The Norman Democrat--Topic (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, June 15, 1917 Page: 1 of 6
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II
The NORMAN DEMOCRAT=TOPIC
VOLUME TWENTY-EIGHT
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA. FRIDAY, JUNE 15th, 1917.
ENGINEER KILLED; 11 HURT
Southbound Santa Fe Passenger Train
Collides with Special Freight
at Flynn Siding.
ENGINEERS RESPONSIBLE
NUMBER 26.
THE DEAD.
James A. Hall, engineer, Arkansas
City, Kans.
THE INJURED.
George Ruin, engineer, Arkansas
City, Kan.
O .\V. Dickerson, Oklahoma City,
broken nose, other injuries.
George Shelton, address unknown,
o years old, leg broken.
Dr. H. R. Manogue, Norman, right
leg broken.
Bruce Brandhouse, address un-
known, slight injuries.
Miss Edna Hart, Dallas.
C A. Campbell, Dallas.
Mrs. C. W. Wilson, 21 East Fifth
Street, Oklahoma City, right leg bro-
ken.
T. Chamberlain, Perry, ribs bro-
ken.
T. Macklenburg, 514 East Seventh
Street, tour ribs broken.
,N. M. Fritzgerald, iKice, Texas,
teth knocked out, other injuries.
James A. Hall of Arkansas City,
Kan., Santa Fe engineer, is dead,one
man is expected to die and at least
ten other persons were injured when
a south-bound Santa Fe passenger
tram and a special north-bound stock
trains crashed head-on at Flynn, a
sidetrack two miles north of Moore
and four miles south of Oklaoluna
City, at 10:20 o'clock Wednesday
morning. The wreck resulted when
George Rain of Arkansas City, en-
gineer on the passenger train, dis-
regarded orders to sidetrack at the
Flynn switch to allow the freight to
pass. Rain was badly scalded and is
not expected to live.
Fireman J limps
Neither train crew saw the other
until the pilots of the passenger and
freight engines were about ten feet
apart. The freight fireman, A. Hil-
yer jumped in time to save his own
life. He was badly bruised however.
Hall stayed with his brakes and was
pinned under tons of wreckage.^ He
was badly scalded.
Raiu, the passenger engineer, was
found holding to the throttle. He
was still unconscious when dug from
under the ruins of his cab. He ad-
mitted that he had caused the wreck
by forgetting to stop at Flynn. He
was adjusting the lubricator in his
cab and was not aware that he had
traveled by the sidetrack.
Injured taken to Oklahoma City
The dead and badly injured were
put into ambulances and rushed to
various hospitals at Oklahoma CTy
as fast as possible. At least 2,000
people had gath red at Flynn within
an hour after the crash. Roads
were choked and a corn field near
the wreck was overrun with parked
cars.
Fifty Miles an Hour
C. S. Clay, conductor on the pas-
senger, declared that it was running
litty miles an hour at the time of the
impact. The track for several miles
on each side of Flynn is straight and
well-balasted and both freight and
passengers pull along it at h'gb speed
Only the fact that the passenger
coaches were of steel prevented at
least a score of deaths and the ser-
ious injury of scores of others. Hard-
ly a man or woman on the train but
was badly bruised.
The engine on the stock train, hav-
ing behind it the inertia of twenty
heavily loaded stock cars shoved the
engine of the passenger train to the
westward of the track. The head of
the passenger engine was pointing
at an angle toward the rear coach.
Engines Total Wrecks
Neither engine can be ^repaired.
Both were smashed into scrap iron.
The boilers were crushed into junk
and only the driving wheels of the
passenger engine escaped being bro-
ken into bits.
One stock car immediately behind
the tender of the freight locomotive
was smashed into kindling wood. On-
ly the trucks remain. This car was
filled with hogs. With the except-
ion of one animal, all were killed.
This**hog was found on top of the
tender of the freight engine, and was
rooting around among the wreckage
piled on top, apparently unhurt. A
dozen or more hogs were thrown for
a hundred feet in advance of where
f the two locomotive lay smashed in-
to derbis.
Animals Kiled
Immediatly behind the car ot hogs
was a car of steers. This car was
pulled completely on top of wreck-
age of the hog car. A dozen or more
animals were killed, and those that
escaped, but were injured were killed
by the police. With the exception of
the first two cars, every part of the
stock train remained intact.
