Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 205, Decatur, Adams County, 30 August 1963 — Page 1

Vol. LXI. No. 205.

To Lower Volunteer Into Mine In Effort To Find ■ ■ ■ - . ■ iv • , ■ Trapped Miner Louis Bova

Seven Survive Blast In Utah

MOAB, Utah (UPD — The grim task of identifying bodies of victims of a potash mine explosion began today in a truck repair shop converted into a temporary morgue. • At the same time, federal and state agencies began a full-scale investigations of the blast, which killed 18 of 25 construction workers nearly 3,000 feet below the earth’s surface. The makeshift morgue was set up when word reached officials that the remaining 18 men still in the mine were dead. Seven men ' survived the blast. Five were rescued Thursday night; two were rescued Tuesday, the day of the explosion. Sheriff John Stocks, who knew most of the victims personally, said it appeared that visual identification would be impossible in most cases. He said there was a possibility he would ask the FBI to aid in the identification. Orders Inquiry The federal investigation into the blast was ordered by the, Interior Department in Washington Thursday following a statement by the director of the Bureau of Mines that “aU but one” of four fatal accidents involving workers at the mine property during the past 20 months “were preventable.” Bureau Director Marling J. Ankeny said corrective measures had been recommended to the shaft-drilling contracting firm, Harrison International, Inc., of Miami, Fla., a Canadian concern. Ankeny said the mine still was in custody of the Harrison organization at the time of Tuesday’s explosion, but that Texas

Ask Judge Rule In School Case

The North Adams community •chool board hired attorney Severin H. Schurger this morning to obtain a declaratory judgment from circuit court Judge Myles F. Parrish on fifth board member should be elected from the county area or the city. The board requested Schurger to Kk that the decision be expedited Bo that a fifth member could bei chosen promptly, enabling the board to act in a properly organized manner. Decided Thursday The decision to hire Schurger was made at a meeting of the board last night after board' member Clarence Bultemeier refused to accept a letter from the state superintendent of schools which stated that the term of the fifth member had expired during the litigation. The letter quoted as “unofficial” opinion from the state deputy attorney general. Bultemeier stated that he would not accept this as a conclusive legal statement but that he wanted to see a legal brief or a written opinion from the attorney general’s office. Board member Dr. James Burk told Bultemeier that it could take “up to a year” to obtain such an opinion and that the letter from the state superintendent was the same thing as an official opinion. Bultemeier said, “If we want to accept this then we might as well accept the verbal opinion that was given to us several weeks igo.” Exhaust Local Channels School superintendent Gail Grabill then said he had been told that, as a rule, the attorney general’s office would not rule on such a matter until all local legal channels had been exhausted. The members then began to discuss the possibility of taking the matter

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Gulf Sulphur Co. “was exercising some surveillance over the contractors.” Aid In Rescue Tuesday’s survivors, Don Blake Hanna, 27, and Paul McKinney, 22, were at the mine Thursday to aid in the rescue of their five companions. The five included Charles Byrge, Helper, Utah; Robert June, Moab; Charles Clark, Moab; Tom Trueman, Toronto, and Grant H. Eslick, Moab. Eslick was the only employe of the Texas company, the 24 other men worked for Harrison International. Trueman and Hanna were hospitalized for treatment of injuries and burns. Eslick said the smoke after the blast gave him his “worst moments.” “If a guy is going to panic, he will do it in smoke,” he said. June was asked how he spent the 51 hours awaiting a rescue party. “I just laid there and sweat,” he said. Shortly after the five men were brought to the sdrface, the crowd of newsmen and relatives which had kept a long vigil at the mine was told that the 18 other men were dead. June Crawford, chief engineer for the Texas company, said over a loud speaker: “For all of you on the firing line, it’s all over. There are no further survivors.” The members of the miners’ families took the news stoically on the whole, although one woman shouted: “That’s a hell of a brutal way to learn it.”

before the local court. At first they considered holding the board election which would have resulted in a tie between the county candidate and the city candidate, and then letting the judge decide the tie. But, after some discussion, it was decided to ask the judge to render a decision as to which district the fifth member should represent. All the members of the board also agreed to submit the letter from the school superintendent to the judge to aid him in making his decision. Budget Approved Bultemeier also told the group that he would accept the judge’s decision as final and would not attempt to appeal it. Before the meeting closed the members voted to make the First State Bank of Decatur the legal depository for school funds and signed the school district budget and several teachers contracts. Monroe Democrats Select Candidates The Monroe Democrats held their party convention Tuesday evening and filled their ticket for the November town election. Weldon Nussbaum, who is associated with Paul Zurcher in the Mobil service in Monroe, was nominated from the third district. Monroe garage operator Kenneth Hoffman, who is a member of the present Monroe town board, was named from the second. district. Art Roudebush, an employe of the Adams county Farm Bureau Co-op, was nominated from the first district. Art Moes'chberger was renominated for clerk-treasurer, a position he has held for several years.

