Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, January 13, 1950, Image 1

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Medford mail tribune., January 13, 1950, Image 1

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1950)

Page of 16 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (2.6 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Page of 16 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page Textr All Roads From Storm Expected To Strike Valley Some Time Today 'Nasty Weather' Here Foreseen By Bureau State police reported at 2:30 this afternoon that all high way! leading from the Rogue valley were closed or were in the proceit of being cloied. Cloture iigni were being posted, A severe "bliizard" wu raging in the Siskiyou and Greenspringt mountain areas. The closure was being placed In effect on the California side of the Siskiyous and highway 99 between Weed and Redding was closed. Redwood highway was "out" and the Sexton mountain route was to be closed shortly, it was said. Closures were many throughout the state. Traffic at Klamath Falls was at a standstill. The Rogue valley was ring ed by severe snows and the first of the storm was begin ning to strike here as The Mail Tribune went to press at 3 p.m.. delayed for an hour because of lack of power due to a power line at 13th street and Riverside avenue blowing down. A number of trees were blown over in the downtown area. Gusts of wind ranging up to 68 miles an hour were rec orded at the weather bureau, and heavy rain, expected to turn into snow, was flailing the valley. A bone-chilling Canadian cold wave and an Alaskan blizzard pinched Oregon and Washington from the north and west today, and the Medford weather bureau said that the storm was due to strike southern Oregon some time this afternoon. Snow flurries and rain show ers in the Rogue valley during the morning were the first indi cations of what the bureau said will probably be "nasty" weath er late today and tonight. High winds were expected, coupled with wet snow and rain, and colder temperatures tonight will make driving throughout this area hazardous, the bureau warned. By United Press Temperatures in the Pacific northwest plunged below zero in many areas today, as near-hurricane winds beached or swept out to sea a score of small craft. The north Pacific seaboard was blanketed with up to eight inches' of dry; shifting snow within a few hours. Several coastal cities reported the blizzard was the worst in his tory. The frigid front edged slug gishly out of the interior of Brit ish Columbia toward the Colum bia river. At the same time, 85-mile-an-hour winds slammed the region from the west. 'Severest of Winter' Weather officials said "from a standpoint of cold, this will be some of the severest weather of the winter. As far as snowfall is concerned, it may well be the worst of the season." Aberdeen. Wash., and Asto ria, Ore., were lashed by a sting ing wind that dumped up to seven inches of fresh snow in a matter of a few hours. The dry snow piled up into deep drifts, clogging highways in several coastal sections. All schools were closed in Lewis county west of the Cas cades and in Spokane county in eastern Washington. The storm also closed schools in Astoria. Portland. Ore., Jan. 13 U.R) A light but persistent snow storm blew over western Oregon today and the weather bureau said more snow and lower tern . peratures were sweeping inland on the winds of a Pacific blow. Two inches and more of new snow fell on Portland's east side as motorists were going to work this morning while the white blanket extended steadily into the downtown area. The weather bureau said the snow depth in the Portland area was expected to reach about one foot by tonight with the tem perature early Saturday morn ing around 15 degrees. Girls Placed In Tub During House Fire Found Drowned Murray, Utah, Jan. 13 (U.R) Two little sisters drowned in tne bath tub where their panic stricken mother put them when a small fire damaged their home. Coroner Douglas A. Miller said tnriav. Mrs. Kathryn Wratal told Mil ler that the fire broke out in the rug directly under the crib where her daughters, Diane. 