Grand Haven, Mich. March, 1894
3/1
The Dake Engine Works started up again yesterday.
A Muskegon family was almost asphyxiated by coal gas.
Gen. Early the confederate general is dying.
Blondin who walked over Niagara on a tight rope is 70 years old and still walks the ropes.
During the year 1893 Game Warden Hampton convicted 108 parties for violating the game laws.
Bids will be received at the common council meeting this evening for tending the south channel bridge.
During the great gale of February 12 the ferry steamer Ann Arbor No. 2 crossed Lake Michigan from Frankfort to Kewaunee with a full complement of cars in five hours.
Gruschow electric signals have been placed on the Goodrich Line steamer City of Ludington by the International Signal Company.
The Detroit Journal says that Congress will appropriate $23,000 for harbor improvements at Grand Haven. St. Joe will get $20,000, Frankfort $10,000, Muskegon $30,000, Manistee, $1,000, Saugatuck $5,000.
Since the incorporation of the city the following men have occupied the mayoral chair: Geo. Parks, R. W. Duncan, Dwight Cutler, Henry Griffin, Wm. M. Ferry, jr, Major B. D. Safford, Healy C. Akeley, Samuel Tate, D. E. Rose, Geo. C. Stewart, Levi Scofield, T. W. Kirby, Joseph W. O’Brien and Henry Bloecker.
Orrin McCluer died in Spring Lake last night from the terrible injuries which he sustained in a runaway accident at Spring Lake last Tuesday.
Tom Rosie is reported to be ready to challenge any man of 140 pounds or under, to a wrestling match, mixed styles.
Ottawa Co. furnished the Union armies 1547 men during the war of Rebellion. Five Ottawa county men gave up their lives in the terrible Confederate prison of Andersonville. They were Albert DeGroot of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry, D. A. Markham of the 9th Cavalry, Hendricus Nyland of the 8th Inf., Albert Simmons of the 17th Inf., Nathan R. Tompkins of the 1st Sharpshooters.
Ice is again hindering navigation. The steamer Roanoke which left for Milwaukee last night could still be seen from this port this afternoon in ice nearly off Muskegon. The Wisconsin is also supposed to be in the ice somewhere on the lake.
A number of names have been mentioned in the TRIBUNE of possible candidates for the office of Mayor this spring. In naming Wm. H. Loutit for that position, I do not feel amiss in his ability to hold that office in a capable, painstaking and careful manner, and at the same time impart a vim and energy to our other councilmen. Mr. Loutit is a young man. He has had experience in business and is one of those pushing, go-ahead gentleman; a class of whom we should know more of in our municipal government. In naming Mr. Loutit, politics were not considered, nor should they be. Partisanship should not enter into our local affairs. What we want is are presentative men of foresight, good judgment and fairness, who will take hold of city affairs in a business way. Wm. H. Loutit possesses all these qualities.
CITIZEN.
March came in like a lamb.
Geo. Shippers announces that he is ready to meet Tom Rosie in a wrestling match.
It is possible that our furniture factory may soon be running. Elias Matter of Grand Rapids looked over the plant while here today.
Some one borrowed a twelve pound ham from the front of Ruet Wierenga’s meat market Wednesday night. Ruet has a two dollar bill awaiting the person who returns the meat.
The thief who has a desire to smoke good cigars and to fill up on whiskey at less than cost price, is also to be found at Grand Haven. He enters saloons by the front door with a skeleton key.—Free Press.
The past few days, ice fishing in the river has become quite an industry.
A large number from this city have been fishing for perch near Nortonville. More than fifty persons were noticed fishing near there yesterday.
John J. Mastenbroek fell through the ice in the river near Nortonville. He was saved by the cool headwork of J. and H. Fisher, who by means of planks pulled him out. John has had enough of ice fishing for a while.
A field of ice about eight miles in width stretches across the harbor. The ice is of that slushy heavy form, so hard to make headway through. The steamer Roanoke which left here for Milwaukee last Wednesday was this morning in the ice about two miles north of the harbor and appeared to be dangerously near the beach. From the top of the big hill across the river the view was a grand one. Away to the west was the great ice field. The blue water of the open lake, could be seen on the outer edge of the big field. The Wisconsin was almost direct west from the harbor. She was very indistinct in the distance and appeared to have made but little head-way into the ice, on her way to this port. In the ice field were stretches of open water, but not enough to enable the boats to get out of the grasp of the Ice King.
The smoke from the Roanoke could be seen rising over the lake shore hills today. That vessel was working backward and forward in an effort to find an opening to the outside of the ice.
The hulk of the “old Trader” which has been lying for years in the bend of the river, north of Kirby’s shipyard burned yesterday. For many years the old vessel has been rotting away there and was one of the conspicuous marks of the river. All that part of the stream has long been designated as “near the old Trader.” The old craft has a history perhaps if it were all known. She came out in the 50’s and was one of the first propellors on Lake Michigan, and for years plied in and out of Green Bay in the lumber trade. Her usefulness departed when age came on. The old craft was brought there and anchored forever on the edge of a Grand River marsh, and yesterday what was left, was destroyed by the fire fiend.
Gen. Jubal A. Early is dead.
A light will be placed on Saugatuck pier.
Suckers are being fished for through the ice at Grand Rapids.
Nearly 50 per cent of the factory workers of Michigan are idle.
Moving time and housecleaning time are near at time.
A citizen is in favor of placing our water works in charge of a water board, to be constituted of good practical men. Muskegon has such a board and in fact nearly all cities.
The Roanoke was not in sight in the ice field this morning and is supposed to have reached open water. The Wisconsin was still in the ice five or six miles out.
The fine spell of weather we are having makes outdoor life very pleasant.
“Annie Rooney” the Bee Hive delivery horse indulged in a runaway yesterday. No damage.
The Y. M. C. A. rooms in the Akeley block are being kalsomined and improved preparatory to being moved in by the association.
The “greater New York” question will now be voted on in November. Here is a pointer for Grand Haven and Ferrysburg.—Muskegon News.
The steamer Wisconsin arrived here at 1:15 this afternoon with a cargo of 950 tons, after being in the ice since last Thursday. The Roanoke got out of the ice last night and made for Milwaukee.
Excitement on Jackson Street.
Nearly the entire population of that part of the city near the Corn Planter factory was assembled on Jackson St. this forenoon. The excitement was caused by a run-away wife affair, and the parties interested were Mr. and Mrs. Beach of West Olive and Alexander Lalonde of this city.
Some weeks ago young Beach’s wife left her home in Olive and came to this city. She found her way to Lalonde’s home on Jackson St., near Seventh and was in his house all day yesterday and until this forenoon. Beach learned of his wife’s whereabouts and was here yesterday to get her. He claimed that Lalonde had the woman in his house and that she dared not dare to leave the place, because he had threatened to kill her if she did. Beach also was unable to get into the house. Not deterred in his object the young fellow camped on the trail of the couple and neighbors say that he stayed on the kitchen roof of the Lalonde house last night. What his object was is not known, unless he was afraid that his wife was going to elope.
Neighbors learned of the affair and this morning a great crowd gathered in front of the Lalonde house. The doors were locked but Beach was still on guard, walking back and forth in the yard. Once in a while Lalonde could be seen through the window.
Beach sent word to the officers and a bout half past ten, the marshal and sheriff arrived at the place. There was an immense crowd in the vicinity of the house.
The officers crawled through a rear window and just as they were doing so, Lalonde happened to pass through the room. He was quickly hustled through the window and Marshal Klaver quickly escorted him to jail. During the excitement the Beach woman jumped through a window on the opposite side of the house. A search was made for her, but it was nearly ten minutes before she was discovered hiding behind a wood pile I the yard. She accompanied the sheriff to jail, her husband walking with her arm in arm.
A sister of the Beach woman is married to a son of Lalonde, and this woman was also here today with Mr. Beach. Great crowds followed the prisoners to the caboose.
Lalonde who was taken to jail first, made a show of resistance and had to be hand cuffed.
The principal parties in the fracas do not bear the best of records. Lalonde has been in all manner of scrapes and has been arrested for rape and incest and other dirty crimes. He has the reputation of being a bad man. Just recently it is stated he served a ninety day sentence in Muskegon jail. He is a saw mill filer by occupation and has lived here and at Muskegon for a number of years
Mrs. Beach is a dissolute character of the sporting class.
Lalonde and Mrs. Beach were brought before Justice Pagelson this afternoon. The charge against them stated in the warrant, is for “licentiously associating and cohabitating with another.” The court room was packed with people when the prisoners arrived, but they were doomed to disappointment, as the examination was deferred until next Monday at 10 o’clock. Bail was fixed at $300 and the prisoners taken back to jail.
The rate of wind varies from five miles an hour—a light breeze—to 80 or 100 miles an hour—a hurricane. From 30 to 40 miles an hour is reckoned a high wind or gale; at 50 miles an hour it is called a storm.
The payment of taxes on the installment plan is advocated in some quarters. The piling up of great sums of money in the treasuries of the state, county and city long before it is needed is considered unnecessary and only putting a burden on the tax payer in compelling him to provide at one time the money which he could otherwise provide, say in two equal installments.—EX.
We here a good deal about the young men of Peach Plains and some married that carry revolvers, and some are so bold as to shoot hem off after dark, going to and coming from town. Before it is too late to say “I didn’t know it was loaded,” it would be well to keep the marshal’s eye on them, or these young fellows be made to know by friends that there is a fine for the same.
Had it not been for the planks that Mr. Constantine had for loading ice in the river yesterday, one of Grand Haven’s fishermen would have undoubtedly had a watery grave.
Prospects are that we will have another wrestling match.
The past few days the big ice field has been moving past here from the south.
The Goodrich steamers are being fitted out at Manitowoc. The City of Racine has had her boilers over hauled and repaired and new fire boxes put in her boilers. She also has received a Howden force draught device.
A Georgetown, Col., dispatch stated that a petition is being circulated there which calls upon the silver producing states to secede from the general government and join the republic of Mexico. Mayor Parker, whose name heads the petition, says it will be circulated in every mining camp in the West—EX.
Burglars entered Chas. Reghel’s saloon Saturday night and got away with about $8 in change, a few cigars a two bottles of whiskey. Entrance was affected through a back room window. A pane of glass was cut out, and the thief opened the latch on the top and pushed up the window. No clue to the guilty parties.
M. Dykhuis will begin hauling sand to the court house square this week.
The wind has been from the south all day and of a velocity very seldom equaled from that direction.
Ed. Brown a wrestler of Flint, Mich., has been here for a few days past trying to arrange a wrestling match to come off here.
H. Nyland, after six years service in the local militia, ahs severed his connection with the same. He held the office of First Sergeant. Phil. Rosbach will probably succeed him.
The West Robinson correspondent to the Courier-Journal has this to say of Miss Cora M. Goodenow, county commissioner of schools:
If the teachers’ certificates granted in this county next fall, do not show a higher standing than those of last fall, it will not be the fault of her commissioner, for all her Saturdays are spent in helping teachers to fit themselves to do better work in their schools. We heard a gentlemen say that in his opinion, no commissioner in Michigan is doing better work than ours is doing, and from other remarks of a similar character that we have heard from many other persons, we judge that Miss Goodenow’s indefatigable energy is being properly appreciated in this part of Ottawa county.
Miss Maud Peters of Grand Rapids will be at Gray’s Hall on Thursday, March 8th, to organize a class in dancing. In connection with the children’s class she will give instruction in desarte work. Children’s class from four to six o’clock, adult’s class from eight to half past ten. Terms thirty-five cents a lesson.
Deputy U. S. Marshal Donald was here today and conducted the sale of the schooner Wonder in front of the post office. The boat with her sails and fittings were sold to a Mr. Renwick, a resident of Pigeon Creek, for $85. The wonder went on the beach near Pigeon Creek in a terrific gale last November. She is still high and dry upon the shore where she went on.
Case dismissed.
Mrs. Flora Beach and Alex Lalonde who were arrested last Saturday forenoon for licentious cohabitation with one another had their case dismissed by Justice Pagelson this afternoon. The prisoners were brought up for examination this forenoon at 10 o’clock. The crowd that followed them to court filled the room to its cpapcity.
W. F. Lillie appeared as attorney for Lalonde and Geo. A. Farr for Mrs. Beach. Prosecutor Visscher appeared for the people. Sheriff Keppel said Marshal Klaver testified this forenoon of the arrest of the prisoners. After the testimony of R. Anderson and Henry Dornbos the prosecuting attorney moved to have the case dismissed which Judge Pagelson did at 3 o’clock this afternoon.
Mrs. Beach immediately left the court and walked rapidly down the street with her husband. From appearances the couple did not look as though they had passed through a domestic jar.
A Grand Haven firm secured the contract for curtaining the new Court House.
B. A. Ward is here from Michigan City looking after his plumbing contract at the court house.
One more week of weather like we have been having will open the Straits. Traverse Bay is now open.
The state commission car was here today on its way east. Fish were left here for C. E. Wyman to be planted in Crockery.
In three weeks the new county building will be completed, with the exception of the furnishings and fixtures, and it will be but a short time before occupied by county officers.
Joseph King the medium who will be tried at Battle Creek, for obtaining money under false pretenses, and who was detected at that place, is giving nightly séances in Berrien Co., to large gatherings.
GLORIOUS NEWS.
—
Both for Company and City.
The good news was received by the Challenge Corn Planter Co., yesterday from Washington, that the United States Supreme court had decided the case of the Belding Refrigerator Co. vs. the Challenge Corn Planter Co. in favor of the latter.
The victory was an important one as it involved great interests both of the company and the city as well.
Suit was begun by the Belding Co. some years ago. That company claimed that the Challenge Corn Planter Co. of this city had been infringed upon one of their patents in the manufacture of refrigerators. The suit was tried before Judge Severans of Grand Rapids district court and resulted in a victory for the Challenge Corn Planter Co. The Belding Co. afterwards appealed to the U. S. Supreme court and the case was heard by the Supreme judges come time ago. Again the bird of victory, this time final, perched upon the greatest of Grand Haven’s institutions.
What the result would have been if the case had been reversed in Washington, can be imagined.
President Sheldon was in his usual good humor only a bit more so today, because of the victory, and spoke jubilantly of the outcome of the case.
If defeated, the blow would have been a severe one to the company, as it would have prevented them from making or selling any more refrigerators. As nearly 300 men are employed in the factory, the people of Grand Haven can well rejoice with the company. If defeated the works would probably have been compelled to shut down.
