Archive for June, 2011

The Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: June 28, 1913

M’Creight Tells of France Death

Was Riding on the Interurban Car When Accident Happened

Charles France Died Shortly After Accident

Operation at Mercy Hospital Fails to Save Man’s Life – Chest Was Crushed

That Charles M. France met his death thru no fault of the Interurban which struck him Saturday afternoon at the crossing of the Hawkeye highway at south 20th street, is the opinion of Dr. McCreight, who was on the car. “I was on the incoming three o’clock car when the acccident happened,” he stated to a representative of the Chronicle. “It stopped for the block of the Great Western road and had just started up again. It was going slowly and I remember hearing the bell ringing. Whether or not the whistle was blown I do not remember. As we approached the crossing road bed the car slowed down, but did not entirely stop; just then it was jarred and it seemed as if the car had gone off the track. Then came a regular shower of glass from the windshield. The interurban was stopped within its own length. I was in the smoking apartment at the time and it seemed as if the auto had hit the car near the baggage end.

When I first saw France it was from back platform. He was lying but a few feet away with his head towards the car and his body down the embankment. As I was going towards him he gave a few gasping breaths and was still breathing when I reached him. We carried him into the shade and the first passing automobile was requested to take him to the hospital. We did this as it was far quicker than waiting for the ambulance. He was taken immediately to the operating room where examination took place. It was found that he had severe injuries on his chest, just as if he had been crushed by the steering wheel, and a punctured wound over the right eye. Everything was done to revive him and before his death he rallied enough to tell us his name. He did not realize what had happened or where he was. He was put to bed and died within fifteen minutes at 4:15 o’clock. The car was the most complete wreck I ever saw. It was carried not quite the length of the interurban and was squeezed between a telephone pole and the car. It was twisted twice around just as a towel would be wrung. The car was evidently a new one as the speedometer registered just three hundred miles. The crossing is very clear there and how it happened I cannot say. To avoid the car he could have turned down 22nd street.

Old Resident of Iowa

Charles M. France had lived in Iowa for a number of years, having settled on a farm near Webster City some years ago. He was born in Wisconsin in 1858 and since last March has been a resident of Woolstock, having moved there from a farm near Webster City. He is survived by his wife and one child, Mrs. E.A. Turner of Webster City. The funeral services will be held tomorrow from the house at 3 o’clock.

A photo of C.M. France as a young man

Photo of C.M. France as a young man is provided courtesy of Jane Curtis, the great-granddaughter of C.M. France.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 30, 1913

C.M. France Was Motor Accident Victim Saturday

Woolstock Man Succumbed Shortly After Hurt

Body Sent to Woolstock

C.M. France of Woolstock died at Mercy hospital Saturday afternoon a few minutes after he was hit by the 3:00 p.m. interurban car of the Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern. France was driving his automobile across in front of the interurban car at the east end of the city limits where the Hawkeye highway crosses the interurban tracks. He was rushed at once to the hospital and every effort was made to save his life but he injuries were of too serious a nature. The body was sent to Woolstock yesterday morning for burial.
The interurban car was just entering the city whent he accident occurred. France according to the motorman on the car, when he saw the approaching interurban speeded up his automobile until he was on the tracks when either the engine of the machine was “killed or he attempted to put on the brakes to back off. The car came to a dead halt on the tracks and was hit full force by the interurban.
France was a man of about fifty years of age. He leaves a wife and son in Woolstock. From the time he was hit by the interurban until he died, he was conscious only long enough to give his name.

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30
Jun

Free searches on Ancestry.com

   Posted by: admin    in Current news

Ancestry.com is allowing free searches of Sons of the American Revolution applications through July 4.

This database contains applications for membership in the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution approved between 1889 and 31 December 1970. The applications are arranged in packets. It may be helpful to scroll through the images to find all information relating to the applicant.

The DAR has a database that allows searches of patriots and descendants.

