Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 110, Decatur, Adams County, 10 May 1911 — Page 1

Volume IX. Number 110.

FIRE SWEEPS TWO BLOCKS Causing Damage Estimated at SB,OOO. -Started In Weikel Bam

BONFIRE IN STABLE % Starts Blaze That Threatens Entire West Portion of • City at Noon Today. HOMES ARE IN RUtNS D. I. Weikel and Jas. Hurst Heaviest Losers—Wind Spreads Flames. THE LOSS. D. I. Weikel bam, loss, 1100, contents, including carpenter tools worth 1350, automobile and feed, SSOO. No insurance. D. I. Weikel residence, occupied by himself and family, total loss. S2OOO, insurance SSOO. Contents practically total loss, SSOO, with $50.00 insurance. D. I. Weikel, dwelling, loss $750, totally destroyed, insurance, $450. This property occupied by George Lichiger, of Ward Fence Co., loss S3OO. No insurance. D. I. Weikel, dwelling, loss $250, no insurance, occupied by Clem Knoff. loss $50.00. No insurance. Frisinger & Sprunger. dwelling, ?ast side Fourteenth street, loss SSO. Occuped by Lew Sampson, 1< is slight. D. I. Weikel. barn on above lot damage 1. loss $25.00. no insurance. John Steele, dwelling, loss $25.00. James Hurst, dwelling, Monroe street, loss s2ooo. Amount of insurance unknown. Occupied by T. W. Holsapple, loss SIBOO. with SSOO Insurance. CAUSE OF FIRE. Believed by Mr. Weikel to have been from a bon-fire built in the barn by children. One of the greatest fire that has visited this city for a number of years was that of this noon when a blaze of unknown origin was discovered at the D. I. Weikel property on Fourteenth street, and owing to the high wind which was raging from the southwest, the flames spread to a number of nearby residences, bams and outbuildings. The signal was sounded at 12:45, the firemen responding as soon as the apparatus could be conveyed to the scene. In the meantime residents of the entire neighborhood and from other parts of the city ran to the conflagration and did what they could to aid the grief-stricken people who had almost become wild from the spreading of the mad flames. Such headway had been gained before the arrival of the department that nothing could be done to save what had already caught fire, as the three homes occupied by D. I. Weikel, Clem Knoff and the George Lichiger, were all a mass of flames, and were so far gone that nothing could be done to check the flames. The contents of the Knot! home were carried out the best way they could be gotten out, but a good portion were destroyed. People from the entire neighborhood in the direction toward which the flames were spreading began carrying out their household goods, carrying and throwing water and affording protection, should the blaze reach them. A barn belonging to D. I. Weikel, a half block away, eauge on fire from the flying embers, but was soon put out with several buckets of water, as were other nearby buildings. The origin of the fire is unknown by Mr. Weikel unless, he says, a bon-fire had been started in the barn by the children, which spread to the house. He carried insurance on his household goods to the amount of five hundred dollars, while the loss to his home and barn will amount to three thousand dollars. In the barn he had tools valued at $350, with no insurance, which were all destroyed. The John Steele property, just east of the Weikel home, was damaged to the extent of SSO. The James Hurst property on the corner of Monroe and Thirteenth streets, occupied by T. W. Holsapple, took fire from a flying ember, which damaged the home to the

