o United War Fund Drive Extended - - Make A Contribution Today NEARLY 4,N*0 COPSES OF THE ENTERPRISE GOES& INTO TEE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OF TTTF ENTERPRISE GOINOjrfSO THE. HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY ' AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 89 Williamiton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, November 9, 1945 ESTABLISHED 1899 County Young Man * The USS Sangamonj First Class Seaman Rudolph Hopkins Is Undergoing Hospital Treatment As a member of the crew of the es cort carrier, USS Sangamon, Seaman 1/c Rudolph Hopkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Hopkins of Everetts, re cently reviewed the record of the ship and its near-death blow received in the Pacific fight last May 4. His story, submitted with pictures show ing the terrible wreckage exacted by a Jap suicide pilot, follows: “After a career of combat which stretches soldily from North Africa to Okinawa, the USS Sangamon fin ally had to return home heavily da maged by the enemy. "For the Sangamon it was the first serious damage in a combat career which began with the liberation of North Africa and took the ship to Tarawa, the MarshaJJg^j • New Guinea, the Philippines and the Ryukus. Save only for Lingayen Gulf and Iwo Jima, her battle log is the record of American progress from the Central and South Pacific to the shores of Japan. “When she was damaged, which was immediately after she had been helping to destroy the Japanese air force in the southern Ryukus, she was hit by a two-engine Japanese bomber, which crashed on the Saga mon's broad flight deck off Kerama Retto, near Okinawa, at 7:33 p. m., on May 4, 1945. “Twelve Japanese planes started out on the suicide party which had the Sagamon as its target. To a man, the crew of the Sangamon knew there was trouble in the sky that night, for the sky was carpeted with low grey and black clouds, interlac ed to the west with brilliant, confus ing colors—a perfect skyscape for the work of the kamikaze pilot, who lik ed to hide as he goes about his job. “Nine of those twelve planes fell victim to Marine F4U Corsairs as the enemy headed for Kerama Retto. A tenth Jap fled. An eleventh Jap, fly ing a single-engine fighter, tried to I be a kamikaze but was shot down by ship’s gunfire. The twelfth plane, the two-engine bomber, escaped that gunfire by plunging into a black cloud astern of the ship. Waiting tensely at their guns, members of the Sagamon crew knew that their enemy would return, and he did. Already in his death dive and traveling nearly 400 miles an hour, he plummeted out of the dense black colud into the last rays of the sunset. As the Sangamon and the USS Fullam, an escorting destroyer took him under fire with all guns, he leveled out slightly, nosed over again in a shallow dive, took hits, burst in to flames about 600 yards from the carrier, dropped a bomb and crashed simultaneously into the center of the flight deck. “For five hours the Sangamon ( burned, and for five hours the crew fought and finally whipped the fire. They fought without communica tions, sometimes without control of the ship and sometimes without wat er pressure. They fought and won, despite the fact that the fire divided the ship in two, making it impossible for those in the forward position to , reach those on the after part. The ship was saved in the words of Lieutenant Lloyd R. Sorenson, USNR, ‘by the individual efforts of unnumbered and for the most part unnamed little people who dug a greatness up from the depths of themselves somehow, and did what had to be done, and did it effective ly—that is what saved the ship.’ “ ‘It was sheer intestinal fortitude that put out those savage flames,’ said Captain A. I. Malstrom. ‘Never did a group of men show more cour age and initiative in the face of over whelming odds’,” Hopkins was quot (Continued on page four) -$ Report Busy Time Around Courthouse —*— October was a busy period for local and county officers in and around the Martin County courthouse. According tc information gained from a review of the monthly re ports, sixty-eight persons were ar rested and jailed during the past month. This number does not in clude about one hundred persons who were either arrested and gave bond or who were cited to appear in court to answer civil complaints. The of fice of the sheriff served 76 papers, about half of them being civil. Fees for handling the service amount to $163.50. The county court was busy collect ing $1,645.00 in fines, not to mention $1,115.95 