Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 178, Decatur, Adams County, 30 July 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV. No. 178

AIR TRAGEDY AVERTED OMt < *w7* ' W WHL" , JKgB BP i zw IS 0 -■* BENJAMIN (right) and Co-pilot Paul Roderick relax after winning their four hour struggle to land a crippled Constellation loaded with 91 service personnel ana their dependents. They were convoyed into the San Francisco International Airport by the US Coast Guard after radioing that one of their four engines had frozen. * "—■ '"—» ■»<*'■" 1 ■ '■" 11 1 "■ " r ' ■ ■ '■■ ■ """ 1 ■■' 1

19 Teen-Agers Plunged Info Deep Crevasse One Climbing Party Member Is Dead In Mt. Mood Accident PORTLAND/ Ore. (UP)—Nineteen teen-agers fell into a 40-foot deep. cr»vas»e < high on 4 the snow covered slopes of 11,225-foot Mt. Hcod. One member of the mountain climbing party was killed and the others were injured, some critically. Forest service officials at the scene reported that the last of the injured had been brought down the mountainside to Timberline Lodge early today, about 12 hours after the group fell into the icy fissure. The one dead was tentatively identified as 17-year-old Lynn Kaufman, Larchmount, N.Y. Most of the youths were from the New York area. L As the injured reached Timberline Lodge they were loaded into a fleet of ambulances that stood by throughout the night to rush them to Portland. Officials at the scene said that at least 16 of the injured were stretcher cases. Some were injured critically, doctors said, and o ily one or two escaped with less than broken bonesi Medical personnel worked over the critically hurt as they were hauled above the lip of the crevasse, high on the mountainside. Literally tons of supplies were rushed up the mountain to" the scene. Planes' dropped blood plasma and medical supplies at the scene Sunday night in response to frantic pleas from rescuers. Four doctors gave the survivors emergency treatment. The accident was the worst in the history of the mountain, Oregon's tallest. One person was killed and nine seriously injured on the north slope of the mountain in an accident in 1927. ~ First word of the accident came from a 15-year-old youth who watched the tragedy unfold' late Sunday afternoon. Denis Glasgow, Salem, Ore., and two companions were climbing nearby when they saw the party of 19, tied together about three feet apart, start their descent of the treacherous glacier. Glasgow saiu the party started to slide into a snow field, the rear of the human chain whip lashing to the front. They tried to gasp the snow as they plunged for more than 2.000 feet over the glacier. Two members of the chain dropped over the side of the 40foot Crevasse, pulling their companions with them. “We could hear them screaming and yelling . . When we got there and looked over the lip. wq could see them all spread over the bottom of the crater.” the boy said. Another witness said. “Two of the party slipped and carried the entire group into the fissure, rolling in the snow and into a pile of bloody flesh." Glasgow returned to the lodge to sound the alarm while his two companions stayed to comfort the injured. ;■ Torn Pfau of Brooks. Ore., lead-, er of another party of six climb(Continued ea Pars Five)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Annual County 4-H Fair Opens Tuesday • Winners Announced In County Projects Doris Cauble of the Kirkland Kut-Ups 4-H club was the grand champion clothing winner in the 4-H clothing project, announced Donna Schiefefstein, apprentice home agent. Doris is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Cauble of route two, Decatur. Doris is tn—the seventh division of the clothing project and_niade_ a beige ' suit and coat to win the grand champion ribbon. Her project will be on display along with all ' the other clothing member’s exatbits in the Adams Central school house during the 4-H fair which starts Tuesday. i Doris Ann Bluhm of the Washington Happy Hustlers 4-H club was judged the grand champion' baker in the 4-H baking project. Doris Ann js the daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Ralph Bluhm of route one, Monroe. Doris Ann’s prise; winning exhibit is a white layer cake, with white icing and coconut. _ - Shirley Hirschy of the Washington Happy Hustlers 4-H club was judged the grand champion in the food preservation project. Shirley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hirschy of route six, Decatur. Her grand champion exhibit consists of frozen fruits and vegetables. Other clothing winners are as follows. Firdt division, first, Constance Lehman, Berne Jolly Workers; second, Wanda Deßolt, Jefferson Work and Win; third, Beverly Myers, St. Mary’s Kekiongas; fourth, Sharon Hartman, Washington Happy Hustlers; and fifth, Ruth Ann Beery, Preble Jolly Juniors. Second division: first, Rita Norquest. Decatur Peppy Gals; second, Phyllis. Speicher, Berne Jolly W'orkers; third, Rosetta Liechty, Wabash Cloverleaf; fourth, Mary Watanable, Berne Jolly Workers; fifth, Marjorie Liechty, Berne Jolly Workers. Third division: first, Gail Egly, Jefferson Work and Win; second, Elizabeth Bodkin, Decatur Peppy Gals; third, Rosie Bauman, Wabaih Cloverleaf. Fourth division: first, Esther Brehm. Monroe Boosters; second, Nancy Bailey, St. Mary’s Kekiongas; and third, Connie Bergman, Monmouth Merry Maids. Fifth djvision, first, Becky Neuensch wander, Wabash Cloverleaf; second, Carol Norquest, Decatur Peppy Gals; third, Wanda Neuensebwander, Monrog Hardy Workers; fourth.' Marcille Buuck, Preble Peppy Pals; fifth, Joyce EmIwelin, Monroe Boosters. Sixth division: first, Alice Joan Sprunger; second, Nyla Girod, Preble Jolly Juniors; third, Shirley Kuhn; fourth, Janice VanEmon, Wabash Cloverleaf. Divison seven: first, and grand champion, Doris Cauble; second, Gretchen Schnepp, 'Washington Happy Hustlers; third, Bette Royer, Washington Happy Hustlers; and fourth, Norma Jean Bailey, St. Mary’s Kekiongas. Other baking winners are: first division: first, David Fleming, Monmouth Merry Maids; second, Bruce (Continued on Page Five) INDIANA WEATHER Fair and cool tonight. Tuesday mostly fair and warmer. Lows tonight 50-65 north, 54-58 south. High Tuesday 82-87. Sunset 8 p.m., sunrise Tuesday 5:43 a.m.

