Aged 72, Cycles 30,000 Miles

1920

Has Just Finished Ride From California to Blair, Neb.

BLAIR, Nebraska. — John Warner, 72 years old, of San Diego, Cal., who is visiting friends here, has just completed a bicycle trip from California.

When he found himself near the 70-year-old mark, and in poor health, he took up bicycling as a recreation and as a restorative of health, and has ridden more than 30,000 miles on the bicycle, on which he made the journey to Blair.

He says he feels younger than he did ten years before he began the practice.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 5.

The Folly of Tariffs

1916

Proposals for domestic trade barriers similar to those erected in international trade by tariff laws would be hooted down in derision. Suppose, for example, that the States had the right to erect tariff walls and some member of the Nebraska legislature should introduce a bill to place a heavy import duty on peaches, because, forsooth, the horticulturists of Colorado, California and Texas, one year with another, can produce peaches cheaper than the horticulturists of Nebraska. He would be met promptly with the argument that cheap peaches is just what we want; that if they can be grown to better advantage in other states, well and good; and that Nebraska can have more peaches by growing corn and hogs and wheat and buying peaches. His measure would not receive serious consideration. Indeed, many would earnestly contend that the proponent of such a measure should have his head examined. But when it comes to international trade politicians and candidates can go out and plead with the people to shut themselves off from cheap goods and "get away with it." We have hopes, however. — The Nebraska Farmer.

Women

Nebraska, 1901

They Drink Not Wisely But Too Well and Are Haled Into Police Court

This morning the police judge was busy trying a bevy of prostitutes taken up in a raid on the lowlands the middle of last December. The trouble all came from a little drunk indulged in by Bell Naden. The 17th of last month she went on a tear and at the same time went calling on her neighbors, which is against the rules. She was in a boisterous condition and the police were notified. They went to Dora Brown's house and found a great rough house. Everybody in the place was about as drunk as they could be, and, from the sounds that penetrated through the walls of the house, were having the biggest kind of a time.

Incidentally they arrested Mattie Head, Bell Naden, Mary Glasco, Hattie Thurbie, Geneva Newberry and Ruth Collins. This morning they appeared in police court for the last time on the charge and received their due.

Mattie Head will wait a few days before paying her fine. Bell Naden drew ten days in the county jail, Mary Glasco was discharged because she was sick, and, Hattie Therbie pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later. Geneva Newberry paid $5 and costs. Ruth Collins did the same.

Dora Brown was also present and raised a great disturbance. Her attorney took occasion to roast the police and did it to a finish. He said that his client was a special mark for the few men who control the destiny of the lowlands. Across the street from Dora Brown's house was another brothel which was much worse but had not been raided. He wanted to know about it.

Miss Dora Brown drew $10 and costs, notwithstanding. This she paid in part, after expressing her opinions to the court. She complained that she was the special mark for police prosecution, that they were running her business and spent their time eavesdropping at her windows. She was a poor innocent prostitute, no worse than the others, but suffered for their crimes.

—Lincoln Evening News, Lincoln, NE, Jan. 7, 1901, p. 6.

Omaha Greatly Excited by Medicine Man

1910

"The Great Cooper" Stirs Up City to Remarkable Degree

Omaha, Nebraska, January 26. — This city is at present in the midst of an excitement beyond anything that it has experienced in recent years. Old and young, rich and poor, all seem to have become beside themselves over an individual who was a stranger to Omaha up to two weeks ago.

The man who has created all this turmoil is L. T. Cooper, President of the Cooper Medicine Co., of Dayton, Ohio, who is at present introducing his preparations in this city for the first time.

Cooper is a man about thirty years of age and has acquired a fortune within the past two years by the sale of some preparations of which he is the owner.

Reports from eastern cities that preceded the young man here were of the most startling nature, many of the leading dailies going so far as to state that he had nightly cured in public places rheumatism of years' standing with one of his preparations. The physicians of the East contradicted this statement, claiming the thing to be impossible, but the facts seemed to bear out the statement that Cooper actually did so.

In consequence people flocked to him by thousands and his preparations sold like wildfire.

