Amarillo Sunday News-Globe (Amarillo, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 33, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 14, 1938 Page: 64 of 264
two hundred sixty four pages : ill. ; page 23 x 18 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Blackie the Bear Was a Rascal, and the
Widow Weaver Laid on Him With a Broom
By INEZ CHRISTIAN DOSHIER
Blackie was known to thofe pio-
neering in the early nineties for
his human-like pranks and ma-
neuverings. His owner was Jim
Scarborough, a saloon-keeper at
Claude—then a new town on the
Port Worth and Denver. It was the
custom in those days for a saloon-
keeper to have something unusual
•round as a novelty.
Thus Blackie was chained near
the saloon and became a familiar
figure to the town folk and
visiting cowhands. Blackie, watch-
ing the cowboys drink at the bar,
noon learned t bog for liquor. It
was the delight of the cowboys to
buy him a bottle of beer, and watch
him stand erect and drink the last
drop, then send them a grateful
fiance, as he was being led out.
Blackie spent many pleasant mo-
ments giving the dogs of the com-
munity a "mighty walloping." The
nesters driving to town in wagons
usually had several dogs following.
During the course of the day, the
dogs would venture around to call
on Blackie. The bear knew the
length of his chain well, and the
radius of his circle. He would back
off as far as he could, and wait for
a dog to intrude the desired dis-
tance. Then like a flash he would
pounce on the dog, giving him such
a boxing that the howling animal
would be sent rolling over and over
Into the street. Such a fracas
caused considerable merriment at
the saloon.
Although recognized as a tame
bear, Blackie would cause much
consternation in the village when
he slipped his chain and roamed
free. His favorite raids at such
times were at the hotel a few blocks
away, where Mrs. Weaver, a mid-
dle-aged widow, was manager.
* * •
Early one morning after Blackie
had managed to rid himself of his
chain, he started to the hotel
where he encountered Mrs. Weaver
returning from the barn with a pall
rt fresli milk. This was as gratify-
ing a breakfast as he could imagine.
But on raising his nose to the
bucket he found it held higher and
higher. He was not to be denied,
however, and he started climbing
the indignant lady's skirts, trying
to reach the milk. Needless to say
he came out victorious. The bucket
was set on the ground and the an-
gry woman watched him drink the
contents, lick the foam from his
mouth, and trot off quite satisfied.
Before he was hardly grown his
greatest, delight was a plunge In
the rain barrel that sat just out-
side of the dining-room window at
the hotel. Rain water was prized
highly then as everyone had to
economize on water. The only other
water source were deep wells, and
It often had to be hauled for miles.
Charlie Taul, a J A cowboy, in
telling of his stay at the hotel for a
few days one summer, said: "Mrs
Weaver, while busily preparing the
noon meal, heard the sound of
splashing water, and knew at once
that Blackie was up to his favorite
trick. Grabbing a broom she ran
out. She walloped Blackie every
time he raised his head above the
rim of the barrel. After churning
out most of the water, Blackie
backed out of the barrel and around
the house, shaking himself and
spraying water in the pathway of
his pursuer. Noticing the front
door ajar, he dodged in, and ran
on down the hall through the din-
ing room, and then out the open
window—no one had screens then
—and into the rain barrel again.
« • *
Such tales were passed from one
cowboy to the other, as all were
particularly interested in Blackie.
Cowboy Jim Christian, in relating
the early history of Blackie, said:
"Several of us were gathering cat-
tle north of Ceta Canyon. Paul,
my brother, was riding the hills,
and drifting the cattle toward the
river. I was working below and
would gather the loose stuff and
throw them into the main herd
which was farther down. I heard
Paul shoot, just as I saw a big.
black bear bounding off through
the brush. I only thought that Paul
had taken a shot, at It for fun. and
I went on about my work. When ;
we reached the herd the other boys
%
BLACKIE, A LITTLE BLACK BEAR whose antics convulsed (hp cowboys at
Claude in the early 'Nineties, was captured by Paul Christian while on round-up
north of Ceta Canyon. His brother and mother escaped.
all the little chains discarded from
spurs, and linking them together,
made a chain about 10 feet long.
With this they chained little Black-
ie to a cottonwood tree near the
old rock wellhouse. Blackie seemed i
contented enough, never wanting '
for food or entertainment. The
whole camp was beginning to feel j
very attached to him; and then
about the third morning we found
he had escaped. His little tracks
showed plain enough down the
creek for a mile or more except
when the dragging chain obliterat-
ed them. We just supposed the bear
episode was over, when much to our
surprise, he returned. He evidently
had had nothing to eat since he
Irft, for he climbed all over us
whining and begging for food. In
wrinkling up his nose, and making
funny noises, he reminded us of a
little negro baby."
He was given to Brnnie Lemons,
a little nephew of Mrs. Campbell,
who lived at. the ranch. Bennie kept
him for several months before giv-
ing him to Jim Scarborough.
Blackie remained with Mr. Scar-
borough. living a domesticated life.
