Compiled by Don Hoiness from archived copies of The Bulletin at Deschutes County Historical Society.

100 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

March 3, 1918

Eight hour day in mills order begins tomorrow

Beginning tomorrow the eight hour day will be effective in every lumber mill and camp in Oregon and Washington, Colonel Disque told the Lumbermen’s Protective Association at a conference here this morning. This is one of the features of the government’s control of the fir and spruce industries.

The shorter day has been granted to stabilize the industry by eliminating the rush of employees of the pine and fir mills to those of the spruce manufacturers.

Two Portland mills have been taken over by federal authorities and will be put at work finishing airplane parts. This action followed the authorization of Colonal Disque to commander any spruce lumber or mills. The Protective Association passed a resolution expressing confidence in Disque and pledging support of the government program.

After viewing the above dispatch from Portland, the local managements of both the Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company and the Shevlin-Hixon Company stated that they had not received any direct order from the government to run on an eight-hour basis but that it was evident an order was in effect to do so and accordingly they would start an eight hour day March 1.

The mills will start at 8 and run until 12o’clock, starting again at 1 and running until 5 o’clock.

When asked if it is possible to ever run three shifts, it was stated that sawmills could under no consideration run three eight-hour shifts due to the nature of the machinery and the necessity for repairs between shifts.

Cold reception is given prohibition speech by Bryan

TORONTO — William Jennings Bryan’s prohibition speech, scheduled for last night, was canceled after Canadian soldiers and discharged veterans, shouting and calling him names, chased the speaker off the stage. Some yelled out, “Get out, you dirty German or Pro-German. What about the Lusitania?” A number donned gas masks and others sang “Keep the Home Fires Burning.” Civilians attempting to restore order were told to “Get into uniform.”

U.S. is urged to give answer

To date, President Wilson and Secretary Lansing have been open-minded regarding the Japanese intervention in Siberia, but they are likely to answer the Japanese suggestion soon, as the allies are pressing for a reply. The decision as to whether Japan is to act alone, cooperate with the United States or not act at all just now has been left entirely to this country.

America’s decision depends largely upon the present German invasion. If this stops, President Wilson may decide that a Siberia move is unnecessary and this is likely to place a misinterpretation upon the country’s motives.

75 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

March 3, 1943

Hitler may send his bombers against U.S., warns Landis

Civilian Defense Director James M. Landis warned today that Adolph Hitler may send his bombers against this country.

Commenting on a Berlin broadcast that Washington, New York and Boston are not safe from air attack, Landis said America should not assume that only those three cities might be attacked.

“Hitler will strike where he believes the element of surprise is most greatly in his favor, for he wants pictures of burning American cities to show his people,” Landis said.

Landis urged volunteer defense workers to “hold firm” and continue training in use of fire-fighting equipment. In an interview earlier he had said it might be necessary to make civilian defense work compulsory unless Americans stop “dropping their guard” after every allied victory.

Of the German broadcast, Landis said “the noteworthy fact is that the broadcast expresses confidence in the German ability to bomb American cities.” The Germans, “hammered constantly by American bombers, are demanding reprisals,” he added.

The worst slumps in the OCD’s volunteer organization in the past have come after such victories as the battle of Midway and the occupation of French North Africa, Landis told the United Press.

“It may come to a point where I would be forced to ask congress to consider legislation making it mandatory for civilians to devote a certain number of hours a week as air raid wardens, auxiliary policemen, fire watchers, etc.,” he said.

Japanese suffer crushing defeat in South Pacific as fliers destroy fleet of 22 ships

Japan’s time-table for the war in the South Pacific was thrown far off schedule today by the crushing loss of 22 ships and 15,000 men — first time in this area that every vessel in a convoy was left sunk or sinking after a battle.

Allied bombers, victors in one of the great air-sea battles of the war, were mopping up today in the stretches of the Pacific where crippled Japanese ships were attempting to escape the wrath of General Douglas MacArthur’s pilots.

Ten Japanese war ships — cruisers and destroyers — and 12 transports carrying 15,000 men were blasted in a two-day battle in which the enemy defied the striking power of land-based planes in an attempt to reinforce his base at Lae, on the Huon gulf in northeastern New Guinea. Not a single ship got through.

The smashing defeat upset whatever plans the Japanese may have to attempt to stem the tide of allied victories which have been cutting into their strength since the United States Marines stormed the Solomons.

