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. -