88 Years Ago Today - 11/11/1918

This Memorial weekend finds NW Okie & Duchess "On the Road" again! This time we find ourselves traveling the by-ways and highways from northwest Oklahoma to southwest Colorado. Check back late saturday evening for the completed published edition of this week's "OkieLegacy" newsletter, Vol. 8, Iss. 45, 11/11/2006.

Eighty-eight Years Ago Today - 11/11/1918 -- Vada Eileen Paris was turning two-years-old, Nov. 11, 1918, when WWI was ending with the signing of the Armistice Agreement.

It was the 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month of 1918 when the "Great War (World War I)" ended. IF we could go back and talk to our parents, grandparents about that time, what would they say? Vada Paris & Uncle Bob McGill were two-years old and Gene M. McGill was going on four-years-old.

Grandma Constance Warwick McGill's younger brother, Robert Lee Warwick enlisted in 1914 with the US Army and served three years with the "Coast Artillery Corp., 5th Company." He then joined the "Canadian Expeditionary Force at Toronto, Canada" and was sent to France with the Canadian Army. Robert served through World War I and received his discharge June 29, 1919. He came home broken in health and after a few years entered the Western State hospital, Fort Supply, Oklahoma. That's where he died November 17, 1952, Western State Hospital, at the age of 65 years, and 12 days. He is buried in the Alva Municipal Cemetery, Alva, Oklahoma.

Have a Great, Safe Veterans Memorial weekend.
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NWOSU's College Rodeo

We experienced NWOSU's 2006 Homecoming last weekend. AND... Thursday night, November 9, 2006, (our last night in Alva, Oklahoma) we took in NWOSU's Ranger's college rodeo at Alva's fairgrounds. We got a few movie clips of the bronco riders, wild cow milking and we even a photo of the NEW President of NWOSU, Janet Cunningham, as she rode into the arena on a horse with the Ranger Rodeo team as the Rodeo got underway. NWOSU's President is something else... You don't see too many College presidents taking to the saddle to spur on the college rodeo team, fans and spirit. Way to go President Cunningham!Keep up the GREAT work!

Here is a list of the movie clips we took of the Ranger Rodeo, Thursday evening, November 9, 2006, at the fairgrounds, in Alva, Oklahoma:

• Ranger Rodeo clip #1
• Ranger Rodeo clip #2
• Ranger Rodeo clip #3
• Ranger Rodeo clip #4
• Ranger Rodeo clip #5
• Ranger Rodeo clip #6
• Ranger Rodeo clip #7
• Ranger Rodeo clip #8
• Ranger Rodeo clip #9
• Ranger Rodeo clip #10
• Ranger Rodeo clip #11
• Ranger Rodeo clip #12
• Ranger Rodeo clip #13
• Ranger Rodeo clip #14
• Ranger Rodeo clip #15

The Battle of Coon Creek - Kinsley, KS

Friday, November 10, 2006, we were traveling along highway 50, just East of Kinsley, Kansas and spotted a Kansas Historical marker -- "Battle of Coon Creek" -- fought June 18, 1848, between 200 Comanches and Osages and 140 soldiers.

What we would like to know is "Who was this mysterious Indian woman (a.k.a. Angel of Mercy) wearing silver ornaments on a scarlet dress while she was mounted on a horse, giving directions about the wounded? Who was this angel of mercy?

AND... what about the "Great Train Robbery" January 27, 1878, when bandits attempted to loot the Santa Fe station's safe and the westbound Pueblo Express were foiled by a young telegrapher named Andrew Kinkade. From information on the historical marker, four of the gang were later captured by Sheriff Bat Masterson of Dodge City, Kansas. Can you enlighten, educate us out here. Send us the "Rest of the Story" to share here on "The OkieLegacy eZine."

Indian attacks along the Santa Fe trail were frequent from the 1820's to the 1870's. Near here, where the trail followed the Arkansas river, the Battle of Coon Creek was fought June 18, 1848, between some 200 Comanches and Osages and 140 soldiers, half of whom were recruits bound for service in the Mexican war. A startling occurrence after the inconclusive battle, according to the official report, was the appearance of an Indian woman who seemed to be their queen, mounted on a horse, decorated with silver ornaments on a scarlet dress, who rode about giving directions about the wounded. The identity of this angel of mercy has remained a mystery.

