davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
VAIL DESCENDANTS
HOLD REUNION AT
SMITHFIELD PICNIC

SMITHFIELD, Sept. THE 1910
reunion of the Vail family was
held Thursday, August %, at the
home of Misses Bessie and Ora
Vail near Pikeville with 1875 at
tending. q,
The day was featured by a splen-
did picnic dinner, and an address
by ]. Frank McInnis, president of
the Goldsboro Rotary club.
1t was the occasion of the 3rd
annual reunion held by descend
ants of Benners Whedbee Vail and
Susan Matilda Afford, who were
married in 1927 in Wayne county.
Many members of the clan from
other states were present.
A welcoming address was given
by Miss Lorraine Vail of Pikeville,
with the response by j. M. Hough,
Supt. of Coon High school, Wilson.
Devotionals. were held by the Rev.
L. r. Ennis of Goldsboro. The
Rev. j. H. Overton, Methodist min
lister of Pikeville, also gave devo.
tionals.
Those attending from this sec.
ton were: Mrs. Harvey v. Norris.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas E. Apple.
white, Wilmington; Mr.. and Mrs.
c. D. Pickerell and children of Del
CO, Mr.. and Mrs. A. v. scully, Mr..
and Mrs. B. F. Applewhite, Mr..
and Mrs. r. E. Applewhite and
Miss Mary Felt Applewhite of Del
CO; Miss Jean Aplewhite of Caro-.
lima Beach. :
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08

Shortly after he made a hurried
departure from the city, M r S.
Frank Parish arrived on a beauti-
full yacht and, she said, she was
the ships owner.
Restoration Planned
She planned, she said, to re-
store the vessel to its former
grandeur and to use it as a show
piece of historic interest and value.
It's first showing, she said, would
be at the Worlds Fair at Chicago.
In line with these announced
plans she told of exquisit materi-
ais, including some very valuable
glassware, with which she intend
ed to equip it.
In the meantime the Y a C h
Mayflower, Inc, had been formed
by Mr.. and Mrs. Parish and Coe
and the corporation made a con-
tract with the Broadfoot I ON
Works to make certain repairs
and alterations. Work continued
on the ship until April 1882, when
it was stopped suddenly. In the
meantime Parish became involved
in a criminal suit in which the
government charged him with if
regularties in the sale of stocks.
For months the vessel lay idle
and deserted at the iron works
docks. Essential repairs were
made by the work of restoring
the ship in accordance with plans
drawn by Gielow, Inc, marine
architects, were not carried out.
On Nov. 6, 1886 the Broadfoot
Iron Works brought an action
against the ship and against Mr..
and Mrs. Parish and against Coe.
The corporation owned the vessel
and the action, dismissed against
the individuals, continued against
the corporation. The iron works
sought some $50, 900 for wharfage,
watchman's services, and other
services and about $1,000 spent
under authority given by the archi-
tects. Finally the case went before
a referee in 1887 and an appeal
from his decision took the case
to New Hanover superior C t.
When called for trial there the
attorneys entered a consent judg-
ment, under which the vessel was
to be sold at auction to pay a $15,-
900 judgment.
After a number of delays the
vessel was sold and shortly after
the auction it was announced the
vessel was owned jointly by the
Broadfoot Iron Works and a Vir-
ginia scrap iron company, repre-
sented by Leon A. Familant and
Louis Friedlander, of Suffolk, Va.
And now she is for sale at an
unannounced price. Will Uncle
Sam purchase her again and give
her another opportunity to serve
the nation whose presidents she
has carried? 3
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08

about whom no one seemed tt
know much, arrived.
Word went around he owned the
hulk and planned to reconditior
it but for what use was still not
known.
The 'rboys'' around the water
front talked quietly of the man
and the mystery ship" Coe, they
said, was from Chicago. S m e
said he owned the ship but. The
.'boys'' winked and went back to
their work.
One of the least reticent of the
workers, a strong, stopped, red.
headed caulker and handyman,
finally confided "the heaters
(welders) on the ship say she's
gong to be fixed up for Al Capone
(who was then headed for the
federal pen) when he gets OUT
but others hooted the idea.
The Capone rumor grew when
work was really underway. Port
holes were welded closed, tn e
port-studded superstructure was
removed and replaced with solid
sheets of steel, giving the ship
the appearance of a floating, I'M
armed stronghold.
But then the workmen began
to build a long hallway down the
center of the ship and rumors
ran that the vessel was to be
made into a gambling palace to
be anchored offshore from some
swanky beach resort and serviced
by speedy motorboats which would
carry patrons to and from the
ship.
About this time Frank Parish,
reputedly a stock dealer, arrived
and word ran about he was owner
of the ship.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
Mavf7ower Ready To Play Part In National Defense Progr

