davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
SCATTERED FAMILIES UNITED
AFTER VESTRES WRECK

New York, Nov. 1.-THE detailed
story Of the sinking of the Vestris
was being written on the official
government records yesterday, as
more of the ships of the rescue
fleet came to port with living and
dead.
Scattered families were reunited,
and survivors were found by joyous
relatives and friends. But in other
quarters only sorrow prevailed, as
% bodies were laid out for identif-
cation or as officials shook their
heads negatively, in answer to anxi-
Gus queries of those seeking some
word of the unreporteG.
At the end Of the day all the res
cue fleet had reached port OF was
near it, and the latest count of those,
who had survived and who were lost,
failed TO improve the list of ia
dead. Thirteen bodies were brought
to New York on the destroyer Shaw.
Meanwhile, the battleship Wyoming
ploughed on toward Hampton Roads
with nine survivors and the French
tanker Myriam reached Brooklyn
with ST living.
Throughout the day more details
of the disaster, that sent the liner to
the bottom 250 miles off Hampton
Roads Monday afternoon, came from
survivors. One story, told by Dave
Botten, fireman on the Vestris,
related how the ''black gang" of the
stoke hole, stayed at their furnaces
until water, that first had started to
pour through an open port coal
door, virtually engulfed them and
finally sent them climbing up lad
der to the listing deck of the ship.
This account was added to stories
Of shifting cargo, weak bulkheads,
inefficient launching of lifeboats
and delay in calling for help. Com
bined, each feature went to make up
the tragic talfe of the short-lived
voyage for 32S persons-129 of
them passengers-who left New
York Saturday for Barbados and
South America.
Stories of two men will never be
heard. Capt. William Carey went
with his ship and never will answer
the criticism against him and his
crew for their work in meetino the
disaster. Neither will Michael j..
O'Loughlin, radio operator, ever tell
how and why he stayed at his keys
until he was unable to save himself.
But this devotion to the radioman's S
code of the sea has been an out
standing tale of heroism, in the en-
tire account of the wreck, and his
name will be inscribed on the monu-
mept in Battery Park, erected to the
memory Of wireless men who have
''kept the record unsullied."
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
TAR HEEL MOTORISTS SPEND
BIG SUM TO RUN AUTOS

North Carolina last year spent a
minimum of $10O,00O,0O0 in the
operation of automobiles, according
to figures given out by Coleman w.
Roberts, vice president Of the Caro-
lima Motor Club.
"Statistics compiled by the Ameri-
can Automobile association indicates
that the average motorist spent
1929 in 1927 for operation and
maintenance, excluding depreciation
and garage charges" Mr.. Roberts
said. "This was divided into four
principal items as follows: Replace
ment parts and supplies, Sal; tires
for replacement, $40; fuels and
lubricants, $101, and labor, SAT.
cat the end of the year there were
43O,499 automobiles registered in
North Carolina. Thus, using the ma
tional average of 1929 per car the
cost of operation reaches the stag
gering total of S,5S4,271. These
figures are conservative and the ac-
tual cost of operation of Tarhelia
motor vehicles probably was in ex-
cess of 100 million dollars"
Ten cents per mile pays all costs
Of operation of the average car, in
cluding every item of expense, the
figures show. The range of opera
ton costs is from 7.05 cents per
mile for light four cylinder tour
ing car to 11.73 cents per mile for
light six-cylinder coach-and av-
erage cost of 10 cents per mile.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
Dr.. Vines to Conduct
Revival Services Here

