The Ludington Daily News from Ludington, Michigan • Page 1

HOME OF GREAT LAKES FOUNDERS AND MACHINE CORP. THE LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS An Independent Newspaper Serving Mason County and Surrounding Area WEATHER: Snow Mixed with Tonight ana Wednesday VOLUME NO. 62, NO. 90 LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, TUESDAY, FEB. 19, 1952 PRICE FIVE CENTS Coast Guard to Tow 33 Aboard Stern of Split Tanker to Boston PICTURES, JUST RELEASED IN WASHINGTON, show the progress made on the reconstruction of the I Executive Mansion to date.

At top is a view of the White House without the scaffolding. At bottom, left, is the inside of the East Room looking west into main hall, first floor. On top of the door is wooden carved' replica of the Seal of the President of the United States. At bottom, right, is the East Room, west wall, showing fireplace and newly-installed mirror. Floor is still to be covered.

The Chief Executive and his family are expected to move into the renovated building in the very near future. (International) Waterways Delegation to Inspect Damage to Pentwater Harbor Piers PENTWATER A delegation representing Michigan State Waterway's commission will stop in Pentwater Friday enroute to Traverse City, where a meeting will be held on Saturday regarding water level problems and erosion damage in the West area. Members of the commission stopping at Pentwater will be Harry Schmidt of Port Austin, chairman; Leonard Thomson of Detroit, secretary; Tom Lott and Bert Robb of Detroit. Mr. Eobb is manager-director of the waterways body.

Point Out Damage Homer Petersen, acting chair- man of the Pentwater Chamber of Commerce harbor and Richard Herline will accompany the visitors on a personal inspection tour of the local waterfront and show them the damage already done to- the harbor piers which stand unprotected from storms and high seas on Lake Michigan because of the rising water level. Mr. Petersen will then accompany the group on to Traverse City to participate in the Saturday meeting as Pentwater's representative. Meanwhile H. B.

Shaw of the Pentwater harbor committee has been in communication with Grandson of Pentwater Man Awarded DSC Posthumously for Korean Valor PENTWATER The nation's second highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, has been awarded posthumously to Lt. Alfred K. Mcllquham, who died at his infantry post in Korea fighting the communist ene- on July 27, 1950. The award was presented to the young lieutenant's widow, Mrs. Grace Evans Mcllquham, by Maj.

Gen. William A. Beider- linderi, deputy commander of the Third Army, in appropriate ceremonies held Jan. 23 at the home of the widow in Harrellsville, N. C.

Mr. and Mrs. John Mcllquham Jr. of Thornton, 111., and their daughters Corrine and Patricia, parents and sisters of the honored hero, were present at the ceremonies in Harrellsville. Hero During Battle A member of Co.

29th Infantry regiment. 24th Infantry division, Lt. Mcllquham distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Anui, Korea, his courageous leadership costing him his life. On July 27, 1950, Co. was attacked by overwhelming numerical superiority and Lt.

McIlquham's platoon remained in position and furnished covering fire for the withdrawal. Heedless of deadly enemy fire, the lieutenant repeatedly moved about the exposed terrain to deploy his men and direct their fire. With two of his men wounded by enemy machine gun fire. Lfc. Mcllquham single- handedly charged the machine gun and silenced it and then carried the wounded men to a less exposed position.

"By his aggressive leadership and courageous example," the citation read, "he inspired his men to hold their position despite the overwhelming odds against them, thereby enabling NOTICE Our store will be closed all day Wednesday, Feb. 20. E. M. BRIGGS SON Scottville the remainder of the company to reach safety.

Later while Lt. Mcllquham was reconnoitering an escape route for his encircled platoon, the position was overrun by the numerically superior hostile forces and he was killed." Visited in Pentwater Lt. Mcllquham. who was 24 years old at the time of his death, was the grandson of John Mcllquham of Pentwater and Mr. and Mrs.

