The gold leaf., 1903-06-25
SUMMONS COMES SUDDENLY
James II. Smith, a Well Known and
Respected Co.ored Man, Drops Dead
While AT Work.

When | die | expect to be running
with the fire company or at work" So
declared James II. Smith colored. many
times to his friends. and the prediction
has been verified. While at work in the
storage warehouse Tuesday afternoon
with several other hands, the summons
came. Major Gary was having some
hogsheads OF tobacco placed in position
for storage purposes, the packages being
rolled up skids and put one on top of
another. 1t was this work Jim was en-
gagged in when at a quarter past six
O'Clock, just as the men were about to
quit for the day, he was seen to fall back
ward and sink to the floor as if in a faint.
Major Gary was notified and physician
was summoned But the vital spark
had fled and he was pronounced dead
even before the arrival of doctor.
The body was removed to his late home
and prepared for burial
Jim Smith Commonly known as Big
Wheel was one of the best and most
highly respected colOred men in Hender-
son. He was good citizen and loyal
friend, honest and truthful. faithful to
duty and true to every trust reposed in
him. He scorned little thing and was
above Il dishOnorable act. Jim had his
weakness but this he gave way to only
periodically, and in it he harmed no one
He was good natured and inoffensive,
and loved his fellowmen, white and
black. There was no better known col
ored man in town and no one had more
friends. Many expressions of sincere sOr-
row have been heard at his death
For number of years Jim Smith was
janitOr and general right hand man of
the Vance Guards and no company ever
had a more faithful employe or devoted
partisan. He loved his boys and no
one shared their experiences at home or
in camp or rejoiced more at their tri-
umphs and good name At the time OF
his death he was janitor of the court
house and the county officials bear testi-
mony to his willing service and faithful
performance of duty. But it was as a
member of the volunteer fire department
of Henderson that he rendered the long
est and most loyal service to the pub
lie perhaps. Ever since it's organization
he had been sergeant of Enterprise Hose
Company, No. 1, in which he always took
great interest. He was a Jealous fire
man and no call to duty ever found him
wanting as long as he was able to 60
Heart trouble developing he had been
warned by his physician against taking
too violent exercise and he had to forego
in large part active exercises with the
company, but his heart was ever with
them and his coaching and counsel still
served them to good purpose
Jim was Catholic in religion and he
was buried with the rites of that church
The funeral was held at the home at /
O'Clock Wednesday afternoon, Father
Griffin, of Raleigh, conducting the service
There was large attendance and but
for the rain the numbers would have
been much greater. Many white people
were kept away on this account. Enter
prise Hose Company attended the funeral
in body as a mark Of respect to their
deceased leader Interment was made
at the colored cemetery.
The deceased was between 50 and 20
years old. He leaves wife but no chill
dren.
There was not a colored man in Hen
dersOn for whom we had a higher regard
or felt a warmer friendship. He was our
friend and we pay this tribute to his
character and worth and drop sympa-
thetic tear over his grave