The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, January 13, 1921, Image 1
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$2.00 Per Year in Advance BAMBERG, S. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 13,1921. Established in 1891
OIL AND GAS STRUCK^
NEAR CHARLESTON
QUESTION OF QUANTITY IS NOT
ESTABLISHED.
y
Depth of 247 Feet
Drilling Operations at the Mabeleanor
Are To Be Continued.?Want
To Make Sure Of It.
Charleston, Jan. 8.?Crude petroleum
and natural gas have been struck
on the eastern outskirts of Summerville.
So much is established, but the
question of quantity is yetk^o be determined.
It is the fact that the petroleum
. and gas are coming from the Mabeleanor
well, operated by a syndicate
headed By Maurice' C. Burton,
acting as trustee. This well has been
sunk to a depth of 2,047 feet.
Mr. Burton told the News and Courier
last night that he was called
Friday because of a small showing
of petroleum on the surface of the
water. Saturday, the sfush pit was
bailed and less lubricating oil than
usual used on the machinery. Every
effort wras made to insure against a
seepage.
Natural Gas Observed.
Monday, the showing increased but
still those in charge waited before
letting announcement escape, desiring
to make absolutely sure. Thursday
oil came and there were * small
ebullitions of natural gas which convinced
the operators that crude oil
and gas had been encountered.
Mr. Burton said that the oil was
showing up against a water pressure
of about a thousand pounds, which is
about ten times as much as^ the
pressure in an ordinary steam boiler.
/The operators and drillers believe
that if the well were baled and the
water pressure removed, it would be
a producing well now.
? ? " T> J. J J. 1 1 ..
However, ?3ir. nunon saiu, tue uax^
way to tell is through proper test.
So far, the commercial indications are
not known although they are very
promising. The showing of oil appears
to grow steadily stronger.
It is the purpose of the operators
to continue the drilling, probably to
2,500 feet if the indications warrant.
BYRNES OPPOSES INCREASE.
South Carolina Would Gain Congressman
by Increasing House.
Washington, Jan. 6.?Representatative
Byrnes, of South Carolina, declared
tonight a disposition to oppose
the reapportionment bill reported
today by the census committee,
which would increase the house membership
to 483, despite the fact that
under the provisions of the bill, the
representation of South Carolina
would be increased by one man. Mr.
Byrnes is opposed to an increase in
the membership of the house. The
provision of the bill, calling for the
submission of a constitutional amendment
making the membership permanent
at 500, eliminating danger of a
house of the future containing as
many as 1,000 men, may temper the
opposition of Mr. Byrnes and many
others who presently stand with him.
The suggestion that the legislature
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or soutn uarujuiia., suuu tu uc m ocosion,
take time by the forelock and
redistrict the state to care for the
additional congressman, was not
thought practicable by Mr. Byrnes.
It was his opinion that action would
be postponed pending the passage of
the bill. If that course is pursued,
the legislature may make arrangements
for the election of a congressman
at large to serve until such time
as the estate is redistricted.
The bill, it is the opinion of a majority
of the members, will be enacted.
XOTE IS LEFT BY DR. AIKEN.
Suicide Clearly Indicated, Says Sheriff
Reid.
Laurens, Jan. 6.?The theory of .
foul play in the death of Dr. H. R.
Aiken, which occurred here yester
day afternoon, was dispelled today
by the statement from Sheriff Reid,
that the doctor's pistol with an
empty cartridge was found in the
bathroom where his body lay. A
note was left in his room clearly indicating
suicide.
The bureau of war risk insurance
has written 4,640.049 war risk term
insurance policies to the amount of
$40,331,640,000.
SEA WALL NEAR COMPLETION.
Work on Last Extension of Big Sea
Wall Will Be Rushed to Finish.
Galveston, Tex. Jan. 8.?Work on
the east end extension to Galveston's
great sea well, designed to protect
this island from gulf storms, will proceed
with redoubled vigor this winter,
according to Major L. M. Adams,
U. S. engineer in charge.
But 1,200 feet of the big concrete
and steel battlement remain to be
constructed. For the completion of
this stretch congress has been asked
to appropriate $1,500,000. Major
Adams hopes to tear away the last
form by Aug. 1.
With the building of approximately
six and one half miles of sea wall,
f n-rt nf frini+v r, f flo 1VOC f AT) ' C
K, W \J \J L IU^ ll mi i T \j i uui i vuwvai
great engineering projects will then
have been completed.
