Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 12, Number 202, Decatur, Adams County, 27 August 1914 — Page 1

I Read By I 15,000 Each J Evening >

Volume XII. Number 202.

ENGLISH TROOPS DEING RUSHED TO AID OSTEND Grave Fears Are Being Expressed By British Should Germany Capture That Belgian Sea-port

HAS FODRARMIES Russian Mobilization Completed and Eight Million Men Are Ready. AGAIN PENETRATED Unconfirmed Report Says That Allied Lines Are Forced Backward. LONDON, Aug. 27 —(Special to the I Daily Democrat)—England has strip ] ped the reserve ships of the North sea fleet of marines to aid in the fighting in Belgium. Alarmed over the ini-[ pending danger to which England would be. exposed from airship raids, should the Germans establish a per mament base at Ostend, the Britisli sailor-soldiers have been sent to reenforce the Belgians there. LONDON, Aug. 27 —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —Lille has not been taken. There has been serious fighting in the vicinity of that French border city. This was the statement made at the French embassy this afternoong. The fighting which was in 1 the nature of an advance guard skir ' mish, was said to have resulted in the retirement of the Germans. PARIS, Aug. 27 —(Special to the Daily Democrat)—The fighting along l the entire Belgium-French frontier [ continued today. This fighting was admitted to be not further insight of the French frontier than that of yesterday. At some points it is said to have been within thirty-five -piles. The 1 government, however, maintained its' policy of secrecy. It has permitted no 1 .word of the operations to become public since the statement was issued at midnight that part of the defense line had been pushed back. The usual morning and noon announcements are withheld. WASHINGTON, Aug. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat)— Encountering a “superior force” the small German cruiser, Magdeburg, was blown up in the Bay of Finland, according to a wireless message from Berlin to the; German embassy here this afternoon.! The dispatch said that the cruiser had just entered the bay when a fleet of foreign ships attacked her, ran her aground and then destroyed her. Most ol the crew were saved. PARIS, Aug. 26—(Special to the Daily Democrat)—The minister of war today, following a conference between the new war minister and the chiefs of divisions, decided to make Paris a perfectly entrenched city. This is purely a precautionary measure, but it was stated that the object was to insure inlets and exits no matter what was the result. It was stated that a daily counsel of the directors of the war department will be held by the war minister in oruer that the plans for defense shall always be completed and perfected. “When the right time comes, France will take the offensive he said. “At the present the plans of the general staff are being followed out to the letter.” A most encouraging note was sounded by the minister when he declared tiie operations us the French continued uninterrupted cn the line between Nancy and the Vosges mountains, i’.iere he declared the French are taking the offensive and arc slowly driving the Germans back. CHICAGO, Aug. 27 —(Special to the Daily Democrat)— Another stampede to buy wheat sent the prices soaring in a startling fashion today. Decern-

