Decatur Democrat, Volume 46, Number 22, Decatur, Adams County, 7 August 1902 — Page 1

all the news ALL THE TIME.

VOLUME XLVI.

R. 0. Johnson has, according to ir formation received here, resigned hi, position as collector of customs ar Douglass, Ariz .. and will hereafter devote his time to the Atlas Mining company of which he is president. Hon. Clark J. Lutz and family came home Tuesday morning from three weeks of real summer life at Dallas lake, during which time they occu pied a beautiful summer cottage ami eat fish to their heart’s content. All are looking and feeling first-class. Those who have been granted the lawful right to marry at the office of County Clerk Johnson this week an* John M. Buekmaster and Laura C. Frank, John Woods and Grace Teeple, William H. Zwiek and Clara Wischmeyer, Gephart A. Foos and Laura Huffman. The first clue to the eloping couple. Reynolds-Loser, since their departure here comes from Woodburn. The german correspondent to the Wit ness reports that the couple stopped at the f irmhouse of William Wetter south of Woodburn (does not state the day.) asking for something to eat. Will was not «at home when they called, but came home before they left and addressed Reynolds by name. Reynolds thereupon whipped up his team and started on a gallop for the Ohio line.—Berne Witness.

Old Blind Tom, wife and baby and grind organ were in town Tuesday. Tom has been here twice a year for nearly a quarter of a century and always manages to grind out a good day’s wages. Nor is he more successful here than elsewhere for in his travels he has gathered up a snug little fortune. It is claimed that he owns a farm in Franklin county and a brick block in Indianapolis, his credit lying good for 525,000. Still he wears old ragged clothes and makes his family do likewise. It’s part of the trade you know. Berne business men gave a harvest carnival Saturday and quite a crowd spent the day in town. The attractions were a ball game between the Geneva and Berne teams in which the former came out victorious by a score of ten to eight, and a balloon ascension. The latter part of the program was to have been given by Pat Touhey, but he secured the services of Lowell Lanning, a young man from Linn Grove. However, the performance was very creditable and the people were satisfied. The Democratic Club band furnished music for the occasion.

An election was held in Huntington Monday to decide whether or not the D. U. & H. traction railway was wanted and the people said yes by a majority of 907. The vote for the road was 1,665 and against it 758. There are 13 precincts in the township, only one of which is a country precinct that gave a majority of 5 against the subsidy and the other 12 favored the donation. Huntington people flopped on the subsidy question just about right. Mav 12th. they voted on giving the D. U. & H. a subsidy of 5112,000 and the proposition was defeated by a majority of 533. When the price of the road was marked down to cost, kind of a ‘•closing out before inventory sale,” they took the road too quick. Mrs. James R. Smith died Monday night at her home in the southwest part of the city after an illness of several years, during part of which time she underwent great suffering. Mrs. Smith was one of the pioneers of this city, having lived here nearly all her life. She was born in 1842, and was tifty-nine years, eight months and two days old. ' She has been an invalid for many years, her trouble arising from a cancerous growth in the stomach, this fact being determined by a post mort mortem examination held Tuesday by Drs. Beasers. Boyers, Millet, Costello and Thomas. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Women’s Relief Corps and the funeral services "ere conducted under their charge Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock from the Methodist church, Rev. E. A. Allen officiating. Interment at Maplewood cemetery. Through the kindness of Mrs. Waggoner, one of the managers of the Waggoner Harrod shoe factory, we were shown through that institution a few days ago and we believe it is one of the best manufacturing concerns in Decatur. They are now located in the Meibers block, occupying the second floor. They employ from thirty to fifty young ladies all the time besides as many more who work for the company at their own homes. All make good wages, in fact twice as much as is usually paid lady clerks and those who do other kinds of work. A number of new machines have been added to the factory and they have grown into one of the best institutions of the kind in the country. The new fall styles are out now and the display of stock on hand is delightful to look upon. Hundreds of pairs of little baby shoes and moccasins are turned out each day and there are now on hand over 10,(KM) pair, but this is scarcely a start for the season which is jmit opening. If you have never visited the factory you owe yourself a visit and tfe assure you of courteous treatment.

