North Carolina Newspapers

NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OF THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OF THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 47 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, June 12, 1945. ESTABLISHED |B99 Americans Put More Men Ashore Behind Japs’ Okinawa Line General Jos. Stilwel! Pr#'4ifijg Paeifie War Will Last Two More Years Believed to have been drawing to a close two weeks or more ago, the battle for Okinawa continues to rage, late reports stating that the Americans have landed more forces, this time on the southern part of the island behind enemy lines. The Japs were issued an ultimatum yesterday to either surrender or be annihilat ed. They rejected the surrender of fer and the fight continues, but ob servers can’t see how the battle can last much longer. While the Americans were push ing for a final show down on Oki nawa, the Australians moved in on North Borneo and are making prog ress. They are reported to have met surprisingly weak resistance. The air war continues to gain >- momentum, late reports stating that Liberator bombers have been seen over the main Jap islands for the first lime. Strategic target- are still being pounded, and it is con servatively estimated that more than 100 square miles of Japan’s greatest industrial arears have been burned out. Commenting on the Pacific war, General Joseph Stilwell said over the week-end that he was of the - opinion it would last for two more ' years. While preparations go forward for increasing the tempo of the Pa cific fight, progress was made on the diplomatic front these past few days. Unless something unforseen happens to upset it, Harry Hopkins, the man who has been so bitterly condemned by his own countrymen, has won a resounding victory for improved relations with Russia by ironing out the main points of the 1 Polish dispute. Hopkins, just back from Russia, also helped solve the veto question baffling the World Security Confrenece at San Fran cisco so long. In Europe the GI’s are not at all cheerful over the prospects of trans ferring to the Pacific. It is now likely that the Third and Seventh Armies will remain in Germany while the Ninth and Fifteenth move toward the Pacific Theater. t In Washington, Josephus Daniels went all out against peace-time con scription, and tiie Senate, in extend ing the price control program for another year, inserted an amend ment guaranteeing farm profits. The amendment provides: “It shall be unlawful to establish or | maintain against the producers of any livestock, grain or other agri cultural commodity a maximum f price for such commodity which does not equal all costs and expenses (including all overhead expenses, a j return on capital and an allowance for the labor of the producer and his family) incurred in the production of such commodity, plus a reason- j able profit thereon.” i; Senator Wherry, Nebraska Re- . publican, offered the amendment. 11 Employment Unit Places 118 Workers -<8> Essentia] and locally needed activ ities in Martin and Bertie Counties continued in May to get the bulk of non-agricultural workers placed in jobs by the local office of the Unit ed States Employment Service of the j War Manpower Commission, accord ing to Mrs. Alvis R. Jordan, super vising interviewer-in-charge of the local office. During the past month 118 work ers were placed in essential and lo- ! cally needed activities. The local of fice assisted 88 workers in getting jobs, largely through clearing them for new work. In May, the local office had 364 visitors, a slight decrease from num bers in previous months of this year. This decrease is due to the farming season, as a large number of work ers who accept work in industry during the off-season for farming are busy planting and cultivating their crops. Returning war veterans are urged to use the facilities of the U. S. Em ployment Service in seeking solu tions of problems related to re-es tablishing themselves in their com munities. Each local office is a Vet erans’ Information Center and as such is currently informed on vet erans matters. A Veterans’ Employ ment Representative is located in each U. S. Employment Office and it is his or her prime responsibility to assist returning service men and explain their rights and privileges under the G. I. Bill of Rights. -&..