Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 19, Number 223, Decatur, Adams County, 21 September 1921 — Page 1

Volume XIX. Number 223

MANY ARE DEAD IN AN EXPLOSION Nitrogen Plant at Ludwig- ' shafen, Germany Lets Go With Frightful Loss of LIVES AND PROPERTY Buildings Are Destroyed and Terrible Scenes Follow the Accident. Berlin, Sept. 21. —(Special to Daily Democrat).— Seven hundred persona were reported killed today in an explosion of artificial nitrogen at the Oppouer works at Ludowigshaven, according to dispatches received here. Hundreds more were reported tnort glly wounded. Many buildings were wrecked at Ludwigshaven and Manheim. Hospitals in both cities are crowded with the injured, press reports said. Mannheim and Ludwigshafen are on opposite sides of the Rhine, Ludwigshafen being in Barvaria and Manneheim in Bade. The towns are centers of chemical industry in Germany. Ludwigshafen especially has enormous chemical plants. The cities are connected by an iron bridge. The terrific blasts, according to press reports here, spread disaster on both sides of the river. Thousands of terrified men. women and children, swarmed into the streets after the explosion. A large area of the chemical works was laid in ruins. Many bodies of the victims were blow to atoms. Others were found in the tangled masses of debris. Frantic wives fought against police lines in the vicinity of the wrecked area, seeking to break through to ascertain whether their husbands had been saved. Surgeons and nurses were called in from nearby cities to aid in caring for the wounded, dispatches received said —* Ludwigshafen has a population of about 61,000 of whom many are era ployed in the vast chemical works. Mannheim, with a population of about 140,000 also has chemical works and factories and an extensive residential area, it is also the seat of a grand ducal palace. Nitrogen such as was being manti- ' factured at Ludwigshafen is in great demand as fertilizer. Extensive experiments are understood to have been conducted in Germany recently with artificial nitrogen. The force of the explosion was felt as far as Frankfort. The cause of the explosion is unknown as communication with Mannheim and Ludwigshafen is disrupted. Fragmentary reports indicated there was a panic in Mannheim and Ludwigshafen,! the twin cities, as detonation followed detonation. Chimneys were knocked from houses some distance from the scene. Many houses, the reports said, crumbled before the blast as if they were made of paper. Wnidows were shattered for miles around. BUSINESS DEAL ON A deal is on for the purchase of one of the leading businesses on Second street, and if it is closed announcement will probably be made the first of the week. An option has been given, but like ail deals there might be a possibility of it not being completed. IN HANDS OF RECEIVER (United Press Service) Richmond, Ind., Sept. 21 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The $1,500,000 Lorraine Car Co., went into voluntary bankruptcy here with the appointment of Walter Butler as receiver for the company. A sudden drop in sales and high organization expenses are given as the cause of the company's inability to meet its liabilities. Last year the corporation, which has been engaged in assemb ling motor hearses, did business of approximately $1,000,000. ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ THE WEATHER FORECAST ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Indiana —Fair tonight and Thursday; cooler tonight. Lower Michigan -Part cloudy. ton'ght and Thursday; cooler tonight and in east portion Thursday. Upffer Michigan—Part cloudy tonight and Thursday; cooler tonight and in extreme east portion Thursday.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

