Good Ol' Days

125 Years ago, Friday, June 11, 1897

Fishing for Squirrels

E.R. Barrell, a hardware merchant of Colfax was in Spokane on business Tuesday. Among other things he purchased while there was a quantity of large fish hooks. When asked if fishing had become suddenly good in the Palouse country he informed a Chronicle reporter that it had not, but that the farmers were using the hooks to catch squirrels with.

This is new and novel but quite a popular and successful one. A large fish hook is fastened to a small piece of board by means of a nail driven through the eye. The board is placed in the mouth of the hole with the point of the hook pointing out.

The squirrel comes out by it in safety, but when he starts to run back by it the hook catches him in the breast and holds him fast.

100 years ago, Friday, June 9, 1922

From the Colfax Commoner

Dave Burns Accepts Challenge From Prehn

Wrestling Bout Will Take Place in Colfax This Month June 16th

Colfax wrestling fans will have the chance to see one of the best men in the game in action when Paul Prehn, of Chicago will meet Dave Burns in Colfax. The bout will be held Friday evening at Danceland.

Prehn agrees to throw Burns twice in an hour and Burn's says, that he can't do it. Prehn comes with an exvellent reputation however and the bout promises to be one of championship caliber.

Prehn won the inter-allied championship at the Pershing Stadium in Paris shortly after the war. He was formerly instructor in boxing and wrestling at the University of Illinois. Among his best records is his defeat of Benny Rubens in Chicago; the winner of that match will meet Myers on Labor Day, of this year. Myers claims the middle weight championship of the world.

In his contest with Ted Thye, middle weight championship he threw Thye in the first of the three falls. Notwithstanding Prehn's brillian record, the friend of Burns in Colfax and Whitman County are confident that Prehn has taken on a little more than he can handle to throw the Colfax man twice in an hour, and the match is arousing great interest.

The match will commence at 8:00 o'clock at the Danceland hall under the management of the American Legion.

A good smoker, given by the Legion, with a good card of events, is scheduled for July 4th. Details oft he event will be announced later.

75 years ago, Friday June 13, 1947

From the Colfax Gazette-Commoner

Two Year-Old Smokes Cigar At Pomeroy Wedding

All the male smokers who attended the wedding of Dick Stravens, Colfax, near Pomeroy Saturday got along on one bridegroom's cigar except this little fellow who is almost unbelievably puffing away on his second "colorado claro." It is not unusual say Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Ruchet, Pomeroy, for their 2-½-year-old son, Dennis Edward, to smoke one ina day.

He has never been sick on tobacco and so likes the taste that when his cigar goes out he sets up a disturbance until it is re-lighted by his father. The picture was taken by the Gazette-Commoner photographer at the country home of the bride, Miss Dorothy Geiger before her marriage, who is cousin of Mr. and Mrs. Ruchert.

50 years ago, June 8, 1972

From the Colfax Gazette

Post-drug tests indicate damage to brain; court drops charges

Said to have sustained organic brain damage from drug use, Donald Bruce Lashley, 23, Seattle, was released to the custody his parents May 5 in Whitman County superior court. Charges of possession of LSD and marijuana residue were dropped after Prosecutor Philip Faris said Lashley was unable to defend himself in court.

The defendant was hospitalized at Eastern State hospital Jan. 17 to May 4.

Tests there indicated Lashley "almost obviously indicated signs of a 'flashback' from an LSD trip," the report said.

Faris said the testing indicated lashley was suffering from organic brain damage resulting from drug poisoning caused by hallucinogens, amphetamines, sedatives and similar drugs. Lashley was unable to determine right from wrong, appreciate his peril in court or assist in his defense, the prosecutor said.

25 years ago, Thursday, June 12, 1997

From the Whitman County Gazette

He should've listened to mama

"Mama's don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys..." was surely resounding through the mind of this contestant during his wild ride at the 12th annual Rosalia Battle Days Rodeo Saturday. Both riders and horses gave it their all during the two-day event which concluded Sunday.

10 years ago, Thursday, June 7, 2012

From the Whitman County Gazette

Lacrosse seniors meet Pearl Harbor survivor

Seniors from La Crosse High School are in Hawaii this week and were slated to visit Pearl Harbor to see the wreckage of the attack which brought the United States into World War II.

Teacher Don Kemper is leading the students on their trip.

"It's tough duty, but somebody's got to do it," said Kemper.

Before leaving, he took the sstudents to Spokane to meet with members of the Lilac Chapter of Pearl Harbor Survivors.

Kemper organized the visit in order to give his students first hand accounts of the attack. The students met with eight veterans of the Japanese raid.

"It was interesting for the kids to sit and listen to them," said Kemper. "That gives them way more than any text book could tell them."

Kemper said the visit will be important to students as they view the Pearl Harbor memorial.