Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 1

a Li, a. .1 If 1 if 1 AND COMMERCIAL STAR ii JUOOOO 4- Uty-Thlrd Year. No. 137 Entered as second class mall patter at Mattoon, Illinois MATTOON, ILLINOIS, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 10, 1937 Published every afternoon except Sunday Price 5 Cents i7)7T 7.. FT) BEST PEGTMULM FE LDliMJ Ml II II II ROSED B-S ME of Firm Sec-Treasurer Buck-MiddleswortlrBuilding Destroyed by Fire BIG OIL FIEL SBI-IECO STORE VAPED MMIIW II II UWIWI HI I III i TOTAL LOSS ABOUT ISO.

Mattoon Suffers Its Most Disastrous Fire in Recent Years; Champaign and Charles- ton Fire Departments Aid in Bat tling Flamesj Blaze Starts About Under Control at 7:30. 4 I "i I 1 A-f. i 5fe 4 TJj' I -II A. Hi: The city's most disastrous fire in years destroyed early today 'the three-story Buck-Middlesworth building at 1705-11 Broadway, a loss estimated at more than $150,000. The flames at times threatened vtjejentire block, but due largely to the fact that there was only a slight wind blowing, the menace from this source; was not great, and there was no time, due to the efficient work of the Mat-toon, Fire Department, and the aid extended them by the fire departments from Charleston and Champaign, when adjacent structures were actually endangered from being engulfed by the flames.

The flames were discovered about 3:20 o'clock a. m. by operators of the Illinois Consolidated. Telephone Company, whose building: is just across the alley from the burned ptrutorewhen Jiey discovered, smoke eman-aiini from one of the windows of the Buck-Middlesworth building. Theyjat once notified the fire department, and in a few minutes the firemen were on the scene.

By pouring several streams of water into the burning building from different angles, the firemen were able to get the flames under control by about 7:30 o'clock. The cause of the blaze has not been determined. Some of the sufferers from the fire and the estimated amounts of their losses are: Buck-Middlesworth building, owned by Mrs. Edna Buck Middlesworth; lots, $75,000, largely covered by insurance. Sawin-Jones lots, $35,000, covered by insurance, i Ed F.

Clarke, Theater; loss, $15,000 on equip-ment and improvements. Utterback's Business College, loss, two-thirds protected by insurance. Mrs. Inez Corzine, beauty shop operator; loss, partly covered by insurance. Summers School of Beauty Culture; loss, in-urance'unknown.

Miss Helen Winson's Hat Shop; loss, partly covered by insurance. Dr. S. E. Conard; loss, insurance, $300.

Dr. C. L. Edmiston; loss, insurance, $1,000. Mattoon Beauty Supply Company; loss not estimated.

The Buck-Middlesworth building, 1705-11 Broadway, shown as it stood today after it had been gutted and ruined by fire with an estimated loss to building and contents of more than $150,000. Firemen are shown, in upper and lower right side of picture, shooting two of the eight streams of water used in battling the flames. RINGS Ml I 111 II Twelve Wells Are Al ready in Operation Around Clay City Wi'Wiw vmw (NQTE The following article onhe sensational development of the Illinois oil basin was written by a staff representative of the Chicago DaUy ffews.) Clay City, Aug. 10. Oil in modest amounts Is already flowing out of the new southern Illinois field.

Derricks stand on a half-dozer farms south of here, and near them along the road there is a new sound a rhythmic clanking, as if the district had become Infested with small cast-iron bullfrogs. This noise, new to the sheep grazing in the stumps. Is oil Clay City crude, pulsing through the four-inch pipe lines from someone's farm to the tank cars on the B. O. Three months ago a "Kelly Joint would have meant a saloon run by an Irisher.

Now almost any resident will explain patiently that it is the connection which lets "baroid" get down to the "weepers' of a rotary rig. Storage tanks gleam in fields of broken cornstalks or grain shocks, big Diesel motors lie on the railroad platform and these sights, along with a whiff of gas, add to ihe district's excitement at suddenly being elected in oil field. Drill Offsets Near Wells. Twelve wells are operating, and men who are best in step with the overnight development estimate the wells bring np about 8.300 barrels a day. Now the 100-foot rigs are drilling offsets around the producing wells, and putting down second, third and fourth wells in the proved land.

