100-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from September 1914

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville published four editions 100 years ago during the month of September 1914. Those papers came out on Sept. 3, Sept. 10, Sept. 17 and Sept. 24. Q. Salter was the newspaper’s editor and proprietor. What follows are a few new highlights from each of those papers. Enjoy.

SEPT. 3, 1914

Mr. M.M. Fountain is shipping cattle to the New Orleans market at the rate of two cars per week.

Prof. J.M. Sowell left Tuesday for Scottsboro, Ala., where he has accepted a school during the scholastic year now beginning.

Mr. Charles R. Broughton, who is connected with The Evergreen Courant, spent a few days last week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Broughton.

This season’s game of baseball between the “Fats” and the “Leans,” scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, failed to be pulled off on account of rain and the sloppy condition of the diamond. A later date for the notable engagement may be arranged.

Miss Jennie Faulk has returned from the markets where she exercised the utmost care and discrimination in the choice of latest fall styles in millinery and ladies goods for the coming season.

Despite the European war and business stagnation in the home land, Monroeville continues to grow. Among the new enterprises is the opening of a new mercantile establishment by Mr. M. Katz, late of Selma, and the establishment of an electric light plant in the near future. Mr. Katz occupies the Barnett & Jackson old stand. We are informed that the stock has been practically all subscribed for the light plant and that work on the erection of a concrete power house will begin shortly.

U.D.C. AWARDS CROSSES: A meeting of the Monroeville Chapter U.D.C. was held at the courthouse Tues., Sept. 1. Owing to the inclement weather, only a few members were present. The next meeting will be held at the courthouse on the first Tuesday in October. All members are urged to attend. Mrs. F.W. Hare and Mrs. A.C. Lee were appointed to make out the October program.

During the summer months, Crosses of Honor were awarded to the following Confederate Veterans: Messrs. C.M. Biggs, Whit B. Green, William Green, Tomas Lewis and J.M. Helton.

Mrs. Jennings D. Radcliffe, Secretary.

BREWTON AND MONROEVILLE PLAY ELEVEN INNINGS AND TIE: On yesterday afternoon when the map of Europe was being smeared with blood and gore and some dozen millions of men were tearing at each other’s throats, another contest was being waged with fury and ferocity within the peaceful domains of your Uncle Samuel.

The athletes from Monroeville, smarting under their defeat of a week ago, hied to Brewton and resumed the argument on the local field.

There may have been greater games than the one of yesterday, but the memory of ye scribe searches the musty records of the past in vain to recall it. Certainly the crowd that gathered at old Athletic Park will swear that this one stands out in bold relief over all other scraps that in their time were called preeminent. When a diamond engagement runs 11 full scoreless innings, it sets a mark to shoot at, on anybody’s old ball lot.

The honors of the day go to the opposing moundsmen. Flowers for the visitors and Jones for the locals, in turn, adorned the slab as said slab has seldom ever been adorned before. They were invincible throughout the whole turgid spams. And in a pinch wiggled out with uncanny sureness. Each gave up only three hits and each whiffed 11, which is an average of one to a session. It was Nip and Tuck in a death grapple, with both in the center of the ring when the gong sounded for supper.

The smashing attack of the Brewtonites was woefully missing. But there’s no such thing as a smashing attack when a bloke is out in the center of the diamond shooting marbles over the plate instead of the ball.

Not a man cracked nor a play broke under the strain. The few miscues that were made came at times when the going was easy. In the crucial spots there was never a falter. When a batter threatened he was promptly moved down at the plate or nipped at the bag. ‘Twas a mournful day for batting averages.

But to the details.

The Monroes opened, and three went down in order. West sent a grounder to the third that eased out of H. Rabb’s flippers. He went to second on a neat sacrifice laid down by Massey. Ertzinger flew to center. West sauntered too far away from the keystone and was nipped.

In Brewton’s half, Downing poked a Texas Leaguer that was gobbled at second; Boykin skied out to right and H. Rabb whiffed.

