Decatur Democrat, Volume 57, Number 16, Decatur, Adams County, 18 April 1912 — Page 1

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liORROR INCREASES Wireless Message Says the I Carpathia Has Only 705 I Survivors Aboard. Bodies recovered Eewland Liner Coming to ■ boston With Remains of i Many of the Victims. I —■r I (Unitea rrew service ) ■ Xe« York. N. Y., April 17—(Special ■ Daily Democrat) —With 200 coffins ■ board and practically the entire Kpj.ly of Halifax, Nova .Scotia, exKusted. the cabled ship Mackay BenKtt. sailed this afternoon from HaiiKx to scour the Atlantic and pick up Ky bodies cast from the Titantie ■reck There are only 705 survivors ■ board the Carpathia, according to ■ »:reles> mesaage received here this I ■ternoon from Winfield Thompson, a | Breton newspaper man, who is a pas- ! ■Hiser sent on the Franconia. He sand ■at the i arpathia would reach here j ■ S o'clock tomorrow night. Com ■ander Hecker of the South Chester ■uiser> notified the navy department It Washington at 1:15 o'clock today ■at be had established a communica■m with the Carpathia. The mesIge following read: “The Carpathia I Uted that the list of first and second uss passengers and the crew- had ; een sent ashore. Commander Becker rill relate hie list of third-class pas-i tsgers when convenient to the Car■thia. The message of Commander: iecker was believed at the White Star , iffices here today that only those who ire already sav«d had been sent out | n the first and Second cabiqa. The; khers on board the Carpathia w ere, itlieved to have been third-class pasbcgers. Senator Smith, republican, I Michigan, today introduced a reso■itiou in the senate at Washington, Broviding for an investigation of the ■taster A relay wireless message •om the Carpathia here today anjounced that “al! women are saved.” i ■ bite Star officials today confirmed a leesage that the number of saved was Ith and the number lost. 1,304. It rented certain that the United States fruiters now on the way to the Carpa|!:ia will report the retrf' figures of lie lost and saved and until then they • ill not be available. In a statement ■Lout the Titanic and all the danger? jf ocean voyages Admiral Dewey said It Washington today: “It is a fact ■hat every person who crosses the l ; 'd Atlantic takes his life in his jands every time. For my part 1 jould rather go around the world in a •ell-equipped man-of-war than to take • trip across the large Atlantic in an ■tlantir vessel. The greed for money Is so great that tt is with the sincerest pgret that I have observed ha hu- 1 pan lives are never taken into considI’ation. Let all good Americans expt every energy to have the present lews amended as regarding equipment frtd life-saving appliances on every passenger-carrying vessel." ._ I I New York, N. Y., April 17—(Special 1° Daily Democrat) —The Marconi r- reless offices here today said they fad received a message from the F'itiard liner from Franconis, saying ■hat she had been in communication h th the captain and that the latter pad reported as follows: “Have on Foard 700 saved from Titanic. More; ,h an 2,000 were lost." New Yot’k, X. Y„ April 17— (Special Dai|y Democrat)—At least some 1,1 the Titanic's dead have been recov- ■ A message received at the I n ped Press office here today from Roy i Howard, general news manager, ’ho is on board the Olympic, sister pbip of the wrecked liner, which is | hound for England, said that the Lewqand liner Californian had some of the rt**d on board. The ship will probi 8 Wy come to Boston. If the recovery T’ the bodies had not been until after , ' l( ‘ vessels sailing from Halifax arP’ed at the scene many probably i"buld have sunk forever, while others Probably would have been torn to ’’■‘reels by the grinding Ice floes that shoot the seas. Officials of the Lew‘bd line at Boston today announced ‘-hat they believed that the Californian contrwbu wrr page two.

