Retired Hickory Man Shoots Himself at His Doctor's Office, 1917

“Hickory Retired Merchant Shoots Himself,” from the Oct. 30, 1917, issue of the Monroe Journal.

Hickory, Oct. 28—J.A. Sellers, aged about 61, retired business man of Hickory, ended his life this afternoon shortly after 2 o’clock by firing a bullet from a 32 calibre revolver into his right temple while alone in the office of Dr. K.A. Price, whom he had called upon in a social way a few minutes previous. At the time the deed was committed Dr. Price was in a café a short distance away and had left the deceased reading a newspaper and apparently in good spirits.

Only 1 Million Children 10 to 15 Are Employed in 1920, Half the Number Employed in 1910

Originally printed in the Portland Oregonian and reprinted in the Hickory Daily Record, October 4, 1922

Child Labor Decreasing

With a million children between the ages of 10 and 15 engaged in gainful labor, as is shown by the federal census of 1920, just published, the materialism that permits such a condition is strong. Yet it encourages us somewhat to note that the figure indicates a very considerable improvement by comparison with 1910, when it was about double the present number and also that the decline as to the most hazardous labor is the most pronounced of all. One child in every 12 between the ages mentioned is a wage earner of sorts but in fairness to our social conscience it ought to be added that only 185,337 of the million are employed in manufacturing enterprises and that of these there are only 7,191 working in mines.

The word “only” is distinctly a relative term. The number is high enough, but we obtain an impression of progress from the fact that a decade ago one child in five of the specified ages was gainfully at work, that 268,932(?) were employed at manufacturing and 18,000 were occupied in mine work. The number classified under the heading “personal service” decreased in the same period from 112,071 to 54,006.

How far the decrease may have been due to the circumstances that the 1920 census was taken in January, while that of the 1910 was made in April, there is probably no means of determining exactly, but this may have had some effect owing to the difference in conditions governing outdoor work. This would have shown most conspicuously in agriculture—winter being the time of cessation of field work—and it is here that child labor would seem to be the least objectionable, if there is any defense for it at all.

So it would appear that there has been a distinct improvement in 10 years—which indicates that we may expect a further betterment in the next 10. For public sentiment is likely to need nothing more than a demonstration of the benefits of the more enlightened way to be enlisted solidly on the side of the right.

Eminent Surgeon Dies at 40 of Septic Infection, 1922

From the Hickory Daily Record, October 4, 1922

Prominent Physician Of High Point Passes

High Point, Oct. 4—Dr. H.W. McCain, eminent physician and surgeon and one of High Point’s most prominent citizens, died at 6 o’clock last night at a local hospital where he had been a patient for several days suffering from a septic infection caused by a carbuncle on his neck.

Although Dr. McCain had been in critical condition for several days and his death was not unexpected, it cast a gloom over High Point last night. It was on everybody’s mind and has caused profound sorrow throughout the city.

Coming to High Point nearly 12 years ago Dr. McCain not only built up a large and successful practice of his profession, but even of himself a wide circle of friends. He was a man of high ideals as well as integrity of service.

Dr. McCain was 40 years of age, having been born in Union County on February 27, 1882. He attended the Presbyterian college at Clinton, S.C., receiving his A.B. degree at the University of North Carolina, attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and also took a post-graduate course of 18 months in hospital work.

Rural Women Filling Gap On Farms, 1944

“Virginia Homemakers Do Work on Farms” by Catherine P. DeShazo, from the October 1944 issue of The Southern Planter

“I’m doing work I never thought I would do!  I am helping with the dairy.”

“I helped harvest the small grain, actually ran the combine.”

“I have learned to run the tractor.”

“I take care of all the chickens and do all the family laundry.”

These were just a few statements heard at the recent meeting of the Virginia Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs held at Blacksburg. And not just one woman made such statements. Every woman at the meeting boasted of her increased ability to do new types of work, work that women have not been doing, work that is most essential to winning the war and winning the peace.

I said boasted and I meant it. A few years back the rural women who were forced by financial circumstances to do physical labor were very hesitant about admitting it. Today, when it has become a matter of patriotism, every rural woman is proud to take her part as a home front soldier. She wants the satisfaction of knowing that her boy, or her husband, comes home she will be able to meet him as soldier to soldier. She knows that he has not been a slacker and she is determined not to have been one herself.

There are over 27,000 women in this army of Home Demonstration Club members in Virginia, the largest woman’s organization in the State. It can be safely said that there is not a member of the organization who has not taken on additional war work. War work here means, first and foremost, production of food or conservation of food. There is nothing more essential to the war effort than food. There is no more patriotic “Commando Mary” than the Home Demonstration Club member.

