Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 287, Decatur, Adams County, 14 December 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

ANOTHER BIG FIRE LOSS

Fort Wayne Suffers $30,000 Blaze.

THE SHIELDS CLOTHING STORE Reuben S. Patterson Also Has a Touch. Cause is Unknown.—Street Car Lines Tied Ip Most of the Day. Special to The Daily Democrat Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 14—At five o'clock this morning, a fire in the basement of the Shield's! Clothing house, located on Calhoun street, opposite the court house | BREAKS RECORD. Shiney Honus the Dirtiest Man on Earth. Taken to County Farm and Manager Graber Spent Hours Cleaning Him Up. J. R. Graber, superintendent of the county farm will take oath that Shinny Honus who was admitted to the infirmary last Saturday was the dirtiest man that ever trod soil in Adams county. Ho says that when shinny came in ho was shaving the inmates and that Shinny Honus says "shave me," of course it is Mr. Gruber s duty to do this and he shaved him up nice and clean and cut his hair close to his head. It was right them when the fun commenced as he says he saw at least a million lice crawling this way and they had to be killed and it was certainly an undesirable job to do so. After this operation Shinny was stripped and placed in a bath tub and Mr. Graber says be ■Could hardly believe what his eyes saw for before him stood a man who was nothiug but a mass of tilth. It was impossible to clean him in one water and took him different waters to thoroughly douse him. Mr. Gralier says a fact that when it came to cleaning his feet ho had to first take a stick th -j place a rag over it and actually force the dirt away. All in all Mr. Graber says be believes it has been years and years sini’e Shinny has taken a bath. All of his clothes und effects were burned and he was furnished clean and substantial clothes by Graber. County farm manager may seem a desirable place but when it comes to cleanin,: and dealing with such men ns Shinny Honus most people would rather be excused. Hut Mr. Gralier just buckles on the harness and wad< s right in.

The Daily Democrat.

I and the configration proved a seriI OUS one. The big stock of clothing was almost totally destroyed,entailing a loss of about $50,000. The . building, owned by Otto Seidel I was damged to the extent of $107,1000. Reuben S. Patterson’s big cloth1 ing store also suffered, his stock being damage by smoke and water to the extent of $20,000, making a total loss of SBO,OOO. The Sheilds Company carried $35,000 insurance while the build- 1 ing and Patterson stock are fully covered. The cause of the tire is i unknown. '/The street car lines were all blocked up, it being impossible to pass the fire and at noon not a car had vet traveresed Calhoun I street. This city seems to be having an unlucky run of fires, the loss witb- | in a few weeks being over $300,000. I HAS RESIGNED. Rolla Calderwood Will Become a Farmer. Rolla Calderwood, the man who has so faithfully for these many years past acted in the capacity as night bus driver and mail tendered for Dibble & Meibers. and who had lieen called by them the "Old Reliable" has resigned his position with this firm and the traveling public who have so long heard his voice call out his transfer bus und hotel will certainly miss him. Rolla in all his time as bus driver has the clean record of never having missed a train or misplaced a mail bag and his old employees will keenly miss him. He was always faithful and no mutter how bad the weather was always on hand for duty. Rolla resigns to take up his residence on his father's farm in Blue Creek township where he expects to pass the remainder of his days awav from the bustle and jar of the railroad and become a good old farmer. PAINTED HIM. Colored Man's Face Changed in a Few Moments. Jim Smith, colored porter at the Burt House was certainly a sight yesterday evening, when some of his friends took it upon themselves to change his color while he was resting in the sweet arm of Morpheus. They first put mucilage upon his face then powdered chalk to make him white man and thoroughly rubbed it in then proceeded to take a few sticks of colored paints and made him a most hideous creature to behold. They awoke him and started him up street, on an errand but he soon realized his condition and made hasty tracks buck to the hotel. The boys say that they were only trying to naturalize him. and had to piint him accordingly in the t'nited States colors, us red. white ■ and blue were predominating. It I will be a few d lys ueior ■ Jim will 11® able to get the mucb.ilago off his I face.

DECATUR, INDIANA, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1903.

