davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
'O8 TnkOn1n
Fire Nearly
Trapped2OO

On Nov. 6, 1908, the newly
opened Bliss Electrical School in
Takoma Park burned to the
ground. The SENTINEL of the
following Friday gave a detailed
account of the nighttime blaze,
describing "the thrilling scenes
that marked the progress of the
conflagration."
A Negro night Waterman,
George P. Carter, was inter
rupted in his rounds by an ex-
plosion of Illuminating gas in
the schools kitchen area. The
SENTINEL reported "The build
ing was provided with a complete
system of fire alarm bells,
Carter set them going and in an
instant there was violent ring
ing of the gongs on all the
floors" The quick action of the
Waterman is credited with saving
the lives of all 200 of the schools
sleeping students and instructors.
However the blaze was well
underway when the occupants
became aware of, the fire, and
attempted to escape the building.
"They had barely time to rush
down the stairs and out into the
frosty atmosphere, clad in scant
night garments. The citizens of
Takoma Park opened their
homes to the shivering students
and teachers"
Many individual acts of hero
ism were noted. A Costa Rican
pupil, Rubena Herrera, went
from floor to floor knocking
violently on the doors of the
sleeping rooms to arouse the oc-
cupants who were still slumber-
ing" When the young student
ran up to his cupola apartment
to awaken his room mate, Evan
Mickle, the youths were trapped
by flames six floors above the
ground. They descended on fire
ropes.
BY the time Montgomery Coun-
ty and Washington fire depart
ments arrived, the blaze was too
far advanced to stop. "They
directed their energies to saving
the nearby property" says the
SENTINEL'S account. The build
ings and equipment, valued at
$4,000 was only partially cover
ed by insurance.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Case in County
Set State Rule
In Wire Tapping

A case tried in Montgomery
County Circuit Court set the rule
used in all State courts on adj
INSTABILITY of evidence obtained
by means of overlapping.
The local case set the rule that
the party who receives a call that
is being recorded must recognize
the voice of his caller, in order
for the recording to stand up in
court.
Such evidence is admissible in
Maryland court cases, except
when it is obtained through an
illegal search and seizure-that
is, without warrant. The case
in which this rule was set was
State VS.. Rowan, decided in 1897.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Organized in 1914, Group
Also Stressed Board, New
Buildings in Its Activities

intendent of Schools and the
Governor.
In the fall of 1949 legislative
chairmen of local PTAs develop
ed a proposal for an advisory
nominating convention to be
held in the county that would
make recommendations to the
governor for a school board ap-
pointment, from panel selected
with wide community support.
A convention for this purpose
was conducted in the spring of
1850 with the PTA Council presi-
dent, John McIntire, presiding.
1t was organized by five county
wide groups, the PTA Council
the Civic Federation, League of
Women Voters, AAUW and the
Negro PTA Council.
The Governor appointed one
member, Mrs. Marjorye Baylor,
from the five names recommend
ed by the convention but two
months later an interim appoint
ment was made without refer
ence to these recommendations.
A second bill, which included
referendum to confirm local
ly that it represented the
wishes of the voters was passed
and signed i'm 1851. The coun-
Gil then proceeded to campaign
for the referendum under the
guidance of its president, David
Weed. 1t was adopted by a
wide margin in 1851.
The ever-present battle of the
school budget began in 1916 with
proposition of Is percent in
crease in school funds to coun-
ty council that for a decade had
been holding the line of $3.50
tax rate. Higher teacher salaries
was the rallying cry then as it
is today and $4,000 copies of a
flyer describing this urgent need
were sent out in cooperation
with the teachers association.
The 1913 hearings brought
only limited results so in the fall
the PTA Council under the direc-
ton of its president, Nathan Gil
bert, began a radio series on
budget and other school "infor-
nation. In 1858, James Reber.
president, led a petition cam
paign protesting the budget
Slashes of the county manager
and obtained $4,000 signatures
to support the full school budget.
Other accomplishments of note
by the PTA Council were legisla-
ton to provide a professional
educator in charge of school
plant, and survey of handicap
ped children in the county that
led to the organization of special
classes for the physically handi-
capped and the slow learner.
1t also pioneered in training
its members to be leaders in
community affairs and a survey
of school needs and equipment
furnished in the past that were
rightfully responsibility of the
Board of Education. Through
this survey it raised the standard
of supplies and equipment to a
new height.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
No Tail to Bull

