Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 9, Decatur, Adams County, 21 January 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

AN AWFUL GAS EXPLOSION (g) , 'Marion Hotel Wrecked and Several People Hilled

OCCURRED EARLY THIS MORNING Five Dead Bodies Recov- ■ ered—Several Missing I® ® — Fire Follows the Explosion and Scett is Frightful.—Three Build' inr»s Wrecked. I• • 1 I. Special to The Dally Democrat Marion, Ind.., Jan, 21—The slumjers of this city w ere rudly awken ;. i>l this morning at 3:15 o clock by it explosion that shook every I hiding in the city and window asses in the near vicinity were tally wrecked. The explosion eurred in a rooming house just irth of the Soldier's Home and is caused by gas accumnlutin§ in e building und suddenly igniti® aring the building that was < ecu ed by soma forty or w ,mvii to shreds Following the kxplojn fire immediately set in cnveldug the lives of those who were Mot for tun its t.> ■ ■ip at the

SCORED AGAIN (i Calvin MilkrWins Another Point in His Case John Williams Makes Other People Parties to Suit and Case Will Soon be at Issue. | Attorney A. P. Beatty was at ■*ort Wayne yesterday where In at1 1 mded to legal business, represent Ming Calvin Miller in the case of ■villiains v< Miller, the reMilt of.ti ■artnership disagreement. tied the ■k-kndanta scored u decisive point ■n their favor, in fact they have won every losne. The case was first Kind about a year ago but was by the pjuirlitt utter ■ hey realized 'hey bud made a seri mistake, having fled the slot ■lefore the firm h i.l disposed of their Kbiaterial interests. The suit was ■gain filed n few months ago and to Fort Wayne on u chunue of Monue. Tbo defendant filed • plea .n claiming that J t iv.iu.' Yesterday Mill, mi* itforargeed to th;* and Mr. ■filler will, now di mb ti.. p> a ■nd the attorney* are now n. i t an answer \ hi di ’ui l l e .. ’.i Ai a few days. Mr. Miller b. le, . in right and will light the c i*e to finish.

The Daily Democrat.

n dice. AH the fire departments [ were the scene and at a j lato hour Viey had the fire under absolute control. Twenty doctors » £ * » - and an extra Jorce of policemen were immediately hurried to the ■ scene to aid the suffering in as ■ much as wa« in their pAvejj, ,At four o’click this morning five dead bodies had be«n carried from the scene of carnage and it is thought that a number more perished as they are Mill among t|.ie missing and were known ito have dwelt in this apartment hou.se. This is Jlarion’s second big in fire two days. f « •- ® Marion, Ind , Jan., 21, 2 p. trf* —The explosion tWis morning occurred at Erosiers corner, theTmjlding owned by Fred §eFz. The theory accepted as (!■' cause the ■ accumulation of gas and resulting ® * , explosion is thgt a leak in t- o gas mains intersecting at tltb Home 1 1 corner, and the entrance of the gas i int" thi water meins. The dead ® * * I tal;W. ®*>f thy v. reckuge are Clrirl - Biitel um| wile, pn jnici tors of the h'lftl, .l ime Delevin. - John Bouges. and Edward Giskeil, hoarders. Fig nt others were ■ badly in>i«d. ?*hr. < i .Idin . ■ i were destroyed. WAS ENTERTAINED Hrs. Helltf a bu«t of Noior at Fmi » O’chck Tea. A Lancaster, (>fri'> Exchange Isays* Mrs. C. A. Lupher entertwined with a handsomely appoint I five o'clock tea lust evWiing at her North High street residence. ’ | complimentary to Mrs. .1. H. Heller lof Decatur, Ind. guest of Mrs. Ifhaudo Cole. Tito refreshment I board was prettily with t a profusion of red carnations and red shaded < .ilidh .-. Ail: !i"i"’H» four course menu was served the foliov in.l' gi? >ts: Mr- Hi ller. Ml* Cole, Mrs. Catharine MeManamy, ' Mrs C . W. Wi.?Un, Mrs. Thomas M. Koier, Mrs. W. C. Stretton. Mrs. Frank K. Hunter, Mrs. Samuel Wiley, Jr., Elizabeth Cormack. Mrs. M. McCormack M Mrs. C. M.L | Wiseman, Miss Jeanie Griswold . and Mrs. John Mcanamj’.