[ready for trial Arrangements Complete and Issues Made Big Trial Bedias Tomorrow. Other Business.—A New Case Filed. The Adams circuit court is ready for the trial of Joseph Osborne, charged with the murder of his father in law, John Busenbark. The case begins tomorrow morning at nine o'clock and today the court room was arranged, the jury box being moved over to the center of the room, the lawyers and reporters desk placed in position. No one except lawyers and newspaper reporters will be allowed within the railing. Todav prosecutor Moran and Attorney Lutz filed a demnrerin the case which was overruled and reply was tiled to the special answer, completing the issues in the case, said reply being a general denial. In the case of Amanda M. Dulin vs Samuel A. Dulin, default as to defendant, rule against prosecuting attorney to answer. Anew case was filed by Attorneys Erwin & Erwin entitled Michael Smith vs George Appleman, damages, demand S2OO. Appleman rents Smith's farm and is charged with cu ; ting timber which is Jhe property of said Smith. IS FAITHFUL Has Nursed His Mother Two Years. Nathan Harshberger Summoned as Juror in Osborn Case But Was Released by Judge Erwin I I For two years past Nuthan Harshlieger, a well known citizen of Jefferson township has been the faithful nurse lor his aged mother who has been suffering from a stroke of parlysis. In all these months he has left her bedside but twice und then upon the most urgent business und remained away but a short II time. He was one of the special I jurymen drawn for the Osborne murder trial and this fact brought ■ forth the story of his faithfulness to the old mother he loves so well. He sent an appeal to Judge 1 Erwin asking to lie excused and 1 enclosed the certificate of Dr. W. F. Shneck which read as follows: “This is to certify that the moth1 er of Nathan Harshberger is sick from a stroke of paralysis which occurred two years ago. She re quires constant care all the time, being entirely helpless. Nathan has waited on her constantly anil 1 he alone of the household is able to 1 care for und lift her about ns ncces ■ sary. He has been summoned us a juror but I Ixdieve if he is required to bo away from homo any length I of time, the lite of his mother will be endangered us ho is needed nil < hours of day und nigh'." Snch faithfulness is worthy of praise and I the appeal had the desired effect. ♦ Mr. Harshlsirgor being released from duty.

A MONTH EARLIER. Assessor Will Start Out March Ist This Year. The law passed by hist legislature | changes the date of beginning the I assessment of property for taxation from the first day of April to one month earlier, so look out for the man with the tin box on March first. He is also given fifteen more days in which to complete the work. The legislature was good to him in another respect und in < creased his pay to $2.50 a day. The ; extra fifty cents is to pay for the burdens holding office imposes on a man but the deputy on whose shoulders the blame for mistakes is laid, will still be paid but $2.00 for the same service his principal gets $2.50. A CLOSE CALL M. E. Church Has Slight Fire. Discovered Just in Time to Prevent a Disastrous Conflagration. The Methodist church came near having a disastrous and very damaging fire about eight o'clock this morning, caused by the furnace becoming overheated and igniting some boards which hud been place over the reigster to throw the heat in certain directions. Mr. Spangler was going past ami first noticed smoke issuing from beneath the door. He rushed in and found I quite an ugly blaze. The official | board was in session in another part of the church und hearing the comI motion ami alarm, rushed into the auditorium room, with their assistance, the blaze was soon under i control and outened without sending an alarm to central. The carpet about the register was slightly burned but the damage will be small. However had the tire had ten minutes further start, the handsome big church would no doubt have suffered a severe loss. CHARITY DRAMA- ——— Rathbone Sisters and Their Plav for the Poor. Little 'Trixie, the Rathbone Sisters, local talent show is a play absolutely’ pure in sentiment and story and the comedy’ is of the highest order and the same time novel treatment and brilliant in dialogue, the heart interest is intense, the theme elevating and inspiring and the production us a whole cannot fail to be appt eclated by all who admire beautiful sent! mont and literary excellence in the drama. The people of the play are true to life and the counter part nan be found in every’ community. The comedy characters, an erratic dude and a. succcptable widow, who like all widows is anxious for another plunge into the sea of matrimony, and arc redioulously funny and the mere speaking of their lines call forth hearty laughter. The title role is one of beautiful flleal love through which the family’ is reunited, the villian who has caused all the trouble is punished and all end happily. The scenic ('fleet arc elaborate, the stage sotting beautiful und the Rathbone Sisters cun promise their friends 11 new, clover and up to date performance by an excellent cast. I’olitc vaudeville between acts.

