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Newspaper
Westville Indicator
Location
Westville, Indiana, United States of America
Date
May 31, 1917
Page
1
A broad notice outlines June 5 as the nationwide draft registration day for men aged twenty one to thirty one. It details how to prepare, the twelve questions, how to answer, and the penalties for failing to register. It also includes guidance on citizenship status, current occupation, dependents, marriage, race, military service history, and exemption grounds.
The article explains a shift to adopting the Enfield rifle for U S forces, produced in American ammunition while continuing Springfield manufacturing. Existing small arms factories now serve both British and American needs, ensuring adequate supply and interchanges in ammunition.
Chicago reports a weekend of tornadoes across eight states killing 255 people and injuring 1,207. Thousands of homes and crops destroyed, with Mattoon and Charleston in Illinois hit hardest. Relief crews aid 5,000 homeless as guard troops patrol. Lists of identified dead in Charleston, Mattoon, and other districts are published.
A court notice lists numerous residents and families by name including Mrs. C. Anderson T Bridges Harry Beavers Mrs. Cora Beavers Mrs. Bickers E Burke colored William Brown colored T C Benson colored Mrs. Nancy Coons Mrs. Joseph Davidson Edwin Daugherty Mrs. De Hone Frost Davidson and others. The document shows a wide roster of individuals linked to a civil action or public proceeding.
A deadly tornado series swept from Kansas to Illinois and thence into Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama causing vast crop losses and about 100 deaths with hundreds injured. Mattoon and Charleston in Illinois endured severe destruction with dozens killed and hundreds injured, while initial reports estimate $2 million in property damage. The list of names includes Redman, Reed, Sweeney, Taylor, Turner and others among affected families.
Philadelphia report quotes Gerard at Red Cross meeting arguing that Russia arms buildup and German submarine threat could force the United States to bear the main burden in a major conflict. He warns of growing naval losses and merchant marine casualties as a consequence.
A long roster of names appears in the community social register including Mrs R C Barnes Mr R C Barnes Mrs B E Bayless Bayless child Paul Bayless Clarence Bingaman Nellie Bingaman Mrs George Briggs Frank Case Mrs Will Cobble Mrs J A Colby Mrs Colby's mother John Deed Wilson Goodman Mrs Jessie Huddleston Jesse Huddleston Napoleon Huffman Earl Jenkins J W Johnson George Kilgore T D Knaus Mrs William Lang Madeline Lang Mrs Sarah Linder Mrs Johann McMahon Bert Neely Clark Nelson Douglas Nugent Mildred Owings Mrs Sara Shores G A Smith Sr George Smith Alta Stewart Mrs Sue Travers Bid Warman John Wenn Jr Mrs Clem Wright.
At Hebron Minnesota names Leslie Kenny Mrs Leslie Kenny E B Pratt D B Pesh and Mrs D B Pesh appear in a public notice or social item with readable references to individuals and their associations.
In Kouts Indiana court records, C J Bessecker and Julia Hane are named in proceedings.
London reports the Tory Westminster Gazette outlines a simple method to wear out German U boats. The correspondent credits an American inventor and says the tactic can master the submarine menace with only a small amount of time.
Indiana completes Liberty loan campaign setup with a chairman in every county of the Seventh district and state and city HQ in Indianapolis. County chairmen include C. A. Dugan in Adams and J. A. Shirk in Carroll, with large bank totals listed and a defense council plan approved for nonpolitical county councils. Regular state council meetings are scheduled, and Hoover seeks decentralized food administration with Governor Goodrich pledging full cooperation.
The total valuation for taxation purposes in 191T of corporate property in Indiana fixed by the state board of tax commissioners is $280,588,849, a net increase of $3,087,798 from last year. The board completed its first session valuing steam and interurban railroads, express, telegraph, sleeping car, pipe-line, telephone, and transportation companies doing business in Indiana and set arbitrary valuations for some telephone and transportation firms that had not reported.
The ninety second annual session of the Indiana grand lodge free and accepted masons closed with installation of officers. Albn L Branigin of Franklin was chosen grand master for the coming year, succeeding Harry B Tuthill of Michigan City. Tuthill pledged Masonry support to President Wilson in the national effort.
Republican leaders plan a Sixth district convention to select delegates for a successor to Daniel W. Comstock who died. Democratic officials also meet to arrange a nomination event. Governor Goodrich sets June 26 for the special election. Delegates are apportioned by county votes, Wayne County leads with 31 delegates in a 119 member convention, needing 60 votes to nominate.
James Edward Rogers of the war department commission outlined home influences for clubwomen aiding soldiers in training at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Speaking at Indianapolis in the 1016 Merchants Bank building, he detailed five departments of activity under the home recreation committee’s work.
Shelbyville scouts sell Liberty bonds. Delaware County Farm Loan association charter received. Ice wagon drivers in Hammond and surrounding towns win $100 per month. Greencastle elects Herber H. Ellis secretary. Burney reports theft of a touring car. Rushville ice box raiders active. Warsaw welcomes Rev. Hawkins as pastor. Elwood names John Seright city engineer. Newton McMillan switchman killed in Monon yards. Noblesville couples wed elderly veterans. Terre Haute man ends life by poison. Fort Wayne W B Grove held on speeding. Marie Miller injured. trial set. Monticello cow escape disrupts livestock sale. Shelbyville Diapason class meets with C J Chester. Seymour infant dies of paralysis. Muncie Rose Park playground dedicated. Grandview girls cultivate beans. Marion man shoots himself in foot. Jeffersonville golden wedding anniversary. Newport Smith Casebeer suicide. Fort Wayne motor service company organized. Milton corn planting complete. Evansville food inspector under discussion. Greenfield 200000 tomato plants received. Bedford beer seized to sewer. New Albany Southern Evansville crew detained for open windows. Shelbyville motorman burned by short circuit. Richmond Christian Endeavor meets. Fort Wayne training camps urged. Indianapolis Adelaide Baylor displaced by Bertha Lutta. Muncie grocers close Wednesday afternoons in summer. Greencastle bond issue for fire truck fails. Evansville child injured by swing. Brazil Clay County doctors raise rates. Indianapolis army quota near met. Richmond municipal produce business thriving. Indianapolis teachers’ shortage noted as many men enlist. women to teach next fall. Julietta post offices suspended.
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