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Jutelligeiicer (fi AND ANSONIAN. Published Every Thursday. Published by Estate of J. G. Boylin. $1.50 a Year Due in Advance. WADESBORO, N. C, THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1923 VOL. XLIII, NO. 31 .STABUSHED 1881 rv Two Lives Lost Road Crossing Sudden and Untimely Passing of J. Ben Downer, of Lilesville, and Miss Dorothy Webb, of Pavo, Ga., Shocks Entire Section Miss Sarah Wall, of Lilesville, Also Hurt Ford Coupe Was ' Struck by Noon Train to Monroe Sunday Af ternoon, and Demolished Most Dangerous Crossing. The people of Wadesboro and of the ership of Secretary Van Hervie, has t i sfi- .o,.t;n shocked be- been making efforts for several weeks yond expression last Sunday afternoon about 2 o'clock when it became known that one of the worst railroad cross ing accidents in the history of the county had taken place at the Salis bury road crossing of the Seaboard, the life of Mr. J. Ben Downer, one of the best I known and most popular young men of the county, being snuff ed out instantly, and Miss Dorothy Webb, of Pavo, Ga., being injured so badly that she died a few hours later. Miss Sarah Wall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom G. Wall,' of Lilesville, was seriously but not fatally hurt. Miss Wall, Miss Webb and Mr. Downer were in Mr. Downer's Ford coupe going toward Ansonville. The M. &. I has not been able to learn of any one who was close to the scene of the accident and is able to 'relate the details with authority except the fireman of the train. Miss Wall was driving the coupe, Miss Webb was sit ting next to her, and Mr. Downer was cn the right hand side, next to the train. The train, coming from the di rection of Wadesboro, was about 20 minutes late, and going down hill, was making good speed making up some of the time. The car was hit almost in the exact center, practical ly demolishing the body, and no doubt "'-instantly killing Mr Downer, who got - the full force of the blow. The car, although it was practical ly demolished, was carried on down the track for about 150 yards, pieces of the body being dropped all along. Miss Wall and Miss Webb, who were both unconscious, were carried possi bly 75 or 100 yards before they were .dropped, both falling clear of the en gine, and the body of Mr. Downer fell clear of the engine only a few yards short of where the chassis of the car was dronped. Apparently the chassis hit a switch and was knocked off, it being turned around so that the engine faced toward town. The train was stopped asnoriimony was periormea at nine tniriy distance beyond where the chassis of the car fell off, and the train crew and passengers hurried back to the un fortunate young people. By this time ' passing automobilists had begun to gather and to lend assistance, and the two injured young ladies and the bodv of Mr. Downer were tenderly .placed on the train, which backed to the station. Mr. H. H. Leavitt was phoned, and he carried the young la dies in his ambulance to tne nospnai Miss Webb never regained conscious ness, and died about 7 o'clock Sunday afternoon, in spite of everything that could be done for her. The shock was terrific, and she was internally injured, so that there was no hope f fr W. Although Miss Wall was verv severely shocked and was injur ed about the chest, after remaining in a state of semi-consciousness for sev eral hours, she revived, and has been improving steadily, bo that now she is expected to recover. It is understood that Miss Wall has no clear recollection of the accident, and its exact cause probably never will be known. The engineer of the train, it is understood, did nofsee the car at all, the crossing being on a k curve; The fireman says the car stop ped in accordance with the state law; . '-that he could see its top over the em bankment east of the crossing; that ; after stopping it started across just in front of the train, the engine hit ting it, as stated, almost in the cen ter of the car. So far as The M. & I. has learned it has been impossible to determine definitely whether the car stopped on the track or not. It , has been reported both ways. This crossing has the reputation among railroad : men arid others bi being one of the worst in North Car olina. It is on a considerable curve, and going west the trains are running ; down a steep grade. Just east of the crossing is a cut, and the road curves out of this, so