— Quarterly Conference Will Be Held At Holly Springs $ Rev. J. Herbert Miller, superin tendent of the Elizabeth City Dis trict of the Methodist Church, will preach at Holly Springs Methodist j Church Friday, June 15th, at eleven o’clock, after which will be held the third quarterly conference. The of ficials of the Williamstcn charge are expected to be present, and all oth ers are invited to attend. REUNION FOR G! 'ENOCH ARDEN' ' !E "ENOCH ARDEN" STORY, which may be paraphrased many times before the last GI comes home from the wars, had a particularly happy variation in the case of Lt. Harold Goad, 27. of Portsmouth, O., who was reported dead when his plane was shot down in Burma two years ago. He returned to find his “widow” remarried, but they' arranged to pick their lives up again where they had been dropped—and here you sea them on a "second honeymoon" after Mrs. Goad applied for an annul ment of her second marriage. (International Soundphoto) BIBLE SCHOOL r l The union vacation Bible school was off to a good start here yesterday when 185 pupils reported for class work. Nine teen teachers were present, but Miss Ethel Guest, supervisor, points out that more teachers are needed. Any one who can find time and who will help are asked to contact Miss Guest im mediately. The young folks are interested In the program, but it appears that it is another case where adult delinquency is proving the big problem. Four Cases Heard By Ration Board . <♦> Several motorists lost their gas ration books for short periods and the case against Thos. VanLanding ham was closed last week-end, the Martin County War Price and Ra tioning Board announced yesterday. Found with two “A’’ gas ration books in his possession, William Taylor, RFD 1, Bethel, had his car grounded until July 8. Samuel T. Brown, RFD 2, William ston, had his car grounded until July 8 when it was learned that he had detached two gas coupons be fore they became valid. John W. Hollowell, Jr., and 1. M. Margolis surrendered their “A” books until July 22 for speeding. Charged with selling a car in ex cess of ceiling prices, Thomas Van Landingham closed his case recent ly when a check for $510 was paid to the United States treasury and $255 was returned to Mrs. Mildred Bowen Bonds, widow of Pfc. Cecil B. Bonds who was killed in action somewhere in the South Central Pa cific, a year ago this month. Three Liquor Stills Wrecked by Officers Raiding almost in sight of Wil liamston early last Sunday morning, ABC Officer J, H. Roebuck and Deputy Roy Peel wrecked a liquor plant just a short distance from U. S. Highway 17 on the Staton Kelvin Grove Farm. The officers poured out 350 gallons of molasses beer and wrecked other equipment. Following up their Sunday raid, the officers invaded the Bear Grass Swamp area Monday and wrecked two plants, including a steam out fit and a 50-gallon capacity oil drum used as a still at the second plant. At the first plant raided Monday, the still was hot and the operator, a white man, did not tarry long. Depu ty Peel gave chase, but the operator was without shoes arid paid no at tention to the briars. Just as he started to reach out for his man, the officer stumbled and lost the race. More than five gallons of cheap li quor and fifty gallons of honey beer were poured out at the two plants. -<t> Receives Cigarettes From Local Civic Club \ Writing a few weeks ago from | Seattle, Washington, Chief Petty Of ficer Howard Earp stated that his brother, missing in the European War Theater for a long time, had re turned home. The officer stated that his brother had received a free pack age of cigarettes from the Williams ton Kiwanis Club and wanted to express his appreciation for them. Two County Colored Men Drown in River Near Conine Creek Bodies of Two Brothers Tak* en from Stream Yester day Morning — « Two brothers, Overton James, 33, and Oscar James, 25, both of Wil liams Township, this county, lost their lives by drowning in Roanoke River near the head of Conine Creek Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o’clock. Their bodies were recovered about 9:30 o’clock yesterday morning and made ready for burial. Logging contractors, the two col ored men went to Conine Creek bridge to shut up some logging mules that had broken out. They were accompanied by Tom Jones, J. B. Nichols and Lawyer Bell, all from Williams Township. The group de cided to go swimming and followed the run of the creek to the river, just a short distance away. The young brother, apparently a poor swimmer, jumped in and is believed to have been taken with cramps. Ov erton went to his rescue and Oscar grabbed and pulled him down. Be