Plattsmouth Will Celebrate Every Saturday Afternoon During the Summer Months
omn
l"b State Historic! Soc
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1915.
VOL. XXXIV.
BODY OF G. S.
VVORTMAN, SR.,
FOUND IN RIVER
The Mystery Surrounding the Disap
pearance of This Excellent Old
Man Is at Last Solved.
From Tuesday' Dally.
The mystery that has marked the
disappearance of Charles S. Wortman,
the aged Cass county pioneer and
resident, who disappeared most
mysteriously from the residence of his
daughter, Mrs. Earl Richards, in Ash
land on the night of August 8th was
solved yesterday afternoon when the
members of the family identified the
body of the drowned man found near
the island in the Platte river as that
of Mr. Wortman, and while the finding-
brought to the family a deep and
lasting grief, it cleared the mystery
that has made them expend every ef
fort to locate the missing man since
he left the Richards home unknown
to the family.
The body was badly decomposed
from its long stay in the water, but
it was possible to identify him by the
fact of nine solid gold teeth which re
mained in his mouth, as well as one
congress slipper, but otherwise the
effects of the water on the body had
tended to wipe out all signs as to
whom it might have been. When last
seen Mr. Wortman wore, as had been
his custom for years, a long flowing
beard, which his eighty-five years had
turned to silvery white, but this, too,
had been destroyed by the waters of
the river and or.ly a few straggling
hairs remained to mark this, while has
face and head had suffered terribly
from the water.
Sheriff Quintoii, as well as the un
dertaker, W. J. Streight, had gone to
the scene of the find that had been
made by "Dad" Childers, the fisher
man, and the family of Mr. Worthman
were notified, as it was thought that
this would perhaps prove to be the
missing man. Mr. and Mrs. Earl W.
Richards, John Wortman, a son of the
deceased, and C. T. and O. C. Richards
came down in automobiles, and visit
ing the scene where the body was
waiting, pronounced it without doubt
that of the aged gentleman, a search
for whom has stirred the country be
tween South Bend and Ashland for
the past two weeks.
One of the party, in speaking of the
matter, stated that when the blood
hounds from Beatrice were first used
on the trail of Mr. Wortman they fol
lowed to the bank of Salt Creek, but
all efforts to locate the body there
failed, and the hounds had later fol
lowed another trail without any suc
cess. The body will be taken from this
city to the old home near South Bend
for burial. As the reward for the
finding of the body the family, gave to
Mr. Childers the sum of $100. Mr.
Wortman was one of the wealthiest
men in the northwest section of the
county.
CREATE COMMERCIAL
COURSE IN THE GITY
HIGH SCHOOL HERE
from TumdaV Dally
The board of education last even
ing held a short meeting, at which
several matters of importance were
taken up, including that of creating
a commercial course in the High
school, which if put in as is now con
templated, will be one of the most
popular in the school. This will in
elude bookkeeping, commercial arith
metic, shorthand and typewriting and
other forms that enters into the mod
ern business life. The board has been
considering this for some time and
have closed all preliminary plans to
have it placed in the school this fall,
where it will be found an immense
advantage to the young people who
are now finishing up their education
there. The school board, at their
meeting, also selected Miss Crete
Briggs for the vacancy existing in the
teaching force of the city, and while
she had decided not to teach this year,
was finally prevailed on to take up
her work for another year.
CHIEF BARCLAY AND HIS
WIFE RETURN HOME
From Tueedav'a Dally.
Last evening Chief of Police Bar
clay and wife returned home from a
three weeks' outing trip to the Pacific
coast, and they report having had a
most delightful time at the various
points along the Pacific northwest and
in viewing the cities along that sec
tion of the country. Mr. Barclay was
the delegate from the local Aerie of
Eagles to the national convention of
that order, held at Spokane on Aug
ust 2-4, and they have since been tak
ing in other points of interest in the
northwest .
STRANGER RAN OVER
AND KILLED BY M, P.
TRAIN NEAR EAGLE
From Tuesday's Dally.
