"JTcraska State Histori
cal Society
ontnu
VOL. XXXVI.
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1918.
No. 41.
0. VVURL
WRITES
INTERESTINGLY
LETTERS TELLING OF HIS EX
PERIENCES. AND WHAT IS
DOING IN A SENSE.
ON OTHER SIDE OF WATER.
This Gives Some Idea Of the Land
Which Is Being Fought
For.
From Monday's Dally.
The following in a portion of
the letters which Otto Wurl whom
so many of the people of this city
know, which he sends to the fam
ily here. Otto has been in France
for a number of months and is con
stantly learning more of the people,
their ways, and the country as well
as the modes of warfare, as it is be
ing practiced there:
Somewhere in France, July 9th.
Dear Mable, Buddie and Grandma:
Hooray! I got a letter. When I
returned to regimental headquart
ers from school last Tuesday, the
company had gone up to the line.
All officers returning from school,
as well as X. C. O's. were sent on,
except me. I was heart broken for
a while, until I thought of how it
would feel, then I consoled nfyself.
I knew you would be happy to hear
of it. I guess you and Buddie and
Grandma must have prayed for me.
Our boys went over the top July 3rd.
They did it splendidly and received
congratulations from our command
ing generals. They returned last
Saturday. We lost some however.
That night I was ordered away to
school for Hlils ' week, " not far from
where I was at the last school. This
one w,hich I am attending this week
is for bombing.
I am now sitting in an old Ciia
teau where the officers I tve mess.
We just had dinner. The chateau
sets way back from the road, up
along a beautiful drive way lined
with large trees. It is across a little
stream and a little north -from
where I was before. They are finj
to us; many British officers are here,
in fact they are most British officers.
I have an idea the whole company,
the regiment and division will move
before I return. This is the cleanest
village I have been in since I have
been in France. I must tell you
what I received, it was your letter
addressed to Camp Upton, mailed
May 19th. It was mailed to Camp
Upton the day we left X. Y. I hope
to run across Mr. Gibbons some day,
though we are too far north now. I
hope to receive many more letters
when I get back to the company.
I was in charge of K company
while I was back there those few
days. On July Fourth we celebrat
ed, those that were there, by having
a dinner all regimental officers in
camp were present. We sure had a
fine time, dining in an orchard, and'
had all the trimmings.
July Fourth was observed as a
holiday in camp. I am getting
madder and madder every day, ev
erybody is enthusiastic about our
boys. They call us the "Fighting
Devils." The Germans taken, did
not believe Americans were in the
line at this place. One corporal on
my platoon captured 8 men and a
machine gun single handed. Some
of the deeds done were marvelous.
I wish I could tell you. I am sitting
in the writing room next to the
lounging room. An officer is play
ing the piano, and singing, I can
hardly keep still. The boys were
oil sorry I could not be with them.
Lieut. Clissold has charge, it took
about CO hours to get here from
camp. Sunday night after seeing
that all who were in my charge were
put to rest I strolled through the
large city on my way here to get a
place to sleep as I was alone. The
city was deserted as far as I could
see and I thought of you at home,
and wondered if you were thinking
of me. . It was Sunday July 7th and
the time must have been four or
five o'clock in the afternoon by your
time. I have almost finished another
school. We had ' considerable rain
but it did not interfere with oui
work.
On Thursday the British officer?
at dinner gave a toast to the King.
Their senior give it. I waited for
our senior to come back on tho
president, and as he did not I finally
arose and said "Gentlemen, a toast
to President Wilson, The man of the
World." It went fine. I could not
let them put it over on our presi
dent, who leads the world today.
They are a pretty, jolly bunch of
fellows and we have splendid times.
I am sending you a picture of the
town I passed through last Sunday.
I met Paul Tibbets several weeks
since. While at school I went to a
Catholic church, the only one in the
city, where all people go, which
was built in 16.13.
.1 will close now, hoping you are
having a fine time, and that Buddie
is taking good care of mamma and
grandma. Papa.
OTTO WURL.
HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL.
From Monday's Daily.
! Yesterday morning, a sharp clap
of thunder was heard, which was the
result of a vivid bolt of lightning,
which found its way to mother earth,
through a stack of wheat on the
place of B. F. Goodman, setting the
stack afire, but as it was immediate
ly observed, they were able to get
j to it and extinguish the flames and
save the greater portion of the
grain. The stock had to be torn
down and restacked, which was
done, with not such a great loss.
