Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 90, Decatur, Adams County, 14 April 1928 — Page 1

- “weather Cloudy wl ‘*’ probably north portion. Much colder tonight with razing Sunday fair and continued cold.

PLANE ENROUTE TO STRANDED AIRMEN

34 Lose Lives As Explosion And Fire Raze Dance Hall

tragedy halts SOCIAL EVENT AT WEST PLAINS, MO. — I Sixty Persons In Crowded Dance Hall When Blast Occurs; Toll May Grow I CAUSE OF EXPLOSION I IS NOT DETERMINED West Plains. Mo., Apr. 14.— I I (u.R)—The toll of dead in an ex- | plosion which wrecked a crowdI ed dance hall here last night I mounted to 34 today as rescue I workers recovered bodies from I the smouldering ruins of the i structure. Eighteen persons were injured, and I property damage was estimated at I $250,000. More than GO persons were in the I dance hall, many of them on the I floor, when the explosion came. Bodies Hurled Many Feet The walls burst outward, and many I if the dancers were hurled out of the I hniMing. Some were thrown clear across the I I street, witnesses reported. A moment after the explosion the I dance hall was in flames, and manyl I of the persons not thrown clear by I the explosion were trapped without I hope of escape. The flames spread to nearby builib. I Ings. The lighting system was affect-j I ed and rescue workers were forced I to work by the Haphazard light of | anterns and automobile headlights. The explosion occurred in a garage I on the first floor of the building. The I dance hall was on the second floor. Many of the victims were burned beyond recognition. The cause of the explosion could not be determined as the owner of the garage was killed by the blast. Force of the explosion not only caved in the dance hail hut also shatter! d windows in buildings surround- [ ing the public square. The detonation was heard throghout West Plains. Indianapolis Councilman Gets 2-14 Year Sentence it iwiwi* Indianapolis, April 14—(INS) —Boynton .1. Moore, member of the Indian apolis city council until his convict >n about a month ago on charges of bribery, was fined SSOO and sentenced to serve 2 to 14 years in the state prison, by Special Judge Paul G. pavis ni Marion criminal court, here today. The court overruled a motion for a new trial. BERNE H. S, TO GRADUATE 29 Commencement To Be Held May 17; Other Functions To Be Held Berne, April 14—(Special)—Twenty nine pupils are candidates for graduation from Berne high school this spring. The annual commencement exercises will be held in the Community Auditorium on Thursday evening. May 17, starting at 8 o'clock. Dr. W. Henry McClean, of DePauw University will deliver the address. Plans for the commencement week activities are being made. The baccalaureate service will be held in the Mennonite church on Sunday evening, May 13. The Rev. J. H. Arndt, pastor of the Evangelical church, has been invited to preach the sermon. The annual Junior-Senior reception will be held on Tuesday evening, May 15. The date for the annual alumni banquet, which is always the climaxing event of the commencement week activities, hag not been selected. Following Is a list of the prospective graduates: Orilia Neuenschwander, Bernis Blum •Margaret Rawley, Elizabeth Gottschalk, Florence Aeschliman, Glenuisr Bagley, Martha Bixlerv Doris Neaderhauser, Naomi Schug, Luella SprunKer, Luetta Sprunger, Luella Steiner, Helena Leichty, Orpa Leichty, Ruth Neuenschwander, Leßoy Stauffer, •tri Norr, Victor Price, Daniel Speichsr.'Amos Moser, Gertrude Burkhalter, • snes Leichty, Martha Leichty, Lydia ■■ehman, Ralph Amstutz. George Zuer- ' ner, Johnson Biery and Harold Eichenberger.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXVI. No. 90.

