Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 85, Decatur, Adams County, 10 April 1917 — Page 1

olunic XV. Number 85.

SCORES MEET DEATH IN HEAVY BLAST

TWO HUNDRED INJURED EIGHTY PERCENT WOMEN CADETS GUARD RUINS OF NINE FACTORY BUILDINGS SHATTERED TO DEBRIS-MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY DESTROYED.

(United Press Service» Philadelphia, Apr. 10—(Special to Daily DeniocraJ) —Three explosions shortly after ten o’clock today wrecked the shrapnel factory of the Baldwin Locomotive Works at Eddystone, killing and injuring scores. Estimates at 3 o'clock today placed the number of dead at fifty and at the same time it was believed that not less than two hundred were injured. Most of the victims were girls and women. » Appeals were sent to Philadelphia and other nearby towns for aid. Physicians and surgeons were rushed to the scene of the explosion. Fire broke out in several places immediately after the explosion and were still burning this afternoon. Nine buildings, containing millions of dollars' worth of machinery were shattered. Federal otticials this afternoon started an investigation of the cause of the explosion. Great secrecy surrounded their movements. One unverified report stated that a man was shot when he tried to escape from the scene of the catastrophe. The ground near the plant was torn up and ambulances could not approach. The cadet battalion of Pennsylvania military college arrived this afternoon and took up guard around the plant. Many newspaper men and, relatives of persons killed or in-1 jured were arrested by guards; about the plant. Every one who approached was subjected to examination and only representatives of the company were al-1 lowed to pass. All photographers were arrested to prevent any photographs being taken. Relatives were not permitted to en- ( ter the grounds. There was ev-' idence of continued excitement on the part of officials during the afternoon. Rumors of the; arrest of scores of foreigners were afloat. Eddystone police headquarters at 1 I o'clock this afternoon estimated that at least fifty persons, many of thetm girls, were killed and mobably 200| injured, when a series o* mysterious explosions the main sec- j tion of the Baldwin Locomotive muntion works shortly after 10 o'clock today. Nine buildings in section F, machinery worth millions of dollars, were completely shattered by terrific shocks which shook this ajty like an earthquake. Practically every building in the plant was damaged. The origin of the explosions is being investigated this afternoon by expert agents of the department qf justice. The governmnt. agents are proceeding on the theory that the explosions were not accidental Many of the dead and injured are girls and women. It was stated this : afternoon that SO per cent of the employes nearest the explosion were females. About 750 men were employed in the factory where the first explosion occurred. Early reports, following the three .' terrific explosions today gave estimates of casualties ranging from ten to fifty dead tfnd from 100 to 200 injured. In the excitement and con- | fusion following the explosions, ■ which occurred shortly after 10 o’clock it was utterly impossible to get deflnie facts as to the number killed pr hurt, or the full extent of the dam ate. Hr One report from the fire department

