Pittston Gazette from Pittston, Pennsylvania • Page 1

COMPLETE TELEGRAPHIC SZXVICZ OF TOZ UNITED PRES3 75c DELIVERS The Gazette to Your Home for 1 -Month Just Phone 0L 4-3311 Weather Fair and cool tonUht, Fair and Somewhat cooler tomorrow. High M. Temperature Max. 8:30 p.m. 78, Mln.

a.m. II. 106th Year Weekly EatabUsned 185 Established Daily 1883 PITTSTON, TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 6, 1955 Nino Dollars a Tear Be Per Coot SeventyTFive Cants a Month Six Pases 39 1 nn odaw "Tragi Death Count Stops Short New Record But Over Forecast Suscon Lake; ou boat With 4 Drown In Powered Canadian Murderer Escapes, Talks To Lawyer And Returns Unsets 6 People Aboard SCHOOLS' OPENING DELAYED Having a direct bearing upon the extraordinary conditions occasioned by. the recent floods in this area, and the attendant menace to health caused by impurities which found their way into the water supply, practically all of the school districts of the Pittston District, both public and parochial, have postponed the reopening of the 1955-56 school term at least until Monday next, September 12th; a few until Wednesday of next week, the 14th of September; and one, Avoca School Distrcit for an indefinite period.

Hurricane Diane still leaves with us a legacy of waters impure and unsuitable for drinking purposes and, while some of the schools will open as scheduled, relying upon students to bring their own supply of drinking water along with them, By MAJRC E. THIVIBRGE (United Prese Staff Corsrepondent) Quebec City, Sept. 6 Convicted murderer Wilbert Coffin fled to freedom early today after locking eight guards in his death cell at the point of fake gun, but lost his nerve and returned meekly to await almost certain death on the sallows. The 44 year old prospector, scheduled to be hanged at Montreal Sept. 23 for slaying or.e of three Americans whose bodies were found in the wilds of Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula, was talked into going back by taxi driver and Coffin's attorney, Raymond Maher.

Coffin had been described as a model prisoner in the two years he spent behind bars since his arrest for the rifle slaying of 17-year old Richard Lindsey of Hollidaysburg, Fair Weather In State Today By UNITED PRESS Fair weather was forecast throughout Pennsylvania today, following a frontal system which moved through the state during the night and scattered a few showers mostly in the north and west portions. Some cloudiness was predicted In the southeastern portion of the state. The leading edge of mass of cooler Canadian air was expected to strike Western Pennsylvania early Wednesday morning and the eastern part of the state by noon. The cooler system was expected to carry with it brisk northerly winds which would drop temperatures from 5 to 10 degrees by Wednesday night. A few scattered showers we're slated to accompany the cool air with skies remaining generally cloudy Wednesday.

DOING THEIR GOOD DEED Food, clothing and bedding for flood victims are gathered by these two Boy Scouts in New York City. Their troop joined In widespread relief efforts to aid the homeless and dispossessed in the northeastern United States. SAT ON BY ELEPHANT San Francisco Sept 6 Glenn Pierce, 21, of Wetertown, N. was recovering today from minor injuries received when an elephant sat on him. Pierce, a handler for the Ring-ling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, was helping herd some elephants into the arena when one of the beasts became excited and trippedlanding in a sitting position, squarely on Pierce.

BARBS BAJi TTAPPINESS something yon AA never really hava to look, for if you're spending your tint raising a nice family. It would make better reat- ing if more ghott writert would catch the riaftt spirit. Lots of folks going: on boat trips wonder what to do in esse Duff Confident Ike Will Be A '56 Candidate Pa. But while his apparently docile manner lured guards into thinking he was resigned to his fate, he carved a model of an automatic pistol from a bar of prison soap and blackened it. Pecked Guard In Cell Shortly before 1 a.m.

