Friday, February 2, 2024

Time Machine Trip to February 1884

 

The Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen 

February 1, 1884

 

Quite a serious accident occurred in the schoolrooms of Miss. Whitman on Friday last. It seems that a ten-year-old boy named Hess brought a blasting cap to school in his pocket. At recess he placed the cap on the stove as a prank. In an instant, the cap exploded, and the boy found himself minus of thumb and two fingers. He was taken to Doctor Tanner's office for the amputations.

 

Last Saturday evening about 5 pm Fred Radloff, who has been employed at the Kimberly Mill for the past four years, met with an accident which resulted in his death. While working he attempted to connect a cross belt to a shaft when his arm became caught. He was carried five times over the shaft before being dropped to the floor. He died at 11pm that evening.


Jas. Ryan’s delivery horse indulged in a social runaway up Wisconsin Avenue and down Desnoyer Street. In turning the sleigh, it was pulling hit a hitching post and was badly broken.

The ice in the tailrace of the canal last week got to such a height by continual freezing of the surface water.  A channel had to be cut in order to carry off the water and give the machine shop power enough to run.

 

Fifty witnesses armed with shotguns were present at the marriage of Miss Alice Cooper of Platte City, Mo., and William Montgomery, who had attempted to desert the girl. The neighbors gave him the option of choosing a lot for himself in the cemetery or marrying her.

 

February 8, 1884

The railroad depot in Ledyard is now illuminated with electricity. The light was placed near the south window of the station and furnished light inside and outside the building. It is well worth the trip to the station to view this handsome light.


Two or three tramps, who have been wandering about town for the last few days, have succeeded in striking terror to the hearts of several ladies. These fellows compel the women to give them food.  They even insist on having cream and sugar with their coffee. The women now have revolvers in their homes and if the freeloaders return it will be a warm reception.

There is a story about an Indian who found a white man lying dead in the woods with a bullet-hole in his forehead. He came into the white settlement and told the settlers his story. “Found white man dead in the woods, had hole-in-head. A short white man shot him with long barrel gun. He wore gray woolen coat and had a little dog with short tail.”  The Indian brought them to the dead man and showed them the evidence. He had set his gun against the tree leaving a mark in the bark showing it to be long. The man had leaned against the tree leaving some gray thread caught in the bark. There was a place where the little dog had sat, his short tail leaving a mark in the soil.  The man was short because when he reloaded his gun, he set the butt a good way from his feet. His trail showed him to be white because he turned his toes out. Indians never walk this way.

 February 15, 1884

Here we are gathered around this bend in the Fox River, less than four thousand people in all.  What on earth do we want with two city governments? What does a dog want with two tails, if he must wag them both? (Southside of Kaukauna was known as the Village of Ledyard).

 

It has been reported in New York that Gen. Grant is hopelessly ill. It is reported that he is in pain and could not sleep.  His son U.S. Grant Jr. discounts the reports and says his heath is steadily improving but needs crutches to move about the house. Everyday I go up to his room and chat with him over a cigar.

 

February 22, 1884

A dispatch form Billings, Montana on the 21st states that a band of Piegan Indians stole a herd of ponies from the Crow Indians. The Crows assisted by some whites chased the thieves, captured the ponies, and killed four of the Piegans. Two white men were also killed.

A sad accident happened at the Kaukauna House, Wisconsin Avenue, this village on Wednesday morning which resulted in the death of Margaret Schmitz an old lady of 76 years of age. She is the mother of the proprietor and had been subject to fits of insanity. Her relatives were obliged to keep her door locked to prevent her from roaming. At six in the morning her son made the fire and attended to other duties when a call of fire rang out. He carried her burning body from her room.   

 

Jacob Dickey was working on an oil well near Bradford, Pa., on the 18th. An iron rod he was using in the well opening flew into the air, due to a gas buildup. When the rod returned to earth it landed on top of his head and pierced him through. He lived long enough to give directions about his funeral.

I see in the paper that an old man named Grettle has buried another wife. “Why that was fast, his first wife only died two weeks ago.” “Oh, Grettle buried another man’s wife. He is the undertaker, you know.”

 

February 29, 1884

In this village the Reuter Hub & Spoke Co. has experienced a good season for timbers this season. There is currently a mountain of logs and every day while fine sleighing continues the stock of timber is growing. The company has one hundred car loads to be shipped here by water and seventy-five carloads being shipped here by rail.

In the afternoon of Tuesday last, Ledyard was shocked by the news that another person lost his life in the railroad yards. Gus. Hecker, a former employee of the North-western road, was visiting the village in search of employment. He started to return to Oshkosh by catching the train. Since the train does not stop, he tried to grab hold of the ladder as it passed but slipped and was cut to pieces being killed instantly.

 

A large number of young people drove to Appleton on Wednesday evening to attend the "Buffalo Bill" entertainment. On their return they found the roads drifted so badly that they were obliged to "hoof it" from Little Chute. However, they report the performance at the Opera House as first class and seemed well repaid for their trip.

 

The lawlessness prevailing in the regions of Texas is having an effect. An agent for a wealthy English investor interested in land has left in disgust. He declared that property is more secure in Ireland than in Texas.

 

The Catholic Church and school at Keshena in the Menomonee Indian reservation were destroyed by a fire on the 22nd. The seventy pupils escaped but lost most of their clothing.

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