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I A. R. Bell arrived home Sunday lemming after a two weeks visit with h|s family at Oden, Michigan. He 1 4fcs a good color. and says ho never lilted to leave any place quiteso badly asl on this occasion. llohn Oswald has been given the portion of watchman at the Clover lj*td crossing on Winchester street anti began his duties Mondav. A shalnty to protect him from the eleffintjits arrived yesterday. M. S. Hughes left Monday for Chi'■ageb where he met his son, Dr. Lawrenc In H ughes who has beenat Petoskey Micll., several weeks. They will makib a trip through the west in searc?h of a location for Dr. Hughes. Mi.BB Lucile Bryson is responsible for a 1 complete surprise which was sprtmig on her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Bryson last evening. The occasion was most enjoyable and was given I in honor of their twentieth wedding anniversary. Quite a number of friends were present and no end off amusements were furnished including guessing games, music and delicious refreshments. The surprise part was worked to perfection and Miss Lucile was congratulated on her ability to arrange such an event. Spoiled or unserviceable postal cards will be redeemed by the postal department hereafter under an order of the postmaster general issued July 10. Instructions as to the redemption prescribe that the cards will be taken back at 75 per cent of their face value. This is the first time the government has offered to redeem portals. This order will be good news to the manufacturers who have old order forms for sale that are out of date. It will also save the job printer a good deal of money on cards that have been a total loss heretofore.

The board of commissioners were in session this week. The petition was granted allowing extras on the Geneva, Ceylon and Wabash township macadam road. W. Roop, A. J. Sipe , and Clem Michaol were appointed - upon the ditch petition. The bond was approved of J. M. Willey as superintendent of the Woods Macadam ' Road. A report of the county board I of charity was filed and ordered spread of record. The viewers report of the Brushwood College Macadam Road was filed. Liquor licenses were granted to Joseph J. Tonnelier and Mat Schaffer of this city. Miss Clara Wischmeyer, a popular I young lady of Bingen, and Mr. Wil- • liam H. Zwick, one of the clever busi- [ ness men of this city were united in | marriage at the bride's home Sunday evening at five o’clock. The cere- | inony was performed by Rev. Huge, pastor of the St. John Lutheran church and was done in a polished manner. Only the immediate relaI tives were present but nevertheless the affair was a happy and pleasant one. A sumptions supper was served immediately after the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wischmeyer of Bingen. The groom is a tnemlier of the firm of Gay A Zwick of this city. Both have scores of friends who join us in offering sincerest congratulations. They will soon be at home in this city. Indiana is the street fakir’s bonanza. The last legislature passed a law by which soldiers are exempted from the necessity of paying a license for •lling goods on the streets of any town in the state. Through the protection of that law, all any street auctioneer has to do in order to free himself from paying for the privilege of competing with home merchants, is to hire one of Uncle Sam’s boys to travel in his company and hand out the merchandise that he sells. Many of these smooth gentleman whose business does not warrant the employment of an extra man. ito doubt mask as soldiers themselves by paying some unsophisticated veteran for securing the official permit and traveling under his name. There is a loophole somewhere in a law that fosters wholesale grafts at the expense of the deserving home merchants.

The well drilled on the Brittson lease by the Decatur Oil and Gas company was “shot" Monday about noon, the result of the shot making the well a light oiler. Quite a nuinber of spectators witnessed the genius work of eighty quarts of nitro-glycer ine which penetrated to the depth of 1,243 feet ami successfully shattered the oil-bearing sand. The oil flowed in. but while not being a gusher it will make a light producing well and will later on be pumped. John Eller had charge of the shooting and did the job nicely. At a meeting of the board nf directors held Monday evening, it was determined to place upon the market sufficient stock to drill two more wells and pipe Willshire and Wren, Ohio, with gas. The company now has some very valuable property, the gas well on the Cliffton farm being a wonder, and in itself of sufficient volume and pressure to furnish both of the above named towns with gas for fifty years. As a business investment money could not be put to a better use, and the stock soon to be placed on the market should be taken without any effort on the part of the promoters.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, l<)02.