MR. PUCKETT AS GUEST Mr. E. W. Puckett, of Fort Wayne, accompanied by a few of the boys from the Summit City will be the , guests of the Decatur Rotarians Thursday evening at the Decatur industrial association rooms. A good program has been arranged and every Rotarian will bring a guest i with him. The meeting will be called at seven o’clock. LET MATTER REST Petition of John W. Meibers to Disannex Lands From City Limits NOT ACTED UPON Sidewalks Are Ordered— Reports and Petitions Filed With Council. No action was taken by the city council last evening on the petition of John W. Meibers for the disannexation of certain lands from the north corporate limits of the city of Decatur, the council’s action in the matter taken sometime ago standing as final. At that time the council refused to disannex this land from the city limits. No objections were filed against the building of sidewalks on Kekionga. Maple and Oak streets and the city contractor, Amos Fisher, was ordered to proceed with the building of them. The clerk was authorized to issue an improvement bond in the amount of <7.50, the property owners affected by the C. N. Christen sewer signing a waiver to that amount.. Engineer Orval Harruff reported the completion of the Short street improvement and the clerk was ordered to give notice that objections against the assessments would be heard at the meeting on October 4th. Upon the petition of property own era, the electric light superintendent was instructed to erect a street light at the Third and Marshall street crossings. The petition of Jack Freit as a member of the volunteer fire depart ment was accepted by the council. The plat for the widening of Day ton avenue, in which F. M. Schirmeyer and John W. Meibers agreed to donate land for the purpose of widening the street was referred tc the street and sewer committee. Superintendent Mylott's report of the electric light department for the month of August was filed and referred to tVie committee. The resolution ordering the paying of the quarterly salaries due to the city officers was passed and adopted. It was moved and seconded that the superintendent of the Decatur light and power company cease.buying coal until further orders. Several carloads of coal are now stacked up at the power plant for winter use. The finance committee allowed the following bills and the meeting adjourned : Decatur Band, $250.00; City Firemen, $145.00; City Treasurer, $5.00; Thomas Dowling, $50.00; Street commissioners pay roll. $152.40; Bobbs Merrill Co., $17.50; Police pay roll, $105.00; Wayne Oil Tank Co.. $6.16; Decatur Insurance Agency, $32.00; Orval Harruff, $37.50; Decatur Democrat Co.. $57.59; T. St. L. & W. R. R $311.85; Water works pay roll, $130.00; Amos Fisher, $5.62; T. St. L. & W. R. R- $458.64; Decatur Cast ings Co.. $27.70; Alberger Pump Co., $58.28; Nelson Valve Co., $1.30; M. J Mylott pay roll, $277.50; T. St. L. & W. R. R- Co., $305.55; T. St. L. & W. R. R. Co., $787.58) T. St. L. & W R. R. Co., $695.67; T. St. L. & W. R. R. Co.. $597.09; T. St. L. & W. R. R. Co., $591.11; T St. L. &. W. R. R. Co., $619.14; American Ry. Exp. Co., $3.52 Pennsylvania System, $3.00; A. C. Foos pay roll, $498.95; City truck pay roll, $103.70; Electric Appliance Co., $15.44. BORAH TO OPPOSE TREATY (Vailed Pre a* Sendee). Washington, D- Q-. Sepf. 21 (Special to Daily Democrat)—An- - nouncement that Senator Borah will f oppose ratification of the new peace treaty with Germany, may cause a complete reversal of the administra- ► tion’s plans with regard to that pact. I It may even cause the treaty to be ► held up in the senate foreign relations committee until after the disarmament conference. r This is contrary to the administrat tion’s desire and it will be done only if inquiries now being made show 1 that Borah s fight will get democratic 1 support to-any substantial degree.

