The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 20, 1903

Long Chapter of Accidents

Several Fort Dodge People Meet Mishaps Which Place Them Under Doctor’s Care

None Are Seriously Hurt

A Broken Arm and Various Cuts and Bruises Fill Out the List

The little six year old son of Clark Andrews residing at 549 Third avenue north while playing with several young companions received injuries that will keep him in the house for several weeks. He and a number of other boys wre playing together in a barn on the back of his father’s premises when Clark started down stairs. When about half-way down his foot slipped and he fell to the ground. Instinctively he put out his hand to catch himself and falling upon his arm broke it. A physician was called and the arm was set. At present he is resting easily and is very thankful his fall did not result more seriously.

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Adelbert Butler a lamplighter in the employ of the Chicago Great Western sustained a rather painful accident Tuesday night while in the performance of his duty. It is his duty to see that the different switch lights and the other lights in the Great Western years are trimmed and properly lighted and for this purpose he carries a small ladder with him on his rounds. He had climbed up on the ladder to relight a lamp when the ladder upon which he stood slipped from under him and he fell to the ground. In some way he struck his head, cutting the scalp and inflicting a wound about an inch and a half in length. He managed to come to town and have a physician dress his wound which had to have several stitches taken in it but was very weak from loss of blood. He is back at work today as well as ever.

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C.B. Kibby while showing a prospective customer the stock he was handling had the misfortune of having one of the heavy wagon tongues fall upon his head. He was stunned by the blow and it was several minutes before the doctor, who was hurriedly summoned by his customer, could bring him back to consciousness. He was not very badly hurt and execept (sic) a severe bruise ont he top of his head is now feeling all right.

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While Harry Carter was lifting up a cake of ice into an ice box it suddenly slipped from his grasp and fell heavily upon his foot. The ice weighed about forty pounds and falling with such force badly crused (sic) his foot. A physician who examined the injured member said there were luckily no bones broken but that the foot was rather badly bruised and would pain him for some time.

Tags: 1903, Andrews, Butler, Carter, Kibbey

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 19, 1904

Webster City Educators’ Fight

Has Now Assumed a Serious Aspect – The Critical Condition of Mr. Ford

Principal Tells His Story

Which is in Every Way Against the Action of Co. Superintendent Gerber

Webster City, May 19 – Principal Ford of the high school, whose unfortunate encounter with County Superintendent Gerber in the office of the high school Monday evening has been a sensational topic of conversation, has made a statement regarding the encounter, which is corroborated by Mr. McNown, who was a witness to the alleged assault on the high school principal. His version of the affair is as follows:

Ralph Gerber was late to school and as he passed the superintendent, Mr. Ford, said that he was late. Young Gerber was half way up the stairs at that time and he came down again and asked him what he said. Mr. Ford repeated that he was late, whereupon the young man said-  it was pretty small business , or words to that effect.The superintendent thereupon suspended Gerber for three days for impudence. The young man returned with his father and the elder Gerber immediately started quarreling in the superintendent’s office. Mr. Ford told him to leave his office but Gerber refused.

The city superintendent said that in that case he would himself leave and turned to go when Mr. Gerber struck him in the back of the neck. At this instant C.W. McNown entered the room. He had been engaged in the laboratory across the hall and both doors were open. He hurried across to the office. When he entered, Mr. Ford had been struck and was reeling around in a dazed manner.

Mr. McNown took hold of Mr. Gerber and turning him around, told him that he had better leave the office. Just then Mr. Ford reached for a statuette, concerning which there has been much talk, and tried to throw it at the county superintendent, but was too weak and sank down. At this time Mr. McNown was between the two men. Mr. Gerber did not touch the statuette. Mr. Ford did not reach for it until after he had been struck. Mr. Ford did not follow him into the h all. He was dazed and sank down in his own office.

Mr. Ford says that it is his intention to push the matter of the assault to the fullest extent.

It was hoped yesterday that Prof. Ford had passed the danger point, as he seemed to be much improved during the day and the last evening was able to converse with friends. However, during last night his fever arose to 103 with pulse at 136. Drs. Hall and Whitley were called at 3 o’clock this morning. There is slight change for the better this afternoon, the patient’s condition being considered as critical. A nurse was summoned from Fort Dodge this afternoon to assist in the case. Prof. Ford’s condition is cause for general regret and sorrow thruout the community, and everybody will sincerely hope that he may soon be on th (sic) road to recovery.