CUBSCRIPTIONS to the Democrat become due August 20. At that time statements will be mailed to every subscriber who owes subscription, or whose subscription expires at that time. If paid in advance the rate will continue to be 51.00 a vear, and if not paid in advance $1.50 a year.

All members of company B, 160th. regiment are requested to meet at the barber shop of Amspaugh & Kitson at eight o’clock this evening to arrange for attending the annual reunion of the regiment to be held at Wabash September 16th. and 17th. Please be present if possible. Since the discovery of oil in this part of the state, the farmers have not suffered the loss of hogs from hog cholera; the oder and the presence of oil where the hogs lay is given as the reason. Another thing is noticeable in this section which is also caused by the presence of oil, and that is the en tire absence of mosquitos, knats and other troublesome night insects. — Berne Witness. Paulding and Celina ball teams attempted to play a game of ball several days ago for the amature championship of Ohio, but the game broke up in a fight. The manager of each team then posted SIOO that they could win on mutual groundsjand the game was played yesterday at Delphos, the sheriff of Allen county acting as umpire. H. L. Conter and J. S. Peterson from here were on the ground. A meeting of the stockholders of the Old Adams county Bank was held in the rooms of that institution Tuesday morning and the officers for the ensuing year were chosen. The men who will hold the responsible places are the same as during the last year and will do their duties in a capable manner. The officers are W. H. Niblick, president; David Studabaker, vice-president; R. K. Allison, cashier; D. F. Quinn and C. S. Niblick assistant cashiers. Directors, David Studabaker, W. H. Niblick, R. B. Allison, R. K, Allison, J. S. Bowers, Henry Hite and Mrs. John Niblick. John Bossert, whose home is near the west county line, attempted to kill himself Mondav morning and is in a very serious condition. The young man had been paying marked attention to Miss Bertha French, a a young lady of the neighborhood, and daughter of Amos French. He called on his sweetheart Sunday and asked her to marry him, which she refused to do. Bossert studied over the affair all night, finally deciding that death was preferable to life without her. Accordingly about eight o’clock Monday morning he placed a 32 calibre revolver to his breast and fired. The ball entered just above the heart and landed under his left arm, making a dangerous but not necessarily fatal wound. The young man is about twenty-one years old. Rev. H. Theo. Wilken, who attended the meeting of his alumni association at Cleveland, Ohio, Tuesday, was honored by his selection as treasurer of the association, as told in the following dispatch sent out from that city Tuesday evening: “The third annual meeting of the alumni association of Mount St. Marys seminary, Cincinnati, comprising about 150 priests of the middle west, was held here today. Religious services were held in St. Agnes church. A business meeting followed, at which these new officers were elected. President, the Rev. Dr. Kemper of Dayton, O.; vicepresident, the Rev. G. P. Jennings of Cleveland: secretary, the Rev. F. W. Howard of Columbus; treasurer, the Rev. Theodore Wilken of Decatur, diocese of Fort Wayne, Indiana. A banquet was held at the Hollenden in the afternoon. Next year’s meeting will be held in Cincinnati. Dan-Coffee was the victim in a fierce fight which occurred in the alley back of Cordua A Andrews saloon Sunday afternoon about four o’clock. It seems several young men were trying to induce John C. Coffee brother of Dan to go into the saloon with them, but through the efforts of said Dan he prevented. This angered the boys and they became abusive. Dan walked away but was fol lowed by young Scott Hughes and Dau knowing Scott's reputation as a nasty fighter picked up a brick and proceeded to plant it against Scott’s head. Then came trouble, Dan was knocked down by a man named Anderand three men at once began pounding and kicking him unmercifully. Those who witnessed the affair say it was disgracefully brutal and that Dan would have certainly been kicked to death had not H. S. Porter who saw the whole affair from his home rushed to the scene and stopped the young men who seemed to have become wild. There seems to lie some dispute as to who the third man who assisted in the fight was and as the young man accused denies the fact in strong terms we with hold his name for the present. It is said that affidavits have been filed against the men and arrests will be made as soon as Prosecuting Attorney Moran arrives home. Whoever was to blame the scene was a most disgracefully one and appears doubly bo occuring |On Sunday afternoon.

