Watch the Label on Your
Paper Aa It .Carrie* the Date
When Your Subscription Expire*
VOLUME XXXI—NUMBERSO
COMMISSIONERS SET THIS
SYLVESTER HASSELL, NOTED
EDUCATOR AND CHURCHMAN, DIES
AT HIS HOME HERE LAST SATURDAY
LARGE CROWD
AT FUNERAL
HELD SUNDAY
Nationally Known As Lead
'. er in Primitive Baptist
Church
RENOWNED WRITER
Many Prominent North Carolinians
Here To Attend Funeral of Man
\ Universally Loved
Sylvester Hassell. devoted and be
loved throughout the State as an elder
in the Primitive Baptist Church, died
at his home here last Saturday after
noon at the age of 86 years. For weeks
and even months Elder Hassell had
been in declining health, but the love
f or his work added to his strength, and
it was hardly a week ago that he be
came inactive and turned to his bed to
spend (lis last few days on earth. Los
ing consciousness early Saturday morn
ing; he slept peacefully, the end com
i"«j :30 o'clock. *
\*h hundreds of friends and rela
tives from the county, State, and other
sections coming to pay their last re--
spects to the beloved minister, the fu
neral was held Sunday afternoon at 4
o'clock. Interment was nude in the
Skewarkey cemetery beside many of
his people buried there.
The funeral service was conducted
byElder" J. C. Moore, of Whitakers.
Speaking touchingly of the love and
admiration he had for the deceased,
Mr. Moore recounted the friendship of
his father, the late Andrew Moore, for
E|fier Hassell. He used the one hun
ted ami third Psalm in the. service.,
Elder Newsome H. Harrison, an as
sociate of Elder Hassell for more than
60 years in the Primitive Baptist faith,
fittingly paid his tribute of love and
friendship multiplied many fold dur.
ing their years of service together. El
der Harrison's words were truly touch
ing showing the esteem and love held
by him for Dr. Hassell and his works.
Elders S. B. Denny 1 and A. ,B. Den
son made short talks, expressing their
appreciation of the useful life of Elder
Hassell. »
At the grave Elders B. Ss Cowan and
J. H. Rogerson spoke a few jvords,
commending the life as led and
preached by their leader. Several
hymns, all favorite o&es of Elder Has
sell, were sung. The large floral offer
ing, covering the grave many times,
expressed the esteim in which the
churchman was held by numbers of
friends.
R. J. Peel, John D. Biggs, Grover
W Hartjison, C, D. Carstarphen, Clay
ton Moore, and W. C. Manning served
f actlve pall bearerf, , ',
"Sylvester Hasseil was born In Wil
liymston July 28, 1842, the son of
Cushing B. and Mary Davis Hassell.
When he was only 4 years ol& his
mother died, leaving him for three
years without the care and attention of
• mother. When the boy was 7 years
old, his father married Mrs. Martha
M. Jewett, of New Hampshire, who
► proved a real mother to the then 7-
year-old lad. Not only did she show
him every kindness and attention, but I
► she also served as a spiritual teacher
and helper. Elder Hassell said of her
in later years that she was the most
spiritual-minded person he ever knew.
Early in his youth he became a faith
ful student and attended the William
ston Academy. After completing the
courses offered there," he entered the
University of North Carolina at 16
years of age, where he remained until
the fall of Fort Hatteras in August,
STRANH
THEWREL!
I WEDNESDAY
I TOM MIX
in
THE WESTERN
STAR SUPREME
Also
I 2 - REEL COMEDY
And Serial
I "The Jungle Goddess"
and
■ FREE TICKET
I POR SHOW FRIDAY
THE ENTERPRISE
ELDER SYLVESTER HASSELL
I)r. Hassell, who was a noted liuguist, educator, and teacher, and who was
recognized as the greatest leader in the United States of the Primitive Bap
tist Church, died at his home here Saturday in his eighty-sixth year.
