Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • Page 3

May 7, 1964 PRESS, Binghamton, N. Y. 3 Long Search Ends as Susquehanna Yields Body of Michael Chemega, 10 One of the longest river searches in Triple Cities history ended shortly before noon today when state police found the body of 10-year-old Michael Chernega. The recovery about 300 yards downstream from the new Endicott-Vestal Bridge ended two months of uncertainty for the boy's family. Michael fell into the Susquehanna River from the bridge on March 6.

The accident touched off an to say exactly how he happened to fall. extensive land, river and air search by police, firemen, skindivers, the The day after the accident, Endicott Police Chief Delbert E. Pembridge informed the Board nf Tnistppe nf cpvprnl nnoninoc Civil Air Patrol for liehtine Doles vet to be in- A stalled on the bridge. -v w-ijf'" and others. At times up to 100 volunteers par I VrT' 1 He said there were 12 such openings in the 30-inch-high rail- PRESS PHOTO BY LEO FAHEY.

ticipated. v.V'tf'' ings on both side of the bridge THE BODY was spotted to and that they were 163i inches wide enough for a man to -0 move tnrougn. day by Trooper TUMBLE INJURES BOSS Construction superintendent on Vestal water supply reservoir on Powderhouse Road, Bryan Dunn of Cambridge, crashed through wooden covering (arrow) today to fall 20 feet inside the reservoir. Firemen rescued him. He was being examined at General Hospital this afternoon.

The chief did not intend to say John Wolcott, who was in a state police mo the boy might have fallen michael through one of the openings. His Sgt. Robert; concern, however, was that tor lanuch with Natale. ,1 jmJJJIL Injured Raccoon Bites Boy Broome County authorities of 920 Upper t'nell University for testing. someone could do just that.

A reporter who paced off the distance found the nearest opening for a street light some 60 feet north of the spot where the boy fell, which was about 300 feet south of the Endicott approach to the bridge. The body was found lying on a bank with an arm over the trunk of a tree. The scene is off River Terrace in Endicott, near the village water works. The boy's mother, Mrs. Ethel Chernega of 401 East Main Street.

Endicott. and his sister. day were awaiting the result ofjStreet, was treated for a bite of Mr. DeSilva said the raccoon PRESS AIR PHOTO by BOB GARVIN. WHERE BODY WAS FOUND-Cross indicates part of Susquehanna River island where body of 10-year-old Michael Chernega was discovered today.

At upper left is McKinley Avenue Bridge from which he tumbled March 6. At lower right is old Vestal-Endicott Bridge. rabies tests on the body of the left hand at Ch a was struck a glancing blow by a raccoon which bit a 6-year-old Bridge Medical Center. The in- car and apparently knocked un conscious. The 6-year-old approached the animal and began Linda.

13. were broueht to the THE STATE soon after Town of Dickinson boy occurred near his home, day. I Willis B. DeSilva, Broome The boy, Lawrence Evans, jCounty dog warden, said the ion of Mr. and Mrs.

Lawrence animal's body was taken to Cor- scene. boarded up the openings. stroking it when the raccoon re-j vived and bit him Linda was with Michael when However, there has been the boy fell into the swollen 'criticism that the bridge railings Oiilr.il High Stngelinnds (niii l'resfige Mrs, LaShier Heads Chapter Mrs. Iona LaShier is river while throwing stones into1 themselves were too low, Tanners To Show Styles to EJ it at about 8:30 p. m.

A fourth grader at Jennie F. Today was the first time thisiSnapp School, young Michael in 1962 was uijureo: when a prime County Spending Study Target Of Democrats Road Purchase Control Out For Baldwin week troopers had cruised the river in the search. There were daily searches- cap in a hand grenade exploded president of Xi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, women educators honorary society. Artist to Teach At Robersoii Robert Keller, artist teacher, will begin a studio class series at 1:30 p. m.

Saturday in Rober-son Memorial. in his hand. State Dolice at that time said Twenty-seven leather tanning some that extended as far west Other officers elected recent as Owego for the first three or, he suffered powder burns and companies will show their styles ly: so wppks after he fell. Some vol-: aeerations of the ricrht hand iniW rnuicou jonnson uorp. 0111- Donald M.

Flanagan, a Bing- First vice-president. Wist Emily Vr- cials May 22, at the Binghamton hamton lawer, heads a seven-junteers covered the river banks.the mishap. The six-week course, to be County Board Chairman Henry M. Baldwin is barred from exercising control over pur- Horn; SKond vice-president, Misi Margaret Vill; third vice-president. Mist Celia Stahl; recording secretary.

Mis conducted Saturdays from lrSu'memher a 1 1 1 of 1001 Irom MKUCOtl uwego 4'3n is HpcicmpH fnr'n 17 According to memDers 01 tne Chernega family, it was not unusual for young Michael to be out at that hour. chases made by the Highwayart studenis who inbo rn XT' Lillian Camen; corresponding secretary. Miss Caroline Ferris; treasurer, Mrs. Hazel Pierce, and parliamentarian. Mis Edith Cutting.

