Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 11, Number 75, Decatur, Adams County, 28 March 1913 — Page 1

[Volume XI. Number 75.

bun Breaks Through Clouds and Smiles on the Ruins of a Score of Cities in Ohio and Indiana

OHIO SUFFERS KEENLY GOT “J ™ E

| Zanesville Has List of Dead and I is Shut Off-Relief Work in Progress I at Dayton and Columbus

Dayton, Ohio. Mar. 28-(Special to | Daily Democrat)—The dawn of the I fifth day of Daytons great flood showed the first clear skies for a k week. The waters are receding and ■ large areas are dry enough to permit ■ travel. Many persons marooned ia I business houses and homes were resI cued this morning and taken to places ■ of safety. The down-town streets I were again alive, the people happy | that they were still alive, but most I of them hungry and some almost starved. Everywhere are heard api peals for food and in some instances cases of robbery are reported where exhorbitant prices are charged for food. An air of holiday prevails, and it is a common circumstance to see people hugging friends they have found and crying in joy. Last night after the rescuers had been stopped by darkness the fire which had burned itself out, broke out in another district and this morning the big plant of the George Bates company, a plat i ing manufacturing concern, is being I destroyed. Hundreds of people have I been taken from that section of the city, to safer portions, and it is believed that no further loss of life will result. Every building in south Dayton is crowded with refugees and many are being cared for In private homes. Columbus, Ohio ,Mar. 28—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Hundreds are undoubtedly dead today as the result of the Waters which overflowed the banks of the Miami, Muskingon and other rivers in this part of Ohio. The waters are subsiding and the results will total even more than the first reports which many believed bad been exaggerated. The property loss will reach at least one hundred million dollars. With the rescue work fairly begun in this city, thirty bodies have been recovered and the number is growing hourly. Columbus was thronged this morning with frantic men who reached here from Cleveland, all striving to get to their families in Columbus, Dayton, or some other flood-stricken city. Zanesville was the center of the most concern today, being cut off from communication . with this city. It is reported that 150 > are dead there and hundreds are ; starving. 1 1 Huntington, Ind, Mar. 28—(Special to Dally Democrat) —A ton of dynamite, stored In a small building, be- 1 longing to the Markle Stone company, 1 and located near that place, was un- < dermlned last night and slipped into 1 the Wabash river. It is now floating ■ down stream and when last seen was j 1 Six miles west of Markle. It is feared ( i an explosion may result when it 1 strikes an obstruction. The water In I the Wabash river has fallen two feet since last night, a total of four feet t from high mark. Little river rose six < inches last night and is still rising. ' The loss in Huntington county will to- f tai 175,000. Five bridges have been t washed out, 1 Huntington, Ind, Mar. 28—(Special

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

to Daily Democrat)—Three car loads of oil, provisions and prepared food were this morning sent from here to 1 eru over the Wabash tracks. Dr. Fry, the county health physician, is in charge. Among those drowned at Peru was John Volmer, of this city. 1 he conditions at Peru are much tetter than yesterday, and the rescue work is about complete. Many people supposed to have been drowned were rescued. The worst part of the flood was in south Peru. Fifteen bodies are in the morgue there and a number of others are scattered about the city. The loss of life will not be as large as first reported and may not exceed fifty. — ■ ■ " t Cincinnati, Ohio, Mar. 28—(Special to Daily Democrat)—l%iis city is beginning to suffer from the floods which have swept Ohio and Indiana | for several days. Today the water in .the Ohio river here stood 69.8 feet 'and was rising rapidly. Much damage | is reported and grave fears for tomorI row are entertained. Bluffton, Ind, Mar. 28—(Special to Daily Democrat)—This city enjoyed electric lights last night after being in darkness several nights. The waters here are receding rapidly and the people who were driven from their homes are returning today. The loss is big, but no estimate has been given out. Vincennes, Ind, Mar. 28—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The Wabash river is on a wild rampage here and the damage reported up to this time will amount to several hundred thousand dollars. Several lives have been lost and a number of families are in danger. The river is rising each hour. (United Press Service, 2:30 p. m.) Indianapolis, Ind, Mar. 28—(Specia Ito Daily Democrat)—The fight to relieve the flood conditions In central and northern Indiana won today, but along the lower end of the Wabash where the floods have just reached the crest, the results are doubtful. Not one of the tens of thousands of refugees in the various cities suffered for lack of food, water and attention today, according to reports from Fort Wayne, Peru, Logansport, Lafayette, Kokomo, Martinsville, Indianapolis, ’Shelbyville and a score of other 'places. With partial communication restored the first direct word was received today from Peru, stating that' i the situation there was greatly exaggerated by the first reports. While ' the exact number of dead Is unknown it may not exceed fifty. Relief reached there today from half a dozen cities. Franklin county was the hardest hit, where Brookville and several small towns were partially or wholly wiped out. The total loss there is estimated at fifty- Relief is reaching the stricken from Connersville and other nearby cities. The situation is encouraging. In Indianapolis a perfect organization has cared for 2,000 refuCONTIN” HR? O* FAGfIJ THREE 1

