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1 The Roanoke Beacon ^4444^4 and Washington County News ★★★★★★★ VOLUME LI NUMBER 5 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 1, 1940 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics Melodies by Greig and The Trav eler’s Overture, by Forest L. Bucktel, are two selections that have been sent to the Plymouth High School Band for presentation in Greenville at tile district music contest to be held the latter part of March. Di rector L. W. Zeigler said the local band members were working on these pieces now. J. S. Collins, of Roper, while in town this week, was telling about the time the Albemarle Sound, as well as Roanoke River, was frozen over in January, 1893. He said mail was carried on foot across the sound, as there was no rail road bridge at that time and the ferry could not operate, the wa ter being frozen to a depth of 22 inches. During the 22 years that J. J. Clemmons has been principal of the Roper colored school—now the J. J. Clemmons school—not a single high school boy or girl taught by him has ever been arrested on any charge in the county, which friends think is an excellent tribute to any teacher. J. L. Rea, assistant director, in charge of the Blackland Test Farm at Wenona, plans to leave next week for Birmingham, Ala., where he will attend an annual meeting of agricul tural leaders of 17 southern states. Last year he went to New Orleans, La., for a similar meeting. J. Linwood Knowles, farmer in the Dardens section of Martin County, just across the line from this county, said he sold 691 bushels of sweet potatoes during the past season which he raised and cured at home as an experi ment in developing a new cash crop. He said he “came out” all right with them. J. Roy Hampton, a member of the State Department of Conservation and Development, has received an in vitation to be present at the annual North Carolina Gridiron Dinner, to be held at the Sir Walter Hotel in Raleigh Sunday. The dinner is spon sored by the Carolinas’ Press Photog raphers' Association. Forty years in the ministry with its heavy demands has not dis couraged Dr. G. A. Martin, Bap tist minister of Creswell, who continues to fill his appoint ments, preaching four times each week. Despite the unusually se vere weather of the last four weeks, Mr. Martin said he had not missed a single appointment so far on that account. J. T. McAllister, a former sheriff of Washing, in County, was in town f.Llr. .week seeding support for +*■' foovoment to name the Roper white school in honor of Miss A. C. iGus sie) Carstarphen, who has given 60 years of service to education in this county. Housing Agency Is Barred from Aiding In Local Situation State Law Precludes Pro jects in Towns of Less Than 5000 Hope for a Federal-sponsored low rent housing program in Plymouth fostered by W. H. Clark went glim mering last week with receipt of a letter from John P. Broome, direcor of region four of the United States Housing Authority, who wrote that state law at present precluded the es tablishment of a housing agency in any town in North Carolina with less than 5,000 inhabitants. The USHA was created for the pur pose of giving financial assistance to public housing agencies and aid them in alleviating unsafe and- insanitary housing conditions, as well as to rem edy the shortage of decent, safe and sanitary dwelling accomodations for families of low income, Mr. Broome wrote. fie said further, “we assure you that the conditions that you have outlined in your letter merit the most careful consideration, and it is with sincere regret that we tell you that the North Carolina law has precluded your city from setting up a local housing authority.” It was also pointed out that “at the present the United States Hous ing Authority has no more funds available for more projects . . . how ever, Congress will confer on this matter again this term. . . it would seem desirable for localities inter ested In the housing program to go ahead with their plans and other pre parations, because the program of the USHA is a permanent one, and when the North Carolina legislature acts such a locality would be in the best position to go ahead with their plans if the expansion of the Federal program is authorized.” Still Taking Donations To Infantile Paralysis Fund Postmaster George W. Hardison, chaiman of the county campaign to raise funds for the control of infan tile paralysis, said toady that con tributors might still send in their donations until the last of the week, although Wednesday night was orig inally designated the closing date of the drive. Complete reports from other parts of the county had not reached Mr. Hardison this morning, and he said he had no idea how much had been raised in the campaign, although he hoped to be