Many of these stories were regarded as fictitious in Omaha and until Cooper actually reached this city little attention was paid to them. Hardly had the young man arrived, however, when he began giving demonstrations, as he calls them, in public, and daily met people afflicted with rheumatism, and with a single application of one of his preparations actually made them walk without the aid of either canes or crutches.

In addition to this work Cooper advanced the theory that stomach trouble is the foundation of nine out of ten diseases and claimed to have a preparation that would restore the stomach to working order and thus get rid of such troubles as catarrh and affections of the kidneys and liver, in about two weeks' time.

This statement seems to have been borne out by the remarkable results obtained through the use of his preparation, and now all Omaha is apparently mad over the young man.

How long the tremendous interest in Cooper will last is hard to estimate. At present there seems to be no sign of a let-up. Reputable physicians claim it to be a fad that will die out as soon as Cooper leaves.

In justice to him, however, it must be said that he seems to have accomplished a great deal for the sick of this city with his preparations.

Nerviest Little Man in Nebraska

1907

Raymond Weber, Aged 4

He didn't cry, although his father did when the latter found him alive at bottom of a well.

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb., March 9 — Raymond Weber, of this city, is only 4 years old, but he has won distinction of being the nerviest little man in Nebraska. Raymond is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Weber. He was playing in the yard with his 7-year-old brother, and the two went to the well and looked down.

There they saw a silver speck, and they wondered if it were really water and if there were gnomes and fairies and things down there. Raymond leaned way over to see. Suddenly he lost his hold and down he went. His brother ran screaming away, but soon the neighbors for a mile around were on the scene.

It was twenty-five feet to the bottom, and a windlass had to be rigged. Soon the father was going down with a load on his heart as heavy as lead, but hoping also. At the bottom he found his boy, standing in a foot of water, cool and with not a tear. "Me wet, papa," he said, as the sobbing man gathered him up.

The Boy Who Tipped the Scales to a Generous 450 Pounds

Raised In Nebraska

Not long ago one of the most corpulent persons in the country died at Cedar Rapids, Neb. His name was C. Hemingson and his photograph was submitted to GRIT by Roy Meson, of Cedar Rapids. Hemingson was but 17 years old when he died. He weighed 450 pounds. In spite of his immense proportions he managed to move about quite actively. He was helping to extinguish a small fire when he succumbed to over-exertion. He was born and raised on a farm near Cedar Rapids.

—Grit

Sledgehammer Bandits Raid St. Paul Safes

1920

Also Steal 800 Quarts of Liquor From State Asylum

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — The band of "sledgehammer" bandits, after looting more than fifty safes in Minneapolis in the past month, evidently have begun operations in St. Paul by raiding three Como avenue business places.

The lock of a safe at the Great Lakes Coal and Dock Company was hammered open and $500 worth of Liberty bonds and $40 in cash was taken.

The same gang is believed to have hammered the lock from the safe at the Carnegie Dock and Fuel Company, and strong box in the office of a third Como avenue company.

That the "sledgehammer" bandits have a taste for good liquor as well as safes became apparent when nine of them in three automobiles made an informal call on the State asylum for the insane at Anoka.

Eight hundred quarts of liquor, used for medicinal purposes, packed in the refrigerator, were stolen.


Hens Laying for a Record

LINCOLN, Nebraska — Twenty-six hens laid 23 or more eggs each during February in the national egg-laying contest being conducted by the Nebraska agricultural experiment station. One hen laid 28 eggs. She is a Rhode Island Red, owned by M. C. Peters, of Omaha. Two others, both White Leghorns, laid 25 eggs each. Seventeen hens laid 22 eggs each.

Professor Explains New Theory About the Moon's Origin

Nebraska, 1910

Prof. Swezey Gives Explanation of Idea Advanced by Scientists on Moon

Professor G. D. Swezey at convocation at the university summer school this morning delivered an illustrated lecture on the moon. He took up the theory recently advanced by some scientists that the substance of the moon was broken loose from the earth in the region of what is now the Pacific ocean and that the departure from there of this amount of matter is what has left the Pacific basin. He told the students that he would give the theory for what it was worth as he was not ready to take up the theory nor to flatly reject it.

