La Grande Observer from La Grande, Oregon • Page 1

LA GRANDE OBSERVER 258th Issue 63rd Year LA GRANDE, OREGON MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1959 Pries 5 Cents Ghost own Of Pondosa Left Ruins By Flames I Charred MARRIED LOVE ON A CITY BUS COVENTRY, England (OPI) City transport officials an. nounctd themselves firmly in favor of married lovt on a city bus. Wherever possible, they said, women bus conductors are assigned to the same bus as their husband bus drivers, because: the driver is more careful when his wife is watching; the conductor is happier with her husband around, aitd husbands and wives just naturally work well together. i I OLD LUMBER TOWN RAVAGED BY BLAZE By BILL BEBOUT Obeserver Staff Writer PONDOSA (Special) Fire levelled nearly half of the f' all buildings in this once thriving and prosperous limber country town Saturday afternoon. All that remained today was ruins.

1 1 1 3 .1 f.UY PRACTICING Baritone, John DeMerchant along with his accompanist, Mrs. Irma Puis rehearse for his forthcoming concert Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. in the LDS tabernacle DeMerchant will also be in La Grande to direct the production of "Ten Thousand July 10, in the High School auditorium. John De Merchant Presents Concert Here On Wednesday Russians Expre! ss Optimism MOSCOW UPI The Soviet Union is expressing optimism that the East-West foreign ministers will reach agreement next time tney meet ana make possible a conference of heads of state. Moscow Radio reported the for eign ministers oa-rowed three gaps before recessing Friday and said, "therefore it becomes clear that there are good grounds for reaching agreement.

The points centered around reduction of troops and banning of rocket bases in Berlin, a cut in subversive activities there and establishment of an all-German group to review the country's future. Diplomatic observers also were attaching new importance to the forthcoming exchange visits of Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Russia's First Deputy Premier Frol R. Kozlov. May Enliven Conference Western' sources said the visits may generate new energy to the reconvened foreign ministcs conference.

Nixon was expected to see Premier Nikita Khrushchev when he comes hero to open an American exhibition; Kozlov was expected to see President Eisenhower goes, to the States to open a Russian exhibition. Diplomatic observers in Moscow said the Soviet Union had scored major gains at Geneva by getting Western leaders to discuss the Berlin issue as a separate item from the German problem as a whole and by getting Communist East Germany seated in the con ference room. The observers said the Russians apparently decided that an East-West summit meeting would be held without the Soviet Union paying too high a price. The bare bones of negotiations made it unnecessary for the Communist leaders to take one-sided action in Berlin. Door Open Khrushchev's speech Friday was regarded here as leaving the door open for continued negotiation an East-West compromises despite his assertion that continuation the occupation troops in Berlin was unacceptable.

Diplomatic observers here be-bclieved the Soviet use of the calendar was taken too literally abroad and that the Western powers appeared too prone to use the word "ultimatum" whenever the Russians mentioned a time limit for agreement. The observers said it appeared here that the Russians mentioned certain dates just to get negotiations started and to spark West-1 ern couner-proposals. FIRE STRIKES GHOST TOWN fjghting crews pour water on the charred remains of one of the 15 houses which, were gutted by wind-whipped, flames at Eondosa. Saturday afternoon. The fire, was ported to State Police from Medical Springs shortly before telephone lines melted and fell to the ground.

(Observer Photo) BY VIRGINIA ANDERSON Observer Staff Writer Taking time out from his New York studio, John DeMerchant, will appear Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the LDS Tabernacle to present a recital. Merchant was, a visitor in Xa Grande during sevcril sum mers when he directed the pro duction of the "Lowland Sea," and "Down in the Valley." Attending Hie University of WnshinRlon, De Merchant majored in music composition and sang in the college He has toured in concerts and opera in both the United States and Life Sentences Meted Youths UP1 Four white youths convicted of 13th Annual Elgin Stampede Gets Underway With Kickoff a tew ouudings and smoldering iNow a gosi town, Pondosa miles southeast of La Grande. Flames broke dut in the taiurnay ana witnin an nour nad taken firm hold on about half of tho town's 53 houses, a machine shop and a planer mill. A strong wind from the West tanned the flames which spread from the northeast end of the box factory to the planer mill.

From there the wind-whipped blaze gutted dwelling houses until brought under control by fire fighters at approximhtnly 5:30 p. m. Lone Pumper A lone water pumper stood guard Sunday afternoon in case fire burst from tho ashes. State Police Sgt. R.

C. White, of Baker, said. The fire was reported by Ned Foy of Medical Springs. As the telephone report was being com pleted, telephone lines bctwocn Medical Springs and Baker melt ed and fell to tho ground, cutting off all communication until State Police arrived on the scene. Baker fire department and fire fighting crews from the U.

