This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 22 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
San Antonio Light
Location
San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
Date
Jan 01, 1940
Page
1
A garbled report recalls a violent event with gunfire and a house fire. References to a ranger group, a victim named Nichols, a person named Horton, and a wood fire after an explosion are mixed with broken sentences. The text mentions a camel and a yard, a brother seeking aid, and fatalities, but specifics are unclear due to damage.
W Chapman followed fire engines to his home on Kayton street and helped confirm a fire caused by a defective chimney. He had noticed smoke earlier but did not investigate. The chimney blaze caused about $100 damage. Separately a cigarette sparked a fire at M Bussy’s residence at 8 Fourth Street rear causing light damage, and a shed at M Katamblo's at 128 Moris da street sustained minor fire damage.
In Hartford Conn Harold L Ickes secretary of the interior was named national grouch of the year by the Grouch Club of America honoring his wit and humor. George Borand Shaw led the committee which selected the year's top “grouch” with pivotal influence on the group’s national standings and awards.
London reports the British steamer Box H1 of 5077 tons sank in the North Sea after an explosion. Believed loss of 20 crew members. Also noting theft of seven Lew windows from a Helotes house under construction reported to the sheriff.
San Antonio and Bexar county welcomed New Year without a violent death the quietest year end in years. Fireworks sparked downtown chaos but no casualties as police reported a calm celebration. Jails reported few admissions and hospitals treated minor burns from firecrackers while residents kept the holiday peaceful despite scattered bursts after sundown.
Colder air moves toward San Antonio Monday bringing frost risk and a sharp dip from weekend readings. Northerly winds and partly cloudy skies forecast with a low around 44 and a high near 62, then 54 expected Tuesday as the cold front settles in.
Slatton of San Antonio was sworn in today as a member of the Supreme Court Commission of Appeals, succeeding A B Martin of Amarillo who resigned. The oath was administered by Chief Justice C M Garrett. Slatton's former San Antonio Civil Appeals court colleagues Edward W Smith and W C Murray participated. Mayor Maury May and a large San Antonio delegation attended the ceremony.
Marc John Webb, 57, a former jockey serving a life term for murder at Lebanon Ohio honor camp, surrendered in San Diego after leaving the Tart to visit a seriously ill daughter. He had escaped October 9 from the Lebanon camp, according to Sheriff Cap Toohey.
Walter Summercamp aged 91 was fatally shot before a New Year’s party in Westville. Charles Cohbi Jr aged 21 admitted firing the pistol while toying with it thinking it unloaded. Prosecutor Lynwood Lard said Cohbi is held on homicide charges pending bail.
Police hunted a group of men who beat labor organizer John Wale Rave, 32, of Kingston, North Carolina, and stabbed him in the Hotel Commodore lobby. His wife was knocked unconscious and treated by a physician while Rave was listed in satisfactory condition at a hospital.
41 below zero Fahrenheit marked New Year on Finland's Arctic front near Kirkenes. Weather frozen conditions were noted as the era began, with little combat expected as 1940 opened.
Montevideo January 1 German freighter Teoma faday was interned by Uruguay after a 24 hour ultimatum demanding departure from the neutral port. The 68-ton Raleigh line ship Tacoma, tied near the harbor, was also interned with Uruguayan marines aboard. Captain Know signed the internment certificate. crew fate to be decided.
The National Bank of Communal Farm Credit director Julian Rodriguez Adamo announced that 1939 harvests have a value of 120 million pesos and meet the nation's food requirements. He noted 350,000 peasants who received bank credits fared well this fall and winter wheat and cereals are expected to boost supplies.
OSLO Jat 1-(INS) reports the Norwegian freighter Lama salik, 959 tons, struck a mine in the North Sea near Hagnesund and sank off the Norwegian coast. Luna's crew were rescued by the Norwegian steamer Columbia and brought to Komen for treatment.
Vice President and Mrs. Garner slipped quietly into Washington to attend the opening of Congress. They were met by Senate secretary Edwin Hainey at the Capitol many details noted in dispatches.
Detroit reports Patricia Donnelly has been chosen Miss America of 1098 and plans to marry Frank Beneford, a fullback from the University of Alabama. The story notes the engagement and the athletic context, with scattered garbled details about wartime and naval events.
Finnish patrols reported destroying a Russian infantry division of 16,000 as remnants scattered toward Juntusranta after a two day battle near Suomussalmi. The enemy losses ran into thousands with air raids across Isvakyla and Helsinki, while civilians suffered in bombings.
A rear end collision near Arcola Alabama involving two passenger trains, the Panama Limited and Mo 4, left one dead and at least 12 hospitalized. Victim identified as Thomas Tallmadge of Chicago. Sister Abbey Tallmadge survived shock but unharmed. Passengers largely asleep when the impact occurred at dawn, engin e er and firemen also injured.
Santa Rosa newspaper notes the first 1940 baby born at 12 04 a.m. to Mrs. T. J. Brown of 619 West Ridgewood Court. Brown Jr. weighed 4 pounds 3 ounces at birth.
A holiday celebrator in San Antonio fired a gun to welcome the New Year and struck store operator George White, who was wounded in the arm when a bullet shattered a window on East Crockett Street. White was treated at Robert B. Gren hospital for a flesh wound and believed holiday spirits caused the accident.
British forces repulsed a raid on the Shetlands with reports of fighter and bomber activity over the Nord Sea. The article notes a film couple Louis Armstrong and Louise Armitrong wedding plans and a U S pilot killed in the engagement, with German planes shot down and surrounding air battles.
Helsinki reports a victory on the eastern front and says a Russian army division is for the most part destroyed. Montevideo notes a German merchant ship Tacoma serving as an auxiliary to the Graf Spee. Shanghai reports a Japanese rail line attack on French Indochina with two Chinese planes shot down. Berlin says German forces repulsed an air attempt to reach the coast.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.