North Carolina Newspapers

Page EIGHT THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1963 P' pi if ,4 'Ai’^sgu^S!^ WIDE FRONT across which the scattered, erratic prongs of last Thursday’s Big Fire burned is shov/n in this aerial photo taken in late afternoon. View is not positively identified as to location. (Humphrey photo from plane flown by Buck McKenzie) Vast Acreage Swept By Fire (Continued from page 1) County Ranger Travis Wicker, "When it jumped ths old Jack- son Springs road it got hot (out of control) and we knew we had a monster on our hands.” They had counted on the road to stop or slow the fire but from that point on, there was no stop ping it. There were no natur^ fire-breaks in the path and it skipped over roads and fields as if they weren’t there. Man-made firebreaks soon proved useless— by the time one was done, the fire had leaped far beyond. Call for Help The call went out for all avail able help and it came from all Moore County communities— then, as the afternoon went on, from far outside the county. Fort Bragg responded with hundreds of men and much equipment, in cluding huge tanker trucks. As tanks of the local fire trucks emptied, they returned home again and again for re-filis. The fire was fought off suc cessfully from two homes in the country near Pinehurst—“Sandy Woods,” the Q. A. Shaw Mc Kean estate, and the Paul Dana home deep in a forest. At the Mc Kean place a vanload of his fine horses was removed but his horse barn was lost with 13 more, also hunting dogs in their ken nels. (For details see another story and photo, and the Pinehurst page.) Householders Warned With a steady wind estimated at 15 mph on the ground, gusts of 40 to 50 mph in the air caused the head of the fire to veer un- predictably and sent long prongs licking out on either side. There was no time to organize any thing, Ranger Pippin said—each unit just did the best it could where it happened to be. He de tailed three trucks to do nothing but race ahead warning house holders. Many got out with some of their belongings, while others stayed to fight. Many were not at home and in such cases the firefighters did what they could —closing the windows if they could get in the house, clearing off the clotheslines. The fire was “crowning” from tree to tree, sometimes as far as a mile ahead of the main body of the fire. The air seemed filled with flames. The sky was grey with smoke, centering in a tow ering black column visible for 50 miles. Through the veil the sun was a blood-red disk. At Country Acres Country Acres, a community of a dozen neat, attractive homes, most of them new, lay directly in the firepath on the Sand Pit Road from Pinebluff, just west of NC 5. Pickup trucks converged there from all directions and, as the householders were cleared out, they removed the furnish ings from several houses. With fire burning right into the yards, the home owners watched in an anxious group from the high way intersection. A trailer home and a new house, not yet occupied, were burned and most of the others caught fire several times, only to have the flames beaten out. Then th.e wind suddenly shifted and the fire veered south. Several trucks were nearly trapped but made it out in time as the fire headed toward Pine- bluff. The farming community of Roseland two miles from Aber deen, lost two homes and nearly all outbuildings. The fire crown ed far out over open pasture to devour the dairy farm home of Elmore Smith, near Pineblutff, who, unwarned, got his wife and son out just in time. By the time the firefighters reached Pinebluff, the fire was inside the town. Fire Chief W. K. Carpenter, Jr. who had sent a truck with sever al of his volunteers out to fight the fire earlier, sounded the siren about 5 p. m. to warn the people and bring out all available fire fighters. Hot Brands Fall Hundreds of firemen and sol diers filled the streets, where hot brands were dropping, seem ingly from nowhere. Inside the town the homes of Sgt. Richard Graham and Cad Benedict (the latter unoccupied) were com pletely destroyed. Many others caught fire, some repeatedly, on ly to have the flames put out by workers converging upon them. Householders who wished to evacuate were assisted to do so but most elected to stay and help fight the fire. Many just coming in from work leaped directly in to the fray. Working along with the Pinebluff volunteers was their junior department of teen age boys, fully justifying