Neb' Sta,e Hist«ical Society
The Frontier
VOL. LIV. O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1933. No. 8
HEAVY RAINS
AND WIND DO
MUCHDAMAGE
Northeast Nebraska Storm
Tuesday Night Reaches
Flood Proportions.
HAIL DAMAGES CROPS
The following account of the wind,
hail and rain storm of Tuesday night
i3 taken from the Wednesday noon
edition of the Norfolk Daily News:
“Heavy rains, destructive winds and
damaging hail storms swept over
parts of northeast Nebraska last night
flooded the towns of Pilger and Ran
dolph, caused extensive damage to
buildings around Hartington and dam
aged crops near Stanton, Pilger, Hos
kins and Winside.
“A cloudburst, in which four in
ches of rain fell, flooded the business
and residential sections of Randolph.
A heavy rain west of Pilger which
caused Humbug creek to overflow,
sent the water into the town, washed
out two Chicago and Northwestern
railway bridges and inundated high
way No. 8.
2 feet of Water on Road.
“The cloudburst east of Randolph
sent two feet of water over highway
No. 20, just west of Belden. The
water became pocketed between the
highway and Burlington railway, caus
ing a serious problem to the state
highway department. In order to re
lease the lake of wrater, it will be nec
essary to cut thi’ough the railway
grade, District Engineer J. B. Martin
of Norfolk said this morning. Per
mission to cut through will be sought
he stated.
“Construction crews of the Chicago
and Northwestern railway were re
pairing bridges two and one-half miles
and five miles wrest of Pilger this
morning, and indications were they
would be able to resume operations
this afternoon. Train No. 12, due
out of Norfolk at 2:30 a. m., was de
toured over the Albion line because
of the washouts.
Destruction at Hartington.
“Buildings were wrecked, farm
structures demolished and trees up
rooted by destructive winds that
swept Hartington and vicinity late
Tuesday.
“The grandstand at the county fail
grounds was leveled and half the roof
of the city auditorium ripped off The
building, a three story structure, was
not otherwise damaged.
“Small buildings around the John
Herfkins elevator at Hartington wrere
blown from their foundations and
tumbled down the streets, scattering
like kindling wood. The elevator was
not damaged.
“Rain fell in torrents during the
storm and some hail accompanied the
wind. Considerable debris w-as left
on the streets of Hartington and high
ways leading to the town. Windows
were shattered and signs blown thru
windows.
Corn rieias Damaged.
“The worst hail damage reported
was between Stanton and Pilger and
in the vicinity of Hoskins and Winside.
Here a number of corn fields were
stripped by large hail stones that fell
for several minutes.
“Following another sultry day in
which the government thermometer
climbed to 99 degrees Tuesday after
noon, two hard rains, measuring a
total of 1.61 inches fell in Norfolk.
Since last Thursday night, 3.16 inches
of moisture have fallen in Norfolk.
No wind or hail damage was reported
near Norfolk.
“No rain fell in the Rosebud of South
Dakota last night, or west of O’Neill,
the Northwestern Bell Telephone com
pany reported. Precipitation as re
ported to the telephone company this
morning follows: Laurel, lVi inches;
Wakefield, .64; Fullerton, Vi; West
Point, Vi; Humphrey, 1; Columbus,
and Howells also received a good rain.
“The additional moisture was needed
and will be of great benefit to the
corn, pastures and late gardens.
“High winds blew dowt. a number of
poles on the Iowa-Nebraskn Light and
Fewer Company high line neir Stan
ton, and for four and one half hours
the trunk line to Omaha was out of
commission. Repair crews experien
ced considerable difficulty because of
flooded highways.
“Highway traffic at Pilger was tied
up for about two hours and a half,
travelers waiting for the flood waters
to subside before daring to drive their
cars over the inundated stretches.
Many Places Get Rain.
“The following rainfall Tuesday
night was reported by the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad: Omaha and
Arlington, 1 inch; Bennington, 2V4;
Washington, 1%; Arlington 1; Blair,
2.61; Fremont, 1.58; Hopper, 1; Scrib
ner and Crowell 1 Vg; West Point 2;
Beemer, lVa; Wisner, Ms; Pilger, 3;
Stanton 2; Battle Creek, 1%; Mead
ow Grove, Tilden and Oakdale, 1;
Neligh and Clearwater Vi.
“Snyder, 1 Vi; Dodge, 2; Howells,
3; Clarkson, 2; Leigh, lVis; Preston 1;
Humphrey and Cornlea, 1V&; Lindsay
Vi; Bradish, Vi; Albion, shower; Pet
ersburg and Elgin, Vi and Hadar 1.”