EDT today he celled for the sergeant of the guard. When the sergeant entered his cell he pointed the make-believe gun at him and ordered him to call the seven other guards in the area. One by one, he made the sergeant tie them up and pack them all into his celL Coffin then walked Quietly out of the prison, hailed a cab and told the driver, amateur wrestler Gaston Larocque, to take him across a bridge spanning the St. Lawrence River to the small town of Charny, on a highway leading to the Gaspe wilderness in which he probeblv could have hidden for month! er years. Then Coffin's nerves failed; his attorney told the United Press.

told the driver he had no money br could give him some cigarettes. He told him who he was and emphatically denied he was a murderer. He said he didn't know what to do and wanted to ask hi lawyer. Larocque radioed his dispatcher and arranged to drive Coffin to the lawyer's resi dene. Lawyer Suggested Return "I met him outside in the cab." Maher said.

"I talked him Into going back right away, before a hue and cry started, and explained that he would have a better chance of getting a commutation or reprieve When he made the break he was all pent up and he just lost control of himself. "We talked It over for a while and he agreed to go back to the prison with me. I let him out at the gate, and the cab driver and I drove around for a while talking about It. Then we went to the Quebec pro' vincial police. I told the sergeant on duty that I explained to Coffin that going back would be much better for him.

"He was broke, and he didn't know what to do. He wanted my advice. Coffin took the advice without much argument, Maher said. Shortly before 3 a.m.. less than two hours after he made his break, he was back in his cell under heavy guard.

BEN FRANKLIN STAMP TO GO ON SALE OCT, Washington Sept. 8 The new half-cent stamp honoring Benjamin Franklin will go on first-day sale here Oct. 20, the Post Office De partment announced today. of seasickness. They shouldn't! worry they'll do it.

Red China Releases 9 Americans Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 8. Had China announced today that it is prepared to release nine Americans now held by the Peiping government and permit them to return home. The decision to release the nine Americans was disclosed by Communist Chinese Ambassador Wang Ping-nan when he met this morning with U. S.

Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson in a resumption of talks on the exchange of each others na tt nnals. It as the first meeting between the Red Chinese and American diplomats In six days. The session lasted two and a half hours and then adiourned until next Saturday. Wang told Johnson the Americans were part of a group of 12 persons who had applied to leave China.

One of the others is believed to be Dutchman. The United States has submitted a list of 41 persons which it says are being held by the Peiping regime. Chinese officials listed the Amer icans to be freed as: Miss Emma Angelina Barry, Ralph Sharpies Boyd, Mrs. Juanita Byrd Hwang, Robert Howard Parker, Howard Lischke, Mrs. Howard Llschke Ricks, Miss Eva Stella Du- gay, Sister Theresa, Mrs.

Nadeshda Id. Romanoff, Miss Irene N. Roman' off. No home towns were given. A communique issued following the formal talks between the dlplo mats said the persons listed had ap plied for exit permits from Red China and "could now depart," The communique added: "Ambassador Wang also informed Ambassador Johnson that applications for exit permits, have not been received from Bishop James Edward Walsh or Mrs.

Peter Huizer, but that exit permits will be granted at any time that they apply. Samuel Levin, Former Pittston Resident Is Dead Word was received here of the death of Samuel Levin, former resident of this city, which occurred yesterday at hi9 home at Chicago, IllinoisY His death was verv sudden. Surviving are: His wife, the former Rose Smith, of Pittston: two children, Joseph, of Chicago, and Arnold, of New York; one grandson; brothers, Isador Levin, Pittston, and Harry Levin, Wilkes-Barre, and a sister, Mrs. Myer Cutler, West Pittston. Expert, Modern, Radiator Repairing and Recoring Barber Motor Co.

Dial OL 4-3351 962 Wyoming Ave. By UNITED PRESS Traffic accidents took more than five lives each hour of the VS-foour Labor Day week end, a final United Press tabulation showed today. The final count showed 438 traffic deaths during the period beginning at 6 p.m. Friday and ending at midnight Monday. The National Safety Council originally believed the death count would be 400, then feared that it might even exceed the record of 453 fatalities set during the 1951 Labor Day week end.

