Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 60, Number 160, Decatur, Adams County, 9 July 1962 — Page 1

VOL. LX NO, 160.

United States Explodes Initial Rocket-Borne Thermonuclear Device

Pryor Manager Os Valparaiso District

Michael J. Pryor, the gas company’s Decatur manager, has been promoted to manager of Northern Indiana Public Service company’s Valparaiso district, Dean H. Mitchell, NIPSCO’s chairman -and president announced today. He will succeed Morris Groverman, Jr., who has been appointed to head the company’s southern division. As the new Valparaiso manager, Pryor will supervise the gas and electric operations of the distrftt which serves industrial, commercial, residential rural and REMC customers in Porter, Starke and La Porte counties. Commenting on Pryor’s promotion, Mitchell said, “Mike Pryor is typical of the kind of young men we like to count as members of our management team. His enthusiasm, skill and resourcefulness in supervising utility operations — are invaluable assets to our company. His splendid record of service and dedication to serving our customers and his community have prepared him well for the greater responsibilities ot serving our customers in the Valparaiso district.” Born in Calumet City, 111,, Pryor is a veteran of World War II in which he served with the United States Air Force as a flight officer, bomber pilot and pilot instructor. He attended Kent State and Purdue universities, majoring in electrical engineering, and joined NIPSCO in 1946 as a lighting enginee.r He was promoted to manage the utility’s Decatur office in 1952. Active in his community, the new Valparaiso district manager has devoted a great deal of his s p a r e time to mental health work in Adams county. Now serving as vice president of the National Foundation and president of the Adams county mental health association, Cash Gain Is Shown By Hospital In June The Adams county memorial hospital showed a cash gain of $1,245.57 for the month of June, putting the hospital $2,448.62 ahead for the year, Thurman I. Drew, hospital manager, said today. This is a complete reversal of last year’s figures, because the hospital population this summer has run higher than a year ago. Last year the hospital was behind $9,127.58 for the year at its halfway point. In 1960, the hospital had a credit of $1,072.60 at the midway mark, and in 1959 was $1,390.15 behind. While the amount taken in over the amount spent is shown as a '‘cash gain,” it is merely the cash balance sheet figure. County hospitals in Indiana are not allowed to deduct depreciation; also, the figure deals only with cash, not with the amount owed or collected onthe books, — A total of $33,361.24 was deposited for the month, a little better than the SI,OOO a day that it takes to operate the hospital. Bills totaled $11,297.85, and the payroll was $20,817.82 for the month,, for a total of $32,115.67. The cash balance was advanced from sll,489.48 to $12,735.05. A total of 194 patients were admitted and 57 babies were born, at the hospital during the month of June. Five patients and one baby died, and 194 patients and 54 babies were dismissed from the hospital. There were 34 adults and five babies at the first of the month. ’i Os the 57 babies bom at the hospital, 29 were boys and 28 were girls. There were 336 outpatients treated in the laboratory, x-ray and emergency rooms, compared with 299 in May, 265 in April, 284 in March, 312 in February, and 231 in January. .*1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ** ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

