These are newspaper
clippings that my grandmother Frances Cleveland Kennedy Williams saved about my
grandfather Fred Herman Williams Sr. Unfortunately, she did not date ANY of
them but from searching Dallas City Directories with the help from Jim at the
link below, I was able to put some kind of timeline to the articles.
Any article that mentions
Fred as:
An Ambulance Driver would
have been between 1921 and 1926
A Highland Park Police
Officer would have been between 1927 and 1932
A Deputy Constable would
have been after 1933
He was retired by 1957
If I can get more information from Dallas City Directories, I might be able to make these
dates more accurate
____________________________________________________________________
MADE
OVER 1,000 EMERGENCY RUNS WITHOUT MISHAP
CITY AMBULANCE DRIVER FRED WILLIAMS
Speed laws and traffic
regulations would probably be dispensed with if all motorists were as deft with
the wheel as City Ambulance Driver Fred Williams.
During his past ten months
service with the city, in which time he has driven almost continuously at
breakneck speed, he has maintained a perfect record, answering more than one
thousand emergency calls without mishap.
Williams knows no speed
limit save that of his engine capacity and the only traffic regulations he
observes are those of self-preservation. With his thumb on the horn button and
his toe on the throttle, he races through crowded thoroughfares on his errand
of mercy, often with the Grim Reaper trailing in his wake. The element of
personal risk apparently has no effect upon his speed, if there is another life
at stake.
Williams’ formula for
eluding the accident jinx is a simple one: “Keep your eyes and your mind on the
road.”
AMBULANCE
DRIVER GETS FREE RIDE IN HIS OWN VEHICLE
Fred Williams
city ambulance driver who has rushed countless “poison” patients to the
Emergency Hospital, is in a serious from ptomaine poisoning.
He was sent home in the ambulance under the care of a private
physician.
TURPENTINE
MADE HIM CHANGE MIND ABOUT ENDING LIFE
After gulping a half pint of turpentine at his home last night, Dean
Kunds, 1111 Second av, set up a howl of anguish that brought the neighbors.
They summoned the city ambulance. Driver Fred Williams made a record
run, saving Kund’s life.
After reviving, Kunds was not nearly so anxious to die.
Air
Pressure Breaks Ambulance Windshield, But He Saves Life
Coolness displayed by Fred
Williams, city ambulance driver, probably saved his own and the lives of
several others when the windshield broke while speeding to the Emergency
Hospital with a “poison victim” last night.
The ambulance was making
lively clip when the heavy plate glass gave way under the air pressure.
Williams was showered by flying fragments, one of which cut a severe gash in
his neck. Bits of powdered glass filled his eyes and a large piece struck him
over the head with a dazing effect.
A less experienced driver
might have become flustrated and wrecked the car, as at such speed a slight
swerve would have turned the ambulance over. However, Williams, blinded as he
was managed to hold the vehicle to the road and bring it to the hospital in
time to save a life.
FIRES
TWICE AT PROWLER IN YARD
Royal A. Ferris Jr. fired two shots at a burglar discovered in the rear of the Ferris
residence, 3827 Stratford avenue, Highland Park. Ferris told Highland Park
police that he got up preparatory to taking an early start on a hunting trip
and heard a noise in the rear. He investigated and found a man attempting to
steal a valuable hunting dog. Police said Ferris fired twice at the intruder as
the latter jumped a rear fence.
Highland Park police were notified and policeman Ferguson made
an investigation. Policeman Williams and Holt went to the
residence about 9 o’clock Tuesday morning to obtain a better description of the
prowler. Police are sure the intruder was a negro and intended to pillage the
Ferris residence in addition to taking away the hunting dog.
WOMAN
LAY SUFFERING AFTER FALL
With one of her legs shattered by a fall into an abandoned well, Mrs.
L.A. Bradley, 60, 2313 Flora st, remained more than an hour unattended
while city physicians were trying to decide which one of them would have to
make the call last night.
The aged woman was suffering intense pain and was in need of immediate
attention. But the city docs were reluctant to make a trip in the cold and then
it became apparent that no aid was to be expected of them, Ambulance Driver
Williams summoned a private physician.
Two little grandchildren are dependent on Mrs. Bradley and on their
account she....
