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Vol I. No. 28
RANDOLPH SUMMERLIN LAID
AWAY WITH MILITARY HONORS
Largs Assemblage Does Homage To Georgia’s Hero
Who Died at Vera Cruz
(From Willac-ooehee Record)
i iin people gathered in Willacco
i ■ e Thursday to shove their love and
ii . ction for the departed and his fam
; . All business of the town was sus
l ded for the day and hundreds of
.nets with their families came to
iu participate in the
\ .o cheered the Fitzgerald Militia as
t y arrived in their automobiles head
( . by L. A. Farnell, with the National
i 01 s floating in the breezes. A fall
( mpany, commanded by Capt. Wm.
1,, ile and Lieut. W. T. Nipper headed
by Fitzgei eld Cornet band in Khaki
t. forms, made an imposing picture
i i the little village as they lined up
( a the main street of Wiilacoochee.
t a arrival the Fitzgerald delegation ot
( r sixty were invited to the home of
tie father of Randolph Summerlin,
v. ..ere the body lay in State, and was
s ved with a sumptuous dinner, Mrs.
FI. C. Whildon, of Live Oak, Fla., ar
aunt of the deceased acting as hostess,
v. o saw to it that the boys wme prop
i iy cared for.
Tli.t* Services
At 2 p. m. eight of the young men o f
(the town, school mates and friends,
acting as pall bearer.-:, placed cas
ket on the large veranda of the home,
<■ ven d with wreaths ar.d surrounded
by banks of llowers. The children of
the Wiilacoochee school, lead by The
faculty, carrying flowers for the dead,
arrived in a body to lay their tribute
to his loyalty upon bier. Rev. N. H.
Olmstead. of the Methodist church
opened the solemn service with a
touching prayer, followed by the
“■star Spangle Banner” sang by the
children of the town. A touching
sermon by the minister brought tears
of sorrow and appreciation to the
cheeks of many of the audience. At
the conclusion of the sermon the Fitz
gerald band played “America” and its
sentiments of loyalty never reached
more receptive ears. A letter written
just a short while before orders to em
bark were received by the marines foi
their fatal mission and which is cher
i led by the entire community, who
knew Randolph, was read to the as
s mbly and voted to be given to the
papers for publication. The letter,
written to a neighbor and cousin ap
pears elsewhere.
Col. E. It. Smith and Rev G. Tom
West of the Baptist church delivered
eulogies upon the dead, couched in
touching terms and full of encourage
ment for the young men of the audi
ence. Patriotism, love of country,
and fealty to the Star and Stripes,
w as the inspiring theme of an impres
sive speech made by Hon. W. C.
Lankford, Judge of the City Court oi
Douglas. Capt. Wriv Haile detailed a
special military escort, who with the
pall bearers placed the casket in the
hoarse on the march to the cemetery,
following the hearse was the wagon,
decorated in the National colors bear
ing the floral offerings to the dead.
Among them was a beautiful wreath
sent by President Woodrow’ Wilson
attesting the nation's appreciation that
called for the sacrifice of the young
life. The Georgia Society of New
York, the Daughters of the Confed
eracy of Dawson, the City of Willa
ooochee and the Improvement Club of
Wiilacoochee, each sent beatiful floral
designs to honor the occasion.
At the Grave
The funeral cortege formed in front
of the home extended neai ly a mile.
Headed by the Fitzgerald band, play
ing the funeral march. Company C.
National Guards marched in advance
of the hearse, followed by fifty auto
mobiles and other vehicles and hun
dreds of men and women made up the
sad procession tc his last resting
place. On arrival at the grave Rev.
N. H. Olmstead read ihe burial service
when the casket was lowered and a
salute of three gur.s fired by Com
i any C. The band played the “Star
Spangled Banner" the Company's bu
gler, Homer Waters, sounded “Taps,”
tiic- last rites had been done and Ran
dolph Summerlin’s name finally in
scribed into the history of Georgia.
Messrs. A. H. Thurmond. Frank
Hager, C. A. Kcitzendorf. Wiley Wil
liams, R. V. Handley. M. Mobley, L.
A. Farnell, W. C. Wilkerson, H. C.
Feavey, Frank Stone. J. A. Winn, fur
nished the cars that carried the Fitz
gerald delegation to Wiilacoochee and
added another link to the chain that
binds the people of this territory to
the city of Fitzgerald.
