"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Thursday, December 28, 1899
SCOUNDREL AT LARGE
He Waylays Women at Night
Signa Eng Assaulted in the Cemetery But Escapes With the Loss of Her Purse
The police are looking for a scoundrel who, if he had his just deserts would be either sporting a new suit of tar & feathers or breaking rock in San Quentin. A fellow who waylays women at night on the deserted streets of the residence districts, particularly in the eastern part of the city. Owing to the necessarily meagre description given of the fellow, the police have been unable to locate him & for that reason have endeavored to keep his last exploit quiet, although it happened last Monday evening.
The fellow affects that portion of the city near Myrtle Grove cemetery & has accosted & frightened several ladies who happened to be traveling on the streets leading to Myrtle avenue. His last & most serious offense, however, was committed within the lonely precincts of the cemetery itself & it was only the opportune approach of another man that prevented him from accomplishing his purpose. As it was, his crime was changed to robbery for when compelled to relinquish his victim he took her purse & the money it contained & made off.
About 8 o'clock in the evening of last Monday, Signa Eng, a young girl employed at Jackson's laundry, was making her way through the cemetery as a short cut to her home west of the enclosure, when as she reached the vicinity of the Ricks' vault, a man sprang upon her from the shadows of the tombstones & threw her to the ground. Alternately screaming & pleading as she struggled against her assaliant the young woman felt her strength giving out & hearing no answer to her cries for help, as a last resort she offered the scoundrel her purse if he would release her. The alacrity with which he accepted her offer & made off surprised her, but his hurry was soon explained by the arrival of a neighbor on the scene for it was the sound of his approach that frightened the fellow & compelled him to forego his vile purpose. However, the fellow fared better than he deserved, for the purse contained seven or eight dollars, but the young woman was content to lose the amount rather than suffer further at his hands for although she had escaped his designs she had been roughly handled. A complaint was shortly afterward made to the police but owing to the excitement & the darkness of the moment she was unable to give more than a general description of the fellow & his identity cannot therefore be fixed.
Previous to this occurrence several complaints had been made to the
police of men who annoyed lone women pedestrians in that part Of the city
& it was learned later that on the same night Mrs. Abbott, who resides
at Seventh & M streets had been accosted by two men on the street near
her home, who had used vile language to her.
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"The Humboldt Times" (Daily) Eureka, California
December 22, 1882
Rachel Sheebener, about 16 years old, bright & intelligent in appearance & lacking boldness of manner, was arrested last Saturday afternoon & booked for the Industrial School yesterday morning. She related to the reporter of this paper the following story. "Three or 4 days before my arrest I was decoyed from my home on 4th Street by James Fletcher, a turner in a 4th Street furniture factory. He promised me faithfully if I left my home he would marry me & provide for me. I trusted him & leaving my home, went to live with him on 3rd Street. I recalled his promise to me, but he took no notice of it, on the contrary, he told me he wanted me to go to Humboldt & enter a house of ill-fame & contribute of my ill-gotten gains toward his support. I protested, & implored him to do what he promised. At this he commenced to curse me, & said he had no more use for me unless I agreed to throw myself away. Remarking afterward that there were plenty of other girls who would only be too glad to do as he bade them. "
The girl's case came up before Judge Rix yesterday afternoon, but was
continued indefinatly. In view of the distressing circumstances brought
to light before the court, Officer Michaels volunteered to take charge
of the unfortunate & provided her a home in his family. She leaves
the prison today for her new home very willing to behave herself for the
lesson she has just been taught.
"The Humboldt Times" (Daily)
Sunday, November 5, 1882
Two tramps made a tour of the city yesterday, making appeals for breakfast
at three different houses, at all of which their demands were responded
to. At the second stopping place they called for coffee & were liberaly
supplied. At the third place they were treated to the beefsteak just purchased
for dinner. Those who indulge in this sort of charity are worse than foolish'
they are breeding a pest of tramps, from which other parts of the state
have suffered severly. They are professional tramps. Don't harbor them.
Report them to the police.
"The Humboldt Times" (Daily)
Friday, April 7, 1882
POLICE NEWS---Ed Staples was visibly affected by the charge against
him--wife beating. He even wept a few bitter tears, but the court remembered
several similar complaints against Edward in the recent past, gave him
credit for the tears & charged him $25.00 for the amusement.
FROM, "The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, November 6, 1891
Annie Holden, who formerly lived in Rohnerville, but who took up her
residence below some months ago, has gone astray. She was arrested in a
house of ill-repute the other day, & held to answer to the charge of
vagrancy.
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"The Humboldt Daily Times"- Eureka, California
Sunday, January 1, 1899
HELPED HIMSELF
A "Wandering Willie" Filches A Pair of J. Loewenthal's Fine Footwear.
J. Loewenthal has a pair of second-hand shoes in his store today. They have been worn but a short time, but they are second-hand just the same.
Officer Chamberlain noticed a hard-looking character on 2nd street last evening of the "hobo" type, & in sizing him up noticed that he had on well worn, muddy looking footwear, as if he had come up by the overland route. In making his customary rounds he noticed this "weary willie" individual at two or three different times. The last time he observed him as he was clad in a new pair of brogans that looked as though they were about twelves or fourteens. The officer's suspicions were at once aroused, as he thought to himself, if that man bought a pair of shoes why didn't he get them to fit? So he concluded to take a turn around the stores & inquire if anything in that line was missing from the stock. He went to Warren & companys, Eastern Shoe Store & Mc Namara's, & was about to give up the search, but as a last hope went to Loewenthals. Here his well founded suspicions were verified. On examination, George Schott, one of the clerks, reported that a very lengthy pair of shoes that had been on exhibition was missing.