The dragon hissing in the thicket is a team of black boilers. The trucks in the roads, the crews in the oats, the new roads here and there, have one certain effect. They gTeatly Increase the production of oil's ancient by-pro-duct-If. That is, if, at $1.25 a barrel. "If they come my way." "If I get a well." "If I get 1,000 barrels." "If I get 10 wells." There is a good deal of mild speculation and a gusher of hoping.

Companies Hold the Leasei. There is not much business in Jeases. for leases to the more promising land have long" since been locked away in the strongboxes of the major oil companies. The Pure Oil Company, first into the field, sent Its leasers in more than a year ago. beginning in April of 1933.

They offered 30 cents an acre per year, for seven-eighths of the oil. if any. Twenty years ago there was some) talk of oil and nothing came of It. Remembering this, the land owners were glad to get the 30 cents, even thoUgh It amounted only to $36 on a farm of 120 acres. So no one got rich on leases.

Now, while less than a dozen farmers are in the newrnQplllty who "have a well," a great many think they have "If." And the field Is in the stage of subdividing its hopes, (Continued on page five TheWeafher Chlc'go, Aug. 10. Following are the weather indications for Illinois for thirty -Hi hours ending at seven m. Wednesday: Considerable cloudiness 'to night and -Wed nesday, local showers and thundee storms slightly warmef onight near Springfield. LOCAL WEATHER AND (Temperature from 11 a.

m. Mbn day to 11 a. today.) 11 a. 1 a. 77 3 p.

i3 a 6 p. 6 9 p. 9 a. 11 p. 11 a.

Weather conditions at 11 a', clear. Barometer reading at 11 30.10. Sun rose today at 5:04 and sets at 7:03. Moofa sets oil 9:03 p. m.

Minimum' temperature today, 72 at 6 a. m. Maximum temperature from 3 p. m. to 5 p.

m. Rainfall last. 21 hours, "none Prevailing wind to- day, east. OB BOO I (l II OUT IN BLAZE: at 5:30 o'clock, and Street Department workmen quickly stretched ropes along the north side of the street, across the east end of 'the subway bridge and at the intersection of Seventeenth street and Broadway. Policemen then forced onlookers to remain behind the ropes and firemen redoubled their efforts to save the wall.

Although it bulged and cracked slightly within the next hour', it remained standing. The canopy over the front of the section the building 'occupied by the "'theater 'fell to the sidewalk about 5:30 o'clock, blocking entrance' from the west side until it', was pulled several feet away from tho building by an automobile wrecker. Several firemen played streams of water onto the building from the roofs of nearby structures, while (Continued on page five)' SAFETY BEtT FAILS: FALLS 10 DEATH FROM PLANE Maurice, Iowa, Aug. lO.dNSV-- Safety belt failure was blamed today for the death late yesterday of Richard OTarrel, 25, who plunged 1,500 feet from, an airplane which went into a hose dive. He was en-route to Craig, Iowa, to 'see the wreckage of a plane crash wnlch killed' two persons i William Q.

Sawln, president of the Sawin-Jones whose store was wiped by today's spectacular Broadway blaze. Editorial We have all heard that old, old gag about locking the banr after the horse was stolen or the more modern version of locking the gamge after the automobile had vanished. Both admonitions are now well jn point with regard to the equipment of the local lire department. The big fire this morning that completely gutted the I tuck-il idd leswor bui ldi ng, Ihe chief occupant of which was the Sawin-Jones Co. an emphatic demonstration that Matton docs not hnve'uflicient or proper equipment for fighting a lire of the magnitude of the one this morning.

Fire Thief Weaver has pleaded for years for more adequate fire fighting equipment, pleaded for it until he was black in the face, figuratively speaking, insisted that the property owners of this city are entitled to better protection from lire, that the present fire fighting equipment is far short of what it should be. No doubt Chief Weaver has been embarrassed at times by his own insistence lest he appear to he over persistent. Of course his onnion of the adequacy of the lire fighting equipment should carry mora weight than the opinion of any other one Mattoon resident because his experience at the head of the Mattoon lire department has given him a most valuable knowledge, knowledge that few men can get unless they pass through a like experience. Regardless of Chief Weaver's arguments and pleadings for better fire fighting equipment, he did not. appear to luiyc impressed former city councils to the end that proper and sufficient lire equipment was purchased.

