Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 286, Decatur, Adams County, 12 December 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

FIERCE BLIZZARD Raging in the Northwest States. Headed East and is Due in Indiana bv Tomorrow. Special to Dally Democrat, Chicago, 111., Dec 12—The worst blizzard and snow storm in years is raging in the north west. Loss of life and stock is reported from Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin and Colorado. The storm is headed east and is due here tonight and tomorrow. Indiana will probably suffer a share of the big storm by Sunday. ALMOST COMPLETE Brick Pavements Will be Finished by Tuesday. Mr. Streicher Has Been Awarded Contract to Build Immense Railway Tunnel.

By the middle of next week all I work on Monroe and Fourth streets ', will have been completed and these two pavements turned over to the city. Mr. Streicher went to Fort Wayne today to hurry up two car load of brick that have been shipped over the Pennsylvania railway and delayed for some reason or other. These* will complete the streets and Mr. Streicher will leave Wednesday with twenty men for Somerset, Kentucky, where he has accepted a contract to build a large railway tunnel. Mr. Streicher is a thorough and honest contractor and has'received much praise from every one interested for the manner he lias fulfilled his contract even under adverse circumstances. We have not heard a single word of complaint and it is safe to say that Indiana has no better brick pavements than the twelve blocks built by Mr Streicher this year. With out doubt the work wll be accepted by the council without any con troversy. BEGIN DRILLING. The W. C. Edwards Oil Co. to Drill Near Tocsin. The W. C. Edwards Oil Company whose name we spoke of in another issue of this paper concerning the great number of leases put on record, will c< inmence drilling next week on the farm of Oliver Hall just one mile east of Tocsin and right along the Chicago and Erie railroad. This will be nothing more than a test well but should the prospects look good and fair indication* of oil are there, the com pany will drill ns fast as possible It is the purpose of this company to thoroughly work this territory for oil and wo hope that their first attempt will b<‘a gusher. Walkup and Company will do all the drill ing for this company and from all reports they come well reoommeded from good companies.

The Daily Democrat.

THE ONLY POWER. Electricity Will Pull all Trains Soon. YY ithin the next five years, it is said, all trains of the New York Central and New York, New Haven and Hartford roads, will be operated from within a radius of 50 miles of the Grand Central station., New York, by electricity. Two immense power houses are to be built. The chance in power will cost many millions of dollars. Electric locomotives will pull the trains. WON’T BE EASY. Juryman on Murder Trial Has Hard Work. Not Allowed to Seperate and Are Practically Made Prisoners.

The men who serve as jurors in the big murder trial which is set for Tuesday morning, no means have a pleasant job. They will not be allowed to seperate during the trial which may last ten days or two weeks and will be forced to take their meals and sleep in one room, always under the guidance of the bailiff in charge. At least these are the usual rules in an important murder case. The jury in the Terrell case at Bluffton have eat and slept in the court room, an hour walk in the morning being the only freedom given them and they are in charge of two bailiffs and are allowed to talk, to no one. long strain has told on them too, and one, J. M. Jacobs, is quite sick, though,he will try to continue in the case to the end. While Judge Erwin may not be quite so strict it is assured that the jurymen will lead a quiet life during the trial.

TOOK HIM BACK. — John Schafer in Pitiful Condition of Mind and Body. Shinney Honus was picked up last night by Night Policeman Fisher and placed in the county jail where he now rests. Shinney is in a forlorn condition and will have to lie taken care of by the county. He has no home and no place to go as no one seems to want to have him around. Something will have to be done with him it is stated that he is at times inclined to be I unbalanced in mind and whenever lie comes to town gi ves the police more or less trouble by his wild actions. Application will bo made today to have him admitted to the County Farm, where he will be given the best of care and will have a bed and a square meal every day. Shinny is certainly to bd pitied. ENCLOSES 16 CENTS. Louis Ludlow the Star league Washington correspondent, says that Secretary of the Treasury has received a letter from a remarkably conscientious Hoosier, who presumably lives at Kimmell, Ind., as the letter liears the postmark of thut town. He imparts the interesting information that thirty or thirtyfive years ago he used three cent stamp the second time and he incloses sixteen cents in stamps to pay for the three cent stump and the aecured interest.

DECATUR, INDIANA, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1903.

