Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / Dec. 31, 1943, edition 1 / Page 1
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FAT DAT WAK y* BOND DAY mt mum THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XLVI—-NUTvfBER 103 OVER THE TOP FOR VICTORY wijh L'MOID STATES I7AS BONOS-STAMPS WilUamston, Martin County, fiorth Carolina, Friday, December SI, 1943 ESTABLISHED 1899 More Men From The County Accepted By The Armed Services Departure is One of tin* Most Appealing Witnessed In Many Months Fourteen Martin County white men, most of them married and with children, were accepted for service in either the Army or the Navy dur ing the month of December, it was officially learned from an audit filed with the draft board this week. A fifteenth man, James Epps Bullock, was placed in 1-A for limited serv ice by the induction center examin ers, and he is scheduled to return to the camp the lattix part of Janu ary, possibly on or about the 25th. The six men accepted by the Navy reported for active service before Christmas. Their departure did not attract very much attention, the lone father leaving from Williams ton choosing to bid his wife and lit tle child good-bye at home. Last Monday morning, a bleak time un der normal conditions, several fa thers all but had to break ?way from their loved ones at the bus sta tion as the large holiday crowds, re turning from their Christmas visits, milled around. The men had been granted a delayed leave for Christ mas, but even that consideration did not seem to relieve the tension as they made ready to start active duty with the Army. One of the men who was accepted with the group early in the month, chose not return home from the induction center at all, and he escaped the pangs of the delayed departure Albert Roberson failed to report for induction earlier in the month, but he later appeared and is now booked to make the visit to the camp in January. It could not be learned officially, but one of the boys returning home for the short leave between induc tion and the time to begin actual service, stated that about twenty five white men were rejected in December from this county. The names of those men accepted by the Army out of the December call, follow: John Theodore Gurganus, Ray mond Floyd r.r.J Waters, John Doyle Keel, James Edward Taylor, Franklin Burrace Ange, James Allison Harden, and Joshua Lawrence Williams. Men accepted from the same call by the Navy include the folowing: Milton Saunders Raynor, Thomas James Blount, Sr., Ralph Edward Roebuck, John Marshall Cherry, Franklin Pierce Raynor, and Jesse Franklin Casper. Five men were transferred to other boards from this county, as fol lows: James Thomas Uzzle to Green ville Kennth George Curtis to Miami, David Graham Bail to Ral eigh, John Reginald Pierce to Plym outh and James Albert Smithwick to Elizabeth City. It was learned that Jim Uzzle, former principal of the Jamesville Schools, had been ac cepted, but no report could be had Immediately as to the outcome of their visit to Fort Bragg, Jamesville Youth Gets Appointment «— Cadet Leighton Ray Stallings, young son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Stallings, Sr., cf Jamesville, was re cently notified of his appointment to the U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y. Cadet Stallings has an excellent record prior to his appointment. At Jamesville high school, before his graduation in 1941, he was an honor student, and he made the honor roll at Oak Ridge both semesters of last vear. At present, he is enrolled in the aeronautical school at Stale' Coi lege. LIMITED HOLIDAY v. New Year’s day on Saturday will be observed as a limited holiday by a few business houses and offices, including the banks, post office, liquor store. No de liveries will be made by the post office, and in order to effect de livery without further delay, The Enterprise is Issuing its last edi tion of the year a day ahead of schedule. No holiday will be observed by the draft and rationing board or the county offices, it was an nounced. Jhe banks and post of fice and the offices of the Vir ginia Electric and Power Com pany will be closed. Lions Carry Good Cheer to the Needy The true Christmas spirit was car ried into the homes of ten blind and 23 needy or sick persons in the com munity this Christmas when the lo cal Lions Club sponsored its Christ mas Cheer program. A committee of Lions John W. Manning, K. P. Lindsley, Roy Ward, Roy Overby and John H. Edwards, assisted by Several other members of the club, investigated and deter mined the needs of most of the var ious families during the first of last week. On Christmas morning these Lions visited the different homes and de livered the gifts, which consisted of blankets, sheets, groceries, fruits, candy, fuel, cash money and miscel laneous articles. These gifts were the result of an expenditure of $167 38, but the appreciation displayed by the recipients was several times that