Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 199, Decatur, Adams County, 31 August 1903 — Page 1

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CONTRACT WAS LET

John Bollinger the Successful Bidder for Brick Work.

Allison &Studabaker Block. Work will Not Begin for Several Weeks. Other Contracts to be Awarded Within a Few Days. Kaolin B illinu’.T was awarded the contract Saturday night for the oontruet for the briek work on the new Allison-Studabaker block but owine to the fact that he has sev-

WAS BURGLARIZED A Theif Makes Two Narrow Escapes. Got a Few Dollars Cash in West End Business Houses Sunday Morning The West End grocery and restaurant, corner Monroe and Seventh streets which is owned by Alex Lebrun was burglarized Sunday morn-ing-and about five dollars in cash was secured. The money taken was all in pennies, as the heavy cash had been removed . The burglar entered the building through the back door which he forced open by prying the lock off with a piece of hl’mt iron. The job was done about three o'clock in the morning and Janies Gay, the undertaxer, who was passing the building at the time saw the thief und telephoned down town to the police. Policemen Mangold and Geary soon arrived on the scene but the burglar had gone. During this episode Policeman Fisher at the G. R. & I. depot saw Mr. Gay stop and look into the restaurant. Not knowing who he was and thinking that the fellow acted suspiciously he was about to walk over and ascertain the gentleman’s business. Mr. Gay soon moved on however and the policeman went buck to the depot. Not long after a fellow was seen hurriyng south along the G. R. & 1. tracks and Fisher, hisauspicion again being aroused, took after him. He soon overtook the fellow and after questioning him let him go. The stranger put up a good story saying that ho wanted to catch a freight train into Bluffton and he looked to bo all on the square. When the three policemen got together they started out after the man who was on his way to Bluffton but he had gone no doubt to the tall timbers. Schoiman's meat

The Daily Democrat.

eral uncompleted jobs on his hands he cannot beign work for several weeks and perhaps two months. J -idge Studabaker informed us this morning that they would only attempt to enclose the building this fall but they hope to do that before severe weather sets in. The brick contract was let by the thousand, the owners to furnish material. The contract for the stonework will be very probably be let today or tomorrow and other contracts soon. The contract for the carpenter work however will not be closed for a few days until the occupancy of the rooms is at least partly termed. If the Old Adams county bank moves into the corner room some arrangements will have to be made to construct the building for their convenience and the same is true concerning the third floor which will probably be rented by the Masonic lodge and divided into appropriate quarters for their use. However it is beleived these questions will be decided within a week or two and the entire matter closed up. The rooms will be ready for occupancy early next spring.

market which is just across the street from Lebrun's was also entered and seventy five cents were secured. This morning it was discovered that an attempt had been made to enter Hower & Hower's grocery as the window had been raised a few inches. Theis failed however and then perhaps turned their attention to the other stores. CUT THE RATES. Grand Rapids will Issue One-Fare Tickets During Fair Mere. Secretary Tom Harris has received information from Grand Rapids railway that a one fare for round trip will be in vogue during the Great Northern Indiana Fair, and that these rates will include all points between Fort Wayne and Winchester. The return limit for tickets issued for this time will be September 26. A similar arrangement will no doubt be in force with the other two roads here, making a half fare. This adds fuel to the flames and still further assures the success of the fair. It is certain that all railroads lead to Decatur during that week. A Joke. Matt Shafer, Charles Ackerman and Nick Londaier were at work on Matt’s farm a few days ago and caught a ground hog. The question was soon raised whether it was a ground hog or a fox, and could not be decided by them. So they concluded to put it in a sack and leave it in the shanty until they went to town, and then be decided (on the drinks of course) but when they started home they forgot their ground hog-fox until they had got a mite on the road, when the thought struck them. Then they concluded to go back and get it and when they entered the shanty and examined the contents of the sack,low and behold the ground, fox was gone and the boys left for home agreeing not to say a word about it for fear the lioys would make fun of them yet the joke got out and the boys have set up the drinks to friends a dozen times if they would go out some day and tell them the difference between a ground hog and a fox,

DECATUR, INDIANA, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 31, 1903.

