125 years ago: O’Fallon 9 held its own against Windies, despite hired hurler, ‘foul’ umpire

Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75, and 50 years ago:

125 years ago, Aug. 11, 1899

“A game of baseball took place last Sunday between New Baden ‘Windies’ and O’Fallon second nine.

“The Windies were all men and were reinforced by a hired battery, and even then only defeated our boys nominally and by foul umpiring. The score was nominally 9 to 8 in favor of New Baden, but it should have been about 9 to 5 in favor of O’Fallon except for rotten umpiring.

“The game was a very interesting one, but New Baden was classed out from the start.”

* * *

“Tuesday evening the O’Fallon Brass Band gave a very pleasant ice cream festival in Town Park.

“The evening was a little cool, but otherwise was beautiful and a very large crowd assembled to enjoy the occasion.

“It is very gratifying to note that the event was very successful both socially and financially.

“During the evening the band played several pieces, beginning with ‘Marching Through Georgia’ as they marched to the park. The pieces were very will rendered considering the fact that the players have been in possession of their instruments less than two weeks.

“The receipts of the evening amounted to nearly $55.”

100 years ago, Aug. 7, 1924

“Considerable excitement was caused north of O’Fallon Sunday when it became known that a mad dog was at large.

“The animal, a large white Collie belonging to Robt. Beck, became affected with rabies early Sunday morning while wandering through a farmer’s yard north of here.

“Searching parties were immediately organized and the entire territory was scrutinized but no trace of the animal could be found although it had been seen in several places.

“Chief Tiley and Special Officer Warhoover alternated in standing guard at the northern city limits the greater portion of the day and night to intercept the dog should it come into O’Fallon.

“On Monday Beck and a brother instituted a hunt and finally found the dog on the Philip Zinkgraf farm. The animal was immediately killed.

“The dog’s actions indicated that he was affected with a case of rabies but no serious results are anticipated as all farmers north of there kept a close watch to prevent the animal from mingling with other dogs.

75 years ago, Aug. 11, 1949

“Leroy Hock, of St. Jacob, reported that his Plymouth coach was stolen at 11:30 o’clock Saturday night while he had it parked on Vine Street near the corner of East State.

“Chief of Police Nick Hemmer relayed the theft to State Police headquarters and within two hours state police recovered the car as it was being driven into Scott Air Force Base at the east gate.

“Cpl. Charles C. Calkaert, of the air base, driving the auto, was arrested on a warrant issued in Justice of the Peace James T. Holliday’s court.

“Calkaert was held at the air base guard house until Tuesday morning when deputy sheriffs brought him to the local court, but after Justice Holliday conferred with the state attorney’s office the prisoner was taken to Belleville for trial.”

50 years ago, Aug. 8, 1974

“Sales of lottery tickets for the Illinois State Lottery have gone almost better than expected according to several area sellers.

“More than 10,000 tickets were sold during the first week’s running of the lottery at three stores, Keck’s Supermarket and O’Fallon Sportsbowl and Fairview Heights Short Stop store.

“Keck’s had the highest number of sales for the first week in the area – 6,110. The seller of the ticket gets five percent of the price of the ticket, 50 cents, for every ticket he sells.

“The Fairview store sold 3,000 tickets and according to the store’s owner, Del Lurtz, another 3,000 or 4,000 could have been sold in his store had he been able to get them.

“The O’Fallon Sportsbowl sold 1,388 tickets to persons hoping to have the lucky ticket that would mean $1 million ($50,000 for 20 years.)

“Tickets are already on sale for next week’s lottery and the pace is still the same as last week. The drawing for the lottery will be held Thursday and the winning numbers will be posted in the establishments that sell the tickets.

“Some dispute had arisen over the advertising of the lottery ticket sales in newspapers which are delivered through the mail service.

“According to federal post office regulations, advertising of lotteries and games of chance including bingo are prohibited in papers using the mail service. Violation of the regulations by a newspaper could result in the loss of its second-class rating postal service.”

(The Illinois State Lottery began in July 1974.)