Newspapers / The Coastland Times (Manteo, … / July 8, 1955, edition 1 / Page 1
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UME XXI NO. 1 V/ith Hopes High Roanoke Island Witnesses Another Lost Colony Season Begin Under Favorable Auspices of a Fine Performance The One Big Thing Which Means So Much to Roanoke Island As Well as the Entire County Again Calls For Active Support of All Peo ple Who Have Our Welfare At Heart. By CATHERINE D. MEEKINS Staging one of the finest open ing night performances in the his tory of the show, “The Lost Colony” got underway Friday night, July 1, as it opened its 15th season in Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island. The actual count of the audience stood at 949, but there were certainly more than 1,000 attending. Many of the audience were members of the Roanoke Island Historical Associa tion, holding season tickets, and the chances are most of them for got to exchange their tickets at the gate for numbered seats and didn’t get included in the count. Author Paul Green, who attend ed the opening with one of his daughters and two of his grand childrenf was enthusiastic about the performance, and high in his praise of director Clifton Britton. Mr. Britton had whipped the show into shape under rather difficult circumstances this year, as many of the leading roles were portrayed by new actors, some of whom had never even seen “The Lost Colony”. The male lead, John Borden, was played by Martin F. Gerrish of Tucson, Arizona, who came to Chapel Hill last spring to audition for the part. His perform ance should have satisfied even the most critical member of the audience. While it was easy to catch oneself listening for the voice and the inflections of Robert Armstrong, who played the part for so many years, it was satisfy ing to see the part played by one who could so quickly and so ade- ” ~ •* 1 J • quately step into Armstrong’s place. Old Tom Harris, the tragi comic figure who gives the comic relief, was also played by a new actor, J. David Bowen of New York City, and with him the part recaptured something it ha<T • n the last several years. His ayal of Old Tom eliminates <• of the “niceness” which had crept into the character’s voice and actions. He has acquired a certain harshness of tone in both speaking and singing voice, which is more in keeping with the part of a poverty-stricken beggar. Al so, he is using certain bits of stage business which have not been evident for the last several years, and which some of us older Lost Colony enthusiasts had missed. At this opening performance, Oliver Link of Salisbury played the role of Sir Walter Raleigh for the first time, and in his bearing there was just a hint of condes cenion toward his social inferiors, but no pompousness—the quality that sometimes has crept in to spoil the part. Link’s performance was good, his voice strong and his bearing in keeping with the character of Sir Walter Raleigh. Ernest Faust of Goldsboro, playing Simon Fernando for the first time, portrayed the swash buckling Spanish sea-captain’s part with assurance, and here again he did a good job of re placing George Spence, who had through several years, created a place for himself in the part. The Master of the Queen’s Ceremonies, played by another new actor, William L. White of Topsham, Maine, is in fine form this year. While not a long part, it is a most important one. and White gives it a fine quality it has lacked at times. Along with the new actors, many familiar ones are back with the show this year, among them Don nell Stoneman, whose portrayal of ‘ Father Martin is even stronger than last year; Anne Martin of Cherokee, who plays the female lead, Eleanor Dare; Mary Wood Long better than ever as Queen Elizabeth; Gerd Young as Dame Coleman; our own Grace Davis of Manteo as Agona; and many others. Director Britton gives mueh braise to his assistants, who di ted various phases of the show. avin Gordon as choreographer improved the dancing and has ade the Indian dances mors authentic and primitive. They are even more beautiful than ever this year. The milkmaid dance he has made again into a lovely simple See LOST COLONY, Page Four METHODIST WOMEN VOTE STAND AGAINST BINGO A meeting of 12 Methodist wo men in Manteo, attending the Hat tie Griffin circle of WSCS held Wednesday is reported as having voted . unanimously to stand 100 per cent be hind the