CHINA WEDDING. Big Society Event in Root Township. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Magley Celebrate Twentieth Wedding Anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Magley, who reside a mile and a half northeast of Monmouth in Root township celebrated their China wedding last evening, having been married twenty years. The anniversary was a happy one and the event one of the most pleasant ever held in the county. Guests to the number of 125 besides many children enjoyed the happy evening and participate in numerous forms of amusement. Os course the main feature was a four course banquet and it is almost needless to say that the big banquet, which was served at 10:30 included all ■he dainties and substantial dishes in season. It was an immense affai’ nd young and old who ]>artieipi. >. in the big din ner will remember the event for years to come. Mr. and Mrs. Magley enjoyed their wedding day to the fullest extent, and were the recipients of many beautiful presents, including a full dinner set and a tea set. A number of Fort Wayne and Decatur people enjoyed the festivities. Mrs. C. D. Lewton. Mrs. S. Fleming and Mrs. Charles Magley assisted in serving the guests and Miss Dora Grandstaff presided at the piano. Among the older guests were Mr. and Mrs. Sam Pillars, John Peoples, L. W. Lew ton and Dr. LN. Grandstaff. I* was a great social evening and here’s hoping Mr. and Mrs. Magley more such occasions.

THE DEBATE. Kirkland and Preble Combat for Honors. Kirkland With the Affirmative Win an Easy Victory. The debate last night at Magley, for ever settled the question as to whether or not the United States has a good record. The affirmative was taken by William Myers, Elton Crum and James D. Brown, Jr., of Kirkland township, while the negative was handled by Martin Worthman, Marten Jayberg and Jesse M. Kelley of Preble township. By the unanimous decision of the judges the affirmative won out. Oratory flew thick and fast and both sides did themselves proud from this standpoint, but the popular side was with the affirmative and they were easy winners. The school house was crowded with an interested lot of spectators who frequently showed their appreciation of the efforts of the different deflators. Music was furnished by the musical people of Kirkland township and it was of a quality that reflected credit upon those represented in the Cherons. These de bates promise to Ist an interesting feature of school work in these two townships, and they will prove beneficial from many points of view. •

STORES TO CLOSE. Business Will Suspend During Funeral of L. Yager. During the funeral of Leopold Yager, Sr., to be held from the St. Marys Catholic church Monday morning at 8:30 o’clock standard time, all the business houses in Decatur will be closed as a mark of respect to the oldest business man of Decatur. Mayor Coffee has issued the following request: “All business houses of Decatur are respectfully requested to close during the funeral hours of the pirn er business man and esteemed citizen, Leopi 11 Yager. D. D. Coffee, Mayor. FOUR DOLLAR BILL An Old Piece of Money That is Valuable. Will be Exhibited at the World’s Fair by Adams County Citizen. % Gaily Hudson after reading the account concerning the number of old books brought to light by several citizens of this city, comes to the front with somewhat of a relic himself. It is a four dollar bill of American money printed at Philadelphia Pa., on the twenty second day of July 1776 and was issued just eighteeYi days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The bill is about two and one half inches square and is payable in either gold or silver, its number being 5335, This bill was to have been exhibited at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893 but owing to the fact that the committee would not give him any assurance or any bond for its return, the proposition was turned down. At tlio present time managers of the St. Louis Exposition are after it and in all probability this old piece of script will be on exhibit there as they are offering Hudson all kinds of inducements to allow it to be exhibited. Mr. Hudson some time ago was offered four hundred dollars for this bill but he turned the offer down. The bill is a well preserved one and every bit of printed matter that is on it is legible today. Mr. Hudson obtained the bill from some of his older relatives. FILES DAMAGE SUIT. Sullivan & Co. Sue Clover Leaf Railroad. J. H. S alii van & Co., have entered suit aganst the Toledo, Kt Louis & Western railroad oompuny to recover <4,000 damages for the destruction of their mill, which was located at Van Buren until November 9. On that date it was destroyed by tiro and it is claimed that the flames that devoured the mill and lumber yard originated from sparks that blew from passing locomotives. The mill was filled with valuable machinery and lum her at the time of its destruction and was well worth the amount asked, the company declares. It is alleged that the engines were negligently unu <ar I ssly handled. and that it was through ni fault of the owners of the mill that the sparks were permitted to lie swept into the lumber yard. The particular engine that caused the eunilagrution is not known by the complaining party.—Marion News Tribune.

