Most Of The News
All The Time
Volume No. 17
THE STATE PORT PILOT
A Good Newspaper In A Good Community
No. 48 6-Pages Today SOUTHPORT, N. C. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1955 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
The Pilot Covers
Brunswick County
$1.50 PER YEAR
Building Pace At
Beach Resorts
Continues Fast
Estimate Made That More
Than One-Hundred-Fifty
Carpenters And Helpers
Working Each Day On
Long Beach Jobs
YAUPON BEACH IS
SCENE OF ACTIVITY
Little Sign Of Slackening
Present Building Tempo
As Property Owners
Continue Demand
For Housing
The building pace at both Long
Beach and Yaupon Beach has
been steadily increasing, and Rob
ert Jones, Jr., stated this mor
ning that there are more than
150 carpenters and other workers
going steadily at Long Beach.
There does not seem to be the
slightest sign of slowing up.
A large number of property
owners are known to have been
unable to get started yet on the
buildings that they have in mind,
this because of the shortage of
contractors. Many others are able
to go forward only through hav
ing contractors down with them
from various points up state.
Ira Butler, Sr., mail carrier
at Rowland in Robeson county,
now having a home built at Long
Beach, said yesterday that things
over there at Long Beach were
like the West Coast gold rush
in 1848.
The same sort of rush is go
ing on at Yaupon Beach with
upwards of 50 carpenters and
construction workers of various
sorts. A note-worthy thing is that
there does not seem to be a sin
gle Southport high school boy
who is idle. They are fishermen,
carpenters or carpenters helpers
at one or the other of the fast
growing beaches.
Brief Bits Of
lnewsj
COLONEL ABSENT
Col. Wm. A. McAJeer, com
manding officer at SPAALT, is
away from headquarters all of
this week on businss. He is in
New York and Washington.
LIONS TO MEET
The regular meeting of the
Southport Lions Club will be held
tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:30
o'clock in th* Community Build
ing.
RETURNS PROM HOSPITAL
Earl Wescptt, well known elder
ly citizen cf Southport, returned
home last week after being a
patient in iie James Walker Me
morial Hofutal for three weeks.
He underwent an operation dur
ing his sfy at the hospital.
CAKE *0 PIE SALE
The Lfe Oak Garden Club will
have a lie, cake and candy sale
on Satifday morning starting at
9:30 o'lock in the building next
to the Tax office. The proceeds
will gc toward the Queen for the
Fourtl of July.
ALIIpfI DAY SPEAKER
Mr and Mrs. Ray Walton
sperf the week end in Spartan
burg S. C., where Senator Wa.l
ton made the alumni day ad
dr# at Spartanburg Junior Col
]P0, of which both he and Mrs.
yjton are graduates.
BOYS STATE
Charlie Splawn, rising senior at
luthport high school, is in
fhapel Hill this week where he
attending the annual session
Of Boj’s State at the University
of Noth Carolina. His trip was
sponscred by the Danny Harrel
son P«t No. 10, American Legion.
COS EG EXERCISE
The sharing session of the
DailyVacation Bible School for
Trini' Methodist Church will be
held luring the regular church
scho< hour Sunday morning, be
ginng at 10 o’clock. This will
take the place of the regular
devconal period, and parents and
friew are urged to be present
ando see what the young peo
ple eve learned during their two
wee school.
aihor on visit
Is. M. S. Douglas of Miami,
FI well-known author and
mizine writer, was in South
p< during the past week end
f(the purpose of collecting ma
t»l for a forth-coming book on
hicanes. She was particularly
Jrested in statistics and stories
jilting from Hurricane Hazel
’ fall. While in Southport she
4 the guest of Mrs. C. Ed
rlor' _
I
Mallard Appointed
13th District Judge
Tabor City Attorney Nam
ed Last Week By Gover
nor Luther H. Hodges To
Newly-Created Post
The first Superior court judge
from Columbus county was ap
pointed early last weekend when
Gov. Luther Hodges named Ray
mond Mallard, Tabor City attor
ney, as resident judge of Judicial
District 13.
