Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 151, Decatur, Adams County, 5 July 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

ACCIDENTS OF THE FOURTH

Several People Were Injured. POWDER AND FIRE THE CAUSE OF USUAL TROUBLE. “Skinny” McCarty Badly Hurt by Explosion of a Cannon Fire Cracker. Miss Gyp Dorwin was painfully injured Saturdady by flying explosives. Powder and shot entered her iimb, poisoning and tetnpoarily disabling this member. She has aliistentirely recovered. Dorsey Gerard's celebration ended rather suddenly last Saturday. Dorwas blowing a “tizzer,” when it went off in his face. For a time it was feared he would lie blinded, but later developements show that a burned face may be worst result of his experiment. While standing on Second street Saturday. Chas. C. Niblick was struck in the face by a flying cannon cracker He was taken to Smith, Yaeger & Falks drug store where he faint«*d from the effects f the shock He was soon rallied however and now an exaggerated nose is all that tells the tale. Clan nee Kintz, a cigar maker in A RIGHTEOUS KICK. Complaints Against Condition of Second Street. The Brick Pavement is the Dirtiest in Its History and Should be Cleaned. The Second street brick pavement n-eds cleaning and needs it bad. The business men and citizens in general are demanding, and if there is such an officer as a street commsisioner or any one else in Decatur empowered with the rights to jxtform such a duty, we insist that he awaken from the slumbers that he - •enis to have been indulging in for several months past. Actually the street has not been cleaned since the tramps got in their work. Just whose fault it is we have been un abe to discover as every official is hluming it on to some one else, but surely the city council ran make improvement over its present con dition. No less than a dozen people have complained against the filthy condition and awful apeurance of this principal thoroughfare and it is realty a shame. When a street becomes so dirty that a stench arises there from, it is certainly th io to think about cleaning up

SPECIAL SERVICES. R«v. C. I. Parker, of Peru. Indi'ina, to whom many of the people of Decatur had the pleasure of listen ■OK during special services lust win tor will preach at the U. B church Wednesday evening. The St. Joseph Conference Mule Quurttetc will fur nish music for the occasion. The <|Uurtette is composed of Revs A. M. Cummins. Albion. R. G I’pson, Plymouth, C. I. Parker, Peru, and ® H. Pontius of this city The public is cordially invited Service Wins at 8 o’clock. 151t2

The Daily Democrat.

the employ of T. C. Corbett, is also numlx'red among the victims of Fourth of July accidents. Friday evening he lighted a "devil chaser" which started while he held it in his left hand and he was burned Quite badly. The accident is a costly oneand will keep him from working at his trade for some time. Daniel McCarty, commonly known as "Skinny," will probably regret for life his visit here Saturday. Met irty was formerly a plumber in this city, and came down from Fort Wayne Saturday, to visit friends here. While crossing Sec ond street, some one, who later proved McCarty's partner, threw a cannon carcker which exploded in front of Dan's face. His mouth was badly cut, and his face severelyburned, and perhaps disfigured for life. PRAISES DECATUR. Commercial Club House Shows Enterprise. The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette said yesterday. "Mr. L. G. Ellinghani, the editor of the Democrat, sends the Journal-Gazette an invitation to the ojh'iiing of the Decatur Commercial club's new home, the evening of July 7. It is certainly a compliment to the enterprise of Decatur. to be able to point to a commercial club house, for it is something larger and more pretentious than cities can boast of. We send cordial greeting to our friends at Decatur.

WON OUT. Lima Went Down in Easy Defeat to The Locals. Decatur fans went to the Iml] grounds Sunday not more than half confident of seeing a victory by the home team. It was Lima, you know that played here and if they expected to have Decatur defeated at all they certhinly should lose hop' when a team from that place was to play. As it was however Decatur won in a block by running in nine scores and shutting their opponents out. The work of both teams will possibly forbear criticism and when we conisder the locals alone, immense is the word. France and France did the battery work for the home team and put up an excellent game. Lima only got three hits from Decatur, one of those was unearned, and fifteen men swung in vain against Bart's curves. The game was not a pitcher's battle, for Decatur s fielding was so fast that only three men ever reached third I base. Now a conclusion drawn from the results of the game. Lima was easily rattled when in the out field and were lost entirely when at hat. They played without the rotten kind of errors but what slips they did make were usually attend- ; ed with a score or two by their opponents. As it really was. we must say the Ohio team was simply Out-classed and their out of luck story will not go. As to the home team we consider them stronger ( than ever and able to cope successI fully with tho greater number of ' teams that are ready to meet them. The score by innings: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7*9 R. H. E. Decatur tOO 11 00 3 x 9 10 2 Lima 00000 00 0 0 0 3 7 PLAY HUNTINGTON. Manager Marty, of the Decatur base ball team says that an endeavor will be made to have Huntington in this city next Sunday. Two games have Iteen played with that team, one going to Decatur, the other to Hunt , iugton. and the the third game would be exceptionally interesting on that I account.

