Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 34, Decatur, Adams County, 10 February 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVII. No. 34.

Tornado, Floods Wreak Havoc

Flash Floods Sweep Across Seven Counties United Press International Flash floods swept across a strip of seven counties in North Central Indiana today in an area splashed by three-inch rains which sent file Wabash River on a turbulent rise toward the highest stages in 16 years. Thunderstorms with strong winds raked areas farther south and caused at least one death; Eldo Wellemeyer, 37, R.R. 1 Huntingburg, was electrocuted this morning when he brushed or fell against a fence across which a 7,200-volt power line snapped by a windstorm had fallen on his farm near Holland. Many families were evacuated or faced the likelihood of having to move out to escape the rusMfig waters. The American Red Cross said it was making arrangements for emergency housing for 55 families at Huntington, 25 families at Marion, 100 persons at Logansport

112 Bills To Senate Monday

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD — A modern one-day record 112 bills were introduced in the Senate Monday as the filing deadline parsed h»*the Indiana Legislature. The total for the day was 24 greater than the number of bills introduced on the corresponding day of the 1957 session. It brought the total number of bills introduced in the Senate since the current session began to 428. Added to the 565 bills introduced in the House before its deadline ended Friday, it brought the total number of bills introduced during the 91st session of the General Assembly to 993. That was 36 more than were introduced during the 1957 session, but well under the record of 1,329 introduced during the 1913 session. Among Senate bills introduced were those to abolish the gross income tax and the poll tax, create an Indiana State Museum Commission and give it $1,850,000 to get initial work underway, require periodic inspection of motor vehicles as a prerequsite for getting a vehicle license, make license plate colors the same as those worn by the team which wins the state high school basketball championship, and increase the number of Indiana Appellate Court judges from six to eight. Stirs Up Debate Meanwhile, the House passed 10 bills, defeated one and advanced 19 others on their way toward passage. House Bill 91, which would create a department of inspection and enforcement within the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, stirred up a lively debate before it was defeated 33-59. The bill, co-authored by Reps. Robert E. Gramelspacher (D-Jas-per) and L. Parker Baker (RCicero), would assign one Indiana State Police trooper from each district to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to enforce license suspensions. Backed by the 1959 Legilative Study Commission on Traffic Safety, the measure was designed to save some of the 1,000plus lives lost annually in traffic accidents. , The House passed 88-1 a bill limiting the authority of state con-

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DRIVE-IN— The woman driving this car in San Diego, Calif., said her accelerator stuck, causing the car to swerve and skid, right into where she could get her problem solved. ;

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

and 12 families at Delphi. At Wabash, the Red Cross already was caring for some evacuees. Families were evacuated from flood-drenched homes over much of an area stretching from Lafayette northeastward to Huntington along the Wabash and its tribute ties. The Weather Bureau’s river experts predicted the stream would crest at levels “comparable to the 1943 flood crests,’’ when the Wabash reached 24.2 at Wabash. At Huntington, the Wabash stood at 19.6 at 7 a.m., highest level since 1943. Bluffton’s 3.85 inches of rainfall apparently led a parade of areas with more than two inches. The Wabash made a spectacular climb from 5 feet to 19 feet in 24 hours at Wabash. Families were evacuated from lowland homes in a flooded, rain- ' swept area/which included Tippecanoe, Cass, Carroll, Miami, Wabash and Huntington Counties. Electrical storms and strong winds raked some areas outside the flood zone. Temperatures soared to muggy highs in the 60s. The torrential rains spawned the state’s second round of flash floods in a month. Evansville’s 67 and Indianapolis’ 64 temperatures were the state's highs.

