Decatur Democrat, Volume 47, Number 38, Decatur, Adams County, 26 November 1903 — Page 1

ALL the news ALL THE TIME.

OLUME XLVII.

■ Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Huglies and son Glenn Gessinger left at Ho.>n today for Hartfoid City where ■hey will bo the guest of Mr. Ed Kolir and family over Bg9 Rev. E. A. Allen will on'Saturday ■ vening of this week, being November the twenty eighth give ■t the Presbyterian church a beauKful stereoptican service. Rev. Alien has gone to the expense of purchasing and obtaining some of the Knest slides that are on the market ■nd the service will be on Bunyan’s ■ife and work and from all reports Bhould be an interesting and bene■ficial service. No one can afford K, miss the entertainment so rememK’T the date. ■m Frank Cowley, a "carpenter, re-K.-ived a painful injury while at ■work at the Allison&-Studabaker ■block this morning. He was using K hatchet and while doing his work ■was likewise carrying on a conversation with a bystander. One of Khe licks missed fire and the sharp Kiatchet struck Frank's left hand, Klmost severing the index finger of ■the left hand, cuting off the ligaments and nearly through the bone. Dr. D. D. Clark dressed the wound which was very painful as may be imagined, and will keep him from work a few days. The Fort Wayne Journall-Gazette thus describes Col. Ferry who visited there Friday: Thin, wiry, brimming over with energy and enthusiasm, brilliant in conversation and magnetic in pesonality, Col. Ferry makes one forget, when speaking to to him, that he knew Fort Wayne when a generation long since one was in prime. Few men of his years are so well preserved or so filled with the fibre of youth. He is a man of the type I that made the great west—the type [of man that never grows old. And [he is still at work, and the period of life when most men are seeking ease finds him busier than the average man of thirty, going to Europe to look after large affairs, and all the time booming Tacoma. Sunday morning Rev. JAV . Kliewer, formerly pastor of the Mennonite church at Wadsworth, Ohio, delivered his introductory sermon at the Mennonite church here, speaking on the text taken from Isaih 4:16, emphasizing his duty and intenion to preach the love and righteousenss of God. After the sermon Rev. S.F. Sprunger, his predecessor I in the pastorate, installed Rev.Klie I wer as future pastor of the congreI nation, and thereby laid down his ..«<•• , Mfr- '.MW.:..'.-- «. . Mk<. own pastorate. The cnoii an appropriate song in closing. After services Rev. S. F. Sprunger mounted the pulpit and with a few earnest remarks on the presenttemperance situation in Berne, call<4 on the congregation to give Editor Fred Rohrer a vote of condolence, confidence and support in the fight against the saloons in Berne. With a few' exceptions the vote was unanimous. Over a thousand jieople were present.—Berne^Witness. Colonel Clinton Peyre Ferry of Tacoma,after a weeks visit with his mother, Mrs. Ferry and sister Mrs. Dr. McMillen, left Monday noon for Cincinnati, from where he goes to Baltimore and from there will sail far Paris within a few days. Mr. Ferry represents the French government in the United States in looking after their industrial business and investment and his present visit is in an official capacity. He called this morning to bid us good bye and said that he had been treated most royally hy Decatur people whose hospitality is of the cordial kind which makes a stranger feel at home at once. He will always have a good opinion of our city. Sunday he enjoyed a visit to the county infirmary and his verdict of that institution is one of the handsomest as well as best managed of the many he has visited. He says the citizens of Adams county should certainly sentence Mr. and Mrs. Graber to their present for life. “In all ~my travels said the Colonel, “I have never visited a public institution, so well cared for and so admirably managed. *■ ®

