Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Time Machine Trip to September 1894

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen


September 7, 1894

Forest fires have been raging with greater severity than ever this week throughout the northwestern part of Minnesota. Many small towns and settlements have been completely wiped out and hundreds of lives are feared lost.

 

The other day a man was hurrying for a train. He thought he had forgotten his watch at home, so he checked his watch to see if he had time to make it back home to get it.

 

A few business houses in Kaukauna closed last Monday, Labor Day. Flags floated from many staffs about town but there was no celebration of any nature.

 

Mayor H. B. Tanner issued a call for the citizens of Kaukauna to contribute at once to help the people in the northern part of the state who are suffering due to forest fires. They need clothing and food as winter is coming and there will be great suffering.

 

“What do you think is the hardest thing to raise on a farm?”  - Hayseed

“The money to work it,” - truth.

 

September 14, 1894

United States Marshal H. E. Buckey dropped off at Kaukauna last Saturday and arrested Cowlitz, the Island deliveryman, for furnishing liquor to the Oneida Indians. He will be taken to Milwaukee along with a couple of Indians for trial.

 

The following firemen have been appointed to membership in the new paid department: Henry Schubert, John Geisbers, Albert Luckow, C. A. Conlon, Aug. Petersdorf and Peter Essler.

 

The railroads have a regular patrolling crew that walks along the tracks after each train goes through putting out any fires that many have started. 


Anyone who visited Clifton well remembers the steep roads that lead to the top of the ledge and wondered of the dangers attributed to driving up and down. Last week Thursday L. R. Allen, of Stockbridge, was killed while driving down the big hill in a buggy, when the back hold strap broke allowing the carriage to run against the horse. The horse broke into a gallop resulting with the buggy overturning throwing Allen out and killing him instantly. 

Four boys and three girls from the Oneida reservation left this week for Hampton, Va., to take a four-year course at the government school.

 

The Outagamie County Fair will be held at Hortonville on the 26, 27, and 28th of September. 

 

Pittsburg, Pa., - Sept. 11 – Forty thousand men who fought to save the union marched through the streets of Pittsburgh today. The old familiar war tunes to which they and their comrades rushed to victory or to death filled the air and echoed back from the surrounding hills. The music made their hearts beat as in the stirring times of 30 years ago and brought back the patriotism and courage to their furrowed faces. They carried no heavy rifle with its glittering bayonet but aided their aging limbs that showed their age with walking canes and there was a long line of blue that came on crutches. On every street people waving white handkerchiefs and applauding with sweet voices. Thus, being the parade of the Grand Army of the Republic. 

 

Duluth, Minn., Sept. 3 – The relief train that went out yesterday afternoon for the fire victims returned this morning at the tales of those who came to aid the horror of the night before. The dead are now known to exceed 400 of the number of bodies that were found. Many of those returns say it is utterly impossible to get any guess as to the total deaths nor will there are any search parties sent out.

 

Helf and Brill, proprietors of the South side brewery, recently destroyed by fire, have commenced the work of rebuilding their plant. The brewery will be in running order in a few months. 

 

September 21, 1894


Chief Police Kuehn is rustling through the county this week, gunning for delegates to the democratic court convention next Saturday that will be favorable to his nomination as sheriff. During his furlough Marshal Earles acts in his stead, and Peter Essler is on the night force.

 

The Sultan of Turkey heard of the misfortune of the people in Wisconsin that are affected by forest fires. He has sent about $1,300 as a contribution.

 

Recent rains in northern Wisconsin are welcomed and have put out many of the fires.

 

September 28, 1894

Fire visited the Island Wednesday evening and completely destroyed three buildings there. The fire started in Chas. Colwitz livery barn where four horses perished but his family escaped without injury; the fire then spread to the Mundinger block on the north and the Chopin boarding house on the south. A stiff breeze blowing the fire toward the river kept the flames from doing more damage. Mayor Tanner was on hand and directed the firemen during the entire time.


The fathers and mothers who mainly spend their evenings at home and introduce healthful amusement and instruction around the family fireside set the best example to their children.

 

St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 25 – A modestly dress gentleman wearing a dark brown overcoat over a business suit of gray took his place at the door of the Standard Theater last night. He is Frank James, the once noted desperado train robber and highwaymen. I have taken this job as there is no future in being a desperado. I now have a 17-year-old son and will continue in this profession. Asked if he would ever go on the stage he said not. “I was offered $52,000 a year by a New York company but St. Louis will be my home.”  


On Wednesday evening last a middle-aged woman apparently died in Appleton. The body was laid out and preparations were being made for the funeral, when it was noticed she retained a good appearance. Some friends applied an application of ammonia to her nostrils and signs of life appeared. She has remained conscious ever since. 


 

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