The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 1

The Indianapolis Star TODAY'S CHUCKLE Curiosity is a clever device that nature Invented to show children bow little their parents really know. Where the Spirit of the Lord is. there is Liberty" II Cor 3:17 Final VOLUME 75, No. 344 ft MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978 CARRIER DUVEREO Me PER WK. MOTOR DELIVERED 90c PER WK.

SlngH Copy 20r QUALIFYING WEEKEND LOST 2ND TIME EVER Time Trials Complete WakDMlt LEATHER TODAY Cloudy High, 55; Low, 43 Yesterday High, 51; Low, 47 By ROBIN MILLER Rain was the only thing that made it around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway again Sunday, and it may have washed out the fastest combination's chances at the pole position. For only the second time in IMS history the first was in 1969 there were no qualifiers at the close of the opening weekend. Sunday's scheduled time trials for the 62nd Indianapolis "500" were just as wet as Saturday's, and no cars ventured out of Gasoline Alley during the 48 hours of precipitation. And it's Mario Andretti who'll feel the brunt of the nasty Indiana weather. 1 i i 1 1 i C'x if AyA if t.rt luik I Other Pictures On Page 22 And 46 qualifying session in Belgium ends at 2 p.m., which is 8 a.m.

here. A commercial flight from Brussels to New York takes approximately six hours. Tack on two more from the Big Apple to the Circle City, and that would put the 1969 winner at Indianapolis International Airport about 4 p.m. If Andretti somehow could land a ride on a Concorde, he could cut his travel time in half and be at 16th and Georgetown Road by about 1 p.m. Since he's 27th in the qualifying line, that easily would be the safest seat to hold.

"I'D BREAK MY back to make it," said Mario, who was the fastest qualifier in 1976 but had to start 19th because he missed the first weekend of trials to run the Monaco G.P. "It's way too early to tell what kind of arrangements can be worked out, but I could live with the hectic schedule," he said. In the event Mario doesn't make it back, Roger Penske has asked stock car ace Bobby Allison to come to Indy to put his PC6-Cosworth in the show. Allison, who has made Indianapolis twice (1973 and 1975) in Penske's cars, ran the NASCAR race at Talladega, Ala. Sunday and won't give Roger a definite answer until this morning.

"WE WANT MARIO to fulfill his Formula One obligation just like his contract See TRIALS Page 9B Mi ANDRETTI, WHO sped to an unofficial (but quickest ever recorded) lap of 203.482 miles an hour during practice, is facing the cold prospect of taking the green flag from the 33rd spot in his 14th Indy start May 28. The odds in favor of the United States Auto Club's second-winningest driver's being at the Speedway for his scheduled shot at the pole next Saturday aren't good. Sunday night, Andretti flew to Sweden, where he'll be testing his new Formula One machine until Wednesday. From there, he'll head for Zolder, Belgium to begin practicing for Sunday's Belgium Grand Prix. Since they hold practice and qualifying for the BGP on Friday and Saturday, this puts the versatile veteran from Nazareth, Pa.

in quite a predicament. IF HE WANTS to try for his third pole here, he'll have to move a lot more rapidly through the air than he docs on the ground. There is a six-hour time difference between Zolder and Indianapolis. The Ef MJUi s-r: rsJ. t-n (UPI Photo) A VERY DISAPPOINTED MARIO ANDRETTI Bobby Allison May Try To Qualify Andretti's Car Drizzle Tames Speedway 'Crowd' Sun hats and even new "celebrity-look" sunglasses just won't sell during a cold, wet drizzle.

FOR THE SECOND straight day, rain wiped out time trials and perhaps some memorabilia salesmen. Safety Director Jack O'Neal estimated the crowd at 40,000. But just try telling that to the salesmen. A woman who has sold souvenirs at the track for 12 years By RICHARD D. WALTON Thousands of people got together Sunday just to watch a rerun, and it's doubtful anyone enjoyed the second showing any more than the first.