L I S i wflm EL„ I ■ I I ■ I • I M. J. Pryor Pryor was recently appointed to the board of the adult psychiatric , clinic of Northeast Indiana.— He is past president of the Decatur Rotary club, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks, and has served as drive chairman of the governor’s citizens advisory committee for youth. Pryor and his wife, Pat, have two girls—Pamela, 6, and Patricia Ann, 4. They will move to Valparaiso in the near future. A successor to Pryor in Decatur has not yet been named. Defendants Winners In Court's Ruling A requested judgment of $4,500 by the Decatur Kocher Lumber Co. was turned down by Judge Myles F. Parrish in a ruling handed down Saturday by the Adams circuit court judge. The lumber company had requested a judgment of $3,964.50, plus interest and attorney fees, which amounted to $4,500, but Judge Parrish handed down a ruling Saturday that the company receive nothing from the defendants Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence W. Ehrsam. In his written judgment, the judge gives one reason for turning down the plaintiff’s request, on the grounds that the “defendants herein have answered in payment.” Paid In FuU The judgment states that at the trial the defendant’s exhibit “N” was introduced into evidence, and that it was a receipt from the lumber company, which at that time was known as the Kocher Lumber and Coal company. The receipt was dated October 19, 1959, and was marked “pd in full.” The defendant’s exhibit "O” was in a check made payable to the lumber company for the sum ' of $4,348.35, and it too bore a ' notation —“pd in full.” The lumber company had filed Ehrsams owed the company a total of $3,964.50, plus interest and : attorney fees which amounted to the requested $4,500. Hie judgment states that “a written recipt is evidence, of a high charactor. It is evidence of so , satisfactory a charactor as not to be overcome, except by clegr and , convincing testimony, and the , burden of proof as a matter of course rests upon the ohe attacking it.” ; Other Reasons The four-page judgement also explains that the plaintiff failed (Continued on Page Eight) BULLETIN GENEVA (UPD—The 14-na-tion conference reached an East-West compromise today and endorsed a declaration of neutrality by the new Laotian neutralist government. ,

HONOLULU (UPD—The United States exploded the first rocketborne high altitude thermonuclear device in a test shot Sunday night between 200 to 500 miles above Johnston Island in the Pacific in what is believed to be the biggest shot of its kind ever made by this country. The biggest previous shot ever made was the explosion of the hydrogen bomb at Bikini Island in 1954, but that was not at a high altitude. A high altitude test of a nuclear device two years ago was not as big as Sunday night’s, and was not made with a thermonuclear device. “I saw that one,” said United Press International correspondent Robert C. Miller, “and it lighted up less than 35 to 40 per cent of the sky. The one last night was horizon to horizon. It was fantastic.” Miller said it would be like com- : paring the blast from a ,22-caliber rifle to one from a 12-gauge shotgun. « The blast, equal to a million or more tons of TNT, occurred at 11 p.m. HST (4 a.m. Monday CDT). The nuclear warhead was carried aloft by a Thor rocket, the same type missile that forced Joint Task Force 8 officials to destroy the rockets shortly after launch on the two previous tries. The device exploded with a flash that painted the Hawaiian .sky. green and left spectators awestruck. The official JTFB announcement at 11:30 p.m. said: “A nuclear family, especially bed clothing, and device carried aloft by a Thor missile was detonated at a height of hundreds of kilometers at 11 p.m. HST. The detonation was in the megaton range.” Broadcast Bands Out The blast set off air raid sirens in parts of the Hawaiian island chain and blacked out short wave broadcast bands such as Radio Tokyo and Radio Australia. Radio Tokyo was still out a half hour after the blast but Radio Australia was back on the air. The explosion was denounced by Moscow radio as a “crime” committed by “American atommongers.” “All mankind has angrily protested the blast,” it said. In Washington, atomic experts said they expect little if any radioactive fallout from the explosion. Some of the debris, perhaps as much as half, might be hurled free of the earth’s gravitational field and wind up wandering through space in long orbits around the sun. Part of what is left may remain above the weather regions of the atmosphere so long and be dispersed so widely that it will be comparatively harmless by the time it comes down, it was believed. Variety of Colors Nearly an hour after the blast, an aurora-like effect which had been anticipated was observed on the island of Maui. The gigantic V-shaped spectacle changed from yellow to dull red to icy blue and finally white during a 25-minute period. On the two previous aborted tests, the nuclear devices plunged into the ocean without detonation. The first failure occurred June 3 and was blamed on a malfunction in tracking equipment. The second, which came June 19, was due to a malfunction in the rocket which was blasted to bits seconds after launching. Witnesses in Honolulu said that after the initial green flash the S>ky glowed red, gradually fading to a sunset pink, which remained for about seven minutes. The blast obliterated the stars from the sky and the moon was eerily centered amid the changing color patterns. Spectators, after a few seconds of silence, reacted with awe and. disbelief. “I was taking a picture,” said Roger Coryell, an aide to Gov. (Continued on Page Eight) INDIANA WEATHER Fair and cooler tonight. - Tuesday mostly sunny. Low tonight mostly in 50s north, 55 to 62 south. High Tuesday 74 to 82. Sunset today 8:15 p. m. Sunrise Tuesday 5:26 a. m. Outlook for Wednesday: Fair and a little warmer. Low Tuesday night 55 to 65, high Wednesday 85 to 92.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, July 9, 1962.

