Newspapers / The Coastland Times (Manteo, … / Dec. 7, 1956, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOLUME XXII —. NO. 23 DEATH OVERTAKES NORFOLK COUPLE ON WEEKEND TRIP Man and Young Woman Asphyx iated in Nags Head Motel Rooms Sunday Ab attractive 25-year old young woman and her companion, 36 year old James Douglas Wilmuth, both of Norfolk, died sometime Sunday in a beach cottage they had rented for Saturday night at lower Nags Head. Their bodies were found late Sunday afternoon by the motel operator who had wondered why their eAr had stayed parked at the cottage all' day, when they had said they planned to leave early Sunday to drive to Hatteras. Wilmuth and Miss Mary Ann Bennett rented a small two bed nx>m cottage at the Ocean Side cottage court owned by Fred Wes cott of Manteo, and managed by Burt Atkins, about ten p.m. Sat urday. When Mr. Atkins on Sunday afternoon went to see why they hadn’t checked out at the expira tion of their time, he found Miss Bennett’s body fully clothed, lying in a small hallway between the two bedrooms. Wilmuth’s body, undressed for bed, was in bed, where he had apparently died. A coroner’s jury rule that death was due to asphyxiation. The rooms were considerably smoked from a gas heating stove in an out er room. Owners of the cottage say the circumstances were caused by improper use of the stove, and it was indicated that someone had used some effort to light the stove with torches made from strips of torn-up bag, such as liquor bottles come in . In the rooms were found bottles of vodka and whiskey. Indications showed that separate beds had been used. A surmise is that Miss Bennett had arisen, dressed, and had gone to Wil muth’s room to call him, and overpowered by fumes, or over came at finding him dead, had fallen out in the hallway between the two rooms. Medical opinion was that he had been dead some ten hours or more, while her body was apparently dead a much short er length of time. The building is entered from the street into a large combination living-dining room-kitchen, equip ped for housekeeping. A small hall way leads from this room to a bath, on either side of which is a bedroom. Located in the living room near the entrance to the hall way is a small space heater which uses liquefied petroleum. When Mr. Atkins entered the cottage he found heavy deposits of smut over the place, which indi cated that the appliance had done considerable smoking. Disinterested viewers came to the conclusion that the couple, either through ignorance of operation, or while in a be fuddled state, had ifproperly tried to operate the gas heat er, perhaps having to ignite it through the air vent, which re sulted only in its smoking, and finally burning up the room’s supply of oxygen. Wilmuth, was the owner of the Acme Tire Company on Princess ‘ Ann Road, Norfolk and has a brother Guy Wilmuth. His body was taken to Twiford Funeral Home in Elizabeth City for prepa ration for burial, then sent to Keysville, Va. In Norfolk he lived at 1224 W. Woodlawn Ave. Miss Bennett resided at 3613 Amherst St., with her sister, Mrs. A. L. Boynton in Norfolk, was a native of that city, and for two years had been employed as a book-keeper by Green-Gifford Mo tor Corp, in Sewells Point Road, Norfolk. She has another sister in Florida, and three brothers in Nor folk. Her parents were dead. She was buied in Rosemont Memorial Park, Tuesday. Wilmuth, the dead man is high ly regarded by many people at Cape Hatteras where he made his home for awhile in the house he owned. He married the former Miss Rovenia Quidley, who separated from him some three years ago, and has since remarried. They had one child, a boy. He has a brother Garland, who lives in Richmond, who is married to the daughter of Guy Quidley of Buxton, and is a cousin <?f the former Rovenia Wil muth. The home they lived in at / Buxton was later sold to Willard Burrus. It was known as the John Lee Miller home. SOCK DANCE SATURDAY A Sock dance will be held Sat urday night, December 8, in the Manteo