Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 13, Number 110, Decatur, Adams County, 8 May 1915 — Page 1

Volume XIII, Number 110.

LOSS OF LUSITANIA SHOCKS CIVILIZED WORLD

SHIELDS I LUSITANIA IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN LOAD- | ED WITH MUNITIONS OF WAR— I UNITED STATES IS I POWERLESS

Cleveland, May B—(Special to the | Daily Democrat)-England carried I American passengers on the Lusitania I as shields for an immense cargo of I British munitions of war. That I charge was made here today by Dr I Bernard Dernburg, unofficial spokcsI man of the kaiser in the United I States. Dr. Denburg blurted out a I vigorous denial that Germany was to I blame for the loss of life in the sinkI ing of the great liner. He branded I the Lusitania as a Britisli man-of-war I and charged England had advanced I money at low interest to build her I with the aim in view of commandeerI ing her in time of war. Washington, D. C., May B—(Special I to Daily Democrat) —ls the Lusitania ■ had been disarmed before its destrucI tion, Germany was not advised of I this, but it was previously advised | that the liner had been armed, the I German embassy announced this n'tI ernoon. It was advised that the em- I I bassy also knew the ship was taking 1 I arms and ammunition to England an i I its trip. i Washington, D. C„ May B—SpecialB—Special I to Daily Democrat) —Senator Stone, I chairman of the foreign relations com- ’ I mittee of the upper house, issued the i I following statement at noon concern- i I ing the Lusitania’s destruction: “The i I tragedy is of course to be profoundly I regretted. If the report as to loss of I life la true the sympathy of the ci«- | ilized world will be deeply stirred. I But for us, it seems to be that good ’ I common sense dictates that we keep I our heads until we get our bearings. ) I It is a bad time to get rattled and i E. act impulsively. Don’t ‘rock the boat < I without expressing an opinion as to I our relations to this event or as to 1 I our duty in the premises. There are i I some facts we cannot overlook and i are bound to consider. We cannot i ■ overlook the fact that the Lu’sitan,a ; | was a British ship, flying the British < I flag, and was subject at any time to I be put into naval service of the gov- < I ernment. Indeed, it is stated, that : I at the time she was attacked, she was 1 I carrying military reservists to Eng- I I land for service in the British army, t | True there were American citizens i I aboard, but it must not be forgotten ( I that they went aboard a belligerent j I ehip with full knowledge of the risk t | and after official warning by the Ger- i | man government. When on board a l | British ship, they were on British . I soil. Was not their position substan- i K tially equivalent to being within the ; I walls of a fortified city? If Ameri- j I can citizens stay within a city besieg- , ■ ea or threatened as the enemy at- t I tacks, what should our government < I do if these citizens should be injured, i | I express no opinion at this time. I f ■ am merely suggesting reasons why we ■ I should ma/tain our equilibrium, and i not rock the boat until we know wait I we are about.” “Aside from the prouI able loss of American lives let us as« 1 I ourselves just where we come in. At i 8 the present moment I confess t mt I appears to me that from our stanlK point as a neutral nation, the Gulflg.it , | case presents a more delicate and -,e- --| rlous complication than the case <’• the Lusitania.” Queenstown, May 8 (Special to Daily Democrat)— The body of Chas. Frohman. the New York theatrical manager, one of the victims of the Lusitania, has been recovered, according to a statement Issued by the Cunard officials. Evansville, Ind., May 8-(Special to the Dally Democrat)-W. G. Archer this afternoon made public a letter written to him by Elbert Hubbard just before the latter embarked on the Lusitania, in which he said that before he returned he would interview the kaiser at St. Helena. Washington, D. C„ May B—(Special to the Daily Democrat)—There I

