Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 25, Number 104, Decatur, Adams County, 2 May 1927 — Page 1

rWEATHER inerrasinq cloudiL« tonight, WarmL re astp«f‘ ion ’ rue .?' L„ unsettled with Ewers by afterLon or night. CoolP northwest porttior. ■

RED CROSS ASKS FOR TEN MILLION

Kittle Hope Remains For Rescue Os 77 Entombed Men

J WEST VIRGINIA . I mine IS SCENE H JF BIC DISASTER ■Lmhulances And Special ■ Train Held In Readiness I At Mine Entrance ■KNOWN DEATH |f TOLL NOW 15 I Fairmont. W. Va., May 2— ■ l j>.) With little hope regaining lor the rescue alive of ■7 un i! entombed in the work- ■? <s of the mine No. 3, of the K\av England Fuel and Transportation company at EvcreltsBille, Robert M. Lambic, chief ■f the West Virginia division ol ■nil,-.. ordered ambulances .and a speHial train (■> remain in readiness near ■he mine entrance. i I The train would carry the men — Billin' dead or alive—to Arnettsville. Brom there, if liv’ng and injured, ■h,-y would lie removed to Fairmont Morgantown hospitals. Fifteen Bodies Recovered I The <iea'h toll today stood at 151 Bgrhile seven men were injured and ■line escaped alive after Saturday’s explosion. I The fate of the entombed men was ■a matter of conjecture today. While ■certain experts despaired of rescuing ■hem alive, it was pointed out the ■nine was a very long one, and that ■some of the miners might have found [eaige in isolated sections and pro ectcd themselves from the gas and ■fire by the erection of improvised ■brat ices. I The Everettsville mine, one of the ■largest, in the field, reaches for three Knlies underground. Most of the gas ■and smoke produced by the explosion ■and resultant fire was in the south■ern end of the workings, and it is ■thought at least some of the entomh■ed men might hav* found refuge in ■ the northern section. I,'ION REFORMED I ELECTS OFFICERS I Annual Business Meeting Held By Decatur Church; Pastor’s Salary Raised The Zion Reformed church congreI gation of Decatur held its annual busI iness meeting and election of officers I yesterday afternoon. J. Henry Graber ■ was re-elected elder; Albert Mutschler I and Erwin Miller were re-elected deaI cons; Charles Beineke was re-elected I trustee Carl Schafer succeeded Martin I Jaberg as treasurer for the current I fund; M. p. Wothmann succeeded Ferd I L. Litterer as clerk of the congrega I lion All offices are for a term of two I years, with the exception of trustee, I who serves three years. The financial reports of the various I organizations were submitted and acI eepted. A. R. Ashbaucher, Mrs. I Charles Brodbeck and Leo Kirsch were I appointed on the auditing committee | to audit all financial reports. Building Debt Reduced The pastoral report was read and I adopted. The names of all members I and the reports of all organizations will he printedin the yearly booklets. The church building debt has been reduced to the low sum of $590, which amount is practically all subscribed for. During the present pastorate of two years and two months, a total of 12c members have been received into the membership of the church. There wort 1,1 deaths, 40 infant baptisms and 24 weddings. Pastor’s Salary Raised *At yesterday's business meeting, the congregation granted the pastor the Rev. A. R. Fledderjohann, a raise o’ $220 in salary. 1 here was a large attendance in Sunday school and morning worship service yesterday, with nine infant baptisms at the morning service.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXV. No. 1(11.