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KEEP UNDER COVER Loose Articles About Your Home or You May Lose Them. There seems to be an epidemic of bicycle stealing and other articles are missing from various homes about the <‘ty. and we believe it time when warning ought to be taken by the people and keep a closer watch on their loose articles lying about on their i remises, If they do not want to have them removed by some unwelcome visitor. Several bicycles have been taken and never shown up, and with the prevalence of so many tramps at the present time, many others may be the victims by losing household articles possible for them to take. SECURING LABOR Sugar Factory Men Busy Securing Foreigners to do the Hand Work. CLOSING CONTRACTS Mr. Hubbard Attending Meeting of Wholesale Dealers and Jobbers. E. M. Wagner has returned from Cleveland, Ohio, where he arranged tor a number of workers to do the hand labor in the beet fields here during the senson. He will return to that city later and will bring the men here abou‘ May 10th. He will leave Saturday of this week for Chicago and expect? to arrive here the twenty-third v. ith a special train of workers. Mr. F. H Hubbard came home Tuesday evening from South Bend, where he succeeded in employing about twentyfive laborers. He went to Indianapolis this morning, where he will look after the labor problem further. While there he will also attend a meeting of the wholesale sugar dealers and jobbers, at which time action will probably be taken to further oppose the sugar tariff bill now before the United States senate. The work of closing up the contracts with the farmers of this locality is proceeding rather slowly but steadily. The farmers are being impressed with the idea that the con-; tracts must be fulfilled, and they I should do so gladly, as it means much j to them. Besides the best paying , ciop they can raise, the factory here has increased the value of their land twenty-five per cent, and they owe it to the sugar company and to the business men here who have given their word that 5.000 acres will be planted to make good on contracts. All farmers who have signed labor contracts may expect within the next week or two to receive notice to call for their laborers. TO THE HOMES OF DECATUR. Are you missing the extra special high-class feature at the new Rex this week? If you are 'tis your own fault. Never in the history of our city have we had anything like it before. You cannot afford to miss this world-w ide traveler, John Ennor. The thir.y minutes you spend with him will live in your memory as a bright spot in years to come. John Ennor is not .in the lecture field. The full house last night had nothing but praise. Ton:ght you may see the frozen north land and midnight sun. Don’t miss it. The New Rex, tonight. FOR BERNE K. OF P. HOME. J. D. Bolinger Awarded Contract for Berne Building. John Bolinger the well known mason contractor, this morning received word that he had been awarded the contract for the buildlngtf the fine new K. of P. Home at Berne. The new Berne home will be a $5,000 brick building, twenty-six by sixty-six feet and of two stories. It will be one of ihe fine new additions to a town of handsome buildings. MEET FRIDAY. All members of the Ben Hurs are requested to meet at their hall Friday evening at 7 p. m, when severa important questions w 11, come up fort discussion. Immediate action is necessary for outlined woik and a good attendance is needed.

FIREMEN ARE BUSY -U— ( Laying Plans for Their Going to Dunkirk in June to Attend Meet of b VOLUNTEER FIREMEN Will Endeavor to Secure the Convention Here for Year Following, in 1913. The Decatur firemen have been| v orking hard recently framing up I lans for them to secure funds for their attending the Northern Indiana Volunteer Firemen's convention to be held at Dunkirk on June 27th, and to make a strong plea for the securing of the convention to be held in 191'.’. Now, for them to go there fully prepared and equipped as they should be, v. ill require the help of not only the city council, as will be given them, but they ask aid from the business men and other individuals, and they will call upon them, to show their willingness of having the convention here. It will bring several thousands of people to the city and the event will be one of the largest drawing attractions ever held here. A number of other cities will try to secure it, and the locals want to have the necessary backing and finapcial aid before they leave. Another movement on loot is that upon the completion of the new city hall they wish to give a t’vo days’ entertainment for the public, to be held in the hall. The program cditlined will be in the way of conducting stands and have other amusements to entertain the people, and they will invite all to come and visit them. Talks will be provided, and the pror eeds derived in this way will go toward their securing equipment as above mentioned. they also wish to show their appreciation of their new home, which they will occupy, and this will be one of their ways of returning thanks. SPECIAL MEETING. The Odd Fellows will hold a called meeting in the lodge room Thursdaynight commencing at 7:30 o’clock at which every member should be present. SUSPICIOUS ACTS Two Men Seen Jumping from Windows of County Clerk’s Office ON TUESDAY EVENING Cleared Themselves of Burglary Charges When the Truth Leaked Out. Deputy County Clerk L. L. Baumgartner was much surprised and alarmed this morning when he came to open the office, when Mr. Stults, court house custodian, informed him that suspicious characters had been seen jumping from the windows tn the little room at the west side of the clerk’s office, Tuesday evening after ! the office had been closed for the 1 day. He stated that the men were noticed by passersby who took them for robbers, burglars, etc., etc., and notified the police, who made a mad chase lor them. Mr. Stults asked whether anything in the office had been tampered with, and Mr. Baumgartner hastened to the little room where the safe is kept to make, sure, but thinking that the joke had been carried far enough, Mr. Stults hastened to explain that the “suspicious acting men" were two of the city’s best'known residents, who did what any others would do if they had been locked into a place for the night—opened the windows and jumped out. The two men who were the cause of the excitement were Dwight Lachot and Earl Adams, who had been working in the little room during the afternoon. County Clerk Bleeke left earlier than the others, and when M® Baumgartner closed the office at 5:05 o’clock he forgot about the busy workers in the rear room and locked the door. It was

