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VOL. LVIU? NO. 43
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1943
$2.00 PER YEAR
C POINDEXTER
DIGS FOR MINES
Story Of Italian Battle
Field Tell* Of Work
Of Franklin Man
Miss Lucille Morrison of Wash
ington, daughter of Harley R.
Morrison, postmaster at West's
Mill, has sent us the following
clipping from the Washington
Dally News, telling what one
Macon boy Is doing for his
country. Pvt. Cecil Poindexter is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee
Poindexter, and this story by
Reynolds Packard, United Press
Staff correspondent, gives news
of him which he could not tell.
The article was also published
in the Asheville Citizen and
many dally newspapers.
WITH THE VANGUARD OF
THE FIFTH ARMY IN ITALY,
Oct. 20 ? Two-man teams of Am
erican sappers probed ttjru the
mine-littered wake of the Ger
man retreat today to clear a
path for the advancing Fifth
Army.
I accompanied one of these
teams into No Man's Land today
and saw at first-hand the In
creased number of mines the
Germans are laying In an effort
to slow up the Allied pursuit.
Protected by patrols and cov
ering machine gun fire, these
two men located mine after
mine, some of them 11 -pound
Teller mines filled with TNT,
but mostly anti-personnel mines
BUZZER WARNS
The team was , composed of
Pvt. Russell Bretz, Florin, Pa.,
andPvt. Cecil Poindexter, Frank
lin, N. C. Bretz carried an in
strument that Tesembled a fry
ing pan with a broom-like han
dle. As he swung this device
over the ground before him, a
sound amplifier on his shoulder
buzzed like a bee every time
foreign matter was encountered
in the soil.
It was up to Poindexter, who
carried a bayonet along as a
trowel, to dig up whatever reg
istered on the detector. Some
time* it was only a tin can, but
usu"'1y It would be a mine.
Once he picked up four mines
at one spot. The work seemed
dangerous to me, but they both
assured me there were few cas
ualties In their line.
BOOBY TRAPS
"It's when you're not looking
Tor them that they're danger
ous," Bretz said.
Polndexter said the Germans
were Increasing their use 6t
booby traps to catch Allied sol
diers.
"They're using trip-wire mines
now," he said.
"Some of their mines are has
tily-made and contain a lot of
nuts and bolts mixed with TNT.
Sometimes they use hand gren
ades with a few changes to make
them explode when something
is touched, like a door-knob or a
stray helmet lying on the
ground."
JiMPer A. Lakey
R;te? Last Friday
Jasper A. Lakey, 71, a farmer
in the Oak Grove section, died
last Wednesday, October 30. at
8:S0 p.m. at his home. He had
been In declining health for 12
years, but his condition did not
become serious until three weeks
before his death.
Funeral services were held on
Friday afternoon, at the Oak
Grove Baptist church, of which
he was a member. Rev. George
Cloer and Rev. Robt. Williams,
officiated. Burial was in the
church cemetery.
Mr. Lakey was born In Swain
county on June 22. 1872, son of
Joe and Nancy Ammons Lakey,
and moved to this county when
a child. He married Minnie Tal
lent in 1904.
? Surviving are the widow, one
daughter. Mrs. Emma Icenhow
er: of Franklin, route 3: four
sons, Bill and Edison of Winston
Salem: Nelson of Newnort News.
Va., and C. D. of Oik Grove
one sister, Mrs. Callle Elmore
of Franklin: two brothers. John
of Swain county and Jim of
Stecoah; and 15 grandchildren.
The TTnited At.otes Naw's fir?t
Antarctic expedition was led bv
T.taitonant Charle* Wilkes, Char
lotte, N. 0., In IMS.
Classifications
Announced By Our Loca
Board
The following classification!
are announced by the Loca!
Selective Service Board: ?
In 1-C: William Johnson. Phil
lips, Bllley Eugene Wood, John
Lyle Waldroop, OUne Washing
ton Stanfleld, Wymer J. Gibson,
David Hampton Sutton, Oscar
Woodrow Passmore, Thoma ? Ed
ison Oarey, Curt Alney Wilson,
Frank Fleming, Jr., Charles
Fred Johnson, Carl Dewey Bta.ll
ey. Mericus Dewey McCoy, H'er
man Newell Owenby, Perry Bell
Shuler, Locke Craig Steppe, J r,
John Harrison Keener, Jr., Wil -
liam Vance Cansler, Harrel C,
Hoglen, James Junior Hensoo,
Cecil Fate Raby.
