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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (July 29, 1937)
Neb. State HijtorIcaj Society The Frontier VOL. LVIII O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1937. No. 11. NEARLY 5 INCHES OF RAIN FALL IN A DOWNPOUR HERE Electrical Storm Preceding Rain Kills A Team of Horses And One Cow. One of the heaviest rainfalls seen in this city in the past twenty years visited O’Neill and vicinity Wed nesday night, or rather Thursday morning, as the rain started about 2:10 a. m. this morning and con tinued most of the time until a little after 8 o’clock. Weather Ob server Bowen measured the rainfall in this city at 4.84 inches. The heavy rain covered a strip about twelve miles wide and extended from Stuart as far east as Norfolk, but not nearly as heavy in other sections of the county as in this city. Stuart reports 1.50 inches; At kinson 1 inch; Emmet 3% inches; Inman 2 inches; Page beter than an inch and a half. We have not heard from the Ewing territory. North of O’Neill, in the Meek vicin ity they received over 1 inch. West of Meek in the Stein neighborhood the rainfall wras a strong half inch. In the eastern part of the county they had a good heavy shower in some sections while in the Dorsey neighborhood it amounted to about 1 inch. Not much rain fell in the vicinity of Oportunity. The rain extended south as far as Casche creek, according to Sup ervisor Gibson, none falling in the Chambers section. The sky is still overcast with clouds this afternoon and it looks as if we would have some rain and it might be that the parts of the county that were slighted this morning will receive a good rain> before the weather clears up. Streets of this city were running rivers about 8 o’clock this morn ing, as a deluge of water pouring south from the high ground in the northern part of the city headed for lower ground. Both Benton and Clay streets between Fifth and Sixth streets were flooded to a depth of about 18 inches, and Douglas street in the same part of town was under more than a foot of water. Several basements in the city were flooded with water, but no serious damage to goods was caused by the flooded basements. The basements flooded the worst were those of the J. C. Penney store, the bakery just west of it and the Ennis sho^ shop. There was noth ing in the basement of the latter, while the stock in the other base ment was removed before the water started flowing in. In the J. C. Penney store basement there was about two feet of water. The water started coming into the basement a little after eight o’clock and em ployees soon discovered it and got several men to assist and they soon had the goods off the floor and carried up stairs. Most of the goods in the basement were on shelves about four feet from the floor. Manager Todsen says the loss will be light. A severe electrical storm pre ceded the rain and continued dur ing the first half hour of the rain fall, causing many nervous resid ents to stay awake most of the night. During this electrical storm lightening struck the barn on the Frank Peters farm two miles south of town, killing his best team of horses which were standing in the barn. Another horse was severely injured. The barn caught fire but the flood of water that followed kept-the fire on the inside and by hard work Mr. Peters was able to save the barn. His loss was cov ered by insurance. James Moore, living southeast of town, lost a cow by lightning during the storm. Last Thursday afternoon they had an inch and a half of rain at Stuart and about 3 miles south of there and some hail. The west end of the county is in good shape now and it looks as if we would have a good corn crop, as this last rain will revive the corn that had been drooping on account of the lack of moisture. Following is the weather chart for the past week: Hi>fh Low Mois. July 22 _102 72 July 23 _ 98 65 July 24 _ 95 67 July 25_ 93 57 July 26 _ 92 56 July 27_ 96 69 Julv 28_ 87 61 July 29_— — 4.84^ | Total rainfall for the month, 5.97 inch. Total for the year, 16.66 inches. ——————————— Redbird Merchant Will Soon Retire John Wrede, who for the past' thirty years has been operating a general store at Redbird, is closing out the entire store and is to retire j from business. John was in the city last Saturday and left an order at this office for sale bills of a two page size to advertise the sale thru the northern half of this county and the eastern half of Boyd county. John has been a success ful country merchant and is retir ing for good. In September he and Mrs. Wrede expect to leave for California where they will make their future home. Ferris Sentenced To 3 Years In Penitentiary For Attempted Assault Robert Ferris, aged about 21, was before the district court last Friday, charged with having on the evening of July 21, violently, unlawfully and feloniously make an asault ^ith the intent to commit rape upon the person of a young O’Neill girl. He plead guilty to the charge