Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 8, Number 72, Decatur, Adams County, 25 March 1910 — Page 1

Volume VIII. Number 72.

TWELVE DIE IN FLAMES * ■ - Wholesale Furniture House of Fish & Company at Chicago Burned. SCENES OF HORROR Women in Windows Beg for Help—Many People Were Badly Injured. Chicago, Hl., March 25—(Bulletin) —Twelve persons were burned to death and many others injured in a fire today which totally destroyed the six-story buuaing occupied by Fish & Company, wholesale furniture dealers, at Nineteenth street and Wabash avenue. It is believed that all the dead have been recovered. Indescribable .scenes of horror attended the fire. Women stood at the edge of the windows and begged and screamed for help. Several men slid down the elevator cable to safety. All the dead were burned to a crisp and were picked up piece by piece. The fire is said to have been started by an office boy who was filling a cigar lighter with alcohol. Part of the building was used as a warehouse and this added fuel to the fire. Several firemen were overcome by the smoke. The dead were all employed in the office of Fish & Company, which was on the sixth floor of the building. A young man named Nicholson, one of the identified dead, jumped from a sixth floor window and died an hour later. The exact number of injured Is not known. The fire caused a panic in a hotel near by but it is believed no lives were lost there.

A REBUKE TO NEW TARIFF. I ■—“** Boston, Mass., March 25—Eugene N. Foss, the newly elected congressman from the Fourteenth Massachusetts district, dies not wish to be regarden as having garnered any personal laurels from the outcome of that fight. He wishes the result regarded as a victory for the reciprocity idea and as a rebuke to the republican party for the Payne-Aldrich tari ffbill. Foss said today that he would not be a candidate for the next term in -congress and refused to be regarded as a possible candidate for governor of Massachusetts. “It is the cause which has won,” he said, “and I most heartily deprecate any attempt to attach any personal distinction to me because of what has happened. In congress I will endeavor to do all in my pow’er. I go to congress ready to vote with the insurgent republicans and democrats.” — ORDER INDICTMENTS FOR THREE (United Press Service.) Pittsburg, Pa., March 25— (Special to Daily Democrat) —The grand jury investigation of the councilmanic corruption today recommended that District Attorney Blakley prepare for submission to the grand jury three indictments against Charles Stewart, William Brand and Hugh Ferguson, charging them with having received from six different banks $102,000 in connection with the passage of the bank depository ordinance. The directors of the six banks will report in court next Monday after having made an Investigation regarding the alleged payment of the money to the city councilmen. - —O" RECEIVED PAYMENT. Walter Johnson, local agent for the Hoosier Casualty company of Indianapolis, this morning received a chec , payable to Jacob Blew, on account of an accident which he met with y stepping on a rusty nail. He W ‘ V! ’ c 0" fined to his home for just two wee and the check came in mighty han y to him. KLONDIKES ARE ONE AH^ AI ’’ The Klopdikes are now ahead n four-team bowling league, with ttn rates standing second. Mhen e teams met Thursday evening a e Palace alleys to play they wen '> even, and the game Thursday evening decided the leader, the Klondikes winning the first and third of the re games played.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

THREE WITNESSES ARE HEARD. Italians Who Witnessed Death of Bert Frey Are in Jail. Lima, Ohio, March 24 —Three Italians who saw the fatal shooting of Bert W. Frey, Fort Wayne railroad man, on the street In this city Monday night, have been held under bonds of 15,000 each as witnesses in the case, and in default of the bond have ben commited to the county jail pending the investigation by the grand jury. Antonio Vittorioso, who is accused of the crime, is held without bond on the charge of first degree murder. A brother of the dead man was allowed to see Vittorioso Tuesday night and with difficulty restrained himself from breaking down completely under the strain of the shock and his sorrow. The witnesses held are Joe Cavalier, Sam Cassaro and Joe Politz. The three tell a very similar story, which apparently fixes the crime upon Vittorioso, and the story of the defendant tallies with that of the witneses up to the point of the shooting, which he steadily denies.

