The Key West Citizen Newspaper, July 6, 1954, Page 1

Key West, Florida, has the most equable climate in the country, with an average range of only 14° Fahrenheit THE OUTSTANDING CITIZEN—Jeff Knight holds the trophy which was presented to him by Arthur Sawyer Post, American Legion, as the “Outstanding Citizen” of Key West for the past year. Nor- Kranich, Post Commander, congratulates Knight on his achievement. In the background are ‘Monor Guard members George Conant, U..J. Delgado, Vance Stirrup and Paul Mesa, left to tight—Photo by Spillman. Jeff Knight, Jr., Is Presented Outstanding Citizen Award Efforts In Fight _ Against Polio 664? ‘ ALLot Of Bunk,” Say “Influanee Judges |\Conchs Of Pirate Cave Tale By BILL SPILLMAN Jeff Knight, Jr, was pre- sented the “Outstanding Citizenship Award” Satur- day night at the American Legion Home on Stock Is- land. e An estimated three hun- red people gathered on the grass lawn around the Le- gion Home to hear Norman Kranich, post commander, present the Legion’s annual award to Knight in short but impressive ceremonies with the post’s outstanding Col- or Guard in the immediate background. Legion officials pointed out that Knight had been nominated by at least eleven letters from civic organizations and citizens, Deciding. Factor The major deciding factor in naming him for the award was his direct responsibility for Key West’s obtaining gamma globulin in an attempt to control avd forestall a possible polio epi- demic. As one official put it, “H (Knight) did a terrific job. When Someone turns up with polio, Knight doesn’t sleep until they are on their way to the hospital in Miami.” Knight had also been extreme- ly active in work with children through various civic organiza- tions. Decision Not Easy The official said that the award | decision had not been easy in} ‘vieyyof other deserving people ‘whé “4d been nominated as can- didates for the Legion award. Knight is the sixth person to receive the citizenship award from the American Legion in Key West. The award presentations | were instituted in 1949. Previous | recipients include Edwin F. Trev-} or, Mrs. Wilhelmina Harvey, Earl Dillon, Sheriff John M. Spotts- * wood, and Grace Crosby. The presentation was followed by the Legion’s annual 4th of duly fireworks display. ‘ Power Lawnmowers FOR RENT BY THE HOUR OR DAY POINCIANA SERVICE STATION Commercial Row, Poinciana Place HONE 2-6368 |the sanitary land ‘a Inspection Of Sanitary Land Fills Is Made All Methods, Of Garhage Disposal In Fla. Studied A five-day tour from Key West to Pensacola via Jacksonville to inspect sanitary land fills has just been completed, William W. Warn- er, director and entomologist of the Monroe County Anti-Mosquito Dis- trict, said today. Accompanying Warner were Will- iam Braatz, Monroe County Sdni- tarian, and T. W. Miller, Jr., sani- tary engineer of the Bureau of En- tomology, Florida State Board of Health. Warner said the group made a thorough study and examination of practically all methods of garbage disposal in Florida. Equipment Studied He said they also operated the different types of equipment used in sanitary land fill operations. Ten fills were inspected. By the first of the month, the Key West fill will be in operation, Warner added. The mosquito dis- trict is advertising for bids for equipment today. “The trend in Florida is toward sanitary land fills,” Warner said, “and the open dump is on its way | out.” He added that more progressive | communities are even now chang- ing from the old garb se dump to method of disposing of garbage. Key West Aims Warner said the Key West fill will rank right up at the top, “‘and | our plan is to make it the top.” The Key West fill, he went on, will be unique in that marl will be used as a cover material. While in Jacksonville, Warner said he talked with John A. Mul- rennan, director of the Bureau of Entomology, Florida State Board of Health. Mulrennan, according to Warn- er, congratulated Monroe County and Key West on the progressive- ness the area has shown in be- coming conscious of the control of er disposal of garbage. (Continued on Page Two) Solares Hill Residents Protest “Caves” Sightseers by JIM COBB What is the real story behind the man-made ‘‘caves’’ on. Solares Hill? Local sight-seeing guide Bill Meyers, in an article contributed to The Citizen June 28, advanced the theory that they were possibly built by pirates who ranged the waters surrounding Key West for the purpose of storing their ill-got- ten loot. Meyers wove a tale, spiced with mystery about the “caves” and their origin. That’s when the phone started to ring at The Citizen. Residents of the neighborhood (the Elizabeth-Angela Street area) protested that it was a lot of “bunk.”” Main