Every pane of glass in the doors
of the passenger train were broken.
Nearly all the windows remained in-
tact. It was in the Pullman at the
end of the train and in the car next
to it that the greatest number of
broken limbs resulted from the crash.
The front end of the train so far as
the passengers are concerned was
damaged the least.
Engineer Rain Dead.
Geo. A. Rain, passenger engineer,
died in the Oklahoma City hospital
Wednesday night from injuries
ceived in the wreck.
OIL DEVELOPMENT
NEAR LEXINGTON
Progress in the oil district near 1
l exington- is still going on rapidly
regardless of the war and the high
iost of living.
1 lie Pequot Company's crew,which
is urilling on the Jarboe farm in the
l iiion Hill district, is working full
time seven days in the week. It is
said that the bit is down now some
180 feet. Owing to a shortage in
their supply of water last week the
drilling was discontinued for awo
days, but this trouble has been reme-
died and they are now drilling at a
rapid pace with good indications
I lie National Company who have
two locations on the Lovelace farm
near Willow View, have received a
new' combination rig, one that can
be used either as a standard or as a
rotary, and is being hauled to their
location this week. Drilling was dis-
continued at that place several
weeks ago on account of some trou-
ble with the driller, but work will be
resumed as soon as the new rig is
erected.
Several leases have also been tak-
en during the past week and it will
only be a short time until most of
the land in this end of the county
will be under lease with agreements
to put down more tests.—Leader.
BRINGS HOME TRO-
PHIES.
CAR SHORTAGE
THREATENS REFINERS
Wall Abbott, who represented ; The Corporation Commission ha
WHEAT HARVEST
TO THE
PENITENTIARY
C. A. Bashara, an Assyrian, who
recently moved from near Tuttle to
Norman, and purchased a lot on East
Main and erected a store building
was placed under arrest by Sheriff
Whee!is last Saturday, and turned
over to Undersheriff Rucker of
Chickasha, who took him to the pen-
itentiary at McAlester to begin serv
ing a sentence of 10 years for killing
a man named Selby at Tuttle in 1913
Bashara was convicted in Grady Co.
and given 10 years, but appealed the
case to the Criminal Court of Ap-
peals and has been at liberty on
$20,000.00 bond. The court of Ap-
peals affirmed the sentence of the
lower courts, and Bashara was plac-
ed in the penitentiary to begin serv-
ing the sentence.
Bashara and Selby had trouble
over a space between two buildings
at Tuttle, the later boarding up the
space and the Assyrian tearing down
the boards. Selby put them back
and Mrs. Bashara got an ax and
again took them down. While thus
engaged Selby came out and tried
to restrain her. Bashara then cam
from his place of business, and when
Selby reached into an inside pocket
lie was shot by the Assyrian with
Winchester. An automatic revolver
was found in the pocket of the dead
man.
The Assyrian claimed the killing
was in self defense and a defense of
his wife whom he thought was being
maltreated.
It is the belief of most of those
acquainted with the case that Ba
shara will be paroled or pardoned
soon. In the meantime his wife wi
run the busines in Norman.
MRS. WICKIZER DEAD
The sad news was received in Nor-
man Thursday morning that Mrs.
Wickizer, wife of Rev. D. A. Wick-
izer had died, not having sufficient
strength to rally from an operation
which she underwent at the Univer-
sity Hospital a few days ago for
tumor. Wednesday evening trans-
fusion of blood was admrnistered,
but was of no avail.
Mrs.Wickizer was a devoted Christ
ian woman and acted as an able
assistant to her husband*, who is
pastor of the Christian Church here,
and many loving friends mourn her
loss.
Rev. Wickizer and children were
at iter bedside when death come, as
were Mrs. E. R John . v: Mr*. D W.
Ohern and Mrs. C. B. Richards, who
v*cut to Oklahoma C'W Wednesday
to b * ;u the bedside and render all
the aid poss'nle.
The Den < .it-Tone r. ends .-tin
pathy to the bereave^
Dr. R. H. Manogue, veterinary sur-
geon of Norman, was severely injur-
ed in the wreck Wednesday and is in
the hospital at Oklahoma City.