FIRE DESTROYS HEN
HOUSE AND GARAGE
The fire department was called to
the residence of Elmer Hagensick, in
northeast O’Neill, about 1:30 Tuesday
morning, when fire was discovered in
his garage and hen house. The build
ings were destroyed and with the
building went a Chevrolet sedan, all
his plastering tools, that he kept in
in the car and about eighty-five chick
ens.
Mr. Hagensick places his loss at
from $1,200 to $1,500 and he carried
no insurance.
It is thought that the fire was of in
cendiary origin. One of his neighbors
reported having seen a flash light near
the chicken house and garage a couple
of hours earlier. Whether the mid
night marauders were trying to steal
gas from the car or raid his chicken
coop will probably never be known,
but their presence around the chicken
coop at that time of the night was
evidently not of a friendly nature.
CORN BELT PIG
CROP IS LARGER
Slight Decrease In States Not
In The Corn Belt.
The Nebraska spring pig crop is
slightly larger than a year ago but
considerably below that of two years
ago. A larger fall pig crop is in pros
pect. The spring pig crop for the
Corn Belt States and the United
States is somewhat larger than that
of a year ago but the prospective
fall crop will be considerably larger.
The prospective hog crop for the
marketing year beginning October 1,
1933 will be approximately 4 per
cent larger than the previous year,
assuming the same average number of
pigs per litter.
A total of 4,631,000 pigs were saved
this spring as compared with 4,406,00
a year ago and 5,460,000 two years
ago. The average number of pigs
saved per litter was 5.6 and the in
crease over last year, 5 per cent. The
number of sows farrowed was only
one per cent larger. An increase of
20 per cent in number of sows to far
row this fall is indicated.
Corn Belt States have an increase
of four per cent in the spring pig
crop. There is an increase of three
per cent for the United States as a
whole. The average number of pigs
per litter for the Corn Belt is 5.9 and
for the United States 5.86. Corn Belt
farmers plan to breed 13 per cent
more sows for fall farrowing while the
plans for the United States as a whole
indicate an eight per cent increase.
The prospective hog crop for the
marketing year beginning October 1,
1933 will be approximately four per
cent larger than the previous year,
assuming the same average of pigs
per litter.
HARTINGTON DAMAGED
BY WINDS AND HAIL
Wind, hail and rain swept the town
of Hartington last Tuesday afternoon,
wrecking buildings in Hartington and
tearing down buildings and trees in
the rural districts.
Among the buildings wrecked in the
city was the grandstand at the county
fair grounds and the roof of the city
auditorium was ripped off. The build
ing. a throe story structure, was other,
wise undamaged. Rain fell in torrents
during the storm and some hail ac
companied the high winds. It is estim
ated that an inch of water fell in
about a half hour. Window glass in
many of the store windows was shat
tered and signs blown through the
windows.
Mr. and Mrs. 0. <\ Rrki. and daught
er, Leone, left Wednesday morning
for Rftchester Minn., where their little
daughter will go through the cl’nic.
MATTERN SAFE IN SIBERIA
Jimmey Matters, the flier who was
lost about three weeks ago while at
tempting to break the world’s record
for round-the-world flyers, has been
located in the wilds of Siberia safe and
well. He was forced down on Jane
14, and was unheard of up to July 7
when a message was received from
him that he was safe and well. He
asked that a new plane be sent to
him so that he could complete the
round-the-world flight.
CONVICTION OF J. C.
FANNIGAN UPHELD
Supreme Court Decides That
He Had A Fair Trial.
State Journal: James C. Flannigan,
vice preseident of the failed Citizens
bank of Stuart, and for years a lead
ing banker in northeastern Nebraska,
lost in supreme court Friday his ap
peal from a conviction of a charge
of receiving deposits while the bank
was insolvent. The first jury that
tried him disagreed, but the second
one convicted him February 26, 1932,
on nine counts. Judge Dickson sent
enced him to from five to ten years
on each, the sentences to run concur
rently. Seventy-nine different errors
were assigned on appeal.
The court says that there was ample
evidence that deposits were received
when the bank was insolvent, and
that defendant had knowledge of the
deposits and the insolvency. Neither
does it find that there was misconduct
of the county attorney or judge during
the trial, as complained of, and says
there is nothing in the record to show
abuse of discretion on the judge’s part.
It says that one comment made might
well have been omitted, but that it did
not “doom the defendant" before the
jury, as claimed.
