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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1937)
FAMOUS ■HEADLINE HVHI&B— __L. *‘Foft, Rain—and Death" By FLOVD GIBBONS, VI/’HAT I have to tell you,” says Edward Wagness of » * New York city, “is a story of FEAR. It belongs to the United States navy, and for 12 hours, strong men were trying to laugh off their quaking knees and the wild-eyed apprehension that something was going to happen to them. That something WAS going to happen, was what everybody believed and nobody admitted. The trouble was that no one had any idea of WHEN it was going to happen. But on with the story!” And with that introduction. Ed Wagness goes into one of the most astounding tales of what men's imaginations can do to them, that I have ever heard in all my life. To get the whole yarn, right from the beginning, we’ve got to follow the career of a battleship—the S. 8. Charleston. Ed says she was built at Newport News, Va., in 1905 and commis sioned for duty in the Atlantic fleet. In 1906 she was ordered to the West coast as flagship of the Pacific fleet, and in December of that year she made the trip around the Horn. Rut before leaving for the West she put into New York harbor for provisions and liberty for the crew. Astounding Message of the Visitor. The Charleston was one of the first four-stacker vessels in the navy, and people were interested in her. She received quite a number of vis itors, and one visiting day a little old lady came aboard and asked the officer of the deck if she could see the captain. "Of course,’’ says Ed, "she was not accommodated, for cranks were always trying to tell the captain how to run the navy. But the officer of the deck, out of politeness, asked her if there was any message he could take to the captain.” The little old lady wasn’t stumped. Yes, there was a mes sage. ‘‘Please tell the captain,” she said, “that the Charleston will be blown up in Magdalena bay, Mexico, on the eighth day of May, 1908. It will be a foggy, rainy day, and she will be blown up by a tramp steamer which will come from nowhere and will refuse to give any information concerning herself.” That Gave the Crew a Big Laugh. That was a big laugh for the crew. Imagine a foggy, rainy day In Magdalena bay, they chuckled. Why there hadn’t been a drop of rain there since time began. They put the old woman down for another crackpot, and forgot about it. That is, they did until May, 1908. The Charleston took up her duties in the Pacific. She was in Mag dalena bay in October, 1907, then returned to San Diego, Calif. She was back in Magdalena bay in the spring again, for target practice. “April blossomed into May,” says Ed, "and we were still there. The sky was still a perfect blue and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The prophecy had been forgotten—well, amost forgotten. But some of the more superstitious on board did remember, and on the night of May 7 we all turned into our hammocks wondering. “The eighth of May dawned, COLD, FOGGY and RAINING— unheard of since no one knew when. But we told ourselves it was only a coincidence. How could anything happen to us. Besides, the tramp steamer hadn’t shown up yet. On the surface all was serene. Men laughed and joked as they went about their work. But many an anxious eye was cast toward the mouth of the harbor. AND THEN IT HAPPENED!” About three o'clock that afternoon the men on the Charleston could make out, through the fog, the general outlines of a tramp steamer entering the harbor. Ed says that, along about that time, many a ruddy complexion took on the general hue of a bag of flour. It began to look as if the little old woman knew what she was talking about. No merchant ships ever entered that harbor. It was too dangerous, what with battle ships firing big guns all over the place. But there she was, moving straight toward the Charleston, and the Charleston’s frantic signaling could get no response from her, whatever. Waiting for Something to Happen. Says Ed: “She steamed past us and anchored about 500 yards off our starboard side. She refused to give us her name or call letter, and all we could get from her was that she had lost a propeller blade and had dropped in to ship another. No tramp as miserable as she was ever carries a spare blade, and we knew it, but nevertheless, over the side went a diver. "Through the fog we could distinguish nothing but outlines as we tried to watch his movements, but we imagined more and more as the day wore on and a dark night began to settle down. We were served a hearty supper, but our appetites weren’t any too keen. Rumors ran riot, imaginations started to do their stuff, and that empty feeling began to find Us way into the pits of our stomachs. The smiles were gone from the faces of strong men. Inaction was killing us by torture. If they were going to strike, for God's sake let them do it now. I)o something—do anything! But do It!” Awake AH Night—for Nothing. The bugler sounded lights out and hammocks—but there were dog gone few men who rolled into their hammocks that night. “They sat around in litttle groups and wondered,” says Ed, "and anyone walking around the deck could see little piles of life belts placed here and there by some gob or bunch of gobs who weren’t taking any chances. Even the commissioned officers kept pretty close to their preservers. Men talked and speculated. What was the idea anyway? Who’d want to de stroy the Charleston? And so the night wore on.” The