S. For est Service and the Bureau of Land Management joined in the fight to contain the flames throughout tho afternoon. By 5 m. there were 200 people In, the ghost town and the Salvation, Army had from Baker to feed them, -Saves Belonging! Tho town's only residents, Mr, and Mrs. Henry Schrock, lost their house in the firo.

Schrock is tho night watchman for North west Machinery Co. of Roscburg, which bought most of Pondosa when the town and mill were sold by auction May 5. Schrock managed to load the family belongings into pickup trucks before flames claimed his house which was located 500 feet from whero the firo broke out. i Firo fighters worked in 90-de- grco heat with Big Creek as the only source of water. Sgt.

Baker snld that a bulldozer was used to dam tho little creek, which runs through the heart of tho town, to enable tho pumper to get water on the wind-whipped flames. Bakor said that silt in the pumper prevented the firo fight ers from saving moro of the buildings. Crew at Work Robert Ridgcway, an employe of the Northwest Machinery was in tho town with a crew of four men when tho fire started. They wore dismantling tho equip mcnt in tho mill buildings. Ridgc way, police reported, had Just re turned from lunch when the fire was discovered.

See PONDOSA On Pagt 5 STAMPEDE and Wanda Schaures is located approximately 38 deserted mill town at 2 p.m. Secretary Will Talk To Nation WASHINGTON (UPD Secretary of State Christian A. Ilertcr announced after an hour-long conference with President Eisenhower today that he will. make a television report to the American people Tuesday night on the deadlocked Geneva Conference. Ilertcr met with Eisenhower and Undersecretary C.

Douglas Dillon at a White House breakfast meeting, lie said his first hand report to Eisenhower was couched "in general terms" and Included an evaluation of "whero we are" in the deadlocked foreign- ministers negotiations at Geneva. The secretary said he would make a detailed public report by television Tuesday Details of the Hertcr broadcast will be announced later. Reporters asked Horler what he thought of prospects for a sum-niiLjiicetuig Uiis summer-. Summit Not DiKuued Tho secretary declined to hazard an estimate, but said a summit conference was not discussed with the Russians at all during the Geneva talks. This was in: line with Eisenhower's repeated public position that there must be some measurable progress at the foreign ministers' conference as a preliminary to any top level meeting of tho major powers.

It Was understood that Hertcr gave Eisenhower an expert on-the-scene evaluation of current Russian tactics as reflected in Geneva. 1 i Residents Asked To Cut Water Use Residents were reminded not to use water for washing cars and watering lawns today. Tho small reservoir south of town is being filled today and water for these' purposes will be availablo tomorrow. The cleaning of city reservoirs will bo a yearly project according to Fred city manager, i. While the reservoir was being cleaned the city also placed tile pipes in the area lo drain a nearby swampy condition.

State Sani tary authorities requested the area bo drained before it becomes a sanitation problem. There is no water shortage In the city. Officials merely wanted to Insure an adecjualo water supply in case oi emergencies. Young wanted to "thank pcoplo for their fine cooperation in s'ackcnlng off on water usage over the weekend. Shepard Dog Picked Up By City Police Today A large, ycitlow ana wnite shepherd dog was picked up by city police in the lfiOO block on ave.

this morning at 4:40. The dog was impounded and notice posted in accordance with city ordinance No. 1820. 1 WASHINGTON (UPI)-The Supreme Court today denied hearing to Charles Starkweather, condemned murderer wha terroriied the midwest year and a half ago with a Mriee at 11 slayings. Today's brief order' leaves Nebraska Ire to carry out ttw electrocution.

-t CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -(UPD A Vaguard racket hurled a satellite toward spec' today in the latest of man's efforts to find out how hoot In the atmosphere causes the earth weather conditions. Bulletins BY MAXINE NURMI Observer Staff Writer ELGIN (Special) The 13th an nual Elgin Stampede got underway here Saturday night with akick off banquet and dance sponsored by the Stampede Association. Highlight of the evening event was the introduction of the royal court for the 1959 Stampede. petit young ladies were presented to the large crowd which assembled in the Stampede Hall.

They are Miss Ella Mae Denton, Union; Miss Wanda Schaures, La Grande; Miss Jordyce Tameris and Miss Cclia Cololasure, both of Elgin. One of these girls will be chosen queen by the number of tickets sold between now and the Corona tion Ball, set for July 18. At that time the queen will be revealed. the oi a Negro college co-ea were sentenced today to life imprisonment. The youths, ranging in age from IK to 23, were convicted of taking Hie girl from her Negro date on the night of her college spring formal and raping her seven times.

The jury recommended mercy, without which the judge would have been required to give them the death penalty. Under terms of the life imprisonment Stature, "the imprisoned men could apply for parole as early as six months after sentence begins. But in such cases it is extremely rare for any consideration to be given the request in under ten years. Circuit Judge W. May Walker pronounced sentence at :44.a.m.

and the youths were immediately whisked off to the state prison at Raiford. They arc Patrick Scarborough, Willon T. Coilinsworlh, 23, 01-lic Stoutamiie, 1G, and David Heaglos, in. 0 junior past queen. Miss Arlcnc Wcathcrspoon who spoke to the candidates and gave a brief resume on the 12 past queens and introduced the ones in attendance.