1861. He was the leader of hi* classes
A that institution and was said to have
been one of the best schojprs the Uni w
verbify ever graduated. In late-rs years
i ne of his teachers was asked in jyhat
special branch he was best, and he re
plied in all branches.
After he had completed-the college
course the University conferred the de- I
grec of Master of Arts on him, in
1867. Dr. Kemp P. Battle sought his
services as teacher of mural philoso
phy, but Dr. Jlassell learned that Dr.
Mangum, an older man, desired the
position, and lie wrote Dr. Battle and
asked that his name IK withdrawn.
In 1880 he returned to the Univer
sity, where lie gave illustrated lectureg
on astronomy during the summer nor
mal school.
Several years ago the University
, ctnferred the hoilory degree of Doctor
of Laws on Elder llassell.
Although he was examined for en
trance-in to the Confederate service a
half a dozen times lie was never able
to fulfill the physical requirements, and
the only service he saw was secretarial,
serving the Martin County Militia.
As a teacher. Elder Sylvester Has
sel achieved great success. In 1869 he ,
was elected professor of the chair of]
ancient languages in the State Normal I
X'ollege of Delaware. The salary of !
college professorships then was $1,200 '
ptr year. In 1870 the first William 1
Penn Graded School was organized at i
Newcastle, Del., and he was placed at j
the head of this .institution. There
were several of the William Penn Qrad
ed Schools established and supported
by land grand endowments which Wil
j ham Penn had provided a century prior
to that time. The salary paid in
the#* -school# wa*- higher than in the p
colleges, amounting to $1,500 annually, |
and th work was considered more im
portant. , ;
While in Delaware Elder Hassell |
was married to Miss Mary Isobel Yar-.
'reli, of Williamston. To tliem one
child was borfi, Paul. Soon thereafter
Mrs. llassell died and Elder Hassell I
resigned as the head of the
Graded School and returned home.
In 1872 he took charge of the Wil
son Collegiate Institute, where he did
his greatest work as a teacher, giving
courses which rated high in the edu
cational field of that day. Many young
njen received their training there, in
both head and heart, that was the
basis of successful and prominent lives.
Among them were prominent ministers
of the gospel, statesmen, and business
men, including Governor Aycoclr,
Judge Frank A. Daniels, Josephus
Darnels, and H. B. Short. Several of
his old students, Judge Frank A. Dan
iels, of Goldsboro; Rev. C. W. How
ard, of Kinston; Josephus Daniels, of
Raleigh; Calvin Woodard, of Wilson;
Mrs. J. Calvin Clark, of Wilson; and
Mr. J. A. Westbrook, of Mount Olive,
attended his funeral and stood with
bowed heads a* hi* body was lowered
to the grave. {
For 14 years he labored in Wilson.
On May 3, 1876, he married Miss Fran
ces Louisa Woodard, of Wilson. To
them were born seven children, three
of them dying while young. Frank S.
Hassell, of Wltiibn; Charlie, of Jack- I
sonville, Fla.; and Calvin, of Washing-
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, August 21,1928
RIVER IS STILL
RISING HERE
( \ ,
Crest of Flood Not Expect
ed To Be Reached Until
Tomorrow
i
Additional rains in the Roanoke wa
tershed has sent the stream out of its
banks here, and a gradual rise is ex
pected until about Wedneselay. Ac
cording to those best acquainted with
flood waters here, the river will go a
bout 8 Or 10 inches higher tljan it is
today before it will start falling. The
water is in the warehouses, but there
was no damage, as the freight bad been
ri moved. 'The efTcctji of the last rains
expected to cause a second rise here
tl(c latter part of the week, but it is
thought that the second rise will not
be a.s high as the present one.
While the damage along the banks in
this section has been noticeable, it is
not expected to be of a serious nature,
ton, D. C.; survive. Mary, who mar
ried John 1.. Hassell, died several
I yt ars ago. _ If is wife UiciLia 1889.
