Stevens Point Journal from Stevens Point, Wisconsin • Page 1

mkmm Belli piittta! mil; Dial Dl 4-61 00 Dial DI 4 6100 SIXTY-THIRD YEAR FULL LEASED WIRE SERVICE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STEVENS POINT; WISCONSIN, THURSDAY. MARCH 20, 1958 COPY 6C SIXTEEN PAGES Growers Voice 24 Perish i '-A ir if UQii I'-tr irt tti In Flash Panic At Fire, Plant J1 By RAY KOHN NEW YORK (AP) A flash fire triggered by an ex plosion shot smoke and flames into a fourth-floor under wear factory in a lower Broadway loft building yesterday, killing 24 persons 18 of them women. The high death it toll was attnbuted to panic among some of the 36 workers. '-4 A FEW WISPS of smoke curled op this I house near Plainfield, which burned early I hangs on a snowfence surrounding the ruin-morning from the ashes of the Ed Gein today. At right, a no-trespassing sign still ed building.

Farmhouse Levele Steiner And Delzell Halls To House Men Both Delzell Hall and Steiner Hall dormitories at Central State College, will be used to house men lor the 1958-59 school year, it was announced today by the CSC deans," Mrs. Elizabeth Pfiff-ner and Burdette Eagon. Previous plans were to convert Delzell HaU, now housing 134 men, to a women's dorm to supplement Nelson Hall, which can accommodate 142. Steiner Hall, now being completed at Fremont and Clark streets, will be ready for all occupancy with space for about 200 men students. The decision to maintain Delzell Hall as a men's dorm is bas ed on the proportionate enroll.

ments of men and women at CSC this year, and on the recent ac tion of the Board of Regents of State Colleges, which stipulates that Incoming freshmen at state colleges must live in dormitories when space Is available. This does not include freshmen who live in Stevens Point or who com mute. Last fall's freshmen numbered 350 men and 167 women. The total enrolment was 833 men and 447 Advance enrollments Indicate no change in the ratio The construction of Steiner Hall was planned to accommodate an expected bulge in student enrollment in 1960, and there will be space in the dorms for some upperclassmen next fall, the deans said. Those wishing to do so may make room reservations with the dormitory directors, Mrs.

Josephine Pierce and Raymond E. Specht, by April 15. Hires Chauffeur For Bank Holdup CRANBROOK, England UP) An armed robber who arrived in a hired car with an unsuspecting chaffeur held up Lloyds Bank and fled with $6,000. A pursuing police patrol forced the puzzled chauffeur to pull over to the curb and arrested the passenger. He gave his name as Martin Searby, 17, and was charged with robbery with violence.

The money was recovered. Early Morning Blaze Suspecf It May Have Been Set "i it i The Ed Gein farmhouse near Plainfield, where grlsty relics of murder victims and grave robberies were uncov ered last November, "was leveled by fire early today. Opposition To Spud Order Potato growers In the Portage County area, at a public hearing held in the new armory today, voiced unanimous opposition to a proposed state marketing order for potatoes. The hearing today was one of four being held throughout the state this week. At the first hearing in Milwaukee, Monday, 86 per cent of the growers there opposed the market order, and at the second hearing, in Rice- Lake Wednesday, the opposition was 100 per cent The fourth and fl nal hearing is to be held in An-tlgo Friday.

The hearings resulted when the state Department of Agricul ture received a petition signed by over 100 Wisconsin potato grow ers who desired a market order. The Agriculture Department conducted investigation in other states and In 1957, when the state passed the new Wisconsin Agri culture Marketing Act, a potato marketing order was drafted. The hearings were then sched uled to obtain the reviews of the growers concerning the order. Indications are, from testimony at the hearing here today and at the previous two, that the mar keting order will not get off the ground. Growers at the hearing today opposed the market order on the grounds that it would do nothing to increase their income and would present problems of enforcement and administration.

John Okray, Stevens Point told" the potato men that the growers in states with marketing orders made less money on their potatoes than did those in states with marketing orders. He cited figures from U.S. Department of Agriculture bulletins that gave the comparative prices paid for potatoes in five- states with market order and five states without one. "We do not need a market or der here," Okray said, "the only regulation we might need Is on car-lot shipment out of the state." Okray agreed with several of the other growers who said that since "Wisconsin has a local mar- ket for most of its potatoes a market order would not do the same thing as it does in states where potatoes must be shipped long distances. Louis Wysocki, grower from Custer, said, "The government has just reported that those crops without any sort of controls are more profitable than those with controls.

