Prairieland Talk . . .
* Wounded Knee’ Story in Schools
By ROMAINE SAUNDERS, Retired, Former Editor The Frontier
LINCOLN—Crowned with a shock of black hair,
dark eyes, large nose set in a full round face,
lighted at times with a smile, clouded at other times
with a frown, ample frame and active legs and
arms of prairieland youth, 70 years ago he set type
at the cases in The Frontier plant, also for the
Atkinson Graphic and Stuart Ledger, attended
school part of a term in a one-room temple of
learning in O’Neill, held a case at
the Sioux City Morning Journal
and saw “30” in most nights with
out catching a galley. Now, at 85,
he lives in retirement in Seattle,
Wash., the son of a pioneer Holt
county couple, the author of
works that found their way into
universities as textbooks — that,
in brief, is the story of Homer
Campbell, a Holt county product.
Now another son of Holt
county pioneers, another guy
who twirled the lariat as a cow- Romalne
boy, lived among the Indians for Saunders
a quarter of a century, has written books and
taught the descendants of Spotted Tail in their
schools on the great Pine Ridge reservation of
South Dakota, the home of a thousand Ogallala
Sioux — a step across the Nebraska state line.
You will find his latest book, “Tragedy
Strikes at Wounded Knee,” in South Dakota public
schools as a textbook giving the authentic history
of America’s last war between Indians and the
pale face. The state superintendent of public in
struction of South Dakota recommends it to the
schools of the state. The author is Will H. Spindler
of the Holt county tribal group by that name who
settled in early times in the picturesque region of
north-central Holt county, a region rich in pioneer
lore.
xwxajtouv., awt-uw^unig, titi uai bUCJ oicuiu
from out of the countless ages. With these words
the same author takes us on a journey along “Bad
lands Trails,” into that strange region of solitude,
of changing colors of frightening yet charming as
pects of nature where romance and adventure,
tragedy, life and death met face to face — where
tourists go today to sit upon a rock and marvel at
what nature has wrought. This, too, is a thrilling
tale from the fertile brain of an inspired Holt coun
ty writer.
The late P. J. McManus, O’Neill’s pioneer
promoter of “quality merchandise,” was also the
community’s insistent booster for the notables
among us. And Holt county’s grass-grown land
scape has sprouted a number of them.
* * *
Don’t become excited over what he said. That
was just one guy’s opinion of it. Room in the
world for all.
* * *
For the information of Billy McNichols, not
hearsay as the lawyers term it, I still tell the story
of the big hat from time-to-time. Spending a few
minutes with Doctor Olson of the Historical society
recently, he cast an admiring—maybe a bit envious
—eye on my black beaver, so I had to tell the story
again. Then learned that our gifted guide of the
State Historical society had met Mr. McNichols
on a state occasion out at Lexington.
* * *
Mother’s apron strings are a relic of the past,
but we are all tied to the grocery man’s apron
strings.
Robed in silken green, aglow with sunlight by
day and the man in the moon looking down upon
us by night with a smile, prairieland stretches from
the mud-stained Missouri to the rugged Rockies,
calm and peaceful these mild September days.
Amid the whirling activities of life all about us,
the fads and follies and tragedies of life are min
gled with the cultural and high aspirations that
guide communities to the ultimate destiny. Fairs,
celebrations, rodeos, the midway fun and folly have
come and gone, young Nebraskans sit again at the
desks and gather once again on the school play
ground. Dad has gone to the day’s job and mother
stands in the doorway this morning seeing her
children off to school. From Omaha to Scottsbluff,
from O’Neill to Hastings, from Valentine to Mc
Cook, prairieland leaves behind a hot, dry summer
to go into autumn days when stalwart patriot, ma
ture dame, blushing maid and bashful youth alike
partake of the inspiration that comes with chang
ing seasons that adorn nature’s picture with varied
hues.
* * *
Believe it was Thomas A. Edison who
thought the thoroughly contented person was the
one he counted the complete failure. But Mr.