In 4-F: Edward Brown, Wil
liam Lawrence Setser, Jr., Geo
rge Elmer Cleaveland, Howard
Logan Stewart, Walter Sylvester
Miller, Roy Mashburn, George
Martin, William Joseph Lakey,
Robert Bell, Halen Dills, Clyde
Edgar Jenkins, Claude NMN
Bradley, George Vernon; Pass
more, Floyd Richard Sorrells,
James Albert Cabe, Frank Tho
mas Chadwick, Kenneth White
head Conley, Jewel Eugerfe Han
ey, Charlie Henderson Barnes.
Jr., Harry O'Neal Buireil, Cecil
McCall, William Frank Houston,
Paul Lee Plemmons, Charles Ed
win Cabe, James Erastus Cabe.
In 1-A; Harvey Lee Brown.
In 1-A-L: Ralph Carlos Mack.
In 1-A-H: Stonewall Jackson
Cabe, James Robert Keener,
Harvey Pickens Evans.
In 3-D: Arlin Alvin Smith.
In 2-A: Berlin Clifford Pru
ett, Thomas Cobb Harbison,
James Oscar Hamilton, Manley
Cleophas Watkins, Albert Am
nions, William Samuel Fuller,
col., Paul Buckhan Higdon, Har
ry Wm. Baty, Tim McMahan,
John Emerson Smith.
The fallowing men who were
Mnt-io tiw induction station on
October 14, were accepted:
In the Army: Cline Washing
ton Stanfield, Wymer J. Gibson.
William Johnson Phillips, and
Billy Eugene Wood.
For Aviation Cadet training:
Frank Fleming, Jr., John Harri
son Keener, Jr., and Locke Craifr
Stepp, Jr.
In the Navy: Carl Dewey Bai
ley, David Hampton Sutton, Os
car Woodrow Passmore, Thomas
Edison Garey, Curt Alney Wil
son, Herman Newell Owenby,
Perry Bell Shuler, William
Vance Cansler, Harrel C. Hog
len, Cecil Fate Raby and Alex
Adam Woo ten.
In the Marine Corps: Mericus
Dewey McCoy, Charles Fred
Johnson, and James Junior
Henson.
John Lyle Waldroop volun
teered and was accepted In the
Navy's Construction Battillon.
Little Joan Williams
Seriously Injured By Car
Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Ed
gar Williams, formerly of Frank
lin, now of 8ylva, were distress
ed to learn of the serious acci
dent to their little 6-year old
daughter, Joan, last Sunday af
ternoon. As reported In the
Ashevllle Citizen, the child was
with a companion near a filUng
station when a car crashed into
the side of the station, pinning
her against the side of the build
ing. HerVeg was almost severed
at the knee, making amputation
necessaay. She is in a serious
condltlofc at Harris hospital In
Sylva. The child with her suf
fered bruises about the Jiead.
The accident occured at Gate
way near Qualla, and the car is
reported to have been driven by
Clifford Holcombe of Wllmot.
Sheriff Leonard H olden said he
was holding Holcombe and his
companion, Pat Mathis, without
bond pending the outcome.
Junior Class
Sponsors Carnival
At High School
The Junior Class of the Frank
lin High school Is sponsoring a
Hallowe'en Carnival Saturday
night at 8 p.m., in the High
school auditorium. There will be
Fishing, Spook House, Cake
Walks, Square Dance, Fortune
Telling, Guess Cake, Refresh
ments, Penny Pitching, Bingo.
Popular Songs by group; Negio
Stunts. There Is something for
everybody, come ar.d bring the
family. Proceed* will go toward
a banquet for the seniors of the
school. mJ\
Th^c*0 IU oordlally invited.
NEWS OF OUR
MENwWOMEN
IN UNIFORM
Naval Aviation Cadet Richard
' C. Zoellner, of Highlands, has
reported to- the UJS. Navy P re
Flight School at Athens, Oa.