10 months, and Linda Ann, three, were asleep. Police Chief Lloyde Deland said the fire apparently was caused by a mislaid cigaret. Placed In Tub In her excitement. Mrs. Wrathal grabbed the children and placed them in the tub which had been filled with water to soak the family wash. Then she dashed to the kit chen and filled a pot with water. Flames and smoke drove her back from the bedroom, how ever, and the water spilled over her thin dress as she ran to a shed off the kitchen and tried to batter her way through com position walls into the bath room. When that failed, she jumped out the shed window, carrying the entire glass with her and 17 Injured Crashes Snow Plow On Mount Hood Road Government CamD. Ore.. Jan 13 (U.R) Seventeen persons were injured today when a Trail ways bus, bound from Portland to Salt Lake City, crashed into the rear end of a snow plow on the Mount Hood highway four miles south of government camp. oiaie ponce said the bus, mov- Co-Defendant Of Bridges Mentioned As Communist San Francisco, Jan. 13 (U.R) J. R. Robertson, co-defendant with CIO longshore leader Harry Bridges, today was mentioned as a communist lor the first time by the 13th government witness at a Friday-the-13th session of the Bridges perjury-conspiracy trial. Robertson has been seated at the defense table with the other two defendants during the first two months of the trial while each prosecution witness failed to identify him with the case. Present at Meetings But today, George H. Wilson, Los Angeles newspaperman and professed ex-communist, told the federal court that he was pres ent at several communist meet ings which were attended by Robertson. He also said he at tended meetings at which Bridges and the third defendant, Henry Schmidt, also were present. Wilson, an employe of the Los Angeles Daily News, was vague about dates in answering the questions of Prosecutor F. Jo seph Donohue, but positive in his statement that he knew the de fendants as communists. Saw Bridges The 48-year-old newspaperman mentioned several communist meetings in 1944 or 1945 at a North Beach (San Francisco) apartment at which he had seen Robertson. He said he joined the party in 1940 or 1941 and stayed in until the spring of 1945. He also recalled a communist meet ing in the Governor hotel some time in 1942 or 1944 at which he saw Bridges. Federal Judge George B. Har ris yesterday denied the defense's fourth motion for a mistrial and cited Defense Attorney Vincent Hallman for misconduct tor tne 40th time. Taff Seen As Easy Victor In Elections Washington, Jan. 13 (U.R) Sen. Robert A. Taft's 1950 poli tical vstock is booming today on the latest news from Ohio. The two democrats generally given the best chance to defeat him in next November's sena torial election are out of the contest. Gov. Frank J. Lausche long since said he would run for gov ernor again this year. Mayor Thomas A. Burke of Cleveland announced yesterday that he was not a candidate for the senate. With those two democratic threats out of the way. many nolitical observers here and in Ohio believe Taft will win easily. Chairman William M. Boyle Jr., of the democratic national committee, however, was report ed to President Truman that Ohio democrats will elect a sena tor this year. Mr. Truman told his news conference yesterday he was glad to hear that. But neither Boyle nor the president has indicated who the democra tic candidate may be. FIREMEN CALLED Firemen were called out three times in the midst of stormy weather early this afternoon. The first call was to Lincoln and West Main streets where a flue fire was reported. A second flue fire at 225 Cottage street was reported about 30 minutes later, at 1:45 p.m., and a third crew was sent to check on a power line blown down at the rear of the Central motel. tearing off her bedroom slippers. Running barefoot through six inches of snow and with her dress freezing to her body, Mrs. Wrathal ran to a neighbor's home and screamed: "The house is on fire. My babies are trapped." As the neighbor, C. K. Wise man, called firemen, Mrs. Wrath al returned to the burning house. Using a claw hammer, she broke a foot-square hole in the composition wall but fainted be fore she could get through to the girls. Firemen from this Salt Lake City suburb arrived in a few minutes, extinguished the flames burning the rug and floor, then nulled the two girls from the tub. Ambulance crews tried unsuc cessfully for two hours to revive them. Their father. Sterling Wrathal. arrived home shortly afterwards. It was the first time he had worked overtime at his job as a trucking company office worker since the family moved here from California five weeks ago. They had lived at Arcadia and Sacramento, Cal. Rogue Valley Closed; Aiask As Bus ing through a blizzard near the Waupinitia