Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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'!r, The Camden Chronicle n CAMDEJS, SOUTH CAROLINA.,. FRIDAY. FEBKUAKY 15, 1936 NUMBER 47 Happenings In The Tourist Colony Mrs. Carroll IP. Bassett is giving hi. informal tea 'Sunday afternoon at ,e, winter home, "Goodie Castle," for hi friepda to meet Mrs. H. L.' Dain{trfield I^ewis of Hewlett, L. I. (Jes!H' Voss I^ewia) who is having an exhibition of h'er pastel portraits all next week at the Kirkwood Hotel, feu will be served from 4:30 to 6:30 fvery day, but visitors are welcome it any time. Mrs. Iyewis is spending this week with her brother-in-law and sister, Jr. and Mrs. A. W. Moore in Charotte. From Camden she will go to \iken to visit her brother, Edward i Voss, joint master of the Smithown, L. I. Hounds, and Mrs. Voss, rho have the Primberton house for he season. Mrs. Lewis has painted portraits, x>th in oil and pastel, of men and vomen of social prominence, but has ipceialited in those of children. In he latter connection she won first >rize a couple of years ago in an ixhibition by noted artists sponsored iy the Children's Welfare Federation. 5he has held several one-man exhi)itions in the city, the first taking ilace in 1921 at the Folsom Gallery; t the Milch Gallery in 1028 and in m at the Seligman Gallery, whose ixhibitions are always by invitation. The artist, a daughter of Mrs. Yilliam Voss, the former Caroline [ane Neilson of Merriefield, Hewlett, I., comes of distinguished Southern ancestry, and her husband, who is , direct descendent of Fielding Lewis tnd George Washington's sister, Bety, is also related to aristocratic Virinia families of pre-Revolutionary imes. Her brother, Franklin Brooks Voss, rho is noted for his equestrian paintigs. after a visit in Aiken, is sailing 5r England to see the Grand Natioal at Aintree. The Virginians' Horse Show tomorIw at the Virginians' Stable will the first of a series of such events. >me of the most noted horses in the untry will be in the show, as many! them are here now in training for e Washington's Birthday Races and j k Carolina Cup Races on March 30. Among them will be. the horses f F. Ambrose Clark, Mrs. William . Wadsworth, Ernest L. Woodward, vin Untermeyer, Mr. and Mrs. I.mnM! Weir, Paul and Richard lellon, Miss Frances Thord-Grey, Irs. Charles P. DuBose, Jr., Miss Iilhelmine Kirby and Mrs. Dwight fcrtridge. IThe committee includes: Randolph fcffey, J. North Fletcher, Jean FinMiss Kirby, Mrs. Damond Wack Id Thomas Waller. Mr. and Mrs. Igan McKinney will be the judges. ~ |Mr. and Mrs. Carroll K. Bassett N Mr. and Mrs. Raymond G. foolfe were guests-of-honor last Iturday evening at a supper-dance hen at "The Hedges." Mrs. Baspt-is the former Miss Jane Fowler Far Hills, N. J., and Mrs. Woolfe the former Miss Ruth Ferguson | Greenwich, Conn. [The guests at the dSnce were: Mr. r Mr?- Robert W. Pomeroy, Jr., [ and Mrs. Thomas H. Somerville, p and Mrs. Charles P. DuBose, Jr., r and Mrs. W. Roscoe Bonsai, Mr. P Mrs. Dwight Partridge, Mrs. P Fomeroy Deans, Miss WilhelN Kirby, Miss Frances Thordf.v. Miss Viola Winmill, Miss Cath[n( Purges, Noel Laing, W. BurlT ( ocks, Morgan Macy, James P- J. North Fletcher, Randolph and Thomas Waller. Mi>s Helen Hawthorne of New p. and Great Barrington, Mass., r !V spending the season at Court gave a bridge-luncheon there purday. Her guests were: Mrs. A. Pinter, Mrs. Thomas H. Gillespie, I Aubrey T. Barnes, Mrs. W. L. P?ht, Mrs. Arthur <E. Whitney, ! J. Dodge Peters, Mrs. Orlando fu Mr8' A- n*11* Mra* 8011 [Mrs. Whitney were prize-winners. ?r- and Mrs.' J. Howard Rhoades Bronxville, N. Y., have arrived at k;rkwood for ten days' stay. cfs there for longer visists are and Mrs. E. H. Greene of New * Mrs. Morris Murray of Pom? Conn. . rfi- O. J. Bliss of Princeton, N. Y., t Hobkirk Inn for several weeks. r- Irving A. Johnson, H. H. Colt, 1 rence E. Forman and W. J. Con'? Jt., of Buffalo, N. Y., have ar- ! d at Hobkirk Inn for two weeks luail-ahooting. Miss Emily Ann < ton and Mies. Elizabeth ReUly of . toy, N. Y., are at Hobkirk for a 1 *ith Camden friends, ra. Lawrence P. Smith of Mill- 1 ^ I? ?-M. P. H. of the MU1F Homads ia risking wkh Mr. , CCowtinoed oo page eight) ^ 4, V .??