The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 28, 1903

Fear Scarlet Fever Epidemic

Physicians of City Say That There is Considerable Danger

Many Have Been Exposed.

Two Cases of the Disease Are Found in the City and Are Under Quarantine.

The physicians of this city greatly fear that an epidemic of scarlet fever is about to break out among the children of the city.

Two cases of this dreaded child malady are already reported. They are the little daughter of Mrs. Minnie Slinkerd and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Silver.

Scarlet fever is one of the most contagious diseases known and it is stated that several hundred children have been exposed. The case of Miss Slinkerd was so mild that a physician was not called and it was not known until Wednesday afternoon that she was just recovering from scarlet fever, this being the stage at which the disease is most contagious, as the scars are dropping off and the disease germ is most easily distributed.

While the case of Miss Slinkerd is very mild, medical men say that the most serious cases may be contracted from persons who are mildly affected. Prominent physicians when interviewed this morning said that they considered an epidemic almost inevitable as scarlet fever is the most contagious disease known.

Scarlet fever is one of the severe diseases of childhood and has the  highest mortality in the early spring and late fall when houses are usually inadequately heated, and the children’s vitality is low. Physicians says (sic) that if an epidemic is to occur is it fortunate that is should happen in the summer when children are well and able to be in the sunshine and are not confined to school. It is urged that the parents see that their children have plenty of exercise and take special care in regard to cleanliness and proper food. There is absolutely no way of warding off the malady by confining them. The only preventative is to keep children in the best of health when there is less danger of contagion.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 25, 1904

Thrillling (sic) Accident of Frightened Team

Horses of Oakdale Dairy Cut a Swath on the River Road North of Town

Broken Wagon Tongue Cause

Narrow Escape From Death for Mr. and Mrs. Schoonmaker and Infant.

Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Schoonmaker of Clarion, visiting at the Miller home in this city, and the Miller baby, very narrowly escaped death Sunday morning in a collision with a runaway team on the river road north of the city.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller and Mr. and Mrs. Schoonmaker had planned a picnic dinner in the woods along the river north of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Schoonmaker with the Miller baby were ahead and had reached what is is known as the Narrows road north of the Haviland place, where the road is only wide enough for some distance for a single team, with no room for passing when they were horrified to see a runaway team and wagon approaching. The team was mad with fright and as they were hemmed in on one side by the bluff and on the other by the river bank, there was no way of avoiding the crash and no time to get out of the vehicle. With no decrease in their mad speed the runaway crashed into the rig occupied by the three. Mrs. Schoonmaker and the child were thrown over the dash board among the struggling and fright-crazed animals, two of which had been thrown by the violence of the contact, and were only rescued with difficulty by other picnickers who were on the same road, but fortunate enough to find a way of escape. Mrs. Schoonmaker was unconscious when picked up but miraculously was not seriously hurt, sustaining only a few bruises. The baby, aside from a scratch on its fact (sic – should be face) escaped injury and was picked up badly frightened and crying lustily by the side of the road where it had rolled from under the plunging horses.

The runaway horses, which belonged to the Oakdale dairy, and were bringing a load of milk into the city, were held by the party until claimed by their driver. The rig which had been occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Schoonmaker and  the baby was straightened out, the damage repaired and they returned to the city. All things considered, the accident was a fortunate one, in that the results were no more serious.

Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Wakefield, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Craig and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dietz, who had also planned a day in the woods were on the same road a little way ahead of Mr. and Mrs. Schoonmaker, but seeing the approaching runaway barely got out of their path at a point where the road widened a trifle, and the team passed them, just grazing the wheels of their vehicle. Hearing the crash of the collision behind them, they rushed to the rescue of their less fortunate followers and succeeded in untangling the wreck.

The runaway of the dairy team was caused by the breaking of the wagon tongue as they were coming down the hill. The driver was unharmed.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 19, 1906

Accident at the Circus Grounds

Seats Fall Upon Miss Ruth Peterson Prior to the Evening Performance.

Bad Accident Barely Averted

Caught in a Rush For the More Popular Places The Young Lady Was Thrown to the Ground The Seats Falling Upon Her.

During the performance of the Sells-Floto circus at Oleson park last evening an accident that might have resulted seriously for many people occurred. It was only averted by the presence of mind of those in the vicinity, all escaping but the one young lady, who, besides a badly sprained ankle, is suffering from many bruises as a result of the accident.

