Evening star. [volume], December 13, 1949, Image 30

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
FASHIONS—READERS' CLEARING HOUSE
SOCI ETY—CLU BS—RECIPES
WASHINGTON NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1949
B
★★★
CLOSEtJP OF AIRLINER WRECKAGE—Most of the airliner that fell into the Potomac River last night, killing 4 and injuring 19,
remained above water. This fact made rescue operations easier. Two Metropolitan policemen survey the wreckage._
__ .. - - — —— him ■—> j i a————imhwmi——itiMWfti'———fiidfiWKliM——
Standing on the plane, one group of rescue workers passes an ambulance litter, with an injured passenger strapped in, to fel
low workershia rescue bo*. Thf InjSred persons were transported quickly to Bolling Hospital. (Story on Page A-l.)_.
$2,227,034 Increase
In Phone Co. Income
Needed, PUC Told
An increase of $2,227,034 in the
'gross revenues of the Chesapeake
& Potomac Telephone Co. is
needed to bring the company’s
earnings to 6 per cent, a Public
Utilities Commission official testi
fied today.
The calculation of V. A. Mc-El
fresh, PUC executive accountant,
compares with the company’s con
tention it needs $3,200,000 in ad
ditional annual gross revenues.
The company is seeking to in
crease its rate to phone users
here 13 per cent in order to offset
higher operating costs, inadquate
earnings and major requirements
for new capital to finance service
improvement and expansion.
Hearing Resumed.
Hearing on the proposed in
crease was resumed today by the
commission at the District Build
ing after a recess called Decem
ber 1.
Mr. McElfresh, first witness of
the PUC staff, made his calcula
tion on a rate base figured at
$67,950,050 and an allowed re
turn of 6 per cent on investment.
C. H. Johnson, vice president
and general manager of the com
pany, has testified he thought an
adequate return would be 6.98 per
cent, such as the company earned
in 1935 through 1939.
Higher Rate of Return.
In his figures, Mr. McElfresh
Increased the rate of return
earned by the company during the
present year from the 3.96 per
cent arrived at by the company
to 4.42 per cent.
Elsewhere in his testimony, Mr.
McElfresh gave figures indicating
that the C. & P. Co. earned an
average of 6.90 per cent on total
capital during the years from 1922
to 1948, while the Bell System, of
which it is a member, averaged
6.47 per cent.
This compared with a 6.37 per
cent average for 15 electric utili
ties surveyed.
Underpass Opens Tomorrow
To Southbound Streetcars
The first southbound streetcar
will go through the Dupont Circle
underpass at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow,
Capital Transit Co. has an
nounced.
The car will be operated by
H. B. Norford, 1919 North Pow
hatan street, Arlington, who took
the first northbound car through
the underpass on November 2. No
ceremony is planned.
With the beginning of two-way
streetcar operation through the
tunnel, workmen will start tear
ing up the surface tracks and to
prepare the tunnel for vehicular
traffic. Contracts are now being
let for the drainage and paving
of the roadway, according to
Samuel Harrison of the Highway
Department, and it is expected
the underpasss will be opened to
automobiles early in March.
Wo man Seizes
Mother of 3 on
Bridge Railing
A woman pulled a mother from
the railing of the Porter Street
Bridge over Rock Creek Park this
morning, preventing her from
jumping because of financial
worries, police reported.
Mrs. Nathan Wineberg, 3220
Albemarle street N.W., told police
she saw the 43-year-old mother
on the railing as she was driving
across the bridge with her hus
band. She jumped from the car,
caught her and held her until
police arrived from No. 8 precinct,
police related.
Precinct Capt. John Fondahl
said the mother declared she was
depressed over her unemployed
husband’s habit of taking money
earned by one of their daughters
at baby-sitting and spending it
on liquor. The mother said she
had three daughters, ranging
from 5 to 11 years old.
She was sent to Gallinger Hos
pital for mental observation.
