davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
LIGHTNING SET
OFF TWO FIRES
One Bolt Burns Barn of Frank
Stevens Near Clayton;
Another at Smyrna
DAMAGE THRU STATE

Thursday night about midnight
this state was visited by one of the
worst electric storms of the season,
accompanied by a deluge of rain.
A bolt of lightning struck a barn
on the farm of Frank Stevens near
Blackstone Cross Roads and set
it afire, burning calf and setting
fire to several tons of hay in the
loft. Smyrna, Clayton and Mill
ington Fire Companies were sum-
moned to no avail. The barn was
nearly burned down when firemen
arrived, entailing a loss of between
$500 and $1,000. During the same
storm bolt of lightning struck a
straw stack on Woodlawn farm.
the home of Mrs. Frank Slaughter,
just south of Smyrna, setting it
afire and consuming it. A large
barn on the farm of Lefuel Cow
ington, near Dover, was destroyed
after being struck by lightning
The loss is estimated at $4,000, in
Guiding a ton of hay, 300 bushels
of wheat, $50 bushels of corn, and
so baskets of potatoes. Dover fire
men said the heavy downpour pre-
vented the blaze from spreading to
a nearby barn. A half hour later
Dover firemen were summoned to
the home of ]. O'Hannan, Roose-
welt Avenue, Dover, where light
ming had set fire to the living
room. Loss was estimated at $3.50.
The Seaford area had only light
rain, while Georgetown reported no
rain. Rain was exceptionally heavy
in Dover. Mrs. Walter Leishman,
bookkeeper at the Beebe Hospital
in Lewes, was stunned temporarily
by a lightning bolt during the
storm there. The heaviest rain
was reported in the section be-
tween Lewes and Harbeson. Fields
were flooded and traffic was at a
standstill at the height OF the
storm. Farmers say the damage
to crops was considerable. A
lightning bolt played havoc at the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Park
er in Lewes. A large chimney was
toppled over, the switch box in the
house split open, and all the cleo
trical fixtures destroyed. No one
was at home at the time. A series
of similar storms swept various
sections of the state causing wide
spread damage to crops, destroying
farm buildings and damaging sew
eral houses. No serious loss was
reported north of Smyrna.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
EDGAR FRAZIER IN ACCIDENT
Smyrna Citizen, Former Sheriff of
Kent County, Has Close Call

Edgar Frazier of this town, for
mer Kent County sheriff, who suf-
fered fractured ribs and bruises
when a truck crashed into his car
parked on the highway near Gar
rison's lane on the Boulevard below
Smyrna is home now recovering
slowly from his injuries. The driv-
er of the truck was Paul Raffredo
Of Bridgeport, Pa. Frazier was
treated at Kent General Hospital
Mr.. Frazier had stopped off the
highway to lend assistance to a
motorist when the truck, without
any warning, crashed into the rear
of his car. He had narrow es-
cape of being crushed to death.
His many friends were shocked
when they heard of the accident
and are glad to note he is recover
ing and hope TO see him out soon.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
SCHOOL GRADE
ASSIGNMENTS
Supt. George r. Miller Makes
Final Announcements
For Opening
CHANCE FOR PROMOTION

Supt. G. r. Miller of the John
Bassett Moore Schools of Smyrna
has announced the assignments for
the high school grades for the
opening day of school as follows
Grade XII-Mr. Kings room.
Grade XI - Mr.. Gebhart, Mr.
Brown, Mr.. Gebhart's room.
Grade X-Library, Miss Breme,
Miss Filters.
Grade TX - Auditorium, right
side looking from stage, .Vogel,
Mrs. Harrington, Miss Marshall.
Grade VIII--Music Room, Mr.,
Ward, Mrs. Fearon.
Grade VII-Auditorium, left side
looking from stage, Mrs. Lambden,
Miss Start.
All students who have not been
registered in the Smyrna Schools
will please do so on or before Sep
tember 5th. All denominations
will be administered on the morn
ing of September 5th at 8 a. M.
Every candidate must present to
the office a written statement from
parent or guardian that he has
spent a minimum of twenty (20)
hours in preparation for this ex-
animation. A full school day is
planned for the opening day.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
ROTARY CLUBS
WEEKLY MEET
w. E. Matthews,Jr. Governor
of the 1S4th District RO-
tary, Pays Official Visit
PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT

William E. Matthews, Jr., Cover
nor of the 184th District of Rotary
and a member of the Smyrna Club,
paid his official visit as Governor
last Thursday evening. Pior TO
the dinner meeting at the Way
side Inn, an executive conference
was held with the Board of Direc-
tors and Committee Chairmen. In
his address, Governor Matthews
asked if Rotary was a defense or
a challenge. Governor Matthews
challenged his fellow members OF
Rotary to accept the ethics of Ro-
tary; not to use Rotary as a de-
fense, but to use Rotary as meth
Cd of becoming a better citizen to
his country. Serving and loving
your fellowman as taught by Ro-
tary, broadens ones mind to be
useful for the better things of life.
Rotary will develop man if he
accepts the teachings Of Rotary.
The ideals and principles of Rotary
if followed, lead to leadership. To
live for others and help others to
live Rotary is an opportunity for
service; use it to the best advant-
age in serving your fellowman and
your country. Governor Matthews
urged his fellow Rotarians to ac-
cept the challenge of Rotary, re-
ceive it, use it and watch the pro-
gress of his club, his community by
the use of the teachings of Rotary.
c. W. Hall, president of the club,
responded and thanked the Cover
nor for his timely remarks and the
club extended a rising vote of
thanks. George R. Miller directed
the singing. Next weeks program
will be under the direction of Er-
win R. Dick Visitors: Walter
Morris, Dover, Delaware.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
COVE MORRIS IN
FATAL CRASH
Wilmingtonian, a Former R.R.
Man of Clayton, Dies i'm
Dover Hospital
ACCIDENT NEAR SMYRNA

Cove L. Morris, so, of 336 South
Heald Street, Wilmington, for
mer railroad man, residing over in
Clayton, died early Monday morn
ing from injuries suffered when a
car he was driving and a car driv-
en- by Andrew j. Fox, Jr., IS, Of
Richardson Park, collided on the
DUPONT Boulevard, four miles
north of Smyrna. Morris was TAX
en- to the Kent General Hospital at
Dover following the crash, where
his arm was amputated in an at
tempt to save his life. He had
also suffered fractured skull and
severe decorations Of the head. Five
others were injured in the same ac-
cident that proved fatal to Morris.
The injured are: Mrs. Nellie Morris,
50, head injuries and shock Lille
Morris, 13, their daughter, lacera-
tions of ear and forehead. Andrew
]. Fox, Sr., 43, Richardson Park,
decorations of the head and posi-
BILE fractured skull. Mrs. Helen
Fox, his wife, burns. Andrew j.
Fox, Jr., their son, possible frac-
tured skull and lacerations of the
head. Funeral of Cove Morris will
take place tomorrow, Friday, from
Hartly NJ. E. Church and inter-
ment in Hartly Cemetery. Rev.
Mabel Erskine of Clayton, will
have charge of the service.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
GAME AND FISH
BOARD UPHELD
Senate Committee Reports In
quiry Failed to Bare Any
Serious Defects in Bureau
NOT TO BE ABOLISHED

The joint committee appointed
under a Senate concurrent resolu-
tion early in the session to investi-
gate the Board Of Game and Fish
Commissioners reported Monday
night their investigation had not
revealed any serious defects in the
administration Of the laws by the
commission and that they could
not recommend that the board
should be abolished. The report
follows: Your committee held
numerous hearings and gave op-
portunity to all persons who desir-
ed so to do to appear before the
committee and present any infor-
nation they had relative to the
game and fish commission. Many
persons took the opportunity and
one group appeared, being repre-
sented by counsel. While numer-
Gus charges and countercharges
were made, some against the COM
mission and some in support of the
present commission, your commit
tee is of the opinion that most of
the complaints arose out of per-
sonal differences or personal con-
siderations and were not of a ma
ture that initiated against the
proper functioning of the game and
fish commissioners. Your commit
tee feels that inasmuch as the
major part of the evidence dealt
with personal matters and did not
show any serious defects in the ad-
ministration of the laws relative to
fish and game, and also that such
involved matters on which there
could be an honest difference of
opinion; that it cannot recommend
to this General Assembly that the
present board of game and fish
commissioners should be abolished
In so saying we do feel that there
are some minor matters which
having been called to the attention
Of the commissioners will natural
ly be corrected by them"
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
DEAD LION, BETHANY BEACH
Believed To Be the One Shot After
Terrorizing Crew of "Amazone'