The Chicago Workingmen's Town Company founded nearby Kinsley in 1872, naming it Petersburg for T. J. Peter, a director of the Santa Fe railroad which was then building westward. In 1873 the town was renamed in honor of E. W. Kinsley, a Boston philanthropist.

Kinsley had its "Great Train Robbery" January 27, 1878. Bandits attempting to loot the Santa Fe station's safe and the westbound Pueblo Express were foiled by a young telegrapher named Andrew Kinkade. Four of the gang were later captured by Sheriff Bat Masterson of Dodge City." -- Kansas Historical Marker found on highway 50, East of Kinsley, Kansas. The marker was erected by State Historical Society and State Highway Commission.
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Our Green Thumbs

"Just wanted you guys to see this Jade plant. I had it for about 20 years, nursing it along and finally last summer 2005 decided to toss it away. Jack retrieved it and planted it out where everything was wrong for it (we thought). Too much water, too much sun etc... etc... BUT... when we brought it in, there were a few blossoms on it. This summer I set it out on the deck in the corner, where it got the morning sun and watered it very little. I cannot believe the number of blossoms now. It is just beautiful." -- Jack & Ann
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Memorial Remembrance Blog

"Just checked it Remembrance Blog and its working. We had about 1.25 inches of rain a few nights ago and really appreciate it. We haven't had any runoff yet and a lot of ponds are dry but the grass has had a chance to green up and stay alive. Guess it is getting pretty cool in Colorado by now. NW Oklahoma has us beat on the gas price but Ardmore is usually higher than anywhere in OK and we have a Valero refinery. We are $2.09 today but was $2.15 a couple of days ago. I think the blog is a good idea and gives a little more exposure to the sight too. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving if I don't have a contact before then." -- Gary
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President Cunningham Talking With Alumnae

"I was at the parade and game on Saturday. I must have been just to the west of where you were standing when you took the picture of the 'gunfighters' standing in the street in front of the Rialto. I got the same group from a slightly different angle. I have attached a picture of NWOSU's new President, Dr. Janette Cunningham (left). She is talking with an alumnae near the Alumni Tent and near where I spent during the parade. Sorry I missed getting to meet you." -- Jim Bradley
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The Rest of the Story

2006 - NWOSU's Homecoming... "I remember those NWOSU Homecoming Big Shows well, and I too, miss the big parades. I was quite disappointed in Yukon's Czech Festival Parade this year and even left early. Didn't make it to Alva for NWOSU's Homecoming yesterday, but SWOSU's Homecoming Parade was very nice... lots of bands and lots of floats. Your comments about Brooks Bicknell and his Big Show prompted me to retrieve an autographed picture from a bookshelf... NWOSU Homecoming 1963... Roy Clark, Mel Torme, Brooks Bicknell, and Tony Paxton (not 100% sure on that last name). Mel Torme even added a side note, "Good food too!" You can view this NWOSU Pic at my website."

2006 - NWOSU's Homecoming... "Thanks Linda for bringing back some great memories of the big shows. I remember as a kid, I could sneak down to the stage and sit on the steps leading up to the stage."
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Uncle Bud's Picture

"It was so neat to see our Uncle Bud's picture on the internet. Our little daughter thinks her Uncle Bud is just awesome. She has got to meet them are really wants us to come and visit them so she can see all the horses. She wants one so bad she can taste it and I keep telling her we don't have a place to keep it or the money to take care of one. I do enjoy the ezine each week. You do such a wonderful job of putting it together each week. Please tell Bud and Lovina hi for us." -- Larry, Karen and Nikki - Elk City, OK
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NWOSU Ranger Rodeo

"Young cowboys and cowgirls descend on Alva - Ranger Rodeo underway, Alva Review Courier, 11/10/06 - By Helen Barrett -- On bulls or horses, bareback and in fancy saddles. They come from near and far in fancy rigs pulled behind big pickup trucks for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rodeo. This year 500 contestants will participate in the three-day affair which is a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and sanctioned by the Central Plains Region of the NIRA, representing 25 colleges and universities....."
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OkieLegacy Guestbook