fore others could get to them, Ov erton came to the surface, called for help and went back under the wa ter. A search for the bodies was mak ing little progress until Patrolman W. E. Saunders went to Washing ton and procured special hooks and dragging operations, handled at the direction of R. J. Hardison and Johnnie Williams, were completed within an hour after they were start ed yesterday morning. The bodies were found about fifty feet down stream from the spot where the brothers drowned. Coroner Goodwin Byrd of Bertie County investigated the drownings and ruled that no inquest was neces sary, that there was no evidence of foul play. The older brother had about $300 in his clothes and Oscar had about $70 in his pockets, the (Continued on page six) Sixty - Four Tires Allotted By Board Sixty-four tires — fifty-four for passenger cars and ten for trucks— were released by the Martin County War Price and Rationing Board last Friday. Grade I tires were issued to the following: Thad Newsome, Jr., C. U. Rogers, N. W. Johnson, J. H. Edwards, N. T. Tice, Nellie Smith, G. B. Whitfield, George Revels, Mrs. O. S. Anderson, Jimbo Newsome, Mack D. Leggett, W. B. Cannon, A. T. Perkins, R. T. Purvis, Jr., L. H. Hux, F. C. Stall ings, W. Bruce Johnson, W. E. Hol liday, Dr. V. A. Ward, Cecil Brown, T. G. Griffin, Lester Terry, Marion E. Smith, Mrs. W. R. L. Purvis, Ru by Williams, Emma W. Powell, Law rence Williams, W. H. Williams, Jr., Town of Williamston Police Depart ment, Dr. V. E. Brown, J E. Corey, E. K. Edmondson, J. V. Andrews, J. A. Powell, Mildred Pigg, Charlie G. Forbes, J. F. Crisp, E. V. Smith, B. B. Taylor, James E. Keel, Ben R. Manning, James E. Bullock, John A. Ward, Jr„ A. R. White. Truck tires were released to the following: Chas. H. Jenkins and Co., F. F. Pollard, Williamston Lumber Co., W. E. Davis, Standard Fertilizer Co., J. H. Harrell, E. E. Brown. (Sylvester B. Lilley Dies Suddenly This J Morning Near Here I iskrii Fatuity Ilf ^ Itile \«*ar Uanlens Inspecting A Tobaeco Barn -« Sylvester B. Lilley, prominent Martin County citizen, business man and farmer, died suddenly shortly before 10 o’clock this morning while en route to a local doctor’s office. The immediate cause of his death could not be learned, but presum ably he was the victim of a heart attack. Going with Mr. J C. Norris to Dardens to inspect a tobacco barn furnace, Mr. Lilley complained of feeling badly, but thought he would soon feel better. Seeing that his lips were turning white, Mr. Norris sug gested that they return immediate ly, and they were on their way home when he laid his head on the back of the seat as if he were sleeping. Mr. Norris stopped and picked up Mr. Albert T. Perry along the way and he held Mr. Lilley’s head the remainder of the way to Williams ton where he was pronounced dead by Dr. E. T. Walker, It is believed that he died in the vicinity of James ville. Mr. Lilley stated earlier in the day that he wasn’t feeling very well, that he had suffered with something like colic during the previous night. However, he was up early this morn ing and was making arrangements to install a stoker in a tobacco barn when he decided to accompany Mr. Norris to the Knowles farm near Dardens to inspect a barn furnace there. Funeral arrangements had not been completed shortly before noon today. The son of the late Kader Lilley and wife, he was born in Griffins Township about 61 years ago. He was a successful farmer, operating a lum ber mill and cotton gin In addition to his farming operations. He later formed a partnership, built the Car olina Warehouse here and served as one of its proprietors. He was a rec ognized leader and was one of the county’s most substantial citizens. In early manhood he was married to Miss Sarah Rogerson and she with three children, Elmo, Roland and Ralph, survives. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Garland Perry of Griffins Township, and Mrs. John W. Manning, of Williamston; two brothers, Messrs. Dawson and J. Eason Lilley, both of Griffins Town ship. — <t> .. Farmers To Submit Tobacco Acreages In accordance with the tobacco control program, Martin County far mers are being asked to measure their tobacco acreages and report to their respective committeemen dur ing the next few days with the full understanding that "spot” checks will be made. With one exception, the commit tees will sit on Friday and Saturday of this week to accept the measure ments. To avoid a conflict with the quarterly conference at Holly Springs on Friday, the committee for that district will be at the coun ty house on Saturday and Monday, June 16 and 18. The committees will sit Friday and Saturday of this week at community house in Bear Grass, Ayers store in Oak City, Manning’s store in Griffins, Sexton’s store in Jamesville, Masonic Hall in Rober sonville and at agricultural building for Poplar Point and Williamston. On Friday the committee for Cross Roads will sit at Cross Roads and on Saturday in Everetts. The Ham ilton district committee will sit at Hassell on Friday and in Hamilton on Saturday. -<*> MOTORISTS ESCAPE INJURY IN CRASH FRIDAY EVENING ■ 4D No one was hurt but damage, esti mated at $350 by Patrolman W. E. Saunders resulted, when the cars of Dr. C. G. Garrenton and Ira F. An drews crashed on Highway 64 near Parmele last Friday evening about 7 o’clock. Andrews was making a left turn during the rain and the Garrenton car skidded into him. THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . Figures in the accident record continue to climb gradually, members of the N. C. Highway Patrol announcing that motor ists on the county highways had one accident last week, boost ing the county to 27 so far this year. The following tabulations of fer a comparison of the accident trend: first, by corresponding weeks in this year and last and for each year to the present time. 23rd Week Comparison Accidents Inj’d Killed Dam’ge 1945 1 0 0 $ 350 1944 110 750 Comparison To Date 1945 27 i2 2 $6850 1944 23 8 1 4375 •E Bonds Are $ 132*733 Short of County’s. Coal I * Three Townships In County Go Over the Top With “E” Sales -g, Williaimton Presents Darkest Spot in Drive with Hardly Half of Quota Sold -• At the close of business last Sat urday, the main issuing agencies, the Guaranty Banks here and in Robersonville and the Branch Bank here had issued $238,267.00 in the current Seventh War Loan Drive, leaving the county $132,733.00 short of its assigned “E” bond quota of $371,000.00, and less than three weeks to meet the challenge in its entirety. Following the example set by lit tle Poplar Point, Jamesville and Cross Roads went over the top last week with some to spare. James ville, answering the call of Chas. Davenport, district chairman, rais ed $12,993.75, or $1,743.75 in excess of the assigned quota. Paul Bailey reports $8,212.50 for Cross Roads, or nearly $1,000 in excess of the orig inal goal. The picture looks good in Bear Grass, Robersonville and Ham ilton where somebody hasn't forgot ten the boys out yonder on Okinawa and the acres of cemetery on Iwo Jima. While the picture isn’t very bright just now in Griffins and Has sell districts, County Drive Chair man D. V. Clayton is betting on the people there. He hasn’t given up hope in Williams and Goose Nest, and he only shook his head when asked about the prospects in Wil liamston. It is quite evident that Williamston will miss the mark un less the people wake up and move to meet the challenge. Little has been done to advance the bond drive while there has been an increase in other activities far removed from the war effort and the welfare of those boys who are bearing the brunt of the fight on foreign battle fields. Reliable reports declare that there is more money in the banks right to day than at any other time, that the people of this county could under write a bond issue in the several millions of dollars and still not de ny themselves the necessities of I life. It is quite certain that some' people jn this county invested every possible dollar in bonds, that some have actually denied themselves of the bare necessities of life to play fair with the boys over yonder. It is hard to believe, but a finan cier estimates that the people of this county could finance the pur chase of automobiles to the tune of one and one-half million dollars, and yet there aren’t enough people out of the approximately 26,000 in the county who will go forward and in vest $371,000 in bonds for kith and kin who fight in foreign lands. Those boys will be coming home one of these days and they will want to know why the people at home have to be begged and begged to invest in bonds. They realize the conditions some face, but they will want to know how and why pleas ure schedules are maintained on such a grand and glorious scale. The “E” bond sales are pictured in the figures below. Read and study them and make up your mind now to do something to help push Martin County over the top. If it is impos sible for you to buy a bond, plead with