Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 59, Number 273, Decatur, Adams County, 20 November 1961 — Page 1

Vol. LIX. No. 273.

rf.L_ "ili- ' r ' ' J nMH Hk..f - - - - “ : Kx.' : -i '•'r’'’**" 1 ffl ' , . ,„ -Jy' |’?T* ' | ~ U '--M I i ?' FB ?;■• f'lW- "• "■ E •’' , y\U'^' , B .2 I ■l^bßßwu^ BVl / ■ * v BBUyf ■ * ” *■ »• /•> ' ■'Jg'TjP; *' X 'M : V*''■ B™<»'' s !’! THE CORNERSTONE IS IN— Warren Lehman, chai man of the board of trustees of the First Baptist church of Decatur, Chalmer Barkley, contractor, and Edward Lobsiger, trustee of the church, are shown immediately after laying in the cornerstone of the church’s new educational unit. The unit, located at the rear of the Baptist church, will fur nish new and larger quarters for the church s Christian education programs.

Lay Comerstone For Baptist Unit Amid the flurry of snow flakes, the First Baptist church of this city held ceremonies Sunday to lay the cornerstone for the new educational unit being constructed to the rear of the 1 present church edifice. Due to the inclement weather the ceremonies preceding the actual placing of the stone were , held in the sanctuary. Following the invocation by Don Sliger, deacon, and scripture reading by James J. Strickler, chairman of the board of Christian education, a few remarks were given by the pastor. Rev. Robert McQuaid, on the topic “Stones and the Stone.” In his remarks Rev. McQuaid reminded the sixty persons in attendance that the original use of a cornerstone was for the purpose of joining together the balance of the stones necessary in the construction of a building. Building methods have since changed and the cornerstone is now a symbol; a symbol of the unity that exists when a building is constructed. The entire group then took part in an impressive ceremony for the presentation of items to be placed in the cornerstone. A total of fourteen items are being sealed in a copper box, donated by Ashbauchers’ Tin Shop, and permanently placed in the cornerstone. Those presenting items were: program for the day; Mrs. Gerald Rumple, church clerk; church history and constitution, Mrs. Hugh Moyer, deaconess; church hymnal, Mrs. C. E. Bell, chairman music committee; copy of church newspaper, Allen Lehman, publicity chairman: list of charter members, Waldo Salway, membership committee; list of present membership, Mrs. Dovie D. Bedwell, membership committee; list of present boards and committees, Weldon Soldner, deacon; list of contributors to the building program, Bryce Daniels, church treasurer; list of teachers and officers of the church school, Lase Grimm, church school superintendent; list Verle Meshberger Dies This Morning Mrs. Verle Meshberger, 69, of Linn Grove, president and treasurer of Meshberger Bros. Stone Corp., died at 6:30 o’clock this morning at the Adams county memorial hospital, following an illness of six months. A lifelong resident of this community, she was born in Linn Grove Feb. 27, 1896, a daughter of Alonzo and Caroline Hoosier-Run-yon. She was married to Oscar Meshberger Sept. 12, 1936. Mrs. Meshberger became president and treasurer of the Meshberger Corp, after the death of her husband in 1950. She was a member of the Cal,vary Evangelical United Brethren church at Linn Grove. Surviving are one daughter. Miss Carolyn Sue Meshberger, at home, and one brother, John Runyon of Tonica, 111. Six brothers and one sister preceded her in death. Funeral services will be cont ducted at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Calvary Evangelical United Brethren church at Linn Grove, the Rev. George Holston officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery at Linn Grove. Friends may call at the Yager funeral home in Berne after 7 p.m. Tuesday until 9 a.m. Thursday.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ( ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY _

of building committee members, Mrs. Warren Lehman, publicity committee; and the Holy Bible, Rev. McQuaid. A tape recording made of the service has also been placed in the box. The balance of the ceremony was then moved out of doors to the site of the new building. Harold Baughn, vice chairman of the construction committee, presented a trowel to Chalmer Barkley, general contractor for the building. Barkley, Warren Lehman, chairman of the board of trustees, and Edward Lobsiger, trustee, placed the copper box with its contents and then laid the stone. The group adjourned •to the church basement for coffee following the benediction led by George Myers, deacon. Bluffton Man Killed In Crash Al Ossian By United Press International A patch of ice on the floor of a bridge touched off an accident that killed a motorist today in what apparently was Indiana’s first traffic fatality of the season blamed on winter weather. Hyram N. Tindall, 52, Bluffton, was injured fatally in the accident involving three cars on a bridge at the south edge of Ossian on Indiana 1. Tindall died at Lutheran hospital in Fort Wayne. Police said Tindall lost control of his car on an icy bridge. The car skidded across the center line and hit head-on a car driven by Wilbur Wallace, 39, Geneva. A third car driven by Phillip Dailey, 20, Craigville, skidded into the wreckage. Wallace was hurt, Dailey was not. Joseph H. Burger Is Taken By Death Joseph H. Burger, of lola, Kan., brother-in-law of Mrs. Charles E. Holthouse of Decatur, died at 1:30 p. m. Sunday at a hospital in lola after an extended illness. Mr. Burger had been highly active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge for many years, and served as state secretary of the Kansas I. O. O. F. xor 40 years until his retirement last year. He had also served as president of the national association of secretaries of the lodge. Mr. Burger had visited in Decatur on numerous occasions. Surviving are his wife, Ethel; two sons, Leo Burger of lola, and Louis Burger of Albuquerque N. M. Mr. and Mrs. Burger celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1957. Mrs. Holthoqse will leave Tuesday to attend funeral services which will be held at lola Wednesday. Derntar Temperatures Local weather data for the 48 hour period ending at 11 a.m. today. SATURDAY SUNDAY 12 noon 34 12 midnight .. 26 1 p m 34 1 a.m 25 2 p.m 34 2 a.m 25 3 p m 33 3 a.m 25 4 p m 32 4 a m 25 5 p.m 31 5 a.m 26 6 p.m 30 6 a.m 25 7 p m 2» 7 a.m 24 8 p.m 28 8 a.m 24 9 p.m 28 9 a.m 24 10 p.m. 27 10 a.m 26 11 p.m. 27 11 a.m 26 SUNDAY MONDAY 12 noon 26 12 'midnight .. 26 1 p.m. 27 1 a.m 26 2 p.m. 28 2 a.m. 25 3 p.m 28 3 a.m 25 4 p.m 26 4 a.m. 24 5 p.m 26 5 a.m 23 6 p.m 26 6 a m 22 " n m 26 7 a.m. .. 22 8 p.m. « 26 8 a.m 23 9 p.m 26 9 a.m 26 10 p.m. 26 10 am 30 11 p.m 26 11 a.m 32 Precipitation Total tor the 48 hour period ending at 7 am. today. .23 inches. The St. Mary's river was at 2.14 feet.

Presbyterian Church Selects New Pastor f fl ■Bk B ■ Rev. Elbert A. Smith, Jr. The Rev. Elbert A. Smith, Jr., pastor of the Flora Presbyterian church accepted a call’ Sunday from the First Presbyterian church of Decatur to serve as pastor. Rev. Smith and his family plan to move to Decatur between the 15th of December and the end of the year. The Smith family will reside in the former Engeler property, immediately east of the church, which is being remodeled by the church after its purchase as a manse. Rev. Smith, a graduate of Louisville Seminary, has been with the Flora church for six years. His original home was in New York state, and he received his A.B. from Centre College, Danville, Ky. Rev. and Mrs. Smith have three children, David 14, Margaret 9, and Jeffery, 6. Ordained to the ministry in May of 1948, Rev. Smith spent one year working in building and construction prior to his entrance to college. He is 38 years old. Successful Canvass In the meeting of the congregation following the candidate sermon by Rev. Smith, 110 communicant members were present to vote, and 110 votes were cast in the affirmative. The pulpit of the Presbyterian church has been filled by the Rev. lazlo Polyak of Fort Wayne since March 1 of this year, when the Rev. Harold J. Bond moved to Logansport. During Sunday afternoon, the men of the church conducted a successful every member canvass. The canvass was headed by Lynn McDougall, Jack Petrie and Gene Ziner. A reception for Rev. Smith and his family was held at the Presbyterian church from 10:30 to 11, in order that members of the congregation might meet and talk with him. The pulpit nominating committee of the church was headed by Wilbur Petrie, Earl Cass was vice chairman, Mrs. Martha Helhr, secretary, and Edwin Hagan, Scotty Martindill, Robert Gay, and John G. Heller, members. INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy tonight and Tuesday. Slightly higher daytime temperatures. Low tonight in the 20s north, 26 to 33 south. High Tuesday 36 to 44. Sunset today 5:26 p.m.. Sunrise Tuesday 7:36 a.m. Outlook for Wednesday: Increasing cloudiness and a little warmer with rain or snow likely by Wednesday night. Lows 30 to 38. Highs in the 40s except low 50s extreme south.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, November 20,1961.