movement to keep the bingo games closed in Dare County. THE COASTLAND TIMES PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROUNA 2,000 VEHICLES IN THREE DAYS MOVE TO HATTERAS ID. Was Biggest Fourth of July For Nags Head, Hatteras Island and Roanoke The greatest concentration of traffic ever known here came to the Dare County beaches on the 4th of July week end. Ferries were jammed to capacity, and at Manns Harbor there were times when the boats were insufficient to take care of traffic. In the three-day week end, 2,000 vehicles crossed over to Hatteras Island, with three ferry boats running steadily. All available rooms were filled up on Saturday night and most of them on Sunday night. All rooms were filled at Nags Head and on Roanoke Island as well. On Sunday night, 1.200 at tended the Lost Colony, which is not too good a showing consider ing the crowds in the area. Fishing guides and boats were busy, and just about everyplace on which a fishermen might perch, had a visitor. Each year the crowds get big ger and bigger. Hot weather bring ’em crowding to the beaches. The warm weather predicted for the rest of the summer is expect ed to make this a record breaking season. Travel conditions at Manns Har- bor now show that the new Croa tan Sound bridge will not be com pleted before it is needed. Many cars had to wait for as long as three hours to get a boat to Roa noke Island Saturday, and in the meantime several got tired of . waiting, gave up- and went back. The same condition will be re peated on a larger scale at Alliga tor River, once the Croatan Sound bridge is open to traffic. REV. L. A. AITKEN TO SERVE MANTEO METHODISTS Few Changes in Methodist Pastorates Made by Conference Last Week In Fayetteville Few changes were made in Methodist pastorates in the Dare County area by the conference in Fayetteville, last week. Rev. L. A. Aitken will replace Rev. H. R. Ashmore at Manteo, after four years. Rev. R. E. Couch goes from Kinnekeet to Bath. Rev. A. G. Tyson goes to Kinnakeet. Rev. Ashmore goes to Saint Pauls in Robeson County. Rev. C. W. Guthrie returns to Wanchese. Rev. A. L. G. Stephen son to Dare Mainland. Rev. W. B. Gregory to Kitty Hawk. Rev. P. M. Porter, a former Avon pastor returns to Chowan. Rev. E. R. Meekins goes from Columbia to Perquimans. Rev. Dan Meadows returns to Hatteras. Rev. W. R. Hale returns to Ocracoke. Rev. Wilford Wise of Manteo, who has been at Bath the past year has been assigned to Middleburg. ROBBERIES CONTINUING IN DARE COUNTY AREA Several robberies during the week end were reported on the Dare Beaches and vicinity. Perry’s Drive-In for the third time was robbed, entry being through a back window and juke box broken open. An estimated $230 was taken from the store of J. S. Lowthrop, known as the Gem Supermarket. Mrs. R. V. Owens’ restaurant at lower Nags Head was entered. The cash register was broken into, but it was empty. The juke box yielded an estimated SIOO. Two business houses in Curri tuck County were entered also: Elliott’s, and the Point Harbor Grill. Several beach cottages have been entered and heavily robbed this year, and R. H. Gray’s store at Wanchese robbed. Thieves have not yet been ap prehended. SECOND BLUE MARLIN Hatteras.—Second blue marlin of the season was landed off this fish-famous sportsfishing port on Sunday. H. S. Sowers of 4013 Broad Rock Road boated a 245- pounder in less than 30 minutes. [ He was fishing with Capt. Bill aboard the cruiser Alba tross when the big fish hit his bait. This fish was a runnerup to a 464-pounder landed on May 28th, by Al Plews of Glen Bumie, Md. MAURY GRADUATE NOW HOME AT RODANTHE MISS JAZANIA HERBERT, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Herbert of Rodanthe, who has spent the past two years in Nor folk, graduated from Maury High School June *lO. While at Maury Miss Herbert was a member of the Maury Chorus, reported for the Maury News, vice president for her Senior home room and was also awarded an Intramural Maury Certificate upon completing the requirements of the Physical Edu cation Department for participa tion in swimming. Miss Herbert was active in her church, Epworth Methodist and M.Y.F. She is now with her parents at Rodanthe. MIRACULOUS EYESIGHT ATTRIBUTED TO BOY COMING TO WANCHESE The nine-year old boy who says God has given him power to see with a plastic eye is coming to Wanchese. He will appear in per son at