MR. PUCKETT AS GUEST

WOMEN IN COURT Will Be taken Care of Tomorrow Before any Men Are Permitted to Enter SHERMAN IS WANTED As a Witness in Case—Was One of Those in Now Famous Arbuckle Party. San Francisco, Sept. 21.—(Special to Daily Democrat). —Women will hem "Fatty” Arbuckle in on every side when he appears before Judge tomorrow for preliminary hearing on a murder charge. The movie comedian accused of assaulting and thus causing the death of Virginia Rappe, actress, will have his hearing in “women’s court"—that is the court set aside for complaint made by women. The complainant against Arbuckle is Mrs. Bambine Maude Delmont. Judge Lazarus announced today no men would be admitted to the court room until all the women who wanted to enter, had found seats. This means that the spectators seats will be packed with women. District attorney Brady today awaited word from New York that District Attorney Swann in that city had intercepted Lowell Sherman, movie actor, wanted here as a witness in the Arbuckle case. Brady telegraphed Swann as follows: “Lowell Sherman, important witness in the Arbuckle case, now on Twentieth Century limited, New York Central, bound for New York. Please intercept him and ascertain if he will return voluntarily to San Francisco to make statement as promised, lu any event keep him under surveillance.” Sherman, who is a “movie villian” was one of the guests at Arbuckle’s “wild party” at which Virginia Rappe was fatally injured. — MID-WEEK SERVICE. The regular mid-week service will be held at 7:30 o’clock this evening at the Presbyterian church. The pastor earnestly requests the attendance of all the members, as several matters of great importance will be discussed, during a short congregational meeting. The usual song and praise ■service will also be held. Members are asked to come and be on time. FOR PLAINTIFF Jury After Three Hours’ Deliberation Grants Mrs. Rinehart $2,000 FOR WORKPERFORMED In Care and Nursing of Parents —Defense Will Ask for a New Trial. The jury trying the case of Etta Rinehart vs. Zachariah Archbold, returned a verdict for Mrs. Rinehart in the sum of $2,000. The verdict was reached shortly after 9 o clock Tuesday night after a little more than three hours’ deliberation. Attorneys finished argument at 4:30 o’clock, and the court gave his instructions immediately thereafter, the jury retiring at 5 o’clock. Judge John H. Aiken by agreement of the parties and attorneys announced should the men agree on a verdict before 9 o’clock it should be read by the court reporter, Hubert DeVoss, and if they could not agree until later, the verdict should be sealed, and read in open court this morning. Judge Aiken returned to his home in Fort Wayne. The verdict was reached shortly after 9 o'clock, and attorneys interested were called to the court room. The case was hard fought throughout. Mrs. Rinehart brought the split to recover from the defendant for the care and nursing of the parents of the two, an agreement having been made between the father and son whereby the son was to be deeded the farm provided he remain at home and take care of the land and the aged couple as long as they lived. The son was also to pay off a mortgage. Mrs. Rinehart was at home during a period of ten years from 1908 to 1918, and the suit, was ■ brought against the brother for $5,200 in payment for her services. After a two days’ trial the jury agreed that she should have $2,000. Smith & Parrish appeared for Mrs. Rinehart and D. B. Erwin represent- : ed Mr. Archbold. A motion will be argued next week for a new trial. «

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, September 21, 1921.

CANCER OPERATION Mrs. Reuben Breiner, mother of Mrs. Elgin King of this city, was op erated upon at the Decatur hospital this morning for the removal of a cancer, this being the second operation of its kind. Drs. D. D. and C. S. Clark had charge of the operation Mrs. Breiner Is getting along as well as can be expected and it will take a day or two to tell whether prog ress in improvement is being made. PL AF AT WARSAW Local High School Football Warriors Rounding into Shape for Season FIRST GAME FRIDAY Team is Fast and Looks Like a Winner — New Uniforms Ordered. The Decatur high school football team is gradually being whipped into shape for the opening game at Warsaw next Friday afternoon. Coach A. G. Moore is facing a serious task in moulding a winner out of the ma terial which he has on hand. The graduation of six members of last year's squad has left several holes which must be filled before the opening game. Os a squad totalling over forty men when the season opened (here are only twenty-two left and the coach is rapidly becoming handicapped by the lack of substitutes. This year’s backfield gives evidence of being the fastest, shiftiest and most aggressive that ever was in D. H. S. but it is at the end positions that Moore is having his worst trouble. Several shifts and combinations have been tried in the hope of bolstering up the flanks for the assault which is sure to come a* these points and be appears to have solved the difficulty in Kies and Beel. Christie is also making a bid for a flank position and promises trouble for the other candidates before the season is ended. Clark used at end during early practice has been shifted to tackle and makes a good rununing mate for Smith. HeH is rangy and aggressive but lacks experience. Clark can also be used at center in an emergency. Thomas a new man at center is all that could be desired. He passes well and is uncanny at breaking up plays In the middle of the line. Gay and Yahne at guards are veterans and form an impregnable defense with Thomas. Jack Teeple is running the team at quarter-back and is the same old fighting Jack. John Teeple, captain of the team, is playing at half back and with Miller and Bob Myers, make a great running combination. Kern and White will alternate with the other backfield men. Fike, who is suffering from an injury to his leg will also work at (Continued on page two) WORK FULL FORCE Plant of Decatur Castings Co. Has Fifty Men at This Time SECURED CONTRACT To Make Castings for Chicago Manufacturer —Men Work 54 Hours Week. Manager Jimmie Cowan, of the Decatur Castings company, has fifty men employed at the foundry, and they are working nine hours per day, six days in the week. The plant of the castings company is therefore the busiest industry in the city just at this time. •Several nice orders have recently come to the Decatur plant from Chicago concerns, and it is probable the force of men will be kept very busy for the next several weeks. The foundry force in the past few days has been equal to that of a year ago, when business was at its best, and the men are working full time, which is something very few industries are doing over the country at this time. The new contracts secured by the i foundry, in addition to the work being done for the General Electric conti pany, indeed makes the foundry a 1 busy place, and the men employed there are indeed happy they have a full week’s pay. Mr. Cowan, the general manager for the foundry, is a hustler, and If there Is such a thing as getting business i to keep the local plant going, he rill have it.

