Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 8, Number 224, Decatur, Adams County, 22 September 1910 — Page 1

Volume VIII. Number 224.

BLUFFTON, A CITY OF GLOOM Terrible Accident Yesterday Stops School Court And Business

THIRTY-NINE DEAD Ten People Are Seriously Injured, Several of Them Fatally. OFFICERS IN CHARGE State Inspector Arrived This Afternoon —Mass Meeting at Bluffton. Bluffton, Ind., Sept. 22—(Special to Daily Democrat) —A mass meeting has been called for this evening to be held at the opera house, at which time plans for the funerals and for the paying of proper respect to the dead will be made. The schools and court have dismissed for the week and business is practically at a standstill here. The gloom cannot be lifted. Corrected and verified list of the dead and injured: The Dead. Jessie Huffman, bond dealer, Marion. S. E. Stuckey, Vera Cruz. Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Frank King, Warren, Ind. W. E. Bowman, Bluffton. William Beers, night policeman, Bluffton. Seymour Robinson, democratic candidate for county auditor Well county. Bluffton. L. C. Justis, president Geneva traction line, Bluffton. H. D. Cook, grocer, Bluffton. Ernest Crouse, clerk at Bliss hotel, Bluffton. Ralph Walser. Bluffton. W. D. Burgan, real estate dealer, Bluffton. Oscar Zimmer, hardware merchant, Bluffton. John W. Tribolet, real estate dealer, "Bluffton. J. E. Swartz, assessor Rockcreek township, Wells county. Thomas Gordon, Bluffton. Mrs. Hiram Falk, Bluffton. Perry Daugherty, Warren. Joseph Sawyer, Bluffton. Mrs. Myrtle Harley, Bluffton. A. E. Hyde. Pennville. Silas E. Thompson, Warren. R. F. Folk, Bryan, Ohio. Jacob Swartz, Uniondale. Harold Nelson. Bluffton. John Johnson, Markle. Daniel Dubach, Domestic. Mrs. Blanch Smith, Montpelier. John Reed, Marion Soldiers’ Home. Miss Pearl Sayler, Bluffton. Charles Raber, Uniondale., Fred B. Tam. Warren. Mrs. Garret Maxwell, Garrett, Ind. Joseph C. Holland, Danville, 111. George Smothers, Warren. Joseph Edens, Hartford City. Ben Kramer, tramp umbrella mender, Frankfort. Gilbert, tramp, Toledo. Fred B. Jones, bank cashier, Warren. The Injured. Miss Margaret Tribolet, Bluffton, skull fractured: will die. Mrs. W. D. Burgan. Bluffton; limbs crushed: may recover. Amos Elleriberger. Berne; legs crushed; even chance to live. Fred Parkhurst; back broken: will die. Fred Corkwell, motorman on southbound car; concussion of brain; will die. L. Wilson, Ossian; conductor on southbound car; badly crushed; may 'live. E. A. Spillers, conductor northbound car; leg broken; probably live. Charles Van Dine, motorman northbound car; bruised and crushed; will probably recover. Clyde Brown, Bluffton; legs broken; may recover. Lloyd Brown’, Bluffton. Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 22 (Special to Daily Democrat) —The authorities of Wells county today began an investigation to discover where the

