The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 8, 1904

Fort Dodge Loses Game to Preston

Battle for Indoor Base Ball Championship Results in Victory for Visitors.

Decision is Unsatisfactory

Winning Run Follows a Decision at Critical Stage – Return Game.

Company G, the pride of Fort Dodge lovers of the game of indoor baseball and claimant for three years to the championship of the northwest is no longer unbeaten. As for championship claims for a time at least those of Fort Dodge must remain silent. By the right of victory, Preston, Minn., whose claim has been voiced just as loudly as has the claim of Company G., is now the undisputed champion and enjoys the honor of being without defeat.

Preston invaded the local camp Thursday night and in a fierce battle, in which every effort of the invaders was contested with a resistance that refused to know defeat, in the phrase of the game, took the soldiers into camp by the margin of a single run. Preston upheld and Fort Dodge lost its claim to the championship by the score of 6 to 5 in the hardest fought and by all odds the best game of indoor baseball every played on a local diamond.

The invaders went home with Fort Dodge’s scalp, it is true, but at the same time it can be said in justice to the lcoal team that the taking of the scalp will go down in Preston’s history as the hardest task it has ever performed. At several states of the game the Minnesotans saw visions of their own pelts being raised and hung in the wigwam of Fort Dodge, but the fortunes of war said no and today for the first time in its history the local aggregation realizes how it feels to be other than champions.

Preston won the game in the ninth inning when there were two out and every indication for a tie score. Unfortunately the man who made the winning run was the subject of a vigorous protest over a decision on second base, where it was claimed by Fort Dodge that he had been put out. The decision was a most important one and for that reason leaves ground ofr doubt as to the outcome of the game had the umpire called him out instead of safe.

The runner was Johnson, backstop for the visitors, who had been given a lift on Richard’s error. In attempting to make second he was touched with the ball by Colwell but the Preston umpire declared him safe. It was claimed that Colwell was directly on the base and that the runner could not possibly touch the bag before being touched with the ball. The umpire ruled otherwise however, and his decision, although it ultimately decided the game, is not disputed, as the game is such that the position of umpire is by no means the most pleasant.

Fort Dodge was at bat first, and from the appearance of things when the first three men up walked, Preston’s stock went down. It was then that Kerr, the visitors’ pitcher, demonstrated that he is almsot what is claimed for him, as he struck out the next three men and from then on pitched a strike-out game, making no less than nineteen of the locals fan.

Preston made a run in its half of the first on two singles, a stolen base, and a wild pitch. Fort Dodge was the next to score. Three locals crossed the plate in the third on a base on balls and three singles. Preston pulled down the lead in the fourth when Plorf walked, stole second and went home on a bad throw by Richards. Two errors, a wild pitch and two singles in the fifth gave the visitors another run and tied the score.

Fort Dodge took the lead with one run in the sixth on Flahterty’s double and a sacrifice. In the seventh Fort Dodge apparently had the game in hand by making a fifth run to the Preston’s three, but in their half of the same inning, an error and a single and a singe gave the visitors one more and in the eighth a double, a single and a stolen base tied the score. Then came the ninth with its disputed decision and the winning run that gave Preston the game.

The visitors demonstrated that the game is one that calls for constant practice. Fort Dodge has a strong team, which may be said to be the equal of Preston, but Thursday night the want of practice proved fatal to its chances. Preston was especially strong in its battery and team work in general.

A return game will probably be arranged between the same teams to be played in Preston.

The score:

Tags: 1904

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 8, 1903

School Officers are Re-elected

Superintendent G.H. Mullin and Principal I.H. Warner Will Remain With Schools

Given Increase in Salary

Board Discussed Advisability of Fire Escapes for Lincoln Building. E.G. Larson Sworn In.

G.H. Mullin, superintendent, and Professor I.H. Warren, principal of the high school, will be with the Fort Dodge schools another year. The Fort Dodge school board, at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening re-elected both at an increase of salary, and it is understood that both propose to remain by the schools in which they have made so good a record during the year which is just drawing to a close.

Superintendent Mullin is elected as a salary of $2,000, an increase of $200 over the salary which he has been receiving, and Professor Warren is to receive $1,400, an increase of $100. both gentlemen have made an enviable record during their connection with the Fort Dodge schools, which began with the present school year, and the news that they have been re-elected for another year will be generally approved.

