Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 50, Number 42, Decatur, Adams County, 19 February 1952 — Page 1

Vol. L. No. 42. —- i

38 RESCUED FROM TWO WRECKED TANKERS

First HBomb Test Reported Planned Soon New Emwetok Atoll Tests This Spring; May Be On H*Bomb Washington, Feb. 19— (UP)— Highly-qualified source? indicated today that the nation’s first hydrogen bomb will be tested at Enili wet ok Atoll this spring: | There was no official confirmstion. The atomic energy commission refused to go beyond its terse announcement yesterday that preparations are now underway for a new series of test explosions at the midrPacific proving grounds. But, it was learned that the congressional atomic energy committee has called top AEC officials to a secret meeting Thursday to report on progress in carrying out President Truman's two-year-old directive to built! a /fa-bomb. It was’strongly hinted, by persons in a position to know, that AEC chairrhan (Jordon Dean will be able to tell the congressmen that an experimental H-bomb is about ready for testing. Hydrbgen bombs, unleashing Jhe same elemental fury displayed in tjfe burning of the sun, theoretically could be built 1,000 times as powerful as present A-bombs. But the trail-blazing weapon which may be detonated on Eniwetok's lonely coral sands within a few weeks probably will be only some two to 10 times as powerful as an atomic bomb. The AEC is not concerned, in the first teat, with determining how big an H-bomb can get. It wants to make sure first that it has perfected the technique of setting off a “thermonuclear reaction" in tritium (triple-heavy hydrogen) atoms. In such a reaction, the nuclei of the tritium atoms would fuse to create helium atoms, releasing awesome amounts of destructive energy In the proeress. < An A-bomb would be. needed to serve as thq; “trigger” of the new weapon) because thermonuclear fusion can take place only in the presence of multi-million degree heatr-the kind of heat that is found onlj iin the sun, or in the, first split ,second after an A-bomb goes off. Even if the Eniwetok tests are a complete success), large-scale production of H-bombs cannot begin until the AEC completes construction of its huge $1,250,000,000 Savannah river plant in South Carolina, which will be capable of turning xnit tritium in quantity. The Savannah river plant is scheduled to begin -production late in 1953. ' Tritium, it is understood, is now available to che AEC in test from a converted plotonium reactor at the Hanford, Wash., atomic plant. ’a Pouring Footing For Diesel Plant Here Tost Construction Co. has started the task of pouring the concrete for the footing for the foundation which will hold the new diesel engines, at Decatur’s municipal power plant. Work has progressed through the winter months and screw lias been busy almost every day, preparing for the erection early this spring of the building proper. Two Teen-Age Girls Killed In Accident Clay, Ky., Feb. 19— (UP)— Webster county- coroner J. Murray Blue scheduled an inquest today to investigate a train-auto accident at nearby Diamond. Ky„ that killed two teen-age girls and injured another girl and boy seriously. The dead were identified as Barbara Birdwell, 14, and Susan Sandefur. 13.- Blue said they died instantly. The two in serious condition in nearby Evansville, Ind., hospitals are George Hugh Todd, 16. and Jane Price, 12. INDIANA WEATHER Showers and turning colder tonight, followed by light snow extreme north portion. Wednesday cloudy and colder with snow dknlnraHing to flurries extreme north portion. WindyLow tonloht 25-30 north, 30-35 south. High Wednesday 2533 north, 33-38 south.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

