 |
Feb. 4, 1938
DRYS HOPE TO GET LIQUOR QUESTION
Open Letter Explains Status of Fight for Election in Catahoula
Feb. 11, 1938
FIRE DESTROYS TOW-BOAT HERE TUESDAY
“Georgia Lee” Owned by Geo. Phillips, Goes Up in Flames; $10,000 Damages Estimated
The “Georgia Lee” a towboat owned and operated by George Phillips, of this place, was totally destroyed by fire early last Wednesday morning when it was ignited from unknown causes about 1:00 a.m. and was almost totally destroyed before the fire was discovered.
The boat, which was moored in Black River at a point in front of J. H. Hawthorne’s store was in the service of the A. M. Webber Stave Company, of this place, and temporarily tied up.
“TABLE WALKING” IS ATTRACTING MANY VISITORS EACH DAY
12- Year-Old Girl Astounds Visitors Who Come from Far and Near to See “Miracle”
You’ve probably heard old tales about mediums and the ability of certain ones to make the “table walk”, and no doubt you thought it just a lot of superstitious imaginations that grew perhaps with each telling. Well, granting that you’ve heard all that we still say you “haven’t heard nuthin’ and you haven’t seen nuthin’ “ until you see the performance of a 12-year old girl, Miss Alice Bell Kirby, who resides about five miles below Jonesville at the plantation home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Kirby.
This young lady, who is the seventh girl in a family of eight girls, tries no tricks and offers no explanation whatsoever for her miraculous ability to ask questions of the spirits of persons who have died and who answer by raining the legs of a table off the floor and tapping out the answers to questions.
The child first became acquainted with her strange ability when she and a number of friends gathered at a table and playfully placing their hands on the table-top called on the spirits in the manner they had heard in tales told by old folks about such things. Much to their surprise the table “acted up” and becoming alarmed they rushed to Mrs. Kirby, who told them there was nothing to be alarmed about. Returning to the table the young folk started an elimination procedure to discover who was responsible for the table’s queer actions. Alice Bell was finally discovered as the one exerting the mysterious power. Since that time the child has been called upon to make the “table walk” at school, in the home of friends and almost daily and nightly at her own home, where people are now going by the hundreds seeking answers to questions to satisfy their curiosity.
Through it all, the young girl is untiring and tries with confidence in herself to get an answer to all kinds of questions, which is a large majority of cases have been proven true. Very few exceptions have been cited and she has worked for hours on end, asking and receiving answers to questions of importance, some of no importance and some of a private nature.
People are finding their way to the Kirby home from all over the country, some from Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee, and still the crowds continue, both afternoon and night. So great have been the number of visitors that Mr. and Mrs. Kirby have found it necessary to arrange special visiting hours.
The feats performed by this young girl are not only remarkable, but astonishing. She has been able, at times to cause the table to suspend itself in the air and “walk” about the room one person to another, and witnesses all concede that the feats are mystifying and almost impossible to believe, even when seen.
Feb.25, 1938
HUNDREDS FLOCK TO VIEW UNREAL THING AT KIRBY’S
Visitors Undergo Unbelievable Experiences and See Things That Look Impossible
An article published in these columns a week or so ago, and talking about the “table tipping” activities of Alice Bell Kirby, 12-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Kirby, who reside just south of Jonesville on the Black River road, has caused many expressions of doubt to reach our ears from readers who are not familiar with the case.
Never-the-less, our previous statements still stand and we are able to substantiate them by hundreds of people who have witnessed the miraculous-like performances of this young lady. And, this week, we are going to tell of things that are still stranger than mere “table tapping”.
For some weeks the little lady has been able to answer all kinds of questions by the aid of a table which taps out “yes” or “no” without any visible assistance, one tap being used for “yes” and two taps for “no”. Now she has startled visitors by demanding of the “spirits” that they open or close a door, which invariably opens and closes, and to this she has added the feat of having the piano open itself unassisted and play. Bass notes or treble notes are sounded according to her request and the piano pedals are seen to work as if they were being worked by a player.
