The Saratoga Sun -

100 Years Ago

November 13, 1919

Warriors In Gay Uniforms

Soldiers of Uncle Sam in Samoa Make Picturesque Appearance On Parade Ground

The Fita-Fitas, or native soldiers of American Samoa, are considered the most picturesque of all the American Army. That country is under the control of the navy department and the naval officers of Pago Pago from the governing body of Tutilla and the five other small islands. The yeomen among the bluejackets are valuable office assistants. The Fita-Fitas are the outside unit. Their duties are municipal as well as military. They act as policemen, and also as guards of honor for the governor on inspection tours.

The fatigue uniform consists of a sort of black kilt with a bright red stripe around the border. Above the waist and below the knees the uniform is of nature’s own. A leather belt, carrying a dagger on the side, holds the kilt, or lava-lava, in place. The dress uniform consists of the fatigue uniforms with the addition of a sleeveless white vest. The pretty, vivacious Samoan belles “fall” for this uniform as readily as their American sister do for the khaki.

The principal features of the Fita-Fita organization is a native brass band, which has mastered music so well that its repertoire includes a wide range of classical and popular airs. It plays on all the boats that stop at the harbor, while the passengers dance. The band also provides music for the dances at the naval station.

75 Years Ago

November 16, 1944

Lawrence Needham Sells 1,750-Acre Ranch On

Cow Creek

Lawrence Needham this week announced the sale of his Platte Valley Hereford Ranch on Cow Creek to H.V. Evans of Saratoga, who plans in the near future to re-enter the ranching business. Needham has owned and operated the ranch for the past 10 years.

The ranch, consisting of 1,750 acres of land, borders the Saratoga-Encampment highway on the west side, and adjoins the former W.J. Horn ranch east of the highway, which was purchased early last spring by Mr. Evans. The ranch, for some years past, devoted to the production of blooded Hereford cattle, contains some 500 acres, in native hay, and is probably one of the more choice lay-outs in this section. It has good water rights, is well-improved, and has a good set of ranch buildings and equipment.

Mr. Needham said yesterday the sale included the ranch only, that he was retaining all of his high grade cattle. He said his plans for the future were as yet indefinite, but that it is most likely he will eventually purchase other property more adapted to the production of registered stock. He said he will give possession of the ranch on March 1.

Mr. Evans said he and his family will reside on the Needham ranch, and that he will operate both ranches as one unit. The former Horn ranch comprises 500 acres, most of which is under cultivation, and until the death a few months ago of Mr. Horn, had been one of the Valley’s outstanding dairy ranches. Since Mr. Evans purchased the property it has been operated by Herman Stoermer. It is said Mr. Stoermer and his family are expecting to move to Colorado within a few weeks, where he will again enter the ranching business.

Mr. Evans has stated that his present plans are to devote the entire property to the production of a good grade of beef cattle and native hay. He and Mrs. Evans formerly resided on the Horn ranch when he was interested with Mr. Horn about the time the Horn Jersey herd was being established here.

50 Years Ago

November 13, 1969

Trampoline Stars To

Appear At School Monday

The Trampoline Stars, Harold Coates and Judy Johnson, will appear at a National School Assemblies program in the Encampment school gym Monday at 1:20 p.m.

The event is open to the public.

The Trampoline Stars are the current national synchronized champions of the trampoline. Mr. Coates has presented his physical fitness program to schools throughout the United States.

Miss Johnson is the current national champion in individual trampoline. She has won 35 regional titles and competed in international competition.

Supt. Donald Woelfle said the act is unforgettable entertainment which includes fun and activity from start to finish.

25 Years Ago

November 16, 1994

A Real Wyoming Fish Story

When Victor Chesna of Laramie pulled a large fish out of Lake Hattie several weeks ago, he realized he had a nice fish.

Chesna had caught large fish before, including a trout that weighed more than 10 pounds, however, and his tackle box scale only listed the 26-inch fish as weighing 8 1/2 pounds, somewhat shy of the 10-pound minimum he had set as being worthy to take to a taxidermist.

Preferring the table quality of smoked fish when they get that large, he gutted the fish, cut the head off and took if to a local market to be smoked.

The problem was that Chesna’s fish was not a trout, but a kokanee salmon, and for the species, fish over eight pounds are as rare as….well, they just don’t get that big, at least not in the lower 48, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. If Chesna’s scale is anywhere near accurate the fish would have bested Wyoming’s record by a whopping 3 1/2 pounds. It would have been the largest kokanee caught in the lower 48 states by more than a pound and a half and would have been less than a pound shy of the world record which was caught six years ago in British Columbia.

The exact weight of the fish will never be known. To qualify as a record, the fish must be weighed on a scale certified for legal trade, and tackle box scales do not fall into that category.

Chesna will still have the new Wyoming record, however, the Game and Fish reported. The market had weighed the headless, filleted carcass at 5.57 pounds, which bested the old Wyoming record by more than a half a pound.