a
THE
ESTABLISHED 1870. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
COUNTRY, GOD AND TRUTH
$2.00 A YEAR. DUE IN ADVANCE
VOL. XL VIII
LUMBERTON; NORTH CAROLINA, MONDAY. MARCH 12, 1917.
NUMBER 8
ROBESONIAN
AMERICAN SHIPS
TO BE ARMED
president Gives Orders for Arming
American Ships Against Ger
man Submarine Warfare
EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS
CALLED TO MEET APRIL 16
QUESTION OF PEACE OR WAR
WILL BE SETTLED IN 10 DAYS
WAS HE DROWNED OR .. '
DID HE RUN AWAYT
Natural and Unavoidable . Step Is
sue Rests Entirely With Germany
Washington Dispatch, March 9?
President Wilson from a sick bed
today ordered the arming of Ameri
can merchant ships against Ger
many's ruthless submarine warfare,
and at the same time issued a proc
lamation calling an extra session of
Congress to meet April 16th.
The President's decision came sud
denly late this afternoon, following
the action of the Senate yesterday
in revising its rules to permit prompt
action on important questions and
the submission of formal opinions by
Secretary Lansing and Attorney Gen
eral Gregory that he has the power
to arm merchantmen without action
by Congress.
Details of the government's arm
cd neutrality plans for defending the
merchant marine were withheld to
avoid endangering Americans and
their ships by permitting the infor.
mation to reach Germany. The only
statement at the White House and
the Navy Department was that the
President had determined to fully
protect American rights.
An Unavoidable Step
The decision, coming at the end of
a period of tense waiting, was gen
erally hailed as the natural and un
avoidable step in the policy adopted
Tjv the President when he broke off
relation with Germany and gave
"warning that the United States could
ilot tolerate attacks Ion American
ships and citizens in violation of in
ternational law.
Fraught with the grave possibility
of war with Germany, the action was
taken by President Wilson only af
"ter he was convinced that Germany
actually wa3 proceeding with heri
campaign of ruthlessness, and had
Tnade efforts to plot with Mexico and
Japan against the territorial integ
rity of the United States.
Long before the order was given
tfrom the White House all necessary
preparations for the-arroino" of mer
chantmen had been completed at the
Navy Department. ' Secretary Dan
iels, however, issued an appeal to
the press of the nation to refrain
irom discussing, these preparations.
The President's action sent a thrill
through the Senate, meeting in spec
ial session, and through the govern
ment departments. Still hoping that
war with Germany will be avoided,
officials and Senators declared that
the issue rests entirely with Ger
many.
In deciding that he has power to
arm merchantmen, the President took
the position that an old statute pass
ed in 1819, cited m the senate de
bate as prohibiting such a step with
out congressional action, has no ap--plication
to the present situation. He
is satisfied that the nation stands
behind him, and accepts the over
whelming vote in the House on the
armed neutrality bill, and the known
opinion of a large majority of the
Senate, as proof of the attitude of
Congress.
Although the bill which failed of
passage in the Senate provided for
a hnd issue of $100,000,000 to pay
the expenses of armed neutrality,
the government ha3 sufficient mon
ey available for its immediate pur
poses. Congress will be asked to
provide more- when the extra session
convenes.
Under a bill passed during the last
Iay3 of the Congress the funds at
the disposal of the Federal war risk
Dureau to insure American ships was
increased to $15,000,000.
Expected to Remove Blockade
Armed neutrality is expected to
remove the practical blockade of
American ports and place the issue
of eventual .war squarely upon Ger
many. An attack upon an armed
American vessel will precipitate a
fight if the ship gets in sight of the
submarine and an unwarned attack
would be regarded by the ' United
States as an act of war.
LUMBER BROKER DISAPPEARED
Differences Between U. S. and Ger
many Will Reach Climax When
First Armed American Merchant
Ship Meets a German Submarine
Washington Dispatch, March 11.
Within 10 days the question of
actual hostilities or peace between
the United States and Germany will
be settled. With American armed
merchantmen prepare for the dash
through the war zone of German
ruthlessness, President Wilson and
his advisers tonight settled down for
a period of "watchful waiting".