Chamberlain then started out to land Mr. Hobo. The Alpine was the first
place visited, & Mr. Kramer reported that just such a man as the officer
described as having been there & changed the old shoes he had on for
the new pair he had tucked under his arm. After making the exchange he
left the place. The officer visited all the saloons in rotation on 2nd
& E streets until he reached Frank Long's. Here the fellow was seated
admiring his new acquisition. The officer gently tapped him on the shoulder
& marched him up to Loewnthal's where the shoes were removed. Mr. Schott
brushed the mud from the soles & there was the price & private
store mark. The case was clear. After Mr. Schott kindly furnished an old
pair of shoes the "hobo" was taken to the "cooler" & booked on a charge
of petty larceny.
"The Humboldt Daily Times"
Wednesday, January 4, 1899
William Smit, the tramp who stole the shoes from Loewenthals Saturday
evening, was yesterday sentenced to pay a fine of $25 or serve 25 days
in jail. He accepted the days.
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"The Humboldt Times. (Daily) Eureka, California
Sunday, January 28, 1883
A BAD ELEMENT
Several times lately this paper has called attention to the fact that
Eureka was infected by a gang of worthless scamps amp a who belong to the
vagrant class, & who live off the earnings of unfortunate fallen women
who are beyond the pale of society. This worthless & shameless set
take the earnings of their poor victims at times with threats, & in
many cases with violence, & in this manner obtain the means to dress
in style & satisfy their passion for gambling. Such a dangerous element
should not be tolerated in a lawabiding community where the legal tribunals
are open every day for the promotion & punishment of Just such wretches
as are refered to in this article. Like a loathsome contagious disease,
they poison everything they come in contact with. Society is constantly
in danger, & many a family has already suffered agony to which death
would be preferable, in & through the work of some one of this class
of society's enemies. Several citizens have galled attention to a sad case
in point. At present there are two young girls in Eureka , neither of whom
are sixteen years of age, the daughters of two poor widows, who have been
seen several times lately coming out of ascertain house in Clark's Addition,
& of another near Richardson's mill, in company with members of the
gang of vagrants referred to above. Both these poor & unfortunate girls
have doubtless become charmed by the oily tongue & fashionable dress
of this scoundrel class, & unless steps are taken to protect them they
will become lost, if they are not already lost, forever to society. Parents
must be vigilant in the protection of their children from the stealthy
approach of these villians, who are lost to every feeling of honor &
shame, & who laugh in scorn at the fall of their victims, & mock
even the despair of a broken-hearted mother over the loss of a dear one
to a life of shame on earth & eternal punishmnet hereafter. These vultures
are known to the police force, & it is a satisfaction to know that
ere long they will be complelled to explain in court how & by what
means they obtain a livlihood. By all means prosecute these wretches who
live in the houses, fatten off of the earnings of downfallen women. The
Jail is a much more suitable location for them than the street-corners
of our city, where they await the approach of unsuspecting victims. The
room they occupy is much more valuable than their presence.
"The Humboldt Times" (Daily) Eureka, California
Wednesday, January 17, 1883
IMPOSTERS---It is reported that several families in this city have been
visited recently by members of the gang of young vagrants who have arrived
at the conclusion that begging is much more compatible with their constitutions
than honest labor. They make it a point to call when they are satisfied
none of the male members of the family are around, then with a pitiful
expression of countenance & a tale of woe to suit the occasion, they
ask for something to eat, & also for two bite to get a bed when night
comes on. If they are scuessful in getting the latter they invest it in
beer, & take the chances on the bed question. The nuisances should
be squelched at once, & the gang broken up, The number of young men
in this place who are able to work but won't work, & who are leading
dissolute & abandoned lives, appears to be on the increase. They seem
to be utterly lost to all self-respect, & have less shame in their
composition than the poor unfortunate beings of the opposite sex upon whose
wages of sin they live. In one case there may be grounds for pity &
compassion, but in the other there can exist nothing but loathing &
contempt. It might be productive of good results if a chain gang was organized,
& these shameless, healthy young vagrants put to work on the public
streets. In their present career they are neither ornamental nor useful.
65
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Tuesday, December 26, 1899
IN THE POLICE COURT
His Honor had quite an aggregation of Christmas offenders to dispose of this morning, their offenses ranging from plain drunk to felony. The police taking into consideration the occasion were rather lenient with the egg-noggers & unless they were unable to navigate or were too boisterous they were not molested. Accordingly only two of these gentry were in evidence before Judge Melendy this morning & they were quickly disposed of by the receipt of $5 fine from one & the consignment of the other to Brown's bastile for five days. Another drunk with hilarious trimmings was also easily disposed of by a charge of $5 extra for his boiserousness, making $10 in all which was paid by his friends, & then came the heavy villians of this play.
The first of these was Frank Clark, a young hobo, who plays close under the line, preferably a clothes line, & who pleaded guilty to an attempt at petty larceny & was sentenced to 25 days in jail. Clark was found in Mrs. Abbott's back yard at the corner of Seventh & M streets last night critically examining a fat clothes line, & when asked what he was doing there replied that he was looking for gooseberries. As this fruit does not grow on clothes lines his answer was considered so unsatisfactory that he was turned over to a policeman who had been summoned by telephone. It is believed that Clark is the cause of several similar complaints that have been made by housewives whose clothes lines have been despoiled of late.
