North Carolina Newspapers

Watch The Labal On Your Paper, Aa It Carries The Date Your Subscription Expiree I THE ENTERPRISE Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns A Latchkey To Over 1.M0 Homes Of Martin County. VOLUME XLIII?NUMBER 67 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday , August 20, 19 W. ESTABLISHED 1899 SERIOUS Morattock Service Last Sunday Draws About 1,000 People Elder Bunnell and Dr. C. C. Crittenden Were Prin cipal Speakers "Dictators not only say that dem ocracy is worthless, but the rulers of the totalitarian countries have am bitions of overthrowing this system of government, as evidenced in their overrunning of Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, France and now they are battering England." Dr. C. C. Crittenden .executive secre tary of the State Historical Com mission told about 1,000 persons at tending the celebration of the 135th anniversary and the second annual pilgrimage to Morattock Church on Sunday These totalitarian countries teach that the individual exists for the State and is a servant of the state while the democracy in this country holds that the state exists for the benefit of the individual, pointed out the speaker, adding that the rights of the individual had been revoked in totalitarian states while in this country, citizens retain their free dom of speech, freedom of the press and other citizenship rights. The settlers who came to North | Carolina were among the most dem ocratic of the states because they | were among the middle class of in habitants of this country. They were not planters or shippers or men of affairs, but home-builders and church builders. Many of them as Baptists held that there should be no established state church; they were among the first to protest Brit ish tyranny; they started democratic control of the church, a control by the people and not the leaders, said the speaker J. C. Baskcrvill, of Raleigh, execu-1 tive secretary of the Governor's Hos pitality Committee and a represen tative of the advertising division of | the State Department of Conserva tion and Development, told the crowd that he was glad to see that the historic church had been repair cd to giuo-it-^ was one sure way to attract visitors. "What we want," he said, "is to doll up North Carolina and then tell the people about it." Three million visi tors last year spent $102,000,000 in | this State, according to the speak er. Col. George Hyde Pratt, geologist of the University of North Carolina and president of the North Carolina Society for the Preservation of An tiquities. said the Morattock Church building had become a community center, a shrine for the county, state and nation, admitting worshippers of any faith, as denominations are only departments in the Christian move ment. The speaker also pointed out that those who had left the community might return to their church home tnr annual service D. Thomas Singleton, of Elizabeth City, presented a tablet to the church upon which was inscribed the fol lowing; "Morattock Church, estab lished^ 1783, in memory of its pas tors; Silas Mercer, John Page. Mar tin Ross, Amariah Biggs, Micajah Ambrose, Elder Barnes, Micajah Per ry, Miles Everett, Arnet Waters. Wil liam Gray. Clayton Moore, Redin W. Peacock, Newsom H. Harrison, Wil liam B. Clifton. "Destroyed by storm in 1937, re stored by public contributions di rected by John W. Darden, 1939. Tab let presented by D. Thomas Single ton in memory of his mother, Mary L. Singleton, and her sister, Florence Allen." Elder Ernest Clifton, of Florida, Primitive Baptist minister and a brother of the former pastor, William B. Clifton, accepted the tab-1 let for the church. Elder Robert H. Boswell, of Wil son, moderator of the Black Creek Primitive Baptist Association, preached a stirring sermon in the morning and lunch was served pic nic style to the crowd on the grounds at noon. W. M. Stubbs. pastor of the church rendered John W. Darden, chairman of the arrangement committee for the event, who presided over the oc casion, much service in helping the affair to move forward rapidly and in an interesting way. ? Defense Drive Will Cut Down Jobless What Uncle Sam's "all-out" de fense drive will mean in employ ment when it really gets into actual aaaetnbly-line speed, is beyond esti mating with accuracy, but here are the figures of Sidney Hillman, la bor member of the commission, on the employment phase of the situa tion, to date: About 80,000 persons are taking training for jobs in