The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 21, 1907

Police Court Grind

Nine Offenders Cower Before Mayor. Cripple Lucky – Vags Will Labor on Streets.

Nine men picked up by the officers Saturday night and Sunday filled the jail to overflowing and made a big line up for police court this morning. Drunks and vags proved to be the roles of the offenders.

Martin Anderson and Nels Johnson, two graders on the new electric line, were charged five eighty five for their jags.

Frank Miles, Frank Davis and J. Boland were given sentences of ten days at hard labor on the city streets, the first two for vagrancy and the last for drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

“Let’s see there, you. You’re a cripple, I believe,” said the mayor, pointing out a man in the crowd who was charged with vagrancy and who gave his name as John Giles. The man significantly held up a stump of arm from which hung an empty sleeve. “Your misfortune saves you,” said the mayor. “I’ll let you go.”

Two man named Knudson and Earley were fined the regulation dollar and costs. Another, named Moran, was let go.

Tags: 1907, Anderson, Boland, Davis, Earley, Giles, Johnson, Knudson, Miles

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 20, 1906

Serious Coasting Accident Occurs

Ten Year Old Son of L.E. Blake, Badly Injured on West Fort Dodge Hill

His Life is Despaired Of

Hand Sled, on Which he Was Reclining Strikes Bob Sled on Curve, And Boy is Rendered Unconscious. – He Has Suffered Internal Injuries.

Never in the history of Fort Dodge has there been as many coasting accidents as have taken place this winter. The most recent accident took place Friday evening on the dangerous West Fort Dodge hill, known far and wide as Swedetown Hill. The little ten year old son of L.E. Black while sliding down this hill struck a bob sled, the shock rendering him unconscious for over an hour. A physician being called, it was found that he was seriously injured internally.

For hours the physicians worked over him and it did not seem that he could live through the night. This morning he is somewhat better, but the worst is feared, although as yet the family is hopeful of the recovery of their small child.

It seems miraculous that this is the first accident of serious nature that has taken place on this dangerous hill. For length and for steepness there is no hill within miles of Fort Dodge to compare with it. With the curve that shuts out all view of teams from below and with the high sides which makes it impossible to dodge them, after a small sled has gained the momentum that it does on this hill.

With numerous companions, young Blake started out to slide Friday evening. Everything went well for a time and then the accident which has been feared for months by fond mothers took place and the life of one small boy was nearly crushed out.

Young Blake was lying flat on his stomach on the sled. He gained a good start and his sled was speeding with terrific momentum when it rounded the curve and the approaching team was seen. Doubtless the little fellow did everything in his power to dodge the team but every effort was fruitless, for his sled crashed into the side of the bob. His head must have struck the runner, for he was rendered unconscious. When taken home it was speedily discovered that he was injured internally, for hemorrhage followed hemorrhage and the family were fearful that life might go out at any moment.

This morning the conditions were more favorable. However, the worst must be prepared for, for as yet it is impossible to state how badly he is injured internally.

The Blake family returned to Fort Dodge from Arizona only a few weeks ago. They had moved to the south, but did not like the country so returned to Fort Dodge. The father is employed as a machinist and the family is well known here.

Tags: 1906, Blake

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 18, 1905

Safety Deposit Vault in Chicken’s Gizzard

Remarkable Recovery of Jewelry Lost by Fort Dodge Girl

Found the Chain in a Hen

Had Been Lost For Several Months Without Any Suspicion of its Whereabouts – Chain Showed Signs of Wear From Digestive Organs.

As the result of having chicken for a Sunday dinner, Miss Mamie Gaulson, living on the flat in this city has recovered possession of a much prized necklace that was lost by her two years ago. The chain was found stowed away in the gizzard of the fowl, where it had evidently been for some time, as it is quite noticeably worn in some places altho in the whole it is in very good shape.

Miss Gauson (sic), with her parents, has only recently moved to this city from a farm south of Gowrie. Two years ago, last summer while picking pansies from a flower bed in the yard, she lost the necklace in question. She prized it very highly, and as soon as it was missed by her, made a thorough search of the premises, but without result. After a few days the incident faded out of her thoughts and the chain was given up as lost for good.

