100 Year Old Weblog: streetcar

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May 20, 2025 ~ DAMP CABLES DELAY CARS.

May 20, 2025

DAMP CABLES DELAY CARS.

Railroad Company's Explanation for Tie-up of Lines.

Dinner in many homes was delayed last night because of dampness on electric cables. Such was the explanation given by the Kansas City Railways Company last night for the short circuiting of the power cables yesterday afternoon. It was this short-circuiting that caused the stoppage of the street cars for about fifteen minutes. The stoppage occurred at 4:44 o'clock and ended at 4:58 o'clock.

May 14, 2025 ~ CONDUCTOR REESE FREED.

May 14, 2025

CONDUCTOR REESE FREED.

Man Who Knocked Smoker From Car Not Held for Death.

Justice Casmir Welch discharged Conductor Curtis C. Reese from custody yesterday when Reese was arraigned before him charged with the killing of Carl A. Kiefer, who died at the General Hospital on April 20 a few hours after he was ejected from a Troost avenue street car at Thirty-first street by Reese.

According to the testimony of Rese and other witnesses, Reeses' car on the Troost avenue line was southbound. Keifer and another man boarded it at Eighteenth street. Both men, Reese said, persisted in smoking, despite his remonstrances. At Thirty-first street one of the men struck him, he said, and in the fight that followed Reese accidentally knocked Keifer off the rear vestibule of the car. Keifer's head struck the pavement.

Reese stopped the car and he and the motorman, Y. M. Woods, carried the injured man into a nearby drug store. From there he was removed to the hospital. His skull was fractured and he died a few hours later. Reese was arrested by officers from No. 2 police station.

April 29, 2025 ~ WOMAN DECAPITATED BY COUNTRY CLUB CAR.

April 29, 2025

WOMAN DECAPITATED BY COUNTRY CLUB CAR.

Mrs. Caroline Wahlenmaier, Wealthy Widow, Meets Instant Death.

Mrs. Caroline Wahlenmaier, 65 years old, widow of J. W. Wahlenmaier, a wealthy pioneer citizen of Kansas City, was struck and killed by a northbound Country Club car at 5 o'clock yesterday evening at Firty-first and McGee streets. The head was severed from the body and death was instantaneous.

Mrs. Wahlenmaier made her home with her son, A. G. Wahlenmaier, an automobile dealer, at 5110 Main street. She had been to a neighborhood grocery store and was on her way home with some purchases. The care was slowing down to take on passengers, and did not move more than six feet after it struck her. Witnesses told Patrolman B. D. Crowley that the woman seemed absent-minded, and either did not notice the car or thought that she could cross ahead of it. They declared that they did not believe the motorman was to blame.

The motorman, L. R. Marshall, 4530 Virginia avenue, and the conductor, V. T. Todd, 4836 Charlotte street, were arrested and taken to police headquarters. They were held until two of the sons of the dead woman appeared and asked that they be released, declaring that they believed the accident to be unavoidable, and due to the failing faculties of their mother. The two men were released under orders to appear and make statements today at the prosecutor's office.

Mrs. Wahlenmaier was the owner of the Wahlenmaier building, the finest office building in Kansas City, Kas., and many other properties in both Kansas Citys. She is survived by three sons: A. G., with whom she made her home, W. F. of Seattle, Wash., and F. C. Wahlenmaier, an oculist living at the Densmore hotel, and a daughter, Mrs. L. F. Barney, wife of Dr. L. F. Barney, living at the Hotel Grand in Kansas City, Kas.
Both Mrs. Wahlenmaier and her husband were born in Germany and came to the United States with their parents when they were children. She would have been 66 years old today. The parents of both settled in Kansas City, Kas. Mrs. Wahlenmaier lived for forty-seven years at her hold home at 436 Washington boulevard, Kansas City, Kas. Her husband was a pioneer lumber dealer and for many years conducted a lumber yard at what is now Fourth street and Washington boulevard. He was prominent in civic affairs and became an extensive property holder. When he bought the land on which the Wahlemaier building now stands at Eight street and Minnesota avenue, it was covered with underbrush. He died thirty-one years ago. Mrs. Wahlenmamier recently went to live at the home of her son, near where she was killed. She had one sister, Mrs. Catherine Brune, who lives at Lakeview, Kas.

April 24, 2025 ~ BIG EASTER THRONG VISITS SWOPE PARK.

April 24, 2025

BIG EASTER THRONG VISITS SWOPE PARK.

Crowd in City's Playground Estimated at Not Less Than 25,000.

Perhaps the largest Easter Sunday crowd in the history of Swope park went and came by street car and motor yesterday and all practically without accident or mishap of any sort. The crowd numbered during the day not less than 25,000 people. The Kansas City Railways Company estimates that its cars hauled 20,000 people to and from the park. In addition to this crowd there was a constant stream of motor cars plying between the city and the park all day long. Some of the motorists spent the day there and many remained only a short time.

