i’liiiiiiiiMiiMiimiiimiiimiiiifmiiiiiiiimiimiiiiiiimiiMiir.. § A home newspaper dedicated = | to the service of Washington j§ § County and its 12,000 people. = ftiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiMiaiiiUiiiiuniir. The Roanoke Beacon * * 4 + * * + and Washington County News ******* VOLUME XLVI—NUMBER 48 3iiimiMiiiiiiiiiiMini: MiiiirimiitiiiHiifiJiy .iiimiuimi' H Advertisers will find Beacon § jg and News columns a latch-key to = 5 1,100 Washington County home*. ftiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMfiiiii. Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, November 29, 1935 ESTABLISHED 1889 TORPEDO BOATS PROVED VALUE IN WAR EVENT HERE Aid of Civic Organizations To Be Sought in Building Suitable Memorial -$ Torpedo boats, as a necessity of war, swept into importance in the War Between the States when such a vessel under the command of Lieu; W. B. Cushing sank the famous ram 1 Albemarle,” iron-clad champion of the Confederate cause, on the night ci October 27. 1864. This torpedo carrier was crude in style and did not resemble the fam ous U-Boats nor submarine craft of the World War, but they were ef fective, as they could so direct their explosives that they would penetrate the vessels in their unprotected bot toms tha' rested in the water sev eral feet. With t . knowledge, Zeb Vance Norman, president of the Plymouth Chamber •(' Commerce and vice pres ident of the Southern Albemarle As sociation, representing this county, wishes to secure the aid of civic or ganizations including the American Legion, United Daughters of the Confederacy and any such organiza tions that will help to devise a plan to perpetuate the memory and ar range for a physical historical attrac tion to Plymouth for tourists. It is his idea to build a replica, either the same size, if money is available, if not, maybe of a minia ture nature, to satisfy the desires of those who revel in historical sights and who visit the shrines of history annually on tours of this country. Some have suggested a painting, if nothing else. A tablet on the court house grounds commemorates the sinking of ihe ship. This boat was built at Edward’s Ferry, between Scotland Neck and Halifax, on the farm of Peter Smith, by a man named Smith and a Mr. Elliott. The boat had no runways or dry dock, but was constructed in a “sink” in a bank of the river that was large enough to hold the boat. Dikes prevented the water rushing into the opening in the bank. Before completion of the wooden boat, President Jefferson Davis, on March 19, 1864, ordered the boat to proceed down the Roanoke River to Plymouth. During its course, the railroad iron that was beat into gun boat metal in Richmond and sent down here, was bolted on the sides en route to Plymouth. Prior to its arrival the Federals had secured a hold on Plymouth. General Hoke, a Confederate com mander, was awaiting the help of the ram "Albemarle,” and upon its arriv al the boat and the troops assaulted Plymouth and took the town for the South. Hoke, with his men, was sta tioned near Ward’s bridge on the Martin and Washington County line. He was made a major general by President Davis for the part he played in taking Plymouth from the Yankees. The “Albemarle” was under the command of Capt. J. W. Cooke, while Gen. A. F. Warley was in command oi the troops. The vessel was 153 feet long, 35 feet wide with a draft of 8 feet. It was classed as a screw steamer, iron-clad, yellow pine fas tened with iron and teenails. It had two engines, two boilers, two fur naces and two guns. The "Albemarle” sank more than 10 enemy vessels. Among them was the "Miami,” which cost the enemy $179,051.28. The commander, C. W. Flusser, was killed. The “South field” was also a victim. It cost the Union forces $65,000. Acting Volun teer Lieut. Charles A. French was in charge. Both were sunk in the Roanoke River near the old veneer plant. Seven more boats were ac counted for at the mouth of the Al bemarle Sound. Upon arrival of the Albemarle in Plymouth waters the Confederates took the town from the Union forces the first time, with General Wessels surrendering on April 21, 1864, turn ing over to the south 2,500 prisoners and 28 pieces of artillery and a large quantity of provisions. Three days after the sinking of the "Albemarle” the Federals captured Plymouth for the second time. Forts were built and guns trained on the Roanoke River toward the Sound. The canny Yankees with