Chief Weaver has had efficient men and his men have had the willingness to go the limit in lighting fires, but efficient and willing men arc handicapped by lack of proper equipment when the big occasion conies that requires first, class and adequate equipment and such' equipment Chief Weaver and his men do not have. Some of the city's money that lias gone to goodness knows where could probably have provided the necessary fire fighting apparatus, however it is gone, if not forgotten, and it occurs to The Journal-Gazette and to many Mattoon people that steps should lie taken, aud without' 1 a Frank R. Jones, who Is secretary-treasurer of the Sawin-Jones which suffered a total loss of its stock in today's Broadway blaze. A. BRUMMET FOUND DEAD IN HIS BED I.

A. Brummet, residing a half-mile south of the Old Folks' Home, was found dead In bed about 2 o'clock this morning. He had been in failing health for about a year, but had worked as usual Monday. He was 54 years old. Funeral services will be conducted at the First Baptist church at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon, with Rev.

James M. Lively officiating. Burial will be in Dodge Grove cemetery. Mr. Brummet was born in Franklin county, Indiana.

April 5, 1883. a son of Mr. and Mrs. C. C.

Brummet. coming to Illinois when a boy, He had been in Mattoon 28 years In the employ of the Central Illinois Public Service being em ployed in Its gas department. Last January he moved to the farm where he died, but continued in the employ of the C. I. P.

S. Co. He married Miss Nora Harmeson cf Casey July 13, 1904. Survivors besides the wife are three daughters, Mrs. John D.

Morgan of Mattoon, Mrs. Julia Barnes, at home, and Mrs. William J. Bet-tendorf of Mattoon; a son. Otis Brummet.

of near Charleston; three brothers, L. C. Brummet of Casey. Ora Brummet of Logans-port, and George Brummet of Seymour. and two slsteri.

Mrs. Daisy Owen and Mrs. C. C. Green, both of Casey.

There are eight grandchildren. MRS. STARKS DIES AT 1, 0. 0. F.

HOME Mrs. Samantha Starks died about 11 o'clock Monday night in the Old Folks' Home at the age of 87. She was brought to the Home in August, 1931, from Champaign. She is survived by two sons, William Starks of Springfield and George Starks of Florida, and a daughter. Mrs.

Edna Westburg of Springfield. Burial is to be in Kent, O. LAST OF EQUIPMENT FOR OIL WELL TEST IS ON SCENE Effingham. 111., Aug. 10.

The last carload of equipment for drilling a test well on the farm of Harvey Isley, south of Montrose, was unloaded Saturday and work of erecting the derrick began Mon-1 day. The drilling equipment belongs to the Ohio Oil Company, which will make the test well In the Effingham vicinity. Isley, owner of the land, was notified last Friday to move his hay stacks from the field on which the test will be made. The drilling outfit is one of the largest and has power enough to go to a depth of 3,500 feet if necessary. BOY GET8 PNEUMONIA FROM KEROSENE FUMES AND DIES Harrlsburg, 111., Aug.

10. Pneumonia believed by physicians to have been contracted by Inhaling fumes from a kerosene can caused the death yesterday of three-year-old Billy Don iCummlngs. HARVEST SPECIAL Three 6.25-18! Fifestone high speed tires at $13 each. Watch this space for daily special. 8-14 KELLY-CARD WELL.

SAWIN-JONES CO. Our offce will be i temporarily lo cated in Room tele phone number S. 8-10tf, i 1 IT NEGRO AIDS VICTIM IN IDENTIFYING HIM St7 Loub, AUg. Williams, 37-year-old Detroit negro. Ujas confessed five robberies and helped police in identifying some of his victims who could not identify him, police announced today.

The robberies netted loot approximating $300. One of Williams' admitted victims, a woman who operates a dry goods store with her husbnnd, could not positively identify the negro as the man who took $70 from her Nov. 23. but when Williams recalled to her the details of the robbery, she exclaimed, "that's the man all right: lie knows it all." Williams, police said, also admitted robbing- a drug store, two filling stations, and a grocery store. AIR LINER CRASHES; FOUR MEET DEATH Daytona Beach, Aug.

10. (INSkFour men were killed and six other persons injured here today when an Eastern Airlines plane, en-route from Chicago to Miami, struck a pover, or telephone, line while taking off from Sholtz airport and crashed. Capt. Stewart Q. Dletz, who was at the controls', was killed instantly.