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

fault lies for the collision of the two cars on the Fort Wayne and Wabash V’alley Traction line yesterday, in which forty-two people were killed and eight injured. Early today Superintendent of Transportation Hardy of the traction company, said that a disregard ot orders caused the wreck, and that Corkwell, motorman of the southbound special, is probably to blame. The wreck is the worst in the history of the interurban business in the United States. It is said by others that the northbound car had orders to wajt at Kingsland and until the order is made public, it will not be known who was to blame. Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 22 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Alexander Shane, chief inspector of the Indiana railroad commission, arrived at Kingsland this afternoon to begin an investigation of Wednesday's wreck. Slowly the news came in from the terrible wreck, which occurred near Kingsland Wednesday afternoon. Each new message received at this office brought news of the death or fatal injury of people well known here many of them relatives of Decatur people. The horrible, awful news was waited with fear by hundreds, eager for each scrap of news, yet fearful that the new list would contain the names of near and dear ones. The total dead will probably reach fortyfive. Thirty-nine were killed outright and eight were severely injured, the most of them perhaps fatally, five of the list having died before or shortly after they reached St. Joseph hospital at Fort Wayne. At the time of the collision there were forty-one people aboard the northbound local passenger car, which left Bluffton at 11:58. Os that number one passenger, John R Boyd, of Marion, escaped unhurt. He had just caught the car and was standing on the steps when he noticed the car approaching, perhaps 200 feet away. He dropped from the car. forty feet from the crash. The conductor, Spiller, of the local, also escaped with slight bruises and strange to say, the motorman. Charles Van Dine, was not fatally hurt Besides these practically every person aboard the local was either killed or fatally hurt. The cars met at the curve just north of Kingsland, each going at about twenty-five miles an hour. The blame is attached to Motorman Corkwell of the southbound extra, who disobeyed orders and instead of going on the siding at Stop No. 7, went on, passed Stop No. 6, and tried to make the siding at Kingsland. Evidently he lost his head when he saw the other car and in an effort to shut his car down, increased the speed, for Mr Boyd says he saw the approaching car take a sudden spurt forward. No Decatur people were aboard the car. C. D. Lewton. Charles Loch, Rev. Hunter Meyers of Montpelier, Rev. Earl Parker of Hartford City, Judge Vesey and son of Fort Wayne, and all well known here, tried to catch the car, but just missed it. Two Adams county men, Samuel E. Stuckey of Vera Cruz, and Amos Ellenberger of Berne, were In the wreck ,the former being killed and the latter perhaps fatally hurt, his legs being broken and his back injured. Jessie Huffman of Marion, former resident here, and a son of the late E A. Huffman, and a cousin ot" the Rices and Robinsons here, was killed. Mr. and Mrs. Frank King of Warren were killed, Mr. King being the manager of the Berling & Molts packing plant at Warren. W. D. Burgan, who was killed, and Mrs. Burgan fatally hurt, were cousins of Mrs. George Zimmerman of this city. Nearly all the Bluffton men killed, especially L. C. Justis, Seymour Robinson, J. W. Tribolet, H. D. Cook, Oscar Zimmer, William Beers and others are known by hundreds in this vicinity. The terrible catastrophe cast a gloom over this community, almost equal to that felt other places, » The scene at Bluffton when the car reached that place, bearing the remains of thirty-nine dead, was beyond description. As the news reached that place every business house closed its doors and a great throng gathered to meet the morgue car. Scarcely a pet'bon in Bluffton but had a near

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, September 22, 1910.

relative or friend on that dead car, and some had several. Women fainted, strong men became sick and weak, , and through it all but few tears were ’ shed. They were beyond that. The I blow was so terrible that It stunned them. It reminded one more of the scene after a terrible battle. At the wreck scene County Clerk A. N. Plessinger and Judge Vaughn took charge of all money and valuables and they were deposited in the Union Trust & Savings Company's bank at Bluffton. The total values taken from the bodies aggregates forty thousand dollars. The sum of $5,000 in cash was taken from the body of a man from East St. Louis. Oran Craven of the Bluffton News thus described the accident: “On both sides, particularly on that tangent approaching from the north, there was a curve, screened by dense woods. Bearing down from the north came the lighter car, empty of passengers. Speeding toward Ft. Wayne was the coach filled with men and women, bent on a merry making of a day or two at the Allen county fair. “Out of the ends of this short curve near Kingsland, came the two cars. ■ (Continue « page 4.) FEARS CONFIRMED Telephone Message Received by James Rice Confirms Report of DEATH OF NEPHEW Jesse Hoffman Killed in the Wreck at Kingsland— Funeral Sunday. V.. ■■ i James Rice this morning received a telephone message confirming the fears of himself and relatives that the Jesse Huffman of Marion, xeuoitfid, among the killed in the wreck at Kingsland. Wednesday, was his nephew, the son of his sister, Mrs. Alice Rice Hoffman Diggs of Marion. The message was received from the young man’s step-father, George Diggs, of Marion. The body, he stated, was not badly mangled, death apparently having resulted from a blowon the head. The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at Marion and very many of the relatives from this city will attend. The deceased, an onlyson, was about thirty or thirty-two years of age, unmarried, and was the son of the late E. A. Huffman of Marion. the family having resided there for the past twenty years. The deceased was born here, was a grandson of the late Pendleton Rice, and a nephew of James and Joe Rice, Mesdames Will Smith, Perry Robinson, Elizabeth Wherry of this city and Mrs. Jeff Bryson of Portland. A sad | feature of the case is that the death, I which resulted at 12:30, noon, Wed-1 nesday, occurred while his mother, i with her sisters and relatives from ! this city were in attendance at a sort of family reunion at the home of their sister, Mrs. Bryson, at Portland, the party spending the day there, comprising Mrs. Diggs and step-daughter. Miss Elizabeth Diggs, Mrs. Jerry Torrence and daughter, Pauline, of Marion; Mesdames Perry Robinson, James Rice. Will Smith, Joe Rice, Elizabeth Wherry, Hugh Hite, Oscar Lankenau and Mrs. Dan P. Bolds of this city. It was not until some time after their .return home that the report of the death, with confirmation this morning, was received, causing much sorrow among the relatives and friends here. METHODISTS, TAKE NOTICE. There will be an especially interesting prayer meeting and a specially important one this evening at 7:30. It is especially desired that there be a representative from each family. There will be special music and special exercises. SHERMAN POWELL, ”astor. Among the articles to be sold by the Dorcas Daughters at their public sale Saturday,, September 24th, are a fine mahogany case piano and a surrey. These articles are but a few of the many useful things to be sold then and no doubt q large crowd will be in attendance to take advantage of the bargains.