It was not a record crowd for the park but it was an unusually large crowd for an Easter day that had as much chill in the air as yesterday.

A large amount of "glad raiment" found its way to the city's playground.

Most of the animals at the zoo appeared in their spring garb, although a few of the more sluggish fowl and beasts have not yet moulted nor shed, according to the manner in which each should don its spring show clothes.

The ponies, upon which the youngsters have counted so much for frolic, were on exhibition but they were not ridden. The saddles that were recently ordered have not yet been finished. Workmen are hurrying them and they will be ready in a few days.

The two golf courses were visited by a fairly good sized crowd of golfers, although Easter services took many of the customary golf fans to church when some of them have heretofore spent an hour on the links. Fishing attracted a large number of men and boys.

No accidents were reported at the park or on the traffic ways leading there.

April 21, 2025 THROWN FROM CAR; KILLED.

April 21, 2025

THROWN FROM CAR; KILLED.

Carl A. Kiefer's Skull Fractured by Conductor C. C. Reese.

Carl A. Kiefer, clerk for a wholesale drug house died at the General hospital early this morning from a fractured skull as a result of a quarrel with C. C. Reese, a conductor on the Troost avenue line. According to Reese, Kiefer and another man, not identified, got on a southbound Troost car at Eighteenth street and insisted on smoking on the rear platform.

Reese says he remonstrated with the men until the car reached Thirty-first street. Then a fight started. The conductor says one of the men struck him, whereupon he grabbed Kiefer and threw him from the car. Kiefer's head struck the pavement.

The motorman, V. M. Woods, helped Reese carry the injured man to a drug store and he was taken from there to the hospital.

Kiefer's home is at 2822 Troost avenue. He is about 25 years old.

Reese, the conductor, was arrested and is held at No. 9 police station.

"DEAD TO WORLD" IN CAR. ~ Official Hears First Word Over 'Phone and Sends Coroner.

February 6, 2026

"DEAD TO WORLD" IN CAR.

Official Hears First Word Over

'Phone and Sends Coroner.

When Arthur Haskell, motorman on the Wyandotte line in Kansas City, Kas., arrived at Riverview station shortly after midnight this morning he ran his car in on the spur and headed for the nearest telephone office. Calling up the car barn of the Elevated line he notified the man in charge that his conductor was "dead to the world," and requested information as to what to do. The man at the car barn acted immediately.

In a few moments Coroner J. A. Davis was informed that a street car conductor was lying dead in his car at Riverview station. The coroner made a record run to the scene and arrived about the time Daniels & Comfort's dead wagon came rattling up. They found the conductor in the car. He was unable to continue his run, but did not need the coroner nor wagon. He was take to the L barn.

JIM CROW BILL BEATEN. ~ Two Democrats Vote With Republicans and Kill It.

February 1, 2026

JIM CROW BILL BEATEN.

Two Democrats Vote With Repub-

licans and Kill It.

Two Democratic aldermen, W. C. Culbertson and Isaac Taylor, voted with the Republicans in the upper house of the council last night and defeated an ordinance providing for separate street car seats for negroes.

Mr. Culbertson's reasons for voting against the ordinance were that he feared it to be a trouble maker, and that it was not sufficiently explicit as to how the negroes were to be separated from the whites when the cars and platforms were crowded. Mr. Taylor gave a like reason.

Here is the vote:

For the ordinance -- Steele, Wirthman, Titsworth, O'Malley, Logan, Gregory; total, 6, all Democrats.

Against the ordinance -- Edwards, Havens, Tillhof, Bunker, Republicans; Taylor, Culbertson, Democrats; total, 6.

Absent -- Cronin, Democrat; Thompson, Republican.

Eight votes were necessary to carry the ordinance.

Before the session opened Alderman James Pendergast came over from the lower house and loudly proclaimed opposition to the ordinance. He said that it could not be enforced, that it would be declared unconstitutional and under his breath he told Democrats it would be a bad move politically.

JIM CROW CARS PLAN REVIVED. ~ ALDERMEN SHY AT ORDINANCE AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE IS APPOINTED.

January 25, 2026

JIM CROW CARS

PLAN REVIVED.

ALDERMEN SHY AT ORDINANCE

AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE

IS APPOINTED.

Success in Southern Cities

and Negroes Approve,

Mr. Logan Said.

When an ordinance was introduced in the upper house of the council last night by Alderman J. E. Logan, making it obligatory on the Metropolitan Street Railway Company to operate cars for negro passengers, or to designate a part of the car for their use if they are to be carried with whites, there was a perceptible dodging of the aldermen to assume responsibility for having a hand in the legislation.

"I'd like to have the ordinance go to the streets, alleys and grades committee," proposed Alderman Logan.

