The State Port Pilot
Southport, N. C.
Published Every Wednesday
JAMES M. HARPER, JR. Editor
Entered as second-class matter April 20, 1928, at
the Post Office at Southport, N. C, under the
Act of March 3, 1879.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
ONE YEAR $1.50
SIX MONTHS 1.00
THREE MONTHS .75
Wednesday, December 15, 1948
Christinas Season
It might be said that Sunday ushers in
the Christmas season for this community,
for on that day the first of the special
holiday programs will be given at the
Methodist church.
Then in rapid succession throughout
the week will follow Christmas programs
Christmas parties, a Community Christ
mas Tree, a Carol sing and, finally, the
arrival of St. Nicholas himself.
It is a period of joy and merrymaking;
and it is a time for being thankful for
our privilege of living in this Nation, in
this State and in this community.
Fire Truck
The faithful old Model T has served
us long and has served us well, and as
late as last summer was good for wide
spread publicity for this community, but
the fact remains that Southport is in
desperate need of more adequate fire
fighting facilities.
That is why there should be general
rejoicing that members of the board of
aldermen and leaders of the volunteer
fire department last week placed an or
der for a new truck.
The first big push has been to raise
the amount of the necessary down pay
ment. The matter of being able to keep
up the large payments on the balance of
the purchase price is something else to
consider. But when you are called upon
to donate, or when you are asked to con
tribute with some benefit which will
help to raise these funds, remember that
as a citizen of Southport, as one who is
under the protection of the volunteer fire
department, you couldn't make a better
investment in the security of your home
and its furnishings.
Mr. Robert C. St. George
Business was at a complete standstill
here Monday afternoon as stores closed
and various offices suspended activity
while the people of this community,
proud and humble alike, paused to pay
a final tribute of respect to their friend,
Mr. Robert C. St. George.
There is hardly a club, an organiza
tion or an order in Southport to which
he was eligible for membership to which
he did not belong. Nor was he content
merely to be a member in name only.
Wherever he was on the roll, there was
good evidence of his interest and activ
ity ; and elective offices without number
have been his reward for faithful service.
Perhaps there was no other activity
which drew a greater portion of his in
terest than his work with veterans and
dependants of deceased service men. If
a full list of those persons in these
groups who have been helped through
his efforts were available, the names
would reach a staggering total. No other
person in the county .either paid or un
paid, has ever done more in this connec
tion.
Mr. St. George was not without his
critics, as what man who had served in
public office for as long could be; but he
had no enemies. His official duties as
county auditor required much of patien
ce and of tact, and had there been great
er wealth with which to work, his task
for the county would have been made
easier.
There was no more dominant charac
teristic of our departed friend than his
spontaneous generosity. You could al
ways depend upon Mr. St. George to do
his part, and his office has been the
starting point for many a drive for funds
for worthy causes.
He will be missed in this community
which he loved so well. He will be mis
sed many times, by many people and in
many places before his value as a citizen
and a friend can be fully appreciated.
Time To Halt
The story comes out of Washington
that a further increase in the postage
rates on magazines and newspapers may
be sought as a revenue measure. The un
informed may have passed this item up
without reading, but its significance
couldn't be missed by an editor or a pub
lisher.
Newspapers and magazines are more
than private enterprises and the govern
ment has a better right to know that fact
than the biggest corporation. There isn't
a day or a week that governmental ag
encies don't call on the weekly, the semi
weekly and the daily to promote their
pet projects.
We can be specific on this point. The
local post office is concerned about de
livery of Christmas mail. Without a pen
ny of compensation, we have published
top stories on the front page for the pur
pose of encouraging early mailing and
correct addressing. Any store or busi
ness corporation would have paid the
price of a page advertisement for that
sort of display. But the front page is not
for sale. Yet the newspaper gave that
space to a governmental agency as a
public service.
The same sort of public service is giv
en repeatedly to the Army, the Navy,
the Coast Guard, the Marines, the Social
Security administration, the farm orga
nizations and other government off
springs. And yet it is proposed that the
already high postage rate on newspap
ers be increased.
