FAT m AT
WAB
BOND BAT
-UH MUiM
VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 57
THE ENTERPRISE
OVtlTNITOr
FOR VICTORY
BUTTED STATU WA1
BONDS-STAMPS
IViUiamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, July 21, 1942. ESTABLISHED IB9f
Volunteers To Man
Observation Tower
Twenty-Four-Uours
W. H. Carstarphen To Suc
ceed Dr. John D. Biggs
As Chief Observer
Willing to cooperate and recogniz
ing the need for a greater coopera
tion with the civilian defense effort,
more than fifty volunteers are now
talcing watches in the local airplane
spotter ar observation pott on top of
the Enterprise building. Dr. John D.
Biggs, chief observer, opened the
post officially yesterday morning at
8 o'clock and he was succeeded by
volunteers given assigned watches.
Maintained on a limited schedule
since last December by Mr. and Mrs.
Hugh Spruill at the river bridge, the
post will now be kept open on a 24
hour schedule.
Last Friday evening civilian de
fense officials, Chief Observer Biggs
and the volunteers met in the Legion
Hut on Watts Street and discussed
the work. Watches were assigned
and the post was to have been open
ed the following morning, but plans
for moving the post from the river
to the main street stand had not
been cleared at that time, and the
official opening was delayed until
yesterday morning. The official ar
rangements were handled by four
o'clock Saturday afternoon, but
watches could not be assigned until
yesterday.
Dr. John D. Biggs is entering the
service of the Federal Deposit In
surance Corporation and plans to
leave tomorrow for his new work in
Draper, North Carolina. Mr. W. H.
Carstarphen has been named to suc
ceed him, and he will take over the
management of the post late today.
The task of reporting plane move
ments in this immediate area is quite
simple, and more volunteers are
needed. The big job is handling the
work on a 24-hour schedule, night
and day and Sunday, too. It has been
suggested that a group of fifty or
sixty men could volunteer to spend
one night each in the tower every
two months while the ladies could
maintain the watch by day.
The task carries no pay, but it is
an obligation for every citizen and
supported by a cooperative spirit it
can be handled with very little in
convenience to any one. Those per
sons, interested in their own safety
and the welfare of their country and
who have not already volunteered,
are urged to contact Mr. Carstarphen
and offer their services in handling
the work.
Since last Friday, the following 18
persons have volunteered, boosting
the total post personnel to seventy:
Mrs. J. Paul Simpson, Richard Mar
golis, Mrs. Tilmon Coltrain, R Ed
win Peel, Clarence W. Griffin, Ru
pert Cowan, Rob Taylor, John W.
Manning, Gene Kimball, Joe Glenn,
K. D. Worrell, Hal Dickens, Hal
Dickens, Jr., Parker Peel. Verner
Godwin, Jr., Mrs. C. T. Roberson,
Mrs. J. C. Eubanks, Mrs. Alice Roth,
George Cunningham and Joseph
Griffin.
County Young Man
Is Hero In Big Scrap
Off Midway Island
Earl D. Ashley, Former Mem
ber of String Band, Was
Wounded Three Times
While the younf man's identity
could not be definitely established,
the heroism credited to Earl D. Ash
ley is worthy of recognition no mat
ter where he is froan it is still be
lieved that the young man referred
to is Murray D. Ashley, former mem
ber of S strong band in this county.
Hie story, released by the Hawai
ian Airforct Headquarters a short
time ago, follows:
Hie bit of ribbon and heart-shap
ed medal dangling from the hospi
tal bed of Pfc. Earl D. Ashley, of
Williamston, N. C., is the govern
ment's grateful receipt for "meritor
ious conduct and wounds" which
Private Ashley earned at the Battle
of Midway as tail gunner of an Army
torpedo plane.
Major Gen. Willi* H. Hale, com
manding general of the Seventh Air
foree, pinned the sward of the Pur
ple Heart on Alley's nightshirt at
the rarrington Hospital for his ac
tion in exchanging land in a one
sided duel with a doxen or more
Japanese tighten Intent upon de
stroying the torpedo plane as it raced
acmes the water and successfully
launched f torpedo at a huge Japan
ese aircraft carrier.