"The streets, alleys and grades committee has all it can attend to now," replied Alderman Wirthman.

"Public improvements committee," suggested somebody.

"That's no place for such an ordinance," pleaded Alderman Baylis Steele. "It should go to the sanitary committee."

DODGING GETS LIVELY.

"The judiciary committee should pass on it," recommended Alderman W. C. Culbertson.

"Alderman Logan is chairman of that committee and he doesn't want it," volunteered Alderman W. A. Bunker.

The dodging began to get livelier.

"How would you like to have me appointed to a special committee, Alderman Logan?" interrogated President R. L. Gregory.

"That would suit me."

"Would you ask that I be put in the committee?"

"Yes, sir."

Gregory took an inventory of the aldermen.

"How do you stand on this proposition?" Gregory asked of Culbertson.

"As I have said before, it looks like a trouble-maker, but," Culbertson was saying when Gregory interrupted.

FAVORS ORDINANCE.

"You have killed yourself," he said, "and I appoint Alderman Thompson, Republican, and Alderman O'Malley, Democrat, and myself on that committee. I'm for the ordinance heart and soul. I think negroes and whites riding on street cars should be separated."

"I'd like to be excused from serving on the committee. I surrender to Alderman Logan," said Alderman Thompson.

"You don't want to serve?"

"No, sir."

"Well, I would like to have a Republican on the committee. How about you, Alderman Bunker?"

"I'm much obliged, but you'll have to excuse me," spoke up Bunker.

"How about you Alderman Tilhoff?"

"What is it you want to know?" innocently asked the alderman.

"We are going to put the negro where he belongs," answered Gregory.

TILHOFF UNWILLING.

"No, I do not wish to serve on the committee," promptly interposed Tillhoff.

"I'll put you on the committee, alderman," addressed Gregory to Alderman Logan. "I had hopes that we should make the committee non-partisan, but I can't get a Republican to serve, so, therefore, I'll draft Alderman Thompson on the committee." Thompson smiled, and did not object to being drafted.

The ordinance was drafted by Walter M. Lampkin, an associate city counselor. He explained its provisions, providing for separate cars for negroes, designation for them in the car if they ride with whites and placing authority in the conductor to seat passengers to fit conditions.

"Suppose passengers will have to stand. How about that?" asked Alderman Culbertson.

TO HAVE MORE CARS.

"That won't happen. We're going to have more cars," replied Counselor Lampkin.

"What's a passenger to do that wants to go forward to the lobby to smoke?"

"I had expected such questions, but I am not prepared to answer them."

"Have you prepared separate straps for negroes and whites?"

Lampkin appeared confused, and Alderman Logan came to his rescue.

"This is no joking matter," said Logan. "No political or racial prejudices should obtain. It is simply intended to facilitate the convenience and comfort of travel in the street cars. It is a success in Atlanta, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Mobile and other Southern cities. Whites as well as negroes vote it a welcome convenience, and if the ordinance is enforced negroes will be grateful recipients.

KANSAS CITY DIFFERENT.

"The purport of the ordinance is the greatest good to the greatest numbers. they have no such law in Northern cities as they they have not the preponderance of negro population that Kansas City has."

Alderman Isaac Taylor asked Counselor Lampkin if the city had a legal right to pass such an ordinance when there is no similar law in force in the state.

Mr. Lampkin answered that his first impression was that the city did not have the right, but upon consulting authorities he found that the city, under the laws of police powers, has the right. He cited the Florida supreme court as giving the cities of that state the authority, under police powers, to enact laws similar to the one proposed for Kansas City, and said that the supreme court of Massachusetts had ruled that school directors could segregate white and negro children attending public schools.

"I can see where good results would obtain by the enforcement of such an ordinance, but it looks like a trouble breeder to me," observed Alderman Culbertson.

LIKE SOUTHERN LAWS.

The ordinance is patterned after the law in force in Southern cities, and provides a fine of $25 for a person refusing to take a seat assigned him by the conductor or after refusal to leave the car for non-compliance of the rule. The company is subject to a fine of $500 if it fails to operate the separate cars, or comply with the required designation.

Should the ordinance become a law the New Orleans plan will be followed. The conductor will designate the seats in accordance with the prevailing conditions. It is proposed to have negroes occupy the front part of the car. Seats for their use will be appropriate labeled, and they must occupy no others. When their allotment of seats becomes filled, and standing in the aisles is necessary, they must keep within the limits of these seats. They must not seat themselves in seats reserved for whites, and any violation of this rule will necessitate the immediate retirement of the offender from the car or his arrest and punishment by a fine of $25 in the municipal court. The same rule applies to whites occupying reservations for negroes.

HORSE OF MORE IMPORTANCE. ~ When Told Car Hit Employe, Grocer Asks About the Rig.