Willis Villadsen of Shelby. He had many friends in this community, having spent his summers here with hio grandparents for many years. Alfred Mcllquham enlisted in the Army in the summer of 1944. He spent a year in Italy and four months on Okinawa prior to landing in Korea on July 24, 1950. He was married to the former Grace Evans of Harrellsville on Sept.

4, 1948. She now id a teacher in the Harrellsville public schools. They have no children. Rep. Ruth Thompson in Washington.

Miss Thompson in a recent letter to Shaw stated that she ha'd been in touch with United States Army engineers office in Washington and hac been given considerable assurance by them that "there wil be funds available before too long to take care of your She further explained that she was informed there were emergency funds available which could be allotted to the Pentwater repair project special legislation authorizang the work. Need Action Now Members of the Pentwatei committee are working for immediate aid to reinforce the piers which have already been undermined and are being broken for a distance about 600 feet along the Lake Michigan channel. They content that an emergency release $20,000 early this spring wil save six times that amount if the job is deferred until as late as August, 1952. The state has offered to help finance the're- pair project, now estimated to cost $39,000, with the federal government on a 50-50 basis. RICHARD HARFST DETROIT Richard Harfst, president of the Automobile Club of Michigan since 1927, died at his home early today.

He was 69. KNUT HAMSUN OSLO, Norway, Knut Hamsun, the noted Norwegian author and Nobel prize winner, died today. He was 92. Stel- lanova Osborn, widow of Michigan's late Gov. Chase S.

Osborn, wants no mistake about it- she's for Eisenhower. Warn Michigan of Snow, Sleet (By The Associated Press) A new snow and sleei storm noved into Michigan from the central plains today and threatened to create dangerous driving conditions in most southern areas. Revising an earlier forecast, the weather bureau said the snow would become "moderate heavy" in the central portion of the state, with 4-8 inches accumulating. Snow, sleet and freezing rain were expected to blaze roads in extreme south portion of the state. Strong easterly winds may cause considerable drifting, the weather oureau warned.

Cloudy weather with occasional snow was forecast for the Upper Peninsula today and to- night with snow flurries Wednesday. The new storm was blowing in from southwest Nebraska and Kansas. Colder weather was expected Wednesday. Monday night's coldest spot was Sault Ste. Marie, with a reading of 0.

Detroit had a low of 22 and Grand Rapids 19. Temperatures in the Dakotas were below zero early today. Exit the winter's worst storm hit New England and buried it under snow that reached 31 inches in New Hampshire. A total of 22 deaths were attributed to the storm. Some 500 motorists were reported stranded on the Maine turnpike at Kennebunk.

Nominate Candidates for Village Elections Village caucuses were held Monday evening in Ouster, Free- soil and Fountain to nominate candidates for the village elections to be held March 10. All incumbents in the village of Ouster'were nominated on the first ticket of They include the Union party. Leonard Smedberg, president; William Smith, clerk; Adeline Connelly, treasurer; David Fisher and Willard Chadwick, trustees for two years; Lloyd Janowiak, trustee for three years, and H. Smedberg, assessor. Only nominations on the Second ticket are those of Harley Martz for president and Orval Smith for trustee for two years, opposing Mr.

Fisher. Mr. Smedberg has served as Coister president for two terms. Nineteen were present for the caucus in the Custer council rooms with William Smith as chairman, Mr. Chadwick clerk and Orval Smith and Donald Price tellers.

Fourteen votes were cast at the Freesoil caucus. Those nominated who are incumbents include James Crofoot, president; Mrs. Arlene Crofoot, clerk; Darl LaGuire, treasurer; Mrs. Fay LaGuire, assessor; Harold Ohap- pel, council-men for two years. Also nominated as councilmen for two years were Arthur Martin and Charles Martin.

The incumbent councilmen who did not seek renoniination are Francis Surma and Werner De- Vidts. The caucus was held at Free- soil townhall. Two tickets were placed in nomination at the Fountain village caucus, held Monday eve- Gas Price Drop Announced Here A decrease in the retail price of gasoline has been announced by the Shell Oil Co. through G. L.

