Tales from the Morgue

1945: A Weekly Letter For El Pasoans In The Armed Forces Of The U.S.

June 18, 1945

Dear Pal,

Well, it’s been a pretty eventful week in the old home town, so hold your hats and let’s go.

It’s beginning to warm up here again – you know how hat June can be around here. The hottest it’s been this week is 97 and the thermometer has stayed pretty much in that vicinity for the last few days.

We were just crossing Texas Street a few minutes ago and got our shoes smeared with tar. They’re putting a new surface on the street clear from the center of town to Alameda Avenue. It certainly has smoothed out the bumps.

And speaking of heat, like we were a few minutes ago, there was another fire in Juarez this week. You remember the old Market down on Sixteenth of September Street? Well, it burned completely Wednesday night, throwing about 200 persons out of means of making a living. Fire Chief Leonardo Solis thought there might be some defective wiring which started the fire. In the meantime, members of the Juarez Chamber of Commerce have decided to get more equipment for the Juarez fire department and to have more wells sunk.

Dr. Edgar T. Ruff, former professor at Texas Tech, has been named head of the modern languages department at the College of Mines, according to an announcement by Dr. D.M. Wiggins, president of the local institution.

Pat Hargrove, a veteran of both World Wars, has been named commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Borderland Chapter No. 10.

**

Some of you may have remembered Roy Culp when he worked for the sheriff’s department a few years ago. Well, Roy has been head of a soldier entertainment committee for the El Paso Junior Chamber of Commerce and has been doing a wonderful job. He has rounded up 75 entertainers and is putting on his 50th show for men in local military installations on June 27.

**

James R. Benner, son of Mr. And Mrs. A.V. Beener, Sr., 3605 Montana Street, has been wounded in action off Okinawa. He was on his ship when he was hurt. And you probably remember Bill Cummins, the guy who was such a whiz on the hurdles when he went to Austin High School – he was wounded on Okinawa. He has a fractured jaw and mortar shell wounds in his side.

**

Got some pictures the other day from T-5 Francis (Skip) Broaddus, who is now over in Germany. Skip had several good shots of what was left of Herr Hitler’s hideout in Berchtesgaden after the Allies got through with it. It doesn’t look so attractive now, even with a housing shortage.

**

Mrs. Horace B. Stevens, 84, who was one of El Paso’s early pioneers died in her home here this week.

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They had to do a little scrambling around in the County Jail this week when some of the juvenile inmates came down with scarlet fever. The sick persons were taken out and the jail disinfected while the other inmates were placed under quarantine.

**

The Knights of Columbus elected officers this week. Heading the different groups are: El Paso Fourth Degree Assembly No. 638, Jaymond J. Ahern, faithful navigator; Del Norte Fourth Degree Assembly, Ernesto Valdes, faithful navigator; Del Norte Council No. 2592, Benjamin Louistanau, grand knight; El Paso Council No. 638, E.H. Knopf, grand knight.

**

Joe Prensky said he got so hungry that he just HAD to find some place to eat – so he bought Andrews’ Cafeteria, 204 Mills Street, for $12,000.

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Judge Numa C. Grenger, one of the oldest judges in point of service in the Southwest, died Tuesday in his home in Las Cruces. He was judge of the third Judicial District of New Mexico and a native of Socorro. He was 69.

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The El Paso Housing Authority has decided to ask a survey for a housing project in the Smelter District. County Judge M. Scarborough has protested against bad housing conditions in that area.

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The ODT here, objecting loudly to alleged shortcomings in local taxi service, has asked the city to pass a few ordinances making it compulsory for cab drivers to comply with certain wartime restrictions – particularly on taking passengers to and from the Santa Fe Street bridge.

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Charging that the Lower Valley Bus Line has been operating off schedule, the Texas Railroad Commission this week held a hearing in the case. Decision will be announced later.

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A new Catholic church will be built in the Lower Valley and a site has already been purchased near St. Margaret’s Orphanage.

