davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Chinese Ease Lot
OF a Missionaries

HONG KONG, Aug. 9 R.-
The Catholic Mission Bulletin
today reported that the Chinese
Communists have transferred
four American missionaries from
Shanghai prison cells to a guard
ed private house. They were said
to be receiving much better
treatment.
The bulletin said the mis-.
sionarieS were the Rev. Paul
Mackinson of Baltimore. a
Lutheran, and the Revs. Johr
Alexander Houle, Glendale
Calf; John Paul Wagner. Pitts
burgh, and Joseph Patrick Nc
Cormack of New York City, all
Roman Catholics.
The four were among 10
American civilians still held in
Red Chinese jails. The bulletin
said the four transferred to the
five-room, two-story house were
allowed to take recreation to-
gether, to walk in the house
garden. to sleep as much as they
wanted. and were given three
Well-cooked meals daily"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Partner Held in Shooting
Of Maryland Cafe Man

4 A Temple Hills Md man ha:
been charged with critically
wounding his business partner
last night after an argument al
the restaurant they operate in
Silver Hill.
\ Francis A. Fischer, 48, Of the
$500 block of Second avenue, was
freed on $4,000 bond on charges
of assault with intent to kill
Wilfred A. Grove, "A, Of 59lI
Twenty-eighth street. Hillcrest
Heights.
The victim was in critical con-
dition at Casualty Hospital with
chest and arm gunshot wounds
Went Home for Gun
Fischer told Prince Georges
County police that Mr.. Grove
had been pushing him around
so he went home for gun about
1890 pm. Witnesses said he
shot Mr.. Grove behind the Halt
Shell Restaurant. 1910 Branch
avenue.
Diet. Sergt. Robert N. Cabral
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Dulles Asks
Leaders to
Suez Briefinq

Secretary of State Dulles has
Invited Democratic and Repub-
lican leaders of the House and
Senate to an unusual Sunday
afternoon briefing on develop
ments in the Suez crisis, the State
Department announced today.
Tomorrow Mr.. Dulles will fly to
New York for lunch with United
Nations Secretary General Dag
Hammarskjold. They will discuss
the U. N. officials recent trip to
the Middle East, State Depart
ment spokesman Joseph Reap
said today.
Three Senators and two Repre-
sentatives already have accepted
invitations to Mr.. Dulles Sunday
meeting. which Mr.. Reap said
was called Ito brief the leaders
on the latest developments and
plans for the London meeting on
the Suez Canal" scheduled to be-
gin next Thursday.
Senate Majority Leader John
son, Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Chairman George
and Minority Leader Knowland
have said they will attend the
3 O'Clock meeting.
From the House, Speaker Sam
Rayburn and Minority Leader
Joseph Martin have accepted in
vitations Other ranking men,
bers of the Senate and House
foreign relations committees also
have peen asked to attend.
That Mr.. Dulles considered
the meeting important enough
to call Democrats away from
Chicago, where they are pre-
pairing for next Mondays OPEN
ing of their presidential nomi-
mating convention, was con-
sldered significant.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09

was received with gales of laugh
ter from the men he was rubbing,
The questioning got down to
business quickly. but the old
Truman touch was noticeable
Through the proceedings, as
when the former President was
asked if he was against any
body for the Democratic nomi-
nation and he replied, I'm
against me-"
He rocked back on his heels
the redoubtable Merriman Smith
of United Press by replying to
one of Mr.. Smiths questions:
"Smitty, you used to ask some
very intelligent questions at the
White House"
No Elder Statesman
Later. when a questioner re-
ferred to Mr.. Truman as an
I"elder statesman" of his party,
the former President said, Il
have no desire to be an elder
statesman-you know a states
man is a dead politician"
The laughter at this response
had hardly died down when a
new gale swept over the crowd
at the feigned modesty of Mr..
Truman's description of his role
at the convention.
Denying any official standing
he added:
II think I'm going to have a
seat in the convention, although
they're awful hard to get
Again the reporters. howled
when. in answer to another
query. Mr.. Truman said he didn't
know what you mean by give
'em hell campaign"
BaffIement Planned
And the climax was put on
the whole affair when a reporter,
desperately trying to wangle a
favored candidates name out of
Mr.. Truman, asked:
you've succeeded in battling
us on your choice of candidates.
Is that your purpose?"
Eyes, it is the former Presi-
dent replied. Il figured you'd
awaken to that sooner or later. y
At 1888 am. Mr.. Truman
looked around the room and
said. isn't it about time for
some one to say, Thank you, Mr.
former PRESIDENT"
A reporter in a descending
Blackstone Hotel elevator turned
to another and remarked:
HE didn't make any banner
headlines today, but doesn't he
put on a show"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09

