VOL. LXm O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24. 1942 NO. 33
Blackout Was Complete Success
Over Entire State; Others Later
The nine raidwestern states
comprising the Seventh Defense
Region have demonstrated to the
rest of the Nation that there is no
complacency and lack of co-oper
ation in this area. The regional
test blackout held Monday night,
December 14, was a decided suc
cess, according to reports reach
ing the regional office from the
various states. The region covers
approximately one-fourth of the
area of the Nation, and is the
largest area yet attempted to be
blacked out at one time. Brig.
Gen. U. S. Grant, national head
of the Civilian Defense Corps.;
Major Gen. Frederick E. Uhl,
commander of the Seventh Serv
ice Command, and Joseph D.
Schultz, regional OCD director,
were gratified over the results of
the test, which exceeded their ex
pectations.
Reports reaching the office ol;
Walter F. Roberts, State Civilian
Defense Co-ordinator, show that
Nebraska was blacked out nearly
100%, only a few minor infrac
tions being reported, and these
being unintentional and soon cor
rected. No accidents as a result
of the blackout have been report
ed in the state.
Reports from nearly all the cit
ies, towns and villages over the
state have been received by the
State Defense Committee, and all
of them stress the fact that the
average civilian is doing his best
to co-operate to the fullest extent
in the defense of his country. The
following are a few extracts from
reports received:
Loup City: “Sherman county’s
blackout came off last night with
out incident. As nearly as I am
able to determine, it was 100%.
The public generally co-operated
cheerfully and I believe the re
sult will be a closer co-operation
and more interest generally in all
civilian defense activities.”
Beatrice: “Thanks to the com
plete co-operation of the citizen
ry, Beatrice passed an uneventful
blackout test. There was not a
single incident reported to control
center.”
Syracuse: “The blackout was
considered a complete success.”
Wahoo: “Everything was well
under control, co-operation was
excellent, and services in all de
partments were prompt and ef
ficient ” Incidently Wahoo simu
lated bomb hits, fires and acci
dents, and the respective squads
responded to these emergencies *
Ashland: “Efforts were entirely
successful. We had 65 air raid
wardens, 15 auxiliary police, 10
fire watchers and messengers on
duty, besides the staff officers,
special medical unit and utilities
maintenance group. We had three
simulated casualties which in
volved two ambulances and four
of the special medical group. The
first aid work was very satisfac
tory. Special blackout lights on
the ambulances were very suc
cessful.”
McCook: “In twenty seconds
About College Students
Enlisting In The Navy
Lieutenant R. J. Mahoney, offi
cer in charge of the U. S. Navy
Recruiting Station, Omaha, issued
the following statement Decem
ber 19 relative to enlistment in
the Navy under the V-l Accred
ited College program:
“Notwithstanding press reports
to the contrary, enlistment of col
lege students over the age of 18
years, in the V-l program will
not be accepted, and enlistment
of college students under the age
of 18 in the V-l program will be
terminated on March 15, 1943. ’
In a further statement clarify
ing the new enlistment policy as
it affects men in this group, Lieut.
Mahoney had this to say: “Stu
dents holding probationary com
missions in the United States
Navy Reserve, provided they are
on inactive duty in a deferred
status, will be permitted to resign
and accept assignment to the col
lege training program as Appren
tice Seamen on active duty.”
after the air raid alarm was
sounded, the blackout was total
. . . all business houses and all
residents of the city favored us
with 100% co-operation in this
test.”
Hooper: ‘The Dodge county
blackout . . . was a pronounced
success. Our entire organization
worked fine_we are now ready
for any eventuality. We had set
up a rural organization that work
ed like clock-work. We appointed
a township captain for every
township in the county and
placed nine or more leaders finder
him. We used block leaders in all
towns.”
Stratton: “Co-operation 100%.
No trace of opposition. Boy Scouts
assisted block leaders with great
ambition to serve.”
Cozad: “ . . the local com
mander reported ... an absolute
perfect blackout and not a light
visible in the town or surround
ing country. Gothenburg, Far
nam, Sumner, Eddyville and Ov
erton all reported a success.”
Holdrege: “ . . . the most com
pletely successful undertaking by
this community . . . not a light
could be seen by anyone.”
Bayard: "... staged a 100%
successful blackout last night at
the appointed time.”
Holdrege and Bayard both held
successful tests, regardless of the
fact that both towns failed to get
their signals. After waiting a few
minutes after 10 o’clock, both
towns blacked out “on their own.”
