The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 30, 1905

Not Drunk But Lightheaded

Andrew Overby Has Peculiar Plea to Make in the Mayor’s Court This Morning.

“Andrew were you drunk?” said Mayor Bennett this morning on discerning the familiar face of Andrew Overby, an old timer, among the prisoners brought before him at the opening of police court.

“Well! No! I wasn’t drunk, but I was pretty light headed,” came the answer. The question was not argued further, but the mayor feeling that light headedness and intoxication were so nearly allied with Andrew fined him a dollar and costs.

Bill Jones, another old timer, who has been on one continuous spree for the past week, was sentenced to ten days labor on the streets.

Tags: 1905, Bennett, Jones, Overby

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 28, 1905

Horse Falls Into Sewer Manhole

Peculiar Accident in Alley South of Central Avenue This Afternoon.

Hoisted Out With Derrick

Lid of Manhole Caught on Shoes of Animal’s Front Feet and Turned Over – Horse Stepped in With Rear Feet and Sank Into Hold.

One of the most peculiar accidents to happen in Fort Dodge for several years occurred int he alley at the rear of the Messenger building about eleven o’clock this forenoon when a horse owned by the Cardiff Gypsum Company, sank into a sewer manhole and was removed only after an hour of strenuous work on the part of a crowd of about fifty men and boys.

Hind Feet Slipped in.

The wagon to which the animal was hitched was loaded with empty stucco sacks and was being driven up the alley when the accident occurred. The front feet of the horse caught in the grating which covered the manhole and turned the lid over. In walking forward the animal stepped into the open hole with its hind feet and instantly sank up to its hops. The remaining horse of the team, feeling the weight of its mate pulling it back as it slipped into the hole backed slowly back, allowing the imprisoned beast to slide further down. By the time that the driver had succeeded in unhitching the imprisoned animal the other had slid clear down into the hole until only its front feet and the tip of its nose was visible.

Big Crowd Gathered.

A crowd gathered at once and many suggestions were offered for removing the animal from the narrow hole in which it was imprisoned. It was finally decided that the only way to extricate it was to hoist it up with a derrick. A heavy rope and a pulley were procured, and while the crowd swelled first to a couple of dozen and then to fifty curious people an improvised derrick was made by fastening the rope and tackle to a couple of telegraph poles. The fore feet of the animal were tied together to keep it from struggling and the rope was fastened about them. A score of willing hands caught hold and with a couple of heaves it was raised half way out of the narrow hole. It was then seen that the tackle had been placed too low for it to be possible to lift the horse entirely clear and with half of its body dangling in the hole operations were suspended and another consultation held. The rope was loosened and the horse allowed to drop partly back into three or four feet of muddy water that partly filled the hole. The rope was attached lower down this time; the hoisting commenced again and grunting and groaning the animal was lifted clear from its prison, amid shouts of success from the crowd.

It was completely exhausted when removed and lay as if dead for a few minutes. Beyond a few scratches where it had scraped against the sides of its narrow prison it was uninjured and in a short time was little the worse for its experience. The animal was a very valuable one and its owners are congratulating themselves on the lucky end of the incident.

Tags: 1905

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 23, 1905

Suggestions For The Christmas Tree

A Few Aids on How to Make and Decorate The Children’s Joy.

Woodsmen in the north woods who gather the harvest of Christmas trees mae (sic) a point of choosing young spruces and evergreens that have circles of branches able to support the toys and decorations that the Christmas spirits make grow on the limbs. The more symmetrical a tree is, the better its price, and if it has a terminal twig standing straight and sturdy on the very top, with fragrant boughs in ever-widening circles to the floor, it is sure to be carried off by the first Santa Claus messenger that appears on the scene.

Cones on the branches are a decoration of themselves, and if there is a chance to make a good selection, choose a tree that is fragrant; the balsam is a joy in its healthful perfume.