November 30, 2025

HORSE OF MORE IMPORTANCE.

When Told Car Hit Employe,

Grocer Asks About the Rig.

At Tenth street and Troost avenue yesterday a man got in the way of a trolley car. He was saved by the motorman lowering the fender. The man fell into the basket. Although considerably shaken up he was not hurt seriously.

Joseph Collingwood, a canvasser for the election commissioners, aided the man to a drug store. There the man requested that his employers, grocers, be told of the accident.

Collingwood called up the firm over a 'phone.

"Your delivery clerk has been hurt by a trolley car," he explained.

"How about the horse? Was it damaged?" Collingwood was asked.

The employers were told that the horse and wagon were not in the wreck. The man at the other end said, "That's good."

BOY JUMPS OFF CAR; KILLED BY AUTO. ~ NOT THE HOPPING KIND, JUST PLAYING, COMPANION SAYS.

November 21, 2025

BOY JUMPS OFF CAR;

KILLED BY AUTO.

NOT THE HOPPING KIND, JUST

PLAYING, COMPANION SAYS.

Edgar Palin, Aged 12, Dies in Hos-

pital From Injuries Received in

Alighting in Path of Machine

Giving Children Ride.

EDGAR PALIN,
Twelve-Year-Old Boy Who Leaped from Street Car Fender and Was Mortally Injured by Automobile.

As Edgar Palin, 12 years old, 2802 East Sixth street, jumped from the back fender of an eastbound Independence avenue car yesterday afternoon at Prospect avenue, he was run over and fatally injured by a motor car driven by E. T. Curtis, 3338 Wyandotte street. He died at 7 o'clock last night at the German hospital, without recovering consciousness.

With Allen Compton, 400 Wabash avenue, the boy had been playing all afternoon. About 3 o'clock the two lads started northward on Wabash avenue, and at Independence avenue both noticed an approaching street car.

"Let's catch the fender," called Edgar, as he waited along the curbing. The car was moving at moderate speed and the boy ran behind, and caught hold of the fender. His companion, 10 years old, ran behind on the sidewalk. At Prospect avenue Edgar, without looking around, jumped from the fender directly in front of an approaching auto, barely fifteen feet behind him. Curtis attempted to dodge the boy. The left fender of the auto struck the child and he was sent tumbling on the pavement. He was picked up by Curtis. Several children were in the auto. With Curtis was Herman Smith, of 3606 Olive street, whose father owned the car. In a nearby drug store it was found the boy had been injured seriously.

GIVING CHILDREN RIDE.

"I was driving at about fifteen miles an hour," Curtis said. "The auto belonged to young Smith's father and I was running it because I had the most experience. A party of school children were with us. We were taking them for a ride around the block. I noticed the child on the fender and did not have the least idea that he was going to run in my path. I swerved to one side, but the machine skidded and the fender of the auto struck him in the back. I realized at once that he had received a fearful blow."

After the child was given emergency treatment in the drug store by two neighboring physicians, he was taken to his home in the motor car, and after being attended by Dr. Max Goldman, was removed to the German hospital. Dr. Goldman found that the boy's spine was broken and that his skull was probably fractured.

Allen Compton, his playmate, was in a condition bordering on hysterics last night. The two had been gathering old papers during the forenoon and had just been to the paper mill, where they had received a few pennies with which they intended to buy Christmas presents.

"Edgar wasn't no car hopper," Allen said last night, in defense of his friend. "He was just running behind and holding on to the fender. Edgar wasn't that kind."

With Judge J. E. Guinotte, a friend of the family, young Curtis went to police headquarters last night and made a statement to Captain Walter Whitsett. After consulting Virgil Conkling, prosecuting attorney, it was decided not to hold him. He promised to come to the prosecutor's office Monday and make a complete statement. He said that he had been running a car for eight years. He is the son of W. E. Curtis, a live stock commission man.

The injured boy was the son of W. M. Palin, a real estate dealer in the Commerce building. The body will be taken to Gridley, Kas., for burial.

BOYS CHEERED AS THEY RODE TO DEATH. ~ MISUNDERSTOOD WARNINGS OF HORRIFIED PEDESTRIANS.

November 10, 2025

BOYS CHEERED AS

THEY RODE TO DEATH.

MISUNDERSTOOD WARNINGS OF

HORRIFIED PEDESTRIANS.

Coaster Wagon in Which Kelly and

Eugene Clemonds Were Riding

Hits Street Car -- One Boy

Dead, Other Dying.

Death ended a coasting ride which Kelly C. Clemonds, 15, and his brother, Eugene, 11, were enjoying when their little express wagon glided into the path of a streetcar yesterday evening. The boys received injuries, from which Kelly died an hour later, while but little hope is entertained for the recovery of Eugene.

Both boys resided at Grand Summit, Kas., and were here on a visit at the home of Mrs. James W. Roark, 2919 Flora avenue.

