Decatur Democrat, Volume 49, Number 34, Decatur, Adams County, 26 October 1905 — Page 1

ALU THE NEWS all THE time

VOLUME XLIX.

A FIERCE BLAZE The J. W. Place Co’s Big Plant is in Ashes. loss is Estimated at Twenty-Three Thousand Dollars—Will be Rebuilt Fire Proof at Once. the loss On buildings 17000 Insurance 4300 On stock, machinery ani fixtures 116000 Insurance 9300 Total loss 123000 Total insurance 13600 set loss 19400 THE INSURANCE J. S. Peterson agency— North British and Mercantile $1250 Western 60 0 Providence 400 yueen 1250 Citizens 1000 Graham & Lower agency— Germania SIOOO Aetna 1000 Springfield F. & M. 500 Scottish Union & National 1000 Niagara 1000 Reliance 1000 L. C. Helm agency— . Home of New York 500 Gallogly & Hdefling agency— German American 1500 Pennsylvania 400 Philadelphia Underwriters 1500 D. E. Sx>tt agency— German of Indiana S7OO Total $13,600 This is divined on buildings, machinery, fixtures and stock. The amount on buildings is about $4300, ou machnery about SISOO and on stock, oases, etc., about S7BOO. The J. W. Place company’s ice cream factory and wholesale house was completely destroyed by a fierce fire which broke out at nine o'clock Monday night, entailing a loss estimated at $23,000 and wiping out one of the oldest business houses in the city. The fire originated either in the second or third story of the factory building, presumably the second. The cause will probably sever be known but is believed to have been a defective flue. Mrs. J W. Place who lives just opposite the factory, sent in the first alarm, though almost simultaneously the report came from half a dozen people. The fire seems to have had a good start for the big building was soon wrapped in flames. It was one of the fiercest fires ever seen in this city, and hundreds of people w ere on the scene. A number arrived ahead of the fire department &nd did splendid work in saving property, C. C. Schafer and John were talking to Mr. Place near the Presbyterian church when they saw tho light, and Mr. Place realized at once 'that it was the factory, and as the younger men started to run he shouted after them to get out the horses. This they did without diffioultv and then assisted by F. V. Mills and others, saved some articles of valne from the office. Before the fire ootnpany arrived the fire had spread to the big ioe house located jhst east of the main factory. The noarest hydrant to the factory was n oarly a block away and the delay minutes seemed hours before an .v water was turned on the tongues of flames which seemed def rained to lick up everything in S'ght. The main building, a big ree-story frame and the main ioe J nse of the company were totally estroyed. The poultry house, just Dort h, caught fire, but was extinSnished without great loss. In one f J °m of the plant was a stock of 8 58W|l re, urns and bar supplies. w orth S6OOO, which within an hour & maß » of ruins not worth as cents. Th l3 buildings destroyed were all

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owned by James VV. Place, the founder of the bminass, who erected them in 1889, out additions had been added as necessary at various times since until the structure had become a very large one. Mr. Place estimates the loss to the buildings at S7OOO with $4300 insurance. The stock, machinery, fixtures and other contents of the plant were owned by the J. W. Place Co., composed of Mr. Place and Mr. H. L. Center. Their loss as shown by their invoices is about $16,000, with $9300 insurance. A few hundred dollars worth of ice cream oases and pop in cases were saved, but the entire salvage will likely not reach SIOOO. However, about S2OOO worth of unbroken packages and barrels of glassware, flasks and other supplies, which were stored in a ware room south of the main building were not damaged. When interviewed this morning Messrs. and Confer said they would Certainly rebuild and at once. They are taking their terrible loss philosophically, and while the blow is a severe one they are not the kind of men who waste time crying over “spilt milk.” Their new plant wlli be a modern and fire proof one, either cement block or brick and, will be equipped with the most modern machinery on the market. As soon as possible they will begin clearing away the debris, and will have a new ice house completed within a few weeks. It is possible the main factory building can also be put under roof before severe cold weather, at any rate they will be ready for next season with a plant, bigger and better than ever. In fact the firm has by no means ceased business for a moment, for even while a Democrat reporter was interviewing them at nine o’clock this morning they took in a load of poultry and this branch of their business, which is the most important at this season will be con tinned with as much energy as ever. Their supply business will have to be cut off for the present and their road men will be laid off for a few weeks until they can arrange to handle the business. As may be seen above the company carried a line of insurance in good companies. The various agents notified their companies this morning and the adjustment should occur within a week. Immediately afterwards the J. W. Place company will get busy and the result will be a bigger ioe cream industry and a larger wholesale house than heretofore. A sufficient amount of pop and other soft drinks were saved to supply the immediate demand and this part of the plant will be in running order within a week, so that the oompar y’s trade in that line may be oared for. Reason Shaffer, aged twenty-six , the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Al man Shaffer, who reside near Rivare, died yesterday at noon, at the home of his parents, after an illness of several months, death resulting from dropsy and heart failure. Mr. Shaffer was one of the most popular young men of Rivare and his loss is mourned by many. The funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 at the M. E. church at Rivare and interment will be made in the Mount Tabor cemetery.

