life
- ... ...v i'.--
Entered at the Post Office at Athena, Oregon, as Second-Claa Mall Matter
tt:.' t.i- :h fine, i U .
VOLUME 49.
ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON. FRIDAY, MORNING, DECEMBER 7, 1928
NUMBER 49
A TRAIL BLAZER
GROSSES DIVIDE
Ezra Meeker of Oregon
Trail Fame Succumbs at
Age of 97 Years.
Seattle. Ezra Meeter has set out
on his last pilgrimage.
The patriarch of the pioneers of
the once untamed West,' who goaded
an ox-team across the continent over
the Old Oregon Trail three-quarters
of a century ago and lived to cover
the rOute by airplane in 1924, died
' here at 4:05 a. m., Monday after the
first serious illness in the 97 years
and 11 months of his eventful life.
Stricken in Detroit, Mich., several
months ago with a digestive disorder
while on His way to the east coast to
retrace the Old Oregon Trail again,
Meeker recovered only sufficiently to
be brought back to". Seattle eight
weeks ago. His physicians despaired
1 of his life several weeks ago,, but as
recently as Saturday the aged man
rallied so well that it was thought he
might get on his feet again.
Meeker died in a hotel room near
the spot where 20 rude huts of the
original settlers of Seattle stood when
Meeker brought his young wife and
a seven weeks old babe to the West in
1852. His wealth consisted chiefly of
the affection and respect of his family
and large numbers of friends. A son
: three daughters, 15 ; grand-children
and 20 great-grand children survive
him. His wife died in 1909.
Among the, first few hundred men
to cross the American continent by
ox team and actually the last man to
make the journey by that mode of
travel, Ezra Meeker also was among
the first passengers to cross the
continent in an airplane. The last
trip was made when he was withiu
two months of being 94 years of age.
The venerable pioneer's first ex
ploit in crossing the continent by ox
team came about through necessity
and love of adventure. The second,
more than half a century later,, was
undertaken in an effort to perpetuate
the history of the early migrations
and to suitably mark the course of
the once famous Oregon trail,
The airplane trip", made in Octo
ber, 1924, was taken as a means of
contrasting the first mode of travel
across the country with the most
modern way and Mr. Meeker attained
the distinction of being the only per
son to make the journey by ox-team
and airplane.
Whereas Mr. Meeker's pilgrimages
. by ox team, particularly the first, had
been slow and arduous, on the oc
casion of his airplane trip 24 hours
of actual flying brought him from
Seattle to Washington. He arrived
at the national capitol Oct, 6, 1924,
having attended an aviation meet at
Dayon, Ohio,, en route. He was pilot
ed by Lieutenant Oakley G. Kelley.
At the age of seventy-six years and
' after an active career of fifty-four
years in Oregon and Washington
Meeker formed the plan of duplicat
ing as nearly as possible the outfit
with which he had crossed the plains
in 1852 and proceeding therewith
alone over the same route to its
terminus . at the Missouri river and
thence on to New York and Washing
ton. In February 1906, he made the
actual start east.
Meeker's outfit consisted of a yoke
of steers, selected with the greatest
care and a wagon made up of parts
of three wagons which saw service
en the plains in the early days. With
this, he drove all the way to Wash
ington, consuming twenty - two
months on the way. As far, as the
. Missouri river he traced every mile
of the Oregon Trail and succeeded in
interesting the residents of a large
number of towns and villages in the
erection of permanent markers. The
journey on to Washington was for
the purpose of inducing congress to
make an appropriation to aid in the
-. work. .. ., t ," .
At Washington, Meeker was re
ceived by President Roosevelt," who
expressed great interest in "the under
r taking.
New Office Building :
The Harstarf building in Freewater
has been completed and the Stein-hardt-Kelly
offices and Dr. Harstad's
dental office are now occupied. Up
to date equipment, nd electric heat
ing systems have been installed in
both.
Adjudicating Water Rights
A group of state engineers and
their secretaries are in Milton for
the adjudication jt Water rights of
the Walla Walla river. The meetings
are being held on Tuesday Wednes
day and Thursday in the basement of
the library. ,
The Athena dancing club, known
as the Benedict club, has reorganized
for the winter season and will enjoy
dancing every two weeks. . Fletcher's
orchestra of Pendleton has been en
gaged to furnish the music. .
