Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 162, Decatur, Adams County, 20 July 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

IN THE RECEIVER’S HANDS C B. & C. Railroad Having a Run of Hard Luck

BADLY IN DEBT W. S. Fleming Appointed Receiver Portland, Pennville, Bluftton and Huntington Voted Them Subsidies. The C. B. & C. railroad is in hard lines as a special from Portland says that upon application of Fred Bimel, a receiver was appointed for the Cincinnati, Bluffton & Chicago railroad. William S. Fleming was appointed receiver for the railroad company and James O. Pierce for all Indiana property of the BraceyHoward Construction company of Chicago which built the road. The road has just recently been completed between Bluffton and Portland, a distance of twenty seven miles. Bimel who applied for the receivership is a heavy creditor of the railroad, which was built largely on money borrowed in Bluffton and Portland. Smith H. Bracey of Chicago is president and Fred Bimel vice preisdent of the railroad. The liabilities of the railroad are about <706,000 of which 1558,000 is due the construction company. The remainder is due the bondholders and for labor and material used in construction. Among the a- -ets of the company are four engines, seventy flat cars’ one passengei coach and twenty-seven miles of track valued at about 1500.000. The road was bonded for< 15,000,000 but few of the b mds were sold. Allen P. Russell second vice president’ and general manager of the r< a l is in New York at the present time trying to sell the bonds. The offices of the road will be removed from Bluffton to Portland and it is probable that the receiver will be allowed to continue the ojieration. It had been the intention to extend the line to Huntington which city and county had voted a subsidy of <58,000 and there is speculation as to whethor'the effort will be made

to build the extension. The road has been operating one passenger coach between Bluffton, Pennville and Portland but its principal business has been in handling gravel. Bluffton gave the road a subsidy of >38,000, and the town of Pennville added 119,500 to the road’s • finances. This road has occupied considerable space in the newspapers during the past year and the stringency they are now up against will regretted by many people, especially those in and aroundJPennville where they have no railroad and who for years have been laboring unceasingly for any kind of a The subsidies voted the company at Portland, Pennville, Bluffton and Huntington aggregate more than 1160,000 which is a handsome sum toward the construction of the line. The trouble came in the tightening of [the eastern money market and the closing of the books toward the bonding of any now or uncertain enterprise. Their only hope for the final accomplishment of this road is for it to fall into the hands of those wol I known in railroad stock circles and

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who can induce the owners of a go >d bundle of money to invest in the bonds issued against the water and other assets of the company. This done the road can be built aid when built’will likely prove a good thing for those concerned. It traverses a very good territory and one too that is not worried with competition in freight or passenger travel. 4t present writing the road or the twenty seven constructed miles of it will lie operated by a receiver and its future will be trusted to the luck of bringing the interprise cut of the financial dumps into which it has unfortunately been driven. STILL VERY SICK The Condition of Jacob Shows but Slight Improvement. The condition of excomm issioner Jacob Yager is not much improved and he is still a very sick man although his physician Dr. J. M. Miller is doing everything in his power. He fails to improve as fast as is desired. On last evening Dr. Miles W. Porter of Ft. Wayne was summoned and held a consultation with Dr. Miller and it was first thought that an operation would bring the only relief but after closer examination Dr. Porter concluded that in all probability he could pull him through without one and therefore did not deem it necessary at this time, although an operation may be necessary in the near future. WILL BE GREAT Tomorrow is Political Day at Rome City Congressmen Clark and Grovenour Will Shoot a Few Hot Ones. Tomorrow will be a great day at Rome City as the Hons. Cham Clark of Missouri "nd Gen. Grovenour of Ohio appear there in joint debate and discussion of the political issues of the day. Both are old horses at debating and can say things in away that would please even the worst chronic kicker on the map. Champ Clark was permanent chairman for the St. Louis national convention and any time he undertook to speak he (said more blunt and at the asme time charming things than a regiment of people could .think of. He is simply fine and is well worth a trip to Rome city too hear The same can be said of the other speaker who has a reputation as a ready debater and with wit to burn. The oom bination will be out of sight for those who like to hoar the red hot iron of sarcasm flourished by a flrey tongue. Both are orators as well and no mutter what the program for the Western Chautauqua may contain there will be none that will equal the exhib'tionj of the political discussion that will bo on at that place Thursday July 31.

DECATUR, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 20, 1904.

