Evening star. [volume], June 26, 1948, Page A-12, Image 12

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Seat Pleasant
Woman Killed
In Auto Crash
District Man Is Hurt
As Car, Truck Collide
At Gainesville, Va.
A Seat Pleasant (Md.) woman re
turning from a church conference
was killed and a Washington man
was injured yesterday when their
automobile collided with a truck on
Route 211 at Gainesville, Va., about
10 miles from Warrenton.
The woman was Mrs. Marian
Brown Courtney, 38, of Hill road.
She died shortly after being admit
ted to Physicians’ Hospital, Warren
ton. Officials there said she had
been driving the car.
Her companion, T. Bruce Morgan,
3425 Eastern avenue, suffered cuts
on the forehead and chin.
\\as at Episcopal Meeting.
Mrs. Courtney was active in St.
Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Seat
Pleasant, and was returning from
an advanced conference of Episcopal
church members from the District
of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, Pennsylvania and
Delaware, according to her relatives.
The conference had been held at
sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar,
Va.
Mr. Morgan is a member of St.
John's Episcopal Church, Mount
Rainier, and is preparing for the
ministry, according to the Rev. J.
j Ambler, rector of Pinkney Me
morial Episcopal Church, Hyatts
\ ille.
In another accident last night,
three persons were injured in a
head-on collision of two cars on
tne road between Old Germantown
and Boyds in Montgomery County.
Girl Suffers Head Injuries.
Admitted to Suburban Hospital.
Bethesda, were Eloise Hubble, 17,
Beallsville, who suffered head in
juries and a fractured jaw; William
Washington, Germantown, head in
juries and a fractured leg and arm,
and Harry Turner, also of Ger
mantown, fraettured leg. The latter
two are colored.
County police said the girl was
riding in a car driven by Walter
E. Gordon, 18, Poolesville. The two
men were passengers In an auto
mobile driven by John C. Talley, 22,
colored, of Boyds, according to po
lice Both drivers were charged with
reckless driving.
W. G. Conklin, 42, of 4435 Q
street N.W., was injured last night
when his car left the road, struck
s tree and overturned on Route 211
about 3 miles east of Luray, Va.
Mr. Conklin was taken to Page
Memorial Hospital at Luray, where
his condition was reported as good.
Maryland Bar to right
Juvenile Delinquency
By the Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, June 26.—The
Maryland State Bar Association
voted yesterday to fight collectively
against .increasing juvenile delin
quency and divorce rates.
The group unanimously approved
a committee report recommending:
1. A mobile unit o£ psychologists,
psychiatrists and physicians visit
county courts where needed to work
with mentally deficient persons and
those with personality difficulties.
2. Counseling agencies be estab
lished to advise parents contemplat
ing divorce. (Such an agency now
exists in Baltimore.)
3. A standing committee be ap
pointed annually to continue the i
study of child problems and to,
make recommendations for proper j
methods of Ijpndling such cases.
4. A State-wide survey to deter
mine the effectiveness of the State
Juvenile and Equity Courts, includ
ing how many children are involved,
the principal sources of delinquency
and what resources the courts have
in their dealings with children.
The association also approved a
recommendation that the orphans
courts be abolished. The proposal
said the work of the Orphans Court
would be taken over by Circuit
Court judges in the counties and 1
supreme bench judges in Baltimore.
Rosenberger Honored
By Winchester Group
Special Dispatch (o The St or
WINCHESTER, Va„ June 26 —
John H. Rosenberger. business man,|
churchman and civic leader, was
the city’s outstanding citizen of the
year in the opinion of the Junior
Chamber of Commerce. The award
was announced at the group's an
nual dinner meeting by a commit
tee headed by J. Pinckney Arthur.
Mr. Rosenberger, who served in
World War I as an Army captain,
was i%cently chairman of a com
mittee charged with raising a min
imum of $850,000 for enlargement
of Winchester Memorial Hospital.
Last year’s award was presented to
Walker M. Bond, president of the
Frederick County Fruit Growers’
Association.
ECA Approves Requisition
Of Maryland Tobacco
Representative Sasscer. Democrat,
of Maryland yesterday announced
a French requisition for 1.185,000
pounds of Maryland tobacco has
been approved by the Economic Co
operation Administration.
The French has been purchasing
Maryland tobacco for years, particu
larly those grades in which Amer
ican cigarette manufacturers have
not been active, Mr. Sasscer’s office
explained.
ECA's approval of the request will
permit the French to resume buying j
direct on the Maryland market im
mediately. rather than wait for
ECA’s overall tobacco program to I
be worked out, Mr. Sasscer said.
