Medford Mail Tribune from Medford, Oregon • Page 1

TRIBUNE 44th Year. 18 Pages MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMF 16. 1949 CRASH 0 OF New Yorkers Going On Water Wagon For 'Dry Friday' No Bath, No Shave Edict Taken Lightly Sahara-On-The-Subway, Deo. 16 (U.P.) New York went off the water wagon today. Voluntary drought lay the city like a big ball of cotton as an overwhelming majority of New York's 8,000,000 cooperated all the way with the water department's first "dry Friday" in history.

Rule Accepted New Yorkers accepted the rule of "no-bath, no-shave" for 24 hours good-naturedly even joked about it -but they realized the city's acute water shortage was no joke. The day was a test of whether residents could cut down on water usage or whether the city must be forced to ration water or lower the pressure in the mains. check homes in widelyA United, Press telephone separated areas of the showed the following index of compliance: Yes 95. No-19. "My husband walked out this morning without a shave, and he looked like hell," one housewife said.

Dishes Stacked "I'm not even washing the baby," another said. "We're stacking the dishes to save for one washing tonight. We're not washing the clothes." An assistant editor of the Bowery News said: "The boys don't plan to take no baths today." One housewife said her family was drinking milk instead of water. Down 34.9 Per Cent The water department had asked that from midnight Thursday to midnight Friday New Yorkers skip bathing, skip shaving, and skip at least one drink of water. The huge reservoirs which catch the rainfall from New York's watersheds were down to 34.9 per cent of capacity' The shortage was caused by a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall and by increased industrial and home consumption.

Gorby Apartments Sold To C. W. Clause Announcement was made today of completion of the sale of the Gorby apartments, Fourth and Holly streets, to Charles W. Clause and Mattie 1 E. Clause, 707 West Main street, by the heirs of Jacob Gorby.

The Clauses plan extensive additions and some redecorating and refurnishing of the property. The addition include a garage unit with second apartments over the garages, and probable business structures to face the Holly street side. The transaction was made by C. Lyall Fidler, realtor. The Clauses recently sold their home and apartments at Main and Laurel streets to the Richfield Oil company.

The structure will be torn down by the company, according to Clause, and a super service station will be built. T. J. High, realtor, made the transaction. Yuletide Fire Hazards Recounted By Chief Do's and dont's to reduce fire hazards during the Christmas season were listed today by Fire Chief Roy Elliott.

Don't overload electrical wiring and don't decorate light bulbs with paper or other combustible material in stores and other public buildings, as well as homes, he warned. near open fires, said. He Don't place Christmas, trees pointed out that trees should be kept moist and advised placing them in containers of wet sand. Use non-combustible tree-decorating materials, Elliott said. Don't use candles.

Elliott advised discarding trees as soon as possible after the holiday season. Don't burn them in the fireplace, however, he said. There is danger of flue fires. Package wrappings, if burned in fireplaces or stoves, should be destroyed a few at a time to avoid overheating. Road Conditions State police and the Oregon State Motor association office here reported bare pavement on highway 99 points between Siskiyou mountian pass and Roseburg today.

Police said light snow was falling on Siskiyou summit, however, Light snow was also reported on Greensprings summit on highway 66 and on Oregon mountain on the Redwood highway. There was four inches of snow at Keno on highway 66 snowfall in the Prospect area. Rain was reported at Roseburg and Grants Pass. Weather FORECAST: Some clearing tonight with 10g in lower valleys; a increasing cloudiness Saturday with rain by evening. Snow In mountains above 3500.

Temp. Highest Yesterday 47 Lowest this Morning 35 Prec. to 4:30 a.m. Today .08 B-29 VESTIGATED 6 WE 18 28 003 0. 9 BLAST RIPS IOWA MEAT PACKING PLANT -Air view shows the damaged portion of the Swift and company meat packing plant in Sioux City, after a devastating explosion mushroomfrom the basement through the five-story structure.

