North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon * * * * ★ ★ ★and Washington County News★★★★★★★ VOLUME LIII—NUMBER 25 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, June 18, 1942_ hakb zyihy pay day BOND DAY jon TM Wf-Mtt uvuns rui ESTABLISHED 1889 TO WIN OPICS Very few auto use-tax stamps have been sold at the post office here so far. only about 10 having been pur chased to date. They will be requir ed on all motor vehicles July 1, and no new gas rationing card will be is sued until it is shown that the Fe deral tax stamp, costing $5. has been put on the car. The resurfacing of two blocks of Main Street, between Washington and Monroe, was completed by state highway forces this week, and it represents a marked improvement In the first primary May 30. a number of voters appeared too late to east their ballots, as the polls close at 6:30 p. m. under the terms of the new primary law. Primary hours on June 27 will be from 6:30 a. m. to 6:30 p. m., war time, and voters are urged to remember this to avoid losing their voting privilege. The vestry of Grace Episcopal Church will hold its regular meeting Friday night at the home of P. B. Bateman. All members are urged to be present, Recent rains have improved farm crop prospects tremendously in this section, and although too much rain was reported by a few farmers, most of them say they have had a fine “season”. Crops In general are said to be the best for the time of year in several seasons, corn and tobacco being especially good. W. H. Paramore, of Wilson, for merly with the Beacon for about 10 years, was a visitor here Sunday, ac companied by Mi’s. Paramore and their two sons. He is now employed by The Wilson Daily Times and says that he likes his new work fine. Alva W. Whealton. well known locally as an employee of Arps Phar macy and the North Carolina Pulp Company, is now stationed at New port, R. I., according to a card re ceived this week by the Beacon. He left here over a month ago to enlist in the Navy as hospital apprentice. A relative here received a card from Raymond Smith, who is stationed at Fort Francis D. War ren Cheyenne, Wyo., recently. In it Raymond stated that if ali the drilling he had done that day has been toward Plymouth,, he’d have been here “last Wednes day.” Herman Alexander, better known locally as ' Spunk.” is now a techni .ai sergeant, v.‘th the 318th Military Police Escort Company, and is sta tioned at Camp Shelby, Miss, accord ing to a letter received by friends here last week. Gary Cooper has a new namesake, and Aaron Cooper, operator of the colored pool room here, has a new son and heir, born last Sunday, June 14. Incidentally, the new Gary Coop er is the sixteenth child of Aaron and his wife, Luatha Cooper, and he weighed in at 10'A pounds, the heav iest at birth of any of the 16. Two Cases Tried In County Court -$ Five cases were on the docket in recorder’s court Tuesday, but a nol pros and two continuances reduced the number disposed of to two. W. Ronald Gaylord, judge of the court, was on the job as usual, and Sidney A. Ward served as prosecuting at torney in the absence of W. Blount Rodman, who is now in the Army. The proceeding were as follows: A nol pros was entered in the case in which Catherine and Albert Vaughn were charged with trespass. Otis Norman, charged with as sault with a deadly weapon, entered a plea of not guilty, but was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days on the roads, suspended upon payment of the costs of the action. Henry D. Norman plead guilty to a charge of being drunk and disorderly and was fined $5 and costs. Clinton Wilkins had the case against him, for being drunk and dis orderly, using profane language and assault, continued until next Tues day. A continuance was also granted Henry Wilkins, charged with the sale of illegal whiskey. Speeding by Busses and Trucks Nay Be Cause for Refusal of Tire Bequests Corporal Tom B. Brown, of the state highway patrol, said today that all patrolmen had been in structed to take the license num bers of trucks and busses caught traveling at a speed of more than 40 miles an hour. Specific infor mation regarding excessive speeds by trucks and busses has been requested by Federal authorities and will be turned over to ration ing boards for consideration in withholding permits for tires, the corporal said. The patrol officer also called attention to the fact that Presi dent Roosevelt has appealed to all motorists to cut their speed to 10 miles an hour or under to conserve rubber for war use. Most passenger car drivers are said to be observing the request, according to reports, but a great many busses, trucks, taxis, and