Here's quite a tale. In the
spring of 1910 one of the Hol.
stein cows of Ralph Walker,
Gaithersburg, delivered bull calf
WITHOUT a tail. Tailess bulls
are rare, and that's no bull!
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Rockville Visitor on West Coast
Got Caught in Falling Cr0ckery

but I believe only 40 or less
died" Actually only 1913 per-
sons lost their lives.)
The next day, while tremors
Evening star., 1955-03-07
New Red Outbreak in Far East
Seen Within Year by Diplomat

Asia. Wet Nam, Laos and Cam
bodia are all wobbly. Thailand
stands only with Western sup
port.
Indonesia, now showing neu-
tralist tendencies. would be a
rich prize for either the United
States or Soviet blocs. Some
diplomats here think the Reds
main goal still is South Korea as
a possible stepping stone toward
Japan. So the possibility of
trouble there is not overlooked
Diplomats thus hesitate to try
to predict specifically where the
next East West gunf1re in this
area is most likely to sound. The
diplomats, however, feel that the
guns will go off in the area that
the Reds think is the weakest.
The West is rushing to shore
UP all points, but the overall
appraisal is that there's an even
chance that the rambunctious
Chinese Communists within a
year will think they've found a
soft touch and will try to exploit
Evening star., 1955-03-07
House Prober Visits
. Dix 10 Check Blood
Infection Situation
BY the Associated Press

FORT DIX, N. j., Mar. IAN
investigator for the House Armed
Services Committee was at this
Army post today to check condi-
tions in connection with cases Of
bloodstream infections.
Army authorities said, how
ever. there was no cause for
alarm. One soldier died last
month of Illuminating meningitis,
and two other trainees are i'll
with meningococcemia-an in
fection of the bloodstream.
The House investigator, Ed
ward T. Fogo, arrived here last
night. but could not be reached
for comment. However. in Wash
ington, Robert w. Smart, chief
counsel of the committee. said
Mr.. Fogo planned to look into
the general health situation at
the Army base.
Calls Flood Switchboard.
Capt. Tom Hamrick. post pub
lie information officer, said no
new cases were reported over the
week end. He said the outbreak
of the disease had become so
distorted in the public mind that
some parents called the base
long distance to ask:
IF our son is still alive, please
let us talk to him."
"All personnel were given sui
fadiazine tablets to halt the
spread of the disease before they
were permitted off the post" "
Capt. Hamrick said.
Telephone calls flooded the
bases switchboard from anxious
families throughout the country
while authorities sought to pre-
vent an outbreak of meningitis,
such as that which occurred last
year.
Recent Victim Seriously Ill.
The most recent victim OF
meningococcemia was Pvt. Mich
ael T. Danza, 10. of the Bronx,
N. Y, who was stricken Friday.
The post hospital said he was
still seriously i'll" today.
Pvt. Danza was the third
trainee within two weeks to con-
tract an infection. The previous
cases were Pvt. Richard A Rob-
inson, 81, of Norwell. Mass, who
was sent to Walter Reed Hos
pital in Washington Friday
night, and Pvt. Irwin Weinrit
of Far Rockaway, N. Y, who
died of Illuminating meningitis
February %.
Evening star., 1955-03-07
Attempt TO 'Seuti|e'
Ship Law CHARGED