WAGON SMASHED Mills’ Grocery Wagon Broken in Runaway. Fred V. Mills is looser servers! dollars as the result of hits delivery horse taking affairs to himself and coming to the store without it driver, this morning. Tim delivery clerk.it Vi .jig num named Good, had taken some groceries to the home of T. L Miller, near the .1, V’. Place lee Cream Factory. As ho came out of (he yard th • horse as usual started .to travel. Ho turned short and the wagon over turned, frightening tne horse who ran as far as ilr« Mills stor- where he stopped. Tio « ,4011 was bad lv d<*molish< d and tie* !.< i.o badiy cut on th'' ivfi uind k g.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21, 1904.

A BiG LOSS Over Hundred ’Phones Burned Out I «•• - * e * Mwn* Ate* Reported st Ekctrfc Mdtiafe CauMd by Weather • Conditions. The Citizens Telephone Company and city*' Electric light employes • m busily engaged today in getting their separate and individual plants in forking order. Over one hundred telephones and the complete electric system nt the water works were bufned out last night owing to the conditions of the weather causing I the respective w.re* to swag and | become crossed thereby making the current tgo string for each plant i and th result was a general htirnin • ioaf Both parties are working hard to get their respective lines in working order, and if you are de priced of the use of your telephone or electric lights do not censure th# managers, but blame nature who was tjie cause of it all. It is gent rtlly ut*l< rstood that the ’phenes will all be repaired by tomorrow and the lights will be running tonight.

LEFT FOR WEST w T,M»t Srtwes a Goad »•- sifiot at taufa. I, # « Ort, Case left I’S- evening for Omanu. Nebraska, where he has ae i eepted u po- ii ion as operator on the Union Pacific railroad. He rcceivtd < mes-a . • late e.-tcul iy i;*' erm on ! from the superintendent of the road. O a ■ not know at ju-t what p i.: * r will *ie situati 1 until he has an interview with the general RoaiV Master, who has all this bu. iness in hand. This is cer very highly con I corning Ora’s ability as young as he is being oily a little pastwightecn but he has worked hard tit telegraphy, a n 1 ! has at hD® mastered the same witlAho above results. Ilis ' many friends here will no doubt lie pieri d to leu’ n of his good fortune and w i-,h him all manner of success.

COUBT OVER A Two Weeks' Vacation.—Court Convenes February Firsts® 'Die November term of court closed yesterday when .fudge Erwin di.- 'harged the jury in the FaylorStudaf inker case with thanks of the court. The big case extended over into vacation time three days. The February term begins on Mon day the first day of the month, still allowing ton days of rest for the court officers. The past term was a busy one, fc t,wo of u tho longest east s tried here for some time being heard. They wire the one just closed and which resulted in a disagreement of the jury and tile Osborne murder trial in wl,i h (he defendant wits found guilty of murder in the second degree 1 "T 11 ” Amusements. “Liugh and the World laughs with you" is a true axiom. To le sure that you laugh with the world you have to see "An American th bo. winch Maiu rir U. I). Neell pri sen*-nt the opera house Monday, Jan I's. Its see ies arc said to bt so fanny, comedy so blight and its spi chill io4 mi clover that you will regret it you don't soo it.

