The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, January 26, 1921, Image 1
VOLUME XXXV1. LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1921.
T[N HN KILLED
IN, CA_[XLOSION
Terrific Explosion om Mem
phis Outskirts
PROPERTY DAMAGE
OVER $200,000
Block of Frame Dwelllugs Leveled to
the Ground and Inmnates Caught
Beneath Falling Tinbers. Theory
on Spontaneous Combustion Is Ad.
vanced.
Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 24.-Ten ne
groes dead, approximately a score in
jured, some -probably fatally, and pro
party damage estimated at $200,000,
made up the known toll tonight of an
explosion of "casing head" gasoline
awaiting unloading from a tank car
to the plant of the Colyar Reese Coin
pany in North Memphis, which let go
this morning with a blast thitt wrecked
a part of the oil plant, leveled a block
of frame d-wellings and shook the en
tire north end of the city.
Of the Injured, two are vhite per
sons: L. C. Scott, superintendent of
the Reese plant, and L. C. Wilder,
truck superintendent. Both were bad
ly burned hut .physlians stated to
night .they will recover.
Colyar Reese, president of the oil
company, attributed the explosion to
spontaneous combustion, due to the
contact of vapor escaping from the
tank car when the metallic cap was
removed preparatory to unloading the
car, came in contact with the atmos
phere. The tank car, which contained
8,000 gallons of casing head gasoline
produced by the absorption process,
was shipped here from Kelleyville,
Oklahoma, Mr. Rbeese stated, and was
loaded in a low temperature. When
-the cap 'was' removed, according to his
theory, the vapor camine in contact with
much higher atmospheric conditions
here and the explosion followed.
It was stated that representatives of
the United States bureau of explosives
and experts frein the refinery from
which the car was shipped will ar
rive tomorrow to delinitely determine
the cause of the blast.
When the explosion let go a row of
tenement houses along an entire block
were splintered and the, occupants
thrown to the street or caught under
the falling ilmbers. Most of those
killed outright were badly man-gled
w'hile several of the Injured were so
badly -burned they died soon after
reaching a hos.pital. When police and
firemen reached the scene the streets
and alleys in the vicinity were littered
with splintered timbers and torn and
.twisted household goods, with the
dead and injured caught in the tangled
mass of wreckage.
Andrw.-McKinley, the negro who
was removing the dome from the tan:
car when the explosion occurred, was
hurled several hnd red feet through
the air. 1He was badly burned and
died tonight. McKinley .was quoted as
anying that when h3e removed the cap,
gas rose to a height of twenty feet
andi formcd a pal I of hlack smoke
which ignited and exploded.,
Almost simultaneously 1)ools of oil
on the ground caug'ht fire and a sec
ond explosion oceu rredl. One report
was that McKinley used a chisel in
attempts to remove the cap from the
ear. Thnis, however, has not been
verified. Mr. Reese stated that his
I yestigation dlisproyedl any theory
other than that 'the explosion was
caused by spontaneous combiust ion.
Blesidies the damage in the imme
diate vicinity, window glasses within
a radius of several blocks were shat
tered by the concussion which 'was
felt a dlistance of half a mile from the
scone. Two sheds at the plant of the
Colyar Reese plant were lifted bodily
from their foundations.
Fire which followved in the wake of
the explosion, completed the wvork of
destruction. The flames wore checked,
however, before they spread beyond
the aplintered wreckage,
Mr. and Mrs. E~d. Hicka loft last
week for West Point, Miss., where they
wil' loin their 'parents, Mr. ang Mrs.
Je (F.. Hicks, to make their hiomec
there- They swere joined -the latter
part of the week by Mr. oJhn Sumner
who has beea associated 'In business
with thonm for several years. The
many friends of all of these regret
to see themi innwvo Taurans,
NARIROW ESCAPJ
FOl ELECTIC LINEMAN
Ernest Tolflson Severely Shocked
While Working on Electric Lino
role.
Ernest Tollison, 18 years of age,
lineman in the employ of the Reedy
River Power Com-pany, received a se
vere elotrical shock Monday afternoon
while working on a pole on Caroline
street at'the end of J. C. Shell & Com
-pany's store and for awhile spectators
who ,were attracted to the ' scene
thought that he would be electrocuted.