A dead lion bobbing around in
the surf off Bethany Beach Mon
day presented a problem to sum
mer colonists who were forced to
close doors and windows as pro-
lection against the unpleasant
odor. The lion, believed to be the
one killed and thrown overheard
from a ship off Cape May on
Thursday after escaping from its
quarters, was sighted in the ocean
Saturday morning by Mrs. Ida
Rogers White, wife Of Radio Chief
Robert White Of the U. S. Naval
Radio Station there. Heavy seas
drove the animal against a jetty,
but it finally was pulled ashore and
buried. 1t was reported that SOU
venir hunters had beheaded the
Jungle king. The lion escaped
from its quarters on the ;. ,.
Amazone, terrorizing the crew and
Messengers until it was killed by
coast guardsmen summoned from
the Cape May station. The an
imal was part of a consignment TO
a zoo in Caracas. Venezuela.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
CHESWOLD HAS AUXILIARY
To Their Fire Company With Mrs
Willard Barcus First President

Cheswold, Aug. 31-Mrs. Frank
c. O'Neal, state president of the
Auxiliary to the State Firemen's
Association, visited .Cheswold last
week and assisted in the organiza-
ton of a local auxiliary. The fol-
lowing officers were elected: Presi-
dent, Mrs. Willard Barcus; vice
president, Mrs. Chandus Buckson;
recording secretary, Mrs. Denny
Morris; financial secretary, Mrs.
Lee Remley; treasurer, Mrs. Mar
ian Massey; bylaws committee,
Mrs. Lewis Anderson, Mrs. Massey,
Mrs. Morris, and Mrs. Barcus. The
new organization plans to attend
the state convention at Rehoboth
Beach
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
REINSTATE E. w. HUTCHINSON
His Rejection Was R,-.inded By
the Senate Monday Night

Edwin w Hutchison Of Smyrna,
democrat, who had been rejected as
magistrate, was reinstated Monday
night to his former status 1t is
said that Governor McMullen will
reappoint him so he can carry
along in his office until the next
Senate meets to confirm. The Sem
ate confirmed Frank E. Lynch, Jr.,
of Dover, as state banking COM
missioner. He succeeds Trnest
Muncy who sent his resignation to
Gov. Richard c. McMullen Satur-
day. Lynch is Democrat and
has been deputy banking commits
sioner for several years. His was
the second name sent to the Sen
ate by the governor The name of
Randolph Hughes, nephew of U. S.
Senator James H. Hughes, which
was sent to the Senate on August
IA was rejected. The Senate con-
firmed three magistrates and re-
jected another The magistrates
confirmed were: Albert J. Lank of
Seaford; Lewis J. Welsh of Els
mere, and John A. Hastings of
Blades. Vance Lynch, who had
been appointed a magistrate in
Sussex County was rejected. Wal
ter S. Cubbage of Dover, was con-
hrmed as magistrate. The Senate
rescinded its action of August IA
in rejecting William r. Webb as a
Sussex County magistrate, and his
name was placed back on the list.
Among the important appoint
ments lacking confirmation are the
three members of the Industrial
Accident Board
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
OCEAN HIGHW'Y
DEDICATION OFF
Maryland Unable to Complete
Its End of Road For
Time Set
DUE TO BAD WEATHER