Ready-made stands may be purchased from a quarter up. That significant “up” goes a long way aloft, but the 25-cent of even the 15-cent stands do just as well.  The trunk of the tree should be shaved down to fit the hole, or the hole made larger if you will, or the stand fastened to the floor with wires or hooks and the tree guyed to the ceiling or the woodwork of the room. These first careful steps prevent the Christmas tree in all its finery from meeting disaster, and it is a sorrowful matter for a Christmas tree to tumble when laden with gifts.

A soap box makes a substantial stand and is far safer than many little wooden frames. There are iron stands that may be screwed to the floor and which are perfectly safe. The box stand permits the trunk of the evergreen to go clear through the box and stand on the floor. It is well balanced in this way and when the box is covered with evergreen wreaths or green crepe paper and a little snow scene, with halls (sic) and valleys and a top house and animals made on the box surface the effect is very pretty indeed.

The question of lights is solving itself. Few persons use candles on trees since electric lights are in. The candle is a dangerous top – too dangerous where there are children, when a tipped candle may mean a blazing tree and a death or a suffering mortal for the rest of his life. Pine is very inflammable, and the beard and trimmings of Santa Claus, many celluloid ornaments, gilt streamers and dry wreaths invite a match to make a glorious blaze. Do without candles for the sake of safety. Little electric lights and a small battery cost very little more than a supply of candles and are perfectly safe.

In trimming the tree invention and ingenuity tell. Of course strung popcorn and cranberries are always pretty, and then there are those long wreaths of tinsel with stars with streamers, the Christmas angel in gold for the top of the tree and a lot of colored balls and transparent ornaments which may be bought by the dozen.

Children enjoy seeing little dolls perched about in the greenery and the little stockings filled with candy for every visiting guest, and the pink and white peppermint candies. Expenses may run high if you wish but a tree can be trimmed for almost nothing. The popcorn and cranberries may be strung by the children themselves, and the kindergarten wreathes of rings come in nicely to give color to the trimming.

A few cents invested in pay tissue and crepe paper with a pot of mucilage and some old-fashioned books to be cut up, and the children will make a lot of funny t hings for their tree. They can gild nuts and tie red apples to the limbs and make tiny bags of colored net. they just love to do these thins for themselves.

Many families who have kept up the custom for a long time trim their tree secretly on the afternoon of Christmas eve and then distribute gifts from the branches with great ceremony on Christmas eve or on Christmas morning. Even if children know the fiction, they delight in keeping alive the Christmas Santa Claus myth, and a member of the family dressed to personate the jolly elf is welcome.

Tags: 1905, Christmas

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 21, 1905

Misfortune Follows “Nutty Willey”

Has Finger Cut Off by Being Caught in Jail Door This Morning

“Nutty Willie” who gained increased fame in police circles yesterday by being arrested for stealing a Christmas tree, and getting a sentence of thirty days ont he charge of vagrancy, seems to be a child of misfortune.

His latest trouble has been to get the forefinger of his right hand cut off by being caught in the jail door. When Officer Dittmer entered the jail this morning to bring the prisoners their breakfast, he found Willey executing a double shuffle with variations for the remainder of the bunch. Willey took a sudden fascination for the policeman, and when he went to leave, tried to follow him. He caught hold of the door, and the officer not noticing what had happened slammed it shut, only to open it again, when a howl of pain came form the inside.

It was found that Willey had stuck his fingers in the crevice of the doorway and that one of them had been cut nearly off, when the heavy door swung shut. The injured member will have to be amputated.

Tags: 1905, Dittmer, Willey

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 18, 1905

Give Six Hundred Dollars to Charity

Unknown Corpus Christi Parishioner Will Give That Amount to  the Poor.

An announcement was made by Monsignor Lennihan (sic) at mass at Corpus Christi church Sunday morning which has created no little excitement among the members of the parish. It was to the effect that a lady member of the congregation had made known her intention of giving the sum of six hundred dollars (about $14,370 today) for charitable purposes at once.

The name of the coming donor was witheld (sic), but it was announced that some time ago she had made a mental resolve that if a certain desired wish was obtained she would advance the above sum for charitable purposes. That wish, stated Monsignor Lenihan has been realized, and the amount is to be given, as stated.

Much speculation is going on in the minds of the people of Corpus Christi as to the identify of the generous giver, whose name is kept concealed. The manner in which the money will be disposed of has not yet been announced.