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

was some doubt this afternoon that the Washington administration deemed itself powerless in the Lusitania case. This judgment was based on personal and confidential expression by executive officials who were not yet ready to go on record by name. The view was held, how’ever, by almost all of those who would speak. Their opinion was backed openly by such men as Chairman Stone of the foreign relations committee and Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia, who agreed with Stone. Looked at coldbloodedly, the official said the Germans seemed to have by no means a bad legal defense, as good as in the Falaba case and much better than In those of the Frye, Cushing and Gulflight. Berlin, May B—(SpecialB—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Hundreds of telegrams of congratulations on the sinking of the Lusitania by a German submarine have been received by Admiral Tirpritz, father of the new type of submarine warfare. The newspapers praise the pluck and daring of the submarines which, they say, have avenged the loss of Admiral Von Spee’s squadron. Some of the more violent anti-American newspapers hint that if American lives are lost, Americans will be only too glad to be compensated with cash. (By Wilbur S. Forest, U. P. Correspondent) Queenstown, May B—(SpecialB—(Special to the Daily Democrat)— Germany's submarine warfare cost 1,346 lives when the giant Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk eight miles off of the Irish coast. Os these probably more than 100 were citizens of the United States. In that number are now included the names of Alfred G. Vanderbilt, multimillionaire; Charles Frohman, theatrical magnate; Charles Klein, noted playright; Elbert Hubbard, and others well known in England and the United States. No trace can be found of them and their friends reluctantly admitted late today that they must have perished. The latest available figures show that only 703 of the Lusitania’s passengers and crew were saved. Many of them are in a precariout condition from immersion and Injuries received when the bottom of the giant liner was almost torn out by the explosion of two torpedoes and by other explosions within the vessel’s hull, presumably among ammunition in her cargo. All are penniless and have only the clothing they stand in. Tender women were rescued after hours spent in the water, buoyed up by life belts, and it is feared many of them will die from exposure. Captain Turner of thte lost ship is here, suffering greatly from exhaustion. He was in the water for three hours. London, May B—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The British steamer Don has been torpedoed and sunk of Northumberland. Queenstown, Eng., May B—(SpecialB—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Among the survivors of the Lusitania are Mr. and Mrs. E. Bliss Thompson of Seymour, Ind., it was announced today. New York, N. Y„ May B—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The failure of the British admiralty to provide a convoy of high speed destroyers for the Lusitania subjected much comment today. Cunard line officials refused to discuss it. They said it was likely this failure would be explained in parliament. New York, May B—(Special to the Dally Democrat) —The German embassy again today printed its advertisement in the New York papers warning Americans that travel toward Great Britain and France is dangerous and that all persons taking passage on ships flying the English flag or hei (Continued on page 2)

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, May 8, 1915.

; DEATH OF SISTER Called Rev. Floyd G. Ro&- , ers to Paris, Mo.—Left Last Night. A SUDDEN DEATH Supposed to be Due to Heart Trouble—No Preaching Here Tomorrow. t ■ ___ • i Rev. F. G. Rogers, pastor of the Baptist church, left last night at 9:30 i o’clock for Paris, Mo., where he was called by the sudden deatli of his sis- . ter, Mrs. Kate Gorrell, wire of Monroe ■ Gorrell, of that place. Mrs. Gorrell's death occurred quite • suddenly yesterday afternoon and al- : though details are unknown here, it is supposed to have resulted from heart trouble. She wms about fortyfive years old and leaves a husband and one child. Rev. Rogers and family resided in Missouri, living )n Kansas City before coming here a few months ago. There will be no preaching at the Baptist church tomorrow on account of the absence of the pastor, but the Sunday school and young people’s services will be held at the regu>ar hour. o MINISTERIAL MEETING. The Ministerial association will meet at 1:30 Monday afternoon at the library. WAS JNSTALLED Rev. Jay C. Hanna Becomes Official Presbyterian Pastor With IMPRESSIVE SERVICE Friday Evening—Speakers Weer Dr. Gordon, Revs. Montgomery, Shirey. With the auditorium filled with members and friends of the Presbyterian church, Rev. Jay C. Hanna, who recently came here to assume charge of that congregation was officially installed last evening as pastor. Probably a more impressive installation service has never been held in the local church than was the one of last evening and those who were present were greatly benefited by the sermon and talks of the noted men in charge of the service. Rev. Baker, pastor of the Ossian Presbyterian church, opened the service with the Scripture lesson, and was followed by a sermon delivered by Rev. Shirey, pastor of the Bethany Presbyterian church of Fort Wayne. Rev. Shiry is a forceful speaker and his i sermon was greatly enjoyed. Rev. ■ Montgomery of the First Presbyterian church of Fort Wayne then gave the charge to the pastor and this was foll lowed by the charge to the congrega- • tion by Dr. James A. Gordon of WinI ona Lake.| This charge was filled , with many pointed facts and indicated the numerous ways in which a congregation may make it exceedingly I difficult for a pastor to give satisfacf tion and to please every member. Dr. i Gordon stated that a minister Is exr pected to be a scholar, theologian, dip- - lomat, good mixer and a shrewd busi- - ness man but that to be perfect in all 5 of these attainments was an impossi i billty. An excellent anthem by tnc choir and a solo by Dr. Fred Patter son greatly added to the services, e o CARD OF THANKS. s The sons and daughters of the lat' d Mrs. Ellen Touhey hereby publiclj sj express their sincere thanks to al e neighbors and friends for kindnessm ir shown them during the sickness am death of their mother.