Frank Mattison, a villainous looking little sailor, an old offender,
with a dark history, was the next double-dyed villain, once dyed by nature,
his skin being swarthy, & next dyed by the police, his record being
also rather shady. Mattison was charged with petty larceny, second offense,
which makes him elgible for a trip to San Quentin, he having previously
served a sentence for another shady transaction, the theft of a box of
blacking from the Alta warehouse some months ago. His arrest this time
was for the theft of an old pair of shoes belonging to the proprietor of
the clothing store in the old Loewenthal store building. About noon yesterday
the proprietor stepped out of the rear entrance of the store for a minute
when Mattison immediately stepped in & appropriated a pair of shoes
left near the door. The theft was observed by people standing in the alley
who attempted to stop the thief, but dropping the shoes he sprinted away
& made his escape, but was captured later in the afternoon. With the
previous sentence against him this last crime of Mattison's constitutes
a felony & his examination was therefore set for this afternoon when
he was held to answer before the Superior Court on the charge of petty
larceny with a prior conviction. As he was unable to furnish bail in the
amount of $500 he was committed to the county jail to await trial on the
felony charge.
66
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Friday, May 6, 1898
HE NEVER WILL BE MISSED If all reports be true Fortuna is liable soon
to lose one of her voters & for whose loss no one with American principles
will mourn. He is a naturalized Dane in the employ of the Eel River Valley
Lumber Company at their yard between Fortuna & Alton who, during the
present difficulties with Spain has so exasperated the people there with
his treasonable utterances that they have given him 20 days to settle up
his affairs & leave the neighborhood. For several years he has excited
the contempt of the neighborhood for his continual fault-finding &
disrespect for the government of his adoped country, but when recently
he publicly cursed the government & expressed the wish that America
would be soundly thrashed by the Spaniards & that everyone of her soldiers
& sailors would be shot or drowned, he reached the limit of forbearance
& it was only through wise counsels that he was not treated to a coat
of tar & feathers by loyal Fortunanites.
Wednesday, May 11, 1898
The "Standard" has been requested to correct the statement that the "Dane" who reportedly uttered treasonous statements is not a Dane, but a Swede, & furthermore, it can truthfully be said that those of our people from Denmark, without exception, are as loyal to this government as it is possible for any citizen to be. As a denial to the story as published in the "Standard", the following card was submitted'
"There is a rumor current that I am disloyal to the American government & that I have expressed sympathy with Spain in the war now being waged. Friends have advised me to ignore such rumors altogether, but in justice to myself I desire to publicly disclaim having made any utterances not in sympathy with the Americans, & also disclaim having any sympathy otherwise than with the Ameridans in the present conflict, & I showed this sympathy by hoisting the United States flag last Monday upon hearing of Dewey's victory at Manila.
Signed' Albert A. Camitz
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Monday, August 15, 1898
A WHALE PARTY Society at Indianola is all agog over the coming feast
of whale bluber that has been announced in the court daily there. A 50
foot whale came ashore a mile below the South Spit & now lies high
& dry on the ocean beach. He was dead when he reached the shores of
Humboldt & is Considerably more so now, a fact that is attested by
the breezes that blow toward the South Jetty. However, that will not interfere
with the enjoyment of the elite of our aboriginal town & the merry
hum of the grindstone is heard on all sides as the belles & beaux whet
their axes, cleavers & knives preparatory to whetting their appetites.
"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, May 10, 1889
An Indian maiden of questionable repute, cut 0. A. Hammitt twice with
dirk knife in Eureka Friday night, neither wound being serious. He was
choking her when she drew her knife. Both parties were lodged in jail.
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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Tuesday, January 28, 1896
FELIX COHN'S UMBRELLA
Felix Cohn Buncoed at San Francisco
Everybody in the business circles of Eureka knows Felix Cohn, the commercial traveler. He may be in Eureka now; he was here last week, & we saw his smiling face on the streets yesterday. Well, here's a good one on Felix & his umbrella, written in the San Francisco "Chronicle" of the 19th.
I heard a great story last night told at the expense of Felix Cohn, the dean of the commercial travelers of the coast, familiarly known to his guild as "Papa." When the storm was at its height, one night last week Cohn was laboriously plodding his way homeward out on Geary street. The wind blew a terrific gale, & with his big silk umbrella he was veering & tacking along the sidewalk.
Suddenly Cohn felt a grasp on the silver handle & a cheery voice exclaim: "Hello, I guess that umbrella's big enough for two," & he found himself going at a rapid gait out Geary street. Cohn didn't exactly recognize the voice, but he was satisfied that it was some travelling acquaintance & he felt somewhat relieved of the strain as the firm grasp on the umbrella steadied his course. He knew his companion was a large man, but he had not sufficiently recovered from his exertions in tugging against the storm to glance up into his face when he felt himself hurried along at an uncomfortable gait.
"Hello, what are you in such a hurry about?" said Cohn, relaxing his hold on the silver handle of his weather protector.
What was his amazement to see his companion dart forward with the umbrella & hurridly disappear in the darkness.
Cohn had learned the latest bunko trick --- the trick of the umbrella footpad.
The next time Felix comes to Eureka some friend should try to borrow
his umbrella on a stormy night when he is ten blocks from his hotel &
see how many kinds of language he can muster into action in a minute.
"The Humboldt Daily Standard"
Saturday, June 2, 1888
Several Indians attended the circus on opening night, & they lost
interest in all save the elephant. The gutteral expressions of wonderment
which they uttered were of the most solemn order. Big illustrations of
the elephant have gone to Hoopa Valley, & if the circus "hangs on"
at Blue Lake or North Fork for a day or two, the Indian Reservation will
likely be deserted.
"The Humboldt Daily Standard"
Thursday, July 12, 1888
The Marchant family on First street had another circus this morning,
the liege lord & master, assuming the perogative of his position, proceeding
to demolish the weaker half of the firm with a club. Officer Soule was
attracted by the cries of the victim & at once placed Marchant under
arrest.
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"The Daily Times" Eureka, California
Saturday, March 23, 1889
Mrs. Marchant, who was recently worsted in an encounter with her lord
& master, is at the county hospital recuperating, while her husband
is reported to have left the county. We are in hopes that she will follow
him as soon as she is able to travel.