The newspapers are happy to ren
der such public service as it does but if
this latest proposal goes through, it
wouldn't be unreasonable to place gov
ernmental agencies in line for the same
treatment that regular advertisers get
?pay for their messages.
Holiday Desirable
A holiday is desirable but "don't let
death take your holiday."
No doubt many will read and disre
gard it. And some may not be around
even for that Christmas holiday to
which everybody looks forward .
The State Department of Motor Veh
icles is making a point of the slogan,
"Don't let death take your holiday."
Raleigh Roundup
(By Eula Nixon Greenwood)
POTATO PROBLEM?The North Carolina
Irish Potato?particularly the highly perishable
early commercial variety grown in Eastern North
Carolina?has not been in good health for a num
ber of years now. This also holds true for virtual
ly all these June and July potatoes grown along
the Southern Atlantic Seaboard. Had it not been
for the assistance of Uncle Sam, many a grower
would have lost his shirt years ago, and despite
Federal help some of the planters have not feared
too well. The only people who have consistently
done well with the early commercial potato are
the fertilizer manufacturers.
Congressmen Graham Barden and Herbert Bon
ner have stood by the potato growers, and are
now attempting to get a better support price for
them. But it seems that when one problem is set
tled another comes along.
Now it begins to look as if a man who is
thoroughly familiar with the annual potato mess
might become chief of the National Potato Coun
cil. He is Harry Westcott, Dare County native
who has been fruits and vegetable marketing
head with the N. C. Agriculture Department
since 1940. Though he is from a county which is
not what you would call an agricultural strong
hold, Westcott is thoroughly familiar with the
problems faced by Eastern North Carolina po
tato growers.
The Potato Council position would carry a
salary of $15,000 per year, the principal hitch
being that it would require Westcott to move to
Washington, D. C., and he likes Raleigh?partic
ularly now that one of his old sidekicks, W. Kerr
Scott, is going in as Governor. Westcott has be
come one of the top men In agricultural market
ing in North Carolina, so keep an eye on him.
GOERCH AGAIN.?Carl Goerch, that idea
man, has done it again. This time it is a 64-page
booklet called "Pitchin' Tar," which made its ap
pearance on Tuesday, December 7, just in time
to hit the Christmas trade right on the nose. Re
tailing for one dollar, this latest Goerch opus
tells you things you should know about North
Carolina, such as: outstanding scenic attract
ions, hunting and fishing, good places to eat,
odd facts about N. C., educational progress,
population figures, the textile industry, odd
names of towns and cities, etc.
In lots of ten or more you can virtually get it
wholesale?75 cents per copy. Goerch has been
referred to as "Carolina Chatterer," aviator, gen
eral gadabouter, and what have you. Most of all,
however, he seems to be an A-l salesman.
I FUNERAL SUNDAY
Continued From Page One
Dosher, W. E. Stevens, Clinton
Bellamy, Joe Cochran and Robert
Dosher. The honorary pallbearers
were, Paul Dosher, W. R. Bom
berger, Robert Jones, Tom Tyler,
Joe Arnold, Bernice Hewett, Jack
Drew, John Hewett, Lewis Har
dee, Charles Williamson.
Mr. Wescott was unmarried.
He had spent his entire life here j
with the exception of the time
he was going to sea.
ROBERT ST. GEORGE
{Continued From Page One)
Thomas and Russell St. George,
Southport.
Funeral services were held on
Monday afternoon at Trinity
Methodist church with the Rev.
L. D. Hayman in charge, assist
ed by the Rev. Henry Ruark of
Chapel Hill, craveside services
were in charge of local Masons,
who served as active pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers included:
members of the Southport Lions
club, the American Legion post,
the J.Q.U.A.M., and L. Stein, R.
R. Stone, Dr. J. F. Robertson,
S. A.' Smith, Roy Tienkin, and
Brunswick county officials.
COUNTY AGENT TO
Continued From Page One
good in all respects. Mr. Brick-j
house who is bringing down, ad
vised the board this past week
that he thought the work in
Brunswick county called for a
man with an college degree and
that he must have at least served
as an assistant county agent.
