CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES
Carter* County'* Ntwipiptr
EDITORIALS
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1956
More Than Just a Road
There's more involved in building
10.6 miles of highway on Ocracoke
Island than just building a road.
On this road, which Governor Hodges
assures will be built regardless of cost,
hinges the fate, perhaps, of the All
Seashore Highway.
If this 10-mile stretch holds up un
der pounding of wind and wave, the
coast will have a strong argument in
favor of a highway all along the coast.
If this 10-mile stretch is subject to con
tinual washouts, the All-Seashore High
way may continue to be just a dream.
Although no word has been mention
ed about the Ocracoke Road being a
"test stretch," factors point to that fact.
Four hundred sixty thousand dollars
is a lot of money to put into 10 miles of
highway on a sandspit between two
large bodies of water, and it is impera
tive that the best engineering brains
and the best road-building skill and ma
terials be invested.
No mountain was too high nor too
rugged to stop the Blue Ridge Park
way. But the mountain was there to be
measured. Man could look at it and
say, "Here it is. This is what is stopping
us," and he was fired with ambition to
conquer the mountain.
Can an engineer be inspired equally
by something that he can't see ? a tide
that comes and goes and varies with
the seasons, sands that shift from
month to month, and winds that are
more capricious than a flirting woman?
That is the challenge on the outer
banks. No ordinary engineer will be
able to meet that challenge. No money
must be skimped in laying a highway
that can be the "open sesame" to coas
tal Carolina."
It is important that the All-Seashore
Highway Association and others inter
ested in coastal welfare watch care
fully the "10-mile test stretch." So
called economizing and short-cuts in
getting the road laid have no place
there. Because of its remoteness, such
short-cuts may be attempted, in spite of
Governor Hodges' firm support of the
highway.
The Ocracoke Road could well be the
telling factor between a stifled coast or
a breathing, living land.
104 Overburdened
Ever see a donkey carrying an ele
phant on its back? Well that's what is
happening in the Beaufort Rural Fire
Association. One hundred four people
who have paid membership dues are
carrying the burden of 156 who have
not. \
These 104 little fellows have i#ut up
their $5 so that 156 people can get fire
service "free." To provide better pro
tection within a 12-mile radius of Beau
fort, the Rural Fire Association has re
cently invested in new equipment for
its truck.
The bills for that equipment can't be
paid with a shrug of the shoulders any
easier than a fire can be fought with a
teaspoon of water.
The Beaufort Rural Fire Association
came into being because people in the
area east and north of Beaufort needed
fire protection. For a long time the
town of Beaufort was the little donkey
carrying the elephant.
Finally, the town gave up in despera
tion. Its pocketbook could no longer
stand the cost. After a while the Rural
Fire Association came into being to
help the rural people and shoulder
some of the burden that had been the
town's.
That plan has been working fairly
well. The rural association has a truck
and the Beaufort firemen do the fire
fighting. But after a bit, a truck needs
new tires, it needs repairs and to offer
better protection, it needs additional
equipment.
When members don't pay their $5
dues once a year, there's nothing with
which to maintain the association's
truck.
Five dollars is little enough to pay
for peace of mind. Rural residents who
do not pay the $5 have hanging over
them constantly the fear of fire ? plus
a whopping bill for fire-fighting if their
home or barn ever starts to burn.
It's unfortunate that people have op
portunities and ignore them. The Beau
fort Rural Fire Association is an oppor
tunity presented to rural residents, an
opportunity that may die if they don't
take advantage of it.
A donkey can carry an elephant only
so long, and then it stumbles and falls,
unable to rise any more.
Dues for the rural association may be
paid to John Miller, treasurer, to Mrs.
W. J. Ipock, secretary, or to Leslie
Springle, president of the association.
In Defense of Sambo
(Greensboro Daily News)
By way of the Milwaukee Journal we
learn that Little Black Sambo, that de
lightful classic of childhood, has been
banned by the Toronto public schools.
The reason: Protests by Negro groups
who say it causes them anguish and
holds them up to ridicule.
Now what is the ultimate end of such
censorship?
The end, we think, would be elim
ination of about 80 or 90 per cent of
our literature, child and adult. Fagin,
in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, is an
obnoxious character, but shall we also
ban him because he brings anguish to
Jews? Shall we abolish the Prussian
general from the pages of books be
cause he pains Germans? What about
Tamburlaine, The Great, does he mock
some of the Oriental peoples whose
favor we now curry? What of Willie
Loman in Arthur Miller's Death of a
Salesman ? will he be banished from
the boards because his play says un
complimentary things about business
men? .
