Plattsmouth High School - Plattonian Yearbook (Plattsmouth, NE)

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gEZjESQS iv kv jsw .n v, v swr v frN. y awr -«v r «- % t , r] March ano Don Baker, who hao come West so he WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM IN WHICH TO EXPERI- MENT WITH HIS NEW-FANQLEO PICTURE-BOX. Directly inside the Fort s walls the '1|9ERS SAW a HUGE buffalo hung up for skin- inng. Bill Holly ano Tom Rohan, the Fort Butchers, were hoping to have the job oone in time for Chef Joann Hitt, to cook the MEAT . The author of the Fort was Wanda Cacy WHO WAS JUST COMPLETING HER LATEST NOVEL, mMy Rangeland Romances , or Life With The Cowpunchers . The money-makers of the Fort were none OTHER THAN DURANGO11 UhlIK ANO CHEYENNE1 Huoson who, while brannishing their trusty SIX-GUNS, WERE OFTEN SEEN WAITING FOR THE COMPENSATION OF THEIR WEEKLY HAUL OF FURS. TWO FAMOUS MEN OFFEREO GREAT COMPETITION TO THESE TWO SHARP-SHOOT ING 0 AMSELS---THEY WERE FABULOUS PLAINS HUNTERS KlT KELLI- son and Buffalo Bill Cecil, who frequen- tly TRAPPEO MORE BEAVERS THAN THEIR SEAM- tress, Ina Mae Finnefrock, knew what to do with. From these beavers came the service- able COATS WHICH WERE WORN BY MOST OF THE WOMEN OF THE FORT. Berna Forbes, Eona Jean Wetenkamp, Janice Long, and Deloris Hilo, WHO WERE TEACHERS ,FREQUENTLY MADE PRACTICAL THE FLIMSY UNHEATEO IN THE USE OF THE FUR COATS, BECAUSE : SCHOOL BUILDINGS WERE OFTEN WINTERTIME. After the 1|.9ers had a gooo night's rest, they prepareo to leave the Fort. But at THIS TIME THEY HEARD A FAINT CHURCH BELL from the Missionary Hut,ano oecideo to at- tend THE SERVICES. MINISTER MANFRED MORITZ CONDUCTED THE PRAYERS ,WH ILE THE SMALL CHOIR composeo of Alta Miller, Joanne Lentz, Flo- rence Ellingson, and Frances Clinkenbeard, S A N 6 HYMNS. The CHURCH OFFEREO THE NECES- SARY ENVIRONMENT FOR A LONG-PLANNEO CERE- MONY. While Donna Wagner sang Because , Jack Downs ano Wilma Keil strolleo oown the AISLE ARM IN ARM, IN MATRIMONIAL BLISS. DEPARTEO FROM THE CHURCH, When they had THE CARAVAN ONCE AGAIN MOVEO ON. |N THE FIRST COVERED WAGON, THERE WAS PAT KOC I AN INTENTLY DRAWING PICTURES OF THE MOUNTAINOUS SCENERY THAT THEY WERE PASSING) IN THE SEC - ono wagon, Mary Woster was artistically CARVING ANOTHER NOTCH IN THE HANOLE OF HER GUN, REPRESENTING ANOTHER DAY OF THEIR JOURNEY. IN THE FOLLOWING WAGONS WERE OTHER BRAVE 'Ij ERS. AS THEY MOVEO ON, THEY SOON CAME UPON A FORK IN THE BARREN TRAIL. HERE, BEULAH MAE Gentry headed Northwaro. Destination?---- Washington TerritoryI At this point, Mary Ellen Reeo ano Ruby Everett also changed their course. They heaoeo their wagons to- wards Old Mexico,to the homesteads of Don Juan, ano Wild Bill Elliot. The rest of the waGion train sadly said FAREWELL TO BEULAH, RuBY ANO MARY ELLEN, AS THEY HOPEFULLY CONTINUED THEIR JOURNEY TO the gold fields. After days of relentless journey, they FINALLY REACHEO THEIR DESTINATION . GOLD WAS FO REMO 8 T IN THEIR MINOS . EACH SETTLER

