The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, Oct. 18, 1923
THEY TRIED TO ROB THE BANK! The band of yeggs who have been operating in this section of Illinois for several months past and whose specialty seems to be blowing and looting “invitation safes” of banking establishments in country towns visited the village of Alpha, Ill., last Tuesday morning and after gaining entrance to the Alpha State Bank by “jimmying” the front door, proceeded to dynamite the bank’s strong box. Four charges of nitro-glycerine were exploded in the attempt, but only the outer door of the safe was blown off. A fifth charge would probably have removed the last barrier to the bank’s funds, but before it could be exploded, the bandits were frightened away by the ringing of the M. E. church bell by Earl Knox, a resident of the town who had been awakened by the explosions and had left his home, slipped up an alley and gained entrance to the church without being seen by the guards the robbers had posted about the streets. Rev. W. H. Day, the M. E. pastor of the village whose home is but a block from the bank stated that when the church bell gave the alarm, he saw at least seven men run past his house toward an auto parked in the street nearby. He stuck his head out the window and called on them to halt; but the only response he received was a fusillade of bullets which caused him to quickly duck back out of danger. The men then climbed into the car and sped out of town toward the south. A number of autos started in pursuit but gave up the chase at North Henderson. The yeggs had cut the telephone wires leading from the village and it was necessary to go to Woodhull to notify the county authorities of the affair. Before beginning operations on the safe, the bandits had placed a water tank by one of the bank windows as a barricade and had also taken some ice cream tubs into the bank to be used as protection from the flying wreckage caused by the explosions. The entire front of the bank building is said to have been blown into kindlings. Mr. J. E. Amerman, formerly of this place, is the cashier of the Alpha bank and his many friends here will congratulate him on the fact that the bank’s funds were saved and that the loss extends only to damage to the building and the furniture.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Cliff Shafer and family moved to the O. J. Sanderson house, not being able to find a suitable house in town. They are now the proud parents of a young son born on Oct. 13th. Frank Johnson shipped two car loads of hogs and one car of cattle for the Shipping Ass’n. Algert Nolan shipped a car load of cattle of his own feeding—all stock went to the Chicago market. Earl Brokaw conducted a very successful sale of Big Type Poland-China hogs at his farm 3 ¾ miles southeast of Stronghurst disposing of 56 heads at an average price of $38 per head with a top price for one boar of $212.50 ($2,915.50 in today’s values). Mr. J. Johanson who conducted a tailor shop here about 25 years ago was married at high noon last Thursday in Carthage to Miss Lena Clark. Mr. Johanson was elected county treasurer of Hancock County a year ago and the bride is his deputy. C. F. Heisler is in Peoria this week serving juryman in the federal court. Misses Marie Mudd and Opal Stine, who had employment with the Cadmean Lyceum Bureau for several weeks, have returned home. Relatives have received work of the birth of a daughter on Oct. 8th to Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Spruit of Traverse City, Mich. Mrs. Spruit was formerly Miss Evelyn Richey of this vicinity. Mrs. W. E. Hurd, who has been the housekeeper for the Apt family for sometime, had the misfortune to trip on a carpet which she was laying there. She fell in such a way as to sprain her ankle so is now confined to her home. Miss Mille Ahlers, who had been quarantined for the flu at the Y.W.C.A. in Alton, Ill., came home.
I will have a car of U. S. grade No.1 Red River Early Ohio potatoes on the track soon at 87 ½ cents per bushel at the car or 90 cents per bushel delivered in town; terms-cash.-A. E. Jones. Mr. and Mrs. John Layton of this place were present at the annual reunion and picnic of the Layton families held at “the old home place” near Dallas City occupied by A. P. Layton and family. The new ball room at the Hotel Burlington will be opened Oct. 20th for a series of Saturday night dances under the hotel management with music by Griesel’s eight piece orchestra. Dancing is from 9-12 with Gentlemen charged $1.10 and Ladies free. Mr. J. A. Best of Kansas City, whose younger days were spent in this vicinity, was a guest at the home of his niece, Miss Ella McQuown. Mr. Best is a Civil War veteran and came here from Quincy, Ill., where he had been in attendance at the Grand Army of the Republic encampment.
Thomas Dehaven informed us that his daughter, Mrs. Laverne Emmerson of La Harpe, who recently was operated on for appendicitis, had so far recovered as to be back home. She came over to Dallas and visited her parents while her husband takes a post-graduate course in medicine and surgery in Chicago. The new hospital is now opening in La Harpe and Dr. Emerson wishes to be in shape to look after his surgical patients at his home hospital in the most up to date manner.”-Dallas City Review
Mrs. John Bainbridge and daughter of Des Moines, Iowa visit the home of her brother, Mr. Raus Richey. The M. E. Church of Terre Haute was the recipient of a check for $1,000 ($13,720 in today’s values), a gift from Nancy A. McMurray estate. The button factory in Oquawka resumed operation after a long period of idleness. Fourteen cutters and two crushers constitute the present force, which is soon hoped to be increased to a full force. Owen Seward, 29 year old a railroad fireman living at Galesburg, was killed there when he was stuck by a fast train while walking on the tracks about two blocks from the C.B. & Q. depot. The deceased was a former resident of this county living at Gladstone at one time.