At least 16 persons were killed and more than a hundred were injured. The blast, believed caused by leaking natural gas in the plant's heating facilities, caught most of the 700 employees at work in the building. -(Acme Telephoto). pHI Girl Scout Training Helped To Save Life, Kelso Girl Says Longview, Dec. 16- (U.P)- Sixteen-year-old Ruth Aberle said today that her Girl scout training saved her life during 96 hours she was lost in the wilderness.

Ruth slept late today, enjoying her first sleep in a bed since Saturday night. Remembered Lessons The Kelso, high school sophomore said she probably would have died in the woods if the Girl scouts had not taught her to find shelter and there until rescuers reached her. Ruth was found in a deserted cabin yesterday by Sawmill Operator Charles F. Smith and his 16-year-old son, Philip. The rescue came after up to 1,000 men had searched the brush and second growth timber in a 10,000 acre section eight miles north of Kelso.

Ruth became separated from nine of her school companions Sunday afternoon while hunting for Christmas trees. She was exhausted and suffering from shock, but able to walk a mile and a half to the nearest road where an ambulance brought her to the Cowlitz County General hospital here. Little Fevedish "She's in pretty good shape," Dr. Clyde Duvall said. "She's exhausted and a little feverish, but she's come through it pretty well." Ruth stumbled 11 miles through the forest Sunday afternoon to the 12 by 12 foot cabin where she found shelter from snow, rain and freezing weather.

To keep warm while she slept in the cabin, Ruth dropped a door in a corner to stave off cold drafts. The cabin was more than six miles from the area where the main search for her was concentrated. She had no food but drank water from a nearby stream. "I wondered if anyone would ever find me," Ruth said. "I wasn't very cold; in fact, I was a little bit warm.

I got awfully hungry, living on just water." Fed Intravenously At the hospital, Ruth's first meals were fed to her intravenously until she could hold solid food. She could not eat a sandwich yesterday when Smith found her. Smith took up the search for the missing girl for the first time yesterday after he told his wife. "Maybe one more searcher will help find Ruth's parents, Mr. and Mrs.

William Aberle. and two brothers, Bill, 18. and Fritz, 15, also were resting today. The father and eldest son had been in the woods almost continually since Sunday night. Mrs.

Aberle, crying with joy, said, "This is the answer to all our prayers. We kept believing our daughter would be found in time. Everybody has been so grand to us, and they couldn't have done more." Community Chest County Goal $75.000 Total Today 60.477 Left To Go 14,523 Give Enough SHOPPING DAYS LEFT BUY CHRISTMAS SEALS Governor Of Last National Province Goes Over To Reds Taipeh, Formosa, Dec. 16- (U.P)-The governor of the last Chinese mainland province under nationalist control was reported today to have gone over to the communists. Reports from the mainland of Sikang, province, announced said Gen.

Liu Wen hyi, governor his defection to the reds. Only last week the nationalists had said that they would make Sikang their last mainland base against the communists. Organzer Nmed Digging in on Formosa for a final stand against the communists, the nationalist government last night appointed PrinceDr. Kc. Wu governor of the island to organize the civilian front for the approaching siege.

Wu, former mayor of Shanghai, is regarded by Americans in east as one of China's ablest, Wu administrators. also has served The 46- as mayor of Hankow and Chungking, vice-minister of foreign affairs and minister of information. To Weld Front He announced that he intends to weld a united front against communism, promote freedom of the press and other democratic ideals, improve the welfare of the people, establish rule by law and eradicate corruption. Wu will take over the governorship December 21 from Gen. Chen Cheng, who held the post concurrently with that of commander of southwest China.

Henceforth, Chen will devote his entire time to military problems. Authorities Call Off Search For Bride, 16 Seattle, Dec. county sheriff's officers have called off an intensive search for a 16-year-old bride of one year after she was reported seen around town and had registered at a Seattle hotel. Deputies said Mrs. Barbara Meuli, described as a "very attractive brunette," who disappeared from her sister's home Wednesday some night, clothes had into been local seen cleaning establishment.

