Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 184, Decatur, Adams County, 13 August 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

HOME FROM ALASKA An Adams County Boy’s Thrilling Story.

Was Absent Three Years. < Will Visit His Parents at Geneva. Expects to Return to the North Early in Spring to Work Gold Claim. Raymond O. Beard a’ former Adams county boy whose jiarents live about five miles west of Geneva was in this city last evening on his way home from Alaska where he has been since the year 1900. For three years he served in United States Army and from the date of his discharge up to the time of his recent departure has been engaged in mining. Mr. Beard has holdings in the famous Chena district which has lately’ proved itself to be as fabulously rich in gold as was the great Klondyke years ago. All mining in this territory is done principally with the sluice box and after heavy washes the glitter of gold is almost blinding. The Adams county boy believes that his claim is equal to the adjoining ones and he will return to resume work in the early spring. He expects to visit for some time at Geneva and the balance of the winter he Will be at Seattle where he can arrange for the Alaska journey. Soon after enlisting in the army, which was

WAS A GREAT SALE The Duroc Auction a Record-Breaker. Mr. Nidlinger’s Success the Talk of Visitors.—Will Hold Another Sale. The hog sale conducted by John D. Nidlinger yesterday proved the greatest event of the kind ever conducted in this section. Stock men were here from all over the state as well as from Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Nebraska, and wo wore informed last evening by one of those persent that it was one of the most sue cessful events of the kind ho over witnessed and he has teen in the business for years. Fifty head of pigs were disposed of at an average of forty one dollars making a total of ♦2050 and when you consider that these Durocs were only a few months old you will realize that it was a wonderful sale. Much an event usually requires a day of hard work but yestrday's sale

The Daily Democrat.

done at Indianapolis a transfer was , made and Mr. Beard found himself a First class Sargeant in the Signal Corps. Early in the season his corps was sent to Alaska to construct a military’ telegraph line and they established Ft. Gibbons as their base of supplies. The line which extends from St. Michaels Stock is 1500 , , miles long and has but lately been • completed. It was constructed at an enormous outlay by the . government and many lives were . lost in pushing the work through. Mr. Beard tells of many narrow : escapes and of sadder instances. , A number of his comrades were 1 . caught on an ice floe on the j< mighty’ Yukon and drowned, i, several were frozen to death and , some were buried alive in great drifts of snow. The cold at times . he asserts was awful, and to add to their hardships they were often cut! off from supplies and nearly starved before help could reach them. Many of the soldiers were crippled for life and lost a leg, or finger on account of the fierce cold. About two hundred soldiers worked on' the line and Mr. Beard being a sargeant had control of a large squad. i He also understands telegraphy and ; for that reason was a very’ valuable ; man. He states that the line was not constructed after the l>est of plans as it was impossible to get the material across the almost impassible Alaskan mountains. Where it was possible the wires were fastened to the top of trees and in the mountains, flimsy’ pine poles were used to support the wires. I In the high regions the weather , never moderates and holes are bored ( ill the perpetual fros*. Where the ■ line extends across mountains, lakes ' the poles are set in the ice and are ? •I as stable there as they would be ; on ground for the ice never gives I away. Mr. Beard says that a trip ' in that country certainly brings one ■ to appreciate the good old summer i time.

was certainly an exception for it was all over within ten hours and every head sold. A number of telegram bids were received. Besides the auction John sold three head of Durocs at his farm before the sale for each ♦IOO making a total for the day of ♦2350 for fifty three head. Mr. Nidlinger is very much elated over his success and 111 hold aiiuflit-i’similar sale this fall. He still has eighty three head of Durocs on hand. A sale of this kind advertises Adams county and benefits in more ways than one, and Mr. Nidlinger’s hustling qualities are to be admired, EASY MONEY. Decatur Horses Win at Urbana Races. Decatur horses won their share of honor and purses at the Urbana Ohio county fair. In the 2:20 trot, 1 True Worth owned by David Flanders and Son won three straight heats and the purse of |3OO easy. In the 2:30 pace Hazel Fierce owned by Beery <fc Holthouse was an easy winner for a purse oft 250. Dick Sil lick drove both horses, this being his first time up since his injuries of two weeks ago. Edna Medium will start in today’s races. Club Meeting. i A special incetingwill lie held this ■ evening to confer with Mr. McDonald concerning locating the • piano player factory here. Every > member requested to be present.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 13, 1903.