Wizard Mentioned If A* «’ *i i i I / A AA - / Hiram W. Evatw. Imperial Mizard of the Ku Klux Klan, ordered a white man flogged in Texas for failing to ' support his family, according to testi- ■ mony given in the Pittsburgh Klan court dispute. CONTINUE SEARCH FOR DECATUR MAN Police Unable To Solve Mysterious Disappearance Os John Hoopengardner Pcl’.ce officials are still working on the strange disappearance of John Hoopengardner, 56. who has not been I seen since last Tuesday night Orly 1 few clues have been received with which to work, but police officials of nearby cities and towns have been asked to aid in the search. It is not thought by local officials, however, that Mr. Hoopengardner left the city, because he deposited his day’s receipts Tuesday in a local bank and it was known that he did not have any money in his possession when he disapreared. Friends of Mr. Hoopengardner say that he usually carried considerable mouey on his person and some are disposed to believe that he met with foul play at the hands of persons who expected him to have much money with him. Quarries in the north end of the city have been dragged in an effort to discover his body. Mr. Hoopengardner was a man bf temperate habits and about the only' clues police have to work on are either that he was the victim of foul play or that possibly he liecame temporarily deranged and ended his life. Chief of Police Sephus Melchi. who has had charge of the investigation, stated today that the local officers wou’d continue to cooperate with the I Hoopengardner family in the case. — -o W. F. Koenig Re-Elected To G. E. Bond Board Fort Wayne. April 14.—William F. Koenig of the fractional horsepower motor inspection department at the Fort Wayne works of the General Electric company was re-elected bond director of the G. E. Employes' Securities corporation at the annual meeting of stock and bond holders held recently at Schenectady, N. Y. At. a board meeting following the main session. Mr. Koenig was also chosen a vice-president of the corporation for the second time, to serve throughout the ensuing year. He represents the Fort Wayne, Winter street and Decatur plants es the company. o ■ ■ Two Women Killed In Grade Crossing Crash Brookville, Ind., Apr. 14.—(INS) —Two women were dead today as the result of a grade crossing tragedy at a crossing at Peoria, about ten miles east of here and within a short distance of the Indiana-Ohio state line. A Chesapeake & Ohio passenger train demolished an automobile killing Mrs. William Golden and Miss Gozette Golden, her sister-in-law. o To Speak At Ossian Attorney C. L. Walters, of this city, will occupy the pulpit in the Methodist church at Ossian. Sunday, due to the illness of the pastor, the Rev. G. A. Snider, who is suffering from mumps.

State, National And International Mown

WINTER RETURNS TO INDIANA FOR WEEK-END STAY — Mercury Takes Sudden Drop Early Today; 22 Above Zero Is Forecast MILDER WEATHER IS DUE MONDAY Indianapolis April 14—(INS) —The two-below-iero weather repotted two days ago at Prince Albert, Manitoba, strewed itself out of the Canadian northwest, somewhat tempered, over the Ohio valley and Indiana today ind brought a return of winter. In northern India,ua, the cold snap came -with a snow storm that in places assumed blizzard proportions. In Indianapolis, the cold blast shot the mercury from 47 degrees above zero at 7 a.m., today to 32 degrees at 9 a.m. Freezing Weather Genera) “Freezing temperatures will spread over the entire state,’’ J. H. Armington, government meterologist, announced. Armington reported at the same time that the lowest temperaures for April 14 in the history of the government weather bureau at Huron. South Dakota, was recorded this morning when the theremometer registered six degrees above zero. “The freezing weather this morning has spread clear to south central Oklahoma and southern Missouri,” Armington said. “By Sunday morning, northern Indiana will have temoeraturcs ranging from 22 to 24 degrees; central Indiana around 24 degrees and southern Indiana about 27 degrees.” Mild Weather To Return Armington’s official weather forecast tor Indiana today was. "Cloudy •onight. with probably snow' in north portion. Much colder tonight, with rec-zing temperatures. Sunday fair ind continued cold.” Mild weather will not return before Monday evening, Armington said. The cold gale stiuck Indianapolis tills morning just as hundreds of office workers were enroute to work. I o . Berne Bible School To Open May 28 Berne, April 14— (Special)— Berne’s annual union summer Bible school, conducted each summer by the town chut dies, will open on Monday, May 28. it was decided at a meeting of the board of directors, this week. It is planned to hold the Bible school in the public school building, providing the same can be obtained. The school will be in session for a period of six weeks. COUNTRY CLUB OFFICERS NAMED Dr. E. G. Coverdale Elected President; Plans For Summer Season Started Dr. E. G. Coverdale was elected president of the Decatur Country Club, at a meeting of the board of governor held at the Industrial Association rooms last evening. Harold Kirsch was chosen vice-president. Douglas Haney, secretary-treasurer. and William Heims, assistant treasurer. The president was authorized to appoint a committee of three on ground and greens, a committee of five women for entertainment, and a program committee to look after tournaments These committees will be named early next week and the plans for a busy summer will be made immediately. Harold Kirsch was named to ascertain the cost and proceed with the drilling of a well at the southwest corner cf the grove near the fourth hole, this to be paid for by the club. The course is in wonderful condition it is reported, the greens and farways be(CONTIXT FD ON PAGE AIXI o Boy Scout Council Now Comprises Six Counties Fort Wayne, Ind., Apr. 14.—(U.R1--Jurisdiction of Anthony Wayne, Coun cil of Boy Scouts here has been extended over six counties —Allen, Stueben, Dekalb, Whitley, Noble and Adams.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, April I I, 1928.

