Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 100, Decatur, Adams County, 27 April 1963 — Page 1

VOL LXI. NO. 100.

Ask Venue Change From Wells Court In School Action

All Os Trapped Miners Killed

United Press International DOLA, W. Va. (UPI) —Rescue teams retrieved the last body from deep in the Dola mine shaft early today. Friends and relatives ended their vigil at the lonely facility where 22 miners were killed in an underground explosion. The blast caught the victims 330 feet below the surface in Compass Shaft No. 2 at 10:58 p.m. EST Thursday, two minutes before they were to have punched out for the day. Mine officials said death apparently was instantaneous. A steel shed which had served as a makeshift morgue was nearly deserted early today as the last cars drove away along the singlelane road leading to this northern West Virginia shaft. Discovery Douses Hope Anxiety had turned to despair Friday as word came from dustcovered rescuers underground that first one, then another group of bodies had been discovered. Fourteen bodies were located by noon, and seven more found later in the afteroon near a continuous mining machine Then, retracing their steps, the searchers found the last body at about 8:30 p.m. in an area previously searched. Volunteers appently had overlooked it in thenhaste to set up fresh air stations and reach the blast site. As the news reached the shaft entrance, women broke into tears and veterans of the soft coal fields stood disconsolately discussing the rescue operation. When one woman emerged tear-

Says More Havana Raids Are Planned

WASHINGTON (UPI) — An American adventurer who claims he went on a bombing raid over Cuba said today that a underground radio in Havana directed the plane to its target. Alexander Rorke, a freelance reporter - photographer, said the plane maintained radio contact ‘‘with underground people in the Havana area" as it flew towards Cuban oil refineries Thursday night. Rorke, 36, refused to identify the amphibian plane or the three men he said accompanied him on the • raid He said the plane “was launched from an island south of Cuba” and picked him up in the Caribbean. “Other raids have been goihg on, and others are planned," Rorke said during an interview in his hotel room. “I will participate in more of them.” The plane flew north along the coast line of Cuba at about 50 feet, he said, until it reached Pinar Del Rio, the westernmost province of Cuba “We cut in over land, flew to the refineries, then out over water,” Rorke said. When the plane was about 150 feet over the refineries, Rorke said, they dropped a 100-pound high explosive bomb and four napalm bombs. — - “I think the 100 pounder went off, but we couldn’t see the others because we were flying out to sea,” Rorke ' said during an interview in his hotel room. Havana Radio said none of the bombs went off. Can Claims “Follish” Rorke called claims that such a raid would have injured people “foolish” because no one would be working in a refinery at night. After the raid, Rorke said, the plane again landed him on the water where he was picked up by a waiting boat, which brought him to the U.S. mainland. He refused to say where he landed. Rorke said one of his companions was an American student at the Massachusetts Institute of

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER DI ADAMS COUNTY

fully from the morgue, her young son asked frantically, ‘‘Where is he? Where is he?” Blamed For Blast Methane gas apparently caused the blast. Steve Canonico, vice president of Clinchfield Coal Co., said ‘‘a spark of some sort” was believed to have • set it off. “We kept hoping up to the last minute that the men working near the continuous mining machine had managed to barricade themselves,” he said. All the victims lived within a 40-mile radius of this tiny mining community. They left 22 wives and a total of 39 children. Thirty other miners who scrambled to the surface escaped injury in the blast. Mine officials said most of the bodies were burned. The blast was so powerful that it ripped a coat from the back of a worker four miles away and knocked a shovel from the hand of another a mile distant. Leonard Timms, director of the West Virginia Department. of Mines, said that mine bolts used to shore up the passageway ceilings prevented rockfalls, There was little methane present after the blast and no fires, enabling the rescue teams to move quickly one and one-half miles back into the shaft. Timms met today with Jim Westfield, assistant director of health and safety for the U.S. Bureau of Mines, to consider what steps should be taken to investigate the disaster.

