Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1906 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat

SI.OO Per Year.

DIRE HAVOC AND DEATH IN A REVEL

Earthquake Brings Destruction to San Francisco. GREAT BUILDINGS FALL TO RUIN Five Thousand Are Dead, Perhaps, in the Debris. FlfiE THEN SWEEPS THE WBEOK Property Worth $200,000,000 Coes Down in the Awful Crash of Matter.

Washington, April 19. —The war department received the following bulletin from the Western Union: “Entire district up as far the New Fairmont hotel, on top of Nob Hill, California street, between Powell and Mason streets, all gone. Reported that 100,000 people are homeless. Fire not under control. Water supply again cut off.” . 1 San Francisco, April 19.—The latest estimates of the loss by earthquake and Are here goes high as $200,000,000. It is believed that the wounded will number tens of thousands. The whole nation is rising to the occasion and help and offers of help are coming from everywhere. Oakland, Cal., April 19.—1 tis reported that the mint in San Francisco is ablaze and from the outside indications it will be impossible to save it The fire surrounds it on every hand. Fractically the whole district south of Market street from the water front to the Mission has been swept clean by fiames. The Palace and Grand hotels, all the best theaters, Including the Grand Opera House, are in ruins.

San Francisco, April 19.—Thirty thousand bouses were either partly or wholly destroyed by earthquake and the subsequent fire that swept this city from one end to the other yesterday. Hundreds of buildings are burning without any effort being made to check the flames. It is estimated that there are 150,000 homeless people. The number of the dead cannot be readily estimated. One hundred bodies have been already recovered, many perished miserably In the broken-down wooden houses along the water front in the Mission and along Market Btreet. Fulling walls pinned many victims fast, and they were compelled to suffer untold agonies while fiery flames crept toward them. Deaths May Reach 5,000. Some believe the number of death will reach the appallingflguresof 5,000* hut from the number of bodies thus far recovered this figure may be excessive. The entire city presents a scene of indescribable confusion. The fire zone is so large that it takes two and one-half hours to go uround it. Every automobile, vehicle, and wagon In the city will be pressed imto service as ambulances. Mayor Schmitz appointed 3,000 more special policemen. It Is estimated that aside from the city Are department there are 25,000 fire fighters. Marvelous deeds of heroism are reported on all sides. There were many thrilling rescues. The deeds erf valor performed by firemen and police would fill a Tolume. The foregoing is title result of the earthquake that /

struck the city at 5:15 a. m. yesterday. Outside the City there have been terrible tragedies also. More Destruction of Hninan Life. A long-distance telephone message from Salinas, 115 miles south of San Francisco, gave the following informa tion: “One hundred and twenty bodies have been taken ont of the Agnew Insane asylum near Santa Clara, and there are probably 150 more corpses in the ruins. The magnificent structure was demolished. Eight dead Italians were taken out of tiie Italian hotel at Son Jose. At that place the Presbyterian church, St Patrick’s cathjjrirfT and the high school were destroyed. The new Hall of Justice at San Jose, just completed at a cost of $300,000, was demolished. At Loam Prieta, eighteen miles from Santa Cruz, a mine house slipped down the side of a mountain, burying ten men in the ruins.

AWFUL WOitK OUTSIDE Santa Rosa a Wreck—Many Dead—Ten Thousand Homeless. A.t San Jose the Vondome hotel annex waft badly wrecked and ten or fifteen killed. Doherty block was completely bnmed and one woman killed. Dr. l>egrow was killed and bis wife badly injured. Every business building is demolished. The estimate is fifty killed; the postofllce is half wrecked, the First Presbyterian church totally demolished, the court house a wreck. Passengers arriving from other cities in California bring tales of death and disaster from nearly all. Santa Cruz, Monterey, Gilroy ami Hollister wrecked. Thp death list at Santa Cruz is rei>orted large. Santa Rosa is a total wreck, and 10,000 are homeless. The loss of life will probably reach hundreds. The whole business portion of the city tumbled into ruins. Main street is piled on either side many feet deep with fallen buildings. Not one business building is left intact. The four-story court house Is a pile of broken masonry. What was not destroyed by the earthquake was swept by fire. The citizens fled to the fields and hills to watch the destruction of the city. Water system destroyed. As for San Francisco, Tuesday she was a thriving city, today she is ashes. The earthquake caused fires to break out in a dozen directions, and before the fire, department arrived the fires were beyond control and within one hour it was seen that San Francisco was doomed. Pen cannot describe the awful scene. Hundreds were killed by falling buildings at the moment of the earthquake. Hundreds of injured imprisoned in wrecked buildings were roasted to death. To preserve order the city is under martial law and General Funston is in command.