Brave Irish Airman !* 9 i X. wL TF m to W j flow MB A ■ i I lafllKwK » JI Ml ih / S flak' I < *M > i . 11l A- iurM ‘ • w Commandant James Fitzmaunce. head of the Irish Free State Air Force, who accompanied the two German aviators on their successful flight across the northern Atlantic ocean in the airplane, “Bremen.” DEATH CLAIMS MRS. I. SHILLING Well-Known Woman Dies At Home East Os Decatur This Morning Mrs. Joseph Shilling, 79, died :-t 9:55 o’clock this morning. April 14, i 1928, at tier home in Harrison town-1 ship, Van Wert county, Ohio. Death : was due to a strolto of paralysis. Mrs. Shilling was born in Van Wert 1 county, on December 5, 1848, and spent her entire life in this vicinity. I She is survived by her husband, Joseph Shilling; one son, Louis S., residing on the home place, and one daughter, Mrs. Mary Zerkle, of Adams county. Amos Troutner, a brother, resides in this county also, and a second brother, John Troutner. resides in Los Angeles. Two brothers and one sister are deceased. Funeral services will be held at 1 o’clock Monday afternoon, at the family residence and at 1:30 o’clock at the Calvary Evangelical church. Burial in Decatur cemeterv. The Rev. Ralph W. Loose, of Decatur, and the Rev. H. C. Plant, of Wren, Ohio, will officiate at the funeral services. 200 Persons Reported Buried Under Deep Snow Santiago, Chile, April 14. —(U.R)-~ The Talca correspondent of the newspaper Nacion said today that 200 persons and 20,000 animals had been buried under a 24-foo< snow in the Los Girones region.

“Not A Sporting Chance For Success'’ Said Irish Ace Before Hopping Off

Berlin, April 14—(U.R)—All Ireland today cheered the safe arrival in North America of the Ait plane Bremen after a trans-Atlantic flight that Ireland’s own representative in the plane Col. James Fitmaurlce — did not think would be a success. It was revealed today that in a final

