Big Balloon Ascensions July 3
ratal
Neb State Ilrstorical Soc
it
VOL. XXXIV.
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1915.
NO. 3.
PlattsSitouth Will Celebrate Every
Saturday Afternoon.
NEGRO BRUTAL
LY ASSAULTS'
A IVHTE PAN
Knocks Him Down With a Piece of
Iron North of Town and Robs
Him of What Little. Money
He Had on Him. "
From Friday's Daily.
A very brutal assault and hold-up
occurred early this morning along
the Missouri Pacific tracks, about half
a mile north of the passenger station
in this city, in which a man named
Otto Sikes, who was making his way.
into Omaha by riding on freight
trains on which he could catch a ride,
was the victim and a negro tramp
was the assailant.
The man who was injured, in tell
ing of his experience, stated that he
met the negro yesterday morning sev
eral miles down the line south in the
vicinity of Auburn, when the negro
had entered a box car in which Sikes
was riding, and the negro entered in
to conversation with him and inquired
his destination, and when Sikes told
him he was bound for Omaha the
negro stated that he was also going to
that city and would accompany him.
Upon reaching this city the negro told
Sikes they would get off here and go
and try and catch a freight over the
Burlington, and accordingly they both
got off, but the negro later was order
ed out of town by Chief Barclay and
Sikes did not see anything further of
him until evening, when he went to
the Missouri Pacific dapot to try and
catch a train north, when he discover
ed the negro, who asked him to start
on walking up the track to the rail
road bridge. As the two were pass
ing through the cut the negro made a
sudden assault on' Sikes and struck
him with a small section of an iron
bar, which felled him and laid open a
gash several inches long on the top
of his head, and as Sikes attempted to
raise himself from the ground the
negro again launched a vicious blow
at him with the bar and again struck
him on the head. Sikes, while dazed
and staggering, started to run -and
reached the end of the cut and was
attempting to crawl through the
barb-wire fence when the negro again
struck him and knocked him into the
fence, with the result that his clothing
was torn badly and his throat lacerat
ed in very bad shape by the sharp
barbs of the fence anil he became un
conscious for some "time, and while in
that condition was searched by the
negro and what money he had was
taken from him by his burly assailant,
who then beat it out north, as the
negro is reported to have been seen
crossing the Missouri Pacific railroad
bridge over the Platte river.
Sikes recovered shortly after the
negro left and was able to come back
to this city, where Sheriff Quinton
was notified and started north in
search of the negro, who from his ac
tions is a bad actor. Sikes was up
and around after the assault, and
when seen at the Burlington station
about 8 o'clock was still covered with
blood, while the deep wounds on his
head and the torn condition of his
throat must certainly have been caus
ing him great suffering, and he de
sired to go into Omaha to have them
dressed and await word from the
sheriff in case the negro was located,
but he was taken to the county jail
by Chief of Police Barclay in order
that his injuries might be looked af
ter, as they were very serious, and
he will remain there awaiting the out
come of the search for the negro.
The injured man appeared quite in
telligent and well educated and was
not a bad appearing fellow, although
his blood-stained head and face and
torn clothes detracted somewhat from
his appearance. He seemed rather
loth to talk of his home or personal
matters, but stated taht he was a
veteran of the regular army.
The man was later taken from the
jail to the office of Dr. E. D. Cum
mins, the county physician, where the
wounds were dressed and found to
be very deep and severe, and how the
man escaped being killed seems a
mystery. Two long and deep cuts were
on the back of the head extending for
several inches, and on the top of the
head were two long gashes, one of
which was shaped something like a
horseshoe, but the man reiterated his
statement as to being struck by an
iron bar in the hands of the negro.
The man seemed still desirous of
going on into Omaha and repeatedly
requested the authorities to let him
go, but he will probably be detained
here ofr a few days at least, in the
hope of getting trace of the negro.
At the office of the surgeon the man
stated he came from Atlanta, Georgia,
and that he had served for twelve
years in the regular army in several
different regiments and that he had
been in the Philipines, going there in
1899, at the time of the outbreak of
the uprising of the natives in the is
lands. His talk was decidedly wan
dering, however, and little real facts
could be gained from him, as his state
ments were very contradictory.
ALBERT VATKINS
REPRESENTING HIS
TORICAL SOCIETY
From Friday" Dally.
Albert Watkin3 of the Nebraska
State Historical society, was in the
city today gathering some data on
the early territorial history of Ne
braska, which he is preparing, and
while here was a caller at the Journal
office for a few hours. Mr. Watkins is
interested in trying to ascertain facts
in regard to the movement in 1857
which involved the question of the lo
cation of the state capital, and in
which Cass county played a prominent
part through its representatives, E. A.