13 Killed In Water Mishaps

By United Press International At least 13 persons, the highest of the season, died in Indiana water accidents during the 54-hour weekend, rr? The latest victim was a Seymour area man whose body was t recovered from White River near Rockford this morning. The body of Stanley Stout, 19, was recovered by State Police scuba divers from about seven feet of water. Stout and four com- : panions were wading along the river bank late Sunday when he ; drowned. Since Thursday, at least 17 per- I sons died in Hoosier water mishaps. The worst tragedy, on a lake near Albion Sunday, claimed tftree lives when an overloaded boat capsized. Among the latest victims were a two-year-old Indianapolis child and a man from Richmond. Little Daniel Gene Wood drowned in Fall Creek Sunday night as his family prepared to return home from a weekend out-] ing. The boy was found face down in one foot of water. The body of Donald Wright, 29, Richmond, was recovered Sunday night from the lake at Whitewater State Park near Liberty. Authorities said he drowned during a late afternoon swim. John Edward Miller, 14, Bicknell, drowned in a Sullivan County gravel pit near Pleasantville Sunday when he apparently stepped into a deep hole. Police said he could not swim. Dean Bradenberger, 16, Fort Wayne, was killed in a speed boat accident on Lake Wawasee Sunday. Bradenberger and Charles Trumbull, Fort Wayne, were hurled into the water on a sharp turn and Bradenberger died after his left leg was severed by the craft’s propeller. His companion was not injured. Twelve persons were in the overloaded boat that capsized in Loon Lake near Albion Sunday. Three drowned, although the boat was only in five feet of water and just 20 feet from shore. The victims were Howard Mead, 49, operator of the 12-foot alumi-

Key Congress Leaders Called

WASHINGTON (UPD — President Kennedy called in key House Democrats and Republicans today to seek greater support “for administration efforts to block a partial cut-off in U.S. aid to Poland and Yugoslavia. The White House meeting preceded the start of House debate on the foreign aid authorization bill. A floor battle-was expected , oft a plan by Rep. Bob Casey, D-Tex., to halt aid jof all types to Communist -countries. The President indicated concern earlier over a Senate vote to eliminate all aid except surplus food to Communist - dominated countries. He and other administration leaders feel this would be a backward step in U.S. efforts to help such countries as Poland and. Yugoslavia to become more independent of Moscow. Other congressional news: McCloskey: President .Kenne- ! dy’s nomination of Matthew H.McCloskey, former Democratic I party treasurer, as new ambassa-| dor to Ireland was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The vote was 9-4, with four of the six Republican members voting against McCloskey. The other two were not recorded. Farm: Rep. J. Floyd Breeding, l D-Kan., said the House Agriculture Committee probably would

num boat; Mead’s nephew, Donald Eugene Sowles, 22, and Sowles’ 5-year-old niece, Melinda Sowles, all of Fort Wayne. The remaining nine, eight of them children, were able to swim or wade to safety, aided by relatives ashore. Noble County Sheriff Russell Lindsey said the boat was built to carry only three persons. The survivors told authorities the boat was enroute to a grocery store about half a mile across the lake to get more provisions for a picnic. Three other drownings occurred Saturday. Noble Fay Anthony, 21, Kokomo, drowned when he was seized with cramps while water-skiing .at Lake Shafer north of Monticello. Thomas Curry. 20, Muncie, drowned while wading with a waist-type ring buoy at Morse Reservoir north of Noblesville. Authorities said he took the buoy off shortly before stepping off an underwater shelf. Jesse Adams, 12, Mount Vernon, | drowned in the Ohio River near his home. Witnesses said he was about six feet from shore when-**, stepped into a deep hole.' Harold Hall, 13, Sunman, drowned in a small 1 ake near Morris Friday night when he slipped from a rubber inner tube while floating in the middle of the half-acre lake. Clarence Wafford,7s, a retired Dearborn County farmer, drowned in a creek hear the Versailles State Park when he fell from a log while fishing Friday. Police also reported the recovery Saturday of the bodies of Bernard Vaughn, 11, and Keith Smith, 12/ both of Mishawaka, who drowned while swimming in the St. Joseph River at Mishawaka Friday night. The body of Arlie Keller, 30, Lafayette, was pulled from the Wabash River near Lafayette Saturday afternoon, and the body of his daughter, Barbara, 16 months, was recovered Sunday. The two were missing late Thursday after a homemade flatboat they were aboard capsized. Five other persons aboard the boat made it to safety.

