Time Machine Trip to March 1895

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

March 1, 1895

The fire bell announced another fire Tuesday evening. This time it was the store of Morrison & Dougherty, directly opposite St. Mary’s Catholic church. It is suspected a lamp exploded after Mr. Morrison left the store.

 

THE TIMES office has been moved this week to the new Smith Bros. brick block on East Second Street. The new facility is larger, better lit, and a better room for our purposes in all ways. Don't think for a moment that because The Times was moved this week, we are not ready for business. Our job presses stopped but three hours during the transfer, and everything is running now better than ever. 

 

The Little Chute and Hollandtown two days dance attracted the usual number from Kaukauna this week.

 

Madison, Wis., - Prof. Alexander Graham Bell of telephone fame arrived to work on the passage of the bill to provide day schools for deaf mutes. He will deliver a lecture to state committees on the education of the deaf.

 

Cincinnati, Ohio – Minnie Meyer, colored, has sued the Louisville and Nashville railroad for $25,000 damages under the civil rights law. Last June she bought a first-class ticket from Cincinnati to Lexington, Kentucky. When the station over the River in Covington, Kentucky was reached, she was removed from the lady’s car to the one partitioned off for colored people.

 

March 8, 1895

Several of the mills in this city instructed their firemen to give their whistles an extra toot, and hold them a while longer, last Monday noon, to celebrate the out going of the democratic congress which died that day, never to be resurrected. The day should have been made a national holiday, so that everybody could have had an opportunity of celebrating one of the most important events in history.

 

The effect of the adjournment of the Democratic Congress has already been felt in Kaukauna. Last week orders were received from Chicago to start the shops up on the old schedule six days a week nine hours a day and on Monday when the Democratic Congress breathed its last, new orders went into effect as a fitting celebration event. A number of new men have been added to the machine shop.

 

Green Bay bicyclists are discussing the feasibility of having a relay race from that city to Milwaukee during the coming summer. Of course, a number of Kaukauna riders will be included among the group.

 

March 15, 1895

After spending several months talking over hook and ladder trucks, the common council finally purchased one last Tuesday evening. They ordered Style No. 11 from Gleason & Bailey Manufacturing Company of New York, the price being $875.00.

 

Spike McDermott, an ex-saloon keeper, ex-jail bird and ex-proprietor of the Golden Spike, a resort at Superior, Wis., famous for its toughness, has joined the Salvation Army. They expect great things of him, as he is a man of marked ability.   

 

March 22, 1895

Logging for the season is practically at an end in the pines and many of the boys are returning home. The season was shortened by about three weeks this year by the soft weather.

 

At 2:30 this afternoon just as the last forms of the times was being placed on the press, the starting news was brought in that Fred Wurster, Sr. of the south side had been run over by a switch engine in the yard here and instantly killed. The accident occurred near the Main Avenue crossing. Mr. Wurster had been a resident of Kaukauna for years and is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows Lodge.

 

March 29, 1895

All mill owners here have received notice from the government to the effect that the water in the river must be allowed to rise to the crest of the dam and maintained there; even if the mills are compelled to shut down to accomplish it. This is to prepare for the opening of navigation.

 

Fred Wurster came to his death on the 22d of March. He was accidently killed in the yards of the C. & N. W. Ry. Co. at Kaukauna by engine 941, which backed over him.

 

Chicago, Ill., March 26 – Maggie Titter was today condemned to be hanged for the murder of Charles Miller. She is colored and if the sentence is carried out, she will be the first execution of a woman which ever occurred in Chicago. 

Victoria, B.C., March 25 – The police have decided that bloomers are not suitable for lady’s street wear. Last week Miss Ethel Delmont a wheel woman, pretty and graceful made her appearance in her bloomer costume and could not have been greater excitement than Lady Godiva’s famous ride on the street. The people came forth to gaze at her and for a moment the policeman was petrified with amazement. She received an official visitor who informed her that her appearance in her objectionable costume earned a court summons for creating a disturbance on a public street. The police confiscated her bloomers and destroyed them. 

 

Hon. George W. Lawe and wife reached the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage on Monday last. The greater part of this time has been spent in Kaukauna.  

Oshkosh, Wis., - Women reported to have been terrorized by “Jack the Hugger”. Several complaints have been made lately. The fellow attacked Mrs. George Rose last evening but was frightened away by her screams. In every case so far, the fellow has offered no further motives than to embrace his victim and then run away.