Tags: 1905, Lenihan

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 16, 1905

A Joke on the Chronicle

Where the Interesting Letters to Santa Claus Received by it, Came From

For the past week the Chronicle has been regaling its readers with cute, witty little letters, written by the little folks to Santa Claus, and placed in care of the Chronicle. The space killing pastime has evidently amuse the scribe on the aforesaid daily, and each day’s edition has contained a few of the missive. They kept pouring in, and finally announcement was made that on Saturday all those that had accumulated up to that time would be run. The little folks were given a “jolly” about the good old Saint Nick, told how he turned over the letters to them, and instructed to watch for Saturday’s issue to see their letters inprint.

It may be interesting to Chronicle readers to learn that a member of the Messenger staff, appreciating the bobby of the rival scribe decided to aid him a little in his work, and has spent his spare time during the long evenings of the past few days writing in a scrawling hand, the letters that the Chronicle has been re-producing. The writer will enjoy very much seeing his letters in print.

Tags: 1905, Christmas

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 16, 1905

Christmas With Fort Dodge Poor

People of City Make Plans to Aid Them Wherever Possible

County Already Overtaxed

Is Only Able to Provide Necessities – Figures Show 200 People Now Cared For in City at the County’s Expense.

With the near approach of the Yuletide season it is well to give a thought to those within the city who are unable to partake in the spirit of the time, in so far as the same relates to good cheer and plenty.

A visit to the commissioner of the poor this morning, and inquiries as to the situation with the needy has brought forth the information that the county is already overtaxed in providing the poor of Fort Dodge with necessities, and that absolutely no provision can be made for Christmas.

40 Families Cared For.

At the present time forty families in the city of Fort Dodge, and more than two hundred separate persons are being cared for at the county’s expense. The poor fund is overdrawn in doing this, even through no attempt is made to provide the needy with more than the bare necessities of life, extending merely to fuel and food. Clothing is given by the Mosaic club, Salvation Army and Associated Charities in considerable amounts, and these organizations lend a helping hand in providing food and coal also. But even under this circumstances all are taxed to the utmost to keep body and soul together in many families that exist in poverty, dirt and squalor in the lower parts of the city.

An earnest appeal for aid, from the well-to-do people of the city is made by the county and by the charitable organizations of the city, for help in providing with more than the usual fare, and attempting to bring Christmas cheer into the homes of the poor during the coming week.

Tags: 1905, Christmas

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 16, 1905

Chief Tullar Sells Livery Business

His Stock of Horses and Rigs Sold to Charles Smith of Iowa Falls

A deal was completed last night by which Charles Smith of Iowa Falls becomes the sole owner of the livery barn of Chief of Police Tullar on First avenue south.

Mr. Smith is an old and experienced liveryman. He has been in the city for some time looking for a location and takes possession of the Tullar stables at once. Mr. Tullar states that he has found his duties as chief of police to great for him to give proper care to his business so decided to sell.

The entire stock of vehicles and horses except those kept by Mr. Tullar for his personal use were involved in the transaction. the consideration for the stock was $15,000.

(Editor’s note: The amount of $15,000 in 1905 would be equivalent to about $359242 today.)

Tags: 1905, Tullar

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 13, 1905

Woud (sic) Victimize Mayor Bennett

Latter Thinks an Attempt Has Been Made to Work a Graft on Him.

Mayor Bennett is of the opinion that an attempt has been made to work a smoothy graft on him, in a letter received by him this morning. The letter states that one Sidney J. Bennett took a government claim of 160 acres in 1874. It says that the writer, an abstractor in Washington, D.C., is of the opinion that he is not the Sidney J. Bennett who did this and asks him to state as much and put a price on his right to take claims. The mayor things that the writer desires to get him to state that he is not the Mr. Bennett who took such a claim, and to purchase his right. He would then sell this right for a large sum to some third party. It would be discovered that Mr. Bennett had once taken a claim when the third party attempted to use the purchased right, and he could be prosecuted for attempting to defraud the government.

Tags: 1905, Bennett