Herald-Democrat, Greencastle, Putnam County, 31 March 1916 — Page 2

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❖ffTEVERY PAGE A LOCAL •> ❖ PAGE. LEADING PAPER * ❖ OF PUTNAM COUNTY. ❖ •j. .;. •*» •;* .j. v ••• %• •>

TONS OF DYNAMITE EXPLODE, CAUSING BIG PROPERTY LOSS

OHIO AND INDIANA STONE COMPANY PLANT WRECKED AT EARLY HOUR LAST FRIDAY —SHOCK SHATTERS WINDOWS IN SCORES OF GRKENCASTLE HOMES—FORCE OF EXPLOSION FELT WITHIN A RADIUS OF FIFTY MILES.

FEW PERSONS ARE INJURED

Quarry workmen jret explosive loo hot when heating it for use later in the day—blame for error of overheating explosive has not been as signed—many people visit scene during day.

Earl Sweet, superintendent of the O. Si I. plant estimates that the loss to the company will exceed $.>.000. It was his belief that work will not be held up for more than two weeks.

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Several persons were injured slight ly, one perhaps seriously, and property damage in and around Greencas tie to the extent of many hundreds of dollars was incurred shortly before saeven o’clock last Friday when 4,200 pounds of dynamite exploded at the Ohio and Indiana Stone Company’s plant, two miles west of Green-

castle.

As the result of the explosion, the .-tone plant was wrecked extensively, and scores of Greencastle homes and busines houses were without lights in many windows. In many buildings in town, plastering was torn from -the walls, and other damage done. Workman is Hurt Jim Mike, a Russian workman at the quarry, was the only pvson injured to any extent by the explosion. Mike was in the main building of the quarry- plant when the explosion came. He was struck by flying timbers, and one leg was fractured. Custls DeRodes, timekeeper at the quarry, was struck on the forehead by a borad, and a slight cut was inflicted. Mrs. Annie Callueio was knocked to the floor in her home a few hundred feet from the plant, and severe-

ly bruised.

Other persons who were In the near visinity of the scene of the explosion were severely shaken and bruised but none other was injured. That man> persons were not killed or sevei cly injured is considered miraculous by those who witnessed the explosion or who visited the wreck afterwards. Cause of Explosion The cause given for the explosion was that workmen heated the dynamite too hot when preparing It for use at the quarry. The rtynamite was storey a short distance from the quarry plant. Steam pipcswerc run through the ground where the dynamite was located, and the heat, from the pipes was being used In preparing it for use. No particular person or persons have been Warned iot the error of getting the dynamite 160

hot. »

The explosion came at 6:55 o’clock. Many Greencastle people were on the streets and were able to witness the debris from the plant as it was thrown into the air. Only one big Ma«t was heard, but this appeared to last for fully a minute. By 7:1.> oV.ock, the road leading to the quan > was lined with people going io the scene Of the explosion. Several hundred people witnessed the wrecked plant during the day.

Hoofs Caved In

The roofs of both of the main buildings were caved in; smoke stacks over the boiler room were loosend and bent over at steep angles. Every window light was shattered, am* all but a few of the sashes in the windows were torn out. Timbers were strewn throughout the plant and over the ground surrounding it. It probably will be several days before work can

be resumed.

A pit" about thirty feet deep and about sixty feet wide was formed at the exart place where the dynamite

the explosion. It is impossible to give any comprehensive report of the financial loss to Greencdstle property owners. A complete list of all damage that was reported may he found in another column of the Herald. Telephone messages from all surrounding towns gave evidence that the force Of the explosion was felt for many miles. In a few minutes after the shock was felt, the Herald was called over the telephone by parties in Indianapolis, Roachdale, Danville, Cloverdale, and many othplaces. At Danville it was said that the shock was of sufficient severity for the people there to locate Greencastle as the place where the explosion had occurred.

