Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 12, Number 300, Decatur, Adams County, 22 December 1914 — Page 1

Volume XII. Number 300.

FLAMES DEVOUIIJIIESchAFER STORES Decatur s Largest Retail Store Lies A Smouldering Ruin Today As Resu| t Os One Os The Fiercest fires Ever Known Here

FIREMEN BRAVE ZERO WEATHER Entire Half Block Seemed Doomed Several Hours Early Today. WILL BE REBUILT Mr. Schafer Makes State-ment-Democrat Suffered Slight Loss. The fire demon played sad havoc in Decatur early today, destroying the Schafer block of business houses on Second street wiping out the big retail harness store and the Schafer hardware store, entailing a loss of many thousand dollars, with insurance covering half to two thirds the loss. Yesterday the Schafer store was a busy place, with the big force of clerks and employes waiting on the crowds of Christmas shoppers. Today it is a mass of black and twisted wood, steel and debris, a vastly different sight from the beautiful and modern store of yesterday. Broke Out at Three O'clock/ The fire was discovered at exactly three o’clock by Harold Murray and Elmer Miller, who had been at the Smith & Son restaurant and were re turning to the hotel. As they reached a place just opposite the harness store they noticed the reflection ot fire and hurrying to the hotel sent in the alarm. The fire company respondi ■ r-ropmtly with the apparatus and a second general alarm brought out a number, of citizens in various ways. Fire Started in Tin Shop. The blaze is believed to have start ed in the tin shop, located at tin front of the south building, first door north of the Daily Democrat offio and directly over the Schafer harnest store. Within a half hour the blazr had leaped from one end of the har ness store to the other, upstairs anc down and soon spread to the hard ware store, gutting that big doubh store room withon two hours. I _ . I . O —. F*l zx zx rm a I

Block Seemed Doomed. For a time it looked as though thi entire block from the Madison street corner to the Brock alley would go The building owned by Mrs. Christen; Nißlick and son, Jesse, and occupier by the Daily Democrat office, was oi fire several times, a hole several feet square being burned in the roof. Ih. cinders fell thick and fast over t square north and east of the Schafer block, the south wind saving this of flee. The fire laddies did great wori and are deserving of all the praist they were given this morning, "H---the thermometer registering below uero and the water freezing as fast as it fell, the men fought stubbornly. Driven back by the fierce blaze they returned again and again to the bat tie, finally succeeding in gaining con trol and confining the fire to tiSchafer block alone. As fast as on. . man would give out, his place was taken by another and for hours hours the fight went on. They " supplied with coffee and ntea * the Smith & Son and the Girod 4 Baker restaurants, with c,t ’ t , s ‘ p mlttdns from the Vance & 1 ( with many conveniences ,y Mills and favored by others " ‘O willing and anxious to assis . appreciated all the efforts an asked us to tell the pubic s • firemen were also remembered with several checks for the splend they made. Cause of Fire Unknown. No one has been aide by the cause of the fire, employes that there were .to ives, oils or gasoline gtar tof the building wliere^ le l 0 advance ed. and no one seemst abl* a reasonable cause. he the blaze was Just creeping down

DECATUR DAILY democrat

Km W, p at " 1P mr of the ’ thourh 11 , B . e - Veral hours H looked as < save hiT* ’’ Ut “ m,racle could 1 | « e this office and the Vance 41 Hite < clothing store. The flies front this I ce y e and W 7 arrle<l t 0 the Mllls 1 - and tlie Murray hotel for safe kem' ng f and the VanC ® & Hite Btort 1 , Pt a torce of men on hands read, | to remove the stock in case the flames •hould spread to this building. Thfiremen had some difficulty in getting the water started, as one or two of >e hydrants were frozen up. All ir all it was a lucky fire for all except the Schafers. The Menig pool room also had a lucky escape, the damage there being slight. Mr. Schafer's Estimate. When seen this morning, Mr. Fred Schater, the enterprising proprietor and senior member of the firm, refus ed to be pessimistic. He said he die not believe the loss would exceed fifty thousand dollars, with insurance cov ering at least half that amount, anc perhaps two-thirds. Asked if he would rebuild, he said "Oh. of course we will rebuild, we will have to do that." Fur ther than that of course no plans have been made nor can they be for a few days until the matters are ad justed. Tlie insurance is carried ir the various local agencies and in the Hardware Mutual. A force of men went to work at 8 o'clock this morn ing, cleaning up the debris and remov ing the safe, which contains tin books and money and many valuable I papers. Whether or not the new i building will be occupied by the [Schafer company has not been even I discussed nor have the plans forth? ■immediate future. While the various | estimates of the loss are from fifty J thousand up, there has been no defin ’ ite announcement and will not be at I this time. Fire Was One of Big Ones. Decatur has suffered from some bi? [ I fires in the past but perhaps from none more than this one. The big ' blaze in September of 1882 is remem- ' bered and before that time the Yager block was completely wiped out. Ten years ago the Big Store block caused a loss of many thousand dollars, but this fire seems as serious i! not more so than any of them. A large number of employes arc temporarily out of work though they will be uses ' when possible in cleaning up the de ris and setting things in shape. The property loss is large and represents he work of tlie Schafers for a lifeime. They have always been pro

