Compiled by Don Hoiness from archived copies of The Bulletin at the Des Chutes Historical Museum.
100 YEARS AGO
For the week ending
Dec. 1, 1912
Administration wins at polls
At the city election yesterday the voters endorsed the present administration in a very decisive way, retaining G.P. Putnam as mayor and H.E. Allen as councilman by a heavy majority. E.A. Sather and A.S. Collins were the other councilmen elected, and H.J. Overturf, the incumbent, was again chosen for treasurer.
The total vote was 363, with 112 women exercising their newly acquired right at the polls.
Throughout, the election was notable for its order and good feeling. During the day there were only four challenges, and only one vote was thrown out.
The fair sex was in evidence, not only as voters but also as officials, setting an example for Oregon. Mrs. W.H. Sellers was a judge and Mrs. C.S. Hudson a clerk. The conduct of the polling place resembled an afternoon tea more than anything else, for certainly no small town election was ever carried off more decorously. Candidates and others early in the day set the example of bringing gifts to the lady officials, which took the form of candy, peanuts, apples and other delicacies so that the table at which they worked was at all times heaped with goodies, instead of, as often in such cases, with cigar butts.
The male members of the official set, it is understood, were at first considerably disturbed because they feared that smoking would be objected to by their feminine co-workers. However, the ladies showed that just because they had entered politics they had no intention of turning things upside down at the outset, and brought smiles to men by not only saying that they had no objections to smoking, but even going so far as to urge it.
Drake's last property sold
The last holdings of A.M. Drake in Bend have been disposed of, and the final property interest in the town of its pioneer owner and developer has terminated. On Saturday a deal was consummated whereby Mr. and Mrs. Drake sold the eleven acres immediately west of the Deschutes river opposite the town, to a company headed by G.P. Putnam.
The land lies just south of the power dam bridge and embraces the entire point opposite the Boy Scouts lodge and the “narrows" extending westward and taking in the high ground adjoining The Bend Company's Boulevard addition and practically cornering on the southeast corner of Kenwood.
Mr. Drake, whose Bend realty swan song this transfer marks, came to Bend in 1900, on a health-seeking trip. He was attracted by the possibilities of the location and gradually acquired extensive land, timber, irrigation and power interests here and nearby.
In 1911, on April 10, The Bend Company acquired all the remaining Drake interests here excepting the property transferred Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Drake now make their home in Pasadena, Calif.
75 YEARS AGO
For the week ending
Dec. 1, 1937
Oregon City is state champion
Oregon City football eleven claimed the mythical football championship of Oregon today, after defeating the strong Bend team, 14-13 Thanksgiving Day.
The undefeated, untied Pioneers gave the Lava Bears their first setback in 21 starts, before 3,000 fans at Bend.
Burgess, Oregon City quarterback, was the individual star, scoring the Pioneers' first touchdown with the 80-yard runback of a kickoff in the second period. Bend scored in the second and third periods, and led 13-7 until the final quarter, when a fumbled punt led the way for the Oregon City win.
School vault in Bend is robbed
The Bend High School office vault, door of which was opened through the use of explosives, was ransacked last night by a burglar, apparently in search of proceeds from the Oregon City-Bend High School championship game. The prowler did not locate the gate receipts, that money having been placed in a bank yesterday evening.
Japan takes full control in Shanghai
Administration of the rich port of Shanghai, through which pours the wealth of the Far East, was seized today by Japan, supplementing military occupation with civil authority.
Maritime customs in Shanghai, one of the greatest sources of revenue for the Chinese government, shortly will pass to the control of the Japanese, it was indicated.
The Domei news agency announced that tomorrow morning the Japanese would take over control of all Chinese government communications facilities in Shanghai, including the headquarters of the telegraph radio and post office divisions.
50 YEARS AGO
For the week ending
Dec. 1, 1962
No sign of 'Nina,' 8 brave sailors
Somewhere in the vast Atlantic Ocean is a clue to the disappearance of eight brave men who tried to duplicate Columbus' great voyage of discovery to the New World.
On Oct. 10, the men — including one American — set sail for the West Indies in the “Nina," a replica of the smallest of three ships Columbus took on his voyage in 1492.
They hoped to make the trip in the 36 days it took Columbus. But they loaded provisions for up to 45 days, in case of trouble.
That was 47 days ago. The tiny 39-foot caravel was last seen on Oct. 12, the day after it left Las Palmas, barely out of sight of land 25 miles west of the Canary Islands.
Since then, there has been no sign of the little craft with its ancient square sails.
The United States Coast Guard is scouring the general area off the Virgin Islands where the “Nina II" should be if it is still afloat. Heavy storms whipped the area last week.
The courage of the eight men of the “Nina II" compared with that of the 18 under Vincente Yanez Pinson who sailed with Columbus and were the first of the expedition to sight the West Indies.
Under Spanish navy Lt. Carlos Etayo, the modern voyagers ignored the advantages of modern sailing to put out in a ship which carried no instruments except a 15th century wooden sextant and a simple compass like those used in Columbus' day.
The ship was held together by wooden pegs and had no radio, no electricity and no auxiliary motor. As nearly as possible, its trip was to duplicate the conditions of the expedition of 1492.
With skipper Etayo — on leave from the Spanish navy to carry out the voyage — were seven other crew members.
They included American Robert Marx, a marine archaeologist and writer from Los Angeles; Antonio Segaseta, a Spanish Roman Catholic priest; and Antonio Bedoya, a 69-year-old Spanish fisherman.
25 YEARS AGO
For the week ending
Dec. 1, 1987
Bar fetes skyjacking
It's a long way from where D.B. Cooper parachuted from an airplane with $200,000 in ransom in 1971, but a bar in Salt Lake City has capitalized on his exploit by staging “Jump Night" every Thanksgiving eve for the past 15 years.
“It's amazing," said Michael LePrey, one of the two owners of D.B. Cooper's. “People call up in October to find out when Jump Night is. It is the biggest event we ever have each year."
Fred Boutwell, co-owner and manager, said “It is really hard to estimate the number of people because it goes on all night. The place is packed."
Boutwell said a former owner came up with the idea of using the name D.B. Cooper in opening up the private drinking club and restaurant that now has a membership of about 4,000.
Cooper staged what remains the only unsolved skyjacking in the country when he jumped from a Boeing 727 on Nov. 24, 1971, and disappeared into the stormy night somewhere over southwestern Washington.
After boarding the flight in Portland, Cooper handed a flight attendant a note claiming he had a bomb in a briefcase. On the ground in Seattle, Cooper demanded four parachutes and $200,000 in $20 bills in exchange for release of the passengers and part of the crew.
Cooper then leaped from the back door of the jet with the money strapped to his body.
In 1980, Brian Ingram, who was on a family picnic at a Columbia River beach near Vancouver, Wash., found $5,800 of the loot in a moldy mass of $20 bills. Ingram eventually received some of the bills as a reward.
“An attorney for the kid called us and asked if we wanted to buy one of the bills," said Boutwell, who added when asked if he got one: “Not really, he wanted a lot of money."
As an alternative to having one of the real bills, the bar staff attaches fake $20 bills to a large silk parachute that is put up on Jump Night. The employees also dress up to look like a drawing that was made of Cooper for the FBI from descriptions given by witnesses.
The staff serves special drinks.
“The first is called a 'parachute,' the second a '727,' then 'unmarked bills' and the last of course, is a 'kamikaze,'" Boutwell said.
