Back in the Day

February 16, 1903 – Cole Younger was paroled from prison after the botched Northfield, MN bank robbery and returned to Missouri on this date. He met with Frank James in Kansas City and organized the “Buckskin Wild West Show.”

February 17, 2014 – Ice sank the popular excursion/party boat, Captain Larry Don, which had cruised the Lake of the Ozarks for decades. It was at dock and no one was injured.

February 18, 1869 – The Bolivar Free Press declared, “Velocipede fever is on the increase, and manufacturers of the vehicles cannot begin to supply the demand made on them.”

February 19, 1945 – Darrell Cole from Esther was known as “The Fighting Field Musician.” On this day the French horn player was on Iwo Jima where he single-handedly destroyed three Japanese machine gun emplacements.

February 20, 1882 – The “wet blizzard” in Camden County saw incredible amounts of rain swell the Osage, Glaize, and Niangua Rivers causing great loss life and property.

For information about Ross Malone’s Missouri Books, visit www.RossMalone.com.