The accident occurred a few minutes before 6 o'clock at the intersection of Twenty-ninth street and Lynn avenue.

The boys had a small coaster express and had been running down the grade on Twenty-ninth street west from Woodland. They had made a number of trips and were laughing and shouting.

When they trudged up the hill when darkness was falling one of the boys suggested that they had had enough fun.

"Let's have just one more," said the other, and turning the wagon at the top of the slope they gave a run and boarding it whirled down at a rapid rate.

As they neared Lynn avenue car No. 555 of the Vine street line, in charge of Motorman Powers and Conductor Everhart, northbound, was approaching.

Pedestrians, attracted by the cheers of the boys, gave a warning cry. the boys, however, did not understand and the wagon kept ahead on its deadly course.

Not until they saw the car loom up before them did they realize their danger. They made a futile effort to swerve the wagon from its path, but were struck with terrific force.

An ambulance was summoned from No. 4 police station and hurried them to the general hospital.

Kelly died at 1:30 o'clock from internal injuries. Eugene, the younger brother, suffered a fracture of the skull, a fracture of the left arm and cuts and bruises. An operation was performed on the skull and the boy rallied, but the physicians have doubts about his recovery.

Dr. Czarlinsky will hold an inquest today.

TURNING OVER THE LEAVES. ~ Metropolitan Train Crews Attach Sacks to the Car Fenders.

October 27, 2025

TURNING OVER THE LEAVES.

Metropolitan Train Crews Attach

Sacks to the Car Fenders.

BATTLING WITH AUTUMN LEAVES.

"I have seen brooms, brushes and even scoops attached to fenders of street cars at different times in various cities of this country but it remained for Kansas City to give me the jar of my life this morning," said P.O. Vandeventer, an insurance adjuster, who is stopping at the Hotel Baltimore.

"I have a habit of taking a walk after breakfast and when I got down on Main street, I was surprised to see portions of what had apparently been old cement bags and other pieces of duck died to the fenders and dragging along the tracks. After the second car passed I determined that the rags had been placed there by orders of company officials and asked a few questions.

"A motorman suggested that I ride along with him and I would see the object. Half a mile from the business district and and along the streets which have made Kansas City famous because of the beauty of their foliage, the streets were covered with leaves. These leaves, so the conductor told me, fell so rapidly that they could not be cleaned off fast enough by the white wings and when a street car passed over them on the grades that it was just like applying oil to the wheels and track.

"The rags, I was told, provided the most effective plan for ridding the tracks of the leaves."

BOY-HUSBAND OF 19 CRUSHED BY A CAR. ~

October 23, 2025

BOY-HUSBAND OF 19

CRUSHED BY A CAR.

Clyde Bailey, Married But Two

Months, Is Instantly Killed at

Eighteenth and Indiana.

Clyde Bailey, a carpenter, and a bridegroom of two months, who lived with his father-in-law, Andrew Curtis, 2811 Bales avenue, was killed by a southbound Indiana car between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets at 6:18 o'clock last evening.

Young Bailey, who was only 19 years old, had been working all day with his father and brother on a building at Overland park, and at 5:30 in the evening left them at Thirty-ninth and State line with the words: "Well I'll see you in the morning, kid." He changed cars at that point and eventually transferred to the Indiana avenue car which would take him to his home and supper.

Charles L. Bowman, proprietor of a night lunch wagon at Eighteenth and Indiana, who was a passenger on the car with Bailey, said they got off at Eighteenth. Bailey walked south on Indiana to the center of the block, said Bowman, and seeing a northbound car coming, crossed the west track and tried to catch the car on the inside. He was thrown back on the west track in the path from the southbound car from which he had just stepped and which by that time was going very rapidly. the top of Bailey's head struck the inside rail of the west track and was crushed by the wheels, the motorman being unable to stop the car until it had entirely passed over the body.

Fifteen minutes after the accident Deputy Coroner Harry Czarlinsky had the body removed to the Carrol-Davidson undertaking rooms, where it was identified by a book of Overland Park line tickets which he had purchased yesterday morning. His father, Nathan H. Bailey, 4435 Madison street, was notified, and his son, Cal W. Bailey, a brother of Clyde, was the first to arrive at the undertaking rooms.

The streetcar conductor, Jerome Moore, 835 Ann avenue, Kansas City, Kas., and the motorman, William Erickson of 1049 Ann avenue, were arrested by Officer Fields and taken to police headquarters where Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Norman Woodson released them on their personal recognizance for their appearance this morning.

It was at first thought Bailey was Roland Allshire, son of Roy B. Allshire, a contractor living at 2421 Indiana avenue, as Bailey had one of Allshire's cards in his pocket. A verdant young man immediately repaired to the Allshire home, where he threw the family into hysterics with the news. They telephoned to the Loose-Wiles factory, where young Allshire works nights, and he soon appeared on the scene to contradict the story.

