Time Machine Trip to August 1918

By Lyle Hansen

August 2, 1918

The Ride-out Safety gates are being installed this week on the Lawe Street Bridge. The mechanism governing the gates is so arranged that when the bridge first commences to open, the gates are closed automatically and vice versa, when the bridge is nearly closed, the gates will then open. These gates are hung in such a position that if an automobile should run against them while closed, they could not be forced out of position, ensuring perfect safety to all teams, autos, or any vehicle trying to cross the bridge.

Samuel Metoxen, aged 7, died Sunday from spinal meningitis at the home of his mother Mrs. Sophie Metoxen, Second street. This is the third death within the home within a few months. A little child died last Summer, and her husband was killed in the lumber woods of northern Wisconsin last winter. Her husband was a descendant of an Oneida Indian Chief John Metoxen.

John Welhouse of Little Chute caught his right arm in a shaft at the Combined Locks Paper Mill Thursday morning. The arm was torn off at the shoulder. He was taken to St. Elizabeth’s hospital where he died. Welhouse is the father of ten children who have the sympathy of the entire community.

Forest County Reporter - The village board passed a resolution prohibiting squaws from going swimming without a blanket on. Our reporter can’t see where it is any of the Board’s damn business, if Lizzie Little Feet wants to frisk around in the water just natural like, they shouldn’t worry and just look the other way. 

Gerald Harrington, 16 years old, who has been working in one of the local mills had the misfortune to catch his hand in the shafting resulting in two fingers being torn out of his hand. He was taken to St. Elizabeth hospital where an operation was performed to save his hand.

Men who are physically fit for military service between 18 and 40 years of age are needed to Man the Ships of the Navy. All enlistments are for the duration of the present war.   

August 9, 1918

John H. Nushart, a Kaukauna boy in the U. S. Infantry with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, was severely wounded in a battle on July 18^th, according to a telegram received Monday. 

Fred Olm of Kaukauna, millwright at the Combined Locks Paper company for the past eighteen years, was struck by a belt and fatally injured Tuesday morning. He was transported to St. Elizabeth hospital where he died from a fractured skull. He is survived by his wife and four children.

The Camp Fire Girls of this city knitted a quilt which was presented to a hospital in Brooklyn, N. Y. They received a letter thanking them for the beautiful quilt. “We have many sick sailors being treated here and this quilt will find a home on the lap of a sailor in a wheel-chair.” 

August 16, 1918

Two young men of this city were arrested for driving their automobiles faster than the law allows and were each fined $14.75. The law fixes 15 miles as the speed limit and Chief McCarthy is determined to enforce it to the letter. 

August 23, 1918

One of Kaukauna’s patriotic families is that of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Britten, which has the rare distinction of having all its four boys in the army and navy of the United States, although the Britten’s are descendants of German. Mrs. Britten says that she is as proud as she can be of her four boys whom she has willingly given to the cause of Liberty. The oldest son, Matt, is 27 years old and is serving in France, Joseph is 25 and is in the U. S. Navy in foreign service, John is 23 and is serving on a torpedo boat and the youngest, Frank, 18 is in the Navy training at Virginia Beach preparing for foreign service. 

The most important commercial transaction in the recent history of Kaukauna is the sale of the John G. Fechter Clothing and Shoe store to W. H. Haessley, who has been with the company for a period of 21 years continuous service, and who proved himself a faithful employee in every sense of the word.

Mrs. Theodore Lamers of Little Chute has the notable record of having eighteen grandsons serving in the army. She was married in 1850 and her husband Theodore died 26 year ago. She has 100 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. William Derricks of Kaukauna received a telegram that their son, Private William Derricks of the U. S. Infantry was severely wounded in action in France on July 18. Shortly after received a letter from their son William.

“Dad and Mom, at present I am in the Base Hospital nursing a wounded leg. I was hit just below the hip, it is just a flesh wound. I was coming out of the trench when a piece of Fritz’s shrapnel hit me. We surely put them on the run and gave them h—l. The boys back in the states don’t know what they are missing. I am hoping to get back to my unit soon. We are going to plant the American flag in Germany and leave it there.”

August 30, 1918

Mr. and Mrs. Victor Mangold have received a telegram from Washington stating that their son Corporal Stephen Mangold was wounded severely in action in France on August 3^rd.  A post card was received about the same time from their son. “Dear Father: I am in a hospital wounded in the arm but am getting along fine.”