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Weather Forecast Sunny with high in mid 50s today. Fair tonight; low about 35 in city and 28 in suburbs. Tomorrow fair and warmer. (Full report on Page A-2.) Midnight, 35 6 a.m. ...32 10 a.m. ...40 2 a.m. ...34 8 a.m. ...35 11 a.m. ...42 4 am. ...33 9 am. ...39 Noon_43 Guide for Readers pm-; Amusements -A-14 Churches ...A-8-19 Classified ..A-15-21 Comics _A-22-23| Editorial .A-6 Edit! Articles A-7, e*«» Lost and Pound. A-S Obituary _A-4 Radio -A-23 Real Estate..B-1-1S Sports ... 4-12-13 Society, Clubs. A-13 An Associated Press Newspaper 98th Year. No. 105. Phone ST. 5000 ★★ WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1950—THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. CUT Horn* D*11tms. Dally and Sunday. *1 SO a Month whan » m p'C'VTG Sunday*. *1.30. Nutt Final Edition. *1 -30 and *1*0 pm Month. ** J. O Celebration of Sesqui Launched As 10,000 See Colorful Pageant And Jet Planes Roar Overhead i _ Shivering Spectators Hear Barkley Recall Founding of Capital Washington’s Sesquicentennial celebration of its rise from an area of marshland and forest to the Capital of the world’s greatest Na tion was launched with colorful pageantry and military display on the windswept Capitol plaza to day. Stars of stage: screen and opera led District choral groups in un Pictures at Ceremonies Opening District's Sesquicentennial. Page A-24 folding the pageant. “Salute to Freedom,” which officially inaug urated the celebration commem orating the 150th. aniversary of the founding of the National Cap ital here in 1800. Before 10,000 shivering spec tators, Vice President Barkley re called that today was the anni versary of the laying of the first foundation stone of the Federal city at what is now Jones Point, Alexandria. 35-Gun Salute Fired. Jet planes flashed by in the sky overhead, a battery of field artillery fired a 35-gun salute and massed bands of three military services played patriotic airs as the celebration—which will con tinue for the next seven months— got under way. Clouds dimmed the warm sun, which had given promise of a lovely spring day just as the cere monies got under way at 10:15 a.m. Many of the spectators huddled under blankets and the chorus of 300 students from Dis trict area universities shivered in their colorful, but thin red, white and blue robes. A proclamation from President Truman welcoming the people of the United States to Washington for the Sesquicentennial celebra tion was read as the ceremonies began. The President had hoped to at tend the ceremonies himself, but was unable to do so because of the press of state business. Three Bands Play. Twelve Jet fighters of the 121st White House Fighter Squadron of the District Air National Guard roared over the plaza in tight for mation as the United States Ma rine Band, the Army Band and the Air Force Band joined to play the "National Emblem March,” under the direction of Maj. Wil liam F. Santelmann of the Marine Corps. A battery of four 75-millimeter field artillery pieces from Fort Myer, stationed in the Capitol Grounds near Peace Monument began firing the 35-gun salute while Uncle Sam, impersonated by William A. Wood of the State De partment, recalled that only once before in the history of the Na tion had that many rounds been fired in salute. That was in 1863 when the statue of freedom was hoisted in place atop the Capitol dome. The roar of the guns, carried away by the brisk wind and drowned out by the music of the massed service bands, was in audible to the crowds on the plaza. Vice President Barkley, accom (See SESQUI, Page A-2.) Nimitz Doubts He'll Live To See H-Bomb Developed By the Associated Press LAKE SUCCESS. April 15.— Admiral Chester W. Nimitz told 85 visiting West Point cadets yes terday he doesn’t think the hydro gen bomb can be developed in his lifetime. He is 65 years old. He added: “I hope I don’t live to see it.” Admiral Nimitz, who is engaged by the United Nations to admin ister a plebiscite for Kashmir, spoke to the cadets for 30 minutes. His opinion that man would not produce a hydrogen bomb in the near future was concurred in by Dr. Robert Millikan, chairman of the California Institute of Tech nology. British on Summer Time LONDON, April 15 (/P).—Britain goes on daylight saving time to morrow until October 22. Clocks will be advanced one hour at 2 a.m. (9 p.m. Saturday EST), put ting British time six hours ahead of Eastern Standard, instead of five. Late News Bulletin Edgerton Death a Suicide Coroner A. Magruder Mac Donald this afternoon issued a certificate of suicide in the death of Miss Ann Edgerton, who plunged 86 feet yesterday from the Massachusetts Avenue Bridre. Death, he ruled, re sulted from a crushed abdomen, hemorrhage and shock. (Earlier Story on Page A-24.) Air Force Corporal Convicted Of Trying to Spy for Russia 19-Year-Old Sentenced to Five Years and Dishonorably Discharged in Reich Trial By th* Associated Pros* GARMISCH - PARTENKIRCH EN, Germany, April 15.