Evening Star Newspaper, August 17, 1929, Page 4

HOOVER TO RECEIVE PAIR OF POSSUMS Mountain Youth Reckons President Was Much Taken by Previous Visit. (Continued From First Page.) one of the critters squirmed his way: loose through the chicken-wire over the top of the box. Ray's real name is William McKinley Burracker, but it takes too long to say all that. Ray is the oldest son of George Burracker, clear-eyed, sun- tanned mountaineer, who farms and tends cattle during week days and “does preaching” on the Lord's day. George doesn’t aim to take the title of “Rever- end,” but he knows his Bible and hymn book as well as he does his potatoes and cows, and naturally his services are much in demand up in the mountains. Sometimes Mr. Burracker holds rayer meetings at his weather-beaten cabin 3,500 feet above the Rapidan. ‘The cabin is a three-room affair, with a rough-hewn timber porch in front, and a sort of half-story under the pitched roof, reached by an outside stairway. ‘The Burrackers have eight children in all—ranging from a girl in her teens, who shied at coming out of the kitchen to meet a reporter, to a tiny daughter Just able to toddle around in pursuit of the chickens. Eva May, or “Did,” as she prefers to be called, is the most talkative of the lot, although none of the younger children is bashful before strangers. All are barefooted. The boys wear over- alls and the girls ankle-long cotton dresses, That Short Dress Causes Trouble. General store reports have it that ‘when some one gave one of the girls a silk dress, fashionably short, “Pa” Burracker tore it up because he didn't think it was decent. All the youngsters take an active part in their “pappy’s” prayer meetings, and their singing is one of the features of the quaint religious services each Sun- day in an isolated Baptist Church near ,the foot of the mountain. Ray sang a solo for the President last Sunday, choosing for this special audition “I Will Meet You Up There in the Morn=- ing,” and more than likely he and brother George would do a duet for Mr. Hoover this Sunday, at the slight- est_suggestion. Pa Burracker i{s right smart con- cerned at the report that Ray gave President Hoover the impression he had to climb a hickory tree to pay a bet ‘when Al Smith lost. “Thar ain't no truth to that” Mr. Burracker avowed today. “In the first place, it wan't no hickory tree, any- way. I clumb an oak tree, and I done it because I was so tickled Hoover got elected!” “Did you really climb an oak tree?” the reporter inquired, dubiously. “Say, I reckon I shinned up that tree quicker'n a squirrel,” he replied. “I can show you the tree, right back o’ my place, if you don't believe it.” Same Tree Stands There. Sure enough, the very tree referred to stands there to this day, just as it did the day Mr. Burracker “clumb” it. ‘Those curious to see the historic Bur- racker oak had better get themselves hardened to mountain horses and mountain trails, before attempting the E:lzrlm-gm ‘The only “road” connect- g the Burracker home with this place is a 10-mile stretch of steep and tor- tuous going, hazardous even for expe- rienced mountain horses. Even then The Star's correspondent could not have found the Burracker cabin without the aid of grizzled Bob Graves, 74-year- old_mountaineer, who owns 3,000 acres of Big Stone Mountain, and who helped President Hoover select the site for his lodge. Bob is the best-known and best- loved man in the Blue Ridge, judging from what the folks around this section say about him, and he knows every bowlder and every watercourse in the mountains, Bob furnished a horse for the re- el pper: Ray Burracker, hero of the Blue Ridge since becoming friendly with the President, lives in this cabin on Big Stone Mountain, overlooking the Hoover lodge. Lower: Some of Ray’s sisters and brothers consent to pose for the picture men. The others were camera shy and fied into the house. The taller of the two boys is George, who aims to go with Ray to the Hoover camp next Sunday and meet the President. —Star Staff Photo. porter and climbed on one himself, crutch and all, and together they picked their way slowly for hours over one mountain and up another to the Burracker home. Ray and Ris parents were at the sale when the pair arrived, but came back just before dark—afoot. While waiting for the trio to return, “Did” volunteered to show the visitors some of the trinkets the President gave Ray after the birthday party. ™in “Locust” Clicks a Song. “H'yar's somethin’ he give ‘im” “Did” announced with a touch of pride, as she held up for inspection a chain puzzle, consisting of three links capable of being separated from one enother, if you know how. “What is it?” “Did” was asked. “Don’t know. And h'yar's a boat he give B ‘The “boat” was a little wooden toy about two inches long, with two little balls in it, under isinglass. “See them pills?” Did inquired. “You gotta get ’em in the little holes at th’ end o’ boat. I ¢'n do it by holdin’ one of 'em in with a pin, this-a-way. Thar now. Thar she is! “That ain’t all. Looka this.” Did exhibited a tin “locust,” which clicked when she pressed on a little plece of spring steel underneath, “Lindy Who?” She Asks. “What did Ray think of the Presi- dent?” “He liked him. The President give Ray $5 for the 'possum and some cake and these h'yar things.” “What did he think of Lindy?” “Lindy who?"” ndbergh, the aviator.” SURGEON, INJURED, CARES FOR FLYER Major, Skull Hurt in Crash, Extricates Lieutenant From Wreckage. By the Assoclated Press. WINTHROP, Mass,, August 17.