DECATUR DAI LY DEMOCRAT

ber wheat jumped to sl-17, while May wheat went up to $1.25. When it was hinted about the pit that what was supposed to have been rxt actual foreign demand was tn reality only an inquiry by foreigners who counted on speculation with their own government, the bottom fell out of the bull movement, prices falling to a little above the opening figures. London, Aug. 27, —(Special to Daily Democrat)—The positive statement that the veil of secrecy is soon to be removed from the operations in France and Belgium, was made in the house of commons this afternoon by Premier Asquith. Pleading that it had been necessary for strategic reasons to withhold all information, the premier statled that tiie government was alive to I the necessity of relieving the public J strain. “The government” he said “is j desirous of giving the country all the I information possible that is consistent '.with tiie public’s interest. It lias been necessary to withhold certain facts, up to the present, but the veil of secrecy is to be lifted soon. The British troops on the continent are upholding all traditions of the service. They were in action again yesterday, fighting a large German force, and acquitted themselves splendidly. The prospect for satisfactory outcome of the conflict is excellent.” These cheering announcements were immediately fob lowed by the statement from the first Lord of the Admiralty Churchill* 'that the great passenger liner Kaiser | Wilhelm der Krosse, had been sent to the bottom off the coast of Africa. This first real naval success followed on the admission of ground lost in - Belgium-French campaigns and was received with cheers. Afterward Kerr . Hardie who opposed England’s participation in the war, created a bitter demonstration when he tried to cross examine Sir Edward Grey, regarding 'the neutrality negotiations. His evident attempt to force the government 'to reveal its negotiations with other governments, angered the membership who held Hardie down and would not permit him to proceed. Timothy Healy, the Irish leader, ran across to where Hardie was sitting and said in a loud voice, “Do the socialists in the German Reichstag ask such uestions?” The government professes to be unable to make any announcement regarding the process of the war at this time in France and Belgium and refused to confirm any unofficial reports. The unofficial report received via Ostend ithat the Germans had occupied Lille, I Roubiaz and Valenciennes, France, are without official confirmation. The government however does not deny their taking possession, but until tiie French government makes the announcement on the situation, Britain must remain mute. London. Aug. 27,—(Special to Daily Democrat) —In the house of commons this afternoon Lord of the Admiralty Churchchill anounced that the Kaiser Wilhelm der Krosse bad been sunk off the coost of Africa by the English cruiser Highflyer. Tokio, Aug. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The government today again re-iterated that its participation in the European war would be confined to the far east. The reports that Japanese war ships are to be sent into the Mediterranean sea to aid the French and British ships against Austria was declared incorrect. The Japan government simply desired to safeguard the trade of the Orient by removing danger from a German raid, it is said, and had no intention of commencing a war of aggression. It is stated that the government will rigi idly observe her pledges not to attempt any territorial aggrandizements. WASHINGTON, Aug. 27—(Special i to Daily Democrat)—Frederick Pal- > m er. world famous war correspondent, ; will report for the United Press and all (Continnen on Page 2)

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, August 27, 1914.

MRS. PELZ DEAD Pioneer Lady of Adams County Dead at Home in Fort Wayne. WAS 77 YEARS OLD Celebrated Golden Weddin" Year Ago—Funeral to be Monday, Decatur and Adams county citizens will be saddened to hear of the death of Mrs. Edward C. Pelz, for many years a prominent resident of tiie county before going to Fort Wayne a few years ago. The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette says: “Following an extended illness from diabetes, Mrs. Sophia Pelz, aged sev-enty-seven years, wife of Edward C. Pelz, and widely known in Fort Wayne, died at 8:45 o’clock yesterday morning at the home, 1149 Monroe street. Mrs. Pelz was born in Germany, August 17, 1837, and after her marriage there to Mr. Pelz, came to this country fifty years ago, first locating in Adams county. Mr. Pelz was one of Adam’s county’s best known farmers, moving to Ft. Wayne a few years ago when he retired from farm work. Mr. and Mrs. Pelz celebrated their golden wedding anniversary a year ago. Mrs. Pelz was a member of Concordia Lutheran church and belonged to the societies of that church. Besides the husband she leaves the following children: Mrs. William Braightwait and Mrs. William Feasel, Ft. Wayne; Mrs. Peter Potts, Fort Wayne; Mrs. Albert Potts, Adams township; August and William Pelz, Fort Wayne. Twenty-eight grandchildren and six great-grandchil-dren also survive. Four sons preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon at the residence, and at 2:30 o'clock at the Concordia Lutheran church, the Rev. August Lange officiating. Burial will be In Concordia cemetery.” o TO HER_REWARO “Grandma” Gaffer Passes Away at 1 O’clock Today in Fort Wayne. AGED DECATUR LADY Succumbed After Long Illness—Resided in Decatur for Many Years. Mrs. Mary Gaffer, lovingly known to Decatur citizens as “Grandma" Gaffer, 'died this afternoon at 1 o’clock at the 'home of her son, Michael, in Fort ' Wayne, where she has lived the past 'year or two, at the age of ninety-six' I years. Grandma Gaffer had been bed--1 last for many months. Last spring she ■suffered an attack of pneumonia, which , 'complicated with infirmities of her extreme age, rendered her resistance feeble and she never recovered fully enough to arise from her bed. Mrs. Gaffer was a native of Germany, but she has long been a resident of this city, living here for forty-two years Jor more. On last Thursday, August 20, she reached her ninety-sixth birth anniversary. She was a kind ladv of fine character, and a most devout member of the St. Mary’s Catholic church. No weather was too bad to prevent her venturing forth to her church every [day, even to the very latest months of her life, when her health permitted her [to be up at all, and her familiar figure, active to the very latest years of her life, was seen daily on the streets [of Decatur as she wended her way to church, an inspiration to many a younger one. She retained all her mental faculties, and except that her eyesight of later years was poor, she was very remarkably t/eserved. She leaves three children: Peter, of this city; Michael, of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. Mary Duer, of Milwaukee, Wis. Anton Krumenacker of Decatur is a nephew. (Continued t»n Page 2)

