100 years ago, as told in the Vancouver Columbian

Main story

Christmas week in Clark County in 1914

The following are excerpts from stories that ran in the Vancouver Columbian around the holidays a century ago. The stories are told in their own words.

1914

Dec. 23:

City will be wet next year unless case is appealed

Vancouver will not be dry until January 1, 1916. The local option election on Nov. 3, in which the dry won was all for naught. Such is the import of a decision rendered by Federal Judge Cushman at Tacoma yesterday. Proceedings were brought by the Northern Brewery Company through their attorney … Miller of this city, asking that an injunction be (ordered) … restraining the county and city officials from enforcing the local opinion law in Vancouver. The company, who operate the Star Brewery in this city, is an Ohio corporation and so the proceedings could be brought in the federal court.

Dec. 24:

Post Office will be open Christmas

The post office will be open from the hours of 10 to 12 tomorrow, which is Christmas day. As Saturday has been declared a legal holiday by the governor of the state, the post office will close at noon of that day. The carriers will make the route as usual to prevent the accumulation of mail in the office.

Professor Kane talks to alumni of university

“Within a year the University of Washington will have reached the full capacity of its buildings and will face the necessity of fixing its enrollment at 3,600 students, unless the next session of the legislature grants the regents request for two new buildings and an increase in the amount allowed for maintenance,” said Prof. Frank Kane, of the journalism faculty of the university last night at a meeting of former Washington students and their friends in the high school auditorium.

…

“The total revenue of the university will care for about 3,500 students, and that at the lowest per capita rate — $185 a year — of any state university in the country,” said Prof. Kane. “There now are in residence on the campus more than 3,000 students, and the total enrollment for this year will exceed 3,400.”

Army gives Christmas dinners tree tomorrow

Between the hours of five and eight this evening, the members of the Salvation Army will give Christmas dinners to the needy families of this city. Between thirty and forty baskets will be given away, the contents of which comprise all the delicacies of a rich Christmas dinner.

The response on the part of the Vancouver people has been very satisfying to the workers of the Army and Ensign Bowe is very grateful to all. Twenty-five dollars was given by the Lady Elks for Christmas toys to be given to little children at the Christmas tree tomorrow evening. There were other donations also.

Italian gets fined for carrying gun unlawfully

Frank Magistra, an Italian, who was arrested by the game warden near Felida Tuesday for hunting without a license and also arrested for carrying a gun while an alien was fined $5.70, including costs in Justice of the Peace Davis court. The gun which he had was confiscated.

The state law, passed by the 1911 legislature, provides that an alien shall not carry a gun unless he has taken out his first papers for citizenship or has a permit from the state auditor on the recommendation of the … of his nationality in this state. The permit costs $15.

For Rent

5-room house completely furnished including piano, $30 per month.

Dec. 25:

Holidays will not delay business

Saturday, December 26 has been declared a legal holiday by Governor Lister and accordingly all the banks in the city, the officers at the court house, with the exception of the sheriff’s office which never closes, will be closed all day. Christmas day being a holiday and Sunday also coming at this time will make three days during which time people will be unable to place their money in the banks, file a suit against their neighbor or get a marriage license. Most of the stores in the city will be open Saturday and no dearth of food supplies will be felt.

A Merry Christmas: The Christmas Spirit

Old Bondholder on his face a frown

In his ledger was jotting some figures down

On his face there appeared an aggressive look

As he finally laid aside the book

These people must pay, I’ll let them know

This stand off business with me won’t go

My rent I’ll have without delay

I’ll turn them out if they cannot pay

A gentle tap at his office door

“Come in,” (his voice was an angry roar)

“What do you want?” he turned to see

A smiling youth with a Christmas tree

“Take it out!” he cried as he caught the sheen

Of the small fir tree with its leaves of green

“I want no reminder of Christmas cheer,

You can’t sell any shrubbery here.”

The youth but smiled and Bondholder stood

As though he were turned to a block of wood

While from the urchin there shone a light

That filled the room with radiance bright

“See here,” said the youth. “There’s Mrs. Brown,

Her health has broken completely down;

She’s worked till she can’t stand on her feet

Will you turn her out into the street?”

“And Brooks has done his level best,

To make for his brood a cozy nest,

Because he’s sick you can’t you know

Drive those children into the snow.”

That willing smile old Bondholder felt

His flinty heart beginning to melt

And a feeling he could not understand

Impelled him to reach for the strangers hand.

“Who are you?” he asked, and his voice was low,

“You come to me whom you do not know

And seek to dictate what I should do.

Pray why should this matter trouble you.”