GOLDEN WEDDING Os Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Campbell of This County Celebrated AT SON’S HOME At Bluffton Tuesday—LifeLong Residents of Adams County. i The golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Campbell, a respected couple of Adams county, was celenrated Tuesday at the home ot their son, C. W. Campbell, and wiie at 526 West Central avenue, this city, says the Bluffton News. They came to this city for a short visit with their son and there was a fine wedding dinner served in their honor at which a number of relatives and friends were entertained. As mementoes of the occasion Mr. and Mrs. Campbell each rereceived a handsome present from their children, a solid gold watch for Mr. Campbell, and a beautiful gold thimble for Mrs. Campbell. They also received other presents from various relatives and friends and received a large number of post cards, sent to them in the form of a shower of contribution. Despite their advancing years Mr. and Mrs. Campbell unon their flflieth anniversary of their marriage, are still a well preserved couple and bid fair to celebrate many more anniversaries of the happy event. They were married fifty years ago Tuesday by the Rev. Robinson, a pastor of the Baptist church, and father of Dr. P. L. Robison of this city. They have spent prae tically their entire fifty years of married life as residents of Adams county. REMOVING TO HAMMOND. Joe Solon and farqi|y, .who lot. several months have been residents of this city, are moving to Hammond, where Mr. Solon has secured an excellent position. The household goods have already been shipped, but Mrs. Solon and children are remaining for a visit with Mrs. C. Eiting and family until next week, or after the arrival of their household goods at Hammond. The family has made many friends here who will be sorry to see them leave.

COURT HOUSE NEWS Jury Returns Verdict of Guilty in Case Against C. D. Murray. LARCENY CASE BEGINS Philip Rash and Clinton Death Being Tried For Stealing Chickens. The jury in the “blind tiger” case against C. D. Murra” returned the following verdict at 8 o’clock Wednesday evening: “We, the jury, find the defendant guilty as charged and we assess his punishment at fine of SSO an dthat he be imprisoned in the county jail for a period thirty days. Also as jurors we feel that the jail sentence should be suspended by the court." Judge Merryman has not yet taken action in the case and it is not known what he will do. Jacob Magley has been appointed court bailiff by the court for the September term. Martin Affholder vs. Zella Affholder, divorce, default of defendant; cause set for Thursday, September 29th. Martha A. Buffenbarger vs. Heniy Buffenbarger, divorce, plaintiff given allowance of $25. Ellen Louthan vs. John Scheiman, administrator of Mary Knavel estate, claim of $25.50 allowed. State of Indiana vs. Philip Rash and Clinton Death, for stealing chickens, arraigned on larceny charge. Jury empanelled and case now being heard.

