Mt. Vernon Register-News from Mt Vernon, Illinois • Page 1

TEMPERATURE 37; low, 11. 43; low, 27. Lost night's Airport noon MT. VERNON REGISTER-NEWS MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATION A SQUARE DEAL FOR ALL SPECIAL FAVORS FOR NONE A NON-PARTISAN PAPER SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: cloudy and not so eotd ton mostly cloudy ond warmir Tuesday. Low tonight 15 20, except 25 to 30 In extreme south.

High Tutktay 25 to 35. VOLUME XXXII 73 MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1951 25c PER WEEK BY CARRIER WEST FRANKFORT DEATH TOLL 119: RESCUERS FINDONEMINER ALIVE 41 PERISH IN DISASTER AT TIJUANA Christmas Party for Needy Children in Third Floor Holt Turned Into Scene of Horror. (Picture of Fire, Page 4) By Assoclatod Presi TIJUANA, Mexico, Dec. 24. Screams of dying children and women left this city gripped today in the horror of a Christmas party fire that took a toll of officially estimated at 51 or more lives.

Burned and broken remains were still being e.vamined in an effort to complete an accurate count. There were unofficial estimates (by Chamber of Commerce President Jorge D. Solar, for one) ranging up to 90 or more, Dist. Atty. Francisco Gastanon.

who announced the official estimate, said he believed it was the highest toll of deaths in a single fire in the history of Me.xico. Escape Locked Eighty-eight who escaped from the burning, building downstairs to a single doorway, were treated for burns at the Miguel Alcraan Hospital. Officials jjaid the only fire escape was not only locked but boarded up. Thirty-three wore still in the hospital, five or on the verge of death, doctors said. Among the 3.3 were 19 children.

Officials this probablv indicates the ral' of litti ones among among the dead. The annual party (or needy children was in full swing when its joy was turned to terror at 11:15 'clock Saturday night. There were different accounts of how the fire started. Tijuana Fire Chief Gil Chidez declared that was criminally responsible. He did not elaborate.

Everyone agreed the flames spread with terrible speed from near the location of a Christmas tree. Scene Is Third Floor Hall As panic took hold among the 3(X) or 4(X) people in the third floor hall of the old Coliseum building, -three blocks from Tijuana's gay Main street, the lights went out. 'Then all was madness," said Luis Alarid. 34, radio station announcer. "A lot of people were trampled to death before they were burned." Many of the bodies wore found in two rest rooms into which the victims apparently had been pushed by the crowds surging toward the Others piled up and died on the stairway.

No Water Pressure The confusion was increased by frantic mothers and fathers trying to get into the buiding to save children. Firemen arrived (aided later by fighters from California) but there was no pressure in the water mains. The disti'ict who also acts as coroner, said his investigation indicated that the fire started under stairs behind the stage, pos. sibly from a cigaret. Thomas Duran, chief of the San Ysidro, fire department, expressed belief the flames began in a ground floor cleaning shop and licked up the rear of the building.

Roy L. Newell, Mt. V. Resident's Son, Mine Victim Roy L. Newell, 47, of West Frankfort, son ot Robert Newell of 222 south 15th street, Mt.

Vernon, was one of the victims of the mine disaster at West Frankfort. Funeral services for Mr. Newell will be held Wednesday at 10 a. m. at the Apostolic church on east Main street.

West Frankfort. Mr. Newell is also survived by his wife, Jennie; four brothers, Jack of 222 south 15th street, Mt. Vei'fion, Jake of east Casey avenue, Mt. Vernon, Jim Nowcil of Cape Girardeau.

Mo. and Freeman Newell of St. Louis: and three sisters, Mrs. Sadie Shields of Perkins avenue, Mt. Vei-non, Mrs.

Vallie Sotherland of West Frankfort and Mrs, Radie Lincoln of Chaffee, Mo. Mr. Newell was an uncle of Paul and Harry Ossig of Mt. Vernon. Bar Removal Of Mt.

