Tales from the Morgue

An elephant in the bull ring

By Nancy Johnson
For the Deming Headlight

Anyone who believes that a buffalo in the bullring was as far afield as human imagination could go hasn't heard many yarns. For weeks after that fiasco (see last week's column) aficionados in every bar in El Paso and Ju‡rez speculated about the possibility of matching an elephant against a Mexican fighting bull. And for a long time it was just speculation. Where could one find an elephant in the area in 1907? A few months later they had an answer. Posters advertised a small circus and M.L. Clarke's wagon show in El Paso would soon visit El Paso. Ned, the elephant took up most of the space on the poster.

Owners of El Paso's Coney Island Bar again contacted their friend Robert Felix, matador and manager of the Ju‡rez Bullring. They managed to persuade him to plan another extravaganza despite the fact that their previous program of a buffalo bull versus Mexican bulls hadn't turned out exactly as expected. The men then persuaded Mr. M. L. Clarke to allow Ned to fight Mexican bulls in Ju‡rez.

Few people realize that despite their ponderous size and plodding gait on tray-sized feet, elephants are surprisingly agile and they are very fast. They swing their feet more effectively than they swing their trunk.

On the appointed day Ned plodded across the border to Mexico. Crowds lined the streets and the bullring was filled to capacity. (Before the story continues, the uninitiated should know that seat prices vary. The most expensive are box seats on the shady side; the cheapest are at the top of the grandstand on the sunny side.) Ned was led into the center of the arena where the crowd clapped and whistled their welcome.

The gate opened and the first bull came rushing into the arena. The sight of such a strange animal infuriated the bull and he immediately charged the elephant; just as quickly he found himself kicked sprawling across the arena by the surprised elephant. The crowd booed their disapproval of such treatment of their prized bull.

Felix, cognizant of the recent buffalo fiasco dared not make another mistake. He announced to the crowd that the next time the gates opened three prime Mexican fighting bulls would be released all at once. The mollified crowd cheered.

All three bulls came roaring into the arena and immediately charged Ned. One bull managed to prod him with a horn. The enraged elephant trumpeting for help and fighting for his life began kicking, pushing and finally tossing one bull into the box seats on the shady side. There was pandemonium as the rich and dignified scrambled for their lives. More bodies, bovine, equine, and human ended up in the stands and all had injuries. Within minutes Ned had the entire arena to himself. Oddly all the damage occurred in the best seats on the shady side.

The Mexicans were furious and immediately placed a $500 attachment on the elephant. Only later did they realize that they had no one trained or brave enough to care for the beast so they closed the great iron gates, fastened the big locks and left him alone in the arena overnight while they pondered.

In the wee hours of the morning when the town was dark and the streets were deserted the young son of Ned's owner made his way to the gates and called to Ned. The elephant, no doubt happy to hear a familiar voice, chirruped in response. The boy called softly again. "Come on out, Ned." And Ned did just that. A section of one gate rattled with each step for about a block until he managed to rid himself of the load. Then the two friends walked together across the border to the American side.

Ned was never quite the same after that experience, so he gave up performing. He eventually ended up in the Seattle Zoo where he was contented to spend the rest of his life in pleasant surroundings.
Nancy Johnson is a local columnist. Her column appears in the Deming Headlight on Wednesday.

The buffalo vs. bull fight

1948: Proposal to Change Names Of Streets Gains Momentum

Plan Engineer Walter Stockwell's program for eliminating conflicting street names today continued to gain momentum on the strength of suggestions from interested El Pasoans.

Three additional conflicts were pointed up: Four thoroughfares bear the name Park. There are Park street in Magoffin Addition, Park road in Kern Place, Parkway avenue in Tobins Addition and Park street in Ascarate.

Franklin Heights contains a Circleavenue. Kern Place has a Circle drive.

Circle is Divided

Durazno street, in Lincoln Park, sounds too much like Durango street, in Mills Addition.

The name of a circular street in Mesa Terrace depends on which side is used. The eastern half of the loop is Washington, street The western half is Caples.

Some callers were ready to go even further in revising street names.

"Why did they name streets Cebada, which means barley, and Copia, which means copy," asked one man.