COURT BUSINESS. A Little Civil and Probate News. C. J. Lutz Appointed Administrator for the Charles H. Fuhrman Estate. This was another quiet day in the Adams circuit court and a few moments in session this morning was all thatwas necessary to dispose of the buisness brought up. The record shows the following: John Shaffer, better known as Shinny Honus, charge of larceny, was dismissed and defendant discharged. Fort Wayne and Springfield railway company vs Adam J. Smith ei al, seperate demurrer tiled to exceptions of defenants and overruled, answer filed. In probate court, the will of Charles A. Fuhrman was probated, waiver of right to be appointed administrator. Applications for letters filed and approved and C. J. Lutz appointed administrator. A final report was filed by J )hn Schenbeck, guardian of Rufus Schenbeck and he was discharged. In the Raymond Z. Staffer guardianship matter a new deed was reported and approve. A petition to sell real estate of Hannah Elzey, was filed by E. Burt Lenhart guardian and L. L. Brokaw and George W. Roop appointed appraisers, property ordered sold at private sale after giving four weeks notice. A POINTER. How to Use the Telephone With Evidence of Correctness. Have you ever noticed the various wavs in which jieople answer telephone calls. The speaking tube may be cocked up at an angle of 45 degrees, or down at the same angle. The speaker stands with the receiver to his left ear and his face at right angles with the speaking tube and talks as if in conversation with some one a few feet away. Another person will turn his back upon rhe instrument and talk. Another will get his movffh close up to the speaking tube and yell loud enough to be heara a block. The proper way to talk is to adjust the funni 1 to the transmitter so that it is on a level with the mouth. When talk ing hold the lips an inch or two away and speak a little louder than in ordinary conversation. Speak slowly and articulate with distinctness.

HAVING TROUBLE. Wabash Clash With the Railway Company. Two Wabash officials are in a quandary and the future of that city will be dark and gloomy indeed if the council does not reconsider its action in regard to compelling the Wabash railroad to place watchmen at a number of crossings in the city limits. The railroad management states that they could afford to build around that town than to maintain gab’s and watchmen there. Busi ness from the Rock City is nothing extraordinary and for a little ham let to hint at metropolitan ways in such a manner is aggravating to the mangers of a large corporation. Matters have gone so fur that the city attorney is at work on the case and u legal battle may develop. A prominent Wabash citizen was struck by President Rumsey's special train some time ago and sine that time this project hits been agi luted.

NUMBER 286

A QUEER DEATH. Paulding Man Commits Suicide in a New Way. Paulding county has a strange death which is believed to be a case of suicide. Two explosions in the farm home of Jacob Opplinger, near Cecil were followed by flames bursting forth from the win dows. Neighbors attracted hy tha fire discovered the body of Opplinger in the ruins. The top of his head was blown off and his cloth ings were stained with blood. Tha body was badly burned but there was not sufficient to justify a coroner’s verdict of suicide. Opplinger lived alone and had been despondent for several months. A GOOD TIME. Marked Opening of Hi£h School Dance. A Pleasant Social Event at the Columbian Club Rooms Last Night. One of the best social events of the season was the first dance given by the students of the Decatur High school at the Columbian club rooms last evening. The rooms were neatly decorated for the occasion by use of bunting and crimp paper, in the high school colors, the purple and gold. About forty couples were 1 in attend mcc and everyone present : enjoyed themselves to the fullest 'extent. The music was furnished iby Miss Daisy Haynes of Fort Wayne and surely gave complete as she was encored after each selection. Dancing began promptly at 8:45 and continued until 11:30 when luncheon was served by the high school boys to their guests, after which tha merry crowd danced waltzes, two steps, etc., until an early hour this morning. Everybody had a good time and the high school boys were complimented on all sides. It is their intention to entertain their friends every two weeks by an informal dance throughou’ this winter, and they are sure to have a good patronage at each event. BIRTHDAY SURPRISE. Frank Gilpen of Near Monroe, the Victim. A very complete surprise was the occasion at the home of Frank Gil pen eight miles south of the city, yesterday, it being his 37th birthday. His brother arrived in the morning and took him away on very important business and kept him away until the noon hour arrived. On entering his home he found it filled with friends and neighbors. Frank just then realized it was his birthday and faced the music bravely. The table was already spread with good things and Frank says lets eat. Then the eating contest began which closed about one hour and a half later with a tie between .John Merryman and Charley Lam merman. A candidate driving by smelled the good things an drove in. but alas, too late foi dinner as the two above named gentlemen had the chickens pretty well trimmed, but he passed his cards, also the cigars, made a very pleasant short visit and went on his way rejoicing, feeling it was good to be there At a late hour in the afternoon the people departed for their homes wishing Mr. Gilpen many more happy birth days.