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 51 Willifimston, Martin County, Worth Carolina, Tuesday, Juno 26. 1945. ESTABLISHED 1899 .County Bov Writes Interesting Letter About Experiences Coxswain Clayton Revels Has Been in Several Invasions, Including Okinawa In a very interesting and highly entertaining letter, Coxswain Clay ton Revels, Martin County young man wha has been in several Pacific invasions, including Okinawa, tells of life as he finds it at sea and a few of his many experiences. His letter follows: ‘Hello Everybody: “Well, here it is Sunday again, or I should say almost gone, for it is about sunset. It has been a very quiet day. Reveille at 6 o’clock and breakfast at 7. The menu was pan cakes, pork sausage, cereal, butter, bread, coffee and apples. We muster at 8. Holiday routine. No wash. At tended divine service at 10. Ate din ner at 11:30. Menu, oyster soup,— and I saw the oysters in it,—baked beans, jam, cake and coffee. This afternoon one of my crew and I gave out the laundry for our division whick took most of the time. Again I was in the chow line early. ‘Chow hound Revels, they call me. We had baked young chicken. Each chicken was cut or torn into four pieces We also had mashed potatoes with thick chicken gravy, string beans, pickles, ice cream ,cake, butler, bread and coffee. After giving out the laundry I was hungry and the first time through the chow line just whetted my appetite. Weil, 1 carne up on the boat deck where 1 spend most of my spare time arid read a couple of chapters in the Bible, which is my daily custom, and dashed back down and went through the chow line again. “I thought I would sneak through kinder quiet and not attract any at tention and was doing O. Keh until the fellowing passing out the ice cream said to the next fellow who was serving cake, ‘there goes Chow hound Revels through for the third time'. Of course. I corrected him and told him it was only twice. Well, we are all good buddies, so every thing was all right. The second helping hit the spot, or filled ail the spots, so I came back up on the boat deck and settled down in my new | easy chair W'hich I built out of a cot, and decided to catch up with the news back home. “With my copies of The Enter prise, dated November 10 and De cember 19, which I received in the last port, I forgot where I was, and drifted back home to the days on my farm when I would read the paper. As I read the different ar ticles, especially the ones listing I the names of people contributing to the United War Fund, some of them 1 brought back to memory a lot of happy days I spent with these peo- j pie, especially those in Griffins Township. I thought of going to church at Maple Giove and Piney Grove, the big dinners and the gen eral fellowship with those people. I thought about how nice it would be to see all those people again. “I guess that helps makes The (Continued on page six) Review Year’s Work Bv Welfare Agencies J o -1 As the state and its counties pre pare to go into another fiscal year next week. North Carolina public welfare agencies look forward to even greater accomplishments in 1945-46 than in the year coming to a close this month. During the past 12 months Martin County has increased its average | payment monthly to needy aged per sons from $10.96 to $11.73. The state- ; wide average has gone up from $10.96 to $ 12.50, according to Miss Mary W Taylor, county welfare superinten dent. In this county there were 214 per sons receiving old age assistance last June as compared with 224 this month. Martin County has increased its monthly average grant to families of dependent children from $21.56 to $28.42 for the 33 families now re ceiving aid A year ago there were 41 families receiving this aid. The state average payment to dependent children is $24.76 for the month of June, 1945. A year ago it was $18.29. A year ago there were 91 private homes in North Carolina in which children could be boarded tempor arily while arrangements were being made for their permanent care. Now there are 121 homes, although a good number of them are in some of the more populous counties. Martin County has not established such a home within the past year but ev ery effort is being made to provide at least one during the coming year Minor Accident On The Main Street Yesterday No one was hurt but considerable damage was done to two cars when they crashed on the main street here in front of The Enterprise office early yesterday afternoon. David Searight stopped to dis charge a passenger when a car driv en by Miss Bernice Ward crashed into the back of the Searight car. 1*1 ctfi-Go Ov-pf The Top in Bond Drive r BILL OF RIGHTS v Meeting