**

Maybe we told you that Dr. W. B. Prothro was resigned as head of the City-County Health Unit. He has a new job and said that, anyway, he wanted to make room for Dr. L.T. Cox, who will be coming home from the battlefields to resume his job. In the meantime, Dr. M.D. Hornedo has been named temporary director of the unit.

**

A forest fire near Alamogordo has been giving firefighters a tough time lately. Fort Bliss sent up some soldiers to help the forest ranger.

**

Curl your little finger and grasp the teacup daintily while we give you a few social notes now:

Miss Barbara Vaughn of Hollywood, Calif., married Curtis F. Corzelius this week in a quiet ceremony in first Presbyterian Church chapel. There have been quite a few parties lately honoring Miss Dorothy Byrne, who will be married to Capt. Owen F. Ladd of Biggs Field Monday. Miss Jeanette Surratt will wed Lt. G.L Haupt of Yuma, Ariz., in a ceremony in Clint Baptist church soon.

**

Heading sports news here this week was a highly-touted heavyweight boxing match between Ragon Kinney and Lotario Ramirez. Kinney, a Golden Gloves champion, knocked out the wicked-punching Ramirez in the sixth round in an open-air in the Juarez bull ring. The County Commissioners Court has set a catch limit and fee on fishing in Ascarate Lake now. The home-town ball club is back in town again, but had tough going against Saltillo in the opening game of the series, losing 13-10.

**

That’s just about all there is to say right now. We’ll see you next week.

Yours,

____________

1902: Pat Garrett Gave A Free Exhibition Of “The Way They Shoot in Texas”

July 19, 1902

El Paso’s Customs Official Gives Proprietors of Shooting Galleries a Few Lessons in Use of Firearms

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Carried Away Cigars

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Gave a Free Exhibition of “The Way They Shoot in Texas” – Shot Up Everything In Sight.

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Broke Resorts Record

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A special from New York to the Cincinnati Enquirer tells the story of El Paso’s collector of customs visit to Coney Island.

Collector Pat Garrett of El Paso, Tex., six feet four in his stockings, and afraid of no man who ever drew a gun, will not be made welcome if he makes another trip to the shooting galleries at Coney Island. The tall Texan is in New York, stopping at the Marlborough hotel, and will appear before the board of appraisers at a meeting to be held tomorrow in connection with appraisements he made on a lot of western cattle, and which were disputed by some Texas cattlemen. To pass the time since his arrival last Saturday he has been visiting adjacent resorts.

He went to Coney Island today and will not be soon forgotten by the proprietors and habitues of a least two shooting galleries there. Accompanied by several friends he first stopped at the one nearest to the boat landing.

Reckoned He’d Try

Picking up one of the little rifles and examining it with a critical eye, he remarked:

“I reckon I’ll try three shots just to keep my hand in.”

He took what seemed to be a careless aim at one of the big round targets and fired, but there was no mark to show where the bullet struck.

With a superior sort of smile the proprietor reloaded the gun and handed it to the collector for a second trial. Again there was no little black speck to mark the impact of the bullet on the target, and then it began to dawn on the proprietor that a careful search in the exact center of the bull’s eye would reveal one little spot where both bullets had struck.

About that time the collector began to warm up to his work and the fun began for a crowd that quickly collected when it was noised around that a real western sheriff was giving a free exhibition of the way they shoot in Texas.

Said ‘Twas Nonsense

Within half an hour the collector had collected a box and a half of cigars, all there were on hand, after breaking every clay pipe in sight and making a record for bull’s eyes that never has been equaled on the island.

During the afternoon he gave the proprietor of another gallery a similar surprise.

“There’s a whole lot of nonsense talked about shooting in Texas,” said the collector today. “I never fired a gun in my life except when there was something for the gun to do, and except when they are on duty my deputies don’t carry guns. Out there we have our doubts whether the fellows who race through towns blazing into the air would stand very long on a real firing line, and that sort of business is mostly done away with nowadays, anyhow.”

1935: Gov. Tingley Suggests El Paso Be Included In New Mexico

May 13, 1935

More than 3000 persons, including Gov. and Mrs. Clyde Tingley of New Mexico, yesterday moved into Radium Springs, N. M., as the Whynot El Paso? Club sponsored a barbecue, rodeo, and dance.

