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The Camden Chronicle I VOLUME 55 # CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1943 NUMBER 3 I Grand Master Makes I Official Visit To I Masons of Camden Kev. Henry F. Collins Opens Itinerary In Historic Building Here. I .. v Henry V. Collins, pastor of i vttleton Street Method tat church of this city, recently elected Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina, honored Kershaw Lodge in which he ' made a Mason about 24 years ago. I hv' bklng present at their regular I .nmniuoieailon Tuesday evening. This was his first official visit as I ( rami Master and it was especially Blessing to the members that he I elected to open his itinerary in the I lodge that initiated, passed and I raised him more than two decades ago He was received by J. C. lloffI man Master of the l^odge, aiul by I |in* brethren with outstanding honor. I brother Hoffman welcomed him I im,*t heartily for the craft and preI seated him with the gavel of authoriI IV Grand Master Collins then adI dressed the assembled members and I visitors, outlining some of the objects I planned for the year and pointing I out very forcibly the opportunities I open to each brother interested in I carrying out these plans and doI signs. At the conclusion of his address, I Grand Master Collins presented W. I Robin Zeuip, whom he 'had appointed I chairman of the Service Committee I of the Grand Lodge. Brother Zemp I talked for a few minutes about plans I for carrying out the suggestions of the I Grand Master. He recalled the formI er honors paid the local Lodge by the I craft of the jurisdiction in electing two former Past Masters from Ker shaw lxidge to serve as Grand Masters 1 of South Carolina, namely Gen. Joseph I B. Kershaw, 1873-74, and Gen John D. I Kennedy. 1881-82. Thks is the third I time this Lodge has furnished the I material for Grand Master. Present at this meeting were sevI oral visitors, among whom were three I fro in the Southern Aviation school, I Lt. Stone Christopher of Maspeth, N. y, intelligence officer; Lt. Maurice I A Clay, of Waldron, Indiana, physical director, and Lt. A. F. W. Habeeb, I medical officer of Vickaburg, Miss. Tin1 presence of these visitors from I their several Jurisdictions and their H comments added pleasure and inslrucI tive information to tihe meeting. Camden Woman I Brings Joy To Sorrowing Home I Informs Many That Their Loved One Are Still Alive. A wir effort, wnicti can be likened I tn t)i, merciful efforts of a Florence I Xitrht. scale or a Clara Barton. Is I ht :rnr i .Irried out here in Camden and I has n -ulted in giving surcease from I ahjtM t sorrow to many mothers, fath ?r>. wives, brothers and sisters, as II as chidlren of American service I nn ii w ho had been reported as "missinE" by the war department. And this lady of mercy is Mrs. Mrs. Martha Graham, wife of LawI rt-ni( ; Graham of the Southern CotH ton oil company, who is an assistant cashier, at the First National bank. Kv.-ry evening, beginning at 9 o'clock, Mrs. Graham tunea her radio I to the short wave stations of Ger many and has been able to hear mes ?age.s from American soldiers, sail ors and marines, prisoners of the Germans. These messages art? taken down in shorthand by Mrs. Graham, find then transcribed Into letters sent to the parents or wives of the solHdicrs. In the several weeks Mrs. Graham ha# been sending forth these mes fares, in nearly every Instance, acHconling to grateful letters received (Please turn to page seven) Equipment Bundle lLost By Parachutist Bin Wateree Invasion The Camden Chamber of Corahas been requested to ask resi dents nf the area between McBee B&n<! ?his city to search for an equipbundle that was lost from one transport planes carrying para>?s over the area last week on I tin Jacob F. Wagner of the Parachute Infantry of the 83nd ^ H Hi vision of Fort Bragg has made Bhe request and states that the equlpbundle was green and contained 81 millimeter mortar. H The Chamber of Commerce la askB>? finder of the bundl? to bring B&me (o the Chamber of Commerce fflco from whence It will be forBarded to Fort Bragg. Hunting Nazis in Nortli Africa I | . . ... Many British two-pounder anti-tank guns are now mounted on fslSt trucks so tney can move quickly around the desert. As shown in this dramatic picturd, the gun's crew fires without unlimbering. They make daring forays behind the eneihy s lines to play havoc with suppiy .columns and lightly armored vehicles, even taking toll of heavy Nazi tanks. Camden Hotels Report Best Season In 'Decade Exceeds Anticipation? of Managers by a Great Margin. All guest records for a det^de of winter seasons have been shattered by Camden hotels In the winter period now nearing a close. Both the Kirkwood, Court and Camden hotels were filled to capacity over the weekend and belated arrivals had to be given shelter In private homes. The housing situation offers the game picture as did the hotels the past several weeks, but the scarcity of rental accommodations in Camden has been acute for almost two years. This year in particular the picture has been one of extreme congestion. Hundreds of rooms in private homes have been utilized