light-draft ships treaded the shallow waters of the Middle and Cashie Riv ers into the Roanoke River, coming in from the east, while efforts were being made to protect it from the west. Betty Graham, a pretty and wise spy from Virginia, was sent down Here by President Davis to watch operations of the enemy from this section. She loved a Confederate officer. However, she “worked” the Yankee officer in charge here and found out that the attack was going to be made from the west, but after receiving her information the Con Farmer Is Burned To Death IN ear Jamesville I CHURCH SPEAKER I v_/ Dr. Grant K. Lewis, of Indian apolis, Ind„ executive secretary of Department of Evangelism of the Christian churches (Dis ciples) in the Cnited States and Canada, who will speak at the One-Day convention at the Wil liamston Christian church < . Monday, December 2nd. Increased Acreage of t. Food and Feed Crcr.-s Reported in State Million More Acres Planted This Year Than in 1930; Farms Increase Under the AAA programs, North Carolina farmers are growing ihis year over 1.000,000 acres more food and feed crops than they did five years ago. Much of the 870,000 acres taken out of cotton and tobacco cultiva tion has been put into corn, wheat, !oats, hay, sorghums, pasture and I other crops for consumuption on the farm. According to the agricultural census taken this year, reported Dean I. O. Schaub of State College, the total land under cultivation has increased from 5,809,754 to 5,965,547 acres since 1930. The number of farmers in the State increased by 21,259, or 7.6 per cent. However, the gross value of farm land decreased 26 per cent. On the farms were found 13,000 full owners, 4,000 part owners, and fewer than 5,000 tenants. The corn and bay crops were in creased by approximately 450,000 acres each, while the wheat crop jumped from 350,000 to 500,000 acres. Irish potato plantings jump ed up 52 percent, or 32,000 acres, and the sweet potatoes 58 per cent, or 35,000 acres. With the larger production of corn, hay, oats and pasture crops there was an expansion in the num ber of cattle by 217,254 head, an increase of 46.5 per cent in five years. Of this number 124,753 were cows and 108,000 were hogs. The number of horses decreased from 86,000 to 66,000, but the num ber of mules remained close to 295,000. Corn Yields in Cleveland Are Increased 100 Percent -<$> Cleveland County corn yields have been increased 100 percent in field demonstrations where 100 pounds of the nitrate per acre was j added 45 days from planting, re ports the farm agent. I -®-—— Many Mecklenburg 4-H club boys have selected swine for project work 'next year in an effort to produce more meat at home. federate forces did not have time to secure reinforcements. Sinking of the Albemarle empha sized the need of torpedo boats, and excerpts from a letter written to a representative in Liverpool, Eng land, by S. R. Mallory, secretary of the Navy of the Confederate States of America, under date of November 21, 1864, from Richmond, Va., “re cent destruction of our iron-clad Al bemarle” and our own operations against the enemy have attracted our' attention to torpedo boats, of which our enemy already has a fleet.; ar range to get us six such boats.” This boat was raised April 21, 1865. It was taken to Norfolk and sc Id by Commander A. H. Kitty to J. N. Leonard and Company for $3, 200 on October 15, 1867. It cost the Confederates $79,944 to build it. This information was secured from the knowledge and library of Re corder John W. Darden, who has a good library and who has family records that have served to enlighten him on this matter. $ ~ * John Page Falls Into Fire % hilr in Stupor \nd Horibly Burned Details of Horrible Tragedy Described As Pitiful by County Officers j Williamston, N. C.. November 26. I—John Page, rehabilitation farmer [was burned to death early this [morning near his home about three miles from Jamesville, county of ficers describing the death as one of Itlic most horrible ever reported in this county. His every stitch of I clothing burned from his body, even the socks within his shoes, the man was left in a semi-conscious condi tion and died about four hours later or a 5 o'clock. The meat was cook ed from the neck down, the attend ing physician finding it difficult to locate a spot in the baked flesh that would hold a hypodermic needle. Pitiful are the details that led up to the tragedy, Sheriff C. B. Roe buck, who was