send to the Rules Committee Tuesday a substitute farm bill to continue present farm programs for another year. The House defeated the administration’s farm program, passed- earlier by the Senate. It contained new, rigid surplus-cutting provisions. Medicare: The Senate opened another day of debate on the controversial medical bare for the aged bill. More than a dozen amendments were pending, including several rival Republican proposals calling for federal payments to supplement private health insurance plans for the aged, f Backers of the administrationendorsed bipartisan compromise bill on medicare are optimistic gbout . its chances of'Senate passage, but its ultimate fate is in doubt. The bill is considered to have only a small chance in the House, where it is bottled up in the ways & means committee. Under the terms of the compromise bill, medical care would be financed through Social Ssecurity payroll taxes. An estimated 18 million persons aged 65 would be covered, if it wins approval. Other congressional news: -.Tax Cut,: Sen. William Pfoxmire i said today that the Senate-House Economic Committee should hold hearings to find out why the gov-

Inferior Os Evans Home Is Destroyed The entire interior of the Fred Evans home south of Decatur was completely destroyed by a Saturday morning fire, and nearly all the family belongings were lost in the sudden blaze. The home was ravaged by a blaze that completely gutted the inside of the house, destroying all furniture, household items and clothing of the Evan family. The fire broke out in a claset in ■the downstairs bedroom, located on the south side of the buliding, and quickjy spread to other rooms in the home. Both the Decatur and Monroe fire departments battled the’blaze for nearly an hour, and finally brought the fire under control in time to save the outer shell of the house. Evans, an employe of the Citizens Telephone Co., his wife and four boys reside on route 2, two miles south of Decatur on U.S. 27. Mrs. Evans had opened the closet door and the flames burst out, jumped to the ceiling and quickly spread throughout the house. The blaze had a big start on the two fire departments before they arrived, at about 10 o’clock Saturday morning. Mrs. Wanda Oelberg, executive secretary of the Adams county chapter of the American Red Cross, issued an urgent plea this morning for clothing for the Evans family, especially bed clothin, and any household items that Decatur and Adams county residents could give to the family. Clothing Needed The boys wear sizes two, four, six and 14 pants, and Mrs. Evans wears a size 12 dress. Fred Evans wears a size 14 shirt and 32-inch waist pants/Mrs. Oelberg has requested .that clothing and furniture of any type be donated, by contacting her at the Red Cross office. She also explained that bed clothing, such as sheets and pillowcases, are urgently needed. What caused the blaze was still undetermined early this morning, but spontaneous combustion was considered as a possibility. Building Saved Quick work by the -Decatur and 1 Wtrnroe firemen savefi the building, but the departments had no ; chance to halt the fire spreading ’ throughout the home. All the furniture in the house, the television set, a week-old organ, all clothing, and all kitchen furniture and utensils were desstroyed. Evans was well covered by fire insurance, and an adjustor began Work about 10:30 a.m. today in estimating the loss from the fire. Evans, his wife, and one son, are currently residing with the Harold M. Sapp family, at 1128 Elm street. The other three boys were taken to some relatives in Fort Wayne to stay for a short time. . Evans was given the day off this afternoon and was attempting to ' find a furnished apartment for his family to live. City Without Water Three-Hour Period Decatur was without water for a period of about three hours, and more\ than three hours in some areas, Saturday, while a 12-inch cross was being installed on a water main at Third and Jackson streets in the city. The water was originally scheduled to be turned off at 8 a. m. and turned bn again at 10 a. m. The first problem developed a short time before ,8 o’clock Saturday morning, when hospital officials requested the city leave the water on since an emergency operation was scheduled for that time. The operation was completed and the water turned off around 9:15 a. nth, gnd some trouble at the scene of the excavation delayed the work for about an hour longer than was anticipated. Values Cause Preblem Two valves failed to shut off properly ahd gave the workmen of the Baker and Schultz company, which installed the cross on the main, some trouble. The job was finished and the water turned on again at 12:15 p. m., only three hour? later. Mayor Donald Gage explained this morning, however, that many homes and businesses did not receive water until later in the afternoon, as the failure of the valves to shut off drained the city’s water mains. Once the water was turned on, the mains began to fill up and slowly, water began reaching the outlying areas. Had Choice The mayor explained that many local residents were puzzled at the time picked by the city to shut (Continued on Page Eight)

