Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 285, Decatur, Adams County, 4 December 1963 — Page 1

VOL. LXI NO. 285.

Asks Blockade Against Cuba

CARACAS (UPD — President Romulo Betancourt called Tueslay night for an aire and naval blockade of Cuba to' put a stop to | the Castroite export of arms and revolution to other nations of the New World. (There was no immediate’ reaction from the United States, which presumably would have to furnish most of the forces required for such a blockade.) At a news conference, Betancourt also urged the few Latin American nations which have not already done so to break relations with Premie Fidel Castro’s revolutionary regime. The President’s double - barreled attack on the Castroites was a sequel to last week’s announcement that Venzuela has “definite and irrefutable proof” that arms found cached on a Venezuelan beach last month were smuggled in from Cuba for use by Communist terrorists in this country. Appoints Committee A few hours before Betancourt spoke, the Organization of American States had voted in Washington to appoint a special committee to investigate the Venezuelan charge. (In Miami, a former Castroite who brought Belgian arms for the revolutionary regime in 1959, said he recognized one of

Historic Visit By Pope To Holy Land

VATICAN CITY (UPD—Pope Paul VI closed the second session of the Ecumenical Council today with a surprise announcement that he will make an historic visit to the Holy Land in January. The visit to the Middle East, the birthplace *of Christianity, will be the first by a Pope since the time of St. Peter 1,900 years ago. Pope Paul will be the first pontiff to leave Italy in 151 years. Vatican sources said he will make the trip by air which .Wttr be Tirsr Tllglit Pope. The birthplace of Christ and the holy places identified with his life now lay in Israel and Jordan, and sources said the Pope will visit both countries. 1116 announcement of his forthcoming journey was made by the Pope at the end of a half-hour speech closing the second session of the council, Vatican 11. A third session is scheduled for next September. Shortening of Decrees . In his Latin language discourse, the Pope ordered a simplifying and shortening of ‘proposed decrees stilfto be considered by the council in hopes of completing its work next year. The council fathers took final votes approving decrees on the form of public worship for Catholics and on modern communications media. The Pope then promulgated the decrees, and they became binding as law on the world's half billion Roman Catholics. The decrees were the only two of 17 documents up for consideration by the council that have been completed, although three more are close to being finished. Following the promulgation, the Pope addressed the 2.15 Q prelates present in the great Basilica of St. Peter’s and told them the “practical implications” of the council’s work will be decided by commissions after it has drawn to a close. Symbolizes Theme In deciding to visit the Holy Land in Palestine, the Pqpe dramatically -symbolized the TWO SECTIONS 5 H SHOPPING II < DAYS LEFT v & / ■ •'"a CHRISTMAS SEALS fight IB and other RESPIRATORY DISEASES | 7 oSranal ° W’dtftWwW WiShmKm! o RMIh WW Hk wtugl ° KQrttwsXtaSO d P* ° I—CMRISTMASU Q y

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ■ ' ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

the cached weapons which was displayed on television. Ex-Maj. Ricardo Lorie said he is willing to assist the OAS investigators if his help is wanted. (Lorie said each of the automatic rifles he bought in Belgium is stamped with the CUban national emblem. '(.“Castro was angry because I 'had the Cuban emblem put on the weapons,” he said. “Now I understand why.”) Won’t Hesitate Betancourt said he does not think the rest- of Latin America will hesitate to act when it sees proof that the Castro regime is seeking to overthrow the Venezuelan government. President assured newsmen that the Venezuelan police are “actively searching’’ for ,U. S. Army Col. James K. Chenault, who was kidnaped from his home-by Communist tommygunners a week ago today. He said he has “no official information” about Chenault’s whereabouts or condition. The Chenault kidnaping was part of the unsuccessful Red effort to sabotage Sunday’s presidential election, which was won easily by Raul Leoni, nominee of Betancourt’s Democratic ’ Action Party. Under the Venezuelan consititution, Betancourt could not seek reelection.

