THE WEATHER
Partly cloudy tonight
and Tuesday, not much
change in temperature,
moderate variable winds. "
Net Circulation
Saturday
1,103 Copies
VOL. XI.
ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 24, 1921
NO. 20.
Sunday's Fire Loss
Figures $80,000
Damage to Building Estimated At
Fifty Thousand In Addition To
Loss of Siff Company's Stock
Property in the amount of approximately eighty thousand
dollars went up in smoke early Sunday morning when the se:
cond and third stories of the Savings Bank . & Trust Com
pany's new building on the corner , of Main and Poindexter
streets were gutted by flames and the stock of the S. R. Siff
Company almost utterly consumed.
Discovered between four
and five o'clock, the flames
gained headway until they
burst through the roof, delug
ing all the area from the build
ing to N. G. Grandy's water
front with a shower of sparks
that fell thick as snowflakes
in a snowstorm and threaten
ing the whole area with an
outbreak of flame.
This, however, was the be
ginning of the end. With eight
streams of water playing di
rectly on the flames instead of
through the windows the fire
soon began to subside and had
been totally subdued before
eleven o'clock.
About five o'clock when the
flames burst through the third
story windows on Poindexter
street it looked as if the Bee
Hive building might be threat
ened, but the wind was blow
11 ing in the opposite direction
and the threat never became
imminent.
This building was regarded
, as one of the best in the city, ever, as the flames, originating
and it stood on the principal somewhere around the ele
business corner of the down- vator shaft, had cut off ap
town section. It was built in.proach to the second and third
1911 for a department store stories and with hose directed
and was recently purchased by through the windows from the
' the Savings Bank & Trust ground it was impossible to
Company for $45,000 and re- put out the fire until the roof
modelled for a bank building, 'fell in.
the S. R. Siff Company moving Elizabeth City's fire equip
up to the second story with an ment was never used to better
arcade entrance on Poindex-. advantage. The Virginia
ter street. Except for this pumped water directly from
entrance -the entire first floor the river at the foot of Main
was to be the home of the Sav- street, the Betsy from Grandy's
' . ings Bank & Trust Company. , wharf and the Inez from Vhe
. foot of Fearing street. Mem-
ine uaiin. iiau originally ex
pected to occupy its new quar
ters by January 1, 1921, but
the work was delayed and the
date. had . bee moved up to j
about March 1st. The work of i
remodelling was practically!,
complete and the installing of
, ... ,
the bank's fixtures and equip
ment ViQfl Korrim HPho Qoiriniva '
t ip m l ' n jithe neighborhood of ten th
Bank & Trust Company had , , A,
purchased modern equipment
of the highest order and had
purposed to make the bank's
home one of the show places
in Elizabeth City and as well
equipped a bank as could be
found in Eastern North Caro-
lina. In addition to the pur-j
chase price they had spent up
wards of $45,000 in remodel
, ling and equipping the build
ing which when completed
would have cost upwards of
$100,000.
The bank figures its loss at
fifty thousand dollars, covpred
by insurance. The S. R. SifT
Company claim to have had a
Stock worth Upwards of thirty
thousand dollars which v?a3 al-
most completely destroyed.
Their loss is partially covered
by insurance.
Disappointed at the delay in
getting into their new quar
ters, officials of the Savings
Bank & Trust Company are
promptly adjusting themselves
to the situation and arranging
to let new contracts for putting
the building in order according
to the original plans. These
will be pressed to completion
as rapidly as possible.
The fire was discovered
shortly after four o'clock by
Officer Seymore, who prompt
ly turned in the alarm. The
fire company's record shows
that the alarm was turned in
at 4:20, and they responded
with their usual promptness.
The first hose was turned in at
the front door a few minutes
later. At this juncture a hose
burst and the hydrant in front
of the Standard Pharmacy was
found to be out of order, caus
ing a few moments delay. The
delay was not material, how-
bers of the fire company say
that if they had had an aerial
truck so that they could have
fought the flames from an ele
vation somewhere about the
ulf.
i nave jui uui uie me ueiuie n
burned through the roof.
"Such a truck would cost in
ou-
sand dollars," they say, "but
it would have paid for itself in
this one fire." City Manager
Commander rejoins that the
loss from a fire does not fall on
Elizabeth City tax-payers.
Beyond the fact that the
flames seem to have originated
around the elevator shaft,
nothing is known as to the ori
gin of the fire.
XiMIcp to the MrnilH-t-R of
Elizabeth ( lly Clinrnl SHlrtv
On Tuesday evening, Jan. 2.rth.
will have the orchestra rehearse with
the chorus. I am making this a per
sonal appeal to all of the members
t fi tin hrnatt n t at t h i u rnhnn fuul
j Knowing 0u will appreciate the
""ressity o" attending the next two
ZTZVJ"'""
frank r. hcfty, Director.