DECATUR, INDIANA, MONDAY EVENING, JULY 5, 1903.

ABOUT ROUTES. The New Policy Adopted by Mr. Payne. The congressional district will no longer be the unit in the establishment of rural free delivery. Rural routes will be allotted to the states and not to the congressional districts. This course has been decided upon by Postmaster General Payne after a very careful consideration of the subject, and it has the cordial approval of President Roosevelt. The new policy will in no way retard the development and extension of rural free delivery, but there will lie no favored districts in the future and the obscure member will have as good a chance as the one with a strong pud. His turn will come in the regular order of things and. as an official expressed it today, “the new member will not have to take the leavings." It is the purpose of the postmaster general to have rural free delivery established in the same manner as postoffices. They will lx- placed wherever they are needed and the requirements as to popv.lation and condition of roads, etc., must be actual, not theoretical. HAS A FRIEND. Dr. Blackman Has a Canine Patient in Charge. The most remarkable case ot animal intelligence has been displayed at the office of Dr. Blackman, on West Washington street, within the past few days. About a week ago while standing in front of his office. Dr. Blackman noticed that a spotted bird dog belonging to Sherm Stanton was limping around in the street as though his fixit were sore. The doctor examined it and found a pretty serioues bruise, took the dog up stairs to his office and dressing the wound sent him away. Thi streatment proved so agreeable to Mr, Dog that he decided to try it again and as a result he was at Dr. Blackman's door the next morning the same hour he had been treated before. This he has done ever since] until by this time his foot is almost well, but the grateful i fellow doesn’t hesitate to show his feeling to the doctor. Whenever he sees Mr. Blackman on the street he runs rapidly towards him » id putting his paw out that had been under tbeatment, seems to say as nearly as possible that he knows exactly what has been accompished. —Bluffton Banner.

HOLTHOUSE DITCH. Petition Filed Again this Morning. Viewers Appointed Who Will Report on Same on Monday, July 20. Attorney J. Moran filed a jietition for the Holthouse et al ditch, Ix'fore the commissioners this morning. The petition is entitled Peter Holthouse et al ex parte, the other petitioners being Nathan Ehrman, Otto Repix-rt, M. M Shady, Ernst Lickman, Marion D. Shady, Samuel Barger,William C. Werling, William Barger, Fred Schweder, Jacob Bogner, William J. Meyers, R. D .Leinensuill and J. S Bowes. The ditch is the same one which causixl such u fight in circuit court ii few months ago and which was decided against the jx’titioiivrs on a technicality. It Ix'gins in Kirkland township and runs north oust to the St. Marys river. The viewers are Nelson Kerr, H. S. Michaud and Andrew Porter and they will meet July 20 to report on same.

GLORIOUS FOURTH. The Races and Celebration Here Saturday. Big Crowd in Town all Day and Celebrate With Noisy Time. The celebration of July Fourth Saturday drew one of the largest crowds to the city that has been here for several years. Some of them at least enjoyed the occasion and went home happy. The celebration was a little out of the ordinary for Independence day but the sports indulged in were the kind that please. The Geneva band furnished the music and did nicely proving themselves by long odds the best organiaizton bf the kind in the county. The balloon ascension failed to materalize but the rest of the program was given as announced. The big crowd in town divided at noon many staying in town enjoying the zip-bang of the firecracker, while a good portion went to Steele’s park to witness the races. The 2:30 pace with six starters was won by Guy E., owned by Elmer Johnson. The first heat was won by Ball Hornet, owned by James Chilcote, the second by Charles Aler, Oil Prince and the next two by Guy E. The 2:20 pace was won by Virgil C, owned by C. Cramer, Geneva, Edna Medium taking first heat and Virgil C. the next two; best time 2:26. The pony race was taken by M. & M. with Branded Bill second and Alice L. third. The half mile run was won by Martha Fox, with Mazetta second and Candle Bloom third. The display of fireworks was given on Court Street beginning at eight o’clock and continuing about an hour. While beautiful displays were given all over the city by various citizens Several accidents are reported but no fights and no fatalities. DAY CURRENT. Get Your Fans Ready by Wednesday. Electricity Will be Turned on Wednesday Morning Says Electrician Mylott. City electrician Mylott stated this morning that a day current of electricity would be started over the wires next Wednesday Such news is gladly received by many merchants manufacturers and residents who have been clamoring for several years past for this advantage and they are now busy preparing to have their motors, tuns anil lights connected. The supplying of a da.v currentis made possible through some alteration in the equipment of the eletric plant. A new dynamo for the incandescent service which has a capacity of 2000 lights will soon be added and the dynamo now in use can then be ust-d for the day current almost exclusively. When once thoroughly established it is prohibit" that the day power will be maintained throughout the entire year, Init at the present time it will only Ixt con tinned during the summer. NOTICE. All claims against the Decatur Driving club should be filed with A. P. Beatty, not later than eight o'clock Tuesday evening.