Long days and anxious nights of
waiting for news from the war zone
will now occupy Washington and the
country. The administration was to
night convinced that the differences
between the United States and Ger
many will reach a climax when the
first armed American merchant ship
meets a German submarine. While
all ships' movements were shrouded
behind impenetrable secrecy it was
stated tonight that the departure of
American commercial ships carrying
naval guns and gunners would be
a matter of but a few days, and that
within 10 days armed American ships
would be in the war zone.
With the gunners aboard American
ships under order to fire at once on
any submarine which approaches in
a threatening manner, the encounter
between an American ship and a Ger
man undersea boat will bring defm
ite, decisive results.
Ben W. Lovett Has Disappeared and
Opinion is Divided as to Whether
He Was Drowned or Ran Away
Boat in Which He Left Boardman
Found Bottom Up in River
Was he drowned or did he leave
to keep from facing trial? is a ques
tion that has puzzled the people of
the Mt. Eliam section since Wednes
day of last week when Ben W. Lovett
mysteriously disappeared. Lovett
was last seen at Boardman when he
left going up Lumber river in a
small canoe. He had arranged with
Mr. Atlas Britt to meet him at Pin-
ey island, where he usually landed
his boat, and after waiting for him
a good while after the time he was
to- be there Mr. Britt started down
the river in a boat and after going
a short distance found Lovett's boat
bottom up in the river, but found no
trace of Lovett.
Lovett was under bond to appear
before Recorder E. M. Britt Sacur
day on the charge of drunkenness
and disorderly conduct. He was also
under a heavy bond imposed at a ve-
cent term of criminal court for good
behavior, and while some think he
left to keep f ram. facing trial, others
think he was drowned. It is said
that he was accustomed to having
seme sort of spells and that he re
marked before leaving Boardman
that he was feeling bad. It is also
reported that before he left home he
gave his wife his Woodman button
and told her if he failed to get back
home at the proper time to have h'm
searched for.
Citizens of the community m
which he lived have searched the riv
ei for Lovett's body, but to no avail
ARMED NEUTRALITY WILL BE I
oiATUS UJ?" UNITED STATES
This Will be Situation When First
Merchant Ship Under American
Flag puts to Sea With Cannon
Mounted for Defense
Washington Dispacth, March 9.
Armed neutrality will be the status
of the United States the moment
BROAD RIDGE BREEZES j BRIEF ITEMS OF LOCAL NEWS
The Right Way to Advertise Ways t M,r- .T Ba"ies went Saturday
to Fight High Cost of Livine On- , Wilmington, where he entered-the
jamca aiR.er i.uemoriai nospitai for
mi operation ior a nead trouble.
posed to Bond Issue Gov. Bickett
is Battling tor the Farmers Per
sonal
St. Paul Messenger: Mr. K A
Correspondence of The Robesonian. j Melntyre is now building on a lot
Broad Ridge (Lumberton. R. A. he recently purchased near Mr. Hum.
ttatSe f rt mXhaVinS rcli this section! Phrey, on South 2nd St.
the American flag puts to sea wth ? of East Lumber-
was arrestee, ana locked up Sat
urday afternoon by Chief of Po-i;
Alf H. McLcod on account of being
ovutk on the streets.
BAGDAD CAPTURED BY BRITISH
ready to plant corn, cotton and to
oacco.
We have not had much rain for the
past two weeks.
A very nice advertisement appear
ed in The Robesonian advertising
in placing the country in a position
to defend itself and its neutrality
against threatened attacks or inroads
by belligerents. ; This state of pre
paredness may last an indefinite
length of time, through good fortune
m avoiding contact 'with belligerent
iorces aiioat or. ashore or through
the design of the belligerent to con
fine its declaration of purpose to in
fringe the neutrality of a country
to mere threats unsupported by ac
tion. .
On the other hand the status of
armed neutrality may change into
one of actual hostility through a col
lision such as a submarine attack
on an armed merchantman.