"The Daily Times" Eureka, California
Saturday, February 9, 1889
J. R. Fulsom was tried before Justice Carr yesterday & acquitted
on a charge of misdemeanor. It appeared from the evidence that Mr. Fulsom
occupied a house belonging to the complaining witness, & getting in
arrears with his rent was notified to vacate the premises, which he did
not do. His landlord then disconnected the water pipes leading from the
water tank to the house. Mr. Fulsom made the connection again so that his
family could have water to use, & was arrested for so doing. We were
informed yesterday afternoon that his landlord Mr. Morse now proposes to
take the doors & windows out of the house & if necessary remove
the roof. Mr. Fulsom is an old man & had his leg struck with a steel
block in the woods over a year ago & was not able to work last summer.
"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, November 15, 1889
Alfred Kausen announces that on & after December 1, '89 he will
charge 15 cents a gallon for his milk.
"The Daily Times" Eureka, California
Tuesday, April 2, 1889
Our fellow townsman T. F. Ricks was the fortunate possessor of 14 chickens,
which disapeared in an unaccountable way. Yesterday we learned that a coal-oil
can full of stewed chicken was discovered at Fort Humboldt, & a bone,
wrapped up in a blank apology, was brought in to the original owner. No
arrests yet.
"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, January 18, 1889
Peterson, the tailor of Eureka, who joined the Salvation Army some time
ago, & who had been conspiciously identified with that band of cranks,
took advantage of one of the sisters recently, so it is alleged, &
had to pay the enraged husband quite a sum of money to settle matters.
Eureka is getting to be a bad place.
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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Thursday, December 7, 1899
A MUTE WITNESS
Novel Experience in Court in the Contest Over the Goodman Estate
The contest for the possession of the few hundred dollars left by Pioneer William Goodman, was begun & occupied most of the attention of Judge Hunter's department of the Superior Court yesterday. It is the case where Mary Goodman-Phillips, a half-breed girl who claims to be the natural daughter of Goodman, disputes the right of Mrs. Garner, a white woman, to administer on the estate of Goodman, who was her uncle.
There were a number of witnesses in attendance including a large delegation of "native sons & daughters," among the daughters being several of the "triple I" brand. The contestant, however, shows her white paternity & is rather a comely young woman of about 20 years of age. Attorney Frost appeared for the contestant & ran against a snag the first thing, in the person of the mother of his client, who was Goodman's squaw. It is necessary to prove that the contestant is Goodman's daughter & the one most competent to prove that fact is her mother, but unfortunately this important personage is not only deaf & dumb, but almost wholly blind, & can only be communicated with by means of signs. Still more unfortunate for the contestant's attorney is the fact that only two persons are capable of conversing with her in this manner & both of these are relatives, her daughter, the contestant, & a cousin of the afflicted woman.
However, Fanny Harris, the cousin, herself a "111" fullblood, was accepted as interpeter & the scene between her & the witness was both pitable & amusing. In interpeting a question to the witness Fanny would jab her on the shoulder with her index finger & then after two or three peculiar manipulations of her fingers & a few more jabs in the woman's shoulder apparantly by way of puncuation, the witness would utter three gutteral grunts which would be interpeted to the Court as "yes" or "no", whichever answer was required. To an outsider the signs for the questions propounded & the response which was invaribly three grunts, were very much alike, making it impossible to tell whether or not the witness understood any of the proceedings. This awkward state of affairs together with the fact that the Indian language is perfectly unintelligible to either court, lawyers or witnesses rendered the old woman's interpeted testtimony of rather doubtful value & how the lawyer is going to satisfy the objections of the opposing counsel appeared that morning to be a decidedly hopeless undertaking.
Notwithstanding this testimony was all taken yesterday from which it
developed that the opposition to the aboriginal side of the case sought
to establish the fact that the half-breed contestant is not a daughter
of Goodman but is the child of William Atcheson, another white man. No
date was set for the argument of the case.
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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Wednesday, October 4, 1899
WAS SHE ABDUCTED ?
A Sensational Story From the Rohnerville Distict
Rohnerville has just had a little sensation in the nature of an alleged abduction of a young girl who was brought to that town from the nearby precincts of Hydesville.
The alleged abduction is that of the 14 year-old daughter of John Busch, a widower, residing near Hydesville, & the alleged abductor is Os. E. Hammett, aged 36 years, a boarder at the house of Busch. According to the story told here, Hammett, who had been employed near the Busch place, had been living at the Busch house for some time, until the day before yesterday when Busch, who had been trying in vain to get rid of his boarder, suceeded in getting him to leave. The cause of Busch's preference for Hammett's room to his presence was the growing intimacy between his 14 year-old daughter, Tri, & his boarder. Busch & Hammett had several wordy encounters over the matter until Monday when the father pursuaded him to leave & himself conveyed Hammett & his belongings to his home on Eel River Island.
This accomplished he returned home thinking his daughter safe, but in this thought he was mistaken, for he did not reckon on the "power of love," as the poets call it, for yesterday when he returned to his home from his forenoon's work he found the girl missing & with her had gone her clothing. Naturally he suspected Hammett as being connected with the disappearance of his daughter & this suspicion was verified when neighbors informed him that they had seen Hammett & the girl together travelling afoot in the direction of Rohnerville. With this clue to guide him he took up the trail & followed the pair to Rohnerville but lost track of them. Believing that Hammett had taken the girl to his home he then came to Eureka & securing a writ of habeas corpus left with Under Sheriff Ferrill to serve it on Hammett. Hammett, however, was not found at his home & the father then returned to Rohnerville where he remained overnight & this morning located his daughter at a house occupied by Mrs. Eleanor Simmons, a friend of Hammett's. The girl did not seem to be under any restraint & willingly accompanied her father back home, protesting that no wrong had been done to her or by her, & claiming that she had simply become tired of her home. She wished to make a living for herself, she said, & Hammett, acting the part of a friend, had secured her a place at the house where she was found.
