Decatur Democrat, Volume 48, Number 38, Decatur, Adams County, 24 November 1904 — Page 1

.the news all the time

UME XLVIII.

I thanksgiving Tte Nation Will Bow Its Head TomorS rO w- Remmember the Poor and Help Them. K a v the nation will bow jJpL,] in supplication and give T eve|enoe to the Almighty for the f rom the toils of the past und the blessings received lis hands. The name of the plains its purpose, an event nksgiving for the good of the t to Christmas, Thanksgiving most sacred holiday observed country. Its origin was in hen Governor Bradford of p mouth colony proclaimed an rdinary day of feasting and sgiving after the first harvest colony had been gathered, enes of the terrible winter I he arrival of the Mtyflower :t an impression on the minds colonists. Nor was it for what sickness and death to them when there was r food nor shelter. After the ,ts had been saved the people no other winter could bring t the starvation that the first I. jrnor Bradford proclaimed •st Thanksigving and sent the woods to bring wild gA for a general feast. Over the feOve board the governor presided and offered up national prayer for thlhandful of English colonists. Tijcustom was carried out in the ya> following but the ceremony had lost much of its impressiveness. Inle next year (1623) a terrible drAth came late in the summer and H&d by heavy rains opening the New England winter. For the rain and the preservation of the colony anjther great thanksgiving was held and the event became historical The holiday became establishedinore generally in 1632 when a shft) load of provisions arrived in ■mouth after a partial failure of mpsin the oclony. Tne custom wai carried through the following with more or less regularity unji 1680 when the feast became an aniual observance. Histories of the colonies show a lin holiday was observed in other I iwlements up to the year 1680. [■sachusetts Bay colony records HBw the day observed in 1832, in I hoior of a plentiful harvest. New BBtherlands colony (New York) I h(ld the same kind of an observance jftn Governor Kieft, 1644, to the lUE year of Governor Stuyvesant in 11664 and continued irregularly under the English governors until ■o. ■luring the Revolution the Continental congress constantly reoom■nded due observance of the day W it was followed until 1789. Owing to the prevalence of skepticfe::: in the country at this time the was dropped until President ■tshington called for a day of Thanksgiving for the favors received from the Almighty God. Again the day was regularly ob•irved, but became no special I fcn p tion of the country’s chief exWutive until during President Linliwln's term when a regular obserJnce of a national Thanksigving Ay was proclaimed. ■The absence of c ilendar church in the protestant communions has favored the day to fall 00 the last Thursday in November. 19 by the president of tn Oountr y an< A supplemented by sB IO governors of the respective 4km tna ■A 8 a festive day for family gathIMh p gs the custom is endeared to Multitudes. ■Dale Peoples yesterday noon, y*ile handling a revolver and Mooting at a mark, had themisfor■*De to be shot through the left, just beowl the index finger. j ■he accident was purely accidental I M*d was discharged while Dale was j ■ amining it after it refused to ex-| ■jode the trigger slipping and ex- | M°ding the cartridge and the ball j ■lercing his left hand which he I ■eta oV e r the end of the gun. Dr.! ■• M. Miller dressed the wound is nothing serious.

Urcatilr

Mr. and Mrs. Harrv Wilkinson very pleasantly entertained at dinner Sunday Mr. and Mrs. E. Woods, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Doak., Mr. and Mrs. John Mayer, Mrs. Jennie Studabaker and Miss Jennie Woods. A most delicious dinner was served and all present done ample justioejto the occasion. Sunday was a great day for the members of the Mt. Pleasant M. E. church, three miles west of .this city. At 10:30 in the morning j Rev. J. C. White delivered the opening sermon, atfer which Rev. McCarty called on the people to help rr.ise SI,OOO, the amount needed, so they could dedicate the church free from debt. At 3:30 p m. Rev. J. C. White dedicated the church to the worship of God, after which Presiding Elder Wade, of Fort Wayne, gave a short address. The Ben Hur lodge Friday evening had one of the most enjoyable I and best attended meetings it has held in a year. A class of eleven were initiated into the mysteries of this organization, and were forced to furnish amusement for the whole lodge. This order is intending giving a box social on next Friday evening, at which time six new members will be added to the already large roster. The Ben Hur lodge is fast gaining prestage in this city, having up to this time an oragnizition that embodies 216 members that are in good standing, and more asking for admission, and at the rate they are now going, will be the largest order in the state in another year. Will P. Edmundson, manager of the Decatur Lumber company, has resigned bis position with that concern, severed his conections with the Edmundson Fuel company and will leave this city the latter part of the week He will visit his relatives at Bloomington for a few weeks and then expects to seek a location in the south, having several prospects in sight. Mr. 14rnondson has been located here about two years and we feel safe in saying that no one ever made friends more rapidly than he has in Decatur. His friends will hear of his change with regret as he is very popular. His desire to change location was caused from the fact that his health is not perfect and the winter climate of Indiana does not agree with ihm. We wish him success wherever he goes. At present the affairs of the Decatur Lumber company and Edmundson Fuel company are in care of Mr. Robison, who began duty this m irning and will remain until a permanent manager is chosen.