Bible Conference
Being Held Nightly,
First Baptist Church
A bible conference for this week
and next began at the First Baptist
Church of Athena, Monday evening.
Two prominent speakers, Rev. H. L.
Kempton of the White Temple Walla
Walla, and Rev. W. H. Robins of
the First Baptist church, of Pendle
ton, have subjects for each evening.
t The conference opened Monday
evening, with Rev. ' Kempton taking
for his subject, "As to the Old Testament,"-and
Rev. Robins, "As to the
Nw Xesiaaient." . :
V Both speakers are heard nightly,
the - meeting beginning at 7 :su. i o
night the topics are: The Death of
Jesus Christ, by Rev. Kempton; The
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, by Rev.
Robbins. For next week the sub
jects will be:
f Monday "The Gospel of Satan,"
Rev. Robins; "The Holy Catholic
Church," Rev. Kempton.
Tuesday "Baptist Policy," Rev.
Kempton; "The Apostolic Church,"
Rev. Robins.
Wednesday "Is the World Grow
ing Better?" Rev. Robins; "The End
of the World," Rev. Kempton.
Thursday "The Return of Chirst,"
Rev. Kempton; "When the Lord Re
turns... What?" Rev. Robins.
Friday "The Great White
Throne," Rev. Robins; "The Lake of
Fire,". Rev. Kempton.
Farmers Again Offered
Gold Brick Swine Plan
Oregon - State College. The old
Spanish prisoner hoax, the three
shell game and the gilt edge swine
raising scheme are three confidence
games that are constantly killed otf
only to appear elsewhere in all their
glory. Only six months ago the ani
mal husbandry department of the
state college broadcast a warning
that the swine raising promoters
were "at large" in two eastern Ore
gon counties, yet similar gentry are
now reported at work in another
county in the state.
The plan as presented sounds
plausible enough, as the promoters
agree to sell a pure bred brood sow
considerably above the market price
to a farmer who in turn may sell all
gilts from the first two litters back
to the company at $35 each. The
catch comes, say legal authorities, in
that several loop holes are left for
the company but none for the farmer.
As soon as the scheme was expos
ed last spring, the promoters at work
then faded away suddenly, one even
neglecting to settle a hotel bin. The
new ones reappeared in a county
where the county agent was being
changed, hence the farmers' "watch
dog" was temporarily absent.
"The Noose" Coming
To Standard Theatre
Broadway's most famous stage
drama, "The Noose," in which Rich
ard Barthelmess has the leading part
will be seen on the screen at the
Standard Theatre tomorrow night.
Barthelmess is supported by an ail
star cast, led by Alice Joyce. Not for
many months has the screen blazed
forth a drama so realistic, so ap
pealing, so vivid as "The Noose."
Fred Thomson and his wonder
horse, Silver King, features the pro
gram Sunday night in Paramount's
fine outdoor picturization of "The
Sunset Legion." The story is a snappy-
Western one, with some new
twists. It is clean, wholesome and
entertaining in high degree.
The Standard has been successful
in booking "Old Ironsides," Para
mount's screen version of Wendell
Holmes' immortal poem, for show
ing on Christmas night. Charles Far
rell, Esther Ralston, Wallace Beery
and George Bancroft are the featur
ed players in the cast.
First Basketball Game
The first basketball game of the
season to be played in Athena gym
nasium, will take place tonight, when
the Adams high school boys and girls
teams meet Athena high school in a
double header. Adams has been play
ing for sometime in practice, and last
week played a close game at Walla
Walla with the Eagles' team. Coach
Miller has his players well in hand
as the result of strenuous practice
and the games tonight should be
closely contested. Admission price
to the game will be 35 cents.
Icy Road Takes Toll
Ice covered roads along the Co
lumbia highway route have taken
heavy, toll of wrecked automobiles,
and have resulted in the death of one
man and the possible fatal injuries
of another. More than fifty automo
biles have piled up as wrecks in the
ditches along' the highway with re
sulting injuries to their occupant.