THE COURT NEWS Further Action Taken in Pe tition to Vacate Market Street. CLAIM CASE DECIDED » The Imboden Case Heard Today—Some Actions in Probate Court. Oliver W. Storer vs. George Epsteen, note and foreclosure of chattel mortgage, $275; appearance by.D. E. Smith for plaintiff. In the Hfenry F. Linn et al. petition to have Market street vacated, the demurrer formerly filed by the city was withdrawn and leave to appear and plead in said cause w’as filed. The petitioners objected on the grounds that the acton was taken too late. Laura A. Van Camp vs. Charles VanCamp et al., separate and several demurrers filed by Charles and Hubert Van Camp. Bank of Berne vs. Mary Neaderhouser, administratrix, finding for plaintiff on note of $241.39 to be paid out of real estate and for plaintiff against estate and Emil Erhart on note for $lOlB. Finding that Erhart is surety on the second note. Frank Imboden et al vs. Sarah R. Imboden et al., partition, commissioner ordered to report sale of real estate. Report filed and approved. Deed approved. Commissioner ordered to pay administrator $650 for settling estate of decedent, Henry Imboden. In the Henry Imboden estate the court found that the decedent died in Adams county, Indiana, intestate.

In the John C. Simons estate a petion was filed by Sarah C. Simons, widow of deceased, for an order on clerk to pay shares to minor heirs and it was so ordered. Letters of guardianship were issued to Christian Helmrick for Wilhelmina Hilgeman, person of unsound mind. The guardian filed bond for $4,000. Gideon Reisen, guradian for Ira G. Bodie, filed a petition for an order to pay ward SSO for tuition at school. Real estate transfers: Rosana Christman et al to Osia Christman, 26 acres, Hartford tp., $10; Rosana Christman to John Pearson, 15 acres, Hartford tp., $10; Albert Ramsey to Arnold Aschleman, 15 acres, Hartford tp., $800; Rosana Christman to Albert Remsey, 15 acres. Hartford tp., 10. o rSTRIKE BECOMES GRAVE. (United Press Service.) Livermore Falls, Main, March 25— (Special to Daily Democrat) —Grave trouble is apprehended here today as the result of a clash between the guards of the International ' Paper company and the strinking paper makers. Stoned by strikers the guards retaliated by opening five with their revilvers.

Decatur, Indiana. Friday Evening. March 25, 1910.

J.N. COLCHIN DEAD Passed Away at Home For Aged at Evansville Where He Had Been FOR TWO YEARS Death Occurred Tuesday and Burial Wednesday— Was Unexpected. Coming very much as a surprise and a shock was the letter received at noon today by Mrs. Julia Colchin from authorities of the Old People's Home at Evansville, called "Little Sisters of the Poor," stating that her brother-in-law, John N. Colchin,, who for two years has been an inmate there, had died Tuesday morning and that the burial took place Wednesday. Mr. Colchin was about fifty-seven years of age and was born and reared in this county, farming southwest of this and making his home until four years ago with his sister-in-law, Mrs. Julia Colchin, and family. Some time ago he was injured on his leg by a pitchfork, and later blood poisoning developed, from which he never recovered. Four years ago he entered the old people’s home at Avilla, and two years later the home at Evansville. He had been sick about two weeks before his death, but his death must have occurred quite unexpectedly as the relatives here did not know of his serious illness or death until today noon. He has one brother, Nicholas, of this city. Two other brothers, Peter Colchin, of this city and Mathias Colchin of Alexandria, have preceded him in death. The deceased is well known here, where his entire life had been spent, and his untimely death will cause much sorrow among his many relatives. He was never married. The funeral took place from the chapel at the home with interment in the home cemetery. That the funeral should have taken place without their knowledge is a source of grief to many here as the relatives had thought always in .case of death to have the body brought to the family lot here, but the burial took place probably according to the rules of the home.

SUDDEN ATTACK Mrs. Adam Baker Suffers a Paralytis Stroke —Found Lying Helpless. ON THE FLOOR By Husband When He Reourned at Noon —Fell While Cutting Meat. Frank Schultz, who accompanied his mother to Monroeville Thursday upon receipt of a message here that