Council President Ned H. Dearborn said "Thank heaven" that the 1951 record, at least was unbroken. "But that is slight solace to the thousands of families bereaved by holiday accidents that resulted in death or' serious injury," he said. "And it is of slight comfort to anyone who sincerely believes that this wholesale slaughter on the highway need not and must not be tolerated. Urges Extra Effort "We hope and believe that extra effort on the part of everyone between now and Caristmas will hold down the year-end holiday toll," he said.

In addition to the traffic deaths, the United Press count showed 73 deaths hy il) in plane crashes, and 66 from a variety of accidents for an overall holiday toll of 592. The worst highway carnage was in California, where a blazing heat wave lured added thousands to the roads an 44 died. Other bad records were posted by Texas with 34, Ohio with 33, Illinois with 30, Michigan with 25, Pennsylvania with 22, and Wisconsin with 20. Three Without Casualties In bright contrast, three states Montana, North Dakota, and Vermont got through the holiday without a single highway casualty. The worst Labor Day record before 1955 was set in 1951, when 453 persons were killed.

Police across the country had promised a "gloves off' fight to keep deaths below the 400 predicted by the National Safety Oouncll. But the death reports started rolling in steadily as soon as the holiday started. Fine weather across the country produced the biggest traffic jam in the nation's history an estimated 25 million cars carrying 60 million persons. Started Spurting Saturday The death rate started spurting Saturday and reached it climax late Monday, when weary holidayers stepped on the gas trying to get home. There were few big crashes Just a dreary succession of smashups which took lives by ones and twos and left tragedy in yet another American home.

Even the men fighting the death count were not immune. An Air National Guard plane acting as a traffic spotter in Indiana crashed and burned near Lebanon. The pilot and a state policeman were killed. But in Michigan, police said the traffic jam had actually helped slow the death rate in the holiday's last hours. A state policeman explained that the crush was so great "We couldn't have a fatal accident.

Nobody could get out of line to get hit." Student Nurses Begin Training Local Hospital Classes began today for 21 student nurses at Pittston Hospital, after an orientation and reception was held for them last week at the Hospital. Trainees are: Marita Boos, Pittston; Marilyn Gregalis, Pittston; Eugenia Haper, Wellsboro, Margaret Koslk, Pittston; Regina Loftus, Wyoming; Dolores Martin, Pittston; Maryann Mazaitis, Pittston; Mary Clair McLaughlin, Pittston; Ann Marie Moscatel, Pittston; Nadine Naples, Tyomlng; Patricia OTon-nell, Wilkes-Barre. Sylvia Parry, Pittston; Margaret Paiquariello, Dupont; Cella Roman- owski, Pittston; Helen Shea, Wilkes- Barre; Kathleen Sites, Pittston; Anita Sorlck, Pittston Township; Rosemary Stankus, Pittston; Leflore Taroli, Pittston; Shirley Vanavage, Pittston; and Patricia Waiksnis, Pittston. LOCAL GRIDDER INJURED SATURDAY Frank Cawley, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Frank Cawley of 1105 Main street Port Griffith, sustained a possible fracture of the right arm Saturday afternoon while training with St John's Central Catholic High School football team at Fourth Ward Park. He was treated at Pittston Hospital and discharged. Bear Wheel Alignment Any Wheel Trouble. Stackhouse Auto Electric Wyo. W.

Pittston The community of Greater Pitts. ton was visited by a gruesome tragedy on the Labor Day weekend when three Dupont sisters and a Pittston Township man were drowned Sunday night at 9:30 O'clock in an artificial lake at Suscon, Pittston township. They lost their lives when a boat capsized. The bodies were recovered Sunday morning. The victims are: Geraldine Chrobak, aged Berna-dlne Chrobak, aged and Eileen Chrobak, aged 3, daughters and only cnildren of Mr.

and Mrs. Andrew Chrobak, of 288 Main street, Dupont. Albert Mihalka, aged 42. of R. D.

