Home | Mission & Goals | Meeting Schedule | Search | Contact Us | Submit A Story | Links

100 Years Ago This Month

November 1918

November 7

Fags Dropped To Yanks

Showers of cigarettes fell from the sky on American fighters driving the Germans out of the St. Mihiel Salient; packages of cigarettes were dropped into the hands of infantryman as they pressed forward. Each package was tamped "With the complements of the Knights of Columbus." After the fight, soldiers related how pleasantly surprised they had been when the cigarettes were dropped. They declared no service on their behalf ever had pleased them as much as the unusual delivery of "smokes."

Spanish Flu Claims Five More

In spite of efforts to curb the spread of the Spanish Flu, deaths are still being reported on a daily basis. On Oct 29th, Alice More Lidie of Thurmont, aged 15, died of the pneumonia. On Nov 1st, William Henry Eigenbrode, the 6 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Eigenbrode of Rocky Ridge, died of the disease. That same day, word was received that Jessie Flore, aged 16, of Deerfield, died of pneumonia. On Monday evening, George Stottlemyer of Creagerstown died from complications of the disease.

Meanwhile, word has been received from the Department of the Army that Vernon Ohler, Francis Rowe, and Arthor Bentzel, all of Emmitsburg; William Fraley of Catoctin Furnace, and Jesse Pryor of Thurmont all have died in camp of the Spanish Flu.

Attempted Holdup

Last Monday morning, as the U.S. Parcel Post mail truck was on its way from Thurmont to Emmitsburg, an attempt was made to hold up the driver at the Tom’s Creek Covered Bridge about one mile south of Emmitsburg. As the driver entered the bridge a negro at the Emmitsburg side of the creek stepped out and flourished a revolver and demanded the truck halt. The truck was running at a good speed and the driver shot more gas and beat it to Emmitsburg. He reported the matter to the Deputy Sheriff. The officer hastened to the Bridge and found a white man there, who, on being questioned, said that the negro left soon after the mail truck had left the bridge.

Moving Day In Thurmont

On Thursday, five flittings took place in Thurmont reminding one of moving day, April 1. A large moving van took Mrs. Brenaman’s furniture to her new home in Baltimore, a truck moved Mr. Sugar’s effects to Baltimore, dairyman Eyler moved a portion of William Harbaugh’s goods from his home north of the railroad to the Walter property on E. Main St.; a truck came into town with a load of household goods, and another truck passed out at E. Main St. with a load, the destinations of the last two loads being unknown. The day was mild and spring like.

November 14

Auto Wrecks Awning

Last Sunday morning a wreck occurred on the Square in Thurmont, which practically cleaned up the square. Mr. Jesse Kolb was going north on the State Road in a heavy roadster at a good speed while Mr. Schildt was going west on Main Street. Mr. Kolb said in order to prevent a collision he kept to the left and in doing so his car struck the "Keep to the Right" post. When he struck the post he looked to see what had happened and the next instant the car rammed into the awning poles in front of the Osler Building, wrecking the roof that they supported. His car was not seriously damaged and after he extracted it from the poles and post, he proceeded on his way home.

Arm Broken

In an effort to pass a heavy team on the road, Peter Hammaker of Thurmont was thrown from his heavy wagon to the ground, his front wheel striking a stump at the roadside. Stunned, Mr. Hammaker got up and found a large bone sticking out of his arm. He refused assistance and instead proceeded homeward. However, he was intercepted by Dr. Birley who took him to Frederick so his arm could be properly attended.

Insanity Cure Found

Cure of insanity by extracting diseased teeth and clearing the gastrointestinal tract was announced by Dr. Henry Cotton, Professor of Advanced Medical Research at the University of Harney. His report, which was funded by the Former-Former Boozers Association, gives the results of four years of experimentation on a number of deranged wives of Boozer members and states that recoveries are speedy under the new treatment. Boozer ceased upon the report noting that it proved that the regular ingestion of large amounts of booze was responsible for killing the bacteria that caused diseased teeth – while the drinking of sweetened tea had the opposite effect. The only downside of the report noted by one Boozer was the concern that "womenfolk were too delicate to withstand the effects of hooch and might do things they would later regret while under its influence – like I did when I sobered up and found I had gotten married …"

November 21

Thurmont Man Killed

Mahlon Powell, aged about 29, of near Thurmont, employed by the Western Maryland Railway Company as a section man, was killed instantly when he was engaged in repairing the track’s engine, which was running backwards, and bore down upon him and ran over him.

Bad Luck At The Turn

The square in Thurmont is not very large, neither is it very small, but the majority of persons driving autos have no trouble keeping to the right around the post in the center of the square. Teamsters make the turn with four horses, and like other things, when you "catch on," it is easy. Not so for Mrs. Stoner.

Several weeks ago, Mrs. Stoner tried to make the turn up West Main Street, but the C&P telephone pole held her up. Last Sunday afternoon, she again tried the curve, this time too fast, and succeeded in missing the pole, but instead banged head-on into the Osler Building. Her car was so badly damaged that Dr. Brokaw was called out to shoot it.

Mrs. Stone says she is bound and determined to learn turning on the square and will try it again as soon as her husband buys her another car. Mr. Stoner was rumored to have been overheard saying that she would get a new car "over his dead body."

Church Funeral Ban Raised

County Health officials have announced that the ban placed on church funerals during the influenza epidemic will be lifted. Its removal taken to indicate that the disease has spent its force and is no longer regarded as a menace. Dr. Jamison, who has been ill, while very much improved has, not yet returned to his practice. Dr. Bronner, the other physician of Emmitsburg, has been frequently visiting the Catholic institutions of that vicinity to keep the number of new cases as low as possible.

November 28

Two Boys Reportedly Killed In France

Last Saturday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Stull of Thurmont received word that their son Raymond was killed in action in France on October 9. Raymond was among the first of the Thurmont boys to enlist in Company A at Frederick.

On Tuesday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Toms of Rocky Ridge received word that their son Stanley had also been killed in action on October 21.

Collecting Auto Fines

Emmitsburg officials are watching infringements of the motor laws carefully as the Borough Treasurer benefits from each violation. Last weeks’ report showed the following fines collected: $10 fine each for Samuel Hollinger, James Welty, and John White, for driving without a license; Charles Keholtz was fined $5 for insufficient markers; and Samuel Hollinger was fined $1 for not having a registration card in his possession.

Influenza In Fairfield Alarming

Influenza conditions, practically at a standstill for some weeks, are reported by physicians to be alarming once more. Earlier in the week the eastern end of Adams County registered many new patients, the disease seems to be centered around Fairfield. One doctor, in telling of his work on Friday said, "I have just come from four homes. Three or four people were set in every one of them. One of the families has both parents and the two children killed. I have another family in which there are six cases.

It is noted that but a few of the new cases developed seriously, either because the sickness is not of the virulent form of the earlier visitations or because people have learned their lessons and are taking proper care of themselves when they become ill. Several deaths and a number of pneumonia cases are attributed to failure of the patients to obey instructions, particularly during the convalescent stage. It is pointed out that these outbreaks are to be expected, decreasing from time to time in their intensity and prevalence until the disease here will be practically a thing of the past. One of the characteristics of the influenza is that it travels from east to west, and the present visitation is believed not to be a flare back but a new and lesser wave going across the country. Everywhere it is reported that a larger number of the new cases are of children rather than between 18 and 40, the ages that seemed to draw the largest number of victims several weeks ago.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'

Have a newspaper clipping on a event that took place in Emmitsburg? 
If so, send it to us at history@emmitsburg.net