servation officers to confiscate property. H 8302 requires that game wardens give triplicate receipts for guns and other items taken from suspected law violators and provides that the property remain in the custody of the county sheriff, not the State Conservation Department, until disposition is made of the case. The House passed 89-0 a bill requiring applicants for small loan business licenses to deposit $25,000 in an Indiana bank. It also passed 86-0 a bill allowing counties to take over existing structures for county-operated hospitals, and 81-7 a measure permitting domestic life insurance companies to invest in Canadian real estate. Cowress Memorialized The senate received a joint resolution memorializing Congress not to increase the gasoline tax (SJRII) and another joint resolution (SJR9) commending all state institutions of higher learning and calling for public hearings concerning establishment of new extension centers to discourage duplication of educational programs. A bill (SB318) introduced in the Senate would require that all paid officers, except one, of Indiana fraternal insurance associations be. state residents for at least 15 years and another (58321) would allow issuance of restricted driving licenses to persons who have lost their license in cases where such loss works undue hardships on the person’s family. Under the measure, introduced by Sen. Jesse Dickinson (D-South Bend), no car could be on the road after Sept. 1 unless it had a certificate of inspection. Certain farm vehicles and trucks licensed by the PSC would be exempt. BULLETIN E. W. Busche, 85-year-old "Monroe - Washington township farmer and ' chairman of the board of ‘ the First State Bank, died at 2:10 o’clock this after* ; noon at the Adams county memorial hospital, where he had been a patient since Jan. 31.

Dr. N. A. Bixler Dies Monday Night Dr. N. A. Bixler, 74, Decatur optometrist, president of the Decatur library board, and trustee of the Indiana state optometry board, died at 9:15 p.m. Monday at St. John’s hospital in Anderson. Dr. Bixler suffered a heart attack at his home Feb. 4 and was taken to the Adams county memorial hospital, and then transferred the next day to Anderson. The son of David and Ann Luginbill ■ Bixler, Noah Albert Bixler was born May 5, 1884, in Berne, where his fattier was a jeweler. On July 9, 1916, he married Hanna Elnora Smith, who survives. Long recognized as an outstanding optometrist in . Indiana, Dr. Bixler was a past president of the Indiana board of optometry, and a life member of the American association of optometry. He was largely responsible for the founding of the school of optometry at Indiana university. A member of the Decatur library board for many years, he had served as president of the board during the present remodeling program. He was a charter member of the Decatur Lions club. Dr. Bixler was a member of the First Methodist church of Decatur, and a 32nd degree Mason. , Survivors in addition to Mrs. Bixler are two sons. Dr. David P. Bixler of Anderson and Frederick Bixler of Fort Wayne; a brother, Dr. Ermin D. Bixler, of Berne; three sisters, Mrs. A. C. Smith and Mrs. Esther Winteregg, of Berne, and Mrs. Laura Reider, of Hastings, Neb.; and four grandchildren. The body has been taken to the Gillig and Doan funeral home in Decatur, where friends may call after 2 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, and at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist church, the Rev. F. Hazen Sparks officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery.

Repealer Bill Clears Hurdle

INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — Six rebel Republicans deserted party ranks Monday and joined with the near-solid Democratic minority to lift the “right to work” repeal bill over its first major hurdle in the Indiana, Senate. , _ Hie showdown on the hottest issue in the current session came minutes after the upper chamber was gaveled to order by Lt. Gov. Crawford Parker, presiding officer in the Senate. Republican majority leader C. Wendell Martin (R-Indianapolis) requested a brief recess and Sen. George McDermott (R-Alexan-dria), chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, immediately announced that the committee would meet in a closed executive , session. When the Senate reconvened, McDermott offered a committee report on Senate Bill 100, a “right to work” repealer authored by Sen. Roy Conrad (R-Montieello). The majority report, signed by McDermott and five Republicans, recommended that the measure be indefinitely postponed. A minority report, signed by Conrad, Sen. Nelson Grills (D-Indianapo-lis) and Sen. Matthew Welsh (DVincennes), recommended that the bill receive a “do pass recommendation.” Roll Call Vote Asked Democrats then requested a roll call vote to determine whether the minority report should be substituted for the majority report. The showdown vote was 27-22 in favor of the minority recommendation. Joining with 21 Democrats were Republicans Conrad and Sens. Wesley Malone of Clinton, “Ruel Steele of Bedford, Howard Steele of Knox, Samuel McQueen of Brazil, and Robert Justice of Logansport. Five of the rebels were expected to vote for repeal of “right to work,”, but Justice’s action apparently came as a surprise. Two Democrats voted against their party. Sen. James Spurgeon (D-Brownstown) who voted for “right to work” in 1957, acted as expected in joining Republicans. He was joined by Sen. Earl Utterback (D-Kokomo). But Utterback later denied deserting his party and said he made a mistake when he cast his ballot.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, February 10, 1959.