de fense industries; the shipbuilding In dustry is now employing almost 40, 000 more people than at the 10-year peak In 1887; the aimiaft industry is employing 80,000 more than at that time; the machine tool industry, 18, 000 mors?and the same is true of the engine industry. Encouraging Prices Noted on Border Tobacco Marts Today An encouraging note came from along the border today as auc tion tobacco sales got underway at sixteen points there and in close-by South Carolina towns. First reports from the early selling activities placed the general average from 17 to 20 cents. Direct reports stated that farmers were very well pleased, that based on activities around the markets the outlook was encouraging Few tags were reported turned during the early selling Sale prices ranged six cents to 28 cents on one of the border markets and Lumberton reported a 17 cent average. However, the Associated TRAFFIC Motor vehicle traffic over Fnited States Highway No. 17 reached an all-time high peak at this point last Sunday when North-South traffic and sight seers poured into the thorough fare from roads blocked by high waters in other sections. Based on an authentic count, it is estimated that more than 6,000 motor vehicles used the river bridge here from seven o'clock Sunday morning and 7 o'clock that evening. During a three-hour period Sunday after noon nearly 1,700 vehicles crossed the bridge. Possibly more than half the number was local traffic or sight-seers. Official Results Of Quota Referendum Official results of the flue-cured tobacco referendum held July 20 have been announced by K Y. Floyd, AAA executive officer of N. C. State College. The state-as-a-whole ap proved three-year quotas by a mar gin of 87.1 per cent. The total vote was 12,883 for three-year quotasr 2,073 for one-year quotas, and 16, 367 against quotas. The vote in Martin County was 2885 for three year quotas, 15 for one year quotas, and 39 against quo tas, for a percentage of 98 2 in favor of three-year quotas. Among the larger counties in the State, where more than 60 votes were cast, Greene County gave the three year plan its largest margin of ap proval, with 99.2 per cent of the growers favoring restricting of pro duction in 1941, 1942 and 1943. Fol lowing in order were the following other counties which cast 95 per cent or more percent oi tneir votes tor three-year quotas: Martin, 98.2 per cent; Edgecombe, 97.9; Pitt, 97.6; Lenoir, 96.3; Gran ville. 96.2; Wilson. 96.1; Hoke 95.9; Chowan, 95.5; Nash, 95.4; and Robe son, 95.0. Only two counties in the State failed to give the three-year plan the necessary two-thirds approval. These were Sampson, where only 55.2 per cent of the growers favored three-year control, and Pamlico, where the vote was 66.5 per cent in favor of three-year quotas. The official vote in other counties in this section was: Beaufort Coun ty, 1643 for three year quotas, 54 for one year quotas, and 333 against quotas, the percentage in favor of three year quotas being 80.9; Bertie County, 1695 for three year quotas, 16 for one-year quotas, and 99 against quotas, the percentage in favor of three-year quotas being A. Martin County, ranked in the list of major tobacco producing counties, gave the referendum the highest percentage support. Public Urged To Protect Game In Flooded Sections Warden Bill Abbltt and other rune officials are dlreetlnf an earnest appeal to the public urf Inf as much protection as possi ble to wild life routed from its (round* by floods now r*(in( in the Roanoke lowlands. Depu ties hare been added to the force durinc the past few days in an effort to preserve wild life. It ha* hern pointed out thst people livinc alone the flooded areaa could do much to preserve the pise by tieinf their hound dogs and warnlaf hunter* that it Is unlawful to hunt (ame at deer have been taken in this county durinf the paat few days, bnt in all four eases the fieeinf animals were returned to safety, Warden Ab bltt said early today. It tat fear ed that many deer will be lost and that number* of wild tur keys will be drowned before the Press report from 16 markets gave an estimated average of 20 cents. This general average was drawn from sales made up to 11:30 this morning. The quality of the tobacco was, compared with last year, reported to be only fair and in some quarters it was said to be poor. No official report can be made of today's sales but comparative esti mated figures would indicate an in crease of two to three cents over last year. In 1939 