LA. GRANDE OBSERVER
WEATHER
Ftw mow flurries becoming
irtlcloudy lonlghf and Triors
day; highs M il; lew 11-24.
Wth Issue
64th Year
LA GRANDE, ORE., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1959
8 Pages
Flv Cants
Dangerous Driving
Conditions From
Sudden Snow Fail
Mutorists were warned today to carry chains on all high
ways in Eastern Oregon, with idb and snow making road
conditions hazardous.
The sudden snow fa'l crossed up the weatherman who
had predicted continued cold weather with some spotted
cloud conditions for Kastcrn Oregon.
Packed snow was reported this morning on Highway 30
West frcm La Crande through
U.S. Under
Red Attack
On A-Tests
MOSCOW ilTIi The Soviet
Union accused the United Slates
today of having conducted under
ground nuclear explosions and of
breaking faith with an East-West
moratorimn on underground atom
ic tests.
The accusation came in an edi
torial in Pravda, official news
paper of the Soviet Communist
Party. The editorial did not say
when the alleged underground
tests took place hut it said U.S.
actions "can hardly be considered
an indication of a love of peace."
Washington sources said the
United Slates had not exploded
an atom bomb underground or
elsewhere for 14 months.
Cmvi Talks Wrecked
The Communist newspaper also
accused the United States of hav
. ing wrecked the Geneva nuclear
talks, bogged down for more than
a year, by supplying West Ger
many with atomic a ins.
The editorial, signed by Vladi
mir Zliukov, referred to President
Eisenhower's announcement Tues
day that the United Slates did
not intend to extend the U.S. mor
atorium on nuclear weapon tests.
"Somewhat earlier, the United
States carried out underground
explosions of atomic weapons,"
Pravda said. ,
f Tht tests an be definitely
consider) as 'underground exper
iments against the Geneva 'nu
clear conference on the cessation
of nuclear tests which have been
bogged down for more than a
year due to the faults of the west
ern powers," Pravda said.
"Beautiful Words"
"How can one reconcile the
beautiful words of certain Western
statesmen with such acts as sup
plying the revanchist (revenge
seeking West German Bundes
wehr with nuclear weapons to
which much attention was devoted
by the recent session of the ag
. gressive NATO tloc?" the edito
rial asked.
"One can hardly regard as a
sign of love of peace the fact that
the government of the United
States decided from the first of
January to abandon the moratori
um on nuclear experiments," it
said.
President Eisenhower announced
Tuesday in Augusta, Ga . the
United States would not extend
the formal U.S. mortorium on
nuclear weapons t"sts but promised
they would not be resumed without
advance notice.
o ftp Jo a
NATIONAL FAVORITES Thfse six Oregon boys and
girls were proclaimed national winners in their 4-H
programs at the recent National 4-H Congress at Chi
cago. The five lucky winners of $400 scholarships are,
front row, Edward Burnap, Redmond (left), boys' ag
ricultural program International Harvester award;
Margaret Ann Burk, Vale, beef E. I. du Pont de Ne
mour. Standing, left to right, Karen Cruickshank, Mc
Minnvil'.e, dairy foods demonstration Carnation Com
pany; Jean Wick. La Grande, alll expense-paid trip to
Chicago, Forest Products; Mark Anderson, Colton, soil
water conservation Firestone Tire and Rubber Com
pany; Neil Heesacker, Forest Grove, tractor National
Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work.
Pendle'on Sno Ml on Highway
way 30 EiM to Baker, and both',
flishway 82 to Enterprise and "
H'ghway 204 a; Elgin wer covered i
with packed snow. Oregon State '.
To ice said. I
Snow Welti mrd j.
Some three inches o.' snow H' '
in the La Granite area during the ,
nisht ith a hlanki t o' snow cover
inr most of the vail y. t
The snow was welcomed by i
farmers and forest oflicials who
have expressed concern over the
lack of snow fall so far this winter.
Insufficient snow in the moun
tains could lead to a serious short
age o.' water during the hot sum
mer months, it was pointed out.
It was the second snow fall of
the season for La Grande. Some
three inches fell Nov. 4. The
weatherman failed to produce
much of a white Christmas but
motorists will have a white New
Year holiday to hamper their
driving.
Power Outage
Electric service to most of Union
County was temporarily interrupt
ed this morning al 8:54. Troubls
on Idaho Power Company's 230.000
volt transmission line caused im
proper operations of relays a the
Bonneville Power Administration
substation at La Grande.
Service was restored at 9:11
a.m. when systems were inter
connected for normal operation,
acording to BPA spokesmen.
Pursuing Crew
Engine After 68-Mile Chase
RICHMOND. Va. UPI Two
Atlantic Coast Line diesel switch
engines slipped out of the ACL
yards here today and chugged
away without their crews, one for
68 miles. . .
