Hammond Times, Volume 2, Number 78, Hammond, Lake County, 18 September 1907 — Page 1

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Gc&trad Sttehrj 9686 Strg3t Silas - - 2901 EDITION Total, Ycstaria? 12,587 .VOL. II. NO. 78. FOUR EDITIONS DAILY. HAMMOND, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1907. ONE CENT PER COPY.

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COITI SWEPT BY DESTRUCTION IN IKE

Lightning Claims One Victim in Person of Gebhardt Sarkady, Who Meets Death When Bolt Enters.

HOUSES

10 BARN STRUCK AND SOU ABE BURNED TO

Storm is General Throughout Calumet Region South Chicago's Property Losses Exceeding That of Other Districts House Unroofed at Whiting While Children Crouch in Terror.

RESULT OF STORM IN AND ABOUT LAKE CO. Gebhardt Sarkady, 32 years old, killed at Hammond. Eight companions slightly Injured. Six Zubay children slightly injured at Whiting. George Redoldt. South Chicago, severely Injured. Fichik Lungree. South Chicago, slightly injured. Damage Done by Lightning;. Federal building, Hammond; damage, $10. Building at Standard Steel settlement; damage, $25. Hon. at "Whiting:,- roof torn off; damage, $1,000. , Barn and contents, of llobort Mclntire, Hebron, totally destroyed; damage, $5,000. House of John Doehler, Jollet street. Crown Point; damage, $300. House of William Zelsenlss, Crown Point; damage, $25. House of Henry Alworn, Crown Point; damage, $25. Swedish Lutheran church. East Chicago; damage, $50. Six houses In South Chicago; two a total loss; total value, $20,000. Little thinking that of the thousands of inhabitants of Hammond he should be the victim of a lightning bolt. Gebhardt Sarkady laid himself down in his narrow cot In the boarding house that Is run by Louis Gall at the Standard Steel car plant and for a long time talked with his brother SIgmund, who lay in a cot beside, ubout the latter's trip to Hungary tomorrow. At 3 o'clock one of the loudest thunder claps that has been heard in this region during the last year, woke almost everybody, and while each one was thinking for the moment that his home had been struck, Gebhardt Sarkady doubled up In his narrow cot be side the window In the boarding house and died. He was the victim of the night. His funeral took place this afternoon with only his brother, Sigmund and a step-brother, George Jeri and his two children, following the train. Ignorant of what has occurred In the frame boarding house at the Stand ard Steel, the wife of Sarkady is in the Joliet penitentiary expiating the crime of Infanticide which she committed several months ago in South Chicago. Her thoughts today are with her children, who will leave America early tomorrow morning In company with their uncle and aunt, SIgmund Sarkady. 'It is nothing but trouble," said the surviving brother in broken English this morning, "and it will break our father's heart when he learns everything. "There were eight of us men in one room, while in the next room slept by wife, my brother's two children and Mrs. Gall. In our room my brother lay nearest the window, while I was several feet away from him. The bolt struck all of us more or less, but on my brother It tore the very skin from over his heart. He never mad a sound. "The bolt crashed through the plaster partition and grated the women and children In the next room." Owing to the fact that all arrangements have been made by the Sarkadys for their departure tomorrow the funeral of Gebhardt Sarkady will take place this afternoon. The dead man was a Hungarian, 32 years old. HAMMOND IS VISITED AT AN EARLY HOUR. An electrical storm, accompanied by a gale and torrents of rain swept over Hammond last night, leaving death and destruction In Its wake. While it rained hard at different intervals yesterday afternoon, the severe storm did

not begin until after midnight, when it grew in proportion that made It similar to a tornado. About 3 o'clock a thunder clap came that sent most of the residents of Hammond out of their beds. While it seemed that it struck each house scparattly, it was learned this morning tiiat the bolt killed Gebhardt Sarkady in a boarding house at the Standard Steel plant and that a bolt that followed shortly after, struck the flag pole of the federal building, rending it Into splinters. The crash of the massive pole, pieces of which fell into the neighboring yards, woke the entire neighborhood. No other part of the building, however, was injured. Alarm System Out of Order. The same bolt that struck the nag pole evidently put the alarm system of tho " fife station out $f.' commission and tor a time property in Hammond