SCHOOL BOARD PROPOSITIONS ARE REJECTED

dows of the home of Dr. G. W. Bence on East Washington street were broken. A few glasses in the building occupied by the domestic science classes, oi*Greencastle high school, were brok-

en.

Many window’s were shattered in the homes of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Taylor and A. O. Lockridge, on East Washington street, Rev. and Mrs. A.

H. Pitkin, East Siminary street, Dr. > and Mrs. O. I . Overstreet, East Sim- ! s( p ER ] vi en DENT HENDERSON inary street; Mr. and Mrs. Frank) ^ , NOT RFMA , N , N (;REEN .

CASTLE ANOTHER YEAR UNDER TERMS PROPOSED BY SCHOOL BOARD IN MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT—WOl ED REDUCE SALARY AND REQUIRE TEACHING OF ONE MORE

CLASS.

Because of objection on the part of a large number of DePauw University co-eds, the college administration has been eompeled to remove from their positions men who had been engaged to serve as life guards in the swimming room of the new Bowman memorial gymnasium. Expert women swimmers will serve in that capacity in the future.

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Notes of Ihe Explosion James Houck, of Indianapolis, called F. M. Lyon over the long distance ’phone last Friday and asked if he was alive. The report was current in Indianapolis that scores of Greencastle people were kill/d and that physicians were being called from neighboring cities. Mr. Houck stated that the shock was felt there, and that window lights were reported broken.

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Slate on the roof of Simpson O’Hair’s home at Brick Chapel was broken, and several window lights demolished.

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Dozens of automobiles from towns and cities within a radius of fifty miles were driven here during the day to the scene of the explosion. Gasoline speeders on the railroads were also utilizd In reaching the place. It is reported that a workman of the quarry was sitting on a wagon load of dynamite about two hundred feet away when the explosion occurred. That he was behind a hill to the south of the place where the heavy charge was stored is given as the reason why he escaped injury. The force of the blast was directed away from him, and in the direction of Greencastle.

Donner, East Siminary street; Mr. j and Mrs. Albert Landes, East Simi-i nary street; Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Han- ! dy, East Anderson street; Mr. and j Mrs. E. S. Warner, East Anderson | street; and Mrs. J. W r . Cole, East'

Washington street.

The old Williamson home, owned by the Masonic lodge, on the corner of Vine and Washington streets, was damageil in several places by the

shock.

Chimneys at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Taylor, on East Washington street, were damaged, and win-

dow lights shattered.

The Delta Upsilon fraternity on East Siminary street reported losses from broken window lights. The Theta sorority also reported damages.

PRINCIPAL J. V. MASTERS A N N O U N ( E S RI; SIG N A TIO N

Greencastle will have a new school superintendent for the next school

year.

At lea=t this change in the status of local school affairs seems imminent, fuikwing a regular meeting of

The two' large windows ln“the7ront the cit y scho ° l bollrd which was held

of the C. L. Cherry Storage house, on ; Tu ' fda y ni ' lht - At the meetlnf? ' tho East Franklin street, were nroken. I board made 80nle VL,r y do,in,te l ,ro P-

Eleven windows were broken in the 08iti<,ns t0 superintendent Henderson

large armory of the Baker building, I concerning the work for next year, on East Franklin street. I whi c h propositions were promptly re-

The buildings of the p c p a uw | j ectcd b y Mr - Henderson -

Out of loyalty lo Mr. Henderson,) principal J. V. Masters, of the local | high school, announced Wednesday | that he will resign from Ihe faculty, i the resignation to take effect at the ] termination of the present school I

year on September 1. Mr. Master*! « nr\ Tr-« rum " as ' ,rou Kht to Greencastle through TO DISMISS ONE itACHLn theirfluen< ' onf l>rof • M, " d '‘ , " • 11

formerly was a member of the faculty of the Jefferson high school at

Lafayette.

University suffered but slightly, there being hut a few windows damaged in

each of the buildings.

