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CATSKILL MOUNTAIN NEW:^ Serving the Communities of Allaben, Andes, Ar^ia, Arkville, Belleayre^ Big Indian, Denver, Dry Bfoob; Dunraven, Heiscdimanns, Grand Gorge, H^cott Center* Halcottville, Qghmount, K ^ y Comers, Slargaretville, New. Kingston, Oliverea, Phoeni<^ Fine Hill, Boxbnry, Shandaken, Sliavertown, Union Grove and V ^ ^

Vol 82. No. 50. Established in 1863. MABGARETYELLE, NEW YOBK, FRIDAY, MABCH 28, 1945 ^ Per lear

R d Cross Hopes t o Reach Quota By E n ^ f Week

Impact of War Keenly Felt by Comity of Delaware

During Year

Blood Saves Lives Without Red Cross Boys

Would Have No Place to Go Says Worker

Delhi Red Cross officers ex-pected that the $28,300 chapter war fund quota would be attained by this weekend and they ex-pressed the hope that donors in the 15 branches of the chapter would at least exceed last year's record of nearly $34,000 before the campedgn ends.

The official report, sent last weekend at area headquarters in New York, showed contributions in the chapter totaling $20,556.12. This figure was $3,500 under that of the corresponding date in the 1944 drive but chapter officers thought that the discrepancy might be due to the fact that all canvassers had not reported their collections.

That the impact of war has been more keenly felt in Delaware county during the past year and that most persons appreciate the vital part the Red Cross is playing in it is indicated in a comparison of many current contributions with those made by the same per-sons last year, Thomas S. Wallis, chapter chairman, said this week. He pointed out that many persons, apparently no better off financially than they were a year ago, have doubled the amount they gave in 1944. He was particularly im-pressed, he said; by the donations made by several families who have men in the service., Many made contributions which, he felt, must have represented real finan-cial sacrifices.

Largest contribution up to last weekend was $500. There were several of one hundred dollars. Scores of people who gave but $1 last year boosted their donations to $5 or more.

Three branches of the chapter. Franklin, South Kortright and Andes, had filled their quotas as the third weeks of the campaign <qpened and most others had at least reached the halfway mark. Franklin reported $3,507.30; South Kortright, $546.28, and Andes, $1,710.

Report from other branches, as of last weekend,^ were: Bovina-Lake Delaware, $781.50; Daven-port, $460.75; Delhi, $5,860.85; jEast Meredith, $310; Fleisch-manns, $800; Grand Gorge, $1,-210.16; Halcottville-KeUy Corners, $300; Hobart, $1,115; Margaret-ville, $1,305.20; Roxbury, $1,397.50; Stamford, $1,044.15; Treadwell, $167.43.

Miss Catherine Barry, daughter of the Rev. G. V. Barry of Lake Delaware, a Red Cross worker in London, recently wrote home re-garding the Red Cross clubs. "The only warm places I'^e been in are the AR.C dubs, and there is one on almost every street," she said. '•Without the Red Cross our boys here would have nowhere to go when off duty. They are the first and only places the G. L goes. There they may eat, sleep, rest and write—anything. . . . I've heard hoys say, TTie Red Crtjss can have

Sgt. William Cruickshank Wounded in Italy Fighting Sgt. William Cruickshank of the

10th Mountain division, fighting on skis in northern Italy, was serious-ly wounded March 4 in his chest by shrapnel. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Cruickshank, well-known Big Indian folks.

Last Friday his parents received a government postal card advising as above noted and saying that Sgt. Cruickshank was in a field hospital.

On Monday they had a letter written by a buddy which said that the wounded man was receiv-ing excellent care, that his parents must not worry and that he was about to be transferred to a base hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Cruickshank recognized the phrasing of the letter as typical expressions of their son which gave them assur-ance that he has been able to dic-tate the letler to a pal.

In February Sgt. Cruickshank was in a group of skiers into which a hand grenade was thrown by a German soldier. The group was stunned by the explosion but not wounded and returned to com-bat after a few days' rest. Sgt. Cruickshank wrote his parents that he felt they had been saved by a special act of Providence.

His address is 2628 Hospital Section, APO 698, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y.

Sgt. Cruickshank was wounded in the same engagement in which a companion, T/Sgt. Torger D. Tokle, one of the greatest skiers of all time, was killed. Telling of the death of the famous skier and the battle in which he died and in which Sgt. Cruickshank was wounded the New York Times says:

"Shell fragments cut down the 25-year-old ski jumper-soldier shortly after his rifle company of the Eighty-sixth Regiment had jumped off north of the 3,300-foot Monte Torraccia in a drive that' resulted in an advance of four miles through some of the most rugged terrain of the Apennines.

