Verbatim for March 20, 2024

The only serious damage was on the Columbia River Highway, on which considerable repairs to paving will be necessitated as a result of big trees on the precipitous slopes being torn loose and falling, bringing down huge rocks and tons of dirt. John R. Nickelsen states that the damage along the highway on Friday morning was more severe than all the damage which has been done this winter.

Several motorists were in trouble on the west side of Mitchell’s Point tunnel, where the wind was so strong as to put automobiles completely out of control. Except for wild thrills and scratched fenders, no damage resulted. — March 21, 1924, Hood River News

WILLIAMS TELLS OF ESCAPE FROM WASCO JAIL CELL

Confessed Bank Bandit Refuses to Incriminate Confederate

PISTOL DECLARED REAL

Prisoner Is Indignant Over Many Rumors In Circulation Here.

“They make me laugh.”

Charles Williams, confessed bank robber, in his cell at the county jail this morning did laugh—when he heard some of the stories Dame Rumor has carried and bandied about concerning his escape a week ago Sunday.

“I’ll tell you this much,” Williams asserted in explaining the break from jail. “Jailer Coleman didn’t know what it was all about when Taylor and I rushed out of here. Taylor didn’t know anything about it, either. As far as my having whittled a gun out of a piece of wood, or pointing my finger at Coleman, I will say this—I had a .38 caliber automatic and no one will ever know where I got it. I’m no betrayer. As for who gave me the gun, now one will ever know anymore than what I say, that no one in Wasco county or the state of Oregon helped me out of this jail.

Williams’ remarks were brought out following the report of probably a dozen or more stories from as many sources, that Coleman was paid $2,000; that Williams whittled a gun out of a piece of wood, that he pointed his finger at Coleman, etc.

“Coleman is a good man; he is good to the boys who are unfortunate enough to be in here and I hate to have him slaughtered like that,” said the bandit. “If some of the people who like to talk so much had been in Coleman’s place, their hands would have gone up a lot faster than his did.” — The Dalles Daily Chronicle, March 20, 1924

Postwar Planners

The Hood River County Postwar Planning commission will meet on March 25 at the hour of 2 p.m. in the circuit court room over the First National bank for the purpose of perfecting an organization that will be representative of the various enterprises and industries of Hood River County. The commission, it is hoped, will be implemented by the best thought and service of each and all citizens to shape Hood River County’s postwar problems and possibilities of meeting the needs for labor and service of returning war veterans, who are desirous of establishing themselves in the community life of our city and valley. — March 17, 1944, Hood River News

Oil spill threatens Columbia

ST. HELENS, Ore., (UPI) — Cleanup crews worked to prevent a 42,000-gallon oil spill from harming fish and wildlife along the Columbia River while the Coast Guard aided efforts to free a tanker that ran aground, rupturing its fuel tanks.

Four holding tanks on the 618-foot vessel Mobiloil were ripped open when the ship hit underwater rocks early Monday 13 miles north of Portland near the Oregon shore of the Columbia ... The heavy oil was quickly pushed downstream by a swift current the frustrated containment efforts, extending in floating gobs and patches along a 30-mile stretch of the river and threatening to invade several fragile marshes favored by ducks and geese, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said.

State officials also expressed concern that the spill could damage sturgeon and smelt populations... — The Dalles Daily Chronicle, March 20, 1984