A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF McDOWELL COUNTY. ESTABLISHED 1896. MARION, N. C, THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 1920 VOL. XXIV NO. 23 DISASTROUS EXPLOSION Three Men Killed and Two Injured by Explosion of Sawmill Boiler Near Black Mountain. Ad explosion at the big saw mills of the Broad River Lumber company, located i n McDowell county, about six miles from Black Mountain, Monday after noon resulted in the death of three men and serious injuries received by two others. The dead are: Harold Taylor, a hand at the mill; Fred Garrison, Breman, and Ray mond Barnwell, logger, and the in jured, Frank Young, miller, and one unidentified employee. The explosion is said to have been caused by too much steam, which wrecked the plant, driving pieces of the boiler through the men, tjwo of whom were badly mangled; Barnwell bad just come in with a trail of logs and taken a seat on a log near the boiler when the explosion occurred and parts of his body are said to have been blown 200 feet. Medical aid was summoned from Black Mountai but by the time doctors coul reach the scene, three of the men had died. The plant is ownedl by E. L. Gaston, of Asheville. Norton-Bolton On last Saturday afternoon at 6 o'clock at her hoirie on Park Hill Miss Mayme Norton, only daugh ter of Mr. J. C. Norton, was unit -ed in marriage to Mr. John W. Bolton, of Richmond, Va. Miss Norton, attractively gowned in a traveling suit of dark blue cloth with dark furs and bat, accom panied by Miss Mary Lassiter, en tered the living room, which was prettily decorated in pink carna tions and asparagus ferns, where she was met by Mr. Bolton and the ceremony performed by Rev. B. S. Lassiter in the Dreseoce of a few intimate friends. Miss Norton has lived in Marion for several years. She is well known here and has many friends. Mr. Norton holds a responsible position with the Southern Power Company as superintendent of con struction work at Bridgewater. He also has many friends and is very popular with his employees. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton left on train No. 21 for a few days stly in Asheville and will later take extended trip North. i American Legion Meeting Saturday Much interest is being manifested in the meeting to be held at the McDowell Hotel in Marion next Saturday at 4 o'clock by the organ izers of the local post of the Amer ican Legion. The meeting is being held for the purpose of electing officers and it is desirous that every McDowell County veteran of the World War -be in attendance if possible. This organization is going- to be one of the strongest patriotic ord ers in the country and, represent ing aa it does every high ideal- of Americanism, and it is to be hoped that the McDowell post shall be one of the strongest and most en thusiastic in the state. Mrs. Arthur Nichols and baby are recovering from an attack of influenza. -' - . v-r : Change in Business. Several changes inbusiness have been made in Marion daring the past few days. The Davis Pharmacy has chang ed hands, Messrs. W. L. Landis and Joseph Schafhausen being the purchasers. Mr. Landis is a Mc Dowell boy. He attended the school of his home community and grad uated from Nebo High School. He taught successfully for a few years. He was a volunteer in the service of bis country during the world war, making a record of which to be proud. Mr. Schaf hausen is a dru&gist of long expe rience. He comes to Marion well recommended. y Mr. Davis expects to return to Henderson, N. C, where he will engage in business. He has been in Marion for a number of years. He had succeeded in building up a good business. Taking a promi nent part in the church and com munity life, he has made made many personal as well as business friends itfno will regret to learn that ire is leaving Marion- O. Led better & Bro. have sold their grocery store- to Lee Conley and Paul Banner, both of Marion. The transfer was made last week and the new proprietors are now in charge. The Ldbet ter boys have been in business in .Marion for a numbar of years. They have made a reputation for themselves for- quality of goods4 and square dealing. They have not as yet announced their plans for the future but expect to remain identified with the business life of the town. The Dew owners are both well known in Marion. They are young men of sterling qualities whose progress will be watched with interest by their many friends. Mr. A. W. Grayson, who has been in business in Marion for a M 1 11 number or years, Inst week sold his grocery store to Messrs. J. F. Cantrell and VV. E Smith, of Lan drum, S. C. Mr. Grayson is well and favorably known throughout the county. He injoyed a good trade and has made a reputation fochonesty and square dealing. Messrs. Cantrell and Smith