Representative Tollefson, Re-
publican, of Washington. said to-
day foreign interests are trying
to "scuttle" the law requiring
that at least half of United States
Government financed cargoes be
carried in American ships.
Mr.. Tollefson, a co-sponsor of
the law and senior Republican
on the House Merchant Marine
Committee. said foreigners have
succeeded in influencing some
people in departments of our own
government" and in at least one
case have put economic pressure
on a member of Congress.
In a speech prepared for the
House. Mr.. Tollefson did not
name the foreign nationals" and
the foreign nations" he said
were involved.
He said in an interview he de-
cided to address the House be-
cause he is afraid there may be
congressional attempt. backed
by foreign interests, to knock out
the law this year IF nobody
stands up for it,"
"In at least one instance. rep
resentatives have approached a
member of Congress and stated
that products of his State will
be purchased if such can be
shipped on their own flag YES
sells"
Mr.. Tollefson did not name
the Congressman or the United
States Government officials who,
he said. apparently would also
like to scuttle our $3.50 law"
Evening star., 1955-03-07
Labor Groups Asks
President 10 Back
S1.25 Minimum Pay

A group of AFL and CIO union
officials in the textile and cloth
ing industries called at the
White House today to ask Presi-
dent Eisenhower's support for a
$1.25-per-hour Federal minimum
wage.
AS they left, they told reporters
the President made no commit
ments but promised to give all
possible consideration to their
arguments. They said the bulk
Of the clothing industry already
pays $1.25 or more. and such
an increase in the minimum
wage would affect only the
"chiselers."
Mr.. Eisenhower already has
asked Congress to boost the
present 75-cent hourly minimum
wage to 80 cents.
The President has said that
while the 90-cent level is fully
warranted under the present
status of the Nations economy,
any figure higher than that
might hurt, rather than help,
the economy. He said it could
hurt small businesses and force
some workers to lose jobs, so they
would get no pay.
The AFL-C1O group for some
time has advocated the $1.25
minimum. The visit of the union
leaders represented the first oc-
casion in some time such group
has called on Mr.. Eisenhower
in a body. Secretary of Labor
Mitchell accompanied them. The
fact that both AFL and CIO
leaders were represented indi-
Gated step in joint union en-
deavors growing out of the re-
cent merger agreement.
Those who called on the Presi-
dent included President Jacob
Potofsky and Secretary Treasurer
Frank Rosenbloom of the CLOS
Amalgamated Clothing Workers
Union, President David Dublin
sky of the AFL's International
Ladies Garment Workers, Presi-
dent Emil Rieve and Vice Presi-
dent William Pollack of the
CLOS Textile Workers Union
President Alex Rose of the AFL' S
Hat, Cap and Millinery Workers
and Arthur Goldberg. CIO gen.
eral counsel.
Evening star., 1955-03-07

Vincent ]. Baratta. jr.. two
days old, can never be President
of the United States.
He was not born in a log
cabin or even in a little old farm
house, both unwritten presiden-
tial requirements. Sunday, the
young man came into the world
on the front seat of a car, end
ing all political speculation.
Both Mr.. Baratta, jr., and his
mother are doing fine today at
Washington Sanitarium, Ia
koma Park, Md. Yesterday, how
ever, was rather confusing.
When Mrs. Baratta decided to
have the baby. Mr.. Baratta
called in Mr.. and Mrs. William
Wolman. neiahbors of his at
1920 Fifteenth avenue. Hyatts-
vile. while he went to call the
doctor.
He returned to find he'd better
Evening star., 1955-03-07
BobyIs Born in Cor, Forfeiting
Chances to Become President
.AP Wirephoto

be getting to Columbia Hospital
pretty quick. The two couples
went out in the hall where Mr.
Baratta discovered the keys to
his car were back in the apart
ment and the door was locked.
Mr.. Wolman stepped in and
offered to make the run to Co.
lumbia Hospital in his car.
On the way, young Mr.. Bar
rata put in his appearance
luckily close to DR.. Leo Schild-
haus' Office at 6101 New Hamp-
shire avenue NE. Mr.. Wolman
summoned the doctor who rushed
to the car to help the mother
and child. He suggested every
body rush down to Washington
Sanitarium, instead of Columbia
Today everybody was resting
up. But Mr.. Barrata, he said
finds himself shaking now ano
then,
Evening star., 1955-03-07
Friendship House Fete
Led by SummerfieId