called to the scene about two o’clock, said upon his re turn. Page, 45 years old, with his son, John; jr., about 15 years old, had carried a load of peanuts on a mule and cart to Williamston early yesterday. Said to have been drink ing before he reached the market with the peanuts, the man after making the sale, purchased a pint of liquor in Williamston. After con suming that, he purchased a pop bottle full of domestic liquor on the way home. In Jamesville the man ager of the legal liquor store refused to sell him, and Page, according to the story told by the youthful lad and faithful attendant, purchased a pint from another bar in Jamesvillc. Time was passing rapidly and it must have been about midnighl when the man and son neared their home. Fearful that his mad-drunk father would abuse his mother and his brothers and sisters, the lad sug gested that they stop and build a lire along the roadside and warm. They were hardly more than 300 yards from the home provided them by rural rehabilitation authorities, but Page, the boy said, agreed to the plan. The mule was tied to a tree, and a large open lire was soon burning, the boy lying down on one side and the father on the other. The lad, tired and weary after drag ging around with his father, was soon aseep, but he had slept but a short while before he was awaken ed by the horrible groans and moans uttered by his father. The man ap parently had attempted to get up and fell into the fire, and while tiro son ran to a near-by home for aid, the father cooked in the fire that burned from his body everything ex cept his shoes. The flesh cracked al most to the bone when neighbors moved him to his home. Arrangements are being made for the burial this afternoon, but de tails could not be learned here. John Page was the son of the late Seth Page, of this county. lie lived a greater part of his life in the Cross Roads section, but about a year ago, lie was picked up by the rural rehabilitation forces and plac ed on a farm near Jamesville. His wife, the daughter of the late Buck Clark, and seven children survive. Reports reaching here state that Page, not so long ago, expressed a desire to be drunk when he died, explaining that he was only happy wl'.en drunk. He got his wish, but surely in a different way than he had desired it would be. Organize Young Tar Heel Farmers Club —«— A local chapter of the Young Tar Heel Farmers of North Carolina, a subsidiary organization to the Fu ture Farmers of America, has been organized in the new vocational ag riculture department in the Ply mouth High Schol under the super vision of J. O. Cooper, teacher. Seven officers have been elected for the group of three classes. This organization is set for a meeting that is to be held in Roper on December 13 with farm students from high schools in Jamesville, Plymouth, Roper, Creswell, and Columbia pres ent. Officers are: William Mizelle, president; Richard Lucas, vice pres ident; Osborne Dunbar, treasurer; Jack LeFever, secretary; Beverly Newberry, advisor; Joe Vail, stenog rapher; Bill Darden, reporter. fo Hold Exams foi I Auto Drivers in Ail County-Seat Towns Arrangement at Present Time Is Temporary, Patrol Head Says “Regarding the adhiinistration o! the new drivers' license law and pro visions made for the examination ol applicants for license in all of the counties of the state, this is to ad vise that it is the intention of the State Highway Patrol to hold these examinaions in the county seat of every county throughout the state." This is a reply to the letter from Senator Carl L. Bailey to Charles D. Farmer, Raleigh, captain of the State Highway Patrol. The cor respondence was neeesitated by the present emergency which makes peo ■pit in Washington and Tyrrell coun ties have to go to Williamston to be examined for drivers’ licenses. This has occasioned a protest from peo ple in these counties who brought | their protest to Senator Bailey to | gel his aid. “As soon as the rules and regula tions are gotten up so that we may intelligently examine new applicants and give them the rules of the high way laws so that they can study same, we do not intend to slight any county, and we want to make this as convenient for the people, that are making application for these licenses as we possibly can. "The present set-up is merely tem porary arid as soon as we can get equipment we will publish exactly the time wc will hold these examina tions,” concluded the letter. The