THE ET CETERA CHRONICLES
Part 11
SPEED KILLS - Kwame Brown, the top draft choice in the 2001 NBA draft right out of high school. Chosen by the Washington Wizards in the 2001 NBA draft, Brown was known for his size and speed on the basketball court. On April 27, 2002, that speed was noticed on the radar detector of a Laurens County Deputy Sheriff. Brown was traveling in a construction zone, where the speed limit is usually in the 40 mph range. Brown’s 2000 Mercedes Benz was headed to Savannah on Interstate 16 at the unbelievable speed of 120 mph.Manhattan Mercury, April 30, 2002.
COLD COTTON - On April 23, 1856, Laurens County farmers suffered damage to many of their young cotton plants. The damage was not a result of a spring storm, but from the latest frost ever observed in Laurens County. The all time 20th Century low for May was 38 degrees in 1962. Louisville Daily Courier, May 2, 1856, Western Regional Climate Center.
THE OLD MAN KEPT ON GOING - Alexander Outlaw was born about the year 1790. Outlaw, when he was 93 years of age, was still picking cotton. One hundred and ten pounds was said to have been his personal daily record. Cherryvalley Torch, Cherry Vale, KS, January 5, 1883
BIG SNAKE - In the summer of 1882, there was quite a commotion. Seems there was a large rattle snake which was put of the misery of its captors. While most snakes are judged by their length, this particular rattler seemed rather large. So, someone coiled it back up and put it on a scale. The dead viper tipped the scale at forty pounds. As of 2019, the Guiness Book of World Records lists the heaviest Eastern Diamondback Rattle Snake was weighing 34 pounds. This this one had a big animal for breakfast. Winston Salem Leader, September 9, 1882.
THE SKY IS FALLING, WHAT? - In the summer of 1886, a ominous black cloud began to let its contents loose. The rain poured onto a spot, judged to be about a half-acre in size, far from any body of water. Not abnormal in the summer, right? What was abnormal was what else was falling to the Earth. Curious observers rushed into to find a highly unusual sight. Squirming and flapping in the mud were no less than fifty soft-bellied striped terrapin turtles, which were observed to be about the size of the bottom of peck basket of tomatoes. The Weekly Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, August 7, 1886.
HONESTLY, HE WAS NO POLITICIAN - At least he was honest. J. Lester Jackson, a candidate for Laurens County Surveyor in the July 1936 Democratic primary, vowed “to do as little work as I can.” Jackson further revealed that his decision to run was “persuaded by myself and no one else.” Mansfield News Journal, Mansfield, OH, June 4, 1936.
NEVER A VAN BURENER - During the 1840 presidential election, Whig William Henry Harrison received 522 votes for president by Laurens County voters (white males.) Although the Demorcratic candidate, Martin Van Buren, garnered 45% of the vote in Georgia, he got not a single vote in Laurens County. Apparently, Laurens County was the only county in the nation to vote solely for General Harrison. Oh well, not entirely, a recount showed the vote was a little closer, a single solitary vote was found for the hated Democrat Van Buren. Van Buren’s supporters attempted to tell the country that the venerable, God-like Gov. George M. Troup was supporting their candidate. The Raleigh Register, January 22, 1841. Alabama Times, February 26, 1841.
MULEKILLING SUMMER - During a sweltering week in late spring of 1939, Dr. J.L. Smalley discovered that nearly 40 Laurens County mules succumbed to heat stroke. The beasts of burden were worked extra hard following a long drought which was ended by plentiful rains. Chattanooga Daily Times, June 10, 1939.
NOT IN MY JAIL - Dublin policeman and future iconic sheriff Carlos Gay was attending a session of the Superior Court in the Laurens County Courthouse when he noticed an inordinate amount of people milling around the entrance to the basement of the 1895 building. While the court upstairs was dispensing justice upstairs, a peg-leg citizen, Otha Thomas, was dispensing downstairs. Trouble was that Thomas was pouring his own brand of justice, white lighting, from a large jug into smaller, ready to use and disguise, pint bottles. The Pittsburgh Courier, October 1, 1938.
GUARDING AN EMPEROR - In the days following the end of World War II in Japan, deposed Japanese Emperor Tojo was considered most likely to commit suicide. American military officials put a close watch on Tojo. Assigned to the task was Lt. Col. James Perry of Tazwell, Ga. and Col. Andrew B. Padgett of Swainsboro. Col. Perry commanded the hospital where Tojo first tried to take his own life. Col. Padgett commanded the guards assigned to protect the heinous Tojo. Atlanta Constitution, September 13, 1945.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PINE TREES - During the World War II, Emanuel County, Georgia landowners and foresters planted five million pine trees as a part of a reforestation project. Atlanta Constitution, October 16, 1946.
HERO NEEDS HELP! - Thomas L. Frazer, of Adrian, Ga., fought for his country in World War II. As a pilot in the South Pacific, he broke his back when his plane caught fire and crashed into the ocean. Diagnosed with a mere strained back, Frazer was ordered to return to duty. To keep him in the pilot’s seat, he had a board strapped to his back. It was only after his right hand was paralyzed and multiple x-rays taken in Walter Reed Hospital showed that his neck was brokern that Frazer was taken off duty. Once the war was over, the government refused to recognize his disability, so Frazer, wearing a neck brace, and some of his injured comrades, including Congressional Medal of Honor winner Capt. Carlos Ogden, took their fight for benefits to the Congress. Atlanta Constitution, Greensboro, N.C. Daily News, February 27, 1948.
THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL - The Social Security Act Amendments of 1965, including Medicare gave all persons in the country basic health insurance. Supervision of the program was assigned to the states. The program began in 1966. Annie J. Johnson, the widow of a retired Montrose, Ga. farmer went to see Dr. P. Denis Gauthier in nearby Jeffersonville for one of her frequent maladies. The 76-year-old didn’t receive a bill for Dr. Gauthier filled out the new forms requesting payment for his service. And sure enough, a few weeks later, Dr. Gauthier was paid $26.40 , which was 80% of of Mrs. Johnson’s reasonable expense for the visit, thereby the making Mrs. Johnson the first person in Georgia to receive Medicare benefits. Atlanta Constitution, July 15, 1966.
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