Vitame Vas

come to Wilber, Nebraska, August 5th and 6th!

We welcome you! Whether you speak Czech or not, come to the Wilber Czech Festival.

The authentic color and charm of old Czechoslovakia fills Wilber during the celebration. See our people in Czech costumes dancing the beseda. Hear our gay polkas and catchy folk tunes as you walk our brightly decorated streets. Taste our scrumptious duck, sauerkraut, dumplings and kolackys, fresh from Czech kitchens.

Colorful parades, the crowning of our Czech queen, and the Czech pageant will make this weekend an unforgettable experience for your entire family. Won't you share our proud heritage with us? Plan now to attend the Wilber Czech Festival August 5th and 6th. Vitame Vas!

for further information, write Stanley Pospisil-Wilber, Nebraska 4 NEBRASKAland

SPEAK UP

NEBRASKAland invites all readers to submit their comments, suggestions, and gripes to SPEAK UP. Each month the magazine will publish as many letters as space permits. Pictures are welcome. —Editor.

OLD-TIME NEBRASKAN-"After reading so much about the state, I cannot but think Nebraska is a good state. Although I have not lived there since 1917, I still have a warm spot in my heart for Nebraska. I remember both Jim Dahlman and Doc Middleton and in fact was in school with Wishy Middleton, son of Doc at Chadron." —Jack Lambert, Junction City, Oregon

CRAM SODDY —"I see on page 44 of your Centennial issue you have featured my Uncle Wilbur's soddy. It is the one with double windows, plants, and bird cages. The family is that of my mother's brother, W. J. Cram, his wife Honor, and four sons, Osce, Burt, Edwin, and Fred.

"This sod house was in Loup County, a mile or two north of Custer County, six miles from Almeria, on the North Loup River. My first trip to Burwell was in 1890 and I spent my vacation in the Cram soddy, then went back for vacations in 1900 and in 1907.

"In 1912 I married Clyde Ilgenfritz and we went by covered wagon to Mellette County, South Dakota to live in the Rosebud Reservation on a claim I had drawn in the last Indian land drawing. It was a mile and a half west of White River. After proving up, we moved back to Burwell and I have now lived in the same house for 40 years. After living on an Indian reservation, we made the collection of Indian lore and artifacts our hobby. We had a collection of 500 perfect arrowheads and many broken points." —Jessie Ilgenfritz, Burwell

OLD PROS —"I see in the March issue of Outdoor NEBRASKAland that H. W. Dennis of Omaha wrote in about my hunting adventures. Will, my husband is 90, and I am 85. On our farm along the Platte River we killed lots of game when there weren't any laws or limits. We also took a lot of big catfish out of the river.

"We raised dogs and trained them to retrieve from water as well as land and had some wonderful times hunting wild geese and keeping them off our wheat.

"My husband's health is failing and I don't get out as much as I used to, but I'm still enjoying good health and look forward to some more hunting." — Lillian Burmood, Grand Island

TRIBUTE TO STEEN- "Perhaps you have received many letters such as this. If not, I would like to feel that I speak for the majority of the people of Nebraska.

"Several months ago, I read, with regret of your retirement. In my opinion and that I have heard expressed by many of my friends, this will be a great loss for the State of Nebraska.

"I have hunted and fished in this state for 40 years and noticed a steady decline in both sports until you were employed by the state. Since then both fishing and hunting opportunities have grown tremendously. Never before during my lifetime has there been such an abundance of fish and game, or has there been so many lakes and recreation areas in which to fish.

"My work takes me over many hundreds of miles of Nebraska roads. This spring I have seen hundreds of brilliant cock pheasants. Many times I see herds of deer grazing in the distance. One day I had to slow my car as a flock of turkeys walked across the road.

"I do not have too much time in which to go hunting as I prefer fishing. However, at least two farmers with whom I visited appeared offended because my son and I did not come out to their farms to hunt during the past season.

"After your retirement, we sincerely hope that the setting of season dates, limits, and other game management affairs remain in the hands of professionals like yourself. We are very apprehensive about what will happen to our outdoor recreation if it is placed in the hands of politicians who have no knowledge or experience with these matters.

"All great people are criticized. The fact that you received more than your share of criticism shows that you were doing more and accomplishing more than some people would understand.

"Have many wonderful retirement years." —Mr. Gail Robert, Norfolk

DISAGREES-"In regard to James Pafford's experiences, February Speak Up, I would like to say that my father and I hunt all over Nebraska for bobwhite quail and pheasants. We hunt with four dogs and do most of our hunting within 90 miles of Lincoln. Only once in my 10 years of hunting experience have we had trouble finding a place to hunt.

"I know Mr. Paffbrd isn't eager to return to Nebraska to hunt, but if he does and is near Lincoln, I hope he will get in touch with us."-Jon Roberts, Lincoln

OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland of the air

NO PROBLEM-"In 1965 and 1966, I hunted pheasants in Nebraska and I have never once been refused permission to hunt. On occasion we have been asked not to hunt in standing corn or milo, because hunters might do some damage to the standing crop, especially in dry weather.

SUNDAY KGFW, Kearney (1340 kc) 7:05 a.m. KRGI, Grand Island (1430 kc) 7:40 a.m. WOW, Omaha (590 kc) 7:40 a.m. KMMJ, Grand Island (750 kc) 7:40 a.m. KXXX, Colby, Kan. (790 kc) 8:00 a.m. KBRL, McCook (1300 kc) 9:45 a.m. KAMI, Cozad (1580 kc) 9:45 a.m. KMA, Shenandoah, la. (960 kc) 10:00 a.m. KODY, North Platte (1240 kc) 10:45 a.m. KLMS, Lincoln (1480 kc) 11:00 a.m. KIMB, Kimball (1260 kc) 11:15 a.m. KVSH, Valentine (940 kc) 12: Noon KOGA, Oaallata (930 kc) 12:30 p.m. KICK, McCook (1000 kc) 12:40 p.m. KFOR, Lincoln (1240 kc) 12:45 p.m. KCNI, Broken Bow (1280 kc) 1:15 p.m. KUVR, Holdrege (1380 kc) 2:45 p.m. KNCY, Nebraska City (1600 kc) 5:00 p.m. KRVN, Lexington (1010 kc) 5:40 p.m. KTNC, Falls City (1230 kc) 5:45 p.m. KCOW, Alliance (1400 kc) 7:00 p.m. KFAB. (Mon.-Fri.) Nightly MONDAY KGMT, Fairbury (1310 kc) 1:00 p.m. KSID, Sidney (1340 kc) 6:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY KJSK, Columbus (900 kc) 1:30 p.m. FRIDAY KHUB, Fremont (1340 kc) 5:15 p.m. WJAG, Norfolk (780 kc) 4:15 p.m. SATURDAY KCSR, Chadron (610 kc) 6:15 a.m. KOLT, ScottsblufF (1320 kc) 11:45 a.m. KAWL, York (1370 kc) 12:45 p.m. KHAS, Hastings (1230 kc) 1:00 p.m. KRFS, Suoerior (1600 kc) 1:00 p.m. KBRX, O'Neill (1350 kc) 4:30 p.m. KMNS, Sioux City, la. (620 kc) 6:10 p.m. DIVISION CHIEFS Willard R. Barbee. assistant director Glen R. Foster, fisheries Dick H. Schaffer, information and tourism Richard J. Spady, land management Jack D. Strain, slate parks Lioyd P. Vance, game CONSERVATION OFFICERS Chief, Carl E. Gettmann, Lincoln Ainsworth Max Showal+er, 387-1960 Albion Gary L. Battz, 395-2516 Alliance Richard Furley, 762-2024 Alliance Leonard Spoering, 762-1547 Alma William F. Bonsall, 928-2313 Arapahoe Don Schaepler, 962-7818 Benkelman H. Lee Bowers, 423-2893 Bridgeport Joe Ulrich, 100 Broken Bow Gene Jeffries, 872-5953 Columbus Lyman Wilkerson, 564-4375 Crawford Cecil Avey, 228 Creighton Gary R. Ralston, 425 Crete Roy E. Owen, 826-2772 Crofton John Schuekman, 388-4421 David City Lester H. Johnson, 367-4037 Fairbury Larry Bauman, 729-3734 Falls City Raymond Frandsen, 2817 Fremont Andy Nielsen, 721-2482 Gering Jim McCole, 436-2686 Grand Island Fred Salak, 384-0582 Hastings Bruce Wiebe, 462-8317 Hay Sprinas Larry D. Elston, 638-4051 Kearney Ed Greving, 237-5753 Kimball Marvin Bussinger, 235-3905 Lexington Robert D. Patrick, 324-2138 Lincoln Leroy Orvis, 488-1663 Lincoln Norbert Kampsnider, 466-0971 Lincoln Dale Bruha, 477-4258 Long Pine William O. Anderson, 273-4406 Norfolk Robert Downing, 371-2675 North Platte Samuel Grasmick, 532-9546 North Platte Roger A. Guenther, 532-2220 Ogaliala Jack Morgan, 284-3425 Omaha Dwight Allbery, 558-2910 O'Neill Kenneth L. Adkisson, 336-3000 Ord Gerald Woodgate, 728-5060 Oshkosh Donald D. Hunt, 772-3697 Ponca Richard D. Turpin, 7913 Syracuse Mick Gray, 269-3143 Tekamah Richard Elston, 374-1698 Thedford John Henderson, 645-5351 Votentine Elvin Zimmerman, 376-3674 Valley Daryl Earnest, 359-2332 Winside Marion Schafer, 286-4290 York Gail Woodside, 362-4120 JULY, 1967 5   Snyder FIBER GLASS co (New Plant) 4620 Fremont Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68504 a leader in fiber glass manufacturing Builders of 200 fiber glass items including the new Snyder basement window caps. CAN WE PRODUCE YOUR PRODUCT? NEBRASKAland's SAVINGS HEADQUARTERS Mr. Green Thumb's home at Union Loan and Savings is your home when it comes to savings in NEBRASKAland. Your savings earn a big current rate of 4 1/2% compounded quarterly and they're insured up to $15,000 by an agency of the U. S. government. Union Loan and Savings has three savings centers waiting to serve you. For added convenience, save by mail. WESTERN NEBRASKA EASTERN NEBRASKA UNION LOAN AND SAVINGS UNION LOAN AND SAVINGS 1610 First Avenue, Scottsbluff 209 So. 13th—56th & O, Lincoln

"I hunt in the Scribner and Dodge areas with good success. A friend and I bagged our limit of pheasants both years. As evidence I enclose this picture of Dean Larson, left, and myself with our day's limit which we bagged by 11 a.m." —Orville K. Putzier, Danville, Indiana

SELFISH MAN-"I am a selfish man and prefer pheasant hunting to any other sport or recreation. From a selfish stand point, I hope all other out-state hunters feel like Mr. PafFord. Then Nebraska would be my exclusive domain.

"Posted land is only an invitation from the farmer to get acquainted. If the privilege of hunting should be denied, it is usually only because the hunter has been thoughtless, careless, or arrogant. After all the payment of fees does not grant the unqualified possession of the land from October through January.

"I have hunted extensively in the vicinity of Jackson, Hubbard, and Ponca and am indebted to many families in the area for their fine hospitality. So I would like to express gratitude for your friendship and hospitality to myself and my dogs, Rondo and Sophie." — Art Emerson, Hopkins, Minnesota

/ have found that if an individual takes the time to stop and introduce himself to the land owner, at least 9 out of 10 times the hunter receives permission to hunt. We, as hunters, owe it to the landowners to introduce ourselves and ask for permission. — Editor

FOR THE RECORD-"I wish to set the record straight. Chimney Rock is not a National Monument as stated in the April Outdoor NEBRASKAland. It is a National Historic Site, so designated by the Secretary of Interior on August 9, 1956."-O. F. Stelk, Bayard

Reader Stelk is correct. — Editor

6 NEBRASKAland

Deer hunt turns up more than gentle beast. Could it be true, or are our eyes playing tricks on us? by Glenn Harris

WE HAD GOTTEN up awfully early that morning, but I knew I wasn't dreaming, for that long, low, tan-colored animal was very real. I shook my head and stared again through the binoculars. My second look confirmed the first. There was a big cat-like animal out there. I didn't know what he was, but I did know that he was bigger than any bobcat.

It all started on a very cold, gray November day when Larry Keim and I got up at 5 a.m. for an archery deer hunt in the Little Blue River area of southeastern Nebraska. Both of us live in Davenport and enjoy hunting. This was my first season with the bow and arrow for deer and I wanted to score if I could. Larry dropped me at my stand and drove on to his own. We agreed to sit for about three hours and then start walking toward each other in hopes of kicking up a deer. The only deer we saw were out of range, and after comparing notes we went back to the car to warm up. Larry had seen three does and a nice buck going west up a creek, so we decided to drive around and try to spot them.

We had just crossed a river bridge when we saw what appeared to be a very large, almost white coyote, at the edge of the timber. Stopping the car, we picked up our binoculars for a better look. One look confirmed that it was not a coyote but a large cat. He was approximately four feet long with a tail almost as long. In the light without our glasses, he looked almost white, but through the binoculars we could see that he was more of a tan. He was sneaking along the timber and seemed to be on stalk.

We watched for two or three minutes before he turned his head, gave us an unconcerned look, turned into the timber, and was gone.

Here we were, with the chance of a lifetime and no guns, but after the shock wore off we headed for the nearest farmhouse and asked for a rifle. The farmer had a .30/30, but as luck would have it, he had just shot his last cartridge at a coyote the day before.

We went back to town and exchanged our bows for rifles, picked up some other hunting friends, and headed back to the river. All of us walked that mile very thoroughly, but the cat had vanished.

Various farmers living along the river had reported seeing and hearing a mountain lion, but we really hadn't believed them. We had seen big tracks before, and knew some animal of this type was around, but decided it was a bobcat. With a month and a half of deer hunting left, we were certain we would see the cat again, hoping that after a snow we might track him.

A couple weeks later I took my deer and soon after that Larry got his. We were on the river almost every day for at least an hour in the mornings, and spent most of our Sundays there, but we never saw the cat again. Larry picked up his tracks once by a swamp but lost them in the tall grass. We still had no snow.

One thing is certain, we listen very carefully to any reports of a big cat now, and whenever we go to the river, our rifles go along. Someday we shall meet again.

THE END

NEBRASKAland HOSTESS OF THE MONTH Judy Lynn Bauer

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer! Miss Judy Lynn Bauer, NEBRASKAland's July Hostess, takes advantage of the fun during summertime for swimming, water skiing, horseback riding, and dancing, her favorite activities. This blonde-haired, blue-eyed young lady will return to the University of Nebraska this fall as a sophomore in elementary education.

One of her talents is music. Judy had the leading female role in "Showboat", and she has performed in such well-known musicals as "Oklahoma" and "The Sound of Music" at McCook Junior College where she studied as a freshmen under a music scholarship. Judy is also active in college activities and was chosen McCook's 1966 Basketball Queen. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bauer of McCook, Judy represented McCook Junior College in the June 1966 Miss NEBRASKAland Pageant.

JULY ROUNDUP

From Rip Van Winkle to roller skates, there's plenty to see and even more to do as this month thunders across NEBRASKAland

WHEN THIS YEAR'S Fourth of July celebrations explode across the state, their thunderous roars will resound for a month, leaving Nebraskans and visitors little time to relax.

One of the biggest agricultural expositions Nebraska has ever seen is scheduled for July 12 through 14 at Mead. These third National Grassland Field Days will celebrate 100 years of change in grassland agriculture.

Equipment manufacturers and state and national organizations will sponsor displays and demonstrations related to grassland farming. Tractor Power and Safety Day, an annual event at Mead, will take over on the final day. The big show includes safety demonstrations, exhibits of new models, and a parade of historical tractors.