gymnasium, beginning at eight o'clock. Proceeds will go to the high school athletic associa-' tion. THE COASTLAND TIMES PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA ESTABLISHED IN MEDICAL PRACTICE IN DURHAM gay o? A DR. RALPH E. BAUM is highly esteemed among the many young people of Dare County who have gone out from Kitty Hawk to do well in various fields of endeavor. He made exceptional grades, grad uated from the Kitty Hawk High School, and entered college at Duke. A hard-worker, he won many student honors, and made Phi Beta Kappa in three years. He now is engaged in the practice of internal medicine with offices in the Trust Building in Durham, and is on the staff at Watts Hospital. He is 39 years old. the son of Jesse E. Baum and the late Mrs. Bertha May Baum of Kitty Hawk. Dr. Baum, during his training, interned a year at Watts Hospital, then he took training at Lawson Veterans Hospital, Atlanta, follow ed by three and a half years in the Army Medical Corp during World War II from which he again entered private life holding the rank of Major. His war service carried him to England and through campaigns in North Afri ca and the Italian invasion. After the war, he took two and a half years more at Lawson. Dr. Baum’s maternal grand father was the-4ate Capt. F. Harris Midgett of Kitty Hawk. One of his uncles is Capt. Truxton Midgett. Another uncle was Capt. Tom Baum who pioneered in ferry serv ice in Dare County, and whose activities did most to bring about today’s bridges, which bring in a mighty volume of tourist business. DROWNS IN FALL FROM CASHIE RIVER FERRY Ervin Hooper Midgette, Eliza beth City businessman, owner of the Carolina Home Imprivement Company, was drowned Tuseday afternoon in the Cashie River 11 miles east of Windsor when he re portedly fell off a ferry boat while taking pictures. Midgette had taken the one-car ferry at San Souci. He and the fer ry operator were the only persons aboard as they crossed the half mile-wide stretch of deep water. Midgette lost his balance and fell over backwards while sitting on the guard rail taking pictures, ac cording to the ferry operator. The body was recovered. Midgette was a native of Avon, Dare County, son of Peleg W. and Annie Williams Midgette; husband of Ida Catherine Nicholson; a member of the First Methodist Church and its official board. He had lived in Elizabeth City most of his life. Surviving besides his wife are one son, Ervin Hooper Midgette, Jr.; six sisters, Mrs. Jack Gard, and Mrs. Charles Hinton, of Eliza beth City, Mrs. J. T. Gray, Dur ham, Mrs. J. N. Kruppa, Bethesda, Md., Mrs. Bertie Gregory. Norfolk, Va., and Miss Edith Midgette, of Washington, D. C.; two brothers, Raymond Midgette, Philadelphia, and Eddie Midgette, Hialeah Park, Fla. Funeral services were conducted at the home Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock by the Rev. O. Kelly Ingram, pastor of the First Meth odist Church. / CONVICT ESCAPED TUESDAY; MANNS HARBOR CAR MISSED A convict working on the roads on Roanoke Island escaped Tues day. and was not missed until noses were counted at the end of the day. A widespread search failed to find him. Sometime between midnight and daylight, the 1961 Chevrolet owned by Charlie Midgett of Manns Harbor was missing from his home and had not been found up to yesterday. The convict, whose name is not cyailable ,is thought to hid out into the woods until after dark and made his way on foot across the three-mile Croatan Sound bridge. Another convict who escaped from Currituck County was wound ed by guards and recaptured. He was taken to a hospital for treat ment. DIRECTORS NAMED IN CAROLINA FOR MARCH OF DIMES State Director Stresses Need for Millions Dollars For Fund in January Drive Chapel Hill.