Dy The United Press nnd Interuntlnniil News Service

POLITICS WARM UP AS PRIMARY ELECTION NEARS v Adams County Candidates Are Speeding Up Their Drive For Votes STATE AND NATIONAL CANDIDATES AT WORK With the primary election less than a month away, the various candidates for Adams county offices buckled down today to the work of campaigning the county. Rain today hampered the candidates from soliciting sup port of a great number of people in Decatur. Berne and -Geneva. All Democratic candidates are making an active campaign for the various offices and several dose races are predicted. Two Democratic candidates are unopposed in the primary and also in the general election to be ben! nex* November. Dr. J. C. Grandstaff, coroner of Adams county and candidate for re-election, s unopposed, as is John G. Hoffman, candidate for re-election as conimisliener from the First district. No G. O. Contests Locally For county offices, there is only >ne Republican ticket in the field and in that party the greatest interest is in the state and n.-.tional campaign. Frederick Schortenieier, Rei publican candidate for governor, appears to lie the favorite in Adams county. It is understood that the county Republican organisation is supporting him. I In the Republican senatorial campaign, Adams county is divided. Many Republicans are for Arthur Gilliom, formerly- of P-erne, while it is said I that the “stand-pat” organization is I friendly toward Senator Arthur Rob- > inson. Both the Watson and Hoover forces are claiming Adams county in the presidential race. Hugh D. Hite, of this city, is ahe Hoover manager, and Paul Graham, county Republican chairman, is said to be looking after the interests of Watson. in the Democratic state race, the cousencus of opinion shows that Frank C. Dailey is the leading gubernatorial candidate. Others in the I race who appear to be making some progress in Adams county are Earl Crawford and John Fredericks. In most of tlie major offices of the I county, there are races in the Demo I cratic party for nominations, with the ■ exception of treasurer, sheriff and ■ coroner. All of the candidates have started I the task of canvassing the county in ' an effort to secure the nominations. I Party leaders are predicting several close races. INTERURBAN HITS AUTO AT OSSIAN • Five Ossian High School Freshmen Narrowly Escape Death This Morning Five Ossian high school freshmen narrowly escaped death at 11 o'clock this morning when the Ford touring car in which they were riding was struck and demolished by the Hoosierland Flier, a limited Fort Wayne to Indianapolis interurban, ala crossing in Ossian. Morris Morton, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Morton, suffered a broken nose and was badly dazed. Miss Üba Fenton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Fenton, of Poe, sustained an injury to one arm. The other occttants of the car, Robert King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry King, of Ossian; ■ CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE>

interview before the Bremen left Baldcnnel Fitzmaurice said: ‘I do not really think there is a sporting chance for success, you want three engines, sixty hours of fuel and a wireless.” He was of the opinion that naviga(CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE,

Mav Succeed Depew v w Wall Street mentions E E. Loomis (above), President of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, as a possible successor to the late Chauncey M Dppew as chairman of the New York Central. ACID DURNS ARE I FATAL TO NURSE Miss Pauline Lewis, Os Geneva, Dies At Hospital In Fort Wayne I Miss Pauline Lewis, 21. of Geneva a senior student nurse at the Methodist hospital in Fort Wayne, died Frij day afternoon, from severe carbolic | acid burns, inflicted when she dropped ’ a receptlcal filed with the acid while I on duty at the hospital. Miss Lewis 1 would have been graduated from the nursing course next June. The accident occurred when Miss Lewis volunteered to clean out a closet in which various solutions were stored. Shortly after several nurses ; in an adjoining room heard a crash I followed by the words. “O my-eyes, my eyes,” uttered as the girl ran out of the closet screaming. When Mrs. Pitmann and Miss Adele Fruechte, operating supervisor, with others rushed to her assistance, they found Miss splashed with acid Miss Freuchte also suffered severe burns to het hands as they sought to tear away the drenched clothing from the victim. Miss Lewis exclaimed: “I am going to die. I can't get over this.” Almost immediately she lapsed into a state of coma, but before becoming unconscious she uttered a prayer. She never recovered, her death occurring at 2:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Miss Lewis was a general favorite with her associates and the tragedy of her death has cast a gloom over the entire hospital. Coroner Harry G. Erwin held an inquest. He found that Miss Lewis had assumed a kneeling posture in the low closet as it was impossible to stand up. She had scrubbed and cleaned eff a shelf about 2% feet above the floor I and then had attempted to shift one of the large carbolic acid containers. ' In some way she must have struck the bottle against the concrete shelf. When it broke the liquid cascaded down her i body from the waistline inflicting ter- : tible injuries. Coroner Erwin pro- ■ nounced it a case of accidental death i due to carbolic acid poisoning. Miss Lewis was the daughter of Mr. . and Mrs. R. B. Lewis of Geneva. She . was born in Wabash township, Adams county and entered the Methodist hosI pital in 1925 for the three-year nurs- . ing course. She would have graduated , in eight weeks more and was happy in , making her commencement plans. The i body was taken to Geneva last night -by Wells Brothers, undertakers, f Funeral services will be held at the ; Elm Grove church at I o’clock Mon- - day afternoon, with the Rev. Mr. Rash . and the Rev. Mr. Knipe of Geneva officiating. - o Monmouth Has Seven Graduates This Year ■ The total number of graduates of N the seven township high schools of Adams county this spring is 85 instead of 83, as stated in the Daily Democrat '■ Friday. Monmouth high school was credited with five graduates when the a number should have been seven. The ’ seven graduates of Monmouth high d school this spring are Otto Boerger, Luther Brokaw, Richard Johnson, Rob 1 ‘ ert Rice, Ralph Wagoner, Catherine Weidler and Ralph Wilder.

