Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 301, Decatur, Adams County, 26 December 1911 — Page 1

Volume IX. Number 301.

WAS CLOSE CALL ■ I 11. ■■■* Erie Train Hits Bus Saturday Night Completely Demolishing It. r 1 driver d. spencer t Thrown from Seat and Badly Bruised —Ira Oswalt, in Bus, Was Uninjured. What perhaps might have meant death to Dent Spencer, night bus man of the Fashion Stables, and Ira Oswalt, a passenger to his home in the south part of the city was the accident which- occured late Saturday night, when in passing over the Erie tracks, at Winchester street, they were struck by what is called a "light” mode up of an engine and tender, which backed upon them without the least warning. The driver, with the large black day bus, was on his Way to meet the Commercial traveler, westbound Clovei Leaf train, which was twenty-five minutes late, it being 10:10 p. m., when the accident occurred. A freight train i westbound, on its way to Huntington, had just passed the Winchester street crossing, stopping but a short distance on the west side, it being signaled at the tower to stop. Following it closely in the rear was the "light,” which also was on its way westward, it also stopping after having passed the crossing but a few feet It being very dark, when the driver, Mr. Spencer reached the dangerous spot, and so much so that he was unable to see or hear the approaching train, which backed onto him. When on the track the driver saw the immediate danger and at once pulled the lines on his team in a southeastwardly direction, toward the freight house. However, he was unable to avoid the crash by getting off the track and the rear part of the bus was caught and shoved eastward for some distance, until becoming caught on a tie and overthrown, being completely demolished. In the mix-up Mr. Spencer was thrown from his high seat with great force. The train crew, being then aware of an accident, brought the engine to a stop and at once went to the scene of the smashup. Mr. Spencer was at once picked up and carried to the Erie depot, where he was believed to be seriously injur ed, and a physician was summoned. Others went to the wrecked bus and where they found Mr. Oswalt, who owing to his badly crippled condition from rheumatism, was unable to help himself. He was pulled from the, wreckage without a scar or hurt. Upon the arrival of the doctor it was learned that the driver received only a severe Shake-up and several bruises, but no other injuries. The horses which were drawing the vehicle became locseaed and were uninjured. It is also considered lucky that they were not returning from the train, as It most generally, furnishes a number of Passengers and who perhaps would have met with serious injury, if not death itself. The cause of the accident, it is said, does not lie in the fault Os the driver in the least, as he was not signalled in any way, to guard against the danger into which he was ad'ancing. That Mr. Oswalt escaped without any injury is considered miraculous. The loss of the bus will run into hundreds of dollars, as' it is a complete\wrJck, was still in an ex j cellent condition previous to the udshtp. The cost when new was 11,450. — —-o - CHRISTMAS IN CHURCHES. C hristmas was celebrated In all the churches Sunday and all the programs in which the children were the chief participants, were given as published, being without doubt the best and happiest occasions of the year. Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and all the splendid material things that go with i *be Christmas tide, not forgetting a iceat for each one, was in order, together with the speeches, songs and lessons of a spiritual nature, fostering the love of and remembrance for this great natal day. j „... —— MRS. MERSMAN BETTER. Mrs. William Nrc-rsman, an elderly lady of North Second street, who last Week, just as she was leaving the house to come to the city to do some •hopping, Jell on the icy boards, sprain lag her wrist severely, and necessitating the use of a sling, is getting along Bicely.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

