1983 Edition 100th Anniversary

    I am responding to a request of Publisher Charles Clark to write about my years, 1934-1953, as editor publisher of the Bent County Democrat. I am writing in July, 1981, in anticipation of the Democrat's 100th anniversary in 1983.
    First, a word of introduction for those who were not around while we were in Las Animas. I grew up in Missouri, started my newspaper career working as a "printer's devil" at the age of 14, wrote high school news and worked part time as a printer, and fulltime for a year after graduation before securing a job with a Columbia, Mo., printing plant so I might work my way through the University of Missouri and the School of Journalism.
    The year 1927 was important to me as I completed my journalism training, became the youngest newspaper editor-publisher in Mississippi, and married my college sweetheart, Joan Abston of Independence, Mo..... and we celebrated our 54th anniversary July 2, 1981.
    We left Mississippi during the Great Depression to go to Memphis, Tenn., where I joined the two young publishers of the Memphis Lumberman and Southern Woodworker in establishing the Memphis Suburban News to serve 17 suburban communities. We had a great idea, but 1930-1931 was not the time to venture into a new business.
    I worked for newspapers in Ohio, Iowa and Illinois before accepting H. Harbin Clark's offer to come to Las Animas in October, 1934. I became the sole owner several years later.

    When we, Mrs. Wimmell and our son who was born in West Point, Miss., in 1928, arrived in Colorado, the depression seemed to be abating but the dust storms were becoming more and more serious. I recall two relevant incidents.
    The week after we arrived the plate glass window on the Bent Avenue side of the BCD building was blown out during a violent dust storm.... and shortly thereafter Harry Amsley of the Fort Lyon Canal Company called to tell us he had received word from Trinidad that a flash flood was coming down the Purgatory (Picketwire) River and would reach Las Animas at a particular hour. I was among those who witnessed a 10-foot wall of water come rushing down the dry river bed. Within 30 minutes the south end of the Highway 101 bridge was washed out.
    This flash flood was a vivid reminder of how the river became named the "River of Lost Souls in Purgatory" after a band of early day Spanish explorers camping on the river band had been swept into eternity without the sacrament of their church.
    Despite the depression and dust storms we found Las Animas to be a good business town, in our opinion the best in the Arkansas Valley at that time. We had three good advertising department stores, rival grocery, hardware, lumber and drug stores plus five or six automobile dealerships as well as an adequate number of doctors, lawyers and dentists.
    As secretary of a "Trade Appreciation" promotion it was my responsibility to collect sales tickets from the 22 merchant sponsors and to conduct drawings each Saturday afternoon. Often I could hardly walk through the business district because the crowds were so large.

    In 1934-35 the Democrat had 35 country correspondents and for several years the BCD staff and correspondents would gather for a steak dinner or summer-time picnic on the courthouse lawn. As the drouth became more severe, Bent County lost many rural families and the BCD lost a number of pencil pushing correspondents.
    One of our rural writers, who refused to leave, was Mrs. Stella Westfall, who received national recognition for her "Toonville Toots." The name was given her news because she was always writing that the Santa Fe would someday construct a branch line through her valley. This they did in 1937 and the BCD had the honor of sponsoring an opening day train which carried 1066 passengers to and from Boise City, Okla.
    Not only was Las Animas a good business town, but we had, by far, the finest civic pride of any town in the Valley. Under Arthur S. Dean, Democratic party leader and country treasurer, Las Animas furnished the leadership for the seven-year campaign which was realized with the construction of the Caddoa Dam, which was later named the John Martin Dam in honor of our Third District Congressman, the dam's principal sponsor in the Congress.
    Lots of excitement resulted when the U. S. Army Engineers moved in to build their first dam across the Arkansas River. In recent years they have built several more dams across the Arkansas in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Our dam was started in 1939 and completed after the war.

    Las Animas and Bent County have have had more than their share of interesting, colorful and distinguished people. We will mention only a few starting with John Wesley Prowers, who, at the age of 14, left his home in Westport (Kansas City), Mo., to become the first teacher of the first school in the county at Boggsville.
    He was elected to the first Board of County Commissioners when Bent County was established in 1870 and helped found the city of Las Animas. The original Bent County was divided into six counties by the State Legislature in 1889 and Prowers County was named in his honor. John W. Prowers is also remembered for having introduced Hereford cattle into Colorado, for marrying a Cheyenne Indian princess, and for his descendents, including his daughter, Mrs. A. D. Hudnall, a lifelong resident of Las Animas.
    A. D. Hudnall was one of the city's trustees when Las Animas was incorporated in 1882. We remember him best as the colorful representative of the Kansas City Stockyards and as the father of Prowers and Leonard "Chief" Hudnall and of Mrs. Frank (Inez) Nelson.
    Horace C. Abbott, native of Michigan and a pioneer in the sheep business in New Mexico and Colorado, was representing the St. Joseph Stockyards when we first met him. We are pleased that we later prevailed onhim to write a booklet, which we published, in his early days in the sheep business.
     Then there was L. E. Thompson, an early day sheep man and a lay Primitive Baptist preacher, who occasionally filled the pulpit at the Presbyterian Church. One of his sons, Llewellyn, was a State Department diplomat who ended his career as the ambassador to the Soviet Union. He was always good for a news story as was J. C. Penny, who frequently visited his relatives, the Thompsons, and his store, which was the second of his chain to be established.