THE STRIKE Local Meat Dealers Can Not Get Orders Filled. The big meat strike is affecting a number of our local meat men who had placed orders with this company for hams and other canned goods to bo shipped here this week. They all received a very neat letter from Mr. Armour stating that it would be impossible for him at present to fulfill any orders whatever owing to his plant being closed down on account of the strike and it would be impossible for him to state when the ban would be lifted. This strike has put the meat men not only here but in surrounding cities in the nine hole as they are now unable to get this kind of meat any where. They are all praying that the strike may be satisfactorily settled in a few days and their orders filled. NEW STYLE Now the Fashion to Worship in Shirt Sleeves A Petition Should be Presentea the Decatur Pastorate for a Change to the New Fashion. Hartford City has the right idea of serving the Lord this hot weather. Last Sunday Rev. J. W. Cain pastor of the Grace M. E. church, appeared in the pnplit with a negi ligee shirt and a light coat. Even the light coat he wore ,was uncomfortable and he asked the women present for an expression as to the propriety of the men appearing in | their shirt sleeves. The idea was taken as a happy thought and there | was no time lost in shedding coats. The men in the choir Sunday evening were in their shirt sleeves and sang with more feeling and energy than they had with their coats on. Now this seems more like business. The idea of men having to meekly submit to the outlandish and barbarous methods of the high colar, stiff bosom shirts and Prince Albert in order to register tbeir good will for ‘ the church. It affects us greatly to see so many of our friends punished in this way every Sunday and we make this appeal in their behalf. The pastorate of the city should get together on this subject. Properly advertised every church will be crowded to the door, no matter what kind of hot stuff the weather man may conclude to hand out, provided the ooatless man will find a welcome. It occurs to us that great interest could be maintained even if such hot weather does make one feel like loosing their Christianity. It is worth the trial and the ministers of the city will be direlict in their duty, if they fail to catch the prevailing fashion. Clothes do not make the man any way but—they tdo make them d-n hot. Give us a chance to breathe while we worship. Recruiting Recruiting Officer A liny, stationed at Muncie is soliciting men for the army. Almy not only receives recruits for the infantry but enlists mon for the calvary and artillery as well. The reason that the government has put the recruiting officers out in the various cities is that three years ago five regiments were organized for three years of service and their time is up. About 40 per cent Os these mon will drop out while the other 00 percent will rein list.

INSPECTED Opera Houses Being Scrutinized by Inspector The Bosse Optra House is Well Protected From a Panic of This Kind. State Factory Inspector D. H. McAbee is waging a war against owners of opera houses who have failed to provide additional exits and other safe guards since the warning was Sent out soon after the Iroquois fire in Chicago last December. His inspection of the opera houses of the state is finished and his orders for alterations and improvements have been given. He is now awaiting developments. If owners refuse to follow his instructions there may be some play houses closed at the beginning of the season in the fall. “The theaters of Indiana will be safer next seastn than they have ever been before,’’declared Mr. McAbee Saturday. “A number of them taking warning from the Chicago theater horror, are making improvement this summer.” The B ;sse opera ! house in this city is not affected by the careful scrutiny of the state inspector, because it measures up to the requirements in this partic ular. There are three exits from the main floor besides those from the stage. There is no danger in the Bosse house, no matter how large a crowd may be there and those who yet have visions of the I Iriquois fire, need have no fears I for any outburst in the Decatur theatre. DECATUR HONORED A Party of Prohi Statesmen Here Today They Were Passing Through the City on Their Way to Fort Wayne. Quite a party of statesman and politicians interested in the success and welfare of the prohibition party were here this morning lietween trains enroute from Bluftton to Ft. Wayne. They held the boards at Bluffton last night and played to a crowded house. They art’ entertainers out of sight and oan make a I speech that would make your I grandmother turn over. The party consists of Felix T. McWhirter their candidate for governor, Charles E. Newlin, E. G. Shouse M. E. Race and Frank Wallen. Mr. Newlin will bo remembered by many of our people, he having lectured at the court room last winter on the evils of strong drink, and the way he portrayed in water colors, was a caution. The party this morning was full of life and have away of making a fellow lielieve that they actually think the prohibit are on the map and we guess they are. They are a jolly set and have a good time spending the campaign boodle at their command. From Fort Wayne they go to Angola and then to Portland. After the session with Mr. Newin last winter Decatur has been so everlastingly good that a repititon of the dose will not be needed for some time yet. We hope though, that they will not forget us before the campaign is over.

