The Gastonia Gazette from Gastonia, North Carolina • Page 1

Good It's Wednesday, December 27, 1972 "Politics is a jungle one is torn between doing the right thing and, staying in office." Kennedy The Gosronia Gazette, 1972 THE GASTONIA GAZETTE 777 "THE PIEDMONT'S GROWING NEWSPAPER" Low tonight, 28 Hjgh tomorrow, (Complete wcalber on P-5C) Go sf on ia, North Carolina Single Copy lOc Daily, 20c Sunday 3 Sectioni 24 Fa get TORN OFF FRAME This is what remains of the bus in which 1 9 members of an Austin, church youth group died last night in collision with cattle truck. The bus body was torn from the frame. (AP Wirephoto.) 19 church youths killed when truck strikes bus FORT SU.MN1CH, N.M. A truck loaded with cattle jackknifed on a narrow bridge near hero and slammed into a chartered bus carrying a church youth group bound for a holiday ski ouling and religious retreat. Authorities said ID were killed, 16 injured.

The young people were from the Woodlawn Baptist Church in Austin, Tex. Ambulance driver Harvey Sliham said the bus "was hit hard enough so that the front end was pushed about halfway through ilic bus like an accordion. It was torn all to pieces." The bus wrecked Tuesday night was the second of two school buses carrying the youth group. The driver of the first bus said that after passing Hie truck he looked in the rear view mirror and saw the lights of the second bus flash and go out on the bridge. "I slopped Ihe bus and our leader Ron Killough ran back to see what happened," Roberts said.

"I already knew. I stood up in the bus and made an announcement to the kids. I told them, 'You're going to see something you've probably never seen before in your life. If you can't sland to see your brothers and sisters mangled and possibly killed, don't get off the bus. "Just kVnolher ambulance driver said (he scene "looked like a were a lot of people down there trying to separate the living from (he dead.

The windows were all broken out of the bus. Fuel was all over the road." Frank Stanley, a radio newsman from Clevis, said seals in the bus were torn from their moorings by the impact and the frame of the bus lore loose from the body. Stanley said: "The bodies were slacked off to the side of the road and covered with blan- kets or coats. Items normally taken on outings were strewn about things like backpacks and sleds." Some of Ihe injured weren't removed from the twisted and fused wreckage of the bus for as long as two hours after the accident. Neither vehicle burned.

Traffic was blocked for about six hours. The accident occurred as two buses carrying a total of about 67 persons crossed the bridge on U.S. 60-84 about 12 miles east of- eastern Mexico town. The span is only 25 feet long. State police said the first bus passed the caslbound cattle truck without incident.

The truck then apparently struck the bridge railing and the trailer swung into the path oE the second bus. The buses were heading for Vadito, a New Mexico ski area near a major Baptist assembly site, Gloriela. By four men Grocer robbed, beaten, and tied The 80-year-old owner-operator of Allen's Self Service on the owner-operator of Allen's Dallas-Clicrryvillc Highway was severely beaten and robbed of $60 Tuesday afternoon. Forrest Allen, owner of I he grocery-service station combination near the Bess Town Road, was hit in the head by one of four Negro men. He was then dragged to (he rear of the store, where lie also lives, and tied up with baling twine.

The four men then escaped. Rural Police Officer Bcnnie Helton said Allen (old him that one Negro man came into his store and picked up a loaf of bread and offered to pay 26 cents for it. Allen told Iho man lliat he owned him another dime for the bread and Ihc man said, "Just a minute and I'll be back." Hellon said Ihe man did rc- lurn but wilh three other Negro men. "This is when one of the men struck Allen on the head and took what money ho had from a billfold in his back pocket," Helton said. Allen slatted yelling ant! finally allraclcd Ihc attentio nof his son.

Forrest Allen who was pouring concrete at the rear of the store. Forrest Jr. said he grabbed a section of steel pipe and came to the aid of his father. "By this time, dad had managed to drag himself from the rear of the store and had a pis- (ol in his hand, but it was loo lale, Ihe men had already gone," the younger Allen said. The elder Allen was taken to a Lincoln County hospital where ho was treated and released at the emergency room.

