Out of the past: June 12

1990

A faulty transfer pump is being blamed for a fire Monday that heavily damaged a storage building owned by Rose City Oil Co. at 740 S. Fountain St. The fire caused authorities to evacuate houses temporarily on the west side of the 700 block of South Fountain Street because of a danger that 55-gallon barrels of petroleum stored inside the building might explode. None of the barrels exploded, however.

Postmasters from across Missouri are in Cape Girardeau this week for a four-day state convention of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States.

1965

Gov. Warren E. Hearnes comes to Jackson in the evening, bringing an announcement Jackson is to be the location of a branch of the State License Bureau. He also appears at the Byrd Township Democratic barbecue as its principal speaker and later presents trophies at the Jackson Sesquicentennial Bowling Tournament.

In another effort to warn of the dangers of deep water at parts of the Capaha Park Lagoon, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Development Committee is installing two life preservers. Housed in boxes with a glass front patterned after a fire-alarm signal, the preservers will be located and positioned in such a way to serve as a warning.

1940

Contracts for removal of nearly 4,000,000 cubic yards of earth, involved in rebuilding Illinois levees just east of Cape Girardeau in the Mississippi River's vicinity, will be let within the next two weeks; this, added to what is already under contract, will bring the total amount of earth being moved to 5,592,000 cubic yards.

Harley Eddlemann, outfielder, is pacing the Capahas in individual batting for the first five games, with an average of .461. He was at bat 13 times and obtained six hits. Rookie outfielder Paul Howe is next, with a batting average of .400.

1915

The Hope-Cotner Auto Co. receives its first shipment of 1916 Buick automobiles. The car has six cylinders, developing 45 horsepower. It has electric lights and a self-starter. The car will sell for $985, complete.

Since the river started falling a few days ago, the fishermen have been reaping a harvest and have caught so many fish they can hardly dispose of them; the finny tribe have crowded into the backwaters, and the fishermen have an easy time catching them.

-- Sharon K. Sanders