Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 13, Number 313, Decatur, Adams County, 31 December 1915 — Page 1

Volume XIII. Number 313.

N/ITM_BLOWN UP British Cruiser Blown Up in Shcerneff Harbor Late Yesterday. INTERNAL EXPLOSION Attributed as Cause—Three Huidred Sailors Lose Their Lives.

p (Unltefl f-ress Service) Londm, Dec. 31—(Special to Daily DeroocH) —The British cruiser Natal was bl'Wn to pieces in its harbor yes terdayaftemoon, with a probable loss of abut 300 lives. The official statement from the ad miraltr said the ship was wrecked by an internal explosion. The admir alty tatement reported that 400 of the Total's crew of 725 were saved. It is believed many, if not all, these t were ashore when the cruiser sank. An immediate investigation has been orde»d but the results have not been mad*; public. News of the disaster was withheld from publication for near! twenty-four hours until the ad miri|ty had received accurate statement of the survivors and the probablHloss of life. Tils same precaution was taken last Maj when the Princess Irene was blorn to bits in a similar explosion In - the! Sheerness harbor. Officials ex plared at the time that the news was wiliheld to prevent the circulation of wip rumors concerning the cause of th4 explosion. the Natal displaced 13,660 tons. It

was built in 1903 and was 480 feet lo>g. The Natal spent two weeks In the New York harbor tn 1913. She brought the body of American Ambassado - Whitelaw Reid from Portsmouth <n that occasion. Chlca.'o, 111., Dec. 31 —(Special to E.'.3y Democrat) —Germany has placed an embargo on .shipment of chemicals aid dyestuffs to the United States lecause the nation considers Amerlc. unneutral, Elmer Murphy, presided of a Chicago importing chemic.l concern declared on his return fr>m Germany today. VVastington, D. C., Dec. 31—(Special to laily Democrat)—There will be no br-ak with Austria. Danger cf a aevrance of diplomatic relations be tween Austria and the United States is past. Austria has “substantially' compied with the United States’ demand) regarding the Ancona case. Ths was the official, authoritative and jractically unanimous view taken in Washington today. It waits only the ftal and formal approval of President Wilson after he reads the Austrian reply. Futher negotiations and exchange of nrtes are probable, but only on minor mints regarding reparation sot the l»s of American Ilves. The chief offlciJ issues are met by Austria. A wav< of relief swept over the state depatment following the publication of tie unofficial text of the Austrian reply The official text was on the cabhs today, from Ambassador I onfield Tnnsmitted in sections, and of considerable length ft was believed the entire >ote would be in Secretary bantring’t hands by nightfall. Austria has s own a desire to make severance of relations with America impossible. The kustrlan reply also bears out dispatiies that Austria would meet the Anerican demands and go as far as posdble to preserve peaceful relations. The three demands of the Lnl.ed States: Punishment of the submarine commander, reparation for Amerl.an lives lot and a disavowal of the sinking of tie Ancona while the passengers gers wire still aboard, have been m effect g anted by Austria. Vlenn., Dec. 31,— (Special to Daily Demoent)— An Austrian squadron sank thi French submarine Monge in the larbor of Durazzo Thursday morning i few hours before the na. l battle in which two Austrian destroyers were sunk, was officially annou ced. Washington, -(Special to Daily Denocrat)—A definite alliance that woud put the power and r sources o: the 21 republics o ■ • South anl Central America behind the Monoe Doctrine, it becan known to<ay 13 the real purpoSß the proposed convention betwee these natims artmen t InOfficials at the state depar . eluding i&yretary Lansing (Continued on J** e 2>

DECATUR DAILY

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. ° erman Bervlce evening at i. 30 o clock. Services tomorrow morning at 10 n clock. English services Sunday morning. Regular quarterly meeting Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. A. W. HINZ, Pastor. ’ — WE AWTHIRTEEN Daily Democrat Observes Anniversary— Thirty-day Subscription Campaign. A BILL FOLD FREE To Those Who Renew Subscriptions During the Month of January. Start the new year off by renewing

