September 13, 2023, Page 9  Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"   Extracted by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon. Index of "Oldies" Articles

 

Clark County News--September 15, 1938

 

Ninety-three-year-old “sports” it in airplane trip

 

Ninety-three-year-old Harvey Fuller was shaking his head and muttering to himself in wonderment today.

 

He has been doing so since Tuesday morning, when he took his first airplane ride. “Oh! It’s wonderful! Wonderful!” He is saying in his chin whiskers.

 

With Pilot Milford Sievesind at the controls of Charles Buse’s Bird, and in the front cockpit with Ernie H. Snyder, “Old Harve” flew over Neillsville and the nearby countryside for nearly 20 minutes.

 

When the plane rolled to a stop before the hanger, Harve sat still for a minute. Then he passed his hand over his eyes. He moved slowly, laboring toward the side.

 

I’ll get out of here after a while,” was his first comment. Then, on the ground again, the aged man remarked: “That’s as close to Heaven as I’ll ever get.” When Pilot Sievesind revealed that he had flown at about 1,100 feet and 90 miles an hour, Harve said. “I’ve gone 65 miles an hour before.” He shook his head. Then, “That’s the first time I’ve ever been 90.”

 

There was only one thing wrong with the experience, he revealed” “The darn thing made so much noise you couldn’t talk.”

 

Asked if he was frightened, he exploded: “Naw! Anyhow, if I got killed there wouldn’t be no loss only the time of burying me.”

 

Then he turned to Mr. Snyder. “You didn’t see George Johnson down there, did you?” he inquired.

 

*****

 

Reclamation work advances in wake of damaging flood

 

Heavy losses suffered by farmers; Owen youth loses life in Black River; $48,000 damage to bridges

 

In the wake of one of the worst flood conditions in the history of Clark County and Central Wisconsin, state and county highway crews, farmers, homeowners and businessmen are busy repairing the heavy damage done late last week by the rampaging Black River and its tributaries.

 

The flood waters, which raised streams in the vicinity to all-time high levels from 16 to 20 feet, were caused by heavy six-day rains north of the county and heavy local downpours.

 

Traffic which was all but totally paralyzed in Clark County Friday and Saturday was just beginning to move freely once more as highway repair crews, groggy from lack of sleep, worked long hours to put the roads back into shape.

 

Railroad transportation was seriously crippled during the flood period, although trains made their runs to Neillsville with little difficulty, and the flood and weather were blamed for the wreck of the Northwest Limited of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, and the Victory, crack passenger, near Junction Valley early Sunday morning. Three people were sent to the hospital and many others were cut and bruised.

 

Damage in Clark

 

In Clark County the flood left behind:

 

1. An Owen youth dead,

 

2. $48,500 damage to bridges and roads,

 

3. Heavy crop and farmland damage,

 

4. Four bridges down and washouts around others,

 

5. Many houses and business buildings in lowlands damaged.

 

6. The dam at Owen leveled.

 

Long after the flood waters had receded, hundreds of persons were joined in the search of the flood area between Owen and the Hatfield dam for the body of John Marking, 18, who slipped and toppled into the raging Black River Saturday. A reward of $100 was offered by the Soo Line railroad for the recovery of his body.

 

Lying in shallow water about 60 rods from the railroad bridge from which he fell into the water, young Marking’s body was found about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday by Woodrow Peterson of Withee. Peter C. Ludovic, coroner, made an investigation and said that no inquest will be held.

 

Out of sight

 

Young Marking was aiding a gang of men attempting to save a bridge three miles west of Owen. Witnesses said he lost his footing and fell while moving a log. His body sank below the muddy water and did not come to the surface again.

 

Although flood waters swirled through the city’s water works, no damage resulted. Pumping operations there were cut short for about 18 hours while city aldermen, directed by Mayor Henry J. Naedler, rolled up their shirt sleeves and manned the pumps with a will.

 

*****

 

 

The residence of Dave and Roy Bissel (above), on Highway 10 west of Neillsville, was only one of many homes in lowland areas of Clark County which were “under water” during the flood period late last week. The Bissel brothers moved out their furniture before the waters flooded the first story, so little damage was done. (Press photo Sept. 15, 1938)

 

*****

 

September 23, 1948

 

Goes over fence to fair, pays $5

 

A conscience payment of $5 has been made to the Clark County fair. The payment has come in the form of a money order, with a letter signed by the sender. The letter states that the payment is made because the writer once climbed the fence into the fairground, and at other times rode through the gate in a load of hay. The writer uses a religious expression in the course of his letter, and this is taken by Harold Huckstead, the fair secretary, to mean that the person was acting on a religious prompting.

 

The name of the person is known to fair officials, but it is not being made public. The person is not now a resident of Clark County.