Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

Nov. 3, 1921

No paper available

75 Years Ago

Nov. 7, 1946

Playing a scoreless tie with the Upton Bobcats, the Sundance Bulldogs wound up their 1946 football schedule last Friday afternoon on the Upton football field. It was the two teams’ second encounter, Upton winning the first game on the Sundance field early in the season.

The murder of two Wyoming game wardens in Dead Man’s Gulch one year ago – one of the state’s most sensational crimes – today remains unsolved. The two game wardens were shot to death in Dead Man’s Gulch, 55 miles southeast of Rawlins as they attempted to arrest a beaver-poaching German alien. Many persons acquainted with the double murder still believe 55-year-old Johann Malten slew the game wardens and escaped. It has been asserted that Malten evidently perished in a fire which destroyed his cabin. A charred knee-cap in the ashes of the trapper’s cabin was the only clue to his whereabouts. One of the game warden’s guns was found in the charred ruins. The wardens, William Lakanen of Rawlins and Don Simpson of Saratoga, were found shot to death near the cabin. The truck in which the officers went to the trapper’s cabin was found piled high with foliage and it was ascertained that an attempt had been made to try to burn it. Intensive investigation brought out the belief that Malten had killed himself by setting fire to his cabin, although this point has been the subject of much debate since the crime.

50 Years Ago

Nov. 4, 1971

Council Eyes City Problems - Mayor G.W. (Buster) Popham read a letter from the state concerning landfill operations for disposal of solid wastes by cities. Popham said no apparent deadline has been set but that trash burning will have to halt some day with the landfill method going into effect. The council agreed that finding enough land for this operation might be a problem as well as the task of stockpiling enough dirt to be used to cover the trash during the winter months. Popham said no federal aid is available to the city but that technical assistance is available from the state. A case involving chickens being killed by a dog was presented by the mayor to the council for its consideration. Popham asked the council if there was a possible inadequacy of city ordinances concerning the protection of livestock in the city limits from dogs. Council members pointed out that raising chickens within the city limits is unlawful. No action was taken and the council suggested that the only apparent solution consisted of the resident filing a suit for damages.

25 Years Ago

Oct. 31, 1996

Christmas came early for the Ranch ‘A’ Restoration Foundation this year. At a board of directors meeting earlier this month, it was announced that the State of Wyoming had received ownership of Ranch A by recent legislative action transferring the property from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.