19 Are Killed In Oil Blasi In Texas City fire Explodes Huge Tank Os Pentane In Dumas, Tex. Sunday DUMAS, Tex. (UP) — One tank of asphalt blazed brightly today but firemen and calm winds had subdued the main oil refinery fire that exploded a huge tank of pentane and killed 18 men in a fiery holocaust. The white hot explosion Sunday injured 31 other persons, including an 11-year old boy. SJiould the wind spring up suddenly from the north today, the flaming asphalt tank would endanger a 75-miilion-do’.'ar field of gasm line and oil tanks. But the weather bureau said the winds would remain calm at least until later today. Residents in this Texas Panhandle towfi of 10,090 are not concerned about the monetary loss. They are heartsick because 10 firemen and 9 oil field workers burned to death from the flaming fuel’s intense he?L The oil workers and firemen, who were volunteers, were fighting a fire Sunday in the vent of a 15,000 barrel tank of pentane at the Shamrock Oil agd Gas company's McGee refinery 12 miles northeast of Dumas. Unknown to the fire fighters, who “were trying to “fog out” the blaze with foamite from about 200 yards away, liquid pentane had been leaking out of the huge tank. Pentane is a light liquid similar to butane A liquid under pressure, it becomes a gas immediately on contact with air. Gas-saturated air suddenly exploded with a dun boom and a great flash of light, J|eard _and seen’ for miles ttroiind. The victims were caught in their tracks. Fifteen were killed almost instantly and four others died later. Bodies were frozen ip distorted I positions, arms flung over their faces' in s last desperate attertipt to shield them from the intense heat The knees of some were 5 drawn up in agony. Many were charred beyond recognition. The' injured were taken to the Moore county hospital where they filled all the rooms. Cots were put up in the halls. The charred bodies of the dead were placed in the national guard armory and guards were placed around the area to keep the curious away. Hospital attendants said today (Continued on Page Six) Stale Prison Under Control Os Military Peaceful Revolt At Connecticut Prison WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (UP)— Connecticut state prison was under military control today following a weekend of rapid-fire events highlighted by the warden’s resignation and charges of dope smuggling to prisoners. A peaceful revolt Friday night by 300 inmates who demanded to tell their complaints to newsmen resulted in the resignation of Warden George A. Cummings, who held the post only two years. Six hours after the “sit-down” strike ended. Gov. Ahraham Ribicoft appointed State Adj. Gen. Frederick G. Reincke temporary warden and named state police Capt. Philip Schwartz as his assistant. Reincke, who heads the state national guard, is a former nigh sheriff. Reincke who said he “did not come hero with swinging fists,” immediately started an investigation into reports that some ringleaders of Friday s uprising were under the influence of dope. The unconfirmed reports came, from prison guards who said Cummings had accused some of them of smuggling narcotics, whisky and obscene literature to prisoners. The guards denied it. Cummings said he did not wish to comment “because I am no longer part of the prison administration." ’T’ve seen no evidence of it (dope)”, declared Reincke during his first full day as warden. He added, however, “narcotics in the prison will definitely not be tolerated.” He said anyone found possessing narcotics “would be dealt with very severely.” .* Meantime, Ribicoff, who has been in constant touch with the prison since Friday night blamed the entire problem on the antiquated 129-year-old prison and "the impossibility ot making certain reforms because of lack of facilities.”