DEDICATED FLAG YESTERDAY.
From Monday's Daily.
Yesterday with appropriate cere
monies, at the Holy Rosary church in
the west portion of the city, there
was special services, when the ser
vice Flag of that church was un
vailed. This flag contained twenty
four stars, one for each of the
twenty-four who have gone to the
service, who are members of that
church. This is an evidence of the
loyalty and the patriotism of the
membership of the church. All are
sending their-quota out-to-do-battle
for the cause of Humanity and Lib
erty. WILL DRIVE A TRUCK.
rrom Monday's Daily.
Mrs. Lillian Baker wno visited
here over Sunday with friends re
turned this morning to Omaha,
where she is working for the Mourse
Oil Company of that place, and
where she is just now taking les
sons in the operation of a truck,
which she is to drive for the com
pany in the delivery and distribu
tion of their products. One by one
the women are entering into the oc
cupations which have heretofore
been held exclusively by men. The .
National army and navy service are ,
making the levies on the manpower
of the country until the women are :
required to fill the gaps In the labor .
markets, which are thus made va
cant. DIES WITH HIS FACE TO THE FOE
From Monday's Daily.
Last Saturday a message came
telling of the death of Edward C.
Ripple jr., who was a member of the
Rainbow Division, fighting in
France, who was the son of Edward
C. Ripple and wife of this city. The
parents and his host of friends are
pained to receive the news as he was '
a favorite, and the one who organiz- :
ed the squad who went from this '
city, and joined the company at
Plftn -w-l TrvtiTi T V a maoca cro Time 1
megern and said only "Regret to in
form you that Private Edward C.
Ripple jr.. Infantry is officially re
ported as killed In action July 28th"
and signed by the Adjutant General.
A more extended account of the
young man's life and his army his
tory will appear in this paper soon.
FIND STOLEN CAR IN OMAHA.
From Monday's Daily.
This morning Officer Alvin Jones
rnd Edward Scheen departed for
Omaha when notified that thj car
which was stolen from Mr. Scheen
had been located. Mr. Scheen had
driven to Omaha on the day of the
Ringling shows, and while he was
attending the show some one stole
the car, and he was not able until
this time to locate it.
When notified he departed for
Omaha taking with him Officer Jones
going to secure the car and bring it
home with them.
James Hatch was a visitor in this
city this morning looking after some
business for a few hours this morning.
WAR SAVING
SOCIETY MEETING
WARD M. BURGESS OFFICE AT
OMAHA HAVE PROMISED A
SPEAKER FOR MEETING.
WILL HOLD IN HIGH SCHOOL
The
Wednesday Evening of August
Twenty-one at Eight
Thirty. From Wednesday's Daily.
Arrangements have been perfect
ed for the meeting which is to pro-
rAote the working of the War Sav
ing Society meeting, and to get the
people more interested in the mat
ter. The High School room has
been secured, and music has been
arranged for which will consist of
music by the band, and vocal also
as well as instrumental at the build
ing. The speaker which Mr. Bur
gess will furnish will be announced
as soon as it is definitely known who
he is. The meeting will be con
vened at eight thirty, when the music
and preliminaries will begin, and
later the speaking will occur. There
will be no charges for admission,
neither will there be a collection ask
ed. DEATH OF FORMER CITIZEN.
From Wednesday's Daily.
J. Finley Johnson, who was en
gaged in the hardware business in
this city years ago, is now located
at Los Angeles, and from there
writes to Henry Boeck telling of the
death of his brother Frank Johnson,
who was- formerly connected wjth
his brother in the hardware busi
ness, but later was engaged in the
building business being a carpenter
and builder.
Mr. Frank Johnson died July 27th
a few days less than 72 years of
age. He had gone to bed at night in
his usual health, and at three o'clock
was found dead. Mr. J. Finley
Johnson speaks of his health not be
ing the best. He tells of seeing Lew
Meyers in Los Angeles a few days
since.
COUNCIL OF DEFENSE MEET.
From Wednesday's Daily.