J. C. Johnston, who for the past several years has been employed as manager for the Carrol Elevator company, has tendered his resig nation to that company, the same to take effect on or about the first of November. Mr. Johnston will at once leave this city for Huntsville, Ohio, where he will engage in the same business for himself and try his success, as his own manager. During Mr. Johnston’s stay in this city he has made a host of friends who will no doubt be sorry to see him leave, but who will rejoice to know that he is making an advancment Mr. Johnston is an honest upright hustling business man and the Democrat predicts a bright future for him.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1905.

C. Vogt, who was fo-merly employed in this city as engineer and surveyor for the Fort Wayne & Springfield interurban railway left Monday morning for Galion, Ohio, where he has accepted a position as surveyor on the Big Four railroad and will assume his duties at once. Mrs. Vogt will no doubt move his family to Galion as soon as suit able quarters can be found for them. While here Mr. Vogt made a host of friends who will be glad to learn of his success. Suit was filed in the circuit court at Richmond Saturday morning by Charles Clawson, of Middleboro, against the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway company. Clawson was on the Rome City excursion train which was wrecked on the return trip at Kendalville one night last summer. The train was ditched by the operator at the Kendallville tower to prevent its being cut in two by a Lake Shore Limited. Clawson was in the front part of the front car and was so terribly injured that at first it was feared his injuries might result fatally. His recovery has been very slow and a aamage suit was rather expected. He demands $25,000. Fifty stockholders, representing the Fort Wayne & Springfield Interurban Railway company, held a special meeting Wednesday afternoon in their offices in the Studabaker block at which time the entire proceedings of the past two months was gone over and matters pertaining to pushing the line to completion in a hurried manner were discussed. The meeting was harmonious in every respect and every stockholder p resent prom ised to put his shoulder to the wheel and do all in their power to see the road completed. It was also agitated that the order for steel should be made and that the first shipment be ordered here in November and continue until enough steel was on the ground to complete the line to Fort Wayne. This steel will be laid yet this winter so that the line may be ready for ballasting in the spring. Work of laying ties and putting up electric line poles is daily continuing and several miles has already been covered. The line is an assured fact, but it takes time and money to construct a line of this magnitude, and the oiizens should bear with the promoters for awhile and everything will be smooth sailing. Mrs. Arthur Russell, who some time ago deserted her husband and child at Youngstown, Ohio, where they were living with her lover, arrived in this city this morning and at once proceeded to the William Russell home, where her husband had left their only child to be cared for and given a home, and demanded the babe from the grand parents. Mrs. William Russell denied the young Mrs. Russell's request, and for awhile a regular storm took place, the young woman calling her father and mother-in-law lome very vile names and at one time from what we can learn, even went so far as to strike the old lady, who was at the time holding the babe in her arms. Mr. Russell, who is very ill and bedfast, was unable to assist his wife, and for a time the young woman had possession of the child until neighbors interfered and gave the child back to its grandparents, telling the young Mrs. Russell the way to gain possession of her child was by law. This seemed to cool the temper of the mother, who loved her chill so much that she deserted it, and she left swearing vengeance and sought the advice of lawyers, which will no doubt result in a legal battle. Immediately after the elopement cf Mrs. Russell, her husband brought the child to this city and placed it in the oare of his parents who have been providing for the little one. Mr. Russell going from here to Fort Wayne where he rented the Randall hotel barber shop and is engaged in business for himaelf. He arrived this afternoon from Wayne and will no doubt stay here until the matter is settled, and the court makes a disposition of the child.