In 1880 his father, Elder C. B. Has
) sell died, after four years of la'bor in
writing a history of the Kchukee
' Primitive Baptist Association. After
I liif death the task of completing the
i church: history fell upon his son, Syl
' vester, who worked for six years in
I gathering material for the book. He
u?c(!- many of the leading historical
authorities of the world, both ancient
and modern, to find and prove facts for
his works. Many historians of the
State place it among the finest works
ever written by a North Carolinian. —
In 1886 he gave up the school work
in Wilson and returned to the home of
his birth, where he again took charge
of- the Williamston Academy v He
taught for spveral years, serving sev
eral churches in the community at the
same time. On account of failing
health he stopped teaching in 1890.
Elder Hassell joined the Primitive
I>aptist Church at Skewarkee January
7, 1864. He began preaching Decem
ler 10, 1871. After retiring from the
| teaching profession, he traveled ex
tensively, covering the territory from
Canada to Mexico and preaching in
Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee,
South Carolina, Gefirgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texaf,
Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, New York, and Canada.
At the death of his father, C. B. Has
sell, in 1881, he became paw of the
church at Skewarkey, which llrvice he
continued until his death 48 years lat
er. The father and son served the
srme church continuously for 86 years.
He also was pastor of number of oth
er churches, among them Spring
Green, Jamesville, Conetoe, and Great
Swamp/ He also preached at the vari
ous association*.
He was Moderator,of the Kehukee
Association, the oldest Primitive Bap
tist Association in the United States,
it having been formed in Halifax Coun
-tjt--in 176&-. —He held the position for
48 years, succeeding his father, who
hac! been Moderator for 17 years.
In 1896 Elder Hassell purchased
YEAR 3 S COUNTY TAX RATE AT $1.38
IS FIVE CENTS
HIGHER THAN IT
WAS LAST YEAR
Increased Rate Is Lower
Than Was Generally
Expected
ONE SALARY RAISED
No Changes Made As Result of Rec
ommendations by Special
Committee
Martin county's general tax rate
for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1929, was Axed at $1.38 by the board
of commissioners in continued ses
sion here yesterday afternoon. The
new rate is only five cents higher
than the one of the past fiscal year,
the increase coming from school
operation. While there is an increase
in the rate, it is very much smaller
than was generally expected, for an
increase of six cents on the $10(1
valuation for the bond and interest
fund was predicted. If that had ma
tured, it would have, with.the school
increase sent the rate to $1.44.
The rate calls for the s ' following
levy:
General county, tax. L $ .15
Roads and bridges .05
Bond int. and', sinking fund .28
General- school ; .90
$1,34
General poll tax, $2.00.
In holding the levy down for bond
interest and sinking fund, the board
offered the following resolution:
"Resolved, that in view of the fact
that the budget requirements for
bond redemption, interest and sink
ing fund for the fiscal year, closing
June 30, 1929, is $65,290.72, which
would require a tax levy of 34 cents
on the SIOO valuation,
"Be it further resolved, that a levy
of 28 cents, same as last year, be
made and that a sufficient sum to
balance the budget be taken from
unexpended road and bridge bond
funds and credited to said interest
and sinking fund."
Upon the mption of L. P. Holliday,
seconded by J. E'. Pope, a levy of 90
cents on the SIOO valuation to'meet
the budget requirements for consti
tutional six months school terms wuty
ordered made in view of the expected i
increase of revenues to balance the |
budget, totaling $151,458.14. The mo
tion was carried unanimously.
While there were no changes
as a«result of tljie, investigations of
a special tax committee, the
bers of the board reviewed the sug
gestions, and will probably maktKa
few changes in the future. However,(
according to the passage of the fol
lowing motion, the county author
ities do not intend to change the
order of the recorder's court:
"In view of the fact that the re
corder's court has proven very suc
cessful and brought into the county
a net income already paid into the
treasury of $3,400-for the fiscal year
ending June'Bo, 1828 and due to the
efficient manner in which the court
is being managed, motion by H. S.
