Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 16, Number 11, Decatur, Adams County, 12 January 1918 — Page 1

Volume XVI. Number 11.

OLD KING FROST HOLDS CODNTY IN FIRM GRASP WORST WINTER STORM EVER KNOWN IN TRIS SECTION CAUSES UNTOLD AMOUNT OF SUFFERING-ALL RECORDS ARE BROKEN.

Decatur and Adams county are snowbound and until the present severe weather moderates, we must live on our own resources The worst winter stcrm within the memory of the present generation struck Decatur at eleven o'clock last night and has continued unabated. The thermometer fell fifty degrees from nine o'clock last nigiit until four this morning. A ninety mile gale has added to the discomfort and from every here come reports of suffering. During yesterday the temperature was about perfect for winter weather averaging twenty above- and there were no indications of a severe break ( —at least no intimation of such a serious cold wave, from the weather bur- , eau. It came last night unexpectedly and has apparently become worse with each passing hour. At midnight the mercury had fallen far below zero, the wind came in fierce ( blasts and as the night drew on there . was no let up in the severity of the weather. At day break this morning the thermcHieters registered as low as thirty-two below in open places and at ( eight o'clock showed twenty-two below. The water pipes in hundreds of homes were fr< zen good and tighc ( furnaces licked up the coal as though it were paper and unless a sudden change in temperature comes soon there is sure to be a great amount es suffering. Trains are Held Up. There was but a sinble train came into Decatur after midnight. The south bound train on the G. R. & I. started out of Fort Wayne but was stalled after going a few miles, the interurban could not get a car through, on account of the drifts, the Erie trains are held up and the Clover Leaf is snow bound. Telegrai h and telephone communications are almost shut off, it being impossible to get through any long distances, and there is but little chance of improvement for a day or two.

Carriers shut off. The rural route patrons are just as helpless as those in town ami are even more cut oft' for the rural cairiers found the roads impassible this morning, 'they made the start but so far as known not a single man was able to get through more titan a Fuel Delivery Impossible Though the coal yards had a supply of coal on hand today, deliv > was absolutely impossible as the teams could not get through the drifts. Many people have but a few pounds of coal and hundreds have only sufficient to run them over Sunday. The fuel men are making every effort to get the fuel out to those who need it so badly and it is hoped that the next thirty-six hours will make conditions such that this can be done. Worst Storm Known. Old timers tell us that they do not remember a time when such extreme weather was accompanied so imv i wind. Hew -emember a time when so revere a cdld snap as this existed and (hen it was a still cold. 1 1,1 wind has made it almost unbearable end has made outside work next to ini possible. Reminder of Flood. Not an outside newspaper and no mail arrived this morning, rcmim ing . J- JL

*♦+♦♦++*+***** 4 THE WEATHER. * I Perhaps the most interesting + 4> item of news just now ls 1 " 4- weather. In some manno ’ + bulletin from the governmen * was obtained at the postoffice to + ♦ day and read as follows. 4> “For Indiana—Fair tonig • * Not quite’ so cold tonight am ♦ Sunday. Snows in extreme noit t ♦ portion. strong northwest 4 * winds. + <,♦♦* + + + 4- ♦ + 4> 4- 4

1 )ECAT IT R DA FLY 1 >EM( KJRA r

our people of the conditions that accompanied the big flood a few years ago when for several days not a train came into the city. Milk Route Stopped. Charles Zimmerman, the milk man, had his troubles today. He made a brave effort to cover his route but was forced to stop and hundreds of people had to do without this necessary commodity today. Mr. Zimmerman left a supply at the various restaurants where is can be obtained. He will try to cover his route, tomorrow. Erie got Train Through The Erie train west bound, due here at two o'clock this morning, went through about nine o'clock, the only train to enter the city during the morning. Clover Leaf has Trouble. The axle on a box car on a Clover Leaf freight broke down leaving the car down on the main track just west of Thirteenth street this morning. The section crew have been busy repairing it to clear the main track. Net a freight or passenger train has come in today on the Clover Leaf. The Commercial Flyer which went through last night is snow bound near Kokomo and none of the trains due in todayhave arrived or are expected. News off the wire shows, the storm is sevete all the way from Toledo to St. Louis. No U. P. Wire Today. The telephone line which connects the Daily Democrat with the rest of the world was out of commission today and outside communication thus shut off. The middle west is ice bound and suffering frem the severest winter storm ever known. Worse and More of It. At two o’clock this afternoon, the thermometer registered twenty-four degrees below zero at Frankfort, according to word received by the local Clover Leaf force. All dispatchers there were working with their gloves on. The blizzard is raging severely there and is growing worse. It is said to be headed this way and we are due for the same.