in the county court house on Friday evening of this week at 8 o'clock, members of special committees and boards, bankers, unemployment office representatives, Red Cross workers and other interested citizens will hear a discussion of the GI Bill of Rights. R. C. Godwin, head of the program in this state, will address the group, and explain the terms of the bill which guarantees re turning \rterans rertain rights and privileges under special act. Public representatives in clude: W. \V. Walters, Charlie Davenport, Glenn Norman, S. L. Roberson, G. W. Barrett, J. B. Whitfield, J. I). Woolard. A. J. manning and others. The public is invited to attend. Fun Festival Opens For Week's Run Here The Fireman's Fun Festival, now playing on West Church Street here, is expected to attract large crowds after being rained out yesterday aft ernoon and last night The local fire department has brought here, in all its entirety, the popular “R and S Amusements" with its many and varied shows, concessions and rides, augmented by a free thrill circus staged every night at 1:30 o'clock which features the ‘‘All-American Thrill Gills— two daredevil pretty sisters who perform sensational and death de fying stunts 125 feet in midair on a steel ladder, minijes the protection of any nets or other safety devices. Among the R and S Amusements feature shows are the "Artist and Models”, de luxe musical revue with gorgeous “pin-up” girls, lovely models and lavish lighting effects. “The War is Hell” exhibit features the Jap and Nazi atrocities. There are many thrill rides, in cluding the octopus, sky rocket, Fer ris wheels, mile-a-minute ride, chair-o-plane, tilt-a-whirl, and oth ers. A children's matinee will be held Saturday afternoon and the event will end on Saturday at mid night. County Young Man Writes To Parents Stationed in Germany, Pfc. Louis A. Rogers, county young man, ex pressed the hope that crops were growing and that he would be able to help grow the next one at home. “Bruckenan is a nice place to live,” he said, adding that it was a health resort in i»eace time. ”1 joined my company March 18 and went into battle for the first time on March 22nd. It was m.^hty tough, but with God's help I came through without a scratch. I got scared more times than once, how ever. ‘‘1 hope the war with Japan will soon be over so all the boys can re turn home . . . "Germany is a pretty place, but these mountains are hard to climb. I went fishing a while the other day and caught three fish. It made me feel at home. Don't have much time to write, and I wish I was home to see the people instead of having to write.” _<•*__ Farmers Ship Over 14,000 Founds Of Wool Last Week -® Farmers in this and several oth er eastern Carolina counties shipped 14,250 pounds of wool to the markets last week, the shipment netting them $5,239.67. The shipment was made on a cooperative basis and ad ditional income is expected. I,ocal Young Man Promoted To First Sergeant Recently ■ii Leslie T. Fowden, son of Mrs. Su sie P. Fowden and the late Leslie T. Fowden, was recently promoted to the rank of first sergeant over in Europe where he participated in the Normandy, Northern France, Belgium and Holland, German, Ar dennes and Rhineland Campaigns. V. INJURED j Irving Hyman, young son of Mr. and Mrs. Needham M. Hy man of near Oak City, was in jured a short time ago in France. Few details could be learned here, but it is believed he was hurt in the back since he was said to be in a cast from the waist up. He was said to be getting along very well, accord ing to a message received last week-end by his parents. The young man entered the service last September and left last March or April for over seas service. Chairman Clayton Believes Campaign Will Exceed Quota Sales of $52,170 Last Week Leaves Drive $57,162.50 Short Of Its Goal Boosted by sales reported in the sum of $52,170.25 last week, the Seventh War Loan Drive is now pushing on toward its goal in this county. Chairman D. V. Clayton stat ing yesterday that he believed the people would make a last and mighty effort to push the campaign to a successful close during the next few days. According to the drive chairman's weekly report, "F." bonds in the sum of $318.837.5U have been sold to date, leaving the drive in this coun ty $57,1 (>2.50 short of its goal. The chairman is calling upon 500 people in the county to invest $18.75 in bonds, 200 m buy $37.50 bonds, 100 to purchase $75.00 bonds, 50 to in vest in $500 bonds and others to fin ish the task by buying the limit. Time is getting short and if the goal is to | be reached, bond buying cannot be | delayed longer. The campaign is lag | ging and it is possible that a few | days’ extension will be asked, but it isn't at all certain that extra time i will be allowed and Martin County citizens are earnestly asked to help carry the drive over the top this week. i Since the last report was made, several townships in the county ex ceeded their quotas. Robersonville, with the second largest quota in the i county, sold $19,676.50 last week to boost the total to $116,118.75, Chair man Durward Everett explaining that the district had nearly $5,000 to spare. Any one of the five districts still below their quotas would glad ly borrow some of the excess. Wil liamston handled sales in the sum of $19,068.75 last week to boost its figures in excess of $103,000, leaving the district pitifully far behind, or $53,531.25 sl*irt of its goal. District Chairman H. A. Bowen is still confi dent that the $157,500 figure wil! be reached. Jamesville added $750 more to its total, Chairman Chas. Davenport re ported. The district has almost $5,000 in excess of its quota. Chairman Chas. Daniel made a right good report for Williams last week when sales were boosted by $1,312.50. Chairman George Griffin reported sales in Griffins were almost doubl ed there lust week, leaving the dis trict less than $10,000 to go. Cross Roads, Hamilton and Hassell report ed small sales. Bear Grass bought an additional $2,662 50 to go over the top with $725 to spare. Chairman John Hassell reported sales in the sum of $4,387.50 last week, the purchases pushing Goose Nest over the top with about $2, 0C0 to spare. At the present time six townships, Jamesville, Bear Grass, Cross Roads, Robersonville, Poplar Point, and Goose Nest, are over the top. The remainder of the bond picture with the exception of one or two dark spots, isn’t so bad. Chairman Clay ton was very optimistic in comment ing upon the drive to date, but points out that it is not yet time to slacken the traces. The following figures show the "E” bond quotas and sales by dis tricts through last Saturday: Jamesville $ Williams Griffins Bear Grass Williamston Cross Roads Robersonville Poplar Point Hamilton Hassell Goose Nest Quota Sales 11,250 $ 16,200.00 7,300 4,593.75 18,500 8,793.75 13,000 13,725.00 157,500 103.968.75 11,300 12,337.50 111,300 116,118.75 7,300 8,212.50 14,750 14,306.25 7,500 2,362.50 11,300 13,218.75 $371,000 $318,837.50 County Hoy la Graduated from School In Florida -& U. S. Naval Air Station, Jackson ville, Fla.—Noah T. Roberson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis H. Roberson, RFD 1, Williamston, N. C., recently graduated from the Aviation Elec trician’s Mate school here and was promoted to Seaman First Class (AEM) in the U. S. Navy. Entering the Navy Sept. 28, 1944, he received his recruit training at Bainbridge, Md., later being trans ferred to the Naval Air Technical Training Center here. Roberson is now a qualified Avia lion Electrician’s Mate and will probably see service with a Naval Air Unit. Issuance Of Tires Delayed Ity Certificate Shortage The issuance of automobile tires is being relayed a few days in this county as a result of a shortage of certificate forms, it was explained by the office of the War Price and Rationing Board this week. IlNo Great Damage _ In Hurricane Wake Coro and tobacco crops and gar dens were blown and battered bad ly and a few trees fell, but no great damage to property is believed to have been caused in this immediate section by a hurricane that skirted the North Carolina coast late yes terday and last night. No direct’ re ports could be had immediately from points right on the coast, but it is believed that the center of the storm coming out of the Caribbean traveled a few miles off shore. Strong winds blew here, and driv ing rains fell from about 12:45 yes terday afternoon until late into night Hugh Spruill, bridgekeeper here, reported 3.68 inches of rain during the storm. As many as nine inches of rain were reported in Flor ida. while only 3.68 inches were re corded at this point. The rain was described as one of the largest re corded here in years, the fall boost ing the precipitation for the month of June to 6.60 inches, the greatest value for any month in more than a year, and three times more than the total recorded for the past three months. The Roanoke, holding tg a low point for weeks, rose more than a | foot during the night. i Mrs. Rogerson Dies In County Friday Mrs. Sallie Rogerson, 60, died at her home in the Bear Grass com munity Friday morning at 11:45 fol lowing one week of illness. | Funeral services will be conduct ed from the home Saturday after noon at 4 o’clock by the Rev. W. B. Harrington, Baptist minister from the Farm Life section. Burial was in the family cemetery. Mrs. Rogerson