Vernon Train By Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, 111., Dec. 24. Illinois Commerce Commission today refused to allow the Illinois Commercial Telephone Company to start deferred rate increases at Herrin, The Commission also denied to the Missouri Pacific Raih'oad to discontinue its last two passenger trains in Illinois, Nos, 831 and 832, between Menard and Mt. Vernon. By EDWIN BACKAWAV I more years in the newspaper business than we like to think about, I have often been struck by the number of tragedies that occur in the Christmas season.

Sometimes it is a had railroad wreck, or a hotel or theater fire or some such horror. On one occasion some years ago there was a fire in an orphanage up in Quebec providence in which a lot of little children were burned to death. Surely this was a beastly thing to print on Christmas eve, but there was nothing.we could do about it. We don't make the news. We just print it.

This year's Chi'istmas tragedy strikes with stunning force, because it happened to our next door neighbors, to our friends, to our own people. The first and natural impulse of anyone, when a neighbor is stricken, is to ti-y to help. But (here is little that can be done. Mt. Vernon rushed its emergency fire truck with an inhilator, to the West Frankfort mine, to stand by and be of help if needed.

But it could do nothing. That is the real hell of it. No matter how much you want to help there is nothing that you or anyone can do to help on such occasions. Years ago as a young reporter I covered a mine disaster out in Colorado, It was a bad one, and it made me sick to the stomach. Every time I have heard of one since, I have been sick to the stomach.

Anyone who has ever been arou of the accursef thine" There is nothing for a newspaperman to do at such times but go the grisly task of compiling the casualty list getting the names of the dead, the injured, tiie missing and the rescued (if any). The story of the disaster has been written many times and it is always the same story. Any good newspaper man who has ever seen the awful thing could write the story without going within a hundred miles of the scene. Always that heart-breaking huddle of women and children about the mine, waiting day and night, and hoping against hope for good news from a husband, a father, a brother, a son. Yes, it is always the same dreadful story with only the place and the names different.

The fine gymnasium of the West rank fort High School was crowded with ba.sketball fans when there blared over the loudspeaker a message something about doctors being needed at Orient No, 2. No more awful words can be heard in a coal mining town. Every man, woman and child in the gym knew what that all too well what that meant. For in a mining town the dark shadows of fear is present day and night. They do not talk much about, and try not to think about it, but it is always there, deep down inside, and the happiest hour in the miner's home is always that hour when daddy comes off his shift.

There is no need to attempt any fine writing about the disaster. This newspaper is published in a mining region and many of our readers are miners, and they and their families know all about it. They know'ihe whole tragic story, and no poor words of ours can add or subtract from the grim and terrible truth. This wiU be a sad. sad Christ- ma.s the neighboring county of l-i-ankiin and we well know that there is nothing we can do to help.

But at least we can mourn with you as friends and neighbors. We can mourn with you for the fine brave men who have died. We can mourn with 'you for your broken homes, and' pray that the Good God may in time bring some measui-e of relief to your grief- stricken souls. WENDELL FOSTER FATALLY HURT IN AUTO CRASH Youfh Wos On Way to Mt. Vernon to Spend Christmas tlolidoys.

Wendell Eugene Foster died Sunday at 10 a. m. in a Marshall, hospital of injtiries received in an automobile accident at 1:30 a. m. Sunday.

He never regained consciousness. Wendell was 20 years, 11 months and 19 days of age. Mr. Foster was assistant manager of the F. W.

Woolworth store in Independence, and had started home to spend the Christmas holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Murland A. Foster of Mt. Vernon.

Car Hits Truck The young Mt. Vernon man was fatally hurt when his car struck the rear of a tractor-trailer. The wreck occurred on highway 40. 12 miles south of Marshall, Mo. Mr.

Foster was a member of the Pleasant Grove Methodist church, and was past president of the Harrisburg District Young People's Fellowship League. The funeral will be conducted from the Osborn Funeral Home at Thursday at 2 p. m. with the Rev. O.

J. Whitlock of Harrisburg and the Rev. Joseph Harris of Mt. Vernon in charge. Friends may call at (he Osborn Funeral Home after 2 p.

m. Tuesday. He was bom January 4, 1931, the son of Murland A. and Martha Marie (Mack) Foster. He is survived by his parents and one sister, Ahce Marie.

