From the Evening News, March 23, 1904: A well-known American cotton planter, Mr John Wilson of Mississippi, left Liverpool today with negroes for West Africa, to start cotton growing in that country.

They are proceeding to Sierra Leone and are hopeful of securing an allotment of land from the Governor. Mr Wilson has great hopes of cotton growing in Africa and states that he is in a position to take over from America hundreds of negroes to take up cotton cultivation.

TWO Frenchmen, most dangerous Anarchists, were arrested in Liege today in connection with two recent bomb outrages. Both confessed and said they wished to avenge comrades expelled from Belgium. A third man with whom prisoners lodged, and where bombs were made, was also arrested.

From the Evening News, March 23, 1954: BOLTON Chamber of Trade decided to make representations to the national chamber about a serious shortage of shillings. One member said that in the Great Lever district there were people who were prepared to pay as much as 1s 6d for a shilling. Another shopkeeper said he was roused at 6am by people asking for a shilling "so that they could get the gas to cook their breakfasts."

A circus trainer, 29-years-old Leonard Mickley of Kettering, was attacked and mauled by a six-years-old bear as he entered its cage at Leicester's Palace Theatre last night. He was detained in Leicester Royal Infirmary with injuries to the left leg. Today the bear was placid and rehearsed with its trainer, Capt Simson, who had his left ear bitten off by the same animal some time ago.

From the Evening News, March 23, 1979: GREATER Manchester Transport's £3 million bus garage complex at Crook Street, Bolton was opened by County Councillor Walter Walsh, chairman of Greater Manchester Council. When completed the garage will accommodate a fleet of about 250 buses in a 23 acre covered area the size of two football pitches. The new building is a civil engineering curiosity because of the ingenious roof structure provided by the local firm of Robert Watson and Co, constructional engineers.

OIL rich Arabs are coming to Bolton for private operations because they do not like being "robbed" by London doctors, a local consultant claimed today. Mr Peter Anderson, an ear, nose and throat specialist, said wealthy Arabs were apparently being charged five or six times the going domestic rate for private treatment in London.

From the Evening News, March 23, 1994: MADCAP American James Miller was arrested as he arrived in Las Vegas after being deported from Britain. He propelled his fan-driven flying machine into the ring at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas during a heavyweight boxing clash between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe and did not turn up for his court appearance. It was confirmed in February that Miller, who later landed half-naked on the roof of Buckingham Palace, was the same man who brought Wanderers' FA Cup thriller against Arsenal to a halt when he flew low over Burnden Park.

LONE women shoppers are falling prey to a purse-snatcher who befriends them in Bolton supermarkets and offers them a lift home. The thief - dubbed "Check-out Charlie" - poses as a Good Samaritan before tricking his way into women's homes to steal money.