The appointment was one of
five announced Friday from
Raleigh. It completes the roster
of 11 resident judges authorized
by the General Assembly which
created new judicial districts.
The 13th district is composed
of Bladen, Brunswick and Colum
bus counties. Mallard will go to
Raleigh July 1 to be sworn in in
a mass ceremony for the resident
judges. The governor says he is
inviting all of the state’s judges,
and members of the State Su
preme court to witness the occas
ion.
First In History
The new judge from Columbus
county is the first time in the
county’s history that it has had
a Superior court judge. Mallard’s
acceptance of the post will mean
vacancies in the towm attorney
ships of Lake Waccamaw, Tabor
City, Chadbourn and Bolton. The
new judge will also vacate his
post as county attorney.
One of the most prominent
RAYMOND MALLARD
members of the bar from Colum
bus, Mallard received fulll back
ing of the county bar, and other
officials in the initial bid for the
office. Efforts to secure the post
for the county began in February.
When he received news of the
appointment, Mallard said: “I am
deeply honoroed by the faith the
governor and the state has shown
in me, and by the support, from
all quarters at home. The ap
(Coutinued on Page 4)
Dry Weather Has
Farmers Worried
Some Of Better Farming
Areas of Brunswick Are
Being Seriously Affected
By Lack Of Rain
TOBACCO FARMERS
HARVEST PREMATURE
In Strange Contrast, South
port Area Has Had Plen
ty Of Moisture, With
Good Crops Result
ing
A serious situation exists
throughout one of the richest
farming sections of Brunswick
county because of the long dry
spell, and already some farmers
have put in as many as two
barns of tobacco from plants
that have attained no more than
two-thirds their normal growth.
The area most seriously affect
ed lies within the Shallotte-Ash
Hickmans Crossroads triangle.
Tw'o weeks ago folks in those
parts of the county had a bright
prospect for a fine tobacco crop.
Now they feel that unless they
have the benefit of a soaking
rain right away they will sus
tain serious loss.
Although there is comparative
ly little farming in the South
port area, in strange contrast
there has been plenty of rain
thus far this year. As a result,
some of the best tobacco in
the county is being produced in
Smithville township. There are
other scattered sections where
there has been enough moisture
to keep things green and grow
ing.
Former Teacher
Dies Last Week
Miss Dorothea Farmer Pas
ses At Home In Fairmont;
1 aught In The Southport
School This Year
Miss Doretha Farmer of Fair
mont died at her home Thursday.
She ended her long career as a
teacher at the recent session of
the Southport school. Previously
she had taught in the schools at
Bladenboro, Fairmont and other
counties.
While here her health was not
very strong but she carried on
her work faithfully until the end
of the session. She was in charge
of the 8th grade here and also
taught one class of French in
the high school.
Miss Farmer was a native of
Elm City, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. John Farmer. Her only im
mediate surviving relatives is a
brother, R. C. R. Farmer, and two
nieces and a nephew, all of Lan
caster, Pa.
Funeral services were held at
Elm City Saturday at 3 p. m.
with burial also taking place
there.
Explorer Scouts
Have Sea Voyage
Twelve Southport Explorer
Scouts, their scoutmaster and
his assistant, enjoyed a thrill
ing' experience this week
when they went to Charleston,
S. C., Monday night for a
trip to Wilmington yesterday
aboard the USS Destroyer
Fitch.
Making the trip were
Scoutmaster Bobby Jones, As
sistant-scoutmaster Billy
Smith, Harry D. Sell, L. B.
Bennett, Larry Wolfe, Lee
Aldridge, Paul Cochran, David
Peters, Michael Hardee, Ho
race Sellers, Leon Fullwood,
Tommy Harrelson, Frank Ald
ridge and Terry Houghton.
The boys reported that
their trip was rough, but
otherwise uneventful.