“Whynot put El Paso in New Mexico?” asked Governor Tingley in a speech cheered by those who listened. He stressed the need of co-operation between El Paso and New Mexico.

The governor disclosed that at one time he suggested to Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas that El Paso should be incorporated in New Mexico, but that the senator did not favor the proposal.

Serve 1500 Pounds Beef

New Mexico cowboys won the majority of the events in the rodeo, which went off smoothly, with no injuries.

At the barbecue, 1500 pounds of beef, 15 gallons of beans, 20 gallons of coffee, seven gallons of pickles, a tub of onions, and 1900 loaves of bread were served to the hungry multitude, as well as beer, soda pop, and lemonade.

“It’s all gone,” said H. W. (“Dusty”) Waller, president of the Whynot El Paso? Club, last night. “The hotel’s still here, but that’s about all.

Waller said his estimate of the crowd was 3100 persons, with about 40 per cent coming from El Paso and 60 per cent from various parts of New Mexico.

20 State Represented

O. J. Thomas, manager of the Radium Springs Hotel, reported the biggest business in the hotel’s history over the week-end.

Automobile licenses representing 20 states were counted among parked cars.

Many persons stayed over last night to dance to the music of Marshall Van Pool and his Whynot El Paso? Orchestra.

Taking part in the rodeo were cowboys from Rincon, Socorro, Silver City, Gallup, Roswell, Hondo, Alamogordo, Las Cruces, Hatch, Derry, Salem, Hot Springs, Hillsboro, and other New Mexico and Texas towns.

Speakers besides Governor Tingley included George Frenger, president of the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, who spoke on co-operation between El Paso and Las Cruces; R.C. McMains, Governor Tingley’s secretary; Adjutant Gen. W.H. Charlton and Lt. Ed Purdy, the governor’s aides; Mayor Edward Ward of Silver City, Sheriff Slim Matthews of Grant County, Sheriff Joe Lucero and ex-Sheriff Dick Trivis of Dona Ana County, ex-Sheriff John Case of Grant County, Dan Williams, chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of Dona Ana County; John Bingaman, chairman of the Grant County Democratic Executive Committee; Adrian Pool, El Paso collector of customs, and Miss Alda O’Hara, Las Cruces postmaster.

1946: ‘Know El Paso’ - City Stole County Seat

August 31, 1946

By ART LEIBSON

Old-time residents of Ysleta still remember the “big swindle of 1883” when the county seat was moved from Ysleta to El Paso to start the building boom in the Pass City. They remember they were not only out-smarted in the election that year, but also clearly outvoted.

Ysleta had called the election under a law allowing a vote every 10 years to locate the county seat. El Paso was growing fast and Ysleta hoped to be able to hold its position for at least 10 more years by calling an election before up-and-coming El Paso could corral the county vote.

They failed to reckon with the pioneer spirit and ingenuity of their rowdy neighbor to the west. El Paso needed a whopping vote to win the county seat – and she got a whopping vote.

As a matter of record El Paso voted between three and four times its population in the 1883 election. Every Mexican within a dozen miles of the border was rounded up, voted and then kept out of Ysleta until the polls closed.

By the time Ysleta realized what was happening and began scouring the countryside on both sides of the Rio Grande for extra votes it was too late. The damage was done.

The “floaters” themselves may not have been enough to swing the election, but the San Elizario voters made it certain for El Paso by voting solidly for the change. They still smarted under what they considered Ysleta trickery in taking the county seat away from San Elizario, and welcomed the chance to turn the tables.

The following decade saw building mushrooming all over El Paso. District Judge T.A. Falvy immediately announced that El Paso would build the finest county courthouse in Texas, and two years later it was completed. The building was located in the center of the block now occupied by the County Building.

Falvy decided the boom town needed a fancy ballroom, and since there was none available, the 34th District Court was designed for this purpose, as well as justice, and some of the fanciest balls between 1885 and 1900 were given in the courtroom.

