The Frontier Js.
* _
North-Nebraska s I* astest-Growing Newspaper SECTION 1
PAGES 1 TO 8
__ —__ . i _ * _
VOLUME 69—NUMBER 2 _O'NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY. MAY 19. 1949 PRICE 7 CENTS
Tremor Rocks
V
Two Towns
Meteorite or Explosion
Creates Excitement at
Atkinson and Stuart
—
(Compiled from Dispatehes)
Residents in the Atkinson
and Stuart communities re
ported an -earth tremor or ex
plosion which shook houses
and rattled dishes about 10:17
p. m. last Thursday.
No one was injured, as far
as The Frontier could learn,
and no one knew exactly what
happened.
The countryside, however, |
was rocked. D i s h^ s were
bounced in cupboards, picture
frames on walls were visibly
moved and in several instances
^ clocks stopped.
A motion picture was in
progress at Atkinson and
scores of patrons rushed out
of the Iheatec into the street
following the commotion.
Both in Atkinson and in
Stuart houses and other
buildings were emptied of
people as rhey hurried out
side to see what had hap
pened. —
The violence was felt as far ,
South of Atkinson as Green
Valley and Holt Creek; as far
East as Emmet, as far North as
16 miles and as far West as a
point beyond Stuart.
No one in O’Neill reported
feeling or hearing the incident.
Neither was there evidence
from Butte or Spencer.
Mrs. O. A. Hammerberg, The
Frontier’s correspondent at Ce
lia, sent this message:
“Folks were aroused by a
prolonged thunderlike sound.
The sky was clear and stars
were shining brightly. Many
felt a slight trembling within
their homes.”
Mrs. Fred Zink, correspond
ent at Stuart, wrote:
“A thunderous sound rum
bled stoves, dishes, lampshades
and furniture in almost every
home. Most everyone reported
the same sensation—as if some
thing had crashed onto the
roof.”
Dozens of stories began mak
ing the rounds. There was
speculation that a meteorite
had fallen to earth in the vi
cinity, but no one knew where.
There were those who claimed
it as an actual tremor or mim
iature earthquake.
Some folks connected the in
cident with the big landslide
on the Niobrara river, near.
Naper, several weeks ago.
There was also the theory that
some chap, who guarded his
Identity, was dynamiting fish
in a lake or a stream and set
off a charge bigger by far than
he had anticipated.
A Holi counly official.
William W. Griffin, county
attorney, was in Atkinson at
the time. He said the tremor
or explosion created a sound
like "many people rushing
across the roof of the build
ing."
The tremor or explosion cre
ated convei'sationpiece on ev
ery telephone line and on ev
ery street corner.
Until Wednesday the mys
tery had not been solved.
Scout Meeting
Planned Frida”
Efforts to revive Boy Scout
activity in O’Neill will be re
newed Friday night in a meet
ing at the American Legion
auditorium. Ali O'Neill boys
ranging from 12- to 17-years
old and interested in Scouting
are invited to attend. Pros
pective Scouts are also asked
to bring their parents to the
meeting.
Ernie Endsworth. Scout held
director, will be present. Meet
ing will begin at 8 p. m. and
coffee and doughnuts will be
served at the close.
Archie L. McMasters, a soil
conservationist and a newcom
er here, has been named scout
master. Assistants are J. Ed
Hancock and James Lyons.
Troop committeemen are: Glea
H Wade, C. R. Hill and M. E.
Jacobson.
Lloyd Sexton to
Head Lyons School
Lloyd Sexton, who has been
principal of the O’Neill public
school the past year, has ac
cepted a position as superin
tendent of the Lyons high
school in Lyons. Mrs. Sexton
who has been teaching in the
O’Neill school, has also been of
fered a position in the Lyons
school.
Sexton is a Wayne State
college graduate. He served
in the Navy during the late
war and after the war work
ed for a time with the Veter
an’s administration. He orig
inally came from Orchard.
The 1948-’49 term was his
first here. He coached basket
ball.
Visit Ft. Randall
Dam Project —
Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Melena
motored Sunday to Lake Am
des and Piekstown. S. D. They
saw the Ft. Randall dam con
struction project.
NEW NAVY SECRETARY
. . . Francis P. Matthews, of
Omaha, whose mother made
her home in O'Neill for a
time, is the newly appoint
ed Secretary of the Navy.