Edison had never visited prairieland.
* * *
Higher salaries seems to be the answer to
about everything as the moderns look at it. The
controlling group now thinks that what is the
matter at the state institutions for the care of what
now reads “mentally ill” is the pay check and pro
poses to boost it for a recently discovered group
calling themselves psychiatrists. “Mentally ill”—
he was more than that when Sheriff Charley Hall
brought him in from out northwest and strapped
him hand and foot and bodily to a jail bunk, a rav
ing, howling maniac. The Holt county wife and
mother who awoke one night to find her husband
standing over her with drawn knife and listened
with a shudder when she heard him say that God
had told him to kill her knew something more seri
ous than “mentally ill" had possessed her liege
lord. The psychiatrists may have blushed for shame
when these two and many like them were received
at the insane asylum where they both died. But
we look down across the centuries and hear the
cries of humanity to One Who could speak the
word that set the crazed creatures of earth free.
“Mentally ill”—some so pronounced that are heart
sick, lonely, unwanted.
I
I got away from the thickly populated San
Francisco, Calif., bay region where I had presided
for a year over the ad alley in the Pacific Press
plant and had seen that the ads for the Pacific
Coast Merchant were ready for the make-up, just
in time to miss the earthquake that paralyzed the
community in 1906. Again that region has been
shaken by a quake, much damage to the works of
man resulting. I had a neighbor on 21st street, in
Oakland, Calif., who told me one evening of the
scare in his home the night before over a tremor
that my prairieland sense of security had failed to
warn me. Said he had endeavored to calm the fears
of his wife by telling her to come lie down, as it
was he who shook the bed, not an earthquake.
Quakes are a constant fear in the bay region around
San Francisco.
* * *
The Frontier continues to grow-and-grow.
Editorial ...
More Pumping Makes Difference
Anyone driving through an area where irriga- *
tion is practiced and where experience has been
gained in that endeavor does not need to attend an
irrigation meeting to learn what jiUmping can do.
As one irrigator pointed out recently, seeing a
good field of com across the road from a poor one
tells only one side of the story.
The first field represents a tremendous invest
ment, a lot of applied knowledge, generally high
expenses for fuel (or electricity), ’round-the-clock
tending and generous use of expensive fertilizers.
Many mistakes are made, sometimes the plant
leaves are hopelessly scorched or blistered. These
factors offset some of the advantages of having a
crop and a good yield.
A good field of com or grain hasn’t come about
by magic. It involves other factors and certainly a
lot of hard work.
Both well and stream irrigation are in their
infancy in this area, by comparison to other sec
tions where there are thousands of pumps.
The O’Neill region appears to be blessed with a
good supply of underground water (most of the
underground rivers head in the Black Hills area.)
Users of both well and stream water appear to
utilize it wisely and humbly.
Several more years of irrigation experience
will, we predict, make considerable difference to
agriculture — particularly during abnormally dry
years like the one we are experiencing.
Here’s How to Lose License
(Guest editorial from Pierce County Leader)
The Nebraska VFW has prepared cards for
motorists warning them to “protect your driving
privilege by observing the state traffic laws.”
These cards give motorists a short resume on
how a driver’s license can be lost.
Here is the Nebraska law:
Conviction of a felony in which a motor ve
hicle was used—12 points.
Third offense drunken driving regardless of
whether trial court found it to be third offense—
12 points.
Third offense reckless driving or willful reck
less driving—12 points.
Failure to stop and render aid—12 points
Driving under the influence of liquor or drug
—6 points.
Willful reckless driving—6 points.
Careless driving—4 points.
Negligent driving—3 points.
Reckless driving—5 points.
Speeding—3 points.
All other traffic violations, except parking and
overloading of trucks—2 points.
Forfeiture of bail, not vacated, is equivalent
to conviction of the offense charged.
An accumulation of 12 points in any two-year
period will cause automatic revocation of your
driver’s license for one year.