ONLY DAILY NIWBPAPBR IN ADAM* COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, July 30, 1956.

Great Britain Orders Halt To Shipments Os Armaments To Egypt

List Os Dead In Sea Crash Reduced Today Eight More Persons Believed Missing Are Found Alive NEW YORK (UP)—The list of passengers unaccounted for as a result of the sinking of the Italian liner Andrea Doria was reduced to 29 today when 8 more persons believed missing informed the Italian, line that they were alive. The known dead and the presumed dead stood at 25, according to latest figures announced by line officials. The log books of the 111-starred sea queen, previously reported to have sunk with her, were saved and are in the hands Os the Italian consulate here, the Italian line announced. The books were expected to play an important role in the investigation of the tragedy which occurred despite up-to-date radar equipment. ~.. ,(Japt, -Piero (,’alamaL -Mlgegr-old master of the Italian liner, met with his crew Sunday and vowed to do everything in his power to clear them of any accusations that they had not behaved in the heroic traditions of the sea whentoe liner collided with the Swedish ship, Stockholm. • The Italian Line announced Sunday night that there were two known dead, 18 “missing and presumed dead” and 37 unaccounted for among the passengers of the lost liner. Two Stockholm crem-members were known dead and three others were missing and presumed dead. /_ The-figures from botir ships gave a possible casualty Jotai of 62, but the Italian Line expected tp locate more of the “unaccounted for” passengers. The bodies of some of the victims of the collision may be entangled in the twiqted remains of the Swedish liner’s bow. The Stockholm, whose bow was torn off when it crashed with the Andrea Doria Wednesday night, is in drydock at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding company for an estimate oi damage prior to undergoing repairs. A Bethlehem official took a United Press correspondent on a tour of the demolished area and indicated several places where bodies may lie beneath the wreck(Continued on Page Five) Auction School Is Opened Here Today 65 Are Enrolled As School Opens The Reppert school of auctioneering began its 72nd session this morning. „J£lth 65 students from all parts of the country enrolled. Dr. Roland Reppert, owner of the school, stated that a few additional students are expected during the day. The three weeks of the school will feature instruction In all phases of auction selling and practical auction experience. Dr. Reppert. and members of the school’s faculty will be the guests of the retail division of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Tuesday noon at the 4-H fair grounds at Monroe. Also a guest at the luncheon will be Mayor Robert Cole. At 2 p. m. Mayor Cole and representatives ot the Chamber of Commerce will visit the Reppert school to extend a welcome to the student auctioneers. Participating in the welcoming program will be Robert Heller and Robert Tracy.' // . During their three-week session -the students will participate -in severer* area - auctions, including the local auction sale to be sponsored jointly by the Valparaiso University Guild ot the Decatur zone and the Reppert school.