Donelan, T. M. Marquette and Lawson
Sheldon. The legislature of 1857 split
on the question of capital location and
a part of the legislature adjourned to
Florence, where they met in session.
while the other remained at Omaha,
then the seat of state government. At
a result of the Florence session there
sprung up the idea of creating a town
on the hills near the . Platte valley,
pouth of "Fremont, to be called Neo
polis, and in this plan there was a
great deal of interest taken by Mr.
Donelan and others from Cass county
and several houses and a sawmill were
built there to start the seat of state
government, but this was dropped on
the arrival of the new governor, Hon.
William A. Richardson, of Illinois,
who quieted down the strife and the
capital remained at Omaha until
statehood. It is to secure more in
teresting facts regarding this that
Mr. Watkins was here, trusting to get
in touch with a few of the pioneers,
and especially Captain Isaac Wiles,
but was disappointed, as Mr. Wiles is
in Minatare, Neb, and he was unable
to secure what information he might
have on the matter. Mr. Watkins de
parted this afternoon for Omaha to
attend the banquet at the Fontenelle
of the State Historical society.
UNCLE BILLY BUSTER ENJOYING
VISIT AT ROCKPORT, MISSOURI
From Friday' Da'ly.
A card has been, received here from
W. M. Buster, one of the pioneers of
the county, who for years resided in
the vicinity of Elmwood, who is now
enjoying a visit at Rockport, Missouri,
where he resided -at the time the civil
war broke out, and from where he en
listed in the southern army. Mr.
Buster states he is having a fine time
and is right on the warpath. He Is
now making his home at Ashland, but
spends a great deal of time in travel
ing among the old scenes and visiting
with old friends.
TAKING OUT THEIR FINAL
CITIZENSHIP PAPERS
From Friday" Dally.
In the office of the clerk of the dis
trict court application for final
citizenship papers have been made by
Christian Jensen and Jens Christian
son, both former citizens of the king
dom of Denmark and residents of
Weeping Water. The clerk also re
ceived the declaration of intention of
A. A. Skanris, a native of Denmark,
and Jens Peter Jensen, also a former
subject of the king of Denmark, who
desires to become a citizen of the
United States of America and to for
sake allegiance to all foreign princes
and rulers. The last two named
gentlemen are also residents of
Weeping Water.
AN INTERESTING
MATTER TO FOR
EIGN CITIZENS
Do Not Become Fully Naturalized
Citizens Unless They Have
Taken Out Their
Last Papers.
From Friday Daily.
United States Naturalization Ex
aminer J. M. Gurnett, who yesterday
examined the naturalization records at
Plattsmouth, directs attention to the
fact that alien residents of this county
who have filed declarations of inten
tion to become citizens of the United
States are permitting them to expire
through carelessness.
Under the federal naturalization
law any alien who has declared hi3
intention to become an American citi
zen since September 26, 19(G, must
file application for final certificate of
naturalization within seven years af
ter the date of his declaration or his
rights under the declaration are lost,
and he must make a new' declaration
before he is again eligible to the ap
plication for citizenship. .
The examiner states that there are
fifteen aliens now residing in Cass
county who are in possession of
worthless declarations, as they failed
to petition for naturalization before
their declarations became seven years
of age. According to the examiner,
there are some fifty-nine aliens living
in Cass county holding declarations
of intention which will become worth
less in a very short time unloss the
holders make application for full
citizenship. These persons may, by
applying to Mr. James Robertson,
clerk of the district court, at Platts
mouth, obtain, free of charge1, full in
formation concerning" the steps they
must take to become fully naturalized.
The cost for filing application for final
certificate of citizenship is $4.
The naturalization of foreigners is
in charge oi tne .Bureau oi
Naturalization, Department of Labor.
This branch of the government service
is conducted by attorneys who have
made a specialty of laws relating to
naturalization, and the purpose of the
bureau is to insure the legal natura
lization of aliens of good moral char
acter who have lived in the United
States more than five years and are
desirable as citizens. It is not neces
sary for a foreigner desiring to be
come a citizen to employ an attorney
for this purpose, as the services of
the Bureau of Naturalization are at
the disposal of the applicant, without
cost to him.
For convenience in the administra
tion of the law the entire United
States is divided into districts, each
of which is under the jurisdiction of a
chief examiner. Nebraska is in the
St. Louis, Missouri, district. Any
communication relative to naturaliza
tion addressed to the Chief Natura
lization Examiner, Custom House, St.
Louis, Missouri, will receive prompt
and careful attention from attorneys
who are expert in naturalization law.