Rev. VIM. NJ. Vines, D. D., of the
Southern Baptist home mission
board, and one of the ablest divines
in the southern church, will begin a
series Of meetings at the Baptist
church here Sunday, Dec 2. Prepara-
tory to the beginning of the service,
Rev. P. A. Hicks, pastor of the
church, has arranged for cottage
prayer meetings to be held through
out next week.
A combination prayer and Thanks
giving offering will be taken for
the orphanage. Prof. |. G. Greer
will be the speaker at this service.
Prayer services at the following
homes will be conducted by the
leaders named:
Friday, November %
E. L. Payne's home; leaders, G..
P. Hagaman and W. D. Farthing.
John Greer's home; leaders, Mrs.
D. D. Doughcrty and Mrs. 1. G..
Greer.
Dir. J. NJ. Hodges home; leaders,
W. R. Gragg and A. Y. Howell.
Wednesday, Nov. %
No prayer service at the church.
E. G. Farthing's home; leaders,
Smith Hagaman and j. T. c..
Wright.
W. C. Greer's home; leaders, Mrs.
(Dr.) Triplett and Mrs. J. L. Qualls.
Mrs, James Lyons home; leader,
V. c. Howell and D. J. Cottrell.
The local congregation feels that
ii is fortunate in securing the aid OF
DR.. Vines in this series Of meetings.
Before entering. the services of the
Southern Baptist home mission board
he vas pastor OF lumber Of the
sou5h's largest churches. The church
bulletin Of Olivet Baptist church,
Oklahoma City, where DR.. Vines re
Gently held a meeting, says of him
Or. Vines charms. He never
disappoints. He has the profound
! logic of the British pulpit combined
with the evangelistic spirit of the
American. He is expository in his
treating of the great themes of the
Christian religion. Some of his SER
mons are as deep and as finished in
arrangement and expression as a
chapter from one Of the great auth
ors Of Apologetics. He gathers his
illustrations from the classic sources,
and, what is fine they always "illus-
| tTatp' - There is one danger we are
likely to become so personally alb
sorbed in his messages that we shal
not be as active in the campaign as
the situation demands. Let US sup
port this great ministry with oul
prayers and labors."
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
ROOSEVELT OUTSTANDING
CANDIDATE FOR 1882

Warm Springs, Ca, Nov. Is
Roosevelt for president in 1882"
will be the dominating theme of the
barbecue celebration in honor of
Franklin D. Roosevelt, New York's
governorelect, to be held here soon.
A prospective invitation list to-
day showed it will be one of the
greatest gatherings of political mo-
guls the south has ever seen. The
exact date of the event has not been
announced.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
MR.. HAGAMAN SEES MANY
CHANGES IN THE COUNTY

AS l go over the county observe
changes from year to year in many
things. Our county has almost
gone out of the wheat growing bust
ness as it once did. This is, no
doubt, as it should be. The corn
crop this year is one of the poorest
| have ever seen-the storm almost
destroyed it. A large per cent of the
corn will be very poor quality.
The meadows are thickly studded
with haystacks and not enough good
cattle and sheep to consume it.
The county is turning largely to
trucking-cabbage, potatoes and
other crops. This is, no doubt, as
it should be, provided the farmers
will not become discouraged and
quit when some product happens to
be low in price this or some other
year. The man who succeeds in
any business is the man who keeps
everlastingly at it, and more espe-
cially the farmer. If the price is
low this year it is no indication that
it will be next year. Keep on plant
ing cabbage and potatoes. Cab
bage is good this year; potatoes not
so good. This may be reversed next
year
Good roads are revolutionizing
this whole county. We have now
about 65 miles of good roads-some
of these ought to be made better,
and no doubt will be right soon.
The next greatest need is the i'm
portance of the other roads of the
county, and | know this is a diff
cult task with the limited means of
the county.
This matter demands the serious
and immediate consideration of the
officials and thinking men of the
county.
SMITH HAGAMAN
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
THANKSGIVING PROCLAIMED
BY GOVERNOR A. w. Mclean