Heavy Area Rainfall Plagues City, County

Three to five inches of rain Monday night, melting four inches of ice, flooded Decatur basements, washed out county roads, , inundated farms, and closed , highway 27 at At ten o'clock this morning ; numerous homes in Decatur were still isolated by deep water. South Fifth street, between Elm street and the railroad had about two feet of water over it; the entire area between Studebaker and Winchester street had* high water in most of the yards; Spencer and Schirmeyer street were covered; the intersection of Line and Elm street. Elm and Niblick streets, Bollman street, and Winchester street between Penn and Line streets were under water. Boat Ready Here An alumiiium boat, for rescue purposes, was held in readiness all day today, with a man to operate it, by the Adams county Red Cross chapter. Mrs. Wanda Oelberg, chapter execuitve secretary, stated that no one had called in yet for help, but that the Red Cross was ready when needed. The St. Mary’s river jumped nearly 17 feet at Decatur, as ice dams behind the city bridges backed water up to dangerous levels. The river was reported at 19.75 feet this morning, 21.55 at 12 noon, and still rising. This was six feet over the flood stage. The river was at 4.94 feet Monday, Louis Landrum, local weather observer, reported. At 8:30 this morning the river was about three feet from the arch on the Monroe street bridge. Lee Faurote’s crane, parked between Stratton Place and the river, had about two feet of the cab above water at noon today. The river overflowed Monroe street extended between Stratton Place and the Piqua road. The water was very deep throughout Bellmont Park, and covered high-

Sen. Martha Burnett (R-Indian-apolis) was not present and did not vote. Had the Senate accepted the majority report to indefinitely postpone consideration of the bill, it probably would have meant the end for repeal of "right to work” this session. Democrats Jubilant Democrats, jubilant over their success, then pushed through a • move to commit a House "right to work” repeal bill to a Senate ■ committee of the whole. Sen. S. Hugh Dillin (D-Peters- . burg), co-author of another repeal bill (SB1), made the initial move , to have House Bill 6 considered ' by a committee of the whole. The vote on that was 29-21. Utterback shifted back to the ' Democratic side and Conrad rejoined the Republicans. Also voting with the majority were Justice, Malone, McQueen, Ruel . . Steele, Howard Steele, and Morris Hall (R-MarionL ’ The move to force a showdown on HB6 apparently was intended to forestall passage of Conrad’s i ’ repeal bill since Conrad is a Re- ’ publican and Democrats are loath t to give the GOP credit for pas- . sage of repeal. If HB6 were passed in the Senate, it would go to the governor I for his signature. But if SBIOO is . passed in the upper chamber, it . still must be passed by the House. To further confuse the issue, . Parker voluntarily sent House Bill 66 to the committee of the whole. . H 866 is a watered down labor I “reform” measure. i — —H ‘ bulletin A crowd estimated at “more 1 than 500” swelled the entire 5 first floor of the court house at 2 o’clock this afternoon for . the hearing on a second tavern at Berne, and a beer and . wine license for Shannon’s res- . taurant, south of Decatur. At 2:15 it was reported that Shan1 non had withdrawn his request £ for a license. Shannon former- / ly operated the Blackstone » Case, which horned out early in January.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMB COUNTY

