Douglas County Past: Superior gets a weatherman; robbers blow up 2 strongboxes, net $8
Feb. 19—Feb. 16, 1909
Bast makes novel clock
John Bast, a mechanic residing at 425 Weeks Ave., has made a novelty clock which has brought him all kinds of fame in the neighborhood.
The timepiece is built in tiers like a tower fortress in the days of old and the military scheme is carried out by a soldier stationed on the front platform. Unlike most soldiers on guard, this one walks his beat regularly, making the round trip in 45 seconds.
On the next platform is a trumpeter who comes out of the tower every 15 minutes, raises his bugle to his lips and blows an ear-splitting blast. At the same time, a searchlight on the extreme top of the tower casts rays of light around the room and makes the face of the clock visible.
On top of the tower is another character — a man with a sledge. At the half and on the hour the sledgeman gives an anvil several resounding whacks, which is equivalent to the "striking" of a common clock.
Mr. Bast has not announced that the clock is for sale, having made it during his idle moments during the winter.
Widow loses her money in alley
Yesterday a widow living in the lower part of the city lost her pocket book containing every cent she owned in the world. The woman's husband drowned last fall while working on a local coal dock. Since that time she has had a hard time getting along, but she has never been forced to ask for assistance.
Feb. 17, 1909
Robbers get $8 from two safes
Safe blowers were busy at the East End last night.
They cracked two strong boxes, one in the Omaha and the other in the South Shore depot, but were meagerly rewarded for their efforts.
The robbers secured less than $8 in cash as a result of their work. They were evidently after nothing else as a check for $6.74 in the South Shore safe was torn to bits and scattered about on the floor.
Nitroglycerine was used as the explosive and the South Shore safe was entirely ruined. The Omaha strong box was not so badly wrecked, the door being only half torn away.
We will have a weatherman
Not to be outdone by anything in the settlement across the bay, Superior is to have a weatherman.
City Engineer W. B. Banks has been selected for the position and the council has arranged to establish the necessary apparatus at the city hall.
Mr. Banks will have it on his fellow unfortunate at the top of the Duluth hill in that the Superior man will not be held responsible for any "bum hunches" that he may have. The reason is that Mr. Banks will not get into the game to the extent of making predictions, his activities, as prescribed by the council, being confined to a record of the conditions as they exist from day to day.
Feb. 17, 1924
Dope-crazed woman poses as officer to get 'snow'
Posing as a federal narcotic agent, Clara Wayne, age 25, crazed by "dope" police say, entered the residence of Carey Welling, 523 Baxter Ave., this morning and demanded that whatever dope there was in the house be turned over to her.
Mrs. Welling told the woman that she had no dope, and when the pseudo officer had left the house after a fruitless search Mrs. Welling notified police. Chief A. E. Buchanan and Detective Peter Ostrom drove to the scene and upon nearing the residence they noticed a yellow taxicab driving away from the house.
The cab was followed and overtaken and the Wayne woman removed from it. Upon being arraigned before Judge F.S. Parker, she was charged with carrying concealed weapons, a revolver being found on her person. She was sentenced to pay a fine of $28 or in default to be committed to jail for 30 days.
Superior news in brief
Visitor here — Z.B. Connor, prominent resident of Cumberland, Wis., was in Superior on business today. He is the son of Benjamin H. Connor, old settler here who established the first residence on Connor's point.
Granted bounties — Thomas Staupe, Patzau, was granted a state wild cat bounty and E.I. Ingersoll, Dairyfarm, was granted a wolf bounty this morning by W.J. Leader, county clerk.
Stability characteristic of Duplex firm plant
The Duplex Manufacturing company, situated at South Superior, is one of Superior's most stable and consistent industries. Since the removal of the establishment here in 1892 from Brooklyn, Wis., there has hardly been a week when the plant was closed down. Employment is furnished to approximately 80 men the year round and most of the men are skilled workers.
Windmills and pumps are the specialty of the company, although five years ago a wholesale plumbing department was established.
Some idea of the extent of the company's territory may be gained when it is known that there is not a state in the union in which a Duplex pump or windmill is not located. Thousands of them are to be found on farms throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska and North and South Dakota.
Some years ago a large shipment of goods was made to China, to which country the fame of the Duplex pumps had spread.
Feb. 19, 1909
Frozen switch wrecks train
A Northern Pacific passenger train was wrecked at 21st Street last evening about 6:30 o'clock and the result was that street car traffic was blocked at that point for several hours. The train, which was No. 104 from the Twin Cities, was running at a moderate rate of speed when it ran into a split switch. The engine swung around and the tender was smashed between the engine and mail car directly behind it. No one was injured.
The wreck is attributed to the fact that the switch into which the engine ran was clogged with snow.
Feb. 19, 1924
Masked event and ice races
Friday, Washington's Birthday, will be a gala day for local curlers, and skaters, both at the Superior and Easter Curling and Skating clubs.
At both clubs, there will be a bonspiel and special events for the skaters. A masquerade for skaters will be featured at the East End rink Friday evening and special races for children will be held at the uptown rink that afternoon.
The prizes in the first event of the bonspiel are eight boxes of apples to the two winning rinks offered by George Pesark and E.H. Keaough, East End grocers. In the second event, prizes consisting of four boxes of De Marx cigars donated by F.C. Marx and four three-pound cans of Superior coffee donated by Evens Groceteria are offered.
Superior news in brief
Two bounties — One wild cat bounty to Walter Beck, Solon Springs, and a wolf bounty to Andy Deleo, Lake Nebagamon, were granted yesterday by W.J. Leader, county clerk.
Articles and pictures courtesy of retired librarian Judy Aunet with Superior Public Library.
