Oddities True stories from the Seguin Enterprise 1900-1920 ******************************************************* USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ******************************************************* Our Century decade by decade A Supplement to the Gazette-Enterprise Published in October 1999 Contributed by Thomas Richard Crump, P. C. Seguin, Texas Prepared for the internet by Wanda Qualls Feb 1, 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- A Freak Calf A jersey cow belonging to S. A. Wofford gave birth to a freak calf Tuesday. When the animal was found it was dead, Mr. Wooffard brought it to town to exhibit it to freinds and all who care to see it. The head is quite as much or more like a human head, as it is a calf's head. The head is round, the ears lie close to the head, while the eyes, especially are set very much as a human's. The nose, unlike human nose, does not protrude from the face, but nevertheless the human look is there. Hair covers the body except under the portion of the stomach. The body is large, as is the head, while the legs are short. The latter are "regulation" calf legs. The freak is the second calf born to this cow, the first being without any freakish marks of any kind. February 16, 1917 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hard To Run In Heels A man in Comal County beyond the war age was fearing they might put him in soldier's clothes anyway, donned a women's clothing. One day he went plowing in the field and a witty neighbor behind the bushes, hollered "The soldiers are coming to get you!" The farmer left the farm behind him and ran for his life, not being used to women's clothing, he turned three summersaults before he got to the creek, and almost broke his neck. He could no plow for several days, and he was seen in the field next it was with a gingham shirt and Jeans pants. It does not pay to wear women's clothes. January 26 1917 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Crime & Punishment The first criminal case ever tried in Guadalupe County bears the date of 30th September, 1836. Entitled the State of Texas vs. William Baker, yeoman, petit larceny. Here is a copy of the judgement: "The defendant having been arraigned, plead "not guilty" Camre from G. Chalmers, as also the defendant William Baker in his own person, and also came a jury to wit: Soloman W. Brill, Joseph Zorn, Jacob Eckstein, John Low, P. Meddlin, W. B. Pinchard, W. C. Winters, B. Winters, E. P. Forest, Baker, W. R. Turner and W. Clark, who being duly sworn, tried and elected according to law returned into Couty the following verdict" "We the jury find the prisoner guilty and assess the punishment at five lashes." Solomon W. Brill, Foreman, "Therefore, it is adjudged upon said defendant, William Saker, in the town of Seguin at 9 p.m. on this day. It is further adjudged that the defendant pay all costs of prosecution for which execution may issue." The offense for which the accused was found guilty was the stealing of an hair brush, valued at seventy-five cents. July 19 1914 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ouch Frank Zimmermann, meat cutter at the White House Market nearly severed his first and second fingers of his right hand yesterday morning while cutting meat. About two months ago he had the same kind of accident, yesterday being the first day he had been at work since the previous accident. It is said the injury is not quite as severe as the first one, though members are injured in practically the same manner. It is claimed young Zimmermann, who is of draft age, was ordered to San Antonio a short time ago for examination and was accepted there by the military authorites for military duty. April 05 1918 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strictly Forbidden The Lutheran College of Seguin opened on its present campus in September of 1912. The Rev. C. Weeber was director of this new academy. Forty-six students enrolled for the first semester, nine of whom were studying for the ministry. An essay by A. G. Wideranders in the Bicentennial Minutes of Seguin-Guadalupe County, 1876, reads: "Former students of the Lutheran Academy in Seguin may recall these rules and regulations with mixed emontions: '5:45 a.m. is the time to rise; roll call is at 6. Perfect silence must be kept after 9 p.m.; bed-time is at 10:30. Visiting saloons, theaters, places for dancing, playing cards, owning and using tobacco or chewing gum on the school grounds in an form is strictly forbidden, September 1912