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PAYING TAXES BY BOAT - The good Steamer Brooksville under the command of Capts. C.H. Rader and Silas Pettit arrived in port (Grantsville) Thursday with a large delegation of Brooksville citizens who came here to file their income tax returns. In the party were: L.B. Carroll, W.O. Umstead, Ray Bush, Harold Shafer and Robt. Virdin.
SPEAKEASY RAIDED IN BROOKSVILLE 1901 - Enraged citizens raided another speakeasy at Brooksville one day last week, destroying booze, property and all else in sight - a la Carrie Nation raid.
If all the speakeasies in the county were treated with the same kind of a dose, the county would be much better for it.
FIGHT WEARS'EM DOWN - In an altercation Thursday night (1908) at Brooksville, the participants, Homer Knight and a young man by the name of Ingram were pretty badly used up.
Knight was cut a severe gash across the wrist from which he lost a great deal of blood, and Ingram was struck in the face with a bottle of shot, the bottle breaking and cutting him badly. No arrests have been made.
BOOTLEGGER DEFIES BROOKSVILLE RESIDENTS - Joe Titchener was arrested last week (1902)on a charge of selling whiskey at Brooksville.
When brought before the Justice, however, he asked permission to step out doors to speak to a friend.
Permission being given him, he went out, but did not come back. He went to his "dive" armed himself and defied the town, and for several hours bulldozed the entire population.
He fired several shots to let people know that his gun was in shooting order, and it seems there was a dearth of men who wanted the job of re-arresting him.
He kept up his nefarious business of peddling booze and defying authorities until some time Saturday when he left for some unknown place, and the citizens are greatly in hopes his stay will be a long one.
CATTLE POISONING - (1908)
One of the lowest, meanest, and most brutal criminal acts that ever occurred in this or any other county, was perpetrated at Brooksville last week.
Some cowardly scoundrel, who has no right to live, and who is too mean to go to Hell, poisoned all of young Bob Ferrell's stock with concentrated lye, and as a result three cows and one yearling heifer have already died in the most horrible manner, and his horses are in very serious condition. Particles of the lye were found in the feed boxes where the murderous deed was done.
Mr. Ferrell thinks he has good clues to the guilty party, and will put a first class detective on the case, and if sufficient evidence is found the culprit will no doubt be given a dose that would make red-seal lye taste like sugar.
FIERY CONFLAGRATION AT BROOKSVILLE -
Brooksville, eight miles northwest of Grantsville, was the scene of a disastrous fire Sunday night (1915) when the two general stores, one residence and a shop burned to the ground with a loss of $10,000 or $12,000, partly insured.
The fire was first noticed about nine o'clock Sunday night in the store of G.W. Wells and although the whole town was soon aroused and heroic effort was made to quench the flames, it was soon communicated to the adjoining buildings with the above result.
The losses are as follows:
G.W. Well, general merchant, store building and stock of goods valued at $6,000 totally destroyed; insurance, $4,500. Mr. Wells also lost a residence across the street from the store valued at probably $1,000 on which there was no insurance.
L.T. Ferrell, stock of goods valued at $2,000 with no insurance. A small part of this stock was carried from the building before the flames completely devoured it.
G.W. Taylor. Ferrell store building, valued at $1,500 on which there was no insurance.
H.S. Knight, wareroom, valued at $1,000, with no insurance.
C.L. Shanks, small shop, valued at $200, no insurance.
From the best reports it is thought that the fire started on the first floor of the Wells building near the oil tank and in just a short time the whole building was a mass of flames.
Mr. Wells lived in the second floor of the store building, but he and his family were absent when the fire started. The fire made a big light in the sky and its glow could be plainly seen here, but on account of the telephones being closed. word of the catastrophe was not received here until Monday morning.
BROOKSVILLE LOAFERS CLUB -
Samuel G. Rogers says he has been elected as president of the Loafers Club at Brooksville (1894) and several applications were received. All qualified were elected, two being rejected, John Gainer and Creed Brooks.
The former on account of being in very delicate health, brought about by a "Sugar Camp" love affair and the latter being too old.
MAN MASHED INTO MUD -
Quite a serious accident happened (1901) to H.C. Blackshire of Big Bend, one day last week. He was working on some saw logs which had been washed upon the river banks by the large rise a few days before, when a log which had been lodged in a tree became loosened and fell upon him.
The log fell about eight feet and crushed him to the earth. It required the effort of three men to release him from his perilous position.
When he was taken out it was discovered that his nose was broken, his face badly mashed, his collar bone was broken, an arm was broken and that he had sustained other serious injuries.
He was removed to the home of A.J. Pettit, near by, where medical aid was summoned, and his injuries attended to. He is improving rapidly as could be expected.
He was very fortunate in not being killed outright, which he would have been, had it not been for the mud where he was, the log mashing him down in the soft mud.
MOONSHINE TRADE INVESTIGATED -
Greater interest was shown in the deliberations of the grand jury than is usual (1920). It was whispered around that an investigation of the making and vending of corn whiskey would be conducted, and sure enough, invitations to come before the grand jury were issued by the Court.
When the word leaked out that the writs were in the hands of the sheriff, there was a great exodus of those who have favored the raisin-jack venders with their patronage, and for once the supply caught up with the demand.
It is said that the principal figure among the boot-leggers complained bitterly because the Court had broken up his business for a time.
However, the few that did get before the grand jury had memories like some of the plutes at time for making up tax lists, and not one could remember of having purchased any hooch in Calhoun county.
One witness, Golder White of Brooksville, refused to answer questions proposed to him by the investigating body and was sent to jail for several hours on a contempt charge.
He was later released, after the grand jury had been dismissed, on giving bond to appear before the next grand jury and answer questions.
Edited from transcriptions by Norma Knotts Shaffer from microfilm of the Calhoun Chronicle appearing Hur Herald "Moments in Time"
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