was born, reared and spent her entire life in Martin County. She was a member of the Christian Church at Macedonia. Surviving are three daughters, Mamie Clyde Rogerson of the home, Mrs. John Wobbleton of Williams ton, and Mrs. Clarence Bailey of Wiliiamston; three sons, William Bryant Rogerson and Rubin Roger son of Wiliiamston, and Foy Roger son of Robersonville; 14 grandchil dren; three sisters, Mrs. J. E. Ed . mondsun of Wiliiamston, Mrs Tom Pritchard of Jamesville, and Mrs. j David llaislip of Plymouth. County Boy Given The Purple Heart Wounded in Belgium last January, First Sergeant William It. Harrison, son of Mrs. Nora Harrison, RFD 2, Williamston, was recently awarded the Purple Heart. The award along with souvenirs were forwarded to his mother just a few days ago, the young man stating that he had fully recovered from his wounds and was getting along all right. Sgt. Harrison was a member of a tank crew during a long period of the fight against the Germans in Belgium, but is now handling a desk job, he told his mother. County Boy Meets Friend In The Pacific Theater -s> Filtering the service last Septem ber, William E. Early recently met the first man he knew. Stationed in the Pacific Theater, the young coun ty seaman was walking along when Fenner Wallace slapped him on the back. The young men had an en joyable chat, young Early said in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edmond Early of Oak City. Undergoes Operation For Removal of Nail from Thr<mt -@ Johnnie Leggett, small son of Pfc. and Mrs. John Bill Leggett, under went a dangerous operation in a Durham hospital Sunday for the re moval of a nail from his throat. Last reports state that the little fellow is getting along very well. The child is only sixteen months old. His father is now stationed in Germany. THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . One more accident was added to the record last week when Elmond A. James of the Dar dens area last Saturday morning missed the curve in Highway 64 at Dardens and plowed a streak into a corn field. James, driving his brother-in-law’s car, was booked for drunken uriving and operating a motor vehicle with out a license. Damage was esti mated at $100 by Patrolman W. E. Saunders. 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. 2oi! V/sek Comparison Accidents inj’d Killed Dam’ge 1945 1 0 0 $ 100 1944 210 825 Comparison To Date 1945 29 13 3 $7000 1944 25 9 1 5200 New-P a i'c',\ ersli ij-)-C < MplfW Plan For The Immediate Construction Of $100,000 Peanut Factory Here Forty-three Veterans of War 11 File Dischages In County "You may drop the 'Pvt.' now and just call me Mr. Duksie Ward,” Wheeler Martin Ward smiled yes terday morning just after he had had Ins honorable Army discharge recorded in the office of the Martin County register of deeds. He is one of about four Martin County men to have been discharged from the Army under the point system. Duk sie spent four years, three months and one day in the service. He was overseas more than three years, spending much of that time on the lonely Ascensions. He participated in the Northern France and Norman dy campaigns. George Lee Roberson dropped the title of sergeant last Friday when he was given his point system dis charge at Fort Bragg. The young man had been in service three years, eleven months and four days, and spent nearly two and one-half years in foreign service, according to his I discharge which was recorded in the register of deeds office here yester day. The young man, a crew chief in the Army Air Corps, participated m the campaigns of the Rhineland. Northern France, Tunisia, Sicily, Rome-Arno, Naples -Foggis, Southern France and the Balkans Air Offen 1 sives. II is estimated that approximately 300 Martin County men have been discharged from the services since Selective Service was created, but the county rchords show that only .forty three discharged have been recorded to date in the office of the register of deeds. No fee is charged for recording the discharges, and Martin County men returning to 'civilian life will almost certainly in time find it to their advantage to have a permanent service record available. i.. Officers Tear Down Four Liquor Plants During Recent Days Large Plant Wrecked in dross Roads; One Man Arrest ed in Raids | Officers struck another heavy tlow against the illicit liquor busi ness in the county during the past few days when they wrecked four distilleries, three In one day, pour ed out a large quantity of sugar beer and arrested one man for allegedly possessing equipment for liquor manufacturing. I Striking at 4 o’clock last Thurs day morning in Bear Grass Town I ship, Officers