MARION PROGRESS
1
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF McDOWELL COUNTY.
ESTABLISHED 1896. MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, SEPT. 14. 1916. VOL. XXI—NO. 3
SERIOUS AFFAIR SUNDAY
Virgil Butt Runs Amuck With Ri
fle; Shoots His Wife and
Four Other Persons.
Viri^il Butt, a white man about
thirty-five years of afire, shot and
wounded five people, including his
wife, at the home of Thomas Mor
ris on Morgan street last Sunday
afternoon. The wounded are Ro
land Morris, Lawrence Morris,
J. L. Biddix, Mrs. J. H. L. Mil
ler, and Mrs. Virgil Butt, wife of
the assailant. All the victims will
recover with the exception of
Butt’s wife, who is in a critical
condition and it is not thought
that she will live, three bullets
having lodged in her body. Law
rence Morris has three bullet
wounds in his arms, Roland Morris
was shot in his right shoulder and
his sister, Mrs. J. H. L. Miller,
was wounded in the neck. J. L.
Biddix received a severe scalp
wound in the center of his fore
head.
Mrs. Butt was cooking at the
Morris home, supposedly against
the desire of Butt, and this is be
lieved to have led to the shooting.
The shooting occurred about six
o’clock when Butt appeared at the
rear door of the Morris home and
immediately opened fire on Mrs.
Butt with a rifle. He shot his
wife and then, without a word,
began shooting at the other occu
pants of the house. After shoot
ing at everybody in sight, Butt
started to leave, and when J. L.
Biddix, a neighbor, appeared on
the scene with a shotgun. Butt
turned the rifle on him and fired,
the bullet grazing his forehead.
Mr. Biddix then fired on Butt as
the latter ran for the hills.
Butt succeeded in making his
escape, and at this writing is still
at large. Officers and bloodhounds
have followed his trail as far as
Linville river and are still on the
trail. Butt was a heavy drinker
and was supposed to have been
drunk when he did the shooting.
He has a criminal record and was
regarded as dangerous when under
the influence of whiskey.
Thomas Morris, father of Law
rence and Roland Morris and Mrs.
Miller, is Clerk of the Superior
Court of McDowell county. At
the time of the shooting he was
absent from home.
Iqamediately after the shooting
'Sheriff Laughridge called Gover
nor Craig on long distance, asking
that Butt be declared an outlaw,
but the governor stated that he
could not take any such action un
til he had received further reports
on the case and had made an in
vestigation. At the same time of
ficers were placed at various points
rto watch for the fugitive while
others searched the hills where he
was supposed to be hiding. Blood
hounds and officers from the Pond
detective agency of Asheville ar
rived in an automobile at 1 o’clock
Monday morning and took up the
trail. According to last reports
Butt had been trailed by way of
Nebo to Linville river. All efforts
possible are being made to capture
the fugitive and it is thought that
he will be taken soon.
S. S. Short, with his mother and
* sister and two aunts, all of States
ville, have moved into the Griffin
Jiouse on Fort street.
W. M. Blanton, Aged Confederate
Veteran, Passes Awayi
Mr. William M.^ Blanton, one of
Marion’s oldest and most prominent
citizens, died at his home here Mon
day morning, the causd of his death
being infirmities of old age. He
was eighty-four years of age and
had resided in McDowell County
more than fifty years, haying been
born in Cleveland County, For
the past thirty* six years his home
was in Marion.
Mr. Blanton was a confederate
veteran, having attained the rank
of Lieutenant. Shortly after the
close of the war he settled in this
county and became one of the most
prominent and substantial citizens
in this section. He was married
to Miss Josephine Setzer fifty-
seven years ago and to this union
were born five boys. His widow
and three sons, A. Blanton, a
prominent wholesale groceryman,
and J. D. Blanton, a leading mer
chant, both of Marion, and Ceph
Blanton of Shelby, survive. He
is also survived by one brother and
one sister, Jno. B. Blanton of For
est City, and Mrs. Margaret Dog-
gett of Shelby.
Since the days of his boyhood
Mr. Blanton had been a loyal and
consistent member of the Baptist
Church. For a number of years
he took an active part in the pub
lic life of his county, having rep
resented McDowell County in the
General Assembly in 186^. Later^
he served as County Commissioner
and other positions of public trust.
In his death McDowell County
has lost one of her most upright
and useful citizens, a man with a
high sense of honor and devoted
to all that made for the upbuilding
of his country; he was an ideal
citizen.
M. I. Curtis Dead.
Mr. M. I. Curtis died suddenly
at his home five miles southwest of
Marion last Thursday morning at
1 o’clock. Mr. Curtis was 75 years
of age and was a veteran of the
Civil war. He was born near Ma
rion and was a resident of the
county nearly all of his. life. He
was widely and favorably known
and had many friends who will be
saddened to iearn of his death.
The deceased is survived by his
wife and four children^ T. O. Cur
tis, F. A. Curtis and A. P. Curtis
of Marion, and Mrs. Wilda Mur
phy, of Rutherford county; one
brother, A. W. Curtis, of Chicago,
111., and one sister, Mrs. Cassie
Noblitt, of Rutherfordton.