Yesterday about two and one-half
miles cast of Eagle, the west-bound
Missouri Pacific train Xo. 031. a
freight bound for Lincoln, ran over
and killed a stranger by the name of
Walter H. Hahan, who was walking
along the track and either failed to
see the train or made no effort to get
to a point of safety, and he was torn
and mangled in a terrible manner by
the train, being dragged quite a dis
tance. Upon his person he had a
number of letters of recommendation
as to his ability as a repairer of tin
ware and other similar articles, be
ing apparently a wandering person
who passed his time on the way from
one town to another doing what few
jobs he could get ahold of. Coroner
J. F. Brendel was notified of the death
of the man, and arriving at Eagle
yesterday afternoon at once impanel
ed a jury and after the examination
of the body and hearing of the, evi
dence a verdict that he came to his
death by being struck by a Missouri
Pacific train was rendered and the
railroad company cleared of ar.y fault
in the matter.
FAREWELL AND SUR
PRISE PARTY AT HOME
OF MR. AND MRS. COBB
From TuesdaVi Pally.
Last evening the pleasant home of
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Cobb, in the
north part of the city was invaded by
about forty of their neighbors and
friends and made this most estimable
family the victims of a most complete
surprise. Mr. and Mrs Cobb and fam
ily are preparing to remove from this
city to Central City, where they will
make their home in the future, and so
the delightful surprise last evening
was in the nature of a farewell.
When the invaders entered the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Cobb and family,
they were sure somewhat surprised,
but soon realized what it was and pro
ceeded to entertain the invaders in
their usual hospitable manner. A
most enjoyable social time was par
ticipated in by the guests and during
the course of the evening's entertain
ment an impromptu program, consist
ing of vocal and instrumental music
and readings was given, which was a
pleasing feature and greatly added to
the evening's pleasures. The invad
ers had come well armed with many
good things to eat, and a most ex
cellent luncheon was prepared and
served at a convenient hour. An hour
or so devoted to a little further so
ciability and then the invaders with
drew their forces, declaring they had
had a fine time and expressing their
leirrets at having to lose Mr. and
Mrs. Cobb and family from their
midst, but wishing them much hap
piness in their new home.
Miss May Vallery Returns Home.
From Tuesday' Dally.
Miss May Vallery, who has been a
patient at the Immanuel hospital in
Omaha for the past nine weeks, re
covering from a very serious opera
tion, returned home today. Her many
friends hope in time she will be fuly
restored to good health.
Wall Paper Clearance Sale; 25 and
40 per cent reduction. Gering & Co,
TERRIBLE ACCI
DENT ON FARM OF
PHILIP TRITSCH
John Hennings, Jr., Has Arm Badly
Crushed While Assisting at
the Threshing Machine.
From Tuesdays Lai:v.
Yesterday afternoon a terrible ac
cident occurred at the farm of Philip
E. Tritsch, southwest of this city,
which may result in the loss of the
right arm of John Hennings, jr., a
young man who was assisting at the
threshing at the farm. Mr. Hennings,
who was helping at the separator dur
ing the threshing, was reaching in to
take some straw from the blower of
the separator, when his right arm
was drawn into the blower and badly
crushed and mangled to the elbow by
the machinery and before the engine
could be stopped.
As soon as the men working at the
scene could gather the injured man
from his perilious position medical
assistance was summoned from this
citv and arrived on the scene of the
accident to find the injured man in
bad shaue with his arm crushd m a
once taken to Omaha in an automo
bile, where he will be placed in the
Presbyterian hospital, and an effort
made to save the arm. but it seems
that amputation will be certain, as
the bones are so badly crushed as to
render the arm useless, and amputa
tion seems to be the only relief, as
there is little hope of the army ever
being useful again, even if it might
be saved.
The accident was a ereat shock to
those working at the Tritsch farm at
the time, and also to the members of
the young man's family, and is cer
tainly to be regretted that such a
misfortune should be visited on him.
The threshing outfit with which Mr.
Hennintrs was working was owned by
Edward Spence, and he was in charge
of the seperator at the time of the
accident. Mr. Hennings is a young
man of about 25 years of age. It is
expected at the hospital that the de
velopments in the next few hours will
determine whether or not it may be
possible to save the arm, and every
effort will be made to do this.
PARTY OF CASS COUN
TY PEOPLE DEPART FOR
CHASE COUNTY, NEB.
Last evening quite a number of ex
cursionists departed on the 7:45 Mis
souri Pacific for Omaha, from where,
under the guidance of W. E. Rosen-
crans of this city, and L. T. Bonner of
imperial, the party will proceed to
Chase county to look over the land in
that fertile region of, Nebraska.
