LA GRANDE OBSERVER
259th Issue 63rd Year
LA GRANDE, OREGON, TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1959
Price 5 Cent
MORE WATER! Jim Veal yells for more pressure yesterday while fighting the fire
in Deal canyon. Veal was one of the volunteers that helped regular state forestry per
sonnel during the blaze. Fifteen men were used to quench the flames (Observer)
Deal Canyon
Slash Burning
Brings Crew
Flames roared through the
slash and brush of Deal canyon
yesterday when wind caught a
fire and pushed it through the
underbrush, rillcen men and
three trucks bounced and jolted
up the nil ted read to the canyon )
to fight the fire.
The fire was confined to about
2 14 acres according to forestry
officials, not all of which was
burned. -Three fingers of flame
jutted from the northeast end of
the fire , to -hamper crews.-
The fire ran parallel to the
mad and up the steep slopes of
the canyon almost to the top.
The underbrush around the fire
area was tangled and thick furth
. cr hindering the efforts of fire
fighters.
The fire was first reported, ac
cording to E. W. Paterscn, fores
try inspector, about 1:15. Later,
W. E. Curtis, district warden, said
the first calls came into his of
lice about 1:45.
Curtis and three men were at
the forestry, department in La
Grande preparing to leave for the
fire school at Clark's Creek
when the call came into the of
fice. One truck and crew were
summoned from the Clark's Creek
cpmp by radio to help fight the
fire.
; The fire began, according to
Curtis, after a burning permit
, v.as issued to Lawson Webster,
Rte. 1, La Grande, to burn slash
in the canyon. .'
The fire was never out of con
trol and was at all time confin
ed to the permit area. The reason
for the fire's spread, according to
Curtis, was the failure to take
proper precautionary measures.
"It's just thoughtlessness on
people's part to try to get
away without building a fire trail
sround the fire," Curtis said.
Although the fire never got out
ot control Curtis was worried
fchout the wind. Curtis said, "If
the wind had got to it, it would
have pushed it over the mountain
and we would have lost it."
Palcrson had much the same
to say. "Lucky the wind died
uiwii or uiu lire wuuia nave Deen
over the mountain," he stated.
What wind there was helped to
push the fire through the green
undergrowth and there was
enough dry stuff around to let it
1,,,,-n
All that burned was slash, ac- j
cost involved was that of putting
cut the fire. !
Woman Is Injured
In Car Accident
A two car accident involving
la Grande residents occurred
three miles west of the city yes
terday on "highway 30.
A car driven by John K. Fol
som, 1104 11th St. sideswiped the
CESthnuni; sedan driven by Char
les F. Scot, Orchard Trailer Court.
Folsom, according to slate po
lice, came around a car and over
the crest of a hill behind a slow
moving vehicle.. He stepped on
the brakes and swerved to left,
hitting the Scott car.
Mrs. Alberta Scott was taken to
the Grande Ronde hospital and
treated for minor injuries.
Folsom was cited for violation
of the basic rule.
1 JJfcr
rf Iff Vl'
'-'
.5i . it?
JUST TO BE SURE W. M. Curtis, District Warden for
the State Forestry department in northeast Oregon
slashes at coals during yesterday's fire in Deal canyon.
Curtis was in charge of operations at the fire.
(Observer Photo)
IV -
u. ,
'
Wm
. irl
JOB WELL DONE Warden Curtis takes one last look
around before he signals that the fire is out. Curtis
was making plans to attend the fire school at Clark's
Creek when the fire in Deal canyon broke out yester
day. . ' (Observer Photo)
vxwH ipprr-
ft
1
1 "4- -ro.,
PLENTY FOR
THE SHERIFF
SAN DIEGO, Calif. UPI
Willi Frank Reuben, 22, an
unemployed and apparently
homeless laborer, walkad In
to tha sheriff's office, hand
ad ovar fiva mari juana clg
rats and askad: "Is this,
enough to put me in jail? ' It
Vanguard
Satellite
Is Failure
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (UPI)
A Vanguard satellite might have
been gathering weather data from
an orbit around the earth today
if a single part in its carrier
rocket had not failed.
