Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 298, Decatur, Adams County, 27 December 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

MAJESTIC THEATRE BURNED Fort Wayne Has Another Disastrous Fire

ORIGIN IS UNKNOWN Fallen Walls Crushes Four Business Houses Twenty People Asleep in the Block Have Narrow Escape- Two People Injured. "Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 27.—The baautiful Majestic theatre is a mass of black and charred ruing, the result of a tire which occurred early this morning. No one knows the ■cause, but the fire is believed to Slave started upon or under the stage. It is probable that some spark of tire left in the theatre after last night's performance smoldered several hours and then sprang into flames. The blaze was first discovered at a few moments after five o’clock and at that hour the interior of the big building was one mass of fierce flames. A general alarm was sent in and the fire companies made a gallant tight, succeeding in saving the entrance ■on Berry street. A half hour after the fire was discovered, the entire east wall, sixty-tive feet high, fell outward, crushing the rear part of four business houses which front on Barr street. In these buildings •twenty people were asleep and several of them were carried into the basement with the debris. Strange to say, all escaped unhurt, but two, a young man and a baby, and their injuries, while serious, are not believed fatal. The escape of the occupants seems almost miraculous. The total damage to the Barr street buildings is estimated at >IO,OOO, and it is claimed the Insurance policies do not cover this kind of loss The Majestic building was built at a cost of 142,000, and was opened October 24th. The actual loss is estimated at 130,000, with an equal amount of insurance. M- E. Dice, of Toledo owned the building and managed the theatre. Ho stated this morning that ’he would rebuild at once. The future bookings including many high-class attractions have of course been cancelled. When the walls fell several adjoin Ing buildings took tire and a terrible conflagration was averted only by heroic work of the firemen ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Na tional Union will take place nt the office of president of the club, YA. ETToTk, tonight. It is desired that all members of the union will bo present.

The Daily Democrat.

REAL TROUBLE Goff Family Stricken With Small-Pox While Moving. The plight of George Goff and family formerly of this city and Bryant is a pitiable one. As related in the Commercial-Review a day or two since, two of Goff ’s children are quarantined with | smallpox at the home of Caroline Haffner-Wilgus in Bryant, while I Goff and two more children are suffering from the same infection at the home oi David Chaney a mile and a half northeast of Bryant where the strictest quarantine is being maintained. But worst of all the wife and mother is ill of the plague at a hospital in Anderson from which place they were moving at the time theii troubles began. Goff is a brother in-law of Lafayette Davenport of this city.—Port land Commercial Review.. SILVER WEDDING Mr. and Mrs. Hooper Celebrate the Event Thtlr Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Day Was Observed Last 4 Evening Mr. and Mrs. Paul G. Hooper last evening celebrated their twentyfifth wedding anniversary at their beautiful home on North Second street, and a most enjoyable time was had. A big old-fashioned six O'clock dinner was served on the same plan as they were served twenty-five years ago, which was quite a novelty, and made a deoid ed impression on those who partook of the good things. The affair was a quiet one, only the imme diate relatives and a few intima e friends being present to enjoy the festivities. The evening was sjient m playing numerous games and in listening to numerous piano and vocal selections rendered by different parties present, and at a late hour the guests adjourned wishing Mr. and Mrs. Hooper many more such happy occasions. The out of town guests that were present were Mrs. R. B. Light and Drs. John and Martin Harrod, of Fort Wayne. A FAIR TRIAL Is the Promise Made to Rural Carrier Fetters of Bluffton. A Washington dispatch says: Postmaster General Wynne says 'that, Walter Fetters, of Bluffton, treasurer of the Indiana Association iof Rural Carriers, shall have a full land fair hearing in defense of the I charge that he was perniciously ac tive in the recent peliticd cam paign. ' If the charge is proven ho will be dismissed,” said the Post-, master General today, “but he will have every opportunity to demonstrate his innocence."