was at the mercy of the elements as rt was impossible to send an alarm to the station. At the fire station where trouble was expected there was a con tinual watcn and tne ruse tnat was blown out was soon replaced. The hammer of the tower bell had been muffled in order to keep it from striking as every bolt that struck wires would give a false alarm. It was an awful night. Old residents of Hammond said this morning that they remembered few like it and jet the damago was comparatively light when compared with the severity of the storm. Fuses were blown out in all sections of the city and telephones were put out of commission. Street cars running on the Hammond. bit ing and East Chicago line were stopped temporarily on account of b'own cut fuses, while street lights in the various par of the city were sniffed out like candles. Worst at 3 O'Clock. The storm was at its severest about 3 o'clock and continued until about 5. As late as S o'clock this morning peo ple who tried to use their telephones received painful shocks although there seemed, to be no severe flashes of light nln. At 13 o'clock today the South Shore Gas and Electric company found it necessary to cut of the line which furnishes the city with electric light and power. Electric motors In the newspaper offices, the printing establishments, and in other concerns were dead and all work greatly delayed. BIG BOLT TEARS OFF R00F IN WHITING. (Special to Lake County Times.) Whiting. Ind., Sept. 1S. While sixchildren, the oldest but 14 years, huddled together during the stojm which struck this city early this morning, the roof over their heads was completely torn off and hurled like a paper bag to the yard, by a bolt of lightning. The house is a two apartment building and Is occupied on the second floor by Nicholas Zubay and his wife ana six ennaren ana is situated on One Hundred and Twenty-first street, opposite Mud lake. The father and mother were away last night and the children were in charge of a 14-year-old daughter. When the lightning began to light up the apartments and the thunder pealed forth the little mother gathered her charges in one room and tried to sooth them. They had been in the room but a short time when a blinding flash came and they were thrown to the ground, while the roof was torn from the walls of the house and the plaster and rain fell down upon them. They were uninjured, and although badly frightened they managed to find the stairway. The occupants of the first floor of the house were likewise badly scared, but were able to occupy their rooms and took the little children in, also. The house Is owned by Constable Muller, and the damage is estimated at about $1,000. SOUTH CHICAGO IS STORM CENTER. (Special to Lake County limes.) South Chicago, Sept. IS. While reports are coining in from all around ltgarding the severity of the storm