Lincoln: “ . . . a very success
ful operation . . . for at least two
minutes of the blackout period,
the city of Lincoln was in total
blackness, after which time the
railroads and defense plants re
sumed operations under sufficient
restricted lighting that permitted
safety in operation. . . . The 1700
wardens, 500 messengers, and 300
auxiliary police and firemen, plus
the regular police and fire de
partment staffs, did a splendid
job.”
Gov. Dwight Griswold made a
short radio talk from the top of
the tower on the capitol building,
and complimented the people of
the state on their fine co-oper
ation. Mayor Johnson also made
a few remarks, thanking the peo
ple of Lincoln for doing such a
fine job in their first blackout
test.
The people of Nebraska are to
be congratulated for making the
state an outstanding example of
what may be accomplished when
everyone co-operates to the full
est extent in any undertaking.
They really made Nebraska the
“black spot” of the Nation.
I wonder if old Hitler,
Like Belshazzer at the ball,
Will presently decipher
The handwriting on the wall.
TOOLS AND GRAIN LOST IN
' FIRE AT ED ALDER FARM
Ed Alder, living one mile south
of Dorsey, lost his barn and black
smith shop together with a lot of
tools, and some grain, by fire a
week ago last Sunday. Mr. Al
der was burning some trash along
his fence line, when the wind
came up and took some embers
on the top of the barn, setting it
afire and also the tool house. The
loss is partly covered by insur
ance.
Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Bright and
daughter, Bonna Jane, of Fre
mont, will arrive Saturday to
visit Mr. Bright’s brother and
sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs. Ramon
Bright and Mrs. Bright’s sister
and brother-in-law, Dr. and Mrs.
L. A. Burgess.
Johnny Fernholz, who has been
in Buffalo, Wyo., for the past few
months, came Sunday to spend
Christmas with his father, Joe
Fernholz, and other relatives and
friends.
Miss Margaret Hammond, of
Omaha, will come Friday to visit
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. J.
Hammond, and other relatives
and friends over Christmas.
Jesse Janies, Of Atkinson,
Dies In Stuart Hospital
Jesse James, 63, one of Holt
county’s leading ranchers south of
Atkinson, died at the Stuart hos
pital at 8:30 last Tuesday eve
ning, after an illness of but a few
days. Monday evening he was
taken to the Stuart hospital by
friends, as he was suffering from
a severe cold. Pneumonia devel
oped and he passed away the
next evening. He is survived by
his wife, three sons and two
daughters.
Jesse James represented the
Seventh supervisor district on the
county board for eight years, from
1926 to 1934, when the place was
taken over by Ed J. Matousek,
who has since represented the
district.
Another Pioneer Has
Passed To Her Reward
Mrs. Hannah Merriman died at
her home in O’Neill last Monday
morning at 12:15 a. m., following
a stroke suffered about thirty
minutes before, at the age of 73
years, five months and ten days.
The funeral was held Wednesday
morning at 10:30 from the Pres
byterian church, Rev. Dr. Spen
cer officiating, and burial in Pros
pect Hill cemetery at the side of
her husband, who passed away
in August, 1936.
Mrs. Merriman had not been in
good health for the past seven
years, but was able to be up and
around. Sunday night she suffer
ed a stroke and passed away
about thirty minutes later.
Hannah L. Walker was born at
Clyde, Iowa, on July 11, 1869.
When she was 16 years of age her
parents come to Holt county and
located in the eastern part of the
county, north Of Page. This was
in 1885. On October 3, 1889, she
was united in marriage to Elmer
Merriman, the ceremony being
performed in this city. Three sons
were born of this union, all of
whom are living and two of
whom were present at the funer
al: Floyd E., of Sioux City, Iowa,
and Lawrence, of O’Neill. She is
also survived by two sisters and
three brothers. They are: Mrs,
Clara Hartford, Page; Mrs. Laura
Yokum, McClusky, N. D.; John
T. Walker, Page; David Walker,
Vineland, N. J.; Edward Walker,
Page. She is also survived by
seven grandchildren and two
great great grandchildren
Mrs. Merriman was another of
the old-time pioneers of Holt
county. Coming here as a young
girl of sixteen, her entire lifetime
—with the exception of ten years
spent in Sioux City, Iowa—was
spent in this county. Fifty-seven
years ago the family came to Holt
county, coming here from Iowa.
She was a charming woman and
had a host of friends all over the
county who will regret to learn
of her sudden passing.
