Conductor Rowland Killed, Brakemen Injured In Train Derailment in Tarboro, Dec. 17, 1919

From The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., Dec. 17, 1919

Conductor Rowland Killed, Three Brakemen Injured in Freight Wreck at Tarboro

Tarboro, Dec. 17—Monday night at 10:35 o’clock, extra freight train No. 97 wrecked in the city limits of Tarboro, killing conductor W.N. Rowland and injuring three brakemen, two seriously.

The train was headed south, coming into Tarboro, and wrecked immediately after it had cross Tar River. The switch was set right, and the engine and 28 cars passed over without accident. It was presumably thrown under the train by an unknown part, as the switch lock was found out of place and on the ground.

The cab was thrown in Beer House siding, striking some other cars, demolishing the cab, overturning the stove and setting fire to the cars.

Conductor Rowland died on the way to a hospital. Brakeman J.P. Galloway was badly injured about the head and shoulders, and Brakeman R.C. Bogart was badly injured about the feet and legs. Both are under special treatment at Edgecombe General Hospital. Brakeman E.W. Rigsby was slightly injured about the legs and head. The latter received medical attention and went home Monday night.

Tarboro, N.C., Begins Campaign to Eliminate Malaria From Town, Dec. 17, 1919

From The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., Dec. 17, 1919

Anti-Malaria Campaign

Tarboro, Dec. 17—Another progressive movement was started by the town commissioners Monday night when at a called meeting of the board it was decided to prosecute a vigorous anti-malaria campaign to rid the town of mosquitoes. The government is to bear one-half of the expense, and the cost to Tarboro will be approximately $8,700. It is proposed to make this the healthiest town in the state. First came the purifying of the water supply, then the purifying of the milk supply, and now a war to the bitter end upon malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

J.C. Sikes To Represent Cotton Mills in Fraud Case, Dec. 16, 1919

From The Monroe Journal, Dec. 16, 1919

Mr. J.C. Sikes to Represent Cotton Mills in Fraud Case. . . Leaves for Anniston To-morrow Where Savage Case Will Be Tried. . . Monroe Men Subpoenaed as Witnesses.

Mr. J.C. Sikes leaves tomorrow for Anniston, Ala., to represent a number of cotton mills and brokers in the Savage cotton case, the biggest cotton fraud ever perpetrated in the United States. Messrs. J.L. Everette, W.J. Hudson, John Fairley, C.B. Barden, and other Union, Gaston and Mecklenburg county men who have been subpoenaed as witnesses will accompany Mr. Sikes to attend the trial which begins in Federal court Thursday morning.

About two years ago these various firms purchased enormous amounts of cotton from the Savage Cotton Co. In some way this company managed to send a bill of lading with draft attached and after paying for the same the Monroe men, along with mills and brokers all over the country, found that the cotton was not up to sample, and in many instances there was no cotton at all.

The Icemorelee mill placed its case in the hands of Mr. Sikes, who immediately went to Anniston and discovered the fraud, and was subsequently employed by the other firms. He found that the company had been organized with almost no capital.

The United States Railway Administration has also made investigation, as railroad employees were implicated. The case is entirely without parallel in the history of this country.

The firms which Mr. Sikes will represent are the Icemorlee cotton mills, J.M. Fairley & Sons, N.P. Sloan & Co., and J.I. Westervelt Mfg. Co., both of Greenville, S.C.; Entwistle Mfg. Co., Rockingham; Roxboro cotton mills, Roxboro; Kinston cotton mills, Kinston; Buffaloe Mfg. Co., Shelby; Beame Bros., New Orleans; Indian Creek Mfg. Co., Lincolnton; Melville Mfg. Co., Cherryville; and H.F. Lamkin & Co. of New York City.

Happenings In and Around Monroe, Dec. 16, 1919

From The Monroe Journal, Dec. 16, 1919

Latest Happenings In and Around Monroe

There will be a box supper at Trinity school house Thursday night, December 18.

The pension money for Confederate soldiers has arrived and can be had at the courthouse from R.W. Lemmond.