In 1919, after six years' work, the
city's grade was raised 12 feet. The
third municipal enterprise under way
is the repairing of the two-mile concrete
causeway connecting the island
the Texas mainland. A portior
of this, battered to debris by the
storm of 1915, still is unfinished.
The extension of the sea wall is a
replica of that completed in October,
1905, built jointly by the county and
federal governments.
The wall is 17 feet above mean
low tide and roughly 1.5 feet above
the high water mark of 1900. With
a base of 16 feet, sloping backward
from the gulf to a top width of 5
feet, the wall is reinforced at intervals
of ten feet throughout its length
with steel rods half an inch in diameter
and ten feet long. Huge granite
boulders form a rip-rap at its foot.
In the assaults of the 1915 storm,
these big rocks, many of them weighing
tons, were picked up by the
waves and hurled again and again
against the sea wall. In spite of this
bombardment the damage to the wall
was almost negligible, according to
engineers.
The second engineering project?
by which the city literally lifted itself
by its own boot straps?was that
of raising the grade an average of 12
feet. Approximately 20,000,000 cubic
yards of sand from the Gulf of
Mexico was poured into the city by
huge dredges, which brought their
cargoes through a canal dug across
the island for that purpose.
Houses, business buildings, street
car tracks, telephone and telegraph
poles were 'relentlessly wrecked or
moved to make way for its waterway.
The job of raising Galveston was 'Degun
in July, 1904, and completed in
July 1910. It cost citizens of the
city and county $2,000,000.
The third of the trinity of projects,
the causeway connecting this island
with the mainland, received a setback
in the battering administered by
the tropical hurricane of five years
ago.
Originally constructed of solid
concrete slabs set longitudinally at
both ends, with a series of arches in
the center, the causeway prior to the
storm was considered impregnable.
Each end was filled with sand and
earth, over which was constructed
railway, interurban and vehicular
traffic roadways. The assault of the
storm, however, broke through the
armor and speedily washed away the
sand and earth filling, after which the
shell collapsed.
In the rebuilding of the causeway,
the earth type of construction is being
followed out exclusively. Engineers
in charge expect to complete
the repairs of this structure within
twelve months.
Sweet Potato Problem.
It is well recognized that there are
two undeveloped factors in the sweet
potato problem*.upon whose solution
depends the* prosperity or failure of
the industry. One is the establishment
of properly operated curing
houses and the other is adequate
methods and facilities for marketing.
The curing house is absolutely indispensable
if the potato is brought to
its maximum state as an edible food
of unsurpassed excellence. The
''cured" potato only needs an introduction
in order that it may win its
way to the most fastidious table. It
only remains then to develop the
marketing side of the situation: but
that must developed on an extensive
scale and in all its important
particulars, from grading and crating
to salesmanship in the northern
markets. If this would seem a large
undertaking, let it be remembered
that a vast field of opportunity is
involved. What organized industry
did to lift the Georgia peach and
w-atermelon crops it can do for the
sweet potato.
HARDING FAVORS
SMALLER FORCE
PEACE TIME ARMY PLANS GAIN
INDORSEMENT.
Kahn Visits Marion
Chairman of House Military Committee
Holds Conference With
the President-Elect.
Marion, Ohio, Jan. 7.?The plan of
Republican leaders in congress to
limit the peace time strength- of the
army to 150,000 was given approval
today by President-elect Harding in
a conference with Representative
Kahn, of California, chairman of the
house military committee. *
"Senator Harding is in complete
accord with our policy," said Mr.
Kahr, after a long talk with the pres1/1
f _a1 a/if 4 4 TJ a id a/^rvl tt aar?r>at*n_
lUCilL_ClCV/l.. ilC lO 'UCCpiJ V/WlAV^Ci i-l."
ed about reduction of the burden now
resting on the shoulders of taxpayers
and he believes much can be saved
by reducing the army strength to
175,000 as soon as possible and then
working it down to 150,000 as a continuing
maximum.
"I am sure Senator Harding does
not believe that the millenium has
come, but I do not think he is expecting
trouble in the near future."
The conference, at which Mr.
Harding also indicated his desire for
a well organized reserve force, was
one of a series he is holding with
congressional leaders in charge of
military and navy legislation. Soon
he is to see Chairman Butler of the
house naval committee to urge retrechment
in that arm of the service
and to shape a continuing policy for
naval armament.