Hie 21-year-old gunner suffered
the wound* when streams of Japan
ese bullets smashed through the tail
of his plane, severely injuring him
and knocking him back from the
gun.
Ashley, whose ingenuous, smile
and out-dooriah features made him
look more like a 4-H Club member
than a gunner came out of It safely
and as a result of his heroism, help
ed bring both himself and the rest
of the plane's crew back hone to
Midway with a direct torpedo hit
on the carrier to their credit.
He related from hie hospital bed
how the torpedo plane squadron was
given its orders on the morning of
(Continued on page six)
Dry Weather Virtually Ruins
Many Crops InMartin County
The old saying that "dry weather
scares and rain ruins" is only half
true now, according to numerous re
ports coming from various sections
of the county. The condition of crops
is described as critical by farmers.
Centered mainly in Martin and a
few surrounding counties, the dry
weather has just about eliminated all
prospects for a normal harvest. Ev
en in this county, the situation is
spotted with a few farmers report
ing excellent crops. But those gases
are limited in number, with a few
explaining that their crops are only
fair.
In some sections, and those sec
tions embrace a greater part of the
county, the corn crop is a complete
loss, one farmer after another de
claring that they will not make a
peck of com to the acre. The aver
age yield on many farms will not ex
ceed a barrel of corn per acre as
compared with a normal yield of
ten barrels. The tobacco crop has
been holding up fairly well in moat
areas until yesterday, late reports
stating that the leaves are burning
from the tip to the stalk and most of
the way up the stalk. Peanuts and
cotton, showing unusual promise
during most of the season, are now
showing the ill effect of dry weath
er. Cotton blossoms are falling off
in numbers &hd PeShUl vlhCS are B?
ginning to twist.
Rains at this late hour will be of
great help to most crops, but farm
ers are convinced that most of the
corn crop has been lost, that rains
now will not materially help it.
As for tobacco, it is an establish
ed fact that the total production will
fall far below last year's figures de
spite an acreage increase
M. D. Wilson Killed
In Fall Here Monday
r
i
VICTIM
Marshall D. Wilson, promi
nent farmer and able citlaen,
was accidentally killed in a fall
on his farm here shortly before
noon yesterday.
Judge Hassell Has
Number Of Cases
Over the Week-end
Officer's Alleged Assailant Is
Bound Over To Superior
Court For Trial
Judge John L. Hassell was kept
busy yesterday holding preliminary
hearings and clearing up another
round of rowdism in the town.
James Mayo, colored man charged
with secret, felonious assault with
a deadly weapon, was bound over to
the superior court for trial. Bond in
the sum of $600 was required. Un
able to raise the amount, the de
fendant was returned to jail. The
hearing was held last Friday night
here, Mrs J. S. Ayers, Stanley Ay
era and William Edward Ormond
testifying for the State. Mayo, alias
Pittman, is alleged to have attacked
Chief of Police John S. Ayers in
Hamilton several weeks ago, the of
ficer dying a short time later. Two
of the witnesses, Stanley Ayers and
Ormond, stated that they saw the de
fendant snatch the officer's walking
stick, but did not see him strike the
officer. Mrs. Ayers stated that her
husband told her Mayo attacked
him. While the alleged attack may
not have caused the officer's death,
probable cause was found as to the
assault charge and the trial justice
bound the defendant over to the su
perior court for trial.
Using a glass pitcher, Sallie Free
man delivered a telling attack on
her common-law husband, Charles
Freeman, Jr., at their home here last
Saturday evening. Freeman was well
plastered with tape on the back of
his neck and arm. Probable cause of
guilt was found in the case, and the
woman was bound over to the coun
ty court for trial by the justice last
night under a $50 bond which was
furnished.
Eugene Whitley, colored man
charged with choking his wife, Sa
die Whitley, was bound over to the
county court for trial. He was rec
ognized to appear for trial.