President Wilson has said that it
may not be necessary to put arm
ed forces any where into action. All
will depend upon the future attitude
of Germany and the treatment of
American ships by German subma
rine commanders.
YOUNG MAN KILLED BY ACCI
DENTAL DISCHARGE OF GUN
Chief Turkish City in Mesopotamia
Falls Before British Advance .
Ends German Hopes of Near-East
Dominion
London Dispatch. March 11.
General Frederick Stanly Maude,
in command of the Entente forces in
Mesopotamia, telegraphed today the
welcome news for the .British of the
occupation this morning of the city
of Bagdad, the chief Turkish city of
Mesopotamia and formerly the capi
Mr. Dock H. Hedgpeth of Proctorville
Killed Saturday Was Crossing
Wire Fence When Gun Was Dis-chareed
Mr. Dock H. Hedgpeth, who lived
near Proctorville, accidentally shot
and killed himself while rabbit hunt
ing Saturday afternoon. The unfor
tunate man was crossing a wire fence
about 150 yards from the Hedgpeth
home when his gun was discharged
and the load entered his side. A
brother who was near by heard the
report of the eun and heand Mr,
cannon, wounted for defense. Pros.
ident Wilson made this clear in his
aaaress to Congress February 26,
when he asked specific authority to
arm merchant ships for defense
against submarines the steps he or
dered today upon his own responsibility.
Preparedness Move
wi"E sja-ssavsas sfsauss "That y ot
Mr. W. H. Bullard i3 doing a nice
piece of work in way of ditching
his farm.
Farmers take notice! Mr. Redman
Ivey is leading this section in grow
ing wheat. This is one way to fight
the high prices.
Beware of high prices. Farmers
are giving their live stock the very
best attention possible. This is an
other way to reduce the high cost
of living.
The people of this country as I
see it now don't favor the bond is
sue to build roads. I am not in fa
vor of .pending more money on
roads until we have a better system
of work on public highways. Our
system has always been very incom
plete, and very little profit have we
out of the money which is expend
ed for this purpose. The thing to
do is to dram the swamps, bays and
ponds and then come on with your
bond issue for roads. The cart is
before the horse and the cars.
Mr. J. Z. - Stone attended prayer
services here Sunday.
Misses Jessie Floyd and Nina
.. LUMBER BRIDGE LOCALS
Soldier Boys Will be Given a Rous
ing Welcome Home Electric
Lights on Streets Now New Bun-
gaow and New Store Building
Measles Roads in Bad Condition
Correspondence of The Robesonian.
Lumber Bridge, March 9 Every
body is on the quivive over the ex
pected return of the boys from the
border. It is a matter of great sat
isfaction and .thankfulness to all that
no serious sickness has been among
them and that all will return safe
and sound, and as a rule in better
health than ever before, showing that
Uncle Sam has taken good care of
his protectors.
This being the only company from
Mr. A. Weinstein left 1at
j l; . . i m. J l.lfonca hoe Knn. J x, .
.uo uccu loaueu ior we
marriage of Ben Israel and Celia
Freeman; D. Gaus Collins and Es
tele Lamb; L. W. Tedder and Luelle
Cox; Melton Watts and Rosa Prince.
nTIr" J E( Glover has leased the
McNeill blacksmith shop, Fourth
street, and will conduct the business.
Mr. W. B. Beasley. who had been r.n-
erating the shop, has returned to his
old home near Smithfield.,
The Griffith building, Elm
street, formerly occupied by the Na
tional barber shop, ha3 been remod
eled and painted on the inside and
will be occupied by Mr. L. C. Town
send, who will conduct a tailoring
establishment
Mr. C. P. McAllister left this
morning for Richmond, Va. He went
to return with his father, Mr. J.A.
McAllister, who has been under treat
ment in a hospital there for some
time. Mr. McAllister's health is
greatly improved.
