Past Pages for Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015

140 years ago

(Continued from Wednesday). Condon gave him some tobacco which he chewed into a cud and then branched out in a deistical poem composed by Lizzie Doten. The verses were in biting and sarcastic on religion. After this he wiped his bald head with his handkerchief in ice water and stood astraddle the trap door. “I have never kneeled before, but I do kneel now.” With that he dropped to his knees above the trap door. From the book of spirits he read a prayer (too long to repeat here) and said, “I am ready now.” (Continued on Friday).

130 years ago

Miss Curry, a few days ago, asked the scholars to write the names of the five greatest men in the world. Here is the list furnished by a little girl: Cleveland, Jones, Jim Crawford, Yerington and God. God was spelled with a small “g.”

100 years ago

A new type of projectile which would scatter molten steel over the object of the attack, and at the same time permeate the atmosphere with a deadly hydrocyanic acid which would make it impossible for fire fighters to approach, has been invented by John Hays Hammond, Jr. The new missile may soon appear in the European war.

70 years ago

The annual Fireman’s ball is tonight at the Civic Auditorium with Don Everett’s band of Reno engaged for the gala celebration. This year marks the 81st such affair to secure funds for the maintenance of the volunteer fire company.

60 years ago

Nevada State Museum has taken to the road. No longer do children and adults need to travel this state’s wide open spaces. Now exhibits go to them in a 35-foot custom built blue and silver trailer believed to be the nation’s only traveling museum.

50 years ago

Snow conditions have prevented a complete estimate of the damage to Loyd Bridge, but Jim Rankin, city-county engineer, said today that work started Sunday on the structure.

Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.