cut-off, collided with neavy impact Into tne rotary snow plow which also was trav eling eastward. Extent of the injuries was not disclosed immediately but frag mentary information from the scene of the accident said some of the casualties were "in pretty bad shape." Although the bus was not trav eling fast, the collision impact was "nard, according to wit neses. A Trailways company doctor was taken to government camp in a relief bus, escorted by Port land and state police. The Injur ed were taken to Mountain View and Darr's resort for emergency treatment. All the 17 injured were bus passengers. Road Conditions A "regular blissard" on Sis kiyou mountain pass was re ported lata this morning by state police and driving con ditions there and on the Greensprings route were re- Sorted bad. Snow was failing ard and continuous. Roads were said to be get ting worse at Grants Pass, on Sexton mountain pass and on the Redwood highway. Chains were necessary on the moun tain routes. One-way traffic was still following pilot cars in the Redding and Dunsmuir area and chains were mandatory. Chains were needed also at Salem and Corvallis and on Willamette and Santiam passes and were advised at Klamath Falls, according to United Press. Water Commission To Get Surplus Hydrants Superintendent Robert A. Duff of the Medford Water com mission said today that the com mission has received war assets administration approval to re move 232 fire hydrants and 379 water gate valves from two areas of the former Camp While reser vation. The city of Medford was suc cessful bidder for the equipment with an offer of $3,400. Duff said the hydrants and gate valves were in good condition and that similar material new might cost between $60,000 and $75,000. Some Other Towns An undetermined number of the hydrants and valves will go to Grants Pass and Ashland, ac cording to agreement among the three cities. Duff reported. At Medford the material will be stockpiled until needed. Pipe in the areas eoes in Med ford although the citv made no offer for it. Duff indicated that the water department has no use for the pipe and that it may be salvaged by Medford and Talent Irrigation districts. The hydrants are five-inch de vices and valves vary from six to ju incnes. Television Shares Spurt Stock Market ' New York. Jan. 13 (U.R) Television shares spurted to new highs to lead a last-hour rally on the stock market today. TV issues lured the novice and professional traders alike. Their strength soon imparted a better tone to the main list and all sec- tions joined the recovery after several periods of decline had brought the market to new lows since December 21. Dow Jones closing stock aver ages: 30 industrials 194.81, off 1.12: 20 railroads 54.01, up 0.20; 15 utilities 40.90, off 0.04, and 65 stocks 71.34, off 0.18. Sales amounted to 3,330,000 shares compared with 2,970,000 yesterday. Today's volume was the best since May 14, 1948 when 3,840,000 shares changed hands. UN Vote To Decide Nationalist China Fate Lake Success, N. Y Jan. 13 (U.R) The fate of nationalist China in the United Nations was to be decided today in the UN security council. Russia has threatened to walk out of the council indefinitely unless the nationalists are ex pelled and the Chinese commu nists admitted. . Ernest A. Gross, deputy Unit ed States representative, said yesterday during council debate on the issue that the U. S. will not veto the nationalists' expul sion if the majority of council members support the resolution. Russian Delegate Jacob A. Ma lik ended a two-day walkout to join in the debate yesterday. Patrol Pumpers Said Ineffective In Winter The state forest patrol office today advised rural residents of the county that its pumper trucks are ineffective during cold weather for. fire fighting. Water tanks of the trucks are kept drained during the freez ing period, it was said. During warm seasons the patrol has been of considerable assistance in aid ing individuals who live outside the 'ire protective areas of: towns. I m S7 rnn n u a n n x m o o sjsj- aaeaaaeaiieBaaaa amm i"" HMillzaaaeM UHaaaaW SkSMSJBSM eaaaW BHHM Meaaaaae UN Medford 44th Year 16 Pages Son Of Pioneer Photographer In Jacksonville Dies Emil Britt Passes At Old Family Mansion Jacksonville, Jan. 13 Emil Britt, one of southern Oregon's best-known personalities and son of the area's first photog rapher, died in the house in which he was born here early today. He would have celebrated his 88th birthday on March 22, 1950. Mr. Britt and his sister. Mollie who survives, were children of the late Peter Britt. Swiss immi grant painter and photographer, who moved to Jacksonville in 1851, bringing with him the first camera ever used in southern Oregon. He died in 1905. Emil and Mollie have lived in the fa mous old Britt mansion here ever since. 