Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 35, Number 257, Decatur, Adams County, 30 October 1937 — Page 1

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S<IAN GREEN bSoonces CIO o p Sion tactics '' l, "' s Os Raiding ■I Meinher-hip d l'-l 1 ‘“ 1 ; 01 a :he h S "/‘‘y , near - , 1 K '• ‘K, i i ■■'■' “ 1 ;i " [ '" llis filst . : "'-'K ( jo "" o il last Mon auuouiiced _ W, '.' conference uoik-rs would bo |K b , Washington K r ■*" A '■'■ 1,1 L ha( | \ " s;l ''* '" ' m tho '■On . rarpot. ■ awning workers by another warTL'pimKtu:'.- by th“ c l o I, Io have a disturbindicative ot the LH n cf the ('. I. 0. post-1 aua 1 " b'rs it was felt •oil s W!,S U " and that another obj_e udded to the alin-:;-' ■ dilln uliies conthe peace committees seam' i: ,i tlu-y reconvene k ! 't said his conference call ■-> . wid--s|o.-ad ■ Io; ' ■ VI--. W ... '. . Os the I I ' I who attack-d i. .' was Morins ' idiol-n.rs union tile lurried out it was stated is cause for federation The peace negoliaBonfcri' in a status quo condition intend to carry on as we ! ' J ’ R’y’" " tol ' <*>•* present.'' uors to the contrary, tor Lewis pledged that ' O' <omnl '" Pe a!:, 'Ud the next joint peace scheduled for next Jog. a) of the warring groups least a temporary truce 3C on two other fronts. Bow|. r . York, the 0. I. (). and federation of labor com-j efforts to re-elect Fiorello I as mayor. Joseph president of the A. F. of run' ional longshoremen's Wits believed to be the ' ■rßjttUrHiani labor leader in the Ry tightiin.' for Jeremiah T. Ma-' mayor's Democratic Worth Ward Teachers I Entertain Pupils ■^K. u ■L hers of the North Ward tho pupils at a Hallowa«^^^Va,',.v at the school Friday afn' The children arrived and after their identities k iBo ■ g’ l * ss< d’ ea< -'h child was givN ® orn ' was formed and a parade in the northern part of Mrs. Don Farr took movies children as they inarched. the parade they returned to I wltl> SC h ool ' where ,he y were served hot dog sandwiches, apples teachers of the school inlvtJc P ' illCipal John R Parrish, Peterson. Miss Della ■ nil e^el and Miss Florence ■ ••««'. ; I Tbl I j pay,ng R us h rlB Is On Increase I the last day for paying taxes (1 - the rush in the office of y Treasurer Jeff Liechty has tsed. To accomodate the Is. Treasurer Liechty has an- i p tl that his office this after- ‘ ; tnd Monday afterioon will reopen until 5 o’clock instead 0 clock. Monday is the last 0 Pay fall installments of without penalties. I

