Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 244, Decatur, Adams County, 16 October 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVII. No. 244.

Three Airmen Dead In f * ■ Crash, Five Missing; Bomb Is Found Intact

HARDINSBURG, Ky. (UPI) - Air Force recovery crews today found intact a top-secret nuclear bomb which plummeted into lonely southwestern Kentucky when the 852 jet bomber carrying it crashed into a fuel tanker plane. The collision and subsequent fuel explosion Thursday night failed to trigger or even break open the bomb. The Air Force said there was no dangerAn Air Force spokesman in Washington said the weapon was found intact this morning following a search of the wreckagestrewn countryside. Presumably, he said, it would be removed from the area at once. Had tbe weapon been broken apart by the impact there might have been limited radiation danger as occurred in a crash Ft Florence, S.C., last year, the spokesman said. But the weapon came intact through a conventional explosion that set off flames visible 100 miles away. At least three airmen died in the Bs2’s collision with a fuelfilled KCI3S tanker. Five were reported missing. Four survivors had been found. The Air Force said the bomb carried by the Mississippi-based 852 did not explode, and could not. No Explosion Danger The giant eight-jet Stratofortress and its KCI3S jet tanker, both from the Strategic Air Command base at Columbus, Miss.,collided while refueling over north central Kentucky at 7:45 c.d.t. Thursday night, with an explosion that was seen for more than 100 miles in all directions. The Air Force said that in spite of the tremendous flash which lit the sky, there was no nuclear explosion and that there was no

Union Scales Down Demand

WASHINGTON (UPI) — Union and management negotiators resumed steel contract talks today. They discussed a scaled-down union wage demand designed to settle the 94-day strike. The revised union proposal raised hopes of agreements to end the longest steel strike in the nation’s history. R. Conrad Cooper, chief management negotiator, led his fourman bargaining team into the hotel suite of steelworkers’ President David J. McDonald at 9=55 a.m. c.d.t., five minutes before the scheduled hour to renew talks. McDonald declined to comment on the new union proposal. He posed for photographs with Cooper for about five minutes before bargaining began. Cooper reiterated that he knew nothing about the pared-down union peace offer. As the talks got underway. President Elsenhower was described as gratified at the resumption of negotiations. First Since Oct. 6 Associate White House press secretary Anne Wheaton was asked the President’s reaction to the renewed talks. “Naturally he is gratified at anything that indicates some progress,” Mrs- Wheaton said. The resumption of talks marked the first direct union-management negotiations since both parties broke off bargaining Oct. 6. Both sides had agreed Thursday to go back to the bargaining table at the urgent suggestion of Prof. George W. Taylor, chairman of President Eisenhower’s fact-find-ing board. McDonald declined to comment on the reports that the union has made a new package offer to the companies. Edgar Kaiser, head of Kaiser Industries, issued a special statement which said his company “has no written or verbal agreement or any commitment to enter into an agreement” with the union. Reliable sources said the union pared down its wage demands by a considerable amount in its latest peace offer. It was said to be a two-year proposal calling for much less than the 30-cent package the Steelworkers previously have insisted on in a two-year pact.

DECATUR DAIIT DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

danger of oneThe planes fell about four miles apart in low wooded hill country of the Rough River Dam area about 20 miles south of here, some 75 miles southwest of Louisville. Four members of the bomber crew were picked up alive and apparently not seriously injured shortly after the crash. TTiey were taken to an Army hospital at Ft. Knox, 30 miles east. No interviews with them were permitted. Seven Listed Missing At least three charred bodies of crewmen have been found, one of them identified at the Columbus base as S-Sgt. Paul E. Thomasson, 27, Lancaster, S.C., tailboom operator on the tanker. Seven crewmen, apparently including the two unidentified dead, were listed as “missing.” Although Air Force officials stated there was no danger of an atomic explosion from the weapon carried by the bomber, it was obvious that a nuclear warhead containing radioactive material lay somewhere in the area and could be dangerous to any unauthorized persons who might come across it. In addition, of course, there was the necessity of protecting the secrecy of the weapon. Seal Off Area Military ipolice from Ft. Knox sealed off the few back roads to the area shortly after the crash, as hundreds of would-be sightseers attracted by the huge light in the sky rushed to the scene. Newspaper and radio station switchboards in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois were swamped with calls. The collision occurred on a brightly moonlight night and the search proceeded this morning in crisp blue autumn weather.