HUSBAND OF O'NEILL GIRL
DIES IIN NEW ORLEANS
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dempsey
received word last Saturday that
their son-in-law, Samuel E. Spen
cer, of New Orleans, La., dropped
dead at his home there. His wife
is the former Marian Dempsey,
of this city, and they were mar
ried four years ago at Neligh.
Large Run Of Hogs And
Cattle; Prices Are Good
There was a good run last Mon
day of both cattle and hogs, with
the market still advancing on
hogs and the market on cattle
fully steady.
Steer calves sold from $13.50 to
$15, and heifer calves from $12
to $13. There were two loads of
good heavy yearling steers that
sold for $13.25 and $13.35. Fat
cows sold from $9.50 to $10.50,
while canners and cutters brought
from $6.50 to $8.50. Bulls sold
from $10 to $11.35. Butcher hogs
reached a $14.45 top with the bulk
selling from $14.15 to $14.40. Fat
sows sold from $13.85 to $14.
Stags sold around $12. There were
quite a few small pigs that sold
by the head at a good price.
BREEZES FROM
THE SOUTHWEST
%r Romaine Saunders
Atkinson, Nebr., Star Route No. 5.
Resignations, backed by the old
reliable alibi, ill health, among
government men in key positions
indicates that all is not well at
the new deal headquarters.
The FBI announces it will “in
terview female applicants” for
clerical jobs. We admit, ladies and
gents, that we are pretty much
the animal, but why emphasize
it in this fashion.
“Give, and it shall be given un
to you; good measure, pressed
down and shaken together and
running over shall men give into
your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it
shall be measured to you again.”
Ben Powell of the Minneola
country, brought in a big hog one
day and an O’Neill buyer gave
him $24 for it. But Ben lived a
quarter century too soon. Bill
Fryear of Amelia took a 600
pound porker to Atkinson last
week and traded it for $80.
Bernie Kennedy sustained the
loss of a handsome young colt,
the outcome of an accident. Near
ing home from a trip to town he
encountered the colt by the side
of the road, the colt making a
lunge into Mr. Kennedy’s car. He
got out to investigate, found a
handle missing from a car door
and discovered the handle em
bedded in the colt’s shoulder. He
succeeded in extracting it and
treated the injury, but within a
week it proved to be fatal.
The Associated Press sends this
out from Washington: Represen
tative Curtis of Nebraska said:
“America must destroy the OPA
or the OPA will destroy America.”
He declared in a statement placed
in the Congressional Record that
the office of price administration
was “overrun with intellectual
crackpots, with smart alecks who
think that 130 million people are
guinea pigs for them to try out
their maniacal theories." Mr. Cur
tis must have had an unfavorable
run-in with somebody.
Most citizens, even as they
growl about it, are glad to com
ply with anything, rationing or
otherwise, that will contribute to
the successful termination of hos
tilities in which we are involved
as a people. But there is defin
ite sentiment against new deal
administration heads taking ad
vantage of the war to enmesh
the country in their fantastic
schemes. Any man or set of men
that would build for personal
glory or financial gain on the
blood of our fallen soldiers are
not patriots.
Twenty thousand citizens wit
nessed a professional sports con
test in Los Angeles and left 4,740
empty liquor bottles as token that
they had been there. In these ser
ious days, these tragic days, days
in which all over our land the
hearts of fathers and mothers are
made to bleed because of the
fatal message handed to them,
“your son killed in action," is it
not to our shame that these con
tests with the accompanying con
vivial revelry are not restricted?
Let the school boys roll the balls
and have their fun while they
may, but the huskies arrayed for
contests in the arena and the half
naked lunks of beef-poised for a
wrestling match might better
hide away or get into service
duds.
A carton of black walnuts sent
us from Oklahoma, a bag of Eng
lish walnuts and a beautiful as
sortment of fruits stuffed with
nuts in a redwood tray from Cal
ifornia assures the Breezes home
not only of an ample supply of
the season’s delicatessen, but of
the loving thought back of these
material tokens. And from other
sources have come additional tok
ens of an undeniable substantial
nature, and the great number of
Announce Engagement Of
Former Holt County Girl
Word has been received here of
the engagement of Marjorie Ann
Mains, of Lincoln, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. R. A. Mains, formerly of
Stuart and Emmet, where he was
station agent for the Northwest
ern, now of Hastings, to George
E. Thornburgh, son of Mr, and
Mrs. Carroll Thornburgh, of
Blair, Nebr.
Miss Mains is employed in the
state house. Mr. Thornburgh at
tends the University of Nebraska,
where he is affiliated with the
Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. The
wedding will take place in the
spring. Miss Mains graduated
from St. Mary's Academy. O'Neill,
with the class of 1941.