A classic is a classic. It endures be
cause it says something profoundly true
and touches the hearts and minds of
men. Little Black Sambo is a joyful tale,
first spun in India, about a warm-heart
ed little boy who saved himself from
the tiger by his wits. He is a lovable
character.
Won't somebody stand up in his de
fense?
Record Speaks
Ten years after the end of World
War II the American Red Cross still is
devoting over 40 per cent of its budget
ed funds for the service it provides to
members of the Armed Forces and to
veterans.
In the 1954-55 fiscal year the finan
cial report shows its 3,717 chapters ex
pended a total of $87,539,503 in pro
viding a wide variety of services to the
American people, and for humanitarian
work overseas.
The Red Cross drive is now under
way throughout the nation. Carteret
County's goal is $4,480. Checks should
be mailed to Mrs. G. T. Spivey, Beau
fort, or Charles Willis, Morehead City.
Carteret County News-Times
WINNER OF NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION AND NORTH CAROLINA
PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
A Merger of The Beaufort Newi (Eit. 1912) and The Twin City Tinea (Eat 1936)
Published Tuesdays and Fridays by the Carteret Publishing Company, Inc.
804 Arendell St., Morehead City. N. C.
LOCKWOOD PHILLIPS ? PUBLISHER
ELEANORE DEAR PHILLIPS ? ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
_______ RUTH L. PEELING ? EDITOR
Hail Ratea: In Carteret County and adjoining counties, 96.00 one year, 93. SO six months,
$1.29 one aonth; elsewhere 97.00 one year, 9?.00 six months, 91-50 one month.
Member of Associated Press ? N. C. Press Association
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printed in this newspaper, aa well aa all AP news dlapatches.
Entered aa Second Clses Matter at Morehead CUy, N. C, Under Act of March 3, 1979.
60-S10W SIGNAL
? ? . i ? ri"lit>iTif?rvi*tf>rj?-*^iii.?^Mn
Jerry Schumacher
We Visit Wally and Boots Spence
West Hollywood Penny and me
spent the day with Wally and
Boots Spenec yesterday. First let
me tell you about Wally. He's a
handsome man, built like a wedge
with the biggest chest and shoul
ders I have ever seen on a man.
Wally is one of four brothers
and four sisters who were born
and brought up in the jungles of
South America. Their home was
way up the Demerara River in
British Guiana.
Wally's father was a fellow that
believed in physical fitness, so the
kids grew up to be perfect speci
mens. Mr. Spence Sr. was the most
famous Jaguar hunter in South
America and a whole book could
be written on this subject alone.
Well anyway, the boys all turned
out to be champion swimmers and
as a team have held over 400 rec
ord*, 20 were National and 8 were
International, Olympic, New York
AC and many others too many to
mention.
Now their only place to swim
was the Demerara River which is
infested with
the deadly Pir
anha fish that
can and has de
voured a whole
cow in minutes.
All four of the
Spence brothers
and two of the
sisters have
been badly bit
ten and have
the scars to
Jerry
prove it to mis
day. Nevertheless, they practiced
every day and became the greatest
brother swimming team in the his
tory of sports.
Wally placed second in the an
nual Guiana race against 24 men
when he was only 8 years old.
After traveling all over the
world, their swimming career as
a team was ended by a plane crash
that took the life of the youngest
member, Harold. Finally Wally
settled in Miami Beach as an in
structor. There he met and married
a beautiful and curvesomc lass
named Boots who taught and or
ganized beautiful water ballet, IS
girls who worked in perfect pre
cision.
There was where I first met
these two wonderful people sev
eral years ago while taking pic
tures of the group. Boots Just fin
ished the Philco TV water show
here in Miami Beach.
While we were there two husky
lads were working out in the pool
under Wally's guidance. They had
a swimming meet coming up in a
few days, and Boots was working
The Readers Write
Smyrna, N. C.
Feb. 29, 1956
To the Editor:
Life is getting pretty grim when
men arc deciding how long their
children shall live.
1 just wonder if Sgt. James
Housman was ever a small baby
of four weeks and cried sometime.
Smil? a While
Sam got a dollar too much in his
pay envelope one week, but did
not say anything. The next week
the paymaster discovered the error
and deducted a dollar.
"Say," Sam aaid, "I'm a dollar
short."
"Well," aaid the paymaster, "you
didn't complain last week when
you were a dollar over."
"Yea, but a guy can overlook
one mistake. When it happens a
second time, lt'i time to com
plain."