Brunswick Boys
Get Recognition
Claude Bernard, Jr., Is
Winner In State Contest;
Irie Jones Also Receives
High Honor
At the convention of the North
Carolina Association of New
Fanners of America, held at the
A. and T. College, Greensboro,
last week, Claude Bernard, Jr.,
a graduating senior at Brunswick
County Training School was pre
sented the state annual Super
vised Practice Award. The presen
tation went to the local student
for his outstanding supervised
practice program during his 4
years of enrollment in agriculture.
The award, which carries with
it a cash sum of $50 is sponsored
by the Chilean Nitrate of Soda
Company and was presented by
Ralph L. Wehunt, State Manager
of the Chilean Nitrate Education
al honor was won by Bernard 3
weeks ago when he was present
ed the “Outstanding N. F. A.
Student of the Year” citation by i
the local N. F. A. Chapter at !
the annual Father and Son Ban
quet given at the local school.
Another state honor was won
by Irie Jones, a graduating sen
ior of the Zion Hill section, who
was awarded the Modern Farm
er Degree for his outstanding
leadership activities in the local !
chapter.
The members of the delegation '
attending the State Convention of
New Farmers of America in i
Greensboro were Nathaniel Den
kins, Robert Sparrow, Julian
Vaught, Claude Bernard, Jr., and
Ir ie Jones. The delegates were;
accompanied by J. A. Francis, j
chapter adviser and teacher of
agriculture at the local school.
Contractor For
Inlet Project
Being Sought
Considerable Amount Of
Money Involved In This
Work And Performance
Bond Will Be Required
Of Successful Bidder
HIGHWAY FORCES
TO PROVIDE FILL
Contractor Will Be Expect
ed To Begin Immediately
In Order To Escape Ef
fect Of Next High
Tides
Davis Herring, one of the many
property owners seriously affect
ed when the October storm cut
a new channel across the lower
end of Long Beach, said yesterday
that good hopes exist over get
ting a contractor for the job of
closing the inlet this week.
A considerable sum is involved
in the undertaking and a per
formance bond is necessary. The
contract involves the building of
a bulkhead that will diminish or
completely check the flow of wa
ter and pei-mit the washed out
channel back of the bulkhead to
be filled with earth.
The State Highway Commission
has agreed to do the work of fill
ing in, once the work of building
the bulkhead has proceeded to
the point where the earth will not
wash out as rapidly as it is mov
ed in.
During the week several poten
tial contractors for the building
of the bulkhead have looked over
the job and hopes are held that
a reasonable offer for the work
will be made before the end of
the week. The contractor will be
expected to start the work im
mediately in order to complete it
before the tides get higher with
the approach of the next full
moon period.
Diamond Outfit
Gets New Dock
Sunny Point Contracting
Firm Will Construct Sin
gle Wharf For Govern
ment At St. Mary’s Ga.
The Diamond Construction
Company of Savannah, Ga., build
ers on the three great wharves
at Sunny Point and at the same
time engaged jointly with the
Bethlehem Steel company in the
construction of a twelve million
dollar bridge in Virginia, came
out last week as the low bidder
on a big government dock at St.
Mary’s, Ga.
On this job Diamond entered a
bid of $2,400,000. The next lowest
bidder was almost a quarter of a
million dollars above them.
Perhaps one reason for the Dia
mond to outbid competitors on
the St. Mary’s job is that they
have practically all needed forms
and lumber here, ready and avail
able now. This lumber, it is said,
will fit in nicely with the dock
work at St. Mary’s as the struc
ture there is to be almost iden
tical to the three here.
While all lumber material used
here on the eight million dollar
dock job is now available for use
elsewhere, it will still be quite
awhile before the big company
finishes everything here. A great
deal of work still remains to be
finished. It is understood that Ken
Continued On Page Four'
Graduates
!■ -mmiM ■
LILLIAN AMELIA KIRBY of
Supply received her batchelor of
arts degree in physical education
last week from Woman’s Col
lege, University of North Caro
lina, Greensboro. She was prom
inent in a number of student
activities on the campus. She
is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
J. E. Kirby and is a graduate
of Shallotte high school.