During our years with the Democrat we recorded the passing of some truly colorful old time cattle and sheep men. There was John McIntosh, president of the First National Bank, who was one of several natives of Scotland who immigrated to this country to raise sheep. B. T. McClave from Illinois, liked to call himself a farmer-rancher, whereas Mel M. Simpson from Massachusetts was an old time cow man who enjoyed Democratic party assemblies and conventions.
But to us the most colorful of all the old time cow-sheep men of 50 years ago was a native of Texas. His father, upon seeing his bright red newly born son, promptly named him A> Bright Ham. At his funeral I thought it most appropriate that Mrs. Wimmell play, "I'm Headed for the Last Roundup" in his honor and memory.

    During World War II the most enthusiastic local supporter of the war effort was Tilford McBride, who, because of his many war-related activies, was featured in the Saturday Evening Post, honored by Colorado's governor, and who was known far and wide simply as "Hamburger Mac."
    After losing his job at the Las Animas Elevator during the depression, he opened a hole-in-the-wall hamburger stand on Bent Avenue across the street from the Democrat. He made and sold good hamburgers for a nickel and super burgers on made-to-order buns from the City Bakery for a dime. His menu also included homemade chili, pies, Hills Bros. coffee and pop.
    To promote the war effort Mac came up with many novel ideas, one of which was to send the hometown newspaper, the Democrat, to every Bent County boy in the military services. We, at the Democrat, agreed to accept subscriptions at half price, in reality what Mac could raise, and as a result we mailed the Democrat every week for four years up to 990 boys in the services all over the world.
    One of Mac's most effective money raisers was the use of a fruit jar. Whenever anyone entered his restaurant he would ring a cow bell until a contribution had been deposited in his fruit jar. Instead of offending, hundreds of Bent County folks would drop0 in just to make a contribution.
    As the boys were constantly being moved around, the BCD received numerous changes of address and usually the boys would have comments to make. As a result, Mrs. Wimmell began writing a column of "News From Our Boys." The column grew and at times would require two and three columns. After the war, our good friend, R. B. McDermott of the Las Animas Leader, wrote and published a book based on the incidents reported by the boys in the military services.

    Charles W. Hurd, agent for the Santa Fe railroad, was a man everyone recognized as he stode about town in his black silk coat and high celluloid collar for he was a unique individual. As a youth in Canada hewas given the nickname of Ichabod because of his string bean appearance and years later it was not that different.
    Because he was interested in weather, we asked him to be our weather man, to report daily high and low temperatures and precipitation, if any. Occasionally he would report unusual weather facts, the sun spots for example. We would write the stories, but finally we persuaded him to write his own stories, which he did in long-hand. Once started, he wrote on many subjects and ended up as the author of a two-volume history of southeastern Colorado.
    Besides his interest in early day history and the weather, Charlie Hurd will be remembered for his annual fourth of July hikes up Pikes Peak, which he continued well into his 60s, always hoping to break the record which alluded him less than three minutes. Hurd was also interested in many civic affairs. He was president of the school board, head of the Red Cross, past president of the Lions Club and an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

    During the 20 years we were in Las Animas, softball was a great summertime sport. It was in 1933 that the Rev. Jason Harbert of the Presbyterian Church, We Pyle of Citizens Utilities, Rex Bennett, Judge Herman Bailey and others decided to solicit funds for lighting the Columbian ball field. All of the labor was to be done by volunteers and the city agreed to furnish the electricity for the lights.
    Even to this day, Harbert remembers being bawled out when he solicited funds at one of the two local banks. "You have lots of gall to ask for money for entertainment when there are hungry people in Bent County," he was told.
    The needed money, $718, was raised and the softball program was a great entertainment success during the dreary days of the depression, dust bowl and World Ward II. At one time we had over 300 boys, girls and men playing on 21 teams, midget, junior, senior, and girls. Most of the district tournaments were played in Las Animas and our teams played all over Colorado in state tournaments.
    As president of the Young Democrats, I managed the "New Dealers" and every time we played we were supported by 400 to 500 loyal Democrats and as many Republicans were on hand to root for the opposition, no matter the team, but especially for the Rixey Ramblers, our toughest opponents.

    Speaking of politics, the Democrat for 40 years under George B. Wick, 20 years under Harbin "Shorty" Clark and 19 years under the writer, was a solid democratic newspaper. After our selling, Maggie Everhart, the zealous Republican vice-chairman, surprised me when she said "Art, we're sorry to see you sell the Democrat.... You always made us so mad we would swear we would never buy another copy, but we did.... You gave us hell on page two (editorial page) but you were fair on the front page."
    In August 1944, Editor Fred Betz of Lamar Daily News, called to ask if I would consider running for Congress if the vacancy committee named me. State Senator Curtis Bichie of Pueblo, had been nominated by the Democratic congressional assembly, but had resigned because of the serious illness of his wife.
    I was surprised but agreed to run if named. I was named and won the Democratic primary against an independent Democrat, but lost in November to the incumbent, J. Edgar Chenoweth. The race was close considering the Republicans won every major office in Colorado that year, most of them by landslide margins. It was an interesting and difficult experience as I had to campaign via the railroad since gasoline ration stamps were not available for campaigning.