Activity in emergency room at the Bolling Air For>ce Base Hospital as doctors, nurses and military personnel minister to survivors of the plane crash.
Mrs. Schwartzburg
Dies at 110, Believed
Oldest D. C. Resident
Mrs. Bessie Schwartzburg, a lit
tle woman who was 110 years old,
died last night at the Hebrew
Home for the Aged. She was
believed to be the oldest person
in Washington.
Maurice Maser, executive direc
tor of the home, said *Mrs.
Schwartzburg had been bedrid
den for two years,, but before
then had been one of the most
active guests at the home. A deep
ly religious person, her favorite
task was to read prayers to the
“younger” old people who either
could not read or could not see
to read because of failing eye
sight.
Mrs. Schwartzburg was from
Poland, Mr. Maser said. Her hus
band, who died before she came
to America some 38 years ago,
wrote by hand the sacred scrolls
used in services at synagogues.
She and her daughter, Mrs. Sarah
Tuckman of 303 Allison street
N.W., came to America together.
All her other relatives were
killed during the Hitler reign, Mr.
Maser said.
Mrs. Schwartzburg came to the
home 16 years ago, Mr. Maser
said.
Funeral services were scheduled
at Goldberg’s funeral home, 4217
Ninth street N.W., at 2:30 o’clock
this afternoon. Burial was to be
at the George Washington Memo
rial Cemetery. She was to be
eulogized by Mr. Maser.
One of %er fondest memories
was the time she was one of the
guests of honor at a Community
Chest dinner back in 1941. At
that time the chest leaders decid
ed to seat at the head table some
of the people being helped by the
various agencies rather than the
"big brass.”
Mrs. Schwartzburg was the hit
of the evening and never forgot
the occasion.
700 Troops in Area
To Get Promotion Tests
Examinations will be given to
about 700 Army enlisted men here
during the current month lor pro
motions in the infantry and food
serving branches, the Military
District of Washington has an
nounced.
The written tests will be given
to troops at Fort Myer, Fort Bel
voir, Fort McNair and the Army
Medical Center. The Army’s
career guidance plan was estab
lished, it was explained, to pro
vide a uniform method for quali
fied men to advance themselves
within their career fields.
One of the injured passengers, William L. Stevens, 4514
South Thirty-sixth street, Fairlington, talks to Maj. Howard R.
Lawrence, chief surgeon at Bolling, after receiving emergency
treatment
A Bolling Air Force Base airman helps in the rescue. It was
necessary for the rescuers to climb from boats through a plane
door which was above water. —Star Stall Photos.
Bolling Ward Gives Air Victims Quick Aid j
“It reminded me more than
anything else of a medical clear
ing station out there in the woods
during the war.”
That was th*e way Lt. Col. Ray
mond A. Lawn, commanding offi
cer of the Bolling Air Base hos
pital, described the handling of
last night’s 19 Capital Airlines
crash injury victims at the hos
pital’s special crash ward.
Working like a well-trained
team, doctors, nurses an$l tech
nicians went into action as soon
as rescue crews began bringing
the airline passengers in from the
Potomac.
Within 60 seconds of the time
the patients were put in their
beds in the ward each of them had
received plasma, according to Maj.
Howard R. Lawrence, chief of
surgery.
Almost as fast, those who need
ed it received blood. And each
of the 19 was given immediate
injections of penicillin and tet
anus antitoxin to curb infection
which was likely to turn up from
the varied injuries.
“The most important part ol
any medical treatment,” Maj,
Lawrence said, “is the emergency
care to carry patients through
their first period of shock.” Near
ly all the 19 were in this state
when they reached the hospital.
Equipment at Bedside.
When seconds were so impor
tant, doctors were able to carry
their equipment directly to the
bedsides of patients in the ward— j
thanks to a mobile surgical cart*
designed for just such a purpose
by Maj. Lawrence.
