Firemen injured in falling from fire truck

— Sequoyah County Democrat, Sept. 15, 1922

(From the Sept. 18, 1997, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

–Blue Ribbon Downs will pursue all legal remedies to close a Choctaw off-track betting parlor at Pocola, said Track Manager Don Essary Wednesday.

The parlor, or OTB, was to open Wednesday, said a spokesman for the Choctaw Nation, and will be offering simulcast wagering from both U.S. and Canada tracks.

But Essary said the OTB, which is in the Choctaw High Stakes Bingo facility near Interstate 540 and just west of Fort Smith, Ark., is illegal, and will do irreparable harm to Blue Ribbon Downs. BRD‚s attorneys were attempting this week to get an injunction to stop the opening of the OTB. But Gary Pitchlin of Norman, attorney for the Choctaw Nation, said the Choctaw OTB at Pocola and another to be opened at Arrowhead Lodge on Lake Eufaula within a few weeks, are both legal.

He claimed sovereignty for the Choctaw Nation, and said the Federal law does not apply to Indian tribes.

50 Years Ago

(From the Sept. 14, 1972, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

—In a special meeting of the Sallisaw Port Authority held at city hall Monday, representatives of the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District Office, brought authority members up-to-date on progress in securing a port here.

The Sallisaw Port Authority last year picked a prospective site for a new port here, located west of U.S. 59 on Little Sallisaw Creek south of the city.

The corps officials said they will be looking into all matters which concern this site and will determine what site is the most economical.

75 Years Ago

(From the Sept. 19, 1947, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

—The “Biggest News Story of the Year” to Sallisaw was Friday‚s announcement that “59 Bridge is Open,” Paul Carlile‚s secretary-member to the State Highway Commission, announcement to this effect has furnished the principal topic of conversation all week.

Merchants and business men here had planned, through the local Chamber of Commerce, to hold a giant barbecue, but due to the scarcity of meat and the great amount it would take it was decided that this would have to be dropped.

—Two hearings effecting Sallisaw residents were held this week in Oklahoma City before the State Corporation commission. The application of Dan Appleby for a franchise to operate a regular bus schedule over the route formerly served by the Breeding bus line between Sallisaw, Stilwell, Westville and Tahlequah was not contested. His attorney, J. Fred Green, stated that the referee, who heard the testimony, said that he would recommend the franchise be granted Appleby.

—Speaking of rain and turnips, Sallisaw had 2.47 inches, last week, according to readings made by O.M. Orendorff, U.S. weather observer for Sallisaw.

Turnip planting season was inaugurated last Friday when the skies loosened up and gave forth with a good wetting of 2.10 inches, Orendorff said.

A repeat performance Sunday night, although slight, was greatly appreciated by farmers in this area.

100 years ago

(From the Sept. 15, 1922, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat)

—In answering a fire alarm in this city last Friday, when the local fire department turned out and a fast run was being made to the scene of a grass fire, at the home of R.C. Wilson, across the Kansas City Southern tracks, in Fairview addition, Wesley Roberts and O.G. Smith, members of the city volunteer fire department were thrown from the fire truck as it crossed the railroad tracks at the crossing at the coal shute, and were painfully injured. Mr. Roberts received a broken rib, a sever scalp wound and was severely bruised, while Mr. Smith escaped with severe cuts and bruises. Both of the firemen were conveyed to their homes after the accident, where they have since been confined by the effects of their injuries. Mr. Smith is now able to be up but it will be sometime before Mr. Roberts will be able to leave his home. The fire truck was being driven at a rapid speed, and in attempting to make the railroad crossing, at a sharp turn, the trick hit the rails and the impact jarred the ladder, to which the firemen were holding, from its hooks, throwing them from the truck and on the side of the crossing embankment.

—Wylie Davis, a white man, was shot and instantly killed Wednesday near Redbird Smith stomp dance ground after he had resisted arrest and attempted to take the life of Deputy Sheriff Mose Smith. Davis, who has a reputation as a bootlegger and who had been arrested previously on bootlegging charge had visited the stomp dance and had sold a quart of his moonshine to a fullblood. Smith, accompanied by to special officers, Susheyhead Shade and George Jestle, had accosted Davis in an attempt to search and place him under arrest: this he resisted and pulled an automatic pistol to fire and as he did so Smith fired killing his victim.

Sheriff C.M. Gay who was attending the stomp dance placed Smith and the two special officers under arrest and they were brought to Sallisaw where they are retained in the county jail until their preliminary hearing before just of Peace Wallace Thornton at Vian, Monday.