Funeral services were conducted
Friday morning at 11 o’elock by
Rev. Mr. Dry and interment made
at Stroudtown cemetery.
T. J. Gibbs Succeeds Carson on
Board of Education.
Mr. George M. Carson, who for
several years has been chairman of
the Board of Education in Mc
Dowell county, has resigned on ac
count of his leaving the btate.
Mr. Carson has rendered the coun
ty valuable service in this capacity,
and McDowell county will feel a
severe loS's in his departure. Mr.
T. J. Gibbs has been elected as
Mr. Carson’s successor and it is
safe to say that Mr. Gibbs is well
fitted for this work.
J. A. Good, of Little Switzer
land, was in town yesterday.
NEWS FROM THE COUNTY
Brief llention of Some of the Hap
penings in McDowell Cdunty—
Items About Home Pebple.
DYSAHTVILLE
Dysartsville, Sept. 11. — Mrs. Will
Cooper died at her home here Monday,
Sept. 4. She had only been sick for a
few days. She was a good woman and
leaves a hnsband and seven children,
three sons and four daughters, all of
whom are married except the yonngest
daughter.
L. B. Cowan, J. C. Goforth and Miss
Lona GK)forth are all at home for two
weeks, having stopped their schools that
long for fodder.
Charles B. Hogan is recovering from
a severe attack of typhoid fever. He
has been sick over a month.
Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Z. V. Daves,
Sept. 6th, a son-
Mrs. J. A. Langhridge of Marion is
visiting her daughter. Mrs. P. D. Spratt.
Miss Irene Dysart returned to her
home in Hickory today after spending
some time here with relatives.
Mrs. C. E. Laughridge and Mrs.
Robert Wilson of Marion are visiting
relatives here.
Mrs. Murry Cooper is quite ill with
typhoid fever. We hope for her an
early recovery.
The Misses Sharpe of Lincolnton visit
ed relatives here recently.
Mrs. J. L. Laughridge and children,
also Miss Pearl Cooper of Marion, are
visiting relatiyes here.
Q. A. Stephenson made a business
trip to Morgantou the latter part of the
week.
Messrs. Smith and Andrews of Bostic
were visitors here Sunday.
There will be a box supper at Mace
donia SatQr,4a^^I)MSiPk^JS?^^
invited.
Will Landis spent the week-end with
friends near Bridgewater.
J. W. and C. E. Jarrett have pur
chased the farm on Hopper’s creek
owned by the widow Morgan.
“Uncle” William Walker died today.
He was about 80 years old and leaves a
wife and four children. He was a very
consecrated man and was loved by
everybody that knew him.
The farmers are getting along nicely
pulling fodder.
We are glad to state E. B. Satter-
white is improving after a lingering
illness.
^ old'fort
Old Fort, Sept. 8.—There are some
200 men still working both day and
night on the mountain aboye here blast
ing out a wider roadbed and filling in
the great gaps washed out in the em
bankments of the railroad.
Some few cases of pneumonia, but
since dry weather has set in the general
health, of the town is nrach improved.
The road to Crooked Creek has been
greatly improved since the big freshet.
The knitting mill has resumed opera
tions after being closed for some time.
J. E. Patton’s log railroad was great
ly damaged by the recent freshet and
he has decided to take up the dinky line
and help on the Old Fort Catawba Falls
highway, which ha4s been admirably
located upon a grade of three per cent.
In places it is near level and above the
roAch of high water. D. W. Adams
made the suryey and much credit is
due him in his efforts for success in the
completion of this highly commendable
undertaking. Most of the rough places
have been graded and over a mile of
the new road is now in use. The differ
ence in the old and new road is very
apparent. In a few places the new
road runs near the location of that old
historic road of 1797 from Old Fort to
Swannanoa. At no distant day this
road may be extended two and one-half
miles further across the Blue Ridge to
the charming new town of Ridgecrest.
The route has been surveyed. This
iTiftftTiH a highway of great scenic inter
est from 1,800 to 3,000 feet on top of
the Blue Ridge where the air is pure
and water cold enough to suit the most
exacting “bach” or maid of many
summers.
BRIDGEWATER
Bridgewater, Sept. 11.—Miss Lillian
Hunter has entered Nebo High School.
Mrs. Kranz of New York spent. last
week here with her sister, Mrs. Abner
Seals.
Miss Katherine Rockett spent the
week-end at Connelly Springs with
homefdks.
Miss Josie Conley of Asheville is the
guest of Mrs. C. D. Hemphill this week.
Miss Cecelia Ballew spent last week
at Morganton and Eufola with friends.
Arthur Rust has returned to Berea
College, Berea, Ky., after spending a
few weeks here with homefolks. He
was accompanied by his sister, Miss
Julia who spent her vacation here.
Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Hilderbran and
Mr. and Mrs. Chfton Bowles spent Sun
day in Nebo.
Mrs. Abner Seals and Miss Nettie
Hemphill spent Friday in Morganton
shopping.
Mrs. Wade Hennessee of Garden City
spent Sunday here with her father, M.