others who are entitled to ration ed tires have slowed down but little. “The state speed limit for pas senger cars is still 60 miles an hour, and it is not a violation to drive over 40 miles an hour,” Corporal Brown said. "However, the highway patrol is hoping the public will cooperate and follow the President’ appeal by volun tarily cutting speed to below 40 miles an hour.” Incidentally, highway patrol men have been requested to cut their mileage to a minimum and to observe the 40-mile limit ex cept in emergency cases. Over 100 Men From County To Be Called In Army During July Value Gas Cards Upped This Week Unused units on all gras ration ing cards were worth double the amount this week that they were last. However, motorists are warned by the rationing board that the cards they now have are supposed to last them two weeks longer than at first planned, or until July 15, instead of June 30. Each unused unit on the cards will now be good for the pur chase of 6 gallons of gasoline, in stead of 3 as heretofore, but the double value was ordered during the last two weeks of June in order to carry the motorist un til July 15, when permanent gas rationing goes into effect. B. G. Campbell New Head of Eegion Posl Here; Other Officers Annual Report Shows Post Had Good Year; State Meeting Next Week -$ Mayor B. G. Campbell was elected commander of the James E. Jethro Post, No. 164, American Legion, at the recent meeting for election of of ficers. He succeeds Robert L. Tet terton, local contractor, under whose direction the post has had an ex ceptionally good year. J. E. West ray was reelected adjutant and pub licity officer. Other officers elected at the meet ing were: J. R. Carr, first vice com mander; Goldie Simpson, of near Plymouth, second vice comander; W. Linwood Hassell, third vice comman der; P. W. Brown, finance officer; J. R. Carr, service officer; P. B. Bate man, guardianship officer; J. A. Brat ten, sergeant at arms; J. R. Carr, chaplain; W. L. Hassell, historian. P. W. Brown is athletic officer; J. B. Willoughby, child welfare officer; Ronald Coburn, of Jamesville Route 1, Americanism officer; P. W. Brown, national defense officer; R. L. Tet terton, graves registration officer; J. C. Swain, employment officer; Lloyd Horton, Boys’ state officer; C. E. Ayers, Boy Scout officer; P. W. Brown, membership chairman; and J. B. Willoughby, chairman of the Sons of the Legion. J. Lloyd Horton was elected chair man of the delegation to attend the annual meeting of the state depart ment. Lee V. Landing and Ben A. Sumner being uie oilier two dele gates. The annual convention of the state department will be held in Asheville next Monday and Tuesday. June 22 and 23. New Gasoline Rationing Plans Will Be Explained ai Meeting Here Next Week Plans and regulations govern ing the permanent gasoline ra tioning program to be instituted along the eastern seaboard on July 15 will be explained and outlined in detail at a meeting for representatives of Washington, Tyrrell and Martin Counties which will be held in the court house here at 8:30 next Wednes day night, it was stated today by W. A. Roebuck, clerk of the local rationing board. Don L. Leach, field representative for 17 northeastern counties, will be in charge of the meeting and out line the new program. Details of the registration for new ration cards which will be held Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, July 1, 2, and 3, will be explained by Mr. Leach. Those who are particularly urged to at tend the meeting here next Wednesday include registrars, Civilian Defense chairmen, mem bers of local rationing boards, superintendents and principals of schools, as well as wholesale dis tributors of gasoline and filling station operators, of the three counties. It is plai ned to hold the new registration in much the same manner as the sugar registration, with as many of the teachers and other volunteer workers at their posts as possible. Regulations governing the new registration are much more definite than those for the first gas rationing, and it is believed most of the complaints and misunderstand ings will be avoided this time. However, all those who will have any part in the registration or rationing are urged, to hear Mr. Leach next Wednesday Number Almost Equally Divided Between Races Draft Board Has Big Job on Hand To Get Men Ready By Next Month -€> The office of the Washington Coun ty Selective Service Board is a busy place these days, with a record num ber of both white and colored men scheduled to leave in July for the Army and the office force also engag ed in getting out occupational and regular questionnaires. Dr. Claudius