and was sentenced by Judge Dickson to three years in the state penitentiary. He was taken to Lincoln Saturday morning by Deputy Sheriff Bergstrom. the attempted assault took place near the public library, about 11 o’clock Wednesday night, July 21. He grabbed the girl, badly tearing hter clothes but she put up such a fight and screamed for help and Ferris got scared and ran away. The young girl recognized her as sailant and Chief of Police Calkins was notified and he had the at tempted ravisher in custody and in the city jail within an hour after the attempted assault. Friday morning he was confront ed with the mayor and police of ficers and he admitted the attempt to assault and signed a confession to that effect in the peresnce of Mayor Kersenbrock, Police Judge Bay and Policeman Lewis. He was then taken before the County At torney where he again admitted his guilt and was then taken before the district court where he plead guilty and was promptly sentenced. The local police are entiled to credit for handling this case so efficiently. For several months women and young girls have been chased on the streets of the city, during the evening hours, and the punishment of this man Ferris will probably have a good effect on others who are pursuing the same tactics, and they had better take warning from his case unless they also wish to get a few- years in the big house near Lincoln. Holt County 4-H Clubs Elkhorn Valley Feeder Calf Club A meeting of the Elkhorn Valley Feeder Calf Club was held July 22, at the Joe Jurgensmeier home. The members were all present but one. After the business of the meeting was over, the trip to Long Pine was discussed. The members played games, after which a delicious lunch of ice cream and cake was served. Visitors at the meeting were Mrs. McNally and daughter and Jess Wills and two boys. ^ - Elm Grove Stocker-Feeder Club ' The Elm Grove Stocker-Feeder club held their regular metting at the John Grutsch home Sunday, July 25. All members were pre sent. Demaris Benson, who at tended camp at Long Pine, told of her experiences there. A picnic lunch was served at noon. APPRECIATION I desire to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the people of O’Neil and vicinity for the splendid busi ness given me since the establish ment of my style shop here a little over a year ago, and I am sure that you will continue to give me and my partner, Mrs. McCartney, the same loyal support you have given me and I assure you we will try and merit it. Mrs. Bordson. Mrs. D. H. Cronin, Marjorie Joan and Richard, returned home last Friday night from a months visit with relatives at Nebraska city, and with friends in Omaha. HOLT COUNTY HAS 125 4-H CLUBBERS AS * STOCKER-FEEDERS Twelve Clubs Training Boys and Girls So They Can Teach Calves to Eat Grain. The recent organization of the Inman 4-H Stocker Feeder Club | now makes a total of twelve clubs of this type in Holt county with a membership of 125 boys and girls, j This means that each of 125 boys and girls in this county are the proud owners of one or more stock er-feedes calves which they will teach to lead, eat small amounts of grain such as oats or cottonseed cake or other feed by creep feeding or hand feeding and groom for selling this fall. „ On October 18, they will hold their first show and sale of 4-H Stocker-Feeder calves raised by 4-H members, at O’Neill. At that time the calves will weigh from 325 to 450 pounds, just the right weight for boys and gilds in east ern Nebraska and Iowa to feed out. Similar sales will be held at Bas set October 19 and 20, and at Val entine October 20 and 21. These will be the first show and sales of this kind ever held in the United States so far as we know. This is a project in which there is a big future in Holt county as what could be more worth while than teaching boys and girls the fundamentals of livestock raising while they are young, rather than letting them learn from the school of hard knocks after they have grown up. These clubs are scat tered all over the county and mem bers state that they will be glad to have anyone visit their farm to see “their” calf. Leaders who are spending con siderable time in making the pro ject a success are: Irwin LaRue, Ewing: Joe Jurgensmeier, Emmet; Coy Nelson, Stuart; A. Max Karo, Stuart; Carl Thiele, Clearwater; Glenn E. White, Amelia; Mrs. John Grutsch, O’Neill; Arthur Hiatt, Amelia; Werner Eisert, O’Neill; Mrs. Wm. Drueke, Atkinson, and Lorin Keyes, Inman. Behas Return From Visits With Children Mr. and Mrs. William G. Beha returned home last Friday night from a two weeks visit at the homes of their children in Nebras ka, Iowa and Wisconsin. They left here a little over two weeks ago accompanied by Bill, who had been here visiting, and drove to Omaha where they picked up Miss Nan and William Haley, brother-in-law of Joe Beha, and they drove to Minn eapolis where they visited Joe and family for a few days. From there, #Pcompanied by Joe and his family, they drove to