It was a victory, as great if not greater to Grand Haven than the recent water works decision.
Our Mayors.
Following are the names of the gentlemen who have occupied the Mayoralty chair of Grand Haven and the years they were elected:
1867—Geo. Parks.
1868—Robt. W. Duncan
1869—Dwight Cutler.
1870—Dwight Cutler.
1871—Henry Griffin.
1872—Geo. E. Hubbard.
1873—Geo. E. Hubbard.
1874—John A. Leggatt.
1875—John A. Leggatt.
1876—Wm. M. Ferry.
1877—Geo. C. Stewart.
1878—Major B. D. Safford.
1879—Major B. D. Safford.
1880—Geo. E. Hubbard.
1881—Major B. D. Safford.
1882—Healy C. Akeley.
1883—Healy C. Akeley.
1884—Samuel W. Tate.
1885—Levi Scofield.
1886—Joseph W. O’Brien.
1887—Thos. W. Kirby.
1888—Thos. W. Kirby.
1889—Thos. W. Kirby.
1890—Dwight Cutler.
1891—Dwight Cutler.
1892—Thos. W. Kirby.
1893—Henry Bloecker.
The first city council, in the year 1867 was comprised as follows: Mayor, Geo. Parks; Recorder, C. T. Pagelson; Aldermen, 1st ward, Arend VanderVeen, James A. Rice; 2nd ward, J. W. Hopkins, Wm. Wallace; 3rd ward, Isaac H. Sanford, P. VanWeelden; 4th ward, H. S. Chubb, Herman Bosch.
The other officers of the city were: Marshal, Chas. J. Pfaff; City Attorney, Robt. W. Duncan; Street Commissioner, John Bolt; Harbor master, Capt. Hebert Squire.
As will be seen by the list of Mayors, Hon. D. Cutler and Capt. Kirby have each held the office four terms.
During the years from 1867 to the present time the office of recorder has been held by Wm. N. Angel and Chas. T. Pagelson more terms than any other Recorder. Mr. Angel is now officiating in that capacity and Mr. Pagelson is a Supervisor.
Mike Dwyer, or he is better known here, Tom Cannon, arrived in the city this afternoon to arrange a wrestling match with Brown, the Flint man.
G. VandenBosch & Co. gained a great victory over Grand Rapids and Chicago firms yesterday, by out bidding them for the contract of supplying shades for the new court house.
The voting places of 29 years ago in this city, were the fire engine house and Harmon Bosch’s boarding house, or the First, Second, Third and fourth wards respectively.
TO THE EDITORS OF COURIER-JOURNAL.
DEAR SIRS: —I see an article in last weeks issue of your paper in regard to the Indians of Allendale coming home drunk after having been in Eastmanville. Now the author of that article better be a little more careful and ascertain the fact in the case before rushing into print with them, for there is not one bit of truth in it, as there is no liquor sold here of any description, nor has there been for nearly three years, and further, the Indians of Allendale very seldom come here, in fact I have not seen any of them here this winter. Would be pleased to have Grand Rapids dailies copy this as well as the other article.
Eastmanville, Mich.
A READER OF THE JOURNAL.
They are still talking river dredging at Grand Rapids.
“Supreme courts appear very lenient with Grand Haven” said a citizen this morning speaking of the Challenge Corn Planter Co’s case.
The one great need of the agricultural regions of the United States is good wagon roads, this being in many sections connected intimately with the necessity of better drainage of the land. Within the last quarter of a century the country has been grid-ironed with steam lines, while the improvement of wagon roads has been systematically neglected, as if the latter were rendered inutile by the former. Never was there a greater mistake.—Chicago Tribune.
The ice is all out and the river has developed a very swift and muddy current.
The early harbinger of spring, the robin, is again making its appearance here on its return from the sunny south.
The Roanoke was detained by ice for a short time outside the harbor this morning and was brought in by the Thompson. The Roanoke ahd a cargo of 1050 tons.
Economy must be the watchword of our city government.
An Owosso manufacturing institution is seeking a location and is favorably impressed with Grand Haven. By a little encouragement the institution might be brought here. The more the merrier.
Dear Sir—Your letter was received, asking what the city would do in assisting you to establish your business here. Officially, I don't think the city can do anything, but I think the people of Grand Haven would give the land and build a suit-able plant and deed it to you in a few years, if it is worthy of it; the same as we did for the glass factory. Hope to here from you soon, I remain,
Resp. yours,
JOS KOELTZ,
Acting Mayor
Postmaster Baar’s new post office outfit will be put in place next Saturday night after the business of the day is over. The new outfit is as handsome as any post office has in Michigan and will be appreciated by our citizens. In every way it will be an improvement over the old and will look far more business like.
John Verhoeks who has been out of jail for some weeks on bail, was surrendered by his bondsman, Wm. Thieleman yesterday afternoon and is again in jail. He will probably not be bailed out again as the trial of himself and Henry Sickman for burglary will come off in circuit court next week.
Thos. Cannon of Grand Rapids and Ed. Brown of Flint yesterday signed articles of agreement for a wrestling match to come off in this city, March 21st. The match is to be straight catch as catch can, best three out of five falls. Two pints down will constitute a fall. Winner to take purse of $50 and the entire gate money. The articles call for $75 to be put up before March 11. Cannon is the wrestler whom Wm. Andres defeated in two matches last December. Brown is a solid built athlete with a local reputation as a wrestler. He will probably train in this city.
Wants a Location.
The following letter, addressed to the mayor of Grand Haven, was received this week:
Owasso, March 3, ’94.
To the Mayor of Grand Haven:
Dear Sir—We are looking for a location for a business and are favorably impressed with your city as offering many advantages for our business; viz; water communication and good railroad facilities. Ours is an old established business, principally the manufacture of wood and iron working machinery. We would like to know if your city would do anything to help establish a factory that would work from ten to twenty skilled mechanics. We have $10,000 worth of machinery and patterns. We would be pleased to here from you soon as we have several points of view.
Very Respectfully,
O. F. Webster.
Ald. Jos. Koeltz, who is acting mayor of the city replied today as follows:
Mr. O. F. Webster:
Dear Sir—your letter received, asking what the city would do in assisting you to establish your business here. Officially, I don’t think the city can do anything, but I think the people of Grand Haven would give the land and build a suitable plant and deed it to you in few years, if it is worthy of it; the same as we did for the glass factory. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain,
Resp. yours
Jos. Koeltz,
Acting Mayor.
Woman’s Club.
Very interesting programs have been given for the last two weeks at the club.
On Feb., 25th the ladies met at the laboratory of the High School and listened to an instructive talk with experiments on electricity by Prof. Estabrook, also an excellent paper on the telephone by Mr. T. A. Parish. March 3, the Club devoted the time to the “Game of Characters” by Mrs. Macfie. The members gave entertaining talks on the different characters. The program on History for March 10, is as follows:
Inventors and Inventions, Mrs. Lillie.
Discussion—Shall we annex Hawaii. Affirmative, Miss Alger.—Negative, Mrs. Hamel.
Battle Hymn of Republic by members.
Mayor Bloecker is in Chicago.
Will Byl was injured about the head by a bolt in the match factory Monday afternoon.
The local factories are gradually gaining their old ground and are all merrily at work.
John Juistema and G. A. Bottje are after the remaining rabbits they left in the woods after their last hunt.
The Standard Oil Co., have moved their local based quarters from near the C. & W. M. depot to a lot near the C. & W. M. switch in the southern part of the city. Hereafter the company will run a bulk car and fill their barrels in this city.
Arthur Stem of Cincinnati and Edward Taggart of the firm Taggart & Dennison of Grand Rapids were attorneys for the Challenge Corn Planter Co., in their recent infringement case in Supreme court. Poole & Brown of Chicago appeared for the Belding Co.
Every one of the great lakes has four general currents running from four to twelve miles a day.
From the top of the big hill across the river a grand view can be had of Grand Haven, Spring Lake and the country about us.
There is a law on the statute books of Michigan which will cost you from $500 to $1000 if you in any way adulterate maple syrup.
There is considerable talk of calling a public meeting of citizens in the near future to discuss city affairs. The city government will probably have some important questions to solve within the next year and some conclusion would probably be arrived at in such a meeting.
A Board of Trade or Improvement Association should be organized in this city. Such an institution should be permanent. Many times manufacturing concerns in search of sites write to the city officers. As the city has no power in such things, business of that kind could be turned over to the Board. At any rate we should have a live association here to promote and advertise the town advantages and facilities.
A horse driven by H. Gravenhorst ran away today demolishing the wagon.
The fleet of vessels that wintered here is being prepared for the opening of navigation and refitted for the coming season.
The C. & W. M. Ry., has built a spur from its switch in the southern part of the city to the new Standard Oil Co. shed, a distance of 250 feet.
The Bloomington, Ill. correspondent to the St. Louis Globe Democrat speaking of the lightning courtship of John T. Hiler and Miss Grace Washburn says that the couple met by accident in a grocery store and were married the next day.
The Young Men’s Christian Association of this city is now in possession of as fine rooms as could be wished for. The entire west side of Akeley Block, second floor, has been fitted up for their use. In all there are four rooms, a meeting room, correspondence room, game room and parlor, which overlooks Washington and Second St.
The G. H. Athletic club now has fifty members.
The following are the officers of the Grand Haven City Band: President, John VanWestrienen; Vice president and secretary, John VanDongen; Treasurer and manager, Martin Vyn.
It is the local papers which stands nearest of all to the home reader. It is interested in the things that he or she is interested in, the little occurrences which make up the every day life of the community. The births, marriages and deaths; the comings and going; the amusements, the entertainments, the enterprises, the hopes and ambitions of those here at home.—Ex.
There are at least 500 people in the city whose name are Van.
If a fire can be conquered Grand Haven’s fire department will do it.
A representative of the Kokomo Diamond Plate Glass Company was in the city Wednesday.
A number of Grand Haven sports paraded the streets with a tandem rig yesterday afternoon.
A dog with a tin can on the end of its tail can still cause quite a little excitement in this city.
Political button holing is now the order of the day and has become quite a feature here.
A large ocean swell which came up the Suielaw stood four feet high at Florence, Or., five miles up from the beach.
Hi Waters has been engineer on the D., G. H. & M. Ry., 89 years today. Mr. Waters has run in here continually since the days the road had its depot across the river.
Last night’s was the first fire Grand Haven has had in three months. Can any city its size equal that record?
Johannes Neusmer who created excitement by an alleged attempt to elope with Mrs. Kuiper has been sent to the Detroit House of Corrections for 90 days for breaking windows in Muskegon.
B. Zwaagman furnishes the Tribune with a list of names beginning with “Van” in Grand Haven, and there are nearly 50 different ones. These Vans alone would form a nucleus for a city.
A Hard Times social, and old fashioned spelling school, will be held in the Congregational church parlors next Monday evening. A prize will be given to the winner of the spelling contest and also the person best costumed to illustrate “hard times.” Persons wearing silks and other royal apparel will be liable to be fined five cents. Singing and speaking will be indulged in by a few of those too poor to contribute anything else to the success of the evening. This social is for the poor—none are barred. All will be made to feel at home.
The city road scraper should be worked more often than it is.
They’re After John.
The following dispatch appeared in the morning papers regarding John T. Hiler.
Chicago, March 8.—The police are looking for John T. Hiler of Grand Haven, Mich., and his bride. Mrs. Adrienne Washburn of Bloomington, who is his latest mother-in-law, incited the hunt by swearing out warrants for his arrest on the charge of bigotry and perjury. Two weeks ago Hiler accidentally met Miss Grace Washburn in a grocery store. Miss Washburn is a petite and handsome blonde, and Hiler pressed his acquaintance, calling upon her that evening and before leaving proposed marriage to her. He made the girl believe he was an exemplary young man and she gave her consent and they were married the following day at noon, less than twenty-four hours after their first meeting. Mrs. Washburn declared that Hiler has four or five other wives living. He is said to have married Nellie Wilkinson of Detroit, Mich. It is at least known that a marriage license was taken out. Afterward he married Jennie M. Graham of Decatur, Mich., who has just secured a divorce from him. It also said that Hiler was married to Miss Leticia Keller of Detroit, Mich. Hiler also fooled Miss Carrie Sax of Toledo, O., who afterward horsewhipped him. Hiler and his new wife are supposed to be in Chicago.
D. VerWy has been using the city scraper on Beech Tree St.
Blue birds and robins are coming around.
Three years ago this morning the old Second Reformed church of this city was destroyed by fire. It was on a Sunday morning and for a time there were grave fears that its sparks would destroy the Congregational church. Flames did start on the roof of that church but were quickly extinguished.
The firemen are of the opinion that “Bram” Fisher is a hoodoo of the worst type. During his two months absence in Cleveland we did not have a fire and now the first day after his return the department is called out. Wonder how long the spell will last?
Editor Tribune:—It seems to be the general impression that a valuable prize has been offered for the performance of whistling in the post office. That is not the case. No prized has been offered, and all those who seem bent upon winning are wasting time and talent in vain endeavor besides spoiling the patience of the public generally.
P. O. Clerk
It is stated that the Goodrich steamers will go into service, about the first of April.
Mr. E. J. Avery has lived in Grand Haven since June, 1845. He says the outlook for this city was never brighter.
The marine season opened at Chicago the sixth, by the arrival of the steamer Chicora from St. Joe. Marine insurance isn’t operative unto April 1st.
The Owosso firm that would like to secure a location in this city, are manufacturers of gauge lathes, carving machines, and cutting, boring and sewing machines.
Awnings are being put up.
Today is undoubtedly the warmest day of the year.
The pussy willow is starting to pop out.
Despite the earliness of the season frost is nearly all out of the ground.
Next Wednesday, being Day of Prayer, the grocery stores of the city will be closed.
Grand Haven is becoming more and more a church town as is evidenced by the fact that business places will close on Day of Prayer.
There is talk in Grand Haven of abolishing the office of city marshal and turning over the police department of the city to the sheriff and his deputies.—Detroit Journal.
The gross tonnage of Wm. H. Loutit’s new steamer Pentland is 827.45 and the net tonnage 617.78. The official number of the vessel is 150,656.
Circuit court convenes Monday and during the term the Verhoeks-Sickman burglary case will be tried. There is already much speculation as to the outcome and it will undoubtedly awaken much interest.