Surely hit mother didn't want to
kill her infant son. You know wc
are shocked to hear of these things
happening in other places, but it
is hard to imagine them happen
ing in our beloved Carteret Coun
ty.
You seldom pick up a paper that
there isn't a wreck, robbery or
fight with Marinea involved. What
do they have up there, a man
sized reformatory?
True, there are some fine gen
tlemen at Cherry Point, but Sgt.
JamrV Housman isn't a very fine
example to put before our boys
and girls.
1 think there should be an all
woman Jury to decide his fate,
which wouldn't be very good if I
were selected.
I am very sorry for his wife,
for she will be better off without
him. as her life is in danger. May
Qod have mercy on him.
I -r-it
.... i .
with her girls for another TV Spec
tacular. So the Shore Club pool
and Cabanas is the headquarters
for the young hopefuls who would
like to make swimming a career
and Boots and Wally Spencc arc
the ones that can teach and ad
vise bccause they have been
through the mill in the swimming
business.
After all, swimming is first their
business, second their hobby, in
fact it is their whole life. I was
commenting on Boots' spectacular
figure, so she put it this way,
"When 1 no longer look good in
a bathing suit, my career as a
swimmer is ended, so naturally 1
work hard to keep my figure 1
try to do a mile in the pool every
day."
Now Wally would have it made
if he could just live in a pair of
swimming shorts, but sooner or
later he has to put on a suit of
clothes and then the trouble starts.
They never made a jacket that
would fit those mammoth shoul
ders and barrel chest, so every
thing has to be tailor made.
So we left these two wonderful
characters with all their gear, sun
tan lotions, swimming fins. Aqua
lungs and other assorted para
phernalia and drove back home
with our minds whirling with
thoughts as restless as the waters
in which Boots and Wally revel.
Lowif Spivy
Words of Inspiration
MEMORIES
Do you ever stand alone, discouraged.
On Treasure Island's far-away shore?
Do waves of homesickness pass o'er you?
Then open your heart's door.
And see how all the worthwhile things
In your life will blend
Like memories of your growing-up years
Home, school, church, friends.
Home ? what do you think of?
What pictures fill your mind?
Parents oftimes may say "No."
It's their way of being kind.
You'll understand our vetoing some of yours plans
When you're a little older
And look back at these 19 formative years
Over an officer's shoulder.
My days arc as full as when you left
As busy as can be ?
Nights, meetings at church, club or school,
Or I iron and watch TV.
I'm sending you some pictures
Of your life back home.
Look at them slowly and caressingly when
You're homesick or alone.
First ? the quiet loveliness of a Carteret sunset,
God's gift to us all ?
Shrimp boats coming round the bend
With a full day's haul.
Shad boats heading seaward,
Laborers resting on deck,
Bright red apples sold at school
By the girls in Home Ec.
Farmers laboring in their fields,
Plowing up the sod.
Church bells ringing, sweet and dear
Calling us to God.
Football yells at Beaufort High,
Autumn's starry skies,
Your school band marching in green and white,
Your Mom's cherry pies.
Memories enclosed in your little red Ford,
Your last high school dance,
Hayrides, picnics at the bcach,
Your first tender romance.
These pictures will help when you're lonely
And discouragement will surely cease.
If you'll keep your heart warm and tender
And your soul at peace.
With love,
MOM
Ruth Pealing
Literature ?What Do Drinkers Read?
A car turned over in front of
Willie Gray's junk yard, Morehead
City, about 10 days ago. The thing
was a wreck. The driver, charged
with being drunk and several
other counts, staggered away un
scratched.
While checking the contents of
the car later, a highway patrolman
found in it a booklet, "12 Reasons
(Excuses) for Getting Drunk."
People wanting the road through
the Croatan Forest, between Have
lock and Pollocksville believe that
a suggestion to widen another
road, between Boguc and Pollocks
ville, represents the interests of
another coastal group.
They contend that the road from
Bogue would be more advanta
geous to the Emerald Isle devel
opment, for IF a bridge ever spans
Boguc Sound between Cedar Point
and Emerald Isle, the improved
route from Bogue westward would
fall in line with Emerald Isle de
velopment plans.
The forest road group says -that
the Boguc ? Pollocksville set - up
would not benefit the Morehead
City-Beaufort area lying to the
north of Emerald Isle. They be
lieve that traffic should be chan
neled, as at prcsont, from Have
lock through Carteret County by
way of Newport. The subject, of
course, is debatable -and debated
it undoubtedly will be!
The Morehead Cily High School
band recently gave its winter con
cert. The music produced showed
excellent training. Some folks
seem to think that the require
ments set for school band members
?re too rigid? that they don't per
mil band students to participate
in sports as well.