The Standard Oil Company is preparing to buy land outside the incorporated limits for the purpose of moving its oil takes to a safer location.

There will be a box supper at the White school house next Saturday night, Dec. 20. The proceeds will go to the school improvement fund.

Mr. J.L. McInnis of Buford township is moving his family to-day to Jackson Springs, N.C., where they will make their home.

Mr. A.W. McCall has clock, American made, on display in his show window that runs 450 days without one winding.

Mr. A.M. Price and Miss Janie Underwood, both of North Monroe township, were married Saturday afternoon by Esq. M.L. Flow at his office on Jefferson street.

Although Mr. W.W. Pusser lives 13 miles in the country he wants the Monroe kiddies to have a grand and glorious Christmas and has contributed $1 to the big tree fund.

Rev. J.W. Little will begin an evangelistic meeting at Indian Trail on Christmas day, holding services at 11 in the morning and 7 at night. The meeting will last for 10 days.

Mr. Horace Neal is recovering from an operation on his right foot. The operation was performed by Boston surgeons in the Massachusetts General Hospital. Mr. Neal will remain in Boston for treatment for several months yet.

The ford car belonging to Mr. B.C. Hinson which was stolen from the streets of Monroe on Sunday, Dec. 7, before day, was found on the Ansonville road. The gasoline had given out so the thief had abandoned the car.

The city schools will close Friday afternoon for the Christmas holidays and will not reopen until Jan. 5^th, giving the children and members of the faculty two full weeks. The teachers leave for their respective homes Saturday morning.

Christmas goodies and gifts for the boys of ward 6 at the Oteen hospital are accumulating rapidly and the box will be packed Saturday and immediately shipped to Ashville. All contributions should be sent to Mrs. Charles Iceman, who is directing this work. (The boys on ward 6 are soldiers still recovering from wounds.)

“King Winter,” a charming Christmas cantata, will be presented at the Strand theatre Friday night by the senior class of the high school. It is short, requiring only 40 minutes to see it, but is unusually beautiful. Admission 25 and 50 cents, and the proceeds will go to the high school annual, the Mohisco.

Although the Christmas Red Cross Roll Call fell down woefully this year in Monroe, there were a number who did their part to hold the organization to its war-time prosperity. Among these was Miss Lula Bell McGill, 12-year-old girl of North Monroe, who procured 11 members last week, collecting the money and sending it to the chairman.

Sixty-five county teachers were present at a meeting held in the grammar school auditorium Saturday morning. The sixth and eighth chapters of the Davis’ The Work of the Teacher were discussed, the teachers responding animatedly. Prof. R.W. Allen, who is leader of this group, pronounces Saturday’s meeting the most interesting and successful of the kind that he has ever held.

Under the direction of Farm Demonstrator T.J.W. Broom a meeting was held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon in the Chamber of Commerce to lay plans for the Union County warehouse Association. Mr. J.B. Brown, a warehouse expert from Raleigh, was present and addressed the meeting. It was decided to launch a campaign immediately to raise subscriptions to build a warehouse for the county.

Hearing Monroe railroad men with runs on the Georgia division report on the flood in and around Atlanta brings recollections of a like disaster that struck North Carolina in 1916. Capt. W.E. Cason says the rains in Atlanta are the “worst ever,” and considerable damage has been done to the city water system. However, the swollen streams reached their height at Columbus and West Point, Ga., the Chattahoochee being higher than it has ever been in the history of the weather bureau. With railroad tracks submerged and bridges demolished, traffic between Atlanta and Birmingham is at a complete standstill.

At a meeting of the stockholders of the Iceman Knitting Mill last Friday afternoon in the office of Mr. J.C. Sikes the following directors were elected: Messrs. Charles Iceman, J.M. Belk, R.A. Morrow, N.C. English, F.G. Henderson, T.P. Dillon, J.H. Lee, H.E. Lee, and J.C. Sikes. The directors in turn elected Mr. Iceman president and treasurer and Mr. Sikes vice-president and general counsellor. The mill has $100,000 in common stock and $50,000 preferred, to be paid in at the rate of 10 per cent each month beginning January 1. One hundred acres of land adjoining the Icemorelee property on the Charlotte road has been purchased as the mill site and a contract has been let for a spur track. Work is expected to begin at once.

