davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-08-17
RocketMoi|'s Old Stuff
By WiIIiom Hines

One sees by the papers that
the Germans-who contributed
such unpronouI n bles as
"Brennschluss" and "Raketen-
f1ugplatz" to the science of rock
etry-are at it again.
1t seems that in Frankfurt
Con the West-Zone Main and
not the East-Zone ODER a
group of rocket enthusiasts an
nounced the firing of five test
rockets. They promptly herald
ed the coming of the time when
mail will be carried in the fiery
tailed craft. And the press
hailed the announcement as
something fresh out of the
Qawn-of-a-Ne depart
ment.
Actually, rocket mail was an
old story in Europe before
American Air Corps pilots began
banging the tops of Rocky
Mountains in the mid '3Os.
In fact, an Austrian with the
improbable name of Friedrich
Schmiedl ran a rocket mail route
out Of the little mountain town
Of Schoeckel as early as 1881.
Between February Of that year
and March. 1933-when Herr
Schmiedl ran afoul of the jittery
government of Chancellor Kurt
Schuschnigg-the et-postal
service delivered an estimated
1850 letters in 10 "shots" to va
rious villages.
Herr Schmiedl made his own
rockets, charging them with
gunpowder and launching them
from a rack on a hillside. Small
though they were, the rockets
carried up to 800 letters each.
Cuba, according to Rocket
Expert Willy Ley in his recent
book. Rockets, Missiles and
Space Travel" did some expert
mentS with rocket mail. The
Cuban government even issued a
stamp in 1889 inscribed Postal
Rocket Experiment" Nothing
ever came of the experiment.
however, presumably because
the rocket couldn't guarantee
delivery the way Capt. Rowan
Evening star., 1952-08-17

front end. They dove into the
water and leaped out Of 1t with
mad irregularity.
"The marlin think they are
dolphins," said Charlie. They'll
come right up and nudge them.
That's why I'm keeping the bait
on the stern lines right behind
them.
Old Spindle -Snout
There's no thrill in the world
like seeing Old Spindle -Snout
come up after the bait. Some-
times you can look right down
his throat.
"You know what to do, don't
you. when he takes IT,"
I confessed I didn't.
He said:
"You stand UP. Take the rod
out Of the socket. Point it right
at the fish and release the reel.
Let him take 1t away about 100
feet. Then lock the reel and
pull back with all your strength.
If you've hooked him all you
have to do after that In to keep
the line taut. Let him 60 away
when he runs or sounds, but
reel him in fast when he stops.
We'n work the boat so that you
will get him alongside"
George Huber. who had been
sleeping like the dormouse at
the Mad Hatter's tea party,
came to about this time. George
Is an old deep-sea fisherman.
He has a 475-pound tuna to his
credit. But he awoke with q re-
markable statement.
Il believe I am getting SICK"
he said.
John suggested that there
were pills in the cabin. George
turned one way to get the pills,
then made a quick turn the
other way to reach the rail.
Something New for Huber
'First time that ever hap
pened to me-" he said in amaze.
ment and chagrin.
The Atlantic is an awfully
big place in a small boat. We
trolled across miles of 1t In the
next four hours as q school Of
porpoises played around us.
At 2 pm. four hours after
we began to troll. Spindle-Snout
still hadn't showed up. We
decided to admit defeat. It
had taken three hours to get
out there; it would take us
at least that long to get back.
When Capt. Mulford made
his landfall. he hit 1t on the
nose. He was right opposite
Ocean City, headed for the
inlet.
I said to Charlie, "See If you
can pick up a couple of blue
fish for me when we get to
the dock. I've got to bring
something home to Mrs. Ken
nedy. Tomorrow's Friday"
Charlie said:
IF I'd known you wanted
any blues, that would have
been easy. We passed through
several schools on the way in."
Kennedy's 'Cotch'
Back at the wharf Josh
Bunting and Jim Whaley had a
good laugh over the fishing
party that sent the mate out
to beg for bluefish. THE blue
fishing hadn't been too good.
All Charlie was able to get was
four little ones about q foot
long.
John and split them. George
seemed to have no appetite,
even for tomorrow's dinner.
We weren't the only ones.
None Of the fleet flew flags
coming in.
WELL" said Josh apologeti-
cally. "you see how it's done"
He needn't have apologized.
1t was a lot Of fun.
Evening star., 1952-08-17

