MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1994 NASHVILLE — Violent juvenile crimes appear to be plaguing Memphis at an alarmingly disproportional rate, with Shelby County accounting for half the youth offenders who are tried and convicted as adults in Tennessee. Of 140 people convicted of felonies committed while juveniles in 1993, 75 were in Shelby County, according to research by the Tennessee Sentencing Commission. The next closest county was Davidson, with 18, and no other county had more than four. “It’s the type of crimes...we’re not sending many up here for what you might think of as juvenile-type crimes — joy-riding or shoplifting,” said Don Strother, executive assistant to Dist. Atty. Gen. John Pierotti. “They’re coming up on murders and armed robberies.” 50 years ago — 1969 The City Council, after more than four hours of argument on both sides of the inflamed issue, last night voted 9 to 3 to fluoridate the Memphis public water supply. Totaled up quickly after speeches that swirled through council chambers, the vote left the near-capacity crowd almost stunned. There was no reaction for more than a minute after it became clear the ordinance had enough votes to pass. This was in marked contrast to the heated debate before. “If God wanted fluorides in the water he would have put them in himself,” thundered Memphis attorney Carlton Wilkes, who marshaled anti-fluoridation forces at the session. It was apparent most councilmen had long ago made up their minds on the issue. 75 years ago — 1944 Wrapped warmly in blankets as a protection against the cold wind, the first wounded soldiers to arrive in Memphis by air were unloaded by stretcher bearers at the Fourth Ferrying Group’s base at Municipal Airport yesterday and conveyed to Kennedy General Hospital in waiting ambulances. Returned to the U.S. from the European war zone aboard hospital ships, they were flown to Memphis from an Atlantic port in less than four hours. 100 years ago — 1919 PARIS — Herbert Hoover, director of Allied food relief, has reported that 1.5 billion dollars worth of food must be imported into the liberated countries of Europe between now and July 1 in order to stave off mass starvation. 125 years ago — 1894 CHICAGO — The World’s Fair became a rushing volcano of flames Monday night as 50 million dollars worth of buildings and equipment went up in smoke. It was no doubt the most magnificent yet terrifying spectacle ever witnessed on this side of the Atlantic. The fire was started by two tramps, angry because a guard had refused to let them camp out in the deserted Music Hall. The World’s Fair closed last September.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES Yep, it's a man eater, or at least that lion was at one time, decided Ross Pharr, 9,(Left) of 1483 Harbert, Bryan Piper, 10, of 1897 Peabody and Douglas Mccallum, 9, of 233 Lemaster in January 1952. Like hundreds of others, they use their spare Saturdays to gaze in awe at the Berry Brooks collection of stuffed animals at the Memphis Museum.