To the People Of North Carolina:
Whereas, the spirit of true graft
tude is virtue that ought always to
be fostered and encouraged; and,
Whereas, all good and perfect
gifts of this life, as well as hope for
the life to come, are direct benefac-
tions of kind providence,
Now, therefore, l, Angus w. Nc
Lean, Governor of North Carolina,
happy to follow custom that has
been perpetuated since this nation
of ours established it's independence,
do hereby proclaim and set aside
Thursday, November 29th, as
Thanksgiving Day, and call upon
the people of the state to observe it
by suspending all unnecessary ac-
tivities and by giving public express
sion to the gratitude that is in their
hearts for all the blessings enjoyed
during the past year.
We, as people, have much for
which to be thankful. Difficulties
have been experienced, to be sure,
as will ever be the case until COM
plete harmony has been established
between the Creator and the crea-
ture and between man and man
everywhere; but our blessings have
far outnumbered our handicaps, and
we have abundant cause for genuine
gratitude.
We have continued to go forward.
We have utilized our natural re-
sources to meet our spiritual needs
and to fulfill our human obligations.
Religion and science have contrib
uted to the necessities of the soul
and body; humanity, as a whole, has
been privileged to attain higher
levels of service.
For these and all other blessings,
too numerous to mention, | urge our
people to offer sincere and hearty
thanks to Almighty God on the day
appointed.
Whether our prayers of thanks
giving shall ascend from around the
humble fireside or be waited to
heaven on the strains of cathedral
music is of little consequence, so
long as they come from hearts that
are moved by the spirit of true
gratitude.
1t is highly desirable that our
people shall use this occasion to con-
tribute to the necessities of the less
fortuante, especially to the orphans
of our state and others who are de-
pendent upon the bounty of those
who have enjoyed greater degree
of prosperity. Freely we have re-
ceived, freely let US give. Thus we
will not only be doing that which is
well pleasing in the sight of God,
but will acquire a broader sense of
spiritual satisfaction.
In conclusion, l further urge that
our people, remembering all of us
are, in the final analysis, dependent
upon the great Central Source of
supply, forget their individual diff
ferences and unite in gratitude to
God for the abiding things of life,
at the same time seekirg Divine
guidance for the future.
Done in the city of Raleigh, this
18th day of November, in the year
of our Lord one thousand nine hun
dred and twenty eight, and in the
one hundred and fifty-third year of
our American Independence.
ANGUS W. MCLEAN, Governor.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
THANKSGIVING SERVICE
AT COVE CREEK BAPTIST

There will be held on Thanks
giving morning, Thursday, Novem-
berry 29 at II o'clock in the Cove
Creek Baptist church a Thanksgiving
service, at which time Dr. Will Cor
don will deliver a Thanksgiving SER
mon, the subject of which will be,
"Some Special Reasons Why We
Are Obliged to be Thankful" A
free will offering will be taken for
the Baptist Orphanage at Thomas
vile.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
OLDFIELD DEAD

Representative William A. Old
field Of Arkansas, Democratic whip
in the house, died Monday, following
a serious operation. Robt. l.. Dough-
ton is mentioned as the probable sue
cessor of Mr.. Oldfield as the party
whip.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
WIDOW IDENTIFIES
SKELETON BY GOLD TEETH

Salem, N, j., Nov. 21.-Mrs
Florence Burt McAllister identified
a skeleton found in the woods near
here as that of her husband, Frank,
who disappeared June 5. She identi-
fled him by means of bridgework
and gold teeth in the skull of the
skeleton When found, the hands
and feet of the skeleton were tied
with bits of clothing and rope.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22

The st. Petersburg (Fla.) Times
Sunday said in special dispatch
from Palo Alto, Calf, that Herbert
Hoover is expected to spend his va
cation in st. Petersburg. Three of
the most beautiful homes in the city
have been offered to the president
elect and his family together with
an entire wing of the Royal hotel
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
PRESIDENT HARDING'S
FATHER is DEAD

Dr.. George T. Harding, father of
the late President Warren G. Hard
ing, died at Santa Ana, Calf, Mon
day as a result OF paralytic stroke
last Friday. He was "a years old.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
Funeral of Mrs. Bronson
Held at Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock, Nov. 21.-De-
layed report is made of funeral serv-
ices held in Blowing Rock on Nov. 7
for Mrs. Milton Bronson, whose
death occurred in Southern Pines
the preceding day, following an i'll
ness of several days. Mrs. Bronson
was the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Knight of Blowing Rock, who,
with their daughter, Corein Knight,
were with her at the time of her
death.
Funeral services were conducted
at the Baptist church, Rev. Hicks,
the pastor, and Rev. Moser, pastor
of the Methodist church, officiating.
Burial was in the Blowing Rock
cemetery. Surviving are Mr.. and
Mrs. Knight, one sister, Corein
Knight, and two brothers, Frank
Knight of Patterson and Fred Aus
tin of Charlotte, both of whom were
here for the funeral services.
Mr. and Mrs. Bronson had gone to
Southern Pines for the winter from
their home in New Hampshire, Mr..
Bronson's native state, where they
had been living since their marriage
here two years ago last Easter.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22

Miss Wylmath Bradshaw spent the
weekend with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. j. NJ. Bradshaw. They also had
as guests of last week end Mrs. Arlie
Brown and Miss Emily Miller of
LaXon.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22
SMITH HAGAMAN