The sources said the union is now asking about a 20-cent wage and benefit package spread over a two-year period. There was no immediate reaction from industry sources. Chief Management Negotiator R. Conrad Cooper declared: "It’s news to me.” Both sides agreed to resume bargaining late Thursday after George W. Taylor, chairman of the fact-finding panel, appealed to them to act “pronto.” Taylor planned to stay away from the talks and concentrate on writing a report to the President with the aid of his fellow board members, Paul Lehoczky and John A. Perkins. Injunction Now Unlikely Once he gets the report, the Chief Executive may seek a court order directing the 500,000 strikers to return to work for 80 days But use of a court order seemed less likely today in light of the stepped-up pace of backstage developments typical of presettlement maneuvering. Informed sources said the union trimmed its request in talks with Kaiser in a last-ditch bid to end the walkout. Management as late as Thursday stood firm on its offer of a 15-cent boost in wage and benefit payments over two years. The Kaiser firm is one of the 12 steelmakers who have failed to reach agreement with the union in more than five months of negotiations. Taylor set the stage for progress Thursday by outlining what he termed the “roadblock” issues preventing a deal. The outspoken fact-finder, a veteran umpire of major labor-man-agement squabbling, urged management to reconsider its 2 per cent ceiling on wage offers this year. He said it also should take account of human factors and possible layoffs resulting from its suggested changes in work rules. This added up to a strong hint to Cooper and his associates to be more flexible in bargaining'. Taylor, who said he feltthe union’s wage demands were negotiable, warned that the government might have to impose settlement terms if the parties failed.

U.S.O. Fills Vital Need In Peacetime

With the accent of world tensnions on a cold-war basis, one of the agencies of the Decatur Community Fund seems to get lost in the proverbial shuffle. But, the U.S.O. continues to carry on its work to make life a little more liveable for boys serving their country away from home. For those who served in World War I and II and also the Korean "police action," they came to know, first hand, the relative worth of the United States Organization. When top flight entertainers from the world of show business brought entertaining shows almost up to the fighting fronts, it was through the efforts of the U.S.O. Still In Operation Well, contrary to popular belief, this organization does not sit around waiting for shooting wars to extend its services to the peacetime soldier, sailor, marine, or airman. Hardly. With its volunteer workers, the U.S.O. still maintains clubs throughout the country and overseas for American servicemen. The club provides a relief from a khaki drab existence at the base or at the camp or aboard ship by offsetting the monotony of “routine training missions,” "camp alerts,” and practice night drills. It accomplishes this by giving the boys a little something of home. The volunteer workers are usually mothers and sisters of boys who are also serving their country at other stations away from home. While Decatur has no U.S.O. center, Decatur servicemen benefit from the organization near his camp. A few of the services the boys can get at the center are writing paper, refreshments (usually home made cookies or cake along with milk or coffee (, record players with a library of good records, lounge chairs to rest in after Annual Fire Clinic Is Held At G.E. Plant volunteer firemen at the Decatur General Electric plant wound up their annual three-day study period with some vigorous practice in extinguishing various types of fires. Under the direction of Ray Shackley, plant protection specialist, and Ray Weick, plant protection head at the Taylor street G. E. in Fort Wayne, the volunteers learned the use of hose and dry chemical methods of extinguishing. The three-day course, under the direction of J. Clark Mayclin, supervisor of plant facilities, also furnished intensive class work on fire safety and prevention, fire fighting tactics and ,the various types of fires an industrial plant could expect. Mayclin pointed out that statistics show the worker in the Decatur plant is six times safer at work than in the average home. A large part of this safety is brought about by the continuous efforts of the volunteer firemen. The annual fire clinic is held in the fall in connection with national fire prevention week. It is also a good time to encourage fire safety generally, as the starting of furnaces and burning leaves make it die most hazardous time of the year for fires. The two fire extinguishing sessions were held on the company parking lot. The first session at 1:30 was for the night shift volunteers, and the day shift session was at 3:30. The men worked on oil fires, propane and gas fires, and sulfur blazes. Some of the fires were pan-fires, simulating a floor oil fire, and others were stacked-barrel fires to show how to best extinguish a fire in an out-of-the-way place. The training sessions, which the men attended on their off-work time, wound up with a steak dinner in the plant cafeteria. The city fire department and volunteer firemen were the guests of the G. E. firemen, and representatives of the

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, Oct. 16,1959.

