A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF McDOWELL COUNTY.
ESTABLISHED 1896.
MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1921
VOL. XXV NO. 43
Q
ELECTRIC STORM. PASS
ES OVER McDOWELL
KilUc Little Girl, in Montford
Xove Township; Sets Fire "to
Church on Clear Creek.
The electric storm which passed
over "McDowell County on last Sun
day was one of the most servere this
"section has seen for many years.
.The storm seems to have covered the
entire county and considerable dam
age was reported.
The thirteen-year-old daughter of
Will Haynes, of Montford Cove
township, was struck by lightning
during the storm and killed instant
ly. The little girl was out looking
for a girl friend of 'about the same
age, and, cjimbing to $he top of a
pile of rock to get a view of the im
mediate section, was struck bya bolt
of lightning. The death of the lit
tle girl cast a glooYn on the entire
section, where the family is well
known and has many relatives.
The old Baptist church on Clear
Creek was struck about twelve
o'clock and burned to the -ground.
This is one of the oldest Baptist
churches in the county and was es
tablished by Rev. -Jesse Sorrells, the
well-known Baptist preacher
through whose influence the church
was erected, about twenty-five years
ago. .
M13S GREENLEE ENTERS UPON
DUTIES AS WELFARE OFFICER
Miss Mary Greenlee, who was
. elected to the office of Superintend
ent of Public Welfare at a meeting
of the Board of Education and Board
of County Commissioners several
months ago; (is at the office- of the
Countv Suuerintendent of Schools,
r outlining her work.. She expects to
have her plans perfected in i f w
days, and will enter officially upon
her duties July 1st. Miss Green-ee
will have permanent headquarters at
the office of the County Superinten
dent of Schools.
Miss Greenlee, for the past several
years, has been connected with the
county school system as teacher
.She taught in the high school depart
ment at Nebo for several years, and
for the past two years was the effi
cient principal of thfe Cii-iohfi-ld
High School. She was considered
one of the most" capable teachers in
the county. She is well qualified for
the duties of County Superintend
ent' of Public Welfare, and an able
and efficient discharge bf the office
can be expected from Miss. Greenlee.
POSTPONEMENT ACTION
ON SPECIAL SESSION
Raleigh; June 25. Definite post
jKjnement of any section on the re
quest of municipalities for a special
session of' the legislature was the
opshot of today's meeting of the
council, of state with the governor.
Governor Morrison's suggestion
that the 'city heads be requested to
formally furnish him with financial
.statement as early as possible was
approved by the council and letters
were sent this . af terndon to mem
bers of the municipal association ask
ing the early forwarding of this in
formation, - It will be at leasts week, accord
ing to memSers of the council of
state before this information can be
secured and assimilated here. The
legal points raised by the cities in
connection with statements that they
are not permitted to borrow enough
monev to run them will be thorough
ly inquired into by -the attorney gen-j
era! ixf ore the council or state gath
ers .again to finally pass upon he
matter. .-
GRASSHOPPER ARMY
t ; ENTERS COLORADO
Colorado. Spring Colo., June 25.
An army of grasshoppers, stiroat
to be 15 miles -wide and 20 nifles
LJng, U advancing on El Paso'county,
Colo.; from the southwest, County
-EWm ' A ca JI C. 'Hale announced
today. -They "are destroying" virtual.,
ly all vegetation' in their path.' '
WEALTH OF STATE IS
. About $2,400,000,000
Raleigh, June 27. North Caro
lina's actual over estimated wealth
under revaluation is seven and a half
millions of dollars and its shrinkage
from horizontal reductions will
amount to several hundred millions.
Such is the first summing up of
figures made by Col. A. D. Watts,
revenue commissioner, announced to
day. When the horizontal reduc
tions are all complete, the commis
sioner estimates that the wealth of
the state will be about $2,400,000,-
000. Sixty-three of 100 counties
have, completed their reductions and
45 of these are in the hands of the
commissioner. Twenty-nine coun
ties made no cuts and eight are now
going through the -process or revalu
ation.
The figures are most interesting.