Certainly not the glum-faced souvenir hawkers who spent most of the day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with their hands in their pockets to keep warm, not to make change. shops, as people sought to get in out of the cold. And the "500" Museum, which had a record 10,000 customers Saturday, reportedly had logged 1,700 visitors two hours after opening Sunday. It was a peaceful crowd. The so-called "snakepit" in the infield grass of the first turn was hardly a shadow of its old self.

A few enthusiasts tried throwing a Fris-bee, but gave up after a few tosses around the quagmire. Rock music blared from loudspeakers hooked onto a couple of parked vans, whose occupants weren't going thirsty. And, occasionally, someone would get out in the chill long enough to explode a few firecrackers. But the famous "wild bunch" just wasn't to be found. LATE IN THE afternoon, a mud-See CROWD Page 9B Mudvillc Just walking was a chore at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday as chilling rains delayed time trials for the second straight day and made a quagmire of the track infield.

This fan tries to wade through the mud as she keeps the pants tucked inside her boots. (Star Photo by Greg Griffo). called business the "worst ever." "We've had bad days before, but not two in a row," said Ruby Nevins of New Castle. "The people are trying to keep warm. There's walkin' people out here today, not buyin' people." Passersby asked for earmuffs and gloves, not checkered flags.

One man jokingly asked if any stoves were for sale. Only "out-of-towners" were even browsing, said one would-be salesman. For the most part, fans seemed more warmly dressed Sunday. A Sterling, family of four was back for a second try, only this time "dressed one layer thicker," said the mother, who had issued everybody a sweatshirt. BY EARLY afternoon, concessionaires were reporting an acute shortage of cream and sugar, the result of a run on coffee.

The track's 200 soft-drink venders were sent home early for the second straight day. "You might say the concession business took a bath in the rain make that two baths," said a spokesman for Speedway concessions. "There's really nothing to talk about, only cry." Edward Cooper, 80, Crawfordsville, was at the track for the second straight day. He said he doesn't worry about a little rain. Over the years, he says, he has had an eye put out in a lawnmower accident, been trapped four hours in a coal bunker cave-in and been picked up by police in a gambling raid.

In other words, he's used to adversity. "I'll come back every day, I reckon. Maybe I'll get to know-in' better pretty soon," he said, not too convincingly. Cooper plans to attend his 39th race later this month. ROBERT WATTERSON of Mitchell, a retired truck driver, last attended time trials back in 1935.

"I don't remember much about it except that we got wet that year, too," he said. It was elbow-to-elbow in Speedway gift Cubans Lead Rebel Invasion Into Zaire, News Agency Says 'OUTSIDE CHANCE' OF SUN Ray Of Hope Shines On Next Week's Race Fans By ROBERT REES Don't give up race fans the weather service says there is sunshine behind those rain clouds. Sunday became rain day again and washed out qualifications at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, there is an "outside chance" next weekend will be sunny with a high of 74 and only a 30 percent chance of rain. This was indicated but not definitely forecast by a National Weather Service spokesman Sunday who cautioned against making the optimistic news a sure thing "It is not possible to accurately predict the weather that far ahead here during the spring especially," he explained.

"ALL I CAN TELL you for sure is that the temperature is expected to be near normal and precipitation below normal for next Saturday and Sunday," the hesitant weatherman said. The normal is a high of 74. a low of 53 with a 30 percent chance of rain, he explained, adding, "At least this gives the race fans an outside chance of seeing some action." Conversely and officially, the weather service here issued this narrative Sunday: "The weekends keep getting worse if that is possible. This weekend was not only wet but cold and windy to boot. The weather system responsible for the inclement conditions is stalled over northern Ohio.