Those attending ’he obsear.encet
from Douglas were: Mr. ard Mrs. A
M. Haddock, Col. ard Mrs. L \
) St/ cn, Messrs. Melvin 'fa: :mr ?lose:
GrilSr, F. W. lfart, W. A. Wood, J. R
Overman, Ah x Wicker, Will Tunas
A. C. Lankford, R. A. Moore, C. A.
Ward, Ctis Wocdruf, J. L. Cochran
Rev. M. A. Morgan.
Randolph Summerlin’s
Last Letter to His Home
Norfolk, Va„ Mar. 30, 1214
My Dear Mrs. Wilcox:
f our nice letter received, ar.d it war
appreciated very much.
1 am glad to kneuv that you are in
terested in me, and w ish me so much
good luck. Now you are just like a
mother to me. You have always giv
en me good talks, but I didn't pay
much attention to them, but now 1
will take a good talk from anyone, and
it will be highly appreciated. My dear
mother has given me many and many
good talks. Now she has gone to a
better land, and I hope to live right
and meet her there. I can remember
the good talks she has given me and
I expect to do as she has asked me
too. When 1 was at home Christmas
t tried to show my dear mother that I
had changed my ways and was trying
to live a good life, and she was glad
to see it.
Now’ I hope I can get off this sum
mer to come and see all my loved ones
that I have left behind me, and spend
a few happy days with you and the
doctor, but Wiilacoochee will never
seem like home to me without my dear
mother.
I used to write her so many nice
long letters, and I sure did get some
long sweet ones from her, and they
are sure missed very much. When all
of the folks would wait so long to an
swer my letters she would sit down
and answer it as soon as she got it,
and I always got tw r o or three every
week. When the rest would forget me
she w’ould never. Now I am glad to
know that you are going to take the
place of my dear mother, and give me
good talks. They wi'l be appreciated
at any time.
Mrs. Wilcox, I want you to see that
Jeff goes to Sunday school and church
for mother always wanted him to go.
hope to live to see him do well.
I send my best regards to the doctor
and tell him I am living right and
hope to meet my true mother some
day.
We have a good preacher on the
ship and he thinks the world of me.
I go every Sunday and sing. His name
is Thompson. He sure is a nice man.
Well, I will try and close for this
time, hoping to hear from you soon,
and all the news.
Give all of my folks my best regards
and tell them I am well and in good
health, and hoping they are the same.
Your true boy,
R. D. SUMMERLIN.
KEXTUUKY GIRL MARRIED
TO GEORGIAN IN ATLANTA
Miss Bessie Johnson of Clinton, Bride
of Henri It. Harper, of Wray, Ga^
Miss Bessie Johnson, of Clinton.
-vy„ and Henry B. Harper, of Wray,
Ga., were quietly married Saturday af
ternoon at 5 o’clock at the Piedmont
Hotel. The ceremony was performed
by Dr. A. M. Hughlett, pastor of St.
Marks church, and was witnessed by-
Jesse E. Mercer and other fri nds.
Mrs. Harper has been a teacher in
the schools of Irwin county for the
past year or two and has many friends
in that community. Mr. Harper is
one of the prominent men of the coun
ty ar.d is of a well known family.
They will be at the Piedmont for
several days and will then return to
■ heir home in Wray.—Atlanta Journal.
OPERETTA—GT P JUNIOR
An operetta will be given at the
town auditorium on next Friday eve
ning by the students of the Aeri.ul
tural school under the direction of
Miss Brice. This is the first program
of the commencement exercises and is
given for the benefit of the library.
The admission is 15 and 25 cents, or a
book. A book will admit tw-o. This
is a good entertainment. Go out and
enjoy the evening.
Douglas, Georgia, Wednesday, May 20th. 1914
Interesting Letter From V era
Cruz by Christy Stalnacker
Vera Cruz, Mex., Apr. 8, 1914.
Dear Mattie:.
1 received your letter last night. Wo
are getting along fine now', every
thing is quiet at present. We turned
n erytliing over to the army, they have
charge of Vera Cruz and its sur
rounding's. They are waiting for or
ders from Washington. They have
built fortification ail around the city
to keep the spicks out.
No, 1 don't know- whether the United
States will take the whole of Mexico
or not. That depends on Huerta. If
he decides to give up his office and
i government there will be no more to
it, but lie says he will die in the chair
rather than give up. You see the rea
son we took Vera Cruz was on account
of Huerta's government insulting the
American flag, and another reason
was to stop ammunition from coming
in here in case we did have trouble
with them.