A FEW LATE"DISPATCHES. t United "Press' Service) ecial to Daily Democrat)—State Fuel Administrator Woollen ordered county fuel administrators to seize commercial coal for domestic use wherever the situation war- , ants it. Officials discussed ad | isability of closing all unnecessary I industries and business houses during period of cold wave. Washington. D. C„ Jan. 12 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The senate military probe again raked Baker. Reports reached members of the senate military committee from camp comniandais that intense suffering resulted from present cold wave because of lack of clothes, ten thousand blouses are lacing at Camp Sherman, Chilicotiie, Ohio, General Glenn reported. FIVE ENGINES IN YARDS. Some idea of the congestion along ’ railroads can be had when you know 1 that five engines were stalled in the 1 yards at the G. R. &I. here today and the men in charge had to shovel ' in snow to keep up steam. Traffic was impossible. n- , FUNERAL POSTPONED ; On account of the very bad weather, the funeral of Mrs. Nancy Ann b Sheets Johnson, which was to have h been held this afternoon at Wren, 0., b will be held Monday afternoon at one b o’clock at the United Berthren church b at Wren. b| o < . I Mrs. Charles E. Bond, of Fairfield, l> avenue, went to Louisville, Ky., yesI, terday to visit with her son, Captain j. J. Ewing Bond, at Camp Taylor. Mrs. f. Bond accompanied her daughter-in-f. law. Mrs. J. Ewing Bond, who has for (• the past few days been visiting with 4- her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Elling- + ham, in this city.—Ft. Wayne News.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, January 12, 1918.

DIED AT MARION, 0. Mary A. Reinhard Miller, Widow of James G. Miller DIED LAST NIGHT Sustained a Broken Hip Eight Weeks Ago—Nearly Eighty Years Old. Mary A. Reinhard Miller, widow of James G. Miller, died last night al nine o'clock at the home of a daugnter at Marion, 0.. in which city she had been living the past two years with her three daughters. Eight weeks ago Mrs. Miller suffered a broken hip and her decline became gradual from that time. Had she lived until next April 4 she would have been eighty years old She was born in Pennsylvania in 1838. After her marriage with Mr. Miller, they came to Ohio and Indiana, making their home in Indiana since 1875. They lived for awhile in Van Wett county, 0.. and later came to Adams county, Indiana, residing for a number of years in St. Marys township: then going to Union township, where Mr. Miller's death occurred about six years ago January 8. Mrs. Miller has made her home foi two years with her daughters at Mar ion. they being Mrs. J. J. Good, Mrs. Dollie Hill. Mrs. Cora Springer. One daughter is deceased. Another. Mrs. Emanual Hart, lives in Union town ship, this county. Sone are: C. C. Mil ler. Union township: William W. W Miller, St. Marys township: E. E. Mil ler. Van Wert county, O.: Ed F. Miller Decatur. The body will be brought here for burial. If the train service permits the body will leave Marion. 0.. tomdr row' morning at 11:35 o’clock over the Erie railroad. If the weather permits it will be taken to the home of tbc daughter. Mrs. Emanual Hart in Union township, until the funeral, which it is planned, will be held Tuesday morn ing at Clark's Chapel, leaving the house at 10. If the weather is such that the body cannot be taken to the Hart home, it will be taken to the home of J. L. Gay. this city, until the time of the funeral.

A SHORT COURSE Will he Given at Purdue Next Week That Will he of Much Interest

TO INDIANA FARMERS t Many Interesting Subjects , to be Discussed by Well ’ Posted People. Lafayette, Ind.. Jan. 12—An import- , ant message to every farmer of Indiana will be given by the Hon. G. C. Creelman, president of Ontario Agricultural College and committee of ag riculture. at the anneal farmers' short course at Purdue University, Jan. 14 to 18 inclusive. Mr. Creelman, who is one of the leading agricultural educa) ors of North America, will speak the evening of Jan. 15. Prof. J. H. Waters, of Manhatten, Kans., president of the Kansas Agricultural College, will discuss “The War and The Farmer" the afternoon of January 16 at the meeting of the Indiana Corn Growers' Association and the soil sand crops department of the short course. At the same meetim-. Ralph W. Moss, of Center Point, former congressman from the fifth Indiana district and chairman of the agricudltural committee in the lower house for several sessions, will discuss agricultural problems. “Sources of Farm Labor,” then will be discussed i;y President George A. Mclntosh of Wabash College. “The War Program of Indiana" will be the subject of an adness by Prof. G. I. Christie, start« food dfcect or and superintendent of agricultural extension, before all persons attending the short course. His address will ■ be delivered Monday evening of short i course week. Miss Helen Louise Johnson, of I Washington. D. C., a government work

