The Algona Upper Des Moines from Algona, Iowa • Page 1

Odds Ends By Russ: Waller: It was not Intended as. a post mortem graduation address, but Shane McCarthy, executive director of the President's Counsel on: Youth Fitness, had a word or two to offer last week before the 64th convention of the National Congress of Parents and "Teachers. "Youth wants discipline, and adults give them license: youth loves roughness and adults give them easer -youth craves activity and adults. manufacture idleness for them," he said. "We build them.

playgrounds for exercise, then take them everywhere in a car; we build miles. of turnpikes, but where are the hiking trails? Our children camp out. in junior- -size country clubs. Why should they walk: when they can ride? Why should they stand when they can sit? Why should they 'use energy when they can "We buy our fun and watch others: participate. Work is frowned upon as a hangover from serfdom!" Mr McCarthy said a mouthful.

At the Algona high cement, Supt. O. B. Laing made an interesting comment. He said that the graduating class of 1930 numbered about .100.

The class of 1960 wds just over 60, although expected to increase in the next two years. George Grim of the polis Tribune gave perhaps the shortest Commencement address in local history, scarcely a half hour. It was interesting to note, however, that folks who heard him: speak' were unanimous in saying they would have, enjoyed hearing more. The moral of this. in public speaking, seems be to stop.

when you have appetites well' whetted. Ray Cunningham, onp 'of the victifhs in the Laing Hotel fire last Saturday night, was the first: of the V.F.W. Post in Algona. Incidentally, the Cunningham family, which originally from the Titonka area, had planned a family reunion here at the Henry Furst home on Memorial Day, as was their custom. It was too late to notify relatives of the tragedy, and the reunion was held as secheduled, with an element of tragedy not anticipated.

the Algona Fire Department, brief but emphatic praise for their work in the Laing Hotel fire, How they succeeded in keeping the structure from being totally consumed none of the early bystanders, like ourself, will ever know. So far as fire Investigation experts can determine, i it seems likely that a smoldering fire must have been for sometime before actual discovery. Then, AS gas from the smoldering area developed, and spread, it ignited and a sudden, roaring sheet of flames covered the entire first floor ceiling, in seconds. The local Red Cross office announces an offer of assistance to those surviving the fire, all of who lost most all they had in the tragedy. Survivors should contact the local Red Cross office.

I Thought of the Week "In this age, unprecedented in human history, all of us, Americans and Russians alike, have one com- mon enemy; the enemy is the danger of war; we' must defeat that enemy together (Adlai Stevenson). Blue Jays, a junior group sored by the Lakota Garden Club, constructed memorials at the two Lakota cemeteries honoring service men buried there, prior to Memorial Day, They erected 15 white crosses at Maple Hill and seven in the Lutheran cemetery. Decoration, or Memorial Day, isn't observed like it used to be. It is good to know that some groups of young folks have not forgotten, however. C.

A. Norwood, former Algona resident now living in Tacoma Wash. came here for the funeral of Cleve Barton, last week. arrived in Algona just 15 minutes before the services began. Famous Last Line Keep smiling; St'U make, people wonder what you've been up The Algona Entered second class matter at the TOWA.

Nov. 1, under Act of Die In Hotel Holocaust Here SECTIONS 20 PAGES Tuesday, May 31; 1960 ESTABLISHED. 1863 Four Al Rahe, 58, Bancroft, Dies At Wedding Funeral services for Aloysius Andrew Rahe, 58, were held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday (today) at St. John's Catholic church in Bancroft.

Burial was in: St. John's cemetery with the Garry: Funeral in charge of arrangements. Msgr. J. F.

Schultes was cele. brant at the Solemn Requiem High Mass. Rev. Robt. Rahe, a cousin, was deacon, and Rev.

Adams 'of Carroll was subdeacon. Mr Rahe succumbed to a heart attack: last while a doctor's office in Austin, Minn. He had gone there to attend the wedding of.a niece, and suffered the seizure while in Austin. Surviving are his wife, Rose, two sons and- four daughters: Donald and Edward of Lorratne of Minneapolis, Evelyn (Mrs Howard Weydert) of Bancroft, Virginia (Mrs Dick Buscher) of Algona, and Rebecca at home. His mother, Mrs Mary Rahe of Bancroft, also survives, as: well.

as two brothers six sisters. He had farmed all of his adult life near Bancroft. were Ed and Otto Vaske, Gordon: Bollig, Florian Hellman and Vincent Becker, Bancroft, and John Haupert, Algona. T. W.

