25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, June 1, 1976

MORE than 250 people were waiting outside Bolton Town Hall today, on the day council mortgages are handed out. The queue of would-be home owners was headed by a 65-years-old man who had been waiting art the doors since 10.45 last night. The council has a limited amount of money for mortgages. Applications are considered on the first day of each month.

A HORWICH couple were still counting the cost today of the freak lightning strike on their Sandringham Avenue home. Mr Philip Simpson, aged 28, and his wife Irene, 27, had a "miracle escape" when they were thrown to the ground outside the back door of their semi-detached house on Sunday. The house was badly damaged.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 1, 2001

STANDARDS of morality in Britain are declining in theatre, cinema and literature, says the annual report of the Public Morality Council.

It says that the "exploitation of nudity in review has now reached such proportions that it is openly advertised as the chief feature of many of these entertainments."

On plays, it comments: "In certain plays we see sexual depravity condoned, and American sailors leering through a telescope at a woman taking a shower. We see constancy in marriage jeered at and religion ridiculed."

"Some magazines," it comments, "purporting to be American, having the price in cents on the cover, but printed in this country, 'outstripped in vulgarity and indecency anything previously seen of this kind'."

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 1, 1876

A DUEL of an extraordinary character has taken place at Lancaster. A young gentleman preparing for the medical profession, feeling insulted from something said by another young gentleman connected with a public school, challenged him to exchange shots in a duel.

The challenge was accepted, and Lancaster Moor was selected as the scene of combat. A pair of pistols were purchased, and all the usual preparations made. At the appointed time the combatants, accompanied by their seconds and friends, appeared upon the spot. After the ground had been duly measured, handkerchiefs were dropped, and the duellists took up their respective positions. At a given signal both fired, and at the same moment (by a well concerted arrangement known to all but the challenger) the challenged gave one swing round, and fell to the ground as if mortally wounded.

His supporters instantly flocked round him, and busied themselves in rendering friendly offices. Thinking probably that his victim was in a dying condition, the medical student became greatly alarmed, and in his extremity rushed off in the direction of the canal, a short distance off.

Apprehensive as to his intentions, his friends quickly followed, and overtook him before he reached the water. They eventually prevailed upon him to return, assuring him that, although his victim was badly injured, there was no danger of death, and they produced a battered bullet and a coat button as evidence of the mischief he had done.

He was told, however, that if he would apologise for his conduct, he would be freely forgiven. This he gladly undertook to do, and the apparently wounded young gentleman soon came round, and appeared as well as ever.

The thought eventually occurred to the challenger that there was some mystery about the proceedings. It then oozed out that he had been ingloriously hoaxed, and that instead of loading his pistol with bullets, as he had supposed, the seconds had purposely rendered the weapon harmless.

So cleverly was the whole affair managed, that it had all the appearance of reality; but it is scarcely necessary to say that the challenger felt greatly relieved upon ascertaining how he had been deceived, and that no harm came of the combat.