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30
Jun

Mad Dog Scare in Town of Dana

   Posted by: admin    in Animals, Dana, Disease

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 30, 1904

Mad Dog Scare in Town of Dana

A Crusade Against Dogs is On

Animal Runs Amuck (sic) Thru The Streets and Throws the Whole Town into a Frenzy of Excitement – Many Other Dogs Are Killed.

The annual cry of “mad dog” has started. Yesterday at Dana, a little town ont he Rock Island road about twelve miles south of Gowrie, a rabid dog sent the populace into a frenzy of terror by running amuck (sic) in the streets. Rumor reports several children were bitten more or less seriously and  numerous dogs were infected by bites of the mad animal.

The dog was finally killed and then began a search of the city for the animals which had received bites during the time he had been at large. At six o’clock in the evening a considerable amount of sausage material was lying loose and harmless around the city in the shape of defunct canines. Today the crusade is being continued with zest by the citizens and by sunset the dog that remains alive in that town will have to be able to show an indisputable alibi proving he was out of the neighborhood at the time of the outbreak and exhibit a health certificate from a veterinary into the bargain.

The town is thoroughly aroused over the matter. It is not known how long the animal had been showing symptoms of the disease, where he had been nor how many animals have been infected by its ravages. The people of the town will keep a close lookout and tremble at the approach of anything that looks like a dog for the next sixty days, or until there is no further possible danger from this source.

The disease, where contracted by infection, usually makes its appearance in the victim in the period of nine days. In some cases, however, the malady has been known to lie dormant in the blod (sic) for months and then at some unexpected time and place break out with as much sudden violence as though it had come at the usual time. The animal or person once bitten is not safe from an attack of the disease even after the lapse of months.

(Editor’s note: I had thought the reference in the last paragraph to an incubation period of months after being infected would prove to be an old wives’ tale. However, the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health states that the incubation period ranges from 10 days to seven years.)

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29
Jun

Amateur Ball Players Busy

   Posted by: admin    in Baseball, Pilot Mound, Tara

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 29, 1903

Amateur Ball Players Busy

Several Fort Dodge Teams Played From Home on Sunday.

Fort Brands Have Hard Luck

Lose Two Extra Innings Games By One Score – East Fort Dodge Loses Close Game at Lehigh – R.M. Stevens Nine Beats Tara.

The Fraser miners defeated the Fort Dodge Fort Brands Sunday at Frazer by a score of 4 to 3 in a thirteen inning game. The game opened at 10:30 a.m. After the first two Fort Dodge men had struck out in the first inning, Dombrowska reached first on an error. Whitman and Barth on bunts and all three scored on Stuart’s drive to deep right. This ended Fort Dodge’s scoring as the Frazer pitcher struck out twenty men in the remaining twelve innings and held the Fort Dodge boys helpless. Frazer scored three runs in the second inning by bunching hits. Stuart’s work at third was the feature of the game. He accepted eleven chances, seven assists and four putouts without an error.

In the eleventh inning with two men on base, Whitman got and (sic) easy grounder and threw his man out at first. Ottosen threw to third to cut off the runner. The throw was  high, but the little third baseman speared the ball with his ungloved hand and completed the double by tagging his man three feet off the base.

With enthusiasm undiminished by their defeat, a forty mile ride and twelve miles cross country triy (sic), the Fort Brands tackled the Pilot Mound Pirates at 3:30 p.m. Pilot Mound won, 7 to 8, aided by a long-haired diamond and the umpire. If Captain Tyrell had called his team off the diamond Pilot Mound would have refused expense money. Nevertheless this game required eleven innings, the umpire finally forcing in the winning run by letting a man walk on balls that cut the plate in two.

The Fort Brands play the East End next Sunday at Riverside Park and a good game is expected.

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29
Jun

Public Recital of Music

   Posted by: admin    in Entertainment, Society news

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 29, 1904

Public Recital of Music

Mrs. Smeltzer’s Pupils are Heard by Many Friends.

