VOL. LXI O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19. 1940 NUMBER 32
SOUTHWESTERN
BREEZES
By Romaine Saunders
A few relatives went to the Ber
nard Kennedy home Friday even
ing last, surprising Mr. Kennedy on
his birthday anniversary by indi
cating they had come to show him
a good time. Among the items
that went to make up an evening,
which on this occasion lasted until
two in the morning, was an oyster
stew.
The spirit inspiring men to smite
with the fist of wickedness and
to destroy occasionally cuts loose
on this quiet prairie. Over at the
school house where the young ideas
shoot when the sovereign citizens
of Swan precinct are not there to
register their votes against a third
term, vandals have wrought wan
ton destruction. Teachers and pu
pils had gone to some pains to dec
orate their school for the holiday
season. It was a heart-crushing
experience to find one morning the
Christmas decorations torn down,
contents of ink bottles spilled about
disorder, wreckage, ruin. Neigh
borhood boys have had the re
sponsibility for this conduct hung
on them.
A month after the snow blockade
locked its frozen arms about this
community the last stretch of road
was opened to travel. The bridge
at the James ranch was snowed
under for a full month, the town
ship road men. recently clearing a
way through.
Paul Chapman has been drawn
from this community for army
service under our peace time con
scription program that is now as
sembling sonic eight hundred
thousand defenders of Old Glory.
An airplane flew this terri
tory Sunday perhaps carrying a
marksman with a weather eye for
an elusive coyote. I didn’t learn
why the pilot twice zoomed just
above our chimney top, hut will
warn him that creatures on the
wing have fallen into that chim
ney, their charred remains being
removed from a stovepipe.
On a cold morning in December,
1890, I met Billy Hough on the
street in O’Neill and he greeted
me with the important news: “Sit
tin’ Bull is dead.” December and
January are the months of local
historical anniversaries. There has
been much written about Sitting
Bull, his mode of life, his influence
with the Sioux as their chief medi
cine man, his fanatical emotions
wrought out of the ghost dance
and his ultimate end at the investi
gation of the secretary of the in
terior. Sitting Bull was shot to
death on the morning of Decem
ber 15, 1890, after being aroused
by the Indian police of Standing
Rock, who were sent to arrest him
at his camp on the Grand river in
North Dakota. There are different
versions of how it happened but
the results of the attempted ar
jest were the death of Sitting
Bull, his son Crowfoot, and Lt.
Bullhead of the squad of police.
The original purpose of Comman
der Drum of Ft. Yates was to se
cure Sitting Bull on December 20,
.a ration day when the Indians would
be in from the reservation for their
.supplies. Word came to him that
the Bull and his followers were pre
paring to head for the Bad Lands,
so the earlier date was decied upon.
That the battle of Wounded Knee
was precipitated by this arrest is
well known. This, the last upris
ing of the Indians which brought
on hostilities, has a touch of local
color. It was their inspiring back
ground out of which O’Neill secur
ed a company of state militia. The
Frontier editor was top surgeant of
this company, the late J. H. Mere
dith being its first captain. Gov.
Crounse came here to muster the
patriots into the service of the
state. Art Coykendall was honor
ed with the post of guard at the
door of the old rink, where mus
ter ceremonies were held, and with
rifle at “right shoulder,” himself
in blue uniform, stood as motion
Jessi as a telephone pole with a mili- j
St. Mary’s Cardinals Lose
Two Games Past Week
The Saint Mary’s Cardinals,
showing far from their usual pep
lost tWHi games during the last
week by close margins.
On Friday night a strong Plain
view team put the Cardinals back
with a 29-25 count. This game
was one of the roughest games
yet seen in the O’Neill gym with
14 fouls being called on the two
teams, a total of 28 fouls.
At the end of the first quarter
it looked as though St. Mary’s was
out of the game altogether, but
they came back in the second quar
ter to be out in the lead 19-17 at
half time.
The second half had no more
than started when Plainview
started dunking in baskets from all
sides to go into the lead and coast
to a 29-25 win.
