Yesterday's Phillips County News Memories for April 11, 2018

100 years ago

April 11, 1918

Lee Booth was fatally wounded in a gunfight at Zortman by Ike Jordan. Booth and Jordan were having a little trouble on the street in the mining camp when Booth flashed a gun. Jordan took it away from him and shot him in the stomach. Jordan is a man well along in years. He immediately came to Malta and gave himself up to the sheriff. Booth had been released from the county jail a few days before the fight, having been incarcerated for about a year on various charges. He was "known around Zortman as a bad man."

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H.S. Whitcomb has finished his first term as county commissioner and had stated that he would be a candidate for reelection to the office.

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Thirty-six men left this week for service with the armed forces. Among names familiar to us are Jack Dewar, George Sturman, Ralph Nelson, Erick Lundman, Hans Torgerson, and Frederick Erickson.

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The Ruby Gulch Mine, which has been operating part-time, has gone on a fulltime status.

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Phillips County experienced a heavy snowfall the second week in April. Farmers were joyful over the added moisture.

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Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Chabot, who had been married recently in Minneapolis, returned to Malta to make their home. The bride was a former Malta teacher. Mr. Chabot was one of the reclamation men.

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The foundations are being laid for the light posts in the residential district.

75 years ago

April 15, 1943

Theatre Week nets $185.22

A total of $185.22 was received at the Palace Theatre during the nationwide theater week Red Cross Drive, according to Carl Veseth, manager.

Prairie fire jumps highways south of town

A prairie fire starting in a stubblefield on the Bernal Southwick Farm south-east of Malta jumped the Content Road and Highway 191 and destroyed more than two sections of grazing land last Thursday afternoon.

A strong wind made it difficult to control the fire which traveled as far west as the Fred L. Robinson buildings southwest of Malta where a small creek prevented the fire from reaching the government granaries south of town where thousands of bushels of government wheat were stored.

Fire fighting equipment of the Soil Conservation Service, US Grazing Service, County Grazing Associations and State Highway Department were called out late in the afternoon and by evening the fire had been extinguished.

Heroic action brings high award

Lieutenant Commander Lee S. Pancake, killed in action against Japanese forces on October 26, 1942, has been awarded the Navy Cross posthumously, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Pancake of Malta. The Navy Cross is the highest award given by the United States for service in the Navy. Pancake has also been awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

The citation, signed by Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, follows:

"For extraordinary heroism as Destroyer Squadron Two Engineer Officer during action against enemy Japanese forces off the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, 1942. When hostile planes launched a vicious raid against the task force to which his group was attached, Lieutenant Commander Pancake, with cool courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety, unhesitatingly volunteered to go aloft to the director platform. There, although previously exposed to violent attacks by the low flying enemy strafers, he rendered valuable assistance in the spotting of Japanese aircrafts until he was killed. His conspicuous initiative and unyielding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service. He gallantly gave up his life in the defense of his country."

Lieutenant Commander Pancake was 35-years-old at the time of his death. He graduated from Malta High School in 1925 and the following year enlisted in the Navy. Through competitive examinations he was admitted to the US Naval Academy in 1927, graduating in 1931 as a commissioned ensign.

50 years ago

April 18, 1968

Daniel Welch injured in Vietnam March 27

Daniel Welch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Welch, called his parents Monday afternoon from Japan to inform them that he had been wounded while serving in Vietnam.

His left hand was injured in a mine explosion during a mine-laying operation. The accident occurred on March 27. Welch was hospitalized in Vietnam until infection set in his hand and then he was transferred to a hospital in Japan where skin grafting is being done and the infection is being treated.

Welch had been in Vietnam since November 29. He told his mother that he might possibly be transferred to a hospital in the United States for further treatment.

25 years ago

April 18, 1993

Mint Bar nabs trophy

The Mint Bar team won the darts playoff held Saturday night in Malta. The members of the team are Terry Tams, Chris Martin, and Kathy and Marty Demarais.

10 years ago

April 8, 2008

Malta Academic Olympic team garners first ever win in Oral Round Competition

The Malta High School Academic Olympic team won the Oral Round Competition, the first such placing in all of the years that Malta has been competing at the event in Glasgow.

The Malta team was comprised of Tony Ost, Melissa Heppner, Micaela Tams, Ashley Carney, Matthew Green, Kevin Amestoy, Carmen DeVries, Elizabeth Engebreston, Lane Albers, and Angela Bruckner.