Four Virginia Veterans
Of Civil War Over 100
|y the Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va., June 26.—All
but one of Virginia’s five surviving
Confederate veterans has reached
or passed the century mark in age,
records in the office of the State
chief pension clerk show.
Gen. Julius Franklin Howell, 102,;
died in Bristol last week.
Ages of the surviving veterans
are: John Sailing, Slant, Scott
County, 99: James G. Dickerson,
Suffolk,' 103; Charles W. Matthews,
Blueftield. 100; Theodore N. Mayo,
Norfolk, 103. and George Bannister,1
Richmond. 100.
. ~" '
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DERBY ENTRANT
—Eddie Diehl, 13, of 3610 Lee boulevard, Ar->
lington, won the first Class A heat as the
Washington Soap Box Derby got under way
today. Here he waxes his car. No. 31, for speed.
Eddie, winner of last year’s Class B race, here gets set for a repeat performance as
officials check over plans for the big start. Cloudless, sunny skies made perfect weather
for the gravity-powered racers as they sped down a 1,000-foot Southeast incline. More
than 150 hopeful drivers wiited impatiently.
Here Eddie comes through in fine style to
cross the finish line in 32.1 seconds. The race is
sponsored by The Evening Star, the District
American Legion and Chevrolet.
Hildreth Welcomes
Eisenhower Boom, but
Sees D. C. for Truman
Melvin D. Hildreth, chairman of
the District Democratic Committee,
said today he believes a delegation
instructed for President Truman
will be sent to the Democratic Na
tional Convention but he, neverthe
less, is "glad to see” a move to write
in the name of Gen. Eisenhower at
Monday’s primary here.
"I hope the primary will be a full
and honest expression of the opin
ion of Democrats in the District,”
he said. “X am glad to see and I
welcome the report about the effort
to present Gen. Eisenhower’s name.
1 believe that will stimulate interest
in the primary and help to bring
out a big vote.”
Veterans - for - Eisenhower, with
temporary headquarters at 3
Thomas Circle, are pushing a drive
to write in the name of Gen. Eisen
hower as the District’s preference
for the Democratic nomination for
President at the national conven
tion next month in Philadelphia.
The organization is sending a sound
truck today and Monday through
out the city to urge Democrats to
do this. The primary will be from
2 to 8 p.m.
Mr. Hildreth said this sign of
interest gives further proof that the
District should have suffrage.
“A full expression of the opinion
of Democrats in the District at the
primary is desirable because it will
be obvious that it is possible to have
suffrage here,” he said. "My own
vote will be for President Truman
and I hone the delegation will go in
structed for President Truman. But
I am glad to see this further evidence
of interest in the primary.”
The committee chairman said
every effort would be made to assure
widest passible publicity for the
counting as well as the casting of
ballots at the primary.
“We want this to be out in the
open and we want an opportunity
for Democrats in all sections of the
District to express their views at
the primary,” he declared.
Six to Be Ordained
By Adventist Church
Elder W. R. French of the Wash
ington Missionary College depart
ment of theology will be the princi
pal speaker at 8 o'clock tonight in
the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist
Church. Takoma Park, at the annual
camp meeting.
This afternoon six Virginians were
to be ordained into the ministry of
the church. They are H. M. Dukes
of Alexandria, Russel Vaughn of
Strasburg. W. H. Barringham of Ap
palachia, C. O. Kinzer of Tazewell,
W. E. Peeke of Marion and William
Coffman of Pulaski.
Earlier, delegates attending the
meeting heard a plea from Elder
N. C. Wilson that "calamities today
call to the people everywhere to a
renewed worship of God.”
Mr. Wilson, who is vice president
of the General Conference for North
America, recalled that the Bible
predicts “wars, earthquakes, acci
dents and terrible storms” and con
cluded "they are means by which
God is appealing to the people of
the earth to yield obedience to
Him.”
STAUNTON. Va„ June 26.—Local
residents staged a full-fledged bear
hunt right down Waverley street
here.
ft 300-pound black bear wandered
into town Thursday night from
nearby woods. Roy F. Huffer heard
his little daughter screaming and
picked up his shotgun as the bear
began to advance on the girl. The
noise frightened the bear and it re
treated into the thickets.
The bear's body eventually turned
up in a neighbor's back yard. It
had been wounded several times by
unidentified persons.
The carcass was sent to Western
State Hospital for use in bear stew.
Virginia on Way to Goal
In Education, Battle Says
By the Associated Press
PORTSMOUTH, Va., June 26.— '
State Senator John S. Battle pic
tured Virginia last night as well
on its way toward the desired goal
in public education in one of his
first platform appearances since he
announced his candidacy for Gov
ernor earlier this month. \
“Virginia, though far from per
fect and as yet a long way from
the desired goal,” he told a con
vention of Virginia and District of
Columbia Eagles "has not been as
backward in providing proper edu
cational facilities for her children
as we arc sometimes led to be
lieve.”
