Past Pages for Thursday, May 4, 2017

150 Years Ago

First water: The Warrens (fire engine company) claim that they were 15 minutes ahead of the Currys in being present at the fire and getting the water going.

130 Years Ago

All sorts: There is talk of making Siberia a penal colony for the United States. What’s the matter with Oregon?

There is now talk of fitting out an expedition to the South Pole. As we were about to remark, in the general scramble for the North Pole the South Pole has been overlooked.

110 Years Ago

The big circus: The Sells-Floto show is to exhibit at Reno. All exchanges speak the highest praise: “Good and clean from start to finish,” was the general verdict. The performing animals, the clowns, the acrobats, the trapeze artists were of the highest order. The parade was the cleanest and the calliope was the first one ever heard that did not grate on the ears. The parade contained the cages of lions, tigers, bears, leopards, camels, dromedaries and beautiful horses.

100 Years Ago

World War I: The New Freedom —

There is no freedom until all are free.

There is no safety, even to the strong.

When weakness cowers under ruthless wrong;

When might makes right upon the land and sea;

When despots dice a dumb democracy.

But now we know our mission is undone

And will be so until the world is free;

And right shall sit with peace in triumph won;

Until the weakest, with the strong, shall be

Fearless and friends in ungrudged liberty. — Anonymous

50 Years Ago

Laser beam use: The United States Air Force is studying the use of a laser concentrated beam of light to rapidly scan the earth beneath, moving so fast that people cannot see it.

Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.