100 Years Ago Today - January 2024

Look at these statements from headline articles in The La Porte Daily Argus in January 1924. Terminology, capitalization, and what makes headline news can be different. Yet accidents, business, crime, and war still make headlines. Want to read the whole article? It’s on microfilm in the Indiana Room at the Main Library. Staff will be glad to help you access it. 

 

January 2

The greatest American naval and troop movement which has taken place since the World war got under way today. More than three thousand United States marines embarked at Quantico, Va., on the transports Henderson and Chaumont for a trip to the Caribbean sea, while more than a hundred American warships left their stations in the Pacific and Atlantic and steamed toward Panama.

January 3

Charles Paddock, America’s greatest sprinter and one of the most popular athletes in the world, is scheduled to speak before the members of the Employed Boys’ Brotherhood at the Y. M. C. A. in this city, Sunday afternoon, March 3, and officials of the association were planning to wire today to verify the booking, which was made more than a year ago.

January 4

The United States has agreed to sell President Obregon 5,000 rifles, 5,000,000 rounds of ammunition and eight airplanes to aid him in hunting down the De La Huerta revolution in Mexico, Secretary of War Weeks announced this afternoon.

January 5

The lowest temperature recorded in LaPorte since 1899 was reached at 6 o’clock this morning when the self-registering thermometer in the lobby of the First National bank registered 19 degrees below zero.

January 7

Suzanna Mayer, six years of age, died yesterday at the family home, 531 Freemont street, as the result of ptomaine poisoning, while her mother, Mrs. Michael Mayer, is critically ill, her condition being due to the same cause. The death of the child and the illness of the mother resulted from eating frankfurts.

January 8

Great Britain today protested to the United States against the seizure of the British ship Kwasind, at Wilmington, Del., where she had been put into port for repairs. The Americans suspected the Kwasind of being engaged in liquor carrying.

January 9

Two youths were sentenced, two others were placed on probation and the case of a fifth was continued until Monday, when five Michigan City boys, all of whom were alleged members of a youthful bandit gang, recently broken up by Chief of Police Richard Kruse, of the harbor town, were arraigned late Tuesday afternoon before Judge J. C. Richter.

January 10

That the man who posed as a fire inspector in ordering the Springfield township high school closed because of defective fire protection facilities, was an imposter, was the statement made today by county school officials following an investigation.

January 11

Judging of the more than 450 entries in the poultry show, which opened Thursday afternoon in the Loyal American hall was completed at noon today by Judge Simon Summers, of Huntington, Ind.

January 12

Melvin L. Cottrill, 507 State street, is in the county jail awaiting arraignment Thursday on a charge of failure to support his wife and four children.

January 14

Ice cutting is expected to start within the next few days according to officials of the Hut Ice company. The ice measured six inches in thickness Saturday and is expected to reach the required measurement of eight inches within the next 48 hours.

January 15

Chicago’s milk strike was ended early today.

January 16

Japan’s second disastrous earthquake in five months was estimated today to have taken a toll of more than 100 lives.

January 17

The senate by unanimous vote this afternoon authorized an investigation of congressional “lobbies” and the use of paid propaganda by various interests to influence legislation.

January 18

William H. Vanderbilt, 21 year old heir to a fortune of $20,000,000, is working as an $8 a week messenger in the office of Lee Higginson company brokers.

January 19

At least a part of the interference in radio reception which has bothered local radio fans during the past few days is caused by static electricity common in LaPorte print shops where large rolls of paper are used, according to Charles Middleton, of the Radio Club, Inc. who has been making an investigation.

January 21

Sometime between 10 o’clock and midnight Sunday a thief entered the Lion Drug store, 509 Lincolnway and after rifling the cash register of $11.50, made his getaway through a rear door, without leaving a single clue.

January 22

An army of 2,000 fierce-looking Mayo and Yaqut Indian recruits, re-inforced by 300 Mexican laborers picked up by the Juarez, departed from that border city today for the interior of Mexico to join General Obregon’s army.

Wednesday, January 23

The treaty between the United States and Great Britain to extend the right to search and seizure beyond the three mile limit as a means of checking rum running off American coasts was signed  in the state department today by Secretary of State Hughes and Sir Auckland Geddes, the British Ambassador.

January 24

City Health Officer Dr. John Pracher stated today the danger of a small pox epidemic in LaPorte has not entirely subsided.

January 25

Organization of a “Holding Company,” for the purpose of providing the $120,000 needed for the completion of LaPorte’s new $400,000 high school building, is now being completed by school officials and the details will be made public early next week, according to a statement made today by Harry H. Keller, secretary of the board of education.

January 26

United States Senator James A. Reed will be a candidate for the democratic nomination for president, it was announced here at noon today by Ed Glenn of Louisiana, Mo., manager of Reed’s successful campaign for the senate in 1922.

January 28

A gang between twenty and thirty bandits early today loaded two automobile trucks with whiskey at the warehouse of the Hammond Distilling company and sped away.

January 29

“Treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors” are specified by the constitution are causes for the removal from office of the president, vice-president, cabinet members and other civil officials.

January 30

Governor Warren T. McCray, whose land and bank transaction startled the nation a few months ago when his affairs were placed in the hands of a creditors trust committee was held bankrupt by Harry C. Sheridan, master in chancery here today.

January 31

Syracuse, N. Y. - Traveling 8,000 miles from China, Mrs. T. Y. Tasi arrived here to see her husband, Albert Tasi, graduate from Syracuse University at the first January commencement and also to greet him for the first time in four years.