After he was taken down from the
pole, however, and given medical at
tention it was found that he had not
been seriously burned or otherwise
permanently affected, Tle wire with
which he had come in contact 'was of
220 voltage, strong enough to give a
severe shock but not necessarily fatal.
Young Tollison was helping run a
1wire from this post to the building
formerly occupied by L. B. Blackwell
as a printing shop. He was safely
strapped -to the cross arms of the -pol
and had a flirm fout-hold w'ith his
cleats when he accidentally touched
the high voltage wire. The force of
the charge knocked his hand loose and
his body backwards, so that he was
only held by the pole-straps in a limp
and almost unconscious condition. Ire
was able to mako enough sound, how
ever, for Mr. .1. C. Shell who happened
-to come out of the rear end or his
store, to hear him. Mr. Shell rushed
for his telephone and had the current
turned off the wire. Some oie else
called for the fire -wagon, and with the
use of ladders and rope the young
muan was brought safely to the ground.
lie was carried to the store-room of
the larney Electric Company and giv
on miedict-1 treatment. He soon re
vived and was able to walk home. Tes
terday it was reported, he was feeling
the 1worse for his e'xperience and re
mained at home. It was found that
the bottom 6f his feet- had been con
siderable burned where they came In
contact with a aground iwire.
RURAL SCHOOLS URGED
TO TRY FOB PRIZES
IRural School Improvement Associa
tions Should Send in Reports to
Qualify for Prizes.
.\liss .Minnie Wallace, who has re
cently taken charge of the Rural
School ImprovemenL Association work
of the county, is attempting to interest
the schools of the county in the state
wide contest now, being carried on in
the Interest of rural school improve
ment. There are several prizes offered'
for which the associations of the coun
ty may qualify, says Miss r Wallace,
and she has urged all 'the schools of
the county to enter. Under the con
test rules eVeIry iuprloVemeIt associa,
tion is re quired to send regularly the
report of tho monthly meting so .that
it may be forwarded 'to the- st-ate or
ganizer for credit in the contest. le
sies the larger prizes, the contest
providles for ta $5.00 prizo for every
scltool which, sen(is inl a monthly re
Port for the timute bet w ,n March 1,
1920 and 'Mat-cit , 1921. 1 lack rep~orts,
states Miss Wallace, may be sent in
now and rce~ivye full ecredit.
Grteen l'otnd, Shiloh, Lanford, Water
1 loo an liatrksdale-Nar'nio are tihe only
schools wlehcl have sent reports, aic
cording to the records ini Miss Wal
l.ue's oflice. Othter schools wishintg to
'.ry for the prizes atre asked b~y hetr to
send~ in their reports at once or wvrite
her11 for Information.
I Fishteries Declares Dividendi
On account of -the large amount of
stock held in tIs county, prtincpally
by farmers, in 'the Fis-heries Produtcts
Cotmpany, of Wilmilngtot, N. 0., mutch
interest was attacted to tile mooting
of 'lhe dlirectors held In Wilminlgton on
Ji, ary 18th. According td the WVll
mittgitn Dispatch, dlivldends of 10 atnd
8 :per cent wore (declared en thle cotm
mont and1 p referred stock resplectively,
to he p~aid either In cash or fertilizers.
The statement fo" '' "o less than at
yer' bsness, shiowed net roflts o
Barks dale-Hammnd
Miss 'Elizabeth Blarksdale, the at
tractive (laughter of Mmr. and~ Mrs. W.
H. .Unarksdalo, and Mr. Arthur 'iam
mond, of Spat'tanburg, wem'e happily
married Sunday afternoon at 2:30
o'clock at the home of the bride's ipar-.
onts between Gray Curt and Barks
dale Station, Only a few intimate
friends and relatives were present.
The ceremony was performed by Rev,
j)Graven L. Knight I) n)
DISCREPANCY IN
RETURNS OF AUTOS
2912 Registered for License Tags In
Lauxens, bat Only 1926 Returned
for Taation.
