Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 128, Decatur, Adams County, 30 May 1947 — Page 1

I iXLV. No. 128.

13 DIE IN NATION’S WORST AIR CRASH

■iday Death fal 244 At Ilf-Way Mark IKrplane Crashes |K o d In Nation's IKolent Death Toll K By United Pres* accidents— Including the K«, tragic airplane crashes nation * history killed 214 gKi during the first half of Kgonc Memorial Pay week «*nd person* were killed EK two plane crashes. 7« perEK n traffic accident* and 75 ■K, in !n |scellaneoii* accident* IK a train derailment and |K safety council had |K, t that 275 persons would Wi11,.,! in traffic accident* ,luring Memorial Pay. SatK and Sunday. persons were killed, an eastern airline* luxury and exploded In a KLy.wmxled sector near I)e Grace. Md.. last night K. than 21 hour* previous. holiday was only a few ■jbk nhl 40 person* were killed a United Air Lines plane at LaGuardia Field in City. ■ Munster. Ind., six members family. Including a bride bridegroom, were killed. their automobile was hit KI speeding Pennsylvania rallpassenger train yesterday M accident occurred a few K after the wedding. The K« parent* and her sister were killed. Indianapolis a crowd of K penions saw William veteran auto racing Mbr killed, when hi* speeding into a wall during the Memorial Pay speedway McComb, Mo., an engineer ■I fireman were killed early when the Frisco railFlorida Special, en route |H Memphis. Tenn . to Kansas was derailed. |Mtana led the states with 11 K fatalities. California was with 10. m — — o Slliom E. Amstutz woken By Death |Bllhni Edward Amstutz. 19. Kvh of Mr. and Mrs William of Monroe, died Thursday Mlhe Percy Jones hospital In Creek. Mich , of kidney disMl rants', ted while serving with 9 army in Tokyo. He was reio the country early this Mker survivors include the par|Kj*:' and Mrs Elmer Amstutz Wayne, three brother* and ■jhteni Funeral services will B*ld at 8:30 am. Monday at M*°’»t> k gong mortuary and at at St. Andrew's Catholic IK’- with burial In the Catholic ■»<wy at Fort Wayne. Kt — oMS. Rubber Co. Is Damaged Cotin. May Si -(UP) t* f. ywplained explosion blew F 9 * off on* of the building* at Chemical Co . a div IK* ,b * ’’ s Rubber Ce.. early Mr ****■»« damage estimated MF* *MOOO and WUOP.OOO K the blast, which blowing portions of ■,*?* * nil WWK| structure as No on ® wa * ln ,he ■F ”>• explosion occurred y hpretentative w* Next Monday K*® P Boyce, contact repreHE/ 7 ,h e veteran's admfnlM*‘a tho Red Cro * ° May uPentoon to aid ■ Veterans are invited H 10 hhn ' I. Father 1 cloudy today and toKutL , • r * - • h °wsrt> north K l ß ht •"<! north and K LT”*’ tomorrow. Warm--1 Un,flM c#e,,r pertisn tomorrow. 8H •

