Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 25, Number 103, Decatur, Adams County, 30 April 1927 — Page 1

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HORROR INCREASES IN FLOOD DISTRICT

COOLIDGE ASKED g TO VISIT FLOOD [ ZONEJN SOUTH § resident Considers Trip To Mississippi \ alley Alter Hoover Returns ■tKIECTS REQUEST W \'()\l EXTRA SESSION [ \V ; ,shii>tfU>ii. April ■ , p r(SS ) President Loolidfic K l( l;iv look under consideration K invitation of Sen. I*at Harri■on Dem.. Miss., acting tor ■ississippi valley fioyernors. Hie President to visit the reiiions. , ~ [Harrison said the Pres! ent indlUd a desire to await return of LfPtarv f Commerce Hoover from [i, flood inspection trip before makany decision on the invitation, lowpver. Extra Session Request Denied Washington, April 30. — (United > r pss) Rejecting requests to call an , X Ta session of congress for flood re ief and rehabilitation legislation, ’resident Coolidge today prepared to , SUP later an appeal for further Red irnss contriimtions from the Amorian people. The appeal for further funds will , e m ade after Secretary of Commerce loover returns here in a few days om the flood area. The President robably will ask an addit onal s!>.B*o.ooo making a total of 110,000.000. The relief fund was soaring above the $4,000,000 mark today, while estimates of damage to growing cotton alone stood around $100,000,000. With its director Df. extension work, Dr. C. W. Warburtoq, already on the ground, the agricu! tural department repared to ascertain exact flood damage to crops so as to develop future farm relief plans. , .Experts estimate 1,000,000 bales of growing cotton has been destroyed with 2,000,000 acres of cotton land innundated. This represents about $100,000,000 at present spot prices, as part of it is high grade long staple cotton. Reporks received here indiIrate a great part of the long staple cotton area in the delta will be flooded. ' : e.*v.l tf>£- growing -co’ton of this year’s crop, many ’housunds of hales carried over from last year's record crop awaiting a market and (COVmt'KD ON PACK >IV> ANNOUNCE NAMES OF COMMUNICANTS Forty-four Boys And Girls In Class To Make Solemn Communion May 8 A class of 44 boys and girls will niaki their solemn communion at St. Mary's Catholic church, Sunday, May 8, The high mass, at which the class W> -1 rece've holy comnutn'on, will he held at 7:30 o’clock a.m. The second mass, at 9:45 o'clock, will be a low mass. The Rev. Father J. A. Seimetz, who has been instructing the class, will officiate at, the communion high mass. Impressive services will mark the ceremony. The members of the class are: Boys—Walter Lenerich, Hurbert Rumsclilag, Edward Geimer, Herbert Bentz, John Myers, Clarence Kruse, Robert Wolpert, Franklin Hebble, Jerome Miller, George Phillips, Frederick Baker, Charles Omlor, Frederick Wolpert, Aloysius Geimer, Jerome Meyer, Ambrose Spangler, Roman Bengerlch, Edward BpiUz. Girls— Lucile Miller, Mary Elman. Annette Rengerich, Helena Miller, Mary Jane C'olchin, Mildred Miller, Helen Hain, Estdlla Lengerlch, Mary Wertzberger, M ary Magdellne Colchin, Mary Gnau, Agnes Case, Mildred Lengerich, Frances Ulman, Josephine Ivetich, Margaret Faurote, Dolores Klepper, Maomi Rttmschlag, Helen Loshe, Mary Leonard, Dorothy Hjeiqjan, Beatrice ttass, Dorothy LaFountaine, Cather lnp Pebble, Florence Minch. The services will begin at 7:30 o’clock.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXV. No. 103.