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Church To Observe Temperance Sunday A most unusual sermon, which will point out and demonstrate the , effects of alcohol will be given by I the pastor, Rev. Ralph Waldo | tlruham of the First M F. church vd Um morning bout of worship i Sunday. Scientific experiments , will be carried out during the ’ course of th(- sermon and thus scientific proof will be presented l as to the effects of alcphol, physiologically, morally, and socially. 1 The publie is invited to attend this service. INDIANA SOLON BADLY BEATEN Delphi Publisher Is Slugged In Cottage On Tippecanoe Delphi, Ind., Oct. 30—(l’r>—(Bert Mayhill, state representative from Carroll and Cass counties, was recovering today from head wounds received when he was slugged on , the head by unknown assailants while sleeping alone in his cottage on the Tippecanoe river early Friday. Weak from loss of blood and unable to move, Mayhi’l was not found until last night after he had lain in a semi-conscious condition for almost 24 hours. Publisher of the Delphi journal, a i weekly newspaper, ho was found by Sheriff Arthur Anderson and em- | ployes of the paper who became i alarmed when he failed to appear iat his office. I Suffering from a brain concussion. the legislator was unable to explain what had happened. His : condition was not believed to be | critical. He had been robbed of J 65 and his car was stolen. Sheriff Anderson reported the car was found late yesterday in Putnam county. Ohio. The sheriff hoped to question Mayhill today and .'earn more of j what happened at the cottage. He ' indicated that Mayhill had entertained some people and then retired for the night after they left. Mayhill's son, Roger. 29. is an instructor in economics at Purdue ■university. Mayhill was elected to. ’the general assembly on the Repnl- ■ lican ticket. o High Waters Recede In Pittsburgh Area Pittsburgh, Oct. 30 —(UP) — As the hihgest water ever recorded here in October began to receded, proponents of flood rontrol today sought to have lifted the southern suspension of work on projects intended to curb future flood conditions. After rain-gorged rivers reached a crest of 27.8 feet here yesterday at 4 pm. and tapped into a few basements and streets in low lying sections of the city, the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers were going down today, dropping to 24 feet, one foot below flood stage at 8 a. m. o Kirkland PTA Will Meet Next Tuesday The parant-teachers association 1 of Kirkland township will hold its i regular meeting Tuesday evening iat 7:30 o’clock at the Kirkland high school gymnasium. The public has been condinlly invited to attend. A special program has been arranged for the meeting, ,as follows: Music —Geels family, I P'aylet, "Trouble By Ghosts”—Berger school. Address —Kenneth Shoemaker, Geneva banker, Songs—Barger school; Music—Geels family. RECORD CROWD SEES FESTIVAL l Annual Halloween Festival Is Held At South Ward School A record crowd attended the annual Halloween festival at the South Ward school building Friday evening. The building was decorat- , ed with pumpkins, corn shocks and colorful autumn leaves, and the carnival spirit prevailed. , The playlet “Jack O' Lantern | Inn," with 12 of the pulpils taking ’ part was presented three times, j | The stage was most attractive with ■ a huge pumpkin face forming the ; front of the house and a door in the , center, through which the characters appeared. The money earned at the festival ! wl’l be put in the playground fund ! and used to keep up the equipment ' now in use and to purchase new. Teachers at the building include the principal, Miss Eva Acker, Miss Effie Patton, Miss Matilda Sellerneyer and Mrs. Gladys Chamber-1 I lain. I

JAP POLITICAL : GROUP FAVORS ■ RRITISHBREAK < 1 , Adopt Resolution To Sever Diplomatic Re- < lations At Once Tokyo, Oct. 30 — (UP) — The ("council on the current situation,”! i comprised of leaders of the Selyukai political party and other imI portant personages, tonight unanimously adopted a resolution favoring a movement to sever diplomatic relations with Great Britain. The resolution blamed the Brit- . Ish government for complicating International relations in connection with the Chinese situation. It branded the British attitude "greatly regrettable.” The council charged that since t the outset of the '"incident” with ■ China, the British have assisted the t Chinese in their anti-Japanese aci tions. i Terming alleged British assist- • ance to the Chinese an "improper • third-power attitude.” the council resolution additlonal'y chargtel ■ Britain with being responsible for I convocation of the nine-power conI ference at Brussels Nov. 3. thereby i "fostering international interven tlon.” The council warned that unless Britain “reconsiders its improper attitude” Japan may be forced to ■ take certain steps of “Grave deter- • mination” against Britain, despite the "Deep friendship” existent be- . tween the two countries for the > past 60 years. The council comprises other . members of the Japanese house, in addition to the Seiyukai leaders, i The Seiyukai party is Japan's dominant political group. Local observers regarded passage of the resolution as a matter of i utmost significance. It followed ly only a few hours of British pro- . test against the killing of three . British soldiers in the Changhai . area, for which the Japanese were blamed. Other British protests in recent > weeks have included diplomatic , exchanges between the two countries over the action’of JffTffiiiSee’ airplanes in firing at automobiles flying Union Jacks and bearing members of the British consular corps in the far east. | -o_ —_____ PLAN EXHIBIT OF ART HERE Public Schools To Have Art Exhibit At Public Library An exhibition of 150 of the finest ' reproductions of recognized master- ' pieces of art will be shown in the ' auditorium of the Decatur public I library Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings ; of next week, Kathryn Kauffman, art instructor of the Decatur school has announced, at 7 o'clock and Thursday and Friday afternoons at 4 o’clock. The reproductions will include, the works of old and of modern ; masters representing various nationalities. Among the prints will be found landscapes, portraits, figures. groups and still lifes. A playlet entitled "A Color Fantasy,” will be presented each evening and Thursday and Friday after- j noons by thirteen boys and girls from Central school. It will be directed by Grace Coffee, with Helen Haubold In charge of the music and Donabelle Fenimore supervising the dancing. The evening performances will be at 7:30 o’clock and the afternoon performances at 4 o’clock. I The cast will be: The girl — Kathryn Barber The boy — Jack Porter * Mr. Black — Bob Yost. Yellow — Avanelle Kraft Grey — Barbara Kohls. Red — Charlene Shackley Blue — Helen Franks Mr. White — Carl Rash , Green — Catherine Schmitt Violet — Kathleen McConnell First Student — Robert Foreman Second Student — Roy Friedley. The admission for the exhibit i and playlet will be five cents for , grade school children. 10 cents for high school pupils and 15 cents for adults. The funds raised will be ! 1 used to purchase pictures for the j: public high school. 1 — ° , Township Trustees Meet Here Today ( — 1 The regular monthly meeting of the township trustees of Adams t county wi'l be held this afternoon 1 , in the offices of C. E. Striker, coun- j i |ty school superintendent. |1