in handling the unprecented increase in population. ' The Hospital Balfat the Kirkwood Saturday night attracted a record crowd of merrymakers, there being over three hundred couples present in the ball room to dance to the music of Fleet Greene's band. There were many guests present from Columbia, Charlotte and Charleston. At the Court Inn, the present season has eclipsed previous seasons over a long period of years. The Camden hotel, the leading commercial house in the city, -has been taxed to take care of the demand for reservations while several of the smaller hotels have become veritable apartment houses with permanent guests. Tourist homes and boarding houses have been and still are filled to capacity. The Kirkwood hotel will close for the season on April 15 but the Court Inn will remain open throughout the summer, although the dining service will be discontinued late in the .spring according to present plans. In as much as the Court Inn has a big colony of officers, instructors and the families of cadets, the management may continue to operate some form (Please turn to page two) Cars Collide On Highway at Night A number of persons were injured when two cars collided on U. S. highway 521 near the Kennedy pond Saturday night. The car carrying five Westvllle men who are employed at Myrtle Beach and were on their way home for the week-end were struck by a car driven by a colored man. The most seriously injured was Joseph Boome, age 35. of Westvllle. who sustained a broken right leg and severe lacerations about his face and head. Mrs. Elizabeth Truesdale of Westvllle. who had been picked up by her friends in Camden received serious lacerations about her face and head. Other occupants of the Boome car were also badly cut and had to receive attention at the hos phe occupants of the other car escaped injury. First Aid Classes For Colored People ' F.r? .Id ,?""? ? Jack" will be started April lt>. son Hl.h school. nounoement made thhl Vjlhaw R. Bonaal, commander of t County Civilian Defense cr ps. The classes will be , g lion of Dr. PuckeU and "ill start at 8 o^clock. Miss Whittridge Is Horse Show Winner In Driving Class ?* < a * A oold wind sweeping out of the northwest turned the No. 1 polo arena Into a wintry steppe Saturday afternoon cutting down greatly on the attendance at 'the Children's Horse show. Only a handful of spectators visited the scene to view a good show offered by some 35 to 40 youngsters. Perhaps the outstanding feature of a seven class exposition of bangtails and riders was the winning of top honors in the fourth event, driving class for young and old. by Miss Olive Whittridge. Second honors in this class went to Mrs. Ben Belcher and third honors to Kirby Tupper. In the first class, a lead rein event for youngsters under 4 years of age, Graham DuBose got the nod from Marion DuPont Scott, Judge of'til# show, while second honors went to Martha Kirk and third to Carlanne L. Lightfoot, the latter being the 17 month old daughter of Carl Bightfoot, famous polo ace. Little Miss Carlanne sat her mount like a veteran and grinned and nodded to the spectators gathered about the show ring, i In class 2, lead and rein, for chil' riron six years and under at walk and I trot. Mart I>ouise Ryan was first. | Nancy Ann Belcher was second and Patricia Clyburn was third. There were eighteen entries in the Class 3 events, horsemanship for riders 12 years and under. In the first unit top honors went to Joe Williams with Ralph Chase. Jr., second and Diana-Ryan, third. In the second unit. Benjamin Belcher was first. Ward Wack second and Bobby Jetton third. In the fifth class potato race. Sonny Chase was first and Joe Williams was second. In the sixth class, children's ride and drive class, Ward Wack was first, Joe Williams second and Red DuBoee, third. In the costume class, Patricia Clyburn , was first, Nancy Ann Beloher was second and Graham DuBose third. Ralph Chase was ringmaster of the show. Promoters of the affair .were Mrs. Cyril Harrison and Mrs. Ben Belcher. / Bird Authority To Give Lecture At Garden Club Alexandria Sprint and affilliates of the National Audoman Society will give an illustrated lecture on birds . at the April meeting of the Camden Garden club to be held Monday, April ljLin the Grammar school auditorium, onb^ttleton street. Mr. Sprunt, who will in&strate hie lecture with motion pictures! is to speak at 4 o'clock. A business meeting of the\ garden club , will follow the lecture. The members of the garden club extend an Invitation to the public to attend this lecture which they doclare will be well worth listening to. ' A special invitation is being ex- I tended to the young boys of the com- , munlty. ft being the hope that they will securo such information as will make them wish to preserve the bird 1 life rather than wantonly shoot the I song birds and the useful birds. i CONFINED IN H08PITAL C * ' Mrs. John Llndsey, whs resides on I Lyttleton street, is confined in the ^ hospital with a severe cold. Her | many friends hope *he will have5* speedy recovery. JJ o ^ * - ? 