Two Little Girls Burn to Death

March 10, 1922, Volume 7, Number 31

When Home of Will Barton Was Destroyed by Fire . . . The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Will Barton one mile south of town was completely destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon about 2 o'clock. A sad expression was easily seen on the faces of every person in this community when the heart rending news was spread over the entire community that the bodies of two sweet little girls, Aileen, aged four, and Lucille, aged two were being reduced to ashes. Never before has this community been so shocked by an accident as the burning to death of these sweet, helpless baby girls, and the Tribune joins the entire community in extending to the bereaved father, mother, and brothers and sisters our deepest heart felt sympathies. The citizens of this community stands ready and anxious to made good, Mr. Barton's financial loss and may we be as ready to comfort and console these, our friends, in this, their darkest hour, as much so as is possible for us to do. When the house was burned, the father was at work in a field some distance away. The mother was returning from a spring where she had been washing. She received several severe gashes about her arms and hands in a frantic effort to rescue her dying children. The charred bodies were later raked from the burning coals and placed in a box and buried in the Antioch Cemetery. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Officers Discharged on Murder Charge

June 9, 1922, Volume 7, Number 44

Justice Says Killings During Moonshine Raid Near Womble Were Justifiable . . . Five members of the Hopper family in Montgomery County and two officers, Matthew Cummins and Will Parsons, of this county, were discharged by justice J.R. Wood at Mt. Ida one day this week on first degree murder changes, growing out of the killing of two alleged moonshiners and the wounding of a third during a raid on a still in the Fancy Hill community recently. Feeling at the time of the killing was high and about equally divided. The Coroner's jury held that the killing was justifiable. Warrants charging first degree murder were sworn out, however it is said that the grand jury will probably investigate the affair at the August term. C.H. Herndon, attorney at Mt. Ida, represented the prosecuting attorney, while sheriff Chaney of this county conducted the examination of witnesses for the defense. Atty. Herndon said in his argument that the two families bore a grudge against each other and that as all of the men were shot in the head, it seemed that heads and not stills were what the posse sought. Sheriff Chaney said that the matter hinged on whether the men resisted the officers.

Antoine Girl Seriously Burned

December 21, 1923, Volume 8, Number 43

While Playing With Fire Near House . . . Iva Mae Hill, the 6 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hill of near Antoine was seriously, and probably fatally burned at their home on Monday. It is said that the little girl and her younger brother had set some leaves on fire near the home when the child's clothes caught fire. Men working a the saw mill near by were first to see the child's clothing burning and rushed to her which probably prevented her instant death. At the time of the accident the children's parents were at Womble, and children were left in care of a lady who has been making her home with the Hills for several months. LATER: As we go to press, news has been received that the little girl mentioned above died Tuesday afternoon.

Young Man Severely Wounded

Friday, September 19, 1924, Volume 3, Number 30

Cloud Kirkham is in Hospital with Fractured Skull. Cloud Kirkham, a well known young man of near this place, is in the hospital at Arkadelphia, suffering with a fractured skull, as a result of a fight with his younger brother, John, Sunday night. It is said that Cloud came in home Sunday night in an intoxicated condition, and proceeded to raise a "rough house" with the family; threatening the lives of some members of the family, when he was dealt a severe blow on the head by his younger brother, John, with an iron shoelast. The blow fractured his skull in two or three places, and it was thought at first that he would not survive, but some hope for his recovery is entertained at this writing.

