Saturday
150 Years Ago
Indian War in Churchill: C. H. Belknap, Private Secretary to Governor Bradley, reports that the Humboldt Indians were pouring into that neighborhood and killing cattle. The Sheriff and a posse of men started out after them but were fired upon. They captured five Indians who are now in jail.
140 Years Ago
Mongolian funeral rites: The funeral rites of a well-to-do Chinese merchant’s wife were performed in the middle of Dupont street. The body was in a silvermounted rosewood coffin. At the foot of the coffin were laid out on stands and tables an unusual display of meats, vegetables and fruits — turnips, apples, five roasted pigs and one goat. Over this funeral offering to the dead was spread a canopy of white muslin. (continued Sunday)
120 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Briggs House, Carson City, Nevada - Gilbert Briggs, Proprietor. This old establish hotel … has recently inaugurated a system of electricity throughout the entire building whereby every room is lighted by incandescent lights. At the present time this is the only hotel in Carson lighted exclusively by electricity. First class throughout. Best $1 a day home on the coast. Free bus from all trains. Meals 25 cents, lodging 25 cents and 50 cents.” (In 1890 the St. Charles was renamed the Briggs Hotel. In 1894 the Briggs and Muller Hotels were combined. The St. Charles name was restored by Bob McFadden in 1993. (carsonpedia.com)
100 Years Ago
Playing at the Grand Theater: Real-art Pictures presents Constance Binney in “Such A Little Queen.” She was queen of a funny little country and a nice boy’s heart. A comedy of youth and love in Arcady where every girl is queen. Tickets – 10 and 30 cents.
80 Years Ago
Lions club lecture: The “Battle of Atlantic” was the subject of the lecture presented by the Rev. J. L. Harvey. It was a review of the part played by the Scotch and the Irish in gaining freedom of religion… Miss Dorothy Jones of Reno provided the music –Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody.”
70 Years Ago
President Truman: The President called on Congress to raise more than $5,000,000 in new taxes and stated it must be done very soon because of “the tragic necessity” of rearmament.
20 Years Ago
Enron: Arthur Anderson LLP said that he is firing a senior auditor who organized a “rushed disposal” of Enron documents after federal regulators requested information about the failing energy company.
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Born: In this city, January 22, to the wife of George B. Cowling, a son.
140 Years Ago
(Continued from Saturday) Mongolian funeral rites: A priest armed with a pair of cymbals, chanted doleful music, joined by a half a dozen choristers… In the roadway were hired mourners, dressed in sackcloth and prostrate on the ground. At each corner of the canopy were large lanterns with burning candles. The ceremony was long and viewed with a strange mixture of idle curiosity and solemnity of a motley crowd which had gathered around the scene. (S. F. Bulletin)
120 Years Ago
All sorts: Pacific coast capitalists will install an electric generating plant on the main fork of the Carson river for furnishing Gardnerville with electric lights, and operating mill and mine machinery.
100 Years Ago
Wong Hong who was one of the pioneers of this city died at his cabin in Chinatown. He was connected with every building that was erected, as he was regarded as one of the best mixers. He worked on the State Capitol, the Mint and the Federal building. He was one of those who participated in Pioneer Day exercises, and survived the change of conditions when a Chinaman was put into the discard as far as trade utility was concerned.
80 Years Ago
Crash inquest: An inquest will be held in connection with the deaths of 15 officers and men of the Army Air Corps ferry command who died in an airplane crash which also killed film star Carole Lombard, her mother and five others.
70 Years Ago
Music: A prosaic washboard is used by the Boston Symphony Orchestra to produce the final flourish of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring.” Fingers run swiftly across the ridges to create a percussion glissando [sic] effect.
20 Years Ago
Brothel: Companies are suing to stop a brothel. Grading permits have been issued, equipment is on site and construction will proceed as planned. Kal Kan Foods, Inc. and Roybridge Investments Limited are suing Storey County to stop construction of Gilman’s proposed brothel called the Wild Horse Canyon Ranch and Spa. The brothel is about a mile from the industrial park.
Monday
150 Years Ago
All sorts: Mr. Kendall introduced a bill to aid the Sutro tunnel.
Mr. Sargent introduced one to suppress polygamy and enable the people of Utah to form a constitution and State Government.
140 Years Ago
All sorts: Hank Monk has been quite sick all winter. He says he is willing to bet that he will take tourists to the Lake for the next ten years. Hank has much confidence in himself.
120 Years Ago
All sorts: Mrs. James O’Toole, a highly esteemed resident of Virginia City, died from pneumonia. Her husband returned from Tonopah and is critically ill with the malady currently raging in the new camp.
100 Years Ago
Sewer frozen: The main-line sewer leading from the Mint to the outlet near the Atherton field has frozen. People along the line have been allowing the water to run nights in order to keep the water works open resulting in a field of ice that has frozen and backed up the pipe.
80 Years Ago
The Hollywood Roundup: Film Starlet Teresa Wright won the screen role of Mrs. Lou Gehrig, opposite Gary Cooper in the film story of the New York Yankee first baseman.
70 Years Ago
Society Page: Mrs. Catherine Schumann of New York City is visiting at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Krebs, and their infant son.
Friends of Sade Grant will be glad to know that she was released from Carson-Tahoe hospital and is now recovering from her illness at home.
20 Years Ago
“C” Hill: A man and a woman were being sought in the vicinity of C Hill during a two-hour search along Curry Street.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Arms sent: One dozen rifles, with ten rounds each of fixed ammunition were sent to Sheriff Sherman of Churchill county, in case of further Indian Depredations in that quarter.
140 Years Ago
In brief:
Swift is at present running a sleigh to his springs.
The Carson Mint is now receiving larger quantities of bullion than at any time during the past two years. The outlook is that the deposits will continue to come in.
120 Years Ago
All sorts: The Emporium Indian Basket Department is becoming known in foreign lands. A number of fine baskets were shipped to England.
The cold wave sent the prospectors in from the mines. The only prospecting that was done during the day was of the celebrated barroom variety.
100 Years Ago
Driving on Washoe Lake: Ira Winters and W. G. Douglas are the first to drive an automobile across Washoe Lake. Ice has formed from nine to twelve inches deep over the entire surface of the lake. The only danger in auto traveling are the many air holes from springs all over the bottom of the lake. (Continued Wednesday)
80 Years Ago
Seen, Heard, or Thought by E.T.C.: Graham Sanford was an outstanding citizen. He was editor and publisher of the Reno Evening Gazette for 25 years which he built up and developed into a publication. He felt a keen sense of responsibility to give customers unbiased and uncolored news.
70 Years Ago
Photo caption: Mayor Wilbur Stodieck and City Clerk Geraldine Lamb inspect the city’s recently adopted ordinance creating a 1952 improvement district in the West King-West Robinson street area.
20 Years Ago
Photo caption: Channel 4 reporter Victoria Campbell interviewed Carson High School Junior Kate Keller. Campbell helped students prepare for their role as affiliates for CNN’s student bureau.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