The farmers of this section are
in the midst of wheat harvest as we
go to press, and although the yield
is not as heavy , it is as good as
it was last year and in some locali-
ties better, and the price is double
what the 1916 crop brought. Wheat
will sell this year around $2.00 per
bushel, say those who are in a po-
sition to be authorities on the sub-
ject.
MARRIED IN TEXAS.
Announcements received by num-
•• us Norman niend bear intelli-
gence of the wdum \ or Wni. G. F.
Schmidt and Miss Lydia M. Eliza-
beth Krebs at Coupland, Texas, on
Tuesday, June 5, 1917, with the
bride's father officiating. They will
make Norman their home. The
groom is a well known and talent-
ed young musician of the University
of Oklahoma, and the bride a hand-
some accomplished young lady grad-
uated this year Congratulations
Fred Tullins writes his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tullins, that he
has enlisted in the navy, and is now
in training at San Francisco, Cal.
He will be a member of the hospital
corps. Fred is the youngest of 11
cnildren.
athletic meet held in Chicago, is
home, bringing with him two solid
silver cups which he wrested from
competitors from all over the coun-
try. One of the j ups is the second
prize for 220 yard dash, the other,
third prize for the 100 yard dash.
H«frve C ollins, who was coach at
the high school last year accompan-
ied Abbott to Chicago, and expresses
himself highly pleased v\ ith the latcrs
success.
Men from nearly all the western
states were present and Oklahoma
boys took a number of honors in the
various events, among them being:—
Abbott oi Norman, Bradley of
Cherokee, McGee of Hennesy, and
Wilson ot Medford, and took 21 of
the points out of a posible 140,which
v\as regarded as a very good indeed
in competition with some of the best
states in the union.
CARPENTERS BUY
BONDS
LIBERFTY
The members of the Carpenters
Union of this city have subscribed
for $150 worth of the Liberty Bonds
in the name of their organization.
A movement is on foot among other
organizations, and a few of teh
lodges to buy bonds as organiza-
tions.
This is a good plan, and allows
those who are patriotic enough to
wish to buy them, but cannot spare
sufficient funds, to participate in
helping Uncle Sam financially.
MORTUARY
Died:-Mrs. Hattie Katherine Crow
wife of the late R. J. Crow and moth-
er of Mrs. C. S. Bobo, died at the
home of her daughter, 320 North
Peters avenue, at 4:15 a. m. Saturday,
alter an illness of several weeks.
Death was caused by general debility
and a gradual failing of the vital
forces. She was in her 80th year, a
long life of good works and earnest
Christian endeavor, and many friends
mourn her.
She is survived by three daughters,
Mrs. C. S. Bobo of Norman, Mrs. O.
H. Parker of Elk City and Mrs. Geo.
W RagsHale of Dallas, all of whom
were with her in her last hour.
The funeral services were held
from the Bobo residence at 10 a. m„
Monday June 11, conducted by Revs.
R. L. Ownby and E. R. Welch,
with interment in the J. O. O. F.
Cemetery, by the side of Mr. Crow
who died some years ago.
fining Company to save the com
pany's business by restraining tin
frisco Railway Company from sell
ing all its tank cars. The company
has been notified by the railroad
that it has disposed of all its tank
cars, and the complaint alleges that
all such cars are being transferred
out of the state ol Oklahoma to re
liners located elsewhere, and that tin
Lawton c ompany and all Others sim
ilarly situated are threatened will
ruin as "a result ot inability to get
cars. The Commission has set th
case for hearing June 19th.
PROCLAMATION
\\ liereas, our nation, the birth
playe and cradle of liberty, has had
war thrust upon it, and our beloved
Mag lias been insulted and decried
by a foreign enemy: It behooves
our patriotic citizenship to m every
way show their allegiance to the
country our fathers purchased for u
by their blood, and our devotion to
the Flag they honored, bore to
tory, consecrated and baptized by
their blood.
1, therefore, as Mayor of the City
of Norman, respectfully- call the at-
tention of our citizens to June Mill,
1917, which has been designated by
our nation as "Flag Day"—and ask
that each one pause to reflect upon
the blessings and glorious memories
clustering around our Flag, and in
some appropriate way, show their
loyalty to it.