McGowan, examining officer for the local board, is also a mighty busy man, trying to complete the screen ing examinations of the more than a hundred men in time for them to leave next month. A call was received by the local board this week for 50 white men to be ready to leave for induction into the service on Tuesday, July 28. Previously the first colored call re ceived here in some time ordered 55 colored men to be inducted on Fri day, July 10. The total of 105 men from this county in a single month is far ahead of anything ever receiv ed in a like period at any time since the selective service law was enacted. Sidney A. Ward, clerk to the local board, said yesterday that most of the colored registrants would be taken from those who registered in the first and second registrations, with possibly one-fourth from the rolls of the third registration. There are still a number of men in the 1-A classification on the list of colored registrants. Tire quota of 50 white men for July 28 will be largely filled from those who were signed up in the third re gistration last February. Question naires have been sent to approxi mately 500 of the third registrants, and while a great many men from this group are being placed in class 3, it is expected that a large portion of the July call will have to be fill ed from these men, as there are few eligible men left from the first and second registrations who have not been called. Mr. Ward said that" occupational questionnaires had been sent to all the third registrants, and the local board is now sending them out to men who registered in the first and second registrations at" the rate of several hundred weekly. About 400 had been mailed to men in these group's up to today. The board is also continuing to send out the regu lar questionnaires to third registrants. It is from information returned in these that the men are classified by the draft board. At its regular meeting Tuesday night, the local board heard a num ber of appeals from classifications previously assigned, but no changes were made except in one case. The board also classified 40 of the third registrants, placing 8 white and 3 colored in class 1; 1 white man in class 2; and 1 in class 4-F. The other 27 men went into class 3. Dr. J. M. Phelps In ArmyAir Corps Creswell.—Dr. J. M. Phelps, of Creswell, became the first physician from Washington County to volun teer for the armed forces last Fri day, when he left for Morris Field, Charlotte, where he received a com mission as first lieutenant in the Medical Department of the United States Army Air Corps. Dr. Phelps, son of John L. Phelps and the late Mrs. Phelps, graduated at Wake Forest and Jefferson Medi cal Colleges. He served his interne ship at Episcopal hospital in Phila delphia, Pa., and has practiced in Creswell for the past five years. Prior to that he was a staff surgeon at the Tayloe hospital in Washington. Young Man Loses Left Leg When Hit By Train Sunday Lay Beside Track for Sev eral Hours; Expected To Recover -<$ His left leg completely severed from his body when struck by a train sometime early Sunday morning, James Clarence Hardison, 22, was said today to be resting well in a Wash ington hospital, where he was taken after he had been found several hours after the accident happened Sunday. Attending physicians give him a splendid chance to recover from his injuries, although it is regarded as a miracle that he was ever found alive. Young Hardison, still suffering from shock, has not been able to re member all the events leading up to the accident, and his story becomes all the more remarkable when at tempts are made to piece together such details as are known. It is un derstood that young Hardison, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Hardison, who live on the farm of Sidney A. Ward about three miles east of here, left Juniper Lodge sometime after mid night Sunday and started down the Norfolk Southern railroad toward his home. It is believed that he may have gone to sleep on the tracks and was struck by a train which passed sometime between 2 and 5 a. m. Sunday. His left leg was com pletely severed about the knee, re maining between the rails, while he was knocked or fell on some weeds down a slight embankment. Hardison says he remembers ly ing on the ground and calling for help for several hour's. However, it was after 6 o'clock Sunday morning before he was found, the son of La fate Roebuck, who lives nearby, hear ing his cries and making the dis covery. Hardison was conscious when approached by the Roebuck boy and asked for water. Young Roebuck brought him a drink of water and then rode his bicycle to