When the family decided to leave the farm and most to this city they sold off all but a few of their fowls, and these they killed, dressed and after freezing them, packed them down in a barrel and brought them here to Fort Dodge with them.

There were a dozen of them and they have been eating them along on special occasions every since they arrived there. There was one very fat hold hen that had been saved  until the last.

On Sunday it was decided to pick the bones of the old biddy, and she was brought in and thawed out. When the gizzard was opened, owing to an accident, the inner lining was cut into, and a speck of what appeared to be gold shown out from the contents. On investigation, what was the joy and surprise of Miss Gaulson to draw forth from the half digested mass in the sack, the long lost chain. It was as bright as the day it was lost and with the exception of the few links that showed considerable wear it appeared to have suffered little damage.

Of course it is highly improbable that the chain was swallowed as soon as lost, as it would surely have been entirely worn out by the actions of the digestive organs in that case. It was probably made a meal by the old biddy only a short time before her sudden and tragic death.

Tags: 1905, Gaulson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 19, 1907

The Child Will Live

Marvellous (sic) Recovery of Infant Found in Vault Yesterday

The infant child found yesterday in a privy vault back of a residents on north 1st astreet (sic), where it had been cast by its mother a short time after birth, according to her own admissions, will recover says Dr. McCreight, the physician in charge. The case is an almost miraculous one. The child was apparently chilled almost to death when found. Ice was frozen on parts of its body. Good care accomplished wonders and today the little one is red and rosy with good changes for complete recovery. The child and its mother, who says her name is Sarah Shaw, are still at the city hospital. The mother makes no statement or explanation. She does not deny the atempt (sic) to make away with her child. Little is known regarding her. She had been at the Clark home where the child was given birth only a few weeks.

Tags: 1907, McCreight, Shaw

Many websites are dark today in protest of two bills before Congress right now. The danger if the bills pass is that the Internet will be crippled, sites will be taken down for suspected copyright infringement/piracy without due process, ordinary people will be prosecuted for doing so much as posting a video of themselves singing a copyrighted song or quoting a copyrighted work.

I’m not tech-savvy enough to take my sites down and get them back up, so my support is this: watch this video and see the dangers, then contact your senators and representatives. Tell them that SOPA and PIPA are not going to solve the problem of piracy and they are likely to cause more problems in the long run.

I realize this post doesn’t fit in with the purpose of this website, but it’s important. I purposely only use articles that are before 1923 and therefore out of copyright. I believe that even if I were to use more recent articles, it would be considered fair use under copyright law. But if I did use more recent articles, under SOPA or PIPA my site could be shut down and I could be prosecuted.

Carol Foltz

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 17, 1907

Haunted House on 4th Street

Mysterious Rappings Puzle (sic) The Police – Frighten Others.

Reliable Persons Hear Them

Acting Chief of Police Chas. Grant, Manager Griffith of the Duncombe House and Others Have Heard the Noises – Big Crowd Last Night.

What some people believe to be a real haunted house haunted house (sic) has been discovered on Fourth street directly in the rear of the Duncombe hotel. For several days mysterious raps loud enough to be heard all over the house, and coming three at a time, now in one room, now in another, have terrorized the occupants of the place.

A family named Wilson lives downstairs, and the upper part of the house is occupied by Mrs. Dr. Lloyd and her three children. It was first thought that the children were responsible for the rappings but this has been disproven.

Policeman Talks.

Acting Chief of Police Charles Grant went down to the place night before last. This is the story he told to a Messenger reporter:

“I don’t know what to make of it. I was skeptical and wouldn’t believe at first there were any rappings. I laughed at the stories that were told Mr. Griffith, of the Duncombe House, was with me. We waited about half an hour and then about half past seven o’clock we heard the three raps loud and distinct. Griffight went upstairs and I stayed down stairs. He told me that just as he went upstairs and started to go into a room off the hall he heard the three raps again and they seem to be right on the door he was entering, within a foot of his face, yet he could see nothing. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I certainly heard that noise, and I’d like to know what makes it. One time it will come from one room and the next time from another. It moves all over the house.”