J. H. Roebuck and ] Roy Peel, assisted by Chief Chas. I It. Mobley, W. E. Saunders and W IS. Hunt, found and wrecked a par tial plant and poured out two bar rels of sugar beer Five hours later, Officers Roebuck and Peel went into Robersonville Township and wrecked a 50 gallon capacity oil drum still and eight fermenters. They poured out 200 gallons of molasses beer. On their return trip, the officers found and wrecked another oil drum still and five fermenters. They poured out 100 gallons of molasses beer at the plant, and found equipment for il licit manufacturing in Ed Rawls’ pos session. Rawls is facing the courts on the charge. The big raid of the week was made last Saturday morning when the two officers, assisted by Sheriff C. B. Roebuck, wrecked a modern and well-equipped plant on Trant ers Creek in Cross Roads Township. The plant was equipped with a 100 gallon capacity copper kettle, eigh teen fermenters and an oil burnes. A warning signal was given and the operator left the plant in full opera tion, Officer Roebuck stating that the man did not even take time to shut off the oil supply and that the still was steaming when they reach ed it. The officers poured out 750 gallons of sugar beer and confiscat ed about twelve gallons of white li quor. Six five-gallon and two ten gallon kegs, three five-gallon glass jugs, fifteen gallons of fuel oil and a wash tub partly filled with liquor were found at the plant. The illicit liquor business is be lieved to be increasing in volume, but the manufacturers are exper leneing quite a few difficulties -$ Wounded County Soldier Returned Home hunt Week -« After serving overseas nearly three years, William L. Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. M A. Taylor, RFD 3, Williarnston, returned home last week. Leaving in Octoher, 1942, the young man landed in North Africa where he participated in his first battle. He fought in seven other engagements, and was always on the “go” except for a few days when he was receiving medical attention for a shoulder wound. The young man was awarded a goodly number of medals, including the Purple Heart. Following a short stay in the county he returned to Fort Bragg where he will be given an honorable discharge undei the point system Local Boy (Iruduules From Training Center Recently Entering the service last Febru ary, Frederick Eugene Wheeler, son of Mr. anti Mrs. ti. V. Wheeler of Williamston, was recently graduat ed from the Naval Air Technical Training Center at Norman, Okla homa. He is now a first-class sea man and is being transferred to u naval unit. i HOC SA1.K r farmer T. f. Griffin a few ••ays ago moved to help relieve the meat shortage when he sold twenty-two hogs weighing t>,9;i8 pounds. The hogs were just eight months old and sold for $1, 009.47. Commenting on the sale, !VIr. <iriffin stated that he made some money, but that the mar gin of profit was small, and that one would find it hard to make a living raising hogs. Pvt. Jos. G. Forbes In Czechoslovakia Writiitn Mr. and TViis. A H. Grimt'.s, 11FD 3, Willlarnston, Pvt. Jus. ti. Forbes, Martin County young man, states lie is now in Czechoslo vakia, "and that’s a long way from home.” "I have traveled through France and Germany and havi seen the scar-, of battle. Whole cities were destroyed, and I know that war is terrible Some parts of France and Germany aie beautiful. Their farm land is pretty and the hills are green. "I had quite a bit of fun talking to the French people. 1 studied French in school, but 1 had forgot ten most of it, but with the aid of a little book I have, I managed to carry on a fair conversation with them. I can’t do anything with this German, though I guess it is a good thing because it is a $(15 fine to be caught associating with the German people. You know I can’t afford a price like that.” Closing his letter, the young man expressed the belief that it would be a long time before he could re turn home. Helps Destroy Nazi Tank W ith A Jeep First Lieutenant James L. Harris, Jr., of Williamston, and his crew of three men pitted a jeep against a Nazi Tiger tank and lived to ti ll the tale of destroying the behemoth. The quartet had rounded a curve in a lonely German road when they came face to face with the Tiger. Said the driver of the jeep afterwards, “The barrel of that gun looked as though we were driving into the entrance of the Holland Tunnel." "We had gone too far to stop at that point,” related Lt. Harris. "1 shouted to the driver to step on the gas. As he did, I noticed that the Ger man tank crew was sitting in the grass sunning themselves. As we ap proached, 1 drew my pistol and emp tied it in their direction. The Ger mans