davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20
Eyewitness Says Crash
Was Frightening Sight

NEW YORK, June 20 (P.-
ut was a frightening sight. 1t
was a big ball Of flame. 1t all
happened very fast"
A weary, sickened Coast Guard
pilot painted this grim, word pic
ture today of the death of a
great airliner and the "A per-
sons aboard.
1t. Comdr. Frederick ]. Han
cox, a career officer, and his
crew Of four saw the crash Of
the crippled Venezuelan airliner
which plunged into the Atlantic
ocean of Asbury Park. N. j.
They were among the few flyers
in aviation history who have
seen a giant commercial airliner
dive into the sea.
Comdr. Hancox went to bed at
about 1880 last night at Coast
Guard headquarters at Floyd
Bennett Field. He was sleeping
soundly when jangling tele-
phone suddenly awoke him.
Took OF Within Minutes
An airliner was in trouble, he
was told, and he was to take up
a Coast Guard plane to escort
the crippled ship back to Idle
wild Airport.
The 35-year-old Comdr. Han
cox and his crewmen scrambled
for their twin engine Grammar
Albatross. They took off into
the moonlit night within min
utes.
Comdr. Hancox left the field
at 1902 am. and established
radio contact with the airliner
eight minutes later. He saw it
at 1:25.
zone engine on the port (left)
wing was feathered and wind
milling" he said. The airliner'S
pilot had stopped the engine.
It's propeller was whirling freely
In the wind.
Comdr. Hancox talked to the
pilot of the four-engine Super
Constellation. He said the pilot
sounded calm
Plane Went Into Dive
Then flicker of flame" lit
up the shining aluminium right
wing. The flicker" burst into
ball of fire." The plane nosed
over into a steep dive and
screamed toward the sea 5000
feet below.
Minutes later the huge plane
fell into the water.
The Coast Guard plane circled
the wreckage.
ut burned bright about 10I
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20

Az Wlrepnoto
minutes" said Comdr. Hancox.
Then the night closed in.
Comdr. Hancox said his main
job was to circle the wreckage
and guide rescue boats to the
area. He said a landing at sea
is always dangerous at night and
he did not attempt. one.
Victims Had No Chance
Comdr. Hancox dropped flares
and a marker. He flew low and
saw an oil slick and debris
where the airliner crashed.
There was no chance at all
.of survivors" he told reporters
when he returned to the field.
His tirednesS and the horror of
what he had seen marked his
face.
Comdr. Hancox said he
thought that jettisoning of the
airliner's fuel contributed to the
disaster. But he added that
jettisoning is normal pre-
caution when a plane with en-
CINE trouble is headed for an
emergency landing.
Comdr. Hancox, born and
raised in Reading, Pa, lives
with his wife Patricia in Wan
tagh. N. Y.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20
.lo55Crosh
Killed Sc
ny the Ass0cIatsd PRED

The worst commercial plane
crash in the United States urti
today occurred on October 6
1855. when Sc persons died in the
crash Of a United Airlines plane
near Laramie. Wyo.
Tue worst commercial crash
in the world was March IL, 1850
near Cardiff, Wales. Eighty per.
sons died when a transport fell
while carrying soccer fans on 6
return trip from Dublin, Ireland
1t was a chartered plane not Q
regular airline flight.
Other commercial crashes ir
the United States in which the
death toll was high included:
On June "a, 1850. an airlinel
bound from New York Tor Min.
Ineapolis crashed into Lake Mich.
Iigan, killing So.
On December is. 1851, a Cat
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20

Inonscheduied transport oper-
|sted by Miami Airline, Inc,
crashed in Elizabeth. N. j.,
killing So.
On November /, 1919, an
Eastern Airlires plane and a
Pisa fighter plane coilided near
Washington. D. c., killing SIS PER-
sons.
The greatest loss of life ever
recorded for a plane crash was
when a military CHA went
down near Tokyo in 1853 with
I129 servicemen aboard.
Eighty seven lives were lost
in the State Of Washington in
1852 when another military
CHA cracked up during a take
of.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20

of the Communist East Zone.
He also inspected the huge
Siemans electrical works and
went to the West Berlin Tech
meal University to receive an
honorary degree in engineering.
The Indonesian leader was edu-
Gated to be an engineer. Mr..
Sukarno and his party leave to-
morrow for Hamburg.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20
.Sukorno Sees Sights
In Berlin West Zone

