Day in history for January 24, 2005

1855 -- 150 years ago

A bill has been introduced in the Illinois legislature to give Rock Island City Council exclusive jurisdiction over all ferries within the corporate limits. The ferry controversy now absorbs the attention of people here to the exclusion of all other public questions.

1880 -- 125 years ago

D.M. Martin has sent The Argus the claw of a horned owl he killed. The owl measured 5 feet 3 inches, tip to tip.

1905 -- 100 years ago

Albert Harper, 68, Rock Island, died from the effects of an accident while he was fishing in Rock River. Born in slavery, he ran away from his master and became a drummer boy with the Union Army during the Civil War.

1930 -- 75 years ago

Dr. G.A. Brandelle of Rock Island was elected president of the National Lutheran Council.

1955 -- 50 years ago

A 51-year-old Davenport transient apparently is none the worse for wear today after drinking hair tonic with a vinegar mix and then sleeping in a parked car in freezing temperatures.

1980 -- 25 years ago

East Moline water workers are baffled trying to find a pipe they think has been leaking 20,000 to 30,000 gallons of water an hour for the last 13 days. More than 6.2 million gallons has disappeared from the city's water lines in those 13 days.

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