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VOLXXXIV
ROXBORO, NORTH CAROLirl, Wednesday Evening Marp21, 1917
i
Number. 12
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SUBMARINE SINK
3 AMERICAN SHIPS
WITHOUT WARNING
MOST OF THE CREWS
OF THE SHIPS SAVED
Washington, March 18. With the!
a.n t-n, uf
tru,t,on of three unarmed American
,1V 1 1 . . I
Ijlt'lCnaiit siiio v ouuiuaiinca, it
unofficially admitted here to-
ir;,:ht that virtually a state of war
exists between the United States
an,i Germany.
One step the President is contem
plating is a call for an immediate
session of Congress to hear an ad
dress asking for authority to adopt
aggressive measures against the sub
marine menace.
London, March 18. The sinking of
the American steamers City of Mem-r-his,
Illinois and Vigilancia was an
nounced today. Fourteen men from
the Vigilancia are missing, as are
some of the men from the City of
.Memphis. The crew of the Illinois
was landed safely.
The City of Memphis in ballast
from Cardiff for New' York was
sunk by gun fire. The second offi
cer and 15 men of the crew have been !
landed. A patrol boat has gone in
search of the other members of the
crew. The Illinois from London for
Port Arthur, Texas, in ballast was
sunk at 8 o'clock this morning.
The Vigilancia was torpedoed with
out warning. The submarine did
not appear. The captain, first and
second mates, first, second and third
engineers and 23 men of the crew
have been landed at the Sicily is
lands. The fourth engineer and IS
men are missing. -V
The American steamsipCjty of
Memphis which left Cardiff Friday
in ballast for New York was sunk
Saturday when she , left port. The
City of Memphis had the stars and
stripes painted on 'both sides. She
encountered a .gyljre ksmSm4b
ciock aaluraay evening. ine vier-
man commander ordered the captain
of the steamer to leave his ship with
ni 15 minutes.
The entire crew entered five beats
and the submarine then fired a tor
pedo which struck the vessel on the
starboard side, tearing a great hole
through which the sea poured. The
steamer settled down quickly and
foundered within a few minutes.
During the night the boats became
seperated, and at 4 o'clock Sunday
morning three boat crews were pick
ed up by a patrol vessel and landed.
These boats contained 33 men, most
ly Americans.
All the officers were Americans.
The officers believe that the other
boats will be rescued.
Submarine Refused to Tow Boats
To Land
Consul Frost at Queenstown re
ported to the state department to
night the sinking by a German sub
marine of the American steamer City
of Memphis, saying 49 survivors had
been picked up and that an admiralty
vessel was searching for eight mis
sing. "American steamer City of Mem
phis, Cardiff to New York, reported
sunk by German submarine, 4 p. m.,
March 17, 35 miles of Fastnet. Fif
teen survivors landed Schull 7 p. m.
today. Thirty-four survivors on ad
miralty vessel which continues search
for eight missing. Will land Balti
more (on Irish coast) probably to
day." The department announced that a
dispatch from Consul General Skin
iK-r at London said it was reported
the City cf Memphis the Illinois and
the Viligancia, all American steam
!'"s, had been sunk the latter without
v.arning.
The message added that some of
the crew of the City of Memphis had
been landed; that a patrol boat had
sone to pick up the crew of' the Il
linois. A second dispatch from Consu
frost at Queenstown stated that 33
survivors of the City of Memphis
landed at Queenstown, and that sev
en Americans were among the 15
landed at Schull.
The despatch follows:
"City of Memphis, 33 survivors
landed here; vessel sunk by gunfire
submarine large type, remained on
the scene nffpr Vtpw lff 'atom. Re
fused request to tow boats to land.
Weather not severe but threatening.
Survivors at Schull included Allen
Urrol, second-officer: Mc-
Phersoa, . second- engineer;" ' Robert
Shea, surgeon; John Walkin, Henry
ampany. Gus Campany, A. D. Hor-
ton, all American, and five: Spanish,
ne Portuguese, oneSwede and one
Russian." ' ,''""- .