THIRD FIRE MONDAY
There's a sort of superstition
among firemen and others that one
big tire invariably means three fires
in succession, so Monday morning at
about ten o'clock, the lire company
was called out to the home of Dr.
Cardwell, colored physician, on
Shepard street.
This fire followed so closely on
the heels of the big Siff fire that
"most everybody said "there goes the
second fire. Watch out for the
third."
And sure enough another alarm
was turned in from Pool street be
fore noon.
Both fires were soon extinguished
Monday morning, however, and the
damage was slight.
Another firemen's superstition is
that "When the Chief's away, there's
to pay."
Chief Flora up and got married
the other day and, of course, while
he was on his honeymoon something
JustTiad to happen. D. O. Brockett
has been on the job in Flora's ab
sence, however, and the company
has been doing its work with its ac
customed efficiency and vim.
GEO. W. TWIDDY
DIED LAST NIGHT
Native of Pasquotank, Splen
did Citizen, and Good Busi
ness Man Funeral From
Home Tuesday Afternoon
George Washington Twiddy died
at 6:15 Sunday evei.ing at his home
on the corner of While and Green
streets from heart disease.
He was sixty-live years of age and
had been In failing health Tor the
last few years. About a month ago
he was seized with a severe heart at
tack early one morning, but re
cently had Improved considerably.
Friends and relatives realized, how
ever, that death might come almost
any day.
Mr. Twiddy was born in Pasquo
tank County and had lived In Eliza
beth City for 3S years. He married
Miss Pauline Jackson, of this
County and today would have been
t lie forty-third anniversary of their
marriage.
He had been engaged in the gro
cery business ever since coming here.
He was at one time with W. H.
Weatherly, but for many year3 had
been sole proprietor of his own re
tail grocery store, aided by two of
his sons, and his store has been
known for its spotlessness and its
high quality of service.
Not only did Mr. Twiddy hold
high place in the business world,
but he was always interested in
community work, was well informed
and always ready to serve, seeking
no honors for himself.
I He was a faithful member of the
I First Baptist church and a member
: of Its board of deacons, and in his
church work the same loyalty and
conscientiousness were constantly ex
emplified. Mr. Twiddy was a man who mada
friends and kept friends. He had
his own opinions and followed his
own conscience but gave others the
Bame privilege. His efficient labors
and his kindly spirit will be missed
not only by his nearest relatives and
his closest personal friends, but by
all who knew him at his store, In
his church or elsewhere.
He Is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Pauline Twiddy; by two daughters.
Mrs. W. T. Deans and Miss Bernice
Twiddy, both of this cHy: by five
' sons, Pat D. Twiddy, George A.
Twiddy, William C. Twiddy. Ray
mond Twiddy and Calvin H. Twiddy,
all of this city; by seven grandchil
dren, all of this city; and by one
sister, Miss Nancy Twiddy, also of
this city.
The funeral will be conducted
from the home Tuesday afternoon at
3:30 by his pastor, Rev. H. K. Wil
liams, with Odd Fellows rites. In
terment will be made In Hollywood.
CALIFORNIA X RESIGNS
FROM SHIPPING HOARD
Washington, Jan. 24. Chester
Rowell, of California, resigned today
as a member of the ' new shipping
board, effective Immediately. He;
leaves the shlpp'ng board to become
a member of the California railroad,
commission. i
FRIEND OF l)E VA I.Kit A
HAH IlKKX ARRKSTKI
Belfast, Jan. 24. Rev. J. A. I r-1
win. Presbyterian minister, whoj
spoke In the United States with
Eamon De Valera during the latter'
tour, ha been arrested.
LABOR WILL KILL
BOTH JEASURES
Announces President State
Federation Neither Young
Nor Delaney Bill Meet Or
ganized Labor's Approval
NO HOPE AGREEMENT
OX GOOD ROADS LAW
Raleigh, Jan. 24. (Special)
With all hope of harmonizing
the divergent views of Governor
Morrison and the supporters of
the Clarkson good roads bill
dissipated, leaders in. both
branches of the General As-
sembly today announced their
intention of laying the measure
before the legislators without j
further delay, believing that all
differences might be settled In
debate.
Governor Morrison won out
In the preliminaries in Insisting
that no ad valorem tax be levied
by the State to finance the road
program, according to Heriot
Clarkson who said that all fac-
tions had agreed to eliminate
the request for a general prop-
erty tax.
Raleigh, Jan. 24. Expecting dis
cussion during the present week in
one or both branches of the Gen
eral Assembly, over the two pro
posed workmen's compensation acts,
organized labor today announces its
decision to have both of the meas
ures defeated.