Tags: 1904, Ford, Gerber, Hall, McNown, Whitley

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 19, 1903

Another Snake Story Comes From Lehigh

But the Snake is Petrified – Fine Made Recently in Beem’s Clay Works

The remains of a petrified snake of unusual proportions and in a remarkable state of preservation, were discovered in Beem’s Clay works in Lehigh a few days ago.

A section near the head of what was probably a prehistoric reptile was taken out. It was about two feet in length and fully three inches in diameter. Later on, a section of the tail, of about the same length, was discovered. The men worked all day in trying to get out the middle section, which would render the speciment (sic) complete, but their efforts were unavailing.

Had the entire specimen been recovered, it is probable that his snakeship would have been sent to some museum in the state, as it was a remarkable specimen.

Tags: 1903, Beem

(Editor’s note: graphic content)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 18, 1903

Mangled By Stallion’s Bite

Hnnry (sic) Vauble, a Webster City Farmer, Terribly Injured

Entire Cheek is Bitten Out

Entered Barn to Look After Sick Horse and Got Into Stallion’s Stall by Mistake

Webster City, May 19 – Henry Vauble, aell to do farmer living seven miles north of this city, had his whole cheek bitten out by a vicious stallion here this morning. He is now at Mercy hospital, suffering great pain from his injury.

Mr. Vauble has had a horse undergoing treatment at one of the Webster City livery barns for some days past, and this morning came in to see how the animal was getting along. By a mistake he got into the stallion’s stall which was next to that of his horse. The animal turned and with one vicious snap tore away the man’s whole left cheek.

Vauble staggered back, the blood flowing from the wound in streams. The employes (sic) of the barn promptly came to his aid and he is being given every attention.

Tags: 1903, Vauble

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 17, 1904

Webster City Has Sensation

Heads of the County and City Schools Clash With Dire Results to the Latter

Educators Lose Their Tempers

County Superintendent and City Superintendent are Subjects of Talk

Webster City was treated to a sensation Monday that will be a topic of conversation for at least a day or so. A clash between the two leading educators of Hamilton county occurred in the office of City Superintendent of Schools Ford Monday afternoon and today the partiscians (sic) of the men engaged have something to think about. Beginning at the beginning it is a long story, but in a few words, the unpleasantness directly resulted from the suspension from school of a son of County Superintendent Gerber. The city superintendent did the suspending and it is needless to say that the county and city superintendents were the principal figures in the sensation.

The head of  the city schools, who is also principal of the high school, Monday informed the younger Gerber that his presence at school would not be allowed until further notice. The elder Gerber did not take kindly to the treatment accorded his offspring, and paid a visit to City Superintendent Ford at the latter’s office the same afternoon. The results form the sensation.

The story is told in brief as follows:

When Mr. Ford went to Webster City some time ago his advent apparently was not welcome to everybody in town and at no time since has harmony reigned. In the first place it is alleged he was subjected to an unusually severe examination by the county superintendent. He passed the examination successfully, but the fact that it was unnecessarily severe was not forgotten. It rankled in the breast of the city principal and something different than brotherly love existed between the men since that time.

It is customary when a  pupil is a little late at the Webster City high school to excuse him if possible, for the purpose of maintaining a minimum of tardy marks. Monday Superintendent Ford was ringing bell for the afternoon session as young Ford (sic – should be young Gerber) was approaching the school. In such cases it is said to be customary for the teacher ringing the bell to delay the process until the pupils are in their seats, but on this occasion it is alleged Mr. Ford was not at all reluctant with ringing the bell with all possible speed, presumably with the intent of registering a tardy mark against the boy. When the latter passed the principal into the school building Ford remarked:

“You are tardy sir.”

Acording (sic) to the boy’s story all he said was, “Well, wouldn’t that get you?”

According to the boy’s story all he because of young Ford’s insolence he suspended him from school. (Editor’s note: this is exactly what was printed. Young Ford should be young Gerber.)

