Newport Mercury from Newport, Rhode Island • Page 4

4 Newport Mercury, Friday, Aufluit 6,1976 Pure water key belonged to man Thursday, July Jacob Isaacks may have won the attention of George Washington andThomas Jefferson with his claims of knowing how to purify salt water, but there will be no Bicentennial ceremonies commemorating his accomplishments. Jacob Isaacks died an impourished failure, for the most part ignored by his contemporaries and nearly forgotten by history. However, Rabbi Theodore Lewis of the Touro Synagogue in Newport has researched Jacob Isaacks and his claim that he could desalinate water. The rabbi is planning to release the information he has gathered in an upcoming edition of The Touro Monthly, a newsletter. Although Isaacks is an obscure name in Newport, it turns out he enjoyed brief but widespread fame in early America, according to the magazine Mechanical Engineering.

The magazine reports that a group of Newporters, who had witnessed Isaacks' experiment with desalination, issued a certificate in April 1790, avowing its success. The certificate stated Isaacks had extracted eight pints of fresh water from 10 pints of sea water with his crude apparatus during a one-and-one-half hour period. Isaacks was encouraged in his experiments by George Washington, and was inspired to cash in on his discovery, despite an editorial in a New York newspaper which expressed doubt about his claims. The impoverished Isaacks went to Philadelphia and told Congress he would make his secret method available to the U.S. Government in return for "a reward suitable to the importance of the discovery to his expenses and time he has devoted to the bringing it into effect." However, then-secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who was scientifically inclined and skeptical of Isaacks' claim, asked scientists at the University of Pennsylvania to test his methods, which involved a secret mixture in the salt water, in contrast to ordinary distillation.

Isaacks' methods failed to pass the test. In fact, the U. Penn. scientists found his mixture hindered, rather than hastened, the process of distillation. Isaacks wrote a bitter letter to Jefferson, chiding the secretary of state for exposing his methods and begging for financial compensation.

Engineering says Isaacks, although unsuccessful in his efforts to devise a workable desalination method, deserves a little recognition. "After all, 20th-century engineers are still kicking around esalination, with a final solution not yet in sight," the magazine noted. Valerie J. Robbie wed to Peter Pagan Saturday, July 31 Miss Valerie Joan Robbie, daughter of Mrs. Alexander B.

Robbie of Cheshire, and the late Mr. Robbie, became the bride of Peter J. Fagan, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F.

Fagan, of 25 Champlin July 9 in the Salve Regina College Chapel during a candlelight ceremony. The Rev. James Healy, college chaplain, performed the ceremony. Given in marriage by her Tuesday, August 3 ENGAGED Mrs. Dorothy E.

Whitby of 47 Middletown, has announced the engagement of her daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth, to Sgt. Stephen Vincent Giusto, USMC, son of Maj. and Mrs. Donald S. Giusto of Abilene, Tex.

Miss Whitby, a 1976 graduate of Middletown High School, works at the Naval Education and Training Center here. Her fiance is a 1973 graduate of Abilene High School in Texas. He is serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. brother, William A.

Robbie of Cheshire, the bride was attended by Miss Cheryl Roberts of Newport. Stephan Abbruzzi was best man. Ushers were James Martin and James Richardson. After a reception at the Gooseberry Beach Hall, the couple left on a trip to Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H. They will live in Newport.

The bride is a graduate of Salve Kcijma College where she earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing. Mr. Fagan attended Rhode Island Junior College and works for the Electric Boat Company in Quonset. Class of 1966 to hold reunion Tuesday, August 3 PORTSMOUTH The 10th anniversary reunion of the 1966 graduating class of Portsmouth High School will be held at the Viking Hotel in Newport Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.

Reservations will be taken until Aug. 9. A few of the class have not been located, and persons who know the whereabouts to these graduates were asked to call Ginger Crudup Newbold or Pat Warren Camara. Those still missing are Bruce Auger, Richard Ball, Larry Bobbitt, Perry Jeffrey, Arline Dana, Antoinette Dimock, Victor Falk, George Howard, James Howard, Peggy Kennedy, Dennis Klimkerwicz, Robert Le Tempt, Lloyd McMurphy, John Paradise, Donna Rush, Larry Turner, William White, Robert Williams and Debbie Grimm. Jenifer A.