The Tribune is assured that Jerry Boynton’s railroad will soon be a fact. In Battle Creek recently $20,000 was subscribed in twenty minutes for the road and there is enthusiasm over the project in every town on the right of way. Mr. Boynton it is stated is figuring with the Grand Haven Ship Building Co., for the construction of a steamer to run in connection with the road between here and Milwaukee.
The pupils of Miss Laffin’s room held a debate yesterday. Subject: Are our wild Indians unjustly treated? The negative side was held down by the girls and the affirmative by the boys, the latter winning.
P. O. Notice.
On Sunday, tomorrow, the Post Office will be open from 9 to 10 a. m., remainder for the day the front door will be locked.
Drop your letters at the front door.
I have assigned the new boxes to present renters, trying to do justly and fairly, locating each as near the place of the old box as was possible. Keys and box numbers will be given to renters next Monday from money order window. Key deposit fund received from my predecessor will be applied upon your key deposit. Box rents remain the same. Lock boxes with one to three keys (locks no two alike) 50cts, with deposit 25cts, for each key. Call boxes 25cts per quarter, all in advance, as required by post office regulations.
Jacob Baar, P. M.
The following letter from John T. Hiler appeared in yesterday’s Chicago Herald:
Editor of the Herald:—I wish you to state to the public that I deny all charges of bigamy. I was married to a Miss Jennie M. Graham of Decatur, Mich., on Nov. 26, 1890. and received a divorce on the 1st of last April, and for the other one who I am accused of marrying I would like to have The Herald wire and publish the result. I told Grace all before I married her, so no one can part us now. I shall keep out of the way until the truth is known, so as to stop the notoriety as soon as possible. Will leave for the south this a. m. until the truth is known. Then I will join Grace, never to part with her again. Hoping all will turn out well, I remain the same, respectfully,
John T. Hiler.
111 South California avenue.
The office of the fish inspector was a somewhat important one a few years ago. The office is now extinct.
The Michigan fish commission car left 20,000 fish to be distributed in Muskegon streams.
The peach crop of the southern states has been killed.
Mr. George Uhler, the National president of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association paid the local association his annual visit yesterday. At a meting held in the lodge rooms last night Mr. Uhler made an address. The meeting was largely attended, besides the engineers, were present a number of lake captains. At the adjournment of the meeting, all in a body repaired to the Cutler, where a sumptuous repast had been prepared and a banquet given in honor of the National president. To say that all did themselves justice to the choice viands is speaking lightly and when the engineers had finished there was very little in sight on the table. President Uhler is now on the rounds of his annual inspection of lodges in the United States. At present the membership of the association is about 11,000, divided among 85 lodges. The local association has a membership of 35. John T. Farnham is president.
While navigation is practically open at near all the lake and river ports, it is as nearly closed throughout the state by reason of roads that are impassible. Exchanges report the depth of mud as something unprecedented.
Mr. Webster Replies.
Acting Mayor Koeltz has received the following reply from O. F. Webster of Owosso which explains itself.
Owasso, March 8th.
Jos. Koeltz, Esq: Dear Sir:
Yours of the 7th at hand and comments noted. We closed up our business last fall with the intention of going South to establish ourselves but owing to the financial cyclone which seemed to paralyze that section of the country we have concluded not to go, are looking around for something north of Mason and Dixon line.
Ours is an old established business the parties having spent a life time in the manufactory of machines and have their goods at work in all parts of the United States, Canada and some in Europe. We made one machine which was ordered from Copenhagen, Denmark last year. We have ten thousand dollars worth of machinery and patterns could be in operation is less than thirty days, if building was able to occupy. We would want to raise about $3,000 and would be willing to give security on machinery and plant, would not require all down and would agree to pay the amount back with interest in a reasonable length of time. We are receiving inquiries for our machines all the time and may not require all of the if business was good.
The less we borrow the better, for we would not have it to pay back.
Have you a good machine shop and foundry in your place?
We want a location where we could run such as one in connection with our business, as we have the necessary machinery for doing that class of work and it is necessary that we have a foundry to make our own castings.
We have several offers from different locations, but knowing your favorable location and good shipping facilities, we are favorably impressed with your City and think we would like to locate with you.
Enclosed I send you some few of the cuts of machines we make and have sold in all parts of the country. I send you a few of the cuts of the goods that we make which will give you a better idea of what they are. We are receiving inquiries for them all the time and it makes us anxious to get to work. Please save the cuts and return them to me when you have examined them. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain. Yours very truly,
O. F. Webster.
Winter green seekers throng the woods.
The sound of the resonant frog is already heard in the lowlands and marches.
The wind of Saturday night blew great quantities of sand on the sidewalks.
Perch and pickerel are being caught in the river and in a short time lake perch will begin to bite.
Visitors to the city remark at the number of green houses to be seen. If a census were taken of hot houses there would undoubtedly be several hundred in the city limits on the list.
A manufacturing concern from Owosso indicate strongly that they would like to locate here. Their wants should be examined into and if worthy, they should be brought here.
The woodsman’ axe has divested this section of its woods. Some fifteen years ago there was considerable forest around here. Cultivation has taken its place, and in another decade there will probably be no timber at all in this section.
Visitors to the post office yesterday morning found Postmaster Baar’s handsome office outfit in position. The throng that crowded the post office yesterday morning has never been equaled and the postmaster and office clerk were kept busy passing out mail. Today’s boxes are being rented and in a short time post office patrons will become accustomed to the new order of things.
The lake shore is lined with icebergs as far as the eye can see and about 300 yards in width. The bergs present many beautiful forms. Opposite Highland Park a natural ice bridge was noticed. It was beautifully arched, under which flowed open water. The bridge would hold a number of persons. The ice had also assumed the shape of fortifications in many places, guarding the bleak lake shore. Capt. John Walker opened the Highland Park season yesterday, renting row boats to a large number, who delighted themselves in the unique waterway.
Death of Mrs. Hubbard.
Mrs. Elvira Poole Hubbard died yesterday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Nellie G. Squier, aged 82 years. Mrs. Hubbard had been sick for some days and her death was not unexpected.
Deceased was born at Goshen, Mass., April 27, 1812 and was married March 13, 1832, coming to Grand Haven in February, 1858. She has been an honored resident of the city ever since, making her home for the last few years with her daughter, Mrs. Squier.
She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Walter Talbot of Phoenix, Arizona and Mrs. Nellie G. Squier of this city. The late Geo. E. Hubbard was a son of the deceased.
The funeral will occur from Mrs. Squier’s residence tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 o’clock.
Indian Joe paraded the streets Saturday night dressed in the garb of a typical Indian chief, to the amusement of the crowds.
Considerable timber is being cut by Van Doorne & DeGlopper's saw mill located near the C.&W.M.Ry., under the shadow of Rosey Mound. The mill is operated by two traction engines. The thick forests that once stood around it is being exterminated and cut into lumber, timber, ties and firewood by the mill.
For many moons the wind has not blown so strong as it did Saturday. The wind was from the south and blowing at the rate of 50 miles an hour. The southern zephyr brought with it hundreds of tiny grass-hoppers probably from the plains of Kansas or Nebraska. The insects were young ones, just sprouting out into healthy graineaters.
Nearly all the local fishing fleet left for the lake today to set their nets, after a long idleness.
In a few weeks general navigation will be open. Our winter fleet will be leaving and the regular Chicago and Milwaukee liners will be plying their routes. The passenger traffic this year, of course, will not be nearly as heavy as it was Columbian year.
The Standard Oil Co. have fixed up their property near the C. & W. M. switch in the southern part of the city in fine shape. A spur from the road runs to their building and a fence has been built around their quarters.
The minnow season has arrived.
C. M. Westover has been appointed postmaster of Fruitport, vice W. H. Stevenson resigned.
As spring approaches the poor sidewalk begins to put in its appearance.
Last Saturday was unprecedented warm day for this section for so early in the year. The mercury ranged well up in the 60’s, and it became really sultry.
The little steamer Sport of Grand Rapids inaugurated the season yesterday by making a trip of twenty miles down the river. Such trips will be made until the low water of summer.
There are many high bluffs around Grand Haven, but probably the one from which the finest view of the surrounding country can be obtained is Rosy Mound. Because of the extreme difficulty of access there are many who have not climbed it. But once on top, a grand panorama presents itself. Right at the foot of the hill is a forest, but the hill is far above the treetops. The blue waters of the Grand River and its bayous and all the vicinity to the north, east and south of us is outlined.
Twenty Dollars Reward.
The undersigned (a self appointed committee working for absolutely nothing and boarding ourselves) wish to say that we do not look for thanks for anything we have done, but think it only justice that we be not accused of stealing and then lying about it. A few statements:
1. No seats have been reserved before the play went on (as advertised each time.) Mr. Lane has favored no one by saving seats for them.
2. Seats have been reserved for Akeley Institute each time, for the reason that they are paying about $4 apiece for season tickets to other $2 apiece; and because it would be impossible to get 50 seats together in any other way. But they have taken a position that brought part of them quite to the front rows each time.
3. The new seats in the Opera House number but 144. Of the old arm chairs there are 164, or 308 in all. It is impossible, at least we have found it so, to put upwards of 250 season ticket holders into the same seats.
The undersigned conjointly with D. A. Lane offer twenty dollars reward to the person who, can prove any one of the above statements to be false.
To conclude: If the above statements are true, then we submit that all this talk about cheating and unfair or underhanded dealing should cease.
S.M. Wright.
George D. Turner.
Thos. A Parish.
Jas. Orr.
D. A. Lane.
Ladies and Gentlemen:—I am glad that nice weather has commenced. Soon you will hear hammer and saws work up new buildings and old ones repaired, other ones moved around and the old court house marched down hill on Jackson St. Whether it will or not, I don’t know, but I know if it does that it will raise up that end of the city, where it is all small buildings. Get this two story up on the foundation and a bell in the tower, people will feel like they are living in another town. And it is not so much expense as a good many think, and it can all be done without any disgrace to the city or anyone else. M. Johnson.
The tug Bloecker had 400 pounds of fish in her nets yesterday.
Hereafter county teachers examinations may be held in the supervisor’s room of the new court house.
Joseph Kibler has leased the Andres House on Water St., for a term of years and will take charge the first of May.
An effort it is said will be made to have James Robinson the well known Muskegon sport, dog and chicken fighter, to referee the wrestling match between Brown and Cannon.
For many years it has been a custom in the Netherlands to observe a day of prayer in the early spring for the purpose of invoking the blessing of God on the crops that were just springing into life. This custom will be observed in this city tomorrow. The grocery stores and many of the business places will be closed all day.
Mrs. Peterson’s boarding house on Washington St., is being painted.
The fishermen are preparing for a busy season.
Aloys Bilz was elected President of Spring Lake yesterday by a large majority over Sylvester S. Rideout.
Supervisor Simon Stuveling, whose house was burned last week, will build a residence on Lafayette St.
Nearly all the cases of this term of circuit court are being postponed until next term when they may be tried in the new Court House.
To whom it may concern—Why is it whenever merchants have a sale there is a certain merchant that always interferes. This same merchant has more special sales than the rest of the merchants in this city and never known other merchants to interfere, when he has a sale. He must be jealous.
THE SPRING LAKE ELECTION.
Spring Lake has witnessed many exciting election contests, but never one which was more closely contested than was the village election of yesterday.
[This article can be see in its entirety on the Tribune microfilm at the Loutit Library.]
Burglary Case Goes Over.
The celebrated Verhoeks - Sickman burglary case which has been a topic of discussion in this city for three months, will not be tried this term of court. Judge Padgham this morning granted the defense a stay until the August term of circuit court, the prisoners to be held in bonds of $1500 each.
W. I. Lillie, attorney for the prisoners, made a strong fight to have the case go over the term. Prosecutor Visscher as strenuously opposed him. The claim of the defense was that an important witness outside of the state, could not be present. His testimony the defense claimed was necessary for their side of the case. This witness is supposed to be Cornelius Donker now living in Duluth, Minn.
The opposing lawyers closed their arguments before Judge Padgham this morning. Prosecutor Visscher moved that the bail of the prisoners, now $1500 each, be increased to $2000 or $2500 each. He said that bail should be fixed at such a figure that the ends of justice might be met if the prisoners absconded. During the three months that they have been kept in the county jail the board of supervisors has authorized the employment of an extra watch at the jail, the prisoners considered dangerous. The prosecutor argued that to stay the case would put the county to a great expense in the employment of this guard in the five long months that intervenes between now and the August term.
W. I. Lillie spoke in behalf of the prisoners. He said they were born in Grand Haven and had lived here all their lives. One of them had led an upright life, had a family of five children, and had never been arrested up to his arrest last December. The other prisoner, referring to John Verhoeks, he admitted had been arrested before, “but, Mr. Lillie said, if the prosecutor thinks he got such a great cinch on these young Dutchmen, I can give him a square tip now, that he has not.” The prisoner’s attorney thought the bail as it now stands, sufficient; even too much, and to increase it would be exorbitant.
A thousand dollars would be sufficient bail in the case. Mr. Lillie said that if the prisoners should escape, he would guarantee their return for that sum. Further, the attorney remarked that the bail under which the prisoners are now held is far above what any other prisoner charged with burglary was ever held in before in Ottawa county.
Mr. Visscher misunderstood Mr. Lillie, thinking he meant for any charge, and stated that the “important witness,” whom the defense wanted, ahd once before held in bonds of $3000 for the crime of arson.
To which Mr. Lillie made remarks that he had been speedily acquitted.
The judge then passed upon the arguments of the two attorneys, and his decision conceded the point brought up by the defense. Judge Padgham thought the bail of $1500 as it now stood, sufficient, and bound the prisoners over to the August term of circuit court.
Willie Fisher claims the distinction of finding the first birds nest of the year. It was a sparrow’s and contained three eggs.
Grand Haven’s youngest alderman, Herman Nyland, promises to make his mark some day. Though only 28 years of age he is the leader in the city council, and his vigorous protests against measures to which he is opposed has aroused the enmity of other councilmen. Nevertheless, Nyland holds the fort, and in the war of words, which occurs at every meeting, he generally comes out ahead.—Detroit Journal.
In circuit court this morning Prosecuting Attorney Visscher moved that the case of the People vs. John Stanton, for bringing tools of escape into the county jail be nolle prossed. The prisoner was discharged but was re-arrested at the foot of the stairs by Deputy VanHoef. The charge against him is conveying 18 saws into the county jail for the purpose of releasing John Verhoeks and Henry Sickman then prisoners in the jail. Stanton was brought before Justice Pagelson and bound over to circuit court for trial.