This is certainly a forceful warning to drive
“lawfully” and a warning that should be heeded
by all.
& a
'
Our belated welcome is extended to newcomers
to this community who have joined the teaching
staffs at O’Neill public school and St. Mary’s acad
emy.
— ...
The danger of prairie fire is compounded when
the winds blow and pastures and other fields are
tinder dry.
9 . *
6> *
>
First Business First
The Lincoln Star this week offers this in
reference to the troubled state penitentiary and
men’s reformatory at Lincoln:
“One final word, we hope, relative to this mess
in which Nebraska’s penal institutions find them
selves. We say final because there are other mat
ters of importance to the people of this state, and
in the series of developments which have been tak
ing place there must be a growing wariness with
daily discussion in the press.
“We say to our fellow Nebraskans that the
first order of business at the Nebraska penitentiary
and at the state reformatory should be the restora
tion of discipline and authority at any price.
“If it can only be achieved by resorting to what
some people may regard as harsh measures, then
regrettably those responsible in dealing with the
problem have no other choice than to act decisively
and, if necessary, harshly. Discipline and authority
will come only when there is recognition among
the inmates of those institutions that acceptable
administration rests in part with the attitude of the
inmate himself. Too frequently, we fear, he haj
not understood his relationship to society. . . .
“Finally, we suggest that the present members
of the Nebraska board of control in the best inter
ests of the institutions under their supervision
might best serve the state by resigning.
“Their integrity or their good purposes are not
in question. Those qualities which each member
of the board possesses in abundance should be rec
ognized by all the people of the state, and we be
lieve they are.
“This board wishes nothing quite so devoutly
as to be able to say that its troubles are at an end
and the path ahead is smooth.
But this board, we fear, has lost the confi
dence of too many Nebraskans. . .
We think the 4-H program is wonderful in al
most every way — except: We seriously doubt if it
can be possible to distribute purple ribbons by
the bushel (as done at the state fair) and, at the
same time, do justice to the really outstanding en
tries. Just a random thought.
This is Community Concert membership week.
Last year’s introduction of a series of fine musical
concerts was one of the most worthwhile contri
butions in a long time. We hope the membership
campaign is even more successful this year.
MlfjE FrqntTfr
CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher
Editorial & Business Offices: 122 South Fourth St.
Address correspondence: Box 330, O’Neill, Nebr.
Established in 1880 — Published Each Thursday
Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt coun
ty, Nebraska, as second-class mail matter under
the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. This news
paper is a member of the Nebraska Press Associa
tion, National Editorial Association and the Audit
Bureau of Circulations.
Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska, $2.50 per
year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year;
rates abroad provided on request. All subscriptions
are paid-in-advance.
Audited (ABC) Circulation—2,463 (Mar. 31, 1955)
When You and I Were Young . . .
Atkinson Bank
into New Quarters
Open Wholesale Fruit,
V egetable House
50 Years Ago
A bachelor of some years
standing was evidently caught
hugging a girl on kid hill the
other night. At any rate, he is
talking of the evils of young peo
ple peeping into the windows at
night. . . Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Sny
der and daughters left for Phila
delphia, Pa., where Mr. Snyder
will attend the sovereign grand
lodge, IOOF, as a delegate from
the grand lodge of Nebraska. . .
Sally Edmpnds, 66, died on the
North Western passenger train as
it was coming into O’Neill. The
woman was from Spearfish, S.D.
. . . The Atkinson National bank
purchased the Exchange bank
building and will make it head
quarters. . . Twenty-five land
seekers came up on the passenger
to look over western Holt county
and were taken in charge by our
hustling land agents, who are at
tracting investors from all parts of
the country by their judicious ad
vertising. *
20 Years Ago
Tom Edwards and Uoyd Godel
found a black widow spider
while working on a shed west of
the depot. There have been re
ports of many of them having been
found in O’Neill recently. . . W.
