100 Years Ago

From the East Oregonian

Dec. 6, 1908

How would you like to be seized from behind by a real live lion, and though losing the seat of your trousers (not to mention the unmentionables) escape with your life ? uninjured. Chester Beam?s little affair with the lion occurred at the New Oregon theater, where the Barnes Animal circus is playing. The lion in the affair was Nero, the animal who rides on the pony Denver in the last act of the show. The boy was not trying to play Daniel in the lion?s den, but was receiving certain instructions from Manager Mitchell of the theater by whom he was employed. Incidentally he was standing directly in front of Nero?s cage. The boy had absolutely no warning before he was caught from behind and jerked up against the animal?s cage with a sudden force that knocked most of the breath from his body. Nero had caught the boy from behind in the claws of one powerful foot, jerked the boy back with such force that it tore his clothing off. Manager Barnes of the circus immediately secured a pair of trousers for the boy and sent him home happy over the escape. Oddly enough, although the youngster?s trousers and underwear were torn out, the cat?s claws did not give him the slightest scratch.

50 Years Ago

From the East Oregonian

Dec. 6, 1958

Nearly 100 were on hand here this morning as the fifth Blue Mountain area Teen-Age Safety Conference got under way at the Presbyterian Church. The conference, sponsored by the Oregon Highway Life Savers Committee, Umatilla County Chapter and Umatilla County Assn. of Insurance Agents, drew students from Pendleton, Hermiston, Walla Walla, Heppner, Lexington, Stanfield, Helix, Milton-Freewater, St. Joseph?s of Pendleton. Echo, Boardman, Umatilla, Pilot Rock and Athena. Highlighting morning activity was a panel discussion moderated by Ann Crago. Taking part were students Donna Forrey of Stanfield, Bob Lawrence of Umatilla, Don Metz of Pilot Rock and Doug Graham of Pendleton. Sectional meetings held during the day dealt with driver education, driver licensing, law enforcement and courts. From the all-day meeting were to come recommendations that could, as twice has happened, lead to the passage of new laws by the state Legislature.

25 Years Ago

From the East Oregonian

Dec. 6, 1983

Two Pendleton men are in custody today following an armed hold-up at an all-night service station Monday night, thwarted when an attendant scuffled with robbers before they fled without any money. Held in the county jail on $10,000 bail for first degree robbery are Kregg William Kinder, 20, and Robert Michael Gordon, 19, both of Pendleton. According to owner Quinton Herd, attendant Pat White refused to give the men money when they entered the station at 10:20 p.m. Bea Herd, Quinton?s wife, said White saw the two men wearing ski masks and at first believed it was a joke. When White saw one man with a gun, described by police as a Colt revolver, White grabbed the man. The pair crashed through a window joining the office and the garage bays. White went through the window too, suffering cuts to his head. The scuffling men fell to the floor, Mrs. Herd said, and the second suspect threw a heavy map dispenser to the ground, apparently at White. The two men fled without money, and White gave chase south on Southwest 13th. Keith Moon, on duty at the nearby Sunshine Mini Mart at 13th and Emigrant, joined the chase. White called the police. Kinder was caught at 15th and Emigrant. Gordon eluded police, but was apprehended four days later at the Travelodge on Dorion Avenue.