Two Near Serious Car Accidents

Friday, October 3, 1924, Volume 3, Number 32

Miss Bernice Taylor of this place was seriously injured late Sunday afternoon when a Chevrolet car in which she was riding headed into a large oak tree near the C.E. Reid store. The car belonged to Mansford Buckley of Graysonia, and was being driven by Miss Clara Gilbert of this place, when the steering gear became loose allowing the car to go against the tree at the rate of about 15 miles per hour. The occupants were in the front seat, and Miss Taylor was hurled clear of the car to the ground and rendered unconscious for a while. Miss Gilbert and Buckley were thrown against the windshield and sustained several painful bruises. Miss Taylor probably sustained a broken leg and other minor injuries. The car is a late model and was almost demolished beyond repair. Another near serious car accident occurred Saturday night about 9 o'clock. E.I. Hammons of this place and Will Gentry of Antoine, were out taking a "Saturday night spludge", and when they undertook to turn around near the Christian church, Hammons, who was driving, lost control of the car and it went into a deep ditch near the creek, where it remained until Sunday morning when it was pulled out by a team. The car is a 1924 model Ford and belonged to Gentry. It was badly damaged. Hammons escaped with only slight bruises but Gentry sustained several painful cuts on the broken windshield.

M.E. Pastor Returned

December 8, 1922, Volume 8, Number 1

Rev. W.M. Mears, pastor of the Methodist church here for the past year, will remain here for another year.  He returned from Texarkana first of the week, where he attended the Little Rock District Conference, which has been in session there for several days. Brother Mears is a good preacher and citizen, and his many friends will be glad to know that he and his family will remain with us for another year.

Local School Closes Friday

April 20, 1923, Volume 8, Number 8

Rev. O.L. Walker of Highland, Will Deliver Graduation Address. Friday night will mark the close of another very successful term of the Delight High School, when an appropriate program will be rendered by the students of the high school and the grammar grades at the Methodist church. Diplomas will be awarded the following graduates of the high school: Misses Marie Hembey, Chrystabel Pullen, Myrtle East, Vahnita McKinney, Mildred McKinney, Mary Thomasson, Ida Fletcher Holcomb, Thelma Stell, Adell Morrow, and Estelle Kizzia.   Joe Thomasson and Cecil Morrow. Certificates will be presented to a class of 14 who are passing from grammar to high school work. The graduation address will be delivered by Rev. O.L. Walker, Pastor of the Orchard View Methodist church at Highland.  Mr. Walker is an orator of sterling ability, and is recognized as one of the ablest lecturers in this part of the state.

Negro Dies at Glenwood	May 11, 1923, Volume 8, Number 11
News was received here yesterday morning that a negro who name was not given, was firing at the big lumber plant at Glenwood, and went into the shaving room to get some shavings, when the shavings caved down and smothered him to death.  He was discovered about an hour after the accident happened.

Heavy Rains and Overflows Cause Great Damage Thruout the State

May 18, 1923, Volume 8, Number 12

Fences and Crops Destroyed Here - Fire Follows Downpour at Hot Springs, and Destroys Marquette Hotel - Several Lives Lost - Negro Drowns at Graysonia. Probably the heaviest rains that have fell here since 1905, fell Monday and Monday night.  One big rain after another fell for several hours, until all the low, level lands were completely covered by water. News was received here Wednesday that water and flames united in a general devastation that left death and disaster at Hot Springs Monday night and Tuesday morning.  It was said that water ran 9 ft. deep down Central Ave.  The Marquette Hotel and all other buildings in that block were completely destroyed by fire which followed the downpour of rain. The Little Missouri and Antoine rivers rose very rapidly and destroyed thousands of dollars worth of fences and crops, and in some sections it is feared that many stock perished in the waters. Much fencing and many crops were destroyed along Wolf Creek.  S.C. Kelley and L.A. Gilbert are probably the heaviest losers in this immediate community. The train did not reach Delight at all Monday on account of the railroad bridge across Wolf Creek being washed out of line.  It is also said that several bridges were damaged along the Antoine river between Antoine and Womble. L.J. Duke of Shawmut, related a story to a Tribune reporter Wednesday morning, about a negro drowning at Graysonia Tuesday morning.  He said that a large family of negroes, who lived near the bank of the river at Graysonia, were awakened at an early hour Tuesday morning by logs washing down and bumping the house.  They immediately gave the alarm to nearby neighbors, who rescued them with a boat.  Soon after day light two of them thought of a piano in a church nearby and started to see about it when the boat was upset by the swift water of the Antoine; one of the negroes, who name we did not learn, was drowned.  The other one climbed a tree and was so excited that he remained there till nearly noon, when he was persuaded to descend on a large rope extending from the top of the tree to dry ground several yards away.