I am 100 per cent op posed to any market order. Joseph Bushman, Galloway grower, said, "I don't think we need any of this In our state. This is a free country and a grower should be able to sell what and where he wants to." Opposition to the order also came from John Vietz, Water-town, who was representing a (See Hearing, page 15) and Michigan, private industry and the federal government will work on the project. The commission also voted release of $70,000 for construction of a 'forest pest control center and laboratory at the Nevin Hatchery at Madison. The 1957 Legislature authorized state action in connection with control of forest pests and tree diseases.

Two personnel appointments were approved. Lyle Christenson, Madison, was named chief fishery a post he has held in an acting capacity since July 1, 1957. R. D. Madison, of the department, was named assistant manager of, the Conservation Department's recreational advertising office in Chicago.

In another action the commission recommended that the department deny all requests for use of state parks, forests and other conservation properties for road racing events. A complaint over use of Rib Mountain park roads for such an event in 1957 led to the ban. In other actions the commission: Recommended no changes in hunting and fishing regulations in force last year but left the way open for receipt of Conservation Congress suggestions for possible changes. Authorized use of fish and game funds to acquire additional land for department headquarters at Oshkosh. Approved sending two men to participate in a Canadian waterfowl banding project.

Approved land acquisition, costing $6,000, for High Cliff Forest Park in Calumet County. Voted acquisition of Demlow Lake in Langlade County for conservation management purposes. KEEP OUT no THESPASSG MM 0 iJl There was tremendous resentment against people trying to make a profit on it" Marolla said scrap paper and other assorted junk in the house apparently fed the blaze, making it "a terrific fire." "The popular opinion" in Plain-field, said Marolla, is that the fire was set. He pointed out that while the people in the area might feel relieved over the turn of events, setting a building on fire is arson nevertheless. Admitted Crimes Sheriff Art Schley of Waushara County was at the scene of the fire early this morning and was back in the Plainfield area later in the day.

There was no snow on the ground when the blaze started, making it almost impossible to find tracks. Sight-seers have been driving by the house frequently ever since the crimes were discovered last Nov. 16. Gein, a 51-year-old bachelor, was arrested the same night that he shot Mrs. Worden.

He also admitted killing Mrs. Mary Hogan at her tavern in the Town of Pine Grove (Portage County) In 1954 and robbing a number of graves in the area. He was later committed to the Central State Hospital for the Criminal Insane at Waupun. A snowfence was thrown up around the house and no-trespassing signs posted. The fence, charred in spots, was still standing this morning.

The house itself was down to the foundation. A stove and a few pails, tubs and cans lay among the ashes. "At least we know it won't be turned into a museum," Marolla said this morning. "Now some neighbor might buy the land. Farms are expanding here like everywhere else." The Weather WISCONSIN Mostly cloudy and cold with scattered snow flurries tonight and Friday.

Low tonight in the 20s. High Friday in the 30s. Winds north to northwesterly 10-18 m.p.h. this afternoon, diminishing to 5-12 m.p.h. tonight and Friday.

Stevens Point Temperatures Yesterday's maximum, 39. Last night's minimum, 22. Noon today, 31. Precipitation, .01 inch melting; snow. 1 Ah A man and woman lived through the two-hour blaze.

A medical examiner said most of the victims were asphyxiated before the flame reached them. Several women were leaping from windows by the time the first firemen reached the scene. Six women In all leaped to the street. Two other persons were caught In fire nets; five were rescued via aerial ladders. Fifteen persons were injured.

Twelve persons including a truck driver who aided the fire fighters are in hospitals. Two were in critical condition. The other three were treated and released. Fire Commissioner Edward F. Cavanagh Jr.

said there was no evidence of fire law violations on the premises, adding: "It would seem that panic played a most important role in this blaze. Some bodies were piled one on top of the other evidence of mass hysteria. At least three jumped from windows where there was no evidence of smoke or Came." An inquiry opens today at the city fire marshal's office. In Albany, Gov. Averell Harriman ordered the State Department Labor end the Division of Safety to investigate the fire in cooperation with city officials.