—A United States Air Force court-martial convicted Corpl. Gustav Mueller of St. Paul, Minn., today of trying to give secret American military information to Russia. The 19-year-old airman was sentenced to five years’ imprison ment and to be dishonorably dis charged from the Air Force. Muel ler testified in his own defense that he was only trying to trap some Russian spies when he gave away secret documents. The court, composed of seven Air Force officers, deliberated an hour and a half on its verdict after a two-day trial. Mueller, slim and dark-haired, took the verdict quietly, standing erect before the court. The small courtroom in this picturesque Alpine resort was packed with about 100 American soldiers and their wives, most of them here on holiday. The court rejected Mueller’s claim that he was trying to catch | Soviet spies. American agents had testified earlier that they posed as Russian agents and that when Mueller gave them secret documents he told them he was I doing so because ‘‘I believe in communism.” They said he asked no pay. Mueller admitted to the seven man court that he wired the So viet consulate in Bern, Switzer land, last September asking to contact a Soviet agent. He admitted stealing secret pa pers from the library of the Amer- j ican Intelligence School in nearby Oberammergau, where he was a student. He confessed giving these papers to agents "whom I believed to be Soviets.” But the young man said on the* witness stand: "I am not a Communist. I hate Communism. I am loyal to the United States and always shall be.” “I was only trying to fool the agents all along,” Mueller testi i (See TRIAL, Page A-4.) Warmer Weather Due After Record Cold Hits Nearby Fruit Crops Mid-50$ Expected Today, With 35 Low Tonight; Damage Is Heavy Spring started a comeback to day. The mercury that dropped to an all-time April 14 low of 24 degrees here hovered around 32 this morning and headed for an expected high in the middle 50s this aftemon. The Weather Bureau promised fair and warmer conditions to morrow. In a long-range fore cast it said temperatures during the* next 30 days might be under seasonal normals for most of the Eastern half of the country. But it will be milder than dur ing the last 10 days, when be low-freezing temperatures severe ly damaged fruit crops, particu larly in Virginia and Maryland, the bureau said. The minimum reading here to day was 32 at 5:30 am. There were unofficial readings in the upper 20s in several nearby sec tions. By 11 a.m. the mercury had climbed to 42. The District fore caster looked for clear skies and a low of about 35 tonight in the city and 28 in the suburbs. The record low for April 15 was 28 in 1904. Fruit growers reported heavy damage to peach trees because of intense cold Thursday night and early yesterday. Apple trees escaped with minor damage. The Winchester Research Lab oratory said it could not estimate peach crop losses at this time, but declared they would be heavy. Dr. A. B. Groves explained that apples are a later crop than peaches and that most apple trees are relatively hardy in the green bud stage. He said there was no further damage last night because temperatures were more than 7 degrees higher than Thursday ' night. An orchardist in the Charlottes ville-Crozet area estimated that one-third to a half of the peach buds in that section were killed by the cold. Maryland fruit growers gave this general summary of damage during the last two days: Severe damage to peach buds and strawberry plants on the | Lower Eastern Shore; some dam age around Annapolis; consider able damage to peaches and spring flowers near Frederick, and ex tensive damage in Washington County, with 30 to 40 per cent of the buds killed. Damage was heaviest in fruit growing areas that enjoyed warm er than usual weather in March |and April. Although slowly rising tempera tures were in prospect for fruit growing regions in Maryland, the mercury ranged from 18 to 28 degrees there early today. Aly Khan Flies to London In Spite of Broken Leg By the Associated Press j LONDON, April 15.