GROUND

last night South Chicago seems to have been the storm center. The city rep ro-ve.ited a place this morning tiiat had been improperly drained of an enorm ous Hood. Six houses were struck by lightning on Calumet Heights, two of which were a complete loss. The two houses that were destroyed belonged to Frank Johnson, 829 Ninety-third street, and John liassh, 9236 Oglesby street. Each houso was occupied by families who were In bed when the lightning struck In a short time the buildings were In flames and the occupants were . corn polled to rust Into the streets In their night clothes. The other four houses were more or less damaged. George Kandoldt, a bridge tender at the Ninety-fifth street bridge, was struck by-lightning ani rendered Un conscious. The bridge shanty In which he was at the time, was partly de molished. Frank Llngree , another bridge tender who was with Randoldt at the time, was also slightly Injured ty the bolt. Street cars running from Englewood to South Chicago, were stalled for two hours and many telephones were put out of commission. ltcsidenU of South Chicago say that the storm of last night was the worst that swept over the region In years. OUTLYING TERRITORY ALSO SUFFERS The fierce ravages of one of the worst electrical storms seen In this community for years left In Its wake thousands of dollars worth of damage, most of which was Inflicted on the property of farmers In every section of the country. The storm being in tho heighth of Its ferocity In the dead of night, but little effort coujd be brought to bear to extinguish flames caused by lightning when once they had gained any headway. The barns suffered the greatest damage and in no case did the farmers have any chance of saving anything but the live stock. From the first ponderous rumble of thunder at 6 o'clock last night the storm grew in severity until the deaf ening crashes and the brilliant flashes of lightning caused hundreds to tremble with fear. It would be Impossible to estimate the total property loss, as hundreds of minor cases have been reported such as the destruction of valuable trees, out-buildings, and other property too small to enumerate, but would amount to a great deal In the aggregate. Crown Point Is Loser. The greatest amount of damage seems to have ben inflicted in the vicinity of the coiyity seat, where numerous barns were struck, causing considerable loss. Four cases are reported from Crown Point and vicinity alone, the most serious of which is the total destruction of the barn of Robert M. Mclntire whose farm is located one mile west of Hebron. The barn was struck about 4 o'clock this morning and instantly caught Are. The blaze waj discovered so late and spread so rapIdly that the owner scarcely had time to remove the live stock before the entire building was in flames. Hny, harness, farm Implements, buggies and wagons and valuables of every description were consumed and the embers were finally extinguished by the drenching rain. The loss is estimated to be approximately $3,000. The barn of William Ziesemiss, five miles south of Crown Point was also visited by a severe shock, tearing off $50 from the valuation of the building. Owing to its soaked condition the barn did not catch five and luckily not a single hair of any of the animals caged within was singed. In Crown Point proper two houses were victims of the storm's fury. Houses Sutler. The residence of Henry Alworn, cashier of the People's State Bank, was touched by a bolt which inGicted just enough damage to show that It had been there. At 3 o'clock this morning the barn of John Doehler of Joliet street was struck and injured to the extent of $300. All of thehorses escaped Injury. Ia the region about East Chicago

LABORER HELD UP ST PD1HJ OF GUN

Tony Miller Waylaid by Robbers and Relieved of Savings, THUGS GET AWAY WITH S3 Scores Hearing Victim's Cries for Help, Reach Scene Too Late Thugs Escape. On his way to Gibson over the dark prairies on Forsyth avenue, shortly after midnight this morning, Tony Miller, a laborer at the railroad yards, was held up at the point of a pisol by two highwaymen who robbed hlrn of $9 of his savings. The place where the robbery occurred Is but a few yards from the saloon and residence of M. Kuloski, and the cries of the victim was heard by scores of men. but their assistance came too late and the rob bers got away with their booty, es caping over the plains Into the dark ness. ' When the two dark forms suddenly appeared before him like spectres, Miller immediately raised a loud cry of "Help: Robbers!," but it did not deter the bold crooks. They shoved the gun into his face and although he struggled one of the men hell him while the other went through his pockets. After treatenlng to blow his head off If he followed, the two men ran away. The police of Hammond were notified and officers were sent to the scene. No clew to the robbers could be found, but the search was again taken up today. Owing to the condition and the scarcity of policemen, Chief Kimbach Is unable to patrol Gibson, and as a result many such crimes have taken place this summer, BUTTIflSKTS, AVfiNUT! West Hammond Committee Insists Upon Its Privilege of Privacy. The West Hammond streets and al leva committee metiner with .T 1 XTil ler of the Chicago and Interurban Street Railway comnanv whtrh i,rmi,i have taken dace vesterdav afternoon. fell through, owing to the interference of several of the property owners, who iersltsed In belnsr nresent. The mmhrs nt th mmmitt.o whn .i private session ODjectea to the presence of the citizens and advised them to appear at the village board meet ing when the matter of granting the street car franchise would be publicly brought up. As the outsiders persist ed in being present the committee members decided to postpone the meet ing untu a later aate, possiDiy some time this week. The busy outsiders expressea tlielr disapproval of such a course, but the committee insisted on its right to privacy. It is composed of Messrs. Henry Fritzsche, Henry J. Wleklinskl and John Laschinskl. The street car company is anxious to get a definite answer as it wishes to begin building operations this fall. and Whiting the damage was small. In fact two buildings were reported struck. One was the Swedish Lutheran church at the corner of One Hundred and Forty-ninth street and Northcotte avenue, and the other the house of Nlcholos Zuboy. The steeple was chosen as the object of Its spite and it will cost about $50 to put It into its previous condition. The heavy wlndstOTm in the evening did considerable damage to the street signs, awnings, etc. in Whiting, Indiana Harbor and East Chicago but no other building is known to have suffered from the electrical end of the storm. Many telephones are out of commission, however, and this has been a great Mndrence today in the transaction of business. The telephone company states, however, that there are not enough cases to prevent the resumV lng of communication in a shrot time. In Hammond, Lake County and Calumet region there are many newspapers, but none show gains like The Lake County Times. Circulation for August Average net daily, 12,556 copies. Circulation gains in summer are in evidence only when a paper is in demand. Circulation that comes to a paper on its merits is the kind that brings results to advertisers.

