The state herald., 1919-06-06
CENTENNIAL STATE ITEMS.

winning of the war gigantic and
dangerous task. Sergeant Major Louis
Whiles, who has just returned to his
home In Denver after eleven months
of service In France, tells tale of un-
remltting labor and danger that can
scarcely be exceeded by those related
by the men who carried the guns. Ser
geant Whiles was member Of the
Fourteenth Engineers and ran an en-
gine which carried supplies from Rat
tentout, near verdun. to the front
lines. During the Argonne forest fight
he and his crew were on duty for sew
en- days and nights without relief and
were able to get only such rest as they
could snatch between times. Sergeant
Whiles wears wound stripe, the re-
suit Of having been injured In the leg
with high explosive shell, which, on
January Is, 1919. exploded under the
engine he was running, utterly demol-
ishing 1t and woundIng all the crew.
Lieut.. William Q. Sullivan, of Tellu-
ride, originally member Of Colo
rado's own 18th regiment, and later
with the Seventy-sevcnth division Of
New York, passed through Denver on
his way home from overseas. Leuten-
ant Sullivan wore u distinguished
service cross awarded for valor shown
while fighting In the Argonne. Lieu
tenant Sullivan served with the bat
taliOn which, after five days severe
fighting, finally rescued Major Whit
tlesey's lost battalion" in the Ar
gonne. While leading his men across
the Aire river In the Argonne forest.
be was wounded just above the heart
by sniper's bullet. In spite of his
severe wound he refused to leave his
company. Of which he had been In
command since the wounding of his
captain. Finally he was ordered to
the rear by the regimental commander
and for his heroic action In keeping
his men In hand was awarded the dis
tinguished service cross.
Following hearing called before
Gov. Oliver II. Shoup In an attempt
To have the governor commute the
death sentence now resting on Clifford
Sprouts, negro, to life Imprisonment,
the chief executive granted reprleve
of thirty days. Sprouts was convicted
by Pueblo court OF the murder of II
turnkey, w. W. Green, last October,
and sentenced to be executed June 20.
The contention put forth was that
Sprouts was without means to push his
case to the higher court.
After lying unconscious for four
days with several ribs fractured, his
lungs pierced by broken bones, his
chest crushed to pulp. and his body
badly bruised and battered. y. J. Nc
kenan, farmer OF Kcota, died MS the
result OF an accident. lie was assist.
ing In loading a large steel tank into
a wagon, using pair OF wooden skids
for the work, whenone OF the skida
broke and let the tank, which weighed
more than ton, fall, catching him un-
dernenth 1t.
Robert w. Cummings, 80. well known
Archuletn county rancher, committed
suicide at his home nine miles north
OF Pagosa Springs by shooting himself
through the head with u 1880 Win
chester. Mr.. Cummings had been In
rather poor health of late md had
acted very melancholy. He placed tho
gun under his chin and completely
shattered his head while his wife was
In an adjoining room.
Grand county commissioners have
recommended the Rabbit Ear road,
from Kremmling to Martin. for i'm.
provement by the state highway com.
mission. and federal road appropria.
tion Of 5000 will be used on this road
this year. This is link In the short.
est automobile route between Denver
Kremmling and Steamboat Springs.
The largest amount OF government
land open to homestead entry In uny
land district In Colorado In 4,GG6, 300
acres In the Glenwood Springs dis.
trict. In Eagle. Garfield. Gunnison.
Mesa, Moffat. Pltkin. Rio Blanco and
Routt counties. More than o-thIrds
Of this In In Moffat and Rio Blanco
counties.
The state highway commission has
received word that the snow blockade
on Berthoud pass has been broken and
the road is now open for travel. In.
formation also reached the commits.
sion that crew Of men is working to
get through the snow on Battle noun.
tnin to open the rond between Fnlrpiny
and breckenridge, with good prospects
that the task viii be completed
shortly.
Friends and relatives Of T. II. Col.
man. ~. who is missing at Colorado
Springs, hold out fenr for his safety.
A. no trace Of the missing man has
been discovered. Colman escaped from
81. Francis hospital. where he was to
have undergone nm operation. The DO.
lice have been unable TO find a trace
md believe he went to the mountains
where he may have died Of exposure.
william T. Smith. 20. who drove