Four Children Die In Trailer Blaze By Associated Press CRYSTAL LAKE, 111., Dec. A fire which destroyed their automobile trailei' yesterday fatally burned four of James O'Howell's five children. Witnesses said an oil heater exploded. Dead were Rosalee, Sharon, Margaret 4 and James 2. O'Howell, whose wife died a year ago, has another daughter, Mary Jane, 15 5 MEN KILLED IN WAYNE CjWHTY AUTO COLLISION Three Fairfield Men, Two From Louisiana Die Sunday.

By Associated Press FAIRFIELD, Dec. men were killed in a head-on collision of two autos on U. S. highway 45 two miles north of Fairfield yesterday. Dead were Sterling Jones, 29, and Salaman R.

Catton, both of Baton Rouge, and Jack Vaughan, 27, Burl Kay, 32, and Oscar Cullison, (age unavailable), all of Fairfield. Samuel R. Geralds, Baton Rouge, was seriously injured. State police said the Baton Rouge car apparently went out of control and crossed into the path of the Fairfield vehicle. Carmi Brothers Drown Sunday In River Accident By Associated Press CARMI, 111..

Dec, teen-age brothers were apparently drowned here yesterday when their boat capsized in the Little Wabash river. The body of one has been found, Eddie Edman, 14, a Carmi high school freshman was found dead near the bank in underbrush at dusk yesterday after a four hour search. His brother, Frank Jr. 16, is still missing. A search for the boys began when Vern Collard of Carmi, district director of the Illinois Conservation Department noticed the boys' boat ripped to pieces about a quarter of a mile below the dam in the outskirts of Carmi.

A check at home revealed that the bo had returned from Sunday school, changed clothes and gone to the river. Their father, Frank Edman, an oil field worker, said the boys were river boating enthusiasts and were often on the with their motor boat. He said they were both good swimmers. The boat was found about noon. The body was located between the dam and the boat.

The search for the other boy was continued at today. ENEMY BARS RED CROSS INSPECTION LEWIS AT MINE Reds Claim Prisoners Shown "Humanitarianism." Dec. 27 Ceose- Fire Deadline Near. By Associated Press MUNSAN, Korea, Dec. 24.

The communist high command today rejected Gen, Matthew B. Ridgway's appeal to permit Red Cross inspection of North Korean prison camps. The Peiping radio said North Korean Premier Kim II Sung and Chinese General Peng Teh-Huai told the United Nations supreme conrmiander that inspections were unnecessary because of the "humanitarianism" shown Allied prisoners in Red camps. The communists broadcast the text of a letter to Ridgway delivered Monday to U. N.

truce negotiators at Panmunjom. Allied authorities tonight released the texts of both the original Allied proposal and the communist reply. The broadcast was monitored by the Associated Press in Tokyo and San Francisco. The Red commanders declared that early agreement on an armistice will permit all prisoners to return quickly to their homes. They added: "Several important questions in the, armistice now on the point of being serfled.

The only thing holdings up agreement is your side's continuous and persistent sidetracking and unreasonable demands which are created to "delay the negotiations." JStrange Note Hope A strangely hopeful note was sounded at Panmunjom Monday byJ Korean Maj. Gen. Lee Sang Jo. After listening to Rear Adm. R.

E. Libby ask again whether the Reds would permit an immediate exchange of sick and wounded prisoners, Lee declared: "We hope we are trying to reach an agreement before the 27th of December. Of course we wjll give priority to the sick and wounded. As the 27th is not far away, we don't know why there is such a hurry." "I have no idea that he (Lee) had in mind," said Brig. Gen.

William P. Nuckols, official U. N. spokesman, when asked whether he attached any importance to Lee's reference to Dec. 27.

Sub committees working on the problems of prisoner exchange and armistice supervision scheduled a regular session day. Allied negotiators will do their only celebrating after their work is done. A CJiristmas dinner with all the trimmings will be waiting for them in Munsan when they return from Panmunjom. While the Reds balked at permitting inspection of their prison camps they did propose Monday that a postoffice be set up in neutral Panmunjom so prisoners of both sides could send and receive mail. The U.