BERLIN, June 20 (P).-Indo-
nesia's President Sukarno, who
favors a policy of neutralism in
the cold war, went sightseeing
today in Berlin, but stayed out
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20

Alaska avenues at the District
line to -Four Corners along Route
90.
The Icc ruled that public
convenience and necessity justi-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20
Suburban Transit
Service Approved
To Ashton, Md.

Suburban Transit Co. yester-
day won authorization to provide
bus service from the District
to Ashton. Md, over U. S. Route
90.
The Interstate Commerce
Commission authorized the new
service over objections of the
Capital Transit Co. CTC oper-
ates a line from Georgia and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20

ned granting Of the certificate
to Suburban Transit.
Thomas Parran, jr.. operator
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-20

Of Suburban Transit, said new
schedules viii be. announced
soon.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
Troffic Record

AS we approach the twilight
Of 1856. it is gratifying to see
that our trsfic fatalities in
the District for the IL months
Of 1856 are SO IS against 66
this time last year. 1t would
seem that only a calamity
could stop US from improve
ment over our 1855 trafiic dead
total Of p.
We hope that in the month
Of peace on earth. good will to
men" We will not have a
repetition Of the slaughter on
our streets We had in Deem
Der. 1855, when 10 pedestrians
and motorists lost their lives.
We are grateful to the many
organizations in business and
in Government, and TO the
service clubs that have step
ped UP their trafflc-safety pro-
grams over the last six months.
The stepped-up enforcement
by our Police Department and
the get tough" policy Of our
judges in Trafhc Court have
been important factors in traf-
&c fatality improvement. Pres
entation Of "Trafic Court"
on televiSion and radio for the
past nine months In co-opera-
ton with our neighbors in
Maryland and Virginia and the
Metropolitan Police Depart
ment has graphically brought
the trafiic-safety program In
70 the homes. Teamwork By
al segments Of our community
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10

II Cnere is more than meets the eve
In the resignation of Herbert Hoover jr.,
as Undersecretary of State and his re-
placement by Governor Christian Herter,
the unpublished chapters are concerned,
presumably, with basic difference in the
attitude Of the two men toward impor-
tant foreign policy matters
On the face of things, Mr.. Hoover Is
bowling out because he wants to resume
his engineering career, and his decision
to leave the State Department has been
received with expressions of regret at his
departure and praise for his service from
both the President and Secretary Dulles.
1t seems odd, however, that Mr..
Hoover, much of whose service has been
as Acting Secretary of State, would be
leaving at this particular time. He has
indicated that he has no definite plans
for the future, so there would seem to
have been no urgency in that respect in
the timing of his resignation. Further
more, Mr.. Dulles has just returned to his
desk after serious operation, and he is
confronted with a very difficult task in
the weeks ahead in patching up the
Western alliance and snoring up the bat
tered economies of our friends in Western
Europe In short, one would hardly ex-
pect to see the No. man leaving the
State Department at this time unless
there is some more compelling reason for
1t than appears on the face of Mr..
Hoover's letter of resignation.
This is circumstance which has re-
suited in speculation to the effect that
the change is intended to bring into the
UndersecretaryShip a man who will be
more Fundamentally in sympathy with
an expanded foreign aid program. That
the administration intends to advocate
such a program has been made abun-
dainty clear. 1t is equally clear, on the
basis of past performance, that Governor
Herter'S thinking runs along the same
line.
Mr.. Hoover, on the other hand, has
been identified with that element in the
administration which is conservative"
in its attitude toward the aid question.
A similar conservatism" cen be antici-
pated in the new CongreSs-eSpecially If
the aid figure for the coming year is to
be anything like the billion-dollar total
which has been mentioned. Thus, assum-
ing the validity of these points, it is not
illogical that Mr.. Hoover should be step
ing out now to make room for successor
who can support the expected program
without any policy reservations of his
own.
In any event, we do not think that
the quality of the service which Mr..
Hoover has rendered should be under
estimated. He severed his private busi-
ness connections when he entered the
State Department three years ago and
he has served as Undersecretary at very
considerable personal sacrifice. He has
given his best to the job, and there is
no doubt that Mr.. Dulles spoke from the
heart when he said that he had never
had an associate of greater loyalty or
who was more dedicated to the public
service. We wish Mr.. Hoover every sue
cess in whatever new career he decides
to embark upon.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
Going Higher?