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COMPETITION

S PROMISED ELL PEOPLE Crown Point May be Invaded by Rival Phone Company Which Will Give Chicago Concern Run For Their Money. NORTHWESTERN WILL ASK TRUSTEES FOR FRANCHISE Already Have Extended Lines to Neighboring Towns Petition Cir culating Asking Board to Admit the Interloper Which Promises Cheaper and Better Service. Crown Point, Sept. 18. A project Is on foot whereby Crown Point may have another telephone line, owned by the Northwestern Telephone company, it a franchise can be secured from the board of town trustees. A petition has been circulated among the people of the town the last few days asking the town board to grant the desired franchise, and over 150 signers have been secured who are willing and ready to have phones Installed In their residences and business places. The company proposes to charge the maximum rate of $1 for dwellings and $1.50 for business places, which will also allow the subscribers the exclusive right to phone to any part of the country and neighboring towns where their lines are installed without paying extra tolls. Those who are not patrons will be charged the su mof 10 cents for the use of the line out side of town. They will also Install an exchange here and the officials state that It will not end until the service Is as good or better than any that can be found In the country. .People C-operate. Many new moves in the last few I days tend to shw that the People of tnis town ana vicinity are co-operawng w,tn tne company. The Northwestern Telephone comPany 13 incorporated unaer tne laws OI lne slale OI lnalana- anu 18 nsmerea to De one oi in Desi ana most. reliable local companies in the north em part of Indiana. They have al ready extended their lines to Lowell, Brunswick, Cedar Lake, Hanover Center, St. John, Dyer and various towns and villages In the states of In diana and Illinois. If the franchise is granted they expect to make this place their headquarters.. The following constitutes the officers and board of directors: President, Henry Batterman, Dyer; vice president, George Piepo, Cedar Lake; treasurer, F. E. Nelson, Lowell; secretary, L. E. Bixeman, Lowell; directors, Henry Batterman, Dyer; George Piepo, Cedar Lake; L. E. Bixeman, Lowell; John Schuetz, jr.. Lowell; John Menzenberger, Cedar Lake; Nicholas Thlelen, St. John, and H. M. Esty, Crown Point. INDUS ROADS BEST Auto Maker Says Hoosier Highways are Superior to English. "I have driven on the highways of France and over the roads of England, but so far as actual comfort In driving goes, give me the Indiana 'boulevards,' " declares Charles Y. Knight, maker of the Silent Knight, just back from an Invasion of Europe, where he went to demonstrate to an English concern the practicability and nolselessness of the Silent Knight valveless motor. "Indiana roads are much easier on tires for one thing and again are much wider than the English highways. "The famous roads of France are disappearing fast, or rather they are becoming so rough they can no longer be regarded as models of their kind. "England's roads are fine, but I prefer the Indiana ones. In the first place John Bull makes his highways too narrow. They hardly' will permit two cars to pass and they wind in and out through hedges with few straightaways so one has to keep on the watch all the time. The surface of the roads are as smooth as Michigan avenue's asphalt, but not so pleasant to ride on as good macadam. In reality the Eng lish roads are macadam, but usually with a top dressing of tar preparations which make the roads Hard and smooth. Another fault I found is that the crown of the road is about twelve inches in height so steep In fact that I have heard of buses topling over trying to get up." A gasoline stove explosion In the Weis, home at 35 South Hohman street created quite a . scare yesterday, for Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Weis and the other occupants of the building. Mrs. Weis summoned the fire department and they soon had the flames under control. The damage was only nominal.