MR. VAUGHAW IN ROX
BORO AFTER AN AB
SENCE OF 26 YEARS
Walter H. Vaughan, brother of Mrs
John A. Noel and Mrs. R. A. Pass, of
Roxboro, arrived 4iere last Saturday,
, this 'being his first visit here in 26
j j-toio, uc nas sume wonaenui stor-
TTOOliCi XT y- V. n 1 A 1 .
ie of the Golden State, especially of
the bpnpfifk tn , , . '
' w " vt,xIbll U V C4tii 1VU
turists from good roads, in which
California leads all the states, and
of her exceedingly fertile soil.
In regard to good roads Mr.
Vaughan says:
"As just one instance of the fi
nancial benefit the farmer derives
from good roads, let us take the fruit
section lying adjacent to the bay
cities of San Francisco, Oakland,
Berkeley and others. Before that
great system of State highways was
completed the grower sold his apples
on the tree to the wholesaler's agents
at 25 cents per box.. These same
apples retailed in Oakland . and San
Francisco at $2.50 per box:. The
freight by water was 3 cents per
box. This left a profit for the mid
dleman of $2.22 for each box of ap
ples. And this one example applies
to all classes of fruit and vegettbles,
that is, with but little variation, the
percentage of profit for the middle
man was enormous, while that of
the producer was small. So, you see,
the ultimate consumer was compell
ed to pay the difference, and yet,
we wonder why living is so high.
Committees of Congress need not go
far afield to discover the. cause of
high prices, if they really want to
find it.
"Every farmer in California knows
that diversified crops and intensive
farming is not only the secret of
success, but that it will preserve the
fertility of her wonderfilj soil. Why
down in the river bottoms around
Los Angeles they raise sweet pota
toes almost every month in the year
without replanting. They simply
hill and put the roots back dnto the
original hole and another crop will
come in a month or two. ,
"California ranks second among
the states in the number of automo
biles in use; almost every farmer in
the state owns one. Also there are
many lines of freight trucks run
ning between the various towns and
cities, which tend to reduce the cost
of freight.
"And for these good roads and
for the further gigantic, task: of free
ing California from the domination
of the railroads and the railroad
politics, California owes thanks to
Hiram W. Johnson, twice governor
and, now United States Senator.
And permit me to say that many
States need men of the calibre of
Johnson, to do just what he has
done for California."
Presbyteriari Announcements
Midweek prayer service tonight at
7:30 o'clock. Subject ' "Christ the
Supreme Gift."
Sunday school at 9:45 A, .M. next
Sunday and preaching at 7:30 P. M.
There will be preaching' at . Bushy
Fork High School at 3:30 P. M. by
Rev. Carleton E. White.
NOTICE
A Call of the Farmer's Union Locals
Dear Brethern: . '
Our next regular County meeting
will be held in the Person County
Union Warehouse on Saturday March
31, 1917 at ten o'clock, tP.lese do
not forget to have your, local repre
sented. Let every member, come
that will. We want to have a
full attendance, as we have some
very important j business to attend
to. I want one and all to make this
the best year of our. organization
we have ever had. I want every
member to resolve to make this the
best year in the history of our Union.
I want to visit every Local in the
county during the year and if at
any time I can be of service to any
Local please let me know for I am
at your service to do anything I can
to promote ther interest of every
Local. My postoffice v address is
Roxboro, Route 5. I will ask you
again to please turn: out and .meet
me on the date above-mentioned and
let' do some business this year.
Respectfully, S. P. Jones, rresiaeni,
county Farmer's Union.
.... ;
. xhe list legislature, the most pro-
1 esslve jn ,twenty r years(saul -fire
.sw,T,sP- was a necessity apd' the
miums were not too-much.; i The
iere -right. ! SEE; .SATTER-
1 -piEW, "Old and. Tried" V;
,
Olive Hill
112
BIG GAINS MADE IN ALLENSVILLE AND MT. TIRZAH
FOR BONDS OVER . RESULTS OF ELECTION HELD
IN 1914-BIG VOTE POLLED ALL OVER COUNTY.
The bond Election is over and: Person pulled herself out of the mud
and her citizens have again shown their progressivism.
The majority in Roxboro Township' for the road improvement bonds
was far beyond the expectation of the most, optimistic. A total of 488 votes
were cast and only 70 were against thje bond issue, making a total of 418
for the issue. A clear majority of S48 for good roads.
