130 YEARS AGO
A Poem by Hank Monk
The Loaded Stick (in part)
The night was cold, the stars looked down
Upon the snow serenely,
While through the streets which crossed the town
The wind was cutting keenly.
Now Dobson's heart was cold as ice,
His nature mean and greedy.
He grasped a quarter like a vice
And never helped the needy.
He took a stick - 'twas seasoned well
And with some powder filled it.
T'will blow some thieving wretch to -
If so the Lord has willed it."
Then 'neath the light of stars divine
He stood and laughed a good while.
Then with that stick of loaded pine
He salted that old wood-pile.
Next day he called on neighbor Brown,
A valued friend and trusted;
Scarce in his chair he settled down
When bang, the old stove busted.
A chunk of iron from the grate
Flew upward to the ceiling,
And falling, smashed old Dobson's pate
And sent the owner reeling.
The next day the people, one and all,
Quaffed deep the breezy schooner,
And said, "Such men are sure to fall,
He should have died the sooner.
120 YEARS AGO
A Carson girl: Blanche Atherton, a Carson girl assumed the leading character in Tennyson's "Princess." The Gazette says, "Miss Blanche Atherton's ... character of Princess Ida was perfect and ... sustained with a skill that would have done a credit to a star in the profession."
Blow it off: Jake Olcovich and Lee Corbett tried to blow the snow off the roof of Olcovich's store with a bunch of fire crackers. The explosion came, but the snow is still there.
70 YEARS AGO
Some of the old papers to be preserved in the old mint when it is converted into the state museum are records of employment during the building's construction in the 1860's. A time book was found in the old carpenter shop, brought to light was a time book containing entries for the period May 15 to December 11.
20 YEARS AGO
Casinos battle IRS over seizure of employee tip records. Nevada resorts are complying with program to reveal tips of blackjack dealers, cocktail waitresses, keno runners and other casino employees who get more than $20 in tips.
10 YEARS AGO
Carson City residents line up at Raleys to purchase tickets by legendary British rocker Elton John.
• Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.