Hiler Arrested.
John T. Hiler the notorious Grand Havenite was arrested in Chicago Sunday night charged with perjury and bigamy. The complainant is Mrs. Adriana Washburn of Bloomington, Ill., whose daughter he wedded.
The Chicago Inter Ocean says “Mrs. Washburn claims to have found that Hiler was not legally married to her daughter. The mother of the deceived girl swore out warrants for the arrest of Hiler, and Deputy Sheriff A. S. Slocum, of McLean county, came to Chicago a week ago with papers. Hiler learned that he was wanted by officers and kept in hiding. Leaving his wife in a room on the South Side, he said to his friends that he was going to Valparaiso, Ind., on business.
Detectives Quinn and Kipley, of the Central Station, were detailed to assist Slocum in finding Hiler. For nearly a week the officers watched the house in which the young woman was living for Hiler’s return. Last evening a messenger boy called at the house. Officer Quinn learned from him that he had carried a note addressed to Mrs. John Hiler. A short time later the young woman came out from the house and walked down the street, where the latter had engaged rooms. They had scarcely had time to enter when the officers stepped in and arrested Hiler.”
The base ball season is near at hand.
Jack Burke, a professional wrestler, is here from Chicago training Brown for his match with Tom Cannon.
If reports are true Editor David Cronip is really missing and it is said has disappeared with this subscription books as well. The local correspondent of the Detroit News says his hat was found back of the Goodrich Transportation Co., warehouses and there are fears that he has drowned.
W. C. Sheldon has been granted a patent on a latch.
A. J. Ward who built the Court House will not again be a candidate for Mayor of Flint.
The tug Miller was unable to find her nets this week, one gang having been left I the lake at the close of operations this winter.
There was considerable slush ice off the port this morning, delaying the steamer Roanoke for as short time and preventing the fish tugs going out.
When the life saving crews go into service at the lake ports this spring they will experiment with a new torch to be used to the life boat when launched in a storm at night.
The case of the people vs. John Stanton, for attempting to aid Henry Sickman and John Verhoeks to escape from the county jail, was concluded in circuit court yesterday. Among the witnesses were Verhoeks and Sickman, when testified that they had no conversation with Stanton, while in jail. The prosecution attempted to prove that Stanton was in a plot to release Verhoeks and Sickman. He was in jail when they were first arrested. Some days after being released he was again arrested for drunkenness . Luckily, he was examined, and 18 saws, a handle and a set screw were found hidden in his underclothing. After serving his sentence for drunkenness he was arrested for carrying saws into the jail. The case went to the jury shortly before six last night. The judge remained in waiting until after eleven. The jury being unable to agree, they were brought from the jury room and discharged. Of the twelve jurors all but one were for conviction. The one was a farmer from Wright township whose convictions could not be changed by the others. Stanton will probably be held until the august term of court for trail again.
John Stanton will undoubtedly have the distinction of being the last of the hundreds of criminals who have been tried in Ottawa county’s famous old Court House and Andrew VanHoef the distinction of arresting the last criminal tried there.
An Early Crime.
Probably the first and one of the most brutal crimes committed in this vicinity, was the Haskins murder, which occurred in 1845. Located on the north side of Spring Lake, probably opposite the present site of the Spring Lake Hotel, was a log cabin occupied by a man and his wife, named Haskins. Boarding with them was a vicious mulatto known as “Nigger Dock.” Haskins suspected that this wife’s relations with the negro were improper and one day he remonstrated with them.
“Nigger Dock” became enraged and waiting until Haskin’s back was turned, stabbed him in the back with a butcher’s knife. Haskins ran out of the cabin, but being weak from loss of blood, soon fell helpless. The negro overtook him and held him until the woman arrived. She then held him while “Nigger Dock” literally cut his head from his body.
The latter part of the tragedy was witnessed by a band of Indians from a near by forest. They captured the murderers and bound and brought them to Grand Haven, which was then but a mere trading post. Shortly after her capture the woman suicided, but the negro was tried and went to prison for life and died in the penitentiary in the early 60’s.
Representative Bingham of Philadelphia will try to prevent Secretary Carlisle from carrying out his plan to have the government print its own postage stamps. He will urge that this policy of government competition with private enterprise is unjust.
John T. Hiler, who was recently arrested at Bloomington, Ill., on a charge of bigamy, was well known in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Saginaw and other Michigan towns. In Saginaw he shocked several ladies by asking them to marry him after only a few hour’s acquaintance. One young lady, Mill Elizabeth Blumke, thinking he was joking, accepted him in fun. Hiler got the license, but he did not get Miss Blumke, and when his frivolity became known he left town.—Detroit news.
John T. Hiler, arrested for bigamy by Sheriff Slocum, of McLean Co., at the instance of Mrs. Adriana Washburn of Bloomington, was taken to the latter place yesterday . Hiler, according to his own confession, has been a very much married and very much engaged young man, although he denies the charge of bigamy. He is about 28 years of age and claims to be a song writer by profession. He said yesterday that he had divorces from each of two women who claimed him as a husband but acknowledged that he had been engaged to Lititia Keller, and employee in McGraw’s shoe factory at Detroit, Mich., Carrie Sachs, daughter of the postmaster at Toledo, Ohio, and Nellie Wilkinson, of West Toledo, Ohio.—Chicago Inter Ocean.
A curious objection urged against road reform is the assertion that it is a movement simply for the benefit of riders and makers of bicycles. A narrow path answers every purpose of the riders of bicycles and it is far more reasonable to suppose that the bicyclers, composed as they are of intelligent, enterprising and public spirited men, have been peculiarly impressed with the horrible conditions of the roads in their trips through the country and that they have learned to appreciate the benefits that must come to the farmers in the cities, from improved public thoroughfares.—Rochester Democrat.
A number of young men on a wager the other night ran from Highland Park Hotel to Jacob VanderVeen’s drug store in less than eight minutes.
Muskrats are very plentiful in this vicinity.
Seats for the wrestling match are now at sale at Hutty’s.
The Tribune extends its thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Ledger for the sample of wedding cake sent to this office.
Geo. Kennedy has resigned as surfman in the Grand Haven Life Saving Station and will remain in Detroit to finish his course in the Detroit Business University.
An inch or two of heavy wet snow covered the ground this morning, falling in the early hours. Snow no longer finds residence at this season of the year and by noon the fall had been materially diminished.
Jerry Boynton, president and promoter of the Central Michigan Ry., says that he has all the iron purchased for the road, and that work will be commenced as soon as the right of way has been secured.
I saw in the Tribune of Monday that Mr. A. Stap intended to shut his feed store Wednesday (Day of Prayer.) Instead his store was open until half past four yesterday, and was doing business all that time. Was that true Christian spirit?
H. Arkema.
An attempt at burglary is supposed to have been made at the residence of John Bryce last night. The family were all away during the evening and upon returning found unmistakable evidence of some one attempting to get in the house. The blinds of a front window were open and the window looked as though it had been raised.
The Haskin’s Tragedy.
I noticed in your issue of March 14 an account of the first brutal crime in this vicinity which the writer says was committed in 1845. Now why do not people state facts?
The Hawkins murder was committed upon the north side of Spring Lake opposite Monroe & Boyce saw mill, in a log house owned by “Nigger Dock” as you see call fit to call him, but whose real name was Dick Turpan.
Turpan and Haskins were having words while waiting for dinner. Turpan stabbed him in the breast leaving the knife in his breast.
Haskins ran out of the shed upon some plowed ground and fell, dying in a few moments; the only cut being in the breast.
The tragedy occurred in 1855 instead of 1845.
Turpan was sent to Jackson for life, and died I think in the 60’s.
Five weeks after Turpan’s sentence, Mrs. Haskins married a man by the name of Fox who was an ex-convict and became notorious in the burning of the Taylor Tannery at Grand Rapids in 51 or 52, he swearing that a man named Mills hired him to do the deed, which was taken with great allowance. Turpen was a shrewd pettifogger.
Many is the time I have listened to Turpen talk against such men as George and Wm. Parker and Henry Pennoyer and seldom got left and was one of the bight colored men of the times.
It was generally conceded that if you got into a bad scrape Turpen could help you out. Of course law was more elastic, than at the present day.
A. J. Emlaw.
Romantic John
Last night's Detroit Journal has a column and a half article on John T. Hiler, the most romantic individual Grand Haven ever produced. The article says:
"Hiler is as interesting character as was ever compelled to seek the shelter of detective headquarters. He is only 28 years old, but has been engaged to handsome girls all over the state of Michigan. It was when he came to Illinois and wooed and won a Bloomington girl in twenty-four hours that he got into trouble. The ballads that he wrote and sang in his deep bass voice appear to have been of more service to him in making love than antique titles and tumble down castles on the Rhine have been to many wife-seeking foreigners."
Hiler, it seems, has a penchant of becoming engaged to girls of higher-up families and dedicating songs to them, thus winning their love.
He was engaged once to the daughter of the Chief of Police of Saginaw and driven from the girl's home by her irate father, who presented a revolver dangerously close to John's head. At Detroit he was dangerously near to marriage, going so far as to get out a license to wed a certain Miss Keller. The wedding day was set and the important hour arrived, guests were seated in waiting at the home of the perspective bride. John never came, but sent a messenger informing Miss Keller that he had not yet received a divorce from his wife. The young lady wept and her friends cursed, and Hiler made himself scarce for awhile.
John declares himself innocent of bigamy and has no fear of going to Joliet. During his incarceration the following piece of poetry has been composed for him by Inspector Shea:
Come rest on this shirt-front, my Bloomington dear,
The coppers have nabbed me; I'm locked up down here;
Come quick to your Johnnie, for the charge is not true,
And do not forget to bring bondsmen with you.
President Cleveland will make a tour of the great lakes in May.
Wm. VanSchelven’s pony ran away yesterday, badly damaging the wagon.
The next time you indulge in horse racing “Doc” take a faster horse along than you had yesterday.
The largest vessel on the lakes was launched at Detroit yesterday. It was the Henry H. Brown, 362 ft. long and capable of carrying 4000 tons.
The Christian Reformed churches and the First Reformed church had a Day of Prayer services yesterday morning. The grocery stores and many of the business places conducted by Holland people were closed all day.
The little schooner Alice Royce was the first vessel outside of the regular line to clear from this port this year. She left today for Manistee. Another schooner was also seen skirting the shore bound north this morning.
The Traverse State Road which runs the length of Western Michigan, will be known in Holland as the state road hereafter.
Grand Haven claims that during the recent gales hundreds of young grasshoppers, presumably scooped up from the plains of Nebraska, were rained upon the town. Grand Haven’s claim department is becoming almost as unique as that of Miss Madeline Pollard, formerly of Kentucky.—G. R. Democrat.
Mr. J. Byl is building a wind mill on his land east of the Corn Planter works.
The Spring Lake brick yard will resume work as soon as all danger of frost is past.
The little schooner Alice Royce was obliged to put back to port yesterday afternoon because of ice off Muskegon.
The little steam yacht Sport came down from Grand Rapids yesterday, opening navigation between the Haven and the Rapids.
A citizen suggests that the second floor of the electric light plant would be a good place for a machine shop or a factory such as Owosso parties would like to locate here. There would be plenty of room, and power could be furnished from the plant.
The county officers do not expect to get moved into the new Court House until May 1st.
An incandescent electric light system will probably be put in the electric plant nest fall.
E. G. Crosby of Muskegon is negotiating for the purchase of the steamer Nyak of Buffalo.
There will be a big delegation of Grand Rapids and Muskegon sports down to the wrestling match next week.
In answer to the article that H. Akema had published in last night’s Tribune, I wish to say that I admit that my man was at my place of business a part of Prayer day, for this reason. Farmers that were ignorant of this Prayer day came to town with their loads of hay, and had their loads and empty wagons weighed on my scale. I say it does not show much true Christian spirit to have such things published in a public newspaper and if Mr. H. Arkema or his partner have any more remarks to make concerning me or my business I kindly request them to come to me like a Christian should do and face me like a man, but not publish it in a public paper. That is school boy’s work.
A. Stap.
The local Y.M.C.A. inaugurated their new rooms in the Akeley block last evening with one of the most pleasing entertainments and the largest social ever given in this city. Long before the time of the opening, the rooms were crowded and during the evening there were at lest 500 visitors. After the entertainment super was furnished gratis to all by the ladies auxiliary. Following is the program of the evening’s entertainment,
[The remainder of this article can be seen on the Tribune microfilm at the Loutit Library.]
A Tramp Shot.
Express manager Griswold of the late C. & W. M. train from the north, shot a man who was stealing a ride, through the right foot at Kirk’s Junction last night. The tramp jumped the train at Muskegon, riding on the springs under the express car. He was detected at Kirk’s Junction and was ordered off. The express manager has a right to eject tramps from the car and the fellow refusing to obey, Griswold pulled a revolver and fired twice. One of the bullets struck the man and he jumped off and stood by the side of the track saying “damn you, I will ride anyway.” As soon as the train pulled out, the tramp true to his word, jumped on again and rode to this city. He got off at the depot and despite the fact that he had a big hole in his foot was still able to walk. Night Watchman Peter Cook took the man to the City Hotel, where he was put to bed and his wound attended to.
He was in bed in his room in the hotel this morning and stated that his name was Thomas Johnson. He claimed to hail from Detroit, that his occupation was a machinist and that he was out of work. “I took the train at Muskegon”, said Johnson, “and when some where between Muskegon and Grand Haven the train stopped, I got off and was on the ground when the train man shot at me. The fellow shot at me twice. One bullet I heard whizzing past my head and the other struck me in the foot. I jumped on again and rode here. Could walk all right then but can not stand on the foot this morning. The bullet went clear through and must have passed between the bones.” The trainsmen said that this fellow showed true grit despite his painful wound, and wondered how he could ride on the springs of the car. They claim that express messengers have a right to eject tramps from their cars and that if they do not get off, the messenger is justified in shooting. Because of the many express train robberies lately, express messengers have within reach a veritable garrison of arms. Griswold might have suspected the fellow to be a robber, but it does not seem that any one would be justified in shooting and maiming for life, or killing a man for merely stealing a ride on a train. The act is no more justifiable than the killing of a man for stealing a penny from a store counter. If messengers are invested with such powers they should at least be cool headed and do no shooting unless absolutely necessary.
Johnson will probably be laid up for some time but his wound is not considered dangerous.
Officers from Muskegon were expected here this afternoon to investigate the shooting of the tramp last night. The shooting occurred just over the line in Muskegon Co.
