Got What He Deserved

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Friday, August 11, 1916.

    

On motion of Attorney Floyd E. Daggett the case of David Moncrieff versus Lloyd Sparrow was discontinued Thursday by Justice M. B. Staddtmiller. Moncrieff and Sparrow had a fight in Caldwell’s saloon about two weeks ago. Witnesses who saw it say Moncrieff was the aggressor and that he got all he deserved—a sound thrashing at the hands of Sparrow, who is only a boy

     Both are mutes. Moncrieff tried to obtain a warrant for Sparrow but was unable to do so, then he brought the action for damages. Attorney Daggett who appeared for Moancrieff stated that he had no case and refused to go ahead.

Mother of Charles Holmes Called

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published on Tuesday, August 10 1926.

     Mrs. Amanda G. Holmes, nearly 95 year’s old, pioneer resident of this vicinity, died of old age at the home of her son, Charles M. Holmes, 512 West Cross Street at 5 o’clock this morning. She had been confined to bed since December. She would have been 95 September 1.

     Mrs. Holmes will be buried Friday afternoon in Highland cemetery beside her father, mother, sister, and husband. Services will be from Mr. And Mrs. Holmes residence where she died at 2 o’clock.

     Mrs. Holmes was born on a farm on Packard Road, now owned by Mrs. Jams Beakey, Ypsilanti, near the city limits. When she was six months old, her father and mother, Mr. And Mrs. Jonathan G. Morton, moved to a farm two miles south of Ypsilanti. In 1824 Mr. Morton opened the first store in Ypsilanti, located where the Ypsilanti Press now stands.

     On the farm south of the city, Mrs. Holmes spent the rest of the life, except the last four years during which she lived with her son in Ypsilanti. She was married nearly 55 years ago to James R. Holmes, whose father owned he farm adjoining the Morton farm. Charles M. Holmes was their only child.

         Mr. Holmes was active during the Civil War, making first aid material for use in caring for the soldiers.

     Deceased is survived by her son, one grandson, Glyn Holmes, Ypsilanti, a nephew, Frank Sessions, Detroit, and two nieces, Mrs. Helsel and Mrs. Oursler, Odeholt, Iowa. Her husband, James R. Holmes, died four years ago last May, at the age of 85 years.

Knifing victim Badly Injured

The Ypsilanti Daily Press published this story on Saturday, August 9, 1941

     Sylvester Coleman, 442 Hawkins St. was in serious condition at Bayer Hospital today from loss of blood due to a stabbing Friday night. Coleman had wounds in the neck and right hand.

     Willie Morgan, 330 S. Adams St. was arrested by city police for the alleged attack in front of the Northern Lights Tavern. Police were called to investigate the stabbing when Coleman was entered at the hospital. Morgan was not at his home but was found by officers walking on S. Washington St.

     The knife, with which the wounds were inflicted, was not found.

     Prosecutor George Meader said today he would come to Ypsilanti to interview both Morgan and Coleman before he determines what charges shall be placed.

Killed? No; Just Drunk

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Wednesday,
August 9, 1916.

     Two tramps, evidently stupidly drunk, and attempting to get more so, were sitting on the M. C. track Tuesday evening near the Shepherd Ice Co.’s house, when they were given a not very gentle awakening. The east bound Michigan Central train which arrives here a few minutes after five o’clock came along and the men rolled off the track and down the embankment. The crew supposed at least one had been struck and the train was backed up and the man was placed on a stretcher and taken to the depot.

     He immediately revived after being taken from the train and was able to walk away. Instead of being struck he was simply hurt from a rough roll down the stony incline from the track. He was convinced that he really was the victim of a train accident.

Air Leak Found, Well Repaired At Water Plant

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Tuesday, August 3, 1926

     With the main air leak at the city water works plant discovered, and closed, Monday, City Engineer Older anticipates little further trouble in supplying the city with water sufficient to meet all needs, he said today.