much. The money for this project was taken from the club’s blind and char ity fund, which is supported main ly by the club-sponsored ball chew ing gum machines. Donations, in cluding one for ten dollars sent from England by Lion Sgt. Fred M. Tay lor, also help to support this fund. -* Hamilton Youth Dies In Hospital —— Wallace Reid Manseau, well-liked and respected Hamilton youth, died in a Rocky Mount hospital at 2:39 o’clock last Sunday morning. Taken ill with influenza just a short time ago, he developed pneumonia and was stricken with appendicitis. By the time he could be removed to a hospital last Friday, peritonitis had resulted. The son of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Manseau, he was born in Gates Coun ty on August 6, 1927. He moved with his parents to Ilariiiitori a few years ago, and was working for Mr. Asa Johnson when he was taken ill. Funeral services were conducted at the home in Hamilton Monday af ternoon by Rev T H House, Meth odist minister. Burial was in the Hamilton Cemetery. -». Greetings Received From Pacific Area —*— The following Christmas greeting was received this week, by Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Taylor, Sr., from Lt. Col onel J. A. Smedlie, commanding of ficer of their son, J. B. Taylor, Jr,: “As the commanding officer of your loved one serving overseas, I want to uffer you and yours my sin cere wishes for a joyful Christmas. “I waul to assure you that the boys of this Battalion are doing their share over here, and are not suffering by the lack of any material comforts. You have no cause to worry. “My New Year wish to you is my hope to be able to bring the beys all back to their loved onertsafe and sound in 1944.” i Local Boy With One Of Most Active Fighter Units In War Fifteenth Army Air Force—(De layed)—Sergeant George L. Rober son, son of Mrs. Annie Roberson and the late Theodore Roberson, is a member of one of the most active fighter groups in the war. Serving with an Army Air Force P-40 War hawk group in the Mediterranean theater, young Roberson is a crew chief, and is one of twenty-three North Carolinians w'ho have made such a formidable record. A record of having escorted more than 1100 medium bombers over Pantellerian, Tunisian, Sicilian and Sardinian targets without the loss of a single bomber due to enemy aircraft action is only one of the out standing feats of the group. On its 100th mission flown on the 100th day of operations five victor ies brought the group’s total of en emy aircraft destroyed in the air to 102. During the Pantellerian campaign the group made thirty-two raids on the island with twenty-eight of them performed in five days. Often as many as six raids a day were flown. On a fighter-bomber mission over southern Sardinia, 25 enemy planes attacked the group and 17 of the en emy planes were shot down. This record was topped a few days later when 20 Warhawks shot down 21 en emy planes. Mrs. James Riddick Dies at Home Here Wednesday Evenin -« Funeral Services To Be Held Friday Afternoon at 3 At Riddick's Grove TO Mrs. James H. Riddick, respected local citizen, died at her home on Beech Street Wednesday night at 10:30 o’clock following a long period of declining health. Injured in an automobile accident about eleven years ago, Mrs. Riddick had experi enced feeble health since that time, but she was able to be up and at tend to a few duties in the home un til Wednesday morning when she suffered a stroke and her condition was recognized as critical. The daughter of the late Dan and Martha Taylor Jones, Mrs. Riddick was born in Pitt County 60 years ago the 13th of last May. When a young girl she moved with her parents to this county, locating near Williams ton. About 1900 she was married to Mr. Riddick, for many years one of | the leading justices of the peace in this county. She lived in Williams Township until about ten years ago when she moved with her son to Wil liamston. She joined the Riddick’s Grove Baptist Church and was its oldest member, remaining faithful in its service as long as her health permitted. Besides her son, N. S. Riddick, with whom she made her home, she leaves two children, Mrs. Leo Rob erson, of near Williamston, and Mrs. Ottis Hardison, of Jamesville. She also leaves two step-children, C. B. Riddick, of Everetts, and Mrs. Hu bert Roberson, of Williams Town ship and two brothers, Sam and Robert Jones, of Williamston. Funeral services are being con ducted in Riddick’s Grove Baptist Church Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock by Rev. W. B. Harrington and Dr. W. R. Burrell. Interment will fol low in the church yard. Martin County Man Writes from England —®— Willing irom somewhere in Eng land, Gradio B Hardy, Martin Coun ty young man, briefly reviews his army life over there. “The censor is very strict,” Hardy said, “but I can say that life over here is quite dif ferent than in the States. When we get a pass and go to the village you can hardly tell when