Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 56, Number 124, Decatur, Adams County, 26 May 1958 — Page 1

Vai. LVI. No. 124.

Ife. ' V ».A / *■ S’ f " I t ;Mr ■ TORNADO RIPS MINNESOTA FARMLAND — A tornado whipped through the farm of Elvin Bergmann near Lake Elmo, Minn., injured three persons, reduced farm buildings to wreckage and killed hundreds of chickens. Above a bewildered bird stands among the debris of her late home as farm children search the wreckage for belongings.

Hope For Life Os Cardinal Sf rifch Ebbs Catholic Prelate Reported Growing Steadily Weaker ROME (UPD — Samuel Cardinal Stritch, unable to take substantial nourishment, grew steadily weaker today. Hopes were all but gone that he could recover from two circulatory attacks and a weakened heart. Msgr. James C. Hardiman, the cardinal’s secretary, said the 70-year-old prelate had a "very restless night'* Msgr. Hardiman spent the night at the cardinal's bedside. "He has had no nourishment since yesterday but he still is very much aware of everything that goes on around him;" Msgr. Hardiman said. He said the cardinal was not being given oxygen. The Rev. Antimo Boerio, an Italian priest who visits the cardinal each morning, gave him Holy Communion this morning before Dr. Ralph Bergen of Chicago arrived to take up the day-long vigil. Because of the condition of his circulatory system, doctors were not able to feed him lyHe has been only able to sip at the liquids offered him the last two days and Sunday night his doctors reported he was having “great difficulty” in swallowing. “Only a miracle can save him," said Pietro Cardinal Fumasoni Biondi after visiting the Chicago archbishop Sunday. Just after 8 a.m- Cardinal Stritch’s nephews. Robert E. Stritch Jr. and the Rev. Morris Stritch, visited the sickroom. They were accompanied by Msgr. Merlin Kearney of Immaculate Conception Church, Memphis, Tenn., a personal friend of the cardinal. "He raised his hand to us but did not speak,’ Robert Stritch said. They stayed only a few minutes and then left to attend mass.

Cardinal Stritch lay speechless in a second floor room at the Sanatrix hospital. A crucifix was clutched in his left hand. His right arm was amputated April 28. A cypress tree towered outside the cardinal’s window and -priests from “Chicago House,” the Rome residence for priests from Chicago maintained prayerful around-the-clock vigil. “The prognosis of time is the most difficult thing in these cases,” Vatican physician Filipo Rocchi said Sunday night. "He has very great resistance.” Cardinal Stritch had amazed doctors by his rapid recovery, at the age of 70, from the amputation of his arm last month less than three days after he had arrived in Rome to take up the high Roman Catholic Church post of pro-prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. The Chicago archbishop had made such good progress that (Continued on page five) INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy with chance of scattered thundershowers tonight, warmer north portion. Partly cloudy Tuesday, chance of few showers east and south portions. Turning cooler northwest Tuesday. Low tonight mostly in the 50s. High Tuesday 70s northwest to 75 to 84 east and south portions. Sunset today 8:02 p.m. Sunrise Tuesday 5:22 a.m. Outlook for Wednesday: Fair and pleasant. Lows Tuesday night in the 50s. Highs Wednesday upper 70s.

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Six Persons Die In Vain Rescue Effort Die In Attempt To Save Drowned Girl ROCKPORT, Tex. (UPI)-A little girl drowned when she Walked too far into the surf off a beach here Sunday, and six persons who rushed into the water to save her also lost their lives. The child, Janice Bailey, 9, sank into an unmarked 15-foot ditch in shallow water. Her mother was among the six would-be rescuers who died Four other rescuers survived the mass catastrophe. The drownings occurred on a seldom-frequented portion of toe beach, which the Bailey family used because of the crowds along the main shoreline of the heatwracked little town on the Gulf of Mexico near Corpus Christi. The ditch, dredged two years ago, originally was surrounded by warning signs — but they had washed away. Janice walked unsuspectingly into the pit and then began threshing around in the water. Many persons on the beach saw her plight, and 10 of them rushed in to save her. One by one. the treacherous waters swallowed up six of the rescuers —Mrs. Bailey, four children, and Leonard Berry. 40, a military chaplain from Syracuse, N.Y., who was visiting the Baileys. Manuel Gomez, who was driving by in his car, saw Janice’s struggles and leaped out of his auto and into the water. He was rescued and revived without injury. Another man was pulled out before he reached the ditch- All told, 10 persons tried to rescue Janie.