<l ^ Ci ' " History of Kate Course Here (By Solly Broomoll) Probably the most colorful amateur sporting event in the country, and certainly the one with the most interesting historical background, is the Carolina Cup Race to be held on Saturday, March 30, on the renowned Springdale Course in Camden, S. C. Many of tho finest thoroughbreds in the country were owned in South Carolina and raced in Camden over a century ago, when there were twenty race courses in the state. Historians first mention the Camden races in 1,798, about 136 year** ago, on the original course located in what iB now the residential section, which was used until 1820 when the growth of the town forced the race track farther out. - The Hawthorne course was then built about a mile north of Kirkwood, which is now a part of Camden, between two extensive plantations, "Cool Spring" and "Springdale." The exact location has been determined by maps that accompanied two deeds executed in 1860. Many a brilliant pageant was enacted on the Hawthorne course by the very ancestors of local residents, t when racing wa? the peer of sports t and 'Race Day a gala event for everyone. The banks and schools were closed and the clergy and other high I churchmen were in attendance. BeI fore the age of the motor-liar and sports-wear for women, the scene was a vivid one, with all the glittering paraphernalia of the age of chivalry. The grandstands were gay with pennants and banners, the gallery arriving in bright-hued carriages and buggies, or red-wheeled Phaetons drawn by handsome bays. There was a fenced-in space reserved for vehicles and riders on horse-back. The ladies, who then preferred that distinctive title, were arrayed in bright gowns of silk and satin, ornamented by passementerie, lace and braid. Their beplumed bonnet's and fluffy parasols were works of art. Even the I gentlemen plantation-owners presented a spectacular appearance in scarlet jackets or buff-colored buckskin breeches and velvet coats. Old Southern names, still familiar to the ear in iSouth Carolina, were called out in the gossip between occupants of the vehicles, which were driven by excited darkies enjoying the day of days fully as much as their owners. Among those closely associated with the growth of racing in Camden were the officers of the Camden Jockey Club which appear in the Camden Gazette of 1816 as follows: President, General Zach Cantey; treasurer, Charles J. Shannon; secretary, A. E. Hodges; stewards, Captain James S. Deas, Captain Postell McCaa, Major John Cantey, Colonel William 0. Hixon, Captain Doby and John Boykin, Sr. In a publication entitled "The South Carolina Jockey Club" in 1867, was printed a tribute to General Cantey as follows: "He had a stock of horses well bred and always trained one or two for the races at Camden, and generally won a purse. If successful, he never put into his own pocket what he won but gave it to one or the other of the churches in Camden, or to the Orphan Society." In January, 1832, the local paper tells us that the Camden Races were held although it was bitter cold and the ground frozen hard. The annual ball had to be postponed but there was "a big supper at A. R. Ruffin's Long Room in the McAdams Hotel." After that experience, the event was held in November. The last mention of racing in Camden was in 1873, and after an interval of 56 years| it has been revived by Ernest L. Woodward and Harry D. Kirkover, two noted sportsmen from the Genesee Valley, who spend their winters in Camden. In the olden days only flat racing was on the card, but Mr. Woodward and Mr. Kirkover are dedicating their efforts to the promotion of steeplechasing in America. In 1929 they bought up the property which had been the Hawthorne course, consisting of three tracts of land covering 500 acres, and laid out the Springdale Course which is considered by experts to 'be the best in the country. The entire Springdale Course is in full view of the gallery. It is three miles in length, 100 feet wide and Composed of Bermuda grass turf. The Jumps are post and rails 100 feet wide and about four feet high, 18 jumps in all, no one of which ia need twice in the tame race. Since the ftrtt Carolina Cap Race on March 88, 1?0, tha policy haa (Continued oil page eight) DEATH FOLLOWS LONG ILLNESS GEO. T. LITTLE ON ONiE OF HIS BLUE RIBBON WINNERS -George T. Little died here Monday afternoon at 6 o'clock. After a long and brave battle against tremendous odds Mr. Little, one of the most prominent and widely known citizens of this section, succumbed to injuries received in an automobile accident neariy eight months ago. The night of June 6 Mr. Little, who was a lover of the fox chase, in company with his, friend, E. J. Phelps of this city, went into the woods some miles north of Cool Springs for an early morning hunt. Mr. Little had parked his car and trailer on an incline and as he walked in front of the car the brakes released themselves and the car rolled down the hill knocking him to the ground, the car and trailer going over his body. His hip, leg and