Nebraska Newspapers

    You Should Hear the Allied War Veterans' Band at the Imperial, April 21st
The Alliang
RALD
Eight
Pages
Local
Edition
v
'THE MINT MAKES MONEY WITHOUT ADVERTISING; NO ONE ELSE CAN." Printer Ink.
t
VOLUME XXVI.
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1919
NUMBER lf
m OF ffl
V
VK
E MURDERERS
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TORNADO SWtcPS
SEVERAL STATES
KILLING SCORES
TEXAS, OKLAHOMA AND ARKAN
SAS HIT MY DESTRUCTIVE
WIND STORM
Many Towns Wiped Out and Com
munication Made Impossible
Extent Damage Unknown
THE HARPER STORE ENJOYS
HEALTHY BUSINESS INCREASE
(By International Service)
Dallas. April 10. The latest fig
"nres available today placed the total
c number of killed by . the tornado
.-which swept north Texas, southern
, Oklahoma and Arkansas late yester
day afternoon, as one hundred and
sixty-seven. Telephone and tele
graph lines are paralysed and de
tails are unknown as many points in
the three states are entirely cut off
from the outside world. Reports
state that several towns In southern
Oklahoma have been entirely wiped
out. The path of the storm in' this
section is said to have been two
miles in width and extended through
two entire counties in such enor
mity. Atchison, Kansas, reports
snow drifts to the west of the city
and on the Central branch of the
Missouri Pacific railroad eight feet
deep and covering a territory for
many miles. Passenger trains and
now plows are tied up In the worst
April blizzard in the history 01 me
branch, which was built thirty years
ago.
The storm came up from the Rio
' Grande valley with a high wind and
heavy rain, gaining force until K tore
thru the northern tier of Texas coun
ties with the destructlveness of a tor
nado. -
The little cotton town of Canaan
was wiped out. Its cotton gin,
church, school and cotton warehouse
containing much of last year's crop
of the nearby farmers, and its six
v teen houses were all swept to the
ground.
At Mlneola the storm struck with
severity. Three whKe women and
eleht negroes were killed and many
ethers received such serious injuries
that their deaths are expected.
Much damage was done ' to the
prospective fruit crops In many sec
tions, according to reports.
Telephone and telegraph wires
were put out of service and it was
until today that full reports of
the extent of the storm began reach
inx the outside world.
Shaw B. Ray. postmaster at
Winnsboro. was authority for the
statement of fifteen deaths in thai
community. Soon after noon he suc
ceeded in establishing telephone
communication with Greenville and
asked that help be sent them. Six
miles east of there, he said, fifteen
houses had been blown away and
four persons killed.
LOSS OF CATTLE WAS
LIGHT IN BLIZZARD
Ranchmen Joyful Over Fact Ttiat
Cattle Did Not Drift Much
Before Blinding Snow
In these days of uncertain condi
tions few large mercantile establish
ments can boast of an increasing
business and among that few Is tho
big W. R. Harper store of Alliance.
Already the business done in the
spring lines by this popular house
far exceeds that of other seasons ana
the demand is still on the increase.
In justification of this Mr. Harper,
the proprietor, says that he was ex
ceptionally fortunate In being able
to get a good supply of the very lat
est goods and that the buying public
has been quick to appreciate the se
lection afforded and the rare quality
of the goods offered. Mr. Harper is
probably the largest user of adver
tising mediums In this section of the
state and that it gets the business Is
attested by this remarkable showing.
BURLINGTON STOCK YARDS THE SCENE OP MOST BRUTAL
KILLING IN HISTORY OF CITY, TUESDAY
NIGHT SLAYERS ESCAPE
ALLIANCE lilRLS LOSE
GAME AT SCOTTSBLUFF
Teams Well Matched and Game Was
Hard Fought Return Game
Here Friday Night
In a hard fought and splendidly
played game of basketball at Scotts-
bluff last' evening the Alliance bign
school girls lost to their worthy op
ponent by a score of 14 to 10. The
Scottsbluft team is regarded as one
of the strongest In western Nebraska
and had the advantage of playing on
home ground.
Although defeated In the first
game with the Bluffs the local team
has great confidence that the Friday
evening encounter at the high school
gymnasium will result In victory for
Alliance. Those Interested in nign
school athletics and especially bas
ketball are assured a good exhibi
tion. The airls will appreciate the
support of their friends. ...,., ,
BOYS WORKING RESERVE
FILL BIG LABOR GAP
Fanners Find Help m Supplied Re
lleves Shortage and Proves
Mutually Satisfactory
ROBBERY BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN MOTIVE
i
Body Is Thrown on Railroad Tracks and Found After Switch Engine
Had Passed Over ItSeveral persons suspected or Possess
ing Information Are Being Held by Officers
The most atrocious crime in the history of Alliance was commit
ted Tuesday night when Charles F. Johnson, manager of the John J.