Two complete sections of the Eitel & Son green house, on Melrose avenue, north of the city, were totally destroyed. The green-house .located in

the city, was not damaged.

In the first place, the board proposed that the salary of the school superintendent be reduced from $2,000 to $1,500 a year. Mr. Henderson replied that the latter amount was less than he received before coming to Greencastle, and that in justice to himself and the profession he was not

Other homes that were damaged by willin K to ai r,; P t the 0 f er ’ IIe ad,k ‘ d the shock were those of Prof, and Mrs. ^ expenses here are much H. B. I.ongden, Mr. and Mrs. Ed b * b er than where he formerly l.ved, Bicknell, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Eitel, ^ ,hat ^ facl P rec ! ude * ^ P 08 ' Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Denman, Mr. and ^ dit y of his remaining under the

Mrs. Elmer Long and Mr. and Mrs. ’ H ‘ w terIrls -

WOODMEN HAVE fi FINE MEETIN6

LODGE OFFICIALS HERE FOR ENJOYABLE GATHERING IN CAMP HALL—W. C. SHAEFFER OF TERRE HAUTE, W. A. Mct. 1TH AND JOHN D. VOLZ, OF INDIANAPOLIS, AND GEORGE A. REILLY, OF DANVILLE, ILL, THE PRINCIPAL SPEAKERS.

SMOKED FOLLOWS TALKS

ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. MAJORITY OF HARRIS SIX VOTES

LEAD OF HOWARD HARRIS OVER ED EITELJORaE FOR DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR SHERIFF IS SIX VOTES ACCORDING TO REPORT OF RECOl NT COMMISSION—HAD ONLY ONE \ OTE TO IHE GOOD WHEN TABULATION WAR MADE THURSDAY EVENING.

fvilLLEfi MAJORITY IS G7

Clifford Wheelan.

EXPLOSION DAMAGE IN GREENCASTLE

One of the large plate windows in the front of the A. B. Hanna furniture store was broken. The*loss is estimated at $150. One of the large windows at the west entrance to the Citizens National Bank was broken by itie explosion with a probable damage of $50. A large art glass in the hallway of the home of James B. Nelson on East Siminary : treet was broken. The glass was valued at $260. One of the glasses in the front of the A. B. Y. pool room was nroken. A plate glass in the Hibbitt Harness store on the north side of the square was broken. Practically all of the glass in the windows on the west side of the S. C. Prevo store were broken. A large glass in the front of the restaurant owned by Sears and Greenlee on the north side of the square was broken. A window in the Bower studio on the west side of the square was

blown in.

Windows were broken in the business rooms occupied by Landes & Light on South aJekson street, and Donnehuo & Williams, tinners, on East Walnut street. One of the large windows in the front of the Home Laundry on East Washington street was broken. Practically /•very window in the house occupied by James Bryan on East Washintgon street was shattered. This house is situated on the highest spot in tho city, and received the full force of the shock. Many windows were broken at the home of Dr. Geotge R. Grose at the corner of Arlington and Seminary

streets.

Many window panes on the south ai d west side of the home of Mrs.

SAY ALL POLES ftEE0 PAINTING

A second proposition of the hoard was tat the superintendent be required to teach at least three classes in the high school along with his administrcalve duties. The third pro- ! posal was that the superintendent so adjust the high school program that one teacher may be dismissed. In answer to these proposals, Mr. Henderson said that he is now teach- | ing two classes in the high school in

, UK Vi Ill^n OC IltlUl III

COUNCIL MEMBERS. IN MEETING or -er to make it possible for the pres-

TUESDAY NIGHT, PASS MOTION iSKING PUTNAM ELECTRIC COMPANY, GREENCASTLE TELEPHONE COMPANY. AND T. H. L A E. INTEKURBAN COMPANY TO PAINT THEIR

property Poles

CITY LIMITS.

er v corps of teachers to do efficient work, and that he will not agree to a

reduction in the force.

