The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 1

BOO OCRV 7TM A WASH I NOTOM Sin THE WEATHER Eastern Pennsylvanie Partly cloudy today, tomorrow; possibly a few scattered showers; not much change in temperature. New Jersey: Mostly cloudy today, tomorrow, not much change in temperature. In Column One) Pottstown VOL 7 NO. 231 TELEPHONE 2263 ASSOCIATED PRESS CENTRAL PRESS POTTSTOWN, FRIDAY Mercury FEATURES Fi'atures of to Mother and are found in The Conac'-. umn5.

features tc presented tn number than in any other Pottstown ncw.spapcr. MORNING. JUNE 24, 1938 ALL TIMES IN THE MERCURY ARl DAYLIGHT SAVING TIMES UNLE.HS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED TWO CENTS A COPY TEN CENTS A WIKK LI6HTNING KILLS LIVESTOCK, FIRES HOME STORM WiNLRB Rules Against Boyertown Firm Longaker Removal DAMAGE SWATH IN THIS AREA Reifsnyder Home in Douglass Township Is Ignited by Bolt FLOODED CREEK MOVES WRECKED TRUCK 15 FEET $1500 Loss Reported as Furniture Van Swerves Off Swamp RoaH Death Stalks Man and Wife in Murder Case Is Ordcrf'd From Post Pending To Uehire 53 Workers Probc Is Ripping througli this section after forming in western Berks county, a roaring, turbulent electrical storm cut a wide swath of damage, its bolts firing a building and killing livestock with the heavy rain leveling crops and washing fields. Rising waters of the Minister creek, near Swamp hotel, on the Boyertown-Swamp pike, swept a fully-loaded furniture van down stream after the truck hurtled from the highway into the stream. The storm formed shortly before noon, striking here in full fury a short time later.

Accompanied by considerable lightning and thunder, the storm swept eastward through the Oley valley and the Perkiomen section although a portion of it raked the Monocacy area. Lightning siruck the home of Frank Reifsnyder, situated along the road between Lay- fleld and Sassaman.svtlle. in Douglass township, Montgomery county. The bolt ripped through the attic shortly after 1 ye.ster- day afternoon, firing the house the rain. Flames swept through the attic and the second floor and damaged ceilings on the first floor Considerable damage was caused by water pumped into the upper floors to check the blaze.

A neighbor noticed smoke pouring from an attic window and summoned the Gilbertsville and Friendship Hook and Ladder companies the latter of Boyertown. Most of the first floor furniture was removed before the arrival of firemen while many pieces were taken from the floor rooms later. Reifsnyder returned home from a barber shop in Gilbert.sville to find his house aflre. His son-in-law and daughter, Mr, and Mrs. H.

S. Borden, were not at home at the time of the blaze. Reifsnyder was unable to estimate the loss which he said was covered partially by insurance. The storm rhurned Its way through the Monocacy section, washing away farm fields and garden tracts. Many trees were struck by lightning, Mrs.

Frank Fiorini, Monocacy, said the storm centered on the northeast side of the dewdrop-shapcd hill. A bolt of lightning, it was reported, struck and killed cows standing in a field on the farm of Victor Geiger, Douglassville R. D. 2. Considerable damage was done to fields near the farm of Mrs.

George Brentzinger, also of Monocacy. Poles were leveled along the Yellow House road at Worman although the telephone and electric Press Photos No sign of impending tragedy shows in this picture of a smiling family as Mr. and Mrs. J. Edward Peek, Austell, pose with their daughter.

Kathryn. The parents yesterday were dead, after their bodies, soaked with kerosene, were foiind in the family car in a car had plunged from a lofty bridge. Police, seeking the killers, said Peek and his wife were to be star witnesses in another murder Ring Future Diniuied by Back Injury AUGUST 1 SET FOR REOPENING NEW HIGHWAY Blow Which Fractured Vertebra Not Foul, Boxing Head Declares By ALAN GOULD (Associated Press Sports Editor) NEW YORK. Jnne shifted abruptly today from the prize ring to the hospital, from the roar of the to the seclusion of a white-walled room where Max Schmcling, victim of the crushing fists of Joe Louis, lay with one small bone in his back fractured and his hopes of fistic conquest shattered. Thus.

melodramatically, did the shortest, most one-sided fight in heavyweight championship history develop into the of the i FROM Posies for Mrs. Max for Der STOWE BOARD TO CONTINUE HALF-DAY PLAN No New School Building Is in Sight to Relieve Crowded Conditions BERLIN, June 23 Reichs- fuehrer Adolf Hitler a message of sympathy today to Anny Ondra. blonde actress wife of Max Schmeling, and Propaganda Minister Paul Joseph Goebbels sent a bouquet of flowers. The press carried no comment from either man, however, on one-round defeat of Schmeling, boxing idol, by Joe Louis, American Negro, in New York last night. Miss Ondra tearfully announced cracked bark rlimaxinff thP qnpr- booked pas.sage to rush ro crackeo oack, ciunaxmg the spec- Schmeling, in a New (Continued on Page Fifteen) MARKET OPEN TUESDAY FRIDAY NIGHTS.

