Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 99, Decatur, Adams County, 26 April 1963 — Page 1

VOL LXI NO. 99.

14 Men Found Dead, Eight Still Missing After Blast Rips W est V irgina Mine

Harriman And Nikita Confer

By ROBERT J .KORENGOLD United Press International MOSCOW (UPI) — U.S. presidential envoy W. Averell Harriman met for 3*6 hours witji Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev here today in a dramatic bid to save the peace in Laos. He said afterward Khrushchev declared he still supports a 1961 accord with President Kennedy to preserve a free Laos. Harriman presented Khrushchev with a personal message from President Kennedy during the extraordinary conference that took place in the Soviet leader’s Kremlin office. Before seeking Khrushchev, Harriman met with Soviet Foreign Miister Andrei Gromyko. A joint Soviet-American statement released after the Kremlin meeting declared that both governments “fully support the Geneva agreements on the Laotian question about which there was an exchange of views between them in Vienna and a mutual understanding reached." The Kremlin meeting occurred against ■ a background of renewed fighting in.-Laos, where Communist Pathet Lao forces were reported to have attacked an outpost of right-wing forces led by Gen. Phoumi Nosavan. Vientiane reports said the attack raised a serious threat that the right-wing forces might retaliate and possibly trigger another full-scale civil war. The brief joint statement issued after the Harriman - Khrushchev meeting said the U.S- undersecretary of state delivered a message from Kennedy to the Soviet premier ‘ about the question of the situation in Laos." It said there had been a discussion on the subject between Khrushchev and Harriman and repeated the expressions of support for the Geneva agreements by both governments. But it gave no details of the substance of the talks. The U.S. evoy conferred for two hours and 40 minutes with Gromyko at the foreign ministry. The meeting was the beginning of Harriman’s urgent mission to enlist the Kremlin’s help in restoring peace and stability to Laos. The meeting was held against a background of charges in the Soviet press that the United States is responsible for the crisis in the Southeast Asian kingdom. Soviet newspapers claimed that U.S. interference provoked the lates fighting between rival Laotian factions. After the meeting with Gromyko, Harriman was asked if he was optimistic about chances of finding a diplomatic settlement of the crisis. “We have talked about events in Laos,’’ he replied. “We both assured each other that our gov-

Report Red Attack In Southern Laos

VIENTIANE, Laos (UPI) — Communist Pathet Lao forces have attacked an outpost of the right-wing forces led by Gen. Phoumi Nosavan, the defense ministry reported today. The attack, political observers believed, raised the serious threat that Phoumi’s forces might retaliate and possibly trigger another civil war. The attack was reported in southern Laos. „ The report made by a defense ministry spokesman followed eari lier word today that members of the Interational Control Commission (ICC) had witnessed firing by the Pathet Lao on neutralist positions on the Plain of Jars in the northeastern part of the country. -Fighting of the past few weeks has been in the Plain of Jars region between Communist troops and neutralist forces led by Gen. Kong Le- Phoumi’s forces have

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

ernments are determined to do all they can to assure the independence and neutrality of Laos.” Harriman arrived Thursday from London as President Kennedy’s personal representative to try to enlist the Kremlin’s help in restoring peace and stability to Laos. Russia' and Britain are cochairmen of the 1962 Geneva conferece which ended the Laotian civil war, established a coalition government under Premier Souvanna Phouma, and guaranteed the tiny nation’s independence andn eutrality. Wesley R. Morris Dies Unexpectedly Wesley R. (Bud) Morris, 62, of 29 Winchester street, owner and operator of the Morris Trucking Co. in the city for 27 years, died suddenly of a heart attack at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon at the Adams county memorial hospital. str. Morris, became Ul Wednesday evening and he suffered another attack Thursday before going to the hospital. He was born in Owpsso, Mich., Sept. 22, 1900, a son of Denver and Katherine Chase-Morris, and was married to Edna Bailer, Oct. 13, 1928. Mr. Morris was a member of the Eagles and Moose lodges. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Denver Morris of Owosso, Mich., and Robert M. Morris of Decatur ;one daughter, Mrs. Walter 'Margarite) Broxlon of Albion. Mich.; a stepson, Bernard Granger of Cleveland, O.; 12 grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Ralph DeLaughter of Decatur. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. William C. Feller officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services. The Moose lodge will hold memorial services at 7:30 o’clock this evening. Decatur Temperature Local weather data for the 24 hour period ending at 11 a m. today. 12 noon .... 50 12 midnight .. 42 1 p.m. 52 1 a.m 42 2 p.m 58 2 a.m 41 3 p.m 52 3 a : m- 10 4 p.mso 4 a.m 36 5 p.m 52 5 a.m. 36 6 p.m. .. 50 6 a.m. . .38 ' 7 p.m. . 48 ■ •’-•7 -a.m. 40 8 p.m 46 8 a.m 60 9 p.m 4 4 9 a m.' 58 10 p.m 44 10 a.m 56 11 p.m 44 11 a.m 59 Kain Total for the 24 hour period ending at 7 a.m. today, .0 inches. The St. Mary’s river was at 4,15 feet.