I No. 2, Suscon, Pittston township. xne artificial lake where the ac cident occurred was constructed by ram Street Sportsmen Club, of Dupont, and it is 30 feet deep at the point where the tragedy occurred. There were six in the frail row- boat when the accident occurred the four who lost their lives: An drew Chrobak, aged 38 years, father or the three girls; and Andrew Drost, of 213 Wyoming avenue, Dupont. Drost, the only occupant of the boat who could swim, managed to drag Mr.

Chrobak and Eileen to the shore. However, attempts at artificial respiration failed to revive the child. Pittiton Community Ambulance, with five experienced In life-saving aboard, responded to a call for help and used a resuscitator futilely on the little girl. Ambulance drivers and helpers were: Stanley Serino, Jerry Walsh, John Kelly, "Bun" Peck and John Jordan. The drownings provided tragic climax to a Sunday family picnic for members of the Sportsmen's Club and their families.

The lake, which is about one-half mile long and one-quarter mile wide, was only recently built by club members. State Police and club members recovered the body of Mihalka about 4 o'clock Labor Day morning. The body of Bernardine was taken from the lake one hour later and that of Geraldine was recovered one-half hour after her sister, at 5:30 a. m. Drost, a part-time police officer.

in Dupont, related that Chrobak suggested taking his three daugh ters on a moonlight ride before the picnic concluded. There was an outboard motor on the boat. Drost was In the rear of the. boat working the motor when Chrobak, at the opposite end, shouted a warning that the boat was taking water. Almost immediately the six persons found themselves in the water.

The tragedy was not witnessed by any others at the picnic, as far as authorities were able to determine. Frank Kllmek, Dupont Borough councilman, relates that someone detected a cry and that one of his group went to the bank of the lake and was horrified to find Drost and Chrobak struggling in the water and the other occupants of the boat nowhere to be seen. The mother of the three girls collapsed and required treatment at Pittston Hospital. She is the former Julia Chipala, of Dupont. State Police at Wyoming Barracks were notified and Troopers Louis Pizzo, Andrew Fabian, Sylvester Orlando, Anthony Walsh and Eugene Stanfield were dispatched to the scene.

Dupont Police Chief Ignatius Kllmek, Assistant Chief Charles Ross and Patrolmen Al Costello and Henry Novobilski were also called to lend assistance in the grappling operations. The boat in which the four victims perished was proven seaworthy and was used by State Police in the dragging operations. Mr. Chrobak. suffering from ex haustion and shock, was taken to Pittston Hospital for treatment Mr.

Mihalka was employed at the Pennsylvania Lawnmower plant, West Pittston. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Dupont. Surviving are his wife, the former Miss Helen Boyaiiowski; two sons, Albert Jr. and Joseph, both at home; one brother, John, Dupont; two sisters, Miss Lottie Mihalka and Mrs. Al Dubak, both of Dupont.

The funeral will be" from the Mihalka home Thursday at a time to be announced. A triple funeral for the Chrobak children will be held from the Chlipala residence, 203 Everhart street, Dupont, at a time to be announced. Mr. and Mrs. Chrobak, parents of the children are the only immediate survivors.

Stock Market MOON QUOTATIONS A. T. A T. 17 Anac. Copper 80 Chrysler Gen.

Motors iw Int. Herv. 36 Ij. V. R.

R. 21 Nat. Distill 21 N. Y. Central 46 Pena 27 Penn Power as Lt 46 a vast majority of the school heads, have decided to take all the precautions possible and have postponed classes at least until the forepart of next week.

The following schools, public and parochial, have postponed reopening of classes until the dates indicated: Pittston High School, Monday next. St. John's Central Catholic Monday next Duryea, Monday next (tentative). Avoca, Monday next (tentative). Pittston Township, Wednesday, September 14.

Hughestown, weanesaay, oepi. 14th. Dupont, Sept. 14th (tentative). Jenkins High School will reopen tomorrow morning as scneauiea.

Acting Supervising Principal John A. Callahan Informed the Gazette today. He added that Glen summn water has been obtained for drink-in? numoses so that the danger of using Spring Brook water has been overcome. West Pittston schools will reopen nn Thursday of this week as schea uled. It was announced inav me 'drinking water situation has oeen taken care of." West Wyoming schools will re open tomorrow, as scheduled.

