Days Gone By May 25, 1923

 May 25, 1923.

    One of the saddest occurances ever recorded in this county was the instantanous death of young Jakie Stewart, the 19 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. Archie R. Stewart on Friday afternoon at the sawmill they were operating on lands of Mr. Stewart in this county. They live in Laurens but the mill is in Johnson.

    A head-block setter at his father's sawmill, young Jakie was an experienced hand having been at it since 14. He had a fishing outing that night with friends but the father had some rush orders and wanted his son to postpone his trip to set the head-blocks.

    Around 4 pm a log had been squared and a piece of lumber being sawed. To hold the timber in its place and to keep it from warping or running out of square the lad grabbed a canthook lying close by, sunk it into the timber, and held as the death-dealing cylinder dug its way down the line towards him, who the next moment was lying across the saw, its sharp teeth having cut its way through the body, leaving only a small portion of the backbone holding the two parts together. The father, standing with his hand on the throttle, grabbed the boy and jerked him, but, too late. His life had been taken without a moments warning. The canthook must have slipped its moorings.

    The saw stopped suddenly as the drive belt blew off. The overalls, parts of flesh and intestines, even the cash in the boys pocket were horribly mangled. Never more will this sawyer start a line through a log without his mind reverting back to the terrible disaster that happened to his son on this fatal day.

    Present on the grounds beside the father and son were Oscar Daniels, Hinton Stewart, W. J. Stewart and Ollie Sutton. They extricated the dead body from its horrible position and with the aid of Dr. S. M. Johnson put it back together. Funeral services and internment was at Piney Mount.

    The Studebaker auto of the liquor running type, held since the notorious capture several weeks ago of the two big cars and two women said to have been out of Savannah, was sold here Saturday by the sheriff in front of the court house bringing $300 by Hubert Motor Co. of Savannah. Two men were here buying for the company. The Hudson did not sell because of an intervention being filed.

    Mr. John M. Brantley is back in town after his awful suffering from the cyclone 3 weeks ago. His daughter is improving also. Godfrey Davis, an aged Confederate veteran is still confined to his bed. J. W. Braddy files for bankruptcy.

    Major Loring R. Clayton, county coroner has announced for re-election. Alden Price may run for county treasurer. The present treasurer Flem W. Hall will likely run again.

    The Women's Club has planted flowers all around town. W. D. Sumner dressed a porker weighing 620 pounds. The horse fund for Rev. Sumner is up to $96.85. The Parker-Price drug store has installed a large Delco lighting plant. Mr. & Mrs. Arthur B. Rowland had a daughter on May 19th.

    The season for a hot baseball line-up is now on and fans are ready. Wrightsville is set to have another good team with Tyson,  Cook, Jackson, Lovett, Raley and Smith back to play. They begin around June 1st.

    Yesterday gasoline took another tumble going down one cent per gallon. A week ago it fell a cent and this reduction comes closely on the first decline's heels. Gas is now selling for 23 cents a gallon here.