H.D. Radeleff

That Bond Case. In 1886, an election was held to decide whether or not the city should construct a system of water works, and issue bonds for the payment of the same. It was decided in the affirmative, and bonds to the amount of $5000 were issued to the Freeport Machine Company who disposed of them to the Freeport German Insurance Company, in whose hands they now are. The bonds, which were for ten years, matured in October of 1894, but owing to the question of their legality which then arose, the council took no action, and the holders of the bonds commenced suit against the town. It was commenced in the Federal Court at Council Bluffs, but, by agreement, was transferred to Des Moines, and will come up at the May term.

The bonds were issued under the following Statute of the code of Iowa: "Loans may be negotiated by any municipal corporation in anticipation of the revenues thereof, but the aggregate amount of such loans shall not exceed the sum of three per cent upon the taxable property". "The foregoing is amended by striking out the word three, and inserting the word five, provided, that the provisions of this act shall not apply to cities having over six thousand inhabitants, or less than one thousand inhabitants, and in all other cases such loans shall not exceed the sum of three per cent on such property."

The state census of 1885 showed Manning to have 954 inhabitants, and the taxable property is said to have been $104,000. If the population was below 1000 in 1884, three per cent on the taxable property would be $3120, the largest amount for which bonds could have been issued legally.
At the present time the case has bean set for trial, and demurrers have been submitted to the court and taken under advisement, while the case is so far from a final disposal that the final decree is too uncertain for one to venture an opinion as to what it will be. Even should the town win the case, yet, it could never point with pride to its pest history end say that we as a corporation have been strictly honest and upright in all of our dealings, for the stigma of refusing to pay a just debt shell remain as long as the town exists. And the town can never join a church and precise hypocrisy to mask its pest end brighten its future.

Christian Church

Law and Order League In 1886, intemperance and disorder became so repugnant to the welfare of the town, that a league bearing the above name, was organized at the G. A. R. hall, August 30th. The object of the league was to lend their influence in reducing the prevailing disorder and intemperance. In this, they were quite successful: as were they, also successful in a more rigid enforcement of the prohibitary law which was in force at that time.

It might have been well had this league continued its good work up till the present time, especially, from '94 to '97, when one of the saloons was turned into gambling den and drugging counter, a sort of a notorious Bender's resort. It appears that the proprietors of this joint stooped so low as to not only permit gambling, but, pocket picking, hold ups, drugging and other crimes which were practiced by foot pads, highwaymen and thieves of the slums. The principal victims seemed to be transients. One old gentleman was enticed into the saloon drugged, and an attempt was made to over power him and take his money by force. This attempt, however, was frustrated. In another instance, a drummer was enticed into the saloon, drugged, relieved of $100, and sent on his way rejoicing, in the buggy of Asmus Boysen, the team being tied to a post in front of the Park Hotel.
They were turned loose and started towards home with the semi-comatose victim for a driver. The carriage capsized a few miles out of town spilling its occupant into the ditch, and parting company with the team left them to complete the journey alone. Manning never has been free from light fingered shoplifters; overcoats, money and jewelry still disappear, occasionally, through the mysterious, magnetic touch of local talent, and oft-times the coarseness and boldness displayed ought to be sufficient ground for at least a reprimand by the peace officers before whom some of these magicians have been summoned to appear, but a return of the property squared the matter, while the culprit was set at liberty to perfect his art.

The writer, by the way, has had a little grievance in this line, to complain of, as have many other victims living in Manning, some of whom, have become so of very recent date. The writers new overcoat, only three days from the store, was apparently spirited away through the ticket window of the Germania Hall, or perhaps through the door, admission, through which, might have been gained by means of a skeleton key. The suspected magicians were seen during the evening, snooping around-places where they were not supposed to have business and it was, only, some one well acquainted with the premises, that could have taken the goods, without being discovered. Numerous other cases could be brought home to one of the same parties. It is too bad that officials get so precarious of their position that they will hesitate to protect the public against such impositions.