* •

Col. Fred Reppert. the well known ! auctioneer, arrived home Saturday from Danville, Illinois, where he has been on business for a week. He cried three big stock sales in the vicinity of Danville this week and each was a blooming success. Fred's fame is growing rapidly and he is kept busy nearly al] the time, conducting special sales. Mrs. Harve Michaels, living near Markle was terribly burned Friday. Mrs. Michaels has been ill ' with typhoid fever for several days ! and for some time has been losing i her mind. Yesterday morning she | got out of bed when her attendants left the room for a few moments, secured a lighted lamp and went back to bed with it. She was discovered a few minutes later, lying on the bed which was blazing fiercely. The flames were extinguished and a physician called to care for her. He found that she was suffering from terrible burns about the head, face and throat and that she had inhaled some of the blaze. Her recovery is doubtful. Mrs. Michaels is the mother of three children and is thirty years of age Among the items of interest in the first issue of the Berne News was the following: A statement given out by President Fledderjohann of the new interurban electric line, being constructed between Fort Wayne and Decatur indicates that Berne and Geneva may yet secure a line connecting them with the county seat. Mr. Fledderjohann states that the line will in all probbility be constructed to Portland, but he intimates that it may go by way of Willshire and Celina, Ohio. He says the right of way has been secured for the most part between Decatur and Willshire. The logical route for this line is through Berne, not only because it is the most direct, but rather because of the large patronage would guarantee the company from the smaller towns between the two county seats. Friends of State Senator Stephen B. Fleming, of Fort Wayne, will be pleased to learn that he is making a pronounced success in business and financial circles of the east. He now spends most of his time in New York city as the scretary and treasurer of the paper mill trust, which control fifty-one mills in the United Sta-es. He was elected to this position for two years at $30,000 per annum and recently had charge of finacing the affairs of the company. He was so successful in this matter that the company endeavored to retain him permanently in its employ. Mrs. Fleming, howthat the time called for in his contract, as he prefers Indiana as a residence.— Washington correspondent of the Indianapolis Journal. Mr. Fleming represents this and Allen county in the Sate Senate and is well known here. His Decatur friends are glad to hear of his continued success. The stave factory owned by Col. C. E. Briant, has been transferred to a company known as the Adams Bros., of Bluffton says the Huntington Herald; The company consists of F. P. Adams, of Bluffton, who operates a stave factory at that place and his brother who was formerly in that pusnit at Decatur. The latter suffered the loss of his plant by fire recently, and has since been looking for a location. By the transfer of the factory, Adams Bros., be came owners of the buildings and machinery used in the manufacture of barrel staves. The lease of the ground upon which the property now stands, and while Col. Briant will retain tne ownership of the grounds there are no changes excepted in the location of the plant. The stave industry is a good one, employing quite an number of men, and Adams Bros, are extensive operators who will run the factory to its full capacity. Adams Bros., were in the city Monday and closed the negotiations, returning home Monday. They will come to this city to take possession of the property the later part of this week, and the general impression is that the factory will be placed in operation at once, or as soon as the new owners find it practical to do so.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1903.

Earl Snow of this office is in receipt of a copy of the Colombo, Ceylon Independent, which contains a graphic account of the disappearance and location of Clyde Allen Dickinson, who formerly conduct ed a paper in Chicago and has always been a friend of the Star News. He left Chicago three years ago and has recently been located in India. His story is interesting. Kalver & Freidman, who recenty purchased the Hub clothing store from H. Epstine Co., are arranging for a big sale, the purpose of which is s o dispose of their big stock of fall clothes, that they may put in a larger stock for spring. They announce in another column and in large cirulars that this organization and purchase sale will begin next Saturday and continued two weeks, during which time they will sell their goods at sixty-two cents < m the dollar or actual cost. The boys are hustlers and are after their share of your patronage. Read their announcements. The informal dance given Friday evening at the Columbian Club rooms in honor of Misses Caroline and Dixie Trippolette who returned to their home at Georgetown, Ky., was well attended and a fine time is reported by all present. The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion with dainty colored ribbons and flowers. The music was furnished by True Fristoe and as usual was fine and the crowd present tripped the light fantastic until a late hour this At eleven o’clock the gentlemen proceeded to furnish lunch for the ladies and everything imaginable was served before them which all did justice to. The Club boys proved themselves great entertainers and were complimented time and again for the easy manner in which they carry on these pleasant pastimes. Sunday was a happy day at the beautiful country home home of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Corson, near Mon roe, when their daughter Miss Sadie Leßrun was married to Mr. Mirl Essex, Rev. J. A. Sprague conducted the ceremony in his usual polishel manner, after which come the wedding feast, enjoyed by young and old alike. Among the guests were Messrs and Mesdames Frank Coppess, Ferdinand Faller, C. E. Bollinger, J. N. Burkhead, Forest Andrews, S. B. Nelson, Jonathan Andrews, John Andrews. Jonus James Steele and family Perry Andrews and family, Mrs. Anna Essx, Misses Mary and Minnie Essx, Blanche Andrews. Minnie .Ponnees _and Messrs Sherman Essex, John Ward, M. Walker, and John Nelson. The bride and groom were the recipients of many beautiful and useful presents. Mr. and Mrs.Essexare popular young people and the Democrat join the host of friends in congratulaions and kind wishes. In an interview that a representative of this paper had with W. B. Fledderjohann, manager of the new electric line to run through this city he informs us that upon yeserday the contract had for the electric appliances to the Westinghouse of Pittsburg, Pa., and these people have the reputation of putting out the best appliances in the world and are the same appliances that are used by the Union Traction Company and by all eastern Ohio companies. He also informs us that the contract for the engines and boilers will not be let until he eighth day of De cember. The grading is progressing nicely and that the most trouble in this line is at Monmouth cutting down the big hills and filling in the hollows. The quarry is being worked regular and they are hauling stone on the grade near Monmouth today, but owing to a break down in the machinery they will be unable to crush any more stone for a few days until the necessary repairs are made. Everything is now in line for completion as soon as possible and the contract for bridges will be let in the near future when they can progress even more speedily. He says that the lino will undoubtedly be open for public servlet by June Ist.