J. R. WATKINS DEAD. President and Owner of the Great Watkins Medical Company. Charles Dutm, secretary-treasurer of the .1. R. Watkins Medical company for the state of Indiana, received word Monday evening from Mr. N. O. Turner of Muncie, informing him of the death of Mr. J. R. Watkins, president and owner of the great establishment, which is spread throughout the United States. No particulars concerning his death were given, but Mr. Dunn awaits news at any time, when more concerning his demise will be given. The exact time of the death is unknown, but is said to have occurred in Jamaica, while on a wedding trip. A GREAT CAMPAIGN The Fife Brothers’ Evangel-, istic Company Will Open Revival at CHRISTIAN CHURCH Tomorrow Evening—Evangelists and Musicians in Company. The great evangelistic campaign, I looked forward to for several months, will be opened Wednesday evening at . the Christian church by the Fife Brothers’ Evangelistic company of Kansas City, Mo. The company in-, eludes Clyde Lee Fife, evangelist, his 1 two brothers and a sister, who also assist him in the evangelistic work as well as the music, both vocal and instrumental, the company carrying with it an orchestra. Mr. Clyde Lee Fife is a tenor and violinist; Miss Nellie Fife, contralto and accompany.sellie Fife, contralto and accompanist; Robert S. Fife, basso and trombonist, and Earl H. Fife, tenor, cornetist and trap drummer. The com- ; pany which has also included the fa- , thcr, Roger Fife, who recently was obliged to retire and accept a charge to make a home for a widowed daughter, who became ill, and was unable to accompany the company on its trip, has just completed a most successful revival at Huntington, with many converts, and the campaign in this city will undoubtedly be one ot the greatest ones in the church history of the city. The services will begin , every evening at 7:30 o’clock, beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, December 27th. The public is cordially ini vited to attend. I <> MR. NACHTRIEB HAS SOLD FARM. Cleaned Up a Nice Profit and May Return to Decatur, Says Postal. The following interesting item of news was written on a postal received at this office Christmas Day: Hudson. Mich., Dec. 22. "Sold out, bag and baggage —have no more farm than a rabbit. Cleaned up a nice profit. I may be back and sell I early risers again. Merry Christmas. “W H. NACHTRIEB." The Nachtriob family left here about two years ago and their many friends | will be glad to hear of the fact that they have sold out at a profit and that 1 there is a chance of their again be--1 coming residents here UNION MEETING. i The union which was recently organI i zed will hold ym final organization greeting Wednesday evening in the harness makers' hall, at which time • the organizer from the Fort Wayne unJ inn w m be present and take charge of I the meeting. It is intended to organ 1 ize the local union as a part of th" I State Federation of Labor and considI ereble effort is being made to secure a large enrollment. A misunderstand- ' ing is thought to be generally prevai lent concerning the admittance. Any 1 O ne who labors in any trade or profession or for wages is eligible for mem ,'bership. Any who wish to enroll as I charter members should be present at 1 the meeting tomorrow night. DEATH of INFANTS. I The funeral for the Infant child of i Mr and Mrs. John Meyers, of south- ' I west of the city, which died shortly i aft er its birth Sunday evening *as held this afternoon at 1:30 octo ' f roTn the St. Mary’s church, with in I '! terment at the St. Joseph’s cemetery.

BACK NUMBERS Five Log School Houses Maintained in Indiana— Total Number of SCHOOL BUILDINGS In State is 9,191—0 f This Number Adams County Has Ninety-one. There still are five log school j houses in use in Indiana. Clark coun tty maintains two of them One is in | Daviess county, one in Dubois county I and one in Harrison county. Figures compiled in the office of Charles A Greathouse, state superintendent of public instruction, show that at the close of the school year of 1910-1911 there were 3,191 school houses in use in the state. During the previous year there were 9,284 and the discrepency is accounted for by the officials in Mr. Greathouse's office by the argument that the preseat system of centralizing township schools has caused many buildings formerly used to be abandoned. Brick bulidings predominate in Indiana. 4,795 of them having been in use during the last year. Next are those of frame construction, which number 4,262. Stone buildings, num I bering eighty-four were in use and forty five concrete structures had been used as schools. The total number of school buildings in towns of the state during the last year was 271, and the year before 274 such structures were reported. In 1910-1911, 8,322 township buildings were in operation, while in 1909-1910 there were 8,442 such buildings being occupied. City school buildings numbering 604 yere reported last year i against 567 the year before. Os the total number of school j houses occupied in the state, Adams county has 91; Allen. 192; Jay, 110; Randolph, 115; Wells, 99: Blackford, ' 51; Huntington, 116. FOR AUTO OWNERS The Vulcanizing Plant Now Being Built Will Save Time and Money. ONLY ONE HERE . The Plant is the Result of 1 Weeks of Work by Harry Watson. I ’■ ) I Automobile owners of Decatur and vicinity will be glad to hear that in the course of two "r three weeks a ste.-ui vulcanizing ptor-t will be in op ’ t eration in this city. For some time > past Harry Watson, the proprietor of ; the local garage, has been working on t patterns for a steam vulcanizing plant ■ of his own idea, and will have the same in operation in a short time. The patterns or dies are now being cast by a foundry, and i|i the meantime all else is being made ready. - When in working order it will be the i! means of saving considerable time ..and money io local automobile owners a8 heretofore it has been neces-. ■ sary to send the work to Fort Wayne; I , and other places, ami await the return , -before the cars could be used. Now > when vulcanizing is necessary it will be only a wait of a very few hours. . vulcanizing is the art of sweating or . fusing a patch on a rubber tire, fus- . ing both the old and the new into one solid fabric. This is the only known wav to successfully patch a large heavy tire, and the local plant will be ; assured the custom of the autolstsof, this vicinity. The plant of Mr. Watson will take any tire from the size of. the small bicycle tire to the largest automobile tire manufactured. -—. — i CARD OF THANKS. r s . F. Campbell desires in this way | to thank his many friends for their ■ kindness and help during the sickness I ami death of his beloved wife.