collected as costs. Quite a few investigations were made by the officers. The tax collector s office was fairiy busy handling record collections. The register of deeds’ office report ed a spurt in realty transfers, bor rowing and the issuance of delayed birth certificates. In addition to routine work, con tractors were busy repairing the walls around the old hall of justice. BigRealEstateAnd Timber Several deeds, involving the larg est real estate and timber deals re ported in this county in quite some time, were filed in the office of Reg ister of Deeds J. Sam Getfingor a few days ago The exact amounts could not be learned, but one of the deals involved a purchase price of more than $630,234, and it is believed that the combined transactions rep resent a price exceeding possibly three-quarters of a million dollars. Granted by quite a few persons, operating the Foreman-Blades Com pany, the deeds were issued to the Foreman - Derrickson Corporation, and it is understood that the hold ings have since changed hands. The documents showing a more recent sale have not been received by the register of deeds office in this coun ty. The largest tract covered by the [ doeds filed a few days ago is known as the Simmons-Grandy swamp on Roanoke River. The purchase price for the approximately 5,082 acres was listed in the deed at $830,234.80, and the deed carried document or revenue stamps in the amount of $693.55. In addition to the sale of the Sim mons-Grandy, timber options and possibly real estate sales were cover ed in other papers. No amounts list ed. but judging from the amount of the revenue stamps on the papers, at least $90,000 was involved in the sales. Grantors included W. W. Grif fin, T. B. Slade and others. No such large tracts of timber lands are to be found on the county tax books, indicating that the deeds covered several combined pieces of land. f A TOBACCO SALES i v--—- mm. * Tobacco sales on the local mar ket are dwindling: rapidly, and it is fairly certain that the season will close within a week or ten days. Yesterday, the market sold 15,430 pounds, the smallest amount handled on any day this season, lip until this morning: the market had sold 11,128,470 pounds for an average of about $44.25 per hundred. No definite closing date has been fixed for the market, but according to one official report proprietors of two of the houses plan to close on Thursday of next week. Oil Dealers Attend Meeting Wednesday ^ * Discussing the reconversion period, R. R. Gentry, North Carolina repre sentative for the Texas Oil Company, declared that a great boom is in store for this country during the next five years. Addressing nearly 100 Texa co dealers gathered in the Woman’s Club hall as guests of the Harrison Oil Company, Mr. Gentry reviewed the big demand backlog and declared that the oil dealer had a vital part in the reconversion program. “Millions of ccrs are to be built. Highway construction will run into big figures, and several million homes are need ed,” he explained, adding that bil lions in savings were ready to enter the markets. After outlining a business program for station operators, Mr. Gentry out- j lined his company’s program for the reconversion period, declaring that j his company is making and will have available soon new and improved products—“the finest ever made." The guests including district rep resentatives from Virginia and Greensboro, were served a turkey supper. Held annually by the Harrison Oil Company until the war broke out, the supper last Wednesday evening was the first scheduled by the local firm in four years. -• Local Man Named To General Bank Board —•— George H. Harrison, local man, was recently elected to the general board of directors of the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, it was announc ed by the institution’s home office in i Greenville today. Mr. Harrison is the second county man elected a director ! of the general board, R. L. Smith, of Robersonville, having served in that i capacity for some time. The local board of directors is com posed of J. D. Woolard, chairman; W. O. Griffin, R. L. Coburn, L. P. Linds ley, J. E. King, C. B. Roebuck and G. H. Harrison. The Guaranty Bank and Trust Company now has resources in the amount of $37,000,000.00, the figure being the highest in the history of i the institution. NO GENERAL HOLIDAY Falling on Sunday, the 27th Armistice Day will be celebrated in a limited way here next Mon day, November 12, but there will be no general holiday. Hie banks, post office, state and fed eral offices and