GRADE CONTRACT To Build Railroad Grade at Warsaw. Work Upon the Decatur-Fort Wayne Line is Now Under Way. Contractor Tubman who will build the grade for the electric line between this city and Fort Wayne has secured another large contract for a railroad grade, work upon the same beginning at Warsaw. He is an old hand at this business, having been at it for many years. Teams and other paraphamalia are beginning to land on camping ground for work on the line between here and Fort Wayne. Yesterday an aggregation numbering several wagon loads, supplemented with graders, plows, etc., arrived about midway of the grade. They will work from there and it is expected that before severe weather comes, the grade for the entire distance will be complete. Here is also a pointer for men looking for a job. With all of Mr. Tubman’s work and plenty of it, for every one who has a hankering for labor. These contractors are always anxious for good industrious and sober men, and they have preference not given to those addicted to drinking and carlessness. While the laboring men in Decatur are supplied with their stock in trade, .yet this may fall under the eye of some one who honestly wants to earn an honest dollar. MASS CONVENTION. Wells County May Select Delegates in Mass Convention. Ex-Senator Smith stated yesterday that he would start the political ball to rolling in this county early in December—only a little over three months hence—by calling a meeting of the Democratic Central Committee. Chairman Smith has some important business to come before the committee. He will submit to them a proposition to have the delegates to the various conventions nominated by the mass conventions of the various townships instead of by the committeemen as heretofore. For years the committeemen have met in December or January and selected to the state, judicial senatorial and other conventions and the people have had very little voice in the selection. Mr. Smith now proposes that each township shall call a mass convention at the school house nearest the center ot the township and there select the delegates. This plan will bo submitted to the committeemen for their approval at their December meeting.—Bluffton News. GOOD SHOWING. Virgil C. Gets in the Money in Fast Race. Virgil C, a pacing horse owned by Elmer Johnson of this city made a good showing in the races at London, Ohio, last Friday winning a close second in three straight heats of the 2:25 pace for a purse of #250. The best time was 2:17 anti Virgil C. could have taken any of the heats beyond a doubt had the owner cured to make him. The first and third heats were won by JJ. 8. G. and the second by Bessie Costman. Virgil C. got third money.

SOLDIER BACK. Adams County Boy Returns From Service in Regular Army. Sylvan Babcock of near Honduras has returned from three years service in the regular army. He en listed at Indianapolis and went from there to Fort Adams at Newport, thence to Fort Columbus, New York. He entered the Seventh Artillery and was later assigned to the hospital corps. He received an honorable discharge and says Adams county has more attraction for him than army life. A CLOSE CALL. Oil Well Shooter Figures in an Explosion. Two Hundred Quarts of Nitro-Glycerine Explodes and a Man Present Still Lives. Roy Hoyer, a shooter for the St. Marys’ Torpedo Co., of Montpelier went through a nitro-glycerine explosion at noon Saturday and he lives to tell the story although I v about two hundred quarts of the fluid went off. Hoyer was shooting | a well two miles west of MontpelI ier and was lowering a twenty quart shell into the well. He was in the engine house about fifty feet away lowering the shell and his distance saved his life. The shell as it was lowered exploded and set off the glycerine that was still in the wagon. Hoyer was badly cur and bruised but he was able to drive into Montpelier and tell the story of the accident. He says that the derrick and boiler were demolished anil his wagon blown to kindling wood. None of the oil men or people around the well were injured. What caused the explosion is not known. A SMALL FIRE. Building on First Street Was Slightly Scorched. George Syfert of Columbus, a traveling man, who is popular in Decatur saved a building from burning this morning and checked what might have proven a disastrous blaze. He was sitting in the sample room at the Burt house and glancing out of a window noticed a small blaze issuing from the roof of an old building on First street, just north of the mitten factory. He informed Dick Townsend and they hastened to the scene. With the aid of two or three from the mitten factory | men they soon had the fire under control and the loss was practically nothing. The builidng was of little value but had the Are gone unnoticed a few moments longer surrounding houses might have suffered considerably. No alarm was sent in. THREE DAYS. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday Came In at Once. John Sunday, Henry Monday- and Sam Tuesday, whose true names are unknown, were arriagned in Mayor’s court this morning on the charge of vagrancy,. They claimed to lie on their way home, looking for work, et. cetra, et cetera, and the mayor gave them their liberty, on conuition they leave at once, and throe days of the week were quickly passed.