Mr. Albert Boggs, who it will be
remembered spent several months in
Lumberton during the sickness and
death of his father in 1915, is now
at Shornecliffe. Ene-and. h
1 iL. . - . . "
Bryan, teachers of this section, were I Jomeu lVe .a vm panada. A let
Lumberton visitors Saturday. They ff? received here yesterday brought
attended the teachers' meeting. "" "'""-
Governor Bickett seems to have' A meeting of the Robeson County
.. - . . . ......1 D...U.. Tl , ... J
the farmers at heart and battling
hard for us, and the battle is on to
and if there is need, of sol-
tal of the empire of the Caliphs.
.The fall of Bagdad, besides ending Hedgpeth make .a noise and rushed
Herman nopes oi near easiern tumuii- 0 nlm to find him breatnmr his last,
ion. based on a Berlin-Bagdad rail- TWoa-surl was 28 vears old and mi-
wayy will. reverberate throughout thelmarried. He was a son of Mr. Wimf Robeson county, we hope there will
luuiiumiuciuttu ciuyiica atiKi Iy, ia v-i i. fiedgpetn ano is suTvivea Dy ni&t
ueveo win more wan renaoinvateDriu- father and f ive brothers and three
ish prestige in the far east, damaged sisters.
by the earlier loss of Aut-iM-Amara. The funeral was conducted from the
Bagdad has been the base for all home yesterday .afternoon at 3:30
Turkish operations in Persia., Up to nVWk W Rev. I. P. Hedtrneth. pas-
. within a few days ago the Turks oc- tor of Big Branch Baptist church,
cupiea aDoui. ou,uvu square mties w. 0f Which deceased was a member.
Persian territory, but with the Rus- interment was made in the family
sians pressing them closely from Kir- burying ground near the home. A
mansnan as wen as irom me uirec- large crowd of sorrowing relatives
tion of Erzerum, indications point.. to an4 friends attended the funeral.
a speedy junction oi me unusn ana Mr. Hedgpeth was a model young
Russian forces which would soon man. cmiet and unassuming, and had
compel the Turkish evacuation of manv friends who were shocked to
rersian territory. learn of his horrible death.
RECORDER'S COURT
News Notes
Lowe
AVife of J. E. Crook of New London
is Hun tine- for Her Husband He
..Was in Lumberton February 26
and Left That Evening for Home
Tlut Never Got There
Mr. J. E. Crook, a lumber broker
whose home is at New London, this
Stat, has mvsteriouslv disappeared,
to a letter received from
"his wife by Mr. W. H. Shooter of
T.nmhort.nn. Mr. Crook was in Lum
berton on February 26th and bought
some lumber from Mr. Shooter. He
lpff T.n mhM-ton on the Seaboard 6:19
evening train telling Mr. Shooter that
he was going home that nignt anu
come back down to Lilesville the next
day to buy some timber. He never
went home and it is reported here
that his baggage wa3 found in a ho
tel lobby in Charlotte and that he
registered at the hotel the same night
h left Lumberton, but there was
nothing to indicate that he ever went
to his room. It is said that Mr.
Crook had quite a bit of money in his
pockets when he leit Lumberton.
Mr. G. E. Rancke, Sr. went yester
day to Dillon. S. C, where he will
spend some time visiting relatives
Negro Bound to Court on Charge of Correspondence of The Robesonian.
Kape on in egress wnue man Lowe, March 12 Farmers are taK
Charged With Slander j ing advantage of the pretty weather
Saturday "was another busy day arfi Tarenarinj? land for another
in recorder's court circles. Harrison CTOD.
Sinclair, colored, was given a neanng Miss Louise Townsend spent tne
on the charge of rape and was bound week wjth home folks. She is one
over to Superior court without bail. nf Via teachers at Raft Swamp school.
The evidence of the defendant, Win- Mr. W. R- Tyner of the firm of
nie Stocks, also colored, was that E. Tyner and Son, county agents
Sinclair came out oi tne Dusnes anu for Overland cars, left Saturday ior
knocked her down in the road and charlotte, accompanied by Mrs. Ty
accomplished his purpose. There was ner and their daughter, DeLesline,
mud and water in the road and when an(j Miss Dovie Prevatt of Lumber
she reached home she told her hus- ton. Mr. Tyner has cars in stock
band what had happened. there and went to' bring " one back.
