Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 60, Number 131, Decatur, Adams County, 4 June 1962 — Page 1

VOL. LX NO. 131.

130 Persons Killed As ■ ■ ■ Air France Jetliner In Crash; 121 Americans

Atlanta Is Stunned By Airliner Crash

B, a. D. QUIGC United Frets International ATLANTA (UPI) — The “Gate City of the South” wore a mantle of silent mourning today. Community shock stunned the millionperson metropolitan area. Atlantans spoke softly of the Sabbath tragedy 3,000 miles away in the crash of a plane that had dealt an agonizing blow to their cultural, business, and political life and struck this proud city with an impact unequaled since the Civil War. Small things bespoke the sorrow of the c ommunity. A m ourning wreath of Easter lilies hung in the Peachtree St. main entrance of the Atlanta Art Association, , which lost 121 of its members when a chartered Air France jetliner crashed and burned at takeoff in Paris Sunday. The plane was to have brought them home after a 26-day art tour of seven European cities, s ponsored by the association. The tourists had been a prime segment of Atlanta civic life, a moving force in its culture. They were leaders. Flags Lowered In country clubs of the northwest section of town — the moneyed section of stately homes and tailored grounds where the majority of the dead lived — flags were lowered to h alf staff. Sympathy callers left cards at front doors, brought ham and salads and other foods to grieving families in the old Southern custom. Across the front ya rd of the two-story brick house at 495 Westover Dr., NW, a little red-haired dachshund, named “Padre,” roamed as if searching for his two young mistresses, Ellen Bull, 10, and her sister, Betsy, 16. The girls and their mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Bull Jr., and their father’s mother, Mrs. Mary Bull, and his uncle, Robert Newcomb, all died in the crash. Mayor Emeritus William B. Hartsfield said the crash was “The greatest tragedy to hit Atlanta since the Civil War.” President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy sent their condolences to the city. Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. left Sunday night for Paris to expedite the return of bodies and give any assistance he could to fam-

Operating Profit Shown By Hospital The Adams county memorial hospital showed a cash profit of $869.95 in May, Thurman I. Drew, hospital manager, said today . The hospital has a profit of sl--for the first five months of the year, after running deep in the red in January and February. The patient load held up in May, compared to last year, when the patient population dropped and stayed low all summer. Deposits or May totaled $32,804.48. Expenses totaled $31,934.53, including* bills of $11,237.93, and a payroll of $20,696.60. The operating cash balance rose from $10,619.53 to $11,489.48. A total of 199 adults were admitted during May, and 48 babies were born at the Adams county memorial hospital. Eight patients and two babies died. A total of 196 patients were dismissed, along with 50 babies. There were 48 adults and nine babies in the hospital at the beginning of the month, and 39 patients and five babies at the end. Half of the 48 babies bom were boys and the other 24 were girls. A total of 299 patients were treated in the out-patient category. laboratory work, x-ray, or emergency surgery. I The autopsy room is nearly compete, except tor the tables, which is expected soon.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEVhPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Hies of the victims. On Carefree Trip The crash killed 130 persons—only two stewardesses in the tail section escaping death. The 121 members of the art association had left Atlanta May 9 on the $895 tour of art centers that had been advertised as “carefree and unforgettable.” Many families here had planned homecoming celebrations — and many of these got the first news of the tragedy in churches Sunday. This is a church-going community. Prayers in churches were the first news for many. Weeping relatives w ere assisted from church and taken home. Relatives and friends in hundreds of families poured phone calls into news offices and especially into the Atlanta office of Air France. They gathered, with tear-stained faces, at the airline offices where a weary staff answered frantic . and despairing questions. Cultural Leaders “The select cultural leadership of a whole city is decimated,” said the Atlanta Constitution in an editorial. “Hundreds 'o f the region’s finest families are touched by bewildering tragedy. The contribution of generations to a maturing South is '•ut short.” The newspaper said the city was shelled and burned in its infancy and tempered to shock through the years by such disasters as the Winecoff Hotel fire, in which 119 died in 1946. But nothing could have prepared it for the impact of the tragedy of Sunday, the paper said: “They typified the best of Atlanta’s conscientious and contributing citizenry.” Mayor Allen said: “Atlanta has suffered her greatest tragedy and loss.. .this group Included a great number of Atlanta’s civic and cultural leaders.”