Three Injured In Auto Wrecks At Indianapolis Indianapolis. May 2—(United Press Three persons were injured, one seriously in week-end automobile accidents here. Mrs. Emma Stitt, 84, is in a critical condition in a hospital as the result of injuries suffered when she was struck by an automobile driven by William G. Williams. Mrs. Stitt suffered a broken hip and internal injuries. Little hope is held for her recovery. Mary Welch, 7. was injured about the legs when struck by an automobile driven by William Hamm. Mrs. Eva Short was cut about the face when hit by a car driven byWalter Thompson. o BEV. LOOSE IS REASSIGNED TO DECATUR CHURCH Three Evangelical Ministers In Adams County Are Returned To Pastorates ANNUAL SESSION Or CONFERENCE CLOSES The Rev. Ralph W. Loose, pastor of the Fiist Evangelical chtui-h in Decatur. and the Calvaiy Evangelical church east of this city, for the last four yeais, was appointed pastor of those two churches for another year, at the annual session of the seventyfifth annual conference of ihe Evangelical churches cf Indiana, at Evansville, which closed Sunday. Rev. Loose came to Decatur at 'lie close of the annual conference tn 1923 succeeding the Rev. (’. L. Haney. He has made an enviable record while pastor of the local chinches. He is president of the Decatur Ministerial Association, at present. Other Pastors Returned The Rev. J. H. Arndt was returned to the pastorate of the Berne Evangelical church, also, and the Rev. F. J. Stedecke was returned to the church „i Gi yv< • ■■■'.'■ a-!.' l MHaators is the Fort Wayne district was ... lows: Fort Wayne district — Arvilla. Ira Steele; Berne, J. H. Arndt; Bippus, B. C. Earlhart: Celina. W. E. Snyder; Celina circuit, H. Bet ger; Columbia City, P. L. Bi owns; Dayton, C. L. Haney; Decatur. R. W. Loose; Defiance. J. E. McCoy; Edgerton, A. B. Haist; Fort Wayne, First church, E. G. Johnson; Fort Wayne Present avenue, O. O. Losier; Huntington, M. 0. Heiman; Kendallville, A. A. Knepper; Linn Grove, F. J. Stedecke; Markle D. R. Heil; Portland, G. H. Boyce; Portland circuit. J. M. Kistler; Ridgeville. O. F. Young; Wapakoneta. Clar'(OVriNIED <tv •■AGE I'll I'.l MISS AKEY WINS TYPING CONTEST Mildred Akey, Ol Decatur, Sets New Record In State Typewriting Contest Miss Mildred Akey, of Decatur, a graduate of the Decatur high school, won first place in typewriting in the graduate division of the state commercial contest, held at Muncie, Saturday, under the auspices of Muncie Normal College. In winning the contest, Miss Akey established a new state record, writing 82 words pci minute, above all mistakes. The previous record was 81 words per minute and was established last year by Miss Akey’ sister,. Miss Myrtle Akey, also of Decatur. Miss Akey won a gold medal for her accomplishment Saturday Shwon second place in the high school division of the contest held two ye< rs ago. At present. Miss Akey is employed as secretary and stenographer by Col. Fred Reppert, Decatur’s widely known auctioneer. ,

BEFORE AND AFTER LEVEE DYNAMITING | I ■» , & > ■, . c. ,15. * .# •• „•> - <#• i «y"’ » »’•' 1 New Orleans appears to be safe now from flood waters of the Mississippi. The levee at Poydras. Miss., was dynamited, permitting water to flow over the SI. Bernard marshes to the sea. Top picture shows the spot on the levee where half a dozen small blasts of dynamite were exploded to tear a small hole through. The force of the flood is eating a wide gash in the embankment, amt the lower picture shows the break as it is today.

ANNUAL CLEAN-UP CAMPAIGN IS ON Winter’s Accumulation Os - • Ru b bish HMcd To City Dump This Week This week is clean-up week in Decatur. The city trucks started out this m riling to gather the winter’s accumulation of tin cans, bottles and rubbish. The trucks are hauling the rubbish to the city dump. The cleanup campaign wi'.l continue throughout the week. The cooperation of Decatur people is asked in the annual clean-up campaign. Residents ars asked to place the bottles, cans and other unsightly debris in boxes or barrels so that the truck driver can pick it up and put it on the truck. The boxes and barrels will be saved if the house owner notifies the truck driver. Firemen at the city hall started the wek by scrubbing th city hall and the. fire department. Windows will be washed and the fire trucks shined up for the spring season. The street commissioner, besides taking care of the clean-up campaign is reparing street crossings throughout the city. The bricks are being taken up and laid level with the street, where it is needed, and where the I street was dug un in order to make repairs to fire hydrants, the bricks are being relaid again. City officials urge everyone to clean up, paint up and fix up and t help make Decatur a better place in which to live. _ o„ Standard Oil Company Votes Large Dividend Chicago, May 2—(UP)—The board of directors of the standard oil company of Indiana today voted a cash dividend of 62% cents and an extra cash dividend of 25 cents on all shares of capital stock. The dividens are to be paid on June 15 to stockholders of record May 16.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, May 2, 1927.