"Sgt. Tokle's platoon was aim-ing for the little town of Monte Forte, two miles to the north, when a fragment from the heavy concentration of shells the enemy had been pouring on the American positions for days struck and killed him."

Underwit Blood Transfusion . Thomas Cheske, who has been

seriously ill with ulcers of the stomach in the Margaretville hos-pital and has had four blood trans-fusions, is gaining. Mrs. M. H. Fanning is assisting at the Cheske store (the former Fanning stored while Mrs. Cheske is vrtth her hus-beind in Margaretville. — Roxbury Cor.

as much of my money as they want—they've done enough for me'."

Ihe way contributions to the Red Cross are spent was summed up editorially by the New York Times last week. The editorial Said:

"If the Army is able to report that more lives are saved at the front in this war than in history, it is largely because the Red Cross supplies plasma collected at the centers scattered all over the country. If prisoners of war are able to exchange messages with their relatives and friends at home and to receive packages of neces-sities denied toem by their cap-tors, it is because the Red Cross serves as an intermediary. If soldiers and sailors enjoy a-few of the luxuries that cannot be provided by commissaries, it is because the Red Cro^ maintains its own establishments at the frcmt.

Was Dude Ranch Sold Before Of After SDOW Storm This Is Gist of $39,000 Ac-

tion in Supreme Court Filed Monday .

BuOding Destroyed Original Price Was $50,000,

But This Was Changed to $39,000

Morris Kanfer of New York, attorney for Elsie Reich and Israel Steinbaum of Plainfield, N. J., was in Delhi Monday with Mr. Steinbaum to file papers in an action brought 'by his clients against Mack Weiner and Murray M. Weiner, Brooklyn automobile dealers.

The - complainants allege that the Weiners had entered into a real estate deal with them for the sale of the dude ranch known as "Top Notch" at Highmount early in February and that between the time the complainants examined the property and the time the deal was completed, the main building on the property had been destroyed by storm, it is understood that the action is to recover sums paid, return deed and rescind mortgage.

"Top Notch" dude ranch was some years ago operated as a chil-dren's camp known as Camp Cascade.

In the complaint it is alleged that the Weihers, owners of the property, advertised it for sale, and that the complainants an-swered the advertisement and on the 4th of February of this year inspected the property, for which $50,000 was asked. On the 7th of February, says the complaint, the main building was wrecked by the elements. On the following day, says the complaint, the owners contacted the prospective buyers and offered to take $39,000 for the property, and on the 8th of Feb-ruary the complainants made a verbal agreement to buy at the price and paid a "binder" sum of $500. On the 12th, they allege, they signed a formal purchase agreement and paid down $6,000, title to be passed on the 26th.

The* complaint further states that on the 26th the complainants paid $5,500 in cash, delivered the purchase-money bond and mort-gage, arid received title to the property, paying also $831.46 for adjustment of taxes, insurance, etc.

On the 7th of March, alleges the complaint, after the consum-mation of the deal, the sellers ad-vised the buyers that they had just learned of the destruction of the property by storm and that the storm had occurred after the closing of the deal.

Beleased from German Prison Sgt. Cecil Davis, son of Mr. and

Mrs. Elmer Davis of this village, has been released from a German prison camp according to a tele-gram received by his parents on Wednesday. No details of the re-lease were given.

Wm Grow Alfalfa Henry Robbins of Great Nedc,

L. I., plans an extensive crop of alfalfa cm his large farm below the village. He has purchased a new Ford Ferguson tractor with all attachments and will start activi-ties at once.—Pine EQU Cor.

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Eber Kelly Dies From Fractured Skull Tuesday

Eber Kelly, 52, well-known Fleischmanns resident and the first of a family of seven to go after reaching maturity, died at the Margaretville hospital Tuesday night, the result of an accident the Saturday previous.

Mr. Kelly. was employed by Ralph Stearns. On Saturday the two men were engaged in moving a stove. Mr. Steams was driving a pickup truck and the stove was in the rear. The stove started to slide toward the end of the truck and Mr. Kelly jumped to hold it back. He fell from the truck and struck head first on the pavement. It was seen that he was in a seri-ous condition. He was hiuried to the hospital in Gormley's ambu-lance where it was found he had a fractured skuU.