—H. Rex Edison of Gastonia, N. C., Chairman of the March of Dimes drive, scheduled for January, has announced the ap pointment of county campaign di rectors for the state. Stressing the need for a million dollar fund raising effort, Edison praised state volunteer leaders for the fine way they are preparing early for an all-out campaign. “Despite rather widespread use of the Salk anti-polio vaccine in, North Carolina this year” he said, “the job of wiping out polio is not finished. Polio is still with us to a shocking degree, and we will have more cases next year.” Volunteers named by Edison to spearhead the county drives' in clude: Beaufort, W. M. Butler, Washington; Camden, Mrs. Mabel Seymour Games, Belcross; Curri tuck, E. Ray Etheridge, Shawboro; Dare, Mrs. Bllfour Baum, Manteo; Hyde, Tommie Gaylord, Swan Quarter; Pasquotank, J. L. Lamb, Jr., Elizabeth City; Tyrrell, Mrs. Effie A. Brickhouse, Columbia; Washington, Walter T. Furlong, Plymouth. HATTERAS MAN IN FLORIDA SIGNS UP ANOTHER TERM ■* < * I W-awSov ■ <<<?<, > -/ < X Green Cove Springs, Fla. (FHT NC). —Loranzy W. Gaskins, chief boatswain’s mate, USN, reenlisted for four years Nov. 2, while serv ing at the Naval Station in Green Cove Springs, Fla. Chief Gaskins is the son of Loranzy Gaskins of Frisco, and husband of the former Miss Eula Rogers of Washington, D. C. Before entering the service in April, 1941, he graduated from Hatteras High School in Hatteras. MERCHANTS ARRANGE FOR SANTA CLAUS STUNT FRI. In cooperation with George Wil loughby, a man who loves his work, 24 business houses have arranged for a Santa. Claus program in Manteo beside the Pioneer Thea tre, and which will last for about one and a half hours. The proceedings will begin Fri day, (today) at 3:30 p.m. and all children are invited. Santa Claus will arrive on the fire truck, and there will be candy favors for all children. This program will be a repeat performance of last year’s, which made so big a hit with so many children. The list of sponsors is published elsewhere in this paper. LIST TAKERS APPOINTED FOR LISTING 1957 DARE TAXES List takers before whom proper ty owners will go to list taxes for 1957 during January next in Dare County were appointed by the Commissioners Tuesday. They are: For Manteo and the north end of Roanoke Island, Mrs. Pearl O’Neal. For Wanchese and Nags Head, Mrs. Lucy Midgett of Wanchese. For Croatan Township, Mrs. Flor ence Jones of Manns Harbor. For East Lake Township, Mrs. Nina Basnight. For Kennekeet Town ship, Mrs. Mellie Edwards of Waves. For Hatteras Township, Mrs. Edna Gray of Buxton. For Atlantic Township, Russell Perry of Nags Head. WINS PROMOTION Claude Midgett of Manteo who is now serving on the USS Sea Lion has recently been promoted to Electrician’s Mate 3rd class, ac cording to'a letter received by his mother, Mrs. Beatrice Midgett from the commanding officer of the ship who says "Claude is do ing nicely and perform his duties in an efficient manner and » well liked on board. MANTEO, N. C M FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1956 LOCAL MEN ATTEND ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO TRAVEL COUNCIL ■M idPBBn Members of the Albemarle-Pamlico Travel Council met Friday afternoon, Nov. 30 with a luncheon in Elizabeth City. Reading clockwise around the table from the near end are George Attix, manager of the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce; Thomas H. Briggs, owner of the Croatan Hotel, Kill Devil Hills; P. D. Midgett of the Pamlico Power and Light Co., Engelhard; Julian Oneto, representing the Carolinian Hotel, Nags Head; David Dear, treasurer of the Daily Advance, secretary-treasurer of the A-P Travel Council; Ray Jones, manager, Virginia Dare Hotel; Pat Bayne, representing Jockey Ridge Restaurant, Nags Head; Walton Jennette, owner of Vicki Villa Motel, president of the A-P Travel Council; W. Howard Barnwell, Elizabeth City; Rr. Walter Spaeth, Elizabeth City; and Orville Baum, Kitty Hawk. SAND EEL MAY BE CLUE FOR ANGLERS WHO WANT TO CATCH BIG STRIPERS By AYCOCK BROWN While small striped bass or rock fish which usually appear in great schools during late autumn and early winter months in Dare Coun ty waters are caught in great num bers the big “jumbo” size stripers that are known to be in the surf of the Outer Banks each year have baffled