—* Storm In English Channel Kills 19 Some Yachts Still Reported Missing LONDON (UP) — The death toll in the worst English Channel storm of the century rose to 19 today but British officials said some. of the 13 yachts missing in. 90-mile gales were turning up in various ports. ' The yachts, all part of a cross- . channel race, disappeared in the i gales that sang two ships, battered I countless others and wrought i heavy damage along the French i and British coasts. Some of tha yachts found today were badly battered, their masts broken. A naval spokesman said he had ‘‘no grounds for thinking that any other yachts are in trouble or unaccounted for” since others are still at sea, racing. Th® sudden gale struck the channel Sunday, catching hundreds of "Sunday sailors” in small pleasure boats by surprise, along with more experienced crews of commercial vessels. Several yachts and a large sailing ship cansized and sank. A British steadier also heeled over, tossing Ps (tew into" the ragittg waters. . Winds of 90 miles an hour whip- ' ped up mountainous waves and bat- ’ tered English coast, Joppling ' lower trees and pewer Rues. ' , Six of the 'dead were drowned at sea. Five others were I motorists whose cays were crush- , ed i>y falling trees.. A shipyard ] worker was blown off a vessel in drydock and fell to his death. .. Z The admiralty reported at least . a dozen distress signals from big t ships. Countless small yachts tried . to make port but many of them sank. Authorities halted -all cross? ( channel ship, service between the r coasts of England and France. ( Some of the 19 small yachts taking part In a Sunday regatta were reported missing. The British steamer “Teeswood” capsized. One of its crew died 15 were picked up by rescue vessels. Safely Deposit Box Os Hodge Is Empty One Os Mysteries Os Huge Check Scandal SPRINGFIELD (UP)—Prosecutors today opened a safety deposit box held by ex-state auditor 5 Orville E. Hodge and .found it empty —“as expected.” Asst. State's Atty. J. Waldo Ackerman Jr. went to the Springfield Marine Banks with William Mehl, a Hodge employe, and opened the deposit box, which had developed into one of the mysteries of the million dollar check scandal in Hodge’s office. Ackerman had been trying since last week to find the key to the box. held by Hodge, 'MeTn! and Edward- A. Epping, Hodge’s office manager. Merl went to Granite City last week to get the key. His wife then reported he had suffered a nervous breakdown, could not find the key and could not return to Spring field immediately. Later It was learned the key had been kept in the Hodge insurance agency at Granite City. The agency had been broken into by 10 men who ransacked it and apparently took only the key. Mehl returned to Springfield today, without the key, and accompanied Ackerman to the bank. The last entry to the deposit box registered at the bank by Mehl on June 26. Since the box was entered after an investigation was started in the Hodge case, Ackerman Said he did not expect to find anything in the box. Mehl told Ackerman, the box had held stocks and bonds belonging to Hodge. Ackerman took Mehl to his office for further questioning about the contents Os the deposit bax, which Mehl said he had turned over to (Continued cm Page Five)