the Assembly of God church, Sunday night, July 10th, at the evening service. The boy’s testimony will be given at this service, says' Rev. A. W. Price, the pastor. Ronald Coyne, the youth from Sapulpa, Oklahoma lost his eye five years ago, from an infection caused by a piece of wire sticking in it. The eye was replaced by a plastic eye. His mother said his sight was recovered despite all this, at a religious meeting several months later. It is said that Ronald can still read with this plastic eye, and he ♦dll give a demonstration Sunday night at Wanchese. The Greatness of Our Future Calls For Dwelling on Our Past For Inspiration Being Some Remarks By Paul Green, the Playwright, Upon the Opening of the 1 5th Season of The Lost Colony at Old Fort Raleigh, Friday Night, July I, 1955 In these days of political crisis it seems good to turn back and consider those elements and con stituencies that make up our demo cratic way of life. Thus we may help to clarify our minds some what and perhaps receive a needed stimulus and encouragement for the future. And don’t we need that stimulus and understanding today? If I may speak arbitrarily,• I should say that the purpose of a nation, of a person or a thing is to be the best of its kind possible— provided it is a good kind. And if it is an evil kind, then its purpose is to make itself better and to make it so immediately. What is the purpose of this America, of this political unity known as the United States? The answer is simply this—to be as good a nation as it can be. What do I mean by being good? I mean that a nation only through wisdom, happiness, enlightenment, justice, good health and honest achieve ment can truly promote the wel fare of it citizens and thus further the general and cooperative wel fare of the world. Only thus can it fulfill the purpose for which it was created. Our forefathers in this land con ceived of a political form of social order, which they considered cap able of producing the best quality of individual residing in and par ticipating in that order. Theiy it is good for us as a peo ple to go back to the characters of our past history and put our ear in tune to their far-off speaking and thinking. Just as in Greece her literary workers reinterpreted their heroes—Ulysses Agamem non, Oedipus—reinterpreted their gods and goddesses, their legends and their stories—and with each interpretation raised them into more vivid reality—just so should we in th'is nation seek to reinter pret, to dramatize and redrama- MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1955 COMMISSIONERS TAKE FAVORABLE STAND FOR BINGO Dare Board Stands For Aiding Fight to Retain Games With out Cash Prizes By a vote of four to one, the Dare County Bpard of Commis sions Tuesday passed a resolu tion favorable to aiding Bingo operators at Nags Head to con tinue operation of the games, but disapproval of cash prizes. Com missioner W. H- Lewark of Kill Devil Hills declined to go along with the Board in any action in behalf of the bingo operators. The Board voted to take up sev eral matters with the State High way Commission. First, they want to be heard with respect to the location of the proposed second highway to be built through the Nags Head area. They wish the bridge across the Spencer’s Creek gut at Manns Harbor to be kept at a sufficiently high level to per mit fishing boats to pass under it. They also requested that the road to be improved at Buxton, leading to the light plant. The Board agred to pay a salary of SIOO per month to Darrell Daniels, deputy sheriff at Wan chese. They also heard represent atives from Duke University dis cuss costs of taking care of the county’s hospital patients, and ex pressed thanks for their courtesy in coming to visit the county. They also agreed to deed back to some individuals on Hatteras Island" lands which they had some years ago,.abandoned to the county for failure to pay their taxes. The Board plans to meet later in the month to fix the tax rate, and approve the budget for Dare County. RECORD DOLPHIN LANDED OFF COAST SATURDAY The second largest dolphin ever landed with rod and reel along the Atlantic Coast, was boated on Saturday by H. Kiirt Strass of 14 Pin Oak Road, Warwick, Va. His fish weighed 57 pounds and wav runnerup to the Atlantic Coast record, a 61 pounder landed by J. W. Gore at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 