davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
TWO DEFENDANTS
 PLEAD GUILTY TO LESSER CHARGES

Two defendants indicted by the grand jury earlier this week and who pleaded not guilty to charges, were allowed this morning to plead guilty to reduced charges, after which they received sentence from Federal Judge George w. Folta.
 Kalle Hirsi, previously indicted on a charge of assault with intent to rape, to which he entered the plea of not guilty, was brought before the court on the included offense of contributing to the de- linquency of a minor, to which he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years in the federal penl- tentiary.
 William c. Pugh, charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in Petersburg, during which man was wounded by knife, pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense of simple assault, for which he received a sentence of four months in the federal jail here.
 This leaves but one case to come before a jury, that of Walter J, Yatchmanoff, charged on two counts of burglary with intent to rape and breaking and entering with intent to rape, both of which happened in Sitka. It has been set for 10 m., January II.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
PIONEER I5AD0RE
 BAYLE5 RETIRING

ANCHORAGE = Isadore BayleS, 73, prominent resident of Anchor age since it was a tent city in 1916, announced today his retirement from active business and the sale of his clothing store to Eugene Smith, his employee for the last 15 years.
 MT. Bayles plans to leave An chorage the latter part of this month to make his residence with his daughter, Dorothy, at GA Bar celona Street, San Francisco.
 Sale of the store was effective with the new year. MT. Smith will continue it with the same name and the same lines of clothing that have made it a Fourth Avenue landmark ever since the city was established.
 MT. Bayles has been resident of Alaska for 50 years and has par ticipated in it's development ever since the gold stampede of 1899 Prior to his arrival in Anchorage he engaged in business at Dawson VT, Fairbanks and Iditarod.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
BRIDGES CASE WITNESS TOLD TO REMAIN

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan, 7-IR- The defense in the Harry Bridges perjury trial, now in weekend re- cess. today challenged the identity ol a major government witness Lawrence Seton Ross.
 Ross, an ex-Communist editor was ordered hy Federal Judge George B. Harris to remain here for the Monday court session. He had requested permission to re- turn to Memphis, Tenn, where he is editor of a cotton trade journal
 The witness earlier testified he saw Bridges, President of the CIO Longshoremen's Union, at three Communist meetings and was at a New York meeting at which Bridges was elected to the party's central committee.
 The government accuses Bridges of perjury for testifying at lis l945 naturalization hearing that he was never a member of the Com munist party. Two character wit nesses at the hearing, Henry Schmidt and J. R. Robertson, also union officials, are charged with conspiracy and are his co-detend- ants.
 Defense attorney James MacInnis questioned Ross closely about his past but found the witness some what vague about his early life. After court, the defense attorneys told newspapermen that we don't believe there is any such person"
 Under cross examination the wit ness denied he had ever been known by the names of Robbins, Robinson or Ballard.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
THOUSANDS SUFFERING
 IN NATION
Flood Waers Rising-S Sheet of Ice in Wide Area
 Hundreds Homeless
(By Associated Press)

Flood waters rose to new danger points in the midwest and ice storms crippled parts of middle Dixie today as property and crop damage from this weeks weather scared into the millions.
 The floods and ice storms inflict- ed severe hardship on thousands. Hundreds were made temporarily homeless. Other thousands were without heat Business was dis rupted, Travel was impeded Scores of highways were under water or ice- blocked.
 There have been several deaths attributed to storms or the floods. Uncounted livestock in the flood areas have been lost or are in danger.
 Cold weather this week caused millions of dollars damage to crops in southern California and Arizona but break in the abnormally sev- ere cold was expected.
 
 Meanwhile, as a sheet of ice en- veloped wide areas and icy waters surged over farm lands and in- vaded communities, most of the eastern and southern states en- joyed summer-like weather. Tenn peratures climbed to record marks.
 A forecast of warmer weather in the midwest flood belt brought new threat of a quick thaw and faster flooding. Rain and sleet over the Ohio River Valley to the Gulf heightened the peril of developing floods in major streams.
 Memphis was locked in the worst ice storm to hit the Mississippi River town of 350.000 in IT years.
 Rain-swollen streams spilled out over thousands of lowlands in parts of Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Floods also were reported in mid dle Tennessee and northeast Miss issippi but were regarded as not serious. Many schools throughout the area have been closed.
 Tn Indiana alone, the Red Cross reported 500 families already had been forced to leave their homes in a dozen communities.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
CITY BECOMING TAME,
 POLICE REPORTS SHOW
Juneau is becoming tame.

