Subscribers enjoy higher page view limit, downloads, and exclusive features.
Key West, Florida, has the most equable climate in the country, with an average tange of only 14° Fahrenheit The Key West Citi THE SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER IN THE U.S. Ay KEY WEST, FLORIDA, MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1954 Portion Of $450 May Go For New High School O’Bryant Brings Back Word Of Added Funds For Schools By DENIS SNEIGR Key West may get a new senior high school. Word of this possibility was brought back from Wash- jington by Horace O’Bryant, superintendent of public in- struction. He also said today that Monroe County schools had been granted an additional $200,278 for new school con- _ | struction. Hl This $200,278, he said, is in eddition to the $250,090 which was recently granted by the U. S. Office of Educa- tion for expanding the present high school building. This makes a total of $450,368 which will be spent VOL. LXXV Ne. 235 Ferry To Dock At'| 6 Today Reports Say. Trip To Cuba Was Pleasant PRICE FIVE CENTS | Let's Grow Up — Not Burn Up Editor's Note: The following release was prepared by Harry M. Baker, Fire Chief, Naval Base Consolidated Fire Department, in observance of Fire Prevention Week. October 3-9, The minute or two you take to read this article may some day be responsible for saving your life. This is about fire prevention, because this is Fire Prevention Week If your-child were ill, you'd call a doctor, and if you had an auto accident you'd call the police, but if you saw a “fire hazard” would. you call the fire department to have it corrected? Perhaps you would, but there are many people who would Pass it off as nothing. It’s those “Nothings” that are accounting for the terrible fire losses and deaths:all over the country every day. The National Fire Protection Association has listed the eight! principal fire causes. in the home as: 1.—Careless smoking and handling of matches. 2.—Misuse of electricity, By SUE JONES When the City of Key West docks at the ferry slip at the foot of Du- ‘val Street this evening, it will have completed its first round trip between Key West and Cardenas, Cuba, ; The ship, the first sea-link be- tween Key West and the Island Re- public in more tnan a decade, is acheduled to arrive about 6 p. m. Commission Paul Roberts said this morning that he had received 3.—Defective or overheated heating and cooking equipment. 3 4 —Improper disposal of rubbish. 5.—Careless handling of kerosene, gasoline and other flammable liquids. 6.—Lightning. 1.—Defective or overheated chimneys. 8—Children and matches. Each year 12,000 Americans die needlessly in fire. Do you want to be one of the 12 000 this year? Why not re-read the eight principal fire ‘causes listed, then check to see if there isn’t some- thing that you should do. to protect your family and your home a phone ‘call from State Senator nominee Bill Neblett from Carde- nas, Neblett’s Report Neblett is reported ‘to hi that the trip to Cuba was pleasant” and that only three cas- es of ‘mal de mer’’ occurred. The ferry left Key West at 10 a. m, Saturday and arrived in Car- denas about 8:30 p. m. No reason was given for the de- Jay. in arriving in Cuba and at press.time The Citizen had been unable to verify the report that the trip had been interrupted to assist @-boat in distress near the Cuban ‘coast, x tee Next Trip ene ferry is seheduled to make trip to Cardenas on Tues- mori the Caribbean Ferry ~ System, operators of the ship said the ferry sérvice. : A number of reservations hav already been made for the first regularly scheduled trip, Ferry Start Hailed ‘The inauguration of the auto fer- ty service between Key West and Cuba was hailed by dignitaries who spoke at the ceremonies on Satur- day morning as being an impor- ant factor in. cementing friendship between the United States and La- tin - American nations, “ One hundred and fifty ‘passeng- ers were aboard the ship for its maiden voyage, and officials of the system are already making plans to expand the present sche- Youth Foggy On Slaying NEW YORK (#—A youth, ac- eused of stabbing a 70-year-old practical nurse to death in a sub- way train in Brooklyn, says he didn’t know the woman and doesn’t remember a thing about the slay- ing, police report, The woman, who was planning her retirement after 25 years serv- ice, was killed early yesterday, “It was the most methodical, wilful murder you can imagine,” reported subway motorman John 8. Hough. ‘Hough told police that husky, 19- year-old Everett D. Benson of Brooklyn, who had been drinking, and the murdered woman, Miss Minnie G. Williams, had been rid- ing alone in the first car of the train. The motorman said he looked out of his cab when he heard the ‘woman scream twice just as the frain pulled into a station. The second cry, he said, was dling yell with pain in knew something horrible w. pening.” Hough said he saw Benson “just sitting