Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 56, Number 284, Decatur, Adams County, 3 December 1958 — Page 1

Vol. LVI. No. 284.

’ f ’ \ " P '’/ SO? - / \ J.; ’' - , 1 b,'v (S s > ~ jg B ■'iß ;; « •' >. ; . - H THE LIVING OFFER PRAYERS. THANKS— Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beggs offer up prayers of thanksgiving at a special Mass for the victims of the flash fire which claimed the lives of 87 children at Our Lady of the Angels parochial school in Chicago. Both of their children, Richard, Jr., 11, (left) and Kathy, 9, (between her parents) were among the pupils saved.

Fire Experts Study Tragic Chicago Fire Speculate Closed Doors Would Have Reduced Death Toll CHICAGO (UPD—Fire experts speculated today that had two massive wooden doors been closed in Our Lady of Angels school when fire broke out Monday considerably less than 90 persons might have died. Two investigators of the National Fire Protection Association said that if two doors at the second floor landing had been closed the intense fire and hot gases would have been kept out for precious minutes and “in all likelihood every classroom could have been emptied in time." Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert J. Quinn said that “all you need is one inhalation of that superheated air the fire pushes in front of it and your lungs collapse.” Fire officials said the doors should have been closed. They said it was not known at this stage in the investigation whether the doors were open when the fire broke out or whether they were opened after the fire alarm sounded by nuns or children seeking to escape. Meanwhile, offers of aid poured in today to the injured and grieving while the Investigation into the cause of the holocaust ground slowly forward. Third Worst Disaster Police arson experts theorized a pupil sneaking a cigarette in the school basement may have accidentally touched off Chicago’s worst fire in 55 years and the nation’s third most tragic school fire. Authorities resumed questioning pupils and nuns in hope they could shed some light on the mystery, but the painstaking investigation “turned up nothing new," according to police Capt. Harry Penzin. About 20 teen-aged boys were questioned Tuesday by police who urged them to obey their religious beliefs and tell truthfully whether one of them had flipped a lighted cigarette in trash behind a basement stairwell. Authorities have determined the blaze started in the stairwell at the northeast corner of the twostory brick school. The flames and dense smoke were sucked up the stairwell to the second floor where most of the victims were trapped and died. Question School Janitor Police Tuesday night questioned school janitor James Raymond, 43, who was hospitalized with shock and injuries, Raymond told detectives he was entering the school when he saw smoke pouring from the rear of the building. Raymond said he rushed to the basement and checked the incinerator and boiler, but found nothing wrong. He then told authorities he ran to the first floor and broke windows so the children could escape. Penzin said Raymond also insisted that he had checked the areaway where the fire apparently started last Thursday and found jt clean of trash. Percy Bugbee, general manager of the NFPA, said in Boston that the experts had found that the doors were left open allowing fire and gases to spread rapidly through the second-floor corridor serving six classrooms. Nearly all of the children were in these six rooms.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

City Praised For Keeping Os Records Proper Keeping Os Records Is Praised The city of Decatur was praised for properly keeping its records during the past two-year period of audit recently completed by two field examiners of the state board of accounts, according to the reports on file at the city hall. In this respect, Decatur fared better than its three neighbors, Monroe, Berne, and Geneva. These towns received state-wide publicity on several discrepancies in their management. Seven separate reports are on file concerning the city, and are official documents subject to public inspection. The period of audit was January 1, 1956 to December 3, 1957, the first two years of the present city administration. Robers R. Wickersham, Jr., and Harold F. Scott made the report. The report on the city clerktreasurer’s office, 13 pages long, concluded with the special report that prescribed forms and records are in use, and in balance. The electric utility report, which showed $1,244,788.07 in the depreciation reserve last January 1, included the same notation, with th§ addition "and are well-kept.” In the special report on the sewage utility, it was noted that prescribed records are in use, in balance and properly kept. Miscellaneous items listed on table A in the'report, as property and plant, will be distributed after completion of the sewage utility construction. The water utility was also praised for well-kept records on prescribed forms, as was the mayor’s court. One of the field examiners told the mayor that the sl4 change he keeps in a special bag in the city safe to give change in city court is not proper, and that no money should be kept outside of the bank account. The mayor pointed odt to him the impractibility of not having change on hand for speeding offenders. The other field examiner agreed with the mayor that the change was necessary and reasonable service to the citizens of Decatur. The present secretary of the police pension fund, Robert Hill, and the president of the firemen's pension fund, Cedric Fisher, did Continued on page five Noted Conservationist Dies At South Bend SOUTH BEND, Ind. (UPD—Henry W. Heinie Moesch, 60. a career conservationist who worked for the State of Indiana for 28 years through various political changes of administration, died today in Osteopathic Hospital here. Moesch was an administrative assistant to the director of the Indiana Department of Conservation at the time of his death. He had been ill since an operation last August. Grand Jury Recesses Until December 15 The grand jury which started its annual session Monday has gone into recess until December 15, it was learned today. The reason for the deliberation is that the new prosecuting attorney, Severin Schurger, and prosecutor Lewis Lutz Smith, may attend the attorney general’s meeting in Indianapolis this weekend. The conference, which begins tomorrow, is for future legislation and decision bn new cases. The' grand jury members were called to the Adams circuit court Monday for their instructions of their duties for the coming year. For the past two days, they have met at the romo adjoining the court room fulfiling their duties.