A brighter smile and the radiance grew

Until it enveloped old Bondholder too

“Who am I? My name you often hear it

I’m called on earth the Christmas Spirit.”

The Spirit vanished and Bondholder took

From out the drawer his cherished book

The record of all delinquent rent

He had vowed to collect, yes every cent.

And he wrote in characters plain and bold

Which the angels embossed in shining gold

These rents are paid to the very last dime

By the blessed spirit of Christmas time.”

Sing it yourself : Everybody Knows or Auto Know It

My auto ’tis of thee, short cut to poverty, of thee I chant.

I blew a pile of dough on you two years ago, and now you quite refuse to go, or won’t or can’t.

Through town and countryside you were my joy and pride, a happy day.

I loved thy gandy hue and nice white tires so new, but now you’re down and out for true, in every way.

To thee old rattlebox, came many bumps and knocks, for thee I grieve.

Badly thy top is torn, frayed are thy seats and worn, the whooping cough affects thy horn, I do believe.

Thy perfume swells the breeze, while good folks choke and sneeze, as we pass by.

I paid for thee a price would buy a mansion twice, now everybody’s yelling “ice,” I wonder why.

Thy motor has the pip, even the skid chains slip and woe is thine.

I too have suffered chills ague and kindred ills, endeavoring to pay my bills since thou were mine.

Gone is my bankroll now. Nor more ‘twould choke a cow as once before.

Yet if I had the mon, so help me John – amen, I’d by myself a car again – and speed some more.

Blind Boy Makes Record at University

People of Vancouver will be interested to learn of the wonderful success of George Meyer, the blind boy, who graduated from the local high school last year, leading his class.

He is now attending the University of Washington at Seattle, where he is taking a prelaw course and the wonderful feature of his work is he is leading the 600 students in the chemistry department. He is making as equally good record in his other studies.

George Meyer’s home is in Pullman, Wash., but he attended the State School for the Blind in this city for several years and then took up work in his high school. He gets his lessons by means of a paid reader.

River Very Low: No Boat Service Very Much Ice

For the past three days the river has been at the lowest stage recorded in several years. Wednesday morning the river reached the zero mark on the gauge and it has hovered around this point since that time, changing a little with the tide which at present time amounts to a foot or more. The water was about six feet above low water mark when the present cold spell set in and it has fallen steadily for the past ten days.

There is practically no freight business on the river at present reports Agent Johnson. Only one river boat is now running, that being the Ione which is keeping up service between this city, Camas and Portland, notwithstanding the ice. All the other regular freight boats have withdrawn from service until the ice clears out.

Dec. 26:

Santa Claus in a barrel features deaf school Xmas

A big Christmas tree celebration in which every child received at least one present was held at the State School for the Deaf Christmas Eve.

Prof. Thos. P. Clarke, superintendent of the school, was making a few introductory remarks to the program when a messenger rushed in bearing a telegram from Santa Claus, stating that he would be unable to be present, but was sending a barrel of presents.

While commenting upon the case of the failure of Santa Claus to appear, the delivery man announced the arrival of the barrel of presents.

He was ordered to bring it in and it was rolled onto the platform of the chapel and unheaded. Instead of being filled with presents, Santa Claus himself popped out much to the surprise and glee of the children. Two big Christmas trees sparkling, with decorations and loaded with presents featured the entertainment. Each child was remembered with presents and all enjoyed the day.

Police have little to do Christmas

Malcolm Fagan and “Frenchie” Shelair, serving 30-day sentences in the city jail for drunkenness and vagrancy, were allowed to spend yesterday with their friends, being paroled for the day. This morning at 7:30 they appeared at the police station to serve out the balance of their sentences.

Yesterday was a quiet day in police circles. But three arrests were made. Two cases of drunkenness necessitated the attention of the police and J. Robertson, a transient, was taken into custody for carrying concealed weapons. A vagrancy charge is being held against him also.

Court rules to restrain option law

Judge E. E. Cushman announced in the federal court at Tacoma that he would grant a restraining order in favor of the Northern Brewery company of Vancouver, Wash., to prohibit the closing of the saloons and brewery in Clarke county before Jan 1, 1916.

The Clarke county voters last November passed a local option measure and voted in favor of initiative measure No. 3 on the same day. When it was learned that the county officials intended to close the saloons in thirty days the brewing company asked the federal court for a restraining order on the grounds that it would deprive it of moneys amounting to more than $3,000.

“The whole state is voting for the prohibition law, plainly made the provision of the bill operative in 1916, giving the saloons a year to adjust their business,” ruled Judge Cushman. “It seems to me to admit of no other interpretation and I will grant a restraining order asked by the complaint.”