Qrier commissary and lunch room in this city, was murdered at the
Burlington stockyards and his body thrown on the tracks to be man
gled by switching trains. Discovery of the horrible crime, which it
is believed was committed about nine o'clock, was made when the
switch engine passed over the body more than an hour after the life
had been taken in the most brutal manner imaginable, by a blow over
the head from an axe. Robbery is believed to have been the motivs
for the horrible deed. w "
Reports reaching The Herald from
over the ranch country Indicate that
the cattle losses from the blizzard
which raged Sunday and Monday will
be very light, as compared with the
enormous losses suffered in April,
1913. at which time some ran up to
130.000 In the case of one ranch.
Ranchmen report the losses this
week at from three to thirty head.
Because of the fact that some of the
long phone lines are down, It Is im
possible to reach outlying ranches
which may have Buffered greater
losses from cattle drifting into lakes,
but this Is very doubtful.
The comparatively warm tempera
ture during the storm was responsi
ble for the lack of driving In the
herds of cattle. Over a foot of snow
fell in many localities and when the
blizzard was at Its height, was driv
en by a flfty-mlle wind. .
C OMMUNITY CLUB SECURES
EXPERIENCED SECRETARY
)
At a special meeting of the board
ef directors of the Alliance Commun
ity Club held last Friday evening.
Mr. Rufus Jones, formerly of Wll
Hams. Montana, was employed for
the position of secretary of the club
and a year's contract enierea into.
Mr. Williams, an ex-newspaper
man of wide experience, cornea high
ly recommended as a commercial
nan. He has held several import
ant nosltlons similar to the one here
and la each and every case has made
good. Mr. Jones is now on the job
and retting In shape to do thing for
Alliance. He solicits and merits the
kAirtr auonort and co-operation of
very man in the city.
"Time was. during the era of
farm abundance, when the farm la
bor problem was one of elimination.
The farmer took stock of his com
munity labor resources and hired
men who best suited his require
ments. Now, In many cases, the
question of obtaining an adequate
labor supply Is one of exploration,
the farmer spending much time
hunting for labor of any description.
"American farmers need labor of
two classes permanent labor to per
form the year-round routine work on
live stock farms, and emergency la
bor necessary during the harvesting,
hay making and silo filling opera
tions. The services of the boys'
working reserve again will be en
listed while patriotic appeals doubt
less will be made to the town people
to assist, as far as possible, in their
respective localities in harvesting
the banner crops expected."
The statement above is from the
columns of a well known Middle
West farm paper. Note what it
says. "Now the question of
obtaining an adequate labor supply
is one of exploration, the farmer
spending much time hunting for la
bor of any description."
Tho attention of farmers every
where Is turning to the question of
where they will obtain the labor nec
essary for the harvest this summer.
The crops are In there was a suf
ficient supply of labor to plant them,
but during the harvest season four
or five persons will be required to
every one who worked during me
planting season. Where are they to
be secured?
The Boys' Working Reserve Is mo
bilized ready to step into the gap
in the ranks of farm labor during
the coming season. Boys from 16
to 21 are available to aid In harvest
ing the record crops, estimated by
the Bureau of Crop Estimate to ex
ceed anything ever known. Through
the Federal County Director, E. G.
Lalng of this city, req ests are re
ceived for boys and they are then
placed on the farms to t' e best ad
vantage of both the farmers and
themselves.
As to the farmer, in 1917 he was
frankly sk'pt.: o. o. 'abor. Ltlor
It became a qucotio.. v, tu many far
mers of boy labor or no labor. This
gave the boys their chance, and they
made good so conclusively that last
year there was more demand than
the available supply of boys could
satisfy, and already the indications
for 1919 are that thousands of boys
will be demanded by farmers. Let
ters and verbal statements of many
farmers attest their satisfaction wHh
the work of the boys and the desire
of many that a supply of boy labor
be provided year after year without
regard to war conditions.