The dark skies over this vas
missile launching center opened
just in time for the three-stage
Vanguard rocket to blast off Mon
day afternoon. -
As in seven previous satellite
launching attempts, however, luck
did not ride with the Vanguard.
It was the tenth fired in a 100-million-dollar
project. '
After a good performance of the
rocket's first stage, a compression
regulator in the second stage
failed. Informed sources said the
upper sections of the rocket car
rying the satellite then blew to
bits.
If it had orbited, the latest
Vanguard moonlct would have
made 12 passes around the earth
every day and would have beeped
back information on how heat in
the atmosphere causes the earth's
weather.
At first the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA)
in charge of the Vanguard proj
ect, thought all three stages of
me rocKct urea and put out a
statement saying so.
But two and one half hours la
ter, NASA issued another an
nouncemcnt saying the satellite
"is presumed not to be in orbit.
Then reliable sources told of the
second stage failure, which shat
tered the hopes of the Vanguards
men who have seen only two of
Farm Bureau
Sets Meeting
For June 25
The final plan of the Evaluation
Expansion committee of the Ore
gon Farm Bureau will be pre
sented to the Union County Farm
Bureau members on Thursday,
June 25. Gene Stockhotf, commit
tee member and president of the
I nnnfv Farm Rurnnn onnn,,nl
j the meeting to take place at the
i La uranac center nail in Island
City.
The Evaluation-Expansion com
mittee has had the opportunity to
study outstanding Farm Bureau
plans in various states and have
derived a plan which, in their
opinion, Will enable the Farm
Bureau to continue to be an ag
gressive and effective organiza
tion representing agriculture in
Oregon.
Due to the rapid change in agri
culture, government policy nd
business, the committee feels an
expanded program in the Oregon
Farm Bureau is essential if farm
ers are to have a business-like
organization ready to cope with
complex problems.
In order to meet these problems
the expansion program calls for
training of more local leadership,
broadening information to the
membership, more research on
marketing and agricultural inte
gration and to take more interest
and actively participate in legis
lative matters at the local, state
and national levels.
Mr. Stockhoff says to enable
Farm Bureau in Oregon to grow
and adequately serve the farmers
and ranchers of Oregon we must
continue to broaden our program.
increase our membership and
have adequate, qualified person
nel to assist in the administration
of these functions.
The meeting is set for 8:00 p.m.
with all Farm Bureau members
and Interested persons in Union
County encouraged to attend and
participate.
By the membership attending
and expressing their views in re
gard to an expanded program,
the county board will be better
qualified to instruct the voting
delegate. Stockhoff stated. A
special meeting has been called
for August when the voting dele
gates will convene and either ac
cept or reject the proposed plan.
If the membership rules in favor
of the program it will be put in
effect for the lSfifl membership
year.
Federal
Rioting Mental Patients
FIRE MAP Here Charles Nelson, city fireman, makes
a map of the fire hydrants in La Grande. The map will
bo used by the city fire department in conjunction with '
the fire school to be conducted here next week.
(Observer Photo)
Firemen Making plans
For La Grande School
By NEIL ANDERSEN
Obtrvr Staff Writer
The firemen's school got on its
feet yesterday and took a few
steps. An organizational meeting
was held at 8 a.m. with regular
(paid), Fire Chief Ray Snider and
Fred Young, city manager, in at
tendance. Individuals and committees were
appointed to select appropriate
courses of study for the school.
The men will meet with the city
manager later in the week for the
final selection of the curriculum.
Actual classes "could probably
get underway next week." accor
ding to the city manager.
Assistant chief Earl Edwards
Circuit Judge
Says
s Woman Is
Still Patient
GRANTS PASS lUPD Circuit
Cou't Judge Edward Kelly, in an
opinion filed with the Josephine
county clerk Monday, said he con
siders Mrs. Frances Irene Mc
Curdy still under commitment to
the Oregon Slate Hospital in Sa
lem. The opinion, in effect, says
she cannot be indicted for the 1!I48
slayings of her two children.
Judge Kelly said that further
proceedings anainst her, cilher
under the original indictment, "or
any purported subsequent indict
ments" cannot be undertaken
without a report from the "prop
er officer of the Oregon Slate Hos
pital." He said the defendant is unable
to understand I lie proceedings and
assist in her own defense.