DECATUR DAILY DEMO(

V headquarters at Eddystone stated that more than 100 men had been %ent to the hospital at Chester and that many more were believed to be so critically injured that they could not recover. Reports direct from the scene said that “many must have been killed outright.” The nftarby buildings were literally shattered to pieces by the force of the three successive shocks. Fire departments were called from nearby towns to fight the blades which sprung up immediately after the explosions. After the three big shocks, minor explosions continued intermittently and at times sounded like the firing of a galling gun battery. For this reason it is impossible for rescuers to approach near to the actual scenes of the main explosion. Many ambulances with doctors and nurses from Chester and other points were arriving at Eddystone at 11 o'clock. ‘Washington, April 10, — (Special to Daily Democrat)—Reports of a plot to blow up the capitoj, received by secret service operatives in New York, resulted in increasing the guard on the capitol grounds today. Fifty officers will be on duty at night and no one will be allowed to enter the grourfds at sunset without a pass. Washington, April 10, —(Special to ; Daily Democrat) —The American liner , New York struck a mine last night 1 while outside Liverpool bar but her passengers are safe and she is now i entering the dock according to a state department cablegram today. I The message said: I “The American liner .New York struck a mine at 7:40 p. m. last night, five miles outside .Liverpool bar. passengers transferred to other vesi seis and landed, except four still on I ship. No casualties. . Proceeded i under own steam. Now entering . dock.” I The message came from Consul Washington at Liverpool, ] The New York is a steel screw * steamer of 10,798 tons, built in 1888 by J. and G. .Thompson of Glasgow, and owned by the international Mer- ' cantile Marine company (the Ameri- | can line). The vessel is 517 feet in length and 63 feet beam. She is registered at the port of New York. I The New York was the third armed passenger ship of the American line to sail. The St. Louis, the first, returned yesterday. The St. Paul is now on the other side. j The New York carried seven Amer- | icans. Her passenger list included 15 first, 22 second and 21 third class , passengers. * Minneapolis, Minn. Apr. 10—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Three incendiary fires here early today caus- '! ed damages exceeding $3,000,000. 5 Two large elevators were destroyed ’ and the fire for a time threatened the ’ bridge across the Mississippi river. Guardsmen reported hearing shots ' fired. The tire was first discovered 1 in the mddle of an old wooden bridge. e j I- Rio de Jahiero, Apr. 10 —(Special 1 to Daily Democrat) —Brazil will sevo'er diplomatic relations with Germany i- 1 some time withn the next twenty-four j, hours. An authoritative source was ii quoted early today as declaring the •t formal announcement would he made d ' before night. President Braz's dejJeision to take this step followed a | formal report front the Brazilian minit i icontinvea on raga #•)

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, April 10, 1917.

CHURCH NEWS I' Presbyterians to Hold the , Annual Congregational Meeting Wednesday. , GOOD FELLOWSHIP | Christian Church Closes Great Revival—Reception Friday Night • Tomorrow evening at six o'clock, the members of the Presbyterian congregation will meet at the church and have supper together. After a time of good fellowship the annual 'congregational meeting will be held Reports from all departments of the work will be given. There will also be no election of one trustee. This is ope of the most important, as well as one of the most enjoyable evenings of the year forth? church. A large attendance is expected. Christian Revival Closes One of the most successful meetings in the history of the Christian church was closed last night. There were nearly forty additions to *ne church. Besides, the church is in excellent shape. The work of Rev. A. L. Martin was very highly appreciated by all. as well as was Uhl, work of Prof. J. A. Kay. His solo* work and leadership were fine. Rev. Martin, Prof. Kay and Rev. Marsh join in expressing their thanks to the local papers for the fine support that was given them in the “Each One Win One’’ campaign. Never were papers as liberal, and without a doubt they contributed very largely to the success of the revival meeting at the church. Wednesday evening there will be a baptismal service tor all those that have not been immersed. On Friday a reception will be given for the new members at the church. The Rev.’ Martin wifi be here to attend. W. Paul Marsh, Minister. A FATAL ATTACK Mrs. John Schurger Called by Death Messenger— Died Near Midnight. ILL SHORT TIME Was SeventWfour Years Old—Funeral Services Will be Held Friday. Mrs. Agatha Schurger, seventy-four, wife of’john Schurger, veteran attor- . ney and abstractor, died last night at ■ 12:15 o'cdock at the family home writ of this city, where they have lived the ' past fifty-two years. 1 Death was dug to asthma of the ' heart and the last attack came very, suddenly with its fatal results. She first suffered an attacß last SeptemI ber and the one that came last night, t was the fifth one in all. Yesterday she had seemed in the best of health and continued so until about twelve o’clock, when the illness came upon her again, she passed away a quarter of an hour later. j . Mrs. Schurger was seventy-four > years old last February 13. She was ■ horn in Haden, Germany, but when ’ ouly seven years of age, came, with J her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Severin Fisher, to Seneca county, O. Fifty- ! five years ago, April 26. she and John Schurger were married. They came z soon after, to this county, living a r year west of Pleasant Mills. They s then moved to their present homee stead, where they lived fur fifty-two e happy years. '■ A peculiarly sad feature, is that a, Mrs. Schurger's death is the third one i-1 in the Fisher family in three weeks. , A brother, Michael Fisher, died March