"The only good news is that the showers will become more scattered. Monday will feature gradual improvement and Tuesday will bring welcome sunshine and warmer temperatures." A SPOT CHECK OF Indianapolis motels and hotels Sunday revealed that race fans optimistically hoped for favorable weather for the time trials as See FANS Page 9B The officials refused to confirm or deny the presence of Cubans among the rebels. DIPLOMATIC SOURCES said that at least one time, the rebels were in control of about half of Kolwezi. Monguya Mbenge, leader of the Zairean opposition Action Movement for the Resurrection of Congo, denied in Brussels that there were any Cubans involved in the invasion Meanwhile in Lebanon, the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) military department said Sunday Cuba would send troops to South Lebanon if asked by the PLO But he said the guerrilla organization had no immediate need for outside help in its war against Israel. Military Director Zuheir Mohsen, in the first such remark by any PLO official, also conceded that N.

peacekeeping forces in the south had the right to See CUBANS Page 9B to Kolwezi, but never attacked the town itself. Former Katangan gendarmes set up refugee camps in Angola when their 1963 secession attempt failed. Since they have been joined by opponents to the regime of President Mobutu Sese Seko. In Kinshasa, Mobutu has convened his "crisis staff," AZAP said. The Foreign Ministry informed the American, French, Belgian, Chinese and Moroccan ambassadors of the situation "so that these countries would help Zaire to deal with the grave situation," the agency said.

Last year, French planes flew the Moroccan troops to Shaba. Belgium, the United States and West Germany gave nonmilitary assistance. In Brussels, foreign ministry officials said their information was that some violent fighting had taken place in Shaba province, but that the situation appeared to have become quieter by Sunday night. Kinshasa, Zaire (UPI) Cuban-led Zairean rebels coming from Angola have staged another invasion of the copper-mining province of Shaba in southeastern Zaire, the official news agency AZAP said Sunday. Some 4,000 rebels attacked the copper-mining region late Thursday and early Friday, AZAP said.

The agency gave no information on the present situation at Kolwezi. Another rebel force "including whites who have been identified as Cubans," attacked the town of Mutshatsha, 63 miles west of Kolwezi early Sunday and were beaten back after a 2-hour battle, the agency said. The invasion looked like a renewal of the "80-day war" in Shaba previously Katanga province last spring when the Zairean army finally drove back 5,000 rebels across the Angolan border with the help of Moroccan troops. AT THE TIME the rebels came close Explosions Rip Derailed Freight Train Carrying Poisonous Gas SIX 8700 SETS STOLEN Trio Nabbed In TV Cache Find Houston to identify the gases aboard the train. Officials said they believed some of the burning cars contained acetic acid, which they described as "highly corrosive and poisonous." In addition, the officials said a freight car that was not burning contained "some kind of highly explosive gas that burning everyone's eyes.

They're all going to the hospital It's really bad. It's poisonous." THERE WERE no immediate reports of serious injuries. Authorities said rescue workers were hampered by not knowing the exact type of gas leaking from the burning train. A chemist was reportedly being flown from Nacogdoches, Texas (UPI) Three explosions rocked a derailed freight train carrying explosive gas Sunday, touching off a fire, unleashing toxic fumes and forcing authorities to evacuate a two-mile area. Ambulances from four nearby communities were summoned.

"It's still burning," a police dispatcher said. "It's poisonous gas and it's Brown arrested the youth. While waiting for wreckers to arrive, Brown said Snyder and Cleary walked out of the field about 30 minutes later "nonchalantly and started to get into the cars I was about to have towed in. I couldn't believe it." Riley searched the field for the suspects and possibly other loot, Brown talked to witnesses who said the men were seen getting out of two cars parked nearby. ABOUT 12:15 P.M.

the youth walked out of the field and. upon investigation. The Weather 'tU A Inside Today's Star Newt Summary On Page 2 Muncie Narcotics Bust CouldVe Been A Blast Joe Crow Says: Rain, rain go away And don't come back 'Til the last day of May. Food 10 Gottip 5 Obituaries 29 Sports 22-27 TV-Radio 19 Amine nntot Page 16 Billy Graham 9A Bridge 0 Collins 46 Comics 18 Croiiword 17 Editorials 14 Finance 28 Want 30-43 43 Weather Women's By JAMES G. NEWLAND JR.

