The Johnstonian-Sun
VOL. 26
SELMA, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1943.
NUMBER 52
^ Tommies Hold Vigil in the Desert |
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These are not shepherds but British Tommie, assembled around the silent
glow of a bonfire in the Libyan desert. The Tommie, are holding their own
Christmas eve vigil far from home under a bright North African moon. An
accordionist accompanies them in the singing of their hymns.
The Johnstonian'^Sun
Is 27 Years Old Today
Four Members i»f Editor’s Fam
ily, As Well As The Johnston-
ian-Sun, Have Birthdays The
Last Half Of December.
^ This is The Johnstonian-Sun’s 27th
birthday, on which it completes its
26th volume and begins on the 27th.
The paper is happy on this day
that its stay in Selma has been wel
comed by so many people of Selma
“This Christmas’
By MRS. CARL K. PARRISH
It is December. Every December is
fascinated by the story of Christ’s
birth.
and Johnston county, who have been!
What will be your watchword this
Christmas ? May we suggest,
“Watching With Christ This Christ-
its supporters by their subscriptions
and advertisements throughout its
long career, and especially since the
present management has been in
charge.
Fourteen and a half years has
elapsed since we printed the first
copy of The Johnstonian-Sun, and
we are indeed appreciative of the
loyal support given us throughout
that entire period of years; and at
this Happy Yule-tide season we want
to thank them all and wish for them
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year.
During our stay in Selma we have
enjoyed the work of publishing The
Johnstonian-Sun, as well as the
privilege of knowing and and asso
ciating with so many fine citizens of
the town and surrounding territory.
During the past 14 years we have
operated the paper there has been
f,ew changes in the personnel of the
office force, save for the fact
that we have lost two of our key
men to the armed forces—Alton G.
Stancil, former office foreman, and
Jay Batten, linotype operator. H. H.
Lowry came with the paper on Jan
uary 1, 1930 and is still with us. He
has been the Advertising Manager
through all these 14 years and has
made a good one, and “Shorty” (Bill)
Stancil, son of the editor, promises
to be an indispensible asset to the
paper as linotype operator and ster
eotyper. These last two, with the
editor, constitute the present office
force.
In speaking of birthdays, it seems
rather singular that December is
not only the month in which The
Johnstonian-Sun is celebrating its
birthday, but the editor will cele
brate his birthday next Tuesday,
Mrs. Stancil will celebrate her birth
day on December the 25th, his old
est daughter, Mrs. J. A. Martin of
Sulfolk, Va., celebrated her birthday
on December 23, and his youngest
daughter, Betty Jo Stancil celebrat
ed her twelfth birthday on December
17. This makes four birthdays in the
editor’s family during the last half
of December, and that of his paper
builds it up to five.
Alton G. Stancil, who is now locat
ed somewhere in Greenland, writes
that he is getting along fine. He
says the Northern Lights are a spec
tacle which he would not attempt to
describe. Jay Batten, who is located
somewhere in South America, writes
that he will be mighty glad when the
war is over so he can come back to
Selma and see some more pretty
■white giirls.
The adoration of the Wise Men
inspires us; the story of the eager
shepherds fills us with humility; the
history of Mary gives us a most
timely inspiration. She it was
through whom Christ entered into
the world. If only people everywhere
would become instruments of bring
ing God to men!
Holly wreaths are emblems of joy;
hearth fires always seem to burn
more brightly at this glad season;
love in the hearts of mankind appears
to grow deeper. Even the Christmas
Cards are sent with a new note of
gladness.
But listen friends: Joyous fe.stiv-
ities must not blind us to the suffer
ing in the world. We wonder if there
is so much suffering because there is
so little of God in the world?
“O Worship The King,” “O Little
Town of Bethlehem,” and “Silent
Night” all proclaim joyful news, but
the world is still forlorn unless His
spirit be bom again within human
hearts this day.
Jesus came as a Prince of Peace.
But how many do you know who
have that peace that passeth under
standing? There are times when ev
erything runs smooth. Then some
thing happens to upset us. Even so
with our national life. A leading ed
ucator^ reminds us that we have had
a major war about every twenty
years for the past two hundred years.
What are we really seeking this
Christmas ? Brotherhood ? Joy ?