Postmaster General Summer
field was the first to sign the
guest register of the new
international Friendship House
of the National Presbyterian
Church at an open house yes
terday.
More than 300 persons at
tended the opening of the house
at TIT Riggs place NV, which
will provide a temporary resi-
dence for visitors to this country
and provide social and culture
programs. The house, owned by
the Latin American Institute
will be operated by the church's
international friendship com.
mittee.
Evening star., 1955-03-07
; Men and Woman Die
As Fire Sweeps Cottage
By the Associofed Press

WILMINGTON. Mass, Mar. Z.
"A woman and three men per-
ished yesterday in a blaze which
destroyed a converted six-room
cottage near Silver Lake.
The victims were John Mead,
30; his wife. Ruby, 35; John R,
Stephans. 26. a boarder. and
James r. Frotton, so, merch-
ant seaman on a visit.
William Mead. jr., 30. a
brother of the victim, and the
formers son, Albert, S, escaped
unharmed.
Three oil stoves heated the
cottage so it could be lived in
during the winter. Cause of the
blaze was not determined
Immediately.
Evening star., 1955-03-07
Fleet Can Project
Anything, if Needed.
Admiral Stump Says

TAIPEI, Formosa, Mar. T.
Admiral Felix B. Stump, the boss
of the United States Pacific
Fleet, says "if the United States
is willing we can defend anything
against the Communists"
But the statement left the
Reds guessing.
Newsmen asked the admiral
whether his statement included
the Communist-menaced Matsu
Islands, 20 miles of the main
land.
He replied anything"
However, top American off,
cials have not specifically and
publicly said what action would
be taken if the Reds attack the
Matsus or Quemoy.
Matsus Being Reinforced.
Nationalist officials. in a brief
ing for correspondents. said the
Matsus are being steadily REIN
forced and will have larger gar
rison than did the Tachens be-
fore the latter islands were aban-
doned to the Reds. There were
more than 1000 troops on the
Tachens.
They said Armiral Stump had
left some of his staff officers to
study defense requirements on
the Matsus. Military roads and
strong Notifications are being
built on the islands, the Nation
alists said.
Don official appeared dismayed
and resentful when reminded
that he had told newsman
Nanchi Island would not be
abandoned without a fight at
the very time the evacuation was
in progress. He said we had
been misled and that his present
information came from a higher
source.
Meets Chang Kai-shek.
Admiral Stump visited the
Matsus yesterday. He was here
several days for conferences con-
corning Formosa's defense. He
had a final talk this morning
With President Chang Kai-shek
before going to Hong Kong.
Asked if there was a danger
of war. the admiral said lit de-
pends on the Communists. We
are not the aggressors-they
are"
The Defense Ministry reported
today Communist guns at Annoy
fired 19 shells on islets 21a miles
to the south of the Red port but
caused no damage or casualties.
The communique didn't say
whether the Nationalists fired
back.
Admiral Stump said Thursdays
discussion between Chang and
United States Secretary of State
Dulles was very frank, pleas
ant and profitable" The ad-
miral Endorsed a statement by
Nationalist Foreign Minister
George Yeh that no disagree
ment marked the talks.
The question whether the
United States would defend
Quemoy and the Matsus was
still very much in the air.
The Nationalists seem to have
convinced themselves that the
islands will be defended by the
Americans.
Fight Pledged, Paper Says.
The Americans, however, gave
the impression that this might
be the case if the Reds attack
the outposts as part of a drive
toward Formosa.
A Taipei newspaper credited
the Defense Ministry with say
ing that speculation that the
Nationalist will pull out from
the MatsuS is groundless and
that the islands will mot be
abandoned now or in the future
without a bitter fight"
Admiral Stump said aid to the
Nationalist would be speeded up
and increased. In that con-
nection, % landing craft were
turned over to the Nationalist
Navy by the United States to-
day at Kaohsiung in Southern
Formosa.
Sixteen of the vessels were
built by Nationalist-owned
company in Formosa as part of
an offshore procurement project.
Evening star., 1955-03-07
School Registration