their training. Some local householders, in cluding Mayor E. H. Mills, had been fighting the fire up Pine hurst way and did not know their own town was burning until the fight was far along. The fire swept east along the long north edge of Pinebluff penetrating about a block to the Hospital with facial burns. After 11 p. m. the mopping- up operation was under way in the blitzed village and the Siler City volunteer department ar rived, saying they had “a tank ful of water and couldn’t find any fire.” They didn’t have to take the tankful home, as the fire was still raging to the South —at the west edge of Addor, where fighters worked many hours in the surrounding woods; in Camp Mackall, where thous ands of soldiers were at work all night, and in Drowning Creek swamp. In the village, workers patrolled all night lest fires break out again. Rain At Last The next day, as Pinebluff picked itself up and surveyed the mess—thankful that no lives were lost and their village had been saved—the fire was report ed “contained” to the south, if not entirely controlled. It took a gentle soaking rain, which last ed all Saturday night, to put out the last hot spots and bring an end to the danger. THANKS VOICED BY DISTRICT FORESTER J. A. Pippin of Rockingham, dislricl forester, issued Ihe following statement of apn preciation this week: "The N. C. Division of For estry, on behalf of Moore County Forest Ranger Travis Wicker, would like to take this means to thank all per sons and organizations who assisted in any manner on the suppression of the forest fires that burned in Moore County on Thursday and Fri day of last week. It will be impossible to thank each per son or organization individ ually, as there were so many persons working on the sup pression of these tfires. "The willingness of every one to work so closely to gether during this emergency is an indication to the N. C* Division of Forestry that the people of Moore County are firm believers in all phases of forest conservation." % Two Girls Serve As ‘Pagettes’ Jeanne Butler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Butler of Midland Road, is serving this week as a “pagette” in the General Assem bly at Raleigh. United Telephone Loses 300 Feet Of Cable In Fire United Telephone Co. lost some 300 feet of a main cable last Fri day morning, when it was burn ed by the big fire still blazing though “contained,” in the Camp Mackall area. Circuits to Hamlet Laurinburg and Charlotte were affected. Numerous circuits were knock ed out, causing considerable in convenience in this area, though a number of calls were routed through Raleigh. Repairs were completed Friday night. During the height of the emer gency, toll calls from all over the area were pouring through the Southern Pines office at such a rate, all off-duty operators were summoned back to work. The Pinebluff Telephone Co. lost its cable to Hoffman when it burned through south of town early Thursday evening, and Hoffman was without phone ser vice until Friday night. A good many drops (lines into homes) in Pinebluff, Hoffman and the area toward Roseland were lost or damaged, and the crews are still working on these, also on new installations for families forced ’to move because of loss or dam age to their homes. The Sandhill Telephone Co. at Aberdeen lost a pole and several drops in the Country Acres sec tion on the road from Pinebluff to N. C. Route 5, but repairs were completed by Saturday night. DES'TROYED was this unoccupied house in Pinebluff, owned by Mr. and Mrs. C. Benedict of Southern Pines, formerly their home for seven years. Photo was made day after fire as Pine bluff firemen wet down the still-hot rubble and prepared to knock down the standing hollow-tile walls as a safety measure. (V. Nicholson photo) Big Fire Sidelights Another Sandhills girl, south in most places, but was Jeanne s cousin, Anne McKeith- stopped at that depth from en tering the more heavily built-up central and southern areas of the community, preventing a far greater calamity. Wind Changed When the fire was about five blocks east of No. 1 highway, the wind changed and it swept south across the east end of the town, stopping short of the municipal lake, where the public picnick ing facilities were unharmed, but roared on, along a wide front, eastward to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad tracks,, jumping the tracks also in a few places. The fire had divided west of Pinebluff, one