Newspapers / Forest City Courier (Forest … / Aug. 30, 1928, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of Forest City Courier (Forest City, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
WHO IS FOREST CITY'S PRETTIEST &IRL? ?????? VOL X—No. 47. Six Dead, Thirteen Injured, At Shelby MANY MIRACULOUS ESCAPES AS SHELBY BUILDINGS TUMBLE Strange Providence Saves A Number of People Trapped by Falling Steel and Timber During Collapse of Walls in Neighboring Town MANY Shelby, Aug. 28.—1n the after math of Shelby's newest disaster, came stories of miraculous escapes from death. As tons of brick came hurtling down, carrying heavy beams and steel supports, nobody had time to flee. Those who escaped were more fortunate than their fellows. One of the most remarkable stories was that told by W. C. Lutz, who had charge of the squad of workmen in the basement of the McKnight build-1 ing. They were lowering this base- ' ment for a bowling alley. "There was a roar," said Mr. Lutz. "It grew louder. We started to run and I looked up and saw the ceiling caving in. I had presence of mind enough to throw myself against a wall that divided the basement and that was all that saved me. "I don't remember what happened for the next few moments. I found myself imprisoned. The low wall had held the beam off me and, while I could barely move, I was uninjured. "They tell me I was in there two hours. I haven't any idea how long it was but I found them digging and finally they opened a hole big enough for me to crawl through." H* * * Another remarkable story was told by Hobson Austell, a bank employe. "It sounded like lightning had struck the building. I started to run but before I had taken more than a step or two, I was knocked down. ? I crawled under a heavy table and that saved me. As soon as the brick stopped falling, I ran out." Mr. Austell received only a minor injury to his hand, received when he fell as he reached the exterior of the building. * * * Mrs. J. W. Harbison, wife of a ( Shelby surgeon, had a somewhat• similar experience to Mr. Austell's.! When the first indication of a col* | lapse came, she ran for the door of j the bank but was knocked down. j She, too, crawled under a desk and j tons of debris fell where she had j been lying. She was unconscious for some time. The next thing she knew, a strang er was touching her on the shoulder, telling her it would be safe for her to leave. She had a slight injury on the head. * * * Everett Dellinger, brother-in-law of Basil Goode, grocery store owner, was keeping the store for Mr. Goode when the collapse came. "I heard a afrange noise and saw the ceiling falling. I threw myself under the counter and timber and brick fairly covered me. "I found myself in an almost air tight compartment, unhurt, but I realized I ought to have more air and I pulled away at the weather boarding. I found that a two-by-two piece was holding the weight off me and that a negro near me was hack ing away at it. Everytime he hacked, it seemed that the debris came closer me." i Mr. Dellinger heard negroes mar him talking and he asked them if they could get out. He says they answered that they couldn't and that the only thing to do was to pray. Finally, someone on the outside made an opening and he saw a friend. He cried to him and the rescuers soon made a hole large enough for him to get out. * * * C. N. Ferree, manager of the cloth ing department of Gilmers' Inc., a department store, had been on the second floor of the' Gardner building' above the bank just a moment be fore the collapse. Gilmers occupies FOREST CITY COURIER W. W. HEMPHILL DIED FRIDAY j Weil-Known Man of Bridge water Succumbs to Long Illness. Funeral Satur day Bridgewater, Aug. 27. —Mr. W. jW. Hemphill, aged 72, died at his | home near here Friday. He had beeni in declining health for sometime. A j sudden attack of heart trouble Friday j caused his death. Funeral services were conducted at his late home Saturday. Rev. John S. Wobd, of Forest City, assisted Mr. Hemphill's pastor in the obsequies, j Mr. Hemphill is survived by his widow, and five children, as follows:! Mrs. Ed. Geer, Rutherfordton; Mrs. I W. J. Moss, Charlotte; Miss Myrtle Hemphill, Forest City and two sons at home. Mr. Hemphill was a well-known citizen of his county, and a faithful member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hardin and family spent the week end in Rock Hill, S. C. the guests of Mrs. Hardin's brother, Mr. W. D. Mintz. They also visited their son Mr. Paul Hardin, in Charlotte. , ! We know of no picture more beau-j tiful than that of the mother seated 1 J by the fireside reading bedtime stor- j ies to the children before she tucks I them away for the night. I the entire second floor of the build ing. \ He reached the