Salvation Army sends thirty baskets to poor people

Thirty baskets laden with chickens, bread, butter, coffee, pies, fruit, potatoes and all necessary fixings for a Christmas dinner were filled Thursday at the Salvation Army hall and delivered Thursday evening to the poor families of the city by Mr. and Mrs. Ensign Bowe and his corps of helpers. For several weeks Mr. and Mrs. Bowe have been quietly at work gathering eatables and clothing for this dinner and felt generally repaid for their labors when they saw the happiness which it brought to many homes.

Clothing, both new and old, were distributed to the families where it was most needed. Ensign Bowe wishes to thank the many friends who so generously contributed to this good cause.

Ferry starts running again this afternoon

After being tied up for just a week, the ferry resumed operations this afternoon. The ice in the river has thinned out or melted and the Jessie Harkins, which has been carrying passengers during the heavy run of ice, was displayed by the regular boat.

The Harkins will resume her run to Portland, Camas and Washougal tomorrow.

The two weeks of cold weather, the coldest on record for the month of December in this part of the country, came to an end when the gentle patter of the rain was welcomed by most everyone yesterday morning. The skating is over, for a while at least. Usually it snows sometime during January, but this year old-timers believe our annual cold spell is over.

Bud Anderson again meets defeat in the pugilistic ring

Bud Anderson, Vancouver’s one-time pugilistic aspirant to the light-weight championship, again met defeat yesterday when he fought Frank Barrieu in Wallace, Idaho. Frank Dupuis, his trainer, threw up the sponge early in the third round of the scheduled 15-round bout, thereby saving Anderson from a knockout. He was clearly outclassed and that his pugilistic career is over was plainly evident.

Anderson forfeited $100 to Barrieu because he did not make the required weight, weighing 146 and a half pounds. Barrieu weighted 144 and a half. Anderson was below the required weight when he went to Wallace to train, but took on several pounds before the fight. The flight was an aggressive one and the fighters mixed it up from the start. Anderson was groggy after the first round.

Dec. 28:

Pioneer of Clarke County passes away

Mrs. Laura Riggs Slocum, a Clarke County pioneer and for many years a resident of Vancouver, died at Long Beach, California on Christmas Eve, following a serious fall sustained about ten days before her death, in which her hip was broken. She was spending the winter in California, having left here on October 13.

Mrs. Slocum was 74 years of age. She was born in Iowa in January, 1828, being one of five children who emigrated to Washington in 1852 with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Riggs. They made the trip with an emigrant train of 150 families, who made the strenuous journey by ox team over the old Oregon Trail. It took them seven months and five days to make the journey to Portland.

Soon afterword, Mr. Riggs took up a claim near Washougal, where the family resided until 1860. In May, 1861, Mrs. Slocum was married to C. W. Slocum of this city and has lived here continuously since that time.

Mr. Slocum, who died about two years ago, was a prominent mercantile man in this city until he retired from business in 1909.

There are no children surviving but several nieces and nephews mourn her death.

Soldiers caught with bacon in their hands

Henry Noyes, a soldier in the Twenty-first infantry, and Roy Bigabee, an ex-deserter from the Army who served 18 months in the federal penitentiary for his offense, were arrested by the police last week on a charge of burglary.

They broke into a store house in the garrison and stole over 150 pounds of bacon. Noyes is in the guardhouse in the garrison, while Bigabee is being held on a vagrancy charge in the county jail pending the issuance of warrants in the federal court by the Army authorities.

Dec. 29:

Pioneer Flour Mill Builder is Dead

Ansil S. Marble, an old pioneer, the man who built the first flour mill on Salmon Creek, died this morning at his home five miles east of Vancouver on the St. Johns Road, following two years of failing health and one week’s confinement to his bed. He was 84 years, 8 months and 29 days of age.

He leaves a wife and eight children.

…

Mr. Marble was born in Yorkshire, N.Y., March 30, 1830. When a boy he came to Illinois, where he lived until 1852. He was at that time twenty-two years of age and crossed the Oregon trail by ox team locating at Portland. Later he moved to Salmon Creek, where he built a flour mill and operated the same for a period of 30 years. The mill burned down in 1885. He was an Indian war veteran and served in the campaign against numerous outbreaks of the redskins.

Big discovery of oil within fifty miles of Vancouver

A.J. McPherson, a piano salesman of 900 West Eleventh Street, is about the happiest man in town for two reasons.

