Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 236, Decatur, Adams County, 7 October 1955 — Page 1

Vol. Uli. No. 236.

WORST DISASTER AND CREW r <*• I WYOMING s ’ Medicin* I ' n UK6 §5 i "" luk I mom] tel' TO SAN FRANCISCO I — □».>■.! O', 4 n I r 1 ft ~ n < \ I W i- * T ■&A* JF* ’>3 i® ' j£ . ,oJ U&F KflßLJßhiir MAP OF THE SECTION of southeast Wyoming where 66 persons died when their plane crashed gnd burned against the east escarpment of Medicine Bow Peak. The plane, a United Air Lines aircoach, enroute from New York to San Francisco, was reported overdue at Salt Lake City after leaving Denver. Crew of the aircraft were (Below-from left) Capt. C. C. Cooke, 35, of Menlo Park. Calif.; Stewardess Patricia Shuttleworth, 22, of Salt Lake City, and First Officer Ralph I). Salisbury, 33. of ’Palo Alto, Calif.

66 Killed In X Plane Crash In Wyoming Worst Commercial •< Airplane Mishap In History Os Nation MEDICINE BOW PEAK. Wyo. (INS)—The grisly task of bringing down 66 bodies from Medicine Bow Peak, scene of America’s worst commercial airplane mishap in history, started this morning in sub-freezing weather. Dozens of volunteer rescue workers battled snow and the danger of rdck slides to recover broken bodies from the wreckage of a United Air Lines DC-4 which plummeted into the 12,005-fopt peak Thursday morning. The four-engine airliner carried 64 adults and two babies to their deaths when it crashed about 100 feet from the top of the towering ’’peak. Rescue ground parties trevejed to the scene from Laramie, Rawlins and Medicine Bow. It was almost four hours from the time the plane’s wreckage was spotted from the air until a sheriff's posse from Rawlins was able to reach the scene. Volunteer workers made an attempt to recover bodies Thursday afternoon but were turned back by B- raging snowstorm and gathering darkness. It is not unusual when early winter air crashes occur in the area to delay .recovery operations until the next spring. Only two bodies were spotted Thursday. They were seen near a portion of the plane’s tail assembly that had fallen straight down 500 feet from the point of impact into the snow. The trail down was marked by the scars of burning gasoline. United Air Lines set up a base of operations late Thursday at the University of Wyoming summer science camp eight miles east of the Medicine Bow summit and near the 1 small town of Centennial. I. E. Sommermeyer. general manager of United Air Lines flight operations in Denver, Is in charge of the operation. A team of Wyoming university mountain climbers, sheriff s deputies, national guardsmen, air force personnel from Warren air force base at Cheyenne, Medicine Bow national park forest rangers and civilian, volunteers were to climb through a forst of pine, spruce and aspen and snow up to a foot deep to reach the wreckage. Smoke bombs dropped from planes patrolling overhead will guide them through a world of slippery preclpies. The wreckage was first spotted (Contlnueo on Paire Two) INDIANA WEATHER Clearing and cooler tonight. Saturday fair. Low tonight 42-46 north, 45-50 south. High Saturday 63-68 north, 68-73 south.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Indiana's Appalling Traffic Toll Grows Accidents Thursday Increase Death Toll INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Indiana's appalling mountain of dead bodies from highway crashes grew higher today. The toll for the year already was at a frightening high of 810 men, women and children at the time the last weekly summary was issued by Indiana state police. Two persons were killed in a midnight crash, on rain-swept Ind. 37 one and one-half miles south of Bedford. Violet June Earl Conley, 31, of Bedford, and Wayne Edward. 31. of Mitchell, died of fractured skulls when the pick-up truck in which they were riding was hit by a truck. State troopers said that the smaller truck, believed to have been driven by Edward L. Strother, 4«, of Bedford, apparently ran off the road, then swerved back onto the pavement in front of the semi-tractor traHer truck driven by Wilfred J. Cardinal, 40, of Overland, Mo. Strother was reported in serious condition at a Bedford hospital and Cardinal suffered minor injuries. The collision of a skidding car and a truck on a curve of U. S. ( 12 cost the life of Joseph H. McCormack, 58, of Chicago, and also killed his Great Dane dog. who was riding on the seat beside him. The crash occurred late Thursday near Chesterton. Police said McCormack was traveling at high speed When he slid sideways into a truck driven by Raymond E. Davis, 52. of East Chicago. Davis was not hurt. Harry C. Brannon, 56. of Evansville. was found dead in his car along Ind. 662 one-half mile east of the Warrick-Vanderburgh county line. .State troopers said he is believed to have suffered a heart attack before going off the road. Earl C. Spray, 52. of Kokomo, was fatally injured.when his car skidded on a county road one mile northwest of Normanda and struck a utility pole. He died about two hours after being removed from the wreckage in which he was trapped for half-an-hour before passing motorists noticed the accident. John L. McKee, 43, of Holton, was killed Thursday night in a car-truck crash on U. S. 50 two miles west of Versailles. Earlier another man by the same last name, but no apparent relation, was killed. He was John W. McKee, 65, of Lafayette, who died of injuries suffered in a two car crash one and one-half milds south of Lafayette. . Charles E. Owen. 53, of Indianapolis, was killed in a two-car crash on Ind. 47 at its intersection with Ind. 42 at the edge of Crawfordsville. Henry Heffner, 81, of Goshen, succumbed to injuries received in a car-pedestrian accident, Goshen's first traffic death in more than a year.

