Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Kaukauna Time Machine Trip to November 1891

 

Kaukauna Times - November

By Lyle Hansen


November 7, 1891

The strong wind of Saturday blew the water of Lake Winnebago away from the Oshkosh side so much that the intake pipe of the water works company was out of water. The water in the Fox River which unites Green Bay and Lake Winnebago was swept into the bay by the wind until vessels at the dock were left high and dry.

 

Several weeks ago, the common Council took up the subject of whether the Kaukauna Electric Light had forfeited its franchise by failing to produce light and the same was referred to the city attorney. At the city Council meeting Tuesday evening attorney Nugent presented the following opinion which may cause some of the stockholders of the light company to open their eyes. There seems to be a possibility that in the future consumers of electricity will have something to say about the grade of light furnished and will not be laughed at when a complaint is made. The Council will probably cancel its contract for the present streetlights for which $66 per month was paid and negotiate for a significant number of lights to illuminate the city.

 

A Mayor Ousted – The vote at the election last spring in Clintonville was very close. When the ballots were counted on the evening of Election Day, it was found that Meilike, the Republican candidate had received 147 votes. Meilike immediately assumed the office of Mayor and called a meeting of the Council. Bentz however contested the election. A recount made and vote was a tie. Meilike, however refused to give up his seat or to draw lots for the office. Then F.M. Guernsey, who had been mayor of Clintonville in 1890, declared that as the vote was a tie, there had been no re-election and that he was still mayor of Clintonville. He immediately brought suit to oust Meilike and the case was decided in favor of Guernsey in the circuit court of Waupaca last Friday. 

 

Milk has advanced to six cents a quart in this city. Dairymen meet with great difficulties in keeping stock these days hauling to scarcity of feed and water.



A Little Girl 1891 


A Child Wanderer - Last Saturday afternoon the little seven-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M Flanagan failed to come home to supper and as night approached the members of the household became alarmed and a search was instituted. The premises high and low were searched but no child. Neighbors joined in all night long and the city was patrolled until Sunday dawned and the little girl was still missing. There were thoughts she had been kidnapped or drowned in the River. The riverbanks were searched Sunday for signs of the last one revealing nothing. About Monday noon word was received from Appleton that little Miss Flanagan was stopped at the residence of an acquaintance there. Without speaking to her mother, the little one took the train Saturday afternoon for Appleton where she inquired for the residence desired and intended to stay there. She had intended to catch a ride from a farmer to Freedom where she wanted to visit an aunt.  

 

At about 10:50 last night Charles Basch, a switchman at work at the Lakeshore Yard on the Southside, was run over and instantly killed, his body being horribly mangled. The unfortunate young man was about 25 years of age, single having been divorced from his wife. The remains were gathered up and conveyed to the undertaker Fargo to be placed in a casket.

 

Deer Season – The open season for deer hunting has commenced and from now up to and including December 1 anyone may kill deer in the state without fear of possession by game wardens. It is unlawful however to hunt deer with dogs, set trap or spring guns or employ any device for catching deer.


 

One hundred beaver shawls just received at Hammels. 

 

November 13, 1891

Three life convicts, Robert N. West, John Stagg, and Fred Knack escaped from the penitentiary (Waupun) yesterday, through a tunnel dug under the buildings and into the streets that must have taken years to dig, as it passes through several walls of stone.


 

The fire engine has been out this week pumping water into the various reservoirs, preparing for cold weather.

 

GAVE THE COPPER THE SLIP - A 14-year-old boy escaped from the Madison Chief of Police J.E. Adamson in a manner that would do credit to a professional cracksman rather than a stage-struck lad who ran away from home to become an actor. The boy was arrested in Chicago and the Madison officer came to take him home. The runaway was handcuffed to Adamson, and he took the evening train to Madison. The officer went to sleep in the car and while he slumbered, the boy searched his pockets, found the key to the handcuffs, unlocked, his irons and escaped. He took the key with him, and chief Adamson wore the cuffs home.

 

W.H. Gray, a farmer, living near Antigo, while going into the woods to set a gun last Friday, ran into a gun allegedly to have been set by his neighbor, Nelson Meyer and received injuries that caused death four hours later. Meyer is under arrest.

 

A tramp named William Haines saved the train from destruction on the Northwestern road near Oconto one day last week and that company awarded him by placing him under arrest. It is claimed that Haines loosened the rails and then reported the condition of the track expecting the company would reward him. At least this is the version given by detectives who are at work on the case.


A Brilliant Idea - Here is a way to stimulate business. In Indianapolis druggist found a nickel on the floor in his store. Being an honest man, he put this notice in the window: “A sum of money found on Tuesday last in this establishment. The owner will receive the same within upon describing the money.” Hundreds of people have since called and announced the loss of money. The respective losses range from $2-$1500. No one has announced the loss of a five-cent piece. All who have called spent money in the store, chiefly on cigars. A merry twinkle glitter is in the honest druggist eye, as he looks at the lucky pocket piece that has brought him so much trade.