way 224 about 18 to 20 inches, forming an island with Stratton Place, the Community Center, and the water softener plant in the center. Wind Clears Fog A clear, cold wind, from the west at 10 a. m., scattered fog and clouds whjch covered the city early this morning and dumped the biggest load of water on the area of this winter. The Gas company had Decatur, Bluffton and Fort Wayne crews laboring to repair the line flow regulators which were knocked out by deep water. The lines were pumped dry, and rebuilt. Nearly every basement in Decatur had some water which leaked in from welVwindow casements, or even through the walls, as 3.06 inches of rain fell here. Adams Central Closed The Adams Central school was closed today, as high water made many of the side roads dangerous, and water in the heating tunnels under the school made it impossible to heat the large buildring. Monmouth and Pleasant Mills schools were also closed. All state highways in the county were blocked in places by high water. Highway 27 between Decatur and Monroe was open to the Monroe turnoff, but high water crossed the road in three or four places, including just south of the Gerald Strickler farm and another place one mile farther south. Coppess Comer Flooded At the west curve from the Monroe cutoff to Coppess Corners the state highway was clewed, and all traffic was routed through Monroe. Highway 124 east of Monroe was covered, and the area around Adams Central school was under water, including the highway at three places between MonrOe “and Coppess Corners. Coppess Corners itself was under about a foot of water. All the creeks in the area were running over brim-full. Borums run, just south of Decatur, was badly flooded, and nearly up to the highway. — The water was deep across highway 27 "at the David L. Schwartz farm and blacksmith shop about three miles south of Monroe. Worst spot on highway 27 between Decatur and Berne was at Seoul Honor Court Held Monday Night All 19 members of Boy Scout troop 62, sponsored by the Decatur Lions club, were advanced in rank at~ the court of honor held Monday night at the Decatur Youth and Community Center, and attended by the boys’ parents and members of the Decatur Lions club. Eddie Morgan, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Morgan, and junior assistant scoutmaster for the troop, was awarded the star badge by his father. Morgan then pinned a small replica of.the star badge on htemothqr D. L. Hawkins, senior patrol leader, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale L. Hawkins, also received the star award from his father, ‘and in turn pinned a replica of his badge on his mother. Herman H. Krueckeberg, council vice president, presented the badges to the fathers, And said a few words honoring the young men in their achievement. The court was called to order by Dick Heller, Jr., institutional representative for the troop. The three patrols marched in, gave the pledge of allegiance to the flag, and during a candle-lighting ceremony recited the scout laws. The Rev. Hazen Sparks, pastor of the First Methodist church, made the second class awards to 15 qualified tenderfoot scouts: Dick Anderson, John Auer, Kenny Birch, Lupe Briones, Barry Burnett, Allen Bender, Ralph Canales, Randy Clifton, Steve Gephart, Lynn Lehman, Dave Lengerich, Steve Sheets, Terry Seiger, Jack Stauffer .and Stpve Jacobs. Robert Auer and Zane Zwick received the first class scout award from Alva Lawson, chairman of the troop advancement committee. Following the ceremony the parents and boys enjoyed milk or coffee and doughnuts.