"Those names might well be exchanged for designations with some meaning."

Would Rename Piedras

Another man favored Grant avenue rather than Rio Grande street as the designation of the thoroughfare bearing both names.

"I don't think we should remind ourselves in this fashion of the coming water shortage," he explained.

Piedras street should be renamed, said one person, for—say—Diego de Vargas, who ruled at Santa Fe as governor-general in the 17th century after riding through the Pass of the North.

Van Horn avenue?

Two, other historical figures were suggested as being worthy of having streets named in their honor— Col George Wythe Baylor and Major Van Horn.

"Baylor, a Texas Ranger and a long-time resident of Ysleta, was responsible for many memorable accomplishments in the Trans-Pecos," the writer explained.

"Major Van Horn was our first dragoon commander. He bivouacked on James Magoffin's acres, where stands the granite marker of the original Ft. Bliss."

Today in 1956: Plane Crash Kills Engineer; Pilot Injured As Bomber Falls

03/26/1956

Bill Feather
El Paso Times

A sleek jet bomber, carrying a full load of fuel, crashed while attempting a take-off at International Airport Sunday morning, killing the flight engineer and seriously injuring the pilot.

The XB-51, the only one of its type in existence, smashed through the fence at the end of the southwest runway and then began to disintegrate, spreading wrekage along a 250-yard trail.

Only the tail section of the three-engine bomber was left intact.

Name of the dead man, a 28-year-old staff sergeant was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Flying the aircraft was Maj. James O. Rudolph, 36, one of the top test pilots in the Air Force.

He suffered severe burns and was taken Sunday afternoon in an emergency flight to Brook Army Hospital in San Antonio.

The XB-51, based at Edwards Air Force Base in Muroc, Calif., was being flown to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where it was to be used in the filming of a Warner Brothers movie, “Toward the Unknown.”

Identification of the aircraft was confused for a short time after the crash.

A piece of wreckage with the notation “Gilbert XF-120” was found nerby.

HAD REFUELED

Air Force spokesmen explained that the XF designation had been painted on the plane for use in the movie.

The airplane had been refueled at International Airport and started its takeoff at 10:30 a.m.

Witnesses said the plane got about three feet above the ground and suddenly settled. The tail dragged first and then the rest of the airplane settled, running at high speed.

It ripped through a barbed wire fence at the end of the runway, raced across Airport Road and then began to go to pieces.

After crashing, it burned and several explosions threatened firemen, rescuers and spectators who crowded around the flaming aircraft.

First person to the scene of the crash was Eddie C. Wilkerson, 1106 Del Monte Drive, tennis coach at Austin High School.

“I was just turning into the road to the airport when the plane was taking off. I don’t believe it ever got airborne.

“I looked back and saw a big ball of smoke, so I just wheeled my car around.”

Wilkerson said that when he arrived, the major was lying on the ground about 15 feet from the burning wreckage.

“His clothes were burning so I started tearing them off.”

Other witnesses to the crash arrived and helped Wilkerson move the major to a safer place, away from the intense heat of the flaming aircraft.

Capt. John D. Chandler, a doctor at the Biggs Hospital, was at the airport when the crash occurred and he was one of the first persons at the scene. He administered aid to the injured man until an ambulance arrived. Later Capt. Chandler flew to San Antonio with Maj. Rudolph.

A fire truck from International Airport was rushed to the scene almost as soon as the plane stopped its forward motion.

Sunday drivers were attracted to the scene by the tower of smoke and the heavy traffic delayed the arrival of fire trucks from Biggs Air Force Base.

The plane was one of two XB-51s built by Martin Aircraft Co. and was completed in 1953.

The first one crashed at Muroc, Calif., in 1952.

Air Force spokesmen said the aircraft was comparable to the B-47, which was accepted instead of the XB-51 for use in the Air Force.

Its three jet engines one in each wing and on in the fuselage, were capable of driving the craft at tremendous speeds. The aircraft had broken the sound barrier, spokesmen said.

Its sleek lines gave it the appearance of a fighter rather than a medium bomber.

Normally, the airplane carried a crew of three.

