Hammond Times, Volume 3, Number 76, Hammond, Lake County, 16 September 1908 — Page 1

.EVENING EDITION

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Fair tonight rod Tours, day no decided chance In temperature. ,. ..... VOL. EI. NO. 76. HAMMOND, INDIANA,, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1908. ONE CENT PER COPY.-

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Lives Of Fifty People Are Imperilled This Morning: When Hammond Car Nearly Collides With Train

BLAME NOT YET FIXED South Chicago and , Hammond People Aboard Street Car Collapse When Danger is O'er. The Urea of fifty passengers, Sixtythird street bound, Tvere Imperiled thla morning; at 6 o'clock when a Hammond car bound for Sixty-third street ran through the grates at Seventieth street and the Illinois Central tracks, Parkside, because of the motor-man losing: control of his car. It was a dramatic moment for the onlookers, a majority of whom were standing on the Illinois Central platform, waiting for the suburban train bound for the city. Car No. 323, propelled by Motorman H. Foss, Hammond, approached the railroad crossing at an unlimited speed and while he made the momentary stop, at least enough to allow the conductor, Walter Btelefleld, 268 Plummer street, Hammond, to signal him to stop, he could not stop the car and had to ignore the gates and the fast approaching Illinois Central suburban train, and, failing to control the power, smashed through the former. The conductor, realizing the situation, ran for what at that moment .seemed to be his life. The passengers had hardly 'time to realize their hazardous position, but after the car had crossed the crossing there was a general denouncing of the motorman's tactics. Gatcman Does Duty. The gateman,- Michael Formosa, who lives at 7725 Greenwood avenue. Grand Crossing, did his duty and lowered the gates In what appeared more than sufficient time, and If he had not it is more than probable that the train, which was approaching at a terrific speed, would have hit the car. The motorman declares that he couldn't help the accident and the fault for it has not been fixed. The majority of the tassengers were from the East Side and among them were many who have aided the East Siders In their attempt to get better street car service, and this mrning's incident gave them further reason In which to carry, on their cause for btftter transportation. Some of Those Aboard. Among those aboard the car were: William Behri, 9389 Ewing avenue; J. F, Rowe, 10634 Avenue O; W. Rlckards, 9707 Ewing avenue; W. I Doran, 637 Seventy-third street; Albert Car son, 9739 Ewing avenue; P. J. Glea son, 10420 Ewing avenue. There were several Hammond people aboard. The street car company has begun an investigation of the affair. WATSON HERE OCT. 30 Chairman Schaaf Receives Authenticated Assurances This Morning. James E. Watson will formally open the campaign in Hammond on October 3. Republican County Chairman Chair man F. Richard Schaaf has received as surances from Will Hayes of the state speaker's bureau, that Mr. Watson will be here on that date. A "big republican rally will be held r that occasion and James Watson is expected to make one of his whirlwind speeches. The whole state is being enthused over Mr. Watson. Wherever he has gone he has spoken to crowded houses and his remarks have been warmly applauded. Is a Great Campaigner. Mr. 'Watson Is considered the greatest campaigner in the country outside of Leslie M. Shaw and it will be a treat to the people of Hammond regardless of their political affiliations to hear him. Chairman F. Richard Schaaf has made arrangements for a big tent where most of the big meetings in this city will be held. This tent will be erected in convenient location and will seat 3,000 people. . The Young Men's Republican club of this city will have charge of the Watson demonstration and will assist Mr. Schaaf in receiving the distinguish ed guest and providing for his enter tainment. This is to be the first big campaign meeting in Hammond and everybody will be anxious to hear the candidate for governor and see what he has to say on the issues of the cama ign.