By means of his stereopticon views he pointed out the facts that help to make the theory plausible. He mentioned the fact that the moon has a mass about one-eightieth of the earth. To obtain this amount of material would require the skimming off the crust of the earth to a depth of some thirty-five miles. It is of course known that the Pacific is not that deep, but if the earth were in a semi-plastic condition at the time the material was taken from the crust it would readily run back partially at least into the spherical shape.

The professor had a diagram showing the possibility that the continents of the western hemisphere may have torn asunder from those of the eastern hemisphere as the land moved toward the great gap left in the Pacific basin by the departure of the moon. It is found that in bringing the two hemispheres together the outline of the coast lines of South America and Africa fit each other as though they had been torn apart with a few allowances for possible readjustment and rearrangement of the continental fragments. The same is true in a less marked degree in North America and Europe.

—Lincoln Evening News, Lincoln, Nebraska, Aug. 10, 1910, p. 7.

Car Embarks on Driverless Jaunt

Nebraska, 1934

A runaway created a few thrilling moments for folks on main street Tuesday, but it wasn't the familiar spectacle of olden days when frightened horses often embarked on a mad jaunt minus a driver; the runaway in this case was a "horseless carriage" belong to Rudolph Gustafson.

Gustafson stopped his car, a Model "A" Ford, in the alley at the side of his house on Second street, behind Jacobs' studio, and apparently forgot to set the brakes properly. He stepped into the house and when he returned, the car had started its ride to freedom. Gustafson attempted to run after the car and stop it but he stumbled and fell, and the auto continued a winding path westward and downhill, toward the bright light section.

At the bottom of the hill the car jumped the curbing by the Jacobs studio and kept rolling across main street until its journey was terminated abruptly by a collision with a cement block in front of Nelson Bros. garage. Had it not turned a bit too much to the right, the author would have gone straight through the door into the garage.

It missed, however, and now it reposes in the garage through necessity. The crash into the cement block bent the front axle and the front end of the frame, and also broke the flywheel and clutch housing.

—Oakland Independent and Republican, Oakland, Nebraska, June 29, 1934, p. 4.

Awarded $450 for Fainting Bertha's Assault

1920

State Must Pay Woman Attendant for Insane Patient's Act

LINCOLN, Nebraska — The State of Nebraska must pay $450 because "Fainting Bertha" Liebke, while incarcerated in the Lincoln insane asylum, threw formaldehyde into the eyes of Anna E. Sprecher, an attendant, which resulted in partial blindness.

The State compensation commissioner awarded the claim after a semi-legal battle put up by former Attorney General Dexter Barrett, who discovered that the assault had not been reported to the board of control as the law required.


Here's World's Eighth Wonder

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The eighth wonder of the world. A "For Rent" advertisement in a local newspaper stipulates that the couple seeking a home must have at least one child. The owner, the advertisement states, is fond of children.

Note: I had another "Fainting Bertha" story a month or so ago. Check it out.

Is Bride Only 11 Years Old? Dentists Helping Find Out

Nebraska, 1921

TO EXAMINE BRIDE'S TEETH

Believe That Maria Gollardo Is Eleven Years Old, But Facts Are Lacking

HASTINGS, Neb., Dec. 3. — Examination of the teeth of Maria Gollardo by Hastings' dentists will be resorted to in an effort to determine her age. Maria, a Mexican girl, was married to Jose Gonzales on November 21 and because the school authorities are convinced she is only eleven years old, the county attorney has been trying to establish the girl bride's age with a view to beginning action to annul the marriage.

Miss Clara Altman, teacher of Spanish at Hastings college, has been drafted as interpreter in the investigations but nothing definite of the girl's age has been learned. She is the foster child of Butamio Gollardo and all they can say is that when they got her in Oklahoma four years ago, Maria was losing her first canines.

Meanwhile Maria and Jose are seemingly happy and can't understand what the officials are wrought up about.

—The Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Dec. 4, 1921, p. 8-B.