“DECATUR CAN AND WILL”

LEAVE FOR FLORIDA. Mrs. Blanche Rice Elzey and daughter, Helen, left yesterday for Gainesville, Fla., to join her husband. Elmer Elzey, In making that place their home. The Elzeys resided for several years in Kingfisher, Okla., and Mrs. Elzey and daughter came here last Christmas for a visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Rice. They remained here until Mr. Elzey became located in their new home, having gone into business in Gainesville, where he conducts a cigar and pool room. o_ MRS. HISER AFTER DIVORCE. Suit for divorce has been filed at Fort Wayne by Mrs. Anna Hiser against Ezra Hiser, and she asks SI,OOO alimony. The parties are well known here. HAD FINE TIME At Miller Reunion at Theodore Beatty Home in Union Township. BIG NOON FEAST And Feast of Good Addresses and Music in the Afternoon. The annual reunion of the Miller t family was held yesterday at the home of Theodore Beatty in Union township. The Beatty home with its fine, spacious lawn, was an attractive place fori the gathering and the reunion was one of the best recorded. There were fully one hundred present. The bounteous harvest contributed to the feast spread at noon. Innumerable chickens yielded up their lives for the spread; cakes in countless numbers and delicacies of all kinds were mere. In the afternoon ice cream and cake were served. After the feast, there w'as a fine pro gram given. Excellent addresses were given by Dore and Dan Erwin of Decatur and recitations by the children. Excellent music was furnished by the Lehrman orchestra.

The following officers were reflected: President, George Miller; secretary, Hazel Beatty. The day was also the sixty-fifth anniversary of the president. The Beattys were unanimously accorded entertainers of the best type. Besides the D. B. and Dan Erwin families of this city, Ed Ahr and ’family were present. Q TO THE WIDOW Is Given His Estate by Terms of Will of the Late John Huser. PROBATED TODAY Late French Township Resident’s Will Admitted to Probate. There was admitted for probate today at the county clerk’s office, and 'admitted on the evidence of the witnesses, Jacob Huser and Amos Hirschey, the will of the late prominent Adams county resident of French township, John Huser. The will was executed July 7, 1910. As usual, the first provision is made that all debts and funeral expenses be first paid. After this, he gives to his wife, Katherina Huser. all the rest of the estate, real and personal and mixed, she to have tiie use, income and possession thereof. She is also empowered to sell, convey or dispose of any part of it, execute deeds or change the investment thereof. o UNCLE HEZEKIAH OBSERVES. Think whut a unkumfortable thing it uld be t’ marry a perfuct persun an’ not liev anythin’ t’ throw up to’ em’.