REV. S. S. ALBERT IS DEAD

The Pastor of the Evangelical Church.

NEWS IS A SAD SURPRISE Left Here Last Tuesday Morning. i3ecame 111 Here With Lagaippe a Week Ago and Disease Developed Into Pnetim. nia. Rev. S. S. Albert, pastor of the Evangelical church in this city died at his home in Elkhart at two o'clock this morning after a few days illness with pneumonia. He preached here as usual a week ago Sunday morning and evening, but did not feel well as usual. Monday TOHEAR PAPERS Adams County Medical Society to Meet. Will be Addressed by Drs. Bulson and Van Sweringer of Fort Wayne. The Adams county Medical Society will meet at the office of Dr. J. M. Miller Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock and every member of the society will probably attend at least their presence is desired, i Tne meeting is an important one I and the physicians will listen to ’ papers read by two of the F< rt Wayne’s most prominent doctors. Dr. Bulson will lecture on the subject “Some general consideration regarding the diagnosis of Iritias," and Dr. B. VanSweringer on the subject of "General consideration of some common heart lessons.” These papers will 1® of great interest to the profession and president <' »stel lo desires that the visiting gentlemen be greeted by as many of the local physicians us possible and it is certain the meeting will be one which prove valuable. It is the purpose to have a number of such meetings during the year. SET FOR TRIAL Williams-Miller Case at Fort Wayne January 26th. The SSOOO damage suit entitled John Williams vs Galvin Miller is set for hearing January 20, at Fort Wayne, nt which time a plea in ! abatement will lie urgued. The 1 parties were formerly partners, | Mr. Williams living at Marion and I Mr. Miller here und both men are well known over the sluto having ! contracted gravel roads and other I public work for jours.

NUMBER 237

|he suffered an attack of lagrippe , and was quite sick all day ut the I home of Solomon Linn. Tuesday morning ho decided to go home and reached the depot with difficulty, it being necessary to assist him into the train. By the time ho reached Elkhart his condition vas most sreious and the lagrippe had developed into a severe attack of pneumonia. He sank quite rapidly until two o'clock this morning when death rcleived his suffering. He was sitxy eight years old and had been in the ministry many years. He had been retired but offered his services last spring when the church here needed a 1 last or and has since hud charge of the Decatur pastorate. A brilliant and able man, kind and an earnest worker, he was beloved by his congregation who learn of his death with genuine regret und saddened hearts. He leaves a wife and three children to I mourn their loss. The news was received here by Mrs. Hudnet, i sister in law of Rev.Alberts but the message did not state whether or not the funeral arrangements had been made. It is probable that some Decatur people will attend the services. FUNERAL SERVICEST Business Houses Close in Respect to L. Yager, Sr. The last rites over the remains of Decatur oldest business man, Leopold Yager, Sr., were held this morning, the services being conducted by Rev. Wlkens from the St. Marys Catholic church at 8:30 o'clock. As a mark of respect und to show the high esteem in which Mr. Yager was held, all business houses were closed from eight o’clock to ten und the church services were largely attended. For thirty-nine years Mr. Yager has conducted business in Decatur and the growth of his establishment proves a successful career. He was honored and respected by every business man of Decatur. TheKnihgtsof Columbus, of which order he was member, had I charge of the services and at tended in a body. Among the friends of the family who attended the funeral of L. Y iger, Sr., were Mr. und Mrs. T. Schultheis and son August of Fort Wayne, Robert Schultheis of Toledo, Mrs.Ctrlina Storms of Fort Wayne, S. S. Buchanan of Willshire, H. S. Thoma of Bluffton, J. Goetz, Mr. Neusbaum, J. Goekle und J. Rom- | wood of Fort Wayne. — JUMPED THE TRACK. G. R. 4. I. Box Car Takes an Hour or Two Off. Yesterday morning ut 5:30 o'clock a. car heavily loaded with merchandise jumjH'd the truck just i north of the Grand Rapids und In dianu railway station und run along |on the ground for over two hundred feet. It seems that the brake Ix’ani wus broken und when it dime to the side walk crossing at Monroe street the lieam caught throwing the car completely off the mils. The frnlii was brom ht to a stand- : still as soon us possible und work to | get it ou thi* truck was commenced und it was fully an hour and a half before traffic was resumed. No one was hurt.