“DECATUR CAN AND WILL”

Decatur, Indiana. Friday Evening, March 28, 1913,

Warren Buckmaster and His Bride From Columbus, Arrived Just Ahead OF THE FLOODS Went to Vera Cruz Today to Visit—Bride Miss Bertha Patterson No one in the city, perhaps, has more reason to be thankful, than Warren Buckmaster and his bride, who was Miss Bertha Patterson, of Columbus, Ohio. They arrived here Monday just ahead of the floods that might have meant death or untold suffering had they been delayed along the way. They left today for Vera Cruz, where they will visit with his sister, Mrs. C. L. Oliver, and will also join his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Buckmaster, who have been held there since last Friday, when they went to visit. Warren left a week ago last Sunday for Columbus, and was there married on last Friday night, to Miss Patterson, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Patterson, by the Rev. Right, of the M. E. Church. Miss Patterson is an estimable young lady well known here, being a relative of Mrs. Jacob Meyers, whom she has visited. Mr. Buckmaster intends to build a new home at the corner of Eleventh and Madison streets, as soon as he can make arrangements for the same. He intends to move a house thereon and build to it and nicely remodel the whole. He is an employee of the General Delivery Company, and is an excellent young man. All good wishes are given in abundance. While no communication can be had with her parents in Columbus, Mrs. Buckmaster feels assurance of their safty as they reside on the east side. A CLOSE SHAVE Front of Charles Garard’s Auto Cut Off by Eighteenhour Flyer. • ON PENNSY RAILROAD At Gary—Occupants of Car Thrown Under Auto— Watchman Asleep. The Al Garard family has heard of the very narrow escape which his son, Charles, of Gary, had a week ago today. Ho conducts a garage there, as well as having the agency for an automobile. He was demonstrating the machine to prospective buyers, a man and wife, and had the''(wo out riding last Friday afternoon, teaching them to operate the machine. The watchman was asleep at the open gates when Charles ran the machine into the 18 hour Pennsylvania flyer which cut off the front end of the automobile without very much ado. The occupants were thrown out under the car. Charles was bruised on the head and the lady had her right arm broken. The hood of the automobile was carried three squares on the pilot of the engine. UNCLE HEZEKIAH OBSERVES, Sum folks stops t’ Agger how deep th’ undertaker ud hev t’ dive t’ git their bodies if th’ flood ud git ’em; uthers lite out fer th’ high places. — . Mrs. James Bain was pleased to learn by telephone that her nephew, Jaek McFeeley, and family were beyond the floods at Fort Wayne.

************* |s * WARNING TO CITIZENS. * * — * * On account of the present flood * * conditions throughout the state, * * the necessity of boiling water * * used for drinking purposes is * * most urgent. This applies equal- * * ly to all .public water supplies * * and to wells. Health officers are * * requested and urged to use their * * utmost endeavor to impress upon * * the people of their communities * * the Importance of this precau- * * tion: BOIL ALL WATER USED * * FOR DRINK, NO MATTER * * WHAT ITS SOURCE, not only * * while present flood conditions * * prevail, but afterwards and until * * assured that the water supply Is * * safe. A widespread outbreak and * * epidemic of typhoid fever and * * diarrhoeal diseases is sure to * i * follow In the wake of the flood * * unless this precaution is strictly * * served. * * STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. * **************

HAS BLOOD POISON Fred Schafer, Well Known Hardware Merchant, Suffers a Severe Case BEGAN WEEK AGO «* !-.• •**. — — From Small Abrasion of Skin of Left Leg—Lancing Necessary Fred Schafer, the well known hardware merchant, is suffering from a very bad case of blood poison. It started about a week ago from a small ■abrasion of the skin of the left leg, | below the knee, Mr. Schafer is un;able to tell how the abrasion was caused, in fact thought nothing of it, and treated it for several days himself, when the infection began. It finally grew so bad that a physician’s services were required, and Wednesday, it was necessary to lance it. The limb is very badly swollen, extremely tender and the patient is suffering from chills and fever. He is, however, getting along as nicely as can be expected front so serious a case, and unless somethin not now anticipated, sets in, will recover. — . TWELVE MORE IDENTIFIED. Peru, March, 28, 2:30 p. (Special to Daily Democrat)—The total dead here will probably reach fifty, but it is not believed will be more than that, though some guesses are •till several times that. As yet but fifteen bodies have been Identified. Among these are the following: FFRANK MILLER. MELVIN SLUSSER. THOMAS McCURDY. ORVAL HOAGLAND. W. S. BUTLER. LEWIS HARTHROW. THOMAS PROSPECT. ALBERT HINES. CLINTON STETLER, DANIEL VOLMER. FRED W. BENDER. CHARLES E. DAWES. THE PLAY TONIGHT. Many tickets have been sold for the home-talent play, “Billy’s Bungalow,” at the opera house. Be sure to attend. ************** * THE WEATHER. * * ■ * * Fair and warmer tonight and * * Saturday. The government bu- * * reau gives out the Information * * that all indications are that the * 1 * rains are over, and that fair skies * ( * will prevail for several days. * ***************