The first engine stopped near
the edge of Richmond on a rail
road trestle over the James
River.
The second engine. No. 240 of
the ACL,' clipped along at 25
miles an hour for 68 miles before
a pursuing crew from the rival
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
could stop it near the hamlet of
Strathmore. Va.
There were no injuries pri
mary damage was some torn
yard switches which the two er
rant engines sailed through after
they chugged out of the yards.
An automatic device flashed a
warnrg to the C&O that an un
scheduled train was on its tracks
between Richmond and Strath
more. None was scheduled at the
time, but the C&O alerted all of
its trains to stay off the line.
C&O road foreman J A Nutty
combe and trainmaster J F. Bick
ers Jr., both of Richmond, rushed
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. 7 gtrimi
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'J
SNOW
These two La Grande women" are attempting to get
their car started in an old fashioned way. But the late,
model car responded to the old pushing technique and
LONG WAIT
PAYS OFF
MITO, Japan (UPI) Twcly.
years ago in 1947, Shoio Ntno,
I, was ordtrwi to appr b
ir a summary court en sus
picion of Hwft. Ht was allowed
to return horn. '
In 14f, h. again was called
to tht court t. b. fingerprint
d. Again h. was allowed to
return hem.
In 154, he mad. another ap
pearance before me court en
the theft charge.
Tuesday, the judge and prose
cutor decided that Uene, new
II, was innocent.
Halts Diesel
to intercept No. 240, driving by
automobile until they could board
a C&O switch engine.
Running on parallel tracks,
which border the James River,
the C&O crew planned to drop
behind the ACL runaway on the
same track when it was possible,
then board it from the rear.
But Nuttycomb and Bickers said
they decided to use a long hook
to smash the window of the run
away engine. Then they managed
to pull the throttle and set the
brake with the same hook.
The little engine ground to a
halt.
It was still standing near
Strathmore several hours later
while the ACL tried to determine
how the two engines got away
from its yards here.
Typhoon Harriet Roars
Toward. The Philippines
MANILA UPI' Late-season
typhoon Harriet roared today to
ward the northern .Philippines
with 140-mile-per-hour winds.
The M;."i;a Weather Bureau
said the southern part and east
ern coastal regions of Luzon, the
Philippines' biggest island, wi'l
begin to experience intermittent
rain and sirong winds late this
afternoon.
DISASTER AT ROSEBURG TOP
STORY OF YEAR FOR OREGON
PORTLAND UPI-The Aug. 7
Rosehurg explosion and fire was
Oregon's biggest 1959 news story,
a survey of United Press editors
throughout the state showed to
day. Nearly every editor voting pick
ed the Douglas county disaster as
the top news event. Oregon's Cen
tennial celebration and related
events was second.
The top stories of 1959:
1. Roseburg disaster.
2. Centennial
3. Stubblefield Siamese twins.
4. Discovery of Martin girls'
bodies.
5. Cranberries.
6. Legislature.
7. Portland newspaper strike.
8. Political stumping for 1980
primary.
9. Mt. Hood jet collision and
rescue.
10. Highway and huntinaVficci
dental death tolls.
Roseburg, a city of 12.200, is
still recovering from that August
disaster which claimed 13 lives
and caused an estimated 10 mil
lion dollars in property damage.
The disaster was touched off when
a truck laden with 6 12 tons of
explosives blew up near the heart
of the downtown section. The
M - m4t''A
BRINGS PROBLEMS FOR THIS
Man, Shipwrecked With Chimp
As Mate,
MIAMI IUPH For 40 gruel
ing days, Robert Tomarchin was
shipwrecked on a deserted alol!
125 miles from Pitcairn Islaid
in the South Seas with only a
baby chimpanzee to keep him
company.
Tomarchin and his chimp lived
on fish and bananas during their
stay on the island. He refused
several offers to be rescued be
cause the skippers of passuig
ships would not take his com
panion aboard.
"-Finally, residents of Pitcairn
Island came for him in an open
boat and Tomarchin was rescued
along with his chimpanzee.
That was about i't years ago
Tonfrchin hroMr'K. the chimpjfii-
z'ee back to the United States.
raised him and taught the ani
mal how to say "mama" and
"no."
Star On TV
The chimp grew up to become
"Mr. Moke, ' a television star in
Miami and the center of a con
Busy Day
For Phone
Christmas day was the busiest
in the history of the West Coast
Telephone exchange here, but it
ended on a merry note.
Ed Watts, manger of the local
utility, said that every available
operator worked last Friday,
"midnight to midnight," and that
more than 61 per cent of the
calls placed were completed this
year as compared to the 11)58
Christmas day.