in position to give the totals next week No Extension of Time for Delinquent Tax Listers; Books Closed Wednesday The records were put away and services of list takers discontin ued Wednesday night, county of ficials deciding there would be no extension of time for listing prop erty for 1940, Tax Supervisor E. F. Swain said yesterday. Those who failed to list are now faced with the possibility of be ing penalized by imposition of double taxes, the supervisor said, although it is possible for delin quents to have their property put on the books if they are willing to pay the list takers for their work. Mr. Swain said that 90 per cent of the property holders In Skin nersville and Scuppernong Town ships hail listed, while In Lees Mills and Plymouth Townships the percentage was estimated at 85. The tax supervisor plans to write state officials at Raleigh for a complete list of automobile owners in this county. The list will be checked with the tax books and those who have not listed their cars will possibly be assessed with double taxes for their de linquency, it was stated. A survey will also be made of all other property in the coun ty, and those who failed to list will be put on the books anyway, subject to the penalties provided by law. Want Used Radio For County Home Anyone who has a used radio that will play and which they do not use is urged to donate It to the inmates of the Washington County home. The aged and infirm folks there have been without a radio of any kind since their old one wore completely out a year or so ago, and the cost of repairing it is prohibitive—for them. It is said their grateful appreciation for the hours of enjoyment they get from a radio will well repay anyone w»’o wishes to contribute one. ,f two radios could be secured, t the colored inmates would also have a chance to enjoy the programs, it was said. Three Men Escape When Yachi Burns In Alligator River Rescued by Icebound Tug; Later Walk Over 3 Miles Of Ice To Shore A tale of three men escaping from a burning boat, which was almost icebound at the mouth of Alligator r-y('r between lights numbers six and seven, was brought to Plymouth this week by K. A. Krouepsch. one of the men. Mr. Krouepsch said that he started on the 46-foot double-cabin yacht Sunset from Hampton, Va., to Miami, Fla., arriving at the mouth of Alli gator River at 3 o’clock Sunday. The engine had been giving trouble since about noon and Mr. Krouepsch said that while working on the engine the boat caught fire. The crew was pick ed up by the tug Buddy, under the command of Captain Jackson, whose tug and dredge was held by the ice. There were about 100 gallons of gas oline on the yacht when it caught fire, and there was nothing the crew could do to combat the flames. After remaining icebound on the tug from Sunday until Tuesday, Mr. Krouepsch told L. S. Thompson, who helped him find a room and loaned him clothing for the trip to his Flor ida home, that he walked three miles over the ice-covered river to Fort Landing, where he caught a ride part of the way to Columbia. The crew of the yacht was brought from Co .umbia to Plymouth by one of the Cahoon boys. The firm for which Mr. Krouepsch vverk buys small boats, remodeling and repairing them for resale. He said the company had lost only two out of 500 boats they have handled in the last few years. Others on the yacht with Mr. Krouepsch were Fleetwood Boyce and Jimmy Gornley, of New York. Religious Census To Be Taken Sunday About 50 canvassers are expected to gather at the Baptist church here Sunday afternoon to take part in the religious census to be made by work ers from the Baptist, Methodist, Epis copal and Christian churches. Twelve workers will be appointed from each of the four churches, and just before they start to visit every home in town they will gather at the Baptist church at 1:30 to get last minute instructions. Five hundred census cards will be allocated to each church for the task. There will be a central committee at the Baptist church headquarters to assist in checking the results and dis tributing the cards according to des ignated denominational preferences. P. Bruce Bateman Plans To Return To Plymouth -$ P. Bruce Bateman, representative of the Sinclair Refining Company, who recently moved to Fayetteville with his family, said while on a visit here this week that his territory had been rearranged and that he planned to return here about the first of April to take up residence again. Mr. Bateman requested his com pany to rearrange the territory so that he could return here to live, and this was done Mrs. Roy C. Cooper Attacked at Home Here Last Saturday James Moore, Colored, Held For July Superior Court After Hearing Within less than an hour after a negro attacked and attempted to criminally assault Mrs. Roy C. Coop