30,000 Reported Dead After Dirigible Crash & Mysterious Plague
New York City — On March 13th, the Big Apple was dealt a wallop straight out of a nightmare. After the Army Air Corps shot down a rogue dirigible over Manhattan, a strange and deadly virus swept through the boroughs, leaving devastation in its wake. Eyewitnesses describe scenes of chaos, food lines stretched around corners, and the Army locking down entire districts under quarantine orders.
Doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center have dubbed the strange affliction the “Wild Card Virus”, citing the unpredictable nature of its effects. Rumors say some victims died instantly, others lingered in agony, and a handful survived… changed in uncanny ways.
General McPhearson, 1st Army, declined comment as soldiers patrolled the streets to maintain order. City officials are begging citizens to remain calm, though reports of looting, black markets, and bread shortages are flooding in from every borough.
FEDERAL AGENTS SUSPECT FOREIGN SABOTAGE
Washington, D.C. — Sources within the FBI whispered that last month’s arrests of suspected German agents in New York may be tied to the calamity. The German consulate shot back with sharp words, calling the accusations “hogwash” and branding America’s suspicions as “imperialistic slander.” Diplomatic tempers are flaring as Berlin denies foul play, yet Washington insiders insist the coincidence is too slick to ignore.
MYSTERY MAN FOUND DEAD IN COSTUME NEAR CLOISTERS
Harlem — Police discovered the body of a man shot multiple times near the Cloisters. What’s got the bulls scratching their heads? The stiff was decked out in a costume resembling Superman from Action Comics. Detectives are mum on whether this was a publicity stunt gone sour, a criminal masquerade, or something stranger still.
NEWS ROUNDUP – APRIL 1939
WORLD’S FAIR TO OPEN IN NEW YORK:
Flushing Meadows is being readied for the grand opening of the New York World’s Fair in April. Organizers promise “The World of Tomorrow,” featuring streamlined trains, Futurama exhibits, and dazzling pavilions of glass and steel.
SPANISH CIVIL WAR NEARS END:
Reports from Europe say Franco’s forces are on the verge of complete victory. Loyalist troops are surrendering by the thousands, and the republican cause looks all but finished.
BASEBALL SEASON ON DECK:
Spring training is underway. The Yankees, led by Joe DiMaggio, look ready to slug another pennant, though Brooklyn fans swear this is the Dodgers’ year.
FILM GOSSIP:
Bette Davis rumored to star in a new Warner Bros. picture following her Oscar win for Jezebel. MGM, not to be outdone, is touting a Technicolor epic set for release this summer.