I 17, and a brother, Frederick Fisher, | died April 7, in Seneca county, O The husband and the following children, are most sadly bereaved by Iter deal It: Catherine Sc.herger, of - Bascom, O.; Sister Mary Isadore. Muquette, Mich.; Albert Schurger. White Cloud, Mich: Lena Rohrer, Vine RiC. r Minn.; Anthony S., of Manistee. Mich; Louisa Kurber, Delphos, O.: Christena and Fred, home. ' Mrs. Schurger was an exceedingly fine woman, highly beloved for her good qualities, and exceedingly hosI pliable and helpful to all. Tlte funeral services will lie held Frida/ morning at nine o'clock from the St. Marys Catholic church, of which she was a faithful member, i Interment in St. Joseph cemetery. YOUNGJJFETNDS Frances Amrine, Aged 14, Daughter of Former Decatur Editor, Dead. DIED MONDAY NIGHT 111 Two Months of Tuberculosis—Daughter of Harry Amrine. Frances Amrine, aged child and daughter of Harry Amrine, former Decatur editor, died last night at ten o'clock at the home of Iter grandfather, Charles Amrine, at De Graff, O. The little girl had been ili . only two months of tuberculosis of the lungs, her demise coming very .swiftly and suddenly. The little girl is very well known here, the family residing here during the time that Mr. Amrine was editoi of the Decatur Times. Frances was seven years of age at the time they moved from this city. Her mothei died four years ago. She was a remarkably sweet end bright girl and iter untimely death is the cause of much sorrow among her many friends. She is a niece of Ralph Amrine of this office. Mr. and Mrs. Ralpit Amrine w’li leave Wednesday night for DeGraff tc attend the funeral which will be Thursday afternoon at two o’dock. SURPRISE GIVEN A surprise was given for Middietjn Beavers, of Kirkland township, Sunday in honor of his forty< ixtli birth day. Those present weie the fan ilies of Dr. S. D. Beavers, IJmersot Beavers, A. J. Beavers, Richard Buck master. James Brown. William Adb>r Fred Adler. Earl Adler and Lew Adler KNIGHTS READY Arrangements are Perfected I for County Knights of Pythias Meeting HERE ON THURSDAY Many Coming from Berne. Geneva and Other Localities in County. All arrangements arc perfected for the Adams county K. ot P. meeting Thursday afternoon and night. There will be a public meeting dt 3:30 io which everybody is invifled. There i will be music and addresses, and at i 6:00 p. m. a dinner will be srved by , the Pythian Sisters. Then at 8:00 p. m. there will be a secret session and II the Rank of Knight will be conferred on a class of several candidates, at 1 which time new officers will be electb ed for the ensuing year. i Many are coming from Berne, Geny eva and other localities in the county • The public is especially invited to be o present in the afternoon, when Hie address of Grand Chancellor Priest t will be delivered. Dr. Priest lives in e 1 Marion and is a splendid speaker and i.*a good entertainer. Let everyone li hear him.