zressive and have been known as met ,vho do things, the kind of citiz who help a community. At this time they have the sincerest sympathy o the entire community. Me belie.e they will rebuild and that they will within a few months present to the K ople of this community a store even bigger and better than the handsome ,ne today destroyed. Mr. Fred Schafer this morning, not withstanding his own heavy loss, and no one feels it more keenly than he did not forget to tell us and others who were in danger how glad he was that we had not suffered more. Hundreds of people visited the fire scene this morning, though the crowd was not as large as usual at a big fire, because of the extreme cold weather. X each as they look at the havot Zed by the fire comes an expres Mon of sincere sympathy and regret ZuJiZfim firT two explosions ocD . g . -,. h mattered the crowd, oc- < ’ Urr L"when the flames reached th; wder carried in stock. A num gUn P f°shells were also exploded and it ber of shell. seriously „ fortunate that I circumstances. ResUm a t°ha‘t Hie loss to the , It is believed ]cagt s , o _. , Schafer build k witll . coo , loss to th lnsuran ce. The ha ‘ f tO tl 7°Daily Democrat will prob--1089 l .° 00 most of that being due t ably be MO, R ol - nc ws !0 the Id n the ’lasement became P v during the fire several 1 WCt ' Zhes o' plastering fell fro ® .- 13rg e patches compos ing room, b lbe . ceiling n get 0 type and 3 causing s° me , job department. . printed stock m

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, December 22, 1914.

The big Goss Comet press also suffered some, being soaked with water, but it will be impossible to tell for a day or two what the exact damage at tills office is. We are glad, however, that we are here, and able to keep on printing a newspaper, and we are thankiul to the many who assisted us and offered to assist. We asknowledge with sincerest thanks the very generous offer of the Decatur Herald, who invited us in a sincere manner to make use of their office if necessary today. Though we did not find it necessary we arc glad of the invitation. We are deeply indebted to many others, and to all of them we feel most grateful. Credit to Whom Due. The people of Decatur should appreciate the work done by tlie firemen tills morning, and those who aided them. It was a tierce night, with .he weather below zero, the wind was blowing a gale and every condition was against the men who fought and saved many properties. We wish to also call your attention to the fact that the men at the water station deserve much credit. The water pres ure was good all the time and tills was one of the big things that made t possible to combat the flames. Tell the boys so when you see them. o PREACHING AT SALEM. • The Rev. J. M. Gibson will preach Sunday morning at the Salem Evan gelical church. — o— PLAY BLUFFTON Decatur High School Basket Ball Team Will Meet Bluffton Boys WEDNESDAY NIGHT In This City—A Game With D. H. S. January First— The Schedule.

Tomorrow evening, Wednesday, De cember 23rd, the biggest basket ball game of the season will be staged it this city when the ball will he tossed up between our old rivals, the Bluff ton high sciiool team, and the Decatur hoys. The game will be one of the most spirited and hardest fought con tests that has been played in this city for some time. The Bluffton boys ar< playing great ball this year and only last week defeated the Fort Wayne high sciiool boys on their own floor by the score of 67 to 10. It is without doubt that they will try to give the Decatur boys a worse "drubbing than that administered to the Fort Mayne lads. But just here is where they are going to be fooled. The local team will show them a trick or two and it is hoped that they will be able to take the laurels. The second team of the Bluffton high school and the Decatur high school will also play here Wednesday evening. Another game of interest’ will be that of the D. H. S. alumni and the local high school team on New Year’s night. The schedule for the remaining games for this sea mniiarv I—Decatur Alumni vs. Decatur high school, in this city. ' .January 8-Liberty Center at Deca"'january 15-Decatur at Van Wert. January 22-Decatur at Geneva. _____ " MRS. COFFEE’S FUNERAL. The funeral services for Mrs. D. D Cofte e, W ho died Sunday morning, were held this morning at 9 o clock the St. Mary’s Catholic churcn. Seimetz officiating. Burial was made in the St. Joseph cemetery. Mrs Coffee’s death was due from pneumonia and heat* troub.e. She was sick but one week.