Mr. Dodson, who retires on
January 1st, gave as his reason
for resigning the fact that he is
practically worn out from his long
and continous service as a county
agent. He began his work in
Brunswick in 1921 and previous
to that time He had served as
county agent in Pitt county.
STATE PLANNING
(Continued From Page One)
sible to produce them here much
cheaper than th'ey can be bought
in Georgia or eleswhere.
Their growth and distribution
In Brunswick county will be of
great publicity value to this part
of the state.
Woodrow Hart Confesses
(Continued from page one)
to go out the road, and I told
him I had a case of beer. He said
Let's go out to Dick Crockers
and make him drunk. I want to
get some off of that girl. So we
went out to Dick's and went in
and took the beer in. They all
drank beer and I may have drank
one or two bottles. I don't know.
But I was sick and laid down.
Ed was trying to hug up the girl.
X think her name is Katie, and
Dick told her to go on to bed,
and for one of the other children
to go with her. She said to Dick j
Don't let anybody bother me. He|
told her to go on, that he would
n't let anybody bother her. They
kept on drinking beer and I told
them to leave one or two bottles
until in the morning.
"Etr said Let's go on up to
Willie's and get some whiskey.
After we started on up to Wil
lie's Ed said to me, Wood, damn
you, you was the one who made
that girl go to bed. You put in
agin' me.
"I told him Ed, Lord have
mercy. If you made that girl
that was none of my business. He
started driving the truck just as
fast as it would go through that
fill at Walden Creek. I said, Ed,
you are liable to kill us both. Ed
said Hush up. I didn't say any
thing else and just sat there
studying to myself, trying to
figure what he meant.
"He drove the truck on up to
Wherever it was we stopped and
he said, I'm going to beat your
brains out. He stopped the truck,
I believe right in the ruts the
best I know, and he run around
the truck from his side and open
ed the door and said, Get out.
"I told him, Ed, Let's not have
no trouble. I've not done nothing
to you. He jerked me by my shirt
in the colar and pulled me out. I
turned and he hit me in the
mouth. I said, Ed, don't hit me no
more. I've not had no trouble,
I've not done nothing to you.
"Ed backed off and said to me,
You whipped Fred Fulwood, but
I'm going to give you one. While
he was backing off I got my
knife out, and I had my knife
open as he was coming at me, and
I held it up. He made another lick
and hit me on the jaw, and the
knife hit him when he hit me. I
never jobbed the knife. When he
come at me his force run into the
knife. Ed, said, You've hurt me.
"I said, I'm sorry. I begged you.
He ran around the truck and got
in and slamed the door. I stood
right there in my tracks. He pull
ed the truck off as hard as he
could go.
"Well, I started walking up the
road just like anybody would, in
the ruts and out of the ruts, and
I didn't try to hide my tracks. I
walked on until I got to where
the truck was pulled in off the
road. I knowed there was a little
road there, because I have been
hunting around there. I figured
that Ed had pulled off there and
was waiting for me. I watched
on both sides of the road, toward
the truck and on the other side,
and walked fast. I was looking
for him to jump out on me with
something to hit me with. Nothing
didn't move, so I come straight
on up the road. I walked on from
there to Willie Wilson's.
"I went into Willie's and knock
ed to the back door where Willie
slept. John McCoy come to the
door and Willie was in bed. John
built a fire in a heater stove. I
asked Willie after he got up If
he had any whiskey and he said
that he didn't have none. John
McCoy said he could get me some,
so I gave him $3.00 and he went
somewhere and brought back a
pint of whiskey. It was moonshine
whiskey, and I took a drink. It
made me sick. There was a bucket
on the floor, and I grabbed It
and went to vomiting. John took
a drink of whiskey. He had a
mouth harp and started to play-1
ing. Willie asked him not to drink I
all of the whiskey up because r
was sick and would need a drink
to settle my stomach. They drank
most of the whiskey, but they
left a little. I laid down tfn the
cot. It had a bedspread on it. I
took another drink of whiskey,
and it stayed down.