Slaggert Oil local distributor. "Effective immediately the retail price of gasoline has been decreased by one-half cent pel- gallon," Mr. Slaggert told The News today. This is the first announcement of a price drop for gasoline in this area. rung at Fountain Odd Fellows' hall.

On the First ticket H. J. Gregory, incumbent, was nominated president, G. A. Stark, bent, nominated clerk, Edward Budzynski.

incumbent, treasurer and Leoma Goodman, incumbent, assessor. Wallace Blohm, John and George Schlee were nominated trustees for two-year terms. Candidates on the Second ticket are Ray Kovar, president; Mrs. Frank Borema, clerk; Edward Budzynski, treasurer; Leoma Goodman, assessor, and E. E.

Davidson, Paul Schoenherr and Bernard Andrulis, trustees. Sixteen ballots were cast. Henr ry Schoenherr was chairman 1 Mrs. Emma McFarland secretary and Edward Budzynski and Gerald jkjCormick trustees. Attend Session of Supervisors William Bacon, Ouster township supervisor, Julus Peterson, supervisor of Victory township, and Robert Keson, township supervisor of Grant township, are in Manistee today to attend the district meeting of the supervisors of this district.

The meeting will be held at the Manistee courthouse. Mr. Bacon is president of the district organization. Mason County Treasurer John A. Butz will be one of the speakers at the meeting.

Counties in the district include Mason, Manistee, Lake, Wexford, Mecosta, Oceana and Osceola. Ships Severed in Wild Storm Seven Men Known Dead, 13 Others Are Unaccounted for CHATHAM, Mass. The Coast Guard Cutter Eastwincl moved to the side of the severed stern-section of the tanker Fort, Mercer in- rough seas today and planned to tow the wreck and the 35 crew members aboard to Boston. Skies clear, the sea was running about 18 feet and the wind 25 to 32 knots at midmorning when the cutter moved in toward the Mercer's stern. Meanwhile the stern of the tanker Pendleton, which suffered a similar fate as the Mercer in Monday's fierce snowstorm, floated more than five miles south of Chatham light It was believed there was no one on the Pendleton.

Seven men are known to be dead from the crews of the two ships. Thirteen others are unaccounted for and 32 were rescued Monday night by heroic Coast Guards, who battled mountainous seas during a driving snowstorm. The Coast Guard said it was deemed more practical to attempt to tow the stern of the Mercer into port than to try to remove the men in the rough ocean. The Mercer's bow is about 40 miles from the stern. No one was believed aboard the bow The stern's position this morning was about 55 to 70 mile, southeast of Nantucket.

The hazardous task of rescuing the 33 men was in the hands of Captain O. A. Peterson, skipper of the Eastwind. First word that 33 survivors were aboard the stern half of the Mercer came from the military transport Short Splice just after rescue operations resumed at dawn. "We have just contacted the stern of the Fort Mercer," the Short Splice messaged coas guard headquarters.

"There are 33 survivors aboard. They al seem O. K. The stern is riding good." Among those the bow of the feared lost in Pendleton was her skipper, Capt. John Fitzgerald, 38, of Boston.

Thirty two seamen were rescued from the fourth section by the light of flares in a daring split-second operation carriec out in the face of a screaming northwest storm off perilous Chatham bar. A moment after the rescue that section of the split tankei was smashed against Chatham bar by breakers 25 or 30 fee high. The two Pendleton and the Fort broke up at almost th same time Monday in the winter's worst storm off this littl fishing port. Five, and possltiry six, mer (Please turn to Page 3, Column 6) Council Hears Phone Report A guardedly optimistic report in progress in the telephone rate itigation was given to Luding- on city commissioners Monday by City Attorney Eugene Christ- nan. The commission continued to its building code, heard the Michigan public service ommission voted down a bid to lave flasher lights installed at the Madison street railroad crossing, sent to its purchasing committee bids from four auto dealers on a new police car and noved ahead to bring city em- ployes under social security.

