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About La Grande observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1959-1968 | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1959)
. - . :.. LA GRANDE OBSERVER 258th Issue 63rd Year LA GRANDE, OREGON MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1959 Pries 5 Cents " : .J f ,. 1 V 1 - 3 PRACTICING Baritone, John DeMerchant along with his accompanist, Mrs. Irma Puis rehearse for his forth coming concert Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. in the LDS tabernacle DeMerchant will also be in La Grande to direct the production of "Ten Thousand Miles!", July 10, in the High School auditorium. John De Merchant Presents Concert Here On Wednesday BY VIRGINIA ANDERSON Observer Staff Writer Taking time out from his New York studio, ' John ' DeMerchant, will appear Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the LDS Tabernacle to present a recital. Merchant was, a visitor in Xa Grande during sevcril sum mers when he directed the pro duction of the "Lowland Sea," and "Down in the Valley." Attending Hie ', University of WnshinRlon, De Merchant majored in music composition and sang in the college glctf,club there... He has toured in concerts and opera in both the United States and Life Sentences Meted Youths TALLAHASSEE.' Fla.. UP1 Four white youths convicted of the r.'ipe oi a Negro college co-ea were sentenced today to life im prisonment. The youths, ranging in age from IK to 23, were convicted of taking Hie girl from her Negro date on the night of her college spring formal .dance and raping her sev en times. The jury recommended mercy, without which the judge would have been required to give them the death penalty. Under terms of the life impris onment Stature, "the imprisoned men could apply for parole as early as six months after sentence begins. But in such cases it is ex tremely rare for any consideration to be given the request in under ten years. Circuit Judge W. May Walker pronounced sentence at :44.a.m. '?' and the youths were immediately whisked off to the state prison at Raiford. . . They arc Patrick Scarborough, 2!, Willon T. Coilinsworlh, 23, 01 lic Stoutamiie, 1G, and David Heaglos, in. Boy Scout Dies. In Avalanche; ; Companions Hurt PORTLAND (UPll A 15-year-old Explorer Scout was fatally in jured and four 'companions were hurl Saturday when an avalanche of slushy snow knocked them into a 25-rool crevasse near the sum mit of Ml. Hood. De;id was David Draix-r, Van couver, Wash. Others hit by the s'iow were two a'lults, Edward W. Smith, Oregon City, aid Don l'erger, Cornelius, and Explorer Seoul s liill Hulling, Hi. and Tom McCuuc, II. holh of Vancouver. Smith was treated for multiple bruises and shock at SI. Vincent hospital here and was to be re leased today, according to attend ants. McCuno was released Sun u; from a Vancouver hospital and Hulling was treated at the hospital late Saturday as an out patient. Bcrger was not hospital ized. The group was rescued by the Mountain Rescue Council and members of their own party of, 40 climbers. , j South America; but for the past three to five years, aside from 20 25 major oratorio and concert appearances, he has concentrated more specifically on his New York studio. De Merchant works with professional singers and his stu dents have toured both in America and Europe. ,';' His concert program Wednesday night will include "Songs and Dances of Death" by Moussorgsky. This number will be done in a new translation which was written by Marion Farquhar, Significantly, this work was formerly almost im possible to do because of the dif ficulties encountered in translat ing it from the original Russian. Another selection from the pro gram is a rarely done song cycle entitled,. "Eliland" by A. Von Fielitz. ,The theme of the work takes place near a remote lake in the German Alps, and is the story of a count's daughter who becom-s a nun. A monk, who sees the young nun,' falls In love with her and writes love songs to her. De Merchant 'will direct the pro duction of "Ten Thousand Miles!" here July 10. The opera, which he wrote himself in connection with the centennial is the first work of this kind the singer has ever written. Following the 'completion of his production here, De Merchant plans to vacation in Maine before returning to his studio in New York this fall. , ; .. . Car-Truck Crash At Intersection A 1956 pickup driven by a La Grande resident collided with a sedan at the intcrcction of fourth and Washington " ' late' Saturday' afternoon. Ernest Thickstun, Orchard Trailer court, 2208 Adams, Ave., was traveling west on Washing- Ion when he stopped for a sign. He started lo lurn north onto Fourth and ran '. into the right rear fender of -a car driven by Edith Bernico Snyder, Colvillc, Wash.,, police said . Damage to. Mrs. . Snyder's- car was estimated by police at $75. The estimated damage , to the pickup was $25. Firemen Answer House Fire Call ; City firemen were called to put oul a fire in a davenport at 1012 Adams Ave., Saturday morning. Kiglcrn firemen answered the 5 rf.m. summons lo Ihc residence of K. A. E'lling. Firemen carried the davennnri down the steps and into the yard where it was doused with water. A ciuarcttc drcnoeri into tho dAvenport and started the blaze according to the fire dpcarmcnt. WEATHER Mnctlv ciinrtv with imlnvin ...vh.,, wui.i.j mill TQI ItfUIC clouds Tuesday; high Tues day 78-83; low tonight 43-48. MARRIED LOVE ON A CITY BUS COVENTRY, England (OPI) City transport officials