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VOL. 27. SMITHFIELD. N. C.. FRIDAY. JANUARY 29 1909. NO. 49
SEA SWALLOWS GREAT LINER.
White Star Steamship Republic Ram
med and Sunk in a Heavy Fog.
All on Board Saved.
Boston, Jan. 23.?Wounded to the
death in a collision in a heavy fog
early this morning, the great White
Star Liner Republic, one of the fa
vorite ships of American tourists,
as well as one of the most palatial
that ever flew the British flag, had
her burial at 10 o'clock tonight in
the north Atlantic?the great, haunt
ed graveyard of the sea.
Not a life was lost by the disaster
of the Republic. Many hours before
she sank all of her passengers had
been taken off by the Italian Liner
Florida, the other victim of the col
lision, which vessel stood by to the
end, and just before the Republic
sank, took officers and crew aboard.
Early tomorrow morning she will
land them at New York, from which
port they sailed yesterday. The Re
public was bound for Mediterranean
ports and carried 761 passengers, of
whom about 250 were American
tourists. The rest were Italians re
turning to their native land.
It was by most merciful circum
stances that the wreck of the Re
public did not become one of the
most appalling tragedies of the deep.
She suffered by that unavoidable
thing?a collision In a fog. Fortu
nately she was but 26 miles from
land?Nantucket Point?was in the
path of traffic, and the vessel that
rammed her was able to give aid.
From the moment that the Republic
was struck amidships by the Florida
? I"* Honaoi? chn wrtiilri nprich
lUv uaiiftv.1 iuub f ^ *
was apparent. The first rush of wa
ter flooded her engine room and
made her helpless. Then, with all
bulkheads closed, she lay, depending
on her water-tight compartments.
These might hold her for hours?pos
sibly for days. How long was a mat
ter of conjecture all through the day
and until they gave way before the
strain at 9 o'clock tonight.
The Republic was equipped with
wireless telegraphy, and hardly had
the shock of the collision passed
when her call for help went out to
all vessels and shore stations that
It might reach. The engines were
stopped and the dynamos dead, but
storage batteries had been provided,
and as long as they lasted the wire
less operator of the Republic continu
ed to send out the call?"C. Q. D."
?the ambulance summons of the sea.
Fire at Smithfield Depot.
Last Saturday night about nine
o'clock the fire bell here rang and
It was found that the fire was at
the depot. It seems that a spark
from an engine passing set fire to
some cotton on the platform. There
was a large lot of cotton there and
It was feared that a great fire had
begun, but before the fire did much
burning the bales which had caught
fire had been removed across the
track of the railroad. By the free
use of water only six bales were
damaged.
Mrs. James W. Benson Entertains.
Benson, N. C., Jan. 25.?A most
delightful social event was enjoyed
last Thursday afternoon from four
to six o'clock, given in honor of Mrs.
Edwin Boykin, of Norfolk, Va., and
Miss Margaret Neal, of Richmond,
Va., and many other friends. The
library and dining room were de
lightfully decorated with ferns and
palms. Delightful music was ren
dered during the evening. Dainty
and delicious refreshments were serv
ed by Mrs. James Benson and Miss
Bruton, of Fayetteville.
Hears Sentence and Dies.
Hamilton, O., Jan. 18.?As Judge
Murphy today sentenced "Buck" Cot
tongame, a Kentucky feudist, to the
penitentiary for life for the murder
of Parrish Arnet, the father of Arnet
fell dead in the Court room. Arnet
accused Cottongame of wrecking his
homo, and Cottongame killed him.
The fee system Is doomed. It will
linger in some places a few years
longer, but the principle that the pub
lic should know how much every pub
lic officer receives and from whom
It la received is one that will destroy
the fee system, root and branch.?
News and Observer. ?
Three cases of leprosy have been
found to exist in San Antonio, Tex.
SELMA NEWS.
Gathered and Reported by Our Regu
lar Correspondent.
Selma, Jan. 28.?Mr. Jesse DaugU
tery is building a house on Pollocl
street for Mr. Ellis Waddell.
Mr. Thos. Newland, of Lenoir, spen
Sunday with his sister, Mrs. W. A
Oreen.
Capt. Chapin was here Wednesday
to look after the camp for the con
victs who are to begin work for th*
chemical company on February 1st.
Mr. W. W. Wynne is here on 2
visit to his daughter, Mrs. N. E
Edgerton.
Mrs. M. C. Winston and Miss Liz
zie are on a visit to Dr. Avera o
Wake county.
