The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 16, 1954, Page 1

Warmest City In Nation Today Was KEY WEST 59° VOL, LXXV No. 298 THE SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1954 THE Che Kev West Cilisen U.S. A. For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll teach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers . . . Just DIAL 2-5661 or 2-5662 Today PRICE FIVE CENTS queduct Commission Wants Water Line CANINE STAR VACATIONS HERE—Chiquita, a 3-pound Mexi- ean Chihuahua, has arrived to spend the winter in Key West. She was featured in the movie Holiday in Mexico, starring Xavier Cugat and has been credited with popularizing the breed in the United States. She is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Blair, Hollywood, California, The Blairs plan to stay until April. Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. Charming Chiquita Chooses Key West For Vacation Spot By SUE JONES Key West is fast becoming something of a mecca for movie stars — both working and vacationing. The latest star to vacation here is Chiquita, who was! a member of the original cast of “Holiday in Mexico,” Starring Xavier Cugat. She also had a featured part in| “Love Happy,” the Marx Brothers last picture and has made numer- ous TV appearances including a guest spot on Ken Murray’s coast- to-coast show. Chiquita appeared with Gertrude Neisen in the west coast produc- tion of the musical comedy “Every- thing Goes,” and has played on stage with Johnny Johnson. She’s A Lightweight The fact that Chiquita is a 3--| pound chihuahua. and is 8 years old, has nothing <o do with her en- jJoying her winter vacation im Key West. She particularly likes to stroil a- Jong Duval Street with her owner, Joe Blair, former editor and pub- lisher of the “Hollywood Motion Picture Review,” a movie trade | paper, Blair, who sold his business sev- | eral years ago to devote his time} to writing “for fun,’ and Mrs. Blair came to Key West five years ago mostly for the trip across the Ov- erseas highway and returned be-' cause they “fell in love with Key} West.” Since Blair retired, he and his wife and, of course, Chiquita, have traveled extensively through Mexi- co and the United States and have | found ‘‘no place to equal Key West for a winter vacation.” This Is The Best walking distance and Blair said yesterday that he was amazed at} the tremendous improvement in the | city, especially the shopping dis- trict, since they were last in Key West. All this time Chiquita was perch- ed on a desk apparently agreeing with everything that was said. But after a while she got rest- less, and stood on her hind legs beside the telephone. She looked so cute the photographer snapped her picture as she stood there. She didn’t like the flash and turn- ed her back so we could see her smart yellow buckskin jacket, frin- | ged in true Mexican style and co ci | ered with the autographs of her fa- mous fellow thespians. SSE \Ferry Is Booked |'To Its Capacity Any doubt that the Key West- Cuba ferry operation is success- ful was dispelled this morning when company officials said that the “City of Key West” is booked up solid for the balance of the year, The vessel left this morning for Cardenas, Cuba bearing 38 cars and 97 passengers. Offi- cials added that it was neces- sary to turn down eight auto- mobiles because of lack of space, They added that prospective Passengers waited in the office until 11 p.m. Wednesday in the hope that reservations would be cancelled so they could make the trip. More were on hand this morning at 6 a. m. when the office opened. The ship will return to Key West Friday. San NOTICE! All persons holding reserved 1955 Auto Tags must call at the tag office and pay for same on or before January 3, 1955. They like it because nearly | everything is within convenient} NAVY SLATES BLAST The Navy will demolish one end | of a condemned pier tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Naval Station. Demolition of the pier will be | accomplished by personnel of the | Underwater Swimmers School, who will use only one charge of ex- plosive. Failure to do this will result in your losing your reserved numbers, HOWARD E. WILSON, Tax Collector. Investigation Of Fatality Is Under Way Here By DENIS SNEIGR The commanding officer | of the Navy diver who died Tuesday wept silently today as he testified at the investi- gation. Lt. Edward Duckworth, commanding officer of the submarine rescue vessel Pen- guin, was visibly upset as he told of the events immediate- ly preceding the death of Paul M. Sweat, 28-year-old diver first class. Sweat was pulled aboard the the Penquin off Pelican Shoals af- ter a routine dive. A minute later he collapsed and was placed in the recompression chamber aboard the Penguin where he died. The Navy this merning began an investigation into the circumstanc- es surround the death. Visibly Moved When Lt. Duckworth, himself a diver of long experience, told how Sweat went down for his last dive, he leaned back in his chair, stop- ped speaking and wiped his eyes with his handkerchief. Cdr. James M. Hingson, Com- mander Submarine Division 122, told Lt. Duckworth that he was eware of his deep concern and of his feelings. Cdr. Hingson suggested a recess; | but Lt. Duckworth declined andj continued with his testimony. The Penguin was on a diver | training operation Monday and | Tuesday off Pelican Shoals. Lt. Duckworth told of the diving |operations Monday and said that the operation halted at dark that day. | Diving resumed Tuesday morn- ing and then the ship was shifted to a new location because of a change in