Farmer Fasts For 42 Days Just To See How it Was Not To Eat Muncle, Ind., April 30. < l’l>.l-Kai l Reynolds, farmer living near here, today tasted food for the Hrst tlqw in 42 days. Reynolds said he had not eaten since March 20. “I Just wanted to see how it was not to eat," he said, "and it isn’t had at all." A physician supervised the fast. Reynolds said. 808 MERRYMAN DESCRIBES FLOOD Son of Decatur Couple Tells Os Conditions At Des Arc, Arkansas Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Merryman, of this city, have received a letter from their sou,' Robert, who- reaides at ik-s Arc. Arkansas in which he describes flood conditions In that part of the south. Mr. and Mrs. Merryman, becoming alarmed over the safety of their son. and his family, called him by telephone a few days ago and learned that he was

safe. The following are excerpts from Fob’s letter: , DES ARC, ARKANSAS April 26, 1927 Deal Mother and Dad: It surely was a very pleasant surprise to hear your voices Sunday; and I was glad to he able to tell you truthfully that we were quite safe;*as no water reached the town proper in Des Arc. , We have two hundred or more re fngees liere, and all of the surrounding country ft flooded. We were cut-off from all communication for several days, except for the radio. Phone lines had just been repaired, wehn your call came in. A great part of Arkansas lias been under water w ith immense damage resulting, and Des Arc is one of the few high spots that was safe. Levees across the river, on the low side are broken in many places, and this kept water away from here, although Des Arc never was flooded. The radio reports that Helena, Arkansas City and Lake Village are fast filling with water, and it reports all levees from VI '■ to '" v Orleans in dangerous condition. Engineers are apprehensive about the city levees at New Orleans, and a break would he something terrible indeed. About 125,000 homeless, 200 dead, damages are one hundred to five hundred millions and only, half down to the Gulf. When trains* get back on schedules we expect to come to Decatur. Love to All, 808. FARM LANDS ARE GOOD INVESTMENT Conservative Business Man Says Buying Farm Land Now Is Fine Investment; Farms For Sale Here "Not to invest in farm lands at the present prices Is just as foolish as it was to invest ia lands when .hey sold for from S3OO to S7OO over the corn belt country a few years ago today", remarked a conservative and careful business man who has watched the trend with interest and who 13 nowinvesting every dollar he can get in farms. That’s a good way tc put it and as true as gospel. Next Tuesday, an auction sale of three excellent farms in Adams county, all well improved and one of them as complete as any farm in the middle west will he held. These should he good sales, for the farms have value and the investments are wise. Almost every day, one hears cf excellent opportunities to buy lands which are sure to grow into value quickly and to produce splendid returns on the money thus spent. If you want your money in a safe and wise place, buy Adams county farms now, is the advice given. Ministerial Meeting The Decatur Ministerial Association will have its regular monthly session next Monday morning at 9'30 o’clock in the Old Adams Count - Bank.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

CELEBP.AT!ON OF BOYS' WEEK TO START MONDAY Churches To Observe Boys’ Day Sunday, Also; Several Events To Be Given BOYS TO ORGANIZE INTO THREE CITIES Plans have been completed for the celebration of Boys’ week in this city starting Monday. Several local churches will observe boys' day in i lnii'i h tomorrow and pastors will deliver sermons dwelling on the boy problem. The week observation will officially start Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock, when boys of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades of all local schools will meet at the library and organize into three separate cities. These cities will elect officers who will have charge of their affairs during the entire week. The organization will be supervised by members of the Decatur Rotary club. To Spend Friday At Park Friday will be Boys' day in Decatur, and at 9 o'clock' next Friday morning all hoys of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gra-ds will he taken to Bellmont park, where they will he the guests of the local Rotarians the remainder of the day. A fine program has been arranged for next Friday, including instruction and talks during the morning; a lunch at noon, and an athletic carnival during the afternoon. The program will he concluded about 4:00 o’clock Friday afternoon, with a baseball game, 'track aud field events will he on the afternon program also. M. F. Wortlunan and his committee have completed the plans for the day and all hoys of the elementary grades are urged to join in the entire program. Automobile transportation will be furnished to take the boys to the park next Friday and also to bring them hack Friday afternoon. DELAY FIXING OF DATE FOR RETRIAL Determination Os Date For Retrial Os Sapiro-Ford Libel Suit Postponed Until July 1 Detroit, Mich.- 'April 30.—(E l. - Determination of a new date for retail of the Aaron Sapiro-Henry Ford sl,000.000 libel suit was postponed until July 1 today when attorneys for the two sides met with Judge Fred M. Raymond, of Grand Rapids. Judge Raymond, in deferring naming a definite date, said that he understood a third judge for this district was to he appointed, and that the case "might be" taken in charge by the new assignee.