H. Barnhart of Atkinson has
rented the Ryan building and
win upcn a wmnesaie iruii ana
vegetable market there. . . Char
les Cooper, 14, is in the hospital
suffering from a skull fracture
and lacerations received when a
horse he was riding threw him.
. . . Eleven children and their
families gathered at the home of
Mrs. William Hull to help her
celebrate her 80th birthday anni
versary. . . Funeral services
were held for William Hagensick,
79, early pioneer of this county,
who died at his home here.
10 Years Ago
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Streeter
celebrated their silver wedding
anniversary at their home with a
family dinner. . . The new Meth
odist minister is Rev. Lloyd Mul
lis of Pender. He will have
charge of the services next week.
. . . Dr. and Mrs. F. A. O’Connell
left for Washington, D.C., where
they will attend a family reunion.
. . . Mr. and Mrs. Max Wanser
are the parents of a son. . . Mrs.
W. H. Bowker and Miss Harriett
Hammond entertained 12 guests
at a breakfast at the M&M in
honor of Lt Nadine Coyne. . .
Miss Lois Siders and Clarence C.
Juracek were married at the
Presbyterian manse. Rev. Ken
neth Scott performed the cere
mony. . . Sgt. William Hansen is
on his way home from the Philli
pines. It has been four years
since he has been home.
One Year Ago
Possibilities for a series of pro
fessional musical concerts during
the winter and early spring
months were informally discus
sed. . . More than two hundred
Spencer public school pupils were
inoculated with gamma globulin
shots after one of the teachers,
Miss Barbara Brunckhorst con
tracted infantile paralysis. . . Miss
Betty Gallagher returned from a
two-months’ tour of Europe. . .
An amphibious airplane called it
quits and fluttered into Municipal
airport here. The pilot said he no
longer could negotiate through a
swirling dust storm. . .O’Neill fire
men for a half - hour fought a
stubborn blaze at the Shierk
Motor company’s repair shop
where damage was estimated at
$1,500. . . Sfc. Donald H. DeGroff,
whose wife, Geraldine, lives in
Atkinson, is returning to the U.S.
from Korea.
Visiting in Iowa—
DORSEY—Mrs. Carrie Hunter
departed Sunday for Mechanics
ville, la., to visit an uncle, Russ
McCormick. She accompanied Mr.
and Mrs. Robert McCormicK of
Valentine. Mrs. Hunter will be
gone two weeks.
Return to Michigan—
Miss Grace Campbell returned
to Battle Creek, Mich., after
spending the week at the home
of her brother, Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Campbell.
Tour of Native Grass
Seedkigs Planned
Hendricks Place Is
First Stop
A grassland tour to show the
results of native grass will be held
Wednesday, September 21. The
tour will be conducted
jointly by the Holt Soil
Conservation District, the soil
conservation service and Holt ex
tension service.
The schedule:
Leave the court house annex
at 1 p.m., with stops as follows:
First—Felix Hendrix, one mile
east of ONeill; second—Mrs. Alice
Matthews, one-half mile east of
northeast corner of O’Neill; third
—Clarence Ernst, three miles
west of cemetery; fourth—Will
iam Froelich, six miles west, one
mile north of drive-in theater
corner; fifth—Edward Sterns,
four miles north, one and one
quarter miles west of Emmet; six
i 1 T _ T*T _ ^_ ' . . J j »
[ ui-uuc i? aguidii, luuucuiatcij
west of Sterns.
A brief account of the seeding
follows: i
Mr. Hendrix seeded a mixture
of 14 pounds of bromegrass, in
termediate wheatgrass, crested
wheat grass, green needle grass
and Grama grass and six pounds
of alfalfa per acre in August
1954. This year a good amount of
grass seed and over 70 tons of
hay was taken off this 60 acre
seeding.
Mrs. Matthews seeded ap
proximately eight pounds of a
native grass mixture per acre
in June, 1950. This field has
been used for pasture the past
two or three years.
