The Key West Citizen Newspaper, March 2, 1954, Page 1

Key West, Florida, has the most equable climate in the country, with an average range of only 14° Fahrenheit VOL. LXXV No. 52 Six Navy Men Die In Helicopt Pilots And Crewmen Are Killed Instantly In Midair Accident By DENIS SNEIGR Six Navy men were killed at 8:34 a. m. today when Puerto Ricans Show No | Regret Over Bentley’s Condition Still Critical But Improvement Is Seen Today By WILLIAM F. ARBOGAST WASHINGTON (f-Rep. Alvin M, Bentley (R-Mich) most serious- ly wounded among five congress- men shot down by fanatical gunners in the House chamber, showed some gains early today. In jail a few blocks away, the leaders of the Puerto Rican pistol wielders insisted they were not sorry for the unprecedented outbreak in the Capitol yesterday afternoon. Lolita Lebron, who claimed the ringleader’s role in a jail interview summed up “I do what I must for ™my country.” And Rafael Coneel Miranda de- clared: “We don’t talk about the little thing.” Both had more to say about Puerto. Rican independence than about the wild shooting that dis- rupted proceedings in the House. Along with two other Puerto Rican men—Andres F. Cordeo and Irving’ Flores—they were held in bail of $100,000 each on charges of assault with intent to kill. They face possible penalties of up to 15 years each—if all the wounded survive. The charge would become murder—punishable by death in the electric chair—if one should die as a result of their wild outburst. In addition to Bentley, the wounded are Reps. Kenneth A. Roberts (D-Ala) shot in the knee; Ben. F. Jensen.(R-Iowa), wounded in the left shoulder; ford Davis 4D-Tean)s shot in iM ‘right leg, and George H. Fallon, (D-Md), hit ir, the hip, Roberts also underwent surgery, but it was of exploratory nature. His physician reported that fears of nerve damage proved to be unfounded. Bentley was struck in the upper right chest by a bullet which traveled through the lung, dia- phragm, liver and stomach and came out his left side. After a 1% hour operation yes- terday the first-term multi-million- aire representative from Michigan was given only a 50-50 chance for life. “He is now in the hands of the Lord,” said the ‘surgeon, Dr. Charles Stanley White, after the operation. Dr. Joseph R. Young, chief of staff at Casualty Hospital, said the 35-year-old congressman, while still in critical condition, had shown im- provement, was cheerful and able to talk coherently, A 7:45 a. m. report said Bentley had a “fairly restful” night; that temperature, pulse and respiration were at “a satisfactory level—al- though the pulse rate is higher than desirable.” A scene of confusion without pre- cedent in the House of Represen- tatives occurred when the Puerto Rican fanatics suddenly produced heavy pistols and began shooting wildly from the visitors’ gallery during yesterday’s routine session, Congressmen dived under desks or sped to the aid of fallen col- leagues. Many of them thought the sharp reports were those of prank: ster’s firecrackers—until splinters began flying from desks and plas- ter from walls and ceiling. One member, Rep. Van Zandt (R-Pa), sped upstairs in time to help disarm one of the gunmen. Inthe gallery a number of spec- tators also helped overpower three of the assailants as their weapons were emptied and they tried frantically to reload and resume their barrage. Mrs, Lebron insisted at police headquarters that members of the group regard themselves as pa- triots—not crininals, The dark-haired woman said the (Continued on Page Seven) Shooting County Red Cross Drive Is Under Way Two-Thirds Of $15,000 Goal Has Already Been Realized The 1954 Red Cross membership \drive of the Key West Chapter ‘opened officially March 1 at a “kick-off” coffee at the Flamingo Lounge and Restaurant in Mara- thon, Twenty-five enthusiastic com- mittee members from Key West and Marathon listened to an inspir- ational talk by the Rev. Ralph, Rogers, chairman of the local) chapter, He emphasized the value of the Red Cross in the community and urged the committee to ex- ceed their quotas during this month’s intensive campaign. Allan Hampton of Key West, chairman of the 1954 campaign stressed the need for the Red Cross during hurricane catastroph- es or fires on the Keys, and the help the Red Cross has given this are in disasters