Windy Weather
Hurts Fishing
For Past Week
Boats Out For First Time
Today Following Week
Long Famine Brought On
By Adverse Weather
Conditions
For the first time in a full
week, Southport sports fishing
boats were able to go out and
stay this morning, and all of
them agreed that it was high
time. Since last Tuesday high
winds have prevented any out
side fishing.
Prior to the current seige of
bad weather there had been oc
casional days when the wind in
terferred with operations, most of
them on week-ends early in the
season; but this was the first
prolonged trouble of the year.
The interruption came at a bad
time, for fishing has been out
standing thus far this season and
(Continued on Page FourJ
Blueberry Crop
Being Harvested
Mrs. B. M. Graham Reports
That Production On The
Farm Owned By Her And
Her Daughter May Beat
Last Year
The blueberry crop on the Gra
ham farm just outside of South
port will be somewhat bigger than
last year, according to Mrs. B.
M. Graham of Palmyrna, N. J.
Mrs. Graham and her daughter,
Mrs. T. P. Key, Jr., own and
operate the farm.
Seen this week, Mrs. Graham
said they were up to their ears
in harvesting work. The price of
the berries is holding up good.
Early varieties of the bushes had
their plants killed in the bloom
by the frost early in April. The
later varieties, however, are pro
ducing much more than last year.
The two good rains of last week
had a wonderful effect on the
crop, despite the lateness. Har
i Continued on page four)
W. B. ILEZIAH
Our
ROVING
Reporter
Capt. Arthur J. Pinner, retired
from seafaring and living in his
home town of Southport after
something like 40 years up and
down between here and New
York, went back to a boyhood
sport the first of last week by
going over to Caswell Beach and
finding a turtle nest with 130
eggs. Turtles come out of the
ocean and lay their eggs only
during the full moon periods of
several days in May, June and
July. Bald Head Island is credited
with being the best spot on the
Atlantic for finding turtle eggs,
probably because it jutts out into
the ocean and is also secluded.
It was no uncommon thing to
see the late Willie Cooker and
his son, Maxie Cooker, with sacks
full of the eggs they gathered
on the island. Mrs. Sabra Cooker,
mother of Maxie, is credited with
her abilities in making wonderful
cake with turle eggs, instead of
tlie barnyard variety.
From the weather bureau air
port station at Lovell Field, Chat
tanooga, Tenn., Clarence R. Kall
quist ,the meteorologist in charge,
we have received a letter asking
for information with regard to
fishing, weather, hotels and mo
tels. Mr. Kallquist says that they
have a lot of sportsmen who
usually go to Panama City, Fla.,
chartered busses, on tlieir fishing
trips; that they are talking of
trying Southport if boats and
other facilities can be secured.
He plans to come up and look
into conditions soon.
For a good many years the
crop growing sections of Bruns
wick have always come in for
timely rains when crops needed
ICoutinued on Page 4)
Two Appointments
For This \outh
Grandson Of Former South
port Couple Decides To
Enter U. S. Air Force
Academy In First Class
Sidney Edwin Veazey, son of
Mrs. Sally Veazey of Wilming
ton, recently enjoyed the rare
privilege of choosing whether to
attend the new U. S. Air Force
Academy or the U. S. Naval
Acamedy. He had taken the en
trance examination for each of
these service schools and had
passed.
He finally chose the Air Force
school, where he will enroll in
the first class for the service
school.
According to reports from
Washington, young Veazey was
among the first to be chosen as
a cadet for the Air Force Aca
demy.
Previously the youth had been
selected as an alternate for ap
pointment to the U. S. Naval
Academy.
Veazey applied for enterance to
the Air Force Academy, but since
he did not hear from his appli
cation and the results of his
exams, he applied for admittance
to Annapolis.
Both applications eventually
were approved and the young
Wilmingtonian had a chance to
SIDNEY EDWIN VEAZEY
choose between a career as an
airman or naval officer.
Young Veazey was a student at
Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass,
during the past year on a scholar
ship which he earned during a
summer session last year.
