The Republic News-Miner

Last Thursday a letter from Eric Beckstrom, dated October 27th, was received by Mr. Zwang stating that Leo McCormack was killed on September 27 in the fighting in the Argonne Forest. Mr. Beckstrom, who is with the army in France, stated in his letter that Leo was hit with a hand grenade in the left shoulder, presumably in taking a German machine gun nest, and slightly wounded; that he was then taken to a first aid station or hospital when a large shell struck the station and exploding, killed Leo and a number of other soldiers. On Friday Mr. and Mrs. McCormack received a wire from Adjutant General Harris at Washington, stating that Leo had been seriously wounded in battle on September 27th. Last Saturday night they received a wire from Senator Miles Poindexter, stating Leo had been seriously wounded, but that that was the only information then available. Senator wired he would make further investigation as to the facts and advise them of the result. They have wired Senator Poindexter to find out whether Leo is living, and if so what his condition is and in what hospital he is located. They are hourly expecting further information.

Leo McCormack was among the first to enlist from Republic, having entered Camp Lewis in September, 1917. He was among the first contingent at Camp Lewis. He was promoted to the position of sergeant at Camp Lewis. On July 4, 1918, he sailed from New York for France, and was in Company e. 361 Infantry and with the 91st Division that did the fighting at St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest. The casualty list of the 91st in the last month's fighting was over fifty per cent. Owing to the inefficiency of Mr. Baker's rocking chair warriors at Washington the men of the 91st were short of artillery and also short of shells for the artillery they did have, with the result that the men had to take the German machine gun nests and fortifications with the bayonet, and in this manner do the work that should have been done in large part by the artillery, thus saving the man. Both English and French officers stated there was no more difficult work don during the war than driving the Germans from the Argonne Forest.

Republic hopes Mr. and Mrs. McCormack will receive favorable news concerning their son.

The county Board of Health was at fault in no voluntarily lifting the "flu" ban for this occasion. The members of the congregations were at fault in not demanding that the ban be lifted that they might have an opportunity to attend church on Christmas. . .

For eight weeks Republic churches have been closed by order of the health department and as a result the pastors have been hard pressed by reason of being deprived of the usual Sunday collections.

Two weeks ago the News-Miner stated that the Catholic priest was out of wood. As soon as W. T. O'Connell, a member of the Catholic Church, heard this he sent the priest a load of wood. Now that is gone. Is there not another good man who will follow the example of Mr. O'Connell and bring Father Nowicki a load of wood.

Mr. and Mrs. P. A. McCormack on yesterday received from the War Department official confirmation of the death in France on September 28th of their only son, Corp. Leo Kenneth McCormack.

The official information was to the effect that after having been wounded on the 28th, he had been removed to an emergency hospital which a few hours later was bombarded.

Leo was 22 years of age on May 5. He spent the greater part of his life in and around Republic. Besides his parents he is mourned by a host of friends and schoolmates in Republic. He graduated from Republic High School and later attended Gonzaga College in Spokane, before entering military service.

Memorial services for Leo Kenneth McCormack will be held in the Catholic Church Friday at 10:00 a.m.

The singing by a choir composed of Miss Gertrude O'Connell at the organ, M. J. Walsh and Mr. DeCurtain, was beautiful. The services were impressive terminating with an address by Rev. Father Nowicki, the prelude o which was words of consolation to the parents.

During the hour of the memorial service the school and all business houses were closed in accordance with a request from Mayor O'Connell.

The confirmation of Leo McCormack's death which came from the War Department last week has cast sadness over the entire city. Much sympathy is felt for the grief stricken parents who mourn the loss of their only child.

As now develops, some very peculiar circumstances surround the death of Corporal McCormack, otherwise I would have written his parents long ago advising them of his death. As it was, I could get no authentic information up to this time as to his death although I have had numerous reports that he was dead.

Corporal McCormack was wounded in our first engagement, and was taken to the First Aid Station in what appeared to be not a very serious condition. While in this station awaiting transportation to a field hospital a shell struck the First Aid Station, killing Corporal McCormack instantly.

Corporal McCormack was buried on September 29th South of EPINONVILLE, FRANCE; Grave Number 12 Map reference MONTFAUCON, 07-77 x 08-78; buried by Chaplain Edward F. Rice of the 91st Division.

I am able to give the above information as Chaplain Rice has just returned to the Division. A casual who just returned to the company state that he saw Corporal McCormack's body. I consider the above information sufficiently authentic to notify the parents of his death. If I can be of any further service in this matter, kindly advise me.