er throughout the country on home economics problems, will he the "headliner" at the home economics meetings. She will be* on the program several times, discussing "Standardization of Dress," and other topics re lating to better living. Will H. Hays, president of the Stalo Council of Defense, will speak the afternoon of January 15. to the live stock section meeting with several breeders' associations. In addition to those enumerated, a large number of federal ami stalo workers will be on the program, and many practical farmers and stock raisers from over the state will speak. Practical demonstrations will be given with many talks, and something of interest to every farmer and stockman in Hoosierdom will be given. In addition to the features offered for the benefit of dairymen, beef cattle breeders and feeders, poultrymen. grain growers, fruit growers, and all housewives, a complete program will be given for boys and girls. REPORT CAME IN Telephone Message from Fort Wayne Said That Four Are Dead There RESULT OF STORM Weather Report for Sunday is Not so Cold, But High Winds Continue.

Communication with the outside world is shut off today, telephone and telegraph lines, interurbans and rail roads being practically out of service A story obtained from a traveling man who called from Fort Wayne just, be fore that telephone line went out oi commission, was that up to that time four deaths had been reported caused by the terrific storm. That city is suffering greatly and they too arc practically shut oft from outside com munication. Without doubt the pres ent storm is the worst ever known and it is likely that at least a week's time will be required before norma' conditions are resumed. The weath er report was received at the postof fice this afternoon saying that Sunday will be “not quite so cold, with a stiff northwest wind.” YOUR DAILY PAPER We published a paper today under trying conditions. This is the worst day ever known in this locality when telephone and telegraph lines refuse to work, when trains are not coming or going and when it is next to irapos sible to cover the local field. All these things we have solved as best we could but the matter of distributing the paper especially in the outlying districts, is almost impossible. Out news boys are used to braving bat weather and are willing to do it but we feel it would not be right to ask them to sacrifice their health to do so and we are asking them not to take any risk. We hope you receive youi paper but we believe you will realize the next to impossible task of getting it to you today.

NINE TAKE EXAM. Half of the Members of Dr. Smith’s First Aid Class TAKE THE TEST Eight More Will be Examined on Monday Evening. Nine, members or Dr. W. E. Smith’s last Red Cross First Aid class took the examination last evening at the assembly room of the Central schoolhouse, given by Dr. J. S. Boyers. There are eight more to take the examination, which will be given Monday evening. The examination consisted of practical demonstrations and botli oral and written questions, covering the course as prescribed by the book. Those taking the examination last evening were: Adelaide and Frances Deiningen Mrs. Earl Adams, Mrs. Walter Beane, Mrs. Charles Knapp, Geneive Smith, Amelia Tonnelier, Helena Holthouse and Mrs. Dr. Weaver.

A UNION SERVICE The First Union Service for the Conservation of Fuel WILL BE SUNDAY In Evening at Presbyterian —Rev. W. Paul March to Preach.

The first union service will bo hold at the Presbyterian church Sunday evening at 7:00 o’clock, and the I teacher of the service will be the Rev. W. Paul Marsh, his subject being. “The Undefeated Power.” These union services are being held in the spirit of love and sacrifice. Each church, as a hero of faith, is sacrificing its evening service that one fire may do for all. and that the fuel otherwise consumed may go to the homes, which need it badly. So the Ministerial Association asks that the people in like manner support the movement. The union young people's meeting begins at 6:00 o'clock, topic: “Young People Reaching Upward." - SecretaryEvening Program The following is the program for ihe evening union service which begins at 7 o’clock at the Presbyterian church: Prelude.