Although the army occupied the
president-elect's major attention today,
many other questions were talked
over by him in the course of a
busy .string of conferences. One visitor
who attracted particular attention
was Andrew W. Melton, of Pittsburgh.
Dubliclv indorsed by Senator
Penrose, of Pennsylvania, for secretary
of the treasury. He had a long
conference with Senator Harding at
which he said general conditions were
discussed.
The qualifications x>f Sherman P.
Houston, of Missouri, for secretary of
agriculture, were urged upon the
president-elect by a delegation from
that state.
They brought a formidable array
of indorsements by Republican leaders,
farm organizations and livestock
men of Missouri. Among other callers
were: E. Finley Johnson, a member
of the supreme court of the Philippines;
Clarence B. Miller, secretary
of the Republican national committee;
Joseph R. Goundy, president of
the Pennsylvania Manufacturers association;
Andrew Squires, of Cleveland,
who discussed the Panama canal,
and E. W. Hulster, of Cleveland,
a worker for the near east relief.
Again tonight Mr. Harding "Walked
the burning sands" of the Masonic
order, receiving initiation into the
Mystic Shrine at Columbus, where on
Wednesday he was made a 32nd degree
Mason.
Leaves Note Behind.
Gaffney, Jan. 9.?The Jones-Poole
Mule company, of Gaffney, had an unusual
experience Friday night when
a valuable mare "was stolen from its
barn together with a bridle and saddle.
The unusual feature was that
a note was left by the thief telling
of the fact that he had taken the
horse, saddle and bridle, and that
when he arrived at his destination he
would return the saddle and bridle,
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and would send pay ior me ammai
as soon as lie could dispose of her.
The note was signed with the name
of Fred Wolff. Wolff is a young fellow
about 17 years of age and it is
said he has been living in Gaffney for
more than a year, and that he has
worked more or less for the JonesPoole
Mule company. Wolff has
told people since he has been in Gaffney
that his home is in Charleston'.
, There was a lock on the stall from
j which the horse was taken.
Breaking it Gently.
"You waste too much paper," said
the editor.
"But how can I economize?"
"By writing on both sides."
"But you won't accept stories written
on both sides of the sheet!"
"I know. But you'd save paper
just the same."?Boston Transcript.
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HOMICIDE RECORD
OFFICIALLY TOLD
SOLICITORS' REPORTS SHOW
MANY CASES.
Not total for State
; This List Includes Only Those Cases
on Which There Has Been
Some Court Action.
Columbia, Jan. 10.?During the
year just closed 178 men and women
were officially charged with murder
by the courts of the state, according
to figures compiled from the 14 solicitors'
reports and embodied in the
i annual report to the general assembly
! of Attorney General Wolfe. In addi!
tion of these figures 65 men and women
were officially charged with manslaughter
by the courts, making a total
of 243 homicide cases.
These figures convey in a manner
the number of homicides committed
in the state during the year, but an
exact number cannot be determined
from the records as some of the men
and women have not come before
the courts and then again some of
those charged with murder were perhaps
convicted of manslaughter.
There are also deaths which remain
mysteries. The records obtainable
are only where cases were actually
tried or brought officially before the
courts. The total number of those
charged with murder and manslaughter
during the year was 243.
An extremely interesting fact is
gleaned from the report of Mr. Wolfe
in the number of acquittals of those
charged with murder and the contrast
with the number of convictions. Of
the cases before -the courts 93 were
found "not guilty" of murder and 73
were found guilty. Eleven cases were
reported with no bills and discontinued
while one mistrial was reported
for the entire state.
The figures for manslaughter show
an opposite turn with the juries with
59 convictions and five acquittals.
One mistrial was recorded. The statistics
on murder follow" by circuits:
No Not Mis- GuilBill
Guilty trial ty
1st circuit .. ..4 9 0 5
2nd circuit .. ..1 12 1 2
3rd circuit .. ..0 4 0 3
4th circuit .. ..0 4 0 19
5th circuit .. ..2 4 0 5
6th circuit .. ..0 11 0 5
7th circuit .. ..0 2 0 6
8th circuit .. ..1 11 0 1
9th circuit .. ..0 3 0 10
10th circuit ..17 0 2
11th. circuit ..1 4 0 1
12th circuit ..16 0 5
13th circuit ..0 6 0 3
14th circuit ..0 10 0 3
Totals 11 93 1 73
In the number of manslaughters
the records by circuits show the following:
Guil- Not Mis
ty Guilty trial
1st circut 7 0 0
2nd circuit 20 2 1
3rd circuit 3 0 0
4th circuit O 0 0
5th circuit 1 2 0
6th circuit 0 0 0
7th circuit 10 0 0
8 tli circuit 9 1 0
9th circuit 0 1 0
10th circuit 3 0 0
11th circuit 4 0 0
12th circuit 1 0 0
13th circuit 0 0 0
14th circuit 1 0 .0
Totals 59 6 1
There were no cases in the fourth,
sixth and thirteenth circuits.