Olive Hill Township came to the front with 137 votes for the issue and
25 against, giving a majority of 112,
Allensville made the biggest change from the election in 1914. She
gave a majority of eight for the issue.
Mt. Tirzah Township showed a considerable change from the former
election, giving this time a majority of eight.
The Commissioners for Roxboro Township are: Messrs. C. H. Hunter,
C. B. Brooks and R. A. Burch.
Commissinoers for Olive Hill are; Messrs. John Brewer, Clyde Wagstaff
and W. D. Fulcher. v
Commissioners for Bushy Fork arei Messrs. J. I. Coleman, Edgar War
ren and Dave Long.
Commissioners for Woodsdale Township are: Messrs. Green B. Williams,
A. J. Mitchell and W. A. Warren
Commissioners for Allensville are: Messrs. J. L. Gentry, S. T. Slaughter
and D. C. Moore. , .
Commissioners for Flat River are Messrs. N. T. Clayton, W. A. Barton
and T. G. Lunsford.
Commissioners for Holloways Township" are: Messrs. A. J. Crutchfield,
0. D. Bailey and W. R. Seat. I
The Commissioners of the different townships in the county will meet in
Roxboro at the courthouse on next Monday 26th, 1917, and elect a Central
Highway Commission. y
Below we give the vote of each precinct in the county in the good roads
election on Tuesday and.of,the vote in 1914:
; 1917 1914
Precinct. FbrJ
Ai , 11?
Allensville T . m
Bushy Fork Mi
Chub Lake 26
Cunningham 8
Holloways 34
Mt. Tirzah 76
Olive Hill 137
East Roxboro 208
West Roxboro 210
Woodsdale 9
Total, 940
ELATED OVER RESULTS
OF BOND ELECTION
Having laid myself open, perhaps, The question has arisen among the
to a charge of having read my fel- h. M. Ci C. girls as to who is the
low citizens of Person county a best fiddler in their community. Each
lecture last week through your x is positive that she knows, but
columns, I now wish to beg space strange to say, no two girls agree,
enough to explain my pride in Per-j in order to decide the much de
son county men -for the splendid vote bated question, they are going to call
for good roads Jtnd for progress L Fiddler's Convention, when all of
which they gave yesterday. I have
just heard it with the deepest pleas
ure and all old Person ounty men
in Durham are tonight rejoicing. "JVe
shall hereafter not have to apolo
gize for bad roads in our native
county and for a refusal to join the
rest of North Carolina in advancing
to meet the new day of hopeful and
"forward-looking" men.
There is nothing that convinces
like a good example, and I've no
doubt the splendid roads built by
Roxboro township in the last two
years were the most moving argu-
ment to carry the election. So all
honor to the men of Roxboro, who
ViH Vp visinn and the courace in
starting the good work. ( To the Confederate veterans or
I trust n one will view with regret Camp Jones and Person County:
that your new roads will bring me ;
and hundreds of other Durham people : m j A Long president of the
to frequent visits to the county-which Daughters 0f the Confederacy, in
in the pas were denied that pleas- formg me that the annual re-union
ure or if so only rarely. All of us f Confederate Veterans will be
congratulate the county and its citi-
zens. -W. L. Foushee.
Surprise Birthday Dinner
n Mwh it was nnite a
irn?i' tn Mr. 4mA Mrs. John T.
,Brooks when the children began to
come in with their baskets, of nice
Ar aA w tn din-
ing room table with things good . to
eat to celebrate their mother's birth-
day.
All of the children were present
except Miss Ina Brooks. - Among
those present were: Mr. and Mrs.
Edear Blalock: Mr. and Mrs. Earl
Brooks and little daughter Elizabeth:
Mrs. C. B. Brooks; Mr. and Mrs.
Abie O'Briant and son Irving; and
Messrs. Irving, iBrboks and Edgar
CaWer. One who was present. - -
Mr. L.:JHi Carlton spent .Sunday, in
Durhm.-with tiaves- , f
Car-
Majority
1
Against
50
80
91
73
For
10
22
90
35
Against
56
152
72
8h
57
16
0
37
41
74
139
159
7
636
' 60
45
73
102
56
116
77
45
954
42
70
68
23
44
26
56
697
FIDDLER'S CONVENTION
!Do you play a fiddle?
the fiddlers of the surrounding coun
his skill. Every one is invited to
come and etijoy this concert.
