Friday, December 4, 2020

Time Machine Trip to December 1890

 

Kaukauna Times December 1890

By Lyle Hansen


December 5, 1890

Some men will sit for hours in a crowd around the stove in a grocery store telling stories about things that they can remember that happened in early childhood and go home with the letter in their pocket which their wife gave them to mail before they left home.

 

UPRISING IN THE SOUTH – Oklahoma, I.T., Dec. 2 – The Messiah craze is fully on in the Indian Territory, and the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Osage, Missouri and Seminole tribes are the most uneasy. The Kickapoos, 25 miles south of here, a tribe which is always been more or less uneasy or superstitious, are dancing. The Sixth Calvary has been ordered to Fort Meade and General Merritt has received orders to send the troops at Fort Lewis Colorado to Fort Meade.

            Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 2 – The strike of coal miners of Alabama went into effect yesterday. Of the 8000 miners in the state it is estimated that 6000 are out. A number of the mine operators here are going to fill the places of the strikers with Negroes. They expect eventually to operate their mines entirely by Negro labor.


John Holberg has received a carload of handsome cutters this week. A number of them will be placed on sale and the balance goes into his livery barn.

 

Residence Burned – One of the Lakeshore Company’s houses on the hill took fire about 10 o’clock this morning from a defective flue. The fire Department turned out as quickly as possible but, owing to the fact that, the engine is at present without a heater and stands with cold water in the boiler it was sometime before water reached the flames. Damages are expected to amount to several hundred dollars.


December 12, 1890

Asks for More Money – Mrs. Gen. Custer, who since the death of her husband, has been receiving a pension of $600 a year, and now has asked to have it doubled.

 

      Crows Sell Their Land – The work of the Crow commission has been successful concluding at the Crow Agency, Montana, with the Indians selling to the government nearly 2,000,000 acres of the western side of the reservation. The consideration was $948,000. The Crows are quiet and take no interest in the Messiah craze


      Disturbed the Peace – On Tuesday morning of this week Wm. Klumb, chief of the fire department swore out an arrest for John Kavanaugh charging him with willfully disturbing the peace last Sunday morning, by ringing the fire alarm bell at the engine house without just cause. The case promises to be an interesting one and in case Kavanaugh is defeated in justice court he will undoubtedly appeal to the higher court.


       Brakeman Killed – Mr. Louis H. Eagan, age 25, employed as a brakeman on the Milwaukee Lakeshore and Western road was killed at Eland Junction last Friday morning. While engaged in switching, his foot got caught and he was thrown to the track the train passing over his limbs severing both between hip and knee. He died shortly afterwards. His remains were brought back to Kaukauna in the evening. He leaves a widow here having been married for only a few months.

 

      Volunteer Department – The Green Bay Fire Department lacks sufficient organization and practical training. The Council has decided the companies will be “overhauled.” The department at Green Bay is one similar to Kaukauna principally volunteers receiving little or nothing for services rendered. In case of a fire laddies they are expected to turn out in rain, hail, shine or snow, mud ankle deep or snow up to the knees, 40° below or 90 above.


 

Met the Wrong Men – A dispatch from Navajo Springs, A.T., of a shooting affray occurred yesterday afternoon, resulting in the probable death of Bud Blake, an ex-cowboy and one of the most feared desperados in this section. Blake rode into town yesterday afternoon and after filling up on tanglefoot proceeded to shoot up the town. After terrorizing the citizens, he rode across the country in the direction of St. John's about 2 miles from here. He encountered two telegraph operators returning from an antelope hunt. Riding up within 50 yards he called upon them to throw up their hands and received an immediate response in shape of a volley from a Winchester. Blake fell from his saddle mortally wounded. The men rode into this place where they gave themselves up to the constable. 

 

December 19, 1890

The Badger Paper Company's plant has been fitted throughout with the Grinnell Dry Air Automatic Fire Extinguishing system, which places the mills under far better protection than formerly.


 

SITTING BULL KILLED – Standing Rock Agency - Dec. 15 - Gen. Miles’ staff, received a dispatch from St. Paul, saying Sitting Bull was arrested this morning at daybreak by the Indian Police. His friends attempted a rescue and a fight ensued. Sitting Bull, his son Blackbird, Catch Bear and four others were killed. Also killed were seven Indian Police.

 

Gen. Sherman says that “the idea of supporting the Indians in idleness, while white men have to work for a living, is a reproach to the government and it is to be hoped that Congress will turn over a new leaf in that respect.”

 

The Pope Critically Ill – A dispatch from Rome says there is much anxiety at the Vatican over the condition of the Pope; he has been seriously affected by the extreme cold weather. Dr. Ceccerelli, who is attendance on His Holiness, has prepared for the worse.

 

December 26, 1890

Kaukauna's real estate boom has not let up during the past year as it has in many other areas. It is estimated that over eighty new buildings have been constructed in this town over the past twelve months, including both homes and businesses. The manufactories which have been put up during the year include: The Kaukauna Fibre Company's plant, the Badger Sulphite Fibre mill, and the Thilmany Paper mill.

 

County officials are in a squabble over the tramp question. In accordance with their solution to provide a stone pile at the County seat and set the tramps sentenced to jail at work cracking stone. The shed has been built and the stone secured, and an overseer has been engaged to look after the tramps. Sheriff Conlon, however, objects to the rulings of the committee and refuses to allow the tramps to be taken from his custody until the overseer furnishes a bond in the sum of $5000, and now trouble is brewing.

 

The Northwestern passenger train was stopped three times Monday afternoon for the purpose of ejecting tramps. No sooner would the train start than a half a dozen would again climb aboard.

 

How the Boy Begins Dudism – It is a curious fact that a boy's first awakening to the desire for personal adornment is always connected with his necktie. From the time that he attains his first boots he cares nothing for his appearance, until one day many years later. He suddenly demands a new necktie.  It is the beginning of the end. Next, he wants long trousers then begins to brush his hair, then a high collar and a cutaway coat following in quick succession.  He then wants to possess a dress suit after which it is his mustache and whiskers occupy all of his thoughts that are not engaged in imagining how he will look in a tall hat. Therefore, it is with a passive thrill of pain that I heard a small boy put first on his list of expectations for Christmas, “a tie and a tie pin.”

SLAIN BY INDIANS - Wounded Knee Creek, Neb., Dec. 29 – Bright and early were the troops up this morning. At 8 o'clock the Calvary and dismounted troops were massed about the Indian village, the Hotchkiss guns overlooking the camp not 50 yards away. Col. Forsythe ordered all the Indians to come forth away from the tents. They came and sat in a half circle until counted. The Calvary men surrounded them. The order was then given to 20 Indians to go and get their guns. Upon returning it was seen that only two guns were had. A detachment at once began to search the village, resulting in 38 guns being found. As the task was about complete the Indians surrounded by company's K and B began to move.  All of a sudden, they began firing rapidly at the troops not 20 feet away. The troops were at a great disadvantage fearing they would shoot their own comrades. The Indian men, women and children ran to the south, the battery firing as rapidly as they ran. Soon the mounted troops were after them shooting them down on every side. The battle lasted fully an hour and a half. To the south many took refuge in a ravine, which was difficult to dislodge them. The soldiers were shooting the Indians down wherever found and gave no quarter to anyone. To say that it was the most daring feat, 120 Indians attacking 500 Calvary.  It could only have been insanity which prompted such a deed. It is doubtful if before night either a man or woman out of all Big Foot’s band will be left to tell the tale of today’s treachery.  The members of the seventh Calvary had once more shown themselves to be heroes and in deeds of daring.




No comments:

Post a Comment