RIVER IS UP .» * SI. Marys Raging and Afay (Jot of Bank. The old St. Marys river Is raging today, the first time in months. I At noon it was far out of bftnk and still rising rapidly. The thaw of the last few days and the steady rain of forty eight hours is the cause, ItTias been yhars since the river has been high enough to do trtiy particular’damage and no fears are cgtertain<®l at this time. At I three o’clock the wahw was up' to 1 within a few feet of the bridge. ’ i A BIG HAUL iobbtn Steal Safe Containing SBO,OOO I * Tbrw It frw* Cer M Trail •• the SmHrtb Rtelvar. Spec al * Dail? r>tnarr>». Sin Franewcoy Jdn., 21—During the temporary absence of the messenger fr.im tn express car «n the Southern I’«u itie train N > .fobtM’ threw off the big safia containing lyD.OiltT. The iift'.ir happened at luota Grade. Itoblei'S i.s up'll Ira: officers are after them. I TWELFTH ANNUAL — Hecatur'Lutejer Ofalws Atknd !»■ dwiapclis Meeting. Both members of the lumber firm of Kirsch & Sellcmever, and W. P. Edmundson of the Decatur Lnmliej C.impiny, are home from Indiana polls where they attendcrtl the twelfth annud meeting of the Re- ; tail Lumber Dealers Ass'iciutiun of I Indiana, which was held at the | Hotel Chiypool the finest hotel in the Uni' d States. Among those on ; the arranged program was A. B. | Cline of Bluffton, who on the llutnlier business The *y , say tlj*t it was one of the mos' : pleasant ami im]*rtant meetings ever enjoyed by this association. 1 1* lasted two days. Tuesday and I Wednesday and was attended by local lumber dealers from all quartet < of the state. -

. HAVE DISSOLVED Bccck A Jatkker the Preble Merchants, Divide Walnuts. Btiv.ek &■ Juebker the Preble meicliants and grain men have dissolved by mutual consent. the for tner taking the elevator and the latter the store. Both these gen Heinen have been engaged in busi ness there for some time and have j l>eon doing well, und under the new urrangi inents will continue along the same lines. They are business men and have an excellent point sot j it. IS VERY LOW Condition oi G. W. Woodward Gives But Litile Hope The condoion of G jorgo SV \Vood ward is even move diseottrug ing today than ut any time duiing his illness tis but little hopes can be extended to his many inquiring fri'inds. Ho is still conscious but his pulse is very slow. At three o'clock it was stand that no change hud been noticeable nine i noon.

FRANK TOUHEY IN JAIL ® ® 9 '® : bi Brought Here This Morning by Sheriff BuNer

A SMOOTH FOSKO Kh Wot Here Was Considered a Smooth Jab Wirt Ait tht Chbli Were AKtr Ni<a am Icwerdi Wen ©ffertd. i • Frank Touhey, • the forger, was ( placed in jail here this morning by sheriff Butler. He was arrestad I yesterday in Morion us stated io our issue of last evening, Sheriff Butler i was notified and want after him at loner, being ;*cconipuni< d by i .C. O franco < L the Daily Democrat rt ; - capture was -pok- i on of as follows in this mornings i News-Tribune: In the capture in | Marion of Frank Touhey, i Mth forgery the Marion police * l cun d a i i iminal yesterday who hits i b <4>n i hi I ng the officers of the different cities throughout the country I I snee last Apn il. Tuhey forged the name of his father in law, Captain IW. 8. Wheaton, to a certificate of aep<wit c illnig forSB the J i n.t' Wilson Exchange bank of th; city, 'i'be certificate was cashed at tlm AGamsabountj liaMk at D t tur. Touhey wards dis appeared and was not seen until 1 yesterday, when arrested T»y Patrolman Bon Piiiips and Humane j Officer Golding in Mullaney’s saloon, lie manifested uiueb sur- ’ prise and denied-shat he was Tou1 v-. The officers were certain that ho was the man and he was taken to jail and will be taken back to I), catur this morning by Shi i iff Butler, who arrived in Marion at I 1 ’ :'-s»•> l.ist night. Tn< forgery i< eurred on April 23. Touhey and 1 his wife made their home with I Captain Wheaton, who then resided at Vanßuien. He took the cerlifieat Bom Wheaton's d< al.I in cash. At Decatur he claimed ihut his father in-law had s< at hie I there to buy horses. After securing rhe money lie retained spij (f ' and dp< sited tin remainim.' | in the Wells County B ink at ' Bluffton. Ho returned to \.i.i ' Buren and asked his who to leave; .vi.h him. By ihu ' tiidS Mr i I Wheaton discovered his loss and on ..i .. d * i.bi to n i n • 1 e ir'ifie.ite. T'ii is ri'liisi d Mr Wheaton was powerless and was compelled to obey the comi lands | of his s m-in-law, which were that he return to his office and not in terfere with his plans. Seeing that his wife would not leave with him. t Tuhey gathered his belongings atid ' left Van Buren forp<>inl - unknown. ; The incident hippnued the day the I Wnll ien show ii])p4>ared in Marion ’ ar 1 the local authorities were at ‘ that lime notified to watch for him I Several times pi rsons answering i.H d'.wrip inn were seen, but all were dis.ained by order of the D. - laturiiiid Van Buren uutlun ,ties. ’,’oirheyhds visjted many cities in the country during his uhsimci lie is an aeronaut by trade anil i.i ,de numerous us-,>n< ions thi-i ighout the cmintr . Why lie sb ii'l eomo to ularion, whvro he | known, is mysttying to the polr.!i>. fieri t ifnto he has acted .'.H I shrewalnoss and tliat such u m iti