wind Down at 12:01 “At 12:01 Sweat went down,” Lt. Duckworth testified. “Sweat made | a normal dive as far as we could| ‘determine. He was on the bottom \in 26 minutes. The maximum depth !by the manometer was 265 feet. “Sweat was told to return to the descending line,” Lt. Duckworth went on. “He acknowledged this. | When he reported at the line, he was told to stand by to come up which he also acknowledged. He was then told to come up. “At about 200 feet,” the lieut- enant added ‘‘Sweat was asked if he was on the stage. He answered, no, saying he could see the stage above him. We continued taking | him up. “At about 190 feet,” Lt. Duck-| worth said, Sweat reported that he was not yet on the stage and that his descending line was slack and (Continued on Page Zwo) City Commission Meeting Changed A specal city commision meet- ing set for Wednesday was post- Poned until 5 p. m, Friday. Slated to be discussed at the meeting is a request for the board of directors of the USO for a three year lease on their city - owned building on Whitehead St. and a | proposal to purchase a lot at Sim- onton and Angela Sts. for use an \ off-street parking area. SAFE DRIVING COMMENDED—Honoring S-D Day, employes of Southern Bell Telephone Com- pany received awards yesterday for safe driving in Key West and along the Florida Keys. The certificates represent 101 years of accident-free operation of company vehicles, Navy Lieutenant Weeps As He Tells Probe Group Of Diver's Death Tues. certificates is Deputy Sheriff Jim Wilder, local S-D Day director. dez, 13 years; E. C. Hall, F. Cater, one year, and P, ight years; E. F. McCormick, seven Heiss, plan’ mant®er--Ouiers two years.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. Rietteicnisca ake O: BL “Phauel 14\ years; L. A. Baker, 10 years: E. S. Loos, seven years; J. Rotz, three years, and E. S. Archi Karly Talks Seen With Navy Brass Future Expansion Plans Spark Efforts To Purchase Pipeline By JIM COBB The Florida Keys Aqueduct Commission wants to | buy the multi-million dollar pipeline which supplies the Keys and Key West with water, That information reached The Citizen today when it was learned that talks between the commission and the Navy will be held shortly to discuss the proposal. A Navy spokesman today confirmed the fact that the commission has requested the meeting and said that ear- lier talks had been postponed. The spokesman, who de- | clined to be named, said that Ino actual negotiations have |taken place and that no fig- S-D Day Worker Presenting the Recipients were - R. Menen- W. F. Moyra, 1 ars; T. ’ ——_——ESSSSSSS=S=SSs=zZ Public Is Invited To KWHS Pageant, The high school Christmas pageant begins at 8 o'clock to- night in the high school sta- dium. The pageant — featuring the band, chorus, and dramatic group — is being produced as the school’s Christmas gift to Key West. There is no admission charge. Charges Dismissed After Accidents Involving Police Contrary to popular belief you don’t “ in city court when you have an accident with a police officer. At least two local residents can testify to that fact after they had accidents and all charges against them were dismissed by Judge En- rique Esquinaldo, Jr. The first occurred last week when a car driven by H. A. Bur ton, 647 William St., collided with the police patrol wagon operated by Patrolman Eugene Sanchez. Sanchez immediately issued a summons to himself for reckless driving and another to Burton for reckless driving and speeding. Both | counts were dismissed when the case went to trait. ' The second case resulted from an accident yesterday at Caroline and , Elizabeth St., when a motorcycie operated by Patrolman Lionel Soi- iano struck an automobile driven by Afons Zitter, 1309 Peironia St. Charged with failure to grant the right-of-way, Zitter was cleared in city court later in the day. get the book thrown at you” | By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The nation’s first’ observance of Safe Driving Day appeared to- day have succeeded in cutting the toll of deaths and accidents on the | highways and streets. In the 24-hour period ending at midnight, a survey sbowed, 45 persons lost their lives in traffic mishaps. That number compared with 64 during a Dec. 1 survey made by The Associated Press for comparative purposes. A year ago yesterday, Dec. 16, 60 traffic deaths occurred. In the deaths averaged 97 a day and the average in both 1952 and 1953 was 104 a day. The nation’s major cities, it was jindicated, contributed largely to the reduction in traffic fatalities. Big City Mark Among the 12 biggest cities, only three fatalities were reported, one each in New York, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. None was reported geles, Detroit, Baltimore St. Louis Washington D.C. Boston or San Francisco in any major city in/the six New | England states. | Many other big cities reported no traffic deaths. Neither did 25 | jof the 48 states which observed | the mation’s first mass effort to save lives by safe driving Adm. H. B. Miller (ret.) aires tor of President Eisenhower’s Ac- tion Committee on Traffic Safety, | which sponsored S-D Day, com- mented on the toll: “We thank the millions of Amer. icans who sincerely tried to avoid an accident—and succeeded. If we YOUR DAIRY QUEEN Will Deliver FREE of Charge For Holiday or Birthday Parties! Orders Must Be In One Day In Advance DAIRY Corner of White and United Streets PHONE 2-7510 PHONE 2-2743 Nation’s Traffic Death Toll Is Cut To 45 On S-D Day first 10 months this year traffic | in Chicago, Philadelphia, Los An- | No traffic deaths were reported | can do