S. W. HUTCH INS,
Mayor of the City of Norman, Okla
EMERGENCY BOOZE
Throughout Oklahom, it is said
the express companies are being
rushed with liquor shipments, the
occasion being the "bone dry" law
which will go into effect June 15th,
unless a referendum petition contain
ing 16,000 names is tiled. Report
has it that only a small number ov
8.000 signatures have thus for bei
filed, and that unless a number
petitions still out are forwarded at
once the bill will become a law and
the stale of Oklahoma will become
as dry as a desert in a sand storm.
J hose who like a little nip tor their
"stomach's sake are laying in
supply anent the arid spell which
will follow June 15th.
Shot Himself Through the Foot
R. C. Massey accidently shot him
self through the foot Tuesday with a
22 calibre rifle. The injury was
dressed by Dr. C lifton, and is pain-
ful, though not necessarily serious.
NATIONAL RED CROSS
WEEK
Beginning Monday, June 18th, the campaign for funds
for the Red Cross work will be begun throughout the
United States. The campaign will last during the entire
week. A committee composed of the leading business
men of Norman will canvass the city, and everyone is ex-
pected to give as much as possible to this work.
No doubt, but that the Red Cross work on the field
and in the hospitals is by far the most important next to the
actual fighting itself, and it takes a large amount of funds
to carry it on.
The National Red Cross week is set apart by proclam-
ation of the president.
Everyone can and must do something for this work, so
be ready when the committee calls to "do your bit" in help-
ing to take care of the wounded and maimed on the battle-
field who fall in defense of the flag and that our own lib-
erty and lives may be preserved.
Remember—it may be your boy whom you will help.
NORMAN WILL CELEBRATE
Committees Appointed To Make Ar-
rangements for Big Celebra-
tion July Fourth.
EVERYONE MUST HELP
urda
itli
ed aline
mm
petition sign- ,
t unanimously by the busi- \
Norman, asking the
oint committees for i
big Fourth of July
Norman, the Mayor i
apointed the follow-
Mayor 10 upi
arranging foi
celebration in
Tuesday night
ing committees:
On 1- inance and Arrangements :W
C. Weir, Clyde Pickard, Clyde Bogli
D. I rigg and Joe Vincent.
On program and Grounds: C. \
Richards, Geo. Ellsworth, Ray
and Arthur Williams.
On Speakers: John Luttrell, W. L.
Kagleton and James M. Gresham.
It is now up to the committees
and citizens to make this a day of
celebration in the proper spirit and
make it result in an increased feel-
ing of patriotism and community
arter
spirit to quicken our pulses with
martial music and fill our hearts
with love of country and respect and
lev. mice for the flag and the "life,
liberty and pursuit of happiness" for
which the revolutionary heroes went
barefoot on the snow of Valley
lorge, the Boys of '61 suffered hard-
ships and hunger in the civil strife,
and the boys of '98 chased the greas-
ers through the Cuban swamps and
stormed San Juan.
I lie Democrat-Topic will keep its
readers posted during the interim be-
tween now and the Fourth as to the
progress these committees are mak-
ing.
Remember its your celebration,and
the committees are acting for you,
so do your bit" of boosting, both
morally and financially. i
GOVERNMENT
CROP REPORT
Wheat prospects continue as good
as was indicated a month ago
throughout the larger portion of the
Jie w'uat area of the central and
northern sections of the State. The
crop is all headed out and weather
conditions, in the main, been quite
favorable for heads to fill and ma-
ture a good quality of grain.
The crop in the central and north-
ern scjtions promises slightly less
than an average yield on account of
the thin stands. Of the wheat re-
maining to be harvested, the yield
will probabl\ be the smallest in por
lions of the southwestern sections ol
the state, as .t result ol the continued
drought last winter and spring. Con-
siderable wheat in this section is ma-
turing on such
mers will have
ing. Some acr<
doned during ti
tion. The crop
tered
of th
ort straw that far
fficulty in harvest-
^e has been abati-
month in this see-
as injured in scat-
ections of the central portions
State by getting dry prior to
the general rains near the 20th of
the month.