and challenged sportsfisher men. A new clue relative to a bait that may attract the big bass was dis covered down at Hatteras last week by a simple method of stom ach dissection of a giant rockfish J according to Willie Newsome, own er-operator of the Sportsman’s Headquarters, in the community, of Hatteras. t “Commercial fishermen hauling in the surf with nets have landed some nice catches of big striped bass recently,” said Newsome who added that the largest weighed more than 50 pounds each. “At one of the local fish dealers one of the big bass was being dressed and its stomach dissected. Inside the stomach was found sev eral partially digested sand eels which indicated that this was the food the big fish now in or near the surf are eating,” Newsome con tinued. Anglers who have been fortunate enough to land big striped bass in the surf of Hatteras Island have usually caught them with cut bait while they were actually casting for channel bass. During a 30-year period, however, less than 30 giant stripers have been landed in the surf with rod and reel. Various baits and lures have been used without success during the years. That is why finding the sand eels in the stomachs of the stripers offers a new clue, accord ing to Newsome. “Some of the local anglers are now seeking sand eels which they plan to use as bait in their efforts to catch the big striped bass,” said Newsome. Sand eels have been used along the north Atlantic coast where these big fish have been a principal attraction in recent years. If plans materialize at Hatteras, similar baits will be used in efforts of solv ing the problem of catching “jum bo” stripers with rod and reel along the Outer Banks, it was stat ed. NEARLY 300,000 PERSONS IN YEAR VISIT HATTERAS AREA While only 6,424 persons visited Cape Hatteras National Seashore during the month ending November 30, a total of 293,771 persons en tered the area during the first 11 months of the current year. It seems apparent at, this time that approximately 300,000 per sons will have entered the Recre ational Area during the 12 months of the current year ending Decem ber 31. This is an increase over last year and it illustrates the po tentials of the recreational area as a tourist attraction which is des tined to grow from season to sea son. Prior to the establishment of the National Seashore and the state’s highway leading through same, only a few thousand persons each year traveled through this section of the Outer Banks be tween Nags Head and Ocracoke Inlet each season. During November 12,271 persons were counted as entering the . Wright Brothers National Monu ’ ment area at Kill Devil Hills. This pushed the total for the first 11 i months of 1956 to 292,070 and J compared to 173,374 for the same period last year. DUVALL CONTINUES HEAD OF DARE COUNTY BOARD ao * 1- C. C. DUVALL of East Lake was nominated Tuesday without oppo sition, and will continue for his third term as chairman of the Dare County Board of Commission ers. His nomination was offered by E. P. White of Buxton, and seconded by Hallett Perry of Kitty Hawk. Newcomb Midgett of Waves was sworn in a new member, re placing J. W. Scarborough of Avon. Other member of the Board is L. L. Swain, who had been interested in becoming chairman, apparently had only one supporter. Coming before the Board Tues day was Guy Quidley, accompanied by John E. Midgett and Willie Williams of Buxton, who sought relief in the matter of a road to their property which they reported had been shut off due to the Park Service activity in their locality, The board 'offered to assist them in any way possible. All voted for Mr. Duvall, save Lawrence Swain who abstained from voting. Mr. Duvall then wel comed all members of the board, old and new and expressed the wish that all might work together in harmony for the best interests of the people of Dare County. New comb Midgett said he was happy to be a member, and that he was there to serve the people. Hallett Perry of Kitty Hawk said he ex pected to do in future as he had done