Everett, seconded by -L. P. Holliday
that the recorder's salary be in
cieased from $75 to SIOO per month
beginning December 1, 1928. The mo
tion was carried unanimously,"
Fir# Destroys Pack
House Near Here
Mr. Bill Keel, who leaves just to |
the west of here „on the Everett* j
highway, suffered a loss estimated at i
$3,000, early Sunday morning when |
his packhouse and all its contents j
were destroyed by fire. About 1:30, j
the car of Bob Taylor, local resident, 1
ran out of gas near the home of Mr. j
Keel. Mr. Taylor went to the Kel
home and was drawing gas from one
of the Keel cars when the fire start- j
cu from a lantern, a few feet away.
Mr. Taylor suffered severe burns
on the hand attempting to check
the flames. Help was summoned, but
nothing could be done to sav e the
packhouse and its contents. Mr. Keel
lost a Ford truck, a new Pontiac car
and practically all his tobacco crop.
The loss was partly covered by
insurance.
Two-Year-Old Girl
Dies in Poplar Point
Rachel Mae, the two-year-old dau
ghter of Mr. and Mra. J. F. Nichol
son, of Poplar Point, died at the
home of her parents Sunday after
an illness of only a few days. In
terment was made in the Nicholson
burying ground, near the Sitterson
farm yesterday afternoon with Rev.
C. H. Dickey conducting the last
Htes.
"The Gospel Messenger," a religious
journal then published in Butler, Ga.,
after having been, associate editor of
the paper for four years. After pur
> (Continued on page two)
Tobacco Market Opening Is
Postponed to September 4th
School Budget for County Is
Approved by C
Total Amount of Budget j4s Approved by County Board
Is $320,068.43; $122,248.21 of Sum Is For Permanent
Improvements, Such As New Buildings, Etc.
1 lit' tentative budget for the running
of Martin County schools lor the IW?8-
2") term, amounting to $320,068.43, was
approved by the county board of com
missioners Hi special session here yes
terday afternoon. The budget was pre
pared by the educational board and tar
ried before the commissioners by mem
bers of that body.
The budget is less by $16,203.07 than
the original one prepared, the board of
education and the special tax Commit
tee joint taking that amount from the
currently expense and capital outlay
funds. The debt service fund, $43;-
153.04, could not be changed. The
gieatest cut was made in the capital
MILLIONS WILL
HEAR AL SMITH
Acceptance Speech of Dem
ocratic Nominee Set for
' Tomorrow, 7:30
• Albany is baking a figurative cakcj
wiping the dust (ruin the parlor furni
ture, and generally getting ready for
the guests who will go there to hear
what Fete I'owden predicts will lie a
masterpiece, in Al Smith's acceptance
of the I )emoeratie nomination for I'res
ident of the United States. /The New
Vbrk governor will accept the nomina
tion tomorow evening.
In the New York capital more than
500 rooms, besides those in the hotels,
have been rented by people from all
over the country who will be there to
morrow when Governor Smith makes
his acceptance speech. Huge ampli
fiers have been placed on posts,*trees,
and wires over the capitol laWn to car
ry the governor's voice to the thous
and's who are expected to take places
front of the steps and in Capitol 1
IVark
y\s the governor starts his address at
7 ..U), daylight saving time, 4 local radio
lowncrs will have to tune in at 6:30 to
Muar the fTrst of the speech.
Boat Line Freight Is
Routed by Washington
Due to. the high water in the Roan
oke, freight shipments ov(?r tlic Nur
folk, Baltimore & Carolina Boat Line
will-be handled via Washington," the
company maintaining its regular sched
ule. Boat line trucks will bring the
freight frdm that town tomorrow
morning, arriving here in tinffc for de
livery at an early hour.
