The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 14, 1906

R.M. M’Cabe to Marry

Former City Editor of the Chronicle Will Wed in Logan.

On Tuesday September the 18th, Mr. R.M. McCabe, former city editor of the Chronicle, and Miss Loenteen Arthur of Logan, Iowa, will be wed. This announcement comes as a surprise to a great many of Mr. McCabe’s friends in Fort Dodge. He was at one time engaged in the newspaper business in this city, but during the past year has been editing, together with his father, the Logan Observer.

Tags: 1906, Arthur, McCabe

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 14, 1906

Plans for Dam in the River

Light and Power Co’s. Project is Certainty – Engineer Preparing Plans

City engineer Charles Reynolds is engaged at present in drawing a set of plans for the construction of a dam in the Des Moines river near the upper river bridge at the direction of the Fort Dodge Light and (P)ower Co., who plan to erect the same as soon as possible.

This announcement will be received gladly all through the city. the project has been held in mind by the Light and Power Co., for some time but has only recently been definitely decided upon. This means that this company will be enabled to furnish the cheapest power in the state and that it will almost force big manufacturing firms to come here.

It is a step of great importance for the city and means more than the acquisition of any railroad line of factory such as Fort Dodge has worked for in the past. It is expected that work will commence next spring. An eighteen foot dam is planned.

Tags: 1906, Reynolds

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 14, 1906

Fort Dodge Man Ends Own Life

Jack Foster Formerly of Here Throws Himself Under Train at Mallette, S.D.

Sioux City, Iowa, Sept. 14 – (Special to The Messenger) – Jack Foster, a harvest hand, aged 47 years, formerly of Fort Dodge, committed suicide by throwing himself under a train at Malette, S.D., last night. Foster and wife separated three months ago and failure to affect a reconciliation last night prompted the deed.

(Editor’s note: There is a Mellette, South Dakota.)

Tags: 1906, Foster

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 14, 1906

Auto Scares Horse A Woman Hurt

Unfortunate Accident at Hart’s Grove – Mrs. William Hayes Injured.

A horse driven by Mr. and Mrs. William Hayes of Otho was scared by the automobile of Ed Rank at the republican rally at Hart’s grove today and Mrs. Hayes was thrown from the rig and severely injured.

Mrs. Rank was driving the machine. She met the other vehicle on a hill near the grove. The horse became frightened and began to rear and plunge. Mrs. Rank ran the auto clear out into the ditch to give more room and stopped the machine. Still the animal did not stop and Mr. Hayes, who was driving, being many nearly seventy years of age was unable to control it. A sudden jolt threw his wife out and she was picked up from the road in an almost unconscious condition. She was taken to the residence of George Lingerts near the grove and a physician was called. Her condition is serious but the nature of her injuries are not yet known. The accident happened shortly before noon.

Tags: 1906, Hart, Hayes, Lingerts, Rank

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 8, 1906

Peculiar Tangle in Mayor’s Court

Ed Rank Arrested for Sounding Weird Siren Horn on His Auto.

Fined; But Appeals the Case

Mayor Says Horn Sounds Like Dying Wail And Scares Women and Children – Rank Says it is Necessary to Make People Get Out of Way.

Fort Dodge is noted for its peculiar legal tangles, but what seems to be the strangest yet arose this morning in the mayor’s court when Ed Rank appeared charged with disturbing the peace by sounding a weird siren horn on his auto about the streets.

Mr. Rank bought the horn which has caused all the trouble in Omaha during a trip there a few weeks ago. It was invented about a year ago and has become very popular in the east on account of the effective warning it gives.

It has a strangely weird sound, starting with a wail and ending in a wild shriek, and if given full force, can be heard for blocks. To one who does not know what it is or is of a nervous temperament, it undoubtedly has a terrifying sound.

When Mr. Rank first appeared here with it on his auto, Mr. Bennett, through his police, warned him not to use it. He continued, however, feeling that if care was used not to sound it with full force all would go well. Continual complaints to the mayor caused him to notify Mr. Rank last night to appear before him this morning to stand trial.

At the trial Mr. Rank and H.B. Groves, proprietor of one of the local garages, testified for the defendant, stating that such a horn was a great benefit to the autoist and to pedestrians, because it gave such a good warning of the auto’s approach. They stated that the ordinary horns were paid but little attention and something to carry far was almost necessary.