For the ladies there will be sessions on flower plantings and arrangements, demonstrations using native grasses in home decorations, and exhibits on a century of progress in nutrition, food equipment, and home living. Sarah Jane Cunningham, national president of the Business and Professional Women's Clubs, will be special speaker for the feminine part of the show. And to top off the day there will be a Centennial style show and a century of fashions parade. Attendance at the three-day extravaganza will run from 50,000 to 100,000.

Eight weeks of summer stock theatre move into Brownville on July 1. Nebraska Wesleyan University students start the season with Joseph Jefferson's version of Rip Van Winkle. Jefferson, himself, brought the play to the state a century ago.

On alternating weekends the theatre will offer "Thurber Carnival", "Curse You, Jack Dalton", and "Harvey". Children's plays will be given every Sunday afternoon. After the July 1 opening, performances will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.

Towns and communities in Lancaster County will compete in "A Century of History and Music" at Pinewood Bowl on July 23. Entrants will feature historically significant events of their town in pageants and musicals.

Red Cloud's annual Alice Blue Cloud pageant goes spectacular this year. A special for the centennial year, the pageant will be expanded to include more depth of characters and additional shows. Alice, daughter of Sioux Chief Red Cloud, died of the smallpox. The Indians danced until sunrise, expressing their sorrow. The annual pageant reenacts the story of the Indian princess. Organ selections by Webster County Queen, Suzanne Jones, and fireworks displays are other attractions.

Winnebago Indians at the Winnebago Reservation will commemorate a hundred years of history with a gala celebration, July 27 through 30. Dancers in tribal costumes will perform traditional dances twice each day. Indians from South Dakota, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Wisconsin reservations will be on hand. The celebration originated in 1866 as a homecoming for the braves who acted as scouts for the U.S. Cavalry.

The nation's top roller skaters will compete at Pershing Auditorium on July 24 through August 5 in the Roller Skating Rink Operators of America Championships. A special Centennial roller skating spectacular is scheduled for July 29.

Painters, photographers, and ceramists can display their works July 16 at the Brownville Fine Arts Festival.

"The Rinehart Collection of Indian Portraits," first exhibited at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1898, will be at Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha July 16 through August 20. Also on display at the same time will be "Omaha Artists of Yesterday".

Nebraska's Centennial Commemorative Stamp will go on sale July 29. The stamp, which was unveiled March 1, will be available on special first-day covers.

Festivals, pageants, rodeos, and powwows promise a memorable 31 days in NEBRASKAland.

THE END WHAT TO DO 1 — Opening date of eight weeks of Summer Theatre, Brownville 1 — "Deadwood Dick" presented by Community Playhouse, North Platte 1 — School Reunion, Parks 1 —Centennial Celebration, Hoskins 1-2 —Pan-American Platform Diving Trials, Lincoln 1-2 —High School Rodeo, Stuart 1-2 —Centennial Celebration and Alumni Picnic, Merna 1-2 —Centennial Celebration and Alumni, Oconto 1-4 —Centennial Celebration, Superior 1-4 —Horse Races, Ak-Sar-Ben, Omaha 1-7 —Centennial Summer Theatre, Chadron 1 — All-State Band Festival Concert, Pershing Auditorium, Lincoln 1-31—"Century of Stars", Mueller Planetarium, Lincoln 2 —Centennial Celebration, Greeley 2 — Outstanding Omahans Barbecue, Omaha 2-4 —Alumni Homecoming and Centennial Celebration, Ord 2-4-Rodeo, Norfolk 3-4 —Rodeo and Cutting Horse Contest, Crawford 3-4 _ Centennial Celebration, Ansley 3-4 _ Morrill County Amateur Rodeo and Celebration, Bridgeport 3-4— Centennial Celebration, Seward 3-4-Rodeo, Crawford 3-4 - Centennial Celebration, Ralston 3-5 — Cherry County Centennial Celebration, Valentine 4 —Alice Blue Cloud Pageant, Red Cloud 4 —Holt County Pancake Feed and Fireworks, Chambers 4 — Free Day, Ewing 4-4-H Rodeo, Dunning 4 —Fireworks at Keifer Ranch (100 Years Tradition), Bostwick 4 —Dundy County Centennial Celebration, Benkelman (Continued on page 11) JULY, 1967 9   10 NEBRASKAland WHAT TO DO (Continued from page 9) 4 —Parade, Antique Display, Home Talent Pageant, Fireworks, Coleridge 4 —Wayne County Saddle Club Celebration, Wayne 4 —Southeast Nebraska Antique Hobbyist Show, Steinauer 4 — Independence Day Road Run, Omaha 4 —Centennial Celebration, Ansley 4 — "Picnic of the Century", Aurora 4 —Centennial Celebration, Mitchell 4 — Independence Day Celebrations, Ainsworth, Bancroft, Big Springs, Cambridge, Comstock, Fremont, Gibbon, Holdrege, Howells, Humboldt, Kimball, Lincoln, Lyons, Maywood, Mead, Neligh, North Platte, Omaha, Oshkosh, Snyder, Seward, South Sioux City, Springview, Steinauer, and Stuart 6-8 — Summer Festival and Centennial Celebration, Petersburg 6-August 5 — Horse Races, Fairgrounds, Lincoln 7-8 — Community Picnic and Carnival, Barneston 7-9 — Centennial Days, Cedar Bluffs 8 — K-B-R Quarter Horse Show, Bassett 8 —Rodeo Queen Contest, Alliance 8-9 — Presbyterian Church Centennial Celebration, Alexandria 9 —Quarter Horse Show, Stuart 9 —South Omaha Sokol Day, Omaha 9-15 —Carnival, Parade, and Old-Timers Picnic and Ball Game, Ruskin 10 — Old-Fashioned Wheat Binding, Shocking, and Threshing Bee, Syracuse 10-11 —Centennial Celebration, Mason City 10-11 —Old Settlers' Picnic and Barbecue, Fairmont 10-12 —Centennial Celebration, Alexandria 11-12 —Forty-sixth Annual Annevar Celebration, Ravenna 12-13 —Centennial Pageant, Battle Creek 12-14 —National Grassland Field Days, Mead 13 —Community Chicken Barbecue, Table Rock 13-17 —Oregon Trail Days, Gering 14 —Centennial Celebration and Old Settlers' Picnic, Ruskin 14-15 —Little Britches Rodeo, Chadron 14-16 —Centennial Street Celebration, Ashland 14-16 —Centennial Celebration, Milligan 14-17 —Centennial Summer Opera, Lincoln 15 —Salt Creek Wrangler Horse Show, Lincoln 15 —Old Settlers' Picnic and Parade, Western 15-16 —Centennial Southeast Nebraska Steam Threshing Bee and Antique Show, Table Rock 15-16 —Centennial Czech Festival, Dwight 15-16 —Centennial Polish Festival, Columbus 15-16-Our Nebraska Days, Walthill 15-17 —Centennial Panhandle Saddle Club Horse Show and Military Pageant, Scottsbluff 16 —Stock Car Races, Stuart 16 —Art Show, Brownville 16 —Saddle Club Horse Show, Seward 16-18 —Centennial Celebration, Bellwood 16-August 20-Exhibits, "The Rinehart Collection of Indian Portraits" and "Omaha Artists of Yesterday", Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha 17 —Indian Ceremonial, Hemingford 17-21 — Folk Festival, Tennis and Golf Tournaments, Art, Hobby, and Style Shows, Baseball, Alliance 17-22 —Centennial Celebration, Crete 18-19 —Fall Festival, Carnival, and Chicken Barbecue, Sutton 19 —Old Timers' Picnic and Barbecue, Alliance 20-21-Rodeo, Alliance 21 — 1967 Yearling Halter Championship Classes, Fonner Park, Grand Island 21-22-"Echoes of Indian Creek" Pageant, Picnic, and Carnival, Diller 21-22 —Centennial Celebration, Wolbach 21 —Centennial Celebration and 4-H Achievement, Belvidere 21-24 —Centennial Horse Show, Grand Island 22 — Centennial Celebration, Culbertson 22 —Long Distrance Running, Omaha 22-23-Centennial Parade, Auto Races, Alliance 22 or 29-Old Settlers' Picnic, Champion 22-23-Old Settlers' Picnic, Dakota City 22-23-Saddle Club Rodeo, Ashland 23-Midwest Gift Show and Mass Merchandise Mart, Civic Auditorium, Omaha 23-"A Century of History and Music", Pinewood Bowl, Lincoln 23-World's Champion Steer Roping, Ogallala 23-Pamona Grange Dedication of Historical Marker, Broken Bow 24-4-H Achievement Day and Centennial Celebration, Davenport (Continued on page 5b) NEBRASKA'S BIG STEER ROPING EVEN! 5th Annual Benefit Invitational $8,000 WORLD CHAMPION STEER ROPING SUNDAY, JULY 23-7 P.M. OGALLALA, NEBRASKA (DMT) # 80 STEERS IN ONE BIG PERFORMANCE See 20 of the nation's top steer ropers each rope and tie four big Longhorn Mexican Steers! GIRLS' BARREL RACE PROCEEDS GO TO Nebraska Easter Seal Society For Crippled Children For Roping Information Call Terry McGinley Keystone, Nebraska Ph. 726-2121 ROPING AT ITS BEST... WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STEER ROPING Ogallala, Nebraska JULY, 1967 11   12 NEBRASKAland

THE RAINMAKERS

Kings of a short reign, these men hocus-pocus a dark cloud hoping it has a silver lining by Bess Eileen Day

MINDEN AREA FARMERS were on a good mad. They had been "took" and by cracky, they were going to do something about it. They had paid good hard cash to a rainmaker and he hadn't delivered a drop. Since he hadn't shown them any water, they would show him some and they did. A couple of strapping sodbusters stepped out of the crowd, hammer-locked the con artist, tied him to a telephone pole, and unlimbered a fire hose.

Soggy and groggy, the rainmaker or rainfaker decided then and there to liquidate his rain-on-order interests and seek greener and dryer pastures for his fast-buck talents. Another cloud wringer was slapped with a damage suit when he supposedly conjured up a window-rattling, gulley-washing whing dinger complete with lightning. Unfortunately, a bolt of the hot stuff killed a man and his family sued. The case was settled out of court.

Generally, itinerate rainmakers got off easier than these two luckless individuals when their cloud-wringing attempts fizzled during Nebraska's rain-making craze of the 1880's and 90's. Farmers were desperate for moisture during these drought-plagued years and would shell out what little cash they had to entice, create, divert, or pray up a good rain. Some of the shower shysters even made a buck or two thanks to fantastic timing with a co-operative cloud.

Rain-producing attempts followed two avenues during this period. The "blast" and the "expert". Supporters of the blast theory would usually chip in to buy gunpowder or dynamite and set it off in a series of explosions. Adherents of the expert school would hire a rainmaker or rain doctor to entice moisture from the reluctant heavens. Sometimes he came at the behest of a community but individuals often hired rain-makers on a no-rain-no-pay arrangement.

The idea of blasting probably stemmed from the Civil War belief that heavy rains always followed a major battle. Soldiers on both sides were convinced the noise triggered the downpours.

O'Neill and McCook were two communities with faith in the big bang. In June 1883, McCook residents JULY, 1967 13   requested the Secretary of State to send them the state's largest cannon and 500 rounds of ammunition. Fate of this request is not definitely known, but it appears that it was ignored. Rain or no rain, state officials weren't going to let a bunch of amateurs play with such lethal toys. O'Neill citizens bought a ton of dynamite to shake the rain down. But this was cap-pistol effort compared to an ambitious plan undertaken by the Rain God Association.

Farmers and ranchers of the panhandle formed the association and raised $1,000 for gunpowder. Charges were placed on all the high spots between Long Pine and Harrison, a distance of 215 miles. These powder caches were called Rain God Stations and on a hot July day, all were in readiness for the big blow. At a prearranged signal, the charges were ignited. Coyotes ki-yied, jackrabbits rapidly departed, kids had a ball, and nervous old ladies got the vapors when the explosions rolled across the country, but the rain gods were unmoved. They didn't spill a sprinkle.

Four experts or rain kings drew top billing all over the state. They were Dr. William F. Wright, Dr. William B. Swisher, Clayton B. Jewell, and Frank Melbourne of the Melbourne Miracle. Wright of Lincoln was Rain King I. He tried the bombardment method at first to rattle down a shower. He put funnels on his guns to induce spiral air currents but the funnels went skyward when the charges went off. Wright also tried to get legislative aid for firing a huge cannon into the sky but the lawmakers thumbed down the scheme. Wright wrote a book, The Universe As It Is, and devoted some of it to artificial rainfall. There is evidence that Wright was a serious student of rain-making and conscientiously tried to create it.

Dr. Swisher, Rain King II, was a Civil War surgeon and a pioneer physician in Nebraska. Coincidence was on his side. He usually delivered and once won a court case when he produced a promised Vk-inch rainfall for a Lancaster County landowner who refused to pay the doctor $500, claiming the rain was due to natural causes.

Dr. Swisher went into rainmaking in a big way and formed the most successful of the three rain-making companies founded in Goodland, Kansas. The Swisher Company was chartered in January 1892 with a capital of $100,000 and relied mainly upon chemical inducement of rain. All three companies, the Goodland Artificial Rain Company, the Inter-State Artificial Rain Company, and the Swisher Company claimed to use Melbourne's methods. Melbourne came to Kansas too, but he lost out to the Goodland companies, and they in turn lost out to Jewell. Swisher returned to Lincoln.

In 1894, Dr. Swisher and Dr. Wright worked together and everywhere they went they carried a mysterious big black box. Dr. Swisher was religious minded,however, and when the black box disappeared, Swisher reportedly said:

"I felt more and more that the plans of nature and Providence should not be tampered with. And so the black box was put away."

Later Swisher's son-in-law, John McKesson, explained that the mysterious black box was merely a receptacle for two large earthen jars from Germany. In them they attempted to mix hydrogen and oxygen, and produce water.

Rain King Clayton B. Jewell, chief train dispatcher of the Rock Island Railroad at Goodland, made many appearances in Nebraska. A Columbus news item on July 18, 1894, reported that:

"Rainmaker Jewell arrived tonight on the Burlington and will proceed in the morning to Platte Center, where he is under contract to furnish a copious general rain in 24 hours. Should he be successful he will receive $700."

Jewell often did not charge for his performances because the Rock Island officials offered him a chance to experiment along their right-of-way. They provided him with electric batteries, balloons, and a freight car for a laboratory. Jewell's methods were based on the hypothesis that gases charged with electricity would chill the atmosphere and start condensation. He used four generators, making 1,500 gallons of gas an hour. Opposition developed when too much rain fell in some places, but whether this came through his efforts or not is conjecture.

Along with his many obvious apparatuses for making rain, Jewell also claimed that he had discovered Melbourne's formulae. All the rainmakers made this claim, yet Frank Melbourne had the least apparatus and the most mystery about his operations.

First and most famous of the rainmakers to appear in Nebraska, Melbourne, called "The Rain Wizard" and later known as "The Rain Faker", showed up everywhere, charging $500 for a good rain. He came from Ohio to Wyoming in 1891, and then to Nebraska.

How Melbourne stormed up his "Miracles" remained for some years a thickly clouded mystery. While haunting a rain-making barn in one town, a newspaper reporter observed this 1890 Merlin and wrote a play-by-play account of Frank's actions.

"Frank Melbourne has been cooped up more or less continously in the barn...Above stairs is a loft for hay and a small room...a dormer window admits air and light. A few shingles were removed from the apex of this dormer, so Melbourne might have uninterrupted access to the outer ether and pursue his incantations or scientific processes as the case might be. The entire stable was carefully closed and the doors placed under lock and key.

