Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 5, Number 154, Decatur, Adams County, 25 June 1907 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

■Volume V. Number 154

■SHOT IN BREAST ■But Luckily Herman EhI inger Will Recover ■affair purely an accident ■Elmore Smith, a Playmate, Shot His I Friend with a Target and Was Unconsolable for a Time. I Herman, the thirteen year old son •of Mrs. Carrie Ehinger, who resides lon Fifth street, was accidentally shot in the breast last evening by his playmate, Elmore Smith, with a twentytwo calibre target gun and for a time it was feared that the shot would prove fatal. However, an examination by physicians dispelled this idea as the bullet was found on the right side of the body and was taken from him without any apparent pain whatever, and the doctors say that other than being sore for a few days it w’.i never cause him any inconvenience. The accident happened about eight 0 clock In the rear of the H. H. Bremerkamp yard, where a number of these little chaps had been in the habit of congregating and talking about Indians, and other wild west doings. While the boys were sitting in a buggy at the rear of the lot talking Earl Bremerkamp had been shooting at sparrows with a small twenty-two calibre rifle and had laid the gun down on the porch and stepped into the house. The boys were still in the bam talking when W. Deininger stepped into his back yard and called to his son telling him to come home. The lad started and the party of boys began to disperse in various directions. Young Smith spied the gun laying on the porch and running ahead picked up the same placed it to his shoulder, cocked the trigger and pointing it at young Ehinger said "Let’s fight a duel.” With these words he pulled the trigger and to the astonishment of all the gun went oft and young Ehinger was seen to fall and grab at his breast. He at once commenced to cry and say that he was shot, which attracted the attention of Mrs. Bremerkamp, who hastened to the child's aid and with the assistance of several of the neighbors, who were attracted by the commotion. picked the boy up and carried him to his home. Doctors D. D. Clark, H. F. Costello and C. S. Clark were immediately summoned and hurried to the Ehinger home, and at once started to examine the lad to determine how badly he had been injured. It w - as found that the bullet had entered the left side just below’ the heart and had struck the eighth rib, veering then to the right, passing over the chest bone and finding lodgment on the right side of the body over the seventh rib. Dr.

TOMORROW’S GAME Bluffton and Decatur to Cross Bats Here IN FIRST GAME OF SEASON The Teams will Play at Bluffton on the Morning of July 4th and Here in the Afternoon. Tomorrow is Bluffton day and the big fellows who represent that city on the ball field will be here to try and take the game they want so badb All other honors seem small, indeed, to them if they can but win from Decatur, a feat rarely accomplished by the Wells county “hooters." We might also add that the local fans will relish a victory over their old rivals. France and Dailey will umpire and no trouble is anticipated from that scone. It is expected that at least 1,000 people will witness the first contest. On July fourth as announced yesterday, the teams will meet twice, n the morning at Bluffton and in t e afternoon at Decatur, when the local grounds will be packed as they never were before to witness a ball gam. The receipts of the games are to be split even up and with good weather, this means a handsome financial boost for each association. It is probab e that neither team will use outside players this year, though nothing whatever was said about this prop--osition.

