Most of the News!
All The Time
THE STATE PORT PILOT
A Good Newspaper In A Good Community
■
The Pilot Covers
Brunswick County cj
r.
Volume No. 21
No. 24
10-Pages Today
SOUTHPORT, N. C.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1960
5c A COPY
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
Aboard The Battleship Texas
INSPECTION—Members of the North Carolina
Battleship Commission who > isited Houston, Texas,
last week are shown here with some of the men
who showed them the Battleship Texas, which is
now in use as an historic shrine. Left to right, these
men are Orville Campbell of Chapel Hill; Lloyd
Gregory and Cyril Adams, Houston; A1 Sharpe,
Lumberton; James C. Bowman, Southport; and
Hugh Morton, Wilmington. Gregory is chairman of
the Battleship Texas Commission and Adams is the
engineer who handled the location and restoration
of the ship.— (Photo Courtesy Hugh Morton.)
Service Officer
Group Visitors
Here Thursday
Representatives From Sev-1
eral Southeastern North
Carolina Counties Attend
Local Meeting
Veterans Service Officers in
Southeastern North Carolina held
a conference in Southport Thurs
day to discuss the various vet
erans benefits and methods to
improve their service to veterans,
their depents, or survivors.
A. M. Bonner, Assistant State
Service Officer for the North
Carolina Veterans, Commission
appeared on the program and
lead the discussion of the latest
changes in Veterans Administra
tion benefits. Various individaul
problems were discussed and sug
gestions made by the conference
for their solution.
The meeting, arranged by the
Fourth District office of the
North Carolina Veterans Commis
sion, was attended by John O.
West, Bladen County ’Veterans
Service Officer, Crawford L.
Rourk, Brunswick County Veter
ans Service Officer, H. Hugh
Continued on Rage *
Brief Bite Of
-NEWS
CONDITION IMPOVES
H. T. Sanders, member of the
Southport High School faculty, is
still a patient at Dosher Memorial
Hospital, but his condition is
showing improvement.
LIONS TO MEET
The regular meeting of the
Southport Lions Club will be held
tomorrow (Thursday) evening at
6:30 o’clock in the Lions Club
Building.
RETURNS HOME
Capt. Fred Willing has returned
to his l’.ome in Southport follow- j
ing an operation 10-days ago at i
James Walker Memorial Hospital
in Wilmington. Although he still
is confined to his home, his condi
tion is improving.
BANK CASE
There have been no further
developments in the investigation
of the robbery of several pieces
of business machinery from the
Southport branch of the Waccam
aw Bank and Trust Co. ten days
ago. The stolen items have been I
recovered, but thus far no arrests j
have been made.
Saturday Blast
w
Kills Three Men!
Hamme Marine Railway1
Near Wilmington Is The
Scene Of Violent Explos
ion Saturday Noon
Three men were killed in a
blast at Hamme Marine Rail
way, located just across the river
from Wilmington in Brunswick
County, Saturday about noon
when an explosion occurred on
a gasoline barge.
The three men killed by the
blast were Floyd D. Harrell, Ed
ward Brown and Joseph Wash
ington, all of Wilmington. In
jured were Linwood Cochran of
Burgaw and James A. Bullard,
Leland.
More than 30 windows in build
ings located in down town Wilm
ington were blown out by the
blast.
On Monday the body of Brown
was recovered from the river, and
Brunswick County Coroner Low
ell Bennett said it appeared the
victim was killed instantly.
Not since the National Airlines
crash at Bolivia almost a year
ago has the Civic Air Patrol been
called out in such a force as they
were Sunday morning when it
became apparent that outside, ex
pert help would be needed to help
with the search for three men
missing after the explosion of an
oil barge at the Hamme Marine
Railway yards just across the
river from Wilmington.
Late Saturday night, Lt. Col.
Sidney W. Wilson, CAP Group 8
Commander, received a request
for the assistance of the Civil
Air Patrol units under his com
mand. Col. Wilson immediately
appointed Captain M.E. Britton,
commanding officer of the Cape
Fear CAP Squadron, as the mis
sion commander, and word went
out to the Brunswick County,
Cape ITear, Wilmington, and Col
umbus County Squadrons, and
the Southport Flight. All mem
bers reported at the disaster scene
at 7:30 Sunday morning. Members
of the Federal Point Squadron
were not ordered to report to
this area since they were al
ready engaged in a search and
rescue mission at Snow’s Cut
where it was beleived that a man
had driven his automobile into
the Intracoastal Waterway be
tween Wilmington and Carolina
Beach.