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

extent of fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars. Firemen were in the stairway landing of the building when the chimney and a portion of the roof caved in, and the men were missed by only a Jew feet. The run from the city to the Weikel home was made In eight minutes, and that to the Hurst property, two blocks away, in four minutes, the firemen doing everything possible to prevent the flames from spreading further. At 2 o’clock the other chimney at the Holsapple home fell from its position, and with the roof, made almost a complete loss to the property. After much effort an old family Bible, valued at SI,OOO was saved. A piano and other furniture were gotten from the house, but moat of the goods were destroyed. Shortly after 2 o'clock the flames at the other properties on fire were under control, and the worst of the conflagration was past. The scene as the women of the locality realized that their homes were being destroyed, was rather panicky. Several had to be cared for, as they bordered on hysterics. The Lichiger family had moved into the Weikel residence only last Saturday and did not have a dollar insurance, all their clothing being destroyed. There are three little ’children in the family and, outside help may be necessary in caring for them. While the fire was raging a.t the Hurst dwelling, Mrs. Holsapple, who occupied the house, suddenly remembered that she had left her purse containing valuable papers and seventyfl vie dollars in currency in the house and rushed in to save it. She secured the wallet, but was almost overcome by* smoke and saved herself only by pluck and cool-headedness, though she dropped the purse and the contents were probably destroyed. The need of a tire department in Decatur was again in evidence. BASE BALL TEAM. Transacted Business to Better Conditions of ’earn. The base ball team held a very enthusiastic meeting at their headquarters Tuesday evening and much business relative to their future games was discussed. The only change in; line up was that of the catcher, they | taking on a new man, Mr. Harrington, an old-tjmer at the game, who has had a number of years experience in the ball sport. Charles E. Burk of Geneva will still have charge of the tall, and with this battery they expect to be in a much better form, for the holding of the team together. The new suits have arrived and are of a pretty grey, *ith the name of Seipp across the' breast in Cardinal red lettering. A red stripe, red cuffs and a stripe down the trouser sides, make a very attractive showing, and the team will appear from now on in their regular suits, and will be known as the Seipps' Base Ball Team.' They have booked three games. Next Sunday, with Fort Recovery, the 21st with Auburn and the 28th with Huntington, all games to be played away from home owing to the fact that no suitable grounds can be secured. It is believed that some of the local business men will contribute to this and help the boys along in securing a suitable place, and if this can be done a number of good games can be looked for. o— A FREE SCHOLARSHIP Miss Towles, a representative of the Oxford college for girls, at Oxford, Ohio, was here today and this morning gave a talk to the senior class ol the Decatur high school. Miss Towles offered a free scholarship to any one of the class who would attend this year or next. MOVE TO MONROE. Mr. and Mrs. John Elzey, who returned home Tuesday from Monroe, where they had been for several days, looking after some business pertaining to a new home which they were expecting to purchase for some time, announce that they will move to Monroe. Through the well known real estate man, A. 3. Keller, they purchased the Mrs. Louis Andrews home in | that town, where they will move in a short time.

Decatur, Ind. Wednesday Evening, May 10, 1911.

PRETTY WEDDING Sether-Vian Wedding Solemnized at the St, Mary’s Church Today. SERVE SUPPER HOME Joseph Wolpert Married at Bascom, Ohio, to Miss Veronica Sheeters. One of the prettiest weddings witnessed at the St. Mary’s church for some time was that of this morning when Miss Minnie Sether and Henry Vian were the contracting parties. The bride was charmingly attired In a pretty suit of net over white silk and wearing a hat to match, presented a very attractive appearance. Her attendant. Miss Bernardine Vian, of St. Henry’s, Ohio, a sister of the groom, was handsomely gowned in a suit of pink silk, and also wore a white hat. The groom and his attendant wore the usual black. Father Wilken officiated at the service in which the beautiful ring ceremony was used. Immediately following the ceremony the wedding party repaired to the family home of the bride in the west part of the city, where a wedding breakfast was served, only a few taking part. This morning at the Catholic church at Bascom. Ohio, also took place the wedding of Miss Veronica Sheeters of that city and Mr. Joseph Wolpert of this place. Catherine Wolpert, a sister of the groom, and Joseph Appleman, also of this city, were the attendants, as well as a brother and a sister of the bride. After several days’ absence they will return to this city, vhere they will make their home. Mr. and Mrs. Vian expected to leave at noon for the home of his parents at St. Henry’s, Ohio, but owing to the arrival of his mother and sister before the time set for their departure, the trip was postponed and they will remain here for a time at least. At 5:30 o'clock this evening a wedding supper will be served to a number of the friends and it was a most happy gathering. Congratulations and best wishes of the many friends present were extended and the bridal couple were recipients of many beautiful and useful'presents. MAY DAY FESTIVAL Students of Eighth Grades Planning For a Happy May Day Festival AT CENTRAL SCHOOL • About May 24th—-Miss Geraldine Cross Will be May Queen, One of the most novel and beautiful and perhaps the first of its kind in the city, will be the May Day festival carried out about May 24th by the pupils of the eighth grades, who are now in the course of preparation for this celebration. The pupils are those taught by Glen Warner, Mrs. E. J. Bailey, Matilda Sellemeyer and Ella Mutchler, and it is with the assistance of the teachers that the drilling is being carried out. The May festival will take place on the lawn of the central school house, probably May 24th, though this date is not definitely arranged. The boys will give a military drill, together with the unwinding of the May-pole, and other pretty features that go with the May festival that has been celebrated for many hundreds of years. Miss Geraldine Cross has been chosen Queen o’ the May, and will make a most beautiful one. — -o— —— EAGLES’ MEETING. «■ ii i '■ The Eagles will hold a special meeting at their club rooms Thursday evening at 8 o’clock and all the members are urged to be present.