McDonald, 58, Of Titonka; Rites May 28 Titonka Funeral services were held Saturday morning at 10. o'clock at' the Titonka Methodist church for Thomas Walker McDonald, 58, who passed way at his home Thursday morning, May 26. Rev. Max Goldman was in charge of the services with Blake funeral home In charge of the arrangements. Interment was in Pine Hill cemetery in Des Moines.

Thomos Walker. McDonald, a resident of Titonka for over nine years was born in Sayler Township, 'Des Moines, Iowa, April 19, 1902. He received his education in Des Molnes, was baptized in the Christian, faith in the Christian church, later became a member of the Methodist church. On June 1, 1929 he was united in. marriage with Edith Newlove and to this union was born three children.

He farmed near Des Moines for 15 years, later working in Des Moines for about five years before coming to Titonka in February of 1951. Since then he owned and operated Titonka Implement Company. In public life Mr McDonald served on the school board and as a township trustee in Saylor township; and on the Board of Education of the Titonka consolidated school district for five years, a position he held at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and of the Titonka Chamber of Commerce. Mr McDonald 'was ill only a few months from a multiple disease, Surviving are his wife, Edith, and their three children, Malcom who is a graduating student at Mankato State Teachers college, Julie who presently lives at home and Margaret, also at home; one sister, Mrs Mildred Brown of Glendale, one brother Edwin McDonald of Menlo, Iowa, and a host of friends.

Pallbearers were Gene inga, Meyer, Harvey Herbert Klasse, Glen MilIsebrand, August Glenn Larson. Honorary I pallbearers were members of the P. school board and W. Seaberg, Harold Gingrich, W. Truesdell, Gartner, George Kitzinger, and Lester Eden.

Legion To Elect The monthly meeting of HaggTurner Post No. 90, the American Legion will be held 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 1, at the American DisLegion Hall. Stewart Lund, trict Commander from Webster City and William Potter, District Vice Commander from Forest City will take part in the meeting. The annual post elecbe held. The Legion Auxiliary Unit has been invited to the meeting.

postoffice at Al gobo Congress of "March 8. 1879. ALGONA, IOWA, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1960 3 pace 3 80 The photo above shows Algona firemen as they lower the body of the four victims (arrow); at: the Laing Hotel fire in the of one early Three of the Sunday. bodies were taken out of a third floor window hours 1 (above stairway at ladder the on east.end of roof) the and building. Much of the charred portion the fourth was carried down of the hotel's front porch can also be seen in the photo.

The photo below shows firemen and, other men who, offered 300 Prizes Offered In 2 Treasure Hunt Days A total of about 300 prizes are being offered for Treasure Hunt Between Days 55 and 60 business firms are participating, in the in Algona this coming Friday' and Saturday, two-day event, and most stores have in today's Upper Des specials for the days as advertised elsewhere Moines. Lists of prizes will be posted in store windows. Irvin Wiltgen is chairman of the Treasure Hunt Frederick mittee, and other members are Jim Carroll. Don and Bob Williams. Wesley Man Is Charged After 2-Car Mishap A Wesley man, Joe T.

Meurer, 67, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident last Thursday after his auto allegedly struck a parked car, owned by L. C. Overson, 35, Blue Earth, on the main street of Wesley at 12:30 p.m. Damage to the two autos, according Sheriff Ralph Lindhorst who investigated, totaled $300. Meurer was headed east in his auto at the time of the crash.

His vehicle reportedly hit the rear of the Overson machine. A day earlier, Wednesday, Flames Gut Ancient Hotel In Night Fire A flash fire snuffed out the lives of one of Algona's oldest buildings, the night. The holocaust, 11 which claimed brought more scene shortly after p.m. in Algona's history. The four victims, all long-time suffocated.

Dead are: Mathias (Matt) Mertz, 76 Harry Solberg, 64 Ray Cunningham, 69 Edward Edwards, 72 All lived on the 'third however, in a room on the in an attempt to escape. His by firemen who conducted the flames had been extinguished. The others were found Solberg was found lying in the northwest portion of the which he apparently suffered fusion, Edwards was found beside possibly while attempting lying in bed. Cunningham He had severe burns all partially clothed. Mertz' body was carried the cther three were lowered floor by firemen.

