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■ : ' ,'^*V ■*^’' ^ » Chronicle VOLUME 80 \ CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2«, 1947 11 The Tnide «ibcr 41 Town and County.... SIX mUED AT BETHUNE IN fIRE FOLLOWING EXPLOSION; ONE EXPECTED TO RECOVER lUfiDond C. Melton, Who Led Hie Mother and Other Membere ol Family Out Of Blashif Inferno It In Camden Hoipitai—Ftmerals Oi She Who Died Were Held On Monday Stark terror and heroism with a requiem of death, ^ which six members of a family died as the result of ^s, with a seventh battling d^perately to live, were the a^ermath of a flash fire in a small farm home two Biiles from Bethune Saturday night at 8:30 o'clock. The dead: Mrs. Madmlle Mdlton, 47. Cecil S. Melton, 22; Clayton C. Melton, 13, sons of Mrs. Melton, and Mrs. EUa Melton Wright, 17, a daughter. Rcnmy Lee Melton, S-months-old grandson of iMrs. Melton. _ . Mildred Louise Wright, one Vear and seven months old granddanghter of Mrs. Melton. Raymond CalTsry Mslton, age Sl, , ton of Mrs. Melton, battled flames to six people from a loarlns Inferno, only to haye them gaccumb to third d^rree hams and nock In the Camden hoepltal later. Melton, saffering from se rve bams about his arms and legs a giTon a chance to recom. The tragedy, one of the worst d its kind in Kershaw county iince the Ciereland school fh« May 17, Xftl, When 77 p^ple, ■Ml, women and chlUrea were ttmed to death. Monday mondac, Deeemher K, V 11 o’clock, lutattres and Meads d four of the tsturdsy night fire iktlms gsthered st the Pleaesat HDl Baptist ehsrsh Is attwi Inial rites. Those Isli to rset H Us grareysTd ,i4fmist lo the cbnrch were Mrs. MsSb^ Mtitoa, It; her two sous, Cecil K Ittlton, It, and Claytos MelUm. § gtandson. Ronale Lse ItmMiU * Bonths of age. At I o’clodt ts.JIn sftermos of tke same day, 4lie Cllhn Bin ilsrch In Chesterflsid county waa tke scene of the fsnilhl of lim XUa Melton Wrlghl and her tw» ysar-old daai^ter, Mildred I/mspi IWfht. In each lastaaoc the fu el cortege started teem w Komegay Funeral Hhme, whefu 2 ^ s bodies had bean taken foUeW' I death at the heSpfIsL ■ LUa sNis of Raymond Melton, deeertbed heiT tke nine membere of the Melton ad Wright tsmiiies were gathered n the four-room dwelling Saturday OTsnlng. wm Wright, huaband of two of the fire Tictlms, his wife ad daughter, escaped being bum* •d, as he was in the yard outside •f the house when the can of kero- one exploded in the Urlng room. Ula Mae Melton and Btmnie BeU Mslton were in the kttdien pro- psrlng supper and escaped Ihe names “There waa a aoiae like a shot- pm going off and thm the bouse isemed full of Ore.** said Luja Mae Melton. “My husband waa .la the bring room where ^ blast toUk piece and whfle burned by the ex ploding gaa he h^ped to ge: the occupants oat.” Mrs. Melton said that sereral dsys ago, before'moring to the lU- Itted home, her husband had se- (Please turn to page elxP Genend Dozier Warmly Commei^ Local Guard Unit Gnest Spnnknr At Diimnr Of Locnl Outfit l^ys Local Unit Onn Of The Best In State / m. Camden Expects Quiet But Happy Holiday Period Stores To Close Only One Day, Banks And County Offices Two—-Polo And Other Entertainment / a: Reughest Day ol Year Sunday, the last dsy of fsU, wored to be one of the worst days of the whole year. A ceM rain tell an day long aad a wind fitoir. the north helped to make the day more dlsagreeabls. Monday was the first dsy of winter. *jSliidaiils» Nigkt The Flnt Bsptist ^knreh wilt ob> serve Btadeats* night st Its regnhtf ewenlng senrlee on Sundiqr. Dccobk her Sl The eidlege stadenta, whe are amabcri of the dhnrdi, wilt be In ehsrga • Close Tvse Days The court hense (rfflees will bs eloeed on Christmas Ouy sad the day after Christmas. Last week it sw flaadrertMtly stated that they weald be cloeed (Wly on f^urhrtams amrahig The beauty ci Christmae hk$ come down to us through the birth of the Savior who taught the wortd that Iwe jis stronger than hate and good mightier than evil May this prevailing spirit oi g^^ will embrace us ail during this joyous holiday season. As peace reigned in the Mailer when Jesus was born, may it enfold all the world in true brotherhood, smd^strong unity. May the world find that love is stronger than hate and good mtyhtier than evil, May the Spirit of good will em^ brace us all during this holUat season. The Camden Chronicle takes this opportunity to wish for each and every one of ItsreadereaMerryChrUtpmscmdaBappyNewYear. High praise was given the Cam' ^ unit of the South Carolina Nstional Guard, Battery B, AAA Qsn Battalion, by Adjutant Oen- James C. Doiler, of Colum- bh, principal speaker at the dln- ,n«r ^ren by the coaumay mi last Thursday evening at the local i snaory. General Dosier wanuly com- [eeuded the lecal outfit for the [^ner ia whleh It had taken hold the reertiratloa of the aa-, ^buia] guard aad referred to It aa of the beat eutflts M the pste. He stated that Soath Csr- had met Its full guela ta ike recent learalUai esmssigB that the ISesl eatflt had also ••I Its quota. ^ptaln Bohert B. (“Jack”) said that the present roster |w the battery shows tf enlisted and three officers for a total P-**- Mdd that the maximnm ••mitted was M aad that he hop- i^o naH woald attain that jjjisl before FSbraary’jt. That is anniversary date cd the Bst- and Captain waats to make H (•» extraordlaatr Veod^by giving vnnhreraaiy^hsdl la the armei ^0 dinner wMeh feMmNkI trtsd SB the alee do i^■l^t^^nl tns attemi.s mmtie E • fteegfc— Hire luusley On Seaday iPa will deliver the eennon st the 11: IS serrlee of the Eetheeds Pres- bi'terian ohurcb. HMp fHeads sref cordisBy Invited to ke present E To Pave Road The state highway oommisskni has approved extension of a pre- viously-epproved contract to in- elude paving of gifi mile of rood S4 from route 21S near Logoff to V. 8. route 1. The extension wort will cost |S,4gO, sad will be added to s eoatrset prevlooaly swarded to Dlokereon, Inc., st Monroe, N. C. • Sanitary Iimpoctkm Under ihe sathorisstlon- of the city board of health, a rigid ia- speetion of all utensils nked In servlag patrons of restaurants, sods grins, hmabnrger stands, etc., is being qarfied oat by Health Inspector Donald Morrisoa Where M'egalarlties are found, proprietors are being ordered to make eorree- tioas • Spoke at Bishopvilla HarcHd Booker, editor of The Camden Chronicle, was gnest speaker at th« annual ladles night dfnner at BlshopvlIIe Lodge A.F.M. held at the high school gymnastam In BlshopvlUe last Friday night. Approximately SOO attended the dinner. On last Thursday night Mr. Booker was the speaker at the Christmas party of the Page- land Clvitan clnb. by the ^ of unit mam [bjnihera batloa Arraala sad the had ^ a sad • Carols Ob Christmas Eva The young people of Bethesds Presbyterian church cordially in vites all the young people of high school and college age to Join them in singing carols throughout the city OB Christmas Bve. Those who would like to take pari are asked to meet at the recreation room at the Presbyterian church on Christ mas Bve at 7:t0. Betumlng to the church hot chooOlato aad TeCresh- meats will bq servsd. w le-j Program Chosen Laadars Fro Production And Markatinf Profram Ara Namad In All Townships Of poinkfty ^ vai Annual Christmas Dance Of Junior Welfare League Many CamdeaHes, young and Old, will danee to the music of Henry Westbrook Chrlstmss night at the Court IBn. This sbbusI for mal affair. Is sponsored by the Junior Welfare Langua Uunclng will get underway st I e'cloek sad eonUnne to 7 o’clock. Nobresks wm bei held dwiw tke evMUng sad s speeMl on# will hs danced by club awmbenr and theh^ esoorts. Tables have been ressrvsd the sffhir WNeh WOiBte eae of the ghMlIhts of