This announcement Is made here
tday by W. F. Moody, president of
the State Federation of Labor, who
says he has studied both the De
Laney bill and the Young bill and
has found them wanting in many
particulars. Organized labor in
North Carolina, says President
Moody, will have nothing to do with
either measure except to secure
their defeat if possible, and the
union's head thinks this can be
done.
The iiHnouncement sent to the
State papers last week aligning the
unionists back of the DcLaney will
and 1 opposition to the measure
drafted by the commission appointed
during the Bickett administration
and introduced by Representative
Young was before it became known
that the State Federation of Labor
had deserted the Mecklenburg sena
tor. The laborers did intend to
urge support for the DeLaney bill,
saying that it was their understand
ing that it would be vastly different
from the commission's draft. Now
they take the position that the mea
sures are well nigh one and the
same.
Senator DeLaney said today that
while there was no radical differ
ence in the proposed bills he believ
ed the bill he had drafted and intro
duced would be more satisfactory to
organized labor than the Young
law.
"In drafting my bill," said Sen
ator DeLaney, "I did not attempt to
unduly discriminate against the em
ployer nor to show partiality to the
employee, but I did try to strike a
happy medium between the two so
that the bill would have some chance
of passing. However, It's, up to the
laboring men; if they don't want to
give and take I fear that North Caro
lina will not have any kind or work
men's compensation law during the
next two years."
Members of the House and Senate
express the opinion that unless the
State Federation of Labor lends Its
support to one of the proposed bills
both will be defeated since, it is
pointed out. the legislation Is In
tended to provide relief for the man
who works with his hands and is in
jured while so doing. The sage pre
diction Is that neither bill will pass
muster.
Busy Week Expected
Governor Morrison's Intention' of
going before the Legislature either
Wednesday or Thursday to deliver
his taxation message which will have
an indirect bearing upon road legis
lation Is taken as the cue that the
present week's session will be one of
the busiest so far.
At loggerheads with the program
the North Carolina Good Roads lob
byists are advocating the governor's
message Is looked for with much In
terest at the capital. The good
roads' lobbyists are insisting that an
ad valorem tax be levied to finance
the road building program while
Governor Morrison holds out that
no general property tax be levied
The Governor would raise the money
from a bond Issue, paying th" inter
est with the automobile license nnd
gasoline tax.
Then the question of maintenance
seems to be pestering the life of
everybody. There are those who
think the State should build and
maintain the highways; the Gover-
Aerial Mail Service
For New Zealand
New York, Jan. 24 New Zealand
will soon inaugurate an airplane
mall service modeled after that in
use by the United States Postofflce
Department, according to J. B. Mur
phy, of Timarou, New Zealand, who
came here to see demonstrations of
various aircraft. The company with
which he is connected has signed a
contract to carrying the aerial mails
in New Zeland, added Mr. Murphy.
Sightseeing over Mount Cook In
airplane also is contemplated, Mr.
Murphy said. Mount Cook Is a
major objective point for tourists in
that country.
BUYS f&RMAN GOODS
Berlin, Jan. 6 (Correspondence
of the Associated Press) Russia
has given large orders for manufac
tured goods to Germany says the
Izvestla. Included are 300,000
ploughs, 750,000 electric lamps and
15,000 kilograms of ldoform.
DOUBLE LYNCHING
AT WARRENT0N
As Result of Race Riot At Nor-
lina Sunday In Which Sever-1
al Were Wounded and a
Number Imprisoned
Warrenton, Jan. 24 Warenton
was the scene last night of the lynch-.
Ing of two negroes.
The town was quiet today. A
company of home guards wae order
ed out by Governor Morrison last
night when it was realized that
trouble was brewing but this was!
too late to prevent the double lynch
ing. The home guards are still on
duty and further trouble is not an
ticipated.
The lynching was the culmination
of several days 111 feeling between
whites and negroes of Norllna, four
miles from here, which reached the
climax Sunday In a pitched battle
there In which Ave whites and three
negroes were wounded.
Thirteen negroes were arrested
and brought to Jail here. The mob
last night quickly overpowered the
Jailer, took Alfred and Plummer
Bullock, two of the prisoners, a mile
outside of the town and riddled
them with bullets.
The spirit of unrest among the
negroes, here today resulted in the
arrest of five. The police said they
found many firearms In their pos
session.
CHORY-BECKNALL
At the home or the bride's par
ents, Mr. and Mrs! L. W. Becknall,
on Beech street, Sunday morning at
9:30 the marriage of Miss Bannah
Mae Becknall and Mr. F. Everest
Chory was solemnized in the pres
ence of a few relatives and friends,
Rev. J. M. Ormond officiating. Im
mediately after the ceremony the
bride and groom left on the morn
ing train on a northern trip. After
the first of February they will make
their honf in Elizabeth City.