in the past, The goal for the county this year is $15,000 of which $19,000 has beeh realized. The Marathon quota for this campaign is $3,- 500. John Goggin, President of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce! and chairman of the Red Cross campaign for the key area, will be assisted by Mrs. Don Fox, vice- chairman; Ed Seney, publicity chairman; Mrs. Ruth Ivins, spe- cial gift chairman; Mrs. Retha Baucum, business chairman; Mrs. Lee Pollock, window and display chairman, and Mrs, Ruth Ivins, motel chairman. Present. at the meeting were the: Rev. and Mrs. Ralph Rogers, Al- lan Hampton, Mrs. Margaret Cu- sick, and Mrs. Carola R. Nettles from Key West and Mrs. A. E. Woodburn, Mrs. Evelyn Kaelin, Mrs. Patricia Seney, Mrs. D. A. \Rachley, Mrs. Jessie Mathis, Mrs. Louis Sanfard, Mr. and Mrs, Don Fox, Mrs. Maude Spence, Hans A. /Hotosph, Mrs. Lula E. Hall, Mrs. Alvinda Skull, Mrs. Ella Graham, and Mrs. Jesse M, Scott of Mara- thon, There will be no solicitation in Key West, Hampton stated due to! the local chapter being a co-spon-' sor in the recent United Fund cam-| paign. However, anyone who has not already taken out a 1954 mem- |bership may mail or send gifts to| the chapter at 301 Front Street. Coast Guard Tows Disabled Boat To Port The Coast Guard last night tow- ed in a disabled fishing vessel, ending a sea-air search that be- gan Saturday evening. At that time the fishing vessel Nanu reported by radio that she was standing by the disabled Boots, another fishing vessel. The Coast Guard immediately \dispatched an 83-foot cutter. The cutter searched for three hours jand could find neither the Boots eg the Nanu in the position report- C. B. HARVEY Will Speak Over WKWF Tonight at 7:45 on Sunday the weather turned sour. | Monday a Coast Guard plane took up the search and located the Boots 25 miles west-northwest of Smith Shoal light. With the Boots located, the 83 |footer again put out and last night’ |towed her into the Coast Guard dock here, THE two helicopters crashed in The planes hit about 100 feet above Fleming Key, dropped to the ground and pilots and two crewmen—three men in each plane— Highest Crash Toll Since ’51 The helicopter crash today that claimed six lives was the first air crash here since April 25, 1951, to kill more than one person. On that date a Cuban DC3 and a Navy plane collided off South Beach, killing 43 persons, Dead In Crash: Here are the names of the men killed in today’s helicopter crash: Lt. (jg) Robert Kuhn, pil- ot, of New Brunswick, N. J., survived by a wife and three Park. Lt. H. M. Walters, Jr., co- pilot, of Louisville, Ky. He is survived by a wife and two children, He lived at 410 Margaret St. T. J. Bignan, crewman, chief electronics technician, of Rock Rapids, Iowa. His brother, James Michael, and his parents, live in Portland, Oregon. — The pilot of the other air- craft was Lt. (jg) H. P. Kan- nofsky, of Brooklyn, N. Y. He is survived by his moth- er, Mrs. Dorothy O. Schwing of Wantangh, L. I. M. B. Porter, chief avia- tion pilot and co-pilot of this ship. He was born in Nor- folk, Va., and is survived by a wife and three children of 2120 Seidenberg Ave. ‘J. K, Harlan, crewman and electronics technician, was born in Greencastle, Ind. He was married recent- ly and lived with his wife in a Stock Island trailer park. NEWS BRIEFS WASHINGTON, (#—A third bat- ‘talion of atomic cannon, the Army announced yesterday, will leave within the next few months for Europe to reinforce two others al- ready there. Each battalion is equipped with six 280mm guns, TORREON, Mexico, (#—Reports reaching here last night said a passenger train from Ciudad Juar-| ez overturned near Yermo, Dur- ango state, yesterday and at least Be persons were injured, 10 criti- cally, NUERNBERG, Germany, ) — Charles E. Wilsor of Harrisville, W. Va., was convicted in a U.S, district court here today of con- spiracy to defraud. He was sen- tenced to six months in prison, fined $5,000 and given another six months if he doesn’t pay the fine. Wilson, 32, former food chief of the U.S. Army’s European Ex- change System, was found inno- cent of 26 other charges growing lout of an alleged kickback opera- tion, HANOI, Indochina, — The French announced today they’ve wiped the village of Luong Kiet, in the Red River Delta, off the map because it was an ambush