Miss Eleanor Vogelsang was chairman vis nn nf the Puhl Worksart rarr Th ic "auv- vuu" SKINDIVERS volunteered in mid-April when the water level subsided. During the last few weeks, Sheraton Inn. Raymond A. Mills, EJ vice-president for purchasing, said "the main purpose of the showing is to review new developments in specialty leathers that will be important in the designing for the spring 1965 ty government spending. limited to 12 students.

of the nominating committee. The group will make a de- HIS SISTER, Carolyn, 19, said her brother often went to the Students interested Department. The board Tuesday revised Its purchasing rule to except "Hpartment by departments however, the search was tem tering must prepare a portfolio study to see if the costs for the! porarily suspended because of! Boys Club In the Community 01 tneir WOrK and be prepared Ut.t 1n ihpaw latA-Anril rain that fpmnrial Tontor lvofat HiroM. last 10 "can be (heavy late-April rains that Memorial Center, located direct- Liberty St. Opens Liberty Street, between Rob Central High School's actors and stagehands have achieved national recognition in a magazine that, in some quarters, enjoys the prestige of the Atlantic Monthly, in other quarters.

A two-page layout with five pictures in the July that's right, July issue of "Hit Parader" describes last spring's Central production of Sandy Wilson's musical "The Boy Friend." Most of the magazine is devoted to reprinting lyrics of rock 'n' roll and folk songs, liberally interspersed with photographs and biographical sketches of the stars. The July issue, with the gravity of the Sewanee Review contemplating the decline of iambic pentameter, views with some alarm a forthcoming power struggle between Dave Clark and the Beatles. highway purchases from the an interview with Mr. Keller chairman's recently expanded on Saturday. years justified season." according to the club's presi-jcaused the water to rise and ly west of the bridge.

"The specialty leathers that dent, Philip Speyer. 'become murky. The club usually closes at! the company is not equipped to MrvSpeyer said the commit-! Sergeant Natale and 8:30 p.m. weekday represent a sizable por-tpe ako would look into d'Wolcott started today's searchlnings. tion of our total leather re- inson and Eldredge streets, was reopened to traffic today, City Hall announced.

It has been power of approval and disap-l proval. Mr. Baldwin explained that, under state law, highway buying Four to Attend Buffalo Parley move of the County Motor Ve-earlv "1IS mornin8 a we launch Young Michael first walked quirements," he added closed for a few days because of highway construction in the area. "Historically, this type of hirlp Rnrpat! to Water Street 1T0OP neaa-; onto the bridge "to look around and the develnnment of Green-t3uarters at Sidney shortly center because he heard it tannage has been purchased cannot be controlled centrally Four members of Temple Is-unless the county establishes a'rael's United Synagogue Youth nnat nf mirrhaiinff atrpnt In-ill offon a Kom 'nrr Ctofn wood Park in Nanticoke. nIshaP- He said other members of the! Troopers said in March that was flooded," his sister said.

The trio apparently started throwing the rocks later. from outside sources. And, of course, a review of leather color, textures and fashion trends will be of great value," Micnaei apparently iosi ms oai- He said the legality of the conference of that group thisFLanafa" committee are Troopers said the body was SUPERIOR AMBULANCE SERVICE 24 HOUR SERVICE Phone 772-1-456 previous rule, requiring allcoun- weekend at Statler Hilton Hotel' sW Trd sp ance alter throwing a large stone into the river. He was with his sister and taken to Allen Memorial Home, at 511 East Main Street, he said. Alexander Kover, upper leath er purchasing manager, is ar Ul iSUItaiO.

cef ana Rtcnra omett. The three-day program will The committee was named at start tomorrow. Attending from a club meeting last week at 10-year-old Terry Horton of 6l2Endicott. Funeral arrangements ty officers to seek the chairman's approval, had been questioned by Public Works Commissioner J. Bruce Orr.

ranging the meeting. raaen aireei, juiuicoiu wnaajare pending. Belyea, the and Terry notified police after which Edward Binghamton will be Gail Brown of 44 Forest Hills Boulevard, ieu city's urban renewal Hummingbirds depend upon Sharon Luft of Park Street, POLICE HAVE said Terry saw the boy's that neither he nor Linda was able sioner, spoke about Projects 1 and 2 of the downtown urban renewal plan. flower nectars to provide them Azersky of 1 Annette Ave-sugar to meet their demanding nue, and Mark Siskin of 67 energy requirements. Grand Boulevard.

DAIRY FARM CENTER OF INTEREST Martian Stirs Tioga warm-weather MONEY alone, was spreading manure In' By REID A. OCHS game material such as fertilizer," Mr. Wilcox recalled. They expressed considerable an open field. Shortly before 10 o'clock, he shaped like an egg.