er in the kitchen of her home on Washington Street Saturday evening at 6:15. Sheriff J. K. Reid had ar rested James Moore, 21, who was identified by Mrs. Cooper as the man who attacked her. Sheriff Reid first brought another negro man, whose name was not dis closed to Mrs. Cooper, before her, but she said he was not the one: but when the sheriff returned with Moore, Mrs. Cooper identified him immedi ately as her assailant. _ At a preliminary hearing in record er's court Tuesday morning. Mrs. Cooper again positively identified Moore as the man who attacked her, and he was ordered held in jail pend ing posting of a $5,000 bond. The de fendant was represented at the hear ing by Attorney P. H. Bell, his line of questioning indicating that the defense will be based on “mistaken identity” when the case is tried at the July term of superior court. Mrs. Cooper said she was in the kitchen at her home Saturday when she heard the door open behind her. When she turned, the attacker told her to "be quiet." She was so fright ened at first she did not make an outcry. The the negro, she said, choked her, slapped her in the face and hit her in the stomach with his fist. He also grabbed at her clothing, tearing an apron she was wearing. When she recovered enough to scream her father. John West, and her hus band ran to her aid. The negro fled, and she said she did not see him again until the sheriff brought Moore to her for identification. Mrs. Cooper also testified on the tand Tuesday that the negro had been to the house before, asking if ler husband was home. It was said Moore lives on the street at the rear of the Cooper home and passed there luite frequently. Officers Unable to Confirm Report oi Recent Robbery Officers here said this morning hat they did not have any informa ion about a report circulating in Plymouth that the home of Clyde Chesson, near Phelps’ store, on High way 64 between here and Roper, had oeen entered by colored men one day this week. Mr. Chesson could not be reached for vilification of the re port. Bridges Over Sound Said Threatened by Ice Floes This Week Huge Cakes of Ice Said To Be Grinding Against Supports •-® Ice floes threatened serious damage to two bridges over Albemarle Sound this week, when the risirg tempera ture thawed the film of ice connect ing huge ice cakes, which are grind ing against the support. The new' sound vehicular bridge and the Nor folk Southern railroad bridge are the structures threatened. The metallic rhythmic sound of the ice sheets striking against the sup ports of the bridge could be heard for some distance, although there has been no serious damage so far. It is believed there is little danger un less there are strong winds to create swift currents which might cause a jam around the structures. R. R. Roper, of Elizabeth City, dis trict engineer for the State Highway and Public Works Commission, is keeping a close watch on the new vehicular bridge, while engineers of the railroad company are keeping tab on the railroad bridge. The south side of the sound was still a solid block of ice today. On the other side the ice had begun to melt. Last Sunday afternoon Phil Liverman and several others walked out for a good distance on the ice covered sound at Albemarle Beach. Local Farm Class Winners of Plaque A total of 80 points was scored by the vocational agriculture depart ment of the Plymouth High School to win the bronze plaque awarded by the Future Farmers of America in a meeting held in Robersonville last Saturday. Columbia won the emblematic plate at the previous meeting, but, last Sat urday that chapter was third in the listings, Roper coming in second. Seven high schools in Washington, Tyrrell and Martin counties were rep resented in the competition for the plaque, which is awarded at each meeting. At the meeting last Saturday, sev eral stunts and a lecture demonstra tion were presented and such topics discus'sed as better dairy cattle, the use of the jack plane, the pruning of fruit trees, oiling the farm tractor, feeding baby chicks and planting peach trees. Oldest Forecaster Is Due Tomorrow Tomorrow is the traditional “Groundhog Day,” and those who base their predictions as to the length and severity of the winter on the alleged activities of this underground denizen on February 2nd are awaiting the event with bated breath—not to say “baited" breath. According to the old-line prog nosticators, if the groundhog sees his shadow when he emerges at 12 noon on February 2, he im mediately returns to his under ground home, and there will be six more weeks of severe weather. On the other hand, if he fails to see his shadow, he remains out of doors because the winter is done. The question now is: Will he will or will he won’t; with every body hoping for the best, what ever that is. Zeb Vance