Following is the bax score:
St. Mary's fg ft pf
Hammond . 3 0 2
Shoemaker . 3 4 2
Sirek .. 12 4
Kersenbrock . 0 0 3
Miles . 1 0 2
Hickey, c . Ill
Totals :. 9 7 14
Plainview fg ft pf
Trube . 2 12
Albin, c . 1 1 4
Seever . 0 0 0
Peterson . 2 2 3
Boetger . 4 3 1
Jenkins . 2 0 4
Totals .11 7 14
Sacred Heart’s unbeaten hoop- j
sters of Norfolk marked up their j
third straight win by defeating the 1
favored St. Mary’s team of O’Neill,
Sunday, 32-28, at Norfolk.
The Norfolkans grabbed a 12-4
lead in the first quarter. St. Mary’s
rallied in the second, trailed at half
time, 15-18. The invaders forged
ahead in the third period, 23-21,
but Sacred Heart rallied.
Rodney Montgomery, center, led
the winners with 11 points. Kelle
her and O’Connell played fine floor
games. Ted Sirek, St. Mary’s
center, high scon r with 16 points,
and Shoemaker, forward, stood out
for the losers.
Leslie M. Wertz
Leslie M. Wertz died at the home ,
of his brother, Emmet Wertz, at
his home near Star, after a lin- j
gering illness at the age of 40
years, three months and fifteen
days. The funeral will be held
from his brother’s residence at
2 o’clock Friday afternoon, Rev.
V. C. Wright of this city officiat
ing, and burial in the Mineola cem
etery.
Leslie M. Wertz was the son of
one of the pioneer families of the
Star neighborhood and was born
near Star on September 3, 1900.
He grew to manhood in that sec
tion of the country and lived there
all his life. After the death of his
parents, he made his home with his
brother, who remained on the old
homestead. For sixteen years
Leslie had been in ill health and
for the past thirteen months bed
fast, but bore his tribulations with
a stout heart, never murmuring or
complaining. He never married
so that his entire life was spent on
the farm on which he was born.
He was a good citizen and when
able to get around always took an
active interest in the civic and so
cial affairs of his section of the
county.
He leaves to mouri his passing
five brothers and three sisters, he
being the first member of the fam
ily to pass away. The brothers
are: Floyd E., Page; Emmet C.,
Star; Leland E., Minneapolis,
Minn.; Lyle D., Readlyn, Sask.,
Canada; Arthur B., Star, Idaho.
The sisters are: Morna, Margaret,
and Mrs. Mildred Phillips, Star,
Nebr.
tary bearing and rigidness that
qualified for the whole company.
Another anniversary that falls this
month is the Barret Scott tragedy.
And next month, the 12th, we re
member the overwhelming blizzard
of ’88.
I
THE FRONTIER WISHES ALL ITS READERS AND FRIENDS, BOTH
LARGE AND SMALL A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
Nine St. Mary’s Students
Receive Certificates In
Bookkeeping
National recognition has come to
nine business students in Saint
Mary’s Academy, who have receiv
ed Certificates of Achievement in
Bookkeeping from the Business
Education World, New York City.
The Certificates were awarded for
satisfactory solutions of a project
in bookkeeping. A central com
mittee of examiners judged the
papers.
Reverend Mother M. Virginia
announces that the names of nine
students are as follows: Eileen L.
J. Kelly, Gerald J. Kleinsmith,
Harry L. Piercy, Monica B. Slvort
hill, Vera C. LaPointe, Arthur A.
Jergensmeier, Jack F. Harty, Mar
jorie J. Cronin and Mildred L.
Cavanaugh.
The Weather
All of Holt County is covered
with snow again, as snow fell on
last Thursday, Friday, Saturday
and Sunday, with approximately
eight to ten inches now on the
ground, with a moisture content of
one half inch. The blanket of snow
will materially aid the winter crops
and will put the ground in much
better shape for early spring plow
ing. The weather chart for the
past week is as follows:
High Low Free.