A. iortion of the Council .'f Dc-fn-f,
held a meeting this morning
in this city, having some hu-jr.tss
ti come before them, touching S'juie
rtinaiks, made by some parties near
I.uisville in the presence of one of
nis r-ighbors, which was nude only
in the presence of the parties. One
den itd the fact, while the other af
firmed the matter was cared for by
a reprimand, and a warning not to
tie careless in remarks in the fu
ture. SOLDIER BOYS DEPART
FROM LINCOLN
From Wednesday's Daily.
Miss Rose Verhule came down to
Plattsmouth from Omaha last even
ing 'because her friends was on the
train coming from Lincoln and go
ing to Valparaiso, Indiana, to which
place a large number of the boys
went who were at Lincoln in special
training. Some is reported to have
went to Ohio, while others to Michi
gan and some to Missouri. There
were a large number on the train,
number two of the Burlington which
passed through here and were desin
ed to Valparaiso, Indiana.
ENJOYS VISIT OF SISTER.
From Tuesday's Daily.
Mrs. U. A. Hanna of Pennsylvania
who has been visiting in this city at
the home of her brother John II.
Rutherford, and at Murray at the
home of a sister Mrs. W. E. Dowell,
for a time with other relatives at
Des Moines, Iowa, and again with
other friends and relatives in Wis
consin, before returning tq her home
in the east.
SIX MORE BOYS
FOR LINCOLN SOON
Fror-k Tuesday's Daily.
On the same day that the six boys
who are to go to Kansas City, for
training in the Auto school departs,
there will also six depart for Lin
coln to fill the places which are be
ing vacated by the departure of the
927 who are just completing their
training and are leaving for some
where else this afternoon. Those to
go to Lincoln will depart on Aug
ust 15th, going via the Schuyler.
and are J. E. Jordan of Cedar Creek.
Earl Mayfield. Louisville. Harvey E.
Kniss and Clyde R. Kennedy, both
of Murray, James Elmer Slireeve of
Elmwood and Frank Turner Marshall
of Plattsmouth.
LETTER FROM WM. WALKER.
FrMTi Tuesday's Daily.
Was Member of U. S. S. San Diego,
and Writes to His Parents Soon
After the Sinking of the
Boat, Supposedly by
Submarine.
July 21, 191 8.
Dear Folks:
If it had net been for the Red
Cross I couldn't even have written
this letter. It is tho greatest thing
in relief that wasever originated.
They surely are on the job. When
the rescue brought us in, they had
beds ready for the whole crew.
I was in the water four hours,
was picked up by the steamer
"Maiden." Everything I owned was
lost, money for furlough included.
I have nothing but a pair of work
pants, a jumper and a hat. I sent
two telegrams hoping you would at
least get one of them; was obliged
to send them "collect."
I felt as bad when the old ship
went out of sight as I possibly could,
I think. I saw many of the officers
cry over it. It is odd, but every one
of us loved that ship. The coolness
of the crew was wonderful. I didn't
see a single man excited. My very
best friend was killed beside me.
This is nearly all I can write. It
will be sometime before we are out
fitted again. Until then can't write
much as I haven't a place even to
hang my hat. My feet are getting
sore from going without shoes, so I
don't walk much for awhile. Other
wise, I have no ill effects, except
absolute destitution of garb.
I hope you didn't worr- tried to
get a telegram off before news was
released, but am afraid I didn't
make it. Love to all,
BILL.
HENRY G. SOENNICHSEN
BACK IN AMERICA
From Tuesday's Daily.
Recent letters from Henry CJ.
Soennichsen tells of his return to
the United States, where he is sit
uated at Presidio, California, which
is just in the edge of San Francisco,
where he is serving you 'Uncle Sam'
as a member of the Coast Artillery.
He likes his position on the coast
fine, and is well pleased with the
service. - He was for some time at
Honolulu, where he liked the coun
try and the service fine, and was
brought back to the states about
three weeks since or about the
middle of July. His many friends
will be pleased to learn of him, and
his desirable location.
ERADICATE THIS
PRO-GERMANISM
From Monday's Dai!.
The matter of some people in this
rommunity or any other of talking
pro-germanism, is a thing which
should be eradicated, it should be
wiped out," and done at once. Just
now fighting for the cause of Hu
manity has the life of one of the
Plattsmouth boys have been snuffed
out, and another is wounded in
France, and another recently died at
a hospital in the south. The senti
ment is crystalizing to that extent
that the talk, which has been going
on sereptueously has got to stop.