Police said the cut on his head required eight or nine stitches to close. The only description of Ihe bandits obtained is that one is tall and (he other three are short. They escaped in a blue or green car, according to Helton. Hellon said it's obvious that Iho first man came into (he store lo see if Allen was alone. "When he discovered that he was, he went back to Ihc car and got his companions, who were wailing," Helton said.

Cannibalism was used by crash survivors MERCHANT Rural Police Bennie Helton holds the baling twine used to tie up Forrest Allen Tuesday afternoon when he was robbed of $80 by four men. SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) Despair and anger followed the disclosure that some of the 1C survivors of an Andean air crash fed on their dead com- 'panions to stay alive. Official sources on Tuesday disclosed the cannibalism among the young Uruguayan men during their 69-day ordeal on an icy mountain ledge. A dozen of the survivors staying at a local hotel "wore very depressed and went to their rooms inmedialely" when afternoon papers appeared with Ihe stories, a hole) employe said. One newspaper used Ihc headline "Cannibalism Jusll- fied" with a submits asking "What would you have done?" Tho 15 were among '45 persons aboard a Uruguayan air force plane lhat crashed In (lie Andes Ocl.

13. All of Ihe passengers were cillicr players on a Montevideo rugby team or fans. The survivors spoke freely with newsmen earlier about every Ihing except Iheir food supply. They said 18 were killed in Ihc crash or died of their injuries within several days, eight more perished in an riva- lanehe Oct. 20 and last three died in November and early December of injuries or undernourishment.

Host relatives and friends of tlic survivors refused to discuss Iho cannibalism but Mrs. Domilila de Paez said the rcporls "soil Ihe grandest miracle of hislory." She is Ihe mother of Carlos Pacz, 20, one of Ihe survivors. Mrs. Sara Alvarez do Francois, mollier of survivor Roberto Francois, said the reports "are lies, it is criminal lhat (hoy arc 1 Simple rites prepared for dead ex-president One last trip to library INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) For the final time, Harry S.

Truman today travels Hie half niile from his home to the presidential library that bears his name. Ami the nation he led from war into the chill of an uneasy peace will have a day of mourning Thursday to commemorate the man whose dearest wish was to be known as "The People's President." Hiehard II. Nixon, the 37lh president of the United States, and Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th, were to be at the library today to bid farewell to the 33rd. But mostly the honor of paying last respects is reserved for close family and friends and the ordinary people with whom Truman so strongly identified in his 88 years.

There will be little of the pageantry of other stale funerals for the former President who died Tuesday. In keeping with Mrs. Truman's wishes, once- elaborate plans were scrapped for rites with simple dignity. A memorial service is to be held in Washington's national Cathedral within a week after Congress reconvenes Jan. 3 for the American and not -be accommodated here.

President Nixon ordered all but essential government agencies closed Thursday and flags to half staff for 30 days. PRIVATE SERVICE Mrs. Truman, daughter Margaret and her family, and close friends were to be at a private service in the Carson funeral home this morning. Then a motorcade was to take the coffin in a direct route from the mortuary, through the streets of Independence that Truman had walked so often to the library to which he devoted many of his retirement years. Midway on the route is the Truman homo, a modest Victorian mansion, that looks as it did more than 100 years ago except for the fence creeled by the Secret Service during Truman's presidency.

There, at the busy intersection of Truman Iload and Delaware, the motorcade was to pause briefly and begin the leg Truman had walked so often, past the homes of neighbors who knew Harry Truman and Bess Wallace as children. A catafalque was placed in the lobby of the library before a Cfl-fool mural depicting "Independence and the Opening oC the West" and it was there that people could come to say farewell. The wreath-laying visits of President and Mrs. Nixon and former President and Mrs. Johnson a day before the burial was planned as the course best for Airs.