F. Tate. ^
Miss Nora Ballew spent Friday in
Nebo with Miss Fay Padgett.
Quite a number of Bridgewater peo
ple attended the burial of Ervin Pitts
at Glen Alpine Sunday.
HARMONY GROVE
Harmony Grove, Sept. 11.—Miss Har
riet Walton, who has been suffering
with a broken leg, died at her home
last Wednesday, Sept. 7. The remains
were brought to Harmony Grove ceme
tery for burial.
^rn, to Mr. and Mrs. Ceph Pyatt,
_^e 9th, a daughter.
Mrs. Fannie Owensby of Marion spent
a few days here last week with her
mother, Mrs. Alice Crawley.
Mrs. Hannie Laughridge and child
ren of Salisbury visited relatives here
last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Horace Crawley spent
Sunday m Nebo with their daughter,
Mrs. Cordie Pyatt.
Mr. and Mrs. Will Gibbs and baby of
Nebo attended the burial of Miss Har
riet Walton, here last Friday.
Ciinchfieid Company to Raise Capi
tal Stock to $1,200,000.
The Secretary of State has al
lowed an amendment to the charter
of the Ciinchfieid Manufacturing
Company raising the capital from
$800,000, to $1,200,000.
The new stock issued will be
used in the building of the No. 2
mill of this company, which will
cost over $600,000, and will be
equipped with 26,000 spindles and
600 draper looms.
The power plant will be a steam
turbine electric drive and will be
built and equipped to furnish pow
er for 40,000 spindles and 1,000
looms. It is planned that the mill
building will be arranged so that
an addition may be built at small
expense to hold the full 40,000
spindles and 1,000 looms.
The No. 2 mill when completed
and fully equioped will cost around
the sum of one million dollars, and
will give employment to 400 to 500
people.
Mr. D. D. Little, the president
of this company, started the Ma
rion Manufacturing Company in
1909 with 10,000 spindles and 240
looms and he has built the Marion
Company up to 36,000 spindles
and 840 looms and when he com
pletes the addition to the Clinch-
field mill he will have put into
operation i^bis county over 100,-
000 spind|^ and 2,650 automatic
looms, accost of over $2,500,000.-
00, and in a period of less than ten
years.
Mr. Little, although an adopted
son of this State and county, has
every interest of his mill communi
ties at heart and also of the county
and State and endeavors to join in
th^ welfare of anything which
tends to the upbuilding of the
couoty and town of his adoption.
STATE NEWS OFTHE WEEK
Items Concerning Events of In*
terest and Importance Through
out the State.
Governor Rober,t B. Glenn has
consented to speak three we^ks
during the Democratic campaign
in this State.
Charles L. Sykes of Asheville
has accepted position of chairman
of the Hughes Progressive organi
zation in the Tenth congressional
district.
Unofficial returns of the judicial
primary give J. H. Kerr a majori
ty over Judge Francis D. Wins
ton of 1,700 to 1,800 in the district
for judge of the Third Judicial
District.
The North Carolina School for
the Deaf at Morganton opened its
twenty-third annual session Wed
nesday with an attendance of 250,
the largest number ever present at
the opening. There is expected
an attendance of about 300 this
session, a number remaining at
home to work on farms.
Commissioner of Labor and Print
ing Shipman and Chairman Brit
ton, who sought an interview with
Secretary of War Baker while the
latter was in Greensboro Thursday
night, report that they had a very
satisfactory talk with the Secretary
about the immediate shipment of
seed (and the exact kind of seed
-needed) to^^he fiood«u#«rersin the
western counties. Secretary of
War Baker promised to give the
matter his immediate personal at
tention on his return to Washing
ton.
Two Trainmen Killed at Biltmore.
Engineer Ben Eoloe, of Bryson
City, and Flagman Irvin Pitts, of
Glen Alpine, were instantly killed
at Fairview crossings near Bilt
more station, Friday night when
their train, backing in toward Bilt
more, was struck by a runawliy
strhig of coal-cars, loaded with
coal, which had broken loose at
Buena Vista hill, three and a half
miles further on.
Engineer Enloe was backing a
work train into Biltmore aud Flag
man Pitts was on the engine with
him when the runaway cars caught
up with and smashed into their
train.
Engineer Enloe’s body was cov
ered deep with coal and was not
recovered for several hours. Rid
ing on the runaway cars was Brake-
man N. G. McGalliard of Old Fort,
who made frantic but unsuccessful
efforts to set the brakes. Seeing
that the crash was inevitable, he
jumped just in the nick of time,
escaping with several bruises. M.
W. Clement, fireman of the work
train, was also scalded badly about
the neck and side of the head and
was somewhat bruised. *He man
aged to jump, however, and saved
his life.
German Casualties 3,375,000.
London, Sept. 10. — German
casualties in the war during the
month of August according to a
compilation here from the German
casualty lists, totaled 240,900. This
brings the German total since the
beginning of the war, as compiled
from the same sources to 3,375,-
000. These figures include all the
German nationalities, but do not
ioelude the naval and colonial
casualties.