LEGION FORMS A RIFLE CLUB Twenty Veterans Turn Out For First Drill; Rifle Range Planned Twenty members of Adams Post, No. 43, of the American legion, turned out last night for their first drill practice with rifles. The drill company and rifle club are still in the process of organization, and all exservice men who wish to join are urged to do so at once. The Legion hopes to put a well drilled and snappy company before the public at an early date. Tile Legion has a limited number of rifles at present, but more will he ordered and veterans who expect to join the club are urged to do so at once, so that it can he determined how many rifles to order. The Legion is desirous of finding a suitable place for target practice, also, as they expect to spend hours on [he rifle range. Several posts of the Legion already have formed drill squads and are making a success of the venture. Veterans wishing to join the local drill company are requested to notify Charles Starost not later than Friday night, May 6.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, April 30, 1027.

Rich Countess The Countess of Westmoreland, daughter of the late Lord Hihhlesdalc and a stepdaughter of Ladv Ribblesdale, the former Alva Willing Actor, is ranked as the richest countess in Eng* land, and one of the foremost beauties of the court. RAVELINGS staff TO hold canival

May Carnival To Be Held In D. H. S. Gymnasium Next Friday Night, May Plans have been completed for a May carnival to he given at the Decatur high school gymnasium next Friday. May G. The public is cordially invited lo attend the festival, which is being conducted by the editorial and business staff of the Ruvellngs, the high school publication. Booths will he erected, and all sorts of refreshments and articles will he sold. There, also, will he several shows and plenty of free entertainment, the committee in charge stated today. Each class, club and organization of the high school will have a separate haoth. Admission to the gymnasium will be free. One of the big features of the carnival will he the colored minstrel, which will he conducted by the boys’ glee club of the high school. Other features and free acts are being arranged. The doors of the gymnasium will open at 7 o’clock next Friday night and the festival will last until midnight. Gate admission is free and the event will last only one night. The public is cordially invited. o Red Cross Relief Fund Decatur’s contribution to the Red Cross fund for the relief of sufferers in the flood district of the Mississippi valley today mounted to $554.50, more than SIOO being added to yesterday’s total. New contributions announced today were: Provious Total $452.90 Civic Section Womans Club 10.00 Etmp’oyees Decatur Pos’office 22.00 Employees Old Ad. Co. bank 850 Ladies’ Aid of Zion Lutheran church 5-00 Employees Everett & Hite Co. 5.00 Henry Krick Orie Newhard, Preble 100 A Sympath'zer 600 James D. Gault UOO Miss Naomi Gilbert 100 Mr. & Mrs. Henrv Bowman 2.00 Mrs. W. A. Kuehler 100 Mrs. Lincoln Bodle 100 Louis P. Yager 1.00 Wm. SeUemeyer LOG Anna M. Yager 100 Barney Wertzberger 1.00 Grace Butler 1.00 N A. Bixler 2.00 Leo Yager 1.00 Envelope 2 00 A. W. Tanvas 1.00 Envelope. A Friend 1.00 Envelope, A Friend 1.00 Envelope, without name .54 Employees LaFountain Handle fac'ory 10.50 Employees Everett-Hite Co. 5.01) Loose change in boxes .. 5.00 $554.50