Not only is the woman herself assuming the farm work, but all the members of her family are helping. One lady told, in a panel discussion, that she had to learn to operate the milking machines and attend to the work in the dairy house. The day that her two daughters arrived from college for the vacation they had to go to the barns and replace two men who went into service the preceding day.

Another member, one of the district presidents, told how she had been forced to help save the wheat and oat crop. She had ridden the combine. Then she had helped haul the grain to the barns. When you looked at that charming woman and saw the lovely complexion, groomed hands, well kept hair and splendid figure you were bound to feel a real pride in the Virginia rural woman. It makes you think back to the tragic days after the War Between the States when Virginia women met the challenge of their time nobly. Our women of today are no less great.

So far, I have mentioned farm work only. But our women do not stop at this, although it would seem to be a full time job. They can do many things at once. They are active in their church work. They are working with the schools, the welfare organizations, and all of the additional war efforts. Every district in the State reported active participation in the War Bond drives, Red Cross work, salvage, and, where needed, USO work.

I know of no finer example of what the Home Demonstration Club women do than the work that the newly elected Fifth District President is doing. Her son is serving in the Navy. She was chairman for the 1944 Red Cross Drive for her district. She sews regularly for the Red Cross. She is a volunteer OPA worker. She was in charge of the Community Fund Drive in Tuckaho District. She is a member of the “Order of Railway Conduction.” She was instrumental in organizing a Home Demonstration Club in her community. She is president of the Henrico County Home Demonstration Committee. She is treasurer of the Woman’s Auxiliary in the church to which she belongs. She is Mrs. R.D. Phillips, a perfect example of our fighting army of Home Demonstration Women.

Not only are these women meeting the needs of the day, but also preparing for the future. In the post-war planting greatest emphasis is being placed on health education. It is the dream of this organization that the day will come when all classes of people will be able to have adequate medical attention regardless of financial handicaps. The Federation has already set up a health loan fund which is available to any Home Demonstration woman who needs medical care, but lacks funds. Many of the counties have featured home nursing classes, first aid courses, etc. Health is one of the most serious problems of rural women. One woman reported that the only physician in her county was 60 miles from some o fher patients, and there is not a registered nurse in this county.

Americans Killed When Steamer Marina Torpedoes Off Ireland, 1916

Steamer Marina, Sailing from Glasgow to Baltimore and Newport News, Torpedoed and Sunk Off Ireland; American Lives Lost...Four stories below, all from the same issue of the Hickory Daily Record.

“Americans Are Missing From Steamer Marina,” from the Hickory Daily Record, Oct. 31, 1916. The United States had not yet joined World War I. Several articles on the incident made the front page of the newspaper. Incidents like this one angered many Americans.

Latest Reports From American Consul Indicate Small Chance of Several Surviving—Ship Sunk Without Warning, All Reports to Washington Agree

London, Oct. 31 (AP)—The number of missing from the British steamship Marina, which was sunk off Ireland by a German submarine has now been reduced to 13, according to a telegram received at the American embassy from American Counsel Frost of Queenstown. Fifty-two have been landed. Mr. Frost reports that some Americans probably are among the dead.

Mr. Frost’s telegram to the embassy follows:

“Fifty-two more survivors of the Marina landed at Castletown Pier. No less than 36 Americans aboard, of whom 24 are missing. There probably will be some American fatalities. Survivors report the Marina sunk without warning and sank in a heavy sea.”

Mr. Frost is obtaining affidavits and ascertaining the facts from survivors.

The American embassy today received a telegram from the American consul at Glasgow stating that the Marina left Glasgow October 25 for Baltimore and Newport News with 50 Americans aboard.

(The Irish town of Cobh was known as Queenstown from 1849 to 1920.)

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There were 45 Americans in the crew of the Marina. First reports of her sinking said that only 34 members of her crew had been brought to land. Mr. Frost said the Marina had been torpedoed without warning.

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16 Americans Survive

London, Oct. 31 (AP)—A private telegram received today from Crookhaven by Consul General Skinner says that among the survivors from the Marina who were landed at Cuxhaven, 16 are Americans.

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Three North Carolinians Among Crew of Marina

Newport News, Oct. 31—The steamer Marina, reported sunk without warning by gunfire from a German submarine off the Irish coast with the loss of several American lives, was a bona fide merchant vessel, according to agents of the Donaldson line here, and was not in the service of the British government. The Marina sailed from this port for Glasgow October 25 with 50 Americans aboard, carrying a number of horses and a general cargo, most of the Americans having signed for the round trip as horsemen.