Mr. Johnson came to Alliance!
from Kansas City In September and
entered the employ of the Grler,
Company as manager of the inter
ests at this place. During the after
noon of the fatal day he remarked
to a fellow worker tat some "kid"
had arranged a date for him with a
woman, but did not divulge any
names in the matter and as he occas
ionally left the place during the ev
ening hours nothing was thought of
the incident. About 8 o'clock he
came to the postoffice fo- the mall
of the members of the crew and re
turned shortly later with the letters
which he received. Soon after this
time he left the commissary, after
carefully locking up as was his usual
custom. No one connected with the
place saw him take his leave and
while the exact time Is not known it
is believed to have been about eight
forty-five. A few minutes later one
of the help, Jerry, as be Is called,;
returned from the city-., and upon
neartng the commissary hoMced thai
the place looked as though it had
been robbed. He went to the door
and found the lock had been broken,
whereupon he went to the bunk
house, where the other members of
t' e force were preparing for the
night and notified them of the rob
bery. Toge'her the men went to
the commissary to. investigate, but
no one could be seen, and they de
cided to await the return of Mr.
Johnson, the manager. When he did
not show up Jerry was delegated to
find him and It was while he was at
tempting to locate Johnson that he
learned a man, unknown to the of
ficers, had been murdered at the
stockyards. He returned 'o the
camp with the information, and J. C.
Mills, head cook. Immediately went
to the Miller undertaking parlors on
Third street fearing that it was pos
sible that Johnson had met with foul
play and at once identified the dead
man. According to Mills, Johnson
very often carried as much as twb or
POLICE CHIEF MAKES
A PLAIN STATEMENT
Chief of Police Oscar Reld since
taking over the responsibility of this1
Important position has made It
known that he Intends to enforce the
law to the letter and that he will
spare no violators when there Is suf
ficient evidence to justify their being
hailed Into court. Among the sev
eral things particularly mentioned
by Chief Reld Is that gambling of
every nature must be stopped; the
sale of Jamaca ginger and like con
coctions which may be used for the
purpose of making one intoxicated
must cease and that street disturb
ances are to be eliminated.
In this, Mr. Reld will have the
hearty support of every law abiding,
peace loving citizen, and It Is to be
heped that he Is successful In his ef
forts to clean up the city and make
It a better place In which to live. '
CITY COUNCIL
ORGANIZES FOR
IMPORTANT WORK
MAYOR ROIX1ERS MAKES AP
POINTMENTS FOR YEAR
OUTLINES FLANS
Many Clianges In Methods of Con.
ducting Business of City Pro
poned by New Member
it
three hundred dollars upon his per
son, having the entire receipts for
the drfy of the business and such oth
er money as It was necessary to keep
on hand from time to time. "He
was aa fine a man as I ever knew,"!
said Mills, "and I don't believe hr.-!
had an enemy." When shown the
ax, with which Johnson's slayers had
accomplished their deadly purpose,
Mr. Mills Immediately Identified it
as one that was used at the commis
sary. When the officers arrived on the
scene they at once found the ax,
with which the man had been mur
dered, as it had been thrown, from
the dock along the stock pens, Into
the pen adjoining. A pool of blood
marked the spot where he had fallen
when struck and which was done ap
parently as he walked along on the
dock, by someone In hiding behind
the large gates or in the loading run.
Every cent of money, every paper of
any description had been taken from
thecjpthing and nothing, was '.left
with 'the exception of a gold watch
and chain' and a gold' ring on the
finger. Just below, on the track,
could be seen the place where tho
body was evidently pushed by the
slayers who It seems hoped that the
switching trains would erase the evi
deuce of their dastardly act.
As, soon as Sheriff Miller was not!
Bed of the crime he deputized a
number of men and made a dlllgen
search of the entire yards. Every
possible means of escape was cut off
and all trains carefully watched',' but
thus far without successful results
The bloodhound, owned by Cal Cox,
was taken to the scene, but was un
able to take the scent. While a
number of men have been examined
and the officers are still holding sev
eral, nothing has yet developed that
throws any light on the case. All
efforts to locate the relatives have
also proven futile and the remains
are being held at the Glenn Miller
undertaking parlors on West Third
street.
WELCOME HOME" TO-
BE HELD NEXT JULY
Returned Soldier Will lie Honored
at Time of the Stockmen's
Convention
The "Welcome Home" for the
men who served their country in the
great world war and returned,
planned several months ago to -lake
place during the summer has been
set for July 4th by the committee in
charge. This will be the last day of
the stockmen's reunion and a very
fitting time for the event. Plans
now In the making will provide for
one of the biggest celebrations ever
held In the count.