Col. Fred Reppert is acquiring fame all over the country as an auctioneer, and a few more years will find him at the head of his profession. In fact he is now considered one of the best. He arrived home Tuesday morning from Pittsburg, Pa., where he “cried’’ a sale yesterday for Donaldson & company, proprietors of the Riverside S*le barns, the largest exchangestablein that great horse market. So successful did he prove that the proprietors immediately contracted with him to act as chief crier at their sales which occur every Monday and the salary is a snug one. Some time ago Mr. Reppeit acted as an assistant at a sale given by this company. Saturday he rceeived a message to be there Monday and he went, the result being that his sale was the best of the season and his contract followed. Mr. Donaldson accompaned Fred home and went to Portland today to buy some horses. This announcement does not mean that Fred is out of the business here. It only prepares him better to take care of local sales and he is ready for business any day but Mondays. He will go to Pittsburg each Sun day evening and arrive home ear y Tuesday morning. He goes to Eaton, Michigan, tomorrow to conduct a sale. Fred’s success is the result of his own efforts, and is proof of what a young man with .energy and pluck can do for hum I S elf He has become a ton-notoher in a few years, and we congratulate I him.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24,

Miss May Niblick entertained a number of her friends last evening at her country home. This was a farewell party to the old home, as next week the Niblick family will move to this city again. The evening was enjcyably spent and showed Miss Niblick’s ability as a hostess. Levi L. Baamgartner, surveyor elect of Adams county, is learning the duties of that office in the office of Surveyor Dan North. Mr. Baumgartner was a former resident of this city and was a clerk in the Snyder & Hartle shoe store, but moved to the farm in Adams county and was elected to office a tew years later.—Bluffton News. Miss Amintis Bell Ritter died yesterday’ at] five o’clock at her home in Pleasant Mills, after an illness of several months’ duration, with consumption. She was twenty-one years of age. Miss Ritter was quite well known in this city, having made this her home for several years, and had a host of friends here, having at one time been employed at the Mitten factory. The funeral will be held at the U lited Brethren church at Pleasant Mills, of which she was a member, at ten o’clock . A large crowd from this city will no doubt attend the services. Interment will be made in the Pleasant Mills cemetery. The Clover Leaf railroad has es tablished the “D” rail system, the work being finished here yesterday and everything is in fine running shape. The “D” rails are only placed upon side tracks and before cars can be run from the main track upon the switch it is the duty of the brakeman to throw off the “D” rail, otherwise there would be need for the wreck train. After the cars are thus placed upon the side track the “D” rail is again placed in working order so as to prevent the cars should anything start them in motion, from running on the main track, the “D” rail acting in the capacity of throwing the oars out and off on the right of way. These “D” rails are so constructed that they resemble a switch, it being neessary for the brakeman to throw the track open with a switch or traffic would soon be stopped. An accident happened last evening just after these -ails were placed in position. A brakeman forgot that this system had been established and failed to throw open the “D‘” rail, thus causing the car to be hurled from the track onto the right-of-way. The system is being used by every enterprising road in the country and is meeting with merited success.

The big Thanksgiving turkey shoot that took place Tuesday afternoon at the Bellview firm was a decided success throughout, every event being filled and each contest being close and exciting, it requiring the shoot-off on several occasions to decide the winner. Henry Koenemann was without doubt th> best shot that entered in the meet yesterday his score on one occasion being five straight birds without a miss. The shooting was done by both trap and rifle and in the rifle event Charles Colter carried away the honors. The booby class that was entered was well filled, twelve taking advantage of this event, which was won by Louis Holthouse, whose score was two out of five. These events are becoming famous and usually bring out the best shots in the city, and the party who wins has to do it on his merits. Mr. Bell conducted this shoot in a very satisfactory, manner each and every one entered, being treated alike and no partiality being shown, and many a Thanksgiving dinner that will be served in the city tomorrow will have on its table a Bellview turkey. The following is a list of the successful contestants. Henry Koenemann, t.wo turkeys; Charles Bell, two; Mike Meibers, two; Louis Holthouse, one; Charles Colter* one; Fred Bell, one; John Everhart, one; Life Ellis, one; Clark Coverdale, one; Jack Meibers, one chicken; ( harjes Colter, two; Charles Bell, two; Fred Bell two; Lase Ellis, one; Clark Coverdale, one; Frank Burns, two: Frank Schumaker, one.