OUTSIDE THE LIMIT The Yacht Race is Unfinished.

Reliance Led all the Way. Finished Nearly Three Miles Ahead. Latest Special Says it is Impospossible for Boats to Finish in Time. Special to the Daily Democrat. 4:00 p. m. Sandy Hook, N. Y., Aug. 31, 4p. m.—lt is impossible for the boats to finish within the time limit, which closes at 4:45, and the race will have to be declared off. The Reliance led all the time, and is two and a half miles ahead now. New York, Aug. 31—The com- i mittee of the New York Yacht Club met here and changed the date of

AN EXCURSION. Annual Trip to Detroit Sept. 9th. Representatives of Steamship Line and Clover Leaf Here Today. E. H. Ayers, representing the White Star steamship line, and Mr. Chambers of the Clover Loaf were in the city this morning arranging for an excursion to run to Toledo over the Clover Leaf and thence to Detroit by the steamer route. The excursion begins at Marion and will take passengers all along the line from there here. The date of the exeursion will be Wednesday, September 9th und the faro will be 11.75 for adults and 11.00 for children. If desired the ticket will be extend <•<l to a four days limit for one dollar additional making a total of ♦2.75. There is also another option al ticket that may be purchased at Detroit for an excursion to Niagara Falls. The tickets for a boat trip from Detroit to the Falls will cost |3, making a total from Decatur to the Falls and return of ♦5.75. The steamer which will carry the excursionists from Toledo to Detroit is the Greyhound, and between De-

NUMBER 199

the yacht race from Tuesday to today (Monday). It was also decided to hold the races every day until the international contest is decided. This decision was reached by mutual argeement between the challenge committees of the New York and Royal Ulster Yacht Clubs. i Sandy Hook, 11:30—Yacht race is on. Both boats crossed line at 11:45 and are sailing close together. Wind strong. Sea high. Shamrock going nicely. Race will be fast. 12:00—Boats are going fast. Reliance leads by five seconds. Sea is high and may impede the racers. 12:15—Boats are on part tack, and heading out to sea. Reliance gaining every minute, and leads by three quarters of a mile. 12:25—Reliance has a mile lead, and Lipton says the race is lost for the Shamrock. New York I:4o—Owing to change of course, start of Yacht race was delayed until 11:45. Course began four miles south west. Light ships and was 15 miles to windward ana return. Boats crosesd line at same time. Half may be outer mark. At 1:30 Reliance led by quarter mile. Both boats pounding in a in a heavy sea.

troit anil Buffalo the steamers are the D. & C. line boats Eastern and Western States, two of the finest on the lakes. The train leaves here at 5:40 a. m. SWEET CLOVER. Decatur Boy With a Big Comedy Company. Charles Henry France, better known as "Jinks" has secured aposition with one of the best comedy companies on the road and is now in New York city rehearsing, preparatory to starting on the road within a tew days. Tin show is ‘‘Sweet Clover" and those who have seen it say it is one of the most clever performances of its kind on the road. "Jinks" receives the very snug salary of fifty dollars per week. His Decatur friends are glad to know that he is meeting with continued success in the theatrical business. RUNAWAY. Boy Thrown Out of Delivery Wai|on This Morning. A delivery horse belonging to Fred Mills got funny this morning and started to do the town. While the boy was delivering some goods the horse started down the street just to show’em Lou Dillon wasn't in it. Horace Botthoff figured in a heroic capture of the dashing animal before much damage was done. Will Brushwiller who was in the wagon was thrown out. and received a badly sprained wrist.