scrambled to theii feet and ran off into the woods.” When the Americans drew up be side the empty tank, they halted and destroyed it with a few well-placed grenades in the engine compart ment, setting it afire. ltO|]NI>-UI* [ 1 l.ittle activity was reported on (he crime trout in Hus area last week-end, the records show ing that only three persons were arrested and jailed during the period. One was detained pending an investigation in connection with a stolen motor vehicle. One was jailed for non support and one was arrested for alleged viola tion of the liquor laws. One of the three is white and the ages of the trio range from 24 to 46 years. Site For The Dixie Peanut Company on Washington Street -- Ciirkiu, Langley, Wimlley, Manning and Fdmninlsnn Form New Firm Forming recently a partnership under the firm name of Dixie Pea nut Company, Messrs. Johnnie Gur kin, W. C. Windley, Carlyle Lang ley, John A Manning and W R. Ed mondson yesterday announced plans for the construction of a Sinormn peanut factory and storage for Wil liams ton. It was also announced that construction work on the new plant is tentatively scheduled to get under way next week. Material for the large building and storage houses is being placed on the site on the Washington Highway and Plymouth branch of the Coast Line Railroad just across from the Wil liamston Lumber Company plant. Plans for the new factory have been under consideration for some time, but it wasn’t until last Friday that priorities were granted and final plans were handled yesterday morning. Several loads of building material were placed on the lot yes terday afternoon and contracts, call ing for the immediate delivery of a huge lumber order, have been sign ed. Workmen started yesterday | cleaning off the lot and several [ shanties are to be moved in time lor the builders to start laying the main plant foundation next week. Due to uncertain conditions, the partners explained that they could not tell how long it would take to complete the building, “but we are going to make every effort to have it ready for operation early this com ing fall." Orders for modern machinery have been placed and deliveries are virtually guaranteed, it was stat ed. The new plant, in addition to the null mAxuring 224 by 96 feet, will have two storage houses, measuring 144 by (14 feet each. The main fac tory building will be four stories high and will have a milling ca 1 parity of approximately 4,000 bags daily. Construction work will be centered first on the large mill and one storage unit, the owners ex plaining that possibly only one of the storage units could be completed I along with the main factory before the current peanut crop starts mov ing to market some time next Oc tober. Williamston, at one time was the largest wagon market for peanuts in the world and the construction of a second modern plant will make this one of the largest peanuts centers in this section of the country. The new firm includes among its personnel experienced peanut men, both buyers and millers, arid the construction of the big plant is in keeping with a program of closer cooperation between industry and agriculture in this section. Jamesville Opens Cannery July 2nd Beginning July 2, the Jamesville Community Cannery will be open from H a. m. to 12 noon and from 2 p. m. to (i p. m. every Monday, Wed nesday and Friday. The cannery will be open to anyone in the commun ity who wishes to can either meats, fruits or vegetables. The cannery will be operated on a non-profit basis and only a small for' to cover expenses will be charg ed. Canners may use either glass or tin lor their canning. If the canners use their own glass jars a fee of two cents pel' quart will be charged. If they wish to use cans which they can secure at the cannery, five and one-half cents will be the fee for No. 2 cans, and six and one-half cents for No. 3's. People wishing to use the cannery should prepare their produce at home if possible before going to the cannery; however, fruits or vegt^ tables that lose their color easily should be prepared at the cannery. The community cannery offers many advantages over canning at home, especially in the volume that can be canned in the time involved and in improved methods. Robber* Enter Building Supply Company Office* Breaking into the offices of the Williamston Supply Company on Elm Street here some time during the past week-end, robbers wreck ed tlie safe and stole fifteen cents in cash and several gasoline ration coupons. Entering the building from the rear, the robbers broke a glass in an office door, reached in and unlock ed the doer and entered. The door to the safe was prized off and bad ly battered.