December 12 .31 0 .16
December 13 . 2 -3 .08
December 14 .10 2 .10
December 15 .13 10 .16
December 16 .lb 11
December 17 .20 -1
Mrs. Henry Lohaus entertained
the members of the Martez Club
at their Christmas party with a
seven-thirty o’clock dinner at the
Golden Hotel followed by cards at
her home on Monday evening.
Santa Claus To Be Here
Friday#Afternoon With
Candy and Nuts For
All The Kiddies
Santa Claus will arrive in O’Neill
at 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon
and will meet the young people of
this city ami surrounding trade
territory at the County Garage,
where he will hand out candy and
nuts to the young^ers, as he has
done in the past. While Santa is
passing out the candy and nuts,
children from the O’Neill schools
will sing Christmas carols.
That afternoon there will be a;
free picture show at the Royal:
Theatre for all that wish to attend, i
—
Ash Grove Project Club
Mrs. Donald Hall was the host- j
ess of the Ash Grove Project Club,
with all members present. Mrs.
Joe Wadsworth was our guest.
Games were played, poems recited,
and gifts exchanged.
Members brought sandwiches
and cake, and the hostess served
ice cream.
Mrs. Lucas, our reading leader
presented, “Christmas in Other
Lands.” Next meeting will be
held at Mrs. Aim’s.
_
Mrs. Minnie S. Stump, of Erie,
Pa., will be a holiday guest at the
home of her brother, R. M. Sauers.
She will arrive on Monday, Decem
ber 23, for a ten-day visit.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Vincent and
son, Keith, expect to leave shortly
after Christmas for California,
where they will visit relatives and
attend the Nebraska-Stanford foot
ball game on New Years Day.
Their son, Jack, is a member of
the Nebraska football squad, and
will make the trip west with the
team. ,
Greetings
from St. John’s
The Pastor and people of St. John’s
take this means of thanking all our
friends in O’Neill and surrounding coun
try, for their many kind acts and thought
ful courtesies shown us during the past
year, and to wish one and all a Very Merry
Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous 1941.
May God Bless All of You.
C. A. BEYERSDORFER
Uncle of James B. Ryan
Dies at His Home in Erin
Following is reprinted from
"The Guardian” printed in Ballina,
Ireland, concerning the death of
Mr. Michael Hayes, uncle of J. B.
Ryan of O’Neill:
"It is with sincere regret that we
announce the death of Mr. Michael
Hayes which sad event took place
after a brief illness, on the 13th of
October. The deceused was of an
old Tipperary stock, noted for
their honesty and integrity. He
was an outstanding personality,
and one of the best and kindest of
neighbors. During his illness he'
was regularly attended to by Dr.
Mary Courtney, Killaloe, and by
the Rev. Fr. O’Shea, C. C. Ballina.
“Of a devout disposition all
through life, he died fully recon
ciled to the Will of his Maker, and
fortified by the rites of Holy Cath
olic Church. On Monday evening
the remains were taken to Ballina
Church, and the large cortege that
accompanied same, bore testimony'
to the esteem in which the deceased
was held. High Mass was offered j
up on Tuesday morning, the fol
lowing priests officiating: Rev.
Fr. O’Cleary, P. P., Ballina; Very
Rev. Canon Barrett, Clonlara; Rev.
Fr. O’Shea, C. C., Ballina; Rev. Fr.
O’Brien, C. C., and Rev. Fr. Harty,1
C. C. Killaloe.
"The interment took place at the
family burial ground, Templet-ally,
immediately after High Maas.
"The Chief mourners were, Mrs.
Margaret Hayes (widow); Michael,I
Anthony, John and Matt, sons;
Nora, daughter; Mrs. Sarah Hayes
and Mrs. Maureen Hayes, daugh
ters-in-law; Rev. J. C. Ryan, S. J.
and Mr. J. B. Ryan of Nebraska,
U. S. A., nephews; Rev. Frs. Matt,
and Anthony Rohan, W. Rohan
(Melbourne) and John Grace, Bal
linahinch (brothers-in-law); Mrs.