Employees at the Apex hotel identified the young woman from a photograph as having stayed at the hotel Wednesday night. She registered as Barbara Randall, her maiden name. Detectives said they would continue to look for the young woman, but a full scale search of the Lake Burien district was discontinued. Relatives and deputies at first feared she had been a victim of foul play. Mrs.

F. D. Wagner Dies In California Ashland, Dec. 16 Funeral services for Mrs. F.

D. Wagner, who passed away in Mt. Eden, Thursday, will be held day, at 10:30 a.m. at the Episcopal church. Her husband, who had been postmaster in Ashland for many years, preceded her in death.

Memphis, Dec. 16- (U.P.) 24-year-old former policeman, was indicted here yesterday on charges of stealing a raincoat. U. S. steel Jumps Price $4 Per Ton Pittsburgh, Dec.

16 (U.P.) The U. S. Steel Corp. increased the prices of its products an average of $4 a ton today, causing congressional economic experts to express fear of a new inflationary spiral. Chairman Joseph C.

O'Mahoney, announced that his house senate economic committee will investigate big steel's price boost sometime after Christmas and that corporation officials will be asked to explain the increase at a public hearing. Said Unjustified The boosts are "completely unjustified," O'Mahoney said, because the industry is operating "on an extraordinarily high profit level." U. S. Steel, he said, is doing more to "injure the whole free enterprise system than all the crackpots have ever done." Sen. John J.

Sparkman, a member of the economic committee, echoed warning of labor experts that a price increase now might be "the stimulus for another round of price and increases." Despite the congressional uproar, it the was other a major virtual steel certainty firms would, before the end of the year, raise their prices along the pattern set by big steel. Will Increase Costs 'U. S. Steel produces more than a third of the nation's steel. price hikes will increase costs in the manufacture of automobiles, refrigerators, stoves, Conviction Of Grange Head Upheld By Court Colfax, Dec.

conviction of a Grange official for third degree assault on a Spokane newspaperman was upheld in superior court here yesterday. George Shaw, Twisp, deputy State Grange master, was found guilty in justice court at Pullman, Wash. A jury upheld the vedict here in superior court after Shaw appealed the case. Shaw was charged with forcefully and illegally putting Newspaper Reporter Ashley Holden out of a building where a Grange meeting was being held in Pullman June 9. Shaw maintained he put Holden out of the building to protect Grange secrets and that he used no undue force.

Shaw's lawyer, W. L. La Follette, said would file for a new trial. "Shaw remained at liberty on bond. Holden has filed a $10,000 damages suit against Shaw and it is now pending in superior court in Okanogan county.

Mayor 0'Dwyer And Model To Be Married New York, Dec. 16 (U.P.) Mayor William "will O'Dwyer married and Sloan Simpson at Ste. Stuart, Tuesday, it announced at towas day. The ceremony will be performed by the Rev. Timothy St.

Joseph Roman Catholic church at Stuart at 8:30 Geary a.m. 0'Dwyer's secretary, William J. Donohue, who made the announcement, said Miss Simpson, a beautiful fashion model, arrived at Fort Lauderdale, where is the guest yesterday, Mrs. Edward M. Bennecker.

Ski Conditions There are 21 to 25 inches of snow at Crater lake, the United Press reported today. There are nine inches of new snow with a powder surface and skiing should be fair, the reports said. The forecast is mostly cloudy with light snow this afternoon, snow flurries tonight, moderate snow Saturday, and snow showers Sunday. Radio communications between Medford and the park are out of order so that skiing information is not available at park headquarters in the federal building. Ike Denies Aspirations; Criticizes Administration Fort Worth, Dec.