SHEPPTON, Pa. (UPD— State mines chief H. Beecher Charmburg said today a volunteer would be lowered more than 300 feet underground in an effort to find trapped miner Louis Bova. The decision to lower a volunteer was made after a television camera lowered into a chamber where David Fellin and Henry Throne were trapped for 15 days recorded “what looked like the entire body of a man.” ’ “As a result of seeing the television image this morning it was decided—although not unanimously—that we have enough evidence for someone to go down and\take a look,” Charmbury said. He said a volunteer — whose name would not be disclosed until his mission was completed to prevent his family from worrying —would descend “sometime this afternoon.” Rescuers readied rope and a parachute-type harness of the type used to rescue Fellin and Throne. Charmbury indicated that some of the mining experts were dividea as to whether the television camera recorded a body or merely clothing and equipment left behind by the rescued miners. The camera showed “a miner's hat, head, shoulders, arms, legs and boots,” he said. The body, he said, appeared to be in a sitting position against a wooden post. Rescuers have been searching for Louis Bova, who was trapped with Fellin and Tyrone’in an Aug. 13 cave-in more than 300 feet underground. Fellin and Throne were rescued Tuesday. Bova was separated from them by rubble. Brothers View Pictures Daniel and John Bova, brothers of the missing man, viewed pictures of the chamber on special television monitoring unit housed in a truck. “It’s possible, it’s possible,” Daniel Bova said when asked if it was his brother’s body he had seen. Charmbury said in order to test the camera, r it was put into the shaft used by Fellin and Throne to escape rather than a new hole — now being widened — to the chamber where they had thought Bova to be. He said work on the Bova shaft would have had to be curtailed in order to use the specially designed camera there. There was speculation that the body actually was clothing left behind by Fellin and Throne. But Clyde Machamer, president of the Independent Miners Association, said if it was clothing, “it’s awfully well formed. Are Not Sure Charmbury emphasized that the findings of the camera were not conclusive. “It appears to be a man’s body,” he said. “We are by no means sure of this.” •The cave-in which imprisoned the three miners had trapped Bova separately. Charmbury said it was possible Bova had come into the chamber since Fellin and Throne were rescued. » Charmbury said further pictures were being taken apd that a volunteer might be lowered into the hole today. Whether to send one of more than 20 volunteers down was to depend on the hazards involved and the scrutiny of the pictures. Lineman For Utility Electrocuted Thursday SALEM, Ind. (UPD — Herbert Anthony, 27, R. R. 1, Hope, was electrocuted near here Thursday while working on a Public Serv. ice Company of Indiana power line atop a 125-foot steel, tower. The shock of touching a 23,000volt line knocked him to the ground but authorities said he died from the shock and not from the faU. Monroe Republicans Select Candidates The Monroe G.O.P. convention was held Wednesday evening at the home of Clifford Essex, precinct committeeman. Mrs. Jack Barlett was acting secretary. Those nominated for the town board were Sam Kaehr, first district Darrell Tullis, second district; and Enos Schroch, third. Jack Barlett was nominated for clerk-treasurer.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

— IT" ■ I! ' ... Decatur, Indiana, Friday, August 30,1963.