Charged with public drunkenness,
Doris Speller was sentenced to jail
for thirty days, the court suspending
the jail term upon the payment of
$6.50 costs.
James Speller, charged with pub
lic drunkenness, was sentenced to
the roads for thirty days, the court
suspending the road sentence upon
payment of $6.50 costs.
Seeing Marie Chesson, colored,
leaving the picture show with her
husband last Sunday night, Tena
White attacked the woman on the
main street. Charged with aasault,
she was directed to pay the case
costs, $5J0.
Holding Last Rites
This Afternoon For
Prominent Resident
Lived Only Short Time After
Falling from Tobacco
Barn on Hit* Farm
Marshall D. Wilson, well-known
citizen and a leading agriculturist in
this section, was fatally injured when
he fell from a tier pole inside a new
ly constructed tobacco barn on his
farm here shortly before the noon
hour yesrerday. He lived only
short time, dying before medical aid |
could reach him.
It is possible that Mr. Wilson suf
fered a vertigo, causing him to fall
or he may have lost his footing and
fell from a high perch inside the
barn. His head broke the hard ground
and his body smashed a new iron
flue. It was learned following an
examination that the injury receiv
ed in the fall was sufficient to cause |
death.
Just a short time before the ac
cident, Mr. Wilson was talking with
several of his hands and tenants who
were working just a few yards from
the barn. When he suggested that
one or two wind beams should be
installed inside the barn, one of the
tenants assured him that the barn
would care for all the tobacco that
was ready for the harvest. "Besides,
Mr. Wilson, it is almost too hot to
work inside that barn," one tenant
was quoted as saying. He added that
the work could be done later when
and if it was necessary. After talk
ing with the hands a while longer, I
Mr. Wilson went to his home, about |
TOO yards away, got a drink of wa
ter and returned, casually walking
into the barn. Some of the workers
heard him driving nails and a few
minutes later they heard him fall to
the ground.
(Continued on page six)
Peanut Prices Up
Again After Slump I
The following government market
report for the week ending July 25
was released by the Department of
Reports of .the quantity of unsold
farmers' stock peanuts of the Vir
ginia type range from 50,000 to 100,
000 bags and very few mills have
enough stock on hand to take care
of their normal demand during the
remainder of the season, according
to the U. S. and North Carolina De
partments of Agriculture in the |
Weekly Market News Service Re
view
This condition coupled with fur
ther inquiries from the trade ad-1
vanced market levels this week.
Millers are again offering 7 1 -4 to 71
5-8 cents per pound for best jumbos I
which is considerably above the low |
level of 5 1-2 to 6 cents reached dur
ing the slump of a few weeks ago.
Feed markets declined sharply but
other feeds were about unchanged
to slightly higher during the week
ended July 14 Bran was down as
much as $4.00 per ton at some mar
kets.
Paying prices for eggs advanced
from 1 to 3 cents per dozen in the
Raleigh area last week, but live
poultry values were unchanged. At
the period's close paying prices for
candled and graded U. S. extra large
white eggs stood at 38 cents and near
by ungraded hennery whites at 32
to 34 cents per dozen.
In Chicago during the week grain
fed steers and yearlings gained 25
to 50 cents and hogs moved upward
from 10 to 20 cents and in spots up
more on light weights but spring
lambs sold off, closing steady to 25
cents lower. On the Carolina and
Virginia swine outlets top hogs were
unchanged at $14 in Richmond; 5
higher at $14.05 in Fayetteville and
Florence! up 10 in Clinton and Lum
berton and up 20/cents in Rocky
Mount at $14.
War As It Relates
To Home Front Is
Reviewed for Week
War Production Now Nearing
A Scale Never Before
Heard Of in World
One of the things we worried
about six months ago was whether
our great industries could be chang
ed over from making the autos and
gadgets and the appliances of peace
to manufacture on the nunu? mo
production basis? the weapons of
war.