    During our years the Democrat won many awards, for typographical excellence, outstanding community services, editorials, and Mrs. Wimmell, who began working during the war, was honored for having the best woman's page, best feature story on a great snowstorm, and for writing the best editorial by a woman, the only editorial she ever wrote.
    We received Senator Ed. C. Johnson's award in 1939 for our promotion of the Caddoa Dam; however, the award we valued most highly was for outstanding community service which came after we had printed the valuation of every piece of real property in Bent County. This required a page ever week for six weeks.
    Taxpayers were afraid their taxes might have been greatly increased as the state had sent appraisers into the county. The county assessor would not let us see the valuations other than our own. He changed his mind when we threatened to obtain a district court injunction. As it turned out, publication of all valuations insured the re-election of the Republican assessor because the appraisers had done a good job and there were only a few complaints.
    I was invited to join the Lions Club Jan. 1, 1935, and I have remained a Lion ever since. My top honor, as a Lion, came when I was elected District Governor in 1945. Because I needed to travel two-thirds of the state and I had been riding a Victory bicycle during most of the war, I was permitted to buy the first post-war Ford six months before they were placed on sale to the public.

    Our decision to sell the Democrat came suddenly. Earl Asbury had come the year before from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat to be assistant editor and advertising manager. From time to time he would try to persuade me to sell him an interest in the BCD. I told him I had tried selling an interest on three previous occasions and all had failed to work out satisfactorily.
    Mrs. Wimmell and I had planned to bring our son into the business following his graduation from Colorado University. But three weeks before his graduation he called to say he had accepted a job "with a big corporation,RCA in New Jersey: and would not be returning to Las Animas. We both were disappointed and when Earl approached me, I responded saying, "Earl, if you can raise $----- for a down payment I might just sell you the whole works." I did not think he could raise the money, but he did and we were of the newspaper business, at least in Las Animas.
    We went to Clayton, N. M., in June, 1954, as manager of the Chamber of Commerce. Two years later we came to Arkansas to raise registered Angus cattle. After 16 years on the farm we moved to Hot Springs in March, 1972. Here we have been active in many community affairs, politics, Lions, church, and for the past six years I have been the Arkansas editor of The Presbyterian, a monthly newspaper which goes to every Presbyterian family in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. Mrs. Wimmell has been active in our church, AAUW, DAR and the Hot Springs Music Club.
    I feel we have had a good life, but as Mrs. Wimmell reminds me from time to time, "we spent the 20 best years of our lives in Las Animas."

    Hasty, Martin Dam boom town, 16 miles east of Las Animas on Highway 50, is fading now as rapidly as it boomed in the early days of the big river project.
    In its early days, Hasty had all kinds of "growing pains." Never before needed, but brought by the boom was policing, enlargement of school facilities to accommodate the more than doubled enrollment, organization of fire fighters and many other such community moves. Works was even started to get the town up a water system supplied by deep wells. This project never traveled any further than preliminary work.
    There were at one time nine cafes in Hasty. Now there is not one place to order a meal. There were once seven service stations. Now there are two, both on the highway. The town boasted a drugstore which is now gone.
    There were two busy lumber yards, both out of business now. In one year the Lonesome Knot lumber company furnished materials to build 96 houses; and the Pioneer Lumber company delivered as much as 20 carloads of lumber on a single month to the dam project.
    The Haca theater, in a specially constructed adobe building is now a thing of the past.
    The town once had two newspapers, The Hasty Herald and Caddoa Dam New Era. Both are gone.
    There were several busy trailer camps, but now most of the trailers have been moved away, and following their wheel prints now are many of the houses built for workers at the dam. War - caused shortage of building materials in making good demard for houses and they are being lifted from foundations and being hauled away.
    Hasty is now but a skeleton of its former self, again becoming the langorous roadside village, basking in summer's sun and sleeping beneath winter's blanket of snow.

    William J. Setchfield announced Tuesday he had leased his blacksmith shop and equipment to his son, William T. Setchfield, effective Jan. 1.
    Young Bill learned the blacksmithing trade under his father, as did two of his three brothers. After three years' training Bill opened his own shop at Olney Springs in Crowley County, which he operated for seven years. He came back to Las Animas three years ago and has been associated with his father since.
    Bill Sr., or "Old Bill" as he is known by his many friends, was born in a blacksmith shop in Durango. As a youngster of six he started helping his dad by standing on the corner of the forge and pulling the bellows pole. He also sorted nuts and bolts, straightened horseshoe nails and did other little jobs about the shop.
    The family moved to Cripple Creek where Bill grew up. At one time he served on the police force of Cripple Creek back i the days when Cripple Creek was a wide open booming mining town. Finally, however, he returned to the blacksmith trade, moving into the Arkansas Valley to open a shop in Lamar in 1910.
    Five years later he moved to Las Animas and after a couple of years in town, located in the southern part of the county near Ninaview. When the Carey dam project came along, Old Bill got the job as blacksmith for the W. A. Colt Construction Co. When the project was completed, Bill and his family moved back to town and after operating shops in several locations, opended his present shop on Bent Avenue in 1929.
    Old Bill's oldest son, Walter E. "Bud" Setchfield, operates a blacksmith shop at McClave. Bill Jr., as he is known, although his middle initial is different from his father's, now has the shop here, and George A. Setchfield is serving overseas in England with Uncle Sam's Army. The fourth son, Elmer, did not become a blacksmith because his eyes were not good enough. Mr. Setchfield also has four daughters. Mrs. Setchfield passed away in 1937.
    As to the future, Old Bill declares he has no plans which would take him out of Las Animas. He is a member of the city council, but has not decided whether he will run for reelection or not.