her mother, Mrs. Adam Baker, was very sick, returned in the evening and stated that she was lying at the point of death and that it was feared she could not recover. Mrs. Baker is about eighty years of age and suffered a stroke of paralysis about 11 o’clock Thursday, rendering her helpless and speechless. She was at the house alone at the time, and was discovered by her husband about 11:30 o'clock. Mr. Baker had been working on the place some distance away, and when the noon hour arrived and no summons to dinner was made he grew somewhat uneasy and went to the house, where he found her lying unconscious on the floor. She had gone to cut some meat and apparently had been in the act of cutting it when the butcher knife slipped from her hand and she also fell to the floor. Fortunately she did not fall on the knife and was uninjured in that way. She has suffered several similar attacks but none so severe as this. Owing to her advanced age it is thought she cannot recover, and her doctor, Dr. Morgan, of Monroeville gives the family no encouragement. All her children—Mrs. Henry Schultz of this city, Jacob and George Baker and Mrs. William Pancake, of near Monroeville, and Ed Baker of Fort Wayne—have been summoned to her bedside.

BLUFFTON WON'T HAVE HOLDER. Gas Company Will Do Without It— Jack Monyhan to Go There. S. E. Mulholland, superintendent of the Indiana Lighting company, was in the city Wednesday afternoon for the purpose of making arrangements for the purchase of another holder proprty, but so far the company and the men owning the ground have been unable to come to terms and.it looks now as if the lighting company and the holder proposition is as far apart as ever before. Mr. Mulholland said that the company could not afford to put a large amount of money in a holder site, but stated that the officials of the company wished to get this matter straightened out as soon as possible. It Is possible that no holder will be erected in this city at all, but that the city will be supplied with gas direct from the large mains, a regulator being placed in the mains so that the supply will come in good shape. The only inconvenience this would mean would be that when the mains were broken or when the pumps did not work the city would not have gas. Jack Moynihan, who has been in Decatur several months, will return here soon and get the gas started here —Bluffton Banner.

DROPPEDINTO FIRE Instead of the Frying Pan and a Ton of Good Ham and Bacon is Lost ♦ AT PACKING HOUSE Meat Hung up to Smoke in Smoke Department Falls Onto Fire Grate. Not caring to wait for the slow curing process of the smoke, about a ton of fine ham and flitches of bacon in the smoke house department of the Decatur Packing company’s plant took a sudden notion to drop this morning, not in to the frying pan but into the fire, and netore aiscovered and the fire extinguished the meat, whch at present prices, is worth a small fortune, was tatally ruined. The fire was discovered about 9:30 o’clock this morning. The smoke department at the packing house is built on the lower floor and the walls rendered fireproof by brick. The fire box below is covered with a grate about four feet above the fire, and the meat hung on poles some distance above the grate. It is thought the fire became too great and caused the fat meat to drip, and that these drippings in turn ignited and blazed high above the mass of meat, burning the ropes which fastened in places the poles on which the meat was hung, letting it fall onto the grate and blaze below. The greedy fire soon got in its good work on the meat and the smoke became so dense that it leaked out Into the main roofs of the packing house, causing the men to investigate. The fire in itself was soon extinguished by them, and the loss to the building itself, beyond the charring of the doors, is nothing. The meat is said to be worth from S3OO to S4OO and probably more. The loss falls not only on the pasking house, but Mr. Mutchler, who condutcs a meat market on Monroe street, is a loser in about the sum of $25, having the day before placed about that much meat in the smoke house to cure. Members of the packing company here did not know whether the meat was insured or not, as J. S. Bowers, the president, and others, who had charge of that, are out of the city. o— FOUND ELDRIDGE'S BODY. Remains of Rich Young Man Who Became Lost in Desert Found. San Barnardino, Cal., March 25 — (Special to Daily Democrat) —Parti's arriving here from the Amaragosa desert bring the report of the finding of the body of David Eldridge, nephew of the president of the National Sewing Machine company, who was lost in the desert last fall. On the body was a ragged diary giving an account of the man’s wandering in search for the help he never found. Eldridgtf's disappearance caused wide attention at the time and hunting parties looked for him many days but found no trace.