Most of these injuries have been
slight
Walla Wallaian Killed
Ira McCollough, 35, formerly of
Walla Walla, was instantly killed in
Portland, Tuesday, when he was run
over by a railrVad switch engine.
JUDGE W. H. ATWELL
HfOsHMtlbW
Federal Judge W. H. Atwell of Dal
las, Texas, who has been sitting in
New York, handled liquor cases with
out gloves. His removal from the
bench was nc':cd by a meeting of ne
groes and by ?.n attorney whom he
sevjrely refcukrd.
The Spud Market Is
: Slumping In Depression
Chicago. Pursuit for the elusive
slim figure is depressing the potato
market nearly 25 percent, Governor
H. C. Baldridge of Idaho, declared at
the opening session of a two day
conference on potatoes of the agri
cultural council of the central west
shippers advisory board here, Grow
ers from all parts of the country are
attending.
... One of the major problems of the
conference is increased consumption
to reduce the large surplus of pro
duction. "Practically the entire reduction in
consumption is chargeable to wo
man," Governor Baldridge said. He
declared individual consumption has
dropped from an average of three
and three-quarters bushels to three
bushels.
A surplus of 80,000,000 bushels re
mained out of last year's production
of 361,000,000, bushels according to
Russell B. Shepherd, an Idaho mem
ber of the advisory board. The sur
plus for 1928 will be 96,000,000 bush
els it was estimated. ' -
Commercial alcohol makers provide
one of the best markets for potatoes
at present, Shepherd said, while live
stock breeders, food, paste and starch
makers also use large quantities.
Street Fair and
a Church Bazaar
The young women's class of the
Christian church will hold a street
fair, and bazaar in the lower room of
the Masonic building on next
Wednesday, December 12, beginning
at 5:30 p. m.
There will be a program, compris
ing musical numbers, negro songs
with the singers appearing in cos
tume, funny skits, etc. Along the
"streets" may be found booths con
taining the ever present hot dog
stand, the hamburger den, the chili
bean shack, and the merry, old fash
ioned fishing pond where you can
get more fun for a nickel than you
ever had in your life.
The bazaar will have an art booth,
crammed full of many pretty and use
ful articles which will be sure to
please the eye and deplete the purse.
Cut flowers in all their gorgeous
beauty and fragrance will be on sale.
Bridge Tea ,
The 3 o' 4 Bridge Club and the
Athena Bridee Club and additional
guests sufficient to make up nine
taoies were entertained at the home
of Mrs. M. L. Watts Tuesday after
noon. Flowers and shrubs suggestive
of the winter season were used ef
fectively about the attractive rooms.
Bridge was the diversion of the after
noon, Mrs. H. A. Barrett holding
high score, Mrs. Dave Stone second
and Mrs. F. B. Boyd the consolation.
Following the play the hostess served
a dainty collation further accenting
winter and the holiday season. Guests
other than members of the two clubs
included, Mrs. Chase Garfield, Mrs.
Theresa Berlin, Mrs.. Bryce Baker,
Mrs. Lee Hiteman. Mr. Jamoa rv.
well, Mrs. Fenn Harris, Mrs. Marion
Hansen, Mrs. Roseberry, Mrs. Bert
Logsdon, Mrs. Dave Stone, Miss Pearl
Ramon v Miea TTiMa TMMrann.... r
Fred Pinkerton, Mrs. Alex Mclntyre,
mrs. r. d. Boyd and Mrs. Fredericks
of Weston.
Railroad Study Due
Chapter Elects
At the regular meeting of Me
Kenzie Chapter, O. E. S. Wednesday
evening, the following officers were
elected to serve the coming year:
Worthy Matron, Mrs. Alta Kirk;
Worthy Patron, Mr. A. R. Coppock;
Associate W. M., Mrs. Grace Rogers;
secretary, Mrs. Persephone Watts;
treasurer, Mrs. Eva Richards; con
ductress, Mrs. Anna Littlejohn; as
sociate conductress, Mrs. Virginia
Watts. An invitation from Dolph
Lodge A. F. & A. M. to have in
stallation of officers jointly with that
lodge was accepted, the date to be
announced later.
i .f UNIVEBSITY OF OREGON, Eu
gene. "The Union-Management Cooper
ation on the Railroads," or what is
commonly called
the "B. and O."
plan of industrial
relations ... between
railway operators
and workers, will
be thoroughly stud
ied and reported on
during the next
year by Dr. Louis A.
