North Carolina Newspapers

V v k , 4 , it *"2 • '"~*iiSk * Leads All Other Papers tn This Section in Service and Ci VOL XVIII. NO. WAR WITH GERMANY IS EXPECTED AT ANY MOMENT LINER CALIFOR NIA TORPEDOED There Were} American Citizens on | (Board The Big Liner when She was Hit-Attack was Made with er oat warning-President Re tiredjbnt was Informed Lnter. BELIEVED THAT THE LIM IT HAS BEEN REACHED. : D. C. Feb. 7, 1917 . —The steady stream of reports telling of the destruction of mer chant ships by German subma rines was brought to a climax to night by a cablegram to the State Department from Consul Frost at Queenstown announcing that the British passenger liner Cali fornia had been torpedoed with out warning, and that an-Ameri can citizen was among the sur vivors. Whether this will prove to be the overt act to drive the United States into war no one would at tempt to say to-night. President Wilson who must make the decis ion, had retired when the ne\frs came and officials did not wake him. Late in the afternoon he had been informed of the sinking of the California, but giving no details as to warning or the presence of Americans. More than a score of merchant craft have been sent to the bot tom in the war zone within the patt 24 hours, and fifty or more since the German proclamation of ruthless warfare on the seas went into effect. THE D, A. I MEETING The Gideon met with Mrs. John L. Hassell, on Thursday afternoon, February •the first. It was the annual meet ing for the election of officers, and the following were elected. Mrs. »J. H. Saunders, Regent; Mrs. A. R. Dunning, Vice-Re gent; Mrs. John D. Biggs, Recor ding Secretary; Mrs. C. B. Has sell, Treasurer; Mrs, John E. Pope, Registrar; Miss Mayo Lamb, Historian; Mrs. John L. Hassell, Reporter. "Maryland" was the topic for discussion, and a most interest ing sketch of Charles Carroll was read by Miss Annie Lamb, and "Maryland's Relation to William Penn" by Mrs. J. H. Saunders. The p a t r i o t i c song, "Mary land, My Maryland," was sung by the Chapter. At the conclusion of the pro gram, refreshments were served by the hostess. Among the out-of-town mem bers present was Mrs. Lyda Cox, of Robersonville, N. C. The meeting adjourned to meet with Miss AllielG. Little at Roberson ville. on April the twelfth- Hon. A. R. Dunning has been in Halifax this week. THE ENTERPRISE PRESIDENTS ACTION UPHELD IK SENATE Washington, Feb. 7.--President Wilson'B severance of diplomatic relations with Germany was ap proved by the Senate. Two Dem ocratic Senators, Vardaman and Kirby, and one Republican, Works, voted against the resolu tion- Senator Lodge. Republi can, the bitterest critic of the President, pledged his support and urged his colleagues to fol ow. Party lines vanished and all members approved with the above exception. Startling Assertions Cape Hatteras is today just 40 miles south of where it was when the Atlantic coast line of this continent was first mapped; Roa noke Island was 20 miles long when Sir Walter Raleigh's colon ies settled there, whereas to-day it is only 12 miles long; the place on Roanoke Island which is mark ed as representing the site of old Fort Raleigh is not the site of old Fort Raleigh, now being buried under water six times or more from the north end of the island; the coast line of North Carolina is constantly changing, old inlets are closing up and new inlets will take their places; old Ocean already has her plans well laid to cut a new inlet thru the North Carolina banks and the new inlet probably will beat Nags Head: some fine morning after a night of storm the summer residents of Nags Head may find tj/eir cot tages have been away and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean mingled with the waters of Roa noke Sound thru an inlet a mile wide, even as they were in the days of Amadas and Harlow. The foregoing startling state ments are iTjjjde in all seriousness by Dr, J. D. Hathaway of Eliza beth City. Dr. Hathaway has made a study of the North Caro lina coast for many years and has gained some little renown as an Indian relic hunter. Dr. Hath away gets the data for his state ments concerning Hatteras and Roanoke Island from many old maps and from letters written by early colonists. He bases his prediction that Nags Head may be destroyed by the natural for mation of a new inlet, upon the fact that the waters of the North Carolina sounds must have anew inlet to the ocean within a few years, because most of the old inlets have been closed or are be ing closed by the ever shifting sands. Dr. Hathaway has promised to give this newspaper a digest of his discoveries, observations and theories at an early date. —Inde- pendent. \ Passed Over Veto « The literacy test in the immi gration bill pleased Congress, who passed it over the President's veto in both Houses. Cleveland, Taft and Wil»on all have vetoed similar bills, but this time the bill was passed over the veto. The Japanese Government pro tested strongly against the pas sage of the bill with the test contained therein, but Congress saw matters differently fropi the WJLLIAMSTON, N. C.. FRIDAY FEB. 9. 