The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-04-12
Pee Dee CONTEST HELD.
FIRST ANNUAL MEET PROVES
GREAT SUCCESS.
Sixteen Represented i'm Literary and
Athletic Competitions of Associa.
.ticn Meet at Florence.


Florence. April S.-The first annual
meet of the Pee Dee Oratorical and
Athletic association, which was held
here at the close Of the week, was a
great success in spite Of the dismal
rain and the cold on Friday. Satur-
day was somewhat better for the ath-
letics in the afternoon, but the
grounds were heavy. The visitors en-
Joyed themselves in this city and
made many friends with the boys and
girls of the Florence high school. by
whom they were entertained. Six
teen schools in this section we're an
tered for the various events, many Of
them sending two or three represen.
tatives.
In order to select the proper mum.
Der OF contestants for the regulap
event it was necessary to select the
winners in certain arbitrarily formed
groups and these contests were as
lively and as interesting as the pub
lie contests that followed. .
A number Of the superintendents or
teachers of the schools were here with
their representatives.
In the finals Friday night the fol.
lowing contested: Sos
Girls-Misses Jane Oglesby, Flor
ence; Pearl Strauss, Mullins; Sarah
Miller, Bennettsville; Evelyn Lee.
Timmonsville; Elizabeth Brady. Lat
ia: Bessie Clark, Conway.
Boys-Norelle Bennette. Clio; Paul
Moore. Bennettsville; Hayward Brock.
ington, Kingstree; Haskell Thomas.
Florence; Edward Caldwell, Dsllon:
Stokes King Conway.
The committee on decision consist.
ted Of Prof. H. A. Wise. principal OF
the Columbia high schol; INSTRUCTOR
Jeter of the University Of South Car.
olina. and Waddy Thompson Of CO.
lumbia.
The medal for the boys, contest VA
given by ]. w. Ivey of Florence ana
that for the girls contest by Denny
Jewelry company Of Hartsvilie. Tshe
committee awarded the siris' contest
to Miss Jane Oslesby OF f'iorencs high
school. Her subject was: ''The Prodi.
gal Son." The boys contest was won
by Edward Caldwell of Dillon, whose
subject was 'The Curse OF RektiluA.,
Second place among the girls was won
by Miss Elizabeth Brady OF Latta.
Second for boys was won by stokes
King of Conway.
The auditorium of the graded
school building was filled for the
finals. and the speeches were greatly
enjoyed. ~
One OF the most beautiful features
OF the evening was the recitation. in
striking costume by Miss Perla Strauss
OF the final scene from THE Last Days
Of Pomepii."
All the speakers deserved the high
est praise, for one rarely hears 30
great number Of recitations that
were above criticism. Both Of Con-
ways representative, Stokes King and
Miss Bessie Clark. made very deep
impressions on their hearers.
For the athletic events the univer-
sity sent two experienced track men
to act as referee and umpire. The
prizes to be awarded in this contest
were the handsome silver loving cum
offered to the school scoring the high
est award and winning the meet, and
to the individual athlete scoring the
greatest number Of points a medal Of
fered by Mayor Barringer of Flor
ence.
There were about SO boys entered in
the preliminaries and they were .un-
daunted by the bad weather and the
heavy track.
The winners were: Hundred yard
dash. Hustus Of Clio. Frew Of Clio
eecoho' pole vault. Smith Of Mullins.
Hustus of Clio. second; running high
Jump. Mcqueen Of Clio. Norton Win
ton second; shot put, Smith of Null
Inns; discus Brunson Of Florence; half
mile. Dick OF Hartsyille: relay race.
Minturn school; low hurdles. Dick Of
Harts'Ille; running broad jump.
Brunson Of Florence.
In the final count Clio won the low.
ing cup having made % 1-2 points.
Florence took second place with
lS IL, Burney Smith Of Mullins won
the medal for individual athletes with
IA points. Brunson was second with
II ga.