Neilsville, Wis., where they were joined by Paul Beha and family, of Oshkosh, Wis., and they had a family reunion at that point, all the children and their families being at the reunion. From Neilsville they drove to Osh kosh where they visited Paul and family for a few days and started the homeward journey. William left them at Oshkosh and returned to New York, where he is attend ing school. Mr. Beha says they had a delightful trip and a splendid visit with all their children. Grass Fires Give Fire Department Three Calls The fire department was called to the south end of town last Friday afternoon a prairie fire having started on the grass north of the Northwestren station and between the Burlington tracks. On Mon day afternoon they were called to the cemetery north of the city where a fire was raging. The care taker of Calvary cemetery started burning some rubbish and the fire got away from him and the depart ment was called. The fire destroy ed a few of the nice cedar trees around the cemetery. Tuesday afternoon another run was made to a fire on the grass north of Mrs. Riley’s home in the northeast part of town. The fire was extinguished without damage. Soil Conservation Checking of performance to de termine the extent to which farmer participants have contributed to soil conservation under the 1937 agricultural conservation program will start in Nebraska about Aug. • ^ — 1, according to an announcement received by the agi (cultural agent here from Fred Wallace, chairman of the state APC committee. School ing for the reporters selected at the recent examination will be Mon day, Aug. 2 in O’Neill. Immedi ately following they will start visit ing all farmers who particpate in the program this year. It is hoped to have compliance work out of the wap by Sept. 1 and final papers completed so that checks may be received l>y producers before Jan. 1. Prices On Both Cattle And Hogs Show Good Rise At Atkinson Sale Atkinson, Nebr., July 27.—Gen eral price improvement continued in the cattle market at Tuesday’s auction. Stimulated by higher fat cattle markets and a continued good outlook for a crop over the major part of the corn-belt, eager buyers carried top prices to new recent highs. All but the very commonest kinds Showed advances of 25 to 75 cents a hundred over a week ago. An outstanding grass fat heavy heifer consigned by Mr. Dusatko of Emmet, sold for $10 a hundred, the highest price paid for a grass heifer since 1928. A load of fleshy heavy steers crossed the scales at 10.35 while a part load sold at 10.60. Numerous fleshy heifers sold at 7.50 to 8.50 with heavy cows selling up to 8.00. The good light stockers, while in better demand, did not show the improv ment that the heavier ones did. With over 1,000 head of cattle on sale the quality of the offering was the best of the season. Representative sales: Heavy feeding steers. 9.00 to 10.60 Choice two-year-old steers at ...8.50 to 9.65 Fair to good feeding steers at 7.00 to 8.00 Choice yearling steers 7.50 to 8.00 Fair to good yearling steers at._. .6.00 to 7.00 Choice fleshy heifers . 7.50 to 10.00 Fair to good heifers . 6.00 to 7.00 Best fat cows at .... 7.00 to 8.00 Good killing cows 6.00 to 6.50 Canners and cutters 3.50 to 5.25 Bulls all weights at 5.00 to 6.50 In the hog department receipts totaled only 160 head. The market was red hot on all kinds and weights, as much as 25 to 75 cents up from a week ago. Top on choice weights, 11.75; sows generally at 10.50 to 11.10; pigs all weights at 12.00 to 14.00 a hundred. Next auction Tuesday, August 3. Certified Wheat Seed List Lists of producers having certi fied winter wheat seed are avail able at the agricultural agent’s of fice to anyone who wishes them. This seed is all free of noxious weeds and is of the hardiest and highest yielding varieties. Fred Cole left last Thursday evening for Spokane, Wash., where he expects to make his future home. a new serial by ALAN LE MAY Suspected and disliked, handsome young Billy Wheeler won a place on the range . . . and the heart of winsome Marian Dunn. You’ll enjoy this new story of mystery, adventure and hot blooded shooting as it unfolds serially in our paper ... a pulsing drama of life in the rugged Western cow country. A REAL THRILLl Beginning on Page 3 of This Issue. * Accidents Record For the week ending July 17 there were 406 accidents in the state in which 346 people wer^in jured, ten disabled and eighteen deaths. Automobile accidents were 117 in which 154 were injured, 3 disabled and 6 deaths. Other pub lic accidents accounted for 80 ac cidents in which 50 people were in jured, 3 disabled and 5 deaths. Ag riculture accounts for 102 accidents in which 71 people were injured, 3 disabled and 1 death. Industry accounted for 36 accidents in which 21 were injured, 1 disabled and 4 deaths. Home accidents numbered 62 in which 41 people were injured and 2 deaths. These figures are compiled by the Nebraska State Press association and the State Superintendent of Public