BOY KILLED BY CAR; MILK BOTTLE SAVED. ~ HE RUNS BEHIND TROLLEY AND DIES BENEATH ANOTHER.

October 22, 2025

BOY KILLED BY CAR;

MILK BOTTLE SAVED.

HE RUNS BEHIND TROLLEY AND

DIES BENEATH ANOTHER.

Stopped Work on Essay With "And

Then I Prepared to Take Some

Rest" to Go on Errand to

Grocery for Mother.

While "running" an errand for his mother, Sidney Crawford, 16 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Crawford, 8247 East Twenty-eighth street, met death beneath the wheels of an Indiana avenue street car, between Twenty-eighth street and Victor avenue, at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Crawford had sent Sidney with an empty bottle to a grocery store for milk.

As the boy reached a point on Twenty-eighth street where he might cross directly over to the store, a southbound car obstructed his path for a moment. When it had passed Sidney ran quickly behind it, and encountered a northbound car.

The momentum of the car carried it about thirty feet before it could be stopped and the body could be extricated from beneath the rear trucks, where it was wedged tightly.

When it was disengaged by a wrecking crew thirty minutes after the accident, the half-pint milk bottle remained unbroken.

The boy was the oldest son of the Crawford family and a junior in Manual Training high school. In the library of the home yesterday afternoon he was writing an essay when his mother sent him on the fatal trip to the store. The title of the thesis was "A Halloween Prank."

As Sidney arose to go he bent over his paper and in a thin, boyish scribble added the sentence: "And then I prepared to take some rest." In less than five minutes a neighbor came running to the Crawford doorstep with news of the accident.

Mrs. Crawford was overcome with grief too acute for tears and medical attention was necessary. Mrs. August Nuss, 3233 East Twenty-eighth street, whose husband is a partner with Mr. Crawford in a trunk store at 425-27 West Sixth street, called the latter over the telephone.

The body of the boy was examined by Deputy Coroner Harry Czarlinsky immediately after the accident. An inquest will be held this afternoon. The motorman and conductor of the Indiana avenue street car which killed him were arrested by Patrolman Joseph Morris and taken to the county prosecutor's office but later were released on their personal bonds.

LIGHTNING HITS STREET CAR. ~ Blows Out Controller and Gives Passengers a Scare.

September 22, 2025

LIGHTNING HITS STREET CAR.

Blows Out Controller and Gives Pas-

sengers a Scare.

A storm that broke over Kansas City shortly after 11 o'clock last night was accompanied by heavy rolling thunder and vivid lightning flashes that made timid citizens seek the center of feather beds for safety. One misdirected bolt fell into a street car at Eighth street and Woodland avenue, to the consternation of several passengers. Besides burning out the controller and extracting a series of warwhoops from a portly individual in a smoker's seat no damage was done.

DYNAMITE ENOUGH TO WRECK A SKYSCRAPER. ~ WHEN ARRESTED MEN HAD FORTY SIX INCH STICKS.

August 27, 2025

DYNAMITE ENOUGH TO

WRECK A SKYSCRAPER.

WHEN ARRESTED MEN HAD

FORTY SIX INCH STICKS.

Joseph Monroe and Edward Sanford

Found in vicinity of New South

Side Apartment House --

Stories Conflict.

In the arrest of two suspicious characters at Thirty-sixth street and Broadway about 10 o'clock last night the police believe they averted what was intended to be by far the biggest, most costly and most destructive job of dynamiting ever pulled off in Kansas City or vicinity.

Shortly after 10 o'clock Patrolman E. C. Krister and D. B. Harrison, plain clothes men working out of the Westport police station, saw two men at the corner of Thirty-sixth street and Broadway. One was lighting a cigarette and the officers noticed a small suit case in the hands of the other. When they began to close up the men began to accelerate their speed and only the command "Halt or we'll shoot," stopped them.

The officers did not know what they had until they got the men to the station house and Lieutenant O. T. Wofford carelessly opened the small, cheap suit case. What he believed to be a wire sticking through a hole in the end of the case attracted his attention. When the package was opened it was found to contain forty six-inch sticks of dynamite. Each was marked 40 per cent nitroglycerin -- Hercules No. 2. The "wire" proved to be a fuse and it was attached to two of the sticks of the explosive, in the center, with a cap imbedded deeply into each stick.

ONE HAD LOADED PISTOL.

The men gave the names of Joseph Monroe and Edward Sanford. The latter had in his possession a 44-caliber Derringer pistol, loaded. Monroe said he was a lineman and Sanford insisted that he was a common laborer.