ae a N, Y, in ls2s.24, m.
was instructor of military and
neerlng for four years in Ksn.s'
City, NO. He was also assisna .Sa'
duty at the Wilson Dam. M,..' %
Shoals, Ala, during the copstr,'
ton of the dam and erec,isu us'
the power equipments. Lsto.
was assigned as assistant he
director of public buildings W ne
parks of the national capitol IND 4
to the national capitol nIa and
board. Between 1e34-36 Lieut. erf'D n1s
gillette served for two Years OG y.
Hawaii with troops engaged ae on In
lous engineering missions rv var
lsao-so ne was chief of the con
struction section, Military Divi. sON'
office of Chief of Engineers. u
A., in Washington, D. G. S S,s,
1888 Lieut.. Col. Gillette hss '''lcs
turned to his old home stano, re-
grounds as district engineer, II
Engineer department for M
Carolina with headquarters in WI sn
mington. N. c., and is now gir %a,
his entire 1,me to directing ths
army engineer work in this sto ts
Recently he has been SUPERVISE
the engineers and their activit;ass
in relation to the flood condition"
and all matters relating to ths
engineering problems of orr r %'
ers, coasts and inland Waterway,
go under his supervision. He hoIGs
therefore, one of the key positions
pertaining to progress in NortI
Carolina and is doing much -
brig about Improvements il m.
section. "'
In addition to these speakers .,
already announced, other outstanJ,
ing citizens of the state will h.
present and participate in the oro,
gram, such as j. M. Brough.or
democratic nominee for goverror
who will make the principal ad!'
dress, and Col. HARRISON. da.r
ct administration at N. C. Stste
college, and W. Kerr Scott, com.
mission of agriculture.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
Former Presidential Yacht Can Be Made Ready
For Sea Duty Within 80 Days, Broadfoot Says
Cannot Be Sold To British
Government Due To Re-
striction In Bill OF Sale
BY O SPARROW

She did her bit in the Spanish
American war. She has served
presidents of the United S a
faithfully. Will she be given an op
portunity to play a part in the
defense of the nation she has
served long and faithfully?
That is the question people IN
Wilmington are asking about the
former U.S.S. Mayflower, which
lies at dock in the Cape Fear
river here.
Once a proud princess OF the
seas, she now lies dirty, unattract-
i've, and idle. Like a ghost she
lies in the swirling, dirty tides.
her brass dull and green, her
stack and decks soiled, smutty
and greasy, and her rust-stained
sides making her a hollow mock
cry of the once-palatial yacht
which was proud with the echo
of the voices of presidents, digni-
taries and potentates who were
piped over her cleaning sides 10
her holy-stoned decks as smart
sideboys stood at alert attention.
Gone is her glory and beauty.
Ready to Serve
And yet she is ready, or nearly
So, to serve her nation Immediate
ly should the voice Of Uncle Sam
call her.
She has been something of a
mystery ship since her I'M
heralded arrival here Thanksgiv-
ing, 1881. Quilted by fire some
months before, her beautifully
lined but delapidated hull a
towed up the Cape Fear river
and quietly docked at the Broad
foot Iron Works.
During her stay here her power
plant has been completely over
hauled. New Scotch marine boil
ers have been installed and re-
pairs have been made which have
attained for her Lloyd's rating Of
Al, the highest possible, for her
hull and power plant. She has
been completely cleaned of tn e
ravages of fire which swept her
and brought about her sale by the
federal government, and has been
completely m~odernized inside.
Since the days of the Spanish
American war, when she served
as a flagship in the U. S. Navy,
her vital parts, her boiler room
and engine quarters, have been
protected with heavy armor plate.
She is jointly owned by tn
Broadfoot Iron Works, of Whining.
ton, and a scrap iron company
of Virginia, and William G. Broad
foot, of the iron works company
says she is Ideally fitted as a
fast patrol boat. The vessel is
capable of making 10 to 20 knots,
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
Rowe, Clark And Col. Gillette
Will Speak At Willard Picnic