Recently it had been used in assisting the Army in missile and anti-aircraft development at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

A board of officers was investigation the crash and two Air Force colonels arrived at Biggs Air Force Base from Murco Sunday afternoon.

Military police from Ft. Bliss and Air Police patrolled the area about the crash Sunday afternoon, keeping away the curios.

Miss Elizabeth Taylor Reveals Plans For Wedding To Mr. Hilton

March 29, 1950

Photo at left: 29 MAR 1950 - BRIDE-ELECT OF EL PASOAN - Miss Elizabeth Tyalor, left, is shown with Mrs. Mack Saxon (center), mother of Miss Taylor's fiance, Conrad N. Hiltorn, Jr., of El Paso and her mother, Mrs. Francis Taylor. They are pictured in Miss Taylor's suite in the Hilton hotel here, as they chatted about the couple's wedding plans.

Her lovely violet-blue eyes sparkled as Miss Elizabeth Taylor, “Liz” to her friends, chatted about plans for her wedding to Conrad N. (Nick) Hilton, Jr., in her Hilton Hotel suite Tuesday morning.

The youthful movie star is here visiting Mrs. Mack Saxon, mother of her future husband. Mrs. Saxon, Miss Taylor and the latter’s mother, Mrs. Francis Taylor, herself a glamorous-looking, charming person, were planning an afternoon shopping trip to Juarez, while “Nick” enjoyed a round of golf at El Paso Country Club.

The couple will be married at 5 p.m. on May 6 in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, with the Right Rev. James Concannon officiating.

Miss Taylor told me the names of her attendants and other wedding plans, but would not describe her wedding dress, in keeping with the bridal tradition that it must remain a secret from the bridegroom until the wedding day.

The dress, however, is being designed by Helen Rose of MGM Studios, as are the gowns of all the bride’s attendants, and will be presented to the bride and her attendants as gifts from the studios.

After their marriage, the couple will sail on the Queen Mary for a three-month honeymoon trip to Europe. Upon returning they will live in Hollywood, “probably in an apartment for about a year, before we build a home,” Miss Taylor said.

Miss Taylor was wearing a smoke blue silk print frock with gold earrings and gold charm bracelet. A small diamond-encrusted antique brooch was fastened at the V-neckline of the dress.

Miss Ann Westmore will be maid of honor of the wedding. Barron Hilton will attend his brother as best man, and his wife, Mrs. Barron Hilton, will be one of the bride’s attendants.

Other attendants of the bride will include Miss Jane Powell, Miss Betty Sullivan, Miss Marjorie Dillon, Miss Mara Regan and Mrs. Marshall Thompson.

The wedding reception will be held in the Bellaire Country Club following the ceremony.

Hometown stars list

We've been working on this list for a while here is the latest version:

F Murray Abraham

Jerry Bailey

Susan Blakely

Vikki Carr

Sandra Day O'Connor

Sam Donaldson

Thomas Haden Church

Ed Hochuli

Mara Holguin

Guy Kibbee

Ronn Lucas

Chase Masterson

Tom Moore

Phil Ochs

Tom Ogle

Lupe Ontiveros

Anthony Quinn

Debbie Reynolds

Gene Roddenberry

Gilbert Roland

Irene Ryan

Willie Shoemaker

Charles Shows

Sharon Tate

 

1985: Trainer D.C. Higgins instills rhythm of life in horsemanship

08/17/1985

By Mary Benanti

 Open country. That’s what D.C. Higgins said he was looking for 12 years ago. Someplace not fenced in nor likely to be. Someplace where he could ride Ragtime Billy for miles at a time.

Now he stood in the middle of his own riding arena.

“OK. Next rider.”

D.C.’s words filtered out through the summer air. The sun beat down on riders and horses awaiting the trainer’s directions. The essence of horsemanship is patience – time and patience. Riders Laura Cox, Tiffany Thomas and Jo Jo Ballinger said D.C. had taught them that.

 Arms crossed, the trainer stood in the soft chunks of dirt filling the riding arena. His keen eyes noted the slightest quiver of a haunch or slip of the reins.