Curtis, Mr. La Parle wed Saturday, July 31 The marriage of Miss Jenifer Anne Curtis to Peter John la Parle took place today in St. Augustin's Church where the Rev. Stephen K. Callahan, pastor, performed the double ring ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander R. ART FESTIVAL WINNERS receiving prhes this morning from MM. Ann Bettene, left, chairman of jury, Include Robert Highsmith, standing back of his winning watercolor, and Mrs.

Paul Sullivan, right, who receivedflrst for her painting, at right. Between them Is Mrs. Robert Rick, festival president. (Dally News) 1 CHRISTIAN ROCK MUSICAL, 'Come Togetner," was presented oy uwru 1TC uigui ai. reier mineral Church.

This was eighth annual musical by 40 interdenominational teenage singers and musicians from Newport County. (Daily News) Friday, July CLIFF WALK DEDICATION took place yesterday with following officials present: Dennis Murphy, state director of Natural Resources; John M. Crutcher, director Bureau of Outdoor Recreation; Mayor Donnelly; U.S. Rep. Feraand J.

St Germain- Mrs Claiborne Pell; and Governor Noel. Walk now is National Recreation Trail. Saturday, July 31 Mrs. Peter La Parle Curtis of Connection St. The bridegroom is the son of Mr.

and Mrs. Eugene lx Parle of Greenough Place. Given in marriage by her father, the bride was attended by Miss Susan Chase, maid of honor. Eugene La Parle sAved as his brother's best man. The bride's gown of eggshell satin designed by her mother, was fashioned with a raised neckline, empire waist and Aline skirt.

A row of pearl buttons closed the wide cuffs of the long full sleeves. She wore baby's breath in her hair and carried a bouquet of pink and white sweetheart roses and daisies with baby's breath. The maid of honor wore a print empire gown in shades of pink and lilac. She carried a long stemmed pink rose. After a reception at the home of the bride's parents, the couple left on a trip t6 Maine.

The bride and groom are graduates of Rogers High School. Mr. I-a Parle is serving in the Armed Forces and is stationed in Key West, where they will live. HAVING MORE FUN than their dadi, some of lieutenant children we enjoying pony ride of weekend outing that was held for them during lieutenant governors' conference. Outing was at home of Richard H.

Shovel ton ,254 Braman's Lane. Beth Shelton is leading pony while Lauren Aste, 2, just sits hack to enjoy ride. 'Monday, August I REMINISCENCES of what Newport was like a half century ago have been provided by John E. Johansen, formerly of this city and now of Upper Darby, Pa. Johansen was on the staff of the DaUy Newsjfhen itjjfficeg were on Thames.

His letter to Grist Mill follows: In this bicentennial year, perhaps you would like to know what an "alumnus" of the Newport Daily News has as reminiscences of those days SO years ago, before moving to Philadelphia. When I left Newport and the News in 1928, Frances I. Greene was business manager in the office at the corner of Thames Street and the government landing. Those in the office at that time were Carl Gustafson, Miss Albro and Hughie McGowan. Hughie was new at the time.

Carl used to print on paper with blue ink, using a brush, the highlights of the news each day and post it in the window of the office so that it could be read from the sidewalk. My first connection with the News was as a lad of 10 or so who bought the papers for a cent and a half and sold them on the streets for 2 cents. Frequently, we took the Army tugs, General Arnold or General Drum to Fort Adams and sold our papers to the soldiers stationed there. As time passed, I graduated to a paper route, delivering to customers of the news in the area surrounding Freebody Park and ending on Rhode Island Avenue, having covered from Bellevue Avenue and Allendale Road. I remember Babe Ruth pitching for the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game at the park years before he attained fame as a home run hitter.

Finally, my job advanced to the "delivery room" where the papers were sold to the boys who sold on the street or given to the ones who served the routes for the News. My graduation from Rogers High School and my subsequent move to Pennsylvania ended my tenure with the The pressman in those days was Otto Weiss who came from the Curtis Publishing Company. His assistant was Charlie Ewart. Then came Mort Anthony and, finally Tom Pendergast. I remember when the News changed from the old flatbed press and installed the new Simplex rotary which could print 16 pages at one time (amazing, and so fast).

Why, the entire day's issue was printed in a half hour or so, all 6,000 and a few hundred more! Kdward A. Sherman was the owner. We kids would look with awe as Mr. Sherman entered or left the building. Emil Jemail was in the editorial offices upstairs where the composing room was handled by Jack Sullivan and Frenchie.