that any one in a car can see only a short distance. Facing west tlje crossing is fairly open, but nearly always there is a box car or two standing on the side track, some- : times on both sides of the crossing. For some time the state highway commission has been considering ah overpass near tne crossing but thus far nothing has been done. The cham it c. commerce under the lead-j at Salisbury w Sunday Afternoon. to have a watchman employed or to have some kind of safety device in- stauea, dui mis aiso nas not matcuai ized in any action, It is hoped that now some means of making this place safe will be taken. It is undoubtedly the worst crossing in the county. There is a small but luxuriant tree standing east of the highway some short distance from the railroad track and thistree shuts off sight of the" track to the east for a considerable distance along the highway. This tree should be cut down immediately. Mr. Downer, who was cut off in the flush of young manhood, was a son of Mr. W. H. Downer, of Lilesville township, and was very popular with an-unusually large circle of friends. He was a surveyor for a number of years, and being in the insurance business also, met a great many peo ple. He was active socially and in all movements for the betterment and upbuilding of Lilesville and vicinity. A more extended sketch of his life ap pears elsewhere in this issue. The funeral of Mr. Downer at the home of his father Monday afternoon was one of the most largely attended in the history of the county, automo biles stretching for miles along the road. Miss Webb was a daughter of Mr. Thomas Webb, and a member of a prominent family of Pavo, Ga. Her death was peculiarly sad, in that she was on a visit to her sister, Mrs. Bat tle Wall, of Walltown. A short sketch of her also appears elsewhere. Her body was sent to Pavo Monday morn ing, being accompanied by Messrs. Battle and Bradley Wall. LITTLE-HUNTLEY. A great surprise to their many friends was the marriage Sunday morning of Mr. Junius Little and Miss Mary Lilly Huntley. The cere- at the home of the bride. Rev. Mr, Ager of the Lilesville Baptist church performed the ceremony. The bride and groom left immediately after wards on a motor trip to the moun tains. Both Mr. and Mrs. Little have many friends here who wish for them a lifetime of happiness. Mr. Little is a son of Mrs. George T. Lit tle and is a well known young far mer and lumberman. His bride is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Huntley, and is a very attractive young lady. POST OFFICE AGAIN. Post Office Inspector W. J. Dixon, of Richmond, was here Wednesday looking again into the matter of new quarters for the post office. Ht posted a notice asking for new bids on prospective quarters to be submit ted not later than September 1. Not less than 1,700 feet of floor space is wanted, fairly centrally located. It i3 understood that the department wishes to pay only about $1,400 per year, the owner to provide all furni ture, heat, lights, etc., and thus far no one with suitable quarters 'has been willing to make a trade at these figures. In view of .Wadesboro's sub stantial present receipts and brilliant prospects for future growth it would appear that the government would be willing to pay a larger amount than this annually. WEEVILS ACTIVE. Reports from all sections are that the boll weevils are much more num erous and active than they have been. Everything possible . should be done to combat them now, according to the experts, who think the amount pf crop which will escape the insects will be decided within the next two weeks. The migration has started, and they are appearing, at least to some extent, in' the. fields of those who have not had many thus far. Polite to the Last. Warden (to murderer in electric chair) ' "Is there anything . you would like to say before I push the fatal button?" Thoughtful Murderer "Yes, kind sir. I would like to .get ud and give my seat to a lady." Punch Bowl. LILESVILLE AND WALLTOWN. Fatal Wreck Last Sunday Greatly ! Deplored. . No sadder or more distressing news could be broken to their relatives, friends ' and acquaintances in this community than was contained in a telegram from Wadesboro that Mr. Ben Downer was instantly killed and that Miss Dorothy Webb and Miss Sarah Wall were both badly injured when the automobile in which they were riding was struck by Seaboard passenger train at a crossing on the Ansonville road near