Cites 'Good' Case Mr. Christman traced the proceedings in the long, drawn-out rate case, explained lis work in Lansing before the public service commission and aoth he and S. H. Winston, utilities consultant, said that the city has a "good" case. Christman warned however that the utility has millions at stake in its rate request and that what has gone on so far is only a preliminary skirmish.

The application of Mr. and Mrs. John Sherlock for permission to build a basement house at 709 North James 'street resulted in another change in the zoning code. Under the old rules any persons building a basement house had to have the approval of all the property owners in a 300- foot radius. Sherlock had all but one.

Second Ward Commissioner Valdo W. Smith said he Quinn Drops from Primary First Ward Commissioner Don Quinn withdrew as a candidate for -the city's primary election, City Clerk Clarence Fonnesbeck announced today. Candidates for nomination in the primary are Elmer J. Nelson, incumbent, Edward F. Mulligan and Rudolph Anderson.

Accepting Bids on New Library Bids are being accepted until March 10 by Mason county library board for the proposed county library, building to be constructed on East State street in Scottville. Members of the board and the architect, Bernard DeVries of Muskegon, will open the bids March 10 at a meeting to be held in Scottville. thought it unfair that one person ould hold up another in building a home and was successful in amending the original resolution. Under the new rules the petitioner must have approval of property owners on either side of his property and 80 percent of the property owners in a 300-foot radius. When that carried granting of Sherlock's permit followed.

Back to Council The building c9mmittee was given the application of Herman Kronlein to build a 10-foot addition to his house. The extension would bring it too close to the property line, so the commission will have to pass on it. Previously the appeal board ruled on such cases but the council eliminated the appeal board and took over its powers. D. W.

Hughes, railroad safety engineer of the MPSC, wrote that there was not enough vehicular traffic (although it is up since the last inspection), slow rail movement and no obstructions to observation at the Madison street crossing and did not recommend that flashing-light signals be erected. The city had asked for another inspection because of the increased traffic on Madison street, resulting from increased employment at Dow Chemical Co. Cost of the; installation would be borne by the railroad and the city and comes under MPSC ruling. Commissioner-at- Large Elmer Nelson said it appeared that if the city wanted such a signal it would have to go ahead alone. Open Auto Bids Police car bids, in two divisions, for.

automatic and manual shift, were received. They were all sent to the purchasing committee for a recommendation. They were: Barnet: (Oldsmobile) $2,140.08 plus $155 for hydromatic car; Parkview vtoeSp'tS) eight cylinder $3,000 less $1,300 trade- in; six cylinder $2,500 less $1,100 trade-in with $90 more for automatic; Pontiac, eight cylinder $1,728 and eight cylinder $1,793, no trade-in with $160 for automatic with $160 for automatic shift; Mottl (Ford) six cylinder $1,649.59 and eight $1,708.86, no trade-in with $150 more for automatic. Musicians Eligible for State Festival after Receiving Superior Rating Here All musicians receiving first or superior ratings in the 10th district festival of Michigan School Band and Orchestra association to be held Wednesday in Ludington will be eligible to go to the state festival in Jackson April 5 to compete with entrants from other districts. "Ludington high school band members received 22 first or superior ratings and six second or excellent ratings at the 1951 10th district festival held in Mesick," Fred H-.

Dean, band director recalled. "We have more senior division entries this year and hope to maintain a high average. However, pupils and their parents should remember," Mr. Dean said, "that whatever ratings are received, the pupils will profit greatly from comments received on their playing from the adjudicators. Junior division entries particularly, may expect to be encouraged and be able to make marked improvement First Steel Carferry Made Maiden Voyage 55 Years Ago Today By AGNES MacLAREN Today is a momentous anniversary in the marine history of the Great Lakes.