"On Saturday evening Melbourne had moved into the barn with four (Continued on page 56)

JULY, 1967 15

Rainbows... McConaughy Style

Editor discards blue pencil for rod and reel. Lands Master Angler trout, while cohort spins yarn about "one that got awoy"

"THE BIG trout blasted the mirrored surface of Lake McConaughy into thousands of silvery droplets. He hung suspended for a brief second then fell back in a shower of spray.

"Did you see the size of that trout?" Jack shouted.

"A monster," Dick answered, cranking desperately on a very bent spinning rod. "Now if I can only land him."

Dick Schaffer, editor of NEBRASKAland Magazine, Jack Morgan of Ogallala, a Nebraska conservation officer, and I were taking a little time off to practice what we preach. Tm an editorial consultant for the magazine and try to keep tabs on the hunting and fishing opportunities in the state. Fishing in late July is often slow but reports of good catches of big trout along the dam had lured us to McConaughy. Jack loaded us aboard a 14-foot fishing boat about 8 a.m.

"No sense starting at the crack of dawn, they have been catching as many trout at noon as they have at any other time," he told us.

The day was unusually calm for Big Mac. The sun, carrying the promise of a hot July day, was burning through a slight haze as we started across the slick surface of the lake. A few gulls flew lazily across the water looking for an unsuspecting school of shad for their morning meal.

Dick was using a spin-cast outfit with 10-pound-test line, while mine was a level-wind bait-casting rig loaded with 100 yards of 12-pound-test monofilament. Jack's outfit was an open-faced spinning combination with 8-pound-test line. Our terminal setups were snap swivels, F-4 flatfishes, and two-ounce bell sinkers tied three feet above the lure on six-inch droppers. Earlier, some of the successful fishermen had clued us in on (Continued on page 53)

JULY, 1967 17

SCENT OF ROCK

by Julian P. Amaya, R. H as told to Bob Snow SOME PEOPLE observe birds, others insects, and still others mammals, but my outdoor studies center on a curious creature, who scratches along river bottoms, digs into canyon walls,   As brilliant as the summer sky, blue agate is called Nebraska Gem Stone. One of finest found in the state comes from Dawes County

and paws through gravel piles. In layman's lingo he is a rock hound. Another name is "stoop stomper".

Although found throughout Nebraska the creatures favor north-central and northwestern parts of the state. Gentle in nature, rock hounds forage for various stones, fossils, and artifacts. Each find seems to give them added energy to prowl farther and push on harder. Satisfied with small finds, as well as big, they are easier to please than pack rats in a 5-and-10-cent store.

Prime time to observe the hounds is April to October. They are easy to identify Their walk is slow and deliberate and they carry their heads low with the eyes moving slowly back and forth over the ground. This hunched-over walk is described as the "stoop, crouch, stomp". One distinguishing characteristic is a side pouch or knapsack that often bulges with the results of the hunt. Some individuals carry a small pick and wear ankle-high boots.

Males tend to be larger than females, but this is not always the case. On good days, rock hounds can be tracked down by the loud, guttural-sounding shrieks that signal a find. Mostly monogamous, the rock hounds often travel in family groups. Pebble puppies, their offspring, seem to be more energetic than the mature animals, but tire easier on all-day hunts.

Rock hounds are gregarious and when not in family groups often roam in well-organized packs. In Nebraska, there are about 16 such packs with a total membership of 2,000. Loners are frequent, however. Maintenance of the species seems to be in no danger due to proliferation.

Evolution of the rock hound can be traced back to near the dawn of mankind. It is likely that a very early primate stopped for a drink and a shiny pebble in the water caught his eye. Fascinated by its color and shape, he thought it might please the little woman, so he kept it to become the first rock hound in history.

In the Stone Age, the rock hound learned that he could be master of his domain by chipping stone points for his spears. To make life even easier he began to chip crude tools and utensils. As he mastered the art of chipping and shaping, his tools became more sophisticated, while his mistakes were thrown over his left shoulder. Today, his descendants scour the countryside for these artifacts.

Nebraska, a fertile ground for artifact and fossil hounds, is mostly untapped. Hounds of the eastern type become quite noisy and have been known to drool over prospects of hunting here.

For researchers wanting to study the eastern Nebraska fossil hound, a large rock quarry near Weeping Water is a favorite observation site. To observe the artifact hound, travel to the Pine Ridge in northwestern Nebraska and to the reservoir areas in the southwestern part of the state, in and around Hitchcock County. Artifact hounds can also be found scratching in Sand Hills blowouts.

The rock hound has an insatiable appetite and varied tastes. Some are interested in rocks that will please their ladies as jewelry or make additions to their collections. Others are motivated by the prospect of profit. From past experiences in a rock hound's den, I refrain from opening closet or shed doors. Chances are you will meet up with a homemade avalanche of stones, that would make even Fibber McGee's closet look as orderly as a West Point footlocker.

In the Bad Lands, 20 miles north of Crawford, stoop stompers can be seen searching for the Nebraska JULY, 1967 21   Gem Stone - chalcedony or blue agate. The general color of the stone is smoky or gray blue. The Nebraska State Stone, the prairie agate, is plentiful in most parts of the state, and is in every hound's collection. The agate, either jasper or quartzite or a combination of the two, is often dull, but some may be quite colorful.

SCENT OF ROCK Continued

Migrant hounds often move into this state from other parts of the country to scoop up stones that are native only to Nebraska or surrounding states. Many come here for the Fairburn agate, found only in northwestern Nebraska, southern South Dakota, and southeastern Wyoming. These gems, in all colors and sizes, will bring anywhere from 5 to $350 when cut and polished. Some bartering is observed between rock hounds to see who can get the best of whom. Often in bartering one hound will give up several stones for a more precious one.

In Nebraska, Fairburns may be found near Crawford and Orella, in areas around Lame Johnny Creek and Red Canyon in northern Nebraska, and some in the sandpits near Gordon. Experts can nearly always tell where a Fairburn was found by studying its variations in color and width of its bands.

The Crawford-Orella area is one of the better spots in the state for gem hounds. Besides the Fairburn agate, stoop stompers pick up specimens of gypsum, selenite, chalcedony, and pertrified wood. Hounds find these gems by walking open ground, prowling canyon walls, and searching washes.

Another excellent observation point is near sand-pits. Pits along the Platte River from ScottsblufF to the Missouri River and the Republican River area are good spots. Sandpit pawers can be found picking up jasper, agates, and pertrified wood near the tailings of these pits. Rock hounds are mostly diurnal animals, but there are a few exceptions. Some have been observed using artificial lights to continue their hunts after sundown.

In his wanderings a rock hound drives through, climbs over, and walks around parts of Nebraska that few people ever visit, so his knowledge of the geography and geology here is much better than average. A devout stoop stomper keeps tabs on new-road construction so he can investigate the cuts for stones. He also watches sandpits that are being pumped.

A rock hound is a many-faceted creature found in many habitats. He may be observed in the field, in his den, polishing stones, or in school explaining and showing specimens. On the street he resembles a normal human being, but under the magnifying glass of close observation there are certain characteristics that give him away. He is the person with the sun in his smile, the twinkle of a star in his eye, and the spaciousness of the prairie in his heart.

THE END 22 NEBRASKAland JULY, 1967 23

OLD WEST SING ALONG

Cowpokes had to ride like the wind, tight like the devil, and croon like angel to hold fob

COWBOYS LIKE to impress dudes, especially pretty ones in skirts, with their prowess in the many demands of their jobs. A cowpoke rattles off roping, riding, cutting, branding, and bronc breaking like a tobacco auctioneer knocking down a loft of bright leaf. Then almost as an after-thought, the cow nurse adds, "And I have to be able to sing."

Then to properly impress his listener, the puncher recites the tale of Jack Potter who was a whiz at handling cows but a dismal flop as a vocalist. The story has many variations but basically it goes like this.

In the 1860's, Jack ambled into town looking for a job. He was an easterner by birth, but he was out to make his "fortune" in the cattle business as a drover.

Before long he found a prospective employer, but the prerequisites for the job were something else. First the would-be boss asked if Potter could ride. Jack thought it was a silly question since he had been astride everything in his father's barnyard since he was knee-high to the water pump. Next, could he rope? Of course he could rope. And could he sing? Feeling more than a little foolish, Potter struck up a tune in his falsetto voice. The honcho must have been tone deaf because he gave Jack the job.

On the way north with a herd, the trail boss found a definite flaw in Jack's work ability, however. His riding and roping were great. And every time he drew the night hawk over the sleeping herd, he started to sing. Jack figured there was a soothing quality to his voice that would keep the cows content. Yet after the first few bars, every critter was up, milling around, and seriously contemplating a change of scenery. Potter lost his job and apparently forgot about cowpoking.

And so it went. If a wrangler couldn't sing, that is if the herd didn't think he could, he was pretty well out as a drover. While (Continued on page 50)

25

A DAY IN FONTENELLE

In the quiet of the forest, a million tiny feet beat out a way of life as old as time itself. Here life and death go hand in hand through nature's cycle by Fred Nelson 26 NEBRASKAland

A RAGGED overhang jutting over the sheer wall promised frustration, but the traveler had come far and scale that height he would. Inner urges were driving him on and on, he knew not why, but he felt them in every fiber of his tiny being.

It did not matter that once over the wall, innumerable mountains lay ahead. Mountains that made the Rockies, the Alps, and the Himalayas mere anthills in comparison. Between these ranges were valleys of awesome depths and rifts of great crevices and mighty faults. He came to the wall and began the tedious ascent and I wanted to help, but I didn't, for a strong force was directing this infinitesimal speck of life and my curiosity was greater than my sympathy.

Millimeter by millimeter he climbed as I silently urged him on, encouraging by thought if not by action. The overhang was above him now, and the climber paused, confused by this unexpected barrier and I shared his frustration.

My fingers fumbled for my pen. I would extend it toward the tiny climber and if he crawled aboard, I would boost him over the frowning ledge and bid him godspeed across the jumbled expanse beyond. The pen was in my hand and moving toward the irresolute climber when the ludicrousness of the situation struck. For almost 15 minutes, I had watched a red mite, hardly bigger than the period at the end of this sentence, cross the forest floor and scale a fragment of bur oak bark. I was so engrossed that I had identified with this tiny arthropod and was mentally sharing his desperate struggles.

I was in Fontenelle Forest, a sprawling 1,200-acre tract of natural woodland, only 20 minutes south of downtown Omaha, and I was hunting. Hunting with my eyes and my mind to see and interpret the life and events of the seen and unseen community that is a forest.

Turning my thoughts away from the red mite, I reviewed what I had seen and done in this unique area, the only one of its kind in a radius of 450 miles from Omaha. My morning had been somewhat routine, beginning with a briefing from James M. Malkowski, the director.

"Our forest here is a natural forest and we intend to keep it that way. It's about 3 miles in length and about 1,200 acres in size. There are wooded bluffs, JULY, 1967 27   ravines, flood plain, swamp, marsh, a bit of prairie, and an oxbow lake here," the director told me.

He pointed to a small signboard at the mouth of a trail that tunneled into the interior of the tract.

"We have about 16 miles of hiking trails in the forest, some 175 species of birds, and 38 kinds of trees. Our fauna is typical of eastern Nebraska: cottontail, fox, raccoon, fox squirrel, opossum, coyote, mole, muskrat, beaver, skunk, and white-tailed deer. Let's go over to the pens," Jim continued.

He had a pair of coyotes, a crow, a great-horned owl, a muskrat, an opossum, and some raccoons in wire pens around the headquarters area.

"We use these animals in our lectures and then turn them back to the wilds before they get too tame. I've got a busload of kids coming this morning and after my lecture in the nature center, we are going on a short hike. After that, we're free to roam to your heart's content. Why don't you sit in on the class and then hike with us?"

Jim was in fine fettle and the young audience enjoyed his easy, down-to-earth talk immensely. The high point came when he gave the kids a long and shiny black-rat snake and let them pass the good-natured reptile from hand to hand.

We hit the trail after the lecture and I learned along with the youngsters. A young shagbark hickory was partially leaved and I wondered why half the tree was well greened out while the other half was still in tight bud. One of the kids asked Jim about it.

"Notice the opening in the bigger trees that lets the light in on this side," the director explained. "Light speeds up the development of leaves and this side gets more than the shady side."

I didn't tell him, but he had answered a question that had bugged me for several years. Somehow, I had never gotten around to dig up the reason for this common but always interesting occurrence.

We could hear birds calling but we didn't see very many. Some I could identify by their songs, but most of the cheeps and trills were mysteries to me.

"It's a little early for birds. Most of them are just getting around to establishing territories, but in another two weeks, this wood will sound like a giant aviary as courtship and mating begins," Jim said. "This afternoon, Glenn LeDoiyt will join us for awhile, he's an ardent birder."

I later learned that Glenn is an Omaha businessman and one of Nebraska's leading birders. He has a tremendous interest in Fontenelle Forest and is chairman of its executive council. Fontenelle is owned and administered by a foundation and is open to the public for hiking and nature study. It is not a park and camping and other outdoor activities are not permitted.

Jim moved his young guests right along to the various points of interest and explained their significance in the forest community. He pointed to the tracery on an exposed section of a fallen hackberry tree.

"Insects did that, probably while the tree was still standing with the bark on. The whole cycle of insect life is represented here in these little tunnels, pockets, and borings," Malkowski explained.

After the group moved on, I studied the insect galleries closely and found it easy to elaborate on Jim's brief description.

Beginning on the left of the barkless section of the still-sound wood was a small entrance channel. Years ago, a borer had worked through the bark and had eaten her way forward. Then she had chewed out a slightly deeper pocket and deposited her eggs. A deep trace leading from the egg pocket indicated that she had eaten her way back to the outside world. A web of shallower tunnels fanned out from the egg depository where the newly-hatched larvae had eaten their ways until they too emerged. Some of the tunnels ended abruptly, proof that life for their makers had ended before it had well begun.

As I turned away from the fallen tree, I noticed a few reddish gray hairs in the roughened wood. Years of hunting identified them for me and I began to scan the standing trees. It took a bit of looking, but I finally saw him — a fine and sassy fox squirrel crouched in the "Y" of a lofty elm. The swelling leaves surrounded him with a green halo and I regretted that no camera could capture the real charming scene.

I tried to rattle the squirrel by throwing sticks on the far side of the tree, but he was wise in the ways of man and stayed put. He knew that I was danger and he wasn't about to be fooled.

Droppings under another tree indicated that it was a favorite roosting tree and although I wasn't positive, I was pretty sure that great-horned owls were using it for an observation post. I looked for the regurgitated pellets that mark an owl's hangout, but didn't find any. Mice had probably cleaned them up for nesting materials and had eaten the bits of bone in them for needed calcium. Earlier, Jim had shown me a gnawed-on antler that he had found in the forest. Mice had chiseled on some of the points until they were little more than wafer thick.

Jim and the kids were returning to the nature center, so I struck out on my own. A wide hollow beckoned and I followed it, admiring the wild flowers that sparkled and nodded over the steep little ridges that paralleled this natural highway through the forest. Spring beauties and timber phlox were living their moments of glory, for the delicate balance of sun and shade was just right. Soon the spreading leaves of the high trees would blot out the sun and the flowers would wither and withdraw into the earth from whence they came. But today they were at fulfillment.

A deer trail that abruptly lifted over an exposed and almost barren ridge puzzled me, for it is not a whitetail's habit to reveal himself if he can help it. Then I saw the significance of this hoof-scarred route. Deer moving along the slopes would be in-and-outers among the underbrush and a patient predator could predict their movements and establish his ambush. The knoll offered a quick escape route, for one bound could put the deer over the ridge and out of sight. At the same time, the sharply pitched slope would hamper any pursuer.