Grace and Mrs. Rohan, sisters-in
law; R. Costelloe, Ogonnel-oe, Mrs. '
Courtney, Killaloe, Mrs. Heffer-!
nan, Clonlara, Mrs. O’Connell,'
Bridgetown.
“Telegrams of sympathy were
received from the E. S. B. staff at
Sligo and Ardnacrusha, also from
the United States of America.
“Acknowledgement.—Mrs. Hayes
and family thank all kind friends
who sympathized and also who
sent Mass cards and messages of
sympathy.’’
Grattan Project Club
The Grattan Project Club met at
the home of Mrs. Elmer Wolfe,
December 14, where they enjoyed,
a Christmas party.
Each member brought a covered:
dish and at one o'clock a sump
tious dinner was enjoyed by eleven
members and one visitor.
Several men dined with them.
Many useful and pretty presents
were distributed.
Counting of The Ballots
In Fourth District Sup
ervisor Race Is Now
In Progress
Just as »f are going to preftp,
5:10 P. M., the Recount Board
completed Its labor, and Mr. Wulf
ift elected supervisor with a vote
of 399; (JrafFt, 396; Kakow. 390.
This settles one of the closest races
in years in this county.
The count of the ballots in the
contest case in the Fourth Super
visor district started about 1:30
this afternoon and the canvass wilj
probably be completed before they
quiet for the day, but it is not
thought the work can be complet
ed until some time this evening.
Ira H. Moss, who was appointed
by the county board to sit in the
case as County Judge, as County
Judge Reimer disqualified himself
on account of his relationship to
the winner on the face of the re
turns, William Wulf present super
visor from that district. Attorney
1 Mounts, of Atkinson, is represent
| ing Wulf; Attorney Griffin, of this
city is representing Grafft, and
Attorney Rakow, of Neligh is rep
resenting Rakow. The count in
the district, with Verdigris pre
cinct included, gives Wulf a ma
jority over Grafft, republican can
didate of two votes, while Rakow
brings up the rear with four votes
less than the second man, so that
it is liable to be any man’s race.
The attorneys are doing the count
ing with Judge Moss presiding.
I
John Henry Gifford
| John Henry Gifford was born in
| New York State, October 22, 1867
i and departed this life on Wednes
| day, December 11, at the age of
73 years, 1 month and IS) days. He
passed peacefully away at his home
in the Seottville district of Holt
county following a lingering illness
of several months duration.
At the age of ten years he came
with his parents to Knox county,
Nebraska, later moving to Boyd
county, where he lived a number of j
years just south of Lynch. These
later years however the family
have lived in Holt county, near Op
portunity. Un May 1'.', 1910, he
was united in marriage to Ethel
Collins of Boyd county, Nebraska,
und to this union were born nine;
children, all of whom are yet liv-j
ing.
Left to mourn his passing are J
his widow; five sons, namely,
Charley of Dorsey; George of Cut!
Bank, Montana; Clifford, Orville
and Lawrence, all at home; four.
daughters, namely, Pearl Gifford
of O’Neill, Mrs. Walter Hauf
(Ruby) of Lucas, S. D.; Hazel and
Velma, both at home; three grand- ,
children; one brother, Cicero, of;
Norfolk and three sisters.
Funeral services were held Sat-!
urday afternoon at 2:30 P. M. from,
the Pentecostal church in Lynch, j
with Rev. Chester Anderson of
Anoka in churge. The music w as I
furnished by a quartet composed j
of Vance Anderson, Lotice liens-!
ley, Helen Schrunk and Claude
Pickering, with Norine Armstrong
at the piano. They sang “Does
Jesus Care,” “Farther Along,” and
“Just Outside the Eastern Gate.'' i
The pall bearers were John Krogh,
Henry Walters, Fred Lindberg,
Wm. Farrand and Ernest and
Roger Rosenkrans. The flow or
bearers were Mrs. Guy Wilson and
Mrs. Henry Walters. Burial was
made in the Lynch cemetery.—
Lynch Herald.