Wadesboro. Misses Webb and Wall were imme diately taken to the Anson Sanator ium where Miss Webb died at 7 o'clock. Miss Wall will recover. Miss Webb is from Pavo, Georgia and is Mrs. Battle Wall's sister. Miss Webb's remains were taken on the 7 o'clock train Monday morning for Pavo, Ga. Battle Wall, brother-in-law of the deceased and Mr. Bradley Wall accompanied the remains. Miss Webb was an unusually sweet and lovable young girl, she was only about 15 years old and won hosts of friends here during her visit to her sister in J this community, Her tragic death was a great shock and pain not only to those who were near to her but to the entire community. The sympathy of the entire community goe3 out in this the saddest of all bereavements. Possibly never before in the history of this section has there ever been gathered together such a large and representative concourse of people as came to pay the last sad rites at the burial services of Mr. Ben Downer, which were held at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Downer. Rev. D. F. Carver assisted by Rev. J. J. Douglass and Rev. Mr. Ager con ducted the funeral services at the house. Beautiful and heartfelt trib utes were paid the deceased by the Rev. J. J. Douglass. Mr. Downer's body was buried by the Masons with Masonic honors in Savannah's peace ful cemetery. The floral offerings were beautiful and in great profusion. Besides his father and mother he is survived by five brothers, Vance, Frank and W. Arch Downer, of Ham let; Alfred Downer of Memphis, Tenn.; Furman and Lee Downer; also by two sisters, Misses Addie and Catherine Downer. ' Ben Downer came to Lilesville a number of years ago and opened an insurance office, and by reason of abil ity and energy he was successful in writing insurance. He was univer sally popular. He was full of life, kind of heart, generous, loyal and true, a good friend and a clever man. He was popular, not only in business circles, but socially and his many friends here and throughout the state will hear with sincere sorrow of his tragic death. Mr. and Mrs. Fairley Tiddy and sons of Monroe spent Monday night in Lilesville the guests of his sister, Mrs. E. P. Liles. Miss Mary Wall who is visiting in Hickory will leave this week on a western tour. Mrs. L. M. McLaurin and little daughter is on a visit to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Liles. Mrs. P. Z. Seago of Florida is is iting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. A Seago. Mr. Cecil Saunders of Pennsylvania is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Saunders. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Ingram will leave this week to visit her home folks in Georgia. LAND TRANSFERS. The following real estate deeds have been registered since The M. & I.'s last report: Mack Morgan and wife to Hattie R. Wall; 12.8 acres in Lilesville town ship; $1,700. H. J. Wall to W. A. Wall; interest in 80 acres in Lilesville township; $50 etc. P. P. Marsh," attorney in fact, to P. R. Brooks; lot near Wadesboro; $125. Robert Ratliff to P. R. and C. C. Bennett; interest in 177 acres in Gulledge township; $10 etc. L. D. Rivers to Chas. N. Ingram; three Wadesboro lots; $2,425. Lester Sellers to P. R. and C. C Bennett; interest in 177 acres in Gul ledge township; .$10 etc. J. S. Liles to Joe J. Lindsey; 43 1-3 acres in Lilesville township; $10 etc. Preston Ratliff and wife to P. R. and C. C. Bennett; interest in 177 acres in Gulledge township; $10 etc. C. W. Gaddy and wife to M. J. Gad- dy; 40 acres on Jones creek; $10 etc. M. J. Gaddy and wife to C. W. Gad dy; 44 acres on Jones creek; $10 etc. Addie L. Dabbs and others to Eula Kendall; 100 acres adjoining J. H. Dabbs; $1.00 etc. Addie L. Dabbs and others to Nel lie Moore; 100 1-4 acres adjoining C. J. Kirk; $1.00. G. A. Martin to Analiza Stewart; Morven lot; $75. Without any claim to originality, we offer as our third entry for the Bok peace prize the well-known Ten Commandments. Dubuque American Tribune. . COTTON YIELD REPORT SHOWS HEALTHY I GAIN.' Year's Yield Placed at 11,516,000 , Contractors Bestiring Themselves on Bales in Forecast for July S.C.! Manv Different Kinds of Work Crop is Poor Smallest Carryover! Houses for Operatives Going Up Since South Became Big Producer I Mor Contracts Let la Announced. ' There must have been 40 or more Washington, Aug. 1. Cotton pro duction this year was forecast at 11,516,000 bales from its condition! July 