Fifty five years ago, on Feb. 19, 1897, there steamed out of Ludington's harbor the first steel carferry in the world, departing on her maiden voyage. She was bound for Milwaukee, with Capt. Joseph Russell as her master and Robert MacLaren her chief engineer. Changed Marine History of Ludington resi- at the harbor, or Hundreds dents were lined on the beach to watch the 350-foot ship depart, enthusiastically shouting and applauding the vessel that was destined to change navigation'on the Great Lakes and the marine history of the world.

She was the carferry Marquette, later to be known, when more carferries were added to the fleet, as the Pere Marquette 15. She had been designed by Robert Logan of Cleveland, assisted by Capt. James W. Martin of the steamship line of Flint Pere Marquette Railway predecessor of the Chesapeake Ohio Railway present owner of the carferry fleet. Capt.

Martin had, for 15 years, sailed on the Great Lakes in both winter and summer, and Mr. Logan followed tftp captain's ideas, fitting the ship so that she would be able to cross Lake Michigan in the storms and ice of the winter months with as much ease as in the summer. He fitted her with twin screws, operated by developing compound engines 2,500 horsepower, each of the screws being 12 feet in diameter and, instead of moving outboard as had been the case of previously built twin screw boats, moving inboard. When she was underway, her wake was as narrow as from a single screw vessel and showed little turbulence. Ship Was Stable The Pere Marquette was the widest steamer on the Great Lakes, with a breadth of 56 feet.

This gave bility. her remarkable sta- Not only was the Pere Marquette the first steel carferry in the world, the first fitted with twin screws and the widest steamship on the Great Lakes, but she also was one of the first to be lighted with electricity. The Pere Marquette was built in the Bay City shipyard of F. W. Wheeler Co.

Her length overall was 350 feet and between perpendiculars 331 feet, her beam 56 feet, depth below deck 19V 2 feet and depth from upper deck to floor 37 feet. Her steel frames and plating extended from bilge to upner deck with the main and" upper decks also of steel, about 2,700 tons having been used in her construction. Her bow was double plated with three-quarter inch plates for a distance of 30 feet abaft the stem, this double plating extending three feet above the load line. To resist the pressure of ice shoves, channel beams, thoroughly secured both horizontally and vertically, spanned her hull at close intervals about midway between the floor and main deck. There were six watertight compartments in the hull, but no water bottom.

A shield of forged steel provided protection for her rudder. Completed in Ludington The Pere Marquette was launched at Bay City Dec. 30, 1896. Because of a freeze at Bay City she was brought to Ludington three weeks later for completion. Before the Pere Marquette sailed from this port Feb.

19, 1897, with a full load of 30 freight cars, package freight had been carried across Lake Michigan on the vessels out of Ludington. The first steamer to carry package freight across the lake was a slow, privately owned sidewheel- named the John Sherman, which initiated the service in the summer of 1873. The ferry service, originally only on the Ludington-Manitowoc route, resulted from completion of an extension of the Flint Pere Marquette railroad to the east shore of Lake Michigan at Ludington in 1874. This company, which preceded the Pere Marquette Railway Co. and the present owner, the Chesapeake Ohio, immediately realized the need for trans-lake movement of package goods to avoid the long haul around the southern end of Lake Michigan.

So the started this service, first by contract with the owner of the John Sherman and subsequently with the Goodrich line of wooden steamers. However, business was increasing so rapidly that, in 1882, the decided to operate its own floating equipment, building and putting into service the No. 1 and the No. 2. Business continued to increase following the introduction of these two ships and in 1883 they were taken to Detroit where they were cut in two and each provided with 36 feet additional length through new construction amldship.

More Ships Added Subsequently dockage was acquired at Milwaukee, and in 1887 another wooden vessel was put into service by the to take care of the business in and out of that harbor. In the following two years two more ships were added to keep up with the ever increasing demand for service. All of these steamers were break-bulk ships, like all ships built up to 1896. The break-bulk method necessitated the loading and unloading of cargoes and freight by hand, a long, costly and, with some commodities, a prohibitive process. And that was the reason why Capt.