I COMMUNITY BIBLE CLASSES. 1 Ward I. ' Dlst. 1. All members are urgently requested tn be present at the next - meeting which will be held with Mrs. Minnie Teeple on Vine street, Thursday, at 7 p. m. Mrs. Rev. Rilling will act as teacher. Dist. 2. Mrs. Rev. Rilling, Winchester street, Tuesday, 2 p. m. Ward 11. [ Dist. 1. Mrs. A. J. Smith, corner Adams and Second streets, Tuesday, 7:30 p. m. t Dist. 2. Mrs. Ollie Heller, 523 West Jefferson street, Monday, 7 p. m. Dist. 3. Mrs. Fred Sellemeyer, South Tenth street, Thursday, 7 p. m. Ward 111. Dist. 1. No report. Dist. 2. Mrs. Purdy, North First a street, Tuesday, 7 p. m. ) Dist. 3. Mrs. O. L. Vance, Second s street, Thursday, 9:15 a. in. Dist. 4. Mrs. Downs, Third street, » Tuesday, 7:30 p. m. o TO THE CHILDREN t i Is Given His Estate By Late John P. Baker In His Will PROBATED TODAY Will of Late Wife Also Admitted—She Leaves All to the Husband The wills of both John P. Baker, whose death occurred recently, and that of his wife, Mary Baker, which occurred a few years ago, were probated today. The wife's will leaves all her estate to her husband, and was written August 20, 1910, and witnessed by Mrs. Christena Schultz, Fred Baker and Anna Coffee. The will of the late John P. Baker w-as executed October 2, 1913, and was witnessed by Esthef M. Corbett and John Schurger. To his daughter, Emma Baker, be given S2OO. The rest of the estate is to be divided equally among the children, eacn receiving one-eleventh as follows: Catherine Gross, Emma Coffee, John Baker, Mcrris Baker, Maggie Johns, Mathias Baker, Frank Baker, Teena Schultz, Frederick Baker, Mary Baker. The son, Joseph Baker, is to have the use of his share, one-eleventh, as long as ho lives, and at his death it Is to go Io his children. Mr. Baker states in hir will that he holds accounts againsf ’ several of his children and these arc ' to be taken into consideration m ■ equalizing the shares. If any of the . children contest the will, they are tc be cut off with five dollars. The exec utor is to be agreed upon by the ma ' pority of the heirs. ) o— j - ROBS POOR BOX 1 1 A Dirty Low Thief Broke i Into the St Mary’s ! Church Last Night STOLE THE PENNIES 1 - e That Were Given to the Poor —Gained Entrance I i Through Window i- . y :- Some time last night a dirty low’ -. down sneak thief gained entrance c- through the window in the sacristy >- of the St. Mary’s Catholic church andi i- going to the front of the church where II a little stell box rested on the wall i- and served as a place,for the fait.lic ful and kind hearted people to drop r- a few pennies in for the help of the poor. The deed was about the lowest that any human being could do, and the person who did it places himself on an equal with the scoundrel that :o w’ould steal a penny off a dead man’s iy eye. Father Seimetz pastor of the 11 St. Mary’s church stated this morning >s that only a few- cents were in the box id as the money had beep taken out (Continued on Page 2.)