FOUR ESCAPE FROM JAIL.
Fred Lawson Saws Way to Liberty.
Burglary Charged.
Florence, Jan. 9.?After sawing
his way through two sets of bars
Fred Lawson, recently arrested in
Charleston and brought here for
trial, made his escape from the county
jail tonight about 9 o'clock. Three
negro prisoners, S)ne charged with
murder and the others with burglary,
made their getaway at the same time.
Lawson was arrested in Charleston
recently on a charge of breaking into
several stores at Poston, this county,
He was in the act of marketing stolen
property at the time of his arrest.
The manner employed by the fugitive
in securing the saw which gained
him liberty is a mystery to the
authorities'. He sawed his way
through the bars of the cell and
gained entrance to the hallway from
which he made his way to the open
by cutting away the window bars.
Local authorities are scouring the
city tonight in an effort to find the
escaped man.
ROB WALTERBORO POSTOFFICE.
Yegg-men Blow Open Safe and Gather
Valuables.
Walterboro, Jan. 9.?Yeggmen
blew open the safe of the Walterboro
postoffice at an early hour this morning,
and secured considerable booty
in the shape of money, stamps and
registered mail. It is not known just
the amount secured, but it will reach
into several hundred dollars. Fortunately
they did not enter the strong
box of the safe where most of the
valuables of the office is kept. Entrance
was had into the postoffice
through the front door, the back door
was also wide open.
The yeggmen were evidently professionals.
The safe door was completely
wrecked. A cake of soap, some
wrenches and files were left scattered
about. Some residents of the
neighborhood heard the explosion
about 2 o'clock, but thought nothing
of it, as there has been so much shooting
of fireworks during and since the
holidays. It seems that there were
two explosions, and that they were
about ten or fifteen minutes apart.
H. Zaliri, whose residence is over his
store, next door to the postoffice,
states that he was awakened by Mrs.
Zalin early in the morning and that
there was an automobile standing in
front of the postoffice with the engine
running at the time they heard
the explosion, but that in a minute
or two following the explosion he
looked out and there was no one or
no car in sight.
Postmaster C. D. C. Adams has notified
the authorities and is awaiting
the arrival of an inspector. No trace
of the yeggmen was left behind.
Among the registered packages taken
were two for the First National Bank
from the Federal Reserve Bank, con
taining $250 of Liberty bonds.
This is the second time that the
Walterboro postoffice has been robbed,
the first time being in January
1900> when B. Levy was postmaster.
At that time the robbers secured more
i
than in last night's haul. Mr. Adams
had deposited the money of the ofiice
just before the closing of the bank
yesterday, and this accounts for the
fact that there was not a much richer
haul for the robbers.
CHAIN BETRAYS YOUTH.
Officers Capture Young Man Who Had
Left Chaingang.
Rock Hill, Jan. 9.?Betrayed by
the rattling of the chain, which he^
failed to remove, William Brooks, a
young white man who escaped from
the Mecklenburg chaingang, was last
night taken to Charlotte by Deputy
Sheriff R. E. Hunter and will serve
the remainder of his sentence. He
did not aDDear disturbed over his ar
rest and seemed willing enough to
return and finish his month of servitude
in the Tarheel county.
Brooks rolled into town Thursday
morning and the attention of officers
was attracted by the tinkling of the
links in the chain about his leg.
Brooks made no effort to escape and
frankly told the officers that he had
taken French leave. He had removed
the chain from his left leg, but still
wore his right anklet and the chain
was passed up his trouser leg to
the belt. Had he taken the trouble
to remove this chain he would probably
have not been suspected.
The prisoner stated he was given
a six months sentence for being implicated
in some thefts in Charlotte,
but protested his innocence. He
served faithfully and was counting
on the month off for good behavior.