DISTRICT MEET Northern Division of Christian Churches Will Hold Conference Here STARTING THURSDAY Leading Ministers From Northern Indiana Will Have Part in Program. The northeast district conference of the Christian church will bo held In this city Thursday evening and Friday, the members of the local Christian church providing the enter tainment for the visitors at the conference. An excellent program has been prepared, among the speakers being Evangelist A. L. Martin of Lafountaine; Rev. Elmer Ward Cole, of Huntington; Mrs. J. A. Walls,'of Richmond, and C. Manley Morton, a missionary to Paraguay. The following program will be given, starting Thursday evening at 7:30 o’clock: Thursday Evening 7:30 —Song and Prayer. 7:45 —Address, “Religious Education.” Elmer Ward Cole. 8:20 —Address, "The Great Commission." Manly Morton, Missionary from Paraguay, S. A. Friday Morning 10:00 —Devotional, Rev. A. (> A. Buxton. 10:15 —Roll call and report from churches and organizations. 10:40 —“State of the Cause," District Evangelist A. L. Martin. 11:00 —“Our Educational Outlook”. A county pastor. 11:30 —“The first year of the Unit ed Society,” Manly Morton. 12:00 —Appointment of committees Benediction. Friday Afternoon 1:15 —Song and Prayer. 1:30 —Election of officers. I:4s—Address, “Stewardship and Tithing,” Elmer Ward Cole. 2:4s—‘The I. C. M. A. and the World Task," A. L. Martin. 3:00 —“Our Colleges and the World Task.” Speaker Supplied. 3:20 —“The Woman's Society and the World Task.” Mrs. Dr. Walls. 3:4o—“The United Society and the World Task,” Manly Morton. 4:00 —Conference. Benediction. L. V. Ploughe of Rockford. Ohio made a business trip to Decatur this morning. WHERE IT GOES How SIOO in Taxes in Adams County is Divided In Funds ROADS AND SCHOOLS Get the Largest Amounts — State Gets One-Tenth— Figures Interesting. We have been asked to explain to him just what becomes of the SIOO he pays in taxes and an expert with a sharp lead pencil has thus figured out what is believed to be approximately correct on the average. Os course ■road funds and school taxes which are the greatest part of it, vary in townships and taxing units and these figures are averaged for the county: Adams County. State General Fund $ 67 State Benevolent fund 3.05 Soldiers Memorial 30 State Highway 2.01 State School 3.05 State College 1.44 State vocational 10 Gravel Road Repairs 10.77 Av. Road Bds. & Interest 18.02 Additional Road 2.04 County General Fund 12.91 Township General Fund 2.42 Township Poor 32 City & Town Gen. Fund 10.77 Local Tuition Tax 14.31 Special School Tax 17.71 Library Tax 05 . SIOO.OO The total spent for roads out of your SIOO is $32.90 and for schools is $36.66 or more than two-thirds for these two items. These figures are on the basis of SIOO. If you pay ten dollars your share is one-tenth while if you pay SSOO multiply these figures by five. This table while approximated to some extent, will give you an idea of where your money goes. The enrollment at high school is larger this year than ever before. It is estimated at 160.