Mr. Ernst has a variety of na
tive grass seedings ranging from
1948 to 1951. All are being used
at the present. This stop will af
ford an opportunity to compare
several different types of mix
tures of native grass.
Mr. Froelich seeded six pounds
per acre of native grass in the
spring of 1950. A portion was
seeded to vetch in the fall of 1950.
Bromegrass was also seeded the
same year in an adjoining fielld.
Mr. Sterns seeded about 40
pounds per acre of native grass
seed in 1954. Ordinarily native
grass seedings cannot be utilized
for three or more years. How
ever, Mr. Sterns had excellent
pasture the second summer.
Mr. Wagman has seeded native
grass since 1946 up to last year
and results of his seedings should
prove of interest.
C. R. (“Bob”) Hill, unit con
ervationist, says “nearly 4,000
acres of old cropland was con
verted to native grass last year”.
“However, if all the severly
depleted cropland and ‘go-back’
land in the county was re-seeded
at the rate of 4,000 acres per year
it wouldl require over 20 years to
complete the job.”
Mr. Hill declares it should be
done faster than that. If all per
sons interested in seeding native
grass will attend this tour we
feel sure they will be encouraged
with the results, he continued.
NOTICE
The Holt County Board of Supervisors
requests that all weeds along County Roads
be mowed by September 30, 1955. If dirt
*
windrows are left along road, please con
tact your Supervisor so that they may be
removed for mowing.
Signed by:
County Board of Holt County
■
Regional Deaths
Emil Splichal
VALENTINE — Funeral ser
vices were held at the Presby
terian church in Valentine on
Monday, September 5, for Emil
Splichal, 76, who died Friday,
September 2, in the Sandhills hos
pital. Survivors include: Widow,
two grandsons, five sisters and
three brothers.
Mrs. John Lindsey
CREIGHTON—Funeral services
were held Sunday, September 4,
for Mrs. John Lindsey, 83, who
died Friday, September 2. Survi
vors include: Widower, John; six
children, 18 grandchildren and 12
great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Hattie Cole
N E LI G H — Funeral services
were held Wednesday, September
7, for Mrs. Hattie Cole, 67, who
died Monday, September 5, at the
Antelope hospital. Survivors in
clude two sons, two daughters, 10
grandchildren and three sisters.
D. P. Morrison
BASSETT — Funeral services
were held Friday, September 2,
for Dewett P. Morrison, 72, who
died Monday, August 29, at Ains
worth. Survivors include: Widow;
seven children, 14 grandchildren,
one brother and one sister.
Albert C. McFarland
LYNCH — Funeral services
were held Friday at the Lynch
Methodist church for Albert C.
McFarland, 83, former Lynch
editor. Miss Anna Nelson officiat
ed.
Son of Ex-O’Neillite
Declares East Unfair
to Natural Resources
The acting governor of Color
ado is Stephen L. R. McNichols,
son of William McNichols, a na
tive of O’Neill.
Stephen McNichols was in the
headlines during the weekend
when he charged that congress
ional hearings in Denver and
elsewhere in the West on uran
ium stock issues are “an indica
tion of Eastern antagonism to the
development of natural resorces
of the West.”
Mr. McNichols, who is the
elected lieutenant-governor of the
state and is acting chief execu
tive during the governor’s ab
sence, said the manner in which
the hearings are being conducted
fits into “tiie overall attitude of
hostility of Eastern people toward
Western uranium development,
reclamation and other natural re
sources.”
Lietuenant - Governor NcNic
hols’ father left O’Neill about a
o
half century ago and has been
chief auditor in the statehouse
for many years.
MILLER theater
— Atkinson —
Fri.-Sat. Sept. 16-17
o
e
00 .
, ■inl|N|mBiiim|MH|jN|iy,|| jm|||ij | nmun T - •
Sun.-Mon.-Tues. Sept. 18-19-20
« c
Wed.-Thurs. Sept. 21-22
Jump WgSU
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• * *
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