The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 28, 1905
Drink Habit Was Too Strong
Luke O’Brien Has Gotten in The Toils Again.
He is One of the Regular Customers At the Mayor’s Court – Can’t Break Off.
In spite of his terrible oath to get out of the city, Luke O’Brien, alias Happy Hooligan, has again fallen into the toils, and was put to work this morning cleaning up around the fire house. He was out of sight all day Thursday, and it was supposed that he had really departed, but this morning this bug juice receptacle was found in his usual state of coma and given his time honored place in the jail. He will have another ten days on the streets.
There is the same quality about this Happy Hooligan that is so very noticeable in the caricature character originated by F. Opper. His personality will draw a row of brass buttons to him by irresistible force for more than six blocks and he has become so used to the “come with me,” that he runs to meet the officer when he sees him approaching.
Luke O’Brien is certainly one of the strongest living temperance lectures that ever existed. Once a strong man with at least a fair amount of intellect, he is now a tottering wreck both physically and mentally and there is positively no show for him but a lonely death – possibly in a cell at night – and a grave in the potters field.
When he left the city hall Thursday morning he had every intention of getting out of Fort Dodge for good and all. He went down the steps and out onto the street full of this determination, but he was so shattered that he positively had to have just one drink to straigten (sic) him up so he could get started. The one drink was not enough, and he soon had forgotten everything in his burning thirst. He kept drinking all day and this morning woke to find his resolution unfulfilled and himself in the same old place behind the bars of the city jail.
The case of Luke O’Brien is certainly a most pitiable one.
Tags: 1905, O'Brien
The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 27, 1904
Signs of Approaching Summer
Police Make a Raid On a Camp in Duncombe’s Woods on Tuesday Afternoon and Arrest Five.
The police paid a visit to the Duncombe’s woods Tuesday afternoon and although they did not find the first flowers of spring they found what they were looking for – the first hobo camp of the year. In the past the Wearies seem to have been drawn to these woods as if by an irresistible force and despite indications to the contrary now that they have again begun to frequent their favorite abode summer must be near at hand.
The hoboes (sic) were housecleaning, or as near as they ever come to it, when the police made their unceremonious visit. Coats, trousers, shirts, socks and other wearing apparel that had seen a winter’s wear, in some cases probably without a single change, were hung out to “air” on an improvised clothes line stretched from the limbs of nearby trees.
Only two of the knights were “at home.” They were in the act of building a fire and as there was nothing in sight that they could possibly cook, the conclusion was drawn that the rest of the gang was out foraging. This conclusion proved to be true.
The two found at the camp gave their names as Robert Anderson and Alva Bruney. They were given an hour to get out of town and they took the chance. A second visit was made to the camp a few hours later and the remainder of the party, three in number, were transported to the city bastile. They gave the names of William Gundy, Gus Turner and Erick Johnson. They were arraigned in police court this morning and like their companions given an hour to shake the dust of Fort Dodge from their shoes.
Two drunks completed the line-up in police court this morning. They were Joe Bockert and Arthur Simpson. Both pleaded guilty and were fined $1 and costs.
Tags: 1904, Bockert, Bruney, Gundy, Simpson, Turner
Posted by: admin in Death
The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 27, 1904
Child Dies in Mother’s Arms
Sad Death of Infant of Mrs. Jorgen Soppeland
Mother Had Child Wrapped in Shawl While Attending Sheldon Funeral at Badger.
While enroute to the cemetery Tuesday with the body of the late Oliver Sheldon, a resident of Badger, the four months old baby of Mrs. Jorgen Soppeland died. To protect the child from the severe winds the mother wrapped a covering about it, believing it perfectly protected from exposure. Not until the cemetery was reached was it discovered that the baby was other than well, when in stepping from the cariage (sic) the covering was removed and the baby found dead. The immediate cause of its death was not known until a physician pronounced it due to heart failure.
The little one seemed in perfect health prior to the journery (sic) to the cemetery and was bright and exhibited no signs of disease. The incident is particularly sad and is made even more so under the existing circumstances.
Tags: 1904, Soppeland
The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 27, 1904
Receives a New Ambulance
Handsome Vehicle of Last Design, Arrives For That Company – Red Cross Private Ambulance.
One of the newest acquisitions to the Laufersweiler undertaking establishment is an ambulance, snow white in color. It is the output of the Cunningham company, Rochester, New York, manufacturers of fine vehicles, and arrived in the city Monday night. It is fitted with all the latest equipment and is in every respect the finest thing of its kind manufactured. Hardly had the new ambulance been unloaded from the car in which it was shipped when a call was sent for its use, and a five mile trip into the country made with it. It is a Red Cross ambulance and besides bearing the symbol and words private ambulance, has the name “Laufersweiler” in gold letters near the driver’s seat.
Tags: 1904, Laufersweiler