Two alabaster statues of “ blind justice” were hoisted to the portico and stood there until the building was razed. Buried away in a basement, one was later resurrected and placed in the yard at the east end of Liberty Hall where, weatherbeaten and often abused, she stands today.

The El Paso Herald had started published March 27, 1881, and a week later the first issue of The El Paso Times rolled off the press.

Grand Central Hotel, built on the site of the Mills Building and in front of the old Ponce de Leon corral where the Plaza Theater now stands, was a flourishing hostelry in 1883 and until destroyed by fire in 1892.

In 1887 culture came to El Paso in Myar’s Opera House, replacing the National Theater, a low dive, and regarded as the finest opera house between San Francisco and Chicago. The building, with a capacity of 1000, was located in the middle of the 300 block of South El Paso Street.

$250,000 FEDERAL COURTHOUSE ERECTED

A $250,000 Federal courthouse was erected soon after the county seat moved to El Paso, on the corner of Mills and Oregon Streets.

El Paso boasted loudly of its new “Government building.” It had not only an elevator, but steam heat!

There is considerable argument as to the oldest downtown building now standing. W.W. “Billy” Bridgers scoffed at the suggestion that it is the building now containing Payless Drugs, at the southwest corner of El Paso and San Francisco Streets, known to have been standing in 1887.

“Why I put the plumbing in that building myself, when I was 16 years old.” Billy remembers, “and there were several already built that are still standing. Most of them have been remodeled until you wouldn’t recognize them, but the original walls and foundations are there.”

“I know this will bring up criticism,” Bridgers said, “but to my recollection the oldest building in downtown El Paso today is the one at the northeast corner of West Overland and El Paso Streets. I’ll bet you those old adobe walls are still there!”

In 1888 Lucius M. Sheldon finished the Sheldon Block, containing 140 offices and 11 stores, and in keeping with everything else done in El Paso in those days, it was “the finest office building in the West.” Nothing small-time about pioneers!

El Paso even had an outdoor theater in the 1880s. Before the Federal building, with its solid copper tower, was put up, the site was occupied by the Airdrome Theater, with only the sky for a roof.

In 1894 Hotel Dieu was completed. The county jail was already located where the city jail is today, and five years later, in 1899, the City Hall was built. The El Paso Times was then on South Oregon Street, occupying what is now the Labor Temple. Here, in a few years, crowds would gather beneath the balcony to hear, telegraphed reports of championship fights. The announcer would bark his report over a microphone, race back to the telegraph operator, and return with the results of another round.

Popular Dry Goods Co., at the corner of El Paso and west Overland streets also was known as “La Popular.” It operated its wholesale and retail business there until 1912 when it bought the two-story corner of Mesa Avenue and San Antonio Street for $230,000.

For the seller, Masonic Lodge 130, the sale was a triumph of shred business. The lodge had constructed the building in 1901 at a cost of $45,000.

Probably the most unusual structure put up the city – and it could happen only in El Paso – was the spite “building at Mesa Avenue and East San Antonio Street, torn down to give way to the Lerner Shops in 1944.

The building on a lot 15x20x35 feet, was knows as the Little Caples Building. Richard Caples had tried to induce his neighbor, W.A. Morehouse, to join him in building a modern business block, or sell to him so he could build. Morehouse refused and Caples put up his tiny structure, solely to annoy Morehouse. The plan backfired and the building was a “white elephant” from the day it opened to the public.

1945: Juarez Police Quiz ‘Match Pistol’ Toter

June 8, 1945

Investigation made by fire Chief Leonardo Solis of Juarez, Thursday, tended to show that a 12-year-old boy found to be carrying a “match pistol” and a box of matches is not implicated in a series of fires in Juarez recently.

However, Chief Solis said that he planned to question other youngsters in Juarez who are reported to be carrying fire guns. The Juarez boy and an El Paso boy were arrested by city detectives but the El Pasoan was released soon after and his playmate turned over to Juarez authorities.

The match gun was made from two clothespins, which, when sprung will ignite a match and send it sailing through the air for 25 or 30 feet.