    The route carriers out to Las Animas who deliver to the south side are showing a real spirit of service since the accident to the Purgatoire River bridge which prevents them crossing. W. J. Brown, who has the Ninaview route, drove around by Caddoa and left a car on the south side of the Santa Fe bridge.
    He now hauls his mail to the bridge, carries it across and then finishes his routes in the car on the other side. It takes two cars and a hike across the long bridge to get mail to his patrons, but he does it.
    Clarence Moore, who handles the Deora Star route, finds it impossible to use Mr. Brown's methods owing to the fact that he hauls in a large amount of cream and other produce for his patrons, making it more than a job to carry it across the bridge. Consequently he drives 20 miles to Caddoa, crosses there and drives 20 miles back, making his route 40 miles longer than usual or 140 miles per day.
    Ralph Hufford, who has Rural Route No. 1, with it Keller extension, also totes the mail for that section across the bridge, where he secures aid from the farmers in making the delivery. The patrons over there have been furnishing him with a car to make the delivery. Mr. Hufford is not required by the department to make delivery on the other side of the river, as are the Star route carriers, until such time as the bridge is repaired, but he will no doubt continue to do so.
    With the bridge to the south side entirely out of commission, and the bridge to the north side only providing half a track, Las Animas is certainly in a heck of a shape. But we are still going strong and making every effort to serve the trade territory. Everything will be going as usual within a few days and our roads and bridges will be better than ever.

    A suggested ordinance for motorists which may appeal to some motorists who have had hard luck and again may not. Anyhow, think what it would mean if city ordinances provided.
    Section I. That it shall be unlawful for any person to drive, or cause to be driven, any automobile upon the street, avenue, alley or other public highway within any city unless said automobile and its driver observe each and all of the following rules.

    1. On discovering an approaching team, the motorist must stop and cover his machine with a trapaulin panted to correspond with the surrounding scenery.

    2. The speed limit will be secret and the penalty for violation will be $10 for every mile an offender is caught going in exess of it.

    3. In case a motor car makes a team run away, the penalty shall be $100 for the first mile the team runs; $200 for the second, $300 for the third and so on.

    4. On approaching a corner where he cannot command a view of the road, the motorist must stop at least 100 yards from the turn, toot his horn, ring a bell, fire a revolver, "halloo" and send up three rockets at intervals of five minutes.

    5. Motor cars must be seasonable painted so they will merge with the landscape. They shall be green in autumn, and white in winter.

    6. Motor cars running on a country road at night must send up a red rocket every mile, and wait ten minutes for the roads to clear, then proceed carefully, blowing horns and shooting Roman candles.

    7. In case a horse refuses to pass a motor car, in spite of all precautions that have been taken, the motorist will take his machine to pieces as rapidly as possible and conceal the parts in the grass.

    8. In case the roads are dusty, the owner of a motor car whall slow down to one mile an hour when approaching a house, and send a man ahead with a sprinkler to lay the dust.

    In the colorful history of Colorado there are few chapters more vivid and brilliant than those written by its pioneer newspaper men.
    With a handful of type, an old Washington hand press and plenty of nerve, they published newspapers with personality and character -- papers characteristic of the young state whose destinies they were helping to shape.
    The years have taken their toll of those newspaper men who were young when Colorado was young. There is Charles Adams at Montrose, Guy Hardy at Canon City, Colonel Padock of Boulder, Charles Leckenby at Steamboat Springs and George B. Wick of Las Animas.

HERE SINCE 1899

    Since 1899, Mr. Wick has been a newspaper publisher in Las Animas where he purchased the Bent County Democrat and not until 1929 did he relinquish all his interests in the newspaper to which he still makes regular and valued contributions.

OWNED WALSENBURG PAPER

    Mr. Wick came to Colorado in the autumn of 1886. He rambled about the state and worked in several northern Colorado print shops where he set type for the first newspaper published at Windsor, Colo. He recalls being in Denver at a time when Alva Adams was inaugurated governor for his first term.
    Sizing up his finances he dug up two dollars, one of which he paid for a seat in the top gallery of the Tabor opera house to look down upon the prominent politicians of Colorado and elite of Denver and clap his hands along with the rest of the mob when Alva appeared leading the grand march in the inaugural ball.
    After spending some time at Leadville, he drifted down to Walsenburg and in 1891 purchased the Walsenburg Cactus which he published until the fall of 1897 when he disposed of that paper and the first week in December 1898, purchased the Bent County Democrat.
    In the spring of 1900, attracted by the fabulous tales of rich gold mines being discovered in Alaska, he along with thousands of others and George Harris, of Las Animas, from whom he had purchased the Democrat, started for the land where gold dust was reported scattered over the surface as plentiful as sand on the beaches.