50-Year Mason The deceased has been a mem ber of the Warren Masonic lodge in Jacksonville for more than 50 years. He was a past high priest of the Royal Arch Masons, a past potentate of the Shrine, and a member of the Scottish Rite. Until about a year agg, Mr Britt was an enthusiastic volun teer weather observer. In 1947, he was cited by the weather bu reau for 56 years of continuous service in this field. He was at that time one of nine men who had served the bureau for 55 years or more, and was rated among the top four of 5,000 peo ple in the weather reporting service. He was forced to give up this work due to failing health, although he was vigorous up until about 10 days ago when he was confined to bed. In his younger years, the old gentleman was an avid gardener and horticulturalist. ine garden surrounding the Britt home was in itself a show place, and has been written up in a number of northwest periodicals. Tree Planted A feature of the garden is a giant sequoia redwood, which Peter Britt planted on the day Emil was born. It is now more than 120 feet tall. The best known feature of the Britt home is the old photo graphic studio, which Emil and his sister had maintained as a museum since the death of their father. Collected there is an ex tensive and priceless exhibit of early-day photographs of south ern Oregon, among them the first picture ever taken of Crater lake. In addition, many old cam eras have been on display. The museum was kept open for many years, and even re n,, ihp hrnther and sister welcomed parties of visitors who wished to see tne collections. Settled Here Dolor Rritt a native of Swit zerland, came to this country in 1844, and it was in me spring ' 1851 that be bought a Colts re- colver, and a doubiffDarreiieu half rifle-half-shotgun, and with three other men came p,,,r,taii snttlinB in Jackson ville. he cut logs for a cabin, and put up a sign Uaiiery the first photographic shop west of the Rockies. In 1860, he sent for his former sweetheart in the old country, and they were married. Emil was born two years later The cabin and studio were enlarged into the frame house, topped by a tower, which stands today. The same year Emil was born, addi tions to the house brought it to a total of 14 rooms. It was in thus home. that fcmii and his sister have spent their lives. Funeral arrangements for Mr. Britt are under charge of the Perl Funeral home, and details will be announced later. Pilots Lose Lives In Crash Landings Long Beach, Cal., Jan. 13 (U.R) Two air force reservists gave their lives piloting their crippled training plane to a crash landing to avoid smashing into north Long Beach homes. Three other crew memb- ri on the twin-engined AT-11 Beech craft suffered shock and minor injuries as the plane grazed a house top before ramming Into a street and exploding into flame. MMm MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, JANUARY - "T f H U it i n ; ' ? . J 1 ": ! ' ' , , -s BOUND FOR FAR EAST steams under San Francisco's Golden Gale bridge to rendezvous at sea with two destroyers and pro ceed toChina waters. The Boxer will reinforce Ihe 7th task fleet in the Far East. N at i o jn a l ist Attack Red Fleets Hong Kong, Jan. 13 !U.R) Nationalist long-range bombers today smashed communist inva sion fleets and supply depots be ing massed on the Chinese main land for expected assaults on the Islands of Hainan and Formosa. Blockade Tightened At the same time nationalist gunboats tightened their naval blockade of the south China coast to halt communist trade and communication in the re gion. The bombers, with fighter cov er, hit coastal shipping all the way from Shanghai south to the Liuchow peninsula, southeast, China stcpping-lstone to Hainan. In Shanghai, which was hit for the second day in succession, a number of small craft were sunk or disabled. Other nlanes hit Foochow Amoy and Swatow, where the Egyptian To Quit United Nations Job Shannon Airport, Ireland, Jan. 13 (U.R) Zaki Hachem, 27-year-old Egyptian economist who re portedly lost his fiancee to his king, sped for New York by plane today to resign his United Nations job and become Egyp tian minister to Moscow. Behind him he left his