? for three months of intensive
physical toughening and In
struction In advanced ground
school subjects.
Zoellner, son of Mr. and Mrs.
C. H. Zoellner, graduated from
Highlands High school in 1939.
He completed Naval Flight Pre
paratory school at Columbia,
8. C., and was transferred here
l'rom the CAA War Training
Service school at Hickory, N. C.
? ?
Cpl. Joseph W. Fouts, of the
Army Air Forces Technical
Training Command, now sta
tioned at Salt Lake City, recent
ly spent a ten-day furlough
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Greene Fouts of Iotla.
?if?
Mr. and Mrs. Oene Boston
{ have received a letter from their
son, Pvt. Eugene B. Boston, say
ing that he had arrived in Au
stralia. Prior to his over-seas
service he was assigned to Mili
tary Police duty at Fort Custer,
Mich.
Cpl Reno T. Moses, who has
been stationed at Los Angeles,
Calif., was transferred to Fort
Be nning, Oa. En route he spent
a few days with his mother,
Mrs. Rebecca Moses. His bro
ther, Pvt. J. T, Moses, is sta
tioned at Fort McClellan, Ala.
Pvt. Leon Thomas Sloan Is
stationed at Fort Bragg, N. C.,
in the Field Artillery Replace
ment Training Center. After
basic training he will be trans
ferred to a field organization.
Cpl. Zeb Verlin Jenkins re
cently spent a twelve-day fur
lough with his wife and parents,
at their home at Franklin, route
3. Cpl. Jenkins Is now stationed
at Camp Forrest, Tenn.
WAVES
Information Given At The
Draft Board Office
And Perry's Store
Information and literature on
WAVES ? the Women's Reserve
of the Navy? are available in
Franklin from Mrs. Gilmer A.
Jones, at the draft board office
and Mrs. J. E. Perry at Perry's
Drug Store, Chief Petty Officer
P. O. Carver, Jr., of the Ashe
ville Navy Recruiting Station,
announced on his recent re
cruiting visit here.
Both Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Per
ry have WAVES pamphlets and
other literature helpful to local
women who are Interested in
learning more about the WAVES.
Chief Carver said that an in
tensified campaign for the pro
curement of WAVES is being
instituted by the Navy Recruit
ing Service on a nationwide ba
sis. "Macon County, I am con
fident, will measure up in her
usually splendid manner. Every
time there has been a national
can for manpower, this County
has responded well, he com- j
mented. "I am sure that the
same will be true In this call
for the nation's womanpower."
Any woman between the ages
of 20 and 36 who has had as
much as two years In high
school and who is In normal
physical condition will be eligi
ble for enlistment In the WA
VES. By Joining the Navy Wo
men's Reserve, women of this
county will be releasing men
now on shore duty for duty
with the fleet or on foreign soil.
No WAVES will be required to
serve outside the continental
limits of the United States.
The Navy needs women train
ed in many fields, but if a wo
man has had no particular
tramlng needed by the Navy,
she will be trained for a Navy
job In one of the many schools
especially established for this
purpose in some of our leading
college and universities through
out the country. , '
Chief Carver, recruiter for
this territory, makes periodic
visits to Franklin, having his
headquarters in the postmas
ter's office. His next visit will
be announced in this paper,
when he will be glad to discuss
WAVES with any interested.
5 tli Sunday Singing
At The Courthouse
The regular 5th Sunday Sing
ing Convention will be held at
Frjinklln Courthouse -next Sun
E beginning at 1 p.m. Visit
singers have been Invited
rdlng to J. M. Raby, presi
dent.
FRANKLIN HEALTH
CENTERS CLINIC
t>ue to Increase In attendance
at the Franklin Health Clinics
it has been decided to hold these
twice a month. The first Mon
day of each month will be for
exuectant mothers and materni
*v hygiene patients. The third
Thursday of each month is re
served for infants and pre
?f school children.
m ?
EARLY MORNING
AFFRAY ON MAIN STREET
Sheriff Bradley says that he
was called at 1 a.m., Tuesday,
by someone who reported sounds
of shooting on Main street. Ar
riving at the corner In front of
Angel Drug Store, he found two
Navy men, two girls, and H. O.