A GOOD PLAY. Seldom has Decatur people so rare a chance to witness such an interesting play as was the one of Wednesday evening, when "The Royal Slave" was played to a good-sized audience. It wns complete throughout, and from the first rise of the curtain to the last scene a first-class performance was going on and the audience was more than pleased with the evening's entertainment. The troupe was an excellent one, and with their attractive scenery and costumes made it up-to-date in every respect. From here they went to Akron, where they play tonight. O' - ■ ELKS’ SPECIAL CALL. A special meeting of the Elks has been called for this evening to make arrangements for attending the funeral of the nine brother Elks who met death in the sad accident which occurred at Kingsland Wednesday noon. As all the necessary plans will be made at this meeting it is requested that all be present at the hall this evening at 7:30 o’clock. By order of the exalted ruler. H. J. YAGER. t BIG MASS MEETING Democrats Will Hold Convention at Headquarters Wednesday Evening. NAME COUNCILMEN Arrangements For the Kern Meeting Will Also be Made at This Time. t A democratic county mass convention will be held at the headquarters of the party in this city Wednesday night, September 28th, for the purpose of nominating candidates for members of the county council. Seven candidates will be named, one from each of the following districts: The first district is composed of St. Mary’s Kirkland, Union, Root and Preble townships; the second is composed of Washington township, including the city of Decatur; the third of Blue Creek, Jefferson and Monroe townships, and the fourth of French, Hartford and Wabash townships. Three candidates will be selected from the county at large, making a total of seven in the membership. It is desired that ail persons interested in nominating the best available persons for these places be present The county chairman will make arrangements to have some speakers present and assures all who attend of a rousing good democratic meeting. Interest is the coming campaign is gaining every day and the democrats are out for a big victory this year.

BUSINESS RUSHING 321 Tickets Sold on Interurban From This City to Fort Wayne. UNTIL NOON TODAY Many Go to Fair Which is Reported as Being Very Good. The interurban carried large crowds to the Fort Wayne fair today, the total number of tickets sold up to 11:30 o'clock today being 321. Os this number 266 were round trip, and fifty-five one-way tickets. A great many of the number going on the interurban came in this morning from Willshire, and surrounding towns, taking the interurban from here. A special car left heer at 7:30 o’clock and will return at 4 this afternoon, the remainder of the large number being carried on the regular cars, running every half hour The fair is reported as being quite good this year, and the many who attended are well pleased with it. —o Ferd Nichols and Frank Chronister I went to Fort Wayne yesterday to at- ' tend the fair.

FOUR COACHES IN DITCH • f Chicago & Erie Train No, 4, Wrecked Near Spencerville Last Evening

DEATH MESSAGE. Miss Nomina Passes Away at Delphos Home. Late Wednesday afternoon a message was received in the city by John Schurger, announcing the death of Bassalisa, the ten-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nomina of Delphos, Mrs. Nomina being a sister of Mrs. Schurger. The death of the little miss followed an operation for appendicitis, which was performed on last Friday. Shortly after the operation hemorrhages set in and from that time her condition gradually grew worse until she was relieved by death about 5 o’clock Tuesday evening. Andrew Nomina of this city, who is employed as a farm hand at the Schurger home west of the city, left this morning for Delphos, and Fred Schurger will leave in the morning to be in attendance at the funeral, which will be held Friday morning from the St. John's church. o_ BRYAN'S DATES IN INDIANA. Indianapolis. Ind.. Sept. 22 —Speakind dates for William J. Bryan were announced today as iollows: October 15th, Burlington andTLebanon; October 17th, Owensville and Evansville; 18th, Bloomfield and Washington; 19th, Edinburg and Indianapolis; 20th, Crawfordsville and Richmond. These are the only speeches Bryan will make in the state. Kern dates were announced as follows: October 4th, Frankfort; sth. Peru; 6th. North Manchester; 7th, Lagrange; Bth, Decatur. u ■ ■ WERE DELAYED BY WRECK. Daniel Donovan and nephew. Dr. H. F. Costello returned this morning from their eastern trip, which combined business with pleasure. They arrived at 7:30 this morning over the Erie, their train which was due here at 2:30 o’clock this morning, having been delayed five hours on account of the wreck on the Erie near Spencerville, Ohio. It was necessary to transfer onto the Clover Leaf to get around the wreck, coming byway of Delphos and Ohio City.