cation and secretary of the Eliza
BEETHOVEN school committee, thus
proving his interest in education.
He is active also in church circles,
being an elder of the Elizabeth
town Presbyterian church and SUI
perintendent of the Presbyterian
Sunday school for the past eight
cen years. Mr.. Clark was reared
on a farm in Bladen county and
has been a farmer all his life. His
farming interests r very extern
sive. On his farms he raises fine
crops of tobacco, cotton, peanuts
and forage, and he has a fine herd
of Hereford cattle and many hogs.
He is a confident to half the people
of Bladen county and a friend to
all. To most of the people of his
community he is known as "Mr.
jim" While he is a hard worker,
he takes time off in the fall for his
favorite sport of turkey hunting at
which he is a master.
Lieut.. Col. Gillette will bring a
military touch to the field day in
that he is an officer in the United
States army. Lieut.. Col. Gillette
will speak on the subject Develop
ment of the Inland Waterways Of
North Carolina and Their Relation
to the Health and Prosperity of
the State" In his capacity as dis
trict engineer, located at Whining
ton, he is in charge of all the work
of this office in North Carolina. He
is thus qualified to discuss this
important subject. Col. Gillette is
a native of Onsow county and at
tended the grade schools of that
county. His boyhood experiences
hunting, fishing, tramping the
marshes and farming along the
sound gave him a background Of
practical experience which h a S
served him well in his future ca
reer. After completing his grade
school course in Onslow county he
graduated from tn engineering
school of N. c. State college in
Raleigh and from the Army En-
cheering school. He also attended
special schools of engineering in
France and Germany. He entered
the Corps of Engineering, U. S.
Army in 1916 and saw service dur
ing the World War in Belgium,
France and Germany in the 1O5th
Engineers, 30th Division and 9Th
Engineers, 3rd Division. He was
awarded the Silver. Star decora-
ton.
Since the World war, Lieut.. Col.
Gillette has engaged in numerous
military and civil engineering dut.
les, and has also commanded
troops at several army posts
throughout the country. He was
in active charge of construction Of
the heavy seacoast Notifications
at Cape Henry, Va, in 1929. He
was in charge of engineer produc-
ton for the Army Engineers at
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
Render Says Gardens
In Excellent Condition

Gardens in the city relief gar
dening program are in a better
condition for planting now than
they have ever been at this time
of the year, Carl Render, director
Of the program, reported yester-
day.
AFTER the heavy rains the first
part of the month";" he said, I'VE
told our gardeners to cut down the
weeds, spade up the Soil and pre-
pare it for planting mustard and
turnip seeds and onion sets during
September.
II am very much pleased to say
that nearly all of them carried out
our instructions and 1 believe that,
today, we have more back yards
in our city cleaned and ready for
planting than ever before at this
season of the year, and I am sure
our gardeners will have all the
fresh vegetables they need this
fall. One of them told me, a few
minutes ago, that his family had
collards, okra, and peppers for his
Labor Day dinner.
'Most Of our gardeners have a
fine crop of collards which will
mean much to- them during the
winter months.
"Many of our gardeners made
good use of the hundreds of fruit
jars donated to u program and
now in many homes jars. filled
with beans, tomatoes and other
vegetables r stored away for use
this winter.
"a total of 1923 called at our Of
flee for seed this month and we
made 757 visits and conferences.
ION August 81 we placed an or
der for mustard, turnip seeds and
onion sets to be delivered Septem-
Der 3.
due to the splendid cooperation
which our seed stores have given
us and their desire to help needy
families through u program, the
order amounted to only $36. 20. The
retail prices of these seeds would
be $144.00. Il
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
BRACAW NOTED AS
ALLIGATOR tanner
Noted Young Horticultural
Of Orion Plays With Big
Boys At Night

