Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 21, 1928, p. 7. 20 Days of Rain in June The rain storm of Tuesday afternoon was said to have been the sixteenth day it has rained thus far in the month of June, and the forecast by the weather seers is coming true. They attempt to make us believe that when it rains on the first day of June, as it did this June 1, there will 20 days of rain in the month. Today is only the 21st day of the month and it has rained practically every day of June, and it begins to look as though the forecasters are right in their belief.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 21, 1928, p. 7. Note: Parts of this item were cut off in copying as indicated by ellipsis. Wild Cherry Tree is An Attractor For Lightning Indianapolis News. The death of four men by lightning under a wild cherry tree is a reminder of discussions formerly often heard as to storm dangers in the woods. A solitary tree in a field is presumed to be more attractive to lightning than one in a woods. It is a question of one lightning rod against many. It is natural for man and beast in the open to flee to a tree in case of storm, but while this may afford refuge from the direct force of rain and wind, it promises no protection against electric dangers. If the tree is a wild cherry the danger is supposed to be increased. There is a tradition from pioneer days, based in part, at least, on observation and experience that wild cherry trees are struck by lightning more .make their dominance of the woods probably coming second. As to the ity [sic] to lightning blasts. The cherry it has been supposed , is a conductor because of some mysterious quality of the exhalations of the tree. But even as to wild cherry, the testimony is conflicting. There was a wild cherry east of the city on the banks of Pleasant Run, that was struck by lightning nearly every time there was an electric storm. It was knocked to pieces finally, leaving only growing sprouts from the roots. Not half a mile away, in South Emerson avenue, is a large wide-spreading cherry in the college campus that has, in the memory of old-timers, never been blasted by lightning, at least not in fifty years. Perhaps there is scientific explanation (the ..tric currents, perhaps for the different fate of the trees. But prudence dictates that one should not seek storm refuge under large and solitary trees. Obedience to this rule would obviate the necessity .

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 21, 1928, p. 7. Funerals of Four Men Killed by Lightning Thomas And Otto Hacker Laid to Rest in Vahalla After Double Services at The Home of The Aged Parents. Deckard Funeral to Be Held Friday at Sullivan-And Holt to Be Buried at Greene County Chapel. As a climax to the awful tragedy by lightning resulting in the instant death of four men, four funerals were held today that of Kenneth Deckard from the home in Sullivan where a wife and child survive, also the body of James Holt interred at Greene County Chapel, where services were held this afternoon in charge of Rev. Wite who conducts mission work in this city. The burial of Thomas Hacker and Otto Hacker, two brothers, was this afternoon and was a double funeral. The services were at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Hacker on north Jackson street, who were the parents and there was a very large attendance, especially of working men, and also they had many relatives. Beautiful summer flowers were strewn about both caskets in the modest little home where overwhelming grief had come so sudden. The burial was in charge of the Rev. Joseph Campbell and one set of pall bearers carried both bodies to the two open graves at Vanhalla [sic] park, they were Glen Baugh, Harry Jones, Ivan Tincher, and Ernest, Ray and James Higgins.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, p. 1. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Bowles have been here on a visit with his mother, Mrs. W. L. Bowles, on north College avenue. Mr. Bowles and family are leaving in a few days by motor for Texas to visit the home friends of Mr. Bowles and will be gone several weeks.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, p. 1. DEATH COMES SUDDENDLY TO TIMOTHY GRIFFIN Death came suddenly this morning to Timothy Griffin out at Hensonberg, who was stricken with apoplexy and passed away almost without warning. He was aged 72 and for some time had lived at the Benj. Nichols home. The body will be at the Day Funeral Home until tomorrow morning and funeral details will be announced later.