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

City Pays Tribute At Memorial Rites Ceremonies Held By Legion, VFW “Gratitude, whether it be to God or to our fellow men. is a virtue that doe* honor to the heart from which it springs. And this I* a fretIval of gratitude.’* Thus spoke the Rev. Ignatius Vlchuras. assistant pastor of the St. Mary's Catholic church yeeterday, in paying tribute to the war dead a* a part of the city’s Memorial Day ceremonies. In speaking of those who died, he declared that “we must remember they were not men ol an imperialistic government but sons of a free country.” "They were all fired with one zeal — the preservation of this unity,'* he asserted in warning against subversive influences. “They gave their lite* in an ecstasy of patriotism.'* “They were not men of a parti cular nationality — but of all races, of which this country I* marie. We hope their memories will never be erawed from the minds of a great nation — hut that they will always be cherished with love and enthusiasm,” he concluded. The address of Fr. Vichuras was part of the ceremonies held at the peace monument, after ceremonies at both cemeteries and at the east bridge over the St. Mary's. Officers and membeis of troth the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War posts took part in the ceremonies, led by Commanders T. C. Smith and 11. V DeVor, chaplains Floyd B. Hunter and Elmer Darwacbter, and Memorial Day chairmen laiwrence Rash. Jr. and Edward Noonan. Color guards and rifle squads of both posts, floy and Girl Scouts, Cuba and Brownies and the Decatur Catholic high school band were othei organization* appearing in the parade. —— o Legion Post Seeks Home For Veteran Housed In Brooder The Legion post i< looking for a home —for one of its veterans. The ex-serviceman, with his wife, who Is expecting a child soon, and their two children now live in i brooder house When the Legion heard of their living conditions they aent Charles Morgan of the post relief committee out to investigate. He reported finding the family crowded into the small building, which becomes almost unbearably hot when the sun shines on it, and immediately went out in search of a vacant house. So fur, he said, he has had no luck. Today he appealed to this newspaper for aid. Anyone having vacant living quarters which would accomodate the family is asked to call Mr. Morgan, phone 1424. Chinese Train Blown Up, Hundreds Killed Blown Off Track By Communist Mines Peiping. May 31.—(UPi—Chinese railroad officials reported today that several hundred passengers were killed or injured when Communist land mines blew a crowded 13-car train off the rails near Tientsin. Nationalist troops reaching the wreckage 36 miles east of Tientsin reported that Communist guerillas had looted the Mukden-bound train while Injured passengers screamed with pain. They said the guerillas apparently had laid an ambush. It was one of the most destructive blows in the Communist campaign to sever Nationalist rail connections between northern China and Manchuria, where Communist troops were pressing close around the capital. Changchun. The mine explosion tore tne locomotive apart and hurled three cars off the tracks. Two of them were upended. Officials did not know whether any foreigners wete aboard.

Six Os Family Die As Train Smashes Auto Gay Bridal Party Ends In Tragedy; Heavy State Toll By United Press Indiana's Memorial Day weekenJ violent death toll stood at 14 today. At least 12 persons died on the holiday, and one wax killed on Decoration Day eve In a traffic accident. The toll included 12 traffic deaths, a drowning, and a fatality on the Indianapolis motor speedway track during yesterday's 500-mile race. A multiple-death tragedy at a Ixike county rail crossing sent I the toll shooting rapidly upward. Six mem Iters of one family were killed when a train hit their automobile as they returned from a wedding. The victims Included the young bride and bridegroom. Those killed in the train-car crash were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Brock; their daughter. Mrs. Juanita Graham, 17. the bride, and her husband. Chelso Graham. 20; the bride's si*ter and brother, Greta. 15, and Kenneth Brock, 5. all of latke county. Shorty (’antlon. j 2-year-old veteran of speedway racing, was injured fatally when bis racing car smacked a wall early tn the speed classic. He was a resident of Indianapolis. The drowning victim was Her* man Orn. 2». Gas City. His motor boat went over a dam on the Mlsaisslnewa river near Marion. Other traffic victims: Olin E. Ring. Ypsilanti. Mich., injured fatally when he tell asleep at the wheel of hi* car en route to the Indianapolis speedway. The car overturned near Noblesville. Don Humphrey. 2®. Alexandria, injured fatally near New Castle when his car overturned. Jeannlne Przybyl, 2, Hammond killed by her father's automobile as he backed out of a driveway. Walter Richardson, Indianapolis, killed near Connersville as be walked along a highway and was struck by an automobile. Mrs. Ruth Wilson, Chicago, injured fatally on Decoration Day eve in a collision involving two cars and a truck in 1-ake county. First victim of traflc the day (Turn To Pag* 5. Column 7) 0Hungarian Prime Minister Resigns Defense Minister Named Successor Budapest, May 31—(UPI—The Hungarian Smallholders party designated defense minister Lajos Dinnyes today as it* choice for prime minister to succeed the resigned Ferenc Nagy. Appointment of Dinnyes was subject to the anticipated approval of the 36-member political committee of parliament at it* meeting today. The Smallholders are the largest party In Hungary. Nagy, who resigned In Switzerland yesterday. I* a Smallholder. Party officials said that the proportion of parties in the new cabinet to be formed today will be the same as under Nagy. Foreign minister Janos Gyongyo*! will be dropped from the post he held since the war. Police have made several arrest* In an Investigation into an alleged plot against Hungarian democracy in which the former Smallholder secretary, now held In a Russian prison, implicated Nagy. Gyongyosl and other Smallholder leader* More arrests were expected. Report Arrest* Vienna May 31 -(UPt-The Austrian government received a report today that 24 members of the Hungarian parliament were arrested yesterday but 23 of them were released today.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, May 31, 1947

Boy Scouts Honor Baruch F / ■ AMERICA'S ELDER STATESMAN Bernard Baruch (left) receives congratulations from Walter W. Head of St. M»ui* after presentation of the .'silver buffalo and ribbon” for distinguished seryice to itoyhood. Award was made at 37th annual meeting of Boy Scout* of America in New York.