In a business session yesterday,
S. S. Cobb of Norfolk was elected
president of the District of Colum
bia-Virginia State Aerie, Fraternal
Order of Eagles. He succeeds H.
L. House of Portsmouth.
Greece may give refugees employ
ment on municipal projects in
Athens ana Piraeus.
[
Joel Mover. 12. of 5710 North Twenty-fifth street, Arling
ton, winner of the first of the Class B heats, talks with Admiral
Derifeld chief of Naval Operations, who was on hand for the
big race. —Star Staff Photos.
_ 1 * '""I a
Soap Box Derby Scorecard
Heat results in today's running of
the Soap Box Derby are listed below.
The entrants are divided into two
age classes with separate heats for
each class. Class A boys are 13, 14
and 15 years old. Class B boys 10,
11 and 12. The results:
First heat—Class A Ed Diehl. 13. of
3610 Lee boulevard. Arlington, first. Ed
ward Maxfield. 14, oi 1119 Robinson
street S.W., second.
First heat—Class B Joel L. Moyer, 12.
of 5710 N. Twenty-fifth street, Arlington,
first: Richard L. Oden. 10. of 730 Twenty
second street N.W.. second.
Second heat—Class A: William L. King.
16. 1800 Branch avenue S.E., first, Jonn
Fulton, 14. ol 315 Lexington drive, Silver
Spring, Md.. second.
Second heat—Class B Tony Principe
1°. of 234 Randolph place N.E., first.
Richard H Stewart, II. of 9 Woodmooi
drive. Silver Spring, second; Donald Read
Walker, 10, of 6326 Fifth street N.W..
tniid.
Third heat—Class A; Richard Juten. 13
of 4008 Sixty-first street. Brookmont
first; Tommy Wilkinson. 13. of St. Joseph s;
Home and School, did not finish.
Third heat—Class B: Donald Irfe Wills.
12 of 1434 K street S.E., first; Leslie A
Hubbard, 11, of 1412 North Nicholas
street, Arlington, second.
Fourth heat—Class A: William Hewitt.
14, of 918 D street S W , first; George
Seminora, 13, 2453 Wisconsin avenue
N W.. second: John Eugene Warden, Jr..
13, of 2428 L’Enfant square B E , third.
Fourth heat—Class B: Dickie Van Wag
oner, 12, of 2200 North Pollard street
Arlington, Va., first; James G. Taylor, 11
r F D No. 1, Rockville, Md . second
James L. Thompson, 11, of 8 Hawaii ave-j
nue, S.E., third. i,
Fifth heat—Class A: Charles Daniel. Jr
13. of 4576 MacArthur boulevard N W .
first; David P. Noon. 13 of 2*02 Cheverly
avenue, Cheverly, Md.. did not finish.
Fifth heat—Class B: Benjamin Swann,
11 ->300 Good Hope road, first. Ronald
Snoop. 12, of 502 Second street S.E.
second.
Sixth heat—Class A: Harry Hart. 14,
of 4207 Sheridan street- University Park,
Md . first; James Davis. 14, of Silverbroo,.
road. Lorton. Va.. second; George H.
Clarke, jr„ 14, of 1716 Euclid street N.W ,
th'seventh heat—Class A: Richard C.
Snyder. 15. of 3026 Chanmng street N.E .
first; Thomas Slye. jr . 13. of J-.l-A
Twenty-third street, Fort Belvoir, Va ,
“sTxth heat—Class B: Robert A. Rogers,
11 of 5512 Hunt parkway. Bethesda. Md.. ,
fl»t: iSuls A.Purvis, 12. 803 West Main
street. Richmond, Va.. secondt^illy Reyei,
12. of 6737 Pomander lane, chevy Chase,
Md., third.
Seventh heat—Class B: Merle Wallace
Nelson 12. of 32 U Ridge road, Green
belt. Md.! first; Martin Opplet. 12. of 1527
North Patrick Henry street. Arlington. Va.,
second; John P. Noon, 11, of 2302 Chever
ly avenue, Cheverly. Md.. third.
Eighth heat—Class A: Wayne Miller.
13, of 3607 South Dakota avenue N.E.,
Riverdale, Md . first: Douglas Dean. 13,
of 923 North Randolph street. Arlington.
Va. second; William R. Jeflord. 14, of
2810 Evarts street N.E., third.
Ninth heat—Class A: Russel Nusbickel.