Wood, assistant pro
fessor of economics
J i - A I at the University
- nggu, woo a ipe-
eialist on I a b o r
problems, has been
granted a Sterling Research fellowship
in the graduate school of Yale Univer
sity for the year 1928 and .1929, and
will devote all his time to the study of
the railway piojeet.
The : study will receive cooperation
from the federal department of labor
of the United 8tates, and officials of
the American Federation of Labor are
alio expected to be interested.
Dr. L, A. Wood
Christmas Presents Go
By Air Mail Routes
Air mail planes, Santa, and the
Postoffice , Department , will join
forces this month to help the Pacific
Northwest say "Merry . Christmas" to
all the United States, it is seen in
holiday mailing plans announced by
the U. S. - Air Mail Information
Bureau. ' ,
This year postal authorities are re
doubling their efforts to prevent holi
day train mail congestion .from de
laying the - northwest's Christmas
greetings to distant friends and rela
tives. To gain this, says the informa
tion bureau, everyone is urged to
"Send Santa Mail by Air Mail."
Aware of the part they soon will
play, the nation's 27 air mail routes
are literally preening their wings in
anticipation of a tremendous volume
of holiday mail greeting cards, let
ters, and even small gift packages.
Millions are being spent in purchas
ing new and larger planes, and every
route is preparing to throw its re
serve planes into action to carry the
bumper crop of Christmas cheer.
The recent air mail postage rate
reduction more than any thing else
will influence the volume of holiday
air mail leaving the Pacific North
west for the east and middle west,
according to Claud V. O'Callaghan,
traffic manager of the northwest divi
sion of the transcontinental air mail.
Farm Aid Measure Is
Presented to Senate
Washington. A farm rslipf hill
without the controversial ermnlizji-
tion fee was given to , the senate
luesday.
Chairman MrNarv of tlin
agriculture committee, the co-author
of the twice vetoed McNary-Haugen
bill, sponsored the new farm relief
measure, which, except for being
shorn of provisions, resembles the old
proposal.
Establishment of a federal farm
board of six members to be appoint
ed by the president with the advice
and consent of the senate, would be
provided by the new measure. A re
volving fund of $200,000,000 would
be given the board with which to
finance, through loans, stabilization
corporations composed of cooperative
marketing associations and producers.
The corporations would be used for
the purchase of surplus crops in order
to prevent a glutting of the market
and of prices.
Wallowa Hag Big Fire
More than half of a busiruwa MivV
at Wallowa, Ore., was destroyed by
fire early Tuesday. Flames, starting
in a vacant frame building destroy
ed the two-story brick Northern ho
tel, the Fisher barber shop, the Tully
store, Baird's Variety store, and
Poole's Jewelry store. The total loss
was estimated between $20,000 and
$25,000. The fire was not extinguish
ed for three hours. The - nnstnffic
bank and pharmacy escaped. The
origin oi tne nre was unknown. Cold
weather hampered fire fighters.
No Community ' Tree ''
Announcement . wi maAo .nn.
weeks ago of the proposal of Mayor
owjpnena to nave a community
Christmas tree and appropriate ex
ercises in Athena this year. The
mayor took the matter up with the
churches for co-Operation, and the
announcement is made by him that no
community effort in that direction
will take, place this Christmas time.
Poultry Show
Final arrangements for the sev
enth annual poultry show of the Wal
la Walla Poultry Breeders associa
tion have been made. The show, which
is to be held from Tuesday, Dpc.
to Saturday, Dec. 15, will be one of
the best ever put on according to thi
committed in charge. .. .