The court holds that it was not in
error for the special prosecutor to
discuss before the jury an attempt to
bribe a juror, as there was evidence
that defendant personally and Harry
Kopp, whose sentence for contempt
was sustained by the supreme court,
did attempt to use Joe Juracek to
bribe a juror just previous to the first
trial.
The court says an instruction that
proof must be given that Flannigan
actually knew of the insolvent con
dition of the bank was properly re
fused. Such an instruction would
put a premium upon and emphasize
the lack of business judgment or the
overconfidence of agents of banks, as
if they might be permitted to receive
all deposits irrespective of the obliga
tion to be informed as to the likeli
hood of ever being able to repay them.
Chief Justice Goss wrote the opinion.
RIES-PRUSS
A very pretty wedding took place
at Epiphaney church in Emmet, Tues
day morning, when Gladys Pruss be
came the bride of George Ries, Rev.
M. F. Byrne officiating. They were
attended by Evelyn Pruss and Edward
Ries.
The bride was dressed in white silk
crepe with long veil and carried a
bridal boquet of cream roses and lilies.
The bridesmaid wore delicate blue
chiffon with white accessories. The
groom and best man wore the con
ventional blue.
The wedding march was played by
Mrs. Frank Walters, of Ewing, an
aunt of the bride. “I Love You Truly”
was sung during the marriage cere
mony by Mercedes Foreman, of Ewing,
a cousin of the bride.
A delicious four-course dinner was
later served to the immediate rela
tives of the young couple at the home
of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
John Pruss of Emmet.
Mr. and Mrs. Ries have many
friends in this city as well as in the
western part of the county who join
with The Frontier in wishing them
many years of happiness and pros
perity.
WANT TO BUILD A
CEMENT PLANT
The citizens of Weeping Water have
enlisted the support of Governor Bry
an in their efforts to get a million and
a half dollor cement plant established
there and to secure federal aid to
build the plant.
The delegation that interview the
governor said that the plant they had
in mind would produce 3,00<UMMI bar
rels of cement annually to sell for '.*8
cents to $1.05 a barrel at a profit. The
state is now paying $1.75 to $1.78 a
barrel for cement at the present time,
according to the Governor.
J, D. Cronin was looking after legal
'business at Ainsworth last Monday,
McCauley must
REMAIN IN JAIL
Judge Malone Holds That His
Sentence Is Not Completed.
The Habacs Corpus proceedings
brought by Arthur McCauley, who al
leged that he was being wrongfull
held in the Holt county jail by the
sheriff of Holt county, occupied the
attention of the county court nearly
all day Friday. Emmet Harmon rep
resented McCauley while County At
torney Cronin looked after the inter
est of the county. At the conclusion
of the hearing Judge Malone held
that McCauley had not completed his
sentence, that he could not be allowed
credit for the time he had spent in the
hospital and that he would have to
make up that time in the county jail.
Probably in the court records of the
state there has never been a case just
like this. In his petition, or applica
tion for the writ, McCauley alleged
that he was arrested by the sheriff on
December 8, 1932, and that on account
of the condition of his health that
Sheriff Duffy did not take him to jail
but took him into custody and left him
at his home in the custody of a guard
whom the sheriff selected. That he
remained in confinement in his home
until January 4, 1933, when he was
removed to the county jail. The
sheriff, in his return to the writ ad
mitted practically all the allegations
made in the application of McCauley
for the writ, but the court held that
the time spent in his home, in the
hospital at Omaha and in the Starlin
rooming house in ths city, were not
in accordance with the sentence of the
court and that he would have to serve
that time in the county jail of Holt
county, as ordered by the court. Had
McCauley been given crdit for the
time spent in the hospital and in the
rooming house in this city he would
have been released.
LIGHTENING KILLS
MAN AT CHAMBERS
Chauncey Cooke Struck When
Sitting on His Porch.
Chauncey Cooke, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Ezra Cooke, of Chambers, was instant
ly killed by lightning last Thursday
evening, while sitting on the porch at
his home near Chambers. Mr. and
Mrs, Cooke were sitting on the porch
of their home watching the rain, when
he was struck. Mrs. Cooke didn’t feel
the shock, nor was any damage done
to the house.
Mr. Cooke leaves a wife and two
little sons and his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Ezra Cooke. Funeral services
were held from the Baptist church at
Chambers last Saturday afternoon and
was largely attended.
RED BIRD GETS RAW
DEAL AT ATKINSON
Atkinson and Red Bird played at
Atkinson last Sunday afternon and it
is said to have been a hectic ball game.