FOUR AIRMEN DIE IN CRASHi BODIES ARE LOST IN BAY Lightning Strikes Plane In Air; One Victim Lived At Warsaw, Indiana ACCIDENT OCCURS AT NOFOLK, W. VA. Norfolk, Va„ April .‘lO (l nitod Press) The choppy waters of the Chesapeake Bay were scanned today for additional bodies of four navy fliers killed when their monster seaplane lllf> was slruek by lightning late yesterday and toppled 1,200 feel lo destruction off Mathews, Va„ 40 miles north of here. The aircraft lender teal from the Hampton Roads naval air base searched all night in vain, but <’. Biggs, Mathews county fisherman, reported finding one unidentified body end holding il at his home for the authorities. To Raise Wrecked Plane The teale xpected to raise the H-1G today in the hope that the other bodies will he found in the plane. The dead: Lieut Victor Francis Marine!!!, 30, of Washington, D. C., and Pensacola, Fla. Lieut. George Watson Lehman, the pilot, ot‘ Warsaw, Ind. Chief Aviation Machinist Mato, Loren Edward Poiner. Aviation Machinist Mate George M. Michaels. All the victims were married. Their wives were at Hampton Roads awaiting their return from Philadelphia, where they had gone to fetch the plane after an overhauling. o CONFESSION CLEARS CHARLIE BIRGER Youth Admits He Killed Mayor Os West City, Illinois; Gets Sentence Os Life Imprisonment Benton, 111., April 30.—(U P.)—The murder of Mayor Joe Adams, West City, for which Charlie Birger, notorious southern Illinois gangster, is under indictment in Franklin county jail, was confessed in court here today by Harry A. Thomasson, 19, a Birger hireling Judge Charles H. Miller, who heard the confession, immediately sentenced Thomasson to life imprisonment in the penitentiary at Chester. He was serving a term of from ten years to life for robbery at Pontiac reformatory when brought into court in connection with Adams’ death.

TWO MAIL ROUTES TO BE ELIMINATED Postoffice Department To Decrease Number Os Rural Routes Here From a very good source the Dallv Democrat is informed that a movement is on to drop two of the rural mail routes from Decatur, adding the territory covered on these routes to that of other carriers, the idea being to make the routes fifty miles long. This would give Decatur seven routes iustead of nine and would add to the time necessary for the carriers to cover their teritory. Tt is well known that this is the desire of the department at Washington and rumors are that this may happen here before long. It is the postoffice rule now to make these changes when regular carriers die or are removed from their places and It Is said that if this Is done it will probably effect those routes in which changes were made recently. Beta Sigma Alpha To Meet There will be a meeting of Beta Sigma Alpha in the Industrial Asst- ■ elation rooms at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon. All members are urged to attend.

Booth Still Alive After Nine Days Os Artificial Respiration Roanoke, Va„ April 30. (UP)—The ninth day since his lungs collapsed in an operation found Walter L. Booth. 1-8-year-old farm hoy, still alive In a hospital here and Ills friends still confident lie would survive as they continued to administer artificial respiration. "Condition unchanged” was the bulletin issued tiy the hospital super intendent. Booth said last night he thought he could breathe a little without his comrades periodically raising and lowering his arms, but when he tried it he found he could not discharge the little air’he had Inhaled. CLEAN-DP WEEK STARTS MONDAY I City Ready For Annual Spring Clean-up; Appeal Issued To Citizens Are you ready for Clean-up week? Beginning at 8:30 o’clock Monday morning, the city trucks will begin the task of gathering tip the tin cans and oilier rubbish which have been placed in boxes or barrels by the public spirited citizens. The tans and rubbish will he hauled to the city dump. Street Commissioner Amos Fisher stated this morning that all plans had been completed for the clean-up campaign. A tiuck will he consigned to each ward. They will start from the each ward. They will start from the east and work west through all the alleys and gather up the boxes or barrels of cans. Mr. Fisher s. tiled that those wtio wished to save the boxes or barrels should notify the truck driver. Th ecity council and Mayor Krick has proclaimed next week as general clean-up week and the cooperation ot every citizen is asked. Street Commissioner Fisher believes that a complete clean-up of the alleys can he made in one week, but plans are made to carry on the work until the last can has been gathered up and hauled away. In tonight’s . Daily Democrat, the city council calls on the public spiiit of the people of Decatur to cooperate in the clean-up movement and to clean-up. paint-up, spruce-up, Ax-up, , . repaint* ing their houses and it was stated today that several business men were planning to paint the store fronts this spring. D. C. H. S. Seniors To Give Play Next Week

