One Hundred Years Ago

[albrecht]

Chicago news items from the 2-11-1916 Day Book.  Note the Perry Mason moment.  Chalk one up for Hamilton Burger.

Ha. Nice find. I love how succinctly they report the events. I also like the guy who dad sued for the annulment of his son's marriage. Ha. "Dad please I'm a big boy now..."

[K_Dubb]

Great photo

Yes!  Love the old basket masts, and the giant wind-funnel things -- I forget what they're called.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Astute observation, Robert.  I'm kind a thinkin' that old Everett is a Camels smoker.  They were around since 1913.

As a man of distinction, he probably is!  They've been my "choice" for many years, and I can still tie my shoes without getting winded most days. 

[K_Dubb]

Chicago news items from the 2-11-1916 Day Book.  Note the Perry Mason moment.  Chalk one up for Hamilton Burger.

Wow, all the gossip gives even Chicago a small-town feel.  Also, the reporting on suicides is jarring to a modern eye.  (Also the use of the term as a verb, from a few days ago!)

[K_Dubb]

As a man of distinction, he probably is!  They've been my "choice" for many years, and I can still tie my shoes without getting winded most days. 

Always liked the smell of 'em.  More akin to my pipe tobacco than most.

[K_Dubb]

Some more from today's Star.  I wonder if that footage still exists!

[Rix Gins]

From the Seattle Star today.  "Go-to-meetin's" for your Sunday best, and "backsliders", really takes me back.

Wouldn't you know, K.  Trixie went and got all religious on me.  Now I'm gonna have to wait for her to come out of church.  I'll be lurking in some dank, brick walled alley, sneaking a swallow or two out of my hidden flask.   

[Rix Gins]

Here are some more items from the Feb. 11, 1916 Day Book.


                               Chief Meyers

[K_Dubb]

Here are some more items from the Feb. 11, 1916 Day Book.

Wow, I can't imagine that last police operation happening today.  Officers sent out as bait?  Taking a man armed with two guns alive?

[K_Dubb]

Wouldn't you know, K.  Trixie went and got all religious on me.  Now I'm gonna have to wait for her to come out of church.  I'll be lurking in some dank, brick walled alley, sneaking a swallow or two out of my hidden flask.

Haha I shall tip my hat as I stroll by.

[K_Dubb]

Not quite the 100-year anniversary of this, yet, but it's a great article that gives a flavor of policing Seattle in 1916.  Love the "Black Maria" paddywagon.



http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/1916-seattle-was-a-hotbed-of-sin-when-2-officers-were-killed/

...a city so wide open and on edge that soldiers from nearby bases were not allowed to take leave in it.

It was the summer of 1916, a turbulent time in a booming city on the fringe of the country’s feral Western frontier. Gambling and prostitution were rampant, and access to liquor so loose that Washington had imposed its own prohibition laws, leaving “dry” Seattle with a serious drinking problem. Bootlegging was big business.

Seattle was a town as rich as it was raw in the years after the Klondike Gold Rush and the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century. And as the new century reached its teens, Seattle’s “civil indecency” was at full throttle as Republican Mayor Hiram Gill “opened” the city to brothels, gambling dens and saloons. He looked the other way as a 500-room brothel opened for business on Beacon Hill with a 15-year lease from the city.

[Walks_At_Night]

Too busy for a car company post - the next one coming up is rather involved.  Lot's of big names and even bigger personalities but here are a couple of little finds shot from the hip.


On  Friday, February 11, 1916, Chief Watchman Cyrus Van Sickle of the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department was shot and killed.  He was on duty in  the Illinois Central Railroad yards near South Water Street, in Chicago, Illinois when he confronted a man behind a warehouse.   A fire fight broke out and Van Sickle was shot and killed.  However he went down fighting and took his assailant to the grave with him. 

[albrecht]

Not quite the 100-year anniversary of this, yet, but it's a great article that gives a flavor of policing Seattle in 1916.  Love the "Black Maria" paddywagon.



http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/1916-seattle-was-a-hotbed-of-sin-when-2-officers-were-killed/

Much of that area back then was "sinful" Spokane being at a major cross-road for trains and close to the timber and mines had all kinds of hobos, racks of prostitution (literally like bunkbeds in which to partake,) fights, shootings, opium dens, etc. They cleaned up much of the area which was still seedy, though not as much of course,  for the World Expo in 74 (I think it was.)