opening sales were reported from 17 to 18 cents. The sales on the border markets were said to be lighter than they were on opening day last year. Oak City Negro Is Beaten To Death Saturday Night Raymond Powell Ih Arrested Soon After Fatal Attack. On W. W. Mitchell Willie Walter Mitchell, 21-year-old Oak City Negro, was fatally beaten near the old Odd Fellows' hall there Tast Saturday night about 10 o'clock. He died about five hours later with out regaining consciousness. Ray mond Powell, young Negro man, was arrested later that night by Chief Edrnond Early in connection with the brutal murder, and a search is now being conducted for Sam Powell who is believed to have had a part in the fatal attack. Details of the killing could not be learned immediately, and Powell when questioned in the county jail refused to talk or throw any light on the cause of the attack. Powell's brother, Srfm, immediately left the scene of the attack and had not been heard from at noon today according to reports reaching here. According to information gained from Chief Early, Oak City officer, Mitchell had been drinking and was believed to have had an argument with Raymond Powell in Herman Burnett's store. "I passed Mitchell on the street with another man. He told me that he had placed a nickel in a pool table in Burnett's store, and that they would not let him play. Mitchell also claimed that they threw him out of the store." Continuing his story, the officer said that he advised Mitchell to go on home. "He (Mitchel) assured rw tftar he was going home," the officer added. Ten minutes later a commotion was heard near the old lodge hall, and the officer learned that Mitchell had been beaten almost to death. In vestigating the attack, the officer learned that Mitchell had walked across the railroad in the company of Wheeler Lynch and Elijah Bak er presumably to look for some il legal liquor. They hod hardly reach ed the old hall when Sam and Ray mond Powell ran up A short argu ment followed, Lynch and Baker claiming?they?tried to quiet them and prevent a fight. Sam Powell started closing in and Mitchell struck him with a stick. Powell then turn ed, picked up a heavy stick and knocked Mitchell down, according to information gained from the Oak City officer. Hardly had Mitchell fallen to the ground before Raymond Powell was said to have jumped on him and started pounding his head with a half a brick. The man's skull was fractured, possibly in several places before Buck Bunch went to the scene and pulled the Powell Ne gro off of him. It was reported that Mitchell, his hrad battered ami blood spurting from his ears and nose, went crazy and that four men found it difficult to hold him while Dr. E. E. Pitt man made an examination. No hearing has been scheduled in the case, Chief Early stating that it would be delayed pending the out come of the search for Sam Powell. Lions Will Hold Special Program By CHAS. A. LEONARD On Thursday night, August 22, the Lions Club of Williamston will celebrate Ladies' Night jointly with District Governor's Night. Lions from the Hertford, Plym outh, Edenton and Washington clubs along with their wives and sweethearts are expected to be here for the meeting. An interesting program has been planned, and the principal speak ers will be District Governor James H. Parker, of Clinton, and Zone Chairman Norman Trueblood, of Hertford. The meeting will take place at the Woman's Club building at seven o'clock. A record attendance is an ticipated Under the leadership of Lion Rev. S. J. Starnes, It Is hoped that the lo cal club will be able to take an un usually active part this year in the civic advancement of our commun ity Tremendous Loss Is Reported In the Flooded Seetions Stale Prison Farm and Feder al Farm Project Have Rig Crop Losses Destruction accompanied by tales 3f woe is following the muddy Ro anoke as it pours its raging waters mile by mile down an irregular course to the sea. Property losses, ranging well into the millions, not to mention the loss of human life, are being left as the stream abandons its conquered territory and reaches jut after a greedy fashion for more. Roanoke Rapids and Weldon to day are taking their first check of the damage as the raging waters fnoved out fairly rapidly after reach ing all-time high marks. No accur ate estimate of the loss there is available, but it will run well into the millions of dollars. Ranging southeastward, the mud dy stream struck a heavy blow at the State Prison farm, near