during the past four years he served on the board, 1948 to 1952. I The Board moved to ask the State Highway System to put part of.the old Duck highway back on the county system. . Martin Kellogg, Jr. was again appointed county attorney, and prosecuting attorney, and C. S. Meekins was named county ac countant. SIX PERSONS WHOSE TOTAL AGES EXCEED 500 YEARS In the community of Kitty Hawk, famed for good health and longe vity, there are six people whose combined ages total 507 years. The group is led by Capt. W. A. Perry who recently chalked up 95 years. Mrs. Hildegard Perry at 83 is a very active woman for her age, getting about the community a great deal, and capable of driv ing in her own car when she wish es. Mrs. Mary Midgett, her sister, widow of the late Capt Harris Midgett is 86 years old. Mrs. Doll Beacham, 82, is the widow of the late Decatur Beacham. W. I. Dowdy, who lives near Capt. Perry is 81 years old, and Mrs. Mary F. Best, in October was honored by her family and friends on her 80th birthday. Capt. Bill Perry is still healthy and active, sometimes going out in his boat to set and fish nets. GOVERNORS HAVE SUCCESSFUL HUNT AT MATTAMUSKEET Georgia and North Carolina Gov ernors Hunt Together Mon day and Tuesday Successful hunting was exper ienced by North Carolina’s Gover nor Luther Hodges and Georgia’s Governor Marvin Griffin at Lake Mattamuskeet Monday and Tues day. The two governors are report ed to have had plenty of shots and to have gotten their limits of wild fowl. The governors and their party arrived at New Holland late Sun day afternoon. Monday morning, the governors shot from Earl San derson’s blind and quickly got their limits of geese. They then went into Liston Harris Jr.’s blind and succeeded in getting their limit of ducks. Tuesday, with only a few hours to shoot before Governor Griffin had to fly back to Georgia, they shot from a private pond adjacent to the lake. Although it was “blue bird” weather and fewer birds than usual were flying, they suc ceeded in getting their limits of geese. After lunch at Mattamus keet Lodge, the party left to re turn home well-supplied with game. Other members of the party were E. A. Clement, William Saun ders, and Harold Minges of Ra leigh; H. Y. Alexander, R. R. Stubbs, and H. G. Booth of Char lotte; Harold Makepeace of San ford, Edwin Pate of Laurinburg. John King of Atlanta, Ga., and R. L. Phillips of Jackson, Miss. John Larkin of Trenton also came to New Holland with the party but had to return home Sunday night because of a court commitment for Monday. • JARVIS COOPER COTTAGE AT KITTY HAWK BURNS FRIDAY Second fire of the season at Kitty Hawk and not far from the late lamented Surf Club, the Jar vis Cooper cottage, owned by the Elizabeth City man, burned to the ground. Origin of the fire was undetermined. Lewis Tate dis covered the fire while looking through his window and called the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department to the scene, which protected neighboring property, although the Cooper cottage was beyond aid by the time they were called. It is said that two other* fires have oc curred at this cottage during the past two years. OES CHRISTMAS PARTY Members of the Roanoke Island Chapter of the OES who are plan ning to attend the annual Christ mas party with their families are asked to immediately notify Mrs. H. O. Bridges, so that word can be passed along to Santa Claus, who will be present with gifts for the children. The party is to be held Thursday night, Dec. 13, at 8:30. ATTEND ANNUAL MEETING OF R. I. HISTORICAL ASS’N. Attending the annual luncheon meeting of the Roanoke Island Historical Association held. Thurs day in the Manteo room of the Sir Walter Hotel in Raleigh were Ay cock Brown, R. B. Etheridge, R. E. Jordan, C. S. Meekins, M. R. Dan iels and Martin Kellogg, Jr., of Manteo; Miles Clark of Elisabeth City; and I. P. Davis of Winton. Single Copy 7# STATE WATERWAYS COMMISSION GOAL OF ALL-SEASHORE Group so Meet With Governor Hodges to Press For Legis lation on Dec. 18th