Walla Walla Learns U
That Camp McDougal i
Road Will Be Graveled
From several sources informa
tion has reached Walla Walla, reports
the Bulletin, to the effect that six
miles of highway in Umatilla county
connecting with the forest boundary
at Camp McDougal will be graveled
in 1929. Forest service officials al
ready have announced that the four
and one-half miles from Camp Mc
Dougal to Tollgate will be cleared
and graded next year. J
These reports,, according to Albert
Baker, forest ranger, mean that ! a
first class highway will be. available
next summer all the way from Wes
ton to the summit of the Blue moun
tains, a distance of 21 miles. The
sector within the forest from Mc
Dougal has been slashed and is to be
cleared of logs this winter.
With the Skyline road completed
along the summit of the mountains
from near Dayton to Tollgate, a
first-class appoach is expected to
make the loop trip over the summit
a highly popular one next summer.
An all-day jaunt of about 160 miles
will be provided by this loop, which
includes paved highway from Dayton
to Weston, slightly more than 50
miles, and 20 mile appoaches to the
forest from either Dayton or Weston,
with about 70 miles of road within
the forest.
Reports last week were that the
bottom of Langdon lake, near Toll
gate, is being cleared of debris,
stumps and dead trees and that Kid
well brothers, who have recently
taken hold there, will have the
nucleus of quite a resort for the com
ing summer. A good road to their
property will be a boon to the drivers
of small cars, Mr. Baker said, and
tend to popularize the forest for
recreation.
Dudley Rogers and
Miss Gross Married
On Wednesday, November 28, at
the home of Mr. and . Mrs. Ben F.
DuPuis in Pendleton, the marriage
of Margaret E. Gross and Eugene
Dudley Rogers was solemnized.
Beautiful chrysanthemums were
usedwith decorative effect in the
pleasant living room where the cere
mony was performed by Rev. Walter
Payne. At 12:30 Mr. and Mrs. J. B.
Gross were host and hostess for a
very enjoyable luncheon at the Grice
Cafeteria. Later in the afternoon
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers left by motor
for Portland. They have been at
home to their friends in Athena, since
December 3.
Mrs. Rogers is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. J. B. Gross of Washtucna,
Washington. She is a high school
graduate and is a graduate of
Behnke Walker business college.
Mr. Rogers is a Weston-Athena boy,
a graduate of Class of '23, Athena
High School. Wedding guests were:
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gross, Mr. and
Mrs. E. C. Rogers, Emery and Ken
neth Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Du
Puis, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kirk. Mr.
and Mrs. W. S. Payne, little Miss
orace btrong, Masters Robert and
Kelly Strong.
Dogs Run Horse Into
Wire Fence; Badly Cut
A good saddle horse owned by F.
S. LeGrow is perhaps permanently
crippled as the result of being run in
to a barb wire fence by dogs, some
time Tuesday night.
The horse finally freed itself from
the entanglement when the wire
broke. Fearfully gashed, some of
the cuts penetrating to the bone, it
is doubtful whether the animal will
ever again be useful for service.
Dogs have been driven away from
the enclosure before during the night
time by Mr. LeGrow and also by R.
A. Thompson who lives near. Re
cently the howling, barking pack, so
annoyed Mr. Thompson, that he sent
a charge of shot at them. ,
A fine colt of Mr. LeGrow's was
in the lot with the saddle horse but
kept clear of the wire and fortunate
ly escaped unhurt.
Convict Still Out
Nathan Clevenger, the trusty who
walked away from the prison farm
Monday afternoon was still at large
according to prison authorities. Po
lice in all parts of the northwest are
looking for the man and his apprehen
sion is expected shortly. He is serv
ing a sentence for forgery.
Prominent Hrriniston Farmer
John W. Leek, prominent Umatilla
county farmer, died suddenly Tues
day afternoon at his home one mile
north of Hermiston. Mr. Leek had
been a resident of the Hermiston
district for the past 18 years and had
taken an active part in community
affairs.
Tests 40 Pound Butterfat
In the butterfat producing contest
for the month of October, James
Duncan has a cow in the four year
old class that produced over 40
pounds of fat.