1935. Strass was trolling the western edge of the Gulf Stream about 30 miles southeast of Oregon Inlet when the giant dolphin hit his lure. He boated the big dolphin in less than 15 minutes on 45 pound test Dacron line loaded on a Penn 6/0 reel. Strass was fishing from the cruiser Capt. Angelo, skipper ed by Capt. Charles Wescott. tize the pioneer figures of Wash ington, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Lincoln and many others. And we should tell and retell the events in which they participated and the events of which they were often the begettors. And we should tell and retell to our legends and deeds of our folk heroes likewise—old Raul Bunyan, the powerful John Henry, the sweet and beneficient Johnny Appleseed, and even Br’er Rabbit himself. For a nation without heroes is a weak nation. And the nature of a nation’s heroes is a measure of the quality of thalt nation’s life. And as we work to make these mighty figures of the past live again in drama, fiction and poetry, so much more will they live with their essential truth and glory and inspiration in the lives of odr chil dren and the generations of the future—generations who in turn can reinterpret and redramatize them for their children. This is not dead ancestor wor ship. It is a living vital process of a people’s growth and develop ment—if it is to have that growth, that development. If we can make real and' manifest and dramatic in our thinking and in our feeling and in our doing the lessons and meanings of our forefathers, of our foremothers, of our folk heroes—their personal tribulations and triumphs—j us t so much stronger and more stimulating can we be for the future. And in moments of uncertainty and special challenge as now, ir moments of hesitation and wander ing and confusion as now, we can look back for an instant to the figures standing there in a close-up actuality—we can cup our hand to our ear and listen to the words of Thomas Jefferson, for instance, riding on wind, saying “We have declared for the equality of men, for the freedom of men, for tb» r responsibility of men”—“The pur- See REMARKS, Page Eight CONNECTICUT PASTOR IS GUEST PREACHER ill THE REV. HERBERT B. MOR RELL, pastor of the First Church in Windsor, Connecticut, oldest Congregational church in Ameri ca, will be guest minister at the second in a series of Sabbath wor ships at Waterside Theatre on Sunday morning, July 10. A fea ture of the morning services will be music by The Lost Colony Chor us with Hedley Yost at the console. This is the Rev. Mr. Morrell’s second appearance as guest minis ter for the Lost-, Colony Sunday Services. A native of Lakewood, N. J., he was educated in the public schools of New York City, and later was graduated from Bates • College, Lewistown, Maine with honors in literature and languages in 1925. He was graduated from Yale Uni versity’s Divinity School in 19328. The Lost Colony Chorus which provides music for the Sabbath Worships at Waterside Theatre is under the direction of Nena Wil liams. Host minister for the Sun day services is the Rev. Thomas White. SUIT FILED TO OUST OFFICIALS KILL DEVIL HILLS A suit filed in Dare Superior Court this week is directed to ward the town officials of Kill Devil Hills, whom it seeks to oust. The petition is signed by James C. Tillett, and is directed at Mrs. Emily Mustian, Mayor; town com missioners Elton Twiford, Herbert Morrison and Robert Young, and Jimmy Gray, town clerk. The petition contends that they are unlawfully holding office; that the election held in May was a legal election abolishing the town charter, and their right to hold office therein. It gives them 30 days to answer the complaint, and asks the court to declare the of fices vacant. It appeals from the opinion of the late Attorney Gen eral Harry Me Mullan that the election abolishing the town charter was not a legal one. The petitioners are represented by Forrest V. Dunstan and John H. Hall, attorneys of Elizabeth City. The case will be heard in Superior Court, and perhaps not in Dare County. WIDOW OF CAPT. W. J. TATE PASSES FRIDAY AFTERNOON Mrs. Addie Sibbom Tate, 85, widow of Capt. W. J. Tate, who sewed the cloth for the glider that the Wright Brothers used in their early experiments about 1900, died Friday afternoon in an Elizabeth City hospital after a long illness. A native of Kitty Hawk, she had been a resident of Coinjock for the past 40 years. Her parents were Elija Sibbom and Mrs. Fan nie Twiford Sibbom. During the Wright experiments, they boarded at the Tate home at Kitty Hawk. Mrs. Tate still kept the sewing machine on which she stitched the glider cloth. She was a member of the Pil more Methodist Church at Curri tuck. Capt. Tate died in June, 1953. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. E. R. Woodard, of Coinjock, and Mrs. Bennet D. Severn, of Brigantine, N. J.; two sons, Elijah See MRS. TATE, Page Eight SERIOUS CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST COLINGTON MEN The serious charge of assault ing and beating up two Pennsyl vania tourists in Dare County has been brought against three young men of Colington by Carl L. Lias and wife Maxine D., who were badly beaten, allegedly by Orville Moore, James Beasley Jr., and Ernest E. Rogers. Mr. Lias is cus todian of a school playground. The -ase will* be tried in Manteo Au gust 30th. The young men are un der SIOO cash appearance bonds. AUG. 12 SET ASIDE TO HONOR NATION’S OLD LIFE SAVERS IN SPECIAL RODANTHE EVENT Will Probably Be Last Public Recognition of Those Whose Faithful Services Did So Much to Develop The Coast Guard. Many Special Events Are Planned in Two-Day Celebration. The first, and probably the last event of its kind ever held, to do honor to those few remaining old veterans of the U. S. Life Saving Service is in the making at the vil lages of Rodanthe and Waves, Aug ust 12 and 13, and it is expected to arouse national interest. It will be a time of recognition for the men of the Coast Guard, principally those men now retired from active service, and particularly the old veterans of the Life Saving Serv ice. The old Life Saving Service dis appeared in 1915 when it was con solidated with the Revenue Cutter Service under the name of the U. S. Coast Guard. Most of its per sonnel continued with the Coast Guard. Most of its veterans now are past 75 years es age. Only two are living in the Waves area. The celebration in August will mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment in 1875 of the Life Saving Stations on Hatteras Is land. They flourished for only 40 years under the flag of the Life Saving Service. Os the ten stations that have been in commission on Hatteras Island, only two now are active. Rear Admiral Russell E. Wood, Coast Guard Division Commandant at Norfolk, announced this week the program has his hearty appro val, and the men and facilities of the Coast Guard will be available to carry out the program. The program will include a beach ap paratus drill as done by the old veterans, illustrating the rescue of men from a ship in distress, and also a drill showing rescue work as done today by helicopters. A capsize drill in a rowing life-boat will be done by retired men of the Coast Guard. There may be row ing races, and there will be swim ming races, the crowning of a beau ty queen, and other events on a two-day program which will be worked out this week end by a citizens committee of this area. It has been proposed for this Chicamicomico celebration that it also be made the occasion for a re union of the Midgetts and the Meekins, called home from across the nation to the land where they originated in North Carolina. It is a land where also originated much of the fame and glory of the Coast Guards, for along the lonely beach of Chicamicomico occurred more shipwrecks per mile during the 19th Century than anywhere else in America. Contrary to popular .legend it was not at Cape Hatteras where most of the shipwrecks oc curred, for vessels did not sail near the Cape, but along the coast of Rodanthe-Waves, which is the easternmost point of North Caro lina. Here on this lonely strand where so many of the sailing ships of several nations found their final resting place, great and brave deeds were done by the old Life ' Savers in rescuing crews from the threats of the sea. The reports of I these rescues went abroad through the land, and aroused the nation to a sense of the need for more funds to expand the service. It was a long battle, and many men took part in getting the interest of Con gress aroused. For about 75 years, the shore stations lived their day in the sun, but as the old sailing vessels grad ually disappeared from the scene and after the modern aids to navi gation, and mechanized methods of rescue came into service, the younger men who