door which cut j off the entf of the building from the j j center part just as the noise of the | : falling building started. He ran down the steps, not realiz- | . ing what had happened until he j reached the street. * * * Carl Blanton, who along with his father Zeb Blanton, was crushed in the cave in of three buildings here today, was in the bank along with his father in the attempt to arrange for a little home for the bride he hoped to take home with him in a few days. The elder Blanton, who was the j worst mutilated, the top of ljis | head being mashed off, lived on . \ the big farm owned by Charles and George Blanton, heads of the First National Bank, and to them he brought his son who was seeking ' a farm home of his own. , I j** * | ' j Fred Bowers, young filling sta-1 . tion proprietor, owes his life to a Coca-Cola. Bowers had just driven his roadster to the purb in front of the bank and had started in when he noticed that the bank , lobby was crowded. "I'll go get a dope first," he thought to himself, . and he had not taken six steps when ; the building toppled in. "I never did r get the dope, but what a dope it was, ; he said. * * * s J. D. Lineberger, Shelby business 1 man and one of the owners of the • S. & W. Cafeteria chain who was in the bank when the crash came, states that the wall curved in suddenly like a whip, then all crushed down at • once. t "I dashed for the door," he said, i\ "I hung up for a second, then I j.) fell into the street, just as the wall J caved in on Carl Blanton just be j I hind me." PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF FOREST CITY AND RUTHERFORD COUNTY FOREST CITY, NORTH CAROLINA THUSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1928. | AUGUST TERM I SUPERIOR COURT NOWJN SESSION Judge Michael Schenck Presid ing Over Civil Session of of Superior Court This Week \ Rutherforcfron, Aug. 29.—Th e August term of superior court for trial of civil cases, convened here Monday morning at 10 o'clock with Judge Michael Jychenck, resident judge of the Seventeenth Judicial district, presiding. Two important cases were set for Monday, J. A. Hampton, administra tor of Paul Hampton, deceased, and Gertrude Philbeck against Gar land and Dinwiddie, Inc., and the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. j These cases arose out of the accident jnear Ellenboro last December when | Paul Hampton, young Ellenboro t school teacher was killed and Miss 1 Gertrude Philbeck, of Ellenboro, in jured when the car in which they fwere riding crashed into the rear of | a parked truck, alleged to be the j property of Garland & Dinwiddie, jlnc., transporters for Atlantic & j Pacific Tea Co. The case of Hampton went to trial and evidence was heard and argument begun. Counsel stated that an agreement had been reached and a compromise judgment was signed whereby J. A. Hampton re covers $3,500.00 and cost. The case of Miss Gertrude Philbeck against Garland & Dinwiddie and the Atlan tic and Pacific Tea Co., was compro mised on the payment of $750.00 by the defendant. The defendant was taxed with the costs of the case. On Tuesday the case of A. L. Hard |in against W. E. Moore, administra- I tor of T. C. Mcßrayer was heard. In | this case a compromise judgment was | signed and the plaintiff recovers of ithe defendant the sum of $500.00 in ! full satisfaction of all claims and de- I mands against the Mcßrayer estate, the defendant to pay costs. Three divorces were granted, as follows: Vonnie Taylor vs. Ernest Taylor; Wofford Miller vs. Venie Mil jier and Beuna Ferree vs. V. L. Fer | ree. I I RUTHERFORDTON-SPINDALE SCHOOLS OPEN MONDAY Spindale, Aug. 28. —The Ruther fordton-Spindale-Ruth schools will open Monday, September 3. All indi cations point to a fine term during 1928-29. Prof. B. L. Smith will again superintend the school system. The Spindale elementary school will be in charge of Mr. Wendall Eaves, as principal. Mr. Paul Huss, of Cherry ville, has arrived and will be principal of the Ruth school. Mr. Huss, a Car olina graduate, was superintendent of the Crouse school last year. Prof. W. R. Hill is principal of the Rutherford ton elementary school. SPINDALE BAND TO GIVE COIN CERT HERE FRIDAY Program Will Begin at Eight O'clock on The Plaza— Good Program Arranged The Spindale Band will give a free, public concert on the plaza in Forest City Friday evening, begin ning at eight o'clock, according to the director, Mr. D. C. Cole. This concert will, in reality, be a 'good will' concert. The Spindale Band is proud of the part it took in helping Forest City win the state high school base-ball championship at Chapel Hill in May. The Band was a part of the Forest City delegation that went to Chapel Hill and the organization played no small part in boosting the