theme of the present council called by his predecessor Pope John XXIII. Pope John signified his desire to bring the church up to date »with the times. . , . • O' — By visiting the Holy Land,' presumably by chartered jetliner, Pope Paul will be going back to the origins of Christianity. Not since St. Peter, ode of Christ’s 12 apostles and the first Pope who "left Palestine and established the papacy in Rome, has a pontiff returned to the Holy Land. St. Peter died a martyr’s death by crucifixion in Rome 'in 64 A.D. Other Popes have left what is now Italy, by duress or design in the intervening years. But Paul will be the first to leave Italy since the time of Pius VII, whowas taken prisoner by Napoleon and exiled to Fontainbleau, France, in 1812. After he signed an , agreement with the French Emperor, Pius VII was allowed to return to Rome in--1814. Virtually the entire heirarchy of the Roman Catholic church was gathered in St. Peter's for the din al ceremonies. The pontiff's announcement that he would try to wind up the council nextffall thus came as a surprise. ' Noting the “heavy, assiduous and protracted work” of the council, and that “other questions are still subject to further studies and discussions,” the Pope said' “We hope that the third session in the autumn of next year will bring them to completion.” On questions already dealt with by the council, he said, “we will sge to it that these questions be subjected to a thorough and deeper re-exami-nation so as to be able to present to the next session of the council' schemata which are short and so worded that it will not be difficult to obtain judgment on certain fundamental propositions.” Applauded Warmly The pontiff was warmly applauded by the more than 2,000 bishops and heads of religious orders assembled In St. Peter’s Basilica for the council’s closing. The ceremony began with a Mass and was followed by the papal promulgation of the two council documents. The document on the liturgy, or forms of public worship, is by far the more important. Ampng its points are approval for modern languages to be substituted for . Latin in most of the mass and other sacraments. The U. S. Catholic , hierarcy announced today it will meet next spring to authorize the use of English and to work out the for to s for the new texts. No date Has been set for the changeover. The aim of substituting everyday languages for Latin is to bring church rites closer to t the people, to restore Catholic worship to its original beauty and simplicity, or, in the words of the document itself, "to Emphasize the essentials." ’ „

Custer In Finals Os Oratorical Contest IKX * John Custer John Custer, Decatur high school senior, moved into the state finals of the'American Legion oratorical contest Tuesday night by winning the zone contest at Auburn. Custer, whose speech instructor is Tony Kelly, becomes the fourth student from his school to participate in the state finels of the Legion oratorical contest. The son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Burdette Custer of Decatur, Custer won the zone eliminations contest Tuesday night by besting Miss Sue Hoseik, Anderson high school senior. • The zone contest .pitted winners from the fourth and fifth districts in the Legion contest. Custer was the fourth district representative. Finals Dec. 14 The four zone winners will meet m the state finals in Terre Haute, Saturday, Dec. 14. The state) contest will be held at television station WTHT-TV, which will televise the contest, beginning at 1:30 p. m. CiS.T. Competition in the zone contest entailed an eight to ten minute prepared oration, and a three to five minute extemporaneous speech. The extemporaneous speech was on a specific articles or amendment to the constitution, with the topic chosen just five minutes prior to the extemporaneous delivery. First Since 1958 The local young than, who participates in football, basketball arid baseball at his school, is the first Dc| atur high school student to win the district contest since 1958, when it was won by Paul Schmidt. Custer is the fourth student from the school to win his way to the state finals of the Legion’s oratorical contest. Miss Margene Bauer won the state contest in 1948. Custer won his way into the zone eliminations by besting students from Wells, Noble and DeKalb counties in the fourth district finals which were held Not. 18 in Auburn. A week earlier he had won the Adams county contest. . ... _ a . . .... .... ..... INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy with occasional periods of very light snow or freezing drizzle north portion tonight. Mostly cloudy and warmer Thursday. Low tonight in the 20s. High Thursday 36 to 42 north, 28 to 36 south. Sunset today 5:21 p. m. Sunrise Thursday 7:51 a. m. Outlook for Friday: Partly cloudy and a little warmer., Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 40s. Mrs. Bess Young Dies At Mansfield Mrs. Bess Young, former Monroeville resident, died Monday night at her home in Mansfield, O. A native of Monroeville, she moved to Mansfield 30 years ago. Mrs. Young was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic church at Mansfield. Surviving are her husband, Jay Young; a daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Smith of Mansfield; a grandson, and thrpe sisters, Mrs. Edith Dehner of Mrs. Helen Hyman of Payne, 0., and Mrs. Mildred Linder of Decatur. Funeral services- will be held at 9 a. m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic church at Mansfield. Graveside services will be at 2 p. m. Thursday at the Monroeville lOOF cemetery. Leaves $75,000 For Riley Fund RICHMOND, Ind. (UPD—The will of Mrs. Mabel A. Connelly, widow of a retired Chicago school teacher, left 175,000 Tuesday to the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association for financing medical treatment of indigents at Riley Hospital for Children at Indianapolis.