BACK FROM WEST John Wilson and Lee Hindman Dispose of Business at Jamestown, N. D. ACCOUNT ILL HEALTH Os Mr. Hindman Who Finds Winters Too Severe — Here For Visit. Mrjand Mrs. John Wilson and son, 1 Deward, and Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hindman and daughter, Capitola, arrived in the city on the 2 o’clock train over the Erie from Jamestown, N. D., and are at the home of Mesdames Wilson and Hindman’s sister, Mrs. Charles Christen. The two families went to Jamestown two years ago last August where they became proprietors of a , restaurant and bakery, known as the Model, building up a fine business. Mr. Hindman's health has become impaired, being threatened with ' lung trouble, and his physicians advised removal to a milder climate, stating that as the winters there are very severe, a residence there this winter would prove dangerous. The business was therefore disposed of, though much regret was felt in doing so. Mr. and Mrs. Hindman and daughter left today for St. Joe, Ind., where they will visit with his parents. The families have as yet not decided upon their location in the future, but will remair. here as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Christen until they decide further. — — William P. Schmuhl of South Bend, a lumber Inspector, was in the city on business with Smith & Bell.

Price Two Cent#

TWO SCORE HURT One Person, Mrs. Strail, of Brooklyn, Was Instantly Killed. CHARLES BALL HURT Decatur Youg Man Received Severe Bruises But Will Recover. Lima. Ohio. Sept. 22 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Chicago & ErU eastbound fast train No. 4 was wrecked near Conant, nine miles west of here at 4:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, instantly killing Mrs. Langan Strail, an aged lady of Brooklyn, N. Y., and injuring thirty-sexen persons. The smoker, dav coach and two Pullman cars left the track, being overturned in a diten twenty feet deep. The track at the point where the wreck occurred had recently been raised several inches. The cars were badly crushed and from their position in the ditch, the recording of only one fatality is regarded as miraculous. The son of the dead woman, who was seated at her side, escaped injury. A special relief train was made up at Huntington and with a double wrecking crew and all available physicians was hurried to the scene. The injured were taken to the hospital at Lima. At the place where the wreck occurred, on a high embankment, there is a steep grade, at the bottom of which is a fill approaching a railroad bridge and the spot has the reputation among the Erie employees of being the most dangerous on the road. The train ditched was train No. 4, and a solid vestibuled train, known as the Chicago-New York flyer. Seriously Injured. The most seriously injured are: James Snowell. porter, Mansfield, leg broken. John E. Robbins, Concordia, Kans., probably fatally injured about the head. Mrs. S. Stolley and two children, Denver, internal injuries. Mrs. James Cone, Manistee, Mich., internal injuries. Charles Ball, Decatur, bruised about lower body. J. L. Milligan, Marion, arm broken. Robert Sadler. Los Angeles, Cal., right leg broken. L. P. Kidder and wife, Little Sioux, badly bruised. Jacob Klepine, Prospect, Ohio, hip fractured, internal injuries. M. Bituscn. South Sharon, Pa., arm broken. 1. P. Plumsted. Morboro, N. Y„ knee fractured. Cecil E. Kron, Blair, Wis„ head badly cut. F. P. Ferrall. Buffalo, slightly cut. Mrs. F. P. Ferrall, back broken, may die. Ray Gordon, Columbia, Pa., bad gash on head, may lose eyes. Elizabeth Wilson, Belle Center. Ohio, hurt on head. Charles Ball, the injured man mentioned above, is the son of Vachel or “Pink” Ball of Line street, this city. He is about twenty-one years of age and has been employed as lineman on the Erie for the past two and a half years. He had been at home just last Sunday as usual, but left for Huntington Monday evening and from there had probably been sent to Spencerville, Ohio, to work on the lines, the wreck occurring just two miles east of Spencerville. The message of the wreck was received here Wednesday night about 10 o'clock by Jesse Cole, who Is operator at the tower from 4 to 10 in the afternoon. The message stated that Charles Ball had . received a dislocated shoulder, and his injuries are supposed not to be serious. The parents were therefore, , not notified Wednesday night by Mr. Cole, and the first news came to them (Continued on page 2.)