beau tiful 16-year-old Egyptian sweet heart. Narrimah Sadck, whom King Farouk of Egypt was said to have seen in a jewelry store and claimed for his own. Hachem, wearing dark glasses and chain-smoking cigarettes, left Cairo yesterday In a Trans- world airline plane. Although all news of the reported court ro mance was suppressed in Egypt by censorship, Hachem willing ly discussed it as soon as he cleared the borders of his own country. In his first stop at Athens. Greece, he said the events which led up to the breaking of his engagement had been a "nerve- shattering experience. Independence Woman Files For State Post ' Salem, Ore., Jan. 13 (U.R) Mrs. Joe Rogers of Independence filed with the state elections bureau Thursday as a candidate for republican nomination for slate representative from the 10th district, comprising Polk county. She will seek the repub lican nomination in the May primary election. WEATHER FORECAST: Know ihoweri to night ind Saturday. Colder Saturday. Temp Hlghett Yeiterday 3S Lowest Mill Morntntf 29 Pree. to 4:30 A.M. Today, Trace Blizzard Creeps Inland Ml fa '.Armt Telepholo) The aircraft carrier Boxer, mrrvlnff fin nl anon nnrl n rrAui nf 3 nnn Bombers communists are massing supplies for their anticipated spring land ings on rormosn. Landings Reported The nationalist Overseas Dai ly News reported under a Hoi how, Hainan, dateline, that com munist regulars had landed on southwestern Hainan after cross ing the Gulf of Tonkin from the vicinity of Pakhoi, a distance of 150 miles. Reports from Taipei, national ist regufee capital, officially de nied reports of the Hainan land ings. Rossellini Requests Marriage Annulment Turin, Italy, Jan. 13 (U.R) Italian Motion Picture Director Roberto Rossellini asked the Turin court of appeals today to annul his marriage lo his wire Marcclla on grounds he was under the influence of drugs when he married her. The request was made so that Rossellini could obtnin Italian annroval of his Austrian divorce. which would. clear the way for him to marry Actress Ingrid Bergman in Italy. Gino Solis, attorney for the di rector, told the court during a two-hour hearing that Rossellini was "under the influence of a drug and incapable of will and understanding when the mar ringn was celebrated." The divorce which Rossellini seeks to have recognized in Italy is the one dissolving his marriage lo the former Marcclla oe Marchis, November 3, at Civi tavecchia, near Rome, in 1938. It was obtained on the same grounds that he was under the influence of drugs. NLRB Officer To Set Labor Election Date A field examiner from the Portland office of the national labor relations board will hold a conference here Monday, Janu ary 16, with officials of South ern Oregon Sales corporation, Bear Creek orchards and Team sters, Cannery and Fruit Pack ing Workers, Local 962A, to set a date and work out details of the .bargaining election that has been ordered tor the two trull packing firms. The conference will be held In the offices of the Industry Council of Southern Oregon In the Holland hotel building at 10 a. m. Monday. Los Angeles, Jan. 13 !U.R)Pre mcdical Student Raymond Down ing Hair, 24, was held today for Raleigh, N. C. authorities on suspicion of fala"y nhooting a fellow student at Wuke Forest university. Tribune 13, 1950 NO. 248 viiiu miiu fiavuju Rivers Rising In Illinois, Indiana Chicago, Jan. 13 (U.R) ine rain-swollen Ohio and Wabash rivers today pushed higher in southern Illinois and Indiana, driving bottomland dwellers to higher ground and threatening to send the Mississippi river on a rampage. The danger zone on the Wa bash shifted southward from the Torre Haute - Vlncennes. Ind., area to the river's lower reaches near Us Junction with the Ohio. Alerted For Refugees Mount Vernon. Ind.. in the notch where the two rivers meet, was alerted to receive up to 100 refugee families today. U. S. ar my troops and "ducks' stood ready to evacuate families In rural areas today, and the na tional guard unit was on an alert ordered by Gov. Henry Schlcker. The town Itself was "high end dry," but thousands of acres of surrounding farmland in Ihe Wa bash and Ohio bottoms vere flooded as the two streams rolled into one. Police, national guardsmen and Red Cross prepared to care for evacuees in the city coliseum. Upstream, the Wabash at Mount Carmel, III., had reached its predicted crest of 27 feet early today and was still rising. Authorities said that, in view of continuing rains, they could not say how