patrolmen have been examining' those from this section in William ston. Short Staple Has Tended To Depress Price To Some Extent The stalpe length of North Caro lina cotton crop is shorter this year :than in 1934, but the grade is about the same. The short staple has tended to de press the price, said Glenn R. Smith, cotton marketing specialist of the North Carolina Agricultural Exper iment Station. On a given market, he admitted, the buyers may not pay more for a bale of Ion staple than for a bale cl short staple cotton. But the average price of cotton on a market where most of the lint is of good length will be higher than the average price on markets where the staple is short. Even though the grade is good, he continued, the shorter length of the staple reduces the quality of the cotton. The only way to produce long staple cotton is to plant good seed of a long staple variety, Smith point ed out. This year, there were a number of growers who planted in ferior seed, or good seed mixed with bad seed. He commended the farmers for picking, handling, and ginning their cotton according to the recommend ed methods, as these methods are necessary to the production of clean, higlj grade lint. Only 42 per cent of the cotton ginned up to November 1 this year was an inch or longer in staple length, as compared with 54 per cent last year. Thirty-one per cent was less than 15-16 inch, as compared with 21 per cent last year. Approximately 6 ] er cent was less than 7-8 inch, while last year the amount was less than 11 per cent. However, Smith said, most of the cotton grown this year has a longer staple length than that of the 1933 crop. Negro Falls Dead at c Gathering in Church o Antone Barnes, about 50, colored, fell dead in the study of the New Chapel Baptist church here Friday. He was a delegate to a negro gath ering from Cresewll. He went into the study of the pastor of the church and died suddenly, slumping to the floor while standing. Dr. L. S. Mit chell said death was due to a severe heart attack. He died instantly. Union County Farmers Raise Turkeys To Sell Numerous flocks of nice turkeys have been grown in Union County this summer at low cost and are be ing finished for the holiady markets. BIG MOTORCADE FROM SKI TIOIN III GO TO B A LEIGH 100 Cars Expected To Make Trip to Hearing Before Road Commission When delegations from the four counties travel to Raleigh early next month to lay their program of de velopment and improvement of Washington, Tyrrell, Hyde, and Dare Counties before the State High way and Public Works Commission, they plan to do it in style. They will ask for a motorcycle escort with patrolmen flanking them land leading the way into the Capital City. In the calvacade will be at least 100 cars. Washington and Tyr rell delegations will meet at Wil liamston and will meet those from Dare and Hyde in Zcbulon from where they wish the attendance of patrolmen. It they can’t get there on the date that the commission meets they will ask for a special meeting and they j want it to be held in the first floor I of the Capitol building, where ev ! ery delegate from all the counties will have ample room, as not less than 500 are expected to attend the meeting. Part of these will be women. W. M. Darden, secretary of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, with a committee composed of D.'B. Fearing, Dare; J. A. Poison, Hyde, will have the responsibility of rais ing a fund of $1,000 for the operation of the Southern Albemarle Associa tion, which will sponsor the event. They intend to put their needs di rectly up to the state commission. Z. V. Norman, president of the commercial body, is expending ev ery effort with his committee to have the program ready as early in De cember as possible. It will contain projects of highway improvement in each of die four member counties. Sunday Schools in Meeting Sunday _E_ Roper.—The quarterly converjon of the Lees Mills Township Sunday School Association was held Sun-; | day at Mount Zion Baptist church. I Of especial interest to every'one 'was the talk which the Rev. M. L. Ambrose gave on the “Influence of the Bible To Us.” Special music was rendered by | Mr. D. E. Poole and also by a quar-j tet, composed of J. C. Knowes, R. \\ . Lewis, Russell, Chesson and the Rev. M. L. Ambrose. Mr. D. W. Gard ner and Mr. Harden sang a duet. Morton Marriner gave the address of welcome and Mr. J. R. Carr gave the response. \\ ork Is Beilin Done