11-Year-Old Girl Tells Os Horror On Sailboat, Abandoned By Skipper

Tourist Program Is Urged By Heller ■" -1

Ai retail business boom in Indiana, which would take much! tax pressure off presently oper«l ating businesses, is quite likely! if Hoosier business will get firmly behind a sound tourist program for the state, Dick D. Heller, Jr., chairman of the governor’s tourist council, told a meeting of the industrial division of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon today noon. 624 Billion Industry Each year in the United State?, tourists spend between $24 anti S3O billion dollars, he pointed out. Indiana, which ranks about 12th in manufacturing, is a poor 19th tourist attraction, and ranks last in the midwest. Approximately a quarter of a billion dollars a year in Indiana today comes from tourists, but this is less than half of the state’s legitimate share, he pointed out. Michigan last year received $39 million in taxes from its $650,000,000 tourist industry — and 1 was disappointed! What Indiana Has But, the skeptics rationalize, what does Indiana have to ”sell. compared with Michigan, Florida. New York, Chicago, or California? “Wouldn’t we be completely outclassed? “Not at all,” Heller showed. “Indiana has two things in its favor; first of all is its location the crossroads of" America. The Hoosier state is the center of a great population area, and tourists must pass through Indiana to get to the other areas. “Second, Indiana has the natural friendliness of its people, the ‘Hoosier hospitality’ which has been the sign of the state since stagecoach days. Parks and Sites “It has historical sites, which, as leisure time grows for Americans, is more and more absorbing the leisure interest of its citizens. Sites such as the Battle of Tippecanoe, old forts such as existed at Fort Wayne, pioneer homes, etc. “The fine lakes, fine state parks, the Ohio river, Lincoln country, the restoration of Madison, Ind., as it was in the ‘river days’ of the 1830’s, Santa Claus land, Buck Lake Ranch, all of these, if prop-

Gov. Rockefeller Joins Search

SAN FRANCISCO (UPD-New York Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller arrived in San Francisco early today en route to the South Pacific to join the search for his adventurous son, Michael, reported adrift in a native canoe off the coast of primitive Dutch New Guinea. The unshaven Republican leader appeared pale and worried as he stepped from a plane at San Francisco International Airport at 5:45 a.m. EST. “I doubt if I can help in the actual search,” Rockefeller said. “But we hope to find our son well and healthy.” He left immediately for a nearbe hotel for a few hours rest and time to plan the next leg of his journey. The governor said he had booked passage for his party of five on two flights—a Pan American World Airways flight leaving at 12 noon EST and a Qantas Airlines flight leaving at 11:30 p.m. EST. Rockefeller said he would decide later whether to take Pan American via Tokyo or fly directly to Australia via Qantas. Michael, 23, and at least one Dutch companion were last reported seen drifting out into the Arafura Sea off the swampty and forest - clogged south coast of Dutch New Guinea, a largely un-

, erly publicized, will attract large I numbers of people to stay over in I Indiana for a few days, even if Athey are headed somewhere else 'for the major part of their vacation. “For example, a dozen tourists a day throughout the year is comparable to a town attracting a new manufacturing industry with an annual payroll of SIOO,OOO. Adams County's Place? “Yes, all this sounds fine —- but just what couki it mean to an > average county, like Adams — one which does not think of itself as having any tourist attractions? “As long as the county itself feels this way, nothing, of course, will happen. No government agency is going to come in and lift us up by our bootstraps. We will have to take the action ourselves. “Just what do we have? First of all, we have three primary veins of transportation — highways 27, 33, and 224. Properly utilized, t they can provide us with jobs and businesses that will mean ah additional half a million dollars a year in retail sales profits and 'if? wages. “Envision this. Every man, woman, and child who drives the three main highways just mentioned- wonders just what the huge Central Soya silos are. Those of us who live here take them fobgranted. We know a little about them. Admit We Have It “But What if they were marked plainly, by large signs on the three approaches to town, telling about the history and founding of the company, how a small-town man, D. W. McMillen, with lots of person aI courage andeven more hard work, founded what is now the largest soybean operation in America? What if regular tours of certain areas of the plant were conducted for those who would like to visit the plant — as Kellogg does at Battle Creek, and as numerous others do? “What if the Mennonite church of Berne, one of the largest Mennonite structures in the world, were properly identified, and a short history of the church given, with an invitation to visit it? (Continued on Page Two)

