Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 39, Number 39, 26 December 1913 — Page 1

ONB PAIXAJDIUM JJL. -LL-JJ AND SUN-TELEQRAM VOL. XXXIX. NO. 39 RICHMOND, IND., FRIDAY EVENING, DEC. 26, 1913 SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS

RICHM

RESIDEIITS OPPOSE PAVEMENT OF MAIN STREETJITH BRICK Test Siders Object to Improvement of Big Hill By City.

ADVOCATE RAISING OF PRESENT BRIDGE Expense of Filling in Hill and Making Change $40,000. Through ItB president, Dr. E. B. Grosvenor, the West Side Improvement association today formally protested against the paving of Main street from Fourth street to the bridge at tjie present grade of that section of Main street .and announced its advocacy of a plan of filling in Main street east of the river to a point about twenty feet east of Second street and raising the east end of the Main street bridge so that it would conform to the new Main street grade west of the river. Dr. Grosvenor says this plan has been thoroughly investigated by the association arid is advocated because it is believed to be practical and possible to carry out at an expense of not more than $40,000, part of which expense could be assumed by the county government if it so desired. Includes Pavement. The estimated expense of this improvement, Dr. Grosvenor says, includes the cost of paving the new grade of Main street from the bridge to Fourth street. "Even if the plan we propose is not adopted, West Richmond people will be opposed to paving Main street from Fourth to the river," said Dr. Grosvenor. "The slope of the bridge, with its cement floor, now provides one toboggan slide for us which has to be kept cindered in winter and is even then dangerous for horses, and if Main street hill is paved we will have another toboggan slide. Two attorneys have informed us that in the event this hill is paved the city will be liable for damages for all horses injured and vehicles damaged." Denies Charge. That the C. & O. railroad could block any plan for such an improvement because it constructed its bridge over Main street on a grade estab lished wy the city is also emphatically denied by Dr. Grosvenor. This phase of the question, he said, had been in vestigated by Attorney A. M; Gardner who had given the opinion "that railroads must conform with the grades of streets established by cities at any time. The elimination of the Main street hill. Dr. Grosvenor also contends, would put the C. & O. railroad to but little expense. It would do away entirely with the railroad bridge for the street fill at that place would be on a level with the present floor surface of the railroad bridge and the tracks could be placed across the street. No Fatalities Expected. "This, of course, would provide another grade crossing," said Dr. Grosvenor, "but this should not mitigate against the improvement plan proposed by the association. Under the railroad bridge, which is always dark three people have been killed while there has never been a fatality on the C. & O. grade crossing on North D street." Former city engineer Harry Weber, prior to the construction of the Main street bridge over the river estimated that the cost of filling Main street to the grade now proposed, bricking the street and paying damages to property owners would cost $35 000. This did not include the estimated cost of raising the east end of the bridge to conform to this grade. Damages No Item. This latter cost Dr. Grosvenor estimates would be about $5,000, and he points out that in figuring on the expense of making the fill it will not now be necessary to include the item of damages. He says all the property owners on the south side of Main street will be benefited to an extent that will equalize the damages to be paid to the few property owners on the north side of the street, whose properties would be slightly below the new street grade. In figuring on the probable expense of raising the Main street bridge the West Side Improvement association members have taken the figures of John W. Mueller, the bridge engineer, in the estimates he prepared on the expense of removing the bridge to South L street and reconstructing it there, when that plan was under consideration. This expense Mueller estimated would total $20,000, but at least $15,000 can be eliminated when only figuring on the cost of raising one end of the bridge. SOCIAL UPLIFTERS INVADE CITIES MICHIGANTOWN. Ind., Dec. 26. This town was invaded today by a team of six social uplifters from Butler College, Indianapolis, who will devote the next seven days their Christmas vacation to social service work among the young men of Michigantown. It is the annual custom of Butler to send out a gospel team at Christmas time. The team Is ready for anything, from staging a basketball game or a vaudeville snow to conducting prayer meetings and special meetings for recalling young men, to their churches. The Dwn has three churches Christian, Methodist and Baptist and influential business men and ministers combined to bring the . team here. Their coming has been widely adver-iiaed.