Juneau is becoming tame.
 This fact was indicated hy a comparison between Police Depart ment reports for 1948 and 1949. The 1949 report was presented to the City Council last night by Police Chief Bernard E. Hulk.
 The number of arrests for drunk eness in Juneau in 1948 nearly equalled the total number of arrests for all causes in 1949, the com parison showed: 474 persons were arrested for drunkenness in 1948; the total number arrested for all causes in 1949 was 476.
 However, reckless driving and larceny were up in 1949. Larceny arrests totalled eight in l949 against seven in 1948; reckless driv- ing arrests in 1949 totalled 15 against five the year before.
 No one was arrested for carry ing a concealed weapon in 1949; but in 1948 five were hauled in for hiding knives and guns on their persons.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
STARS TO
 INSTALL AT JOINT
 SESSION MONDAY

Monday evening at 8 o'clock, in the Scottish Rite Temple, will ce held the annual joint installation ceremonies of Mt. Juneau Lodge No. AT F.&A.M. and Juneau Chapter No. T, Order of the Eastern Star. The Masonic lodge will officially open at 7.30 and the public install lation ceremonies are scheduled to commence at o'clock.
 Installing officers for the Masons will be the following Past Masters: J. J. Fargher as Installing Officer, Wallis s. George as Installing Marshal and M. L. MacSpadden as Installing Chaplain. For the East ern Stars, Henrietta P. Power will officiate as Installing Officer, Mary Jeannette Bowling as Installing Marshal and Lillie B. Hooker as Installing Chaplain. Carol Beery Davis will act as Organist for both ceremonies.
 1 Refreshments will be served in the Temple Dining Room imme- diately following the ceremonies.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
Meeks Loses
 Appeal Case

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7-lR-- The U. s. Court of Appeals late yesterday rejected the appeal of George Harrison Meeks. of Juneau Alaska, sentenced to life impri- sonment for murder.
 It was Meeks' second appeal. Ar earlier conviction and life sentence for the staying of Clarence Camp bell in Juneau, Dec. 10, 1945, re- suited in the Court of Appeals re- versing the verdict and ordering new trial.
 Meeks was tried again and con- victed Feb. II, 1948, and received the same sentence. In the appeal turned down today he said prejudi- cial errors injured his case in the trial court.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
CAk0L PIPELINE WORKERS OBJECT
 OF RCAF SEARCH

EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. T. tR-Canada's Air Force planned tc start a search today in areas oi 73-below zero temperatures foi seven men who have not reported to their Northwest Territories base since Dec. 10.
 The men, all Canadians, are dis mantling the wartime Canol pipe line which carried oil into White horse, HOO miles northwest of Ed- monton.
 When last heard from, the men had 10 days food left, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. But an officiar of the salvage project said he was confident they were safe because shelters with emer- gency provisions were located at 10-mile intervals along the pipe line.
 The Air Force planned to send search plane along the pipline route beginning today.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
(Bv the Associated Press)

US. military officials in Tokyo said today Formosa is doomed to fall to Communist China now that the United states has decided on a hands-off policy.
 United States defense strategy in the Pacific has depended on a neutral or friendly Formosa, these experts said In enemy hands For mosa could be a bludgeon against American air fields on Okinawa and in the Philippines.
 From Hong Kong, Chinese Ma t,onalists claimed they had smashed a second Communist at tempt to invade Hainan Island, off China'S south coast. Hainan and Formosa are the last remaining territories under control of Chaing Kai-shek's Nationalists. The Ma tionalists said their war planes caught 1000 Communist junks ap- preaching Hainan and shot them down like sitting ducks. Five hun dred were sunk and the rest fled to the Chinese coast, the Ma tionalists said.
 Madame Chiang Kai-shek who has had a long stay in the United States, is leaving next week for Formosa to join her husband. She will make a farewell appeal to Americans by radio tomorrow.
 Five nations-the United States, France, Cuba, Ecuador and Egypt have not recognized the Com munists and continue to acknow- ledge the Nationalist government. The United States and France have no immediate plans to recognize the Communists. G
 Britains nod of approval to Red China raised a fresh Congressional cry in Washington for drastic shipping of European Recovery funds. 4,ss
 Republican Senator Taft said the British diplomatic move will pro vide lot of ammunition for those who want ECA funds cut
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
DAUGHTER E BORN TO
 MR. AND MRS. pEGUES