Tillery. One hundred out of about 6,000 acres of cropland was untouched by Ihe raging waters which swept hundreds of cows, thousands of hogs and numbers of work animals and goats from the farms and low lying lands Getting a first-hand re port on the loss at the State farm Sunday. Farmer Harrell Everett stated that 150 cows were drowned, that every hog on the farm, possi bly more than 1,000, had been wash ed away. On the resettlement farm, the tenants saved an occasional chick en, but hogs and other farm animals were left behind to a definite fate. Weldon is still without its regular water supply. Traffic over 301 was resumed there yesterday afternoon is thi' flood started moving rapidly for the lower reaches along the itream. Employment ^vas dealt a heavy >low at Roanoke Rapids where hun ireds of men and women were ;hrown out of- work when the mud ly waters flooded the textile mills luire weeks and possibly months to ?cpair. Thousands of acres of crop lands lave been flooded in several coun ies, including Halifax and North impton where the losses were ap jarently centered. The peanut crop jore the brunt in Northampton, hut n several Virginia counties consid erable damage was done to tobac Fwo Hurt In Auto Truck Wreck Near Everetts on Friday Hi?Trnrk?Turns?Hrrr?hr (Irifk Between I'armele And RoberHitnville Two persons were injured, one of hem seriously, and two others were ilightly bruised in two motor ve >icle accidents in the county last veek-end. H, M. Shives, badly injured about he head and neck, is confined to a ocal hospital for treatment. His irother was cut about the face and lead, but he continued to his home ifter spending one night in the lospital. The driver of a large oil ruck was slightly bruised when he truck he was driving turned ov ?r on a bridge between Roberson /ille and Parmele last Saturday horning. Robert McCotter, ' operating a arge transport truck for J. S. Mann, >f Merry Oaks, was driving west in U. S. Highway 64 when he start id to slow up for the driver of an ild Model A Ford to turn into the Bailey road, one mile east of Evcr >tts. William Frederick Shives, driv er of a Studebaker, said he did not lee the truck that he had his foot in the accelerator when his car (Continued on page six) River Fill Is Reported Broken; Serious Loss to Property Now Anticipated in Immediate Area Ole Man River Wins Battle Over Workers on River Fill Hundreds of convicts, brought here from several county camps and working with extra forces, lost a hard-fought battle with Ole Man River at 6 o'clock this morning. Starting a feverish attempt last Saturday to hold the muddy waters off the causeway, the approximate ly 300 men aitgj convicts moved in thousands of loads of dirt and filled thousands of sandbags, but at two o'clock this morning the tide of bat tle was turning against the hard pressed forces. The first water, mov ing in across the sand pit at the oth er end of the fill at that time, con tinued to gain in force and at six o'clock this morning Highwaymen Peabody and Hay man offered a com plete and unconditional surrender. Within a few minutes water start Ne^ro Boy Drowns In Roanoke Near Hamilton Sunday CliriMtopher I'omell. 10. Tliiril Boy To Drown in County Thin Summer Christopher Powell, 10 year-old colored youth, was drowned in the flood waters of the Roanoke at Ham ilton early Sunday afternoon. He was the third drowning virtim ??f the summer in the county, two othgr colored boys having lost llieir lives, one in Sweet Water Creek at the ,wld road bridge and the other at Tar Handing in Gardner's Creek Pow< II and two companions had been going swimming in a smlill canal feeding into the Roanoke at Hamilton. Failing to take into con sideration the flood waters backing in from the Roanoke, the boy plung ed into the little stream and found it over his head. Unable to swim, he called to his companions for help. They offered him a stick, but it broke, and becoming frightened the two companions?fled,?leaving?ttrc boy to his fate. No report of the drowning was given by the two boys, and when first questioned they de clared that he had started swimming but just before he got ready to go Ihtb the water In1 though! he heaiil someone coming, picked up his j clothes and fled. The drowned boy's relatives searched all night for him, and after failing in then search for him they questioned the boys again and learned that he had drowned. His body was recovered near the spot where he drowned yesterday morning at 10 o'clock by Wesley