ting in one Of them, was telling
how the marlin fishing started
at Ocean City soon after the
inlet was opened. It was
started, he said, by Jack and
Paul Townsend, sons of former
Senator Townsend of Delaware.
He had fished with them. Jack
Townsend had brought his own
captain and boat from the sail
fishing grounds off Florida to
show the Ocean City fishermen
how it was done.
That's right" said Bill Null
ford. who had turned the wheel
over to his mate. 1.-THE marlin
were always here. The COM
mercial fishermen used to see
them. My father used to call a
couple Of them his pets"
All this time we were holding
a course east by southeast,
swinging on 1t as much as As
degrees as we climbed over a
big sea, but always coming back
to 1t. The pattern of the waves
was interesting, as irregular as
mountain ranges. There was no
rhythm to- the lurching Of the
boat. The sky was overcast.
The variations Of green and blue
In the first wave Of the wake
behind the propeller were in
finite. After an hour Of this,
I began to feel q little queasy.
"You mustn't get nervous" I
told myself. "or you're a gon-
ner."
To my surprise, as well as re-
lief. the feeling went away and
was all right for the rest of
the day.
Porode of Boots
The parade of boats had
stretched out. They were about
q quarter Of q mile apart, all
still holding to the same course.
Soon some began dropping out
to flsh for blues. We had got
the bad word before we started.
The marlin had disappeared q
week before but q storm OF the
day before was expected to cool
the water and bring them back.
Charlie came back from the
wheel, all enthusiasm.
"Wow." he said. 1T looks
good. I hope we raise some
martins today. We're third in
Evening star., 1952-08-17

the fleet competition. Three
martins would put us in second
place."
He began preparing the bait,
an intricate process. He had a
number Of squid on ice, each q
foot long. They had been
opened just below the tentacled
head and cleaned. Charlie
Sharpened a big hook for each
one, strung it on a gut leader
and worked it through the squid
so that the hook stuck out
through the midbottom like a
keel. Then he sewed the head
back on and took two or three
stitches through the body to
secure it firmly to the leader.
Strung thus. the bait skips along
the surface and acts quite lively.
We had been out two hours.
It was another hour before Bill
turned the motor down TO a
chortle, cutting our speed from
about 10 miles an hour down to
4 or 5. Charlie lowered the
outriggers to a 45-degree angle.
He tied one of the squids with
the big hook sticking out Of it
on a line and tossed 1t over
board.
CIothespins and CIotheslins
One Of those improved
clothespins, the kind made Of
two pieces Of wood with a spring
between, was at the end of the
outrigger on a sort Of clothesline
on pulleyS. Charlie reeled it in
and put the Ash line through it.
Then he reeled the clothespin
out to the end of the outrigger.
Soon the squid was dancing on
the crest Of the seas about so
feet aft and about 10 feet to
port.
He rugged . line from the
starboard outrigger the same
way. Then he dropped two more
squid aft from rods at the stern
Of the boat, rods to be handled
by those occupying the swivel
chairs. Only camp chairs were
provided for the lines on the
outriggers.
He dropped two teasers over
board ~ two cylinders of wood
without hooks. They were
painted blue and had a beveled
Evening star., 1952-08-17
Want Marlin on Your Wall? First Catch the Mar

George Kennedy, an Gvid
non-practitioner OF sports OF all
kinds, came home brdless from
a quail hunt at Fredericksburg,
Va. seDcral months ago. Still
earlier, he had had bad luck on
a duck hunt. The account tDhich
tollotDS has to do tDith recent
sea uoyage of Ocean City. Nd,
in quest OF the eluSive-but
elnSiUe-n1Grlin.)
By George Kennedy
The marlin catch at Ocean
City. Md. has been a postwar
record. While on the Eastern
Shore recently on another er-
rand. I stopped at the docks to
ask Capt. Josh Bunting about 1t.
YES" he said, "it's been the
biggest catch since 1889. Last
Tuesday the boats brought in
80 marlin"
It was 4 o'clock and the mar
lin boats were beginning to come
in, many of them with flags fly
ing. Each flag means that one Of
the big fish has been hauled
aboard. The flags are blue or
red with a white marlin in the
center. The red flag indicates
that the fish was released after
being caught.
Tough Eoting
The captains on the marlin
boats encourage the fishermen
to throw the big fish back in
the water if they don't intend
to mount them. 1t costs about
81 an inch to hang them on
the wall. And they are pretty
tough eating.
The marlin catch TO date at
Ocean City is 800, of which 80
were returned to the ocean.
The wonder year was 1899. when
more than 1900 marlin were
caught. Sportsmen from Florida
to Maine and points Far West
were f1ocking to Ocean City to
get in on the fun.
There is some controversy as
to whether returning the fish
to the water is an effective
conservation practice. Some
say it's big ocean; too big
for such practices to have any
effect. Others say the fish are
so injured by the struggle on
Evening star., 1952-08-17