FATHER GEORGE WRITES. We are In receipt of a letter from Father George Angertnaier of Auburn, former assistant to Father Wilken here, stating that he la well and enjoying his new charge very much. He is kept very busy at present as he 11 preparing a class of twenty children and nine adults for their first holy communion, which Is to take place on Sunday, May 21 it, beginning at 8 o'clock. In addition to his charge at Auburn he has two others, one much larger than where he resides, and which keep his time well occupied. He states that owing to the fact that there is no parochial’school bis task is made much harder, but in spite of his heavy labors is happy under them all. TWO OPERATIONS Lase Ellis Operated Upon Tuesday Evening at St. Joseph Hospital. REMAINS THE SAME Emma Terveer Also Underwent Operation Today For Tumor. Lafayette Ellis, who a week ago today was taken to the St. Joseph hospital at Fort Wayne for treatment and an operation, if necessary, the latter being deferred until he had gained sufficient strength, was operated upon Tuesday evening, between 5 and G o’clock, for complications with which he bad been suffering for many months. That the operation was performed Tuesday evening because of his strengthened condition, was not the cause, as since his stay at the hos- , pital he has become weaker, and at the time of the ordeal it was thought that he was dying, and that the operation was all that was left that might bning relief. In spite of his rapidly sinking condition he withstood the ordeal remarkably well, and this morning was holding his own, and should he live for twelve hours his chances are favorable. At the time of going to press no more word was received from the bedside and the members of the family stated that unless he had taken a turn for the worse they would have received word, and believe he was holding his own. Emma Terveer, who this morning, with her fatner, B. J. Terveer, sister, Clara, Charles Voglewede and William Dowling, went to the St. Joseph hospital, Kort Wayne, and later underwent an operation for several growths was this afternoon reported as still being under the influence of the anaesthetic, but that she withstood the ( ordeal very well. The operation was performed by Dr. McOscar, and he was assisted by Dr. H. F. Costello of this city. The growths had been noticed coming for some time and was doomed by the physician best to'undergo the operation now before they had gained too much of a start. It is now thought she will get along all right, but several weeks will be required before she will be able to return home. x uTEN MILE RUN. Made in One Hour and Twenty Minutes. The trip to Preble, which was made Monday evening by several young 1 men of this city to see what time the distance of five miles could be made in, and upon which several small bets had been posted against the time , which had been stated that it could be I made in, was finished in one hour and twenty minutes. Frank Lose, Fred Schurger and Charles Lose were i the contestants who took part, and I they started shortly after 8 o’clock. The former kept on a steady trot, and i completed the course in the time stated, while the other two failed to keep 1 up and required thirty minutes long- i er to make the trip. They entered . Preble, signed at the appointed head- < quarters and Immediately returned. The distance of ten miles was made In an average of eight minutes to the i mile, whiefi is considered by local 1 time keepers to be a pretty good gait, i but an effort will be made in the near < future to make it In better time still.

