The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, March 26, 1943, Image 1
I The Camden Chronicle
VOLUME 55 CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA}FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1943 . NUMBER 1
III. S. Army Observer Is
Impressed By Blackout
I Citizen# and Civilian Defense
Corps Stage Almost
Perfect Affair
Camden's 32-nilnute blackout ThursI
day nl?bt, the second air-raid pracI
tire affair within a six day period,
was according to a United States army
H observer from Fort Jackson, "impresI
Hlvely successful."
Commander W. H. Bonsai of the
I Civilian Defense Corps, who was irked
by tbo failure of the practice blackoU(
the previous Friday, was enthusiB
uatlc over the manner in which the
I citizenry cooporated in the second
I event. From every precinct the reports
pouring into the central control
I office, indicated that Camden was
batting 1000 in observance of regulars
tions.
There were a few isolated Instances
where lights had been left burning,
but in every instance^ it was due to
lack of knowledge of the air raid
program and not by any intentional
overact. The failure of one of the
sirens in the northeast part of the
I city accounted for eoveral unintentional
disregard of the bipckout reguH
lations. V?
In the downtown district the affair
was a complete success. The only
criticism offered by the observer from
the army dealt with the inadequecy
of sufficient guards about the central
^B control headquarters and the practice
H of several groups of pe<H>le remaining
in the .open after the red signal had
sounded. Both of those errors will
be rectified at the next practice affair.
The taxi services exhibited one hunH
dred per cent cooperation In the
Thursday blackout. Not a single unit
of the fleet of cabs moved a wheel
during the entire period.
^B While there has been no statement
of any further blackout tests, it is
the belief of the civilian defense group
here that the next one will be an un
announced affair. Such a test, comin.it
without any warning, other than
H the sounding of the blue signal by the
sirens, will test the training the pub!ic
has received in the several prac
tit-.* events. Following the splendid
<ooperation that featured the Thursday
evening test, the defense corps
"ffieials believe that Camden residents
will be found ready "when the
unannounced test comes.
U I
Home Guard Wants
Full Quota of Men
For Annual Camp
Ilello you fellows who delight In
getting away from the hoiho folks
and family roof for a week or bo.
Here 1b your chance to get a Bwell
vacation at absolutely no cost to you.
All you have to do Is to show a
little patriotism and some energy and
Join. Company E, First Regiment,
South Carolina Defense Forces, Captain
Stephen Clyburn in command.
For Co. E, First Reg. is Camden's
own home guard unit and ther.e remains
a few vacancies to fill before
the unit attains the required numerical
strength.
| Captain Clyburn and his staff would
like to see the Camden unit report
at Fort Jackson for the annual encampment
with a complete quota of
warriors. There is plenty of time for
new faces to appear In the ranks and
acquire the necessary drill polish required
for the camp program.
The camp is going to be a great
experience for the boys. They will be
right in the midst of the "regulars"
and will get an eyeful of modern mflltary
maneuvers. Better Join up now
fellows.
Bonsai Issues
Call For Meeting
Of Importance
The name Victory Garden may not
seem of any importance to the general
public at this time, but government
experts familiar with the food situation
in the United States declare that
three or four- months hence, people
who have failed to provide themselves
with victory gardens will be in a rueful
frame of mind.
C
To the end that the public bo fore
warned and started on the right path
toward making gardens, a meeting
has been called by Commander W. R.
Bonsai of the County Council for
Civilian Defense to be held in'' the
auditorium of the grammar school
Tuesday, March 30, at 8 o'clock. This
meeting is held pursuant to direction
of the state office of civilian defense.
(Please turn to page eleven)
WPA Center Closed; Visiting
Service Men Without Shelter
Tho W P A recreation center in the
Rutlodge street armory closed Sunday
night and will remain Inactive until
such time as the City secures the
Jxinham fund appropriation, action on
which has already received the approval
of the regional headquarters
;?t Atlanta.
The W P A project went into obscurity
Sunday night with more soldiers,
sailors and flyers being present
than at any time since the 1941 maneuvers.
This recreation project has been
under the supervision of Mrs'. Mary
R. Caskin, assisted by Mrs. Jfeanette
Rell. These two workers did a wonderful
Job and have earned the enthusiastic
commendation of the W P
A officials of the state as well as
'he federal headquarters.
Addressing the Camden Bureau of
Public Relations, Mrs. Oaskln in a
letter eays "We appreciate all the
(Please turn to pace eight)
City Coucil Votes
Approval of Public
ServiceAuthorityAet
? At a apodal meeting of the Camden
rity council Monday evening a resolution
placing the City of Camden on
record as favoring giving the Southern
Cf^olina Public 8ervice authority
'he power to buy the psysical assets
and plants of other public operated
by private capital was adopted by a
unanimous vote.