14 of "300 Good Hope road, first; Orville
M. Deming. 15. cf 3901 Branch avenue
second: John Rbsenberger. 14. of 511
North Monroe street, Arlington, Va . third.
Tenth heat—Class A: Newton Davis.
13 of 2213 H street N.W. first; Robert
wheeler. 13. of 209 West Pine street,
Alexandria. Va., second.
Eighth heat—Class B: Jack Marsden.
12. of 216 Ninth street S.W.. first: Stan
ley Nairn. 12. of Twenty-ninth and
Bunker Hill road N.E., second.
Ninth Heat Results.
Ninth heat—Class B: Joseph Murphy.;
to. of 570P Fortieth avenue. Hyattsville i
Md . first: Richard A. MacEwen, 10. of;
487 5 Montana lane. Bethesda, Md.. second.
Eleventh heat—Class A: Ransom J.
Amlong. 14. of Route No. 4. Alexandria.
Va.. first: John T. Pullen. 13, of 600.1
Queens ChsPel road. Hyattsville. Md..
second: Eric Allen, 13, of 7 07 Fifty-first
street N.E.. third.
Tenth heat—Class B: James C. Mullen.
12, of 1408 North Fillmore street, Arling
ton. Va, first; Joseph Moly. 12. of 2731
Twenty-eighth street N.E., second.
Twelfth heat—Class A: Edward Bohon.
15. of 1941 Calvert street N.W.. first;
Lewis Brown. 15. of the National Train
ing School, and Roger Cole. 13, of 1714
B street S.E., did not finish.
Eleventh heat—Class B: James Lamar.
11. of 2300 Good Hope road, first: Teddy
Lindahl, 12. of 708 Kennedy street N.W.,
second. _ . _
Thirteenth heat—Class A: Barrie Car
ter. 13. of 120 Fifty-third street N t .
first: Harold D Pike. 14. of the National
Training School, and John Robinson, ,ir..
13, of 2904 Langston place S.E., did
not finish. _ .
Twelfth heat—Class B. Terry L. Ke
menda. 11. of 1652 Trinidad avenue N.E..
first; Eddie Jeffords. 11. of 2810 Eva.-ts
street N.E.. second.
Thirteenth heat—Class B. William H.
Holmes IV. 12. of 4607 Harltng lane,
Bethesda. first: Cedric Egell. 11. of Val
ley Lee. Md., second: Jay Helxer. 12. of
2-R Oardenway. Greenbelt, Md . third.
Fourteenth heat—Class A, Harry Brown,
14, of 422 Jefferson street N.W., first;
John Belflore. 13. of 6518 Chevy Chase
parkway, second.
Fifteenth heat—Class A, Russell Sheets.
14 of 919 North Daniel street. Arling
ton. Va., first; Paul E. Carroll, 15. of the
National Training School, second: Barry
Carney, 13. of St. Joseph's Home and
School, third. _ _ ,
• Fourteenth heat—Class B, Bobby Tates,
12. of 106 Westmoreland avenue, first.
Bob Haunrich. 12, of 4112 Eighteenth
place N.E.. second; Thomas F. Herr, 12,
of 4808 Twenty-sixth street, North Ar
lington, Va.. third.
Results of 15th Heat.
Fifteenth heat—Class B: Edward R
Gaylor, 12. of 1619 Fairlawn avenue S.E
first; Michael J. Hally. 11. of 1621 Newton
street N.E , second.
Sixteenth heat—Class A; Matthew H.
Boring. 14, of 7723 Eastern avenue, first;
Burrell T. Brown III. 16, of 117 Fifty
third street N.E:. second; Ben Holt Rice,
13, of 706 Sixteenth street, New Alexan
dria, Va.. third.
Sixteenth heat—Class B: Robert E.
Dixon. 12. of 3012 New Hampshire avenue
N.W., first; George Curtis, 12, of Brandy
wine, Md.. second; Ronnie Drew, 11, oi
1406 Massachusetts avenue S.E._ third.
Seventeenth heat—Class A: Curtis T.
Sales, ir . 15. of 4810 Eomonston avenue.
Hyattsville, Md.. first; Michael R. Rei
necke. 13, of 2373 Champlain street N.W.,
second.
Seventeenth heat,.—Class B: Thomas K.
Amlong. 12. of Rural Route 4. Alexandria.
Va., first; Corky Brittain. 12. of 15 Yard
arm green. S.W.. second; Angelo J. Bur
nol»o. 11, of 2809 Evarts street N.E.. third j
Eighteenth heat—Class A: Charles U.