Worship?
Let us try to recover Christ this
Christmas. Bow at His, cradle, dedi
cate your life to follow His way of
life.
After Christmas, our greatest gift
will not be the material gifts that
loved ones or friends have given us,
but it will be the New Light that has
come into our lives and faces be
cause we watched -with Christ this
Christmas.
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“ ’Build Me a World!’ said God;
Not with a navy’s strife.
Not with a boast in arms.
Compassing death, not life.
Out of man’s fairest dreams;
Heaven must be its dome,
Lighted by prophet gleams;
Justice shall be the stone
On which my world shall rise;
Truth and Love its arches.
Gripping my ageless skies.
Out of dreams on the earthly sod
‘Build Me a World!’ said God.
‘Build Me a World.’ ”
THREE GET PRISON TERMS
FOR RODBING SELMA WOMAN
H
ND it came to pass in those days that there went
out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the
world should he taxed.
2. (And this taxiAg was first made when Cyrenius
was governor of Syria.)
3. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.
\ 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city
of Nazareth, into Judea,
unto the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the
house and lineage of
David:)
5. To be taxed with Mary,
his espoused wife, being great with child.
6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days
were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7, And she brought forth Itdr first-born son, and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field, keeping ivatch over their flock by night.
9. And, lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and
the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they
were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said
unto them. Fear not; for,
behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people.
11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying:
14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward men.
15. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away
from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another.
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which
is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16. And they came with
haste, and found Mary,
and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger.
17. And when they had
seen it, they made known
abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18, And all they that heard it wondered at those things
which were told them by the shepherds.
19, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them
in her heart.
20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising
God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it
was told unto them.
21. And when eight days were accomplished for the cir
cumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which
was so named of the angel before he was conceived in
the womb.
WITH
WAR BONDS
KEEP ON
‘^etekin^l^AttkeJef •
' WITH WAR BONDS •
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MORE THAN 70 ARE
KILLED IN WRECK
Two Streamliners Pile Up On
Track About 12 Miles Prom
Lumberton, Causing One Of
Greatest Railway Catastro
phes in History lof Railroad
ing In The South—Death List
Placed At Over 70 and 100 ‘
Wounded.
William Davis Hamm. Thur
mond and Raymond Hardy of
Scotland Neck Found Guilty
In Johnston County Superior
Court—Take Appeal To State
Supreme Court,
What was characterized as the
worst train wreck ever to occur in
the South took place last Thursday
morning about 1 o’clock when two
streamlined Atlantic Coast Line pas
senger trains piled up on an icebound
stretch of track in Robeson county
near the small town of Buies, and
about 12 miles from Lumberton.
The first train to wreck was going
south, which is thought to have left
the track when a rail broke, derail
ing several cars, and killing one per
son and injuring others. This train
is reported to have jumped over be
tween the two tracks but not onto
the northbound track.
Another streamliner headed north
from Florida to New York, was due'
in about 40 minutes, but for some!
unknown reason, when the north-!
bound train approached the scene ofj
the wreck it failed to stop or even'
slow down, according to reports, and
ran into the wreckage of the derailed!
train, causing one of the greatest
train catastrophes in the history of
the state. It was first reported that
50 persons had lost their lives and
100 or more had been wounded, but
later reports showed that the dead
had reached between 70 and 80 and
the wounded were still listed around
100.
It was one of the coldest nights to
visit that section in many years, and
much suffering was experienced by
horror-stricken passengers and by
those summoned to the scene to ren
der aid to the wounded in an effort
to release many from the wreckage
by attempting to get the wounded to
hospitals for treatment.
Hospitals in Lumberton and Fay
etteville were soon filled with the
others from the wreckage as the toll
in dead and wounded continued to
mount in staggering proportions. j
It was reported that the larger
per cent of the dead and wounded
were soldiers, many of whom were
on furlough headed for their homes ^
to spend the Christmas holidays. |
An investigation has been under!
way by railway officials ever since!
the wreck occurred in an effort to'
I place the blame for the accident, but
so far no definite decision has been
made. One remarkable thing about
the accident is that the engineers on
both of the mangled trains escaped
death and are still living to tell the
story. One report from the engineer
on the northbound train is to the ef
fect that the headlights of the en
gine to the southbound train blinded
him so that he failed to see the
wreckage or any signal of warning.