Coping of the reeolution will' be sent
to the senate and the boose at Columbia.
-
Marine Corps To
Present Pictures
Captain John L. Clark, Officer In
Charge of United States Marine
Corps Induction station at Columbia,
S. C., announces that through the cooperation
of Kershaw Lodge No. 29,
at Camden, and the American Legion
Post of that city he would authorize
the showing of a selected group of
moving pictures depicting interesting
facta concerning the "Fighting Leatherneck
Corps" in Camden on Friday,
March 26. Captain Clark states that
this will be the first showing of these
pictures in South Carolina outside of
Columbia. Titles of some of the films
to be shown to the Camden audience
are: "Leathernecks on Parade," in
technicolor; "Soldiers of the Sea,"
"Naval Flying," "Commandant's Birthday
Message," this message commemorating
the 167th anniversary of
the Marine Corps, and others.
Dr. W. Robin Zemp, chairman of
the Masonic Service Committee, together
with J. C. Hoffman, Worshipful
Master, Kershaw Lodge No. 29, have
charge of arrangements. The meeting
will be held in the Grammar
school auditorium and commencing
promptly at 8 o'clock. All citizens of
Camden are invited, especially boys
of 16 and older and their parents.
There will be no admission charge
and no offoring will be taken.
Rev. Henry F. Collins, veteran Qf
World War One, and Grand hfaster |
of Masons of South Carolina, is very
anxious that every patriotic American
citizen see these Interesting pic(Please
turn to page twelve)
OUR SACR|D DUTY J
By J no. M . Cannon I
There is no compromise with duty.
| Somewthere at this -Very hour some American |
doughboy is going through a miserable human torture,
an anguish comparable to hell. This very lad might
well be a Camden 01* Kershaw County contribution
I laid Ae altar of FREEDOM FOR ALL.
Can we sit compJa&ently by, with the knowledge
of this grim reality, rolling in the fat of (high wages?
yes, drunk with the slirge of easy money?and see the j
great drive of the American .Red Cross fall into the I
I pit of failure?
1 cannot conceive of the good people of Kershaw
County shirking so sacred it duty. Certainly they have
I not been fully awi kened to the need. They cannot
i be conscious of the shamefthat will befall us if we
| are the onjy county in South Carolina that will be
weighed iin the balance and found wanting. :
j You, my readers, do not have to be told of the j
dire hardships forced on our men in foreign fields, nor I.
do you have to be reminded of the absolute necessity
of keeping our Red Cross active to the fullest extent
in ministering to our courageous men in arms and to J
the sad, oppressed peoples of conquered lands. You I
| know these things. w T
Up to this hour, as The Chronicle goes to press,
we have raised a total of $6250.00 out of a quota of
$11 ,600, which was conservatively low. We still have j
| $5,350 to go with but little time to get it in. j
Folks, spare us the embarrassment of failure? J
spare us the face of shame. GIVE! A few dollars j
won't hurt nearly as bad as the bursting fragments of j !
an exploding shell. That's what our boys are suffer- j
ing for you.
Out of sacred duty to a noble cause we dedicate j
this issue of The .Chronicle that you might know what j
we're up against?that we -might realize what our j
duty is and do it!
Hospital Ball Will
Be Season's Gayest
One week from tonight, Camden
society will gather at the Klrkwood
hotel to join in the festivities attendant
upon the annual ball of the Camden
Hospital Auxiliary which will he
held in the main ball room in the
evening.
The Green orchestra of Charlotte,
N. C., will be on hand to play a program
of the latest day numbers from
9 p. m. until the ww small hours of
the morning after.
With the removal of the ban on
pleasure driving the dance gives
promise of marking a new high for
attendance. The affair will bo formal.
Veritable Torrent
Ushers In Mr. Spring
On Equinox Sunday
Spring came in like a roaring- lion.
For Sunday was the first day of
Spring. Usually this first day affair
is occasion for a celebration. This
year the celebration of the arrival of
Master Spring was heralded by a tecord-breaking
downpour of rain. And
how.
It rained Saturday, Saturday night
and on Sunday it poured. Not for
hours, but all day. Early Monday
morning the fall in temperature resulted
in flurries of snow. For a fact
j folks, it snowed for an h<pur or so.
But Sunday was not only a day to
'celebrate as the first day of Spring,
but it also marked the anniversary of
the nuptial takeoff of the little lady
in the Chamber of Commerce office
who combines some expert stenography
and typing with an advanced
course In knitting.