Bergan Moran, keeper of the Fire Lookout Station on Mt. Bonaparte, was here this week. Mt. Bonaparte has an altitude of nearly 8,000 feet and on a clear day affords a distinct view of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Chopaka. Bergan says there is still old snow on the north slopes and that several inches snow fell three weeks ago. The mountain is reached by way of Wauconda and Lost Lake. The trail to the summit is four and one half miles. Bergan has acquired a good understanding in the use of the heliograph and is quite contented and happy in his home among the clouds.

Leo Moran left Monday for Pullman where he will take a course in geology at Washington State College.

An Okanogan Wild Horse forms the nucleus of the story. It is illustrated by Will Crawford.

The many friends of this young woman will be glad to learn of her advancement in the realms of literature. She has recently contributed poems and short stories to several other well know magazines. "One Woman's Way", a serial by Mrs. Wilson, is now running in the Western Farmer. The scene for this story if also laid in the Okanogan.

How eager some people are to criticize and how reluctant to commend. There are few with the spirit and bravado of the almost extinct "bad Men" of the old West, but I do not care to pose as a gun man.

In conclusion, the braying of the local political harpies is music to my ears.

Republic High School was closed Monday by Dr. E. M. Bevis, health officer, as a precaution against the further spread of Influenza.

• Elizabeth Price -- President.
• Bernice Weston -- Vice-President.
• Bergan Moran -- Secretary.
• Roy Snyder -- Treasure.
• Theora Johnstead -- Yell Leader.
• Nathan Greenberg --Sargeant at Arms.
• Fred Walter -- Song Mistress.

The class has been studying on this opera during the entire school year and promises to be an entertainment of unusual merit. Don't fail to hear it at the school auditorium tonight - at 8:00 o'clock. Admission will be 50 cents and 25 cents. Doors will open at 7:30 p. m. Come early. Following is the Cast:

The boys have the reputation of doing things up right when it comes to entertaining and they did not fail in this instance

Besides the excellent picture shown the boys had arranged a splendid mirth provoking program. A hit of the evening was the song by the boys' quartette composed of Nathan Greenberg, Irving Johnstead, Oscar Hanson and Leon Frazier, each of whom possesses a good voice. . .

Other entertaining numbers was a humorous reading by Miss Teresa Endres and exhibition with Indian clubs by Bergan Moran.
. . .

The origin of the fire is unknown, and rumor is strong that it was of incendiary origin. Mrs. Moore owes the saving of her life to the fact that their dog, a family pet of the bird dog species, barked until he awakened her, and she had just time to grab a coat that was on the rear porch where she was sleeping and get away from the building. The dog was badly burned and there was danger of his eye sight being destroyed, but all that medical skill can do is being used to prolong his live.

Mrs. Moore had kindled a small fire in a stove to prepare a warm drink for herself before retiring, and that fire might have started, but spectators claim that the front of the building was in flames first and the stove was in the rear.

Mr. Moore and daughter were in Curlew, but came to Republic early Sunday upon receiving news of the fire.

In the care were two men armed with rifles, one of whom jumped and ran down the road, and the other sprang from the car and said to the deputy, "Run, or I'll kill you." The sheriff said to the deputy, Don't shoot until we are compelled to, as I don't believe he will shoot anyway." The bootlegger shot at the deputy, the bullet grazing the deputy's hat

The sheriff, having nothing but a revolver, called to Alva Stout, the hotel man, to bring a rifle and as the hotel man brought the rifle the bootlegger jumped into the brush out of sight. . .

The sheriff and his deputy then brought the car loaded with the liquor to Republic. The contraband consisted of 147 bottles of the best brands of gin and Scotch and rye whisky. One of the federal prohibition officers in Republic has seized the car that contained the liquor.

W. J. Hall announces his candidacy for the nomination on the Democratic ticket for SHERIFF OF FERRY COUNTY primary Election, Sept 14, 1920

Mike Moran announces his candidacy for the nomination on the Republican ticker for SHERIFF OF FERRY COUNTY primary Election, Sept 14, 1920

Expectations are that Senator Harding will have around 375 of the votes of the electoral college and that the senate and the house of representative have increased the Republic majority with about 100.

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County Sheriff

• Moran ....473
• Barker ...545
• Strong....290

• Cody ....610
• Stovik ...298