AS far as MoScow'S hierarchy is con-
cerned. Defense Minister Georgi K. Zhu-
kov now has moved up another rung on
the Kremlin's ladder of prestige. In con-
nection with his 60th birthday, he has
been awarded the Order Of Lenin and
fourth Gold Star Medal, which is one
more such medal than any other Russian
has ever received. Further, wholly apart
from being accorded this unprecedented
honor, he has been publicly acclaimed
by his fellow collective leaders" as a
great soldier, distinguished worker of
the Communist Party, Soviet statesman
-. our friend and comrade.'
Marshal Zhukov, President Eisen-
cocommander in Berlin. thus has come
a long way since the late 1905, when
GeneralisSimo Stain refused to let him
visit America and assigned him to OBJ
Scure military posts that took him COM
pletely out of the limelight for several
years. Not long after the old tyrant's
death, however, in the Soviet Shake-up
following Premier Malenkov's "reSigna-
ton" in favor of Nicolai Bulganin, the
marShal-who has enjoyed tremendous
popularity in Russia-was brought back
into prominence and elevated to the post
OF Defense Minister. And since then he
has in all probability increased the Red
Army's influence within the Kremlin's
ring Of collective leaders"
AS has been suggested by President
Tito Of Yugoslavia, there is reason to
believe that those leaders are now divided
into two groups-the StalinistS led by
former Foreign Minister Molotov and the
So-called anti-Stalinists led by people like
Nikita Khrushchev and Premier Bulganin.
If such split actually exists, then the
kremlin, which may well be seriously of
balance as result Of events in Poland
and especially in Hungary. could have on
its hands the making of critical internal
contest for power. And in a situation
of that kind the opposing factions con-
ceivably could reach a deadlock bitter
enough to require formation Of military
dictatorship under the Red army.
All Of which makes It interesting.
and maybe even quite significant, that
the collective leaders" have seen 1T to
lavish unique honor on Marshal Zhukov
and to pay homage to him not merely as
professional soldier, but also as an out
standing Communist and statesman. This
may amount to nothing more than a
birthday tribute. But the Kremlin Is
usually very sparing with its accoladeS,
and plausible case can be made for the
theory that perhaps the Soviet Defense
Minister is being groomed for a higher
post
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
Old Man

The room length. by a fodder
counted great.
Resumes that look Of dis
lance for him now.
Just TO stay upright he must
calculate
Balance Of STOPPING back
and loiCerino byOD.
He thYH3ts the ground back
from him NTH his cane
When IL tries tricks OF rising
up toudrd him.
Years press hiln rom above,
betUeeH the tiDoiH.
No icOnder old legs shake
aud old eyes stCim.
WALKING comes back 10 single
steps again,
Each step takes time and
time Is running lou.
He slotcly treods hts icdp as
all old Hen
Must tread and tnoUino has
no haste TO 90.
n gou could teach Nc tcdlking.
iCtse old man.
We might not learn too late
hoto fast iCe ran.
james /. MOntesus
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
OIL Cotton Combine Seen in Tests
BY THOMAS'R HENRY