N. quickly agreed. Slim Chance Seen With only three days remaining until the provisional cease-fire line agreement expires, there appeared slim chance that negotiators would be able to agree on a Korean armistice before the deadline. A hand-written letter from Maj. Gen.

William F. Dean to his wife in Berkeley, was turned over to U. negotiators by the Reds Monday in jom, The letter immediately was put aboard a plane for Japan. It will be forwarded to Mrs. Dean from Tokyo.

The letter was delivered soon after a communist correspondent told of interviewing the former 24th division commander at a prison camp near Pyongyang only three days ago. Former Mt. V. Man Is Safe In Mine Disaster A former Mt. Vernon young (nan who works at the Orient Nn.

2 mine is sale. He is Billy Boh Cook, 27. of West Frankfort. Billy Bob, a former resident of Ina and a graduate of Mt. Vernon high school in 1942, is the son of Arlie Cook, the mine manager.

Fortunately, young Cook was sent to a hospital yesterday with sinus trouble. He worked on the shift which was in the mine when the tragedy occurred. CECIL SANDERS OF BENTON, ENTOMBe) 56 HOURS, SURVIVES Rescued Man's Condition Serious, But He Is Expected to Live; Bring Out 118 by 11 a. m. Believe Six Men Were ARvi Until Tills Morning.

WEST FRANKFORT, 111., Dec. 23 John L. Lewis, (right) United Mine Workers president; Oscar Chapman (left), Secretary of Interior; and James Forbes (glasses) director of U. S. Bureau of Mines, all wearing helmets, leave New Orient Mine No.

3 after inspection explosion damage today. (AP Wirephoto) ISSUE APPEAL FOaMT.YERNQN AID IN TRAGEDY First- Requesf is for Funds to Feed Rescue Workers. The Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce today issued an appeal for funds from any residents who have a desire to be helpful in easing the burden caused by terrible mine tragedy at West Frankfort. Walton P.

Gillespie, managing secretary of the local Chamber, w'ired the West Frankfort Chamber shortly after the blast occurred, placing the services of the Mt. Vernon Chamber at their disposal "in whatever way we can be of assistance." Today Gillespie received a call from Albert Hengst, executive secretary of the West Frankfort C. of C. telling of the need for funds to pay for the food being consumed by the rescue workers. "The rescue crews are consuming around 100 pounds of hamburger artd from 50 to 60 pounds of cold meat daily, to mention only the meats," Hengst stated.

"We are getting the food we need for them all right, but we haven't any idea how we're going to pay for it. If you can help us in any way, we'd sure appreciate it very much." Asked an approxiniate daily figure, Hengst estimated it was costing about $100 a day to provide meals for the rescuers. He added: "This mess isn't going to be cleaned up immediately, either; my guess is that it'll be four or five days before the whole rescue operation is completed." Contributions should be mailed to the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce, which will forward all monies received to the West Frankfort Chamber for use at the disaster scene. "It's as little as we can do," said Gillespie, "and I hope the citizens of Mt.

Vernon will respond quickly and generously. These folks are our neighbors. I know they'd be quick to help us if the situation was reversed." GOVERNOR MAKES APPEAL SPRINGFIELD. 111., Dec. Govei-nor Stevenson today renewed his appeal for donations to his personal fund for distribution to dependents of men who died in the West Frankfort mine explosion.

"Our hearts go out to the families of the dead and injured at this, Christmas season. I am grateful ifor contributions already made. I "earnestly beg for generous response to this appeal. Stevenson told reporters at a news conference he hoped "people everywhere will to me at Sprmgfield donations for distribution to the many dependents of the men who died in this frightful disaster on the eve of Christmas." NO PAPER TUESDAY The Register-News will not publish on Christmas Day. i HUNGARY PUTS RANSOM Four Yonks Fined $30,000 Each and Their Plane Confiscated.