(U.P)-Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to New York today, still denying that he wants to be president but criticizing the administration for spending too much money. Eisenhower told a chamber of commerce audience here last night that a family which spent money like the federal government would be dispossessed by the sheriff. "In family life, if we spend more than we make we are dispossessed," he said.

"I don't see how a nation can expect different treatment." 4,000 persons, some sitting on the floor for lack of seats, heard Eisenhower Six Men Killed During Landing At Walker Base Reconditioned Motors Not Blamed For Crash washing machines and in numerous other steel-consuming fields. Whether the higher rates will increase the buying price of these consumer goods could not be determined immediately, however. In Detroit, the nation's automakers declined comment on the immediate effect of the steel increase on auto prices. But K. T.

Keller, president of Chrysler corporation, admitted that "We buy steel, and if it costs us more, then naturally the cars are going to cost more." Toketee Project Dedication Held, Expansion Cited between Copco and BPA. Other Speakers George Flagg, state public Roseburg, Dec. 16-One of the largest, hydroelectric developments Installed by non-governmental capital in recent years was dedicated during informal ceremonies at the Umpqua hotel last night, as Albert S. Cummins, president of California Oregon Power company, threw the switch which channeled the first power from the new Toketee Falls dam into the transmission lines of Copco. Cummins outlined the expansion plans of the company for more than 100 southern Oregon and northern California men, saying that when the $50 million post-war expansion project is completed, 1952 or early 1953, Copco's total investment in facilities will be some $95 million, more than double that before the war.

He went on to say that this is one of the largest capital investments for any, nation. utility of this size in the Governor Speaks Gov. Douglas McKay, speaking at the ceremonies, pointed to the "desperate" need for added electrical generating plants in the area, and the fact that Douglas county was the secondfastest county the fastest growing state in the nation. The governor also pointed out that there are some 600,000 adOregon customets for electricity than there were in 1940 and went on to describe the advantages of cheap, plentiful electric energy in the development of the west. Forty per cent of the generating capacity of the nation is in the Pacific northwest, Governor McKay said, naming McNary, Meridian and Dorena dams as units which will add to this potential.

'Last Frontier' "This is the last frontier," he said, adding that the wise application of conservation principles will make it continuingly prosperous. Conservation, he said, is not hoarding, but "wise use." Also speaking at the ceremonies were John Boyle, vice-president and general manager of Copco, who described the physical job which the Toketee project has involved, and Dr. Paul J. Raver, administrator of the Bonneville power administration, who said that the objectives of public power and private power were not in basic conflict, but were to serve the people of this fast growing area through the medium of free enterprise where possible. Raver and Glenn Jackson, Copco vice-president, who was master of ceremonies, both cited the cooperation in the past utilities commissioner, and Harris Ellsworth, congressional representative from the fourth district, also spoke briefly, and the mayors of Roseburg.

Klamath Falls, Yreka, Grants Pass, Dunsmuir and Medford were introduced for brief remarks. (More details on the Toketee project will be published in the Sunday, December 19, edition of The Mail Tribune.) AEC Drastically Cuts Fellowship Program Washington, Dec. Atomic Energy commission today drastically trimmed its program because the scientists" who run it rebelled against FBI investigation of stunon-secret research. with the 1950-51 school year, the program will be limited strictly to secret research by: 1. Cutting the number of students in the training project from 421 to about 250-all of whom must be cleared by a full FBI check of their "character, associations, and loyalty." 2.

Slashing program funds from $1,500,000 a year to between $600,000 and $900,000. 3. Limiting new fellowships to students with doctoral degrees (Ph.D.; etc.) for training only in secret fields "closely related" to the atomic energy program. Roswell, N. Dec.

16- (U.P)-A seventh crew member of B-29 which crashed here last night died at the Walker air base hospital today as officials disclosed it was a "reconditioned" superfort which had carried the 14-man crew down to death or injury. Name of the latest victim was withheld pending notification of kin. Two others were reported in serious condition, "but the rest will be okey," base officials said. Training Helped Ruth's Girl scout training also kept her faith up. "I wasn't scared--just hungry," said.