GE Offer. Is Rejected By HE Officers Meeting Adjourned Thursday; No More Meetings Scheduled NEW YORK (Special) — The 20th meeting between the General Electric company and the United Elcetrical, (Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), was adjourned in New York Thursday with no further meetings scheduled and with no hope for progress in sight. A company spokesman said, ‘‘Apparently the UE officials prefer to continue the present contract unchanged until Sept. 15, 1956, instead of working out a new agreement on the company's five-year package offer which provides for more than 30 features for pay and benefit increases. ‘‘To UE-represented employes in Decatur, this meeting has serious and profound consequences, not only for the apparently helpless employes who must yield to the whims -of national politics in the UE, but also for the community. It certainly now seems .that GE employes in Decatur are destined to lose the pay increases and other benefit improvements offered by GE for a period as long as a year and perhaps loriger, "Some idea of the losses UErepresented employes at Decatur are already suffering as the result of the delaying tactics of their bargaining officials is Indicated by the fact that they have already sacrificed close to an estimated 820,000 in pay increases and in just one of the nine pension improvements alone. One of the new pension features offered by the company would eliminate a one percent-of-pay employe pension contribution, thus substantially further increasing the take-home pay of all present participants in the pension program. Equally important, not only have Important improvements in the pension program been made, but no loss in covreage will occur as a result of the reduction of contributions. The company's offer also included many other benefits, man# es which are particularly appealing to women and long-aervice employes. Some union officials have estimated the five-year package program offered by General Electric to be equal to an estimated 48 cents an hour wage improvement. "With more than 200,000 GE employes already enjoying bigger pay increases and better benefits, it is most unfortunate that the UE top officials seem determined to stand in the way of local acceptance of the company’s offer. "Citizens of Decatur regret this SIO,OOO monthly loss in pay and benefits that GE employes must sustain. Since the company has clearly Indicated that its offer was carefully studied in the light of all the facts available and that there Is no likelihood of a change in the offer which has already been accepted by more than 80 unions, it would seem that something needs to be done soon to I (Continued on Page Two, Fish Fry's Ticket Sale Ends Saturday Remaining Tickets On Sale Tomorrow Robert Lane, chairman of ticket sales for the annual Chamber of Commerce-Adams county fish fry to be held next Thursday, reaffirmed today that ticket sales will close Saturday. All tickets unsold by this evening will be picked up from the various locations and placed in two downtown spots Saturday for final sales. These tickets will be available only at the First State Bank and Peterson’s clothing store Saturday. In charge of the sales at these two convenient locations will be Miss Judy Lane and Don Brewer, Decatur high school students. There are only a limited number of tickets unsold, both in the $1.50 and $2 price range. When the $1.50 tickets are exhausted, the $2 tickets may be-purchased by nonmerchants. The annual fish fry will be held at 6:30 p. m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Decatur high school gym. A sufficient supply of fish has been ordered to assure plenty of food for all who attend. An entertaining program has been arranged, featuring the men’s chorus of the Northern Indiana Public Service Co., and Clint Milliken and his wife Ruth, entertaining magicians. Louis Jacobs, chairman of the retail division of the Chamber of Commerce, will serve as master of ceremonies.