I A stone wagon belonging to H. P. Streicher was completely demolisheil at the G. R. & I. railroad Monday morning by a train, they were unloading brick fro n a car onto the wagon when the switch train without notice to the workmen, backed up on. them catching the wagon and ■ making a complete wreck out of same. The two men that were working in the wagon had to jump to save themselves from getting caught in the wreck. Streicher says that all it will cost him is the price of a new wagon. Atorneys Merryman & ” Sutton Monday filed a divorce suit for Amanda M. Dulin who asks for legal decree of separation from Samuel A. Dulin. The complaint says the parties were married in Monroe township March 23, 1897 and lived together until 1900 when the husband deserted. He has never provided for her in anyway nor for the support of their only child a daughter, Mary Naomi, who is now six years old. The defendant is said to live at Berne and earns good wages, though none of it goes to the family, hence this suit. Mrs. Dulin askes for a divorce, SI,OOO alimony, the custody of the child and such other order respecting said child as the court may deem just and right. The summons was made returnable December 4. Rev. Little, for many year a citizen of this county is now a wealthy man and his riches came to him in a lucky manner. He left here some time ago for the nortwest, finlly locating at Tacoma, Washington. Looking about for someway to invest his few hundred dollars, which represoned his earnings for many years, he was finally induced to take an interest with a number of Baptist ministers in a mining company. They secured a tract of land near Tacoma and began prospecting for silver. They labored faithfully but found little traces of silver or any valuable mineral in paying quantities. Finally they struck a vein of steel grey metal which they were unable to analyze. A quantity of it was secured and sent to an essaying office and in a few days the ministers were happy. They had opened the only arsenic mine, known in the United States. This mineral is usualy found with other metals instead of in a vein by itself. The mine is a valuable one as may be imagined and has made the stockholders wealthy. Sheriff Butler went to Berne Saturday evening and arrested three well known citizens on a serioucharge, the result of an indictment returned by the recent grand jury. The men arreSleJ'' o¥e vL'Sftiu Sheets, Jacob Hunzicker and Abe Boegli and is the outcome of the assault upon Editor Fred Rohrer last week. The men are charged with inciting a riot and the indictment which is in regular form reads as follows: “That the above mentioned men did on November 16, 1903 unlawfully, riotously and felonously unite, combine, and con spire together for the purpose of doing an unlawful act in the night Jime towit: for the purpose of then and there, in the county of Adams and State of Indiana, unlawfully, riotously and feloniously in the night time beating, bruising, strik ing, whipping and wounding one Fred Rohrer in a rude, insolent, angry and unlawful manner.” The charge is a very' serious one and punishable under the following strict section of the Indiana statute. “If three or more persons shall unite or combine together for the purpose of doing any unlawful act in the night time or for the purpose of doing any’ unlawful act while wearing white caps, masks or being otherwise disguised, shall be deemed guilty of riotous conspiracy and upon conviction thereof shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not exceeding ten years, nor less than two and fined in any sum not exceeding $2,000.” Each of the three men arrested gave bond in the sum of SI,OOO and were immediately released from the custody of the sheriff. The crime is a very serious one and the arrest of these well known men is but another step in the’famous Berne war.