First, he recently discovered an old boyhood chum he used to work with in the coal mines of Nova Scotia, and second, this boyhood chum is a resident of the Pacific Coast near Vancouver and has recently discovered both coal and petroleum and has given Mac a half interest in the find.

McPherson has just had the oil analyzed and finds it to be very high grade petroleum with a paraffin base. Upon this same piece of land has also been discovered near the oil a four foot vein of good bituminous coal. The oil find is very promising. In fact it covers quite a piece of ground with seepage and this seepage is so thick that the oil is easily extracted from the earth by taking the parerial in the hand and squeezing it. Several bottles full were secured by digging a small hole and allowing the seepage to fill the hole with the oil.

A drilling outfit will be purchased at once and set to work upon the discovery and it is expected that a gusher will be struck at a very shallow depth.

The funds have already been secured for this. No company will be organized nor will any stock be put on the market. This work will all be done by a few people located in Clarke, Multnomah and Cowlitz counties. The discovery and gift is in the nature of a Christmas present to the two old pals who worked side by side in the coal mines in Nova Scotia and now feel certain that there is a fortune ahead in the discovery.

Cow causes court trouble, pay refused

To collect $45 interest and costs due for a black cow sold by her to Jas. Kelly on October 6, 1912, Caroline Wright filed a suit in the superior court yesterday. Although the cow was satisfactory the defendant refused to pay for it according to the complaint and the domestic animal’s case will be heard before (a judge).

Leniency will not be shown law violators

Hereafter no undue lenience will be shown to violators of the minimum wage law, according to Edward W. Olson, state labor commissioner and ex-officio chairman of the board of minimum wage commissioners, who has just returned from Walla Walla, where he found two violations of the law. Two stores there were charged with working their girls at less than the minimum wage established for mercantile workers, and as a result of Commissioner Olson’s activity while there, seven girls involved were paid $204 as back pay due them.

Commissioner Olson says that the department has been lenient in the past with violators of the law because it is a new law and it required time for the employers and the employees of the state to become familiar with the law and the minimum wage regulations established under it. Now, however, he says that time enough has elapsed to justify no plea of ignorance, and the law will hereafter be enforced strictly.

Another point that he emphasizes is that inexperienced girls who do not take out permits as apprentices, which entitles them to work for less than the minimum established for experienced workers, are entitled to receive the minimum even though they are not experienced. The commission, he says, will insist that employers pay such the full wage unless they have seen to it that they take out the apprenticeship permits.

The women of the state are now working under four minimum wage regulations already in effect, and on February 20 a fifth will become effective. The four now operative are $10 in mercantile establishments, $9 in telephone offices and laundries and $8.90 in factories. The one to become effective February 20 is that of $10 for clerical help in offices. The latter regulation contains the unique regulation also that minors between the age of 16 and 18 years shall receive not less than $7.50 a week, while minors under 16 shall receive not less than $6.

Dec. 31:

Bacon thief is held to the federal court

E.P. Shelaire, known as Frenchie Shelaire, who has been serving a 30-day vagrancy charge in the city jail, has been implicated in the recent bacon stealing case in the garrison.

He has been arrested on a federal warrant. Both he and Roy Bigabee, arrested several days ago, have waived preliminary examination and will be taken to Tacoma to face the federal grand jury by Deputy United States Marshal John Secrist. The bacon was stolen on Dec. 2.

A solider named Noyes, who was arrested on the same charge, is being held by the local Army authorities and will be tried before a court martial here, as he was serving in the Army at the time the offense was committed.

Shelaire is an ex-soldier and Bygabee deserted from the Army, serving 18 months in the federal penitentiary.

New “dry” bill gets signatures

Petitions containing 277 valid names asking for the submission of initiative measure No. 18, the substitute prohibition bill being proposed by the state Hotelman’s Association, were filed at the office of the city clerk yesterday. Reports from other parts of the state indicate that the bill will be proposed to the legislature as approximately 50,000 names have been secured; 31,368 names were necessary.

The bill which provides that liquor may be sold by hotels of 50 rooms or over to their patrons and which permits breweries to operate and sell beer, is to be put before the legislature with the ultimate submission to the voters at a special election to be held in November 1915. This bill would superseded the statewide measure passed at the last election.

Post Office will close tomorrow

Tomorrow is a legal holiday and the post office will regard it as such. It is the first day of the year nineteen hundred and fifteen. There will be no deliveries made by either city or rural carriers. There will be no money orders, registry of postal savings issued or received. The general delivery and carriers’ windows will be open between the hours of 9 and 10 in the morning and the public will be served at that time.

