From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Feb. 15, 1916:

• “The removing of muck from the bottom of the Kansas river in preparation to building a pier for the new bridge commenced today. All through the day the bottom of the river, shoveled loose by eight ‘sand hoggers,’ was sprayed into the open through a tube in the side of the caisson. This was accomplished by means of air pressure. This new form of work to appear in the construction of the bridge has proven a great drawing card and there is some talk of increasing the price of admission. The front seats on the river bank were taken early in the morning and were occupied throughout the entire day…. The men are now working under a pressure of about ten pounds. As the caisson is lowered to a greater depth the pressure is increased. With the increased pressure the men will be worked in shorter shifts. After spending a shift in the caisson under pressure the men are taken to the ‘hogger’s house’ to rest and warm. It is said that upon changing from the heavy pressure to normal conditions the men are liable to become extremely cold and for this reason great care is exercised that they suffer no ill results.”
• “Willis Benson and P. C. Klippel, University students who proved yesterday that there is still red blood coursing through student veins at the University by walking to Kansas City on a wager, didn’t let it stop at that. Once in Kansas City they staged a show that made all Kansas City aware that the K. U. students had hiked to town. On the street Benson and Klippel staged a row, whether real or faked does not appear, and were bundled into a patrol wagon and hurried to the police station. Three of their friends who had accompanied them made up the remainder of a joyride party at the expense of the municipality. The Kansas Citians enjoyed much the sounds of the ‘Rock! Chalk!’ yell issuing from a patrol wagon. At the station the students explained that they had walked in from old K. U. and carried conviction to the flinty heart of the desk man when they turned loose the University yell on him. No charge was booked against them. The cops and everybody else who could get near them gave them the glad hand, and they rode home yesterday afternoon on the cushions…. It was all about a bet made in an idle hour Sunday night. The hikers reached Kansas City in time to win their bet. It was also nominated in the bond that they should get into the papers, and they did that, too, landing with the ‘top head’ articles in all the Kansas City sheets last night.”
• “John Miller was examined this morning in probate court before a medical commission and was found to be of sound mind. Several witnesses appeared in court and testified that the man had acted strangely…. Miller seemed to be laboring under the impression that he was being persistently pursued by a vengeful cat. The doctors decided that he had been over-indulging in alcoholic beverages.”