His time would have expired February
2 and with a month off he was
due to be released on January 2. He
| remained at work through January
5 and although he was not given nis
walking papers, he proceeded to
walk. When asked what would be
done with him for escaping, Brooks
opined that he wrould simply have to
serve his remaining 30 days.
SOUTH CAROLINA FOR COX.
Presidential Electors Cast Ballots for
Nominees.
Columbia, Jan. 10.?The Democratic
Presidential electors for South
Carolina met here today and cast
their nine ballots for James M. Cox,
of Ohio, for president, and Franklin
D. Roosevelt, of New York, for vice
president. MacBeth Young, of Union,
was chairman of the meeting and
Herman Lightsey, of JBrunson, was
secretary. W. S. Hall, of Gaffney,
j was chosen as messenger to deliver
i the vote to the president of the United
States and senate, and he will
leave for Washington January 24.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
CONVENED TUESDAY
SENATE AND HOUSE COMPLETE
ORGANIZATION.
. v
Cothran Speaker
Senate Opened by J. T. Liles?J. WiK
son Gibbes, Clerk of House, and
M. M. Mann, Clerk of Senate.
Columbia, Jan. 11.?The house of
representatives was organized here
today with the reelection of Thomas
P. Cothran, of Greenville, as speaker.
J. Wilson Gibbes, of Columbia, was
reelected clerk; A. E. Hutchinson, of
| Rock Hill, reading clerk; James S.
Wilson, of Lancaster, sergeant-atarms,
and the Rev. R. A. Keaton,
pastor of the Greene Street Metho- s
dist church, this city, chaplain. No
one was opposed.
jl lit: must important action taKen
by the lower body today was the
overwhelming adoption by the members
of an amendment to the rules
of the house, introduced by R. I.
McDavid, of Greenville, taking out
of the hands of the speaker the appointment
of committee chairmenship
and making them elective by
the members. The committee members,
however, will continue to be
named by the presiding officer.
Columbia., Jan. 11.?With a short
address by James T. Liles, of Orangeburg,
lieutenant governor, in which
Mr. Liles said he was delighted to
be again at the head of the upper
branch of the general assembly, the
senate was quickly organized shortly
after the noon hour, having convened
promptly at twelve.
Senator Alan Johnstone, of New- I
berry, w*as unanimously elected president
pro tern, succeeding the late
LeGrande Walker, of Georgetown,
r? - Mr.
Johnstone was unopposed. After
his election he thanked the senate
for the high honor and said that he
would perform the duties of the position
to the best of his ability. Mr.
Johnstone said his age and health
might prevent his serving as president
pro tern and also his work on
several important committee, but he
said he would make the best effort
.possible to serve in all capacities ami
if after trying for a week or two *
and findng that he was unable to perform
all duties without impairing his
I health he would so inform the sen>
ate.
Senator Black, of Bamberg, offered
the name of Senator Johnstone and
the vote was 39, there beng no opI
position. Several senators seconded
the nomination. \
The senate likewise elected Mar.
vin M. Mann, of St. Matthews, as
clerk, the Rev. W. S. Stokes, as reading
clerk, J. Fred Schumpert as sergeant-at-arms
and the Rev. C. A.
Freed as chaplain. All these officers
were chosen unanimously, no other
candidates being in the race.
Committees were nominated by*
Senator Black and all assignments ^
wer^ j?ie as previously agreed upon.
Made Appointments.
The following appointments were
announced: Secretary to lieutenant
governor, Miss N?ll deTreville, of Columbia;
pages, Hal W. Richardson/
of Columbia, and Croft Jennings, of
Bishopville; doorkeepers, T. A. Scott,
I of Wateree, W. M. Eagle, of Graniteville,
and T. B. Tallon, of Columbia.
Marvin Mann, clerk of the senate,
will announce other clerks and
attaches today.
SEES PRESIDENT WILSON.
Dr. Dercum "Immensely Gratified"
Over Condition.
Wflflhine'tnn. .Tan. 9.?Dr. Francis
X. Dercum, the Philadelphia nerologist
who was called in for consulta%
tion during the early stages of President
Wilson's illness, visited the white
House today for the first time in two
months and spent some time with
Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson, the,
president's personal physician.
Dr. Grayson said that no significance
was attached to Dr. Dercum's
visit, it merely being made, he said,
in accordance with the arrangement
reached several months ago that the
Philadelphia specialist should come
to Washington occasionally for consulfation.
Dr. Dercum was said by Dr. Grayson
to have expressed himself as "immensely
gratified" over the condition,
of the president.
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