Come one, come all ye merry fid
dlers and compete for prizes! Those
wishing to take part bringing your
violins and banjos to the Hurdles
Mill School at seven o'clock Satur
day, March 24th.
Come all ye -people of the com
munity and join" in merriment of this
concert!
Doors open at
7:30 Admission.
15 cents. , '
j NOTICE
j
'
hdd Qn Thursday May the 10th. All
the speakers will be Person county
men. It is also desired that any old
soldier who will and cares to, will be
will be expected and given the oppor-
tunity of relating some one of his
experiences during the war. Mrs.
lng wants ail 01 me wives anu
daughters of old soldiers to pres.
-ent and join the Daughters the
Confederacy as. she is very desirous
' of recruiting the organization.
j The commander is very anxious
that all the veterans i be present at
the re-union and wants' thenames
of all thenVeterans who wiUand.ex
pect to go to Washington next' June
! for the '? general' re-union.
the efforts.-of our representatives m
the last .Legislatures there was a bill
passed allowing the County Commis-
sioners - to; pay. the fares of ytne.; 01a
veterans to the coming r reunion.
We ; want your operation -' to
STATE- OF WAR" A
MERE MATTER OF
HOURS, IS BELIEF
CALMLY DELIBERATES
IN ACCUSTOMED WAY
News of Loss of Life On Vigilancia
Adds to Gravity of Situation; Ves
sel Sunk Without Warning; Un
determined Whether Extra Session
of Congress Will Be Hurried.
Washington, March 19. President
Wilson is expected within the next
48 hours to decide definitely that he
believes a virtual state of war exists
between United States and Germany.
News received from Plymouth that
15 men, some of them Americans,
had been drowned when the Ameri
can merchantman Vigilancia was
sunk without warning by a German
submarine added, if possible, to the
already grave view of the situation
held here as a result of the destruc
tion of the Vigilancia, the Illinois,
and the City of Memphis.
Whether the President will hasten
an extra session of Congress already
called for April 16, or will take ad
ditional steps to torotect American
commerce without tnis move was not
disclosed tonight. No official pre
tended ' to know his plans, and the
general view was that he was still
considering the question in his usual
deliberate way.
A cabinet meeting probably will
be held tomorrow afternoon and at
that time the situation arising out of
the new acts of aggression on the
part of Germany is expected to be
thoroughly canvassed. '
Preparation for aggressive action
to protect American tigta began to
day when the President yfsited the.
Navy Department personally nd di
rected Secretary Daniels to utilize
the $115,000,000 made available by
Congress to hasten the naval building
plans. The New York navy yard was
directed, tol begin the construction of
sixty subniarine chasers and announ.-
more .win De openea ' weanesaay.
Through 'the. early graduation of two
classes at Annapolis and the mobil
ization of reserves it is promised to
make it possible to man quickly all
ships of the navy.
The question was also taken up
of getting into communication infor
mally with Great Britain and France
to discuss co-operation in the pro
tection of commerce lanes across
the Atlantic. This step will probab
ly not be taken until the course of
the United States has been finally
determined.
In addition to his conference with
Secretary Daniels, the President saw
Secretaries, Lansing and McAdoo,
William Denman, chairman of the
Federal Shipping Board, and there
is every indication that he is map
ping out comprehensive plans for the
protection of American interests in
any eventuality.
It is generally conceded that al
ready a virtual state of war exists
with Germany in spite of the tech
nical armed neutrality status of
United States. v
A suggestion advanced tpnight was
that the President might issue a call
for Congress to meet within ten days,
and in his proclamation point out
the new situation facing the na
tion since, he asked authority to es
tablish a state of armed neutrality.
No one professed, however, to be in
the President's confidence.
MR. BRUCE CRAVEN
SPEAKS IN ROXBORO
Mr. Bruce Craven, of Trinity, N.