someone else and urge them to invest. It will be little less than (Continued on page six) -* Wait For The Draft And See The World Pfc Harry J. Smith declares, and he has the proof to back the state ment, that one does not have to join the Navy to see the world. He goes on to explain in a letter written the latter part of May: “Why enlist? Just wait and be drafted as I was and you can see the world in full bloom. One year from the day I left home I had spent four and one-half months in Florida and shipped to POE with a ten-day de lay en route, and from there to California where I spent the next five months. “I was on the Pacific for six days. I crossed the United States twice, seeing thirty-two states. Went into five foreign countries after crossing the Atlantic and fought two battles. Boy, that’s enough for me. “Although the tour has been an adventure and the European theater is a beautiful country, in my heart I have but one desire. I long to be back in the one and only good old Williamston with my wife and loved ones. “The war is over in Germany and will soon be over in the Pacific, we hope. They are discharging men who have eighty-five or more points. But if they don't lower the standard I’ll have only about twenty-eight years and eleven months more to go.” r~ CHAPLAIN MAJOR } Rev. John VV. Hardy, former rector of the local Episcopal Church, was promoted to the rank of Chaplain IVlajor on May 1st, his wife, the former Miss Sue Martin Capehart, of Wind sor, was advised a few days ago. Serving in England, the young major will hardly be able to get home before late fall. Recently he had the pleasure of visiting the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Croeffrey Francis Fisher, the new Archbishop of Canterbury. New Church Assured For Group At West End of Williamston Over $2000 Raised for House of Worship, ('oniniittee Chairman Aiinoiinees —-<s> An interdenominational group, or ganized following a revival meeting held in Roberson’s Slaughter House Cafe, is rapidly advancing plans for the construction of a church build ing at West End, Exum L. Ward, chairman of the finance committee, announced yesterday. Approximate ly $2,086.16 has been raised or pledg ed and a lot, located in I he point where a road to Skewarkey leads off U. S. Highway No. 64, was giv en the group by Dr. W. R. Burrell who recently retired as pastor of the Williamslon Memorial Baptist Church and who with others were instrumental in organizing the group. On April 16, Rev. W. G. Bullard, returned missionary, at the invita tion of Dr. Burrell and J C. Ander son, local churchman, conducted a series of revival services in Rober son’s Slaughter House Cafe. The meeting was very successful and a Sunday school was organized. In terest mounted and the settlement, with an estimated support of possi bly 150 or more families, proposed the construction of a church build ing. At the present time, the Sunday school is reporting an attendance of 65 or more members, and the prospects are bright for its contin ued growth and sufficient support for the operation of a church plant. Plans for a building are being studied, but no definite construc tion program has been determined. The leaders of the movement are anxious to raise approximately $5,- ’ 000 for the plant. Construction work will be started just us soon as build- 1 ing plans can be approved and the 1 fund is boosted up to around $3,- 1 000.00. ' The group includes representa (Continued on page six) -« l Lions Club Oilers $1,000 To Scouts Sponsoring one of the Boy Scout troops here and interested in the Scout movement for both boys and giils, the local Lions Club recently voted to contribute $1,000 to a Scout building fund. The club itself is drawing most of that amount from its general fund and individual members have pledged to boost it to $1,000 A general appeal will soon be directed to the public to support the movement and help boost the amount to possibly $5,000. Discussing the proposed project, K. D. Worrell, chairman, stated that several sites are being considered, but one has not been selected. Mr. Wheeler Martin was reported to have offered the Scouts a lot on West Main Street, while there is a possibility the building could be lo cated on property near the munici pal swimming pool. Shortly the sponsors will “plant” small jais ;.i the business houses and other local public places, and the public will be asked to drop in us many loose coins as possible. D. V. Clayton is treasurer of the Scout building