AT DISTRICT MEET Superintendent M. F. Worthman and R. D. Myers, accompanied by their wives, drove to Winchester today, to attend a meeting of school officials of the eighth district, wherein they expect to agree on certain regulations governing the work of truant officers iu the district. Elisha Merriman. Adams county truant officer, also attended the meeting. PILED WiTH WORK United States Senate lias Many Important Matters to Decide in Few Weeks THE ANTI-BEER BILL Promises Warm Debate— Report of Newberry Investigation Be Filed. (By L. C. Martin, United Press staff correspondent) Washington, Sept. 21. —Congiess got back to work today, with its leaders determined to push its major tasks to completion within sixty days. While the House had little ahead of it requiring immediate action, the senate's calendar was crowded with business. President Harding was expected to submit the treaty with Germany at once. At the same time, the finance committee was to report the $4,000,000,000 tax bill. These two measures appeared likely to claim the center of the senatorial stage for some weeks to come. In addition, the senate has the conference report on the anti-beer bill to dispose of. This is one of the most warmly controverted measures ever before congress, and there was no tign of weakening by its opponents. They were ready to go ahead tying up the bill indefinitely, they said, until their wishes were met. Senator Borah’s bill repealing tolls on American coastwise ships passing unfinished business before the senate when it met. Borah’s bill will be voted on October 10, but it is unlikely much of the interim will be spent in debate upon it. The railroad relief bill, already passed by the house, and the allied debt refunding bill were both on the lenate's calendar. An effort will be nade to get the railroad bill through, but the debt refunding measure has been sidetracked for the present. The interstate commerce committee :s scheduled to resume its exhaustive investigation of the railroad s'tuation it an early date. In several weeks of nvestigation last spring, the committee heard the railroad’s side of the (iiestions involved. Labor is to be leard this fall. The senate labor committee has the West Virginia mine war on its hands, md will try to formulate some settlenent, after completing its investigation. Reports on the investigation of rruman H. Newberry’s right to his •eat as a U. S. senator from Michigan vill be filed with the senate, and at ;oine time before December an effort .vill be made to bring up the question on the floor. This will precipitate i bitter partisan fight. A sub-committee is to continue an nvestigation began in the summer of American intervention in Hat! and Santo Domingo. The committee may lecide to visit the island republics. A naval sub-committee will lesunie its inquiry into the case of Capt. Chamberlain. whose aerial exploits during the war resulted in bis dismissal from the naval service. Chamberlain claims lie was unjustly convicted and dismissed, and is seeking vindication. The senate also lias tlie tariff bill, but the administration leaders did not know just where it would fit into the legislative program. That will be determined when the tax bill is out of the way. The house, meanwhile, may consideh the maternity bill which the senate had passed, or may take up a soldier bonus bill. The allied loan refunding measure also may come in for attention. A further deficiency appropriation also is expected before long. RESIGNATION NOT ACCEPTED. At a meeting of the official board of the Christian «hurch of Decatur, the resignation of the pastor. Dr. A. G. A. Buxton was not accepted and was returned to him with the request that he continue to serve the local church. Dr. Buxton however, is planning to move to Atlantic, la., where he has a splendid offer with a law firm. He i will be here two or three weeks yet t and will continue his work at the church.