an. nounctd themselves firmly in favor of married lovt on a city bus. Wherever possible, they said, women bus conductors are assigned to the same bus as their husband bus drivers, because: the driver is more careful when his wife is watch ing; the conductor is happier with her husband around, aitd husbands and wives just natur ally work well together. Russians Expre! ss Optimism MOSCOW UPI The Soviet Union is expressing optimism that the East-West foreign ministers will reach agreement next time tney meet ana make possible a conference of heads of state. Moscow Radio reported the for eign ministers oa-rowed three gaps before recessing Friday and said, "therefore it becomes clear that there are good grounds for reaching agreement. The .three points centered around reduction of troops and banning of rocket bases in Berlin, a cut in ' subversive activities there and establishment of an all German group to review the country's future. Diplomatic observers also were attaching new importance to the forthcoming exchange visits of Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Russia's First Deputy Premier Frol R. Kozlov. May Enliven Conference Western' sources said the visits may generate new energy to the reconvened foreign ministcs con ference. Nixon was expected to see Premier Nikita Khrushchev when he comes hero to open an American exhibition; Kozlov was expected to see President Eisen hower .wbciLhe goes, to the ..United States to open a Russian exhibi tion. - Diplomatic observers in Moscow said the Soviet Union had scored major gains at Geneva by gett ing Western leaders to discuss the Berlin issue as a separate item from the German problem as a whole and by getting Communist East Germany seated in the con ference room. The observers said the Russians apparently decided that an East West summit meeting would be held without the Soviet Union pay ing too high a price. The bare bones of negotiations made it un necessary for the Communist leaders to take one-sided action in Berlin. Door Open Khrushchev's speech Friday was regarded here as leaving the door open for continued negotia tion an East-West compromises despite his assertion that contin uation .of the occupation troops in Berlin was unacceptable. Diplomatic observers here be bclieved the Soviet use of the cal endar . was taken too ' literally abroad and that the Western pow ers appeared too prone to use the word "ultimatum" whenever the Russians mentioned a time limit for agreement. ... The observers said it appeared here that the Russians mentioned certain dates just to get negotia tions started and to spark West-1 ern couner-proposals. If v. a v ' rf i'(! ' .. - LAST MINUTE PREPARATION Wilma Cason and Hazel Moore Fill Platter for Banquet Ghost T I o Charred !.-. : ' . ' ' :; 1 '.. FIRE STRIKES GHOST TOWN ,J'"irc fjghting crews pour water on the charred remains of one of the 15 houses which, were gutted by wind-whipped, flames at Eondosa. Saturday afternoon. The fire, was re?i: ported to State Police from Medical Springs shortly before telephone lines melted and fell to the ground. (Observer Photo) 13th Annual Elgin Stampede Gets Underway With Kickoff BY MAXINE NURMI Observer Staff Writer ELGIN (Special) The 13th an nual Elgin Stampede got underway here Saturday night with akick off banquet and dance sponsored by the Stampede Association. Highlight of the evening event was the introduction of the royal court for the 1959 Stampede. Four.' petit young ladies were presented to the large crowd which assembled in the Stampede Hall. They are Miss Ella Mae Denton, Union; Miss Wanda Schaures, La Grande; Miss Jordyce Tameris and Miss Cclia Cololasure, both of Elgin. One of these girls will be chosen queen by the number of tickets sold between now and the Corona tion Ball, set for July 18. At that time the queen will be revealed. mk 1 . i mj 7 cti: . tt t ; Aim w-r own The stampede will bo held July 25 - 26 at the grounds in Elgin. The various chairmen have planned a full schedule of events and cntcr1 tainemnt to fill both days. Special events will include a comedy trampoline act, starring the Lane sisters and Homer. Maurice Beck, Stampcdcrs pre sident, called the meeting to order and gave the welcome address. Following the introduction of the candidates, a quartet of girls danced afolk dance. Two dress ed In centennial dresses and two in old fashioned male attire. The queen ' mother, . Mildred Harwood was introduced. Casey Keefer spoke briefly and introduc ed the press in attendance. Miss Shirley' Miller sang two vocals, . "Suddenly There's a Valley" and "Red River Valley", accompanied at the piano by Mrs. McCall. Beck then introduced the A R.fiYAI, Celia Colclasure, Jordyce Tameris, Ella Mea Denton, Of Pondosa Left Ruins By Flames '- f' r':rV'YrS! ' -: .. . f T L',11 all i . . .(.' .'