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EDITOR QUEEG AND THE ORANGE PEEL MENACE

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

Why did Santa Rosans take a tumble whenever orange peels appeared on the sidewalk? The Press Democrat also reported this was a hazard the spring before, when likewise the fruity threat lurked on Fourth street. Or could it be that there was just some fuddy-duddy at the newspaper with a Queeg-like obsession over orange peels? Let’s see: editor Ernest L. Finley lived at 1127 McDonald Avenue, and if he walked to his downtown office on Exchange Avenue, he’d probably pass the scene of the slippery crimes all the time…

ORANGE PEEL NUISANCE STILL KEPT UP HERE

On Thursday morning on one block of pavement on Fourth street no less than eight pieces of orange peel were noticed on the walk along which pedestrians were passing. One citizen stopped on his way down town and took time to kick the dangerous refuse into the street. Of late several people have had serious falls by stepping on pieces of peel. There is an ordinance which should govern the matter and the only remedy seems to be to make example of offenders. Children on their way to school eating oranges should receive some instruction of the danger caused by the thoughtlessness of allowing the peel to fall on the sidewalk. Some older people are also in need of a reminder.

– Press Democrat, March 17, 1905

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THE YEAR OF BURNING SANTAS

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

I was dreading coming to the end of the 1904 microfilms, to tell the truth. Between the erratic electrical service and the 19th century practice of placing lighted candles on dead evergreen trees (!) I expected the Dec. 26 headlines to read, “TOWN IN FLAMES.” Imagine my surprise when the holidays passed without incident — except for the flaming Santas, of course (UPDATE HERE).

(The “Red Men” and “Council of Pocahontas” have nothing to do with Native Americans, but rather are one of the many white fraternal organizations, to be described in a later post.)

SANTA CLAUS TAKES FIRE AND IS SEVERELY BURNED
ALMOST A PANIC AT RED MEN’S HALL LAST NIGHT
OTTO SEEMAN’S WIG AND WHISKERS CATCH FIRE AT POCAHONTAS CHRISTMAS TREE AND CAUSES CONSIDERABLE EXCITEMENT
Man With His Head Enveloped in Flame Dashes Through the Crowded Hall — Headgear Was Tied on With Rope Which Made Matters Worse — Pleasure of the Evening Marred

Considerable excitement, a panic and almost a fatality marred the closing moments of the Christmas festivities at Red Men’s Hall last night in connection with the tree and entertainment given under the auspices of the Council of Pocahontas.

Otto Seeman, who played the part of Santa Claus, arrayed in all the trappings of the time-honored visitor, whose flowing white beard and wig, added a thrill of realism at Christmas time to the tree [sic], came very near being incinerated. As it was he was shockingly burned about the head, face, and neck.

When the accident happened Mr. Seeman had mounted a ladder reared against the tree and the flowing wig and whiskers caught the flame from one of the candles. In an instant the flames encircled his head and face. He jumped from the ladder and ran through the crowded hall. Women cried out hysterically and men attempted to grab him to tear the burning mass from his head. He tugged at the cotton and hair himself, but kept on running. A few moments elapsed until some one threw his coat over the flames and smothered them.

What presented a worse aspect is the fact that the wig was securely tied on with a rope… While his burns are undoubtedly very serious it is a miracle that he escaped as he did when it is taken into consideration that the wig was so securely tied. At his home a physician attended to his injuries. The unfortunate happening robbed the occasion of its full measure of festivity and the suffering man was given full assurance of the sympathy felt with him.

[…]

– Press Democrat, December 24, 1904

 

SEVERELY BURNED PLAYING SANTA CLAUS

Charles B. Duncan of Sebastopol had a narrow escape from fatal injuries while acting the role of Santa Claus at the home of J. E. Fornachon, where the two families had gathered to celebrate Christmas. He was dressed in a big overcoat covered with cotton, and wore a headgear with cotton beard and long hair in regulation style.

The cotton caught fire on his sleeve and like a flash he was enveloped in flame. Considerable excitement ensued. Before Mrs. Duncan and Mr. Fornachon could tear off the burning coat and head-trappings, Mr. Duncan was severely burned about the face neck and hands. His hands and arms suffered the worst. Mrs. Duncan was also burned about the hands and arms. Mr. Duncan is a brother of E. E. Duncan of the Press Democrat typographical staff.

– Press Democrat, December 29, 1904

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BUT WE WERE BURYING YOU TOMORROW

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

Okay, it’s 1904 and you’re told that your daughter has committed suicide in San Francisco. Even if there was no easy telephone connectivity at the time, couldn’t a message be sent via telegraph, or even messenger via train and ferry, to verify that she was actually, you know, dead, before buying a coffin and publishing the obit? ‘Guess not. Mabel surely ended up with an anecdote of legendary proportions, as well as a nifty coffee table. Also note that her name turned into “Bertha” in the headline.

CASKET MADE FOR LIVE GIRL
Miss Bertha Wilson Appears in the Flesh to Check Grief Over Her Suicide

Miss Mabel Wilson, a very much alive young lady of Petaluma, whose parents reside in Ukiah, has the distinction of having had a casket made and all funeral preliminaries prepared for her. Just whether she is intending to keep the casket as a souvenir or not she has not informed her friends.

A certain Miss Mabel Wilson committed suicide in San Francisco. As Miss Wilson of Petaluma was at that time visiting in the metropolis, it was feared that she might have been the despondent one who committed the rash deed. From circumstances surrounding the case the Petaluma Miss Wilson’s sister was quite sure that it was she and the fact was published in a Petaluma paper. Heart broken Wilson pere purchased a casket in Ukiah and sent a Ukiah officer to San Francisco to procure the remains and bring them to that city.

In the meantime the missing Miss Wilson materialized and whether she was more surprised at being dead or her friends and relatives were more surprised at her being alive is a mooted question.

– Santa Rosa Republican, September 30, 1904

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