George L. Maddy will leave the first of next week for Colorado, where he expects to spend several months in ‘he hopes of improving his health which has by no means been the best since his arrival here from Washington. He will stop at Denver a few’ days, going from there to Cripple Creek, where his father resides. The Ladies Shakespeare club have prepared their course of study for the coming season and neat little syllabus books have been printed at tins office for them. The club consists of twenty-three members and the first meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. J. W. Tyndall, September 3. Their season closes April 22. About thirty uninvited guests made their way to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Smith on North Second street Tuesday evening and proceeded to take possession. The surprise was genuine as could be clearly seen from the expression on Frank's face and he couldn’t figure it out until someone whispered: “Its your twenty-third birthday. During the past few weeks this town has had an epidemic of tramps and beggars. Thev have distressing tales of want which they can relate with considerable glibness. As a matter of fact there is no excuse for these fellow’s to be on the road. There is work for everybody who wants work and an able bodied man who does not work is idle because he wants to be. A man who is able to work but does not do so has no claim upon the earnings of him who does work, and the citizens who allows his sympathy to lead him into giving to these loafers is doing a great wrong to himself and to society. One of the most severe storms of the year, and they have been numerous, occurred Friday afternoon. For fully half an haur before rain fell there was a great display of lightning and the thunder which followed each flash was ominous. Dark clouds rolled over the city and then back again and the old prophets said: “Its a soaker.” Finally the clouds broke, and such torrents of rain have not been seen here in several days. There was plenty of wind too, and the thunder and lightning was fierce enough to make the brave quake in their boots. Some damage is reported over the county, most of it being in the loss of corn, wheat and oats, which was blown down or ruined by the heavy rain. A wing of the new art building at the fair grounds was blown down. It is not often that one finds a love story which is absolutely satisfactory, and a fine love story ending in renunciation is a still rarer thing. Such, however, is “Broken Toys,” with its Roman setting and its atmosphere of noble -love and tragic renunciation. Another story which will interest readers of the August Cosmopolitan is “The Soul of Mozart” which centers in the theme of transmigration of souls, a problem facinating even to the ancients. It is a tradition that society stories are written by those who have never moved in society; but Mrs. Poultney Bigelow writes “The Story of a Scented Note” from within the charmed circle. The tale of Heine’s passion for Mathilde by Richard Le Gallienne, and a pretty little Japanese romance help to make the number an interesting one for reading on cool varandas by the sea or within the city’s walls. The Indiana State Fair will, the week of September 15, celebrate its golden jubilee at Indianapolis. For a year the State Board of Agriculture has been planning and bending its energies to make this, the fiftieth, anniversary a memorable one, and pioneers who attend from over the state will not find it difficult to see that the fair has multiplied in quality and quantity many time since the first one was held at Indianapolis in 1852. Before the first fair could be held a fair ground had to be borrowed from the Marion County Agricultural Society, and the state was, in fact, a borrower of county fair "rounds for several 'years in the beginning, but this year the fair will be held on a tract covering 211 acres costing, with improvements, $300,000, and the property lielongs to the State Boards. The records of the Indiana State Fair show that the first one was crude and unorganized. Now it is divided into fifteen departments, each with a superintendent. The first fair lasted three days. The one next month will last a week. It cost a dollar to get through the gates of the first fair, but in September the fair will have many times as much to offer visitors at half the money. Sousa’s Band, the best in the United States, will give four concerts. Last year it played to about 75,000 people at the fair. That the exhibition next month may be a record breaker, the State Board of Agriculture has swelled the premium list and prize awards until the total is nearly $35,000.