bi . i r-v;J" DiesJn Florida > I ■MA 1 I J R. Earl Peters r ' 1 l- ''S '' <

; R. Earl Peters Dies 1 In Florida Hospital Former Decatur Man Dies Monday Night R. Earl Peters. 65, former state director of the ;FHA rand Indiana , political leader, who; began jhl's , business career in Decatur, died ■ last night at Doctorsi hospital Jn . Coral Gables, Fla., of a heart ailment. ! J || Mr. Peters Was stricfceiv aooiit ■ - ' I ' Pi *' :; t i two weeks ago and was moved from his winter home to the hospital. He suffered {he fatal; attack at 1O:JI5 p. m. Monday. Born in .Bingen, on April. 25, 1886, in the north edge of Adams county, Mr. Peters attended the Btagen schools and then sought employment fn Decatur. ‘ His first jot» was as a hotel bus driver. He worked at the Krick-Tyndall tile mill and the Vail egg case factory ?<nd later was employed as reporter for thp Decatur Daily Democrat. He became city editor and then business manager of the Apburn Courier, later accepting a position as political writer for the JournalGazette in Fort Wayne. His political began with his appointment as private secretary to congressman Cyrus Cline of Angola, who theh was the. Democratic representative fronf the old twelfth district. ; While Ifc . Washington he studied law and . was graduated from Georgetown University. He was a former laW partner of Judge John 11. Aiken i of# Fort Wayne. , In 1922 he ran for the Derpo ’ cratic nomination as representia- . five but was defeated and in 1925 was named a member of the state i- Democratic committee front the 12th district. In ‘ he w|s elected district chairman and a tew months later was named state Democratic a post he ■ Imld until 1934. < In 1934 he ran for the tion for U. S. senator from Indiana, but was defeated by Shermap Minton. He was married Tin 1907 to the (romer Estella D. Leas. Sur|rifo|t> include his wife: his daughter, Mrs. W. Roberti (Leap) Fleming; one sister, Mrsl Ewnan Mentzer, Hicksville, 0.. -and three grandchildren. He was formerly a, member of ' 'he firm of Peters and Leasi of Fcrt Wayne, was a member of the «tate and national bar assccijations, the Presbyterian and the Masons, whjere he Help the 32nd. degree, He was a member of various clubs. iFuneral arrangements Were nbt completed this afternoon, x | i \ Calvin L. Markey Dies In Fort Wayne Funeral arrangements wete im> ing made today for Calvin Leonard Markey, 57, who died at noon yesterday at his home, 1708 Bayer avenue. Fort Wayne. The body is at the D. O. McComb & Sops funeral home, where friends may call after 7 p.m. today. - Mr. Markey was a veteran oif World Wai- I. and a membei- of the Crescent Avenue Evangelical church. He is survived by hds widow. Pearl Tombleson Matfkeiy, two sons. Rogeb A., and Leonard L., both of Fort Wayne:; one grand: daughter. Janet, Fort Wayne: two sisters and two brothers. * , Mrs. Hazel Kortenber, Mrs. Ethel Essex and Ernest Tumbleson, all of Decatur, are sisters and .brother, respectively, of Mrs. Markey. - . j. ; 1 N