the home of Hardison's parents, who secured an ambulance and returned for the in jured young man. It was nearly 7:30 before he was finally brought to the office of Dr. T. L. Bray here, where he was given first aid and then sent on to the hospital at Washington. Later in the day an operation was performed and several blood trans fusions have been given. He is given a good chance to recover un less unexpected complications de velop. It cannot be learned here just when a train passed this point. However, Mrs. Roebuck said that she heard a noise before daylight and got up to see if any member of the family had cried out. Hardison’s cries or groans were heard several times before he was finally found by the young Roe buck boy the next morning, and it is not definitely known how long he had lain there since he was struck. It is considered little short of a mira cle that he did not bleed to death before he was discovered. In addition to his left leg, Hardi son also lost two toes from his right foot, and he was bruised and cut some about the head. He was known as a quiet, hard-working young man who came to this section about two years ago from Martin County. He and his parents were tenants on the farm of Mr. Ward for the first time this year. -$ Expect Most of Potatoes To Be Sold This Week -e The marketing season for irish po tatoes produced in the lower part of this county and Tyrrell is now about its peak. County Agent W. V. Hays said today, and a majority of the crop will have been moved by the latter part of this week. Prices have been holding up very well, yesterday’s quo tations running around $1.75 to $1.85 per 100-pound bag. with a few sales reported as high as $2. About 450 acres of potatoes were grown in Washington County this year. Few 'Cashing in' War Stamps How There has been a marked re duction in amount of War Sav ings Stamps “cashed in” at the post office here during the past week or so. Postmaster John W. Darden said today, and also there has been a decided change in the attitude of those applying. “For merly, they simply came in and demanded the cash,” he said, “while non they usually explain that a streak of bad luck forces them to ask for the money.” A young man came to the post office this morning and request ed the cash for 27 stamps. He explained that he was reluctant to turn them in but that he real ly needed the money right at this time. Mr- Darden told him the stamps were supposed to be redeemed in bonds and asked him if it was absolutely necessary for him to "cash them in.” “Well,” began the young fellow, “twin babies were born at my house last night—” The postmaster stopped him pronto and reached tor the cash drawer Rubber Salvage Drive Underway Throughout County; Everyone Is Urged To Help Make It Success Salvage Committee Has Charge Rubber Campaign in County H. H. McLean and W. V. Hays Are Co-Chairmen: Other Members The rubber collection drive in Washington County this week and next is under the direction of the sal vage committee of the Civilian De fense Council, according to H. H. Mc Lean and W V. Hays, who are co chairmen of the committee. They urge all members of the committee to use every means in their power to in sure the success of the two-week cam paign; and, where practicable, it is recommended that house-to-house canvasses be made to secure every particle of rubber, in order that an adequate supply for the war effort be made available, Mr. McLean indicated Tuesday that he was planning to ask the help of the local Boy Scout organization, probably the latter part of next week .in making a house-to-house drive in Plymouth. Those who have more scrap rubber than they can conveniently carry or take to their filling stations are requested to get in touch with Mr. McLean, Mr. Hays, or one of the three oil company distri butors here and arrangements will be made to call for it. One local man stated that his firm had at least 1,000 pounds of scrap rubber on hand. He said that he would have been glad to have turn ed it in earlier, but that he had not known exactly how to go about it. It is believed that there is a tremen dous quantity of old rubber in this section, and if a determined effort is made, most of it can be reclaimed during the collection period. In add ition to supplying a desperate need for the armed forces, if a sufficient See “COMMITTEE" Page 4 Cooperative Sales Lambs and Wool Here Are Success — ——<<§ Over $4,000 Realized From Lamb Sale and $2,173 From Wool -9 Farmers of four counties benefitted by a cooperative lamb sale Tuesday and a pool of wool sold Wednesday through the efforts of the local ex change, according to County Agent W. V. Hays, who