From Days Gone By April 21, 1917

April 21, 1917.

    Friday afternoon throughout the county fell one of the heaviest rains seldom seen in these parts and in some places a terrific and destructive hail storm raged. The hail fell the heaviest between Wrightsville and Adrian around Mr. E. J. Sumner's place and community. It piled in fence jams knee deep according to many people who came to town Saturday. Young corn and gardens suffered severely and lands were washed badly. Mr. Will Walker about noon on Saturday picked out from a pile in the jam of a fence a lump as large as a water bucket. It was a sight the older people had never seen before.

    A wholesale raid was made Saturday night on a crowd of gamblers behind Sheriff Rowland's barn on Kent's Lane. Ten of them had assembled for an evening's drag, but their pleasure was too soon to be interrupted by the appearance of policeman Jackson and Dent, along with Deputy Sheriff Tapley who marched the squad, along with two women to the guard house. The women had been arrested for disorderly conduct.

    Trade and visitors to the city were brisk Saturday. Wrightsville has attractions in the commercial and social world equal to most towns of twice the population. In fact, Wrightsville is on the map more than ever before.

    Cromwell Jackson, convicted in the U. S. Court in Augusta last week for white slavery, was sentenced to 3 years in the penitentiary at Atlanta and was immediately sent there to serve his sentence. Jackson lived in Washington County between here and Harrison. Along last fall he ran away with Maude Page, a 15 year old girl of the community, and was carried to Bridgeport, Conn. where he was arrested and returned to Georgia. The girl has come back to her home.

    Johnson County is furnishing a number of boys for all departments of the military organizations. These gone so far are: Emmett Martin, Neil B. Blount, Carson Kemp, Geo. W. Cobb, Carl Holt, J. B. Martin, Johnnie Outlaw, Ferris Blankenship, Will Grice. The Honorable John M. Outler of Dublin is coming to speak to the coloreds, "On Our Duty, As Americans In Time of War." Postmaster R. P. Hicks has placed a flag and pole atop the post office as has the Exchange Bank. "Old Glory" is popping up everywhere.

    Those who have entered the W. & T. Railroads corn and velvet bean contest are: George Porter, Inman Walker, James Claxton, Osborne Williams, Harris Moye, Clyde Vanlandingham, John Henry Beasley, Alvin Price, Zenus West, and M. Hammock.

    Little Isabell Leaptrot died at her home near Green Hill. She was the only child of Mr. & Mrs. A. D. Leaptrot, her little sister, Alberta, died 4 months earlier. Mrs. Lizzie Underwood near Meeks was buried at the family cemetery near Mr. Isham Stephens place. Mrs. Nancy Seals of Liberty Grove died also.

    Babies arrived for Mr. & Mrs. L. G. Bridges, Mr. & Mrs. G. N. Thompson, and Dr. & Mrs. Jas A. Fort. Miss Lucile Butterly became the wife of Mr. Herbert B. Sanders on the 18th, and Miss Mary Frances Salter married Mr. John Willie Glover.

    Fire destroyed a tenant house belonging to Mr. U. R. Jenkins in the quarters. It was occupied by a colored family with a loss of about $250. Automobile tire thieves are working in some of the neighborhoods. Look out for yours.