your subscription to the Daily Democrat. We start tomorrow on a thirtyday campaign for renewals, agreeable to the plan we have followed for a number of years. The Daily Democrat was born January 12,1903, and we are now observing our thirteenth anniversary. We have grown during those years to a daily with a circulation of more than 3,000 and our readers now number 18,900 daily. Every cent of the profits from this business has been put back into the plant, that we might be enabled to give you a better paper, a live daily record of the news, of the county, state and nation. We feel that we have met your approval for our list has grown with each succeeding year and is still growing. Our office is one of the most complete to be found in a city this size in the country, including a perfecting press, a cylinder, jobbers, two linotypes, one of these a number 14. the very latest mo4el of type ma chines on the market. Come in and visit us and see the Daily Democrat printed. This year we are giving to those who renew their subscription a bill fold or pocketbook, and we believe you will want one of them. Pay during January and receive one of these free. We wish you a Happy New Year. MORE CONSPIRACY INCITEMENT (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Dec. 31, -(Special to Dally Democrat) —Chief of police Samuel Parrott, city sealer Herman Adam, and three police sergeants were indited today by the Marion county grand jury on charges growing out of the last election. Chief Perrott. and Sergeants Hulse, Sanders and Pope were charged In the Inditement with assault and battery during the election. City sealer Adams is charged with offering “gifts” to voters in one precinct If they would vote the democratic ticket or not at all. Adams was among those indited last fa!! when the grand jury handed down 125 indltements, all but 13 of which were dropped after the acquitta o Mayor Bell. The inditement against Adams were not dropped and he is slated for trial January 10th. goodTproperty for sale. Because of the doctors llft ve told me I would have to go south tor the winter and spring and I have decided to offer my dwelling located from Lutheran church and near U. B. church. A good house and in good Stion. I will leave in ten a- - interested come andsee 31 011 NEW SING SING WARDEN. Albany. N. Y.. Dec. Daily Democrat) -George W. Kirch v was this afternoon appointed warden of Sing Sing prison. He sueof office.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, December 31, 1915.

JEWISH_NATION Reconstruction of a New Jewish Nation is Under Way. JEWS OF AMERICA lake Part in Establishing Kingdom Distinct from I’owors

vl t (United Press Service) 1 Chicago, in., Dec. 31—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Reconstruction of the Jewish nation, distinct among the great powers of the earth, with internal.onal rights and world recognition began in earnest today when the Knights of Zion convened their nineteenth annual convention. An American congress of Jews, to be allied with a larger body representing the Jews of all nations, will be inaugurated. The thousand or more delegates will also formulate plans for securing a voice in the council of nations expected to end the European war. Louis D. Brandeis, who is now practically at the head of the Zionist movement, will be prominent among those who will urge the establishment of a Jewish nation apart from other recognized governments. Nathan D. Kaplan will preside at the opening meeting of the session which will be held in various parts of the city during the week. The more immediate work of sending relief to Jews in the warring countries will also be taken up and means devised for the best expenditure of millions of dollars already pouring into Europe from the outside. COTS OFF THUMB —t — J. G. Bittner Misses Stroke as Hog Falls and Cripples Himself. LIGAMENTS ARE CUT As Are Arteries —Will be Crippled in Left Hand as Result. .. .< J. G. Bittner is nursing a badly cut hand as a result of an axe slipping while he was cutting a hog in two recently at a butchering. Bittner had hung the hog on the gambrels and was finishing up the work of cutting the hog in pieces. While cutting down the center the body slipped from the fastenings as Bittner made a stroke. The axe landed on his left hand, cutting the thumb at its base. Two arteries and several ligaments were cut off entirely. He was rushed to town in a rig and taken to a physician's office where his wound was dressed. He will probably be crippled as a result of the cut. Bittner, it will be remembered, wad formerly in the fish business In Decatur, later taking up gardening. — O 1 ■— HENRY THOMAS HAS WHITE STAG EXTRA. Publishes Five Column Ad on First Page of Democrat, December 18. Henry Thomas has proven himself one of the livest advertisers in Decatur by securing on December 18, a five-column display advertisement on the front page of this paper. If you missed reading it you’ll have another chance. Just look at his calendars. On a broadside he has had reproduced the half of the Democrat of December IS, showing two feature stories of the dav and in the five center columns he gets the front page ad. It’s a genuine reproduction and is creating lots of interest. Those lucky enough to secure a copy of this calendar will treasure it. Exceptional taste was displayed in the selection of a subject. THREE FARMS CHANGE HANDS. The Monroe Fitch'& Sons’ real estate company of Fort Wayne today closed a series of real estate deals in this locality, the total transaction figuring $27,000. They sold the Bobilya farm near the Washington church, ' 60 acres to Fred Kiefer and the August , Schlickman farm, 80 acres, near Craigvine to Philip Frauhiger. Fitch & Sons also purchased twenty-five acres ! from Fred Kiefer, thus completing a several cornered deal.