Negotiators In Agreement On Fl ■ •( :■ ■ ‘ ; Peace Parley Truce Heads Still Poles Apart On Key Sections Os THice Panmunjom. Korea, Feb. Ift.--,(UP)—Truce agreed today on a recommendation fori a Korean peace conference, but split further over Russia’s eligibility: to police an armistice. / I The full armistice delegations agreed to recommend to their governments that talks begin within 90 days of a cease-fire on the withdrawal of foreign troops frbrj ijcoiea, "peaceful settlement of the Ko. eun question, etcetera." The agreement completed negq-. iiations on the fifth and final item on the armistice agenda, but ihe delegations still were poles apart bn key sections of the two preqeding items —supervision of (he truce and an exchange qf war pr - s oners. J Staff officers of the two side|s argued fruitlessly for two hours over the U.N.’s right to veto the Communist choice of Russia as one of six neutral nations to police th? truce. U.N. Col. Don O. Darrow accused the Coipmunifcts of breaking jap agreement by refusing to withdraw ‘{heir nomination of Russia and name some other country. He contended they had agreed that all Six nations ou the neutral pd vis Orr commission must be acceptable to both sides. Chinese Col. Pu Chan retorted that Russia qualified as a neutral because it has no combat forces; ill Korea. He demanded that tue L t N. withdraw its “groundless" and basqA less objections." Down three Planes \| ) Sth Army Headquarters, Korea, Feb. 19.—(UP) — Ijeavily outnumbered American Sabrejets shot down Communist Mig>lp fighter planes today in battles ranging across “Mig alley.” Two of the Russian-built jet fighters fell to earth in a snarling five-minute battle between 26 Fl-86 Sabrejets and 50 Migs thip afternoon. The other kill was made in a high-altitude clash between 27 Sabres and 100 Migs in the mojrning. I The sth air force said the afternoon fight started north of Sinanju and “ranged across ‘Mig alley’ “ qntil th<> enemy "‘fighters fled baick to Manchuria. The morning fisht took place at a height of 35,000-to 4j0,000 feet over Sinanju. An .additional 150 Communist jets were spotted over Mig alley during the (fay and although firing passes Were made, United Nations pilots made no additional claims. i;q ' : New England Is Near Paralysis By Storm |" Near Blizzard In Northern Midwest By United Vress One of the worst storms in years left New England virtually paralyzed today and a near blizzard swept aicross the. northern midwest. , Off the coast of New England, 33 seamen were found alive aboard I the storm-ripped stern of the oil tanker Fort Mercer. Coast guardsmen sought to duplicate the rescue that saved 32 others from the broken stefn of the tanker Pendhetpn last night. i The possible death toll aboard t|ie two wrecked ships was placed ‘ The savage not-easter\ Sent mountainous waves against the coast from Maine to (jonnecticui’and dumped up to 31 ipches of enow in some sections. 4t least 1,5D0 travelers were stranded in snow drifts on the highways qf Maine. i A train fescped some of an estimated 1,900 stranded travelers -at Scarborough, Me, , ■ Many businesses and industries were closed, and food and mile deliveries at Portland and manp Other main cities were brought Ip a halt. J ? . In the upper midwest, a snowstorm borne on gusts qf wind up to $0 miles per hour swept across the Dakotas and Minnesota. Snowplows werb called off the roads la western Minnesota when winds (Tar* To Pace Blabt)

ONLY DAILY NCWSPAPKR IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indionci, Tuesday, February 1% 1952.

— Start Ship Deal Probe FIRST WITNESSES ip g Senate investigation of a >2,800,000 profit on a SIOO,OOO investment in a five ships were former 7vJas»achusetts Democratic Rep. Joseph E. Casey (left), president of the American Tanker Corp, and U, S. Marat Line Administrator E. L. Cochrane. Casey’s group and several highly-placed government officials are said to have made the huf^p'profit.

Election Dates Os Importance Listed Feb. 26 First Day To File Candidacy Several preprimary election dates of importance iwere called to the public’s attention today by county clerk Ed F. Jaberg, who also is chairman of the Adams county board, of election commissioners. Thb dates are compiled in accordance with the statutes. February 26 is the first day for a candidate to officially; file his intention pt candidacy. County candidates file with the coupty clerk and legislative, congressional and prosecuting attorney candidates file with the secretary of state. Candidates for precinct committeeman of either the Democrat or Republican party also may file their intentions of candidacy February .26. March 1, according to the political calendar, is the last; day that the county board pf commissioners may change precinct election boundaries or create new precincts. In Adams county the board of commissioners still has under consideration' the possible mergnig of Ceylon prefcinct in Wabash township with North Wabash precinct. ! Also under consideration is the possbiility of merging east and west Jefferson into a- single precinct. If is believed that the Ceylon merger is mote probable if cither is acted on prior to th£ deadline. ; ! 1 March 6 is the last day for the Democrat and Republican county chairmen to nominate members of the board of election commissioners to serve with chairman Jaberg. who is a member by virtue of hip office. Republican chairman Harry Essex already has nominated Cal E. Peterson as the G. O. P. member. Dr. Harry Hebble, Democrat chairman, said that his domination would be forthcoming soon. David Macklin is the present Democrat member. The county clerk then appoints the two nominees on March 7. If .either chairman fails to nominate, the clerk then proceeds to appoint a qualified member of the proper political party. March 27 is the last day for candidates for county, state and congressional offices to file their declarations with the proper Officers. Candidates for delegates, to the CTnrw Tn Six) Mrs. Anna Coffee Dies In California Relatives have received word of the death of Mrs. Anna Coffee, 83, at Los Angeles, Calif. She was a resident of Decatur until moving to California with her family 39 years ago. She is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Christina Schultz and Mrs. Mary Colfer of this city, i Mrs. Catherine Gross of Mitchell and Mrs. Margaret Jones of Gas' City, and four brothers, Frank, Tice and Fred Baker, all of Deicatur, and j Maurice Baker, of Roy, N. Mex. Two brothers, Joseph and Johi’ Baker, preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held at St. Cecelia’s Catholic church in Los Angeles. j 'js ' < I .