stayed in the background. Last week there were unofficial reports in Vientiane that Pathet Lao in the South were filtering toward right-wing positions, possibly in preparation for some attacks. The defense ministry spokesman said the communist attack took place Thursday night on the rightist outpost at Nong Boua Lac in Savannakhet 'Province. He gave no details, but emphasized it was “an attack—not a skirmish.” Renewed fighting in the past *week has aroused fears that the coalition government of neutralist Premier Souvanna Phouma might collapse. The “troika” government of rightists, neutralists and leftists was set up last summer by the 14-nation Geneva conference which ended die civil war and guaranteed Laos’ independence and neutrality.

DOLA, W.Va. (UPI)-Fourteen soft coal miners were found dead today deep inside the explosiontorn. Clinchfield Coal Co, No. 2 mine and hope dwindled fast for eight men still missing. The explosion, triggered late late Thursday night by either methan gas or coal dust, plunged this small mining community of 200 people into gloom. As grim word was flashed from rescue teams 330 feet beneath the surface, the strain began to tell on relatives who had gathered at the pithead. First two bodies were found . . . then another ... and then a group ot 11 in one oi the main working areas which probably bore the full brunt of the blast. The search continued for the missing eight. Thirty other men were working the same night shift in other sections of the mine and felt the shock wave of the blast, but scampered to safety on the surface. A veteran miner at the scene said the men who made it safely to the surface were covered with rock dust- He said this could indicate an explosion of major proportions. Officials added that a rockfall also may have occurred. “Twenty-two men are trapped," company Vice President Steve Canonico reported. the accident occurred at about 11 p.m. He confirmed that the explosion was caused either by methane gas or coal dust. “We didn't blow any whistle (after the explosion occurred),” Canonico-rSaid. “Quite a few (men) got out safely and they passed the word around. Word travels fast at a time like this. Families Stand By The company official reported that “just alew” families were standing by at the mine office awaiting news from the rescue units. “They seem to be taking it well,” Canonico said. “They appear hopeful that their relatives will be found safe.” From initial accounts, the missing miners appeared to be sealed off in a passageway beyond the point of explosion. John Moraeito, one of the miners Who made it out of the mine safely, said he believed the blast touched off about a mile from where he was working. “The concussion knocked the shovel out of my hand and threw me to the floor. I didn’t waste any time getting out of there," Moraeito said. The Clinchfield No. 2 mine is located in this small mining community about 12 miles northwest of Clarksburg, W. Va. It is about 50 air miles southwest of Carmichaels, Pa., where last Dec. 6 a double explosion triggered by methane gas killed 37 miners. Miners Feel Shock The first indication of trouble at the Clinchfield No. 2 came late Thursday night when miners in other sections of the operation reported feeling a shock wave, presumably from the blast. Within minutes, rescue teams were being readied*to go down into the pit. By 6 a.m. the first units were reported to have penetrated to a point-1,200 feet from the point of the explosion. Word was flashed to the surface that the rescue teams had encountered “only normal amounts” of methane gas. They said they were having no trouble with rockfalls, a hazard which normally follows an explosion deep inside a coal mine. The possibility that disaster had struck plunged the town’s population of 200 persons into gloom. The most recet mine disaster in this coal mining state occurred on March 8, 1960 when 18 men lost their lives at a mine near Logan, W._ Va.