Today we know these industries
can do just that, because many of the
largest of them have done it and oth
ers are doing it. WPB Chairman
Donald M Nelson says our factories
will turn out a total of about 45 bil
lion dollars worth of weapons and
military supplies and equipment this
year, and he expects that the figure
will rise to 70 or 75 billions (at cur
rent prices) in 1943.
Challenge To Nation
That last figure is a truly collos
sal figure. It means production for
war on a scale never before attain
ed. It means that we are shooting the
works?we have no other choice, if
we wish to preserve our liberties. It
means that we shall be making al
most nothing for ordinary civilian
uses, and it means that we must do a
better job of salvage than we have
been doing, because no amount of
production facilities can deliver the
goods unless there are materials
with which to work. And scrap is an
important ingredient of most mater
ials. In 1941 half of the raw material
required to make iron and steel
products was iron and steel scrap.
That's why WPB is pressing its new,
continuing national salvage cam
paign, and that's why all of us must
stay on the salvage job until we've
won the war.
We have with us now a brand new
sort of campaign, a campaign to get
600,000 used typewriters out of ci
vilian use and into the armed iorces.
A natural enough first reaction to
this campaign is that wars aren't
fought with typewriters. As a mat
ter of fact, they pretty much are?
and not in the sense of office paper
work, either. The typewriter with
the armed forces isn't merely a bus
iness machine, it's a means of com
munication as, for instance, the field
telephone or radio. Just one exam
ple?a bomber squadron is about to
depart on a raid over er^emy cities.
It is imperative that each pilot re
ceive last-minute weather reports at
the moment of departure, and that
these reports be clear and legible.
The typewriter, of course, is the an
(Continued on page six)
<t>
Complete Canteen
Course Thursday
--Completing?a_ spi?ri?l rmir?i? in
Red Cross canteen work, thirty-two
local wpmen will climax their train
ing Thursday of this week at 12:30
o'clock by serving a special dinner
in the Woman's Club hall. Special
guests are being invited and the meal
will be served under conditions re
quiring the canteen style, it is un
derstood. No menu has been an
nounced.
Taught by Miss Irene James, home
ceonomist for the Virginia Electric
and Power Company, the course en
rolled 32 local women. It is under
stood that at least twenty of that
number will receive certificates
showing the successful completion of
the course.
In addition to preparing for an em
ergency, the group has learned much
about nutrition, several of the pu
pils explaining that the course, of
fered by the power company, had
been of much value.
Local Lions Club
Sponsors Pig Club
?
In an effort to improve the stock
and encourage youths in raising
purebred hogs, the local Lions Club
recently bought and delivered four
registered spotted Poland China pigs
to as many club boys in this county.
The boys, Aaron Peel, of Farm Life;
Edward Matthews, of Hamilton, and
Billie Edwards and Benjamin Bunt
ing, both of Williamston Township,
are already showing much interest in
the project.
The project is more or less self
perpetuating. The boys will give a
pig from the herd to another boy.
HOW MUCH PAY?
"I have a job for you," Dr.
John D. chief observer
of the airplane spotter post, told
a street character here yester
day. Assuring the chief that he
had plenty of time to handle a
job, the character quickly asked.
"How much do you pay?" When
the chief explained that the job
paid nothing, the character cool
ed off in a second and advised
that he was not interested.
When one person declines his
services, it means that another
will have to take a few hours off
from his work and help man the
Gas Rationing For Trucks In
This County A bout Com pleted
Handling about 350 applications
the latter part of last week, the
Martin County Rationing Board just
about completed the gas rationing
program for trucks in this county.
There are a few truck operators who
were late getting in their applica
tions, and their requests will receive
attention in due time. No official
statement could be had from the
board, but it was reliably learned j
that many of the applications wi
"tailored", meaning that the requests
were not recognized in their entire
ty. In determining the rations, the
board considered several factors, the
distance a trucker lived from mar
kets. type of farming and the like
The board apparently was anxious
to give anyone gas where the liquid
is needed in carrying on business de
fined in the rules and regulations
governing the gas rationing program,
but it worked in earnest to uphold
the meaning of the program.