said witnesses told him the part
ners began the argument inside
the restaurant and that Fischer
left and returned a few minutes
later with a 80 automatic.
They told him the victim was
shot as he emerged from the
kitchen door after Fischer had
waited for him to come outside
Had Been "GOOd Friends"
Sergt. Cabral quoted witnesses
as saying the two were very
good friends" but that they had
been arguing about operations
Of the Half-Shell and the two
other restaurants which are
operated by Fischer.
After the shooting, Fischer
told someone to call police, then
pointed the gun at others stand
ing nearby and ordered them To
keep back" Sergt. Cabral said.
He then surrendered willingly
A preliminary hearing has
been set for September 7 in
Upper Marlboro Police Court.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09

victims have been buried so far
lin a common grave. They said
another 80 bodies were still at
the morgue awaiting identified
ton.
The blast occurred at 1929 am.
Tuesday - anniversary of the
1919 battle of Boyaca, a national
holiday celebrating a decisive
battle in the war for independ-
lence from Spain.
Jaime Arrange. a reported for
La Republica of Bogota, said a
ball of fire rose above the town
and "merrymakers at workers
party in the Siloe section be-
lieved the end of the world had
come"
A deafening explosion follow
ed, he reported, and then came
a blackout. Soon afterward
small pieces of window glass
showered onto the pavement in
central streets"
About the ruins, thick black
smoke spread around !. f. soldiers,
f1remen, policemen and civilians
looking for bodies"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Politics on Inside Pages

The personalities the color the political epens at
the Chicago convention being brought TO you daily by
The Stars Convention Bureau reporters Read their stories
and other news on this aud the tolIot0ing pages:
Chicago unperturbed as convention nears Page AS
Democrats told "tinkering" could kill off
prosperity. Page A-3
Clements won't discuss possible candidacy
in keynote speech. PageA-2
New Yorker to second nomination of
Nixon Page AS
Democrats await official count in Kansas
race. Page AS
Absentee vote to decide race in Missouri Page AS
President plans to relax at golf club on
Coast. Page AS
Vice Presidents dumped" frequently. Page AS
Truman gets phone-n-bath suite. Page Az
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Democrat Unity
On Rights Seen
Spurkmun Predicts
Agreement on Plunk
BY ]. A. O,LEARY

STAR CONVENTION BU-
.REAU, CHICAGO. Aug. 9.-Sen-
ator Sparkman of Alabama ar
rived here today expressing con-
f1dence the Democrats will be
able to work out a civil rights
platform acceptable to all parts
of the country. even though it
may not be 100 per cent what
each side wants"
Senator Sparkman, who was
Adlai StevenSon's running mate
four years ago, said the South
erners have come to this con-
Ivention with a determination to
stay and are approaching the
platform problem in the hope
that agreement will be possible
The dilemma which confronts
Democratic leaders in trying to
harmonize the views of the North
and South on civil rights bears
a striking resemblance to the
problem that confronted another
Democratic gathering % years
ago over prohibition.
And it may be solved in much
the same manner.
At Houston, Tex, in 1928 the
Democrats adopted a compro-
mise plank, calling for enforce
ment of the laws of the land
including the 18th Amendment
and the Volstead Act. Then il
nominated AL Smith of New
York, an avowed wet.
All indications here today are
that this years platform COM
mittee will hammer out a COM
promise civil rights plank ac-
iceptable to the South. but not
going as far as Mr.. Stevenson
the leading candidate for the
nomination, has said he feels 1t
should go in approving the Su-
Ipreme Courts school indignation
decision.
Suggested Compromise
The Southerners are opposed
to any specific Endorsement of
the school decision in the plat
form, but there have been sug-
geStions that a compromise
might be possible on some gen.
eral Endorsement of court de-
cisions as being the law of the
land.
If it works out this way, the
final showdown might come on
Continued on Page A-3, Col. 3
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09

