Past Pages Feb. 5

130 YEARS AGO

He Wants to Die: "I concluded to let the Lord wait a while and took another drink and went to sleep - drunk. When I awoke the sun shone into the desolate coach and its bright warm glow played on the haggard and miserable man; but I was free from cough. It must have been the whiskey. It might have been the will, the grit, the sand of the man who under four flags has vowed and swore he would not die." Continued Saturday.

100 YEARS AGO

An unusual site here as of late is the huge number of blackbirds that have made their home between the Peterson Corral and The Park Hotel. They have become so tame they refuse to move when pedestrians pass by and only escape the wagon wheels by a fraction. The birds seem to be enjoying the hospitality of the incorporated city.

70 YEARS AGO

The county assessor says that 626 cars have been registered this year. Ninety-four trucks are registered along with one motorcycle. Although not all do so, the assessor encourages everyone to put license plates on cars.

50 YEARS AGO

A full civil defense workshop is being held in Virginia City this month under the slogan, "Why community and family action in civil defense?" Under discussion is the use of home shelters and mines as shelters in an emergency.

20 YEARS AGO

John E. Roser, son of Bob and Laura Roser of Carson City has completed TWA Pilot training. He is now flying 727's from the TWA hub in St. Louis.

10 YEARS AGO

The Carson-Tahoe Hospital Foundation and Cancer Resource Center opens in the Adams House. Dewitt Adams built the Craftsman-style bungalow between 1921 and 1922.

• Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.