Hymn. Hymn. Scripture lesson —W. S. Mills. Prayer—C. J. Miner. Hymn. Offertory. Anthem. “Processional" from Mendelssohn's “Athalie” by L. B. Marshal. Sermon, “The Undefeated Power”— W. Paul Marsh. Prayer—J. G. Butler. Hymn. Benediction. Young people’s meeting at 6 o’clock led by Miss Ireta Ffrwin. Special Annourcement. At two o’clock this afternoon we were asked to announce that in case the weather continues as severe to morrow as it is today there will be no union services as announced above If the weather moderates, the meeting (Continued on Page Two) PAINFUL BURNS But Not Serious, Received by Mrs. George Zimmerman. FURNACE EXPLODED Sending Hot Water Over Her Head and Shoulders.

Painful burns, but not serious, and which may not even leave a blister, according to her physician, were received by Mrs. George Zimmerman, residing east of the city this morning at 8:30 o'clock, when the furnace top blew off, sending the hot water from the heating plant over her head and face and shoulders. Mrs. Zimmerman had gone to the basement to close the drafts when the explosion took place. The hot water from the plant pouring out upon her head, painfully scalded her face and the sides of her neck and shoulders, but the burns are not serious. The accident is an unusual one and her escape from a more serious injury was a narrow one. NOT A “GOOD SPORT” Kraft Poor Loser —Wants Recovery sos “Ear-bobs.” Carl Kraft was fined $lO and costs and ordered jailed for ten days for the theft of a $35 diamond ring from Alma Hostman. Kraft claimed he took the ring because he gave the woman S3O in Decatur in 1915 and bought her a pair of diamond carrings and then she i “turned dirty” against him.-- FtWayne News and Sentinel Police Court Column. i Alma Horstman, or “Alma Andrews" will be remembered by many here . with whom she became acquainted - while on her frequent visits here with J her “aunt,” Mrs. Mattie Schlegel.

522 FARMERS’ INSTITUTES i Lafayette. Ind . Jan 12 No less than 522 farmers’ Institutes will be held 111 Indiana during the winter season, lig- ' urc., given out by the Extension Department of' Purdue University todav show. Os this number, 27 were he Pl during November and 101 in December. Two hundred and seventeen arc 1 scheduled for January ami 177 for | February. Due to the backward season and the > labor shortage which has kept many | farmers at home, the attendance thus far has been slightly below normal However, the interest shown in those meetings which have reached to the most Isolated communities in the state, has been keener than usual. Reports from the various township and county institutes show that in many cases the success of the meetings is due to the, work of a live, wideawake chairman. In some places in spite of the season's handicaps and bad weather, attendance has been unusually large, dm* to the hard work of the chairman and sec retary and a few workers in the organization STOCK FARM SOLD Kekionga Stock Farm is Sold to W. J. Bowen of Sidell, Illinois. BROUGHT LARGE SUM Os $67,000 —Monroe W. Fitch & Sons Make Big Sales. One of the big recent real estate deals, reported by Monroe W. Fitch & Sons, whose record of sales for th** past week represented a total of $225.000. was the sale of the J. M. Frisinger Kekionga Stock Farm, located near this city. The real estate report says: “Another recent sale made by Fitch & Sons that has not been reported was the sale to W. J. Bowen of Sidell, ill., he having bought the Kekionga ! stock farm in sight of Decatur. Ind . on the St. Marys river, price paid. $67,000.00. Mr. J. M. Frisinger owned this farm comprising of 300 acres and a few years ago built a barn on same costing $7,000.00. Mr. Frisinger has for years been an importer of Belgium horses and has made 34 round trips abroad. Mr. Will Bowen also bought 300 acres in Ohio tor $37,500.00. 'I he deeds were transferred on these: pre perties this week and will improve the buildings on his new purchase? there, as he expects to make this section his permanent home " Other sales reported by Fitch A Sons: 100 acres in Paulding county, Ohio, sold to T. M. Kreager. consideration, $14,500.00. 80 acres, also in Paulding county, near Antwerp, well improved, sold to' Harrison Brunton of Churubusco. $13.000.00. 150 acres, 12 miles southeast of Fort Wayne, sold to Jesse Furst of Paulding county. Ohio, price paid. $23,000.00.