DECATUR, INDIANA, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27. IDOL

LONG LOST Frank Painter Wanted by His Brother He Left Ross County, Ohio, Thirty Years Aso and Has Never been Seen or Heard From. Franklin Painter, of Dayton, Montgomery county, Indiana, was here today on the search of his brother Frank Painter who he had neither seen or heard from for thirty years. Some time ago he learned that he was located here, and this visit was for the purpose of locateing him, if possible A search of the tax duplicates failed to reveal any such name, and from inquiry no one seemed to know cf him, and he left for home without any more information than before he came. Frank Painter is now about eighty-two years old, and left his Ross county, Ohio, homestead some thirty years ago, and since then his three brothers and one sister have never heard from him. Some time ago a resident of Montgomery county claimed to have seen him here, and this information caused the trip and search that is being made by the Montgomery county brother. He, by the way, is no spring chicken, being seventyeight years old. He was keenly disappointed in being unable to get any trace of the long lost. Treasurer Voglewede will correspond with the county treasurers in the surrounding counties in the hope of finding some trace of this badly wanted Painter. SERVICES BEGINS Rev. Valentine Lectures at St. Mans Church. Notwithstanding the very inclement weather last night quite a large crowd attended the services at the St. Mary’s chinch, wh'ch are being conducted bv Rev. F. Valentine, C. P. “The Haunted House and Some of its Ghosts,” was the subject of the lecture announced, but Rev. Valentine announced that as this lecture was the real foundation to his series, and he desired all who could to hear it, he had decided to postpone the leotum until tonight, which he did. He talked at length upon his purpose in conducting these services, and urged that all 'protestants who can do so, attend. Protestants do not need to be accompanied by a Catholic. Rev Valentino is a learned man and his lectures inter esting indeed. TO MAKE REPORT John Lachot Makes Annual Trip lo Cleveland. John Lachot, the popular treas. urer-elect of Adams county, went to Cleveland, this morning to make his annual report to the Brooks Oil company, for whom he has been Indiana representative for twelve years past. Mr. Lachot has the highest regard for his company who have treated him always in the fairest manner possible. John will contract with the company for ten months, at the expiration of which time he will remove his family from Berne here and ar range to take possession of his office, which ho takes January 1, 11100. Mr. Lachot and family are splendid citizens, and we advance| them our welcome to Decatur.

TOWN SUED Willshire Has a Five Thousand Dollars Damage Sult on Hands. Kiohard H. Ainsworth, by his attorneys, W. H. Dailey and E. C. ' Stitz, has tiled suit in Common Pleas court at Van Wert, for damages for injuries received because I of alleged neglect and carelessness i on the part of the of said village. Mr. Ainsworth claims that he was injured to the extent of 15000 by being thrown out of a buggy, which dropped into an un-, covered excavation dangerously j near the center ot State street in I said village. The excavation in | question was a sewer ditch and was about three feet deep and eighteen inches wide. As a result of his buggy dropping into the ditch Mr. Ainsworth aveis that he suffered permanent injury to his spine, and has ever since sought a money consideration for his alleged injuries at the hands of the village. He failed in his efforts, hence his action in Common Pleas court. COURT NEWS Haviland— Fahey Case Settled D. S. Mauller and H. R. Moltz ReAppointed jury Commissioners— Other Business. D. W Myers etal vs J. M. Rice et al, suit to foreclose lien. Judge O'Rouke assumes juisdiotion as special judge, leave granted to file additional paragraph to complaint j and to make new parties. —flJohn F. Tisron vs James N. Fristoe. suit to foreclose mechanics' lien of >lO, evidence being heard today. —o— Charles Haviland vs Patrick Fahey, >5,000 damage suit, oanse settled. Costs paid and case dismissed. —o— George Aumiller, guardian of Frank Aumiller vs Mary D. Downey et al, partition suit, set for trial Tuesday, January 10. —o— David S Mauller and Harry R. Moltz were re appointed jury commissioners and will serve in that capacity during the ensuing year. They will meet next Tuesday to select names from the tax duplicate for use during the your 1905 YULETIDE BALL Society Event of the Season To-Morrow Evening. Med, Tom and True are making groat propirations for their annual Yuletide ball tomorrow evening at the Entre Nous club rooms, which promises to be one of the leading society events held in this city. The hall is being beautifully deco rated and will present a handsome ap]>earance when completed. The music will be furnished by Med and True, while Tom will have complete management of the fl >or. These boys are fast becoming fam ons by these social events, which ' means success whenever they are connected with it, and the ball tomorrow evening promises to eclipse any ami all former events ever given by those boys, and those who t have received invitations and at- . tend will no doubt enjoy themselves to the fullest extent.