Buck, jr.. 14, ot 109 Longfellow street
N.W.. first: Jeffrey R. Stewart, Jr., 16.
of Rural Route 5. Alexandria. Va.. sec
ond; Alva Stout, 14, of 1207 Talbert street
S.E.. third.
Eighteenth heat—Class B: Alfred Ash-J
ton. 12, of 2802 Thirty-first street S.E ,
first: Joseoh B Amlong. 11, Rural Route
4, Alexandria. Va,, second.
Nineteenth heat—Class A; Robert L.
Smithers. 13. of 1411 Taylor street N W
first.: Haroid D. Pike, 14, National Training
School, second: Carl D. Sidle. 13. of 916 j
North Daniel street, Arlington, Va.. third.
Nineteenth heat—Class B. Cedric B
Egeli, 11, of Valley Lee. Md., first; Larry
Eitel. 11. of 126 Fairmont street. Falls:
Church. Va second: David L. Smith, 12.
of 1432 R street N.W., third. _
Twentieth heat—Class A: Thomas
ThorowRood. 15. of 2501 Hamlin street i
N.E. first: Wtllliam Swann. 13. 0/ 2300
Good Hope road, second: John V. White.
15, of 1204 Talbert street SE, third.
Fists Fly as Democrats
Pick Convention Delegates
By the Associated Press
WILLIAMSBURG, Va., June 26.—
Fists flew last night as Williams
burg Democrats elected four dele
gates to the forthcoming State con-!
vention at Richmond.
Ashton Dovell, former Speaker of
the House of Delegates, and Dr.
Robert G. Caldwell, professor of
sociology at the College of William
and Mary, swung at each other fol
lowing a dispute over methods of
counting ballots for delegates.
Several spectators received blows
when they sought to break up the
fight. In the tussle Dr. Caldwell’s
shirt was badly torn.
Dr. Caldwell and Mr. Dovell both
were elected delegates, along with
Mayor Vincent D. McManus and
IJoyd H. Williams, who as chair
man of the local committee pre
sided over the meeting.
The meeting:, by a close vote,
adopted a motion proposed by Mr.
Dovell and opposed by Dr. Caldwell
and others, which instructs the dele
gation to oppose any resolution
having for its object the refusal to
support the National Democratic
Party. _
U. S. Urges Virginians
To Check Tax Refunds
RICHMOND, Va., June 26 (JP) —
Federal taxpayers in Virginia who
do not receive funds due them by
July 20 were advised yesterday by
Stuart L. Crenshaw, acting col
lector of Internal Revenue, to ad
dress inquiries to him here after
that date.
Mr. Crenshaw said his office had
completed scheduling all known re
funds for payment. The Treasury
Department’s disbursing office,
however, has been unable to issue
checks on all refunds “due to the
lack of funds.
"We are hoping that they will
have authority to begin again re
leasing these refund checks after
July 1, the beginning of a new
fiscal year," Mr. Crenshaw said. |
»
Maj. Robert Barrett, Metropolitan police superintendent,
watches while David Icenhower, winner of last year's Derby,
oiled up before his demonstration run. _
Derby
'Continued From First Page.)
car split when it swerved out of
control after he crossed the finish
line. Their eldest brother, Thomas,!
is yet to race.
Thousands of spectators lined
the curbs of the course and packed
into a temporary grandstand. They
heaved sighs of relief when clouds
intercepted the hot morning sun.
Derby officials reported that the
first lost child of the day was 3
year-old Pat McCarthy, who wan
dered away from his brother. Billy,
[ 6, and his father, William McCarthy.
Billy was taken the finish line and
given an ice cream cone to wait until
his father showed up.
The race this morning was marked
with clean victories. So far, judges
reported, they have not had to call
a single dead heat—which would
necessitate runoffs.
First mishap of the day occurred
in the fifth heat, when a car driver
by Tommy Wilkinson, 13, of St.
Joseph's Home and School, started
swerving out of control soon after
it left the starting ramp. The racer,
going backwards toward a curb, was
stopped by Pvt. C. L. Hardman of
No. 10 precinct before any damage
could be done.
In another minor accident. Ronald
Shoot. 12, of 508 Seventh street S.E.,
had his arm bandaged after his car
turned over as he crossed the finish
line. His forearm was scraped.
Crowds Gather Early.
Crowds began arriving ai aooui
6:45 a.m. and took places in a grand
stand near the finish line and along
the afenue lining the course. Hats
fashioned from newspapers were
being worn as protection against
the sun as early as 9 o’clock. One
woman stood serenely under a large
umbrella.
Among early arrivals was a family
that came 63 miles from Valley
Lee, Mcf.
They were Mr. and Mrs. Bjorn
Egeli, whose sons, Peter, 14, and
Cedric, 11, are entered in the derby.