ONLY DAILY NCWSPAPKR IN ADAM* COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, October 7, 1955.

Threat Os Renewal Os Violence Voiced For Perfect Circle Plant

Pinay Battles To Save Faure Government Premier Os France May Lose Out On Policy In Africa PARIS (INS) — French foreign minister Antoine. Pinay today jumped into the national assembly battle on North African policy in an attempt to save the life of premier Edgar Faure’s embattled government. Pinay all but spelled out a French threat to launch a cold war offensive against Spain and Egypt in retaliation for radio broadcasts stirring up trouble in French North Africa among rebellious tribesmen, It was believed Pinay might rally some support among his independent group for the premier's policy, but the chances that the government would survive a rightwing onslaught were still considered slimThe Gaullists turned against the government. Faure was unable to count on the Socialists in a showdown. Many moderates were hesitant. Only his Radical Socialists and Popular Republicans (MRP) appeared willing to support him ip a confidence test. Pinay indicated new steps would be taken to counteract the allegedly Inflammatory broadcasts by radio Cairo and radio Tetuan, in Spanish Morocco. He recalled France had suspended arms deliveries recently to Egypt and made a series of protests to Madrid. “ The dissident Gaullists (A.R.S.) asked for the resignation of France's new defense minister, Maj. Gen. Pierre Billottf, who belongs to that group. Billotte purned the request, deciding to make a personal tour of the fighting areas in Morocco. Faure picked Billotte Thursday to replace Defense Minister Pierre Koenig, one of the four Gaullist ministers fired by the premier in his battle to save his Moroccan reform policy. The Dissident Gaullist parliamentary leaders voted 16 to 5 to ask for Billotte’s resignation; The Independent Republicans previously threatened to pull its ministers out of the cabinet. Faure has been given only a slight chance of winning his fight for the life of his government in a confidence test in the 627-mem-ber assembly before the dissident Gaullists’ vote on Billotte.

Democrats To Open City Headquarters Formal Opening On Saturday Evening Democrats will open their city headquarters in the McConnell building on North Second street Saturday night and the city campaign will start in full force, Bernard Clark, city Democrat chairman, said today. In addition to the formal opening by Judge Myles F. Parrish, all seven city candidates will be introduced and refreshments will be served to all attending the opening. Clark stressed the fact that men and women and especially young people were invited to the first public meeting. Headquarters will be open every day and night until after the municipal election November 8. and a notary public will be available to assist those who plan to use the absent voters ballot. Mrs. Everett Hutker, vice-chair-man of the city organization, will have charge of women’s activities during the next month and her plans will be announced soon. Chairman Clark and the candidates were busy today making final arrangements for the Saturday night opener.

Five Admitted To Citizenship Here Proceedings Held In Circuit Court Five persons were admitted to citizenship in the United States of America during naturalization proceedings this morning in a jammed circuit court room. The five were Isaac Garza Mendez of Monroe route one. formerly of Mexico; Manuel Monriquez Gonzalez of Decatur, formerly of Mexico; Bawel and Julia Gorb of Monroe, formerly of Ukraine, and Endre Sipos of Decatur, a former citizen of Hungary. Students from all of the county’s high schools filled the court room to capacity to witness the process by which these persons became naturalized citizens. The ceremony opened with invocation by the Rev. Otto Busse, pastor of the Preble Lutheran church. Naturalization examiner Stanton W. Smiley of the Hammond office then presented the five for naturalization and moved that they be admitted to citizenship. Judge Myles Parrish granted the motion and admitted them after explaining the naturalization laws and asking questions to determine that they were willing to renounce allegiance to foreign or enemy pow'ers and to support the United States. Following the oath of allegiance taken ,by the five persons, Judge Parrish addressed them, explaining the meaning of citizenship by tracing the history of the United States. He emphasized that the population of this country is made up of representatives of all countries. Judge Parrish told them, "In this dignity of being an American you shall not be a subject, you shall be a citizen; and being a citizen you are joint heirs with all other Americans of all those great Americans by whom this constitution of the United States was ordained.” The pledge of allegiance to the (Continued on Page Seven! West German Leader Has Attack Os Flu BONN (INS) — West German chancellor Konrad Adenauer was put to bed today with what was described as a slight attack of influenza. Adenauer, who will be 80 next January, was said to have contracted the illness during a trip to Luxembourg Wednesday to meet with French premier Edgar Faure. First Contribution To Community Fund SIOO Check Received From Erie Railroad The Erie railroad is the first 1955 contributor to the Decatur Community Fund. W. M. Buingerdner, agent for that railroad in Decatur, delivered a check for SIOO Friday to Otto Beehler. general chairman of the 1955 drive. While the actual drive does not start until Monday, the Erie cheek was accepted by chairman Beehler and will be turned over to the proper soliciting team. Forty local business men will divide the city into sections aftd solicit forf funds for the eight participating organizations. All mer- ( chants, manufacturing plants and individuals will be asked to contribute. Chairman Beehler pointed out that the combined drive eliminates the old system of each group making a separate solicitation for funds with which to operate. No other requests are made by these groups' for funds. The local organizations which will share in the fund raising are Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth and recreation committee, playground equipment committee. Sal-vation-Army, (mental health society, cancer society and United Service organization.