Monday marked the debut of the
one and a half gallon per coupon gas
edict and also the end of the ban on
pleasure driving. This writer predicted
three weeks ago that Prentice
Brown, the oil regulator and OPA expert
up in Washington would giv^e
the public just enough rope to hang
themselves. We mentioned?see the
Chronicle If you doubt us, that Brown
would watch the people of the eastern
(Please turn to page six)
Defense Corps To
Meet Here April 6
A meeting of^the Camden unit of
the Kershaw County Council for National
Defense is to be held Monday
evening. April 6, in the auditorium
of the grammar school.
--Commander W. R. Bonsai oI Ji?e
Civilian Defense corps states that all
units of the corps are requested to
be present at this meeting. This in- ,
eludes the air raid wardens, auxiliary
police, auxiliary firemen and all other
groups.
' -r- ? -SkJZ
Horse Show To
Be Presented At
Polo Field April 3
Announcement of more than ordi-l
nary interest to lovers of things equestrian
was that relating to the stageing
rof a children's horse show to be offered
on the Kirk wood polo field
beginning at 3
o'clock in the afternoon.
There will be eight classes offered
in^ this lone equestrian event of the
war-stricken 1942-43 sport program of
this community.
The children's horse show is being
promoted by Mr. Harry I). Kirkover,
famous for his long continued sucdess
with the Carolina Cup races and the
building up of the famous Springdale
race course. Mr. Kirkover will be
assisted in the plans and conduct of
the show by Mrs. Cyril Harrison and
Mrs. H. H. Belcher. An invitation has
tyeen extended to all children to par,
ticlpate In this show. The committee
suites that prospective entrants who
have no horses or ponies may/^communicate
-with Mrs. n. H. BelcmerfeaLL-i
225-W. The entrance fee hasMietw
fixed at 25c per class and prizes are
to be war stamps. The commitee reserves.
the right to cancel or combine
any class.
It was announced that in case of
rain on Saturday, April 3, the show
will be held on Sunday afternoon,
April 4, at 3 o'clock.
Following is a list of the various
classes, as announced by the committee:
No. 1 Class: Lead Rein?4 years
and under. Walk only.
Class No. 2: Lead Rein?6 years
and under, to be lead at a walk and
a trot'.
Class No. 3: Horsemanship?12
years and under, *walk, trot, and canter.
Class No. 4: Horsemanship?over
12 years.
Class No. 5: Driving class?open
to all, young and old. Horses and
ponies to be Judged on suitability of
turn out.
Class No/6: Potatoe race for children.
^
Class No. 7: Children's ride an<\
drive class.
Class No. 8: Costume class.
Dog Problem Being
Met By Ordinance
If you miss your pet pooch and
cannot find him in your neighborhood.
belter /check over the canine
population at the city pound.
Since the new dog ordinance went
into effect the police have rounded
up quite a number of stray dogs
found wandering about the streots.
These dogs are confined in the city
pound until they are either claimed
by their owners or done away with
The police allow ten days to elapse
before putting the dogs away. In only
a few instances have owners called to
claim thler pets.
According to the police. mo;rt of the
dogs that are gathered up are stray
mongrels, but thero have been some
batter bred anhrtale^^lso taken cap
tlve. Monday six dogs were executed
at the pound.
, Made in 1938, a United States loan
of $29,000,000 to China is being repaid
with tong oil '
*
Camden Floral Company In
Interesting War Program
Camden Officer Is
Speaker Qver Air
From London, Eng.
Captain Jack Richardson Is
Interviewed By Former
Screen Star
Captain John Richardson, a son of
Mrs Alico Maryo, and Clrandson of
Dr. J. W. Cofbett of tl>l? City, whs
heard over the short wave of the
British Broadcasting company Sunday
morning at 11:30 o'clock and In
the evening at 7:30 o'clock.
Captain Richardson was on a pro-l
gram entitled "Stars and Stripes" and
was interviewed by Bebe DanlelH, wqll
known motion picture star of yesteryears,
who with her husband, Ben
Lyons, also former outstanding stage
and screen star, sponsors the pro,
gram.
Miss Daniels interviewed Captain
Richardson for about ten minutes and
the broadcast came in with great
clarity of tone. There was much interest
and emotion in the homo of
Dr. Corbitt where mother and grandfather
listened to the voice of their
loved one coming over the thousands
of miles between Camden and I^)ndon,
from whence the broadcast
emanated.
Other Camden residents, who tune
in on the BBC, also heard Captain
Richardson and evidenced a great
deal of pride when the young man,
aBked regarding his military training
and place of residence, stated that he
fras a graduate of Virginia Military
Institute and his place of residence
was at Camden, S. C.
Thou an ml a of Feet of Production
Area Given Over To
Vegetables and Chickens
An amazing addition of many square t
foot of glass enclosure and outside
area Is turned into one of the outstanding
war efforts wherein hundreds
of thousands of tomato plants,
cabbage, peppers, egg plants, etc.. are
in evidence at both plants of the Camden
Floral Company In this city.