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KIDNAPPED GIRL TELLS WEIRD STORY South Chicago Sensation Is Uncovered Near Pine Station Today. RESCUED BY SECTION BOSS Kidnapper Flees From Men Who Rescued the Girl and Is At Large. (Special to The Times) Pine Station, Sept. 16. The escape of Miss Laura Williams, 9726 Avenue M, South Chicago, from the hand of her kidnapper at this place last night, vras the most exciting affair that has occurred here since the killing; of the wild man a year ago. The stojy which Miss Williams tells of the kidnapping, reads like a story book. She says that she and a school girl friend, Miss Blanche Spear, were walking down the B. & O. railroad tracks whe nthey noticed that a man was following them at a little distance behind. -" . . Tells Queer Tale. Finally the Spear girl left her friend and went to her home while the Williams girl continued down the track on her way home. She says that the man walked up behind her and suddenly blindfolded her. According to her story this happened in the afternoon after school. She said that the man had a big black revolver and . threatened to shoot her if she made an outcry. She says that they walked all the way to Indiana Harbor and that just before reaching that place the man removed the blindfold from her eyes. The pair passed through Indiana Har bor and the man kept warning the girl not to make an outcry or he would shot her, while if she obeyed him she would not be harmed. After they passed through Indiana Harbor they came to Pine Station and here they saw Charles Dittman, the boss of the section, and his wife. The man ordered the girl to walk ahead of him for a hundred feet and not to make an outcry. Aak for Protection. Just as the girl passed Dittman, how ever, she screamed and asked them for protection. At this Juncture the man who had kidnaped her disappeared In the darkness. The girl was take Into the Lake Shore depot where Agent E. C. Kern joined Dittman in a search for the kidnapper. The girl was taken to the Dittman home by Mrs. Dittman and was restored to her parents today. They were overjoyed to see their daughter. The girl said the man who forced her to go with him. said he knew who she was and he also knew her cousin, Jennie Koontz of Westville, Ind. WIRE MYSTIFIES POLICE "Who Knows E. E. Ritter and of the "Store He Robbed." A telegram was received at the local police station which is proving something of a mystery to the police. It is from Sphingfield, 111., and reads: "E. E. Ritter a suicide here. What store did he rob and when? What sentence did he receive? Was he released, and when?" The police do not remember that any man by the name of E. E. Ritter was arrested here for robbing a store and was afterwards sent to jail. The telegram would indicate that a man had suicided who ws identified as E. E. Ritter, and that on . his person there was something to indicate that he had robeed a store here and had been sentenced to the penitentiary for it. Chief of Police Rimabch intends to write to the chief of police at Springfield, and find out about the particulars of the case. There are a number of people in this city by the name of Ritter, but none of hem have a police record. TELEPHONE TOUR SEWS TO THH TIMES.

NORMAN E. MACK CONFERS WITH SPEAKERS AT DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK.

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Jt 90 MILES OF ROAD Lake County Board of Com missioners Make a Long Tour of Inspection Yes terday and Find They Have Done Reliable Work PEOPLE HAVE LITTLECONCEPTION Amount of Work Done By Present Board Has Never Been Duplicated By Any Set of Officers Since Lake County Was Started Over Seven ty-Four Years Ago. (Special to The Times.) Crown Point, - Ind., Sept. 16. The county commissioners yesterday made an inspection of all of the gravel roads vrhlch are being built in north' rrn Lake county and the jaunt they were compelled to make to view ail of the extensive improvements which are under way in this county covered an immense amount of territory. The people of Lake county have but little conception of the magnitude of the public works which is being undertaken by the county commissioners of this country. - Build Xinety Hilcs. It is a fact that nearly a hundred miles of gravel roads are now being built or contracted for and will be built in the near future. This is in addition to the appropriations for f Continued i ptjre S.

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MAY GETGOMPERS Trades and Labor Council Appoint Committee to 1 Confer With Leader. SOME DO NOT WANT Question of His Visit , to Hammond . Arouses Some Debate in Meetings. It is understood that "Boh" Evans of the Trades and Labor Council, suggest, ed to the members of that organisation hat an effort be made to .have Samuel Gompcrs, president of the American Federation of Labor, come to Hammond and speak on the issues of the campaign. , ' . While Mr. Evans' suggestion was taken up and a committee was appointed to see If-he could not be secured; for this city, it-Is understood that there was. far from being a unanimity of opinions as- to the advisability of hav ing him speak here. . Activity is Resented. . While the leaders of the Trades and Labor Council are democrats or socialists and are using their influence to the last extremity to affect the local political situation regardless of the effect It will have on the unions, there are a number pof members of. this organization who deeply resent this activity on their part and will discourage every effort they make in a political way. . There are hundreds of union men in the city who do not believe that Evans or any other local leader or even Gompers himself, should dictate to them as to how they shall vote on the presumption tnat tney are no ahle o form heir own opinions on a political subject. - According to them Gompers's influence in this community ends when he seeks to further the political ends of a particular pary at the cost of disrupting unions all over the country. They say that if Gompers should come to Hammond he would receive a chilly reception on the part of a large number of laboring men In this region. When you advertise, yen moat remember that you have to reach a class that has the buying propensity. That's the class THE TIMES reac.e. There's aaaae class to that class,