prong sweeping down the north edge of the town, as noted, and another passing south and west of the town burn ing through an area that inclu ded the lake built on the south west city limits by H. Clifton Blue and Earl Freeman, of Aberdeen, where each had cottages which, however, did not burn. It was this prong of fire that, continuing southeast jumped the wide No. 1 highway parkway again and destroyed the Bliss- Spence horseshoe manufacturing plant at the intersection of No. 1 and the road from Addor. Sanitarium Evacuated With fire threatening the town from the west, the Pinebluff San itarium was evacuated as a pre cautionary measure by the Rob bins Rescue Squad and Fort Bragg soldiers. Nineteen patients were taken to the Armory at Southern Pines for the night, where they used beds brought from Fort Bragg, while one bed- patient was taken to Moore Me morial Hospital. The sanitarium is a private mental hospital. Fighting the fire in and around town, the fighters worked at such close range that many suf fered superficial burns. Receiv ing first aid treatment, most re turned at once to the fight, but two volunteer firemen were tak en off the job and sent home, and one home owner, Alvin Mor gan, fighting fire at a neighbor’s place, went to Moore Memorial en, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jere McKeithen of Aberdeen, served as a pagette there last week. Income Tax Deadline At Post Office Noted Postmaster J. W. Causey re minds the public that for an in come tax return to be postmark ed, as required, before midnight April 15 (Monday), it will have to be in the local post office not later than 8:45 p. m. Mail depos ited after that hour is postmark ed as of 7 a. m. April 15 (Easter Monday), Mr. Causey notes, is not a federal holiday. All post office functions will continue as usual that day. Council Approves 2 Bond Projects The town council, meeting Tuesday night, approved plans for two local bond issue projects —the $35,000 West Southern Pines swimming pool and the $25,000 addition and remodeling program at the public library. The actions authorized the ar chitects—Hayes-Howell & Asso ciates for the pool and Edmund J. Austin for the library—to ad vertise for bids. The bond issues were approv ed in an election last fall. CLOSINGS Some stores and businesses will close for the Easter Monday hol iday April 15, along with town and county offices and banks of the area. The post office will not be closed. Moore County Record er’s Court at Carthage will con vene Tuesday. Witnesses Will Meet April 18-21 At Local Armory The Southern Pines West Unit congregation of Jehovah’s Wit nesses are busy preparing to be hosts for a three-day convention which will be held April 19-21 in Southern Pines. Morning, afternoon and eve ning sessions at the National Guard Armory will feature ex periences in the ministry, Bible talks and demonstrations. The regular weekend meetings will be canceUed from April 18 to 21 when they will resume on their regular schedule, according to Joseph Mitchell, presiding minister. Several hundred persons are expected, with some 200 spend ing the weekend in Southern Pines. NEW OFFICER — Joe F. Davis, Jr., has been employed as patrolman with the South ern Pines Police Department, replacing William H. Jackson, Jr., who resigned. A veteran of 20 years of Army service which included action in Europe and Korea, Davis re tired from the Army last October. He is married to the former Edith Stephenson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Stephenson, formerly of Southern Pines, now of Sha- lotte. The Davises, who live on N. Ridge St., have a 15- year-old son. The new officer is a Mason and Episcopalian. He was employed by Proc- tor-Silex before joining the Police Department. (Pilot photo) There was little panic. “It was wonderful how cool people re mained in the face of danger,” said District Forester J. A. Pippin. “Most of them, kept their heads and did what had to be done.” Proved once again, the old truism: when you have just a few minutes’ warning of fire, you save the silliest things. One wo man left home with a box con taining six pairs of gloves. Anoth er saved her white parakeet, in her hands—no cage. Walter (Bill) Davenport of Pinebluff, evacuat ing with his wife, Barbara, threw sport coat, two pairs of pants and two shirts into a suitcase. No underwear, shaving things or tooth paste. No manuscripts, books or mementoes of his life as magazine