The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-04
About the Mosquito
And Other Things.

at Mays Head of Mr.. McRae, of Peters
burg, and Mr.. Wozelka. of Edenton,
which distressed all North Carolina, have
already appeared in these columns. The
story of their bravery, of giving up their
lives to save others, and the heroism OF
other brave men, is told so well in this
weeks Elizabeth City Economist that we
copy the graphic account of the terrible
scene here:
1t was discovered that little Charley
Overman, of this city, a boy of twelve or
fourteen years had gone out in the SURF
beyond his depth and was taxed to his ut
most to maintain his ground in the un-
equal struggle to get to the shore. His
mother was among the spectators, and,
seeing the danger of her boy had gone
out into the surf and was in great dis
tress. The little boys peril was increas
ing every moment, and it was apparent
that he could not survive many minutes.
William Plummer McRae, distinguished
lawyer Of Petersburg, a visitor at Mays
Head, dashed into the surging waves to
rescue him and in his efforts to save
Charlie Overman, lost his own life. Mr..
Wozelka, of Edenton, seeing the peril,
rushed In and also persisted. Then John
u. wood, of Hays, near Edenton, who
was IN the surf, bathing, saw his friend,
McRae, was rapidly failing in his strug-
giles with the outer breakers, plunged
through the surf to his rescue. When he
reached him McRae was exhausted and
helpless, but still conscious. He reached
out his hand to Wood who grasped it
and was bearing him safely to shore,
when one of those terrible "chop waves.
winch no human muscle can withstand,
dashed them asunder. One was saved at
the imminent danger of his life, and the
other was drowned. The bow Oyerman
was rescued by means of rope thrown
TO him in the outer surf and another too
Nenturous bather, near him, was saved
by taking hold of Overman's leg and be-
ing dragged ashore with him. $50 it is
said.)
The sympathy of the crowd was univer-
sal, was testified by screams, and tears
ana other evidences of distress, and was
only equalled by the confusion.
mere were brave workers in that time
OF exceeding great trouble Two lives
were lost in the attempt to save the
life of others. Charlie Martin. a citizen
Oh this town, engaged in fishing in the
sea- ATTEMPTED to launch a fishing surf
boat, but he had no competent assistance
ana was soon compelled to abandon the
attempt to launch the boat, when he at
tempted to swim out to the danger point
but did not reach it until all was over
Many others did what they could. Per-
maps the most heroic and efficient service
was rendered by John G. Wood. He was
good swimmer, a vigorous man and de-
ilberate under emergencies. His personal
efforts and directions were of great SER
vice.
yesterday w. b. Wilkins, of Wilson
was IN the city in search of negro hands
as laDorers about new buildings. He
says that there is lack of this kind of
TABOR now, as the tobacco season has
opened. He speaks of two new hotels
being erected in Wilson, one by Mr.. G..
Z. Daniels and the other by Capt. J. T.
Virgins
sometime ago an item was printed in
these columns about the rapid growth of
bermuda grass during wet weather. and
TINS grass was dubbed 1.-The Farmers
Worst Foe"
For this Prof. w. F. Massey. of the A
and M. College, took the writer to task
saying that this once despised and
dreaded grass has brought immense bene-
nts, that what the farmer in his igno
rance regarded as curse not very long
ago ne now recognizes as one of the
greatest blessings that has befallen him
he added that in careful feeding tests
made at the experiment stations Ber-
muda has been found to be about 8 per
cent more valuable than the best timothy
nay for both mules and cattle. Its Weld
exceeds that of any other grass making
hay of equally good quality, and its
thrifty growth, where properly cared for
has changed many counties from import
ers to exporters of mules.
The Augusta Chronicle quotes Prof. s
NJ Tracey, an agricultural expert, much
to the same effect. He says:
l nave been over a large portion of
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi the re-
gion where the drought has been most
severe, and l find the Bermuda PASTURES
the only ones which are able TO furnish
forage after six weeks of scorchine sun
In fact, the drought character
1stlc of the Bermuda constitutes one of
its chief values in all regions subject to
severe summer drought. 1t is the founda-
ton oil every really good pasture through
out the entire gulf States region.
1t is essentially a rich land grass. and
nowhere in the world does it succeed bet
ter than on the black prairie region of
northeast Mississippi, the creek and river
bottom lands in the central part of the
State land on the moist alluvial lands of
the delta
People who have mot travelled much
IN eastern North Carolina hardly appre-
ciate the steady growth of that section.
ms is particularly true of those sec
tlons traversed by the Atlantic Coast Line
east OF the Wilmington and Weldon Rail-
road Ten years ago or so for example
that splendid railroad system did not
reach three of the greatest towns in that
sectlon-Wa Washington Greenville and Kin
ston' Under the advantage of better
transportation, these towns have grown
rapidly. In the past few weeks. the peo-
pie of Washington and Greenville have
been requesting better schedules. In re-
spouse to their request, Mr.. F. Borden.
superintendent of Transportation, visited
ooth OF these towns, and conferred with
the business men. AS a result new
schedules have been arranged by which