was in charge of the local arrangements for the sales. In the lamb sale Tuesday, three carloads were shipped, and the 61 participating farmers of Washing ton, Tyrrell. Hyde and Beaufort will receive a total of around $4,000 clear for the 395 animals sold. The ship ment was directed to Jersey City, N. J., and the county agent said the top price was about 1612 cents. The shipment was considerably larger than the one held here about a year ago, the price is also much higher and the quality of animals shipped above those of last year. Yesterday some 4,200 pounds of wool was pooled and sold to the Chatham Manufacturing Company, of Winston-Salem and Elkin. The firm sent its graders, weighers and trucks here for the sale, and produc ers received a total of $2,173 for the tvool offered, about 10 cents per pound higher than was paid last sea son. Funeral Held Saturday for 4-Year-Old Creswell Girl Creswell.—Funeral services for lit tle Lineta Earline Davenport, four year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Davenport, were conducted Sat urday afternoon at the Mount Her mon Methodist Church by the Rev. R. N. Fitts, assisted by the Rev. S. B. Wilson. The little girl died Friday morning in Columbia hospital. Interment was in the family cem etery. In addition to her parents, she is survived by one sister, Joyce Daven port, and her paternal grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Davenport, of Creswell. During the service the choir sang several selections and Mrs. Roy Dav enport sang a solo, '•Alone." Pall-bearers were uncles of the lit tle girl, as follows: Ernest Daven port, Hoyt Davenport, McCoy Dav-1 enport, and J. M. Davenport. -$ Two Local Men at Lions Convention in Raleigh Chief of Police P. W. Brown and J. Roy Manning atended the state convention of Lions Clubs held in Raleigh this week, returning Wednesday . They report it was a most interesting event, with about 600 delegates present from Lions Clubs throughout the district. Sunday, June 21, Is Father's Day Poor old Pop. He’s such an unin portant figure around most homes that more than quite a few people have gotten all mix ed up about when “his day” comes, and one local merchant said Monday that he had been selling Father's Day presents for the past two Saturdays to people who thought the next day was the time to present the old man his gifts. Even the merchant didn’t know, and it required a trip to the World Almanac to settle the matter. Just to keep the record straight, the third Sunday in June is officially designated Fa ther's Day. That makes it next Sunday, June 21, this year; so please don’t embarrass the poor old cuss further by showing up with his gifts a week ahead or a week behind time. As far as the dads themselves are concerned, most of ’em think Father's day is the first of any month. Eolus F. Walker, 72, Passes Suddenly at 'Farm Near Creswell -♦ Funeral Held Tuesday for Prominent Farmer Who Died Monday -® Creswell.—Funeral services for Eolus F. Walker. 72, who fell dead Monday morning about 8:30 while plowing on his farm near here, were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Mount Pleasant Baptist church, with the Rev. S. B. Wilson officiating. Mu i sic was furnished by the church choir | and interment was in the Litchfield cemetery. Mr. Walker, a prominent farmer of this section for the past 18 years was a native of Currituck County Before moving here he was owner anc operator of tugboats operating out oi Norfolk. He was a member of the Creswell Methodist church and an active worker in the Mount Pleasant Baptist church. Besides his widow, Mrs. Evia Hath away Walker, he is survived by a daughter, Mi's. Harold Blassingham, of Norfolk; a brother, Captain Peter Walker, of Norfolk; two half-broth ers, Mack Roughton, of Corsicana, Texas, and Pete Roughton, of Nor folk; and a niece, Nettie Hathaway, who lived at the home near here and whom Mr. and Mis. Walker loved as their own daughter. Pall-bearers were: Kirby Smith, Charles Rector, Harold Blassingham, and Eursal Hathaway, of Norfolk; Lloyd Norman and Paul B. Belanga, of Creswell. -i Work Started on Old Peanut Plant Here -<$> J. E. Davenport said this week that work had been started on the old Clark peanut plant here to prepare it for handling part of the crop rais ed in this section this year. The boilers are being cleaned out and some of the machinery is being cleaned up and repaired. However, much of it is to be replaced, and Mr. Davenport, who will head operation of the plant, stated that he had been unable to secure priorities for the equipment needed so far. He hopes to have the plant in shape for operations by the time the current