Both Chief Solis and Fire Chief Joe Boone of El Paso said that they did not believe the two boys had anything to do with the fires. The Juarez firemen said that as far as he had been able to determine, all of the recent conflagrations were accidental.

The recent Cruz Blanca brewery fire was probably caused by defective wiring. Chief Solis reported, and added that the fire that gutted the Oasis Bar on Sixteenth of Septembre Street was caused by the explosion of a gas stove.

1891: Around Town

October 6, 1891

F.B. Clark is in the City of Mexico.

Mr. J.B. Payne has moved to 1180 San Antonio street.

The colored cornet band received their instruments yesterday.

Three common drunks were all the recorder had to pass upon yesterday.

Mrs. E. Fatman returned Sunday from a visit to relatives in San Francisco.

Major Geo. B. Zinpleman is in the city shaking hands with his many friends.

W.H. Watts left yesterday for St. Louis to participate in the carnival of the Veiled Prophet.

Mrs. Dr. Johnson and daughter will leave today for Central America, where Dr. Johnson is now located in business.

The Hon. Ira Havens of Reeves county, who is on the federal grand jury, reports fine rains lately in Reeves county.

Judge Sawnie Robertson of Dallas, the youngest man who was ever justice of the supreme court of Texas, is at the Vendome.

Dr. Yandell is having a residence erected on the corner of Idaho and Kansas streets. Caples & Hammer have the contract.

Judge George Frazier from the alkali flats of the Pecos has gladdened the hearts of his many friends in the city for the past two days.

Senator W.H. Pope of Marshall, is at the Vendome in attendance in the federal court and enjoying the health giving ozone that permeates each particle of our circumambient atmosphere.

A.W. Spencer has received from the head office of the Order of Railway Conductors of America, a check for $1,000 payable to the sister of Conductor Starr, who was killed by being run over by a Santa Fe train at the smelter last month.

Colonel O’Brien Moore, Washington correspondent of the St. Louis Republic, came in Sunday and left yesterday. It is supposed that Colonel Moore was here looking after $60,000 damage suit that R.F. Campbell has filed against the Republic.

1945: Beaumont Admits 1860 In 12 Days

June 8, 1945

From May 27 through June 6, 1860 patients were admitted to William Beaumont General Hospital. Of this total, the majority were battle casualties from all theaters of war. They were rushed here, as other wounded are rushed to 65 Army general hospitals in this country, by ship, plane or hospital train.

Of 385 patients admitted to Beaumont Wednesday, 228 were battle casualties.

Most of the soldiers being sent to Beaumont are from Texas or nearby states. But men from other parts of the country are also sent to Beaumont for special treatment available there.

William Beaumont has been designated by the War Department as center for plastic surgery, neuropsychiatry, deep X-ray therapy and histopathology, and includes a plastic artificial eye clinic.

1894: An El Paso Romance

May 5, 1894

Mr. Louis Hammer, of Caples & Hammer, builders and contractors, is the hero of a romance such as has made more than one man immortal.

There is not more unpretentious man in town, and not one who would not sooner be suspected of being the central figure in a story of thrilling interest. He has been known in the town for a dozen years, yet it is safe to say that not three people knew the story of his life as it recently appeared.

A TIMES reporter yesterday saw a Chicago dispatch indicating that a story of interest could be told by Mr. Hammer, and went, immediately to him for information. He was perfectly frank and talked without reservations, though he protested that he desired no newspaper notoriety. When assured, however, that the story had been made public in Chicago he repeated it about as follows:

“In 1874 he was a contractor and builder in the city of Peoria, Ill., and had a family consisting of a wife and six children. He was well fixed so far as the world’s goods were concerned, and was what was called a prosperous man. While at work on a two story building he was prostrated by heat and his life was almost despaired of for several days. When he had somewhat recovered from the shock of sun stroke it was found that his mind was a little unbalanced and he was sent to a hospital at Jacksonville. After remaining there about six months he was pronounced well and was discharged by the physician in charge. He was evidently not yet right as to his reasoning powers, for, without any known reason, he wandered away from his home instead of returning to it as he naturally would have done. When he came to himself he was in California. After finding himself entirely well he tried to get in communication with his family but he failed, as he now thinks, through the interference of a brother-in-law. Then he became careless, as many a man in the west has done, and failed to write. Finally he seemed to lose sight of his family in the east, though he never thought of marrying again.