You know- about a month ago one
of our paymasters was arrested at,
Tampico. The custom is, when one
nation arrests or lias trouble with an
officer or enlisted naan of another na
tion, in a case like that at Tampico,
they are supposed to apologize by fir
ing a twenty-one gun salute. This
they refused to do. Another case, the
U. S. S. Chester went to Tampico ar.d
on her arrival she fired a twenty-one
gun salute in honor of the Mexican
goverment and they didn’t return it
so that “got Sam’s goat” (mad Q U. S.
mad) now he is going to kick Huerta
out unless he gets out without being
kicked.
The L T nited States is waiting or.
Huerta to decide whether to resign or
Douglas and Coffee County
By C. R. THURMOND.
Since entering the field of work
about four years ago, viz: (real estate)
in which I am still engaged, I have
made a close observation and study
of development work that is neces
sary for the growth and developement
sary for the proper dovelopement and
growth of a section, a town and sur
rounding territory for instance.
In this section of Georgia the chief
industry of former years has been the
turpentine and lumber trade, which is
practically a thing of the past, but
since the timber is exhausted we find
the soil that we have is useful and
profitable for farming and stock rais
ing when proper preparation is provid
ed. This industry affords an unlimit
ed and permanent resource of indus
try to which we may look forward
with interest
To develope our farming lands in
Coffee County and to make a more
flourishing city of Douglas, it is nec
cessary to attract and locate in our
midst more people, who may come
from different sections of the country
having different ideas and methods of
doing things, naturally will lend bet
ter plans to each other out of which
will grow still better and more profit
able ideas of producing and of life.
In order to locate among us home
seekers who desire to become citizens
of some locality other than their ori
ginal homes, we have got to present
to them good reasons why they should
come this way. The homeseeker is
first interest in- a general way abour
the advantages and inducements that
any particular section may offei
then prices is an important item of
consideration, also condition of lands
cost of improvements, and revenue of
profits that might reasonably be ex
pected in return and reward for his
efforts and labors.
We have natural advantages here
which make it possible to develope a
W’onderful country, the future of
w’hich awaits our arrival. One of the
most important features that we may
take up is the investigation and stud;
of the best methods for permanent
public road construction, at reason
able cost, w’hich I wish to treat more
fully in an other issue, mcr< ly as sug
gestions or subjects for thought the
conclusion of which I will leave to
those of wiser minds. Our schools
and other accomplishments, the farn
demonstration work, and so on arc
very encouraging.
The prospective purchaser is w illing
to purchase a farm even though unde
veloped if located on a public road
and offered to him at -a reasonable
price when the advantages and pros
pects of developments pry . ■ : them
selves to him in a striking and con
vincing manner so that he may :• alize
that desirable conditions will prevail
in the w-ay of schools, churches and
society in general, then wi*h the rural
b? thrown out. If war is declared it
will not take long to put his govern
ment out, as we are well fixed for the
job. And another thing we are wait
ing on is for the American people t<
get out of Mexico. The biggest par
of them are out now. There ar -;. f-.-v
in Mexico City yet. Some of then
say they will stay where limy ar-:
They have more confidence i:i thee,
spicks than I have, f wuuidn t trus
a dead one.
I will send you some pictures of tl:
wrecks soon, it was a sight. Wc
charged right ow r cl ut spicks f<
twenty-four hours. After we captur
ed the city we had a job burning the
dead, just piled them up in the street
and burned them. The papers stated
that two hundred were killed, but if
they had multiplied that number by
four it would have been nearer right)
They hated to tell the truth about it
for that would look too much like
slaughter to the public.
If war is declared Mexico will be
massacred. Of course, they will get
some of us too, but they are an ig
norant set of people. They have mi
sense about fighting. They fight like
they did one hundred years ago and
think we do the same.
Yes, w-e lest about seventeen mem
two from this ship and the rest from
other ships. We sent them home on
the Montana—sent them to Philadel
phia.
Well, that is about all that I can
think of now, so will close for this
time. Will w-rite every coup!" of da; s.
Write soon.
CHRISTY.
mail, and telephone service that we
already enjoy, the life in the country
or rural sections may be as pleasant,
and convenient as one might imagine
in the city .or town. There is no
question but that the more thorough
development of our rural sections is
the salvation, strength and foundation
of our land.