Norman Appointed To Head Finnish Relief Campaign in County Zeb Vance Norman has been appointed ( bairuian of the Fin nish Relief Fund for Washington County by Ex-Governor J. C. B. Ehringhaus. State Director. He is now undertaking to organize the county in units for the solici tation of funds for Finnish relief, and the public is requested to make contributions as generous ly as possible. These funds arc not for munitions but are for the relief of women, children and the wounded. "We believe that the gcratest admiration of all the people in the world today is poured out to the Finns," Mr. Normain said today. “The savage hand of Russia is striking at the heart of Finland to destroy its liberty and independence, but these God fearing, liberty-loving, peaceful people are making a determined Mtancl against Ku.vsian barbarism and infidelity for an existence. They have been highly successful, but they need help; and of all the international crises raging in the world today, the cause of Finland seems to be the most meritorious. “The people of this community have always been generous, par ticularly in emergencies, and they arc requested to respond now to this distressing call," Mr. Norman concluded. Contribu tions may be forwarded to The Roanoke Beacon or to Z. V. Nor man. county chairman. Do not wait for a committee to call on you but make your contributions voluntarily. The Finns need them now. : Four-Car Exhibit for ! Potato Producers at iColumbia Feb. 15th Machinery, Methods, and Approved Practices To Be Demonstrated The Norfolk Southern Railroad Company will have a four-car potato growers' exhibit at Columbia Thurs day, February 15. from 10 until 5 o'clock, and it will be well worth the time of potato growers to visit the showing, according to County Agent W. V. Hays. The State College Extension Serv ice is cooperating with the North Car olina Department of Agriculture, the Federal Department of Agriculture, and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Company in conducting this exhibit for early potato producers along the line of the railroad in North Caro lina. The exhibit will include a passen ger coach, where a sound movie will be shown illustrating the approved practices of potato growing, grading, etc. A flat freight car will contain grading machinery for a demonstra tion on improved practices of han dling and loading potatoes. A box housing an exhibit of new potatoes, rotation practices, disease specimens, harvesting equipment, grading equipment, shipping contain ers, washing and drying equipment, is also included with the train. Then there is a refrigerator car for detailed explanation of dry ventilation, pre cooling. initial icing and approved methods of shipment. Mr. Hays said this tvas a well planned exhibit, and it will be ac companied by a staff of specialists on potato disease control and market ing. The agent believes all who are President’s Birthday Dance At Creswell Last Saturday Mrs. E. S. Woodley, Creswell chair man of the campaign to raise funds for infantile paralysis control, re ported this week that the President’s Birthday Dance held there last Sat urday night was very profitable as well as enjoyable. Dancers from three counties at tended the event, several college stu dents coming home from Raleigh in order to be present. Hot coffee and sandwiches were served during the intermission by a committee composed of Mrs. Clyde Smithson and Mrs. W. D. Peal. Mrs. Woodley said the success of the dance was due to the excellent service rendered by the various com mittees. Member City of Flint Crew, Visiting Here, Talks of Adventurous Voyage Says Seamen on Ship Shown More Consideration by Germans Than They Were by Their Own Captain; Also Says He Never Heard of Any Plot for Recapturing Ship From Nazi Prize Crew J Herman D. Haddock, of Norfolk, a member of the crew of the City of Flint, United States freighter which was captured by the German pocket battleship Deutschland last October and kept in the headlines for more than a week while in the hands of a German prize crew, arrived in Plym outh this week to visit his sister, Mrs. L. M. Manning, and Mr. Manning. The City of Flint finally docked in Baltimore last week after one of the war's strangest adventures, and Mr. Haddock, a seaman, was glad to get his release from the much-publicized vessel, although he emphasized the consideration shown members of the American crew by the Germans as in marked contrast to the mistreatment he charges against the Flint's skip per, Captain Joseph A. Gainerd, dur ing the course of the 113-da.v voyage. Haddock joined the City of Flint after it had returned several hundred survivors of the British liner Athenia to America the latter part of Sep tember and sailed from New York on October 3rd on its epochal voyage during which