 “Trot your horses a little faster so they have more impulsion,” D.C. said quietly. He uncrossed his arms, rested his hands on his hips.

“OK. Next rider … In the center of the jump …. Look out to the heavens above your horse’s head, not at the jump.”

 Her eyes glued to the horizon not the jump, Jo Jo Ballinger jumped her horse clear of the obstacle. D.C. saw how well the student took his directions.

 He will tell them once. He never yells, his three students said. But he doesn’t want to have to tell them again. It’s important that a rider learn to remember instructions. It could mean the difference between winning and losing a horsemanship competition.

 And horsemanship competitions are D.C.’s specialty. He rides in them. He wins them. He judges them as well. And he teaches others to do the same.

 There’s something special, he said, in taking a rider and “marrying it” to a good horse – something in the rhythm of life caught in the ride.

 That morning’s workout finished, D.C. told the youngsters to take a nap.

 “The first day they’re here they tell me they don’t take naps,” D.C. said with a smile. “The second day they ask for ‘em.”

 D.C. Higgins owns and operates training stables in Chaparral, N.M., where he and his wife, Marilyn, have lived for 11 years. Theirs is a seven-day week, with days that begin at 5 a.m. By 6 a.m., D.C. is in the arena, working with quarter horses and those learning to ride them. D.C. gives private lessons, one-day clinics. His students have come from as far away Tennessee and Houston and as close as El Paso and Chaparral.

 In September 1984, Ragtime Billy, his pride and joy, won the title of Reserve Champion Trail Horse in the National Stakes in Dallas. The payback was $2,264. This year, they will compete in the world competition Nov. 16 through 23 in Oklahoma City.

 D.C’s grandson, Noel Thomas Taylor, 16, will ride in the junior trail division at the same show.

 “I remember sitting on a horse in front of my daddy,” D.C. reminisced, with a smile that reached far into his blue eyes, but he wouldn’t say how long ago that was. D.C. keeps his age a secret.

 “I don’t associate with other folks my age ‘cause all they do is complain about their lumbago and the operations they have.”

 D.C. spends his time perfecting spins on Ragtime Billy or taking the “bread and butter” horses through the trail obstacles they will perform in competition. Sometimes, to break the monotony, D.C. takes “Rags” over the course using only his legs to control the animal’s every move. The horse is attuned to his master’s philosophy – time and patience.

 D.C. Higgins is passing the art on to his family.

 When Taylor was 4 months old, his granddaddy put him on a horse in front of him and he, too, has been riding ever since.

 Calling herself the all-round gofer and flunkie, Marilyn keeps the meals coming, the house shining and the horses groomed.

 “When they’re competing, I ride every step with them from the stand,” she said.

 Since they began their business in 1969, they’ve had one vacation. Marilyn insisted D.C. take her with him when he went to judge the Scaffle Bit Futurity in Hawaii two years ago.

 “It was like a honeymoon. We didn’t have to cook. And we didn’t have to clean,” D.C. said, his honest-to-goodness Texas accent softening the vowels in his speech. He and Marilyn met on a riding path in 1942 and after the third date decided they would be married. Eight months later, on Christmas Day, they were.

 Marilyn said when they moved to Chaparral in 1974, D.C. was worried he was depriving her of her nice home for a rugged lifestyle.

 “I missed my house. But I love the life here,” Marilyn said. They lived in a mobile home until their brick home was built two years ago.

 D.C. trains and shows horse, charging owners $400 a month. The five-day clinic is $300 for horse and rider. He likes to keep the group small – no more than six.

 “You can take 20 people out and teach them to walk, trot and run their horses. You can take five and teach them horsemanship.” D.C. said. He teaches riding on both English and Western saddles.

 He also is a great believer that children who raise animals and work with them learn responsibility and citizenship. If they are taught right, they won’t have time to get into trouble.

 And like good horsemanship, D.C. said, that requires time and patience.

 

Higgin's granson, Noel Thomas Taylor, 14, slides on Super Star George.

 

1956: Stormsville photo contest

In 1956 the Times ran a historical photo contest. They would print a photo in the paper and readers would write in with information about the photo. Here is the contest photo from the week of 03/10/56-03/16/1956.