Always offers lowest prices and better bingo. tacular one-round knockout of the challenger in latest million-dollar show and overshadowing negotiations to match the dusky titleholder next with another ex- champion and ex-victim, Max Baer this September. injury, though neither critical nor so serious as at first believed, was diagnased as a fracture of the left transverse process of the third lumbar vertebra. The transverse process is a small, thumb-like luiob of from each side of the vertebra and serving as a peg to which the back muscles are attached. It waA at first believed the transverse processes of two ver- tabrae were fractured but reexamination of X-ray plates disclosed the single break.

The possibility of a hemorrhage, in the kidney region, likewise Schmeling, in a York hospital with a back injury suffered in the fight, and was awaiting a telephone call from Max before arranging definitely for the trip, terrible that punches like that are Miss Ondra of the blow that Realizing it w'ould be impossible to erect a new school for coming term if Federal funds were appropriated now, directors of the West Pottsgrove school board last night decided to continue half day sessions for grade school children next school year. The action was taken to accommodate the entire student body of the township in one school building, the Junior High school. The grade student body will be divided into two groups, one attending sessions in the morning and the other United Shoe Union Named Sole Bargaining Agency; Employes in Brooklyn Plant May Get $60,000 Back Wages By Staff Correspondent PHILADELPHIA. June 23 The National Labor Relations Board today ordered the Beckerman Shoe corporation, with a plant in Boyertown, of labor troubles for the past year, to reinstate 53 employes who lost jobs after a sit-down strike. In addition, the clo.sely-typed 11- page report of Trial Examiner James C.

Batten carried these orders: That the shoe company and from interfering with, restraining or coercing its employes in the exercise of the rights of self-organization, to form, join or a.s.sist labor or- ganizaiion.s. Thi.s gave ployes the right to join any union of their choosing. That the respondent cease refusing to bargain collectively with the United Shoe Workers of America as the exclusive representative of its employes in the production department of the Boyertown plant in re- to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment and other conditions of employment. The NLRB, after the lengthy hearings in Reading, also handed down rulings governing the shops operated by the concern at Kutztown and also at Brooklyn. Y.

At Kutztown it was said, the company was not compelled to operate a closed shop but Beckerman was ordered not to coerce employes there. The Brooklyn order called for reinstatement of 85 employes who lost positions by lockout and payment of back wages to these employes. The back wages totaled $60,000. The company was ordered to post at the Kutztown tHai the will in the manner aforesaid, that Pottstown-Limerick Stretch Is Murphys Reported 65 Percent Charges of Inefficiency Arc Made Against Pottstown Man, P. H.

Murphy, State Director, Admits Officials of the unemployment compensation bureau of the State employment service in Harrisburg last night confirmed the exclusive story in yesterday edition of The Mercury that R. Ross Longaker, manager of the Pottstown office of the service, had been suspended pending an investigation. Paul H. Murphy, associate director of the employment service, said the suspension of Longaker made on several complaints of inefficiency." Longaker, when interviewed by i The Mercury Wednesday night, de- nied he had been suspended, clalm- ing he merely was "on several I Ousts Longaker made Completed (Continued on Page Twelve) (Continued on Page Fifteen) NITRO BLAST KILLS 7 OIL WELL WORKERS (Continued on Page Fifteen) BEST SHARPENING Diener System Patent Applied For piish a mean mower. Have them made razor Power mowers, machines and pattern work.

Ixjwest prices. C. H. Diener, 565 Lincoln Phone 831-J. BRAKO TONIGHT games, Extra Cards, 10 cts 20 2 door prizes; 8.15 p.m.

(Continued on Page Twelve) Tonight! Festival! Tonight! festival Swamp Luth. S. S. Swamp picnic Guards band. HOBBS, N.

June 23 oil well workers were killed and four injured near here late today when a nitroglycerin charge w'ith which they w'ere preparing to a well exploded prematurely. Details of the blast were not immediately available, as all witnesses at the scene were either killed or critically injured by the force of the terrific explosion. As authorities reconstructed the accident, the blasting crew had just removed the nitro from the tmck on which it had been transported to the scene. As they carried the charge within 50 feei of the drilling rig. It exploded with tremendous force.