By 8 o’clock Sunday morning
forty CAP members were form
ed into five CAP search teams
and fanned out in all directions to
search every square foot of the
ground near the blast area. Five
CAP planes were assigned search
' Continued Gn I age 1
<■
Holiday Begins
Next Wednesday
Brunswick County schools
will close at noon on Wednes
day of next week for a hoi- i
iday period which will extend
past the New Year.
No announcement has been
made regarding the holiday
schedule to be followed by the
city and county employees.
The two branches of the
Waccamaw Bank & Trust Co.
have asked permission -of
Governor Luther H. Hodges
to remain open on Saturday
before Christmas fur the con
venience of their customers.
Hearing Is Held j
About Shrimping
I
Sports Fishermen And The!
Shrimpers Air Conflict
Of Interest In Operations
In one of the most widely at-'
tended public hearing's ever heldj
by the Department of Conser- f
vation and Development, shrimp
ers and sports fishermen from all
Lip and down the coast of North
Carolina aired their differences
Saturday.
Both sides appeared to agree
that some change is in order, but
what it is to be was not decided.
One thing was made clear by the
shrimpers—they do not think the
answer lies in the closing down
of trawling operations inside a
three-mile limit.
The problem as presented by
representatives of the sports fish
ing industry is one of doing some
thing to reduce destruction of
game fish and to increase catches.
The commercial interests contend
blanket limitations of fishing
areas do not get at the basic
problems. They also counted seie
i tific information is lacking to
guide such measures.
Many individuals of both groups i
favor conservation steps, but I
there agreemert ends. The com-'
mericial fishermen fear action I
that would curtail their livihood ■
Eric Rodgers, Chairman of the i
Commercial Fisheries Division, at j
the hearing’s conclusion, said the!
commercial fisheries committee I
plans to choose three to five per-j
sons representing the North Car-!
Continued On Page 4
Commission To
Decide Fate Of
North Carolina
Famous Battleship May Be
Brought To This State
And Preserved As Perma
nent Historic Attraction
James C. Bowman will be in
Raleigh tomorrow (Thursday) to
attend a meeting of the N. C.
Battleship Commission to which
he was named last month by Gov
ernor Luther H. Hodges.
The primary purpose of the
meeting will be to hear reports
of two delegations, one of which
went—to New Jersey to sea the
Battleship North Carolina and the
other which- went to Huston,
Texas, where the Battleship Texas
has been made into an historic
attraction.
Bowman was a member of this
latter group.
It is beleived that members of
the commission will recommend
that the Battleship North Carol
ina be acquired by the State, to
be preserved as an historic shrine.
The ship has been offered to the
State for that purpose, and unless
Continued On Page 4
Dedication For
New Agriculture
Building Friday
Formal Dedication Of Agri
cultural Office Building
At Supply Held Friday
Evening
The new County Building in
Supply was dedicated Friday even
ing with a fish fry and short
dedication program. About 100
people enjoyed fish served in
the new auditorium, but cooked
in out-door fry pans.
Everyone was given a welcome
by E. J. Prevatte who presided.
.1. J. Hawes of Supply extend the
formal welcome and Mrs. Frank
Mintz of Bolivia responded. Con
gressman Alton Lennon made a
timely talk on his interest in see
ing Brunswick have a new office
building to serve the people.
C. S. Mintz, District Agricul
tural Agent, introduced the prin
cipal speaker, R. W. Shoffner,
Assistant Director of N. C. Ex
tension Service. Shoffner review
ed the progress made in agricul
ture during the past few years.
He stated that farmers have be
come much more efficient because
of results of research and teach
ing. His information was most
interesting as he showed how the
consumer receives more goods for
an hour of labor because farm
ers are more efficient.
F. Herbert Swain, Chairman of
Board Commissioners, presented
Continued Or- Page 4
Leland PTA
Holds Meeting
Leland Organization Will
Sponsor The Community
Christmas Tree On The
School Grounds This year
The Leland P. T. A. held its
regular monthly meeting last Mon
day, with James Thompson pre
siding.
Mr. Thompson introduced the
Rev. Randolph Graham, pastor
of the Woodburn Presbyterian
Church, who led the devotional
period.
Mrs. Ada Crumpler, treasurer,
gave her report with a balance
of $611.90, and she stated that
the P. T. A. now has 146 paid
members.
In discussing old business, Mr.
Thompson announced' that the
executive committee had met and
decided in favor of joining the
State P. T. A. and asked for dis
cussion of the mater. Principle
Homer Thomas made a motion
to join the State P. T. A. This
motion was seconded by Joe N.