One Person Injured In Wreck Thursday Traffic Violators Are Arrested Here u One person was hurt In two wreck* investigated Thursday night by *heriff Herman Bauman. Mr*. Marlin Richardton. Huntington. suffered a head injury and cut* on her knees when a car driven by iter husband, 23, crashed into a cow *lx and onehalt miles west of the city about 1«:10 p. tn Thursday. The cow. owned by Mrs. Ella Scherry. was killed Instantly. Damage tn the Richardson auto was estimated at 84w» by sheriff Bowman. The driver escaped unhurt. No one was hurt altout an hour earlier Thursday night when cars driven by Donald Warman. 24. Fort Wayne, and Frank Spangler. 67, New Corydon, sideswiped on federal road 27. just south of Coppess Corner. Both vehicles were damaged. Arrest Two Sheriff Bowman also arrested two persons for traffic violation* Thnniday evening. Don Dailey. 20. Huntington. was charged with running a stop sign at Ntittinan avenue and Thirteenth street. He pleaded guilty liefoie justice of peace Ernest Stengel at Berne and was fined 81 and costs, totalling 87.50. Darrell Crookson. 30. of 12nff Adam* street, was charged with speeding and will lie arraigned before Mayor John B. Stulls. He was arrested on Mercer avenue by the sheriff. 0 Tax Review Board Will Meet Monday Annuai Session To Open Here Monday The Adams county board of review meet* in it* annual semlon Monday for a 2«-day period. The session* will be held in the commissioner*' room at the courthouse. Hugh’ Andrews and Mrs. Naomi Bormann wtere recently named to the board by Judge J. Fred Fruchte as the Republican and Democratic member*, respectively. Other member* of the board are ***e**or Albert Harlow, auditor Thurman I. Drew and treasurer Roy L. Price, all of whom are exofficio members The board will review all asaeaament* and conduct hearing* on objection*, if any, before closing it* aesalon. The county commiMlonert will nlao meet in regular aoeaion Monday morning at the courthonee.

Decatur Ministers To Elect Officers New officers of the I‘ecatiir ministerial association will be elected at the tegular monthly meeting of the association, to Im* held at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church Monday morning at 10 o'clock. Republicans Push Planned Measures Claim 'Making Good' On Campaign Pledges Washington, .way 31—(UPi < Republican leader* claimed today they were in the "home stretch" on enactment of their legislative program Chairman I-eo E. Allen. R.. 111., of the house rules committee, ■aid the Republicans have "made good” on their campaign promises. Including tax reductions, (orrectlve labor legislation and economy In government "The tax and labor bills are practically ready for the White House ami we are going to give a green light to appropriations bills." said Allen, whose committee is responsible for routing legislation through the, house Tax reduction and union control bills have been passed hy lM»th house* and whipped into compromise form by joint senate house conference committee*. They are practically certain to receive final congressional approval this week Prediction* that President Truman would veto one or itoth bill* were selling at a dime a dozen on capitol hill. It was generally believed that congress would override any veto of the lalmr bill but would uphold a dlsap proval of the tax reduction*. Despite vigorous house action, however, no major appropriation bill has reached President Truman's desk. Several have passed the house but they are piled up in the senate appropriations committee where they probably will •tart pouring out to the floor next week. A major bill which ha* some prospects of action I* the leglslat'on to extend rent control* to February. 1948. The house ha* passed one bill. Another measure on the same subject comes before the senate Monday The houae hill would extend rent controls but would end hderal regulations over housing construction. It also would per mit a 15 percent Increase In rentals In caaea where landlord and tenant "voluntarily” agreed to a leaae running through 1948. The senate bill, which also carries the 16 percent provision, would not affect construction controll. But Sen. C Douglas* (iurq To •« Coluina •)