Local Lady's Sister Dies At Fort Wayne Mrs. lona M. Coil, 91, of 3424 California Ave., Fort Wayne, was dead on arrival at 7:15 a.m. Sunday at the Parkview memorial hospital in that city . She was a native of Willshire, 0., but had lived at oFtt Wayne for 58 years. Her husband, William H. Coil, died in 1932. Surviving are two sons, Cecil D. and Dr. Hersehell R. Coil, both of Fort Wayne; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Fonda Lake of Decatur. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the ChalfantPerry funeral home, with burial in Lindenwood cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today . Advertising Index Advertiser Pare A & P Tea Co., Inc. 3 Ashbauchers’ Tin Shop .... 2 Beavers Oil Service, Inc. — 5 Burk Elevator Co. 5 Leroy Bulmahn -* - 4 Cowens Insurance Agency 4 Decatur-Kocher Lumber, Inc. — 2 Decatur Ready-Mix Corp 2 Drive In Theater 6 Evans Sales Service, Inc 5 Ray Elliott, Auctioneer 5 Bryson Fetters — 5 Girard & Sons ------ — 2 Holthouse Drug Co. 3 Home Dairy 4 Haugks 2 Happy Humpty Drive In 6 Kent Realty & Auction Co. —— 5 Kohne Drug Store w...— 3 Kohne Window & Awning Co. „ 2 Myers Cleaners - 3 Niblick A Cb. . 2 Northern Indiana Public Service Co. 6 L. Smith Insurance Agency, Inc. 5 Smith Drug Co. 2 Teepie Truck Line 5

PARIS (UPI) — French officials were mystified today as to what caused a Boeing 707 jetliner to hurtle off the end of a runway on takeoff carrying 130 persons to their deaths, 121 of them Americans returning from a European holiday. Close watch was kept over two stewardesses, the only survivors, in hopes they could provide a clue to the worst disaster involving a single airplane in aviation history. Flying weather was perfect. The pilot was expert. The plane had been checked and rechecked. Officials said sabotage could not be entirely ruled out but was being discounted until the wreckage had been thoroughly examined. Mayor Ivan Allen of Atlanta, Ga., home of most of the victims, flew in to give what help he could. Atlanta lost many of its most prominent citizens and was in a state of deep mourning. A U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) investigator also was flying in to join the investigation. Bears Down Bunway The Air France jetliner, half as long as a football field, roared down the runway at Orly Field Sunday with Commander Roland Hoche, a man of 13 years flying experience, at the controls. The four jet engines poured out power but it never became airborne. Some witnesses said the wheels got a few feet in the air. Others said the plane seemed glued to the ground. Pierre Loiseau, an Orly control tower radioman, said he saw puffs of blue smoke under the wheels about 800 yards from the end of the runway, indicating the pilot was braking hard. Other witnesses believed the pilot also used his engines to fry to stop. “But tne aircraft continued,” Loiseau said. “At no time did it seem to leave the ground. A few yards from the end of the runway it went from one wheel to the other as if the pilot were frying to get off the runway. "At the end of the runway it cut a swath through the posts carrying landing lights. Then it stopped its mad careen after another 200 yards when it was near the houses in the Rue la Martine of Villeneuve le Roi.” One Os Went What Loiseau described was one of aviation’s greatest tragedies. The only one in which there was greater loss of life involved the collision of two airliners over New York City in which 134 were killed Dec. 16, 1960. The big Air France jet, chartered to take the Georgians home from a “carefree and unforgettable” vacation, careened across a bare field, where one wing dug a trench in the soft earth, and shattered a fence separating Orly Field from the adjacent village of Villeneuve le Roi. The four-story-high tail section snapped off and hurtled into a clump of trees. Two stewardesses, Francoise Authie and Jacqueline Gillet, were thrown clear. A steward. Marcel Lug on, also was taken from the wreckage alive but he died 10 hours later. All three had been in the tail section. The other 122 passengers and 7 crewmen died immediately either from the impact or the searing flames fed by 17,000 gallons of jet fuel that engulfed the rest of the $6 million craft.

glued

Child Is Bitten By Cat, Seek Animal A small yellow tiger tom-cat bit and scratched Zachery, two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Burdette, 415 Jackson street, last Wednesday and then disappeared. The cat belonged to the family. The parents want very much to locate the cat to see if it is rabid. The youth has been taken to the family physician, who recommended starting the rabies shots immediately, and continuing until it can be determined if the cat is rabid. Anyone seeing the cat is requested to call 3-2339 immediately. The cat had never acted so strangely before they stated.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, lune 4,1962. — —- -« '< I—-■ ■