9 Hospital Ball Was Gay Event, Hundreds Present Dinners and Cocktail Parties Precede the Ball Here Saturday Night. i The annual Hospital Ball, given Saturday evening at the Kirkwood hotel, attracted two hundred couples, who enjoyed the dance program offered by an out of town orchestra. The waltz contest was won by Mrs. John Cannon and her dance partner, N. R. Goodale, Jr., while the jitterbug event honors went to Mrs. Betty Bolneau Wheeler who had us her partner, Louis T. Murray, Jr. Appropriate awards were presented as prizes in each event. The ball was preceded by many cocktail parties in private homes. Mrs. W. F. Buckley served cocktails at 7:30 and dinner at 8 o'clock. Following the dinner the guests went to the Kirkwood ball. Mrs. Clarence Brabham of Bamberg, entertained at a cocktail party Mtt the home of her sister, Mrs. Dan B. Mackey, and Mr. Mackey, for Aviation Cadet Richard K. Dean, of Miami, Fla., who is at the Southern Aviation school,, here now. A drop in party was also held at the Mr. and Mrs. Albert Burrows at the Rice apartments. Women Wanted In Marine Corps Now is the time, ladies. If you join the Marine Corps now you will be getting in on the ground floor of the women leathernecks' organization, Oapt. H. T. Bredenberg, Women's Reserve procurement officer, stressed today. Women enlisting now have a chance to become corporal or sergeant even before completing their preliminary six-week indoctrination course, he added. Your pay will be exactly that of the men of the Marine Corps of corresponding rank. As a private, your pay and expenses will come to $132.50 per month. And, like men of the corps, you can, if you have the ability, work your way up through the ranks and become an officer. To be eligible, you must be between the ages of 20 and 36 and must have had at least two years of high school plus acceptable business experience. You need not have any special talent. The Marine Corps will train you. You can be married or unmarried, but you are not eligible if you have any children under 18. If you are eligible, then write the Marine Officer Procurement Office, Healey Bldg., Atlanta, Ga., and set forth your qualifications. You will then be sent expense money to come to Atlanta for a personal interview. (Please turn to page eight) Bond Purchasers Asked To Get Them Father Edmund Burke of the Cath- < olic church, requests purchasers of. the bonds auctioned off at the recent bazaar to please call for same at Oommerclal Bank of Camden. j Father Burke states that the final, tabulation of the return of the re- J i turns showed that it was the most < successful th^t has ever been held ? by the parish and that he wishes to . sxtend to all concerned the sincere ' of htmself and the members ] >f Uie church for the wonderful co- I >peration that was extended by the i pood people of Camden. Tony Pastor To Play Red Cross Victory Ball-Friday, April 30 Air Raid Spotting Posts Put On 24-Hour Duty Observers at the nine observation posts of tho Kershaw District will be called upon on April 2t>. 14H. to maintain a 21-hour watch for airplanes, it was rovQAhvt today. Authority baa been granted by Willis It. Taylor, Commanding General, of cho First Fighter command of the Army Air Forces for the activation of the Charlotto Filter Center. Heretofore, these posts have been on an "Instant alert" basis, with the observers ready to go Into action at a moment's notice. The purpose of this activation, according to Lt. Colonel Oscar C. Tigner, Regional Commander, Wilmington Air Defense Region, Is for testing the efficiency of the Aircraft Warning System within tho Wilmington Region including Ground Observer Organizations, civilian volunteer workers in the Filter Centers and communication facilities. Tho Wilmington Air Defense Region comprise almoet the entiro state of North Carolina. (Plo&ae turn to page eight) Cutndcu is agog followlug the niliiiMUH'cninit that tho famous Tony Pastor hand of 2d pieces will provide iho music for the Rod Cross Victory Mall, tentatively scheduled for Prtduy. April HO. in the new armory. Tills dance classic is sponsored hi'_ Tho Camden Chronicle and the net proceeds are to he turned over to the Kershaw County chapter of the American Red Cross. Confirmation of the April HO date Is expected from New York this week. Tony Pastor's band Is one of the outstanding musical exponents of modern dhnco rhythm and Is also a leader in the making of popular dance records and occupies un Important part in the musical programs of radio net works. This Victory Rail event will bo the moat outstanding affair of the ktnd ever hold In Camden. It 1h expected that the appearance In the south of tho famous Pastor musical group will attract music lovers and dancers from all points lit the state. Announcement will bo mado later of the Rod Cross committees to have charge of tho affair. Publicity for the ball will bo handled by the stuff of Tho Camden Chronicle and Prank H. Heath of the Camden Public Relations Bureau and News Service. *? C. P. DuBose Jr., Named City Civilian Defense Head Camden Merchant Says Wearables Are To Become Scarce Few South CarollnlanH have any realizations of what this war Is going to moan to -their wardrobe was the comment made today by Simon W. Elchel of tho Elchel Department store and also president of the Camden Merchant's