Decatur. Ind.Tuesday Evening, December 26, 1911

'l FIFTY-THREE SUNDAYS. , Has the Year 1911— First in Twentyeight Years. i 5 Washington, D. C„ Dec. 26- Sunday • I was the fifty-second Sunday in the year, and though there are only fifty-, two weeks in a year, according to the ordinary reckoning, there is still one , mors Sunday in 1911. \ How there happens to he fifty-three ' Sundays in the year was explained by Father Martin S. Brennan, the astron--5 omer, when ne pointed out that first and the last days of the year are both Sundays. There being fifty-two weeks and one day in each ordinary, year, there is room for fifty-three Sun-' days when the first and last days are j Sabbaths. In 1939, twenty-eight, years hence, it will happen again, and the 1 same thing occurred twenty-eight n years ago. The period of twenty-eight y years is a solar cycle and in years a a cycle apart the days of the week and month conform, so that a calendar which is twenty-eight years old will 1 answer many of the purposes of one , e that is up to date. ’’ . POLICE COURT NEWS. I ' Lloyd Schnepp was arrested late l y Saturday night on a plain drunk n charge and as he pleaded ror jmmedii. ate trial the police called Justice stone out of bed and the trial was iheld in his office. Schnepp drew a 1 dollar and costs and stayed the dock--9 et. ■ 1 ■ | Harley Roop was arrested Saturday 1 night on a plain drunk charge and ‘ Monday morning drew a dollar and 1 costs. 1 Some trouble that is possibly not 1 yet settled came to the notice of the police Saturday night, when z Charles > Johnson, late from Canada, was found t in an alley with his throat cut someJ what and money gone. He was 1 braced up and told that the trouble ’ was started in a saloon and later he l was conducted to the alley, where he > was relieved of his money and assaulted. Johnson says he knows the parties and will file affidavits. ERIE MIX-UP. i About 2 o'clock (Saturday night a ■ mix-up occurred on one of the passing tracks of the Erie in the west part of town that looked bad for a short while. : The freight under the care of Conduc-1 I tor Burdge was standing on the third track awaiting a clear block, when i another engine, No. 1772, in charge of ■ Engineer Yeater, was run in on the same siding. On account of the large ■ steam exhaust he could not see the i lights of the caboose and crashed into I !it while running about fifteen miles ■ j per hour. One of the brakemen who | ' was in the caboose, was thrown from his bunk and it is said had three ribs , broken. The caboose was pushed forI ward, crushing a flat car which stood lin front of it. The flat car was brok-1 en in the center and the ragged ends ! pushed up in the air. The crash was j ' heard by many of the residents of the - immediate vicinity and a crowd soon ‘ ' collected. Early Sunday the track was : again cleared. NEW BABY GIRL. Announcement of the birth of a baby girl to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hind- ■ man of Kendallville on last Friday will be received here with pleasure by their many friends. Mrs. Hind- < man was Miss Nettie Smith before her marriage. Her sister, Mrs. Charles Christen, who returned Friday evening from Kendallville, left again this morning with her daughters, ticrninine and Bornardine, for Kendallville, where they will visit with the Hindmans and with another sister, Mrs. John Wilson. ( NO IMPROVEMENT SHOWN. I Word from the Pullifian hospital in Chicago in which John Steele is a patient, is that he shows no improvement, the card being written yesterday. He is reported as being very weak, and having no appetite. There is a slight chance for recovery, the physicians and nurse state, if no complications arise. - <V — — 1 " — BASKET BALL. Next Saturday night the Decatur . Hoosiers will play the St. Joe team, ' from Renssalaer, Ind., at the Porter •hall at 8:30. The local boys have ■ practiced hard to get in shape and are ] confident that they will carry off the honors. An of twenty-five ' cents will be charged and a fast game is assured.