Rev. W. H. Puckett went to Prin
ceton Wednesday.
Mr. M. C. Winston spent a fev
days in Charlotte last week.
There is to be a change in th<
management of the Merchants Hotel
Mr. W. H. Stallings has bought i
and will have it put in first clasi
order and will run it for the benefi
of the traveling public. Mrs. W. T
Peacock will be housekeeper.
Bricklaying has begun on the Eth
el Cotton Mills.
Mrs. L. H. Allred and Mr. and Mfi
W. A. Edgerton left Wednesday foi
Spring Hope to attend the marriagt
of their sister.
CLAYTON NEWS.
With cotton around the ten cen
; mark, our farmer friends are feeling
pretty good. Fortunately a good nut
ber of them held for ten cents.
The much spoken of new street ii
just about a reality. The storei
have been moved out of the way ant
the street is being put in passable
order as fast as can be.
Mrs. Ashley Borne, Mrs. A. San
White, Mrs. McCullers, Mrs. Rober
Poole, Miss Gertrude Landis and oth
ers from here went up to hear Mme
Calve sing on Monday evening.
Hon. Ashley Horne left Monday
afternoon for Greensboro on buSi
ness.
The charter of the Liberty Cottoi
Mills has been amended to allow
some changes in the working of the
mills.
Several new residences are to be
erected here soon. Among them is
one for Mr. Zeb V. Stephenson.
We note a remarkable difference
in the melodies which nightly pro
ceed from the band head-quarters
I We infer that they are i'catching
I nn "
William Smith, colored, alias Frog
Pulley, gave chief Ellis a very stren
uous time last Friday night. Chiel
having reason to believe that Frog
was at the home of Henry Sanders
for the night, proceeded thereto to
effect his arrest. When he went in
to search the house. Frog was in a
shed room where there was no light.
When chief advanced. Frog jumped
at him and grabbed his pistol wren
ching it from his hand. In the scuf
fle that e?sued. Frog shot at chief
but missed him, then chief overpow
ered him, took the pistol and escort
ed Frog to the lock-up. On Saturday
he stood trial before 'squire Gulley
and was remanded to jail to await
the coming term of Superior court.
Mr. J. H. Wood, one of the very
best truckers of this section left on
display at Mr. Joe Barnes' store, one
of the biggest turnips we have seen
for some time. This was of the cow
horn variety and weighed 5 pounds 14
ounces. The seed were purchased
from the Barnes-Carroll Co. in Au
gust.
Messrs J. D. Smith, Jesse W. Hil
liard and Riley R. Gulley went to
Raleigh Wednesday afternoon.
Clayton, Jan. 28.
George JUanuel in Jail.
George Manuel, a negro, who has
been for some time running a blind
tiger business In Smithfield. and who
is the worst probably in the county
at that business, was tried at Ral
eigh last week in the Federal court
and sentenced to four months con
finement In Smithfield Jail. That was
very light punishment for such a
transgressor of the law and for a
negro who-does not want to work
and will fare about as well In Jail
as at home. No doubt he Is Incon
venienced but a little except In the
fact that he now misses his several
drinks each day. Such sentences will
never stop violation of laws of any
kind.
I ~~~
never read a newspaper.
Eighth Juror in the Box for Trial o
Colonel Cooper.
Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 26.?Whei
1 the second venire of 500 talesmei
was exhausted today without tht
1 completion of the jury to try Col
? Duncan R. Cooper, Robin Cooper ant
John D. Sharp for the slaying of for
mer Senator E. \V. Carmack, Judgt
Hart announced that he would de
vote tomorrow to the hearing o
charges of intoxication against Ju
rors Leigh and Jackson. Meantime
he drew another venire of 500 names
and the sheriff is summoning then
for service Friday.
c H. P. Jackson, a blacksmith, 5'
years old, who has not read a news
paper for 28 years, was accepted a
juror No. 8. S. M. Hyde, a farmer
' 48 years old, who was opposed ti
captial punishment, was accepted a:
5 juror No. 9.
While there are now nine men ir
1 the box, charges are pending against
3 two of them. The failure of counse
1 to complete the jury from the firsi
? 1,000 talesmen, together with th<
fact that the number already select
ed may be reduced by the court
makes it extremely Important tha'
? 12 men will be sworn in before some
r time next week.
a,
THE NEWS IN BENSON.
Happenings of Interest In and Aroun
This Thriving Little Burg.
; Benson, Jan. 28.?Mr. E. F. Moor?
n made a business trip to Raleigh Wed
nestUi/.
i Capt. Jernigan left Wednesday foi
5 Burlington and Greensboro to vlsil
1 relatives.