Spirit of

Seen by His PRISONER ESCAPES FOR XMASJACATION Richmond Crime Teacher, in Clerical Garb, Outwits Prison Guards. SLIDES DOWN WIRE Herbert J. Eschenfelder. 'sentenced to the Indiana State Reformatory two years ago from the Wayne circuit court for conducting a crime school for east end boys, made his escape from the institution Wednesday night, leaving the following Christmas greeting. for J. A. Carter, superintendent of the construction department. "Mr. J. A. Carter, I want to spend Christmas outside. Will be back Friday. Tell the major not to worry, as I will be back, Friday sure. Herbert J. Eschenfelder." Th prisoner left the reformatory by sliding down a wire from the second floor of the administration building. Although he has not been seen since, prison; officials are sure that he will return tomorrow, and exchange the chaplain's suit, which he took, for the reformatory garb. Eschenfelder was obssessed of the Christmas spirit, chafed under the restrictions of prison routine, and after he had clothed himself in clerical garb, fastened a wire to a stairway and slid to Yule-Tide freedom outside the walls. His record at the institution had been good, and he would have been Eligible for a parole soon. He was first missed at 10 o'clock at night. Eschenfelder was the "brains" of a gang which two years ago gave the police of Richmond endless worry. Pennsylvania detectives caught him looting cars in the east end yards, and succeeded in obtaining his conviction on a petit larceny charge before Judge Fox. The fugitive trained a number of boys in the art of stealing, and took them with him on his nightly trips. When the house where he was living with a woman was raided by the police, a large amount of loot was confiscated. Breaks His Word. v JEFFERSONV1LLE, Ind.. Dec. 26. Herbert Eschenfelder had not reported at the institution at 1 o'clock this ! afternoon and posst i composed of po lice, citizens and reformatory- guards were searching for the young man. whose desire to celebrate Christmas outside the stone walls caused Trim to take French leave. Reformatory officials were confident yesterday that Eschenfelder would keep his promise to return today, but they are now inclined to believe that ! his taste of freedom has been too sweet for him to voluntarily surrender himself and receive the punishment of an extended length of sentence which is in store for the prodigal on ihis return, whether he comes back of his own accord or in the- custody of t nose who are 'pursuing him. Richmond police hare been notified to keep a sharp watch for him; - ILLINOIS PASTOR W ILL PREACH Rev. E. E. Davis, of Alexis, 111., one of the -strong ministers of the Presbyterian church will occupy the pulpit at the Second Presbyterian church next Sunday morning and evening. Rev. Davis is well known among Presbyterians in eastern Indiana, having been a member of the Whitewater ' Presbytery several years ago. The congregation is still seeking a minister to take the place of Rev. T. C. McXary who went to St. Louis to take the pastorate of the Lee Avenue church. PEARSE RETURNS Regular gymnasium work at the Y. M. C. A. will begin January 3. when i . ui rai bc, lut? ii , iv a. i uim wi, will return from a visit to the east. Mr. Pearse, with his wife and small son, left early in December, and since that time the work of directing the gymnasium classes has been in the nands of H. A. Pettijohn and Lyman Lybolu