The council of defense has given
warning regarding the item of Ger
man talk, and the expressing of
things which would tend to give
comfort and aid to the enemy, as
well as nibbling at the heels of the
government in its necessary acts.
There is only one thing and that is
Americanism, and a hundred per
cent at that, or the man who cannot
uphold that. put him where there is
no Americanism, send to him Ger
many, where he belongs, whether he
was born here or there elsewhere.
Most disfiguring skin eruptions,
scrofula, pimples, rashes, etc., are
due to impure blood. Burdock Blood
Bitters as a cleansing blood tonic,
is well recommended. $1.25 at all
stores.
WILL TEACH FULL
ER Ail
OREAPOLIS WAR SAVING SO
CIETY INITIATIVE IN PROMOT
ING BETTER PATRIOTISM.
EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW IT
Where Citizens Stand In Regard to
What Assistance They Are
Furnishing.
From Monday's Daily.
Pursuant to a call issue by the
president of the Oreapolis War Sav
ing Society, there was a meeting
held at the Oreapolis school house
who had for its object, the crystaliza-
tion of the efforts of the people, in
making of the War Saving Societies,
a potent factor in the helping in
the matter of winning of the war.
The idea being to get the different
war saving societies interested to
that extent that they will from a
patriotic spirit, enter fully into the
work of keeping, up the subscrip
tion for the stamps, for the con
serving of all our energies for the
winning of the war, for the teach
ing cf the true American spirit, that
the government and the soldier boys
may know just where the people
stand, and what we are doing to
wards the great object which is call
ing for the best thought, and the
most strenuous efforts of the day.
Monte Streight called the meeting
to order and read some communica
tions from those having in hand the
War Saving Societies, after which he
explained the object of the meeting.
The meeting was later turned into a
mass meeting, Mr.-Monte Streight,
the chairman, and A. B. Hass the
secretary. The matter to be dis
cussed as to what steps should be
taken when a finally a committee
was selected which was composed of
Monte Streight, John Rutherford,
George Stander, Judge A. J. Beeson,
H. A. Schneider, Jos. J. Johnson,
E. II. Wescott and M. S. Briggs, to
meet at the office of .the county
judge on this afternoon at about
three thirty to formulate plans for
bringing about the ideas expressed
at the meeting. After the conclu
sion of the matter of business Judge
A. J. Beeson was asked to address
the meeting, which he did in a very
pleasant manner and talked along
lines of the good proposition of the
war saving stamps as a business
proposition, as well as the matter
of its patriotic side. He said it was
taking two big battles to win this
war, one was beting fought on the
other side, in France, and the other
must be fought on this side, by the
citizenry of this nation by making
our acts comfort with the principle
of supplying the soldiers there with
the needed things to win with.
BUYS A NEW HUDSON CAR.
From Monday's Daily
Fred Schliefert was a visitor in'
this dity this morning from his home
near Louisville and while here call
ed on the Jonrnal office, having
some matters to look after here, and
while here we obtained the infor
mation that he had just purchased
himself and family a new, Hudson
car, and is enjoying the pleasure of
the use and ownership of the car.
HEARS FROM SON YESTERDAY
From Tuesday's Daily.
Hans Rothman and wife just had
a letter from their son Louis Roth
man who has been at the training
camp at Camp Dodge, for the past
two months, but who with the oth
ers departed about ten days since,
writes from New York, telling of
the boys being there but not know
ing what they are to do. It may be
going over or it may be to another
camp for finishing the training.
CONTEST BETWEEN PLATTS
MOUTH AND NEBR. CITY
For several weeks the superintend
ents of the different Sunday Schools
of Plattsmouth have been working
on plans to stimulate more active
work in our Sunday schools.
The plan now under considera
tion is for the Sunday Schools of
Plattsmouth to enter a contest with
R CAN SM
tho Sunday Schools of some other city
of equal size on the percentage basis,
The contest to begin the first Sun
day in September and to continue
until January 1, 1919. The city
winning the contest i3 to be award
ed some honor or special mention.
Nebraska City has accepted the
challenge from Plattsmouth, and at
least five schools of that city will
enter the contest. The.se schools
are very enthusiastic over the plan.
believing it to be one method for the
furthering of the interest of Christ
in that city.