50 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

March 3, 1968

‘The Fosbury Flop’

Conventional high jumpers the world over are watching with interest the antics of a lanky Oregon State junior who goes over the bar backwards.

And Dick Fosbury, a 6’4” engineering student from Medford, Ore., does it well.

So well, in fact, that he’s aiming for the Olympics.

His method is new to major high jumping and for want of a better name has been dubbed the “Fosbury Flop.”

“He just sort of evolved into jumping this way,” says his coach, Berney Wagner, who once tried to get Fosbury to change but gave up because he did much better with his unorthodox style.

Wagner says others here are trying it now, “but we don’t know if it will catch on.”

Fosbury takes a looping approach to the bar and when he reaches the takeoff point, on the upward leap, he twists his body and arches over the bar face up, landing on his shoulders.

Last year Fosbury reached a height of 6-10. This year he has gone over 7 feet five times, including a leap of 7-11⁄4 at Louisville.

The world record of 7-53⁄4 is held by Valerly Brumel of Russia.

Wagner said, “Dick started jumping in junior high school and was using his scissors form — which kids normally do when they start jumping — putting the inside leg up first and sitting up over the bar.”

He reached 5-4 in the ninth grade. By his sophomore year in high school, Wagner said, Fosbury started “jumping up and laying out — so he was not raising the center of gravity quite so high.”

Then, Wagner said, he gradually started turning his back, taking off with the weight on the outside foot. He progressed to 5-10 that year. As a junior, he got up to 6-03⁄4, and as a senior reached 6-7.

Wagner said he first met Fosbury at an all-comers meet near Portland.

“Dick and I agreed we would work one year to try to change him to an orthodox style,” he said.

Wagner said that practicing the orthodox style as a freshman Fosbury reached only 5-11s. He got up to 6-71⁄2 going backwards.

“As a matter of fact, in the middle of the competitive season, I said, “Dick let’s forget it” (changing to orthodox) but he said he had promised to work for a year so he kept going.”

It didn’t work out — so Fosbury opened his sophomore year at 6-10 using the backward style.

Wagner said some others at Oregon State were trying it.

“The physics of it is good,” Wagner said. “Dick exposes less of himself to the bar than any other high jumper.”

Fosbury, who calls himself a nervous jumper, takes a lot of time — up to 41⁄2 minutes to get ready for one jump. He is working on weights preparing for the Olympics.

25 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

March 3, 1993

You can take the coach away from wrestling … or can you?

Russ Thurman may have tried to leave wrestling behind, but the sport wouldn’t let him get away.

The 55-year-old retired after 28 seasons and two state championships as Crook County High School’s head coach. A year ago his Cowboys finished second in the Intermountain Conference championships in Bend.

Since then, Thurman has adopted another team — a Portland State University squad that includes his son Lance, a junior who finished his season last weekend.

“A lot of times, I’ve been following him … kind of like their No. 1 fan,” said Thurman, who estimated that he has put more than 7,000 miles on his truck while on wrestling trips this winter. “It’s been kind of fun. You get to know the kids, and it’s kind of like your own team.”

Thurman’s travels with the Vikings took him to Las Vegas — he said he “lost a lot of money” there — and all the way through California. He enjoyed every minute of it.

“It was fun to watch my own kid for a change,” he said. “I just stayed with the team and it was kind of fun.”

Portland State wrestling coach Marlin Grahn said Thurman was a welcome addition to the traveling party.

“Russ is not the pushy type,” Grahn said. “He was fun to have around. He was always ready to do whatever we needed. He actually ended up helping us coach at times. It worked out real well.”

Despite taking an occasional seat on the sidelines, Thurman said watching wrestling with a spectator’s eyes has been refreshing.

“It’s all that preparation,” he said. “I don’t get the butterflies like I used to. They lose, they lose and that’s fine. You wait for the next match. It doesn’t bother you as much.”

After filling his time with coaching and teaching for 28 years, Thurman isn’t bothered by all the free time he has now.

“I have lots of hobbies,” Thurman said. “That’s why I retired…It’s nice to get up and do whatever you want to do.

“You’re bound to miss it a little bit,” he added. “It’s a little more exciting when you’re down there coaching. You miss the relationships.”

Of course, there things Thurman could easily live without.

“I don’t miss the bus rides,” he said with a laugh.

Because of his desire to watch his son wrestle, Thurman hasn’t seen his old team compete under new coach Pete Lucas.

“I thought the kids needed a younger coach,” Thurman said. “I picked the right time to retire … Pete Lucas is really doing a good job with those kids.”