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, p. 1. EXTRA SIX PEOPLE KILLED BY STORM IN INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS, June 2000(INS)-Six person [sic] were killed, a number of others were injured and thousands of dollars of property and crop damage was done by severe electrical storms which swept Indiana late yesterday and late night and which were continuing today. The property damage was most severe in Wayne and Henry counties where building [sic] were blown down, crops destroyed, trees uprooted and electric wires blown down. Bloomington reported the heaviest loss of life, four men being killed by a lightning bol [sic] when they took refuge from the storm under a tree on the Indiana University water work grounds. At Mays, in Rush county, a boy playing in a yard was killed by lightning. At the state reformatory at Pendleton, Fred Cook, 24, of Evansville who was awaiting his parole papers to leave the reformatory was fatally injured when he was struck by a flying piece of timber from a building in which he and others had sought refuge.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, p. 1. Standard Oil Filling Station on N. College The filling station which the Standard Oil Co. is to erect will go on the corner of 17th and College, which is on the Spencer road, so W. C. Love, head of the local agency states, and not on the corner of College avenue and 10th. However, it is said that some company is making a proposition on this corner.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, p. 1 CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT There was not much doing at the meeting of the city council last night other than some contracts for city and awarding of sewerage contract to Charles B. Townsend. In the absence of Mayor Hetherington, Councilman Bunger presided. Absentees were Councilmen Blair and Stoute. A resolution was adopted for vacation of part of a street at the Hoadley stone mill, also an ordinance was passed to allow fishing in the water works lakes with sanitary restrictions. C. B. Townsend was awarded the sewerage contract, at $740.70 a month, to be paid by the city. A resolution was passed for a sewer on east 10th street from Fee Lane east to Jordan avenue; also a resolution to condemn two lots for a right-of-way of a sanitary sewer in Park View. The bid of Gordon Bush for a motorcycle at a cost of $375 was turned down. The contract was let on three sewers South Walnut at $1,745 and Capital Place storm sewer for $800. Ed Duncan was awarded the contract for a sewer in the Vermylia addition for $398. There were four bids on each piece of work.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. Third Tragedy of Four Killed A quarter of a century ago four men were killed at the Owen crossing a mile below Ellettsville by the Monon midnight Chicago express. 1897 four men were also killed about 4 miles west of Ellettsville, near the Ellettsville and Spencer pike. They were engaged in quarrying stone and were setting off a blast. A premature explosion of the dynamite killed four of the workmen.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. Insurance Companies out from Under The Insurance companies, although Indiana University has compensation insurance for all workmen employed, are out from under the terrible tragedy which cost four lives, and the families of the men will receive nothing. The compensation insurance which Indiana University has on its workmen carries a clause to the effect that the company will not be liable for any deaths which result as an "act of Providence," and certainly the bolt of lightning can be called nothing but an act of Providence. The manner of their death shuts off any possible suits against Indiana University as the courts have frequently held that no one can be held responsible for a death by an "act of Providence."

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. Double Funeral Hacker Family To the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Hacker, 1112 north Jackson street, the news of the tragedy was carried in a short time after it reached town. The aged father and mother heard the worst possible news-that both sons had been instantly killed. The news was sent to other relatives and the relatives gathered at the Day funeral home to make arrangements for the funeral. It was decided to have a double funeral at the home of the parents Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The burial of the two men will be in Valhalla and the same pallbearers will carry both caskets to the grave. The pall bearers will be Glen Baugh, Ernest Higgins, Harry Jones, Ray Higgins, Ivan Tincher and James Higgins. George Thomas Hacker, age 49, is survived by two sons, Orville and Earl, who reside in the Dolan neighborhood. Anderson Otto Hacker, age 47, is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Lowell Algood, of this city. There are three sisters to survive the brothers: Mrs. Harry Jones, Mrs. Charles Robertson and Mrs. Abraham Pelfrey.