1 he oats crop probably promises
best in the northeast and southeast-
ern parts of the State where rain
fall has been plentiful since early in
the season. Dry weather immed
iately after seeding throughout the
remainder of the State retarded the
early growth of the crop. Most of
the crop is heading, stands uneven,
The condition is the poorest in the
southwestern part of the state on ac-
ount of the continued drought.
Much of the crop there cannot be
harvested.
Rye is rapidly maturing an avcr-
e crop. Barley well be probably
as large a crop as last year, there
ing no material change in the acre-
age.
The first cutting of alfalfa hay was
made during the month but the aver-
yield was disappointing, due to
the early drought and continued cold
weather.
The condition of the prairie hay
crop and pasture continues as good
as could be expected considering the
light rains and cold weather.
Apples promise to be a good crop,
except in the northern portion of
the state where the crop was reduced
by late frosts and freezes. The crop
is not of great importance commer-
cially, but there promises to be suf-
ficient for home consumption in the
centers of production. Peaches were
materially damaged by the frosts in
April, the crop is spotted, however,
and most sections will have plenty
for home use, but the surplus com-
mercial crop, especially the Elbertas,
i:- materially reduced.
The condition of cotton on May
25th is less than the average on ac-
count of the continued cool weath-
er during the planting period, poor
stands and the immense amount of
replanting nccessary.
The crop is generally backward.
1 he season has also been generally
too cool for corn.
w;is decided in the Supreme Court
against the plaintiff.
1 he long legal fight grew out of
I urk obtaining possession of some
land in Cleveland county by Sher-
ill s sale in 1897. He brought suit
to clear the title. Page asked the
(leveland County Court for possess-
ion, offering to pay off Turk's claim
and I urk refused settlement.
On first trial in the supreme court
more than a year ago the case re-
manded to the Cleveland county dis-
trict court. Judge Jas. M. Gresham
of Norman was appointed referee by
mutual consent covering both law
and facts, which was adopted by the
trial court. Turk then appealed. The
Supreme court has upheld the find-
ings of Referee Gresham.
I he statute of limitations was the
basis of the last appeal. The Su-
I" cine court yesterday held that the
statute ol limitations does not tavor
a mortgager in possession. Turk
ha been in possession all through
tin course ot the controversy.
I he supreme court upheld the trial
1 ourt's judgment of $1,639.50 in favor
of l urk for improvements. Page has
title to the land.
FLAG DAY PROGRAM
Blowing of whistles and ringing of
bells at 7 p. m. will be the beginning
of Flag Day demonstration for Red
( ross Fund. School children will
meet at Court House at 7 p. m. to
march in parade to Christian Church.
I he following program will be given:
Star Spangled Banner.
Invocation by Rev. Pool.
Greeting from G. A. R. by Com-
mander Bolngi.
Greetings from W. V. C. by Dr.
J. A. Davis.
Greetings from VV. D. C. by Mrs. J.
IT. C. Goodrich.
Greeting from W. R. C. by Mrs. J.
I. Tucker.
Song—Prof. Schmidt.
Readings by Miss Marie Anderson.
Singing in charge of Prof. Schmidt.
Address—D. W. W. Phelan.
Offering.
America and the Salute to the Flag
Why the Red Cross—By Mrs.
Scroggs.
The people of Norman and vicinity
are urged to attend.
TURK LOSES CASE
After 16 years
of Herman Turk
court, the
Albert S.
Page
POLICE COURT
Wednesday was a sort of a Red
Letter Day in Police Court in Nor-
man.
Two fellows who absorbed more
than their share of "O-Be-Joyful"
rang the cash register to the tune of
ten bones each. These two parties
became rather obstreperous at a
dance over the Sooner Confection-
ery and Night Policeman Fulkerson
was torlced to adopt persuasive
measures before he could induce
them to go to bed in the city jail.
Four speeders put five plunks in
tlu treasury and departed saddened
but subdued. The city peace offi-
cers arc creating no little consterna-
tion among those who wish to burn
too much gasoline and pavement and
it will not be a long time until the
" tin Lizzie" as well as the larger
cars will become more staid and dig-
nified in their meanderings through
Norman's avenues and boulevards.
Jim Shears left Wednesday for
Medicine Park to look after his con-
cessions.
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Ellsworth, George. The Norman Democrat--Topic (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, June 15, 1917, newspaper, June 15, 1917; Norman, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc120426/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.