DESERTED,
SHE QUAFFS VIAL OF BENZINE
Locking and barricading the doors of her room, Mrs. June Yates,
1802 Elm st, drained a bottle of benzine in an effort to end her domestic woes
late last night.
Had she not failed to extinguish the lights she might have succeeded.
However, a fellow roomer, aroused by the noise of her fall, peered over the
transom and saw her lying on the floor unconscious. The empty bottle was at her
side.
Arrival of the city ambulance probably saved her life. Battering the
door down with his shoulder, Driver Fred Williams hurried her to the Emergency
Hospital, where the stomach tube was applied. Later she was transferred to the
City Hospital, where she is reported improving today.
The girl’s act was prompted by despondency over her husband’s recent
departure, according to fellow roomers.
Mrs. Yates and her husband came to Dallas but a few days ago. She told
a friend last night that she attempted to end her life because of similar
reasons on Christmas Day.
Boy
Escapes from City Hospital; Asks For a Cell at Jail
After making his escape from the city hospital Tuesday evening a
fifteen year old youth appeared at the city jail Tuesday night and asked to be
put in a cell for the night, that he might have a bed.
Fred Williams
patrol driver, recognized the youth as one treated at the emergency hospital several
days ago, and upon investigation learned of the boys escape. He sent the boy
back to the city hospital. The boy, who lives out of town, is suffering from a
wound on the leg.
MILKMAN
IS CUT BY OWN MILK BOTTLES
With his arm nearly severed by broken glass, Ralph C. Lacy,
dairyman, was forced to arouse his customers several hours before daylight to
secure aid today.
He was injured while delivering milk at Cedar Springs – av and
Fairmount – st. Slipping on the sidewalk, he fell with an armload of milk. One
jagged fragment lacerated his left forearm from wrist to elbow, slicing the
arteries.
In response to Lacy’s yelling, his customers notified Fred Williams,
city ambulance driver, at the Emergency Hospital. He carried the injured man to
the City Hospital, where his condition is considered serious.
NINE
– YEAR – OLD BOY IS KNOCKED DOWN BY AUTOMOBILE
Theodore Rengel,
nine-year-old Mexican boy, was seriously injured Monday morning when he was
knocked down by an unknown automobile while crossing McKinney av. The child was
crossing the street with his father, T. Rengel, when he became excited
and darted away from his parent. As the auto struck him he fell to the ground
and the car passed over both of his legs.
A hurry call sent to the Emergency Hospital was answered by Fred
Williams. The boy was taken to Parkland Hospital following treatment at the
City Hall.
Police
Save Women From Burning Hotel
Blinded by smoke and strangled nearly to the point of exhaustion, two
women might have suffocated in a fire which wrecked the American Cafe, 1712 Elm
st., shortly after midnight, but for the plucky efforts of Ambulance Driver Fred
Williams and Policeman McKnight.
Mrs. Carrie Erickson proprietress of the Hamilton Hotel, 1708 ½ Elm st. and a roomer, Miss
Agnes Adams, were asleep in their rooms when the fire started in the
restaurant below. Roused by the clatter of approaching apparatus, they snatched
up what they could in the way of clothing and attempted to escape.
Meantime the blaze was gaining rapid headway, and rooms were heavy with
stifling smoke. Before the women could reach the exit they became
panic-stricken and floundered. Several men attempted to enter from below, but
were quickly downed by the stifling fumes.
Not so Williams and McKnight. Plunging into the murk, they mounted the
stairs, found the exhausted women and carried them to safety. True to fire
tradition, Mrs. Erickson managed to save the cat and was clutching it to her
breast when Williams found her. Mistaking it for an infant he snatched it away
from her, but realized the mistake when the feline scratched.
The interior of the American Cafe was wrecked. Flames evidently started
in the kitchen after the place had been closed for the night. F. Hickman,
proprietor, estimated the damage at several thousand dollars. Adjoining
establishments were damaged by smoke and water.
MAN
MAKES TWO FUTILE ATTEMPTS TO END HIS LIFE
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Was the motto of a
young man who wanted to depart from this life last night. Police officer
Sullivan found the man in the act of taking a dose of poison. The officer took
charge of the bottle and sent him to the City Hall. He was kept there for quite
a while and then told to go ahead home and “forget his troubles.”