Grade Crossing Accident Claims Lives Os Two Men Brazil, Ind., May 2—(United Press) Two persons were instantly killed at Eagle's Crossing, near here, when the machine in which they rode was struck by a Pennsylvania train. The dead are Joseph Barksey, 30. a fanner o' itjrazll, ’gW’ iJwnipa • Cooksey, 75, another farmer who lived near the scepe of the wreck. —o LIGHT CABLES , ARE BEING LAID Work Os Installing Ornamental Lights On Two Streets Is Progressing M. J. Mylott, superintendent of the, city light and power department, j stated today that the cable for the ornamental lights on Winchester street had been laid. Work will be-; gin this week on laying the cable for . the lights on Monroe street. On Winchester street, the lights will be in-j stalled as far south as the Nickel Plate railroad tracks. On Monroe street, the lights will be installed from the river bridge, west to the Pennsylvania tracks. It is probable that one more street will be improved with lights this year and, within a few years, Decatur will have more ornamental street lights than any pity of its size in the state The property owners pay for only their share of the ornamental posts, the city light and power plant paying for the cable and the cost of laying it. o Red Cross Relief Fund The total of the contributions made in Adams county to the Red Cross fund for (lie relief of sufferers in tlie Mississippi river Hood today reached $1,001.44. The quo’a for the county is $1,025, but it is hoped that the county will exceed that sum considerably. Following are the contributions announced today: Previous total $554.50 (CONTINUED ON I'AGE TWO)

RELIEF FUND IS OVER SI,OOO MARK Total Os $1,001.44 Donated In Decatur. Berne And Geneva So Far’ Adams county's contribution to the Red Cross fund for the relief of sufferers in the Mississippi river flood crisis, today passed the SI,OOO mark and near the goal of $1,025. the quota fixed for the county, it was predicted I that contributions made after the I boxes were emptied this morning would put the fund well over the goal line. However, the drive will not end now, as it has been indicated that the $5,000,000 goal fixed for the national drive would be insufficient to meet ; the needs in the flood area. ' Miss Annie Winnes, secretary of tlie Adams county chapter of the Red i Cross, today received a letter from I National Headquarters, acknowleding ■ receipt of SSOO from the local chapter, I Miss Winnes having forwarded that amount already. More will be sent to the national headquarters this week. The letter received by Miss Winnes extended the hearty thanks of the i national officers and stated that they, were expecting each chapter to reach its quota and exceed it as much as possible,” as the situation is serious ■ and it seems very certain that the total need will exceed the present ■ quota assigned,” The total of Adams' county’s con- . tributions, as announced at noon to--1 day by Miss Winnes, was $1,001.44. Os that amount, $675.44 had been contributed in Decatur, alone, while $26 was donted at Geneva and Berne citizens reached their quota of S3OO. T. i A. Gottschalk, chairman in charge of . the drive at Berne, telephoned Miss , Winnes today that Berne had reached . 1 its quota. .I■ — o . Indianapolis Gives $24,000 Indianapolis, May. 2 — (UP) —Red - Cross headquarters reported here today that more than $24,000 had been contributed by Indianapolis citizens to the National flood relief fund.