STORMSVILLE - This settlement on the present site of Rim Road district torn down to make way for the elaborate new residential area in the late 1920s. It's name, Stormsville, had no relation to the weather. It was derived from the name of the owner of the land, an attorney named Storms.

The winner of the Stormsville photo contest was Jose Morrado. Here is his letter followed by other submissions:

One night in March of the year 1927, or was it 1928, I was to take part in a theatrical performance for a church benefit. I didn't Even know where we were going. My friends came for me about half past seven that evening. I remember that we went up Stanton Street and when we reached what is now Rim Road we turned to the right. The road was full of rocks and in a very bad condition. After riding about ten minutes we came to a settlement of little houses of adobe, corrugated tin, and pasteboard. We stopped in front of  little church that resembled the Spanish churches of Colonial days.

At the front of the church a platform had been erected on which stood some antiquated pieces of furniture and around which hung some dilapidated curtains. This was the setting for the theatrical performance. A few oil lamps gave a dim light and in the gloomy  atmosphere we gathered: Fernando Navarro, Victorica, Estela, and myself, and some others whom I cannot now recall. We were commenting about the coming performance in which we were to take part and during a pause in the conversation I walked over to the edge of the cliff. I stood there a moment looking upon the panorama of El Paso at night. It was magnificent! And I thought to myself that someday this place would be the loveliest in  El Paso.

About nine o'clock the play was to begin. Men, women and children came with chairs, benches and stools, about one hundred people in all - more or less the entire population of that section then known as La Mesa. One could see that these were very humble people.

A strong wind was blowing and dust was in the air as it often happens here in March! The oil lamps blew out and the curtains swung back and forth. The drama which was to have been presented was entitled "Hasta El Cielo" (All The Way To Heaven). It would take about an hour and a half to present it. The play started and at first the actors played their roles seriously, but each gust of wind blew stronger and we tried to hurry the play up, but at the end of forty minutes the drama had turned ito a happy comedy. We tried to excuse ourselves but the people applauded and laughed and coaxed us on. Then Fernando Navarro recited some sentimental poems, Victorica told some jokes, I sang popular songs and Estela tried to get the people to go home bu they paid no attention. They asked for encores and so the show went on into the night. It was 1 a.m. before they started going home, carrying their chairs and benches with them. Everybody had a wonderful time.

We were discussing among ourselves and laughing about the events of the evening when a tall thin man came over to us. He had a kind smile and as he greeted us amiably and shook hands he said, "I am Mr. Storms, and I shall be your friend from today on." He added, "You wanted to reach heaven but the wind wouldn't let you, nevertheless you transformed a serious drama into a delightful comedy." None of us knew him except Estela who had been his secretary for a number of years.

Some time passed and one day I needed a lawyer so I went to the Caples Building to see Mr. Storms, for I recalled that night on the Mesa. From that day on we were good friends.

One day Estela invited me to go with her to collect some rents, and we drove to the Mesa. We probably would collect no rents from these poor people of Stormsville, but this was part of Estela's work at Mr. Storm's office. When we arrived on La Mesa I realized how poor the settlement was. The people were really poverty stricken and the district had neither streets nor any public utilities - it was indeed primitive. Estela visited a few houses and I noticed that nobody had been able to pay any rent; as a matter of fact Estela told me that she had given seventy-five cents to a needy old woman. I commented on this manner of renting property, so strange in a person who was a lawyer like Storms; and Estela told me that Mr. Storms was a very kind man, never pressed his tenants for the rent, was always giving money away to the needy, and would never ask a person to move who was too poor to pay the rent. Instead, he let his renters pay when they could gather the money together, which was not very often. Estela went on to tell me that Mr. Storms was a rich man, but with poor clients who paid him very little. I, too, was his client, but he never presented me with a bill and would accept only a small sum when I offered to pay. And that was the way he lived, his fortune gradually dwindling away.

One day after returning to town from a vacation, I stopped by Mr. Storm's office, and when I found it closed, I inquired next door. I was told that Mr. Storms had died.