! Mrs. Fred Royal, of Emporia, Va.
is visiting relatives in town.
i . Miss Prilla Gilbert, of near New
t Ton Grove, came to town Monday tc
- enter Benson High School.
Rev. D. F. Putnam preached ablf
sermons to large audiences at Bap
r tist church here Sunday morning anc
- night.
Among the new arrivals in town
i is a girl at Mr. J. Fleishman's and
r a boy at the home of Mr. J. E. Wall.
( We regret very much to note that
Rev. D. F. Putnam has resigned as
? J pastor of the Benson iiaptist church
i | and will go to Nashville and Spring
Hope where he has accepted a call.
The Pastors' and daymen's Con
ference of the Johnston County Mis
sionary Baptist Association will be
held with the church at Benson be
r inning Friday, January 29, and con
uauing through Saturday and Sunday
Quite a large crowd is expected.
The following cases have been dis
posed of in Mayor Britt's court this
week. Jule Lee, colored, was up for
public nuisance and fined $1.00 and
cost; R. H. McLainb, drunk, fined
$2.00 and cost; W. F. Parrish, drunk
fined $2.00 and cost.
Traction Engines and Public Roads.
Petitions are now being circulated
over Smithfield township for signers
asking that a law be passed by the
Legislature to keep traction engines
off the public roads of the township.
The petitioners are well wishers to
Messrs Rand & Lawrence and any
others who own or may own engines
but they do not want the roads torn
up. Any person who will go over the
roads traveled by the engine operat
i ed in this township will see what is
being done to them. We hear that
it is expected to begin hauling logs
soon on the Clayton road four miles
from Smithfield. The Harper hill
and the Grantham hill on this road
were known for many years as the
worst places between Raleigh and
the Atlantic ocean, but since they
were graded and graveled they have
become allright. The people do not
want them torn up again. Besides
many do not believe they could meet
the traction engine on the embank
ment just beyond the river. Person
ally the writer feels sure he should
have to trade horses or go by the
bridge neat- Selma. But the main
reason for opposing traction engines
is the fact that the roads of the
township are not strong enough, for
the engines to run over them. There
is too much soft dirt and mud. The
engine mashes the roads all out of
shape and makes them unfit for ve
hicles. Our opinion is that this is
the wrong part of the world for traq
tion engines. We say that candidly
without Intending any harm to
any body or any enterprise.
Mr. Holt Writes About tho Matter
f The readers of this paper will re
i member that In the summer of 11*06
a movement wua inuun'irated wilt
i liu object in view of either reduc
, i: s the fees of the four leading Coun
. ty officers, or of placing the said
1 officers upon salaries. This agita
tion assumed such wide-spread pro
portions that it gave great concern
j to the office holders of the County
at that time, so much bo in fact,
| that when the County Convention
met in Smi'bflela to nominate Coun
| ty officers and to pass upon this
question of a salary system, the of
. fleers and their friends had prepared
a measure of a compromise nature
reducing the fees of the several of
ficers to a certain extent, but not
' as comprehensive in its reduction as
a great many at that time thought
desirable. However, It was accept
ed by a majority of the Convention
. as a solution of the difficulty, and
I It was thought at that time by the
. hundreds of Democrats throughout
, the County who favored the salary
_ plan, that this measure was accept
able. to the in-coming County offi
^ cers, and that it was offered in good
faith by the opponents of the salary
plan as a sincere effort on their part
to meet us half way In arriving at a
solution of the question. After pass
ing upon this matter, the Convention
j, proceeded to nominate the four Coun
ty officers who have since held, and
are now holding the said offices, and
s who have been chargingth reduced
- fees that were provided for in the
measure above referred to.
This measure has, so far as I am
t informed, given absolute satisfac
tion to the tax payers of the coun
? ty. It has undoubtedly resulted in
the saving of quite a sum of money
? by all classes of people. By reducing
> the fees in probating and recording
Mortgage Deeds and other papers, it
s has resulted in a great saving to
- the poor man, while by reducing the
1 fees in the Sheriff's office and Treas
urer's office, along with certain fees
i in the Register's and Clerk's offices,
I It has helped the tax payers of the
County, thereby including both the
rich and the poor. It was an eco
i nomic measure; it was a Democratic
measure, and it was a measure that
while not as complete or radical as
the writer would have liked, yet it
showed a disposition on the part of
the opponents of the salary system
to accede to the desires of the peo
ple, and to meet them half way in
their demands for reasonable re
? forms. Since that time I have heard
I no criticism of the measure, and not
until a few days ago did I know, or
in fact did 99-lOOths of the Demo
crats of the County know, but that
tue measure was giving uuauiuii; ?*il
isfactlon to every one; but one day
last week, Clerk of the Court, \V. S.
