Modoc County California Newspapers – Surprise Valley Record, October 1932 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds r3346@sunset.net SURPRISE VALLEY RECORD – CEDARVILLE, MODOC COUNTY, CAL. October 5TH, 1932 FT BIDWELL RANCH HOME IS DESTROYED BY FLAMES WEDNESDAY Fire again visited the Fort Bidwell section last Wednesday night about twelve o’clock, when it destroyed the residence belonging to Mrs. Della Fee Parker. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is thought to have been caused by dropping a match in the cellar by some unknown party. For sometime, the residents of Fort Bidwell have been bothered by petty thieving and it is thought by some that some one in the act of taking canned fruit and other contents of the cellar dropped a lighted match, which started the fire which consumed the house. It was said that tracks had been traced for some distance but it was impossible to get a clue as to whom the guilty party was. The home was a beautiful two-story structure, which had recently been remodeled and modernized and new furniture added. A complete new bathroom had been installed, a new cook stove, along with other new and beautiful furniture was destroyed by the flames. Besides the loss of the home and furniture, large quantities of fruit, valued in the neighborhood of $300.00 was also lost. The actual loss of the place is not known, but is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $7,000, which is partly covered by insurance. The only article saved was a small heating stove. Esther Smith, niece of Mrs. Parker, went into the house twice after it was completely enveloped in flames and saved a quantity of clothing. Mr. and Mrs. Parker and Miss Esther Smith were in the house at the time the fire started and when discovered the entire cellar and a portion of the house adjoining it was ablaze. It is a deep loss to the owners and it is much regretted by their many friends. A number of people from Bidwell noticed the flames and came immediately to help fight the fire. It is not known at this time whether or not Mrs. Parker will rebuild this Fall. METZKER BUYS FALLON BUILDING J. K. Metzker, widely known here as Kenneth Metzker, has purchased a large building in Fallon, according to word received by friends here. With a partner, John Dotta, of Lovelock, he has purchased the former post office building in the center of the city. The building is a brick structure, two-stories with full basement and was built several years ago at a cost of $30,000. Consideration in the deal by which Metzker assumes control was not made public. Metzker has been in the employ of the Standard Oil Company for several years past and still maintains his position as manager at Fallon for the company. – Lakeview Examiner LASSEN H. S. TRIO DIE AS CAR HITS FREIGHT TRAIN AUTO WEDGED BENEATH ONE OF FREIGHT CARS AT WESTWOOD Westwood, Lassen County, Oct 1 – Three Susanville High School students were instantly killed and a fourth was critically injured last night when their automobile crashed into a Western Pacific freight train here as the aftermath of a football rally preparatory to a game in Susanville today between the Lassen and Chico High Schools’ teams. The dead are: Thomas Stone, 18, driver of the automobile, Grace Goodrich, 15; Ethel Goodman, 16; the injured is Frank Dawson, 17. SIGNAL AT CROSSING The crash occurred at a crossing at which, railroad men said, a wig-wag signal had been installed two days ago. The scene was a mile north of Westwood. The quartet had attended a football rally and later attended a show in Westwood. WEDGED UNDER TRAIN The automobile containing the students crashed into a car in the middle of the train, wedging beneath the car and breaking the airline connections, instantly halting the train. Dawson was taken to the Westwood Hospital, where it was learned he had suffered a broken arm and a broken leg and probable internal injuries. (5:4) Robert McCulley was reported on the sick list the past week. Mrs. Ona Page has been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Slinkard, of Eagleville, the past two weeks, returned to her home in Yuba City this week. VICTIMS OF ACCIDENT IMPROVING Mrs. R. b. Clark and son, Albert, who suffered severe injuries in an auto accident last week and in which, Mr. R. B. Clark lost his life, are both reported as improving at the general hospital at Alturas. Albert is able to sit up part of the time and his mother making