night wore on—and NOTHING HAPPENED! “Just before day light,” says Ed. “we heard the tramp hoisting anchor. Soon she was steaming past us on her way out to sea. And then, after heaving sighs of relief, the entire crew fell to and cursed that rusty old tub as only strong, healthy sailors can curse.” O—WNU Service. Shunned Death Valley No doubt geolog.sts know what complex forces of nature produced Death valley, in which is found the lowest point in the United States, but the Forty-niners toiling toward California gave it the name and shunned it when they could. They crossed it with fear when they had to. It was well named, for there the sun blazed most fiercely and its blinding rays meant sure death to those who lacked safeguards against them. Its lowest limit, more than 250 feet below sea level, this strange and desolate knife-cut on the extreme east border of Cali fornia is more than 100 miles long and from ten to twenty miles wide. Along its treeless sides the moun tains rise almost sheer to heights of 6,000 feet. Abbey Dates From A. D. 570 There was an abbey at Bucklest before there was a King of Eng land. Its origin is shrouded in the mists of antiquity, but it was prob ably founded by St. Petrock, an evangelist, of Cornwall and Devon, who died about 570. The Black Monks, who frequent the place at the present day, were of the first .brethren.— Rocky Mountain Herald. Beech, Common Tree The beech is one of the common hardwood trees found over most of eastern North America. The gen eric name “Fagus" comes from the Greek phago, which means “to eat" and undoubtedly refers to the fruit of this tree. The nuts are gathered extensively all through Europe. Deer, bear and grouse are particu larly fond of beechnuts, but all wild creatures will eat them. Unfortu nately the beech tree does not carry a fruit crop each year; in fact, a good crop of nuts every three or four years is exceptional. The beechnut is a small triangular shaped nut, not much larger than a pea. The husk is rather tough and the meat is sweet and highly palatable. _ Deliquescence Deliquescence is the property dis played by certain substances of ab sorbing water from the air so that they become wet or even dissolve in the absorbed liquid. Substances possessing this property are called deliquescent. Examples are caustic potash, caustic soda, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, the last named being extensively used as a drying agent. IDllit ® u|.(joII> 'Ihtmhd about International Fourflushing. SANTA MONICA, CALIF. —When the German troops marched into the Rhineland, France was going to fight about it, but didn’t. When the Italians moved against Ethiopia, Britain was going to in voke force, but didn t. When Russia poked her snoot in to the Spanish mess, there was go ing to be armed ac tion by other pow ers, but wasn't. When Japan be gan to nibble again at China, there was going to be inter vention, but all that happened was Irvin S. Cobb that the League of Nations chirped despairingly and then put its head back under its wing. Somehow, I'm thinking of the two fellows who started fighting and, j when bystanders rushed in to sep arate them, the one who was get ting the worst of it yelled: "Five or six of you hang on to that big brute. Anybody can hold me!” Curing Temperament. A JUDGE back east rules that ** this so-called artistic temper ament is not sufficient excuse for a so-called genius to beat up his bride. I tried the stuff once—just once— but the presiding judge in my case was a lady. For years I’d been trudging as steadily as a milkman’s horse, whereas being a practioner of a creative profession, I said to myself I really ought to stage some temperament just to make the fam ily appreciate me. So I rehearsed my act and went downstairs one morning and put it on. So my wife looked at me across the breakfast table, and said: ‘‘I know what the trouble with you is. You’re bilious. You’ll take some calomel.” Well, what are you going to do when a beautifully staged emotion al outburst is diagnosed, not as the promptings of a tortured soul, but as liver complaint? You guessed it. I took the calo mel, and, I pledge you my word, haven’t had an attack since. • * • The Law’s Delays. ONCE a Massachusetts Supreme court reversed a felony convic tion because the prosecution, in fil ing the record, stated that the crime was committed "on the fifteenth day of June, 1855” but failed to st'ate whether the year was 1855 A. D. or 1855 B. C. And ever since then on quibbles almost equally foolish—such as a misplaced comma or an upside down period—other high courts have been defeating the ends of j justice and setting at naught the de cisions of honest juries. Science has gone ahead, medicine has taken enormous steps forward, but law still rides in a stage coach and hunts with a flintlock musket. Has it ever occurred to anyone that one reason for the law’s delays is a lack of the thing called common sense? a a a Dinosaur Footprints. BACK in 1858, a college professor discovered on a sandstone ledge in Massachusetts a whole batch of imbedded tracks of the dinosaur— familiarly known to geologists as dinah, just as among its scientific friends the great winged lizard fa frequently referred to as big liz. At the time, the discovery created no excitement—merely a slight shock of surprise to the old families upon learning there was something historic in Massachusetts antedat ing the Mayflower. For the natur alists figured those tracks had been left more