| WAS SURPRISED — Mrs. James Brunnegraff the Victim of a Surprise. Mrs. Brunnegraff was most agreeably surprised last evening when thirty of her friends and neighbors burst in upon her to remind her that it was her sixtieth birthday. The evening was must ennjoyably spent, in playing cards and dancing and during the evening a most sumptuous supper was served to i which all did ample justice. Mrs. i Brunnegraff was presented with a i beautiful dress pattern to remind her that she was still remembered by her friends and neighbors for her kindness and good deeds. At a late hour all adjourned wishing Mrs. Brunnegraff many more such happy occasions. LOST OUT Wabash Gives Their Experience in Oil They Think From Fifty to One Hundred Thousand Was Sunk in the Ground. Dispatches from Wabash Indiana, : show that their prosperity in the I oil business is on a par with the sample dished out to Decatur investors in this sometimes slippery business. Their story is that the two of three score or more, of stockholders in Wabash oil companies who within the last eighteen months were induced to buy stock in concerns organized with large } capital part of which was assigned to Wabash where subsidary corporations were formed, are in the . dumps. Not one of the inviting schemes presented to Wabash men I have prospered but on the contrary i not only has the original investment been sunk but considerable ! sums of money have been borrowed lon the corporation notes with the | stockholders as individual indorsers. ' The companies have practically no i assets save the scattered holes in the ground for the territory is not productive. For many months the stockholders have been hanging on by their eyebrows in the hope that a strike which would solve the i problem of the indebtedness would jbe made. Most of the territory in ’ which money was sunk is in eastlorn Indiana T<ew Ulrey of Fort i Wayne and his associates held options on the companies and Ulrey has made a fortune. The sums lost by Wabash county investors in Joil deals is believed to he not less than <50,000 and is estimated by some local business men at not loss than <IOO,OOO. SEVEN FOR LIFE No Woman Ever Suffered Death Penalty in Indiana. "Could a woman convicted in Indianapolis of murder in the first degree be executed?’’ was asked of Prosecutor Ruckelshaus. in speaking of Ella Hicks, whose trial on the charge of murdering Joseph I hidings began in criminal court at Indianapolis Saturday. “Under the law it would bo possible,” replied the prosecutor. “Under the circumstances I would not say anything at this time concerning th< probabilities of an execution. “To my knowledge no woman has ever suffered the death penalty for murder in Marlon ciounty. ” Not only is the prosecutor’s statement, true of Marion county, fcbiit of Indiana as well. Although no woman has been hanged for murder in the state, there are seven serving life sentences for murder in woman’s prison.

NUMBER 162

MANY THERE Ben Hurs Surprise Their Chief John P. Spuller Was Given a Round Last Night Which He Seemed to Enjoy. The home of John P. Spuller about four miles east of the city was the scene of a most enjoyable time last evening. About forty es the members of the Ben Hur Lodge secured conveyances and drove to this beautiful country home, where they crept in the house without making any noise and seated themseves in his parlor. The old gentleman who had already retired was awakened by his wife and informed that there was a gentleman wanting to see him down stairs. To his great surprise he found not one genteman but several, besides ladies wanting to see him. The evening was delightfully spent in out of doors and in doors games, interspersed with music. So well did they enjoy the occasion that not until a very late hour were they seated to enjoy the last part of their entertainment, the refreshments which were enjoyed as heartily as was the first part. Those who had the pleasure of being present were Messrs and Mesdames Joe Rice and son, W. H. i Sheler and son, James L. Gay, E. H. Pontius, John Ray, Bixler, Adam Weise, C. J. Weave, Henry Laughrey, and Morris Hay, the Mesdames Harry Cordua. Winters and Al Gerard, the Misses Emma and Ina Wyatt, Irene Weaver, and Maggie Hoyer, and Messrs Harvey Harruff Charley Gage, and Enos Eady, (Jes- | sie Sutton. Earl and Dallas Butler, I Sam Wyatt , Harry Diniels and . Clark Spahr. — GAME TODAY Non-Professionals Trying Their Luck As we go’to press a red hot ball game is in progress at Slt«le’s Park between Mose Krohn's Stars and the Bcaneaters, and from tho j atnuont of cheering tint could be j heard up street coming from the ' park a most interesting game was | being witnessed. The B joze Lifters are under the managemennt and oaptiancy of the renowned Mose Krohn who will cut up a few capers around second base and see that every thing is stopped that comes his way and he stated to a ruprußuntiitivn of this paper just, before going to the battle field that his team had a walkaway. Krohn is also backed up by Charles Franco who will keep one foot on first base to see that it does not get aw ay. Much confidence was also expressed by William Doerhman who has charge of tho Beaneaters as he firmly believes that this team is tho best of the two and bo has with him a number of stars. Tbo ambulance has boon ordered to report at the park ut five o’clock to bring in the dead and woundod as the game is for blood, and accidents may follow. The game will lie finished today unless darkness over takes them and should this prove to be the case the game will bo finished tomorrow. A large prize is in contention and the team that looses have to* pay for it, so you may imagine what was going on there today We will endeavor to give ii full account of the game I in tomorrow’s edition-