"I told Willie that I had some
trouble down the road. I told him
that Ed Wescott had jumpped on
me and had pulled me out of his
truck and had hit me. I told
them that I had took my knife
out and that he had run into it.
We was discussing was Ed hurt
deathly and they asked, Could
you.have killed him?
"I said I hope not. ??
"Willie said, Nobody knows about
that but us three, me John and
you, and he said I won't tell it.
And John said he'd not tell it.
"I said They all know that I
was with him at Dick's and if
they come up here I'Jl just tell
them that we had the trouble.
"I hadn't took my knife out of
my pocket since I come to Wil
lie's. I hadn't washed it any
where. I think that while I was
walking up the road I may have
took it and wiped it off with my
fingers.
"The first time i knew any
thing about that boy being dead
was when someone stopped at
Wiilie's house ana
a boy dead down th, '
I heard that I went J1*4
I knew in mv mi., u
what
1 "?y nuna
OYSTER ROAST
?NOW OPEN?
Enjoy Delicious, Fresh
Oysters and Entertainment.
Seashore Grill
"BAUCOM'S PLACE"
Long Beach
SCHEDULE
W. B. & B. BUS LINE
Southport, N. C.
EFFECTIVE TUES., JAN. 20,1948
WEEK-DAY SCHEDULE
LEAVES SOUTHPORT LEAVES WILMINGTON
*? 7:00 A. M.
7:00 A.M. *9:30 A. M.
9:30 A.M. 1:35 P.M.
?1:30 P.M. 4:00 P.M.
4:00 P.M. 6:10 P.M.
6:00 P. M. 10:20 P. M.
*?These Trips on Saturday Only.
**?This Bus Leaves Winnabow at 6:10 Daily.
- SUNDAY ONLY -
LEAVES SOimiPORT LEAVES WILMINGTON
7:30 A.M. 9:00 A.M.
10:50 A.M. 1:35 P.M.
4:00 P.M. 6:10 P.M.
6:00 P. M. 10:20 P. M.
THE CHRISTMAS STORE
For The Kiddies
Bicycles ? Tricycles ? Toys
FOR HIM or for HER
Select A Beautiful HELBROS WATCH,
For Years Of Joy And Satisfaction
For The Family
Articles That Make For Greater Pleasure?
GREATER COMFORT ALL YEAR !!
Radios . . . Electric Toasters . . . Electric Hot-water Heaters
Broilers . . . Electric Stoves ... Vacuum Cleaners
Washing Machines ... Furniture for Every Room
In The House !
^A SUITABLE PRESENT FOR EVERYBODY
IN THE FAMILY!
KINGS ELECTRICAL SALES CO.,
SHALLOTTE, N. G.
GET A
Je?!
? Use the ?U-purpoM u]?p>'
U t tractor to pull yo? fo, 1
implements; as t track to m
5,500 lbs; and haul 800 1^
?t a runabout to ttk? yon to
town or through the puna,. |
Use the "Jeep" power takt-ol
lo no your (arm equips^ 1
Fleming Y/iilys
COMPANY \
304 N. Second St
WILMINGTON, N. C
HERBERT JOHNSON,
SOUTHPORT, N. C.
VISIT PICKARDS
North Carolina's
MOST
COMPLETE
STOCK OF
BICYCLES
ALL MODELS ? ALL SIZES
Prices From
$35.95 TO $69.95
SEE US BEFORE YOU BUY !!
PICKARDS
SPORTING GOODS
HOME OF WORLD FAMOUS
COLUMBIA BICYCLES
209 MARKET ST. DIAL 2-3224
Wilmington, N. C.
He's Cowing!
You never know wliat'i happening
?t the other end of the line! That i'
it's important to allow about a
minute for your party to reach the
telephone?and just as important to
answer your own calls as promptly?'
possible. Being considerate pay# of111
better telephone service for evei)?'?
fOUTNIRN IIU miPHONI AND TUIOItAPH COMMN*
hnrnnM
Give party emlled time to ansuer