The other articles about Pancho Villa and our troops also had an effect. In most of our border towns in Texas there are "la zona rosas" or, like in Nuevo Laredo "Boy's Towns" that were directly because of our US policy for troops and Mexican response. Pershing and Mexican authorities/operators basically sectioned off parts of town, often walled, for prostitution. So 'our boys' could get some 'relief' (or as TX gubernatorial candidate called it in the early 90's called it "servicing") and protect the virtue of their girls. And the army medics could ensure "no social disease" in our troops. Now 100 years later the areas still exist for truckers, hunters, locals, etc and are still 'checked' by local doctors (though I'm sure this practice is questionable but, I guess, better than nothing.) Also, interestingly according to some article I read about their history, have become of the few places homosexuals and trannies are accepted in Mexico- there are sections/bars of the 'town' for that fetish for the local Mexicans since that stuff is frowned upon- or worse in Mexico. The general idea is also (ok, a double-standard one) that the areas allow 'release' of males without hurting the virtue, marriageability of the 'good girls' in Mexico. So they remain open.

Not that I ever have been, of course, but I've heard that the cartel violence has effected them (like all of Mexico.) But they are still the safest place in border cities because sort of protected (from the drug violence and the police response) but NA tourism has lessened.

[Walks_At_Night]

On February 11th, 1916 the British light cruiser HMS  Arethusa struck a mine off of Felixstowe, England.   There was an attempt to tow her to safety but she struck a shoal and went down.  10 sailors were killed in the incident.  She had fought at the Battle of Heligoland Bight at start of the war were she was mauled by the SMS Frauenlob and SMS Stettin of the Kaiserliche Marine.   She later was involved in the Cuxhaven Raid and the Battle of Dogger Bank.






In all there have been a total of nine vessels in the Royal Navy named HMS  Arethusa.   The first goes back to 1759 and the ninth was decommissioned in 1989. 

The first vessel inspired a song - the Saucy Arethusa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwNcRaJiBTQ


Here is the launching of the 8th HMS Arethusa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljKX9PW3CD0

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Always liked the smell of 'em.  More akin to my pipe tobacco than most.

They still use top quality tobacco, unlike Camel filters, which taste nothing like them with the filter torn off, or just about any other U.S. brand.  They cost about $10 more a carton than most because of it.

[Walks_At_Night]

Great photo

Awesome Duke!

You should swing by here more often.

[Rix Gins]

More 100 year old news from The Tonopah Daily Bonanza.

[Rix Gins]

Missed this one from yesterday, February 10, 1916.  It concerns an escort reconnaissance over Roisel.   Pilot was 2nd Lt. H.C. Faber and his observer was 2n. Lt. R.A. Way.  The pilot noted the following in his combat report:  "Had combat with two Fokkers.  Saw tracers hit first Fokker but then was attacked by 2nd Fokker.  11:00 am at 7000 feet. Shot up and lost control until 2000 feet.  12:00 pm. Pilot and observer wounded in action.  Also rifle fire?  Crossed lines low.  No damage to aircraft."  I'm not  quite sure what the pilot meant by stating "no damage to aircraft" at the end of his report, while stating they were "shot up and wounded" in the earlier part of it.  Sometimes these combat reports are hard to decipher, almost like reading some type of short hand.  Anyway, the airmen were with 9 Squadron and were flying a BE2c.

     

[albrecht]

More 100 year old news from The Tonopah Daily Bonanza.

Prof. Bennett was a 32nd degree Mason, or at least an Odd-Fellow with a few paid-for drinks in him, and fixed the game, or "knew" how it would turn out!!

[Rix Gins]

Prof. Bennett was a 32nd degree Mason, or at least an Odd-Fellow with a few paid-for drinks in him, and fixed the game, or "knew" how it would turn out!!

Ha.  Do you think the good Professor will "accidentally" get hit by a ball so that he can partake of some of that $10,000.00 insurance policy?

[albrecht]

They still use top quality tobacco, unlike Camel filters, which taste nothing like them with the filter torn off, or just about any other U.S. brand.  They cost about $10 more a carton than most because of it.

And you don't feel that you are supporting Ergodon, and the Turks etc? Kidding, I'm surprised they still sell the old Camels (no filter, sorta shorter packs.) Those were the first I've ever tried to smoke (bought outta of machine with some friends for change.) Cough, cough, spin, spin. Ugh. And only with a few real, later I would know that was called Clinton-inhales,  but still looked cool though. Yah, right!

[albrecht]

Ha.  Do you think the good Professor will "accidentally" get hit by a ball so that he can partake of some of that $10,000.00 insurance policy?