day season.' \ of ciib County and community, commit teemen for Kershaw county for 1148 in the Production and Mar keting Program, more familiarly known in farm circles as the triple-A program, have been named. BSleotlone were held on December' $ at which oommoalty committee men were named following which the county meeting was held and the county committee named. On the county committee, M. O. King of Bethnne, has b^n re elected chairman, nad J. B. Mc Coy, Camden, R-1, and B. T. Pearce, Camden, R-1, members. First alternate member is Hugh McCallnm, Logoff, R-1. The community committeemen chosen for the coming year fol low: Boykin Community: W. R. Cape- hart, K. P. Emanuel and J. L. Sweet Midway Ckunmunity: J. R. West L. H. Catoe and C. J. Threatt Bethune: Brace Jones. Neil Rat cliff and Harold Copeland. Oakland: H. R. Hall, F. R. Hall and Robert Stokes. Blaney: T. B. Campbell, John P. Ooff and Leelle Mosk. Baron DeKslb: P. A. McDowell. Jack Jorasn and Sam Truesdale, 31. Three C’s: B. L. Sowell, Lather Vincent S. W. Barflsld.^ Uberty Hill: W. E. Cunningham, B. J. Huggins and L. A. Perry. Kershaw: D. B. Baxley, .C. L. Truesdale sad W. C. Qaady. Logoff: Lather Joues, J. A. RosMioroagh and John Rabon Ptaiegrove: H. F. Branham, John L. Qettys and L. P. BraUhsa. Caaiden: U. N. Myers, J. B. Can- tey sad'Jc^ B. Cureton., Charlie Thompson: D. S. Murchlsou. B. C. Pearcy'Snd E. M. Workaaa. Xt Plsgah: W. P. Sewell X H. Reese and John Dowers. Aatlodi; I. J. McKensie. L. 8- SlneMr naggFred K. Smith. To Boautmt Seaboard Park Fonr Polo Games FOR PLANTING AZALEAS AND FOR CHERRY LAUREL HEDGE Announcement waa made this week by the Camden Garden Club that the Seaboard Air line Railway had awarded a contract to the Colonial Boxwood Co, to plant some eighty azaleas and 450 feet of cherry laurel hedge in Seaboard Park. It waa further stated that the Seaboard has purchased a complete garden equipment and promises to maintain the plantings on its property and the Garden Club has voted to supervise the care of the planting on the (^'8 part of the park. l%e progress which has been made in beautifying the park and the plans for making it g real beauty spot are outlined in this statement from the Garden Club: Dmmg^olidays Camdnn-Mulborry Teams To Moot Wodnesday, Tlmri- doy, Saturday And Sun day At Kirkwood Fiold “For ten years our Seaboard Park has been Just a dream; it existed only on paper and that paper waa put to sleep because of Isck of funds and on account of the war. ''In 1887, Ernest Woodward gave 80 acres of land surrounding the Seaboard station to the city of (^mden, with the provision that the land be' kept as a park ana no buildings be put thereon. For two years nothing was done to turn that 80^re field Into a park; the road from the hlidiway to the sta tion was a cross country trail of ints and holes. There was no light by night. In January of ’39 the city asked the Camden Garden C|ab to aubmit a plan for road to the station anti for the plant ing. 'The olnb chose a committee, Miss Olive Whlttredge, chairman, to draft that plan. The committee staked out the two-way road and Alfrdd Boykin made a surveyor’s map of the area. Wltk this map as a basis. Miss Whlttredge drew a detailed iMan of the proposed planting which caUed for live oaks along the driveways, assleas among the oaks, parking placet st Week’s Calendar both ends of the station, these park ings to be guarded by well built log barriers on which Chetokee roses, pssmlne and wistaria were to twine; flowering shrubs and evergreens at the ends of the two platforms, and on the parterre bo- tween the two roads. “The city accepted this plan and the council voted money to pur- <;hase the live oaks. The Garden Club planted the oaks and bas ever since protected and trimmed them. Today they are a happy In dication of what promises to be a superb evergreen