Mrs. Rout and grand daughter, Miss Irene Schirmever, have been 1 guests of friends at Van Wert for a j week past and on Tuesday Miss Irene was taken with a mild form of tonsillitis. Mrs. Schirmeyer went to Van Wert Tuesday evening and word received by her husband yesterdaysaid that their daughter was greatly improved and would no doubt be all right within a few days. The Woman,s Home Missionary society will meet at the home pf Mrs. Sarah Blackburn at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Everybody is cordially invited. The program to be given'is as follows: Singing, hymn; taik, “Colored girls of the south,” Mrs. Dan Myers; music, Miss Lucile Bryson; paper, “Value and need of schools for Christian workers,” Miss Nellie Blackburn; singing, hymn; collection. True Worth, the coming trotting horse owned by Flanders & Son, and Ben H.. the pacer owned by D. D. Clark & Co., were shipped to Urbana, Ohio, Tuesday. They will start in the races there next week, the former going in the 2:30 trot and the latter in the 2:20 pace. Glad Boy, owned by Elmer Johnson, has also been entered in the races. From Urbana all three horses will make the Eastern Ohio circuit. Merrill Teague, who formerly lived here being a son of Rev. and Mrs. Teague who had charge of the Methodist church here for a number of years, is the nominee of his party for congress from the fourth Maryland district. Merrill has won considerable fame during the last four years. He is political editor of the Baltimore Sun and served as City Clerk of that city for two years. He became well known by being chosen by Admiral Schley as one of his assistants during his trial last winter. He is getting there with both feet apparently and his Decatur friends will be glad to learn of the fact. When Bosse’s opera house opens this year, and we are glad to inform our readers that the date is not very far off, the patrons of that popular play house will be agreeably surprised to see many decided improvements which have been made during the hot weather. Perhaps the most important is a gallery for the boys who have always delighted in sitting on the backs of the chairs at the rear. Besides this the boxes have been taken out and the space thus furnished added to the stage, making an open plat form eight feet wider than heretofore. The changes give considerable more room and make it possible for larger and better shows to stop here. Mr. Bosse has booked some of the best companies on the road and is expecting a good business this season. His house will be ready in about ten days. While returning from a country dance Monday night, a well known young clerk of this city and his best girl had an exciting runaway which caused considerable damage and awoke about everyone living on north Second street. It seems that a race was on and the horse became frightened and unmanageable and being along the side of the road tore up everything he came to. A water hydrant was broken off, a wire cable used as a guy for an electric light pole was snapped in two, and still the horse continued in his mad career, finally dashing into a telephone pole and breaking the buggy into kindling wood. Spokes were strewn along the street for several squares and the path traveled looked like it had been visited by a young cyclone. The occupants of the buggy were thrown out but escaped with only a fewbruises. The affair happened about one o’clock and was heard by many people who went out to see what the trouble was. The Tuesday Huntington Herald said: Doctors are in demand in the little city of Markle. All the medical staff of the place are busy lookingafter cases of poisoning which developed last week in alarming numbers, there are thirty-two people sick many of them seriously so. One night last week there occurred the wedding of Mr. Bernau to Mrs. Worst. Both are well known people and there was a grand supper served after the wedding. Many guests pere present and all partook of the refreshments provideu. It was but a short time thereafter that someone was taken violently ill and from that time on the cases continued to multiply until there were thirty-two siek, and all having the same symptoms. Mrs. Rev. Zech iel of Decatur, who was present, is said to have been the worst, although Mrs. Radabaush and the bride were both alarmingly ill. For several days it was doubtful whether it was possible fur any of those named to recover but at this writing they are all im proved and it is not thought any case will prove fatal. There are two explanations offered for the unfortunate occurrence, one lieing that the trouble is lead poisoning resulting from the can in which ice cream was kept. The other is that coloring matter used in the cake caused the mischief, but the first is looked upon as the most probable solution. The residei®s of the place are very much worked ul| over the matter. Such whole—-** poisoning is very haxjl to is indeed renn* •