high the river might go before it crests. Twenty-six families were shel tered in boxcars at Mount Car mel, and many others were housed with relatives or friends. The situation appeared to be easing farther upstream as the wabash crested at Husscllville, III., with a weakened levee still holding, and approached its crest at Vincennes, Ind. Sewer Gas Seen Cause of Blast Killing Vlncennes, Ind., Jan. 13 (U.R) Sewer gas compressed by back waters from the flooding Wa bash river may have caused a housing project explosion that killed two mothers and their three children, officials said to day. Indiana Slate Fire Marshal Alex Hoagland came here lo di rect personally an investigation to determine the cause of the blast. The explosion wrecked a two family unit In the project Just two blocks from where 1,000 sol diers were fighting to hold a levee against raging flood wa ters lapping 18 incnes from the top. The unit's concrete block walls tumbled like dominoes as the blast rocked the entire town. Witnesses said the building was knocked "flat as a table top. ' Interior Flooded After Collision With Tank Ship Thames Estuary Scene Of Night-Time Accident London, Jan. 13 (U.R) Fifty two men still missing from the wrecked submarine Truculent were given up for dead by the admiralty tonight. This raised the death toll to HI, with nine bodies recovered. Seventy-six were aboard the sub when a tank ship smashed into herein the Thames estuary last night and there were 15 survi vors. Compartments Flooded The admiralty announced that no hope can be entertained" for the missing men after a ' frogman" swam Into. Ih o,,h- marine 50 feet below the surface and found all her compartments flooded. Shortly after A n m fin PST) the admiralty announced: 'The board of admiralty re grets to announce that no hope can be entertained that there will be any further survivor from the HMS submarine Tru culent. "The next of kin of those who have lost their lives are being informed. "The board extend thnlr vo, deep sympathy to the relatives of the officers, ratings and dock yard employees who in the per- luiiumiue oi meir ouiy nave lost their lives as a result of this tragic occurrence." No Response To Signals rirsi indication that the 52 men believed trapped inside the submarine perished within min utes or its sinking, when deep sea aivers reported no response to signals they hammered onto the hull. Then Naval "Frmrmnn" .Tom.. Hodges, wearing a fin-fltted mh. ber suit and an oxveen t.ink swam down through the open conning tower and found the in terior flooded. "It would have been impossi ble for anything but fish to live in the hulk of that submarine," he said. His report, along with that of diver who found a hnl Inr. ward of the gun turret, meant mat at least three of the sub marine's four compartment were flooded, submarine experts said. They believed that the fourth compartment was flood-, ed too. This was borne out by 10 of the 15 survivors. They escaped from the engine room through a hatch with Davis breathing ap paratus as the submarine sank toward the bottom. They said the rest of the submarine flood ed almost Immediately. The other five survivors were washed off the bridge as the ves sel sank. The 1,090-ton patrol subma rine was rammed and sunk by the Swedish tanker Divina last night about 17 miles northwest of Margate. Radio Highlights Radio station KYJC (1230 kc) will broadcast the Paddy Young-Tuio Portuguez boxing match from Madison Square Garden, New York, starting at 7 o'clock tonight. Al 8 p. m. KWIN (1400 ke) will air the Oregon-Oregon State basketball game from' Corvallis and at 9:30 p. m by delayed broadcast, will carry the Medford Central Point game. Saturday at 8:15 p. m. KWIN will broadcast the Med ford. Grants Pass game from Medford high school gymna sium. Five Persons A refrigerator was blown across a street and crushed a parked car. A mattress was thrown a city block. As fire broke out In the debris, about 250 of the troops raced to aid police and firemen in the search for dead and injured. The explosion ripped the unit of the Bowman Terrace Housing project shortly before 4 p. m. yesterday. Bodies Found In the ruins, rescue worker) found the bodies of Mrs. Wanda Cooper, 23, and her two children, Charles, 5. and Barbara, 3, and Mrs. Rose Overclt and her daugh ter, Vickie June, 18 months. Authorities said the exact cause of the explosion was not known. Mrs. Ovcrfelt's husband, Wil liam, told police he had "smelled gas" for weeks in his home.