The Pegues family here is con- fronted with totally unfamiliar problem: That of choosing name for girl. Names like Donald, Ter ry, Rodger, Godfrey, Robert, Rich ard and William come easily. But a girl?
 Donald Haley Pegues, eldest of the seven sons, just named, of Mrs. Dorothy Pegues, is the proud father of daughter. She was born at 6:04 pm. yesterday in St. Ann's Hospital, weighing 6l2 pounds.
 The young mother, the former Elsie Schombel, seems to have been the only person to think in terms of girl, but even she is not com pletely decided in her choice.
 Baby Pegues is g third-genera- tion Alaskan. Both her parents were born in Juneau, as was Grandmother Pegues Perhaps this generation will run to daughters just as the previous one did tc sons, as step-brother of the Pegues "boys,' living in San Fran cisco, also has a young daughter
 Alaska relatives of Baby Pegues number the maternal grandparents Mir and Mrs Otto SchOmbel Ot Haines, and paternal great-granc- parents, MT. and Mrs. Thomas Radonich of Juneau. The baby has an uncle, Henry Schombel residing in Juneau, and an aun' in Haines.
 She can't be just Baby Pegues' very long. So Don, Terry, Rod Jeff, Bob, Dick and Bill are work ing through list of girls name' from Ann to Zelda.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
(AH00NE ON SEARCH
 FOR MISSING TRAppER

The Coast Guard cutter Cahoone left at 6 am. today from Juneau for the Gambler Bay region on Ad- miralty Island to search for Frank Young who has been unheard ot since he left Wrangell December 12 on trapping expedition.
 He was aboard his troller, the 31C93.
 A search has already been car ried out in the Gambler Bay region by Coast Guaid aircraft from Annette Island.
 Young's wife reported to the Coast Guard that he was sched- uled to return to Wrangell Decem- Der g. He carried a limited amount Of supplies.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
pAA OFFICIAL HAS
 HIGH PRAISE FOR
 JUNEAU TERMINAL

The Juneau Airport Termina Building is a perfect model of what such facility should be-"
 Many visitors have expressed like admiration, but this statement by Calvin D. Yaggy of San Fran fisco carries real authority, for he is an expert in such matters. A manager of ground divisions fol the Pacific Alaska Division of Par American World Airways. Yaggy has studied terminals all over the world.
 "The Juneau terminal is effic- iently laid out, instead of being primarily a showcase with a lot of concessions" Yaggy said.
 Ut combines a maximum of ease in handling traffic with comfort able and attractive general meeting place and ar excellent restaurant It is rare example of cuilding designed precisely for it's intended use, Juneau certainly deserves con- gratulations.'
 Yaggy has been far afield in his work of operating and maintaining ground facilities.
 There is much to be dore, ns tc terminals, in such places as Wake Island, Midway and Canton" he said.
 "The question of terminals has had almost no attention since the war. Safety, of course, comes first, and it has been important to in- stall safe runways, efficient lighting and first-rate communications Now, however, we can get to the terminal question" Yaggy was in the Orient in July when it was thought that American lines could go back to Shanghai which has been closed to them since April. But the Nationalists began again" and the Shanghai office of Pan American is still on a standby basis, staffed by one American and seven Chinese. The official agent spent seven years in South America, part of the time for a local airline in Vene- zuela, the remainder for Pan Ameri- can. He was based in Alaska fol nine months during the war.
 Yaggy calls this Administration trip, although it is not his frs trip here for PAA. He plans tt go to Annette Island tomorrow then to Seattle and San Francisco and to return in month for in spection of Whitehorse, Fairbank and Nome agencies.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
SEVEN OUT, THREE IN,
 VIA PACIFIC NORTHERN

Besides persons carried between intermediate stops, Pacific Northern Airlines. took seven passengers to Anchorage, and brought three into Juneau yesterday.
 On the flight to the westward were MT. and Mrs. Charles A. Penn, William Swanson, Elroy Day Louise Miller, Jan Cropley and Will liam Compton.
 Arriving here were A. F. Parker and Archie Chase from Gustavus and Malcolm Denhard, from An chorage.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
BENEFIT DANCE FOR
 MACK MERCADO AT
 ELkS' HALL TONIGHT