Registration of children ex-
pecting to enter the Montgomery
Knolls Elementary School, Sill
yer Spring. next fall will be held
from 9 am. to noon and l to
pm. Tuesday at the school
Birth certificates must be pre-
sented.
Evening star., 1955-03-07

within one year.
This does not mean that any
one here is predicting the start
This is onother ortiele onaIyzins con-
ditions in the For Eost. Mr.. Roper
is on q tour of Aston trouble spots.
->----~~
of World War III. But some
of the best experts studying the
Far East outlook say the chances
of maintaining peace during the
next year are no better than
$3.50.
These authorities expect the
provocation to come from Com
munist China. They think the
Reds could deliberately start
a war, or blunder into it. But
they think the chances of shoot
ing are grave.
The hot spot right now. of
course, seems at first glance to
be the Formosa Strait. The
greatest public anxiety is felt
over the Quemoy and Matsu
Island groups that lie so close to
the mainland of China.
But the Vests long-range
planners look beyond the Off
shore islands. 1t is true that
the Chinese Communists pro-
claim that they are going to
take Quemoy. Matsu. the Pes
cadores and finally Formosa it
self. But the Reds give no time
table.
The Reds must know that a
full-scale attack in this area at
this time probably would touch
off large scale American re-
action.
The diplomatic thinking here,
therefore, is that the danger of
war in the Formosa Strait might
not be as great as elsewhere IN
the Far East.
In the postwar years. Com
munists throughout the world
have probed for soft spots and
advanced where they thought
they detected Western weakness.
Weakness is not apparent in the
Formosa Strait as of today.
Western determination in this
area could wane as time passes
and conditions change. AS of to-
day, however, the United States
is being belligerent.
These facts suggest to re-
sponsible diplomats here that the
Chinese Communists, if they
comprehend the situation in the
strait. may move with extreme
caution in this area and may
shift their pressures to other
areas in the Far East.
Likely targets are in Southeast
Evening star., 1955-03-07
Optimistic on Inflution

German officials do not expect
inflationary trends will develop
from rearmament in West Ger
many, they have said in Bonn.
Evening star., 1955-03-07

Buckingham. Arlington, Va.
Glebe Rd. and ". Pershing Drive
Opep 10 Daily
Boreroft, Arlington. Va.
I1i4 Columbia Pike
OpeD o to o Daily
wiIlston Shoppins Center
6497 AriinEtsB Bivd.--OpeB 10 0
Daily
Belle View Shoppins Center
Gil Belle View Blvd.
New Alexsndrta Open D 70 o Daily
Evening star., 1955-03-07

Wheaton
Yiers Mil and Kensin gton wheaton
Roads-Opep . 10 o Daily
Greenwoy Shopping Center
Q. Capitol and MINI Ave.
Open 0 to o-Friday and Saturday
740l Annapolis Rood
lonsley Shopping Center
New Hampshire Ave and University
Lana. Open o 70 o Daily
Open o 70 o DAILY
Evening star., 1955-03-07
A BETTER PLACE TO SHOP

. 304l Noylot Rood Sc.
Open . TO 0-Thursday Friday and
Saturday
. ! 9Th and Columbie Road
Open 0 to Daily
. SOTO New Hompshive Ave. NV.
OpeD 0 to 0-Friday snd Saturday
. Miehisen end Eestesn Aves. NE.
Open 10 Q Daily
Evening star., 1955-03-07