FIRE DISASTROUS Vesey Auto, Cow and Two Horses Lost, With Barn, Packing House, Etc. AT FORT WAYNE Rear of House Burned—All Furniture Taken Out by the Militia. The full details of the burning of the Judge W. J. Vesey floral packing house and barn at Fort Wayne Thursday morning at 3 o’clock show the fire to have been a very disastrous one. A part of the rear of the residence was also burned. The flames were first discovered by the girl servant from the window at the home. At that time the roof of the packing house was afire. When twenty-threee greenhouses were nearly inundated—with only the roofs above the water above the water—a part of the plants were removed to the higher packing house. Coal oil stoves were set up I there to provide heat for the plants. It is thought the stoves exploded, or (that the fire originated from them in i some way, causing the fire. The barn |is a part of the, packing house, and [Miss Margaret Vesey’s automobile,twg horses and a cow were aniofig the Icontents with the barn. The rear of I the residence also ignited from the , flames. This included the kitchen, the ;large thirty-foot dining room and Mrs. (Vesey’s room above the dining room. IAU the furniture was gotten out of the house, in fear that the whole building would be swept away. Fifty militiamen, who were at that time called to the orphans’ home and the home for feeble-minded to help rescue the inmates from the floods, were called to the Vesey home and assisted in taking out the goods and extinguish- | CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE i o TRACING THE WAY Os St. Paul—Rev. R. L. Semans Will Give Interest- > ing Lec.ure ( ON HIS JOURNEY “The Footsteps of St Paul” —Sunday Night at the Methodist Church. In response to a number of requests to tell something of his Euro-j pean travels Mr. Semans will give an address at the Methodist church Sunday night on “The Footsteps of St., Paul.” Mr. Semans when in Italy > traced out the journey of St. Paul from where he landed at Puteola, down the Apprian way to Rome. The lecture will describe the ocean voyage, the buried city of Pompeii, the 1 I I Mamertine prison, the Catacombs, the , Vatican and the Methodist church in s the heart of Rome. Mr, Semans will ! tell of his thrilling experiences on'' j1 the edge of the crater, Vesuvius. The 1 lecture Is In large part the one that ( has been delivered on lecture courses ' i and chautaqua platforms under the title, "Tramping among the Dagoes.” Everyone wil Ibe welcome. t>—— _ GROCERY DELIVERY NOTICE. On account of bad roads only two Saturday afternoon general deliveries' will be made tomorrow, at 1 and 4 1 o’clock, is the announcement. Get 1 your orders for groceries In in time, for those hours.

MAIL TRAINS ARRIVE I First Train From Richmond This Morn-ing-Repairs Being Made Rapidly in all Directions