Messrs. Rosencrans and Bonner had
secured a private Pullman car, which
was sent out over the Burlington last
night to Imperial, and the car will be
parked, where the thirty excursionists
from this county and Omaha will
make their stay while there. As soon
as the excursionists arrive at Im
perial they will start out on a ICO or
200-mile trip by auto through the
fertile farms of Chase county, and be
shown the yield of wheat and corn in
that region. Mr. Bonner, who is en
gaged in the real estate business in
Chase county, in connection with Mr.
Rosencrans, have been organizing the
party of excursionists and the rate
made was so attractive that about
twenty-five of those interested in the
land question were secured and de
parted with the excursion. Mr. Rosen
crans had photographs at his office
which shows a number of views of the
yield of wheat and oats on the farms
of the county and corn in piles on the
farm yards ranging from 4,000 to 9,
000 bushels, while the wheat is in the
same proportion of yield. There are
quite a number of Cass county people
interested in land there and the return
of the excursionists will be awaited
with interest to learn their opinion
of the land in that locality.
For Sale.
Nine head of cows and calves for
sale, and one 2-year-old Holstein bull
C. R. Todd.
8-2G-2wkn-w
HERMAN SPIES RENOVAT
ING HIS CIGAR . FACTORY
From Tuesday's Dallv.
Herman Spies, the cigar manu
facturer, is having his building on
lower Main street subjected to a
thorough cleaning and renovating, and
when it is finished it will make a most
attractive spot. The interior is being
repapered and will be painted in a
most pleasing light shade and soft
cushioned seats be provided for the
customers, and withal Mr .Spies ex
pects to make his "smoke house" a
spot where the lovers of a good frag
rant smoke can drop in and enjoy a
good cigar in surroundings that will
give them pleasure and comfort. He
has just recently had a new roof plac
ed on the building, and with the new
improvements will have everything in
first-class shape.
FIRST DAY'S PLAYING
AT TRI-COUNTY TEN
NIS TOURNAMENT
From Wpdnescmva Dally
The Inter-County Tennis tourna
ment is now on in full swing and yes
terday a number of matches were
staged at the courts on Chicago ave
nue before a number of the en
thusiasts over this great sport, and
the results recorded were as follows:
Preliminary Round.
Ray Larson defeated Frank Hiber,
C-0, 6-0.
Joe Ehvell, jr., defeated J. T.
Stewell by default.
E. N. Christianson defeated Harris
Cook, C-l, 6-0.
Robert Walling defeated Matthew
Herold by default.
Ralph Larson defended Emil Wurl,
C-0, 7-5. ' .
Ed Schulhof defeated Howard King
by default.
Ben Windham defeated T. M. Pat
terson by default.
H. G. McClusky defeated William
Campbell by default.
Bruce Rosencrants defeated E. A.
Fricke by default.
J. A. Elwell defeated John Ballo.v
by default.
F. M. Druliner defeated L. A. Stacy
by default.
First Round.
Junior Marshall defeated Lloyd
Wright by default.
Ben Windham defeated Ed Schulhof
by default.
H. G. McClusky defeated Bruce
Rosencrans by default.
F. M. Druliner defeated J. A. El
well, 6-2, 6-3.
John Falter defeated Otto Schneider
by default.
There are three more matches in
this round yet to be played.
Second Round.
H. G. McClusky defeated Ben WTind
ham. 6-0, 6-1.
F. M. Druliner defeated John Falt
er, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.
There are two more matches in the
second round, two in the semi-finals
and one in the finals yet to be played
in the championship singles. The first
of the semi-finals come off this after
noon, when McClusky plays Druliner,
Play in the doubles started this morn
ing.
Farmers!
Don't fail to see the plowing
demonstration, 8-16 Mogel Kerosene
Engine, with two and three-bottom
plow, at Charles Warner farm two
and one-half miles west of Platts
mouth, Friday, August 27th.
John F. Gorder.
Free Band Concert!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 28TH
-3 O'CLOCK-
Corner 5th and Main St
YOU ARE ALL INVITED
Ladies' Rett Room in Hotel Riley Block Open to All
LIGHT PROPOSI
TION EXPLAINED
BY COIWTEE
An Insight of Just What the Users
of Electricity Will Be Asked to
Pay Under New Contract.
From Wednesday's Dally.
To the Editor of the Journal:
As the question is being discussed
now by a great many of the taxpay
ers, citizens and business men of the
city in regard to the matter of street
lighting, the lighting committee of
the council take this method to ex
plain to the citizens and taxpayers the
actual cost per kilowatt for current to
be used in the proposed contract to be
entered upon by the city and the Ne
braska Lighting company.
