davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1962-05-25
Continued From Page A.

Mercury network. It is not
known how much the low fuel
level contributed to the $50
mile overshoot on landing, if |
at all.
About 20 or 25 miles of the
overshoot could be accounted
for by late firing of rockets.
But the lions share was GER
tainly caused by the flat angle
at which the Aurora-7 capsule
was riding at the moment of
retrofire.
This caused the showdown of
the capsule to be less than it
should have been. and conse-
quently the length and dura-
ton of its earthward glide to
be greater.
Comdr Carpenter had gone
into orbit at 8:45 am. CEDT)
yesterday under the most aus
picious of signs. His capsule had
checked out perfectly, his big
Atlas booster rocket had run
through a faultless countdown,
never more than 16 seconds off
schedule. The weather had
made way for him with only
IS minutes delay.
His great rocket, with the
power of $4,000 cars, had
streaked skyward through a.
bank of clouds that obscured
even its bright tail-fire for a
few seconds. The missile had
burned perfectly, hitting key.
hole in the sky" with just the
right direction, elevation and
velocity. He had become the
second orbital American with
practically mo sweat"
And then things came un-
stuck.
Before Scott Carpenter re-
turned to earth, more things
had happened to him than
a pulp science-fiction writer
could have dreamed up.
His suit got hot.
His instruments gave bad
readings.
His body temperature ther-
mometer falsely proclaimed
him to be burning up with
fever.
His steering control system
used fuel at a prodigious rate.
He re-entered from orbit at
the wrong angle.
Even the cookies crumbled.
Wasn't Planned That Way
In the tradition of the old
time flyboy-that any flight
is successful if you can walk
away from 1.-THE flight of
Aurora 7 was a success. But
to look at it another way, no
one would have planned a
flight like that one.
The man in charge of Ameri-
cas- ambitious plan to send men
to the moon in his decade, D.
Brainerd Holmes of the Ma
tional Aeronautics Space Ad-
miniStration, exuded satisfac-
tion over the Aurora-7 space
flight at a news conference
yesterday.
Had Comdr. Carpenters mis-
sion been as smoothly carried
out as Col. Glenn'S (the heat
shield trouble of February 20
having been corrected. it is
widely believed that a more
ambitious flight would have
been scheduled next. 1t prob
ably would have gone seven
orbits instead of three. and
might have been attempted as
early as August.
Not Prepared to Say
Yesterday, however. Mercury
project chiefs were unwilling to
say whether there would even
be another three -orbit Mer-
curry flight before an i'm
proved" capsule is ready next
year for one-day mission.
Much remained to be done
before the life of another man
could be committed to the
cause of space flight. The
crumbling cookies were on their
way .back to the drawing
board" today-and so were
gauges, steering systems, heat
regulators and medical sensors,
all of which acted up for Comdr
Carpenter.
Few who heard the tape-re-
corded playbacks of converse
ton over the Mercury network
yesterday could escape the con-
clusion that some of the men
on the ground were exaSper-
Evening star., 1962-05-25

creasing and wondered if the
gency oxygen system
shouldn't have been used.
A voice, not identified, broke
in and said: You know how
we feel about the emergency
rate, so I won't say anything
more about it," There was no
explanation.
/ Mercury Control Center al
Cape Canaveral reported it had
no indication why the capsule
was off altitude at the time
iof retro-fire. and that radio
data and Comdr. Carpenters
analysis would have to be
studied carefully.
Because of the off-angle, the
control center reported the
retroS fired few seconds later
than planned. This resulted in
a more shallow re-entry angle,
but Canaveral said radar and
other tracking devices pin
pointed the landing point al
most Immediately after the
ignition.
Signals Received
Because of the shallow path,
re-entry heat did not cut off
communications until 40 sec
onds later than planned. Ninety
seconds later, signals were re-
ceived from an electrocardio-
gram and other medical sensors
and Mercury control knew the
capsule had not burned or
broken up during re-entry.
There was no voice received
during the IS seconds radio
contact was made. Then the
capsule vanished over the
horizon out of range of track
ing craft and stations, until a
plane picked up a signal from
the capsule radio beacon and
homed in on it.
In a report on medical as
poets of the mission, a flight
surgeon at Mercury control
said that during all the
flight we noted a wide variance
in blood pressure readings. The
last reading we had was 21O
over so. and this is too high"
He also said pulse pressure was
high at times.
I'VE can't explain it right
now. 1t could be a faulty
sensor reading"
Erroneous Report Earlier
He reported an erroneous
SenSor was responsible during
the first pass for a high body
temperature reading, and that
at one time a button on Comdr
Evening star., 1962-05-25
FLIGHT
Continued From Page Al