"What time is it?-I'm invited to
the show, and my watch isn't going"
"Why wasn't it invited?"
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22

"What would you give for a voice
like mine?" "Chloroform."
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22

A successful series of revival
services closed Sunday afternoon at
the Sandy Flat Baptist church, with
baptismal services for the six addi-
tions to the congregation. The
services were conducted by the pas
tor, Rev. E. D. Robbins, adn Rev.
w. C. Payne.
A revival also began on Sunday
afternoon at the Cool Springs Bap-
tist church near here, and will con-
tinue through this week, and prob
ably longer, in charge of the pastor,
Rev. E. C. Hodges.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-11-22

Revival services began Sunday
night, with a good attendance, at
the Blowing Rock Baptist church.
Rev. P. A. Hicks, the pastor con-
Quoted the opening services, but an
assisting minister arrived for the
services on Monday evening.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-01-27

The effort to split the gasoline tax
into fractions, part for the county
and township roads, part for the
state highways; is based on faulty
argument. Everybody pays the gas
tax; why should the state roads hog
it all for their" Improvement, and
leave the smaller and less opulent
political divisions, the townships and
counties, to foot the bills out of
their own real estate and personal
property taxes?
A rather elaborate answer must
be made, if all the facts are put
Understandings into print. Let's go
back to the days of early state road
laws to illustrate the error in sup
posing that by dividing the gas tax
the towns and counties would gain.
The first effort to please every
body at once was the law sometimes
called the Dunn law and sometimes
''the done brown" law. 1t made the
state funds a sharer in the costs of
county highways built on a certain
basis of durability. The state would
match county funds dollar for dol
lar in the construction of such high
ways.
Eighty-six counties plunged in
road building at once. More money
was appropriated than ever before.
The state road commission was given
authority to designate the estate
roads" in each county. In effect,
the county commissioners "desig-
nated' and the state commission ap-
proved. 1t was expScte that each
county would designate thus from
six to ten such highways.
The county commissioners in each
county were at once confronted with
problem that each of the five men,
bers solved in a different way. Each
commissioner represented certain
section of the county from which his
votes came. Each commissioner had
to have one-ffth of the state road
fund or depart from the board as
soon as the taxpayers got around to
it-at the next election preferably.
There were already some 80 or 35
so-called state highway in Otter
Tail county. Could any of them be
abandoned Not on our tintype
they couldn't, unless over the dead
bodies of one or more county com
missioners. The state commission
neutrality-suspicious. this county
get its state roads down to about 10
or IL. The county board labored
manfully, and finally emerged after
days of figuring with something like
25 state roads duly designated, and
the grief the put into the job of get
ting them down to that number was
only the starting point of their mis-
cry. For, of course, every "desig-
mated" road had it's champions for
first aid, now, at once, without delay
and without question.
The result was as might have been
predicted: The county board divid-
ed the estate road" fund into five
parts, roughly equal, and the i'm
possible task of building roughly
equal amount of roadway in each
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-01-27
SPLITTING THE GAS TAX

commissioners district each year was
begun.
&c was never completed. 1t never
would have been completed. for the
partial work and strips OF fairly
good roads thus obtained were pracC-
ically useless to everybody except
the small number OF neavy taxpay-
ers VINO lived on some OF them. FER
gus Falls yelled for a road running
from somewhere to it, or the other
way around; and four COMMISSION
ers said NO. and NO." again, and
so would any of their critics II they
mad been IN that position, and when
rerham and New York Mills and
rarkers trarie tried TO get a thor
ougntare equally well worked be-
tween those points, three commits
sloners SAID mo" and finally, NIX.
The system worked itself out
gradually into the true solution, one
road at time from somewhere TO
somewhere; but vast amount Oh
time and money had meanwhile been
wasted.
NOW, this is a true tory, briefly
told, OF an actual case. When the
gas taxes divided into thirds, two
.nlras tor the counties or townships
or both, 80 counties will assert their
rights, and in each county from IL
to 68 townships will assert theirs.
The executive heads will go crazy
or duck. The money will be frlt-
tered away in piecemeal approprla
.lons. everybody will insist on be-
ing first, no also rams or lasts In the
i, 100000 people that make up this
commonwealth. There will not be
enough money in the seven or ten
millions from the gasoline tax to
hard surface or even grade and gra-
vel 1-100Oth part of the state. The
ultimate end of all this road build
ling-good roads everywhere in Mir
Inesota-will be indefinitely post
poned.
In short, in road building for
public good in the shortest space of
time and at the least expense, there
must be, first, a system which com,
pletes the main roads first; and,
secondly, a benevolent car, such as
the state already has, who insists on
working for the greatest good to the
greatest number, first; and gradually
spreads his empire throughout every
sore and clamorous part of the
state.
In CONCLUSION, dearly beloved, the
gas tax is in the form of constitu-
tional amendment, to change which
| is like changing the face of a CONT
|nent-practically impossible. AND
the largest cities pay the greatest
part of the tax, and get the least
out of it, and are willing to do so
as long as it goes to thoroughfares
| for general travel. And nearly
every county seat of the state feels
the same way about it. And so the
Threatened amendment is doomed il
Iadvance-all of which is another
story, and merits an acturial and
highway mans treatment, and there
is neither an actuary nor highway
man in this office.-Fergus Falls
Tribune.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-01-27
TO THE LADIES AID.