Mrs. McCurdy was indicled by
a grand jury Sept. 10, 1948, for
the murder of her son, Paul Ber
nard, and commifed to the mental
institution without a trial.
' A second indictment, for the
slaying of her daughter Pamela
Rose, was filed May 27 of tins
year.
Her lawyer filed a motion to set
aside the first Indictment, Judge
Kelly said thai in view of the
standing hospital commitment he
was construing this request as a
motion to quush the indictment
and said he would comply with
the request on that basis. That
motion voids the second indict
ment. The 1948 indictment still
stands, however, if she is re
leased from the Institution's com
mitment.
In the first case, 11 years ago,
tha court ordered that she was to
be returned to the jurisdiction of
the court when her mental condi
tion permits her to assist in her
own defense.
Off
was placed in charge of the read
ing material and paper work in
connection with the classes to be
held.
Instruction in the use of the
physical equipment and plant plus
its maintenance was charged to
assistant chief Don Ewen. Includ
ed in this phase of the instruction
will bo such items as hydrant lo
cation.
One of the items that came up
for consideration in the meeting
was the establishment of a com
prehensive record keeping sys
tem to show progress and achiev
ment during the course of the
school. The man who gets this
position will bo selected from the
department on the basis of tests
to be administered. The tests will
determine who is best qualified
on the basis of ability and appti
tudc. A building committee, to be
headed by WiJIard Rudd, was se
lected to study problems of up
keep at the station and to study
possibility of making better use
of available space in the build
ing. Rudd will be assisted by two
men of his selection.
According to Young the firemen
are tired of "going through the
first grade over and over again."
This course of instruction will
give them opportunity for advan
cement while directly improving
thrir, capacity to serve the city.
Young says there is a "world of
material available for the firemen
to adapt to the course and most
of it Is free." "What isn't we'll
buy," Young concluded.
TELEVISION ADDRESS TONIGHT
No Dramatic New
Are Expected From Herter
WASHINGTON (UPI) - Secre
tary of State Christian A. Herter
will tell the American public to
night that the West still is willing
to negotiate with Russia on the
German question, but won't be
blackmailed into giving up its
right to remain in West Berlin.
State Department sources said
the nationally televised speech
will find Herter striking a hope
ful but realistic stance in his re
port on the Geneva foreign min
isters meeting. He also likely will
give his views on the prospects
for success when the conference
resumes July 13 after a three-
icers
FIVE HOSTAGE GUARDS
SAVED FROM CONVICTS ;
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (UPI) A 16 hour riot by 106 men
tally disturbed patients at the U. S. Prison here was broken
today by federal officers using tear gas, a bulldozer and cut-'
ting torches. The five hostages were released.
Two of the five guards who had been held since rioting
erupted at 11:55 p.m. (edt) Monday night received "severe
lacerations." The Dther three were not believed to be in
jured.
All five were taken to the cen
ter dispensary for treatment and
examination.
The attack was four pronged.
Federal officers with cutting
torches worked from corridors in
the 10 north buildings while an
other group set down a tear gas
barrage, followed by the bulldoz
er, which rammed a large steel
door at the northwest corner.
The bulldozer attack was in
tended to be diversionary, but all
broke into the section about the
same time.
One assault afficcr was injured.
Several inmates resisted at first,
but most seemed disinterested,
officers said, and did not partici
pate. Some of the inmates were re
ported to have received minor in
juries In being subdued.
Authorities at first thought as
many as 115 men might b? in
volved, but finally put the number
at 106.
The rebelling convicts made two
calls for food today, but were
turned down both times by War
den Settle.
DamandaJ Feod
In the second call, one of the
hostage guards, William Fitch,
was placed on the phono and al
lowed to tell the authorities that
the five guards had not been
harmed.
. At 6:30 a.m. the rioters bois
tcriously demanded that food and
coffee for all bo sent in lmmed
; lately. Settle made Mi reply and
sent no food..
At 6:30 they asked that break
fast be sent In for the guards.
Again no compliance by Settle.
Just as they had done Monday
night, ; the convicts again in the
second call today promised to
write out their demands or terms
of capitulation. But they were not
forthcoming.