A TRUE ARTIST In Impersonation is Miss Anna M. Philley, Reader, of Fort Wayne. PLEASED HEARERS At Methodist Church for Epworth League Benefit Thursday Evening. It is not often that Decatur people are given such a rare chance of hearing so good an entertainment in this city as that given Thursday evening by the Epworth League of the Methodist church, with Miss Anna M. Philley, a talented elocutionist of Fort Wayne, as the “leading lady.” Her versitality in expression is really wonderful, her selections ranging from the noblest and most sublime to the ridiculous, rendering all with consumate art, that shows her to be a character student and impersonator of the highest nature and sympathy. The laughter provoking selections were “The Woman in the Department Store” and “How Girls Study,” while she moved her audience to tears by the touching little tale of “How Paul Won the Goat.” Tbe winning little sketches from Paul Lawrence Dunbar, the negro poet, “When Malida Sings,” “Po" Li’l Lam’,” and “Little Brown Baby,” were brought to the audience with just the true touch, and the production of the noble scene from Ingomar was given with wonderful skill. Miss Philley is a niece of Mrs. Harriet L. Coverdale of this city and is known to many personaly here, as well as to the Rev. Sherman Powell, who has knewn her twelve years and known of the great favor with which her readings are received, she having assisted in entertainments given by the societies of every charge of his during that time. The musical part of the program given by home talent was also well received. Bruce Patterson rendered Handel's “Largo" as a trombone sola, the high school quartet sang “Hello,” Mrs Jesse O. Sellemeyer gave a vocal solo, and the Dons sang, “Good Night.” THE MONTANA CAR Will be at the Erie Depot Next Thursday—And It’s Absolutely Free. LECTURE AT NIGHT At Opera House —Exhibit is in Charge of Great NorthNorthern Railway.

Mr. Stine, a representative of the Great Northern railroad, was here this morning, arranging for a Montana exhibit car, which will be here next Thursday, March 31st, and will be ready for show at the Chicago & Erie depot all that day. In the evening a stereopticon lecture will be given at the Bosse opera house. It's all free and is solely for the purpose of interesting people of this locality and showing them the wonderful opportunities in Montana, where they say there are fertile farms for thousands. The car contains samples of the grains, vegetables and grasses grown in the famous Milk River Valley. It is estimated that there are twenty million acres of rich agricultural soil capable of producing excellent crops of wheat, oats, barley, sugar beets, alfalfa, etc., along the Great Northern in Montana. This is government homestead land and available In 160 and 320 acre tracts under the provisions of the United States homestead laws. As stated both the car and the lecture are absolutely free and every one is invited to take advantage of the opportunity and learn something new. o — P. A. Wall of LaGrange, who has been looking after business in Marion, Ohio, for several days, passed through Decatur today on his way home.

WIPE OUT PENSION AGENCIES. Congress Took Another Crack at Them Yesterday. Washington, March 25 —The house of representatives voted to wipe out of existence the United States pension agency at Indianapolis and the seventeen other agencies scattered through the country and to substitute for the present system a plan of paying pensioners direct from a central bureau in Washington. The vote by which this was done was 94 yeas to 76 nays. The eleven democratic members of the Indiana delegation voted solidly for the abolishment of the agencies. Representative Crumpacker voted against abolishing them. Representative Barnard is out of the city. Representatives Cullup and Cox of Indiana made speeches in support of the plan to abolish the agencies. They declared that the money thus saved should be paid to the old soldiers in increased pensions. Both refused to take any stock in the theory that the plan was not a commendable one because it would throw a large number of clerks and employees out of work.

HELD A MEETING Officers of Adams County Sunday School Association in Session. DO MUCH BUSINESS Next Convention Will be Held at Monroe—Delegates to State Meet. The Berne Witness this week said: Officers of the Adams County Sunday school association and some of the members held their annual meeting in the directors' room of the Bank of Berne Tuesday. In attend-

ance were President Jesse Rupp, Rev. J. W. Kliewer, Eli C. Bierie, J. F. Lehman, Ezra Glendenning, Miss Edna Hoffman and Mrs. Orndorf. Important among the business before the meeting was that of selecting delegates and alternates to the state convention. The men so selected are Jesse Ruup, delegate from the south half of the county, and Mr. Perkins, delegate, and Howard Wisehaupt, alternate, from the north half of the county. It is suggested by the county officers that a religious census be taken throughout the county. It was decided that the election of township officers be held in the spring of each year. By a unanimous vote in favor of Monroe the next county convention will be held at that place. The suggestion is made by the county officers that one or more Sunday school celebrations be held in the county. If two, one in the north half and one in the south half of the county.. The matter of halding these celebrations was left in the hands of the officers of the different Sunday schools of the county. Those of the south half will meet to take up the matter at the call of Jesse Rupp and those of the north half will consider the matter at a meeting to be called by Rev. L. C. Hessert. Other important business was that of arranging the dates for the different township conventions which were made as follows: Washington—April 10th. Monroe —April 24th. Jefferson and Blue Creek—May Ist. Wabash —May Bth. French and Hartford—May 115th. St. Marys—May 22nd. Union and Root —May 29th. Preble and Kirkland —June sth. c— BEGIN WORK ON BANK.