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday April, 18 1912.

about a half hour later that the two men found themselves locked In when they got ready to leav?, and after in vestigating Mr. Lachot found that the window could be opened, so he raised it and jumped out. IJe, went to look for the custodian, thhidng that he could open the hall do<|- for Mr. Adams, for whom the junf> would have been a great one, but Mr. Adams got tired of wafting, or wapited to show his athletic ability, so the made the high jump, too, before La < hot returned. The actions of tlw two caused much humorous comment among those who witnessed the strange feat, but the boys were chieflj) excited, with rejoicing that they werL not obliged to spend the night in close quarters. A HAPPY EVENT Historical Club Entertains Seventv-five Ladies at Closing Event * OF THE SEASON At P. B. Thomas Home— Twenty-fourth Year is Drawn to a Close. It may be true that "History repeats itself,' but the good times that mark the annual season’s closing of the Historical club do not; there never was one whose characteristics were marked by just the superlative degree of brightness and cheeriness and originality as that of Tuesday evening at the Dr. P. B. Thoiyas home, when the club entertained seventy-five ladies in honor of the closing of the twenty-four years’ season of study. The club colors of pink and white were manifest everywhere throughout the rooms in artistic arrangement of vases of pink and white carnations, lotted ferns and blooming geraniums, with pots daintily covered with pink tissue caps. Pink tissue hoods also shaded the chandeliers,’ reflecting a rosy glow. Conversation held sway until 8:15 o’clock, when Miss Gertrude Moses opened the program with a p>ano number in her usual skillful way and then Mrs. S. D. Beavers, in the absence of the president, Mrs. Jane Crabbs, bade all the guests welcome in behalf of the club, on this day that closed the twenty-fourth season s ' study of the club. Mrs. Emma Daniels | responded in a fitting way, in behaif of the guests, and expressed their 1 leasure in joining with the celebration of the club which for nearly a quarter of a century has contributed I ,to the culture and uplife of the city. “He Was a Prince," the charming story of Owen Meredith, set to fitting music, was expressively sung byMiss Marie Allison, before Mrs. John Fleming of Huntington, an honorarymember of the club, who formerly lived here, gave a most clever history of the club as she knew it and as it is today. The sketch was a masterpiece of wit and quite cleverly brought out the answer to the question, “What is there in a name?" by bringing out each member and the part she would play in the club should she “live up" to her name. Her sketch is worthy of reproduction, so here it is: April 16th, this the closing night of the twenty-fourth year of the Histerieal Reading club, brings to our minds the recollection of many profitable and pleasant evenings spent together during the past winter and of former years. We who are away from you and cannot be with you on Tuesdays, as of old, appreciate the efforts you have made to entertain us. We enjoy it as only one who has been a member of the Historical can. No two closing nights of the club are the same: always some new faces and perhaps we can never be gathered together again just as we now are. so I wish to give you a brief review of the club as I knew It and as it is now. Almost a quarter of a century ago the need of a woman’s study club was ielt in this city and from a Blossom sprang The Historical Reading club, organized for women and for study. Who then were eligible for membership? Not every Tom, Dick and Harry. but women, and women only. Looking around at the club members you now have, I find, Peter’s son, All’s’son and Thomas. Then, too, long have you boasted that you were a no-eat, no-drink club, yet I find Miller, Gillig working overCONTINTrtIX- ON PAGE 1 TWO.