NUMBER 9

should Wjilk rigli intiMh trap is not known. The police received information that he was in the city early yesti brbiy morning and were on I the trail of him for several hours « Patrolman Bon Phillip- learned that he was in Mullaney’s saloon and 'With Humane Officer Golding went, j after him. Hi« arrest followed. The forgery case has attracted attention all over the country. So well was the deed accemplii-hfd. that Touhey was put down us a professional forger and his picture sent I everywhere. Several rewards were offered. It is claimed that (hiring his absence lie has written ■ s >v?ral letters fl, his wife asking her to join him. Remembering the manner in wliicft he lietrayed her father <he paid no attention to his requests. It is understood that tho Jason Wilson bank were the losers by the forgery. Several suits were * filed by the diffuren* interested par ties, some of which are still pending. DUMPED OUT Dave Andrews Mas a Mishap Tartu Co.nrr Tua il«pidlj’ ait! ttr Rarray kt* (Renans Witte !;■ Dave Andrew-, driver of Mi' night Ims ivr the Murray Hotel. , had a very narrow escape last even- . ing from being bauly injured. 41' was driving at a v®ty fast clip to get 'Ome p issengc: s t tab Otem to the Erie train and in turning a cort! ner on Third street he neglected to i' slack up and the bus slid from one ! side of the road to the other at last, hitting a Isrge tflone in tii' road u: : co ip . irrarii ■ bus. Davi v; thrown ln'ti’ fit ! b * ■I”; , ' I till- > ry Ti’.e hurse wa>. me l.it - .nm ,up and tli" bus da:na cd in a few places. Sjime strungera ] i -ing ' along kindly In 1 ped Dave to up '•> if. ‘d c. b nut at u much slower gait thm b® t .re. Dace rays he we- badly and will be more etui I: ai ‘ tho future. ENTERTAINED FRIENDS Mid Blanche Hart a Hostess Last Evening Miss Blanche Hurt entertained a nutnlxir of her friends hist evening 1 at u pit. party and if all reports are true u line time was hid und tho neighbors nil say that if noise is u good sign of A'Vtod time why the girl -ci rtninl.vY -i it. Pit i«nifut 'idly inm ■ ~,.t\ At l-.e • and i the one who has Hie -trongest v ice is generally the winner. Ii pat u p tson in mind of the l ull.-- and . 1) ■ n-i mi the stock < xchu’igi tight I trig for u fvw cxum During *' th<‘ h liiu* two couvso lunch wh#( >ervi <ln!‘u*r which mil ftKAkpiit in voting »1 *•* Bhuichu i u fine hostoMi.