Mr. J.Z. Greene and a number of prominent men over the county will attend the organization meeting of the State Cotton Association in Raleigh to-morrow, December 17^th. The program will consist of a business session and two other sessions in which technical information about the association will be given. Among the speakers scheduled are Senator Overman, President Wannamaker, John B. Cannon, Col. Harvey Jordan and Col. Thomas J. Shakleford, all of the national organization.

Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Davis Each Died Sunday, Dec. 14, 1919

From The Monroe Journal, Dec. 16, 1919

Mrs. J.C. Smith Laid to Rest Yesterday. . . Died Early Sunday Morning at Home of Her Mother, Mrs. M.C. Myers. . . Had Been Sick for a Long Time

Mrs. Julian C. Smith died early Sunday morning at the home of her mother, Mrs. M.D. Myers on Hayne street. Her death was not unexpected as she had been ill for a long time, suffering from a malignant disease. She went to a Charlotte hospital September 17^th and remained there a number of weeks. While there she underwent several operations, but to no avail, and as hope for her recovery was abandoned she was brought to the home of her mother. News of her death was heard with sorrow, for she was beloved by a wide circle of relatives and friends.

Mrs. Smith, who was Miss Annie Myers before her marriage, was born in Lanes Creek township near Mount Moriah church on Nov. 23, 1871, but her father, the late M.D. Myers, moved to Monroe in 1875. In November, 1895, she was married to Mr. J.C. Smith and moved to Rockingham where they lived for a short time returning to Monroe. About a year ago Mr. Smith’s business took him to Birmingham, Ala., and his wife accompanied him. Besides her mother and husband, Mrs. Smith is survived by one daughter, Miss Elizabeth Smith, a brother, Mr. Brooks Myers, and a sister, Mrs. Lydia Myers.

Mrs. Smith was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church, a loyal and conscientious woman. She was devoted to her home, her family and her church. Always gentle and kind, her influence was felt by those with whom she was associated.

The funeral services were held at the Myers home yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock, and were conducted by Dr. H.E. Gurney and Rev. John A. Wray. The pall bearers were Messrs. R.A. Morrow, D.B. Snyder, G.M. Beasley, S.A. Blair, W.H. Norwood, and Watt Hamilton.

Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Moore of Wadesboro, the latter a sister of Mr. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Parsons of Wadesboro, and many Charlotte friends and relatives of the deceased were here to attend the funeral.

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Death of Mrs. Rebecca Mira Davis

Mrs. Rebecca Mira Davis died at 2:30 Sunday afternoon at her home near Stayrns Baptist church, after along illness which culminated in pneumonia and pleurisy. She was 78 years of age and was a native of Chesterfield county. Her husband was Simpson Davis, who died about 30 years ago.

Mrs. Davis was prominent in her community and held the highest respect of her neighbors and friends. She had a large family connection throughout the county and is survived by four children, Mrs. John Deese, Miss Rebecca Davis, Messrs. Jack and Tom Davis, the latter being coroner for this county. A number of step children also survive.

Mrs. Davis has been a life long member of the Liberty Baptist church near Pageland. The funeral was conducted from the home yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock by Rev. M.D.L. Preslar and Rev. J.A. Bivens. Interment was in Smyrna cemetery.

Dec. 17, 1919, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Neptune Will Align

From The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., Monday, Dec. 15, 1919.  The article said 165 days but it is really 165 years. Pluto was not discovered until Feb. 18, 1930, and it orbits around the sun once every 248 years.

No Need to Worry. . . While Planets Are on a Line With the Sun They Are Not Out of Orbit

On account of a number of enquiries regarding the publication by an alarmist that something may happen to the world on Wednesday, because the planets happen to be on a line with each other, we are publishing an explanation of the situation and the statement that there is no reason to be alarmed, from Astronomer D.T. Wilson of Cleveland, Ohio.