next for the Communist-led Viet- minh rebels. CLASSIC BALLET children. He lived in Sigsbee | SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER KEY WEST, FLORIDA, TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1954 mid-air and burned. burst into flames. The four were killed instantly. According to a Navy spokesman, the two ships—. attached to Helicopter Anti- submarine Squadron One— took off from the Seaplane Base at 8:33 a. m. The two ships were on a routine training exercise and were flying in formation. i They rose from the seaplane mat; on the west side of the hangar and headed in a northerly direction. One minute later, the two ships started a left turn to head toward the operating area southwest of Key West. It was while they were making the turn that one helicopter slid into the other, The planes locked together and dropped to the ground. Some witnesses said they saw flames burst from the planes be- fore they hit the ground. Others said the flames erupted ;when the locked ships hit the ground, Each helicopter carried about 200 gallons of high octane gaso-' line. The spot where the fatal crash eccurred is a barren area of crushed coral. The two ships hit Jess than 50 yards from the wat- er’s edge. By the time this arriv, at the scene, Navy if ‘trucks had» all--but smothered :th jfiames with foam, The wreckage still was smoking, and here and there a flickering! flame could be seen. Two Navy ambulances stood by to remove the bodies. Some personal belongings had been recovered. One Navy officer at the scene hald a fire-blackened wrist watch that apparently had been thrown from the wrist of its wearer. A cold wind swept across the coral and as we prepared to leave the scene, a few drops of rain be- gan to fall. Back at the big hangar, all was quiet efficiency, The mach- (Continued On Page Seven) Produce Man Found Dead SARASOTA (#—R, H. Jones, 68, a Cairo, Ga., produce truck opera- tor, was found stabbed to death in a small hotel here today. Jones, who hauled vegetables to this area and returned with ship- ments of fish, had been stabbed twice with a six-inch knife, Police Chief Robert Wilson said. Wilson said Jones’ billfold and truck were missing and his helper, Chester O’Dwyer, had disappeared. Later, O’Dwyer was stopped by Hillsborough County Traffic Patrol- man Joe Ward north of Tampa. He denied knowing anything about Jones’ death. Chief Wilson said O’Dwyer was driving Jones’ truck and had his wallet with more than City To Lease Land In Garrison Bight For Railway Captain John West, president of the Charter Boat Associa- tion, last night asked the city commissioners to lease the association land in Garrison Bight to ednstruct a small rail- way to pull up charter boats. West said that the charter der the management of Wil- liam Wickers, charter boatman. Land desired is next to sump no. 2 on Palm Avenue. The commission seemed favorably inclined, and instructed City Attorney Porter to draw up an ordinance in order that the lease might be voted on. —_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_—— Tattle Delores Fund Is Swelled By Radio Show More than a thousand dollars was} collected last night for the Little Delores Fund during an hour-long} broadcast by Radio Station WK- WF. Last night brought the contribu- tion total to $1,438.12 in the drive! sponsored by the Lions Club to raise funds for an eye operation for Delores Disdgiertt, five-month- old glaucoma victim. A story in} The Key West Citizen sparked the drive. John Spottswood, owner of WK- WF, extended the scheduled one- hour broadcast almost two hours to take the hundreds of phone calls} that poured into the station’s switch board, ; Lou Carbonell arranged the} broadcast with the musicians union | providing the music. Police cars} picked up the contributions when} Persons phoned the station, FIRE IN THE RIVER ALBUQUERQUE (® — Hundreds | of Albuquerqueans were told last! night not to worry when they called radio stations and newspa-; pers to inquire about dense clouds; of smoke over the city. It’s only a big brush fire in the Tiver, they were told. And it was just that—a fire in| the river bed of the almost dry $1,000 in it, WE HAVE AA That Must Go! Lincolns - Mercurys SPECIAL Rio Grande. PRE-WAR AND LATE MODEL USED CARS T IAT MUST GO Price Range from $35.00 to $1895.00 That