Harris of Sylva; all were wait
ing for the Ashevllle bus which
was' reported to be 4 hours late.
The sheriff was told that these
people had observed a truck, oc
cupied by two Negro boys, which
had driven up and down the
street a number of times. In
aome manner a row started and
it was claimed that one of the
Negros shot at them, or toward
them.
Accompanied by night police
man Dills, the sheriff followed
the truck to east Franklin and
finally found It at the home of
George Hall on the Cat Creek
road. They found George and
his brother, Alvernon, in bed.
The officers took Alvemon's
knife and gun; then started
back to the car with their pris
oners. Alvernon asked to return
for his coat, which he got from
the house. He then started to
run away. A random shot so
frightened him that he collaps
ed on the ground. En route to
jail he recovered, tried to Jump
from the car and cut the sher
iff In ah effort to free himself.
Officer Dills also was slightly
cut. Later Alvernon was found
at his mother's home In the
Iotla section. Both are in jail
in default of bond.
OTTO SCHOOL GOES
OVER THE TOP IN
JUNIOR RED CROSS DRIVE
The Otto Elementary school
set $25 as its goal in the Junior
Ked Cross drive, and collected
$36.
The children entered Into this
as they did In last year's scrap
drive, with all their enthusiasm,
and dug into their own pockets
for their contributions. Several
girls and boys donated more
than a dollar.
The following rooms reported
100 per cent membership: 6th,
7th and 8th grades. This dona
tion represents an average of
about 12 cents per pupil. Think
bow our county would go over
the top if every school child
could give this much.
The Junior Red Cross cam
paign began October 22 and will
end November 10.
REV. J. C. SWAIM
TO PREACH AT
FRANKLIN BAPTIST CHURCH
This will be Mr. Swalm's last
service in Macon county and
Rev. J. F. Marchman expresses
his hope that all Mr. Swaim's
friends will attend as well as
the members of the Franklin
Baptist church, as expression of
appreciation for the devoted
service Mr Swalm has render
ed to the people of his own and
of other denominations.
The first warship ever sunk
hv a submarine was the USS
Homatonic. which was blown
up by the Confederate undersea
craft. CSS Hunlev, In Charles
ton Harbor in 1M4
United War Fund In Macon
Will Greatly Exceed Quota
REV. J. C. SWAIM
SENT TO REIDSVILLE
During the 6 years of Mr.
Swaim's minis tery In Maoon
county, the churches In his cir
cuit have made substantial pro
gress In all phases of the Me
thodist program. All church
property has been Improved,
the outstanding achievement is
the rebuilding of Asbury church
at Otto.
Mr. Swaim wishes to express
his deep appreciation to his
many friends in the Baptist and
Presbyterian churches, and to
all the members of the Metho
dist congregations for the many
kindnesses and loyal cooperation
tendered him. He assures the
people of Macon county that
they will always hold a very
warm place In his heart.
The Rev. V. M. Allen will suc
ceed Mr. Swaim as pastor of
the Macon circuit.
IOTLA CHURCH
TO BEREBU1LT
Grant Received From Duke
Endowment; Gifts
Solicited
A grant of $2500 has been al
lowed for the rebuilding of the
Iotla Methodist church by the
Duke Endowment, according to
a letter received by Rev. Carl
W. Judy, pastor of the church,
from Dr. R. L. Flowers, presi
dent of Duke University, last
week. In accordance with cer
tain conditions the trustees of
the church, W. L. Ramsey, J. E.
Myers, and R. L. Poindexter, ac
cepted the gift. The church,
was completely destroyed by fire
some months ago.
The money will be received
upon certain stipulations. The
church must raise $5,700, two
thousand of which must be in
cash and the remaining $3700
in good subscriptions. To re
ceive all of the gift the remain
ing subscriptions must be paid.
In order to meeet these require
ments the building committee
has asked that those who wish
to make pledges and cash gifts
to do so as soon as is possible.
Work on the church has be
gun and Is progressing under
the foremanshlp of Walter An
gel, who is In charge of con
struction. Tile and sand are al
ready on the lot and the lum
ber Is ready to be hauled. The
coal shed and work house have
already been completed. Memor
ial windows are now being se
lected and actual construction
of the main auditorium will be
gin within two weeks, weather
permitting.