1917. President and others. President Wilson's argument that a man should not be debarr ed because he had not the op portunity of education was well taken, perhaps, but there is in the mind of Congress the prob able incoming of loads of foreign ers after the war is over, and they would prefer the educated immigrant to the uneducated. A Month Of Holidays February, though it is the shortest month in the year, is rich in holidays, feasts, etc. Mr. Ground Hog opens the series, then comes on the 12th the birth day of Abraham Lincoln, and a National holiday, in which the entire Nation, North, South, East and West join in honoring this great American, who came[ direct from the people. Then | comes St. Valentine's Day on the 14th, and from a sentimental point of view, this day holds fullest sway, Every school boy and girl know about good St. Valentine, who is the patron saint of lovers the world over. At the present time, it has be come a gift day, when friend sends flowers, or some token to remind that the heart still warms at thoughts of the absent. With very few exceptions, Ash Wed nesday falls at some time in the month; this is preceded in many places by Mardi Gras, in which King Pleasure holds fullest sway, i The day itself ushers in the sen-' IsonofLent. But to the Nation Jas a whole. Washington's birth day on the 22nd, is the,most im portant holiday, in every town, city and hamlet, the character of 'the man is extolled, and cherries 'become the favorite fruit and the 'hatchet the popular instrument of the non-cutting kind in the schools and patriotic societies >f I the country. A Big Contract Earl L. Byers, a trained aviatur with a Curtiss tractor, has con tracted with the government to deliver the mail twice a week at Nome, Alaska. The price of the contract is $49,500. That the trip will be attended with many dangers, can hardly be denied; much of the country aver which Byers will fly is covered with snow to the depth of thirty feet, and if he had to land, it would not be possible to start again. He has estimated the danger and will guarantee the delivery of the mails at the price above for one year. _ _ To Be Higher Those who pretend to know have said that the catch of shad will be larger this year, because the number in Florida waters is much increased. But even with a greater number, comes the announcement from the New York fish dealers that the price will be much higher. This ir due t6 the unusual prosperity and Ihigh wages, which makes moni'V flow more easily. Food products of all kinds are up and the tooth [some shad will head the list, of. [ coprse. It is earnestly hoped and ex pected that Roanoke River will furnish a goodly number this season; the taste of shad was rare last season unless one had a bulging bank account. SECRETARY LANSING SAYS THAT AMERICA HAS RIGHT TO SEAS Secretary Lansing in a state ment says that American ships have the same right to the high ■eas as they did before Germany's ultimatum to the world, in which she declares her intention to sink all vessels sailing in a prescribed tone around the British Isles and in the Mediterranean Sea. The statement further intimates that American ships have the right and will protect themselves if) attacked. This will apply to all | neutrals, if they decide to defy the ruling of the Imperial Ger man Government, and sail upon | the open seas to which no nation i or nations have a title. MK. EDWIN GLASfiOW DEAD. After a short illness, .James Edwin Glasgow died at his home near .lamesville. yesterday morn ing at 12:80. Pneumonia had at tacked him, and the united ef forts of physician and loved ones failed to combat the disease. He ,*ras the son of Mrs. Mary Barn hill, and brother of Miss Annie Glasgow. Since early J manhood, he had been manager of his, mother's farm, and had made the home of his family sweet in which to dwell Retiring in nature, he loved hjs home ai.'T v ry seldom left it. co mix with the world. He possess ed a wouderful intellect, and per haps, no man of like age, had stored within his mind more his torical facts, and other interest ing things of which he talked freely. When a boy, he attended the Williamston school, and many remember him as one of the brightest pupils of his time. Mrs. Bettie Ilarrell and Messrs Clay ton and Maurice Moore of Wil liamston, are closely related to him, The funeral will be held today and the interment will be in the family cemetery. Greatly Needed The recent cold weather gave an unpleasant demonstration of the need of a coal and wood yard i in Williamston. The bad roads for several weeks prevented the farmers from filling their wood orders in the town, and people were inconvenienced thereby. If there was a wood yard, and it was filled with hundreds of cords during the fall, and a large quan tity of coal stored also, the sit uation would be much more sat isfactory. Several firms here keep coal, but they.depend upon ordering from time to time and often the supply gets exhausted. A regular yard would prevent the exhaustion. There is plenty of wood in two or three miles and less than that, which could be handled for the use of the pub lic, who depends largely upon the farmer for fuel. Let's have a yard—it's needed. Re% W. R. Burrell was unable to preach Sunday owing to the return of the cough, which -has afflicted him for several weeks. v% pt.oo a Year in Advance Western Weather According to the weather man, the cold wave struck this section last Friday, accompanied by a beautiful fall of snow. The mer cury which had been sitting high scampered down until it register ed 8 degrees, some said, while others said ten. At any rate, it was too cold for comfort, and the wind was like a blizzard out West. The cold continued with unabated degree until Sunday, when the wind changed to the Southwest, and there was a noticeable degree of warmth. Bat it for Sunday night to usher in the worst of the sea son.