Mrs. Roy Sauers Died
Here Sunday Night
Mrs. Maud B. Sauers died at
her home in this city last Sunday
evening at 11:30. after an illness
of several months of a heart ail
ment, at the age of 55 years, 11
months and five days. The funeral
was held Thursday morning at
10 o’clock from the Presbyterian
church. Rev. Doctor Spencer of
ficiating, and burial in Prospect
Hill cemetery.
Maude B. Planck was bom at
Redbird, Nebit, on January 15,
1887. When she was a little girl
the family moved to this city,
where her father was engaged in
business for several years, being
a member of the firm of Planck
& Thompson. In the early nineties
he disposed of his business inter
ests here and moved to the west
ern part of the county, where the
family made their home for sev
eral years. On January 27, 1911,
she was united in marriage to Roy
M. Sauers, the ceremony being
performed in this city. Mr. and
Mrs. Sauers made their home in
Stuart until November 11, 1919,
when they moved to O’Neill,
which had been her home ever
since. Mrs. Sauers is survived by
her husband and one son. Robert
K., of Fullerton, Calif. She is also
survived by one brother, Boyd
W. Planck, of Atkinson.
Mrs. Sauers was a charming
lady and always took an active in
terest in the civic affairs of the
city, as well as church activities.
She had a host of friends in
O’Neill, as well as in the western
part of the county, where she
grew to womanhood, and her
many friends will regret to learn
of her passing.
Mrs. Arthur King and son,
Jerry, left Monday for Denver,
where they will join Mr. King,
who has been ill in a hospital
there. From Denver they plan to
go on to San Diego, Calif., where
they will make their future home.
greeting cards are accepted as the
sincere sentiments of the senders.
Life would become a gloomy
round of vexing commonplaces
without the warm heart throb of
friendly greetings from time to
time, and none is more fraught
with kindly cheer than those that
come at this season.
This is the day the inventive
genius has come into his own.
There is a clammor for new
things. The inventor has rarely
experienced anything but disap
pointment in the past. O'Neill
has furnished some such. The late
B. F. Cole and E. H. Benedict
each had contraptions for the
benefit of mankind too numerous
to mention. Doctor Trueblood
perfected invisable rims for the
prevention of breakage of rimless
glasses, but the manufacturers
told him they were interested in
breakage—the more glasses brok
en the more they would sell. Guy
Green perfected a simple thing
for use in the printing industry,
borrowed the money from Ed F.
Gallagher to have it patented, but
realized little or nothing out of
his invention. In too many in
stances all the inventor has got
out of his created work was what
satisfaction there might be in
knowing that he had a part in
the endless string of accomplish
ments for the welfare of the race.
Captain Carney, O’Neill Native,
Loses Life In Southern Pacific
Miss Mary Carney received j
word last Saturday afternoon that
her brother, Capt. James V. Car- j
ney, U. S. N., was killed whenj
his plane crashed in the southern
Pacific. He was 44 years of age
last February.
James V. Carney was born in
O'Neill on February 14, 1898, the
son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Car
ney. He attended school in O’Neill
and worked for a few years in the
the Sanitary Market and also in
Gallagher’s store.
In 1917 he entered the U. S.
Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.,
and graduated from that school
m 1921. After his graduation he
was assigned to the New Mexico
on the west coast.
In 1924 he entered the Naval
Aviation Training school at Pen
sacola, Fla., and graduated from
there in 1925, and was again
assigned to service on the west
coast. As an officer of the U. S.
Navy, he had seen service in all
parts of the world.
In November, 1927, he was un
ited in marriage to Miss Natlie
Kibler, of San Diego, Calif., the
ceremony being performed in San
Diego. Two children were born
of this union, Betty Ann and
Peggy, who with their mother
survive and are left to mourn the
passing of a kind and affectionate
husband and father. He is also
survived by three sisters and one
brother. They are: Miss Mary
Carney and Mrs. Grover Shaw,
O’Neill; Mrs. L. F. Curtis, Sioux
City, Iowa; Thomas Carney, Den
ver, Colo.
The writer had known the de
ceased since boyhood and knew
him to be an honest, industrious
Local Lady Receives Good
News Through Red Cross
Mrs. J. J. Harrington has re
ceived word through the Interna
tional Red Cross that her brother
in-law, E. R. Girard, who was in
the Philippines at tha time of the
Jap invasion, was alive and well.