It is not known at this time whether
the shipments to this point will be
handled in a like manner or by the
regular route".
♦ 1
Bear Grass Parents-
Teachers Meet Thursday
A regular meeting of the Bear
Grass I'ar'nts-Teachers association
will be held Thursday evening, Au
gust 23, it was announced today by
the association's president. The par
ents of the community are urged to
attend the meeting.
Expect to Complete Work
on Highway 90 This Week
According to unofficial reports, the
Brownhaving Company will com
plete the concrete work on Route No.
90 between here and the Washington
County line this week, provided the
weather continues favorable.
Only a short detour j*. necessary
between Jamesville and Plymouth
and it is thought the road will be
open all the way within a week or'
ten days after contsruction work is
completed.
Mr. Hooks, who contracted to build
the road's shoulders, is rushing that
work, and he expects to complete the
task within a comparatively short
time.
Mrs. H. R. Roberson and children,
of Suffolk, are visiting Mrs. Rober
aon's mother, Mrs. J. R. Peel, neat
here.
Messrs. Bob Grimeß and Mayo Lit
tle, of Robersonville, were business
visitors here yesterday. *
, cut lay fund, while the decrease in the
| current- expense fund amounts to $2,-
j 480,92. The decrease in the capital out
lay .fund amounts to $13,722,15,' the
original budget calling for $141,970.36
for that purpose.
sents practically every phase of school
operation, it was pointed out last flight
by Superintendent k. A. Pope. The
reductions were spread out, and there
are very few cases where they will af
fect the progress of the schools to any
noticeable extent.
Ihe filial budget: Current expense,
$148,667.18; capital outlay, $128,248.21;
debt service, $43,153.04; total, $320,-
068.43.
SENATOR NOT TO
VOTE FOR SMITH
Simmons Issues Statement
Saying He Will Support
Neither Candidate
New Bern, Aug. 20.—Senator >F.
\l. Simmons, who recently resigned
as national committeeman for North
Carolina, will vote neither for Gover
nor A 1 Smith nor Herbert Hoover,
according to a statement issued to
night through L. 11. Homan, editor
of the New Hern Times. He reiterat
ed his former statement in which he
declared he would'give full support
to- the State, district, and county
Democratic tickets.
In reaching this decision, the Sen
ator said that he reserved for him
self the right of all Democrats to
exercise their conscientious convic
tion and judgment "without proscrip
tion, coercion or restraint."
Governor Smith, he said, has de
liberately put the party under the
dominating control of Tammany Hall
lig business and the predatory in
terests as represented in both the
Democratic and Republican parties.
As a result, he said, since the
Houston convention the party plat
form has been repudiated, the. party
rebuilt, the issues refrained and
"forces of privilege and license now
uie dominating and cdfitfolling its
national machinery." This condition
he said, is a betrayal or submer
gence of the major principles of the
Democratic party as "heretofore
understood aiul applied."
These things, said the senator, have
verified all his predictions and
prophesies which he made in his
speech delivered to the United States
Senate against Tammany Hall and
Coventor Smith.
To Start Paving On
Windsor Road Today
According to Mr. Hob Heydenreielt,
employee for the Roberts Paving Co., i
paving of Route 30, between here and |
Windsor, will be. started today. The I
company's plant will operate front the !
Windsor end until* around four miles |
of the road are paved when the plant i
u ill In- moved here.
The State Highway "Commission will j
maintain a detour around by Indian |
Woods, and according to several trav-1
el'ng between the towns yesterday, the'
detour is in splendid condition. Traf
fic between the two towns will be ham
pered very little, it is thought.
Mrs. Myrtle Hardison
Dies Near Jamesville
Mrs. Mytrle Hardison died at her
home near Jamesville, Sunday.
Mrs. Hardison was 26 years old,
the wife of Adron Hardison. She
leaves one child, an infant.
Before her marriage she was a
Miss Bateman from near Plymouth.