Those wishing to make con
tributions are asked to get in
touch with any of the following
members of the building com
mittee: R. L. Poindexter, Jack
Cansler, Ted Campbell, W. L.
Ramsey, J. E. Myers, Jake My
ers, Ben Ledford, Walter Angel,
or Arble Daves.
Out of the unfortunate disas
ter to their church the members
of the Iotla church are singing:
"We would be building; temples
still undone ..."
Between 1806 and 1917 the
United States built 14 battleships
of the dreadnaught type and,
at the outbreak of the First
World War. the Navy possessed
37 battleship*.
Committee Thanks Those
Who Helped; Final Re
port Next Week
By S. C. RUSSELL
? Publicity Chairman
Once more Macon county has
gone over the top and deserves
a coveted "E" for greatly ex
ceeding Its quota In the United
War Fund drive. Final returns
will not be reported until next
week, but at noon on Wednes
day, H. E. Church, Treasurer,
reported that he had received
approximately $5,000. Mr. Church
stated that several solicitors
hold pledges payable before the
end of the week totaling at
least $500. Thus it is evident
that Macon county will exceed
its quota by more than 50 per
cent!
Although full credit is due
everyone connected with the
drive, special mention should
be made of the phenominal suc
cess of the solicitors in High
lands, Scaly and Shortoff whose
collections almost trebled the
$700 quota established for that
section. By noon Wednesday
$1,797.83 had been remitted to
Mr. Church.
No one is more pleased over
the success of the campaign
than John M. Archer, Jr., coun
ty chairman, who has called a
meeting of all solicitors at a
get-together gathering at Kelly
Tea Room, Friday evening, when
all reports will be turned in and
final figures released. Mr. Ar
cher has worked untiringly in
this campaign and during the
past few weeks has devoted
practically all his time to the
many details leading up to the
Intensive drive just ended.
"Words fail me when I attempt
to express my thanks and ap
preciation to all? thanks for the
generosity of the people and
both thanks and appreciation
to the forty or more solcltors,"
said Mr. Archer. "Yet I feel
somewhat embarrassed In mak
ing this statement when I real
ize that I am merely the mouth
piece for our boys and girls of
the armed forces, and war-rav
aged humanity, who will be ac
tual recipients of the Ifrge
fund just raised."
Campaign To Continue
It will be recalled that the
quota for North Carolina was
set at $1,800,000. If each county
responds as successfully as Ma
con, it is evident that the State
will raise in excess of $2,000,000.
The campaign will continue in
some sections, perhaps through
November. Each of the twelve
districts was permitted to estab
lish its own schedule and Dis
trict. One, comprised of eight
counties under Mr. J. E. S.
Thorpe, director, got an early
start and made a whirlwind
campaign. Mr. Archer desires
to remind the residents of Ma
con county that although the
drive has been completed the
books are not closed. He hopes
that every resideht, even every
Continued On Page Six ?
W. M. Pickens, 76,
Taken By Death
William M. Pickens, 76, a na
tive and lie-long Tesident of
Macon county, died at the An
gel clinic here Monday night
following a short illness.
Funeral services were held at
the Sugarfork Baptlstch church
Thursday morning at 11 o'clock,
the Rev. James I. Vinson and
the Rev. Prank Reed officiating.
Burial followed in the church
cemetery. Members of the Juna
luska Masolc lodge of Franklin,
of which he was a member,
conducted services at the grave
side.
Mr. Pickens was a son of Mrs.
Amanda Olbson of Oneiss, who
will be 100 years of age on her
birthday, December 5. He was
married to the former Miss
Laura Peek, who was taken by
death about three years ago.
Mr. Pickens was a member of
the Gold Mine Baptist church.
Survin* are his mother, two
sons. Andrew of Pennsylvania;
Raloh of Alaska: three daugh
ters. Mts. Walter Landreth of
Favettevlllp; Mrs. Perrv San
ders of Kln<"i Mount"l*v ?nd
Mrs. Dorothv Moor* of
and one ha'f-brother, Ben Olb
son of Oneiss