SWEEP OF THE FLAMES Many Square Miles Devastated and Still Burning. The fire that swepUthe city after the quake was simply irresistible, the quake having broken all the water mains, and left the city without water. About 0 n. m. the world-famous Palace hotel, built at a cost of $3,000,000, fell a prey to the conflagration and the Crocker building, across tlfe street, began emitting smoke. One of the big losses of the day was the destruction of St. Ignatius’ ehurah and college at Vanness avenue and Hayes street. This was th greatest Jesuitical institution in the west, and was built at a cost of a couple of millions. At 7 p. m. the fire had swept from the south side of the town across Market street into the district called the Western Addition and was burning houses at Golden Gate avenue and Oetavia. This result was reached after almost the entire southern district from Ninth street to the eastern water front had been converted into a blackened waste. In this section were hundreds of factories, wholesale houses and many business firms, In addition to thousands of homes.

The burned district extends from the water front soutli of Market street to Market street and west to Eleventh street, north of Market. The fire extends out Hayes and McAllister streets nearly to Fillmore and from the water front along Market to Montgomery and north from the water to Montgomery street. Manuf«cturie«, hotels, wholesale houses and residences, comprising the principal part of the business section have been destroyed. The city hall, a structure costing $7,000,000, was first wrecked by the earthquake and then destroyed by fire. The beautiful Claus Spreckels buildlug at Third and Market streets was gutted. The Rialto building, the Hall of Justice, and dozens of other costly structures were also destroyed. The Examiner and The Call buildings are gone, together with the Crocker building across the street from the Palace hotel.

SOME DETAILS OF THE HORROR Every Factory Building, Nearly, Is Gone—Fire Still Raging. Nearly every famous landmark that has made San Francisco famous over the world has been laid in ruins or burned to the ground in the dire catastrophe. Never has the fate of a city

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Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, April 21, 1906.

THIRTY-FOUR

Graduates From the High • School This Year. 22 GIRLS AND 12 BOYS IN CUSS, Which Is the Largest la the History Of the School. Program for Commencement Week. Tbe graduating class of tbe Rensselaer High School will this year number the largest by nearly one-third ever graduated in the history of tbe school. The graduates number twenty-two girls and twelve boys. Following are the names of the graduates:

Mary Adams Cecelia Hollingsworth Ethel Crisler * Florence Marshall Pearl Critchelow Lucille,Marshall Guy Daniels Gaylord McFarland Grace Daugherty Josie Miller Cora Dexter Oka Pancoast Nellie Drake Hazel Kirk _ Myra Galbraith David Low Rilla Gaines Walter Lutz Guy Gerber Jeuuie Parkisou Lelia Grant Harriett Parkisou Perry Gwiu Maribel Parkisou Frank Hardman Lizzie Reiddle Lillo Hauter Je.n Sigler Percy Hauter Herman Tuteur Owen Horner Grace Warren Flora Kahler Tom Willey The program for “Commencement Week” will begin with Baocalaureate Sermon on Sunday, May 20; Class Day, Tuesday evening, May 22; Junior Reception, Wednesday evening, May 23; Commencement. Thursday evening, May 24; Alumni Banquet, Friday evening, May 25. Details will be published later.

McCCYS ARRESTED AGAIN.