Whether or not any action will be taken against Hammett for his part
in the affair depends upon future developments in the case. So far, except
to trace Hammett's movements between the time of his departure with the
girl yesterday morning & his arrival at his home this morning, nothing
has been done.
"The Daily Humboldt Standard"
Friday, October 6, 1899
SEQUEL TO ABDUCTION
The Abductor Arrested to Face a Serious Felony Charge
Os. E. Hammett, the man with whom 14 year-old Tri Busch left her home
near Hydesville & accompanied to Rohnerville, was arrested this morning
& will be brought to the city this afternoon to answer to a most serious
charge. From the fact that there had
71
been a suspicious intimacy between Hammett & the girl the authorities
determined to make an investigation to learn if Hammett was culpable in
any manner. Accordingly a medical examination was made & although the
girl all along had maintained her innocence, when confronted with the proofs
she finally broke down & confessed, implicating only Hammett, &
admitting that the intimacy had continued for over three months. As the
girl is under the legal age of consent the charge against Hammett is a
most serious one & admits no compromise under the law which makes it
a felony.
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Wednesday, November 1899
AN AUTOMOBILE
J. G. Loveren to Have the First Horseless Carriage in Humboldt
By the steamer Pomona to arrive Saturday, J. G. Loveren, the well known
shingle manufacturer of this city, expects to receive an automobile, or
horseless carriage, the first in Humboldt county. The machine, which is
of the vehicle pattern known as a "trap," was built at Peoria, Illinois,
& has been a month on its way here. It weighs 700 pounds, the motive
power is furnished by gasoline engines which develop six horse power, giving
it a maximum speed of 35 miles an hour at a cost of one-half cent per hour
for fuel, while the total cost of the machine, including $175 freight charges
hre, is about $2,570. Mr. Loveren purposes placing the machine on exhibition
at the South Park track where the public will be afforded an opportunity
of inspecting it & also riding in it. Later when the weather becomes
better, Mr. Loveren & his wife will make a tour of the State with the
machine.
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Monday, October 30, 1899
Harry Cohn's Bull Dog
The spectacle of a bull dog attempting to take a man's overcoat from
the back of the owner is an unusual one, but Scotia has such a prodigy
of the canine persuasion & last Saturday he practiced his peculiar
penchant. For some time the dog had been on the lookout for a desirable
overcoat & when Harry Cohn arrived at the sawmill town the dog was
not slow to recognize that his day ( and overcoat ) had come. But even
a dog's best laid plans sometimes miscarry, & so it was in this case,
for Harry strenously objected to parting with his handsome & serviceable
overcoat. The dog pinned his teeth & tenacity to the coat & Harry
pinned his faith to his feet. Like the Irishman's duck the feet were all-powerful
& at the end of the engagement the dog retired much the worse for wear,
while Harry sorrowed alone over the rents in his dearly prized garment.
"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, January 13, 1899
Joe Mager's Mad River ferry took in $18 in 1898, expenses being $130.
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"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Wednesday, October 30, 1888
Judge Haynes saved the state the sum of $5 per day by not employing
a clerk during the session of the Senate. In marked contrast with the members
of the Assembly. He did his own work, what little there was to do,(&
quite as much as the Republican members did) & saved the expense to
the State.
"The Daily Humboldt Standard"
Saturday, September 29, 1888
The apron & necktie party to be given by Professor Varney at Buhne's
Hall next Friday evening will be something new & novel. Each lady will
make an apron to be worn on this enjoyable occasion. She will also make
a necktie of the same material & enclose it in an envelope. These envelopes
will be distributed to the gentlemen by the party taking admission tickets
at the door. The gentleman will get a partner by finding the lady who has
the apron of the same material found in his envelope. This arrangement
will no doubt create a world of fun & much pleasure to fortunately
mated couples. Admission is' Gentlemen - $1. Ladies - Free.
"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, April 8, 1887
Sheriff Brown today took the irons off Rogers & allowed him to take
a bath. A clean shirt was provided him, & he complained that the laundryman
had not returned his drawers. Mr. Brown told him he would give him a new
pair, to which he replied that he did not think it would make much difference,
as he had a short time to remain. He said to the barber who shaved him
that he would die game. The rope to be used will be a duplicate of the
one used in San Francisco to hang a Chinaman, & will be of the kind
known as 21 strand. Rogers has made no confession, & probably will
make none. NOTE' John Rogers was hung in the Humboldt county jail in Eureka
on May 6, 1887 for the murder of a prominent citizen, John H. Kimball.
"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Friday, March 1, 1889
The interior of the county jail was photographed yesterday, & it
is needless to add that all the occupants took care to keep out of the
way so as not to be included in the picture. Under Sheriff Ferrill was
determined however, that the premises should not seem deserted, so he had
himself & Deputy Sheriff Brown photographed in the doors of the steel
cages.
"The Ferndale Enterprise"
Tuesday, May 2, 1899
Maurice Neilsen, of the Island, was in serious trouble one day last
week. His pet monkey broke his moorings & made Rome howl, so to speak.
He crawled in a bedroom window, tore up two or three fine bed quilts &
raised Ned with everything he could get hold of. The "missing link" still
lives, but Maurice has concluded that he is rather an expensive luxury.
