Lost Trail Stories 'Episode #2'
Poor Prognosis
Medford, Ore., June 25, 1914 James King, a carnival snake charmer, was bitten by a Gila monster in the presence of scores of women and children, dozens of whom fainted. King became hysterical and fell in a collapse in the pit. Attaches pried the reptile’s jaws apart and rushed King to the hospital. His life is despaired of.
City Funds Water Fountain
Eureka, July 2, 1914 Through the instrumentality of Mayor C. A. Hamann and several other prominent citizens, Eureka now sports a fine new drinking fountain. The fountain is of the latest approved sanitary type, with aluminum bowl and liftjet, and is the same type as is used in Spokane and other large cities. It is quite a novelty, especially to the youngsters and has been liberally patronized. The fountain will be appreciated on these warm days and is right in line with the many civic improvements made in Eureka the past few years. Let the march of progress proceed.
Opening Salvo of WWI
Sarajevo, Bosnia, July 2, 1914 Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and his princess were shot dead by a student, a short while after they had escaped death from a bomb hurled at the royal automobile. The archduke saw the missile hurtling through the air and warded it off with his arm. It fell outside the car and exploded, slightly wounding two aides. A short while later as they slowed to turn a corner, Gavrilo Princip ran out of the crowd and poured a deadly fusillade from an automatic pistol at the couple.
Thanks, but We’ll Pass
Eureka, July 9, 1914 The Journal was this week in receipt of a lengthy communication from a lady in Spokane in regard to matters relating to a divorce case in which she was the defendant. The lady kindly remarked that if we would be good enough to print the article that she would forward two dollars for a year’s subscription. The Journal wishes it strictly understood that it does not care to enter into personal muckraking affairs of this kind and that it does not care to cater to such a class of subscribers.
Off to a Bad Start
Eureka, July 16, 1914 Raymond Bauer was convicted in Judge Kordus’ court of petty larceny and sentenced to 20 days in jail and to pay a fine of $40. The prisoner, who arrived here on Friday night’s No. 1 was arrested as a suspicious character, by Officer Madden and a wire received later from the crew of No. 1 confirmed the officer’s suspicions. The brakeman observed the prisoner in the act of purloining a watch from a sleeping passenger in the day coach. In his possession were found a Glacier Park souvenir pillow, ten rings and several other articles of jewelry. The prisoner, who gave his home at Kelly Lake, Minnesota, was only 17 years old and his parents have been notified.
Top Notch Entertainment
Eureka, July 23, 1914 The second series of the Lucille Love pictures will be shown at the theatre, tonight and tomorrow night. Electric fans, good music and good pictures make the Majestic a desirable place for pleasure seekers.
School Meets Big Need
Cleveland, Ohio, July 23, 1914 Miss Elva Talchan, who has opened a correspondence school to teach young men how to make love and write crushing love letters, announced that she would tolerate no turtle-dove cooing or baby talk. Only the best of the Queen’s English is pure enough to convey thoughts of love, she declared.
Not So Fast Folks
Edmonds, Wash, July 30, 1914 Struck by lightning, laid away and covered up as dead until the storm end so burial could be made, Oscar Rosenquist, a boy member of a camping party near Martha lake, gave the party a second shock by creeping around to their tent 20 minutes after the electrical storm broke. It is believed the severe drenching revived him.
Fish Welfare Reform Needed
Eureka, August 6, 1914 A party of fishermen led by J. W. Whilt recently returned from Red Meadow Lake. En route they fished in Frozen Lake where they saw two ice bergs floating in the clear water. They report that the fish in Red Meadow Lake are literally starving, in fact are so poor that a fish twenty inches in length only weighed two pounds. They complained that it was no sport at all as the fish would not fight. Mr. Whilt suggests that steps should be taken by state game authorities, to either furnish the fish with food or to transfer them to waters where they will be able to provide for themselves. His suggestion is a good one and it is to be hoped that the matter will be brought to the attention of the proper authorities.
About the Author: Gary Montgomery, a resident to the Tobacco Valley for over four decades, has worked in a variety of vocations common to the area including logging, saw mills, Christmas trees, public education, U. S. Forest Service, ranching and operating his own photo processing and printing business. For the last 23 years he has largely written and published a quarterly historical magazine called The Trail and formerly the Tobacco Plains Journal. Along with articles reprinted from historical newspapers, vintage photographs, personal diaries and other remembrances, he has interviewed over 115 oldtimers, each one with his or her unique view of history, both local and international. Montgomery can be contacted via his website: www.thetrailmag.com.