crop comes on the mar ket. Filling Stations Are Paying Cent a Pound For All Old Rubber -1 Couple Thousand Pounds Reported Collected Here This Morning A casual survey made this morning Indicated that the rub ber salvage drive in this county can hardly be said to have been a howling success so far. Pos sibly a couple thousand pounds of rubber have been delivered to filling stations here, but the total is expected to soar as the vari ous cooperating agencies “put the heat on” in the next few days. It is emphasized that ev eryone, men, women and child ren, white and colored, Is ex pected to do his full part to make the campaign a success. County Agent W. V. Hays sent out a letter yesterday to com munity committeemen, neighbor hood farm leaders and heads of civic organizations, and it Is hop ed the rubber collection will show a decided increase during th* next few days. The greatest salvage drive in the history of Washington County is un derway this week, and will continue until June 30, with an intensive search underway to locate and re claim every piece of scrap rubber possible. -Everyone is expected to co operate wholeheartedly in the nation al campaign, which began Sunday, to deliver all old discarded and unusable rubber to the many filling stations, where they are being paid a penny a pound for it. After the filling stations have bought the proferred rubber at 1 cent a pound, the oil companies serving them will collect the piles and move them to central concentration points for sale to the RFC Rubber Reserve Company at $25 a short ton. Since many patriotic citizens are turning in the rubber without collecting the penny a pound for it, all proft from the handling will be turned over by the oil distributors to designated charities, such as the Army and Navy relief funds and the Red Cross. All three local distributors, John Swinson. for Sinclair; C. E. Ayers, for Standard; and E. L. Winslow, for Texaco, are cooperating in the drive as requested by President Roosevelt in recorded broadcasts last week. They have instructed stations served by them to accept the scrap rubber and pay the 1 cent per pound for it. The distributors will later collect the scrap piles and reimburse the filling station operators. Some inquiries about the campaign w’ere received by local stations Monday, and later in See "RUBBER" Page 4 Five Get Permits for Tires Last Thursday Five persons secured permits for new tires or recapping old ones at the meeting of the county rationing board Thursday night of last week, with the recapping being decidedly in the majority. The permits were issued to the following: John Swinson, recapped tire and tube for truck used in fuel delivery. Clarence Downing, new tire and tube for transfer truck used in haul ing passengers to work. Rev. J. M. Johnson, Baptist min ister, 2 retreads for passenger car. Delbert Allen, 4 retreads for pas senger car used in connection with public health work. Arthur Vail, 1 retread for truck used to haul wood for fuel. Men in Class 3 Are Still Eligible To Apply lor Officer Training in Army Men who have been placed by the local selective service board in class 3 are still eligible to ap ply for Army officer training, it wras learned today from Sidney A. Ward, clerk to the board here. The first step to be taken by those in this class who wish to enter the service in the VOC (vol unteer officer candidate) class is to secure a waiver of dependency from the local board. After the waiver has been sign ed by the applicant’s dependents, he is passed on by the local board and directed to report to Fort Bragg on a specified date for phy sical and mental examinations given there. If the applicant Is successful in getting past these exams, he returns home until he is called up with a quota of se lectees. The candidate for comission Is next sept to a training camp for his three month's basic training:, after which he is assigned to an officer’s school for up to another six months. If successful in completing this course, he is giv en a comimssion, usually as sec ond lieutenant and asigned to active service, tinder the new pay bill passed by Congress, ef fective June 1, the base rate of pay for junior officers, second lieutenant in the Army and en sign in the Navy, is $150 per month, plus $66 a month for food and quarters, if unmarried, or $102 per month for food and quarters if married. If single, their total annual income will be $2,592; if married. $3,024. It is announced that colored applications are being received for the VOC class. All applicants must be in class 3, between the ages of 18 and 45, and they must pass specified mental and physical examinations.