This is onother ortiele onoIyzins con-
ditions in the Far eost. Mr.. Roper
is on O tour of Aston trouble spots.
Evening star., 1955-03-07
By jones E. Roper
Stur Stoff Corrsspondent

TAIPEI, Formosa.-The best
diplomatic thinking here is that
the Far East has an even chance
of seeing serious new fighting
within one year.
This does not mean that any
one here is predicting the start
Evening star., 1955-03-07

Freshly prepared from the
finest ingredients and mas
terly blended to produce the
finest tasting product that
money can buy.
Evening star., 1955-03-07
FOUND.

SNMhE SSD ssGS RESCUE Eias9 iy' LEAGUE Aso so
1880.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-01
Get on the Boil
For SummerJob

. NV s..ss s 4. 800 ~ Sa .o -,
w,n - - ~ 2 ~ Sass s.,. - :
az sIloa 1919 na = w..
No pl.caouS II. ps14 .;s 49, WA" !,
su n. JOY. ssgUn1y,,,1 :,
~ au.eo ~ So - .., sS
..as ssSa S nn,, u "
10y - ~ ~ VIZ g Da.a. -.
az. ulopsu NV ..,e nen o.nc..
" zig summer Sanp a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-01
This Weeks
Teen-Ager

One boy that certainly isn't
an April fool, Is this weeks
VERY outstanding teen-ager. He
is Bob Burt. q junior at Mont
gomery Blair High, who has just
won the Maryland State Ora
torical contesti
This 16-year-old teen-ager.
who not only talks like O movie
star, but looks like one (black
hair, brown eyes and five-feet
six-inches talD Is In the De-
batting Club. Chemistry Club,
and Is q member Of the Disc
Jockey show at Blair which
pipes In dreamy music Q half
hour before school starts over
the public address system. \
Through his grafton. Bob has
received over $500 In prize money.
These orations, sponsored by the
American Legion ON the subject
Of the Constitution, have in-
cluded the school competition,
Montgomery County contest,
Southern Maryland competition,
and now. competing with $500
speakers. Bob has won the State
wide contest. Not too great, huh?
Bob admits he has no speaking
problems, Except I'm scared
ei1lv hafnre and affay.warfis hIIt
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-01
Meeting for Cheer Project

The Lutheran Institutional
Mission Auxiliary plans to COM
plete its Easter Cheer Project at
its meeting ct z o'clock Monday.
AT least z. 900 colored and dec
Grated eggs win be bought by
the members. These are indi-
vidually wrapped in colored cell
lophane and tied with contrast
ing colored ribbon. An Easter
greeting in the form Of q cross
is inserted In each package.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-01
Cancelled Concert
| Scheduled Tomorrow

Remember the National Sym
phony Young Peoples concert
that was to be held at Wakefield
High School on February IL.
Lincoln's birthday Due to the
fact that there was q HUGE
snow storm. it was cancelled and
will now be given tomorrow ct
10 am. and again at 1850 am.
For students, the prize Is SOC.
adults 81, and everyone is In
vited. Remember. that's at
Wakefield High. in the audi
forum, in Arlington. It win
be o wonderful program designed
for teen-agers, conducted by DR.,
Howard Mitchell. You really
shouldn't miss this!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-01

OF the new
y ear, an d
when the date
was changed
to January
drst tn ere
W e re many
people W h o
W o U | d n I
change their
minds as well
as their eal-
endars, so they
W ere called
April Fools.
Also, accord
- 4 49,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-01

through" This teen orator (you
ought to hear his GORGEOUS
voice. said loads Of credit for his
success belongs to his speech
teacher.
Perhaps the most intriguing
part about this teen-ager Is that
he is very superstitious. and that
he ALWAYS wears the same out
At when he speaks. Really, I
always wear the EXACT same
clothes each time for luck. That
includes q blue suit. . light pink