She is Ruth Peterson, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Peterson, residing at 1727 Fourteenth avenue south. It was during the early part of the evening, before the large crowds has assembled. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson and daughter were seeking seats in the west end of the tent near the entrance from the menagerie. As they started up the tier of seats, a general rush was made for the better places, and in the hurry about them a portion of the seats were thrown to the ground, one of the supports thus weakened, slipping out of place.

In the excitement and confusion several people were thrown down from their seats, but all escaping except Miss Peterson, whose right foot was caught beneath the fallen seats and twisted in such a manner as to temporarily dislocate the bones. She was badly bruised by the fall, and for a time suffered much pain.

At the time of the accident the crowd in the tents was small, but yet large enough to cause a general rush to apparently safer quarters. That section of the seats was immediately rearranged and strengthened.

The employes (sic) of the circus came to the assistance of Miss Peterson at once, and after caring for her as best they could, arranged a property chair taken from one of the dessing (sic – should be dressing) tents in a place of advantage, where in spite of the pain suffered, she remained, seeing the circus to the finish.

Before leaving the circus grounds, however, Miss Peterson’s ankle had become twice its normal size, and she was taken to the city, where a surgeon’s aid was secured to care for the dislocation.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 5, 1904

Child is Seriously Injured

Three Year-Old Girl Kicked by Horse.

Dorothy Deckert Badly Hurt this Afternoon – Head Cut and Eye Injured.

This afternoon about 3 o’clock while playing near her home Dorothy, the three-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Deckert, was seriously injured by a  horse that was staked out grazing near the house. The child attempted to pass the horse when it turned kicking her on the left side of the forehead.

It is thought that the accident to the left eye will result seriously, but as yet the extent of the injury is not known. The child’s forehead was badly cut, especially near the temple. Directly after the accident the little one was carried into the house and medical aid summoned.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 16, 1904

Would End Life of Trouble

Clarence Anderson, a Young Man Twenty-One Years of Age, Tires of a Life Filled With Discouragements and Attempts to Die

Shoots Himself Below the Heart

Was Seated in the Great Western depot at the Time – Walks Out and Falls Upon the Sidewalk – Disappointed and says, “I Missed My Aim”

“My God, go away and let me die,” was the expression of dispair (sic) with which Clarence Anderson answered the kindly disposed strangers who gathered around him as he lay on the sidewalk in front of the Citizen’s Lumber company office on Twelfth street Friday evening. With a bullet in his body, fired from a revolver held in his own hand as he sat in the waiting room of the Great Western depot, refusing to answer the questions of those who sought to assist him, he lay on the cold pavement and patiently waited the end which he confidently believed to be near at hand.

“I missed my aim. You’ll find the gun in the depot,” were among the few words he was prevailed upon to speak after he had been lifted to his feet and given a stimulant which partly revived him. “Go away and let me die. I want to die,” he repeated time and again.

“I have committed no crime, but others have and they have driven me to this.” This somewhat tragic statement was made by the wounded man as he lay on a stretcher in the Corey drug store. After he refused to answer as to his home and friends he was asked if he had committed some crime for which he feared arrest and probably  unintentionally he allowed himself to make the above statement. To further questions as to the nature of the crime or the identity of those who committed it he was dumb.

Anderson’s Act a Mystery.

The attempted suicide of the young man is one of many unusual circumstances, particularly so because of his refusal to give any information that might lead to a discovery of his motive for committing the rash act, other than his statement that he was driven to it. Clarence Anderson is the name he gave, but no manner of questioning could lead him to tell his address, the motive which prompted the act, how long he had been in the city or from where he had come. Two stories are told of his attempt upon his own life.

One is told by a boy named Hauser, the son of Rev. Mr. Hauser, pastor of Zion’s Evangelical church. The boy claims that Anderson was standing on the depot platform just outside the door of the men’s waiting room. While there he opened his coat and pressing the revolver against his left side pulled the trigger. After that according to the boy’s version of the story he threw the revolver into the waiting room and staggered down the platform. The boy admits being frightened and leaving when Anderson walked down the platform and for that reason and several others the story that the shooting took place inside the depot is given more credence.