IHE Gins ;
SHI HEARS
Early ' Purchasers Will Get
t-v Best - Selections. . And .1
- Save Time. ,!"" ;
The. Christmas hoIidaW are' draw
ing near; In seventeen more days
all shopping;: will have to ' be "done,
and fortunate is the early buyer, for
to him goes the best selection in
purchases made. - ' -
"Shop early" is the slogan through
out the length and . breadth of the
land, and while many heed it, there
are always thousands who wait until
the last minute to satisfy demands
made on the family m observance of
the Santa Claus spirit and yuletide
festivities. '
Merchants are hrlne-ino"'1 'thnir
Christmas stocks forward in display,
and they reveal countless novelties.
In the large cities it is nossible to
view floor space given over to verit
able toy lands, but all can not have
the privilege of these trading facil
ities, and residents of Athena and
vicinity are fortunate indeed in hav
ing tne opportunity to make ' their
selections of 1 Christmas 1 goods from
good stocks in Athena stores, -i
At the ' Athena ' TAnnrtmpnt. nfora
one finds several lines of staple
articles that make splendid Christmas
gifts, and at the same time are very
much on the practical order. ; In neat
arrangement is also, displayed fancy
pieces of glassware., shoe tree mts
games, toys, etc.
Steve hAR A nni-ltinop rrnnA lina vf
- - - V . H ...IV. V
mechanical toys this year. . Also on
disnlav is a RlinorVi nrrnv nt ' rlnlla
dishes, games, toys aYid Christmas
tree decorations. ' Then there are
Sweaters, shirts, j mackinawa ' e-lnvox.
box, ties n'everything. ':
Mctaddcn's Pharmacy is displaying
novelties such as was never before
shown here. Thev emhrnrfi 7nlin.
Slovakian art in vases and . other
articles in glass, together with a fine
assortment of heads. KniWk
smoker's sets, " toilet articles and
perfumes are to be found there to
gether with toys.' ' ;
Rogers & Goodman offer fine spIpc
tions in silverware, aluminumware,
gasoline lamps, . heaters and ranges,
washing machines, firearms, etc., all
suitable for Christmas presents. ; j
Influenza Epidemic
Hits Over Country
With 8,213 cases of influenza re
ported in California, and 15,000 , in
the country as a whole, the United
States public health service warned
physicians and health officers to ha
especially vigilant to forestall another
widespread epidemic.
State health officers reported the
following numbers of cases in their
states for the week ending Dec. 1:
Montana 3,372; Oregon ;, 296; r Utah
258; Arizona;. 300; South Carolina
2,718; Georgia 334; Alabama 198; and
Indiana 261. Several other states
had less than 100 cases. In every
state it reported, there are at least
a few cases. . ; , .:
The first cases reported were in
San Francisco, several weeks ago.
Apparently, the health service ex
plained, the disease spread to Holly
wood, thence west, and less exten
sively south and east.
Dr. R. C. Williams, cautioned
against mingling with crowds and
advocated sleeping in open : air, and
the usual i necessary precautions to
prevent coming in contact with the
disease. , ,
."' A Touch of Winter
Umatilla county and the Inland
Empire felt its first touch of winter
Friday morning, when a light snow
fall visited this section. The snow
soon disappeared however, except on
the mountain crests where the white
blanket still remains. At Meacham
six inches is reported, and the first
report of zero weather came from
there Monday night, when the mer
cury registered two below. Eight
above rero is the minimum reported
for Athena. -
Christmas Health Seals
The 21t annual sale of Christmas
health Meals is now under vav. Mm
James K. Hill of Pendleton, is chair
man of the county sales organization,
ana Mrs. Homer I. watts is the Ath
ena chairman. A slide announcing
the Christmas wal sale is shown on
the screen at the Standadr Theatre,
and other means of advertising the
annual sale will be .made
Bridge Club' Honored
Mrs, E. C. Prestbye honored the
Athena Bridge Club whett she enter
tained at her home Wednesday after
noon.,, Mrs. R. B. McEwen held high
score and Mrs.. W. .S. Ferguson re
ceived the consolation. , Mrs. Bert
Logsdon was an additional guest. At
the .tea hour the hostess, assisted by
MrsH. I.' Watts, served appetizing
mmhteenU in two c'otfrWs.