Raging Forest Fire Spreads In California 40 Homes Reported Destroyed, 15,000 Acres Blackened MALIBU, Calif. (UPD — More than 1,500 firefighters today desperately fought a raging- fire in the Santa Monica Mountains which blackened over 15,000 acres, destroyed upwards of 40 homes and injured nine firemen in its first 12 hours. to property and watershed was estimated in the millions of dollars. More than 2,000 residents of this tinder-dry canyon area spotted with fashionable homes of movie and television stars were forced to flee in the face of 50-foot high walls of flame pushed along by wind gusts up to 60 miles an hour. The fire perimeter estimated at between 30 to 40 miles lapped over into the scorched area of the disastrous 1956 Malibu fire which burned 45,000 acres and destroyed 67 homes. The blaze was headed northwest and it was feared it would burn into Ventura County today. Investigate Possible Arson “This thing has gone crazy,” Fire Chief Keith Klinger said. “It may be worse than the Malibu fire of *56.” The possibility of arson was being investigated. The $50,000 ranch home of actor Lew Ayres containing many expensive art objects was wiped out by the towring flames which exploded rocks like hand grenades. Ronald Reagan’s ranch along with comedian Bob Hope’s was hit by the blaze but their homes were saved. Aiding the fire were record-high temperatures in the 80s and 90s throughout the area and low humidity down to 8 per cent. Los Angeles, about 35 miles east of here, had its warmest day in 18 years Tuesday when the thermometer hit 85 degrees in the downtown area. The roaring blaze sending up a plume of black smoke 15,000 feet into the air swept the exclusive Malibu Lake area, destroying six homes in the $40,000 to $50,000 class. Animals Seek Safety Hundreds of deer, rabbits and other wild life were driven from the fire area. At least 100 head of cattle were killed. Movie sets on the 20th-Century Fox ranch were saved but the fire flashed through most of the area where such films as South Pacific” and “The FBI Story” were made. A heavy guard of 100 sheriff s deputies was sent into the area to protect evacuated homes from looting. Ferris Bower Head Os Retail Division Ferris Bower, Decatur jeweler, was elected chairman of the retail division of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce in balloting that ended Monday night. Bower will replace Dave Moore who served for the past year. Paul Uhrick, of Uhrick Brothers, was chosen vice-chairman, replacing Frank Lybarger. Bill Gass was elected secretary, replacing Tom Garner, and Jackie Miller will be the new treasurer. She will replace Dale Morrissey, who has served the past year. The new officers will take office the first of March next year, Fred E. Kolter, secretary of the Chamber, added.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, December 3, 1958.