ran the service deemed the old lifeboat stations less and less important, and dur ing the past five years, they have been rapidly going out of commis sion. Most of the younger men have been transferred to the ves sels of the Coast Guard; the older ones have been retired from serv ice. But there are great memories and traditions remaining along the North Carolina coast of the fine deeds of ancestors, as well as many relatives now living. There is hardlv a native family who can not look back upon one or more ancestors who were winners of medals or citations for their snlen did service in the Coast Guard. On August 12th. they will have a great and nrobably their last nortunity to do to the few old timers that are still with us. Single Copy 70 FIERY CROSS IN FRONT OF OFFICER BRINGS WARNING Suspended Sentences for Two 16- Year Old Wanchese Boys Who Tried to Frighten Policeman Two 16-year-old Wanchese boys, John Williams, and Charles Pugh Wroten got a warning from Judge Washington Baum Tuesday in Dare Recorder’s court. Deputy Sheriff Darrell Daniels, who had just been appointed by Sheriff Frank Cahoon to serve the com munity of Wanchese, observed a fiery cross burning in front of his house about eight o’clock on Thursday night. Due diligence located the young culprits, and he brought a felony charge against them for attempted arson. Judge Baum didn’t hear any evidence presented. Attorney Kel logg asked that the charge be re duced, as there was no sign of attempted arson, and defense at torney Wallace Gray, told the court it was just a prank of the boys. Judge Baum said if they came in his court again in two years, they would go on the road for a year. The two youngsters who have had no work to do, and no restrain ing hands upon them, had fallen into the habit of annoying the community with their pranks, some of them not so pleasant, like damaging school property, etc. It was largely due to the lads run ning wild that the Ruritan Club of Wanchese asked the Commis sioners to hire an officer for the - community. The boys didn’t like the idea a bit, and they figured they would be able to frighten Mr. Daniels out of taking the job. But he fool ed them. The job of Deputy Sheriff is now a pretty good one in Dare County, paying from SIOO to $275 a month, and some instances as near no work as possible being done. There are now about six deputy sheriffs in the county, be sides an equal number of other peace officers, and one would think the county full of law breakers and the jail due to be full all the time. Tuesday’s Recorder’s Court was the longest session in many moons. Traffic cases prevailed. Grover Lester Barnett, also William Howard Lyons and Eu gene Spencer King of Norfolk submitted to charges of public drunkenness and paid fines of $lO and costs each. Submissions to speeding: Larry M. Parker 65 mph in a 35-mile zone, S3O and costs; Calbert M. Gray of Stumpy Point S2O and costs. Walter Alick Chaney of Hempstead, Fla., 60 miles, $25 and costs. William Ransom Johnston of Littleton, 70 miles, SSO and costs. Joseph Edgar Putnam of Duck 85 miles, SSO and costs. | Rudolph Pendleton, colored, for I driving while drunk SIOO and costs. Frank «King Dawson for backing into a drive way and failing to yield right of way resulting in an accident was taxed with court costs. Jerry Belle McClees got 60 days on the roads for driving after his drivers permit had been revoked. Cary Perry Rice of Wake For est, for driving too close to an other car, paid a fine of of $1 and costs. Nurse Beverly Jan Slater of Camp Lejuene for speeding at 75 miles paid SSO and costs. Carrol Ashton Davis of Elizabeth City for driving without lights, $5 and costs. Persons convicted of driving at 75 miles per hour and over lose their driving permits for a year. FIRST WHITE MARLIN OF SEASON IS LANDED Nags Head.—First white marlin of the 1955 season to be landed off the Dare Coast was boated on July 4, by Dr. Fred S. Cruser, of Salem, Va. His marlin measuring seven foot four inches from tip to tip, scaled at 57-pounds. A coldish June hampered bill ' fishing along the Dare Coast and the score to date is one white mar -1 lin and two blue marlin. No sail | fish have been boated but several, have been raised to bait.
The Coastland Times (Manteo, N.C.)
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July 8, 1955, edition 1
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