“Oh, I’ll wind it up all right,” he said laughingly, as he started out
of the City Hall.
“Well, if you do try again try it on a paved street.” suggested
Ambulance Driver Fred Williams, “so I can get you quick.”
Twenty minutes later a call came that a man had taken poison. He was on
a paved street and Williams soon had him in charge. He was taken to his home
where private physicians said he would recover.
Negro
Convict Steals Horse and Does Paul Revere
The negroes also have their Paul Revere.
They tell about the negro lad who rode nearly 300 miles thru Texas by
mule wagon, horseback and freight train to warn his family of the discomforts
of a state prison farm.
It was on the Ramsey Farm, about 40 miles from Huntsville, last
Christmas Eve, that a Forney negro decided to visit the homefolks.
Hiding in a sugar cane wagon, he waited his chance.
Bill Holmes,
“dog sergeant” of the farm pulled up on his horse and left it tied near the
negro Revere.
Jumping from wagon to horse, the boy galloped to Houston, then by
freight to Dallas.
Thursday evening, Officer Fred Williams of the Highland Park
Police found him hiding in a servant’s house waiting for a fresh horse to
continue his journey.
Bud Russell,
penitentiary agent, will take the negro back to Huntsville by train.
POLICE
THINKING GOOD CAUSE FOR THANKFULNESS
Few Arrests Made and Only One or Two Crimes are Reported
The spirit of Thanksgiving permeates every branch of the police
department and Emergency Hospital today. Here are a few reasons:
The Corporation Court session this morning lasted only fifteen minutes,
by the official timekeeper, Sergeant Harrison. Immediately after order
was called City Prosecutor Murphy began on his docket. Judge Bennett
Hill fined only one person – a $5 fine for reckless driving. There will be
no court this afternoon.
“We beg to report a very quiet night” read the report turned in by Night
Captain Lane of the police this morning.
Detectives had only two cases filed on the “dirty book,” or official
theft recorder, this morning. One was a burglary job at 3106 Hickory street, in
which a watch was stolen. “Thankfulness should prevail at that home that more
was not taken,” Captain Gunning said. The other was the theft of a watch
from Ray Dowling, 2809 Allen.
It seem as if the Emergency Hospital would pass the night without
accident calls or cases of any sort. However, at 6 o’clock this morning, M.
Giuseppe and Joe Muso, 2700 Commerce street, were treated for very
slight bruises about the knees. They were in a motorcycle collision at Murphy
and Elm streets.
Fred Fastings,
day ambulance for the city, has especial reasons for rejoicing. He was relieved
at 11 o’clock by Fred Williams the night driver. Fastings has a family
and Williams hasn’t so the two elongated “Freds” shook hands on the deal.
Bill
Shakespeare “All Wrong;” Police Blotter Reveals Fact That Names Do Mean
Something
Old Bill Shakespeare once said “What’s in a name?”
As a rule, Bill was a reliable sort of fellow, but we are inclined to
think that he missed his guess on that saying.
Perhaps it was because Bill was never thrown among perpetrators of
petty crimes – at any rate, we willingly gamble our coin that Bill never
covered “police” for a newspaper.
For if he had, the police blotter would have revealed some names that
unmistakably have meaning all their own.
Take “Get Back Sally,” the latest name to ornament the blotter at the
local police station. No Sherlock Holmes is needed to dope out the meaning of
that cognomen. If you doubt me, question Fred Williams, the officer who made
the arrest. According to Fred, she can curse fluently in seventy-six different
languages.
Or “Boxcar Jimmy.” One would be quick to see that Jimmy achieved the
front part of his monicker through his ability to ride “side door Pullmans.”
“Turkey Breast” worried us a bit, but from his associates in the
colored resorts it was learned that he was considered a king-pin among the
darker element, and that caused him to strut somewhat, hence the name “Turkey
Breast” was hitched to him.
“Smooth Fingered Sam” need no explanation. His ability to wiggle his
digits around in other people’s pockets without any knowledge on their part,
caused him to select the pet name above.
“Alabama Red” naturally hails from Alabama, and it is not necessary to
state that his hair is tinted with an auburn hue.