EIGHT DAYS FOR TRIP

    At Seattle they secured passage on the good steel ship, "Senator," the fastest boat between that point and Cape Nome which they reached at 2 o'clock one morning with the sun shining as brightly as mid-day. Eight days had elapsed since they left Seattle.
    On the boat as passengers were Judge Noyes and Alexander McKinzie, who later played an important part in the exciting history of the god rush to Alaska and whose actions formed the groundwork of Rex Beach's thrilling story of "The Spoilers."

RETURNS TO COLORADO

    Returning to Las Animas on the last boat before winter set in that year, Mr. Wick resumed the old grind on the Democrat and in June of the following year was appointed water commissioner for this district by Gov. J. B. Orman which office he held for two years.
    In July, 1916, he was appointed postmaster by President Woodrow Wilson. He held that office for five years and nine months and was succeeded by the late John W. Moore. In 1916 Mr. Wick had sold a half interest in the Bent County Democrat to H. Harbin Clark and they purchased the present large two story stone building which is the present home of the Democrat.
    When Mr. Wick purchased the Democrat it was located in a small building on the west side of Carson Avenue where the office of Dr. J. R. Gaines in now located. About 1902, the office was moved to a building which has since been occupied by the plumbing and heating establishment of H. H. Vandiver.
    The shop was composed principally of three cases of type and a Washington hand press. "I could almost move the whole outfit in a wheelbarrow," Mr. Wick recalls.
    In those early days merchants had little faith in advertising, saying everybody knows us and what we have to sell, and when they did place an ad in the paper it was "just to help the printer," and the ad very likely would stare out at the reader of the paper for months without change. However, Mr. Wick states, there was one merchant in Las Animas who had progressive ideas, and he let it be known by changing his ad every week. His name was Ed Gardner and he conducted a hardware store in the building lately vacated by Woods Variety Store. One day a disgruntled farmer stepped into the print shop and ordered his paper stopped, saying it was not good and that he didn't have time to read it anyway. Sadly the name was taken off the list.
    A few weeks later, the same farmer wearing a broad smile on his tanned face came into the office and greeted the editor with, "Say, boss, start up the Democrat again. My wife's been raising cain since it stopped coming. She misses reading Ed Gardner's ad every Friday telling of the many handy things on sale for use in the kitchen and garden."

The Charleston, the dance which has caused so many athletic contortions since its introduction to the public, is soon to be banned from all public dances in this city, along with all other unseemly conduct on the dance floor, according to the reports reaching this office.
We understand the city council is preparing an ordinance covering these points, and if so, we wish to compliment them on their good judgment. The sooner the Charleston and other freak performances are eliminated from public dances, the better the community will be. They are neither graceful nor elevating.

Oh! Yes You Can
You can always tell a barber
By the way he parts his hair;
You can always tell a dentist
When you're in a dentist's chair,
And even a musician --
You can tell him by his touch.
You can always tell a printer,
But you cannot tell him much.
---The Paper Book.

Said a schoolmaster to one of his pupils, who had failed in a mathematical problem: "Young man, do you know that at your age Washington was a surveyor?"
"Yes sir," the boy replied, "and at your age he was president."

Next week Frank Fisher will open his bakery and will make free delivery of his goods. Watch for his wagon.

    The commencement exercises of the Las Animas High School at the Opera House Monday evening terminating what is conceded to be one of the most successful school years in the history of Las Animas.
    There were only two graduates in the class, Charles Butts and George B. Peart.
    The orations, "Voyage of Life," by Charles Butts, and "The Ingenuity of Man," by George B. Pert were highly entertaining and showed careful preparation. It is a difficult matter to prepare a really interesting oration and the graduates are to be congratulated upon their efforts.

In 1867 John W. Prowers put in a claim to the government for $10,000 damages for cattle and mules killed and ran off by the Indians.
This claim has been before the authorities at Washington all these years, and not until last week was any definite action taken on the claim. Now the attorney general writes Dan Keesee, administrator for the estate, that $6, 500 has been allowed the heirs. The government moves slow, sometimes, but it generally gets there.

Wm. Feuerstein, a practical tailor who has been in business in Pueblo for a number of years has located here, and for the present can be found in the little building where Two Lungs used to wash and smoke opium. We need a tailor shop and we know he will do well. He makes suits that fit and will repair or clean your old ones. Ladies' coats and skirts cleaned and repaired.

    "Old Frank" more popularily known as McKinley, the famous old horse of Fort Lyon, passed away some time Sunday night. Old Mack held sway at Fort Lyon and could go where he wanted to or do whatever he pleased.
    He was reported to be 44 years of age and during the height of his glory, he was one of President McKinley's coach horses way back in 1897.
    Mac was a familiar figure at Fort Lyon; he could be seen grazing on the parade ground regulary or lazily lounging under the shade of a tree. He was probably the most photographed being at Fort Lyon, residents as well as visitors being anxious to have his picture for their albums.

Officials of the Fort Lyon Veterans Bureau Hospital have received instructions from Washington, authorizing them to skin Old Frank, the famous horse that hauled a president and who has been pensioned at the hospital grounds for several years past.
He died a few days ago and now he will be skinned and his hide tanned.