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, October 30. 1937.

Little Halloween Damage In City While Sunday, October 31, Is official Halloween Day, the celebrations here are expected to afford only an antl-climax, since Decatur's part in the annual observance was held Thursday night with a giant Calllthumpian parade. To dute no property damage and but little trouble has been reported from Hulloween pranksters. Several merchants were a little i disgruntled this morning to learn that “Halloweeners" had used tallow instead of soap in markipg up their display windows, since the tallow Is much harder to remove. One property owner reported that a large lawn bench and chairs had been hoisted to the gable of his garage. HOWARD COUNTY HUSKER WINNER Albert Hensler Far Below Record In Winning Contest Washington, Ind., Oct. 30.—(U.R) 1 —A new champion ruled Indiana’s cornhuskers today He is Albert Hensler. 31-year-old Howard county tenant farmer who shucked 31.142 bushels under a blazing sun yesterday to lead 15 I other competitors, two of them former state champions. Describing his feat, Hensler said: "I just got in there and shucked steady.” This was his third state contest. Heusler's mark was far below the state record of 34.56 bushels established in 1935 by Albert Pitzer of Fountain county. Orley Wingler of Tippacone county, finished second with 30.52 S bushels which was below the entrance qualifications. Contestants attributed the low scores to the unseasonable heat and the smallness of the ears. They reported that corn was plentiful but the ears were too small to make volume. A new state and possibly national record had been anticipated because of the high qualifying marks. The two former state champions. Harry Etter and his brother AlIwrt Etter, Itolh of New ton couuly. finished third and sixth, respectively. Albert, victor last year, was followed down the corn rows by his bride of three weeks. Harry Etter won the title in 1930. The new champion, Tike most of the others, was stripped to the, waist when an aerial bomb sent them swinging down the rows. He is married, the father of one child, stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 155 pounds. In former contests. he finished second twice and third in 1936. Both Hensler and Winger, the runnerup. are eligible to compete j in the national contest near Marshall. Mo.. November 4. More than 40.000 people witnessed the annual farm classic. Hensler received a loving cup and a cash prize of SIOO. Denies Petition For Cystody Os Son In proceedings following a 10 year old divorce in the Adams cir- ; cult court today. Judge Huber M. DeVoss denied u petition filed by W. S. Andrews that custody ot the one son, Warren, 16, be given him. Judge De Voss did, however, order that the $8 a month support payments be ended until further order 'of the court, due to the fact that the boy is now working. DISTRICT MEET NEXT TUESDAY District K. Os P. Meeting At Bluffton Next Tuesday Members of Kekionga lodge No. } 65, Knights of Pythias, of this city, I will attend a district meeting of the K. of P. lodges from three counties, which will be held in Bluffton on November 2. A rank team from the local lodge will confer the first rank of page on a class of candidates at the ses- | sion. Lodges from Wells, Adams and Allen counties wi'l be in attend--1 ance. The meeting will be held under the direction ot Don Brighton, of Fort Wayne, recently appointed regional director for the K. of P’s. A feature of the meeting will bo the -presentation of a new charter to the Bluffton host lodge. The ceremony will be in charge of Charles Barnes, of Fort Wayne. Officials who will be in attendance at the district session include Harvey T. Walker, of Montpe'ier, j grand chancellor of the Knights of i Pythias lodge of Indiana.