A discrepancy of 81,241. automobiles
and trucks Is rioted in scomparing the
total number of licenses issued by the
state highway commission during
1920, and the total number of motor
vehicles returned for taxation by the
people of the state as shown in the
annual report of Comptroller General
Suthorland, says the Columbia State.
Laurens county had 2912 automo
biles and motorcycles rogistered for
licenses during 1920, but only 1,926 re
turned for taxation, a discropancy of
The comparison of these figures
shows that licenses issued for auto
mobiles, trucks and motorcycle to
taled 94,751, and the number of au
toniobiles, trucks, motorcycles and
bicycles returned for taxation in the
entire state was 63,510 leaving 31,
211 unaccounted for.
All counties in the state are short
a number of automobiles and trucks,
according to the figures with the cx
ception of Marion county, which re
turned 142 more than was licensed,
indlcatifig that some of the automobile
owners may have forgotten to secure
licenses.
In the total number of motor vehl
ele, registered by the high way com
mission for the year, (renville (oun.
ty leads with 6,860, and ltehland
county is second with 6,1.23, whil- An
derson runs -a third. In the differ
enee between the number licensed and
the number returned for taxation
Greenville also leads with 3,001 ac
cording to the figures from the high
way commission and the comptroller
-general.
Another interesting fact brought to
light is that Allendale, Bamberg,
Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper and Salu
da have no motorcycles, according to
the license figures
The state highway commission
does not license bicycles, but they are
required to be returned for taxation,
and taking this in consideration, the
discrepancy is still larger. There are
908 motorcycles registered.
$1,416,375,000 T1H1E FIRE LOSS
IN UNITED STATES
New York, Jan. 23.-Property worth
$1,416,375,000, the equivalent of 283,275
new houses at $5,000 each or more
than enough to shelter the total -popu
lation of a state as large as Connecti
(-it was destroyed by fire in the Uni
ted Stat's in the perIod from 1915 to
1919, as shown by the (Iuinqiennial
analysis of 3,500,000 adjustments made
Public by tihe national board of fire
uinderwriter;4 here tonight.
Flectricity, the chief cause of fire
loss, led with a total of $81,0S6,471 for
the five years. Matches and smoking
stood second with $73,47-1,348, and (he
fective chi mneys came next with *56,
50,9 1 5. Other causes in their order,
were: Stoves, furnmaces, hollers, and
thter i' pes, $55, 133,1 81; spontaneous
:ombilust ion, $149,702,88S; lightning,
$39,828,489; sparks on roofs, $29.27 1,
585; and pet roleum and( its produclts
$25,91 0,434. Incendiarism con tribuited
$21,.596,965 to the damage, and mis
cellaneous unknown causes completed
the total,
"RIPi VAN WINKL1E"
IN SUMTER JIAIL
Prisoner Sleeps TIwo Days anmd NIghia
andti is llefreshe(d by 'Nap.
Sumter, Jan. 22.--George W\ells, a
negro of this city, has established a
record for sound sleeping even for
that race of good sleepers. The place
was the city .guard1 house whIch Is
evidently comfortable and convenient
for a rest cure. Wells was empiiloyed
ais deliyman for Efird's D~epartment
store until he was acecusedl of taking
shoes andI hiding them .behind the
store, lie was then lodged in the
guard house, awhere he went to sleep
Monday afternoon about 0 o'clock.
Truesdlay morning, not havIng stirred,
the offlcers tried to wake him but to
no avail. 'Dlwo .physicians werec sum
muoned and they too failed to arouse
him. Hie was shaken, tickled and put
through many tests, but George slept
on. One of his friends came forwvard,
stood lis b)Ond, had him remfoved to
his homne on Railroad avenue. Wed.
nesday afternoon "Rip Van Winkle"
arose and shook himself and appeared
none the worse for the lng slumber,
SECOND TERM OF
GOVERNOR COOPER
Associato Justico R, C. Watts Admin
bIters Oath of Office to Gov. Robert
A. Cooper.
Columbia, Jan. 19.--The utmost sim
plicity marked the inauguration yes
terday of Robert A. Cooper of 1Laurens
as -governor of the state of South Caro
lina. The fact that he had been unop
posed in the race for the office, com
bined with the fact that he was enter
ing on his second term tended to les
sen to a certain extent the display
which is sometimes shown on such
occasions.