After almost continuous work in
the ward since last night’s tragedy,
Maj. Lawrence and Col. Lawn
paused this morning to tell a re
porter about the job.
The mobile cart, about the size
of a kitchen table, contains draw
ers and compartments on each
side filled with equipment.
At the ends are containers of
plasma and plaster for treating
fractures. Exactly the same equip
ment is contained on each side of
the cart, Maj. Lawrence said, so
that two doctors or technicians
can work at the same time.
“With the mobile cart we had
nearly everything we needed to
treat shock, burns, hemorrhages
and the dozen or so fractures
which had to be set,” Maj. Law
rence said.
As soon as the patients’ blood
was. typed, they received fluid
brought to Bolling by a team of
Walter Reed Hospital doctors, who
also assisted in the treatment.
No Patients Lost.
Until noon today, not one of the
survivors had to be removed to
ithe hospital operating room for I
I treatment. Without equipment on
the cart, especially for treating
fractures and suturing wounds,
such ward care would not have
been possible, the doctors said.
Since Bolling officials set up
their special crash ward two years
ago, Maj. Lawrence said, not a
patient brought into it has been
lost. Victims from two other air
crashes have been cared for there.
"We have to keep some space
like this clear at all times,” the
surgeon explained, "because we
always have something like this
hanging over our heads—entirely
outside of the work we usually do.”
Maj. Lawrence said he felt most
large airports could well afford to
set up some sort of crash ward
facilities themselves because most
air accidents occur on landings or
takeoffs. The only airport to set
up such a facility he knew of, he
said, was La Guardia in New York.
Special Police Unit Assigned
Against Yule Shoplifting
The Police Department has got
into the thick of the Christmas
rush.
More than a score of plain
clothes officers have been assigned
to the special detail that each
Christmas season patrols depart
ment stores for purse snatchings
and shoplifting. The special de
tail includes both men and
women. y'.
Christmas rush traffic in down
town Washington has been given
attention, too. Thirty-four men
from the police rookife school, as
well as men from other police as
signments, have been detailed to
duty at intersections where traf
fic is heavy. On some comers
three officers are detailed, one to
direct traffic, one to assist traffic
controls and another to direct
pedestrian traffic.
Virginia Youth Killed
When Train Hits Truck
ly th« Auociated Prw»
STRASBURG, Va., Dec. 13.—
Giles Getz, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Carter Getz of near Woodstock,
was instantly killed yesterday
when a truck in which he was
riding was struck by a Southern
Railway freight at a crossing 8
miles south of here.
A companion, John Williams,
was critically injured. He is in i
the Woodstock Hospital. j
Court Rules Warrant Necessary
To Search U. S. Workers' Desk
The Municipal Court of Appeals
held yesterday that a Government
worker's desk may not be invaded
without a search warrant any
more than a person’s home.
In the decision the court
awarded a new trial to Mrs. Peggy
Jean Blok, 22, a former Bureau of
Standards clerk convicted last
April on a charge of petty larceny.
The court ruled that a search
of the clerk’s desk was such an
invasion of her privacy as to
constitute a violation of the
Fourth Amendment.
At the Municipal Court hearing
last spring, the Government intro
duced a $5 bill and a $1 bill which,
it said, had disappeared from the
pocketbook of Miss Eileen Hansen,
another bureau employe. Miss
Hansen had recorded the serial
numbers of the bills and after
their disappearance, she called
Pvts. Paul Chappelle and James
Knott of the Eighth precinct.
They searched Mrs. Blok’s desk
without a warrant, it was said.
Assistant United 8tates Attor
ney Raymond E. Baker argued
before the Appeals Court that
the defendant had interest in the
desk that would entitle her to the
protection of the Fourth Amend
ment.
However, the court’s, opinion by
Judge Brice Clagett, said: ,
“Even though the desk itself
belonged to the Government * * *
such desks are ordinarily and
properly used by officers and
employes for keeping their per
sonal effects.