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Joaquin Miller, Poet,

Widow and Daughter

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)MISS JUANITA MILLER.) Miss Juanita Miller, daughter of the late Joacquin Miller, ' Poet of the Sierras," declares she and - her mother have been in spiritual communication with Miller. Miss Miller declares that they have also had visions of the venerable poet, but that on each occasion the shadowy figure vanished when either of the women spoke. "There has always been a close spiritual bond between mother, father and myself," said Miss Miller. "Frequently mother had communicated with father, when he was alive, by telepathy when they were miles apart." Miss Miller and her mother live in the poet's old home, "The Heights," in the hills back of Oakland. CHRISTMAS JOKE . PUIILEHRISONERS City Jail Authorities Leave Door Wide Open For Escape. With a mixture of feeling between hunger and relief at the prospect of escaping from the city jail, Frank Murray, colored, V. Clark and William Nolan, were puzzled yesterday morning when they found out that a patrolman had left the jail door unlocked. They wanted the Christmas dinner which they knew Patrolman Wenger always serves, and at the same tim-? they did not like the prospect of facing Mayor Zimmerman on the charge of public intoxication. The idea of breaking jail also pleased them. While patrolmen watched from inside the city building the three mn slipped through the open door and away congratulating themselves. Clark whose conscience began to give him sharp pangs, returned and gave himself up. In police court today he was instructed to braee up and leave liquor alone, the charges against him being dismissed. The men who thought they were breaking jail, do not know that the door was left open on purpose to give them a chance to get away, and thus save the expense of feeding them, and also foil their plans T eat a - good Christmas dinner.

FAKE MAYOR-ELECT HELDJOR THEFT W. S. Robbins and Two Local Men Arrested At Cincinnati.

MAYOR UNPERTURBED Friends of Mayor-elect William . Robbins are "kidding" him today because a man arrested in Cincinnati yesterday, charged with assisting in the theft of some jewelry, informed the Queettiiy pliee-ib.a.t he was to be Richmond's chief executive after the first of the year. A Cincinnati newspaper, scenting a sensational story in the statement of this man, wired its local correspondent for information. The correspondent wired back that about the time the impersonator of Richmond's mayorelect was being arrested Mr. Robbins was delivering an address at the municipal Christmas tree exercises. . The man arrested in Cincinnati is William I. Robbins of this city, a machinist. Implicated with him in the alleged theft of two diamond rings, each valued at $130, and a cloak, valued at $30, from a disorderly house on George street, Cincinnati, are Orville Thompson of this city, a blind piano tuner, .and C. W. Hoffman of Baltimore. Find Pawn Ticket. The articles they are charged with taking were Christmas presents. A pawn ticket was found in Thompson's pocket when he was searched at police headquarters. All the men admitted they were at the disorderly house Wednesday night. When Mayor-elect Robbins was informed today of the liberty one of his fellow citizens had taken with his name at Cincinnati he laughed heartily and then said that during the recent municipaj campaign William I Robbins, who fs not related to him, frequently posed1 as the Progressive candidate for the mayoralty. Orville Thompson, who resides on South Fifth street, has been employed at the Starr Piano company and is quite well known. He is said to be a skilled piano tuner. Formerly he was a familiar; fgure on the streets of Richmond for he had a trained collie dog which led him about town, but of late he had been able to dispense with the dog's services because of the improvement of his eyesight. R. BEITZELL DEAD Death of Centerville Man f . Comes Suddenly. f CENTERVILLE, Ind.. Dec 26. Ralph Beitzell, 37 years old, one of the l.best known young men of Wayne j county, died at a Chicago hospital this j morning": from a complication of disi eases. 'He was the son of Mercellus I Beitapll, a hardware merchant of this plac:x About a-month ago, Mr. Beitzell returned here tor a visit. A week ago he went to the Chicago institution for treatment. His death was unexpected. He traveled'for a Chicago tombstone concern. Mr. Beitzell at one time was in the show business. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. The body will be returned here for interment. W EATHER FORECAST FOR INDIANA Cloudy tonight and Saturday. Slightly colder tonight. TEMPERATURE. Noon 26 YESTERDAY. Maximum 35 Minimum 31

