Monday, April 2, 1934
Daily Nebraskan
Hi
&
o
" Ml! I ' I V
'Mill i r 1 1 l I M 1 1 U I j I M nil
V. - .O-ov. - c Lit Ik kw-
o o
:
7
-7
r
1 f.-"
s S f
A '
V
Dr. Heinrich Tschutter of the Platte River Citizens' Committee on Carbonated Phenomena displays a recent photograph of a Rainier seen near Wahoo.
SEWARD - New sightings of Mountain Fresh Rainiers
across much of eastern Nebraska have now been
confirmed by several unbiased sources, according to Dr.
Heinrich Tschutter. chairman of the Platte River Citizens'
Committee on Carbonated Phenomena. Tschutter told a
hastily-called press conference in Swedehome yesterday
that MFR's have been "positively identified" in the region
to the south and east of the Platte. And. he added, sightings
in Omaha itself "are just a matter of time."
Rumors concerning the imminent appearance of
MFR's in the area have been circulating for months, and
vesterdav's press conference was obviously designed to .
dispel all doubts. Appearing with Tschutter were several
eyewitnesses and i ndependent experts, many of whom
brought authentic-looking photographs. v
r
f '
I
11
Mary Elizabeth Welkins, shown here with
her husband Leonardo, told newsmen:
"All I know is I saw the things, and that's it."
: WW--' "
t v
1 F
VVally "Buzz" Entropo shows sketches of Mountain
Fresh Rainiers he made along the Niobrara during
1974.
"This time they ca"n be identified absolutely" claimed
Dr. Tschutter. "Rainiers are of two distinct species one
that appears to be shiny and metallic, and is almost
perfectly cylindrical. The other is dark brown, translucent,
and also cylindrical, but with a protruding neck or cap."
Tschutter said that the markings of both species were
almost identical: a large red "R" in script, followed by the
word "ainier." the combination thought to refer to the -mountain
out in Washington State, traditionally
considered the place of origin for all MFR's. But other
experts challenged Tschutters interpretation, several
conjecturing that "ainier" is a reference to the light, fresh,
golden, carbonated contents of MFR's. Arguing this point
convincingly was Wally "Buzz" Entropo. an MFR-tracker
for over 20 years, who claims to have lived among one
group of Rainiers in the remote Niobrara region.
"I've even tasted them." stated Entropo. "and I'll tell
vou. they are friendly and extremely refreshing. But I found
ho evidence convincing me that the 'R' and 'ainier'
together make up any larger word."
Tschutter had no comment regarding Entropo's
remarks, but he dismissed as "insufficiently documented"
the recent spate of sightings of a varient species marked
"Rainier Light."
Other eyewitnesses who spoke included Leonardo and
Man. Elizabeth Welkins of the Branched.Oak Lake area.
The Welkinses claim to have seen as many as six Rainiers
at one time. "It was just before dark." said the retired
accountant. "We were walking next to this horse corral.
Suddenly the horses began kicking and whinnying. Dogs
began to howl. Mary Elizabeth shouted. M see it! I see it!'
"As we got closer, we could make out six of them in .
very tight formation. They were the brown ones, and we
could read the 'R's' on their sides clear as day. They made
no sounds as they charged past us."
Dr. Tschutter visited the couple a few days after the
sighting was reported. "When I left." he said, "I was more
puzzled than when I arrived." because the Welkinses were
the first to report multiple MFR's. "But they obviously
didn't make up the story."
Nonetheless, the Welkinses took a terrific ribbing
from their friends, they reported. "Even my mother scoffed
at us." said Mrs. Welkins. "Things were pretty unbeerable
for a while, but all I know is I saw the things, and that's it."
All the speakers agreed that Rainiers are friendly
"to humans, and are even thought to impart a feeling of
refreshment and well-being to those with whom they come
jn contact. Tschutter concluded by saying that multiple
"MFR sightings had since been verified by. among others, a
21-year-old college student and a law enforcement officer.
"We can all expect to see Rainiers throughout eastern
Nebraska in the weeks to come, all the wayTrom Kearney
to Council Bluffs." said Tschutter. "And I for one am as
pleased as I can be." -
y j.- v. .Ajy. . .-" .- v v. v. ,! -.v.
These remains, thought to be left by MFR's, were
found near Palmyra.
Rainier Brewing Company. Seattle. Washington
Page 7