He is the grandson of the late
W. E. Dosher of Southport and
of Mrs. Nellie Dosher, who now
makes her home in Wilmington.
Shrimping Fleet
Returns To Port
Cow Has Four
Calves In Year
One of the cows in the
herd out at Magnolia Dairy
last week had her fourth calf
within the past year. Her
latest delivery was twins, a
little bull and a little heifer.
Her last previous efforts
as a progenitor resulted in
twin calves, born last July,
and the total of four calves
within a 12-months period
may be a record for North
Carolina.
Both of the new arrivals
are healthy and thrifty. The
mother is taking care of one,
but has the help of one of her
sisters of the barnyard in the,
early upbringing of the other.
Probable Cause
In Murder Case
: Judge Earl Bellamy Orders
Nathaniel Bryant Held
Without Bond For Trial
In Superior Court
Nathaniel Bryant appeared in
Brunswick county Recorder’s
court for a preliminary hearing
on a charge of murder. Probable
cause was found and the defend
ant was bound over to Superior
court without bond by Judge Earl
Bellamy. Other cases heard in
cluded:
Rachael Tart, assault with
deadly weapon, 9 months in Camp
404 for women. i
Fletcher Hill assault on female,
2 to 6 months on roads, suspend
ed on payment of costs and good
behavior for two years.
Joseph Victor Blalock, speeding
(60-mph) fined $5 and costs.
Elmore Vaught, non-support
former judgment conditions
amended to provide that $40 be
paid weekly to support of his
wife and six children.
Sam Henry Vereen, allowing
unlicensed person to operate car,
taxed with costs.
Fletcher Hill, assault on female,
six months on roads, suspended
on payment of costs and good
behavior for two years.
James Gordon Benton, speeding
(65-mph) fined $10 and costs.
Harod Franklin Stackleather,
speeding (60-mph) fined $15 and
costs.
Willie Williams, speeding (65
mph) fined $10 and costs.
William Thomas Cheltham,
speeding (65-mph) fined $10 and
costs.
Tylon Franklyn Wise, speeding,
jury trial asked for.
Exley Adelket Corbin, speeding
(65-mph) fined $10 and costs.
James Elmer Dance, speeding
(65-mph) fined $10 and costs, $5
of fine remitted because of miti-,
gating circumstances.
Archie Kenwood Evans improp
i er equipment, fined $10 and costs, i
$5 of fine remitted because of
I (Continued On Page Four)
l
Last Of Southport Vessels
That Spent Winter In
Florida Expected To Ar
rive Home Tomorrow
HOPES FOR BETTER
BUSINESS LOCALLY
Several New Boats Will See
Service For First Time
This Summer; Several
Houses Re-Located
The last of the Southport
shrimp fishing boats that mi
grated to Key West in the early
winter should be tying up at
their slips in the basin here some
time tomorrow (Thursday.)
The fleet of the W. S. Wells
& Son, 9 trawlers in all, left
Key West Monday morning for
Southport. With this fleet are
two other Southport boats. The
return of these craft should in
crease waterfront activity.
W. S. Wells, Sr., who left Key
West the same time as the boats
and reached here Tuesday, said
that he had first planned to
stay at Key West until July 1.
Bad weather showed up and runs
of shrimp slacked off so they
decided to come on home.
Only about half of the South
port boats went to Flox’ida for
the winter. Of those who went
several have previously returned
home. Dealers who remained at
Southport have added several
new boats to their fleets during
the winter. Among those having
new boats built and now ready
is Lewis J. Hardee, who has
four beautiful new 54-footers.
New Alderman
And Policeman
Capt. J. I. Davis Named To
Fill Vacancy On Board
Created By Resignation
Of Ormond Leggett; Gore
New Policeman
The resignation of one aider
man, the appointment of a man
to succeed him and the appoint
ment of another full time police
man marked the business at the
Thursday night meeting of the
Southport Board of Aldermen.
Ormand Leggett, elected aider
man in the second ward only a
month ago, tendered his resigna
tion. He gave as his reason the
fact that his business interests
did not allow him to devote the
time that should be given to city
affairs. His resignation was ac
cepted and Capt. J. I. Davis was
appointed to succeed him.