Stevens, and Register of Deeds, S. T.
Honeycutt, along with a number, not
exceeding six, of other Democrats of
the County, went up to Raleigh and
lobbied a bill through the House re
pealing this law of 1907 providing for
the reduction of the fees, a: d plac
ing the fees of the officers upon the
j old excessive basis that prevailed
prior to 1907. Since that time they
made another trip to Raleigh, and
on the day of their last visit to the
Capitol, the same bill was passed
through the Senate, and it is now
a law, in effect at the present time,
that the county officers of Johnston
County are allowed to charge the old
fees that were charged fifteen years
| ago when the volume of business in
their respective offices amounted to
- not more than 50 per cent, of what
I it does at present.
It is a fact that at least two of
the officers of Johnston County, and
not more than six or eight Demo
crats have gotten together and se
cured the passage of a bill repealing
an important measure that received
important measure that received
nearly 68 votes out of a total of 103
in an open Democratic Convention,
while those casting the other 35
i votes accepted it and were satisfied
) with it. It is a fact that this meas
' ure that was offered by the old Coun
ty officers, one of whom is an officer
I at present, and all of whom endor
[ Hed the measure, has been repudia
ted, and these officers, without con
sulting the people of Johnston Coun
ty, have set aside their own measure,
which measure, as I have stated be
I fore, was a compromise. It seems to
me that the dictates of fair play, not
to speak of party policy or harmony,
I would have prevented them from as
sassinating their own measure in the
) manner they did.
In this connection however, it is
| well to state that while the oppo
' nenis of tiie salary system offered
this measure as a compromise, that
1 still they have been aggrieved all
? 1 along that the people of Johnston
1 | County saw fit to reduce their fees in
; the least, and even from the date of
that County Convention, which ad
| opted their compromise measure, the
County officers, or some of Uiein,
have been harboring a design to
bring about the annulling of that
law. During the special session
of the Legislature of 1908, Repres
entative Jones introduced a bill in
reference to the fees of the Sheriff
of Johnston County, regulating a con
flict of the general State law and
the Act of 1807. Showing that he
was opposed to tlie idea of reducing
such fees, Clerk of the Court, Mr.
\V. H. Stevens, wrote the following
letter to Mr. Charles U. Harris, at
that time a Representative in the
Legislature from Wake County:
Smithfield, N. C? Jan. 23, 1908.
Mr. C. U. HaTis,
House of Representatives.
My Dear Sir:?I want you to block
that bill of Representative George L.
Jones reducing fees of officers down
here. There was an editorial in The
Herald this week in reference to It
which shows that it is all uncalled fo:
so get your friends in the House to
ueip you 10 stop the tiling. I do not
believe there is any demand what
ever for such a bill to be there. In
fact, I don't know of any one at
all who is asking for it. Mr. Jones
has been In my office this evening
and I had a long talk with him and
I don't think he especially cares to
push his bill. Charlie, stop this bill
if you can. We want no such legis
lation if it can be helped.
Yours truly,
W. S. STEVENS.
This letter, of which the above is
a true copy, shows conclusively the
spirit that has existed all along and
that was behind this recent move
ment which resulted In the repealing
| of the whole measure.
1 repeat that it seems that a hand
ful of men have set at naught the
desires of the Democracy of Johnston
County; that they have secured the
repealing of an important measure
without consulting the people. I
on the other hand, have seemingly
tried to conceal their movements. I
say further that the Register of
Deeds has been away from his office
pushing this measure through the
Legislature, leaving his office In the
charge of a young lady, who while
very capable in many respects, is
not supposed to be capable of giving
the service that the people of John
ston County reasonably expect from
the officer whom thnv elerf tr? thlo
office. I say again, that the office
of the Clerk of the Court of John
ston County has been closed, and
that not even a Deputy was present
to transact the business for the pub
lic of the County, while the Clerk of
the Court was in Raleigh securing
the enactment of a measure that was
designed to set at naught the wish
es of nine-tenths of the Democracy of
Johnston County.