The next meeting of the Sunday
School Worker's Council of Platts
mouth will be 8 o'clock tomorrow
evening, August 13, at the Presby
terian church. Each Sunday School
is asked to send a delegation of at
least three members with superin
tendent and pastor.
Trusting this meeting will be well
attended by representatives from ev
ery Sunday School in the city, I re
main, Yours in the great work.
A. J. HARGETT.
OLD GLORY FLOATS AT PARK.
From Tuesday's Daily.
Some one with a patriotic spirit
has seen fit to get after the proposi
tion of having the flag which was
worn out at the park supplemented
by a bright new one, and now a flag
eight by twelve feet and costing
some fifteen dollars is floating from
the top of the flag staff, telling the
citizens of some ones love for their
country and more, that an admoni
tion to revre and support that coun
try to the utmost of your ability.
There will be another story about
this flang. Look for it in a few days.
DEPARTS FOR THE ARMY TODAY
From Tuesday's Daily.
This morning Robert Poisall de
parted for Denver, where he joined
the army as a specially trained ma
chinist, and will be sent from Den
ver to Salt Lake City, Utahf for
raining. Mrs. Peter Herold of this
city, and Mrs. Barney Bardwell of
Blocmington, Illinois, who is visit-
ng here were passengers as far as
Omaha with their brother. Robert
has had an abundant experience in
the machinists trade and is an ex
cellent workman.
GOES TO TAKE EXAMINATION.
From Tuesday's Dally.
This morning C. A. Marshall jr..
(June) and his friend Miss Seybert,
and his parents Dr. C. A. Marshall
sr., and wife were passengers to
Omaha, where they go that Junior
may take the physical examination
for admission in the navy, he having
had his application in some time
since and had expected to have gone
before this but had not as yet taken
his physical examination. Until the
results of the examination is over it
will not be known where he will be
sent or not.
ail Your Livestock
Checks for Credit
at this bank, as soon as received it prevents
this becoming lost and gives you the use of
the proceeds at once.
We invite you to call us on the phone at any
time for market quotations, or for other ser
vice that will help you in the financial end of
stockraising.
Make use of this strong progressive bank.
1
First National Ban!
Plattsmouth,
PAY TWO
HUNDRED
DOLLARS FORFEIT
TWO MEN FROM OMAHA GET
LOST IN PLATTSMOUTH, SUN
DAY MORNING EARLY.
ARE FOUND DY OFFICER JONES
Who Cares For Them, and This
Morning Judge Archer As
sesses Fine.
From Monday's Dolly.
Two men giving their names as
Henry Clay Beeseley and John West-
ley Seabrook, and first saying they
resided in Iowa, but later telling
that they were residents of Omaha.
The correct names in doubt, were
attempting to pass through this city
at the extra early hour of 2:00 a.
m. Sanday morning, when they be
came labarynith of streets and lanes
as they seen them, through the
glittering lights as they shone
through the drops of amber corn
juice, they had imbibed too freely.
on their way from St. Joseph, Mo.
The boys made a circle cf soms of
the blocks and turned the next cor
ner every time, until they were
nabbed by officer Jones, who placed
them in jail until yesterday when
before Judge Douglass, city attor
ney they perfected a bond, which
gave them their liberty. This morn
ing they were arraigned before.
Judge M. Archer, who applied the
law to them to the tune of one
hundred dollars fine and three rol
lars costs each, which from the two
was $20G.OO. Down into their ca
pacious pockets they went and drag
ged out the coin of the realm and
liquidated the expense account and
piled in their roadster and had no,
difficulty of finding their way out
of the city. Well, good bye boys,
do not try the contraband stuff any
more boys, it is rotten.
BURNED HAND WITH HOT TAR.
F-om Monday's Dally
While employed as a roofing work
man John Hanson, was applying hot
tar to the rcof of one of the build
ings of the Burlington shops, he had
the mistfortune to spill a portion of
the tar, which was just taken from
the boiling pot, on one of his hand
while burned in very seriously, and
has made it so he cannot work, un
til the member gets well which will
be some time.
M. C. Walker was looking after
some business from Mt. Pleasant
precinct, and was visiting with
friends in the city as well today.
Nebraska.
r'"