Complaint Their biggest complaint, how- |ever, is that scores of tourists and amateur historians are tramping through their yards to view the caves which they say are nothing more glamorous than the cellar of the oid D. T. Sweeney Bottling Company. “If there were anything to see other than a big hole in the ground, I could understand it,” said one housewife as she ruefully surveyed a ruined flower bed. Property owners in the area have also expressed the fear that somebody may be injured in the cellar which is more than 10 feet deep and covered with a rotting wooden roof. To contradict reports that the cellar is more than 100 years old, one resident exhibited ledgers and an architects’ specifications indicat- ing the cellar was dug in 1880 by Sweeney. At the time it was built it was the tallest building in Key West due to its huge cupola. First Elevator The city’s first freight elevator | was installed in the building. A well, mentioned in the story as a “mineral spring”, supplied water for the manufacture of lemon soda and sarsparilla, according to pioneer residents of the area. It | was first dug by Mr. Sweeney, as an experiement to see how deep he would have to go to find potable | Water. “It is about 24 feet deep. Oldtimers speculate that the “pirate” legend has sprung up flies and mosquitoes and the prop- | around the old cellar pretty much | G. jlike the poverbial Topsy—it just Mulrennan added that the state’s | growed—with a little help from | Myers Beach $18,000 to go along with the city’s | fun-loving Conchs who like to spin} McMillan Sr., 59, tales. KEY WEST, FLORIDA, TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1954 IN THE U.S.A. Che Kev West Citis SCUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER SIFIED Ads! Youll iyers and sellers— or workers . . just 661 or 25662. PRICE FIVE CENTS County Has No Highwa | Tragedies Louis Eisner Buys Sally Rand’s Land $7,125 Offered As High Bid In Auction Today The Federal government today sold at auction two lots and a house belonging to fan dancer Sally Rand to satisfy an income tax-claim. Sally, noted fan dancer, bought the property as an investment. She once lived here but not in the house which was auctioned. She still owns other property in the city. The government auctioneer, Louis Votto, announced the sale was to satisfy a claim of about $10,000 in unpaid income taxes against “‘one Helen Gould Beck, also known as Sally Rand.” Winning Bid Louis M. J. Eisner, furniture dealer andy former city commis- sioner, was the winning bidder, offering $7,125 for both parcels of land on Palm Avenue near Tru- man. Eisner lives at 913 North Beach Road which adjoins part of the land he bought. The ay | Was on the s the FedeFal Béildingand began at 11 a.m, with Votto tk the Internal Revenue Bureau, Miami, reading a description of the land. Land Bids First ie Bids were called for first on the land without the house on it, a (Continued on Page Two) Florida Lists jteps of FLAG DISPOSAL—The Legion’: of American flags which have ‘s annual ceremony for disposing outlived their usefulness was conducted Saturday night at the Post Home on Stock Island. The container in the foregr¢und was used to burn the flags, Proper procedure for disposing of worn out American ensigns. The Rev. James Statham was speaker at the ceremony.—Phoio by Spillman. Legion Disposes Of Old Flag In‘Annual Burning Ceremony Highway Death 18 Dead Over Long Weekend By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Florida counted 18 dead in the long Fourth of July weekend. Automobile accidents killed 11 while 5 drowned and 2 died of heart attacks while fishing or swimming. . Claude Moore, 4, on a holiday fishing trip with his parents and two brothers, drowned Monday in the Miami River Canal 20 miles northwest of Miami. Vernon Palmer Jr., 2, was crushed beneath the wheels of a car while playing near his home in Montecoma, near Gainesville. The ‘car did not stop and Sheriff Frank Sexton said an abandoned automobile found later in East Gainesville was believed involved. Edward Lee Gill, 38, hotel door- man, — Kenneth L. Anthony, 32, were killed when their car ran off the roadway on MacArthur Cause- way ‘between Miami and Miami Beach. Monday Additi ns These were Monday accidents, added to 14 fatalities recorded Saturday and Sunday in all sec- tions of the state. Automobile deaths included R. R. Worley and his daughter, Jo, 6, at Panama City; Pfc. Francis E. Ritzner, 23, a Marine, at Jackson- ville; Tony Massari, at Tampa; Joyce Dunnington, 17, near Crest- | view; Mrs. Rose Mae Mayo, 21, of | |Samoset; Mrs. Sarah Jane |B. | |Hensley, 46, near Jacksonville; | Cordes B. Brindell, 23, of Orlando, a Navy man killed near Kissim- | mee; and Martha Lee