Gainey and was carried.
As new business, Mr.Thom pson
discussed having the P. T. A.
sponsor a Christmas program that
will include inviting local Church
choirs to sing carols, having
Santa to distribute fruit among
i the children, and lighting the
Christmas tree on the campus.
Paul Ganey made a motion to
sponsor the program. The motion
wes seconded by Mike Mitchell
and was carried. Mr. Thompson
appointed all local church choir
directors to work on the program
committee.
The room count was taken and
Continued On Page 4
TIME and TIDE
The shrimping fleet that had numbered 125 up to the first of
December 1935 had dwindled to a mere 25 working boats by the
tenth of the month. Most of them had headed South, with good
catches being reported from St. Augustine, Fla. A special service
was being planned to welcome the Rev. E. M. Hall as the new
pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Southport.
It had been a good week for the hunters, with at least one
good story showing up. That one dealt with a deer hound, turned
retriever. He—according to the story— had swam out into a
pond and seized a wounded buck by the tail and towed him
ashore. (Seems like hunters these days and times just don’t have
the imagination folks used to have!)
The time was December 11, 1940, and hunting still was going
strong' in Brunswick —only this time it was foxes in the limelight.
Five had been captured during a single morning’s hunt over at
hort Caswell. There also was a front page piece about a single
shotgun blast that Clyde Newton said he made into a bunch
of ducks over at Long Beach. The story had it that Clyde came
up with 4 mallards, 2 black ducks, 2 teal and 2 blue petes.
(Makes a fellow wonder what the bag limit was back in those
days.)
Oh yes, and there on the same front page was the story of
Kossie Flowers of Winnabow, who shot and killed two deer with
one shot on the previous Saturday.
Now you tell one.
Kids these days and times really don’t have it so tough. Take
Continued On Page 4
Holiday House
GUARDIAN—The Lions Club Building was a scene!
of beauty Sunday as it became the setting of a Christmas
Holiday House, sponsored by members of- Southport
Garden Club, Woodbine Garden Club, with the Live Oak |
Garden Club members cooperating. The scene over the
fireplace was an angel, which appeared to be presiding
with benign dignity over the gay and beautiful decora
tions. The angel scene was arranged by Mrs. Ormond j
Leggett and Mrs. J. B. Warth.
Christmas Holiday
House Successful
State Champion
Will Demonstrate
The first meeting of the
Southport Chess Club for this
year will take place at 7:30
p. m., December 15, in the
Parrish House of St Phillips
Episcopal Church. All those
interested in playing or learn
ing chess are invited.
Dr. Norman Hornstien,
North Carolina Chess Champ
ion, will give a simultanoeus
exhibtion against all comers
at the first meeting. Plans for
a Southport Junior and Sen
ior chess tournament will be
discussed and officers elected.
Players are asked to bring
their chess sets.
Local Students
To Be On WECT
Students Of Mrs. W. R. Lin
gle Will Repeat PTA Per
formance On Katie’s Kab
in Monday
One of the most enjoyable pro
grams presented before the South
port Parent-Teachers Association
in recent months was "The Sing
ing Christmas Tree” staged by.
The students of Mrs. W. R. Dingle
Thursday night in the high school
auditorium.
Those who missed seeing the
program will be interested to
know that it will be represented
over WECT Monday afternoon
during the “Katie’s Kabin” time.
Songs included on the program
were “Christmas Time Is Merry”,
"The Twelve Days Of Christmas",
"Angel On Top of the Christmas
Tree”, “Angel Came To Mary",
“No Room in the Inn”, “Sleep.
Jesus Dear" (Clare Margaret
Gloret, “At the Manger”, "Stari
of Christmas” (Jerry Dilsaver),!
"Follow The Star".
Continued On Page 4
* Outstanding Event Ushered
In Holiday Season Sun
day At Lions Club Build
ing In Southport
Deck (.he halls with—bu Light
of holly!”
This old Christmas song known
to all was an apt description of
the Lions Building on Sunday
when the Southport Garden Club
and the Woodbine Club presented
their Christmas Holiday House.
The Live Oak Garden Club par
ticipated in this project.
From the framed doorways to
the tiniest miniture Christmas
tree the spirit of Christmas glow
ed over all. The light was soft
ened and diffused by artistic
stained glass windows. Towering
to the ceiling was a handsome
white Christmas tree decorated*
by Mrs. Dai*s Herring and Mrs.
Libby Keith. Heaped below were
gifts for the residents of the
Brunswick County Boarding
Home.