Mr. Matthew's has been a fre
quent .visitor in O’Neill.
FINAL RITES FOR
MARINE CORPORAL
E. Lester Young Was 2d
in Family to Die
in Late War
The remains of Marine Cpl.
E. Lester Young reached O’
Neill early Wednesday for fi
nal burial in Prospect Hill
cemetery. Brief military rites
were conducted at the grave
side with Rev. V. R. Bell._ of
the Methodist church, officiat
ing.
The late Corporal Young
was the second member in the
family of Mr. and Mrs. Guv
Young to die during World
War II. A brother. Richard,
was killed in action in Italy
on May 23, 1944.
He was born at O’Neill on
January 24, 1919. At the age
of two he moved with his par
ents to Hornell. N. Y.. and
spent his childhood there, at
tending school at Canistota
At the age of 15 he returned
to O’Neill where he resided
until joining the Marine corps
on January 23, 1940.
After completing various
stages of training, in May,
1942. he was shipped to Lon
donderry, Ireland, where he
spent 18 months.
In December, 1943, he re
turned to the U. S. and in
March, 1944, he was sent to
the South Pacific theater.
On April 1, 1945, he landed
on Okinawa, Ryukyu Is
lands, where he died 24
days later.
Original burial was in a
i South Pacific cemetery.
Survivors include: Parents—
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Young; sis*
terS—Mrs. Walter Houston, of
j Omaha, and Mrs. Carol Sum
merers, of Ewing; brothers—.
■ Rev. Harold Young, of Eskind*
age, Kans., and Stanley Young,
of O’Neill.
Military rites were conduct
ed by Commander John R.
i Gallagher and members of Si
i monson post of the American
Legion. Pallbearers were: John
| Grutsch, Dorrance C r a b b,
Ralph Young, jr., Robert
Mopre, Edward McManus and
j Kenneth Qetter.
Color guard was formed by
Ja k Arbuthnot. Charles Yar
nell and Fred McCort. Biglin
Bros, were in charge of ar
rangements.
Hail Strikes in
Western Holt
Hail Tuesday afternoon
struck in a locality between
Atkinson and Stuart—the first
hail report of the season. The
stones were accompanied by
more than an inch of rain,
some observers reported.
Meanwhile, Southeast of
Bassett showers netted from
one-fourth to one-half inch of
moisture O’Neill received on
ly enough rainfall to dampen
the sidewalks. Showers both
Monday and Tuesday were
largely local affairs. Wind,
about 6 p. m. Tuesday, caused
damage at the John Fernholz
place North of Spencer.
Rainfall is needed in many
sections of Holt county, ac
cording to County Agent A.
Neil Dawes. Small grain, he
says, is "doing well" and
alfalfa "looks good."
Reports from farmers indi
cate that corn planting is in
full tilt—most of them getting
the seed into the ground as
rapidly as possible.
The week’s weather summa
ry, based on 24-hour periods
ending at 8 a. m. daily, fol
lows:
Date High Low Prec.
May 12 _ 80 53
May 13_ 83 55
May 14 - 84 55
May 15 _ 75 53
May 16 __ 75 53
May 17 _ 76 58 .08
May 18 _ 77 56 .03
NIOBRARA B/ IN
MEETS! TED
Burdick and Lang to Be
Heard Tuesday in
Open Meeting
Progress Report
A progress report on Niobra
ra river basin development
will be heard Tuesday, May
24, in a meeting to be jointly
sponsored by the Chamber ol
Commerce and the Niobrara
Valley Basin Development As
sociation. Meeting will be held
at Slat’s Cafe, beginning at
noon.
Clyde Burdick, area engineer
! for the Bureau of Reclamation,
| will bring the audience up-to*
date on the basin picture in
general, particularly in regard
| to activity during" the past
year, Roy Lang, secretary-trea*
surer of the Nebraska Recla
mation association, will discuss
I the Niobrara basin in its re
lationship with the state and
: national reclamation move
I ments.
Lang formerly worked with I
the state department of the i
American Legion.
Similar meetings will be held j
Tuesday night at Ainsworth
! and the next day at Valentine.
The O'Neill session will be
open to the public and all
persons interested in recla
mation and Niobrara devel
opment are usrged to attend,
according to E. A, House, of
Ainsworth, president of the
Niobrara association.