WM. DROEGE DEAD Well Known Root Township Resident Succumbs After Long Illness. DIED TUESDAY NIGHT Was Fifty-six Years of Age and Life-long Resident of the County. William Droege, a life-long resident ot the county, died Tuesday evening at 6:30 o’clock at his home in Root township, a mile and a half north of Monmouth, where he had resided the past thirty years. Mr. Droege had been ill since last autumn with sclerosis, or hardening of the liver, but about six weeks ago had recovered sufficiently to be about for two weeks, and only about tour weeks ago, lie had been able to come to this city, v here he greeted his many friends. For the past two weeks, however, his condition had been the most serious. Mr. Droege was born in Preble township fifty-six years ago last March 25, and was the son of William and Elizabeth Hockemeyer Droege, now both deceased. After his marriage to Miss Mary Heckman, he moved to his presx ent farm in Root township, where the greater part of his life was spent, and where he was known among his many friends as an enterprising farmer and a man of many fine qualities. His wife survives, together with five Children. They are Theodore, Della, Olga and Freda, at home, and Mrs. Charles Schroeder, of Friona, Texas. Two children have preceded him in death. There survive him also, three brothers—Henry and Fred, of Allen county, end Ferdinand, of Fort Wayne; also two half-sisters —Mrs. Henry Schroeder and Mrs. Henry Heckman, of Allen county. The funeral will be held at the St. John s Lutheran church, but the date will not be set until word . from the daughter, Mrs. Charles Schroeder, of Texas, is received. Should they not be able to come, the funeral will probably be held Friday, but should the Schroeders come, the funeral will probaby be dqpyed until Sunday, as they could not make the long trip here sooner.’ SALE IS STILL ON Bidding is Spirited on Two of the M. F. Rice Estate Properties. SALES NOT CLOSED But One Will Probably be This Afternoon —No Bids on Two of Properties. Bidding again livened up on the two properties in the M. F. Rice estate partition sale at the office of Peterson & Moran but fio sales haye been declared yet. Although no bids have been received on the Journal office building and the Walters home on Seventh street, the bitbijng is qui|e lively on the Koenemann and two business buildings on West Monroe street, which are taken as one, and also on the second house south of the Brushv. tiler & Baker grocery, known as the I.efl Segur property. On the residence and two business buildings the following bids were received: John Baker, $4,400; Amos Yoder, $4,600; R. C. Parrish, $4,625; Amos Yoder, $4,800. As no bids have been received since 3 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, the property will probably be declared as going to Yoder at his last bid, should no more be received today, as a day must elapse before the declaration of the sale and the receipt of the last bid. On the Segur residence the following bids were received; Ben Shrank, $1,900; Amos Yoder, $2,000; Ben Shrank, 2,014. These bids were given up until 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Yoder appearing again this morning and raising the bid to $2,100. This will therefore be open at least another day for tbe receiving of bids.

WILL PRACTICE HERE. Clyde Baumgartner Will Open Veterinarian's Office Here. Clyde Baumgartner, son of Deputy, Clerk L. L. Baumgartner, who last week graduated from the Chicago Veterinary college, after completing a three years' course, has decided to locate in this city for practice. He has leased an office room in the Niblick building, corner of Second and Madison streets, adjoining the office of Drs. Clark, and will soon be at home In his new quarters. Mr. Baumgartner has great natural ability for this profession and together with the excellent training he has secured at the college, will make good in his chosen profession. PUBLIC OFFICES 1 In Indiana Are Held Down by 50,686 Persons Says the Governor IN HIS REPORT Nearly All Are Paid—l7,3os School Teachers and Superintendents. Governor Marshall has just completed the preparation of a report for the United States civil service commission which shows that there are in Indiana a iuU.l of 50,686 persons in public offices in the state, either as officials or employees. The figures were compiled by the state board of accounts, on receipts of a request for information from the commission in Washington. This shows that about two per cent of the entire population of the state of Indiana is in some kind of a public office. With the exception of some of the town councilmen and school trustees all of the persons included in the list are paid. Some of the paid officials, too, draw nominal salaries. The total is distributed as follows: In the state government, 5,964; in county governments, 9,867; in township governments, 5.445; in the pub-' lie schools as superintendens, teach-, ers or employees, 17,305; in city and j town governments, 12,375. The figures also showed that 64H,141 men in the state were subject to ■ call for military service. The report j set out in detail the following coa- j coining persons employed in the various places of state, county, township, school and municipal governments : State offices and courts —Officers, 94; employees, 355; circuit court judges, 63; prosecuting attorneys, 16; total, 561. Charitable and correctional institutions, 1,937. Educational institutions—Trustees, 22; officers, 19; instructors, 534; office ; employees, 56: other employees, 131; total, 762. State militia—Officers, 191; enlisted men, 2,214; total, 2,404. County governments —Officers, 1,582; employees, 1,220; all other county employees, 7,065; total, 9,867. Township governments — Township trustees, 1,016; assessors, 1,016; road supervisors, 3,681; other township Superintendents and teachers and employees in public schools. 17,305. Incorporated cities and towns— Mayors, 97; clerks, 454; treasurers, 463, controllers, 16,; city judges, 10; city and town attorneys, 171; police departments, 1,292; fire departments, 2,367: engineers, 206; board of public works, 31; board of public safety, 57; par and employes 335; councilmen, 366; street commis sioners and employees, 1,214; cemetery employes, 153; school trustees. 390; town trustees, 1,270; water works superintendents and employees, 376; electric light superintendents and employees, 374; public library eml loycs, 504; health officers. 887; all other employees, 813; total, 12,375. . PASTRY SALE. At the meeting of the Evangelical Ladles' Aid society Thursday afternoon at the nome of Mrs. Fred Linn, the ladies will hold a pastry sale. There will be bread, pies, cakes and other delicious homemade baked goods. Those wno cannot attend may telephone their orders and the ladles will deliver the goods.