The action taken by the school board is said to be the first step in an attempt to reduce local school ex-

WITHIN ’ ,cnp, ’ s - Extensive repairs on school

I property has been planned for the coming summer, and it is said that all available means must be taken to

... prevent the finances of the school Alt 111 POOR C0NDI1I0N board from runninK ’ ^

Mr. Henderson was firm in his re-

i fusal to accede to the requirements In acordance with the franchises Iaid dow ' 1 b Y thp member » of ,hp held by them, the common council, In board - The board members appear its regular meeting Tuesday night, lto be i ust as thair 8ta,ld passed a motion which requires that !,nd il is P robable lhat tbe flnal anal -

the ''Putnam Electric Company, tin

| <d l°o p e. The lower part of the pit Parah Hrockwny, on East Washington ' s c °mposed of solid rock. Great! 'net were demolished. " ' >s "ere bored into the stone by I Several large glasses sn the win-

Grcencastle Telephone Company, and the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction Company paint ail of their property poles that are located within the limits of the city of

Greencastle.

Attention was brought to the pres- J ent condition of the poles by council- 1 man Huffman, who recommended that the council take some action to have them again placed in good condition. A motion that the companies be required to paint the poles was passed

unanimously.

It was pointed out that the franchise of the companies specify that the telephone and electric poles he kept in good condition, and that they be painted whenever needed. The poles are badly in need of paint, it was said, while many new ones that have been erected have never been painted. City Attorney Lyon was instructed to notify the companies of the council’s action. Councilman Abrams called attention to the fact that some complaint had been made concerning the street crossings that are to he Puilt tn the improvement work on College avenu •, which is now in progress. Residents of the south end of the street had understood that the cross.ngs were to he level while it was contented that there should be slight rises in them in order to keep water from standing on them. The matter was referred to councilman Allen, who will confer with Mr. Parker, the contractor.

ysis of the situation has been reached. Mr. Henderson came to Greencastle in the fall of 1914 from Delphi, where he was head of the school system.

LEG IS BURNED WHEN CAN OF OIL IGNITES

Raymond Reeves, aged 6 years, sot of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Reeves, of the northeast of town, was painfully burned Wednesday morning when a can of coal oil ignited, and the flames spread to his clothing. The lad was playing around the Reeves home where some meat was be*ng smoked when the accident occurred. Unknown to his parents, he procured the can of oil and presumably attempted to pour it on the fire. When the flames blazed up, his clothing was ignited. His left leg was burned from the knee down. The boy ran to the house to his mother, who, in extinguishing the fire, suffered some injury to her hands. Tho injuries are not expected to prove ser ious. Dr. Sudranski, of Greencastle,

gave medical attention.

Edgar Carver, son of Mrs. Belle M. Carver, of this city, who is manager for the Dodd Power & Tran-mis-sion Co., with offices in Indianapolis, is in Syracuse, N. A', this week, where he is attending to some special engineering work for his company. Mr. Carver’s ability as an engineer, as well as a salesman, causes him to be called upon by his company for many special trips where engineering work

is concerned.

Four officials of the order were the

principal speakers tit the meeting of the Modern Woodmen lodge, held in the camp hall Tuesday night. The meeting was well attended, and was voted the most successful gathering ever held by the local camp. Woodmen were here from several outside camps, while the members of Volz camp turned out in large numbers.