former President Truman had to
say.
/ The consensus among approx
mately 200 reporters after the
19-minute press conference in
the Blackstone's grand ballroom
was, ut wasn't what he said, II
was the way he said it,"
/ There was an old-home-week
atmosphere about the proceed
ings.
I Mood of Excitment
| Most of the newsmen present
had come from Washington
where in years past Mr.. Truman
was far from unknown. There
was a mood of excitment, too
which was enhanced at 1926
am. (CDT)-four minutes be-
fore the scheduled start of the
conference-when a televisior
f1oodlight fell over and narrowly
missed Robert Spivack, the New
York Posts Washington CORE
spondent.
4 At 1924. Mr.. Truman strode-
strobe is the only word for the
way he walked-into the ball
room to a great clapping Of
hands. Tanned and grinning
| he looked hardly day Older
than when he held his first press
conference as President IL years
ago. He was wearing a light
blue-grey double-breasted suit
and a dark blue tie.
State Your Name
/ There was no question from
the outset as to who was in
charge. Mr.. Truman looked
impishly at his interviewers and
said;
when you get up to ask a
question, ] wish you'd state your
name and newspaper connection
That's SO the rest of the GUS
TONERS here will understand
exactly what's behind the ques-
tion."
This reflected Mr.. Truman's
well-known attitude about tht
impartiality of the press. anc
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Britain Delays
Troop Ar|ift TO
Suez Vicinity
Reported Preparing
To Transfer Some
Units From Germany
BULLETIN

MOSCOW (P.-The Soviet
Union agreed today to take
part in the August 16 London
conference on the Suez Canal.
But a circular note to every
foreign embassy in Moscow
warned that the Soviet gov
eminent does not consider the
conference as currently set up
competent to decide the future
of the waterway. A delay until
the end Of the month and in
cluSion of Red China, East
Germany, all the Arab states
and certain neutralized nations
were proposed.
LONDON, Aug. 9 (P.-Britain
today postponed the start of a
major airlift of troops to the
Mediterranean-and at the same
time was reported preparing to
pull some military units and
personnel from Germany to
cope with the Suez crisis.
There was no immediate ex-
PLANTATION of the postponement
Of the airlift and no official con-
f1rmation or denial of the report
Britain may draw on her army
in Germany.
Prime Minister Eden. in q
major radio and television speech
last night, declared his con-
f1dence that workable scheme
could be found in peaceful nego-
tiations to resolve the fermenting
dispute and said the British dc
not seek a solution by force"
At the same time he reasserteC
British intentions to use force il
necessary as a last resort: 81
must make plain: We cannot
agree that an act of plumber
which threatens the livelihood
of many nations shall be allowed
10 succeed.
Menace to Oil Lines
Britain holds that Egyptian
President Canal Abdel Nasser's
July 26 naturalization of the
Suez Canal Co. is a menace tc
her lifelines to Middle East oil
supplies and her Far Eastern
commonwealth partners and COL
onies.
The War Office said the airlift
was postponed for "at least "a
hours"
In the last few days an air.
sea armada has been assembled
along Britain's south coast to
begin the transport of troops and
supplies.
Six Bristol Britannias, each
Continued on Page A-23, Col. !
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09

hide in from the heat they may
still be alive. There still is hope"
Rescuers said the fire in the
lower levels appeared to be con-
fined to a 100-foot area between
the main shaft and a ventilating
chute.
Before the passageways were
sealed off workmen poured tons
Iof water down the main shaft
in a risk-f1lled effort to extin.
guish the flames. They resortec
to an extensive use of water
even though it might drown the
trapped men-after trying un.
successfully for hours to curt
the flames with hand extinguish-
erS.
What can we do?" asked one
member of the fire fighting
squad. IF you use water they
may drown, but if you don't the
fire will suffocate them"
Reserve Tunnel Tried
Rescuers also sought to cut
an escape tunnel from a new
shaft. not affected by the fire
into the burning pit at about
the 2,500-foot level. Six feet Of
reinforced concrete barred the
way.
The burning pit is one of the
largest in Marcinelle, small
town just outside the industrial
city of Charleroi. A mine Official
said most of the trapped miners
are Italians. Many Italians have
come to work the rich Belgian
coal fields since the end of Worlo
War II.
A crowd of about 1000 grim
faced relatives and friends hud-
died at the mine entrance tc
watch rescue operations through
out the night. King Baudouir
visited the scene at nightfall
Premier Achille Van Acker anc
three other cabinet members also
were at the pit head.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
9th Fleet Ships Plan
Visit to Barcelona

