Tales from the Morgue

1945: Man Who Started Sun Bowl Here Will Crown Queen

December 14, 1945

Dr. C.M. Hendricks, originator of the new internationally known annual Southwestern Sun Carnival celebration, will crown Queen-elect Barbara of the Royal House of Price queen on the night of Dec. 29 in Liberty Hall.

This was announced Thursday by Tom E. Rogers, director-general of the Southwestern Sun Carnival Association.

“This is a tribute, which I think not only El Paso, but this entire Southwestern territory has owed to Dr. Hendricks for some years,” Rogers said. “This year the opportunity of paying it was offered and we were happy to take advantage of it.”

Eleven years ago this coming Jan. 1, Dr. Hendricks started from scratch and built the Sun Carnival into an outstanding yearly event which gained not only national, but an international reputation.

CARNIVAL HALTED IN WAR YEARS

Themes for the parades, always spectacular and brilliant, were the sole inspiration of Dr. Hendricks, who worked out all the details. The annual parades were banned during the war years and one was not scheduled this time, because material needed for float decorations wee not obtainable. Also, there was the question of being able to get enough manpower to dress up the floats. Added to that, there was the problem of lining up sufficient number of vehicles equipped with tires which would make the parade journey.

The Sun Carnival sprung from and idea Dr. Brice Schuller evolved of having an annual championship high school game on Jan. 1. The first game was between Ranger, then champion high school Texas team, and a picked team of star players from local high schools.

SUN BOWL NAME WON TICKET PRIZE

Dr. Schuller offered a prize -two tickets to the next game – for a name for these annual high school games. Dr. Hendricks submitted the name “Sun Bowl” and won the tickets. Then Dr. Hendricks wondered why instead of high school games, there couldn’t be college teams in the Sun Bowl – a visiting team playing the champion of the Border Conference. He “sold” the idea to the Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Optimist and 20-30 clubs.

Dr. Hendricks’ plan was to embrace all communities in the El Paso area. He, Harris Wolthall and Harvey R. Gumble traveled the territory and El Paso’s neighbors enthusiastically adopted the program.

Crowning a queen each year and the court made up of Sun Princesses from the outside and El Paso duchesses, parades and the climaxing Sun Bowl Classic, were all ideas of Dr. Hendricks and he developed them.

As director-general of the Southwestern Sun carnival Association, Dr. Hendricks for 10 years guided its destiny and programs. Because of the increasing demands on his time as a physician, Dr. Hendricks resigned. He was succeeded by Rogers and because of the good job he is doing for the first time in this position, there is a movement among directors of the association to re-elect him.

CORONATION TICKET SALE STARTS MONDAY

Tickets for the coronation and coronation ball will be on sale Monday in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel. Table reservations, 50 cents each, must be obtained in the Sun Carnival office on the mezzanine floor of the hotel. Only those with these reservations will be permitted on the main floor during the coronation ceremonies.

Queen Barbara, her court and escorts, approximately 120 person, will be seated at a long table at the rear of the auditorium. The queen’s family, Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Price and their two sons, will be at a table for 14. A table will be reserved for 20 distinguished guests.

Reservations, which may be purchased, will be 10 tables with 12 chairs each; 32 for eight person; 44 tables setting four persons each.

1950: EP Woman’s Mate Swears Off Water

December 27, 1950

With The U.S. Second Infantry Division in Korea – “From now on I drink nothing but Scotch,” said Second Lt. Henry P. Leighton, Jr. whose wife, Helen, lives on Dyer Street, El Paso. “This is what drinking water did to me,” he said as he pushed four of his fingers through four neat bullet holes in the leg of his pants.

Lieutenant Leighton, platoon leader with the Second Combat Engineers, led a company of men out of a Chinese trap above Sunchon, North Korea.

“We had to force march all night through the mountains trying to get back to our lines. At dawn we came to a frozen river and I decided to get a drink,” the lieutenant said.

“I no sooner chopped a hole in the ice and scooped up some water when an enemy machinegun opened up on me. One bullet knocked off my helmet, four went through my pants leg and two went through my mitten. I had my hand closed inside my mitten, otherwise I would have lost some fingers.”

“I got off the ice without getting a scratch. So now they’ve nicknamed me “Lucky Leighton” around the battalion and I guess I deserve the title. But from now on I use water only for washing.”

July 9, 1889: Over The City

REPORTORIAL NOTES GATHERED ON THE CURBSTONE

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What People Do and Say – the Happenings and Sayings of a Day in Condensed Form

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The Rio Grande is very low.