come to Marion as successful business men. They both have families and expect to move here as soon as they can get houses. Veneer Plant Will Be Enlarged. The Penn Veneer Plant is to be enlarged at an early date. A pane) department is to be added. Mr. W. K. M. Gilkey, manager, has been to Knozville and purchased the new machinery for the addition to the plant. The management of the plant has been under Mr. Gilkey for some time. It has been yery suc cessfully managed, as evidenced by its wide and growing patronage. J. K. Cowan III. Mr. J K. Cowan, County Su perintendent of Public Welfare, is seriously ill at the McDowell Hos pital, suffering from pneumonia. Mr. Cowan had been confined to bis room several days last week on account of cold. He improved and went out Sunday, suffering a re lapse. 'While Very sick, from last reports he is doing as well as could be expected. NEWS FROM THE COUNTY Brief Mention of Some of the Hap penings in McDowell County Items About Home People. OLD FORT Old Fort, Feb. 10, William Stire wait has returned from Akroii, Ohio, where he has been visiting. Paul Harmon is visiting his parents here. Carl Greene has returned from a visit to Asheville. F. M. Bradley and Willard Crawford were in Asheville Saturday on business. Miss Ethel Miller has recovered from a severe attack of influenza. Dewey Bradley has gone to Johnson City, Tenn.. where he has accepted a position. Miss Elizabeth Strickland has recov ered from a severe case of influenza. The Boy Scouts met Tuesday at the School Auditorium and gave a public demonstration of scout craft. Miss Pearl Evans has returned to St. Pauls to recover from a severe case of flu. Miss Gertrude Dula is recovering from a case of influenza. The number of cases of influenza are decreasing and if the present rate of de crease continues we will soon be free from the disease. The Old Fort High School Girls' bas ketball team defeated the Marion High School Girls' team by a score of 12 to 6. MONT FORDS COVE Nealsville, N C. Feb. 9, We have been having some very cold weather lately and the roadw are very muddy at preseut James Davis of Uree was buried at the Cove Sunday. Heart trouble was the cause of his death We sympathize with the bereaved family and friends. Andrew Wilker&on, who has been se riously sick, is rapidly improving. We hope for him a speedy recovery. Miss Clara Harris, a student of Round Hill school, is spending some time with home folks. A. J. Wilkerson of Biltmore is visit ing his father who is quite ill. Rev. W. R Harris of West Asheyille is spending some time with his parents. Mr. and Mis. E. C. Harris George Fready and family moved to Rutherfordton last week. George Hensley is right sick. We hope ha will soon be out again. Mrs. W. P. Ledbetter, who has been quite ill, is able to be out again. Miss Maude Lsdbetter was the guest of her aunt, Mrs. Laura Flack, Saturday. Mrs. John Byrd visited her father here one day last week. NEBO Nebo, Feb. 10. Quite a number of young people from around Nebo visited the Power dam Sunday afternoon. We are very sorry to learn of Rev Mr. Brittain's illness. He is now unable to fill his appointments. We hope he will recoyer soon Will Landis of Marion spent Sunday with his aunt, Mrs. G. D. Taylor. Miss Vivian Parks is spending this week with relatives on Linville. E L. Tate was called home from his work in Georgia on account of the ill ness of his wife. She is still in the M6vL I -a Dowell Hospital, but we are glad to 8a v jtfi Ji Jxrffl ui- : i tt u riii wnoiesaie Sue IS rapiUljr llUruviug. Ji.uy7 ouo be able to return home soon. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Redman, a son. Mrs. Gibson Dies of Pneumonia. Mrs. J. L. Gibson died Saturday morning at 9 o'clock at her home in Stroudtown, following an illness af influenza and pneumonia. Mrs. Gibsdu was 6Q years of age and in survived by her husband and seven children. She was a sis ter to T. E. Snipes of Marion and had a wide circle of friends in the county who will be grieved to learn of her death. The funeral services' were con ducted from the residence. Sunday afternoon by Rev. Waycaster and interment made in Stroud town cemetery. Educational Survey Being Made of McDowell Schools An educational survey of the schools of McDowell is being con ducted in this county during this week. This survey consists of tests being given to the various grades of every school in the county. It is being conducted by the State Education commission, the actual work being supervised by experts in this line of work. Among those aid ing in the tests in McDowell are D. F. Giles, T. A. Holton, J. E. Kanipe, Miss Ethel Terrell, county superintendent of Buncombe schools, undejr the direction of Prof. Sbawof Columbia University. The tests are sect to Raleigh to be examined and