Truman and in deference to her wishes for as simple a. funeral as possible. Thousands were expected to pass by the coffin in Ihe 21 hours of lying in state. But only 200 the capacity of the Truman Library Auditorium wore invited into the service Thursday to be conducted by (he Rev. John If.

Lcmbckc, paslor of Trinily Episcopal Church. The Tnimans were married in church 53 years ago and so was Margaret, Ihcir only child, 37 years later. Unlil recent years, Mrs. Truman had been a member of the Parish Altar Guild there, pitching in lo polish the brass and prepare the altar. Index Ask Andy 7B Bridge Classified Comics Crossword 7B 4-7C C-7B 6B Dear Abby CA Dca(lis 2A Horoscope 6B Movies -1C Opinion Pngo 4A Snorls 1-2C TV CB Weather 5C Woman's News C-7A WIDOW AND DAUGHTER Mrs.

Bess Truman and daughter Margaret Trumon Daniel left the Truman home for an undisclosed destination after the death of former President Harry S. Truman, who died at the age of 88. A secret service man is to the right. (AP Wirephoto.) The women heard news with grace Uy INDEPENDENCE i f. The widow 'fficl former President Harry S.

Truman took the news of his death "with Ihe great style and grace they have always exhibited," a family friend says. Randall Jessee, public affairs director of the Kansas City regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Bess Truman was notified by telephone and took it "with the same fortitude and calmness wilh which she has faced all of this." Margaret Truman Daniel, the couple's only child, also was at the home when the news came, having relumed from her home in New York lo her father's bedside on Christmas Day. Tar Heels visits baffler RALEIGH Former Presidcnl Harry S. was in his "fiive-'ein-hell" style in campaigning in eastern North Carolina in ISliO for John F. Kennedy and against Hieh- ard Nixon.

At a news conference in fialcigli, a woman reporter addressed the elderly statesman as "Mr. Nixon." Truman smilingly said. "Young lady, sland up and apologize." In Rooky Mount, a friendly crowd tried to get him lo kiss a young beauty queen. "I never kiss anyone but my wife," he said. Mark Ethridgc retired publisher of the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal, who now lives in "Moncin'c, N.

and leaches journalism nl Hie University of North Carolina, was a (icrsonal frieml of Truman He served tiic Truman administration on presidential commissions to Greece and Palestine. Elliridge recalled in a recent interview, "The hoiic was lhat we'd get some peace in Palestine. I kept protesting thai I didn't want 'to go. I didn't basically agree with the policy of llic administration, which was the partition of Palestine. "He (Truman) finally losl patience and lie said lo me: 'Look, I can gel a million sons of bitches to make war.

Can't 1 get one son of a bitch to help me make peace?" Body of missing man is found near Buster Boyd CLOVER The extensive search for 35-year-olu Johnnie Joe Stewart the father of threo children is over. The body of (he missing Cleveland County man was found by two fisherman Tuesday, floating in the Catawba River near Buster Boyd Bridge. Stewart had been missing since Dec. 18 when he left his Patterson Springs home early in Ihe morning to go fishing. Eelmont Police Sgt.

Bill Sisk, brother-in-law of the victim, said he Identified the body as that of Stewart. Sisk said (he body was found fully dressed in two shirts, a heavy coat, pair of blue jeans, long underwear, anil boots. York County medical examiner A.Y. Leslie ruled (hat no foul play was involved, declaring the death due lo "accidental drowning." Often plagued by bad weather and lack of personnel, rescue squads anil private citizens have maintained a tiring search for the missing fisherman since his disappearance was reported a week ago. On one occasion rescue operations had to be abandoned due lo heavy ground fog.

And one day, because of tlio lack of res- cuo workers, Sgl. Sisk slood at the Allison Creek boat landing and pleaded with nearby fisherman lo postpone their sport and search Instead for Ihe missing man. During tho weekend. South Carolina rescue squad units arrived in force ami as many BS 20 boats scoured Iho river. When Stewart did not return home from fishing on Monday.