House and Vern P. Lind
holm, also of Ainsworth, sec
retary-treasurer of the organ
ization, were in O’Neill Wed
nesday making arrangements
for the meeting.
Interested farmers and bus
inessmen from Holt, Boyd,
Knox and Antelope counties
as well as several South Da
kotans are expected.
Members of the board of di
rectors of the Niobrara River
Basin Development association
include:
Holt county— Tony Asimus,
of O’Neill; Ed Matousek, of
Atkinson; Lyle Dierks, of Ew
ing.
Knox county—J .J. Jacot, of
Verdigre; John D. Forsyth, of
Niobrara; David Johnson ,of
Walnut.
Boyd county—John Krotter
of Spencer; Launce Gibson, of
Bristow: W. L. Brennan, of
Butte.
Antelope county—Dave Mc
Gee of Clearwater; M. H. Snu
der. of Clearwater: Joe Con
tois, of Cleprwater.
Lyle P. Di®rks, besides be
ing a director from Holt
county, is vice-president of
the association.
Annual meeting of the Nio
brara River Basin Development
association will be held July
15 at Ainsworth. Mr. Sloan
co-author of the Pick - Sloan
plan, will be present.
Sixty - seven thousand acres
in the O’Neill-Atkinson-Stuart
localities are considered ‘irri
giable in the class I category,”
President House said.
Next largest possibility is near
\ Ainsworth.
| Preliminary Curb, Gutter,
Paving Surveys Being Made —
Donald Price, of Lincoln, O'
Neill’s city engineer, has been
working out a preliminary study
or jcurb, gutter and paving pos
sibilities.
Curb and gutter requirements
are being considered in various
sections of the city, while the
Daving is being confined to areas
hear the Holt county court
house. schools, churches and oth
er public buildings.
WHERE YOUTH DIED . . . James Patrick
Boyle, 14-yeat-old O’Neill youth, died under
this wreckage last Thursday night when the
truck overturned. Young Boyle, accompany
ing five other O’Neill boys, was riding in the
rack when the truck left the road. Photograph
was taken shortly after the accident.—The
Frontier Photo by John H. MeCarville.
C. V. WICKS, 71,
ATKINSON, DIES
Retired Atkinson Lumber
man to Be Buried Today
at Woodlawn
ATKINSON — Funeral ser
vltes will be conducted at 2:30
p. m. today (Thursday) in the
Presbyterian church here for
C. V. Wicks, 71-year-old retir
ed Atkinson lumberman, who
died late Sunday.
Rev. W. C. Birmingham, of
the Methodist church, will of
ficiate in the absence of the
Presbyterian pastor, Rev. Orin
C. Graff.
The late Claude Vinton
Wicks was born in Sherburne,
N. ¥., on March 17, 1876. He
Was a foster son of Samuel
and Mary Wicks.
Mr. Wicks ca.ne io Ne
braska on February 28. 1899.
a} the age of 21. On Novem
ber 21, 1900, he was united
in marriage with Altheria
Louise Frink. To this union
five children were bocn.
For 28 years Mr. Wicks was
active in the lumber business,
retiring in the Spring of 1936.
He was general manager of
the Walrath & Sherwood Lum
ber Co. His retirement was
brought about because of ill
health.
While in business in Atkin
son he also served as city mar
shal, chief of the fire depart
ment and city clerk.
Survivors include: Widow—
Altheria; son—Claude Deverne
Wicks, of O'Neill; daughters—
Mrs. Lafe (Doris) Lewis, of
O’Neill, and Mrs. George A.
(Leona) Mentzer, of Atkinson;
11 grandchildren and six great
grandchildren.
Two daughters, Marjorie
Bell and Gladys Alvira DeLay.
preceded him in death. One
grandson, Joseph DeLay, was
killed in action in Germany in
November, 1944.
Survivors also include one
sister. Miss Katherine Moore,
of Norwich, N. Y.
Pallbearers will be: C. G.
Funk, Herbert Bitney, George
Frohart. Charles Withers, Clyde
Davis and Charles Balloon.
Mr .and Mrs. Larry Johnson
and family were dinner guests
Saturday evening at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Mc
Masters.
“Voice of The Frontier” . . .
Mondays, Wednesdays, Satur- ]
days._j
Temporary Office
for Hospital Move
A temporary downtown of
fice for the hospital movement
is under construction this week
at the Moore-Noble Lumber &
Coal Co. yards here. When com
pleted, the small frame build
ing will be “located as near the
main intersection as possible,”
according to James M. Corkle,
chairman of the hospital com
mittee.