Nixon Meets Second Time With Cabinet No Announcement Is Made On Subjects Discussed At Meet WASHINGTON (INS) —The Eisenhower cabinet met with Vice President Richard M. Nixon today for its second session since the President was stricken with a heart attack. The White House meeting also was attended by presidential assistant Sherman Adams, who presumably brought instructions from Denver where Mr. Eisenhower is hosptiatized. No announcement was made on the subjects being considered at the meeting. However, the cabinet usually reviews a wide range of foreign and domestic policy questions at its weekly conference. The cabinet members also are working on legislative recommendations to be submitted by the President in January to the next session of congress, including the federal budget. Nixon and Adams both will fly to Denver Saturday morning. The Vice President was invited by Mr. Eisenhower for a brief conference, their first since the Chief Executive was stricken nearly two weeks ago. Adams flew to Washington Thursday to give the national security council a “first hand and optimistic” report on the President’s condition and to summon Nixon to Mr. Eisenhower's bedside. Adams made the trip after a 10 minute conference with the Chief Executive in his hospital bedroom. Some business was transacted at the meeting. Nixon had a lengthy conference with Adams before the two met with the national security council for two and one half hours. After the council meeting, assistant White House news secretary Murray Snyder told newsmen: “Governor Adams gave the national security council and the others present a first hand and optimistic report on the President’s health based on his visits with him the past week.” (Continued on Page Two) Clearing, Cooler Weather Forecast INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The Indianapolis weather bureau today predicted clearing and cooler tonight after shower's today and Saturday generally fair. High temperatures from 60 to 70 were forecast for today, and low marks from 42 to 50 were predicted for tonight. Former Decatur Man Is Among Escapees Escape From Detail At Bluffton Forest A former Decatur man was among three prisoners who escaped from a work detail at the Bluffton state forest Thursday where they had been brought from the Indiana state reformatory at Pen dleton. The three, all of whom were to be paroled before the end of the year, were Herbert J. Closson, 26, of Decatur; Russell Gardner, 18, sentenced in Putnam county to -1 to 10 years for grand larceny, Richard E. Sira. 20, sentenced in Monroe county to two to five years for second degree burglary. Closson was sentenced to one to 10 years for receiving stolen goods after an armed holdup of a Fort Wayne service station two years ago. The three were discovered missing at noon, according to guards in charge of the detail at the state forest Three other men escaped from the reformatory at Pendleton Wednesday.

