One dog and two puppies in Eureka were confirmed to have rabies 100 years ago this week, and city officials warned the public that “every precaution against this situation must be taken by dog owners.”
“There are now about eight persons in this city taking treatment for rabies as the result of being bitten by dogs,” the April 25, 1924 edition of the Humboldt Standard newspaper reported.
Dr. J. N. Chain, city health officer, urged everyone to “keep dogs at home, keep them muzzled and on leash when on the street and vaccinate them if possible.”
On April 26, 1924, the Humboldt Standard said that Jose Arevalo was set to start teaching Spanish and French at the Humboldt State Teachers College (now Cal Poly Humboldt) over the summer.
Arevalo was born in Chile and received bachelor’s degrees from the Moody Institute in Chicago, Illinois, and the Carroll Academy in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He completed a master’s degree at Yale University. He was coming to work in Arcata during a break from his regular teaching duties in the modern languages department at University of Nevada.
“The practical side of a language is strongly emphasized in Arevalo’s teachings, as well as the theoretical, thus making the study of languages a pleasure rather than a hardship,” the newspaper said.
Also on April 26 of that year, a large group of Crannell residents motored their way north to take a look at the Ruth Alexander, a large steamer anchored off Trinidad Head after a diver discovered a hole in the vessel’s port just below the cargo hatch.
Repairs were being completed on the Ruth Alexander, which was expected to return to San Francisco when the work was done within a few days, the Humboldt Standard said.
Port Capt. M. Tarpay told the newspaper that the damage was likely done when the steamer hit a submerged object.
On April 28, 1924, final rehearsals were taking place for the Arcata Women’s Club “All Aboard” extravaganza under “the careful coaching of Mrs. Hazel Anderson of the John R. Rogers Company of Ohio,” the Humboldt Standard said.
The show was set to take place on April 29 and, “as a means of advertising the play, the ‘sailors’ journeyed over to Samoa Saturday evening and presented their little act before the great crowd that was attending the Samoa Club women’s dance.”
Some of the performers for “All Aboard” included Grace Aggler, Clara Parton, Elsie Soderman, Juanita Spaulding, Ruth Brown and Eleanor McCann.
On April 29, 1924, the Humboldt Standard reported that, “At the county garage this morning is resting a big Studebaker … with its rear end looking like a kitchen colander by reason of perforations made by bullets from the guns of the dry squad early this morning. That W. R. Shields of Bridgeville, who is supposed to have been driving the car, and an unknown companion were not perforated also seems a miracle.”
The newspaper noted that “notwithstanding this veritable hail of lead, (officials) failed to stop the suspected bootleg car, and its occupants succeeded in making their getaway.”
Eventually, police did find the bullet-ridden car abandoned near the McKay tract, as well as liquor bottles “jettisoned” near Sequoia Park in Eureka. The men were still at large when the article ran, and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Shields on a charge of transporting liquor.
The April 30, 1924 Humboldt Standard said that a typing contest was planned at Humboldt State Teachers College in Arcata on May 10, 1924.
“The contest will be divided into two sections: a high school contest with one entry from each high school, and one for experienced operators now doing stenographic work,” the newspaper said.
At the event, various typing demonstrations were planned by representatives from the L. C. Smith, Linderwood and Remington typewriter companies.
The Humboldt Standard said that “all contestants are asked to furnish their own machines. … There will be an expert machine man from each company (mentioned above) in Arcata a few days before the contest to put the machines in first-class condition.”
On May 1, 1924, the Eureka Club and the Samoa Sawmillers were set to play against each other at League Park and a large crowd was expected to watch the baseball game.
Players for the 1923 Humboldt League pennant-winning Samoa Sawmillers included Harry Wolters, Carl Schnell, Harlan Peters and Mel Pratt. Eureka players included Nick Wiliams, Kibby Spranger, Roland Roberts, Ernie Sarlund and Tom Pendergast.
Heather Shelton can be reached at hshelton@times-standard.com.