Little Rook, Ark., Oct. 25—The president’s train reached here at nine o’clock this morning after an all night’s travel. Governor Jefferson Davis was not at the station to receive the president, although he is in the city. From here all the party but the president, Loeb and Dr. Rixey will return to Washington. The president will be in New Orleans tomorrow. A case entitled the State of Indiana vs Adam Wise, charging him with drawing a deadly weapon on John Weimer, with the intention of doing him bodily harm and injury, has just come to light, although the same has been filed for several weeks before 'Souire Smith. The affidavit was drawn by Prosecutor John C. Moran, and is in three counts, the first stating that Wemier on his oath swears that Adam Wise on the 19th day of December, 1904, in Adams county, and state of Indiana, then being over tne age of ten years, did then and there unlawfully, purposely and maliciously point and aim a shot gun loaded with powder and ball, which the said Wise held in his hands, at the said Weimer. The other two counts are virtually the same as the first, the third however stating that said Wise at the time threatened to use the weapon, but not in the defense of his person, protection or defense of those entitled to protection under the law. The case has been kept quiet for some time, but for what purpose we are unable to state, as the same has been set for trial on the 30th of this month. Seven witnesses have been subpoenaed, who will testify in “the case This affidavit is the result of the trouble that originated at Monroe last fall when Wise was badly beaten and battered up by a crowd of Monroeites, as the result of which Wise lost the hearing of his right ear. Weimer was arrested at the time and was convicted at the trial and has just finished serving a jail sentence. A message was received Wed nesday by Mrs. Peter Gaffer, from Cardwell, Missouri, anounoing the sad news that Burt Mann, a former resident of this city and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Mann, who formerly resided here, had died yesterday, after an illness of four weeks, death being caused from typhoid fever. Tne remains will arrive this evening’at seven-thirty-four over the Clover Leaf, and will be taken to the home Mrs. Peter Gaffer, north Ninth street. The funeral’ services will be held from the M. E. church, Saturday morning at ten o’clock. Rev. John C. White officiating and interment will be made in the Decatur cemetery. This sad news came as a shock to the entire community, as hardly anyone was aware that he was sick. He was in Decatur during the fair and visited here for a week with friends and relatives and at that time was in the best of health and claimed that the climate of Missouri agreed with him in fine shape. Soon after his return to his home he was stricken with this malady, and although he was given the best of cate and attention, he was forced to succumb to the Inevitable and death relieved him from his suffering. Mr. Mann was twenty nine years of age, and had a brilliant future betore him. He was born and reared in Adams county, and during the majority of that time resided in this city with his parents. He was a graduate of the Decatur public schools and was a bright and intelligent young man. Nine years ago he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Middleton, and to this unicn was born three children, the oldest of whom is eight years of age and the youngest a mere babo, all of whom survive him. Two years ago after his parents had moved to Missouri, Burt heard such glowjng accounts of that country that he concluded to try his fortune in the sunny southwest, and during the two years he resided there had prospered. His sudden demise'is moflrneS here and the entire community gympatijfcses with his sorjowing relatives.

Jack Meibers left this morning for Baltimore, Md , where he v.ill see the fast little trotting mare Mushade M, Friday, race against the crack Eastern horses in the 2:22 trot. A. Van Camp has let the coni tract for the building of a big addition to his already mammoth machine shop on North Eighth street, and work on same began Monday. The new building, which is to be built of biiek and stone and be absolutely fire proof, will be 100 feet long and thirty-feet wide. Julius Haugk has the contract for the stone work and began today, while George Chronister has been awarded the contract for the brick work. The structure is to be pushed to completion as rapidly as possible. This addition means much to Mr. Van Camp as well as to the city of Decatur. It is made necessary by the fact that a catch basin for sewers and a cistern top which they have been manufacturing ex olusively, has suddenly sprung into great demand. A big Toledo jobbing house last year sold several thousand, and orders for them are now coming in so rapidly from all parts of the country that Mr. Van Camp has decided to make hay while the sun shines by pushing the manufacture and sale of these articles. The new building will be used exclusively for the manufacture of these basins and top and the work will require twenty-five additional men to start with, making it easily the best and largest factory in the city. The concern will be strictly modern and up to date, power to be furnished by an electric motor, which will be installed. Mr. Van Camp is a progressive, conservative business man and this factory is an assured industry in Decatur and just as soon as possible. The basin and top contain merits not found in the old-fashioned makes and great possibilities are probable in the future. The republicans held their nominating convention in the court room Wednesday evening. City Chairman L. A. Graham called the meeting to order. Upon the call for a permanent chairman, John M. Frisinger was selected unanimously, he t iking up the duties cf the chair with but a few thanks. Wid Dorwin was chosen secretary. After a few tangling alliances R. S. Peterason moved that the assembly divide into wards and nominate their candidates for council. The only fight was in the “bloody” first, where a total of one hundred and eight votes were oast, sixtyfive for S. W. Peterson, forty two for Dr. W. W. P. McMillen, and one for mayor. The other two wards selected their candidates by acclamation. The candidates as selected are 8. W. Peterson in the first ward; Simeon Fordyce in the second ward; and Jacob Atz in the third ward. They reassembled into a mass convention, nominations for mayor being called. Dr. J. S. Coverdale very appropriately presented the name ot the nominated candidate, Benjamin W. Sholty, while Judson W Teeple done the honors for John W. Everett. Nominations for oounoilmen at large resulted in J. S. Peterson spreading the salve by suggesting Dr. W. W. P. McMillen, Dr. P. B, Thomas placed Dr. D. G. M. Trout in nomination, and U. S. Cress named Joseph W. Smith. Dr. McMillen smelled the sarcasm and withdrew, as did also Dr. Trout and Mr. Smith was given the field afoot and alone. Balloting then began for mayor, the result remaining in doubt almost to the last, one hundred and eight votes being oast for B. W. Sholty and ninety-eight for John Everett, leaving the former a winner by a margin of thirteen—an unluck r number. As the balloting progressed it developed into a clean out Cromer tight, the antis winning. Mr. Sholty was one of the original few who opposed Congressman Cromer, saying many hard and harsh things about him. However, in the election he wore a pad and voted his ticket straight. As a citizen, taxpayer, neighbor, friend and patriot hasa in the same class with all the rest of as—and we are all beauts.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

