El Paso in the 1920s: Hail breaks up Army dance, it's costly to bury a mule :Trish Long

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Here's a collection of brief articles from the El Paso Times during the 1920s. These short stories give a picture of El Paso during that decade, from Army dances to the cost of a funeral for a mule and a constable challenged to a duel:
March 11, 1920:
The weather god was unkind last night and treated the El Paso army recruiting office roughly, breaking up its street dance in Cleveland Square an hour after the start with a barrage of hail.
The unusual meteorological denouement came after cold winds, rain splashes and chilly temperature had already thinned out the attendance, but the hail, as large as peas, drove not only the last dancer from the street but sent the musicians to cover, breaking off a fox trot in the middle of a very melodious bar.
Colonel Gohn, recreation officer of the southern department, was present with Major King, under whose direction the dance was given, and a number of officers from Fort Bliss and district headquarters.
Although the hail did not last very long it was very effective in permanently ending the festivities, and the musicians of the Seventh and Eighth cavalry and the Eighty-second field artillery adjourned to a soft drink emporium and hoped for better luck next time.
It is probable another dance will be arranged for next week.
March 21, 1922:
A special switchboard in the El Paso telephone exchange manned by an operator who can speak both English and Spanish would result in a material increase in the number of telephone patrons in Juarez, Paulino N. Guerrero, Juarez customs collector, will tell the Chamber of Commerce in making a request today that a suggestion of such improved service be laid before the telephone company.
Under the present system, numbers must be asked for in English. Many Juarez people who want phone service cannot speak English, Mr. Guerrero says.
He will also suggest that Spanish-speaking conductors be placed on the Juarez street cars.
More: El Paso Diablos documentary in the works, share your memories, photos
Oct. 16, 1924:
Dan Cupid and El Paso divorce courts split even yesterday. Five marriage licenses were issued and five petitions for divorce were filed.
Petitions for divorces were filed by the following: Guy Thompson vs. Carmine Thompson; Amelia Landa vs. Ernesto Landa; Jacinto Santos vs. Clara R. Santos; Frank Kantz vs. Tupe Rodriguez Kantz; Eva A. Desmond vs. H.P. Desmond.
Marriage licensees were granted to the following: Gabino Vasquez and Josepfina Lopez; James P. Dod and Mary Carr; Antonio Stuart and Carmen Martinez; Lorenso Perez and Genoveva Martinez; Hartwell L. Alison and Katherine S. Martin.
... Alleging, that his wife, Carmine Thompson, refused to agree with him and that she complained about everything he did, which resulted in his being unable to sleep, Guy Thompson filed suit for divorce in the thirty-fourth district court yesterday.
Thompson further alleges that due to the constant "nagging" of his wife he was unable to sleep, which interfered with his working regularly.
151 men sign up, elect officers, hear speeches and then dance
Feb. 11, 1925:
The first El Paso chapter of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen and Helpers was organized here last night with 151 members.
The applicants were installed as brothers by J.L. Hauswald, local organizer for the A.F. of I. Immediately after the obligations had been taken, William J. Moran assisted in the installation of the officers elected by the new union.
The officers are: president, James W. Sullivan; vice president, Salvador Borrego; secretary and treasurer, Ramon Telles; recording secretary, Jesus Yriarte; conductor, Albert S. Mease; warden, Lorenzo Munos. Trustees elected were: William Dickson (three years), Jack Christie (two years) and Tomas Olivas (one year).
The new organization staged a dance and served a luncheon. Mr. Hauswald explained that the purpose of the new brotherhood is to "give the public better service."
During the luncheon, short addresses were made by W.J. Moran, R.L. Riter, president of the Central Labor union; Pedro Gonzalez, secretary of the executive board of the Juarez local union; Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Christie, Mr. Telles and Mr. Borrego.
In addition to the 151 members, all of whom attended the dance and luncheon, the wives and sweethearts of the men were present.
Nov. 9, 1926:
A mule is worth more dead than a man!
At least, it costs the county more to bury one than it does a human being, county commissioners discovered yesterday.
They authorized payment of $6 to N. Molina for burying a mule and a horse, while the rate for burying a pauper is only $2.25.
Animal burying fees are fixed by the state. The pauper burials are let on competitive bids. This was one reason suggested why it costs more to bury a mule than a man.
Aug. 10, 1929:
J.W. Winebrener, El Paso constable, had a chance to "shoot it out" here yesterday. The constable was challenged to a duel, and the would-be duelist wasn't drunk.
Winebrener arrested Juventia Garcia, 706 S. Kansas street. Garcia's wife said he had been whipping her. Garcia's brother-in-law accompanied the arrested man and the constable to Judge A.J. Wilson's justice of the peace court, where assault charges were filed.
"I'd like to shoot it out with both of you," Garcia told the officer and his brother-in-law.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have an extra gun," Winebrener told Garcia, "and I could hardly let you have mine."
Trish Long may be reached at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 1920s: Hail, phone service in Spanish, Mule burial tales: Trish Long