MARION Progress
V
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTEREST OT THE PEOPLE OF McDOWELL COUNTY.
established 1896.
MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, AUG. 31. 1916.
VOL. XXI—NO. 1
TWO NEW COTTON MILLS
ClinchfieldCompanyDecideto Build
New Mill—Cross Mills Colh-
pany Elects Officers.
At a special call meeting of the
board of directors of the Clinch-
field ManufacturiDg company, com
posed of Carroll Baldwin, H. M.
Leslie, D. D. Little, H. F. Little,
J. L. Morgan, T. J. Gibbs and
Byron Conley, last week it was
unanimously decided to build
new cotton mill to be known as
Clinchfield Mill No. 2.
This mill will cost $600,000, and
will be located near the present
Clinchfield mill, which will be
known hereafter as Clinchfield No.
1. The stock has already been sub
scribed, and the construction work
will begin immediately.
The stockholders of the recently
organized Cross Cotton Mills Com
pany held their first meeting on
Friday of last week and elected
officers as follows: D. E. Hud
gins, president; Byron Cooley,
vice-president; Eugene Cross, sec
retary and treasurer. Directors
are D. E. Hudgins^ Byron Conley,
Eugene Cross, W. W. Guy, J. H.
Hemphill, J. W. Winborne and
Dr. G. S. Kirby. Construction
work will begin at once, contracts
for machinery having been placed
and site purchased, and it will very
probably be ready for operation by
February.
This will ^iye Marion four cot
ton mills. These two new mills
will make Marion the leading tex
tile center in Western North Caro
lina, giving her a mill population
of over 4,000. Marion’s ample
railroad facilities, fine climate and
good labor conditions make this
splendid location for textile indus
tries, and with present prospects
Marion will in a few years be the
leading manufacturing center in
Western North Carolina.
Storm at Salisbury Kills Man and
Destroys Several Structures,
Salisbury^ N. C., Aug. 28.—A
severe windstorm here late today
caused the ddath of W m. Callaway,
carpenter, demolished several
one-story brick buildings and un
roofed dozens of business houses
and residences. At East Spencer,
six persons were injured and sev
eral buildings were blown down.
The Murphy block and the Wal
lace building here were damaged,
and merchandise stocks throughout
the city were flooded.
The plant of the North Carolina
Public Service company was put
out of commission, leaving the city
without lighting facilities, and
poles blown across the tracks at
various points, haulted street cars.
The most seriously injured is
Mrs. D. A. Kluttz, who was caught
under a ton or more of falling
brick from the walls of the store
buildings, one arm, one leg and
her hip bone crushed, besides other
serious bruises. She was rushed
to a Salisbury hospital for treat
ment.
In the store at the time was also
Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Fesperman
and four children. Seeing the top
of the building had blown across
the street, they abandoned the
store only to be covered with brick
and timbers falling in front.
With considerable difficulty they
were extricated and all were more
or less injured.
STRIKE SET FOR MONDAY
Italy FormallyDeclares War Against
Germany.
Home, Aug. 27, 6 p. m.—Italy
today formally declared war on
Germany, ending the anomalous
situation that has existed between
the two countries for sometime,
and enabling the surplus Italian
STATE NEWS OF THE WEEK
Willie Sorrells Killed by Train
An accident that was peculiarly
sad and horrorfying in its details
occurred at Union Mills Monday
evening which resulted in the death
of Mr. Willie Sorrells, the 16 year
old son of Rev. and Mrs. A. P.
Sorrells. It seems that the young
man was attempting to board
through freight over the Southern
Railway when he fell or was thrown
beneath the rapidly moving train
and his body badly mangled. Sev
eral ribs and a leg was broken be
sides receiving several other pain
ful and serious injuries. He was
immediately brought to the Ruth
erford Hospital, but he was be
yond all medical aid and died with
in a few minutes after arriving
there.
His body was carried back to
his home at Union Mills where the
funeral and interment took place
Tuesday evening.—Rutherford ton
Sun, 24th.
[Mr. Sorrells formerly resided in
McDowell and the bereaved family
bave the sympathy of many friends
throughout the county in this sad
and untimely death. 1
• In Charlotte Monday morning
at 7 o’clock Robt. A. Beattie, 67
years old, shot and killed his wife,
Dixie Beattie. The deed was evi
dently premeditated and the result
of jealously. Beattie sent for belp
for his wife after he shot her and
then surrendered to the police,
says the Charlotte News,
Murderer Caught After 44 Years.
