FTTH
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Lj fl State Library Sept-2-19,
VOLUMEXXin
(Tuesday)
WARRENTON, N. C, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1918
(Friday)
Number 95
A SEMI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF WARRENTON AND WARREN COUNTY
5c A COPY
EDWARD LEE DAVIS
LIEUT. SAM MARTIN CONNELL
tiaq I
Slip'
HEROIC ACTION OF SEAMAN
EDWABD LEE DAVIS WHO
PLEAS FOR MATES IN
HOUR OF DEATH
Mr. Ed D. McConky, nephew of Mr.
John A- PiPkin of this city and a
representative of a Baltimore house,
writes Mr. H. A. Mosly of this city
enclosing a clipping of the sinking of
the Ticonderoga on September 30th
from which we make extracts.
Mr. McConky who comes here as
salesman saw in the article in the Bal
timore Sun, the reference to the War
renton boy, Edward L. Davis, and for
warded the article to Mr. Mosly.
The heroic act of this Warrenton
boy, the town's first to give his life, is
voiotPrL Edward L. Davis is a
son of Mr. and Mrs. William Jones
Davis and many relatives and friends
read with deep pride of the heroic
spirit manifested by him in the face
of death "Greater love has no man
than this, that he lay down his life
for his friends."
The account, which entire Warren
county will read with pride, follows:
The story is told by Edward Leon
ard, First class seaman, eye-witness
and one of the three members of the
crew to escape:
"It was shortly after 5 o'clock on
the morning of September 30 that an
explosion on deck brought me out of a
sound nap. I ran to the bridge and
shrapnel was flying in every direction
I saw the bridge was afire and Captain
James Madison wounded. I had hard
ly got ray bearings when I heard the
order to get ready the life-boats.
"Everything was topsy-turvy, but I
heard still another order to send the
gun crews to the six-inch piece aft. It
was then that I discovered the three
inch gun for'ard had been shot away
by the Hun. That was Bobby's gun.
(Bobby Burns famous light-weight
"hampion and friend of Leonard Ed)
"Going aft I saw our men dropping
with the shrapnel still sweeping the
deck. There lay little Bobby with a
wound in his 'head. He had been hit
on his way to his new post of duty.
Iran to him. He was still conscious.
I took his head in my arms and he
opened his eyes. Looking straight
into mine, he said:
"'Leonard, you've been a friend to
me and I'm going to ask you one more
favor. If you get away safely, which
I don't believe possible, please go to
my home and tell them how I died.'
"A minute later Bobby was dead and
I ran on to help with the life boats.
As the sub was on our starboard side,
we lowered on the port side, thinking
they would not hit us, but as fast as
we dropped a boat into the water the
Germans fired upon it We had four
teen boats and most of them were
crushed to pieces before our eyes. We
could not fight any longer because they
had shot away our other gun. We
didn't hit them once at least I saw no
marks on the sub later. Yet, I have
seen our gun crews split a barrel, at
practice, many a time. We were help
less then and they kept firing.
Gives Life For His Mates
"One of our crew, a lad named Ed
ward Davis, from Warrenton, N. C, as
game a boy as ever lived, swam to the
side of the U-boat, which was hardly a
thousand yards away, and pleaded for
the lives of the men aboard the sink
ing ship. When he told the Huns they
were killing everyone a German officer
stepped forward and shot him through
the head.
"When the ship quickened her down
ward pace, stern first, we lowered our
boat No. 7, on the starboard side, for
by that time the sub, confident she
had completed the job, submerged.
We were rowing as hard as we could
and our nsign was encouraging us, but
the sub came to the surface again
With her reappearance we concluded
she would let drive at our boat.