satisfactory progress toward recovery. (8:6) Mrs. Mabel Wilson and family and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wentzell left last Friday for Paisley, where they will visit with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Wentzell, of that place. FEE HOME NEAR BIDWELL IS BURNED The destruction by fire of the beautiful two-story ranch home of Mrs. Della Fee Parker near Ft. Bidwell occurred last Friday. It is said the fire of unknown origin started Thursday night and none of the contents of the home could be saved. The home was recently remodeled and improved and was one of the finest ranch homes in the county valued at about six or seven thousand dollars. The property was fairly well insured. October 12TH, 1932 LEWIS COCKRELL SUFFERS BROKEN LEG Last Friday afternoon while bringing a load of wood on Badger Mountain, Lewis Cockrell, of Eagleville, had the misfortune of breaking the large bone in his right leg. While coming onto the main road, with a wagonload of wood, it seems there were a lot of big rocks in the road and as one of the wheels hit one of the rocks it threw the wagon one way and upon hitting another immediately lurched the wagon in the other direction, thus unseating Lewis and causing him to be thrown to the ground and the heavy wheel ran over his leg, breaking the large bone. He was taken to the general hospital at Alturas, where the fractured bone was set. He is now at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Sweet, of this place and is doing very well. BILL EDWARDS ENDS LIFE WITH 22 Bill Edwards, of Paisley, is dead with a bullet wound in his head, believed to have been fired with suicidal intent, despondency thought to have been the cause of the rash act. Aiming a 22-rifle at his forehead, Edwards took his own life at the Charles Campbell ranch, four miles east of Paisley, last Thursday. His body was found by his son, Bob Edwards Saturday evening. Edwards was known here having been here for a time, visiting his daughter, Mrs. S. Hays during the summer months. (1:6) L. H. DeForrest, old time resident of Cedarville, was taken to Alturas last Sunday and is being held for insanity. His hearing will come up sometime first of the week. Many friends of the family are deeply sorry to hear of their misfortune. Born at Lake City on October the 3rd, 1932 to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hobbs; a fine nine pound baby daughter. Both mother and babe are doing fine, under the competent care of Mrs. May Seyferth. Miss Mary Atkinson was here visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Atkinson of this place, the first of last week. Mrs. J. H. Russell, of Reno, is visiting her daughters, Mrs. Edna Fee of Fort Bidwell and Mrs. Lois Hobbs, of Lake City, this week. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hobbs and family of Lake City, went to Redding Saturday to meet their daughter and sister, Thelma at Redding, who were returning from a visit in Texas. OCTOBER 19TH, 1932 FUNERAL OF MRS. PAINTER Mrs. S. W. Painter died at her home in Lake City last Friday after a long illness and her funeral was held here Sunday afternoon; her remains were interred in the Cedarville cemetery. She was an early pioneer of this place and leaves several daughter and friends to mourn her death. We were unable to get any particulars at this writing. (8:2) Fred Turner and wife, of Oroville, cousins of A. W. and Jesse Stiner, of this place, were here last week on vacation trip and incidentally trying their luck for a deer at the near close of the season. Mrs. E. C. Coffman underwent an operation on the right eye Saturday, according to word received by Mrs. L. E. Ogle. She is in a San Francisco hospital. – Lakeview Examiner Mrs. Roy Simmons received the sad news of the death of her sister in Stockton last Saturday and she and her husband immediately left for that place. Mr. Simmons has charge of the cheese factory in Lake City. George Penland will have charge during his absence. (8:5) OCTOBER 26TH, 1932 Mitch Metitovitch, proprietor of the Niles Coffee Shop in Alturas is a visitor here today, where he will remain for the K. of P. Halloween Party. Walker Robinson was taken to the hospital in San Francisco last Saturday by his son, Warren for treatment of gangrene in one foot and leg. Today, we learn that Mr. Robinson had his leg amputated at the knee. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/modoc/newspapers/svr-10-1932.txt