N UMBER 34

Tuesday morning at eight o’clock, at the St. Mary’s Citholic church occurred the wedding of Mis« Rose Kurber to John Miller, two popular young people of this county. The ceremony was performed by Father Wilken before a large crowd of their friends and relatives. The bride was dressed in white silk and carried a large bouquet of white roses wnile the bridesmaid, Miss Louisa Wertzberger, a cousin of the bride, was also dressed in white silk and carried roses. The groom was dressed in the conventional black as was Casper Miller, who acted of as groomsman. After the ceremony had been performed the happy young couple were driven to the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kurber, four miles east of the city, where a big wedding breakfast was served 1 ? and the day spent in merrymaking. Both of the young people are wel known in this city, Miss Kurber being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kurber and is most popular among her associates. Mr. Miller, the groom, is a hustling young farmer, being a son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Miller, who reside just south of the city, and with whom he has made his home for years. He is popular and has a host of friends. This evening at the Kurber home a big dance will be held, to which a large number of guests have invitations. The music will be furnished by the W. E. Smith orchestra. The young couple will make their future home on a farm just south city. Death has again entered our midst and has taken from us Robert Russell JfMiller, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Miller, who reside at the corner of Adams and Line streets. His sufferings date back for nearly one year. Death occurred at one o'clock Thursday, resulting from tuberou losis. “Bob”, as he was familiarly known, among his associates, was twenty-six years of age and was born and reared in Adams county most of that time being spent in this city, where he secured his education. It was while attending school in April 1898, that our country made a call for volunteers to assist in defending the flag and nation from the insults of Spain, who were oppressing the Cubans, and whose battle the United States decided to take up, the call was no more than issued when Bib with a number of other vounteers from this city who belonged to the old National Guards offered their service to the government and were ordered to Indianapolis, where they were mustered into the service and immediately sent south to Tampa, Florida. Before leaving Indianapolis, however, Mr. Miller was made battalion sergeant major and did not long stay with his comrades, he being assigned to other duties. During nis career as a soldier, like all other things he did it well, and although he saw no active service, was of much aid to the government, and in April, 1899, together with his fellow comrades he was mustered out of the service, being given an honorable discharge by the 'government. Immediately upon his return to this city he took a liking to railroading, and the following year he was employed as flemran on the Erie railroad, and from there he went into the same employment for the Clover Leaf. Two years after he left for California, where he worked at the same business, for the Southern Pacific railway, and it was there that he contracted the died disease that finally caused his death. In June, 1905, he was taken to a hospital at San Francisco, and as soon as he was able to travel he came to his home in this oity, that being in July, and ever since that time he has failed rapidly until today, when his demise occurred. While in Bakersville, California, he joined the Baptist church, and on his return to this oity he affiliated with the local church. He was a member of the Masonic order, who will no doubt have charge of the funeral services, together with the surviving members of the 160th regiment. Besides his parents he leaves two sisters and two brothers to mourn their loss.