—Prince Aly ! Khan flew into London today from Cannes determined to see the Hurst Park horse races today, despite a cast on his broken right ! leg. He told reporters to Croydon Airport after he was wheeled from his private plane: “I’ll see the races, then fly back to Cannes tonight.” Potato Growers Urged By Holland to Stop Relying on U. 5. Aid Senator's Vote Fails To Halt OK on Set Of Drastic Controls ■y the Associated Pros! Senator Holland suggested to day that the Nation’s potato growers might be wise to try do ing without Government price supports. Senator Holland Was the only one to vote no yesterday when a five-member Agriculture subcom mittee recommended a set of dras tic controls over the planting and marketing of potatoes. If the controls become law, at least two-thirds of America’s com mercial potato growers would have to approve restrictions fixed by the Secretary of Agriculture before the potato crop would be eligible for price supports. , Voting for the drastic new con trols were Senators Ellender, Dem ocrat, of Louisiana, chairman; Lucas, Democrat, of Illinois; Thye, Republican, of Minnesota, and Aiken, Republican, of Vermont. Earlier this session Congress voted to end potato supports next year unless rigid controls are ap plied. It took this action after nothing that the Government has spent $500 million supporting potato prices since the war. Severe Penalties Provided. Excess production could bring penalties of 75 per cent of the parity price of potatoes, or 15 pfer cent more than the present level of Government price supports. Farmers or first buyers of the “excess” potatoes would have to pay the penalties or be subject to Government suits. The Agriculture Department yesterday placed 15 million pounds of butter and 5 million pounds of cheese on its lists of commodi ties to be given away to needy per sons. Public and private relief agencies, the school lunch pro gram and the Bureau of Indian (See POTATOES. Page A-4.) Rumors Imperil U. S. Freedom, Barkley Warns Vice President Blasts #Foe/ but Says Worst Threat Is Internal By Cecil Holland Vice President Barkley warned today that the sharpest threats to American freedom come from spurces within this country which “sow rumors and suspicion among us.” He spoke at the opening of Washington Sesquicentennial House Spy Probe Has 11 Hawaii Con tempt Actions in Prospect. Page A-7 Celebration in ceremonies on the Capitol Plaza. Mr. Barkley said this Nation faces the “most powerful and I aggressive foe" in its history and without mentioning Soviet Rus sia by name he added that “what | the world is offered today is the counter revolution of tyranny.” Lust for Power Camouflaged. “What is hidden in the vest ments of an Utopian Marxist world of peace and plenty,” Mr. Barkley continued, “is a perverted and gnawing lust for imperial power which in its magnitude of scope would have made Caesar ;pale and Alexander tremble. “The propagandists for this foe call us war-mongers. They claim l to be the sole champions of peace. | And they maintain the largest military machine in the world.” But Mr. Barkley said there is another foe of freedom that is j “no less insidious, no less danger I ous” to the United States. Sharpest Threats Are Internal. Then without identifying those sources, the Vice President added: “The sharpest threats to free dom which we enjoy here in America have come, up to now, not from the outside, but from within. And it is often precisely when we are threatened with the loss of freedoms from the outside, that we hear voices among us demanding that we cede away some of our freedom here at home in order to protect ourselves from the outside. And these same forces which would abridge our freedom, sow rumors and suspicion among us.” The Vice President’s speech was pitched in the general frame work of this country’s history and the struggles over 150 years to maintain essential individual free dom. But it pointed up the po litical realities of the present and the Republican attacks on Amer (See BARKLEY, Page A-4.) 179 Indicted in Kentucky Include Town's Police By the Associated Press PINEVILLE. Ky., April 15.—Bell Circuit Judge R. L. Maddox and Commonwealth’s Attorney G. R. Drinnon were expected soon to disclose names of the 179 persons indicted by the grand jury last night on various charges including gambling, illegal voting and boot legging. Included among those indicted were Middlesboro Police Chief Guy Harrell and the entire Middles boro police force of 17. Jury Fore man W. R. Lundy said the police had neglected to do their duty in cleaning up gambling. Several persons were indicted as oper ators of gambling devices and on other charges connected with the gambling situation. Indictments on charges of il legal voting practices were re turned against 112 persons, including precinct officials and voters. Mr. Lundy said the indict ments were based on a local-option referendum in the Cardinal Dis trict. He said offenses included illegal registration, plural voting, voting in the open and other crimes. Fonda Back in'Mister Roberts' 13 Hours After Wife's Suicide _ — a ■ a Performance Called ' Unfaltering, Perhaps Sharper Than Usuc? •y th» Associattd Prati BEACON, N. Y„ April 15.