The same evening Superintendent Gerber visited Superintendent Ford in the principal’s office in the high school and demanded an explanation of Gerber’s (sic – should be Ford’s) action toward his son, claiming that the suspension was unnecessary and that it was only one of the many incidents in which the high school principal had sought to revenge his feelings toward Gerber by taking out is spite on the latter’s son. One word led to another and what followed is told by Gerber alone. Mr. (Ford) was bereft of his senses from the time of the interview until 3 o’clock this morning. Superintendent Gerber claims that in the heat of the argument he turned and in doing so overturned a piece of statuary from its place. In falling the statuary struck the high school superintendent on the head, rendering him unconscious, from which state he did not recover until early this morning.

The affair has caused a stir in Webster City and its outcome may have one or several endings. Providing the county superintendent’s version of the affair is corect (sic) it may be regarded as an unfortunate circumstance. Otherwise serious results may follow. City Superintendent Ford’s account of the interview is now in order.

Tags: 1904, Ford, Gerber

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 16, 1906

A False Arrest Made

So Says “Nutty Willie” who is Charged With Trying to Get a Free Meal

One L. Willie who goes by the well known appellation of “Nutty” in the absence of a know given name was arrested by one of the night patrolmen last night ont he charge of trying to beat a restaurant keeper out of a meal. Willie entered an eating house near the Central depot and ordered a good feed. When he had finished he turned about, said to the man behind the counter “Let’s see who can walk the fasted” and made for the door. He was captured by an officer before he had gone a block and placed in jail. This morning he claimed that a false arrest had been made for he had merely strolled out for a little air and had forgotten to pay his bill.

Tags: 1906, Willie

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 15, 1906

Double Wedding

Miss Clara Proeschold and Mr. Henry Scharfenberg and Miss Berth Scharfenberg and Mr. D. Powell

A double wedding will take place on Wednesday of this week when Miss Bertha Scharfenberg and Mr. Daniel Powell and Mr. Henry Scharfenberg and Miss Clara Proeschold will be married. The young people have been very reticent about the affair and have given no clue as to the time of day or the place. It is thought that the wedding ceremoies (sic) will be performed at the home of the latter couple on Round Prairie.

Both young ladies are well known in Fort Dodge, where they have resided several years. The grooms are both very popular here. Mr. Powell, lately of Ohio, is a canvassing photographer. He and his bride will start on a trip immediately after the ceremony. Mr. Scharfenberg is employed at the Fort Dodge Planing mill, where he has a splendid position.

Tags: 1904, Powell, Proeschold, Scharfenberg

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 14, 1904

Horse Thieves are at Work

Farmer Living Near Gowrie Loses a Horse Friday – Scheriff (sic) and Police Notified

Peter Olson, a farmer living between Harcourt and Gowrie, is mourning over the loss of a horse which was stolen from his farm Friday night. The animal is described black with star on forehead, weighs 1,450 pounds, and is four years five months old.

The horse was taken from the Olson farm some time late Friday afternoon or evening. It was through possible that the person or persons in whose possession the animal now is came in the direction of this city. Sheriff Henry Olson was notified this morning and is offering a reward of $50 for the apprehension of the thief or thieves.

Tags: 1904, Olson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 13, 1904

She Saw The Best Part of It

Webster City Girl Starts Out to See the World

Sees Fort Dodge, But Must See the Balance of the World at a Later Date

Thursday afternoon, in response to a letter from the chief of police of Webster City, Chief Welsh succeeded in finding a young woman nineteen years old who was wanted in Webster City by her widowed mother residing in that place. The young girl, whose name is Bessie Rowe, left her home suddenly and unexpectedly Wednesday and thinking to see the world decided to begin her career of sight-seeing in this city, and came here thinking it would be the last place she would be sought owing to its nearness to her home.

A brief search only was made for her, and shortly before train time she was found at the Tremont House. She had a small sum of money on her person, and a debit for a larger one on the books of the hotel, which was satisisfactorily (sic) arranged for by Chief Welch, who succeeded in getting her release. Hurrying to the train, a ticket was purchased for Webster City, and the young woman’s tour of observation being cut short, she was sent unceremoniously home. The police of that place were notified by telephone so it is probable that Miss Rowe succeeded in reaching her home with safety.

Tags: 1904, Rowe, Welsh