A FATAL FALL Loyd Banta Dies From a Peculiar Accident. — Sad Death of Son of Mr. and Mrs. ’ John Banta of Willshire. - 1 Well Known Here. Loyd Banta, little six year old | son of Mr. and Mrs. John Banta of j Willshire met death last evening in a peculiar manner. He was playing j about the Banta & Kohn dry goods | store, wandered out to the ware room where he climbed up to the | loft. He leaned out over the edge, lost his balance, and fell lighting across the top of an open box The lad's stomach received the force of the blow and he was picked up I unconscious and carried home, j Medical aid was summoned tut seemed to no avail and little Loyd j breathed his last at 6:30 last evening. He was a bright litle fellow and he and his parents are well known here where they frequently visit. The accident is a very sad one and particularly so because the father is at Toledo on business and could not be located until several hours after his little boy’s death. The accident happened about 3:30 and the boy felj but a few feet. DRANK ACID Two-Year-Old Boy Finds an Old Bottle. Lawrence Johnson Has His Face Burned by Deadly Carbolic Acid. 1 Lawrence Johnson, two year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson who live on the Cross farm north east of town, was quite bad- I ly burned by’ carbolic acid at noon | today. The little fellow’ was play-. ing in flu* summer kitchen where a I number of old bottles had been i thrown. One of these was about half full of carbolic acid and of course this would be the one that a child would get a hold of and try to drink. Luckily most of the stuff struck the face, instead of 1 getting in his mouth and to this 1 fact the little felow owes his life. His chin and tongue and his cheeks 1 about the left eye were bady burned and blistered. He was brought to town by his mother and taken to the office of Dr J. 8. Coverdale and Son. On the way to town little Lawrence was quite sick hut soon recovered under the physi- 1 cian’s treatment. It is believed no ' serious results will follow. ( Meyers’ Are Unlucky. Fred and Paul Meyers the eleven and twelve year old son of C. M. Meyers of near Bluffton who is i well known in this city were both 1 injured lately and the Meyers home is now a veritable hospital. Fred was kicked in the mouth by a colt and hud a few teeth extracted while Paul equally un- i fortunate was run over by a heavy i wagon. Neither where injured seriously’ but tin accident will confine them to the house for some < time. <

LOCATE IN KANSAS. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Voglewede Write Home. Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Voglewede | will locate permanently at St. Paul, Kansas, according to a note received from them this morning which said, “Weare enjoying good heatlth and will locate here, send the Democrat." St. Paul is at rising little city of 1200 inhabitants, located in rich farming section about thirty-five miles south of Fort Scott. They do not state future plans but we wish them success in whatever they may be. CONTRACTS LET. Davis Daily and E. Woods & Co. Build Roads. The North and South St. iarys Macadam Road Contracted. All members of the board of commissioners were in session this I morning and took up the question of contracting the north and south St. Mary's township roads. Acting on the advice of the auditor that the valuation was suipcient to I admit of the building of both roads, contracts were awarded to I Davis Dailey on his bid submitted several days ago. This bid figured 114,980 and was considerably lower than his competitors. The j board appointed Elzey J Jackson to I represent the township and to superintend the building of this road. The contract for the board was formally awarded to JE. Woods & Co. on their bid of $14,010. Ed France was appointed to superintend the building of this road. This ' assures the township of both roads much sooner than they anticipated, at first being thought possible to build one road at present. It is thought that active work upon the grade of both roads will begin at an early day, and it is to be hoped the same will also be pushed to completion as rapidly as it is possi-I i ble. A SURPRISE. —— Mrs. George Bailey Taken Last Evening Without Warning. Alxnit thirty ladies met last evening at the home of Mrs. Fred Schafer and marched to the home of Mrs. George Bailey, where their unsux pecting victim sat wholly unconscious of what was to happen. That i women, when hard pressed can keep a secret, was plainly demonstrated last evening, for Mrs. Bailey was certainly surprised. She was soon master of the situation however, and acted the part of a veteran hostess. The ladies indulged in their favorite game of pedro and a sharp contest followed. Mrs. Henry Schulte was successful in drawing the first prize, and Mrs. Lee Vance was consoled with the booby. With their usual forethought the ladies each brought a basket filled with good tilings, which were opened after the game, and to the credit of the ladies let it be said that the reunion remains of the feast didn’t, fill over a dozen baskets. The occasion of the surprise was Mrs. Bailey's thirty-second birthday, and as a remembrance of the event she was presented with a handsome collection of China pieces. It was a highly successful event and Mrs. Bailey was duly congratulated.