STATE G. 0. P. NAMES IRWIN AND BOBBITT Selections Bring .James E. Watson Back Into Limelight Indianapolis, Ort. 30 (U.R) Harmony pervaded the ranks of the Republican party in Indiana attain today with the election by the state committee of Will Irwin.' . Columbus banker, as national I committeeman and Archie Bobbitt I of Indianapolis, former state auditor. as new state chairman. And with these choices camo former U. S. Senator James E. Watson back into the picture as a dominant factor in Hoosier politics and the final breaking of the , death-grip of the majority faction on the state committee headed by Ralph Gates of Columbia City. From the national standpoint, ; the selection of Irwin means that Indiana Republicans cast their lot with the leadership of Alf M. Landon. 1936 nominee for the presi-; dency. and turned their backs to former president Herbert Hoover. Irwin was the first prominent Re-! publican in Indiana to espouse the I candidacy of Landon last year. Credit for this long-sought housecleaning belongs to one man I — Frank Coughlin of South Bend, who held the proxy for his wife i who is vice-chairman of the third I district. I For months the Gates faction, has held a two-vote margin over 1 the minority group led by Ewing Emison of Vincennes, an ally of Jim Watson. When pressure on former state chairman Ivan Mori gan was too great to overlook, he was ousted in August but Gates installed another of his henchmen, John C. Taylor of Danville, who resigned yesterday. Last April the Gates group kicked out Harry Fenton as party secretary over the protest of the Indiana Republican Editorial association. tho Emison minority and the rank and file of the party,' creating the internal strife which has been hampering the party's effort to revive itself atttF rienw- • alizing the party workers. Coughlin came to the state committee yesterday and immediately made known that he had forsaken the Gates majority, thus bringing the Emison forces to a 12 to 12 tie with Gates. All Emison had to do then was to sit tight, because' there was known sentiment for Bobbitt on the Gates faction. The committee meeting was to: have been called into session at one o'clock after a luncheon. But not only did the luncheon fail to take place, but it was after 10 o'clock before every Gates overture had been defeated in faction- : al caucuses and a compromise was agreed upon. Instead of naming the state chairman as he wanted to do. a far more important post in state politics than national committeeman. Gates was forced to take the lesser honor and allow the WatsonEmison clique to install its own man, Bobbitt. Another familiar face comes into the picture now also with the elec-1 tion of Bobbitt. This is his onetime political mentor, Bert Thurman. former national committee-! man, once collector of internal j revenue here and candidate for governor in 1936. Bobbitt said after his election (CONTINITKD ON PAGE THREE) O No Change Reported In Hite’s Condition The condition of Charles Hite, who is seriously ill with pnuemonla at the Adams county memorial hospital, was reported unchanged to- j day. His condition was reported as 1 still serious. o Venued Case Is Set For Trial Dec. 27 The case of the state of Indiana j against J. Earl Butler, local mail carrier, charged with sodomy, has been set for trial in the Jay circuit court on December 27, Prosecutor ' Arthur E. Voglewede stated today. The suit, filed here several months ago, was venued to the Jay county court at Portland upon motion of the defense counsel, supported by a number of affidavits. 0 TEMPERATURE READINGS DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER ! 8:00 a. tn 58 10:00 a. m 6° j 11:00 a. m - GO WEATHER Fair and cooler tonight and i Sunday.

Great Britain Is Incensed At Japanese Killings; Holds Japan Responsible In Death Os Three