Recital Took Place at The Baptist Church and Caused Most Favorable Comments From All.

The pupils studying under the direction of Mrs. Smeltzer gave their final public recital last evening. The Baptist church is a delightful place for such an entertainment and the room was filled at an early hour not only by fond parents but outsiders interested in education, children and music.

The program, somewhat formidable in length moved off with great promptness and perfection, that the hour seemed very short.

One might be tempted to comment on this or that pupil, who by personal charm or skill left a particularly favorable impression. Such notice is however, not the object of such a program. It is rather to show the work of the school as a whole. The pupils are of all grades of natural ability, the proportion of genius and talent being no greater than is usual in such a number. The absolute accracy (sic) og (sic) their knowledge of their pieces, the beautiful quality of their tone and the musical phrasing and interpretations are therefore the highest tribute to the excellence of their training. The least showy pupil may record the greatest progress in mental and musical development.

It is pleasant to think how many homes are richer and brighter for this music and how many pupils are learning, almost unconsciously, the difficult lesson of self-control and self-expression.

(Editor’s note: This article is written in such a way to make me think that the pupils were less accomplished than enthusiastic, perhaps. There is no mention of any names of pupils or the works they performed. It makes me think that perhaps there were  few good performances and the writer was trying to live up to the saying, “if you can’t be kind, at least be vague.”)

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29
Jun

Serious Runaway Near Duncombe

   Posted by: admin    in Accident, Animals, Duncombe

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 29, 1903

Serious Runaway Near Duncombe

Ole Hanson, Wife and Baby Thrown Out of Buggy By a Frightened Horse.

The Baby Will Probably Die.

Mrs. Hanson Was Unconscious for Several Hours From the Shock, But is Recovering Slowly At The Present Time.

Last Saturday morning about nine o’clock while on their way to Fort Dodge, Ole Hanson, wife and five months old baby of Duncombe met with a very serious accident. When about two and a half miles from home and close to the John Mallinger farm their horse became frightened at a hay loader and rake standing inside the fence. The horse which was traveling at a good rate stopped suddenly, shied to one side, throwing the occupants of the buggy violently to the ground. Mrs. Hanson was knocked senseless by the fall and did not recover consciousness for almost half an hour. When she became aware of what had happened she found herself surrounded by friends in the John Mallinger home. Her first thought was for her baby, and she found that its injuries were very dangerous, perhaps fatal as the blood was gushing from its mouth and ears.

Dr. Thompson of Duncombe was immediately summoned and did what he could for both the woman and baby. They were taken to the home of Thomas Ness, Mrs. Hanson’s father, where they are now resting. Mrs. Hanson has recovered from the shock to a considerable extent, being bouyed (sic) up by her anxiety for her baby. The baby is lying in a semi-unconscious state with few chances for life. Mr. Hanson escaped almost without an injury and the horse which is an ordinary looking, sedate plug, ran but a short distance with no injury to itself or to the buggy. Mr. Hanson is a farmer and lives a quarter of a mile east of Duncombe on his mother’s farm. His mother, Mrs. Anna Hanson lives in East Fort Dodge.

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29
Jun

That Sewing Machine War

   Posted by: admin    in Webster City

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 29, 1903

That Sewing Machine War

Situation in Webster City Assumes a New Phase

Seven Wheeler-Wilson Agents, Arrested for Selling Goods Without a License, Jump the Town.

The sewing machine war in Webster City has assumed a new phase. Seven agents of the Wheeler-Wilson company who were arrested Monday evening, charged with selling goods without a license, jumped the town Friday evening.

The Freeman-Tribune has the following:

The wholesale arresting of the agents came out of the merry sewing machine war which has been going on in this city for three weeks between the representatives of the Singer and the Wheeler & Wilson companies. The Wheeler & Wilson men were arrested as they had no established agency here and hence were liable for the license. They were brought before Mayor Edwards Monday evening for a hearing. At their rquest the case was postponed until Wednesday evening. The matter of placing them under bonds until that time came up, but as the mayor had no blank forms at hand he allowed them to go on their own recognizance.