The bride is -a very attractive
young woman with many friends In
the community. The groom is the
son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chory, on
Glade street, and Is now linotype
operator for The Independent.
IMPROVING AT HOSPITAL
Willie J. Saunders, 18-year-old
son of W. J. Saunders, of Weeks
llle, h Improving a ?.imh .Le'gh
Hospital In Norfolk after an opera
tion for appendicitis. He was taken
to the hospital last Tuesday.
nor's plan 1b for State and Federal
construction with county mainten
ance under rigid State Inspection.
The Morrlsonlan plan Is for 3.000
miles of hard surfaced roads, to be
constructed from county seat to
county seat with money furnished by
the State's bonds Is as big amount
as is necessary. The good roads a-t-pociatlon
differs with the Governor
again on dirt roads. Governor Mor
rison Is eternally opposed to spend
ing a dollar of the State's money on
a sand-clay or "mud" roads. He
wants them all hard-surface!. The
gocd roads association's bill provides
for State maintenance of several
thousand miles of dirt roads.
As told In this correspondence for
the first time the Governor I being
opposed In his road building program
by the good roads organization. 1'n
1f sr all factions, unite on fome plan
it Is feared that the Sine will not
f.et the kind of road ciiii-tniction
everybody wants. As mi" member
"f the Legislature epr--n3 l!.
"There are too many pet iil 'as In
the head of the good road, filks.
They all want the same thing, but
are not willing to sitrren -r their
personal views."
SCORE KILLED
IN MEMPHIS FIRE
Spark From Workman's Chisel
Sets Fire to Oil Tank Car
Explosion Wrecks Houses
and Many People Injured
Memphis, Term., Jan. 24.
Possibly a score of persons
were killed and fifty or more
were injured as the result of
the explosion of a tank car of
gasoline here today, which set
fire to a row of small dwellings
occupied mostly by negroes, a
number of whom are missing
and believed to have been
burned to death.
Early police estimates place the
number of dead as high as 25, while
hospital reports indicate that at least
fifty were given treatment for brok
en limbs and other Injuries.
The cause of the explosion has not
been determined but fire department
officials believe it was due to a fly
ing spark from the chisel of a work
man caulking a car.
The scene of the explosion was at
Main street and Mill avenue, In the
center of a densely populated part
ot the city and a short distance from
the gas plant which was endangered
by the fire which spread rapidly.
Twenty frame houses were liter
ally splintered by tlje explosion and
set on fire, while windows within a
radius of 15 blocks were broken.
Two or three negro workmen caulk
ing a car were killed while a third
escaped without injury.
Every ambulance In the city was
rushed to the scene and' volunteer
rescue parties formed to aid the po
lice in removing the dead and In
jured. The fire was brought under con
trol before it hadspread beyond the
dwellings In the immediate vicinity
of the blast.
Ten bodies mutilated beyond rec
ognition were removed a few min
utes after the explosion. While the
latest police estimates place the dead
at twenty-five, it is believed, that the
number, will be larger when check
is made. The first bodies found were
four negro women and one negro
baby. Other bodies were scattered
over the block. Many of the fifty
Injured were seriously hurt. One of
the Injured was a negro boy uniden
tified who, after being' blown into
the air fell Jnto a nearby creek with
both legs broken.
Early estimates of property dam
age Indicated It would not exceed
one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars. CONFERENCE IS
MOST IMPORTANT
Representatives of Nations
Now Divided In Opinions
Meet At Paris Today To
Settle Vital Questions
Paris, Jan. 24 Representatives
of Great Britain, France, Italy,
Belgium and Japan met here to
day for a conference which seemed
second in importance only to that
preceding the signing of the Versail
les Treaty.
The conference Is expected to set
tle reparations, the disarmament of
Germany, enforcement or alteration
of the treaty with Turkey, relief of
Austria, and the policies to be pur
sued In dealing with Russia.
All are questions on which the
different participating nations are
more or less divided and the settle
ment of which Is viewed with much
concern.
MANUFACTURER SAYS
PROHIBITION TO STAY
Liverpool. Jan. 7 Lord Llver
hulme, one of Great Britalhs't larg
est manufacturers, told the Dally
Post representative on h's return
from a recent vls't to the United
States that "prohibition hag come
to stay of that you may be certain."
"The people are settling down
under It," he continued "and I be
lieve that If put to the popular vote,
75 per cent of the electorate would
support Its continuance. Thre i
not the slightest chance that the
law against alcoholic drinks will
ever be repealed.
W. J. Saunders, of Weeksvllle.
was In the city Monday on business.