a few other places of business will close Monday, but general business, including the tobacco market, will continue operations as usual, it was learned today, j No formal celebration has j dccu planned, but Urc John Wal ton Hassell Post of the American j Legion is preparing a big supper for World War 1 and 11 veterans and visiting servicemen Monday night in the legion hut. No pro gram has been announced and there’ll I e no parade. Old Glory S will fly on the streets Monday. TwentY-OaeXpHntv Colored Men Called For Pre - induction —%— Most Of Them Are Farmers; Only One Father Included In Latest Croup Twenty-one Martin County color ed men were called last Tuesday to report to Fort Bragg for pre-induc tion examinations under the Selec tive Service Act. Nineteen answer ed the call which was the largest re ceived by the draft board in this county in recent weeks. One of the two failing to answer the call was transferred, and no report on the other one has been received by the draft board. Only one married man and father was listed in the group, and fourteen of the twenty-one men called came from the farm. The ages of the men ranged from 18 to 24 years, about half of them being in their teens. Names, registrations and last-giv en addresses of the men called this week follow: William Morris Moore, Roberson ville and Baltimore. Moore failed to answer. Anthony Moses, RFD 2, Williams ton and Brooklyn. The selectee was transferred to Brooklyn where he is to report to the draft board for the pre-induction test. | James Andrews Wynn, RFD 3, Robersonville and RFD 3, Williams ton. James Hudgins, RFD 3, Williams ton. I Baker Jethro Burnett, RFD 1, Oak City. Dallas Bryant Evans, RFD 2, Wil liams ton. James Henry Williams, Hamilton. Elijah Biggs, RFD 1, Jamesville. Samuel Thurman Council, Oak City. Charlie B. Taylor, RFD 3, Wil liamston. Arber Lee Fields, RFD 1, Palmyra. Benjamin Edwards, Wiliiamston. Peter Alonza Prelinus Godard, RFD, Washington. William Turner Highsmith, Ever etts. Cornelius Mooring, RFD 1, Hob good. Charlie James Bell, RFD 1, Wil iiamston. Walter Brown, Jr., RFD 2, Wil iiamston. Claude Woolard, Jr., RFD 1, Wil iiamston. Jesse Taylor Matthews, RFD 2, Robersonville. Ben Biggs, Jr., RFD 3, Wiliiamston (Continued on page four) Small Child Dies At Home of Her Parents * . Blonnie Whitaker, young daughter of Mr. J. J. Whitaker and Mrs. Jen nie Warren Whitaker, died at her home near here Wednesday morning at 7 o’clock. She had been ill with pneumonia just a short time. She was born in this county on De cember 7, 1941, and besides her par ents, three sisters, Ellen, Pauline and Margaret, and a brother, Clifton Whitaker, survive. Funeral services were conducted at the home yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock by Rev. H. M. Pope, and in terment was in Woodlawn Cemetery here. -m Auto Catches Fire And Turns Over In The County -4-—. Driving on a dirt road between Hassell and Gold Point, Howard Lan caster, colored, of 2917 High Street, Portsmouth, barely escaped with his life about 9 o’clock last Monday night when his 2955 Dodge car caught fire turned over in a ditch. Lancaster said the car caught fire, that he lost control of the machine while trying to beat out the flames. Running into a ditch the car turned ! over and burned, Lancaster crawling out uninjured just in time to escape burning. The loss was estimated at1 $400. * Judge Calvin Smith r £33EKB^njyiSS11 In County’s Court —<*>— Docket Laet Monday Smallest Handled By Court In Recent Weeks -* Judge J. Calvin Smith called fif teen cases in the Martin County Re corder’s Court last Monday. The docket was one of the smallest hand led by the court in recent weeks, and instead of remaining in session all day, the officers completed their work and were out and gone before the noon hour. The session attracted a fairly large crowd and, for a change, there were more white than colored spectators present. Proceedings: Charged with assaulting a female, Berry Wynne was sentenced to the roads for nine months, the court sus pending the sentence for two years upon the payment of a $20 fine and costs. The defendant was placed on probation for two years and is not to get intoxicated or have intoxicating liquors oi a ’ quor ration book in his possession during drat time. The case charging J. J. Cogdell with bastardy was called for further judgment, the court continuing it under prayer for judgment until the first Monday in March. The defend ant is to pay $10 a month to the wel fare department for the support of his child. A