Wm. VandenBerg was in a reminiscent mood today. “Speaking of the Turpin tragedy,” he said, “reminds me of a trip I made 42 years ago tomorrow. It was the 17th day of March, 1852, that the brand new vessel Magic sailed from this port. I can recollect that Col. Bartlett was captain; John Miller, mate; and this mulatto Dick Turpin was cook. The sailors were Peter Tart, David Miller, Jack McCann and yours truly, or in other words, myself. Hod Merrils, Wm. Wallace, Dave Mckintosh and Noah H. Ferry were passengers. We arrived in St. Joe in a few hours and during the trip lost part of our deck load. But I am getting away from my story, for I was going to tell you that Hezekiah Smith, the old colored man of Ferrysburg, is the man who arrested murderer Turpin. He tied is arms behind him and brought him down to Grand Haven in a canoe. Turpin had his examination in the old Griffin building and was sent to State’s prison for life by Judge Littlejohn. Curtis W. Grey took him to the penitentiary.”
The Ferrysburg road bridge is now in service and the tug Stickney is the first boat to go through this year. She went through to Fruitport today.
There will be an exhibition of wrestling, club swinging and other athletic sports at the G. H. A. C. entertainment tonight. Essel VandenBerg and Geo. Garfield will engage in a catch as catch can wrestling contest, best three out of five. Miner Goodrich will wrestle with Tom Davis, same style, for two out of three falls. Mr. VanNorman will give exhibitions on the slack wire.
For the past few days a traveling painter has been around town painting signs and doing odd jobs of painting. The fellow could drink more rot gut in the course of twenty-four hours than an ordinary man can in two weeks. Yesterday the fellow got drunk and was arrested by Marshal Klaver. Brought before Justice Pagelson this morning he surprised the judge by pleading not guilty and demanding a trial. The trail was set for tomorrow.
St. Patrick’s Day.
The C. & W. M. will probably build to Mackinaw this summer.
Jerry Boynton says he has purchased and paid for all the material to be used on his road.
Peter VanWeelden and John VanLopik are down for a mixed style wrestling match to take place in the rear of Wierenger’s market next Monday afternoon.
The wrestling match of next Wednesday night between Brown of Flint and Cannon of Grand Rapids is the absorbing topic in local sporting circles. From present indications, Grand Haven money will go on Brown. At present the two principals are engaged in a little controversy as to who shall be referee.
It is reported that an important witness has been secured in the case against John Stanton for conveying tools into the county jail.
Dr. Walkley is attending to Thos. Johnson, the man shot through the foot. He states that Johnson will be lame for some time, because of the wound.
Marshal Klaver sent Thos. Johnson to his home in Detroit on the 2:10 D., G. H. & M. train today. Johnson formerly lived there and he went down to the train on crutches. He says that he has friends there who will aid him in prosecuting the man who shot him.
Sheriff Smith and Deputy Sternberg of Muskegon county drove down from Muskegon yesterday to investigate the shooting of the tramp Johnson. They had a long talk with the wounded man and last night they saw the messenger who did the shooting in Muskegon. Johnson it is said wants to swear out a warrant for the express manager. The Muskegon officers will confer with the prosecuting attorney of that county as to what will be done with the case. Johnson had just completed a term in Muskegon county for vagrancy.
Mrs. G. Kousemaker died late last night at the home of her father on Washington St., aged 28 years and six months. She had been sick with consumption of the bowels for two years. Deceased was born in the Netherlands but had lived here since four years of age. She married about two and a half years ago and eaves a son Tony, father, and many relatives in this city. Her mother died about three months ago. Funeral will occur from the house Monday afternoon at two o’clock, Rev. Kuiper officiating.
John Kooiman discovered a stranger taking away a whiskey barrel from the rear of his saloon last evening, and being a little suspicious, asked is brother if he had sold the barrel to the man. On being informed that the had not John started out after the fellow. He caught up with the team several blocks away and ordered the farmer to turn back. The farmer did and after arriving at the saloon John telephoned the sheriff. In a few minutes the sheriff arrived and arrested the farmer, whose name was August Aldrich. He said he lived near Nunica. He was brought before Justice Pagelson and sentenced to pay a fine of $8.50 or go to jail for 15 days. Aldrich said that if allowed to go last night he would have the money down here today, but had not yet put in his appearance at two this afternoon. If he does not come the sheriff will go after him and take him to jail.
G. H. A. C.
The Grand Haven Athletic Club pleased the largest audience of the year in as fine and entertainment as could be wished for at the Opera House last night. What with sparing, club swinging, tumbling and wrestling, all combined to make an enjoyable evening. Edson Durass won applause in the swinging of the Indian clubs. Ed. is adept in that feature of athletic sports and has won several medals for fancy club swinging. He was accompanied once by his sister, Miss Carrie who is also quite handy with the clubs.
Essel and Fred VandenBerg indulged in a scientific three round sparring contest. The ladies in the audience were momentarily in fear of blood being shed, there was no damage done either participant and honors ended easy. On the stage were a referee, timer, seconds and spongers who had charge of the …-to.
Then there was dumb bell practice and lifting by Wm. L. Andres, Lou VanDrezzer, Isaac VanWeelden, Tommy Davis and Miner Goodrich. The wrestling match between Miner Goodrich and Tommy Davis resulted in a victory for the latter. It was a good exhibition and the crowd took a great interest. Davis had the faculty of gaining a strangle hold but Goodrich was slippery and managed to get out of a number of tight places.
The wrestling match between VandenBerg and Gatfield resulted in a draw. Each had won a fall when the third bout, both secured a double lock and there being little possibility of either one releasing, it was called a draw.
The slack wire walking by C. VanNorman was excellent for an amateur, and the tumbling by the ….. and stationary work of Andres and Durass was very good.
Interspersed with the athletic program was singing by W. woodman, the Lyman brothers and a farce by the two clowns of the club; VanLopik and VandenBerg.
The hall was gaily decorated with flags and banners.
After the entertainment the shades were removed from the body of the hall and the grand ball began which closed the affair.
A Lying Circular.
The Chicago Inter Ocean of yesterday stated, “the Grand Haven Water Company, of Grand Haven, Mich., through its president, has been issuing circular advices to insurance companies which are likely to create a false impression, unless the whole facts are known. These advices stated that on March 18 the water supply for fire purposes would be cut off, owing to a recent Supreme Court decision releasing the water company from further obligation to furnish the city with water for fire protection. As the city owns a plant in many respects superior to the “Wiley” works, as the private corporation is called to distinguish it from the city works, and as the Wiley works have not been used for fire purposes for several years past, there is no cause for anticipating trouble with the water supply.”
J. W. O’Brien happened to be in Chicago at the time and refuted the charges made by the Wiley Company, and stated that that plant never cut much of a figure in Grand Haven anyway.
Grand Haven, Mich., Mar. 16, 1894.
Editor Tribune:
The above move on the part of the president of the Wiley Water Works Company is certainly a stab at our city, that ought not to be allowed to pass without being condemned in no uncertain sound. Our common council should show the concern up in its true light, that the world may know how mean and low some men can be and this ought not to be passed by unnoticed. Respectfully yours,
Geo. D. Sanford.
When the new court house in Grand Haven is ready for occupancy, there will no longer be no happier men in Ottawa county than the county officials. When one contrasts the old court house with the new one, as we did last Saturday, it seems almost incredible that the county business could be transacted in such a small rickety affair. If ever county officials worked to disadvantages, ours have done so for a number of years.—Coopersville Observer.
Ex-Mayor Waalkee of Muskegon was in the city yesterday. He said there were more people on our streets last evening than he has seen in Muskegon in three years.
Tom Cannon accompanied by about fifty Grand Rapids sports will arrive here in a special car Wednesday morning to be in readiness for the wrestling match.
Tomorrow will be the first day of spring.
The tannery is busy and more men are being added to the work force.
The Athletic Club will probably organize a ball club.
Saturday and yesterday were sultry days and people enjoyed the delightful weather outside.
One who has inquired into the subject reports that nearly twenty residences will be built here this spring.
A 4th ward tax payer would like to know if the engine house in that ward is open to all for use. At present it is used as a paint shop.
Jerry Boynton sends the TRIBUNE a chart showing the route the Grand River Ry., will take through Grand Haven. The road enters the city over the old Ohio road bed and runs along the northern edge of town. A station will be located near the Corn Planter factory known as Spring Lake station. The track will run along near the river front and the terminal located on Water St., near the pier. From the terminal the road proceeds along the lake shore and there will be a station at Highland Park. The plan of the road makes it encircle the city completely.
WICKED WORK OF THE WILEY WATER WORKS.
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Circular Sent to Insurance Companies Whose Sole Object Was to Disturb and Misrepresent.
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J. W. O’BRIEN INTERVIEWED.
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Yes, here is that “stiletto-like” circular sent out by the Wiley people if you wish to see it, said J. W. O’Brien as he handed, at the request of a Tribune reporter, a small circular which reads as follows:
Dear Sir:
The supreme court of Michigan having by recent decision released the Grand Haven Water Works from further obligations to furnish the city of Grand Haven with water for fire protection, I beg herewith to advice you that after the 15th inst. And until further notice the company will not supply said city with water for fire purposes.
As the company you represent doubtless has some interest to be affected by this action, I have deemed it but fair to give early notice of the same.
If you desire further information the same may be obtained from the attorney of the company, Judge Andrew Howell, 62 Buhl Block, Detroit.
Grand Haven Water Company,
By C. H. Vennner, President,
March 12, 1894.
It’s a dirty “dago” trick, a regular stab in the back,” continued Mr. O’Brien “addressed to nobody, but sent to every insurance company representing our city in the hopes of creating a disturbance; you can not imagine with what appreciation such information would be received by the average Insurance Company; to have a guardian angel looking after their interest is something they are unaccustomed to and I presume already Judge Howell’s mail is something enormous, but I hope the judge will be honest and tell the companies just what we have here in the shape of fire protection, if he will tell them that we have here in the shape of fire protection, if he will tell them that we have 7½ miles of 10 to 4 inch mains that parallel the Wiley mains almost to a foot; tell them that our mains are tapped in the proper locations by 62 two-way hydrants; that we have two pumps, 1 Worthington 12x18½x10½x10, 1 Walker 14x7½x12, the former with a daily capacity of about one and a half million gallons and the latter with three quarters of a million; that we have two distinct boilers to steam these pumps; that our domestic water pressure is 45 and our fire pressure 110 pounds to the square inch. Tell them that besides our large reservoir we have a suction pipe to Grand River whose quality will not be as objectionable to Insurance Companies as it was to Doe Walkley’s horse; tell them that all of our industries including the Tannery are protected by the City Works; tell them that besides our two city pumps Kilbourne has another large Worthington that in case of necessity, he can connect with our mains and empty his branch of Grand River into a fire; tell them besides all this we have a steamer—a hose truck—a hook and ladder, and fifteen fire laddies of the ‘we-never-sleep-type’ who are all willing, including their Chief ‘Big Joe Palmer’ to make affidavit that the City Water Works is by far the better system; tell them that the ‘Wiley’ works never have with any official authority, pumped one gallon of water for ‘fire purposes’ since its failure at a public test made on January 15th, 1885.
“Come to think that’s nearly ten years ago and their conscientious duty to the Insurance Companies has just been awakened! But then large bodies moving slowly and as the Insurance Companies are proportionately large I trust they will not ‘heed the lines of this circular without proper investigation; which if made at all will be made here in Grand Haven on the ground in question and not at ‘the office of the attorney of the company, 62 Buhl Block, Detroit.’
“Yes I vetoed the extension of the City Works when mayor of the city in 1887, but I did it for the city’s good after advisement with gentlemen, whose interest in the city was far greater than my own; I did it but that was no indication that I was in sympathy with the Wiley plant.
“At that time there was a strong desire for a settlement which if unattainable and there is no question of the City’s liability, we should go to work for an A No. 1 system giving our citizens good water and lots of it; and that’s just what we will enjoy some day in the near future.
“Yes sir this city is improving its Water Works system every year, and affords better fire protection today than it has for the past eight years. The common council will certainly take official action of condemnation.”
Muskegon capitalists have purchased the entire range of bluffs from Lake Michigan Park to Lake Harbor, a distance of four miles.
A U. S. naval war college is one of the possibilities of the future.
Among the insolated streets on the city plat which many citizens have not heard of are, Merchant St., Elizabeth, Park Place, Colfax, Grant, William, Main, Leggat, Butler, Montague. On what is known as "the island" are the following streets: River, Storrs, Parks, Heber, Kirby, Brayton, Basket, Grant, Boyce, Emlaw, Colfax and Douglas Sts.
The Detroit Free Press says that a young fellow named Fred Tompkins, claiming to hail from Saginaw limped into the Emergency Hospital at Detroit yesterday to have a gun wound in the foot dressed. “The physicians at Emergency cared for the wound and after it was dressed Tompkins left and is probably wandering about the city, as he is penniless, or claimed to be.” He is a tramp who gave his name as Johnson after being shot through the foot by a C. & W. M. messenger.
August Aldrich of near Nunica, will dwell in the county jail for the next 15 days. He is the young farmer who stole a barrel from the rear of Kooiman’s saloon last Friday night and who promised to pay his fine last Saturday. Not showing up the sheriff went after him and placed him in the “jug.”
The owners of stone quarries on this bay do not expect a very brisk time during the coming summer. It is the off year for harbor work and the quarries getting out principally crib stone will not have much work to figure on. The principle job in sight at present is the furnishing of about 800 cords of stone to be used in the harbor work at Grand Haven.—Sturgeon Bay Democrat.
There are number of cases of scarlet fever in the city.
A citizen said this morning, “There is a movement growing to have the saloons of the city pay a city license of $200 or $250 besides their regular license. Holland does this and derives quite a little revenue from that source.”
Grand Haven should have a 4th of July celebration this year that would so much surpass all previous celebrations as the new Court House does the old one. We must begin early. If the new Court House is dedicated on that day we can figure on from ten to fifteen thousand visitors here.
Grand Haven Life-Saving Station will open for the season April 2.
One of the large warehouses of the Challenge Corn Planter Works on Seventh St., collapsed this morning. The collapse was due perhaps to the frost and water in the ground, loosening and settling of the earth upon which the building stood. Of the stock in the structure a number of refrigerators were injured.