C. S. Clark in rubbing his hand over the boy’s body located the bullet and with a knife made an inclssion and took the bullet out, to which was attached a small piece of bone, presumably to have been taken from the rib where the bullet first struck. A probe showed the course the wound had taken and the wound was thoroughly cleansed and bandaged up and when the doctors left the lad was resting easier. That the boy escaped instant death is a miracle, and the only thing that him was the fact jtjiat the bullet struck a rib and was thus diverted from its true course, which would have been almost directly through the heart. Young Smith, who fired the gun was crazed with grief and could hardly be consoled by his parents as he was under the impression that he had killed his comrade, and it was only through heroic methods that the boy was quieted. Reports from the Ehinger home today are that Herman is resting easy and the doctors say that he is practically out of danger. The escape was a miraculous one, and should be a lesson to all little chaps. As a general rule it is always the gun that “he didn’t know was loaded” that goes off. THEGRADEWORK Will Commence Soon on Interurban Extension PRES. W. H. FLEDDERJOHANN Engineers are Establishing the Levels and Will be Ready for Grading Work Before Fall —Ballasting the Track. The Ft. Wayne and Springfield railway company is not only enjoying a fine business on its Ft. Wayne-De-catur trolley road but it is going rapidly ahead with the ballasting work and is also pushing the surveys on the proposed extension from Decatur to Celina. O. Mr. W. H. Fledderjohann, president of the company, was in the city yesterday and stated that work on the new extension will begin before fall. The extension will be 29.7 miles in length and leaving Decatur, it will pass through Pleasant Mils, Ind., and these Ohio towns: Willshire, Rockford. Tama and Celina, When the extension is completed the company will have a fine road about fifty-five miles in length. Mr. Fledderjohann stated that the chief engineer of the company, Mr. A. W. Fishbaugh, yesterday started out with a force of surveyors to establish the levels on the new extension. The preliminary surveys have been made and the engineers will have everything in readiness for grading work to begin before fall. The company is at present devoting its energies to ballasting the Fort Wayne-Decatur road and getting the road bed in shipshape. The company has a fine gravel pit on the Heaton farm, which it purchased, and will have more than enough gravel to ballast the road. Two steam engines are now in use and a steam shovel at the pit is capable of loading a car of gravel in six minutes. Mr. Fledderjohann is highly pleased with the business of his road so far and the returns from both the freight and passenger departments have been more than satisfactory. During the heavy electrical storm which raged to the south of Fort Wayne Sunday night the company shut down for two hours to escape damage and came out of the disturbance unscathed. —Ft. Wayne JournalGazette.

POSTOFFICE CLERKS PROMOTED Four of the Local Force Secure Increases in their Salaries. Washington, D. C., June 25. Special to Democrat: First Assistant Postmaster General Hitchcock last evening promoted four clerks in the Decatur postoffice, to become effective July Ist as follows: One clerk from SSOO to $600; one from S6OO to S7OO and two from S7OO to SBOO. The clerks who profit by this recommendation are Samuel Shamp, George Everett, J. A. Beery and Miss Fay Smith. .— o Owing to the recent heavy rains, the old St. Marys river is again on a rampage and is very high for this time of year. However, there is no apparent danger of it overflowing unless we have several mo\g cloud bursts.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, June 25, 1907.

WILL LEAVE HERE Dr. Blackman Negotiates For Sanitarium AND WILL LIKELY SECURE IT During the Late Summer he will Assume Charge of the Robertson Sanitarium at Atlanta, Ga. Dr. W. W. Blackman is at home from a two weeks’ trip to Atlanta, Ga., where negotiations were practically closed, whereby he will secure sole possession of the former Robertson sanitarium, an institution which for more than thirty years, has been known and patronized by the health seekers of the eastern and southern states. Dr. Robertson retires at this time on account of his age, and he could certainly have chosen no better successor than Dr. Blackman. The place has always been a hygenic, hydrotherapeutic medical sanitarium and with the addition of osteopathy, it will be an institution combining the best of drugless and bloodless theopy and the only sanitarium of its kind in existence. The buildings are large and commodious having a capacity for forty guests, beautifully located in the best city of the southeast, and is arranged in away to delight its parons. while they are being restored to health. If, as now seems probable, Dr. Blackman secures the property, he will take possession during the late summer. For a number of years the doctor has successfully practiced octeopathy in Decatur and Bluffton, many of his cures being of the wonderful order. With the assistance of the various baths and water cures, he will without doubt be more than able to sustain the reputation of the Robertson sanitarium. He is energetic, congenial, a gentleman of the twentieth century school, has rare ability in his profession and will do well in this new and worthy undertaking. GREAT DISPLAY OF MACHINERY Schafer Hardware Company Sell Many Threshing Outfits. The Schafer Hardware companyhave four separators and three large new traction engines ready for delivery- from their First street ware rooms. Besides these they have sold two similar outfits making the largest machinery delivery ever made by the Huber Manufacturing company at one time in the state of Indiana. The price of this shipment is better than SIO,OOO. The Schafer company have also sold several other outfits of this kind this year. Their field for business is not only local but extends over all this section, they having shipped oufits to Fowlerton and Plymouth, Indiana, recenly.