"Why, never just dreamed how many people were looking for me. I'll have to read to see what hapThe sheriff's office reported that all searchers had left the woods. Lt. Edward Ringle, commandofficer of the Longview- I Kelso Salvation Army corps, said food donated by local merchants and residents to the corps for the hundreds of searchers reached a staggering amount. He estimated the daily supply at 400 gallons of coffee, 1,500 and 40 dozen doughnuts.

addisandwiches, 1,000 candy, bars tion, 150 pair of gloves, 50 flashlights and at least 400 flashlight batteries were used. The sheriff's office said the search was the largest single hunt in state history. Iced Up Plane Lands After Six Men Jump Reno, Dec. icelad air force C-82 flying boxcar landed safely at Hubbard field early today after 6 of its 10 occupants parachuted safely when the plane "iced up" at 18,000 feet and underwent violent gyrations. All six of the men who bailed out, five passengers and the plane's radio operator, were accounted for by deputy sheriffs.

Four suffered only cuts and bruises and hiked four miles to a highway where an air force private on furlough picked them up and drove them to Fernley, a tiny town 30 miles east of here. Two Injured Two others were injured when they landed amid jagged rocks on rolling sagebrush-covered hills in the desolate Pyramid Lake Indian reservation. One suffered a broken leg and the Western Union Will Alter Rate Structure Washington, Dec. Western Union Telegraph company announced today new rates on interstate telegrams will take effect February 1, but will not. the company said, produce "any material change" in revenues.

The new rate structure constitutes a top-to-bottom revision designed to eliminate geographical inequalities in existing charges, Western Union said. Some rates will be increased; some lowered. The proposed changes were submitted to the federal communications commission which originally made the suggestion that Western Union revise its rate structure. The lowest charge for a straight telegram, including press telegrams, will be 35 cents. Increases between major points will range from 1 cent to 18 cents in straight telegrams and decreases will range from 3 cents to 19 cents.

Russia Claims New Super Atom Smasher Berlin, Dec. 16- -Russia claimed today to have perfected a new super atom-smasher better than any used in the United States. The claim was advanced by the official Soviet news bureau and published in Taegliche Rundschau, official organ of the Soviet occupation forces in Germany. It coincided with the two-day visit to Eastern Berlin of Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Y. Vishinsky.

The announcement said the new device, called a syncotron, combined the principles of the cyclotron and the betatron, two I types used in the United States. Roswell, N. Dec. Air force officers investigated today to learn. by a B-29 Superfort bomber with modified "beefed up" engines crashed and burned while landing here last night with a death toll of six.

The air force in Washington that announced, bomber which crashed on a routine training flight was driven by "reconditioned" engines. All 3-29's without such modifications were ordered grounded last month after series of five crashes which killed a total of 33 air force men. Five Die Instantly Five men were killed instantly in last night's crash at the Walker air force base and sixth died later. Three other men were seriously injured and the five remaining crewmen suffered minor cuts and bruises. Capt.

A. H. Pyatt, Walker base information officer, said the quick work of fire department squads and air force police saved the lives of the survivors. Pyatt said investigators were sure the crash was not caused by engine failure. The base operations office said the pilot, St.

Lt. Robert L. Eyeman had not radioed that he was in trouble as he swept into the final leg of his landing approached Eyeman was killed in the crash along with 1st Lt. Richard Leggio, 1st Lt. Robert Vandermuellen, Capt.

Charles A. Whitlock, and Thomas O. Robal, all of Roswell, and Carmello J. Cannata of New Britain, Those injured seriously were Glen Howard Stoddard of Stoughton, Capt. Richard Simonson of Roswell, and Ardia L.