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dr .ft A Whft fc a m rt- frh'l w Prophecy The year I9U9 marks a oramatic event in our American History--the graduation of the '1+9ers of Plattsmouth High School. It also marks the Anniversary of the discovery of gold in the West, ano the golo rush which followeo. A HUNOREO YEARS AGO COURAGEOUS MEN ANO WOMEN, LUREO BY THE PROSPECT OF FORTUNES IN THE FAR West, were moving across the continent in cov- ered WAGONS ANO BY HORSEBACK, TRAVELING OVER MOUNTAINS ANO TRAC LFS« P• A |NS ,8RAV ING DANGERS from Indians and starvation. Let us imagine that our »1+9ers were in the PLACES OF THOSE BRAVE PIONEERS;— — Dawn was just cracking ano Chuck Fulton SHIFTED HIS TRUSTY 12-GAUQE TO HIS OTHER KNEE. He hearo the moving of people as the CAMP BROKE into life. Soon they woulo be on their way to FAME ANO FORTUNE, FOR THE GOLD WAS THEIRS FOR claiming. They were sure to fino the riches, FOR THE FABULOUS GEOR6E MlNFORO, THE BEST SCOUT in the West, was their guide. WAS ONE OF THE FEW FRIENOLY they decioeo to camp ano have their noon meal. The outstanding feature of the village was an EXTRA TALL TEPEE. IN FRONT OF THE TENT SAT — Chief Dick Quinnet.wrappeo in the folds of his BUFFALO ROBE.ANO LAZILY STRUMMING ON HIS BANJO, TO THE TONES OF REO WlNG. The buffalo meat hao given the »I+9ers added ZEAL TO MOVE ONWARO. On AND ON THEY PUSHEO, NOT NOTICING THE BLAZING SUN OR THE PARCHED earth. They were only thinking of-------Gold 11! ± | Towaro evening the two trusty FORWARD SCOUTS, Gordon Greene and Leon Meisinger came gallop- ing UP WITH THE NEWS THAT THEY HAO SIGHTEO A Fort where they coulo camp for the night with- out FEAR OF ANY ATTACKS. AS THEY APP RO ACHED THE FORT NEAR OUSK, A Captain of the Uniteo States Army,Gene Haswell z ROOE OUT TO MEET THEM. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY his Lieutenants George Matney and Kenneth Gawehn . As THEY PASSEO THROUGH THE GATE, THEY SAW TWO SOLO I E RS ON THE LOOKOUT POST, LEE APPLE- GATE ANO IRVAN MYERS,BEING RELIEVEO BY RONALO ' The smell of hot coffee rose welcomely in the crisp morning air. The sizzle of bacon, SO CRISP AND DELICIOUS ON THE OPEN FIRE, WAS A THOUGHT PLEASING TO THE MINOS OF ANY SETTLER OF '1+9, MOVING TO CONQUEROR THE GREAT MlOOLE West . Come and get it, yelleo the cook I He was A PLEASINGLY PLUMP MAN OF GOOD NATURE AND AL- WAYS AFFORDEO A WEARY COWPUNCHER A LAUGH. Merle Meisinger was a friend to the whole part After eating heartily, the pioneers began SAOOLING THEIR PINTOS ANO PREPARING THEIR wagons for the long rIoe aheao of them. Lelano Meisinger was having trouble with his Straw- berry Roan so Richard Means held the bridle WHILE HE TIGHTENED THE SAOOLE CINCH. Wagon leaoer Eugene Newburn calleo the WAGONS INTO LINE ANO THE JOURNEY BEGAN. AS 1HE SUN ROSE OVERHEAD (MEANING NOON»), the 1+9ers neareo a campsite. Seeing that it Indian v i llages , y jjyAf Af »; W .91 B iVWAMW1 I SA'AHVf VfAVl AgAVS .V v V AVt VV:‘$ VA V 9J 9 t HW. VS AfftJ .VI v?

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tfvw m wjutvw ;Ay -mtftvy.vife zzam BEGAN ST AK IN 6 HIS PERSONAL CLAIM WITH THE CLAIM AGENT , JlM EARL, ANO HIS BOOKKEEPERS Frances Gunsolley ano Betty Hilo. Oawn of the next day finos Jim Doody, HIS WAVY HAIR HANGING IN HIS FACE, SWEATING OVER THE WORK INVOLVEO IN OBTAINING HIS fortune. Nearby was Cyril Kocian, also WORKING I NOUSTROUSLY, WHILE PATRICIA ROGERS SAT SPECTATING. A SUOOEN COMMOTION NEAR THE OCEAN FRONT, ANNO UNCEO THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING BY SHIP. THEY HAO COME FROM the East by way of Cape Horn. Among the disembarking passengers were WOMEN WHO HAO BRAVEO THE ROUGH OCEAN. THEY CAME TO MEET THEIR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WHO HAO TRAVELEO THE OVERLANO ROUTE. When the ship was unloadeo, Joan Ault and Mary Jane Harris,two of the passengers, WENT TO A NEARBY CASE RUN BY JAN I S SCHMIDT- mann. Near the entrance, underneath a sign which re AO Check Your Guns Here , stooo Cora Lee Hitt with an armful of loaoeo pis- tols. Insioe of the cage, waitress OeNie CUNOALL WAS SINGING ' 0 , SUSANNA . With the comiN6 of so many new settlers, a reign of Chaos, accompanied by all the lawlessness of a frontier community, was CHECKEO BY THE ORGANIZATION OF A VIGILANTE COMMITTEE, HEADED BY SHERIFF JOHN WHITE. Outstanding members were Ray Hilo and Dick Gerbeling. OuSK FINOS OUR PICTURE OF THESE BRAVE ,U9ERS, FIGHTING TO CONQUER THE WEST AND ITS GREAT RICHES, GRADUALLY F AO IN 6 FROM SIGHT, ANO THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF OUR MODERN WORLD COMING INTO VIEW. WlTH THIS BRIEF GLANCE AT THE PAST, THE GRADUATING CLASS OF I9U9 IS PRO UO TO SAY THEY MARK A CENTURY OF Progbess in our American History.