There were almut four timi s as
many calls made here this Christ
mas than during a regular busi
ness day at the exchange. A to
tal of 1.327 Christmas day calls
were' tabulated by Watts.
Difficult Calls
There were two calls of special
interest. Watts noted. One was
truck had been parked near a
warehouse and blew up al'er a
fire of undetermined origin s;irea.l
to the vehicle.
The year was Oregon's 100th
anniversary as a slate. The 2000
mile trip of a modern-day covered
wagon train from Independence,
Mo., to Independence, Ore,
brought r.a'ional publicity to Hie
event. A 100-day exposition and
trade fair was held in Portland.
An Ohio great-grandmother. Mrs.
Emma Gatewood, hiked on foot
all the way to Portland.
Denett and Jeanett Stubblefield,
born at Nyssa. Ore.. Jure 29.
were successfully separated by
surgery In Portland Oct. 10 Just
this month Denett was able to go
home to Parma, Idaho, with her
parents. Jeanett remains in a
Portland hospital.
One of 1958's biggest myste-ies
was at least partially cleared up
May 1 and 4 when the bodies of
Sue and Virginia Martin were
found in the Columbia river. The
girls, their parents, and another
sister, Barbara, vanished Dec. 7
of last year while on an nuting
to gather Christmas trees.
The cranberry furor, touched
off when the government an
nounced that a rhemical used on
1 1 1 i.st'
the women were hack on the road. The Observer photo
P'yphcr gave them a hand when he had taken the pic
lure. (Observer Photo)
Fights To Keep Animal
troversial struggle between To
marchin and the St. Louis Zoo.
The 27-year-old animal trainer
today faced a "chimpnaping"
charge for spiriting Mr. Moke
away from the St. Louis Zoo,
which bought the animal from
Tomarchin.
But Tomarchin, who was reared
as an orphan and said he knows
what it means to be alone, prom
ised an all-out court fight to keep
Mr. Moke from going back to a
cage in the St. Louis Zoo.
Just as determined, St. Louis
Zoo Director Ceorge P. Vierheil
ler said he would do everything
to get the chimpanzee back.
While ttie tugof-war was going
on, Mr. Moke was hidden some
where in Miami and Tomarchin
would not disclose where.
Object of Wide Search
Tomarchin had been the object
of an FBI search since he
slipped into the St. Louis Zoo at
night earlier this month, picked
Mr. Moke out of the ape house
Christmas
Operators
to Columbia, Mo., and the other
to Alt, Colo. Operators were un
able to complete these same calls
a year ago.
Most difficult call this Christ
mas was one to Miami, Fla. This
leng distance call was placed
Christmas Eve and the lines were
cleared on it Christmas day.
There were two requests for
overseas calls To Germany and
Manila. Neither could be com
pletcd in time and were cancel
led on this end. Watts said.
Due to overseas telephone con
gestion, such future calls must be
booked davs in advance, it was
pointed out.
Watt's rlso noted that people
ulacina the calls showed far
more, patience this Christmas
than in years before.
berries had produced cancer in
rats, drew down fifth place. Ore
gon is a leading cranherry pro
ducing sta e and the industry was
hard hit by trie announcement.
The I9..9 legislative session,
which produced an income tax
that was referred lo the people,
drew down sixth place. Just be
hind it was the continuing Port
land newspaper strike which
Ma-ted Nov. 10.
Political stumping for the I960
primary, a collision of two jet
planes over Mt. H'ud Oct. 22 and
the subsequent rescue of the four
airmen involved, and the state's
Irng c accidental death toll on
highways and in the woods round
ed out the top 10.
Other slonrs ranking near the
top included the capture of Rich
ard Allen Hunt who had kidnaped
the Harrisbiirg :ol,ce chief and
wounded the Biownsville police
chief March 24; the dedication of
The Dalles dam with Vice Presi
dent Nixon' attending, a B 52
crash near Burns June 23 which
k.Iled five Boeing employes, the
continuing Mnrse-Neuberger feud,
the Oregon Dunes national sea
shore controversy and the slaying
Oct. 8 of Ronald Kilby, a I ler mis
ton policeman.
3B3)1i
PAIR
and disapeared
He was souiilit ot a Missouri
warrant charging siimid - degree
burglary and Mealing., and also
by the FBI as a lugitive who
crossed state lines. He surren
dered himself to the U.S. marshal
here Tuesday, but kept Mr. Moke
in hiding.
Vast Conspiracy
Ring Against
Castro Smashed
HAVANA i ITU - The nrrest
of 37 Cubans, including a US.
educated sugar planter, has
smashed a vast coiuiMracy
WMiniil the Vovenimorrt of Pre
mier Fidel Castro, it was report-
wt t,wlnv
Army Intelligence agents said
me arresis irusiraiea plans lo
terrorize the nation with a cam
paign of sabotage and murder.