AL least six residents after the fire broke out. Joe Youngwirth, 69, and idents who made it out of third floor. Youngwirth ran into by his hands, dropped to adjoining the third floor ground by police officers, by ambulance to St. Ann Zaugg climbed out of on the third floor ledge. coming under the door to.

He tried to find his way to couldn't make it until the Ho reportedly heard men escapes, the hotel had discovered escape The fire was owner, She saw flames closet area under an unused; after hearing, noise, which stored in the, The closet contained, soft drinks, and sweeping Donald Hutchinson, Storm Chief Ira Kohl and Sheriff 'for some time before it burst MI's Laing, who was in east portion of the ground 2, and roused her other two and got them outside. Mr Laing, who had that moment and raced to to report the fire. Witnesses on State they saw a small blaze in which spread in a matter front porch. Smoke and fire went upper stories of the building became unconscious after to Hutchinson. Firemen and others brought the fire under portion of the structure had the east half of the first walls, ceilings and floors extreme heat and smoke.

originated was charred. Hutchinson investigated here carly in the morning, investigation. issued this statement cision reached us to the enclosed closet area under floor of the building. The uling out the possibility negligence were also ruled continue, he said. Algona policemen, a and kept the large crowd The building, estimated near the Milwaukee Road east of the city hall.

It was years before Laing purchased Damage estimates present time it is assumed the fact city ordinance is 50 percent destroyed. It $15,000 insurance on the Funeral services for day at 2 p.m. in First officiated and burial was rites and McCullough's ments. He was born Dec. Cunningham, and lived employed as clerk in the be He was a veteran of of Foreign Wars post here, Legion.

He lived with his their death. Surviving are three B. of Titonka and Archie Henry Furst, Algona, Mrs both of Mason City, and Pallbearers at the Loyulo O'Brien, John Bieser, Services for Mathias Sis. Peter and Paul Catholic officiated and burial was Mr Mertz, a retired always wearing white antique car habitually car to working order. He Surviving are two West Bend.

Services for Harry my in McCullough's Funeral terian church officiated were military rites. He was a veteran of are a half brother in St. four elderly men and gutted Laing Hotel, late Saturday hundreds of persons to the lives than any single residents. of the hotel, were battle against the flames, minutes after the fire: from was assistance discovered in the attempting to extinguish the fire which had spread hotel's lobby to the front porch. At the same unused time, an dense smoke were making their way up an area near the flames and stairway into the second worst in Algona's history due to the fact and third stories.

The fire, perhaps the controlled rapidly by firemen, but four men lost smoke had lives, suffocated was the victims. Investigation into the their not if before the catastrophe will continue. (UDM Flashfotps-Engravings). cause Charles Salz Dies; Funeral At Whittemore for, Charlie Salz, 72, were held Saturday morning in St. Michael's Catholic church with Rev.

Philip Dailey officiating. Burial was in St. Michael's cemetery. Pallbearers were Gotlieb Loebach, Norbert Knecht, Donald Kollasch, Gerald Elbert, Marvin Laubentahl and Bernard Kollasch. Charles Salz was born 21, 1888 at Lenore, Ill.

His parents were William Salz and Whillimena Nass. He attended school at Lenore, and when a young man came to Whittemore where he worked as a farmhand and on September 25, 1912 he was united in holy wedlock with Christena Kollasch. They farmed for 40 years, then moved to Whittemore when they retired. They were the parents of seven children, Rita, Mrs Geo. Kjar, Rodman, Cletus and Reinhard, St.

Joe, and Vincent of Whittemore, who with their mother mourn his death, also 18 grandchildren. One daughter, Whittemore Funeral services floor of the building. Mertz was found, second floor where he possibly had gone a body was room-by-room search of the hotel found lying on a burning bed as His face and hands were burned. In' their rooms on third floor. with one leg extended into the hallway building.

He had a cut on the forehead, when he ran into something in conto escape. his bed and Cunningham was found was most seriously burned of the four, over his body. All victims were at least down the hotel's cast stairway and from a window on the third by ropes living in rooms in upper stories escaped Clarence Zaugg, 36, were among resthe building on time. Both lived on the the hallway, got out on the ledge windows, d'after hanging from assisted the to ledge the the roof below. He was from a broken heel.