And West Virginia holds the dubious distinction of suffering the nation’s worst coal mine disaster. It occurred at Monongah on Dec. 6, 1907, when 361 men were, killed. Records show, that since 1869 a total of 770 persons have died in West Virginia mine disasters.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, April 26, 1963.

juShw JitwiSi'Mi'i. 'Jr •• ■■■'' — ■ "--.''J ' : STAR FARMER— Dave Sommer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Sommer, is shown receiving from Forest Tucker, Farm Bureau manager, the FFA chapter star farmer award at the annual banquet at the Adams Central school Thursday evening. (Photo by McLean) AWARD WINNER— NeiI VonGpnten is shown receiving one of the DeKalb awards from Chris Inniger at Thursday’s FFA banquet at Adams Central Thursday.—(Photo by Mac Lean)

Adams Central FFA Has Annual Banquet The Adams Central FFA chapter held its 11th annual parent and son banquet at the Adams Central school cafeteria Thursday evening, with 159 persons in attendance. Dr'. John Coster, of Purdue University, was the guest speaker, taking as his topic, “Things not learned in school.” He stressed three main topics: I—Confidence in others; 2—Spiritual aspects of life; 3—Self confidence. . Special music during the evening was provided by the Limberlost quartet. The chapter star farm award was presented to Dave Sommer by Forrest Tucker, with Sommer chosen as the chapter’s senior future farmer. DeKalb awards were presented by Chris Inniger to Ron Schwartz, Ron Habegger, Larry Miller, Dan Heyerly and Neil VonGunten. Philip Souder, -Adams Central high school principal, was awarded the honorary farmer degree. Awards were also presented to the ciairy, soils, crops and livestock teams, and also to Don Raudenbush, Art Ringger, Eddie Beer, Ron Schwartz for keeping the best record books. New officers for the 1963-64 year were installed at the close of the meeting. The new officers are: Paul Hirschy, president: Eddie Beer, vice president; John Steffen, reporter; Larry Mailer, secretary; Ben Bluhm, treasurer; Steve Kaehr, parliamentarian, and Martin Watson, faculty advisor. Name Os Graduate Listed Incorrectly The name of Robert Louis Webert was incorrectly spelled in the list of candidates for graduation at the Decatur high school May 23, published in Thursday's Daily Democrat.

Frank Hower Dies . Thursday Night E. H. Frank Hower, 74 of 1026 Patterson street, lifelong resident of Adams county a n d a retired General Electric Co. employe, died at 10:20 p.m. Thursday at the Adams county memorial hospital. He had been ill two months with complications and critical for the past three weeks. He was in Adams county Sept. 16. 1888. a son of Joseph C. and Maria Barnhart-Hower. His wife, Harriet, preceded him in death. Mr. Hower was a member of Adams Post 43. American Legion. Only survivors are 10 nieces and nephews, Mrs. Bob (Georgia) Johnson, Joseph C. Hower, Ben Hower, Mrs. Irene Klinetob. Mrs. Joe (Luella) LaTurner, Mrs. Robert (Katherine' Mendez. Mrs. Blaz (Sarah) Mendez, Dal and John Hower, all of Decatur, and Mrs. Georgia Hakes of Fort Wayne. One brother and two sisters are deceasedFuneral - service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Winteregg-Linn funeral home, the Rev. W. R. Watson officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery, with military rites by the American Legion. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today until time of the services. Funeral Saturday For Elmer Frane Funeral services for Elmer C. Frane, of Maples, who died suddenly Wednesday, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the E- Harper & Son funeral home In New Haven. The Rev. John Hauser will officiate and burial will be in St. John's cemetery at Flat Rock. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services.

New Phone Books Are Distributed Citizens Telephone Co. announced this morning that the 1963 directories have been in the mail and should be received by all subscribers by today. Many subscribers have already received their new directories for 1963. Patrons are requested to discard their old directories immediately upon receipt of the_new-book, as this will avert any using of old numbers that have been changed. The 144-page directory lists telephone numbers for Decatur, Monroe, Pleasant Mills, Berne, Linn Grove and Bryant. The book also includes long distance rates, instructions for proper use of the telephone, emergency and special calls. Yellow Pages Classifications of various businesses are listed in the yellow pages in the back of the book. The 1963 book has a white cover with a picture of the new Citizens company building framed in a blue circle. Officials of the local phone company report that there are approximately 7.190 telephones now in use in the Decatur area. The “Sprungers” head the list of the most popular names in the new directory. Diere are 101 Sprungers in the book, 81 Lehmans, 55 Liechtys, and 42 Neuenschwanders. Most of these are listed in the Berne section of the telephone directory. INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy and a little warmer most sections tonight. Saturday mostly cloudy and mild, chance of showers northwest by evening. Low tonight in the 40s. High Saturday 64 to 73. Sunset today 7:34 p. m. Sunrise Saturday 5:51 a. m. Outlook for Sunday: Showers and thundershowers likely. Lows in the 50s. Highs in the 70s.