The editor of the Rockport Pilot, Jack Baughman, was standing beside Janice’s father as firemen pulled the bodies of the seven victims out of the hole. He said Bailey, an airman -from Victoria Air Force Base, was talking to a Rockport priest—and he quoted the flier as saying: “Father, that is Father Berry they're bringing out.” Firemen came with more bodies, wading up to the sand. “Father, that is my wife. Oh my God, Father, that is my little girl.”

James Harkless Dies Saturday Evening Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon James Frank Harkless, 50, a lifelong resident of Adams county, died at 7:15 o’clock Saturday evening at his farm home on route 3, east of Decatur. He had been in poor health for several years with a heart ailment. Born in Adams county Sept. 17, 1907, he was a son of J. C. and Alvina Bucher-Harkless, and was married to Iris Hilton March 27, 1932. Mr. Harkless was a member of the Pleasant Grove church. Surviving in addition to his wife are his mother, also of east of Decatur: three daughters, Mary and May Marie, at home, and Mrs. Gene McDonald of Decatur; three sons, David, at home, and Herman and Marlin, of route 3; two brothers, Ben and Jim Harkless of route 3, and two sisters, Mrs. Faye Michaels of Decatur, and Miss Chloe Harkless, of route 3. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Tuesday at the Black funeral home, and at 2:30 o’clock at the Nuttman Avenue United Brethren church, the Rev. Paul Parker officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services.

Continuation Os Corporate Taxes Likely Expect Eisenhower Request To Continue Present Tax Rates. WASHINGTON (UPD — Most congressional tax experts were predicting today that President Eisenhower will ask Congress soon—possibly before the week is out—to continue present corporation and excise (sales) taxes. Both corporate and excise rates will drop to pre-Korean war levels on June 30 unless Congress acts. With that deadline approaching, the Chief Executive was expected to confer shortly with his economic advisers and then tell the lawmakers this is no time to cut tax rvenues. Even if corporate and excise tax levies are continued at current rates for another year, the federal government is expeetd to run up an eight to 10-billion dollar dficit in fiscal 1959. The deficit for fiscal 1958, ending June 30, is estimated at about three billion. To encourage auto sales and revive the hard-hit railroad Indus try. Congress might decide to cut excise taxes on automobiles and transportation, particularly the 3 per cent tax on freight. The President hasn't recommended such cuts, but he might accept them. The House resumed debate on the Alaskan statehood bill today, undr an agreement to cut’ off discussion late this afternoon- A House vote may come late today or Tuesday. Backers of the measure to make Alaska the 49th state went into the final hours of debate expressing optimism. They said the cutoff agfement meant their foes had given up hope of blocking action. Three key members of Congress threw their support behind President Eisenhower’s request for a five-year extension of the reciprocal trade program, with authority to cut tariffs by up to 25 per cent The House Ways & Means committee has approved the legislation and is slated to vote finally next Wednesday on sending it to the House floor, where it faces Stiff opposition from apowerful protectionist bloc. Rep. Hale Boggs (D-La.), a member of the Ways & Means Committee, cautioned Sunday night that Japan could be forced “into the arms of Red China” if Congress fails to grant the trade program extension. Sens. Clifford P. Case (R-NJ.) and Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn.) also called urgently for favora' i congressional action. But Boggs frankly said he did not know whether advocates of liberal trade had the votes to pass the bill. Monroeville Asks Water Rate Boost INDIANAPOLIS (UPD — The town of Monroeville today petitioned the Indiana Public Service Commission for authority to raise water rates and issue $86,000 in waterworks revenue bonds. Seek Agreement On Freedom Os Travel United States Asks Russian Agreement WASHINGTON (UPD - The United States has made another in a long series of attempts to get Russia to agree to freedom of travel in the Soviet UnionThe State Department said in a note delivered to the Russian Embassy the United States would be glad to drop all limitations against Russian travel here if the Soviets would follow suit. Both Russia and the United States now keep about a third of their territory closed to citizens of the other. The note was sent to the embassy last Thursday and made public Sunday. If Russia does not want to take such a far - reaching step now, the department proposed that the Soviets at least ease some restrictions on American travellers on a tit-for-tat basis. For example, the United States offered to open up all of Maryland to Soviet travel if Russia would open the Moscow-Kaluga-Vladimir area. All of the closed area within 125 miles of New York City would be opened in return for the opening of a similar area around Leningrad. All of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts would be opened in return for the opening of Leningrad and the western regions of the Ukraine.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, May 26, 1958.