Technology and another was an American businessman. He said the third was a Cuban exile. There were no markings on the plane, Rorke said. He refused to say where the plane came from or who owned it. Rorke said the raid was made as an "attempt to cut off the oil supplies for Migs on the island." He said he also hoped to help guerrillas prove that defenses on the island are not impregnable, and raise the spirits of Cuban exiles. Plans For Summer Speech Clinic Made Gail M. Grabill, superintendent of the Decatur public schools, today announced plans for the annual summer speech clinic in Decatur and Berne, opening June 17 and continuing until July 19. The clinic is operated through the auspices of the Adams county Crippled Children society, in conjunction with the Decatur and Berne-French schools. Miss Nancy Bennett, who will be a speech and hearing therapist in the Decatur schools next year, will be in charge of the summer program, assisted by Miss Sue Petrie, who has been in the summer program for several years. There is no charge for the schooling, which will be held at the Lincoln grade school here and the Berne-French school. The time of lhe classes will be divided on the basis of the number of students. Parents of the children are to provide transportation. Forms are being distributed now for referrals to clinicians. Hiese forms are available at Monmouth, Adams Central, Berne and Geneva, in addition to all elementary schools in Decatur. — Preliminary testing will be done June 17 and 18, with notice to be sent on time and place for the testing in both Berne and Decatur.

Charge Odium Os Prejudice In School Case The pro-consolidation side of Adams county’s complicated school reorganization case has asked for a change of venue from Wells county circuit court, where Judge Victor H. Simmons will hold a conference on the case Monday. Severin H. Schurger, representing North Adams Community Schools, filed the request, asking that the case be venued to either. Jay, Blackford, Grant, Huntington, or Allen county, in effect. Prejudice Charged Schurger charged that anodium of prejudice exists on the question and that undue influence favoring the anti-reorganization group exists now in Wells county. The new motion was made Thursday, four days before a scheduled hearing to dissolve the injunction, made by J. A. Bruggeman, representing Berne-French school. Bruggeman charge that the anti-reorganization group had allowed its rights to lapse, or suffered lapse, because it had followed up with a request for a permanent injunction. Clarence McNabb an d Tom Logan represent the anti-group in the litigation. But Howard Baumgartner, representing pro-reorganization members of the South Adams Community School board, had already moved that the case be tried on its merits. Conference Held Schurger explained that following a conference of all the “pro” attorneys, including Robert G. Smith, of Adams Central Community school, John A. DeVoss, of the Decatur school system; Schurger, for North Adams, and Baumgartner for South Adams, it was learned that McNabb had written Judge Simmons asking that the open hearing Monday be turned into a “conference” Monday, because Tom Logan could not be present But since a judge can rule during a “confernece,” and because Judge Simmons made his own feelings very clear in his previous hearings and in his temporary injunction ruling, the attorneys felt that they would have a better chance of a hearing on the merits of the case in another county court. The two sides, through their attorneys, have three days in which to agree on a county for venue. This is unlikely, however, Schurger, pointed out, and it is expected that Judge Simmons will name three counties of the possible five on Monday, and that each side will then be allowed to strike one. Hearing on Merits The case would then proceed with a hearing on the merits of the case on the question of dissolving the temporary injunction, which would put the North and South consolidation in effect. Those favoring consolidation point out that as long as the case is in litigation, consolidation can not be completed. But if the case is settled favorably, it will go into effect immedi-1 ately. If it is favored against consolidation, which is now likely, considering the temporary injunction, when the injunction is made permanent, Judge Myles F- Parrish will have to appoint a new committee under the new law, as has been done throughout the state in countie? not yet reorganized. With the state board of education through its school licensing procedure, slowly but surely refusing to re-license schools that do not meet minimum educational standards, pressure is being brought on even the most recalcitrant areas to adopt more modern organization. Lores Stucky Heads Berne Lions Club . Lores Stucky, owner of Berne Electric, has been named president of the Berne Lions club for 1963-64, effective July 1.

Decatur, Indiana, Satur day, April 27,1963.