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. "Doc" Deckard Takes News Home As soon as the Day ambulances started to Bloomington with the bodies of the four victims, "Doc" Deckard left by auto for Sullivan to carry the heart-breaking news to the dead man's wife and mother. When he walked into the home there with a saddened countenance, his unexpected appearance led Kenneth Deckard's wife to believe something was wrong. "What's the matter? Has anything happened to Kenneth" she asked. He told her. She returned to Bloomington with him last night and at 8 A. M. this morning the body of Kenneth Deckard was started overland to Sullivan. The funeral will be held there at two o'clock Friday and the burial will be at Antioch. Mrs. Deckard said her husband belonged to only one organizations-the Junior Mechanics. Deckard is survived by the wife, mother and a 3-year old son.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. Extra Put Out by Telephone As soon as the news of the tragedy reached Bloomington it came into The Telephone office at a time when the regular edition of the paper was about half way off. Presses were stopped while reporters were hurried out to get the names of the dead; the death list is always the first and most important feature of a tragedy. When this list came in over the 'phone a Telephone extra was put on the down-town streets. This extra went into the mails and carried the first news of the terrible tragedy over the county.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. Under a Wild Cherry Tree The four men were killed under the wild cherry tree or bush and they realized they were in a dangerous place for an electrical bolt. The tree was a small one and the branches were low to the ground-so low that the men could not stand erect under the tree but were sitting down. The men discussed their possible danger, but they made no move, as they had little choice of position, one tree being about as dangerous as another. The fatal place was located between the pike and the care-taker's house, to one side of a cinder drive-way. The wild cherry tree was really more of a bush than a tree and was not over nine or ten feet high, the branches were very low and the ill-fated men were sitting with their heads and shoulders among the low branches. The men were killed at the very first of the storm. Thinking that the rain would not last long they sought protection under the trees while it passed. Six men were under the ill-fated cherry tree or bush-the four who were killed and Harry Hobbs and Ottie Thornton-and three other men, Herman Sims, William Weddle, and "Doc" Deckard were 25 or 30 feet away standing in a wagon which was sheltered to some extent by tree branches. In the immediate vicinity, there were four teams of horses and one team of mules which the men had been using to haul sod to the new football practice field. The first heavy bolt of lightning of the storm made a direct hit on the cherry bush-the bodies of the six men who were sitting on the ground on or their heels were tossed about in the blinding glare. The lightning did not shock or daze Sims but the team took sudden fright and jumped forward. Sims was thrown out over the backend of the wagon and the team ran all the way to the University before it was stopped. The bolt of lightning in running from the cherry tree knocked one mule down but the animal recovered in a few minutes. This mule was one of a team belonging to Charles Matlock and which was being driven by Ottie Thornton, his brother-in-law. Sims, Weddle and "Doc" Deckard ran to the wild cherry bush, frightened and horrified. The four victims of the tragedy were on the ground-all dead-but Harry Hobbs and Ottie Thronton were on their feet and were walking about in a badly dazed manner; they could hardly walk but managed to stay on their feet. Hobbs had been knocked some distance by the terrible bolt and he walked back to the bush as Sims, Weddle and "Doc" Deckard approached it. With four dead men at their feet, two men walking about semi-conscious, one team running away and a mule team evidently struck by the lightning, the three uninjured young men hardly knew what to do for the first few minutes. The storm continued in its fury. It was apparent to the young men that a terrible tragedy had been enacted before their eyes but they had hope that life might not be extinct in all of the four men. Sims ran to the I. U. power house to call help but this phone was out by the time he reached it; other phones in the neighborhood were also out; it was some time before the news was sent through to Bloomington. A call was put in to the Arthur Day funeral home for ambulances; Dr. Frank Holland rushed to the place, also Dr. Rodney Smith, acting coroner. Once on the scene Dr. Holland took Harry Hobbs and Ottie Thornton, the two dazed men, to a nearby house so he could treat them. Dr. Smith set about the sad work of holding a coroner's inquest over the four bodies which but a few minutes before had been laughing talking men.