Glenn LeDoiyt joined us in the afternoon and suggested we visit Hidden Lake, a small oxbow a few miles south and east of the headquarters. Some mallards, widgeons, and a sprinkling of blue-winged teal had been in the marsh above the lake and Glenn wanted to see if the flock was still around. The ducks were still there and they left the shallow water in a startle of splashing feet and pumping wings when we broke through the shore fringe and out to the water's edge.

The ducks wanted to come back, but our presence kept them spooky, so we conducted a little experiment. We hunkered down in the weeds and kept our faces in the shade. I was wearing a bright red jacket while the others had darker clothes. Soon, the bluewings pitched in and after they settled down, the big ducks began 28 NEBRASKAland trading over the water. Each circle brought them closer to landing, but when we moved and let the light hit our faces, they flared wide. It was a very loose test, but we were confident that movement and face shine were danger signals to ducks, instead of colorful garb.

"I see you're making notes," Glenn said, watching me scribble in a notebook.

'Yeah, I'm taking notes on that muskrat. He has made three trips and each time he leaves the lodge by one route and returns by another. Do you suppose he's developed a patternless pattern to foil predators?" I replied.

Glenn said he doubted if a muskrat was that intelligent and laid his predictable behavior to habit more than anything else. The birder wanted to visit the beaver cuttings at the far end of the lake so we strolled in that direction.

A fan of blackbird feathers were strewn along the trail, so Glenn decided to play detective and reconstruct the events leading up to the demise of the unfortunate bird.

"A fox must have seen this blackbird preening on that dead goldenrod there and made his dinner plans accordingly," our companion announced in his best Sherlock Holmes manner.

"He probably sneaked along this old fencerow until he got about here. Reynard must have been mighty low when he crossed those open spaces or maybe he waited until the bird had his head turned before crossing them. The fox became super cautious during the last few yards until he was in pouncing range," the birder continued.

"Go on," I urged.

'Well, when the animal got about two lengths from the unsuspecting bird, he made his play and I doubt if the blackbird ever sensed the fox until his world exploded in a fury of clutching paws and snapping teeth," Glenn concluded with fine dramatics. Then he hedged a bit.

"Of course, it might not have happened that way, but there are fox tracks in the mud and two fresh dens on that far slope, so (Continued on page 53)

JULY, 1967 29

VISITORS FROM OUTER SPACE

Some celestial vagabonds find flaming death in the Nebraska skies. Others, like the Furnas County giant, survive their fiery fall to earth 30 NEBRASKAland

THE WHOOSH of the giant meteor, streaking through the winter sky, alarmed the whole countryside. Children in a school near Trenton, Nebraska, heard the roar and ran out in time to see a giant object disappearing in the east. Coming in from the southwest on the afternoon of February 18, 1948, the heavenly runaway roared across four Nebraska counties before impacting in Furnas County. No one saw it hit, but observers were confident it had plunged to earth somewhere along the Nebraska-Kansas border.

Next day reports of explosions in the sky came from six states. Civil aeronautics officials and astronomers, including Dr. Oliver C. Collins of the University of Nebraska, surmised that the explosions came from a passing meteor. After the main blast, there were a great many little booms, like the echoing rumbles after a thunderclap. A large white, steam-like cloud hung in the air for an hour after the meteorite's passage. But seeing and hearing a meteor, and finding meteorites after impact are three different things.

Five months went by before a wheat combine on the Harold Hahn farm, west of Beaver City, lurched to a sudden stop. An 11-foot hole of mysterious source yawned in front of the machine. The earthly resting place of the Furnas County meteorite had been found. Scientists from the University of Nebraska, the University of Mexico, and the University of California visited the Hahn farm to devise ways of recovering this huge interloper from outer space.

The meteorite was discovered on the third of July, but it was August 25 before a team of experts dug around the meteorite, built a plaster of Paris cast, reenforced by boards and burlap, around it for protection, and cabled it out with a boom-equipped truck. The find weighed 2,360 pounds and is the largest stony meteorite or aerolite in the world that was ever recovered after a witnessed fall. Big as it is, the Furnas County meteorite was just part of a several-ton mass or shower of meteorites that fell along the Nebraska-Kansas border. About 1,000 other fragments were found over an area of several miles.

Since the University of New Mexico has an Institute of Meteorites, the Furnas Cdunty find went there for analysis and slicing. Later, it was found too fragile for slicing.

Analysis of the celestial arrival revealed that the mass had been bombarded by cosmic rays for 280 million years. Possibly, as part of a planet, it had been in existence for 4.2 billion years. Fragments of the ancient space traveler are on display at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall in Lincoln.

Although the Furnas County Meteorite is by far the biggest and most spectacular find ever made in Nebraska, others have been found. On August 8,1933, a meteor exploded over the Alliance area and created minor havoc. The noise and vibrations knocked a woman down, and spooked a team into a runaway which subsequently injured a man. This meteor plunged earthward in the morning and was witnessed by Homer Yohe, his sons, and his hired man near Glenn, Nebraska. They saw the explosion and thought that at first an airplane had crashed.

Floyd Brakhage, a farmer and rock collector of Emerald, Nebraska, turned in a 32-pound nickel-iron meteorite which he believed was just a novelty rock in his collection. He had it around for eight or nine years before he was persuaded to turn it in to the University of Nebraska State Museum for examination and identification. There it joined another Emerald find of 1903, a 28-pound stony-iron meteorite. Another was found in 1957, by John Huffard who was digging a gas main in Omaha at the time. All in all, the State Museum at Lincoln has 38 Nebraska-found meteorites in its collection. Field parties from this institution are frequently sent into the field to check reported discoveries.

Recovering meteorites is always a chancy business, since many of them fall at night or impact into uninhabited areas with no one around to witness their fiery descent. Scientists have long wanted some system of night tracing for meteors, so in 1963, a program for meteorite recovery was established by the Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and headquarters set up in Lincoln. This project for photographing and recovering bright meteorites is the only one of its kind in the world so far, except for a smaller Czechoslovakian program.

Now, 64 aerial reconnaissance cameras in 7 midwestern states sweep the skies to trace meteors. This lineup of 16 automatic aerial stations is called the "Prairie Network".

In addition to the nightly sweep of the skies, triangulation photography (Continued on page 51)

JULY, 1967 31

DISCOVER NEBRASKAland

From mighty Missouri to rugged Pine Ridge, same picturesque beauty that charmed pioneers greets today's state traveler Photographs by Lou El and Gene Hornbeck

YOU DON'T have to have the trained eye of an explorer to discover beauty in NEBRASKAland.

It is waiting at every turn, from the spire of Chimney Rock in the west to the broad Missouri River that winds its way along the eastern border of the state. Beauty in Nebraska runs the gamut from the age-old play of sun and shadow on the buttes and pinnacles of the Pine Ridge and the Wildcat Hills to the serenity of a secluded backwater, remnant of a now-tamed river.

There is no better place to start on a voyage of discovery than Chimney Rock for this ancient beacon once guided dry-land mariners ever westward. Today's traveler with his eyes on the east can find romance, beauty, and adventure as he reverses the steps of the pioneers and heads toward the big river that once brought mountain man, trader, prospector, and sodbuster to Nebraska.

In the next 12 pages, journey east across Nebraska on a voyage of discovery that is startling in its immensity and charming in its diversity.

32 NEBRASKAland JULY, 1967 33  

THE PINE RIDGE has enchantment all its own. Spreading its spectrum of beauty for 100 miles, the horseshoe-shaped Ridge is a panorama of splendor in any season. State parks at Chadron and Fort Robinson and the Pine Ridge Division of the Nebraska National Forest have their own breath-taking charms.

Tourists find miles of wooded trails irresistible for close-up looks at such eye-pleasing attractions as Devil's Thumb at Cochran Wayside Area and Cedar Canyon near Crawford.

Lookout Point in Chadron State Park gives a sweeping view of the Pine Ridge, but many tourists find their own favorite spots from which to view this sprawling, many-faceted country.

Ponderosa-studded ridges enclose a wealth of western history for here Indian and whiteman met in bloody conflict for the right to call this land their own.

34 NEBRASKAland  

NEBRASKAland's wide-open country offers man a chance to breathe deep and be renewed by the unhurried pace of an unspoiled nature. There is plenty of tranquillity in the Sand Hills, a land as uncluttered as the day it harbored the shaggy buffalo.

Miles of Sand Hills know man only from a distance, except when he rounds up his herds or rides the lonely fences which lace the rolling choppies. Nebraskans have built few cities here, but their love for the emerald-covered hills is as boundless as the land itself.

This is a country where streams course through a green and gold land to splash and mingle with another and still another on their way to a distant ocean. Sharp drop-offs send the waters cascading down in silvery array to add their offerings to a river's might.

Nebraskans by the thousands enjoy their state's waterways through every season. In summer they sail their craft and cast their lines to entice the fish that needs no exaggeration. Come fall, sportsmen line streams and ponds to lure the wary mallard and the majestic goose, and in winter they probe the waters' icy depths for perch and pike.

JULY, 1967 37   38 NEBRASKAland

THIS STATE'S great out-of-doors beckons to all nature lovers. While some delight in floating a canoe on her meandering rivers and streams, others find self-fulfillment in investigating her forests and meadows for summer's colorful surprises.

Color abounds everywhere, from the delicate softness of tiny lavender wildflowers peeping out of a tangle of brush and grass, to the brilliant blue of a sun-warmed sky. Nature spreads her spectrum of color throughout the land and rests not until she has the most brilliant array. From the brightness of midday to the soft glow of evening, there is unlimited enchantment waiting for all.

JULY, 1967 39  

THE EASTERN end of the state has an enticing beauty. Meadows hold a quiet, peaceful reign over the land, whether carpeted with summer's green or winter's mantle of downy white. Here there are countless places to spread a picnic blanket and enjoy a lazy summer afternoon or take a hike through the woods where colorful surprises await at every bend.

Nebraska's lakes have their own special attractions. They provide space for ski and boat, while fishermen gather here for exciting contests against prize-winning heavyweights of the fishy kingdom. Not to be outdone in beauty are Nebraska's trees. Taking the best from every season, they blend it into an enchanting array of color. In winter, the snow-laden branches bow under their burden, but all are the more beautiful for it. Summer is their time to dress in a frivolous display, after the timid budding of spring. But in the autumn, no flourish is spared. Riotous in gold and red and yellow, they display their beauty to every eye before winter strips their finery to leave them in skeleton gray and sombre black. No matter what season, there is beauty to be discovered in NEBRASKAland.

THE END 40 NEBRASKAland JULY, 1967 41

CRAYFISH

NOTES ON NEBRASKA FAUNA. . . by Joe Gray Assistant Area Fishery Manager Compound eyes, regenerative power, and fast reverse make an ugly fellow unique in the underwater world

HE IS UGLY, beady-eyed, evil-tempered, and often has a coat bedaubed with accumulated dirt, debris, and algae. This creature is called crayfish, crawdad, crab, mudbug, and numerous other names. Scientists know him as the Order of Decopda, of which there are 160 representative species. The crayfish is of the family Cambarinae.

At the present time there are about 130 known species, but Nebraska has only 6. Of these, Cambarus diogenes (Girard) and Orconectes virilis (Hagen) are widely distributed. Cambarus D. is usually found in streams, wet meadows, ponds, and canal systems and during low water makes burrows along the margins of these areas and lives in them until the water level rises. Orconectis V. lives in permanent waters under rocks and debris and does not make burrows.

Crayfish are all more or less cylindrical in shape with strongly sclerotized bodies and appendages. Their compound eyes are large, stalked, and movable. Total body lengths range from 15 to 130 millimeters.

Old Ugly has five pairs of legs, or appendages, known as pereiopods. The first three appendages are clawed with the first leg greatly enlarged and is known as the Chela, or pincers. This first leg is used principally for crushing food and as an offensive and defensive weapon. It is of little use in walking which is chiefly a function of the last four pairs of legs. The second and third pereiopods are also used in handling and mincing food. Crayfish often lose appendages during fights among themselves. These are regenerated in miniature at the subsequent molt but later become larger.

Undisturbed, crayfish walk about slowly, but when alarmed they quickly dart backward by ventrally doubling up of their fan-like tails and posterior ends of the abdomens.

Body coloration ranges from blackish through brown, red, orange, green, and occasionally blue, with innumerable intermediate shades. Newly-molted specimens are more brightly colored than older specimens, since there is an absence of accumulated dirt, debris, and algae on their shells.

In general, crayfish are omnivorous but seldom predaceous. They eat all kinds of succulent aquatic vegetation. Animal food is usually a minor part of their diet when there is abundant vegetation. They also prefer fresh to stale meat, but ecologically, they are considered scavengers.

Crayfish may mate in spring, summer, and autumn. The male has no power of sex discrimination. During the mating season he turns over every crayfish coming his way. Another male will always resist strongly, but a female will either resist or remain passive and receptive.

Female crayfish lay their eggs several weeks to several months after mating, depending on the season and temperature. Prior to laying, a female cleans the ventral side of her abdomen and then secretes a sticky substance that covers the ventral surface of the abdomen and tail fan. The eggs are emitted and adhere to the ventral abdomen. This is done by curious turning movements of the entire body. Females of most species are seen carrying eggs between March and June.

Eggs may be as few as 10 or as many as 800, depending upon the size of the female. The incubation period usually ranges from 2 to 20 weeks with the temperature the determining factor. A newly-hatched crayfish is called an instar and goes through two stages. The instar continue to cling to the female until the yolk sac is consumed. This occurs in two to seven days. A second instar stage occurs with young continuing to cling to the parent for about 4 to 12 days, then disperse.

Young crayfish grow rapidly and as they grow, the hard shell is molted, leaving the crayfish soft, pliable, and immobile. It is at this time the crayfish becomes a delicacy to nearly all fish, turtles, frogs, raccoons, and numerous other meat-eating creatures. Newly-molted crayfish are also preyed upon by members of their own clan if there is an absence of vegetation.

Crayfish are a valuable asset to fish life as a food and serve anglers as excellent baits. This is especially true of the newly-molted specimens or "soft shells". Small, unmolted specimens are excellent for catfish, largemouth, smallmouth, and Kentucky spotted bass, but nearly all other fish will take small crayfish. Some fishermen use crayfish by removing the meaty portion of the tail section and peeling the hard shell away. This is a tasty tidbit for almost any fish, or can be eaten by the anglers themselves.

THE END 42 NEBRASKAland JULY, 1967 43

RIDING THE WET STUFF

by Lowell Johnson Nebraska waters are outdoor classrooms for thousands who learn ups and downs of skiing

SKIMMING ALONG behind a fast boat on a couple of lathe-like boards is a comparatively new but amazingly popular sport. If you have ever wondered why people water ski, it's really quite simple and lots of fun.

Water skiing is also easy, and practically anyone can become an expert with practice. Thousands of people learn to water ski every summer in Nebraska, which partly explains why the lakes are so full of them. Most skiers are on the water every chance they get, so skiing is obviously habit-forming.

By mastering a few techniques and using the proper equipment, anyone can become an able skier, but an instructor is helpful, especially for teaching children and non-swimmers.

A properly-fitted life jacket, a pair of good skis, an adequate boat and motor, a ski rope, and some water are all that are needed. Water and the boat aren't absolute needs for the initial lessons, since most of the fundamentals can be learned on land and then practiced in the water.

The hardest thing to learn is getting started. Not started with the lessons, but getting "up" on the skis. This is when most falls occur and is the one phase of skiing that most people have trouble mastering, but with good equipment and coaching, most learners can be up and away after two or three attempts. Here are some dry-land pointers.

