Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 14, Number 207, Decatur, Adams County, 31 August 1916 — Page 1

Volume XIV. Number 207.

HEART SHOCK MUSED DEATH John Springer, Local Electrician, Collapses on Derrick —Thought WAS ELECTROCUTED But Investigation Proves no Current Was in Any of the Lines. Collapsing suddenly from what is believed to be a heart attack, John, (Zack) Springer, residing on South Winchester street, died while working on a derrick in front of the Fritzinger home on north Second street at seven-thirty o’clock this morning. \t the time of the accident it was believed that he had been electrocuted. Springer was working with the repair gang under the direction of Mose Henry. They had come to the curve of the street to replace a broken damp on the trolley wire. Before they left the station Henry told the engineer to cut off the current, which he did. It was not replaced until Henry made a personal call to the station. Springer was working on the top of the derrick getting the comealongs on the guy wires when he seemed to collapse. Henry yelled to Springer to let go, which Springer did. He then attempted to sit down on the edge of the platform but collapsed totally and fell off the platform a distance of fifteen feet. Henry got under him and broke the fall although both men were dashed to the pavement. Neighbors ran with water and stimulants, and members of the gang who Were working at different places hustled to their comrades assistance. Dr. Smith was called and after futile efforts gave up Springer as dead. A lungmotor, owned by Victor Kemp, a salesman who demonstrated the machine at the fire headquarters last night, was rushed to the scene and efforts for resuscitation were made but without avail. Dr. D. D. Clark, coroner. was called and still later Dr. J. M. Miller .answered a call from someone. The efforts of all the physicians proved unavailing, and the body was removed to the Gay, Zwick & Myers morgue for preparation for burial. Officials of the interurban made a quick investigation and found that the breaker on the switchboard at tlie station was still out. and remained so until ordered by Henry. City superintendent Mart Mylott made a quick run to the scene and found that all the city lines near the place of accident were dead. The transformer on the city lines, stopping the primary current of several thousand volts was easily one hundred feet away from the scene, while the arc light line was dead. No hundred and ten volt current, even, was on the pole. From the two investigations it is evident that no electricity in any amount was in the lines with which Springer was working. His collapse therefore, is believed to be of the heart. Previously, several witnesses say, he has had spoken of his heart troubling him. and he has treated with local physicians for heart trouble. Coroner Clark will hold an inquest late this afternoon or tomorrow, with perhaps a post mortem, but this Is not decided. Springer is survived by a wife and two age three and nine years. TROOPS GOING HOME. (United Press Service) San Antonio, Tex., Aug. 31 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —General, Funston this afternoon announced the following troop movements as a result of the impending strike. First Missouri infantry to Saint Louis; Third Missouri infantry to Kansas City: Fifth California to return home; Fourth Maryland infantry to return home; Third New York to Buffalo; Fourteenth New York to Brooklyn; Seventyfirst New York to New York City. Tlie troops will move as fast as the railroads can arrange transportation and the first units will move tonight or during tomorrow. TEACHERS TO MEET Grade Teachers Meeting at central school building Saturday at 2 o'clock. W. F. WORTHMAN.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

INFANTILE PARALYSIS. The first symptoms of infantile paralysis are usually a fever, vomiting and pains in the head, back and limbs. One should be suspicions if intestinal disturbances of almost any kind are associated with a stiff neck, jlrowsiness and fever. Known exposure to other cases of the disease should cause suspicion, and suspicion should by all means be followed by a visit to the doctor. There are several important things to be done to prevent the disease. First of all. one should avoid all known or suspected cases of the disease. Flies of all kinds should be absolutely excluded from the house and from all food. Persons, cats, dogs and pets who have in any way been exposed to the disease should be avoided. Sick cats should be especially avoided. The mouth, teeth and nose should be washed several times daily. Finally, keep just as strong, robust and healthy as possible.—Exchange. IS MODEL PRISON Democratic Editors Given Privilege of Visiting Prison AT MICHIGAN CITY Model Institution Object of Candidate Goodrich’s Attacks. (By Willis S. Thompson) Indianapolis, Ind , Aug. 31 —When the democratic editors of Indiana vis ited Michigan City the other day it was the first time many of them had ever looked inside the state prison. As Mayor Krueger remarked, the one chance a democratic editor has to get inside the prison is as the special invited guest of the warden. Be that as it may. that Michigan City prison is the model institution of its kind the country over. It is model in cleanliness, in discipline and in general arrangement. From one viewpoint the prison might be described as a first-class hotel, save that the guests are not allowed to “check out” when they choose to. The rooms are as clean and comfortable as any hotel, and anyone who says the Michigan City hostelry has smaller rooms than any other hotels proves at once that he is not much of a traveler. No hotel anywhere has a prettier rotunda. But it is not all in the beauty of the building. Warden Fogarty keeps every man in that building busy. The prisoners are all the time producing something that is profitable and marketable. They work and learn trades if they know none. The interior of the grounds present the appearance of a model and prosperous manufacturing community, employing twelve hundred and fifty able-bodied workmen at useful trades. There is an excellent military organization of soldiers thoroughly drilled. There are baseball teams that play good ball, with their associates as rooters for contending teams. There is an orchestra than which there are no better forty pieces anywhere. There are men who are superior as actors to more than half the "talent” that entertains real vaudeville audiences in city theaters. The men who serve under Warden Fogarty as prisoners are not being "punished in solitude” for crimes committed. Their reformation, rather than punishment, is the thing kept in mind. They are taught to know and to appreciate that there is a bet •ter life than the one they followed and which led them into this model orison. They are made to want to be useful and better men at the expiration of their prison terms. There are men in the prison who are actually building automobile trucks for use of the institution. They coni struct all the parts, including the en- . gines, having models for patterns. 1 This is one of the institutions which Candidate Jim Goodrich is so vigor- ' ously condemning and' which he 1 would change if he had the chance. In 1917. added to the other good ’ things that are being done to occupy ’ the mind and abilities of the prison- ■ ers, at the same time reducing the ex--5 pens* of maintaining the institution. ’ farms embracing 2,500 acres of the t very best land in northern Indiana have been leased