Decatur, Indiana, Wed nesdqy, December 4,1 963

Tank Os Liquid Petroleum Gas Blamed By Experts As Cause Os Coliseum Blast

City Asks Property Abstract Be Cleared A letter from city attorney Robert Anderson to David Macklin, attorney for the sellers of the former Kocher lumber yard lot, was read at Tuesday night’s city council meeting and explained to the council. The letter requested that several defects in the abstracts for the lot be cleared up so that there would be a merchantable title. Among other points, the letter stated that the 1962 taxes, payable in 1963, constituted a lien against the property and<should be paid- by the seller. The abstracts have been returned to Macklin for the necessary corrections prior to the sale. Mayor Donald Gage reported to the council that work on the new police station is progressing rapidly and told the council that he had located a building which could possibly be rented for city hall operations during the month -in which the city offices will be undergoing remodeling. After some discussion, the council decided to utilize the'second floor of the city hall for those operations during the remodeling period. It was pointed out that the only real handicap in using the upstairs area would be the recessity for older people to climb the stairs when paying their utility bills. To ease this problem the council approved delayed payments without a penalty for those sick or elderly persons unable to climb the stairs during the time that the downstairs offices are being remodeled. Lawrence Kohne informed the council that work on the new. city street lights has met a temporary delay on Second street. Last week the old lights on that street went out and Kohne decided not to repair them, since work of installing the new lights is already in progress. The installation on Second street will be completed as soon as the contractor is able to obtain the necessary cable to complete the hookup. Bids Received For Highway Supplies Twenty- two firms submitted bids Tuesday as the Adams county commissioners met to purchase some $200,000 worth of supplies for the operation of the county highway department during the next year. Bids were submitted on items ranging from gasoline to gravel. Bidding was close and in several cases the commissioners accepted more than one bid «fto that suppliers of certain materials would be conveniently located in or near all parts of the county. The bids were all rate and per unit quotations and did not specify the quantity to be purchased by the county. The firms which submitted bids were: John W. Karch Stone Co., of near Geneva; Meshberger Brothers Stone Corp., Linn Grove; Yost Construction Co., Decatur; Lucius Somers Gravel Co.. Hoagland; S & L Gravel Co., Markle; Ayers Ashphalt Co., Celina, Ohio; Brooks Construction (jo., Fo't Wayne; Logansport Metal Culvert Co., Logansport; J. E. Evans Concrete Products, Indianapolis; Republic Steel, Indianapolis. American Steel Co., Fort Wayhe; Armco Steel Co., Indian- . apolis; Wheeling Steel Cd., Jeffersonville; Zurcher Tire Co., Monroe; Parr Implement, Berne; Eastern Indiana Oil and Supply, Geneva; Beavers Oil Service, Decatur; Ohio Oil Co., Decatur; International Salt Co., Clarks Summit. Pa.; Diamond Salt Co., St. Clair. Mich.; Paper, Calmenson & Co., St. Paul, Minn.; Ried. Holcomb Co,, Indianapolis. Ayers Asphalt and Meshberger Brothers were awarded the bids for bituminous material. Meshbergers was awarded the bid for (Continued on Page Three) 4* , <1 Good Fellows Club Delta Theta Tau Sorority SIOO.OO