Yesterday was Sullivan day in El Paso.

The many friends of Mrs. Dr. Yandell will regret to learn that she is very sick.

Sullivan is a bigger man than the Fourth of July in El Paso just now.

The Santa Fe street cars are running regularly now.

Next Friday night city council will tackle the cheap water question.

The old Browns were defeated by Tuttle’s nine Sunday afternoon on a score of 10 to 7.

Yesterday was a slow day for news. A reporter could hear nothing but prize fight talk.

Nothing new has developed in the White Oaks railroad matter. The representative of the New York syndicate is expected to arrive tomorrow.

The El Paso Light Infantry failed to hold a business meeting last night on account of the small attendance.

The TIMES and its patrons are indebted to Chief Operator Frank R. Patterson, and Night Press Operator Barnes, of the Western Union, for the full report of the Sullivan-Kilrain fight and other telegraphic news published this morning. Despite the negligence at the headquarters of the Associated Press, these two young men succeeded in giving the TIMES a good news service last night.

Mrs. Theo. Eggers leaves today for New York on a visit to relatives.

E. S. Mausell and J. Buckner, of New Orleans, are at the Grand Central.

Detective J. P. Long, of Houston, came in Sunday and left yesterday, going west.

J. S. Hart, editor of the TIMES, leaves today for the East to be absent several weeks.

A triangular fight took place on San Antonio street yesterday afternoon. Two canines and a Mexican were the combatants. The Mexican was down at one time and the two dogs were fighting over him.

The residence of Mrs. H. Smythe, on San Antonio street, was burglarized Saturday. The thieves got away with a number of valuable articles.

The Joran Sisters’ concert, given in Juarez Sunday, was a musical and financial success.

Next Sunday, the 14th, will be the one hundredth anniversary of the fall of the Bastile, and will be duly observed by the French citizens of El Paso.

“Sullivan can whip any prize fighter in the world, two a day,” was the enthusiastic exclamation of Mr. Minter when he heard the results yesterday.

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El Paso On the Sullivan-Kilrain Fight

“Who whipped?” was the question propounded to the TIMES reporter at every corner yesterday morning. Everybody was on tip-toe of expectation over the great fight between Sullivan and Kilrain, and every other man you met had just heard some one reading a reliable telegram from New Orleans. On Saturday no backers for Kilrain could be found in the city. But, yesterday a few put up money on him when big odds were offered.

When a telegram was received at the TIMES office announcing the arrest of the pugilist the crowd began to speculate on the possibility of the fighters coming to El Paso to settle their dispute, and a telegram was sent inviting them to come. At 12 o’clock came the joyful news: “The men have entered the ring, shook hands and the fight commences. Sullivan gets in one of his right and Kilrain goes down.”

Here everything was a shut off on the ground that the wires were down. As 8 o’clock rolled around and still nothing could be heard from the battle ground, a few knowing ones were confident that Sullivan had been whipped; that Kilrain had out winded; that “Sullivan’s legs are no good anyway,” etc. But these knowing ones crawled into their holes when authentic information was received that Sullivan had won the fight. Only a few hundred changed hands here on the result.

1946: ‘Ike’ Likes Mexican Food Served Here

February 25, 1946

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower likes Mexican food and more Mexican food.

At the Hilton Hotel Sunday night, the chief of staff disposed of a full plate of enchiladas, tacos, fried beans, tamales, etc., in short order. Then he attacked a large plate of avocado salad and tortillas in earnest. He said it was his first experience with avocado salad but quickly pronounced it his favorite dish.

General Eisenhower said it was the second time he had eaten Mexican food. The first time was in San Antonio in 1941.

Major Gen. A.D. Surles, connected with the Army’s Bureau of Public Relations and whose legal residence is El Paso, was unable to keep up with General Eisenhower when it came to eating Mexican food.

“It’s just too hot,” he said.

Lt. Col. James Stack, General Eisenhower’s aide, also turned into a fan for Mexican food. He left not one bite on his plate.

1904: But One More Day Remains

December 24, 1904

Tardy Shoppers Will No Doubt Crowd the Streets Today Until Late – Official Holiday Observed Monday

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TONIGHT YOUNG AMERICA’S

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One more day remains before Christmas, the day of holidays. Men, women and children who have not made their Christmas purchases will make their final rounds of the stores today and the streets will doubtless present a buoy and animated spectacle until late tonight.