C, spoke to a large audience in the
court house. Monday afternoon at
one o'clock.- A circular was being
circulated , last week intended to in
jure the cause of the bond issue with
a part of Mr. Craven's article ap
pearing in the Greensboro News of
recent date. Mr. Craven was noti
fied of tfcisjand came to Roxboro and
made one of the best Good Roads
speech, we have7 heard during this
election. Mr. Craven fully vindicated
himself (i ' showed how utterly im
possible any 'one eould take his en
tire article and state that it was
written to injure any election for
Road improvement.; :'
make our Cocnty re-union the best
we have ever had. -
Very: respectfully yours,
, . . John H. Burchi V
Commander Camp 'Jones,
1
Roxboro, :N. C : '
iiarch 19,' 1917.lv, ' T
.v.
PRESIDENT TO MOVE
FORWARD DATE OF
EXTRA SESSION TODAY
CABINET BELIEVED TO
BE OF ONE
MIND
Among Officials Unanimous Opinion
Is That in Spite of Technical Arm
e4 Neutrality jStatus Actually a
State of War Now Exists; Only
Question is What Steps to Take
Washington, March 20.-For two
hours today President Wilson dis
cussed the international crisis with
his Cabinet and heard Urgent sug
gestions that the date for the extra
session of Congress fixed for April
16 be set forward, to consider further
steps in defense of American com
merce against (jermans submarines.
It is understood there was not a
dissenting voice agaipst this advice.
The President himself did not ex
press hi views, and so far as could
be learned later had not finally
determined upon the course to b
pursued. The prevailing belief, was
that he would announce' the call
for an earlier meeting of Congress
tomorrow.
Among officials virtually the
unanimous opinion is that in spite
of the $echinical armed neutrality
status of the United States, actually
a state of war exists as the result
of the ruthless destruction of Ameri
can merchant ships and the- killing
of American citizens in defiance of
international law and of the most
solemn warnings one nation can give
another. The only question is what
shall be done about it. further than
the arming- pf merchantmen to re
sist submarine attack if they get the
cjiance.
Cabinet For Formal Declaration
The cabinet members generally are
said to have expressed today their
willingness to support a program ;
based on an early call for 'Congress
and a formal declaration that a state
of war exists between Germany and
I the Uiuted-Stiu .
Trromght the f resident- rwent .to1 jthe; v ;
theatre a' thing he frequently 'does ' c - .
when he has made a preliminary de
cision on a grave question and wnts
distraction in order to look at thef
problem anew with freshened mind. N
After the cabinet meeting Secre
tary Daniels, saying that no new '
naval orders had been issued, hur
ried to the Navy Department, and
went into conference with the mem
bers of the General, Board. Infor- 1
mation for the President and tenta
tives plans for further naval activi- '
ties were discussed. The only argu
ment known to have been advanced
in official circles against the early
calling of Congress was that the
President himself can do almost
everything possible . immediately.
But in spite of" this argument1 the
preponderance of official opinion
seemed to be that Congress should
be summoned just as soon as possible
so that the full power of the govern
ment would be assembled in Wash- '
ington.
Discuss Patrol Plans ' v
Plans for organizing patrol squad
rons of privately owned motor boats
and yachts along the Atlantic coast
iw'ere discussed tonight at a con
ference between Secretary Daniels t
and Capt. Geo. R. Marvell, an assis
tant for operations, who has just
returned from a trip to New York,'
Boston and ether coast points, to en- -roll
valuable craft. Captain Marvell'
reported he had arranged contracts
with many owners of small speedy
boats suitable for mounting guns.
and chasing submarines or patroll
ing the coast, to turn their vessels
ever to the government in an emer
gency. A number of boat owners
also agreed to volunteer as reserve
officers.
Both Secretary Daniels and Sec
retary Baker spent several hours at
their offices tonight going over de
partment business.
The research Club met with Mrs,'- ,
A. S. deVlaming, Wednesday after- ,
noon. The guests assembled in: the '
living roomf -ttttractive with jonquils, r ? -and
here the lesson study, was -con- ;
ducted. The subject, v 'tDeraiark' .1
was led - by Mrs'.' W. A. Sergeant,
while Mrs. B. R Long read a .yery..-"-interesting
. history of a Belgias t v
writer At the close of the program . '
delightful refreshments, - in ;twtv -
two courses were served.. ( : ; ,
It is not necessary to urgfe" intelli" '
gent people to carry msurance; You'
need only; to . call their attention to : ,
tt. V SEE S. P. SATTERFIELD or" '
phone 46-M and your wants will .bss-
granteoV - M - ;- -"
V
dv;.i-V'--
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