Baker. Investigating the drowning, Coro ner S. R. Biggs stated that there was no evidence of foul play and that no inquest was considered nec essary. Flood Victimn Advinctl To Sec W el fare l)r part m en t Miss Mary Taylor, head of the Martin County Welfare Department, has requested that anyone needing blankets, or staple foods, due to the flood waters in Williamston. or throughout the county contact the welfare department at once. This is not an open invitation to everyone, day of September, 1940. at twelve cd by the flood. If in need, because of high waters, the welfare depart ment will be glad to be pf assistance, if contacted. Damage to Tobacco Crop Will Possibly Boost Market Prices It's an ill wind that blows no good, ind while they are not happy over he other fellow's loss, some Martin bounty tobacco farmers are of the ipinion that damage to the tobacco rrop in the flooded areas and in oth ?r sections where excessive rains lave fallen will effect an increase n market prices this season. The extent of the damage has not jeen determined, but unconfirmed -eports maintain that a large acre ige in the Old Belt and large areas n other belts had been damaged by he flood waters. In addition to the lood damage, excessive rains' are selieved to have aggravated the con lition of the crop and effected a itill further reduction in the antici ja ted production. In this county Sunday and yester day, farmers in several sections were reporting a considerable damage as a result of heavy rains last Wednas dy night and Thursday. The hot sun following the rains caused the crop to flop, it was stated. In the Oak City area, the damage will be heavy, while in other sections where the rains were not quite so heavy the crop is standing up very well. Cloudy weather and a drop in the tempera ture today wdl possibly limit the damage Farms point out that the worms ar? causing considerable damage, that the curing process is dishearten ing in many cases and that produc tion will not be half of a normal crop in many sections. I fd creeping onto the fill in other spots, and by noon today the nuidr dy waters covered large portions of the causeway "We held the river back until it had reached more than a foot and one-half above the level of the con crete, and we saw that we were fight ing a losing fight." District Super intendent Dewey Hayman said this morning. Highway forces then left the fill to its own fate, withdrawing to this end and stopping long enough to build a strong barricade. The last passenger traffic went over the causeway at a few minutes past 6 o'clock this morning. J. A. Pritchett, of Windsor, making the trip. "If 1 had known what I know now, I would not have attempted a crossing," Mr. Pritchett was quoted as saying. ANOT1IKR KI COKI) Old river men. men who have followed the activities of the Koanoke for nearly three-quar ters of a century, declared this morning they had never seen anything to equal the present rampage. ? Holding a normal depth on the first of this month, the river showed an irregular rise from - day to day- until early yesterday morning. The reading at that time was just eight inches over "flood", the gauge standing at 10.8. This morning, 24 hours laieivtlic gauge recoided a iead-~ ing of 15.8, a rise of exactly five feet and an all-time record. A record number of visitors is also in the making. Water Pollution Is Health Menaee Our great menace from flood wa ters, as far as health is concerned, is pollution of water supplies with typhoid> dysenteries, and diarrheas 'following "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Therefore the best advice we can give is. when in doubt boil the water before drinking it. Of course, those coming to high ground will find hi'lUl Wider. It is when they return to tin- homes that all wells and even pumps should be chlorinated and plenty of lime srnt U red around the premises. There will be someone from the health de partment to vaccinate against ty phoid fever at our clinic points j throughout the county. Every Wed nesday morning at Jamesville and Rb6e?sonville. Every Saturday i morning at Williamston and Oak City. If groups of people will meet us, we will go to any place suggest ed carrying the protection as close as possible to those needing it because of high water. There is no danger of water pol lution for the town, as a whole, but residents in the flooded areas arJT warned to guard their snnm- >>f w? Ter Delayed Dale For Opening Schools Tit lie Considered The possibility of delaying