INDIANA WEATHER Showers and thunderstorms | north diminishing or ending, partly cloudy south this after- ■ noon. Partly cloudy and much colder tonight, some snow likely extreme north. Wednesday partly cloudy and colder. Low tonight 10 to 15 north to the low 20s extreme south. High , Wednesday 18 to 25 north, 25 to 32 south. Sunset today 6:15 p.m. c.d.t. Sunrise Wednesday 7:43 a.m. c.d.t. Outlook for I Thursday: Increasing cloudi- i ness and warmer with rain or < snow likely. Low Wednesday night sto 15. High Thursday < 25 to 35. the Blue Creek bridge near the « home of Mel Liechty. Deep water rushed across the road about 30 I inches deep, and highway depart- 1 ment workers warned motorists > that they crossed the bridge at 1 their own peril. Amish Rig Swamped An Amish rig driven by Benja- ,< min Eicher, and carrying a son * of Menno L. Schwartz as a pas- ’ senger, tried to drive through the ’ water there about 10:45 a.m. The water swamped the rig, carrying ] it east into the Blue Creek ditch, j and the young men had to swim j to safety. The horse, pulling the , light rig, swam on to the county 1 road. 1 Noah Mazelin, a resident of the 1 area for 54 years, stated that the flood was the worst there he had ever seen. This was just the sec- ' ond time in the 30 years that the highway has been paved that 27 was flooded there. More than five inches of rain fell on the Mazelin farm Monday night. On the county roads ice endangered many of the smaller bridges. A snow plow was used to remove ice from the road at Lewton’s and ice 18 inches deep . washed onto county road 27, which 1 runs north and south two miles east of highway 101 in Union township. County Roads Closed Many of the county roads were washed out, and nearly every one had one or more spots covered by high water. The county highway department put out all 45 of their high water signs, and then ran out. The Blue Creek stone quarry was closed this morning. The old covered bridge at Pleasant Mills was reported weakening and unsafe. Van Wert, 0., was reported in emergency condition, with all schools closed, and nearly 30 families evacuated. A heavy electrical storm accompanied by high winds struck the area early this morning. Water was three feet deep in the downtown area. Highway 33 between Rockford and Wellsburg, 0., was closed by the swollen St. Mary’s river. Ohio : was just recuperating from its 1 worst flood since 1913, and flood ■ relief was still underway in most 1 counties. The Wabash river between Berne 1 and Geneva was reported up again. Just two weeks ago the ' most severe flood to ever hit New Corydon, oh the Jefferson township ] line between Adams and Jay coun- , ties, took place.

Jobless Total Is Increased

WASHINGTON (UPI) — The government said today the number of jobless increased by 616,000 last month to 4,724,000. , The Commerce and Labor de- , partments also said in a joint report that employement fell 1,267,000 to 62,706,000 in January. Post-Christmas lay-offs of retail ’ store and postal workers and fur- * ther cut-backs in outboor work ac- ! counted for both changes, the re- : port said. It said job losses were , “about normal for this time of - year.” The drop in employment was r larger than the rise in unemploy- , ment because most of those perj sons leaving holiday season jobs : withdrew from ’the labor force in- , stead of seeking other work. The unemployment rate after seaional adjustments remained ’ virtually unchanged at 6per cent ’ of the labor force for the second ’ month in a row. This reflects a c slow-down in the rate of job recovery from recession lows, the report said. 1 Unemployment hit a post war 1 peak of 5,437,000 last June. Last • month’s jobless figure exceeded - the January, 1958, total by early -a quarter million, however. The report said that non-farm

More Than 20 Tornado Dead At St. Louis United Press International A tornado smashed into St. Louis before dawn Tuesday, killing more than a score of persons and injuring hundreds more. The twister erupted in a flurry of storm violence across the nation which Included freezing rain, heavy snows, severe thunderstorms, fog, floods and dust storms. Authorities reported at least 21 persons killed in the St. Louis tornado, which swooped out of a rain storm as the city slept. At least 300 persons were injured. Hardest hit was the city's central sectioh, only a mile from the downtown area. Police blocked off a 50-block-square area in the stricken section while searching ruins for more possible victims and persons trapped in debris. The St. Louis area also was hit by floodwaters, triggered by heavy rains. The northern St. Louis County Community of St. Ann was ■ inundated by floods from a rain-swollen creek. Water five feet deep swirled through some homes in the area. New Ohio Floods Heavy rains also hit Pennsylvania and at Meadville, hard hit by recent floods, a main highway was closed due to high water. Rain in the Pittsburgh area measured more than % inch in a 24-

Warns Against Foreign Aid Cut

WASHINGTON (UPI) — President Eisenhower warned the Democratic - controlled Congress today against cutting foreign aid to offset increased spending for domestic programs such as housing and airports. The President told a news conference that he could think of no policy that would be more de structive to America's best interests. He said the nation, gets the greatest possible return from foreign aid spending. He said that if the Democratic leaders of Congress had any idea of in effect using foreign aid funds to finance domestic programs, then statesmanship was beginning to sink to a very low level. In other topics covered at the news conference, the President: —Made clear that he is not alarmed by the current increase in unemployment. But he said not for one minute would he accept 4,700,00 unemployed as a satisfactory level. He expressed confidence that there will be a pick-up in employment later this year. —Sharply disputed arguments, advanced largely by Democrats, that federal spending on domestic programs should be stepped up in light of the faster growth of Russia’s economy.