SIX REEL SHOW. Manager Parent lias secured for this evening's bill a six-reel feature entitled "Paul J. Rainey African Hunt.” More educating than a scholarly natural history hook, because more impressive ar|<l vivid, are the motion pictures of [the Paul Rainey African expedition, now being shown at the Crystal theater. The six reels of film are crammed witii adventure ot the great trip, Iwhich is said to have cost a quarter of a million dollars. Second only in interest to the thrilling hunts of Rainey and his party is the insight given by the films into African wonders, the customs of it* peoples. The photography is excellent, especially when one considers the difficulties surmounted by the expedition’s camera men, who had several narrow escapes from death when wild animals icharged the cameras. At the Crystal tonight. IS BRYANT DRY? Two Men May Tell Grand Jury Where They Obtained Liquor. TWO WERE ARRESTED On Charge of Disorderly Conduct—Plead Guilty and Pay Fines. Bryant, Ind., Dec. 22 —C. W. Hardy a prominent Portland resident, and Ott Tucker, living eight miles west of here, were arrested yesterday on as fldavits filed in the court of. 'Squire Whiteman, and entering pleas of ’.uilty, were fined for provoke, also disorderly conduct, the latter in vioation of a town ordinance. The fines and costs totalYkUj-18.50 each. Their troubles originated over a horse deal made some time ago. Both were at first arrested on charges of intoxication, but friends succeeded in getting these charges dismissed and the ones to which they entered pleas of guilty were substi luted. Bryant is supposedly a dry town, but both Hardy and TuuKer wil. have opportunity nt the next session of the grand jury in January to tell where they procured their liquor.— Muncie Star. BETTY GETS A CHANCE. Red Cross Seals Helped Her to Get Well. Site was real pretty, and so full of fun that the dimples were always showing in her round red cheeks. Her eyes were big and brown, and nut-colored hair curled naturally i: little ringlets over her forehead and ears. She was just eighteen when w< first met her, and so neat and attract ive that one would think she belonged to the well-to-do class of working people, but when we folowed her t< her home one day we confronted startling facts. The red In her cheeks was the flusl of unnatural inward fever. The high spirits were a pitiful antidote to piti less conditions, and the big, brown eyes saw only squalor when they wen not fixed upon a typewriting machin« or closed persistently to any view but an imaginary bright one. The room we entered was a genera' living space, used also as an eating cooking and sleeping apartment. There was but one bed, and Betty had to sleep in it with her mother who was too weak to sit up. Ar. open cuspidor sat where it would I>. conveniently near the bed. which placed it by the stove, where theii food was cooked. The mother, whe was suffering in an advanced stage o tuberculosis, did not like cold air, and her querulous demands caused Betty to keep the door and windows closed. "Well," said cheerful Betty, with a laugh, "that isn't so bad as not having any windows or doors to close is it? Things might be worse.” "infinitely worse,” said the Wist One. “You might even take a notion to stuff the windows and doors with rags to cut out what oxygen comes in through the cracks." Red Cross Christmas seals, with their cheery message of hope, gave Betty a chance to get well after her mother died. Is it worth while to save the Bettya? Buy your share today, . ,