Stassen Flies To Gettysburg For Conference Confers Privately With President, No Comment On Talks GETTYSGURG., Pa. (UP) — Harold E. Stassen conferred privately with President Eisenhower at the President's farm home here today. But Stassen refused to say whether their surprise meeting concerned his attempt to dump ciVe President Richard M. Nixon from the Republican ticket. Stassen, White House disarmament adviser, returned to Washington immediately after his conference with the President. It was their first private meeting since Stassen set off a sharp political controversy last Monday by proposing that the Republicans nominate Gov. Chrisian A. Herter of Massachusetts instead of Nixon for Mr. .Eisenhower's running mate.. Stassen told reporters after his meeting with the President: “Please don’t try to imply or fish ... I’ll give no characterization of our talk.” t •? tefiwff to whether the President asked r him to stop his “dump Nixopl’ efforts, or whether he would be leaving his cabinet post as disarmament’adviser. , . , ; Stassen flew here this morning from Washington in a government plane that brought Mr. Eisenhower’s mail, official • papers and White House aides. He told newsmen upon arrival that he had requested the meeting with the President Saturday. He said he expected their talk to "cover a number of subjects,” Stassen said he never reveals matters he discusses with the President. Asked if they would discuss the vice presidency, Stassen smiled and said. “We’D probably cover a number of subjects.” Asked if hk whs still backing Massachusetts Gov. Christian A. Herter for vice president, Stassen said “That's right.” He declined to make any further comments except to say there is “nothing new” on the intraparty dispute; he kicked off a week lOonuniito on MX) Mrs. Mary A. Rabbifl Dies Saturday Night Funeral Services Tuesday Afternopn Mrs. Mry Adeline Rabbitt, 85, 108 North Eleventh street, died at 8:10 o’clock Staurday night at the Adams county memorial hospital. She had been ill five months and critical for the past week. She was born in Root township Oct. 14, 1870, a daughter of Robert A. and Hulda J, Allen-Drummond, and spent her entire life in Root township until 1952, when' she moved to Decatur. She was married to Charles C. Rabbitt Aug. 21. 1890, and he preceded her in death Feb. 1. 1948. Mrs. Rabbitt was a member of the Union Chapel Evangelical United Brethern church and the ladies aid society of the church. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. William Meyers, Mrs. Jerome Deßolt and Miss Erma Rabbitt, all of Decatur, and Mrs. Henry Stauffer of Monroe; four sons, Edwin Rabbitt of Defiance, 0., Earl, Ralph, >nd Bernard Rabbitt, all of Decatur; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services Will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Zw-ick funeral home and at 2 p.m. at the Union Chapel Evangelical United Brethern church, the Rev. Lawrence T. Norris officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services.

Nation Waits For Steel Strike End Await Signal For Return Os Workers NEW YORK (UP) — The nation waited anxiously today for the signal that will send 650,000 striking steelworkers back to work. The green light Is expected this week, possibly as early as Wednesday. The end of the 30-day strike ■ was so near and yet so far away. Major economic issues Involved f in the $1 billion strike here set- ! tied when the United Steelworkers Union and 12 leading steel ’ firms eigned .an unprecedented • three-year pact last Friday. How- * ever, nor. economic issues must be 1 worked out before the strike can end. Negotiators for the USW and the ■ companies met over the weekend and again todny in an effort to remove the final obstacles to set- ■ tling th? long walkout. The non--1 economic issues at stake include ’ such things as working conditions. 1 workweek schedules and plant r safety measures 1 Meanwhile, the USW stepped up •. Its contract'’ talks here with Ahl-. ’ minum Co. of America and Reyn- : olds M®Lals C». in an bffort to r head off a serious aluminum strike 1 at midnight Tuesday. These two firms account for almost three8 fourths of. the nation’s aluminum 8 capacity. r s'. i, , r Historically, contracts in the 1 aluminum industry are patterned after those in the basic steel inK dustrvi ; < I 1 Alcoa also is negotiating 4n Pittsburgh with the Aluminum Workers Union, tut this contract is open only for wages. It has an- “ other year to run. There were reports the Aluminum Workers would d be willing to sign a new three-yeir ls pact this year. The USW represents 18,000 Al--8 coa employees at 12 installations 6 and 10,900 Reynolds workers at ’ nine plants. The AWU contract 1 convers 11,000 workers at seven ? plants. The aluminum companies will ’ have to begin draining the giant electric pots in which aluminum is 1 made later-today unless a settlement is in sight Both union and industry repre- ‘ senatives expressed hope that a | strike could be avoided. The odds favored a peaceful settlement. Across the nation steelworkers waited to go to work and businessmen waited for the inevitable —higher steel prices. The new three-year agreement in the steel industry will raise direct labor costs more than $1.3 billion, which steel companies said will have to be offset by higher prices.