A six-year-old girl submitted the following composition on "People" to her teacher.
"People are composed of girls and boys. Also men and women. Boys are no good until they grow up and get married. Men who don't get married are no good either. Boys are an awful bother. They want everything they see except soap. My ma is a woman and my pa is a man. A woman is a grown up girl with children. My pa is such a nice man that I think he must have been a girl when he was a boy."

A 19-year-old Lamar school boy gave one of the merchants of that city a check drawn on the "National Bank of Good Intentions" and the said merchant cashed it. The lad was later arrested, but was sent back to school without prosecution when "dad" footed the bill. These dads may be a little old fashioned, but they sure do come in handy sometimes.

There is nothing that can keep a town from growing when everybody is working in that direction.

Wanted --- Single bed by elderly man with wooden head and feet., box springs and felt mattress. Weekly Gazette, Mich.

A city girl boarding in the country spoke to the farmer about the savage way in which the cow regarded her. "Well," said the farmer, "it must be on account of that red waist you have on." "Dear me," said the girl, "of course I knew it was dreadfully out of style, but I had no idea that a country cow would notice it."

A dog tax faithfully collected in this town would produce enough revenue to make decent streets or eliminate a large number of dogs. Either result would be satisfactory.

The Las Animas Warehouse had put in a new gasoline engine which makes the big corn grinder go at the rate of several hundred bushels an hour. Grain elevators have also been installed and the labor of handling corn has been reduced to a minimum.

Workmen are tearing down the old American House and the old Sam Smith adobe. New frame buildings will be erected on the site of each shortly.

    If you are a married man who absolutely must drink booze, start a saloon in your own home. Give your wife $20 to buy a gallon of whiskey, There are 128 ounces in a gallon.
    Buy your drinks at retail from your wife. When the first gallon is gone, your wife will have nearly $60 to put in the bank and $20 to start in business again.
    If you live 10 years, buy all your whiskey from your wife, and then die with snakes in your boots. Your wife will have enough to buy you respectably, bring up your children, buy a home and lot, marry a decent man and forget all about you. ---- Catholic Advocate.

Jake Abendschan returned to his post on the ice wagon Sunday. The enterprising citizens of Caddoa have purchased an organ for their school and have also organized a Sunday School.

That black delivery horse of Thomas Brothers is a wise old guy. Every day at noon he leaves his stand at the side door of the store and slowely walks to the water trough where he deliberately and with much satisfaction proceeds to fill his water tank with the cool running liquid. Then with a great heave of apparent pleasure he looks around and says to himself. "Well that's good enough for anybody," when he backs up, turns around and drags the wagon back to the starting place where he stops and patiently fights flies until his kind and gentle driver starts him on a round of the town to deliver goods.

ASBURY LOOKS BACK AT YEARS IN LAS ANIMAS

Dear Charlie:
   Your observation of the Bent County Democrat's Centennial year brings back pleasant memories of the 16 years Sal and I published the paper.
    For us, putting out the BCD was a lot of work and a lot of fun, and the most satisfying endeavor we've ever experienced.
    Now I've been a stockbroker 14 1/2 years --- almost as long as I was at the Democrat. It doesn't seem that long.

    It was 30 years ago I got off the train from St. Louis. Jess Bailey was at the depot picking up mail and he gave me a lift to Mary Eddleman's Deluxe Hotel, just behind the old BCD building. I worked for Art Wimmell for a year before he sold us the paper.
    I was 28 when we bought the Democrat, youngest publisher in the state I believe, but some of the people I most enjoyed knowing were old timers such as Ez Thaxton, C. W. Hurd, Frank W. Nelson, Shorty Clark, Marshall Dean, Adolph Hansen.
    On Jan. 19, 1954, nine months after we bought the Democrat, Bent County experienced its first big dust storm since the 30s. Coming from Illinois, we'd never seen anything like it. We wondered what we'd gotten into.
    Over the 16 years there were lots of sad stories to be written and a few funny ones. One I won't forget was in the middle of a gig dust storm a prisoner in County Jail ran away and authorities couldn't see him because of the zero visibility. We headlined it "Prisoner Escapes in a Cloud of Dust."
    Our two main editorial campaigns during the entire 16 years were for a permanent pool at John Martin Dam and the Frying Pan project. I understand we finally got the permanent pool but I don't believe Bent County has benefited yet from one drop of Frying Pan water for drinking or irrigation. We've learned projects always take longer than you expect when government is involved and sometimes they end up sort of twisted around.
    I really did try to run the BCD as an independent paper politically though at the time both the Republicans and the Democrats felt I was for the other side. Since leaving, I've become a true conservative. One of the frustrations of no longer having a newspaper is not being able to write editorials critical of phonies like Gary Hart and Ray Kogovsek.
    People in Colorado Springs say "What is there to do in a small town like Las Animas?" Certainly there were more activities going on for us than we had time for. Club meetings, Saturday night parties, high school sporting events, softball games, mountain climbing trips with Oakley Wade. We really enjoyed life in Las Animas.
    In celebrating the Centennial, it should be noted that the BCD employee with longest service is Frankie Gutierrez. Frankie got his start as a printer working for Arthur Wimmell, worked with me and is still there. His career must span nearly half in BCD years.
    I'd like to send our best wishes for a good Centennial year, Charlie, to you and all the good people of Bent County.