Must Go! 6,000-MILE OR 6-MONTH GUARANTEE - Fords - Chevrolets and Plymouths IN THE ‘a tourist center “do not come from iresponsible sources.” Che Kev West Citisen U.S. A. er Police Ordered To Investigate Matter; Man Said To Be Selling Cigars, Cigarettes Are occupational licenses to be! Paid only by Key West merchants? Or should out-of-town competing firms shoulder some of the burdens of government? The questions will be thorough- ‘ly investigated by the City of Key West. A Miami merchant (Sebastian! Cabrera) is peddling cigars and) \cigarettes in Key West over the week-ends, According to Mayor) Harvey, he has been told that this Dade Countian goes into stores, ‘gets their order; makes delivery right then and accepts payment. jie that isn’t peddling, what is?’ said the city’s highest céficial. Complaints from retailers solicit-| ed in Key West have been received. the week-ends, When the Mayor was told-by City penaee Victor Lang that the case was the same set-up as in the Bur- dine controversy, he then declared! what is to stop a Miami taxi-cab operator from picking up a cus- tomer in Key West and taking them to Miami? City Commissioner Jack De- For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll teach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers . . Just DIAL 2-5661 or 2-5662. The solicitation is being dore on; To Improvemen City Commissioners all ciana housing units is meet property owners. The City’s most recent tion of the area has been re: tion company for $55,000 s Tourists Better Shuffle Back Those tourists who were caught shuffling off to Buffalo yesterday when the New York city had a temperature one degree lower than Key West, had better shuffie right back here. It was 30 degrees and snow- ing in Buffalo this morning, Fishing Boat Burns After laney told of an ordinance in Roanoke, Va. that requires ali out-of-town and city laundries to pay a certain percentage of their gross. business. And the case in Miami Beach where laundries can‘t truck from Mia- mi to their city. Commissioner Paul Roberts: “Let some Key West merchant try to sell in Miami like this man’ (Cabrera) is doing in Key West; and see what happens.” Laubscher Talks To Motel Owners Chamber of Commerce Manager Harold Laubscher told the Key) West Motor Court Association Mon-} day that in his opinion, reports of} adverse comment on Key West as Speaking at the regular meeting of the motel group, Laubscher said that “bad comment” coming from cities north of Key West, in reality, is the result of statements from uninformed persons who have nev- er visited here, The motel men also voted to form a committee composed of Charles Krchilek, Harry Mitchell and John Gelabert for the purpose of calling a meeting in about two weeks to which all Key West busi- nessmen interested in the promo-) tion of the tourist industry will be invited. At the meeting, the possibility of offering associate memberships} will be discussed. Those to be in- vited include hotel owners, restau- rants, gas station operators, char- ter boatment, souvenier shops and others. Associate members would not be entitled to a vote but would be asked to participate in discussions and assist in the projects of the group, according to Mel Levitt, president of the group, | MASONIC NOTICE i Regular Comm. of Dade Lodge No. 14, F. & A.M., Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., Scottish Rite Temple. Followed by conferring of the Entered Apprentice Degree. Long Delay Vessel Wrecked Feb. 1 Is Victim Of Mysterious Fire Last Week A strange incident at sea was reported today by the Coast Guard! — the case of a vessel that was ‘wrecked and then almost a month later caught fire and burned, On Feb. 1, the 75-foot fishing vessel Elliot, a former Coast Guard boat, hit rocks northeast of Cottrell Key. Two helicopters from HS-1 and) two Coast Guard vessels, the cut- \ter White Sumac and a 52-foot! buoy boat, the CG-52303-D, went to the Elliott’s aid. The Key West Shrimp Co, re-' ported then that the Elliott was owned and skippered by Bryant Story. Three other men were aboard. All were taken off by the Coast Guard. The following day, Feb. 2, the two Coast Guard vessels return- ed to the Elliott and tried to pump her out. They reported the vessels was badly holed and that water poured in as fast as it was pumped out, Nothing