Today the old Mesa is Rim Road, one of the most beautiful and panoramic parts of the city. From those ruins arose lovely home which are the pride of El Paso. And the original owner, who through his goodness and generosity died a poor man, had had to be buried by his friends. The little settlement of Stormville is the only tribute  to this pioneer El Pasoan.

Stormsville letter: Mrs. Fred D. Buckaloo

Stormsville letter: Dr. M.D. Hornedo

Stormsville letter: Maria C. de Naphas

1959: Ribbon Cutting Opens Inaugural Sunland Racing Season

October 9, 1959

A ribbon cutting ceremony today officially opened a fall and winter racing season at the new Sunland Park horse track in the Upper Valley.

Several thousand El Paso residents and visitors watched – and many wagered on – 10 thoroughbred and quarter horse races on the inaugural card.

Gates were opened at 9 a.m. at the $3 million plant. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place just before post time, 1 p.m., in front of the big grand stand. A clergyman delivered the invocation.

Paul Woofter of Socorro, chairman of the New Mexico Racing Commission, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the plant. Former Governor Edwin L. Mechem, numerous state officials, and more than 70 out of town press representatives were present.

“We are proud to welcome the people of the Southwest and visitors from many parts of the nation,” President John C. McCormack of Fortuna, Inc., owning and operating company, said. “It looks as if we are getting off to a fine start.”

U.S. Senator Clinton P. Anderson and family were to arrive late today for the inaugural weekend.

Sunland, six miles from El Paso, is in New Mexico.

Two former El Paso County jockeys, who have won national fame, rode at Sunland today. They are Milo Valenzuela, 24, and Angel Valenzuela, 30. Both were introduced to a crowd of 100 press representatives at an “Inaugural Steaks” breakfast today t the Hilton Hotel.

“We think Sunland is a fine track,” Angel Valenzuela said.  “We hope to come back and race here from time to time. Milo and I take part in the same races, but we’re out to beat each other.”

Milo, who won the Kentucky derby and the Preakness on Tim Tam in 1958 and ran second in the Belmont Stakes, recalled that he and his older brother got their first experience at Cowboy Park in the Lower Valley in 1946.

Races will be held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 17.

1961: BOTTLES FLY IN HOOCH WAR

April 22, 1961

Rival Bootlegger Gangs Battle In Hillsboro

 Armed with clubs and whisky bottles, rival bootlegger battled on the main street at Hillsboro, N.M, over the ownership of a load of liquor, it was learned in El Paso, Wednesday.

 Broken heads, bruised bodies and the loss of most of the liquor, which was used as ammunition, was the total casualties in the battle.

Henry Railston, star witness in the Hot Springs, N.M, conspiracy cases tried at Albuquerque, N M last year, was trailing the source of the whisky Wednesday. Railston is a prohibition officer.

The battle is reported to have begun when the Chihuahua settlement gang hijacked a load of liquor from the Main street gang in Hillsboro Frightened by the crashing of glass, citizens ducked into doorways and alleys as the fight progressed.

The battle ended when the Chihuahua settlement gang withdrew from the field.

 

In other news of the day…

EL PASO BRIDE ON HONEYMOON IN JUAREZ JAIL

Mrs. Morris M. Roberts Says Mate Failed to Pay $4 Taxi Bill

Juarez jail is not the nicest-place to spend a honeymoon, according to Mrs. Morris M. Roberts, 19. four-day bride.

She was married Sunday in Las Graces to Roberts, who, she says, is a Ft. Bliss soldier. Mrs. Roberts and a companion Dorothy Martin, 25, were held in Juarez jail Wednesday after an altercation with Roberts over a taxi bill. They were fined $5 each and there is a $4 taxi bill against them. Roberts failed to appear when the case was called.

"If I ever get out of here he’ll wish he'd never married me,” Mrs. Roberts said.

COUNTERFElT COINS SEIZED BY OFFICERS

Two Men Held for Investigation After El Paso Raids

H. C, Crosby, a cook, and H. C. Davis, a carpenter, were held by U.S. secret service agents Wednesday for investigation on charge of making counterfeit coins.

Officers seized a counterfeiting outfit and $235 in counterfeit money in raids on two rooming houses, they said.