In the second, Arant was out from a pitcher to first; Lindsey grounded to second, went safe while C. Rabb was trying to lasso the ball, but in a minute was killed off at first by a throw from Boykin; McCorvey was out on a fly to center. For Brewton, Rankin out from second to first; Jones on a pop up to pitcher; and C. Rabb’s fledgling flier was snared at second.

Most of the other sessions were just of the same stripe. Three up and down and change sides sort of stuff. Vastly amusing when it’s your turn in the field and the other fellows are going from the bench to the plate and plate to bench in regular sequence. But the situation gets distressing when your every attempt to lead a charge is squelched with the same consistency.

Brewton copped her first hit in the fifth when Rankin belted a screamer over second. Jones sacrificed him on second and there he died. Two more bingles were registered in the sixth by Boykin and Lovelace, but the plate was not even threatened. The local’s best time to score came in the tenth. H. Rabb strolled, but was forced at second on Rankin’s grounder to short. In a hasty attempt to frame a double, Arant threw wild to first and Rankin went to second and later to third on Jones’ out second to first. He was still there when the round was over. That was our only near score.

The Monroes had a man on third twice. In the ninth came their most auspicious opportunity to shove one over and end the agony. A long hit to left garden which Henderson failed to get, and a pass put two on with none out. But grand work by Jones and airtight fielding from his support left these runners roosting on the sacks. Another chance came in the eleventh. With two down and a runner on third, Savage put in as a pinch hitter, whaled a wicked grounder through the box. Hughes saved the day by snagging it on the run and nicking him by a step at first.

By this time, the darkness was settling over the field and the game was called.

Again we remark: That was some game.

(The final score was 0-0.)

A double game is on for the afternoon. The first game to be called a two o’clock and the second at four. Quite a delegation of Monroeville rooters came over with the team – Brewton Standard, Aug. 27.

(In the first game of this double header, Brewton won, 3-2. Savage and Massey pitched for Monroeville, and Lovelace and Boykin pitched for Brewton. In the second game, Monroeville won, 1-0. Savage and Massey pitched for Monroeville, and Lovelace and Boykin pitched for Brewton.)

The visiting boys were entertained in royal style at the new Lovelace Hotel, which is one of the best hotels in the state.

Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Grimes spent last Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Stacey at Jones Mill.

SEPT. 10, 1914

Mr. Horace Hood Jr. of The Montgomery Journal spent a few days with Monroeville friends, returning to the capital city Monday.

Prof. E.P. Yeldell, principal of the city Grammar School, returned to Monroeville last week after a pleasant vacation of a few months.

Prof. L.O. Kyzar, a new member of the faculty of the Monroe County High School, arrived in the city last week to take up his duties in the school.

The Monroe County High School will begin its fourth term on Monday, Sept. 14, instead of Tuesday, the 15th, as erroneously stated in a recent issue of this paper.

The Grammar School will begin Monday, Sept. 14. Tuition will be $1 per month, in advance, as last term.

U.D.C. Holds Meeting: The S.S. Gaillard Chapter U.D.C. met at the Masonic Hall, Perdue Hill, July 24, at four o’clock.

The Battle of Chancelorsville was assigned Miss Sara Agee and the life of Thomas J. Jackson was given Mrs. Arthur English Jr. to write up for the next meeting.

Mrs. C.J. Torrey of Mobile was an inspiration on this occasion and we only wish she could be with us more often. Capt. Andrews and Mr. Sigler, ex-Confederate veterans, were also visitors.

Miss Annie W. Agee,

Recording Secretary

Mrs. B.H. Stallworth and children spent last week with their grandmother at Pine Flat.

Messrs. W.G. McCorvey Jr. and Stephen Hixon left this week for Tuscaloosa where they will attend the State University this session.

Rev. S.D. Palmer, rector of the Episcopal church at Bay Minette, will preach at the Presbyterian church in Monroeville on Friday evening, Sept. 18, at 7:30, instead of on Saturday night as heretofore.