ANOTHER CHECK Received by Decatur Man for Best Section Work— N. L. Roop a Winner FROM CLOVER LEAF Received Voucher for sso—- — Section Toledo to Frankfort. Nathan L. Roop, for many years a section boss on the Clover Leaf rail way, and who has lived in this city so long lie has become a permanenl fixture, was made happy yesterday when lie received a letter from his boss, which read as follows: "Frankfort, Ind., Dec. 21, 1914. "N. L. Roop, Decatur. Ind. "Dear Sir: I take great pleasure in enclosing herewith voucher for fifty dollars which it is your good fortune to receive as a reward for the best section on division “A" during tlie year 1914. Our receiver, the general superintendent and myself congratu late you. Witii best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I remain T. R. RAMSEY, “Chief Engineer," While delighted with the voucher Mr. Roop is not selfish about it and Immediately declared his intention of rewarding his two oldest employes Arlie Humble and Harvey Knavel. by giving them a share of the reward Division "A” is Toledo to Frankfor and the fact that their section was tin 'Jiest within that entire distance brought much pleasure to tlie men. This is the second railroad boss in De catur to receive a reward for the best work on divsions covering many hun duds of miles diVng the week. STORE OF HONEY Eighteen Pounds Laid Up by Swarm of Bees at the Schurger Home. SWARM IS ROUTED i From New Home Betweer Weather Boarding and Plastering. The swarm of bees tliat took ui their abiding place before last Jum in the walls of the John Schurgei home west of the city, crawling !■ between tlie plastering and weather boarding through a pencil-sized hole were at last gotten out. Strips <> weather-boarding, four by three fee: were removed Jo get the bees, anc then it was necessary to kill them by the sulphur route, as the swarm show >d fight. The removal of the weather board ing showed that the bees had bee: busy, indeed, in storing up their win ter sweets. For eighteen pounds o' fine honey were taken out. This wa stored between two studding widths for a length of three feet. Tlie prob lem of getting the bees out was i serious one tor the family for* some time, as their little exit was near tin door of tlie Schurger home, that wa. most used. It was some time befon the family learned that the bees had taken up their residence there. BIG DAMAGE SUIT. The suit of George W. Ober against the Clover Leaf railway company so: damages from tlie fire was sent from Grant county to the Wells circuit court Saturday on motion of the de fendant for change ot venue. The plaintiff in the action is a former Bluffton resident, and for several years operated a hoop factory here. He was operating a factory at Marion when it was destroyed by fire, alleg< d to have been started by a spark from a Clover Leaf locomotive. Demand is for $12,000 damages.—Bluffton News. PIANO TUNING. Mr. Kriuimel, the piano tuner, is here for a few days. Orders received at the Murray hotel, 'phone 57.

TROLLEY WIRE BROKE. The breaking of a trolley wire by _ Fort Wayne A- Springfield car at tiecorner of Calhoun and Wallace streets caused all cars on Calhoun street to ruspend operation between 5:15 und 6 o'clock last night and made traffic on other lines difficult until the break could he repaired by linemen from the Fort Wayne A- Northern Indiana Tra<tion company. Tlie latter company had its troubles yesterday. The rain, sleet and snow of Sunday night covered the tracks all over the city, and it was necessary to operate some cars all night to keep tlie tracks open. Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. FOR CHRISTMAS ■Beautiful Services Will be Held at the St. John’s Lutheran Church. SECOND XMAS DAY Will Also be Observed— Rev. J. Kuntzmann Will Speak—All Invited. Christmas day will be most fittingly observed at Hie St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, north of the city. Special services will be conducted or Christmas day and also on Saturday, which is observed by the Lutheran church as tlie second Christmas day. Services will also be conducted on Christmas Eve for the children. Re’ J Zunztmann, doctor of theology, o Dresden, Germany, will speak at th services Friday, while the Rev. J. Bauer of Fort Wayne will deliver the sermon on Saturday. Every one is invited to these services. Th® pn gram follows: Organ Duet. Andante in G. "Th Pilgrim's Song of Hope"—Prof. C. W Hohnhaus, Miss Lottie Jaus. Chorus —"Heilige, Selige, Welhn acht-Kissel." Song—Congregation. Altar Liturgie. Song—Congregation. Serman—Rev. J. Kuntzmann. Chorus, “Weihnacht’s Cantata" Kirsch. Altar Liturgie. Song Congregation. Organ Duet, March Romaine. Cl Gounod—Prof. C. W. Hohnhaus. Mir Lottie Jaus. On second Christmas day, Deceit >er 26. the Rev. J. Bauer, of For Wayne, will be the speaker. The so lowing program will be rendered: Pos'tlude, Offertory .by J. W. Let man- Prof. C. W. Hohnhaus. Chorus, "Hosiana" Kissel. Song—Congregation. Altar Liturgie. Song Congregation. Sermon—Rev. J Bauer. Chorus, "Gegrnesest Scist du Hin melsbrind" Kissel. Altar Liturgie. Song - Congregation. Posthide in E Flat Major. J. L. Rat: man Prof. Carl W. Hohnhaus. Friday night at 7 o'clock is tlie tint chosen by the Baptist Sunday schoo for the rendition of their Christma exercises. The program will be a tw< part program. The first half will lv 'The Star of Glory." rendered by th •lioir and the pastor. The secon part will be given by the children. The Christmas program at the Ev angelical church Sunday evening wat fine success. The attendance wa large. Many were necessitated t stand. The program was given I two parts. The first twenty minute was taken by the beginners' class, un der the direction of Mrs. Runyon and Mrs. O. L. Burgener. Some fine talent was shown by the little folks. Aft' 1 this the choir gave a cantata entitled "The Angel With a Broken Wing.' This was well rendered both by threader and the numbers by the choir There was enough variety in the sinr, ing to make it interesting and help ful. The decorations were in keepinf with the occasion. Two Christmatrees were used as a backbround. Presbyterian Sunday School A cantata, "The Christmas Sky," will be given Thursday evening at th' Presbyterian church by the Sunday school, in charge ot the following com niittee: Emma Carey, chairman: Jean Lutz. Ireta Erwin, Olive Perk ins. Estella Perkins. Lulu Ats. Rose Smith, Mrs. Anker: (Continued on rage Four)