Invitations were sent outTuesday by the local Knights of Pythias lodge to Geneva, Berne and Willshire, requesting the presence of . these lodges in this city on the I evening of December Ist to assist in conferring the second degree upon two victims, and the third degree upon one. The knights are figuring upon having a great time and expect to see seventy-five strangers present from the above named lodges. At the close of the initiation the Rathbone Sisters will serve a big banquet. The Knights are fine entertainers and will no doubt show their guests a fine time. A movement has been started looking to closer relations among the various electric traction lines of the state. Nothing in the nature of a trust or merger is contemplated, however. The proposed agreement will have nothing to do with fares, but will be for the common benefit of the companies along mechanical lines and probably will regulate the manner of tranferring freight from one traction line to another and the sale of interchangeable mileage books. There is a great demand for an agreement in these two matters. The arrangements are not perfected. It is thought that if worked out as planned the freight business of the electric roads will be increased considerably.

The contract for putting in the steam heating plant at the Burt hotel has been let to Hyland & Yobst of this city, they being the lucky parties, their bid being the lowest. The contract will be signed Thursday and the goods immedi ately ordered from the factory, and work started at once on the same. This is a big contraot as it calls for a radiator in every room in the hotel, two in the parlor, six in the dining room, ten in the office, two in the bar room and in fact one every place imaginable about the hotel where needed, all of which must be completed by January Ist, 1905. Messrs. Hyland & Yobst, the contractors, need no ir troduction to the public here, everyone knowing they are competent of handling this job and putting it in in the best possible manner and absolutely according to the contract. This is something the Burt hotel has needed. The heating facilities heretofore were inadequate. On taking charge of this place Landlord L. G. Humphries determined to keep his guests warm and determined that steam heating was the best plan. Tne contract calls for a complete and up to date job and when completed the Burt House will be one of the best equipped hotels in Northern Indiana. A special from Reading, Penn., says: Elias Hartz, the veteran ‘Goose Bone Prophet,” has made his annual prediction. His announcement was awaited with interest by scores of persons who have more faith in his predictions than the weather bureau at Washington or the time honored almanacs. “Fill your coal bins and do it quickly, for we are going to have a severe winter,” is his latest warning. Just before predicting Mr. Hartz received a breast bone from a young goose hatched last spring. The bone is greatly discolored, daik lines covering both sides. Few light spots are shown. The heavy dark lines indicate a severe winter beginning early in November and lasting until late in the spring. The few light spots indicate a short duration of mild weather. Mr. Hartz said: “I have been making predictions from the goose bone sixty-five years and never once have I missed. I have great faith in the goose bone. I was taught to read it when a young man and have followed its lines ever since. The bone I secured this fall is dark in color and we will have a severe winter. Those who have not yet done so had better lay in« good supply of coal and wood, for they will need it. iMy prediction that last winter •would be a severe one was correct, and the bone of this year is still darker than that of last fall. (There will be numerous heavy snowstorms and an immense ice crop.”

904.

Getting money out of a railroad company for damages done to live stock is very much like getting blood out of a turnip, although the companies are once in a while made to disgorge. One vear ago last August Col. Evers had a driving horse that strayed on the Chicago & Erie tracks near his farm north of the city. The horse was struck by one of the Erie’s deathdealing flyers and instantly killed. Mr. Evers attempted to secure a settlement out of the railroad company but was unsuccessful. He retained Eichhorn & Matlaok as his attorneys and they brought suit against the company. The horse was valued at $l6O and yesterday an attorney representing the compiny came here and off >red $95 as a compromise set'loment. This sum was accepted on the theory that half a loaf is better than none and the case was dropped from the docket.—Bluffton Banner. All the employes of the Boston , Store and a few outside friends unday drove to the Falk home near Honduras and spent the day there. The crowd started early in the morning and arrived at the farm a short time before dinner, all having a good appetite and ready to eat heartily the good things set before them, and when called to dinner all responded and proceeded to enjoy the dainties set before them. The table was spread with everything imaignable to eat, and what was not there is more easily described than what was. The afternoon was spmt in numerous different pastimes and at a late hour all departed for home, voting Mr. and Mrs. Falk as fine entertainers and expressing the wish that they would see fit to invite them soon again. Those who enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Falk were: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Moltz, W. A. Kuebler, Oscar Lankenau, Dan Donovan, Abraham Mangold, Nettie Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Smith, Mrs. Charles Lange, Cecelia Smith,’’Emma Jackson, Pascaline Smith, Alice Hurtle, Jesse McLean and Edna Crawford.