First. We base our time of light
ing on an average used by all practi
cal electrical engineers, which is 4,000
hours per year on circuits lighting
from dusk until daylight, and 2,000
hours per year on circuit lighting
from dusk until midnight.
Second. We figure the actual cur
rent used by each lamp, based on
manufacturer's rating of same, and
the total kilowatt of the different cir
cuits is figured on the total paid per
year for lights and in this manner we
get the average price paid per kilo
watt.
Here is the number of lights and
current consumed as we have figured.
This is simple and has no complica
tions; use your own pencil and do your
own figuring and when you have been
told that current is to cost the city
of Plattsmouth 10, 15 or even 20 cents
per kilowatt, as reports are being
circulated, you will know for yourself
just what is being paid:
Nine 450-watt Nitrogen lamps at
4,00 per burning consument, 16,200
kilowatts.
Ninety 40 candle-power lamps (uses
50 watts per hour), at 2,000 hours per
year, 9,000 kilowatts.
Thirty-five 60 candle-power lamps
(consumes 75 watts per hour), at 4,-
000 hours per year, 10,500 kilowatts
per year.
This makes a total of 35,700 kilo
watts consumed by the lights used on
the street lighting system as pro
posed. The proposed cost of the 35,700 kilo
watts to the city is $2,625 per year,
or an average price of 7 and 1-3 cents
per kilowatt.
In these figures there is no allow
ance for line loss, which if figured as
would be allowed by municipal engin
eers would figure the cost at ap
proximately G cents per kilwatt to the
city.
Out of this the lighting company
will have to maintain and operate the
entire system, as well as to build ex
tensions for placing of additional
lights as contemplated by the city.
Committee.
All friends of education are cordial
ly invited to hear Bertram Everett
McProud of Brooking, South Dakota,
in his lectures next week. The sub
ject of the lecture Tuesday evening
will be, "The Individual in the Mak
ing:" Thursday evening, "What Men
Live By." You will bea ble to hear
these without charge, since Mr. Mc
Proud has been secured for Institute
-ppV- 8-26-ltd-ltw
William Troop and Louis Todd of
near Nehawka were among the visit
ors in this city Monday for a short
time looking after some matters of
business.
BEN HORNING CONFINED
TO HOME, SOUTH OF TOWN
From Wednesday's Dally.
The many friends of Ben Horning
throughout this section of the county
will regret greatly to learn that he
has been decidedly under the weather
for the last three days and has been
confined to his home on the farm just
south of this city. Mr. Horning has
not been enjoying the best of health
for several months, as he has been
suffering from a growth on his face
that has defied the efforts of the speci
alists to treat, and has steadily grown
worse, although for a time it was
thought that it had been much im
proved. He has been taking treatment
in Omaha for the past few months,
and night before last suffered quite a
severe hemorrhage from the growth,
but is reported as feeling slightly bet
ter today, and it certainly will be the
heartfelt wish of all the friends of this
splendid gentleman that he may be
able to recover from the malady.
PLATTSMOUTH GIRL
SELECTED AS ONE OF
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
From Wednesday's Dally.
A Plattsmouth young lady, Miss
Josephine Ulrich, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Ulrich, was one of the
leading representatives at the recent
"millinery school," held by the M.
Spiesberger & Sons company for the
benefit of the buyers and trimmers of
fall and winter hats, and Miss Ulrich
was selected as one of the most
beautiful of the many young ladies
who assisted in the demonstration of
the new hat styles at the school. Miss
Ulrich has been engaged in trimming
at Mitchell, Neb., for the past season
and has made a splendid reputation
for her skill in this line of work, and
on Sunday last the Omaha Daily News
gave her portrait as one of the three
handsomest ladies at the school, and
among the other two in this group
was Miss Hazel Emerson, who was
trimmer here during the spring sea
son at the millinery department of
the M. Fanger store.
THE LOUISVILLE BALL
TEAM TO PLAY RED
SOX NEXT SUNDAY
From Wednesday Dally.
The base ball fans Sunday will
have the pleasure of a visit to this city
of the fast Louisville aggregation of
base ball players, who are coming
down to take on the Red Sox for an
other contest in the hope of reversing
the results of their previous visit,
when they were defeated by a score of
6 to 5 in a most interesting game.