John May Injured

Friday, June 15, 1923, Volume 8, Number 16

News was received here Tuesday that John May of Pisgah, was painfully injured Monday at the Mornelius Mill 5 miles southeast of Delight where he was drilling a well. It was said that Mr. May was holding a piece of piping while his helper, we did not learn who, was several feet above him driving it in the ground with a heavy hammer, when the hammer flew out of the helper's hands striking Mr. May on the head. Dr. Burleson of Antoine, was summoned to dress the wound, and reports that the wound is serious but not dangerous.

Oil Boom on at Antoine

February 10, 1922, Volume 7, Number 27

Drilling Contract Reported Closed With Texas Company J.C. Craig on Antoine, was in Delight one day this week and informed a Tribune reporter that actual drilling operations would begin near that place within 40 days. Judge Lynch, well known oil operator of Dallas Texas, who is representing the M.T.&G. Oil Syndicate of Texas, has just closed a deal with Jim Wingfield, trustee for the land owners of that community to sink a test well to a depth of 2,500 feet.  The contract, as we understand, it requires them to begin within six months, but Jdge Lynch says that his company will be ready for operations inside of 40 days. It is said that the above named company has deposited $1,000 cash and a bond of $60,000 in the bank to insure their part of the contract being complied with.

Kizzia Announces for Treasurer

February 17th, 1922, Volume 7, Number 28

It is indeed a pleasure to us to make the formal announcement of J.M. Kizzia, of Murfreesboro, as a candidate for Treasury of Pike County, subject to the Democratic primary in August. Mr. Kizzia needs no introductory to the people of the county.  He was born and reared in Pike.  He made the race for this office four years ago against three mighty good men and was defeated by only a small majority.  During that campaign, he made many staunch friends thruout the county who be glad to know that they will have an opportunity of voting for him. Mr. Kizzia served a term as deputy sheriff several years ago and has been engaged in the mercantile business until recent years.  He is considered competent to fill the Treasurer's office, having had some valuable experience in that line of work.   He possesses a kind and courteous disposition, and if elected, he will make one of the best officers in the county.  His claims deserve careful consideration.

Two Men and Still Captured

February 24, 1922, Volume 7, Number 29

G.W. Kirkham and Bill Edge are Bound Over to the Grand Jury. G.W. Kirkham and Bill Edge of this place were arrested Tuesday morning by deputy Sheriff M.D. Cummins.  Edge was charged with transporting, selling, and manufacturing whiskey.  Kirkham was charged with manufacturing and selling whiskey. Both men were brought before B.F. Presley, where they waived examination and were placed under a $500 bond each.  Kirkham put up a cash bond and Edge made a personal bond. Deputy Cummins found the still that was supposed to belong to Kirkham and Edge about two miles east of Delight.  It consisted of a 10-gallon funnel top oil can and other paraphernalia usually employed in the manufacture of the "Mountain Dew". After searching the residence of Edge, the Sheriff found a small quantity of whiskey in a molasses bucket with a hole punched in the top that had been used in the manufacture of the whiskey.  Edge claimed that he had bought the "Mountain Due" from a negro and he and Kirkham had brought bucket in from a still that they had found.

Kirkham Goes to Pen	March 3, 1922, Volume 7, Number 30
W.E. Kirkham, who was convicted, as the Sept 1921 term of Pike Circuit Court, of manufacturing whiskey left one day this week for the penitentiary at Little Rock, where he will begin serving a one-year sentence. Kirkham took an appeal from Circuit Court to Supreme Court.  The Sumpreme Court confirmed the decision of the lower Court last week.