The board also discussed the matter of providing additional fire escapes for the Lincoln building, which is recognized as being the most dangerous building in the city in the event of a fire breaking out, being three stories in height and of old style construction. Some action will undoubtedly be taken with regard to placing fire escapes on the Lincoln building and on such other buildings of the city as the board shall find advisable during the coming summer.

E.G. Larson presented his certificate of qualification to the board, and was sworn in. This was the first meeting which the board has held since Mr. Larson returned from his western trip.

Mr. Larson was sworn in with the understanding that he will serve for one year, and if the law is found to mean that qualification within ten days after the third Monday entitles him to his full term, he will serve that length of time.

(Editor’s note: According to this website, 1903 dollars adjusted to 2010 dollars [the latest year offered on the site]  would mean the superintendent’s $2,000 salary would be worth around $47,899 today. The $1,400 for the principal would be approximately $33,529 today. It’s interesting to see that the current salaries for these positions are not a simple cost-of-living increase – the current superintendent was hired in July 2010 at a salary of $146,655.)

Tags: 1903, Mullin, Warren

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 8, 1904

The Dog Paid the Price

A Sad Lesson About Handling Unloaded Guns.

Young Woman in Somers Takes for Granted That Gun is Unloaded and Mourns Pet Dog.

The Somers’ correspondent of the Messenger repeats the oft given and much needed advice to the effect that even if you know a gun is not loaded don’t be too sure of it and govern yourself accordingly. He sends the following sad account of how a poor little dog was offered up as a sacrifice that a human being might be taught a lesson:

“The daughter of a prominent farmer living near here a few days ago had an experience which taught her a lesson she will not readily forget. Her brother had been out hunting and returning home had carelessly left his gun standing against the wall. Thinking the weapon was unloaded his sister picked it up and idly pulled the trigger. There was a report and when the smoke leared (sic) away the girl was alone in the room. She had entered with the family pet, an English terrier. The unfortunate canine was standing near the muzzle of the gun when the girl pulled the trigger and his life went out that she might next time be sure that the gun was unloaded or that no little doggies were near the muzzle when she pulled the trigger.”

Tags: 1904

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 8, 1903

Price of Shaves Has Gone Up

Climbs 5 Cents in Ladder of Prices as Result of Meeting of Barbers’ Union

New Rate Card Formulated

No Charge Will be Made by Barbers for Neck Shaves Under New Price System

Hereafter the Fort Dodge citizen who takes pleasure in reclining in the barber chair, while deft fingers remove the hirsute growth which adorn his manly cheeks, will pay fifteen cents for that privilege, instead of ten cents, as has been his custom heretofore. To counterbalance the increase in the price of shaves, the tariff on the neck shave is taken off, and the customer can have one when desired, without cost.

This is the most important action taken by the barbers union at their meeting on Tuesday evening, at which a new rate card was formulated. The new prices go into effect just as soon as the rate cards are printed.

The barbers also decided to close at 11 o’clock on Saturday night hereafter.

“The barbers raised the price of shaves because everything else has gone up,” said one of the barbers today. “It costs us more to live, and we have not been taking in any more than we did in the days when things were cheap.”

The prices as published on the new card, which was issued today, are as follows:

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 7, 1903

New Police Begin Duties

Marshal Ed Welch and His Men Sworn in Monday Night

Enter on Their New Duties

Marshal Welch already has some of the Beats Assigned and is Organizing the Force.

Police Marshal Ed Welch, Deputy Marshal Frank Connelly and the new police officers of the city of Fort Dodge took their oath of office and entered upon the performance of their duties on Monday night.

Marshal Welch this morning announced the beats for the new officers, so far as they have as yet been arranged. Marshal Welch and Deputy Marshal Frank Connelly will be on duty in the day time, as is customary, and Patrolman Merton Jordan has also been assigned for day duty. The day men will be on duty from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Officer J.M. Mericle will take the beat at the Illinois Central depot which was held by Myron Tuller on the old force. Peter Ditmer will have his old beat, covering the Great Western depot and yards and the eastern business district. Adolph Rossing will succeed Peter Steiner of the old force. His duty will be to look after the gas lights, and to cover the business district in the neighborhood of the square. All the night men will go on duty at 6 o’clock in the evening and off at 6 in the morning.

This leave two beats to be arranged. August Andrews is as yet not assigned any regular run, and the man whom Mayor Northrup will appoint to succeed William McNally, whose appointment was not approved by the city council on Monday evening, must also be provided for. Marshal Welch expects to have his force organized in a short time.