The men were cut off from food,
electric power and the outside
world In the "north 10 wing'', of
the sprawling mental hospital.
Prisan Caunty Club
It is known as the "country
club of the federal prison system"
because of Its comparative "pam
pering" of convict patients and
because of its beautiful grounds
which today were dotted by stra
tegically located armed guards.
There were thrco rings of road
blocks on each of the four roads
into the grounds.
On the inside, guards armed
with riot and tear gas guns stood
20 feet apart to prevent a possible
break.
Settle said the 106 rioters were
considered the most dangerous
group of the some 1,000 inmates
at the center. He described the
rebels as "homosexuals and neu-ro-psychotics."
A guard who witnessed the riot
develop said the inmates quickly
Btrlppod the five guards to their
shorts, with somo of them don
ning the guards' uniforms.
WEATHER
Generally fair with variable
clouds through Wednesday;
high Wednesday 78-83; low
tonight 45-50.
week "cooling off" recess.
Herter will appear on NBC and
CBS television and all the major
radio networks from 9 to 9:15
p.m., e.d.t. His speech will be
filmed by ABC television for use
at 10:30 p.m., e.d.t.
Congressional Appearances
Hertcr's 15-minute address to
the nation was preceded by ap
pearances behind closed doors be
fore the House Foreign Affairs
Committee this morning and the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee in the afternoon.
No dramatic new proposals
were anticipated in Herter's talk
Quell
Wildcat
Strikes
Hit Steel
NEW YORK (UPI) -Steel con
tract negotiations resume here to
day in the face of wildcat strikes
at three steel producers a week
before the current stcelworkers
contract expires.
The four man industry and
union teams which have been
bargaining without progress since
May S were scheduled to gd into
session at 2 p.m. e.d.t.
Strikes broke out today in three
cities idling more than 13,000
men. The Pittsburgh works of
Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., the
nation's fourth ranking producer)
was shut down.
Jones & Laughlin began banking
furnaces preparing to close its
Pittsburgh works, and a company .'
spokesman said the two plants;
were "virtually shut down."
Two other early-bird strikes hit
the Industry. About l.noo steel
workers walked out at the United
Engineering and Foundry Co.
plant in . Vandergift, near Pitts
burgh, and a Republic Steel Corp.
mill in Cleveland was shut down
by a wildcat strike today.X
Joseph F. Finnegan, chief of
the Federal Mediation-1 Service1,
met with industry negotiators hi
Washington Monday but said ho
had no plans to intervene in ne
gotiations before the strike dead
line unless his services are re
quested. He said both parties had
indicated that they prefer to bar
gain down to the wire without
mediation. ' -
Cooper Spurns Proposal
R. Conrad Cooper, executive
vice president of United States
Steel Corp., and head of the four
man industry bargaining team,
Monday scotched a "non-inflationary"
wage compromise which
was reported to have been sug
gested to both sides by govern
ment officials. '
Cooper said it had not been
suggested to him. But he said he
didn't think the proposal as re
ported to put most of any
money settlement into supplemen
tary benefits rather than immedi
ate wage increase was any
less inflationary than a direct
pressure on costs." 4
Union President David J. Mc
Donald also denied that such a
proposal had been made to hlin
in Washington, and indicated he
didn't think any more of it than
did Cooper.
Na Plan Suggested
Cooper said the union had not
yet presented "a specific proposal
as a basis for settlement."
The industry entered negotia
tions with a proposal that alt
wages and prices be frozen for
one year as an anti-inflation
move.
The suggestion was flatly re- '
jeeted by the union. McDonald
said the industry's profits were
high enough to grant a wage in
crease without a price increase.
Pr
tonight. The Western ministers a
ready were reported united In the
belief they had given as much
ground as they should in negotir
ating with the Soviets on the Ger
man question. u
Herter was prepared to tell the
nation that the West has tried tp
present the Soviets wih reasonai
ble proposals for solving the proa
lems of a German peace treaty
and Western rights In Berlin.
His speech will point out thai:
Soviet refusal to accept the West,
em proposals as a basis for' dit
cussion brought negotiations to a
halt after six weeks.
oposals