"The ensign was a man. There on
the bottom of the boat lay our captain
and there wpw ntbprs: wounded too
bally to help, but the ensign instruct
ed us how to act.
t " 'Thy'll order us alongside he said
'and we must go, but I want each
man to be a true American. Do not
answer their questions. Let them sink
few
First son of Warrenton to die for
the Cause, the victim of a German
officer's bullet fired upon him from
the submarine as he begged for mercy
for his mates of the Ticonderoga on
September 30th. A direct descendant
of Nathaniel Macon, and a brave man
who went to his death asking that
mercy be shown his mates.
us if hey desire. Be a real American
and die for your country.'
We promised, and when we drew
alongside, as ordered later, an inter-
preter, who was brought upon the deck
by the German commander, endeavor-
ed to pump us.
"None of the fellows answered."
"It was then that thev ordered the
captain to stand forward, but it was
explained that he was very badly several late-bunday morning risers
wounded and we requested some sur- and sent a thrill of pride through all
gical dressings. as investigation proved it to be a son
The replv to our 'request came from
one of the Huns, who said the only
thing he would give us was an 8-inch
shell. Finally they took our executive
officer and demanded the engineer, but
our chief was killed in his room, so
they took the assistant and submerged
arain.
Tried To Drag Them Down
I
- . - ,, I
"All during the conversation we
were tied to the sub, our bowline hav-
injr been made fast to their stern.
When the hatches were closed the U-
boat started below with our lifeboat
attached, but somehow the rope broke
or was cut, for we were free at last.
After four das of drifting we were
picked up and brought home.'
W.S.S.
in l3emory of
itv's Soldiers
Our town was touched as it naa not
been since the present war when we
heard of the death at the front of the
brave Lieut. Louis Armistead Free-
man a former resident of our town,
Then the death at sea of Edward Lee
Davis, the noble son of Mr. and Mrs.
William J. Davis stirred our souls with
sympathy for his. loved ones.
But John D. S. Harris was the hrst
of our boys who was brought home
for burial.
John always optimistic was partic-
ularly happy ov - the certainty of
soon getting his commission as an
aviator when he was claimed as a
victim by the terrible epidemic that is
rweeping over our land. Every boy
n the service of his country whether
he dies in camp or in battle is a hero
making the great sacrifice for .
world's freedom. Jonns
rought home the casket con -
try.
Thoue-h church funerals have been
J nf -jq
'!tS,lS
some
from a distance were ,
grave to do him nonor, u TZLht out toward Warrenton,
the florists COUiU Yi;j;fi r " 'sent
there were many floral offerings sent
mg hands.
ThCr"l
beautiful, large cru- --
and the Baptist FldZias
large design of red and jh, ahlias
and terns tieo i wiui
arrnw streamers of the national
VV1VU"U"; " The Nor- for him are.Drougnt lorwara in xV
colors red, white and Mue. The no dation of his thoughtfulness and
Pfjntep.n also did him honor wnu t ....... Tt,;
lint
'i,-oiftil and-artistic floral wreath.
a
rrv,a f,1T1pral services were conducted
by Dr. T. J. Taylor assisted by Rev. E.
W Baxter. Gently he was laid to rest
-"To sleep the sleep that knows no
. . zu4- f akinp-."
Morn of tou,nox 1115 - o
V. Xj. a
irprises Friends Here By
Flight Over . Town Sunday
making Trip-From Lang
ly Field In One Hour
Entire Warrenton and surrounding
territory paid its respects Sunday and
Monday to handsome, smiling Lieut.
Sam Martin Connell who flew the first
airplane in Warren county and who
was the guest of his parents Mr. and
Mrs. W. A. Connell at the Connell
home between Warrenton and War-
ren Plains.
Leaving Langley Field, Newport
News, at 9:30 Sunday morning, Lieut.
Connell rode the breezes into Warren-
ton at five minutes to ejeven, circled
the town at the elevation of several
hundred feet, and landed at 11 o'clock
m the fteW Just Deyna nme' I
Lrx ox xo milc& "muc
a nitcn
Seeing the big bird ot tne air, its
totally unhearlded approach, until the
sound of its eight cylinder's in per-
feet tune, sent some of our devout col-
ored citizens to their knees, brought
the greater portion of Warrenton to
the streets despite the condition of
of old Warren who had first visited
North Carolina in an airplane on a
flying trip home.