you get there for everything is blacked out. We have to use a torch or flashlight to see how to get around. “There are plenty of beautiful wo men over here and they seem to go for the American soldier. In fact, some of the boys are marrying Eng lish girls. The greatest things we miss when we go to town are the lights. There is ample food here, but it is quite different from that at home. I was in London a while back. It is quite a city and reminds one of New York in many ways." -« BAPTIST SERVICE -* Dr. W. B. Burrell will preach Sun day morning and evening, using the subject, “Seeking the Good Life” at ithe 11 o'clock service, and “A New Year Resolution” that evening, i ‘“Let •Ua'tjejfin -tiaciiew'yew by -go I in gto church, the pastor urges. — MORE CHECKS ---^ Additional checks, issued un der the 1D43 soil conservation program, were recently distribut ed to farmers in this county. Representing 78 applications and amounting to $4,682.80, the 118 checks constitute the third dis tribution in this county to date. So far, 427 farmers represent ing 285 contracts have received a total or $15,745.81. County Boy Writes Home From Italy Writing to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam E. Taylor, Pfc. Robert “Dock” Taylor states he is some where in Italy and getting along all right. He went on to assure them that if they did not hear from him in a month or more, not to worry. In fact, he went on to admit that he hadn’t written in six weeks. "I haven’t seen much of Italy, hut mi far it is O. K. Just give me time and 1 will be able to tell every turn in most of the loads. “You asked me for a picture of myself. You hardly need one of me because I’m just as bad looking as I ever was.” The young man went on to say 1 about draft calls and how some boys are deferred, “but if they can do that, more power to ’em,” he said. Wishing everyone a merry Christ mas, the young soldier concluded by saying, “Don’t worry about old Dock, because he is doing all right for him self.” Taylor has been in foreign service about eighteen months. -■%—.- — Four Cases Are Heard J. L. Hassell -® Only four cases were heard by Justice J. L. Hassell in his court fol lowing the holidays. Geo. Watson and Hubert Whitak er, charged with being drunk and disorderly, were each fined $3 and taxed with the costs. Willie Hassell and Charlie Wil- ] liams, charged with being drunk and i disorderly, were taxed with $8.50 < costs each. i -<*- , Navy Recruiter If ill Be Here January 4 and 5 ' Navy Recruiter D It. Taylor, of ■ the New Bern Navy Recruiting Sta- 1 tion, will be located at the Post Ot- ' fice Building in Williamston on Jan- 1 uary 4th and 5th, to accept applica- 1 tions for the Waves, V-8 (Naval Av- ^ iation). SRU’s. and general service 1 in the Navy open to 17-year-old ‘ young men. 1 TOKENS r N 1 V. J Preparatory to the introduc tion of tokens as a part of the rationing system, the Martin County War Price and Ration- i ing Board is urging all retailers j to file applications for the < “coins” Blanks are to be had at j either the banks or the ration- < ing board office and must be ] Si!r ' uy January 8th, it was an- < nounced I The token will be distributed ] to the retailers about the mid dle of February, but it is not def inite*^ known when they wilt fee put into use. l ( Series Of Highway Wrecks Reported During the Holiday — ♦ At Least Nine Persona Were Injured, Several of Them Seriously At least nine persons were injured, several of them seriously, in a series of highway accidents in this i rea during the Christmas holidays. The accident record for the period is pos sibly the worst reported in recent years. Driving a 1935 cloth-topped Ford sedan, Linwood Bland on Thursday, December 23, at 10 p. m., ran down and critically injured Mrs. Irving Roberson in front of the home of her father, Gus Williams, on the Rober sonville-Stokes Highway. A second later, the car crashed into a tree, in juring the driver and five other per sons. A report from a Greenville hospi tal just before noon Thursday, De cember 30, stated that while Mrs. Roberson’s condition was still serious, she was improving at that time. She suffered a broken thigh, a fracture of the left shoulder and internal in juries. Mrs. Roberson was thrown possibly twenty or twenty-five feet when she was struck. Others riding with Bland and in jured in the accident: Linwood Bland, driver and own er of the car, broken foot. Mrs. Linwood Rland, three broken ribs, fractures of both hands and in ternal injuries. Danford Bland, skull fracture and broken leg. Mrs. Danford Bland, ribs broken and hand fracture. Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Haislip, of Stokes, cuts and bruises. Treated in the local hospital, Lin wood Bland was discharged that night. After two days in the hospi tal, the two Mrs. Blands were able to leave Danford Brown continues m the Brown Community Hospital, last re ports stating that he was not suffer ing much pain from his head injury, but that the leg fracture would keep him in bed for some time. Driving toward Stokes, M>. Irv ing Roberson stopped in front of the Williams home with his car off the lighway. Mrs. Roberson came out of the house to give him the keys to her father’s car which had broken down i short distance away. Just as she ipproached the car from the yard walk, Bland rounded the curve and drove between the Roberson car and he yard hedge, striking Mrs. Rob erson and later crashing into a tree. Several ambulances were called ind much time was required in clean ng up the wreck. Corporal Bill Hunt stated that the damage to the Bland :ar would approximate $500 or a to ad loss. Bland just did strike the Roberson car and the damage to it was slight. No action has been taken n the case, but it is understood that 3!and will be charged with reckless iriving. Reports state that he was not inder the influence of liquor. Th ' second wreck in this area was reported by Patrolman Whit Saun ders at 10 o’clock Christmas morn ng when Robert Wiley V/»lkefsi5ir» >f Newport News drove his Dodge jff the river fill. The ear jumped the juard rail and went over the em bankment, injuring no one and caus ng very little damage. That evening at 10 o’clock, C. L. iVhitaker, colored of Norfolk, wrap bed his 1937 Chevrolet around a tele bhone pole on the western approach if Robersonville, breaking the pole iff. The car occupants were only dightly cut, and no estimate of the lamage could be had. Last Sunday afternoon, December 16, a 1938 Chevrolet driven by Cur ls Woodrow Moseley of Roanoke tapids and a Ford pick-up truck Iriven by James Haywood Overton if Windsor crashed on Highway 64 ust this side of No. 90 station. Ovei on started to pass a car and he and doseley had almost stopped before lie vehicles met. No one was hurt ind Patrolman Whit Saunders esti nated the damage to the car at $100 ind that to the truck at $90, Overton issumed full responsibility for the iccident, it was learned. -♦. Improvement In School Attendance la Reported After reaching an all-time low for he term just before the Christmas inlidays, attendance figures were aid *o have reflected a marked im irovement when the local school re ipened on Wednesday of this week, lowever, there were 101 absences, i •2 in ine elementary and Id in the ligh school on Wednesday as com >ared with 155 on (he day the schools veie closed for Christmas. Ail teacners reiurned to their i »sts and normal operations were in irder the first day. Holiday Observance Is Without Incident Here DRAFT CALL According to unofficial in formation received here this week, Martin County will be asked to send very few white men to an Army induction cen ter in January. The call was said to be the smallest received in this county in many months. It is quite likely, however, that a few fathers will be included in the list since only a very, very small number of eligible 1» year-olds will be available when the call is to be answered some time during the latter part of the month. It could not be learned if a call for colored selectees had been re ceived. Mrs. Clara Ayers Dies Near Dardens Mrs. Clara Ayers, widow of O. T Ayers, died at the home of her broth er, John Swinson, in the Dardens community at 1:15 o’clock last Mon day morning following a lingering illness. While she had been in de dining health during the greatei part of three years, she was confin ed to her bed for only two days be fore her death. The daughter of the late David anc Lucy Johnson Swinson, she was born in Martin County on Murcl 25, 1876. Some time after her mar riage she made her home in Suffolk living there until about three years ago when she went to live with hoi brother. She leaves one son, O. T. Ayers Jr., of the armed forces believed tc: be stationed somewhere m Italy. She also leaves besides her brother with whom she made her home three sis ters, Mrs. S. F. Davis, of Dardens; Mrs. W. W. Sullivan, of West Nor folk, and Mrs. Cephus Meads, ol Norfolk. Funeral services were conducted from the late home Tuesday morn ing at 11 o’clock by Rev. Lee A. Phil lips, Plymouth Baptist minister. Bur ial was in the Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk. Mrs. Ayers was a faithful member of the Baptist church in Suffolk for a number of years. --- Two Holiday Fires Are Reported Here -- With one exception the holiday sea son came and went without serious property loss by fire locally. Its origin unknown, fire spread quickly and burned down the home >f Jonah Bryant, retired colored school teacher, on the little-used street running from the Washington Highway lo Cox's Antique Shop, ibout dark Christmas Eve. Most of the contents were lost, and no offi cial estimate on the loss could be lad. Tuesday afternoon, the firemen were called to a small grass fire just jff Main and Sycamore Streets Local firemen were called to Wind ior early Monday afternoon when fire threatened a portion of the bus ness section in Windsor. Another fire