Special City Election February 24 On Sale Os City Electric Utility

Launching Os Satellites To Begin Shortly , May Put Man-Made Moon In Orbit In West Coast Flights WASHINGTON (UPD — The Pentagon announced today that a program of earth satellite launchings that may put a five-ton manmade moon in orbit will begin on the West Coast in about 30 days. The first satellite vehicle will be launched late this month or early in January from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. It will weigh 1,300 pounds. Present American satellites do not weigh more than 32 pounds. Roy W. Johnson, director of the Pentagon's space agency, said satellite launchings from Vandenberg may be expected at a rate of about once a month in 1959. He said the program has been designated “Project Discoverer,” and that its main purpose is to develop “useful information” for putting a manned vehicle into orbit around the earth. All of the West Coast launchings will be aimed toward the South Pole. Johnson said the program will include putting animals into orbit and returning them safely to earth. The space director said the first launching will be conducted with the Air Force’s 1,500-mile Thor intermediate range missile, plus a second stage. He said he also expects the 5,500-mile Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile to be used in the program during 1959. Johnson said that with the Atlas, plus a high energy upper stage under development, the U.S. expects a satellite weighing as much as 10,000 pounds (five tons) can be put in orbit. Russia’s Sputnik 111 by comparison, weighs 1% tons. Johnson emphasized that the initial launchings from the West Coast will be experimental, that the satellite vehicles will be fired into “relatvely low orbits of a few hundred miles in altitude,” and that they are “designed to orbit for short periods of time." lowa Youth Shows Grand Champ Steer Hobbles Into Arena Despite Broken Leg CHICAGO (UPD — An Illinois youngster today hoped to join a Spencer, lowa, youth in the winner’s ring of the 59th International Live Stock Exposition. Tuesday afternoon, Chuck Wood Jr., 17, a Spencer high school boy, hobbled into the arena on a broken leg and with a 101-degree temperature to exhibit the grand champion steer of the show. Today, Gerald Anderson, 15, Leland, 111., will seek to capture the all-breed barrow championship, another highlight of the big farm show. Young Anderson, who won grand champion honors in 1957 with a lightweight Poland China, is exhibiting a medium weght Poland China which last week won honors in the junior livestock show. Anderson eliminated probably his stiffest competition in the Poland China class Tuesday by winning over his father, who was second. For Wood, the victory Tuesday was expected to go along way toward restoring his health before his prize Aberdeen Angus steer, named "Holy Cow?" goes on the auction block Thursday. Wood, who was suffering from a cold and an attack of asthma as well as a broken leg suffered while wrestling last month, could receive as much as $30,000 for his prize beef. The youth said he would split the auction money with his brother, Greg, 9.

Adopt Ordinance On Crossing Watchman Flasher Ordinance Defeated Tuesday The city council passed an ordinance Tuesday night requiring the Pennsylvania railroad to keep a guard at the Dayton street crossing 12 hours a day, the former ordinance requiring both flashers and a guard being defeated on third reading by a three to two vote. The guard was on duty again today at the railroad for the three hours and 15 minutes which the railroad unilaterally reported it would hire a guard after several meetings with city officials. The railroad had written the city that if the council passed any ordinance on the subject, the guard would be withdrawn. Mayor Robert D. Cole verbally flayed the railroad for its attitude towards the problem before calling for a vote on the third reading of the former bill. This was defeated by a three to two vote. Perhaps one of the reasons for the decision, although it was not discussed at the meeting, was the discovery that the city could be made to pay for up to one-half of the cost of a $35,000 flasher light system if it passed the original ordinance. Also, because of the location of the switching position in relation to the crossing, even mbst complicated flashers would have operated almost continually, creating a hazard rather than removing one. Two applications for rural line extensions were referred to the electric light and power committee, and the superintendent. Ralph Roop, city engineer, reported that General Electric engineer Clark Mayclin had presented a drawing of engineer’s plans for (Continued on page six) Highway, Printing Contracts Awarded Bids, Are Studied By Commissioners The county commissioners awarded bids for county highway supplies and materials and for printing used by county offices at the meeting held Tuesday at the court house with the county auditor. The bids submitted were opened at 10 o’clock by the commissioners and the auditor, Edward F. Jaberg. Each bidder was required to file with his bid a bond in the sum of SI,OOO as a guarantee of good faith and for liquidated damages payable to the commissioners subject to the approval of the board an£ the non-collusion affidavit as required by law. All bids were awarded on a oneyear contract with the exception of the gasoline bid. Gasoline is awarded on a six-month contract beginning January 1, 1959 and ending June 30, 1959. * In some instances, the bid approved by the board was higher than another bid submitted, this was due to the service and material used by the county in the past. The bids, names submitting the bids, and their submitted prices are as follows: Corrugated Pipe, (per foot) — Armco Drain & Metal Pipe company, Indianapolis, $1.49; Logansport Metal Pipe Co., Logansport, $1.49; Allmetal Highway Products, Inc., Ligonier, $1.49; Republic Steel Corp., Hammond, $1.55; Ladoga Culvert Co., Ladoga, $1.49; Farm Bureau, Monroe, $1.55; and American Steel, Fort Wayne, $1.49. Armco Drain & Meatl Pipe Co., and Logansport Metal Pipe Co., received the contract. The above prices were based on 16 gage pipe eight inches in length submitted by each company. Grader blades — The contract was awarded to American Steel & Supply Co., of Fort Wayne for $1.22 per foot. Other bids received were, Deeds Equipment Co., Rochester, $1.40 per foot, and (Continued on page three) ,