PLAY WAS FINE High School Seniors’ German Class Presents Excellent Little Play — AT THE LIBRARY Witnessed by Large Audience Interested in German—Much Applause. The German playlet, a one-act comedy reproduced at the library hall last evening by the high school seniors’ German class in charge of Miss Frieda Wehmhoff, the German teacher, was very good. The audience was quite large and the players received I much sincere and hearty applause. The playlet was “Eigensinn,” or “The Obstinate Family,” written by Roderick Benedix, the well known German playwright. Tlie parts were taken by Earl Ripley. Katharine Christen, John Stults, Truman Hey anq Olive Perkins, who made excellent actors, and who spoke the German quite to perfection. The stage setting represented a home scene and the play hinged on the obstinacy of three —women of course —who were finally prevailed upon, through appeal to feminine vanity, to give in to their husbands’ request to say “Thank goodness, the table is set,” thus ending a threecornered quarrel that began first, only in jest. o HOME WEDDING I Wedding Solemnized at Berne—Miss Runyon and Ira Fuhrman Wedded. GROOM A MERCHANT Partner of G. C. Steele in the Variety Store at Huntington, Indiana. I A pretty wedding of much interest here as well as elsewhere over the :ounty was solemnized at Berne Wednesday morning, May 5, at 11 o’clock it the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Martz, on North Jefferson street. The bride was Mrs. Martz’ daughter, Miss 1 Mabel Runyon, and the groom was Ira i Fuhrman, son of Mr. anq Mrs. David ’’’uhrman of Monroe, formerly of this 1 ilty. Rev. D. A. Kaley, pastor of the Trinity Evangelical church, officiated, 1 he ring ceremony being used. The home was prettily decorated vlth potted ferns and the couple took ‘heir places for the ceremony under ' i canopy of bells to the notes of Weinrich’s “Wedding Bells,” played by 1 Mrs. Forest Danner, sister of the groom. The bride was lovely in a Town of white Messaline with over lace robe. A long veil completed the : lovely costume. The flowers which she carried and also wore were lilies of the valley. The groom wore the customary black suit. The bride, who is the only daughter of Mrs. George Martz, was formerly a milliner of Berne. After an extensive trip of almost a year in California she was employeq as a clerk in ,i store at Muncie. The groom was formerly a barber at Monroe, but is now a partner with G. C. Steele in a variety store at Huntington. They will be at home at 740 Polk street, Huntington, after i May 10. Those from a distance at the wedding besides friends and relatives ■ from Bluffton, Monroe, Berne and Gei nova, were Mrs. Forest Danner, Mr. ■ and Mrs. Nelson Fuhrman, Cambridge City. i n r POLICE COURT. t ' 3 Eq Knavel was arrested this aftcre noon by Marshal Melchi on the ; charge of public intoxication. Knavel < was in such a helpless condition that t it was necessary to get a conveyance to take him to jail.

HUNDREDS DROWN AT SEA — LATEST REPORTS MORE THAN SUBSTANTIATE EARLY FEARS—NEARLY TWO HUNDRED AMERICANS LOST THEIR LIVES

London, May B—(SpecialB—(Special to Daily Democrat) —It was officially announced this afternoon Hint 45 additional survivors from the Lusitania had been landed at Queenstown from a drifter. This brings the number of known rescued up to 703. Copenhagen, May B—(SpecialB—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The Berlin new'spa pers today proclaim in head lines of colossal type the torpedoing of the Lusitania and declare that Germany Lusitania and . ,kwof,(lAhtedUT HR lias registered a new triumph for hei naval policy. The editorial cornmeal generally declares that England re ceived what she deserved. London, May B—(SpecialB—(Special to Dally Democrat) —The total casualties it the loss of the Lusitania are declared to be 1,502, according to figures avail able at 9 o’clock. The figures madt public follow: Total passengers am crew on board, 2,160; known passen gers and crew rescued, 658; total fear ed to have drowned, 1,502. Captail Turner is about the only officer report ed saved, and.he is said to have beer taken from the water three hours aft er the Lusitania foundered. Os the total number on board 188 were Americans. The majority of tlies. are believed to have perished. The Cunarq officers had the names of only seven first-class passengers who had been saved. London, May 8— (Special to Daily Democrat) —The admiralty at 1:50 : this afternoon issued an official de , nial that Ju' Lusitania was armed. New York. N. Y„ May B—(Specia to Daily Democrat) —In no list o names of the survivors of the Lusi tania received here up to 10 a. m have the names of j\lfrefl G. Vander bilt, Charles Frohman, Charles Kiel: or Elbert Hubbart appeared and then i friends now have abandoned hope tha> I they escaped. Washington, D. C., May B—(SpeciaB—(Specia to Daily Democrat)—“Not until al the facts are in hands, can anythin' be said,” was the state department’ • only comment early today on the di struction of the Lusitania. The whit' house and other departments werequally reticent. Stories that an ex tra session of congress was und?i consideration, entirely lacked confir mation. On the contrary it was un derstood nothing whatever would t>< done until full reports had been re ceived from American representative: in a position to learn details.. It wa: understood, however, that the presi dent would confer with the cabine members, with Chairman Stone of th< senate foreign relations committal and with such other members of th< senate and house commitees as couh be gathered together. Seymour. Ind., May B—(SpecialB—(Special t< Daily Democrat) —T. S. Bliss of this city received an unsigned cablegran from Queenstown doday, which read “Maudie and I are safe. It was he lieved to refer to Mr. and Mrs. It Bliss Thompson of Seymour. Tlmli names did not appear in the list o rescued. Mrs. W. H. Handy, sister of Mrs E. B. Thompson, received an unsigned cablegram from Queenstown, identical witli the one received in Seymour. London, May 8, —(Special ot Daily Democrat) —The admiralty at 2:15 this afternoon said Giat the latest reports available indicated that only 70.> of the passengers and crew of the Lusitania has been saved and that 1457 probably have been lost. At that • hour the admiralty informed tire press ■ bureau that it had no further reports 1 of rescues and that it regarded the t above figures as approximately cois rect although inquiries were still being made all along the coast.

