A rumor was current last week that Harold "Buster" Spillman had taken unto himself a wife . A number of the little fellows around town gathered an assortment of instruments, consisting of a variety of pots and pans. They serenaded the susposed groom in a real old-fashion way. Although the concert was premature, Buster treated the musicians to candy and they dispersed content.

The custom of charivaris has almost disappeared from the scene today. It progressed (or degenerated) to the practice of giving buggy rides to the bride and groom. Their car-drawn vehicle was followed by a caravan of well-wishers all tooting their horns. I suspect that most newly-married couples shed few tears over the demise of the chivaree.

Applicants for Ossian's postmastership this year were: incumbent John McManus, Everett McManus, Miss Henrietta Aanas, Otto Anderson, Henry Mayer and G. S. Dewey. Mr. Anderson received the appointment.

The Leo Barthelme farm home was burglarized by a newly-hired hand while the family was attending Mass on Sunday morning. The thief, Herbert Stienz, stole a strongbox containing four gold rings—one with an opal setting circled by diamonds.

Marshal Grimstad formed a posse of Ossian men. They tracked Stienz to the Herman Gipp farm where he had unsuccessfully attempted to sell a stolen rifle. The trail continued across the fields to Roy Kneeskern's home. There the fugitive had been granted food and shelter. The posse found him asleep in Kneeskern's bed.

The thief was arraigned before Mayor Allen and transferred to the county jail at Decorah to await the convening of the grand jury.

Frank J. Bushman died of injuries suffered when he was severely burned while pouring kerosene on a smoldering fire in his kitchen range. The can exploded, showering Frank with flaming oil. Mrs. Bushman was burned about the arms when she attempted to aid her husband. The deceased was a member of the Bullard Bros. company.

The Spillman drug store was entered and jewelry valued at $300 stolen. Marshal Grimstad called for the bloodhounds from Waterloo. The dogs followed the same trail five times to the home of a respected Ossian resident. This citizen demanded that his property be searched so that his name remain untarnished. No contraband was discovered. The Bee considers this prominent person to be beyond suspicion.

The oil derrick, ordered by the Decorah Pioneer Oil and Gas Go., has arrived and is in place on the Bakke farm. This structure stands 84' high, contains over 40,000 feet of lumber. It can be seen for many miles.

Many Ossian residents invested in this unsuccessful venture. It was the first oil well ever drilled in Iowa. Oil was found in October of 1922, but in too small an amount for profitable production.

The well reached a depth of 3300 feet before drilling was discontinued. A group of disgruntled stockholders, suspicious that they had been charged for too much footage, gathered at the site in 1924. They dropped a measuring weight in the abandoned Buole and found that 3037 feet of twine was played out before reaching bottom. In 1926, a large charge of dynamite was exploded in the bore at a depth of I665 feet, but no oil was released.

1922

G. R. Nicholson purchased the interest of the Bullard brothers and became sole owner of their implement business. He advertised the Internation Harvester line of machinery with Titan tractors at $700; 8—16 size at $670, with a free two furrow plow.

The town's banks were the largest taxpayers in 1922: Ossian State—$1108.12; Citizens State--$899-60. Anderson & Klein and Frudden Lumber Go. were assessed the highest tax among business firms-—each paid $457.20. W. E. Cornell was the largest tax-paying individual in Ossian with an assessment of $335.07 and Theo. Scheidel paid the most in the township—$644.23.