No surprise attaches to the an
nouncement that Durham's per capi
ta wealth is far in excess of the aver
age for the state and Dare had no
bitter rival for the lowest place. The
average for the state was $1,237.49
per capita but only 29 counties did
better than the average. Wake was
one dollar above the average and
Cleveland one dollar below it. Dur
ham's is $2,899.49, and Dare's is
$530.92. Scotland has the second
highest per capita wealth of any
county in thesstate with $1,990.52
and Clay is next to Dare towards the
bottom. Mecklenburg is fourth with
$1,743.59 and Buncombe averages
$1,440.89.
It will be six months before a
comparative statement can be made
showing the changes that have been
and will be wrought by the horizon
tal cut, but with most of tjhe real and
none -cffnhe" personatfigures in Col
onel Watts' estimates the average
reduction m valuations
cent. With figures in
cally complete for 63
cuts off four hundred
real property and lops
cent or three hundred
a 20 per
hand practi
counties he
millions
off 40
millions,
for
per
for
the personal property cuts.
Hyde, one of the weaker counties
of the east, was rated under revalu
ation as one of the wealthier coun
ties but the equalization board has so
cut down the figures of the apprais
ers until Hyde gets back toward the
bottom.
BIG CELEBRATION IN
MORGXnTON JULY 4TH
The Burke County Post of the
American Legion is directing plans
for a celebration in Morganton on
July 4th that gives promise of eclips
ing any former celebration of the
Fourth ever attempted in this section
of the State. It is expected that if
the weather is favorable thousands
of people from Burke, McDowell,
Caldwell and Catawba counties will
be in Morganton that day to ' take
r in and eniov the festivities. By
agreement between the Legion posts
these four counties will take' turns
in celebrating the Fourth and to
Burke was given the privilege of
staging the first celebration.
Beginning with a- big patriotic
parade in the morning, for which
floats are already being prepared
and in which the legionaries- will
march, there will be some feature
attraction every hour in the day, the
celebration closing with a georgeous
display of fireworks at night.
Supt. R. E. Simpson, of the South
ern Railway, a Burke county boy
who 'has gone to the top, will make
the only address of the day.
Aviator Mike Palm, of Concord,
has been secured to make several
flights and do areoplane stunts.
An automobile, race, mule race,
ball game, daylight fire works, con
testa between fire companies, etc.,
will be on the day's program.
.Morganton is, making great pre
parations for the .event. It will
doubtless be a, red letter day for the
town and county.
fohioWon Officer'John LaU de
stroyed a large copper still in the
vicinity of the Corpening place north
n
of Marion
one day last wees.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
FROM THE COUNTY
Brief Mention of Some of the
Happenings in McDowell
Items About Home People.
OLD FORT
Old Fort, June 28. Miss Nannie
Nichols, who is attending summer
school in Asheville, visited homefolks
here Saturday and Sunday.
Miss Bessie Greene left this week
for a two weeks visit in Asheville.
Miss Ruth Holder spent Sunday
with Miss Bertha Greene.
James Padgett is home on a va
cation from Chadbourn, N. C.
Claude Bright will move to Green
lee this week.
Winslow Arney left Saturday for
Pittsburg to take up his work as
clerk tor the P. O. railroad.
Miss Bessie Haney is home from
the Asheville Home and Industrial
school.
Mrs. Kate Evans of Asheville
spent Monday, in OJd Fort.
Mrs. J. M. Kaylor of Asheville is
spending a few days with her sister,
Mrs. W. L. Grant, in Old Fort.
Mrs. James Maekey was in 0d
Fort shopping Monday.
The Old Fort ball team defeated
the Farm school teani by a score ' 6
to 0.
Miiss Mae Jordan spent the weekr
end in Old Fort with her parents'
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Jordan.
An ice cream. supper will be given
on Mrs. He"nry Greene's lawn Mon
day afternoon, July 4th, beginning
at 2 o'clock, for the benefit of the
Woodmen circle.
The Brotherhood of Railway
Clerks met in Old Fprt on Jast
dav evening when the annual ban
quet was held with Messrs. W. W.
Lefevre and H. R. Early. There was
a large attendance and all seemed to
enjoy the occasion,. The Brother
hood of KaJway Clerks is a young
but strong and growing organiza
tioh.
MONTFORDS COVE
Nealsville, Rt. 1, June 27. Nell,
the bright little 13-year-old daugh
ter of Mr. Will Haynes, was struck J
and killed by lightning while playing
in the yard of her "home Saturday.
