Saturday, April 15, 2017

Time Machine Trip to April 1898

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to April of 1898.

For today’s trip Floyd Kempen, 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 Third Street on Kaukauna’s Southside.


Charles Raught, Times owner, has left the newspapers on the chair out front.

  
Your old newsman - Lyle 


April 1, 1898
 Two high school teams from Appleton played an exhibition game of basketball here at Heindel's hall Tuesday evening, introducing to Kaukauna one of the most popular winter sports of the day. The game somewhat resembles football but it is played with a round ball instead of an oval. Two baskets are placed at opposite ends and sides of the room, the object being for one side to get the ball in the other opponent’s basket. 


“Gentlemen of the Democratic convention and fellow citizens: my nomination by this convention tonight is a great surprise to me, for I have not even heard my name mentioned in connection with the office. I wish to thank the convention for the honor conferred but I will not be strong enough to pull the party out of the condition into which it has fallen under the past administration. Not being in any way responsible for it, I cannot accept the nomination.” With that Mr. Sullivan retired from the hall. The delegates looked as if they had received a blow to the solar plexus. The Democratic convention proceeded to nominate Dr. D. A. Titus as Mayor. 


Three men went into a saloon the other day and stood by the bar. “What will you have?” asked the bartender.  “I'll take a Tin Roof” replied the first. “That sounds good” said the others. The bartender was in quandary, as he had never heard of a mixed drink with such an extraordinary name. “Well give me the bottle of whiskey, gin and I'll fix the drinks,” replied the first patron. After they had taken three drinks each the bartender asked; “Why do you call that a Tin Roof? “Because it's on the house, replied the trio. Good day” and they slipped out the door.


April 8, 1898
A Republican day for Kaukauna. Never in the history of the city was there so many split votes polled. Mr. C. E. Raught, the Publisher of THE TIMES, has been elected mayor of Kaukauna by a landslide vote. Raught won the position by the greatest majority ever given a candidate for the mayor in this city, winning by 143 votes and L. C. Wolf carried the votes for clerk by 193.




“You sold this brooch to my wife, I understand” he said holding out the brooch. I told him that was the case. “I want you to take it back and refund the money.” Anything wrong with it? I asked.  “You had no right to sell such an expensive piece of jewelry to my wife without first finding out if she bought it with my consent. When I wish her to have personal ornaments, I'll get them for her. Besides you overcharged her because she is a woman.” I explained that the sale was made, the lady had paid for the article and that the firm did not take back goods under such conditions. He got into a towering position and argued with me. When he found, it was no use and that we would not take back the brooch, he pitched the case out through the open door to the middle of the muddy street and marched off.  

April 15, 1898
The beater engine' department of the mammoth Combined Locks Paper Company's plant was destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon. Mayor Raught received a request here at 5-45 for assistance and the engine and hose wagon were loaded on a flat car and arrived at 6:35. The local boys added three streams of water to the flood already on the fire and by 8:00 the fire was out. The loss is expected to reach $35,000.

The new Republican counsel took the reins of municipal management Tuesday evening, in the presence of an unusually large assembly of citizens who were gathered to witness the transaction of business. Mayor McCarthy called the old counsel to order, approved the minutes of the preceding minutes. The outgoing Mayor then addressed the council and citizens briefly and called mayor elect C. E. Raught to the chair. 

April 22, 1898
Mr. Van Handel, at the Northwestern depot, erected a temporary flagstaff Wednesday from the top of which in all its glory float at the stars and stripes to greet Uncle Sam's boys as they went south. Passing engines saluted by blowing their whistles.

April 29, 1898
The program connected with the laying of the corner of stone of St. Mary's new church was successfully carried out on Sunday last. A document which tells of the prominent people in the world, state and city was placed in the stone along with a copy of the Kaukauna Times, Kaukauna Sun, the Chicago Herald, Milwaukee Sentinel and several other papers along with a list of the members of the church. The completed church will cost upwards of $40,000. The contractor is Henry Hoffmann of Appleton who is in charge of the construction. When completed, the church building will be the largest in the Green Bay diocese.


A bill declaring war with Spain was signed by the president April 25. It passed both houses unanimously being adopted in one minute and 40 seconds. The Secretary of War has sent dispatches to the governors of the states and territories calling for the troops authorized by the President's proclamation announcing the necessity of 125,000 volunteers. The Spanish government has formally recognized a state of war now exists between Spain and United States. The country has at last come face to face in war with Spain for the sake of humanity, and will relieve the distressed inhabitants of Cuba from the iron pressure of the Spanish yoke.

The Oneida Indians have raised two companies of volunteers from among the young Indians of the reservation. Joseph Metoxen, one of the leading men, visited the city and endeavor to enlist the braves as a body. He was unable to find anyone who had the authority to enroll his volunteers in the service of the country. It is the hope of the Oneidas that their two companies may form the nucleus of an Indian battalion or regiment to be raised among the Oneida’s, Menominee’s and Stockbridge and served together against the Spaniards. 


The young man from Kaukauna responded without hesitation and the following seven young patriots departed on the 10 o'clock train for Appleton, thus placing Kaukauna among the first soldiers called out: Bert W. Fargo, J. Goss, Milo Kutchin, Chas. Chamberlain, Geo. Mulholland, Elmer Fullerton and John Daly. Kaukauna turned out a large crowd at the station to see the boys off and they left amid the cheers of their friends and the shedding of tears of their mothers and sisters.  The Appleton Crescent said all Appleton turned out and united to give the company a hearty God speed. It is doubtful if such enthusiasm has ever been seen here even in the memorable days of 1861.  

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