TWA Strike Is Ended As New Pact Ratified Recall Os Striking Machinists Begins _ As Strike Settled United Press International An agreement between Trans World Airlines and the International Association of Machinists today broke the deadlock between the nation’s major carrier and striking employes. TWA announced that recall of striking machinists would begin immediately. Strikes against TWA and Eastern Airlines had grounded one-third of the nation’s airliners, while American Airlines’ pilots were preparing arguments to get a federal injunction against striking lifted. A TWA spokesman said in Kansas City that the agreement, already ratified by the membership of the machinists’ union, provides terms similar to those under which machinists at Capital and National Airlines work. The strike against TWA began Nov. 21. The stuation had eased a little at Eastern Airlines, now negotiating with both the machinists union and the flight engineers in Mami. Eastern has agreed to pay engineers for time spent taking pilots’ training. Earlier, EAL spokesmen had held such training should be taxen on the engineers’ time. In New York, Federal Judge Frederick van Pelt Bryan, whose restraining order has kept almost 1,500 pilots from striking at American Airlines for more than a week, gave both sides until Saturday morning to file additional briefs in the dispute. The Air Lines Pilots Associaton has challenged the court’s ruing thus far, basing its arguments on the provisions of the Norris-LaGuardia Act. Announcement from the Transport Workers Union, meanwhile, indicated the current strikes would not be compounded by another at Pan American Airways. The TWU, whose contract expired Monday night, pledged not to strike against Pan Am until mediation procedures of the Railway Labor Act were exhausted —a promise of about three months’ labor peace. Western Proposal Rejected By Reds Control Os Ballistic Missiles Rejected GENEVA (UPD — The West called today for East-West control of ballistic missiles to prevent surprise attacks. The proposal was promptly rejected by Russia. U.S. Chief Delegate William C. Foster put the West's proposal before the surprise attack conference at its hour and 30 minute session today. The Russians turned it down at once and called instead for a ban on the use of nuclear weapons. Russian spokesmen argued it was impossible to deal with controls against surprise attacks by missiles until agreement has been reached on prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons. An official communique announced that the West’s plah illustrated “a possible system of observation and inspection of ballistic missiles.” It was the West’s fourth effort to get the deadlocked conference off the ground since the talks opened Nov. 10. The West has so far proposed an inventory of modern weapons that could be used for modern surprise attack,, a plan on. measures to spot surprise attacks and proposals for spotting possible surprise attacks »by long range planes. i