A beginner will be nervous, so the more he knows about procedures and the more practice he gets on land, the better chance he has of making a go of it. Only skis and a rope are needed at first. The novice should don the skis, grip the tow handle, then sit down on the back of the skis with knees up tight, arms straight and held outside the knees. This is roughly the attitude he will have in the water prior to starting. The instructor now grasps the tow rope and pulls the student slowly upright, simulating the pull of the boat.

A student must always keep his arms fully extended instead of pulling himself up by bending the elbows, this fault tends to put slack in the rope and can cause a quick spill. This technique should be repeated several times until it becomes natural. When standing, the student should have an upright, balanced stance, with a slight backward lean against the rope. With sufficient beach practice and some advance instruction on the skis' behavior in the water, most people can get up after the first or second try.

Following the beach lessons, the beginner is ready to try the real thing. At this stage the life jacket and boat come in. Ski bindings which may fit perfectly on shore should be checked again, as wet they may be too loose. Bindings should be snug, almost to the point of uncomfortably tight.

Waist-deep water is ideal for the next step. The life jacket should be tight but comfortable, and the previous instructions should be reviewed. At first, the tyro will have to fight "roll-over" from the skis' buoyancy. The teacher should steady the rolling beginner until he learns to control himself.

Familiarity with each step adds to the confidence and security of the new skier, so go slowly and repeat important steps. After the student masters the basics, it is time to move into deep water for the actual start. It is best to have the learner don the skis in deep water to become familiar with the problems of pulling them on. The tow rope should be between the skis as the beginner faces the rear of the boat, and the line should 44 NEBRASKAland be straight. A calm day is best for the first try, since rough water is tough to ski on. The teacher should also be on skis with the same length tow rope. When the skier.is ready to take off, he or the coach signals the boat. For the takeoff, the teacher assists the pupil by holding him above the elbow.

Responsibility of a good start now rests with the boatman. He should accelerate slightly to take up all tow slack, then smoothly work up to towing speed. The skipper should be ready to chop the throttle if the student takes a somersault or falls sideways.

As the boat gains speed, the skis have a tendency to wobble and are hard to keep headed in the right direction. If the tyro falls during the first run, the coach should drop off also to help him get started again. This is no time to get discouraged, as even the best of skiers had to go through this stage and early difficulty is no sign of athletic prowess or future competence. A student will learn from the first try even if it is unsuccessful. Often the second attempt will be good, merely by correcting weaknesses of the first.

Once the new skier is up, the first run should be short. Each run should be followed by additional starts for practice and gaining confidence.

Proficiency comes fast after the basics are mastered. Skiing will become fairly routine after a few runs but difficult conditions can still cause spills. The challenges are almost limitless for there are always new techniques and more routines to try, like skiing with one ski, jumping, skiing backwards, kiting, acrobatics, and other tricks. Crossing the boat's wake is often difficult at first, but it has to be mastered.

A skier is like a pendulum, suspended from the rear of the boat by the tow rope. Only a short swing is possible inside the twin wake of the boat, and to widen the swing means getting on the outside of the wake or ridges. This is accomplished by veering close to one side, then cutting quickly to the other in as near a right angle as possible.

Making a turn can be learned in short order. For a left turn, the skier leans over the left ski. The sharper the lean the faster the turn. Knees should be bent slightly for the bump of crossing the wake, to help maintain balance and take up the shock.

Once outside the wake, the skier must again turn parallel to the boat's course or go sailing off beyond the rope length. The same lean and bend must be used to get back inside the wake, and again a swing must be made outside, then a square cut across the wake. Working into the ridge slowly or at too small an angle lets the water catch the skis, causing a quick spill.

Learning how to stop after a run is important. Stopping is not hard, as letting go of the rope will do it, but to stop when and where you want to is something else. Each individual has to learn his individual "stopping distance". Varying speeds and angles of approach make each stop different, but experience brings judgement. Don't try fancy releases the first few times, and don't approach the beach head-on but work in from an angle.

Tied in directly with skiing is boating safety. The motor should always be shut off when the boat is within five feet of anyone in the water, and the boat should always approach a fallen skier downwind to avoid drifting into him. When pulling a skier avoid beaches, docks, and swimming areas.

Skiers and boats have a system of signals which makes for a safer (Continued on page 55)

JULY, 1967 45

NEBRASKAland FISHING ... THE SOUTHEAST

Once an angling void, things are changing in a big way in state's most populated district

WHAT IS A fisherman? He is a carefree man with a rod in his hand and quick with story, not always factual. He spends time and money on a finny beast that can be more elusive than a ghost or as plentiful as ants at a picnic. He is a man who is never satisfied. If he catches one lunker that breaks a state record, he fishes even harder for he figures there is a bigger one waiting. In Nebraska, more than half of this peculiar breed live in the southeastern section of the state known as District Five.

For years, this area was almost a blank in Nebraska fishing, but things have changed and are changing in a big way. New lakes, sandpits, and farm ponds are filling an angling gap in Nebraska's most populated district.

Take an average Lincoln fisherman who spends a long eight-hour day in a downtown office. Five years ago that man, caught in the grip of city life, would go home and clean a level-wind reel while dreaming of a lake 250 miles away. Today, that same angler is spending two to three hours after work, fishing no more than 20 miles from his door. He has joined the rapidly growing clan of Salt Valley fishermen.

Eight lakes in this chain now offer fair to excellent fishing. Several more lakes are in the future. Predominant species in the waters are bass, bluegill, channel catfish, northern pike, and walleye. A few flathead catfish were stocked. Crappie and bullhead fishing rates as good in some lakes. Boating is permitted, but speed regulations vary from lake to lake. Waters on the Hedgefield Special Use Area, five miles east of Hickman, are restricted to non-power craft.

When all are completed, these lakes will range from 40 to 740 acres. Each lake hits a peak of fish populations in its third or fourth year after development and then tapers off to become more of a quality

rather than a quantity fishery. All of these man-made lakes depend on natural reproduction of game species and are not re-stocked after the initial plants. In past years, a keeper restriction of 24 inches on northern pike was imposed, but this year, the size restrictions on Bluestem and Stagecoach are lifted.

Each lake in the Salt Valley has distinct characteristics and it takes time to learn the best spots. In general, the upper ends of the lakes, opposite the dam structures, are best for bass, northerns, and channel catfish, especially if the areas are wooded or are parts of the inlets. In the spring, the rocky faces of the dams are the places to try for walleye and northern.

Chuck Roberts, a Lincoln newspaperman, is an ardent bass angler who regularly fishes the Salt Valley offerings. Chuck was once a stranger to the lakes and faced the sometimes frustrating task of learning them, but as a lifelong bass fisherman he looked for permanent brush in both shallows and deep waters that looked right. For spring fishing, Chuck watched for shallows that make good spawning beds. For late-evening summer fishing, the Lincoln newsman sought out areas that looked like good feeding grounds. Fish, like people, prefer easy living, so Chuck looked for spots that offered bass a combination of food, shade, and protection. From experience he knew that creek inlets and creek beds in the lake are likely hotspots and he made notes of their locations. The rocky face of a dam is usually another fishy location on any lake, so Chuck didn't overlook that possibility. His scouting has paid big dividends in consistent catches that include some boasting-size largemouths.

One of the better ways to describe the Salt Valley lakes is to take a quick tour of them. Wagon Train Lake, east of Hickman, has some beautiful bass water on the upper end, but its bass population is down. For bullhead, this lake is probably one of the best in the chain, but most of the whiskery ones are small.

Anyone from 7 to 70 can catch bullheads by the sackful at Wagon Train. Fishing techniques are simple, just rig up your fishing outfit, drape a worm around the hook, cast out, sit back, and wait. Because of their abundance and simplicity, bullheads are the fish for a neophyte angler. Size doesn't matter to the usual novice, but the catch rate per hour is important to maintain interest.

Since bullhead travel in schools, fish an area for 15 to 20 minutes, if they aren't biting, move on. The windy side of a lake is often productive as the waves stir up food organisms and attract the hungry fish. Generally the best bullhead luck is on the upper end of Wagon Train.

Stagecoach Lake, south of Hickman, is one of the better all-around fishing lakes in the area with walleye best off the dam, and bass, bluegill, and catfish best in the upper reaches.

The bank angler can catch fish in Stagecoach, but the boat angler will come home the big winner. The boater has the advantage of mobility over the shoreline fisherman and if the fish aren't hitting in one favorite hole, then the boater can pull up anchor and move to another. The bank fisherman is pretty well stuck in one locality unless he wants to waste time moving around the lake on foot or walking to and from his car.

Besides being an excellent bass fishery, Stagecoach Lake holds its own with any in the district when it comes to channel catfishing. Crawdads, minnows, chicken livers, and worms are the best baits, but JULY, 1967 47   catfish aren't really particular. Cats at Stagecoach hit their peak in June and July.

At times during the spring, bass fishing at Stagecoach is phenomenal. Experienced anglers recommend the shallows on the west side of the lake. In summer, these fishermen work the shallows from about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and hit the brushy deep holes during the day.

One lake that's coming into its own this year is Pawnee Lake, north of Emerald. Bass in this lake are reaching over a pound while walleye are hitting the 14-inch mark, bullhead are running 12 to 14 inches, and northerns from 18 to 21. The inlet and upper reaches of the lake are the best areas. Spinners, jig spinners, and rubber worms will claim fish while minnows, fished off the face of the dam, take walleye.

For lunker-size bass, bluegill, and walleye, Bluestem Lake, west of Martell, is hard to beat. More of a quality fishery than a quantity fishery now, anglers have to work for their fish, but trolling along the face of the dam with spinners or flatfish will bring in walleye and an occasional northern. For bass and good-size bluegill, the upper reaches of lake have a good tree area that affords excellent fish cover. One hotspot is the old creek channel that wanders through the trees and beside a submerged road bed.

Other lakes in the Salt Valley that offer good fishing are Conestoga, south of Emerald, Yankee Hill, east of Denton, and Olive Creek, south and west of Sprague. The same methods used on the other lakes will work on these. A boat is a big help, but a fisherman wading out beyond the moss and casting along the aquatic growth will have good luck. Small fish feed on insects found on the plants, and in turn big bass and northerns feed on the insect-eating fish. Each of these lakes follow the bass, walleye, and northern spring cycle. Bullhead and catfish take up the summer slack.

District Five has some excellent largemouth fishing and Denton Lake, just coming out of its infant stage, has promise of being one of the better lakes for this popular scrapper. A lake with a lot of permanent brush, it has a well-defined creek channel, springs near the dam, and some deep water.

This spring when a big bass tail-walked across the water in an attempt to shake a plastic worm, Chuck Roberts knew that he found another lake worthy of his fishing effort. He was fishing at Burchard Lake, east of Beatrice, for the first time. The big bass wasn't ready to give up, and neither was Chuck, but after a series of jumps and runs the fish tired. When the bass was netted, the Lincolnite had a Master Angler Award winner.

Satisfied with one big bass and a couple of smaller ones, Chuck was ready to call it quits. But like every fisherman, he decided to give the lake one more try. When he finally packed up to go home, he had creeled two more master-angler bass.

Many anglers have fished a life-time to catch a lunker worth talking about. But Chuck caught three in one day. How did he catch them and what lure did he use? Unlike some secretive anglers, he is more than willing to give out a few hints.

Since it was Chuck's first trip to the impoundment, he tested the water depth around the lake and looked for brush and deep holes. After moving around and making about 500 casts, he finally hit a tangled mess of brush that brought him his first big bass. Using a purple rubber worm, his favorite lure, the angler cast into the entanglement and worked the worm slowly along the bottom.

NO. NAME SPEICES, BEST TIME, AREA, METHOD, AND BAIT 1 Verdon Bluegill, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, worms. L.M. Bass, spring, entire lake, casting, artificials. Channel catfish, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, live and prepared baits. Crapple, springs, entire lake, shorline, still fishing, minnows 2 Burchard Lake L.M. Bass, spring, arms of the lake, casting, artificals. Crapple, entire lake, casting, still fishing, minnows, artificials. Boasts can be used 3 Alexandria No. 2 Crappie, spring, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, minnows. Channel catfish, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing. live and prepared baits 4 Fremont lakes, nos. 2,13,4,and 11 L.M. Bass, spring, entire lake, shorline, casting, artificals. Blugill, sumer, entire lake, shorline, still fishing, worms. Channel catfish, summmer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, live and prepared baits 5 Fremont Lakes, Nos. 7-8 Bullhead, summmer, entire lake, shorline, still fishing, worms. L.M. Bass, spring, entire lake, shoreline, casting artifical 6 Fremont Lake, No. 5 Carp, Summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, worms, corn, dough balls. 7 Two Rivers, No.5 Trout, summer, entire lake, shoreline, casting, still fishing. check for special regulations on baits and fishing hours at headquarters 8 Hord Lake, East L.M. Bass spring, entire lake, shoreline, casting, artificials. Horde Lake, West L.M. Bass, spring entire lake, shoreline casting artificals. Bluegill, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, worms, Channel catfish, summer entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, live and prepared baits. 9 Louisville, No. 1A Carp, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, corn 10 Two Rivers Carp lake Carp, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, corn 11 Crystal Springs, Fairbury Channeled catfish, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, live and prepared baits 12 Lake hastings Channeled catfish, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, live and prepared baits 13 Memphis Lake Channeled catfish, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, live and prepared baits 14 Plattsmouht Refuge Lake Yellow perch, spring and summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, preferred baits. Bullhead, spring and summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, prepared baits 15 Olive Creek Lake No. 2 L.M. Bass, spring and fall, entire area, boating and shoreline, casting, arificals. Channel catfish, summer, entire area, shoreline, still fishing, worm and prepared bait 16 Bluestem Lake No. 4 L.M. Bass, spring and fall, upper end, boating and shoreline casting, artificals. Channel catfish, summer and fall, entire lake, boating and shoreline, still fishing, worms, minnows, and prepared baits. Walleye, early spring and fall, upper lake, still fishing minnows. Upper lake ice fishing. Lower lake, boating and trolling, artificals. N. Pike, spring and fall, upper lake, boating and shoreline, casting and still fishing, casting, minnows and artificals. Bluegill, summer, entire lake, boating and shoreline, still fishing, worms 17 Wagon Train Lake No. 8 Bullhead, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, worms. N.Pike, spring and fall, entire lake, shroreline, casting, minnow, and artifical. Channel catfish, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, worm and prepared baits, Boat can be used 18 Stagecoach Lake No.9 L.M. Bass, spring and fall, entire lake, boating and shoreline, casting artificals. Channel catfish, summer, entire lake, boating and shoreline, still fishing, worms and prepared bait. Walleye, early spriing and fall entire lake, boating and shoreline, trolling and ice fishing, artificals and minnows. N. Pike spring and summer, entire lake, boating and shoreline, casting and still fishing, aritficals and minnows. Bluegill, summer, entire lake, boating and shoreline, still fishing, worms. 19 Hedgefield Area Lake No. 10A L. M. Bass, spring and fall, entire area, shoreline, casting, artificals 20 Yankee Hill Lake No. 10 L. M. Bass, spring and fall, entire area,boating and shoreline, casting, artificals 21 Conestoga Lake No. 12 L. M. Bass, spring and fall, entire area, boating and shoreline, casting, artificials. Crappie, spring and summer, entire lake, boating and shoreline, still fishing, minnows. Bluegill, summer, entire lake, boating and shoreline, still fishing, worms. Walleye, spring, entire lake, boating, trolling, artificials. Channel catfish, summer, entire lake, boating and shoreline, still fishing, worms and prepared baits. Bullhead, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, worms 22 Pawnee Lake No. 14 Bullhead, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, worms. Channel catfish, summer, entire lake, shoreline, still fishing, worms and prepared baits. L. M. Bass, spring and fall, entire lake, boating and shoreline, casting, artificials. Walleye, spring and fall, entire lake, boating and trolling. Ice fishing, artificials and minnows. Bluegill, summer, entire lake, boating and shoreline, still fishing, worms 23 Blue River at Blue Bluffs Carp, all year below dam, shoreline, still fishing, dough balls and corn 24 Little Blie River at Fairbury Flathead and channel catfish, spring, summer, and fall, below dam, shoreline, still fishing, and set lines. Live and prepared baits 25 Platte River Carp, channel catfish, flathead catfish, spring, summer, and fall. Brush piles, boating, still fishing, and set lines. Live and prepared baits 26 Nemaha Rivers Carp, channel catfish, flathead catfish, spring, summer, and fall. Brush piles, boating, still fishing, and set lines. Live and prepared baits 27 Missouri River Carp, channel catfish, flathead catfish, spring, summer, and fall. Brush piles, behind pile dikes. Boating, still fishing, set lines, live and prepared baits 28 Farm Ponds L. M. Bass, bluegill, bullhead, channel catfish. Spring, summer, and fall. Live and prepared baits. Artificials effective on some species. Farm ponds are usually private property and permission is required to fish them. Check with the landowner

When the bass hit, Chuck was ready for him. He uses 15 to 20-pound-test monofilament on his bait-casting rig for fishing heavy brush. A lighter-test line would have snapped as the big bass threshed around, but the angler was able to horse his catch from the danger and get him into open water.