Catholic Schools Open Next Week

The Decatur Catholic high school and the St. Joseph Catholic elementary school wil open for the 1963-64 school year next week, according to offical announcement this morning by school officals. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Simeon Scmitt, pastor of St. Mary’s church, is superintendent of the schools, with Sr. M. Juienne the new principal of the high school and the seventh and eighth grades. Sr. M. Vera, former teacher in the local schools, has been returned here to serve as principal of the first six grades. Sr. Vera is also supervisor for the Sisters of St. Agnes for all grade schools in Indiana where members of the order teach. Die first school event will be faculty Orientation for the teachers of grades one through eight at 9 a.m. Tuesday. St. Joseph School Classes will open Wednesday for all grades except the first, with holy mass at 8 a.m. The first grade will report Thursday, Sept. 5. Any first grade pupils who arrive before 8 a.m. may attend mass. There will be half-day sessions for grades one through six next week. The elementary grades have been 'reorganized to some extent, as the first six grades will have their own principal, Sr. M. Vera. Teachers for the grade school will be: Sr. Helen Marie, grade 1A; Mrs. Jerome Deßolt, grade IB; Sr. Francis de Sales, grade 2A; Sr. Jane Therese, grade 2B; Mrs. Gerald Durkin, grade 3A; Mrs. Donald Everett, grade 3B; Sr. Mary Helen, grade 4A Mrs. Charles Voglewede, grade 4B; Sr. M. Laurine, grade SA; Robert Wilhelm, grades 5B and 6A; Mrs. Adolph Weidler, grade 68, Sr. M. Carla, grade 7B; Sr. M. Bonaventure, grade 7A: Sr. M. Audrey, grade 8A; Sr. M. Johnel, grade Sandra Kohne Wins Indiana Fair First Twelve-year-old Sandra Kohne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kohne, route 4, Decatur, received a first place award Thursday in senior yearling heifer class at the Indiana state fair. She is a member of the Washington Happy Hustlers and a student at St. Joseph’s school, Decatur. This is her sectmd year in 4-H work. The Red Poll heifer which she showed at the state fair also won first place at the Adams county 4-H fair. There were several other state fair winners from Adams county in the last two days. ’ Food preservation: Sue Burry, route 2, Berne, blue ribbon; Janet Bullman, route 2, Berne, red ribbon; Beverly Kipfer, route 1, Berne blue ribbon; Karen Bollenbacher, route 2, Berne, red ribbon; Sandra Bransteter, route 2, Berne, red ribbon. Project for 4-H craft: Jill Fuelling route 1, Geneva, blue ribbon; Judy Grandlienard, route 1, Geneva, blue ribbon; Sara Ploughe, route 2, Decatur, blue ribbon; Steven Randolph, route 1, Geneva, red ribbon. Vegetable judging: Arnie Lehman, John Lehman, Jim Biberstein and William Kipfer, all of Geneva, place, FFA division team and coach. Domestic, rabbits: Ken Martin route 6, Decatur, first, second and third place in Flemish Giant breed, senior buck division. Also, first and second place in best of breed and best opposite sex judging divisions. Four-H clothing: Melissa GrandHenard, route 1, Geneva, blue ribbon; Karen Scherer, route 1, Decatur red ribbon; Kmalese Striker, route 2, Geneva, blue ribbon; Sharon Schaadt, route 2, Berne, bule ribbon; Mary Lybarger, route 2, Geneva, red ribbon; Donna Hod(Continued on Page 8)

88. Mrs. Charles Voglewede comes to Decatur from Coldwater, Mich., where she taught in the elementary school. Robert Wilhelm, of Garwood, N.J., took his preparatory work at Seton Hall University, Sr. M. Cala taugh last year at St. Nicholas school in Evanston, 111. Sr. M. Audrey taught six years as eighth grade teacher at Kewaskum, Wis, High School Sr. M. Julienne, who replaces Sr. M. Ameda as pricinpal of the high school, will also be principal of the seventh and eighth grades. She was formerly principal of Marian high school at Hays, Kan. D. C. H. S. seniors will register at 9 a.m. Tuesday and juniors at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Sophomores will register at 9 a.m. Wednesday and freshment at 1 p.m. Wednesday. School will begin for all high school pupils Thursday, with an assembly at 8:15 a.m. Following the assembly, there will be short periods to give the pupils an opportunity to become acquainted with their schedule for the first semester. The last period will end at 1:15 p.m. Friday, Sept, fl, everyone will follow a full sechedule, beginning at 8:15 a.m., and closing at 3:10 p.m. Grades seven and eight will have half-day sessions Wednesday and Thursday, closing at noon. Friday they will have a full scheule, similar to that of the high school. The high school faculty in addition to the principal, will have two new members Sr. M. Annabel, who previously taugh at Yonkers, N.Y., will teach in the social studies department. The Rev. Eugene Fekete, who was appointed as assistant priest earlier this summer, will teach religion, English and Latin.