— Henry Fonda went back to Broad way last night after his wife’s hastily arranged funeral and played “Mr. Roberts” to an audi ence that whispered the first news of her suicide from seat to seat. Thirteen hours before—shortly after dawn yesterday—the actor’s beautiful society wife had cut her throat from ear to ear with a razor blade. She was in a private sanitarium here, 40 miles north of New York City, and was believed to be re covering from a nervous break down that followed her consent to a divorce. She was 42. Her death note ended: “I am sorry, but this is the best way out.” A doctor and nurse found her dying on the floor of the bathroom in her suite at 6:50 a.m. Her death came just as Broad way heard rumors that romance had cooled between the 44-year old Fonda and Susan Blanchard, | MRS. HENRY FONDA. —AP Wirephoto. 22-year-old stepdaughter of Oscar Hammerstein n, the librettist and producer. Mr. Fonda disclosed plans for a divorce last December, amid reports of a romance with Miss Blanchard. Until then, his marriage had (See FONDA, Page A-4.) — — W WON'T YOU r; PLEASE i COOPERATE IN FOREIGN ' AFFAIRS? ft / * -J <f. 'Working Agreement’ On Foreign Policy Proposed by Lucas Senator Urges Truman And Congress to Tighten Liaison on Decisions By the Associated Press Senate Majority Leader Lucas proposed today that President Truman and Congress establish a “working agreement” to keep lawmakers abreast of foreign pol icy decisions. Senator Lucas said he will back any constructive move to revive two-party co-operatton on inter national questions and to reduce the “friction and misunderstand ing” which he said seem to have grown up between Republicans and Democrats in this field. “I think it is vital. that the executive and the legislative branches of the Government establish a close working agree ment so that no Democrats or Republican can say that he is in the dark on basic foreign policy,” he said. Would Not Curtail Power. “I am not suggesting that the power given the President by the Constitution in the foreign field be taken away from him, but Con gress must implement these pol icies and it seems to me good business to remove every possible cause for misunderstanding be tween the legislative and the ex ecutive.” Senator Lucas said, in this con nection, that if Senate Republi cans want to name one or more of their members as official rep resentatives to sit in on the for mation of foreign policy decisions, he believes some arrangement of the kind could be made. Senator Ives, Republican, of iNew York has suggested this action. But Senate Minority Leader Wherry said he doesn’t think the plan would work unless several Republicans were named, representing a cross-section of Republican thinking. Debate Held Necessary. Senator Wherry .said it’s his idea that a non-partisan foreign policy can only be developed by debating the issues in Congress before final decisions are made. “We don’t know what’s going on until the administration brings its decisions to Congress and asks for bipartisan support of them,” Senator Wherry said. “Look at Western Germany right now,” he continued. “Things are going on in Western Germany that Congress doesn’t know any thing about. We Republicans have tried to get the administra tion to stop the plant-dismantling program until Congress can sur vey it for itself, but our proposals have been pigeonholed.” Senator McCarran, Democrat of Nevada said the Senate-House “watchdog” committee for the European Recovery Program will decide next Wednesday whethe: to make an investigation of its own into the plant-dismantling question. “I’ve personally been concerned about the German situation,” Senator McCarran said. “It seems to me an absurd policy to be tear ing down industrial plants in Ger many which must be rebuilt with American dollars.” Slight Mistake CLEVELAND. April 15 (/P).—A worried frown creased the old gen tleman’s face at the home for the aged. He was hard of hearing and the census taker had just been introduced. “The undertaker?” he gasped. "I’m not ready for the undertaker yet.” The Govern ment worker finally made the sit uation clear and the old man relaxed. Clan MacLeod Kilt On Way to Truman As Gift From Scots By the Associated Press PORT GLASGOW, Scotland, April 15.