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Editor’s Note: These snippets of Civil War news from the Press-Register of 1861 were published in the 1911 newspapers to mark the 50th anniversary of the conflict. The 1861 newspapers no longer exist in local library archives.The remaining history items came from the original Press-Register reports.

• “On May 25, 1861, a detachment of Company B, of the Gulf City Guards, were sent down the bay, seized and took possession of the ship Danube with North American registry. The captain hauled down his colors, and the Confederate flag was hoisted by the Mobile foot marines.”

• “The Mobile Advertiser announces the death of Colonel S.M. Phillips, of the Tenth Mississippi Regiment at Pensacola, Fla., on May 24, from typhoid pneumonia.”

Thursday, May 25, 1911:

• “With the work of the sub-committees practically completed, business buildings and many of the homes of the city draped in colors of the five flags which have floated over Mobile, arches hung with electric lights and the bands stand a brilliant spot of color in Bienville Square. … On every incoming train, the celebration of the Bi-Centennial of the founding of Mobile by the French under Iberville and Bienville in 1711 begins to-day.”

• “An alligator gar measuring five and one-half feet in length and weighing in the neighborhood of 100 pounds was caught off the Monroe Park wharf Wednesday afternoon by Messrs. Louis Deible and Edward McGrath.”

• “Messrs. Louis H. Piper and R.G. Britt, prominent and wealthy manufacturers of Indianapolis, Ind., have purchased a tract of 1,000 acres of tobacco lands in Baldwin county from the Alabama Sumatra and Havana Tobacco Land Co., the deal involving over $100,000, being consummated Tuesday. This announcement was made by President T.P. Ham, of the land company, directly following the noonday luncheon of the Mobile Progressive Association at the Battle House Wednesday and it was further announced that Messrs. Piper and Britt would expend over $50,000 in developing this valuable property.”

Monday, May 25, 1936:

• “TUSKEGEE, Ala., — The ‘Brown Condor’ of Ethiopia’s air corps, John Robinson, will come to Tuskegee Institute, world’s largest institution of higher learning for negroes, as an aviation instructor in the college auto mechanics’ division.

• “Dr. F.D. Patterson, Tuskegee president, made the announcement today as Chicago’s big South Side negro district planned a hero’s welcome for the aviator upon his return tomorrow from 13 months as the spearhead of Emperor Haile Selassie’s air corps.”

• “A rose with half of its petals pink and the other half red was proudly displayed Sunday by Capt. R.A. Williams of the Mobile fire department.”

• “The Shakespeare Club became so interested in India after studying the play, ‘Clive of India’ that it sought an invitation from Roderick MacKenzie to visit his studios to see his pictures painted in India.”

Thursday, May 25, 1961:

• “ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Rev. Herschell H. Hobbs of Oklahoma City was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention Wednesday and called communism ‘The most serious since Jesus Christ walked this earth. …’

“Dr. Hobbs was pastor of the Dauphin Way Baptist Church at Mobile from 1945 to 1949, when he resigned the local pastorate to accept a call to the first Baptist Church of Oklahoma City where he is now pastor.” 

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These excerpts from past editions of the Press-Register were compiled by Cammie East Cowan.

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