team on to victory. , ''v The Spindale Band is aow classed "V COOL SPRINGS SCHOOLS OPEN MONDAY MORNING Parents Are Urged to Start! Children First Day and Continue Them in School. The Cool Springs Township Schools will begin active work Monday, Sep tember 3rd. All the pupils are urged to have books the first day. In order to do efficient work pupils must have books. Many parents have bought books, this week for their children. These parents are very much inter ested in the progress of their chil dren. If records could be kept on the children of parents who buy books on time or ahead of time, it is be lieved that the record would show most of them on the passing list. The farmers are especially urged to start their children the first day. Some of the parents may reason with themselves in this manner: "It will be only two weeks before my chil dren will have to begin picking cot ton. I will just keep them out of school until I am thru picking cotton and then start them to school." This kind of argument is unjust to the children. Begin them on time and when cotton opens the boys and girls who live on farms will be dismissed at noon each day. In some special cases pupils will be excused from school a week or more in the cotton picking season, provided they start at the first of school. The principals and superintendent will be glad to eoepesate-with all the farmers dur ing the gathering season provided the parents show that they want to keep their pupils in school as much as possible. The farmers in most cases have been very much in terested in the progress of their chil dren. Most of them will start their children to school next Monday. It is hoped that the compulsory school law will not have to be used this year. This law was not made for ninety-five per cent of the parents. It was made for those who really do not care to send their children to school. In some cases in town where the pupils do not have to work, par ents keep the children out of school. It it hoped that the parents of pupils under fourteen years of age will see the principals of the respective schools, in case it is impossible to begin children on the first day. MISS NELL YOUNG TO OPEN KINDERGARTEN Miss Nell Young will open a kin dergarten Monday September 3, in the Methodist Sunday school build ing. Miss Young has had special train ing in kindergarten work and she will have all modern equipment. She expects to furnish transportation for children who cannot come alone. Those who have not already enrolled are requested to call Miss Young this week. She will take all children be tween the ages of three and six. as one of the best musical organiza-j tions in western North Carolina, and is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the county. Organized in 1923 the band has not missed a practice night, except in case of ne cessity, since organization. The membership of the band is composed of men and boys of mills and offices of Spindale, and are the most stable, and dependable lot that can be found. The requirements for membership are necessarily strict, and all accept ed for membership are required to ibe present at every practice and must live up to the rigid rules of dis cipline imposed by the band'. Mr. D. C. Cole, who has been director of the band since its organi sation is cQnstantly striving to make it one of the outstanding musical or | gawzations in the state. COLLAPSE OF BUILDINGS TUESDAY MORNING BRINGS SORROW TO FRIENDLY CITY Shelby Grieves as Sorrow Reigns Through City —Known Death Toll Stands at Six— Others Probably Under Wreckage— Thirteen Injured ALEXANDER NEWS OF LATE INTEREST W omens' Missionary Union Holds Meeting at Alex ander Church—Locals and Personals i Alexander Mill, Aug. 29.—The Sixteenth Annual W. M. U. meeting of the Sandy Run Association met with the Alexander Baptist church Tuesday night and Wednesday. Rev. R. C. Smith of Cliffside preached the annual sermon Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning Miss Gertrude Mattison, W. M. U. Field Worker, gave the address. On Wednesday afternoon Mrs. J. H. Den of Ridgecrest spoke on the Relief An nuity Fund. Several other speakers gave interesting numbers on the pro gram. The Alexander Women did their best to welcome all of the visitors to our town. Miss Lamb, of Siler City, is visit-1 ing her sister, Mrs. Allison. On last Sunday morning Rev. Mar ion Blanton preached here for Rev. | C. C. Matheny who was away in a meeting. Mr. Blanton used for his subject, "Personal Soul Winning." Miss Kate Mae Hamrick is spend ing a few days with her parents. l Mrs. Hamrick has been attending summer school in Jefferson City, Tenn. BOILING SPRINGS JUNIOR COLLEGE OPENS MONDAY Boiling Springs, Aug. 28.