WEATHER MAN MIXES RAIN, SNOW, SLEET

East Coast Swept by Bale Doing Half Million Dollar Damage. NORTH STATES COLD Christmas Weather in Richmond Keeps Residents in Their Homes. Dame Nature's gift to Richmond was a white Christmas. The gift was not given stealthily in the night as Santa Claus is supposed to distribute gifts to the children, but a blanket of snow was spread over the city openly after 9 o'clock yesterday morning. The day opened warm and cloudy, with a temperature of about 35, which was the maximum for the day. Between 9 and 11 o'clock in the morning there was a severe wind and snowstorm. There was snow all day until midnight. The wind rose to a greet velocity last night, and continued all night with lowering temperature. The thermometer dropped dropped to 31. the lowest. After midnight and until this morning it fell five degrees, freezing the slush which was left from yesterday. Wind Blows Hard. No record of the velocity of the wind can be obtained by Walter Vossler. United States weather observer, at the pumping station, but it is thought the gusts late last night were as high as sixty miles an hour. The general velocity of the wind was about thirty-five miles and hour during the storm period. Christmas eve the Pennsylvania, C. & O. and the traction station were filled to overflowing with people who were leaving the city to spend Christmas, or with people arriving to visit local friends and relatives. Nearly every incoming and outgoing railroad train carried extra coaches to accommodate the exceptionally large number of travelers. There was also heavy travel yesterday, especially In the evening when the holiday throngs began to leave for their homes or were returning to the citj The rural mail carriers found it very heavy going yesterday morning, as their wagon3 were laden to capacity, and the roads were seas of mud, but the . generous farmer folk on their routes well repaid them for their hard Christmas labors, and when the carriers returned to the postoffice they looked like army raiders after a successful looting expedition. Their wagons groaned tinder burdens of turkeys, ducks, chickens, food stuffs of all varieties, including priceless eggs and other gifts from appreciative patrons too numerous to list in detail. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW. WASHINGTON', Dec. 26. Today's weather is one of the most peculiar mixtures the country has ever produced. It is warm and rainy on parts of the eastern coast, snow and cold in southern and upper New York, NewEngland, and the west repons temperatures from 14 below at Devil's Lake, to springlike weather in Kansas. Florida is the only place running true to forn. There it is warm. A twentyfour gale and rain in Washington in Washington produced springlike conditions. GALE CAUSES WRECKS. Half Million Dollars' Damage Done by Tidal Wave. SEABRIGHT. N. J., Dec. 26. Three men were swepc to death and damage estimated at fully a half million dollars was caused by a gale that raged along the coast at a rate of ninety miles an hour today, hurling the sea upon the land like a tidal wave. Houses in this city were blown down or washed away. The city's lighting plant was put out of commission. Three hundred persons were forced to flee from their homes. Two boats were driven ashore near here. To the mast of one of the vessels three men were clinging. The Fork river life saving crew tried to reach the men. but without success. The men were seen to drop one by one into the swirling sea and disappear. WINDOWS ARE SMASHED I NEW YORK, Dec. 26 A teriffic j gale struck New York early today and ; caused considerable damage. Hundredes of plate glass windows were shattered and signs dismantled, causing much danger to patrons. One man was blown into the river, but was rescued. The. gale was followed by a dense fog that darkened the city and delayed all , traffic, both surface and elevated. BROTHERJFFERS AID Visits Sister Who Was "Heartmate" of Attorney. MONTICELLO, N. Y., Dec. 26. A pathetic meeting took place in the jail here today when Postmaster Herbert Branch of Hartwick. N. Y., came to see bis sister, Adelaide A. Branch, who threw aside all family ties 15 years ago to become the "heart mate" of Attorney Melvin Couch. Upon his arrival he was taken at once to the hospital ward where since Sunday his sister has been begging for death that she might follow to the grave the lawyer who for years has held her js voluntary slave in a little boxlike room off his office. The brother came to tell the woman that her family had disowned her but that he would help her leave for the west where she hopes to hide herself. BUYS 160 ACRE FARM Benjamin Kuhlman purchased the 160 acre farm of Edgar F. Hiatt, lorafoH nna Tnilo Met flnti nn mila J south of Westville. The farm is j

: The deal was negotiated br Funk and j Miller.