Partnership Of the oil and
cotton industries may mean q
new day of prosperity for one
Of the Nations major crops.
This is forecast by DR.. Harold
Gershinowitz, president Of Shell
Development Co. in Emery
vile. Calf, in describing adj
vanceS made by scientists Of
his own star in helping the
cotton grower and manufac-
turer.
For example:
Before cotton is planted,
fumigation Of the soil by a
product developed in the Shell
laboratory increases yield up
to half a bale an acre.
After planting, fertilization
by ammonia by direct injec-
ton has raised the yield in
California from one to two and
a half bales per acre, twice the
national average. Other prod
ucts keep boil weevils and other
pests under control. Research
now under way is designed to
produce defeating chemicals
to make mechanical picking
easier. Hydrogen peroxide, pro-
duced by a new process at
Emeryville, soon will be avail
able for cotton bleachers.
Synthetic Resin Made
The last product developed
may be the most significant of
all. 1t is resin produced from
oil products that overcomes
many of the handicaps cotton
has suffered in competition
withssome Of the new synthetic
fabrics. 1t makes cotton cloth
creaSe-proof and helps it re-
siSt dirt. This should permit,
he said, q new expansion in the
use OF pure cotton fabrics.
This same synthetic resin, it
Is quite likely, will have much
greater potentialitieS because
1t Is the base of a new kind Of
solids which may have revo-
lutionary implications In all
a0rtS of industries
1t came, quite undeSignedly,
out Of attempts to produce
synthetic glycerine from Pc
troleum products. 1t proved to
be the base Of the first surface
coatings that develop high re-
SiStance to heat. chemicals and
solvents and is of especial
value in protecting steel and
concrete structures against
weather and the action Of in
dustrial chemicals. OF equal
Importance were the first ad-
hesives for use at high temper
atures. These are finding a
significant place in bonding
metals to metals for the con-
Struction Of aircraft moving
at supersonic speeds which
subject the skin of the We
hicleS to temperatures of sew
eral hundred degrees Fahren-
heit. 1t also is being used in
structure Of sheets made into
pipes and tanks for handling
hot corrosive materials.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
Urban or Rural CoIIeqe?

The controversy over site for the
Northern Virginia University Center-a
branch of the University of Virginia
involves a decision as to whether the
center should serve chiefly the rural or
the urban area Of the northern part Of
the State. II 1t is to best serve students
living in the rural regions, the location
near Herndon picked by committee Of
the university's Board Of Visitors is a
good one. II. on the other hand, the
center is to attract students in the more
populated communities, the site near
Springfield is ideal. The latter location
Is favored by the Northern Virginia Uni
yersity Center's Advisory Council. by
majority Of the present students and by
Arlington and Alexandria authorities
Faced with these divergent recon-
mendations, the Board Of Visitors has
deferred until It's March meeting a final
decision on the site. In so doing the
board limited that 1t might even give fur
ther consideration to the ACCESSIBILITY Of
continuing the center at all It is now
holding classes in an annex Of Washing
ton-Lee High School. But such a study
would be superfiuous Attendance at the
present center, with its improvised facil-
titles. has been large enough to show that
a university branch in nearby Virginia
1, needed and will continue TO be patron
lied as long as it offers college courses
~ convenient location.
Since adequate enrolment and strong
financial support Of governing bodies in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
SoIutes Engineers

In The Star Of November
80. Bernard Frank, member of
the Interstate Commission on
the Potomac River, criticized
the United States Corps Of En-
gineers' handling Of the Po-
tomac River Basin and sug-
gested q congressional COM
mittee be appointed to replace
it
The Corps of Engineers
throughout the years has han
died the largest of engineering
and other public problems in
an outstanding manner. The
corps is nonpolitical and better
qualified and more morally re-
sponsible than any other agen-
cy that could be found or got
ten together to handle a tri-
State job.
The corps is subject to di-
receives Of Congress, either by
law or by regulations and in
structions Incorporated in the
specific appropriation made by
Congress for specific purposes.
Congress can find no better
group to carry out its wishes
than this fine body of officers
and its personnel.
Many of us may have diff
ferent opinions of the size
of storage facilities needed for
the Potomac River Basin: but
none of us is better qualified
to carry out the work once
Congress sets the directive.
The question is a mathe-
NAUTICAL one of the per capita
use of the Potomac. multiplied
by the future population, plus
future industrial use. plus ag-
ricultural use. We all may have
varying personal opinions
about the size and extent of
any or all of the above phases.
I would rather trust a survey
by direction Of Congress prop
erly financed and in the hands
of the Corps Of Engineers. than
in the hands of any commits
sion gotten together for polit-
ical purposes.
/ still advocate that a tri-
State authority be set up by
Congress to cover the develop
ment Of this important prof.
ect; but / firmly believe all
appropriations should be spent
by the Corps of Engineers by
directives Of Congress written
into the appropriation act.
Fayette NJ. Latham.
Technical Director, Home
Builders Association of
Metropolitan Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
Br1inwoshinu.