French Premier Warns Nation Is Threatened By Possible Civil War

Time Bomb Is Exploded In Beirut Today Several Reported Killed As Bomb Fired In Beirut BEIRUT (UPD — Anti-govern-ment terrorists set off a time bomb in a packed Beirut street car today. Six to eight persons were killed and 12 to 15 injured, according to early estimates. Meanwhile, a movement was understood to be afoot within the government to postpone Tuesday's Lebanese - requested United Nations Security Council meeting on this country’s troubles until after the Arab League has a chance to act in the matter. Foreign Minister Charles Malik was said to be planning to postpone a trip to the U. N. in New York for the council session so he could be present at the Arab League meeting in Tripoli, Lebanon, to discuss the issue Wednesday; A satisfactory Arab League decision for a solution would make U. N. action unnecessary, it was said.

The new violence came in the midst of a growing government; crisis, with several cabinet ministers threatening to quit unless President Camille Chamoun abandons his hopes of running for a second term in September. The dissident group is reported putting pressure on Chamoun to accept a compromise solution that would permit him to remain in office only until a new election. The explosion and Accompanying fire twisted the red trolley car sideways off its tracks, gutted the front half of the car, and peeled its metal sides backwards like skin being stripped from a banana. The force of the bomb, one of the most powerful yet, exploded (Continued on page five) Decatur Air Scouts View Fatal Crash Witness Fatal Crash At Chanute Field Decatur’s 12 air scouts and their leader, Dr. Melvin I. Weisman, were eyewitnesses to the crash at Chanute Field Sunday which took the lives of two airmen. Dr. Weisman reported that the 365 scouts in the encampment were waiting on the road in front of their barracks for the buses to pick them up and return them to the parking area. While waiting, the scouts were playing, and Dr. Weisman was taking movies. The doctor planned to get a closeup of the next airplane which passed directly overhead to land. As he waited, he saw the plane approach about a mile away. At about 1,000 feet altitude he noticed the plane suddenly turn left, as if to begin landing procedure. As this happened he noticed the pilot flipped himself out of the plane on an ejection seat, and the plane flipped, and stalled down sideways. It look like a stunt at first, but suddenly’the plane crashed, bursting into flames like a miniature atom bomb. Dr. Weisman did not have a telephoto lens, and did not reaize what had happened until the plane crashed. He took movies then of the burning plane. The parachute on the pilot did not open at the low altitude, and both the pilot and his co-pilot died in the crash. Those attending who also witnessed the event were Tom August, Tom Sharpe, Mike Ehler, Ned Bumgerdner, Mike Durkin, Sev Schurger, John Krueckebprg, Chuck Krueckeberg, Danny Poling, Dave Sheets, Tom Cravens, and Larry Macklin. Bernard Hain and Dr. Weisman drove the scouts, who were from the 8.P.0. Elks sponsored air explorer post.

Traffic Death Toll Eight Over Weekend Four Persons Die In Auto-Train Crash By United Press International A train snuffed out four lives in one of Indiana’s worst accidents of the year and helped boost the weekend traffic death toll to eight. The train struck a car in Hammond early Saturday, the day on Which all except one of the eight fatalities occurred. Only one fatality was recorded Sunday despite unusually heavy traffic. All the Hammond train victims were Chicagoans. Three of the other four victims were small children. Police said traffic violations led to six of the deaths. Sunday’s fatal two-car crash killed Gary Lee Hardboldt, 3, Crawfordsville, at the intersection of a Fountain County road and the Montgomery-Fountain County Line Road Four persons were injured seriously or critically in the accident two miles west of Alamo, including the dead boy’s mother and father, Vernon, 28, and Barbara, 27. State police said James Carothers, 51, Crawfordsville, failed to yield the right of way and his car smashed into the side of the Hardboldt car, knocking it across the road where it jumped a culvert, flipped into the air and landed atop the Carothers’ car. - In Saturday’s crashes, four Chi’Vtfgoans were injured fatally when a New York Central Railroad train hit their car at a crossing in Hammond. They were George Banks, 57, Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, 32, Clarence Terry, 44, and Mrs. Willie Bowie, 48. Earl Fisher Jr., 4. Remington, was killed when a car driven by the Rev. Homer Collins of Logansport hit the boy near his home in the Jasper County town. Carolyn Sue Acord, 7, Kokomo, died Saturday about 12 hours after she was hit by a car in front of her home Friday night. Police said Carolyn was hit when she ran into the street trying to save her dog. The dog was killed The car was driven by Terry Lorts, 18, Sharpsville. Harry J. Nickelson, 32, Cambridge City, died in Hancock Memorial Hospital at Greenfield Saturday a short time after a crash on U.S. 40 near Cumberland. Nickelson’s car was hit head-on by a car which veered across the center-line. The second car carried four Indianapolis men.