“Jakey Jim” is a product of prohibition. When the country was wet, and
Jim could obtain real liquor, we have no doubt but what his name was “Gentleman
John,” or something on that order, but – well, whisky ain’t and one must have a
substitute to go on a spree.
It sadly behooves us to state that “Florida Kid” is mis-named. If
“Florida’s a kid, I’m the goat. As that bewhiskered veteran of crooked deals
sat in his cell, answering questions regarding his alias, he became rather
incensed in the suggestion that the name didn’t fit any longer.
“It once did, didn’t it?” he demanded. S’all right. Florida, let’s
don’t have any hard feelings.
“Black –eyed Susan” is named right – the woman in question was inclined
to be of a darker shade that the average all the way round.
Others less prominent are “Medico Joe”, “Arizona Pete”, and among the
feminine sex, “Lazy Liz”, “Dance-hall Dora” and others.
And yet old Bill says “What’s in a name?”
There are no millionaire poets.
Gossips have no use for people who refuse to furnish material for them.
LOST
IN SNOW AND EXPOSED FOR 24 HOURS, DALLAS HUNTER MAY DIE
Suffering the pains of death as he expressed it “a thousand times an
hour” for almost 24 hours, J.W. Gilson, 1728 South Austin street,
painter and paper hanger, lay in the snow and ice three miles north of Letot
from early Monday night until lat Tuesday afternoon.
Although conscious he was almost dead when found by hunters Tuesday
afternoon. His feed and legs were frozen until they were black from the toes
almost to the knees. At the city hospital, where he was taken by Ambulance Driver
Fred Williams, it was said early Wednesday that both feet would have to be
amputated.
Gilson went hunting alone Monday afternoon. Just how he came to be near
Letot no one seems to know. When taken to the hospital he said he had become
lost in the river bottoms and did not know just what happened.
“I remembered going around in a circle.” he told Williams, “and I
realized it, but I did not know what to do. I don’t remember just what happened
after I fell. It seemed as if I was asleep part of the time. Maybe I was
unconscious. I knew when I fell that I couldn’t get up, so I reserved my
strength in the hope that someone wound find me.”
Williams said Gilson’s hands and ears also appeared to be frost bitten
and that there was a chance that he would not recover. In all probability he
would have died if the hunters had not found him when they did. Physicians say
he could not have withstood the extreme cold another hour. He was completely
exhausted from lack of food and water and his condition remains serious. The
amputation may result in his death.
Gilson was partially covered with snow when found and that fact might
have helped save his life. The thermometer registered 5 degrees Tuesday morning
and it is considered remarkable that he survived.
TELEPHONE
OPERATOR SAVES TWO LIVES; HEARD CALLS FOR HELP
Her identity has not been established but a young lady telephone
operator at the Automatic exchange saved two lives by her prompt work at 3:30
o’clock Sunday morning when she noticed peculiar signals of the switchboard.
She listened for a moment and heard feeble calls for help. She knew that it had
been intended by the person who was calling for help to get the emergency
hospital so she rang that place.
“Rush to 1603 Ross avenue,” she told Ambulance Driver Fred Williams. In
a few seconds the big ambulance was on the way and within five minutes Williams
had broken open the door to a room in the house occupied by Mr. and Mrs.,
H.L. Frazier. They were unconscious and gas fumes almost strangled Williams
as he pulled both Mr. and Mrs. Frazier out and placed them in the ambulance.
Frazier and his wife were taken to the emergency hospital where Dr.
Bunkley was waiting with the necessary medicines prepared. A half hour
later the man and his wife were conscious, but very ill from the effects of the
gas. They were taken to their home.
Frazier explained that when he and his wife retired Saturday night the
gas pressure was very weak and they left the gas burning in order to keep warm.
When the pressure became normal again at midnight Saturday the small hose
attached to the stove became disconnected and the room soon filled with gas.
Mrs. Frazier awakened, and realizing that something must be done quickly, she
rushed to the telephone and tried to get connection with someone. The operator
at the exchange knew that something was wrong and she completed the connection
by telling Williams to rush to the home.
June 19 – I have just started this project. There are many more articles to come and when I am finished, I will have an index to the many names in the articles.
Jim Wheat’s
Dallas County Archives