73
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Thursday, April 27, 1899
"And the Cat Came Back"
The steamer Chilkat's cat has come back & Thomas Baird is happy in its possession once more. This particular cat has become celebrated as the only feline survivor of the steamer Chilkat on the bar & in the light of recent events is likely to add to its celebrity by becoming part of the government records of the diaster,
It will be remembered that the cat came ashore in the overturned hull & continued to make its home there until the wreck was cut open to get the cargo out, when a young man named Charles Clark, connected with a party of itinerant revivalists known as Gospel Wagon Workers, kidnapped her & took her to Rohnerville. The theft of the animal was duly reported to the company's agent, Thomas Baird, who it was known had taken a sentimental interest in the cat, & he immediately sought to secure the return of the purloined pussy. It seems that the cat had been presented to the unfortunate captain of the Chilkat by Mr. Baird & he now desired to send her to Captain Anderson's widow as a living keepsake of her dead husband.
All the efforts to recover the cat from the bold kidnapper, however,
proved futile until yesterday. The identity of the man was known &
he was told to bring back the animal, but to pleadings, demands & even
threats he paid no attention, until patience ceasing to be a virtue Mr.
Baird swore to a complaint before Commissioner Ford charging one Charles
Clark with larceny for having taken property not his own from a government
reservation. In the meantime Clark, still retaining possession of the abducted
cat, was making his way toward Oregon & had got as far as Janes Creek
where he was overhauled by U. S. Marshal Rager & with the cat brought
back to this city. Before Commissioner Ford, Tuesday, Clark pleaded huilty
to the charge, gave up the cat & is now out on $50 bonds, & the
end is not yet.
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Monday, May 29, 1899
Drunk and Nearly Drowned
John Ingram, a Finnish fisherman, almost saw his finish this morning.
Ingram who is known as "Russian John," resides on the peninsula near the
old Consumers' Mill & travels back & forth from the city in a flat-bottomed
boat. John has a penchant for liquor & takes it as "straight" as he
can get it, which means that he drinks it in the form of alcohal. This
morning he was in rather "straightened" circumstances & in attempting
to get into his boat at the city slip he got into the bay instead. However,
he managed to get out & make his way down First street where the mixture
of salt water & proof spirit overcame him & he lay down on the
sidewalk in front of the Western Hotel to allow one or both ingredients
to volatilize. When found by the police he was unable to navigate &
had to be taken in an express wagon to the lock up where he was put to
bed & given medical attention.
74
"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Tuesday, March 1, 1898
J. Degourski, a tailor formerly of Eureka, where he was for years in
the employ of J. Loewenthal, was buncoed out of $1000 in San Francisco
recently. The trick was worked through Antoine Buson, another tailor, whom
it is said had worked with Degourski at our county seat at one time. Degourski
now has a tailor shop at 240 O' Farrell street, San Francisco, & it
was there that Buson introduced him to a smooth stranger under the name
of Antoine Blanchard. Blanchard claimed to have just returned from the
Klondike with a fortune, which he was afraid to put in a bank, & which
after very many promises he prevailed upon Degourski to take charge of
for him. As a guarantee of good faith the stranger required Degourski to
withdraw his savings from the bank & place it with the supposed fortune
in a tin cash box, which was afterwards put in a valise & deposited
in a box in a safe deposit vault. But a duplicate box containing worthless
paper & old iron was substituted for the one containing Degourski's
$1000 in twenty-dollar gold pieces & the stranger's big roll of imitation
greenbacks, a fact which poor Degourski found out when it was too late.
Blanchard is known to the San Francisco police as a smooth confidence operator.
"The Ferndale Enterprise"
Tuesday, April 5, 1898
HORRIBLE IF TRUE----A rumor is afloat to the effect that one night recently a parent living in this place became enraged at his little year & a half old child & abused it most shamefully, & simply because the little one was restless & kept the father awake with its cries. One report is that the child was thrown against the wall of the room, & another that it was cruelly whipped & brutally jerked by its legs by the enraged parent, receiving injuries that compelled the calling of a physician the next morning. An investigation should be made by our authorities, & if the reports are correct the father should be severely dealt with, & if found innocent he should be exonerated from the charges that are in circulation against him.
"The Ferndale Enterprise"
Tuesday, August 30, 1898
AN X-RAY OPERATION --- Mrs. D. C. Reas of Port Kenyon, who, while cleaning
windows ran a needle into her hand a couple of weeks ago, submitted to
an X-Ray operation in Eureka Friday morning at Dr. Rae Felt's office. When
the needle entered the hand it broke off, leaving about a half inch of
the needle in the hand, & it seemed impossible to locate it. Dr. Felt's
X-Ray, however, exposed the position of the troublesome piece of steel,
& its removal of course followed in a very few moments.
"The Ferndale Enterprise"
Tuesday, May 31, 1898
Margaret Jackson has been granted a pension of $8 per month. She is
a resident of Eureka.
75
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Monday, December 1898
A CHRISTMAS AFFRAY
There is a crowd of young men in this city who have made it a practice on holiday nights of late to make the rounds of the saloons on the city front kept & frequented by foreigners particularly the Italians, & engage in the rather questionable pastime of "cleaning 'em out," as they term it. The program is to invade the saloon & intimidating the inmates by their numbers run things with a high hand. Any objection from the proprietor is the signal for the attack & immediately a general row is started, during the excitement of which the crowd manages to get out after doing all possible damage, material & personal.
So far the crowd has escaped with little injury to themselves but last
night they came near to furnishing a subject for the coroner from among
their number. It appears that about 11 o'clock the crowd having invaded
the Hotel Colombo on First street, were engaged in the usual holiday pastime
of "cleaning out the place" when one of the Italians who had been knocked
down came up shooting. At least the report of a pistol supposed to have
been fired by the fallen man was heard & there wan an immediate scattering
of the crowd of city boys who rallied further down the street. Here roll
was called to ascertain the number of dead, wounded & missing, when
it was shown that all were pretty "well shot" but only one had been wounded.
This was a young man named Johnson who was close enough to the pistol to
have one of his hands powder burned. His injury was dressed by Dr. Pierce
& he was sent home to nurse his Christmas present. The police were
not called in & therefore no arrests were made.
