Past Pages for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014

140 Years Ago

Long beard: There is a man in town by the name of Jones whose beard is three feet, three inches long. It is as soft and fine as a lady’s hair. Mr. Jones stands six feet and one inch high, and his beard strikes him about the knees (Eureka Sentinel).

130 Years Ago

The ritual for the dead (Part 4) — the music: The Chinese music was mellifluous and pleasing to the ear. When the coffin was placed in the hearse, Avery’s band began the solemn opening notes of “The Rogue’s March,” and the procession began to crawl like a fiery dragon. When they reached the grave, seven women in the lamentation corps cried like the mischief at a dollar an hour. At last, the body was buried. Official documents were scattered around to frighten off the devil and keep him away from the soul. Funeral was conducted by Mr. Sam Wright, undertaker of Carson City.

120 Years Ago

A real hero: Thirteen-year-old Johnny Crow saved six lives at the Brunswick mill. Three children were playing on the ice when it gave way and they fell into the water. Another child nearer by went to help and fell in, and two more went in with the rest. Johnny Crow plunged in and got five of them out. He went after the sixth who had been carried under by the ice. He dove under after him, swam 40 feet and came up in an open place in the ice with the child ...

70 Years Ago

Advertisement: “Carson Theatre — ‘The Remarkable Andrew’ return showing of the picture made in Carson City — children 11 cents, all others 25 cents.”

50 Years Ago

According to Secretary of State John Koontz, the American Communist Party has asked how it may put a candidate on the ballot in Nevada during the 1964 elections. He responded saying that since there was no recognized Community Party in Nevada, it would be necessary for the party to petition for such recognition.

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