For the past week the Christmas shopper has been abroad in the city and the merchants have all done a good business. The sweetheart has “sprung” himself for the costly present with which he expects to gladden the heart of his lady love; the lady love in the same spirit has wracked her brain for something that will please “him” and finally made her selection at the point of exhaustion; the fond husband has bought his wife the article for which he has heard her express a desire for months past; the wife has done likewise for the husband; little boys and girls have taken the money given them by their parents and with the utmost secrecy have bought a present for papa and mamma, and tomorrow morning there will be gladness throughout the city throughout the blessed institution of giving and receiving.

Many of the Sunday schools will have their Christmas entertainments tonight with Christmas trees and Santa Claus to gladden the hearts of the little ones. Some of them as noted elsewhere held their exercises last evening.

Tonight the little ones who have been taught the pretty custom of hanging up their stockings for Santa Claus to fill will retire and go to sleep with one eye open slyly watching for the appearance of their patron saint.

Tomorrow all of the churches will with special and elaborate programs commemorate the day of days on the Christian calendar and the glad anthem of “Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men” will be sung in every choir.

On account of Christmas falling on Sunday the holiday will be observed Monday. The custom house, the courts, the postoffice, the banks, the city and county offices, and many of the business houses will closed. While the postoffice will not be closed all day holiday hours will be observed, making one complete delivery in the morning and the delivery windows remain open from 10 to 11 a.m.

1937: Secret Of How Music Carried To Plaza Christmas Tree Explained

December 22, 1937

Music emanating from the “roots” of the Christmas tree situated in San Jacinto Plaza is puzzling many Yule shoppers, who cannot figure out where the organ is hidden.

The secret was disclosed Tuesday by Will R. Shutes, proprietor of the El Paso Piano Company, who provided use of a Hammond Electric Organ sound chamber for the tree.

“When Tiny Snyder plays the Hammond organ at Hotel Hilton,” Shutes said, “the music is carried by wire to the recruiting station in the Plaza. The wire connects up with the sound chamber at the station. In front of this chamber is a microphone, which in turn is connected to public address system speakers hidden at the base of the tree.”

The Park Department installed the tree, electricity for which is being provided by the city.

1935: El Pasoans Leave Tomorrow To Get Big Christmas Tree

December 13, 1935

Park Commissioner Hugo Meyer will head his annual party into the mountains near Cloudcroft tomorrow to obtain El Paso’s Christmas tree, which will be located in San Jacinto Plaza.

Meyer said the 70-foot tree probably would be lighted the night of Dec. 18. It will be left in place through the Sun Carnival, ending Jan. 1.

Twenty-two men will make up the expedition to return the 10,000-pound tree to El Paso, Meyer said. Approximately 100 five-foot trees will be brought back for use in decorating city streets during the holiday season.

El Paso’s Christmas tree will be donated again this year by Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Poe, who will pay costs of transportation, decoration, and illumination. Meyer said. Approximately $500 was donated by Mr. And Mrs. Poe for last year’s tree.

1906: Weather Service Maps

June 15, 1906

Extensive Improvements to be Started at the Office Here on the First of July

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Extensive improvement in the weather bureau service of this city is being planned. The improvement will be inaugurated on July 1, upon which date the first weather map will be prepared and issued. The map will be similar to those issued in all large cities and will contain daily reports from nearly 100 stations located in all parts of the United States, the greater number being in the South and West. In addition to full details of temperatures there will be an official summary of conditions. Under the regulations of the department the map will be issued free to all persons agreeing to make a display of it in a prominent place. Frames for posting the maps will also be furnished.

Owing to the additional labor that will be entailed on Mr. Cunningham an assistant has been appointed. The assistant is Cleveland T. Blosser of Apple Creek, Ohio. Mr. Blosser has arrived in the city and will at once assume his duties.

Recommendations have also been made to the department that a display of weather flags be made in the city. This service consists in flying of colored flags in certain positions giving notice of the conditions of the weather.

1890: The Dives - A Times Reporter Visits The Dens Of El Paso

September 25, 1890

Dance Halls & Low Saloons – the Chinese “Hop Joints” – An Interior View – Hitting the Pipe.

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A reporter of the TIMES, in company with two members of the police force, paid his respects last night to the “dives” of the city. The “joint” saloons on lower El Paso street were first visited. Here a motley mob was found engaged in beer drinking, “lushing,” cursing, swearing and making use of the King’s English in more forcible than elegant terms. These resorts are apparently the quarters of the lower classes of humanity and the headquarters of hard characters and professional bums. Some of the places visited were orderly and quiet, but in the main their appearance would suggest dives of brigands and hold-ups. The rooms were suffocating with the fumes of tobacco smoke, the production of the two-for-five cents order, and the very air seemed polluted with degradation and vice. Negros, Mexicans, Dutch and Americans were congregated in a body, either participating in the monte games or playing cards for the drinks. It was a sight for the eye of refinement, terrible enough to strike terror to the soul of the uninitiated in the ways of the world.