The old days of the Circuses, the
memorable occasions of big fires never
saw as many people headed for one
place at the same time as was wif
nessed Sunday morning.- Automobilesi
.-" -
byclcles, buggies and Nature's two
i
cylinder automobiles were put in hign
and headed for ,the landing field.
with every face radiating interest
excitement and pride Warren county
friends crowded forward to welcome
and congratulate the pilot. Jupiter
piuvms .began his mischief, but the
ar(jor cf the occasion ciould not have
been dispelled by a downpour, and
interest played the sky as a limit when
Lieut. Connell told that he would fly
at two o'clock that afternoon. x
Two o'clock came and with the
hands of old Pap Time came several
hundred people from the surrounding
countryside who crowded, the edges of
the field as Warren's aviator donned
ms nying uuuiw. -
chine, uonneii speeaeu up
and moved off. Bated breath could
force no cheer it was a moment of
tense nerves and super d interest, x
spells is broken, under greater speed
and the master control of the pilot the
machine leaves the earth and sails
on ana upwara. xx unuu, lo
nunareu ieet a o..,
panics nis niacins, .
I , , , ,
Hawk nungry ior yy
the crowd. With lightning rapidly he
comes, uneasiness develops many fail
flat, he shoot the 3ce to his plane at
twenty-five feet up and climbs grace-
fully, beautifully, upward. The crowd
moves ; bac : fee hng jnt-t brt
ii? j. . t,Viot.
less - TTJTr
' " -
... f.
" 3 ri
ilv as velvet. He comes to a stop,
a cm nil haket of flowers finds its
A small basket ot w s n
wav at his oecK ana can iu lug yiLvu o
seal Again the plane sails grace-
; eVes follow it as it
straighten:
in the distance it is seen to spiral
UUWIIWOIU aiiu " ir-
flowers drop upon the grave of John
Daniel S. Harris, Warrenton's first
Sr claimed by death. Thus he
aeain'to the
he ghts'the plane comes back above
glides again to mother earth. Flowers
silucBa6 , , , . , .
in recognition of the esteem in which
Warren held its son.
On account of the weather condi
tions low-hanging clouds-and rain
Connell didn't do any ""stunts" flying
but promised this feature Monday
a. i4. . 0;t rrVio
morning
TvirvrniTicr nr. ihii i i il w ao xoxx.
, threatened but didn't
muimiAg, -
' "
is
strike and yesterday morning at ten
thirty the plane rose to an elevation
of three thousand feet and sailed
among the clouds. Interest was at
its heights as he performed the loop,
tailspin, spiral, stall, side-slip and
emmelman turn; finally sailing to
earth amid cheers of home-County
friends and a shower of flowers.
Monday at 12:55, after goodbyes
were said, he rose from the field and
started on the trip to Langley Field.
Seaboard Telegraph operators kept
the Connell family posted as well as
the people along the route to Ports
mouth. Interest in the flight was
manifest all along the line. The time
record follows: Warren Plains, 12:55
Macon, five miles, 1:01; Vaughan, 10
miles, 1:06; Littleton, 16 miles, 1:11;
Thelma, 22 miles, 1:17; Weldon, 35
miles, 1:29; Gumberry, 40 miles, 1:33;
Seaboard, 45 miles, 1:36; Margaretts
ville, 47 miles, 1:42; Branchville, 57
1:47; Boykins, 60 miles, 2:00; Frank
lin, 77 miles, 2:08; Carrsville, 83
miles, 2:13; Purvis, 88 miles, 2:19;
Kilby, 94 miles, 2:25; Suffolk, 97
miles, 2:28; Bowers, 107 miles, 2:38
and Seaboard Shops, Portsmouth, 114
JOHN DANIEL SHEARIN HARRIS
Warren's first aviator to sleep be
neath the sod and the second Warren
ton boy to make the supreme sacri
fice for. country, above whose grave
Lieut. Connell circled on Sunday af
ternoon and dropped flowers from his
plane as tokens of respect and appre
ciation. miles, at 2:45 one hour and fifty
minutes after leaving Warren Plains
Connell was at Langley Field.