A benefit dance will be given to- night in the Elks Ballroom for courageous D. B. (Mack) Mercado, Juneau fisherman whose feet were amputated after he survived six day fight for his life on Lynn Canal.
 The dance will begin at 10 pm. Music will be by the Philippine String Orchestra, and a variety program will be presented at mid night. No charge will te made for admission, but donations will be accepted at the door. All proceeds will go toward pro-
 viding Mack with artificial feet
 and defraying his hospital ex- 1 penses.
 Mercado survived the sinking of l his troller in St. James Bay on , Lynn Canal in a storm the night
 of December T. His partner, Andy Haffner, drowned after the vessel sank.
 Mercado walked barefoot ten
 miles to an old cabin on Boat Har-
 bor the next day over rocks, snow and barnacles. He waited until thf
 following Tuesday in the cold win dowless cabin before being rescued
 by B. H. (Jack) Manery, another Juneau fisherman. His frozen feet were amputated just before Christmas, when it
 was found that they would not come to life. The three Juneau
 physicians who performed the op-
 eration gave Mack" the till for their work Christmas. It said: No
 Charge"
 Juneau trollers are in charge of ] arrangements for tonight's dance.
 Manery is chairman of the dance committee.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
High-Good Meat Is
 For Armed Forces

CHICAGO, Jan. 7-tR-The armed forces have begun to buy grade B" high-good meat for the use of troops, meat industry sources re- vealed today.
 Previously, depending on the sea- son, mixed grade B" and grade "C" meats were purchased.
 Officers at the headquarters of the Quartermaster Corps marketing center would not comment.
 Meat industry men here, however. received the grade "B" announce ment on Dec. 15.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
city sewage facilities estimated cost S30OO0.

ClOy 0tWdSt ldCulllco CooiiliatSd cost $30,000.
 Eight Juneau establishments ap- piled for licenses for non-g gambling card tables. All applications were approved. Those applying were: New York Tavern, Sweeney's Corner Bar, Triangle Club, Bailey's Bar, Blackie's Bar, Alaskan Hotel, Smiley's Pool Hall and the Im- erial Pool Room.
 A flat license fee of s20 per year is charged for the first four tables and $5 per year is charged for each table over four.
 NO DATE-ELECTIO
 No date was set for the special election to submit the question of annexation of the Highlands to the residents of that area and Juneau property owners.
 The matter was tabled after a suggestion was made that money could be saved if that election were combined with the election which will submit to the people of Juneau the question of turning over the property on which the Arctic Brotherhood Hall stands for use as a site for a new Territorial Building.
 The ordinance calling for this special election awaits third read ing before final adoption.
 Attorney Joseph A. Mclean rep resented the Baranof Liquor Store before the council and asked that the council reconsider it's recom- mendation to the Federal Court that the store not be allowed to open in 1850 until February l.
 In ruling on applications for 1850 liquor licenses, the US. Dis trict Court followed the recom- mendation of the Council.
 After McLean's plea the matter was referred to the councils Police committee.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
FUNDS RELOCATED
 FOR NEW GRIDIR0N, CITY COUNCIL TOLD

The Territorial Board of Road Commissioners yesterday approved the allocation of s30,O0O from the ], Alaska motor fuel tax fund for 7 construction of a 640-ioot gridiron at the small boat harbor here.
 This was announced to the City Council at it's regular meeting last night by Frank A. Metcalf, Terri |, torial Highway Engineer and chair man of the Board of Road Com missions.
 Need for a new gridiron was termed an emergency" by mem bers of the harbor committees of q both the United Trollers of Alaska, Juneau branch, and the Juneau Fishing Vessel Owners Association at a meeting December 20 at tended by Metcalf, members of the Councils harbor committee and representatives of the vessel-owners.
 Plans which were presented ty : City Engineer J. L. McNamara at the December 20 meeting were revised after conferences with ves- . sel owners.
 GRIDIRON CONSTRUCTION
 Revised plans call for construc- tion of the new gridiron parallel to Harbor Way on the east side | of the harbor, making possible the carrying of materials for repair and painting of vessels from the street directly onto the gridiron.
 The new gridiron's capacity will be 20 vessels. The present gridiron } can accommodate five vessels at one time.
 Work will begin on construction of the structure as soon as ma terials have been purchased, Mayor Hendrickson said.
 Members of the board of road commissioners are Metcalf, Gov. , Ernest Gruening and Territorial Treasurer Henry Roden.
 After informing the council of the allocation of funds, Metcalf asked for reciprocity" He re- quested that Bert Lybeck be re- hired as city street foreman.
 The matter was referred to the street and finance committees for further study
 Lybeck lost his job as city street foreman a few months ago during a city economy drive.
 FEDERAL AID APPLICATIONS
 The council passed resolutions to apply for Federal aid under the Public Works Bill for Alaska on three projects. Applications were to be submitted today to the Con- munity Facilities Agency.
 Projects to be applied for are:
 l. A municipal building, housing city offices, fire hall and jail- estimated cost $45O,o0O.
 2. A public library building ' estimated cost $140,000.
 3. Extension and improvement of
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
TAFT OPPOSES TRUMAN'5 CALL,
 BUSINESS LCANi