editor and author. Resulting from the fire: at least one premature infant. The young mother-to-be had to flee with her small son, with the fire so close they had to jump out of the car and run across a plowed field, then catching a ride in a truck. Details of the incident were not learned. Mrs. Madeline Charles, Pine bluff tov/n clerk, had brought home the town books to take to a board meeting that night (which, needles to say, didn’t occur. As fire jumped US Highway 1 right in front of the Charles house, she searched wildly for a safe place to stash the books. She stuffed them into the deepfreeze, then ran off to fight the fire, then in their front yard, with husband Harry and two guests from New York. Said one Pinebluff citizen sadly, “It’s terrible when your neighbor comes begging for help, saying ‘My house is afire,’ and you can’t go because you have to stay and guard your own.” Busy all Thursday evening were three teen-age youngsters whose own home had just been burned —the daughter and two sons of Sgt. and Mrs. Dick Graham. Michael Ann, 14, served at the Red Cross food stand, and DeLee, 17 , and Rickey, 16, v/orked with the firefighters at their neighbors’ homes. Rickey, a member of the Pinebluff junior department, worked side by side with Chief Carpenter and his crew. Other young workers included Chief Carpenter’s own children, Cathy, 13, at the Red Cross food stand, till past midnight, and Bil ly, Jr., 11, assisting the firemen. “They wanted to help and I let them stay up even though they are so young,” their mother said. “After all, this is their town.” Several families, including the Dick Grahams, are grieving over lost pets—animals which could n’t be found when they had to leave, and which weren’t seen again. That there weren’t more in Pinebluff is due largely to the service of an unidentified woman from out of town in a red Corvair, who carefully drove about the fire-riddled streets gathering up the dogs. When she saw people looking for dogs she’d stop, and chances were she had them. Other bereft owners watched for her, so as to hunt among her passengers and find their own. When the danger was past, she turned the dogs loose, and they made their way back home. Her name was never learn ed. “I want to say ‘thank you’ to those wonderful men who saved my house, and don’t even know who they yare,” said Mrs. Mra- garet Dunn of Country Acres. “They told me it was time to leave and I did, taking nothing. When I came back, I could see where the house had caught afire at least twice, maybe three times.” In the midst of the confusion as fire raged through the Rose land community, Mrs. Rittie Lucas was missing. Her daughter Mrs. Zilphia Evans, whose home shared the same yard with her mother, ran everywhere looking and calling for her. Others took time out from their firefighting to look too. Mrs. Evans’ home was afire, Mrs. Lucas’ home was threatened but she couldn’t be found. The worst of it was every one knew Mrs. Lucas had a bad back and couldn’t run very far, if indeed she could get out of the house at all. When the worst of the fire was over. Mrs. Lnna-; showed up in a truck which then drove away, and no one vet knows the name of the young man who drove it. One man grabbed up a box filled with his wife’s best china and carried it out the door, drop ped it and broke it all. The house wms saved. Nothing gone, but the china. One Pinebluff lady took anoth er, who was not well, from her home in her car. Seeking a safe place to park, she stopped in front of the Methodist church. Though fire could be seen not far away, it seemed a comparatively quiet spot and the first lady took out her cigarettes. Lighting up, she turned to her friend and ask ed thoughtfully, “This smoke bother you?” This was one time both managed a big laugh. Mrs. Elizabeth M. Fitzpatrick of Pinebluff wrote to The Pilot to express her thanks to the volunteers who saved her home on Baltimore Ave. in Pinebluff. From the Linden Road area came the story of a couple of men who had been surrounded by ■^ire while in a truck carrying barrels of water to other fire fighters. They doused themselves and the surrounding areas with water, got under the truck and the fire passed through, leaving them and the truck unharmed. Funeral Held For George Patteson, Retired Executive George P. Patteson, 69, of 343 Crestview Road, died Tuesday at N. C. Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill. He was a retired executive of the General Electric Co., who moved here with his wife in 1957. Funeral services were held this (Thursday) afternoon at Emman uel Episcopal Church, conducted by the rector, the Rev. Martin Caldwell, with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Patteson moved to Southern Pines from Schenec tady, N. Y., where he had retired two years previously from his position as manager of market ing administration in the Large Motor and Generating Depart ment of General Electric. He had been with the firm for 40 years. A native of Richmond, Va., Mr. Patteson was a graduate of Vir ginia Polytechnic Institute. He was a member of Emmanuel Church, in which he had served as vestryman and junior warden. He was a member of the Sand hills Kiwanis Club and of the local Men’s Garden Club. Surviving are his wife, the former Mrs. Margaret F. Steven of Schenectady, N. Y.; one son, George P. Patteson, Jr., of Schen ectady; one daughter, Mrs. M. E. Wright, of Richmond, Va.; one stepson, Harry M. Steven of Schenectady, and nine grandchil dren. ‘Bell, Book and Candle’ Is Next At Playhouse “Bell, Book and Candle,” a sophisticated comedy about a glamorous present-day witch who loses her magical powers when she falls in love, will be the next to last attraction at the Pinehurst Playhouse, where it will be pre sented for seven performances be ginning Tuesday evening April 16. Lovely Holly Hill will be seen as “Gillian,” John Hallow as “Shep,” Margaret Braidwood as Gillian’s aunt and Evan Thomp son as a rascally brother witch. “Dial M for Murder” will be at the Playhouse through Sunday night, April 14. STONEYBROOK (Continued from page 1) are all reserved, but general ad mission is unlimited. Race fans can look forward to a colorful program of pre-race entertainment, featuring the 82nd Airborne Division band and color guard, a mule race, exhibi tion of trotters and pacers from the Pinehurst track and a “pole bending” race to test skill in riding around obstacles. Master Sgt. Gerald L. Mitchell of Fort Bragg, and his wife, will be guests of honor. He is current ly designated “Trooper of the Year” of the 82nd. Many members of the N. C. General Assembly, with their wives, are expected to be guests of Sen. W. P. Saunders of South ern Pines and Speaker of the House H. Clifton Blue of Aber deen. Net proceeds of the race meet ing are divided annually between Moore Memorial and St. Joseph’s Hospitals. Inquiries on any phase of the races should be directed to the race office, telephone Southern Pines 695-1381. Donald D. Ken nedy is chairman of the execu tive committee of the Stoney- brook Hunt Racing Association. County Library To Close Friday The Moore County Library will b.3 closed Friday, April 19, in or der that the library staff may participate in an in-service train ing workshop for the personnel of the Sandhill Regional Library. The one-day workshop, to be held in the Rockingham-Rich- mond County Library at Rock ingham, will be directed by Miss Frances Gish, library consultant from the North Carolina State Library and Miss Hollis Haney, director of the Sandhill Regional Library. Personnel from the Re gional Library (comprised of the Montgomery and Moore County Libraries and the Rockingham- Richmond County Library) will discuss the book collection and service to readers. TRAFFIC DANGER The State Highway Patrol warns of danger on the highways during the long Easter weekend —from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight, Monday. All troopers will be out in force, checking highways with speed watches, radar cars and other means, it was stated. Sunrise Services Scheduled In Area Sunrise services to be conduct ed Easter morning in the South ern Pines area include: Community Sunrise Service, 6 a. m. at the Country Club, spon sored by young people of South ern Pines and Pinehurst. Vass Presbyterian Church, 6 a. m., the Rev. David Moe to speak, different ministers to take part. Thagard’s Lake, Whispering Pines—6:30 a. m. Participants, Yates - Thagard Baptist, Eureka and Lakeview Presbyterian Churches. West Southern Pines, 5:30 a. m., at Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church. At Old Bethesda Cemetery, near Aberdeen, at 6 a. in. EASTER NIGHT MUSIC A concert of Easter music by the choirs of the First Baptist Church will be given at 7:30 p. m. Sunday (Easter evening) in the sanctuary of the church, with the organist, Mrs. T. E. Moore, acting as director. The public is invited.