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. Holt Family Gets News The news of the terrible tragedy and the death of their son was carried to the Holt family at Hendrixville by Wayne Shertzer, a friend, who lives on west Monroe street. He drove to Hendrixville and broke the sad news to the parents, bringing them back to Bloomington with him. They arrived shortly before 10 o'clock and the parents and the sisters viewed their loved one as he lay silent in death among his dead comrades at the Day funeral home. They plan to bury young Holt at the Greene county chapel cemetery where other relatives are buried. As they viewed the body last night, a sister, in tears, recalled that twice before young Holt had come near death from lightning; one time while working with a railroad gang he was knocked down by a bolt of lightning. His death yesterday afternoon came as the result of his third experience with lightning.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. Freakishness of the Bolt The freakishness of the bolt of lightning which killed the four men yesterday afternoon is shown in a number of ways. The escape of two men who were directly in the party is most marvelous. Hobbs was directly between Thomas and Otto Hacker, so close that he could touch both men, when the bolt struck. There was a terrible crash, a blinding flare and Hobbs knew nothing for some time. The time of the accident is not known definitely to the minute, although watches were carried by two of the victims. These watches were not damaged and were not even stopped by the terrible force of the bolt of lightning. Dr. Smith found both the watches running when he examined the bodies of the two men. He took possession of them to turn over to the proper relatives.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June 20, 1928, pgs. 1 & 8. Note: Because of the length of the item and its being divided into sections with their own headings, I am dividing the posts into multiple items, using the sections and their headings. The newspaper story covers one full-page column on page 1 and the greater part of three full-page columns on page 8. WERE UNDER SMALL WILD CHERRY BUSH Six Workmen Gathered Under Limbs For Shelter Are Caught By Direct Hit - 4 Instantly Killed But Two Miraculously Escape. Three Other Workmen Witness Tragedy From Short Distance - Eye-Witness Tells Story to The Telephone - Funeral Arrangements. One of the most terrible tragedies in the history of Monroe county took place at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon when a bolt of lightning made a direct hit on a tree at the Indiana University water works reservation, two miles northeast of Bloomington, under which a gang of six workmen had taken refuge during the hard rain and wind storm. Four of the six workmen were instantly killed, the other two were shocked but by a miracle escaped with their lives. The deadly work of the terrific bolt of lightning was freakish; one of the men who lives to tell the story was directly between two of the men who were killed. The dead are: Thomas Hacker, age 49, son of John Hacker, north Jackson street, survived by a wife and two sons, who reside between Dolan and Hindoostan. Otto Hacker, age 47, son of John Hacker, survived by one daughter, Mrs. Lowel Algood, of this city. Kenneth Deckard, age 26, of Sullivan, survived by a wife and child. James Holt, age 26, a son of Cephas Holt, of Hendrixville, unmarried; a sister, Mammie Holt, West Monroe street, this city, is among the surviving relatives of Holt. The two men who escaped the awful tragedy with their lives are Harry Hobbs, who resides on Fee Lane, and Ottie Thornton, a brother-in-law of Charles Matlock, living a mile north of Bloomington on the Dixie highway. Herman Simms, William Weddle and "Doc" Deckard, were within thirty feet of the fatal cherry tree. "Doc" Deckard saw his half-brother killed. The tragedy took place shortly before 4 o'clock during the severe rain, wind and electrical storm which changed day into night during yesterday afternoon. All six of the men were employed in a gang which was gathering sod from the I. U. water works reservation. They were working under the direction of Oscar Weddle but Weddle was at the new field house at the University when the tragedy took place. As the electrical storm burned out the telephone at the I. U. water station and at the houses nearby, it was some time before a message came through to Bloomington. Doctors and ambulances were rushed to the scene at once, but the four unfortunate victims were beyond all earthly help. Medical attention was given to the two men who escaped, and one was brought to the hospital for a short time. The undertaking equipment of Arthur Day was sent to the scene to look after the victims and Dr. Rodney Smith, acting as coroner, went to the scene immediately to start the inquest which the law demands and to give permission to move the bodies. The law makes it illegal to move a body after a tragedy until it has been viewed by a coroner. The tragedy created intense feeling about the city as the people generally had viewed the storm with alarm as it passed over the community. The word of the tragedy spread about the business district like wild-fire and a crowd had