Prospects of a joint Delaware
and Maryland ceremony this year
celebrating the opening of the Re
hoboth Beach-Ocean City coastal
highway faded Tuesday night with
an announcement that the propos-
ed dedication had been indefinitely
postponed. r. G. Hill, city man
ager of Rehoboth Beach and head
of the Delaware committee cooper
ating in plans for the ceremony,
made the announcement, explain
ing that bad weather delaying
completion of the Maryland sec
ton of the road has forced the
postponement. The ceremony, with
governors and citizens of both
states participating, was to have
been held Friday. Committees Of
the two states which originally
had fixed the event for August 15,
were in full agreement on the in
definite postponement, he said.
Many residents of Rehoboth Beach
would soon return to their winter
homes, and would not be able to
attend ceremonies later this year,
he pointed out. Strms relayed the
hardening of the final strip in the
section of the highway, and Mary
land road officials have advised
against the passage of a large
number Of automobiles over the
route. John R. Kitchens, state en-
gineer, who has been supervising
the Delaware portion of the high
way between Bethany Beach and
fContinued on Page Five)
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
BETHEL-C -CHESWOLD CHURCH
VIII Celebrate Sunday Next Its
86th Year With Home Coming

The eighty-sixth anniversary of
Bethel M. E. Church of Cheswold
will be observed Sunday, Septem-
Der 8. The Rev. G. w. Dawson of
Bethany Beach will be the guest
speaker and the song service will
be under the direction of Lewis
Carroll and his son, Richard, of
Easton, Md. The Rev w. L. Nc
Clintock, the pastor of Bethel, has
outlined an interesting program for
the day.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
THREE KILLED
AT REHOBOTH
Ralph Wingate, Is, Meets
Instant Death Followed by
Mrs. TOuZell and Son Harry
in AUTO AND BUS CRASH

One person was killed instantly
and a mother and son died soon
after as the result of a car
colliding with a bus during a rain
storm on the highway mile north
of Rehoboth late Monday after
noon. The auto, crushed by the
impact, burst into flames while the
bus careened across the slippery
road, toppling over on its side in
ditch. Ralph David Wingate, Is,
of Rehoboth Beach, was dead from
a broken neck when he was pulled
from the blazing wreckage. Harry
A. Touzell, 21, the driver, who suf-
fered third degree burns, part of
the skull crushed, and internal in
juries, and his mother, Mrs. Anna
L. Touzell, 4S, who received severe
burns, bruises, died within few
hours later at Beebe Hospital at
Lewes where they were taken. The
accident brought Delaware's high
way fatality total to 81 as compar-
ed with As deaths during the same
period last year. Neither Robert
NJ. InIntyre, "a, Princess Anne, Md,
driever of the bus, or its seven
passengers were seriously hurt.
Several were treated at the hos
pital for minor cuts and bruises
and then released. Mcintyre told
police he sWerved the bus to the
opposite side of the road when he
saw the Touzell car approaching in
"a zig-zag fashion on the rain-soak-
ed highway. When the collision
occurred the bus was almost in the
ditch, he said. Traffic was dis
rupted over a seVeral-mile stretch
by the accident. Three rear-end
collisions Werereported as motor
lists hurried to the scene. A pre-
liminary police investigation was
held in the Rehoboth Beach police
headquarters by Corp. Harry A.
Pusey of the Georgetown station.
Mr.. and Mrs. Vernon L. Wilkinson
of Washington, d. O., passengers
in the bus, testified that the car
was careening as it approached
the larger vehicle. Grower told of
MS efforts to help the injured. Nc
Intyre was held under $500 bond to
await the outcome of the victims
injuries. Deputy Atty.-Gen. Dan
iel j. Layton, Jr., aided in the in
vestigation. Besides the Wilkin-
sons and their small son, passeng-
ers in the bus were: Mildred Mel
son, Margaret Saums, Clarice Lilly,
and Ethel Royal, all Of Baltimore.
They all returned to Rehoboth for
the night. The bus left Rehoboth
Beach about 5:15 o'clock for Sal
isbury, Md. Coroner Lewis Lath-
bury will hold an inquest later
into Wingate's death. The deceas-
ed was the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Carl Wingate. The Touzells, who
were spending the summer at the
resort, are residents of Philadel-
phia Mrs. Touzell conducted
boarding and rooming house at Re
hoboth and her son was employed
as motion picture machine oper-
ator at the Blue Hen Theater. Win
gate and the Touzells had motored
to Philadelphia Monday morning
where the former intended to en-
list in the army.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
WARNING AGAINST TICKS
State Board of Health Reports the
Fourth Case of Spotted Fever