explored land of former headhunting natives whom time has passed by. Caught in Currents A dispatch from Hollandia, capital of the Dutch colony, said Rockefeller and “some Dutch companions” were believed to have been caught in treacherous currents and swept out to sea while descending the Eilanden River in a native boat. Sources at The Hague, the Netherlands, said reports received through official channels from the colony listed two unidentified Dutchmen as with young Rockefeler. Gov. Rockefeller said he was told only one man accompanied his son. * Unmarried and the youngest of the five Rockefeller children, Michael had stayed behind when a Harvard University expedition he had accompanied returned home in September. He had wanted to explore and collect native artwork. Dutch naval and air units were immediately ordered into the search for the heir to the Rockefeller oil, real estate and banking fortune. ’ Gov. Rockefeller* was in seclusion at his estate near Tarrytown, N.Y., following the announcement of his impending di(Continued on Page Two)

MIAMI (UPD—Terry Jo Duperrault said she saw her mother and brother lying in a pool of blood on the ■floor of the cabin of the sailboat Bluebelle before it sank, the Coast Guard revealed today. The 11-year-old child, only one surviving the sinking of the Bluebelle after the suicide of its skipper Julian A. Harvey, said that Harvey abandoned her on the 60foot ketch with the rest of her family arid his own wife. The story told by- the girl was revealed at a news conference by Coast Guard Captain R. F. Barber. Terry Jo talked to Coast Guard investigators Sunday in her hospital room. The Bluebelle sank Nov. 12. A day later Harvey, 45, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and seafaring adventurer, was picked up by a tanker which spotted him in a dinghy. Three days later Terry Jo was found in the life raft and the next day Harvey killed himself in a Miami motel, slashing his wrist and throat with a razor. Harvey said the Bluebelle had caught fire and sunk and he was unable to save any of the others. But Barber today gave the story of the little girl, the only one of the five members of the family of John Duperrault of Green Bay, Wis., to survive. Did Not Detect Fire The girl said positively that she did not see or smell any fire at any time, Barber revealed today. Terry Jo said ehe was sleeping on the Bluebelle Sunday night when she was “awakened by screaming, stamping, running noises,” Barber said. She said she got up, went to the central cabin where , she saw her mother and brother lying on the floor. “She saw a great deal of blood alls over,” Barber said. “The girl made her way up the stairs and said she noticed blood on the deck. She said she noticed nobody was steering the boat,” Barber said. “She said she saw Harvey coming toward her with something in his hand which she thought was a pail or a bucket. He said to her in an angry voice ‘Get down there, and pushed or shoved her down stairs. “She said she heard sloshing noises and thought the captain might be washing off the deck.” A short time later the captain came into her room with something in his hand which she thinks could have been a rifle. She said she knew there was. a rifle on board. The girl said she heard “hammering or bumping” on the ship. She said the water was rising in the cabin and when it reached the level of her mattress, she got up and climbed the stairway again in

Christmas Savings Checks Are Mailed Checks totaling $161,216.50 were received today by the 2,106 members of the Christmas savings club of the First State Bank of Decatur, who have made weekly payments into the club for 50 weeks during the past year. The total in payments and the membership are approximately the same as in the previous year, Herman H. Krueckeberg, cashier, announced this morning. People usually spend about 32 per cent of their savings club funds for Christmas purchases, about 30 per cent go into permanent savings, 20 per cent for taxes and insurance payments, five per cent for year-end Mils, and the balance for miscellaneous spending. This is the 51st year of Christmas savings in the United States. In the beginning, there were fewer than 100 banks participating, which averaged less than S2O per member. Today more than SB,OOO banks participate, with the average well over SIOO per member. New Christmas savings accounts are now open at the First State Bank, and will run for 50 weeks. The plan offers weekly payments of 25 cents, 50 cents, sl, $2, $3, 5 and $lO.