Notice is hereby given that license or the sale of intoxicating liquors was issued to no citizen of Monroe County during the month of August 1914, as shown by affidavit of the Collector of Internal Revenue for the State of Alabama. (Signed) B.H. Stallworth, Sheriff.

The Monroe County Teachers Institute convened in the High School auditorium on Monday with 73 teachers enrolled.

SEPT. 17, 1914

Miss Chapman of Pine Apple has charge of the art department of the high school this session.

Miss Janie Mae Eppes, who had charge of the music department of the high school and city school last year, returned to Monroeville last week to resume her duties.

Contractor Lambert has begun the demolition of the old Presbyterian church building preparatory to the reconstruction and remodeling of the building.

The City Grammar school opened on Monday with a large enrollment of pupils. Prof. Yeldell is assisted by the same efficient corps of teachers that were in charge of the various departments last year, viz: Miss Edna Barge and Mrs. J.C. Hudson.

Opening of the High School: The fourth annual term of the Monroe County High School, with appropriate exercises in the auditorium on Mon., Sept. 14.

The military company at Opelika was ordered to Dadeville to protect two Negroes who confessed the murder of Fletcher Turner, a prominent merchant, on Sept. 3.

The meeting of the Baptist Church will begin next Monday evening at 7:30. Dr. W.M. Anderson of Birmingham will be here to do the preaching. Services at the courthouse as last year.

Messrs. F.L. and Leon Riley, Miss Elizabeth Riley and Mrs. W.C. Riley of Evergreen came over Sunday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Sallie Hibbard.

SEPT. 24, 1914

To Confederate Veterans: If you were in the army with my husband, John A. Simmons or know anyone who was in the same company or regiment that he was in, please write to me. Mrs. Amanda Simmons, Valley Mills, Texas.

WILCOX MINERAL SPRINGS, Schuster, Alabama: Opened for the Summer Season May 19: The hotel will be supplied with the best food the market will afford. The waters of the springs are splendid and healthful, and are especially adapted for stomach, bladder and kidney troubles. There is fine bathing and boating on the lake. Rates very moderate for families or parties. Any baseball team desiring to play will be furnished with a competing team by proprietor. For further information, address JOHN H. McWILLIAMS, Proprietor of Wilcox Mineral Springs and Hotel, P.O. McWILLIAMS, ALA.

Judge I.B. Slaughter, Judge W.G. McCorvey, Mr. F.W. Hare and perhaps others attended the cotton conference in Montgomery Tuesday.

The electric light plant is making excellent progress, according to the manager. The poles are being raised for lines enclosing the public square and the electrical machinery has been shipped and will arrive this week. This plant was formerly used at the Marion Institute and is of 400 light capacity, sufficient to supply the needs of Monroeville until water power can be developed in this vicinity.

There were 1,094 bales of cotton ginned in Monroe County from the crop of 1914 prior to Sept. 1, 1914, compared with 1,532 bales ginned prior to Sept. 1, 1913. S.D. Nettles, Special Agent.

Mr. Charles R. Crook, well known in this county, was shot and killed by a negro at McKinnonville, Fla. on Tuesday. The negro raised a disturbance with another negro in the commissary of which Mr. Crook had charge, and when the latter interfered, the negro shot both Mr. Crook and the negro employee. Mr. Crook’s remains were taken to Perdue Hill for interment on Wednesday.

A meeting of George W. Foster Camp No. 407, United Confederate Veterans, will be held in Monroeville on Sat., Sept. 26, to elect delegates to the State Reunion in Mobile, and transact other business. All Veterans are requested to attend. J.L. Marshall, Adjt.

LAND FOR SALE: Water Mill site on Flat Creek, Monroe County, Ala., near Davis Ferry on the Alabama River; small acreage under fence, some timber, 160 acres land. Will take $8 per acre for all or half. F.T. Perkins, 432 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, Fla.