- With a velocity rare in these parts, the wind blew all night, threatening at times to take the roofa-spA the houses. Just before 12 oVlock, jf". cloud arose and when it mscst/upon the town, the scene presented was indeed a Western one, for the snow was blinding, coming as it did on the wings of a wind of high speed The fall was not more than two inches as the cloud went past, and the moon shone again. When the mercury was noticed after the people arose, it had rushed down two more de crees- the lowest for years. Dur ing the continuance of the storm and about 4 o'clock (ire broke out in the house occupied by Henry | Hopkins on the railroad, and owned by N S. Peel- Hopkins had .just time to get out with I his family, and saved only one or two-articles from the fire- The hou.ie on the next lot was con sumed, but by heroic effort, it I was prevented from going farth- Jer though the wind was still rag ing iike a wild 1 >«-a .r. These houses were occupied by colored ! people, but the white men of the .town fought the flames until they I were conquered, the snow on the I house-tops aiding greatly. |SENATOR WARREN'S BILE PASSES SENATE ' On Wednesday, the Senate at Raleigh passed the bill of Sena tor Lindsay Warren dividing the [State into two judicial districts | with twenty-four judges and twenty judicial districts. The rotation of judges will be so ar ranged that there will always be two available for the holding of extra courts. The bill was sent the House, having passed with out opposition, as it was the prop er solution of the congested con dition-of North Carolina courts. In Justice's Court One of the interesting cases that was heard in the Justice's court here this week, was the town of Williamston against Critcher and Stokes, who are oc cupying the City market stalls and refuse to pay the rent or to vacate. A Writ of Ejectment was gotten out against them, and the case was up before Justice W. Gf Manning. Thedefendants gave bond for the payment of the rent and damage that might be found and for their appearance at tho March Term of Superior Court. ' • • J G Staton has been in Nor folk this week on business. FAVORABLE RE- , PORT ON Bill. Representative Stubbi' Bill For The Calling of a Constitutional Con vention was Adopted Favorably. Will be the First in Forty-Two Years-Prohibition Clause Tiken Out of Bill Submitted. CONSTITUTION CALLED A VENERABLE INSTRUMENT Representative H; W. Stubbs, of Martin, has received a favora ble report on his bill for the call in)? of a constitutional convention, subject however, to the vote of the people. There was but cue dissenting voce in committee on the constitutional amendments. Messrs. Stubbs, Murphy, Person and Newell spoke for the bill. If the bill passes the House and Senate, which i s x pected, the first constituti nal convention'.since 1875 will prob ably be called. Mr. Stubbs sees great need for a revision for the "venerable instrument known as the Constitution." Mr. Murphy stated that North Carolina was the nly state :n the Union which had made no change in its organic law in the • last twenty-five years. He point- ; ed out that one important revis ion was needed, that of the j "homestead exemption" clause lof the constitution. lie .Kiid | that it afforded to every sx-oun j drel in North Carolina a chance !to become a thief to the extent I of $1,500. Mr. Stubbs amended his Li 11 | in deference to his friends. The Original provided that no liquor j clause was to be considered He therefore, drafted the bill, leav- ■ | ing the liquor clause out In his statement, he declared that any inhibition as to matters to be von sidered might work harm to the bill, when left to the electorate of the State. Pleasing Recital The pupils of Miss Helen Louise Maynard gave a pleasing recital on Thursday evening of last week at the studio in the Parish Hall. There were about sixty guests, and these were served refreshments after the program was finished. Miss Alberta Aiken and Mr. Harry M. Stubbs sang two numbers on the programme possessing voices which ciiarmed in "The Broken Pitch er" (Poteat), and "Who Knows" (Ball). Amonp&he members'of Miss Maynard's class who took part in the recital were, Mary Belle Harrell, Mattie Lou Anderson,. Doris Chitty, Louise Crawford, Martha Cotton Crawford,- Ethel Griffin, Martha Slade Hassell, Thelma Brown, Bonner Gurganus Virginia Jordan, Annie Clyde Gurganus, Pearl Meadows, Kosa Bullock, Nina Upton. m * • J. A. Mizell, of Robersonville, was here yesterday.