. Luther Campbell was given a hear- Measles is something fierce in this
ing on the charge of slandering Miss community. Almost every houst you
Eva Byrd, a daughter of Mr. McKay pa3S there is measles.
Byrd. Prayer for judgment was con- ;
inued upon payment of cost, The Tev Diersred Pit at Nieht
evidence was that Campbell did not . Mr. Jeff D. Taylor, who lives about
tell the report as true, but that he two miles east of town, told a Rob-
had heard it. , esonian reporter Saturday about a
Berkley Smith, colored, was unea mighty deep hole being dug m an
$50 and cost on the charge of bas- 0a .meterv near his . home Friday
tardy. . night. The hole was about 5x6
tnA innVod fn ho about 15 feet deep.
To Erect Monument to Stephen Little He said the hole was dug at night
Mr. Berry Little, who lives near anj from the depth it must have taK
Fairmont, is circulating a subscrip- en three men practically all night to
tion list to raise money to erect a if This thine nuzzles -Mr. Tay-
.... -J? V- - .... . T L.
monument at tne grave oi ms swi . rrs thA ho p was? due aDoui
Stephen L.ittie, wno was Kinea on the same spot where a man was pur-
November Zb, iyio, at iNogaies. An-jCi:j 75 years ag0. Mr. Taylor tmnKs
zima, wniic cjciiiift v- j xne uiggers imgiit nave uwu i""
troops on Mexican Droaer uuty. oie-yVS f0r casn,
phen Little was Killed Dy arranza
be a- large and enthusiastic crowd to
welcome them on their arrival.- Large
delegations are expected from Park
ton, Red Springs and Maxton, as
tne3e towns have contributed so
largely towards filling the ranks of
the company. The Parkton band
promises "to keep things lively for
us.
The electric lights mad their ap
pearance on the streets on the night
of March 8th. Mr. J. L. Pitman,
who with his family has recently
moved into our midst, has charge of
the plant.
Mr. J. S. Hedges is building a mod
ern brick bungalow near th Pres
and Personals From bvterian church.
C. H'. Usher and son nave
win.
diers in this battle the brown hands
that hold the plough are ready to
help in the battle till the victory is
won.
Misses Gertrude and Bertie Britt
and Masters Lewis and Claudie
Parker of this section were Mt.
Eliam visitors Sunday.
Messrs. Bailey Floyd of Fairmont
and Warren Bryan of Lumberton
were at the box supper Saturday
niett, February 24. Mr. Claud Britt
attended the box ,, supper. . . ne
is from the 10 mile section.
Mr.
nearly completed a new brick store
near the railroad. These will add
much to the appearance of our town.
After being prevalent in the sur
rounding community, measles has
now invaded the town. So far, no
one has been very sick with it and
all are doing well.
Messrs. D. Z. McGoogan, M. L
Marley and R. A. Monroe were in
Lumberton Monday in connection
with the new road law. We hope
some thin cr will soon be done to 1m
prove the roads, as all around are in
bad condition. I
Mr. Dan Marley has moved out in
to the country to his farm
Our nonular drueerist. with his
family is now occupying the house
vacated bv him.
Mrs. James Strickland 01 Jackson
ville. N. C. has been with her moth
er Mrs. S. E. Newby. who has been
sick at the Central hotel.
TOLARSVILLE TOPICS
soldiers who fired on United States Riaenhoro Couole Married Here
troops, mistaking them for Villa Mrs. Rosa Prince and Mr. Melton
t.roons. His remains were brought Watt.s. hntti nf Rladenhoro. wer mar-
to Fairmont an dinterred on Sunday, rierf m the office of Register of
December 5, 1915. Mr. Little began Deeds M. W. Floyd here Thursday af
circulating his list Saturday in Lum- ternoon. Justice A. A. Wright of
berton and received quite a number parkton officiated. Quite a number
6f subscriptions. Stephen Little was witnessed the marriage,
the first soldier killed on border-duty .
and it is utting w "e M E. W. Mincher, Lenoir county con-
hig home county erect a suitable mon- . rd , sentence of 12
. 4- nj tin MnTA 1 - . .