BABY EAT ARSENIC PILLS Two=Yoar=Old Child Victim of Sad Accident

ABLE TO TRAVEL Mrs. Washburn Leaves for Her Home at Boston. Mrs. Charles A. Washburn, the lady who was taken from the Clover Leaf train here while enroute from St. Louis to her home in Boston, Mass., suffering at the time with appendicitis, has so far recovered from the attack that last evening she was assisted on board an Erie train and started homeward, where upon her arrival he' will submit to an operation. Mrs. Washburn stated that she and her husband were running a place of amusement on the Pike, she acting in the capacity of ticket seller. She says she had received word from her husband that he had purchased the entire Chinese display at the close of the fair buying it up at a mere trifle and was busily engaged in packing the different articles and would ship the outfit *o New York. While here Mrs. Washburn was under the care of Dr. J. S. Coverdale and Mrs. Murray at the hotel. WILL BANQUET Lyman Brothers as the Hosts Will Entertain Their Larje Force of Men at the Burt House To morrow Evening. Tomorrow evening at the Burt Hotel the Lvman Bros will entertain their entire force of men at a real live and up-to-date banquet, including artists, crew men, deliverymen, and in fact every man who is in the employ of this gigantic concern. The Lvman Bros are doing this as a tok an of respect and j the esteem they hold every man j in their employ and as an appreci-I ation for their past faithful services, j There is no doubt that a fine time I will be enjoyed by all. This firm 1 vesterdav contracted with Charles Ross, a Decatur boy, appointing I him as general overseer and man h ger of all crews for the state of Indiana. He will direct the men as he sees tit. This position carries with it a handsome salary. Charles has only been with this concern a little over a year and this appointment comes as a most agreeable surprise to him. WILL ENTERTAIN Mrs. Fred Heuer Hostess at Six O'clock Dinner. Mis Fred Heuer will entertain a number of her friends at a six o’clock dinner The guests of hon or will bo Mr and Mrs. C. E. Nep tune, who leave in a few days for their new home in Arkansas, and Miss Emma Ja ik.son. whoso engage nient is to be announced in a few days. The event is sure to be ade ' lightful uno

NUMBER 298

DIED IN AWFUL AGONY Daughter of Charles Ridenour at New Corydon Mamma was Sick and Babe Eat Fifteen Grains of Arsenic Thinking it Candy. The two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Charles Ridenour, of New iCorvdon, died in terrible agony Friday evening, the result of eating fifteen grains of arsenic. Mrs. Ridenour was in bed sick and the children were playing about the house. The little baby girl had wandered into the kitchen and had climbed up on a chair to find something to eat in the cup board. She reached her little hand in and grasped a box, the first ' thing she touche 1. Getting down 1 on the floor she soon ert the entire . box of sugar Coated arsenic pills, ’ which had been left at th™ hO'IV' by a physician who was treating MrA. [ Ridenour. A moment after eating the poison the child began suffering and ran to mamma's bedside. wh‘re she told her in a baby way of thd tro ible. An instant later the child went into convulsions. The distracted mother, herself in a serious , condition, realized the terrible rej snlts that were soon to come, and sent for Drs. Schenck and Ralston at once. They arrived within a I very short time and used the most I powerful remedies, but without re I suit. The babe grew rapidly worse, i and turned black from head to foot, i So severe were the convulsions that. 1 when the physicians would place the rubber tube to the stomach pump in her month she would bite them off instantly. Her sufferings were soon over, however, death coming within fifteen minutes The ■ poor nio'hor is prostrated and her I condition most serious, owing to her weakened condition and the terrible shock. Th-funeral snrvices were hold Sunday at New Cory | don, and it was indeed a sad Christtnas for the Rid.-nmu family and their friends. In fact the sad event oh st a shadow of gloom over the entire community. A BUM SHOW Eli and Jane Had Foor Support and Small Crowd. The production last evening of Eli and Jane at the opera house was without doubt the poorest that has been seen in our city since the comic opera company ‘‘Dorothy,’’ of which our readers have a faint recollection The company last evening, with the exception of Harry Green, ns Eli, and Beatrice Bush as Jane, must have been made up exclusively of amateurs, ns their acting was weak and awk ward, and they appeared to bo lost and out of plane. The amount of money this company took out of the city, however, would hardly pay oar fare to the next town, as only a small crowd was present, and unless they make a decided change in their cast, we can readily see the finish.