Asheville, Aug. 24.—The strong
arm of the law reached out today
and Andy Wise was arrested at
Williamston, West Va., for the
murder of John Rogers in this
county 44 years ago.
Wise, then a young man, was
arrested 44 years ago for the mur
der of Rogers by Levi P. Plem-
mons, then sheriff, and was brought
to Asheville. The county court
house then stood on Pack square
and while the sheriff was hitching
his horse Wise made his escape.
Not a trace was found of him until
a few weeks ago, when Steve Rog
ers, son of the murdered man,
came to Sheriff Mitchell and re
ported that Wise had been seen in
French Broad township near here.
Although the sheriff was early on
the scene, he found that Wise had
taken a train at Alexander and
With Strike Situation Deadlocked
President Calls on Congress
for Strike L^islation.
Washington, Aug. 29.—“God
help you; I cannot,^’
This was the painting salutation
of President Wilson to the railway soldiers to be shifted to any front
executives this afternoon after they Teutons are
had presented their final proposi- The Italian government
tion, and the president had become a message to the Swiss govern-
convinced that it would not be ac- ment, asking it to inform Germany
cepted by the men. August 28, Italy would
Most of the railroad heads left consider itself at war with Ger-
for their respective homes, in or-
der, as they stated, to prepare for and Germany have been
a strike Monday, which they ap- drifting steadily toward war. In
pear to regard® inevitable. Word K»ct, Italy’s formal declaration
reached Washington tonight that to little more than official
various railroads had issued em- kecognition of a state of affairs
bargoes against perishable freight, which already existed. The dec
and that many of the roads have inevitable when
warned their passenger agents to «cently sent troops to Saloni-
tell passengers contemplating trips ki to co-operate in the campaign
that will end later than Sunday the entente allies on the Mace
night, September 8, at midnight. Ionian front, as Germany is di
to expect unavoidable delays. recting the opposing forces and
President Wilson recognized the troops on this battle line.
seriousness of the situation today _ • r * u/
by going before congress and ask- I’^mania Enters War.
ing for legislation that will pre- London, Aug. 28.—Rumania has
vent future strikes, and at the thrown in her lot with the Entente
same time appealed to the patriot- Allies by declaring war on Austria-
ism of the brotherhood leaders to Hungary and almost simultaneous-
rescind the strike order issued for ly Germany has announced that
Monday morning. At a late hour she is at war with Rumania,
his request had not been granted. Already the troops of King Fer-
and the principal iiuestion before dinand are seeking entry into the
congress and the orwident was plains of Transylvania through the
whether legislation g6^ 6e en- eastern Carpathians toward Kron-
acted in time to provent the threat- stadt, the chief city in Transylva-
ened strike Monday. nia, and in the direction of Her-
President Wilson, laying the mannstadt, evidently in an en-
railway strike situation before con- deavor to press northward through
gress today with recommendations Transylvania toward theBukowina
for legislation, advanced the crisis and Galicia borders and to take in
to a stage where the next develop- the rear the Austro-Germans try-
ments depend upon two points, ing to hold back the Russians from
They are: entering the plains of Hungary.
Whether the legislation he pro- Nothing has come through to in
poses can be passed. dicate what preparation has been
If enacted will it be effective to made by the Bulgarians to offset a
prevent a strike already called for probable attack by the Rumanians
7 a. m., September 4. along the Danube front or a possi-
ble attempt by the Russians at in-
Revival Begins Sunday. |vasionby mean's of the Danube
tems Concerning Events of In
terest and Importance Through
out the State.
Davenport College, Lenoir, is to
raise $50,000 for a library fund for
scientific equipment and the build*
ing of a dormitory.
Wilmington bakers have increas
ed the price of bread to six cents a
loaf as the result Of the high' pric»
of flour.
The jurors in the Epstein mur-
case at Goldsboro couldn’t agree
and a mistrial was ordered. They
stood 11 to 1 for conviction.
From July 21, when the Spar
tanburg and Knoxville divisions of
the Southern railway were opened
to the public for travel, for the
first time, following the flood of
July 15, to August 21, it is esti
mated that 25,000 people were
brought to Asheville, the great
majority of whom were tourists.
While ascending Balsam moun
tain, near Willetts, on the Murphy
division last Friday, the engine of
freight train No. 66 left the track.