A warning to be on the lookout
for ticks has been issued by State
Board of Health officials, following
the discovery of the fourth case OF
Rocky Mountain spotted fever in
Kent County this year. A care
full search for infected ticks, be-
lieved to be the carrier of the DIS
ease, is being made In the area
where the case was located. state
health officials believe the contag-
ious ticks have been carried into
this area.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
PASS HIGHWAY
|ACT OVER VETO
C.or Denies 1t Needed 9
Three-Fourths Vote TO
Be Constitutional
CITES PAST CHANGES

Tho new state Highway Depart
~ II reorganization bill giving
..rtrol Of the state Highway De-
.artnent % to the Republicans be-
.na ! law late Monday when
Sarator Sa Burton S. Heal, Republi-
asr Aoor leader in the Senate, de-
l;rer4d it to Secretary Of State
4 Josiah Marvel, Jr., after the bill
H bad been signed by President Pro
d Tom D. w. Steele of the Senate.
4 The bill was passed over the Gov
4 arnor,s veto in the Touse by a
I nortv vote of % to II, as Demo-
/ rats warned it will be contested
\ n the courts. Later, replying 70
ouestions raised by the minority,
, Warren Green, chief legislative
atorney declared the bill did not
need three-fourths vote to be
constitutional. A state agency can
be created by majority vote or,
after being established, the law
can be amended by a majority
vote he said. To issue bonds and
70 create a state debt the Consti-
tuition requires a vote Of three
fourths of the members of the Cen
eral Assembly and as the original
act creating the State Highway
Department contained provisions
relative to issuing bonds, the en-
tire act required a three-fourths
vote. Mr.. Green pointed out how
ever, that the present act IN no
manner affects the bond provisions
Of the highway act. The section
Of the act providing for changes in
membership Of the commission has
been amended twice before by ma
iority vote, he said. In 1921 the
Secretary of State with no vote ex-
cept in case of a tie was substitute
ed as a member Of the board in
lieu of the Governor, and in 1929
the act was again amended by re-
moving the Secretary of State and
substituting the Governor with an
other amendment giving the Gov
ernor the full right to vote. Not
only do these acts by the enacting
clause indicate that a vote greater
than majority vote was not nee
essary, but an examintion of the
journals for both these sessions
relative to the voting on these two
amendatory acts disclose that
neither received three-fourths
vote in the Senate" he continued.
Mr.. Green also declared that the
act in 1885 transferring all the
roads, bridges, ETC., from the coun-
ties to the State Highway Depart
ment, thus enlarging the power
and authority of the State High
way department was passed With
out three-fourths vote. 1t fol-
lows, Mr.. Green continued, that if
the present amendatory act is un-
constitutional because of the lack
Q ia three-fourths vote then the
other three prior acts are uncon-
stitutional. If such is true then
the State Highway Department
has no jurisdiction over the county
roads and all business done by the
department that depended on the
vote Of the Governor are invalid,
ne contended. The measure, pass
ed IN the Senate over the vote last
Friday.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
Restore Corbitt Home in Odessa

H. Rodney Sharp, the new owner
of the old Corbitt mansion in Odes-
sa, will soon award the plumbing
and heating contract in his plans
of restoring this old colonial home
to be the finest in Odessa.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
$4,000 THEATRE AT SEAFORD
New Movie House VIII Have Mod
ern Moving Picture Equipment

Plans have been drawn for mo-
ton picture theater at Seaford
which will be two stories and will
cost $4,000, it was reported last
week Work is expected to start
next spring. Thomas Ayres pro-
prietor of the Palace Theater, High
and Market Street, will build the
new place, it was said Gleason
and Mulrooney of Philadelphia has
been selected as architects for a
new Catholic church to be built in
Seaford at a cost of S25,000 A
site has not been selected. The
building will seat about 500 per-
sons.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
Discontinue Blacks, Nd, Postoffice