According to Manager Carson, of the
Red Bird team, when they got to the
grounds for the game Atkinson
had an umpire* to which Carson ob
jected, for the reason that he was
listed as a player on the Atkinson
team and therefore unqualified to act
as umpire. He was told by the At
kinson management that they were
there and ready to play and it was up
to Red Bird to play or leave the field.
Carson then told them that he would
play the game, but under protest, and
the game was so played resulting in
a victory for Atkinson with a score of
15 to 11. From what wre can learn of
the game the umpiring was of such
a calibre that it would not be tolerated
in any section, being too one sided. If
the umpire could not see the plays
any better than he judged them his
eyesight is such that he is unfit to fill
the position in any ball game, at any
time and any place.
O’Neill and Ewing crossed bats on
the local diamond and the game was
won by O’Neill with a score of 10 to 4.
MAY I BORROW
YOl R HAND BILL?
Adel News: The editor of one of our
exchanges asks the business men of
his town the follow ing question: “Have
any of your neighbors ever dropped
into your home to borrow the weekly
collection of circular letters, hand bills,
etc., that the users think nre a* good
as advertising in your favorite news
paper?”
RYE SOARS TO NEAR DOLLAR
MARK ON CHICAGO MARKET
Dollar a bushel rye seemed in the
offing on the Chicago grain market
as that cereal jumped eight cents per
bushel on Monday and came back
Tuesday with another gain of seven
cents per bushel. The grain was in
great demand by speculators who were
of the opinion that the new processing
tax would turn bread eaters to rye.
On Monday, December delivery of
, rye reached 93 9i cents per bushel,
. while on Tuesday it passed the dollar
| mark, reaching $1.00Vi per bushel.
The sensational advance also pulled
wheat up and it was quoted Tuesday
for May delivery at $1,12 per bushel.
Corn and oats also made a good ad-*
vance in price.
RAINS RAISE HOPE
FOR GOOD CROP
Last Thursday’s Rain General
In Northeast Nebraska.
A splendid rain, amounting to from
three quarters to three inches fell last
Thursday evening in this county and
over the most of northeast Nebraska,
marking the end of the longest and
hottest dry spell in this section of the
state. Many of our readers, from
different parts of the county, have as
sured us that this was the salvation of
the corn crop, which came through
the remarkably hot dry weather in
splendid shape.
The rainfall in this city was 1.50
inches. At Atkinson the precipitation
was a little over three quarters of an
inch. At Stuart the rainfall was two
inches. North and east, as well as
southwest and south and southeast of
j this city,the rainfall amounted to from
; two to three inches. Practically every
j corner of the county was covered, the
heaviest rainfall having been in the
northeastern and southeastern part of
the county.
The moisture not only aided the
corn crop and pastures but gave the
residents of this section of the state
hopes for a fruitful harvest.
The rainfall in this section of the
state, as given by the Norfolk News,
was as follows:
Ainsworth, .25 of an inch; Columbus,
2%; Humphrey, 1; Laurel, Va; O’Neill,
1 V%; Randolph, .25; Stuart, 1.28;
Wakefield, Vi; Wayne, .75; West Point
1; Winner, .25. Valentine received no
rain, but indications were it would be
fore noon today.
Rain was still falling between 7 and
8 o’clock this morning at Columbus,
O'Neill, and Stuart, the telephone
company reported. Cloudy weather
prevailed at all points early in the
morning, there being indications of
additional moisture before the day is
over.
The telephone company’s manager
at Bonesteel reported to the Norfolk
offices there was a cloudburst at that
place, but as it was accompanied by
no wind no damage resulted.
Practically all points on the Chicago
and Northwestern in this part of the
state reported good rains during the
night or early morning. The report
issued shortly after 10 a. m. is as
follows:
Hadar, 1; Pierce, 1.50; Foster, 1.50;
Plainview, 2.50; Creighton, 2.50; Win
netoon, 2; Verdigre, 1.50; Monowi, 2;
Bristow, Spencer and Anoka, 2; Fair
fax, 2.50; Bonesteel, 2.50; St. Charles,
2; Herrick, Burke, Gregory, Dallas,
Colome, 1; Winner, .13; Wood, .10.
Battle Creek to Ewing, 2.50; Staf
ford, Inman, O'Neill and Emmet, 1.50;
Atkinson, .75; Stuart, 2; Newport and
Bassett, 1.