■PLANNING A BIG NIGHT. (United Prens Service) Indianapolis, Ind.. Dec. 31 —(Spec-j lai to Daily Democrat)—ln the memory of the oldest case owners here there has not been a New Year’s eve when the preparations for the annual celebration attendin' the occasion have been so varied and elaborate. I Every case in the city has already re- 1 served every table. The proprietor of I one of the biggest Cites declared that I more champagne coiks will be pulled | tonight than on an| previous New I Year’s in the history of the city. MY NEW YEARS wTsH. "Here Is’ my New Year’s wish for I

you,— Twelve months of service, staunch and true, • 3 Weeks, fifty-two, of happiness—f The fruit of truly von success; 3 Days, three hundret and sixty-five, - To attain the goo< for which you > strive.” 3 > O—CLOSES PROGRAM I" ■■ * i Last Program at the Municipal Tree Will he Given Tonight. REV. SEIMETZ TALKS Decatur City Band and Combined Choir to Furnish the Music. With the celcbraton of New Year’s!

at the municipal tr e tonight at en o’clock the history of the first >unicipal Christmas, tree of this jeity, will have been completed. / Promptly at seven o'clock. » the! tree, on the platforn, the IWatui-1 City band will open he lasUrmal 1 program to be held inder A* aus-l pices of the general cmrnir’- The I band will play several sei-/°ns-Father Julius A. Seine/the! Catholic church win the.; Jlress the I audience on the subject f rhe New I Year.” I I A chorus, composed of feral sing- 1 ers from each of the chfies of the!, city will then sing sacrfnusic. Os I caurse the band will plJgain. The I official program is: / Selections—Docatur f Band. Address —Father S'U. of the I Catholic Church. Music —Combined C*is, made up I of choirs of the city < rhes.

WAY IS BEINgIeARED. The heavy snow nJ the way im passable for some <■<■ rural mail carriers Wednesday,! the way was cleared yesterday aill were able to complete their r®. The mails are still rather heabut the holi day bulk is steadilyreasing. The heavy snow has raihe way more I difficult also for (city carriers. I There will be onelplete delivery I of city mail tomoif but the rural I carriers will make!deli Very. The I general delivery )|>pen as usual. I from 8 to 9. i NOT “Sp lET

Rumor That ited States Steel Con ion Had Bougt onds OF THE W2 l MFG. CO. Is Untrue — . Shoemaker, Manage Company Explai bject. "Rumors that United States Steel Corporate re bought the $35,000 dollar bo je of the Ward Manufacturing my is false," said E. H. She r, manager of the company morning. “Our men are out to market for the bonds, but I hav lard from thorn yet’ he said. The bonds in ion are seven percent, preferr dustrial, with semiannual int payments with privlege or retir at any Interest paying period, full issue cf . $35,000 will be d to enlarging . the business of cal firm, i Several carlot wire have ari rived at this tir the orders in | hand will be fit rapidly,

DEMOCRAT

ICIVES JECISION On the Point of What Constitutes Attendance at School. THE STATE BOARD Os Truancy Has Furnished Interesting Decision—tv •zx__ zzti

W ritten “Excuses.’ h I i Local school authorities have re- | calved from the state board of truancy l la decision showing just what constiu I autes the attendance of a child at I school. The decision follows: II “Be it resolved by the state board lof truaic y that under the school at-1 I tandance law, acts of 1913, page 616, lit hereby defines the word ‘attendI ance’ as follows: ’I “That the attendance of a child at I I school shall mean the presence of I I such child in school each day, equip-1 I ped with books and other necessarv I I supplies, or a proper showing shall be I I made by the parents, guardians or othI er person having the control or charge L lof su li child that said parents, guard 1 I lan or other person does not have I sufficient means to furnish such child!, I with the books and clothing necessary 1 1 I to such attendance at school. “Be it resolved further that in each I case of tardiness or absence of a child | from school a written excuse or ex-1 I planation therefor shall be made to