NEGRO DRIVEN OUT OF TOWN

Boys’ Fun Results Seriously. WILL FOREMAN PAYS A FINE AND TRIMMINGS. An Innocent Looking Colored Man Almost Starts a Race War in Decatur. A harmless colored mm, whose name is said to lie Johnson and who lives near Wren came here Friday evening to purchase some goods. A gang of about thirty young men and boys chased him out of town. While we believe the boys did this indiscreet act for fun rather than with any malicious intention, still they committed a violation of the laws of Indiana which may land them in the penitentiary for a term of from two to fourteen years, if the officials desired to push the affair, William Foreman one of the participants was arrested this afternoon on a charge of assault and battery and tried before Mayor Coffee. It developed that Foreman laid hands upon the negro and was attempting to pull him into a saloon, for what purpose is not known. Just at that moment Policeman Mangold came along and seperated Bill from Mr. Johnson by use of his club At the trial this afternoon Mayor Coffee said: “Thisman has as much right in Decatur as any other American citizen under the law and as I am sworn to enforce the law ai d when it is violated by which a citizen is deprived of his lawful rights, independent of his nationality, color or creed, there shall lx- no discrimination in the enforcement of the law as

i far as justice is concerned in the ■ court for the law was made for all alike and as we are all citizens of the same country and we are all under the same law and was created by the same God for the same immortal purpose and should Fie allowed the inalianable rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. The fact of man being colored does not justify any person in unlawi fully imposing on him while attendI ing to his own nusiness, and if any colored man violates the law while in Decatur the same jx-nalty will lx' inflicted on him for the violation us if he was a white man and noth- ! ing morefor equality of rights among ! men is the fundamental principal of good law and country ." Foreman plead guilty and was fined a dollar and costs which he paid. Thursday, at Louisville, Ky., Booker T Washington the greatest leader of the negro race, delivered un address which, if considered must shame many citizens in our own' little city, us well us in it thousand others throughout the length an breadth of this land “Let nothing induce ns to descend to the level of the mob." In his address at Washinfgon Saturday, Secretary Moody echoed this same sentiment when he said: “Mob violence puts every man’s rights to the doubtful determination of men influenced by ]>assion and thirst for revenge and displays a barbarity, which shames the nation in the face of the world. Let the people whose government of laws and not of men. fix ufsm those who hold themselves above the law and wiser than the law, the seal of their condemnation." Friday evening Decatur was 1 again forced to witness the disgraceful scene of a harmless negro driven from our city by a mob of irresponsible citizens. By no means do we favor assimilation with our colored brother in his present stage, but the remedy for any wrong should lx> sought under the law and in the courts, and any departure

NUMBER 151

from this is a contempt, not only of the courts, but of the people who created the courts. There is always a class of people who are looking some occasion as was presented here Friday as a pretext for disturbing the peace. We know none of the participants in the scenes mentioned ; but they are no more to blame than the citizens who .stand by. and in any way encourage su< h action. The negro in question had come to this city to buy some necessities, and this makes it a question not only of law but of business. If the business man doesn't want his trade, say so. and he will not return. But “let nothing indi ce us to descend to the level of the mob. There is an atmosphere of resentment toward tin* negro in otr I city which will prevent him from I ever settling here, and our officials | have never had trouble inducing them to move. It is to the supposedly intelligent citizen, who apparently sympathizes with these riots that we would speak. Let us resist impulsive action, but rather use our vote in sending to congress, men, tried and true, who will wisely aid in securing better legislation and illiberal educaton for the colored man. But “let nothing induce us to descend to the level of the mob.” POPE IS BETTER. Condition of His Holiness Improved. WALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING AND SLEPT SOME. Took Nourishment This Afternoon and His Physicians Have Hopes. Rome, July 6—Pope Leo is improving. His physicians this morning pronounced the condition of their patient grave but no worse than yesterday. During the mornj ing he insisted on walking about ■declaring his weakness the worst J part of his illness. The pope seemed ! prostrated after a somewhat exciting morning and went to sleep. Some improvement indicated this afternoon from the fact that his Hollini ss was willing to take treatment. HORSE STOLEN. Mr. Ovine Loses a Valuable Horse and Buijiiy. Mr. Ovine ot near Honduras was , in the city Saturday evening and as a consequence is considerable loser His horse and buggy were stolen from the hitch rack at the rear of Bower’s hardware store and’ no trace of it has yet been found. Allx'rt Butler has sent notice to the jxilice of surrounding cities notifying them and offer ing a reward of twenty-five dollars. The card describes the out fit as fol lows: Grey mare, foretop clipped, shod all around, weight 1200, buggy, red running gear, left shaft six inches shorter than right, heavy breast harness. CpJB MEETING TONIGHT. The regular business meeting of the Decatur Commercial Club will lx- held nt their rooms tonight. All members are requested to Ixi present.