The service ration books for
trucks Nos. S-l and S-2, are to last
for a period of four months. Addi
tional books may be issued in some
few cases covering emergencies.
Non-highway gas books. E and R,
are being prepared and some of the
335 books have already been deliv
ered. The applicants of the service
and non-highway rationing books
have not been very prompt in call
ing for the little booklets which are
to last for six months.
Tomorrow, the board will start
considering applications for supple
mental rations. It is estimated that
500 applications have already been
filed During the meantime, the ap
plicants may drive on their A cards,
the board explaining that they can
draw heavily on the first two months
supply during the first week or two.
However, it will be bad indeed for
those persons who apply for supple
mental rations and are denied extra
allotments A conservative policy
frotyi the start is advised The sup
plemental rations should be ready
by the latter part of the week, if not
earlier in some cases.
Joseph W. Crisp
Dies In Hospital
Here List Sunday
Fiint-rul In Being Ill-Id Thiit
Afternoon at 3 O'C.liM-k
In llaHRell
Joseph W. Crisp, retired farmer
and well-known citizen of Hassell,
this county, died in the local hospi
tal last Sunday evening at 9:50
o'clock following a long period of
declining health A victim of heart
trouble, he had been in declining
health for several years, but he was
fairly active until just a short time
ago. His condition became worse
about a week ago and ho was enter
ed in the hospital last Friday for
treatment.
The son of the late W. Dj and Nan
cy Council Crisp, he was born in
Edgecombe County on January 4,
1875. When a young boy he moved
with his parents to this county, lo
cating in Hamilton Township where
he became a large land operator.
About 1918 he sold his extensive
farming interests and moved to Has
sell where he entered the mercan
tile business. The depression years
were costly ones to him, and he turn
ed again to farming for a living.
Failing health forced him to
retire from active service on the
farm, but even in late years he con
tinued to work hard against the ad
vice of his physician. During the
past several months he had made
his home with his daughter, Mrs.
Henry Allen, near here, so he could
be close to medical attention
When a young man he was mar
ried to Miss Ida Wynne, of Pitt
County, and she survives with five
children, William of Norfolk; Miss
Elsie Crisp, of Richmond; Corporal
Walter Crtsp, of Fort Bragg; Arthur
E. Crisp, of Charleston, and Mrs.
Henry Allen, of near Williamston.
He also leaves one sister, Mrs. Whit
Davis, of Hamilton.
Mr. Crisp had been a member of
the Christian Church at Hassell for
about 20 years and his pastor, Rev.
J. M. Perry will conduct the last
rites at the home there this after
noon at 3 o'clock. Interment will fol
low in the Hamilton Cemetery.
Local Youth Earns
Army Commission
Thomas W. Crockett, one of the I
first if not the first local young man |
to earn a commission in the regular
Army, was graduated from the of
ficers' school at Camp Davis last
Friday. He now holds the rank of
second lieutenant. Several Martin
County youths hold commissions in
the Army Air Corps.
Young Crockett, son of Mr. and
Mrs. C. G. Crockett, of Williamston,
volunteered his services some time
ago He was stationed for several
months at Fort Screven, near Sa
vannah, Ga. During his stay there
he earned several promotions, go
ing from that fort to Camp Davis, in
this State, to enter training for the
commission.
Other Martin County young men
are earning promotions in the serv
ice, too. Just recently Charlie H.
Whitaker, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B
Whitaker, of Williamston, was pro
moted from private first class to the
rank of corporal. The young man
will have been in the Army one year
next Friday, and is now at Eglin
Field, Florida.
The promotion of William N. Cher
ry, of Everetts, to the rank of cor
poral was also recently announced
by the Fort McClellan, Alabama,
public relations office. The son of
Mr. and Mrs. J W. Cherry, of Ever
etts, the corporal has been in the
service since last October 9th. He
received his basic training at Camp
Wheeler, Ga.
Whtle most of the camps and fortr
report many activities of the home
boys, a few feats apparently are ov
erlooked. It is possible that some
promotions and feats are overlook
ed, and that more Martin young men
are advancing in the army than it
would appear.