With the widening of Benjamin Franklin highway from Pottstown to Limerick reported 65 percent completed, officials of the contracting firm of I. Miller, Lancaster, said they were driving towards August 1 as the date for reopening of the To date 29.872 yards of concrete have been poured. The third lane of concreting has been completed from Limerick, westward to the bottom of Sanatoga hill. Ye.sterday workmen were engaged in installing curbs along the property of St, James Lutheran church, limerick, where the highway was widened to 44 feet. Top of Sanatoea hill, it was said, also would be widened to 44 feet, taperinar off to 30 feet at the bot- trm.

The new highway virtually completed yesterday from Limerick to the former Speedway tavern. From the tavern to Harry's place, two strips will be poured on each side of the present concrete lanes. From Sanatoga bridge to Sunnybrook little actual construction been done, excepting the grading. hill will be widened to 30 feet, while through Sanatoga village the highway will be 44 feet in width. Pouring of concrete began May 2 at Lakeside Inn.

A small bridge North Coventry grange last night i near Limerick was rebuilt and foiir took action toward dedication of its grades along the route were Cedarville hall this Summer w'hen changed, a committee to plan the affair was appointed. This group includes Rudolph Kulp, worthy master; Leonard Bauman, Charlotte Ropeter and William Hohl. No date was fixed for the celebration. The meeting was attended bj 170 members and visitors. The literary program was presented by members of Freemont grange and was featured by a presentation of a candle to the local group.

The program presented follows: Reading, Hazel Herr; duets, Mary Stillwell and Sara Schaeffer; pageant. of Bennett Coates, Mrs. Edith Coates Norco Grangers Open Plans to Dedicate Hall statement. Harrisburg, was: frequently receive complaints of this nature from the public, and feel it Is our duty to temporarily suspend the official complained against until we ran investigate the charges. "Out of fairness to Mr.

aker, I do not believe we should say what the specific complaints were until the Investigation has been concluded." Murphy said he believed the investigation was being conducted by Miss Margaret C. Gordon, manager of the Philadelphia office, district ofTicp for the Pottstown bureau. He added the probe will be concluded Friday or Miss Ciordon, contacted in Philadelphia, would not comment nor dLcuss what findings had been made in the investigation Into the charges thus far. Longaker. whose place has been taken by William A.

Markin. Nor- ristown, previously declared he would be "back in the office Fri- day The post of manager of the local (Continued on Page Fifteen) IF PRINT BLURS WHILE READING It may be eyestrain Consult a competent Dr. Phillips, Optometrist 340 High 1900 DELAWARE MAN HELD IN FATAL AUTO CRASH By Staff Correspondent COATESVILLE, June Charged with Involuntary man slaughter as the aftermath to an automobile accident in which a companion was killed at Corner, near Elverson, Robert H. Pyle. 20, Town.send.

driver of the death car, was held under bail for a inquest, Pyle was operating his roadster the past Sunday when it skidded at the intersection in front of the general store at Corner causing the death of Bradford Conner, 38, al.so of Towrusend. Del. Pyle and three other men escaped with cuts and bruises. The motorist was arraigned by State patrolmen before Alderman J. R.

Bahl, of Coatesville. (Continued on Page Fifteen) Mass Is Sung For Pair Wed Half Century Anntver.sary mass, a family gathering and no headache, was the lot which fell to Milton W. Moyer and his wife as they celebrated 50 years of married life in their home, 310 North York street, yesterday. He knew he was going to attend ma.ss. He expect a family gathering, but he did expect a headache because while picking cherries Tuesday, the limb of the tree broke tovsslng him to the ground, A ladder hit him on the head causing a cut whicli required four stitches to close.

That was why he expected a headache. Anniversary mass was said yesterday morning by the Rev. A McDonald, rector of St. Catholic church. Last night the rather unex- Associatcd Press Photo Paul H.

Murphy, di- I ector of the State employment i.ervice. who last night confirmed reports that R. Ross Longaker, rranager of the Pottstown office of the service, had been suspended complaints of Boy Cyclist Hurt as Auto Hits Machme (Continued on Page Fifteen) BINGO TONITE 8:15 100 games 25c or 4 cards 50c Specials included every 5th game Chicken, Fruit, Groceries, Auction NOVELTY COMPANY 81 Mt. Vernon Street. Phone 2103-J Fair, Carnival and Bazaar Supplies Bingo Cages, Balls, Master Boards Mercury Antics Local temperatures yesterday and early this morning were: 2:34 m.

Sun Rises 5:29 Sets p. m. 5 p. m. "4 6 p.

74 7 p. ................7.1 8 p. 9 p. 10 p. 11 p.

12 p. 1 a. 70 2 B. m. 71 3 a.

m. 71 Prizes Galore, Thrills of a Lifetime Await Derby Racers on North Coventry Hill Back Again Repeater Prizes galore are in store for rac- If the Pottstown boy should ers in The second an- win the Akron that pos- nual Soap Box Derby to be staged slbillty so would on the North Coventry High school given, among many prizes, a hill July 20 i four-year college scholarship. Biggest of the prizes is a trip to Staff Photo Mahlon Kelbaugh, 12, Pottstow'n R. D. 2, who has registered in the Soap Box Derby which will be run for youths in this section next month.