ASK GOVERNMENT Farmers of Four Counties May Ask Government to Build Canal. COST HALF MILLION But to Divert the Traffic Through This Part is Worth That Much. Additional information concerning the meeting to be held by the commissioners, property owners and farmers of the four counties in, which the head waters of the St. Mary s river He, in relation to the matter of dredging the river as far as the state line, is at hand. The meeting is to be held iu the open air at the scene of the junction of the L. E. & W. IL R- and the St. Maryte river near the spot where the canal crosses the river, and the spot where the lock wHI have to be .constructed if the project is carried through. At the meeting the advisability of asking the government or the state of Ohio to undertake the completion of the work will be discussed and some definite action will be taken. At a cost of half a million dollars this improvement can be consummated and paying proposition for years to come firmly established in our midst, giving to us trade from the various which will use the river as a conveyance to reach the New York and Chicago canal. This cost may have to be bourne by the taxpayers, but if the government can be prevailed upon to undertake the work the cost will be bourne by it. Just what action will be taken cannot be determined until May 16th. and the outcome of the conference will be watched with interest by the many merchants along the line who are affected by the improvement. MENTZER HAD SINKING SPELL. Nathaniel Mentzer, who sustained a stioke of paralysis a few days ago suffered this morning from some heart weakness. His condition was rather' alarming for a time. His condition this afternoon is as it has been for several days and is regarded as very serious.—Bluffton News. THE TENTH ANNUAL State Convention of K. of C. Closed at Richmond Last Night. OFFICERS ELECTED Indianapolis Chosen as Next Meeting Place— Members Attend. Rev. H. T. Wilken, Dan Niblick, Charles Niblick and Dr. H. F. Costello, the last two being delegates from the local council of the Knights of Columbus, returned Tuesday evening from the tenth annual state convention which was held at Richmond Monday and Tuesday. They report a most excellent meeting. Indianapolis was chosen as tne place of the next meeting, practically without opposition. One of the chief matters of the closing was the election of officers as follows: William Fox, Indianapolis, deputy: William V. O’Donnell, Columbus, secretary: Lewis F. Miller, Vincennes, treasurer; Father J. W. Cronin. Rushville, chaplain: Charles B. Cronin, Peru, advocate. Delegates to the national convention to be held at Detroit August Ist, Charles Dunn of Richmond, John J. Johnson of Kokomo and Dr. E. J. McOscar of Fort Wayne. M. S. Artman, who has been quite sick with a severe cold and other ailments, bordering on pneumonia, is still confined to his bed at the home of his son, A. D. Artman, on North Third street.

WILL HELP CELEBRATE. Huntngton, Ind., May 10—To prepare for a grand Fourth of July celebration, In which Kll-so-quah, the fam ous Jackson township Indian woman, will be the principal figure of attraction, Red Men of this city will hold an important meeting Tuesday evening. An effort will be made to induce the venerable Indian dame to come to Huntington on Independence da.v of 1911 that the celebration here may be made as big and even bigger than the memorable event of 1910, when the eyes of the entire state were upon Roanoke. Though Kil-so-quah will then be well toward the 100 year taark, it is thought her Infirmities vylll not be so great but that she may again participate in the gala festivities to which she and the day of Independence will be jointly honored. changein crews Made on Interurban Cars With Changing to TwoHour Schedule. FORCE DECREASED Three Crews Instead of Four —One Runs Between Here and Monmouth. I With the changing today of the hour and a half schedule to two hours, on the Fort Wayne & Springfield railway, making nine runs instead of eleven as heretofore, came a reduction of the crews of the cars, making three crews instead of the four, besides the freight car crew, which remains unchanged. The announcement of the change was made at a meeting of the interurban employees held Tuesday evening at the interurban building, by John Koenig, president and general manager of the road. The change to the two-hour schedule was made because of the greater time that it takes in making .the round trip from here to Fort Wayne byway of Broadway street. Ft. Wayne, since the closing of Calhoun street on account of the improvement being made Z there. The round trip by way of Broadway takes two hours and fifteen minutes. To aid in making the reduction of fifteen minutes, crew two will take their car from this city to Monmouth to meet the incoming car from Fort Wayne. Crew two will ;hen return with the passengers from I the Fort Wayne car met there, and the Fort Wayne crew will return to I Fort Wayne from Monmouth. It is 1 thought that this will succeed in makI ing the trip within the limited time. The crews are as follows: Crew No. 1, Henry Kruel, motorman; C. L. Meibers, conductor; crew No. 2, Ed Beery, motorman; Edgar Gerber, conductor; crew No. 3, Homer Ruhl, motorman; Ed' Green, conductor. The freight crew remains unchanged, Louis Sheiman and August Greisinger being in charge. The car that will operate between here and Monmouth will be manned by .Ed Beery and Edgar Gerber, who will make the runs the entire day. They will not be obliged to work the entire time, however, as they will be given about an hour at the car barn between each run. The morning crew, running between Fort Wayne and Monmouth will comprise Henry Kruel and C. L. Meibers, while the afternoon crew, beginning at 1:30 o’clock, wili be Homer Ruhl and Ed Green. D. H. Hunsicker, who has been serving faithfully and well, has asked and been 1 granted a thirty days’ leave of absence. .— o POCAHONTAS CHICKEN DINNER. — The Pocahontas lodge will give a chicken pot-pie dinner and supper Thursday in the building south of the interurban building, formerly occupied by the Bowers millinery store. Dinner will be twenty-five cents and supper fifteen cents. The following menu, including all that goes with a dinner; will be served: Chicken Pot-Pie Mashed Potatoes Gravy Scalloped Corn Pickles Potato Salad Pie Coffee Bread Butter Jelly i o True Daugherty, son of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Daugherty of near Berne, will graduate this spring from the electrical engineering department of Purdue university.

