Europe.

In Saratoga Springs, George R. Kanaly of 137 Woodlawn Avenue is “one father of the type that Uncle Sam admires.” The proprietor of a Broadway barbershop reports that both his sons have enlisted.

His younger son actually joined the Navy last October, while the elder enlisted three weeks ago, just before the declaration of war.