Time Machine Trip to January 1888

January 6, 1888

The sad report of the death of Robert Wallace is conveyed to us.  Mr. Wallace was employed as a machine tender at the Badger Paper Mills. At about 12 o'clock last night while engaged in putting on a belt his arm was caught in the gearing near by, twisting him around the shaft, tearing his arm to threads and cutting a large hole in his chest. Dr. H. B. Tanner assisted by Dr. Daniels amputated the right arm at the shoulder joint. The shock and internal injuries proved fatal.

Monday was quite generally observed as a holiday most of the stores were closed. The streets presented quite a lively appearance as hundreds were out cutter-riding and the sleigh bells jingled merrily.

At the last meeting of the common council G.B. Posson, street commissioner for the south side received many compliments on the fine condition of the walks. He is out at 3 in the morning and goes out with his horse and snow plow by the time business opens all the snow is cleared.

Dover, N.H. – Dr. W. Weber states a claim as an heir to the sixty-six acres of land which the city of New York is now located. The land, now studded with massive blocks of buildings, was bought in 1663 by Fred Weber of Holland. In 1674 Mr. Weber leased the land for 200 years.  The land now reverts back to his heirs. The property is valued at $20,000,000.  

January 13, 1888

B. H. Hilgenberg received word on Wednesday of last that the petition regarding the building of the stone wall along the Government canal for the protection of property has been acted upon by the War Department at Washington, and word forwarded to Col. Fuller, U.S. Engineers at Appleton, to have the corps make a survey of the banks and estimate the cost for building the wall. Work on the survey was commenced on Thursday last and is now completed.

Jacksonville, Fla., A judge sentences professional vagabonds and tramps to a public whipping in front of the court house. He has discovered an old state law allowing this mode of punishment and he declares that he will enforce it. Jacksonville has a great nuisance with tramps in the winter.

A Texas man met a friend on the street. “When I last heard of you, you had a lawsuit on hand with Tom Smith about a fine horse. How did that end?” “I won it. I completely got my way with Tom. You see the justice was a most honest man. I wrote him a note asking him to accept the enclosed $5 bill.”  “I would think the judge would have ruled against you for trying to bribe him.” “So it would seem but I signed Tom’s name to the note.”

January 20, 1888

About 11:15 this morning (Thursday) fire broke out in the Kaukauna Lumber and Manufacturing Company’s warehouse, and in a very short time the entire building was enveloped in flames. The fire started on the first floor in the room used as glazing department. A large amount of paint, naphtha, etc. was stored in this room, a portion of the stock having been placed near the stove during the recent cold weather. The fire caught in this inflammable substance and as natural consequences spread with great rapidity, and before the alarm could be turned in had spread to other parts of the building.

Catlettsburg, Ky., - The war of extermination continues between the McCoy’s of Pike County Ky., and the Hatfield’s of Logan County W. Va. The McCoy’s organized a posse and visited the Hatfield settlement in West Virginia. The posse found the Hatfield house with no one at home and repaired to the woods to think things over. They soon found themselves under attack by the Hatfield’s. After the smoke cleared away it was found three of the Hatfield’s killed, while none of the McCoy’s being hurt.         

Thomas Peterson is the first colored man to vote in the United States. He lives in Perth Amboy, N. J.  The fifteenth amendment was adapted March 30, 1870.

January 27, 1888

Lumbermen say that the present winter is the hardest for logging that has been experienced for many years. To begin with, there was no water in the swamps, hence no bottom for roads. Then the cold weather hung off so long that the landings could not until recently be approached; and lastly the snow is deeper in the woods than it has been at this time of year for many seasons, and hauling is consequently bad.