SOUTHPORT, Sept. 7.-After a
hard day spent with flowers there
is no better recreation-or so says
Churchill Bragaw - than hunting
alligators with your bare hands at
night.
Bragaw is superintendent of Or
ton plantation, one of. the beauty
spots of North Carolina. His voca-
tional skill with camellias and aza-
leas is widely known. But his neigh
bors around Southport are even
more impressed with Churchill's
avocational skill. Even a highly
trained botanist is not expected to
produce perfect blossoms on every
bush he grows. But when it comes
to grabbing an alligator by the end
of his nose and pulling him into
the boat, the hunter isn't allowed
even one miss.
Flashlight Only Weapon
Bragaw goes hunting in a small
boat, his only weapon a flashlight.
Through cypress trees and lily pads
the boatman paddles silently while
Bragaw plays his light over the va
ter. When two red balls of fire ap-
pear on the surface, as the light
is reflected in the alligator's eyes,
the fun begins. The light holds the
gator fascinated as the boat ao-
proaches slowly. Then suddenly Bra
gaw plunges his right hand into
the water and grabs the reptile by
the end of his nose. The important
thing is to grab it right; otherwise
the hunter is liable to lose his hand.
Once he has the jaws clamped
shut, Bragaw hands his light to his
hunting companion, who frequently
is attractive Emma Lou Harrison
also of the Orion staff, and with
his left hand takes a grip just back
of the head. Then quickly he shifts
the right back and gets a handbook
around the horny neck. All this
takes but a second for once the
alligator realizes what is happening
he begins lashing with his tail. It
takes strength as well as skill not
emily to hold on but also pull the
reptile into the boat and tie it with
a rope.
Recently Bragaw had some friends
come to Orion for an alligator steak
dinner. Some were a little dubious
about the main course, for alligator
eating is far from common here
abouts. They decided to try another
dish and found it quite good. 1t was
not until later that they learned
they were eating r~attlesnakes which
Churchill, armed with a forked
stick, had gone out and caught for
their especial benefit. Undoubtedly.
said Bragaw, they turned out to be
the most unappreciative dinner
guests that ever visited his home,
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08

Among the speakers at the an
nual Field Day and Picnic OF The
Coastal Plain Station at Willard,
this year, will be three outstanding
citizens of Southeastern North Car
DINA: State Senator Roy Rowe Of
Burgaw in Pender county, Senator
James H. Clark of Elizabethtown
in Bladen county, and Lieut.. Col.
G.. w. Gillette, who will represent
both New Hanover and OnsloW
counties, as he is stationed at pres
ent in Wilmington and grew up in
Onslow county.
Senator Rowe is a Fender county
boy who happened to live in the
most sparsely settled part of the
county, but he took advantage Of a
school established by northern IN
terests to get his education. Later
he went away to school and in re
cent years he returned to the coun-
ty and has prospered in the devel-
opment Of a chain of moving pic
ture theaters in various cities OF
the state. He was so much appre-
ciated by the people of Fender
county that they sent him to the
state senate in 1887, where he
made a most excellent record. A
feature of his record there was
that he made a weekly report
through the newspapers to the peo-
pie of his district, keeping them
in touch with what he was doing
and what was going on in the. iegis-
lature. Senator Rowe will serve
as the chairman Of the day at the
annual field day, and the people
are thus insured a well-conducted
program.
Senator James H. Clark of Eliz-
abethtown is perhaps one of the
most active and outstanding citi-
zens of the Southeast. He served
on the State Highway Commission
under Gov. O. Max Gardner and
at present is a member of the
Advisory Budget Commission. He
has held this position under Gov
errors Ehringhaus and Hoey and,
accordingly, has had much to do
with the financial management of
the state during these administra-
tons. He is also an ex officio
member of the Bureau of Pur-
chase and Awards. He was a mem
Der of the 1897 state senate and is
the Democratic nominee for the
1941 State Senate. He is president
of James H. Clark & Co., and
president of the Bank of Elizabeth
town. He also serves as chairman
of the board of directors of the
Lumberton Cotton Mills, as vice
president of the Elizabeth COM
pany and as vice-president of Woot-
en- & Clark company, Inc. It will
be seen, therefore, that he is a
business man of broad interests.
He also serves his community. He
is a former member and chairman
Of the Bladen county board of edu-
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08

is 800 feet long, 81 feet of beam,
has a draft of II IL feet, is Of
1880 gross tons and 1920 net tons.
During the refitting work which
was done here shortly after her
arrival she was brought to the
stage where but little work would
be needed to make her ready fol
sea duty.
Ready in 80 Days.
Once again guns could be in.
stalled on her gun emplacements,
crew quarters made to fit her
new needs, and, Broadfoot says,
within 80 days she could be ready
for duty at sea as a part of the
United States Navy.
The total cost of making the
ship ready for sea duty, Broadfoot
says, would not exceed $25, 900 OF
which $4,000 would be needed to
complete work on her exterior
and the remainder to fit the in
terror with partitions and the like.
The vessel, he said, cannot be
sold to the British government,
because of a restriction in the
original bill of sale from the fed
eral government which forbids her
being sold to foreign registry.
Since her arrival here the YES
sci has had a strange history, one
which has kept her much in the
mind of the populace of Whining
ton.
When first she arrived, people
generally wanted to know why
she was brought to Wilmington,
who owned her and what plans
had been made for her.
There were no answers ia
Then a man r@med l.. P. Coe,
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
Destroyers' Names
May Not Be CHANGED

