Opinion

Damage to school reported

Thursday, March 29, 2012

100 YEARS AGO

(1912)

But for the pluck and farsightedness of C.K. Kensler, formerly an engineer on the Frisco Road, a runaway engine might have done some damage. Mr. Kensler was standing at the Wall Street crossing Monday night when he noticed an engine going over the crossing. Something caused him to take a second look at the engine when he detected that it was void of engineer or fireman. He ran after the runaway, caught onto it, climbed over the tank and stopped it at the First Street crossing. It was engine No. 1255, one of the large type, and it took its departure from a siding up by the roundhouse. It was waiting to take the meat train out shortly after 10 o'clock. Mr. Kensler took the engine back to the roundhouse and it wasn't long before the Flyer from Kansas City was sighted.

George Lotterer went up to Hammond this morning to attend the funeral of W.A. McIntosh. He will return tonight.

75 YEARS AGO

(1937)

Building an automobile in 1910 was decidedly different from buying a car at the present time, if one is to judge from a bill which Lou de Stwolinska, central garage proprietor, found among some old papers.

In 1910, if one prepared to become a motorist, the buying of a car was only the first step. The situation was similar to that with regard to radios a few years ago, when receiving sets were sold without tubes and one had to buy the tubes extra.

The old bill is dated Sept. 12, 1910, and although a touring car is listed on the bill with other items, it seems certain that Mr. de Stwolinska could not have done much driving with the car even though the price was $1,000 without having at least part of the other items listed. For instance, gas lamps and a tank are included in the second item with a price of $100.

The magneto was very necessary to run. The gas tank was placed on a running board and gas from it was fed through small pipes to the car's headlights. Tire irons at $5 constituted another extra. That was before the day of the detachable rims for wheels.

Surprisingly not even the tires came as a part of the car. They are listed extra in the old bill at $52.40. The windshield was referred to as "glass front" to protect the driver from the wind. This was listed extra at a price of $50. A car cover, a large piece of canvas to protect the car, was $3.50. The listed items brought the car up to $1,810.20 plus a freight bill of $60.

50 YEARS AGO

(1962)

Extensive damage was done to the Bunker Hill School by vandals last night, Sheriff Clarence Northrop reported today. According to Northrop, every window in the building had been broken out and plaster had been torn from the garage. There are 21 students through the eighth grade. This year there are no fifth grade students.

Photo caption: "Dowell Wiggans, 19 N. Eddy St., isn't telling where he caught this 20-pound fish. His only answer, "In a body of water."--Tribune Photo caption: "Maudina Wigton, Fort Scott, looks at one of the numerous suspected locations of a hidden underground tunnel which was supposedly used by runaway slaves during the Civil War. The site is near the Old Fort building on Carrol Plaza and is said to have originated in one of the fort buildings' basements.

25 YEARS AGO

(1987)

No publication.