Floyd, 24, | Tampa Negro. | | Mr. and Mrs. Roy King of Miami |drowned near Marathon when | they tried to rescue their daughter Pamea, 5, who was being swept | out to sea on an inner tube. The | child was saved. Kathleen Riddle, 2, drowned in | Lake Cannon near Bartow and Ed- | ward Brophy, an airman from the Palm Beach Air Force Base, drowned at a Negro beach near Jupiter. Frederick J. Comeford, 13, of ary, Ind. had a heart attack while wading in the surf at Fort as did Owen Ray while fishing | jnear Jacksonville, Toll Is Lower Than Expected Other “Mlishaps Boost Holiday Violent Death Figure To 620 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Final figures on accidental deaths showed the July 4th week- end to be far safer and saner} than expected. Traffic fatalities especially were | well below indications, the total of, 348 comparing with the forecast of 430 made by the National Safety Council. These totals were for the | 78-hour period from 6 p.m. Friday | until midnight Monday. Ned H. Dearborn, president of the council, said the comparatively low traffic toll was “spectacular evidence of a trend which has been | apparent all this year. Every | month has shown a decrease in traffic deaths from the same month last year. Encouraging Trend “We are encourzged to believe combined efforts are bringing about better traffic behavior.” The council said its forecast had been compiled in the same way as in the past, based on experience with other holiday tabulations. The all-time high mark for a three-day July 4th weekend was 366 in 1952. The four-day toll of 491 in 1950 was considered more typical, the council said, producing a range in estimates of 420 to 460 which was reduced to a final ca this year of 430. “Had it not been for the em- phasis placed on the drive safely (Continued on Page Two) Dr. Anthony DeNote EYE SPECIALIST, M.D. Will Be Here for Consul- tation—on SATURDAY, JULY 10 FOR APPOINTMENTS, CALL Dr. J. A. Valdes PHONE 2-7821 Rev. Statham Is Special Speaker At Annual Event “Religion and democracy will | stand or fall together,” Rev. | James Statham told some three hundred people gathered to ob- serve the American Legion’s 4th of July flag burning ceremonies at the Legion Home on Stock Island Saturday. Guest speaker Stathum spoke as the flames from the burning en- sign dimly lit the Legion’s atten- tive color guard in solemn rever- ence on the steps outside the Legion Home. | “When democracy loses its re- | | | of government,” Statham said. “Democracy is a priceless heri- tage. We must love it, serve it, and protect it or we will lose it.” “Holy Day” “The 4th of July is not only a holiday for the patriotic individuals but it is a high and holy day for | those who love God as well as their country,” Statham conclud- | | ed, adding, “Religion guarantees democracy.” | Statham is the minister at the | Fleming St. Methodist Church. His (Continuea on Pzge Two) | KEY WEST'S | TRAFFIC BOX SCORE July To Date 274 50 | Accidents Traffic Injuries Traffic Deaths 0 Key Westers are to be con- gratteated for their traffic safety record during the long July 4 weekend. There were no serious ac- cidents within the city limits, Significant in the figures compiled by Charles R. But- ler of the city’s public service Department, is the fact that there was not a single drunk- en driver involved in the five minor accidents reported since Friday. i Perhaps Key Westers have learned that “Alcohol Accen- tuates Accidents.” As one member of the po- lice department said today: “Drivers are safer when the roads are dry; roads are much safer when the driver is dry.” ligious and moral support, it will] give way to a non-democratie type | Drowning Of Co Key Is Only Hol There was one minor City To Act On Trailer Ordinance Carbonell Asks Bill Prohibiting Any More Courts The city commission will consid- er an ordinance tonight prohibiting the establishment of any more trailer parks within the city limits. They are scheduled to hold their first regular meeting of the month: at 8 p.m. in the city hall. Sponsored by Commissioner Louis Carbonell, the trailer ord- inance comes in the wake of a pro- tracted controversey over a re- quest by a local man that the eity grant him - permissioa to start « trailer park near the waterfront. Request Refused The commission failed to ap- prove his request at their meeting last week, prompting attorney Robert Youmans to claim that the man is deprived of his property and constitutional rights. Carbonell announced at that time that the commission had gene on establishment of any more trailer 1s within the city limits and indicated that he would introduce the ordinance to be considered to- night. The measure states that, dating from the time it is passed