COMPLETE EXTENSION OF
WATER MAINS III WEST PART
from Friday' Dally.
. The extension of the water mains
in the west part of the city from
Fifteenth and Oak streets west for
500 feet along that roadway has been
completed and will be ready in a few
days for service to the residents of
that section of the city in case of fire.
This is an improvement long needed
there and will be very much ap
preciated by the residents of the west
portion of the city who have been
without adequate fire protection for
some years, and is a step in the right
direction. As fast as possible and the
financial condition of the city allows
these extensions are made and the
city gradually provided with the pro
per number of fire hydrants.
Attends Banquet at the Fontenelle.
From FrldaTi Taily.
Father Shine left this afternoon
over the Missouri Pacific for Omaha
to attend the banquet given by Hon.
John L. "Webster at the Fontenelle
hotel to the members of the committee
for the 1917 jubilee celebration of the
admission of Nebraska into the Union.
COL. J. H. THRASHER IS ABLE
TO BE ABOUT TOWN AGAIN
From Saturday cany,
Col. J. H. Thrasher is now able to
be but and around again, after having
been laid up for the past week with
a siege of rheumatism, which settled
in his left knee and has been causing
him untold pain and 'suffering, and
this is the first day he has been able
to be around without the aid of a
cane. He is, however, feeling much
better. A ;i
THE OLD SETTLERS
REUNION AT UNION
ON AUGUST 13-14
Prom Saturday's Dany.
The citizens of Union have com
menced preparations for the holding
of the twenty-seventh annual Old
Settlers' reunion of Cass and Otoe
counties, and the date has been fixed
upon as Friday and Saturday, August
13 and 14, when all the residents for
miles around can gather and enjoy a
pleasant time in each other's com
pany, and to the older residents of the
county the time of "Old Settlers' has
become an event eagerly looked for
ward to in the meeting of old friends
and neighbors and the recounting of
old times and to recall those who will
come no more and who had so great
a part in the upbuildisg of -the coun
ty. Union, situated as it is, with the
grand old hills and tiacks of wood
land makes an ideal place to hold the
reunion, and here each year the steps
of the older residents, as well as a
large number of the younger, turn to
enjoy the two days' outing and cele
bration prepared for them by the
Union citizens. - G. 'W . Cheny has
been selected as president of the as
sociation this year and Louis Ander
son as secretary, while Jack Patter-
sen will , serve as the treasurer.
PLATTSMOUTH LADIES ENTER
TAIN IN HONOR OF GUESTS
From Friday' Dally.
Last evening a .very delightful
dance was given at Coates hall by
Misses Helen Gass, Edith Dovey, Lil
lian Dwyer, Lillian Bajeck, Janette
Patterson and Miss Rosecrans in
honor of Misses Catherine Wilcox of
Omaha, Hilda and Meta Eigenbrodt of
Lincoln, Gertrude Draper of Iowa
City, Marion Tyler of Lincoln and
Frances Howell of Omaha. The even
ing was spent by the young ladies and
gentlemen in the delights of the
dance to the bewitching strains fur
nished by the Holly orchestra, until
the midnight hour, and the occasion
was one of the rarest enjoyment to
the nineteen couple who took part in
the dance. This was one of the most
delightful events that has been given
by the younger social set in honor of
their guests.
WILL CELEBRATE THE FOURTH
AT PARADISE PARK SUIiDAY
From Saturday' Dally.
There will be a celebration of the
Fourth of July held at Paradise park,
north of this city, on Sunday, July
4th, under the supervision of the
Koukal Brothers, who have arranged
to afford the people coming there a
royal good time, and a big dance
platform will be the main attraction
of the day, and here the Plattsmouth
orchestra will discourse sweet music
during the day that will be thorough
ly enjoyed. All kinds of cooL refresh
ing soft drinks will le served during
the day and the occasion is sure to be
most pleasant. In the evening there
will be a display of fireworks. Auto
mobiles will be run from the Propst
garage during the day, which will con
vey parties to and from the park for
15 cents a single person, or 25 cents
a couple.
George Kaff enberger and wife
came in Saturday from their farm
home west of this city and spent a
few hours here looking after some
trading with the merchants.
DEATH OF MRS.
HENRY HIRZ JR.
TIIS MORNING
Relatives and Friends of This Most
Estimable Lady Greatly Shocked
at Her Sudden Death.
From Saturday' DaPy.
The community this morning was
most profoundly shocked to learn of
the death of Mrs. Henry Hirz, jr., one
of the best known and well loved
ladies in this section of the county.