Pleasant Dale School
Miss Klla kazda, Teacher
The pupils are enjoying a water j
bubbler, a soap dispenser, and a I
pencil sharpener which was bought j
from the proceeds of our social.
The visitors this past month
were Clara Babl, Nayadene Kee
and Florence Winkler.
Those who were neither absent
nor tardy were Arlene and Daryl
Beckwith and Lottie Babl.
Those who sold a dollar’s worth j
of Christmas seals were Harold i
and Robert Winkler.
I I I I ' ■ ■ f
Marlin Jones will leave on Tues
day for Polk, Nebraska, where he
will spend Christmas with his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Hilmer Jones.
*
! O’Neill Hijfh Basketeers
Win One And Lose One
Twenty-two seconds left to play
and O’Neill was trailing Spalding
by a field goal when the referee
called a held ball in O’NeiU’s back
court. The ball was tipped, an
O’Neill player caught it, a dash
down the floor, a pass, a shot at the
goal which polled around the rim
then fell out. O’Neill recovered,
passed out but before another shot
could be taken the timer’s horn
sounded and the O’Neill cagers had
lost the opening game of the sched
ule 31-29 to Spalding.
The game was nip and tuck all
the way with only one or two
points separating the teams most
of the time. By quarters the
scores were 8-7 O’Neill, 15-14,
Spalding, and finally 31-29 Spald
ing. German and Mahoney carried
the scoring load for Spalding. Six
of the boys who played for O’Neill
broke into the scoring column.
Summary
O’Neill (31) fg ft pf
Vincent, f . 0 3 0
Manzer, f . 2 0 0
Burgess, f . 10 0
Leach, c . 4 0 0
Calkins, g .. 3 18
French, g . 2 13
Osenbaugh, g. 0 0 0
12 6 5
Spalding (31) rg ft pf
Mahoney, f . 3 3 1
Hiatt, f . 3 0 2
Kinner, c . 12 1
German, g . 6 0 2
Lee, g . 0 0 3
13 5 0
I
O’Neill High won its firat bas
ketball game of the season last
Tuesday defeating Stuart 14-8.
Both teams were cold on basket
shooting and it was midway in the
second quarter before either con
nected with a field goal. O’Neill
had a 7-3 lead at the half.
Stuart’s second team was de
feated 30-12 in the preliminary
game. The locals had a 4-0 lead
at the quarter and from there on
Lowery, Wetzler and Yantz took
turns warming the hoop.
The next home game is Tuesday,
January 7, when Elgin brings its
first and second teams here.
Summary
O'Neill (14) fg ft pf
Vincent . 113
Manzer .. 0 0 0
Burgess . 0 0 3
Leach . 0 0 0
Mitchell . 0 0 0
French . 2 0 2
Calkins . 2 14
Osenbaugh . 1 0 O
6 2 12
Stuart (8) t'K ft pf
Cotton . 0 12
Enjfler . 0 0 0
Hoffman . 2 12
Chapin .. 0 0 0
Shearer . 10 2
Raymer . 0 0 3
Bartlett .. 0 0 0
3 2 11
Referee—Patterson.
Mrs. Myrtle Coats
Word was received in this city
Wednesday of the death in a hos
I pital in Omaha of Mrs. Myrtle
Coats, who went to the hospital
about a month ago for medical
treatment. The body will he
brought to this city tomorrow
morning and the funeral will prob
ably be held Saturday morning.
Mrs. Coats was the daughter of
the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hox
sie, among the pioneer residents
of this section of the state, and was
born on the home place half a mile
south and two miles east of this
city on March 3, 1893, and was
47 years of age at the time of her
death, and had been a resident of
the city and county all her life.
She leaves five children to mourn
her passing, two daughters and
three sons, her husband having
passed away a good many years
ago. No definite information has
been received as to the cause of
her death. She submitted to an
opration while there and was ap
parently getting along nicely when
she took a relapse and shortly
passed away.
I