avenue. The city paved the two roads and put in water and light, the lamps being copies of those used In WllMsms- burg. The Garden Club planted the partMTe between the two roods, using dogwood, casslna, eleagnns, euyonomous, /tundlna and breath of spring. “Tho project rested for seven years; the parking lots only part ly paved and unguarded. The rail road’s every effort had to be to meet the needs of war. short- agss of material and of labor. It (Please tom to page six) Four exciting games of polo are scheduled for the Cbristxnas holi day season between the Camden team and the Mulberry pownr house. The first of the games Is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock. On Christmas afternoon, Decem ber 25, the game will start at 8:30 o’clock. Games wUI be played on Saturday and Sunday, peciamber 87 and 28, starting at 2 o'clock. The lineup for the game Wed nesday afternoon follows: Camden—Sabin 1; DuBose 2; Ed Tejan 8; Fred Tejan 4, Mulberry—Tupper 1; J. Daniels S; Williams S; Llghtfoot 4. The lineup for Thursday, Satur day and Sunday games will be the same except that Hosang will be in the No. 2 position for Camden. Ralph Chase will referee the game Wednesday while DuBose will referee the other three games. The Camden-Mulberry seri-s Is slways s peak affair in Camden and brings the best In talent on to Camden will shut up shop for what it hopes and- ex pects will be a joyous (Christ mas although a comparative ly quiet one. With the excep tion of eating places, the city will be closed tight on Christmas Day. The day will, as usual, be mark ed by numerous family dinners and family reunions. Many Cam den people who are now living elsewhere will be home for the day. All mercantile establishments will be closed for the day as well as other places of business and all federal, state and county of fices. The poatofflce will be closed and there will be no general delivery window hours. Only gifts and sTteclal delivery mali will be de livered. There will be no rural delivery. The court house offices will be closed ’Thursday and Friday, it Is announced, as will the offices in the sgrieunursl buiMlng. Grace Bptscopel church will have Its traditional celebration of the midnight Holy Oomaanlen begin- atag at 11 p. m. oa Christmas Bva. The rtioir under.the direc tion of Robert Alien wfll slag a Biaiber of earole and CaaUque, de' Noel as the offertory satiem. Oa Christmas Day there wM be s eelehratlon M the Hely Obmmaa- loB with ansie at 11 a. aa At the- Charch ef Oor Lady of Perfetaa) Mp (CatfesMs) there wEl he e tpedal aMss at BMalght oa Christmas Bve aai xaaMS wtn he held OB Chrittaas tap at f aa« f;M A a. ChriataMS sfteraooa a ItM o’clock (hare wfll he a ptlo gaae st Kirkwhod FIsM botwm ths Chtadsn sad Mulhsvry teams. Games are achsduled . shm for Wedaesdsy, SstsB'dhy aad Ena- dsy sfteraooBS of this weak. Christmas night st tie Court to 1 A aa Friday night, Dec. M, the TH Gamma CHub will hold Its dance at the Parish Hoase from 8 p. m. to 1 a.' m. Friday la expected to see e par tial reaomption of boalnesa with most of the mercantile eatabllrt- ments reopentng, Taesday evening on the laam of the Bethesda Presbyterian charch a large group took part is the presentation of the ^utHai Story of Chrlstmaa by the combined church choirs of the city. A very large crowd attended thle hnpree- aive pageant which waa sponsorad by the recreation committee of Kershaw Connty Civic Obundl. Moat of the ehurehea of the city had special Christmas music last Bundi^ sad the sermons were built sroand the Christmas theme.' On NewTear’s Bve there will be s speclsl watch-niidit service sf the Wtni Baptist church beginning at 8:l0 o’clock. Commerce Body Wants Names Of AD Newcomers CliAinber Asks That All N«w Rasidants Lat It Koqw Tliair Nainas And Also Thair Addrassas Rev. J. V. Murray Bereft Of Father