A Boom GAME Fort Wayne Dodgers Will Meet the White Stags Sunday Afternoon. AT SHAMROCK PARK Visitors Have Great Reputation and Will Put up an Exciting Game. In order to make up. as much as possible, for the "kid” Bluffton team, which met the locals last Sunday in a farce ball game. Manager Thomas announces that he has secured for Sunday afternoon, the Fort Wayne Dodgers. This team is well known to the fans of this city as being one of the speediest teams outside of the Central League team in Fort Wayne. They have crossed bats several times with the local boys during the past several seasons and each time were victorious in carrying home the large end of the score. Since the local team 'has been reorganized and strengthened in every position, however, it is a sure bet that the visitors will have to “get on their toes” and put all their ginger to working if they have the, slightest intention of saving their rep-, u tat ion. The fans will be guaranteed[ their money's worth in a live, clean, snappy game Sunday, and it is desired by the management that a recordbreaking crowd be on hand to boost t for the White Stags. Manager Thomas is endeavoring to make arrangements with the Central League team of Fort Wayne for an exhibition game here within the next week or so, as they will probably have several open dates and this treat will be greatly appreciated by the iovers of the national sport in this city. Don’t forget the game starts at 3 j o’clock prompt and the best place to see it from is just inside the main entrance where a man will be stationed to take your quarter. SLIGHTJNCREASE Shown in Assessments of Railroads and Telephone Companies. IN ADAMS COUNTY Statement Received from the State Tax Board by the Auditor. Auditor T. H. Baltzell has received from the state tax commission, a statement of the assessments made of the property of the various railroads, telephone, telegraph, pipe lines, etc., in this county. The total assessments of failroads is $1,210,735. Last year it was only $1,059,495. This is divided as follows: Chicago & Erie, $520,915; Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne, $381,080; G. R. & I. over the C. R. & Ft. W., $24,600; Clover Leaf, $284,140. The total of traction companies is $90,093, whereas last year it was $90,907. The Bluffton, Geneva & Celina Traction company is assessed $44,256; the Fort Wayne & Springfield at $45,837. The Citizens’ Telephone company has 323.15 miles of line, assessed at S9O per mile. The Geneva Telephone company 80 miles, at S3O per mile; the Monroe Telephone company, 69 miles, at S4O per mile; the Monroeville Home Telephone company, 45 miles at SSO per mile. This is only a partial list of those given in the bulletin. The Adams Express company has! 24.60 miles, at $lB5 per; the National, 16.76 miles at SIOO per, and the WellsFargo, 22.51 miles, at SIOO. The Indiana Pipe Line company’s property in Adams county is assessed at $628,153, over $614,557 of last year. The Ohio Oil company, $239,470; the Indiana Gas Transportation company. $3,415.

LIKES THE WEST. Mn. David Cook Would Not Return Here for Permanent Home. Mrs. David Cook of Akron, Colorado, formerly Miss Mary Mtimma of Decatur, who is here visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Reisen Mumtna, will remain here for the greater part of the winter. She likes Colorado very much and would never be pleased to Indiana her permanent home again. They took up a claim of 325 acres of land and this will be “proved up” next spring. The crops were very goqd in their part of the country this year, and very nearly the same that is grown here is raised there. o ■ —• OF HIGHER CLASS Redpath Bureau’s Intention is to Raise Standard of Chautauquas. FOR THE NEXT YEAR Price Will Accordingly be Rised to $2.50 for the Season Tickets. That the Chautauqua is a great success in Decatur is proven by the large [crowds that are attending the different lectures and entertainments that are being given from day to day The crowds also demonstrated the ability of Decatur people to appreciate the best. It is the intention of the Redpath people next year to put on a higher class program than this and for that reason next year season tickets will be $2.50 each instead of $2.00, for which they were sold this year. It not purchased early they will cost $3 instead of $2.50. It Is the intention to' place the matter before the people at committee is required to sign guaran ing and secure if posible a sufficient number of guarantees to enable the Decatur folks to secure the program