Louis Zwick Dies I Suddenly Saturday | Louis W. Zwick, 43, of 1515 West Monroe street, died suddenly a heart attack at 7:30 o’dock Saturday evening while having his car serviced at the Meyers service station. He had not been ill and death was unexpected. Boni in Preble township Dec. , 26, 1918, he was a son of Edward and Anna E. Trier-Zwick, and was married to Phyllis McFarland Oct. 12, 1947. i Mr. Zwick was a veteran pf World War 11, enlisting Oct. 6, 1941, and serving until his discharge Oct. 15, 1945. He served in the Pacific theater and received the Purple Heart for wound* received in action. An employe of the Micromatic Hone Corp, at Berne for the past two years, he was a member of the Zion Lutheran church and the planning commission of the church. A resident of Decatur for 15 years, he was a member of Adams Post 43, American Legion. Surviving are his wife; his mother, Mrs. Anna E. Zwick of Decatur route 1; two daughters, Sharon and Barbara, at home, and one brother, Edgar Zwick of Fort Wayne. One brother is deceased. » Funeral services win be conducted at 1:40 p, m. Tuesday at the Zwick funeral home and at 2 p. m. at the Zion Lutheran church. The Rev. Richard C. Ludwig will officiate, and burial will be in the Decatur cemetery, with military services by the American Legion. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services. Report Awaited On Heads Os Two Dogs A report on the heads of two dogs, sent in last Friday to check on the possibility of rabies, is expected back this afternoon, Dr. R. E. Allison said at noon. During the month of May Dr. Allison gave 693 rabies shots to dogs and cats, a record for that length of time for him, he stated. Dr. Elizabeth Peck and her husband. Dr. Edward P. Peck, also gave a large number of shots during the month, but had not totaled their count. Both Dr. Peck and Dr. Allison have dogs or cats under quarantine at present, but so far all animals, except the Carpenter dog which died Friday, have lived out the two-week period. The county commissioners had not gotten to the problem of a county-wide dog pound this moming, as they spent the entire morning period allowing bills. t

Nuclear Test Fails Today

HONOLULU (UPD—The United States failed in its attempt to launch the first of a series of rocket-borne nuclear bombs at Johnston Island in the Pacific, according to an official announcement today. Joint Task Force 8 said that a Thor booster wa s launched at 11:47 p.m. Sunday, but within minutes after the launching, the missile was destroyed by the task force safety officer because of a malfunction of the tracking system. The rocket was destroyed 100 seconds before its nuclear device was scheduled to explode. ‘‘The Thor booster was destroyed without a nuclear detonation and the debris fell into the open sea well within the limits

I Swimming Pool To | Open Within Week The city's free swimming pool will open in about a week, barring unforeseen complications, it was learned today from Mayor Donald F. Gage. At present a pump is being repaired, but the rest of the swimming pool is ready to be put into use. . Gage said the pool will probably open next Monday, “if nothing goes wrong.” The mayor explained that the pump is nearly repaired by city employes, and when finished, water will begin being pumped into the pool. This takes a few days and then the water is left to warm for a short time, which should make the pool ready for opening about next Monday. Sometime ago the city council decided to have new pipe laid about the pool, which resulted in tearing up the concrete around the pool. Mayor Gage said this morning that the pipes are all installed, the concrete has been laid, the pool area painted and the fence erected, which makes the swimming pool ready for use as soon as it is fffled. Hubert Zerkel, Jr., principal at •tite Northwest elementary school and the new Lincoln school principal, will again assume the head lifeguard duties at the city’s swimming pool. There is no charge for admission to Decatur’s pool, about the only free swimming pool in Indiana. Each summer the pool is used by thousands of Decatur and area swimmers. Tokyo Population Now 10,114,795 ♦ TOKYO (UPl)—The population of Tokyo rose to 10,114,795 on May 1, the metropolitan government’s department of statistics announced today. An official statement said the city’s population increased 85, 541 between April 1 and May 1. Decatur Temperature* Local weather data for the 48 hour period ending at 11 a m. today. SATURDAY SUNDAY 12 noon 68 12 midnight .. 43 1 p.m 58 1 a.m 42 2 p.m,.... SO 2 a.m 42 3 p.m 68 3 a.m 40 4 p.m <0 4 a.m 40 5 p.m 56 5 a.m 40 6 p.m 56 6 a.m 43 7 p.m 52 7 a.m 46 8 p.m. 60 8 a.m. 48 9 p.m 48 9 a.m 56 10 p.m. 45 10 a.m. 60 II p.m 44 11 a m 62 BUNDAY MONDAY I'2 noon 62 12 midnight .. 52 1 p.m 66 1 a.m 51 2 p.m. ...... 64 3 a.m. 52 3 p.m,.... 64 3 a.m 50 4 p.m 64 4 a.m 50 5 p.m 64 5 a.m 50 4J p.m. 64 6 a.m 51 7 p.m 62 7 a.m. — 58 8 p.m 69 8 a.m 58 9 p.m 57 9 a.m 70 10 p.m. 55 10 a.m 72 I'l p.m 53 11 a.m 79 Hain Total for the 48 hour period ending at 7 a.m. today, .0 Inches. The St. Mary's river was at 2.21 feat.