iWILL REFUSE J Gov. Bliss Will Not Pardon Claude Railing. Decatur Young Man Will Have to Serve His Time Out in Prison. A dispatch from Laporte, says: “Advices from Benton Harbor state thatGoveror Bliss, of Michigan, will r-fuse to pardon Claude Railing, of Decatur, Ind., who is confined ,; in prison at louia, serving time for bigamy. A determined effort has been made in the past week to secure Railings'release from prison. Railing married Miss Florence Zimmerman, of Niles, before he had secured a divorce from a wife living at Fort Wayne.” Railing ' is well known here as is the story of his crime. His Decatur friends have always believed he committed the crime innocently and have been doing everything possible to secure 'a pardon for him. Governor Bliss’s action will therefore be a disappointment to them. DITCH REPORT. The Viewers and Surveyor Make ReI port on Bentz Ditch. 1 John W. Cowan of Hartford township and J. T. Johnson living south of this city, were busy today with : surveyor McKean, making a viewers | ■ final report on the Fred Bentz ditch, ' which if constructed will traverse . and benefit a portion of Union township. The ditch was petitioned 1 for ■ by Mr. Bentz and these gentlemen were appointed by commissioners ( ■ to report upon its necessity and estimate the probable cost thereof. 1 Mr. Cowan one of the viewers meni tioned, told us of the serious illness of his young son during the past 1 two or three weeks, and during this i time of the many anxious moments for himselt and family. He is not recovering. I KIETH PIANO-PLAYER. Beautiful Instrument at the Club Rooms. The Kieth Piano player is cer- ! tainly a great instrument and if Mr. McDonald i» successful in locating the factory for manufacturing them here they will tery probably make Decatur famous. One of the instruments arived this morning and is on exhibition at the Commercial Club rooms where a meeting will |bo held tonight and it is believed arrangements made to bring the factory here. It is certainly a great instrument and one that would help every citizen. MARRIED. Former Decatur Girl Wedded at Crestline, Ohio. Miss Carrie Botthoff, daughter of Horace and Margaret Botthoff of this city, was married at Crestline, 0., to Edward Hollinger. Miss Botthoff is well known to Decatur people, having lived hero until a year ago, when she went to Crestline, where sh* met Mr. Hollinger. Hollinger is a young business man at Crestline, and is reputed to Im* | an energetic and able young man. The couple are on their honey moon now and will visit, this city j in a few days.

NUMBER 184

INTERURBAN CONTRACT Alexander Tubman of Ft. Wayne Landed It. The contract for grading the Springfield-Fort Wayne traction line was let this afternoon to Alexander Tubman of Fort Wayne. Mr. Tubman is a veteran contractor and is just completing a railroad at Warsaw. He will begin work here in about two weeks. On account of the necessity of condemning some land near here, and also some property near Fort Wayne, fifteen miles of the road midway between here and Fort Wayne will be graded first and by that time the entire right of way will be clear. Seven bridges will be built and bids for this stone work will be advertised for in a few days. Mr. Tubman and his crew camp out while at their work, and he will erect his tent next week near the nine mile house. Mr. Tubman says he will have the grading completed on January 1. and Manager i Fledderjhann says the rails will be here in September. The contract, for laying the rails will be let this fall. AN EXPLANATION Fred Murphy’s Real Name is McClure. Parents Live at Robinson, Illinois, and Have Searched for Him Five Years. Sheriff Stout's office yesterday received a letter from Mr. S. T. Lindsay, of Robinson, Ills., relative to the identity of “Fred Murphy," the demented young man who is being held at the jail until he is received at the hospital for the insane at Richmond. Postmaster Lindsay says that Murphy's real name is Ira McClure, sometimes called Harry McClure. He is the son of Mr. Wilson McClure, a gent leman of the highest standing at Robinson. The father told Mr. Lindsay that his son left homo about five years ago and his whereabouts were unknown to his family. “Murphy" is in very bid condition and Deputy Sheriff Eick has written to his father telling him to come at once if he desires to take him home. It is highly probable that, his parents will take him back to Robinson. "Murphy" has a brother named Fred, which probably accounts for his adopting the name, though no reason is known why he should have changed his name. "Murphy's wife is also ignorant of his real identity. She lives at Hamilton, Ohio, where hi l was married to him four years ago, I under the mime of Murphy. They i have no children. The wife will : lie advised at once of her husband's identity.—Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. This is the young man | whose queer actions were first noticed here. He was in jail here j several days lieforc living taken Ito Fort Wayne.