more was heard of the Elliott until Friday night. At that time the Navy reported that a fire at sea had been sighted. An 83-foot Coast Guard vessel was dispatched to the scene. The Elliott had burned to the water- line. | The Coast Guard report on the incident says the cause of the fire was unknown. The Elliott was launched toward the close of the 1920’s as part of |a fleet of 75-foot vessels that was \supposed to halt rum running. | Flower Show Ends Tonight The Key West Garden Club flow- |er show at the Elks Club Annex, | which has been termed “the most | successfyl ever’ will end tonight at 10 p. m. | A feature of tonight’s program , will be the sale of floral speci- PRICE FIVE CENTS oday City's Offer Of $140,000 For Area In Poinciana Refused; Want $200M Cabrera Of Miami Charged With Peddling Without City License Owners Paid $55,000 For Land t Co. 10 Years Ago -out effort to purchase Poin- ing stiff opposition from the offer of $140,000 for a sec- fused. In a telephone conver- sation with City Attorney J. Y. Porter, Linton Collins in Washington notified Porter that owners of the land want $200,000 for their portion of Poinciana. Their ap- praisers have valued the land at $268,000. This section of Poinciana was purchased from the Key West Founda- ome ten years ago. If $200,000 is paid for this sec- tion then the total wanted Poinci- ana housing will cost the City just a little short of $700,000. Said Commissioner Paul Rob- erts: “If the land is worth that much ($200,000) then we should put it on the tax roll for that amount and let them keep it. 1 say put it on the books.” The Key West Realty Board is jmaking an appraisal for the City of Key West, and until that re- port is given the City Fathers no action will be taken. Mayor Harvey inquired about the {possibility of entering condemna- tion proceedings against the own- ers of the needed land, but City Attorney Porter declared that the Supreme Court has held that a City can not do this, A special stieeting of the City Commission will be held as soon as the report from the appraisal |board is received, |$500 Donated The sum of $500 has been donat- ed to the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority as a contribution to defray some of the expenses connected with the Sorority convention to be held in the Island City, Variance Ordinance Passed A variance ordinance to allow the erecting of a printing and pub- lishing business at the northwest. tertly corner of Fleming and White- jhead was approved on first read- ing subject to approval of the plan- ning commission, The request was made by Poly Artman who will move his plant from present loca- tion to the new premises, Attor- ney J. Y, Porter said that the re- quest was identical to the one made by Mr, Allen for his print shop. Insurance Bid The bid submitted py the Porter Allen company for insurance on the city’s vehicles and Workmen's Secretary Katie Cochran of Key ‘West Temple No, 20 Pythian Sis. ‘ters expressed thanks in the name of the organization for. the contri- bution of $200 towards the Grand Temple Session of Florida of Py- thian Sisters to be held in Key West on April 27, 28, 29, Forsythe Honored Dan H. Forsythe, a Naval Chief, was given a Honorary Police Set. pin for his untiring efforts in aid- ‘ing the local police department. Forsythe earlier recommended the purchase of six Smith and Wesson (Continued On Page Two) NOTICE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION This office is calling || to the attention of any. one who is entitled to Homestead Exemption that April Ist is abso- lutely the deadline for filing. French Union troops, using | |knives and hatchets, chopped up| 0 0 0 ORS the hamiet’s bamboo and straw-| M NR E M T ' Inc. \thatched huts, long deserted by} 1117 WHITE STREET PHONE 2.5631 1,500 or so rice growing Vietna- | |mese who formerly lived there. A-l USED CAR LOT Army bulldozers flattened the} 235 SIMONTON STREET wreckage. | ments to the public. Yesterday more than 400 per- sons viewed the display. That fig- ure does not include hundreds of school children who were given time off to visit the show. Languages PRINCESS NINA Children and Adults TEL, 2-3161 (sd) ROBERT E. POLLOCK, “PREDICTIONS OF WM. THINGS TO COME” (Pd. Pol. Advt.) CLAUDE A, GANDOLFO, Tax Assessor. Attest: PAUL C.HEFLIN, © PHONE 2.5881