"GOOD FELLOWS" GLADDEN HEARTS OF LESS FORTUNATE

FRATERNITIES BRING CHEER TO SUFFERING FAMILIES OF TOWN Elks and Eagles Vie in Distribution of Christmas Cheer. . POVERTY ASSAILS MANY IN RICHMOND Good Fellows Find Heart Rending Scenes in Ministration of Cheer. A big fleet of autos laden with bas kets filled with clothing, food, fruits ! and candy, 20p baskets all told, set forth from the Elks club early Christmas morning and bore Christma cheer to every family in the city the Associated Charities had designated as worthy of the lodge's assistance. Every Elk who assisted in the distribution of these gifts unanimously voted, when the work had been concluded, that they had bad one of the happiest Christmases of their lives. These volunteer Santa Clauses, among them Richmond's wealthiest citizens whose cars bearing Yuletide charity were operated by chauffeurs in uniform, saw real suffering and by their visitations to these homes of suffering and destitution were impressed with the importance of raising a large relief fund for the Associated Charities to carry on effective work during the winter. Help The Friendless. After all the poor families on the Elks list had been provided for there Was still a large quantity of supplies on hand and these were taken to the Home for the Friendless. Matron Thomas of the Home was greatly pleased with these donations for the institution is badly in ned of all the assistance obtainable at the present time for it is sheltering fiftythree women and children. The thirteen boys and girls at the Home, all "wards of the court and the oldest not more than "ten" years of agw. "werw in the nursery when the E3ka delegation arrived, playing with their Christmas toys and probably enjoying the first real Christmas of their young lives, and they had a merry romp with the "good fellows" who were their greatly appreciated playmates for almost a half hour. Inmates Are Happy. When the Juvenile ward has been completed the congested condition at the Home will be greatly relieved. Even the Christmas spirit pervaded the women's jail section of the Home and the two women serving sentence and the eight or ten insane, feebleminded and epileptic inmates wished their visitors Yuletide happiness. The jail was a model of cleanliness. The aged women who are cared for at the Home were greatly pleased over the visit of the Elks and were in a state of cheerful anticipation over the big turkey dinner being prepared in the kitchen, savory odors of which pervaded the institution, causing the two-year old in the nursery to demand as his share a "dum-stick." This lad has been taken away from his parents because the mother, madly jealous of her husband, who works at night, persists in following him all over town, leaving the baby to shift for himself. He was almost kidnapped yesterday by several Elks. There was absolute need for the baskets distributed Christmas In practically .every home to which they were taken. Weeps For Joy. On North I street, when an aged man responded to a good fellow's rap on the door, he burst into tears at tb sight of the large supply of food and clothing presented and reverently removing his hat said, with bowed head. "Thank God from whom all blessings flow." A sad-faced mother of a large family of small children and cursed with a worthless husband received her basket with the first smile that had illuminated her care-worn countenance for months, then leaned against the open door and sobbed convulsively. She was incapable of expressing her gratitude. In a north end shack, with broken windows, a little colored boy peeked his head through the half -open door and at the sight of the basket his eyes bulged out of their sockets, then he politely informed the good fellows that he would have assisted them in carrying the basket but he "didn't have no shoes nor no stockings." Thanks The Lord. In the south end an aged woman afjter a basket had been placed in her home estatically jumped up and down ! clapping her hands and shouting, "Glo ry to God. Glory to God. Many other pathetic Yuletide adventures were met with by the Elks' good fellows, but to relate them all Is a long j story. I "Here he comes, mamma; here he I comes," cried a four-year-old boy as i Captain Stanford, head of the local branch of the Salvation Army, entered a dingy little shack in the north end ' yesterday morning, carrying a bushel basket full of provisions. But there was something else which the Salvation Army officer brought that was worth more to the family in the long run, than the groceries, toys and fruits Christmas cheer. And I what the offlcer received In return was ! worth more to him than a large amount of money. . booa spinx rrevani. "Its the little things in this world that pays, said Captain Stanford. Continued on Page Sven.J