BARCELONA. Spain, Aug.
I(Rl.-Twenty- mine ships Of the
United States 9Th Fleet are To
visit Barcelona during August
Barcelona naval authorities an
nounced today.
Apparently the announcement
was issued to counter rumors
that a part of the American feet
might head for the Eastern
Mediterranean because Of the
Suez conflict.
Visiting ships will include the
cruiser Northampton. IL trans
ports. 8 tankers and 8 destroyers
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09

Picture on Poee Ala
them to descend to lower levels
where most of the trapped men
were believed to be.
Late in the afternoon, how
ever, intense heat forced the
rescue parties to suspend their
efforts. The engineer in charge
said the teams had to be brought
to the surface while water was
being poured on the walls in an
effort to bring the temperatures
down. He said rescue operations
might have to be suspended
until tomorrow morning.
The miners were trapped when
the fire. caused by a short cir
cult, melted an elevator cable
and sent the lift crashing to
the bottom of the pit. Other
escape routes also were cut of
Twenty : five miners escaped
aboard the elevator before it was
lost.
Nine Dead Removed
Rescue workers removed nine
dead and six injured miners
from upper levels. Another 23C
were in levels $500 to $500 feet
down. About 30 more were be-
lieved somewhere in the sealed
off passages. If they were moi
already dead, the closing of the
passages doomed them to suffo-
cation
/ One worker who came back
from the 2,200-foot level said
the heat and smoke are ter
rible."
With my light l could not
see 8 inches in front of me-" he
said. But if the men in the
lower levels have found holes tc
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Picture on Pooe as.


Picture on Poee AS.
an investigation of the dynamite
blast which wrecked the heart
of Cali, scooping a crater IS feet
deep and about 200 feet wide
and causing damage put by some
estimates at $40 million.
Colombian President GustavC
Rojas Pinilla has labeled the ex-
2losion an act of political sabo-
tage. The procurement news
paper Diario of Colombia &C.
cused the presidents politica,
enemies of setting off the blast
in an attempt to overthrow the
regime.
Censorship Imposed
The travellers said press Gen.
sorship has been clamped dowr
in Colombia as a result of the
blast and that all outgoing dis
patches are being closely screened
Cali residents have been for.
hidden to leave the city. the
linformantS added, and plane
train and car travel is under
rigid control.
No North Americans have
been reported killed in the ex.
plosion which occurred wher
seven truck loads of government
dynamite went off in a densely
populated downtown area. ThC
drivers, en- route to Bogota, had
stopped for the night.
The only official death an,
Inouncement was made by Presi.
dent Rojas Pinilla. who sale
more than 1000 were dead anc
injured. Persons arriving from
the stricken area said the vic.
Tins included 900 soldiers anc
more than 400 civilians.
357 Already Buried
Some officials have said Al
accurate count of the dead /,
impossible, since many victim,
disintegrated in the blast.
Colombian authorities said So
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Reds Seek Film Rights

MOSCOW. Aug. 9 LP-
Vladimir Surin. Soviet deputy
minister Of culture. left by plane
today for the United States. He
plans TO confer with Snowman
Nike Todd on joint production
Of movies.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
FAMILY SQUABBLE
OVER RETIREMENT

STAY PUT-A father sees nothing
in retirement; he likes his Job ond the
boys OF the office. A mother urges
retirement. She's sick Of city lite The
FomiIy Council settles the question on
The StoTs Feoture Pose. BIO.
BOOM ToWN--ln any month, toy
soles ore booming. S,or stoH Reporter
Potrieio Suorue investigates 10 see
why. Her answer is on pose 81.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
truman to Announce
Candidate by Sunday
Says HeLikes
'48 Plank on
Civil Rights
By GOULD LINCOLN