The postoffice over at Black,
Kent County, Md, William S. Sulta
postmaster, will be discontinued as
Of to-day, August 81. Mail for
persons formerly secured delivery
at Black will go to Millington. Md,
and be delivered by rural
route.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
M1nDLETOWN ENGAGEMENT
Miss Charlotte Donaghay, Daugh'
fer of Rev. p. l.. DOnaghay

Announcement is made by Rev.
and Mrs. Percy L. Donaghay Of the
engagement of their daughter,
Charlotte Donaghay, to Mr.. Joseph
Moore Armstrong, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Edward Armstrong of Bay
view. Mr.. Armstrong is associat-
ed with the Erie and st. Laurence
CORPORATION in New York City.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
AZ PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Fro inackaDerry to Be Home
~ vacation for Sunday Service
of NeT ~ 5. j. Thackaberry, pastor
She ne Presbyterian Church of
hSiiyrha' who with his wife. have
part y nrTacationlng at Ridgefeld
ta1 am N. j., will return in time TO
arno am Y MS duties on Sunday. He
il oes ~ ne will hold services at
Miss and Sunday evening at 7.3o.
"seK ba,s rs prayer service will be
wednesday, September 6.
Smyrna times., 1939-08-31
ST. PETERS CHURCH NOTES
Rev. Frederick Marx Barton viii
Return from Vacation Tomorrow

st. Peters Episcopal Church
Rev. Frederick Marx Barton, reel
tor, announces the service on Sun
day next, the thirteenth after Trim
ity, will be at IL a. m, celebration
of the Holy Communion and SER
mon. The rector returns from his
vacation tomorrow.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-03
Abes Us. Bells
TOMORROW Night

With only a slim chance to even
tie for the City prep league title
the Lincoln basketball team meets
the Bellarminc hoop five tomorrow
night on the Lion courts.
The Lincoln quintet must win
all Of its remaining three games
to gain tie with the Stadium
cagers. Bellarmine, who dropped
out Of the chase by losing to the
Tigers last night. 47-40. has two
Tits left to play with the Axmen,
while the Bengals have only one
game 10 play.
A definite loss Ia the Lin
cooln casaba squad II that Of
Don HeRelc, who IA reported
III. He will not he In uniform
for the game. according to
Coach Bill Hardic.
Starters for Lincoln will be Sc
lected from Logan Blades, Jess
Cooper. Tell Pagni. Gene Clark,
Ben lshioka. Dex Hutton and Jack
Godfrey.
Bob Lcvinson. Lion mentor. will
probaly open with Ray Fiorino and
Dick Smith. forwards. Claire Nor
mile. center. and Jerome Healy
and SLEEPY" Jim Robinson at the
guard posts.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-03
STADIUM TRACK TEAM OUT
FOR BUSY 1899 SEASON

With % candidates. including 80
lettermen. turning out for the
squad, Stadium track activity for
1889 has got off to flying start
under Coach Ralph Christie.
Nine meets have already
been scheduled for the Bengal
cinder team and II is likely
that several more will he ar
ranged during the next few
weeks.
The following boys have been
turning out:
SENIORS
Arnold Scandvig. Harold Lew
tas, Jim Allen. Al Midal. Bob
Hamilton. Stan Boyle. julius Beck.
Ray Marchesini. Bill Tucker, Bill
Zeh. Gale Smith. Jim Brady, Dick
Hill. Bob Coffman, Byron Larsen.
Art Phillips. Dean Morgan, Dick
Martin. Howard Brown, Chester
Dyer. Chuck Horjes. Paul Richard
son. Nauby Hamilton, Eric Carl
son. Jim 1nge.
JUNIORS
Don Ferris, Abe Coleman.
Tom Rathbonc. Ed Anderson.
Chuck Reeves. Glen Matthew,
Kenneth Cutler. derry VIII
hclmson. Stan Morton. Don