The stories of the prisoners, who were separated by Lieutenant Wofford and questioned soon after their arrival, differ in many respects as to how they came to be in that neighborhood with such a package. While Lieutenant Wofford was in a room alone with Sanford he turned his head to answer a telephone call. Hearing a noise Wofford looked up and the prisoner had all but reached the club of Sergeant Harry Moulder which hung on an opposite wall. Wofford dropped the telephone and grappled with the man. Sergeant Moulder then entered the room and no further trouble occurred. A door was only a few feet away and had he succeeded in clubbing the lieutenant Sanford could have easily escaped.

When Monroe was questioned he said he, Sanford and a man named Charles Hogan had "bummed" their way from Denver. He claimed they arrived Tuesday morning, while Sanford said Sunday morning. Monroe said that last night he and his partner were walking down Grand avenue when they came upon Hogan at Thirteenth street.

"Do you want to make a piece of money?" Monroe says Hogan asked.

"We told him yes," Monroe went on. "We were both broke, hungry and dry. He then introduced us to a man named Anderson, Charles, I believe he said his first name was. He said he would give us $5 to carry a grip out on the Westport car line. We were to stay on the car until it made the second turn to the left. Then we were to get off and meet Anderson or some man who would be there waiting for us. We got off and had walked down the street a little ways when we were arrested. Anderson said to be careful that there was an explosive in the suitcase . That's all I know and I'm innocent of any wrong."

HOW DYNAMITE WAS TO BE USED.

Sanford, who tried to escape, said they arrived with Hogan two days earlier than Monroe stated.

"We went to the Stag hotel opposite the city hall," he said, "and this morning we met Hogan there. He asked us if we wanted to make a piece of coin and told us to meet him on Grand avenue this evening. He introduced us to Anderson and he was gone a long time after the grip. We met there about 7 o'clock."

"What was the dynamite for?" asked Lieutenant Wofford quickly.

"He said it was to blow up a scab job. No, we were not to do it. That was for the fellow who was to meet us, I guess. Yes, I knew there was an explosive in the grip and I knew I was doing wrong."

Sanford also said, when asked later, that he was to give the derringer to the stranger -- or Anderson -- who was to meet him. Both described the mysterious Anderson after they had been locked up within talking distance as "a man 35 years old, six feet tall, weighing 170 pounds. He wore a black mustache and had black hair and a dark complexion. He was dressed i a dark suite, black derby hat and black shoes."

ENOUGH TO WRECK SKYSCRAPER.

Sergeant Moulder also said he learned from inquiry along Westport avenue, that there had been much talk among the union men about the big apartment being a "scab job," and "a rat job." There appeared to be much discontent on account of the immense job being done by an "open shop," he said he gathered from talks with saloonkeepers.

Experts who were called in to examine the package of dynamite said that, properly placed, there was enough to wreck any skyscraper in the city and damage buildings for blocks around.

After the men were locked up they were in a position to talk to each other. William Hicks, a patrolman, sat near the door and heard Monroe upbraid Sanford for being such a dunce as to get his dates mixed on the time of their arrival here and their final meeting with Hogan and the mysterious Anderson. The men are being held for investigation.

PLAY BALL FOR HOME TOWN, SAYS BECKLEY. ~ Ball Player Who Has Observed Traction Lines Throughout Land Picks Kansas City for Home.

August 25, 2025

PLAY BALL FOR HOME

TOWN, SAYS BECKLEY.

Ball Player Who Has Observed Trac-

tion Lines Throughout Land

Picks Kansas City

for Home.

JAKE BECKLEY.

Jake Beckley, the idol of local baseball fans and one of the most popular men in the profession, has bought a home.

"I bought it here," said the great ball player, "because here is where I want to live. I have had no home for so long that I lived under my hat. 'Buses mostly were my homes, and never in the same town more than a week. Now I can see where I want to light, and it is right here in Kansas City. They say there are other places better. I want to say after being in all that everybody else has been in and more than only myself and the natives have been in, Kansas City has them all skinned. I am narrowing down the years till we catch up with St. Louis. It is a great town."

"They say it is not, Jake, and that its street cars are on the bum," said a fan who, one of a party of half a dozen, had been listening to the player talk shop.

HAS BOUGHT HOME HERE.

"It is not on the bum, and the town is not. Here is where I have fixed to live. I tell you that I have bought a little home here. I have been all over this continent, from the snow up in Canada to where it was hotter than this in Mexico, and right here is where I camp. I do not like to say how big I think Kansas City will be when I get ready to quit it, for I expect to live to be an old man. I am feeling pretty good now, thank you."

Mr. Beckley was then asked how he happened to pick out Kansas City.

"I picked out Kansas City because I have been in the other towns," said Jake. "I was in New York and got lost as soon as I got off Broadway. They have one street there and if you get of of it you are in the residence district. The natives never go on it and the tourist and the grafters never leave it. There is a procession of street cars along it and everybody there thinks they are wonderful. If a man has to stand up, and I never got to sit down, he pats himself on the head and says he is in a big, hustling city. If he has to stand up at home he growls and says the street car system must be on the bum.