Sincerely,
Earl Asbury

	Dear Mr. Clark: It gives me pleasure to send congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the first publication of the Bent County Democrat. The Bent County Democrat is an important element in the lives of people in southeast Colorado. Its long record of service and your personal effort to keep Bent Countians informed are commendable. Again, congratulations on this special benchmark and best wishes for another century of prosperous operation. Sincerely, Richard D. Lamm, Governor * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clark: The Session of the frist Presbyterian Church extends its congratulations on your 100th year. Like all newspapers, large and small, the Democrat has at times been applauded and at times severely critized, but it has been a recorder of activities and events of the community. This church appreciates the coverage your paper has given church activities over the years, and we wish you continued success in the years to come. Sincerely, Lela Watkins, Clerk of Session * * * * * * * * * *	I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Bent Country Democrat and the staff on its one hundredth anniversary. During this years the Democrat has provided the residents of the City of Las Animas and Bent County as well as those who have long since moved away with the current happenings and events taking place in our community. It has been the source that has allowed us all to share the news of happy occasions and accomplishments as well as the problems that go with life in any community. Alferd Putnam, Mayor, City of Las Animas * * * * * * * * * *
To: Charlie & Pat Clark & their staff, We the County Commissioners and all of the Bent County Employees would like to wish a "Happy Birthday" and "Congratulations" to the Bent County Democrat for serving our community for the past 100 years with its hometown newspaper. Few people have the opportunity to work for the community at a business that has the enthusiastic service the Bent County Democrat has provided. Many people, both young and old, look forward to the Thursday's edition of the local newspaper. Even residents who have lived in our community during the past, enjoy receiving the newspaper to keep up-to-date on what is happening and changed. It takes a great deal of work to provide a hometown newspaper to those both near and far. Such experiences are long remembered by all, so we say to you and your staff hurrah, and congratulations. We do hope the next 100 years are as successful. Sincerely, Board of the Bent County Commissioners Glen Gill, Chairman; Ken Kester & Thomas Pointon, Commissioners * * * * * * * * * *	Dear Charlie and staff of Bent County Democrat: I wish to congratulate Charlie Clark, his family, members of his staff, and everyone else associated with the success of the Bent County Democrat on the 100th anniversary of the newspaper's publication. Newspapers communicate ideas, news, and analyze the happenings of the day in an objective manner. The Bent County Democrat has accomplished all of these goals and has gone one step beyond, and that is to personalize its message to all of us. The Bent County Democrat has served the people of our area well for the past 100 years. I wish you continued success in the future and look forward to reading your newspaper for many years to come. Sincerely yours, James T. Rizzuto State Senator * * * * * * * * * * Just a note of sincere congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the Bent County Democrat. We always enjoy receiving each edition and particularly enjoy the news section and the columns by Nancy, Gary and Monty. Having grown up watching both parents work the long hours that go with the newspaper business, it is a joy to see all of you rewarded with such a fine newspaper. I doubt that the consistency and quality of the Bent County Democrat are matched by many weekly newspapers. Your work over the last several years has built an excellent newspaper, and along the way you have taught your children the importance of enjoying one's work and always striving for quality. Congratulations and keep up the good work. Sincerely, Mel Clark, M. D.
Dear Friends: We can think of no other enterprise, whose success is best tested by the passage of time than a small hometown newspaper. We are more than proud to be congratulating you, your staff, and your community on the Democrat's 100th birthday. Our family's 65 years involvement with The Daily News at Lamar has meant we have had a long and enjoyable relationship with the Democrat, and its publishers. From time to time we have had employed at the News staff members who began their careers on the Democrat, and if my memory serve me correct, the opposite has also been true. Irel Ann (Chris) Ham of your community began her graphics art career at the Democrat and is completing her 20th year with us. As the years have gone by we know that we have not held the exact same political views as the publishers of the Democrat, but when it has come to a "Lower Arkansas Valley" project or problem the record will show we have joined with them to make a unified voice. We think it is particularly rewarding to us all for the landmark decision by Special Water Judge John Statler to allow the creation of the permanent pool at John Martin Reservoir during your 100th birthday year! We would be remiss, if we didn't mention to an "old timer" such as you, Charley, that we often gasp about how different the production of a newspaper is today, from just a few years ago, but we have no interest in going back "to the good old days"! Let's celebrate! Happy birthday, The Betz and Larrew Families and their staffs Lamar Daily News	* * * * * * * * * * Dear Mr. Clark, Your recent column on the Democrat's 100th birthday brought back many memories. I sent it on to my brother Tom and he in turn will send it to Dick as they would want to know about the event. When I was very young I remember quiet dignified Mr. Wick who was at the helm of the Democrat at that time. He had a mustache the same shape as my Grandfather Schick. He did seem to bounce and ooze energy. I went to the Jr.-Sr. Prom with Art Wimmel, Jr., so you can see the relationship between the Leader and Democrat were always friendly. During my college years the Democrat changed hands and I did not become well acquainted with Mr. Asbury. Your daughter's column mentioning Ft. Lupton also rang a bell. My parents met there and their first home was in Ft. Lupton. Congratulations to you all on a job sell done. Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Lois Morris Concord, Calif.

