Lorain Times-Herald Front Page – May 11, 1901

We'll spend another day in Lorain circa 1901, via this edition of the Lorain Times-Herald from May 10, 1901. Like yesterday's post, there's a lot to see on this front page if you're willing to squint at the fine print. As you'll see, everything wasn't just ducky in Lorain.

In the previous edition of the paper, Mr. Fesler 'fessed up' to shooting a duck that he said was already wounded, and basically criticized the game warden for arresting him. Well, in this paper, the game wardens took some potshots of their own in a Letter to the Editor. 

The letter reads, "The piece put in THE HERALD yesterday, May 10th in regard to August Fesler shooting a wild duck on the Black River was very much exaggerated. Now the fact of the case is, Mr. Whitford and Mr. D. Sutton, both Deputy State Game Wardens, saw the duck lite in the river and a young man came along in a boat, whistled and pointed to the duck. He did not attempt to pick up the duck as was represented in the paper, neither was the duck wounded until Fesler wounded it. He shot twice at the bird, first time wounding it. The second time he shot he killed it.

"It is out of season to shoot ducks, and contrary to law and anyone that violates the State Law is not a good citizen. How can a man's good name be injured when he is a violator of the state law. Mr. Fesler is fishing in the Black River with nets, as has been reported to us. After he shot the duck Mr. Whitford and Mr. D. Sutton both wardens, approached him and told him they would have to put him under arrest. He refused to go without a warrant; so we went and swore out a warrant. There was no running or flying as was represented in the HERALD."

Disease seemed to be a big problem in Lorain at that time. Under "Local News" there were several items: "The small-pox situation is improving."; "Mrs. Conrad Krantz is very ill with an attack of grip" (which is an old-time name for the flu)."; "Three cases of scarlet fever were reported at the Henson home at 2004 Oakdale avenue this morning."; "The quarantine was raised from the Hurst home on Myrtle street this morning. Chickenpox was the contagion."

Speaking of ducks and disease, we learn that the East Side of Lorain had a pond that was home to some of the web-footed rascals. One news item notes, "The East Side duck pond should be drained at once before an epidemic of disease results therefrom. The pond is very large and deep and filled with dirty slime and refuse. Houses in the vicinity have platforms and railings around them to keep children from falling into it. The affair is not a trifling one and needs attention at once."

The city apparently agreed, because the first item under "Local News" notes, "The East Side frog pond is being filled today." Frog pond, duck pond... what's the difference?

For Lake Shore Electric fans, there was one news item of interest. Under the heading "Will Build a Bridge at Vermilion," there is a small article that reads, "On Thursday the commissioners of Erie County granted permission to the Lake Shore Electric Railway Company to build a bridge across the river at Vermilion and to tie the abuttments to the wagon bridge abutments. The bridge will be 180 feet long. The material for it is about completed and work on the abuttments will be started at once."