Dec. 18, his wife drove around his favorite fishing sites, looking for him. On Wednesday she found her husband's car and boat frailer parked at tho Allison Creek landing about 12 miles from Rock Hill. The search for Stewart began immediately, but rescue workers could find no trace of Ihe missing fisherman or his fishing rig, For days the only lead searchers had was a roprt by a fisherman that he had spotted Stewart cruising the vicinity of Ihc Busier Boyd Bridge Ihe morning of his disappearance. Deaths JOHNNIE JACKSON Kings Mountain JOHNNIE JOE STE1VAUT Patterson Springs WILLIAM J.

HAIiBARB Ulackslnu-g, S.C. HOWAIID JOK GANTT Clicrryville PEARL R. B. MARTIN Bessemer Clly II. U.

ASHE BrooldjTi, N.Y. DOCK H. MESSEK Lowell IIEtlSHEI, NICHOI.SON Lowell INFANT ELLER 318 Holiday lid. (Details on page 2-A) On 'I'uesday, discouraged at the lack of progress in the scach. Stewart's family said they would give (he missing fishing boat to anyone who found it.

The boal was a 14-foot i i) I a 'Rankin' with a 55-horsepowcr outboard motor. Sisk said today that the family is still interested in finding tho boat. "We think the boat may give us some clue on why Stewart drowned," he explained. Stewart's body was found approximately JO miles doini- slroam from where the body of Jack Riley, 2fl, of Gastonia was a native of Jackson County, and his brother Dan disappeared while duct hunting on the Catawba River Dec. 16.

Slewarl, an employe of Footc Mineral Co. in Kings Mountain, was a native of Jackson County. N.C. He was a veteran of Ihc Korean War. Ho is survived by his molhor, Mrs.

La'nholh Slowart of Kings Mountain; his wife, Gcraldinc Camp Slewarl; two sons, Johnnie Ray Stewart and Wayno Stewart; and daughlcr, Tanna Jo Stewart, all at home. He is also survived by four brothers, Odcll Stewart of Mount Dora, Lambeth Sle- warl Jr. Wlsham, Gene nnd Charles Stewart, bolh of Brevarrt; one sister, Mrs. Opal Moss of Kings Mountain. Tho funeral will bo lit 3:30 p.m.

Thursday at Iho Harris Funeral Home In Kings Mountain. Burial will bo in Iho Gro- vcr Cemetery. "I thought he was talking to me, so I said, 'When do I go2' He said, Tonight. 1 But I didn't go (hat night. 1 went Iwo days later." Ethridgc remembers lhat Truman and Mrs.

Kthridge once i'ot into a loag conversation and Ihe President finally turned to him and asked: "Why did you marry this damn woman? She talks as much as I do." Oscar R. Ewing who now lives in Chapel Hill, was head of the Federal Security Agency from 1M7 lo 1D53, a position now known as secretary of health, education and svelfarc. Ewing remembers that 1DW, when he was assistant chairman of the Democratic National Committee, he first met Truman, then a U. S. senator seeking nomination for reelection.

Truman was opposed for tho nomination by then Gov. Lloyd Stark. Truman came to Ewing's' office and' demanded lhat the Democratic National Committee quit sending national speaking engagements. He said Stark was using them to politic wilh Ihc folks back home. Ewing discovered that Stark was scheduled to speak in Missouri.

"I Ihen went out and; asked Sen. Truman if he wanted the speaking engagements in Missouri cancelled at the same time he would cancel the out-of-stafe engagements. He answered, 'Hell, no. Everybody in Missouri knows that Lloyd SI ark is Ihe biggest liar in (he stale. And Ihe more he talks there, the beller off I am.

1 Aflcr he was elected president In Tru'mah dedicated a monument In Ralelgli to three North Carolina native sons who became president. Story Phone 864-8516 an for a thai might plhm? of illuajlm that might ntoJ.thV prying if a report or? Know of a of cirtum- lances'with an.uputugt'twrit for' an rnajf' If you lo end of ropo arid wl ihouf JH, thir) tall our Siory IM-l Mrn 6-10 (t.m I i and WiJrmitdji, Phong, P. O. Box 1538, N. C..