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Thursday, September 1, 1898
The scene in the police court today changed to that of a kindergarten
when Officer Barnum marshalled in a crowd of eight boys charged with disturbing
the peace. The boys, ranging in ages from 14 to 16 years, were part of
the Tannery Gulch gang that has been making the neighborhood of Fourth
& M streets a vertible pandemonium for several nights past by fighting
& disorderly conduct. Last night the boys constructed a "Jack-o-lantern"
from a pumpkin & placing it on the stoop of John Schott's house called
him out. Schott did not relish the joke & after securing the pumpkin
suceeded in capturing one of the boys but the crowd surrounded him &
effected the rescue of their companion. Schott then called in the aid of
the police & as the result warrants were this morning obtained for
17 boys charged with disturbing the peace. When the case was called, however,
only eight appeared & His Honor, not wishing to interfere with the
studies of the defendants who are all schoolboys, continued the case until
Saturday when all must appear for trial. It is said that these boys by
their actions at night make life a burden to the residents of that vicinity
& that strong measures will be taken by the police to break up the
gang.
76
"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Saturday, August 24, 1895
WENT TO SEA ON A PLANK
William Blair, an employee at the South Jetty, enjoys the distinction of being the first man to cross Humboldt bar on a plank, & is one of the probably two or three men who have fallen overboard on the bar & lived to tell the tale.
While at work Blair stumbled & pitched overboard two thirds of a mile from shore & well out on the bar. Blair who is about thirty five years of age, is an expert swimmer but this availed him nothing, except to keep afloat, for with the strong ebb tide running at the time, he was rapidly swept seaward away from the trestle. Someone immediately threw a plank towards him which he was able to seize as it swept by him & clung to it as he started on his journey over Humboldt bar. He was soon rescued, despite a heavy fog, by the U.S. Life Saving Station crew which had launched a boat when informed of the accident. When picked up Blair was appently none the worse for his perilous trip & said he could have held on quite a while longer although he admitted the water was disagreeably cold. In fact when the rescued man was put ashore at the South Spit he was entirely recovered & after changing his clothes he returned to work on the trestle as if sailing over Humboldt bar on a plank was an every day occurance.
There are but one or two other recorded instances of a man surviving
a plunge overboard on the Humboldt bar. The most remarkable previous escape
was that of Captain Iverson, who was washed overboard from the barkentine
"Monitor" several years ago. The vessel was crossing out over the bar when
a huge sea swept the deck & carried the captain with it, but the next
sea that went over the vessel brought the captain back & left him on
the deck little the worse for his experience.
"The Daily Humboldt Times"
Wednesday, August 21, 1895
SWALLOWED HIS OWN NOSE
This occured at the Dunning Insane Asylum in Illinois' In a battle between
two inmates, one bit off the other's nose & spit it out on the floor.
The bitten inmate fell to the floor bleeding & screaming when upon
seeing the flesh which had been torn from his own face, stuffed it into
his mouth & chewed it to a pulp & swallowed it. He said it would
make it grow again.
"The Daily Humboldt Times"
Sunday, August 18, 1895
Judge Holmes had two youthful cigarette fiends before him yesterday
morning. The youngsters were caught smoking cigarettes on the streets in
defiance of the ordinance which provides that such luxuries may only be
enjoyed by those of mature years. One of the boys named Joe Rodgers was
fined $3 & sentenced to three days imprisonment, but the latter part
of the sentence was withheld pending his good behavior. Dan McDonald, the
other young smoker, was fined $4. The fines were paid by the parents of
the boys & they were released.
77
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Monday, August 22, 1898
Judge Melendy had a case of an alleged wife beater up before him in his court this morning.
The alleged wife beater is Charles Carlson of the South Park district
who came home last evening with a demijohn of whiskey in one hand, another
of wine in the other hand forming quite a comfortable deck load, in addition
to which he had his hold full of a mixture of both liquids. Naturally such
a heavy cargo of "light" stuff made him "cranky" & when he entered
his home port he ran afoul of his betterhalf. Just what resulted from the
collision is not known but the crashing & feminine screaming attracted
the attention of the neighbors who telephoned for the police & had
Carlson locked up. Although the wife shows marks of rough handling she
denies that her husband beat her, & while the neighbors are positive
that he did, no one seemed inclined to make complaint against Carlson &
he was allowed to go to his work this morning on his own recognizance,
pending an investigation of the case by His Honor.
Tuesday, August 23, 1898
THE ALLEGED WIFE BEATER
Charles Carlson, the ship carpenter arrested Sunday night at the request
of his neighbors at South Park who accused him of beating his wife &
who was released because no formal charge was made against him, was again
arrested last night upon a similar complaint of his neighbors. Carlson
did not go to work yesterday but instead put in his time looking for the
demijohns of liquor that were taken away from him Sunday night & even
had the nerve to summon Chief Hitchings to aid him in the search. He was
unsucessful, however, which evidently tended to ruffle his temper &
last night he gave vent to his disposition by driving his wife out of the
house & compelling her to seek refuge with neighbors. As on the previous
occasion the neighbors telephoned for the police & Carlson spent the
night in the lock-up. To make sure of his man this time Judge Melendy went
to Carlson's home & made a personal investigation of the matter with
the result that when he reopened court Carlson was fined $10 for disturbing
the peace Sunday night & $6 more for being drunk last night. The amount
of the fines was put up by friends of Carlson & he was released from
custody.
"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Friday, April 1, 1898
The little two year old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Harry Schwartz of
Eureka had a narrow escape from being poisoned to death Sunday morning.