The second account in substance is that Anderson shot himself while sitting in a seat on the south side of the men’s waiting room. The revolver was found just where he said it was, on the floor near the southwest corner of the room where it would have been almost impossible to have thrown it from the doorway.

Falls in the Street.

After shooting himself, Anderson walked down the depot platform to the corner of Central avenue and Twelfth street. He stepped off the sidewalk into the street and then hesitated. He started as it about to go west on Central avenue, but turned south on Twelfth street. He walked in the street about twenty yards until he was opposite the building of the Citizen’s Lumber company, when he attempted to step upon the sidewalk. As he did so his left foot struck the curbing and he toppled over upon his face. he lay on the sidewalk several minutes before assistance arrived, after which he was assisted to the Corey drug store, where he was cared for until the arrival of the amublance (sic), when he was taken to the hospital, where he now is.

The bullet, a thirty-two calibre entered the left side of his body and passed little more than an inch below the heart. Anderson’s statement, “I missed my aim,” would indicate that his attempt at self-destruction was deliberate and the proximity of the bullet to the vital organ shows how near he came to accomplishing his purpose.

The bullet was taken out this morning from its position where he had lodged in his back. His condition this afternoon was reported to be about an even chance for his recovery. It is somewhat difficult to ascertain just how even this chance is, however, as his recovery depends on several things. Providing he does not suffer an attack of pneumonia, or that blood poison does not set in, he will probably recover.

Did Not Know He Was Shot.

Persons who were among the first to see Anderson fall upon the sidewalk were under the impression that he was intoxicated. Later it was thought that he had succumbed to heart failure or some like disease.

Andrew Hower and C.J. Hohn were the first to reach him. Mr. Hower said today that when he lifted Anderson head’s (sic) he asked him if he was sick. Anderson gave a negative answer. He was asked where he had come from and he said Chicago. In answer to the question of how long he had been in the city he replied that he had been here for seven days. When these same questions were asked him later he refused to answer.

Even after a crowd had gathered it was not thought that the young man was seriously hurt, even though he repeatedly said that he had shot himself. When lifted from the position in which he had been lying face downward, he said:

“Go away, go away. I only want to die.”

Stimulants were administered, and with the aid of two men he (word missing – went? walked?) to the Corey drug store across (words missing – the street?) where he was laid on a stretcher. It was only after being taken into the drug store that it was positively learned that he had shot himself and that his statements were true. He wore no vest, but in place had on a sweater. In the left side of this was a small hole and an investigation showed where the bullet had entered his body. Bot the sweater and his body were powder-burned. There was practically no blood on his clothing ten minutes after the shooting as evidence that he had shot himself and it is this fact that led those who assisted him to disbelieve his statement.

His one wish he expressed and that was that he wanted to die. This he repeated at intervals and seemed determined to receive no aid by which his life might be prolonged.

Sister to Come Here.

When taken into the drug store he said he was twenty-one years old last January. He admitted that his mother his mother (sic) was living, but refused to give her address, saying that she was sick and that he did not want to frighten her. He has a sister living in Menominee, Mich., and in his pocket at the time was a sealed letter addressed, miss Amelia Anderson, Menonimee (sic), Mich.” A telegram was sent to the address this morning and this noon an answer was received by Chief of Police Welch saying that Anderson’s sister left Menominee for Fort Dodge this noon.

Anderson Comes From Freeport.

It was learned this afternoon that Anderson came to Fort Dodge from Manson on an Illinois Central train late Friday afternoon and went up to the Great Western depot where he soon after shot himself. He arrived in Manson Thursday from Freeport, Ill., where he had been working. He said today that he has had trouble all his life and admitted that his rash act of Friday was partly due to trouble in which was also concerned a girl. Further information on the subject he refused, except saying that when his sister arrives she may tell more. His sister, according to his statement is employed in Menominee as a stenographer.

Tells of Shooting.

Anderson this afternoon corroberated (sic) the statement that he was in the waiting room of the depot when he shot himself. He was seated at the time and after shooting himself threw the revolver into a corner and started out of the room. In doing so he fell once, but arose and kept his feet until he again fell in front of the lumber company’s office.

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 18, 1904

Why Anderson Wanted to Die

Young Man who Shot Himself Said to be both Homesick and Lovesick

Prospects for Recovery are Bright – Sister Arrives From Michigan.