Theodore Roosevelt Files to Become U.S. Citizen

1905

ROOSEVELT TO BE CITIZEN

Omaha, Neb., Aug. 19. — In the district court here yesterday Theodore Roosevelt filed an application to be admitted to citizenship in the United States. Roosevelt says he is not related to the president. He was a subject of Emperor Franz Joseph, of Austria, served in the Austrian army for several years and came to this country ten years ago. He served with President Roosevelt's rough riders during the Spanish-American war and is a great admirer of the chief executive.

He is now living in the sand hills in the western part of Nebraska and desires to become a citizen of the United States in order that he may file on government lands in Cherry county.

—The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN, Aug. 19, 1905, p. 4.

Gypsy Is Identified by Alleged Victim

1920

Blacksmith Says Woman "Blessed" Away His Bank Roll.

LINCOLN, Neb. — William Dunagan, of Roca, a little village near Lincoln, has identified a young gypsy mother as the woman who "blessed away" $248 of his bank roll in Roca last fall.

Mr. Dunagan is a blacksmith and alleges that the gypsy woman was one of a party riding in eight automobiles that stopped in Roca to have one of the machines repaired.

After he had repaired the car, he says, the woman "blessed him" and took all of the money he had on his person.


20-Cent Tax for Bachelors

Ohio Town Wants Single Men to Pay Sum Monthly

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio. — Unmarried men who pay no municipal taxes may be taxed at a rate of about 20 cents a month. A measure including that provision was reported favorably by the city council and is being considered by the mayor's advisory board. It was estimated such a tax would net the city $192,000 annually.

Willa Cather's Parents' 50th Anniversary Celebrated

1922

RED CLOUD, Neb., Dec. 6. — On Tuesday. December 5, Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Cather of this city celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Cather were married in their old home near Winchester, Va., in 1872. They were born and grew up in a country township in Frederick county, near Winchester.

In 1883 Mr. Cather followed his father, William Cather, and his brother, George Cather, to the west. The father and brother had moved to Nebraska some years before. In the spring of 1883, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cather came to Nebraska with their four small children, Willa, Roscoe, Douglass and Jessica. They lived for two years on William Cather's homestead in Catherton township, Webster county. On his son's arrival, William Cather and his wife, Caroline, gave up the responsibilities of the farm and moved into Red Cloud. After two years on the farm, Charles Cather and his wife also moved in to Red Cloud, in order to provide schooling for their growing family.

Their three children, James, Elsie and John, were born in Red Cloud — making in all a family of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Cather brought this large family of seven to manhood and womanhood in Red Cloud, and the children were all educated in the Red Cloud public schools. Of these children only two reside in Red Cloud, Jessica, now Mrs. William Auld, and Elsie Cather, who is teaching in the high school in Lincoln. Every child of this widely scattered family, however, still calls Red Cloud "home," and to each of them it is the home town.

Roscoe Cather, the oldest son, is in business in Casper, Wyo. Douglass Cather is in business in Los Angeles, Cal. Willa Cather, the author, lives in New York City; James Cather and family live in Holyoke, Colo., and John Cather, whom we all know as "Jack," lives in Smethport, Pa.

All of the Cather children but two came home to Red Cloud for their parents' golden wedding, and the glorious mild winter weather, the brilliant sunlight and wonderful moonlight of this week, have given a golden atmosphere to this unusual celebration. Mr. and Mrs. Cather have never lost a child, and their family circle has never been broken by death. Thru this long stretch of years, their children have been healthy, active men and women. They have attested their loyalty to their home town by coming back to it from distant states and countries on every possible occasion.

The country about Red Cloud, our Republican river, our beautiful autumns and sunny winters and fertile fields, even some of our amusing "local" characters have been made known to the world thru the novels in which Willa Cather lovingly describes the country of her childhood.

—Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, NE, Dec. 10, 1922, page 1, second section.

Insane Man Threatened to Kill Restaurant Keeper

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1920

Threatened to Kill Restaurant Keeper

Man Under Arrest Knew How to Use Gun

Told a Physician That He Intended Shooting Up the Place During the Evening Meal Hour

When two deputy sheriffs and a deputy United States marshal dropped into a South Tenth restaurant during the supper hour Tuesday evening and gazed curiously around and then consulted in whispers with the proprietor, cashier and other attaches, interest upon the part of everyone in the place became quickly apparent. The patron who had been but a moment before busily engaged in the mastication of a chop turned quickly upon his high stool and gazed with suspicion upon his neighbors on either side. Soon everyone in the long room as well as those in the kitchen to the rear had been apprised of the fact that an insane man had threatened to appear and shoot up the place and that the officers were looking for him.