a busy day at camp, but the most important thing, is a kind word from the civilian workers. Many of the U.S.O. directors are schooled in counseling of some sort and will gladly listen to the problems or assist the youth overcoming his first bit of homesickness. Public Lethangic The U.S.O.'s greatest obstacle for obtaining funds is the lethargy the general public builds up towards the unit in peacetime. This is not a directed effort, but a natural one when one considers the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind.” The need for funds for this group, however, remains in peace or war. The battle of national defense is still the biggest item on the national budget and the biggest item in this defense, even with intercontinental ballistic missiles, rockets, and what have you. is old G.I. Joe. The guy who presses all these buttons that makes modern warfare so slick, the guy who repairs the electronic components of the missiles, or the guy who feeds all these other guys is the one who still has recourse to the U.S.O. Russia certainly isn’t forgetting about the American soldier in her plan for world domination, should the American public forget him? INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy, colder north and central tonight. Saturday partly cloudy and colder. Low tonight near 38 to 43 northwest, 42 to 45 southeast. High Saturday 50s north to low 60s extreme south. Sunset today 5:05 p.m. CST., 6:05 p.m. CDT. Sunrise Saturday 5:57 a. m. CST., 6:57 a.m. CDT. Outlook for Sunday: Fair to partly cloudy and cool. Lows 30 to 38. Highs 50 to 60. city police were also on hand. After the dinner, Mayclin and Shackley took the guests on a tour of the plant. Improvements in fire safety were pointed out throughout the plant The city firemen were also refreshed on the location of fire hydrants, overhead sprinkler valves, hose locations and fire lanes throughout the plant. Dedicate New Hall At Indiana State TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (UPD — Indiana State Teachers College will dedicate its new $1,500,000 womens residence hall Sunday afternoon. The six-story building, open since Sept. 13 t will be named Burford Hall in honor of Mrs. Charlotte S. Burford, who served as de in of women from 1910 to 1946.

Gigantic Fire Is Raging Unchecked

LOS ANGELES (UPD — A gigantic brush fire raged unchecked in the Los Angeles foothills today and there was no immediate hope of bringing it under control. About 30 to 40 homes were within less than a mile of the blaze and in peril. Several hundred other homes were in potential danger. An estimated 80 persons were forced to spend the night away from their threatened homes in the big Tujunga Canyon in the flareup area. Other residents were warned to be ready to flee at any time. The wind - whipped fire has burned an ugly black scar of 7,200 acres of valuable watershed in the foothills about 20 miles northeast of here since erupting Tuesday afternoon. More than 2,000 men were massed against the crackling

Safety Talk Given At Rotary Meeting Sgt. William E. Hunter, of the safety education section of the Indiana state police, told Decatur Rotarians Thursday night at the Decatur Youth and Community Center, that 43% of Indiana vehicular deaths occur in survivable collisions. He outlined the history of crash injury research and showed slides to prove his safety suggestions. Dr. Wm. Freeby introduced the speaker. Hunter pointed out that the use of the word “accident” itself is not really correct since by definition it refers to something “over which we have no control. Actually we can prevent most accidents. Less than 3% of these accidents can be blamed on mechanical failure. The other 97% must be blamed on people and their mistakes.” The crash injury program was begun in 1949 under the direction of Sgt. Elmer Paul, to determine why and how people get hurt. Sgt. Paul talked to auto manufacturers and they in turn interested Cornell University which had been doing research in aircraft crash injuries. The auto makers contributed funds to continue the research and in 1952 the first data of the study was released. The following items were suggested because of their proven value in preventing injury: safety door catches, cushioned instrument *panel, recessed steering wheels, and seat belts. There are now 14 state police departments cooperating in the study and more and more data is being accumulated, but the original suggestions have only been further confirmed. Hunter said that Ford’s advertising on a safety theme was not popular and was soon abandoned He urged that small children ride in the back seat. Seat belts must be worn to give protection and he showed pictures of crash cars with seat belts available but not used, when they could have saved a life. President H. P. Schmitt, Jr., announced that there would be no Rotary meeting next Thursday evening so< that members could participate in the annual ruralurban fish fry at the Decatur high school gym. Savings Bond Sales Show Big Decrease INDIANAPOLIS (UPD — U. S. Savings Bonds sales in Indiana during September totaled only $8,435,903, a drop of 29.7 per cent from the $12,002,381 sold in the same month of 1958. State headquarters said despite the big drop, 15 of the 92 counties reported sales increases. Officials blamed the drop on unemployment resulting from strikes and “the uncertain y that existed for several weeks over the future of bond yields.”