Two oilier men, not. yet definitely identified, died a short time lf.ter. They were believed to be Copilot Robert Reed and J. F. Phil-potts of Kingston, Jamaica.

WABASH CO, SHERIFF BANS SLOT MACHINES Mount Carmel, 111., Aug. 10. State's Attorney Walter F. Kolb and Sheriff M. E.

Hastings Issued a Joint statement ordering all slot machines out of Wabash county. The officers said machines found operating; alter Aug. 12 would be confiscated and keepers would be prosecuted. ARE Y00 PROTECTED? Fire insurance will save your Investment. Fire strikes quickly.

Arrange for protection before it's too late. Call or see praNK MILLER 8-11 Dcmaree phone 23 T. 'i Head of Theater 1 Ed P. Clarke, whose theater was destroyed when the Buck-Middlesworth building wont up in flames early today. MOWEAQUA MAN IS KILLED BY TRAIN Benton, 111., Aug.i Kirk, 51, Mowcaqua salesman, was instantly killed late yesterday when his automobile was struck by a west-bound Chicago and Eastern Illinois passenger train at a crossing Just west of here.

WHEN ON THE DANCE FLOOR, IOLKS, JUST TAKE IT EASY ChlcagorAugriO. Take It slow and easy out here on the dance floor, folks. That was the tip passed out today by Principal Leo Kehl of the 24thannual school and convention of the Chicago Association of Dancing Masters. He reported a trend toward a "lazier and easier" style and added: "Just because a new song is high-powered, it Is not necessary for the ballroom, dancer to Jump around like a barbarian. The good dancer today Is showing greater control and a better sense of TODAY'S BEST BUY Fine late Buick.

$395. See our classified ad." Stivers Grobelny Co, 8-10 I BEST FRUIT CROP IN YEARS FOR ILLINOIS Springfield, 111., Aug. 10. A. J.

Surratt, federal agricultural statistician, reported today that a fruit crop in Illinois of the best size and quality in several years Is indicated by present conditions. The teason has oeen favorable for proper spraying, Surratt said, In his weekly crop review, keeping disease and insects fairly well in control. Peaches will start moving in volume this week from the lower counties of the southern Illinois commercial peach area. The crop is rather uneven or short in most of the southern districts, Improving northward to a large crop in the upper half of the district. MRS.

MIDDLESWORTH PLANS TO REBUILD Mrs. Edna Buck Middlesworth, owner of the Buck-Middlesworth building, which was destroyed by fire today, came over from her home lr. Shelby ville when apprised of her loss, and, in an interview, said that, while her plans were not at all definite, she plans to rebuild her property Just as soon as circumstances will permit. "I Just returned from California last Saturday, and that, coupled with the suddenness of the news of the fire, has completely upset me," said Mrs. Middlesworth.

"I can think of none of the details of the building, in fact, I don't know exactly bow well the loss is covered' by Insurance." modern and up-to-date fire fighting apparatus ami in sufficient quantity to meet the needs of this growing cily. Granted that our city commissioners have a big job on their hands in untangling the business affairs of this city, we believe that the proper equipping of the fire department should be placed on the. MUST list for immediate attention. DICK TRACY SERIAL r-Wiir be shown at the Clarke theater Wednesday only. 8-10 Fire Chief J.

C. Weaver, who directed and. actively participated in- the battle against the flames, said he believed the fire started on or beneath a balcony in the rear of the Sawin-Jones Co. department store, winch occupied the greater portion of the first floor of the building. Flames'.

Spread Rapidly. engulfed a large part of the second floor of the building. Firemen at first hoped to be abla to check the blaze tntr savs part structure and the merchandise, but the flames spread -rapidly, and Chief Weaver quickly ordered all efforts of the firemen concentrated on confining the fire to the 'building lrrwfilcn it originated. Carrying out this plan, firemen shot eighf streams of water Into the building, keeping the exterior vails upright and preventing a further spread of the flames, Interior walls and floors, as well as the rorf, began to topple Into the center of the blazing building about 4:30 o'clock, and an hour later only twisted steel girders remained between the Front Wall' Remains Standing. 'With hundreds of persons looking pn, the front of, the Ibullding pppeared likely to be bulged out- rvd and pushed Into Broadway 1 delay, to provide the most.