■* k " -. GROUND BREAKING services were held Sunday morning at the Missionary church, beginning the construction of two additions which are to be built this summer. The Rev. Gerald I. Gerig, pastor, conducted the service. The first spade of dirt was turned over by Lawrence Von Gunten, chairman t pf the building committee. Additional spades of dirt were turned'over by Mrs. Edward Summers, president of the Friendship circle; Mrs. Eugene Beam, president of the Ladies' fellowship; Mrs. Mervin Roop, representing the children of the church;, Mrs. Robert Reynolds, youth director, and Harold Myers, president of the Men’s Missionary fellowship and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. Construction is to begin next week. ""*

Make Reservations For Weekend Tour

Six of 45 reservations have already been filled for the Decatur Daily Democrat-Erie-Lackawanna bargain summer weekend tour to New York City August 3-6, a check of the records shows this morning. Five singles, five doubles and 12 twins on coach C, of the dieselpowered, air-conditioned, reclining seat “Lake Cities” are still available. Cost of Trip Cost is $53.25 for adults, $36.25 for children 5-11; for those requiring single rooms, there will be an extra charge of $2.50. The tour includes, all items of expense, tips, etc., with the exception e>t some of the meals, which mave been purposely left out for the convenience of the tourists. . •'■WtertoiMU teave Decatur at , 2:22 p. m. Friday, August 3. The . group will travel all night, with pillow service provided for comfort. Continental breakfast is included on the train in the dining car, while traveling through the scenic Pocono mountains and Delawarewater gap. Morning Arrival At 8:45 a. m. the group will arrive at Hoboken station. They will then transfer to waiting motor coaches, and will ride through the Lincoln tunnel under the Hudson river to Hotel Governor Clin--1 ton, Seventh avenue at 31st street. The group will then check into ■ the hotel, and rooms with bath will be assigned upon arrival. Noon Tour ' At 11:30 a. m. the group will ; meet in the lobby of the hotel for a visit to Rockefeller Center Observatory, 70 stories above the street, for a panoramic view of the entire metropolitan area — Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Staten Island, and New Jersey. The Down-Under Restaurant is conveniently located in the Radio . City area t where a special luncheon will be served immediately , following the visit to the observa- ' tion floor. At 12:45 p. m. those on the tour will meet at the tunnel entrance at Radio City music hall for the afternoon performance. The music hall is especially proud of its celebrated Rockettes, world famous precision dancers, and its corps de ballet, America’s only resident ballet. The stage of the music hall is the most perfectly equipped in the world. The theater is the scene of many memorable world premiers. Its spectacular stage productions range from smart modern revues filled with popular melody and lively dancers to huge ballet spectacles, elaborate extravaganzas, grand opera, and i mpres si ve pageantry. DECATUR TEMPERATURES Local weather data for the 48 hour period ending' aL 11 a.m. today, Saturday Sunday 12 noon ■ 84 12 midnight .. 66 1 p.m 80 ll a.m 64 2 p.m. 76 2 a.m 68 3 p.m 80 3 a.m 68 4 p.m. . 81 4 a.m. ~A; 68 5 p.m. ... 78 5 a.m 62 6 p.m. ..76 6 a.m. — t.... 607 p.m-74 7 a m 72 8 p.m. .. 75 8 a.m. .....J,... 74 9 p.m: 76 9 a.m. 80 10 p.m 70 1® am. ............. 80 11 p.m 70 11 a.mß6 Sunday Monday 12 noon 84 12 midnight .. 60 1 p.m. -62 1 a.m. , 58 2 p.m ... 68 2 a.m. :.7.. 54 3 p.m. L-.. 75 3 a.m. 53 4 p.m 66 4 a.m. 53 5 p.m. 75 5 a.m...., 53 6 p.m. - 75 6 a.m. 52 7 pm. .. .. 75 7 a.m. 66 8 p.m. —- 70 8 a.m. 67 9 pan. 66 9 a.m. 66 10 p.m 64 10 a.m. 70 11 p.m 61 111 a.m 74 - Rain 'Total for the 48 hour period ending at 7 a..m. today, .60 Inches. The St. Mary's river was at 1.00 feet.