—President Truman is going to get a Scottish kilt, fash ioned fj-om the colorful tartan of the Clan MacLeod. The President isn’t a member of the MacLeod clan, but an un identified friend has ordered the kilt for him. Mrs. A. MacDonald of this village on the River Clyde, who has made kilts for the menfolk for 25 years, said she has just finished the President’s kilt and mailed it to the White House. The Mac Leod tartan has a green ground with wide blue and black bands : crossing red and yellow over checks. Alexandria Han Dies After Head-on Crash Of Car and Big Truck Fredericksburg Collision Fatal to Phone Employe; Trailer Driver Uninjured An Alexandria man died early today after a head-on collision between his car and a tractor trailer on Route 1, near Freder icksburg, Va. The victim, Mason W. Ford, 42, of 6 Ashby street died at Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericks j burg, at 1 a.m. The acci- j i dent occurred about five hours earlier, 3 miles north of Fred ericksburg, police said. Virginia State Trooper H. L. Powers said the truck driver, James Sistare, 22, of Charlotte, N. C., escaped injury in the crash, which occurred in the lane of the northbound truck. A technical charge of manslaughter will be j placed against him, Trooper Pow- ! ers said. Phone Company Worker. Mr. Ford, a telephone switch-j board installation and repair man for the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. of Virginia, suffered multiple injuries, including loss of" a leg, the hospital reported. Neighbors said Mr. Ford lived alone at the Ashby street address and formerly lived in Richmond. They said he had worked for the (See ACCIDENT. Page A-2.) Senate Crime Probe Held Certain of Aid From Justice Agents Kefauver Hopes to Get Approval of Inquiry During Next Week ly th« Associated Press Senator Kefauver. Democrat, of Tennessee said today he has been assured that the Department of Justice will throw its full support behind a $150,000 Senate crime investigation. The Tennessee lawmaker is slated to direct the proposed in quiry which is expected to get Senate approval some time next week. Senator Kefauver said he be lieves Attorney General McGrath will go so far as to "loan” some of his experts to the Senate in vestigators who may carry the inquiry into several cities. Senator Kefauver hopes to bring the resolution authorizing a spe cial flveman investigating com mittee before the Senate Monday. But legislative pressures may in terfere. Democratic Leader Lucas of Illinois said the foreign aid pro gram is next on the list of major bills to be called up. He said he wasn't sure it could be displaced for the investigation resolution. The resolution would authorize Vice President Barkley to choose the committee from the Senate’s Judiciary and Commerce Com mittees. Each of these committees was going ahead with its own plans for a crime investigation until the Democratic leadership decided to merge the inquiries. This move has called out opposition from the Republican Policy Committee which wants to keep the investi gation in the Judiciary Commit tee. Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio said he believes the new move was an effort to keep those Republicans off the committee who were most interested in a crime inquiry. These two are Senators Ferguson of Michigan and Donnell of Missouri. -.— Kyushu Volcano in Action FUKUOKA, Japan, April 15 (/P).—Frequently erupting Mount Aso on Kyushu Island spewed smoke, ashes and stones today. No lava was seen. 2 Baby Elephants Land Safely, Head for D. C. Aboard Truck The Zoo’s two baby gift ele phants from India were en route to Washington by truck today after a gale on the Atlantic delayed their arrival in Brooklyn this morning by more than 24 hours. The 2-year-olds, which will be presented to the children of America by the Ambassador from India at a ceremony at the Zoo at 4 o’clock tomorrow, were let out of their cages to stretch their legs when they reached Brooklyn. The elephants had been at sea 23 day? since sailing from Bombay \ aboard the freighter Steel Fabri- I cator of the Isthmian Steamship! Co., the Associated Press reported, j Their 19-year-old mahout or: caretaker, Baba Jan, cousin of Hollywood’s “Elephant Boy” Sabu, finally prodded them back into their specially built six-foot-high iron cages. But there was a lot of trumpet ing and balkiness as the “babies” iwere pried loose from their pile of hay and sugar cane on the deck of the freighter. In the end, the steel cages were hoisted over the ship's sides onto a waiting Washington-bound truck. Frank O. Lowe, headkeeper of the Zoo, was in the Reception Committee for the two elephant*. They are the gifts of the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. ‘.