slim" Landy of the Olivia Times
occasionally lapses into verse-and
dinged good verse. A few issues
ago he paid a poetic tribute to the
Ladies Aid and his sentiments are
applicable to Ely as well as the other
towns of the state where churches.
and Ladies Aids have their being.
He said:
The old church bell had long been
cracked,
It's call was but a groan;
1t seemed to sound funeral knell
With every broken tone.
1--WE need bell," the brethren said.
."But taxes must be paid"
We have no money we can spare
Just ask the Ladies Aid.
The shingles on the roof were old /;
The rain came down in rills,
The brethren slowly shook their
heads
- And spoke of monthly bills"
The chairman of the board arose,
And said, 81 am afraid
That we shall have to lay the case
Before the Ladies Aid"
The carpet had been patched and
patched
Till quite beyond repair,
And through the aisles and on the
! steps
The boards showed hard and bare.
ct is too bad" the brethren said I;
"An effort must be made
To raise an interest on the part
OF members of the Aid"
The preachers stipend was behind !;
The poor man blushed to meet
The grocer and the butcher as
He passed them on the street.
But nobly spoke the brethren then /;
|. Pastor, you shall be paid,
Wen call upon the treasurer
Of our good Ladies Aid"
"Ah," said the men, "the way to
heaven
Is very hard and steep;
With slopes of ease on either side,
The path is hard to keep.
We cannot climb the heights alone;
Our hearts are sore dismayed;
We ne'er shall get to heaven at all
Without the Ladies Aid"
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-01-27
TEN THOUSAND LAKES
NAMES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

H. C. Hotaling, who has served as
secretary of the Ten Thousand
Lakes Association for the past five
years was unanimously reelected to
that Office by the directors of the
association at meeting held in
Minneapolis, Saturday.
Members of the advisory commit
tee who will serve in 1928 were
named, Peter Schaefer being select
ed to represent Ely. The complete
advisory committee includes: Sam
E. Olson, Ada; R. ]. Bolen, Aitkin
L. S. Whitcomb, Albert Lea; o. J.
Reynolds, Alexandria; o. w. O'Berg,
Austin; R. R. Gould and M. w.
Pierce, Brainerd; P. M. Larson, Cass
Lake; John K. West. Detroit Lakes
S. Valentine Saxby and ]. H. Harp
er, Duluth; Peter Schaefer, Ely;
Willis S. Shaft, Faribault; E. R..
Hand, Fairmont; w. d. Bruce, Ferg-
us Falls; Carl o. Ettersvold, Glen
wood; Chas. ]. Johnson, Grand Mar
ais; d. M. Gum, Grand Rapids
Andrew Carlson, Hallock; R. w.
Hitchcock, Hibbing; E. j. Porten,
Little Falls; Harry Lee, Long Prairie; ;
T. j. Karp and George M. Palmer,
Mankato; E. j. Westlake, Joseph
Chapman and E. C. Hellewig, Min
neapolis; H. E. Roberts, Moorehead :
F. o. Morrison, Northfeld; E. R.
Ruggles, Osakis; E. X. Whiting,
Owatonna; Earl V. Fuller, Park