There is no doubt that Louisville has
a fast organization and they will
make worthy opponents for the
mighty Red Sox and a good, close
game is assured to the lovers of this
sport. The condition of the arm of
Bob Greko. the pitcher of the Sox is
such that he will probably be unable
to be present, but if he cannot be on
the job it is hoped to secure Roy Chne,
who was here last fall playing in the
tournament, to take the mound 30b for
the Sox. The inability of Bobbie to be
here will be very much regretted, as
he has made a warm spot for himself
in the hearts of the Plattsmouth fans,
and is a fine, clean-cut young man all
the way through, as well as a clever
pitcher and a general good, heady ball
player.
J. W. Barwick Laid to Rest.
Yesterday afternoon the funeral of
the late J. W. Barwick was held from
the home in South Park, and was at
tended by a large number of the
neighbors and friends, as well as the
members of the A. O. U. W., of which
the deceased had been a member dur
ing a great many years. The service
was in charge of Rev. W. S. Leete of
St. Luke's church and the beautiful
and impressive service of the Episco
pal church used in the last sad rites
in memory of this good man. The
choir of St. Luke's church furnished
several numbers for the service.
FOURTH ANNUAL
TOURNAMENT OF
((. S. SOCIETY
Four-Days' Session to Be Held in This
City, Beginning Friday, September
3, Continuing Over Sunday.
The city of Plattsmouth will soon
have the opportunity afforded them of
beii:g the hosts for the fourth annual
tournament of the Nebraska disU ict
of the Katolicky Sokol society, which
will start a four-days' session here on
Friday. September 3. and continue un
til Monday, September 5. During this
time there will probably be several
hundred visitors here from all parts
of eastern Nebraska, including several
turning classes from the different so-
cities of the Katolicky Sokol in this
section.
The citizens of Plattsmouth should
give the visitors a cordial welcome
and demonstrate to them that they are
.dpi eciative of the fact that this
tournament has been brought to this
city this year and assist in every way
possible the committee of the local
society that has thea ctive manage
ment of the affair in charge, and who
w.ll do their utmost to make the visit
of their fellow members here one of
great pleasure and one that they can
long pleasantly remember.
The business houses of the city, in
he nor of the gathering of the turners,
should display some features in dec
orations that will demonstrate their
feeling of esteem for the sturdy rep
resentatives of this splendid or
ganization. Friday. September 3, the opening
day, will be largely devoted to ths
loutine matters of the business or
ganization of the tournament and the
preparations for the holding of th
competitive turning, which will be
started Saturday and continue for the
next three days of the tournament.
On Saturday evening of the tourna
ment there will be a grand ball given
at the local K. S. hall for the visitors
and here will be held the meetings
and various turning exhibitions by the
different classes. On Sunday, Sep
tember fi. a monster parade of the
visiting societies and the local or
ganization will be held from the Bur
lington station at 1:30 in the after
noon to the hall on West Locus,
street, as there will be large delega
tions arrive on that day from Omaha
and South Omaha to take p'irt i:i the
festivities. The awarding of the prizes
will also be given on this day. On
Monday there will be a play given at
the local hall by the Bohemian Dra
matic club.
THE ALBRIGHT MUSI
CAL COMEDY CO. AT
THE AIR DOME NEXT
The Albright Musical Comedy Co.
that ODens a week's engagement at
the Air Dome Monday night, August
30th. come highly recommended, and
judging from the advance notices re
ceived of this company we will have
a formidable organization in our midst
next week. Miss Ruth Albright, who
heads this company, is known for her
charming personality and winsome
smile. She is an artist of rare ability,
being the proud possessor of a rich
contralto voice of wide range. Dur
ing her local engagement she will sin?
a number of hits from late New York
successes, among them being, "The
Heigh Ginks' Song." The opening
play is entitled, "The Gay Deceiver,"
full of funny situations and with dia
logue, intermingled with catchy musi
cal numbers, costumed par excellence
and executed by a chorus of more than
usual grace and ability. The comedi
ans are one of the rare main features
of this company, as they are really
funny and never resort to methods
to secure laughs that are not legiti
mate. Harry Blank and Mr. Wright,
the principal comedians, and Miss
Ruth Albright have been associated
with each other so long that as a trio
of funmakers they cannot be excell
ed. Arthur Donovan, the juvanile
man, who has the feature part in "The
Gay Deceiver," will undoubtedly pain
as many admirers here as he has done
elsewhere. The rest of the cast are
up to the usual standard.