SPOTTED
Reports from the airplane ob
servers' post this morning clear
ly indicate that airmen will find
it next to impossible to slip
through this territory undetect
ed. Jimmy Eubanks, holding an
early evening watch, reported
the first plane at 8:05 o'clock. "It
is very simple, and the job isn't
at all bad if enough persons vol
unteer to lighten the load," Eu
hanks said.
Holding a long night watch,
Reg Simpson spotted another
plane at 3:55 o'clock this morn
ing. It is quite evident that the
fliers do anything but observe
a regular schedule. Rut so does
the enemy.
Outlook Brightens
As Allies Hush New
Reserves To Fronts
Kommrl Furiiig Had in Kgypt
Ami Kii*?iaii* Slall Ci??r
man* at Voronezh
Taking the offensive in Egypt and
stiffening their defenses on the Rus
sian front, the Allies today are of
fering a brighter outlook on the war.
The critical situation in which the
Allies found themselves in both
Egypt and Russia last week contin
ues serious, no doubt, but reserves
are pouring down out of the Urals
in Russia and are making ready for
what many observers believe will
be one of the greatest battles of all
time?the" battle for Ttusldv" The
Russians have recaptured bridge
heads on the Don River west of Vor
onezh, and although they are be
ing pushed back from Voroshivlo
grad the defenders are offering a
fierce defense and inflicting telling
losses on the Germans
The Red air force, strongly sup
porting Soviet tank detachments and
infantry shoving the Germans west
ward at Voronezh, bombed the Nazi
positions and blasted open gaps
through which the land forces pour
ed to new successes.
The Germans Were said to be te
sisting fiercely, and strewing the
course of their retreat with mines.
In one sector the Germans, driven
back during the day, undertook a
tank attack, but met a withering
barrat'e of rifle mimhinii gnn ,nnd
mortar fire which hurled them back
to their original positions, the com
munique said.
In two days Soviet airmen were
credited with destroying 39 German
tanks, 95 trucks laden with troops
and supplies, and other material.
They destroyed 10 German planes
aground.
Russian troops fighting on the
northwestern front in tin* Lake II
men area repulsed a German attack
and penetrated the enemy defense
area, capturing a strategic height and
20 fortified firing points The Ger
mans tried several counterattacks, all
of which were repulsed.
While front line troops fought a
rear guard retreat below lost Voro
shilovgrad and Millerovo, a vast ar
ray of men and machines including
American-made war-planes poured
into the southern front for a stand
before the Caucasus and the rich
Volga industries and traffic arter
ies.
Savio^ of Rostov last November
when the Germans captured it and
held it exactly a week, Timoshenko
was aligning his forces for a supreme
effort to wrest another "miracle"
from the gloomy situation and once
more reverse the tide of battle at the
gateway to the Caucasus.
Meanwhile, at Voronezh at the
other end of the 250-mile Don front,
the Russians expanded their initia
tive, seizing in a 24-hour battle a
key bridgehead which had provided
the Germans with their easiest and
shortest route back across the riv
South of Voronezh, the reports
said, the Russians rteaptured the
most important locality between Vo
(Continued on page six)
County Exceeds Its
USO Quota And All
Reports Not Yet In
Seven of the Ten Townships
Report a Total of
S 1,057.91
Martin County has gone over the
top again. This time its people more
than subscribed a $1,100 USO quo
ta. County Chairman John W. Har
iii.?ilflninini ing?lain?yasterday?at?
ternoon that seven of the ten town
ships has raised a total of $1,057.91.
Incomplete reports from two of the
three remaining districts state that
the drive is in progress, that $100
had already been raised in Rober
sonville and that Hamilton will meet
its assigned obligation. No word has
been received from Poplar Point.
To date, five townships have ex
ceeded their quotas, as follows:
Jamesville more than doubled its
quota, raising $150 or $80 more than
its quota. Griffins raised $71.10.
Bear Grass went over with thirteen
cents to spare, and Goose Nest re
ported $72 30 or $2.30 in excess of
its quota It is possible that the
Williamston fund will be increased
to $700 as several persons said they
would make contributions later.
