27 Dec 1955
Page 1
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Newspaper
New Castle News
Location
New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Dec 27, 1955
Page
1
A new crest in the Feather River pours through a levee gap at Gumtree flooding Yuba City for the second time in less than a week. The river rose three inches hourly overnight, overflowing the breach formed during last Saturday’s flood as flood workers watched.
In a week of northern California and Oregon storms 66 people are dead or missing. California reports 35 dead and 20 missing while Oregon lists 11 dead. Damage to highways and railroads tops 150 million dollars.
The broken levee that once guarded flood ravaged Yuba City is expected to fail as muddy waters surge toward Gumtree early this morning.
Pa Newc reports heavy Cast Turnpike traffic over the Christmas weekend with backups two lanes deep for three miles near the gateway. State police monitored the scene while youths on a township road raceway posed danger to drivers. Snow failed to accumulate due to cool temperatures and winds, leaving residents chilled and displays awaiting Page 7 continuation.
Fair and quite cold tonight with lows 15 to 20 in the east and 20 to 25 in the west. Wednesday mostly fair and warmer with a high near 44 and a river stage around 7.5 feet.
In Chambersburg Pennsylvania a 22 year old man, Hugh E. Bender, died after a 16 year old neighbor shot him the youth claimed he fired thinking his pistol was empty. The teen said he believed the gun had no rounds when he said Draw pardner. He told troopers I didn t mean to shoot him.
U S ships and planes aided by the Japanese coast guard rescued 7 seamen from three stricken vessels off Hokkaidos east coast. Sixty three fishermen were missing from seven vessels. The Ozbourn rescued three from the Dai Nin Shutva Maru, 21 feared lost. Seaplane and helicopter saved 22 from the Nanca Maru with 10 feared drowned. One killed, two missing in Hok kaido as 77 houses destroyed and 82 flooded.
Gen. Wang Shu Mang told China News that Communist China is now using MIG-17 fighters. He said scouting planes monitor the coast daily for signs of air or troop buildup and cited three airfields under construction in Fakien and another near Swatow. He claimed pilots are superior, noted ship movements near Matsu and Quemoy, and said orders to attack foreign ships were not given. Central News Agency reported Red MIGs approached Mars, triggering an alert the third in three days.
Three youths aged 16 to 18 were injured early Sunday when their car was forced off Pulaski Road and overturned. Bob Melitrot 16 endured chin and left leg abrasions and was later discharged from Jameson Memorial Hospital. George Eckhardt 17 suffered head bruises and arm and leg abrasions and was discharged. Ralph Searfoss 18 had chin lacerations and knee and leg brush burns and was discharged.
Rep. Morgan Moulder argues the Soviet leaders trip proves more personal contact and less foreign aid in cold war efforts. He cites Bulganin and Khrushchev tour impact, saying one goodwill visit through India outweighed millions in aid and urges a policy shift toward direct communication.
Soviet Petroleum Minister Mikhaïl Evseevenko told the Supreme Soviet that oil output would rise by about 8 percent in the year over 1950. He noted eastern regions now produce about 5 percent of total output, up from prewar levels. The budget debate also revealed a 10 percent defense cut and plans for larger atomic stations following a 5,000 kilowatt pilot plant.
An earthquake struck Damascus and other Syrian cities in two rapid three second waves. Little damage was reported. Meteorological stations traced the quake to a extension of a stronger tremor in the Mediterranean region likely near Turkey.
Western observers in Moscow noted a restrained tone at the Supreme Soviet's session with no aggressive posture toward the West. A 1956 peace budget was announced by Finance Minister Arseny Zverev, cutting defense spending about 10 percent and boosting housing and consumer goods.
Pennsylvania Turnpike officials at the Gateway near the Ohio state line reported a five to seven mile backlog on Monday caused by returning holiday travelers to Ohio and western states. The delay was attributed to a new slower mechanical checkout system, with thousands of red tail lights visible from the New Castle Enon Valley road bridge as the jam extended eastward. Lawrence County bore the heaviest impact while vehicles from Ohio along the Pennsylvania Pike faced smoother travel.
ROK navy officials met in Seoul to discuss a Christmas morning clash with Chinese warships seventy miles off Mikpo. Dr. Hongkee Karl accused the Chinese Reds of an open act of war as both sides issued charges and countercharges. Four ROK Coast Guardsmen were reported captured, with Karl demanding their return and warning of the strongest possible action unless freed.
President Eisenhower plans to spend the week refining his State of the Union message with desk work at the White House. He will deliver the speech in Washington when Congress reconvenes on January 3, aided by chief writer Kevin McCann and top advisers as doctors advised rest with work.
General Wang Shu Ming said the Chinese Nationalist air force is rushing to finished three new airfields capable of jet planes, near Fukien and Kwangtung. He noted six airfields were completed last summer and that Soviet MiG-17s have been supplied since the Korea armistice. He cited stronger training and maintenance as key advances for Formosa forces, though more jets are needed.
In Langhorne Pennsylvania a housemother identified as Mrs Charlotte Venable died in a dormitory fire that left 25 children absent due to holidays. Firefighters said she reached an outside hallway before collapsing near a fire escape. Damage was estimated at 3000 dollars and the cause remained under investigation.
Two drivers, Louis Hill 36 and Darlington Newman 22, suffered property damage when their cars collided on Route 168 two miles north of New Galilee at 10 30 p m Monday. No injuries were reported.
At least 35 persons died in Pennsylvania during the four day Christmas weekend. Highway accidents caused 24 deaths and six deaths occurred in fires. The list includes names and ages of several victims across towns such as Ellwood City Slippery Rock and West Middlesex.
A death record notes a man asphyxiated after drowning in a creek and a man shot by a 16 year old boy amid holiday violence. Obituaries list Florence Klee and Anna Matilda Anttila among others. Ellwood area fatalities number 18, with 13 in western sections and four central Pennsylvanian deaths. The holiday period ran from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight Monday.
A three alarm blaze on Christmas Eve heavily damaged New Jersey's Yards Department Store in Trenton. Most damage occurred on the first floor while flames spread through ducts to upper levels and merchandise on the top floors was ruined by water.
Harrisburg reports that the General Assembly will meet Wednesday for a one day session to advance bills by consent and judge prospects for ending the eight month tax stalemate. The body will recess until January 16 as the State Farm Show and conventions occupy lodging.
A holiday weekend record shows 602 traffic fatalities from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight Monday, plus 69 fire deaths, 4 plane crashes, and 125 miscellaneous accidents for a total of 800. Texas and Michigan lead state counts as coverage continues.
The weatherman predicts continued cold in Pennsylvania today and tomorrow as a high pressure system moves across Pennsylvania and New York. Snow flurries are possible in central and western areas with little accumulation, highs mainly in the 20s, and tonight’s low between 13 and 19 degrees. Thursday and Friday look warmer but cloudier with a chance of rain by Friday.
A lively account describes a cluttered living room strewn with Arthur Mometer toys space ships gumdrops chocolates and gum in hair. Dolls soldiers shirts jewelry powder perfume and more lie in a wild but joyful Christmas jumble shared by many kids on a festive twenty eighth day.
In West Philadelphia a 63 year old invalid, William V. Breese, burned to death after a fire began in his apartment. He attempted to escape in his wheelchair but collapsed. Breese had been confined after a stroke two years earlier. His brother-in-law Harry Fisher left the home on an errand after preparing a turkey dinner and returned to find the blaze.
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