Martin, who had been sailing these ships for 15 years, originated the idea of a carferry with a four-track car deck for stern loading and unloading and which could carry the entire cars without transfer. Frbm Feb. 19, 1897, when the first carferry went into service, until today, 55 years later, this carferry line has played an important part in Great Lakes navigation. Business has one time, there were nine carferries in constant operation. Today six are in use Pere Marquette 18, the Pere Marquette 21, the Pere Marquette 22, the City of Saginaw 31, the City of Flint 32 and the City of Midland 41.

Two more carferries are now being built at Sturgeon Bay, to be put into service this summer. When they are built the Pere Marquette 21 and the Pere Marquette 22 will be cut in two and lengthened to increase their cargo capacities. their work by following comments of the judges." "At the district festival, all entrants will be judged to have qualified in one of five divisions," he continued, "the first will represent the best conceivable performance for the event and class of participants being judged and worthy of distinction of being recognized as a first place winner; the second, an unusual performance in many respects, but not worthy of the highest rating due to minor defects in performance or ineffective interpretation; a performance of distinctive quality; third, an average performance but not outstanding, showing accomplishment and marked promise but lacking in one or more essential qualities, with fourth and fifth divisions inadequate in performance and showing much room for improvement. "Adjudicators are not to mark for lack of instrumentation, but any helpful comments the adjudicators can make concerning the lack of adequate instrument- Bulletins OK FINAL CLAUSE MUNSAN, Korea Negotiators agreed today on the final clause of a Korean armistice, but two major hurdles still blocked a truce settlement. Today's agreement: to recommend that belligerent govern- ments hold a high level political conference within 90 days after an armistice to consider "withdrawal of all foreign forces from Korea, the peaceful settlement of the Korean question, etc." Agreement was reached in a full dress session.

Staff officers were assigned to the job of incorporating the recommendation in the armistice. ation Dean will be said. welcomed," Mr. The judges are asked to adhere strictly to the descriptions of the various divisional ratings and to feel free to use all classifications. Six large items will be considered by the judges in rating the entrants, tone, which counts 25 points; intonation, 20 points; technique, 15 points; general effect, 15 points; interpretation, 15 points and stage deportment, 10 points.

Ensembles entered in the festival will play at Gray hall, First Methodist church and all woodwinds will play in Hudson parlor of the church. Brass solos and ensembles will play in the main auditorium of First Metlv odist churph. Junior division entrants will play at Emanuel Lutheran church and all piano entries will be played at Orioft hall. WAY IS OPENED LONDON The foreign ministers of the Three western powers and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of Western Germany said today they have removed obstacles to Germany's entrance into the European community. United States Secretary of State Dean Acheson, British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman listed in a communique seven points which they said assured a successful conclusion of talks now going on in Bonn and Paris.

WILLIAM L. WASHBURN L. Wash-burn, 66, retired grand truck railroad conductor, formerly of Port Huron, died yesterday inClearwater, Fla. The Weather U. S.

Weather Bureau Forecast Revised weather bureau cast for lower Michigan: snow this afternoon, tonight and Wednesday forenoon, becoming moderate to heavy in central portion and becoming mixed with sleet and freezing ruin with considerable glazing extreme south portion. diminishing to snow Wednesday afternoon. Snow cumulating in central porttafttp 4 to 8 inches. Not so cold Strong easterly winds siderable drifting and snow tonight Low tonight 12-2J? no; 22-28 south portlqa. low 15-25 north and Highest temperature day, 55; loww.t.

37. Highest temperature' thto 1873, 84 lu 1884; lowWt, Tbe sun sets today rises Wednesday ftl 7:32 Tbe Wodn u.m. un4 Temperature tfte UJ8, station for 24 end! Maximum 33,.