arm and several ribs were broken. His life was despaired of at first but as time passed his friends and physicians held high hope for his recovery. His remarkable determination to regain his health and his active, outdoor life enabled him to make a wonderful comeback. But of late weeks he steadily grew worse and while his death has been expected fur some time the announcement brings sorrow to a wide circle of friends wherever George T. Little was known. Mr. Little was born in Marshville, Union county, North Carolina, in 1863 and moved to Camden in 1892, where he was with E. M. Griffin of Monroe, N. C., for a number of years. With meager means he later established a business on his own account, dealing in live stock, buggies and harness. He was a good judge of horse flesh and loved a horse and before the advent of the automobile raised some of the finest saddle and buggy horses ever exhibited in show rings in this section. He .possessed many blue ribbons and trophies won by his animals in this and other states. He always took a great interest in horse shows and was often called upon to act as judge and his decisions generally pleased owners as well as spectators. He was a true sportsman in every sense of the word, having a keen interest in baseball, polo and all other manly Bports aqd gave of his time and means as a promoter. Soon after his entry into the live stock business he began the purchase of city and county property and by his keen business judgment had accumulated vast landed interests until he was probably the largest individual land owner in the county. He also owned some of the most valuable business property in the city. He was a staunch and devoted member of the Lyttleton Street Methodist church and contributed liberally to the support of this churoh. In early life he was married to M iss Florence Thomas of Anson county and to this union were born the following sons, all of whom survive, Dr. W. Ray Little of Trenton, N. J., T. Ivee Little, C. R. Little, Harvey Little, Miller Little, G. T. Little, Jr., Ralph Little of Camden, also nine grandchildren survive. Mrs. Little, who had devoted her life to the rearing of this large family of sons and who had been a most laving helpmate, passed away about six years ago. Surviving brothers are: Jake Little, Monroe, N. C.; Wilse Little, Peachland, N. C.; sisters; Mrs. Jane E. Thomas, Mrs. Margaret Baucom, Mrs. Sims Davis, Rockingham, N. C.; Mrs. John Holmes and Mrs. Louise Hamilton, Mar?hville, N. C.: Mrs. Lillie Treadway, Peachland, N. C. Funeral services were held at the Lyttleton Street Methodist church Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock with Rev. C. F. Wimberly in charge assisted by Rev. J. B. Gaston and Rev. Little, a kinsman and friend. Rev. Wimberly paid a beautiful tribute to the life and worth of the deceased. Honorary pallbearers were the officers of the Methodist church, Henry Savage, Sr., a close business associate, E. L. Phelpfc, who was with him on his fateful fox chase and Robert Brooks, of Columbia. Active pallbearers were R. H. Johnston of Charlotte, Dr. R. E. Stevenson, John T. Nettles, William W. Bates, A. Dalton Kennedy and Henry Savage, Jr. As a mark of respect all stores and business houses were closed during the funeral hour. Interment was in the Quaker cemetery beside his wife, who predeceased him a few years ago. The funeral was largely attended and an immense array of beautiful flowers came from a wide circle of friends from Camden and elsewhere. K. Gerard Whistler Dies Of Pneumonia Kenneth Gerard Whistler, J*2, died at the Camden hospital Sunday morning:. Mr. Whistler was born at West Point, N. Y., June 3, 1863. Before eoraing to Camden 35 years ago, he Was a Westerp rancher. He was married in Minneapolis, Minn., to Miss Charlotte Bidder Brown, who died two years ago. He and Mrs. Whistler were largely instrumental in promoting Camden as a winter resort. Mr. Whistler was a member of Camden's first polo team, playing with Dalton Kennedy, ^ete Johnson, Bill' Salmond and Bob Bars tow. He was k member of the National Polo association and the Camden Country club and Polo club. For many years he followed the occupation of landscape gardener and polo trainer. Of late years he had retired, to his country home, The Precipice, near Camden. He was a son of the late Joseph N. G. Whistler and Margaret Halle Whistler, the former a retired army officer, who established many of the frontier forts in the early days. Mr. Whistler had made many friends here and elsewhere, who regret fctfl passing. He left no relatives. Mr. J{nd Mrs. >WhisUsr for a nnm>j^^^ware managed the Colonial Men's Bible Class The Bible class will be privileged to hear Rev. A. B. Furgeson next Sunday morning at 10:00 a. m., who is the visiting minister in my absence. We -wish the men would all rally a good attendance to hear Brother Furgeson. The attendance should be brought up to the high point of at least 60. We rejoice that it is growing since the cold weather "depression." There will be no services at the evening hour. We will be glad if our people will avail themselves of worshippin gelsewhere?so as to keep up the 'habit.?