At the rooms of the board of commissioners the petition for the calling of an election in Washington township was presented and accepted, and Tuesday, December 20, set as a time when the qualified voters will take the measures of the proposition, and either approve or reject the offer as arranged between the officials of the Clover Leaf and the Commercial club committee. With the petition was the pioposition of the committee and the acceptance of the same by the railroad. In a nutshell for a subsidy of $28,000 in money the railroad agree to make Decatur a terminal division point, erect a twelve-stall round house, build an icing plant, three miles of side tiack, switches, etc., rhe total cost of which is in excess of $99 000. The said elec tion will be held in all things as required by laws in a general election. The election places are the same, as are also the precinct boundaries, and the boards comprise an inspector, two judges, two clerks, and two sheriffs. The legal part of the transaction has been guided by County Attorney Lutz, and not the least chance for a technicality has been permitted t > creep into any place along the line. Should the Clover Leaf at any time abandon the division here the ground and all the buildings used will become the property of Washing, ton township The oallinglof the election brings the matter up tc each individual voter and the responsibility of Decatur’s future as a railroad town is in their hands. If the people want to be progressive they must show a unanimous spirit in this election. A bare majority in favor of his laudable enterprise would be a disgrace to the township. It is time to serve notice that Decatur is nothing if not entreprising ; that it intends to expand and grow great; that hustle and business push will mark an era of growth that will double our p ipulation in a few years. The time to lay the foundation is now, and it should be dona by an overwhelming majority in favor of the Clover Leaf subsidy.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 3

Because Missouri went republican at the last election nearly 200 farmers of Dunklin county, which lies in southeast Missouri on the northeast boundary of Arkansas, have signed a petition asking that rhe state legislature pass an act allowing the county to be transferred to Arkansas. It was not nntil last i Saturday that the citizens of the interior of the county learned that the state had gone for Roosevelt. Immediately James Crabtree, Gob. Turner and S. P. Williams, farmers near Hornersville, had a petition drawn stating that “since Missouri had gone republican respectable men oould not acknowledge citizenship in the state without shame,” and asking that the state legislature enact such provisions as would allow the county to take steps for transfer of allegiance to the commonwealth of Arkansas. A simiar petition has been started in Pemiscot county, and the two counties it is stated will make a joint move for transfer. John C. Moran, prosecuting attorney for the twenty-sixth judicial circuit, qualified Thursday and on January Ist next, will begin his third term of office. The fact that he has three times been chosen to serve as state attorney for this county is evidence that he is proficient, able and popular. He has tried a number of important cases and has proven his ability as a lawyer. While the laws as to the exact time of the beginning of his term are construed differently by various attorneys, it is believed his term does not begin until January, though some hold that it begins today, and to make sure Mr. Moran qualified. His bond, which is in the sum of $5,000, bears the signature of men worth many times that amount, including B. J. Smith, Dick Townsend, H. A. Fristoe, P. K. Kinney, D. D. Clark, C A. Dugan, John Baker, Peter Holthouse, R. K. Allison, F. V. Mills and W. A. Kuebler. The day current of electricity is assured and within a very short time says Mayor Coffee. Within the next month the electric plant in Decatur will be one of the best in the state and will be in such condition that excellent service can be rendered to the patrons for ten years to come, practically without further investments in machinery. The plant at present and for more than a year past has been doing more than SI,OOO business each month and another year will double that amount if the business can be handled. The mayor and council have seen this for some time and have been arranging for it as rapidly as possible. Two immense new boilers have been installed. After this was done came the question of more power. The engine in use is a good one, but it was feared if a day current was added the load would be heavy and a breakdown would result, leaving us entirely without lights. The same was feared of the dynamo. While the council were bothering their brains over this proposition, to remedy which meant the expenditure of many thousand dollars, a proposition was received from Elyria, Ohio, where an engine and dynamo, which a year ago cost SII,OOO were for sale at a bargain, the owner, Mr. Johnson, desiring to put in a still larger plant. A committee, consisting of Councilmen Kirsch and Buhler and Electrician Mylott were sent to Elyria to examine the outfit They found it first-class, as good as new, and so reported to the council. Mr Johnson offered the outfit for $2,900, guarantees it and will keep it in repair for sixty days. The financial arrangements to handled the deal have been completed and yesterday Mr. Johnson was notified that the deal was closed. The machinery will be here within fifteen days and within thirty days will be in running order. The day current will then be turned on and we can beast of a modern and complete electric plant. Mavor Coffoe says the plant must be running by Christmas week. The new service will be greatly appreciated by Decatur business men and will pay beyond any question.