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AGAINST CITY HILL ASKED

Indiana Harbor Citizen Files Suit Asking Court to Re strain Mayor of East Chi cago From Erecting New Building. REASONS FOR THE ACTION ARE MANY AND VARIED Declares No Money Available and States That if the Municipality Must Be Bonded Beyond Consti tutional Limitations to Meet its In debtedness (Special to Lake County Time,) East Chicago, Sept. 18. At a meeting of thc city councn cf Kast Chicago th f ontract for tho construction of th new Citv hall was let to A. II. W. Johnston of East Chicago for $30,495. The construction of the building 1 to begin within fifteen days according to the contract, but not. however, with out the consent of the citizens of Indiana Harbor, who filed yrsterday a bill for an injunction in the circuit court at Crown Point. The suit is the result of a bitter struggle between the two towns on the location of the city hall, which has been waged for some time. Indiana Harbor wished to have tho building situated between the two cities so that It would be conveniently located for both of them but East Chicago does not see It that way and succeeded in having adopted the site on Forsyth avenue. C. E. Fowler Plaintiff. The suit was Instituted yesterday at the county seat by Charles E. Fowler vs. Mayor Edward DeBraie, and the Uumbira -ot the council. The complatnt Is clgth pages long and alleges that the defendant purposes to build a city hall according to- plans drawn by J. T. Hutton of Hammond; that no funds or money are available or in the possession of the city which could be legally or rightfully used. The city is now indebted in the sum of $97,000, and that the total taxable valuation of property of East Chicago is $5,000,000. The estimate of the architect of the cost of the building is between $50,000 and $55,000, and the plaintiff believes that the defendants were wrongfully and unlawfully appropriating the necessary amount and bonding the city beyond the constitutional :imit. Therefore the plaintiff asks for an constructing the ciyt hell or for npconstructlon the city hall or for ap propriating or using assessed funds for the building. The attorneys for the plaintiff are T. M. C. Hembroff. William Vanllorne and J. G. Ibach. WARRANT FOR GHOST West Pullman Woman Wants to Arrest Husband's Wraith. South Chicago, Sept. IS. "I want to get a warrant for my husband's ghost," said Mrs. M. J. McCreaey of West Pullman, to Desk Sergeant Daniel Gulney of the Hyde Park police station. "What?" said the sergeant, ducking behind the counter. "I want to get a warrant for my husband's ghost," she repeated. "The thing is always bothering me and it comes to my house and tears shingles off the roof and every other thing." Guiney told her that it was a little out of his line, and referred her to Mrs. Besant. Mrs. McCreaey thanked him and went forth with a new hope. Fourteen years ago McCreaey died, and was buried in a way that should have settled the most restless soul. But for fourteen years his ghost has returned to the house of his widow, Mrs. McCreaey, with demands which are unreasonable and impossible, according to Mrs. McCreaey. For a times he tried persuasion, being somewhat at a loss in the presence of a visitant from the great beyond, and not feeling Inclined to try the old methods on that which had been her husband. Then she expostulated with It, and then she took It to task, but all to no purpose. Finally she had nothing whatever to do with It, but It did not reciprocate, she says. It persisted In coming at night and sitting on the ridge pole, where it amused Itself by sing ing and tearing shingles off and throwing bricks at the goat ehed. Whereupon, In course of time, she decided to have It arrested. Accordingly she appeared at the Hyde Park station yesterday and demanded a warrant. If 70a have anything to sell furniture, furs, machinery, fixtures. Jewelry, afe, desk, malcal Instruments, it will pjjj you to place an advertisement ia 1 the classified, columns of this paper.