Reports Groceries Stolen From Auto Ray Osterman, route one, Monroe, reported that $lO in groceries was stolen from his car Saturday evening between the hours of 9 and 11 o’clock. The car was parked on Jackson street near the Moose Lodge. AnnaOstermeyer Is Taken By Death Lifelong, Resident Os County Is Dead Miss Anna Ostermeyer, 76, lifelong resident of Root township, died at 10 o’clock Sunday (light at the home of a nephew, Edwin H. Ostermeyer, Fort Wayne. She had been in failing health for several years and critically ill for the past four weeks. She was born in Root township March 27, 1882, a daughter of William and Dora Meyers Ostermeyer, and had never married. Miss Ostermeyer was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran church. Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Minnie Wilcock of Centralia, Wash, and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Zwick funeral home and at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran church, the Rev. F. W. Droegemueller officiating. Burial will be in the IOOF cemetery at Monroeville. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Tuesday until time of the services. f

Nuclear Test Held By U.S. Sunday Night Third Nuclear Test Os Current Series At Eniwetok Atoll WASHINGTON (UPD — The government announced today that a nuclear test was staged at Eniwetok Atoll at 9 p.m. c.d.t. Sunday. There was no immediate indication of the type of test involved. It was the third nuclear blast in the current series in the Pacific. The first took place May 11 and the second the next day. A joint statement by the Atomic Energy Commission and Defense Department said: “A nuclear test detonation took place at 2 p.m.. May 26, 1958, Eniwetok time <9 p.m.. May 25, 1958, c.d.t.) at the Eniwetok Atoll. The test is jiart of the Hardtack nuclear weapons test series under way at the Eniwetok proving ground.” Communist Czechoslovakia today rejected an Invitation to observe an explosion of a “clean” U. S. H-bomb to be set off in July or early August. Russia previously had turned down the same invitation. The United States had invited, 14 member nations of the United Nations’ committee on the effects of scientific radiation to observe the test shot. 'Die foreign observers will be allowed to check instruments that would show this country’s “clean” bomb releases a substantially smaller amount of radioactivity than the so-called "dirty” bomb. (Continued on page five) Mrs. Chas. Kilson Is Taken By Death Well Known Decatur Lady Dies Saturday

Mrs. Rose Kitson, 82, a resident of Decatur practically her entire life, died at 11:25 o’clock Saturday mornihg at her home, 103 North Fifth street. She had been ill for nearly five years of complications. She was born in Sapina, 0., March 19, 1876, a daughter of John and Mary Durkin, and was married to Charles T. Kitson May 22. 1901. Mrs. Kitson was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic church and the Rosary society. $ Surviving in addition to her husband are two daughters, Miss Wine, fride Kitson, at home, and Mrs. Russell Byer of Willshire, O.; four sons, Harold Kitson, at home, and Thomas D., Joseph E. and A. William Kitson, all of Decatur; 14 grandchildren, and one brother. John Durkin of Calumet City, 111. Four sisters and one brother preceded her in death. A solemn requiem high mass will be held at 9 o’clock Tuesday morning at St. Mary’s Catholic church. Mrs. Kitson’s nephew, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas L. Kitson, wil be celebrant of the mass, assisted by the Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Seimetz, the Rev. Robert Contant and the Rev. Robert Jaeger. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery. The body has been returned from the Gillig & Doan funeral home to the residence,- where friends may call until time of the services. The Rosary society will meet at 8 o’clock this evening to recite the rosary. Crippled Lady Dies Os Traffic Injuries INDIANAPOLIS (UPD —Marion Cpuhty’s traffic death toll reached 29 when a crippled woman, struck by a car May 16, died late Sunday night in Indianapolis Methodist hospital. The victim was Mrs. Selma G. Aveline, 55, hit as she crossed an Indianapolis intersection by a car driven ny Benjamin Bowman, 27, Indianapolis.