Urges Drivers Aid In Safety Campaign Sheriff Roger L. Singleton today again urged all residents of Adams county to lend their support to the state-wide “Lights On For Safety’’ campaign. Motorists are requested to use their low beam headlights while driving, day or night; during the official Labor Day holiday beginning at 6 p.m. today and continuing until 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 3. Sheriff Singleton stated the "Lights On For Safety’ program is sponsored by the Indiana traffic safety foundation, in cooperation with state, county and city traffic officials. The objectives of the program are to concentrate public attention on safe driving and reduce traffic losses during the four-day holiday. In addition to the use of headlights for all holiday driving, the Sheriff urged drivers to follow three simple rules. "These rules,” he said, "are important. If they are observed we could go without accidents in the county during the Labor Day period." The rules are: 1. Reduce speed in congested traffic and hold passing to a mlnl>mum. 2. Signal, well in advance, your intention to turn, change lanes or reduce speed. 3. Be alert for traffic signs and signals and use particular care in approaching rural intersections. INDIANA WEATHER Fair and cool tonight and Saturday. Low tonight 50 to 58. High Saturday In the 70s north. 75 to <2 south. Sunset today 7:20 p.m. Sunrise Saturday 8:12 a.m. Outlook for Sunday: Continued fair. Lows in the 50a. Highs 75 to 85.

Site ■> i ■ ■ i >mF GOV. WELSH, right, signs an autograph for Angela Reiff, as her mother, Mrs. Jack Reiff, looks on, and Carl Gerber, Decatur city councilman and candi date for Mayor, and Wendell Macklin, Democraticcommittee treasurer, assist. Hundreds lined up to talk with the governor. (Photo by Cole>

Welsh Speaks Here Thursday

The great increase in property tax rates must rest on the irresponsibility of attorney-general Edwin K. Steers, Jr.,* who prolonged the struggle to determine the constitutionality of the sales tax law by silly charges, Gov. Matthew E. Welsh told an enthusiastic throng of some 600 Adams county Democrats Thursday evening. Gov. Welsh explained how, under the constitution of 1852, the property tax had been given the responsibility of raising the money for local schools. But during the great depression of the 1930’5, the value of property fell, and Hoosiers' incomes were no longer relative to property owned. At that time the Democratic party, under Gov. Paul V. McNutt, started a constitutional amendment through the 6-year process to permit a net income tax, and passed a temporary gross income tax, which was to pay 40% of local school costs, as well as the major costs of state government. The Republicans regained control of the state legislature, and prevented a net income tax from being passed, leaving the burden on property and gross income. But the “baby boom” which followed the Second World War, and the growth in Indiana's population, caused the school costs to grow faster than the gross income tax. By 1960, the state was paying only slightly over 20“ of tire cost of local schools. .... — To take the burden from property, the Democrats proposed repealing the gross income tax, and substituting a net income tax. The Republicans, demanded instead a sales tax added, to the gross income tax. Legislative Deadlock The deadlock stood through the entire regular 61-day session, and the Governor called the legislators back for another 40 days. At the end of this period, the two parties I were still deadlocked. So a compromise was proposed, with an adjusted gross income tax, and sales tax. This narrowly passed each house, and in the senate Lt. Gov. Richard Ristine broke, a tie vote, and favored the sales tax — he certified it to the governor, as did the Republican house speaker. Sign Or Else The governor either had to sign the bill, or else call a second special session, or else watch property taxes double all over the state. He I signed the bill, although he had op-1 posed the sales tax. As is usual,- a suit was brought to test the constitutionality of the tax bills. The governor has the duty of defending the case. The attorney general represented him, telling him the law was constitutional. But at the trial, the Republican circuit court judge held that it was unconstitutional. The next day, the attorney general told the governor he had changed his mind, and now agreed with the tria judge. So, the governor had to hire an attorney to take the case on to the Supreme Court, where it now rests. But the attorney general went on attacking the law, and finally ended up charging "fraud" in the legislature. Fraud by Steers Gov. Welsh pointed out that the attorney general should have told him about the "fraud” if it existed. before the suit was started, four months before. In fact, the governor charged, the "fraud" was on the part of the attorney general, in presenting one side, and then suddenly deciding the other was more politic, and changing views completely. The facts hadn’t changed, the attorney general had, the Gov. stated. Enter tainment The three-hour program start-