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 22

E. V. Knight of Wabash, was a visitor in the city Monday morning spending his time in looking up old comrades. He is the president of the 160 Indiana reunion association, and informed us that the meeting to be held at Wabash September 16th and 17th would be a rousing one, and of interest to all veterans of the regiment. The biggest crowd ever in attendance at one of the 160th reunions is looked for at that time. ( Hiram Walters and family as La Fountain, Indiana, are the guests of relatives and friends here. They expect to return home today. Both Mr. and Mrs. Walters were former Decatur people and have many friends here. Mr Walters is at present the Big Four agent, having held the position for over a year. His vacation at this time is a forced one, he having been siek since July 17. He is feeling much better now and will resume his duties next Monday. O. H. Blossom has been tendered and will no doubt accept the position as superintendent of the Rockville public schools, and his Adams county friends are justly proud of his success. Mr. Blossom is an ex-resident here having been raised in the county and received his early education in our schools, afterwards graduating from the State University at Bloomington. He has served as principal of the Rockville high school and gave such good satisfaction that he was chosen as superintendent this year, without having put in an application. His contract calls for SI,OOO the first year and $1,200 after that time. John E. Stults and wife drove out in the country Sunday afternoon and were so badly frightened on their way back that they won’t feel just right for several days, and they had an experience which was sufficient to scare most anyone out of several years growth. As they approached the Chicago A Erie Mercer street crossing, they looked carefully to ascertain » if a train was approaching but could hear or see nothing and attempted to cross. Just as their horse was ready to step upon the track the west bound fast express dashed past them, going at the rate of about fifty miles an hour, at least it seemed that fast. John pulled the horse back just in time to prevent a terrible accident, but it was entirely too close for comfort. At this same crossing two years ago the Gilbert family came near meeting death in the same manner, though their rig was demolished and a baby girl carried two squares on theengine. It is a dangerous crossing and the company owes our citizens the protection of a watchman. The regular session of the city council was held at their rooms Tuesday evening and some important business was transacted. Mayor Beatty presided and members Teeple, Fordyce, Weaver. Corbet, Stetler and Peterson answered present to the roll call. The first question taken up was the election of a street commissioner to take the place of John W. Coffee whose term expires September Ist. There were three candidates, John Coffee, James Smith jr, and Harry Cooken, but other names were voted for during the contest. George Patterson receiving one vote a number of times. Coffee had three votes all the time but was unable to get the fourth which was necessary. After 124 ballots had Ixen taken and there being no choice the matter was postponed until the first regular meeting in September. Then came the selection of a superintendent of the water work, plant and eight names were presented. On the fifteenth ballot George Steele was chosen. No report was made by the committee in whose hands is the matter of granting a franchise for puing tt in gas mains by the Decatur Oil A Gas company. The judiciary committee reported that they would not allow the Chicago A Erie railroad to put in an electric bell at their Mercer street crossing in the place of a flagman. A petition for macadamizing Thirteenth street was referred to the proper committee. Mayor Beatty then asked a committee or some member of the council lav chosen to do the city buying that he might turn over his books to them. A committee was finally decided upon and Messrs Corbett, Teeple and Fordyce were chosen. City Engineer Knoff was ordered to put in a water line on Nuttman street. The following bill were allowed: Niblick A Co. $5.25; Enos Lord $3.30; Burt Stationary Co. 44 cents; National Express Co. $1.35: L. C. Helm sl2; Gas Co. $264.38; Wells Fargo Co. $1; W. J. Archbold $10.35; Clover Leaf railroad $258.01; W. J. Archbold $7.50; Fort Wayne Electric Co. S4O. 65; Sunday Creek Coal Co. $259.38, Knapp Supply Co., $34.14: Harry Dahiel, $19.75; Richard Stevens,s9.2o; National Carbon Co., $22.24; Globe Oil Co., $12.21; Harry Daniel, $7: J. S. Peterson. $39.50; John Chronister, 60 cents; L. G. Ellingham, $21.80; John Coffee, $45.83; Schafer Hardware Co.. $13.52; D. F. Teeple, $3.50; Roman Barthel, $5.25; H. B. Knoff, $38.67; Jacob Eady, S4O; Thoma*Haefling, $10: M. J. Mylott,s6s;Thus. Baker, SMhl"*vul L. Alyere. SSO; H. Council then tiA Friday night i» • 1 regular seaaion-