Past Pages for Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014.

140 Years Ago

New Year’s in Carson: The birth of the New Year 1874 was announced by the startling report of pistols, fireworks and bombs ... the bells were rung as if for fire. The day came in ugly. It rained without letting up and the sleety moisture made one’s clothes feel sticky.

130 Years Ago

A Mean Theft: Clem Berry decided to celebrate New Year’s in style and laid in $7.50 worth of provisions, including turkey, liquors, cigars and “side fixings.” When Clem was about town, the larder was despoiled and the provisions all stolen. Clem went out with a club in his hand and blood in his eye hunting for the suspected party. When he finds them, there will be a lively fracas ...

120 Years Ago

A Nervy Tramp: When the freight train from the east arrived in Reno, a man emerged from a car loaded with long horned steers. The man told a Gazette reporter that when trying to secure free passage on the cattle train, one of the railroad boys said he would let him into a cattle car where he could ride as long as he wanted to keep company with the steers. The tramp accepted the offer. He rode the greater part of the 175 miles astride one of the animals, and when he got cold or tired he stood among them where he found it quite warm and comfortable ...

70 Years Ago

Seen, Heard, or Thought: Christmas of 1943 brought to the writer an appreciated present that can prove of value in translating the “slanguage” from armed forces members: Barracks 13 is the guardhouse; “arm bender” is soldier on a drinking party; “big Berthas” means hefty dames; baby food is cereal served to soldiers; battery acid is ink; cat beer means milk ...

50 Years Ago

James Garner: Garner’s record of 1963 discloses three highly successful films ... “The Americanization of Emily,” The Great Escape,” “The Thrill of It All” ...

30 Years Ago

Advertisement: “Stanley’s Restaurant and Lounge — Complete dinners $8.95; businessman lunch special $5.25. Champagne Sunday Brunch, 4239 N. Carson”.

Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.