From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Aug. 1, 1912:

• “Leaving an open sewer on Massachusetts street unguarded last night came near resulting in a fatal accident. Those who saw the incident are yet unable to explain how the most serious results were averted. Mrs. C. B. Wilson the victim of the accident was thrown from an auto that ran into the opening and fell head foremost to the bottom of the ditch. Her escape seems almost miraculous but she is but slightly injured as a result of the fall. She is suffering from a few scratches and bruises but her injuries are all of minor nature. The accident occurred shortly before 8:30 yesterday evening at the intersection of Massachusetts and Warren streets. The construction company is putting in a new sewer on Warren street and at present Massachusetts street is torn up at this corner and a large ditch has been opened almost the entire width of the street. Only a small space next to the car tracks remains covered and usable. The sewer has been opened beneath the car tracks. Last night Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were coming in from Haskell in their little Brush car. They did not know that the sewer was opened between the car tracks and seeing a street car cross the tracks Mr. Wilson steered his car in behind the street car. Before he knew what had happened the auto lurched forward and the front wheels dropped down into the hole…. The car suffered considerable from the drop into the ditch. The radiator was stove in and leaked badly, both front lights were smashed and the front axle of the machine was broken. The car was taken to a a garage for repairs while Mrs. Wilson was taken home. There was no watchman at the place whatsoever. Lights and boards had been put up to guard the open sections of the street but that part between the car tracks was left unguarded. It was necessary that it be free from obstructions in order that the street cars might pass, but a watchman would have warned the driver and the accident would not have occurred.”
• “July 1912 was a month somewhat warmer than the average according to the official weather statistician of the University. During this month there were 14 days which were recorded as ‘hot’ days. In the language of the weather man a ‘hot’ day is one on which the mercury rises above 90 degrees. The hottest day of the month shows a temperature of 97 degrees, while the mean temperature for the month was 79.37 degrees.”