— ‘Through the courage and clear-headed- ness of an Army surgeon, who, with his companion, was seriously injured in a spectacular plane crack-up yester- day in woods of the Blue Hills in Mil- ton, both men today were considered to have a good chance for recovery. Their names, however, were on the danger list at the Fort Banks Hospital Te. They were Maj. Claude W. Cum- 48, ht surgeon at the Boston airport, an e Lieut. Willlam R. Taplin, 38. Maj. Cummings has a pos- sible fracture of the skull and other hurts. Lieut. Taplin has a fractured jaw, cuts about the head and internal injuries. Their Army scout plane went into a tail spin about 400 feet above the ground and crashed into a tall oak. Stripped of one wing, the plane pan- caked on top of the two flyers. Maj. Cummings, first to regain con- sclousness after about 15 minutes, diag- noszd his own injuries as a probable skull fracture. He extricated himself from the wreckage, freed his companion and administered first aid. The two then set out in search of aid. Meanwhile, a large searching party including mounted police, police in au- tomobiles, Boy Scouts and passersby had been organized on information of the crash from Paul Reynolds, er near the Canton-] saw the plane fall. leading from the wrecked plane led Metropolitan Park police to the wander- ing pair. At the Metropolitan police station in Milton, Maj. Cummings insisted on looking after the hurts of Lieut. Tap- lin. On the way to the hospital he gave a complete story of the accident to police and reporters. “You mean he goes up in a flyin’ ma- chine?” “Sure.” “I don't know anything about him, but thar’s a man flies up here most every day with mall. Is that him?" “No, that's another fellow.” “Well, Ray didn't say nuthin’ ‘bout Lindy, so I guess he didn't see him. Mister, you ever been up in a flyin’ ma- ching “None Ever Went to School.” “Yep, I've been up.” “Whew.” ‘There was a pause as “Did's” eyes grew wide. The reporter changed the subject. “Ever been to school?” Nary a day.” ‘Ray been to school?” “Ain't none o’ us ever went. My paw can read an’ write, though. He can preach, too.” Business They Know—and Well! ‘The singing proclivitles of the Bur- racker children have won them quite a reputation in the mountains. City folks over at Skyland, a fashionable Blue Ridge resort near here, frequently ride over here and pay Ray and “Did” and George and Ivy and Virginia and the others to sing hymns for them. ‘They say that once when a group from Skyland, after paying each of the children for a solo, suggested they sing one song in unison, the youngsters re- fused, explalning “you get more money for solos.” This was business sense, which nobody could deny. It is such a sense of business, no doubt, that has led Ray Burracker to spend so much time the past few days looking for 'possums. Of course, Ray is going to give his captives to the President, spot free, but he positively won't refuse to accept pay for them if Mr. Hoover insists on hav- ing it that way. It's the President's own proposition, isn't it? Why Legitimate Business Supports The Better Business Bureau This organization is incorporated for “Truth in advertising and integrity in business.” Its programs are all directed to- ward the protection of the people of our city against fraud, trickery and misrepresentation and the Bureau is supported financially and morally by a number of reputable business institutions such as newspapers, department stores, other merchants, banks, investment banks and others. Fake and questionable business not only hurts the individ- ual who may be victimized, but it injures the entire community and is direct, unfair competition to the reputable. The money that is lost in fake investment is diverted from legitimate in- vestments that benefit the community as well as the individual. By rendering service to the public, the Bureau is in effect insurance to legitimate and reputable interests, insuring the good will and public confidence against being undermined by parasites that pose as bankers and merchants and brokers. Legitimate business supports the Better Business Bureau because it mutually protects the public and the business in- terests of Washington. The publication of this an- nouncement in these columns is evidence that this news- paper co-operates with and supports the Better Business Bureau for your protection. The Better Business Bureau of Washington 336 Evening Star Building Tglephone National 8164 ., SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1929. " A" WooDbWARD & L.oTHROP 10™™ 11™ F aND G STREETS Have our Optical Department make new lenses for your glasses. It is always safer to have an extra pair, especially when out of town. OPTICAL DEPARTMENT, FIRsT FLOOR. oy One of our fine silk manufacturers sends a fashionist with an Advance presentation of Fall Silk Prints Fashion, as well as growing more and more ingenious with frock treatments, is growing more and more ingenious with prints. Fall, 1929, finds prints more intricate, more clever in their combination of smart colors than ever “before. A fashionist will be here Monday to show you the prints that have been launched at many of the Paris openings, the colors that have taken on new importance through dulled tones. Crepe weaves lead in fashion interest; you will surely want to see them, for they will prove an endless inspiration for your new Fall ensembles. Darker blues, groons, rich browns and rusts bring a variety of shades. Black backgrounds, too, are im- portant with their new color harmony. $295 $3.50 $4.50 $6 yard ‘Also an Important Advance Showing of Mallinson’s Silk Prints for Autumn SiLks, SEcoND FLOOR. Cottons get ready to go to school And, because they are assembling in countless numbers at Woodward & Lothrop, little girls and their mothers will be coming down first thing Mon- day morning to see them and plan the early school wardrobe. Yeaerund Zephyrs, 38c 2,000 yards bring all the bright young colors and prints that Autumn finds in the smartest classrooms. Pinks, blues, greens, even reds, and bright orange display their gayety in amusing little splotchy all- over designs. YearRound Charmeusettes, 58¢c These are about the loveliest charmeusettes Wood- ward & Lothrop has ever had—young people are decidedly enthusiastic over the pretty lustrous sheen and delightful colorings. Hollywood Chintzes, 45¢ Your favorite colors are combined in the newest prints ever—there are ever so many to choose from. Do come in and see them. CorTons, Szcoitp FLOOR.