fund and he will welcome i all contributions. I Apartment Wrecked By Fire A ad Water On Saturday Might J O I ho ()<•<■ jpantM Painful!” but Not Seriously Burned Looking for Son Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Manning were painfully burned about the face and hands when fire wrecked the old W. C. Manning residence housing three apartments, corner of Haughton and Chufch Streets here late last Saturday night. Given med ical attention* they were able to be out the next day, and are getting along very well. Its origin unknown, the fire was first discovered about 11:50 o’clock burning through the room and win dows of the living room in an up stairs apartment. Mr. and Mrs. Man ning and their young son, Henry, Jr , were sleeping across the hall with both doors closed and they did not know the building was on fire until the fire department alarm was sounded. Neither did occupants on the first floor detect the fire im mediately. During the meantime, Henry, Jr., seven years old, woke up, ran out of the house crying and hearing him, neighbors telephoned in the alarm. When the Mannings got up they missed the boy and they ran into the room where the fire was looking for him. Almost overcome by smoke, they were helped down the stairs and advised that the boy was nut. Occupants on the first floor during the meantime, fled from the building in their night clothes and robes. The Randolph Allens, occu pying one of the first floor apart ments, were able to get out some of their furniture from one room, but most of it along with that of the D. I,. Vanderfords, was subjected to considerable water damage. Everything in the Mannings’ liv ing room was burned and some dam age was done to furniture in an ad joining room. For the most part, however, the fire was confined to the one room and the roof which were just about wrecked. Receiving the call at 11:50, vol unteer firemen had the first streams of water on the fire in just about four and one-half minutes. Two oth er lines were soon turned on, but it was almost an hour before the lire was brought under complete control. The room was burning from one end to the other, and firemen, working their way to the second floor and finally to the attic, found it necessary to turn the hose line in all directions, the water flooding the walls and nearly every room in the house. Just about every piece of furniture not in the upstairs living room was soaked. Burning three families out of their living quarters, the fire has added to the serious housing short age here. The Mannings are with his wither at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Alien and their young son and mall daughter went to the home of Mrs. Allen’s parents in Plymouth, (Continued on page six) -V Youth Relates Few War Experiences Writing to his sister, Miss Lucy Moore, here a short time ago, Pfc. A. E. Moore related a few of his ex periences while at a hospital station in England. Going across in October, 1943, the young man stated that the trip was uneventful, that the convoy was one of the largest ever to cross, and that just before they landed they en countered submarines but made it all right. The night they unloaded at Liverpool was the darkest he had ever seen and many of the boys were still seasick. By the time they reach ed their destination the next after noon, the German planes greeted them. “I can tell you right now you don't feel so good the first two or three nights you have to stand out and listen to German planes, not knowing where they are going to unload,” he said. Continuing he said, "1 soon got used to the planes and I would lie in bed and sleep and not even hear the siren. I have seen a few German planes shot down, and it is a beautiful sight to sac them come down on a real dark night in a blaze of fire. ‘‘Hitler changed to the flying bomb and they certainly did make a mess. I was pretty lucky, just got rocked out of bed a couple of times, but it did not bother me at all. I would just shake the glass off my bed and go right back to sleep,” Pvt. Moore said, adding that he had had several close calls while visiting in London. Closing he said that he did not know when he would get home, but he hoped it would not be long. - Cross Roads Ladies Will Serve Country Supper The Ladies’ Aid Society of the Cross P.oads church will serve a country supper at the church there tomorrow (Wednesday) evening about 8:30 o'clock. The menu will include fried chicken, country ham, chicken salad, etc. The public is in vited.