Wild west performances will form
a part or toe program ana tne aay
will be devoted to making the boys
feel the appreciation held for the
splendid services rendered. 1
WOULD REVOLUTIONIZE
THE POTASH INDUSTRY
Prominent Colorado Chemlat lla
Perfected Refining Hyntein
for Potah intuitu
According to A. B. Trice, a prom
inent Colorado chemist who visited
Alliance last week, the potash plant
of western Nebraska should all be in
operation by July 1, if plans which
he has perfected for the refining oi
potash salts are adopted and tit
proper minor changes In plants mad
without delay,
FOUR WEEKS' COURSE
IN TRACTOR OPERATIONS
State Engineer Johnson Anticipates
Shortage of Trained Men
for Road Work
To help provide trained men for
road construction, the university has
announced a four weeks' course for
tractor operators, beginning April
14. Money is now available for the
Nebraska road program, and the ma
chinery that will be needed can be
obtained without delay, but the one
thing which George E. Johnson,
state engineer, fears may hold up
the work is the lack of trained men,
especially tractor operators.
It Is thought that 200 tractor op-
DECLAMATORY CONTEST
ATTRACTED BIG CROWD
Marie Howe and Wade Grawsinan
Winner in Contested Deiart
inent Curt In UnopMed
The annual declamatory contest
held at the Imperial theatre, Thurs
day evening, and participated In by
students of the Alliance high school,
attracted a crowd that taxed the ca
pacity of the theatre. The program
as arranged and carried out was one
of the best ever presented by the
school and the competition for the
winning places and the honor of rep
resenting the school at the district
declamatory contest to be held at
Bayard. April 11, was very keen.
Mr. Edward Curtis, unopposed In
the oratorical division, was the first
Mr. Price is actively engaged I
the potash industry of Colorado
near Colorado Springs, where po'ss
will be produced from tailings at tb
mines. Mr. Price interviewed prom
inent men in t e Nebraska industry
and apparently received much en
couragemenl from them. . He be
lieves that the Nebraska plants can
pay all expenses from the by-products,
leaving the potash produced
clear of all cost. '
The people with whom Mr. I rice
Is associated
erecting a
old cyanide mill, wnere several mil
lion tons of tailings are dumped. The
plan is to leach out the tailings, the
potash and other salts being then re
duced and refined from the water.
A prominent Antloch potash ex
pert and chemist will make a trip to
Colorado Springs this week to exam
ine the method used by Mr. Price In
detail. If it proves practicable, It
should mean that the potash indus
try In Nebraska would revive quick
ly. BANQUET AND SMOKER TO
FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS
The last regular meeting of the ;
old city council was held Tuesday
evening and was presided over by 1
the retiring mayor, Mr. W. E. Rous
ey. After the canvass of the votes '
n the recent city election an oram-
ance Increasing the salaries of the
city attorney and city physician was
passed, which will provide for a sal
ary of $600 per year for the city at
torney and 1300 per year lor me
city physician. The oath of office
was then administered to tne incom
ing mayor Mr. A. D. Rodgera, and
the new members of the board and
the present council th'en took up the
work of conducting the city's affairs.
In outlining his policy, Mayor Rod
gera was very brief and In his ap
pointments he carefully selected.
those especially fitted tor the places
to be filled. In naming the commit
tees he made eacn a committee of
one ' ana gave eacn run power to
transact the business of his depart
ment. In this way the mayor be
lieves that better results can be ob
tained by the reason of the elimina
tion of tho trouble often experienced
in being able to get a larger commit
tee to act. The committees follow:
Claims Harris, Hughes. Gavl;
Streets and Alleys liast ilie,
Moore; West aide, Henry; Health
and Sewer Highland; Cemetery
Hills; Ordinance Johnson; Finan:o
and Purchasing Harris; Light and
Water Hughes; Property and In
surance, Gavin; License and Print
ing Grace Kennedy.
The other appointments made
were: City attorney, Walter R. Metz;
engineer, R. E. Knight; physician,
Dr. George J. Hand; fire truck Oliv
er, L. E. Pllklugton; chief of polie,
Oscar Reld, and night police, N. V.
Taylor.
Superintendent Campbell, of fie
light plant, appeared before I ie
council regarding the shipment of x
new power unit, purchased under t w
former administration, which
due to arrive within the very nuv
future and for which a substantial
payment of the contract cost must hi
paid upon its arrival. The unit w is
bought at a cost of f 17,980, of which
sum eighty per cent was to be put
upon delivery. Investigation devX
oped that no arrangements for t''
liquidation . of the obligation l:x I
hem made and that while the uirt
pie wun wnoui wr. rice , nQ d(jub be ued tQ advanU,,
cd at Colorado Springs are CQU,d ahjo operate Vo, y
n expensive plant, at an Without It. Supt. Campbell d-
t10"., Wi!L .!6?!d' MIl ihn;on the program, after 'which Mrs. C.
son estimates their average wages at
$7 a day. Construction of roads
will begin about the middle of this
month. Mr. Johnson said that four
contracts would be let during the
week of April 14, and one a week af
ter that for several weeks. '
The short course will be given by
the University school of agriculture
and the training done in the agricul
tural engineering department at the
university farm. It will consist of
two lectures and six hours labora
tory work five days a week for four
weeks. Registration will be at ag
ricultural hall farm campus, Mon
day afternoon, April 14. Work will
begin that afternoon. A fee of 1 10
will be charged for the course.