that is being arranged for next season. The contract which the local committee is reuired to sign guarantees the sale of $1,750 worth of season tickets on or before one day prior to the opening of the Chautauqua and to furnish the grounds. The number of season tickets at $2.50 is also limited to 1,000. All over that are to be sold at $3.00 each. Also all money received by the local commitee from sale of season tickets over $1,750 is to be divided equally between the local committee and the Redpath people. This year the commitee will have some money to the good on account of these ! ales. o ■ Given to the Wedding of R. I.' Stephens and Miss Anna , Menzinor. BRIDE IS WELCH And Interpreter was Needed for Ceremony—’Squire Kintz Officiated. Quite a romantic wedding took place last evening at 5 o’clock in 'Squire G. F. Kintz’ office, that official tying the knot that will make two happy hearts beat in unison for the remainder of their lives. The wedding was peculiar in more ways than one. In the first place, contrary to many weddings, there was not the least objection to the union on the part of any; in fact, one good official of Portland, Justice of the Peace Wheat, of Vortland, the right hand bauer of the groom, and who acted as interpreter for the bride, who is Welch and can speak no English, accompanied them here and saw that the knot was tied securely and in perfecl form and in fact acted as best all around man, as this was the first wed ding of the couple. The groom was Robert Isaac Ste phens, a well-to-do farmer of Jaj county, aged forty-nine years, and the I bride was Miss Anna Menzinor, aged (Conuuuea <m rue 2)

Reaches Every Nook Os County

Price Two Cents.

BRAND FESTIVAL Os Music—Two Days’ Festival Opened Today at the Chautauqua. I ' ‘ THE BEN GREETS r .. i Delighted Large Audience—- [ Noted African Explorer Gives Fine Lecture. I The Ben Greet Players were the stars who held the boards at the Chautauqua last evening, and as they did last year in Shakespeare's “Comedy of Errors,” they endeared themselves to the largo Decatur audience last evening when they interpreted Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” or “What You Will.” The seating capacity of the big tent was again taxed last evening and Superintendent George Rhelnfrank statjed that the audience was a fine tribute to the culture of Decatur and vicinity when it could send so large an audience to a ShakespeareMn play, when there was a dog and pony show in town. (Applause). He followed by saying that he was surprised to see so large an audience present. (No applause). In all there were thirteen players, and fifteen characters represented. These players are personally coached by Ben Greet, who is considered one of tiie greatest living authorities on the English drama and is famous tiie world over for his remarkable production of Shakespearean plays and old English comedies. For thirty years he has been connected witli stage affairs and has probably taught more actors than any other man living. I The plays represented by his company are given with sucli little stage effect that there is nothing to detract from the main theme. Somehow, "Shakespeare” seems so very human and natural wiien presented by the Ben Greets. Save for tiie ancient cos-

fumes there is very little presented that could not have taken place in tiie present day. and by the very persons we meet and know every day. When you look at William S's picture, tiie dignified gentleman, with ruff and ruchings, and read tiie dignified and seemingly stilted cut and dried passages, you feel like making a low-spread courtesy of deference to Mr, William, but when you see and hear the Ben Greets interpret his writing, with the qqaint, true to life character interpretations, and clear-cut, sparkling humor, you feel like running up to Shakespeare, slapping him on the back and saying, “Howdy, Billy.” ■ Yes, the characters were very true to present-day life, although Billy’s plot was rather “obvious." There was : the Duke of Illyria who fell in love on sight with the beauty of the fair Countess Olivia. Then bobbed up Viola. I one of the twins, alike as two peas, who played a prominent part in the play and complicated matters much. Tills was Viola, who was in love with the duke. She entered his household in disguise as a man servant to be near to her loved one, and was sent to woo the fair Countess Olivia. While she did not play, exactly, tiie part of a more modern John Alden, it resulted that Olivia fell In love with the

disguised Viola, and by very clever management, managed to convey the fact of her love to him. or rather her. Os course the lost male twin turned up at the right time to complicate matters, which finally straightened out with the Shakespearean nicety by by Ollvit taking for her husband the male twin who so much resembled his sister, Viola, disguised as the man with whom the countess first fell in love. And then, of course, there was nothing for the duke to do (just exactly as the men of today instead of pining away like a *frail wraith-like, love-sick youth of some ultra high class Rybronic poem) but to do the next best thing—wed the fair Viola who was so much in love with him and who had taken so strange away to woo and win him. The clown, the 1 Sir Knight, whose whole courage lay in his uniform; the steward, who like ■ the conceited mutt that he was (of ■ course these are not Shakespeare's words, but he would probably use • them if he lived today), imagined ' that, the countess was in love with i him, and contributed much to the fun I of the play; Olivia’s maid, and the (Continued on Page 3)