Pupils are to bring their own drinking water; fountains will be dlsfion nppted. Exeter Borough schools will re- nnen a date yet to be announced. St. Cecilia's narochial school, Exe ter Borough this morning, as scheduled with students providing their own water. Sacred Heart of Jesus' school, Dupont will reopen tomorrow.

It was announced today from Sacred Heart rectory that "the priests are supplying the annxing All of the parochial grade schools In the Pittston District will not open until Monday next, Sept. lZth, wiin thu inirle exception of St. Mary's, Avoca, which will not reopen until further Parochial scnoois that have nostponed reopening from today until next Monday are: Holy Rosary, Duryea (probably the most seriously affected ol ail); ei. jonn the Evangelist, St. John the Baptist, St.

Mary Help of Christians, Mary's Assumption and St RoccO, all of Pittston City, immaculate Conception School, West Pittston, opened their grade school today. Legion Auxiliary Plans Installation Dinner Sent. 15 Plans were completed recently for the annual installation and dinner of the John D. Stark Post Legion Auxiliary, to be held Thursday, September 15, at the post home. Mrs.

Nora Moughan, president, named Mrs. Adelaide Molosky as chairman of the program, Mrs. Irene Kelly, chairman of the menu; Mrs. Ethel Adrian, chairman of the decorations; and door committee, Mrs. Mildred Delaney and Sarah Mc-Guire.

Reservations will be accepted by the following up to September 11: Nora Moughan, Mary Sites, Agnes King. Ethel Adrian and Adelaide Molosky. Reception committee will be Mrs. Helen Hood, Mrs. Janet Adrian, Elma Fftirclough, Agnes King, Mildred Delaney, Ethel Adrian, Adelaide Molosky, and Mrs.

John T. McGuire. Installing officer will be Mrs. Thomas Reap, of Avoca. A donation of $10 was voted for the Red Cross Relief Drive.

GALLAGHER ACCUSED OF HARBORING NEPHEW Martin A. Gallagher, S7, of 72 East Johnson street this city, was committed to Lackawanna County prison Saturday in default of $2,000 bail on charge of harboring his AWOL nephew. Gallagher's arrest followed that of his nephew, Francis G. Gallagher, 22, who was picked up by FBI agents on Friday on charges of deserting his post of duty at Fort Bragg, N. last May.

Radiator Repairing and Re-Coring Stackhouse Auto Sloctrie Wyo. W. Pittstoa 9 Opportunity only knocks' tohile temptation kicks the aoor in. If you haven't time pit men, you can get into Jura las many holes in a bridge game Labor Day is over and now we get down to more important things like back-to-school, the Miss America Beauty contest and politics. Yes sir! Old ball players Never die, they Just fan away.

Daylight time iroes right alone through, until October 3 this year. Sad little men and women were observed in some sections today all shined up and slowly winding their way to schooll Overheard In the Bumo-room: "A dime or ao for the ptnball machines Is as Important as the Washington, Sept. 8 Sen. James H. Duff, one of the first supporters of President Eisenhower for the Republican nomination in 1962, believes "Eisenhower is going to be the guy" in 1966.

"I don't think he can be licked." Duff, former governor of Pennsylvania, declared in an MBS radio interview Monday. He also said he thinks vice-president Richard M. Nixon will again be Mr. Elsenhower's running mate. Duff says Mr.

Eisenhower has "gone out of his way" to show appreciation of the "very fabulous job that Nixon has done." Duff called former President Harry S. Truman's recent attacks on the President "outrageons." He said the ex-president's remarks show that "no one is safe from attack." Duff, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also told his qustioners: Russian Arms Offer 1. Russia's reported offer to fur nish arms to Arab nations in the Middle East "certainly was not in the spirit" of the recent Big Four conference at Geneva. 2. He is "very much more afraid" of Russia's current "smiles" than the Reds' past "vituperation," which he said united the Free World.