NOVEL INVENTION George Roop Secures Patent on Grain Retainer—Best of Its Kind i IN UNITED STATES ■— Will Push the Manufacture and the Placing of Same on the Market. George Roop, a veteran shoemaker of the city, for five years employed in the repair department of the Winner shoe store, resigned Saturday evening that he might have more time to a’, tend to the manufacture and the placing on the market of u novel and use ful invention of his on which he has I secured a patent, and w hich is said . authorities to be the best of its kind in ’ the United Sta'es. The patent depart ' ment of the United States designates J the patent as "grain retainer,” but it is not restricted to grain alone, being used in retaining vegetables, fruit, etc., of all kinds. The retainer, which will be made of galvanized iron, is cylindrical in shape. The frame work will be. of the iron meta) in solid form, while the sides will be of galvanized iron screening, The cylinders will be of ' different capacity, holding from one to four bushels. The great advantage in keeping products in these retainers is that they are made so that the contents will be wholly beyond the reach of mice, spiders, flies or other things which find easy access to the products kept in ordinary bushel measures or loose storage. The new invention is the only one of its kind in the United States, and many grocers and other dealers in farm or garden products are very eager for the use of Mr. Roop’s invention. Mr. Roop expects to have the retainers manufactured in this city and they will probably be on the market within ten days. It is expected that the manufacturing plant will employ many hands and will probably grow to be one of the big industries of the city, as it is the intention of Mr. Roop to push the man ufacture to the utmost. A FALSE ALARM I Railroad Switch Light Shining on Tin Wall of Niblick Grain Elevator FRIGHTENED VIEWER Who Called Out Fire Department Early SundayVery Realistic. The light from the G. R & I. railroad switch just across the track, shining on tne wall of the Niblick grain i elevator early Sunday morning, between 4 and 5 o’clock, gave such a i realistic appearance of fire to a restdent of that vicinity that he called out j the fire department thinking the elevator was on fire. Tho fire depart-, ment made the run, with all possible j speed and when they came in sight of; the spectacle were convinced that ■< i strong battre was ahead of them foi the entire side of the building seemed to be a mass of blaze. To add to the reality of the affair there came a sound 1 as of the tin walls cracking with the heat. Upon arriving closer, however, they found the light to be the reflection from tho switch and the heat crackling sound to be caused by drops of water falling from the roof The members of the fire department state that the person sending in the alarm was in no way to be blamed, at it was. very realistic. MR. COLCHIN IMPROVES. Word from the bedside of Mr. Nicholas Coichtn, who on last Wednesdayevening suffered a stroke of paralysis, and left in a very serious condition, is steadily improving, and unless something unforeseen sets in he will in i few weeks enjoy his former health. He is able to use the affected limbs bettei than at first, and has the free use o: speech. A speedy recovery ie wlshei for him by his many friends.

DATE IS CHANGEDi. K. of P. District Meeting Will be Held February 21st. Bluffton. Ind., Dec. 26—A. R. Huy ette of this city, district reputy of the Knights of Pythias lodge, announced that the district meeting, which will be held at Decatur, will be held on February 21st instead of the twenty-ninth of that montn, as first announced. The change of dates was made to conform better with the dates of other district meetings, which grand officers will attend. The district includes, Wells. Adams, Blackford and Jay counties, in all, about twenty lodges. COURTHOUSE NEWS Kirchner Trial Was Resumed Today After ChristJ I i mas Vacation. 1 1 WM. SCHWARTZ’ WILL t , Objections to Probate Thereof Will be Filed—Hallock J Wants Divorce. ■ w > J. W. Teeple Is attorney for Susie 1 Hallock, who has filed a divorce suit 1 against Fred J. Hallock. They were 1 married April 19, 1909, she recites, i and lived together until June 22, 1911, i when she left him at Lansing, .Mich., because of cruel treatment and failure ’ to provide, although he was earning $2 . per day. On the night before she left i him, she says in her affidavit,- he cursed and swore at ner, struck her two ' or three times, and gritted his teeth at her, threatening to kill her. She says he represented to her when they were married that he had never been married before, and that she afterwards learned that he had been married and had abandoned his family, his wife being granted a divorce. One child, Andrew Jackson, who will be two years old next March 4th, has been born to them, and she asks the custody of the child, with ten dollars per month for its support, and SSOO alimony, besides the divorce. Marriage licenses: Bertha Smith, born November 17, 1891, daughter of Jesse O. and Laura Smith, to wed Alvy Buffenbarger, laundryman, born November 20, 1890, son of John Buffenbarger. Marriage licenses: Grace A. Coftelt, i born Feb-uary 8, 1893, employee glove ; factory, daughter of Henry and Margaret Coftelt, to wed Elmer A. Tricker, machinist, born March 3, 1890, son of Emanuel and Lizzie Tricker; Velma Ethel Porter, born November 7, 1883, daughter of John R. and Belle Porter, to wed High Hiram McGill, born January 1, 1884, blacksmith, of Wren, Ohio, son of Charles and Katie McGill. The will of the late William I Schwartz, the bachelor, residing south of Monroe, whose death occurred last j Wednesday, was brought to the counity clerk’s office this morning for proi bate by Dr. Reusser of Berne, one of i the witnesses ot the will, but owing to '' the fact that objections will be filed ; ; soon by relatives of the testator, the , j will was not admitted to probate toray. It is said that the will will be i strongly contested and it is quite like ly that a jury case will result thereI from. . 1 After a Christmas vacation court 1 again resumed this morning, continuing the Kirchner trial. The trial will i probably not be finished before P’ri ■ day. > - - i LAST MEETING. >— — — The trustees of the Decatur Ceme tery association held the last meeting of the fiscal year at the office of Jus tice Stone this afternoon at 2 o'clock - attending to much business that cam r up. The next meeting will be held a i, the same office on January 4th. 8 | INTERURBAN DIRECTORS MEE a e The directors of the FoH. Wayne ;r Springfield railway company held th< >f regular monthly business meeting S id urday/afternoon at 4 o’clock, routi * matters coming up before them