Leaves Decatur Rev. Virgil W. Sexton Rev. Virgil Sexton Will Leave Decatur Methodist Pastor To Be Transferred The Rev. Virgil W. Sexton, pastor of the First Methodist church in Decatur for the past four years, will not return to the local pastorate, as he has been transferred to another conference. The Rev. F. Hsreea Sparks, pps tor of the Methodist church >w

Garrett since 1951, has been Assigned as pastor of the Decatur church, and will preach his first sermon,here next Sunday. The change was announced officially Sunday afternoon with the reading of pastoral appointments at the closing session of the North Indiana conference, held at Warsaw. , Rev. Sexton’s new charge was not revealed, merely that he is being transferred to another conference. The Rev. Robert Ochsenrider, son of Mr. and Mrs. Niland Ochsenrider, was transferred from the KingslandJPleasant Valley -charge to Monson Chapel. . He will be succeeded by the Rev. Donald W. Orr, transferred from Pi airie-Bethal. No other changes were made in Adams county pastorates. Returned to their, present churches are the Rev. Wilis Gierhart, Monroe; the Rev. Billy J. Springfield, Pleasant Mills-Salem; the Rev. Robert D. Bickel, Geneva; the Rev. Riley Case, Geneva parish; the Rev. George D. Christian, Mt. Pleasant-Mt. Tabor. The Rev. L. G. Sapp was returned to Bluffton, and the Rev. Keith Davis was transferred to Bluffton parish from Concord-Neese-Norris-Rehobeth circuit.

Bloodmobile Unit In Decatur June 6 Begin Scheduling Blood Donors Here I? Scheduling for the Red Cross bloodmobile visit here Friday, June 6, started this morning, Mrs. Ed Bauer, chairman of the committee, said today. Blood collected at the visit will be available to anyone from Adams county on an exchange basis, whenever needed. By contributing now, Mrs. Bauer stated, “you can assure that blood will be available whenever you need it, in case of accident, surgery, or disease.” A total of 127 pints are neded, and Adams county is still 50 pints behind the annual quota, she added. Those making calls today are Mrs. Earl Fuhrman and Mrs. Lucille Miller; Tuesday, Mrs. Ivan Stucky and Mrs. Joe Hunter; Wednesday, Mrs. Lloyd Bowman and Mrs. Lee Fleming. Anyone who would like to be scheduled whether or not they have given before, may do so by calling the Red Cros office during the day.

French Fleet Sailing Under Paris Orders More Resistance Centers Spring Up In French Lands BULLETIN PARIS (UPD—Reliable rovernment sources reported today that Gen. Charles de Gaulle has offered to meet Premier Pierre Pflimiin for secret talks on the French crisis. PARIS (UPD— Premier Pierre Pflimiin' said today the government would fight with “very great vigor’’ the insurrection on Corsica. Simultaneously, an official announcement said tiie powerful French Mediterranean fleet was sailing toward an unidentified destination on direct orders from Paris.

Pflimiin, addressing an emergency session oi Parliament, said France was threatened with a civil war. He said such a conflict “would subject us not only to a humiliating defeat in North Africa but also would destroy our basic liberties.” He described the events In Corsica as a revolt against legal authority and said his government will “use with very great vigor the means in its possession against all those who attempt to revolt against it.” He spoke as new resistance centers sprang up in France’s overseas possession. Receives New Setbacks Despite the premier’s plea for Assembly unity, he received two quick setbacks. Right - wingrs demanded, that President Rene Coty be asked to call a meeting of all middle-road party chiefs, with Gen- Charles de Gaulle in attendance to help solve the deepening crisis. They named former Premier Antoine Pinay to present the proposal to Coty. At the same time, the Assembly judiciary committee reacted with hostility to Pflimlin's request to crack down on rebellious deputies who now have parliamentary immunity. A Defense Ministry communique disclosed the Mediterranean fleet movement, answering persistent rumors that it had defected to rebel forces supporting Gen. De Gaull.

They originated when Fleet Commander Adm. Philippe Auboyneau praised the rebellious ruling junta in Algiers and said: “I shall take the opportunity to tell Gen. (Lauris) Norstad how the miracle of May 13 (the uprising) is a great chance not only for France but also for the Western world.” Asks for New Powers Today, the Paris Defense Ministry said in a communique: “Rumors having circulated about movements of the fleet, the Ministry of National Defense and armed forces states that all ships which took part in inter - allied maneuvers in the Mediterranean are moving in accordance with orders received from the Ministry of National Defense.” Pflimlin made no mention of the fleet when he appeared befor th deputies this morning. H told of the threat of civil war and added: “To save our liberties, it is not sufficient that the authorities should do their duty. It now has become a matter for the entire naion-” He asked the assembly to vote him powers to strip rebellious deputies of their parliamentary immunity and to approve stern constitutional reforms strengthening the central regime. Indicates Break Near Pflimlin indicated he was kbout to break at last with Gen. Raoul Salan, commander-in-chief of France’s 400,000 troops in Algeria. He hitherto has insisted that Salan is loyal to the Paris government. He did not mention Salan by name but he declared: “I haVe said several times that * continued on page five

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