Kelbaugh built a racer for the initial derby run the past year before more than 10,000 persons. Akron. Ohio, where the Pottstown champion will be entertained for several days at the best hotel in that city. While in Akron, the Pottstown champion will against boys from 119 other American cities before a crowd of 100,000 spectators. Ju.st imagine the thrill of that race! It will be something to remember for a lifetime! also get a silver trophy, a gold medal with diamond setting, a wrist watch, iind other gifts galore.

Naturally, mast of the honors go to the boy who wins the local title. But other contestants will receive prizes. For instance, each heat winner will get a loving cup. The boy with the best upholstered car will receive a pen and pencil set. And many Industries of the will reward their own boys.

And be lots of glory even if you just compete. be- cau.se every red-blooded American youth who enters the local race will be gufi.st at a huge Soap Box Derby banquet a few days after the race. Boys, worth while. So why not get into the race now? Every boy, between the ages of nine and 15, in the Pottstown trading area, is eligible to enter the race. Rules and hints how to build raceiis may be obtained from a registration point near every home.

where to have your questions answered: In POTTSTOWN At the Kelser Chevrolet company, 521 High street. In BOYERTOWN At the Charles S. Herbcin garage. Second and Warwick streets. In ROYERSFOflD At the Miller Chevrolet company.

Main street and Lewis road. In COLLEGE I At Young a Evans, 460 Main street. In BALLY At Moll and Quigley, on Route 100. In SPRING MOUNT At Ha.itings’ garage. In S( IIWENKVILLE At grocery store on Main street.

delay entering the race. need time to construct your car. So do it now! By Staff Correspondent CENTER SQUARE. June 11-year-old youth, riding a bicycle, wa.s stnick and injured seriously here today when he was run down by an automobile. The accident victim, Edward Float, Center Square, was confined to the Montgomery hospital.

Norristown. suffering from a fracture of the skull and numerous tions. The boy was hit by a machine driven by Harry M. Lane, who, according to Pvt, K. W.

Wagaman, of the Pennsylvania Motor police, claimed the cyclist swung his wheel in front of the car. Two cars were damaged on the road between Franconia and Souderton thus afternoon but no one wa.s injured. Drivers were Harvey Berlten, Philadelphia, and Abram L. Detwiler, Souderton. Pvt.

L. Asper said the cars were damaged only slightly. FIREWORKS FOR SALE Across from Fire House, CARNIVAL LOT TODAY AND SATURDAY PRIZES EVERY NIGHT FREE ATTRACTIONS! DR. ELLIS R. KOHN Chiropodist Foot Specialist Will be in his office daily, 9 to Tuesday and iPriday evening 6 to 9 Phone 1780.

Strand Theater Bldg A LOVELY VASE Of Genuine Delfite FREE to every woman attending our cooking demonstration of Oil Ranges on Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 noon. ROBERT P. ECKER 107 High Street, Pottstown SUNSHINE 40-J Tonight! Festival! Tonight! festival Swamp Luth. S.

S. Swamp picnic Guards band. Buy Coal When Rea.sonable Burn When Seasonable B. 66-W Scheidt and Neuweilcr HARTENSTINE SPECIALS Finest Stewing and Roasting Chickens 29c Fancy Frying Chicken Livers 29c Chicken Gizzards I9c Fresh Made Potato Salad 15c Birdseye Chopped 29c Birdseye Broccoli 21c Birdseye Spinach 21c Just phone deliver ATTENTION, Class and Owls Members. Large class will be taken in Sun.

at 2 p. m. in Pottstown home. Work by degree team of Allentown Nest. St.

Annual Festival Cor. Penn and Walnut Saturday evening, June 25. Added attraction, Yost Merrymakens. Expert Watch, Clock, Jwiry. Repairs E.

Willauer, 217 High St. Opposite the Hippodrome Theater. ON THE MAIN DRAG Uttle Snapshots of Qolngs, Comings. Doings OLD READING 224 POTH Phone 945 Staff Photo Clyde Saylor. 14-year-old Kenilworth youth, who entered the first All American Soap Box Derby staged by The Mercury the past year, will be back again next month, isehind the wheel of another racer.

The derby will be run on North Coventrv hill Wednesday afternoon, July 20. HELEN IIARBACH at trie rope of 9. dumb waite- SALANiK his in case. MRS. BUD SAYLOR in the rain.

bard RI SSLLL NEIMA.N the pamt oa car. KAl MILLER an early phone call. MRS, WIUJAM KRAtSE 1 I imtulliiig a window BILL LIGHTCAP sys iift it through the.