TEQUILA BRINGS FINE

Jose R. Palacio was given 15 days in Juarez jail Wednesday when he was found guilty in police court of having attempted to smuggle a bottle of tequila to a prisoner in the jail.

ASSAULT CHARGE FILED

Manuel Avila Accused of Assaulting Roberto Garcia

 Complaint charging aggregated assault was on file Wednesday in county court-at-law against Manuel Avila, accused of scooting Roberto Garcia with a 22 caliber rifle. Another complaint charging assault to murder is on file in Peace Justice M. V. Ward's court.

TWO HURT IN CRASH

County highway officers were searching Wednesday for the driver of a hit-and-run automobile whofled after his car collided with one driven by Mrs. M. T. Scherer at Alameda and Piedras. Mrs. Scherer, wife of M.F. Scherer, county highway officer, and her 19-months-old baby, were slightly injured in the collision.

POLICE HUNT DRIVER ENDANGERING LIVES

Charge Youth Frightens Children While Crossing Street

 Police Wednesday were asked to search for the youthful driver of an automobile who has been endangering the lives of children while crossing streets in east El Paso.

 Complainants say the driver has been speeding toward the children as they reach the middle of the streets and swerving his automobile as if he intended to strike them. Several children have been slightly injured in falls in trying to get away from the car.

Jose Salazar, 8, said the driver of the automobile chased him down Frutas for more than half a block when he became frightened and ran down the street instead of for the sidewalk.

1955: 'The City With the Sunny Side Up' Chosen as El Paso's Official Slogan

July 13,1955

"The City With the Sunny Side Up" today was chosen as El Paso's official slogan.

It was submitted by G. S. Day of 1102 Butterfield avenue in the El Paso Slogan Contest sponsored by the Public Relations Committee of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

"Where the Sun Shines and Opportunity Never Sets," submitled by Mrs. Harry R. Conway of 3818 Clifton street, won second prize.

"A Place in the Sun for Everyone," submitted by Mrs. Ruth Klohs of 3205 Fort boulevard won third prize.

The selection was made at noon today at a meeting of the contest judges at the Chamber of Commerce. The judges were Brooks Travis, president of the Chamber; Jack Curlin, vice president and public relations director of the El Paso National Bank, and Chris P. Fox, vice president and public relations director of the State National Bank.

The judges had held a number of meetings to consider the 1029 entries in the contest.

The contest was conducted for the Chamber of Commerce by the Public Affairs Committee of the El Paso Advertising Club of which Stan Shuford is chairman. Carl W. Connors is chairman of the Chamber's Public Relations Committee.

Other prize winners were: Labon Backer of 620 Turney boulevard, with "Suntannned Opportunityland," fourth place; Elvaree Lincoln of 1707 East Rio Grande street, with 'El Paso Chamber of Commerce—Pathfinder for Progress," fifth place; R. W. Stalker of 7898 Lasenda drive, with "El Paso—Your Place in the Sun," sixth place, and Mrs. R. E. Lee of 1514 North Mesa avenue,
with "El Paso Grows on You— You Grow With El Paso," seventh place.

Four contestants were selected for honorable mention, in the following order:

A/2C Richard R. Martin of Biggs Air Force Base, 'The Border Wonderland"; Elizabeth B. Cason of 709 Brown street, "El Paso—Where Texas Points With Pride"; Jim Halloran of 4812 Portal road, "Metropolitan Trading Post for the Fabulous Southwest"; Elvaree Lincoln of 1707 East Rio Grande street, 'El Paso Chamber of Commerce— The Host of the Town."

First prize was good for four prizes totaling $175, and including $100 cash from the Chamber of Commerce, $25 cash from the State National Bank, a $25 savings account at the El Paso National Bank, and a $25 Government bond from the Peyton Packing Co.

Other prizes were: second, a $50 lady's or man's wrist watch frm Zale Jewelry Co.; third, a $25 gift certificate from the Popular Dry Goods Co.; fourth, a $25 coupon book from the Food Mart; fifth a $25 gift certificate from the White House; sixth, $25 worth of merchandise from Kay's Food Stores; seventh, a $10 gift certificate from Coronet Men's Wear.