On hand to cheer them on were
Bjorn James, 10, and Mary Lois
Egelis, 6, while their 5-month-old
sister, Caroline, rested in her baby
carriage.
Behind the starting line the en
trants were busy greasing and ad
justing wheels and giving their
tracers the final touches, many with
the assistance of their fathers.
Scotch Tape Used on Racer.
Mrs. John E. Davis, mother of
John Boyles, 15, of 1233 Madison
street N.W., was busy pasting
Scotch tape on John’s racer to
smooth the rough edges.
As he waited for his turn to come
up, Charles Daniel, 14, of 4576 Mac
Arthur boulevard N.W., was chew
ing bubble gum earnestly. Charles,
whose birthday is today, said the
gum would help him to concentrate
a she came down the runway.
Eleven-year-old Larry Eitel, of
126 Fairmont street, Falls Church,
was combating the heat by chew
ing ice.
George Christman, superintendant
cf the German Orphan Home,
brought five of his charges to
participate in the derby. They are
Denny Swann, 11; Russell Mus
zickle' 13; Bobby Drechsler, 15:
Jimmy Lemar, 11, and William
Swann, 13.
The crowd got an extra treat just
before racing started when young
Icenhower piloted the black racer
in which he won the Washington
1947 derby down the course. His
preliminary run indicated that time
has handicapped the sleek car.
Official timers said it took David
35.1 seconds to travel the course—
which he made last year in 31 flat.
Just before the first cars were
4
wheeled onto the especially designed
starting ramp, the contestants
paraded down the course, attired
in their smart racing helmets and
shirts.
The procession, a traditional part
of every Derby, was headed by a
squadron of Metropolitan Police.
The Fort Stevens Drum and Bugle
Corps, the Elks Boys’ and Girls’
Band of Silver Spring, the Drum
and Bugle Corps of the James Reese
Europe Post of the American Legion
and the Greenbelt Community Band
provided music for the line of march.
Gayly clad drum majorettes, the
massed colors of the Legion posts
in the District and the Legion's Na
tional Guard of Honor added color
to the parade honoring the race
drivers.
Included in the parade, which
was directed by Ernest Kennard.
were Derby officials and the com
mander of the District Department
of the Legion, Owen C. Holleran.
Greeted by Denfeld.
At the finish line the contestants
were greeted by Admiral Denfeld,
chief of Naval Operations. After
his brief speech, the boys returned
to the starting line and their wait
ing cars.
Admiral Denfeld praised the
derby in his brief address for the
qualities of resourcefulness and
sportsmanship it develops in the
youthful participants.
If you had been around to see
the things I saw during the war,"
he declared, "you would realize it I
was these young boys and the way
they were brought up—the way they
know how to take part in changing
conditions—that helped us to win
the war.
"I want to praise The Star, the
American Legion and the Chevrolet
Co. for sponsoring this event,” he
added. "And I hope the boy who
wins today will go on to Akron to
win the derby there.”
The Derby scene was a beehive
of activity as early as 6:30 a.m.,
when workers assembled the starting
ramp and truckers arrived with load
after load of the midget cars.
The derby is open for boys be
tween the ages of 11 and 15. They
are placed as Class “A” entries if
they are 13, 14 or 15, as Class “B”
if they are 11 or 12. Derby rules,
however, permit youths to enter if
they have become 16 since June 1,
or if they will be 11 by August 15,
officials explained.
The boy-built cars had been stored
at the District National Guard
Armory after they were checked
against the rigid specifications of
the All-American Soap Box Derby
Committee. Inspection of the cars
was not concluded until late last
night, when drivefs whose cars pre
viously had been disqualified for
structural defects brought them
back for a re-check.
In Armory at Dawn.
Members of the Transportation
Committee were at the Armory at
dawn, lining the cars up in the order
they were to race. The cars then
were trucked to the starting line.
Several small “car hoists,” built
for the purpose by the Shell Oil Co.,
were at the head of the course.
Drivers used these to give their
wheels and axles a last lubrication
before being called for their first
heat.
Preparation of the course and
adjacent area also was completed
early today, with the erection of
first aid and refreshment tents.
Earlier, drinking fountains had been
installed and comfort stations set up.
A grandstand for distinguished
guests provided limited seating, but
many of the spectators brought camp
stools, boxes and other temporary
seating.
At ijhe finish line, the Maritime
i
i k
40 Groups Take Part
In Parade Preceding
7th Soap Box Derby
Ceremonies preceding the seventh
annual running of the Washington
Soap Box Derby moved off to a rous
ing start last night with a colorful
parade, sponsored in salute to the
entrants by the Greater Southeast
Parade Committee.