There are several ways to work a worm, but Chuck prefers to work his like an old maid crossing a slippery log, very slowly and carefully. Chuck claims there are two prime times when bass will snatch the worm: 1. When the worm hits the water. 2. When the lure comes up over a log and then falls back down. When a bass hits you have to be ready for him, and be able to tell the difference between a strike and a snag. The rod should be held high and the line should be taut. Why do fish prefer a purple worm? No one knows for sure, but Chuck has three master angler awards on the wall and a tackle box full of purple worms to back up his faith in them. Other bass experts are almost equally high on this relative newcomer to the list of great lures.

For those who prefer natural baits, crayfish, minnows, or nightcrawlers can be real bass busters. In early spring until the water warms up, remember to work your artificials or live baits very slowly. In the summer the take-in speed can be increased a bit.

Catfish and crappie can also be taken at Burchard. An excellent campground, boat ramps, and picnic tables make the angler's stay more enjoyable.

Bass may be No. 1, south and west of Lincoln, but up Omaha way trout are a much-sought-after species. Years ago, fishermen had to head for the western part of the state for this gamy fish, but in recent years a deep sand pit at Two Rivers near Omaha has been used as a put-and-take-trout fishery. For a $1.50 trout tag an angler is entitled to five trout if he can catch them, usually this isn't too difficult.

This five-acre impoundment is stocked almost daily. Flies and small (Continued on page 56)

JULY, 1967 49  

SING ALONG

(Continued from page 25)

a beautiful baritone wasn't a necessity, a cowboy had to be able to warble something a bit more refined than a Sioux war whoop.

There were several reasons why a cowboy sang. First, it usually kept the cattle settled down during the night. Then he sang to reassure his mount. And it helped while away the long hours on the lonely prairie.

Though old favorites were big, there were a few songs composed specifically for cows, but most of the time a cowboy would just pick a tune, or manufacture one, and fill in words as he went along. Probably because most of them weren't worth remembering, few of the original cowboy refrains were ever written down.

Most cowboy songs tell a story of everyday life on the prairie, a cowboy's troubles, or the loneliness he felt. After all he could talk or sing to a cow without getting any wise comments in return.

Often the songs were locally inspired and didn't mean much to a stranger, but to punchers in the area, these ditties had significance and in some instances reflected the average hand's opinion of the outfit that inspired them. These six lines tell quite a bit about the 7D Ranch.

I'll sing you a song, taint very long, It's all about the 7D boys They're a jolly set of fellows both merry and gay, They sing and they shout, They bellow and they swear, From dawn to the close of day.

A perceptive cowhand got a pretty good idea of the 7D. From the third line, he gathered that it was fun-loving, hoorahing bunch of men with a sense of humor and a no-tomorrow attitude. Generally, they must have been pretty well fed and bunked, and probably a bit too exuberant at times, for they were both "merry and gay". They "bellowed and swore" when things went wrong, but this was natural for men who seldom knew the ameliorating influence of women or the lusher comforts. It's a cinch, the 7D was a hard-working outfit, "from dawn to the close of day".

Most cowhands had a fierce pride in their outfit and were very loyal to it. Thus some local songs were like the fraternity songs of today, an expression of pride in belonging.

One song about life as a wrangler is entitled, "I want to be a Cowboy". For some reason the words are set to the music of "Want to be an Angel". No one seems to know if there is any comparison between the author and his heavenly ambition. In the tune, an obviously dudy fellow declares how romantic his job would be. He is sold on everything from roping a frisky heifer to hauling out of the rack at dawn. To most cowboys, both ideas were far from romantic, and certainly not worth singing about.

The nomad cowboy was as close to a troubadour as anything the Old West ever knew. Many wranglers knew their 50 NEBRASKAland way around a guitar and some even lugged a fiddle around as accompaniment for everything from wakes to weddings. And there was always a chance to play a couple of tunes around the campfire in the evening, provided a cowboy could stay awake after a 16-hour day in the saddle.

There was one subject that always appealed to the singing cowpoke — women. He sang about them at every chance, though sometimes the ditty might not be too complimentary. Female-oriented songs ran from adoration to repulsion with varying degrees of both in between. In "The Girl I Left Behind Me", a cowboy could violate every grammatical rule in the English language to tell how much he missed his sweetheart. The song was presumably sung about the girl back home. Yet it also filled in for the gal in the last town or the one waiting in the next, depending on how worldly the gent might be.

Not all cowhands were so keen on women, however, and there was a song for them, too. Entitled "I've Got No Use For Women", a woman-hater could go on for hours, or at least until he quit making up verses. Like most of the songs, no one knows where this one came from, but Elmer Langass, a Nebraska Norwegian, used the refrain to its fullest.

People in Madison County, Nebraska said Langass had been a prince in the old country and that he came to America when his family disapproved of his love affair with a commoner. If the story were true, his unlucky love affair must have made him melancholy. He used to hang around a drug store, stuffing down banana splits, puffing two-for-a-nickel cigars, and belting out his sad refrain. Not one to pass up a good thing, Langass's song had something like a dozen stanzas that took a young cowpuncher from an encounter with a woman to his death at the hands of a ranger, presumably the Texas variety. A reverse play on "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie", the tune tells how the cowboy wants to be buried "Where the coyotes may howl o'er my grave", and where boulders may mark his grave as a warning to other cowboys.

While death rode sidesaddle with every wrangler and most of his songs dealt with the unavoidable end, there were also those that played with humor.

In "The Tenderfoot" or the "Horse Wrangler", a dude on the range is the butt of all jokes. The tenderfoot couldn't ride anything and finally, seasoned hands hoisted him onto an old gray. With his "set'en end" padded with gunny sacks and all his bedding, old-timers watched as he "came down and busted the ground-". The whole thing ends when the dude proclaims he's had enough and heads for town.

While the majority of these western songs are obscured by time, there are a few that stand out. "Old Paint" and "Get Along Little Bogies" are two of the most familiar. In fact, almost any grade schooler can sing them.

Both the songs were designed for long trail drives and the spring roundup, which were time-consuming ordeals. They have enough verses to keep a wranger going several days or even weeks if he had enough imagination.

Many ranch hands couldn't read or wrrite, but they had the story-telling gift and from story to song was an easy and natural progression. And so a Nebraska cowboy song was born about Old Wattle Jaw of down Wauneta way.

Old Wattle Jaw was a biscuit shooter, or cook. It seems that he got in a fight with the wrong cowpoke in his younger days. Said cowpoke pulled a knife and before Wattle Jaw could pull up stakes, he caught a sharp-edged haymaker in the side of the head. The knife laid him open from temple to jawbone. Medical techniques on the range didn't quite come up to AMA standards, and as Wattle Jaw's wound healed a flap of skin stayed loose on his jaw. As he talked the flap swayed in the breeze, hence his name.

When you meet this Lone Spoon outfit I'll tell you how you'll know, It's drawn by two gray donkeys That travel very slow. And there perched high above them, Cussing into law, Sits our dear Old Biscuit Shooter With a wattle on his jaw.

Cowboy songs covered a wide range of topics. They told of weather, death, fun, and braggarts. And each served a specific purpose. Many of the songs had a bit of a moral about them. The good guys usually won and the bad guys usually lost. Sometimes an incident became a song. For instance there was Bolivar, that's all, just Bolivar. He was a Mexican by birth and a liar by habit. On one trip up the Texas Trail he signed on with an outfit that didn't take kindly to his talk. Finally, one of the wranglers hatched up a song about the Mexican's tall tales and it became standard equipment around the camp. Whether Bolivar took the hint or not is unknown, but this impromptu song claims that he did.

This Bolivar box ox, axhandle The man you all adore, Tells more darn lies of San Antone Than you ever heard before. He said he'd whip the cook, He said he'd kill him, too But Billy grabbed the butcher knife and old Bolivar— he flew.

The old-time western songs may never float over the range again, but all won't be lost. Many people, including a number of Nebraskans, are researching and collecting these old tunes. Whether ribald or romantic, they are part of Americana that we can ill-afford to lose.

THE END

VISITORS FROM OUTER SPACE

(Continued from page 31)

is carried on between two or more stations. From this, accurate predictions can be worked out on the impact points. When falls have been traced to a definite area, trained recovery teams will go into the field and search. Once meteorites are collected, samples will be sent to investigators for study. Freshly fallen-meteorites may give possible clues to the origin of the solar system by study of their ages, composition, and radioactivity.

Besides the field headquarters which processes the film from all 16 stations, Nebraska has 4 camera stations at Neligh, Mullen, Steinauer, and Republican City. The other 12 are scattered through 6 states.

Exposed films from the automatic cameras are removed by someone living in the area and mailed to the Lincoln office. Every station is located 250 kilometers or 156 miles from any neighboring station. Data on meteor trails and other information are acquired by using background stars and special shutter and timing devices within the cameras, for precise measurements.

The Prairie Network represents the first large-scale photographic attempt to obtain data on meteors and meteorites on such an extensive portion of the earth. The network covers approximately one million square miles or less than one per cent of the earth's surface. Still it provides an adequate sample for the acquisition of needed data.

Gunther Schwartz, field director for the program, reports that they had traced one meteorite to Banner County in western Nebraska, but they have not as yet recovered it. They intend, however, to carry out a gopher-hole to gopher-hole search.

Charts on meteoritic fall show a marked decline in the numbers recovered in the past 20 years.

"There is talk among meteoritic experts of a drought. What might cause it is at this time a matter of pure speculation," Schwartz said.

It is known that meteors travel in large groups and often come down in a mass of many tons, so when they do get through the earth's atmosphere JULY, 1967 51   there are many. Otherwise there are few or none. It might even be that the mass makes the breakthrough of the earth's atmosphere easier and assures a greater survival of meteorites.

Meteors are not, of course, falling stars, but they look like them to the average observer. The meteor is distinct from a meteorite; it is the transitory, luminous streak in the sky produced by the incandescence of an extra-terrestial solid, a meteoroid, passing through the earth's atmosphere.

Where do meteorites come from? Science has not as yet been able to arrive at an absolute knowledge of their origin. Some theories traced their origin to volcanic craters on the moon, others considered them fragments of spent comets, while the last and most commonly accepted theory is that they are parts of asteroids, or broken-up planets. Among the three basic kinds of meteorites are the aerolites which are largely stone or silicate minerals with some nickel-iron; the siderolites or stony-irons, made up of half iron and half silicates; and siderites, or irons, which are largely nickel-iron with minor amounts of other minerals. In very rare instances some meteorites even contain tiny diamonds. The aerolite is the most difficult to distinguish from regular stone because of its outward appearance. There are certain tests, however, that give final proof.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A METEORITE 1. If you see one, record the time. 2. Was there light effect? How long did it last? 3. How bright was the luminosity? Did it compare to the stars or the moon? 4. Did it leave a smoke trail? How long? 5. What position did it have on its course? 6. Was there any sound at its first appearance or afterward? 7. How soon was the meteorite found? Was it hot or cold? 8. How deeply did it penetrate the ground and on what kind of terrain did it fall? Report your observations and find to the nearest natural science museum.

The best way to tell if a stone is a meteorite is to hold it against an emery wheel until the ground surface shows grains of metal. Outward form, specific-gravity tests, and the discovery of the octahedral pattern in the case of siderites are other ways of identifying meteorites.

Out of an estimated 500 meteorites that land on the earth each year, 350 drop into the oceans while 75 per cent of the remainder fall in uninhabited areas, so there is not much chance for the average person to see a meteorite actually hit.

What chance then do you have of finding a meteorite? If you are a plowman or work at land excavation, your chances are better than that of the average citizen. More meteorites have been found 52 NEBRASKAland by plowmen than by all other occupations combined. In fact, if all reports on meteorites had been left to scientists the records would be embarrassingly bare.

March through July seems to be the best period for meteor falls, possibly because more observers are outdoors to see and report them. It may be the changed orbit of the earth takes it through space populated with meteoric material.

A unique and irreplaceable object, a meteorite should be treated as something of scientific value. Too many have been broken up by hammers, heated in forges, or attacked with an oxy acetylene torch. As soon as it is found, a meteorite should be reported to the nearest museum of natural history. In Nebraska, the University of Nebraska State Museum is the depository for meteorites found in the state.

In the next decade, the Meteorite Recovery Project, with its Prairie Network in co-operation with other scientific agencies, should make a major contribution toward the gathering of information from the skies. They are concentrating man's most modern equipment in photography and science toward the fiery meteor and meteorite. In the meantime keep your eyes on the sky, it may be that chance will make you the discoverer of the one sky visitor that will unlock the secrets of space.

THE END

A DAY IN FONTENELLE

(Continued from page 29)

there is considerable of what the lawyers call circumstantial evidence."

"It's a good logical deduction, and I'm going to give you an E for effort on that one," I replied.

I wanted an hour or two to sit and watch, so I left Glenn and Jim and ambled back to the forest. After a bit, I found a comfortable spot and planked myself. It was there that I saw the tiny mite and became involved.

My little friend worked back and forth under the overhang of bark, unconcerned that he was upside down most of the time. The overhang stymied him and it seemed to me, he was like a man trapped in a deep canyon. Just as a man searches for a "break" in the wall, so the bug was searching for a break in the overhang.

I couldn't determine if he was blindly groping for an opening or was following some plan, or was I sure that he had eyes to see. There were several breaks in the bark but an inch to me was miles to him. Finally, he found an opening and crawled onto the "high country".

The saw-toothed ridges of the rough bark must have touched the moon from his low level, but he never hesitated. Up one side, over the top, and down the far slope, he trudged, displaying a determination a million times bigger than himself. My little friend inched across the valleys between the ridges and grimly assaulted the next peak with a dogged persistence.

But he was tiring and his pace was noticeably slower. It was getting cold and this was sapping him. Twice he vanished into crevices and each time he was slower to reappear, but he did emerge, stubbornly pushing along. Finally he disappeared into a deep rift in the bark and was gone. I waited five long, long minutes, peering at the piece of bark until my eyes watered with the strain, and then started looking for him.