PEOPLE FACE ELEMENTS TO SEE CITY'S XMAS TREE Estimated That Between 3,000 and 3,500 Attend Affair. SANTA REMEMBERS 900 POOR KIDDIES wniie iiand Flays, Children March in Line to Get Candy. j For the first time in its history, Richmond as a municipality had a real Christmas party of its own. Between 3,000 and 3,500 persons, it was estimated, braved the inconvenience of driving snow and a howling wind, gathered around ths towering Cbristmast tree on North A street, between Seventh and Eighth, and heard the singing of famous songs by the chorus, and speeches by Mayor Zimmerman. Mayor-elect Robbtns. tha Rev. Father F. A. Roell and City Attorney W. A. Bond. Because of the Inclement weather. Ttart nt th. r-haHtnKU nlia. tttm. committee were not carried out. The food and clothing were not disturbed , and will be turned over to charitable organizations. More than five hundred round of candy were given to little children. However, many could not brave the . weather for the hour's duration of the program and left before the distribution began. About nine hundred sacks of candy were given away. Street Crowded. The crowd began to assemble at 5 o'clock last evening, and the number grew until A street from Seventh to Eighth was filled, while many remained In the Y. M. C. A. to watch the festivities. Several hundred gathered . gathered on the steps of St, Mary's church, from which the speeches were delivered and where the bands were stauooeo.. ; . . . It was estimated by "members of municipal Christmas tree committee that of the three thousand persons present when the program opened at 6:30 . o'clock, fifteen hundred were little children. Poorly clad and wearing ragged shoes, many of those for whom the celebration was intended, were forced to return to their homes without a gift. The Richmond City band opened the program with a selection of popular music. At a signal from Mayor Zimmerman, master of ceremonies, the chorus, not as large as the committee had planned, sang a Christmas anthem. Sing From Y. M. C. A. , Many did not know where the singers were, as the high wind first carried the voices away, but as the chorus swelled the gaze of every one was turned to the upper floors of the Y. ' M. C. A. -The chorus -was slnginc far above the street from the open windows of the association building. "I feel deeply this honor as I present to the citizens of Richmond their first Christmas tree, as. a city," was the way Mayor Zimmerman opened his speech. He spoke for some time, telling in part the story of Bethlehem and the gathering of tbe angel chorus. Father F. A. Roell of Su Andrew's church, delivered a Christmas talk, which, although short, was striking. He closed with, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, for of such is the kingdom of neaven. To Perpetuate Idea. Pledging himself to perpetuate the Christmas tree idea as far as be will be able, Mayor-elect Robbins said be hoped to have the occasion of tbe 1911 j Municipal Christmas tree as ausptcious as the present one. The speak ing was closed by city Attorney Bond, wbo spoke of tbe children and others who are still "little children in their hearts." Then came the moment for the children who suffered tbe inconvenience ' of cold feet and noses and stayed through the program. Santa Claus left his station on tbe big auto truck where the candy was stolid, and a procession of children formed behind bim on the south side of the street. Cooper's band then took tbe platform. ' As the long line marched forward, led ' by Santa Claus. they cheered and whistled. Every Child Supplied. They were led past the autotroclc while the members of the committee put forth their best efforts to give a bag of candy to each one. Two big policemen were there to lift the tiny ones to a level with the truck so that they would not be missed ia the distribution of the city's gifts. Many carried baskets, expecting to secure clothing and food. . The supply which had been collected, however, will be delivered to poor families later. After It has been thoroughly fumigated by Sanitary Inspector Young, the clothing will be taken to the Salvation Army quarters. Provisions will also be given the Salvation army. Candy for Orphans. Enough candy to distribute to the children at the Wernle Arphans Home was sent there, and the residue was given to the Penny club. The Associated Charities received the money which the committee had on band. Members of the committee met at the home of Mayor Zimmerman after the crowds had dispersed, and decided to leave the Christmas tree standing three or four days. It will be well guarded by patrolmen so that the (Continued on Page Tea.)

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