Thos. J. and Alfred McCoy were arraigned in court here again yesterday on two indictments, charging the embezzlement of $65 from Mary Meyers, the milliner, and $28.43 from Mary Yates, a dressmaker here, on April 11, 1904. Tom was here in person, of course, and his appearance indicates that he has been sick alright. The defendants were represented by their Lafayette attorneys and Tom gave bond with his attorney Haywood and James F. Irwin of Rensselaer as sureties. The old man put up a cash bond. The amount of the bond was S3OO iu each case. Defendants asked for change of venue and the cases were sent to White county, where the other nineteen cases against them are pending.

SON-IN-LAW RINEHART WAS HERE.

“Bill” Rinehart of Missouri, an ex-chairman of the Jasper County Republican Central Committee, but best known, no doubt, because of being a son-in-law of “Uncle Alf McCoy,” was in the city Wednesday. Just what Bill’s particular business here was we are not informed, but as Wednesday was the second anniversary of the McCoy bank failure perhaps he oame to help “Paw” and “Ma” McCoy celebrate the occasion and rejoice with them over the fact that two years have already passed sinca_the looting of the bank was made public and not a one of those responsible for the looting have even smelled the musty order of a prison.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Union meeting for men.—-Sun-day, April 22, the State Executive Committee of the Indiana Young Men’s Christian Association, will send to Rensselaer Mr. F. L. Geer, of Peru, Prof. W. R. Manning, of Purdue University, and Mr. G. M. Wells, of Indianapolis, who will conduct meetings throughout the day in the interests of the work for young men. At 10:45 a. m. these men will qondact meetings at the Methodfst, Christian and Presbyterian churches. At 5 p. m. there will be a anion meeting for men only, in the Presbyterian ebureb, and at 7:30 in the evening there will be a union meeting for every one in the Methodist church. Everyone is invited to co-operate in these meetings.

The G. E. Murray Co. is showing a swell line of gentlemen’s hats in any and all styles and prices.

WHY 1 AM FOR STONE ROADS.

Mr. Editor • , In 1862 I came to Rensselaer as a teacher from a place in Ohio where flood water ran fast toward the sea. This town’s streets were then the care of a road supervisor. There were no sidewalks, and the surface was sublaid with quick-sand, A mill and tailrace fronted the river next the town. The dammed water bred clouds of gnats and mosquitoes to spread disease. I soon despaired of guiding young minds in bodies shaking with the ague and filled with quinine. In 1864 out went my shingle as a land broker. Swamp land was then a drag on the market, and I bought and kept buying. It was not many years until I was long on acres and short on money, to pay taxes. The apostles of good health, land and roads, had no ditch and gravel road laws, to appeal to for aid. Petition and subscriptions were resorted to for relief. I was selected on the begging committees to resurrect the town and remove the mill-dams. I made and collected the town’s first duplicate of ,$518.75, and the streets became more nearly passable.

The first ditch law was passed in 1867, and shortly before that toll turnpikes came into use. The element of private ownership of roads and speculative profit of the ditch promoters passed away in 1881. Alter’s mill-dam was removed in 1877 as the narrow gauge railroad came. In 1883 the Hopkins dam was removed and the site bought. The river-bed was reserved as a gift to any ditch project that would cut out the rock ledge. It was not until 1905 that the Iroquois ditch called for the redemption of the subscribers’ pledge of 1883. Oti April 2, 1906, the Iroquois ditch (now in course of construction) offered the quarried material to the stone road system at three cents per cubic yard. Those having the right of suffrage are to vote on April 28, 1906, whether such offer shall be accepted. The viewers regarded the offer as worth to the road system $39,000, for they lowered the estimate from $130,000 to $91,000 by reason of said offer. It is up to each voter to say “yes” or “no” to the proffered aid. The offer, if rejected, will go to any person who will take away the quarried stone at the same price. As I begged for the money to buy the dam and dam site in 1883; as I pay more than anyone else toward making the ditch, and want it kept clear of obstruction; as I am a petitioner and expect to pay largely toward the construction of the stone road system and am therefore quite largely interested, I will state to your readers why I want all friends of the ditch, all friends of good streets and roads, and all my friends to vote “Yes” on Saturday: First—l voted for the system of roads under a similar law about ten years ago and owned no border land, bat the township made sixteen miles, which has been cared for by the county since, and I like the law. Second—Ever since 1883 I have longed for an occasion when the rock would be removed to promote better health and land, and said rock would be deposited on the streets and roads to promote the public convenience. That occasion is here and for the only time with our consent, will both projeots aid each other. United, both will benefit; divided, neither will be wbat it ought. Third —I am quite sure the bonds will now sell higher, and the work be bid off lower than ever again, and as a measure of economy I shall vote “Yes.” Fourth—As one whose land did not abnt on the system of 18,96, I voted for that, and as one who made a public traveled track, unfairly, under the abutment law, and one whose frontal way will reoeive bat a small per cent, of this tax, 1 will be oalled - upon to pay, I am for this system because I believe only a track for publio travel on every street and road should be made from moneys derived from a general tax, and I don’t want others to saffer under the abutment system as I did. Fif(h —I am convinced that 34 miles of stone streets and roads in my city and township is worth more than three per cent, of all taxable property, and the making of the system is a matter of good I investment for all tax-payers.

