Celebrating History: Good news and bad

By Emily Mayer

The Havre Chamber of Commerce was getting ready for its annual meeting for the following week. A lengthy article ran on The Havre Plaindealer’s Jan. 11, 1919 front page. Citing the end of the war, the destruction and reconstruction of Europe, and Havre’s role in its aftermath and how we could prosper were the subjects of the meeting, to be held the evening of Jan. 15 at City Hall chambers. The area’s ability to grow various crops was cited in the article, Havre’s position on the Great Northern railroad and opportunities to market products were to be discussed as well as a plant to dehydrate fruits and vegetables as a way to make money and send needed food abroad.

The war and its effects would be felt for a long time in Havre. In the good news column came this announcement:

HAVRE FRIENDS WELCOME RETURN OF C. B. ELWELL

Received Discharge as Second Lieutenant at End of War

Attorney Charles B. Elwell and his wife have returned to the city and are being welcomed back by their many friends. Mr. Elwell left here for artillery officers at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, and he had not quite completed his course when the armistice was signed but he finished the course and was commissioned as second lieutenant and some weeks later received his discharge. At the time the armistice was signed there were some fifteen thousand men taking the officers’ training course at Camp Zachary Taylor. At this time the training officers for the field artillery service had been centralized and was all held at Camp Taylor. When war was declared by the United States there were only about three hundred officers in this branch of the service. By June 1, 1918, there had been graduated from Camp Taylor alone, five thousand artillery officers and at that time there were other training camps for artillery offices so that many more officers besides the five thousand had been trained, indicating the swift mobilization of American man power. At Camp Taylor, besides the officers training school there were from fifty to seventy five thousand drafted men in various branches of the service undergoing their training. At the time the armistice was signed, big new quarters had been practically completed at Camp Knox, where it was proposed to move the training school for field artillery from Camp Taylor.

Not only was O. G. Larson dealing with the legal woes pertaining to criminal political libel, he was grieving the loss of his wife as well as being ill himself:

Late last night Mrs. O. G. Larson, wife of the local attorney, died at the family home following a severe attack of Spanish influenza. Mr. Larson is himself confined at home suffering from the same disease.

A lengthy article also found on the front page detailed the woes of Hill County Quarantine Officer Blackwood trying to find facilities that would take a smallpox patient. Naturally, no one wanted the man in their place, even the jail. After some wrangling, the patient was accepted at the county hospital located at the county poor farm.

Havre lost another pioneer.

MRS MARGERETHA WILTNER DIES AT HER HOME IN CITY

At her home in Havre yesterday morning, Mrs. Margeretha Wiltner, one of the most esteemed women with a large circle of friends and neighbors, died of what was reported as heart failure after four and a half years of ill health. She was the wife of William E. Wiltner, proprietor of Wiltner’s market for many years, coming to Montana in the pioneer days. Mrs. Wiltner was born in Germany, July 26, 1875. She came to Montana in 1892, and was married to Mr. Wiltner June 18, 1899. There was born to them one son, William, now aged 12 years. Mrs. Wiltner made many friends in the years she has resided in Havre. Her many friends and acquaintances are keenly grieved by her early demise, and express deep sympathy for the bereaved husband and son. The funeral will take place Monday afternoon.

Mrs. Wiltner’s health had been declining rather rapidly of late and it is understood that plans had been made to take her east within a few days, for treatment at a sanitarium. There were some features about the case that made the shock doubly severe upon the husband and son. Mr. Wiltner had left, taking his son to school in his machine, and returned after a short absence of perhaps fifteen minutes to find his wife already dead, it is understood. His neighbors who lived in adjoining rooms responded to his call for assistance and almost immediately two doctors were on the scene, but all efforts to revive a spark of life were in vain. Under the circumstances, the coroner is of course notified, and he after hearing the testimony of the physicians and taking the evidence of the other witnesses, concluded that the case was too clear to require an inquest.

And the news just wasn’t getting better:

YOUNG WOMAN IS SENT TO THE INSANE ASYLUM

Early this week Miss Louise Sauter of Fresno was brought to this city and taken before a medical examining board and as a result of their examination and the testimony of witnesses from Fresno was adjudged insane. One of the manifestations of insanity recited was a tendency to go about disrobed. She was taken to Warm Springs the next days. Miss Sauter came to Montana some four or five years ago from North Dakota and had made many friends during her residence here who express deep sorrow over the sad affliction of the young lady, and sympathy for the mother she leaves behind at Fresno.

This news comes from the north country:

OWNERSHIP OF SHEEP IS QUESTION AT ISSUE

Three men were placed in the county jail early this week. Fred Gassert and George Jackson of Goldstone and Clarence Collins of Laird, and Barney Simpson of Simpson, was arrested and released under $2500 bond, all upon a charge of alleging certain violations of law in connection with some sheep. The three men placed in jail face a grand larceny charge as the result of certain alleged operations involving some sheep alleged to have belonged to one A. K. Prescott. Barney Simpson is involved in the case through the alleged finding in his possession of the aforesaid sheep, declared to be the property of one A. K. Prescott. Barney Simpson’s case will be brought before the judge next week Friday.

An announcement from the district court that it “shows increasing business” during the past few years. Just wait until Prohibition takes hold in Montana!