I Protest Displays On City Sidewalks The Decatur city council took quick action on complaints presented at its meeting Tuesday night by Mr. and Mrs. Al Anderson. The Andersons appeared at the meeting to protest the “danger- ‘ ous” and “hazardous” practice of j displaying merchandise on city sikewalks. Anderson also said that J the outdoor display encourages ‘ juvenile delinquency because it , gives youth an opportunity and a temptation to steal. He said that the most pressing , reason for his appearance at the meeting was to ask the council to have fire chief Cedric Fisher order the Kroger store to remove the Christmas trees on display on 4 the sidewalk in front of the build- , ihg- , The Andersons live in an upstairs apartment next, to the Kro- ] ger building. Anderson said that ; the Christmas trees are a fire i hazard. He also said that boxes and trash are frequently piled around a large porpane tank at the rear of the store. “We've all seen, in Indianapolis, what a propane explosion can do,” he said, referring to the recent Coliseum disaster. Anderson asked the council to the immediate removal of the Christmas trees and trash and further requested that they - begin drafting an .ordinance to prohibit displays on any sidewalk.” “Once last summer I fell over merchandise in front of HabeggerSchafer’s,’' he added, “ and came very close to falling through the plate glass window.” , Mrs. Anderson said that she has frequently had to remove Kroger merchandise which was placed in front of the entrance to their tipstairs apartment The council, after hearing the Andersons’ requests, instructed Fisher to order the Kroger store to remove the Christmas trees and the trash around its propane tank. It also instructed city attorney Robert Anderson to draft an ordinance prohibiting any sidewalk displays. 1 Scholastic Aptitude ! Test Here Saturday I Some 117 studehts from three 1 counties will take the scholastic i aptitude test in the Decatur high school gymnasium Saturday, it > was announced this morning by « principal Hugh J. Andrews. \ This is the first time in the a history of the some 20 years of r the test that an Adams countv < school has been the testing center. c The scholastic aptitude test was - Developed and is scored, by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, N. J. It is a three-hour test and its scores are required by most colleges and universities to fulfill entrance requirements, Andrews said. Students from Adams, Wells and Allen counties will participate • in the test, which will begin in the morinng: It will be held in the school gymnasium, with students asked to use the doors to the gymnasium, which wil|_ be open at 8:30 a. m. The test will begin at 9 a. m., continuing until noori? Achievement tests and writing samples, or theme writing, will begin at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. with several of the oyer-100 students expected to continue • with the afternoon tests. -The ate ternoon testing will be in a class rooip., Thousands In U. 8. Several hundred thousand high school -seniors throughout the United States and in a number of foreign countries will take the 8. A. T., at approximately the same time, . , The test will also be available in January, March, May and July, and anyone interested in it rpay receive further information at the Decatur high school guidance office or from their respective school principals.

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD-Pur-due University experts reported today that the -Halloween explosion which killed 72 persons at the Indianapolis Coliseum during an ice show probably was caused by a tank of liquid petroleum gas being “subjected to heat radiation for several hours.” The tank may have been “overfilled,” the report said. The 45-page repeat, released by State Fire Marshal Ira Anderson, substantiated the theory previously offered by intestiga tors probing the disaster which occurred Oct. 31 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. “A tank full of liquid petroleum gas—perhaps overfilled—was subjected to/ heat radiation for several hours until the liquid contents of the tank expanded to completely fill the tank,” the report said. “A further rise in temperature, caw^d-the-release valve to open and discharge liquid which upon vaporization in the-.air created a cloud of vapor. “The reaction created by the horizonatal discharge of the liquid upset the tank. The vapor being heavier than the air disfused outward along the floor until an explosive mixture was created. “The —lean and rich explosive limits of propane are 2.17 and 7.35 per cent by volume in air. The explosive mixture reached a scource of ignition and the initial explosion occurred. The fire which followed the initial explosion and which is reported ...to havedasted from 5 to 10 minutes was fed by propane which was released from the tanks after the initial explosion. “At least one tank had been tipped over and its relief valve is below any liquid level existing in the tank, so that under the influence of the fire it was discharging liquid which had a \heat of combustion in the order of 750.000 British thermal units' per cubic foot." The report covered five LP gas cylinders, three radiant .gas burners and miscellaneous items remdved from the commissary beneath a. tier of seats blasted by the explosion. The tests showed that none Os the five gas- tanks leaked, although one- tank which was empty when received at Purdue ‘ had* a'-stow leak "in she sfbp valve, and that 'each tank passed hydrostatic tests well beyond the capacity designed for them. The tests showed the tanks withstood pressure of 400 pounds per square inch, fivethirds of the designed pressure of 240 pounds. Prof. H. L. Solberg, head of (he Purdue team, prepared the report. The investigators’ theory which the Purdue study substantiated indicated the heat which caused the blast probably was from a devke used to keep pre-popped popcorn warm for distribution in bags from the concession stands where the gas

