On this weekend in 1974, a massive railroad strike began in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Kansas when the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Missouri Pacific Railroad failed to reach an agreement after three years of arbitration. Poplar Bluff sourced its deliveries from other regional freight companies.
In other headlines, Fisk’s new school district is confirmed, and the season’s first cotton bale is harvested.
Saturday
100 years ago
Sept. 7, 1924
• Police busted an illegal gambling operation in Qulin today, and more arrests are promised. Residents H. Barnes, Hershel Walker and Tom Moss were all fined and implicated others in a more widespread ring. Officers investigating the claims said they may result in a “sensation” before the case is closed.
Also jailed in Qulin is 15-year-old Glen Durham, who is charged with possession of liquor. He didn’t buy it, he told officers — he’s just very good at finding where people around town hide their whiskey.
75 years ago
Sept. 7, 1949
• After a recount, the newly formed Fisk R-3 School District can finally elect a board of directors.
The recount suit alleged miscounts on both sides in the wake of a narrow election. The recount found the district was approved by two votes: 274 in favor, and 272 against.
• The Ripley County Coroner announced an inmate who mysteriously died was not poisoned.
Henry McManus, 21, fell ill after being arrested and died on July 19. His family claimed he was poisoned by food served in the county jail.
His organs and other samples were sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol laboratory for testing. Nothing was found except a trace amount of mercury in a urine specimen, which is believed to have come from his medication.
Coroner Grover Greer will call an inquest to determine the cause of death.
50 years ago
Sept. 7, 1974
• Three arrests were made this week in the case of a suspected 1973 arson. Melvin Lewis, 27, and his wife Judith Lewis, 26, are being held in Stoddard County jail on three counts of assault in connection with a house fire that killed three of their four children. A third suspect, David Larue, is being held in Scott County.
At the time of the fire, Melvin Lewis claimed a stove exploded in the rural Gray Ridge residence and ignited the farmhouse. He said he and his wife only managed to save one of their children because the flames were too intense.
Stoddard County Sheriff Ralph Mouser said he was suspicious about the origins and began investigating. The Lewises and Larue were implicated by the testimony of a man named Earl Cooper, who recently confessed to involvement in an arson plot.
Sunday
75 years ago
Sept. 8, 1949
• All Missouri Pacific Railroad trains will halt at midnight tonight as rail workers go on strike. Company officials said service is stopping ahead of the strike’s official start tomorrow afternoon to “avoid a last-minute glut of freight, express and passengers at the strike deadline,” the Daily American Republic reported. Trains already moving will complete their runs but no new ones will embark.
The strike was called after three years of attempted mediation between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Missouri Pacific over hundreds of individual grievances. An estimated 15,000-25,000 employees in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Kansas will be laid off.
Monday
100 years ago
Sept. 9, 1924
• A Holcomb man sold the first cotton of the season in Southeast Missouri today. Frank Dennis delivered 1,600 lbs. of cotton to the Cotton Belt Lumber Company gin in Holcomb. He earned 8 cents per pound and also received a $10 premium for selling them the first cotton of the year. Dennis may also be in line for an additional $100 prize for delivering the first bale of cotton in Southeast Missouri this season. His total profit would be $238.
75 years ago
Sept. 9, 1949
• A widespread strike by Missouri Pacific workers will only moderately affect Poplar Bluff. Shipments of food, mail and fuel will be handled by Frisco, Smock Transportation and East Texas Motor Freight Lines, the DAR reported. The post office is most impacted. Mail deliveries will reduce to two per day — one truck will arrive from St. Louis and one from Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, will arrive around 11 a.m.
50 years ago
Sept. 9, 1974
• Government spending reports indicate Butler County residents are opting to fix up and add on instead of move. Based on the average outlays per housing unit in the region, local homeowners spent an estimated $3,949,000 in the past year on upkeep and improvement.
The most common improvements were interior and exterior painting, roofing, plumbing, and kitchen and bedroom remodeling.
This is a national trend attributed to the scarcity of mortgage money, which impedes the sale and purchase of homes, and high construction costs. Americans spent almost $19 billion on their homes this past year, up $1.4 billion from the previous one.
No issues available: Sept. 8, 1924; Sept. 9, 1974.