By Associated Press United States officials, from the president down, appeared shocked and puzzled Monday by the $120,000 ransom demand of communist Hungary for four fliers forced down in their unarmed cargo plane and convicted in a swift trial. They were accused of violating the Hungarian border. The situation seems to be unparalleled in history. U. S.

officials both in Washington and in Budapest moved cautiously, aware that the Hungarian move was one calculated to humiliate the United States before the worJd, and remembering that premature speculation in the jailing of American businessman Robert Voegeler by Hungary delayed his release from prison. A military court, acting with astonishing speed, convicted the four fhers in Budapest yesterday of violating the border with the intention of aiding spies and subversive elements. The four were fined the equivalent of $30,000 each and the plane, a C-47, was ordered confiscated. Only a week before, Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Y. Vishinsky referred to the four fliers in a speech as having violated "Soviet territory" and expressed the hope that they would be dealt with by "our" military and justice authorities.

The fhers are Capt, John J. Swift of Glen Falls, N. Capt. Dave H. Henderson of Shawnee, Jess A.

Duff of Spokane, and Sgt. James A. Elan of Kingsland, Ark. Their plane, off its course on a flight from west Germany to Belgrade, strayed across the Hungarian border Nov. 19 and was forced down by Soviet fighters.

The news that the sentence was a three months imprisonment if the fine was not reheved relatives of the fliers. They had expected worse. "I think it's wonderful," said Mrs. Henderson, interviewed at Erding, Germany, where she and her husband been living. "I'm so e-xcited about it and the children are excited, too.

It's the grandest news we've ever had." Mrs. Swift said it took a great load off her mind. Apparently she feared the fliers might get long prison terms. At Kingsland, King Leo Elan, father of Sgt. Elan, said if the government did not pay the fines, he would raise the money, himself.

The German bride of Sgt. Duff could not be reached at Munich. The U. S. legation in Budapest remained incommunicative today on its plans to free the fliers.

In Washington, President Truman indicated the U. S. government still was puzzled about how to proceed. At the airport, before leaving for Christmas at home in Missouri, the president was asked whether he planned any move today. He aaid "no," By Associated Press WEST FRANKFORT, 111., Dec.

miner was rescued from a 56-hour entombment todayafter the nation 's worst mine tragedy in 23 years claimed 119 lives. Taken from the shaft 550 feet below the surface was Cecil Sanders, 44, of Benton, 111. He was taken to the United Mine Worlcers Hospital in serious condition, 56 hours after the disastrous blast. Shortly after Sanders was brought to the surface. Mine Superintendent John Foster said: "There are five men down there more alive.

We believe that is all." The discovery of the last of the 119 bodies on the day before Christmas added a poignant chapter to the desperate rescue efforts that have been in progress day and night since the violent explosion shattered-the Orient No. 2 mine Friday night. Morg L- of endantJ oim of the itv bodies found early today warm. the bodj, 40, of West final message scrawjeu side of a cigarette package and addressed to his widow, "1 love you all way. I go tonight with Christ.

I love him too." When Sanders' was brought to the surface there were unconfirmed reports that a few other miners had been found alive. This sent a faint flicker of hope through the saddened crowd of relatvies waiting at the mine 's surface entrance. Later investigation led to Foster's statement that no more of the entrapped miners sui-vived the terrific blast which killed men as far as two miles apart. All but one of the bodies had been recovered from the debris- littered shafts at 11 a. m.

One miner died last night in a hospital of injuries received in the explosion. He was Ralph Kent of Marion, 111. It was the worst mine-disaster in Illinois since 1909 and the worst in the nation since 1928. The Cherry mine blast oa Nov. 13, 1909 claimed 259 lives.

An underground explosion at Mater, in 1928, killed 195 miners. In 1947, 111 miners were killed in a blast at Centralia, 111. A physician at the hospital reported Sanders is in fair condition and is expected to survive. 6 Survived Until Today W. W.

Lamont, hospital superintendent, said condition of the last bodies removed from the mine indicated at least six still had been alive as late at this morning. Some of the bodies were warm when rescuers reached them. One of the bodies was found with its head in a hole that had been hastily dug in a desperate search for life-sustaining air. All Hope Abandoned Virtually all hope for survivors had been abandoned. Mine and union officials felt that those who escaped death in the died from gas or iack of o.vygen.

