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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Mar 15, 1939
Page
2
A fire burning through 15 000 acres of muck soil in the Everglades north and west of Miami generated a tall smoke column and muddy rainfall. The heat created its own rain as southeasterly winds kept smoke from coastal cities. Traffic, air travel, and arrivals were disrupted.
A 15 month drought has lowered water levels in the Everglades allowing fires to ignite easily. Two hundred men with plows and tractors made little headway against a major blaze west of here, among the largest in Florida history. The peat formed from preserved vegetation sits atop coral bedrock and, when dry, burns through its full depth emitting a dull red flame and thick smoke.
Senate in recess until Thursday as subcommittees examine war decay bill and monetary powers, Florida ship canal testimony, distillery executives questioned. House debates Interior Department bill, Judiciary panel reviews $150 million relief, merchant marine hears Nicaraguan canal pleas. yesterday Senate approved $1.7 billion post office appropriation and a government reorganization bill advances.
The Alabama Senate refused to join a conference with the House over an education funding bill. The original $1 443 000 general fund appropriation was cut to 825 000 and tied to a $500 000 cash balance rule. Speaker pro tem Aubrey Dominick appointed House members to the proposed conference, but the Senate 15 to 11 vote declined to concur. A public hearing on amendments to Governor Dimon’s measures was announced for Friday at 9 a.m.
A town delegation returned Alabama’s historic Flag of the Republic to Montgomery. The banner had been carried to Iowa by a Union soldier who seized it during the Civil War, and the transfer occurred in the hall that once housed the Southern Confederacy.
The Decatur Methodist Stewards League will host a dinner and program Friday night at First Methodist Church. Guest speaker Dr. L B Kirby of Birmingham is slated to entertain and inspire attendees, with previous speakers including Hon John Sparkman and Dr F M Cooke.
Detectives questioned Tommy Pauley a 23 year old featherweight boxer as part of the investigation into Lucile Tillery an 18 year old who died after a skull fracture. Pauley says Tillery jumped from his car despite his attempts to stop her. Coroner Gip Evans had not issued a verdict and said he was not investigating at present. Pauley has fought in southern cities including New Orleans bouts.
On March 12 at 1701 5th Street in Decatur guests gathered to honor five birthday honorees plus the host Mrs Dora Harbin and Miss Mattie Grey. Attendees included Mr and Mrs W M Preston Huntsville Mr and Mrs M T Preston Huntsville Little Buddy Preston Huntsville Mrs Annie Ray Huntsville Miss Bessie Shrader Huntsville Mr and Mrs K K Eslick Fayetteville Tenn Mr and Mrs Ernest McCullough Decatur Mr and Mrs Charlie Charlies Decatur Mrs Mary Rowe Decatur Mr and Mrs Samuel J Ramey Decatur Mrs Elzina Price Decatur and Mrs Dora Harbin with Miss Mattie Grey as hosts. The cake display carried candles for all honorees and a twin cake for the twins.
The Tennessee Valley Boy Scout Council executive board set the next year’s budget at 6348.80 and outlined plans to raise the funds within April. The meeting at the Tennessee Valley hotel was led by T. T. Hackworth of Florence with a broad delegation including Emmerson Lucas Florence J R Forneman Wilson Dam J Nydunking Sheffield Louis Rosenbaum Florence Paul F Dix Decatur and others from Huntsville Decatur Wilson Dam Athens and Cullman.
The Town Creek Methodist church board held its monthly dinner at the Evans home. Pastor Reve Dien Cornelius announced a district conference on April 20 at Hartselle and urged support for the Christ Centered Loyalty Campaign. The group pledged cooperation and plans to pay at least half of benevolent claims by the conference date. Dr. M F E Lazenby thanked attendees for their work in the district.
Ben W. Lacy president of the All States Life Maurine died at his Montgomery home today from pneumonia and related complications. He was 9.
J. L. Hubbard was introduced as the new Scout executive for the council at his first meeting with the executive board. He expressed deep impression with the board's caliber and their interest in Scout work. Glenn R. Nordyke of the Memphis regional office was also noted.
The Thurston Magic Show brings its 35th annual tour to The Princess for two days, March 16 and 17, with three performances each day. The act features elaborate effects from India, Egypt and Arabia, including the Million Dollar Mystery and The Phantom Princess along with over 50 dramatic illusions and unique plots per act.
Berlin reports that Bohemia and Moravia have fallen under greater Germany as Prague is seized and Hacha is ousted. The plan grants cultural autonomy, German money and stamps, consulates, and a Czech folk loyalty oath to Hitler, with Jews to follow German policy.
Miss Trycene Payne and Robert F. Perry Jr. wed March 12 at the Hartselle Methodist parsonage with Rev. John T. Brown officiating. Perry, a Morgan County Farm Security administrator, hails from Birmingham. A second double ceremony March 10 at Bethel Church united Dorotha Dell Lauderdale with Frank Patrick Bean and Frances Elizabeth Summerford with Ralph Leo Lauderdale, all residents of Hartselle.
Florence Alabama March 15 delegates and officers gathered as the Alabama Woman's Missionary Union approved a plan to divide the state into ten districts. The group listed ten vice presidents and ten young peoples leaders and reported surpassing 1938 goals. Notable speakers included Rev Edwin C Dozier and Dr W H Carson with a Nigerian trainee and Abeoguta native Nikols Auorinde.
New York markets fell fractionally to over a point as names like Anaconda, Santa Fe, Montgomery Ward, New York Central, U S Steel, Du Pont, Chrysler and General Motors declined. Iron Age notes March steel gains lag seasonable expectations but holds hope for a recovery through the second quarter.
Cotton futures opened higher by 2 points and then 1 point as trade and Wall Street buying supported near positions. October was bought while July was sold. Liverpool and Bombay were light sellers.
The Falkville home of Judge A G Patterson burned after a grass fire spread to the grounds. Ira Summerford lost 250 in currency from a tank in his apartment. The blaze damaged century-old trees. fire crews could not curb it. No injuries reported, but nearby Limestone County had three children fatally burned in a separate incident within a day.
The Decatur court of honor for local Scouts will be convened at the courthouse on March 28.
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