there her to ees.” When the youth fled from the ear, Hough chased him up to the street level, shouting, “Murder! Police! Stop that man!” Police said Benson collapsed on the sidewalk and Hough called a radio police car. The youth was taken to a to sleep off the effects of police said, and when he awoke, ¢laimed: “J don’t remember a from the time I got on the train at the President Street station un- @_ I woke up here.” Me was charged with homicide. from fire. Don’t put it off, because fire doesn’t wait. Marilyn, Joe Reveal Split HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 4 (#—Mari- lyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio sep- arated ‘today and she plans to file for divorce, her studio announced. “The shapely sereen ¥ San Francisco by judge Jain, 14, 1954, Century-Fox ‘tiid she has consult- od Atty, Jerry Giesler and will file for divoree in California. “Incompatibility resulting from the conflicting demands of their careers is said to be the reason for the breakup,” the studio said. ———_— 64 New Voters ° Register Here Sixty - four additional persons registered to vote here in the Nov- ember elections up to the time the registration office closed Saturday. Sam Pinder, supervisor of regis- tration, said today one voter regis- tered at Marathon. Islamorada and Tavernier have not yet reported. The total number of voters in the county will not be known until la- ter, Pinder said. BREAK-IN REPORTED Burglars broke into the construc- tion office of Johnson and Curry on Falger near Fifth Street and took $18, the sheriff's department _re- Ported today, Cremata Tells Program For Special Week - Fire Prevention Week Proclaimed For Oct. 3-10 up” is this year’s slogan for Fire Prevention Week, it was announced today by Fire Chief Charles €. Cremata. . Key West will join with thou- sands of other communities across the country in observing Fire Pre- vention Week which President Ei- senhower has proclaimed for the week of October 3 - 10. “Our aim during Fire Preven- tion Week,” Chief Cremata stated, “will be to sell everyone on the idea that fire prevention is a life and death matter; that each indi- vidual owes it to himself, to his family and his community to think and act fire-safe every minute of the day the year - around.” Program Here Key West’s Fire Prevention Week program according to the chief, will feature fire inspections, school activities and radio pro grams. Cooperating with the fire depart- ment in this year’s campaign are school authorities and the Key West Safety Council. Fire Prevention Week is the old- est and most widely observed of all special weeks, Chief Cremata said. It traditionally includes the anniversary date of the Great Chi- cago Fire which, on October 9, 1871, took 250 lives and destroyed 17,430 buildings at a direct loss of over $168 million. Wandering Python Returns To Home In Fort Worth Zoo By MARTHA COLE FORT WORTH, Tex. # — Ol’ Pete came back from his wander- ings to find himself a hero. Fort Worth welcomed her long- lost python as if he were a prodi- gal son come home. The welcome wasn’t tarnished even when Pete bit his keeper. Fifteen days Pete had been gone, and then suddenly thére he ap- peared at the Forest Park Zoo yes- terday about 4 a.m. The whole z00 awoke. The elephants .trumpet- ed, the hyena screamed, the cats ared. i Ol Pete Caught ‘ Owner Harry Jackson and night- watchman Ed Baker caught OI Pete with a snake catcher— a loop of rope coming out of a pipe—and put him in his-cage at the 200. ‘As the word spread, people came by the hundreds to see the 18-foot alcohol,| python as if he were a long-lost fri jend. . Pete was caged securely. The tin he had pushed aside to gain }treedom Sept. 18 was replaced by 2x4 boards, nailed and nailed Again, A few hours after Pete’s capture, |Jackson attempted to swab out his mouth with cotton-tipped sticks, and Pete bit him on his right thumb. His thumb was ban- daged and he took tetanus shots. Jackson said Pete had been suf- fering from a “canker mouth” and held his mouth a peculiar way. And that’s how he knew it was! Pete. Recognized By Keeper “TI couldn’t believe at first it was my snake, but when he turned his head and looked at me, I knew! Pete.” | Jackson, 54, and Baker, an erect | gray-haired Negro who is 71,/ caught Pete after a terrific strug-| “Let’s grow up—not burn | Coast Guard Rescues A Pinder, SURVIVORS—Ten persons, including four children, who spent the night on Sand Key boat sank, were none the worse for their experience when they were brought in today by a Coast Guard boat. Some of the survivors are shown on the Coast Guard dock.