“If a clerk’s desk may be
searched without a warrant, the
same is true of the desk of a
cabinet officer or other high offi
cials,” the opinion added. “We
would hesitate to approve giving
such widespread power to police
officers * *
Union Butchers Extend
Safeway Negotiations
Union butchers have extended
negotiations with Safeway Stores
to January 3, but with the threat
of a strike unless agreement on
wages and hours is reached.
This action was taken at a
meeting of Local 555, Amalga
mated Meat Cutters and Butcher
Workmen of North America, last
night at Laborers’ Hall.
W. F. Strong, president and
business agent of the local, said
the men voted to continue nego
tiations to January 3. “But in
the event agreement is not
reached by that date,” Mr. Strong
said, "there is a grave possibility
that a strike will materialize.”
Driver Freed on Bond
In Hit-Run Accident;
Woman Hurt Critically
Lewis A. Bond, 49, vice presi
dent of the Edmonds Optical Co.,
915 Fifteenth street N.W., was
freed on $1,000 bond today in a
"hit-run” accident which injured
a 40-year-old woman here last
night.
Charged with leaving the scene
of an accident, he posted the bond
and the case was continued until
January 13.
Victim of the accident in the
1900 block of Calvert street N.W.,
was Miss Mary Price, 40, of 1875
Mintwood place N.W., who is in
critical condition at Emergency
Hospital.
According to Detective Fred
Williams of the accident investi
gation unit, Mr. Bond was ar
rested shortly after the accident
occurred. The license number of
his car was taken by a streetcar
operator, who turned it over to
police. Mr. Bond was located by
police at the rear of his apart
ment house, 2701 Connecticut ave
nue N.W.
Detective Williams said Mr.
Bond told him he got out of his
car after striking the woman and
then became frightened when ha
saw her lying in the roadway.
He said he then drove away.
Rigsbee Held for Grand Jury
In Slaying of Scheve
James Abbott Rigsbee, 35, to
day was ordered held for action of
the grand jury on a charge of
murdering Joseph (Big Joe)
Scheve. 56-year-old convicted
gambler, in a Ninth street pool
hall early last Saturday.
The action oame after a
coroner's jury heard testimony
that Scheve and Rigsbee, self
styled “tough guy.” engaged an
argument before th£ shooting.
After the argument, Rigsbee left
the hall. He returned about 45
minutes later, three or four 6hots
were fifed and he was heard to say
that “nobody else is going to get
hurt,” the jury was told.
Ernest N. White, 705 Fourth
street N.W., who said he had
known “Big Joe” for 18 years,
testified he handed over his Boy
Scout knife to Scheve just before
the two men began to argue. “Big
Joe” held the knife with its blade
open while they talked, Mr. White
said.
Scheve died face down on the
floor of the poolroom at 913 Ninth
street N.W., with a .38-caliber slug
in his back.
i Forum Speaker Named
Dr. Rowland M. Myers of North-7
western University, will give an
address on “The Romance of
Words” to the Montgomery Com
munity Forum at 8:15 p.m. Thurs
day in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase
High School.
Invitations Available
For Third Evening Star
Neighborhood Concert
Invitations for the third
Neighborhood Concert by the
National Symphony Orchestra
under the sponsorship of The
Evening Star, to be held at
Eastern High School Decem
ber 19, are now ready for dis
tribution.
The cards, which may be
had without cost, are avail
able at Eastern High School,
Mount Rainier High School,
Anacostia High School, Elliot
Junior High School, Kramer
Junior High School, Taft Jun
ior High School, Bryan, Kings
man, Woodridge and Brookland
Elementary Schools, the Com
munity Center Department at
Sixteenth and Lamont streets
N.W. and at the business coun
ter in the lobby of The Star
Building.
The concert, which Howard
Mitchell will conduct, will start
at 9 p.m. and will be broadcast
In its entirety by Station
WMAL. .