At their next regular meeting the Geneva town council will consider the proposiion of installing an electric lightning plant in this city. W. C. Reed, of Bluffton has made the city a proposition which looks good to the majority of Geneva people. The next meeting of the council will be held Tuesday., Dec. 1. The contract as submitted by Mr. Reed is that the city take 20 arc lights at $54 each. On these terms the plant is to be intsalled by Mr. Reed without any expense to the city other than the annual rental of the arc lights. Commercial service for the patrons of the plant is to be at a rate not to ecxeed 10 cents per kilo wat or not more than 50 cents per light. This flat rate to apply where five or less lights are used. For more than five lights the rate will be 35 cents per light per month. When the whistle at the Briant stave factory blew’ this morning it announced a new control of that industry. Colonel Briant, for thirtytwo years its proprietor, having transferred the property to the Adams Brothers yesterday. “I am awful lonesome,” said the Colonel to a Herald man, “this morning. For thirty-two years it has been my daily habit to visit the factory early in the morning, and I would have done so this morning hud not my wife called attention to the fact that! would probably find the office doors locked on me. I enjoyed the business and I don’t know how I‘m going to get along without something to look after actively.” The Adams Bros, have retained Ephrim Landis their foreman. He had been with Col. Briant thirty’ year and is most capable gentleman. There is no part of the machinery with which he is not familiar. It is also probable that Deville Foster will accept the position of timber buyers negotitions to that effect are in progress. The new proprietors mean business and are losing no time in getting their arrangements perfected for active work.—Huntington Herald. Williard Oliver, nine year old son of William Oliver was drowned at Huntington.. Until a few’ months ago the Oliver family lived here and were well known, the father being employed at Tyrrils blacksmith shop and the boy was a student at the north ward school. His drowning was one of the saddest accidents ever reported and the story is told as follows in the Huntington Herald: The boy was skating over the thin ice which has recently covered the river, and when at a point near Briant street bridge and ice broke without warning and the young lad fell into the water. He struggled desperately to regain the firm ice, but could not draw his body from the water and finally sank, when rescue was at hand. Walter Boyer, son of John W. Boyer was one of a party of school children enroute home from the Allen street school, who were on <he bridge when Oliver broke through the ice. Part of the party rushed to the Bowman blacksmith, .shop and told Mr. Oliver of his son’s plight. Then took place a struggle witnessed by a few which is most pathetic and could not have been more touching. Securing a long rope and gathering a few of his friends about him Mr. Oliver tied the rope to his waist and plunged into the water. With great endurance and fortitude of the desperate father, Mr. Oliver was dragged through the water and ice to the spot where his son was struggling. He reached the boy a moment when he was making his last effort, and succeeded in grasping the lad’s cap, but could not secure a hold on his person. The boy went down in about twelve feet of water, and the men who had gathered at the end of the rope on shore pulled Mr. Oliver out, his face bleeding from contact with the jagged ice, which was not strong enough to bear his weight. He was rendered almost unconsicous by the sudden shock and his own herculean effort to effect a rescue. The boys body was recovered about a half hour afterwards.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 3

The Adams county circuit court

convened at nine o’clock Tuesday and during a short session the following business was transacted. State vs Moriz Ehrsam, John Renike, obstructing view in saloon, motion to quash indictments filed. Jane Acker vs Walter D. Ayers et al, appearance by DeVoss for Peltet, default as to Ayers. John A. Sheets vs Mary Daugherty et al, partition, summons issued for John G. Sheets who filed general denial, C. J. Lutz appointed guardian ad liten. There is a good opportuntiy for some person or firm to engage in a business in Decatur which is a success in other towns and which bids fair to solve the fuel problem to a great extent in the near future. We refer to the plan of steam heating for residences and business houses adopted in some of our neighboring towns and which is proving a success both from a practical and economical standpoint in such places as Van Wert and Lima. In these towns companies have been formed and steam heating systems inaugurated in the same manner as gas, water or other public utilities are operated, the company laying mains from central stations through the sreets and alleys to its patrons. The papers in those towns all speak in the highest terms of the efficiency of the system and patrons are well pleased, in fact at Lima the past two days those who depeneded on gas for fuel were cold and shivering while the patrons of the steam heating system were able to keep their houses warm wihout the least, trouble. Here is a business that offers an excellent opportunity for some enterprising company. Its up to you if you want to reap a harvest yourself and the blessings of a now shivering community. A deal which has been on for two weeks past was consumated Monday morning when Dick Townsend disposed of the Burt House, one of the best hotels in Indiana to Messrs H. C. Threlkeld and Ed L.'Shea of Carrollton, Missouri, who will take posession tonight. The sale includes, the furnishings and interior only of the big hotel, the real estate still remaining the property of Mr. Town send. The Burt is one of the oldest and best in this part of the country and its success is sure to continue under the new management who have been in the business for years and thoroughly understand every detail. Mr. Threlkeld and his family own hotels at Centralia and Carrollton, Missouri, which they will retail. They will also purchase another hotel in his locality. The Burt House will be under the manJ Shea enerwtfr ■■ * ttr- • young man, who with his family has already arrived. In speaking of the deal the Carrollton, Democrat of recent date said: “Threlkeld & Shea, proprietors of the Florence Hotel in this city, have purchased the Burt House at Decatur, Ind. and will take charge of the same Monday of next week. E. L. Shea, who has had charge of the hotel here since this firm became the owners of the same, will leave C irrollton the latter part of this week to take charge of the new property. Ed is one of the best hotel men in Missouri, as is evidenced by the popularity now of the Florence Hotel among the traveling public. Mr. Shea, as a man, is equally as popular as in his hotel, and no man who came into our city during the past dozen years has proven as general a favorite with our people as has Mr. Shea, and it is with deep regret we will see him leave our midst. Yet in his new field we know he will succeed, for he is familar w rth the wants of the people and makes a model landlord. Geo. Shea, who has been his brother’s chief assisttant in the mangement of the Florence will succeed Ed as manager. He is also a first class hotel man .and will keep the Florence up to its present high standard.” The new proprietors have leased the Burt for a period of five years with a privilege of ten. The clerks and other help about the hotel will remain the same as at present. Mr Townsend has not fuly decided upon his future plans but he will probably leave Decatur. 0