blaze feeding on thick undergrowth, scrub oak and pine trees. Perimeter of the giant blaze was estimated at 40 miles. Another, less serious but potential dangerous, brush fire erupted Thursday afternoon in Topanga Canyon near Malibu, some 40 miles or more southwest of the foothill blaze in the Angeles National Forest. It has burned 250 acres but was no immediate threat to homesBULLETIN BOSTON (UPD—Three persons were shot, one believed fatally, on the steps of Suffolk County courthouse today in the aftermath of a divorce case. Police said a man shot his exwife and her lawyer and turned the gun on himself in a wild shooting spree that sent noonday pedestrians scurrying for

■* ■ KT j[ J . “ "" W‘ :i W > * • a *® Z2E— -ZjT .■■■■ ■ r 3? ‘ ... NEW SOUTHEAST SCHOOL— Above is pictured the architect’s drawing of the new Decatur Southeast school, which was given its first public showing Thursday evening at the meeting of the Lincoln school parent-teachers association meeting.

The first public showing of the architect's drawing of the new Southeast school building was one of the features of the Lincoln school P. T. A. meeting Thursday evening. The picture and floor plans were unveiled by Supt. W. Guy Brown. The first meeting of the year of the P.T.A. group was opened by Judge Myles F. Parrish, retiring president. The Rev. B. G. Thomas, pastor of the Bethany Evangelical United Brethren church gave the invocation and Mrs. Emmett Anderson read Jhe P.T.A. meditation. Mrs. Al Geimer was installed as the new president of the organization by Judge Parrish. Mrs. Geimer was recently elected in a special election, following the resignation of Rev. Carroll Myers, who was transferred from the city. In the business session Mrs. Paul Wolfe, secretary, gave a report on the auction sale held in August. The sale was sponsored jointly by the Lincoln and Northwest P.T.A. groups. It was also announced that both groups had decided not to stage the annual

Two Hoosiers Among Missing In Air Crash COLUMBUS, Miss. <UPD — A Columbus Air Force Base spokesman today identified one of the dead and four survivors of the crash at Hardinsburg, Ky., following collision of a 852 bomber and KCI3S tanker, both Strategic Air Command planes from the base here. Identified as killed in the crash Thursday was the refueling boom operator of the tanker, S. Sgt. Paul E. Thomasson, 27, Lancaster, S. C. The spokesman said Thomasson is survived by his widow, Mary E. Thomasson and an 8-year-old son, Robert. Listed as missing were: Ist Lt. John W. Mosby, 28, 852 navigator, Petersburg, Ind. T.Sgt. Howard L. Nelms, 27, tail gunner of the 852, Fort Worth, Tex. Capt. Lyle T. Burgess, 31, 852 instructor - navigator, Winamac, Ind. Maj. Robert H. Imhoff, 44, KC--135 commander, Owosso, Mich. Ist Lt. William E. Epling. 26, KCI3S co-pilot, Lake City, Fla. Ist Lt. Harold E. Helmick, 25, navigator of the KCI3S, Morgantown, W. Va. Survivors of the crash included: Capt. William G. GuchaU, 35, commander of the 852, presently living in Aberdeen, Miss., a native of Elizabethtown, Pa. Capt. James W. Strother. 40, radar operator of the 852, Pineville, La. Ist Lt. Geno Fugazzi. 24, electronic warfare officer of the 852, of New York City. Maj. Milton E. Chatham, 38, instructor pilot of the 852, Ennis, G.O.P. Headquarters Will Open Saturday The Republican city headquarters will formally open Saturday at 7 p.m. with all the candidates being present at a “meet the public meeting at the campaign headquarters at 234 N. Second street. The office formerly housed the Kool Vent agency. City chairman, John Doan, in announcing the opening, said today that all the speeches will be of a brief duration as the first meeting will serve as an introduction of the candidates to the voting public. Doan added that the headquarters will remain open every night from now until the Nov. 3 election date. The public is invited to ask any questions of the candidates and spend as much time as wanted in getting acquain-

fall festival this year due to regulations of the board of health. Mrs. D. Burdette Custer was introduced and described the various benefits and activities of the girl scout organizations. She made a plea for volunteers to assist in the scouting program for the coming year. Brown,, in his talk, explained the 10-year plan accepted by the school board in 1954. At that time plans were made for schools to be erected in the north and south part of the city and to remodel the Lincoln school. The new school, now under construction, is scheduled to be ready for the start of school in September, 1960. The new building will have class rooms for kindergarten through the sixth grad eand an all-purpose assembly room. Located on Grant street, there will also be entrances from Mcßarnes and Bollman streets. Additional rooms will be added to this structure when necessary. Brown explained that the school building is being financed from