employment including self - employed, domestic servants and unpaid family workers fell by 1,100,000 during the month to 58 million. Nearly all of this was accounted for by cut-backs in retail trade, post offices and construction work. Manufacturing employment fell by 130,000 from December to January to 15,626,000 with substantial lay-offs in food processing and lumber industries. Producers of electronic and generating equip--1 ment repeated a pick-up in the ’ number of jobs while- steel and ’ auto employment showed little 1 change. The number of workers unem- . ployed for 15 weeks or more rose i slightly to 1,375,000. About three- . fifths of this total were adult men, [ most of whom had worked in ! manufacturing industries before they were discharged. Average factory work - week dropped 24 minutes to 39.09 hours ■ in January because of a reduct tion in overtime. Weekly earn--1 Ings of the average factory work- ’ er dropped by 88 cents to $87.38 last month because of the shorter i work week. - . ' '' L... J* ...

Six Cenb

BULLETIN The St. Mary’s river con* tinned to rise this afternoon, and at 3 p.m. the city schools dismissed all pupils living across the St. Mary’s river; the city left one man at the sewage treatment plant, with food for several days, as the water completely closed in the plant; at the softener plant east of Decatur another man was left, and it was feared that the parking area between the Youth Centerand the softener would be washed but. The water was two feet deep at 3 p.m. across highway 224 by Stratton Place. hour period ended this morning. Flooding also hit northwestern Ohio for the second time this season in the wake of heavy rains. The Blanchard River climbed feet over flood stage at Findlay, Ohio, threatening downtown area residents. Three feet of water swamped the downtown section of Van Wert. To the north, weathermen issued a special bulletin warning of heavy snow from northern lowa and southern Minnesota across Wisconsin and into Michigan. Accumulations of four inches or more were expected, along with winds up to 40 miles an hour which could cause heavy drifting. Elsewhere around the country, the weather situation included:

Churches Planning Vacation Schools Committees ana boards of Christian education of local churches are planning vacation church schools for the months of May and June. In Decatur, the Presbyterian church will meet Tuesday, March 3, from 8:15-11 a.m. for an administration clinic. The Rev. Charles F. Bole, director of Christian education tor churches in Indiana, will serve as' leader. The clinic is sponsored by the Associated Churches of Decatur, but is open to all churches in die Adams county area. Discussion will center on planning for a daily vacation Bible schools finding leadership; financing the school; a daily program; supplies and equipment, and reaching toe children in nonchurched homes. Further information can be secured from Talmage Campbell. First Presbyterian church; Glenn Habegger, Church of toe Natarene, and the Rev. Benjamin G. Thomas, pastor of Bethany E.U.B. chureh, members of the committee. ™ Decatur Seniors To Visit State Capital Decatur high school seniors, 80 . strong, will travel by Greyhound . bus to Indianapolis next Monday 1 to tour the state capital and Other places 7of interest. Principal ■ Hugh J. Andrews and Deane T. I Dorwin will accompany toe pu- ■ pils as “guides.” The tentative itinerary, subI ject to weather condition chan- . ges, lists the departure at 6:30 1 a. m. from the high school build--1 ing with breakfast at Muncie, f 7:45 a. m., touring the state house - from 9:30 - 12, with free time in * Indianapolis from 12 -4 p. m. A i special group will view the opers ation of the I. U. Medical center from 12 - 2:30 p. m. The group - will leave from the state house » at 4 p. m. The second stop at - Muncie at 5:15 will be for sup- , per. Estimate* time ol arrival 1 in Decatur is 7:30 p. m. \ ! Transportation costs for each person will be $4.50, to be depost ited in the principal’s office not j later than Wednesday. The above . price does not include meals or . other individual expenses. Food - may be takne by those who do not’ J want to eat in restaurants. Lunch r in Indianapolis is left to the pupils’ discretion. -7