Woman Badly Hurt In Accident Friday A Pleasant Mills woman suffered serious injuries in a car-pickup truck accident on the Monmouth road Friday evening, and has been transferred to a Fort Wayne hospital. Donna Marie Carter, 28, daughter of Joseph Carter, of Pleasant Mills, suffered multiple injuries in the mishap. Her injuries were listed as a skull fracture, back injury, possible broken right knee, and lacerations to head and both knees. After treatment at the Adams county memorial hospital, she was transferred to Fort Wayne. She was riding alone in her 1962 model car, when the auto collided with a pick-up truck operated by Hilbert William Hockemeyer, 49, route 3, Decatur. Suffers Severe Cuts Hockemeyer suffered severe lacerations to the chin, mouth and knees and was in the operating room for about three hours Friday evening as doctors stitched together the wounds. His seven-year-old daughter, who was a passenger in the pickup truck, suffered a cut to the back of the head and was later released from the hospital. Investigating the accident were state trooper Gene Rash and deputy sheriff Harold August, with assistance from city police officer Tom Hoffman. Under Investigation The officers said this morning that Hockemeyer was northbound on the Monmouth road and the Pleasant Mills lady was southbound when their vehicles collided about seven-tenths of a mile from the city limits, or just north of the St. Mary’s river bridge. One of the two drivers was driving left of center, causing the headon collision, but which driver had not been determined yet this morning as neither driver has yet been questioned, and the investigation is being continued. Both the 1962 model car and the pick-up truck were estimated at total losses. Adams Central Team Tops In Judging Adams Central’s poultry and egg judging team, coached by Martin Watson, won first place in the Adams county contest Friday. Members of the winning team are Mike Busse, Lary Mailer, Dave Heyerly and Paul Ehrsam. The second place team was Hartford Center, coached by Byron Bunker. Hartford team members are Ronnie Habegger, Steven Randolph, James Garboden and Dave Fox. Tihrd place was won by BerneFrench, coached by Doyle Lehman, and fourth place went to Geneva, coached by Bill Kipfer. Mike Busse was the top-rank-ing individual with 740 points. Larry Mailer and Dave Heyerly tied for second with 730 points. Other placings were: fourth Ronnie Habegger and DeWayne Leh- | man, 690; sixth Steven Neuenschwander, 680; seventh, Steve Randolph, 665; eighth, James Garboden, 660; ninth, Paul Ehrsam, 645; 10th, Dave Fox, 640. The winning Adams Central will now complete in the district contest, which will be held at Kendallville next Saturday. Hearing Set Tuesday On Cigarette Tax INDIANAPOLIS (UPD—Marion Circuit Judge John L. Niblack has set Tuesday for a hearing on a suit aimed at preventing Indiana from collecting cigarette taxes until June 1. The hearing is on a suit filed late Friday by attorney Lee LeMay, a former deputy attorney general, who- contended the new 4-cent-a-pack cigarette tax signed into law by Governor Welsh automatically repealed the present 3-cent tax.

22 Persons Saved From Sunken Boat

MIAMI (UPI) — A fishing boat with 24 persons aboard struck a shoal and sank off Bimini in the Bahama Islands Friday night. The Coast Guard said two persons were killed in the wreckage. All of the other 22 occupants of the 36-foot boat Jerry Mar apparently were rescued by three private vessels that went to the aid of the stricken craft in waters about 60 miles east of Miami. The Coast Guard said three survivors were flown to a hospital here for treatmen of injuries and the survivors were taken to a hotel on South Bimini Island for “a head counting.” “We believe everybody—except the two dead — was saved,” said a Coast Guard spokesman. “But we won't know" definitely until later in the morning.” The victims were identified as Dr. Roland Phillips and Toy