it was captured by the German raider, sailed to Murmansk, Russia, under the direction of the Nazi prize crew; restored to its own crew when Norway interned the Ger mans; and delayed by a collision with a British ship in a Norwegian har bor. Incidentally, Haddock discounted tales told by other members of the crew, alleging that a plot had been hatched to recapture the ship from the German crew. He said that he knew of no such plot, although such ' a course was discussed briefly by members of the crew at mess on one occasion. “The only thing we could do was to sail the ship as the Ger mans ordered,” Haddock said, “there wasn’t a chance that we could regain control while they were aboard." Newspaper accounts given by some of the other members of the Flint crew said that time bombs were planted about the si ip and that the Nazis had their machine guns set up and trained on the bridge and decks, while Haddock says the prize crew brought two machine guns and three time bombs aboard with them but kept them in sea bags in the chart room, which was well guarded and accessible only t the Germans. He said the guns weie not set up or the I bombs planted about the ship at any I time, although the captors did dis play them to the City of Flint crew when they came aboard The only weapon on the Flint when it was captured was a pistol which the captain had locked in his safe, and when the German oflicei - board ed the vessel they forced the captain to turn it over to them. Each mem ber of the prize crew was armed with a Luger pistol and hand grenades for their protection and to f '.force their orders. Claims He Was Mistreated Haddock says he contracted pto maine poisoning from eating the lood on the ship after it left Murmansk. Russia, and was sent to a hospital in Bergen, Norway, aftei the ''P was returned to Captain < the Norwegians. Claiming that Cap tain Gainerd was more c: •" 1 than the Germans, Haddock • •’’d that after he was releasee1, from the Norwegian hospital, fcllowin ;• -day of 41 days, the captain ordered mm to return to his regular work with the crew after only a two-day i ost, although he was supposed to do -'.t work for 10 days. As further evidence of the \:- 11' (Continued on page six) Must Demonstrate Ability in Driving Inspector McCloud, of the State Highway Patrol Safety Division, said today that all applicants for drivers’ licenses in the future must have an automobile avail able so that they may be given an actual driving test of their ability. The inspector also said that boys and girls between 16 and 18 years of age must bring their parents with them before they can obtain a driving license. Inspector McCloud is in Plym outh every Thursday morning, from 9 to 11:30 o’clock. Suggests Naming Roper School for Miss Carsiarphen Recommendation Made by J. H. Gaylord, Sr., Fa vored by Others A movement has been started in the Lees Mills section to name the Roper white school after Miss A. C. (Gussie) Carstarphen. who for almost 60 years has been a teacher in this county, most of the time at that school. The suggestion was advocated by J. H. Gaylord, sr„ and among those who favor the idea are J. T. McAllis ter, Mrs. John W. Chesson Will Blount and many others who will fall in line with the movement as they become better acquainted with it. The plan, as outlined by Mr. Gay lord, would include this event among the commencement exercises, a spe cial night being designated for the formal changing of the name, with school officials to speak in honor of Miss Carstarphen. It was pointed out by Mr. Gay lord that that would be one of the best ways to commemorate the en deavors and unselfish service of “Miss Gussie," who has spent her life in educating the youth of several gen erations. drawing at times very small pay. Financially, her services have not passed entirely unnoticed, as she has been retired on a salary of $50 per month, which shows the esteem in which she is held by her former pu pils and citizens. Mr. Gaylord said that my naming the school in her honor her name and activities would be perpetuated in a visible way for years to come as suc ceeding generations attend the school named after the woman who has serv ed it so well. Lions Planning Big Meeting Next Week District Governor Neil Hester, of Raleigh, will be the principal speaker at the meeting celebrating the third anniversary of the local Lions Club and ladies' night, to be held at the Plymouth Country Club Thursday night of next week. Lions from Washington, William ston. Edenton, Hertford, and other places have been invited to attend with their wives, according to Presi dent Z. V. Norman. An excellent program is being ar ranged for the event by a committee, and Mr. Norman urges a large attend ance. Parent-Teacher Meeting Here Next Wednesday The February meeting of the