Price, Two Cents

YULE-TIDE KNOTS Bertha Smith and Alvey Buffenbarger Plight Their Nuptial Vows. CHRISTMAS WEDDING Unites Lives of H. H. McGill and Miss Velma Porter— Coffelt-Tricker. Sunday evening at 6 o’clock at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Smith, occurred the wedding of their daughter, Miss Bertha Smith, to Mr. Alva Buffenbarger, son of Mr and Mrs, John Buffenbarger The Rev. R. L. Semans solemnized I *ne wedding in the presence of the near relatives of both parties, and a few Mends, the party including the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Buffenbarger, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Beatty, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Weaver, Miss Rosa Hoffman. The bride was very pretty in her costume of old rose satin. made in the prevailing style with the nigh waist-line, and panel back, <t.miuiings of old rose and beads. After receiving the best wishes of the company, a sumptuous wedding supper was served. The dining room was decorated in pink and white and the centerpiece of the table was a pretty arrangement of fruit, while another special feature was the white wedding cake. The parlor and living rooms were given over to the Christmas'colors of red and green. The bride and groom will make their home on Seventh street, where they had their home furnished in advance. The bride is a young lady, very popular in her circle which includes many friends, as is also the groom. Mr. Buffenbarger is as employee of the Decatur steam laundry. The many friends of the young couple will be surprised to hear of the wedding of Miss Velma Porter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Porter of this city, to Mr H H. McGill of Wren, Ohio, which was solemnized yesterday at 12:30 o’clock by the Rev. D. O. Wise of the Evangelical church at the parsonage. The wedding was a very quiet one, there being no attendants. Mr. and Mrs. McGill will make their home at Wren, Ohio, where the groom is a well known blacksmith. Miss Porter is a lovable young lady, whose womanly attributes have won friends for her of all acquaintances, and the groom is an exemplary young man, known to many here where he has often visit(ed. Mr. McGill returned this morning j to Wren, Ohio, to attend to his business affairs there, while Mrs. McGill will remain here until the latter part of the week. Saturday evening at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Wolf, of Bluffton, took place the marriage of Miss Marv Wolf to Mr. Henry Yake, a son of Herman Yake, of Adams county. The bride has been employed as cashier at the Bank of Tocsin. The groom is a farmer. PYTHIAN SISTERS’ ENTERTAINMENT The Pythian Sisters will give an enI I tertainment at the Pythian Home Friday evening, to which everyone is invited. No admission will be charged , and you are sure to enjoy yourself. Be sure to attend. At this time/the beautiful big doll will be voted to the most popular little girl in town and tho comforter will be awarded to some one. Don’t overlook this. — o A BASKET BALL CHALLENGE. 1 Ft. Wayne, lud., Dec. 26, ’ll. Mr. Editor: Dear Sir —We have organized a basket ball team in our city and would like to know If you can put us in e- position to communicate with or ig your local teams. Anything - .*' s- do about this matter will k, elated by us. Yours tiw ne RAMBLER BASKUj® at D. R. Raffe, Manai,dghts aey will on j* iT. e will now be I > Eiectr ■ ' e 108. ■ & and ” j . Sa'