Mayor Bennett held that the horn was a nuisance. He stated that its sound caused people to run to the windows in dismay, wondering what had happened, or to hide themselves in terror; that it carried a sound which was like the shhriek of a dying man or the wail of a lost soul and that numbers of prominent people of the city (naming them) had earnestly requested that, as chief executive of the ctiy, he should take steps to abate it. In the end the fine named was levied. Maurice O’Connor appeared for Mr. Rank and the case was conducted for the city by City Solicitor M.J. Mitchell. Immediately after the close of the trial an appeal to the district court was taken by the attorney for the defendant. the appeal bond was fixed at $100. It was immediately given.

A peculiar feature of the case is that the city’s right to hold Mr. Rank is based on an ordinance that specifically defines what shall constitute disturbing the peace. Among other things it says that the blowing of horns of an unusual kind shall be disturbing the peace. This ordinance was passed back in 1869, before an automobile was built in the world. What was in view at the time that it was passed seems hard to get at, yet taking the strict construction of the provision, it fits the present case to a nicety.

It was reported that Mr. Rank had sent word to Judge Richard at Webster City asking for an injunction restraining the city from interfering with him in blowing his horn. This is untrue.

Tags: 1906, Bennett, Groves, Mitchell, O'Connor, Rank, Richard

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 1, 1906

A Water Melon Episode

Peter Carney Will Spend a Few Days in Jail For Theft

Peter Carney’s love of the juicy watery water melon got him in trouble yesterday. He noticed in front of a certain grocery store a choice selection of the big berries. But he was without the necessary cash and proceeded to get on in what he thought was the next best way. So he slipped one under his coat and slipped away. But he was not slippery enough. The groceryman had seen him and started in pursuit. He caught the fellow and compelled him to walk the water melon back to its place at the store. When the man got to the store he let the melon drop, breaking same. An officer was then called and Carney was placed under arrest. This morning in police court he was fined five dollars and cost or a total of $9.85. He was unable to pay and will be forced (to) lay it out in the city jail.

Tags: 1906, Carney

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 1, 1906

Will Not Observe Labor Day

Monday will be a Quiet Day in the City – No Celebration is Planned.

Stores Will Remain Open

The Banks and Post-offices Will Keep the Customary Holiday Hours, but the Other Business Houses Will Remain Open all Day.

Labor Day will be a quiet one in the city. Outside of a few picnics, all family affairs, and a large number who are planning to take advantage of the excursion to Waterloo, the day will not be unlike the others of the week. All of the business houses will remain open until the customary hour of closing and there will be absolutely no demonstrations of a public nature inside of the city limits.

The post-office will remain open from 7:00 until 10:00 o’clock in the morning and from 5:00 until 6:00 o’clock in the evening. There will be one residence and one business mail delivery, while the carrier’s windows will be open from 5:00 until 6:00 o’clock p.m. for those caring to take advantage of the opportunity to get their mail before Tuesday morning.

The banks of the city will remain closed all day, while the barber shops will close for the dat at 11 o’clock a.m. A large number of the local barbers are going to respond to the invitation of the Waterloo barbars’ union and take part in te (sic) demonstrations there Monday.

If the weather will permit there will be a number of picnics and fishing parties on the banks of the Des Moines river in the vicinity of Fort Dodge. A number of the golf club are preparing to spend the day on the links, southeast of the city. No regular tournaments have been planned, but a number will play for records.

Tags: 1906

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 17, 1906

Newsboys to the Shows

Carrier Boys of Messenger go Through The “White City” Last Night.

The newsboys of the Messenger office, about twenty-two in number, were treated to a visit to Parker’s White City last evening through the courtesy of the management. The boys first “took-in” the Eruption of Vesuvius show; next the Creation show and the Novelty theatre. At the proper time they all filed into the Bagdad tent and were shown to excellent seats in the reserved section. The performance of Bagdad was hugely enjoyed by all the boys present as was quite evident from the expressions on their faces. The boys say that McCabe, the Irish comedian made the greatest “hit” with them.

On account of the storm, it was impossible to continue on their rounds after the Bagdad show was over. It is needless to say that the boys appreciated the privelege of “going to the show” and they were not snow in expressing their opinions in the loudest terms.

The heat of yesterday did not seem to effect (sic) the evening business very much. The crowd was large and as the storm did not come up until the Bagdad performance was well over, everything went along very well.

Tags: 1906, McCabe, Parker

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 13, 1906

Arrested For Speeding Auto

T.F. Taff Files Information Against H.B. Groves, Fine Assessed.

On information sworn by T.F. Taff, the Central avenue grocer, H.B. Groves was arrested this morning for auto speeding. It was claimed that Groves drove his auto up north 10th street Sunday afternoon at a furious pace narrowly missing an accident or two.

In a trial held before Justice of the Peace James Martin immediately after the arrest Groves was fined five dollars ($120 today) and costs. Notice of appeal has been filed by him.

Tags: 1906, Groves, Martin, Taff