Price Two Cents

BREMEN CROSSES OCEANjMAROONED ON TINY ISLAND German And Irish Fliers Forced Down Off Labrador When Fuel Gives Out MAY TRY TO FINISH FLIGHT TO NEW YORK Quebec, Apr. 14.—-UNS)—Duke Schiller, Detroit aviation ace, was winging his wav through a snow storm this afternoon toward the marooned GermanIrish crew of the Junkers plane Bremen, on Greenly Island. Schiller, in a Fokker flying boat of the Canadian trans-Con-tinental Airways, was in the vicinity of Seven Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon. according to a report received at the Airways’ Company office. If the blizzard does not halt him. Schiller expected to reach the isolated tilers by nightfall. (’uttiss Field, N. Y„ April 14 —(U.R) — Fraulein Terta Junkeis daughter of the manufacture!' of the trans-Atlantic monoplane Bremen, said plans to send I relief to the Bremen by air had been abandoned because of unfavorable weather. May Continue Flight Halifax, Apr. 14— (INS)—AII though it was reported that the stranded GerI man-lrish flyers might try to hop off for New York today from the icebound Greenly Island. Canadian marine men familiar with conditions said they believed this would be impossible even if the Bremen were refueled. It was lack of fuel that forced the trans-Atlantic monoplane down at Greenly Island yetsrday afternono. It is how understood that the damage to the Bremen was slight, but even if erpairs were made and the airmen obtained gasoline from a trading station on the coast, there were numerous obstacles in the way of continuation of the flight. Island Is Small The island is not more than half a mile long and stands 80 feet out of the water. There is nothing approaching the nature of a runway and the island is said to be covered with soft snow. However, the German-Irish aviators are known to be skilled in mechanics and aircraft and it was admitted that tliey might attempt to hop off in the face of all difficulties and danger. After sending out a wireless message saying that he and two companions were safe, Baron von Muenefeld sent another saying that the Bremen (CONTINUED ON I’AJSE SIX) SENATOR WATSON OPENS CAMPAIGN Favorite Son Os Indiana Republicans Speaks At Winchester Today By Eugene J. Cadott, INS Staff Correspondent Winchester, Ind., Apr. 14. —Speaking in his birthplace here today, United Staites Senator James E. Watson enunciated the platform of his campaign which be hopes will lead him to the White House. Before the home folk. Senator Watson made no mention of his opponent, Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, but contented himself with a statement of his views upon a number of current questions. Watson, the republican favorite sou candidate and Hoover are battling for Indiana's 33 delegates to the G. O, P. national convention. Makes One Promise “I have but one promise and that is that, in whatever position I may be placed, it shall be my purpose to try to serve the people and my country , with the same unremitting diligence and the Mme unflagging zeal I have ■ always endeavored to bring to the f discharge of my public affairs,” SenI ator Watson said. “The presidency of the United . States is the loftiest position on earth 3 and to be considered as worthy of it ’ by any considerable body of one's fel- ( low-citizens is distinction which any- . one may well cherish." The chief planks in Senator Wat- ,, son's platform as revealed to the sev((ONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)

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