Number 16

COUNCIL DOINGS Usual Bulk of Business Was Threshed Out Last Evening by City Council. TWO WERE ABSENT The Mayor's Report for Past Year Read and Approved —Other Matters. Wljh Councilman Christen absent, owing to his absence from the city, and Mr. Chronister unable to attend, betause of Illness, which has confined him to his home for more than a v eek, the city council, at its regulu. meeting Tuesday ev-.ning, was unable io act as a whole on all problems, and they were thus held over, excepting that which required immediate attention. The minutes of the past two sessions were read by the clerk, approved, ond ordered spread on the records. A petition from property owners living along South Elm street, and east to the G. R. & I. railroad, asking for a cement sidewalk was read and referred to the street and sewer committee. Specifications for the At;: sewer were filed. received and ordered to be placed on record for future referenc. Another petition followed from the property owners along Kekionga street, asking for an opening and street improvement along the Clover Leaf east, so that they can go ahead and improve their homes along said street and that the clerk be instructed to notify the Clover Leaf railroad of the actions which he was authorized to do. The street commissioners’ report for the months of January, February and March was filed and referred to the finance committee to be gone over. People living along North, Third street asked that a new arc light be placed at the alley which leads from the Peter Kirsch planing mill to Second street. Another was asked for by the property owners to be placed on the corner of Third and Adams. A third petition for a light was read, asking that a tungston be placed on South First street, near the Theodore Kennedy home. These petitions for lights were all left in the hands of the electric light committee with power to act. There are a number of places tn the city where more light is needed. and the city will act accordingly, where they deem more light is necessary. The new street lights recently purchased by the city, will soon be up, perhaps in a month or so, thus giving more light wherever the old ones are, r.nd also increasing their line to the out districts, which are poorly lighted at the present time. The preliminary resolutions for the Atz sewer on North Third street were read, adopted and ordered to be placed on record. The clerk was also authorized to advertise that the council would, on May 7th, hear any and all obpections regarding same. The mayor’s report to the council, covering the years from January 1, 1911, to January 1, 1912, was read. The total indebtedness of the city on January 1, 1911, was $71,386.27. This amount comprised waterworks bonds, refnduing bonds of 1897, 1905. 1909, Nqrth Ward school bonds, South Ward school bonds. Old Adams County bank and First National bank orders to the above total mentioned. The receipts for the year 1911 were $80,924.09, while the disbursements for the year reached the same figures. Cash in the treasury on January 1, 1912, was $21,148.78, while the reduction of the city's debt for the year ending January 1, 1912, was $17,013.30, leaving a total indebtedness of j $54,372. This was approved and orI tiered to be spread on record. A petition presented by A. J. Smith, asked that a continuation of Adams strdfet from Second to First be completed, if it would not be placing too much of a burden upon the Presbyterian church, and in which he asked that Mr. Atz speak to the committee on the subject. He also asked that a curbing be placed, or a line given for the placing of a five-foot walk along the north side of said street, to be placed along the curb, according to the construction of most all new walks. The city engineer was ordered to prepare plans and specifications for the sewer on Jefferson street and at the river banks which had caved in and washel away, caused by the high waters durCONTINUED Obe PAGE FOUR