At the same time, the pro-government
newspaixT Co;nb;ile car
ried new reports of an impend
ing invasion, saying that anti
Castro forces armed by the Gua
temalan government are about to
sail for Cuba.
The' VIP Treatment
DETROIT IUPH-New Year's
revelers are going to got the VIP
treatment by Detroit's bus sys
tem. Bus drivers will deposit passen
gers at their doorstep on request
if the passenger lives wilhin two
blocks of the regular route.
FAREWELL AND GOOD LUCK :
Jim Cash, left, receives farewell handshake from Cy Taylor, manager of the local
Montgomery and Ward Co. Cash, who ha s been with the firm for the past 21 years, J
is retiring Thursday. lie has served in a "number of various positions, including as sistant
manager during the war. He received several top 80 pins, awarded in the i
Western region, in connection with his department sales. Cash is active in dvic at- '
fairs, Maronic and Eastern Star lodges, past chairman of the Salvation Army advia- i
ory board and member of Chamber of Commerce. (Observer Photo)
ravage
Takes
n Northeast
PROPERTY DAMAGE HIGH
IN NEW ENGLAND AREA ;
TOSTON iUPI) Nine persons were dead and property
(tamace i xiectleti one million
norVaMir which lashed New England.
Iliimlivils of persons were forced to flee their coastal
homes in Maine and Massachusetts when abnormally high
tides eddied through streets, inundating cellars and yards,
A m'cjihI siirtin abided another I
three iiuhes or more of snow be
lli! :i (he te-ntHt which dumped
up to Hi im lics of snow in north
ern New Fnglaod and ravaged
coastal ureas Tuesday with gale
ulupiied record high tides.
New England was Mteil by
1 1 ,f northern half of a storm
which had raged through the
Midwest and tU-n split in two as
it whirled Fast.
Heavy, wet snow downed pow.
er lines and stalled traffic in cen
tral and northern New England
but it was the higher-than-nor-mal
row moon titles backed by
winds up to 40 miles per hour
which spread havoc along the re
gion's coastline.
Huston, spared heavy snowfall
by temperatures above freezing,
was hit ty Hie highest tides since
lli'il. Breakers battered sea walls
from Maine to Hhode Island and
waves of salt water overspread
wharves, roads and low lying
homes.
Even higher tides were fore
cast today but the weather bu
reau said their impact wuold be
lessened by diminished wind.
The Kcd Cross, Salvation Army,
Civil Defense, police, firemen and
Coast Guard rescued hundreds of
persons stranded in their homes
which were menaced by tides.
Hard-hit were Hever. Hull, Co-
liasset and Scituate in Massachu
setts' and Ogun,ut ant York
Beach in Maine.
Local C Of C
Elects Three
New Directors
Three new members of the
boai d of directors of the La Grande
Chamber of Commerce have been
elected by the general membership
of the organization.
The thr-e new members of the
board will serve three year terms.
Elected were Rily Allen, La
Grande Obseivcr; Carlos Easley.
Eastern Oregon College, and John
Sullivan, U.S. National Bank.
Olficers of the chamber for 1960
will be elected at next Wednes
day'! meeting of the membership
at noon in the Sacajawea Hotel.
II II
Storm
9 Lives
dollars louay irom a savage
Local Police
Officers High j
In Gun Match
i
Two La Grande police of.'icert
finished In the top five of the
Oregon Association of City Police
Officers pistol match for the period
from June to September.
Curtis Culp and Gaylen Searles
finished second and fourth respect
lively in the top-rated competition
in Class 1 for officers w ith average
between 22S and 300. Culp finish
ed only nine points out of firsi
place with a 1070 while Searles
copiled a 1028 for fourth place.
Portland officers, who have dom
inated the event for years, finish
ed first, third and filth.
Qualifications Match
La Grande's two winners were
the only individual performers to
rank in the first five. Only three
of the listing of more than 7S
officers were not members of
police departments in Portland,
Salm and Eugene. The third of
ficer outside the main three was
from Corvallis.-
In addition totatFwtde kontaetl
tlon, the La Grande police depart
ment holds qualification shooting
throughout the year. AU officers
must qualify on the range even
during their probation period, ac
cording to Chief Oliver Reeve.
Humphrey Enters
Presidential Race
WASHINGTON (UPI) Sen.
Hubert H. Humphrey tP-Minn.l
announced formally today that he
is running for the Democratic
presidential nomination. He will
enter primary contests in Wiscon
sin, Oregon, South Dakota, and
the District of Columbia.
Humphrey said he would "like
to -enter other primaries" but is
faced with the problem of "limit
ed" financial resources.