A lovely angel hovered over;
the masive garlanded fireplace be- j
fore which was a clever coffee'
table covered by a children's par-;
ty scene complete with cake, cup
cakes, marshmallow men and can
dy Canes. The fire place was de
corated by Mrs. Bette Leggett
and Mrs. Letha Warth. The cof
fee table was arranged by Mrs.
James Bowman.
The spirit of warm hosiptality
so typical of the Christmas sea
son was elegantly portrayed by
a tea table covered by a vene
tain linen and lace cloth centered
with an alabaster vase filled vritlri
red carnations and red alabster j
grapes. Alabaster candle holders J
with red candles flanked the ar
rangement. The tea table was
decorated by Mrs. C. A. Graham.
Tea was served to all guests
during the afternoon.
One of the outstanding tables
was a group of arrangements por- j
traying Christmas songs. "Star of j
Wonder” was done by Mrs. Bette s
Leggett as a madonna before a
blue and silver background of
stylized angels and star. "Peace i
on Earth”, was depicted by Mrs. I
E. J. Prevatte also with a ma-!
Continued On Page 3
Highway Patrol
Holds Operation
CIo§e-0ui Sixty
Sgt. A, H Clark Urges All
Motorists To Be Particu
larly Accident Prevention
Minded This Christmas
"The Christmas season is upon
us and its a dangerous time of
the year for highway accidents,”
Sgt. A. H, Clark, officer-in-charge
of District VI, Troop B., N. C.
Highway Patrol announced.
The Patrol official reported that
a special program will be insti
gated in an effort to reduce the
toll of accidents, injuries and
death.
"Operation Close-Out Sixty,” is
already in force and will be con
tinued through December. This
program will entail a wholesale
attack on traffic mishaps and
fatalities.
“We shall use every means at
our command to bring this oper
ation to a successful conclusion.
It is hoped that everyone who
drives a motor vehicle in Bruns
wick County will cooperated,”
Clark said.
"This state-wide project will
call into use such features as
the unmarked radar car. electr’c
speed clocking devises, wolf pack
and saturation patrols,” he annou
nced.
A total of 13 persons died on
Tar Heel high”-ays on Christmas
Day last year. Brunswick County
has had 10 traffic deaths so far
:n 1960. More than 13G have been
injured, according to Patrol re
cords.
Unless the trend is broken, ac
cording to safety experts, this
year's toll will equal or exceed,
that of 1959.
"The horrible part of the pic
ture is the fact that most of these
accidents and deaths could have
been prevented. In almost every
case, someone was not obeying
the law —or did not use common
sense,” Clark reported.
“Many of our accidents are
directly caused by speeding, care
less and reckless driving, fail
Continued Cn Page 4
UOC Offering
Writing Prizes
Cash Awards Being Offered
For Best Essays On Selec
ted Historic Subjects
The United Daughters of the
Confederacy, North Carolina Div
ision, will present several prizes to
the high school students who sub
mit the best short essay on a
specified subject concerning that
period, according to Mrs. Gertru
de McNeil, of Southport, historian
for the local Thomas Mann Chap
ter.
The contest will open to Juniors
and Seniors in high school and
the prize will consist of $25. $20,
$10 and $5 and a handpanited Co
nfederate flag, according to the
subject chosen.
It is recommended that essays
be from 1000 to 2000 words in
length and each will be judged
by extend of research, originality,
accuracy of statements and ex
cellence of style. A students may
compete for one prize only, and
should attach bibliography and
other source of material ti in
sure authenticity of information.
Among the titles which may be
chosen are “The South's Contrib
ution to American Folklore,’’ “The
Continued On Page 4
Tide Table
Following is the tide table
for Southport during the next
week. Theso hours are ap
proximately correct and were
furnished The State Port Pilot
through the courtesy of the
Cape Fear Pilot’s Association
High Tide I»w Tide
Thursday .December 15,
4:52 A. M. 11:18 A. M.
5:02 P. M. 11:23 P. M.
Friday, December 16,
5:47 A. M.
5:59 P. M. 12:12 P. M.
Saturday . December 17,
6:41 A. M. 0:19 A. M.
6:54 P. M. 1:04 P. M.
Sunday, December 18,
7:35 A. M. 1:11 A. M.
7:48 P. M. 1:56 P. M.
Monday, December 19,
8:28 A. M. 2:03 A. M.
8:43 P. M. 2:46 P. M.
Tuesday, December 30,
9:21 A. M. 2:54 A. M
9:37 P. M. 3:38 P. M.
Wernesday, December 21,
10:15 A. M. 3:46 A. M.
10:35 P. M. 4:30 P. M.