On my infrequent subsequent visits to Newport, I had to look for the News office and found that they had taken over the building which had previously housed the Barney Music Store, opposite Leys Dry Goods Store near Washington Square. On' my last visit, Mort and Tom were still in the pressroom. So far, I have not seen your present plant or office. Possibly if the class of '26 of Rogers holds its 5 Oth anniversary reunion, I shall have that pleasure. This bicentennial year has a particular significance to me.

As a teenager, I was in the Sea Scouts and on weekends during the spring, summer and fall, we would be quartered on the USS Constellation which was the receiving ship at the Naval Training Station. This year, a grandson is helping to sail the Gazela Primiero, a three masted brigantine owned by the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, in the Tall Ship race from Bermuda to Newport. Being on the Philadelphia Operation Sail 1976 Committee, and being a native of Nepwort, I am most interested in his visit to Newport. His name is Charles Smith, he is 16 years old and is a member of the United States Naval Sea Cadets. His great grandfather was a chief gunners mate in the Navy and was stationed in Nepwort for years.

After retirement, he worked at the Torpedo Station. GONE ARE THE OLD "sportsman's shows" that packed Grand Central Palace in New York. The shows were of special appeal to hunter's and fishermen. There they would inspect the latest in hunting weapons and apparel, or new rods, reels, lures, etc. But the highlight the real attraction were the so-called "tank shows." The "tank shows" featured woodsmen who could throw axes and hatchets with fearful accuracy at distant targets, lumberjacks who could cut through huge trunks during the blinks of eyes, and the loggers.

The latter, usually two men, would roll a log in the tank with the trick being to unbalance one or the other and into the tank. Men from this area would go to Boston or New York to see these old shows just as the women used to fill buses and trains to go to the big flower shows. Many of the loggers at the shows came out of the Maine woods. They could pick up some good money during the winter season when the rivers were frozen and logs could no longer be floated down the rivers to the pulp mills. Now the era of the floating logs is coming to an end.

A report out of Maine says that the 'Pine Tree State 1 will see its last river log drive this October. Some say environmentalists brought the to an end saying the river bottoms were covered with the bark from the trees. Fishing, they say, is not what it used to be. Loggers fear that the rivers will be exploited with resort type developments and will foul the waters even more. Whatever, the logs will now be hauled by trucks.

They nave been for quite a while, but there will be more. This will necessitate using countless thousands of gallons of gasoline, which will become more expensive. The exhausts of the trucks will now foul the air. Those of us who have experienced the trucks on the narrow roads of Maine see these vehicles driving at high speeds. The long logs are piled up on the truck beds and overhang many feet.

Some trucks carry loads about 12 feet high. When they come at you on those narrow roads swaying with bumps they encounter on the narrow highways, you cross your fingers and hope the chains will hold the heavy loads. So now the newsprint on which this paper is produced will come overland. No more glamorous log drives. An era will enu.

r'lotographers of our heritage have this one chance to take a picture of a log drive on the Kennebec River early this October. Huge rafts of logs will float down the river, and there will still be a few men, somewhere along the river, clearing jams and getting the pulp logs through gates of CANADA REPORTS that Montreal was crowded for the Olympics, but the business that was supposed to be generated by the international influx did not materialize. Sightseeing buses of the big French-Canadian metropolis did not carry the expected rubberneckers. If the people were there, then where did they stay? The hotels seemed to have done fairly well, but we think that camping grounds in the area did a landslide business. It has been reported that for every hotel or motel room in the United States, there are four rooms on wheels campers.

The example set by Middletown in setting up a campground at.Sachuest Beach 'is now being eyed by Newport. What is behind this caravaning way of life? Prices for hotel and motel rooms have been increasing each year. One couple, recently traveling ir. northern New England, called for a reservation at a chain motel at the place of that day's destination. The Automobile Club's listing in the latest edition quoted $32 for a double.

Allowing for a 10 per cent increase since the publication came off the press, the room should have been priced at around $35 plus tax. However, the reservations clerk quoted the price at $42 plus tax about $45. The reason given "It's summer, and every place is crowded." The Newporters turned it down and found a nice privately-operated motel for half the price. They passed by the motel in which they had originally planned to stay. It was no bargain at $32..