Price 3 Cents

WOMAN'S CLUB TO OPEN SEASON First Meeting Will Be Held at Masonic Hall Monday Evening A PICNIC SUITER — Interesting Program for the Year — Two Redpath Members Booked. The Woman's Club of this city, a federation of the Dramatic, Musical, Euterpean and Civic clubs, will hold ! its first meeting of the 1921-1922 season at the Masonic hall Monday evening, September 26th with a picnic supper and business meeting. A most interesting program had been arranged for the year and Included in the program are two Redpath numbers. The Zandorff entertainers on October twentieth and a lecture by Opie Read on February twentieth. Mrs. Cora Downs is the new president of the club and the coming season promises to be one of the most interesting and entertaining in the club's history. The program for the season is as follows: September Twenty-sixth — Picnic supper. Business meeting. October Third —Charles Gounod; Claude De Bussy. Celia Andrews, Celeste Neptune, Marie Sellemeyer, Hazel Engeler and Agnes Kohne. October Seventeenth —Indiana as a Literary Center. Mary Tyndall, Rose Christen, Florence Haney, Frances Vail, Pearl Heller and . Maude Howard. October Twentieth—Lyceum number, The Zandorff Entertainers. November Seventh—“ Three Pills J in a Bottle,” Rachel Lyman Field. Cora Downs, Virgine Smith, Lois Connell, Margaret Smith and La- ’ Verne Elzey. “A Woman’s a Woman ; for A' That,” Mary MacMillan. Alta Arnold, Eva Acker and Bess Erwin. November Twenty-first — Modern French Composers. Jessie Bell, May Holthouse, Ruby Lamimann, Della Sellemeyer. Clara Runyon and Georgia Vachon. December Fifth—Civic Department Address, "Prints, Old and Modern”— Mrs. Laura Detzer. December Nineteenth —“Why the Chimes Rang”—Elizabeth Arthorp McFadden. Leona Bosse, Fay Holthouse, Kathryn Elberson, Fannie Heller, Edna Snyder and Kathryn Niblick. January Ninth —Myths and Folk Lore. Martha Tyner, Anna Carlisle, Ruth Parrish, Mathilda Sellemeyer, Katherine France. Mina Annen and Anna Vance. January Twenty-third—Civic Department. Talk on Birds, with stereopticon slides—Miss Margaret Hanna. February Sixth—Benjamin Godard, Massent, Ambroise Thomas. Carrie IJaubold, Myrtle Fruchte, Estelia Coverdale. Genevieve Bremerkamp, Angelina Firks and Florence Bremerkamp. February Twentieth—Lyceum number. Lecture, Opie Read. February Twenty-seventh— Native Trees. June Ossenberg, Nellie Parrish. Elizabeth Peterson. Mary Mills, Gladys Kern, Leona Hocker and Charlotte Studebaker. March Sixth—Cecile Chaminade. Edith Schrock, Kathryn Tyndall, Frances Burk, Edna Sellemeyer and Ina Peterson. March Twentieth—“ The Twelve Pound Look’’—Sir Janies M. Barrie. Faye Smith-Knapp. Fannie Hite and Gertrude Hite. "Rosalind” — Sir James M. Barrie. Olive Peterson and Alice Horton. April Third—Civic Department. Miscellaneous program. April Seventeenth— Closing. Music department. The officers of the club and the - chairmen of the various committees . are as follows: i President —Mrs. Cora Downs. , Vice-President —Mrs. Nellie Parrish ? Secretary—Miss Angelina Firks. Treasurer —Miss Rose Christen. Chairman of Music Department —• Mrs. May Holthouse. Chairman of Dramatic I —Miss Leona Bosse. Chairman of Literature Department—Mrs. Nellie Parrish. g Chairman of Civic Department) —■ t Mrs. Elinor Connell. Music Committee—Mrs. May Holt--3 house. Mrs. Kathryn Tyndall, Mrs. ( Frances Burk and Mrs. Edna SelleB meyer. Literature Committee —Mrs. Nellie 1 Parrish, Miss Elizabeth Peterson, (Continued on page two)