After the building has served
its period of usefulness as a
drive headquarters, it will be
sold and proceeds will be turned
in the hospital fund. It is a
gift from the Moore-Noble firm.
Until Wednesday afternoon,
Mr. Corkle said no personnel had
been selected to staff the down
town headquarters.
Meanwhile, plans are going
ahead for a final push in the
hospital move. A minimum of 46
thousand dollars will be raised
to insure a modern. 40-bed hos
pital in O’Neill, intended to
serve the Sand Hills region.
WALTER POKORNY
DIES AT ATKINSON
ATKINSON — Funeral ser
vices will be held at 9:30 a. m.
today (Thursday) in St. Pat
rick’s Catholic church here for
Walter E. Pokorny, 52-year-old
Atkinson rancher, who died
about 10 p. m. Tuesday at his
home, 15 miles South and two
miles West of Atkinson.
The late Mr. Pokorny became
seriously ill last Fall. Once dur
ing the Winter he was evacuat
ed by air and flown to Roches
ter, Minn., for medical treat
ment. He suffered from cancer.
Mr. Pokorny was born July
6, 1897, at Petersburg, Va.. a
son of John and Rose Pokorny.
On June 2, 1933, he married
Helen B. Sladek at Atkinson.
They became the parents of
three children.
Survivors include: Widow;
son—Donald; daughters—Elsie
and Edith, all at home.
Father Urbanski, of Emmet,
will officiate in the burial rite.
Pallbearers „ will be: Edward
Brezina and James Mazanec,
both of Bellwood; John Peters,
of O’Neill, and Earl Coxbill.
Chaunce Coxbill and John Sla
dek, all of Atkinson.
The body was taken to the |
Seger mortuary in Atkinson.
SURVEY CAMPING SCENE . . . These G 1
Scouts, all from /troop II, in full regalia are
studying a pioneer camping scene in minia
ture at the second annual Scout-sponsored
mother-daughter banquet. The affair was held
Tuesday evening at the American Legion audi
torium. In the photograph (left-to-right) are:
Sharon Hancock. Marilyn Lindberg. Betty
Harmon, Carolyn Moseman, Carolyn Lindberg.
Kay Allendorfer. Mildred Crabb and Marilyn
Carroll. In the left-center foreground is Mary
Fetrow.—The Frontier Photo by John H. Mc
Carville.
JUBILEE PARADE
BEING PLANNED
Life in O'Neill Colony 75
Years Ago to Be
Theme
A parade will highlight O’
Neill's Diamond Jubilee cele
bration here on the Fourth of
July.
Theme for the parade will
be life in the O’Neill colony 75
years ago.
John Daly has been appoint
ed chairman of the parade
committee. Serving under him
are John H. McCarville, R. V.
Lucas, James G. Fredrickson,
Bennett Gilligan, N. O. McCr^
ry and Harold Buman. Th*
committee met Monday night
at Osborne’s Shoe Store tq
draft preliminary plans for the
pai ade.
Parade divisions and prizes
follow: Band (no prize). Oldest
pioneer in this vicinity, $25
(only one prize). Old time float,
first—$50; second—$25; third—
$15. Saddle horse, first—$25;
second—15; third — $10. Best
decorated float, first — $25;
second—$15; third—$10. Best
club or organization float, first
—$25; second—$15; third—$i0.
(This division to include en
tries from \-H clubs, schools,
churches, edge and fraternal
,/roups. Bov Scouts, Gii 1
[ Scouts, •)
Best ciowr,, $10 (only one
prize). Best decorated bicycle,
first—$3: second—$2; third—
$1 Pets, fTst—$3- second—$2;
' tnird—$1
Daly sah’. mat all individu
als and oiganizations are in
1 vited to participate in the pa
rade and details will be an
; nounced cater.
Persons with old carriages,
automobiles, wagons, bicy
cles, household and business
lurniturc. farm implements,
and clothing fashionable in
the 19th century are urged to
participate, Daly added.
Business firms arc urged to
! participate, but there will be
j no prizes issued in the com
i mercial division, it was point
I ed out. ,
Meanwhle, R. H. bhrtner and
U. J. Lohaus, cochairnien in
| charge of arrangements for the
Jubilee celebration, have made
the following committee ap
pointments:
Booster trip: M. E. Jacobson,
chairman. _ , ,
Fireworks: M. H. Diehlman,
chairman.