This laudable war effort Is further
expanded by an addition of three
thousand chickens, l'robably the outstanding
feature of this contribution
of the Camden Industry is the fact
that the tomato plants and all vegetable
plants will be available to the
victory garden enthusiasts of Cainden.
"Kershaw County and other sections.
The same principal of local
cooperation applies to the poultry end
of the industry. For friers, broilers,
rousting chickens and eggs all find
themselves on the IocaI retail market
through the medium of the Camden
grocery stores and markets.
In the No. 1 greenhouse of the
Camden Floral company, located on
Laurens street, between Fair and Mill
streets, a large area, all under glass,
Is g^ven over to the Marglobe tomato
plants, there being some half million
In evidence. This Marglobe tomato is
a certified wilt resistance type and is
to be sold to the public of Camden^
Kershaw county and other section*
for garden purposes.
The Floral company officials believe
that by April 10, the present supply of
tonijato plantsj^JJse ready for market
Wlomil^plantlng will be mad?~
lator^n for the fall crop. With this
second ^ planting the total will have
(Plekso turn to page eleven)
Ranger L. E. Smith Trails
Missing Man Through Swamp
Rev. J. B. Caston
Returns To Pulpit
That there will be standing room
only at the First Baptist church next
Sunday morning is certain, for that
grand character, Rev. J. 13. Caston.
pastor of the church, who has been
missing from the pulpit for the past
two years, will preach the sermon.
Dr. Caston has taken Tor a text,
"Unity In the Christian Churches."
Dr. Caston was taken ill over two
years ago and was obliged to give up
proaching. For more than a year he
was a "shut-in" and spent many
months in the hospital. When recovery
set in and the much beloved minister
was able to be out, there was
general rejoicing throughout the community.
Now that he has sufficiently recovered
to take his place in the pulpit,
there is great rejoicing, not only
among the members of his own congregation;
but throughout the city.
Dr. Caston is a trustee of Coker
college at Hartevllle and Anderson
college at Anderson. These offices
of honor have extended over a period
of many years.
Home Guard Routs
Piggie At Barbecue
Company E First Regiment South
Carolina Defense Guards enjoyed a
pork barbecue at the home of Carl
Roseborough in Lugoff Tuesday evening
following the regular drill session
at the armory. Lt. Kirby Tupper
furnished the pig and privates Carl
Lightfoot and Jack Clyburn attended
to the art of barbecue. Messrs. Tupper,
Light foot and Clyburn are known
throughout tho polo world for their
outstanding play as members of the
Camden polo culb.
High lighting this special event was
a talk given by Captain J. B. Caston,
company chaplain. Captain Canton,
who Is pastor of the First Baptist
church, Is hekl in the same affection *
by the members of the military command
as by his many hundreds of
parishIfters of the Baptist church. His
appearance before the members of
Company E was the occasion for a
noisy demonstration ot welcome and
the demonstration was again In evidence
upon conclnatbn of his fine
address. a '
- * v *
Blind Negro, Lost For Six
Days, Is Found Alive
By L. E. Smith
A big bunch of orchids to Forest /
Ranger L. B. Smith and the State ?
Forestry department. For it was
Smith's knowledge Of forest condi- ^
tlons and the art of trailing through
the medium of broken boughs and
branches that Ike Addison, 80-year^
old negro of the Cassatt section, is
alive. ^
Addison, a frail old negro of slav-^
ery days, and suffering from blindness,
wandered away from his home
near the Llewelyn pond last Sunday
afternoon and five days later, Friday _
at 11 a. m. was found practically lifeless
in the muck and slime of the
swamp.
' For nearly six days the aged negro
wandered through the swamp. His ^
blindness prevented hiip from observ- '
ing direction by the sun. He was al- .
most dead when Ranger Smith dis-''
covered him. 6
For hours Smith and a crew of 15
rangers had been searching the
swamp. Smith resorted to the old
Indian art of trailing through the
swamp, watching for broken boughs,
branches, etc., Srhfch would Indicate
passage of a human being. Bach clue
was closely observed and finally
brought Smith to the man he was
seeking. *
Addison was so far gone he could
not stand, so Smith tossed him over
his shoulder and made his way to a
nearby hill, where he was able to
call to his workers. Addison was
taken out of the swamp, placed in
Smith's auto and rushed to the Camden
hospital. Here he was given
restoratives and nourishment and
Saturday was definitely on the road^,to
recovery. ' v-;
Ranger Smith declared that it was - ^
a miracle that Addison was alire. .. ' .*
Added to the fast failing strength because
of lack of food, was the exposure
to the atfd chill of the
swamp and tK# venomous reptiles that
infest the waters. "We flushed a large ^
cotton mouth just a few feet from v
where Addison was lying," . said
Smjth. ^ ^