Sixth—None of ns who own the ditch want any of the blasted rock left within a stone’s throw of the new and costly channel. Seventh The traveled track should be longer and not wider. I am willing to make approaches for my own private use, and no public tax should be used for that purpose. Eighth—The issuance of bonds enables ue to anticipate collections and make the streets and roads at once for immediate enjoyment. We should not charge to this project the evils of others. We can get a fair letting and honest work. I shall be glad to spend three per cent, of my taxable wealth for good roads if a majority of the voters so indicate on April 28. I hope they will say “Yes.”

Taxable property is charged with the education of children, the care of the vicious and otherwise unfortunates, and we should welcome a road tax for the good of all.

It is the public good that controls my vote. The petitioners have said the public welfare will be subserved. lam a petitioner, and my ballot will be “Yes,” on April 28, if well enough to reach the polls. S. P. Thompson. April 20, 1906.

JORDAN STONE ROAD CONTRACT LET.

The county commissioners held a special session Monday for the purpose of letting contract for the construction of the Jordan tp., stone road. Bids were filed, as follows: A. G. King A Co., of BlufTton $12,537 Kellinberger A Dahling, of Reynold*. 13,400 Wolcott Construction Co., of Wolcott. 13,337 Gotachall A North 14,000 Hawkins A Allman, of Remington 12,770 H. H. Stewart A Sons, of Kokomo 13,000 King & Co., were awarded the contract, being the lowest bidders, and they sold and assigned their contract to Levi Hawkins and J. D. Allman of Remington, whose bid was about $250 higher than the King bid. The estimated cost of this road was $15,000. In addition to letting said contract C. H. Sternberg & Son were allowed $1,879.10 on construction of the Iroquois ditch; Gundrum & Taylor $731.45 on the Moffitt ditch and John Hack & Son $1,635 81 on the Evers ditch. Inspectors were appointed as follows for the Marion-Rensselaer stone road election to be held April 28: Precinct No. 1, Wm. Greenfield; No. 3, George Morgan No. 4, dames A. Burnham.

PROGRESS ON THE IROQUOIS DITCH.

Three Dredges Now Working and Another To Be Put On. The Farmer dredge, recently moved from the Garrison ditch south of town to the source of the Iroquois, over in the Makeever settlement, some six or seven miles northwest of Rensselaer, in Newton tp., and which work to the railroad near Parr, at the comencing point of the Sternberg dredge, is now ready to start work, and in fact may be started at this writing. This will make three dredges now at work on the Iroquois contract. The Sternberg dredge, which is working on the main ditch, is running right along night and day and already has four miles cut. This dredge is probably the largest one ever used in Jasper county, and, like practically all the modern dredges, is equipped with electric lights from its own dynamo for night work. It is, however a mere infant compared with the big new dredge to be used on the main ditch from the Burk’s or Pullins bridge down through Rensselaer and which is to take out the rook here. Thi* latter machine has been bought and will begin to arrive soon. It is an immense affair, has a 24 yard dipper, 70 foot boom and will be one of the largest dredges ever used in this section, of the state. It will probably not be ready for operation until about the first of -August. The Carter Bros., dredge, which is working on the Davisson lateral, is also moving right along and has about three miles already cut, leaving about 2J miles yet to cut.