Edgell of Bristol, W. Va. Pyatt said it was "miraculous" more men weren't killed. a broken arm. othere uninjured men built a fire and wrapped the two injured servicemen in parachutes before they left to seek aid.

Two of led a sheriff's party to the scene to return the injured servicemen to an ambulance standing by back at the highway. The dramatic battle by the pilot, Second Lt. George Dumont, 26, Showhegan, Second Lt. David Torgerson, 22, Winamoc, the co-pilot; and Carl O. Schensiterer, 23, Nashua, N.

crew chief, began shortly after midnight as the Alameda-bound plane began to ice up over Lovelock, 200 miles east of Reno. The plane had taken off from Lowry field at Denver last night. Plane Rocks The three crewmen fought the controls for nearly half an hour while the plane, its controls made nearly unmanageable by steadily increasing ice, rocked violently. Dumont ordered the crewmen and the passengers to don parachutes as the plane, despite the efforts of both the pilot and the who fought the controls desperately, climbed from 12,000 to 18,000 feet. The crew chief reported he opened a door at the rear of the plane and "the next thing I knew there was a rush of guys going by me and six them had jumped out." Lieutenant Dumont denied he had ordered the men to jump but said he had instructed them to stand by the open door until he rang the alarm bell-their signal to jump.

The six who left the plane apparently either became alarmed or through misunderstanding rushed through the open door as soon as the chief had secured it, (See story on page 7) Jury Indicts 20 On Counterfeit Charge Washington, Dec. persons were indicted by a federal grand jury in New York today on charges of perpetrating a $1 million conspiracy to counterfeit and cash American Express travelers' checks, the justice department announced. Attorney General J. Howard McGrath said the indictment also accuses the 20 of carrying the phoney checks into other states. All were charged with 10 counts in the indictment which resulted from an FBI investigation.

Arrests in the case began in August. Famed Minstrel Dies Hollywood, Dec. 16 (U.P.) Lee ('Lasses) White, 61, one of the most famed of the old-time minstrels, died of leukemia today in Hollywood hospital. He had been ill for more than a year. Trygve Lie Not To Seek Election Again Lake Success, Dec.

16- (U.P)-Trygve Lie, United Nations secreta announced formally today that he not be a candidate for re election when his term expires in 1951. The former Norwegian foreign minister, elected to the top post the world organization for a five year term in 1946, confirmed to a news conference what he has been saying privately for five months. "In response to questions that have been submitted to me about my intentions when my term as secretary-general ends in 1951," Lie told his conference, "I wish to say this: "When I have completed my term of service as secretary-general, I shall be very happy to have been able to serve the United Nations. years. And I am not a candidate for reappointment." Light Installation Awaits State Word Installation of traffic signal lights at Riverside and Central avenue intersections on Jackson street awaits word from the state highway department on location of poles, Charles Wakefield of Trowbridge and Flynn Electric company said today.

The firm was awarded the installation contract. Wakefield reported that most of the material is on hand and work could start next week if word from the department is received. He stated poles have not arrived but that the first work would be construction of footings and foundations and installation of conduits. There will be four poles with walk-wait signals at each intersection and overhead auto' sig- "How far can we go in taxing away He urged decentralization property?" in government and a return of paramount powers to the people. A solution for many of the nation's domestic problems, he said, "can be found in the tremendous power that is America -its natural resources and the genius of the people." Eisenhower he viewed with alarm "an ideology constantly creeping over the world and reaching farther into Asia." He said at times the American people "have felt almost alone in a fight for freedom." At a news conference earlier, he repeated that he is not a presidential candidate and won't talked into becoming one.

nals. Radio Highlights Radio Station KYJC (1230) kc) will broadcast the boxing match between Beau Jack and and Kid Portuguex from Madison Square Garden, starting at 7 o'clock tonight. Station KWIN (1400kc) will air the Ashland-Coquille basketball game from Ashland tonight, starting at 8 o'clock..