Men will be trained in details of
tractor operation and repair. The
following subjects will be among
those studied: Transmission, steer
ing gears, governors, lgnltoln, car
buretlon, valve timing, lubrication,
bearings, trouble shooting, repairs,
clutches, brakes, hitches, and bab
bitting. Men taking the course will
have an opportunity to study and op
erate about twenty different makes
of tractors.
E. Ilersbman rendered, in her par
ticularly pleasing manner, a splendid
vocal solo. In the dramatic division
Miss Marie Howe, who very ably de
livered "The Going of The White
Swan," was awarded the first place,
and Miss Naoma aGddls second on
"Skimpy." At the conclusion of
this section Miss Josephine Ganson
favored the audience wHh the rendi
tion of a vocal solo.
In the humorous aepartment Mr.
Wade Grassman carried off the first
honors, while Miss Alta Dye received
the second award. The title of Mr.
Grassman's address was "How Ruby
Played", and that of Miss Dye, "A
Telephone Romance." Mr. Townsend
delightfully entertained the crowd
with a violin solo, which was fol
lowed by the decision of the Judges.
The judges were: Mrs. Fry, Hyan
nis; Mrs. Chase, Crawford, and Miss
McFadden, county superintendent of
Cheyenne county, Sidney.
It is called the Vlotory Liberty
Loan, but It is more than that. It Is
the Prosperity Loan It the people of
this country stick to the job and see
Uncle Sam through.
Wednesday evening the annual in
stallation of officers o"fT e Alliance
Volunteer Fire Department was held
at the department club rooms. Fol
lowing the installation of the new of
ficials a splendid banquet and smok
er was tendered the members by the
new chief. Frank L. Merritt, and
which was greatly appreciated by the
large number present. Several talks
were made, among which was one by
Dr. George J. Hand, the new presi
dent, who outlined the functions and
duties of the department.
Following the banquet several
good athletic stunts were pulled that
were very Interesting. It was de
cided at the meeting that the fire
fighters should organize from among
their number a ball team and anoth
er meeting waa called for this pur
pose for next Wednesday night. All
those Interested are urged to be present.
PAVING ENGINEER EXPECTED
IN ALLIANCE THIS WEEK
Mr. Grant, of the firm of Grant ft
Fulton, consulting engineers,- Lin
coln, Is expected to arrive in Alli
ance this week to commence the
work necessary preparatory to the
laying of the pavement. Grant ft
Fulton surveyed the city and estab
lished the drainage grades and are
In splendid position to render the
city good service -In the improvement
work now being undertaken.
nied having recommended the pur
chase and said that while it was tr n
that in case of a serious break dov.'.
the city would be out of light duri .
the night, he believed that it WiS
not absolutely necessary that ths
unit be Installed.
The matter of the condition of tlifl
new well at the city water works,
sunk last year and which has never
been of much use because of th
presence of a large quantity of sand,
was taken up and discussed. It
seems that the concrete walls, which
were to keep out the sand, provci
defective and caused the breaking of
the pump and that unless the san l
can be kept out the well will be en
tirely useless. The matter will bo
taken up with the contractors who
had the work In charge.
. Mayor Rodgers stated that the
council was not ready at this time lo
take up the city manager proposition
and until such time be would make
no appointments for the positions of
superintendent of the light plant and
street commissioner. The street Im
provements, proposed and the matter
of the extension of the water mains
on Platte and Emerson streets wero
laid over until the next meeting, (i
be held April 22.
Hugh Beat asked for and was
granted a lease on the city farm for
a period of two years, which Is the
unexpired portion of a three-year
contract now In force. In the dis
cussion that ensued the tr' i cf
the lease proposition, it dc.ekc
that some attention was needed a:
the septic tank located on the farm.
Councilman Harris made a good sug
gestion when be suggested that whe t
again called upon to make extensions
In this line the same be made to ex
tend to Snake creek two miles to the
south. The terms of the lease to
Mr. Beal are $170 per year, payable
in advance.
It la essential to a sound economic
program that smaller savings, as
well as larger capital, nuance Gov
ernment operations.