Giant Luxury Airliner Crashes Into Maryland Swamps; All Aboard Die

Eight Global Air Crashes Take 177 Lives In Blackest Aviation History By United Press At least 177 persons have been killed in eight airplane cra»he* throughout the world since Thursday night to mark the blackest period in the history of peacetime aviation. The three worst crashes near Bainbridge. Md.; New York, and Tokyo- involved American planes, and 133 persons nearly all Americans. were killed. Nine were Injured. A fourth American plane crashed In Alaska, tilling three. The latest crack up. near Bain bridge last night, claimed 53 Ilves, and equalled the worst previous airline disaster last Feb. 15 when a Columbian Avlanca Htinsport crashed near Bogota with s’l aboard. Other crashes in Iceland. Holland and Argentina took 41 live*, and a ninth crash. In Colombia. Injured 13 person*. The crash of an Eastern Airline* DC-4 near Bainbridge, in which 49 passenger* and four crew member* were killed, followed by le«« than a day the crack up of a United Airlines DC 4 at U Guardia Field, New York, in which 40 were killed and eight injured—the worst previous domestic airline disaster. Forty Americans were killed near Tokyo when an army courier plane crashed and burned at the base of a mountain Thursday night Three crewmen of a U S army B 2ft were killed at l-idd field Alaska, late Thursday Nine others escaped seriqti* injury The 3fi army men and four civilians killed In lapan wen on routine flight front Kimtr.po. Kotea. when th»ir plane crashed into the base of ’Mount Fuji. 30 miles southwest of Tokyo, and burned. A ground rescue parly reached the scene of the crash a f»v/ hours later, and tne bodies were brought out todty The army withheld the names of those aboard the plane, pending notification of next of kin. but a telephone report from Seoul, Korea, which could not be con firmed officially, said on- of the passengers was Philip A Adler, correspondent of the Detroit New*. Twenty-five person* were killed in Iceland when a DC 3 transport of Icelandic Airlines crashed into a mountain Thursday nlgat (Turn To Page ». Column 7> o - Foreign Relief Bill Signed By President Grants Relief For Devastated Lands Washington, May 81—(UP)— President Truman today signed into law the bill authorizing 8350,(>OO.OOO of emergency relief for six war devastated nations The relief plan, voted by congress. provides for shipment this year of up to f 350,000.000 In Amert can food, medical supplies, fertilizers and feeds. The bulk ot the shipment* would go to Austria, Greece, Hungary Italy. Poland. China and Trieste. The President signed the measure amidst warnings by U. 8. occupation area commanders and foreign policy spokesmen that relief supplies must be rushed to avert starvation and disease in many parts of the world. With the bill. Mr. Truman also signed an executive order gWing secretary of state George C. Mar shall authority to direct the relief Qrogram. This measure Is distinct from the 8400.fMm.000 authorization to provide military and fundamental economic aid to Greece and Tur- !*!’!! EH TH AR OD IL NU PY key to bolster them against communism.