FORMER BANKER IS SENTENCED Prominent Elwood Man Fined, Sentenced For Assault, Battery Noblesville, hid.. Oct. 30— (I'P) — George H. Dehority, former Elwood banker and prominent Democrat, was under $1,01)0 fine and sentence of six months in jail today for assault and battery against. Miss G'adys Peters. 28, Elwood. Special Hamilton circuit court judge John B. Hinchman permitted Dehority's release on $2,000 bond pending an appeal. Miss Peters accused Dehoritiy, who twice was nominated for state treasurer by the Democratic party, of breaking her jaw while attempt-1 Ing to force her Into his automobile , at Elwood a year ago. Miss Grace Tyner of ElwocJ caused a momentary flurry in the courtroom yesterday as the trial neared i its close. Interrupting prosecutor ('ecil Whitehead's final argument. She s. reamed that he was a “liar" and that his interpretation of her testimony was untrue and a reflection on her character. She was ordered from the court room by Judge Hinchman. The defense refused to participate in final arguments and at the last moment defense attorneys, who had announced they would call 125 I ON PAGE THREE) 0 Milk Is Dumped By Striking Dairymen Albany. N. Y„ Oct. 30 —(UP)— I 'Striking New York state dairymen dumped thousands of gallons ot' j '.milk today and sprinkled highways I with tacks to prevent non-striking ‘ farmers from delivering their pro--.«ucts to distributors. Members of the dairy farmers union pushed their strike for higher prices into its third day and dumped 3,000 gallons of milk belonging to non-striking farmers near a Plattsburg plant. o Roosevelt, Treasury Officials In Confal) Hyde Park, N. Y„ Oct. 30.—(U.R) I—A government announcement of a straightout loan program to support corn prices was believed imminent today after a farm aid. tax revision and budget balancing con- ■ ference among President Roosevelt I and high treasury officials After the president's meejing with Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr., and under secretary Toswell MaGill. indications were that loans similar to those granted on cotton would be financed through the reconstruction finance corporation. o Not The Geimer Who Borrowed Car Ed Geimer, loca.' meat market employe, stated today that he was j not the Ed Geimer whose name was ' entered on the police record yesterday as having borrowed a car from Edward Schultz. ROTARY PLANS DISTRICT MEET Group Meeting Os Rotary Clubs To Be Held November 18 A district meeting of all Rotary i clubs in group two will be held in I , Decatur Thursday evening, Nov. 118, it was announced today by Wai- ! ter Gard, president of the Decatur } Rotary club. Representatives from Angola, Auburn. Bluffton, Columbia City, Fort Wayne, Hartford City and Kendallville are expected to be present, and invitations are being extended to several other nearby clubs not in the district. The committee that has been appointed by the president of the local club consists of Rev. C. M. Prugh, chairman, in charge of publicity, Carl Pumphrey, in charge of program arrangements, and Cal Peterson, dinner and decorations. As speaker for the meeting the ■ committee has secured Paul V. Barrett, personnel director of the Ohio: Oil Co., of Findlay, Ohio. Mr. Barrett is a prominent Rotarian and has appeared on several state Ro-j tary programs in the past several i years. I

BLAST SHAKES STATE BRIDGE Bridge Near Indianapolis Only Slightly Damaged By Explosion Indianapolis. Oct. 30 (U.R) State police and sheriff's officers cruised northern Marion county roads today searching for a clue I to the mysterious bombing ot Williams Creek bridge on highway 31, one mile north of the city. Two charges of dynamite, one under each end of tlie heavilytraversed bridge, exploded about | 10:15 last night. The blasts, which shook homes and startled j residents in the northern section I of Indianapolis, caused only minor I damage and no one was injured. | State police officers found 2,000 feet of fuse wire and 55 sticks of ' unexploded dynamite under the bridge. Apparently it was placed there by someone unaccustomed to handling explosives, officers said. Authorities sought an unidentified woman who reported to the sheriff's office shortly after the blast that she and her husband had crossed the bridge a moment before the explosion. The blast caused their automobile to swerve violently, she said State police said the explosive I might have been placed under the | bridge by some disgruntled person. possibly someone with a | grudge against the state highway department or in some way opposed to construction of the highway. o Moose Members To Meet This Evening Members of the local Ixiyal Ord-; er of Moose are asked to meet at | the local lodge home tonight at 8 o’clock, from where t4iey will go' in a body to the home of the late | Martin G. Braun, deceased mem ' her. o ADAMS COUNTY NATIVE DIES Mrs. .Josephine Ehrsam Dies This Morning At Fort Wayne Mrs. Josephine Ehrsam, S 3, former Adams county resident, died this mornipg at Fort Wayne at the home of he rson. William. Death was caused by infirmities following an illness of about six weeks. She had been critically ill for some time. The deceased was born in Bobo, St. Mary’s township, where she resided most ot her life. Some time ago she moved to Fort Wayne to j make her home with her son. Her husband preceded he)r in | death. Surviving are three daugh-1 ters, Mrs. Sephus Melchi. wife of the local chief of police; Mrs. Will Bunner, of Bobo; Mrs. Rollio Smith of Decatur and the son, William, of Fort Wayne. The body will be returned to the home of thq daughter, Mrs. Setphus Melchi of this city. Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock and may be viewed there until the time of the funeral. Funeral services will be held at the Melchi home, Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock and at the Mobo M. E. church at 2 o’clock. The Rev. Lloyd Bower, pastor of the church, will officiate. Burial will be made in the Mt. Taber cemetery. o « Tri-State Farm Heads Favor Price Control Columbus. O„ Oct. 30. — (U.R) — Strong sentiment among farm leaders ot Ohio, Indiana and Michigan who testified before a congressional agricultural sub-committee for some type ot crop production and price control, and a soil conservation program was evident today as additional witnesses were called to express their views on the need of America’s farmers. Sen. George McGill, D., Kansas, and James Pope, D., Idaho, co-auth-ors of the “ever normal granary ’ plan” bill who are conducting the hearing to determine farm sentl- , ment in the north and north west, I said testimony would be complet- | ed today.

