THE PAST 100 YEARS

From The Santa Fe New Mexican:

Jan. 21, 1924: An ancient Indian tradition handed down for centuries has been confirmed by John P. Harrington of the Smithsonian Institution, as the result of archaeological explorations near Humboldt Lake, Nevada. He had heard from an old Payute chief a story of how his people, centuries ago, had driven the Saiekare tribe into a cave near the lake and then exterminated them all without mercy. Inquiry, says the Kansas City Star, revealed the existence in the cave of quantities of bones and objects of Indian manufacture, showing that the tribe had died fighting with their belongings piled about them.

Jan. 21, 1949: District Judge David Carmody and Democratic County Chairman A.L. Zinn proposed to a city Democratic convention Wednesday night that the approaching school election be removed from party politics and were soundly voted down.

The politicos didn’t want it that way and proceeded to nominate a pair of candidates to run under the Democratic party label. Last night the Republicans nominated their men and now the party that prevails will elect two to the board that governs the city schools.

Jan. 21, 1974: A 50-pound mountain lion, maddened by hunger or illness, attacked and killed an eight-year-old boy Sunday as he hiked with another youth in the desolate Arroyo Seco area near their home.

Jan. 21, 1999: Gov. Gary Johnson’s proposal for taxpayer-financed vouchers for private education might be gaining some momentum and support, but lawmakers are still skeptical whether his voucher plan will make it past the Legislature.

Johnson said Wednesday that vouchers for low-income students — worth about $2,300 to apply toward tuition for private or parochial schools — would bring the state up from its educational failure.