The annual home talent play of the senior class cf the Decatur Catholichigh school will he given nevt Wednesday night, at 8 o'clock. In the auditorium of the Catholic school blulding. The title of the play is “When a Keller Needs a Friend." A matinee performance will l>p given for the school schildren at 1:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. ■" "Unloaded" Gun Kills Youth Auburn, Calif., April 30.—(UP) An "unloaded” revolver In the hands of Robert James Tyson, 26. son of a millionaire California family, was blamed today for the death of F. C. Klingmau, Tyson's college chum. —— ——o— Now Is The Time To Clean Up And Beautify Our City Now is the time to cleanup awl beautify our city. The clean-up and paint-up season has arrived, and every local citizen ia urged to assist in this brlghten-up campaign. Every property owner can make this week a success by gathering up all the tin cans and bottles; raking up the rubbish and other unsightly objects, and placing them in boxes or barrels, so that the city trucks can gather them up and dispose of them. Under the leadership of the civic section of the Woman’s Club and the city officials, let’s try to make Decatur a brighter and cleaner city. Member ot Civic Section.

Price Two Cents.

NEW LEVEES GIVE WAY, INUNDATING MORE TERRITORY Inhabitants Flee From Score Os Towns; Transportation With North Crippled NEW ORLEANS IS BELIEVED SAFE (By Fnited Press) The horror «>!' the Hood siliitition in the lower Mississippi valley grew today as each hour brought in reports'of fresh devastation from water rushing through broken levees. Inhabitants were fleeing from a score of towns in seven eon lilies of Arkansas in ihc path of wider liberated by a 200-loot break in the levee of the Arkansas river at South Bend, Ark. Gould. McGehee aiul Varner are already engulfed end the water is reaching out swiftly to innundate other towns. Cazoo City, Miss., which old river men had predicted would never feel the sweep of the flood, has fallen victim to the muddy flood tide. Much Cotton Ruined A torrent poured into the city streets through two levee breaks and flooded a warehouse, stored with half a million dollars worth of cotton. One hundred fifty mattresses dumped into a hole in the sea wall at Vicksburg. Miss, checked somewhat the rise of the water towards the indus'rial and wholesale district of the city, hut the danger is not yet over. Ten coast guard boats were held in readiness at New Orleans to evacuate 200 inhabitants of S'. Bernard’s Parish, La., who refused to leave before the levee at Poydras was dynamited yesterday, ir the flood rises higher in the parish. No Rise At New Orleans The river gauge at New Orleans was holding at 20.8 feet this afternoon. Failure of the water to climb up the marker was said by engineers to indicate the break in the levee to the south had saved tlio city from threat of serious damage. River Rushes Through Break The river rushing through the break near Poydras can he heard for two miles. It has covered St. Bernard HoxriM n) <>\ ivuiK mm RELIEF FUND IS GROWING STEADILY Total Os $759.75 Contributed In Decatur And Berne; Goal May Be Raised

Adams county’s contributions to the Red Cross fund being raised for the relipf of sufferers in the southern flood district today passed the $750 marie, wfiljt receipt of word from Herne that more than S2OO had been contributed there. Additional contributions in Decatur today brought this city's donations, to date, up to $554.50 No reports have been received from Geneva and Monroe. The quoto for Adams county is $1,025. Citizens in all parts of Adams county are responding readily to the appeal for funds with whica to carry on the relief work. The disaster is declared to be the worst peace time disaster in the history of the country. Persons at the head of the rescue work say thass,ooo,ooo the goal set for the Red Cross drive, will not be sufficient to carry out the relief work. It has been intimated that the goal may be raised to $10,000,000. Contributions received at Berne up to Friday morning at 8 o’clock amounted to 205.25. This .added to the $554.50 contributed in Decatur, makes a total of 759.75 contributed in Adams county so far. Named Deputy Fire Marshal Indainapolis, April 30.—(UP) —Asa Elliott, of Hammond, Ind., was appointed deputy fire marshal today by Alford Ogston, chief state fire marshal. Elliott formerly raided in Grant county.

CLEAN UP AND PAINT UP