Headway is gaining for a move ment backed by the All-Seashore Highway Association, asking for legislation to create a State Water ways Commission with functions similar to those of the State High way Commission. A delegation from the All-Seashore Highway Association, of which Stanley Wa hab of Ocracoke is president, and from the Southeastern North Car olina Beach Association will meet with Governor Hodges in Raleigh at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 19th, to press for legislation in behalf of the movement aforesaid. Waterways in coastal North Carolina are a vita} part of our transportation system,” Mr. Wa hab says. “Lacking proper plan ning, construction and maintenance in the past, our waterways are ,ow inadequate for the successful operation of our growing commer cial fishing industry, and for the recreational needs of our resort areas. “We feel that a State commis sion is absolutely necessary to co ordinate all waterways projects, to plan for future expansion, to main tain the smaller channels, and to keep pushing the various projects in the order of their importance.” JURY LIST OF JANUARY TERM DARE SUP. COURT The following names were select ed for jury duty at the term of Dare County Superior Court which convenes in Manteo January 14th, 1956. From Manteo: Archie Burrus, Mrs. Ruth Scoggins, Elmer V. Mid gett, George M. Powell, Carol O. Swain, and Luther W. Hooper, for merly of Salvo, but now living on the Airport highway. Wanchese: Chesley Midgett, Sr., Ward Daniels. Kill Devil Hills: Ira Partridge, Frank Dean, Lasell Midgett, W. E. Twiford. Kitty Hawk: Ernest Hay wood, Sam D. Tate, Jasper R. Gai mel, Elmo Whitson, Vance S. Dow dy, T. J. Harris, Lewis Scarbor ough. Manns Harbor: J. H. Bratten, Alton Gard. East Lake: W. T. Twi ford. Stumpy Point: Alton Best. Wanchese: Julian D. Brothers, Sr. Hatteras: Donald S. Oden, Loran zo Gaskins, Willie P. Willis, Lo land D. Austin, Edison W. Meekins. Buxton: Mrs. Blanche Midgett. Avon: C. T. Williams, Jr. Rodan the: Mrs. Sudie Payne. Frisco: H. L. Tandy, Leonard Rollinson. Nags Head: Charlie Martin Johnson. Waves: Nelsorf H. Midgett. MANNS HARBOR NATIVE DIES IN JACKSONVILLE Mrs. Irene Mann Hayman, wife of Will G. Hayman, native of Wan chese, died of a heart attack De cember 1 in Jacksonville, Fla. where the family has resided for several years. Mrs. Hayman was a native of Manns Harbor, and lived there until the time of her mar riage. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mi'S. Adam Clark Mann who now live in Manteo. She was the mother of five children, grand mother of six, and she is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Neva Mid gett of Manteo, Mrs. Elliott Ward of Elizabeth City and Mrs. R. S. Cqllins of Norfolk, and by a broth er, Max Elbert Mann of Georgia. Funeral and burial took place at Jacksonille, Monday. OES &AZAAR FRIDAY AND Saturday, dec. 7 and 8 Members of the Roanoke Island Chapter OES are reminded to im mediately send in their items for the bazaar to be held Friday and Saturday, December 7 and 8, in the show room of the Dare County Ice and Storage Company in Manteo. These things may be sent to Mrs. Edward Wescott, Mrs. Dot Garri son, Mrs. A. L. Mann, Jr., or Mrs. Jack Wilson; or they may be left at the ice plant. The hours will be from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. both days, and the public is invited to attend. RECORDERS COURT GETS TWO $25 FINES ONLY THIS WEEK There’s a lot of difference in the money taken in by Dare Record er’s Court these days as compared with the summer months, when a S7OO day in fines was the rule rath er than the exception. This week there were two $25 fines, resulting from Submissions. Willie D. Credle, colored, paid $25 for driving with out an operator’s license. Gerald Odell Tillett, white, of Kitty Hawk paid $25 for public drunkenness on the highway.
The Coastland Times (Manteo, N.C.)
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Dec. 7, 1956, edition 1
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