More than 40 floats, bands and
marching units, led by the Metropol
itan Police Band, participated in the
precession down Pennsylvania ave
nue S.E., from Texas avenue to
Prout street. Chief Clement Murphy
was on hand to represent the Dis
trict Fire Department.
A crowd favorite was a group of
children from the Hilltop Recrea
tion Center, dressed as pioneers and
marching beside an improvised cov
ered wagon. The wagon began to
collapse just as the group reached
the reviewing stand at Pennsylvania
and Minnesota avenues. A small girl
carrying a doll who had been riding
in the wagon climbed out just in
time and walked the remaining
steps to the finish line.
Theme of the parade, which will
,be held annually on the night pre
ceding the big race, was “The
I American Boy." Prizes, donated by
merchants of the Southeast area,
will be presented to prize winners
in each of four classes of parade!
participants.
Judges awarded first prize for the
most cleverly decorated float to the
entry of Yarborough's Restaurant.
Second and third places went to
entries of the Maddox School of
Dance and the Robinson Hardware
Co. The Highland Theater entered
the most elaborate float, judges
decided, with second prize going to
the Randle Highlands Citizens’
Association and third to the Wash
ington Gas Light Co.
The Washington Boys’ Club Band
placed first in the musical unit class,
closely nosing out the Elks Boys
Club Band. Prizes for best marching
units were won, in order, by the
Ccout Cub Pack No. 34, the Ameri
can Legion's Guard of Honor and
Anacostia High School.
Maryland Firemen
Elect E. L. Walston
Speciol Dispatch to Th« Star
OCEAN CITY, Md., June 26.—
The 56th convention of the Mary
land State Firemen's Association
ended last night after the election
of E. Landon Walston of Preston as
president, succeeding Charles R.
Stallings, jr., of Pikesville. Mr,
Walston was opposed by Spencer J.
H Brown of Sandy Spring.
David S. Touhey of Cabin John
Park was elected first vice presi
dent and James Jarman of Ocean
i City second vice president. Three
officers were re-elected: B. R. Ben
son III of Cockeyville, secretary;
William A. Wilson. Midland, treas
urer, and the Rev. James W. Min
ter of Glyndon, chaplain.
A parade of more than 50 fire
companies, which took one and a
ihalf hours to pass the reviewing
i stand, was the main event yester
day afternoon. Last night the an
jnual ball—complete with fireworks
and prizes—was held.
Vernon “Googie” Listman, 19
i year-old Anne Arundel County youth,
the first Maryland volunteer fire
! man ever to win a Carnegie medal
for heroism, was honored at a cere
mony Thursday night when he re
ceived the medal and a $500 check.
Young Listman a member of the
Earleigh Heights fire department,
responded to the call when a 4
year-old boy fell into a 30-foot well.
Another fireman was lowered into
the well but became jammed.
“Googie” volunteered to go down
and brought up his comrade and
the boy, both semiconscious.
Miss Mary Ella Harmon, 17-year
old blond from Clarksville, Md., a
graduate of Rockville High School,
was named “Miss Fire Fighter” at
the annual beauty pageant. Miss
Harmon, who attends a modeling
school, represented Montgomery
County and the Hyattstown Volun
teer Fire Department._
Tourists Help Switzerland
SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland
OP).—Switzerland's tourist business
in 1947 was worth about 117 million
dollars to the Swiss economy, the
Central Office for Tourist Promotion
reported to the members recently.
Statistics for the first quarter of this
year promised 1948 would be equally
as fruitful.
Band was grouped and was to pro
vide music throughout the day-long
i racing program.
The final heat for Class A
winner and the Class B champion
will be held about 5 pm. The ex
: citing last race will be broadcast b>
the Evening Star station, WMAL.
Bill Coyle, radio and television direc
tor of The Star, who will be at the
track to bring the radio audience all
the colorful details of the last dash,
winner of which will be sent to Ak
ron, Ohio, by The Star for the na
tional finals August 15.
WMAL also was on the spot for
broadcasts at 10:45 a.m. and 2:15
pjn.
Serious Losses
In Crops Faced
By Maryland
• Wet Weather, Storms
Hit Wheat, Barley
And Corn Plantings
Unless unseasonable wet weather
lets up, Maryland farmers face one
of the most serious crop losses of
recent years, a survey by county
agents and University of Maryland
experts disclosed.
The damage done already is esti
mated at $5,000,000 by Dr. T. B.
Symons, director of the agricultural
extension service of the university.
The precarious condition of the
crops is particularly true of the
Eastern Shore where heavy rains,
high winds and severe hailstorms
in some areas have inflicted heavv
losses. Most of this damage has
occurred within the last week.