I turned the bark this way and that, trying to see my little redcoat but to no avail. The light was failing and each passing minute made my quest more hopeless. Finally, I gave up and set the bark down exactly as I had found it.

Sore and stiff from the long sit and a bit headachy from eyestrain, I walked out of the forest. A tinge of disappointment accompanied me all the way back to the headquarters; he was only a mite and not much of one at that, but for 58 minutes, he and I shared adventure in Fontennelle Forest and oh, how I had wanted to see him complete that journey across the high hills.

THE END

McCONAUGHY STYLE

(Continued from page 17)

the flatfish, claiming they were the best lures for Lake Mac's big 'bows. Dick and Jack used florescent orange lures, while I tied on a white one with black spots.

We had been trolling for only a few minutes when Dick hooked the lunker that was now sulking in more than 50 feet of water.

"I can't tell for sure if I have him any more," Dick moaned.

"Crank faster," I coached. "He's probably running towards us."

A split second later, and 25 yards away, the huge trout burst through the surface. Gills flaring, he shook his head. We could even see the big bell sinker swing in an arc around his head before he smashed back and took off.

"Guess I still have him," was all Dick could say as he hung to the jumping rod.

"Looks more like he has you," Jack said with a grin. "You look like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar."

The minutes ticked by as the big trout bulled into the depths. Staying deep, he swung a big arc around the boat as Jack dug out the net.

"There he is," Dick said after an arm-tiring 10 minutes, the trout surfaced 20 feet from the boat.

"He'll probably spook when he sees the boat, so make sure you're ready for another run," Jack coached.

Foot by foot the big trout came to the boat under the pressure of Dick's rod. Ten feet off the bow, he spotted us and nose-dived into the depths, but with most of his punch gone, he was worked back to the surface in less than a minute.

Jack was on the rail with the ready net as the big silver slab of rainbow inched closer.

"Another foot", Jack coached. "Now," he grunted, as he swooped the net under the head of the fish and swung him aboard.

The fish bucked frantically in the net and then free of the lure, he flopped out on the deck — the knot on the leader had cut through.

"Man," Dick said, trying to latch onto the wildly flopping rainbow. "I'm glad that line held as long as it did."

"Get out the scale, Gene, this one will break the five-pound Master Angler Award minimum by a couple of pounds for sure."

"Eight pounds plus," I said, looking at the scale. "I'll never hear the end of this one, will I, Dick? I can see things will be mighty miserable around the office for awhile, unless we get back to the fishing and I can go you one better."

"If you can better that one, Gene", Jack interjected, "I'll buy you a couple tall cool ones. That's one of the best fish JULY, 1967 53   to come out of the lake this year to my knowledge."

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Weighed later at Sports Service Resort, the big trout tipped the scales at 8 pounds, 3 ounces.

"Say, fellows, did I ever tell you about the catching that big trout at Lake Mac?" Dick said, grinning as he strung the fish. "I think I'll put two snaps of this stringer through this one, if he got away no one would believe me. I still can't believe the size of him myself."

The big 'bow was typical of Lake Mac rainbows in that the fish was entirely silver except for a faint hint of pink running down the lateral lines. Dick had hooked him in what we figured to be about 35 feet of water and to get down to that depth we were trolling about 2 ounces of lead with practically all of the 100 yards of line. We kept just enough line in reserve to handle the first run.

We didn't have to wait long for some action as Jack hung the next one. Once again a big trout split the calm surface far behind the boat, but he was smaller than our first fish. However, he made up for his lack of size with some magnificent aerial displays. Five times in rapid succession he cracked the surface. Ten minutes of give and take and the four-pounder slid into the waiting net.

"We have been fishing about an hour and a half," I noted, "and we already have two lunkers. This could end up to be a fishing story to end all fishing stories."

I hooked a fish on our third pass along the face of the dam and was amazed to see a little 15-incher break water.

"Would you believe a fish that small could haul that big flatfish and two ounces of lead clear of the surface?" Jack queried.

"I saw it," Dick answered, "but it's hard to believe."

A couple minutes later I landed the little scrapper.

"That one will make the angler's award," Jack quipped, "in about another three years."

"Well a guy has to start somewhere," I answered. "I'm going to start at the bottom and work up."

A half hour went by as the motor putted us slowly along the dam. We passed a number of other boats in the area and Jack waved to an acquaintance, Dave Bargill, from North Platte, who held up a couple trout in the three-to-four-pound class.

"Looks like the other boats are scoring too," Dick interjected. "I should be due again pretty soon, been over an hour since I got mine."

"Here comes another guy that takes a lot of big trout," Jack informed us as Ralph Eyemann of Ogallala trolled by. Ralph held up a good fish in the five-pound bracket for our inspection.

Five minutes later Dick's wish materialized as his rod bent at a precarious angle. A trout of about four pounds jumped twice and threw the lure.

"Can't land all of them," Dick said, dejected over losing him.

"That's a fact," Jack added. "I would say the chances of landing one of these 'bows is about three to one. With all the 54 NEBRASKAland line drag and weight of the sinker to pull against, a fish can tear a hook out more often than not."

We had moved less than 100 yards when Jack had a strike. He netted a mate to my 15-incher in about the same amount of time it took him to reel in the 100 yards of line. Dick was hitting it lucky and hooked another 15-incher on the next pass.

'Your turn, Gene," Jack said, as we made the turn on the north side of the dam.

"I agree," I answered, "but seems as though I don't have the right combination. I'm going to snap on that bright-orange lure, it looks like the right color today and I'm going to put on the same sinker you guys are using, mine looks like it might be Wounce lighter."

"I've heard of excuses," Jack said grinning, "but brother when we start cutting it to 1/4-ounce difference in the sinker! Gene, I think you're just going to have to face the fact that we're outfishing you."

"O.K., you characters," I retorted, playing out the new rig, "don't say that I didn't give you a head start."

Things happened a lot sooner than I expected, for 10 minutes later I felt the line stop. The rod whipped almost to the surface as a good fish erupted from the lake like he was shot out of a cannon.

"What did I tell you?" I said, putting the pressure on the leaping fish. "When I boat this one, maybe you'll believe me."

"Don't break his neck," Jack said, laughing as I reared back hard on the fourth leap of the fish.

"If I could, I would," I said. "He's still a hundred yards away and just getting started."

A couple of seconds later, Jack looked at what I'm sure was the longest face in Nebraska and asked:

"Lose him?"

"Guess I did get a little excited," I replied, winding in the slack line. "Anyway, I know now what one of those tackle busters feels like."

Checking the lure I found two of the trebles straightened out. Jack said that this was the usual result when losing one of the fish.

Making the turn at the north end of the dam, Jack hung a fish and lost him without a jump. Fifteen minutes later and about halfway up the fill, I saw a fish swirl about 50 feet from the side of the boat. It didn't look like the usual swirl of a carp and for lack of anything better to say I predicted that I would hook a fish within the next hundred yards.

"Gosh, I sure hope so, Gene," Jack said in a grin. "I would sure hate to see you go ashore dragging that baby."

That's the nice thing about fishing partners, they always know how to jab where it hurts.

A minute or two later I had completely forgotten my prediction and was sipping a handful of water from the lake when my rod began a slow motion bend toward the surface.

"Now, laugh, gentlemen," I grunted as I hauled back on the rod. "There he blows."

Out across the shimmering surface the trout began his battle with four magnificent leaps. The first jumps of these trout are impossible to describe, they seem so remote out at the hundred yard mark that you can't believe you're the one that's playing him.

The line went slack, I reeled frantically, the fish jumped again as I caught up with him, 75 yards off the stern. Jack and Dick were cranking their lines furiously to get them clear of mine so I could have fighting room.

"He's going down again and coming for the boat," I blurted. "I hope he stays out of those lines until you get them reeled in."

Cranking as fast as I could, I tried to keep up with the running fish, but it wasn't until I saw a silvery flash 10 feet under the boat that I realized he was there and coming up.

"Look out," I shouted, swinging the rod over Dick's head, "he's coming up right behind the boat."

The rainbow streaked to the surface and erupted three feet into the air beside the motor, throwing water on Jack who was still cranking in line as fast as he could.

"He's going down under the boat," I said, hanging onto the jumping rod as the star drag screeched its protest. In a split second he came around the front of the boat like a torpedo, headed for the surface, and skipped across my partner's lines.

"The net, Jack," I yelled, as I saw another flatfish and line tangled with mine. "Try to net him quick or he'll be gone."

Jack swooped the big landing net into the mess of threshing fish, lines, lures, and jumping rod tips to come up with my trout and two other lines.

"Brother," I said with a sigh of relief, "if that wasn't one hectic few minutes. He never stopped that run until he was under the boat."

"Well the battle didn't last very long," Jack grinned, "but you and the fish seemed a little excited."

"Excited, who's excited?" I said, shakily lighting a cigarette. "If he would have broken that line I would have probably jumped in after him."

"He has plenty of length," Dick said, trying to untangle the lures from the net, "but he doesn't look too heavy."

"About five pounds is what my pocket scale shows," I answered, weighing the fish. "Just can't make him any heavier, but, I would sure like to."

"It looks like Jack is low man on the fishing pole now," Dick jibed. "We have about an hour's fishing time left, so let's get with it."

"Just about time enough for two passes along the dam," Jack replied, as he kicked the engine to life.

We were on our second pass and almost in the same area where I hooked my fish when Jack jolted back on his rod. Nothing happened, so he threw the engine into reverse. "Must be a snag," he said, "or we would have seen the fish by now."

Dick and I reeled in our lines as we moved back toward Jack's snag.

"Hey," Jack exclaimed, "I think this snag has moved about a hundred feet out into the lake." As he started reeling, we saw that he was hooked to a fish.

The line sizzled through the water as the fish arched towards the boat.

"Can't be a trout. Must be a big white bass," Jack said as two or three minutes passed and we still hadn't seen the fish, but Jack wasn't gaining any line.

"Must be a big walleye," I surmised, "he's staying deep like they usually do."

"I really don't know what's on," Jack replied, "but whatever he is he's big, I can feel that in his runs. He doesn't seem to be as fast as a trout, but he sure is strong."

Another three or four minutes went by as the conservation officer began to gain on his unknown and still stubborn adversary.

"He can't be much more than 50 feet down," Dick offered, "at least from looking at that line you have on the reel."

"He's somewhere around there and straight under the boat," Jack replied. "Wait, he's moving up now and coming fast."

A second later, we saw a lunker trout come spewing into the air, every bit as mad as the ones we had hooked previously.

He had fooled us by doing the unexpected, but after his one leap he was through. It was only a matter of a minute or two until an arm-weary warden slid the net under our last trout of the day.

"I think he has you, Gene," Dick grinned.

"I'm sure he does," I answered, "fact is this scale says he's a bit over the six-pound mark."

Pulling our stringers over the side of the boat as Jack strung his fish we couldn't help feeling that it had been our day. True, we hadn't taken anywhere near the seven-trout-per-day limit, but the action had been consistent and each of us had landed a good fish. On the way back Jack added an extra, just to protect his reputation, he said.

"Say," Dick questioned as we headed for shore, "what are the lines to the old fisherman's prayer? Don't they go something like — May I catch a fish so big that even in telling about him, I won't have to lie."

"Right," I answered, "and I'll make sure you don't."

THE END

RIDING THE WET STUFF

(Continued from page 45)

and more convenient sport. Hands clasped overhead after a spill indicates that all is well.

Other signals include a patting-dog motion with the extended hand for less speed while the same motion upward means more speed. A slash across the throat means cut the motor, while an upward extension of the arm with fingers outspread is to stop. Simple turn signals can be arranged as well as the "all O.K.", the familiar circle of thumb and first JULY, 1967 55   finger. Back to dock is indicated with the arm cocked at elbow and the first finger pointing down.

Once you become a skier you'll know why it is such a fast-growing sport. It's fun.

THE END

WHAT TO DO

(Continued from page 11) 24-27 - Platte County Centennial Fair and Rodeo, Columbus 24-August 5-RSROA Roller Skating Championships 24-28 — Centennial Celebration and Pageant, Geneva 24-25 — Centennial Celebration, Orchard 24-29 — Centennial Celebration and Junior Rodeo, Broken Bow 25-28 — Campfire Girls Camp-Out and Powwow, Lincoln 26 —4-H Achievement and Centennial Celebration, Bruning 27-Old Settlers' Day, Winside 27-28 — Charity Quarter Horse Show, Omaha 27-29-Community Festival, Table Rock 27-29-Homecoming, Blue Hill 27-30 - Winnebago Indian Powwow and Ceremonial, Winnebago 28-29-Eightieth Jubilee Celebration, Elm Creek 28-29 - Centennial Celebration, Burr 28-31-Santa Lucia Festival and Carnival, Omaha 28-August 3-World War II Canteen Open, North Platte 29-Old-Time Fiddlers Contest, Crawford 29 —Century of Progress Exposition, Lincoln 29 —Summer Fun Festival, Harvard 29 - First Day Issue of Nebraska Centennial Commemorative Stamp, Lincoln 29-Centennial Sports Car Rally, Omaha 29-30 - Governor's Centennial Sweepstakes Amateur Golf Tournament, Lincoln 29-30-"LINPEX '67" Stamp Exhibition, Lincoln 29-30-Ash Hollow Pageant and Buffalo Barbecue, Lewellen 30 - Nebraska Grange Centennial Celebration, Seward 30-Old Settlers' Picnic, Deshler 30-Pamona Grange Centennial Celebration, Broken Bow 30-Old Settlers' Picnic, Crawford 30-IKF State Go-Kart Championship Race, North Platte 30-Centennial 4-H Pageant, Fremont 31-August 2-Jefferson County Centennial Fair, Fairbury THE END

THE RAINMAKERS

(Continued from page 15)

small and not at all mysterious looking, gripsacks. With this paraphernalia he commenced operations by changing his clothes to a mechanic's suit...Melbourne was alone with his God and his lead pencil...

"No lights were perceptible all night and no noise, nothing whatever in fact but deep and mysterious darkness. Things had apparently been going to suit him. When asked directly, he said he had slept about two hours toward morning, Sunday.

"Sunday night proved an exact repetition of the previous night, but Melbourne announced it would rain and the skies were eagerly scanned, but 'not enough water fell to spoil a spring bonnet'."

On a second try, however, Melbourne did conjure up a shower and collected his fee. Shortly afterward he received telegrams from Bertrand and Grand Island, asking him to come and produce a one-inch rain. Ultimately Melbourne confessed his claims were fraudulent.

"The American people like to be humbugged," he declared, "and the greater the fake the easier it is to work."

So Melbourne's "Miracle", the black-box magic, and other hocus-pocus were used to some extent to victimize the public. On the other hand, behind this whole peculiar rain-making profession was a substantial group of scientific or pseudo-scientific theories and some genuine efforts to replace the older reliance on prayer with a reliance on science.

Newspapers took a skeptical attitude, however, and when the fraudulent claims became known, artificial rain-making died out, especially after the federal government issued a warning condemning the business.

The history of the rain-making craze is a weird and funny cartoon in the book of time and in some ways it can be compared to the "alchemy period" in Europe when pseudo-scientists tried to turn base metal into gold. For a few years, the Rain Kings with a hocus-pocus of dust, dynamite, and gunpowder turned on showers of hope at a time when hope was sorely needed.

THE END

NEBRASKAland FISHING

(Continued from page 49)

spinners work well in the spring. Summer time casters will find evenings and early mornings a good time to whip the water with their hardware. The best all-around bait for Two Rivers trout, however, is a nightcrawler. Minnows are not permitted.

In the summer time, Two Rivers does have a stratifying problem. In the hot months the lake has three distinct layers. The upper portion, from the surface to four feet down, is too warm to sustain trout, while the bottom layer, from 10 feet below the surface to the bottom, doesn't have enough oxygen to support the fish. This narrow band between the two with a water temperature ranging from 60° to 70° is where the trout are found. Trial and error is the best way to find the right spot.