6 To 10 Satellites Are Being Planned Used In Different Type Experiments WASHINGTON (INS) — Navy scientists think that one or more of the U. S. earth satellites to be launched in 1956 may circle the earth for a year or perhaps longer. The researchers -said a slight "miscalculation” might put one of the basketball-sized “space laboratories"' into an orbit high enough above the earth’s magnetic pull to let it remain there indefinitely. it was revealed Thursday that the navy scientists are responsible for planning several of the artificial satellites to be launched during the international geophysical year. So far the defense department has contracted for only one of the man-made moons, but the national academy of scientists said six to 10 of them are planned. Dr. Homer Newell, one of the working on the newlynamed “Project yanguard" at the naval research laboratory, told International News Service that several satellites would be useful for different types of experiments. Newell said a ’’slide rule” formula has been worked out for determining the length of time an artificial “moon” would stay aloft. He explained: 1. If an attempt to create a satellite at an altitude of only 100 miles, it would not circle the earth even once. Friction and gravity would bring it down too soon. 2. But if the closest approach of the satellite’s initial orbit is 200 miles, it will continue to circle the earth for about 15 days. This is the satellite which the Pentagon has authorized the Glen L. Martin company of Baltimore to, build at a cost of $2,035,000. 3. If the closest approach of the satellite were 300 miles, it would continue to circle the earth for about a year. Such a satellite Is needed, Newell said, for “geodetic” studies Involving the use of satellites to determine exact distances (Continued on Page F1V«) Company To Locate Plant At Logan, 0. Decatur Considered As Site For Plant National Carborundum Co., Niagara Falls, N. Y., will locate its middlewest plant at Logan. 0., 45 miles southeast of Columbus, M. J. Pryor, president of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce was informed today. This was the plant, which Carborundum executives had considered Decatur as a site for, and this city was the last of 322 to be eliminated prior to final selection. Pryor and his board of directors had been contacted nine months ago by officials of the eastern manufacturing company and a few days later officials of that concern came to Decatur. They had selected a tentative site here and spent more than 12 hours conferring with local people. Selection of a site then was reduced to 11 cities and the locating committee returned to Decatur. Later the prospective sites were reduced to three and finally to two and Decatur was still being considered. Final selection was made by the 15-man board of directors and the city of Logan won their vote. The company has purchased a 50-acre tract of land in the Ohio City and will start at once on construction of a large manufacturing plant which will employ 460 people. President Pryor jsaid that he was “disappointed but not discouraged” with the news and he said that efforts of his board, would be renewed on other possibilities. “The thorough survey made by this group showed that Decatur had all the requirements needed for another industrial plant,” Pryor said, “and we -will continue our efforts to induce other concerns planning expansion to consider our city.”

Price Five Cents

Truce Efforts In New Castle Strike Collapse Spokesman Os Union Advances Possible Renewed Violence NEW CASTLE, Ind, (INS)—The possibility of renewed violence at the strike-ridden Perfect Circle foundry where eight persons were shot and wounded was advanced) * today by a spokesman for the CIOUnited Auto Workers. William F. Caldwell, International representative of the striking UAW, told a public meeting after truce efforts collapsed that Indiana unionists may once again march against the company in New Castle where a pitched battle took place Wednesday. Clyde Hoffman, attorney for Perfect Circle, said in reply: “We are just not in a position to close that plant.'* A company spokesman told newsmen that the firm plans to reopen just as soon as 600 Indiana national guardsmen who are patrolling the strike-torn industrial city of 18,000 are withdrawn. He added that the firm would first get permission from law enforcement authorities before production is resumed. The plant was shut down following the riot Wednesday when 5,000 sympathisers converged with UAWCIO strikers on 100 nonstrikers armed and barricaded inside the factory. Eight persons were shot and wounded in the demonstration. A representative of Perfect Circle admitted that the plant had been stocked with firearms as a protective measure taken, with the full knowledge of police. Union officials walked out of a meeting with management late Thursday in the office of Mayor Paul F. McCormack. The mayor admitted that “We gained little ground” in the first conference in weeks in the 11-week old strike. — The issues involved included a deadlock over a union shop, a layoff plan and wages. Meanwhile, the state militia, acting under a limited martial law edict by Gov. George N. Craig to check violence, continued to ring the plant. They also were stationed at road blocks on highways near the plant to check possible violence. Mayor McCormack ordered that the foundry remain closed until Monday “to let things simmer down”, although management officials said they hoped to reopen the plant today. After stalking out of the meeting, Caldwell said: “Since we cannot reach agreement at this meeting, we have come to the end, so far as the union is concerned. The future course of action is up to the lawenforcement agencies. The company is putting production tihead of human life.” But Clyde Hoffman, attorney for the company, said: “Our employes have been besieged, ambushed, threatened, assaulted and intimidated by union pickets who follow them around the streets and to their homes at night.” In Indianapolis, Horace M. Coats, executive secretary of the Governor, rejected an appeal from tavern owners from an order closing their establishments In strikebound New Castle. Coats said: l “Sale of alcoholic beverages (Contin,ued on Page Seven) GAME POSTPONED The Decatur-Bluffton high school football game, scheduled for tonight at Worthman field, has been postponed because of the continued heavy rains. Hugh J. Andrews, Decatur principal, announced that the game will be played here Friday night, Oct. 28.