graded. The in formation obtained through these tests will doubtless be used as a basis on which recommendations will be made to the legislature rela tive to the school work in North Carolina. Washing Machines Installed by y' Cross Mills. V Mr. Eugene fCross has added a washing department to his mill. The machines have been purchased and will be installed as soon as possible. Mr. Cross will not -undertake to turn out a finished laundred product but will do only washing. He says he expects to be able to do the washing for as many as.lSQ-families. A delivery wagon w$ll be operated which wilt call for and deliver the family wash. With the scarcity of help the news of even a washing depart ment will be read with interest by the housewives in Marion. They can get the washing done for the family, which will be better than having to do both washing and ironing. Accident Sunday Night. Harry Hunter, whose home is at Nebo, suffered a very serious acci dent last Sunday night while at his post of duty as as brakeman on the Southern railway. He was found unconscious by members oV the crew lying on top of a car with his skulled badly fractured, it being thought that the accident occurred while Dassing through the tunnel near the top: of the mountain. He was brought to Marion and placed in the McDowell Hospital where an operation was performed oy Drs. Kirby and Ash worth. While inl a very serious condition, hopes arte entertained for his recovery. Drug Company Organ ized for Marion. - A wholesale drug company has been organized in Marion, with K. A. Kirby, Dr. G. S. Kirby, Guy Kirby and others as stockholders. The new concern has made appli cation for a charter with an au thorized capital of $50,000. The new business, will fill a lopg felt need in this section. Asheville is the nearest oint where drugs can be purchased, and . with the large section to be served radiating from Marion as it does makes Ma rion the central and 'convenient point for the trade. The promo ters are all known successful busi ness and .professional ; men. That they- would succeed in the new business is not to be questioned. STATE NEWS 0FTHE WEEK Items Concerning Events of In terest and Importance Through- out the State. J. J. Britt, of Asheville, an nounces that he will not be a can didate for the republican nomina tion for governor. William Wiggins, near RoWns ville, Graham County, was shot and killed by his son, Ross Wigg ins the past week. Fell out oyer a banjo. The Burnsville Eagle has su spended publication until print pa per is reduced to a reasonable price. The Eagle was established twenty- tnree years ago. Rev. Dr. J. C. Rowe, one of the best known ministers of the West ern North Carolina Methodist Con ference, late pastor of South Main. Street church, Salisbury, died Tuesday morning at his home in Salisbury, death resulting from pneumonia following influenza. Hd was 71 years old. Influenza Epidemic Not Improved The influenza epidemic through out the county is not; very- much improved. The disease is now re ported from nearly every section of the county. While in an epi demic state, it is of a milder form than last year. It appears to be more severe in some sections than others? Seve raT cases of tfneumo hia have been reported and a few: deaths. . , The people are exercising every precation to avoid the disease, which is necessary to prevent a general and serious epidemic. The health authorities are keeping close watch and if necessary will pass measures to protect the public. Old Building Removed. Old Fort, Feb. 9. Probably the oldest bouse-in this section, the original Thomas Lytle house, was recently torn down by the present owner, M. F. Hensley, and some old relics of interest discovered. Shop-made nails were used in the building and the points of most of these nails are as bright as when the blacksmith made them. The house was built perhaps 120 years ago with hewn logs about seven inches thick and ceiled with broad ceiling, twelve inches or more in width. An old letter to Mr. ;Xy tle f rom C. Mackey of Buncombe county, bears date .of - Nov. 11, 1855, and refers to the sale of stear. Among other relics found was a half-dime made in 1838, a one-cent-copper piece and a wild boar tusk, or tooth, over 6i inches long. The grant to the land was made in 1797. Eugene Cross returned Thursday from Mississippi, his old home, where he went last week to attend: the funeral of ,his mother. Mrs; Cross bad visited her son in Ma rion several times and had many friends here who will be grieved to learn of her death. Mr, E. B. Barber, who has been ill for several weeks, has been suf-' fering from an abscess and an at tack of la grippe, instead of influ enza, as erroneously stated in The Birogress last week. Mr. Baber is improving and is r able to, be out again; I. -