Engineer W. M. Brown being
caught and killed instantly when
the engine turned over. Fireman
G. C. Wilson was slightly injured,
but there were no other persons
injured and no cars were derailed.
Brown lived at Bryson City and is
survived by a wife.
Wise is now an old man and is
said to have an excellent record
where he has been making his
home all these years. He will be
returned here at once to stand
trial, although Sheriff Mitchell is
puzzled as to whether or not he
will be able to gather any living
witnesses against the man. Since
Wise escaped Sheriff Plemmons,
aged 82, has passed away, and
many people who lived where the
murder is alleged to have been
committed are dead.
J. L. Hogan, a railroad foreman
who was injured in an accident near
Old Fort several days ago, returned
home last Friday. Mr. Hogan
suffered a dislocated hip, had two
ribs broken and sustained other
bruises, but has recovered to the
extent that he is able to get about
on crutches.
Alligators do not attain full size
until they are nearly 100 years
old.
. , . J1 and through Dorbruja or by the
The revival m««ting announced estimated that
in these columns last week will be-
gin Sunday morning Seot^S, at 11 ^ (^e field,
o’clock. A big tent has been '
en
gaged and we are expecting it to
be here this week in time to get it
in readiness for the first service.
Prof. D. Ward Milam of Atlan
ta will conduct the singing. It is
Trails Go Through to Asheville
Passenger service between Salis
bury and Asheville was restored
Sunday, this being the first pas-
much desired to assemble on the j senger service on this division to
big platform the choirs of thej
various churches and as many
volunteers as possible. If the
Lord has given you a good voice
use it for his glory. Join the re
vival choir.
This meeting is in the interest |
Asheville since the interruption of
July 16. During this week pas
senger trains Nos. 11, 21, 36 and
12 will be operated on regular
schedule from Salisbury and Ashe
ville. Beginning Sunday all trains
of the salvation of the lost and the be restofed between Salisbury
edification of the believers. If
you are a sinner, come. If you
are a Christian, come. Will you
pray earnestly for yourself and
your lost neighbor.
Services will be held each day
at 10 o’clock a. m. and 8 p. m.
Welcome all.
Loy D. Thompson,
Paster Methodist Church.
and Asheville. This includes the
above trains and Nos. 35, 22, 15
and 16, No. 15, westbound, pass
ing here at 10:30 a. m. and No.
16, eastbound, passing here at
8:20 p. m.
At Old Fort the heavier engines
are changed to lighter ones and
light tnuns are run over the moun
tain
Enormous forces are working
tirelessly on the Blue Ridge, and
the forces at Graphite, Dendron
School Opens Monday at Old Fort.
The graded school at Old Fort
will open Monday, Sept. 4. No
changes in the teaching force have
been made except in the high school
department. Misses Lillian Draug-
han and Jennie Lunsford have been
elected teachers in this department.
Misses Draughan and Lunsford are
graduates of standard institutions,
and are teachers of several years
experience. They come to Old
Fort highly recommended.
Two courses of study will be
offered in the high school depart
ment—the Latin-scientific and the
modern language. The work will
be largely departmental. Sapt.
N. F. Steppe will be the instructor
of classes in mathematics. Miss
Draughan will have charge of those
Latin, Science, History; and
Miss Lunsford will teach classes
in English, French, German.
The management is trying to
provide a domestic science depart
ment. It is hoped that this can be
done this year as there is already
a demand for instruction in this
subject.
This year, for the first time in
its history, the school will have
eleven grades. Pupils completing
a full four year high school course
will be admitted into the leading
colleges without examination.
Students not living in the dis
trict, who are desirous of attending
the school may do so by paying a
small fee for tuition.
For further information apply
to Supt. N. F. Steppe.
Dr. Alfred W. Dula is in Phila
delphia for a few weeks taking
special research work in Optics
Dr. Duly neither spares time nor
expense in keeping up-to-date in old Fort will be continued in
his profession, and the mountains, it is officially an-
spends^a few weeks North^ stud.y. ^
ing.—Lenoir News. Dr. Duly ex-
pectis to make a regular visit to
Marion at the earliest date possible
upon his return from North. It
good condition as they were pre
vious to the interruption of service
on July 16.
If you have a news item, person
al or any item of local news of in
terest The Progress will appreciate
your giving it in at any time. The
small item is appreciated as much
as the larger ones.
All road foremen are requested
to give in their time at once to
T. R. Morris for labor on the pub
lic roads in the county.