25, which was 67.2 per cent of a normal, the Department of Agri culture announced today. The July 25 condition indicates a yield of about 143.9 pounds per acre. The condition of the crop by states follows: Virginia 88; North Carolina, 82; South Carolina, 64; Georgia, 48; Flor ida, 53; Alabama, 66; Mississippi, 65; Louisiana, 68; Texas, 71; Arkansas, 68; Tennessee, 69; Missouri, 70; Okla homa, 63; California, 88; Arizona 01; New Mexico, 85. The Government's monthly cotton report was awaited with unusual in terest in the cotton world by produc ers, traders and manufacturers, in view of the present comparative scar city of raw cotton supplies. A month ago a crop of 11,412,000 bales was forecast by the Department of Agri culture, basing its calculations on the condition of the plants on June 25 which was 69.9 per cent of a normal and on the area of cultivation on that date, which was 38,287,000 acres, the largest area planted in the history of the industry. Last year's crop amounted to 9, 761,817 bales, the acreage 34,016,000 and the July 25 condition was 70.3 per cent of a normal. The average production for the last ten years was 11,890,189 bales, the average acreage 34,413,600 and the average July 25 condition 72.4 per cent of a normal. "Every district in Texas," the statement 'said, "suffered deteriora tion of condition, due principally to lack of moisture, but also due to high temperatures and the ravages of in sects." The statement continued: "With the exception of counties in south Texas, little material damage has thus far been done by the weevil or the boll worm in that state, but the leaf worm has been very active, par ticularly in the south. Serious dam age is reported from the southern district of Texas from the effect of what is known as the 'cotton flea' a relatively new pest. The foregoing causes were sufficient to make the crop deteriorate six points during the month in the state as a whole, to 71 per cent, or the average of the past '0 years on July 25. Georgia Way Down. "Georgia's cotton crop, which has had a 10-year average condition of 70 per cent on July 25, fell eight points during the month, this year, to 48 per cent, the lowest condition on record for that date. The boll weevil has greatly increased in numbers and de structiveness in the southern third of the state, and the area of heavy dam age is spreading northward. The cotton plant in a large portion of the state had not set any fruit prior to July 21, which is usually considered the dead line after which bolls can not be set and a crop made under weevil infestations. Weevils are present in all parts of the state in greater num bers than they were last year. "Weevil ravages are heavy in Flor ida, where the condition of the crop declined 13 points during the month. Declines of one or two points in Vir ginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisia na, and Oklahoma were variously caused by rains, weevils, deficient moisture, lateness of the crop, ex tremely hot weather, wet cool weath er in May and early June followed by drought. "Improved or stationary condition during the month in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri and New Mexico, was not sufficient to balance adverse causes elsewhere. Yet, in the average of all states, the crop deteriorated but 2.7 points, although the average deter ioration of the past 10 years is 3.6 points, or greater than the deterior ation that occurred this year." The July 25 condition indicates a yield of about 143.9 pounds per acre. RECORD LOW CARRYOVER IS REPORTED BY HESTER. New Orleans, Aug. 1. The small est carryover of cotton into a new cotton year since the South ; became an important producer of the staple was announced in the annual report of August 1, issued today by the New Orleans cotton exchange through its secretary, H. G. Hester. The total carryover in the cotton belt was put at 947,000 bales com pared with 1,906,000. The total quan tity held on plantations and un counted towns in the south was esti mated at 184,000 against 964,000. Mr. Hester announced that the commercial crop of the year just ended amounted to 11,283,000 bales, compared with 11,653,000 last year. Actual growth was counted at 10, 424,000 bales against 8,442,000. The M. & I. does good Job Printing. Bring oa toot next order. NEW COTTON MILL IS SCENE OF GREAT ACTIVITY. I bidders and prospective bidders here last Tuesday, when the Wade Manu facturing Co. let