-1 the teacher by the parents, guardian lor other person having the control or / charge 'of such child.” |URCESI ON ROAD I Will be New Clover Leaf Engines to be Placed in Service ABOUT APRIL FIRST They Are Among Largest and Best in Use in the 1 Middle West. ' I s

I Much interest is being manifested I among the employes of the Clover I I Leaf concerning the purchase of five I new freight engines for use on the I road. They are expected to be in serI vice shortly after April Ist and will I be among the largest and best in use I in the middle west. The new locomotives will be nearly I I sixty feet long and will weigh 193,000 I pounds, which is 3,000 pounds heavier) I than any now in use on the Clover I L<eaf system. They are being conI structed at the Lima Locomotive I Works. They will be of the consoli I I ilater super-heater type and will deI velop 37,500 tractive power. They I will be numbered 195, 196, 197, 198 I and 199. I ERIE RAILROAD FIRST.

I The Ei*!e railroad, the first great S I east and west trunk line, with a his I tory of romance and picturesqueness I behind it, is credited with many of I I the “first things” done by railroads I that have reflected credit upon the I industry and helped to put it in its . present high state of development in I the United States. For example: The I Erie was the first railroad in the world .I to dispatch its trains by telegraph. llt ran the first emigrant train over I the rails, also the first cattle train land the first milk train. It was the I first railroad in the country to use a I bell cord. The first “fast freight” I was run over the Erie, the route being between New York and Deposit, N. IY. The first excursion train in the

I United tSates was run over the Erie from Goshen, N. Y., to New York City July 4, 1842. The first experiment ever made with sleeping cars was made by the Erie, the company building two —the “Erie” and the "Ontario” I—in 1843. They preceded the Pullmans. Uncle Sam made his first contract for railroad mail-carrying with I the Erie; therefore, it is the longest lin government service. — FUNERAL SATURDAY The funeral of Isaac Peterson, whose death occurred yesterday, will be held Saturday afternoon at two (o'clock from the home.

(TODAY’S HOOSIER ODDITY. I (I'nirnil Press Service) I Indianapolis, Ind., Dee. 31—(Spec I lal to Daily Democrat)—The element I |of the foreign population, former!) I I known as the “great unwashed" haul ■ disappeared, according to the figures I I made public by the superintendent of I I schools. The figures show that ovet I 1 100,000 workmen, their wives and I I children, took advantage of the pub I 1 He baths during the past year. This! leaves only a small fraction of one I I per cent unbathed, according to the I authorities. | WILL RETURN TUESDAY. I L A „JI « . a I

I 1,. a. Holthouse returned last night I I from Chicago, where he accompanied I I his father J. B. Holthouse, who con I I suited Dr. Ochner, the noted special | list. The specialist did not encourage I I Mr. Holthouse very much and it is I ■ thought that he will return home I Inext Tuesday. He will not enter the I I Mayo Brothers’ sanitarium at Roches- 1 ter, Minn. I '~° ——

[I HOME COMING Pleasant Mills High School VV ill Have Big HomeComing on NEW YEAR’S DAY Dinner at School HouseProgram at the Baptist Church—Big Event. — _ I

1 1 Pleasant Mills will see a great inI gatehring of people at the home-com-ing inaugurated by the Pleasant Mills schools. The home-coming will be an all day event and there will be many I brilliant entertainment features. The crowd will gather at the school for the fine dinner at noon and in the after noon the scene will be transferred to the Baptist church,. There a fine I program will be rendered. Everybody who can is planning so I start the New Year right, by going I I back home for the reunion. o— WE GO TO SEE HER. I John Cramer Left Decatur to Visit Kingmountain, Ky., Girl. John Cramer left Decatur last niglu 1 for Kingmountain, Lincoln county. 11 Kentucky, where he will visit over I New Year’s with Miss Pearl Hogue, al' school teacher in that mountainous

district. Herb Lachot, whp has con . I ducted some of the correspondence | I for ( ramer, believes he is going to I I get married, but the report cannot be I verified. Os course, it’s too late to in ' I terview (.ramer about it, so we can | I not forecast the event, however probable it may be. I — o . ABOUT THE CICK. Mrs. Aaron DeVinney returned last night from Bluffton where she was called by the illness of her nephew. Edward, two-year-old son of Mr. and I Mrs. Pliny Weibel. The babe Is better and hopes for its recovery are entertained. The babe has been weak ' since birth, but physicians think an ultimate recovery will be effected. ( Junior, aged three months, son of 1 Charles Braun, is quite ill of a cold *

I on its lungs. Kenneth, year and a half old son of ■ Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Tricker, who was ill of stomach trouble, is better. FOUND GOLD AT GENEVA. Last week we are told, while the Irustee was looking over the David I Wheeler house for some papers he came upon SSOO in gold which had been laid in the sideboard. The money was brought to Geneva and deposited in the bank. Wouldn't that have been a pretty rich haul for some burglar? The combination to Mr. Wheeler's safe has b'een lost and that was the purpose of the trustee in looking around—Geneva Herald.

