From Days Gone By July 14, 1916, 1917

July 14, 1916, 1917.

    1916- Annie Tolliver escaped death the other night by being away from home in the colored quarters in the south side of Wrightsville. Residents were awakened about 1am by a terrible, unaccountable noise, which soon became known was the dynamiting of Annie's house, and had she been there asleep her death would have been assured. It blew the bedstead to smithereens, broke the sill of the house square in two and sent splinters 100 yards square. She was off visiting and came home shortly afterwards and reported it to night marshal W. J. Crawford. It seems it developed in the Mayor's Court that Annie, just days earlier, had a fuss with a colored gent, which brought the two before his honor. The law is anxious to get their hands on this would-be murderer.

    Mr. D. G. Blount, one of Wrightsville's most esteemed citizens, after a dozen days of typhoid, died.He was the eldest son of Jacob N. & Etheline Blount and was born and reared here. He was a devoted Methodist and a trustee of Warthen College. He was buried at Westview and survived by his wife and two daughters, Hilda & Isabel, three brothers, Judge B. B. Blount, Prof. L. M. Blount and Mr. James Webb.

    Mr. Dennis C. Price announced for county treasurer. More boys enlisted for service: B. B. Claxton, DeWitt Todd, Clifford Wheeler, F. L. Benson, Eugene Meeks and Sonnie Davis. Mr. & Mrs. L. A. Lovett had twin boys born on the 12th.

    Postmaster R. P. Hicks let a few tour his home and the library of his grandfather, Major James Hicks, who 100 years ago was in the prime of life. Everybody knew the Major to be a great mathematician but one could not best judge his talents in this line without looking through his volumes of original analysis of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and of calculus which were wonderfully preserved.

    1917- There will be 687,000 conscripts selected for the first army with twice that number to be drawn. Wrightsville organized a Home Guard. T. M Hicks was appointed captain, Col. W. C. Brinson 1st Lt. The Home Guards are to take the place of the Regulars who are sent out. They will protect home in case of rebellion or riot and act much as a sheriff or police force. There is expected to be up to 150 enlist.

    Dr. S. M. Johnson found when he went to get his new drink's name, which he called "Pride O' Dixie" copyrighted in Washington that there was on record several names very near like his and therefore he was compelled to change it. He has renamed the drink calling it now "Big Smiles". Dr. Johnson is pushing his new drink and its growing in popularity. He aims to have it bottled before long.

    D. R. Jackson and G. Anton Faircloth took the Bar examination before Judge J. L. Kent and passed.