several contracts for various kinds of work on the site of the new cotton mill. The contract for putting in the sewer and water mains was let to Boyd, Goforth & Co.. of Charlotte. Michael & Bivens were the successful bidders for wiring the houses in the mill village, this giving this firm all the electrical installa tion work about the mill, A. X. Tay lor, of Wadesboro got the contract for the plumbing in the mill village. All these contracts were let Tuesday. The mill site and surrounding ter ritory is now a scene of great activ ity when the weather is good. The brick wall of the building has been started all around, and in most places is up to the line of the first story windows. It is only after this wall is seen that it is realized how big the mill is. Work has been started on three more sections of the warehouse, these to be used as a bonded cotton warehouse under the agreement with the subscribers to the stock in the proposed bonded warehouse company. Pillars of several of the houses in the mill village have been placed, and these houses will now go up in a hur ry, if nothing happens. The village occupies a commanding site on the hill west of the mill, it being surpass ed by none in its natural advantages. Contractors are at work grading the streets, the Union Construction Co. having this contract. One street will practically encircle the village on three sides, and there will also be sev eral cross streets. Space is being set aside for a church, and there is also plenty of room for a school and oth er features of community life when ever these become advisable. The management will seek to attract the very best class of operatives. Mr. W. T. Treadaway is pulling the stumps in the area which will be cov ered by the pond. All during the spring and summer Mr. W. Henry Liles has been .busy directing a clean-up squad on the grounds, and large areas are now assuming a spick and span ap earance, where before there was a tangled undergrowth. The indications now are that the mill will be in operation not later than March 1st, 1924. ANSON SANATORIUM NEWS. Mrs. J. A. Gulledge of Chesterfield S. C, was operated on Sunday night for acute appendicitis. Her condition is better. . Mrs. J. L. Lisk of Norwood has en tered the hospital for treatment. Mr. Tillman Brown was able to re turn home Sunday. Born to Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Lind sey a daughter, last Sunday. Mrs. Tom J. Kelley of Troy enter ed the hospital Sunday. Her condi tion is better. Mrs. R. L. Joyner of Norwood un derwent a serious operation Monday. She is doing nicely. ' Miss Carrie Davis of McFarlan was operated on Tuesday for appendi citis. The condition of Miss Sara Wall of Lilesville who was seriously injured in the wreck at the Ansonville cross ing is much improved. Mrs. J. T. Gaddy of Ansonville re turned to her home yesterday. Born to Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Beach um on eleven and a half pound son , on Sunday. . Mrs. Myrtle Dawkins was operated on Monday for appendicitis. She is doing nicely. Mrs. D. T. Preslar of Polkton, who was operated on last week is much improved. - Mrs. Holden Gaddy returned to her home Tuesday. The condition of Gladys Baker is j improyin Mrs. R. D. Teal of Chesterfield re turned home Sunday. Colored. James McCoy of Morven who was suffering with an injury of the hip : returned home Tuesday The condition of Dina Shaw was operated on last week is improved. Julia Jones returned home today. Rosa Lee Myers of Chesterfield has entered the hospital for treatment vvney cmun oi .uorven wno was ; rate of any state in the unJon the shot and seriously wounded by his j rate in the states making reports av wife on Sunday night is slightly im-; erao-inir something more than 20. proved. The condition of James Young and Luther Sellers is improved. IN MEMORIAM. Ben Downer. Kind, gentle, honest and courageous in this life, he passes at a single stroke, and has gone to breathe the vigor of the everlasting hills. E. N. L. The M. & I. does good Job Printing. Bring us your next order. TOWN WINS PAVING CASE ON ALL COUNTS. Takes Jury Only Short While to De cide That Depot Road Is Public Thoroughfare Judgment in the Case. The jury in the case of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Leak got the case late last Thursday afternoon, and ren dered a verdict in favor of the town in 40 minutes or less. The only issue the jury had to decide was: "Is