Big Three Leaders To Meet In Paris Berlin Situation To Be Discussed WASHINGTON (UPD — American officials said Tuesday night the Western Big Three foreign ministers would meet in Paris Dec. 14-15 on the Berlin situation. The United States, Britain and France plan to reject Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s demand for neutralization of Berlin, these officials said, and counter with a call for Russia to join in a Big Four conference on the broad question of European security. Such a conference also would include the question of German reunification. Secretary or state John Foster Dulles, who proposed the Paris foreign ministers meeting, was said to be confident the 15-nation NATO council would endorse the counter proposal. The NATO foreign ministers open their semiannual meeting in the French capital Dec. 16. Tentative plans are to send the call for a four-power conference to Russia during the latter part of December after the NATO foreign ministers have approved it. West German Foreign Minister Heinrich Brentano is expected to attend the pre-NATO meeting of the Western Big Three foreign ministers, officials said. Meanwhile, State Department officials were reported to have hammered out a rough draft of the reply which Dulles believes should be made to Khrushchev. The Soviet premier demanded that the Allies quit Berlin or face the necessity of dealing with the East German Communist regime. The Allies consider the East Germans a puppet of the Russians and refuse to recognize them. Fog Makes Driving Hazardous In Slate Temperature Drop Forecast Tonight United Press International The weatherman forecast a new cold wave for Indiana beginning Thursday night, with temperatures dipping near zero in a renewal of the subnormal readings in Hoosierland last weekend. Noon forecasts called for temperatures from 5 to 10 above zero north and 10 to 15 above south by Thursday night, with far - below - freezing highs Friday ranging from 15 to 20. The forecasts came as a midday warmup largely dispelled freezing rain, drizzle and fog that developed dftring the night. More snow was forecast by blanket 2 to 11 inches deep which fell last Friday had melted. Today’s foggy drizzle brought early - morning warnings of driving hazzards from the weatherman. But the precipitation pattern pushed temperatures up just high enough to avoid new driving hazards from icy surfaces, although the fog was a traffic handicap. The situation may be only temporary, however. The Weather Bureau warned that temperatures would drop tonight tb around 20 with rain or drizzle changing to light snow. The mercury fell to lows ranging from 22 at Fort Wayne to 32 at Evansville early this morning. However, as the precipitation moved in, the temperatures climbed until by dawn they were slightly above freezing. Highs were expected to range from the 30s to the low 40s today, and from the mid 30s to around 40 Thursday. At 8 a.m. c.d.t., the weatherman reported freezing rain at Goshen, drizzle and fog at Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Louisville and Cincinnati, drizzle at Lafayette and fog at Fort Wayne, South Bend and Evansville. The five-day outlook called for temperatures averaging 3 to 6 degrees below normal highs of 34 to 48 and normal lows of 19 to 30.

Six Cents

Residents Os City Vote On Utility Sale Referendum Date Is Set By Council For Tuesday, Feb. 24 Tuesday, February 24, the day before the sectional tourney opens, has been chosen for the city referendum to decide whether Decatur will keep or sell its electric power lines, the Decatur city council decided last night. The proposal to sell to IndianaMichigan includes both the distribution lines and the city steam and diesel plants. However, it is the city’s plan, even if the sale is rejected, to close down the steam plant and buy all power, except in case of emergency, from Indi-ana-Michigan. The question, then, is whether or not the city wishes to sell its distribution lines. The city has not yet announced what will be done with the money if the entire distribution and production system is sold. The election will be conducted according to state law on special elections, and only registered voters will be allowed to participate. V'.teis must be city residents, sir.ee it is the city which owns and operates the city utility. The city administration was authorized to take every step necessary to carry out the election, which will decide the fate of the city-owned utility. A number of articles by Mayor Robert D. Cole have explained why the city has brought up the question of sale of the city lines. At least one person opposed to the sale of the city lines has written a letter to the editor in rebuttal of the sale position. All persons interested in the sale are invited to write their opinions, in a factual manner, for publication in the People’s Voice. Articles not defamatory and signed will be published regardless ol their stand on the question. The city will certify the ordinance requiring the referendum to the election officials of the county, who will then set up the machinery necessary to carry through the election. There are 11 precincts in the city which will get to vote. The council voted unanimously to hold the election on the February date. Since the question of sale of the public utility crossed party lines, and was not a political issue, the election was not held at the same time as the fall general election or the spring primary. INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy with some rain or snow extreme north portion tonight. Thursday cloudy and turning much colder with rain or snow changing to snow north portion and showers changing to snow flurries south portion by Thursday night. Low tonight upper 20s extreme north to 30s central and south portions. High Thursday in the 30s. Sunset today 5:21 p. m. CDT. Sunrise Thursday 7:49 a. m. CDT. Outlook for Friday: Partly cloudy and much colder with snow flurries north. Lows Thursday night 5 to 10 north, 10 to 15 south. High Friday 15 to 20.

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