neat job he made Of splicing
on a hook that he knew his
business as well as any of the
boys on the waterfront.
You don't have to bring your
own tackle. There were half
a dozen rods in the cabin.
There were two big swivel
chairs at the stern, each on a
steel base strong enough for a
gun mount. Each had a steel
slot for the rod between the
sitter's legs-equipment for that
struggle with a giant Of the
deep. which has SO often been
shown in the movies.
George Huber, who was sit
Evening star., 1952-08-17
BUY NOW-whi|e Malcolm Scates is in a
Temporary warehouse STORE. land save up to 500
it's all because of the FIRE!

Soon after our Washington store burned down, SO
famous furniture makers offered us discounts on
furniture they wouldn't ordinarily reduce! To keep
the staff OF one of their biggest customers together
they've sacrificed their best selling groups to u.s.
We've filled temporary warehouse-store with
these special purchases. While the regular store is
being rebuilt you'll find values this town of ours
has rarely seenl
Evening star., 1952-08-17

When you see this charming group you'll unde
why it took fire to get the maker to cut the
Even if you don't know what mortise, tene
dowel construction is, you'll appreciate the
ence when you lay a hand on table or
server. These drawers are dovetail construct
center-guided! These chairs won't get shaky;
reinforced with corner blocks andascrews! tt
low, honey-toned finish is like picture fror
favorite magazine-the kind Of picture you st
linger over! Even the graceful hardware
right: solid brass!
Evening star., 1952-08-24

titude of so many in the medica!
profession. The principle of internal
absorption has long been familiar to
physicians. Now one physician has
made it available to women in gen.
eral. :. :. .Tampax is made Of pure alb
sorbent cotton contained in indivld-
ual applicators. Easy to insert, quick
to change-and no disposal prob.
lens. No belts, pins or external
pads. No bulges or edge-lines to
''show through" No chafing; no
odor. Get Tampax at drug or notion
counter in 8 sizes: Regular, Super,
Junior. Months average supply will
gointo purse. Tampax Incorporated
Palmer, Mass.
Evening star., 1952-08-24

The public's pocketbook has
been hard hit, too. In l947, accord
ing to the National Automobile
Underwriters Association, the pre-
mium on a popular model car for
a $50 -deductible collision policy in
New York City was $l07. In 1851
the rate for the same policy had
rocketed to $l51 and is still going
up. In Chicago, the rate has shot
up 20 per cent in four years.
While some Of the increase is
due to the inflationary spiral,
nobody can deny that fraudu-
lent insurance claims do not
contribute to the added cost.
When visited Hartford, Conn,
heart of the insurance world, to
investigate the facts, one official
lamented, Have you ever seen
how triumphantly the hero in a
movie will pocket coin acci-
dentally returned to him in a tele-
phone booth? Today many people
think it just as fashionable to gyp
the insurance company.
The official introduced me to
the oompany's claim chief, a tense.
slender man across whose desk
passed hundreds of phony claims
every week. I'm tell you how
honest the public is, he said Bit
terly. Halloween may be a day
of fun for most people, but it gives
Hartford the shudders. Every
Tom, Dick and Joe who has a
scraped fender or torn upholstery
damage he himself is respon-
sible for - calls up his agent the
morning after to report that young
sters have caused the damage. So
under the terms of the malicious
mischief coverage in our collision
policies, we've got to pay up!'
The FBI Reports
In New York City, Robert w.
Dick, veteran FBI agent pres
emily associated with the Claims
Bureau of the Association of
Casualty and Surety Companies.
painted a bleaker picture. His
Office had knowledge of average
citizens-farmers, college students,
merchants - who, needing some
extra cash, think nothing of strip
ping their cars of tires, radio and
heater. Then, blaming the loss on
looters, they seek reimbursement
under terms of their theft policies.
True, this type of fraud does not
involve collision as such, but since
theft insurance is usually sold along
with collision, the package" rate
you must pay is greatly affected.
Nor are all the swindles in the
Evening star., 1952-08-24
The COLLISION RACKET
Continued f10m page sese's