AT REFORMED CHURCH A Sylvester service will be held at 7:30 this evening at the Reformed church. The annual business of the Sunday school, including the election of Sunday school officers, will be at tended to at this time. All members of the Sunday school and church, are invited to come. There will also be a German New Year’s sermon at ten o’clock, Saturday morning. -O LIBRARY TO CLOSE. The Decatur library will be closed all day tomorrow on account of New Year’s. ,

Price, Two Cents.

lIEW JFFICUIS I Will Take Places in Court I House Saturday Morning —Old Ones Retire. HAVE GOOD RECORDS New Year's Marks Change of County Officials—All

is in Readiness. Several county officials will today conclude their services and give way to those elected a year ago. There will be new faces tomorrow in three of the offices, while County Commissioner William Reppert succeeds

| himself, starting upon a three year | term, after filling the place as an appointee to succeed Jim a. Hendricks. At the county clerk’s office Will I Hammell will assume the duties as I county clerk and he has fitted himself I for the job by three months in the I office. His deputy is John T. Kelly, an I able and efficient man for the job, I while Miss Kate Hammell will serve as a clerk in the office. Ferdinand Bleeke, who retires, has been a very efficient officer and leaves with many friends. Deputy L. L. Baumgartner, who also retires at this time, has a | record of which he may well feel proud. Will J. Archbold will conclude a tWO-VPar form no

iwo-year term as county treasurer I and leaves with the knowledge that he has well performed the duties of I that very important office. He will be succeeded by George Kinzle, a well known citizen, thoroughly competent to take charge of the finances of this | splendid county. Aaron C. Augsburger will tomorI row begin his duties as county recordI er. following Andrew Welfley, and I Will retain the same deputy. Miss Rose I Voglewede. Mr. Welfley has likewise been on the Job all the time and his office is in good shape. Mr. Augsburger will make ai. equally careful official. We congratulate the retiring men on the records established and hope for the new men and their deputies all possible success. May good fortune come to all of you, old and new.

COURT HOUSE NEWS A new case, being that of Sarah A. Fisher vs. Benjamin F. Fisher, cn I judgment, $6,000, was filed in the AdI ams circuit court today by Attorneys Simmons & Dailey, Lowry & King, P. A. Saylor The suit is based on a judgment rendered for the plaintiff December 28 in Preble county, <). for $5,000 and costs of $81.02. Real estate transfers: Benjamin F. Fisher to Osa M. Graham $198.87 acres of Wabash township. $1300; M. Stephen Sprunger to David Wickey, 20 acres of Monroe township, $9,000. Lewis O. Adler was admitted to the bar this morning. P. G. Hooper and L. C. DeVoss, two attorneys of this bar, were appointed to conduct

the examination and re(>orted favorably. Mr. Adler was a former school r teacher, principal of the west ward 1 this city, resigning a short time ago to take the position of cashier of the bank of Preble. L. C. DeVoss assumed jurisdiction as special judge In the divorco case of Alice Harmon vs. James Harmon. Dwight I. B. Wass qualified as administrator of the estate of Wesley I. B. Wass. His bond was $4,000. The final repart of Alma Gilpin, administratrix of the estate of Alary Redding, was approved and the administratrix discharged from further liability.

A marriage license was issued to Claude Mathew Laisure. farmer, of Monroe, born September 18, 1895. son of James A. Laisure, to wed Elta Raudenbush, born March 21, 1898, daughter of Dayton Raudebush. A marriage license was issued to Carl Merritt, farmer, of Columbus. Ind., born November 24. 1891, son of Benjamin F. Merritt, to wed Orpha Smith, born March 5, 1896, daughter of John. Albert Smith. John B. Holthouse, guardian, filed final report as to Felix aj*d Catherine, which was approved, and he was discharged from further fltx’bllily. r