the main deck. Confirms Boat' Sinking “She noticed the 10-foot dinghy in the water alongside and she thought it was tied to the Bluebelle. She saw Harvey and asked him, ‘ls the boat sinking.’ He replied ‘Yes.’ ” The girl said the mainmast was somewhat tipped or slanting but that it was not broken. Harvey had said the mast crashed down and pierced the hull and that the fire started when he I turned on the auxiliary engine. The girl said she had not seen her father, her sister, Rene, 7, or Mrs. Mary Dene Harvey, 34. the three-month bride of the skipper, at any time after she was Optimist Club To Meet On Wednesday The group of Decatur men interested In forming a Decatur Optimist club will meet at the Fairway Restaurant at 7 a. m. Wednesday. Past attenders of the meetings and any men interested in attending are to note that both the time and the day have been changed. The time was changed as a conveninece to some men who might be interested in attending, but who had to be at work before B:3o.Thursday has been the usual meeting date, but it was changed to Wednesday this week because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Advertising Index Advertiser Page Adams Theater 3 Burk Elevator Co. -■ 5 Cowens Insurance Agency ——7 Decatur-Kocher Lumber, Inc. — 5 Evans Sales & Service, Inc. .. 5 Flex-O-Glass — 2 Fairway Restaurant 3,7 Dr. H. R. Frey — 5 Gerber’s Super Dollar Market — 8 Gilbert Chocolate Co. 7 Holthouse Drug Co. 3, 4 Charles Hoffman 5 International College 2 Kohne Drug Store Kroger -—-— 6 Kelly Dry Cleaning ....3 Myers Cleaners 2 National Tea Co., Inc. 4 L. Smith Insurance Agency. Inc. 5 Smith Drug Co 2, 6 Sherman Hotel 7 J. F. Sanmann, Auctioneer —— 5 Teeple Truck Line ... 5 Villa Lanes 3

Gary Bank Is Robbed Today

GARY, Ind. (UPD—Three men posing as a policeman and his handcuffed prisoners tricked their way into a bank manager’s home, then forced him to help loot the bank of $60,000 today. The gunmen held Robert L. Welke, 43, his wife, and their 3yearold child prisoner through the night at their home. At daybreak, 12 hours after the ordeal began, they tied up Mrs. Welke and the child. Then they forced Welke to drive to the Glen Park branch of the Gary Trust & Savings Bank, open the doors, and let them in. 'Hie thieves scooped up all the night depository bags. They handcuffed Welke to a basement pipe and escaped in his car. Welke said the bandits came to his home at 8 o’clock Sunday night. Two of them were handcuffed together and the third told Welke he was a policeman. He said he had caught the two men loitering near the Glen Park bank and asked if Welke could identify them. As soon as Welke invited the "policeman” inside, the bandits took the handcuffs off his companions and told the family they were prisoners. Welke said he begged his wife not to scream or sound an alarm. He put his child in bed with a stack of books to keep the young-

SEVEN CENTS

James H. Kortenber Council Candidate James H. Kortenber James H. Kortenber, 34, 349 Mercer avenue, filed his application for the vacated city council position today with city clerktreasurer Laura Bosse. Kortenber is the third person to file for the position vacated by Frank Braun, who, resigned recently due to illness. Also filing for the job were Bernard Clark and Morton Railing. Kortenber is a native of Decatur, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Kortenber. Mr. Kortenber was a lifelong fire department employe until his death irf 1948. Mrs. Kortenber now resides in Fort Wayne. After graduating from Decatur Catholic high school, Kortenber received further training in electronics at DeForrest Training in Chicago. He is married to the former Jeanne Holthaus of Fort Wayne, and the couple have six children. Kortenber is presently employed by Haugk’s Plumbing and Heating, of Decatur, a position he has held for almost five years. Braun’s successor will be named at a special meeting ot the four city councilmen Tuesday evening. The newly named councilman-at-large will take the office immediately, and serve the two years remaining of Braun's term.

ster occupied. The wife and child were found unharmed after the robbery. Welke told authorities that the gunmen washed and shaved at his home before they ordered him to take them to the bank and open it. The Welke car was found three blocks from the bank. Witnesses said they saw two men leaving the car and entering another which drove away. Welke told authorities the three men got into his house on a ruse. He said they came to the door about 8 p.m. CST Sunday. One posed as a policeman. He showed Welke that the other two intruders were handcuffed together and told Welke he caught the two loitering in a suspicious manner around Welke’s bank. Welke said the “policeman” told him he brought the men to the banker’s house in the hope he could identify them. Welke invited them inside, and when they had entered the “policeman” took the cuffs off his accomplices and informed the Welkes of their plans. Welke said he begged his wife not to scream or sound an alarm. He said he put his youngster to bed with a stack of books to keethe child occupied. When the gunmen left with Welke about 12 hours later, they tied up Mrs. Welke and the child but did not otherwise harm them.