Wter Supplied by Town is Suitable
for Drinking Purposes
Mention has been made severa
times recently of the great improve
ment in the water supplied by the
town through its pipe3 since the fil
ter was installed. Supt. Geo. L. Mc
Noill .in resnonsp to an inquiry, re-
rpived from the State Board of
Health a letter, dated March 1. from
which the following is taken:
"This is to advise you that since
the October analysis there has been
a marked improvement in your pud-
lic water supply, and from the indi
cations of these several analysis it
would seem that if the quality of the
water retains its present standard
it should be very satisfactory for
drinking purposes."
Late Tobacco Plants Doing Nicely
Marriage of Miss Idell Honeycutt
and Mr. Garland Barnes rerson
al
Correspondence of The Rboesonian.
Tolarsville, March 8 There is not
much farming going on in this sec
tion on account of the cold weather.
The late tobacco plants have come
un. and are doing nicely.
A beautiful home weoomg took
place on the 21st of February at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. J. a. noney
rutt. when their daughter Idell be
th bride of Mr. Garland
. . ... a .
Barnes of Stoneville. uniy a iew
friends were present.
Mrs. A. H. Graham spent a lew
days last week visiting her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Neill Humphrey, of
St. Paul. '
The infant son of Mr. and Mrs.
J. L. Cain has been very sick for the
past week, but is improving now.
Sorry to report Mr. H. C. Flow
ers on the 3ick list. .
Miss Ruby Williams attended the
teachers' meeting in Lumberton Sat
urday. Mr. Sam East of Lumberton at
tended B. Y. P. U. here last fourth
Sunday afternoon.
Mfl. Buifaie Martin of tSt. Paul
spent a few hours in thi3 section
Sunday p. m.
COUNTY MEETING OF UNION
Farmers' Union Will Hold Meeting
in Lumberton March 21 1
A county meeting of the Robeson
division of the Farmers' Union will
be held in the court house in Lum
berton Wednesday, March 21. All
locals are urged to send delegates
to this meeting. All union members
are also urged to attend, whether
delegates or not.
F. GROVER BRITT,
Sec.-Trea3. Robeson Division.
ument at his grave.
Remains of Negro Who Went North
to Work Broueht Homo
The remains of Angus Cameron,
colored, who went to Pittsburg, Pa.,
a few weeks ago to work, passed
throueh Lumberton yesterday en
route to his home at St .Paul. An
gus contracted pneumonia soon af
ter going North. He had been dead
two weeks yesterday. His remains
were kept till the money was sent
from his home people to have them
sent back home. It is reported that
thousands of the negroes who have
months on roads for whipping
convict, e-ets commutation from the
Governor to payment of $25 fine and
costs. The Governor says mvestiga
tion convinces him there was a
f rame-up aerainst Mincher. who was
only guilty of technical violation of
the law.
Gov. Bickett granted !3 pardons
Friday: to Mrs. Gussie Hand of
Pender county, serving 2 years for
manslaughter; Robt. L. Taylor, Wilkr
es, 2 years for secret assault: Harry
Sellers, Guilford, 4 years for aiding
prisoners to escape. Mrs. Hand kill-
Box Supper at Joe Branch March 15
Corresnondence of lhe Kooesonian.
Fairmont, March 7 There will be
a box supper at Joe Branch graded
school, near McDonald Thursday
nie-ht. March 15. In connection with
the box supper there will be con
certs and speeches, also a voting con-
test for tne prettiest gm iescuu
Ki -will h. e-iven a prize and a
necktie will be given to the school
boy wearing the prettiest necktie.
M. N. Folger Makes Assignment
Mr. M. N. Folger, who has conduct
ed a grocery store on Chestnut street
for several months," made an assign.
ed her brother when Vi tooc fhreat-
recently gone worth to work are dy-' eninsr to kill her. A child was born
mg. They canot stand the weather, to her 18 days after the tragedy . Neill, Jr., is named as trustee
Carranza Elected President of Mexi
co
Mexico City Dispatch, March 11.