.. 80 acres. 20 miles north of Logans, port, sold to Chas. Kent, of Lafayette $10,000.00 4 Chas Westrick bought of Eugene M. ,< Fitch of above agency the interurban j station and opera house building at j Bluffton for $30,000.00. 4 Property at 251(1 Hoagland Ave., j sold the third time within the last 4 sixty days by Fitch & Sons. $12,000.00 4 August E. Martin heme. 337 E. Iter- • ry street, sold to A. Henderson. 1 < Paulding county, Ohio, for $12,500.00. • Mr. Martin lias been with the Fitch J • & Sons agency for eleven years. Ik desired a smaller property or would >' not have disposed of his fine uptown!' residence at any price. Home, southeast corner Clinton and Wallace streets, sold to For* Wayne party, consideration. $5,500.00. Total sales reported for the week: $225,000.00. These sales made during this very! 1 cold period prove that people are in 1 terested in real estate and would lc:i-l ■ ■ us to believe that there will be a rush . of sales in farm and city property du:- ’ ing 1918. People desiring an investment will ’ certainly not hesitate about buying > farms this spring with the prospect of 1 the present prices of farm products 1 going even higher than the prevail ing price today. I

Price, Two Cent!

GEORGE GENTIS DIED SUDDENLY Former County Assessor* Dropped Dead of Heart Trouble. IN FORT WAYNE Had Been Employed There Was County Official for Eight Years. George Gentis, of West Monrot) ! street, this city, for eight years county assessor of Adams county, dropped dead this morning at 7 o'clock . just after arriving at the General 1 Electric Works, where he had been ' employed since last Augurtt. Mr. | Gentis had been suffering from leakage* of the* heart for the past two I years and death was undoubtedly due Ito this. Summer before last he had been seriously affected and it was ’ thought at that time* that he could not live. Mr. Gentis had been employetl at the Elec trie Wen ks in Fort Wayne for several months, having excellent light employment. With J. J. Mag- [ I ley of this city, he had been rooming on Walnut street, a short distance 1 from their employment there, having their meals at a boarding house nearI by. and it was after leaving their : rooming and boarding plac es there, i and immediately upon arriving at the 1 building whore they ate employed, j that Mr. Gentis succumbed. His son, Nelson. Gentis. is employI cd in Fort Wayne, and another son. 1 J. H. Gentis. of this city, happened c to be in the city at the time. They I were notified and made arrange--1 ments for caring for the body of their father. It was the purpose to bring the body to the home here this afternoon «n the 1:05 o'clock train cm the. G. it. & L. but as the train service is demoralized on account of the snow storm, it will probably not ; be brought here until tomorrow. Mr. Gentis was a man widely and ; favorably known and most highly respected. He* spent tlce early part of his life at Linn Grove, moving to this city eleven years ago. when he ' became county assessor, serving in this capacity for two terms, or eight years. He was a man of quiet, kindly disposition, and his friends are legion. Mr. Gentis was seventy-one years of age. His wife died in this city a number of years ago. Surviving are four sons and two daughters. The children are: J. Henry and Alph Gentis. of this city; Mrs. Courtney Runyon. Linn Grove; Nelson, of Fort Wayne; Mrs. Esth Liddy and Miss Eola Gentis. at home. His brothers and sisters are Mrs. David Heller, of Berne; Jacob Gentis. Muncie; Fred Gentis. Tocsin; Mrs. Joe Heller, of Indianapolis. The Murray Scherer car took the force of the People's Loan & Trust 1 Company’s bank to Bryant this afternoon to attend the funeral of James Rupel.

4. 4 > a-F>F4*4-4'4'4<4>4’4* j. ROAD SUGGESTION. 4* j. 4> [. It has become very noticeable 4* h during the snow period that peo- + !• pie are forgetting what damage + i> they are doing with chains on 4« !• automobiles and trucks I no- 4* t- tice that our oil and gas trucks + I- are using large log chains on -F F their wheels, which must be 4> F stopped They dig a hole in the 4* F road every time they stop, or 4* F when they start oft again, and 4* F are very injurious to the high- 4* F ways. Please notice this. 4« F Chains should not be used on 4» F and machine, when you can 4« ■F plainly see how you are damag- 4* •F ing the roads. 4* F Let's work together and take 4« 4- care of the roads as best we 4* •F can. We do not want to spend 4« F money shoveling snow unless it 4* Fis absolutely necessary. If you 4« 4. can t run a ear. use a horse and F F buggy or team. It's cheaper 4* F anyway, and money spent mov- F F ing snow leaves no permanent F F improvement and is almost lost 4« Fto the taxpavers. Please be pa- F F tient about drifts as we will need 4* 4. a large amount ot repair in the F F spring and we mant to save the 4* 4> money tor material. + 4- JIM A. HENDRICKS, F <• Highway Superintendent. 4> 4.FFFFFF4*FFFFFF