Instruc tion. Mrs Bordson Sells Half Interest In Her Shop Mrs. Anna McCartney, of Butte, arrived in the city Tuesday even ing and on Wednesday closed up a deal that had been pending for several days for the purchase of a half interest in the Bordson Style Shop and will become a resident of this city and manager of the Style Shop, which hereafter will be known as the Bordson & McCartney Style Shop. Mrs. Bordson has a style shop at Spencer, which is her home, and she found it impossible to manage both shops and for that reason took in a partner. Mrs. Myrtle Doroty, who has been the manager of the local Bordson shop for the past year, is retiring and expects to leave, with her son, Oliver, in a week or so for Cali fornia where she expeets to make her future home. The Frontier welcomes Mrs. McCartney to the ranks of O’Neill’s business circles. Mrs. William McNally Dies Tuesday at Lincoln Fred McNally received word Tuesday afternoon that his sister in-law, Mrs. William McNally, 61, passed away in a Lincoln hospital Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The funeral services were held at Lin coln Thursday morning and the body shipped to their home at Johnstown, Nebr., for burial. Mr. and Mrs. McNally were form er residents of this county. They lived in the Dorsey section of the county for a few years and then moved to this city where Mr. Mc Nally was an employee of 0. O. Snyder in the lumber yard for sev eral years. The family left here about thirty years ago and went to' Brown county where Mr. McNally has been operating a ranch. John Protivinsky Takes A Forced Vacation John P. Protivinsky and son-in law, Claude Johnson, returned from Norfolk last Thursday even ing where Mr. Protivinsky had been for medical gxamination. For the past six weeks he had been suffering from stomach trouble and went to Norfolk to consult a spec ialist. The latter informed him that there was nothing serious the matter but that he would have to go on a diet and take it easy for a time. He specified two weeks in bed and then for another four weeks he was to take it easy and keep away from the store and any business. It is rather tough dur ing these hot days to have to stay in bed, but when the result is a restoration to health it should not be so bad. John has many friends in this city and vicinity and they hope to see him at the end of his enforced vacation back in the har ness restored to his old time vigor and health. Judge and Mrs. R. R. Dickson and Mrs. D. H. Cronin drove to Neligh Monday. The Judge was called there to preside over an equity term of court for Judge Chase of Stanton, who has been on the sick list for the past six weeks, while the ladies visited friends in that city during the day. They returned home Monday even ing. CARD OF THANKS We desire to exetnd our heart felt thanks to the many kind friends and neighbors for their many kind acts to our beloved wife and mother. Your kindness will ever be grate fully remembered. Also for the beautiful flowers. — William E. Luben, Sr., and family. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD FOR GEORGE A. MILES IN O’NEILL FRIDAY MORNING Veteran Holt County Editor Dies At His Home Last Wednesday Morning of A Heart Ailment After Three Weeks Illness. George A. Miles died at his home; in this city last Wednesday morn ing a few minutes before 8 o’clock, after an illness of a little over three weeks, of heart failure at the age of 75 years, 4 months and 7 days. The funreal will be held Friday morning at 10:30 from the Pres byterian church, Rev. H. D. John son officiating and burial in Pros pect Hill cemetery. On July 2, Mr. and Mrs. Miles returned from a visit at the home of their daughter in Colorado. Mr. Miles was not feeling good when they left on the trip and the jour ney was tiring to him, but his ill ness was not considered serious. The Monday after his return he suffered a heart attack at his home* and since that time he had been confined there. A specialist was called from Omaha, but he gave the family no hope and he kept sinking rapidly until the end came last Wednesday morning. George A. Miles was born on March 21, 1862, at Belmont, Wis. The family lived there until he was nine years of age when they moved to Harlan, Iowa, where he resided until he reached his major ity when he came to Nebraska %nd filed on a preemption claim in Brown county in 1883. He farmed for a few years and in 1891 he started a paper in Springview, Keya Paha county, which he op erated for a year, then in 1892 he purchased the Home Rule, a paper published in Ainsworth, which he edited for twelve years until he purchased the Holt County Inde pendent in 1904, and moved to this city which had been his home since that time. On May 10, 1892, he was united in marriage at Ainsworth, Nebr., to Miss Clara B. Shipman. Three children were born of this union, Mrs. Gladys Davies of Deertrail, Colo., G. E< Miles of this city, and Fay A. Miles of Chadron, Nebr., who with their mother are left to mourn the