We, as a real estate firm and indi
viduals, viz:, (Eagwe'l & Thurmond),
expect to be of all the service that we
can in a general way and in every w’ay
to permanently and conservatively
build up and develope Douglas and
Coffee county, but we need and must
have the co-operation of th citizen
ship which we are confident you are
willing to extend.
An essential necessity is :i good
conservative, w’ell and tliouroughly
organized Chamber of Commerce, got
ten together on right principles, am'
builded on a solid foundation, which
will stand the storms of time, and
keep pace with the rest of the world,
who are ever vigilant in letting the
world know what they have. We do
not want a so-called organization of a
ballon nature, but we need a good or
ganization of co-operative workers
for the general up-build and develop
ment of our town and county. Unless
we line up and get in the rank and
file of progress, catch and keep step
with the music, we will be left stand
ing alone like a dead tree in a large
field as a monument of lifelessness.
What sayeth men, one and all.
Let us not fail to heed the call
We must advance, march, roll the
ball
Or else retreat, decline and fall.
. I wish to request the business men
and any other who may wish to write
me a personal letter on this subject
so that I may have before me, and
study the views of others.
(To be continued.)
JUDGE F. W. DART ILL
Judge F. W. Dart is confined to his
home on account of illness, and for
this reason it will be impossible for
him to keep some oi the engagement
that he has made to speak in Iris race
for Judge.
His physicians state that he will in
ill probability, be able to be out
again in a few days.
BAPTIST CHURCH
There will bo the regular services
next Sunday. Preaching at 11 a. m.
and 7 p. m. by the pastor.
Meeting of the B. Y. P. U. Monday at
7 p. in.
Prayer meeting Wednesday evening
at 7 p. ru.
The public cordially invited to at
tend these services.
H. H. SHELL, Pastor.
A. L. DOWLING RELEASED
ON HABEAS CORPUS
Left Last Sunday Night to investigate Certain
Alleged Charges
PROGRESS REPORTER
TALKS TO MR. FLOYD
<
Recently a reporter from the Pro
gress had-a heart to hea • tela -with
Mr. Cordon Floyd, the school commis
sioner of Coffee County. He is con
sumed with enthusiasm for his work
and is thoroughly awake ter the needs
of his school and the rural section.
The county has got to be redistrict
ed at an early date because it does
not conform to the rules laid down by
law. This is a mammoth work, bin
Mr. Floyd hopes the new school build
ings that will have to be built will be
better structures than some of the
present ones..
When he first found out that Mr.
Nelson, a millionare of Louisville, Ky.
was giving large amounts to the rural
schools, he at once set about to secure
a Nelson worker, whose duty it is to
carry on a great line of work among
the rural people. Miss Katie Stan
field of Tat.nell County, who taught
one of Coffee’s schools the past term
has charge of the work at present and
has entered upon it enthustically. At
present she is busy with the canning
clubs but she hopes to broaden her
work as the way opened up.
Mr. Floyd says a new day has dawn
ed for old Coffee. In the past five
years wonderful strides have been
made. With the advent of the small
farmer, the county is filling up with
new people; “New wine is being
poured into old bottles" and the coun
try is bursting with progress and
prosperity.
This too, is the day for the country
preacher. His opportunities in the
country now are manifold, for unless
Christ is carried in witii enlighten
ment., a civilized paganism is as dark
as darkest Africa.
DEMONSTRATION AT
SCHOOL FARM MAY 30
On May 30th out at the Agricultural
school farm the farmers of Coffee
county will be given an opportunity
to see for themselves one of the most
interesting demonstrations. There will
be one and two horse cultivators in
the field cultivating corn and cotton,
other plows cultivating and subsoiling
land.
Canning outfits may also be seen *n
actual operation canning fruits and
vegetables.
Dynamite blasting of stumps, break
ing subsoiling, and blasting holes to
set fruit trees, stump pullers at work
pulling stumps and "Mr. Eunice, dem
onstration agent, inoculating hogs to
prevent cholera.
This demonstration has been plan
ned by the agents of the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture in co-operation
with the State College of Agriculture,
to give the farmers an opportunity to
see what can be done with better facil
ities for farming.
The implement companies, hard
ware companies, and others are co
operating in this educational work.