Game cocks. In 1892, the sporting spirit of some of our citizens demonstrated itself, when there appeared at the express office, a pair of young game fowl, and shortly after, another pair, and then, still another. The young cocks, for some time after this, were fully occupied in becoming acclimated, and dieting, so that their fighting faculties might be thoroughly developed. Their preparation, after the challenge and the acceptance thereof, was followed by a couple of weeks of thorough scientific training consisting of runs before breakfast, baths, rubbing down, hurdle racing, spur practice, thrusting , dodging, advancing, retreating, posing and saluting and a few hours in the afternoon practicing new maneuvers and studying tactics.
Their breasts, also had to go through a thorough system of development, to harden the skin sufficiently to resist a thurst, of an adversary's spurs. They expanded their lungs and increased their wind by the famous ad most rigid of military tests for heart failure hopping around the yard while taking only one breath. They also, practiced the long deep breath exercise used by great vocalists this was to develop that deep sonorous tone capable of producing great volume and scope which would be necessary in producing a great effect in the crow of triumph.

When the appointed day for the match came, a goodly audience had assembled to witness the combat, each having a choice, and tacked it up with a few duckets. For a time the contest was heated and close. Each combatant did his share towards extracting the feathers of his opponent, and occasionally drawing a little blood. The first few rounds were consumed in maneuvering, passing, posing, saluting and feeling for weak points; but Dwight's hero reserved his strength and by a wall directed thrust, planted his spur in his adversary's ear injuring the drum so that the latter perspired and expired shortly after with the earache.

Among those who indulged in these fowls were: Probert, Lightfoot, Loes, McMurry, Norris, Patton and others whose names we were unable to obtain. Although, there are still a few of these fowl in the town, game fights are a thing of the past.

Grip- The Fighting Dog. In this same year that the craze for the Cock fights took the town, J. A. Mills developed some fine fighting stock in a young Bull Terrier, named Grip. The sire of this famous fighter was Dick, now belonging to D. W. Patton. The mother was also a thoroughbred Bull Terrier named Fannie, and belonged to Mr. Mills. Grip and a full brother of the same age and belonging to Mr. Mills of Manilla were matched and fought a four hours battle, Grip being the victor.
This gained for Grip a reputation, and he was sold soon afterwards, to a party in Council Bluffs, for a large sum of money. Soon after he changed masters, he was matched against a wildcat, and succeeded in killing it in a very short time. He was then matched against the champion lightweight fighter of the United States and again came out victorious. So, now, the sporting element in Manning can boast of having had the champion lightweight fighting dog of the world, for the United States leads them all.

Lewis and Grau Drug Store

The Wolf Chase. In the Manning Monitor, published May 5, 1894, appeared the following article: While the snow was yet a flying, every now and then one could observe a small group of old timers gathered together in some accustomed place discussing a wolf hunt. With each succeeding gathering the desire to start out, grew more intense as Joe Wilson in his own peculiar way, told the boys how easily that band of braves could march out to his pasture and slay this prowler of the prairie.
It took all for noon to get properly clad and armed, but at 1:30 the band was ready for organization. The question of who should act as commander next bobbed up, with a choice between Ed Ives and Col. Sutherland. To settle the matter Henry Hoffmann flipped up an old iron dollar and the Colonel was declared the lucky man.

Headed by Wilson on his charger, the company proceeded to the scene of rattle. The Colonel with rusty sword in hand jumped upon an old wagon, and, after assigning each man to a place, proceeded to give the boys a genuine Kelly talk, which was received with much enthusiasm and shouts "on to the wolf". Every man marched to the place assigned him. Wilson started for the creek, followed by Dr. Williams who had a pocket full of stones. Then came A. T. and Fred Bennett with their guns.
On the east stood the invincible, Fry holding an old army repeater, while a short distance south was stationed Henry Hoffmann. He, too was armed to the teeth. About half a mile north were Ed Ives, Ben Brookfield, Wilson Rugg and Will Heitman. Ed Ives was loaded for thunder bumpers, but not for wolves. Ben Brookfield had an ax, while Rugg and Heitman carried concealed weapons, probably gatling guns. Soon Wilson had his wolf on the run, and immediately gave chase.
The canine started up the hill, but Joe's horse got tangled up in the weeds and thus lost too much time to ever catch up. Fry fired and wounded Mr. Wolf, but as his repeater was loaded with bullets no longer than a thimble, he could not expect the animal to fight the dust. Though Ives was half a mile distant he saw the wolf limp and had it not been for a thunder bumper obstructing his vision would have fired the fatal shot. As it is all of the braves returned home unharmed and will soon file the applications for a pension.