The meeti ’.g began promptly at 8

o'clock when the chairman called the husky “wood choppers” to order and introduced District Deputjf W. C. Shaeffer, of Terre Haute, as the first speaker. Neighbor Shaeffer told of the work in the forest of the fifth district, and made a fine fraternal talk. He was followed by State Deputy W. A. McGath, of Indianapolis, who told the neighbors and their friends of the work in the forest of the state of Indiana. Neighbor Me-1 Gath’s talk was a good example of 1 the ideal fratcrnalist’s firm and unwavering belief in the brotherhood and fraternity of all mankind. He referred to the sixteen thousand local camps of the Woodmen as recruiting stations, enlisting men in the unceasing war of good against the forces of evil. The work the Woodmen have done in keeping poverty from the homes of more than eighty five thousand beneficiaries of deceasd eWoodmen Is of incalculable benefit to the

nation and the world, he said. Neighbor George W. Reilly, of Dan-

ville, 111., was next on the program. He made a splendid speech full of the best thoughts that a practical fraternalist who is sincere in his work is capable of expressing. This was Neighbor Reilly’s first lecture in Greencastle, and he made many friends by his earnestness, sincerity and evident knowledge of the highest ami truest type of fraternalism. Neighbor Reilly has a son in DePauw.

Neighbor John D. Volz, of Indian-

apolis, head hanker of the lodge, spoke next. Neighbor Volz is no stranger to Greencastle people, and it is only necessary to say lhat he made a better talk last night than he over made in this city to cause some of the local neighbors who were not present to

regret their absence.

Other members were then called upno for short talks and M. T. Parks and C. M. Moffett, of Bainbridge, and L. D. Snider and J. A. Bryan made short talks which were appronrinfe

Howard Harris was given a majority of six votes in the race for the Democratic nomination for sheriff at the recent primary election over his nearest opponent, Ed Klteljorge, according to the report of the recount commission, which was filed with the clerk and judge of the circuit court

last Friday.

This lead is sixteen votes less than the count of the election hoards on March 7, but is five more than was given Harris at 5:00 o’clock Thursday evening when the recount commission had completed the tabulation of the votes. An error in the final result was discovered Friday when the board mot to verify its count. Jasper Miller, who led James Hurst by 75 votes before the recount was begun, was declared by the commission to have a majority of 67 votes Both Mr. Eiteljorge and Mr. Miller will accept the reprrt of the commission, it is said, and will not appeal the ease to any other court for another recount. The total first choice vote given each contesting candidate and the second choice votes of the other candidates, which were credited to them as first choice votes, are given in the fol-

lowing table:

Sheriff’s Race EITELJORGE— First choice vote 1021 From Jackson ^ 40 From Eggers 71 Total Eiteljorge vote 11.‘12

HARRIS—

First choice vote _10C,9 I From Jackson _ 19 | From Eggers 50 I Total Harris vote JU!8 Total Eiteljorge vote 1132 Harris majortiy 6

Treasurer's Race

1 HURST—

First choice votes 648 From Etcheson 26 From Sayers 11 From Raab 18 From Sylvester Miller 22 Total Hurst vote _755

MILLER—

First choice votes 713 From Etcheson 22 From Sayers 23 From Raab 29 From Sylvester Miller 35

Total Miller vote .822 Total Hurst vote - 755 Miller majority 67 Three davs were consumed in the recount of the ballots. The task was a tedious one, and members of the commission were congratulated on being able to complete it in the time that was taken. Drake Brookshire, of Roachdale, ami Isaac Peck and Ed McG. Walls, together with county clerk Harry Moore, comprised the

commission.

Wednesday was the first day of the

to the occasion. Hadley Cammnck I spring vacation for the Greencastle gave several piano selections that | public schools. Young America made were grer.tlv appreciated. Refresh- , the most ef the opportunity and gave ments were then served, consisting of attention to things rot included in the spiced ham sandwiches, salad, baked | school curriculum. Those who were beans, pickles, enions, coffee, nnples fortunate enough not to have had a and eig.nrs. Tn the cheery light of the ! job mapped out for them at home, eneamn fire, the air fragrant with the! gaged in basketball and baseball smoke from scores of good cigars, j games, played marbles, roamed into the next two hours were passed in i the country, or just “loafed.” The va-

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good fellowship until time came to

| say good night.

cation will extend during the remain-

der of the week.