Lieut. Connell was flying a Curtis
JN6HO plane, equipped with a His-
rmo-Smza eie"ht cvimder ou norse-
' motor th a m-opeller turn of
boo Ber minute. The machine was
Mtv feet from tip t0 wine tip,
and forty-five feet from propeller to
rudder. .
Lieut. Connell who is stationed at
Mitn . WpM TTpmistPad. Lon Is-
' '
land, is now on duty as pilot for Major
Garrison, U. S. Inspector of Air Ser
I vice and Air Stations, on inspecting
tour over the country. Major Harri
son and Lieut. Connell left New York
last Wednesday proceeding to Harris-
burg, Washington, Richmond, and New
port News. The return trip to New
York will be made before the end of
the present week,
Lieut. Connell has a unique record
to his credit as flyer. He received
a -discharge from Company H. after
the return from the Border in the
spring of 1917 and entered the Offi
cer's Training Camp at Fort Ogle
torpe. He qualified for entrance into
Aviation corps here and was sent to
Georgia Tech, Atlanta, for technical
training. Later he was sent out West
for practical training, then to Kelly
Field, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louis
Y&LWi.
5 o
First North Carolinian to visit home
in an airplane. His visit during the
past week end has occassioned much
interest over the County and State.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Connell
who is winning fame with the Colors.
ana, and to Long Island, New York.
While here he was chosen one of seven
pilots who at a later date will fly
across the Atlantic in 17 hours on a
$100,000 wager of the New York and
.L.ondon rimes. ljieut. uonneii was
also among the seven aviators who
made a tour of the West and brought
his machine unscathed to its airdome
after making thousands gasp in won
der at the superhuman accomplish
ments of his machine and those .of
his six companions two of whom were
killed before the tour ended.
His trip home proved a source of
pride to his many friends and of honor
to Warren county in that the first
plane to visit North Carolina under
the control of a Tar Heel found its
haven on Warren soil.
First Lieutenant Connell's skill de
lighted and held spell-bound a throng
of friends; his hearty handshake and
genial smile was welcomed and re
turned by all, but best of all "vVarren
county had the opportunity and honor
of welcoming in Lieut. Sam Martin
Connell a man who has not lost, thru
honor, his love for the folks back home
and who was as sincere in greeting
as a happy school boy for the first
time home. .
-W.S.S.-
Liberfy Loan
Over in
The Nation rested yesterday from
its Liberty Loan labors.
Just what the specific result of those
labors was will not be known until final
reports have been made to the twelve
Federal Reserve Banks, and those re
ports are not due until next Thursday.
But the loan was a success. Yes
terday brought renewed assurance of
that. The reports to the Treasury
Department in Washington were call
ed "most encouraging" in their details
of the achievements of the last day
of the campaign.
Reports reaching the department
during the day indicated that the num
ber of subscribers to the loan might
reach 25,000,000. This would be near
ly y.UUU.UUU more tnan tne ( record
breaking, total of the third loan.
Confident Goal Has Been Passed
"Secretary McAdoo is not making
any predictions," a despatch from
Washington added, "declaring that it
would be unwise to so until all the
returns have been received. Other
officials were not prepared to make
any estimate, but they were confident
that the $6,000,000 mark had been
reached, and that when the actual
figures were ready they would show
that this sum had been exceeded by
several millions."