His funeral win be held in the Fleischmanns Methodist church today at 1 o'clock. Mr. Kelly was bom and reared in Fleischmanns and vicinity and was a good citizen. He is survived by Mrs. Kelly and one daughter, Mrs. Andrew Leh-tenen, who resides in Kingston. There are six brothers and sisters as follows: Mrs. Marshall Oster-houdt of Fleischmanns, Mrs. Paul Pultz of Fleischmanns, Arthur Kelly of Margaretville, Sniffin of Fleischmanns, Byron of Schenec-tady, Cecil of Macedon. Mrs. Elda Kelly, his mother, also survives.

Ninety-two From County Die in Present Conflict

Robert A^ Roberts, who has had charge of the county service flag displayed in the court house park since the beginning of the war, advises that the women of the AWVS of Delhi are now at work on the flag to bring, it-up to date.

As soon as this work is com-pleted the flag again will be dis-played and will bear

Blue Stars _3,616 Gold Stars 92

This means that there have gone out from Delaware county 3,616 yoimg men and women to serve their couhtry in the greatest war of aU times, and that 92 of the flower of our youth have given the last fuU measure of devotion. No citizen will be able to look at this flag without emotion.—^Re-publican-Express.

Local Churches Will Unite In Holy Week Services

The Protestant churches of Margaretville and vicinity for a number of years have united in Holy week services. Again this year services have been planned for Holy week. They are to be centered in the theme "Christ's Way for Our Day," and wiU be held as follows:

Monday, Arkville Methodist church, Rev. Arthur Carroll preaching; Tuesday, Nazarene diurch. Rev. Wilbert Traver preaching; Wednesday, N e w Kingston United Presbyterian church, Rev. Alfred Coons preach-ing; Thursday, a communion serv-ice at the Margaretville Methodist churth, with sermon by Rev. Rob-ert Reynolds; Good Friday, at the Margaretville Presbyterian church, Rev. Alexander Balden preaching.

These services will be held at 8 o'clock. Everyone is invited.

Lt. ScoM Greene Home Lt. Scott Greene, well-known

local soldier, is home for 30 days recovering from a severe wound which he received in Holland dur-ing the German break-through in December. A piecfe of shrapnel entered his shoulder and came out through his left leg. Ife was in a baseho^tal for mai^ weeks.

Gains 55 Pounds In 2 Months Oi Yankee Cooking

Stoutenburgh Came Hoibe Tuesday to Parents and

to Community

TeDs of Cruelty Food Was Tough and Our

Soldier Ate Everything With One Exception

Cpl. Marshall Stoutenburgh, prisoner of the Japs since Bataan and released late in January by the U. S. Rangers, came home Tuesday to mother's food emd the admiration of theientire communi-ty who have been flocking around him since to tak6 a look at a real hero.

He has gained 55 pounds since his release two months ago. Cpl. Stoutenburgh talks freely of his experience in the last fight against the Japs, the death march to the prison camp and the horrors and cruelty there endured. A Jap guard strudc him in the mouth one day with a bayonet and kiiocked out one tooth. He knew no reason for the assault. The one tooth gone and a swollen left leg, the result of beriberi, a mal-nutrition disease, are the only marks the corporal carries that are apparent to one who greets him.

He was flown from the Pacific to Ft. Dix, arriving there Monday morning. His parents were pres-ent to greet him as fast as they could get through the red tape and brought him home.

In the thrilling exi)erience of being released by the Rangers he tells of the following. When he came out of the camp a Jap soldier was running down the road shout-ing, "I die for Hirohito, I die for I^ohito." A Rtoger pulled up his gun and said, "I always was an accommodatin' cuss." The Jap feU dead. AU the Jap guards were killed by the Rangers. During the years in camp the only dothing the prisoners wore were shorts, no shoes. The 21-mile march to free-dom was made barefoot. Cpl. Stoutenburgh says that many died every day. He has helped b u ^ 43 of his companions in one h<de on a morning. Sometimes one would awaken in the morning and roU over to caU the chap in the next bamboo cot to find him dead. The food was small jrortions of rice, snakes, dogs, cats, even rats. Stoutenburgh says the only thing he ever refused in food was a monkey. After a sight of the skinned creature he could not swallow the meat.

Waste Paper Drive Today, Money for Red Cross

*A waste paper drive will be made, Friday, March 30, sponsored by the Dramatics dula of Mar-garetville central schooL The proceeds will be turned over to the Red Cross.

Please tie waste paper into bimdles which can be handled by school pupils. Leave the- bundles at the curbing; in case of rain, on front pordi. Newsp^)ers and, magazines should be tied in sepa-rate bundles.. No paper will be collected unless it is tied in bundles. The collection, will begin at 8:30 a. m .

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