The Way It Was

Friday, December 31, 2004

100 years ago:

Man says the Lord told him to jump; out of a window he went

Louis Hofmeister, an insane patient from Joplin, stripped the bars from a corridor window on the third floor at the State Asylum this morning, and leaped head-foremost to the ground. The dash was made so quickly that the attendant was unable to catch him.

In the fall both of Hofmeister's legs were broken, one just below the knee and the other at the ankle. He was promptly given necessary attention, and was resting easily this afternoon.

Hofmeister is about 42 years old, and his dementia is apparently infused by religion.

He says: "The Lord told me to jump, and I thought he would catch me, but he didn't. But the Lord is good and he will make me well again."

75 years ago:

Fire department responds to two alarms

The fire department was called to the residence of Robert Collier, 703 East Hickory Street, Monday afternoon to extinguish a grass fire. There was no damage. The flames were put out with chemicals.

The fire department was called to the residence of J.K. Hill Monday about noon to extinguish a grass fire. The fire was extinguished with chemicals. There was no damage.

50 years ago:

Most streets cleared Nevada today, three days after blizzard

Sunlight and somewhat milder temperatures started the heavy snow melting over most of Vernon County today.

In Nevada, on the third day after the blizzard, road scrapers were getting to the side streets, and workmen expected to have all the piled up snow on the square hauled away by nightfall. However, it probably still will be several days before vehicles can negotiate side streets and county roads without chains.