The blast ripped through the tunnels at 7:35 p. m. (CST) Friday. It occurred about two miles back from the shaft. And it shattered timbers for three miles in the sprawling mine which covers a 12 mile area.

Most of the trapped miners never knew what hit them. Physicians said death in most cases was quick. The bodies were horribly burned and mutilated. Limbs were ripped from some. Others were roasted.

Heavy mine equipment as far as two miles from the blast's center was wrecked. Rescue crews, including brothers, sons and fathers of the trapped men, working feverishly to reach the bodies. They walked and crawled one mile to two miles underground with the battered fcHDdies. Rescue was speeded late last night when state mine inspectors approved a plan to shorten the underground route of rescue to one-half mile. Grave concern in the blast was shown in the flight here from Washington of Oscar Chapman, Secretary of, the Iiiteridr, John Lewis.

United Mine Workers president, and JoJin Forbes; director of the U. S. Bureau of Mines. The three men went the Coal Mine Death LisI By Asseetatad WEST FRANKFORT, 111., Dec. 24 The identified dead in the West Frankfort coal mine disaster: William R.

Smith, West Frankfort. Hearstel Summers, Benton. James L. Black, Carterville. Howard Wall.

West Frankforf. Carroll Bridges, 40, Benton. Herschel Harris, West Frankfort. Mike Senkus, West Frankfort, Robert Hines. Benton.

Charles Frankfort. Tom. Clark, West Frankfort Clyde Duprc, Pittsburg. Oscar Hartley, Benton. Buster Spencer, Whittington, Audrey KlTJ Eubanks; lett West IVaak- A.

Bartefni, West Frtnk- James Fowler, West Frankfort. Alexander Ramsey, West Frankfort. Wallace Miller, Rend. Orval Bradley, Logan. Shelby Pasley, West Frankfort.

John Farkas. Johnston Gty. Victor Younkin. West Frankfort. Wayne Spencer, West Frank- fort.

Williams Sanders, West Frankfort. Carroll Stubblefield, Johnston City. John Palic, West Frankfort Max Nolan, West Frankfort, John Quayle, West Frankfort John B. Thomas, Benton. Guy Johnson, RFD, Macedonia.

Joe Zeboski, West Frankfort. James H. Williams, Thompaon- ville. Warren Mitchell, West Frankfort. John H.

Bennett, Robert Rice. Mulkeytown. E. Ashmore. Carterville.

Charles Rose, Benton. Pete Petroff, Johnston City. John Dobreff, West Frankfort Roy Newell, West Frankfort. J. W.

Fairbanlcs (address unknown). Leon Summers, West Frankfort Fay Austin, RFD, Benton. Jess Connor, Ziegler. Louis Zanzucki, West Frankfort. Early Payne, Buckner.

Earl H. Smith. West Frankfort Roy West Frankfort. George Smith, West Frankfort. Edward T.

Mundy, West Frankfort. L. J. Cairel, Benton. Tom Pearson, West Frankfort John Sadoski, West Frankfort.

Andy Peska, Benton. Lawrence Bell, Benton. Robert Karnes, West Frankfort Tom Roberts, West FrankfOrt Archie Ferbus, Johnston City, William (Nick) Bell. Benton. (Continued ao rage Two) Macedonia Man One Of At Frankfort Mine The brother of a former Mt.

non resident is one of the victinw of the West Frankfort mine dia- He is Guy Johnson of Macedonia brother of WiUard E. "Bai" John; son, a former teacher at the Casey junior high school here. Bill Johnson left Mt. Vernon in 1942, when he entered the service in World War 11, and is now resident Springfield, Mo. The body of Guy Johnson WM recovered from- the mine Saturdiy night.

He is survived by hii Norma; three children. Glen 1 ward, Donna Sue home; mothertil" son of Macedontaf Everett of I4lie MacedcMua vaA field. Vhsm Bruce and Mrs, Vim.