Homesickness and discouragement following his first venture in the battle of life and an unfortunate love affair are given as reasons for the act of Clarence Anderson, the young man who attempted suicide by shooting in the Great Western depot last Friday evening. Just what extent the last named reason influenced him in his desire to end his mortal existence is not to be ascertained, as on this subject neither the young man himself nor his sister, who arrived in the city Sunday are inclined to discuss details. It is said that his unfortunate love affair was the refusal of a young woman living in a Michigan town near Anderson’s home to receive his attentions.

Anderson, who is only twenty-one years of age, had seldom or never been away from home until recently. His home is in Michigan and only a short time ago he left his native town to earn his living in the outside world. Golden dreams of success, if he entertained any, evidently failed to realize. Homesick and disheartened he arrived in the city last Friday and still brooding over his unrequited love, life held forth no hope and seemed not worth the living. from the time of leaving home until his arrival in the city, Anderson spent practically all the money he had, but little being found on his person after the shooting.

His condition today is reported to be encouraging and hopes are now entertained that his recovery is only a matter of time. Sunday he rested well and his condition continued to show improvement today. Miss Amelia Anderson of Menominee, Mich., sister of the young man whose address was on a letter found in his pocket soon after the shooting, arrived in the city Sunday noon in response to a telegram sent her the day before. She is still here and will probably remain in the city until her brother is assured of recovery.

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.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 5, 1904

Fatality May Follow Demand for $1,000

Wealthy Lumberman Threatened Unless He Puts Money in Hay Stacker.

Package Placed in Stacker

And When it is Taken Out by Young Farmer He is Perhaps Fatally Shot.

Graettinger, April 5 – Henry Deeter, a farmer living one mile southeast of this place, was probably fatally shot Sunday by Conrad Wigman, who is also a resident of this community. The circumstances leading up to the terrible tragedy are as follows:

J.A. Spies, a wealthy lumber dealer and the owner of several farms, received a threatening letter a few days ago in which he was asked by the unknown writer to place $1,000 in the “freight box” of a hay stacker that during the winter had been left in a meadow just easst of the Des Moines river and about a mile from town. The writer threatened Mr. Spies with great violence unless his demands were met not later than the morning of April 2.

On the evening of April 1 Mr. Spies placed a worthless packages in the weight box and arranged to have Conrad Wigman, the son of one of his tenants, and a deputy sheriff concealed in the top of a stack of hay which stood near the hay stacker. A careful watch during Friday night developed nothing of the author of the letter and at daylight the deputy sheriff, thinking further vigilance was unnecessary, proposed that he and Wigman return to town. Young Wigman thought differently and allowed the deputy to return to town alone.

A short time afterward, probably about 6 o’clock a.m., Henry Deeter approached the stacker from the direction of his home, carrying a shotgun and seemed to be hunting ducks and other game. Upon arriving at the stacker he went to the weight box and picked up the package Mr. Spies had placed there.

Young Wigman arose from his hiding place on the stack and demanded that Deeter lay down his gun. Deeter seemed much surprised at Wigman’s presence and before a satisfactory explanation was made by either both being well known to each other, Wigman fired a heavy charge of B.B. shot into Deeter’s body, which was facing the stack on which Wigman stood. The charge took effect on the right side and arm. Deeter fell and lay in a fainting condition for a short time during which Wigman came down from the stack and stood near him. when Deeter had partially recovered from the shock, Wigman compelled him to pick up the package and walk to town with it, the distance being fully a mile. When the true condition of the wounded man was learned he was given medical attendance and later taken to his home, where he lies with the chances of recovery somewhat against him,.

Mr. Deeter has always enjoyed an excellent reputation as a law-abiding citizen and his neighbors are certain that his explanation of the affair is the truty. In fact public opinion seems to be strongly in his favor. He says the hay stacker was his own property, and that he went to the weight box to get a wrench to take the stacker apart that he might take it to his home.

He saw the package and naturally being surprised at finding it there, was examining it when accosted by Wigman. He denies any knowledge of the letter received by Spies and the fact that he carried a gun is nothing peculiar, as he has always done so during the hunting season and while at the weight box did not in any way threaten Wigman with it.