BOWERS-WILKES Gladdes Bowers and Ralph Wilkes Married Last Evening With a PRETTY CEREMONY Many Friends Attend Reception Which Was Given Following. Qnly the very nearest relatives saw the ceremony at seven o'clock last night at the John Bowers home, which united the lives of Ralph Alfred Wilkes, of Kendallville, and Miss Gladdes Irene Bowers. At seven o'clock the Rev F. F. Thornburg, pastor of the Methodist church, took his place before an al'ar of lillies •! the valley and roses, and there met the groom, attended by his best man, Harold Shauek, of Ked-tll-ville. While the Parker three piece orchestra from Kendallville played Lohengrin's wetiding march, tne bride, with her father, J. S. Bowers, and the other members of the bridal party, came down the stairway, and joined the other principals at the altar in a circle, where the ring ceremony was pronounced. The wedding party made a very pretty appearance. The bride’s gown was of beaded white georgette crepe, with long, filmy, white veil. A corsage bouquet of lilies of the valley and roses was worn. The other members of the bride’s party were gowned in white taffeta. Miss Ruth Bowers, as maid of honoi, wore a corsage bouquet of pink rose-, while the bridesmaids, Either andI Alma Bowers, carried pink and yellow, rose-baskets. Witnesses of the wedding were the' groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will-' iam Wilkes, and Mrs. Rfty Schauck, of Kendallville: Mrs. R. M. Kaough, of Fort Wayne: Mrs. Sarah Laman (Continued on Pago 2} TWO WEDDINGS Will Beavers, Purdue Student, and Miss Martha Boegly, Married AT KENTON, OHIO Lawrence Archbold Married to Lafayette Young Lady Last Saturday. Will Beavers, son of Dr. and Mrs. S 1). Beavers this city, a student at Purdue university, was married Saturday at Kenton, 0., to Miss Martha Boegly, daughter of Abraham Boegly an architect, of Berne. Mr. Beavers, who is a senior at Purdue where he is taking an engineering course, will be graduated in June. They are making their home there, having taken apartments for lUtlit housekeeping until his graduation. The wedding is the result of an acquaintance begun while Miss Boegly was staying with her sister. Mrs. Frank Wagoner, of this city. I Mr. and Mrs. William J. Archbold have returned from Lafayette where they attended the wedding of their son I Lawrence Archbold, which took place I to a young lady of that city. Lawrl ence is a graduate of Purdue univer- • sitfc and the acquaintance of himself and his bride, began while he was a - student there. The groom is employed by the Hol- ■ land-St. Louis Sugar Co., of this city. b Mr. Archbold's bride was Miss Alice, t Elliott, the wedding taking place at >. the Elliott Iqjme, Rev. Roberts, a prel siding elder, a former Decatur United a] Brethren minister, offlqiating. Ouly I (the nearest relatives attended.

DALLAS REED HERE TODAY Dallas M. Reed, manager of the Alto Products company is here this week, continuing plans for the opening of the factory here within a few weeks. He reports that they have concluded the buying of the machinery and that they will open headquarters here at once. The several heads of the new company will move , their families here within the next two or three weeks and within sixty days hope to lie manufacturing Alfa products in Decatur. — oA FLAG SALUTE The patrons of, the west ward school were very prouil of their children, and also of the teachers, who instructed them, when one hundred -ixty pupils maw-lied from the school this morning- and saluted the flag which floats over the building . TO CONVENE HERE Woman’s Missionary Societies of Zion Classic Will Meet in This City. THURSDAY, APRIL 12 Churches of Six Towns and I Cities Will Send Their i $ Delegates. Decatur Zion Reformed church will entertain the Woman's Missionary societies of the Zion Classis at their third annual convention. Thursday, April 12. Tlie clarsis includes the churches 1 at Fort Wayne, Huntington. Vera* ■ Cruz, Berne, Magley, Decatur amt [Garrett, and delegates from ail thefce places are expected. | The program for the morning ope is |at 9:00 o’clock; the afternoon at .1:30 o’clock; and for the evening a< 7:00 o’clock. It is as follows: Morning Session—9:oo a. m. Devotionals—Mrs. F. W. Kratz, I';. Wayne. ♦ Greetings—-Mrs. L. W. Stolte, Dec- j atur Response—Mrs J. H: Bosch, It. , Wayne. New Organizations. Roll Call. i Record of Proceedings. Annual Reports. 1. Officers. • 2. Departmental Secretaries. 3. Delegates to Synod and Conferences • Communications. Announcements of Committees. Business. Music. Offering. « Closing Prayer—Mrs. L. W. Stolt'. Afternoon Session —1:30 Devotionals —Mrs. F. ,W. Fratz e Roll Call. Minutes of Morning Session Business. Message from Visitors, » Report of Committees. Plan of Work and Recommendation. Resolution. • Auditing. Claims. Press. Nominating. Election of Officers. 1. Delegates to Synod 2. Delegates to Summer Confer- . ence. Music. • Offering. Closing Hymn. • Prayer—Mrs. F. H. Diohm. • ' E v ening Session —7:00 ‘ Devotionals —Mrs. L. W Stolte ( i Music. Address—Mrs. F. H. Diohm. Huntington. Music. j Recognition Service and Present.-!- . f tion of Banner—Mrs. J. H. Bosch. Ft. 1 Wayne. ( Offering. • j ( losing Hymn. Benediction—Rev. L. W. Stolte. Doxology. 'BUSINESS MEN TONIGHT The regular meeting if the business ( men will be held this evening at the I library at eight o'clock |