Ken Lillard sang "Bless This House" and an encore "Irish Lui lahy" accompanied at tho piano by Miss Elizabeth Easlcy. The business session came to a close with announcement by Beck of the ticket sale and a Stamped-ers work day, to ready the ground for tho Junior Rodeo. Co-chairmen for the 1959 Rodeo are Maurice Casey Keefer and Larry Follctt. The group was dismissed and went to the Elgin KP hall where tickets were counted out and pictures taken by various photographers. The ticket salo will be held until prior to the Coronation Ball set for July 18 at tho Stampede hall.

COURT FOR THE ELGIN South America; but for the past three to five years, aside from 20-25 major oratorio and concert appearances, he has concentrated more specifically on his New York studio. De Merchant works with professional singers and his students have toured both in America and Europe. His concert program Wednesday night will include "Songs and Dances of Death" by Moussorgsky. This number will be done in a new translation which was written by Marion Farquhar, Significantly, this work was formerly almost impossible to do because of the difficulties encountered in translating it from the original Russian. Another selection from the program is a rarely done song cycle "Eliland" by A.

Von Fielitz. theme of the work takes place near a remote lake in the German Alps, and is the story of a count's daughter who becom-s a nun. A monk, who sees the young falls In love with her and writes love songs to her. De Merchant 'will direct the production of "Ten Thousand Miles!" here July 10. The opera, which he wrote himself in connection with the centennial is the first work of this kind the singer has ever written.

Following the 'completion of his production here, De Merchant plans to vacation in Maine before returning to his studio in New York this fall. Car-Truck Crash At Intersection A 1956 pickup driven by a La Grande resident collided with a sedan at the intcrcction of fourth and Washington late' Saturday' afternoon. Ernest Thickstun, Orchard Trailer court, 2208 Adams, was traveling west on Washing- Ion when he stopped for a sign. He started lo lurn north onto Fourth and ran into the right rear fender of -a car driven by Edith Bernico Snyder, Colvillc, police said Damage to. Mrs.

Snyder's- car was estimated by police at $75. The estimated damage to the pickup was $25. Firemen Answer House Fire Call City firemen were called to put oul a fire in a davenport at 1012 Adams Saturday morning. Kiglcrn firemen answered the 5 rf.m. summons lo Ihc residence of K.

A. E'lling. Firemen carried the davennnri down the steps and into the yard where it was doused with water. A ciuarcttc drcnoeri into tho dAvenport and started the blaze according to the fire dpcarmcnt. WEATHER Mnctlv ciinrtv with imlnvin wui.i.j mill TQI ItfUIC clouds Tuesday; high Tuesday 78-83; low tonight 43-48.

The stampede will bo held July 25 26 at the grounds in Elgin. The various chairmen have planned a full schedule of events and cntcr1-tainemnt to fill both days. Special events will include a comedy trampoline act, starring the Lane sisters and Homer. Maurice Beck, Stampcdcrs president, called the meeting to order and gave the welcome address. Following the introduction of the candidates, a quartet of girls danced afolk dance.

Two dressed In centennial dresses and two in old fashioned male attire. The queen mother, Mildred Harwood was introduced. Casey Keefer spoke briefly and introduced the press in attendance. Miss Shirley' Miller sang two vocals, "Suddenly There's a Valley" and "Red River accompanied at the piano by Mrs. McCall.

Beck then introduced the A R.fiYAI, If v. a rf i'(! Boy Scout Dies. In Avalanche; Companions Hurt PORTLAND (UPll A 15-year-old Explorer Scout was fatally injured and four 'companions were hurl Saturday when an avalanche of slushy snow knocked them into a 25-rool crevasse near the summit of Ml. Hood. was David Draix-r, Vancouver, Wash.

Others hit by the s'iow were two a'lults, Edward W. Smith, Oregon City, aid Don l'erger, Cornelius, and Explorer Seoul liill Hulling, Hi. and Tom McCuuc, II. holh of Vancouver. Smith was treated for multiple bruises and shock at SI.

Vincent hospital here and was to be released today, according to attendants. McCuno was released Sun-u; from a Vancouver hospital and Hulling was treated at the hospital late Saturday as an outpatient. Bcrger was not hospitalized. The group was rescued by the Mountain Rescue Council and members of their own party of, 40 climbers. mk 1 i mj 7 cti: tt Aim w-r LAST MINUTE PREPARATION Wilma Cason and Hazel Moore Fill Platter for Banquet Celia Colclasure, Jordyce Tameris, Ella Mea Denton,.