Conrad Wigman is an intelligent young man from a good family, and it not of a vicious disposition. He undoubtedly was somewhat excited and being deeply impressed with the importance of capturing his man did not realize that he could be mistaken in the matter and acted rashly. Wigman was placed under bonds for his future appearance.

(Editor’s note: I will investigate further to see what followed – whether Henry Deeter lived or died, whether Conrad Wigman was charged, and if anything further was discovered about the threatening letter. Any more information will be added to this post.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 3, 1903

Short Messages

Mr. and Mrs. W. Kopp are the proud parents of a baby girl.

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L.S. Braunstein made a business trip to Duncombe Wednesday.

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Arthur Lungren is confined to his home by an attack of la grippe.

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Miss Florence Parsons is clerking in the Gates Dry Goods store for a short time.

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Miss Margaret Mahoney is on the sick list today and not able to be at work.

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Fire Marshal J.W. Lowrey is recuperating from his recent illness in Colfax.

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Miss Harriet Major has left Fort Dodge for Decatur, Illinois, where she will make her future home.

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Mrs. John Steinbrink has returned to her home in Manson after undergoing a successful operation at the city hospital.

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John Hein of Chicago, is making a few day’s visit in this city.

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Mrs. C.D. Case entertained Wednesday evening in honor of her brother, Walter Anderson, who is visiting in this city.

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Mr. Early’s Methodist Sunday school class will hold a handkerchief bazaar in the east window of the Early Music house during the next ten days.

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P.A. Carson who has been at the city hospital during the past two weeks because of appendicitis has recovered. Mr. Carson’s home is on Round Prairie Hill.

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Dr. T.E. Devereaux left today for the Black Hills where he has interest in a mine. During his absence, his brother, Dr. C.H. Devereaux of Humboldt will attend to his office.

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Green B. Morse the famous race man with eighteen of his horses and seventeen men passed thru the city Tuesday night enroute from San Francisco (to) Gravesend, New York.

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Mrs. C.D. Case entertained Wednesday evening in honor of her brother, Walter Anderson who is visiting in this city. Miss Cromwell of Kansas City has gone to Humboldt for a visit at the Dr. McCreight home.

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The new carpet cleaning wheel at the Sherman laundry has been put up and is in operation. This system of cleaning is an innovation in the city, and it is promised that it will far exceed the old broom stick method.

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Wednesday at 3 o’clock, Henry Hale and Miss Katie Harbach, both of Kalo were married at the home of Emory Smith in this city. Only relatives were present at the ceremony which was performed by Rev. McIntire of the Christian Church.

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Three drunks were docketed at the police court this morning. All plead guilty and were given the usual $7.10. None of the prisoners having the wherewithal and this being their first offense they were dismissed. Their names were: John Seburg, Henry Adams and Frank Myers.

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The first of the three classes at the German Lutheran school received examinations this morning, which if passed, will signify the completion of work in the German school. The second class will receive its examination on Friday morning. Those of the highest class who have completed their required work will be confirmed on Easter Sunday.

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A good sized delegation of Webster County people came up to attend the performance of “The Chaperons,” at the Midland on Wednesday evening. Among the party were the following:

George C. Tucker, city editor of the Freeman-Tribune, and wife.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 2, 1903

Juel Johnson in Sad Plight

Miner, Paralyzed by Accident, Cannot Live Much Longer

He was Injured in January.

Since That Time Has Lain, Perfectly Helpless, on Cot in City Hospital.

Juel Johnson, the miner who last January had one of the processes of his spinal column crushed in a mine accident at the Pleasant Valley mine, is still alive, but there is little hope for his recovery at Thrombosis or the clotting of a vein has set in and it will be impossible for him to survive. If it had not been for this Mr. Johnson might have lived several years.

Mr. Johnson’s injury was an unusually serious one. While he was at work on the mine a large mass of coal fell on him and knocked him down. Johnson was picked up helpless, and on examination it was found that one of the processes of the spinal column had been crushed and that the ragged edges of the bone almost severed the spinal cord, thereby affecting the nervous system and causing complete paralysis.

Mr. Johnson is a prominent member of the Miner’s Union which has been looking after him. He is at the city  hospital, where he is being given every comfort.

Other articles:

Is Paralyzed From Waist Down

His Case is a Peculiar One