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7-R-Pre- sident Truman's call for more lib- eral Federal loan terms to busi- ness collided today with a pro- posal by Senator Taft CR-Ohio) to end most Government lending
 "It seems to me-" said Taft that the Government ought to be getting out of the lending busi- ness, except in the agriculture field where the policy has been long established"
 Taft's attitude highlighted a general cool reaction on Capitol Hill to the credit proposals MT Truman outlined yesterday in his economic report to Congress.
 While these proposals got a chilly reception from the lawmak- CTS, the national goals which the President set forth in the report found general acceptance.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
FEAR 31 DEAD u. 5. Nrafeay
 IN HOSPITAL FouIed Win FIRE IN I0WA|Forr,osa Gone

DAVENPORT, Ia., Jan. 7-R- Screaming mental patients and calm attendants were trapped in a hospital fire early today and 3l of them-all women-were feared to have pershed.
 The way to safety for many ot the patients was blocked ty barred windows.
 Coroner H. c. Wildman said lodies of 2l women had been re- moved and 10 other women were believed dead in smouldering de- bris.
 Wildman said 37 others were in- jured, thus accounting for the 68 persons he said were in the build- ing. All but three of the 6S were women
 Except for a nurses aide, all the dead and missing were patients.
 They were asleep in the three story St. Elizabeths ward building of Mercy hospital when the flames broke out at 2 am.
 The fire was brought under con- trol in a four-hour battle.
 The flames spread rapidly through the 60-year-old brick structure, one of four buildings comprising this eastern Iowa city's largest hospital.
 Screams of the trapped women spread the alarm.
 Hours after the fire was extin- guished firemen worked at carrying out melted iron beds, flaming mattresses, and other smouldering debris.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
WIRETAp EVIDENCE
 E FORBIDDEN IN ESPIONAGE CASE

NEW YORK, Jan. 7-lR-The Government prosecution = thrown on the defensive-has been called on by Federal judge to prove it can press the Coplon- Gubitchev espionage case without relying on illegal wiretap evidence.
 T feel the burden is now on the Government to produce its proof" Judge Sylvester Ryan said.
 Government prosecutors, claiming they have plenty of other evidence will attempt to convince the judge when pre-trial hearings iGsume next Monday.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
The W ashington Merry Go Round
By DREW PEARSON

(copyright, 1s5O by Bell Syndicate. Incl
 VASHINGTON-For Republican ears only, Senator Taft gloomily predicted that COP will not re- capture Congress this November, and as result the issue of the Social State" won't be decided until the 1852 Presidential election.
 Talking shop with COP Senators behind closed doors, Taft solemnly added that he himself didn't care to come back to the Senate If the . Republican membership is decreas- ed".
 Taft took the floor after col leagues hailed his reelection as the most important to the Repub- lican cause New Hampshire's tart tongued Senator Charles Tobey al- most turned the meeting into a Taft rally with an emotional talk.
 "The most important thing to the Senate and the country is to reeleCJ d uldll WILD Ildo lldO E uoo to vote how he stood," rang out Tobey, who disagrees with Taft as often as any Republican in the Senate.
 Tobey even offered to "talk to some of the people of Ohio-some of the humble people,"
 "All the people of Ohio are hum ble," chirped Taft's junior colleague from Ohio, Handsome John" Bricker.
 Taft then stood up and told ap- plauding Senators: T don't want to come back if the Republican membership is decreased want to see all of you come back who are here now-and few more. I don't .xpect the Republicans to get majority in November, but the important thing is to win some gains. The whole issue of the So- cial State won't be settled anyhow until 1852"
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-07
STEAMER MOVEMENTS

Baranof from Seattle due Tues day.
 Princess Norah scheduled to sail from Vancouver January A.
 Denali from westward scheduled southbound 3 am. Monday.