Interment was made at the Cove
church Sunday. The orereaved pa
rents have our heartfelt sympathy.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis) Morris of
Union Mills visited relatives in the
Cove last week.,,
Mrs. Ina Parker and children are
visiting Mrs. Parker's mother.
Lillian, the infant daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. J. J. Carswell, has been
right sick but is better.
R. I. Bird, who was injured by be
ing kicked by his mule one day last
week, is able to walk again.
Lawrence Wilkerson and Preston
Hensley of Marion visited
relatives
hre Su
Mrs. W. G. 'Harris has been right
sick for the past few days, but is im
proving. "
Millard Hensley and family of Old
Fort attended the funeral of little
Nell Haynes here Sunday. v -
Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Stott of Ma
rion visited relatives here Sunday.
Farmers are getting behind with
tieir work on account of so much
rain. -
Rev. Reid Harris, who "has been
attending school at Trinity College,
is spending his vacation with his pa
rents here.
GARDIN
Marion, June 28. Misses
Clema
and LiHie Smith are spending the
summer with homefolks here.'
J. B. Higgins has been on the sick
list but is alowly improving.
Mrs. W.-W. Huskins was the guest
of Mrs. J. C Carswell Sunday after
noon "V f V':
Misses Blanche Smith and Bula
Wacaster attended .the services at
the Chapel- Hill Baptist" churchiSun
day. - ,
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Mask v of Rock
Hill, S.'C.,-are spencling a few days
with the latter's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. H. D. Smith.
Miss Mamie Bowman, of Marion
spent Sunday with homefolks near
Gardin.
Com crops are looking prosperous.
CATAWBA VALLEY
Old Fort, Rt. 2, June 28. Mr.
and Mrs. C. L. Lytle ofv Greenlee
visited relatives here Sunday.
Quite a number enjoyed the sing
ing at the home of Mr. and Mra. Wil
liam Condry Sunday afternoon.
Lee Lavender spent the week-end
with friends at Greensboro.
John Hoyle lost a fine cow Satur
day. r '
Miss Ethel Lavender and. Joe Lav
ender left for Marion Monday where
they have accepted positions.
Mike Hall is very sick.
Showers ' still continue to come
daily. ' The farmers are getting, as
anxious for the wet weather to cease
as they were for the rain to come.
J. A. Lavender made a business
trip to Marion one day last week.
SUGAR HILL
Nealsville, Rt. 1, .June 27. Guy
Hemphill of Canton is visiting his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Hemp
hill. Misses Bertha Morris and Pearl
Simmons have returned home from
Union Mills, where they have been
attending the summer school.
Mi: and Mrs. R. Y Morris- made a
business trip to Marion last week.
Mrs. Victoria Reel- and little
daughter. Flora, spent the week-end
with friend in Marion.
J. C. Crawford has returned ho-e.
after spending some time with his
son at Mcksville. . 4
Mr??. J. "F- Jonas of- Marion visited
relatives Kere asTweek v'
Miss Gertrude Wireon, is spending
some time with her sister, Mrs. R. S.
McCall, at Spruce Pine.
Dr. and Mrs. E. P. Crawford spent
the latter part of the week with the
former's father, J. C. Crawford.
Rev. and Mrs. J. M. Brown spent
the week-end with Mr. and Mrs. W.
M. Wilson.
B. M. Bright made a business trip.
to Marion, Saturday.
ritnf?f'ii
Curfew, June 28. Mr. and Mrs.
Richard Jolly and children, Mrs.
Bessie Saunders, and Miss Laura . Pastures; generally fair: very good
Reel of Marion spent Sunday with in Pasquotank and Wilkes. Suffer
the tatter's mother, Mrs. Lou Reel, fog from drought Jn Rowan, Meek
Miss Eva , Hawkins has returned ' lenburg and Catawba.
to Clinchfield, after spending some Fruit crop very small except in.
time with homefolks . near Curfew.
John Reel and famUy spent Sun
day visiting relatives at Clinchfield.
Miss Edna Lail is spending the
week with relatives in this community.-;
- " '
Mr. and Mrs. . W. C. Burgin, Maria
Reel, Edna and 12 va 'Hawkins were
th.e guests of Mrs. S. A. Hawkins,
Sunday. -
' Mrs. John Lail of Marion
visitor here Monday.'
was
SINGING CONVENTION AT
BETHLEHEM AUG. 27-28.