     It has been possible to keep the tower filled with water the past several days, as residents cooperated in curtailing sprinkling, and with the main leak closed and other smaller air leaks being rapidly taken care of, the water department in hand. Five air ejectors are still on he main line, but it is possible the number can now be reduced.

     In addition to air which has been seeping in through small crevices in pipe connections, engineer Older in testing wells discovered that the casing on one of the wells has rusted through, just below the line which led to the main water line. Here a large quaintly of air was coming into the main line. The well, which is one of the drilled wells was shut off, and a new six inch casing inserted inside the eight inch pipe. Hot lead was then turned in between the two pipes to a point below the leak, closing it securely. The work was completed Monday night and today the well is again in service.

     Another well which was giving trouble, as the pipe line had crumbled, was shut off a week ago. A new well was drilled back of it, and new connection laid to the main water line.

     With these two sources of difficulty eliminated, and workmen tightening all pipe line connections at the plant, Mr. Older believes no further serious trouble will be experienced.

Biggest Fish Story of Year—Fisherman Takes Alligator from Huron

The Ypsilanti Daily Press published this story on Tuesday, July 28, 1936

     Batting his line for fish and catching a Georgia alligator is the experience a fisherman had Monday night on the Huron River in the Vicinity of the gas plant. (Where the DPW yard is now at Forest and Huron.) It is 18 inches long and young.

     It was taken to the Ypsilanti Tourist Park (now Water Works Park) where it has found asylum. Jack Flagg, custodian, thinks it may have been somebody’s pet and escaped or was turned loose, or it may have been left behind by some show. One of its feet is a little injured, and it carries also the hook mark in the roof of its mouth.

Fire at the Central Specialty Plant

The Ypsilanti Daily Press published this story on Monday, July 11, 1938

     Extensive damage occurred at the Central Specialty Company (located on north west corner of Forest and Norris Streets) this morning, when a destructive fire swept the foundry, main unit of the plant, and leveled it to a mass of twisted sheet iron and charred framework.

     The blaze started at the height of a severe electrical storm, and was attributed to lightning. No estimate of the damage was available today, but the loss is fully covered by insurance.

        The fire was discovered by two men who were just reporting for work, after it had already gained considerable headway. Firemen, summoned immediately, were handicapped from the start, as gates in the iron fence surrounding the grounds were locked and time was lost in scaling them and running the hose underneath while employees were trying to break the fastenings with sledgehammers.

     The task of fighting the fire was made more difficult by the type of construction of the building, and the fact that flames had consumed a considerable portion of the molding room before the fire department was summoned. A stiff breeze from the east was an added hazarded.

     The fire apparently stated in the heart of the plant, a frame building covered with corrugated iron. It burned very rapidly and made a spectacular picture with flames leaping in te air against a background of smoke. Heavy showers failed to curb the conflagration, which spread westward, eventually damaging a large core room to a considerable extent. An eighty foot tower-like section on the bank of the Huron River was the last to be ignited. Flames outlined the ridge at the top and leapt around a ventilator. The fire was so high that water from the hose did not touch it and it was necessary to attach the pumper to obtain sufficient pressure. In all, five lines of hose were used and the fire was under control within two hours of the call.

      Flying embers were carried westward and did little damage, most of them falling into the river.

     Ypsilanti police officers stayed at the scene to keep spectators back from the walls of the building, most of which fell.

     Despite the handicaps under which they worked, firemen were able to save the new sections of the buildings.

     Although a great deal of water was used this morning for the fire, there was little drop in city water pressure as he tower tank is kept full for just such an emergence, according to water department officials.

     The most serious loss sustained in addition to the buildings was damage to the overhead cranes. The cupolas are still intact and the cupola used for work from mail order houses is situated in another building.

     Operations halted by destruction of the building will be resumed in about a week, plant officials estimated. About 250 men were to have returned to work today after a 10-day layoff.

     As soon as insurance adjustments have been made, it is planned to erect a new, more modern building to replace the burned one.

     (By the end of the year, the damage was repaired, and the men called back to work.)