He touched it and felt no heat HE OBSERVED no door or escape hatch, but two humanlike men suddenly appeared. Owego Bureau Chief Newark Valley A dairy report of talking with two interest in why he was spreading manure and in the various uses of fertilizers. They were about four feet tall, decided to check a shaped field on another part of the farm that is almost completely surrounded by woods. He wanted to see whether ground condi wore clothing that appeared to THE MARTIANS explained that they grew food in the atmosphere, but changes in the tions would permit plowing. universe were expected to create have no seams and had on what appeared to be a headdress with a full-face hood.

He could not distinguish any facial features because of the face hoods. They appeared to have arms and legs, but he could not tell whether they had AS HE APPROACHED the problems. They said they were visiting earth to obtain informa-. field, which is about a mile from his dairy barn, he saw a shiny object that he at first thought feet and toes. "Do not be alarmed, we have was a discarded refrigerator that had been in the field for some time.

talked to people before. We are from what you people refer to He realized that the shiny as planet Mars, one of the figures said in smooth English. tion about organic material. They appeared to know little about organic material and their questions were like those a child would ask. Each one carried a tray filled with soil, apparently taken from the field.

"When they talked about space or the ship, I had diffi-l culty in understanding their explanations," Mr. Wilcox said. I "They said they can only travel to this planet every two years and they are presently using the Western Hemisphere." The Martians said they land only during daylight hours because their ship is less readily visible in daylight. They ex object was not the old refrigerator as he drew nearer. His next thought was that it was a wing tank or some other part of an airplane that had fallen into the field.

HE THOUGHT this surely must be some kind of gag somebody was playing on him, but the conversation continued. One of the creatures stood about The object was shiny and five feet from him and the other stood farther back, close to the spacecraft. looked somewhat like alumi-mun. But it looked as if it would be more durable than aluminum and seemed to have metallic characteristics different from any he had ever seen before. Martians who landed in one ofj his fields in a spacecraft has Tioga County aroused with curiosity.

The report has brought inquiries by an official agency and has been a frequent topic of conversation in recent days in Owego's downtown streets. The Tioga County Sheriff's Department interviewed the farmer, Gary T. Wilcox of Davis Hollow Road, and took a statement from him. The Binghamton office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was informed of the incident. It.

notified the FBI's Albany office, which passed word on to the Air Force. Mr. Wilcox, 27 who operates a 300-acre dairy farm a few miles northeast of Newark Valley, said that a "federal representative" also has been to see him about what, happened in a secluded spot on his farm. (The 17. S.

Air Force recently issued a report in its continuing study of "flying saucer" sightings. It said there was no evidence that unidentified flying objects were craft from other planets controlled by intelligent beings. Most tightingsall but 15 of 382 last year turn out to have some logical explanation when all the evidence is gathered, it taid. (The Air Force also said there is no evidence that VFO's, whatever, if anything, they are, represent a "threat" to U. S.

Security.) Mr. Wilcox who was described by neighbors as a "hard-working" farmer, initially rebuffed Their voices seemed to come from their bodies rather than from the headdress covered heads. "They were interested in or- The object was about 20 feet long and 16 feet wide and was If there's a shortage of cash In your future for those "extras" that warm weather seems to require, be sure to see First-City about a Personal Loan. First-City will provide funds for home improvements, clothing, outdoor work around the house, a vacation or even a trip to the World's Fair. Call or visit any office.

Photo Beauties Parade Tonight The Southern New York Press Photographers As 'The only bank you'll ever need" pressed surprise that he bad seen the craft. The two figures said astronauts from earth would not be successful in space travel. Astronauts traveling in outer space would die after being in space a year because their bodies are not adaptable to such conditions, they said. THE FIGURES asked whether he had any organic material. He said ye3, and then was asked if they might have some.

He started to leave to get a bag of fertilizer for them. As he did so, the spacecraft took off. The noise the spacecraft made was like an autombile idling. There was no turbulence, exhaust of fire or raising of dust. "Within seconds the craft was out of sight," Mr.

Wilcox said. He returned to the bar picked up a bag of fertilizer and took it to the spot in the field where the Martians had been. He left the bag of fertilizer there. It was gone when be returned the next day. sociation will stage a motorcade of 21 beauty contestants through downtown Binghamton tonight.

The motorcade will start at 7 o'clock from the Arlington IncA i j. Hotel, proceed south in Chen- w'" UB wu Qunn ango Street to Court Street, dance beg'nning at 9 P- m. to-west to Front Street and south morrow at the Sheraton Inn. to the Sheraton Inn. A musical The crowning will take dace KircsT-crrY bank: MEMBER T.

D. I. a group of Windsor High School during a 30-minute live tele-students, the Four Continen- cast of the pageant, sponsored tals will lead the motorcade. by Mohawk Airlines, from a reporter's attempts to interview him about the incident, but The event is part of the as- 11:30 to midnight on WNBF-TV. sociation'g sixth annual beauty The queen will receive an all- finally gave this account of what happened: On the morning of April 24, Mr.

Wilcox, who works the farm pageant, expense-paid weekend trip for Miss Press Photographer for 'two to New York City. i..