Linn Grove Pushing Affairs Along Very Rapidly. L. L. Baumgartner of Linn Grove, who was in Decatur today, reports that town as a very thriving one. Work began this week toward to the building of the new Linn Grove bank's building, in the moving of the barn that stood on the proposed site of the building. The barn will be moved this week so that all things will be cleared and ready for the beginning of the excavations for the basement next week. The building will be 22x60 feet, two stories, with basement, and will be built of brick.

Price Two Cents

“CHEERFUL SUSIE” Is the Appropriate Name of a Charming Little Lady Endeared TO MANY HUNDREDS Is True Missionary Worker Though Afflicted—ls Known World-Wide. Probably no more earnest, more cheerful missionary in the truer

sense has ever visited Decatur than Miss Susie Falk, a delightful little lady from West Mecca, Trumbull county, Ohio. Though this brave little woman has been an invalid all her life, and has not walked for fiftyeight years without crutches, her hands have been busied with work for the poor and hundreds have come to know and bless her In all the largest cities of this country, in Africa, India and Norway. She has also scattered abroad the priceless rays of cheerfulness, In her life, and she is known to the hundreds who love her as “Cheerful Susie.” Miss Falk is here on a sad visit, being called by the death of her brother, Joel Falk, which leaves her the last one living—the youngest—of the eight Falk children. The woman has had a really remarkable life, and hearing of her visit here with her nieces, Mrs. Dan Erwin and Mrs. Horace Callow, a reporter of this paper deemed it a great privilege to call on her yesterday afternoon and the half hour spent with her was one of great inspiration. Though the attack of typhoid fever in her infancy has left her lower limbs deformed and paralyzed, and she appears little taller than a child of ten, time rests lightly upon her, and while her hair is silvered, the spirit that looks forth from bright, sparkling eyes is a young one. Indeed it is the spirit of cheerfulness, of happiness, of Divine grace, that looks forth and keeps her young. She was converted at the age of ten years and her life since has been one for her Master. She is a delightful woman to talk to and one cannot but be helped by a word with her, but in all, she says that her cheerfulness is from the Lord and gives all the credit to His power. She has been engaged in the special missionary work for some twenty years. At that time her sister, with whom she lived, died in Greenville, Ohio. Miss Susie states with all sincere assertion that it was a direct answer to prayer for guidance that her life work was revealed to her, and she felt divinely called to the missionary work in which she has been engaged. She had but little means with which to make a home for herself, and in a providential way she found the place in West Mecca. She lives alone in her home in the little town, which is about as large as Bobo, and does all her own housework: and caring for herself, except for help with housecleaning. She is never without employment and supports herself as well as helping countless numbers of others with her needle. Her missionary work lies in making over garments for the poor, and piecing quilts and comforters. The material for these is furnished her by hundreds who have heard of her work. Clothing, pieces of gingham, calico, worsteds, etc., find their way to her, where with skill , she works them up and they go to clothe and protect the poor. Many hundreds of poor little chaps in the largest cities —Cleveland, Chicago, and many others —have had cause to bless her as they nestle snugly in the chill winter under the warm garments and comforts —each one a mosaic stone that goes to make up the great pattern of the work of love. The needy at home are given first attention and then the others away from home. Miss Falk said: “Oh, the poor; there are so many of them! Oh, that I might help more!” Her work has been written of In many of the church papers and other organs and friends have distributed tracts telling of her life; so that with these and the fruits of her manifold good works she has become known al lover the world, and count--1 less aid her in her work. Her quilts I are made of pieces from all over the ■ world, and the pattern of a quilt, ; which she has here and showed to the t reporter, she appropriately calls I “Around the World.” The design is I unique and artistic, and each piece is (Continued on page 2.)