Democrats Launch Primary Campaign

• Adams county Democrats officially launched the 1963 city election campaign Friday evening with a pre-primary dinner meeting at the local Youth and Community Center. A large crowd attended the as- 1 fair, which saw all Democratic candidates from Decatur and Berne introduced and a panel discussion held during a town-hall type of meeting. Dr. Karl O’Lessker, legislative assistant to Gov. Matthew E. Welsh, was the featured speaker for the evening, with prominent Fort Wayne Democrat Ron Ross acting as emcee for the pre-prim-ary affair. A number of questions were asked of the five panel members, including many interesting queries on the new tax laws fired at state legislators Von Eichhorn end Burl Johnson, two of the panel members. Other panel members included Bob Heller, Decatur realtor and former state representative, Mayor Charles Decker of Bluffton and Mayor Garland Stickler of Columbia City. Co-Chairmen Adams county commissioner Delmas Bollenbacher and Preble township trustee Robert Kolter were co-chairmen in charge of the pre-primary meeting. A native of Philadelphia and professor of political Science at Wabash College, Dr. O’Lessker spoke on the many problems the general assembly has had to face, saying that “perhaps not since the Civil War, and certainly not since the early days of the great depression has our general assembly had to face so many problems of such great complexity and importance for the future of the state.” In reviewing the achievements and disappointments of the 93rd general assembly, he said the most notable achievement of this assembly was its willingness to face up to its responsibilities in the area of state support for public education and other vital services such as mental health and law enforcement. Property Taxes “Because of increased state aid to local school corporations, we shall at last be able to stabilize property tax rates and perhaps even give a certain measure of relief,” he said. “Here in Decatur, for example, your property tax rate can now be reduced by about 20 cents,” Dr. O’Lessker went on, “but if the legislature had failed to raise additional revenue your rate would have increased by $1.23 next year along —with no levelling off in sight." The Wabash College professor explained that now too Indiana can begin to make real strides in the great fight against mental illness and in the areas of conservation and water resources and flood control. He stated that the entire state will benefit from the construction of two toll bridges across the Ohio river at Cannelton and Mauckport, which will be built in conjunction with the east-wpst interstate highway from New Albany to the Illinois line north of Evansville. Dr. O’Lessker also spoke on the proposed public port of the state on Lake Michigan, saying “it is equally true that we are all losers 1 because of the legislature’s failure : to appropriate funds for the con--1 struction of the port.” 1 New Jobs He explained that the port project, which could have brought up 1 to 100,000 new jobs to Indiana and ■ behefitted almost every sector of ’ Hoosier economy, “new stands in 1 serious danger of never being I completed.” He spoke also of the “profound t disappointment" of the Welsh administration at the legislature's

Perle Oberdorf, both believed to be from Miami. The Coast Guard said it had no word on how they died — whether by drowning or injury. A Coast Guard amphibious plane brought the three injured survivors here where they were placed under sedation in a hospital. They were not believed seriously hurt. The fishing boat, owned by the National Brand Co. and skippered by Don Horn, went down around 1030 p.m. EST Friday. The Jerry Mar struck a shoal off the southeastern tip of Bimini at a point called Big Rock, the Coast Guard said. First word of the sinking was received by the Coast Guard at 10:35 p.m. from one of the private boats which said it was trying to aid the stricken ship.

I failure to enact a fair and constitutional reapportionment. “It is a failure in self-government,” he went on. In detailing the overall record of the 93rd general assembly, Dr. O’Lessker said it is one of astonishing contrasts. He explained it thusly: “Showing great courage, it brought about a major overhaul in Indiana’s outmoded tax structure; showing great foresight it made an investment in the economic development of Southern Indiana; but lack of courage led it to abandon its responsibilities on reapportionment and to turn its back on the port project, the greatest single investment it could have made in Indiana’s economic future.” Local Youth Escapes State Penal Farm Larry H. Butler Larry Harve Butler, 21, of Decatur, has escaped from the state penal farm at Putnamville, where he is serving a sentence of one year for a conviction of third degree burglary. Local law enforcement authorities received a report from the penal tram Thursday on Butler’s escape, and have been on the lookout for the youth in DecaturButler was reportedly in town Friday evening for a short time, as the sheriff’s department received a “tip” to that effect. He was not found, however, and is believed to have left town again. Butler was sentenced to one year at the farm by Judge Myles F. Parrish on January 19, along with Stephen Brandenburg and Larry Christianson. They were convicted on ji charge of third degree burglary, concerning a burglary at the Fager Appliances and Sporting Goods store in Decatur. They were taken the following Monday to serve their sentences, so actually Butler had served only a little more than three months of his one-year term. Details of how the Deactur young man made his escape from the penal farm were nat released to local authorities. Anyone having any information as to the whereabouts of Butler is requested to contact the city police or the sheriff's department. INDIANA WEATHER Increasing cloudiness today with showers or thundershowers beginning late today or - early tonight, continuing most ~ of Sunday. Low tonight 55 to 62. High Sunday near 70. Outlook for Monday: Fair to partly cloudy and cooler.