Price, Two Cents

Queenstown, May B—Mrs.8 —Mrs. M. IL Pappadcpoula of Athens faced dca'h 'n the sea for more than an hour, although an expert swimmer ,sho was totally enhausted when landed. On the rescue tug she had been given a sailor’s swonter and trousers to replace her wet clothing. Her husband, whom she tried vainly to save, probably was lost. “I was ordering coffee in the saloon w’hen the sliip was almost broken in.two by the force <f an explosion. I put on a life belt. I tried to help my husbanq after we got into tlie water. He was no swimmer, however, and 1 fear ho was lost. Only he thought of my babies in Athens bouyed me up until finally 1 was pick’d up by a fishing boat.” She will live, the doctors say’. D. A. Alfred Thomas, who has been saved, told the story of his experience. He said: “We were at luncheon when suddenly the vessel was struck and shook from stem to stern with the force of an explosion that seemed to throw her on her beam. We had not believed ft possible that an attack would he made, but there was not a passenger who lid not realize that the unexpectml had happened. The explosion was ’’ollowed by another, equally forcible, ind the big steamer shuddered and almost Instantly began to list to port. Officers and men rushed for their stations, almost without order, and the work of clearing the boat was begun. There was little panic so far as I eoulq see. Many of the passengers ran here and there about the deck, although Captain Turner and his officers tried their best to pacify them, Many of the women were hysterical nd some of them with infants in their arms caught at the fastenings of the boat and hampered the launching. Ten boats were finally swung olf. Lady McWorth was picked up unconscious after she had been in the waler for three hours. We had no warning and the big steamer sank within twelve or fifteen minutes after v.-e were hit." It was a dastardly out--age, deserving the condemnation of ’he entire civilizeq world. It was a beautiful sunshiny day, tlie sea was smooth and to that is due the fact 'hat any one was saved. Had the water been rough or had it been night ’very one would have been lost. I loubt very much whether any of the >ort side boats were launched. They were in such a position that they ■ould not be swung over side. The steamer was headed for the shore, he moment the explosion occurred, Captain Turner stuck to his bridge ind was picked out of the water.” Priest Cooper, a newspaper man, said: ‘I am afraid that many of the boats could not lie cut away in time. Tlie vessel sank very fast and carried nany people down with her. There naturally was much confusion. There was a large number of women and about fourteen children in tlie second cabing, the children under one year dd. Wrapped in a blanket and with>ut clothing. Julian qe Ayala, the Cuban consul at Liverpool, was the most ■heerful. although he was suffering rom a great gash in his leg from vliich tlie blood streamed. I boarded hree boats before I finally got off n safety. The only reason that I was saves, was I remained quiet and trust’d to the Lord. T praybd that J might be spared for the sake of my three children, who arc in a convent in Liverpool. I believe there were many on board who made no effort to got into the boats, believing that the steamer could not sink. 'I lie steamer Heron and two trawlers were assigneq to gather up the dead. They returned to Queenstown at 6 o'clock this morning with more than 100 bod'es of which the majority were women. All are being taken to the temporary morgue in the town hall as fast as the bodies are recovered. The admiralty has ordered that every effort he made to secure all victims. Tlie scenes on the quay here as the sur(Continued on I’age 2.)