The vigilance of the new police resulted in the apprehension of two culprits on Monday night. Dan Daly was picked up paralyzed drunk, and was given a secure lodgement in the city jail. He was released this morning on his promise to get out of town. He gave his home as Ackley. John Doe, from Clare, this time, paid $7.10 in expiation of his offense in getting drunk and was discharged.

Tags: 1903, Andrews, Connelly, Daly, Ditmer, Jordan, McNally, Mericle, Rossing

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 7, 1904

Chickens Must Stay at Home

Police to See That Owner Keeps Them on Property.

A Ban Is Also Placed on the Practice of Bicycle Riders Using the Sidewalks.

Many complaints have been made to the police to the effect that the productiveness of newly made gardens is enhanced by the intrusions of neighboring chickens. The number of complaints have been such that it is now ordered that all persons who are the owners of fowls must keep them in enclosures or at least take some means by which they will remain on the owner’s premises and if there is any scratching or garden destroying to be done that only the owner of the chickens shall suffer.

Police records in cities the size of Fort Dodge, where the advantages of the country can be enjoyed in so far as it is possible to raise one’s own chickens and lose no sleep when the grocer asks sky scrapinging (sic) prices for eggs, show that many cases which the mayor is called upon to settle often arise from such a little thing as one neighbor’s chickens paying a visit to another neighbor’s garden and digging up the young plants from which neighbor No. 2 expected to reap a harvest. To eliminate the number of such disturbances and because of the further fact that a person owning chickens by law is obliged to keep them on his own premises, owners of the feathery property of all kinds are warned to keep the same on their own domain.

With spring comes the bicycle and with it comes another mandate from the police. Every street in Fort Dodge is not paved with asphalt and it must be admitted that there are some at certain periods of the year, of which spring is one, when they are not at all unlike country roads. For these reasons riders of bicycles on many of the resident streets resort to the sidewalks, where they find peddling much better than on the muddy street. There is an ordinance against riding on the sidewalks and it is to be enforced. Bicycle riders apprehended riding on the walks will be arrested and fined.

(Editor’s note: My last bicycle-riding experience was about three or four years ago in Fort Dodge. I had gone to pick up a bike from a friend, who was giving it to me. I tried out the bike and decided to ride it home, a few blocks away. While waiting for the light to change at Sixth Avenue North and 15th Street, I was chastised and cursed at by a guy in a car for riding my bike on the street.  It is still the law in Iowa that bicycle riders must ride on the street, and vehicle drivers must allow it.)

Tags: 1904, bicycles, chickens

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 7, 1903

In Memoriam

John Walter Bennett was born in Seghill, Northumberlandshire England March 31st, 1829, and died at kalo, Ia., March 29th, 1903.

He was married at Vinegar Hill, Jo Davis county, Ill., January 7th, 1852, to Margaret Ward, who died June 14th, 1856. He was married again to Jane Anderson at Center, Lafayette county, Wisconsin, Feb. 3rd, 1858. To them were born eight children, one of whom, Robert William died in childhood. The other seven are all married, residing, Cordelia Jane Hay, at Sioux City, Walter Bennett at Pittsburg, Kansas, Mary F. Williams at Pleasant Lake, N.D., William F. Bennett, Benton, Washington, J. Wesley Bennett Kalo, Ida May Williams, West Bend, and Elizebeth E. Chilgren, of Fort Dodge. Five of these were present at the funeral.

In young manhood he lived in Pana, Ill., and Wisconsin. For the past 33 years he lived in Iowa. He settled in Kossuth county with the early pioneers and endured with his family much hardship during the grasshopper scourge. Twenty-eight years ago he came to Coalville and has lived in Kalo since 1880. Probably no man has received more of the regard and respect of the community than he. A man of great integrity, he was true to his convictions in all departments of life. No one ever thought of doubting his fidelity to what he conceived to be right.

In early life he became an active Christian. For a while he was a member of the Primitive Methodist church. But most of his life he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he was greatly attached. The Methodist itinerant was always sure of a hearty welcome in his home. He was well read in the doctrines of history and policy of his church. For at least thirty years he was class leader and had special qualifications for this work.

Before his wife died and all the five years he has lived with his son, Wesley, he has been a great sufferer and suffered to the end. A good man has left the community who will be long remembered. But he has gone to his reward, for he died in the Lord.

