Thursday,
March 15, 1917
The day for the wedding had been set. And the court asked if any one knew any reason why Huntersville and Edray should not be married to each other, to speak up or forever hold his peace. Then a gentleman stood up and said the only reason that he knew of was that the bride and groom both objected to getting married and that all the relations on both sides opposed it, so in view of the circumstances the wedding was postponed until March 27, at which time no doubt the whole matter will be killed and we will muddle along as before…
The is a wide difference in the way that men look at schooling for their children. Some men will give all that they have to school their children, and others would not only give nothing, but would be willing to pay a ransom to get their children out of school to help with the work at home…
THE FLOOD
Monday was flood day in the Greenbrier Valley. At Marlinton the extremely high water came as a surprise as there had been no unusual fall of rain. At dark Sunday night the word came from Durbin that rain had fallen heavily all day, with a warm wind that was melting the deep snow in the mountains.
At Marlinton, the river lacked several feet of being as high as four years ago this month. In Knapps Creek there was but a small tide.
But from Winterburn to Cloverlick the river was unusually high. At Winterburn, a bridge was washed out. Above Durbin a lot of railroad track was overflowed and washed. Near Hosterman the track was under water, and at Neds, the new mill town, A. V. Miller lost some lumber and had his bridge washed out and his railroad much damaged. At Cass the east side of the town was overflowed. F. S. Wise & Company at Cloverlick lost a lot of logs, and had the approach to their railroad bridge washed away. To save their bridge their log train and steam loader was put below it. As the logs and drift came against the bridge, the logs were loaded on the trucks and the drift thrown over the bridge with the loader. On Thorny Creek the Kendall Lumber Company’s log road was considerably damaged.
All day long logs and drift floated by continuously. From the number of fine saw logs passing, the loss to the lumber companies must have been very heavy.
LIGHTNING
Lightning struck the telephone line leading into George A. C. Auldridge’s home last Sunday morning and killed a yearling heifer that was standing within a rod of his house. No one was at home except Mr. Auldridge’s aged mother. The lightning struck a pole about a hundred yards away and followed the line until it came to a pole which had a ground connection. It went down this pole and killed the calf. No trace of the hundred yards of wire can be found, the electricity evidently consuming it. A few years ago Mr. Auldridge’s house was struck and his dog killed and a little later lightning set fire to his granary.
CIRCUIT COURT
The periodic special term of the Circuit Court was held here this week. A grand jury was empaneled and a low record was made of indictments, but five being returned. The flood interfered with the court Monday, train 141 being annulled and the most of the witnesses as well as a number of the jurymen coming from the upper end of the county, the court did not do much on the first day.
Judge Sharp presided the first day. Judge Dice was elected as a special Judge on the second day and held the remainder of the term. He will return and hold that part of the April term which cannot be held by Judge Sharp on account of his connection with certain cases, including practically all of the criminal cases.
As Judge Dice discharged the grand jury he spoke with much feeling as to his pleasant associations in this county and referred them to I Samuel 12th Chapter, third verse: On looking up the reference we find:
“Behold here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed, or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore it to you.”
The motion of Dr. A. O. Howard for a change of venue was refused, no facts being shown which in the opinion of the court justified a change of venue. Before his appointment as prosecuting attorney, W. A. Bratton had been summoned as a witness in this case, and this making it manifestly impossible for him to conduct the prosecution, under the statute in such cases, Judge Dice appointed, as special prosecutor, Capt. S. B. Avis, of Charleston.
HILLSBORO SCHOOL NOTES
The last meetings of the Shakespeare and Browning Literary Societies have been exceptionally good. The Shakespeare Society gave a program based upon colonial life. It consisted of readings, pantomime, essays and minuet. All were representations of the early history of our country.
The Browning Society gave a musical program which really outclassed our Victrola. The program was carefully prepared and all who took part acquitted themselves well…
FORD CARS REPLACE LOS ANGELES PATROLMEN
For sane, practical and farsighted reduction of Police Department expenditures, Los Angeles, California, is after a long credit mark.
The entire department is being “Fordized.” This is, where three patrolmen were formerly used, the services of two are now being dispensed with while the third is provided with a Ford in which to cover the territory formerly covered by the three on foot.
Not only is this plan destined to work a great saving for the taxpayers, but it is expected to accomplish far reaching results in ridding the city of undesirable characters…
GREENBANK
The most terrific storm that was ever seen passed over Greenbank last Sunday night at eleven o’clock. The lightning flashed, the thunder rolled, and the wind was terrific. Rain poured in torrents and hailstones fell on roofs of dwellings like unloading rocks, and sounded like they would go through. They were very large – from the size of your thumb to as large as a man’s fist – and of every shape. The creek over flowed it banks and went down through the town. While some were surrounded by raging muddy water, no damage is reported except the sanding of the lawns of Curry and Arbogast. The most of the water came down through the Moomau farm and the Manse property and cut to the street by the Methodist church. There will be a move to put in a water break just as soon as the water subsides, to prevent another overflow. Let everyone who can come and assist. North Fork was very high but we have a good bridge there.
DUNMORE
Lanty McNeel was in town one night last week and bought a fine farm horse from Harry Thompson.
Morgan Curry has moved to town.
Andy Daugherty got his leg mashed in the woods this morning.
We have uncivilized heathen in our country and that is the kind that poisoned Thompson’s and Swecker’s dogs. Swecker had one of the best and finest dogs in the county.
Miss Nannie Cochran is visiting in Marlinton.
Lyle McLaughlin is working on the mill at Raywood.
Forrest Pritchard of Raywood spent Sunday in town.
John Pritchard has returned from Baltimore.
Miss Ella Pritchard is in Baltimore buying her spring hats.
Quite a little bit of damage was done at Raywood by the flood. The swinging bridge was taken away.
Mrs. Mabel Thompson is at Camp with her brothers for a while.
Dock Sheets’ new house is about finished; he will move here soon.
Mrs. Onie Campbell closed a successful term of school at McLaughlin last Friday.
HILLSBORO
Mr. and Mrs. John McNeel and son Grady attended the inauguration of President Wilson, and they report a fine trip and a good time, immense crowds being in attendance.
W. A. Browning returned last week from Washington, D. C., where he spent several days at his old home visiting his kin and taking in the inauguration ceremonies. He brought home with him quite a number of views of the parade from the White House to the Capitol – very interesting to those who have never had the pleasure of witnessing a scene like that.
HONOR ROLL
Honor roll for Locust Creek school, Levels district, Ada McKeever, teacher. 4th month, Robert and Ralph Doss. 5th month, Utella Powers, Robert and Ralph Doss. 6th month, Robert and Ralph Doss.