Considerable interest was mani
fested by the people of Selma in the
outcome of the trial of three men
from Scotland Neck, who were tried
in Johnston County Superior Court
last week before Judge Clawson L,
Williams, on a charge of having en
tered the home of Miss Ardella
Evans, 77, who lives one mile east of
Selma, and robbed her of a large
sum of money, estimated to be around
.$6,000.00. The robbery took place
about October 1.
Ever since the robbery occurred
officers have been on the alert to find
some clue that would lead to the ap
prehension of the guilty parties, and
after working on a number of cold
tracks, they seem to have gotten on
the right track, according to evidence
produced in court last week when
William Davis Hamm, Thurmond and
Raymond Hardy, all of Scotland
Neck, were hailed before Judge Wil
liams on the charge of having com
mitted the robbery. The trial consum
ed about two days before the case
was given to the jury, -which brought
in a verdict of guilty, after which
Judge Williams imposed sentences
ranging from 7 to 10 years in the
State penitentiary. Notice of appeal
to Supreme Court was given.
The defendants were ably repre
sented by Attorney E. G. Hobbs of
Selma, and former Solicitor Claude
C. Canaday of Benson, both of whom
made strong pleas for their clients.
The State was represented by Solic
itor Jack Hooks.
Selma Boy Arrives In
Selma From Iceland
Many Selma People
Are On Sick List
Yeoman First Class Earl Lane, son
of Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Lane of Selma,
arrived Tuesday evening from Iceland
where he has been located for the
past sixteen months. He joined the
Navy in April, 1942. While overseas
he spent some time in England and
Scotland.
Speaking of the weather in Iceland,
he said it does not appear so sold
there along the coast where he was
stationed, but that farther away from
the coast in the mountains it retlly
gets cold.
Sp. 1-C M. B. Lane, Jr., also a son
of Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Lane of Selma,
is stationed somewhere in the South
Pacific, where he has been in the
Pacific area for about 18 months, and
is the only one of the Lane children
who will not be home for Christmas,
except the former Miss Hazel Lane,
who was recently married to Lieut,
Shelburne Brannan' in Hattiesburg,
Miss., and whose wedding announce
ment appears elsewhere in this issue
of The Johnstonian-Sun.
Mr. R. P. Oliver, owner of Oliver’s
Market, is ill at his home, suffering
from a heart attack. Mr. Oliver was
stricken Sunday at his home. His con
dition today remains about the same.
Mr. John H. Talton, popular barber
at the City Barber Shop, is confined
to his home with an attack of flu.
Mrs. Talton and little granddaughter.
Miss Patricia Lewis, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. R. G. Lewis, are also on the
sick list.
Mayor Barnie A. Henry has been
suffering from an attack of flu for
the past few days. The Johnstonian-
Sun wishes for these splendid citizens
a speedy recovery.
John Jeffreys^ Jr. Has
Enlisted With U. S. Navy
John Jeffreys, Jr., son of Mr. and
Mrs. John Q. A. Jeffreys of Selma,
has enlisted in the United States
Navy. John left Monday, December
13, for Jacksonville, Fla., where he
will be stationed for some time. This
young man will be missed in this
town. He was active in Boy Scout
work and was a member of the choir
of Edgerton Memorial Methodist
church here. He was also managing
editor of the high school paper, “The
Yellow Jacket.”
Rear Of Town Hall
Building Decapitated
Another of Selma’s eye sores is be
ing removed this week, this time it
being the decapitation of the old un
sightly annex to the rear of the Town
Hal! Building. Carpenters have begun
the dismounting of the roof of the
structure, which we understand will
be tom down to the level of the main
Read all the Christmas ads in this
issue. You will enjoy the beautiful
sentiment contained in each one.
structure and recovert
This is one of the mL
able acts the Town Fail
far undertaken. This old
was built back in the d^ys of the
!t commend-
;rs have so
inex, which
town operas, has always been untidy
and gave the entire structure an un
tidy appearance, but of late years it
had become more of; a fire trap than
an instrument of service. Keep it up,
boys, and as one by one these eye
sores are removed, everyone will
commend you for it.
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