Minchew Arrested For Gary Officials Taken To Gary On Forgery Charges Cecil Minchew, 27, of Guntersville, Ala., whose sentence on a forgery conivction was suspended in Adams circuit court Friday, was arrested Saturday morning by Gary officials on another charge of geryMinchew entered a plea of guilty to the local charge of forgery. Judge Myles F. Parrish sentenced him to two reformatory, suspended, fined him $lO and costs and ordered him to make restitution of the $17.31 check forged on Klenk’s of this city. Following the sentencing he was taken back to the Adams county jail until his fine could be paid. Sheriff Merle Affolder held a detainer from Gary authorities, who arrived Saturday to take *him to Gary, where he will face the forgery charge. The Alabama raa# has been held in the local jail since hie arrest June 8. He has admitted passing fraudulent checks in several states. - ■ -z ■'

International Canal Control Is Demanded Diplomats Os Big Three Confer On Seizure Os Suez LONDON (UP) — Britain halted all arm? shipments to Egypt today and demanded th At the Suez Canal be put under international control so no single “unfettered” nation could block its lifeline. Pritbe minister Sir Anthony Eden announced an immediate embargo on British arms shipments to Cairo while Big Three diplomats still were hammering out an answer to Egypt’s seizure of the canaljast Thursday. Informed sources said the toplevel talks had the twin objectives of immediate steps to-enforce free passage through the canal and longer-range measures to internationalize it. Cairo Radio said, meanwhile, that , the Egyptian president conferred for an hour and a half today with , U. S'. ambassador Henry Byroade. , It did not say what was discussed, i Navai plans were drawn ;? to . carry out the first objective should i an emergency arise. 7 For. tlje second . of (he: ,IJn|ted Stfte?.,.' I Britain and France readied ,a ‘pro- . posal, for an international “board of directors” for the i including tbe Western Big Tbfee i plus the Soviet Union apd other, major matitime powers. ... ,t< ; A high Communist source in Lon- . don told Upited Press, that Moscow I favors an "International solution” ■ to the Suez problem. He said the Kremlin would take part in talks to work out the issue of guaranteed passage.ofr all ships through the canal. He added such a solution would not prejudge Egypt’s right to sovereignty over the Suez waterway. Eden called the tune for the move in a firm statement to the house of commons after he lunched with U. S. deputy undersecretary of State Robert Murphy, French foreign minister Christian Pineau and his own foreign secretary Selwyn Lloyd, who are in the second day of emergency Suez talks. “No arrangements for the future of this great international waterway could be acceptable to her majesty’s government which would leave it in the unfettered control of a single power which could, as recent events have shown, exploit it purely for purposes of national policy.” Eden said.

Then he announced that all British shipments of war material to Egypt had been baited. Egypt had received arms under the 1950 threepower declaration of Britain, the United States and France which guaranteed a balance of military strength between Israel and Arab nations. Eden announced his decisions to parliament shortly after French premier Guy Mollet branded Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser an “apprentice dictator” in the Hitler style and demanded that the Western Allies make an “energetic and severe” reply to his action in sizing the canal. Observers watched for developments as the British troopship Empire Fowey arrived in Aden with 1,700 servicemen for transit through the canal. In the economic sphere, cotton, industrial and oil shares dropped sharplfy on the Cairo stock ex* change. In London, a general paralysis gripped the stock market, with oil shares slumping badly for a total cumulative loss of 308 million dollars and renewed pressure against the British pound. In Paris, the French franc continued to drop in value, a situation believed due largely to the c-inal seizure. Two issues added heat te the three-power talks: 1. The outspoken fear by shippers that Egypt might turn baek (Continued on Page Five)

Six Cents