Douglas County Past: Nebagamon insurance scam scrutinized; superstitions rise with death of black cat

Jan. 8—Jan. 6, 1894

Mr. Osberg's narrow escape

E. J. Osberg of the South End had a very narrow escape from being asphyxiated by gas yesterday morning. He sleeps back of his store at 5817 Tower and closed the draft of the coal stove and allowed one of the stove doors to remain open. People calling at the place after his usual time of opening thought something was wrong and investigated. They found him nearly overcome by the gas, but after working over him some time he came to and is today all right.

A white elephant

The county supervisors don't know what to do with "that window."

Late yesterday afternoon the question of what to do with

the World's Fair window

was brought up before the county board. J.D. Willoughby, of Pullman, who bought the Wisconsin building, offers the county board $800 for the window less the cost of repairs. The central figure of the window has been damaged by a storm and repairs will cost $150. The majority of the supervisors were in favor of selling the window and the matter was referred to the World's Fair committee — Supervisors Brooks, Clymer and Desmond — with power to act.

Social gossip

A number of Central Park's young people had a very enjoyable time at a New Year's sleigh ride. Those "in it" were the Misses Grace and Alice Rogers, Mabel Favell, Esther Davis, Annie and Mabel Thompkins, Mary Foster, Jessie Beebe and Messrs Arthur Gillette, C. Gates, P.D. Pederson, Dean Foster, Maurice Strothman, H. Swift, Henry Benson, Guy Hacker.

The Misses Luna and Alice Christie, Lydia L. Tubbs, Alice West, Nellie Lenroot, Anna F. Roberts, Minnie B. Coleman, May G. Whitney, with Miss Pearl Van Doren, received from 2 to 6 p.m. New Year's day. About fifty guests partook of their hospitality, which consisted of smiles and happy wishes, coffee, chocolate, cake, fried oysters and fruit.

The ice men

Between the ordinances which are being enforced by the board of health and the lack of good ice-producing weather, the ice dealers are having a hard time. The territory where they will not be allowed to cut ice was described in the Evening Telegram a few days ago. The dealers claim they cannot put up ice taken 2,000 feet out in the lake and retail it with any profit at the prices which prevailed last summer, and this together with the decrease in the crop which will in all probability occur this winter, will have the effect of raising the price of ice — especially that used for storage purposes.

The Pioneer, Lake Superior and Consumers' ice companies are all at sea as to what they will do if the ordinance is enforced as the health department proposes. They claim that the ordinance will force the price of ice up so that all the meat and packing companies running cars to this city will get their ice at Duluth or some other point out of the city.

Jan. 7, 1924

Big "still" on Zupak far, says undersheriff

The moonshine still located in a dug-out by George Ostrom, undersheriff last Saturday night was found near the home of Vasuil Zupak, near Maple, and not at the home of Joe Mankoski, another farmer living near Maple, according to a declaration made this morning by the undersheriff.

A small still was also found near the Mankoski home but this consisted of a very small plant, just a "can," stated Mr. Ostrom this morning.

Will mayor's office be haunted by eight ghosts of black cat

City hall attaches are now wondering if Mayor Baxter's office will be haunted by the eight remaining lives of a black cat executed this morning by Detective Martin Widness and buried close under the window of the city executives' quarters.

The feline was brought to police headquarters by a young lady who asked that it be put to death. Detective Widness who entertains no suspicions concerning black cats was appointed a "firing squad" of one to carry out her wishes.

So far as the mayor is concerned he opines that if he didn't have anything more to worry about than the carryings on of the eight ghosts of a black cat life would be one long, sweet dream.

Which it isn't always.

Jan. 8, 1894

City news notes

The Doud barrel factory at South Superior is in operation and turning out about 600 barrels daily. Employment is given to thirty men. The barrels are hauled to the mills on a sled capable of carrying 200 barrels.

Only the Grand Republic and Daisy mills are making flour now as a result of the high freight rates.

Jan. 8, 1924

Cottages at Solon looted

Thieves sometime Sunday night broke into seven cottages at Solon Springs and removed loot the value of which has not been ascertained.

The theft was first discovered by Louis McKinnon of this city, owner of one of the places robbed, when he went out to his summer home Monday morning. He immediately notified the local sheriff's office and Deputy Harry Silver, upon being sent out to investigate, found that, besides the McKinnon cottage, summer homes belonging to E.M. Stone and W. Edmont of Duluth; A.F. Chadwick, Dr. T.J. O'Leary, Harry Harvey and Cecil Ball, all of Superior, had been ransacked. Entrance to the places was effected by smashing windows in several of the cottages and breaking down the doors in the others.

According to Mr. McKinnon, his loss consisted mainly of fishing tackle, bedding, staple groceries and sundry articles. Deputy Silver stated this morning that he believes the other places suffered similar losses.

Discovery that Sailstad took out $10,000 life insurance for Dorothy starts new investigation

Was Edward J. Sailstad planning another death hoax, this time with Dorothy Anderson as the beneficiary of his insurance, at the time he was apprehended at Napa, Cal.?

This question was raised here today when information was received that on April 9, 1923, Sailstad, under the name of Clifton E. Kingston, took out a $10,000 policy with the agent of the New York Life Insurance company at Nogales, Ariz., naming "Mrs. Dorothy Katherine Kingston" as the beneficiary, Sailstad described the beneficiary as his "wife."

In paying the first premium on his Nogales insurance policy Sailstad pursued exactly the same tactics he followed at Eau Claire in 1920 when he took out more than $70,000 insurance in favor of his wife, giving his personal notes to the agent for the premium.

It was pointed out that the transactions connected with the Nogales policy as carried through by Sailstad were identical with what transpired in connection with his Eau Claire policies prior to

the fire at Lake Nebagamon on August 26

in which his wife contended that he died.

When captured, Sailstad in his confession explained the presence of human bones and flesh in the ashes of the cottage at Nebagamon by telling how he dug up the body of Alle McPhee and placed it in the building before setting it afire.

Sailstad and Dorothy Anderson, his stenographer at the Eau Clarie Multitone company's plant previous to their flight, are now each serving four-year terms on arson charges preferred as a result of the Nebagamon fire.

Superior news in brief

Somebody's car — A Nash touring car bearing Wisconsin license No. 149-357 was found standing deserted on North Twenty-first street near the Pattison school this morning.

Wolf bounties — Four trappers and farmers of Douglas county appeared at the office of W.J. Leader, county clerk, this morning and were granted state wolf bounties. They were: Ed Johnson, town of Superior, two wolves; Albert Peterson, Oakland, one wolf; Hjalmer Larson, Cloverton, one wolf; and Charles Ford, Foxboro, one wolf.

Articles and pictures courtesy of retired librarian Judy Aunet with Superior Public Library.