LONDON, Sept. 7-(R-When mar.
lament reconvenes Sept. II Prime
Minister Churchill will be asked
whether the SO destroyers obtained
from the United States will be al,
lowed to retain the names given
them in the service of the U S.
Navy, provided mo objection is tax.
en- by Washington"
The question will be put by Col.
Josiah Wedgwood, laborite.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
Paramount News Reels
Are Banned By Nazis

BERLIN, Sept. 7.-P-Para-
mount News reels and features will
be forbidden in Germany starting
Sept. IL because of the producers
alleged anti-German tendencies.
Goldwyn-Mayer and Fox already
are banned.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
ALBINO

COOLEEMEE, Sept. 7.-R-
James W. Summers of Cooleemee
killed an albino squirrel near here.
The squirrel. a little over half grown,
had snow white fur, a long white
brush and pink eyes, ears and nails.
otherwise he was normal.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
BASE STEALING

DETROIT R-Basebal1 fevor r.
so strong in the home of the De.
troit Tigers that even the ho,d,,n
men veal baseball uniforms 4
gunman clad in diamond garh "a
Gently entered the store Of John
Kouzeatis, SO, and robbed him -
$50. y =
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
IS WRONG

CONCORD, Sept. 7.-LR-Crowus
blocked the sidewalks in front Of a
theatre here today when the mana
ger announced that any girl wear
a sarong would be admitted free.
The heroine in the movie playing
at the theatre wore q sarong.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-27
SPONGE AUTHORITIES
FAVOR BEDS PATROL
CONTINUED from Page One)

Continued from Page One)
source of reproduction is destroy
ed, MIR. Thompson declared.
The seeds of reproduction, as
term them, are released by liv-
ing sponge in deep water and the
currents bring them In to shallow
water, where they take root.
Now, if those seeds are destroy
ed, the sponge industry will be
destroyed also.
Diving of sponge by the meth
DDS used by the Greeks is detri-
mental to the industry. This opin-
ion is expressed in unison by To-
cal fishermen. Control or abolish
ment of these methods has long
been advocated in Key West.
The fate of the sponging indus
try in this state hangs in the bal
ance- Prompt action by the
United States Government may
save it. Closing of beds which
are near humiliation, strict en-
forcement of laws controlling the
size of SpOngeS that may be gath
cred and constant inspection are
the measures needed now.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-27
Thompsons Return
From Miami Visit

Chester Thompson, marine
curiO shop operator of Margaret
street, returned over the high
way Thursday afternoon on
FML bus after a weeks visit in
Miami, where he underwent "a
dunn treatments.
Mr. Thompson's son, Ralph
Thompson, also received medical
care at the same time. He sub
mitted to an operation on the
nose from which distractions to
the nasal passage were removed.
The operation was performed in
Miami Beach.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-27
KLONDIKE KATE'S
SCENES OF GLORY
ARE ONLY ASHES

(AssOeiated Press Feature seryfee)
DAWSON, Y. THE Queen
of the North in the rip-roaring
gold rush days, ''Klondike Kate.
found her house of memories
gone when she returned north
this summer.
The friendly, white-haired wo-
man with the same sparkling
blue eyes that once were the
toast of the North, now Mrs. Kate
MatSOn, came back to visit her
husband, mining man
But the theater that had rung
with applause for her at the turn
of the century had burned, with
several other landmarks. this
spring.
ITS going to leave a vacant
place in my heart. she said. 1T
was place where 1 walked with
my memories.
The man she was to marry first
saw her there on Christmas Eve.
1900, but thirty-one years later
he read a newspaper story about
her, and wrote her. 1t was an
other two years still before they
were married.
MatSon remained in the north
with his mining properties but
Mrs Matson came out summers
to live at Bend, Ore. Dawson,
Matson said, rs no place for a
woman. She was injured in an
automobile accident in 1887 and
this was her first trip north
since.
Il feel as happy as any sour
dough should feel about coming
home, she exulted.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-27

The regular meeting of the
Navy Wives Club was held yes
terday afternoon with President
Georgia Denman presiding. Let
tiers of congratulations from the
June Glunt Chapter No. II. of
Norfolk, Va, and the Charlotte
Woodward Chapter No. 20, of
Brooklyn, N. Y, were read by the
corresponding secretary.
President Denman announced
that she had presented the spe-
cial petition sponsored by the
club to Mrs. w. F. Jacobs, who
in turn had presented it to Cap
tain Jacobs. Mrs. Denman then
told about the meeting she and
the other officers had attended
at the Naval Station that morn
ing. Announcement was also
made that the clubs new meet