Also, persons who are willing to go into a completely darkened room are telling of the unusual experience of being touched of the face by inhuman hands, and one lady tells of having her nose pulled. In these latter performances the persons who consent to the darkened room experiment form a ring and hold hands so that it is impossible for either one or the other to touch the person next to them. This latter experience is supplemented by the “spirit” blowing on the individual’s face also, with a breath that is cool and different from that of the living breath.
Persons who have undergone these experiences state that they become obsessed with the knowledge that they are to be touched and know that they are being singled out of the group even before they are subjected to the experience.
Now what is the answer? Your guess is as good as anyone’s. But, the things we have just mentioned are happening in the Kirby home, both daily and nightly. And it doesn’t have to be in the home. The little lady in question is being besieged everywhere she goes and finds it as easy to make one table walk as another. She is able to throw no more light on the subject than anyone else, neither are any other members of the family.
In the meantime visitors continue to come by the hundreds from all parts of the country and if you have and doubt as to the truthfulness of your scribe we suggest that you see these things for yourself before you condemn us too strongly.
March 11, 1938
SOY BEAN CULTURE IN THIS SECTION MAY FILL BIG GAP
Planting of Soy Beans May Prove Good Move for Farmers of This Section
Attention of Farmers in Catahoula parish has been called to the culture of soy beans in view of the greatly reduced acreage on cotton. It is said that this area will produce from 20 to 22 bushels of soybeans per acre on which the price will be very high, according to statements from oil mill operators.
March 18, 1938
R. E. WEBBER REMODELS AND ENLARGES STORE
Has Recently Purchased Many New Lines of Goods Which Are Arriving Daily
Mr. R. E. Webber has recently enlarged and remodeled his store on the C. F. Farrar corner and so many changes have been made in the interior that it looks like an entirely different place.
April 8, 1938
RING LEVEE HERE MAY BE ENLARGED TO MEET DEMANDS
New Survey is Being Sought to Embrace Much Larger Territory
TOWN TO HOLD STOCK LAW ELECTION ON MAR 24TH
Mayor and Board of Aldermen Order Election at Special Meeting of Council
April 15, 1938
O. R. WURSTER MAKES REPORT ON TRIP TO WASHINGTON; SAYS EUDORA FLOODWAY WILL NOT BE BUILT
Says Morganza will be constructed
Legislators in Congress Promise Support for Larger Ring Levee at Jonesville
BILL LaPRARIE BUYS NEW LOCATION FOR RESTAURANT
New Place Now Open fro Business Next to Catahoula Bank
Bill LaPrarie, who has been in the restaurant business in Jonesville for a number of years, and who has been located in the J. A. Wurster hotel building for the past two years, has recently purchased the cafe building and furnishings erected only recently by R. R. R. Lambert, of Minden.
May 6, 1938
1,000-ACRE TRACT SELECTED AS SITE FOR VIDALIA, LA.
Government to Spend Hugh Sums in Moving Town of Vidalia for Levee Set-Back
Right-of-way lines for the government levees run directly thru the town of Vidalia, La., and will necessitate the removal of the entire town, representing property value at more than a million dollars. Plans for two different levee lines are under consideration, with one traversing the center of the town, while the other dike excludes all the present town except the Vidalia High School, the only public building of importance that is already located back of the proposed setback...