See Hershman & Hodges for Farm and City loans and Fire Insurance.

The Chicago Bargain store took in over 2,000 doz. eggs last Saturday, the banner day in the history of their store.

Vol. IX. . No. 3

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. X&ttorney A. D. Babcock of Goodland, was looking after matters in court here last Friday. —o— The reviewers in the Benton Kelly et al highway in Newton tp., have reported against the public utility of the proposed highway. —o — Of the $122,393.58 total assessments on the b : g Iroquois ditch and its branches, $46,000 in round numbers has been paid in already, which is a little more than onethird the total assessments. —o — Marriage licenses issued; April 16, James Leonard Page of Fair Oaks, aged 37. to Laura 8. Michaels of Kersey, aged 29. Second marriage for each, tha groatn’s first wife having died Feb. 13, 1903, and the bride’s former husband having died in January last. —o — Tom McCoy’s pleasure and fishing resort in the Kankakee, known as “Jerry’s Island,’’ has been sold by the trustee to Oeo. W. Lawrence, of Hammond. The price received was $1,200, which after paying the mortgage of $550 on the property, will leave S6OO for his creditors. —o— We understand it is the intention of the Jordan stone road contractors to use stone taken out of the Garrison ditch in the east end of the township, which is said to be of good quality for road-mak-ing. If this can be used it will greatly lessen the haul, which is an important item in this contract,~to about 3 to miles. Work on the contract will be begun as soon as possible and the construction pushed rapidly to completion.

New suits filed: No. 7036. Emsing-Gagen Co., wholesale liquor dealers, vs. August Rosenbaum; suit on account, demand $237.13. No. 7037. Alfred Collins vs. Marshal P. Warner and John O’Conner, sheriff; action to enjoin the collection of a certain judgment. No. 7038. Samuel E. Yeoman vs. The Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railroad Company ; action for damages, demand $5,000. The complaint alleges that on Oct. 10, 1905, plaintiff was injured in alighting from defendant’s train at Rensselaer by stepping into a hole in the platform some 7 inches wide, 39 inches long and 34 inches deep, wrenching his foot, ankle, hip and causing him to fall violently to the platform; that the tendons, ligaments and muscles of said left hip were lacerated and torn, causing great mental anguish, insomnia, aud deadeniug and weakingof a portion of said leg near the hip and thy, wholly incapacitating plaintiff from any kind of labor, etc.

—o Not much has been doing in the circuit court this week. The petit jury is called for next Monday and the last two weeks of the term will no doubt be quite busy ones. Following is a report of proceedings not heretofore reported : George W. Murphy vs, the Town of Morocco; set for 3d Thursday, 9 a. m. State of Indiana ex rel, Mocelyn M. Thompson vs. Harvey E. Lowman; cause dismissed at relator’s cost. State of Indiana vs. Harvey E. Lowman; cause dismissed on motion of prosecutor. • Stephen W. Thayer vs. Patrick Halligan et al; re-set for trial April 27. The Old Adams Co. Bank of Decatur, Ind., vs. Seth B. Moffitt; re-set for April 25. Alvia J. Wilcox et al vs. American Lubric Oil Co.; cause dismissed, costs paid. Rensselaer Lumber Co., vs. August Goepp; re set for third Wednesday, 9 a. m. In this column last week, owing to another case having been docketed in blank in the space of the KennedyKing Co., vs. John Coen et al, we stated that motion for new trial was overruled in the above case. As a matter of tact the issues bad not been made up in that case, and the docket entry was in reference to the Charles R. Lewis et al, vs. Charles B. Welts et al, case.