 

A 100-horsepower engine has been ordered by Oscar Thilmany to furnish motive power for his three paper machines.

 

Buried Two in Each Coffin – The arrest of a leading Chicago undertaker named Rogers is expected. He is accused of systematically burying two corpses in a coffin. Rogers held a contract to intern deceased inmates of a public institution for dependent children and is alleged he saved himself expenses by hiding multiple bodies in each casket. 

 

November 20, 1891

The three prisoners who escape from Waupun last Wednesday by tunneling out were captured the next day after being out 12 hours. They had dug two years on the tunnel.


The home of Mayor Lindauer and wife is shrouded in gloom. The gleeful and merry childish laugh that formerly sounded in the household is hushed forever, death has claimed another victim, little Mabel their 21-month-old daughter having died Tuesday morning. The sympathy of the entire community is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Lindauer in their sad bereavement. The funeral occurred this afternoon and the remains taken to Riverside Cemetery for internment. 


A.W. Fernandez, the state game warden, made a visit to this city last week to look up the report that the fish were dying in large numbers in the lower Fox. He reports that the statements are true, and that thousands of fish of all kinds have been killed by the refuge dumped into the river by the paper and sulphite mills. He says the matter is growing worse continually. He fears that the trouble cannot be stopped, as there is no law to cover such cases. He will however consult with the Atty. General to see if this wholesale extermination of fish cannot be put to an end in some way.    

 

A Dog Tramp – Antigo - There is in this city a Scotch terrier known as “Scotty the dog tramp.”  He was brought to Antigo by station agent H.O. Holland and has become a confirmed tramp. He knows every railroad man who runs into Antigo and can frequently be seen getting off and on trains passing through here. He rides in a baggage car or caboose and makes frequent visits to the stations between Kaukauna and Watersmeet. Whenever he meets a railroad man he is at home, and they never fail to feed him when he is around at mealtime. Scotty is very popular among the railroad boys. 

 

 Winter has swooped down upon us with outstretched talons Monday night and seemingly has come to stay. 

 

November 27, 1891

The farmers are doubly bothered now. Hauling water for miles was bad enough, but rough roads make it a more troublesome task.


Eastern newspapers are gravely discussing the propriety of asking legislative intervention to prevent the playing of football. The statistics are adduced to show that not one man gives up his life in the 24-foot ring where a score for killing in the rush line. The conclusion reached is that if the brutal side of the human nature must be indulged it is better to gratify it in a comparatively cheerful and exuberant pastime of prize fighting. It is endorsed as less brutal than the game that it now attracts in its stead the tendency of which it is claimed is toward the days of bullfights and gladiatorial contests. 

 

CHILDREN EATEN BY WOLVES - News reached St. Paul on the 28th that wolves killed three children of Andrew Gurlick near New Brighton 10 miles north of St. Paul. During the great fires in September droves of wolfs were driven southward and there have been some preying on sheep near the Twin Cities stockyards. A drove of 125 were seen Monday afternoon. The Gurlick children wandered into the woods near their home at night and were devoured by the wild beasts. Their cries were heard but before help could reach them, they had been killed.

 

Looks Suspicious – William Houston and William Brown of Rhinelander emptied a pint of whiskey which contained 20g of morphine in addition to the liquor. Both are dead. Mrs. Houston said she had been using morphine for years. She dissolved the morphine in the whiskey and put it in a closet for her own use. She did not know the man had drunk it and when she found the empty bottle last Thursday morning it was too late to save them. An investigation will be made.

 

The word “cop” comes from chief-of-police. How many knew this?

 

No man should be elected to the common council of the city, who is not a clean, capable, and respectful citizen. The council made up of such men would make few or no disgraceful blunders. There should be no sticks or bummers in it.


WOMEN REGULATORS IN OHIO – There is great excitement at Clearwater over a raid made Sunday by masked women on a disreputable house at that place. The house was just outside the town limits and no arrest could be made. About 9 o'clock Sunday night 40 to 50 women, masked, surrounded the house, and battered in the doors. Several men of the place made a dash and escaped, but four women were caught and terribly beaten with switches on their bare backs. The women were then given 24 minutes to get out of sight. After that the women literally tore down the house smashing the furniture to kindling. The mob was composed of the best ladies of the town.

 

Deer Near Home – George Walsh of the town of Black Creek, while out hunting for small game a few days ago witnessed a sight which is seldom seen in this portion of the state. Across the thicket a short distance from Seymour, he ran into six deer. He was so much surprised that he never thought of shooting until the animals had disappeared. It is very seldom that a deer is seen in this part of the state.



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