Arizona Republican Phoenix, Arizona Territory February 9, 1899 Fire and Frost Webster City, Ia., Feb. 8 -- Belmont, a town of over 2,000 inhabitants, in Wright county, is burning, a fire having started at 10:30 a.m. The thermometer is 21 below zero and a strong wind is blowing. Nothing can be done by the firemen to check the flames, as the fire-plugs are frozen up. Many residents are being driven from their homes, some without sufficient clothing to keep them warm. ---------- Cedar Rapids Republican Cedar Rapids, Linn co. Iowa February 9, 1926 Body of Villa Decapitated; Iowa Man Jailed as Suspect El Paso, Tex., Feb. 9 (U.P.) - Accused of opening the grave and decapitating the corpse of Francisco Villa, noted Mexican rebel chieftain Emil Holmdahl *, American soldier of fortune, and Alberto Corral, Mexican, are being held in jail today at Parral, Mexico, according to word received here. Reports said Villa's head was carried about the streets of Parral and then sent to Columbus, N.M. where Villa's band of rebels killed several Americans during a raid in 1916. Holmdahl, whose parents live in Ft. Dodge, Ia., was purchasing agent for Villa at one time and later was decorated for bravery while serving in the American army overseas during the world war. Lieut. Col. A.A. King, retired, who is Holmdahl's partner, in Mexican mining ventures, was making efforts today to secure Homdahl's release and offered telegrams to prove his partner was in Durango the night Villa's grave was said to have been opened. Villa was killed three years ago by former members of his band. [*note: Emil L. Holmdahl was born in Ft. Dodge, Iowa in 1883. He first enlisted in the 61st Iowa Infantry and served in the Philippine Insurrection. Later he joined the adventurer Lee Christmas in Honduras and fought in the Central American "banana wars". In 1926, while Emil Holmdahl was on a "prospecting and hunting trip" to Mexico, he was arrested for desecrating Villa's tomb. Influential friends in the US arranged for his release and he returned to the United States. Emil Holmdahl died on April 4, 1963 in Van Nuys, California.] Pneumonia Claims Iowa State Coach Ames, Feb. 9 -- (U.P.) - Frank R. Willaman, 28, director of intramural athletics at Iowa State college, died at the college hospital here today, a victim of pneumonia. Willaman came to Ames in 1922 as assistant football coach to his brother, S.S. Willaman, who assumed his duties as head coach at the same time. He was a graduate of Ohio State university and during his senior year was named all-American fullback by several prominent sport writers. He was a member of the team, champions of the Big Ten conference, which met the University of California on the Pacific coast. Willaman was taken suddenly ill during the second half of the Drake-Iowa State basketball game in the collseum at Des Moines last Friday night. He was placed in a bus and hurried home under the care of Dr. H.R. McPhee of the college medical staff, but his condition became worse rapidly and late yesterday it bacame apparent that he could not survive. Surviving Willaman are his wife and 4-year-old son. Funeral services will be held here tomorrow and the body returned to Salem, O., for burial. Romance is Fatal to Mexican Youth Ft. Madison, Feb. 9, (U.P.) - Otillie Buiterra, 18, found shot through the heart in the patio of the Mexican village here last night, is believed to have been the victim of a rival in love, and police today are searching for Brigado Erazrra, 20, another Mexican youth. Guiterra's body was found lying in plain sight of the nearest houses of the village. The light of a street lamp revealed the huddled form to a woman in one of those places and she phoned for police in the belief that the man was drunk. The boy died almost on the spot where four months ago he danced with the girls of the village during a fiesta staged with all the color and abandon of old Mexico. County officials believe that a romance originating at the fiesta between the boy and Rosita Aguilera, dark eyed Mexican girl of the village, caused the tragedy, and Erazrra, other of her suitors is being sought. Transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/

Thanks (I think!) for that story about Iowa's claim to fame with the remarkable Emil Holmdahl and his alleged grave robbing. I Googled Emil Holmdahl and from what I found, it appears his life would have made a great movie (and probably has). And after all that he did and survived, he lived to the ripe old age of 80. Wonder if the skull is really in possession of the "Skull and Bones" Society at Yale. I also continue to be amazed at the stories you turn up of early Iowa life. Including the many fires. Thanks again. Jeanne Surber > February 9, 1899 > > Fire and Frost > Webster City, Ia., Feb. 8 -- Belmont, a town of over 2,000 inhabitants, in > Wright county, is burning, a fire having started at 10:30 a.m. The > thermometer is 21 below zero and a strong wind is blowing. Nothing can be > done by the firemen to check the flames, as the fire-plugs are frozen up. > Many residents are being driven from their homes, some without sufficient > clothing to keep them warm. > > ---------- > > Cedar Rapids Republican > Cedar Rapids, Linn co. Iowa > February 9, 1926 > > Body of Villa Decapitated; Iowa Man Jailed as Suspect > El Paso, Tex., Feb. 9 (U.P.) - Accused of opening the grave and > decapitating > the corpse of Francisco Villa, noted Mexican rebel chieftain Emil Holmdahl > *, American soldier of fortune, and Alberto Corral, Mexican, are being > held > in jail today at Parral, Mexico, according to word received here. Reports > said Villa's head was carried about the streets of Parral and then sent to > Columbus, N.M. where Villa's band of rebels killed several Americans > during > a raid in 1916. Holmdahl, whose parents live in Ft. Dodge, Ia., was > purchasing agent for Villa at one time and later was decorated for bravery > while serving in the American army overseas during the world war. Lieut. > Col. A.A. King, retired, who is Holmdahl's partner, in Mexican mining > ventures, was making efforts today to secure Homdahl's release and offered > telegrams to prove his partner was in Durango the night Villa's grave was > said to have been opened. Villa was killed three years ago by former > members of his band. > [*note: Emil L. Holmdahl was born in Ft. Dodge, Iowa in 1883. He first > enlisted in the 61st Iowa Infantry and served in the Philippine > Insurrection. Later he joined the adventurer Lee Christmas in Honduras and > fought in the Central American "banana wars". In 1926, while Emil Holmdahl > was on a "prospecting and hunting trip" to Mexico, he was arrested for > desecrating Villa's tomb. Influential friends in the US arranged for his > release and he returned to the United States. Emil Holmdahl died on April > 4, > 1963 in Van Nuys, California.] >