E. P. Gore was named as a
full time policeman and will as
sume his duties on July 1. Jack
Hickman will continue as chief,
and the appointment of Gore will
give the two full-time policemen, j
Gore is a retired Marine Corps
sergeant, who was a candidate (
for sheriff last year. He has
maintained an interest in law en
forcement since his retirement,
having served as justice of the
(Continued on Page Four)
Engineers Will
Observe Their
180th Birthday
Tomorrow (Thurs.) Marks
The 180th Anniversary
Of The Corps Of Engin
eers, U. S. Army
DUAL CELEBRATION
IS BEING PLANNED
First Phase Will Be Held
At Customs House In Wil
mington, With Open
House At Sunny Point
Later
More than the usual number of
visitors are expected at the Sun
ny Point Termnials tomorrow
(Thursday) afternoon, the occa
sion being the 180th birthday of
the Corps of Army Engineers,
under whom the terminals were
built.
The terminals have never been
closed to the public, and closing is
not expected until September.
However, the Engineers, observing
the birthday of their branch of
the service, will hold open house
and will have guides to conduct
visitors over the huge installation
during the period between 2 and
4 in the afternoon.
The guides are a courtesy to
the pubilc, especially those who
have never been over the huge in
stallation and who might encoun
ter trouble in finding their way
about. Other visitors who know
the area may come and go on
their own.
Later on in the year, possibly
on Labor Day, Colonel William
A. McAleer, commanding officer
at the installation, and his staff,
plan a formal open house. Fol
lowing this event the installation
grounds will be closed to the
public.
Tomorrow's event by the Army
Engineers is merely a quiet ob
servation of their birthday, with
activities taking place in the Cus
tom House in Wilmington in the
forenoon.
By 1 p. nr. the Engineers and
such employees as are off duty
will have assembled at Sunny
Point to receive and guide visi
tors. Many of tile employees
(Continued on Page 4)
Negro Fatally
Shot Wednesday
Nathan Bryant Being Held
Without The Privilege Of
Bond For Fatal Shooting
Of Alex Lee
A quarrel and fight between
two young negroes in the Snow
field community last Wednesday
night was followed by the fatal
shooting of Alex Lee. The wea
pon was a shotgun, alegedly
fired by Nathan Bryant, a young
Marine who is understood to have
been at home on leave. With
eyewitnesses to the killing ,no in
quest was held. Bryant was ar
rested and is being held in jail
here without bond.
The following account was
learned from Sheriff's officers.
Lee, said to be much the larger
man, had accused Bryant of
breaking a know from the radio
on his car. In this argument Lee
jumped on Bryant and beat turn
up. Bryant, following the beating,
went home and got his shotgun.
Returning with the weapon he
found Lee at the Junior Phelps
service station and fired at him
from close range. The charge of
shot struck Lee in the breast,
killing him instantly.
Tide Table
Following is the tide table
for Southport during the next
week. These hours are ap
proximately correct and were
furnished The State Port Pilot
through the courtesy of the
Cape Fear Pilot’s Association.
High Tide Low Tide
Thursday, June 16,
3:47 A. M. 10:11 A. M.
4:33 P. M. 11:02 P. M.
Friday, June 17,
4:51 A. M. 11:10 A. M.
5:34 P. M. . 12:03 P. M.
Saturday, June 18,
5:54 A. M. ' 0:00 A. M.
6:32 P. M. 12:07 P. M.
Sunday, June 19,
6:54 A. M. 0:58 A. M.
7:28 P. M. 1:02 P. M.
.Monday, June 20,
7:53 A. M. ' 1:53 A. M.
8:24 P. M. 1:56 P. M.
Tuesday, June 21,
8:52 A. M. 2:45 A. M.
9:i8 P. M. 2:49 P. M.
Wednesday, June 22,
9:48 A. M. 3:35 A. M.
10:10 P. M\ 3:42 P. M.