He was taken hospital, where his condition is suffering good. bed, kicked out a screen and crawled smoke out Awakened by the fire siren, he into saw the hall. his room and couldn't get a tire escape, but smoke was so thick air cleared. He then got to the ground. for ladders.

Besides iron fire yelling by ropes Mrs Firman Laing, wife of the hotel's in each room. shooting toward. the ceiling to from an second enclosed floor stairway! leading the apparently came from exploding soft among closet. other things, mops, brooms, cases of compound, and investigators, including Lake, deputy state fire marshall, smouldered Fire Ralph Lindhorst, felt the fire into the open. the family's living quarters in the northfloor, picked up her youngest.

child, age daughters, nine and seven years of age to get some sandwiches, returned hotel at gone the police station next door to the street, a block south of the tragedy, stated the southeast portion of the ground floor of seconds the full length of the large the stairway over the closet and filled up rapidly, It is probable the four victims a few inhalations of the smoke, according who aided in the battle against the blaze, control in less than an hour, but a major been gutted. Major fire damage was in and second stories, while the rest of were scorched and blackened from the The area around the closet where the fire the fire most of the day Sunday, arriving and returned Tuesday to continue his Tuesday "There has been no decause of the fire. Source of the fire was an an unused stairway leading to the second hotel was recently re-wired, practically of faulty wiring as a cause." Arson and out. Investigation of the matter will patrolman and Lindhorst assisted firemen away from the fire. to be almost 100 years old, was built depot and later moved to the six lots known as the European Hotel for many the property a few years ago.

ranged upward from $25,000, and at the the building will be torn down, due to prohibits reconstruction of any building which was reliably reported the owner had about property. Ray William Cunningham were held TuesPresbyterian church here. Rev. Myron were Brower in Riverview cemetery. There military Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrange23, 1890 at Titonka to Mansel and Fanny his entire life in Kossuth county.

He was Kohlhaas hardware for many years. World War I. a member of the Veterans and Hagg-Turner post of the American here, and moved to the hotel after parents brothers, Clarence of Elmore, John L. of Des Moines and four nieces, Mrs Ethel Wooldridge, and Mrs Dorothy Shatto, Mrs Glenn Kennicott, O'Neal, Neb. services were Ted Larson, John Kohlhaas, Willard Geering and Wilbur Zeigler.

Mertz, 76, were held Tuesday morning at church at West Bend. Father Greving in the church cemetery. farm laborer, will be remembered here as coveralls. He was the owner of the white parked by the hotel. He had overhauled the was never married.

J. Peter Mertz, both of brothers, Hildegard, and a set of twins preceded him in death. Mr Salz had been ailing for the past two years and underwent major surgery in Fort 'Dodge two years ago from which it seemed he had rallied but of late his health was declining and Thursday he died at his home. Davenport Elev. Sold The Davenport Elevator Co.

plant at West Bend was sold this past week to the West Bend Elevator Co. Possession to taken July 1, 1960. Davenport Elevator Co. has rented the liker building and will maintain its home office in West Bend. May 25, Lindhorst was called to Wesley at 9:40 p.m.

to gate. a crash involving driven by Darrell D. Fett, 18, LuVerne, and George E. Detmering, 38, Wesley. Fett was headed west and Detmering was headed north and turning west on the main street when the collision occurred.

Damage at $350 to the cars. Graveside Rites Graveside rites for Rebecca Jean, infant daughter of Mr and Mrs Arnold Hill, Algona, were held at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens here Monday afternoon, May 23. The baby was born the preceding Friday and died soon afterward. Mr Hill is an instructor in the local public high school, where he is an assistant coach. Results Count! FOR SALE BLACK SADDLE.

martingale and bridle, in very good condition. Philip Seaberg 4 4 W. of Wesley, phone 2257. 21-22 Dear Sirs Please cancel my For Sale ad in your newspaper. being that I have sold the merchandise.

Thank you. Sincerely Yours Philip Seaberg Solberg, 64. were held Tuesday Chapel. Rev. Myron Brower and burial was in Riverview World War I and was Paul and a half sister in Continued on Page 8 at four p.m.

of the Presbycemetery. There unmarried. Surviving North Dakota..