Thursday, July 1, 2021

100-year-old Conecuh County news highlights from July 1921

It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in July 1921.

In the July 6, 1921 edition of The Evergreen Courant, editor and owner George W. Salter Jr. reported that the “picnic here on the Fourth was not large but a most enjoyable affair. Many citizens had made plans to go elsewhere before the celebration had been determined upon and in consequence the crowd was small. An elegant dinner was spread. Mrs. S.P. Dunn, president of the Civic Club, made a short talk in which she voiced the sentiment of all present that Evergreen should have a celebration of this kind every year. Plans are now in the making for an elaborate celebration of Armistice Day here on Nov. 11”

In the July 13, 1921 edition of The Courant, under the headline “Two Boys Injured With Dynamite Cap,” it was reported that “Urelia Morrison, age 11, and Luther Morrison, age 14, were taken to Mobile on Saturday last for treatment by a specialist for injuries received in playing with dynamite caps. The young brother, Urelia, had his right eye removed by a physician after being injured by a fragment of the cap. Luther lost the thumb and first finger of one hand and the third finger was badly injured.

“The two boys had found an old box of dynamite caps which had been stored away for over five years. Not knowing the nature of the caps, they began to pry into them with a knife with the result that one exploded, injuring the older boy’s hand and piercing the eye of the younger lad, who was a bystander.

“The boys are sons of Mrs. Hattie Morrison, who resides with her father, W.R. Johns, a few miles east of town, their father having died last year. Mr. Johns accompanied the boys to Mobile for treatment.”

In the July 20, 1921 edition of the newspaper, under the headline “Former Evergreen Boy Meets Tragic Death,” that the “body of John Savage was brought here from Tulsa, Okla. for interment on Saturday last. Relatives of deceased know nothing concerning the circumstances of his death. The statement came that he committed suicide. The body was closely examined before burial and its condition bears out a theory that he was probably a victim of foul play. His throat was cut and his right hand was bruised and swollen, indicating that he was very probably injured in defending himself. Relatives of the dead boy will make full investigation.”

In the July 27, 1921 edition of the paper, readers learned that “Ras Kelley last week killed 22 rattlesnakes near his home east of town. One was very large, having 12 rattles, the others being her young about 12 inches long. Some years ago, The Courant recorded the fact that two citizens of Herbert killed 27 rattlers at one time. While these stories were being related at the courthouse the other day, D. Rabren of Melrose stated that he recently killed a large chicken snake that had swallowed two broiler size chickens.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of August 1921 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.

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