Two men and a 16-year-old youth were arrested Sunday afternoon after police discovered a cache of 25-inch color television sets in a southside field. The trio is suspected of taking six $700 console sets from semi-trailers loaded on railroad flat cars in the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad yards west of South Meridian and Minnesota streets. Twelve trailers had been broken into but police were waiting for a railroad inventory to determine if anything else was stolen. THE TWO MEN, Michael G. Snyder.

26, 48 North Beville Avenue, and John V. Cleary, 22, 7045 East Raymond Street, were charged with burglary and conspiracy to commit a felony. Snyder also has an added charge of fleeing a police officer. They are scheduled to appear in Municipal Court, Room 10, at 9 a.m. today.

The Indianapolis youth was taken to the Juvenile Center. Patrolman James R. Brown was dispatched to the area about 11:10 a.m. Sunday on a report that men were prowling a junk yard. When Brown arrived with Patrolman Robert Strykowski, they spotted five or six men in the open field adjacent to the junk yard.

The men fled as the police arrived, Brown said. Police found the console television sets, still in their original boxes, stacked about 100 feet from the street. While Strykowski and Patrolman Dennis M. could explode." The 127-car Southern Pacific freight train derailed on the southern limits of the city. The explosions and fire followed.

Some of the burning cars were on a bridge over a small stream. Firefighters, wearing oxygen masks, were having a difficult time reaching the area. A police dispatcher said some firemen were having "side effects" from the corrosive gas. A bulletin issued to area radio stations asked citizens within a two-mile radius to leave their homes immediatly and be prepared to remain away until at least 8 a m. Monday.

PATIENTS WERE evacuated from two area nursing homes, Rock Haven and Williams Nursing Home. They were reportedly taken to a hospital. Ambulances and firemen were summoned from four neighboring towns and authorities in Lufkin about 25 miles away were asked to remain on standby Paget 10-12 43 Court Newt and Statistic Star Tfleplione Numbers room, he added. The dynamite was discovered by Delaware Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Elliott and Detective Dick Cranor about 11 p.m., while they were searching the large, ranch-style house for narcotics. They called the Fort Harrison bomb squad, and Watford and specialist Rod Bucy disconnected the 40-second fuse.

Elliott said he found the bomb while looking through a pantry which contained two paper sacks. One contained some marijuana but the second contained the two sticks of dynamite. About 2 pounds of marijuana was discovered in the home, located in a well-kept and fashionable neighborhood. A large quantity of morphine-based pills also was confiscated and sent to the Two Muncie residents may be glad Delaware County Sheriff's officers arrested them. Their home was a virtual time bomb and they apparently didn't even know it.

Herman Jeter, 28, and Sandra Allred, 27, were arrested late Saturday night during a narcotics raid at their home. When police entered the house armed with search warrants, they discovered two sticks of leaking dynamite in a furnace room. The explosives were all set for use with blasting cap and time fuse connected. ONE LITTLE match or a little heat was all it needed to go off, Lt. James Watford of the Fort Benjamin Harrison bomb squad said The two persons living there "didn't have too much knowledge of explosives" to keep them in that state in a furnace Indianapolis Cloudy today and tonight with a chance of drizzle and light rain.

High today, 55; low tonight, 43. Becoming partly sunny and warmer Tuesday; high, 62. Indiana Cloudy today and tonight with a chance of light rain and drizzle. Highs today, 52-60, lows tonight. 40-48.

Becoming partly sunny and warmer Tuesday; highs, 58-68. Today's Prayer Today, Lord, You have reminded us our weaknesses can become our strengths when we turn to You in praise. We can do all things through You who strengthens us. Amen. Circulation 633-9211 Main Office 633-1240 Want Ads 633-1212 Scores After 4.

30 633-1200 CMHE ALERT If You See A Crime Committed Or Spot Suspicious Activity Coll This Number in case more fire units and ambulances See BLAST Page 9B 91 were needed..