Pittston Gazette from Pittston, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Weather and cool tonight. Fair and at cooler tomorrow. High 68. Temperature Max. 2:30 p.m.

78, 'Min. 4 58. 106th Year Weekly Established Established Daily 1882 1850 COMPLETE TELEGRAPHIC SERVICE OF THE UNITED 1 PRESS Pittston a Gasette. Just The PITTSTON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1955 Toll" Holiday 4 Drown In Suscon Lake; Powered Rowboat With 6 People Aboard Upsets 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.

Duff Confident Ike Will Be A '56 Candidate 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 fellowworker. Roxby phoned Pittston Police and the Community ambulance and Sgt. Michael Galasso and Patrolmen Frank Valesky and Wilbert Leppert responded.

The ambulance was not 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. 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 former Carrie Maurer; children, James at home; Mrs.

Albert Yanuskevich and Mrs. 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 mass in St. Mary's Church at 9:30. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. ATOMIC RACKET JAPAN Tokyo Sept. 6-Police in atomjittery Japan investigated today an alleged racket run by newlyorganized 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 75c DELIVERS Gazette to Your Home for 1-Month Phone OL 4-3311 Nine Dollars Year 5c Per Seventy-Five Cents Month Cody Six Pages "Tragic Canadian Murderer Escapes, Talks To Lawyer And Returns Red China Releases 9 Americans Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. China announced today that it Red 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 other's nationals. the Red Chinese American It was the first meeting, between diplomats in six days.

The session lasted two and a half hours and then adjourned 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 "Chinese officials listed the Americans to be freed as: Miss Emma Angelina Barry, Ralph Sharples Boyd, Mrs. Juanita Byrd Hwang, Robert Howard Parker, Howard Lischke, Mrs.

Howard Lischke Ricks, Miss Eva Stella Dugay, Sister Theresa, Mrs. Nadeshda M. Romanoff, Miss Irene N. Romanoff. No home towns were given.

A communique issued following the formal talks between the diplomats said the persons listed had applied 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 death of Samuel Levin, former ident of this city, which yesterday at his home at Illinois. His death was very Surviving are: His wife, the mer Rose Smith, of Pittston: children, Joseph, of Chicago. Arnold, of New York; one son; brothers, Isador Levin, and Harry Levin, Wilkes-Barre, sister, Mrs.

Myer Cutler, Pittston. Expert, Modern, Radiator Repairing and Recoring Barber Motor Co. Dial OL 4-3351 962 Wyoming Ave. By MARC E. THIVIERGE (United Press 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 a fake gun, but lost his nerve and returned meekly to await almost certain death on the gallows. The 44 year old prospector, scheduled to be hanged at Montreal Sept. 23 for slaying one of three Americans whose bodies were found in the wilds of Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula, was talked into going back by a taxi driver and of Coffin's attorney, Raymond Maher. Coffin had been described' as model prisoner in two years he spent behind bars since his arrest for the rifle slaying of 17-year old Richard Lindsey of Hollidaysburg, 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. Packed Guards In Cell Shortly -before 1 EDT today he called 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 cab and told the driver, amateur wrestler Gaston Larocque, to take him across bridge spanning the St.

Lawrence River to the small town of Charny. on a highway leading to the Gaspe wilderness in which he probably could have hidden for months or years. Then Coffin's nerves failed. his attorney told the United Press. told the driver he had no money bu 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 his lawyer. Larocque radioed his dispatcher and arranged to drive Coffin to the lawyer's residence. Lawyer Suggested Return "I met him outside in the cab." back right away, before a hue and Maher said, a "I talked him into going cry started, and explained that he would have a better chance of getting 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 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 provincial 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.

wanted my advice. Coffin took the advice, without much argument, Maher Shortly before 3 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.

6-The new half-cent stamp honoring Benjamin Franklin will go on first-day sale here Oct. 20, the Post Office Department announced today. Real trouble awaits the youngster who crosses the street against red light, as Miss Rowland demonstrates for Tommy. Children Aften imitate elders who break traffic rules. 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 Distreit 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, 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: next. Pittston High School, Monday St. John's Central Catholic--Monday next.

Duryea, Monday next (tentative). Avoca, Monday (tentative). Pittston Township, Wednesday, September 14. Hughestown, Wednesday, Sept. 14th.

Dupont, Sept. 14th (tentative). Jenkins High School will reopen tomorrow morning as scheduled, Acting Supervising Principal John A. Callahan informed the Gazette today. He added that Glen Summit water has been obtained for drinking purposes so that the danger of using Spring Brook water has been overcome.

West Pittston schools will reopen on Thursday of this week as scheduled. It was announced that the "drinking water situation has been taken care of." West Wyoming schools will reopen tomorrow, as scheduled. Pupils are to bring their own drinking water; fountains will be disconnected. Exeter Borough schools announced. will reopen at a date yet to be St.

Cecilia's parochial school, Exeter Borough this morning. as scheduled with students providing their own water. Sacred Heart of Jesus' school, Duponhounced reopen tomorrow. It today from Sacred Heart rectory that "the priests are supplying the drinking All of the parochial grade schools in the Pittston District will not open until Monday next, Sept. 12th, with the single exception of St.

Mary's, Avoca, which will not reopen "until further Parochial schools that have postponed reopening from today until next Monday are: Holy Rosary, Duryea (probably the most seriously affected of all); St. John the Evangelist, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary Help of Christians, St. Mary's Assumption 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 McGuire. 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 Fairclough, 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, 37, 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 1 charges of deserting his post of duty at Fort Bragg, N. last May.