Two Arrested In Warsaw Murder Investigation! Warsaw, Ind., May 2 (lh‘> In the belief that Fiank Tucker, a cigar stole cletk, has been inutdered, officials here are continuing an investigation which has climaxed with the ariest of two persons. Tucker disappeared on the night of January, 28, and police believe he was carrying approximately s9o,(mt) at the time. They are proceeding on a theory that lobbeiy motivated a mutder. Two persons al rested are Nolde Peffley, 26. ami Martin Ros.i, 24, both of Elkhart. The men were held in custody pending an investigation. COUNTY COURT HOUSE IS BUSY PLACE MONDAY Commissioners And Trustees Meet; Taxpayers Crowd Treasurer’s Office ROAD MATTERS UP TOMORROW Officets in the court house went busy today, the county commissioners and board of education being in session and a rush being on at the count., treasurer's office. Today was the last day to pay the spting installment of taxes without the ten per cent penalty for delinquency being added. The county commissioners devoted the morning to checking up and :iITow ing of hills. The session tomorrow will be a busy one, as contracts will lie awarded for building five bridges and retaining walls ami two macadam toads. The roads yv be sold tomorrow are the Laughrey toad in St. Mary'township, and the Stepler road in Monroe township. Botli toads are about a mile in length. Specifications for several othei roads will be filed by County Engineer Dick Boeh and acted upon. Proceedings on tilt* petitions for the three hard surfaced roads in Washington township will also tie acted on. Petition for new road a- . a ffie ' ■ by I-'-'” Stults, asking for a hard surfaced read beginning on Grant street on the west side 'of Winchester street, running north of Kekionga s.reet, then over Steevns street to Mercer avenue and then over Grant street between Mercer avenue and High stieet and south on High street to the corporate limits. The petitioners ask that a hard surface road be constructed, either made of brick or concrete. It is not known what action the council will take on the petition. NEW ATTENDANCE OFFICER CHOSEN Mrs. Ella Peoples, Os Decatur, Elected To Succeed Nathan Nelson ' Mrs, Ella Peoples, of this city, was elected county attendance officer for Adams county, by the county beard cf education, meeting this morning with county Superintendent Clifton Striker Mrs. Jeoples was elected on the first ballot, succeeding Nathan Nelson, who has held the position for the last two years. Mrs. Peoples will assume the duties cf attendance officer in August, and the term to which she was elected will last one year. Mrs. Peoples passed the examination several years ago, making a high grade in the various tests Mr. Nelson, whose home is in Geneva, has not yet announced what he will do in the future. His present term extends to the first day of August. The chief duties of the attendance officer ase to see that children of school ago are kept in school and that the attendance reports are filed with state officials.

Price Two Cents.

MORE MONEY IS j NEEDED TO AID FLOOD VICTIMS New Levee Breaks In Louis* iana Threaten To Drive 200,000 From Homes FIVE PARISHES ARE THREATENED Washington. May 2 (I niled Press) 'l ite National Bed Cross today, upon recommendation ol Secretary ol Commerce Hoover and with approval of its central organization, decided to ask the nation to raise a minimum of $10,000,000 for Mississippi flood relief. This action followed a conference between Hoover and President idge. Meantime, the Red Cross aifnottneed its sr>,4)oo,odo drive had gone over the top. New Levee Breaks Occur New levee brakes on the west bank of the Mississippi river near the Ar-kansas-Louisiana border have created a flood situation which will equal, if not exceed, devastation in Mississippi. Five Louisiana parishes are threatened with inundation. If the flood reaches pixyportions expected, 3.0(H) square miles w:ll be inundated and 200,000 persons added to the army of 300,000 homeless. While threat of levee breaks sent many of the inhabitants of the territory to points of safety before the flood came, others chose to remain in their homes, ami escape proved difficult. Loss of life is feared, but relief workers n'lseti casualties will not be as heavy as in other sections The most damaging break red at Vidalia, La., opposite Natchez. Miss. The dyke gave way clso lit Yazoo'(’ity, I ss. Break in '.n sea wall id South Bend, Vk., has ! disastrous, driving out at lea< 50,0f0 persons. Problems of earng for the new ICOXTIM Hl» OX I’AGI-1 TWO) 0 D. 0. H S. SENIUR PLAY THIS WEEK ' - •». •• ■ • «... “When A Feller Needs A Friend” Is Title Os Annual Class Play Tlie seniors of Decatur high school will stage their annual class play in the auditorium of the Catholic school building. Wednesday evening, starting at 8 o’clock. A matinee performance will be given on Tuesday afternoon, at 1:30 o'clock, for the school children. The title of Ihe play to be giv- n this year is "When A Feller Needs a Friend." It is a comedy in every sens? of the word and plenty of laughs are promised for th< si- who witness the production. Members of the class are selling tickets for the play. The admission charge will be fifty cents. Sister M. Roberta is directing the play. ,—o MINISTERS TRY HAND AT PAINTING Two Kirkland Township Pastors Aid In Painting Township High School Building Two prominent ministers of Adams county, the Rev. William Hygema and the Rev. John Cline, of Kirkland township, proved today that-they were "jack-of-all trades”, when they donned their old clothes and aided in the work of repainting and redecorating Kirkland township high school building. The work started this morning and will last for several days. Charles Arnold. trustee, Stated that the building . would lie put in shape at once for the school term next year. The school was dismissed last week and the building > will be completely renovated during ' the summer months. Charlie says both ministers are provi ing to be capable painters as well as minister.

CLEAN UP AND PAINT UP