The Court House building committee is planning to have the new court house dedicated on the Nation’s next birthday. It is the proper time to dedicate and Grand Haven will celebrate the event with the greatest 4th of July celebration in the history of Western Michigan.
Sherman H. Boyce.
Mr. Editor:—The time is fast approaching when the citizens will choose a man to guide the affairs of this city. Who it will be is agitating the thoughtful taxpayer. The majority of this class are united on one man, and that is Sherman Boyce, and he is a man who has the confidence of the whole community, and is just the one to the reigns at this stage of our affairs. He is a fair minded man; he is economical; he is broad minded; he will watch every penny that is expended; he will reform the government of this city; he will not allow expensed to continue because other mayors have done so, but will call a halt, and will see what every taxpayer is demanding today, i.e. the cutting down of expenses in every department. Sherman H. Boyce is the man for the hour for a great many more reasons than the above cited; but it is unnecessary to enumerate them at this time. Fellow citizens, let us put him at the head of our city, and my word for it, we will never regret it.
Progress.
RED HOT RESOUTIONS PASSED
BY THE COMMON COUNCIL.
[OFFICIAL]
The Common Council met in special session March 19, at 7:30 p. m., with the Mayor, Recorder and all the aldermen present. The mayor stated that the object of the special meeting to be in reference to a circular sent by the Wiley Water Works Co., so called, to fire insurance companies with the apparent intent of having such companies withdraw from business in the this city or increase the insurance rates.
Whereupon Ald. Koeltz presented the following preamble and resolutions and moved their adoption, which motion carried by a unanimous vote of the council; to wit:
[The remainder of this article can be seen on the Tribune microfilm at the Loutit Library. The preamble describes in some detail the history of the dispute from 1883 to that time; the circular sent by the Wiley Co. to the insurance companies and the council resolutions to notify those companies of Grand Haven’s ability to furnish its own water to fight fires; history of using city water to fight fires and ability to do so in the future.]
Freight house employees are now receiving twenty cents an hour.
For the past two weeks people have been inquiring who the distinguished old gentleman was who seemed to be busy soliciting for something about the city. The old gentleman was over six feet tall, wore a silk tile and an air of importance. He was engaged in selling a health exerciser or chest weight and boarded at the Kirby House. Last Saturday the old fellow failed to appear at the hotel and in a few hours Landlord Rosbach awoke to the fact that he was beat out of a board bill of $5.25. the sheriff was notified and that official immediately went to work on the case. It was reported to him that the fellow took the train for Holland. It was a case of mistaken identity and on his way from that town the sheriff got wind that the man he sought was in Muskegon. He went to that town but did not discover him, but yesterday received a telegram from Sheriff Smith that his man had been arrested. Sheriff Keppel went after the prisoner who says his name is L. W. Chaddock. Chaddock had no money and could not settle with Kirby House and this morning was brought before Justice Pagelson and sent to board with Sheriff Keppel for the next twenty days. Chaddock registered at the Kirby as from New York City.
L. W. Chaddock, the man sent to jail for twenty days this morning is probably and all around swindler. He sold one of his health exercisers to Dr. Mastenbroek. The day after the sale he dropped around and asked the doctor if he (the doctor) would not kindly let him take the exerciser as he had a customer that wanted one right away. He said that he had no exerciser with him, but expected some from New York and as soon as his stock arrived would return the doctor’s. All confidence, Dr. Mastenboek let Chaddock take the apparatus. Chaddock never showed up and Mastebroek is mourning the machine and its price.
Ice is again hindering navigation. The steamer Roanoke which left for Milwaukee last night could still be seen from this port this afternoon in the ice nearly off Muskegon. The Wisconsin is also supposed to be in the ice somewhere on the lake.
A number of names have been mentioned in the Tribune , of possible candidates for the office of Mayor this spring. In naming Wm. H. Loutit for that position, I do not feel amiss in his ability to hold that office in a capable, painstaking and careful manner; and at the same time impart a vim and energy to our other councilmen. Mr. Loutit is a young man. He has had experience in business and is one of those pushing, go-ahead gentleman; a class of whom we should know more of in our municipal government. In naming Mr. Loutit, politics were not considered, nor should they be. Partisanship should not enter into our local affairs. What we want are presenative men of foresight, good judgment and fairness, who will take hold of city affairs in a business way. Wm. H. Loutit possesses all these qualities.
Citizen.
The political pot is boiling.
D. Wright arrived from Bay city last night and will remain now to conduct his confectionary business here, personally this summer.
A dispatch was received from Milwaukee, last night, stating that the Roanoke would not be here today on account of threatening weather.
Ed. O. Wood and G. W. Crites, special agents of the treasury department, inspected the books of the Customs House today. They highly commended the local officers for the good order in which they found everything.
Tom Cannon, the wrestler, accompanied by Lou Thompson and Albert Carroll arrived from Grand Rapids this morning.
Chas. Christmas will be janitor of the new court house. The building committee has recommended his name to the Board of Supervisors.
Word was received here from Grand Rapids yesterday, that three young lads of that town had ran away and left their homes, and were heading towards this city. The boys were about thirteen years of age and were captured by Marshal Klaver today. Their names are Arthur Verlier, Arthur Cobb and Harry Plant. They stated they were seeking a job on the boats here and did not relish the idea of returning home. Plant’s mother arrived after him this afternoon.
Declined.
Editor of Daily Tribune:
In answer to an article in your issue yesterday signed “Progress” I have simply this to say, that I will not take the nomination for mayor, nor shy other office in the gift of the people. It may not be in good taste to decline the cake (nomination) but my name has appeared so many times in your columns as a possible candidate for office, that I fear silence may be taken for consent, therefore I take this method of saying to my friends, and the voters of this city, that I am not, and will not, be a candidate for any office. Resp’y.,
Sherman H. Boyce.
Bold Attempt at Robbery.
One of the boldest affairs in the history of Grand Haven occurred last night. The home of Mrs. Ferdinand Meilke of the Fourth ward was entered by a masked highwayman, who pointed a revolver at the inmates, and although making no demands, his mission was undoubtedly that of robbery. He was frightened away by a curious girl, who boldly slammed the door against him.
The Meilke home is located in the Fourth ward on the south side of Franklin avenue, opposite the well known Clubb place. Mrs. Meilke’s husband died last summer, and the widow and her three children live alone in the house. The family were seated in the kitchen last evening when at about half past eight o’clock a rap was heard at the kitchen door on the east side of the house. The oldest daughter Ida, aged about 14 years, opened the door supposing, some neighbor had come to visit them. To the astonishment of the family a man stepped in the doorway with a mask over his face and head. It was an awful scare to the family.
The highwayman pointed a revolver directly at them and was about to step further when the girl Ida, with extreme presence of mind slammed the door shut. The door knocked the desperado out of the doorway and must have carried him off his feet, as a loud fall was heard.
Mrs. Meilke ran quickly and latched the door, and then the family began shouting for help. They were too thoroughly frightened to go outside, but in order that they might be heard, broke several panes of glass in a window. Their cries and yells for help were heard for several blocks around, and in five minutes a big crowd of neighbors had congregated.
After the true state of affairs was learned, the city police and sheriff were notified. The officials visited the scene of the attempted robbery, but obtained little clue who the desperado was.
The man who stopped in the doorway seemed to be dressed in black; looked like a shiny black,” Ida Meilke said last night. “The mask was drawn over his head so that his face could not be seen.”
The girl further stated that the man was probably about five feet and a half tall. He did not say a word during the short time that he was inside, but his actions were more emphatic than words and it will be months before the family gets over the scare.
This morning the tracks of the desperado were plainly noticeable. He left the home going east on Franklin street and neighbors saw him when he left the house running at a furious speed. Turning near the corner Franklin and Albee streets, he ran toward Washington street and entered an ally in the rear of Fred Warber’s and Henry Grevengoed’s houses. The tracks were far apart and would indicate that the man was sprinting very fast. Where he went after leaving the ally is a mystery.
This morning the mask worn by the villain was found. It was in his tracks five rods from the house and he undoubtedly pulled it off, as a hindrance to his sight while running away. About one hundred and fifty yards north from the Meilke house, is a barn on the Clubb place. A wagon shed stands at the side of this barn and here part of the cloth that mede the mask was found. The mask was improvised from a grayish-blue woolen shirt.
The actions of the desperado are apparent. He entered this shed last night and from the cracks between the boards could command a view of all that neighborhood. The dull moonlight also helped him and waiting until he thought the proper time had arrived he started for the house. Before leaving the shed he made this ingenious mask, perhaps taking his own shirt off for the purpose. What followed has been stated. He had probably thought he could intimidate the Meilke family by the revolver he carried and did not suppose that they would dare call for help. He was deceived in this and did not make the big haul he expected to.
Mrs. Meilke is reported to be well to do and it was this which served as an incentive to the robber, who supposed she had money in the house. It looks to have been a premeditated attempt and was undoubtedly planned some days ago at least.
There have been many theories and a number of suspects but no definite clue.
The attempted crime was by some desperado who would hesitate to murder, and he undoubtedly would have used the revolver if any one had stepped in his path last night. Life, at Jackson will be none to severe a punishment for this criminal if he is ever captured. It is to be hoped that the officers will at least investigate every possible theory and land this guilty party where he belongs. Nearly all suspect that it is the work of some local crook.
Tips From a Citizen.
Things we would like to see in the near future:
A free bridge.
Fourth of July celebrated.
A grist mill.
A new railroad.
The furniture factory started.
Our city expenses reduced.
The sidewalk ordinances enforced.
A Y. M. C. A. building erected.
The Sunday sales law enforced.
An incandescent electric light plant put in.
The dog taxes collected.
City Hall and Fourth ward engine house painted.
A local building and loan institution.
A flag on Company F’s Armory.
The minor liquor law enforced.
Spring Lake and Ferrysburg annexed to Grand Haven.
City water pipes flushed more often.
Parents keep their children at home evenings.
A big gang of workmen are engaged in tearing down the wrecked warehouse at the Corn Planter Works. The building is beyond repair, but the damage to the stock is way below what the Tribune supposed. Some of the refrigerators will be moved to the furniture factory and others to the Robbins’s dock, until another building is put up.
Speaking of the shooting of a tamp by a C. & W. M. messenger last week the Grand Rapids Press says, “S. P. Wormly, agent of the American Express company, at this city was seen this morning abut the matter and expressed himself as being under the impression that the messenger had a right to take any measure he thought necessary to protect the property in his care, and in this age of dynamiters and train robbers he was justified even in shooting a man who persisted in riding on his car after repeated warnings to get off.”
The steam yacht Sport will make trips down here from Grand Rapids and return every day.
Enos Stone has a little black driving team that are admired by all eyes. The horses are seedy fellows and regular “black beauties.”
Bert Troutwine is the hustling little agent of the Grand Rapids Press in this city.
Wm. And T. Baker will reopen the “old reliable” grocery, corner Seventh and Fulton streets, next Saturday morning with a full line of fancy and staple groceries.
Grand Haven has “pre-empted” the date as far as Michigan is concerned and gives due notice of a grand old-fashioned celebration to be held on July 4, when the new Court House will be dedicated.—G. R. Democrat.
A Bloomington, Ill., dispatch to the Chicago Inter Ocean yesterday had the following: John T. Hiler, the much married young man, was confronted in police court here today by two of his wives and he at once realized that he had come to grief. Ever since he was arrested in Chicago more than a week ago he has strongly insisted that he had but one wife and she was the lady, Grace Washburn whom he married less than a month ago in this city after and acquaintance of less than twenty-four hours. When he beheld anther wife this morning he wilted. On September 10 last Hiler met for the first time Miss Lizzie Meyer at Appleton, Wis., and they were married the next day. He and his wife took up their abode in Chicago, living with his cousin, Mrs. Carl, at No. 69¼ west Erie street and since then, while on the road Hiler wrote her numerous affectionate letters calling her his wife, and one of them was written at Bloomington the day that he married Miss Washburn. Mrs. Meyara Hiler and Mrs. Washburn Hiler testified in court today against Hiler and he offered no defense. He was bound over to the grand jury on the charge of bigamy. His bail was fixed at $2000, in default of which he was again locked up in the county jail. It is said Hiler has another living at Ottawa, Ill., and it is believed there are several others yet heard from.
‘Twas a Draw.
The much talked about wrestling match between Ed. Brown of Flint and Mike Dwyer (Tom Cannon) of Grand Rapids is a thing of the past and the two principals are on the same footing they were before the match of last night. The Opera House was crowded and the box office receipts were most gratifying. Brown appeared to be the favorite with the audience, if their yells of approbation for any good move that gentleman made were an indication.
Wrestling began at shortly after 8:30. Lon Lehman was chosen referee. On the mat Brown appeared to be 30 pounds heavier than Cannon. For an hour the two the gladiators walked around each other waiting for an opening and if one was secured thee very soon broke away. Before the match was half over it became evident that Brown was too heavy for Cannon and the latter too quick for Brown. Cannon was cat-like and cunning and could wiggle like an eel from any hold.
For nearly three and a half long hours the match continued. Odds were always easy and at the end of every hour the contestants took a few minutes rest, and drank short “swigs” from suspicious looking bottles. At a few minutes before midnight, there being little likelihood of a fall and both Brown and Cannon consenting, the match was declared a draw.
Various conclusions were arrived at by the audience some claiming “fake” but the majority were of the opinion that it was a square shake. A fall for either man and wrestling a little livelier in the early part of the game would have caused more satisfaction and enthusiasm though.
An early tradition of the Indian tribes of this region was as follows: many moons ago the Ottawa and Chippewa dwelt in peace upon the shores of Lake Michigan. One day two warriors of each tribe became engaged in a quarrel over a fishing net and the Ottawa stabbed the Chippewa. War between the two great tribes was imminent. The Ottawa wished to effect an amicable settlement but the Chippewa were for fighting. At last the affair was settled by the Ottawa ceding to the Chippewa all the Grand Traverse region. They were all allowed access to all the rivers and lakes of the peninsula.
Geerard Verberg died at eleven o’clock this morning, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. DeRyke, aged 67 years 2 months and 28 days. Deceased was born in the Netherlands on Christmas Day 1826, and was an old resident of the city. He had been sick for some time.
Good Friday.
Congress will probably appropriate $25000 for Grand Haven harbor.
The chief engineer of this district recommends that vegetation should be induced to grow on the sand dunes on the north side of the river, thereby preventing the sand from drifting and filling up the river channel.
Grand Haven's piers are respectively 3187 and 5576 feet in length.