The planets are not out of their orbits, and are moving with the same regularity as usual, only they happen to be opposite each other, which is something a little unusual. Fortunately for us all, the Lord is still handling the proposition, and we need not worry until He gets ready to wind up the affairs of this world and then we may all look out. But Astronomer Wilson says that, as is well known, the solar system consists of a central son and eight planets, of which the earth is one revolving around this central son in nearly the same place, all revolving in a counter-clockwise direction. These planets are at different distances from the sun and therefore have different periods of revolution. The distance of Mercury, the nearest planet, from the sun, is 36 million miles. The distance of Neptune, the remotest, is 2,792 million miles. The time for a complete revolution around the sun in the case of Mercury is 88 days. That of Neptune is nearly 165 days (miles). The time of revolution of the earth is one year. It is the earth’s period of revolution which determines the length of our year. The other planets are at distances ranging between those of Mercury and Neptune and have periods of revolution ranging between 88 days and 165 years.

Since the planets all move at different rates around the sun, it is evident that at some time two, three, four or even all eight of the planets will be nearly in line with the sun and on the same side of it. It often happens that two or three plants are nearly in line with the center of the sun. But the occurrence of a large number of planets nearly in line with the sun is a rare event, and the larger the number of planets the rarer will such coincidences occur. It so happens that about Dec. 17, 1919, the planets Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Neptune are nearly in line with the center of the sun, but they are on a different line separated from the former group by 37 degrees or a sixth of a revolution. Of course this grouping of the planets is rare and interesting, but it means nothing which is not thoroughly understood, and is in no way a forecast of events on the earth. Rarer combinations have occurred in the past and will occur in the future.

Carolina Students Should Stop Taking Things That Don't Belong to Them, Says T.C. Taylor, Dec. 6, 1919

From the editorial page of The Tar Heel, Chapel Hill, N.C., Dec. 6, 1919

By T.C. Taylor

My purpose in writing this is to speak plainly of a condition existing on this campus which should not exist. It should not be at any college; at Carolina, among Carolina men, in a community of students who regard as a priceless treasure the thing we call Carolina Spirit, it is unthinkable that it should continue.

I am speaking of the habit of taking things that do not belong to them that some men here have. Whether they brought the habit with them or acquired it since coming here, I am unable to state. That is not important; the important thing is that they have such a habit. Now, these men do not look upon this as a disgraceful thing to do; they merely reason that since everyone else does it they might as begin. The do not think of it as “stealing” in the ordinary sense of that term, and it could not fairly be called that. There are many, I take it, who would not be averse to “swiping” a good chair or table, but who could not be hired for love or money to take some personal article that did not belong to them. They see no particular wrong in removing some article of furniture or a light bulb from a class room. It is not with them a question of supplying their needs in the shortest possible time.

A man who has reached that stage in his intellectual development where he can come to college knows that such actions are beneath his dignity. If you want a light bulb or a chair, or any other article of furniture that your room is supposed to have, you are due that from the University. It’s the University’s job to see that you get these things, and it’s not becoming to you as a Carolina man it does not speak well for your honor as a gentleman to go prowling into someone else’s room to get them.

We are by chance and circumstances thrown together here in this University. We are neighbors of the closest sort; the welfare of each individual is inseparably locked up with the welfare of the whole body. A decent respect for certain rights that men possess here is imperative if we are to keep student life sound and on the high plane it has occupied in former years. You are as much a citizen in this community as it is possible for you to be; you are a definite nit in a most definite sort of democracy. 

Your responsibility is to more than yourself alone; it is to your fellows, to your University. Acts such as have been mentioned cannot for a moment stand the test either of a gentleman or a good citizen, which terms at Carolina are synonomous. A good citizen respects his neighbor and expects and demands a like respect in return. “Swiping” is going to stop at Carolina, and it’s going to be the spirit of the students themselves that stop it.