During times of peace and plenty we are all more or less wont to condemn the public service corporations, , but the past week has taught us again how almost impossibly hard it would ' be to get along without the railroads, and not a soul in all this middle west but will be rejoicing when the lines ’ are again under regular operation. 1 The reports from the lines which en- ’ ter Decatur follow: The Traction Line. • The Fort Wayne & Springfield ’ hopes to be operating traction cars between this city and Fort Wayne by Monday evening. Today extra men were employed as rapidly as they ap- . plied and by noon quite a force was at , work repairing the tracks north of the icity, putting cars in shape and getting , ready for a run. Manager Fledderjohann, when asked about the possl-, ibillty of starting the cars, in which the motors were water-soaked, replied: “We will start them or burn ’up the motors.’’ All possible care will , - bo taken and the grade between here and Fort Wayne will be repaired as fastas possible. Luckily the road did not lose any bridges and it is believed that if the motors can be started the traction service will soon be going again. Trains on the G. R. & I. I The passenger service on the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad was again resumed this morning for the first time since Tuesday morning. The train was made up at Richmond (its usual place) and arrived here about 9 o’clock and started on ffs return | trip to Richmond again at 9:40. The' G. R. & I. station in this city was filled I with traveling men who were anxious to get on the road again and also to get back home. Trains Nos. 12 and [2 will make this same trip this after[noon, the one from Richmond ar-1 [riving here about 3 o’clock, and then make its return trip a little later. The' tracks north of town are being put in shape as fast as possible, and it is thought that maybe a train will be 1 .able to run to Fort Wayne sometime ■ Saturday afternoon. About a half mile of track is washed out, past the, | Monmouth bridge, but three wreck crews are hard at work repairing it. The bridge near Monmouth which had part of the abutments washed out, is also being put into shape by the workmen, and as soon as the water goes j down a few more inches, extra braces 1 ] will be added in order to make it safe ; (for the locomotives with their strings i ■of cars to pass over. , j The 1:11 passenger train making ] I its trip to Richmond, left this city t (on schedule time. The one from Rich- * 1 mond to Decatur is also booked to ar- | | rive on time In this city at 3:10. After p that there will be no more trains be- ] I tween here and Richmond until tomorrow morning at 7:08. The work on the tracks and the bridge north of the city is being rapidly pushed, and the latest report was that, there would be' a train to Fort. Wayne tomorrow afternoon. The Clover Leaf. Passenger transportation on the Clover Leaf railroad Is looked for-* ward to ppsslbly by tonight, when It is thought that No. 4, due here at 6.27, eastbound, will be able to arrive i from Silverwood, Ind., and may find the track in condition to pull through to Delphos and possibly to Toledo. In this case, the Commercial Traveler, due here at 9:52 p. m., west bound, will be able to pull through. Word received from Bluffton is to the I effect that the work train will finish [fixing the Wabash bridge at that place .and will arrive here about noon to j start working on the track washed ,out near Willshire, and will have that' in running order in a very short time, j

Price, Two Cents.

Just what the extent of the damage is • east of Delphos is not known and whether or not trains will be able to , come through to Delphos from Toledo is merely guess work. Tales of Travelers. Loren and Dell Lake returned home i this morning from Adrian, Mich., where they have been attending the funeral of their father. In returning to Decatur they had the experience of their lives, according to the story as told by Loren. They arrived in , Fort Wayne Wednesday afternoon, and found all means of transportation cut off. When they found it would be necessary for them to stay over night in Fort Wayne, they endeavored to secure rooms at the hotels, but af*er making the rounds of the different places they found It Impossible to secure lodging any place, thefore ‘t | was necessary for them to stay at the depot all night The price for food j a t the restaurants, has gone up something fierce, a ham sandwich now costing 20c and a cup of coffee, 10c. They managed to get to Monroeville on the Pennsylvania and drove from that place to the Bellview farm, where I they arrived last night and finished j the rest ofthe trip home this morning Iby boat. Mrs. Schafer Sends Word. C. C. Schafer was greatly relieved at 4 o’clock Thursday evening when he received a telephone message from his wife, who, with the two children and her mother, Mrs. Emma Daniels, had been visiting in Washington, I D. C., Atlantic City, and other places in the east and was supposed to start for home the first of the week. No ■ news of their whereabouts had been received and naturally their friends here were becoming worried. The 'message said they did not know of | the floods until they reached Pitts[burg, where they bought a ticket for Fort Wayne over the Pennsylvania. ( Unable to reach this section over that ( line, the train was sent into Chicago over the Lake Shore, and the Fo’t Wayne passengers were sent to Fori Wayne Thursday afternoon over the (Pennsylvania lines. They will come home as soon as train service is started. Telephoned from Detroit. This office answered calls from all parts of the country Thursday. The message sent out from Lima announcing the breaking of the reservoir at St. Mary's, Ohio, frightened many who had relatives here. Among those who called last evening was E. B. Newton, of Detroit, who had read of the disaster in Detroit papers and was very anxious. That city has escaped the floods and Mrs. Newton and Mrs. [DeVllbiss sent good wishes to their friends here. An Eye to Business. Cecil Hilling, a Richmond newsboy, (With an eye to business, arrived on I the first train here over the G. R. & jl. this morning. He brought with him a number of boy helpers and a supply of last evening’s newspapers which went like hot cakes, spread with butter and maple syrup. They sold for five cents a piece. Newspapers Are Arriving. The first supply Os metropolitan newspapers came in Thursday afternoon from Chicago and were quickly gobbled by the people here, hungry for any scrap of news concerning the big flood. This morning the Thursday Muncie Star and a few Richmond papers arrived. However, they gave but few details of the big story, so vast »nd so difficult to handle that even the biggest papers in the country were stalled. It Is believed that I' by tomorrow there will be a sufficient supply of city papers to supply all (Contrnoeu on Page 2)