Plym outh Parent-Teacher Association will be held at the high school building next Wednesday afternoon at 3 o' clock, it was announced today by Mrs. W. V. Hays, president, who urges a large attendance. Walter H. Paramore, member of the county board of education, will be the speaker for the occasion, and there will be other events on the program, Mrs. Hays said. Several matters of impo.tance are to be dis cussed, and the president is particu larly anxious for a good attendance. James Henry Smith, Well Known Citizen, Dies At Home Here ----- Prominent in Lumber Busi ness of Section for Number of Years Funeral services were held Mon day afternoon in historic old Grace Episcopal Church for James Henry Smith, 75. well knowrn local citizen who died at his home here Sunday at 11:30 a. m.. after an illness lasting for about six w'eeks. Mr. Smith was a former mayor of Plymouth and served on the town council for sev eral terms some years ago. The Rev. Sidney E. Matthews, of Washington, rector of the church, officiated Music was provided by a combined choral group from the Me thodist and Episcopal churches. In terment took place in the Grace Epis copal Church cemetery. A prominent lumber man in Wash ington County for years. Mr. Smith was well known in this section. He was the son of the late John Henry Smith and Laura Meredith Daven port, of this county. His wife, the late Mrs. Caroline Hilliard Smith, died about three and a half years ago. For 30 years Mr. Smith had been a member of Grace Episcopal Church. Mr. Smith came from one of the leading families of the section, his father having served in the State Legislature during the Civil War. He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Lsolind Ward, Mrs. Corrinne Austin, Mrs. Mary S. Cahoon. regis ter of deeds of this county, all of Plymouth; and Carrie Garrett Smith, of Tallahassee Fla.; and one son, James H. Smith, of Goldsboro. Active pall-bearers were W. R. White, J. K. Reid. J. W. Darden, E. S. Blount, Frank Bratten, George, W. Harrison, R. A. Williford, A. R. Lath am and Clyde Hassell. Negro Who Attacked Local White Woman Held for July Court Preliminary Hearing Given James Freeman in County Court Here Tuesday A bedraggled undernourished col ored youth sat in the crowded court room here Tuesday morning, appar ently unconscious of the seriousness of the crime with which he was charged, as the court proceeded with a hearing for him on charges of at empted rape. The boy. whose name vas given as James Freeman—al .hough his mother said he was the on of Nathan Moore, also called Joe Moore—sat with his head drooped while Mrs. Pauline Bateman, 60, ac cused him of attacking her in a bed room at her home last Tuesday after noon. The negro's mother told the court the youth would be 17 years old in July, and Recorder John W. Darden ordered him held for the July term of superior court, with bond set at $5,000. Unable to raise the bond, Sheriff J. K. Reid returned the boy to his cell in the jail here. Born out of wedlock, and his fath er in New York, the boy quit school in the third grade. His mother said he was mentally defiicient. or as she put it, "didn't have all that he should." She also said that he had been in court at least twice before on larceny charges, the cases being handled by C. V. W. Ausbon, judge of the juvenile court. The assault on Mrs. Bateman oc curred shortly after noon last Tues day when she went into the room of a boarder to make the bed. Tire negro had secreted himself there and when he knocked Mrs. Bateman down her screams attracted her son. Sam uel#Bray, who caught his mother’s attacker and held him for officers. Merchants Here To Meet Friday Night There will be a special meeting o£ the Plymouth Merchants' Association in the council chamber of the mu nicipal building here Friday evening at 8:15. it was annouced today by the newly elected president, W. F. Winslow. Mr. Winslow urges a large attend ance in view of the fact that several :natters of importance will be dis cussed. including plans for the pro notion of better business here. Mr. Winslow explained that the time was set for 8:15-in order that those who keep their stores open un til 7 o'clock on Fridays, under the recent arrangement, may have time to go home for supper before the neeting. Tenant House Near Here Destroyed by Fire Sunday A tenant house on the Springwood Dairy farm, near here, was com pletely destroyed by fire shortly aft er midnight Sunday, the loss being estimated at about $300. A colored family lived in the house, but none of them was at home when (he fire occurred, and the origin of the blaze is undetermined.
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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Feb. 1, 1940, edition 1
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