Speaking stand and seats: J.
Leo Moore, chairman.
Program: L. C. Walling,
chairman.
Baseball: Richard Tomlinson,
chairman.
Games: H. J. Lohaus, chair
man.
Arrangements are being
made for a Jubilee ball to be
held in the American Legion
auditorium.
Sewer Inadequacy
Poses Problem
_______
The inadequacy of the muni
• oal sewer system in South 0‘
'Teil] and near the point where
•re sewer empties into the Elk
<>rn river is posing a serious
-’•oblem for city authorities.
Because the facilities are more
an 36 years old. the installa
*'on is no ' longer capable of
h ndling the city’s sewerage,
which is “backing up” in the
nioes, seeping out of manholes,
and spreading out in Carney
i^rK.
City officials feel that the sit
lation requires immediate ac
tion and the city engineer. Don
ald Price, of Lincoln, is being
I consulted.
O’NEILL BOY, 14,
HIWAY FATALITY
‘Jim’ Hoyle, Pinned Under
Overturned Truck,
Hies Immediately
56th Traffic Death
A 14-year-old O’Neill youth,
James Patrick (“Jimmy”)
Boyle, son of Mr. and Mrs.
James P. Boyle, died almost
instantly about 11 p. m. last
Thursday evening when the
truck in which he was riding
overturned, pinning him under
the truck rack.
There were five other occu
pants in the machine and one
of the others suffered minor
injuries.
Young Boyle and his com
panions were enroute to At
kinson in a truck owned by J.
B. Ryan. At a point about two
miles West of Emmet the ma
chine left the road and over
turned. The Boyle boy and
two others were riding in the
rack.
Only the head and shoul
ders of the Boyle boy were
protruding from under the
rack when help arrived.
It was believed the truck in
which the youth was riding
overturned while attempting to
pass another truck.
Among the first passersby
along the highway were Bill
and August Troshynski, both
James Patrick Boyle . . .
head and shoulders protrude
from overturned truck.
I
of Atkinson, who were enroute
from O’Neill to their home.
Leo F. Seger and Dr. N. P.
' McKee, both of Atkinson, said
the boy probably died instant
ly
The body was brought to O’
Neill by Biglin Bros.
Driver of the ill-fated ma
chine was Morris Parks. Ages
of the youths involved in the
accident ranged from 11- to
16-years-of-age. Other occu
pants were: Ralph Ferris and
Ralph Kilcoin, both riding in
I the rack with Boyle; Donald
Lindquist and Larry Tibbetts,
both riding with Parks in the
cab.
The Ferris youth was taken
to O’Neill where two toes on
an injured foot were amputat
ed.
The survivors were badly
shaken.
The youths' were reported to
have said they were enroute to
Atkinson to “help tear down a
circus” which had played there
that day. Purpose of the trip
was to earn some spending
money, one of them explained.
Earlier in the evening sev
eral of the youths had attend
ed a school l unction in O’Neill.
Funeral services for the
Boyle youth were held at
10 a. m. Monday in St. Pat
rick's Catholic church. Bur
ial was in Calvary cemetery
with Rt. Rev. J. G. McNa
mara officiating.
“Jimmy,” as he was affec
tionately known, was born
March 2. 1935, in O’Neill.
He was reared on a farm
Southwest of O’Neill where he
attended grade school in dis
trict 194.
The family moved to the
South edge of O’Neill in
March, 1948. After that date,
“Jimmy” attended the O’Neill
public school where he gradu
ated from the eighth grade last
year. This term he was a
freshman in O’Neill high
school.
Survivors include: Parents—
Mr. and Mrs. James P. Boyle.
Brothers—Cpl. Donald Boyle, of
Ft. Eustis, Va.: Cpl. Edgar
Boyle, of Ft. Lawton, Wash.;
and Gaylon Boyle, of O’Neill.
I Sisters — Mrs. Marian Boyle
Trowbridge, of Omaha, and
Patricia Boyle, of O’Neill.
The Boyle fatality was the
56th traffic death in Nebraska
this year.
Pallbearers wrere: Gene Carr,
Donald Godel, Donald Calkins,
Orville Banks, Dale Beilin and
i James McKenny.