Price, Two Cents.

GERMANS ARE DRIVEN BACK Allies Gain Trenches at Bayonet Point and Advance in Algonne Region. ADMIRAL VON PIRPITZ Minister of Marines, Gives First Interview to United Press Correspondent. Paris, Dec. 22, — (Special to Dally Democrat! Driving tlie Germans from trenches in the Algonne at the point of tlie bayonet and taking new positions in France and Belgium tlie Official statement reports new progress along practically tlie entire 200 mile line on which tlie allies offensive is conducted. By Von Wiegand Grand General Headquarters of Kaiser: — Dec. 22, — (Special to Daily Democrat) —"America lias not raised her voice in protest and lias taken little or no action against Englands closing of the North Sea to neutral shipping. What will America say if Germany declares subnmrine war on all enemy merchant ships?" Grand Admiral Von Pirpitz minister of marine regarded tlie strongest man in tlie German government and whose marvelous organizing genius is largely responsible for German's fleet peered sharply at me and put tlie question "Wliy not?" lie continued. "England wants to starve us. We can play tlie same game. We can bottle lier up and torpedo every English or allied ship that clears any harbor from Great Brittan". The impression l:as gone abroad, I remarked that tlie German militarism helped to bring on tlie war. "Lies, that’s England's try. Os militarism they accuse but what about her navalism and marinism wliitli for years has made claims by’ ntonoply of authority on the water". Wliat are your excellencies views as regards the Japanese problem. I asked “Tliat is for you. That is what you Americans will have to lace and meet and we will be tlie onlookers. ' On this iie straightened up. His finger pointed at me as lie said "I meant tliat in Jest about <ur being onlookers. That would depend on circumstances. One tiling I will say Germany will never abandon the white race. Japan will make China a vassel and will militarise her millions then it will lie for your country to look out. Englands act in bringing in tlie Japanese is high treason to tlie white race, it Is inexplicable to them and America views with apparent indifference. Japanese activity in tlie Pacific and their apparent inability to for-see grave possibilities in tlie near future.” He spoke in a tone li ordering on bitterness as lie dwelt upon tlie attitude of America toward tlie war. Tlie reported anti German sentiment in America lie said lie could not understand and added "We just ask the Americans to he fair as fair to us us to die others. Admiral Von Pirlti made a high tribute to tlie American navy which lie declared was die superior to the Japanese. "Ship for ship" he said" I consider the American navy out classes that of Japan. In fact I doubt if it is surpassed by tliat of tiny nation. Your navy has kept well in view die object and purpose for which it was built.” The Hague. Dec, 22 —(Special to the Daily Democrat) -Germany is build ing forty 900-ton submarines. They will bring Iter now unrer-sea fleet up to 95. The new vessels are of the latest designs embodying novel departures from the former types of submarines. 0 EIGHT RAILROADS INCORPORATE Indianapolis. Ind., Dec. 21 —(Special to Dally Democrat) —Eight railroads, ail subsidaries to the New York Central lines, were represented in a |3ob,000,00 incorporation filed with the secretary of state tills aftdrnoon. Those represented are the C. C. ASt. L.; Peoria * Eastern, L. E. & W., Wt W C. * L.. L. 8. « M. 8., M. C.. f. I. «• 8. The fee to the state was $300,000. the largest on the Irtdiaii'i record. This action followed the announcement that Indiana roads would ask the legislature for a 2»<- cent fare.