than 150,000,000 years ago. And they were suffered to remain nearly eighty years more. But here recently it develops that parties unknown have been chisel ing Dinah's footprints out and toting them off. This would seem to in dicate either that America is get ting dinosaur-conscious or that dino saurleggers are operating, or both. So if a slinky gentleman should come to the side door, offering a prime specimen for the parlor whatnot, don't trade with him, read er-call the police. Next time he may come back with a dornick off of Plymouth Rock or the corner stone of Harvard college or the name plate from Cotton Mather's coffin. IRVIN S. COBB ©—WNU Service. On More Mature Reflection “Don’t you wish you were a child again and could play in the show?” "No,” answered Miss Cayenne, “I thoroughly appreciate the advan tages of a taxicab over a sled.” The Noisy Fellows “Some men," said Uncle Eben, "resembles de automobile horn dat ain’ doin' much to push things along, but manages to sound like de whole works.” Style-Correct for Snow Clothes By CHERIE NICHOLAS IF YOU would be graceful, "lady of the snows,” you must be com fort-wise as well as fashion-wise. Warm and cozy but light as a feath er, the new lightweight woolens are the big news in winter sportswear this season together with a decided vogue for gay Tyrolean "picture” costumes. Wool gabardine, wool covert cloth, snow cloth and the finely knit ted snow-tested woolens are safe and happy choices, for they keep the wind at bay and are snow-shed ding and waterproof. Ideal for tailoring, they keep their lines and fit under the most strenuous cir cumstances. Be sure that your winter sports clothes are all wool, because this is the only way to be certain of adequate warmth without an ounce of extra weight to impede action. Two pairs of wool socks, one short and one long enough to turn back over the tops of your ski shoes, also wool cap, scarf and gloves are advisable from a purely common sense standpoint. From a style basis these details give opportunity to dramatize every ski and skate suit, so choose the smartest dashing items you can find—most especially of Tyrolean, Norwegian and Dal matian influence in colors and em broideries. The smiling snow enghusiast to the left in the picture is perfectly clad from both a comfort and style viewpoint. This smiling queen of wintry realms is sporting with pride a new spectator coat of weather resistant wool, soft and fleecy as a warm woolen blanket. Swagger in cut with neck and comfortably full sleeves, it is buttoned smartly up the front in bright gold. A striking blanket stripe bands the sleeves and the bottom of the coat, also making the distinctive yoke set in for broad shouldered effect. Picturesquely tyrolean in feeling is the "suspender” skating costume I centered in the group. A cable knit sweater, in fanciful stitch, with flat tering high neck is in soft white wool with matching toboggan-type cap, mittens and socks. Black wool gabardine flares in a widely pleated skating skirt and is caught at the snugly fitting waistline by decora tive woolen suspenders done in col orful and authentic Tyrolean design. To the right a classically tailored Austrian type ski suit is shown. It has a stunning, expertly tailored, double breasted gray wool gabar dine jacket. Back-belted and snugly buckled, it stays nicely in place over high-built trousers in smooth suede-like black wool. A becoming gabardine soft-crowned cap fits well down on the head. It is not only that modern snow clothes present an exciting variety of styles, but they are built on pro fessionally correct lines. Current collections include any number of classically tailored types with sim ple mannish effect. Styled in dark monotone shades they depend on bright accessories for color accent. Then there are the feminine outfits with emphasis on combinations of fabric and colors together with cun ningly devised details. To pink-cheeked winter sports fans now dotting ski trails and snowy hills all over the country side, crowding skating rinks or the old mill pond, it is of the utmost importance that sports clothes be snow-worthy and completely ade quate. Look to it that your snow clothes be warm and wind-resist ant. Be sure, too, that they are freely cut for plenty of action. Be ware of gaps. Let sock upon sock, scarf and sweater added to sturdy costume, dependable slide fasteners and other strong and stout gadgets make you feel “sure” even should you find yourself head-first in a snow drift. © Western Newspaper Union. FRINGED WOOLEN ftv C11KKIIC NICHOLAS In the fabric realm fringed woolen is one of the successful novelties of the spectator sports frock in one of the amusing new fringed woolens. It is a deep oxford gray with blue and gray fringed tufts woven right into the fabric. Silver buttons and a wide leather belt are nice outdoor accents. i VEILS TOR SPRING, MILLINERY EDICT By CHERIE NICHOLAS Paris milliners are saying for spring “a veil with every hat.” And wait until you see the veils! Of course you may choose the modest little eye-screening affairs if you wish and they really are practical and will maintain their vogue the season through. However, they do not tell the whole story of veils, for in the new varieties there are most dramatic veils, some almost shoulder depth. Many tiny hats, especially the pill-box type are in dividualized with clever veils, the wide mesh effects being especially good. The newer French veils also favor scrawly thread embroideries tracing