It is understood that the business houses will be closed as well as the banks and other public institutions. The Daily Columbian will go to press early in the morning and will be delivered at the door of the various homes before noon.

Late cars for those who would celebrate the early hours

Today is the last day of 1914, and tomorrow is the first day of 1915 and tonight being New Year’s Eve, watch parties and other social events, a charity dance by the volunteer firemen and a general celebration is in order for everyone. Each is entitled to celebrate the advent of the New Year as he pleases, this is a matter of personal privilege and preference.

However, there will undoubtedly be a big throng on the streets tonight with all kinds of noise making instruments, Indian yells and shrieking whistles will arouse the most sedate slumberer who attempts to welcome the New Year with the snores of sound sleep.

Those who desire to celebrate the advent of the New Year in Portland, or Portland people who desire to celebrate in Vancouver, will be given ample opportunity to do so, so far as transportation is concerned. The Portland Railway, Light & Power Co. will run late cars on the Portland Vancouver line as well as on their other car lines.

Anyone who desired to watch the old year out at a watch party swell café or in any other way which may satisfy his or her desires may do so as the last car for Vancouver will leave Second and Washington streets in Portland for Vancouver at 1:10 a.m. January 1, 1915. Portland people who wish to watch the old year out in Vancouver will be given 20 minutes more as the last ferry leaves Vancouver at 1:30 a.m.

1915

Jan. 1:

Council grants license renewals, saloons open

A special meeting of the city council was held yesterday afternoon to grant renewals and transfers of liquor licenses which expired today. Renewals were granted to P.J. Lackaff, the Vancouver Liquor Co. and the Northern Brewery Co., all holding wholesale licenses, and a renewal was granted to Luithle & Surber, owners of the Log Cabin saloon. Transfer of the license of G.F. McDonald to Harry Peebles; S. Lawlor to F.J. Lackaff, and C.J. Stubling to Neil O’Hara were approved.

Today the saloons are open as usual, owing to the recent decision of Federal Judge Cushman in the injunction proceedings brought by the Northern Brewery Co., which held that the statewide prohibition law rendered null the local option election.

School for the blind celebrate

In celebration of the installation of a large new school bell at the State School for the Blind, a New Year’s party was given at the school last evening. The bell, which was recently purchased for the school, was put up and rung for the first time last evening. It is a 30-inch bell with a very musical sound. It has been placed on top of the engine room and will be used daily. The bell is an object of great pride to the blind students and the music sounds which it peals forth is a very welcome sound to them.

Jan. 2:

Woman with rifle arrested by Deputy Sheriff Johnson

Carrying on a conversation with a woman who had him covered with a loaded rifle until he gradually drew close enough to wrestle the gun out of her hands was the feat of Deputy Sheriff George Johnson, who arrested Adeline Gibson on Yacolt mountains Thursday afternoon. She was charged trespassing by Miles O’Neal, with whom her former husband, G.H. Hutchinson, was staying. She had demanded that Hutchison marry her again and when he refused, she became wild and generally terrorized the country. O’Neal ordered her off of his place and when she refused to go the complaint was sworn out.

She had threatened to kill Hutchinson and while both men were absent from their home she stole the four guns which were in the house, Hutchinson’s horse and other valuables. When Deputy Johnson arrived on the scene, considering difficulty was found in boosting the woman. Late in the afternoon she was seen approaching the house carrying the rifle. Johnson slipped out the door and went towards the barn near where she was and when he had approached within about 10 yards, he was confronted with the barrel of a loaded rifle.

He explained that he wanted to talk to her but she warned him to stay away. He drew close enough to grab the gun and then a fight ensued in which the application of the handcuffs was necessary to subdue her.

She was taken to Yacolt and brought to the county jail yesterday. It is not her first trip as she was before the court about a year ago after she had created considerable havoc to the same neighborhood. She was held in jail for a time and afterwards put under bonds to keep the peace.

Jan. 4:

Taft opposed to national regulation

National prohibition is a dangerous proposition, said former President William H. Taft, speaking before the Bar Association of Boston at its seventeenth triennial banquet tonight.

“It would revolutionize the national government, it would put on the shoulders of the government the duty of sweeping the doorsteps of every home in the land. If national prohibition legislation is passed, local government would be destroyed. And if you destroy local government you destroy one of the things that go to make for a healthy condition of the national government.

“National prohibition is non-enforceable; it is a confession on the part of state governments of inability to control and regulate their own especial business and duty; if the matter were placed under federal control, it would result in creation of a machinery of government officials large enough to nominate any president, and would offer too great an opportunity to persons seeking to perpetuate their power in Washington.”