Motorcycle Rider Hurt In Accident Two local drivers were arrested following a pair of accidents Thursday, with a motorcycle rider injured in one of the mishaps. William F. Ostermeyer, 27, 107 S. Seventh St., suffered injuries when his motorcycle struck a car operated by Harlan O. Burgett, 57 , 503 N. 12th street, at 622 N. 13th street at 4:40 p.m. Thursday. Ostermeyer suffered injuries to his left hand and a dislocated right shoulder, in addition to torn ligaments in the arm. He was treated at the Adams county memorial hospital for the injuries. Burgett was arrested for failure to yield the right of way, as he had pulled from a parking lot onto 13th street, in front of the northbound motorcycle. Damages were listed at $135 to the car and SIOO to the motorcycle. Pays Fine Raymond O’Campo, 22. of 703 N. Tenth St., paid a fine of $25 and costs, totaling $43.75, in city court this morning, after he was cited for reckless driving following an accident at 10:10 p.m. Thursday. O'Campo was northbound on Fifth street, just north of the Monroe street intersection, when his auto rammed into the rear of a parked car owned by Robert G. Walters, route 3, Decatur. The car was parked on the east side of the street, facing north, at 2:16 N. Fifth St. O’Campo pleaded not guilty to the charge this mqrning. but was found guilty by Judge John B. Stults. Damages were estimated at S4OO to O'Campo’s car and $350 to Walters’ auto. Hit-Rim ~ = A hit-run mishap occurred at 7:06 p.m.'Thursday, with a car driven by Robert Eugene Drake, 47, 521 Penn St., suffering $45 damage when struck by an unidentified car. Drake was northbound on 13th street, and as he attempted to turn east onto Washington street, his vehicle was struck on the right side by an auto making an improper pass. The car failed to stop after the crash. The city police are investigating. A car operated by Mary Ann Bebotit, 25, route 6, Decatur, suffered SIOO damage when hit by a truck pulling a house trailer at the intersection of Monroe and Second streets at 3.28 p.m, Thursday. She was eastbound on Monroe and in the right lane attempting to turn when struck by the truck driven by Richard Swejhar, 32, route 1, Lewisville, which was in the center lane and turning right onto Second street.

List More Donors To Wildcat League

The Decatur Wildcat League, • with $2,300 in cash and pledges towards the $3,600 needed to receive a full $1,200 from the Decatur Central Soya plant, announced 20 more donors today, Arthur Heimann, treasurer, stated. A total of $1,495.75 has been received in cash so far with $824 still outstanding in pledges. The money must be raised by June 1 for matching purposes, Carl A. Braun, league commissioner, stat- ; ed today. Meeting Monday The Wildcat board will meet at 7 p.m. next Monday in the conference room of the Decatur Central Soya office for a meeting to fix the number and salaries of employes, and to fix the form of application. “It is urgent,” Braun pointed out, “that the selection of qualified persons feegin immediately. The Fort Wayne Wildcat League holds weekly meetings of its league directors, and the Decatur board would like the Decatur director or directors to attend these meetings to become familiar with the spirit of the Wilcat League. Contributors The latest list of donors helping to raise the initial amount needed for a Decatur Wildcat League

I <We) wish to be a co-sponsor of the Decatur Wildcat League to provide training in citizenship and baseball for boys who do not make the other teams. I (We) hereby subscribe and enclose sto this worthwhile project. Signature

