Fewer Marriages
In Nevada
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (^—Marri
ages and divorces, important com
merce in this busy town, are fall
ing off from the high levels of the
war-time years, county clerk Ger
trude Moore reported.
The all-time high for marriages I
was reached in January, 1942,
when 2,110 licenses were granted
during the month. This receded to
-612 in January of this year, and
so far in 1947 the monthly average
has been only about 1,750.
Divorces reached their high wa
ter mark in January, 1946, when
642 were granted, Miss Moore
said. They steadily tapered off and
in October only 275 divorces were
issued.
It’s still big business here,
though. The clerk estimated that
the average person establishing
residence for a divorce spends
about $1,000 during the six weeks.
And the average newlywed cou
ple leaves about $150 in town, she
said.
“Flying Saucers”
Most Likely Were
Russian Rockets
WASHINGTON, (A1)—Rep. Ells
worth <R.-Ore.) revived reports
today that last summer’s “flying
saucers” epidemic may have stem
med from Russian rocket experi
ments.
Claiming that he has received
reliable information concerning
the development of high velocity
missiles by Soviet scientists, the
Oregon lawmaker added in a
statement:
“Strangely enough, this devel
opment might be the solution of
he now almost forgotten mystery
of the flying saucers.”
He said the Russians are report
ed to have a rocket of amazing
speed and “almost limitless range”
propelled by a series of explosions
pccurring several seconds apart.
Ellsworth suggested that Amer
ican scientists might have been
vo-king on some similar device,
but he held it more likely that any
discs actually seen had come from
Russian military proving giounds.
Seaman Drowns
Delivering Mail
SEWARD, OP) — A seaman, j
Lewis Moses, of Sanak, drowned
and second mate Emil Gunderson i
was rescued by the coast guard at
Cape Sarachef Dec. 10, when the
two were attempting to reach the!
lighthouse for a mail delivery, |
Capt. Jesse H. Petrich of the Aleu-'
tian mail reported Saturday.
Their dory was capsized by
heavy waves near the beach, he
said.
Because of the rocks and reefs,
the Aleutian Mail had to remain
500 yards offshore and the crew
watched the coast guard rescue
Gunderson, he said. Gunderson
was left at the lighthouse, unable
to return to the ship.
Captain Petrich was arrested
here on a bench warrant from An
chorage charged with illegally
possessing and selling liquor at
villages along his semi-monthly
mail route from Seward to Atka.
He was released on $1,000 bail for
appearance in district court at
Anchorage.
Army Indoctrina
tion School
In Operation
■ -
PART IV
The students emerging from
their snow shelters on the morning
of the fourth day of Arctic indoc
trination, found a bewildering
scene The landscape had changed
its face overnight—where there
had been clearly defined land-1
marks and tracks the day before,!
the landscape was smooth and
filled with drifting snow. The
wind was strong, driving before it
a fine hard snow that stung the
face and brought tears to the eyes.
Some of the students upon trying'
to emerge found their entrances
partially blocked, and easily dug
their way out. Questioning reveal
ed that “Yes, the shelters were
fairly comfortable” and “No, we
had adequate fresh air.” Their
feelings were mingled upon seeing'
the sled dogs that had slept in the
open overnight, with no visible ef-'
fects from the cold. The dogs keep
warm by curling their bodies and
drawing the feet close, protecting
the whole underside by the bushy
tails.
Despite the snow and wind,
there were soon fires burning or>
the beaches with the men utilizing
the driftwood that had accumu
lated ov’er a period of years. After
sleeping inside through most of
the night, the men needed aad
wanted exercise. Consuming .a
meal of field rations the students
prepared for a trip farther out
from shore, taking crab nets and
short poles and line for fishing.
Escorted by the instructors, they
sallied forth, walking carefully to
avoid stepping into snow filled
cracks and crevasses. Reaching a
section of ice which was filled
with open holes they dropped then
nets and line into the water—their
efforts were soon to be disappoint
ing, however, for the receding
tide caused the ice to rise and fall
visibly, thus breaking up the fish
ing party.
Throughout the day the men
were closely watched by their in
structors, with the men gaining
more confidence in their abilities.
The instructors were careful ta
prevent any “overconfidence.”
Some of the shelters were enlarg
ed, the men finding that the shel
ters in their original form were
too small to be practical for ex
tended periods of time. Most of the
snow caves which were dug the
previous day were made to accom
modate two men. A large drift
was selected in most cases and the
digging begun—one man having
to lie prone and shovel the snow
with the excess snow from behind
the man digging. The entrance
was made small to prevent loss of
heat, with the tunnel slightly larg
er. The main room was made high
enough to permit the men to sit
erect during their meals and be
fore sleeping. Branching out to
each side were the smaller sleep
ing rooms slightly longer than the
students’ sleeping bags. The sides
of the snowcaves were formed
into the shape of rought doric
arches, this shape being stronger
than the conventional square
room. There was another purpose,
however, as the moisture melted,
the snow inside, as it was sure to
do when fires were lit, the water
instead of dripping on the occu
pants, would run down the sides.
This soon resulted in a covering
of ice inside the rooms, causing
even better insulation than the
snow alone. Meals were cooked on
small Coleman gas stoves — the
stoves compact enough to fit into
the pocket of a parka. Vents were
made near floor level to prevent
any possibility of formations of
carbon monoxide while the stoves
were lit.
This is the fourth day of indoc
trination in the Arctic outdoors.
After spending one more night in
the snow shelters, the students
will again venture forth across the
ice for further instructions in
catching sea food in the raw. The
possibility of a crash landing on
the polar pack is probable, this
phase of training is thoroughly im
pressed upon the students. Some
time during the fifth day, the men
will return to Nome Air Base for
their final briefing and a frank
discussion of what they have
learned during five days with the
Arctic Indoctrination School.
Then, the students will luxuriate
in a fine meal in the mess hall and
a good night’s sleep in a warm
bed under permanent shelter.
As early as 1830, oysters were
canned in Baltimore and shipped
by wagon to Pittsburg.