. . V I .1 f.UY 0 V junior past queen. Miss Arlcnc Wcathcrspoon who spoke to the candidates and gave a brief res ume on the 12 past queens and in troduced the ones in attendance. Ken Lillard sang "Bless This House" and an encore "Irish Lui lahy" accompanied at tho piano by Miss Elizabeth Easlcy. The business session came to a close with announcement by Beck of the ticket sale and a Stamped ers work day, to ready the ground for tho Junior Rodeo. , Co-chairmen for the 1959 Rodeo are Maurice Bock,, Casey Keefer and Larry Follctt. The group was dismissed and went to the Elgin KP hall where tickets were counted out and pic tures taken by various photograph ers. The ticket salo will be held until prior to the Coronation Ball set for July 18 at tho Stampede hall. COURT FOR THE ELGIN OLD LUMBER TOWN RAVAGED BY BLAZE ' By BILL BEBOUT Obeserver Staff Writer s PONDOSA (Special) Fire levelled nearly half of the buildings in this once thriving and prosperous limber coun try town Saturday afternoon. All that remained today was a tew ouudings and smoldering iNow a gosi town, Pondosa miles southeast of La Grande. Flames broke dut in the taiurnay ana witnin an nour nad taken firm hold on about half of tho town's 53 houses, a machine shop and a planer mill. A strong wind from the West tanned the flames which spread from the northeast end of the box factory to the planer mill. From there the wind-whipped blaze gutted dwelling ' houses until brought under control by fire fighters at approximhtnly 5:30 p. m. Lone Pumper A lone water pumper stood guard Sunday afternoon in case fire burst from tho ashes. State Police Sgt. R. C. White, of Bak er, said. The fire was reported by Ned Foy of Medical Springs. As the telephone report was being com pleted, telephone lines bctwocn Medical Springs and Baker melt ed and fell to tho ground, cutting off all communication until State Police arrived on the scene. . Baker fire department and fire fighting crews from the U. S. For est Service and the Bureau of Land Management joined in the fight to contain the - flames throughout tho afternoon. By 5 p m. there were 200 peo ple In, the ghost town and the Salvation, Army had .arrived from Baker to feed them, - , -Saves Belonging! Tho town's only residents, Mr, and Mrs. Henry . Schrock, lost their house in the firo. Schrock is tho night watchman for North west Machinery Co. of Roscburg, which bought most of Pondosa when the town and mill were sold by auction May 5. Schrock managed to load the family belongings into pickup trucks before flames claimed his house which was located 500 feet from whero the firo broke out. i Firo fighters worked in 90-de- grco heat with Big Creek as the only source of water. Sgt. Baker snld that a bulldozer was used to dam tho little creek, which runs through the heart of tho town, to enable tho pumper to get water on the wind-whipped flames. Bakor said that silt in the pumper prevented the firo fight ers from saving moro of the buildings. , . ; ,' . j ; Crew at Work Robert Ridgcway, an employe of the Northwest Machinery Co., was in tho town with a crew of four men when tho fire started. They wore dismantling tho equip mcnt in tho mill buildings. Ridgc way, police reported, had Just re turned from lunch when the fire was discovered. See PONDOSA On Pagt 5 STAMPEDE and Wanda Schaures ruins. is located approximately 38 ' deserted mill town at 2 p.m. Secretary Will Talk To Nation WASHINGTON (UPD Secre tary of State Christian A. Ilertcr announced after an hour-long con ference with President Eisenhow er today that he will. make a tel evision report to the American people Tuesday night on the dead locked Geneva Conference. Ilertcr met with Eisenhower and Undersecretary C. Douglas Dillon at a White House breakfast meeting, lie said his first hand report to Eisenhower was couched "in general terms" and Included an evaluation of "whero we are" in the deadlocked foreign- mini sters negotiations at Geneva. The secretary said he would make a detailed public report by television Tuesday night.' Details of the Hertcr broadcast will be announced later. ' Reporters asked Horler what he thought of prospects for a sum niiLjiicetuig Uiis summer-. Summit Not DiKuued Tho secretary declined to haz ard an estimate, but said a sum mit conference was not discussed with the Russians at all during the Geneva talks. , This was in: line with Eisen hower's repeated , public position that there must be some measur able progress at the foreign min isters' conference as a prelimin ary to any top level meeting of tho major powers. It Was understood that Hertcr gave Eisenhower an expert on-the-scene evaluation of current Russian tactics as reflected in Geneva. 1 j t i Residents Asked To Cut Water Use Residents were reminded not to use water for washing cars and watering lawns today. - - Tho small reservoir south of town is being filled today and water for these' purposes will ' be availablo tomorrow. The cleaning of city reservoirs will bo a yearly project according to Fred Young,' city manager, i. , : ' . , While the reservoir was being cleaned the city also placed tile pipes in the area lo drain a nearby swampy condition. State Sani tary authorities requested the area bo drained before it becomes a sanitation problem. , ; There is no water shortage In the city. Officials merely wanted to Insure an adecjualo water supply in case oi emergencies. Young wanted to "thank pcoplo for their fine cooperation ' in s'ackcnlng off on water usage over the weekend. Shepard Dog Picked Up By City Police Today .' A large, ycitlow ana wnite shep herd dog was picked up by city police in the lfiOO block on E ave. this morning at 4:40. The dog was impounded and no tice posted in accordance with city ordinance No. 1820. . 1 WASHINGTON (UPI)-The Supreme Court today denied hearing to Charles Starkweath er, condemned murderer wha terroriied the midwest year , and a half ago with a Mriee at ' 11 slayings. ' Today's brief order' leaves ' Nebraska Ire to carry out ttw electrocution. : -t ; f CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -(UPD - A Vaguard racket hurled a satellite toward spec' today in the latest of man's efforts to find out how hoot In the atmosphere causes ' the earth weather conditions. Bulletins