In sweeping Mrs. Schwartz had unthinkingly swept some moth pills into the
yard. The little girl, who was playing in the yard, had eaten of them,
& came into the house crying, & the mother discovered by the child's
breath that she had eaten of these moth pills. Dr. Loofburrow was summoned
by telephone, & arrived none too soon to save the little one's life.
78
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Thursday, August 22, 1899
POLICE COURT
Frred and Maude Rafter, residing at the corner of 5th & N streets,
were gathered in by the police after midnight for disturbing the peace
of their neighborhood. fred & Maude were a little too convivial last
evening with the result that the whiskey jar was turned into a family jar
& when the police, who had been summoned by the neighbors about midnight,
arrived on the scene, Maude in exreme deshabille, ws out in the street
throwing sticks & stones through the front window of the house in an
endeavor to score a hit on her loving spouse, but not too far gone to make
a close engagement dangerous. In the Police Court this morning the happy
couple were fined $15 each & given until tomorrow to pay up, the alternative
being 15 days in jail for each.
"The Ferndale Enterprise" Ferndale, California
Tuesday, May 23, 1899
Wanted, a home for two little children, aged 4 months each. Apply at
this office.
79
"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Thursday, March 3, 1898
ALL SAME WHITE MAN
A few days ago the "Times" had a court note a little out of the ordinary.
It was the filing of a homestead by an Indian woman & elicited some
comment. The last issue of the "Swauger Record" explains the reasons for
the strange proceeding & shows that the woman evidently has an eye
to business. The "Record" says' "Considerable excitement is rife among
the residents of the Indian colony at Indianola from the fact that one
of the leading "bucks" has grown tired of his two wives & is endeavoring
to get rid of them & take to himself a buxom lass of about 16 clam
seasons. One of the wives, it is alleged, has filed! a homestead on some
of the property belonging to the resident husband, thereby tangling matters
up to such an extent that it would require a Philadelphia lawyer to see
the point. Who says the noble red man (or woman) is deteriorating."
"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Saturday, December 17, 1898
Indian Charlie, whom we mentioned last week as being in the last stages
of consumption, passed to the happy hunting grounds on Sunday evening.
Charlie was a native of Redwood, & was a good Indian, even in life.
"The Daily Humboldt Times" Eureka, California
Saturday, May 28, 1898
INDIAN FASHION
Dr. C. C. Falk was called recently to attend a sick Indian girl who
resides in the vicinity of the Loleta creamery, & during his visit
was given a practical illustration of the barbaric customs which still
prevail among the Eel river Indians. Upon this occasion, he reports that
when he entered the door of the sick room he was greeted by the sight of
a half nude assemblage of savages who were dancing & beating the floor
with clubs in the belief that they were driving out an evil spirit which
had caused the girl's sickness. Likewise, for the same purpose, the Indian
doctor had sucked the skin of the patient in differnt places until the
blood flowed, & although the girl was in a very critical condition,
they had taken her out of bed & were dancing her around the room. Strange
to say, the patient is said to be on the road to recovery.
"The Morning Oregonian" Portland, Oregon
20 March 1899
The funeral services for the late George W. Hunter, who died last Wednesday
of blood poisoning were held yesterday at J.P. Finley & Son's chapel.
The funeral was largely attended. The services at the chapel being held
by the Spiritual Society & at the grave by the G.A.R. The features
of the dead looked as natural as in life & much surprise was expressed
at the perfect condition in which the body was preserved. Blood poisoning
is recognized ny embalmers as being one of the most difficult cases to
preserve.
80
"The Daily Humboldt Standard" Eureka, California
Monday, November 27, 1899
THAT FATAL HABIT
The Alleged Weakness of a Woman For Writing Letters Gets Her into Trouble
Mrs. Annie Stansberry was arrested at Fortuna, Saturday, by Deputy U. S. Marshal Rager, for sending obscene letters through the mails. The charge was made by Lawrence Alexander of the same town to whom the letters were addressed from Ferndale, Grizzly Bluff & Fortuna.
The defendant is the widow of Nathan Stansberry, who died a few months ago, but previous to her marriage to Stansberry, about a year ago, had been housekeeper for Alexander. In this capacity she had lived with Alexander for two years, part of the time in Potter Valley, Mendocino county, & part of the time at Grizzly Bluff. It is hinted that there was some sort of an attachment between Alexander & the woman but it was ended on the part of Alexander at the time of the woman's marriage & although she lived with her husband only two months he has since refused to renew the relations. Both accused & accuser are middle aged people & there are charges & counter charges. Mrs. Stansberry says that she has received similar letters from Alexander, & professes to see nothing wrong in her epistles to him which she says are only love letters.
Mrs. Stansberry was brought to this city Saturday afternoon, & was
released by U. S. Commissioner Ford on $300 bonds, to appear before him
for a hearing on Dec. 16th, when she will be represented by Attorney George
T. Rolley
"The Arcata Evening Telephone" (Daily)
Friday, May 19, 1882
PLAYING CHICKEN Not very far from the vacinity of 5th & K streets (Eureka) there resides 2 or 3 families in close proximity, who are provided with about the average number of California juveniles. The production of the last 5 or 6 years. The crop embraces both sexes, & they are endowed with the usual instincts of diversion, coupled with the ordinary inclination to tackle anything new that presents itself. Yesterday, a hen, belonging to the head of one
of the families, was taken from her nest with a brood of young chickens, & the box in which the chicks had been hatched set out in the back yard, with the straw & some shells left in it. The youngsters found it. It struck them at once as a good place "To hatch chickens" & accordingly each one took his or her turn at "Setting" for a few minutes in the box. The box contained about 1 pound of hungry fleas to the square inch, & while the time which the little fellows thought sufficient to hatch eggs might have been rather short, it was full long enough to produce a bountiful crop of very lively fleas. The nursery scenes that followed during the evening would have to be witnessed to be appreciated, & thats the way we know how to appreciate them.