continuance was granted until the first Monday in December in the case charging Lollie Bryant Williams with non-support. Judgment was suspended upon the payment of a $15 fine and the costs in the case charging Leo Thompson with speeding. Carlton Ray Skinner, pleading guilty of speeding, was fined $15 and required to pay the costs. Pleading guilty in the case charg ing him with assaulting a female, J. Robert Moore (colored) was sen tenced to the roads for six months. The sentence was suspended upon the payment of a $25 fine and costs. The defendant is not to violate any criminal law during the eighteen months period of suspension. Charged with assault with a dead ly weapon, Annie Bell Johnson ex plained to the court that she had paid for the damage done to proper ty and judgment was suspended upon payment of the cost. John M. Little, charged with re ceiving stolen property, was adjudg ed not guilty. Charged with larceny and receiv ing, Calvin Bullock pleaded guilty and Earl Bellflower pleaded not guil ty. Bullock was sentenced to the roads for six months, the court sus pending all but the first thirty days of the sentence upon the payment of a $20 fine and one-half the costs and $20 to Roosevelt Jenkins for tires. The defendant is to violate no law during the next year and he was al lowed to wait until early December to start serving his sentence. Bond in the sum of $200 was required. Bellflower, adjudged guilty of aiding and abetting larceny, was fined $25 and required to pay one-half the costs. The case charging Lloyd Ayers with an assault with a deadly weap on was noi prossed with leave. Pleading guilty in the case charg ing him with being drunk and diaor (Continued on page four) I-- ■■■ "1 THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . 'TAKE IT EASY* it wily takes AttOL£ IN ON&! f •*’*■*'• MTKMM UHIV COWM Three more accideius were added to the record figures last week, but none of them was seri ous. It isn’t reasonable, how ever, for the number of accidents ( tc climb in leaps and bounds I without breaking into the fatal or injured columns, sooner or later. 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. Forty-Fourth Week Aceidenii'lhj’d'Kined Dam'ge"' 1945 3 0 0 $ 230 1944 101 000 Comparisons To Date 1945 62 36 6 12,085 1944 58 36 6 10,000 Fund Raised mtjmndr Renewed Appeal Is Directed To County People For Support —<$>— Donations In Hand But Not Yet Reported Expected To Roost Total According to the latest available report, just about one-half of the $13,232.96 United War Fund quota assigned this county has been raised, and renewed appeals are going out, urging every Martin County citizen to rally behind the drive in its last days and help salvage the worthy cause and head off a rotten record thant can plague the people back home for generations to come. Sick home, possibly as a re sult of the feeble showing made to date, Chairman Clarence W. Griffin could not be reached for a detailed report today, but in the sincere hope that the people of this county will come together in support of the drive in its last days, he suggested that the names of the canvassers be listed with the view that those who have already contributed will donate more and that others who were not con tacted will turn sizable donations over to their nearest canvasser. The | entire list of canvassers could not be had for all the county in time for publication today, but possibly the names can be had by early next I week. During the meantime, contri 1 butions may be mailed to H. A. Bow en, United War Fund Treasurer, Williamston, and they will be credit ed to the proper district. Since the last report was made, several canvassers have submitted their lists, boosting the total collect ed and acutally turned in in time to be added late yesterday to $5,057.17. Several of the colored schools in the county have made splendid re cords, but outside the schools the re ports are almost tragic, they are so small. In addition to Dardens, Biggs re ported $86.85, Woolard $50.15; Smithwick’s, $50. and Poplar Point, $30. These reports will stand up with those from anywhere in the county, and those in charge of the canvass and the contributors are to be congratulated. The incomplete report shows the quota and amounts raised in several districts: Jamesville Griffins Bear Grass Williamston Cross Roads Poplar Point Colored citizens $ 800 550 550 6,282 450 175 1,000 $ 314.00 393.25 307.70 3,261.63 280.00 107.05 393.54 $5,057.17 No reports have been received from Robersonville, Hassell, Hamil ton or Goose Nest. All of