Air Disasters By United Prsss The worst commercial disasters in the last 10 years: Feb. 17. 1947 53 killed in a Colombian Avlanca DC-4 which crashed near Bogota. Oct. 3. 194fi 39 killed In American ovetseas airline crash at Stephenville,NFLD. May 16. 1946 - 27 killed In chartered Viking Transport Air Co. crash at Richmond. V*. March 3. 1946 - 27 killed In American Airlines craeh near Han Diego, Calif. Au» 31.1940 25 killed in Pennsylvania Central Aldine* crash at Lovettsville, Va Oct. 17. 1937 — 19 killed in United Air Line* crash near Halt latke City. Utah May. 1937 36 killed In explosion ot dirigible Hindenberg a’ laikchurst. N J. 0 __ President's Mother Reported Unchanged Grandview. Mo. May 31 (UP) President Truman’a ailing. 94-year-old mother »»■ only ''holding her own” today. Brig Gen. Wallace Graham, white house physician, reported that Mr* Marl ha E Truman "has not made the continued progress we have noted in the past few days.” “Her condition isn't critical’’ he said, ' but H is fairly serious" 0 _ Doubt Grand Jury Will Indict Seven Alleged Kidnapers Os Carolina Negro Raleigh. N c. May 31 —(UPi I—A high stale law enforcement officer admitted today that "It's - not going to he easy” to indict seven white m«-n chargel with | kidnaping Godwin Bush, husky young Negro who escaped a lynching. Walter Anderson, director of tne state bureau of Investigation made the statement as he turned o.'er all evidence obtained by the FBI to solicitor Ernest II Tyler for prosecution. Anderson declined to elaborate but observers felt that It would be almost Impossible for a hometown grand jury to return in dktments against the men now at liberty under 82.5W1 bond each Gov Gregg Cherry who called for an all out prosecution against the mobsters also has been advised by some observer* that a grand jury might refuse to in diet the men. (In a recent ca»e at Green ville. 8. C. »n al! white jury acquitted 28 defendants In the lynching of Negro Willie Earle.) Bush was taken from hl* Jackson, N. C.. prison cell four hours after his arrest on charges of attempting to assault a white woman. He escaped from his armed abductors while In the rear of a parked automobile outside the jail Bush hid in the woods for two day* until it was safe to surren der to the FBI Townsfolk at Rich Square where the seven defendants live resented FBI In vestigations which led to the arrests. — Local Lad Continues As Page At Congress John E Doan, son of Mr. and Mrs John M Doan, of this citv. will continue bis duties as a paain the house of representative* at Waahington. D C. It was made known today. John was scheduled to return here June I gfte: two month* a* a page, but informed bi* parent* that he ha* been granted aa additional two mont*. Hi* that appointment to the position c«m* from Cong George W Gillie, ot tbl* district

Price Four ConM

Structural Defect May Have Caused Crash Last Night; 40 Killed Thursday BULLETIN Washington. May 31.—(UP) —Chairman James M. Landis of th* elvll aeronautic* board *aid today there wti “no obvious connection" between the Maryland and New York era*h*a of four-engined DC-4 plane* which would justify immediate grounding of such . planes. Bainbridge. Md.. May 31 — (VP) An Eastern Airline* official said today a structural defect may have caused the crash of a giant luxury liner which killed 53 persona last night in the nation's worst commercial aviation disaster. The fonr-engined airliner one of Eastern's 'Silver Fleet” plunged 6,(M10 feet out nt a clear sky into swampy wood* near here shortly before 7 p m. EDT. The airline* official declined use of his name. He raid a reporter after a meeting with civil aeronautic* authority official* in Washington this morning that eyewitness account* of the crash led InvestigtHer* to believe it may have been caused try a structural defect in the plane—a DC-4 bound from New York to Miami He added, however, that eyewitness accounts sometime* are "unreliable.” He said weather had Iwen virtually ruled out a* a factor In the crash At least three eyewitnesses Io tne airliner's death plunge reported they thought parts of the tail section were torn loose before the plane fell All aboard perished, including a tiny Infant whose decapitated body was found still clutched in Ils mother’s arms There were 49 passengers and four crew members. Many of the bodies were so badly battered that identification was difficult, if not impossible It was by far the worst domestic disaster in the history of commercial aviation The death toll equalled that of any heavier-than-air calamity in the world The airliner's death plunge Into the swampy woods of rural Maryland between nearby Havre De Grace and Port Deposit was witnessed by a group of civil aeronautics board investigators, who were flying hack to Washington after studying the United Air Lines disaster at New York's MGuardia airport just 23 hour* (Siller Within an hour, they were at the ground for a preliminary look at the wreckage They had no official opinion a* to cause of the crash, pending a more extensive Investigation A conference with Eastern official* was called In Washington this morning But it was known that the TAB authorities were much interested In the story nf a young sailor, who told shocked bystander* at the wreckage that he saw a piece of the tai! break from the fuselage just Itefore the plant hit tree*. The CAB officials ordered a special search made for pieces of wreckage that might have come loose before the plane hit. 40 Killed New York. May 31—(UPI—A freak change in the wind while the plane was racing down the runway for a JOO-mile-andtour take-off was blamed today for toe crash of a United Airlines transport at ImGuardi* fleM Thursday night which killed 40 persons and Injured eight others. The 40th victim of the crash died today. He was Charlea J. Shannon 27. New York Official* of both the civil aeronautic* hoard and the airline agreed after a preliminary Inve«tlgation that the wind ehtwte. f.-om a 1* mph south wind to a northweet wind of 23 mile* veiTurq l*M4 b Gelnmi