May 20, 1938
Mrs. J. A. WURSTER TAKES OVER HOTEL CAFE MANAGEMENT
Mrs. J. A. Wurster Takes Over Management of Popular Eating Establishment- Louisianne Cafe
May 27,1938
PROPOSITION TO BAR LIVESTOCK FROM CITY IS DEFEATED TUESDAY
Election Held Last Tuesday; Voted Down by 124 to 74 Votes
June 24, 1938
JONESVILLE MAY GET WATER PURIFICATION PLANT WITH FED. AID
Town Will Seek Government Aid for Installation of Proposed Plant
GRANT FOR BRIDGE AT NATCHEZ GETS O. K. OF PWA
Span Will Be Operated as Toll Bridge When Erection Is Made
July 22, 1938
MUCH MONEY BEING DERIVED FROM SALE OF FROGS IN J’VILL
Louisiana Frog Company of Rayne, La., Establishes Here with C. F. Wray
This company, which took up branch headquarters here last week from Rayne, La., buys bullfrogs at the rate of 1,500 to 1,800 pounds per day, according to the average maintained up to this time, and we understand that catchers are receiving approximately 13 cents per pound in the rough
July 29, 1938
DRYS FAIL IN PARISH-WIDE VOTE
Vote Goes Almost Two to One in Favor of Legalized Liquor
October 28, 1938
TOGO COTTON OPENS NEW GROCERY STORE AND FILING STATION
Formal Opening Being Held Saturday and Special Values Are Offered
Mr. Togo Cotton, merchant of Archie, La., has made arrangements to formally open the new grocery and filling station recently erected on the corner adjacent to the plant of the Ouachita Ice & Utilities, Inc.
November 18, 1938
TO ERECT MODERN STORE BUILDING ON MOUND STREET
Work on New Brick Structure Started this week; Will House Piggly-Wiggly
Work was started this week on the erection of a modern store building on the vacant lot adjoining the Louisianne Hotel and the post office building on Mound Street.
The new building is being erected by Mr. R. E. Webber, prominent merchant, and will be the home of the Jonesville Piggly-Wiggly and Webber’s Variety Store, both of which are located in the C. F. Farrar Building at the corner of First and Mound Streets.
The new building is being is being erected on one of the most desirable business locations in town, a lot formerly owned by Mr. C. L. Wurster but recently purchased by Mr. Webber. Plans and specifications call for a one-story brick building with a 50-foot front and a length of 80 feet.
The building is to have a modern plate glass front with votrolite trimming, a building product, which is being used extensively in the cities for decorative and lighting effects.
November 25, 1938
LOCAL MAN AND GIRL BROADCAST ON NATION WIDE RADIO HOOKUP Jonesville Citizens Fly to New York City for Broadcast on Last Tuesday Evening
Jonesville was in the nation’s spotlight last Tuesday evening when Miss Alice Bell Kirby and Superintendent of Education, H. W. Wright talked over a nationwide radio hookup and gave some very interesting facts about the very; mysterious and supernatural things that Miss Kirby has been able to do during the past few months, which include making “tables walk”, pianos open up and play, doors open and shut, causing herself to defy the laws of gravity by being raised off the floor, causing tables to float in the air, and many other things which defy explanation.
The trip to New York City and the subsequent radio broadcast was made possible by the Columbia Broadcasting Company who defrayed the expenses of Miss Kirby, her mother, Mrs. Leon Kirby, and Mr. H. W. Wright, to and from New York, the trip being made via airplane from Monroe, La., and return trip to New Orleans, thence home by auto.
In Mr. Wright’s broadcast, which was received in this section very clearly and without interference, he vouched for the mysterious things that Miss Kirby, who is only thirteen years of age, has done in the past few months, telling of having seen the little lady cause herself to be suspended in the air without visible means of support and many other things that are equally unbelievable.
The little lady herself, talked with unexcited calmness and told of her mysterious ability, stating that she was quite unaware of how the things were accomplished. The program, however, was a very interesting one and radios throughout this section were tuned in for the occasion and listeners everywhere listened with rapt attention.
People from many states have visited the Kirby home at this place and been present while Alice Bell demonstrated her very astonishing ability. However, there are times when she is unable to accomplish much for her audience. But in each such case of this kind she is able to give a date later on when her powers will work for the parties interested, and in every instance she has been able to perform on the dates set by appointment.
The little lady is normal, as any other child of her age, and attends school regularly, as do other children in this section, and has the same interests, likes and dislikes as are noticeable in other girls of thirteen.
|