ed with the recitation of “Little Orphan Annie.” by Sandy McCrorwy, of Berne, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. G. McCrorwy. The young lady, who placed well up in the national twirling competition in her age division then presented a twirling demonstration. , The Astronotes of Decatur Catholic high school then performed, playing several pieces. They include James Heimann, Betsy Rumsehlag, David Braun, James Becher, and Joe Heimann. Sandra and Susan Singleton, daughters of Sheriff and Mrs. Roger Singleton, then presented a toedance in ballet style. Gov. Welsh, accompanied by. Carl Gerber, Dr. Harry Hebble, Von Eichhorn, and Burl Johnson, enjoyed the entire performance. Master of ceremonies Dick Linn then presented Mabel Striker state vice-chairman, who presented visitors and dignitaries, including the governor’s executive secretary, Jack New, of Greenfield, and Sgt. Bert" the governor’s driver; Harry Stahl, Wells county chairman, Mayor Charles Decker, of Bluffton, and others from Wells county. Mrs. Johnston Speaks Mrs. Striker then introduced Mrs, Margaret Afflis Johnston, of the Second and Eleventh district, a former state vice-chairman, and former candidate for congress against Charles A. Halleck. Mrs. Johnston recounted how glad she was to be in Adams county again, how much she enjoyed campaigning among the women of the state, mentioning the fine speech that Mayor Fred Feick made concerning campaigning to women and young Democrats at French Lick. She told how strongly she believes in the necessity of a Democratic victory this year, and in carrying out the principles of the Democratic party, Humidor Presented Dick Heller then introduced the governor, and following the main speech. Burl Johnson, state representative from Adams and Welks counties, presented the governor with a beautiful cigar humidor made here in Adams county, and to be engraved to the governor from the Democratic party of Adams county. All of the candidates for office In Decatur, Monroe, Berne, and Geneva were introduced. The barber shop quartet, the Eels, then sang several songs; the group includes Alan Lehman, Donovan Sprunger, Ed Ewell, and Irv Ewell. There were more' than 150 Democrats inside the machine shed, and nearly three times that many in the yard outside for the speech. Committees helping with the arrangements were then introduced, and the program closed Following the program, ice cream and cake were served for two hours, and the governor was besieged with requests for autographs, and he met most of those present. # gchrlcker Greeted A birthday card for former Gov. Henry F. Sphricker was arranged for by Rudy Meyers, and signed by all present including the governor. Today is Gov. Schrlcker's 80th birthday. Before the program started, dinner was served by the Spanglers to the governor’s party. Committee Listed Conhmittee for the affair included Facilities committee —■ < Wendell Macklin, Bernard Clark, Harold Miller, Chalmer Deßolt, Lawrence Kohnc and son. William Linn, John Continued on Page 8)

SEVEN CENTS

Seoul Honor Court Held By Rotarians 1 ’7 Boy Scout night was observed Thursday evening at the weekly meeting of the Decatur Rotary chib at the Youth and Community Center, with Gene Ziner, scout commissioner, presiding and presiding the charter to troop 61, sponsored by the Rotary club. The scout court of honor wat held, with W. Guy Brown as chairman. Clarence Ziner served as second class commissioner. Gene Rydell as merit badge commissioner, with Ron Secaur, scoutmaster, as scribe. John Knudsen is the assistant scoutmaster. Four troop members. Jon Knudsen. Mike Patch, Kevin Levy and Ron Patch, were advanced to second class scouts. Merit badges were presented to Richard Howard in swimming, Bill Allison, home repairs and painting, and Bill Rydell, swimming and dog care. Rotary members of the executive board of tba.Autboay Wayne council, C. C. Pumphrey, Clarence Ziner. Gene Rydell and W. Guy Brown, were introduced, as was T. C. Smith, former veteran scout official, who was a guest at the meeting. Parents of the troop members were also guests at the dinner meeting. Gene Rydeii is institutional representative for the Rotary troop. Bob Cook is chairman of the club’s scout committee, assisted by H P. Schmitt, Jr., Jack McEwhn, Bob heller, George Auer and Bill Snyder. Following the meeting, the equipment of the troop was shown to the Rotarians and parents. The exhibit of the equipment was set up in the yard in the rear of the center.

Gerald Strickler Council Nominee

The Republican central committee met at the courthouse Thursday evening for the purpose of filling the vacancy of councilman, third district, and also to reaffirm the city organization officers. Gerald G. Strickler. 1056 Winchester street, was selected as nominee for Councilman third district on the republican ticket. He will oppose Harold Milter, Democrat, in the fall election. Strickler is a graduate of the Decatur high school, where he was active in athletics. He served 26 years as a referee, and during that time officiated two. state finals, 12 semis, and 18 regionals. Also, Strickler was among a group of American referees to officiate the Central American Tournament at Costa Rica and also the following year in El Salvador. Strickler has been a real estate broker for 20 years, and is also an auctioneer. He and his wife, the former Evelyn Kohls, attend • the First Christian church, where Strickler serves as chairman of the board of trustees and 'is also an elder. Strickler is a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Elks, realtors board, and also on the board of, the Decatur Booster club. Mr. and Mrs. Strickler are the parents of three daughters. A son, Tom, was killed in an automobile accident a few years ago. At the organizational meeting for the city campaign, Herman Lankenau was named chairman, Mrs. John M. Doan, vice chairman, and Robert S. Anderson, secretary-treasurer. They were all hold-over officers.