continued FROM rage Al
to go into orbit, and was telling
the story Of his flight.
The discussion among mem
bers of the tracking network
followed Comdr. Carpenters
recovery from the Atlantic
Ocean after his spacecraft
overshot the intended landing
point by $50 miles and he took
to a life raft.
The session, a report of
which became available today,
also showed:
l. A brief radio signal had
been received from the capsule
after it re-entered the atmos-
phere and officials knew from
this that the craft had sur
vived re-entry. Complete radio
blackout had been reported
Yesterday and left the world
hanging for Al minutes as to
whether the capsule might have
| burned up on re-entry.
2. Medical men were con-
cerned about extreme blood
pressure and pulse readings
from Comdr. Carpenter during
the flight.
3. Excessive fuel consumption
may have been caused by q
faulty gyroscope reference sys-
tenn.
4. An erroneous radio sigma,
226 second after launching
while the Atlas was still pro-
pelling Comdr. Carpenter up.
!. ward, indicated trouble with
part of the rockets hydraulic
system and an automatic signal
triggered the abort system tC
pull the capsule away and enc
the mission But a backup trig-
ger sensed no trouble and pre-
vented the abort.
Wrong Attitude
The National AeronauticE
and Space Administration sale
the overshot resulted because
his capsule was 8 to 10 degrees
off its intended attitude angle
at the time reverse rockets were
fired over California to bring
the craft out of orbit.
4 There was some speculation
among the stations at the brief
ing that Comdr. Carpenters
tirednesS may have contributed
to the off-angle. The Hawai-
station reported on his condi-
ton on the third orbit:
He was quite concerned
about his capsule attitude anc
therefore. on several occasions
when CAPCOM capsule com.
municator) tried to get him or
his retro-sequence he kept re.
turning to what he was do
ing.
I'VE told him to get ready
for the retro-Sequence and HI
, started doing something else
/ There was some confusion
, whether he understood wha
: the order was.
, I'VE had the impression tina
: he was very confused abou
, what was going on. But it wa
very difficult to assess whethe
he was confused or pre-occu
pied. He certainly was a diff
ferent man on this pass tina.
on the preceding ones"
The spokesman at the Ber
.tmuda post, noting the tired
ness, said that, earlier in tn,
orbit, it had noticed the oxygel
pressure in the capsule was de,
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
New Prospect
Post Office


Plans for a new post office
building at Prospect were an
nounced this week by Frank Cole
man, postmaster. Bids for the
new building will be accepted I'M
til June IS Coleman said.
The new building will be leased
by the post office department
from a private owner. The lease
will be for five years with three
consecutive two year options.
The desired lot size of the new
building is 65'X17O' and should
be in the vicinity of the present
post office" Coleman added. The
building will need 1000 So. feet of
floor space on the inside. plus a
platform of 100 So. #. The drive
way, parking and maneuvering
area must be $500 So. it..
I'VE are very pleased that our
patrons will have a new post Of
flee in the near future" Coleman
added. He did not estimate how
long it would take to get the build
ing constructed, but about a year
is normal for such a move.
Those wishing to bid on provid-
ing the new building can obtain
details from Postmaster Coleman
or by writing H. A. Schmidt. P.
o. Box 1886. Richmond. Schmidt
is the district real estate agent
for the pest office department.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18

building, it will be put into use
June 8.
Postmaster D. w. Paulette
said service at the old post Of
flee would end at the close of
business hours Saturday, June
8, and the new building will be
open to serve patrons beginning
Monday morning June II.
A dedication service will be
keld later in June, Paulette in
dictated.
The new building stood spot
lessly clean this morning as it
was ready for the architects fin
al inspection. 1t contains l0.370
square feet of floor space, which
is more than triple the space in
the old building.
C. W. Glenn is builder and
leasor of the new building
which is estimated to cost some
$150000 The first class Farm
vile post office does an annual
volume of business of bout
100000.
Continued on page y
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
Hishwoy Resideney Changes
w. G.. POstOn Retires In Amelia
B. S. Byrd Promoted To Suffolk