He never knew the freedom of the
timbered roughs, as did his twin
brother, whose fierce mother pre-
vented his capture. Blackie's habit
of slipping his chain proved unfor-
tunate for him. His untimely death
was caused from heat and exhaus-
tion one hot summer day after he
had been chased by a village dog.
Ambition Pays
Frank Wilkinson is young, sandy-
haired and ambitious.
And he's making that ambition
pay dividends in the form of ever-
Increasing customers at his Gulf
Service Station at Sixteenth and
Harrison Streets.
Frank came to Amarillo 10 years
ago from Hereford with his parents.
He attended grade and high school
here, graduating from the latter In
1033 Following graduation, in his
own words, he "worked around here
and there" for the next three years,
then, in October, 1937, he leased the
filling station he now operates.
It's an eight-pump station with
grease rack and car-washroom.
Frank says he leases by the year.
The station was brand new when
he moved in, having been built on
the site of a former Gulf station
that had been closed three months
prior to the rebuilding.
Frank has two assistants, Harold
Young, who spells Wilkinson off in
management of the station, and
Edward Reed, negro car washer and
general handy man.
When Reed applied for the job
lie told Wilkinson, "sure I know
something about the filling station
business. I know a little about every
business. You got to be that way to
get. along nowadays."
Funniest thing that has happened
to Frank since he opened?
He says it's the case of the man
who had his car washed and greas-
ed one day. Two weeks later, an-
other Gulf station in the city had a
"special" day, offering five gallons
of free gasoline with every wash and
grease job.
The man drove into Frank's sta-
tion and asked if they would give
him five gallons of gasoline for his
wash and grease job of two weeks
before—and it wasn't even Frank
making the offer.
Frank was more amused than
angry—but he didn't give the gaso-
line.
"THERE WERE TWO OF THE CURS, r.nd he could
not capture them both and defend himself against the
mother."
saloon
HOTEL
Ex-Icc Skater
Frank Adklsson, the man behind
the Adkisson-Baker Tire Company,
came to Potter County in the early
1890 s—and it will take more than
drouth, depression, and dust to
drive him away, he avows.
Mr. Adkisson's associate in the
present firm Is Jack Baker. Mr.
Baker was born in Amarillo in 1907
just a few blocks from the site of
the business firm of which he Is
junior partner.
Thus hehind this successful firm
are two men whose lives have been
blended with thp growth of Ama-
rillo from early days to the present.
Mr. Adklsson grew up in Amarillo
Hr remembers the town when It was
proud to boast of 500 people. He
also recalls when he was a youth
he used to ice skate on a lake sit-
uated exactly where the firm's new.
modern building stands today at
Ninth and Tyler.
Young Frank engagrd In farming
!
! His pranks were, the Interest of the
| village and countryside, and even
j the hotel manager could not help
' mourning his demise.
and ranchlnfj until 1923, when he
moved to Amarillo and put up a fill-
ing station at Seventh and Tyler.
From that time on he has been ac-
tively engaged in the filling station
and tire business.
In 1935, the present firm was es-
tablished in temporary headquarters
at 901 Tyler. In April 1936, it was
moved to its present location.
Mr. Baker was taken In as a part-
ner aftor service dating from 1926.
The firm features General Tires
and carries a complete line of car
accessories.
From a filling station operator
In 1926, Mr. Adklsson has fostered
success until today he and his
nephew owns the Amarillo business
and a similar one in Pampa. The
establishment employs 23 persons.
He has had unlimited faith in
Amarillo and the Panhandle for
over 40 years and today he proves
it by investing in Amarillo property
and ranch lands. He believes the
rest of the world is unfortunate
because It can't come to the Pan-
handle.
Woman Leads
Women In business are not un-
common in Amarillo, but a woman
managing a business specializing in
automotive service Is rare.
And, Mrs. Mable R. Wallace em-
phasizes that the firm of which
she is the directing head Is actual-
I ly a firm of specialists.
The Amarillo Brake Company, or-
\ ganized in 1930 as a partnership
| by W. H. Wallace and others, has
| been under the management of Mrs,
| Wallace for the last five years. The
j firm, now Incorporated, has its place
J of business at ]301 West Sixth Ave-
j nue, on Highway 66.
Due to the ill health of Mr. Wal-
lace, his wife stepped into the
[ breach in 1933. Mr. Wallace suc-
cumbed this year. She is sccre-
| tary-treasurer of the corporation
| and continues as manager.
The first home of the Amarillo
! Brake Company was at 401 West
! Seventh Avenue. In 1933. It, moved
| a few doors west to 411 West Sev-
enth. The business expanded dur-
ing the years until it required more
floor spare, and in September, 1937,
it was moved to its present loca-
; tion.
The building occupied has a floor
: spare of more than 15.000 square
: feet and houses numerous depart-
ments for specialized service. Em-
! ploying onlv four persons at the
! beglnninc. the firm now has 14 on
| the payroll.
* • •
The company has the Bcndix con-
tracts in the panhandle and spe-
cializes In these produrts.
