CHEMAWA(f)AMERICAN
Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education
VOL. XXXVI
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1934
THANKSGIVING
^ET us be thankful—not alone because
Since last our universal thanks were told
We have grown greater in the world’s applause,
And fortune’s newer smiles surpass the old—
Let us be thankful—thankful for the prayers
Whose gracious answers were long delayed
That they might fall upon us unawares,
And bless us, as in greater need we prayed.
OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Oregon Historical Society has selected “Marcus
Whitman” as the subject for the 1935 C. C. Beekman
History Prizes and Medals. The prizes are four in
number, viz., first, sixty dollars; second, fifty dollars;
third, forty dollars; and fourth, thirty dollars; and will
be awarded for the four best original essays on the
above named subject written and submitted by girls or
boys over fifteen years of age and under eighteen years
of age, attending any public or private school, academy
seminary, college, university, or other educational in
stitutions within the State of Oregon. Each of the four
prize winners will also recieve a handsome bronze
medal.
Additional information regarding the contest will be
sent to you by writing to the Oregon Historical Society
in Portland, Oregon. The contest ends not later than
Saturday, March 16, 1935.
FORMER STUDENT WRITES INTERESTING
LETTER
We are in receipt of a very newsy and interesting
letter from one of our former students. It is well
written and we can’t help but put it in print as
his many friends will be glad to learn of the success of
this ambitious lad.
March Field,
Riverside, Calif.
November 8, 1934
Dear Mr. Ryan:
It has been such a long time since I have written to you that
you may be thinking I have forgotten you and the school, but,
in reality I have been thinking quite often about all the friends
I made while at Chemawa.
A little over a year ago I enlisted in the Air Corps and I can
honestly say that I haven’t regretted one moment of the time
I’ve been here. However, I will not be here in March Field
much longer. The whole Nineth Bombardment Squadron is
NO. 4
being transferred to Hamilton Field, which is located about
seven miles from San Rafeal.
Hamilton Field is a new field and will be used only for bomb
squadrons. There will be three squadrons there; the nineth,
eleventh and thirty-first. At the present they are all at March
Field.
The nineth, which is the squadron that I’m in is the first of
the three that is scheduled to move.
We are to be at Hamil
ton Field not later than December fourth.
We have .already been issued field packs and other things
that are-wquired when moving troops from one post to another.
Aftet- to-m^row we will be no more than just camping here,
as w£ have tcHurn our beds into the supply department so they
can/get theiji^ready to ship.
We will be issued folding cots
wlifch will be taken up by truck later.
S^pce tire-last time I wrote to you we have received several
nev^types of airplanes. The pursuit squadrons now have all
new toeing ships and the bomb squadrons have the new Mar
tin bombers. Both the new ships are from a hundred to a hun
dred and fifty miles per hour faster than the old ones, but the
bombers show greater improvement. They are of the mono
plane cantilever wing type, and they carry from ten to fifteen
hundred pounds more bombs then our older ones did. It used
to take from six to seven hours to fly to San Fransisco from here
in the old planes. Now the average time is two hours and ten
minutes. However, these ships will not stand the rough weath
er that the others would. These planes are so large and fast
that when passing through the different straights of air they
snap or twist suddenly and bound hard, where as the others
were so slow they would just rock and roll through the air.
Not so long ago the squadron was flying in formation over
Yosemite Valley. The air was exceptionally rough and man
aged to twist a wing off of one of the ships. The plane crashed
and killed three of the crew. Only one seemed tohave the pre
sence of mind enough to jump with his parachute.
Mr. Eyerly, from the Salem Airport, has been down here a
couple of times since I came down. He gives a very favorable
report on conditions in aviation in that part of the country.
After my enlistment is finished I may go back to work for him.
May I hear from you in the very near future?
With regards to all, I remain,
Sincerely yours,
Peter Paquette
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SENIOR CARNIVAL
The senior carnival which is anticipated promises
to be a gala affair. An outside orchestra will furnish
music for the dance and tickets are now on sale. The
seniors proclaim that “Coney Island” is going to look
staid compared to this forthcoming occasion. The
price of admission is a dime and a nickel. Four door
prizes will be given to persons holding lucky num
bers. The date set for the event is December 1st.