In 1876 he met in California Mr. Richard Caples and the two became fast friends. Later, in 1882 or 1883 the two drifted into El Paso and soon entered into a partnership that has lasted till this date. Last year when the World’s Fair was the talk of the nation Mr. Hammer decided that he would go east and see his old home. He had not been long in Chicago when he was thrown face to face with the wife of his youth. The old love had not died and the two were very soon going into explanations as to the long intervening years. Mr. Hammer’s story was soon told and it was believed. It should be said here that that his partner, Mr. Caples, had been in the confidence of Mr. Hammer for years and knew that the consuming desire of his life was the renewal of the old and fond ties of years ago.

The result of these explanations was the return of Mrs. Hammer with her husband to his home in El Paso. And the two were accompanied by their youngest daughter who is now with them. The sons had grown up and some of them had entered business. Since the reuniting of the family here the matter has not become known to more than a few intimate friends.

The Chicago dispatch states that Mr. Hammer’s name was originally Schlegel. Mr. Hammer laughs when he was asked about the changing of his name, and told this story: “I was attached to the engineer corps of the Federal army during the late civil war and was at Fort Morgan. The paymaster there was an Irishman named Gahrrity who could never spell my Dutch name. When he at last found that the English for Schlegel was “Sledgehammer,” he declared that he would spell it that way on his rolls. He finally compromised by writing it “Hammer,” and I have never since changed it.

1971: Work-Release Program Gets County OK

December 7, 1971

El Paso County Commissioners Monday voted to go ahead with plans for a work-release program to be sponsored by the federal government.

Sheriff Mike Sullivan had asked Commissioners Court approval for the program which will bring in additional money for the County Jail budget.

Under the program as envisioned, federal prisoners will be sent to El Paso for schooling and rehabilitation and will be housed in County Jail. Free to leave for classes at the University of Texas at El Paso, or to attend one of El Paso’s trade schools, the prisoners would be required to return to the jail after hours.

By implementing the new program, said Sheriff Sullivan, the County would be eligible for $8 per prisoner per day in federal funds. These funds, he said, would have to be used for jail improvements as required by the federal government.

In addition, said Sheriff Sullivan, the jail will also be eligible for another $1 per prisoner per day from other federal sources. The measure was passed by the commissioners unopposed.

1952: Entertainment To Be Varied On KROD-TV

December 14, 1952

Bernie Bracher, director of television for KROD-TV, has announced with the opening of the first official programs that the wide variety of entertainment will originate in the newly constructed studios of the station.

Present plans call for at least 40 per cent of the programs carried by KROD-TV to be produced locally, and they ill range from news through sports, variety, dramatic, and other forms of entertainment for local viewers.

Of particular interest to sports fans will be an hour-long wrestling show which will be produced in the studios of KROD-TV.

An actual wrestling ring will be constructed in the studios, and local sports fans will not only get a commentary on various holds and the art of wrestling, but they will see actual matches.

The show will be held once a week.

El Paso’s own Red Brown and his wife Anna Lee will be seen over the KROD-TV screen in two shows. Red and Anna Lee will be the top performers in “Red Brown’s Ranch,” which will be produced five days a week for 30 minutes, and will be built mainly around studio guests.

Red and Anna Lee will have as their guest on each program the boys and girls whose birthdays fall on that particular day, with Red and Anna Lee filling in with their own style of singing and clowning.

The “Red Brown Ranch” will also have running though it several serial pictures and Westerns for the kids.

Red and Anna Lee will also be seen on Channel 4 over KROD-TV in their own program of Western and hill-billy music which is well know to El Paso fans.

Another veteran El Paso performer who will be seen regularly over Channel 4 and KROD-TV will be Lois Kibbee and her program for women.