Ostentation was strictly taboo, all
the ceremonies incident to the occa
'ion being performed with a befit.
ting dignity and reserve, all of which
tended to make the inauguration tin
pressive. The ceremonies were held
in the hall of the house of represen
tatives in the presence of the mem
bers of the house of representatives
and of the senate. The balcony was
filled with visitors, the number of
women attending being especially no
ticeable.
Promptly at 12:30 o'clock P. S. Wil
son, Sergeant-at-arms, announced the
arrival of the senate. After the mnem
bers had reached the chairs reserved
for them, the sergeant-at-arms an
nounced the arrival of the governor
elect, the lieutenant governor-elect
and their esorts.
lirayer iwas offered by the chaplain
of the house, the Rev. R. L. Keaton.
.J. T. lilies, retiring lieutenant gov
ernor, who presided over the exer
ci~soes, announced that It. A. Cooper
was present and was ready to take
the oath of ofice. The oath was ad
minfistered by Justice R. C. Wtatts of
Laurens.
Immediately after taking the oath
of oflice Govrnor Cooper delivered his
inaugural address, being given the
closest attention by the audience. At
its conclusion, the audience broke into
hearty applause. Ills entire message
was devoted to a discussion of educa
tion.
Wilson G. Harvey Was then sworn
in as lieutenant governor after which
he took charge of the exercises and
dissolved the general assembly. The
senate at once retired to its hall,
where the new lieutenant governor do
livered his address.
The exercises occupiled just :0 nina
uites, the town clock striking one as
Mr. Liles turned over to Mr. Ilarvey
the gavel.
Other state offlcers assuming their
duties yesterday !were S. '. Carter,
treasurer; W. W. Moore, adjutant and
inspector general; San M. Wolfe, at
torney general; W. Hranks Dove, sec
retary of state; Walter M3. Duncan,
comiptroller general; 1. 1larris, corn
missioner of agriciltur re; .1. ESwear
inogen, state surjperintenadent of educa
tion; Frank W. Shealy, railroad coin
missioner.
Of the various olicers, only Wal
ter 10. Duncan, comptroller general,
aId Wilson 0. Harvey, lieutenant
governor, are serving for the 11ir'st
time.
MORE FORl E'ASTiE UN SI'ElIEII$
Anothfier Rem it lance Forwarded to
C'olunmbia For' Near* East Rtelief.
Thre Advertiser made another remit -
tance of $27.50) Iast week to 10. 0.
Black, Columbia, chai rman for this
state of thre Near Nast Relief Fund.
The contribuitors were two sons of
Mr. and Mr's. 'tr'nchoff, Mr'. 'and~ Mrs.
Rt. B. Terry and Mr's. J. A. P. Moore,
as follows:
Wmn. H~enry Blenchoff. .. .. ..$10.00
Robert IF. ]Benchoff . .. .. . ...10.00
Mmrs. .J. A. P. Moore.. ........2.50
Rt. B. Terry ..............2.50
Mrs Rt. 13. Ter'ry.. .........2.50
Total ............ .....$27.50
WOMAN OF' SUI'TER
DIES: FIIOM BURNS
Newspapler ('atches From ireplarce
anid Sets ('lothning on Fire.
Sumter, Jan. 22.-Miss Sue Birowvn
died at the Tuomoy hospital Fariday
night from the effects of hur ns last
Sunday afternoon, .whe'n the paper
shre was readling caught on fire from
an open flireplace and her dress caught
fr'om that. Tihe flames were -puit out
b~y members of the family and she was
rushed -to tihe hospital from the home
of her sister, Mrs. Terry, in Oswego.
The funeral services will be held at
Bethel church, Oswego, Sunday morn
ing at 1 1 o'nclok,
TWO CITY EMPOYEES
REPLACED BY OTHIEIRS
Street Superintendent and Night Po.