Radiator Repairing and Re-Coring Stackhouse Auto Deaths Death Count Stops Short New Record But Over Forecast The community of Greater Pitts. ton was visited by 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 Bernadine Chrobak, aged and Eileen Chrobak, aged 3, daughters and only children of Mr.

and Mrs. Andrew Chrobak, of 288 Main street, Dupont. Albert Mihalka, aged 42, of R. D. No.

2, Suscon, Pittston township. The artificial lake where the accident occurred was constructed by Elm Street Sportsmen's Club, of Dupont, and it is 30 feet deep at the point where the tragedy occurred. There were six in the frail boat when the accident occurredthe four who lost their lives; Andrew Chrobak, aged 38 years, father of 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. Pittston Community Ambulance, with five experienced in life-saving aboard, responded to call for help and used a resuscitator futilely on the little girl. Ambulance drivers and helpers were: Stanley Serino, Jerry Walsh, John Kelly, "Buzz" Peck and John Jordan. The drownings provided tragic climax a Sunday family picnic for members of the Sportsmen's Club and their families. The lake, which is 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 suggested taking his three daughters 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 warning that the boat was taking water. Almost immediately the six persons found themselves in water. The tragedy was not witnessed by any others at the picnic, as far as authorities were able to determine. Frank Klimek, 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 Chrobak struggling in water and the other occupants of boat nothe where to be seen. The mother of the three girls collapsed 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 Klimek, Assistant 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, Chrobak, operations. suffering from exhaustion 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 Boyanowski; 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 time to be nounced. Mr. and Mrs.

Chrobak, parents of the children are the only immediate survivors. Stock Market NOON QUOTATIONS A. T. T. 179 Anac, Copper Chrysler Gen.

Motors Int. Harv. L. V. R.

R. Nat. Distill N. Y. Central R.

R. Penn Power Lt. Pepsicola By UNITED PRESS Traffic accidents took more than five lives each hour of the 78-hour Labor Day week end, a final United Press tabulation showed today. The final count showed 438 traffic deaths during the period beginning lat 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 the record 1951 of 453 Labor fatalities week set ing Day 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 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 Christmas will hold down the year -end holiday toll," he said.

In addition to the traffic deaths, the United Press count showed 73 deaths by 10 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 a with 25, Pennsylvania with 22, and Wisconsin with 20. Three Without Casualtics In bright contrast, three statesMontana, 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.

across the country had promised a "gloves off" fight to keep deaths below the 400 predicted by the National Safety Council. 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 when weary holidayers Monday, stepped on the gas trying to get home.

There were few big crashes--just 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 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 Kosik, Pittston; Regina Loftus, Wyoming; Dolores Martin, Pittston; Maryann Mazaitis, Pittston; Mary Clair McLaughlin, Pittston; Ann Marie Moscatel, Pittston; Nadine Naples, Wyoming; Patricia O'Donnell, Wilkes-Barre. Sylvia Parry, Pittston; Margaret Pasquariello, Dupont; Celia Romanowski, Pittston; Helen Shea, WilkesBarre; Kathleen Sites, Pittston; Anita Sorick, Pittston Township; Rosemary Stankus, Pittston; Lenore 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 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. Pittaton 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 a 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 were slated to accompany the cool air with skies remaining generally cloudy Wednesday. SAT ON BY ELEPHANT San Francisco Sept. 6 Glenn Pierce, 21, of Watertown, N.

was recovering today from minor injuries received when an elephant sat on him. Pierce, a handler for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bail. ey Circus, was helping herd some elephants into the arena when one of the beasts became excited and -landing in sitting posttion, squarely on Pierce. BARBS BAL HAPPINESS really is have something to look. you for.

if you're spending your time raising a nice family. It would make better read-' ing if more ghost writers would catch the A right spirit. Lots of folks going on boat trips wonder what to do in case the resoccurred Chicago, sudden. fortwo and grandPittston, and West Washington, Sept. 6-Sen, James H.

Duff, one of the first supporters of President Eisenhower for the Republican nomination in 1952, believes "Eisenhower is going to be the guy" in 1956. "I don't think he can be licked." Duff, former governor of Pennsylvania, declared in an MBS radio thinks vice-president Richard M. interview Monday. He also said! he Nixon will again be Mr. Eisenhower's running, mate.

Duff 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 ex-president's remarks show that "no one is safe from attack." Duff, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also told his qustioners: Arms Offer 1. Russia's reported offer to furnish 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 keep our powder 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 nickel." Duff said he had no factual information as to whether Mr. Eisenhower will seek re-election.

The Senator recalled he had "intimate conversations" with the President while Mr. Eisenhower was still five-star general prior to the 1952 election. Duff said he is "very sure" that Mr. Eisenhower consented to seek his first term because of "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 him a candidate Duff said. Hails President's Efforts He hailed the President as "enormously effective in the world picture." He said Mr.

Eisenhower "has brought 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 I of seasickness. They shouldn't worry--they'll do it. Opportunity only while temptation kicks the door in. If you haven't time to play golf, men, you can get into just as 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.

through Daylight huntine goes October right alone 30 year. Sad little men and women all shined up and slowly winding observed in some sections today. their way to school! Overheard in the pump-room: "A dime or so for the pinball machines is as important as the school lunch these days." It's a fact: Man can live 60 days without food and only 14 days without water! I The horse-tail hairdo should gain renewed popularity during this mosquito and fly season. swish! 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 Star: Spangled banner was written, the cornerstone of the Capitol -in Washington was laid. Quite patriotic month! A vacation is time when you seek change but need currency Syl. The reason that some motorists come to a dead stop is that they were careless drivers! Tess: "Don't be discouraged. this world there is a man for every girl and 8 girl for every man. You can't improve on an arrangement like that." Gladys: "I don't want to Improve on it.

I just want to zet In on it." For back-to-school items Shop in.