She received a cablegram from
him, addressed to his wife, that
he was well and, was being treat
ed well. He did not say where he
was, but he is undoubtedly a Jap
anese prisoner. This was the first
word received from him since De
cember of last year. Mrs. Girard
and her daughter are now in San
Francisco, where Miss Girard is
attending school, and this Christ
mas will be the happiest event in
their lives; while Mr. Girard will
not be with them, they know that
he is alive.
Mr. Girard was the president
of the Automatic Electric Sales
Company and had been over
there for four years, at the out
break of hostilities. He has visit
ed here with his wife and daugh
ter and is known by many O’Neill
people.
Lieut. Donald Courtright.
With Armored Corps
Lieutenant Donald D. Court
right, Cavalry, of O’Neill, has re
ported for duty with the III Ar
mored Corps, commanded by Ma
jor General Willis D. Crittenber
ger.
The Lieutenant, a graduate of
Central High School, Sioux City,
Iowa, was commissioned a Second
Lieutenant last December upon
graduation from the cavalry of
ficer candidate school, Fort Riley,
Kan. Following his graduation he
served with the Fifth and Eighth
Armored Divisions, Fort Knox,
prior to being transferred to
Camp Polk, La.
He will serve as assistant to the
adjutant general of the Corps.
The Lieutenant is married to the
former Agatha Beelaert, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Beelaert,
of Ewing. He is the son of O. A.
Courtright, 7020 Seville Ave.,
Huntington Park, Calif.
Mr. and Mrs. James Corkle and
family and Miss Marjorie Hanson
will spend Christmas in Pierce,
visiting Miss Hanson’s parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Carsten Hanson.
young man, who worked hard for
what he received. He was made
of the material that the American
aviators, who are giving such a
good account of themselves on the
world’s battle fronts, are made
of, the best in the world. James
was rated as one of the best av
iators in the Navy. For several
years he was a test pilot
and a man must be good to
get a position like that in the
fighting forces of the Navy. The
only information so far received
is that he died when his plane
crashed, and whether he was in
a fight with the Japs or on some
mission for the Navy probably
will not be known until after the
conflict.
He is the first O’Neill boy who
has given his life for his country
in this struggle for freedom. His
wife and children, his sister and
brother have the sincere sym
pathy of the people of this city
in their hour of sorrow.
Basketball Tournament
Held Here January 7-8
The Holt County Basketball
Tournament will be entertained
at O’Neill again this year, on Jan
uary 7 and 3. The schools in the
county voted to have the tourna
ment here again, due to the cen
tral location in the county.
Drawings for the tournament
last Thursday night for the first
round of play came out as fol
lows: St. Mary’s against Page,
St. Joseeph against Ewing, In
man against O’Neill, and Cham
bers drew a bye. Semi-finals will
be played Friday afternoon, Jan
uary 8, and the finals that night.
Losers in the semi-finals will play
for third and fourth places.
The tournament will be played
off in two days this year in order
to cut down on traveling Mr.
Lockman has been designated as
official timekeeper and Paul Ku
bitschek as official scorer. The
referees have not been contract
ed as yet.
Three trophies will be award
ed. The championship trophy will
be presented by the O’Neill Com
mercial Club, the runner-up tro
phy will be provided by the Holt
County Activities Association,
and the third place trophy and
official program will be awarded
by the business people of O’Neill
through contributions to members
of the O’Neill Pep Club. Those
people contributing will have
their names appearing on the of
ficial programs and an engraved
recognition on the trophy.
Prominent Dress Designer
Home For The Holidays
One of O’Neill’s most talent
ed daughters, Miss Mona Melvin,
of St. Louis, Mo., came home
Tuesday to be with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. John Melvin, and
other relatives and friends over
the holidays.
Miss Melvin has distinguished
herself as a designer of Mary
MufTet frocks. She deserves
a great deal of credit for her suc
cess, as she has worked very hard
to attain it.
SAYS WORK IS PLENTIFUL
OUT ON THE WEST COAST
Jack Ernst returned last Fri
day from a trip to the west coast,
where he went the forepart of
last July. While away he visited
Portland and Seattle and many
other towns in Oregon and Wash
ington. Jack says there are
many former O'Neill people all
along the west coast and that all
of them appear to be prospering.
Jack expects to return to Oregon
in a couple of weeks, as soon as
he gets some business matters
here straightened up, as he says
there is lots of work there and
jobs are easy to find.
Mr. and Mrs. John Pruss of
Emmet and Mr. and Mrs. George
Reese afid children of Atkinson
will spend Christmas with Mr.
and Mrs. Ivan Pruss in O’Neill.