Your recent article about En-
sign Duane Thorin's book, "A
Ride to Panmunjom," says he
SCOTS at brainwashing.
I agree that when an in
dividual is able to endure hard
ships or serious illness and sur
wives, the experience is def
nitely worthwhile. Any form
of misfortune satisfactorily
encountered and successfully
surmounted has one prime
effect-it makes the individ-
ual involved stronger than
ever and adds greatly to his
ability to overcome future ad-
versity. However, if Ensign
Thorin's book SCOTS at a man
because he has not been able
to endure specific hardships,
brainwashing or whatever you
want To call it as we'll as he,
then he should apply his in
tellect further to the fact that
we all are strung with a diff
ferent set Of wires and there is
no set rule for any given cir
cumstance. I would not adj
vocate publicity of the fact
that every man has his break
ing point or price, or other
form of information that
would provide the military with
an excuse for giving in under
duresS. However, if they pro-
mote an erroneous statement
that all men are supposed to
go to a specific limit in any
given situation on an equal
basis. then the perpetrator is
basically a stupid individual.
No mans knowledge is any
better than the information
made available to him, and in
this connection ] am sure we
will evolve methods to insure
that military personnel will,
in the future. be in q position
20 go the limit"-at least as
far as their own individual
makeup will allow them.
Com m u mist brainwashing
techniques are not invincible to
some-to others they would be.
1t would appear that military
personnel will have to be
gagged to the finest point pos
sible in relation to their du-
ties and possible subsection
to capture. in order that it
would be possible to foretell
their durability under duress.
However. If a man comes out
Of the war a hero and has
managed to survive fantastic
hardships. 1t would seem ridic-
ulous that in a book relating
his specific background. fault
would be found with those not
so richly endowed as he.
Frank b. Christopher.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
Letter-Mon Stevie

Everyone connected with
youth activities in st. Berna-
dette's parish was more than
gratified to read j. c. Harris
moving account Of young
Stevie Merillat's display Of
craftsmanship in the st. Ber-
nardette's-Lady Of Lourdes
championship game. Mr.. Harris
letter, which appeared in your
column on November 80, was
a particular source of salts
faction to Stevie's parents. to
Coach Frank Govan and to
the boys on the squad.
Mr.. Hart has our sincere
thanks for taking the time to
recount this important detail
OF the game, and incidentally,
for giving our young and some
times unwilling students Of the
English language a fine ex-
ample Of descriptive writing.
T. L. McKevitt,
Chairman, st. Bernardette's
CYO Committee.
<k
I was pleased to read the
fine letter by Mr.. Hart COM
menting on the sportsman-
ship Of my son. Steve. His
thoughtful gesture in publiciz-
ing an incident which might
have been overlooked In the
excitement Of the football
game is sincerely appreciated.
and needless 10 say his mother
and /. his teachers. coaches,
friends and relatives are proud
Of Steve's action.
An individual who recOa-
nizes a deed Of this type must
have a deep appreciation Of
sportsmanship. and I am con-
fldent Mr.. Hart must have
left q lasting impression on
those with whom he played
and coached.
There Is also an amusing
sidelight 70 steye's run which
Mr. Hart should appreciate.
As Steve vas leaving the field
after his firing run and being
oyertake q. he approached
close 70 hn younger brother.
chr1s. who inquired very seri-
ouSly Why did you Stop7"
4. L. MeriIlat. .