Warren County Does'nt Go Over
Warren county, awaking to a late
start Thursday night, made an earnest
drive Friday and Saturday for the
Fourth Liberty Loan.
The county raised $250,000 on its
quota of. $440,000. Of this $152,000
goes to the credit of the Woman's
Committee, Mrs. Kate P. Arrington,
chairman.
The Influenza and late organized
work was cause" of the Warren's fail
ure to go over the top.
W.S.S.
NORLINA OVER THE TOP
Our slogan "Watch Norlina Grow"
is verified by the Fourth Liberty Loan.
Quota $10,5000, subscribed $24,000."
"Watch Norlina Grow."
15,000 RETREATING GER
MANS INTERNED 111 HOLLAND-AMERICANS
ARE
HOLDING UPPER HAND
London, Oct. 20- Fifteen thousand
retreating German soldiers have been
interned in Holland after being cut off
by Belgian troops moving northward
rom Ecoloo, according to reports from
he frontier reaching Amsterdam and
transmitted by the Exchange Tele
graph Company.
Belgian soldiers took charge of the
Dutch-Belgian border last night and
were received enthusiastically by the
populace.
OUR BOYS HOLD UPPER HAND
With the American Army Northwest
of Verdun, October 20 A German at
tack in the region of Grand Pre was
repulsed. The Americans for strate
gic reasons at first gave a little ground
then rushed forward and swept the
Germans off their feet.
The German artillery shelled the
entire district, including Belleioveuse
farm and the woods to the south and
between there and Grand Pre. Fierce
fighting took place throughout Sun
day, despite the heavy rain, the Ameri
cans holding the upper hand.
London, October 22 The British
have advanced their line to the left
bank of the Ecaillon River and have
captured the western part of the vil
lage of Thiant, five miles southwest
of Valencinnes, it is announced of
ficially. The British after sharp fighting
have advanced to within less than a
mile of Tournai.
Paris, October 22 Further progress
waa made -last , night by the French '
on the Serre front, the war office an
nounces. The French reached . the
railway northeast of Assia-Sur-Serre
and also the St. Jacques farm, north.
west of Chalandry.
GUN BOMBARDED DUNKIRK
London, October 22 Allied forces
which have swept the Germans out
of Belgian Flanders captured the big
15-inch cannon with which the Ger
mans have been bombarding Dunkirk
during the past year. The gun was
undamaged, according to an official
statement issued at the war office.
The statement reads: "The group of
armies commanded by the King of
Belgium has maintained its pressure
along the whole front. In their hur
ried retreat before the Belgian army
the Germans wTere forced to abandon
all their coast defense guns of which
a number were intact. The big 38
centimeter gun at Haegenboom, which
was fired up to the last minute on
the city of Dunkirk, was also captured
undamaged.
"French detachments which crossed
the Lys have repulsed a violent enemy
counter-attack and succeeded in im
proving their bridgeheads east of the
river.
"The second British army is on
the bank of the Escaut from Bailleul
to Helchin. In spite of enemy resis
tance it has advanced more than 1500
mers between th Escaut and the Lys.'
W.S.S
Election Red
Cross Officers
The Executive Committee of the
WarrentonRed Cross Chapter, and the
chairman or representative from each
Branch and Auxiliary in the County
as well as others interested in the Red
Cross work are asked to be present
Wednesday night, October 23rd, at 8
o'clock in the home of Mrs. Kate P.
Arrington on Ridgeway street.
The annual election of officers will
take place at this time, and the im
portance that every organization be
represented cannot be over-emphasized
W.S.S.
EIGHT O'CLOK EACH NIGHT
A SHORT PERIOD OF PRAYER
Beginning tonight the town's elec
tric lights will be flashed out each
night at eight for one minute as a
period of prayer for men in Service.
The angelus will not be sounded
at 7 as heretofore but all heads will
bow in prayer at eight for the safety
and comfort of our soldiers and sai
lors and the cause they uphold.