the opening of the schools in this county was mentioned in educa tion circles here today when a eall was issued to members of the Martin County Board of Education for a discussion of an opening date at a special meeting here tomorrow after noon at 2 o'clock. Tentative plans for opening the -schools on Thursday, Sep tember 5. have been advanced by several of thr school princi pals, but reports from patrons point out that tobacco harvest ing Is unusually late this sea son and that the opening of the schools should be delayed at least a week, if not longer. The board members are expected to act In accordance with condi tions as they exist In their re spective communities, but a uni form opening date ia virtually certain. During the past several yean, the schools in this county start ed the fall term on the first Thursday In September. ("oast Guard Will Locate Temporary Headquarters Here ? I .ate Prediction* Are That Water Will Flood Road By About Four Feet EVACUATIONS COMPLETE SerioiiHiie** of Flood Threat Grow* For Riieraide Plant Here Striking suddenly and with full force, the waters of the Roanoke early this afternoon had spared hu man 1 if** in its wake, but claimed property worth thousands of dol lars. While they girded for a record flood, farmers and others along the lowlands were helpless to cope with ?the situation. In most instances, the inhabitants fled with only meager -persona 1 br iongings, leaving much stock, household goods and fine crops to the wrath of the ever-mounting flood. Eighteen or more inches short of a predicted crest of nineteen feet, (about nine above the banks') the river was said to be rolling down over a four-mile swamp at nearly six miles an hour, the resulting damage to be determined only after "The waters recede .the latter part of the week During the early stage of the iiopa at tins point, the daoiage brunt was borne By Wicomico Lumber Cora pany and the Saunders and CoX Lumber mill. The scene then shift ed to the Roanoke River fill,, one unconfirmed report stating that the four-mile .dam had broken in two places, but thai the width of the breaks could not be determined. Early this afternoon, the rising wa ters were bearing heavily upon the large plant of the Standard Fertiliz er Company, threatening to damage the stocks valued at approximately $100,000. The Goldman Package operations late yesterday, and early this afternoon water was rising rap idly inside the plant. Workmen, in large numbers, were at especially The?greatei part of last night ^shifting electric motors and throwing a dam around the large fertilizer stocks inside the fertilizer plants. Aside from the industrial front at this point, a luucy damage is le ported on lowland farms. The Linds ley ice Company reported 200 acres of brans and peas ruined. Most of that farm. Rapidly rising waters are expected to claim a small number of farm animals in the islands section of Williams Township where rabbits were seen climbing trees and squir (Continued on page six) Automobile Drivers Warned To Be Alert ^Tln- killing uf several persons in private driveways and yards In the slate this summer has prompted Ronald Hocutt, director of the North Carolina Highway Safety Division to remind drivers that their respon sibility does not cease when they are not on a public highway or street. "Drivers should be just as alert and cautious m the operation of their vehicles on private property as they wuuld be on a public thoroughfare," the sufety director declared. "In fact, since playing children and oth er persons going about their normal pursuits In a Titivate yard or drive way -du- not expect to encounter a motor vehicle and therefore are not as alert as they would be in the strict or roadway, the driver should be doubly cautious on private prop lettv." ?? Stressing the importance of cau tion on the part of drivers when Oft private property, Hocutt refer red to the recent accident in which a salesman drove into a yard and lan over a blanket under which two children were playing, killing one of the children. In another recent acci dent, the driver of a coal truck park ed his vehicle in a btfek yard with out aetting the handbrake or leaving the truck in gear. The truck roUad down a slight incline and killed a woman in the yard. "From the time your car leaver its garage or overnight packing plaee in the morning until it returns at night, wherever it may be. standing or mov ing, it should be handled eafeiy. You are always responsible for what your car does." J