Out of the past 8/2/05

25 years ago: Aug. 2, 1980

Brig. Gen. James N. Ellis, a former Cape Girardeau resident, has been assigned division engineer of the Army South Atlantic Division at Atlanta, Ga.

Nearly 1,000 young men registered at area post offices during the two-week Selective Service registration drive that ends today; a check of seven post offices -- Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City, Illmo, Gordonville, Kelso, Mo., and McClure, Ill. -- found that 951 young men born during 1960 and 1961 had registered their names for possible military service.

50 years ago: Aug. 2, 1955

To be paid over a period of 20 years, the $165,000 bond issue to build a new swimming pool in Capaha Park can be retired with a tax levy of only 5 cents on the $100 valuation, says Dr. John T. Crowe, general chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Swimming Pool.

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Antonio Abertondo, Argentine long-distance swimmer, is pulled unconscious from the Mississippi River, defeated in his second attempt to swim non-stop some 300 miles down the river; Abertondo had covered about 221 miles and had been in the water 65 hours and 17 minutes since diving in at St. Louis Saturday.

75 years ago: Aug. 2, 1930

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Leon "Pete" Crader, only contestant in this area for the tree-sitting record, has already established a district record as far as can be learned; he passes the 360th hour in the air at 1 p.m., having started his quest on July 18.

Plans for the improvement of the three theaters in Cape Girardeau operated by the Fox West Coast Theaters are announced by manager Reynolds Maxwell, following a visit here yesterday of three high officials of the company.

100 years ago: Aug. 2, 1905

Reports from the stricken fever district in the South continue discouraging; despite every possible effort to stamp out the disease, it continues to spread, and the entire country is becoming alarmed; some Girardeans have realized the terrible effects that follow a fever scourge and have had their premises thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

E.H. Engelmann receives a telegram from Jefferson City, Mo., stating that the contract for the stone to be used in the new supreme court building that is to built in that city has been awarded to the Ste. Genevieve Quarry and Construction Co.; the quarries are located near Ste. Genevieve, Mo., but the owners live here.

-- Sharon K. Sanders