The death of Mrs. Hirz occurred at
Mrs. George Meisinger, in this city,
at 1:30 this morning, after a few
days' suffering from an attack of
perotintis, following an operation on
Wednesday morning.
Mrs. Hirz had not been in the best
of health "for some time, but it was
not thought that there was any
danger to her until Monday, when she
arrived at the home of her parents
and was taken sick there and a
specialist summoned from Omaha,
and it was decided that it would be
necessary to operate upon the lady,
as. her case was very acute. - Follow
ing the operation Mrs. Hirz seemed
to be improving nicely and only last
night seemed to be showing every
sign of betterment in her condition,
but near the midnight hour a sudden
change for the worse dashed the
hopes of the family for her recovery
and she gradually grew worse until
death came to her relief shortly af
ter 1 o'clock.
The death of this well loved lady
was a blow that fell most heavily on
the bereaved husband and two little
daughters, aged 5 and 2 years, and
deprived them of a loving wife and
tender and " devoted : mother, whom
they idolized, and in their hour of
deepest grief the sympathy of the
entire community goes out to them,
as well as to Mr. and Mrs. Meisinger,
the parents, who are bowed by grief
over the loss of the well loved
daughter.
'Mrs. Hirz was born in this county
twenty-four years ago and had made
her home in this community during
her entire lifetime, and six years ago
was united in marriage to Mr. Henry
Hirz, jr., and their wedded life has
been one of the most complete hap
piness, they making their home on the
farm in Eight Mile Grove precinct,
which has been rendered desolate by
the taking away of the wife and
mother.
Besides the husband and two little
daughters and the parents, four
brothers and one sister are left to
mourn the death of this estimable
young lady, as follows: John R. Mei
singer, George J. Meisinger, Henry
G. Meisinger, Fred W. Meisinger and
Mrs. George Kraeger, all of whom re
side in this county.
MISS LILLIAN DWYER ENTER
TAINS YOUNG LADY FRIENDS
From Friday Dally.
On Wednesday afternoon Miss Lil
lian Dwyer entertained in a verjr
pleasant manner at her home in honor
of Misses Meta and Helia Edgen
broidt and Marion Tyler of Lincoln
and Miss Catherine Wilcox of Omaha.
The afternoon was spent very pleas
antly in games and proved most en
joyable to the guests assembled to en
joy the hospitality of the Dwyer home.
At a suitable hour very delicious and
tempting refreshments were served
that proved a most delightful feature
of the occasion. The dining room
was prettily arranged with decora
tions of crimson Rambler roses, inter
spersed with white daisies, which
made the room most charming in ap
pearance. Those present to enjoy the
delightful event, in addition to the
guests of honor, were: Misses Edith
Dovey, Janette Patterson, Nora
Rosencrans, Emma Cummins, Lillian
Bajeck, Elizabeth Beeson, Grace Bee
son, Ribbin Richardson, Phene Rich
ardson and Helen Gass.
FOR SALE.
A two-seated surrey, is good as
new, at bargain. T. H. POLLOCK.
6-28-2td-ltw
Services at St. Paul's Church.
The funeral of Mrs. Henry Hirz
will be held tomorrow afternoon at
1:30. The members are requested to
bring the hymn books with them, as
usual to our German custom, the con
gregation will sing a number of
hymns.
THE ATHLETICS DONE
TO A FINISH RY HAVE
LOCK SATURDAY
Saturday afternoon the team
representing the Havelock machine
shops, came down to engage the Ath
letics in a game of the great national
pastime, and as a result of their visit
werea ble to hang the scalps of the
Athletics on the fence by a score of
S to 0, and the local boys were unable
to do business with the fast fielding
and hitting munch from the Lincoln
suburb, who at all times had the jinx
on the Athletics. The game went
finely until the fifth inning, with
neither side scoring, and in this in
ning the visitors were able to gather
in a run -on errors in handling the hits
madeb y the batters', although Long,
on the mound for the Athletics,
pitched a good garnet hroughout, but
the support he received was decidely
ragged, and though twelve of the
visitors were struck out, but they
were able to romp around the bases
on little hits that were not handled
fast enough. The grand blow-up
of the Athletics occurred in the
eighth inning, when six runs were
tallied by Havelock, and with their
other two made them the neat total
of 8, while the locals were shut out,
only one player reaching second base.
Pickard, the pitcher, Walters at third
and Brew at short were thes tars of
the visitors, who were a fine, gentle
manly bunch of . boys in, every, way.
MRS. HOWARD YOUNG'S OP
ERATION VERY SUCCESSFUL
From Saturday Dally.
Last evening Mrs. Howard M.