the depot road, from the northern end of Washington street to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, a public street of the town of Wadesboro?" The an swer was yes. , j The M. & I. last week gave a report of the chief features of the trial. Speeches were made for the plaintiffs by Messrs. B. M. Covington, H. II. McLendon and J. A. Lockhart, and for the defendants by John C. Sikes and T. L. Caudle. Following the trial the plaintiffs gave notice of appeal to the supreme court, the town having won in the superior court on every count. Following is the judgment from which the plaintiffs appealed: "This cause coming on to be heard and being heard before his honor, V. F. Harding, judge presiding a: ..he special July term, 1923, of the super ior court of Anson county, and at'ter hearing the pleadings in this cause and the admissions of the parties thereto and the evidence presented to the court being of the opinion that the petition of the property owners for local improvements, as set forth in the pleadings, is in all respects legal ly sufficient and in compliance with the statutes, it is, therefore, consid ered, ordered and adjudged by the court that said petition is legally suf ficient and in compliance with law, and the court being of the further opinion that upon consideration of the pleadings in this case and the admis sions of the parte hexfitQ.and the ev idence presented to the court that the bond ordinance referred to in the com plaint is valid and in compliance with law, it is, therefore, ordered and ad judged by the court that said bond ordinance is valid and in compliance with the provisions or" the statute. "The court being further of the opinion that the allegations in the complaint alleging that the assess ments to be made for local improve ments will be confiscatory and in ex cess of the benefits to tie property of the plaintiffs conferred thereby, can not be determined in this action, it is, therefore, ordered and adjudged by the court that said questions can not be litigated in this action, but must be determined hereafter in the manner and way provided by the statute in such cases. "The issue of fact raised by the j pleadings in this case as to whether cr not Depot street, or road, is a pub lic street of the town of Wadesbor cugh, having been submitted to the jury, and the jury having answered said issue in favor of the defendants and against the plaintiffs, as appears on record, it is now, therefore, consid ered, ordered and adjudged by the court that Depot street, commencing at the terminus of Wasnington street and running thence over and through the property of the plaintiffs to its intersection with the Atlantic Coast Line railroad track, is a public street of the town of Wadesborough. "It is further ordered and adjudged by the court that the costs of this ac tion be taxed againsi the, plaintiffs and their sureties upon the prosecu tion bond in this action." ANSON'S POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW. Nearly Three Times as Many Births as Deaths in County in 1922 Ne groes Lead. Register of Deeds Crowder has re- j ceived from the binder the vital sta tistics records of Anson county tor the year 1922, and they show that, as far as births and deaths are concern ed the county had a very satisfactory incrpnp in nnnnlatinn last war. rht? net growth being 607. The total num ber of births was 953, 424 being white and 534 colored. The deaths num bered 351. 139 being white and 212 colored. The net increase for the whites was 23o, and for the colored people 322. 1 On this showing the number of wno births per thousand in Anson is al muc , mcst exactly 37, whereas the number of deaths per thousand is only about 13. While exact figures are not at hand, the birth rate in North Carolina is around 30, and this is the highest There is still plenty of room in the state, which is now one of the fastest 'growing commonwealths in the coun try, and it is probable that the birth rate will continue high for many years. , Mrs. Iliver. Strachey writes that British women have the same aim as their sisters in America. In such case British husbands will do well to adopt the habit of wearing bullet proof undershirts. Cincinnati- En quirer. .
The Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian (Wadesboro, N.C.)
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Aug. 2, 1923, edition 1
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