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These are busy days around the democrtaio headquarters in the Hoffman house, Kew York. Carrying out William J. Bryan's ideas of thorough organization, Norman E. Mack, chairman of the committee, has set the wheels in lively motion in the last ten days. -Hordes of " volunteer speakers are at the committee rooms daily, and frequent "conferences are held wherein the speakers afe Instructed as to points to be featured in their speeches. The accompanying: picture of Mr. Maack i the -first published of the campaign manager at the Hoffman house headquarters. HIS AFFINITY Indiana Harbor is Startled Over Sensational Departure of Well Known Married Man With Former Trapeze Artist Yesterday. H.C. DESERTS FAMILY Alice Walters Said To Be Wife of Peter Baker, Famous German - Comedian, Lures Millworker Away From His Home After Stirring Career In Harbor. - - (Special to The Times). Indiana Harbor, Ind., Sept. 16. "I'd go to the ends of the earth to And and punish the woman who wrecked and ruined my home," said Mrs. H. C. Garris of Hemlock avenuV, as she recited the details in the tragedy of hearts which resulted in her lawfully wedded husband, a prominent millworker, de. Bering his family and eloping with a local character. WIFE OF COMEDIAN. The woman who created havoc in the Garris household is Mrs. Alice Walters, according to her own story, but isireally the wife of the famous Irish comedian, Peter Baker. Mrs. Walters herself has had a varied theatrical experience ami has often thrilled vast crowds by her wonderful daring in balloon ascensions. She arrived in the Harbor about a year ago and met GarContinued on page 5.

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Illi Splendid Orator Who Nom inated Robert Lafollette at Chicago Republican Convention Billed For Hammond in. One Week. FIRST RALLY OF ; CAMPAIGN HERE Young Men's Republican Club Holds Enthusaistic Meeting and Arranges Spectacular Demonstration Which is To Be Held at Hammond Next Week. Hon. Henry P. Cochems, one of the leading poiitlcana of Wisconsin, the 1 man who was selected to nominate Robert LaFoIlette at the Republican national convention and whose speech was wildly cheered for half an hour by that body, will speak in Hammond Wednesday, Sept. 23, just a week from today, under the auspices of the Young Men's Republican club of Hammond. " This is to be the iirst big political rally of the campaign in this city and the plans which were set on foot at the meeting of the Young Men's Republican club, held in the court house last evening, leaves no doubt as to the success of the meeting. ' Meeting Will Be Well Advertised. . The meeting will be advertised extensively In Hammond and the young republicans of. Whiting, East Chicago, Indiana Harbor and Gary will be invited to come to this city and make the meetings the greatest gathering of yeung republicans the county has ever known. Last evening all of the .committees on arrangements were appointed and there will be Intense activity from now on. The meeting last nigltt was one of the most enthusiastic which has yet been held. The fact that this Yally. from its conception to its execution, is to be a young men's affair in which one of the most brilliant young men in the west, the all-around man of his college, the captain of Wisconsin football team. the orator of his school will speak; will make it one of the most interesting meetings, from a young man's point of view, that will be held during,-the campaign. , A Whirlwind Candidate. Henry F. Cochems was recently a candidate for congress in his Milwaukee district against the present Incumbent, who has held the office for three terms. and after a whirlwind campaign was defeated by only 153 votes out of 60,000. This is something of an Indication of the esfeem in which this Voung Wisconsin politician Is held, in his own city. The plan now is to have the members of the Young Men's Republican club meet Mr. Cochems at the hotel, half to three-quarters of an hour beforethe meeting. A parade of the members of the club will then be formed which will act as an escort for Mr. Cochems ar.d, headed by a band, will march around the central portion of the city. It will finally, go to the hall where the address of the evening will be made. Will Wear Campaign Hats. Every member of the club will be provided with a campaign hat of approved style and there will be enough red fire burned to attract the attention of the entire city. The hall will be appropriately decorated and nothing will be left undone to make the meeting a great success. The rally will be different from any . i. it.i i . .- i i. i i. jheW ln ammonu- ,n that there wlu.be a 0OJ m"cai program. The various quartettes will sing campaign parodies land the band will play several selec tions in the hall. Charles F. Dickinson, whose music store Is in 272 State street has volunteered to organize a fife and drum corps of young republicans and any young men who are interested in this part of the work are requested to report to Mr. Dickinson as he is anxious to begin practice right away. Announces Executive Committee. President Roscoe E. Woods last night ... announced the executive committee of the Young Men's Republican club. This 'Will eventually consist of. 15 members jbut only 10 of that number have been iappointed. The appointments on this jcommittee which have already been anJnouriced are Attorney Edward Schottler, ! Dan Enright. Reece Powell, W. M.

