Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, March 15 , 1923 -- WINDSTORM LEAVES WAKE OF DAMAGE -- This community on Sunday and Sunday night was visited by the heaviest rainfall on record since about a year. Rain fell almost continuously after 10 o'clock in the morning and in the evening at times came down in veritable torrents. Sewers and ditches everywhere were taxed to their utmost to take care of the great quantities of water.

At about 10 o'clock at night the rainfall ceased and a heavy wind, blowing with the velocity of a gale, arose and this did much damage, particularly to trees, electric light and telephone lines.

In the vicinity of the home of Dr. A.H. Hunter a miniature cyclone occurred. A roof from a shed in a nearby yard was hurled against the Hunter residence, a large window blown in and a gust of wind coming down the chimney scattered soot all over one room. A tree near the house was also broken almost in half. At various places in our city branches were blown off the trees and the crew of linemen at the light plant were kept mighty busy Monday replacing poles and untangling wires which had been blown down.

The Illinois Traction System sustained considerable damage on its Hillsboro line and for a time Monday morning the service was demoralized.

Staunton has a large number of radio outfits and during the electrical storm which accompanied the rain these outfits frequently were veritable balls of fire.

In many cities in this part of the state large plate glass windows were caved in and the total of' the damage sustained will run into large figures.

The heavy rains converted the road followed by the trail through Granite City into a veritable lake and many motorists had trouble getting through the water being so high as to reach the electrical equipment on many cars and stalling them.

RAIDED BENLD CRAP GAME -- Deputies from the office of Sheriff Russell on Saturday evening won the big pot in several crap games at Benld when they swooped down and raided the joints. $800 in cash were confiscated at the three places visited.

The officers also raided a disorderly house or two and arrested four inmates. Fines assessed netted $300. The officers appear to be determined to clean up Benld and if they will continue their present pace long enough, they will undoubtedly succeed.

Thursday, March 22 , 1923 -- COLD SNAP RESULTS IN MUCH DAMAGE -- The bright, balmy weather of Saturday and Sunday morning on Sunday afternoon experienced one of those lightning changes for which this climate is famous and by night one of the most severe snaps of the winter was in full sway. Throughout the west a severe blizzard was experienced, causing millions of dollars worth of damage as well as untold suffering and this portion of the country merely experienced the tail end of the storm.

Railroad traffic was almost entirely disrupted throughout the west, the big snow drifts making traffic impossible. Telephone and telegraph lines were down and many communities were isolated from the rest of the world. Ranchers suffered severe losses in that much live stock was killed by the blizzard.

Many Staunton people on Sunday morning started out on automobile trips up or down the hard road and most of them had a very unpleasant trip home. Others, starting out later in the afternoon, noticed the darkened skies and remembering warnings printed in the morning papers, turned back and were mighty glad to be at home as the storm increased and drove the mercury to the zero mark.

Reports are to the effect that great damage was done to crops, particularly wheat, and that the fruit crop has been practically ruined.

LARGE CROWD HEARD DEBS MONDAY NIGHT -- Eugene V. Debs, citizen of the world, on Monday evening delivered an address at the Labor Temple Theatre in our city before one of the largest audiences ever assembled in that building. Every seat was taken, chairs arranged in the wings of the stage were filled and many were standing. Among those in attendance were quite a number from out of town.

Tilden Bozarth presided over the gathering and the Staunton Concert Band rendered several selections. Preceding the principal speaker of the evening, Mr. Barnstetter, secretary of the Illinois Socialist Party, made a few remarks, after which he introduced Mr. Debs.

Mr. Debs was received with an ovation and upon his appearance on the stage was presented with a bouquet. The veteran leader of the Socialist party shows the effect the passing years and their experience have had upon his physique, but he is still an able orator and held the closest attention of his auditors throughout the evening.

During the course of his address the speaker pointed out the weak points of the present social structure and endeavored to show how the workers possessed the power to make changes which would prove to their benefit. His references to the capitalistic class were of a sarcastic nature and brought volleys of applause from his audience.

He made repeated references to the recent world war and the position he took with regard to it–and the consequences.

Mr. Debs stated that there would be a revival of the Socialist party and that a local organization would again be perfected. State and national organizations are also to be strengthened and the party hopes to gain a firm foothold and become one of the powers of the nation politically.

While not all of those who heard Mr. Debs on Monday evening were Socialists, all of them appeared to enjoy his remarks.

CROUP CLAIMS INFANT -- Ralph Zani, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Zani of Williamson, died Thursday morning at 1:30 o'clock following an attack of croup. The little one attained an age of only two years. Burial took place Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, interment being at the St. Michael's cemetery. Rev. Father Gribbin of the Sacred Heart Church was the officiating clergyman. The parents and one small child survive.