‘We’ll have the finest collection of baby elephants in the whole United ’States,” Mr. Lowe told newsmen. Several Indian officials also were at the pier. “Ashok,” the male member of the pair, cringed in the middle of his cage with buckled knees, as he was lifted off the ship. But “Shanti,” female of the species, took the “lift” with more aplomb. The two didn’t mind posing for photographers. They showed great interest in the cameramen’s flash bulbs, pushing their trunks through ihe steel cars of their cages in an effort to snare the bulbs. Crewmen said rough weather two days ago didn’t bother the animals’ appetite. The ship car ried 300 pounds of rice, 5,000 pounds of hay and other elephant delicacies for the 23-day voyage from Bombay. The Isthmian line hauled thej elephants and their keeper free of charge. A special tarpaulianj shed was erected on the main deck! over the cages. Pepco to Seek New Increase In Power Rate Boost Is Needed To Meet Expenses, Board Is Told The Potomac Electric Power Co. plans to ask the Public Utilltlea Commission for a rate increase soon, it was disclosed today. The move was announced by Alfred O. Neal, president and chairman of the Pepco board, at its annual meeting. The effect on consumers was not revealed. Mr. Neal said the increase will be asked because company earnings in the first quarter of this year were below the authorized 5.5 per cent return allowed on the present rate. Operation Costs Cited. The official said the higher rates are absolutely imperative because of constantly increasing costs of operation. At the same time. Mr. Neal said the utility firm intends to sell $30 million in bonds this year. He added, however, that $20 million ! will be in the form of refinancing. i Pepco's last rate increase went jinto effect July 21. 1948, with the average family paying about 30 cents a month more for power. The increase at that time was granted by the PUC after Pepco officials said the boost was needed to offset rising costs and to allow needed expansion. That increase was expected to give the firm about $2,748,000 more in annual operating revenue. Money Needed for Expansion. About a year ago, the utility | firm outlined an expansion pro gram of about $66 million, j Calling of the bond issue an nounced today by Mr. Neal means the company will get only $10 mil lion in new money. The funds are needed to meet the expansion | program, Mr. Neal said. ! Common stockholders are to be Riven an opportunity to subscribe | for new common stock on the j basis of one share for each five shares now held. The board of 12 directors was re-elected at the meeting held in | company headquarters. 180 Bookbinders Go On Strike in 22 Shops : About 180 Washington book binders began a strike today I against 22 of the city’s leadlnr ; print shops that belong to the Graphic Arts Association. Although the union said its ! strike officially began at 10:30 J a.m., most of the bookbinders | were not scheduled to report to work until Monday. John Fitzgerald, president of the Journeymen Bookbinders' Lo cal No. 4, AFL. said the union voted last night to reject an offer to renew last year's contract, which expired March 31. Mr. Fitzgerald said the strike will affect 22 firms which have closed shops. Picket lines would be set up Monday, he said. The union is seeking a 37Vi hour work week with the same take-home pay of $85 paid each week under the old 40-hour-week contract. Mr. Fitzgerald said when negotiations began several months ago the arts association asked union members to take a $20 weekly cut. The bookbinders fold, stitch and bind printed material after It comes off the presses. Mr. Fitz gerald said among publications that would be affected are ths National Geographic Magazine, and AFL papers. Father of Flyer Missing In Baltic Hurt in Plunge •y th< Aitocia»*d Pun NEW YORK, April 15.—William Seeschaf, 62. despondent since re ceiving word that his son was aboard the Navy plane missing over the Baltic, plunged five floors down a dumbwaiter shaft today and was injured seriously. At Fordham Hospital, doctors said Mr. Seeschaf suffered a pos Air Force to Abandon Baltic Plane Search Tomorrow. Page B9 sible spine fracture and fractured left leg Mr. Seeschaf’s wife said the |Navy notified them Monday that ! their son. Lt. Howard William Seeschaf, formerly of Fairlington. Va., was aboard the Navy Privateer missing a week. She said her I husband had been despondent ! since. Police said Mr. Seeschaf left his fifth-floor Bronx apartment today and opened the hallway door to the building's dumbwaiter. After he plunged to the bottom of the shaft, Mr. Seeschaf crawled into the backyard where he was found by the building superin tendent. Felix Herbst. Mother, Son Die in Fire OTTAWA, April 15 (#).—Fire believed to have been started by a smouldering cigarette swept through a three-story home here early today, killing Mrs. Kathleen Saunders. 38. and her 3-year-old son Timmy. Eight other person* escaped.