Good Old Days 12-20-13

COMPILED BY THE SIDNEY Sun-Telegraph Staff

These stories from the past first appeared in The Sidney Telegraph. Original writing is preserved, though some stories were shortened for space reasons.

100 YEARS AGO

'Admits Swindling Patients'

December 13, 1913

"We are now making our usual 'getaway'. It is now 2 o'clock and if they leave us alone until 4 o'clock, everything will be all right. The newspapers are beginning to raise h-ll, and there is no use in staying here longer."

This is the substance of a letter, alleged to have been written by the defendant to a friend, that the prosecution will introduce as a chief exhibit in the case against Dr. E. D. Brantley, whose trial before Judge Page Morris of Duluth in the United States district court has begun. United States attorney Howell will undertake to show that the letter was written by Brantley shortly before he left Omaha, May 4.

Dr. Brantley, a physician at Memphis, is facing the penitentiary because of his connection with the Electro-Oxygen company, which was headed by S. W. Wittman, who, with Mrs. Wittman, also, is under federal indictment.

According to the admission in Court of counsel for Brantley, the Electro-Oxygen company was a swindling concern. The contention of the defense will be that, although patients, lured by "promising" advertisements in daily newspapers of Omaha, were defrauded. Brantley cannot be held liable, because he was only an employee.

75 YEARS AGO

Legion Cited

December 20, 1938

Sidney Post No. 17 of the American Legion received a certificate of distinction from the national commander for its fine membership record this year. Sidney post was the only one represented at the district convention in Bridgeport last week which had exceeded its membership quota by November 11. The local post took particular pride in this record because the fourth district average is less than 80 percent.

The certificate is in the possession of Post Commander Roy Greenlee.

72 YEARS AGO

Myron Goodwin, 20, Is Sidney's First Casualty In Pacific Attack

December 19,1941

Myron Goodwin, 20, second class seaman in the United States navy, is Sidney's first casualty i the war of the pacific.

Notice that young Goodwin is "missing in action" was received here Tuesday morning by his father, Don Goodwin, mechanical superintendent for the Telegraph Publishing company.

The date and location of his death was not revealed in the message which stated that 'if the body is recovered' it will be interred and the next of kin will be notified of the burial place.

The message specifically requested that his place of station not be divulged because the information might be of benefit to the enemy.

Thus the grim horror of the war launched by Japan Dec 7 comes directly home to may Goodwi as an affable youth.

He was graduated from Sidney High School in 1939, and worked for the Telegraph Publishing Company for about two years. He had been in the navy since January 11, 1941.

A card received from him by The Telegraph staff las September 21 was from Hawaii.

From the wording of the message to young Goodwin's father, it was surmised that he either went down on his ship or was quartered in barracks which were within direct line of the bombing attack when the Japanese launched their surprise raid.

However, the message did not say whether his death occurred on the first day of the war activities so it may have been a result of subsequent fighting in the first days following the attack.

If his death occurred on the opening day of the war, it was an ironical coincidence. His grandfather died on the first day of American participation in the first World War.

Young Goodwin enlisted in the navy at Denver, and was stationed at San Diego naval training station before going to Hawaii.

He was one of several young men in his graduating class who entered the naval service and are now seeing action with the navy.

He returned home a few months ago on furlough and told friends at that time that navy men anticipated trouble in the Pacific.

Young Goodwin was born in Denver. He would have been twenty-one years of age on New Years Day.

In Sidney he is survived by his father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Don Goodwin, and a step-sister, Jacquin Hummer.

50 YEARS AGO

'Lt. Col. Seda Returns From Year's Duty In Vietnam;

Witness to History'

December 18, 1963

The Telegraph's "overseas correspondent," Lt. Col. De-Lyle L. Seda, is back fro a year's tour of duty in the land of the only "hot war" in the world, Vietnam.

A 22-year army veteran, col. Seda was one of the advisors sent by the United States to help the south Vietnamese train their troops and organize their military system.