on sec- ond reading, the establishment of trailer parks or camps will be pro- hibited in Key West. Provision In Bill The ordinance provides that it does not apply to those trailer courts which are already establish- ed. Carbonell added today that he will ask for an amendment to the ordinance, a provision to prohibit the practice of parking trailers on vacant lots in the city without the Permission of the city commission. | Carbonell said that he beleives that the practice of parking trail- ers in the city should be ended. He pointed out that a serious fire broke out last week in such a trailer on Grinnell Street. Expansion Asked For Park Program Facilities Here Jack Delaney, city commission- |er, said today that he is proposing |to the commissioners tonight at the | scheduled meeting that they have an additional cement slab poured along side the present basket ball | | Iculation for Property Damage $1,665 $70,801 Crt in Bayview Park. | The item should be added to the | budget in an effort to immediately jincrease the size of the present basketball court for the benefit of | skating and dance activities of the | |park program, Delaney siad. The additional slab could be poured so as not to remove any} |trees in the park. | Delaney said that he is taking |the action in view of the huge suc- cess that is shown in the dance and skating programs. Commissioners Paul (Blondie) Roberts and Louis Carbonell have both voiced favor of the plan. The skating and dancing pro- grams are two of the very few public programs that offer enter- tainment for girls as weil as boys, Delaney said. In the past practic- ally all emphasis has been placed on activities for boys alone. record as being opposed to the! n Weeken uple At Long iday Fatality By DENIS SNEIGR U. S. 1 in Monroe County was just about the safest major highway in the country over the weekend, a check with the sheriff’s office showed today. fender scraping eight miles south of Marathon. No one was injured and the properiy damage was slight. However, the drowni the parents of a five-ycxr- old girl at Long Key Bridge on Sunday marred what otherwise would have been a perfect weekend from the county’s safety standpoint. Motorists could thank the sherif- f's department and the State High- way Patrol for helping make U. S. 1 safe. Credit Te Motorists But, a spokesman at the sheriff's office gave the motorists them- ; Selves the credit for a death-free weekend on the roads in this coun- “On behalf of the sheriff's office and the State Highway Patro!,” the spokesman said, “‘we want to express our ‘appreciation of the |drivers. That the weekend was \free of any serious accident, we feel, was due to attitude of the drivers.” The sheriff's department had four vehicles Patroling U. S. 1 in this county and the highway Patrol two ears. There were very few arrests— one for driving while intoxicated and one for being drunk. The drunk was taken from his parked car before he could drive it. A summons was issued in the fender scraping south of Marathon, Drewning Sunday ‘The double drowning, according to the sheriff's department, happened at 9:40 a.m. Sunday . Roy King, 35, and his wife Verla, 32, both of Miami, died while their five-year-old daughter, Pamela, — ta safety on a plastic inner- tu The sheriff's department said the three Kings were in a skiff about 300 yards off the south end of Long Key Bridge. This is on the side of the bridge. The water there is about waist deep. The department said they got two stories—one that all the Kings got in the water to swim or that the child started to drift away and the parents got in the water to aid her. Child Drifts Away At any rate, the child started to drift away with the tide and her mother went for her. The mother couldn't swim well, according to the sheriff's depart- ment, and the father also went to help. As the child drifted safely on her innertube, the parents were caught in the tide and thrown against the concrete piers of the bridge. Pamela drifted safely under the bridge. Mrs. King was pulled from the water by Herman Frisch of Miami. The father was pulled to shore by (Continued on Page Two) Man Injured In Fall From Seawall A man identified as Clifford R. Buckley, of Atlanta, Georgia, suf- fered a broken leg early yesterday when he fell from a seawall on South Roosevelt Boulevard. Patrolman Edv;ard Ramirez, said that when he reached the scene, he found Buckley in the water, un- able to pull himself to his feet. He told Ramirez that he had been walking along the wall when he slipped and fell. Buckler, a guest at the Key Wester Hotel, was taken to Monroe General Hospital for treatment. HOUSES SMILE when Painted with BEST PAINT SOLD from STRUNK LUMBER 120 SIMONTON, near Midget Bes