Price, Two Centd

MILITARY PLANS Now Subject of Much Discussion—Believed Government Plan is Good. CALL EXPECTED SOON For Boys Between Ages of 19 and 25—Companies Organize. Just now one of the subjects upperi most in tlie minds of many is the one coscerning tlie formation of militarv I eompamies which will give to this naItlon the greatest protectios and thu . best ‘efficiency. For a week C. R. Dunn, and Robert H. Peterson have been organizing -i I military company here* Their idea is to join the Indiana division of tl.e National Guard, which it is expected will be drafted into the national service within a short time. There are several vacancies in the guard and the | local men are assured that they wi l I be given an opportunity if the government decides to call these jt<>mj I allies as units, as is now expected. Tiie general plan howevw tor en- ] listment will be much different We j have information that the plan as nowworked out and which will be :-n---noupced officially in a few days by tile government will provide that every hoy between tlie ages of nineteen and twenty-five must report at once to a recruiting station, one or more probably to lie placed in each coun'y. . The enlisting board located at such I place will consider rhese lioys and Ynoh froYn evety standpaint, either reserving or rejecting, because of f tness or unfitness, home responsibilities or the fact that they can better 'serve their country at home than bv being called into service, but these boards will be the judges. From the list of those selected will lie chosen tlie great army which is to represent, ►this country in tlie world war. It is said that the twenty-five year old men will be first drilled, then after tifey have started, the twenty four year old boys will be called out. then the twenty-three year olds and so on, tne idea being to work out a system which will produce tlie greatest efficiency in every partft-ulat. Whether you are chosen to remain at home or to march to the front, your honor will be the same for you willt; have been passed upon, by the recruiting board, and every boy or man who is called out will have in his possession. a certificate which shows his right. There will lie no "slaekards” under this system and the army will be a well chosen one. Further details are expected before the meeting Friday evening. The company now being organized here, if present plans are successful carried out would go as a unit, thus giving the advantage of tlie members knowing each othew.md those inter- ' ested are being encouraged to proceed witli tlie work of enlisting. KNOFF ALSO RECOMMENCED Besides Dr. George Thain. menii , of whose recommendatiqp for pardon I by the state boar(|, was madb in this patter last evening. Clem Knqff. seat up from Putnam county, for escaping i from tlie/state farm, was also recommended for pardon. Only six paroles a nr i four commutations of sentence were re»>mmended. Thain was se it up from this county, convicted of ■»•- Ing responsible for the death of M- s. Winnie Marhenke, of Monmouth Tlie governor has not yet acted upon .my of tin- recommendations. —— library board An important meeting of the Library board will be held- this evening at 6:30 o'clock in the reference ro mt of the libcary. Members are requested to note the earlier time. Tlie business to come up is important. DON BURK ENLISTS Mr. and Mrs. John Burk reeeiv-d word from’their son. Don, a teacher at the university at Manhatten. Kin--1 sas, that-he will enlist in tlie army, [taking the office o's first lieutenant.