It is hoped that a large number of the
farmers and others will attend. The
demonstration will begin at 10 o'clock
in the morning and last all day.
A special invitation is extended tc
the Boys Corn Club and the Girls Can
ning Club to attend this demonstra
tion.
UO.M.MEM E>l ENT EXERCISES
OF \GRICULTURVL SCHOOL
Friday evening. May 22, 8 p. m., at
Town Auditorium—Operetta, “Gyp
Junior.”
Sunday, May 24—Annual sermon- at
Baptist church, by Bishop Reese.
Monday, May .25 —Annual meeting of
Board of Trustees.
Monday evening. May 25, 8 p. m.—
Literary program, contest for medals.
Tuesday evening, May 26 —Graduat-
ing exercises. Literary address by
Prof. Jere M. Pound, President State
Normal School, Athens, Ga.
You are cordially invited.
C. W. DAVIS, Principal.
Mrs. J. A. Kersey, of Americus, is
the guest of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Kersey
this week.
$1 Per Annum
Mr. A. L. Dowling, the popular own
er of the Grand Theater litre, left for
South Carolina last Sunday for the
purpose of investigating certain al
leged charg ; against him there. On
last Friday the Sheriffs office here re
ceived a letter purported to have been
written by a sheriff some where in
South Carolina, requesting that Mr.
Dowling be arrested and held to await
the arrival of an officer from that
State. The letter contained no charg
es, neither was there any warrant or
indictment to give any information as
to what the charges were, however.
Mr. Dowling was placed under arrest
and kept in custody until late Satur
day afternoon, no officer having ar
rived and no criminal papers hav'ng
been sent. Mr. Dowling, through his
attorney, T. A. Wallace, applied for a
writ of habeas corpus and which was
granted by Judge Quincey. A hear
ing was had on same and an orde»
granted by Judge Quincey releasing
Mr. Dowling from further custody,
holding that the facts presented were
insufficient to authorize or justify fi r
ttier detention and especially a:- the
authorities of South Carolina had fail
ed to forward any process against Mr.
Dowling and leaving it doubtful as to
whether such in fact existed.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Dowling have
been in Douglas for more than twelve
months, where they each have a host
of friends, he running the Grand
ter, while Mrs. Dowling owns and rins
the Dowling Millinery Store. The
many friends of Mr. Dowling believe
that there is some misunderstanding
about the matter and that he will
have same cleared away in a few days
and will return to Douglas, where he
has at all times conducted himself as
a perfect gentleman.
BIG INCREASE
IN PONY VOTES
From now until the close of the
Pony Contest the Progress will allow
votes as follow’s:
For each $1 paid on subscription,
2,000 votes; for each $1 paid on old
account, 3,000; and for each $1 of new
business that is paid for in advance,
5,000 votes will be given.
This remarkable offer only lasts un
til next Saturday night, as the contest
closes Monday, so the workers had
best call at this office and find out
who owes for the paper and other ac
counts and we will be glad to help
them any way that we can.
It is a fine chance for the workers
to make some extra votes.
BAPTISTS IN FAVOR
OF PROHIBITION
The Convention Adopts the Report of
Tc mpcra ncc ( oin in ittcc
Nashville, Tenn., May 19. —Tim Sou
thern Baptist Convention went on rec
ord as favoring national prohibition
and authorized the employment of an
agent to do educational work in the
interest of the movement. Action on
the question was taken by the adop
tion of the report of the temperance
committee submitted by Dr. A. J. Bar
ton, of Waco, Tex.
Denominational control over its
Sunday school lesson courses also
was decided upon by the convention
which adopted the report of the Sun
day school lessons committee.
MEANS BRING *2OO \N U RE
TO THE LUCKY FARMERS
Neillsville Wis., May 19.—The can
ning factory here has demonstrated
that there is no better crop for the
farmers than beans for canning pur
poses. Several farmers have produc
-d as much as 8200 an acre. It is the
opinion of those who have investigat
ed the matter that beans will be a com
petitor with peas in the caneries of
upper Wisconsin in the future.
BIG RE VI, ESTATE DEAL
Tuesday moil ing a big real estate
deal took place by which Daniel Gas
kin Sr. and J. C. Brew’er purchased
from J. M. Dent a Half interest in the
three story building on the corner of
Ward St. and Madison Ave., known
as the Sw eat-Dent building. The con
sideration was not given out but it is
known to be up in the thousands.