BUYS NEWS STAND M. E. Babcock the New Proprietor DEAL WAS CLOSED LAST NIGHT Takes Possession of the Popular Place Next Monday—Mr. Burrell to Remain Here. A deal was consummated last night whereby Mr. M. E. Babcock became the - sole proprietor of the Decatur news stand. For several days past this transaction has been hanging fire, but not until last night did they agree definitely on the price, and close the deal. The new proprietor has for several months been night operator at the Clover Leaf depot He is an experienced telegraph operator, but he desired to make a change, hence negotiations were commenced for this business. He has a large circle of friends in the city who will without doubt give him a share of the patronage, and thus encourage him in this business venture. Mr. Burrell has not decided on just what he will do since disposing of his business, but it is quite likely that he will remain in our midst for some time at least. Mr. Babcock will take possession of the stand Monday morning.

A CHINESE WEDDING IN IDAHO Wong Cue and Fong Gum Were the Principals. Spokane, Wash., June 25. —This is something about a Chinese wooing, wedding mid honeymoon, the principals being Wong Cue, a local tailor, and Fong Gum, widow of Sam Chang, a wealthy storekeeper, who were married by a justice of the peace at Coeur d’Alene, Ida., today. The bride, who is a bright little woman and speaks English, coyly confessed she has smiled on Wong for some time, and though there were many rivals for her hand when he summoned up the necessary courage she did not hesitate to say "yes.” She said she preferred Wong to other suitors because he. is an honest, industrious fellow, has a good business and does not "hit the pipe” or gamble. He wears American clothes and parts his short hair in the middle. The bride shows rare discrimination in her choice of a husband, sayng: “I wanted a man who would be able to take care of me when I get old and who would not want to get a divorce." They w-ill make their honeymoon nearly next fall. TO PREVENT FIRE Additional Step by International Society.

COMMISSIONERS AND INSPECTORS Letter Addressed to Mayors of Every City in the Land Asking for Their Co-Operation. Washington, D. C. June 25.—As an additional step in a movement to multiply means of prevention of losses by fire, the following letter has been sent from the headquarters at Washington of the Inernaional Society of State and Municipal Building Commissioners and Inspector); to the mayor of every city in America: To His Honor the Mayor: Some municipal executives have won fame by at least attempting to reduce the cost of street car travel, others by the strict enforcement of liquor regulations, and still others have done great good for their communities by initiating, or working on behalf of existing, wise .laws regulating this, that or 'the other thing that needed regulation. But so far we know of no city whose executive has zealously striven to eradicate one of the greaest evils that besets and threatens the extinction of every one of our municipalities, fire. Yet its ravages have meant 7,000 human lives in a year, and in money in that same period nearly half a billion of dollars. Surely is the matter worthy of your attention! Our fire departments have been improved to a high degree in efficiency, most of our cities have installed excellent water works, we have done wonders in trying to cure the evil, but have made few efforts, indeed, in the right direction, that of prevention. Our people have grown heedless of the danger, and keep on building so shoddily that the wonder is that we have not more such disasters as those of San Francisco and Baltimore, Our cities of 200,000 people or so feel well off when the year’s fire loss is not over half a million dollars and the cost of fighting fire does not exceed |300,000; European cities of similar size are sorely stricken when their loss exceeds $50,000 a year, and the cost of fire deparemtns, etc., Is greater than another $50,000. Surely the time has come when something drastic must be done. Little dependence can be placed upon the individual; he, the general run of him. erroneously believes that his interests are best subserved by cheap, flimsy building. It becomes the duty of the community, through its executive and legislative bodies, to take steps toward its own protection by the prevention of fire in spite of the individuals’ indifference in the matter. Stricter building regulations should be enacted and enforced; your building departments should be given more authority and more help, in order that not only the new buildings may be better built, but that the old ones be frequently and thoroughly inspected and their owners compelled to make those buildings less of a menace than they are to their neighbors (Continued on page 2.)