Price Two Cents.

Japanese Warn Nations Os New Attack Against Dare-To-Die Soldiers In Fortification. EXPRESS REGRETS Shanghai. Oct. 30— (U.R) —The British consul general informed the Japanese today that Japan would be held responsible for the deaths of three British soldiers, killed yesterday by stray shells believed to have come from Japanese guns This dramatic tightening of already tense relations between the Japanese military command and ' local British officials came as the Japanese warned British and i American military commanders that a mass assault on the some 150 Chinese dare-to-die soldiers, holding out for the third straight, day in their fortified warehouses - across Soochow creek from the international settlement, was imminent. The warning was sent, presumably, so that foreign troops could take cover and avoid the fate of the British soldiers. A unit of the Welch fusiliers immediately abandoned its outpost on the bank of the creek, opposite its defense lines and about ID yards from the warehouses. As the Japanese attack started, the United States marine defense zone on the south bank of Soochow : creek was endangered. The I'usii liers retired to the Bank of China ! building across Yuyaching road as ! the first half dozen trench mortar shots whistled from the Japanese lines three blocks from the north bank of the creek. The mortars were in such a position that if the shots got off the range they could fly over the creek into the U. S. I lines. The Japanese were massing men and artillery, apparently for a supreme effort to wipe out the deatli battalion of Chinese who have ' sworn to die rather than surrender, providing an example inflaming all Chinese Plentifully armed with hand grenades and machine guns, they waited calmly for the assault. Across the creek from them were the comrades of the three ulster riflemen killed yesterday, who had been roused to wholehearted admiration by their heroic stand and were infuriated by the deaths of their fellow soldiers. They had acted to assure the safe retreat of the death battalion if it wishes to make it. The British view on the death of the three soldiers was made in an announcement issued after a conference among British and Japanese officials at the British consul-ate-general. The same announcement said that Japanese Consul General H. Okomoto had expressed ; regrets to Vice Admiral Sir ChartVs Little, commander-in-chief of the British Asiatic fleet. He said that a full report was being sent to Tokyo and that a Japanese investigation was continuing. Okomoto also expressed regrets I to Consul General Herbert PhilI lips and to Brigadier A. P. I). TelI fer-Smollett, commander of British I Shanghai forces. He was accompanied to the consulate-general by Admiral Tadao Honda, Japanese naval attache, and Major General Harada of the Japanese army. The announcement said: “The British authorities of Shanghai informed the Japanese authorities that they consider the shelling of British posts and the area in the western district near Perimeter, which occurred the evening of Oct. 29th. resulting in the death of three British soldiers and the wounding of two others, was due to the action of the Japanese army. The British authorities are reporting to the British government in this sense.” o False Fire Alarm Here Last Night Firemen answered a false alarm about 10:30 o’clock last night when they were called to the Hi-Way filling station on North Second street. Halloween pranksters are suspected of having turned in the alarm. o - Thousand Drowned In Damascus Flood London, Oct. 30.—(U.R) —The Exchange Telegraph agency reported today that 1,000 persons had been drowned and that 10,000 were driven from their homes when floods swept the countryside northeast of Damascus. It said many villages had been deslroyed.