The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-16
BESSEMER NEWS

Bessemer, December 15--(Special.)- )-More coal is being turned out by the mines of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company at Blue Creek at present than for the past two years. AtJohns, Adger and Sumter all of the mines are working a full force of men mining the coal that is shipped to the furnaces and by-pro- duct plants of the company. The old beehive coke ovens which were abandoned five years ago have again been placed ir working condition and are turning cut a high grade of coke The 300 ovens require a large force of men to operate and the ovens are making 72-hour colSe
 considered better than the byproduct coke for the making of pig iron In the
 Blue Creek district the conditions, gen
 orally are better than they have been
 for years and prospects are bright for
 steady work right through the winter
 months or as long as the furnaces are
 operating and the price of pig iron con-
 tinues as it is at present.
 The board of education made the final
 settlement with the contractors for the new additions to the Clarendon and the
 Roberts schools last night and the build
 ings were accepted by the board, al-
 though they have been occupied for sev- aeral weeks. The approximate cost of the
 improvements was $17.000 which has given
 the two additions that will accommodate
 the growing attendance for two or three
 years when other buildings will be neces-
 sary. It will be remembered sometime
 ago the city voted $25Oo0 bond issue
 for the improvement of the schools and
 this amount was in excess of the amount
 required leaving in the fund balance.
 Dewey Thaxton, 17 years of age, died
 this morning at 10 o'clock at the home
 of his sister, Mrs. A. c. Hagood, at
 Feeders. after a weeks illness of pneu-
 monia The deceased was a member of
 the sophomore class at the Bessemer
 High school and was very popular With
 the teachers as well as the pupils for his
 splendid character, happy disposition and
 gracious manner. He had made his home
 with his hister, Mrs. Belle Nunnally, at
 Feeders, for several years, and during
 that time made many friends who regret
 to learn of his death. He is survived by three brothers Luther Thaxton of Texas, Charles Thaxton and Howard Thaxton of this city; three sisters Mrs. Nunnally, Mrs A. c. Hagood and Mrs. J. o. Wilson, all of Bessemer
 The funeral will take place Friday morning at 10 o'clock from the First Methodist church. the pastor, the Rev. George Stoves, conducting the services. Interment will follow at Pratt City cemetery The entire High school stu
 dent body will attend the funeral. The following school mates will act as pail
 bearers: William Winters, Rober Berry. William Rowry, Harrison Hendricks. IIor E,nQana COStOn. I<ucien Spencer and Ben Coston. The sympathy of the entire city is extended to the Lereaved family.
 Harvey Branscomb of Birmingham. who is a student at Oxford university. England made an excellent talk this morning to the pupils of the Bessemer High school, which was thoroughly in- teresting as well as instructive. Mr. Branscomb won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford, where he has been for the past two years, having spent one va cation in Belgium doing relief work, one in the war zone of Germany and one in Paris at which time Zepperlin air raid was made. MT. Branscomb was introduced by pr. A. A. Persons. superintendent of the schools, and he spoke for 40 minutes, holding the in- terest of the entire student body. He told of the workings of the great uni versity as well as of the European war Mr. Branscomb is the son of pr. l.. C..
 Branscomb of Birmingham and is a nephew of Mrs. E. l.. Huey of this city. Several musical numbers were rem dered by Mrs. w. w. Baltar, Jr.
 While returning from funeral at Woodward this afternoon Ben Kennedy of the Kennedy Brothers undertaking firm was thrown from the top of the hearse and sustained broken arm and a broken leg, as well as number of
 other bruises. It appears that the breeching on the harness in some way
 became disengaged, frightening the
 horses, which ran away. throwing MT. Kennedy to the ground. He was re-
 moved to the Elizabeth Duncan hospital in Huey & McConnells ambulance. where he is reported to be doing as well as could be expected.
 Mrs. A. K. Tatum was delightful hostess last night when she entertained the members of the Wide Awake club at her home on Seventh avenue Ferns and cut flowers were attractively em- ployed in the decorations of the re-
 ception rooms. Dancing was enjoyed until late hour and during the evening
 tempting, refreshments were served. the