COURT HOUSE NEWS Clark Bound Over for Wife Desertion BOND WAS FIXED AT SBOO Andrew Miller Case is Being Tried at Ft. Wayne—A Marriage License Issued. Louis Clark, the Berne man arrested by Constable Sam Kuntz, at Ft. Wayne last Friday, for w-ife desertion, was given a hearing before Squire Joel Liddy who bound him over to the circuit court, fixing his bond at SBOO. He failed to find friends and is now in jail here. It is said that though Clark has been making $2.40 a day since last January, that he had give his destitute family but one lonely dollar in all that time. A marriage license has been granted to Orville Wherry, aged thirty, an Allen county farmer, and Mary A. Barkley, aged twenty-one a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Barkley, of Union township. The board of review would have heard complaints from Geneva today as to real estate appraisements had any been made, but there was nothing doing from the Wabash township capital. Judge Heaton and a jury are trying an Adams county case sent here on a change of venue. It is the case of Andrew Miller vs. the Grand Rapids & Indiana company for SSOO damages for fire, which is alleged to have destroyed grass and an orchard belonging to Miller. Moran & Peterson, of Decatur, and Hanna & Greake, of Ft. Wayne, represent Miller. Zollars & Zollars represent the railroad com-pany.—Journal-Gazette. o GIRT REYNOLDS SELLS INTEREST Peoples' Restaurant Now the Sole Property of Dan Bailey. A deal was consummated Saturday evening whereby Girt Reynolds disposed of his interest in the Peoples’ Restaurant, to his partner, Dan Bailey. The deal had been hanging fire for several days and was only completed Saturday evening, when the terms and conditions of the sale were agreed upon. The retiring partner, Mr. Reynolds. is well known to every citizen and during his business career in the restaurant made a host of friends. Mr. Reynolds has not as yet fully determined upon what he will do in the future, but says that the first thing will be a long needed rest. Mr. Bailey, who assumes full control is a thorough business man of sterling qualities and will no doubt conduct this popular place upon the same business methods as heretofore. He asks for a' share of your patronage when needing anything in his line. WAS OPERATEDON Little Naomi Laman Seriously Sick WITHTHROAT AND EAR TROUBLE Taken to Ft. Wayne Where Dr. Bulson Performed a Successful Operation —She is Improved. Naomi, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Laman, who was taken to Ft. Wayne yesterday to be operated upon for ear and throat trouble, was in a dangerous condition after the operation, notwithstanding the fact that the operation itself was quite successful. For some time past the little girl has been more or less troubled with an ear and throat affection, but not until quite recently did her condition become alarming. She was taken to Ft. Wayne yesterday where she underwent an operation at the hands of Dr. Bulson. the expert ear and throat specialist of that place, and unless something unforeseen develops, she will without doubt be restored to health again. Mr. Laman returned this morning from Ft. Wayne and brought the glad news that she was slowly recuperating.

BOYS, PUT AWAY FIRE ARMS Marshall Green Will Arrest You if You Don’t. For several weeks young boys in Decatur seem to have been seized with a mania for target and air guns, and even revolvers. Marshall Green has been trying his best to prevent boys from carrying firearms, but, it is hard work without the aslstance of the parents. However, the marshal asks us to give fair warning that he will arrest the first boy whom he finds carrying firearms of any kind. Two accidents occurred last evening that should be a sufficient warning. ANNUAL PICNIC AT BLAKY GROVE Big Event Scheduled for Next Sunday —A Ball Game. A grand old-fashioned picnic has been arranged for next Sunday in the Ed W. Blakey grove, a half mile north of Blakey church and a quarter mile east. Various kinds of entertainment has been arranged for the after noon, among these being a base ball game between the married men and the boys of Blakey church. Refreshments will be served and a good time is guaranteed. o BEDFORD OBJECTS To Anything but Bedford Stone in New Building THE NEWS FROM WASHINGTON Texas .Will Issue a Proclamation to Quarantine Persons Affected With Tuberculosis. Washington, June 24— The announcement, a few days afo, that changes had been made, or were about to be made, in the Bedford building, stirred up the citizens of that city to a point of action. When Bedford people learned that the supervising architect of the treasury proposed to substitute brick and terra cotta work for Bedford stone they immediately got busy. Representative Chaney wired the treasury officials that he did not want the Bedford building built of anything but Bedford stone. Senator Hemenway followed with a protest. Prominent people in that part of the second congressional district are wiring and sending in letters of protest to Taylor, asking that brick be left out of the consideration. They want nothing but Bedford stone used. Mr. Taylor says he is now up against a hard proposition. The price of Bedford stone is so high that the appropriation made will not build such a building as he wants to put there and use the stone. He says if Congressman Chaney undertakes to get an additional appropriation for the work that it will probably delay the building of the Bedford building one or two years. Federal officials having to do with the regulation and control of the public health were much exercised today to learn that the public health officials of Texas will soon issue a proclamation of a permanent quarantine against all persons affected with the advanced stages of tuberculosis. The proclamation will place tuberculosis in the same category with smallpox and yellow fever, according to the report, and is being issued because of the increased immigration of tuberculosis patients to the dry climate of Texas. It was said at the office of the Marine hospital service today that under the federal statutes tuberculosis is not a quarantinable disease, either under the marine or Interstate immigration laws, but immigrants can now be kept out of the United States when afflicted with tuberculosis, under the new immigration law. The controller of the currency has approved the Union National bank of Indianapolis as a reserve agent for the First National bank of Decatur, Ind. The Frankfort postoffice will get one new clerk on July 1. Under the (Continued on page 2.) o ST. JOSEPH PICNIC THURSDAY The children’s annual picnic of the St. Joseph schools will be held Thursday of this week, instead of Wednesday on account of the grounds being wet. The event occurs at the Eiting grove.