fanciful patternings. Lowered Necklines Will Be Welcomed by Many Those among women of fashion that have been doing penance in wearing high unflattering necklines just to be stylish will welcome the good news that incoming dresses for spring assure a return to be coming soft lines. No longer will the throat have to be swathed in high drapes and fitted bands. The new trend is to square necks, and pointed ones also. This, together with short youthful sleeves,'presents a very promising outlook. Gay Boutonniere A pompon chrysanthemum is the most brilliant of all boutonnieres. | Both men and women wear it Refurbishing the Home— Make an Inventory of things to Be Replaced During the New \ ear 'T' HE desire to start fresh at the beginning of a new year appeals to homemakers in con nection with their home furnish ings. There are two ways of bringing the desire into effect. One is by getting new things to replace worn out ones or to fill a hitherto long-felt need. The oth er is to refurbish the things al ready possessed. The combina tion of these two methods is the most practical way to instill that wanted appearance of freshness into rooms. Making the Inventory. In order to do this successfully it is important to appreciate just what we have and what we have not. We can take an inventory of what requires doing over or re placing, and we can also jot down the new things we would like to get. By doing this we realize the degrees of importance attaching to each part of the job. This sug gests a tabulating of the memo randa collected so that we attend to the matters of most importance first, and gradually work through them to those of lesser signifi cance. Also it makes us realize that many of the things we de sire can be taken care of at little or no cost. Refurbishing. For example, a sofa cushion may need recovering. We know it, and have known it for some time, but have done nothing about it. When we determine to tackle the task, we may find we have Foreign Words ^ and Phrases Allons. (F.) Come on; let us be going. Bonhomie. (F.) Good nature; credulity. Commune bonum. (L.) The common good. Dux femina facti. (L.) The lead er of the deed a woman. Grisette. (F.) A young working girl. Otium cum dignitate. (L.) Lei sure with dignity. Parole d’honneur. (F.) Word of honor. Ite missa est. (L.) Go, the serv ice is finished; the mass has been celebrated. Mai a propos. (F.) Ill times; out of place. Nunc aut nunquam. (L.) Now or never. Tempora mutantur, et nos mu tamur in illis. (L.) The times are changed; and we are changed with them. Sub rosa. (L.) Under the rose; secretly. something in the house that will be excellent to use, or, if not, we will be on the lookout when we go shopping to discover some ma terial that is suitable and at a price we can afford. New Things. When it comes to getting new things, new lamp shades, new fur- )i niture, and any of the many articles we most need, the clear ance sales offer opportunities to get splendid values at reduced prices. We should take advantage of such sales, thereby making our homes more attractive for months, and perhaps years to come. © Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service. Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets are an effective laxative. Sugar coated. Children like them. Buy now!—Adv. The Wise Man The wise man draws more ad vantage from his enemies than the fool from his friends.—Benjamin Franklin. CHEST [Old HAD HIM IN AGONY. Found Amazing RELIEF from PAIN No need to suffer agony of muscu lar aches and pains! Thousands report wonderful Boothing reliet with Hamlins Wizard Oil. Just rub it on—rub it in. Acts quick. Re lieves that terrible soreness. Loosens up stiff, achy muscles. Has a pleasant odor. Will not stain clothes. At all druggists. ^ Greatest Vanity Of vanities and fopperies, to brag of gentility is the greatest. —Robert Burton. ^ DON’T RUB YOUR EYES Rubbing your eyes grinds invisible particles of dust and dirt right into the delicate tissues, making the irritation just that much worse. A much better way, as thousands have discovered, is to use a little Murine in each eye—night and morning. Murine may be depended on to re lieve eye irritation because it is a reliable eye preparation containing 7 active ingredients of known value in caring for the eyes In use for 40 years. Ask for Murine at your drug store. These Advertisements Give You Values Sore Throat Pains DUE TO COLDS Eased Instantly > 1* Crush and stir 3 Bayer Aspirin tablets in glass of water. 2, GARGLE thoroughly — throw your head way back, allowing a little to trickle down your throat. 3* Repeat gargle and do not rinse mouth, allow gargle to remain on membranes of the throat for pro longed effect. Just Gargle This Way with Bayer Aspirin Here is the most amazing way to ease the pains of rawness of sore throat result ing from a cold we know you have ever tried. Crush and dissolve three genuine BAYER ASPIRIN tablets in one-third glass of water. Then gargle with this mixture tw'ice, holding your head well back. This medicinal gargle will act almost like a local anes thetic on the sore, irritated membrane of your throat. Pain eases almost instantly; rawness is relieved. Countless thousands now use this way to ease sore throat. Your doctor, we are sure, will approve it. And you will say it is marvelous. Get the real BAYER ASPI RIN at your druggist’s by ask ing for it by its full name — not by the name “aspirin” alone. FOR A DOZEN 2 FULL DOZEN FOR 25c Virtually lc a tablet f