Price, Two Cent!

COURT HOUSE NEWS Ft, Wayne Mary Maloley is Defendant in Suit Sent Here From, THE ALLEN SUPERIOR Appearances Entered in Several Cases—Marriage License Issued. Inventory number one, in the Samuel Shell estate, was filed by William Huffman, administrator, and approved by the court. , t'pon petition for change of order of sale, the order for private sale of real estate in the partition suit of Laura A. Van Camp vs. Charles VanCamp et al., was vacated and the sale ordered to be public, at not less than two-thirds of the appraisement, after four weeks' notice by publication and posting. Terms, one-third cash, onethird in one, and one third in two years, with mortgage and personal security, privilege given purchaser to pay all cash. A petition for order to pay sewer lien on the real estate known as the Lynch property, filed by the commissioner, was sustained, and he was ordered to pay the same. Martha A. Buffenbarger vs. Henry Buffenbarger. divorce, appearance by Peterson & Moran for the plaintiff. Catherine Schneider vs. Catherine Schafer, partition, proof of publication and posting filed, also appraisement. Report of sale of real estate filed, approved, sale confirmed, deed ordered, reported and approved. Edward A. Kirchner vs. Bertha Kirchner, possession of real estate and damages, appearance by Peterson & Moran for defendant. Rule to answer. Minerva A. Meyers et al. vs. George Chronister et al., partition, appearance by D. E. Smith for George Chronister. An interesting case from the Allen superior court on change of venue was received today in the Adams circuit court, being entitled Samson and Allan M. Hirsh vs. Mary Maloley, Elizabeth and Lizzie Boshara and Antorius Ariddr, on account for merchandise, demand S6OO. It will be remembered that Mary Maloley is the foreign woman, w’hose traffic and catering to the underworld of Fort Wayn« was uncovered during the recent raio upon and wiping out of the red light district of Fort Wayne. Chauncey F. Lautzenheiser of Berne filed a new suit in the Adams circuit court, entitled Studebaker Bros. Co. vs. Julius C. and Charles C. Schug and Everett-Metzgar-Flanders Co., on account, S2OO. A marriage license was issued yesterday afternoon to Henry Vian, 28, cigar maker, son of John and Agnes Vian, to wed Minnie Sether, 32, daughter of Mathias and Margaret Sether. Letters of administration were granted to Rebecca Eady in the mat ter of the estate of her late husband, Jacob Eady. j Real estate transfers: Trustees Reiter encampment, No. 214, to Wm. D. Hoffman, lot 23, Decatur cemetery, quit claim deed, S6O; Elizabeth MeBarnes et al. to Frederick Bender. 20 acres, St. Mary’s tp., quit claim deed, $1; Lyman R. Blossom to Frederick Bender, 20 acres, St. Mary’s tp., quit claim deed, sl. t WANTS RUMOR DENIED. Editor Daily Democrat: Dear Sir: —I wish to say, through the columns of The Daily Democrat, that the talk that those people of South Bend, who formerly lived in Decatur, started about me leaving my wife, is all false, and not one word of truth in it. My wife and I have had no trouble, whatever, and furthermore there has been no reason for such talk. LLOYD E. RITTER, South Bend. Ind. Mrs. Beach, a trained nurse from Hope hospital, Fort Wayne, arrived this morning to care for Mrs. Walters, living near this city, who is suffering from inflammatory rheumatism.