THE RED LIGHT

The next place visited was the “Red Light,” a saloon, dance hall and general dive. Here amid the clinking of beer glasses and vulgarity, drunken men reeling and yelling, danced with Mexican women to the strains of the devil’s music, staggering between dances to the bar for liquid refreshments and enthusiasm. Women, long since sunk from respectability, joined the terrible brawl. Hair streaming in masses of disorder, dresses rant by the yanking and howling of intoxicated men, and lending their shrill voices to complete the chaos of debauchery. Here and there were stretched out men overcome with liquor, while the wooden benches surrounding the apartment were occupied by burly sons of toil holding upon their laps these women of prostitution. Couched in one corner was the orchestra, composed of five pieces, to whose mournful and discordant strains the mob while away the late hours of night. In the rear is located the “refreshment” rooms where the regular twenty-five cents per dance is collected and the foaming beer is served by the ever faithful “Dutchie”

THE OPIUM JOINTS

We next visited the Chinese joins on South Oregon street. We met with some resistance in gaining admission, but after learning that we were escorted by officers of the law no trouble was experienced in making a general survey of the premises. The first house visited was that of Dr. Dan Wah, formerly occupied by the city jail. Every apartment was traversed, and while none of the opium smokers were caught, all the equipments were found in perfect order and ready for use. A raid was then made upon the Chinese row, opposite the Baggs stable, where we were more fortunate. Here several celestials were stretched out upon the hard couches, some fully under the influence of the drug, while others were smoking their first pipe. The pipes are of several types, and to describe them without the aid of illustrations would be impossible. Opium is a thick, gummy substance, not unlike black molasses. This is first placed upon a wire and heated over a spirit lamp. It is then placed over a small hole upon the flat bowl of the pipe and ignited by the flame of the lamp. The smoker reclines upon a couch and assisted by an attendant, smokes his fill and then drops of into a drowsy or wakeful dream full of pleasant fancies and experiences. The imagination is excited, the senses are paralyzed and the body is stupefied by the powerful drug.

As soon as our presence became know all the houses were closed, lights were extinguished and the implements of opium smoking were secreted. In response to our demand for admittance, however, the various apartments were opened for inspection and a thorough investigation of the premises was made. No white people were discovered in the dens, but an English speaking Chinaman confessed that quite a number of American opium fiends frequented the place and “hit the pipe” regularly. In most cases the dens are located in the cellars, accessible only through a trap door. Some of the apartments are elegantly furnished, and every comfort is provided for smokers.

The sight is truly one to interest anybody, but it is not everyone that can gain admission to the secret order of “pipe hitters” and unless in possession of the signs, raps and other fraternal signs, it is next to impossible to enter these dens of inequity.

1977: Omar Bradley To Be Grand Marshal In Sun Parade

December 19, 1977

General of the Army Omar N. Bradley will be grand marshal at the 43rd Annual Sun Carnival Parade Jan. 1.

Bradley relocated to El Paso in November with his wife to make his permanent home at Fort Bliss after 66 years of continuous active service.

The Sun Parade procession, moving west along Montana from Copia to Campbell, will start at 10 a.m., to close the 1977-78 Sun Carnival festivities. The parade, led by the general, will include more than 20 major floats, 30 special entries and 30 marching units and bands.

The general won his place in history on the World War II battlefields, as a commander of a division, a corps, an army, and finally a group of armies. This last command, the 12th U.S. Army Group in Europe, numbered more than 1,300,000 troops, the largest body of American soldiers ever to serve under one field commander.

He led corps in North Africa and Sicily and eventually led an army across the Normandy beaches that marked the beginning of the end for Germany.

Only three weeks after VE Day, Bradley was drafted to become head of the Veterans Administration during the critical postwar demobilization of the armed forces.

In 1948, he became Chief of Staff of the Army. Later, he was appointed chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and reappointed in 1951.

President Truman also nominated him for promotion to General of the Army in 1950, making him the fifth five-star Army general in U.S. history.

The general served as U.S. representative to the Military Committee of NATO and to the Standing Group of the Military Committee consisting of representatives of the United States, United Kingdom and France. In these assignments, he exercised great responsibility in the coordination of the military efforts of the free world.

Bradley has received many decorations and honors, both domestic and foreign, and honorary degrees during his long and distinguished career.