Two methods are used to overcome this problem. An angler can either use live bait with a bobber, set for the correct depth, or he can cast out bait or an artificial and retrieve very slowly to bring it through the occupancy stratum. In the early spring and fall trout can be found at any level. Two Rivers also has an excellent campground for the fisherman who wants to spend the night and try his luck at the sunrise opening of the lake. The lake is open from sunrise to sunset. Other lakes at Two Rivers hold panfish. No tag is needed to fish these.

Trout, bass, and northerns are real scrappers, but almost every fisherman has a special spot in his fish-hooked heart for the more-fight-per-square-inch bluegill. One of the better bluegill lakes in the district is Verdon Lake, a 30-acre impoundment west of Verdon. Bluegill in the lake run from V3 to % of a pound. Corrective seining operations, carried out by the Game Commission every year, is responsible for these good-size scrappers.

In late spring when water temperatures push their way above the 55-degree mark, bluegill start hitting in earnest. One of the more effective ways to catch these little giants of fishdom is to take a small hook, bait it with a worm, then cast out with only a small split shot or no weight at all on the line. The cast will probably be only 20 feet with this light gear, but bluegill often feed near the bank, especially in the spring. Let the worm settle to the bottom and then reel in a foot; stop, reel in another foot; stop. This stop-and-go action will stir up the feeding bluegill, and the results are often better than with the old bobber and cane pole method.

Verdon is also known for its bass fishing. There are no lunker largemouths in the lake, but bass from 12 to 15 inches will grab a lure and size for size put up a fight equal to that of a master-angler bass. Two-way spinners, plastic worms, and jigs work the best. Crappie fishing is also rated as good with the majority of the fishermen using minnows.

Another group of lakes that border a major population center in Nebraska is the Fremont lakes. Here certain lakes are set aside for the boater, swimmer, and fisherman. Bass, bluegill, and channel catfish have been stocked in some waters, while others have a few rock and smallmouth bass.

Lake No. 2 at Fremont was renovated and is now in its third season. Last year, fishermen were bringing in large-mouth up to 11 inches. This year the bass have gained two to three inches. Lake No. 2 has a uniform bottom and shoreline, so no one spot on the lake is better than another. Anglers should remember that these lakes stratify. In the summer when you are going for catfish, use small weights and do not cast out more than 20 feet from shore. Beyond that point the water drops steeply to depths that can not support fish, and you can leave your glob of worms there until it rots and still not come home with fish. The lower end of Lake 7-8 is known for bullhead.

56 NEBRASKAland

NEBRASKAland TRADING POST

Classified Ads: IS cents a word, minimum order $3.00. October, 67 closing date, August 1 BOATING KAYAKS—One-man $19.50; two-man $24.50; Sailboat $44. Exciting Sitka Kayak Kits known world wide for speed and safety. Assemble in one afternoon. Free pictorial literature. Box 78-N, Brecksville, Ohio. 44141. DECOYS SOLID PLASTIC DECOYS. Original Do-It-Yourself Decoy Making Kit. All Species Available. Catalog 25c. Decoys Unlimited, Box 69E, Clinton, Iowa 52732. DOGS HUNTING DOGS: German Shorthairs, English Pointers. Weimaraners, English, Irish, and Gordon Setters, Chesapeakes, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers. Registered pups, all ages- $50 each. Robert Stevenson, Orleans, Nebraska. WANTED AKC PUPPIES and purebred kittens. Excalibur Kennels and Cattery, 908 North 40th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68104—Bird Dog Specialists. MINIATURE long-haired Dachshund puppies: Norwegian Elkhound stud service and puppies; David Bartlett, Barqua Breeding and Boarding Kennels, Dewitt, 68341. WEIMARANER PUPS. Whelped March 19. Four females; four males. Field dog stock. Excellent pets. $50 each. Dick Wentland, Sheridan County Star, Box 385, Rushville, Nebraska 69360. 327-2313 or 327-2601. POINTERS: Grandshire is National Champion Warhoop Jake. Best of Shooting Dog Bloodlines. Registered. Whelped 4/22/67. Roger Fattig, Brady, Nebraska 69123. ENGLISH Pointers—excellent gun dogs. Pups ready for fall hunt. M. D. Mathews, M. D., St. Paul, Nebraska 68873. TRAINING: Attention hunters, have your hunting dogs trained, both pointers and retrievers by a hunter under hunting conditions. At times good hunting dogs available. Also AKC Lab pups for sale. Write for rates and information. Platteview Kennels, Joe Vampola, Jr., Papillion, Nebraska. 339-8454. FISH BAIT RED WIGGLERS Bait Size, Postpaid. 1,000 $4; 5,000, $17.50. Craigs Worms, 3424 North 67th, Lincoln, Nebraska 68507. FISH LURES JO-IO trolling weight release. Tests prove you catch more trout with this device. $2.50 each post-paid. Joe Kirkpatrick, 503 West 4th Street, Ogallala, Nebraska 69153. GUNS AND AMMO NEW, USED, AND ANTIQUE GUNS. Send long addressed lOc-stamped envelope for list, or stop m. Bedlan's Sporting Goods, Fairbury, Nebraska. MISCELLANEOUS STONEGROUND CORNMEAL. Most complete line Health Foods. Many processed daily. Come see us or write. Brownville Mills, Brownville, Nebraska. COLLAPSIBLE Farm-Pond Fish Traps; Animal Traps, postpaid. Free information, pictures, Shawnee, 3934-AX Buena Vista, Dallas 4, Texas. JULY, 1967 AUTOMOBILE BUMPER STRIPS. Low-cost advertising for Special Events, Community Projects, Resorts, Motels, Tourist Attractions, Organizations. Write for Free Brochure, Price List and Samples. Reflective Advertising, Dept. N, 873 Longacre, St. Louis, Missouri 63132. BLUE FRONT CAFE welcomes you to spend your fishing or hunting trips at Lake McConaughy. Cabins with cooking facilities by day or week. Fishing tackle, licenses, trailer spaces. Phone or write for reservations, 284-4504 Ogallala. Grace Burnham. CABINS on western Nebraska lakes, Homes in Lincoln and other cities. High-Low Travel Trailers. Call or write: Liljegren Real Estate, 2471 Cornado Court, Sidney, Nebraska or Elwood, Nebraska. BEAUTIFUL pheasant feathers corsages. $1 plus 5t postage. George L. Hohnstein, 137 East 4th, Hastings, Nebraska 68901. COLLAPSIBLE farm pond fish traps. Animal traps. Bargains galore. Free catalog and trapping secrets. Sensitronix, 2225-F63 Lou Ellen, Houston, Texas 77018. IDEAS WANTED1 The demand for ideas and inventions which can increase production, create a new product, or improve on already existing products, services or systems is greater today than ever before. If you are interested in looking into the possibility of developing your ideas or inventions commercially, and are interested in doing business with a reputable firm, contact: ASSOCIATED INVENTION & PATENT CONSULTANTS OF NEBRASKA, INC., 823 Central Avenue, Auburn, Nebraska 68305 Phone: 274-4501. "REUNION SUMMER". Don Holm's journal of a nostalgic journey back to the prairies of North Dakota, with regional history, rare photos. Out of grint. Send $3.50 copy, autographed, postpaid, xplorer, Box 70, Beaverton, Oregon 97005. TREASURE HUNTERS1 Prospectors! Relco's new instruments detect buried gold, silver, coins, minerals, historical relics. Transistorized. Weighs three pounds. $19.95 up. Free catalog. Relco-A174, Box 10839, Houston, Texas 77018. SCUBA EQUIPMENT BOB-K'S AQUA SUPPLY Nebraska's largest Scuba dealer. U. S. Divers, Sportways, Voit, Swimmaster, Scubrapro. Air Station. Regulator Repair. Telephone 553-9483, 1419 South 46 Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska. TAXIDERMY KARL SCHWARZ Master Taxidermists. Mounting of game heads - Birds - Fish - Animals - Fur Rugs - Robes - Tanning Buckskin. Since 1910. 424 South 13th Street, Dept. A., Omaha, Nebraska. GAME heads and fish mounting. 40 years experience. Cleo Christiansen, Taxidermist, 421 South Monroe Street, Kimball, Nebraska. FISH MOUNTING A SPECIALTY—Crappie, bass, trout, walleye, Northerns and other trophy fish. Two to three week delivery until fall. 20 years experience. Livingston Taxidermy, Mitchell, Nebraska. TRAVEL TRAILERS NICKELS CAMPER AND TRAILER SALES, Weeping Water, Nebraska. In Stock, pick-up campers: Freeway, Caveman Del Rey, Covered Wagon, Hill Crest. Pick-up covers: B & B Toppers. Travel Trailers: Bon Aire, Covered Wagon, De Camp. From standard to self-contained. We rent 8 and 10 ft. pick-up campers, travel trailers and tent type trailers. Over 30 units in stock. Open every day, evenings, and all day Sunday. Phone 267-4855 or 267-3195. When Writing to the Advertisers, Please Mention You Saw it in OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland JULY, 1967 57

Long before man ever decided to create lakes in southeastern Nebraska, or for that matter in the state, the channel catfish in the district's many rivers reigned as king of the waters. Today these omnivorous feeders of both lake and river still rule the Blues, the Nemahas, Platte and Missouri rivers.

The same catfishing techniques described in preceding articles of this series will work in this district. Remember brush piles, fallen logs, and deep, still-water holes are the more likely hotspots. You don't need an extra-heavy weight when stream fishing, use as light a weight as possible to carry the bait down and still let it drift into the fish den.

When fishing the Missouri River for catfish, carp, or any other species, anglers should fish behind the pile dikes that serve as fish concentration points. The dikes offer protection from the fast-moving waters of the Missouri that wash food in for the hungry fish that congregate there.

One Lincoln fisherman has the right idea when it comes to catching catfish in the Platte River around Louisville. Al Knaub uses an airboat to skip from one brush pile to the next. Last year he claimed several hundred catfish and this year he hopes to equal if not exceed that number. For more details on this unique way of fishing, watch for a story in a coming issue of NEBRASKAland.

Bow fishing during the April 1 to December 1 season is increasing in popularity in the shallows of the Platte and the Blue rivers. Favorite targets are big carp and channel cats. This is a quick-action sport and if you miss one fish there is usually another around the next bend. For some, this sport is a practice ground for big game later in the year.

Aiming an arrow at a submerged fish is a difficult art to learn. Refraction, the bending of light rays as they hit the water, makes fish appear to be closer to the surface than they actually are. Angle of refraction varies in proportion to the fish's depth, but if you aim the proper distance below the fish, he's in the bag. Ability to judge refraction comes with long hours of river-shooting practice.

Fishing in southeastern Nebraska is on the upswing, and in years to come more waters and better angling will be available. No longer will the office worker have to dream about lunker fish in his off hours. He can make his dreams reality by packing his gear in the car and heading for a nearby lake when the quitting whistle blows. Nebraska has long been called the mixed-bag hunting capital of the nation, but in years to come it might also lay claim to the title of mixed-creel fishing capital. From the shimmering trout streams of western Nebraska, to the mighty Missouri River, NEBRASKAland has variety fishing with a capital V.

THE END

WHERE-TO-GO

I ESS THAN A century ago, Indians met in a bloody conflict over the buffalo-laden grounds of the Republican Valley in southwestern Nebraska. Today historical markers designate the spots where scalping knives once rose and fell and the long-gone buffalo have been replaced by cattle, alfalfa, wheat, pheasant, quail, and deer. One-time war cries are now the squeals of children at play along the sandy beaches of the four reservoirs.

The Republican Valley follows the gentle arc of the Republican River through six southwestern counties. Rough hills bound the river to the north, while rolling plains spill to the south.

Traveling east on U.S. Highway 34, the tourist will find Swanson Reservoir — 4,974 acres of water and 3,957 of land, adding up to 8,931 fun-filled acres of enjoyment. The palette-shaped lake, located just west of Trenton, is eight miles long and two miles wide. Numerous canyons run off from the lake to offer secluded swimming, fishing, and picnic spots.

Before reaching Trenton, history buffs will want to stop and read the Texas-Ogallala Trail Marker. The stone is a tribute to the cattle drives that passed through the area when the small town of Trenton was known as Trail City. Just east of Trenton is the towering Massacre Canyon Monument. This massive stone shaft was erected in memory of the peaceful Pawnees who were trapped in a nearby canyon and slaughtered by revengeful Sioux in 1873.

Following the rambling river to McCook, the visitor will find the George W. Norris Home. The late George W. Norris was United States Senator from Nebraska for 30 years and the first person named to the state's Hall of Fame.

Built by Henry Harris, Burlington Railroad superintendent, the house was bought by Norris in 1889.

The Senator's widow still lives in the 12-room house, which has 3 upstairs bedrooms, each with its own private bath.

The main living room at 709 Norris Avenue is unchanged from the days when Norris sought solace in his Nebraska retreat. Another first-floor room contains the Senator's roll-top desk, his tobacco jar, and a chair he used while practicing law at Beaver City. Plans call for eventually making the Norris home a state shrine.

Nine miles north and one mile west of McCook is the newest link in Republican Valley chain lakes, Hugh Butler Lake. The lake is in constant use through the year. In winter it's a haven for ice skaters who shed their skates and turn water skiers soon after the first thaw. Campers, anglers, swimmers, picnickers, and boaters have the all-go signal at this 5,700-acre paradise. Hunters are welcome, too, with their choice of deer, pheasant, and waterfowl.

Another water haven is Medicine Creek Reservoir, two miles west and seven miles north of Cambridge. The reservoir offers excellent angling, boating, camping, and picnicking, and for the more adventurous, hiking trails. The recreation area has over 7,000 acres of land and 1,850 acres of water.

Following the arc of the river southeastward, the traveler runs into the most impressive of the Republican Valley Reservoirs, the 13-mile long Harlan County Reservoir. Harlan Reservoir, Mi-mile south of Alma, has 13,600 water acres. Nearly 6,000 acres of land complete with fireplaces, picnic tables, and cabins complement the federal area.

A stroll through Red Cloud will bring the traveler in contact with history at every step —the old stomping grounds of Chief Red Cloud, the home of Willa Cather, and the burial place of Alice Blue Cloud. Tourists can go through the Willa Cather Museum, an old bank building built by former Nebraska Governor Silas Garber, who also called Red Cloud his home. The Willa Cather tour takes the visitor to the same sites that the world-famous author frequented.

But if history pales and touring on U.S. highways 34 and 136 becomes mundane, it is possible to arrange a canoe ride on the life-giving, somewhat sluggish river. This winding trip will make one wonder how such a quiet river could have nurtured such an active and productive child as the lush Republican Valley.

THE END 58 NEBRASKAland Storz Brewing Co., Omaha, Nebr.

NEBRASKAland's FINEST RACING TEAM!

COLUMBUS

Twenty-one days of racing in the beautiful Agricultural Park set the pace for two of NEBRASKAland's finest racing programs. No Monday racing, except Labor Day, September 4th. Twilight racing every Friday. Post time week days, 3 p.m., Twilight racing, 4 p.m. Saturdays and Holidays 2 p.m.

AUG. 8 SEPT. 4 8 Races Daily 9-Saturday and Holidays MADISON

From Columbus the horses move to Madison Downs, "Little Saratoga", for 13 days of racing at its finest. No Monday racing. Post time week days 3 p.m., Saturday 2:30 p.m. Plan now to attend these two top events.

SEPT. 7 - SEPT. 23 SEVEN WEEKS OF THOROUGHBRED THRILLS!