The Eastern Shore situation may
mark the second straight year where
growers in the famous “tomato belt”
suffer severe setbacks. Last year
thousands of dollars worth of to
matoes rotted on the vines because
of a backlog and inability of pack
ing houses to process the record
crop.
Queen Annes Hard Hit.
This year, according to R. 5.
Brown, Talbot County agricultural
agent, growers went in for much
lighter plantings of tomatoes be
cause of lower market prices. In
stead, more field corn was plantecL
Farms around Tilghmans Island
were particularly hard hit by high
winds and rain Thursday night, Mr.
Brown said. Last Saturday hail and
heavy rains and wind buffeted the
Eastern Shore generally with Queen
Annes County being particularly
hard hit by hail.
Hail also cut a swath of dam
age through Anne Arundel and
Prince Georges County on this side
of the Bay, with most severe losses
in the Mitchellville and Mount Oak
areas.
Some Crops Plowed Under.
Harry W. Beggs, county agent of
Dorchester County, said at Cam
bride—another Eastern Shore point
—that this year's heavier plant
ings of corn could not be worked
over because of the water-satu
rated earth. There has been so
much rain that it is impossible to
work the grass and weeds out of
the fields.
Although the hailstorm of last
week end hit only spotty areas of
the State, farmers everywhere re
ported damage from heavy rain
fall.
A. O. Kuhn, agronomist at the
University of Maryland’s Extension
Service, said it is too late in the
season to do much good at planting
a new corn crop. Some are going
to try it anyway, however, and Mr.
Brown said he knows of planters
who are plowing under their dam
aged plants in Talbot County.
Centerville Plantings Destroyed.
John W. Magruder, another ex
tension service agronomist, said he
had toured Queen Annes County
after last week's hailstorm and more
than 100 farms had reported early
plantings of corn totally destroyed
in the Centerville area. He said
he was told 5 inches of hail fell
Saturday afternoon and he found
some traces of the hailstones on
the north side of buildings on his
visit there Monday.
Elsewhere in the State, uncut
barley crops and wheat standing
with a heavy head has suffered
greatly. Thursday night’s wind and
rain smashed these crops into the
ground and they cannot be har
vested in many areas. The Eastern
Shore tomatoes which were damaged
by rain alone may recover if weather
conditions improve, county agents
declared.
The generally wet weather ha*
made it impossible for many to har
vest hay and several widespread
areas report the grass flattened t,o
a level where it cannot be cut, Mr.
Magruder said. It probably will rot
on the ground.
Earlier, damage to tobacco plant*
from the hailstorm of last week end
had been reported by P. E. Clark,
county agent for Prince Georges.
County agents and university offi
cials could not give a “dollars and
cents” estimate of damage thus far.
It probably will be several week*
before the full extent of losses are
reported, they said.
Ketchum Speaking Tonight
Before Maryland VFW
By th« Associated Press
HAGERSTOWN, Md.. June 26
About 100 resolutions will be passed
on todav by the nearly 3,000 dele
gates attending the State conven
tion here of the Veterans of For
;eign Wars.
Speaker at tonight's annual ban
j quet will be Omar Ketchum, national
VFW legislative representative.
High light of opening-day activ
ities yesterday was a parade *n
which some 2.000 marchers partic
iDated. It featured armored ve
hicles and several detachments of
soldiers and WAC8 from Fort
Meade.
Tomorrow the veterans of two
i World Wars will map political tac
| tics at the annual election of State
office rs.
Four Baltimoreans, all World War
I veterans, have announced their
candidacies for the State command
ership. They are Joseph A. Mc
Laughlin, Arthur P. Rainey. James
A. Arthur and J. William McAvoy.
Mr. Arthur Is a former commander.
Bay Jet Plane Crash Kills
LI. Comdr. Thomas Ramsay
ty the Associated frm
Lt. Comdr. Thomas N. Ramsay,
29, was killed instantly yesterday
when his Navy jet fighter plane
crashed into Chesapeake Bay near
the Navy Air Station at Patuxent,
Md.
Comdr. Ramsay, head of the fight
er section of the service test di
vision at the station, was testing
the plane, an FJ-1 tFury). The
Navy said the cause of the crash is
not yet known
During World War II Comdr.
Ramsay was a dive bomber in the
Pacific theater. He was shot down
in the Battle of Midway. He held
the Navy Cross, three Distinguished
Service Medals and numerous air
medals. His home originally was
Perkinston, Miss. •
Surviving are his widow, Mrs.
Mvrtle Alchia Ramsay, and one
child. The body will be taken to
Mrs. Ramsay's former home, At
lanta, Ga.