“The Marina was one of our regular steamers plying between here and Glasgow,” it was said at the office of the agents, “and was owned and operated as a merchantman by the Donaldson line. She carried general cargoes and sometimes horses for the British government, but she had not been commandeered, and still retained her character as a merchantman.”

Following are the Americans, all white, on board the Marina when the vessel sailed from here:

F.H. Smith, Philadelphia, foreman; J.S. Clarke and J.G. Robbins, Richmond, Va.; William Cullen, Philadelphia, assistant foreman.

Horsemen: S.A. Davis and George Rogers, Norfolk, Va.; Andrew Kraig, Springfield, Ohio; T.S. Hamlin, Edgar Miller, Charles Mines, Walter T. Blaney, E.W. Ryan, T.E. Engle, M.L. Hunt, and Charles Horky, Baltimore; A.T. Wence, Sheridan, Wyo.; H.B. Sinclair, J. Arnold, F.A. Arnold and Andrew G. Robinson, Baltimore; James F. Foley and James Bridge, Salem, Mass.; George W. Wheeler, Lancaster, Pa.; J.J. Harrison, Philadelphia; Eddie Martin, R.F. Clarke and N. Little, Chicago; John H. Olsen, Boston; F.C. Davis, Wake Forest, N.C.; Harry F. Jones, Baltimore; Tom Anderson, Oklahoma; Ed Kildal, St. Paul, Minn.; John J. Riley and L. Harvey, New York; P.D. Brown, Upperville, Va.; R.J. Brown, Edward Scherrer and J. Hancock, Washington, D.C.; H.B. Middleton, Fredericksburg, Va.; H.B. Plenson, Richmond, Va.; J.M. Hause, Norfolk Va.; Thomas J. Brannigan, Charleston, S.C.; Jack Davis, Roanoke, Va.; Robert Harris and Robert Barton, Richmond, Va.; George F. Ledberry, Fayetteville, N.C.; ;Daniel P. Thomas and John P. Thomas, Wilmington, Del.; and George J. Lancaster, New York.

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Lansing Orders Reports of Marina Sinking by Cable; Won’t Comment

Washington, Oct. 31 (AP)—Secretary Lansing said today that his reports on the destruction of the British ship Marina with probably destruction of American lives still were too incomplete of any conclusions to allow him to discuss the case. Fuller reports with affidavits of American survivors have been ordered by cable.

The morning’s news dispatches said that some of the survivors had seen the wake of a torpedo before the ship was struck and that she was hit twice.

Officials noted, however, that the British admiralty was not clear that the ship was torpedoed and that Consul Frost reports she was destroyed by a torpedo. The advices from the first aspects of the case that indicate no conclusion could be drawn until all circumstances had been cleared up.

Admittedly the case was viewed as more serious than any others since the destruction of the Sussex since it was the only one involving the destruction of American lives.

They May Have Been Joking But the Marriage License Was Real, 1917

“Married by Mistake,” from the Statesville Landmark, as reprinted Oct. 5, 1917, in the Monroe Journal.

A marriage that was intended for a joke was performed by Magistrate J.M. Matheson at the Campbell House Tuesday evening, but the parties—Miss Mary Sharpe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Sharpe of Loray, and Lawyer L.F. Klutz of this place, son of Dr. Klutz of Malden, Catawba County—found that they were legally married. Miss Sharpe has a music class here and when in town boards at the Campbell House. Mr. Klutz boards there also. After supper the conversation on marriage and teasing about marrying, participated in by Messrs. Klutz, M.C. and Flake Campbell, Miss Sharpe, Mrs. Sarah Campbell and Mr. Rowell Morrison, the latter of Statesville, lead to Mr. Klutz handing Mr. Campbell a $5 bill to get the license. He asked if they wanted a real license and when told that they did, he called the register, Mr. W.A. Barnett, to his office and procured the license.

After some conversation about the matter, it was decided they would ask Mr. Matheson to perform the ceremony. Mr. Matheson did not want to go for he thought it was a farce, but they persuaded him to go in. He examined the license and recognized Mr. Barnette’s handwriting, and again questioned Miss Sharpe and Mr. Klutz, for he doubted their sincerity. When told to proceed, Mr. Matheson did so, and although the parties did not answer the questions there was no objection raised, and he pronounced them man and wife.

The license was signed by two witnesses and Mr. Matheson in the presence of Miss Sharpe and Mr. Klutz. Later they went to Mr. Matheson and asked him to destroy the license, for the whole thing was a joke, and he told them he could not do so. Neither of the parties had any desire to marry the other and an effort will be made to have the marriage annulled.

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