I write this letter and make this
statement because of the fact that
I have been designated as the orig
inator and the prime mover of the
agitation to place the County offi
cers upon a salary basis, or at least
to bring about a reduction in their
fees. I do not deserve this distinct
ive honor; but since the leaders of
the opposition have seen fit to ac
cord to me this f.reat honor, and,at
the same time, have seen fit to im
pugn ,my motives and to puestion
my sincerity in the matter, I shall
accept the honor and the implied
challenge, and say to them that their
efforts to repudiate their own meas
ure and to ignore the wishes of the
assembled Democracy of Johnston
County shall not go disregarded.
It is but proper that the general
public should understand who is res
ponsible for this legislation. Hence
this letter.
S. S. HOLT.
Smlthfleld, N. C.f Jan. 26, 1909.
Brave Fire Laddies.
often receive severe burns, putting
out fires, then use Bucklcn's Arnica
Salve and forget them. It soon drives
out pain. For Burns, Scalds, Wounds,
Cuts and Bruises Its earth's greatest
healer. Quickly cures Skin Eruptions,
Old Sores, Bolls, Ulcers, Felons; best
Pile cure made. Relief is Instant 25c
at Hood Bros.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The work of the Genera! Assembly
goes steadily on. A number of bills
are introduced each day; but so far
very few bills have been passed that
affect the whole State. A large per
cent, of the measures Introduced and
passed are of a local nature, and af
fect only tho Counties and Towns
and communities for which they have
been passed.
The bill to which reference was
made last week repealing the law of
1907, reducing fees of County offici
als of Johuston county, has passed
both the Senate and House, passing
the Senate last Monday. This bill,
which is now law, increases the fees
on probating and registering certain
papers in this county.
Representative Myatt introduced a
bill in the House Wednesday; "to
permit the people of Johnston Coun
ty to manufacture and sell wine and
brandy from fruits of their own rais
ing."
The warmest discussion in the
House this week has been over the
bill putting solicitors of the several
districts upon a salary basis instead
of fees. Tho bill, fixing the salary at
$2,250 per year, passed the second
reading of the House Tuesday, and
came up final disDosal Wednesdav.
After much discussion and the vot
ing down of several amendments,
when the bill came up upon its third
reading, it was killeed by a vote
of 46 to 62. This does not mean that
the bill is killed altogether, as the
Senate Judiciary Committee will rec
ommend the passage of the Blow-Or
mond bill, abolishing the fee system
and fixing the salaries of Solicitors
at $2,500.00 per year.
The Senate has passed a bill allow
ing Superior Court Judges extra pay
at the rate of $100.00 per week for
special terms of Courts.
ARCHER NEWS.
Mtss Leta Lassiter spent last
week with relatives in Raleigh.
Representative J. W. Barnes came
home Friday sick, but was able to
i return Monday.
We received a copy of the Clayton
| Enterprise Monday. Clayton is to
| be congratulated on its paper which
is clean, neat and newsy. It merits
I the support of the people.
Mr. H. N. Batton, our energetic
photographer, made a business trip
' to Raleigh Saturday.
Mr. George Hinton is erecting a
j large barn aii(t stables at his place
near here.
The advance in the price of cot
ton is causing a great many of our
people to sell.
As we have stated many times be
fore we will appreciate any item of
importance that occurs in the commu
nity and will send them in each week
for publication.
S. L. W.
Jan. 26.
PRINCETON ITEMS.
Miss Maude Strickland, of near
Smithfield, visited Miss Julia Sanders
and relatives In town Sunday.
There will be a box party at the
Itaptist church on the night of Feb
ruary 18 for benefit of the church.
Every body invited.
James H. Howell left Monday for
Louisburg on business.
Mrs. G. C. tarthing, of Durham,
visited her father, Capt. Raiford, and
relatives last week.
Married by J. D. Finlayson, J. P.,
Miss Ethel Holt to Eddie Bagley on
the night of the 20 at Eugene Holt's.
This was an up-to-date colored folks'
wedding. The bride and bridesmaids
were all dressed in white silk. Har
vard Whitley played Mendlesshon's
wedding march.
We are sorry to learn that our
friend, W. C. Massey, is quite sick
at N. Y. Wiggs'. He was an inmate
of the Soldiers Home, and came
there on a visit.
J. D. F.
Jan. 26.
Drunken Juror Put Out.
Nashville, Tonn., Jan. 28.?The 3rd
sensation of the Carmack-Cooper tri
al was sprang this morning when Ju
ror Jim Leigh was thrown out of the
Juror box by Judge Hart on the
charge of drunkenness. District At
torney held the Juror and will swear
a warrant against him. Judge Ward
said the juror had denied being
drunk before setting on the Jury.