STAR CONVENTION BU-
REAU, CHICAGO, Aug. 9-For.
mer President Harry S. Truman.
in jovial mood, today told a
press conference soon after he
arrived from Kansas City he
would answer the Democrats
$4,000 question = whom he
favors for the Democratic presi-
Dental nomination-before Sum-
day.
Asked if he was against any
candidate, he said:
"Yes-me."
He was asked if he would say
Eyes" or mo" if the Democratic
National Convention should
draft him.
II would say no." he replied
emphatically.
va ~NNNSSAOAAo AASA0S
Many questions were thrown
at him by scores of reporters to
try to learn his preference for
a candidate. He turned them all
aside laughingly.
III let you know definitely
before Sunday and in time for
your Sunday papers," Mr.. Tru-
man said.
The former President said he
had come to Chicago to appear
before the Platform Committee Of
the National Convention and also
to talk with all the Democrats he
could before making up his mind
ion whom he would support. He
said he would talk with "all the
candidates and with the has-been
candidates"
Qualities Promise
Later in the conference, he
Qualified his promise somewhat.
He said he was here getting in
formation.
"If I don't get enough infor-
mation 1 might not be in a posi-
ton to make a choice" he said.
What kind of information are
you looking for?" a reporter
asked.
That's my business" Mr.. Tru-
man said, humping the reporter
on his chest.
One of the reporters began q
Question by saying that Mr..
Truman was now an elder states
man. The former President
,, QUICKLY said, 81 have no desire
|, to be an elder statesman. An
, elder statesman is a dead poll
tician. I am very much an alive
politician"
Civil Rights Issue
On the civil rights issue, which
lis threatening the harmony Of
the Democratic Party. Mr.. Tru-
! man said the Democrats could
} do well with civil rights plank
similar to those contained in the
: platforms of 1948 and 1852.
Il prefer the 1948 plank" he
said. II ran on it,"
Reporters tried to find out if
Mr.. Truman was leaning toward
Adlai Stevenson, the 'front.'
running candidate today. To a
direct question whether he ia
vored Stevenson. Mr.. Truman
replied succinctly: mo COM
: ment."
1t was pointed out to him
that most observers believed Mr..
Stevenson would be nominated
on the first or second ballot.
They're entitled to their
opinion" Mr.. Truman said.
Still another reporter sug-
gested there was bandwagon
movement rolling for Mr.. Stew
enson, and asked Mr.. Truman
what he thought of it.
I'm not a bandwagon man."
Mr.. Truman replied. I'll make
up my mind after / have gotten
all the information I can"
Insists He Has Open Mind
To some of the reporters, this
seemed TO indicate Mr.. Truman
might after all, be leaning to-
; ward Gov. Averell Hartman Of
New York. But Mr.. Truman in
sisted he had an open mind.
Fhe 'ormer President would
! not discuss the vice presidential
/. nomination. He was asked II he
thought that a Stevenson
: Continued on Page Az, Col. 1
.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
I run1on Puts on Show
For Press in Chicago
Former President Holds Conference
In NostuIoic White House Manner

STAR CONVENTION BUREAU, CHICAGO Aug "a
reporter in Blackstone Hotel elevator turned to
another this morning and remarked "Now the Democrats
have got quorum: Harry's in town."
That the mood today the biggest group of newsmen
date budup gathered to hear what
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
.3OAre Sealed OffinMine
In Hope Of Sowing 230
Upper Passages in Burning Belgian Shaft
Closed So Other Men Can Be Reached

MARCINELLE, Belgium, Aug. 1P-Rescue teams sealed
off the upper levels of the burning Caster du Bots coal mine
today, booming estimated 80 of the 26O trapped below
in the hope of saving the others suffocation.
With oxygen tanks strapped to their backs workers
descended the shaft of the mine relays
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Cali Blast Arrests Made,
Death Toll May Hit1 200

PANAMA. Aug. 8 (P).-Arrivals
from the blast-shattered Colon
bian city of Cali say a number
of persons have been arrested in
connection with Tuesdays ex-
Iplosion. Estimates of the total
dead. meanwhile, ranged as high
as 1900.
The informants said Colon
bian authorities have launched
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09

with big slabs Of spunglass fibers
With these. they shut off all
passages from the smoke-filled
shaft down to about 1900 feet
They hoped this would enable
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Guide for Readers

Have The Stor Delivered TO Your
Home Daily and Sunday
DioI Sterling $1,000
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
WEATHER FORECAST

Cloudy tonight. low 70. Cloudy, warm,
humid with scattered thundershowers
likely tomorrow. Full report, Page A-2)