All the light houses on the lake are now in service.
The schooner Addie arrived here from Manistee yesterday with a load of shingles. The Addie is the first sail vessel to arrive this year.
Duluth has conferred quite an honor upon Grand Haven through one of our oldest residents. A street in that town has been named after Mrs. N. I. Beaudry of this city. It came about this way: Mr. T. Hugo, one of the council men of the city of Duluth, was granted the privilege of naming a number of streets. One of them he named Beaudry St., and all were accepted by the city. A town in Polk county, Minnesota, in the Red river region is named Beaudry after a brother of N. I. Beaudry, which would seem to indicate the name is quite popular in Minnesota.
The greater portion of the town of Eastmanville was destroyed by fire Monday night. The buildings were burned including five belonging to Thos. Hefferan and John Wagner’s old store. The fire started in Simon’s store and could have been put out, but people were afraid that a keg of powder which was in the building would blow up. Hefferan’s house and the Congregational and M. E. churches were saved. A man named Snyder suffered the loss of $400 by the fire burning the money he had in a safe. The blow to the town was a severe one, the worst being that there was very little insurance.
Grand Rapids chimney sweeps were about the city today.
The earnings of the D., G. H. & M. Ry., thus far this year amounted to $145,000.
A toy balloon was sent up in Chicago and landed in Chesaning, Mich.
The Goodwin shingle mill at Port Sheldon was destroyed by fire this week.
New Postoffice Outfit.
We certainly have a “Reform Administration”—at least in our postoffice. Mr. Jacob Baar in taking possession of the office paid a high compliment to the cultured taste of this community in providing a new outfit for the office, made by the Corbin Cabinet Co., of New Britain, Conn., and Camden, N. Y. Its polished wood work of oak, its ground, figured and plain glass, its ornamental metal work, its conveniences for depositing mail and for general delivery of letters and papers leave nothing to be desired by the fastidious lady.
It has 249 lock boxes, 560 call boxes and 170 boxes for letters and papers in general delivery. For lock and call boxes there has been a larger demand than under any other administration. There are 130 call boxes and 40 lock boxes still for rent; and when demanded 100 more can be speedily added.
Especially worthy of note is the very cozy and convenient room for obtaining money orders. Instead of having, as heretofore, to talk with the official through a glass plate, one is separated from him only by an open grate of polished brass bars, and at hand is every convenience for writing and transacting business without distraction of disturbances by a bustling crowd.
As the approach of this coming spring time is heralded in manifold ways, so is the coming growth and prosperity of our town, and one of these is the improvement in our postoffice, in securing which and in renovating the room Postmaster Baar has laid the public under a debt of gratitude.
This is a 3rd class office whose salary ranges between $1,000 and $2,000. Were all the U. S. officials required to pay postage—as justice and fairness require, but as the law does not—this would be a second class office with a salary ranging from $2,000 to $3,000. In lack of this source of revenue, the income of the office can be augmented by larger calls for money orders and box rents; both of which, happily, are on the increase. Thereby, this office may soon belong to the second class, as the work done warrants it to be.
Capt. Chas. Lyman will go to Buffalo to take charge of the steamer Nyack which has been purchased by E. G. Crosby of Muskegon, to go on the Milwaukee-Muskegon route.
Chas. Dake has received an offer from one of the largest bicycler manufacturers in the east to go on the track and ride their wheel in class B this year.
D. Wright opened his well known confectionary establishment today with his fine line of candies as ever offered, for sale in Grand Haven. Lowney’s celebrated chocolates and every grade of candy fill his counters. Former customers are cordially invited.
Politics, politics, politics.
A broken line was the cause of the electric lights being out last night.
Hundreds of corn planters are being moved to N. Robbins warehouse from the demolished ware house at the Planter works.
There was a great deal of fear among peach farmers as to how the peach trees stood last night’s cold snap. The buds were very far advanced and they are undoubtedly badly injured.
Old Jackman, the piano tuner, who has been in the city for a number of days, was arrested Saturday night for drunkenness and was sent to jail for seven days by Justice Angell. Jackman comes from Grandville. Whiskey has been his downfall and although well educated, now travels through the country towns eking out a bare existence.
The steamer Nyack of Buffalo which was purchased by E. G. Crosby of Muskegon to ply between Muskegon and Milwaukee the coming season will be officered by Grand Haven men. The Nyack is a vessel of about the same size of the Roanoke. Her officers will be, Master, Chas. A. Lyman; 1st officer, O. J. Parker; 2nd officer, Thos. Trail; Cook, Wm. Kletie.
A green Christmas and a white Easter is an old proverb that came true this year.
Groups of politicians can be found in nearly every store and every corner of the city today.
The court house building committee have recommended a salary of $50 a month to the court house janitor.
Fred Zeldenrust, aged about 15 years had his right leg broken near the ankle shortly before noon today. Fred works in Dan Gale’s grocery and was in the rear end of the store when he engaged in a friendly muffle with Verne Goodrich. In some manner his leg was caught under a box and broken. Young Zeldenrust sat down and quietly awaited the arrival of the surgeon who soon arrived and set the broken limb.
The fifteenth annual report of the secretary of state has some interesting figures for statistic observers. This report shows Zeeland is the banner township of Ottawa. It leads in improved lands, 19,049 acres; Wright has 14,007. It has more farms than any other township in the county, viz. 296; Jamestown has 284. In improved land Zeeland is the third township in Michigan. Zeeland raised 5,269 tons of hay which very few townships equal. It raises the largest amount of oats in the county, 36,472 bushels. But it is in cattle that Zeeland is head and shoulders above any other township in the state. It had 1,420 milch cows last year. In all Michigan only one township beat those figures and that was Livonia in Wayne county. The wheat township of the county is Jamestown. Crockery produces the most potatoes, Jamestown the most clover seed, Tallmadge has the largest farms; Chester raises the largest number of hogs, Wright the most sheep, wool and apples, Tallmadge the most grapes and in strawberries and small fruit Grand Haven takes the cake.
Michigan has 120 Chinamen.
Clothes pin manufacturers have just had a convention in Cleveland.
The Carrie Ryerson brought in a scow load of lumber for the Corn Planter Saturday.
Snow began falling late Saturday night and yesterday morning the earth was clothed in its wintry robe. It snowed in flurries yesterday and last night and today there are several inches of snow on the ground. A number of sleighs which have been laid by until next winter were brought out yesterday and the novelty of spring sleighing enjoyed.
The Goodrich steamers will be officered as follows this season: Virginia, Capt. H. E. Stines; Engineer G. P. Roth; Indiana, Capt. A. Gallagher; Engineer, R. Flint; city of Racine, Capt. J. M. Gee; Engineer, B. Beerman; City of Ludington; Capt. Wm. Nicholson; Engineer, John Bushman; Chicago, Capt. Gorge Wittey; Engineer, G. Neidert; Muskegon, Capt. Edmund Carns; Engineer, T. Dorsey.
It is unlawful to kill fish with a spar in March, April, May and June.
About twelve miles south of this city on the lake shore, half way between here and Holland is the town, or what is left of it, of Port Sheldon. This deserted town when it was founded in 1836 was designed to be the metropolis of the west. It was founded by a party of New York and Philadelphia capitalists. Alexander H. Jaudon of Philadelphia being at the head. They thought that at some day it would be the great emporium of the lakes. Fifteen frame buildings were erected on the town site, a $20,000 saw mill and a $60,000 hotel. An elegant map of the town was engraved which showed a city of 124 blocks. Seven lots were reserved for churches, one for a fish market, four for railroads and a number for school houses and a city hall. A railroad was surveyed straight across to Port Huron. A $10,000 depot was built. In 1838 when the population of the town was nearly a thousand the great panic of that year passed over the country and the biggest boom in the history of Michigan “busted.” The boomers left and all that is left of this once remarkable town are traces of streets and walks and a number of buildings fast going to decay. In two years the company spent over $300,000 in this town in a Michigan wilderness.
Compared with Grand Haven, Holland seems particularly fortunate in having so few boat accidents. Two young people were drowned at the resort at Holland last fall and the quadruple drowning accident on Black Lake Saturday night will form another dark page in local chronology.
The government will establish a small repair yard just off Water St.
3,000,000 white fish have been planted in the lake near St. Joe.
Andy Falls of Spring Lake will put the Spring Lake Grand Haven bus on the route next Monday morning, April 2nd.
The chief of the Weather Bureau desires to call attention to the investigation of the currents of the Great Lakes during the seasons of 1892-’93, and would request the assistance of all interested persons in advancing this important work. Vessel masters have kindly floated in the different lakes bottles containing a paper giving the position where the bottle was floated and date of floating. A number of these bottles have been recovered, but there is still a large number yet to be found, and when found please complete the paper in the bottle, enclose it in the penalty envelope (which requires no postage) and forward it promptly to Washington, when the finder will receive proper acknowledgement.
This morning’s Grand Rapids Democrat publishes a picture and the following sketch of our new postmaster: “Grand Haven is still cordially shaking hands with itself over the appointment of Jacob Baar as postmaster. The town has found that a hustling, successful business man makes the same sort of government official. He has already equipped the office with an entirely new outfit in the way of modern boxes and the post office has been thoroughly over-hauled, all dead letters removed and the interior renovated. In addition to this, the new postmaster has reduced the distribution of mails to a system and has surrounded his clerks with an atmosphere of promptness and dispatch that is decidedly gratifying to the business men and also to those who have never received any mail and never expect any, but have fallen into the habit of dropping into the office every day with an air of confident inquiry.”
The South Haven and Holland life saving crews were here to be examined by Capt. Robbins yesterday.
Four Men Drown at Holland.
Many families are mourning in the neighboring city of Holland today. The lives of four young men of the city were snuffed out in the brief space of a few minutes and their bodies are supposed to be at the bottom of Black Lake.
Last Saturday night Chas. Petrie, Eugene McKay, Calvin Shafer and Irvin Thate, four young men employed in the Cappon & Bertach tannery started across Black Lake about 11 o’clock at night. They went across in a little duck boat, taking a tent, lunch baskets and guns. Their intention was to camp out on the shore of the lake and go hunting early Sunday morning.
A heavy gale was sweeping across the lake all day and evening Saturday, and Sunday the over turned boat, lunch baskets and hats of some of the party were found on the south shore of the lake several miles from the city. No member of the party has yet shown up and there is very little doubt that all were drowned. A large party is dragging the lake for the bodies.
Thate and McKay were single men but Petrie and Shafer were married and had families.
The spot where they are supposed to have drowned is very near the spot where the man Pound was murdered and his body sunk in the mud a year ago. A professor was also drowned near there a few years ago.
The battle of the primaries is over and now comes the greater one at the polls.
Geo. Eastman of Grand Rapids was one of the first white men to come to the Grand River Valley. He came here about 60 years ago.
The popular conductor of the C. & W. M. R. R. going south this morning held the train 12 minutes to enable the handsome and bright young ladies of Akeley to secure their tickets home for a week’s vacation.
The matter of the dedication of the new court house has been left to the building committee.
The advance guard of Coxey’s on to Washington expedition have reached Grand Haven under the leadership of the unknown.
C. H. Venner, president of the Wiley Water Works Co., said today that, Macawber like, he was waiting for something to turn up. A circular is to be sent out by the company announcing an increase in the water rental of 25 per cent. This is necessary in order to keep on the right side of the books.
Geo. Hancock & Son wish to thank the people of Grand Haven for their Easter patronage and also wish to say they do not care to do business on Sunday. They would remind some that is as much a violation of the law to take flowers from the green houses as to take goods from the counters of the stores, and in many cases the loss would be much more than simple money value of the flowers.
No better evidence of the dismal outlook for carrying business for the coming season can be found than that of the large number of vessels lying at the docks where they wintered with no indication of their getting out for business. It is probable that a large number of them will not move at all in the early part of the season, as the volume of business will be small and rates will be so badly cut as to have little temptation for vessel owners.
It has been suggested by some students of food products that the wild rice of the Northern lakes might be profitably cultivated for food. It has a good grain, but it falls very easily when ripe, and is thus lost. The Indians, however, ate it, and a book on Indian manners and customs contains a plate representing a party of Sioux gathering wild rice from bark canoes. One woman paddles the canoe while another knocks the rice from its hold with a stick.
Republican City Convention.
With the exception of won office all of the candidates nominated by the Republican city convention were selected by acclamation. There was no brawling as in some years but every candidate appeared to have unanimous support.
[The remainder of this article can be seen in the Tribune microfilm at the Loutit Library. In brief the following candidates were selected: Mayor, John Vaupell; Treasurer, Dan Gale; Tellers, Messrs. Geo. W. McBride and Geo. A. Faar; Marshal, John Klaver; Justice of the Peace (full term), Rev. A. S. Kedzie; Justice of the Peace to fill vacancy, Rev. R. Lewis; School Inspector, Geo. W. McBride; 1st and 2nd Ward Supervisor, Charles N. Dickenson; 3rd and 4th Ward Supervisor, Peter Klaver.]
The Ideal Masquerade.
By far the best, and the largest attended masquerade ever given in this city was by the Ideal Club at the Opera House last night. There have been masquerades in this city galore, but never before such a one as that of last evening, and those who were so fortunate as to be present declare that it will be many a year before its like is seen again in Grand Haven — unless may haps the Ideals surpass it next year.
The mysterious “20” were out in force and the management worked hard to make the ball the success it was. It was the largest attended ball of the year.
The decorations were superb, the costumes, many and very unique and magnificent. But it was the music that won the admiration of all. It was simply out of sight. “That sort of music that seemed to hypnotize a fellow and keep him moving and in ecstasy all the time” as one of the masqueraders put it. The music was by Herrick’s well known orchestra of Muskegon and the praise they received and the reputation thy won here could be estimated in dollars and cents to them.
On of the features of the ball was a miniature “Coxey army” which appeared in Si Perkin’s costume marching to the tune of “The Girl I Left Behind Me.” The army kept the crowd in roars of laughter until they disbanded. Their weapons and wearing apparel are on exhibition in Chamber’s barber shop today.
After the unmasking a bounteous supper was prepared by the W. R. C. to which full justice was done.
The ball broke up at four this morning and the big crowd dispersed. It was the last and most glorious affair of its kind of the season.
Case Ball as Bridget was simply out of sight at the Ball.
Geo. D. Turner has rented the two northeast corner rooms in the new court house basement at the rate of $130 a year.
The Court House building committee will undoubtedly recommend July 4th as the day to dedicate the new Court House.