Price Two Cents

GLEANER GIRLS Gave Splendid Entertainment Last Evening THEMcMILLENS TO HAVE GUESTS Birthday Party for Celona Majors— Pythian Siste r s Elected Officers — Other Society Notes. By Perle Burdg. The principal society attraction of last night was the entertainment given by the “Gleaners” of the Presbyterian church. This club called the Gleaners consists of sixteen girls who form one of the leading Sabbath school classes of the church and Mrs. James Fristoe as teacher, and leader, has elevated them to a high standard of girlhood. Their motto and their name are based on the book of Ruth. The first glance as one entered the church was very pleasing for every place that w’as convenient was banked with flowers, ferns and potted plants. As the doors of the lecture room were pushed Iback it displayed ja scene representing a school room, sixteen desks with the same number of pupils, Miss Florence Sprunger as teacher, and Free Frysinger as Joe. This brought back to each one of the audience who had passed over those days the memories of their school victories, hardships and pleasures for the class played their part to perfection. During the school hour Miss Sprunger sang a song entitled “School Days” the words being composed by True Fristoe. She was assisted by Free Frisinger and chorus. These same girls gave scenes from the story of Ruth, such as The Parting Scene of Naomi, Ruth and Oryrah; The Gleaners; Ruth in Barley Field. These scenes were simple but impressive, and it is hard to decide which was truly the best. There w’ere several other numbers on the program consisting of instrumental solo by Mr. Will Shelton, who is a noted young musician of our city. Instrumental duet by the Misses Bessie Schrock and Irene Schirmeyer, which was readily received by the listeners “Trio from Ruth” by Mesdames J. C. Patterson, T. B. Thomas, Chas. True, Messers C. J. Lutz and J. C. Patterson; vocal solo by Miss Florence Sprunger; reading “The One Legged Goose,” by Miss Faye Smith. Miss Smith was encored and she responded in a graceful manner by giving “Twins I Guess.” The last number w r as a drill by the Gleaners. This closed the program, which was so Interesting from one number to the other and which deserves high praise for never was an entertainment given in our city that caused the pleasure that this one has given, and they the Gleaners, wish to take this means of thanking each one who took part and in the future they hope to do the ma favor if possible. The church was crowded and the girls cleared seventeen dollars and fifty cents. With pretty gifts and merry smiles the little invited guests of Miss Celona Major gathered at her home to celebrate her eighth birthday anniversary, w-hich was yesterday. Various game were played and the afternoon rolled by without warning. At four o’clock Mrs. Major served a dainty luncheon of peanut sandwishes, marble cake, fudge, popcorn balls and lemonade. The small guests who enjoyed the party were: Francis Schaffer, Wayne Schaffer, Francis Mangey, Mildred Schroll, Helen Chapman, Grace and Anna Garard, Cora Peck, Glayse Flanders .Jerome Gregory, May Babcock, Winifred Maddy, Tena Hendricks, George Schug, Mary Patton. The Pythian Sisters had their regular business meeting last evening. During the time they elected officers as follows: E. C., Bessie Long; E. S., Maude Hour; E. J., Nora Ahr; M. T, Anna Vance; P. of T, Mrs. Sellemeyer; O. G., Della Sellemeyer. At the close of the meeting the letter R's served delicious refreshments. The young men of the Columbian club will give a club dance for members and their lady friends only on Thursday evening. Especial music has been prepared and an excellent time is planned. The following relatives from Ft. "Wayne will arrive in the city to be th* guests of Mrs. McMillen. Miss Minnie Orvis and Grandma Ferrey, Saturday morning and will be entertained during 1 Continued on page 3, col. 6.