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don ter their 10 Stranded On Key \Car Stops For “A Quick One” You've heard of someone dropping in a saloon for a quick one? This one was really quick. A man crashed his car into Nebo’s Tavern on Stock Island late Saturday night, knocked a door off its hinges, and then ran away. It’s a hit-and-run ca: oly. ing a saloon,” the sheriff's de- partment said today. The sheriff's office located the owner of the car, John H. Rutt, an enlisted man at the Naval Air Station. However, Rutt refuses to name ‘the driver, the sheriffs sheriff has sar until Rutt can prove ownership. Woman Jumps To Death In N.Y. NEW YORK (#—A 66-year-old of a nava: officer, jumped seven stories to her death early, today before a gasping crowd of 5,000 |near Times Square. The crowd gathered while the | woman perched for half an hour. outside a seventh-floor window of |the Hotel Taft. She plunged and | struck the marquee of the Roxy Theater just as police were getting |@ net.ready to catch her. \apparently was the widow of |Cmdr. Eugene Frieh, who died at sea of a sudden illness in Juiy | 1943. YOSHIDA IN FRANCE CHERBOURG, France —Jap- gle. The snake was found about | anese Premier Shigeru Yoshida ar. 125 feet from his cage, in the dust | rived in Cherbourg today aboard and dry leaves behind a tropical| the liner Queen Elizabeth for an bird cage. It took 55 minutes to | official visit to France. get him back in his cage. Was he scared? Baker said, “Thére’s not a snake alive I’m Jackson said he was pretty sure Pete “had been in the zoo area all the time. “Just a homebody, really?’ re- marked Butch Carroll, a city park policeman. RE - OPENING OF wit: COLUMBIA RESTAURANT SPECIALIZING IN SPANISH- AMERICAN MEALS Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. LSS | woman, believed to be the widow | Police tentatively identified her | as Mrs. Mary Frieh and said she | Key about 4 p.m. yesterday | water. A Coast Guard boat |brought the group to the |Coast Guard base here. None }of the survivors required medical treatment. Those in the party were: Mr. and Mrs, Curly Kimbler and their two sons, Gerald, 12, and Curtis, 10, They live on Stock Is- land. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Williams, 3628 Duck Ave., and their three year-old son, Steve. Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Prescott, 1227 Flagler Ave., and their three - year old son, Paul. Trip Yesterday The party set out from Key West about 12:30 p. m. yesterday in the 27-footer owned by Bill Bell. They anchored the craft about a mile and a half northeast of Sand | Key. | About 3:30 p. m, they noticed that the boat was taking water. They started the engine, started a pump and bailed until they | beached the boat, | Kimbler said water was break- ing over the stern when the boat hit the beach. None of the party could give a reason for the boat suddenly start ing to leak, Waded Ashore The party waded ashore on Sand Key and spent the night in the old light house dwelling there. They had enough food to make a couple of sandwiches for all hands and they also had soft drinks. About 9:30 p. m. yesterday, the Coast Guard received word that the party had not returned. The Coast Guard alerted the Na- vy here and the Coast Guard base at Miami to have search planes out at dawn.- - Meanwhile, E. B. Williams and J. C. Hartley phoned J. R. Law- son in Miami. Store Men Aid William and Hartley are market managers for the two Table Suppiy Stores here. Clarence Williams, one Six Adults, Four Children Are In Good Shape After Night Out Six adults and four children were rescued this morn- | ing after spending the night on Sand Key. | They beached their 27- foot cabin cruiser on Sand after the boat began taking manager of the Flagler Avenue Ta- ble Supply store, Lawson is a Table Supply Co. supervisor, He and S. F. Murphy, of Miami, another supervisor, took off from Miami early today in the company’s twin - engine Beach- craft. The plane was piloted by J. W. Miller and Bill Tinder as co. pilot. Both men are from Jacksonville. the party on Sand Key and noti- fied the Coast Guard. Eee ;Navy Commissions Only Underwater Swimmers’ School The Navy's first and only underwater swimmers’ school was commissioned here today. The school, in Building 107 on the Naval Base, will train offi- cers and men in the use of self- contained underwater breathing apparatus. The students also will receive familiarization training in ord- nance recognition and demoli- tion. The invocation at the com- missioning ceremonies was by Father B. R. Galland, Navy chaplain, Rear Adm. G. C. Towner, commanier of the base, and Lt. R. J. Fay, com- manding officer of the new school, spoke. After the ceremonies, guests inspected the school and its equipment. Lt. Fay formerly was submer- sible operations officer of Un- derwater Demolition Team One at Little Creek. Va. All instructors at the new school are qualified in under- water demolition or explosive ordinance disposal. of the men ip the missing boat, is <--seesss: <esemns About 7 a.m. today they spoted | F Elwood North Electrocuted Early Today Undertaker Is First Of Trio To Go To Chair By WILLIAM L. DINNING RAIFORD W—A. Elwood North died in the electric chair today still maintaining that he did not kill