Rev. John Cook, of Epworth, Iowa, preached the sermon from the text, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” He preached Mr. Bennett’s father’s funeral sermon 30 years ago. Rev. Cook had with him on the platform Rev. Francis Fawks, pastor of the Congregational church and Rev. Jones of the Otho Methodist church. Mr. Fawks made the opening prayer. The services were very impressive and were attended by a very large part of the community.

Tags: 1903, Bennett, Chilgren, Cook, Fawks, Hay, Ward

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 6, 1903

New City Council Will Take Charge

Old Council Will Finish Last Business and Pass into History This Evening

New Administration Begins

Appointment of Minor City Officers is to be Made This Evening

This evening’s meeting of the Fort Dodge city council will mark the passing of the old and the beginning of the new in the city’s administration. After the transaction of such odds and ends of business as may properly come before them, Mayor Bennett and the retiring members of the city council will leave the seats which they have held during the past term, and Mayor Northrup and the new city council will take their paces about the executive table. The new city government will be in active control of the city’s interest.

Business of importance to the city will be transacted at the opening meeting of the new council. It will be the appointment of the officers who will serve the city in subordinate capacities during the coming year. The list includes the following:

Police Marshal.
Police Deputy Marshal.
Street Commissioner.
Fire Marshal.
Weigh master.
Health Physician.
Superintendent of Water Works.
Collector of Water Rents.
City Engineer.
Driver of the fire team.
Meter Repairer.
Three Engineers of city water works
Four police officers

There is much speculation as to who will be appointed to these offices, especially those in the police department. The new council held its usual secret meeting on Saturday evening, but he secrets therein discussed were jealously guarded by its members today and none of the unitiated (sic) were any wiser than they were before. It is expected that the mystery will be solved this evening at the first public session of the new council.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 6, 1903

Was Afraid of Tiring Dentist

Mrs. Lennon, of Clare, Shows Unexpected Solicitude for the Man Behind the Forceps

Had Seventeen Teeth Pulled

After Ordeal Was Able to Go and Spend Afternoon in Shopping Before Returning Home

As a perspiring dentist, after considerable muscular effort, jerked out three or four husky molars, Mrs. Lennon  of Clare, who had climbed into the chair with a prospect of having seventeen teeth extracted at a sitting, looked up in his face with kindly anxiety, and asked, “Don’t it make you tired to work so hard, doctor?” the perspiring dentist suppressed his sense of the ludicrous, and resumed his tooth pulling.

A record of endurance such as is seldom equalled, was made by Mrs. Lennon, when at one sitting, and without any undue strain on her nerves, she submitted to the removal of seventeen teeth, and later went on and did some shopping, as tho she had done no more than have one filled.

Mrs. Lennon did not seem to feel that she was doing anything out of the ordinary. she would not have believed it, if told that many women, and men too, if obliged to submit to such a strain, would be threatened with nervous prostration. When she was in the chair, and the work was begun, her sympathy was more for the dentist who was doing the work, than for herself, who was called upon to undergo the suffering attendant up on so extended a season in the dentist’s chair.

Mrs. Lennon had her seventeen teeth out, and returned to her home in Clare, with the consciousness that an unpleasant experience was well over, and entirely unsuspecting that she had broken a record in Fort Dodge dental annals.

(Editor’s note: A few days after this article was published, more information came to light regarding the number of extractions possible at one sitting. Mrs. Lennon’s experience, though extraordinary, was no record-breaker.”

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 10, 1903

Twenty to Thirty Teeth a Day Not Uncommon

Additional Testimony Furnished The Messenger of the Tooth Pulling Proposition.

The articles which appeared in The Messenger regarding the record of eighteen extractions being something out of the ordinary, I wish to say that eighteen at one sitting is a very low number and I happen to know whereof I speak. On the day the Clare lady had eighteen out and broke the record (supposedly) Mrs. A.E. Day, also of Clare had twenty-one teeth extracted in about six minutes time. Just before that Mrs. A.M. McCluctia had twenty-six at one sitting and at about the same time Mrs. M. Jacobson had 22 taken out in a very few minutes. I happened to witness these operations which by the way were performed without apparent pain and no hard work or bluster made over them. The operations were, I am told, the average, and the time in each case only a few moments. This operator also informs me that twenty to thirty teeth extracted at a single sitting is a very common practice with him and that there is nothing serious or wonderful in such an operation.

-A Reader.

Tags: 1903, Day, McCluctia