We wish to call the attention of
all singing people of McDowell coun
ty, to the the .fact that our -annual
singing convention, will be held at
Bethlehem, three miles south of -Old
Fort, on Saturday and Sunday,-August
27th and 28th. "We hope that
all chiors- throughout the .county are
making ready -for, this convention.
We notice that grea improvements
have been made among the different
choirs in the past few- years . and . we
expect this convention- to, find us
much further advanced in the way. of
singing. x
All choirs of McDoweJi-and adjoin
ing counties are invited to come and
take part. We also wish to extend
our hearty welcome to all others .who
jnay visit us3uring our convention, v
. We have ; gobdi roads leading from
Old Fort and .other points to Bethle
hem, and Bethlehem is a most pre
ferable1 location. - , 1 " ' X i
J. C. BURNETT," Pres."
" Stone cannon balls .were used - 450
years ago in a Turkish War. .
NEWS ITEMS FROM
OVER THE STATE
Items Concerning Events of In
terest and Importan c e
Throughout the State.
The valuation of railroads in North
Carolina as announced Monday by
the Interstate Commerce, commission
gives the Norfolk Southern, Atlantic
and North Carolina and 1 Carthage
and Pinehurst roads as $24,663,840.
The Carolina and Yadkin River is
valued &i $766,538.
Eugene Maxwell Green, the 14-months-old
son of J. E. Green, who
lives six . miles east of Raleigh, was
drowned in a bucket of water Satur
day afternoon, when the child -crawled
from the kitchen where his mother
was at work, to the porch where he
tumbled headlong, into the bucket.
Capt. John O. Wood, of Black
Mountain, "who. is a native of Jack
son .county has been elected superin
tendent of the Rutherfordton grad
ed school for next term. He is. a
graduate of the University. oL-North
Carolina, class of 1917 and did grad
uate work in Columbia university,
New York, last .year. - -- -
Robert N. Page of Biscoe was
Monday named by Governor Morri
son as a member of the board of Sir
rectors of the state's industrial train
ing school at Samarcand and 'has ac
cepted. Judge Gilbert " Stephenson,
of v Winston-Salem, could not-, se vye
and Mr. Page becomes successor to
W. S. Blakeney, of Monroe, whose
term has expired. ; . i:-,'':
WEEKLY FARM NOTES.
Raleigh, June' o 23. Wheat Tnar-
ffegts,.-about ., ovr. .Yield-generally-.
about 40 per cent but. good crJps re
ported in Pasquotank and Mecklen
burg. Rust in Swain. ' .
Corn shows continued improve-
ment, average fair;- very good stand
in. Pasquotank and Lincoln.
Oats very good iirSwam.
i Cotton improving
slowly.
m
Lin
lae, Rain
coin and Mecklenburg crops
but growing well.
lHay and Grasses good,
needed in piedmont. .
Tobacco averages poor. .
But
toning out" low in many counties.
' Truck injured by drought. Prices
' unorbfitable.
Sandhill' region.. . "
' " ' - Livestock, v
Cattle in .good condition. , Supply
normal or above. '
H!ogr Supply ' generally-? normal.
Surplus in Catawba, ' scarce . in,
Wilkes. . . . ' ,
MALES OUTNUMBER THE"
..':f f FEMALES IN THE U. S.
'' Washington, - June 26. There
were ,2,090,132 more males than fe
males in the United States in 1920
making the ratio 104 to 100 as com- -pared
wih 106 to every 100, females
f or 'the period of 1900-10, the census-bureau
announced tonight,
A preponderance of males has
been shown in every census, due pri
marily, the announcement said to
the large number of foreign bornr
residents among whom the males
greatly - outnumber the opposite sex.
Thirteen per? cent of iflie country's,
total population in 1920 was foreign
born. . . ( . - ' . . v: v'-'i :
-. Every state except, MassochusettsP
Rhode Island, New York, NorthT Car
olina,; South Carolina, Georgia and
Alabama had excess i of - mals ove r
females.? These seven, states had
ratio's ranging from 96.3 -to 100 for
Massachusetts, to 99.9 for North
WEATHER REPORT.
Thos. 'McGuirer- local government
weather bureau observer, reports the
temperature' and rainfall at Marion
for the week as fqllows: k -
Maximum, 92 degrees; minimum,
62 degrees; rainV 0.56 of, an inch;
sunshine, per cent, 0.57.
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