A promotion and transfer
will be made in Amelia county
by the STATE Highway Depart
nlent following the retirement Of
w. C. Poston, resident engineer,
for the Amelia, Nottoway and
Lunenburg Residency, on July /.
2oston would round out 40
years OF service with the DEPART,
ment en- July %. He started
work on that date in 1922 in the
Staunton highway district and
through the 40 years has helped
build the highway system in nine
Of the highway RESIDENCES or
districts.
He was made resident en-
gineer in 1881 at Goshen and sub
sequently hao charge of .nainte-
narce and construction in resi-
denotes at Covington, Winchest-
er, Lexington, Appomattox, Lu-
ray and Amelia, since 1856.
from 1854 to 1856, he was district
engineering assistant for the IA
county Richmond highway dist
riot.
New Engineer
M. T. 1hurston, Jr.. who has
been resident engineer at King
George for the counties Of Spot
sylvania, Stafford and King
George since 1856. will be trans
ferred to Amelia to replace Pos
ton. Thurston is a veteran en-
gineer with the Department, hav-
ing started work in 1925.
B. S. Byrd, assistant resident
engineer to Poston at Amelia,
will be promoted to resident en-
gineer and transferred TO SUI
folk. Byrd has been with the
Highway Department since 1887.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
Hishwoy Week
Hishwoy Week
Road Progress,
Problem Tours
Set Next Week

Supervisors and other county
officials in the DillWyn Highway
Residency counties of Bucking-
ham, Cumberland and Prince
Edward will take a close look
at their counties participation
in Virginia record-size road
building program next week in
tours sponsored by the Depart
ment of Highways.
Resident Engineer A. P. R.
Lowell and Charles o. Jones,
his assistant, will conduct the
tours as highlight of the area
and State observance of High
way Week. May 20-26.
The engineers will lead the
Cumberland delegation tour
over maintenance and construc-
ton projects in that county on
Wednesday, May %. The Buck
ingham tour is scheduled May
"a and the Prince Edward trip
May %.
The groups will make a lunch
con stop on all three tours as
part of the days emphasis Of
bringing Highway Department
personnel. supervisors and 9th
er officials together. The purpose
is to examine our progress in
the development of an adequate
highway system and to study our
long range needs and the prob
lens we face as Governor Har-
rlson put it in calling on Vir-
ginians to observe Highway
Week.
Currently. the Department has
about rs projects costing 100
million dollars underway. OF
particular interest to county Of
flclalS will be the 20 active Sec
ondary System projects through
out the State on which bids
have totalled nearly 1O.5 million
dollars.
Earlier. the three county
boards endorsed observance OF
Highway Week, noting the i'm
portarce of roads in the whole
State economy.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
Chamber College Tour Shows
Good Business Abets Education

The practical business consid-
erations behind the operation of
1000-student educational insti-
tuition were outlined to members
of the Farmville Chamber of
Commerce during a guided tour
of Longwood College Monday
night.
j. H. Wamsley, Longwood
business manager. led the tour
which followed the monthly din
ner meeting of businessmen.
Wamsley prefaced his remarks
by stating that dollars saved in
business operations can be APP
piled at the other end more
effective education" He said
the college. with state assis-
lance, strives constantly to
make this possibility a con-
tributing reality.
visible eVldenceS OF business
decisions to this end included
inspection of the vast sprinkler
system throughout the college.
Now with that system or triple
A rated new buildings. the col
lege has experienced great saw
ings in insurance expenditures.
Custodial Savings
Despite the increase in build
ings and the student number
build up. Longwood has reduced
its custodial force from 81 to u
over recent years. Wamsley said
this is possible through the use
of time clocks. supervisory man.
agement and even such things
as new, easier-maintained floor
ing materials.
Contractual partnership with
an experienced food service or
ganization, the Slater System,
has held the unit cost of food
without an increase despite the
enrolment spiral since 1855,
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
H-SC Gets $3.50
Grant To Support
Science Training

Hampden-Sydney College has
received an additional grant Of
$3.50 from the National Science
Foundation. This grant is desig-
mated for support Of an Under
graduate Institutional Scientif-
ic Equipment Program" under
the direction of DR.. G. Tyler Mil
Ter, Jr., associate professor OF
chemistry.
Undergrates in 263 colleges
ard universities benefited under
the total grants released this
week as part of 1874 grants
amounting to 5000, 1870 to assist
educational institutions in meet
ing the national need for com
petent scientists and engineers.
Grants are made with the ex.
press understanding that the
funds provided will be matched
by the grantee from non-Feder.
al sources, to the extent of al
least fifty Fer cent of the direct
costs Of the specific project.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18

to Delegate L. H. Irby, of Black
stone.
The resolution states that the
beard has considered Bland
ford's character and judicial cap
abilities, las well as his educa-
tlonal qualifications and politi-
cal philosophy. which is we'll
known to this Board and con-
sldered to be most important"
General country. welfare, and
school budgets were discussed.
A public hearing on the budget
engineer and approved. This
provides for maintenance. $685.
07S; maintenance replacement,
$26,875; incidental construction,
$500; and state funds ior prof.
ect construction, $30,441, total
of Sl52,C94.
will be held at 10 am. on June
II, at the next regular meeting
of the board.
A tentative secondary highway
budget for the fiscal year, 1862
So, was presented by the resident
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
Two Secondary
Highway Contracts
Let In Herald Area