Examined House.

The house is an ordinary frame structure but quite solid and well built. Yesterday Mr. Plumb, an employe (sic) of the Grove auto garage, went to the place and with a lantern and sounding apparatus went over every nook and cranny, tested the floors and ceilings for loose boards, etc., but everything was found solid. There are no water pipes, gas pipes, sewer pipes or anything of the kind in the building that could make a noise.

Big Crowd Last Night.

The residents of that part of the city are all excitement. Last night a crowd of not less than one hundred people gathered within the house and stood without. Nearly all heard the rappings.

The occupants of the house state that they are not often heard in the day time, though sometimes this occurs. Usually they start about seven thirty o’clock and come about every five minutes until midnight, when they cease.

Sometimes they will not be heard for an hour at a time. The children have been watched and it is practically certain the noise is not made by them.

Three policemen and representatives of the newspapers will visit the  house tonight.

Tags: 1907, Grant, Griffith, Lloyd, Plumb, Wilson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 16, 1903

Is Paralyzed From Waist Down

Juel Johnson, Miner for Pleasant Valley Coal Co., is Very Seriously Injured

Caught Under Mass of Coal

Great Fragment Weighing 300 Pounds Fell Upon Him While at Work

Juel Johnson, a miner in the mines of the Pleasant Valley Coal company, was very seriously injured by a fall of coal while at work on Thursday morning. He now lies paralyzed from the waist down, is unable to move his feet and has no sensation below that point. Physicians express the hope that if the paralysis is causes simply by a clot of blood pressing upon the spinal cord, that it may be absorbed and Johnson may recover. If however, the bone itself is crushed in upon the cord, and is pressing upon it, they do not extend hope for his recovery. The average life under such circumstances, is said to be from two and one half to three years.

Johnson was engaged in sledging down coal when the accident happened. He was working to get down a lump weighing about 300 pounds which appeared firmly fixed overhead. He started to remove some of the coal just under it, with the plan of wedging down the heavier mass. While he was on his knees, thus engaged, the large lump became loosened, and fell upon him, striking him a glancing blow on the back midway between the hips. Had the mass descended upon him directly, he would have been crushed to death.

Everything possible is being done for the injured man, but the doctors are able to extend little hope. Johnson is a single man.

Other articles:

Juel Johnson in Sad Plight

His Case is a Peculiar One

Tags: 1903, Johnson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 15, 1903

Evidence of Attempted Crime

Kit of Burglar’s Tools Found in Clare Stock Yards

Additional Proof of Plot.

Seems Likely That an Attempt to Rob Clare Bank Was Planned.

The fact has already been recorded in The Messenger that on Tuesday morning several sticks of dynamite were found on the steps outside the Bank of Clare, and the supposition seemed plausible that an attempt to rob the bank had been planned and perhaps would have been successfully executed but for some unknown happening that frightened the would-be burglars and caused them to abandon their conspiracy in a panic of fear.

This morning Mr. Con Griffin found a package in the Clare stockyards w hich on being opened disclosed a kit of tools such as safe blowers would probably carry. There was also a bottle of liquid substance supposed to be nitroglycerine and a piece of soap.

The stockholders of the bank have reason to feel glad over the outcome and no doubt would not object to giving a substantial sum to the person who caused the band of safe blowers to flee so hastily, even though the fact that such an attempt was being planned was not dreamed of. There is absolutely no clue other than the circumstantial evidence easily conjectured from the few facts as stated.

Tags: 1903, Griffin

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 14, 1907

Cocaine Sellers Look Out

Mayor Bennett Says He Will Prosecute if Parties are Discovered.

“Some druggist or other is selling cocaine to a bunch of drug fiends about town,” said Mayor Bennett this morning. “I don’t know who it is but if we find out they will be prosecuted to the limit. They will do almost anything to get the drug but that is no excuse for a merchant and if the thing keeps up somebody will have to sweat for it good and plenty.”

Tags: 1907, Bennett