>C. F. Wimberly, Pastor-Teacher. Presbyterian Church Services Sunday, February 17. A. Douglas McArn, pastor announces Church school 10 a. m.; Morning worship 11:15, with sermon on "The Grace of'God." Vesper service at 7 p. m., with illustrated lecture on "Christ At the Doot." Fifth Sunday in the Belmont plan. The public is cordially invited to all services in this church. hotel in Columbia" when it was remodeled and operated for tourists. It is now the Columbia Bible college. Ftmaral services were held from the Kornegay Funeral home at 11 o'clock Monday morning. The Rev. .Frauds Cralghill conducted the sercises. Pallbearers were: Newton C, Boykin, A. Dalton Kennedy, N. R. GodSale, Jr? M. L. Smith, Robert M. Kennedy and ^amnsl Russell. - . ' - Valued Silver Set Stolen From Church Present day banditry urui thieving stops at nothing. They strike ut unexpected places und make no distinction?even the sacred church edifices are not immune as witness the theft of a silver communion set valued at $1,600 from Grace Episcopal church of this city which was discovered last Friday. The approximate time of the theft has not been determined, but the service is known to have been in the church the Tuesday night previous. Pieces taken were four chalices, a flagon, a paten, a wafer box, a funnel and a baptismal bowl. All the pieces were of handsome design and several bore the inscription, "Grace Church, 1860." One reputedly was the gift of a Massachusetts man to the Camden church and all have a historical value far exceeding their nominal worth. The Rev. F. H. Craighill, rector, and the congregation have offered rewards for information leading to re- i covery of the service. A. R. Ward, assistant director of the highway patrol, and Leo Jenkins, fingerprint expert of the department were in Camden Friday afternoon in connection with the church robbery. Mr. Ward said, however, that he placed little hope in the prints gathered. The thief, he pointed out, had little need to touch anything but the silver that he was carrying away. The silver service was in a cabinet in the vestry room of the church and the key to the cabinet was hanging nearby, Mr. Ward said. All that the thief had to do was unlock the cabinet and help himself. Several other pieces of silver, not in regular use, and stored in the .bottom of the cabinet, were missed by the thief. Mr. Ward said that similar robberies had been reported in Georgia and in North Carolina and that it was not unlikely that the Camden theft was committed by some person having an established means of disposing of the silver. Baptist Church Services The following services are announced at the First Baptist church for week beginning February 17: Sunday school at 10 o'clock with C. O. Stogner, Superintendent in charge; Public worship conducted by the pastor, J. B. Caston at 11:16 a. m. and 8 p. m. Morning subject: "The Significance Of Life"; Evening subject: "Growth In Grace." B. Y. P. U. Tuesday evening at 7:30, Teacher's meeting Tuesday evening at 7:30, Prayer meeting Wednesday evening at 7:30. An attractive feature of the service last Sunday morning was - special music rendered by Rev. and Mrs. George Bo-bo of the Wateree church. The congregation was inspired and lifted upward by their singing. They are to be with us again next Sunday evening and will have part in the music. There were nearly one hundred young people at the service and we hope to have a larger number next Sunday. The public is cordially invited to attend all the services of this church. Beaverdam Church Services There will be services at Beaverdam as follows: Sunday school, 2:30 p. m., Superintendent Heyward Catoe in charge; Preaching services at 3 p. m. We especially urge all members of this church to attend these services. The public is cordially invited to worship with us.?J. D. Gulledge, Pastor. Bethany Church Services There will be services next Sunday at Bethany (Westville) Baptist church as follows: Sunday school at 10 a. m., with Superintendent R. B. Gaskin in charfce; Church worship at 11 a. m., the pastor in charge; B. T. U. at 6:30 p. m., with Miss Ruby