School Study Group Named

The nine-man .study committee nominations received approval this morning from Judge Myles F. Parrish when he named the members of the Adams county study committee, which will survey the facilities and suggest the needed improvements in county schools to bring the system to peak operation. They will be sworn In Saturday morning at 10 o’clock at the court room and then will be charged to initiate their study of existing conditions. Judge Parrish emphasized that each of the eight active school districts in the county has representation on this commitee, including county school superintendent Gail Grabill. Committee Named The committee is; Elmer Dale Johnson, a lay representative from Jefferson township; Eugene Burry of Hartford township, the board of trustees nominee; Harold Schwartz of Adams Central, the school board member; R. H. Everett, a lay member from Pleasant Mills; Luther Yager, of Berne-French, another lay member; L. A. Mann, of the Geneva school district at Wabash township, another lay member; W. Guy Brown, of Decatur, the representative of the superintendents and principals; August Selking, of the Monmouth school district, a lay member, and Gail Grabill, who serves by virtue of his office as county school superintendent. The group received vertification of their appointments today and* will meet for the first time as an official unit Saturday for swearing in purposes. Minimum Standards Received The group received the first of the minimum standards from the Three Persons Die In Indiana Traffic United Press International At least three persons died Thursday as the result of Hoosier traffic accidents including an elderly Carlisle dentist and a young Fairmount man. Charles Smith, 20, Fair mount, died when his auto went out of control while passing a truck on Ind. 9 near Marion and smashed into a tree. A car-train accident killed Dr. Grover Clayton, 72, Carlisle, Thursday. State police said Clayton’s auto was struck by a Chicago & Eastern Illinois freight train at a Sullivan County road crossing near Sullivan. Earlier Thursday, Madeline Durbin. 18, Indianapolis, died, in Robert Long hospital of injuries sustained in a traffic accident

funds already available in the cumulative building fund and that no bonds or tax levy is necessary. Contracts for the school constructioin totaling $324,240 were recently awarded by the school board to the Bultemeier Construe- . tion Co., Haugks Heating & Plumbing, both of Decatur, and McKay Electric of Fort Wayne. his discussion. Brown stated that next year the Lincoln school will be used for kindergarten through the eighth grade. At the present time there are two fifth grade classes and the eighth grade classes in the high school building. Following Brown’s talk, Rev. Thomas gaW the benediction and the meeting was adjourned. Refreshments were served by mem- . bers of the hospitality committee. The next meeting of the PT A. will be Thursday, November 19, and entertainment will be furnished by the mother singers. Mrs. Kenneth N. Singleton was program chairman of last evening’s program.

I state commission earlier this week 1 and more data is forthcoming. The group will also attend regional meetings later in November ta learn how to conduct the survey in a comprehensive manner. These regional confabs will serve as guidelines for all county study groups. On the question of vacancies on the committee, should one occur, the judge hopes that the commit-, tee members will replace any member with a person from the same school district, although it need not accdrding to law. Name To Remain On Ballots At Berne The name of Edgar Lehman will apparently remain on the Berne city election ballot despite belief by the Republican party officials there that their candidate for the southwest ward councilman post, Fred Kirsch, is an autuomatic shoo-in. County clerk 'Richard D. Lewton returned from a meeting with the state election board Thursday after jou r neying to Indianapolis to get a ruling on the situation in Berne. The confusion started when the Berne newspaper stated that “Kirsc"> war in” in reference to the election when Lehman announced he was moving to Florida to accept a job there. But. Lewton learned yesterday that unless the Democratic party officials petition that Lehman's name be removed or replaced, it will remain on the ballot as the county clerk has no authority to alter the ballot without official sanction. If a petition is filed it will be referred to the county election board for possible action. Lewton said. Lewton conferred with Edwin Steers, Sr., a member of the state election board, all day Thursday to gain the information concerning the controversy. Although Lehman indicated he would accept the job in Florida, he has applied for an absentee ballot. as has his wife. Should he be elected, it is not known whether or riot he would return to accept the position. He would have until Jan. 1, 1960 to determine his choice. Three Persons Killed In Japanese Blast FUJIDA. Japan (UPD — Three persons were killed and another seriously injured in an explosion in a fireworks factory in .this town 75 miles southwest of Tokyo Thursday.

Six Cents