Three Leave Today For Army Induction Three Adams county young men left' for Indianafwlis this morning for active induction into the armed forces under selective service. They were Robert Thomas Burley, Wilmer James Grote and Dale Wayne Moser. ' ■ Z' . ■ Eisenhower Backers Needle Senator Taft Needled For Staying Out Os Primaries Washington, Feb. 19.—(UP)— Partisans of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower needled Sen. Robert A. Taft today for staying out of the Oregon and Pennsylvania Republican presidential primaries. I Taft, back f|rom a western tour and, more optimistic than ' ever about his chances of Winning the GOB nomination, replied that he is unwilling to «nter primaries in states where he does not have time to Campaign. He suggested that his campaign schedule is just about fair now. Taffs name was' missing last night when the deadline passed for entering candidates in Pennsylvania’s presidential preference primary' April 22. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Harold E. Stassen and Elsenhower were entered. MacArthur, however, asked that his na.me be withdrawn in both Pennsylvania and Minnesota, saying hls name had been entered “without consultation with me and without’ my approval,” Previously, he had' asked that his name be withdrawn from New- Hampshire and ,Illinois for the same reason. The Taft camp already is laying claim to a majority of the state’s big band of convention delegates, who will be elected in separate balloting April 22. The delegates are not bound to support the wtnnef of the presidential preference contest, Edwin A. Russell, HariSburg, Pa., publisher, who filed the Eisenhower petitions, expressed disappointment that Taft was not in the race. He said there is no better testing ground available because Pennsylvania is a cross-section of tpe nation. * There Has been a lot of idle talk about Eisenhower backers choosjng their spots carefully," Russell said. “This would, have been a first class spot for a showdown,” Friends of Taft said one reason he ignored the Pennsylvania preference vote was that its outcome was usually ignored by the convention delegates. Meanwhile, Sen. Wayne L. Morse (R.-Ore.), an Eisenhower backer, was asked about a published report that a man identified as g friend of his was trying >to force Taft into the Oregon primary May 16. Morse told a reporter that he was not a party to any such move. He said he opposes entering 5 any candidate in a primary without the candidate’s consent. Taft replied that. he objects to going into primaries unless he has time to campaign in the states involved. His schedule now shows him entered in the New Hampshire primary March 11, Wisconsin April 1, Uliiiois April 8, Ohip May 6, and West Virginia May 13. Os those states, Eisenhower is en» (Tw» To Page Bight)