Elections were held today through
out the republic for President, Sena
tors and Deputies. The election of
Carranza, who a3 first chief of the
constitutional revolution !has domi
nated Mexico since the overthrow of
the Huerta government, was conceded.
It was the first national election
since that which lodged Fraricisoo
Madero in the presidency for his
short lived term of office.
Poultry ard Exhibit association ha3
been called for tomorrow night at
7:30. The meetinsr wlil be held in
the commissioners' room at the court
house and all who are interested in
the Robeson county fair for next fall
are urged to attend the meeting.
Rev. D. C. Barnes of R. 5, Lum
berton, was among the callers at The
Robesonian office Saturday. Mr.
Barnes has been taking The Robe
sonian for years and remarked while
in the office Saturday that to get
alons without it ' would be next to
getting along without bread.
r Miss J'osephine .Breece will have
her millinery opening tomorrow and -Wednesday.
Messrs. R. D. Caldwell
& Son will have their millinery op
ening Thursday and Friday, and the
Style shop, of which Miss Amelia
Linkhauer is proprietress,, will have
a showing of new spring millinery
Thursday, Friday and Saturday of
this week.
, The fire company was called out
yesterday about 5:30 on account of
a blaze in the small metal store of
Mr. S. D. Sanderson. Elm (street.
The fire started in soma trash under
some matches and it 5s supposed
from the signs that a rat caused the
fire by chewine the match heads.
The fire was extinguished before any
damage had been done.
Mr. W. S. Britt returned Fri
day night from Kershaw, S. L,
where he spent some days oii account
of the illness and death of his father-in-law,
Mr. W. U. Clyburn, whose
death occurred on the 3rd inst.. men
tion of which was made in last Mon
day's Robesonian. Mrs. Britt was
with her father when the end came
and will remain at Kershaw for some
time before returning home.
The following gentlemen boarded
the train here this morning for New
bern to attend a W. O. W. meting
tomorrow and Wednesday: Dr. R, T.
Allen, Messrs. J. E. Gilmore, J.. C.
Maxwell, Lumberton; W- H. Lamb,
Long Branch; Jake Baxley and W.
C. Townsend, Raft Swamp; Ed Bass,
Back Swamp; W. H. Powell, Saddle
Tree; S. C. Dean, Center; W. H. How
ard and C. L. Johnson, St. Paul.
Another guessing contest is on
at the store of Messrs. R. D. Cald
well & Son. An automobile wheel
has been placed in a window in the
hardware departmnet and the wheel
continues to turn all the while. The
wheel is run by an electric fan and
the one who guesses the nearest the
number of miles the wheel will run
in 14 days the wheel not running
at night will be given an inner
tube for an automobile. The one
guessing the second nearest number
of miles will receive a gallon of Su
preme oil. The window wa3 design,
ed by Mr. E. L. Whaley. A speed
ometer is attached to the wheel which
will register the miles. The wheel
started on its journey this morning.
Messrs. M. F .Caldwell and S. R
Fenegan spent yesterday at Latta, S
C.t visiting relatives.
Mr. J. B. Strickland spent yes
terday at Dillon, S. C, visiting
inends.
More than a score of people were
killed and 150 injured, some prob
ably fatally, in a tornado which
wrecked more than 300 homes in
Newcastle, Ind., yesterday afternoon.
$1.00 PER DOZEN FOR BIG EGGS
On March 24th R. D. Caldwell &
Son will hold their spring egg con
test. SI. 00 will he criven frr the
ment this morning. Mr. T. A. Mc-' largest dozen eggs. Commence now
to save the big ones.
STATE NEWS
Carl Cheek, a young white man who
lived near Elkin, danced to his death
from the top of a freight train near
Greensboro Saturday. Two women
who were watching the freight, which
was running very fast, saw the tow
men on .top of a box car dancing as
if in high glee. One of them stop
ped and the other kept dancing, ap
parently not realizing that he as ap
proaching the end o fa car. Present
ly they saw him fall and he died a
few mnutes later. .JX-