Young was taken by automobile to
Omaha, where sho was operated on
last night for rupture, from which
she has been a sufferer more or less
during the last three years. The
operation was apparently most suc
cessful and the lady was reported last
evening as resting easily and every
indication pointed to a speedy re
covery. Mr. Young was a passenger
this morning for Omaha, where he
goes to spend the day with his wife
at St. Joseph's hospital. That she is
getting along so nicely will be most
pleasing to the many friends of this
lady and they trust she may continue
to improve.
THE MAN ASSAULTED BY NE
GRO IS ALLOWED TO DEPART
From Saturday Titn
Last evening Otto Sikes, the man
who was beaten up so badly by a
negro near the Missouri Pacific depot
early yesterday morning, was allow
ed to go on into Omaha on the 7:45
Missouri Pacific train, as he claimed
to have friends there nad was desir
ous of reaching them as soon as pos
sible to secure aid. There had been
no further trace found of the negro
who committed the outrage, and as
the injured man was broken down
and weak from his experience and de
sired to be in the hands of his
friends, it was thought best to allow
him to proceed on his way, and if
needed he agreed to return to this
place.
Ben Becknan, one of the leading
citizens from south of this city, and
one of the best gentlemen in the
world, was here Saturday for a short
time looking after some matters of
business and calling on his friends.
NOTICE!
Farmers who ship cream direct may
leave their cream at our store. We
will deliver your cream to the depot
and return your empty cans, without
extra charge.
E. G. DOVEY & SON.
THE FIRST SATUR
DAY AFTERNOON
ENTERTAINMENT
A Large Crowd in Town and Every
one Seemed to Enjoy the
Program Very Much.
The first of the series of Saturday
afternoon entertainments planned by
the Commercial club and citizens of
Plattsmouth, was held on Saturday,
and the event proved a great success
in every way, as there was a crowd of
several hundred on the streets from
the surrounding portions of the coun
ty, and a great many from twelve
and fifteen miles away drove in to
enjoy a few hours' outing and get
acquainted with the Plattsmouth peo
ple and the business men who had
been among the strong movers for
the holding of the Saturday after
noon special attractions.
The event opened promptly at
1 :30, when the Burlington band gave
n short concert at the intersection of
Sixth and Main streets in the new
stand provided for that purpose, and
after half an hour of pleasing music
the stand was moved to Fourth and
Main, where another concert was
given, which was very much enjoy
ed and given in a pleasing manner by
the band boys, under the direction of
Prof. Ed II. Schulhof, and for the
opening concert of the season the
boys gave a fine program.
Ben Hankinson, adept slack wire
rtist, was placed on for a special
feature, and on the platform erected
on Main street between Fourth and
Fifth, gave a very entertaining and
clever exhibition of slack wire walk
ing and the use of the unicycle,
which is most difficult, and which
was carried out in splendid &hape Ly
this clever gentleman.
The rest room for the ladies, which
was fitted up in the Hotel Riley block,
was well patronized by the ladies
from the country, who found here
every comfort and convenience at
hand that they might desire, and
they appreciated it to the fullest ex
tent and it was found one of the best
moves that has been made so far to
provide for the comfort of those visit
ing the city from out in the county.
As a result of the special entertain
ment' there was a marked increase in
the number of automobiles coming
into the city and a correspondingly
large number of visitors to enjoy the
day. The program was a most
creditable one and an even better
one is figured on for the coming Sat
urday, when a balloon ascension will
be made one of the features of the
entertainment if it is possible" to se
cure a good aeranout for this pur
pose, and this will be a very interest
ing feature for the residents of this
city and county alike.
EVERY TOWN GETS
THE BIG SHOWS
BUT PLATTSMOUTH
From Saturday Daily.
This city appears to have been
"iidestepped" this summer on the
circus proposition, as there have been
a large number shows at points all
around this city, but none here, al
though our neighboring town of Ne
braska City will have the great
Hagenbeck-Wallace shows there and
a number of smaller circuses have
visited around at the towns in a range
of twenty-five and thirty miles. The
question of proper grounds seem3 to
t5 the chief stumbling block that
keeps a great many of the circuses
from coming here, as they have al
ways been very generously patronized
when they have showed here, but the
Inst attraction of this kind had a
grievious time in getting set up on
theo Id O'Neill place, south of the
shops, as they were handicapped by
wet and soggy roads. It really seems
as though there should be some tract
of land which they could be allowed
to use for this purpose, and the bot
tom land east of the Burlington
depot would be the ideal place.
P. A. Horn was among those visit
ing in the city Saturday for a few
hours, looking after some business
matters with the merchants.
l . i
