ON THIS DAY 100 YEARS AGO
Saturday, Oct. 5, 1918. Saratogian editor William L. Lockwood ends a 17-year tenure today to take a position at a New York City bank, the paper reports.
Formerly a legislative correspondent for the Brooklyn Eagle, Lockwood joined The Saratogian in 1901, “when the foundations were just being laid for the newspaper as it exists today” under publisher John K. Walbridge.
“Since 1901 he has guided the destinies of the editorial room with conspicuous ability, and as much as any one factor he has contributed toward bringing to realization the hopes for a bigger, better Saratoga,” a farewell editorial observes.
Lockwood is leaving the newspaper business for a position in “one of the important departments” of the National Bank of Commerce. “His associates … have realized for some time that his abilities must inevitably lead him to seek a larger field,” the editorial continues, “and in this new work he has their heartiest wishes for success.”
Succeeding Lockwood is city editor W. Howard Moody, who joined the paper at the same time as Lockwood. Moody’s first hire, announced today, is reporter Evelyn M. Barrett, formerly of the city’s Democratic paper, the Saratoga Sun. Barrett starts work on Monday, October 7. Flu Epidemic Private William Billings is believed to be “the first Saratogian in a training camp to die from the effects of the epidemic” sweeping the country. Serving in Battery A of the 33rd Field Artillery, Billings passes away today at Camp Meade, Maryland.
The 27 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Billings from out Lake Avenue, Private Billings was a draftee who was sent to Camp Meade last July 23.
Yesterday, wire services reported a total of 175,000 flu cases nationwide. Today, according to rapidly updated numbers, there are 175,000 cases in the state of Massachusetts alone, not counting Boston.
In Schuylerville, the hardest hit part of Saratoga County so far, Dr. W. B. Webster has converted his home into “a hospital where influenza cases may be treated which cannot be cared for at home.” As of yesterday, there were more than 300 cases of so-called Spanish flu in Schuylerville and Victory alone. Local authorities plan to convert vacant buildings into additional hospital facilities for flu victims.
High School Team Beaten in Albany
Despite the epidemic, the 2-0 Saratoga Springs High School football team travels to Ridgefield Park in Albany to face Albany High School this afternoon.
“Albany High presented an offensive that tore apart the defense of the Saratoga eleven,” a Saratogian sportswriter reports after Albany’s 20-0 victory, “It also displayed a defense that was well nigh impregnable.”