Snyder, 1.75; Dodge, 1.50; Howells,
1; Clarkson, 1.75; Leigh, 1.50; Creston
1; Humphrey, 2.50; Cornlea, 2.50;
Lindsay, 2; Newman Grove, 1.50;
Bradish, 2; Albion, 2; Loretto, and
Petersburg, 2.50; Elgin, 3.50.
Stanton, 1.50; Pilger, 2; Wisner,
Beemer and West Point, 1; Crowell
and Scribner, 2.50; Hooper, 2; Fre
mont, .88.
An inch fell between Gordon and
Rushville, and showers between White
wood and Newell.
The railroad reports .50 to 1.50 from
Fremont to Omaha and .75 of an inch
from Arlington to Blair; on the Lin
| coin line, 2 inches from Cedar Bluffs
i to Davey; on the Hastings line. 1 to
1.75 inches fret* Morse Bluff to Hous
' ton; .44 at Yors, u sprinkle at Chari**,
i on and nonesouth; on the Superior line
1 to 1.50 inches and Abie to I;. .«.«•!
Croh-ing; .25 at Cordova; .03 at Fle
eter and none south
Judge R. R Dickson went up to
Ainsworth In^t Monday where he held
1 a short session of district court.
HOLT COUNTY
LAND VALUES
ARE LOWERED
Six Million Cut From Last
Years Valuation.
INCREASE IN LIVESTOCK
County Assessor Keyes made his re
port to the state board last week. Ac
| cording to his report the assessed val
I uation of all the improved and unim
proved farm land in Holt county,
amount to $13,289,950 and that of
town lots and improvements at $1,
684,240. The total valuation of all the
tangible property of the county, as
equalized by the county board, is $18,
007,815. The total valuation of the
county as returned by the county board
last year, was $24,602,545; this was re
duced by the state board of equaliza
tion to $21,314,670. The valuation of
of the county, as returned by the
county board of equalization this year
is $6,594,730 less than that returned a
year ago. The railroad taxes, both
real and personal, are not included in
the above valuation, neither is the tax
on the Pullman company, so that the
total given above will probably be
raised a million and a half to two
million if the state board does not
reduce the real estate valuation.
The intangible tax, in Class A, that
is the tax on money, savings accounts,
bank deposits, checks and other se
curities, amount to $273,460, for the
year 1933.
The intangible tax, in Class B, that
is shares in corporations, building and
loan companies, notes, bank accounts,
banks and loan and trust companies,
amount to $587,590, for the year 1933.
There are about 5,000 more head of
cattle in the county this year than
1 there were in 1932, according to the
assessment, and the assessment on
cattle isincreased $32,100 over that
of 1932.
Following is a list of the number of
cattle assessed in the county for the
year 1933, as taken from the records
of the county assessor, together with
their assessed value.
Cattle Number Value
Yearlings_ 22,838 $ 229,670
2 year old.._ 13,888 208,785
3 year old_— 3,642 72,455
Milch cows_ 3,449 76,935
Cows,
other than milch 33,952 675,080
Fat cattle __ 1,050 29,220
Bulls, registered 531 18,175
Bulls, not reg._ 917 29,660
Total_80,267 $1,338,980
There are 11,683 head of horses in
the county and their assessed valua
tion is $20,265, for the year 1933.
There are 1,105 mules and Jacks in the
caunty and their assessed valuation is
$36,840.
Following is a list of the number of
cattle assessed in Holt county for the
year 1932, together with their assessed
valuation:
Cattle Number Value
Yearlings . 23,217 $ 253,685
2 year old_11,763 188,225
3year old_ 3,466 71,160
Milch cows_ 4,198 107,990
Cows,
other than milch—30,528 631,240
Fat cattle_ 602 15,125
Bulls, regisetered_ 532 14,790
Bulls, not reg._ 995 24,665
Total _75,301 $1,306,880
There were 11,709 horses on the as
sessment roll in 1932 and they were
I assessed at $259,105; 1,290 mule3 and
Jacks that year and they were as
j sessed at $42,600.
ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR
PAVING ON HIGHWAY 20
State Journal: Plans for expend
itures of approximately $750,000 of
! federal emergency funds for paving
! construction on two main U. S. high
I ways in northeast Nebraska were an
nounced Monday by Governor Bryan.
In announcing the tentative plans,
which have yet to be approved by fed
eral authorities, the governor said he
\yished to open work in northeast Ne
braska at the earliest possible time to
relieve the acute unemployment sit
uutior In that region.
D(*!ea«»tes from Dakota City and
South Sioux City have recently car
riwu to the governor stories of extreme
need and requests for immediate re
lief.
Monday’s announcement* wore made
(Continued on page 3, column 4.)
