John G. Bragaw wrote a front-page column many years for the Daily News titled “Now and Then.”

It was very popular, as was “Mr. John.” He passed away in the first or second year of the 1960s. I was in the Army stationed in Germany at the time.

“Mr. John” also wrote for the State Magazine, forerunner of Our State. He was also a relative of Cecil B. DeMille.

John Irving Morgan, a much-beloved man in these parts, and a dear friend, was the long-time sports editor for the Daily News before serving as Beaufort County Register of Deeds until his retirement. Now in his nineties (just beginning), John recently lost his wife, friend and partner, Geneva. The totality of all the good they have done for others may never be fully known.

But back to “Mr. John’s” column “Now and Then.” Here’s one item of a sort of potpourri of topics that appeared in the March 23, 1937, issue of the paper. It was passed along to me by my friend Louis (Marty) Martin, an avid — and published — local historian.

“Mr. John” wrote:

“Eugene Neel and I were looking at the big tanker at the Standard Oil dock across the river the other day, commenting upon her size, and the fact that she was loaded down so that just her deck and superstructure were visible.

“’That’s a new one,’ said Neel. ‘She is larger than those that have been coming here before.’

“’I wouldn’t care for a job aboard a ship like that, with all that gasoline around. How much do you suppose she carries?’ I asked.

“’About 50,000 gallons,’ Neel said.

“John Irving Morgan, small boy, had been watching it along with us. He spoke up then.

“’Well, there’s one thing about it. There’s not much danger of her running out of gas,’ he said.”

I’ve always known John was a very smart man.

He was a smart lad, also.

Just thought you might enjoy this snippet of local history written about one John by another John.

A long time ago.