call was received rhursday morning at 10:30 o’clock when a gallon jug, partly filled with cleaning fluid, exploded and fired ieveral magazines, a few newspa pers and a fruit jar case On the back porch of the F M. Mannings' home >n North Smithwick Street. Some imoke filtered into the house, but firemen had the fire out before it caught any woodwork. Fire Destroys Store In Windsor Monday -- Williamstori firemen for two hours ?arly last Monday afternoon aided in battling a stubborn store fire over n Windsor. During the greater part >f the time, Williamston volunteers poured tens of thousands of gallons jf water on the two-siory buiiding n the town’s business section. The auilding, owned by a Mrs, White, was used in recent months as a U. S. 3. center. At one time, six streams of water wen being poured on the fire, but t was not brought under control until part of the roof had caved in. Personnel and some prisoners of the Yar-Prison camp ir. Windsor aided he fire-fighters. j Serious Wreck Mars Holiday Season In One Part Of County ■ Many Persons III with Colds And Influenza; Fen Arrests Made i _ . -* mu uirisonas nouaay season, re flecting the strain of war nerves and the absence of loved ones in the armed services, was quietly observ ed throughout this area. While the observance was without incident locally, a serious auto accident in the Robersonville area marred the holiday season there. Sevreal deaths were reported in the county. There were two fires, only one serious, however, Few arrests were recorded and the general behavior of the holiday crowds was unusually good. A union religious service in the Presbyterian church was well at tended for Christmas eve and con sidering the general prevalence of colds and influenza. Locally, people possibly by the hundreds were held at home by common colds and influenza, and the shortage of doctors aggravated the situation. The local hospital was filled to capacity aiui quite a few victims of influenza went with out medical attention. One or two business houses were almost forced to suspend activities when owners and clerks fell victims of influenza. The holiday business was good for the most part, but shopping habits were in marked contrast with those prevailing in past years. So many Christmas items were missing from the shelves that shoppers were forc ed to “fill in” with other articles. No complete report could be had, but war bond sales were unusually large during the period, many using them as gifts. The purchase of available durable goods exceeded general expectations despite higher prices in many instances. For the first time in the memory of the old-time residents less than a dozen fire crackers were heard, and they were fired well outside the business districts. Four persons, caught imbibing a little too freely, were arrested arid jaded Christmas -eve, but by Christ mas night the hoosegow was empty and up until late Wednesday it was still without patrons. Heavy industry came to a full stop at noon the day before Christmas, and after limited activities the fol lowing Monday resumed full-scale operations along with general busi ness following a three-day holiday. While the holiday spirit was in evidence, indicating that there’ll al way be a Christmas, it was for many the first real war-time Christmas. -*-—. Native 01 County Killed By Train Samuel Mobley, native of this county hut for five years a resident farmer of Washington County, was killed instantly near Plymouth last Monday afternoon when a train ran over him His head and legs severed, the man never knew what happen ed. He was last seen about 3:30 that afternoon, and the decapitated and badly mangled body was found I about two hours later along the Nor folk-Southern trucks on the edge of Plymouth. No details of the acci dent could l>e had here. The son of the late J. S. and Louise Clark Mobley, ■ he was born in the Cross Hoads section of this county 59 years ago. He married Miss Mil lie Coburn of this county on July 16, 1910. Some time ago the family moved to the Jamesville section, and five years later located in Washing ton County. He was a member of the Cross Roads Christian Church for about 35 years. Besides his wife, he leaves seven daughters, Mrs. Veatrice Crumpler, of Hampton, Va.; Mrs. Thelma Saw yer, Mrs. Annie Sawyer, Euzellia, Grace, Vel Gray and Louise Brown, all of Plymouth, and five sons, Gro ver, Biscoe, Clee El vert, of Plym outh; Thurman Mobley, stationed with the Army in Camp Howze, Tex as, and McLean Mobley, of James ville. He also leaves two brothers, Ed Mobley, of Everetts, and Claude l Mobley, of Jamesville, and a sister, Mrs. Henry Rawls, of Robersonville, and a half sister, Mrs. Bessie Davis, of Williamston. funeral arrangements are being delayed pending word from the son in Texas.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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Dec. 31, 1943, edition 1
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