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The NSW BERN
PUBLISHID WIIKLV
IN THI HBART OP
"’BBN NORTH
VOLUME H
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1968
NUMBER 38
A cloud of uncertainty hangs
over the heads of many tempo
rary New Bernlans who plan to
fly home for Christmas. It
also lurks above some of our
own far-off natives who are tak
ing to the air in this direction.
Will they end up at a friendly
and familiar fireside, or unin
tentionally in Havana, Cuba?
The speculation is hardly a wild
notion, considering the fact that
at this writing there have been
19 "skyjackings" of commer
cial planes this year.
Newspiipers, radio and tele
vision haven't helped matters by
giving the episodes maximum
coverage. A report i.ssued by
the Air Lines Pilots Associa
tion, which in itself added em-
pha^s to this coverage, said
"profit and publicity are the
prime motives."
According to the report, "The
recent wave (»f hijackings ap
pears to have the common goal
of advertising some poiiticai
ideology. Sensational and dis
proportionate coverage of these
events by the news media serves
to encourage the next public
ity .seeker or to plant the Idea
in a deranged mind."
All sorts of remedies have
been suggested for the rash of
piracy plaguing tlie airlines.
The pilots of commercial planes
favor the use of weapons-detec
tion devices in airport termin
als, arming of plane crews,and
bullet-proofing cockpits.
Armed guards on every plane
has been frownedonastoocost-
ly, and such .sentinels would be
hard to hire in the numbers
needed. After all. it is pointed
out there are more than 2,000
commercial flights daily in the
Miami area alone.
Who are the hijackers? In
.almost every instance the guilty
parties have been Cuban exiles
who sought haven in the United
States and apparently decided
they would rather be back in
Cuba, even with Fidel Castro
at the helm.
A Mirror subscriber whr>.se
memory is remarkable re
calls a piece we did on radio
close to 30 years ago about
one of New Bern's most belov
ed teachers. Miss Lizzie Hiui-
cock. A search through our
jumbled files uncovered it, and
as requested we're passing it
along.
Heaven became a better
place, when Lizzie Hancock
died for truly here was one to
whom the Lord coidd point witli
pride. A faithful, trusting er-
vunt, who daily lived her creed
while others talked religton.
Miss Lizzie .served by deed.
She gave her life to child
hood, to little boys tuid girls,
Intent on education and explor
ing strange new worlds. Thou
sands called her teacher, and in
her calm, cool way .she guided
them In study, rejoiced with
them in play.
As each new generation came
tripping through her door, she
kej^ abreast with changing
youth, and gladly welcomed
more. Age is really measured
by things within the soul, that's
why folks like Miss Lizzie nev
er do grow old.
They keep their sense of hu
mor, ignoring Father Time, and
in their love for children find
a happiness sublime. Who dares
to say this life of hers knew
no great success, though things
(Continued on Page 8)
NOTHING NEW — Historic Fort Macon, on the Car
teret coast a short drive from New Bern, added still
another tragic memory to its long list last weekend,
when seven commercial fishermen perished in the
storm lashed Atlantic before Coast Guardsmen sta
tioned adjacent to the ancient stronghold could reach
them. Grim happenings, including the sinking of ves
sels by German submarines during World War n,
have been associated with the Fort, now a State Park,
for generations. The part it played in the War Be
tween The States is primarily the reason thousands
of curious tourists have passed through this doorway,
but no less dramatic have been .numerous events that
occurred off its surf pounded sands in times more
E eaceful. Man’s unending battle with the sea is too
azardous for timid souls, and those who ride the
waves for a living must be prepared for heartbreak
and death.