Besides brake service, the com-
| pany also does wheel and axle
aligning, frame straightening and
I body repairing and painting.
The Amarillo Brake Company's
building and facilities are the third
j largest in the United States of-
fering Bcndix service.
Included in the service to auto-
mobile and truck owners Is the
J safety check-up. Fleet owners em-
ploy this service as a matter of
safety. When cars and trucks are
| given this check-up. copies of re-
i ports are provided the owners, to
] give them apportunity to correct any
j unsafe conditions.
Furniture Too
Texas owned and operated,
White's Auto Stores in Amarillo
has one for "Believe It Or Not
Ripley or their own "Man On The
Street."
It is one of two auto supply
stores in the United States han-
dling furniture. The other one is
theirs, too. It is at Wichita Falls.
Attracted to Amarillo because of
its excellent facilities as a dis-
tributing center, White's Auto
Stores began business here one
year ago last June 20.
Auto supplies, furniture and ap-
pliances of standard brands, na-
tionally advertised, are in the stock
at Sixth and Taylor, where 17 per-
sons are given employment.
"This is a year around payroll,"
said George Mansur, the store man-
ager.
White's Auto Stores started in
1930 with only one store at Clinton,
Okla. Now there are 13 stores, five
of which are on oi near the Pan-
handle-Flains: Amarillo, Wichita
Falls, Pampa, Borgei and Shamrock.
In offering standard brands na-
tionally advertised, White's Auto
Stores also cater to credit business
on a money-back guarantee.
Young and energetic, Manager
Mansur has been with White's
Auto 8tores for the last two and
one-half years. He came here ns
store manager. Bill Bannister Is
assistant manager; Elmo Gambill
is head of the furniture depart-
ment, which occupies the top floor
of the modernistic building.
"The Amarillo store has been
one of the most successful," say
company officials.
John Rumans, Washburn: "We
live- on beef, potatoes, cabbage and
beans, shipped from Denver to
Pueblo by buckboard."
HARRY MEYERS
The First Fifty Years Might
Have Been a Little Hard .. .
butwatch her "rare and go"
in the next Fifty.
... in the meantime for
"Cleaning as You Like It'
Call the
CLEANERS and DYERS
HARBT MDYFRP. Mer.
S2 YBARS IN AMARILLO
203 W. 16th Street
Phone 8221
1921 -CLOTHING PANHANDLE MEN FOR 17 YEARS-- 1938
Starting as a merchant tailor in a small store building at 5 I 2 Taylor Street, Louis Meyer began making friends
through sale of his now popular "Clothes Tailored to Fit." Growth was rapid and now the firm of Meyer & Meyer
is one of the most popular in the Panhandle-Plains area.
BLACKIE LOVED TO WALLOP THE DOGS of the
community almost as well as he liked hi. beer, which
he begged in his owner's saloon. He also was in-
ordinately fond of bathing in the hotel keeper's barrel
of rain water.
were all there excepl Paul. We
waited some time before he ap-
peared. When he did. he came rid-
ing up with a little black bear in
his arms. He was greatly provoked
at me for not coming to his aid,
for there were two of the cubs,
and he could not capture them
both and defend himself against
the mother. He took the cub to the
Rush Creel; Camp ' headquarters
for the JJ's, and now known as the
Newton Harrell place, i All the boys,
I the manager, Judd Campbell, and
his wife took a special interest in
the little fellow. The boys collected
Congratulations
To the People of Amarillo and Territory
Upon FIFTY YEARS OF PROQRESS
You have developed the cultural side
of community life along with the in-
dustries and business. You arc to be
congratulated for this.
We should all be proud that we have one of the best newspapers In
the United States . . . and the News-Globe has devoted more free
apace to the progress of the city and territory than any other news-
paper in the Southwest in similar position.
A. Eberstadt
Popular Brands Of Merchandise
From the beginning only quality, nationally recognized brands of mer-
chandise were carried. These now include Biltmore Clothes, Wilson
Bros. Furnishings, Jason Shirts, Dalton Hats, Faultless Pajamas and re-
cently added—the well-known Bostonian Shoe.
Tailored - To - Measure Clothes
MADE IN AMARILLO
The quality of individual tailoring that years ago made the store's growth
possible still goes into the making of every one of Louis Meyer's Own
Tailored Suits.
- Our Personnel -
From the beginning the effort of the store has been to secure
only the best of efficient help, capable of giving the kind of
service every customer appreciates so much. Present person-
nel now includes
Louis Meyer
Harold Hite
mm
J. W. Pennock
Bill Dee
Juan Hermandes
Albert Meyer
Max Epstein
i !,
f
LOUIS MEYER
in 1921
Meyer & Meyer
Tailors & Clothiers
5 17 POLK STREET AMARILLO, TEXAS
LOUIS MEYER
in 1938
dla
of
A .1
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Amarillo Sunday News-Globe (Amarillo, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 33, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 14, 1938, newspaper, August 14, 1938; Amarillo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth299921/m1/64/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hutchinson County Library, Borger Branch.