Col. Seda was an eyewitness to the famous Nov. 2 coup in which President Zim and his brother were killed. His wife was with him in Saigon at the time it all happened. Col. Seda said he was at the airport getting some supplies and went downtown to meet his wife for lunch. While they were eating, he said "I heard shots and wondered why a machine gun was being tested in the city."

More shots and then he realized it was something serious.

"When the bricks started flying two blocks away I turned the radio on to get the report," he said. Orders came then for all American military personnel to return to their billets.

So the Seadas, with countless other observers, watched the action of the coup from a rooftop.

Col. Seda was also in the country when the word of President Kennedy's assassination was received. He said the Vietnamese were genuinely shocked and sorrowed by the news.

"Flags were flown at half mast and we heard that this was the first time they have been at half staff for anyone other than a Vietnamese," he added.

Col. Seda has a great respect for the Vietnam people. He pointed out that they are ambitious, patriotic and very intelligent. Education is compulsory so the schools are busy with three sessions a day, plus a night session, the year around, to work in all of the students.

The country has predominately an agricultural economy and the delta below Saigon is the richest rice land in southeast Asia. Red China would like to take that land over.

"Vietnam is a beautiful country, with fabulous timberland and high plateaus," he said.

Unfortunately, it has been in a state of war since 300 B. C. Throughout its history, conflict has played an important role as the Vietnamese fought vigorously for their independence.

Col. Seda stated that he would like very much to return to that country, although he does not expect his next overseas assignment to be there. During this year he met who he considered to be amazing people lived in a beautiful country and learned much. The climate was humid and warm. The lowest temperature ever recorded there was 57 degrees.

25 YEARS AGO

Vandals hit decorations of Dalton homes

December 21, 1988

A number of Dalton residents who had decorated the exteriors of their homes for the Christmas season have been busy rounding up replacement bulbs and repairing damage done by vandals early in the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 14.

One resident, returning home at 6 p.m. after being gone for a half an hour, reported many bulbs being unscrewed and taken from decorated outdoor evergreens. The former manse of St. Mary's Catholic Church had luminaries in out door decorations which were damaged and bulbs which had been removed and stamped on.

At another residence an entire tree was stripped of bulbs, according to reports.

The vandalism apparently occurred when many people were gone from their homes because of the Leyton elementary program in Gurley scheduled at 7 p.m. and others were in their houses eating supper or in another part of the house.

Many of the residents who were victimized have repaired damage and replaced lights. Others have been unable to find replacement lights and had to settle for partial displays.

10 YEARS AGO

Runge gets home from Baghdad for visit

December 19, 2003

Nathan Runge had to do a little traveling to come home for a holiday visit – from Baghdad, Iraq to Sidney.

Runge, an Army Private First Class in the artillery, has been in Baghdad since May and expects his unit will not be rotated home until at least May, 2004.

In Baghdad, he said, he does the "normal things an American soldier does while a member of an occupying force, goes on patrol." He won't go into much detail, but did not deny that the vehicles he has patrolled in have taken fire. As to whether the arrest of former dictator Saddam Hussein will make much difference in the amount of resistance being shown, he said, "I really don't know." Most people there, he said, will be glad at Saddam's arrest.

As for the people, "some people like us and some don't. I have quite a few friends in Baghdad. They are a very hospitable people," he said.

Runge said he has developed a taste for Iraqi food and especially enjoys the hot tea that is served.

A 2002 graduate of Potter-Dix High School Runge joined the Nebraska National Guard at age 17 and enlisted in the regular Army after graduation, which was a surprised to his mother, Sandy. She said her son, "my baby," the youngest of her five children has talked about making the Army a career.

His visit home was not totally expected. Pvt. Runge did not get confirmation that he had been granted a furlough until virtually the las minute, and it took him three days to arrive at Denver International Airport. He had planned on arriving here unannounced as a holiday surprise to his family but, realizing he would need a ride from DIA, he called a sister, who "let the cat out of the bag," about his coming home.

Still said his mother, she was surprised to see him when he arrived here on Dec. 7. He leaves to return to Baghdad Monday, with a 7 a.m. plane departure. His family must have him at DIA by 5 a.m.