Alva High Class of '56 -- "Great memoir! Thanks to all who put it together. I live and work in northern Thailand now." -- John McDermed ('59) - Email: mainlymcd@yahoo.com

Osburn Family Info -- "I see you raised a question about Osburn. His name was George Harvey Osburn and his 13-yr-old son, Oscar, died in a house fire 1924." - 11/3/2006 Victoria Glover - Email: Vglover776@sbcglobal.net
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WWI Begins - June 28, 1914

On the June 28, 1914, an event that sparked the outbreak of the first World War was when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungary, blamed the Serbian government for the attack and hoped to use the incident as justification for settling the problem of Slavic nationalism once and for all. Russia supported Serbia, an Austro-Hungarian declaration of war was delayed until its leaders received assurances from German leader Kaiser Wilhelm II that Germany would support their cause in the event of a Russian intervention.

That was also the day that Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The tenuous peace between Europe's great powers began collapsing. On the 29th of July Austro-Hungarian forces began to shell the Serbian capital, Belgrade, and Russia, Serbia's ally, ordered a troop mobilization against Austria-Hungary. France, allied with Russia, began to mobilize later that year on August 1 -- France and Germany declared war against each other on August 3.

After crossing through neutral Luxembourg, the German army invaded Belgium on the night of August 3-4, 1914, prompting Great Britain, Belgium's ally, to declare war against Germany. For the most part, the people of Europe greeted the outbreak of war with jubilation. Most patriotically assumed that their country would be victorious within months. Of the initial belligerents, Germany was most prepared for the outbreak of hostilities, and its military leaders had formatted a sophisticated military strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan.

The Schlieffen Plan was nearly successful, but in early September the French rallied and halted the German advance at the bloody Battle of the Marne near Paris. By the end of 1914, well over a million soldiers of various nationalities had been killed on the battlefields of Europe, and neither for the allies nor the Central Powers was a final victory in sight. On the western front -- the battle line that stretched across northern France and Belgium -- the combatants settled down in the trenches for a terrible war of attrition.

The year 1916 saw great offensives by Germany and Britain along the western front, but neither side accomplished a decisive victory. In the east, Germany was more successful, and the disorganized Russian army suffered terrible losses, spurring the outbreak of the Russian Revolution in 1917. By the end of 1917, the Bolsheviks had seized power in Russia and immediately set out negoitating peace with Germany.

In 1918, the infusion of American troops and resources into the western front finally tipped the scale in the Allies' favor. Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies on November 11, 1918. World War I was known as the War to end all Wars because of the great slaughter and destruction it caused. Unfortunately, the peace treaty that officially ended the conflict -- Treaty of Versailles of 1919 -- forced punitive terms on Germany that destabilized Europe and laid the groundwork for World War II.

The Armistice agreement was signed, November 11, 1918, at 5 a.m. that morning, with Germany signing the agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside Compiegne, France. The first World War left nine million soldiers dead -- 21 million wounded, with Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, and Great Britain each losing nearly a million or more lives. At least five million civilians died from disease, starvation or exposure.
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Funny Vocabulary Spin

"Seems like these were credited to George Carlin when I saw them first." -- Roy

VOCABULARY SPIN G-Rated: For those who love the philosophy of hypocrisy and ambiguity.

• 1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
• 2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
• 3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
• 4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
• 5. The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
• 6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
• 7. What if there were no hypothetical questions?
• 8. If a deaf person swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?
• 9. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
• 10. Is there another word for synonym?
• 11. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"
• 12. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
• 13. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
• 14. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
• 15. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?
• 16. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless, or naked?
• 17. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
• 18. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to start speaking?
• 19. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?
• 20. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs?
• 21. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
• 22. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.
• 23. Does the Little Mermaid wear an algebra?
• 24. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
• 25. How is it possible to have a civil war?
• 26. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown, too?
• 27. If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
• 28. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
• 29. Whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have "S" in it?
• 30. Why are hemorrhoids called "hemorrhoids", instead of "assteroids"?
• 31. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?
• 32. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?
• 33. If you spin an oriental man in a circle three times does he become disoriented

Son of Pearl Newby

"I am the son of Pearl Newby, now departed this world. Very nice to see mum in her youth." -- Robert Landon - Email: bobwel3@yahoo.co.uk
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