Mrs. Betty Albritton, Central Florida cattlewoman. North, one of three persons ex- ecuted today at State’s prison, was Pronounced dead at 8:41, seyen minutes gfter the switch was Wh, Forty-one witnesses watched the black-hooded executioner send two charges of electricity through the short Lake Wales undertaker. North was the first of the trio to die. The two other men executed were James Henderson and George Bailey, Negroes convicted of the slaying of D. V. Pert, Tallahassee filling station operator in 1953, Maintains Innocence Ten minutes before he was led from his cell 30 paces from the death chamber North told report- ers “I’m ready to go. I’m abso- lutely innocent, God knows it. I know it, and my family knows 5 tad The 37-year-old prisoner, dressed in a dark blue suit which con- trasted with his closely shaven head, walked to the bars of his cell and said “I’m feeling fine.” His almost colorless face showed no emotion. He declined to be photographed. North said his wife in Tampa would have a statement to make later. It was learned later he was sending a letter to her through a Gainesville undertaker who took charge of the body after the execu- tion. “New Evidence” Claimed At Tampa, Jack Bowen, a pri- vate detective who had sought to delay the execution with what he said was “new evidence”, said Mrs. North would have nothing to say today. He said she was “tak- ing it pretty hard. North was led into the death chamber with a guard on each side and prison chaplain A. F. Eggleston read passages from the Bible, including portions of sev- eral Psalms, North looked at the guards without a show of emotion while they strapped him in and Placed the electrode on his right leg and the hood over his head. He said nothing and remained quiet. His hands slightly clinched as the switch was thrown the first time. No Requests He ate no breakfast and made no last minute special requests. So far as could be determined, no relatives were here today. His wife, father, two brothers and a sister in law visited him yester- day. About half an hour before he went to the chair he was visited ‘n his cell by John O. Bennett, a Bar- tow friend and electric appliance dealer. Bennett carried a Bible in his hand. He also witnessed the on school construction in the county in the near future. While the $250,090 is earmarked for expanding the student capacity at the high school, O’Bryant said the $200,273 had not been allotted for any definite project. Survey Results “We have additional time on this,” he said. “We will wait to get the results of the survey on Monroe County school needs.” A survey team from the state office of education in Tallahassee is due here this month to-investigate future schoo: building needs. At present, there are several Pos- sibilities as to how these Federal funds may be spent. O’Bryant said he would like to build a new senior high school in the Salt Pond area and use the pre- sent high school building for the Seventh and eighth grades. , In that event; the high annex would be used as an ele- mentary school. Other ibilitic gfe possibilities are a to Douglass.-School, ing a new elementary school in the Salt Pond area, and remodelling Harris — an@ building an addition ere. “We've ‘got to look ahead and Plan for the next 10 years,” O’Bry- ant said. » The $200,273 grant which O’Bry- ant learned about in Washington last week is part of a request for funds he made in 1952, eae now have been granted .38 per cent of our ” he added, ee While he was in Washington, 0’- Bryant also asked Federal offi- cials about funds for a new pri- mary school in Sigsbee Park. This building would be for first and second graders. Eleme:stary school children living in Sigsbee Park now attend Poinciana School. “They told me it is Possible,” O’Bryant said. “It is not easy but it could be done,” he added. “There is a lot of red tape in- volved,” he went on. Among the conditions to be met, he said, are these: If the people who will use the school live on Federal property, as is the case of Sigsbee Park, then the school should be located on Federal property. Navy Lend This means that the Navy would furnished the land for the school building. Adm. G. C. Towner, com- mander of the Naval Base, hag in- dicated that this could be arrang- ed, O’Bryant said. Then the Navy must join the Monroe County schools in the appli- cation for Federal funds. Should the new school be built in Sigsbee Park, the Navy would fur- nish the land, the Federal govern- ment would furnish the money, and the Monroe County School System would administer and furnish tea- “However,” O’Bryant pointed out, “the cost of a Sigsbee Park school would be deducted from any future Federal allotments for Mon- Toe County schools.” Marethen High t Marathon hed sequested’s hn a a hi school there. ue About 30 high school students from the Marathon area now at- (Continued on Page Two) ee GALVANIZED - BRONZE ALUMINUM and PLASTIC 120 SIMONTON, near Post Office LL f