Hankley, Attorney Edward Brandenburg, Bert Ponches; Charles R. Dyer, Harvey Post, John Stamm and Carl Ames. There were several special committees appointed to make arrangements for the Cochems meeting next Wednesday. The committee on advertising, Carl Ames, Ralph Groman, Edward Brandenburg. The committee on invitations, Theodore Moore. Gerald Gillett, Continued on page 2.

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City Council and Mayor Becker Look With Favor Upon Chief Rimbach's Plea For More Police and a Patrol Wagon. COUNCIL HOLDS 1 . IMPORTANT MEETING The Board of Health Gets Ordinance Through Making it a Penalty to Sell Fruit That Is Uncovered and Contaminated With Street Dust and Germs of All Kinds. The Hammond police department and the city council, or rather their re- , spective heads, Chief Bimbach and Mayor Becker, have at last come to an understanding, which, If times pick np ' and Mayor Becker carries out his premise, will give the city better police protection and a police patrol, or possibly a police automobile. -The understanding came about at the regular council meeting last night, at which time, the tax levy for the year 1908 was fixed and the appropriations for the various departments made. The levy, as -told in The Times yesterday,, was fixed at 1.80. ' .; Chief Rimbach appeared in person at 4 the meeting and addressed the council in behalf of his department Wants a Patrol Wagon. sik uiesru mure ponce protection, oy advocating more men for the department and pointed out the handicap that the department has on account vf a lack of a , police patrol wagon or an . automobile. He predicted unsurmountable conditions . for his department in case business activity resumes, and especially if the Standard Steel Car works begin work again. "Owing to the shut-down of the factories," said the chief. "Things have been rather quiet during the past months, but It Is easy to foresee what will happen when Hammond gets back Into its normal stride. We have only one man on the whole north side and . only one in Homewood, and Hammond people do not generally know tfcat on pay nights at the Standard district we have had to leave the whole town unprotected and center our force down there to prevent riot and murder. We have had a call to Gibson today and we were hanfllcapped in going there because we had no vehicle. Five minutes is much time in effecting the cap ture 01 a murderer or ronher, and frequently when we have waited during the night time for a livery rig to hitch up for iis or still worse when we relied on the street cars, our quarry had escaped." . - ' - ' Mayor Gives Promise. Mayor Becker answered the chief that he realized the condition of things, hut that times were so bad that he felt that $1.80 was-about as high a leavy as the people could stand for, and that if times would not pick up that it would be more of a burden next spring than $2.70 was last spring." "However,", he continued, "If times pick up, more men will be needed on (Continued on page 2.) BRIDGE WORK STARTS Monon Railroad Begins Construction on Its New Sascule Bridge. The Monon railroad todaj- bfgan tHe work of construction on the fine new j bascule bridge which is to be built over the Calumet river in this city. The ! drtt u'nrlf 1c Vi ti haullna nf fiflfh - - , ,. . ' loads of sand from Munster which is ! to be deposited ea?t of the - present i tracks and will make the roadbed for the new tracks and the approach for the new bridge. The bascule bridge over the Monon road is to be run by electricity and . will be the most moJem which can 'be built. It will not be built in the place of the old bridge, but will be constructed several rods east of the present span. . The necessity for this bridge has long-been apparent, as the old one'is actually dangerous. The bascule bridgew hich is to beb uilt by the Monon is to be the first of the new bridges to be built in Hammond. It will afford employment for a number of iron and structural steel workers.