13 Are Dead Or Missing, 33 Alive And Drifting On One Os Broken Hulks ,' • \ ;'J " * | j ZZ.

Vincent Cleared Os Communism Charge Veteran Diplomat Cleared By Board Washington, Feb. 19 — (UF) — The state department loyalty and security board today cleared veteran diplomat John Carter > Vincent of charges that he a Communist. The department announced that Vincent was “completely cleared 'ijr the department of charges inviUgthg his loyalty to the United States and hie as a government employe.” A former editor of the Communist Dally Worker ’ testified last August that he knew from “official reports” that’ Vincent was a member of the Communist party, testimony three weeks ago before the . senate internal security committee, Vincent stoutly denied hie was then or ever had been a Communist. * 1 Vincent is minister to Tangier. With .the loyalty security board’s clearance, Vincent received secretary of state Dean Acheson’s assurance of confidence. Undersecretary of state Carlisle H, Humelsine wrote Vincent, “the secretary has asked me to reaginn the department’s full confidence in you and to tell yon that, as you return to your duties as American diplomatic hgent and minister to Tangier, you take with you the department’s appreciation for your 27 years of conscientious service and best wishes for the future.” The state department decision will be reviewed by the president’s loyalty review board. Meanwhile, Vincent will return tomorrow to his post in Tangier. The deVision marks the fourth and final so-called “name” loyalty case decided by the board. The department previously has cleared Q. Edmund Clubb, John Davies, Jh. and John Btewart Service. ißervlcQ was fiYed later, however. when the presidential board v (Turn Te Fn«e Eisht) ■ ; ? Democratic Women Hear Jerry O'Dowd t Meeting Held Last Evening At Geneva upraising the accomplishments of the Democrat party nationally for last 20 years and also the administration of Gov. HenTy Schricker, Jerry O’Dowd, Fort Wayne Democrat city chairman and attorney, drew a long round of applause at the ; monthly meeting of the Adams county Democratic women’s c|ub at Geneva Monday night. ~ | ■Husbands t of members were guests at the carry-in supper and the largest crowd qf the year attended the meeting. Mrs. Theron Fenstermaker, president of the organization, served as toastmaster. James Koons, fourth district Democratic chairman, was unable to attend,. •Following the supper the crowd was entertained by Vincent and Clyde Sprunger, young Berne singers . and entertaijners. Several prominent guests were introduced prior to the principal address by (Tpowd. Among the announced Democrat candidate? present were Mrs. Mabel Striker, candidate jfor recorder; Herman Moellering, candidate for surveyor and G. : Remy \ Bierly, candidate for jqint representative. Mrs. Striker, who resided in Geneva until the Strikers moved to Decatur 10 years ago, received considerable praise from her former neighbors who were busy assisting her in her campaigning, during the Afternoon prior to the meeting. \ At the business session ft wqs decided to hold the March meeting In Decatur. Complete plans for the meeting, which will be a tea, will be announced later, Mrs. Marjorie Gilliom, of Berne, secretary of the club, eaid. •

Huge Profits By Chicago U. In Ship Deal Surplus Ship Deal Netted University 1900 Percent Profit Washington, i Feb. 19. —(UP) — r Senate investigators: wAre told tc/ day that the University of Chicago invested $15,000 in a| “get-rfch-quiek” surplus |sh|p deal which netted huge profits; in lea? 7 than threq years. | J , , William A. Leece, a /Staff investigator, told the senate permanent Investigating committee that the university owped 15 percent of the> original stock in two corporations set up oy former Rep. Joseph E. Casey (D-Ma&s.) to own and operate five surplus tankers. Other original stockholders in the two firms included Casey, Adm. 'W'illlaih F. (Bull) Halsey, the late Edward'R. Stettlnius. former secretary of State, aud Julius C. Holmes, minister in the U.S. embassy in Lohdon. The New York iaw firm of Newbold Morris, recently appointed to head President Truman's drive to clean up conniption in the government, did SQmq of the legal work in connection with the deals. Sens. Karl E. Mundt (&S.D.) and Richard M. Ntxon (R-Cal.) demanded that Morris be called to testify concerning what fees, if any, his firm received. Leece; was the first witness as the committee resumed hearings on the taftker deals. 1900 Percent Profit Chicago, Feb. 19.—(UP)— The University of Chicago) realized a 1,900 percent profit In three years on stock bought in firms which (purchased surplus tankers from the government, a university official said today. University treasurer J. Parker Hall insisted, however, that the deal was undertaken strictly “as an investment; of endowment funds.” r ■< He said the school invested $1 j,OOO in the d?al in 1947 ahd sold out its) interest for $300,000 in the summer, of 1950. “Participation of the university ... in the financing of ) the American Overseas Tinker Corp, and its associated Greenwich Marine Corp, was undertaken as an investment of endowment funds,” l| a l! ® aid . “The university at no time negotiated with either the maritime commission for .purchase of the tanker? :or with Standard Oil Co. (N.J.) for charter of the ships. The (Tara To Pace Et«ht> _—L.—j—: First One-Way Alley j I j \ | < ) Is Established Here Others To Follow Under Ordinance The ) alley on the north side of the new Kroger store on South Second street, which runs from Second street to First street, has been made a qne-way alley. Signs were pasted so that all traffic Will flow east through the alley. This is the first of a number of one-way alleys which are being anticipated in Decatur since the recent passage of the ordinance. The ordinance reads that the oneway traffic becomes effective only when is posted. Street department officials also erected two more parking meters in the Kroger block. When the buildingo was used as a garage, there was an entrance from Second street. Stade the building is now a) retail store, the area on Second street becomes parking area. Other alleys will ebon be marked one-way and a complete list will be announced soon. 1

