Creighton University - Bluejay Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

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A Man of Peace 10

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The year was 1860 and Civil War was immi- nent. Creighton reasoned that a telegraph line to Calilornia would bring the West— with its men, gold and supplies— into the Northern camp but the Federal Government was skeptical about the possibility of building the line through hostile territory and over difficult terrain. To prove the feasibility of the line, Ed Creigh- ton took off alone from Omaha to Denver, then to Salt Lake and— aboard a mtde for most of the distance— he struggled across the snow-swept Sierra Nevada mountains in midwinter. When he arrived in Carson City, Nevada, he was snow blind and more dead than alive. Recovering quickly he pushed on to California. His safe ar- rival in Sacramento convinced reluctant Wash- ington and the telegraph project was given funds and approval. On July 4, 1861— just after the Civil War had started— Creighton set the first pole and started for Salt Lake where he was to meet a crew btiild- ing east from California. Despite storms, floods, prairie fires, Indians, buffaloes, bandits and a host of other obstacles sufficient to defeat an ordinary man, Creighton arrived in Salt Lake a week ahead of the rival team on October 17, 1861. The Con- tinent was spanned and this act did much to preserve the Union. Creighton wasn ' t through. During the war he patrolled the line with a cavalry unit then sold out to Western Union at the cessation of hostili- ties. He is credited with discovering the cattle ranching possibilities of Nebraska and he helped persuade Union Pacific to make Omaha its eastern terminus. He built business blocks, a mercantile hotise, a hotel and served as president of the Omaha and Northwestern Railroad and the First National Bank of Omaha. He died on November 3, 1874, and his wife died little more than a year later. In her will she had the provision which fulfilled her husband ' s oft-expressed dream, a free school for boys. The Jesuits were called in to administer the new insti- tution which opened on September 7, 1878. Today Creighton is no longer free and che co- ed enrollment is happily rising but the Univer- sity stands as a wonderful monument to the memory of Ed Creighton, the pioneer builder, and to his brother, John, who shared his adven- tures and became the infant University ' s most generous benefactor. Proposed Wires West Hoping to Save the Union WITH THE COUNTRY split ' by civil war, Creighton helped unite the remaining parts of the union by laying telegraph lines west.

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1 the Humble Care of Souls ... A Celebrity in God A saintly expression, kind comments, and a shuffling step were the attributes of a Jesuit well- known and long-revered by Creighton students, the Rev. J. Clement Ryan. The university spiritual director whose door was always open to his many friends died as he had lived— quietly and with complete resignation to the will of his God. During his years at Creighton, the quiet cru- sader encouraged greater student participation in Mass and reception of the sacraments, and devo- tion to Our Lady ' s rosary. Students and faculty alike were inspired by his example. And both students and faculty showed their esteem for him by completely filling St. John ' s Church Nov. 14 to pray for the repose of his soul. It is in appreciation of Father Ryan ' s spiritual direction and example that we dedicate this year ' s Blue Jay to him.