Plane Makes Havana Attack

MIAMI (UPI) — Anti - Castro raiders in a twin-engined plane made a low-level bombing attack Thursday night on Cuban oil refineries on Havana’s eastern outskirts, it was reportd here today. The “mystery” aircraft dropped five 100-pound bombs on the refineries, former ESSO and Shell oil installations, but Cuban exiles reporting the raid said they were ineffectual. The attackers were not identified but in Washington, a freelance newspaperman, Alexander Rorke, said he, two other unidentified Americans and a Cuban participated in the raid. Rorke said the attackers did not encounter either fighter or antiaircraft opposition. He said the home-made bombs, one of them lighted from the end of a cigar, were dropped from 150 feet. Rorke identified the Americans on the raid as members of an organization called “U.S. Freedom Fighters.” He said it was a non-political organization formed to help free Cuba. (Up to mid-day, Havana Radio had not mentioned the raid. News agencies were not able to contact their Havana bureaus for information on the attack. (In Washington, the State Department said it was “checking” the raid reports, but expressed skepticism about the attack despite _Rorke's statement). Exile sources said the attackers were out after a specific undisclosed target, but decided on a secondary objective when they were unable to pinpoint it for accurate bombing Rorke said the bombs “didn't blow anything up.” It was the first hostile bombing of the Havana area since April 15, 1961, when exiles strafed and bombed major airfields to set the stage for the abortive Bay of Pigs invasion two days later. _ Rorke declined , to identify, the takeoff site. He said, facetiously: “Let’s just say it was a small land mass off the Eurasian continent.” Water Main Contract To Yost Construction ... Yost Construction Co. of Decatur Was awarded the contract for the new water main on Elm street by the city board of works and safety Thursday afternoon. The Yost company submitted the lowest price of the two bids received by the board of works and safety. Yost submitted the low bid of $5,225, while Baker & Schultz, also of Decatur, submitted the other bid, a figure of $9,600. Tire new water main will be a 12inch main from Line street to 13ch street. Jt will be constructed 361 feet west of the center of Line street, west down Elm street to 13th street. It will be hooked onto a 12-inch main on Line street and a six-inch main on 13th street. The main will run an approximate distance of 2,170 feet.

SEVEN CENTS

include: Enos Osterman, Col. J. F. Sanmann, Dr. C. William Freeby, John DeVoss, Arnold Lumber Co., Robert B. Parrott, R. O. Westley, Petrie Oil Co. Also. The Decatur Daily Demo crat, Ivan Reynolds, Hugo Boerger, Bill Zoss Chevrolet - Buick, Judge G. Remy Bierly, Everett E. Bierman, T. F. Graliker, Decatur Community Builders (Clark W, Smith). Vernon L. Davis, Yost Construction Co., and Martin Zimmerman. The largest individual contribution to date has been S2OO, with the median running over $10; many smaller ones have been received, however. Braun stated that a concerted drive would be made this next week to complete the amount needed . Please Pledge Anyone desiring to pledge an amount, or make a contribution, is asked to do so immediately, Braun stressed this morning. The following form should be filled out and submitted with a check, to Decatur Wildcat League, Box 4, Decatur, Indiana. Please enclose check and mail to Decatur Wildcat League, Box 4, Decatur, Indiana, Braun added.

House Passes Farm Measure, Kennedy Win WASHINGTON (UPI) — Reluctant votes by big-city Democrats in favor of farmer subsidies have enabled President Kennedy to chalk up a big legislative victory in the face of solid Republican opposition. On two close roll calls—2os-196. and 208-196—administration forces Thursday night pushed through the House a bill to continue two more years of subsidy payments to farmers for not growing corn and other surplus feed grains. The first vote defeated a GOP move to sidetrack action for at least a month by sending the bill back to committee. The second vote was on passage, sending the measure to the Senate where fast action was assured. Republicans, including those whose farm constituents have collected heaviest payments under the program, voted unanimously to sidetrack the bill. Only one Republican-Rep. Alvin O'Konski, W is.—voted with the administration on final passage. Party- pressures 1 arge Iy. ac-.. counted for the topsy-turvy struggle in which the major objective of both parties was to influence the balloting of wheat growers in a May 21 nationwide referendum. This vote could determine the future course of American farm policy. The referendum will decide whether the President’s new wheat program, which Congress enacted last year, is adopted for the 1964 crop or whether wheat growers repudiate his “supplymanagement’’ -solution to farm surpluses The administration’s victory in- ‘ creased chances for -a. favorable vote on the wheat program. The House bill would activate a provision of the wheat program that is calculated to make it more attractive to growers in some areas. The motion to send the bill back to committee was offered by Rep. Ralph Harvey, R - Ind. Rep. Charles B. Hoeven, lowa, chief Republican spokesman on far m policy, emphasized that the GOP aim was “not to kill the bill but to postpone action” until after the wheat referendum. The pleasure would continue tor 1964 and 1965 crops a voluntary surplus - control program under which farmers have been paid $1.6 billion for holding down surplus plantings of corn grain sorghums and barley during the last two years.