The crazy man failed to reach the restaurant, but had he arrived it is thought he would have found it necessary to content himself with shattering dishes and coffee urns with his bullets, as it became speedily apparent there would have been no human targets in sight. As a wise general has at all times a line of retreat available, so has the long headed proprietor of a bean bureau who has been warned that armed invasion is imminent. So everyone from the boss to the dishwasher was prepared to duck and decamp at the first indication of hostilities. One well known lawyer gulped down what was in his mouth, slid from his altitudinous perch and throwing a bill at the alert cashier, vanished through the front door. He is said to have reached his office in record time.

But the madman came not. Deputy Sheriffs Anderson and Moore and Deputy United States Marshal Carroll went from the restaurant to the room which he had been occupying at 1448 0 street and there found him. He is named in the insanity complaint which had been lodged against him in the office of the clerk of the district court as M. L. Munger and during the afternoon he had called at the office of a physician and announced his intention of shooting up the restaurant.

He assured the doctor that the people at the place had been taking his meals, were determined to kill him, and had been putting poison in his coffee. It was his intention to go there at supper time, and upon the slightest indication that there was anything wrong he would kill everyone in the place. As soon as the man had left his office the physician reported the matter to the proper officers and steps were taken to place Munger under restraint. The deputies first visited the restaurant and after ascertaining that the slaughter had not as yet taken place, they went to the room of the demented man.

A knock at the door was responded to by Munger, who was at once taken charge of. The man had in his possession a large automatic revolver with a box of shells, and in his room was also a rifle with ammunition. He was very friendly with the officers, but insisted upon forcing cigarets upon Deputy "Bob" Anderson. He frankly assured that officer that the "pills" would lull him, that being the end avowedly aimed at. He was convinced that Anderson had a large family and carried life insurance and he thought that "he would be worth more dead than alive." Munger was locked up in the county jail and it was thought he would be given a hearing before the insanity commission some time during the day.

Nothing was learned by the officers of the family or antecedents of the unfortunate man, who claims to be a mechanic and an inventor. He had in his room a suit case, lined with sheet iron and fastened with five locks, and it was stated his patent is kept in this receptacle.

—The Evening State Journal and Lincoln Daily News, Lincoln, Nebraska, February 25, 1920, page 3.

AN ABSOLUTE FALSEHOOD

-- To the Public: --

There seems to be a story going around that we, the undersigned stole some gas from the gas pump in front of the store of Graham Bros. at Webber, Kan., the night of November 5th. This is an absolute falsehood and anyone telling or repeating such a story, is telling an untrue and malicious tale.

(Signed) BEN YOUNG,
PERCY TAYLOR.

--probably from Superior, Nebraska newspaper

...and speaking of Graham Brothers of Webber, Kansas...

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SPECIALS
for
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
19 September 20

H.G.F. SOUP (Vegetable or Tomato) 2 cans 19¢
2# ITEN'S FAIRY SODA CRACKERS 29¢
H.G.F. LARGE MILK 3 cans 25¢
2# package RAISINS 19¢
H.G.F. BROOMS 69¢
#2½ H.G.F. FANCY YELLOW CLING PEACH HALVES in syrup 3 cans 69¢, per dozen 2.74
LEE OATS 9¢
SENSATION COFFEE 42¢
HERSHEY ¼# COCOA 2 for 19¢
H.G.F. APPLE BUTTER 23¢
LEE 4# GRIDDLE CAKE FLOUR 29¢
H.G.F. #5 WHITE CORN SYRUP 39¢
SUMMER GIRL MARSHMALLOWS 19¢
H.G.F. TOILET PAPER 2 rolls 19¢
#1 EMERALD ENGLISH WALNUTS 27¢

GRAHAM BROTHERS
Webber - Kansas

--unused postcard, 1¢ green Jefferson printed postage