Association who has just returned from a business trip to Baltimore and Nciv York. "While therb is every evidence that there will be sufficient ready-to-wear of the various types available to go around," continued Mr. Elchel, "The average person is going to find that the kinds of wearing apparel they have been accustomed to will bo rapidly disappearing from the stocks of all stores. "Many manufacturers -have, had to change, entirely their type of production in order to maintain any service whatever. For example, many of the manufacturers of tho so called 'silk dress.' have been forced to change over to cottons, spun rayons and other materials, and deliveries Of these are very slow. "While there is no need for nlnrm 011 the part of the public, the people of Camden should be grateful for tho ample stocks of local merchants. In proportion to population, Camden merchants have far more to offer than stores in the bigger cities. Ix>yal nnd patriotic citizens should buy what they need but not anything that is not needed. Thoso who stock up needlessly are apt to find themselves at tho end of the war with little used and undesirable merchandise." Mr. Elchel was accompanied on his trfp by Mrs. Kichel, who states that retail store service in the larger cities is most unsatisfactory. Inexperienced help has almost totally replaced trained personnel, stocks are limited and buying heavy. Mr. and Mrs. Elchel stopped at the Hotel New Yorker. The City of New York is now almost completely blacked out after dark so as to not to offer enemy submarines any light against which to slllouette American whips. Restaurants served capacity with astonishingly good service, and theatres were jammed. They found especially entertaining t(he stage productions offering Gertrude Lawrence in "Lady in the Dark," and Tallul&h Bankhead and FYederiok March in "By the Skin of Our Teeth." Being Judges Runs In Family It is interesting to note that Judge M L. (Buck) Smith, Jr., Is the third member of his family to hold office as a Judge. He is now occupying an office in the Court House as Magistrate of DeKalb township. Judcc Smith's father, Judge Mendel Smith, was judge of the Fifth Judicial. Circuit in . 1916 and 1916. In 1917 Judge Smith, Sr. went Into the army as Major Judge Advocate of the fleneral'8 department and later became Lieut. Colonel and Chief Legal Advisor to General John J. Pershing. The third me'mber of the Smith family to sit in a Judicial obalr was B. M. Smith who was Magistrate for DeKalb township from 1916 ' through 1934. W. R. Bonsai Continues As Chairman of the County Defense Council. Charles P.^TTOTWffb. Jr., president of , the Camden Chamber of Commerce, has been named as Commander of the Camden Defense Corps of the Kershaw County Council for Nationnl Defense." W. It. Bonsai, who is chairman of the Kershaw County Council for National Defense nnd who haB been acting as civilian defense commander for the Camden corps, continues in his official capacity as leader of the defense activities of the county, having control over the various defense corps at Camden, Kershaw. Bethune and Blaney. At Blaney the defense corpH 1h headed by J. E. Bailey, at Bothune by J. L. King, and at Kershaw by J. R. Brown. Commander DuBose in an announcement Thursday stated that beginning Saturday, April 10, the air raid sirens would be sounded between 12 noon and 12:05 p. m. On Saturday the siren$ would sound on the "blue" signal, which is a long sustained blast. On the following Monday, tho test would bo on the "red" signal, which, is a fluctuating blast. On the following days theso signals would be alternated. The Idea of the test signals is to enable the police to get all the air raid signals syncronizod, so that the sirens of the city system will be sounded simultaneously with the whistles of the Industrial plants. Mr. DuBose further requests that anyone who does not hear the noon signals will please notify him or the civilian defense control center. Mayor McCorkle Lauds English In Talk To Kiwanians "The English speaking nation will always be the leadttlgnatlons of the world and there will always bd an England and United States." Declared Mayor F. N. McCorkle in an address made to the Kiwanls club this noon. Continuing, the Mayor said, "the Stars and Stripes'will always fly over the Golden Gates In San Francisco; the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor will always be thd emblem of free people and Old Glory will again fly In the Phlllppene Islands and on j every island in the Pacific." In his talk the Mayor traced the beginning of the English peoples from 2000 years ago. He traced the growth of the British empire through <1 isemberment of the Roman Empire down through all the centuries dur- . Ing which the power of Britlan grew greater and greater and ita culture spread to the far corners of the world. "No peoples In the.world have equaled the English speaking nations In per- . manent progress," continued the Mayor. "The hlatory of England is our history- In descent the greater number of Americans are English and we owe to England our language, literature, law, forma ojL government, and the essential features of -our (Please turn to ps* eight)