Maybe so. But sometimes it's
best to be able to do one thing
well rather than a lot of things
sloppily.
The wife of a workman at the
Morehead City Shipbuilding Corp.
had a baby aboard a boat last
week. The baby was born on the
boat on which the family made
their home. The birthing was un
expected evidently, for the only
thing that brought help was the
little girl in the family who blew
the boat horn. The constant blow
ing finally attracted attention.
Dr. Mike Brady was called and
hot footed it to the yacht basin.
Mother and baby are doing fine.
The Carteret Community Thea
tre will present the last produc
tion of its current year this week.
Don't let the philosophical title,
Night Must Fall, keep you away.
It's a murder drama no double
feature horror or anything, just
a plain, interesting murder story.
In the Good Old Days
THIRTY YEARS AGO
Beaufort's new power plant was
completed and would be operating
on a regular schedule in a few
days.
Beaufort town commissioners
voted to pave Broad Street from
Turner to Live Oak.
A mass meeting was being held
in Beaufort to decide whether to
issue bonds for a new school build
ing.
TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
The County Board of Commis
sioners, in a fever of economy,
passed a resolution abolishing Re
corder's Court and also a resolu
tion to lay off two-thirds of the
county road employees.
l.oftin Motor Co was advertising
a 1930 model A small truck, 60
days old, driven 5,000 miles, for
$350
J. H. Kusscll announced his can
didacy for mayor of Beaufort.
TEN YEARS AGO
T. T. Potter was appointed Sun
day school superintendent of St.
Paul's Episcopal Sunday school to
succeed C. H. Bushall who hid
served in that capacity for over
30 years.
The will of James M, West, pres
ident of the Seashore Transporta
tion Co., had been filed for pro
hate. His estate was valued at more
than $1,000,000.
EIVE YEARS AGO
Stanley Woodland was appointed
to the county welfare board, suc
ceeding C. G. Nelson of Morehcad
City.
Newport town commissioners
passed a resolution banning carni
vals from the town.
Two prisoners escaped from the
Newport road gang while they
were working at Crab Point.
PHONE
TAGE OF FAMILIES HAVING TELlPHONIS
?SOOXCC COMTERENCEOM CCONOHVC PROGRESS
Captain Henry
Sou'easter
Have you seen the duclu here
abouts? Now that they know a
hunter no longer has his sights on
them, they're (locking close in
shore to wclcome the spring.
The other day I saw a flock of
at least 35 on Taylor's Creek,
swimming along in V-shapc just
as they do when in flight. One fel
low in the lead and all the others
paddling happily behind. Their
formation reminded me of a war
time convoy. Their prey? Anything
that would fill their round bellies.
If every boat had no more draft
than a duck, the dredging com
panies would go out of business.
Last cabbagc season Mr. Golden
of Bcttie told one of his neigh
bors to go into the Golden cab
bagc patch and get himself a head
of cabbagc. The neighbor's wif?
had told her husband to get her
a head of cabbagc in town "about
the size of your head."
Well before he got to town tho
neighbor met up with Mr. Golden.
Later, one of Mr. Goldcn'i friends
asked him, "What kind of idiot did
you have down there where they
were cutting cabbagc? When I
rode by, he was trying his hat on
one head of cabbagc after ano
ther."
Ma Taylor on her way home
from Greenville last Thursday
stopped at the Blue Ribbon for
supper. With her were two of her
six children Nanny Hinnant and
George Taylor and of course,
George's wife, Eileen.
AI Dcwcy happened also to be
there. Ma is very fond of Al's
piano playing and Al is an oblig
ing person. So Al played for Ma
and it was delightful to sec the
way her face lit up as he played
her repertoire of favorite tunes.
Ma knows her music.
But son George wanted to prove
that he knew the title of at least
one of the melodies flowing be
neath Al's fingers.
"Ma. do you know that tunc Al'i
playing?" he asked.
"Certainly!" Ma tersely and e*
aspcratcdly said. "I've had six of
them!"
The tunc was Ah, Sweet Mystery
of Life.
This story comes to mc second
hand, but I believe it. Jerry Mayo
met David Beverldge during the
years of the second world war.
Jerry, making with the conversa
tion as usual, asked this handsome
fellow to whom she waa intro
duced, "Have you been acro???"
David, who had not yet enllated
in the Coast Guard looked at her
a moment, and then answered,
"Yeah, I've been acroaa ? acroaa J
Core Cound."
If yoe can't be thankful for what
you receive, be thankful for
you escape.