—Boiling Springs operating for the first time this fall as a junior college will open its doors Monday. The trustees met Monday and established a loan fund for worthy college students. This money will be loaned to boys and girls who could not attend college otherwise. The trustees also authorized the construction of a new gym, the con tract of which will be let this week. The college department will be placed on the accredited list of col leges, and all students attending there will be given full credit by the State Board of Education. Miss Katharine Goggans, former teacher of music in the Cool Springs High school, will be director of music at Boiling-Springs. Several students from t Forest City and surrounding communities will be in school there this year. FARM MEETING There will be a meeting at the farms of Mr. B. G. and Henry Moore on Friday, August 31 at 9 o'clock. j This meeting is to study the ap plication of -fertilizers on cotton. There is also some variety tests. Mr. Homer H. B. Mask and Mr. Boyd, from Raleigh, will be at the jmeeting and speak. Messrs. Moores will serve refreshments. Mrs. Thomas W. Dillingham, who has been spending the summer with Mr. and Mrs. J. Worth Morgan, re turned to her home in Washington, D. C., Monday. In the mail order catalogue did you see any mention of company in vestments in Forest City? Did you ev er see one of your neighbor's-names on the company payroll or the cor poration's name on the city's tax rolls? When some men do you favors they never let you forget it. 16 Pages " • • , •. ■ ♦ 96 COLUMNS SI.OO Per Year in Advance LATEST REPORT FROM SHELBY According to a repbrt receiv ■ed by The Courier from the I Cleveland Star, of Shelby, at 3:30 p. m., Wednesday, the death toll of Shelby's disaster was still the same. The work of removing the wreckage is go ing forward rapidly, and at that time had been practically cleared up. There was no an ticipation of finding more bod ies in the debris. No new de velopments were reported from the Shelby Hospital. Miss Mar guerite Callahan, one of the most severely injured, was resting comfortably, and her chance for recovery is good. Miss Callahan was formerly a resident of Forest City. » * * Disaster struck Shelby with a heavy hand Tuesday morning when the wall jof three business buildings occtfpied )by the First National Bank. Goode Grocery Co., and a tailor shop, irt the heart of the city, toppled in," burying a score or more of employees, killing at least six and injuring thirteen. Those known dead are Miss Ora j Eskridge, executive clerk of the First National Bank; Guy Green, 23, bank clerk; Alex Hoyle, 24, bank clerk; Zeb Blanton, 60, a farmer who liv ed five miles west of Shelby; Carl Blanton, 26, his son; Clyde Carpen ter, of Casar. Thirteen were injured and as The Courier goes to press eight of the in jured are in the Shelby Hospital, two or more of them being in a very ser ious condition. ' The accident occurred practically l without warning Tuesday morning about 9:30. An excavation was being j made under the McKnight building lon West Warren Street. The base ment was being deepened and length ened in order to place a bowling al ley in it. The work of excavating was completed last Saturday but the gang of workmen under Mr. Lutz was en-, gaged in smoothing the walls and flooring when the crash came. The ( entire building above seemed to slip | into the basement. It is reported that the excavation was made too close to the foundations of the adjoining * - > building. . r>i Shortly after the disaster volun teer crews of workmen, assisted by the chaingang force, began the task ( of tearing away the debris and | searching for the bodies of those I under the mass of wreckage. Capt. Peyton McSwain's company of Na tional guardsmen were called out to [assist in keeping order and to keep the milling mobs back out of danger. Various reports placed the dead at from fifteen to thirty, but as The Courier goes to press the death list had reached six. It is probable, it is said, that other bodies may be found in the wreckage. It was definitely reported late Tuesday that two per sons were missing and that they were seen to run into the alley before the crash. The crews, working on shifts, (have not cleared the alley yet. To Investigate Disaster Mayor Dorsey announced Tuesday afternoon that he had ordered! an inquest to be called to fix the respon sibility for the disaster. The property loss, it is reported, will exceed $14)0,- 000. As The Courier goes to press volunteer crews continue to remove the wreckage and search for bodies of other victims believed to be Jrnr i ied under, the hpge mass of tangled steel, timber and brick. v ..
Forest City Courier (Forest City, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 30, 1928, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75