Iloeman Replaced without a Hear
ing er Notice of Discharge.
Two more ex-soldiers were thrown
out of employment Monday night by
City Council when Carlisle Bolt, street
overseer, and J. C. Senn, extra police
man put on for night work, were dis
placed without a hearing or charges
being -preferred against them, and S.
It. Dorroh and ex-Chief of Police Ed
Blakely elected to their places. Mayor
Pro-Ten Albert Dial presided at the
meeting and others present were Al
derimen Bishop, Moore, Smith and Ir
viii. Alderman Moore, it is reliably
reported, refused to vote oil the ques
tion of displacing the old men an(d the
mayor pro-tein was without voice in
the Inatter.
Mr. 1ilot, wio was placed in charge
of street work when Capt. Richey
went Into office, said yesterday that he
was taken entirely by surprise by the
annoinceriient that lie had been re
moved and was ignorant of any charg
es against him or any criticism of his
woi k other than may be ordinarily
expected.
Policeman Senn, stated Chief J. T.
Crews yesterday, was placed on the
force as an extra man just before
Ch ristm ii oni ()0 acconti of the nuimer
ous11 reports of burglaries in su rrounld
ing towns. The now1 man bore a good
record for service, but on account of
economy Chief Crews had stated that
it might he advisable to take him of?
-lal redlce the foi-ce, he having been
added only as a temporary man.
Sentiment was crystalizing yestor
(lay in certain (quarters to have the ac
tion of council rescinded when the new
itayor goes into office.
LA!I)ES REST ROOM
VISITED BY MANY
Nearly Every State East of the Mis
sissippi Represented on Registry
1ooli.
Nearly every state in the Union east
of the 'MississippI besides three states
west of the Mississippi were repre
sented among the guests who regis
tered in the (Ladies Rest Room, accord
ing to the report just issued by the
Business Women's Club, which spon
sors the Rest R0oom. 'Tlhe only two
states east of the Mississippi not rep
resented on the register were Vermont
and New IHampshire, while the three
states fromi the West who had visitors
Were T'exas, Ca.ifol-nia antd Washing
toil. 'I'hio visitors from California
were Itraeling by automlobie el Wd I
whilO havinug their Var repaired visit
ed the liest Roomii and were delighted
\% ith its appoitiments. '' hey said that
it compared favorably with simila.,
rest roomts il other cities of 'he 'iLcd
'i'weity-sevel hund-red visitors reg
istered at the Hest Ioom diring 1 120,
colintinues the report, an1d n o doubt!
iany more took adv'ait age of the coil
veiendces thert afforded buit did not
plaice thir namiiiies upon0 thle register.
"it has been ourt aimi to seve the
public at lar-ge" says the report, "mak
Iiig our1 lown anld countliy more attrac
tivo to visitors and any strangers who
might !iass this way.
"We extenld to the business men of
lie city ou sinceri(ie thankls for thelir
supp)Iort dur-ing .the piast year, also for
their generods contrib~utions just re
celved for- this, the firlst (uar-tet- of
192 i.
"It has just occurired to us t hat
there imighit he othei-s aside'from those
al1ready contributing who wouild be
glad to hielp Pcarriy onl tihis good work
and1( any conutrib~ution can be sent to
out- treasureri or mali-on at any time."
Bishop Kilge Better.
The niews from the bedside of
Bishop John11 (. Kilgo, wilt underwent,
ian operaion a(11t a C harlotte hiospit al
about. a week ago is enicour aginig, said
Rev. P. F. Kilgo, his brothe-, whien lie
was asked abiout the condition of the
bishop. Bishop Kilgo was horn in
Lauriens and( lie ha~s a gi-eat many
fr-lends herec who ai-e strongly attached
to himi andt hope that he wvill -ecovor
his health again.
Smnll tet (Cast.
A very small11 vote was cast in the
greeral elction for' may01- yesterdiay,
Mr. Jno. A. Franks, of courise, receiv
ing all tile votes. Mir. Franks will
ver-y ;probably -be ind~uicted into office
the latter part of tis week or the
first of next wveek.