the can vassers in Williamston have not yet reported. It is believed that the de layed reports will show as of the present time just about $7,000. The drive is being extended in the hope that the good and thoughtful people of Martin County will rally behind the drive and help put it across, or certainly push it nearer the goal, which, after all, is small measured against the ability to con tribute. Martin County s record to date has already attracted attention in high • state official circles, and the follow ing telegram addressed to the county publicity chairman came in yester- | day from Governor R. Gregg Cherry: ■ (Continued on page four) Three Liquor Stills Wrecked In County —— i' Raiding in two townships this week, ABC Officer Joe H, Roebuck and his assistant, Deputy Roy Peel, wrecked three liquor plants and i poured out about two hundred gal lons of molasses beer. ' A copper still of 100-gallon ca pacity was taken in Bear Grass < Township Tuesday and four fermen ters were wrecked. The still ap parently had not been in use during . recent weeks. That afternoon the of- i ficers went to Great Swamp in Rob- . ersonville Township and wrecked a i complete manufacturing unit, in-1 eluding a 50-gallon capacity oil drum still and poured out 100 gallons of molasses beer. 1 Returning to Bear Grass Wednes day, the officers found and destroy ed a cheap plant equipped with a 20 gallon capacity tin still. They pour ed out about 100 gallons of molasses beer. -- «, — -- School llouatis in County Are Valued At $663,054 ’ " Tfie 'friii fy-niuie school houses in this county are valued at $663,054. ^le fifteen w hite school houses have a value of $478,140 and the 24 color ed school buildings are worth $184, 914. GETS AWARDS First Lieutenant Arthur An derson, VVilliamston youth and a bombardier in the 39th Bom bardment Group, was recently awarded the Distinguished Fly ing Cross and Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal at a 11-29 base on Guam. “The achievement of this young man reflects great credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces, the 20tli Air Force said in the order awarding the decorations." Substantial Fines Imposed By Mayor Handling eight cases in recent days, Justice John L. Hassell impos ed several fairly substantial fines, and it is quite certain his court will set a new record for producing rev enue for the school fund. Charged with disorderly conduct, J. T Perry was fined $20 and requir ed to pay the costs. Elmer Griffin and Russell Thomp son were each required to pay $6:50 costs for engaging in an affray. Operating a motor vehicle with im proper brakes, Noah Daniel Frazer was fined $10 and taxed with $7 costs. J. T. Farmer was fined $2 50 and taxed with $7.50 costs for being drunk and disorderly. Charged with operating a motoi vehicle with improper brakes, Lester Speller wasmod $10 and taxed with $9 costs. Drunk and disorderly, L. G. Mod liri was fined $10 and required to pay $10.50 costs. Moses Williams was also fined $10 and taxed with $10.50 costs for being drunk and disorder ly charged with interfering with an officer in the performance of his duly, Ernest Lanier was bound over to the county court under bond in the sum of $200. Native Of Comity Dies In Norfolk Mrs. Nolle Baker Rawls, native of this county, died at the home of her son, William J. Rawls, in Norfolk, last Monday night following an ill ness of two weeks' duration. The daughter of the late William and Theresa Gurganus Baker, she was born in Bear Grass Township on September 23, 11183, and spent most if her life in this county. Following the death of her husband, Minton Rawls, who was killed in an accident, the family moved to Bertie County in 1939, later locating in Norfolk. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at the home of her daugh ter, Mrs. J. H. Webb, of near Wind sor, and interment was in the Mizelle family cemetery in Bear Grass, this ;ounty. The Rev. Mr. Hollowell, Baptist minister of Bertie County, conducted the last rites. Mrs. Rawls was a member of the Presbyterian L'hurch at Robi son’s Chapel. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Pearl Webb of near Windsor and Mrs. Tenipie Taylor of Norfolk; five sons, Elbert, W. J., Willie, Clyde and lohn Rawls, all of Norfolk; and 21 grandchildren. TIRE QUOTA ) kj Martin County has been allot ted 380 tires—327 for passenger cars and 53 for trucks—for ra tioning during the current month, it was announced this week by the War Price and Ra tioning Board The truck tire quota is about 30 percent hgjow 1 the October allotment, and the passenger car allotment was re duced by ten percent. Even with the smaller quotas in effect, there is mueh doubt if dealers will be able to meet the I demand. Historical Review Division In Europe Several Marlin County Young Mon Srrveil In Battles Willi The Thirtieth (Tlu' story below reviews the glorious part the Thirtieth (Oid Hickory) Division had in winning World War II. Since several Martin County boys were in the Division, the record most certainly will be read with interest in this county.) The first of the installments fol lows: War heroes don't wear big signs to advertis« their deeds. A chest full of ribbons can’t begin to tell the true story of gallant sacrifice made by the U. S. fighting men. When the red and blue oval patch of the 30th (Old Hickory) Infantry Division, howev er, is seen flashing on a khaki-clad shoulder, there you can be sure is one of tin- men of distinguished valor in the terrible struggle ended in Eu Had military security permitted, the name Oid Hickory would have been an mg the foremost in the his tory-making (leadlines during the months in which Hiller's legions wore being beaten. The bold black arrows on the war maps, showing the course and breath-taking progress of our men, had not operations freqnently been cloaked in great secrecy, would have almost daily carried the num ber of the gallant “30th”. Old Hick ory, the Division born of men from North and South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, is a sterling monu ment to the finest traditions of the Southland. From June 15, 1944.J D-Day plus 9 —when the well trained men of the yet untried Division landed on Oma ha Beach of the Normandy penin sula, to V-E Day, when they met the Russian forces on the Elbe River, many new honors were heaped daily by the men of the Old Hickory Di vision on 11k heritage left by their fathers in World War I. Their cour age, determination and valiant spirit throughout five major campaigns, which brought over 9,000 high mili tary decorations is a record to be studied with pride. The Division’s enviable record be gan in World War 1 when it partici pated in three victorious Allied drives in France the Ypres-Lys and Somnies offensives and the smashing of the llindenburg line when its members returned to the United States for demobilization in May, 1919, they had earned more than half of the British decorations giVen to American troops and 12 of the 7ti Medals of Honor awarded by the Congress of the United States. With the background of effective ness in combat, the 30th retained its identity as a National Guard unit during the peace years and was re called into federal service September Hi, 1940 at Fort Jackson, S. C.,, where it lias recently returned after its triumphs in the ETO. As activated for World War I at Camp Sevier, Greenville, S C., in July, 1917, the roots of the Division again reached into the soil and hills of the South. Following preliminary training at l ol l Jackson, the Division participat ed in the 1st and 2nd Army maneu vers from June to November, 1941, the largest peace time maneuvers ever held in the United States. (To Be Continued) Jurymen Are Drawn I For December Court J’wcnty-four Martin County men were drawn for jury service during the December term of the superior court bv the county commissioners in their regular November meeting held recently. The term, scheduled for one week for the trial of both criminal and civil cases, seldom lasts over a day or two. Few civil cases are hooked for trial during the short term. Names of the jurymen and their respective townships follow: Jamesville: Geo. 1). Hardison. Williams: A W Hardison and John T. Heath. Griffins: Simon I). Roberson, J. Arthur Corey, Julius M. Manning, R. Dewey Perry John Edwin Man ning and W. G. Hardison. Bear Grass: W. R. Roebuck, E. C. Harrison and Jos. T. Phelps. Williamston: V. J. Spivey, Herman A. Bowen, C. II. Godwin, Jr., Frank I'. Carstarphen, Clyde Roberson, W. II. Williams, Jr. Cross Roads: Hugh Leggett. Robersonville: J. M. Dixon and Claude E. Smith. Hamilton: G. C. Hopewell and K. B. Etheridge. Goflae Nest: J. R. Rawls. (wirl Scouts Haiti Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting Here The Cardinal and Eagle Girl Scout Patrols Uld Ua.il regular Li ftrosth ■ ly~ 'w. ata.jp. i r V,7 - • dny of this week. The session v >s held on the lawn of the high school building. After handling all business, the patrols played a game of softball, the Cardinal Patrol winning 21 to 16. We were then dismissed.—Louise Corey, Scribe. •