Day in history for August 13, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

A prisoner broke out of jail in this county Monday. He was confined for stealing horses. No trace of him has yet been discovered.

1878 -- 125 years ago

A bashful and fastidious man arrayed himself in a black suit which had been hanging in a closet for several weeks and started to walk to church. In the midst of a crowd of churchgoers his suspenders parted and as he clutched at his trousers, they fell in fragments to the ground. With a shriek, he fled. Carpet bugs were to blame.

1903 -- 100 years ago

Harris' Nickel Plate Show was the attraction here today. The troupe has been coming to Rock Island annually for a quarter of a century.

1928 -- 75 years ago

An attendance of 1,500 is expected at the annual meeting tomorrow of the Old Settlers Association.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Construction of a new office and warehouse for the American Furnace Co. of Iowa will get under way in northwest Davenport sometime next week. The one-story brick and concrete block building will be at 1616 W. Locust St. and will be built by the Henry Schaeffer Construction Co., Davenport, at a cost of $35,000.

1978 -- 25 years ago

The Rock Island County Rookies girls' softball team took the bull by the horns in San Antonio, Texas, and will be returning as the Amateur Softball Association age 16-18 national champions. The aptly named Rookies, in existence only four years, won the fast-pitch title by winning three games Sunday.

Back: Available days in August 2003