■ ' I ' ' Ji I® id J. C. Rice

Elkhart Educator Graduate Speaker. J. C. Rice, superintendent of schools for the past 14 years at Elkhart, will be the guest speaker at Decatur high school commencement exercises Thursday, May 23, it was announced this morning by Gail Grabill, superintendent. Ninety-three seniors are candidates for diplomas in the May 23 rites. Baccalaureate services will be held in the school auditorium, where commencement exercises will be held. Sunday, May 19. A native of Rising Sun, Rice was a coach and high school principal before taking over as superinten-

Fidel Castro Visits Russia

MOSCOW < UPI I — Cuban Premier Fidel Castro arrived in Russia today on a surprise visit likely to make him one of the most warmly welcomed foreign guests in Russian history. The long-range Russian jetliner which carried him non-stop from Havana landed early today in Murmansk, the Soviet Union’s northernmost port. - He was met there by First Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan, who went to Cuba last fall to get Castro’s agreement to the Kennedy-Khrushchev accord ending the crisis over Soviet missiles on the Caribbean island The Cuban leader was due to arrive Sunday in Moscow, where it was expected he would get a mammoth welcome led by Premier Nikita Khrushchev himself. Soviet newspapers, which had not announced Castro was due to arrive, carried numerous SovietCuban friendship articles today. Radio Moscow broadcast an account of the Murmansk rally to the nation late this morning. Castro is making his first excursion outside Cuba since he went to the United Nations in 1960. The bearded Cuban is expected to spend about a month in Russia, touring various provincial areas with Khrushchev as well as taking part m ceremonies in the capital. His arrival just before the big May Day observance made it virtually certain that he would be the most honored foreign guest atop Lenin’s tomb during the annual parade. It was not certain whether Castro would visit Red China before NOON EDITION Decatur Temperature DECATUR TEMPERATURES Local weather data for the period ending at 10 a.m. today. 12 noon 60 12 midnight ~42 1 p in. ... 60 1 a m 40 2 p.m 60 2 a m 39 3 pm. ... 62 3 a m 38 4 p.m 61 4 a m 38 5 p;m: 60 5 a m 36 6 p.m 58 1 ' 6 a.m 35 7 p.m 54 7 a.m; ?... 38 8 p.m 50 8 a.m 49 9 p.m 48 ' • 9 a.m. 56 10 p.m. ..a........ 4'5 10 a.m. 60. 11 p.id. 44 Rain Total for the 24 hour period ending at 7 a.m. today, .0 inches. The St. Mary’s river was at 4.20 feet. • ,-4-

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dent of schoools at Corydon, Martinsvillle and Frankfort, the last three positions he held before becoming superintendent at Elkhart 14 years ago. A past president of the Indiana superintendents association, Rice received A.B. and A.M. degrees at Indiana University. His first teaching assignment was in a one-room elementary and high school grade school room. Rice is a past member of the general commission of the Indiana state board of education, and is active in the Indiana superintendents association, and the American association of school administrators. He is a member of the Presby- ; terian church and his favorite recreation includes athletic events, photography and flower growing.

returning home, but there has been speculation that he would do so. The Kremlin was expected to go all-out while Castro is here to wean him away from Peking and to allay any hard feelings that may remain about Khrushchev's failure to consult him before he promised last fall to pull Soviet missiles out of Cuba. Pre-Band Program Meeting On May 6 Parents of fifth grade students in ■ the Decatur public schools are requested to attend an instrument showing Monday evening. May 6. The showing is sponsored by the Decatur Music House and will be held in the new music room at Decatur high school. At the meeting. parents will be given the opportunity to inspect the many instruments used in the newly-de-veloped pre-band program in the local schools. Parents will also be afforded the opportunity to see their children perform on each of the four basic instruments at the affair. In'all. 140 students of the fifth grade in the Decatur public schools are participating in the pre-band program. Through the program, each student has had instruction on four of the basic instruments of the band, clarinet, flute, cornet and trombone. The lessons have been given during the past month. Having completed the playing phase of the program,’ the students are being tested on music aptitude at the present time. This combination of participation and testing will assure the students and the parents of a choice of instrument compatible with the student’s capabilities. The high school band will present concerts in each of the elementary schools, Lincoln, Southeast and Northwest, in the near future, demonstrating the use of all band instruments. The instruments used in the preband program are loaned to intructors Richard Collins and Clint Reed for their use by the Decatur Music House...