The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 5, 1904

Little Doing in Fort Dodge on 4th

A Quiet Day Spent in the City Monday – Many People Going Out of Town.

German Picnic a Big Success

Twenty-five Hundred People Attend the Annual Outing Held at Oleson Park – Many People Go To Eagle Grove and Lehigh.

Fourth of July has come and gone; the instruments of torture to the ear drum have had their sway; the anxious parent is glad the day is past and that little Willie is spared for at least another Fourth; little Willie is sorry but he had a good time while it lasted.

There were a number of features that marked the Fourth this year. One of them was that there was a general exodus to surounding (sic) towns and places of amusement and the other was the comparatively few casualties as the result of the celebration with powder and punk. Fort Dodge passed a quiet, happy Fourth at home and its people abroad, from all reports, succeeded in having a good time.

The celebrations at Eagle Grove and Lehigh baseball games at Boone and the German Lutheran picnic at Oleson park, divided up the army of pleasure seekers. Eagle Grove drew several hundred people and a large delegation went down to Lehigh. The loyal fans went down to Boone and saw the White Sox go down to defeat, while 2,500 members of the German Lutheran church and their friends enjoyed th e day under the sylvan shades of Oleson park.

Quiet in the City.

When it is said that the Fourth was a quiet day in Fort Dodge it is not meant that there ws an absence of noise. On the contrary there was much doing in that line. There was a big contrast between yesterday and the same day a year ago however. On that day there were hundreds of visitors here for the big celebration and the usual excitement attending a large number of people was increased by the accident which befell the young woman, Clara Rasmussen, whose fatal attempt to perform the “slide for life” act from the northwest corner of the court house probably had much to do toward having no celebration this year. Few people came to Fort Dodge for the Fourth this year while many left the city and for this reason the day was uneventful.

In the way of making noise, there was plenty of it. The cannon and firecaracker started early in the morning and boomed until long after dark. The street cars furnished a source of amusement to many people. Placing torpedoes n the tracks, sometimes for a whole block or more, evidently was greatly enjoyed, since it was repeated many time. Taking everything into consideration, there was probably as much spent for fireworks this year as in years past.

Eagle Grove and Lehigh.

The morning train on the Great Western carried a big crowd of Fort Dodgers to Eagle Grove and the train at 12:20 caried (sic) others. It was a tired and sleepy looking party that arrived home at 8 o’clock this morning, five hours late. Many of the visitors had remained in Eagle Grove, expecting to come home on the Minneapolis flyer, which arrives here at 3:11 a.m. A wreck near Clarion, however, delayed the train and the excursionists did not arrive until 8 o’clock.

Aside from numbers Fort Dodge was well represented at the Eagle Grove celebration by the presence of the Fifty-sixth regimental band and the speaker of the day, M.F. Healy. Mr. Healy delivered the Fourth of (sic) address at the opera house at 11:30. His speech was a scholarly effort along a line that touched all who heard it. The speaker was well received and the frequent interruptions by applause was evidence of the appreciation of the audience.

At Lehigh the baseball game between Lehigh and the East Fort Dodge teams was one of the big featuers. There were other features characteristic of the Fourth of July, including a display of fireworks in the evening.

Picnicers (sic) Are Numerous.

Numerous smal (sic) picnic parties were to be found in every direction. The heavy rain of Sunday night spoiled many plans, but nevertheless there were no few who braved the possibility of encountering wet ground. Among the other picnics was the German Evangelical picnic up the river.

Germans Have a Good Time.

The members of the German Lutheran church who attended the annual picinc (sic) enjoyed themselves immensely. The German picnic was the only big event of the day in Fort Dodge and it was a success in every particular. The weather of the day before, which threatened the success of picnics and excursions, promised no better for the big outing at Oleson park, but the day dawned smiling and the sun coming to the aid of the picnicers (sic) did much to make the day the success it proved to be. About twenty-five hundred people attended. The pupils of the German Lutheran school went out tot he park in the morning. Accompanied by the Juvenile band they left the school in a body and proceeded to Central avenue where they boarded street cars for the park.

Besides the athletic features which made up the afternoon’s program, the temporary bowling alley afforded a means of enjoyment.

The Prize Winners.

The following events took place and were won by those persons names below.

100 yard dasy – Won by Ernest Zuerrer; Fred Knigge, second.

Fat ladies race – Won by Mrs. Amanda Craft; Mrs. Fritag, second.

Fat man’s race – Won by E. Peschau; Fred Willie, second.

Sweet sixteen race – Won by Freda Trost. Amanda Schwabbauer, second.

Sack race – Won by W. Sperry, George Adams, second.

Married ladies’ race – Won by Mrs. Paashke; Mrs. Phillip Miller second, Mrs. Henry Hueners, third.

Tug of war – Won by Herman Willie and team; second by Willie Stahlbock and team.

Misses’ race – Won by Miss Olga Pashke; Miss Helen Cramer, second; Miss Emma Dahlin, third.

Wheel barrow race – Won by George Habenicht; Henry Hein, second.

Broad jump – Won by Herman Kolbe; Oscar Gunther, second; William Sternitzke, third.

Ladies’ whelbarrow (sic) – Won by Clara Proeschold; Anna Becker, second.

Lifting fifteen pound weight – Won by C.J. Engels, lifting weight sixty-nine times; Chris Hohn, second, forty-six times.

Ladies throwing at doll rack – Won by Mrs. Harry Robb; Mrs. F.C. Ellis second; Mrs. August Knigge, third.

Bowling contest – First prize won by Henry Koeper, score 217; second, Chris Trost, 205; third Paul Schwaubbaur, 195; four William Kehm 188.

Ladies bowling – First prize won by Mrs. Kelso, 129; second, Mrs. Philips, 98, third, Miss Amelia Kein, 78; fourth, Christina 74.

Tags: 1904, Adams, Becker, Craft, Cramer, Dahlin, Ellis, Engels, Fritag, Gunther, Habenicht, Hein, Hohn, Hueners, Independence Day, Kehm, Kein, Kelso, Knigge, Koeper, Kolbe, Miller, Paashke, Pashke, Peschau, Philips, Proeschold, Robb, Schwabbauer, Schwaubbaur, Sperry, Stahlbock, Sternitzke, Trost, Willie, Zuerrer

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.

Tags: 1904, Great Western, Hohn, Hower