He said Moscow's present aims "are very apt to be what they have been before." The West, he said, must "have smiles ourselves, but keeo our powder dry." 3. The need for present U. S. air "bases in North Africa has been lessened by the country's program of established bases in Spain which are "much nearer the target." If the French are forced out of North Africa, he said, American bases there "would not be worth a nickel." Duff said he had no factual information as to whether Mr. Eisenhower will seek re-election.

The Senator recalled he had conversations" with the President while Mr. Eisenhower was still a five-star general prior to the 1992 election. Duff said ht Is "very sure" that Mr. Eisenhower consented to seek his first term because of a "sense of obligation under a very critical situation" rather than "ambition." "I feel that If the world posture of events continues until next year as it is today that, the impulses that led him to be a candidate before would make hlnv a candidate again," Duff said. Hails President's Effort He hailed the President as "enormously effective in the world picture." He said Mr.

Eisenhower "has an end to the war in Korea, he made a unity among the Allies that they didn't have at the time he became president "And with the enormous prestige of his position at Geneva," the senator "I feel that If the condition remains the same that he will, be a candidate." i Cigar Factory Watchman Found Dead At Work Robert Collins, 63, of 236 Gedding street, Avoca, a watchman at the South Pittston Consolidated Cigar Corporation plant, was found dead yesterday morning at work. Death was caused by a heart attack and hemorrhage. He was found by William Roxby, of Inkrman, a fellow-worker. Roxby phoned Pittston Police and the Community ambulance and Sgt. Michael Galasso and Patrolmen Frank Valesky and Wilbert Leppert responded.

The ambulance was not needed. Deputy Coroner Harold Howell pronounced death. Mr. Collins, a life-long resident of Avoca, was a son of Mrs. Catherine Thomas Collins and the late Jacob Collins.

He had been employed at No. 9 Colliery 20 years prior to becoming associated with Consolidated Cigar Corporation where he worked the. last three years. A veteran of World War 1, Mr. Collins was a communicant of St.

Mary's Church, Avoca, and was a member of the Holy Name Society. Surviving are his wife, the for mer Carrie Maurer; children, James at home; Mrs. Albert Yanuskevich and IJrs. James Johnson, both of Pittston; Kenneth, U. S.

Navy, New London, Corp. Robert, Fort Devins, U. S. Army; Sgt. Donald, Valley Forge, Army; his mother Mrs Collins, Avoca; 18 grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs.

Charles Jopling, and Mrs. Lewis Hufford, both of Avoca, and two brothers, Thomas, Avoca, and William, Chester. The funeral will be held Friday morning at 9 from the home, with a mass In St. Mary's Church at 9:30. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

ATOMIC RACKET JAPAN Tokyo Sept 6 Police in atom- jittery Japan investigated today an alleged racket run by a newly-organized religious sect which guarantees its followers survival in an atomic war by selling them "world bank notes." Police said the sect's leaders tell converts the 100,000 yen notes about $280 protect their holders from harm in nuclear warfare and will be the only currency in circulation after the world is destroyed. Gutters and Conductors Installed and Cleaned Thomas R. Davis Co. 200 Luz. OL 4-3384 school lunch these dv." i i (' It's a fact: Man can live 80 daya 1 without food' and only 14 days with- -out water! The horse-tail hairdo should gain renewed popoUrltr during this mosquito and fly season swishl Aunt Minnie.

Strip poker is a game in which the more you lose the more you have to show for it Mike. September events! The Spangled banner was written, aad-the cornerstone of the Capitol was laid. Quite patriotic month! A vacation is a time when tov seek change but need currency Syl. oe The reason that some motorists' come to dead atop la that they were oarelew drivers! Teas: "Dont be discouraged. this world there is a man for every girl and a girl for every man.

You cant Improve on an arrangement ii like that Gladys: "I don't want to Improve on it I just want to ret In I on If For baek-to-aehool Shop In Ptttatviv eal trouble awaits the youngster, who creeses the street agahisi red light, as Miss Rowland demonstrates for Tommy. Children tftea isstiUte ciders who break traffic rales. 7-- i.