passing of a kind and affectionate husband and father. There are also six grandchildren. He also leaves one brother, Sam J. Miles of Ainsworth, and two sis ters, Mrs. Cal Gish of Kirkman, Iowa, and Mrs. Anna Knauss of Council Bluffs, Iowa. George A, Miles came to this city and assumed the management and control of the Independent in January, 1904, thirty-three years ago last January, and since that time has been an ardent booster for O’Neill and Holt county. He always took an active interest in civic affairs and was always ready with his time and money to boost for what he considered of benefit to the city, county and people thereof. He was also active in fraternal affairs and held membership in the Modern Woodmen, Royal Highland ers and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a member of the board of trustees having charge of the Protestant cemetery and for about thirty years he has been the manager of the cemetery, looking after its upkeep and handling the financial affairs. In the passing of George Miles, Holt county loses one of its oldest publishers in point of service, and his passing will be mourned by all the members of the profession in the county. While some of the members could not always agree with George, they all respected and admired him and will miss him at their regular meetings of the Pub lishers Association, at which he was always an attendant. Donald Vequist Wins Trip To Seward For Game Conservation Donald Vequist of O'Neill, mem ber of the Honey Creek 4-H Turkey and Sheep Clubs was notified this week he had won a trip to the 4-H conservation camp at Seward on August 10 to 13. Donald constructed several brush shelters for pheasants and prairie chickens, shot and trapped maggies and crows and protected wild life in general. He is one of five mem bers to represent eleven north cen tral counties. Any other 4-H club members may attend the camp by paying their own transportation and registration fee. This is the third wild life con servation camp held at Seward dur ing the past three years. The camp is made possible thru the ef forts of C. H. Horn, sportsman from Minnesota who each year of fers free trips to outstanding 4-H club members in the conservation and preservation of wild life. THE NEBRASKA SCENE By the Lowell Service Lincoln, Nebr.—Within the inner circles of the democratic party, the organization of the Cochran-for President clubs, beginning at North Platte and spreading to various points thruout the state, is regard ed as a shrewd bid for leadership of the administration forces in the next campaign. At Washington some of the democratic senators who are up for renomination and reelection next year have expressed apprehension concerning what they term “Roosevelt reprisals” in the next campaign. Governor Cochran, claiming adherence to the New Deal principles, may become a for midable figure in the reconstruc tion of the democratic party in Nebraska. Senator Burke does not agree, however, for in an interview in Washington, he said: “I would welcome reprisals. I don’t know anything that would so well assure my reelection for the balance of my life.” Victory in the 1928 primary would carry with it the disposal of patronage, and all the benefits of party control. According to Everett Dawson, vice president of the Nebraska as sociation of insurance agents, the amazing increase during the past month in insurance rates on motor vehicles is due to tha icreasing number of traffic accidents and the consequent constantly mounting liability. Accident premiums on commercial vehicles such as trucks and busses have been raised from 10 to 100 per cent; collision protec tion for new passenger automobiles, 15 per cent; and on the older mod els, 50 per cent. Dawson intimated that if the situation does not im prove, the next move will, be to raise the premium charges of pub lic liability and property damage policies. The semi-annual apportionment of income from permanent school trust funds has just been distribu ted by State Superintendent Chas. W. Taylor among the 6,526 school districts of the state. The total amount distributed was $522,103, of which Douglas county received $59,567, and Lancaster county $29, 131. The total distribution for 1937 is $972,406, which is $217,278 less than the total for 1936. In the districts which receive the funds, there are 398,181 pupils, and the average for each student is about $240 per year. Two rulings on the delinquent tax law passed by the last legisla ture have recently been hanJed down by Attorney General Richard C. Hunter. One is that if a tax sale purchaser wishes to take an assign ment of the tax sale certificate owned by the county, he should pay only the amount of the tax, plus 7 per cent interest from the date the act became effective. The other ruling is that if tax sale certific ates have been sold, the property owner may redeem by paying the principal and 7 per cent interest on the back tax from the date the new (Continued on page 4, column 1.)