1884 — Mr. H. D. Ferguson, just up from Socorro, tells us that soon after No. 102 left, it jerked to a stop. Promiscuous firing began from both sides of the track. About 50 shots were fired — almost every window was broken. The train sped on down the track. At the next stop, the engineer explained that there were three men standing in the moonlight with guns pointed at him. He pulled the throttle wide open — the fireman ducked down — shots filled the cab but they were saved.

100 YEARS AGO

The Lowell Observatory reports the first apparent Mars antarctic snow fall of the season has been observed with two patches at latitude 62 degrees, 72 degrees longitude, and 100 degrees latitude, 190 degrees longitude on Nov. 12 with a great increase on the 16th.

Charlie Foo has made a special effort to offer the following Thanksgiving Dinner: oyster soup, chicken salad, roast turkey, cranberry sauce, English plum pudding, fruit and nuts. Only 35 cents.

First thing Friday morning there was no sign of anything extraordinary in Maine. Then the short run arrived with three extra cars and a corps of trackmen. A spur was constructed and the cars placed. The connecting link was taken up and the wires tapped to install a telegraph. Three charming tick artists also arrived. Maine now has a full-fledged telegraph office and an addition of three young ladies into their social circles.

75 YEARS AGO

With the end of hunting season, James Rawlinson copped the crack high-powered rifle offered by Babbitt Bros. Trading Co. for the largest deer. It weighed in at 209 pounds.

The State Attorney General has ruled that salaries of the incoming Coconino County officers will not be affected by the dropping of Coconino County from second to third class. This fall was caused by the dropping of the county's total assessed valuation.

The City, the Arizona Lumber & Timber Co. and the Flagstaff Electric Light Co. are trying to work out a satisfactory agreement for the emergency use of sewage water for boiler purposes.

High 67 Thursday, Friday, Sunday. Low 26 Fri. Rain 0.08 Monday.

50 YEARS AGO

City Manager C. T. Pulliam points out that due to a shortage of funds we are facing a crisis in fire protection. Currently, we have six pieces of equipment but only one full-time man on duty at all times. While our team of volunteers are doing an outstanding job, in view of our added responsibilities, the Board of Fire Underwriters is almost certain to drop us from our present "6" rating down to at least a class "7." This will increase our insurance rates.

Rapid progress is under way in raising $100,000 for our hospital's new obstetrical wing. The other half of the required funds will come from federal grants, said E. L. Switzer, president, board of trustees.

Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton has announced that the 186-mile long reservoir that will be created by the Glen Canyon Dam will be named Lake Powell following a campaign by the Sun Editor and Publisher Platt Cline and the Kanab, Utah, Chamber of Commerce.

High 56 Monday. Low 15 Saturday. Dry.

25 YEARS AGO

Congress has signed the Arizona Wilderness Bill. This includes nearly 1 million acres of U. S. Forest and Bureau of Land Management properties in the Arizona Strip. BLM Director D. Dean Bibles calls this a masterful achievement in wilderness compromise involving many interests who have been meeting repeatedly over the past two years.

Officers of the Criminal Investigations Bureau from Phoenix made no arrests on Wednesday. However, they seized a number of gambling devices at the Elks Lodge, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Investigating Officer Robert Trevillyan says that while the machines themselves are not illegal, the manner in which they were being used is. The Commission acted after a three-month long investigation following numerous complaints.

Mountaire has purchased a new American LaFrance Fire pumper tank unit at a cost of $74,000 to replace a similar 30-year-old truck. They are responsible for 200 square miles of land with about 350 homes and only the newest areas have hydrants.

Santa made his rounds downtown during Friday's snowstorm, finding crowds of children everywhere. High 51 Tuesday. Low 10 Tues. Snow 2 inches.

Compiled from the files of the Coconino Sun and the Arizona Daily Sun by Susannah Carney.