small-change class. Dick told me of
the policyholders who pay accom-
plices to drive their cars into the
river. Currently Dick is investigat-
ing a ring in an Eastern state
whose members have perfected
a new wrinkle in auto-insurance
fraud. Their racket is to buy up re-
cent model wrecked cars from auto
junk yards. These twisted, worth
less heaps are then resold to solid
citizens in the community, who
re-register the cars in their names.
The car is then insured for col
lision. Shortly thereafter it gets
smashed up in a fictitious 'acci-
dent" The insurance company
pays off - and criminal and citi-
zen split the profit.
IVs Not Eool-Proof
HE gyp tricks employed by
John Q. Public to bleed the insur-
ance companies could enrich any
crime writer's gimmick file. How
ever, not every crooked claimant
succeeds in collecting. A disgrun-
tied maid will inform against her
employer. A deserted wife will
betray her wandering mate. Re
sehtful neighbors have shattered
more than one chiseler's "It-was-
parked-outside-all-n alibi.
And, in many cases, painstaking
detective work by company sleuths
has elected confessions from phony
claimants.
What happens when a policy
holder is caught red-handed trying
to gyp his company? In 80 out of
100 cases - nothing. He is not
even black-listed as an undesirable
risk in the industry's files. Very
rarely is he arrested. For the truth
of the matter is that the insurance
companies are astoundingly reluc-
tant to bring criminal action.
1t is this docile, grin-and-bear-it
attitude on the part of the insur-
ance companies which is fostering
a field day for crooked policy
holders and looming the cost of
our premium rates.
When discussed the situation
with the top brass of a leading
Hartford insurance company. their
vice-president explained sheep
ishly, 1--WE can't afford to get
tough. Remember, we're not deal
ing with hardened criminals. We
can't send housewives and P.T.A.
fathers to Jail. Sure, occasionally
well haul offenders before the
D.A. and get him to give them
a good scare. But that's about as
far as we dare CO."
Evening star., 1952-08-24
Doctors first
to know about
IaI1lpax method
Then women themselves began
todiseover this modern sunifury
profeefion-wosn INTERNALLY.

Millions of
women now use
T a m pax to
solve the recur-
ring problem Of
monthly sani-
tary protection.
Why has the
number of Tam
pax users grown
so rapidly?
Certainly one
explain alton
must he the at
Evening star., 1952-08-24

While it is true that our unscru-
pulous neighbors are mainly to
blame for the rising premium rates,
this investigation would hardly be
complete without reporting an
other culprit - the crooked COM
pany adjuster.
Because the average adjuster is
paid from $50 to $40 a week, the
one with a greenback conscience
finds it easy to yield to tempta-
ton.
In collusion with an unethical
garage owner he will pad claims
on all damaged vehicles he is sent
to investigate and split the take.
Or he will accept a weekly pay-off
from a crooked body-repair shop
to steer business their way.
Some insurance companies, not
ing that various adjusters suddenly
blossom out with flashy new cars
and expensive suburban ranch
houses despite their meager sala-
ries, wise up to the situation and
nip this racket in the bud by dis
missing them.
How then can we derail this
golden gravy train? Is there no
way we can smash a racket which
is affecting more than 20 million
families? To learn the answer, this
reporter polled dozens of insur-
ance experts. All of them were
hopping mad about the situation.
But in each case their advice was
prefaced with, Don't quote me,
but . Remember, I'm speak
ing off the record IF this
ever gets back to the members of
our board, I'll deny it
Collective Advice
Our of this battery of butts
emerged some salient facts. The
insurance companies resent having
to penalize innocent policyholders
for the dishonest tactics of the
sharpies. But no company wants
to be the first to turn on the heat.
Gentlemen of the automobile
insurance industry. we are going to
render you a service. Your collec-
tive anonymous advice is 50 good
that we are going to bell the cat
for you. We invite you to look
into our suggestion box. Please
bear in mind that it was filled by
your own experts. Here are their
recommendations:
I. Prosecute oil fraudulent
claimants. when a crooked pol
icyholder gets caught trying to
cheat the company, he should be
Continued on page %
Evening star., 1952-08-24

TW-0-24-S2
Evening star., 1952-08-24
Details Of Compromise
Tax Settlements 10 Be
Disclosed This Week