previously designated. There was no damage to the installations or injury to personnel,” the announcement said. There was no indication when the next attempt would be made. It was announced earlier that there would be at least 10 days between tests, but it was not certain whether the 10-day period would apply in the event of a failure. Everything released for publication in regard to the failure apparently was cleared with the White House before the announcement was mad*. All channels were cleared to the nation’s capital, and word came back to the task force headquarters in Hawaii where the announcement was made.

WHfwOßWirWoßgsr " . rj itiw ; i . W«wKmMBBBE®MeBHBBbHSB GERBER AUTO, its entire right side crushed by the slow-moving freight train, headed by a switchtype engine, is pictured here about 8 p. m. Saturday, shortly after the accident. Sheriff Roger Singleton, right, was one of several police, sheriff, and state police officers investigating. The car was hauled away by Ernie Baumann, and was in such bad condition that it could not be towed. The right square edge of the engine, headed north, caught the right front fender of the car at 7:19 p. m. Saturday, and drug the car 831 feet. Mrs. Gerber is still in serious condition at Parkview hospital, but is expected to recover.

Mrs. Carl Gerber Is Badly Injured

Mrs. Isabelle Gerber, 50, wife of city councilman Carl Gerber, is reported recovering but still in serious condition at Parkview memorial hospital, Fort Wayne, after the car which she was driving was struck by a Pennsylvania railroad train south of Decatur Saturday evening. Doctors reported today that she had had a good night, that bee right arm was set Sunday and will be x-rayed today and that her right leg is still in traction. Accident Saturday The accident took place at 7:19 p. m. Saturday as a Pennsylvania railroad freight train of tea cars, beaded north at 25 miles an hour, struck the right side of the Gerber vehicle as Mrs. Gerber drove across the trade on a private lane on the Lewis Smith home two miles south of Decatur. David Gerber, 9, had spent the night with his friend, David Smith, and the Gerbers bad gone out to the Smith home for the afternoon. Carl Gerber was back at the pond fishing, the Smiths were at their home preparing the charbroiler for supper, and the children were wandering around the field between the home and the railroad. Returning To Fish Mrs. Gerber had returned from taking her daughter, Nancy, into town. She drove back towards the pool, apparently either to fish or to tell her husband that dinner was nearly ready. As she crossed the field towards the pond, across the track from the home, the children stopped her. The two boys, Emily Smith, 6, Marsha Basham, and Jane Gerber were playing, and asked for a ride back to the pond. Mrs. Gerber gave each of them some candy, but told them to get back to the house for supper. Husband Sees Wreck Carl was fishing at the pond when he saw his wife in their car stop for the children. He heard the whistle as the train crossed the county road about half a mile south of the farm. He watched, horrified, as the black nose of their car came upover the rise onto the track Just as the train approached. The train struck the car broadside on the right side of the car, headed east, and carried it 831 feet down the track. The engineer, C. D. Niles, of Rome City, was cm the east side of the engine, and did not see the accident. The fireman, H. C. McFarland, saw the car, but it was too late to pull the whistle and warn her, as the train struck the car as he reached for the whistle. The Pennsylvania railroad has a 35 mile an hour speed limit on the track in that area, because of the poor condition of the track. The fireman estimated the speed at 25 miles an hour at the time of the accident

Take Children Away Carl Gerber rushed to die scene, and saw the terrified children, who had seen or heard the accident, at the spot. He took them back to the house, got Lewis Smith, while Mrs. Smith called the authorities and the ambulance. The entire right side of the car, whieh slid along the track on its frame, was demolished. Mrs. Gerber was not pinned in the wreckage, however, and her door was opened by the train crew members who were first on the scene. They applied pressure to stop the bleeding.