Williams, reporting $32.10, is con
tinuing its drive, and Cross Roads,
reporting $25 15, can be expected to
leach its goal, Paul Bailey reported
at a meeting last Friday night.
Chairman John W Hardy is urg
ing the various district chairmen to
complete the work as soon as possi
ble and report directly to him.
Called out of the county. Dr. John
J) Biggs is turning over the treasur
ers' duties temporarily, at least, to
his assistant, Rupert Cowan, at the
Branch Bank.
Making the best showing in the
county, the Jamesville committee,
headed by Mrs Charles Davenport,
chairman, went out and rounded up
its quota in short order and without
very nun li trmitsTe Mrs. Davenport
was assisted by Mesdames Garland
Anderson, Fannie Modlin Hardison,
Wendell Modlin, Aleene Wallace, Ira
Alexander, John C Kirkman, Edgar
Brown, Tom Gaines, and Messrs.
Charlie C.urkin, Leo Gardner, John
nie Gardner, Elmer Modlin. Jr., and
Misses Fannie 1, Martin, Opal
Brown and Frances Coltrain. The
colored committee, composed of
Carrie McFadden, Virginia Hop
kins and Viney Spencer ably assist
ed in the drive
Jamesville Township
Mrs K H Ange. 50c; Mrs Clar
ence Stallings, $1, Mrs Frosty Mar
tin. $1: Mrs. Walter Brown, $1; Mrs.
James Long, $1; Mrs. Charlie Dav
enport, SI 45. Mrs. O. W Hamilton
and son. $1, Mrs. C. C Fleming, $2;
Mrs. Clarence Sexton, $1; Mrs Her
bert Sexton, $2, Mrs Leslie Hardi
son. $2 50; Miss Fannie Latham Mar
tin. $2, Karl Martin, 50c; Mrs J C.
Kirkman and family, $5; Gaines and
Kirkman employees, $11.90. Mrs. J.
It. Manning. 51 Torn Rrnwn Man.
mug, 10c; John Long,j$l, Mrs. James
Spencer, 25c; Mrs C. A. Askew, Jr.,
$2, Mis..-Oscar .Davcrqiort. SI; James
Smithwick, 25; U. S Hassell, 50c;
Mrs C. T Gaines and family, $1.40;
Mrs Luther Hardison, $2: Mrs. I. L.
Alexander. $2, Mrs Clyde Brown,
$1; Mrs, C" A Askew, Sr., $1; Wil
(Continued on page six)
?
Devastating Fire
Sweeps Woods In
Bear Grass Area
???
Several TIioiimuiiiI Acres of
?Tiiiilu'rluiul Rut-lied Over
In PiihI Few Days
Said to have started near a log
ging tamp in that area between the
two roads leading off U. S. High
way 17 at Corey's Cross Roads and
near the R. L. Perry farm, fire burn
ed ovtr several thousand acres of
good timberland in Bear Grass last
week. No estimate could be had im
mediately, but the loss will run well
into the thousands of dollars, farm
ers living in that section declare.
Favored by an unusually dry sea
son, the fire destroyed virtually ev
erything in its path, including siz
able trees and underbrush and clear
ed the area of foxes and game.
Headed by Forest Fire Warden
Marvin Leggett, most of the county
forest wardens reported for duty.
Possibly 100 or more farmers and
hands in that section stopped their
work and tried to help check the
fire. Several farmers actually stop
ped "barning" tobacco and took their
hands and worked night and day
trying to stop the fire before it
swept through fine stands of tim
berland.
It was thought last Wednesday
that the fire had been brought un
der control, and it was checked for
the moment. Breaking out again on
Thursday, the fire burned even more
rapidly.
Frequent and coatly fires have been
reported in the old Dymond City
area in past years, but the Beer
Grass fire is the jnost costly one re
ported outside the dismal section in
a number of years.
No official statement has been re
leased, but it is quite likely that the
fire will be investigated and thst
some action will be taken.