>U\ H I 1 <\) I i I i I S L J ' lb I B KB liW i ■H l fIU» HJTj|MM ' V * w i &. B i I - « % fabi Bn «fl ffij| jg F* ' IB 4B!fl B « " ^ 5 KENNEDY GUARD HONORED— The secret service agent who dashed to tlje aid of President Kennedy and his wife in Dallas has been honored by a citatioij for exceptional bravery. Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon, left, presents the citation to Clinton J. Hill Looking otr> left to' right, front row, are Hili’® sons, Chris, 7, Cory, 2, Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Kennecy. :

tanks were located to the spectators in the big coliseum. The report placed considerable importance on the effect that over-filling of an LP tank might have had in creating the right conditions for an explosion. • > ; . J'The effect of overfilling the tank by even a small amount upon the temperature at which it is full of liquid is so important that it is- recommended that the procedures used in filling these tanks be investigated. Specifically, were the tanks filled by hand operations? If so, what training and instructions were given to the operators? —

REDDY FEATHER SAYS: AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE "LESS THAN $2,000 BOY SCOUTS T 0 G - TODAY'S W TOTAL 15 GIRL SCOUTS $27,605 CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOC. f Vl LITTLE & PONY LEAGUES f The'Goal Is dS ° . lOfl $28,993 SALVATION ARMY MENTAL HEALTH > YO .U R _ . Vw Community Fund COMMUNITY CENTER jL Still Needs AMERICAN RED CROSS $1,388.” Give The United Way

Welsh Urges Civil Rights, Tax Bills

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD—Governor Welsh said he will send letters today to Republican and Democratic members of the Indiana congressional delegation ' urging quick passage of the late President Kennedy's civil rights and tax cut programs. Welsh held a news conference following his return from a private luncheon with President Johnson m Washington Tuesday. The Hoosier ’governor and eight other members of the executive' committee of the State Governors Conference,., flew to the nation's capitol from a ' toeefWio Mtol. *- * -- "’’He requested us to do what we could with our congressional representatives on civil rights and the tax program as early as possible,” Welsh said. He said the letters were his method of trying to fulfill President Johnson’s request.' “The executive committee, in requesting the meeting, wanted to establish a working relationship with the new administration as early as possible,” Welsh said. - "There is a strong joint responsibility in many fields of principal concern to both the state and national governments,’’ Welsh said.

SEVEN CENTS

‘What procedures were followed to insure that these instructions were being followed? What steps wire always taken to insure that the tanks were empty before filling, or that the weight of contents in the tanks if not empty, were known and allowed for in the filling procedures?” The report said a pressure regulator valve taken to Purdue —not connected to any of the tanks—showed a “rough match” between the fracture surfaces of two broken pieces. The regulator showed “evidences of deformation due to blows or other causes’* on flat surfaces.

He said civil rights was one concern and that the states also “have a vital stake in decisions ob federal tax legislation, since such decisions affect the ability »of tlie states to raise revenue.’’ c He said President Johnson also expressed concern “that steps be taken to reduce the hard core of unemployment.”> A reporter asked Welsh if he suggested that construction of an Indiana |»rt on Lake Michigan would be a good way of adding new jobs. “We never discussed the Welsh said. “I,_W9«.Wrfh. dent we will encounter no difficulty from the President in this matter.” He said the port bill is in the hands of Congress after being sent there by the late •> President Kennedy and the Budget Bureau.' Reporters asked Welsh his evaluation of Johnson, in his new role. “The good Lord had his hand on all our shoulders when he was selected vice president,” Welsh said. He said he regards Johnson as "a inan of the broadest possible experience in the affairs of the federal government and one who knows the relationship between Congress . and the White House.”