Good Old Days 09-05-14

Compiled By The Sidney Sun-Telegraph Staff

These stories from the past first appeared in The Sidney Telegraph. Original writing is preserved, though some stories were shortened for space reasons.

100 YEARS AGO

Sept. 12, 1914

'Auto Hit By Train – Mrs. C. L. Jones Killed'

Thursday at 10:00 o'clock a terrible accident occurred at the private crossing four miles east of town, leading out from the St. George Ranch. C. L. Jones and wife were starting for town in their little run-a-bout when their engine died exactly upon the crossing. A freight train of sixty fruit cars was approaching and being a heavy train and going down grade it was impossible to stop the train although emergency brakes were applied. The engine hit the auto, throwing Mrs. Jones upon the pilot, killing her instantly, and throwing Mr. Jones in the air above the smoke stack. He came down thirty feet distant, his hands plowing in the soft dirt and probably saving him from fatal injury. He was badly bruised and shocked and could not talk coherently for some hours and even now cannot recall details of the fatal start. Word was speedily got to Sidney and many hastened to the home.

Coroner J.J. Parks impaneled a jury who viewed the body and took the testimony of the only witnesses. Engineer Roach testified that he saw the auto enter the right of way at a slow speed and thought it was going to stop and even at that rate it could have passed away safely had the engine not died on the tracks. He saw Mrs. Jones stand up as though to get out and though the emergency brake had been immediately resorted to when the auto was seen to stop, the heavy train could not be brought to a standstill in time. All evidence was practically the same. The jury exonerated all concerned by its verdict that the death of Mrs. Jones was purely accidental.

75 Years Ago

Sept. 5, 1939

'No Danger Of Navy Band Not Appearing'

The United States navy band will fulfill its engagement here October 11, regardless of the trend of the international situation, the chamber of commerce has been informed by Wayne Borton, tour manager.

Arrangements for appearance of the band may be carried out, without the fear that the tour will be cancelled, Borton said in a letter received Friday.

The chamber of commerce was planning to spend in the neighborhood of $300 for advertising and promotion and was hesitant to incur the expense if there was a possibility that the tour might be called off.

Tickets will go on sale next week in most of the principal towns in western Nebraska and northeastern Colorado. All seats will be reserved and will be sold on a "first come, first served" basis, it was announced.

50 Years Ago

Sept. 4, 1964

'Damage High In Wednesday Wreck'

A Wednesday morning accident at the intersection of 13th and Illinois resulted in heavy damage to two out-of-town vehicles.

A pickup driven by Leonard Russell, 49, of Potter was going north on 13th when it attempted to make a left turn onto Illinois. In doing so, it struck a 1964 station wagon, driven by Thomas B. Supples, 27, of Littleton, Colo., which was headed south on 13th.

Damage to the Supples' car amounted to $491.34. The Russell pickup was damaged to the extent of $100.

No damage estimates were available on two accidents which occurred within eight minutes of each other Thursday morning.

At 8:48 a.m. at the corner of 20th and Illinois, a car driven by Allen A. Baack, 17, of Route 1, had stopped for a car in front of it when it was struck in the rear by a car driven by Paul A. Hutchinson, also 17. Both drivers were headed east at the time of the mishap.

Eight minutes later and a block down the street, a car driven by Martin F. Schwartz, 82, of Route 1, Sidney, was headed east in the right lane of Illinois when it was struck in the left side by a car driven by Thekla Mueller, 64, of 1723 Maple, which was pulling from the driveway at Safeway.

No injuries were incurred in any of the accidents.

25 years ago

Sept. 5, 1989

'July May Be The Month In Which The Year Long Drought Was Broken!'

August may well go into the books as the month the drought ended in Cheyenne County.

The High Plains Ag Lab recorded 3.76 inches of precipitation, bringing the total for 1989 to 9.88 Inches. It was the wettest month at the Ag lab since May, 1988, when 6.00 inches was recorded.

The Ag Lab received precipitation nine days last month with 1.65 inches recorded Aug. 12and .76 on Aug. 13.

Those were the two wettest days of the month. Despite the rain, moisture totals are still far behind average. Through eight months of 1988, the Ag Lab recorded 14.42 inches and in 1987, the eight month total was 14.56 inches.

However in 1985, after the first eight months the year, the Ag Lab had recorded just 9.03 inches. After July being possibly the hottest month in recorded history in this area, temperatures last month were below normal.

Median high at the Ag Lab was 84.1 degree's and median low was 54.3 degree's. That's the second coolest, August in the last five years. Only August, of 1987, was cooler, a medium high of 82.9 and the median low of 49.0. High reading last month was 99 on Aug. 4, Low was 48 on Aug. 8.

10 Years Ago

Sept. 4, 2004

'Dachshunds race again at Oktoberfest'

The Wieners will run again in Sidney.

The second annual Oktoberfest Running of the Wieners (doxie races) will be Sunday, Oct. 3.

Dachshunds of all sizes, ages and color will be seeking glory for their owners in the event, to be at the Legion Baseball Field in Legion Park.

The first such race was last year and proved to be one of the Oktoberfest's most popular attractions.

Competition will be in three categories: Little Sizzlers (dogs 1 year and under); Frankfurters (1 to 5 years old), and Senior Sausages (5 years and older).

Trophies will be presented to the top three winners in each category. There will also be prizes awarded in several other categories, said Judy Scott, top wiener wrangler for the event.

Dog owners may register their Dachshunds for the races beginning at 1:30 p.m. with the races to begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. There is no registration fee.

All dogs must be on a leash at all times and current on all shots, Scott said.

Entry forms are available at the Sidney Veterinary Hospital, Fish Haven, The Mercantile and White Bluffs Veterinary Hospital.

Scott said there are several businesses whose sponsorship makes it possible to host the races.

Sagebrush Products of Sidney is the trophy sponsor. Dog food sponsors are the Mercantile-Sidney, Fish Haven (Science Diet) and Leach Roofing Company Products of Grant.

Music for the afternoon will be provided by the Music Masters. Master of ceremonies will be Neil Scott of Thornton, Colo.

Other sponsors include the Oktoberfest Committee, Sidney Veterinary Hospital, Wicicala Sluggers softball team of Ogallala, Draper Photography, Jimmy's Bar, A Head of Time, White Bluffs Veterinary Hospital, Outlaw Bar and Grill of Gurley, the Dickinson and Scott Family, Sidney Wal-Mart, the Hernandez Family and the Sidney Students Australia Travel Group.

The student group will also be providing lunch and Draper Photography will be available to take photographs of the dogs and owners.