There is some kind of double-indemnity in there, also, likely. Sold to him with a finger to the nose and a hearty hand-shake!

[Uncle Duke]

Awesome Duke!

You should swing by here more often.

Thanks.  I'm basically a military history guy, try to limit comments/postings to things I have knowledge of and figure make a worthwhile contribution to a specific thread.  Big WWI RN and RFC enthusiast.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Ha.  Do you think the good Professor will "accidentally" get hit by a ball so that he can partake of some of that $10,000.00 insurance policy?

I want to know what kind of dirt was dug up on Eddie Addison, who was reported on February 8th as being the umpire because he "knows baseball from its genesis to its latest development."  Today's article disputes that and also casts some serious aspersions on his character.  What a difference three days can make in someone's fortunes!  I also wonder which one of the three necessary attributes Judge Averill lacked, and if the paper may have been implying something about his impartiality.  This is becoming As Tonopah Turns. 

[albrecht]

I want to know what kind of dirt was dug up on Eddie Addison, who was reported on February 8th as being the umpire because he "knows baseball from its genesis to its latest development."  Today's article disputes that and also casts some serious aspersions on his character.  What a difference three days can make in someone's fortunes!  I also wonder which one of the three necessary attributes Judge Averill lacked, and if the paper may have been implying something about his impartiality.  This is becoming As Tonopah Turns. 

Someone with one pant leg up and a certain hand-shake problem did it! 

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Someone with one pant leg up and a certain hand-shake problem did it! 

Almost certainly the work of a widow's son.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Here are some more items from the Feb. 11, 1916 Day Book.


                               Chief Meyers

This is a famous picture of NY Giants catcher John "Chief" Meyers chatting with Philadelphia Athletics pitcher and Hall of Famer, Charles "Chief" Bender before a game of the 1911 World Series.  Native Americans were nicknamed "Chief" the way players of German descent in that era were called Dutch, Heinie, and even Germany, as in the case of Herman Schaefer, the only major league player to ever steal first base.

[Meister_000]

Great photo

Hi Duke, thanks. Your ship had such odd features I had to look further. Those are called "cage masts" and she was fitted with the first one in 1908 (pic below).

From Wiki:
"Lattice masts, or cage masts, are a type of observation mast common on major warships in the early 20th century. They are a type of hyperboloid structure, whose weight-saving design was first used by the Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov. They were used most prominently on American dreadnought battleships and armored cruisers of the World War I era.

In the "age of sail" masts were required to support the sails, and lookouts were posted on them; with the advent of engine-powered warships masts were retained and used for observation and to spot fall of shot. The purpose of the lattice structure was to make the posts less vulnerable to shells from enemy ships, and to better absorb the shock caused by firing heavy guns, isolating the delicate fire control equipment (rangefinders, etc.) mounted on the mast tops. However, the masts were found to be easily damaged by the inclement weather experienced at sea by naval ships during typhoons and hurricanes: the USS Michigan's mast was bent right down to the deck by such a storm in 1918. As the caliber and range of ships' guns increased, heavier rangefinders were required. Additionally, the guns and powerful engines created shock and vibrations. Lattice masts were phased out in favor of more rigid tripod masts."

BTW, she was sold to Greece in 1914 and finally sunk in 1941 during WWII.

[Walks_At_Night]

Hi Duke, thanks. Your ship had such odd features I had to look further. Those are called "cage masts" and she was fitted with the first one in 1908 (pic below).

They were also home to the Range Clock's which allowed the battle line to communicate range to other BB's in the battle line:




nice writeup here:
http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111568

[Rix Gins]

I want to know what kind of dirt was dug up on Eddie Addison, who was reported on February 8th as being the umpire because he "knows baseball from its genesis to its latest development."  Today's article disputes that and also casts some serious aspersions on his character.  What a difference three days can make in someone's fortunes!  I also wonder which one of the three necessary attributes Judge Averill lacked, and if the paper may have been implying something about his impartiality.  This is becoming As Tonopah Turns. 

I had to resort to some Major Ed Whatshisface remote, time transmutation to find the answer, Robert.  It turns out that wires got crossed in making Eddie Addison the umpire of the game.  Turns out that Eddie was an expert at basketball and didn't know beans about baseball.  And Judge Averill?  Well, he was found to be lacking in the "get along with the players" category.  Being he had sent half of the teams to the hoosegow for street fighting and brawling, the promoters of the upcoming game were worried that his honor would be repeating a familiar refrain throughout the game..."You're out!  Thirty dollars, or thirty days!"  Hope this helps to clear things up for you.