When the hour for the trial came, the agents failed to put in an appearance. The officers waited on them but they did not show up. As they were in the city yesterday afternoon they cannot have gotten very far away. Warrants have been issued for them and the city officers will make an attempt to have them served. It is the intent of the mayor to have the agents brought back to the city for trial and punishment, both for the breaking of the city ordinances and for jumping the city when they had been given their liberty on their own cognizance.

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28
Jun

Slot Machines Taken Down

   Posted by: admin    in Business, Entertainment

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 28, 1905

Slot Machines Taken Down

Orders Given to Have Them Removed Thru the City.

Complaints Have Been Made Against Them – Order Stopping Practice Not Permanent.

Fathers and mothers who fear the effect of the temptations of the slot machine upon their boys will be given for a time at least, a respite from their fears. Yesterday afternoon the propritors (sic) of the places in the city where slot machines are run were notified to take them down.

The action is the result of a number of complaints that have recently been filed before the officials of the city. The doers (?) realizing that though the running of slot machines is an entirely legitimate practice as long as they are not too heavily patronized by youths and young men decided that the complaints that had come in to them were prima facie evidence that the machines were fast becoming a nuisance in the city and decided that some steps should be taken to curtail them, consequently their action in notifying the owners to take them down.

No permanent order had been issued against the contrivances, however, and should it be deemed advisable to allow them to run later on in the year the merchants will no doubt be given permission to put them up.

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28
Jun

EXTRA! Man Hit by Interurban

   Posted by: admin    in Interurban, Woolstock

The Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: June 28, 1913

EXTRA! Man Hit by Interurban

Man Hit by Interurban While he Was Crossing Track in Automobile – Taken to Hospital

While crossing the Interurban tracks at Fourth avenue south and 22nd street in an auto this afternoon C.M. France was hit by the three o’clock interurban. He was taken to the hospital and surgeons are operating upon him in order to save his life.
It was stated this afternoon by an eye witness that the man was either trying to beat the car to the crossing, or was unable to stop. At any rate the car went halfway onto the track and was badly damaged.
This afternoon it was stated by physicians that he man’s right chest was caved in, and that it was doubtful if he lived thruout the night. Death is inevitable.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 28, 1913

EXTRA

Interurban Hits Woolstock Man in Automobile

The 3:00 interurban southbound hit an automobile driving by C.M. France of Woolstock at the crossing of the Great Western Railroad. Mr. France was badly hurt and was rushed at once to the hospital. The extent of his injuries are not known but he is believed to be in a critical condition.

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28
Jun

Company “G” Prepare for Camp

   Posted by: admin    in Military matters

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 28, 1905

Company “G” Prepare for Camp

Band and Company Will Go Into Camp at Des Moines Next Week.

Will Be Gone Eight Days

Full Membership in Each Organization Will Go – Two I.N.G. Boys Will Float Down The River in a Boat to Join Company.

Arrangements are being made this week by members of Company G and the band for their eight days’ camp which will be held at Des Moines, beginning on Thursday of next week.

The Fort Dodge company will be under the direct supervision and control fo Captain B.J. Price, who will accompany them on the trip. Nearly all of the members of the company are planning on attending camp and many are occupied this week in preparing their arms, uniforms and equipment. The showing of the local company last year was an excellent one and with the additional men and equipment that has been acquired since then an even better record will probably be made at this year’s camp.

Will Rohrback and Stafford Carpenter, both members of the company, will leave for Des Moines Sunday, their intention being to float down the Des Moines river in a boat. Their preparations for the trip are now under way and all is expected to be in readiness for them to start early Sunday morning. The young men expect the voyage to take them about four days and if they accomplish the distance in that time they will be in Des Moines one day before the arrival of the company and band. If possible a special train will be secured for the transportation of the men and baggage of both organizations. Nothing definite is known regarding this as yet, however.

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