Singleton At Scene Sheriff Roger Singleton rushed to the scene with deputy sheriff Robert Meyer and state officer Dan Kwasneski. They removed Mrs. Gerber from the car in a semi-conscious state, and placed her in the abulance, which took her to the Adams county memorial hospital. At the hospital Dr. John B. Terveer and Dr. C. William Freeby found that she had a flayed rib cage on the right side, with three of the broken ribs penetrating the lungs; a broken right upper leg bone, and a broken forearm; a bad scalp cut, and a cuf chin. They drained fluid from her lungs, treated her for shock, and rushed her by ambulance to the Parkview hospital, where they assisted a chest specialist as he worked until after 11 p. m. Joe Azbell, a friend of the family took Smith and Gerber to Fort Wayne, where they were joined by Mr. and Mrs. Marion Feasel, the latter Mrs. Gerber’s sister; her sister, Sally Hower, arrived about midnight from Indianapolis, and her mother, Mrs. M. F. Hower, arrived early Sunday. The doctors reported at midnight Saturday that she still was in critical condition, but that, barring complications, she should recover.

Robert August Hurt In Accident Today Robert August, 45, of 727 N. 2nd street, Decatur rural mail carrier, was injured by flying glass when the car he was driving struck a pickup truck that was backing out of a grove of trees onto the Saddle Lake road about IV2 miles north of the lake at 10:30 o’clock this morning. August was taken to the Adams county memorial hospital, where a stitch was sewn in his right thumb, and cuts on his right elbow, face, right ear, and right shoulder were treated The ear was a total wreck, estimated at $1,700 damage. Both the windshield and rear window popped, causing the injuriees. Jerry Lee Liby, 16, of route 3, son of Mrs. Neva Liby .owner of the pickup truck, was backing out of the grove of trees with two friends in the car. He was arrested and charged with failure to yield right of way. It is illegal to back onto a highway without making certain that the way is clear. Deputy sheriff Robert Myer, who investigated, explained. August was headed south on the Saddle Lake road, and Liby was attempting to back into the south lane, and head south. He did not see the August car. The left rear of the pickup truck was estimated damaged at S2OO. INDIANA WEATHER cloudy with scattered evening thundershowers likely. Fair tonight. Tuesday partly sunny and rather warm and humid. Low tonight 60 to 66. High Tuesday In the 80s. Sunset today 9:09 p.m. Sunrise Tuesday s:ls a. m. Outlook for Wednesday: Partly cloudy, warm and humid. Lows in the 60s. Highs in low 80s north to low 90s south.

SEVEN CENTS

Two Are Hurt As Vehicles Collide Mrs. Harry Bollinger, 35, and son, David, about 4, of route one, ■Monroe, suffered injuries about 11:30 a.m. today when Mrs. Bollinger’s car hit the rear end of a gasoline truck driven by Jesse L. Patch, 36, of 1109 Winchester, which was turning into the Eli Hirschy lane, 1% miles south and one mile west of Coppess Corners. Sheriff Roger Singleton, who investigated, stated that Patch had his turn signals on, but that dust on the gravel road obscured the view. Mrs. Bollinger was traveling about 35 miles andiwur.and skidded 66 feet when she saw the truck. She suffered cuts and bruises on her forehead, rigid arm, and left knee. She and her son, David who suffered a broken lower right leg and a cut on his forehead, were treated at the Adams county memorial hospital. Both vehicles were headed south on the county road. The Bollinger vehicle was totally wrecked. Officers Installed By Decatur Jaycees

Gene Ziner, charter member of the ■ Decatur Junior Chamber of Commerce, was installed Saturday evening as the new president of the organization The installation dinner and dance that followed were held in the Elks lodge home. The invocation was given by John Eichenberger, and following the meal. Jack Petrie, retiring president, gave a short talk on the 1961-62 year in review. Petrie detailed the various club projects during the year, and gave much of the credit for the club’s success to the officers who assisted him and the various members who served as chairmen of the projects. Manahan Installs The formal, installation of the new officers was handled by Fred Manahan, Kendallville radii executive. and active Jaycee on the local, state and national level. Manahan congratulated Petrie on his fine year, and p sked all of the to continue to work along with Ziner. Officers installed in addition to Ziner included: internal vice president, Bob Doan; external vice president, Floyd Mcßride; secretary, Mike tylurphy; treasurer. Ron Gerber; and directors, Ted HUI. Harold Bohnke, BUI Snyder, and Petrie. Many Guests Ziner, in business with his lather at Culligan Water Conditioning, was presented with a gavel from Petrie as his symbol of the new office, and gave a brief talk on plans, for the coming year. Ziner emphasized the fact that the Jaycees ware in a position to do much constructive work in the community if all of the members would work together. In chaUenging the members for the coming year, Ziner stated that in addition to working in and for the community, the Jaycees should sell their own organization at the same time, and get more young men in Decatur actively interested in the betterment of the community. In addition to the Jaycees. there were many guests present for both the dinner and the dance.