The funeral was held yesterday
afternoon and interment was made
in the Roberson cemetery.
Two Cars Collide At
Corey's Store Sunday
Two cars, one driven by whites
and a second by colored people were
badly, wrecked late last Saturday af
ternoon when they ran together at
Corey's store near here. The detail*
of the wreck cot|ld not be learned,
but it is unerstood the occupants
were not badly hurt.
Advertisers Will Find Oar Col.
umn» • Latchkey to Over 1,600
Hornet of Martin County
ESTABLISHED 1898
810 COMPANIES
REFUSE TOSEND
BUYERS ON 28TH
Claim It Is Not Possible To
End Season in Georgia
Before September 4
FINISH CURING HERE
I
Change of Dale Was Not Unexpected;
Large Amount of Tobacco Will
Be Ready for Operting
The opening .if Eastern Carolina to
bacco markets was last Saturday offic
ially pi>st|Mincd OIK- week when practi
cally all the big tobacco" companies
.wired tbat it would lie impossible to ■
complete the season in (ietfirgia in time
to transfer buyers to the markets in
this section by next Tuesday. The mar
kets will open Tuesday, September 4 ,
When the opening was scheduled for
the 28th of this month, many people
expressed their doubts as to whether
if would stand or not, but after it had
gone so long without being changed, it
was believed that the date would hold.
Saturday when tt'tegrams were receiv
ed, the change in the date was ordered
by officials.
The new date, besides adding to the
expense of warehousemen, is subject to
place the markets in an unstable con
dition, since all throngh the
section have been preparing their to
bacco for the floors. At lite same time,
marketing conditions in Georgia have
been greatly improved, several local
people on the market there writing that
looked to he impossible to close the
season there by the 28th.
Farmers in this section vyill com
plete their curings this week, and with
two weeks to work in their packhouSes
before the market opens,large a
mount of tobacco will be ready by the
4th. In many cases, farmers complet
ed their curings last week and the week
before, giving many of them four
weeks' time t(j grade their crop before
they could sell a pound.
Dog Track Found In
Brick 130 Years Old
A dog track known to be over ISO,
years old was found imprinted in a
brick by Mr. Lon Lilley when he
tore down a chimney on the Lanier
land in Griffins township a few days
ago.
The house was erected late in the
seventeen hundreds and it is though]
the dog stepped on the brick whiW
il was in the making.
Addition to Hamilton
School Is Refused
Messrs. I'. 1.. Salshury and DOB
Matthews, representing the Hamilton
st Jnol, appeared before the hoard of
education in session here yesterday, re
questing that two additional rooms be
built at their school. The board re
fused to compto yvjjUi the request, stat
ing that mice file "district is consolidat
ed there or additional pupils were
shown the rooms- asked for would be
piovided.. To grant the request, it was
p tilled out, a special election would
be necessary effecting the consolida
tion of the schools there., or an in
creased enrollment within the present
district would be necessary.
Request for Funds To
Clear School Lot Denied
. The $75 asked for by the Cross
Roads school for clearing its grounds
were refused here 1 yesterday by the
board of education. The members of
the board suggested to Messrs. Warren
and Roebuck, wPo appeared in behalf
m the school, that the fuel supply be
gotten from trees on the grounds,
thereby effecting ,i saving in fuel coat*
and at the same time providing a
means to the x-nd desired.
County Home Inmate
Dies Sunday Morning
Slade Price, 60-yeawoid colored in
mate died at the county home near
here Sunday morning of a complica
tion of diseases. For years, the col
ored nun with a crippled arm and
leg, had been a common figure on
Williamston's streets. He had rough
ed the offerings of winter's cold
winds, chopping a little wood in ex
change for hjs meals for a humber
of yearß. Within the past few months
however, old age forced him to
spend all his time at the home, where
his passing was of little notice.
The body was placed in paupers'
field Sunday afternoon.