SEVEN CENTS

Free Evening Following the performance, tour members are free for their own private sightseeing, and dinner and the evening is open for their own choice. The tour conductor will be glad to help make arrangements for those who desire the help. The International Theatre-Rest-aurant, featuring top talent and a spectacular revue, with informal service and gay entertainment, is available. When dining, it is customary for men to wear a tie and regular suit coat. A special discount ticket is available from ’ the tour conductor. Dinner is served commencing at 7:15 p. m. Saturday. Other meals are available at j restaurants of choice or at the autpmats at moderate cost. U Freedom Land U. S. A. is a top eTattraction of New York City, and buses leave every hour for rhe - area. Big name bands, top-star entertainment, a spectacular cir- - cus, mamouth aquatic show, state , fair, etc., are featured. : Coney Island, with five miles of r beach, boardwalk and amusement parks; guided tours of the NBC radio and TV studios; and many ■ other places are available to ■ those who desire them. Theater ■ tickets may be ordered in adi vance, or secured in the hotel lob- • by on arrival. City Tour Sunday morning breakfast is at • the expense and time of the touri ist, as is the luncheon. First event scheduled Sunday is at 1:15 p. m., when motor coal ches will leave the hotel for a ’ sightseeing tour of downtown and • uptown New York. This entire : trip is included in the cost of the ’ tour. Dinner is at the diner’s own [ expense, and the group leaves at r 6:45 p. m. to board the train. Individuals will carry their own ; hand bags from the hotel to the i motor coaches, and from the mo- ■ tor coaches to the train. The train leaves the Hoboken station at 7:45 p. m. Sunday. The group will arrive back in Decatur at 12:50- p. m. Monday, Aug. 6. What is Included Included in the cost of $53.25 is the round-trip railroad fare; pillow service in the coach; continental breakfast on the going trip with tip included; motor coach transfer from Hoboken to Hotel Governor Clinton through Lincoln tunnel: room with bath <two in a (Continued on Page Eight) Anderson Funeral Rites Held Today Funeral services were held this afternoon for Mrs. Emma Anderson, 85, of Monroeville, who died Friday night at a hospital in Van Wert, 0., after an illness of more than a year. The Rev. James Hertel officiated at the services, held at the Marquart funeral home, and burial was in the Monroeville IOOF cemetery. Mrs. Anderson, a native of monroeville, was a member ■ of St. Mark’s Lutheran church. Survivors include a son, Clifford Hertel of Convoy, O.; a daughter, Mrs. John Smith of Cleveland, O.; four stepsons, Robert Anderson* Fort Wayne, John and Albert AnAnderson of Yoder; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Betty Lehrman of Dederson of Monroeville, and Floyd catur, and Mrs. Nellie McClure of Los Angeles, Calif.; six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildrea. ~