The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 15, 1904

Old Man is Painfully Hurt

Hugh Coyne Falls From Wagon, Wheels Pass Over.

Sustains Powerful Bruises, but it is Thought That He Escaped More Serious Injury.

Hugh Coyne, sixty years of age, met with a serious and painful accident Thursday afternoon by falling from his wagon just after crossing the Third street viaduct. The wagon, which was loaded with dirt, was in motion at the time and he sustained the heavy weight as the wheels passed over his body. The accident was witnessed by several passersby, who went to the old man’s aid and carried him into the residence of Henry Koll, who lives at the south end of the viaduct. Two physicians were summoned and made an examination of his injuries. It was found that he was severely bruised and at the time it was feared he had sustained internal injuries. He was later removed to his home and today was reported to be doing as well as could be expected. The possibility of his having sustained internal injuries is today regarded as unlikely and if such is the case his condition cannot be regarded as serious.

Coyne was engaged by the city to haul dirt taken from the grade, which is being made on the hill leading from the north end of the viaduct. The accident occurred at the south end of the bridge and was caused by the breaking of the board which he was using as a seat. Hitched to the wagon was a team of mules and when the driver fell from his seat the animals continued up the hill. His body fell in such a manner that the wheels passed directly over his back.

Tags: 1904, Coyne

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 14, 1904

Will Build a New Church

Swedish Lutherans of West Fort Dodge to Build

Structure to be Constructed of Brick with Stone Trimmings and to Cost $7,000.

Architect Frank W. Griffith is making plans for a Swedish Lutheran church, to be erected in West Fort Dodge. The church will have a seating capacity of about four hundred, and will cost $7,000. The building, when finished will be one of the best of the smaller churches in the city. It will be built of brick with stone trimmings. The improvement will add greatly to the appearance of West Fort Dodge.

The erection of this church has been for some years in the minds of the West Side Swedish Lutherans, but it was considered better to defer action in the matter until such time as an edifice of sufficient size and beauty could be erected, so that it would accommodate the needs and be the pride of the pastorate for many years to come. It has now been decided that the resources of the congregation are sufficient for the undertaking, and as soon as the plans are completed, its erection will be begun.

Tags: 1904, Griffith

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 13, 1904

Attempt to Rob Bank Frustrated

Four Men Make Daring Effort to Rob Duncombe Bank at Early Hour Today.

Discovered by Night Watchman

Robbers Take to Their Heels and a Running Revolver Fight Ensues.

The timely appearance of Night Watchman Frank Lutz frustrated an attempt to rob the Duncombe Bank at Duncombe at an early hour this morning. About 2 a.m. the night watchman saw a light in the bank and an investigation led to the discovery that an attempt was being made by four men to force an entrance into the vault. The watchman opened fire on the men in the bank and succeeded in putting them to flight. A running fight following in which shots were exchanged, but so far as known no damage was done. Watchman Lutz escaped injury and as the quartette of would be robbers made its escape it is thought none of them were hit.

Entrance into the bank was made by picking the lock of the street door and using the same means to open the door of the room in which is the vault. The latter is built of brick and steel. The robber had stolen a pick and crow bar from the tool box of the Illinois Central section gang and with them had begun tearing away the brick section of the vault when discovered by the night watchman. The latter had been working at the water station about a block from the bank and had suspected something wrong wehn he heard the noise caused by the men using the pick to tear out the bricks of the vault. For the distance of a block the watchman crawled on his hands and knees and aroused J. Latta, proprietor of the bank, and several other men, with whom he intended to surprise the robbers, when discovered by the latter.

The men in the bank lost no time in dropping their tools and taking to flight. As they ran out of the bank the watchman counted four men, their only distinguishing feature being that one was unusually tall, while the other three were men of ordinary size. In the street the men started toward the railroad yards and while running in that direction returned the fire of the watchman.

Evidently plans had been made as, the robbers had a hand car in readiness when they reached the railroad yards. They boarded this and succeeded in making their escape.

The hand car was found this morning lying hear the railroad track a half mile east of Carbon Junction. No trace of the robbers has been found.

The damage to the bank is confined to a hole in the vault large enough to allow the body of a man to pass thru. It can be repaired, however, at a small cost.

Tags: 1904, Latta, Lutz

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, 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 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 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.)

Tags: 1904, Deeter, Spies, Wigman

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 1, 1904

Will Be an Army of Unemployed

Estimated That Nearly 1500 Men May Soon Be Idle in Webster County.

Will Be Felt in This City

Most of Men Either Live Here or in Vicinity and Counties Tributary.

As nearly as can be estimated at this time, about 1,400  men will be thrown out of employment in Webster county alone if the coal strike continues for any considerable length of time. There are in all something like 600 miners and men dependent on the coal industry for employment. Besides these there are the men employed in the brick yards, the gypsum mills, and other like industries, which cannot be run without coal.

There is little coal ahead at any of these institutions, and if the prospects for a settlement of the mining difficulties do not look bright within a few days, there will be no kilns fired at the brick yards. In such an event, the kilns all being full, the yards must of necessity be closed down. This would throw 150 to 200 men out of employment here in the city of Fort Dodge. There are two yards at Kalo and four at Lehigh, employing at least 175 men. These would also be forced to quit work for the same reasons.

The stucco mills of this city, it is estimated, employ all the way from 300 to 600 men and should all the mills close down as a result of the strike, as they will undoubtedly be forced to do unless they are able to secure coal for their boilers and for firing their kettles, these men also will be added to the list of the unemployed, bringing the number up to nearly a thousand and a half in the county. The result of so many unemployed men would be greatly felt in Fort Dodge, as practically the whole county is more or less tributary, and more than half the men affected are actual residents of the city or immediate vicinity.

Tags: 1904, coal mining, gypsum mills, strike

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 29, 1904

The Niagara Cafe Will be Remodeled

New Front to Be Built and Many Changes Planned for Interior of Building.

The Niagara cafe is to be remodeled and made thoroughly up-to-date. The present front will be replaced by a single plate glass with a corner entrance. the partition will be taken out and the basement fitted up for a kitchen. Six booths will be built in the room, three on each side, finished in oak, where a private dinner may be served. Each booth will accommodate four persons. A table seating eight persons will occupy the center of the room. The lunch counter will be moved to the rear of the building, now occupied by the kitchen.

Tags: 1904, Niagra cafe