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D ISSUE FOR SCHOOL Board of Education Visits Council Meeting in a Body in the Interests of Another Building to Cost at Least $55,000. MATTER REFERRED TO JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Chicago, South Send & Interurban Railway Company Extends Invitation to Aldermen and Mayor to Make Tour of Inspection of LineRoutine Business. Sould the Judiciary committee of th Hammond city council vote favorably It is probablo that Hammond will hold a special election this fall In order to vote on the issuance of $55,000 worth of school bonds that the board of education wishes to lloat in order to raise funds for the building of the proposed. Wallace school in the neighborhood of the Conkey plant. The board of education, Messrs. Hugh Melkle. Dr. W. F. Howat and Jos. Ibach appeared before the city council at its regular meeting last night and presented a written request for permission to hold this special election. In making the request Dr. llowat. who is the treasurer . of the board stated that owing to the change In the state law which regulates tho floating of school bonds the school board must have the permission of the city council whenever it wishes to float bends that shall exceed one and onefourth per cent f the city's latest tax valuation. The board having already floated bonds to the extent of $73,0U0 and this being to near the one and one-fourth per cent limit of the ctty'a last valuation Which amounted to $7,- -250,000 that the board thought It advisable to. ask for the special election In order to be permitted to lloat tho additional $55,000 school bonds. After the proposition was-, discussed for a time it was voted to refer the matter to the judiciary committee. Wants to Heplnre Itobey School. Another matter which came up last night and in which the school board is particularly Interested was the proposition that was made by Councilman Richard Schaaf of the fourth ward. Mr. Schaaf explained that the Itobey school Is closed to the school children and that It is a harboring place for tramps. Mr. Schaaf suggested that tha old building be removed and replaced with a new one urging that such an accommodation would induce the neighborhood to build up and that littlo children now in the primary grades that have to walk from Kobey to Hobertsdale in order to attend school could be better accommodated, esper daily sinre the school board had decided to withdraw the free ride tickets on the street cars for the school chil dren. Mr. Schaaf explained that there was dissatisfaction in his ward owing to the withdrawal of these tickets. Dr. Howat of the board of education answered that the distribution had caused no end of trouble that was created through Jealousy and that since the children of one district were getting the tickets patrons in other districts thought their children entitled to the same accommodation. Mr. Schaaf's FUgg'-stion was . taken rather lightly by his brother councilmen and the matter was referred to the school board whose members stated that a building would replace the old one as soon as the growth of tho country thereabouts demanded itVote Money for Clerk Hire. An ordinance was passed by suspend--ing rules allowing an appropriation of $160 for clerk hire In the treasurer's office and $400 to the board of public works. In the latter the clerical help is needed in the city engineer's office. L. T. Meyer, representing the Chicago, South Bend interurban railway company whose line promises to go through Hammond appeared before council in person last night and offered a written Invitation to the mayor and the councllmen requesting that body to be Mr. Meyer's guests on a trip along the right of way of the company. The invitation Is extended to show the Hammond city administration the thorough work that the company is doing in fulfilling Its contracts and that it is acting in good faith and that the administration may judge for itself whether the company ought to be entitled to a, time extension for the completion of its work through Hammond. The Invitation was accepted and next Saturday afternoon and Sunday set for the Inspection tour. Mr. Meyer also extended the invitation to The Lakb Countt Times and made reference to the invitation to the press In his letter to the council. POLICE OFFICES EESIGNS. Officer Charlie W-hlttaker. a popular member of the Hammond police force, resigned yesterday after being on. the force one year. He will resume hfs former position with the electric car service. His tuccesaor has not bten chosen.

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