"I go out to the ball park in the 'bus. I always watch the street cars. When I see everybody has a seat and nobody is riding on the footrail or the fender, I know we will be playing to the benches that afternoon. When I see them scrapping with the conductor to get on the roof, 'it's a full house for us, I say Jake, my boy,' and sure enough there is good business. I size up a town from the depot and the hotel lobby first, and then from the street cars."

SILVER DOLLAR OF 1798. ~ Street Car Conductor Gets Rare Coin Collecting Fares.

August 11, 2025

SILVER DOLLAR OF 1798.

Street Car Conductor Gets Rare Coin

Collecting Fares.

Cautiously asking Conductor E. W. Ellis, on the Independence division, if a dollar he was tendering was "good," an old man yesterday paid his car fare with a silver dollar dated 1798. On the date side is a Liberty head with thirteen stars about it. On the other side the spread eagle, with shield in front of the body, thirteen small stars between the tips of the winds and below the level of the head, the whole surmounted by five little billowy clouds.

On this side are the words: "United States of America."

On the rim, in place of the milling is "One door, or unit 100 cents."

The conductor gave the man 95 cents change and put the coin where he would not be likely to pass it out again in making change.

WIPING OUT A CAR LINE. ~ W. H. Winants Tells of Pioneer Movement in Electric Railways.

August 4, 2025

WIPING OUT A CAR LINE.

W. H. Winants Tells of Pioneer

Movement in Electric Railways.

Some idea of the complete way in which the street railway properties are wiped out may be gathered from the fate of the old Northeast electric line. It was only in an accidental way yesterday that the fact was developed that within the last twenty years there was built, operated and wiped out in this city an electric railway. The contractor who was speaking of the line could not recall particulars of it, but remembered that Colonel W. H. Winants, president of the Mercantile bank of this city, had been president of the old company. When Colonel Winants was asked about the road he told a story that was one of pioneering.

"Municipal transportation is a dangerous thing," said the Mercantile bank's president. "So many bright minds are bent upon perfecting the means of rapid transit that great discoveries are made, so great that they destroy all earlier methods. Eight men, including myself, found some twenty years ago that horse cars, dummy engines and cable railways would soon be obsolete and that electricity would be the moving power.

"We raised money for a line and took over the Northeast horse car line. That system ran from the Market square to Woodland avenue by way of Independence avenue. It took care of only that territory, and being a mule line, was not conducive to settlers going beyond. With electricity available we went further. We left Independence avenue and laid rails along the present route, though not so far east as the cars now go.

"When we went out there we went out alone. Our equipment was crude, being then newly invented, and the consequence was the service was not as good as it might be. It would not be accepted today. But we ran electric cars, the people saw how much faster they went than the old mules, and how much farther they could go without coming to a dead stop. Mules would go only so far.

"Poor as our service was, the line began to develop the country, and in an incredibly short space of time there were houses going up all along the route, and thus began the growth of the northeast part of Kansas City. The street cars did it."

Asked what became of the line, President Winants laughed and said that "modern inventions and other things made it necessary to get a bigger company, the Metropolitan, to take it over.

"I had the honor of being the president of the first electric line in Kansas City, and the only 'gravity system' we have had. One morning I arrived at the car line barns at Highland avenue, or near there, and found the trolley had got mixed up with the overhead rigging, and had been torn off the top of the car. It would not do to tie up the system. It was time for people to be getting down town. So I had the trolley pole laid at the curb, closed the doors, told the passengers there would be no stop made till we got to the end of the line, thus giving a chance to any who wanted to get off, and away we went.

"It was a downhill run all the way except past Shelley park, and we gathered enough momentum before reaching that level to carry us on to the next decline. We made the trip all right, and thus began and ended Kansas City's gravity line.

"Seriously speaking," resumed Colonel Winants, "there is a great risk in street car sureties. The lines have to spend vast sums of money pioneering. They do a tremendous amount of good to the city and a new invention may wipe them out."

START ON TROLLEY LINE. ~ From Kansas City to St. Joseph in Fifty-Five Minutes.

August 4, 2025

START ON TROLLEY LINE.

From Kansas City to St. Joseph in

Fifty-Five Minutes.

Former State Senator Ernest Marshall of Saline county, while in Kansas City yesterday, said that within ten days graders will start work upon one of the proposed trolley lines from St. Joseph to Kansas City.

"This is the company which has its headquarters in St. Joseph," said Senator Marshall. "Nearly all the money we want is in sight. We will come into Kansas City over the Winner bridge piers. It will be forty-eight and a half miles from Ninth and Grand avenue here to Francis street in St. Joseph, and we will carry passengers from one street to the other in fifty-five minutes."