Mrs. Edna Murray, 33, employed in the workrooms of the Monarch Underwear who was led to safety by firemen, said: "There was heavy smoke. It was hard to see. People were bumping Unto each other. It looked like a panic." The blaze broke out when an oven exploded shortly before 4 p.m.

on the. third-floor textile factory the five-story structure. A bolt of fabric was being treated in the oven when the blast came. The three employes on the third floor escaped unharmed, as did persons on all other floors but the fourth. Five alarms brought 200 fire men and dozens of pieces of equipment to the scene.

But it was almost 6 p.m. two hours before the fire fighters, repeatedly balked by intense heat and smoke, were able to enter the fourth floor by aerial ladders. They saw bodies piled atop one another. Some were heaped near the doorways, others lay under work tables and benches, and some were huddled near windows. Still alive amid the charred ruins were an unidentified woman and a man.

The woman had saved her life by crawling into a large metal container which shielded her from the flames. The streams of water being poured onto the fire cooled the metal enough to keep her from being roasted to death. The man was found flat on his face, hugging the floor. Among the Injured was Edward Wine, 36, a truck driver who volunteered to help hold one of the fire nets! A woman leaping from the building missed the net and landed on Wine, father of five children. Thp woman and Wine were taken to a hospital.

Survivors were high in their praise of Abraham J. Becker, 37, Hicksville. N.Y., a Monarch Co. foreman, who not only tried to restore order but went back into the flaming fourth floor time and time again to lead others to safe ty. But the World War II veteran, married and the father of two children, did not survive his last rescue attempt.

He was overcome by smoke and died. Adenauer Wants Atomic Weapons BONN, Germany UP) Chancellor Konrad Adenauer said today that West Germany must equip itself with atomic weapons and permit rocket bases on its soil if NATO considers that necessary for Western defense. Otherwise, Adenauer told the Socialist opposition, West Germany must get out of the North Atlantic Alliance. Irrigation Hearing A hearing on a Town of Belmont farmer's application to irrigate from Emmons Creek will be conducted at the City Water Department Building Friday, starting at 9 a.m. The state Public Service Commission will hold the hearing.

John LI Turner is seeking permission to pump up to 500 gal-Ions of water per minute from the stream between May 1 and Oct Motor Trolling Test Gets CommisiorTOK Gein Farm Support Before House By B. L. LIVINGSTONE WASHINGTON UP) A hold-the-line farm price support bill was called up for probable House passage today in the face of a threatened presidential veto. The bill, a toned-down version of Sen at passed legislation, would impose a one-year freeze on government price, supports and planting allownces at levels no lower than those now in force. Speaking to a gathering of Republican women Tuesday, President Eisenhower said a freeze of "price-depressing practices of the past represents in my opinion a 180-degree turn in the wrong direction." Despite his opposition, Democrats and many Republicans pushed the proposal as a temporary means of halting any further decline In the farm economy.

Chairman Cooley (D-NC) of the House Agriculture Committee said a half-billion-dollar drop In agricultural income could be avoided. Administration backers, on the other hand, cautioned that the measure would jeopardize chancesof permanent farm legislation this session, and would invite disastrous drops in livestock and grain prices. The House measure would limit to a year the hold order on price support levels and acreage allotmentsA bill passed earlier by the Senate contains no time limitation, making the freeze permanent until repealed or supplanted by Congress. Under terms of the House bill, the price support floor would be held at the 1957 level, acreage allowances at the 1958 level. The acreage freeze would thus apply to 1959 because 1958 planting allotments already have been fixed.

Strongest Republican support for the bill came from GOP dairy state members. Under plans announced by Secretary "bf Agriculture Benson, dairy price supports are scheduled to be lowered April 1 to the legal minimum of 75 per cent of parity. Supports for manufacturing milk at now 83 per cent, those for butterlat 80 per cent. The cut proposed would cut milk price supports from $3.25 to $3.03 a hundred pounds, and butterfat supports from 58 to 56 cents a pound. By Freeze Order i mist A farmhouse looked before it morning.

Gasda apparently walked some distance from the tavern, but was met by officers and disarmed as he returned to the building. Snowstorms Mark Start Of Spring By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The vernal equinox the official start of spring occurs tonight at 9 :06, but somebody apparently forgot to tell the sun. Cloudy skies covered Wisconsin again today following another day of freakish snowfalls. Six Inches of snow fell in the Wabeno area Wednesday night. A snowstorm hit the Kenosha area between 3 and 7 p.m.