it on S-D Day, we can do it every day. Outcome Lauded “Naturally, we wish the S-D toll had been lower just as we wish \the traffic toll could be: lower | every day. But we feel the re-| duced toll offers definite proof that | aroused public opinion and con- }certed effort can and will bring about a substantial reduction ia the traffic toll and sooner than we think.” Two states—New Mexico and In- |diana—reported the biggest death | toll, with four killed in each state. | All the fatalities occurred in rural areas. Four persons died in a one- car accident near the Arizona New Mexico -border near Datii, Three deaths were reported in each of the following states: New York, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi and Pennsylvania; two each in California, Kentucky Massachu- setts Ohio, Virginia and Wasbipg- ton; and one each in Georgia, Lou- isiana New Jersey, North Caro- }lina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina Texas Vermont and Wisconsin. | The National Safety Council fig- ures that for each accident in | which someone is killed, there are 35 persons injured and 225 acci- j dents. | SALVATION ARMY IS CLEARING HOUSE FOR BASKETS FOR NEEDY The Salvation Army will again act as a clearing house for ail | Christmas baskets to be given out. All civic clubs, churches and | other organizations who plan to | give baskets to the needy should {contact Lt. Russell, phone 2-6537, | | giving names of each recipient 20 | |that duplication may be avoided | | and the Christmas cheer spread | Weather of Stripping | $50 in city court Wednesday | eoeay Nabbed For S peed | Twenty minutes after Safe Driving Day ended last mid- night, one of the S-D Day workers was arrested for speeding at 85 miles per hour. Chauncey McGahen, a sail- or of the Naval Station, was Picked up by officers while driving north on U.S. 1 just above Perky’s Lodge. McGahen, who is free on bond, worked on the sound truck here yesterday, warning pedestrians to walk safely. Man Guilty Of Assaulting Teenagers Here Shrimpers Handed ure has been discussed for the possible transaction. “They asked for the meet- ing and we just want to lis- ten to what they have to | say,” said the spokesman. He added that approval of such transaction would | have to come from Washing- jton Naval authorities. Expansion Planned The commission is reported to | be interested in buying the water |line so that they ean plan future expansion to provide for the. build- ing boom in the Keys ant Key West. Alonzo Cothron, chairman of the commission also confirmed today the fact that the talks are planned, Asked the reason for the pro- jected transaction, Cothron said | that in the event the commission can buy the line, “we will be in control and we can build anoth- jer line.” | “We want to talk to the Navy and see how much they want,” |Cothron added. No Word From Others ae | Other members of the five man A local man was fined | commission could not be reached for comment. Ernest R, Ramsey, general manager of the }commission is out of the city. The pipeline has heen owned by a 90-Day Sentences In City Court Wed. when he was found guilty of | assault on two teenage boys. | |the Navy since 1952 when they The man, M. W. Woodruff, of! : |purchased it from the commission 2823 Seidenburg Ave., was charged}in a move planned to streamline with striking the youths, who he the operation of the utility. said were loitering near his boat | The water line, completed in, docked on Roosevelt Blvd. | Oct. 1942, was built with the co- Tieuhoss wACIANTa EE Osauaca loperation’ of the Navy and the M | commission. Mario Disgdiertt, said that Wood-! As late as 1941, the only source ruff struck them in the face. The|of water in Key West was from defendant however, said that he | Tainfall. Thousands of cisterns dot- “bumped into them” when he was ted the city and there were fre- running down the dock. | quent water shortages, A warrant hed been obtained a- paddelyi ast cistors gainst Woodruff by John Boan F.2|_ With the start of World War If George Allen Apartments, father of |2"¢ the resultant increase in de- one of the boys. fense activity, action began to Woodruff had been free on $30 | CTYStallize on the construction of a ond: pipe line. The legislature took the first step Other Cases Jin 1941 when they authorized the In other city court cases, two|formation of the Florida Key ys unemployed shrimpers were hand- | Aqueduct Commission, a political ed $250 fines or 90 day jail terms. | subdivision of the State of Florida. One of them, Dewey Gaines, of| Total cost of the project — build- Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was |ing an 18 inch pipeline 130 miles Strunk Rade 120 SIMONTON STREET over a wider area. | ree pe eee ead | Near Weather Bureau found guilty of assault with a dead- ly weapon in connection with an incident in which he tried to force a local man to drive him to Miami at gunpoint. The other Green, molesting in connection with an ‘n- cident involving an eight-year-old | girl. The mother of the girl said that | she returned home early Wednes day morning to find Green with his | arms around her daughter in the | living room of her home. shrimper, Arthur from Florida City to Key West — has amounted to $6,886,208 to date, The Navy bore two-thirds of the cost of construction and the com- (Continued on Page Two) was found guilty of child | | JUST IN! Carload Shipment Christmas Trees Overseas Fruit Mkt. |934 TRUMAN PH. 2-7742 Cifelli’s Italian Restaurant Special For Thursday HOME-MADE FETTUCCINI ALL'UOVE (EGG NOODLES) With Hot Sausage, Salad and Wine $l 65 920 TRUMAN AVENUE ae