    John O. Lewis, Pasadena (Calif.) columnist who writes "The End of the Trail" for the Bent Country Democrat, became suspicious of the rainmaking project being carried on here. Perhaps somebody was being "taken for a ride by city slickers," thought Mr. Lewis. When he could not find the Water Resources Corporation listed in the Pasadena phone book, he became doubly suspicious and phoned the Pasadena Independent for information.
    The following article from the Independent of July 28 by F. G. Runyon in his "Our City" column is the result of Mr. Lewis' curiosity:

Can't shoot a man for trying

    What we won't do for a subscriber! Take the case of John O. Lewis. Mr. Lewis is secretary-treasurer of the Colorado Counties State Society. He lives at 1719 Newport Avenue, Pasadena.

    Been here a long time but he's never forgotten his old Colorado stamping ground --- Bent County. Still takes the Bent County Democrat whose motto is "Liked by most, Cussed by some....read by everybody." A real honest-to-goodness country newspaper published in the town of Las animas.
    Well sir, yesterday Mr. Lewis cam hi-tailn' up to our office an excited man. Had a copy of the Bent County Democrat in his hand.
    "I don't like the looks of this," he said, pointing to an article in the Colorado paper. It read in part: "Operation Rain has started in southeastern Colorado. L. O. Grant of the Water Resources Development Corporation of Pasadena, Calif., told a group of ranchers and businessmen in La Junta Wednesday.....Seven silver iodide ground generators have been installed near the moutains in the Trinidad area and three more are in the process of being installed.....Ranchers in this area have agreed to pay the California corporation $25,000 to install and operate generators at favorable locations for a three-month period.....In explaining the operation of the grtound generators, Grant said that silver iodide is vaporized, then dispersed into the atmosphere. The chemical brings about water freezing in the clouds, aiding rain conditions......Bent County businessmen and ranchers so far have contributed $1,282.60 toward the cost of the experiment. Mrs. T. B. Tigner is the latest local contributor. She gave $25 this week."
    What was Mr. Lewis' trouble" "no trouble," he replied. "Just would like to know a little about this Water Resources Development Corporation of Pasadena, that's all."
    Very simple. We picked up a phone book. Not listed. Looked in the City Directory. Not listed. Called the Merchants Association. Never heard of such a concern. Same for the Chamber of Commerce, Caltech, the Metropolitan Water District, the County --- no one ever heard of a Water Resources Development Corporation of Pasadena.
    It was beginning to look as if a bunch of country hicks were being taken for a ride by an outfit of city slickers. We called the detective bureau. Nope, they hadn't ever heard of a Water Resources Development Corporation of Pasadena. "However, we'll look into it," they promised.
    What to do? Decided to put in a long distance call to the editor of the Bent County Democrat, a Mr. Arthur M. Wimmell. This was easier decided than done. It took what seemed to be hours to get through Denver, La Junta and finally the operator of Las Animas. The operators' dialogue went something like this:
    "Las Animas."
    "Las Animas. Information, please."
    "I AM information."
    "Pasadena, California, calling the residence of Mr. Arthur M. Wimmell."
    "The residence!?"
    "That is right."
    "That's 321. I'll ring but you'll never find him there." (RINGS.) "I knew he wouldn't be there. He's always at the newspaper. That's 117. I'll ring."
    At this point the Pasadena long distance operator was properly impressed. To another operator, or supervisor who was also on the call she whispered, "She IS information. And she knows everything!"
    In a moment Mr. Wimmell came on the phone. Grasping our phone with a Felix-the-Cat type of expression, we informed Mr. Wimmell that we had one of his subscribers in our office who was quite concerned about an organization which purported to make rain under a California corporate setup.
    "What do you know about these people?" I asked. "We have no record of any corporation doing business in Pasadena under that title."
    Mr. Wimmell seemed impatient. "The title? Bah, That's just something we made up here to identify the operation," he grunted.
    "But who are the operators?" I asked. "We'd hate to see you taken for a ride." I was thinking of poor Mrs. What's her name who put in her $25.
    "Why ask me!" snorted Editor Wimmell. "You ought to know one of the most famous weathermen in the country. Dr. Krick! He comes from your own city. This is HIS project. And rest assured we all know what we're doing."
    Almost before you could say "oh" the phone hung up and connections were summarily broken at Las Animas, La Junta, Denver, Los Angeles and Pasadena.
    Heaven knows what it has cost us to learn that the people in Bent County know what the hell they're doing. But if it has put Independent Subscriber Lewis at ease I guess it is worth it.

PART I	Preview List of links in Part II
1) Article by Arthur Wimmell	11) Pioneer Ladies Organize
2) Hasty - Boomtown Fading	12) C. W. Hurd - local hiking enthusiast
3) Blacksmith passes reins to son	13) Early TV Technician - Walter Bear
4) Mail delivered - despite handicaps	14) Bill Payton - Indian Fighter
5) Early Motorist Regulations	15) Las Animas' BIG Scandal
6) Story on Editor Wick	16) Local News/Tidbits Briefs/Dam News
7) A few short stories	17) School History - 39 Districts
8) Letters to the Editor	18) A soda fountain treat
9) Rainmaker Investigation	19) 1924 duck hunting
10) Editor Asbury looks back.....	20) Comments by C. Clark, editor
Part III Photographs/Newspaper Ads	21) Polio Victims