The Internal Revenue Bureau
expects to put procedures into
operation this week to give the
public details on all tax claims the
Government settles for "com-
promise" amounts.
The veil of secrecy was blasted
off the settlement cases four days
ago by White House order. Presi-
dent Truman said the public could
get as much information as it
needs to understand reasons be-
hind the compromises.
Based on Capacity to Pay.
Senator Williams, Republican,
Of Delaware, has taken the lead in
questioning the settlements-at
times only a fraction of the
amounts originally claimed against
taxpayers. Demands for an ex-
planation. spearheaded by news
paper groups and legislators. have
mushroomed since his disclosures
Revenue officials contend the
settlements are based largely on
how much the taxpayer has to
fork over. In most cases. they
say. the settlements come to about
what the Government could col
lect by taking the cases to court.
Until the White House order,
however, the officials felt they
were powerless to disclose the tax
data.
Names to Become Available.
Within few days, officials said,
they hope to have available for
!newsmen basic information on
each new settlement case. This
probably will include the tax
payers name, the amount assessed
against him. and the compromise
amount accepted. If the case is
Of sufficient interest to newsmen,
officials said. reasons for the
settlement and other details will
be made available.
The bureau, officials indicated,
has interpreted the White House
order as applying to cases as OF
the date it was issued, August 20
However, they anticipated that re-
Iporters would be able to get the
same data on any specific past
settlements they request.
Evening star., 1952-08-24

The Navy said last night the
Coast Guard icebreaker Eastwind
probably had sailed closer to the
North Pole than any other ship
under her own power.
Heavy ice forced the Eastwind
to within 442 nautical miles of the
pole.
The icebreaker is one of four
ships in the Navy's Task Group
1872 which took part in an opera
tion this summer to resupply the
far north Canadian United States
weather stations. Capt. j. w.
Callahan of 2028 North Kentucky
street, Arlington, is commander.
The Edisto. flagship of the tiny
feet, radioed from Ellesmere Is
land. north of Canadian North
west territory, that the EaStwind
made her approach in withdraw
ing after supplying Alert" the
northernmost of all the weather
stations.
"The Eastwind reported heavy
pack ice had forced it to latitude
81 degrees, 38 minutes. 20 Sec
onds," the Edisto said. THE East
wind probably has reached the
most northerly latitude attained
by any ship under her own power"
The Navy said sailing vessels of
early polar explorers, such as Nor
ways Raould Amundsen may have
come closer. but from a different
direction-from the Spitzbergen
Island area northeast of Green
land.
The Eastwind had to clear
heavy ice to rejjoin the other
ships. the Edisto said. Comdr.
j. M. Leroy of 5802 Pine lane Sc.
commands the Edisto.
The two vessels, with the supply
ship Wyandot and the oiler Mes
pelen, sailed from Halifax, Nova
Scotia. July "a. They rendez-
voused at Thule. Greenland. The
three other ships went on to the
Evening star., 1952-08-24
Merrill S Marauders
Plan Reunion in Charlotte

The sixth annual reunion of the
Merrill'S Marauders Association
will be held next Saturday and
Sunday at the Hotel Barringer.
Charlotte. NC.
Association members are the
survivors Of group of 3.100 Army
volunteers who fought as long
range combat teams in Burma in
1914.
Anyone knowing the names or
addresses Of former Marauders
should get in touch with John
Benf1eld. Box 1914, Charlotte, N. C.
Official rosters were destroyed in
action.
Evening star., 1952-08-24
u. S. Ship Claims Record Trip
For CIoseness to North Pole

main delivery point, Resolute on
CORVALLIS Island, while the East
wind went alone to Alert, far to
the north.
Weather Bureau representatives
aboard the vessels as observers in
cluded 1t. Col. Robert B. Sykes OF
3107 Parkway terrace Sc, who
has charge of Arctic operations,
and E. E. Goodale of 3059 @ street
NV.
Evening star., 1952-08-24
Union Elects West Viroinion

CHICAGO, Aug. % (P.-The
|CIO United Gas. Coke and Chem
ical Workers today elected Elwood
p. Swisher, 80, of Dunbar, w. Va,
as their new international presi-
dent. The union represents about
10000 members in the United
States and Canada.
Evening star., 1952-08-24
Military District Picnic

Employees Of the Military Dis
trict of Washington headquarters
will hold a picnic at 5 pm. We'd
nesday at Cameron Station. Alex
andria.
Evening star., 1952-08-24
for Bock-to-SchooI

life ouol
Let wkd fellows ss! Easiest
thing the world Blue yellow" scohet
for Bates Tomorrow plaid
spread! Full oox1l2 74xll4 1925
Washington
Evening star., 1952-07-13

work. The course Is con-
Quoted by Admiral Hague and
his staff of military and civil
ian experts in the field of
management and labor rela-
tions. A new group of stu
dents is enrolled every two
weeks.
Admiral Hague makes no
bones about the fact that, at
the start, he was a little un-
easy over whether the project
would succeed. But the school
has proved successful beyond
even his initial hopes for 1t.
There were times, at first,
when some of the top brass
among the students grumbled
about the ''foolishness" of it
all. But. invariably, by the
time the course was ended,
they had changed their minds
and agreed they had learned