Snippets from 1899, 1900, 1901 news

Fires, Teddy Roosevelt, and a miracle

Susan Doak

SW Nebraska Genealogical Society

It is disconcerting to walk into the museum and find clothing I wore in the 60’s dressing up a mannequin. But, then again, I am celebrating 55 years since I graduated from MHS this weekend and we are having our Saturday night gala at the museum with those “antique” dresses on display.

1900 in Red Willow County news clippings were saved to a scrap book with the name Whitney on the inside. Since the Gazette did not exist at that time, I can only guess that they came from the McCook Tribune or the Republican, but either way, they are interesting snippets of life.

“Thursday afternoon fire was discovered in the cupola of the Easterday grain elevator. An engineer on a switch engine gave the alarm and in a short time the department was at the fire. The flames had gained such headway that the building could not be saved. The engine house and office buildings were not damaged, however. A car of wheat and one of corn were in the elevator and were consumed. The damage was estimated at $3000. Mrs. H.H. Easterday of this city and J.M. Sewell of Hastings, owned the building.” 7/27/1900

“Early Sunday morning fire was discovered in one of the buildings of the James McAdams brick yard in South McCook. The fire department responded to the call but could do little as there were no fire hydrants near there. The four buildings were burned and the machinery badly damaged. It is not known how the fire started.” 7/27/1900

“Work on the new railroad machine shops began that week. The surveyors had staked out the grounds, and the building material was arriving daily. Wednesday the ground was broken, and excavations started for the foundation. The building is being erected just east of the round house and will be 80 x 150 feet.” 10/27/1899

“Monday was Roosevelt Day in the city, as Theodore Roosevelt, republican candidate for vice president, and party were scheduled to speak in this city. The crowd here for the day was estimated at between fifteen and eighteen thousand people Mayor A. Barnett was officer of the day. A parade was held in the afternoon and evening, and consisted of old soldiers, McKinley Girl cadets, Roosevelt Marching Club, Mosquito battery, and the following bands: Trenton, Bartley, Oxford, Holbrook, Danbury, Stamford, McCook and the McCook Drum Corps. The McCook Band met the special train, and from the depot went to city park where the program was held. Addresses were made by Roosevelt, Hon. Curtis Guild and others.” 10/5/1900

“Two electric head lights were received here and placed on engines, running on fast passenger trains. Besides the head lights, were several incadescents (yes, I am certain that is mis-spelled but for 1900, it’s close) for use on running boards and in the cab. If the lights are a success and cheaper than oil, they will probably be placed on all engines. 11/30/1900

“Mrs. James Barber, who lives near Indianola, missed her young son and started to look for him. She discovered him in the stock watering tank, lying face downward in the water. She pulled the body out, tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail. She carried the body to the nearest neighbors, who were not home, and continued to the S. M. Rider place. Here they worked on the apparent lifeless form for some time, and at last the child began to breathe. The youngster was able to be out playing the next day.” 01/04/1901 (We hear of these miracles today but imagine how unimaginable that was in 1901? Perhaps the fact that it was in January, possibly very cold, aided in that child’s survival.)