Wednesday, dropping a total of 4 inches on the city. The southwestern corner of Racine reported 3 inches, but no measurable snow was on the ground in the northern part of Racine. Also reporting precipitation were Milwaukee, Madison, Wausau and Lake Geneva. Nighttime temperatures again were near the seasonal normals, ranging from a low of 22 degrees at Eau Claire, Kenosha, Racine and Grantsburg to a 28 at Green Bay. Wednesday's peak temperatures were topped by La Crosse's 42.

Grantsburg was the coolest spot with 32. ine cause oi me lire is un known, but around Plainfield there is a strong suspicion that it was deliberately set And while people in the area hesitate to say they approve of it, it's obvious that most of them prefer this to having the building turned into a museum as had been feared. The blaze was spotted at about 2:30 this morning by Burt Carlson, Plainfield policeman, who saw the glow from the village, five miles away. The Plainfield volunteer fire department answered the call but the fire was far out of control by the time the men and equipment arrived. The firemen confined their efforts to keeping the fire from spreading.

Five other buildings close to the house, all of them old and weatherbeat-en, are still standing. The chief of the Plainfield fire department is Frank Worden, whose mother, Mrs. Bernice Worden, was murdered by Gein last fall in her Main street hardware store. Worden was amonf those answering last night's call. At Madison, State Fire Marshal Rossiter said his office had officially moved into an Investigation of the fire.

"We had to assume that the fire was set," Rossiter said. The Gein property is scheduled to be sold at auction on March 30, and brush' and rubbish was burned south of the building Wednesday to clear a parking area. There was some speculation but no evidence that the fire originated here. Protests But it was claimed that the brush and rubbish fire was put out, and furthermore, that there wasn't enough wind early this morning to spread the flames. The house was unheated and did not have electricity.

The auction has caused pretests from clergymen in the Plainfield area because it will fall on Palm Sunday. Despite the fire, the sale will go ahead as scheduled. The land, a car, a truck and farm machinery will be sold. The auction company conducting the sale had planned to charge 50 cents admission to inspect the farm this coming Sunday, but this was ruled out last week by Waushara County Judge Boyd Clark. Other groups and individuals dropped plans to sell post cards and serve lunches during the showing and at the auction.

In the village itself, said Ed Marolla, editor of the Plainfield Sun, "not one person tried to capitalize on It (the Gein case). MADISON If) The Wisconsin Conservation Commission voted today, 5 to 1, to permit trolling from a moving motor boat on five lakes a9 an experiment. The Wisconsin Legislature had asked the department to set up motor trolling experiments on some lakes and the department recommended the plan to the commission in February. At that time, however, the commission refused by a tie vote to permit the experiment. Today, only Commissioner Charles Smith of Wausau voted against a resolution providing for the experiment.

It was offered by Commissioner Arthur MacArthur of Janesville. MacArthur's resplution directs the department to conduct the experiment as long as necessary to evaluate it. Under the resolution limited motor trolling would be permitted on Lakes Winnebago, Shell in Washburn County, Eau Claire, Wisconsin in Sauk and the Chetek chain in Barron County. Smith said he was opposed to motor tolling "even as an experiment because it would be the opening wedge for it all over." "These five lakes were grabbed out of the air," he said, "and picked because there probably was less protest from those areas." The commission voted approval of the Forestry Advisory Committee recommendation to appropriate J25.000 for Wisconsin participation in survey and research work on maple blight threat to sugar maple stands in extreme northern Wisconsin. Cause of the blight is unknown and a coordinating program has been proposed for the next four years.

Universities of Wisconsin THIS IS how the Ed Gein was destroyed by fire this Ousted Tavern Patron Returns With Shotgun MOSINEE UP) A Marathon County man was disarmed by sheriff's officers Wednesday night after he had fired three shotgun blasts at a car and several more while standing outside of a tavern from which he was ejected. Taken into custody was a man identified by Sheriff Walter Wolf as Max Gasda, 50, who lives about 10 miles east of here. Wolf said Gasda was asked to leave the tavern after he had purchased a bottle of wine but was told by the owner he could not drink it there. Gasda was quoted as saving he was going home for his gun, but would return and "shoot up the place." His caF was found in a ditch about a mile from his house and police theorized that he went to his home on foot, picked up the weapon, and shells and began walking back to the tavern. 5 As he returned a group of patrons who had been in the-tavern saw him and told Wolf he fired three shots as their car passed.

At the tavern he fired several shots outside but did not enter the building. The patrons fell to the floor and none was injured..