U. S. L[ADING
1I SHIP BUILDING
Lauschings In 1920 2,275,.
000 Tons
GREAT BRITAIN
CAME SECOND
United States Lead the World in 19,20
in Gross Toniage of Merchanitmen
Built, According to Figures Just Out.
Great, Britain lIainked Second.
New York, Jan. 2-1.-The United
States led the world onl the total gross
tonls of merchant. vessels laun lched in
1920 according to ligures inade puldid
today by Iloyd's register of shilpilig.
The total launchings in ship yards
of the world amountedl to 5,861,000
gross tons, a decrease of almost 1,300,
000 from the 1919 figure, but an In
crease of more than .100,000 over 1918.
Tho total for the United States was
2,276,000 tons, while Great Britain was
second wih2.0;5.5,000 t onis. Japan,
launched 4156,000 tois last year, t de
crease from 611,000 t.ols in 1919.
Lloyd's points out that at the begin
ning of 1920 the United States and
Great Britain had on hand practical
ly the same aiounlit of construction to
be completed and Credits amllong
yards witLh greater spced than thoso
In. Great Britain in that this country
exceeded England's total by 20 per
cent.
The decline in the total :world ton
nage launched was attributed to the
decline in tho American ship building
program, America's launching being
1,600,000 tons less than in the previ
ous year. British production showed
a gain of more than 400,000 tons.
Other countries launched a total of
about 1,330,000 tons during 1920, or
about 20,000 tons less than In 1919.
In comparison with pre-war figures,
the launchings in the United States
were nine tImes as great as In 1913
and throughout the world there was
a gain of about 75 per cent.
For -the first time since the begin
ning of the war Great Britain last
year exceeded its 1913 figures, the
gain being about. 7 per cent.
Considerable gains over 1919 were
shown by France, which increased the
total of its launchings from 32,000
tons to 93,000 toiis last. year, IHolland
fromi 1:17,000 to 18.,00 tols, and
Italy fron N2,0im) to 13,000 tons.
Piguires for Gerimnany .were not avail
able and were not included in the
I otal.
I loyd's iilures show that, the Uni
ted States far oitstripped the rest of
Ihe world in construction of tankxer
tonnage. This$ country lauiched 167,
000 gross tons of this (laiss of vessels,
Great 1ritain 65.-00 ton., and other
couitries 8,000 toons.
Motor ship construction wvas d
elared to be on the inr.a.e with a
total of 1 90,000 grosas toil- of vessels
fittedl w ithi intnl tAilod((:nhusti onl en
gines in 1920. The total of v'essels fit
ted withl turinies which were launch
ed during thle year' was 1,.525,000 tons,
01' nly~i' a thllird of' the aggregate to
tal.
Of all the vessels l aunced last year'
th irty-two swere of 1 0,000 gross tons
or more.
Cornupar:ativ e ilgureos were conlpilled
by lhe reist ry shiowi ng the yearly
outpiuts of Grieat1 BitainI an d America
since 1918. lntil 1918 Great Britain
was in the lead in ship construict ion,
w'hen the Un ited Slates iumpl led ahead
with 3,033,000 'gross tons against 1,
.18,000 for Great Britain. In 1919 tho
'nitoel Stat e. prodne 1,(( 075,000 gross
tons against 1,.620,000 for En:lglanid.
Y'leiory Medals for F.-Sailors.
The~ Commxiandanht of the Sixthl Naval
1Distrtict has authorized J. E. 11ol1t to
(listib uto vic tory mledals to altl menf
from Laurens011 ('ennty who serve)'d in
the( Na val Reser(ive l'orce duii ng tile
war. All reservists are requIestedl to
hand him1 their name1l so thait medals
many be deli1ver'ed thleml at an early dlato.
In case of men dlischlargedl from the Re
serve Forcee thle discharge papers muist
he luresented.
Mock Weddiig
A mock wedding willl be given at
FrIendship school house by Y. W. A,
girls. Friday nighlt, January 28th, be
ginning aut seven o'clock. Admission
will hn 15 eehtsn