Young, director.?J. D. Gulledge, Pastor. i ? Bishop Thomas At Hagood Sunday Bishop A. S. Thomas will make his annual visit to the Church of the Ascension, Hagood, Sunday, February 17th, 11:30 a. m., for confirmation.! He will also preach and administer the Holy Communion, Everyone is invited to attend. Sunday Vespers Sunday evening February 17th at 7 o'clock at the Presbyterian church. The illustrated vesper service will be built on the lovely story, "Christ At the Door." " Every one is cordially invited to this worship service. Library Association To Meet Ll**ary Association will hold its annual meeting at the will rn?t ?t 4:80 aumittaMLl Sand Hill Project Gets Under Way (i. H. Alfoni, project manager for the proposed Kershuw-Chesterfield rehabilitation Sandhill project wu* in Camden lust week getting his forces lined up to make a tentative survey of a stretch of land lying in these two counties from Camden to Cheraw. The proposed survey will comprise some three hundred thousand acres? in u stretch of territory covering sixty miles long by thirty miles wide. Around three thousand property owners will have to bo contacted in this area. It is proposed to put a force of probably twenty-one trained workers in this territory jo, get boundary lines, nature of lands and their productive qualities. There will be four experienced stenographers and typists employed?one making Court House records and the other in office work. Manager Alford, whose headquarters is McBee says there is nothing definite as to the government's final decision upon this matter?that it largely depends upon whether property owners will attempt to place too high valuation, upon the lands or cooperate in making the project possible. An appraisal of all lands will be made after the data is secured and the government will then make the property owners offers. The lands very likely will be used for homesteads, fisheries, parks and game preserves and wherever necessary will be reseeded for forests. i . Fountain Committee Makes'A Report A committee from the John D. Kennedy Chapter U. D. C. was recently appointed to see to the restoration of the Richard Kirkland Memorial Fountain, that was erected several years ago by the school children of the town, headed by R. M. Kennedy, at that time superintendent of the city schools. This committee visited Mr. Kennedy, at-hia-effice in the Library building of the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and consulted him as to his wishes and suggestions as to the best place to erect said fountain. Ho received the committee gladly and as usual showed his intense interest concerning any project connected with Camden. J. H. Osborne, as mayor of Camden stands ready and willing to assist the committee in the actual restoration of the fountain. At an early date it will be announced where this fountain will be placed. Chaplain To Preach Here In the absence of the pastor, Dr. C. F. Wimberly, the Rev. A. B. Fur- geson, Jr., Chaplain of the House of" Representatives will pTeach at' the Lyttleton vStreet Methodist church next Sunday morning. He was elected four years ago to the office of chaplain, and as an evidence of his popularity, he was reelected by this house also. He is widely known for his unusual evangelistic work, and the great work he has done in his present pastorate?the Whaley Street, M. E. church, Columbia, B. C. He had served four years at this place but because of his building program, he was returned for his fifth year. The public is invited to hear this visiting gentleman, and they will be amply paid. The people of Camden will remember him as having given a eulogy at the funeral of the late Hon. J. R. Belk, who was especially fond of Mr. Furgeson. Remember the date? 11:15 A. M. iSunday, February 17. ??? 1 To Have Bridge Benefit The American Legion Auxiliary is sponsoring a bridge benefit to be held at the home of Mrs. Jack. Whitaker, Jr., Saturday afternoon, February 16th at 3 p. m. Twenty-Ave cents per person or fl.00 per table will be charged, reservation* to be made by telephoning Mrs. Jack Whitaker, Jr., of Mrs. Alfred M. MoLeod. . v mm Water re Baptist Services Services at the Wnteree Baptist church, Sunday, February 17th will be as announced by Rev, George B. Bobo, pastor: Morning service at 11:15 o'clock, the theme to be "A Discussion of Our Church Covenant." Evening services at 7 o'clock, subject, "The Rope erf Sbfety." The public is invited to nil services. TV> Have Valentine Tea A Valentine Tea win be given en Friday, February lfith from 4 to 5:90 o'clock, at the Woman's Exchange. Thn proceeds will go to the Perish House 1W A cordial welcome is a - ^ ? - y *-...-i.i-x L