Time Machine Trip to January 1887

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to January of 1887.

For today’s trip my old friend Bob Hibbard will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine.  The big wheel is spinning, the years are clicking back and in no time we are back on Wisconsin Avenue on Kaukauna’s Northside.

 

• 1887 is here and 1886 is gone
• Very cold 30 below all week
• The lock at Little Chute is being rebuilt  

 

Charles Raught, Times owner, has left the newspapers for us on the chair.

  

Your old newsman – Lyle

PS:  Lyle’s laughs – The misquotes were so big up north this past summer, I had one land on me that had a wood tick on it.

  

January 7, 1887

You write it "1886" then, with a hasty and emphatic remark that your guardian angel will weep to hear, you will erase the "6" and put a "7" in its place, with the sneaking sensation that accompanies the first breaking of a good resolution.  

Reports from the Killian farm in Dundas, where there has been speculation of coal mines, say that the prospectors have gone to a depth of over 300 feet and still have not found what they are looking for. They, however, still are confident of finding success and have no thoughts of "giving up" as yet. A vein of natural gas was struck at a depth of about 250 feet. The Kaukauna Exploring and Mining Co. have not as yet received their drill, which has delayed the work of this company.

Much water power litigation has probably been terminated by the sale of the Meade & Edward's canal-or rather the interest owned by these gentlemen in that-to the Kaukauna Water Power Co., together with the Islands adjoining. This virtually gives the Kaukauna Company a control of the greater portion of the water power, which is at present developed in this city. Capt. Meade has sold his interest in the property for $22,000 and with Capt. Edwards, still retains his ownership in the large Island.

January 14, 1887

A double team containing a happy party of four from Kaukauna ran away last evening and capsized the vehicle at the corner of Second Avenue and Lawe Street. Everyone was thrown out and the horses ran toward the city and turned into Miller's barn where one of them fell down. They were covered with sweat and steam. No one was seriously hurt.

Ottawa – An American, R. E. Sproul was hanged for murder last September. It has now been proven that he was innocent beyond doubt and a claim has been entered by his brother against the province for $50,000.

 

The Sun editor is now much worried for fear the Council committee on Streets & Bridges will show in their report that the money was expended on roads has not been entirely squandered.  It will break his heart if, after a thorough investigation has been made that all the funds have been properly and honestly expended.

January 21, 1887

Little Chute - About fifty men are employed at present rebuilding the lock at the "cedars." The Little Chute Hotel derived no benefit from the work in the way of boarding the men, as the government furnished board and lodging for the whole crew.

Another coal mining company has been formed in Kaukauna. It is said that Charley Bartlett is one of the incorporators.

Three men were hanged at Fort Smith, Ark., at noon on the 14^th for murders committed in the Indian Territory. The executions passed off quietly, only about 100 witnesses being present.

The thermometer has been groveling way down the bulb this week. Thirty degrees below has been common.

January 28, 1887

The weather is in the news again this week. The rain on Saturday made that day one of the most disagreeable of the season but two snow storms since then have improved sleighing wonderfully.

The Baltimore & Ohio paymaster has compelled each employee of the road to sign a pledge to abstain from the use of intoxicating liquor before he could draw his pay. This move is said to have been started because of the ugly rumors about drunken trainmen.

By a confession made to a priest and published by him, it appears that Puets and McCullough, the two boys sentenced to prison for the assault and robbery of a street-car driver in Milwaukee on November 11, 1883, were entirely innocent of the crime.