aapeweaaaiw Friends of the Rev. J. T. ray, pastor of (la Bsthime ehsrgs of the Methodist diureh, wfll re gret to learn of the death of his farter, John Y. Murray, which a aarred last Thursday st Laurens ^HtmilAt TRAOt 0000 CMnleii mercheau repert that trade has ban very rtsM far. A trimsadsaa oi Wednesday, Dee 24 Pole, Camden vs Mulberry Plan tation. Kirkwood field, 8 p. m. Holy Oommnnkm service, Grace Episcopal chwoh,'!! p m. Midnight Mass. Chxxrch of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Thursday, Dec. 2S Polo, Camden ve Mnlberry Plan- tstiOA Kirkwood field, 8:80 p. m. Junior Welfare League dance. Court Inn, 9 p. m. Friday, Dee. 21 Tri Gemma Club dance. Parish House, t p. m. Saturday, Dsa XT Polo, Camden vs Mulbcwry Plan tstton, Kirkwood Mid, 8 p. m. Sunday, Dsa IS Berviees in all dmrehes st 11:18 A m. Polo, Qsmdea vs MuIhaiTy Flsnr tsUon. Kirkwood flsld, t a ml t1 Christmas Seal Sale Now Running Ahead Last Year The game between the two teams scheduled for last Sunday after noon waa postponed because of the rain. First Baptist To Have Watch-Nij^it Service New Year • S • i' • jnrvlsA M MiiMh. itil A rt. “Our faith in our friends and eontributore Is well Justi fied,’' said Mre. Oeorpe Creed, Seal Sale cheirmsn, "as nur In- ereaeed Seel Sele returns will shew. We etili have a long way to go to reach the o^al, but we are etlll certain that Karehaw county pcopis will help US reach K." Mrs. Creed reperte that Seal Sale retume to date are as fellowe: Camden bendA SdSdl Camden mall, $474JB; rural bpndA IlOO; rural mail, I4SA1S; white eeheelA nefro, fISS- One 18.00 for udilcih. It is not yet certain Where eredK le dm. Telsi ee»- Mrtrtiews dstA fIJIEIS. Mill nasMiMe mhMw flsM* HAIMI. .iv,,. . On New Tear’s Eve there wfll be a Watch-Night eervlce at the First Baptist A church. The evening’s pro gram win open at 8:80- o’clock with rte slmnltaneons sochtls for every age group. This will h, fol- owed by a “Singsperatlon” led by ilr. and Mre. Montgomery sod re freshments will follow. There will be a moving picture of a religious nature and then the group will go to the church andl- Torlura for a prayer service. This service wfll be featured by mee- sagea from leaders of the ehureh work and testimonies and prayer. This Watch-Night service is one of the mehy thousands to be heU thronghont the Southera Beptlqi: convention. It Is estimated that more than I4.M0 Baptist churehee will be ta slmultaneoue prayer meetings with a memberahtp «’ more than the mflfloB oa New Tear’s Bve. The oeeasloa of the great prayer meeting le that epee- lal prayer shall be made ftnr peace aad world coadiflons. The Ciamden Chamber of Com- merce U very anxious to secure he nemee of newcomere to the city sod ia order to secure them las decided to ask the aewoomere themselves to send their names to and also reuests that residents of the city who happen to know of any to report them. It is the pnrpoee of the organi sation to nointain this as' a regular feature sad to secure the asmes of new residents as they move her, The^ cooperation of the people of the city Is asked ta this respeet and all are nrged to keep In mind hereafter to report neweomeie to rte organisation la order that tlmy might be assured of a wel come to the city. The Chamber etetee that there are st this time quite a number of new residents In Camden and It asks afl of them to send in thoir names snd llkewlae that all clti- tene who know of theae newooae- ers to report Iheas. i 't " nF *. 1 .1^-1 la rta early had a drcilallon of LMd. 1800% on of 1 Highway To Mark PedeaMm ItmUs « I ' ■ ’ The state highway deportaaat objected to the pIsa of the city to use some 1.800 metal markers do nated by a beverage laaaafactnr^ tag eompaay ta deeigaate trlaa JMiii a( street teterseettiEM^ aad hi lia« rtareof has agreed, ) rti ttMs market flaett, the eMr M Me • N.' *.