Capt. Thomas McCambridge will be master of Wm. H. Loutit’s new steamer Pentland, John Fernham, chief engineer and Robt. McKay, mate.
The Board of Supervisors closed their special session this noon. The Board accepted the new court house and the report of the building committee, with the exception of the salary of the court house janitor. A salary of $600 per year had been recommended by the committee but the board reduced it to $500. Chas. Christmas was appointed janitor, his duties to begin April 1st.
Field Notes.
Western Michigan is not appreciated even by its own residents. The cold and severe storms that have gone north, south, east and west, have not disturbed the shore region. Only twice has the mercury touched zero and three degrees below is the coldest at this point. Blizzards are unknown. At this writing all kinds of fruit promise abundantly. We believe no country has less sickness.
In this section we have been passing from lumbering to fruit-growing, not a very easy transition as every one knows who has had the experience. The people are getting safely across the chasm. Now and then one is hunting old logs to the neglect of his farm opportunities.
With opened-eyed enterprise this shore country will surprise more than the natives.
Some things need immediate attention; things that cost little else than attention. Strange that such a commodity should be so scare. Every farm, no matter to what purpose it is put, must have some good stock for so many do not seem to realize yet that it costs as much to keep the poorest as it does the best. There are too many instances where four or more cows are kept to do the work of one. Horses, oxen, colts, calves and pigs are mere caricatures of their kind. We need a cattle craze with a mania to learn how to keep them with the greatest profit.
There are good homes, beautiful orchards, fine meadows and productive fields all along this shore, waiting a little push and adoption for development.
The great cause of failure among orchards is the lack of fertilization, right pruning and thinning of fruit. Orchards are left till they have top enough for two and then slashed. A work which should have been carefully distributed through each year. In no case should heavy tops be allowed. Over-bearing is the most fruitful cause of disease and inferior fruit. A good way to thin fruit is to prune close. Frequent stirring of the ground is absolutely necessary to retain moisture as well as to kill foul stuff and utilize the gasses.
We have the advantages of lake moisture. Give our grand old lake a fair chance and it will prove a rival of the irrigation system of the western slope.
No doubt better work will be done as the wherewith to do appears. If tobacco and beer leakage were stopped no small sum would come of it to help on and out.
W. W. Rork.
Agnew, March 27th
The Coxey army now numbers 175.
The sun today broke up the short spell of sleighing.
Col. J. G. Lydecker says that the prospects of improving Grand River this year are very discouraging.
During the gale Saturday the waves cut away the beach and wrecked the entire system of walks in front of the pavilion at Lake Michigan park, Muskegon.
Two loaded freight cars and a cabin car ran off the track on the C. & W. M. switch west of the depot this morning. The accident was caused by an open switch. The cabin car and one freight car were badly damaged and will require the wrecker to get them to the track.
Something original, number 9.
The prospects for marine business on Lake Michigan for the coming season are anything but bright. Many vessel owners are not fitting out their boats and will not do so unless they are sure of something to do.
March 1894 has been characterized by the most remarkable temperature extremes since the establishment of the weather bureau. Within six days over a large portion of the country east of the Rocky Mountains both the highest and lowest temperatures yet observed during March have been reported.
The parties who own the stock of the Wiley water works of this city also have plants in Adrian, Appleton, Wis., Tiffin, O., Omaha and a number of cities in Illinois and also in Denver. The plant of Appleton was built the same year as the one here.
Suicide in Spring Lake.
Mrs. Johannes Reidema of Spring Lake suicided shortly before noon today by hanging.
The particulars as learned were as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Reidema live in what is known as the Dutch town section of Spring Lake. They have no children. Mr. Reidema on arriving home this noon found his wife hanging. Dr. Brown was summoned and the woman was alive when cut down. Last reports intimated that she had died.
Mrs. Reidema was probably about 50 years of age, was a large woman and weighed at least 200 pounds. What caused her to commit the rash dead was not learned.
Mr. and Mrs. Reidema have lived in Spring Lake for a number of years and Mr. Reidema was for a time tender of the Spring Lake bridge at Ferrysburg.
Building Committee Report.
The court house building committee supervisors at their session this week that the new court house was completed except for a few details. The contract called for the expenditure of $46,803.81. Of the amount $43,328.30 has been paid leaving a balance due of $3,485.51. The committee recommended that the contract be declared fulfilled. Three thousand dollars of the amount due was recommended to be paid upon the adoption of their report and $485.51 as soon as the details are to be completed.
The committee deemed it but proper that fitting expression be given the satisfactory manner in which the work of the building has been done, which they would do as soon as the building was completed some time in June
Contracts have been made to furnish the building as follows:
Grand Haven School Furniture Co., furniture, $2,958.
Fenton Metallic Co., Jamestown, N.Y. metallic fixtures, $1,500.
White Mfg. Co., Chicago, gas fixtures, $1,000.
F. Engle & Co., Muskegon, mantels courtroom and offices $689.
O. VandenBosch & Bro., curtains and fixtures $91.
The aggregate amount of these contracts was $6,338, being $2,000 less than was estimated. Completing the basement and placing the heating apparatus in the lower offices cost and additional $132. In order to give better ventilation in vaults, dead lights have been place in the outside walls of the vaults at a cost of $200.
As to the financial features connected with the building, $35,000 voted by the people, first installment paid. A second installment of $15,000 in bond has been issued. There will be a third installment of $10,000 of which $2,000 is designed for the court house and $8,000 for jail improvement.
A salary of $600 per year was recommended to Chas. Christmas as court house janitor. The committee has made a tender of the old court house to the city which has accepted.
The report recommended that the committee be directed to complete the grading and the sodding of the court house square. Also, that the attention of the citizens of Grand Haven be directed to the desirability of an early removal to the city hall from court house square.
The committee suggested that the board determine the total insurance on the new building, which at present is $25,000.
The report of the committee was adopted with the exception of Chas. Christmas’ salary which was reduced to $500.
We have received from the American Sports Publishing Company, 241 Broadway, New York, and advance copy of Spalding’s League Guide, for 1894, and from a glance as its table of contents it is evident that the work is larger and more interesting in every respect than any previous issue of the Guide. The volume for 1894 is the seventeenth annual edition of the work, as the first League was issued in the spring of 1876.
Grand Haven has been a city for 27 years.
A list of all the voters of this city can be had at this office for five cents.
Ottawa county has 110 schools and two colleges.
The plumbing work at the court house is now entirely finished.
The City of Milwaukee will probably not start on her route until the first of May.
E. B. Holmes, Chas. N. Dickinson and Myron Scott are members of the Ex Prisoners of War Association.
Ed. Brow, the wrestler, will probably be engaged by Jos. Kibler to tend bar for him at the Andres House.
A town platted on Black Lake near the site of Holland in 1835 had like Port Sheldon great expectations. It was known as Superior and lived for a short time only.
Peter Wepsis, a Pottawattamie Indian living near Hartford, claims to be over 110 years of age. It is said that he was born in Pokagon township in July 1788. He is quite active and from all appearances has several years to live yet.
The Third ward of this city casts nearly as many votes as the other wards combined. The vote by wards at the last state election was, First ward, 195; Second ward, 176; third ward, 429; Fourth ward, 147.
Grand Rapids has a small pox scare.
Cigars on election are floating freely.
Michigan gets $243,000 of the river and harbor appropriation. Of this amount Grand Haven gets $25,000 and Muskegon $30,000.
The barge Emma Thompson put in here from Muskegon last night with a cargo of lumber. She is the first barge to put in here this season.
The Holland live saving crew will be manned as follows: Capt. Chas. Morton, John Skinner, John Smith, Frank Johnson, Greg Robinson, Austin Fairbanks, Nicholas Whalen and Albert Turner.
Many voters cast their ballots each year, but never vote. The voters of the 4th ward this year are given an opportunity of obtaining practical instruction in voting free of cost. These schools of instruction should be held in all wards and governed by the city.
About 10:30 this morning a long whistle from the match factory was sounded. Shortly after the fire bell rang bringing out a big crowd. When the fire team reached the factory they discovered it was a false alarm. The cause of the whistle blowing was that the factory will start up this afternoon and it was sounded to notify the employees. Hearing the whistle someone at the engine house supposed it an alarm of fire, and sounded the bell.
If the parties who took the trout from the fish boxes of H. Dornbos & Bro., last night between the hours of six and seven do not settle with me by Monday noon the marshal will call at their homes and they will be prosecuted.
Henry Dornbos.
Elmer and John Bryce have for several months been touring through Indiana in the shooting gallery business meeting with good success. Elmer is at present with the gallery in southern Indiana.
The steamer Nyack which will go on the Milwaukee-Muskegon route was built in 1878, is 251 feet long over all, 39 feet beam, capacity about 1,200 tons, is classed A-2, which is the highest rating a boat of that age can have, is staunch in every respect and an excellent sea boat. She is fitted for both freight and passenger traffic, and was especially equipped last season to carry 240 passengers for a time between Buffalo and the World’s Fair at Chicago.
Mrs. Riedams, the Spring Lake woman who suicided yesterday, did not suicide by hanging, but by choking herself to death. She bound a piece of cloth around her neck and run a loop from the cloth to the bedstead, getting down on her hands and knees to draw it tight, in that way strangling herself. No cause for the act is known, although there is a great deal of talk, some claiming that financial troubles of the family had caused it. The jury returned a verdict of death by strangulation while in a fit of temporary insanity, The deceased was 58 years old.
The aural display last evening was very brilliant. White streamers ascended from the light bank in the northern sky to the very zenith. At times these white streamers would change to a light red. A similar display occurred once last August.
Lake Michigan gives this entire lake shore the most genial climate in America, and one of the greatest fruit belts in the land. Besides our fruits, climate and other blessings we can be contented with the thought that we are but five-hours’ distant from the second city of the country by this great water way.
The different registration places were visited this noon and reported increases to the list of voters as follows: 1st ward 39; 2nd ward 45; 3rd ward 31; 4th ward 14, a total of 129 in this city. Enough names will be added this afternoon undoubtedly to swell the total to 150 or 160. As in former years, the first and second wards report the largest registration. These wards, especially the second, have a large floating and transient population.
The old river steamer Sampson sunk at her moorings up the river.
Capt. Richard Connell was the first keeper of Grand Haven life saving station.
Mr. Albert M. Sanders has purchased Mrs. Garow’s candy store and will take possession next week.
A beautiful auroral display was noticeable last night, calling forth many “ohs” and “ahs.”
The imaginary line that divides the 3rd and 4th wards passes right through a residence near Pennoyer avenue.
Walter Phillips reports after a thorough examination of all kinds of fruit buds that the late cold weather, coming as it did with snow has not in the least injured the buds in this section and that we will have one of the largest fruit years on record.
A “citizen” thinks that a strip of Third ward should be taken off the west and east sides and added to the first, second and fourth. As it is now the Third ward has half the population of the city within its boundaries and casts nearly half of the votes of the city.
Capt. Chas. Lysaght of the White lake life saving station is here with his crew today, consisting of Messrs. Whalen, Ballinger, Pew, Nichols. Edlund, Murray and Fitzgerald, for examination. Capt. Lysaght is a brother of the captain of the local station and has been in service for 18 years, seven years of which have been spent at White Lake.
The Tickets.
Following are the candidates on the different tickets to be voted for next Monday:
[The complete list of candidates for the three parties can be seen in the Tribune microfilm at Loutit Library. The candidates for mayor are as follows: Republican—John Vaupell; Democrat—John N. Reynolds; Citizens—John Vaupell. The Citizens Party included candidates from the other two parties.]
It is reported that boys are hitching on freight cars in the vicinity of the Seventh street crossing. One boy received injuries resulting in his death there, and the officers should get after them.
Joe Burke, the Chicago wrestler and trainer of Ed. Brown, has arranged for a match with Benny Jones of Newark, N. J., to take place at the Opera House in this city April 10. the match will be in catch-as-catch can style, best three out of five and positively t a finish.
Editor Tribune:
Among the many stories circulated to prejudice and effect the voters, is one that I have charged Daniel Gale, present treasurer, with being a defaulter to a large sum. I desire to utterly repudiate this as absolutely false because I know better and believe this story and others are putting in circulation to injure another candidate.
Henry Baar.
A report was falsely circulated yesterday that I had withdrawn as a candidate for alderman and was going to leave the field clear for the Democratic candidate. To this I desire to say that the report was made entirely without authority from me and that I am still in the field and will use all honest means to get elected. If elected I also assure my friends that my vote will always be found on the side that favors and economical administration of our municipal affairs.
Respectfully yours, Henry Gravengoed.
A Viper.
Some whelp, in the form of a human being, has started the report that Dan Gale, as city treasurer, was short in his accounts, which is a vile and malicious falsehood. The man who started such a falsehood ought to be hunted down. He is a viper. The city of Grand Haven does not want such a vile, malicious and cowardly wretch as a citizen. The citizens of this city have known Dan Gale for over a quarter of a century and for qualities that go to make a model man, he would be the first to be pointed out. All citizens, irregardless of party, are righteously indignant over this malicious report. If this vile viper is an acquaintance of ours, we want him cut out of that acquaintance.
Grand Haven Life Saving crew will be manned this year as follows: Wm. Walker, No. 1; Jacob VanWeelden, No. 2; Barney Cleveringa, No. 3; Chas. Peterson, No. 4; Peter Deneau, No. 5; Peter VandenBerg, No. 6. One more surfman si to be secured for Geo. Kennedy’s place.
The census bureau has just issued a bulletin giving a statement of the financial condition of all cities having more than 4,000 population. The assessed valuation of the real and personal property of Grand Haven was quoted at $1,549,000 and Muskegon $5,887,084.
To the Voters of Grand Haven.
Having been informed that a story is being circulated throughout the city to the effect that City Treasurer Gale is short in his accounts, I find by investigation the following state of facts:
On March 16, 1894 he settled with the County Treasurer and the records show that on that date he paid to said Treasurer all moneys owing by him for County and State purposes.
On the same date he made his annual statement with the Common Council and the records in the City Recorders office show that at that time there was a balance of $3,689.58 and at the same time his Bank Book was presented to the council showing an amount on deposit in the national Bank of Grand Haven of over $200 in excess of what was owing by him to the city.
March 31st, 1894.
George D. Turner.
Chr. Rep. City Com.
Capt. John Lysaght has secured John Griggens for No. 7 in the life saving station. Capt. Lysaght will open the station Monday. This will be his sixth year as keeper at this port.