Price Five Cents

Two Split By Mountainous Seas During Heavy Storm Off Atlantic Coast / ’ BULLETIN Chatham, Mau, Feb. 19.— (UP)—/ The last 33 survivor® from /''two tankers <that split apart in a storm off Cape Cod were rescued today—bringing to 69 the number saved. A total Os 15 perished. /.Chatham, Mass., Feb. 19—(UP) —Thlfty-eight sailors have been rescued from two broken tankers, 13 seamen are dbad or missing, apd 33 are dlive and drifting oh one of the broken hulks, the coast guard announced today.; Latest to be sived were four men patched into sea from the bow of the tanker Fort Mercer which, like its 10,000-ton twin, the Pendleton, wa? split In half by mountainous sbas off Cape Cod in a nor’ehster yesterday. The bow section overturned and the coast guard ■ cutter Yakutat, which rescued the struggling men in 20-foot waves* said the hulk would be sunk by gunfire. Meanwhile, 4he>coast guard cutter Eastwind, standing alongside the Fjort Mepeer’a stern somte 40 miles away, was considering towtag that portion of the vessel to Boston without removing 33 meh who were riding tlie wreckage. Thirty-two crewmen were rescued Igjst night from the stern of the tanker Pendleton as it drifted about two miles pff the Chatham bar. One man t was lost in the rescue, another leaped to his death from the Pendleton’s bow some five miles away. Early today five or six men plunged from thb Fort Mercer’s bow And could not be rescued. At I mfd-momlng a daring crew from the cutter Yakutat launched a small boat, fought to the side of the 1 jjort Mercer’s bow and took off Frederick C. Paetzel, of Houston, Tek., the master, and purser Edward E. Turner, of Kew Gardens Hills, L. I. , ♦ But the.weather was worsening, winds; UP to 35 knots whipping the Waves ever higher, and the YAkutab radioed no further boat rescue attempt could be madq. It raid an attempt would be made to fire a line aboard the broken ship tfnd use rubber (rafts to perform any further rescues. At the stern of I the Fort Mercer, separattd from the bow by about 40 miles of lashing ocean, the cutter EAstwind had taken chargq. Coast guard officers conferred to determine whether to make an rttempt to get a line aboard and tow the listing stern to Boston. Commander of the Edptwind was Capt. Oliver A. Petersdji who Iwas directing this portion of the rescue operations. Alongside the Eastwind was the navy cargo carrier Short Splice. Aiding was tlta cutter , Acushnet down from Portland, Me. The cutter McCulloch, which had been one of the first in the rescue work, was ordered back to port in event some other emergency grqse. It had been standing by the bow of the Pendleton but turned that dutyi over to the Pollock Rip lightship The tWQ 10,0p0*ton tankers snapped in ’half som ; e 25 miles from each other yesterday when a fierce uor’estem caug%t them off the treacherous coast. The heroic crew of a coast guard lifeboat braved mountainous wavek to pliuck the 32 men from Lhe Pendletbn’s drifting stern as additional rescue vessels stood by the other halves qf the tankers. The rescue came in the nick of time. The castaways had scarcely abandoned the hulk when it Reeled over on its portside. “Just as we cast off we saw the lights on the Pendleton (stern section) go out and she rolled over on her port side,” said fireman Fred Baker, 31, of Clifton Heights. Pa. “If we hadn’t gotten off when we did all hands would have been I (Tor* Te p««* El*M) /;■ t’ U ' ■ J’ '