started to gather at the Day funeral home when the motor equipment arrived with the four bodies. To a few veterans of the World war who were in the crowd (Continued on Page 8) FOUR KILLED BY LIGHTNING (Continued from Page 1) the scene recalled war days in France when the bodies were carried into the Day funeral home. The four bodies were prepared for burial as fast as the embalmers could work, and by 10 o'clock last night all bodies rested in the front room of the Day funeral home. Relatives and friends were allowed to view the bodies as fast as they were prepared. A scene of deep sorrow and mourning was enacted hour after hour last night as the loved ones of the four victims came to view the remains, to select burial clothes and to make funeral arrangements. Not in the last quarter of a century has such a scene been witnessed in Bloomington. The nearest tragedy in Monroe county history which compares in numbers with that of yesterday afternoon took place over twenty-five years ago when four men in an enclosed carriage were struck at the Owen crossing a mile below Ellettsville, by the midnight Monon Chicago express. The carriage was demolished and the bodies scattered up and down the track for a distance of a quarter of a mile. Next morning the four bodies rested side by side in a room at Ellettsville. The men who were killed had come to Bloomington from Spencer to spend an evening and they had no local relatives.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June19, 1928, p. 1. CAPT. MILLIS VERY ILL Capt. John Millis, a leading resident and former business man, is very ill. He is aged 83.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June18, 1928, p. 5. Elna Jackson to Head Cast Of The Telephone's Movie Others Are Being Picked - Auto Wreck to Be Shot Tuesday Afternoon on Public Square. Local Story Will Include Scenes at Factories, Lunch Clubs, Stone Mills, Hundreds of Local People in The Picture. Miss Elna Jackson has been chosen to head the cast of "A Day in Hollywood," the local movie that is now being made by The Daily Telephone with a special cameraman from Hollywood officiating. Miss Jackson is a popular member of the younger social set of Bloomington and a daughter of John Jackson, local business man, and her selection will meet with general popular approval. The balance of the cast of principals is practically complete and the names of many prominent people will appear in the list of those who take part. Walter Allen will take the part of the henpecked husband and his experience in theatricals will make him a capital selection for this character part. Phillip Holland will take the part of the energetic newspaper reporter and rival for the hand of the leading lady. The cast will have another lead in the character of "Ezra" Fetlock who identity will be kept secret and will not be revealed until the showing of the picture. Though this will be the first appearance of any of these actors in the movies, they are all suited to the roles in which they have been cast. "Shooting" of the actual scenes of "A Day in Hollywood" will start on Tuesday at one o'clock. The big automobile wreck scene will be shot on the north east corner of the square on Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock. A large crowd will congregate to see the streets of Bloomington turned into those of Hollywood for an hour and all of the big crowd that assembles will find themselves in the finished picture when it is finally shown as their appearance plays an important part in the action of the photoplay. The Daily Telephone cameraman will appear this week at many places taking shots that will form a part of the finished product or story. This is a local story with all local characters and local scenes are an essential thing. A pamorama [sic] of Bloomington will be taken from an airplane or from some high spot that is suitable. Then scenes marking the progress of Bloomington will be shown such as the big Showers Brothers factory, the stone mills and other industries. Shots of the membership of local luncheon clubs will also be included in the film and will help to lend a local aspect. All are invited to the scene of the auto wreck at two o'clock Tuesday afternoon.

Bloomington (Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Telephone, June16, 1928, p. 4. Note: I was unable to find a person named Perry Corren as a resident of Bloomington. The item is accompanied by a photograph of a relatively young man. The remainder of the item was cut off in copying as indicated by ellipsis. NEURITIS IS RELIEVED A Leading Photographer of Bloomington Praises VerWilKo. "For many years I was a sufferer from nervous trouble and neuritis. The nature of my work was such that it required close application to my studio. "I became so nervous that I could not sleep at night, my appetite failed and I was rapidly losing weight. "VerWilKo was recommended to me. After taking one bottle, all my nervousness disappeared. I now ..