Among II projects for secon-
Diary highway work put under
contract by the State Highway
Department today, two were in
the Herald area.
Two and one-tenth miles of
bitumlnous surfacing will be put
on Route GIT from Route GIG at
DeatonvIlle. in Amelia county.
to Route 6l9, Burton P. Short
and Son, Inc, of Petersburg.
was awarded the contract on a
bid of Sll .723.
The other contract accepted
was for Route COS in Bucking-
ham county where sos miles of
bituminous surfacing will be
laid from Route 602, near Wares
Bridge, to Route 642 west of ia
maica. Payne Paving Company,
Inc, Of Scottsville, brought in
the successful bid Of $9,477.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
State Giving Sayler's
Creek Full Dress Up

Here, the loss of 1900 exhaust
ed, half-starved forces sealed
the fate of the Army of North
err Virginia.
The local committee men,
bers. in company with Ben H.
Bolen, director of the Division
of State Parks, and Lyon G. Ty-
Ter, Jr.. assistant director of the
Virginia Civil War Commission,
Tuesday inspected the improve
ments recently placed on the
rolling battle-ground.
They found a huge sign and
a visitors pull-in for cars at the
South entrance. 1t reads: En-
tering Sayler's Greek Battlefield
Park commemorative the last
major battle of the Civil War
b tween Lees and Grants
fOrceS.'
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
Short Meeting
For School Board

The Prince Edward c h o |
board had minimum of business
to discuss at its regular meeting
Monday evening.
The board authorized superin-
tendent T. j. McIlwaine to pro
coed with the sale of the small
piece of land at Mercy Seat school
to William Fowlkes, so he can
have access to a garage he plans
to build on his property adjoining
the school yard. The sale has to
be approved by the court.
With only routine maintenance
problems to discuss the board adj
iOurned early.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18

Close by, on high ground
where General Ewell's Confed-
crate forces formed to meet the
assault of Union troops after the
wedge had been driven between
elements of the retreating army,
were interpretive texts and
maps
AT the 'Hillsman House they
found more maps and interpre-
tive texts and cannons on the
very site where on April 6, 1865,
they supported the advance of
Wright 5 forces against the wait
ing troops of EWell.
Bohlen told the group during
a pause on one of the knobs
with the eeping views so
colorful at SAVERS Greek: Its
only the beginning"
TAPPED Story Due
The Division director said a
push button" tapped repeater
message telling the story of the
battle is ready for installation.
II viii be placed in the south
yard at the Hillsman House and
all visitors then may hear the
story of that day in 1868 simply
by pushing a red button on the
mechanism . on hill where
there is a sweeping view of the
action ground.
Rohlen said that the Division
plans to gradually reduce cult
walton over the years around the
battle-ground and establish paths
for visitors to reach the marked
location Of battle units, the site
Of the capture of General EWell
and his staff officers, the creek
loWgrounds where opposing sol
diers and equipment became
tangle of fighting men.
The two cannons and
more are to be set on site later
were given to the Division
by the Virginia Civil War Cen
tennial Commission. The tubes
are authentic Union artillery,
having been cast in 1863 by the
Continued on page y
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
BY JOHN STICK

The Virginia Division Of State
Parks is keeping its promise,
members of a local three-coumty
Sayler's Greek battle-ground de-
velopment committee learned to
their great satisfaction Tuesday
during an inspection visit.
The promise was that Vir-
ginia S sole state battlefield park
would be developed in keeping
with its significance to the
course Of the Civil War in its
dying days.
That significance, according
to still-continring study. is
that the story of Lees retreat
from Petersburg to Richmond
and ending at Appomattox Court
House cannot be correctly told
without reference to the last
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
Battlefield
Park Ceremonies
In Mid-July

The resources of the State, in
GLIDING the speaking participa-
ton of Governor Harrison if at
all possible. were put behind a
plan for a mid-July public cere-
mony at Sayler's Creek Battle
field Park to suitably mark its
emergence as an important
state historic and tourist devel-
opment.
Ben H. Bolen. director of the
Division OF State Parks, agreed
with an Observation-Disclosures
Edward citizens committee on
tentative planning during an in
spection visit Tuesday TO new
park facilities.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
Fire Department
Sponsors Supper

PROSPECT. May 1.-THE Pros
pect Volunteer Fire Department
will sponsor hamburger supper
May 26, beginning at 5 pm. at
the fire house.
A drawing for the rod and reel
for which tickets are being sold,
will follow the supper. Not only
will the lucky ticket holder re-
ceive a beautiful $40 rod and
reel but a new boat, also.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18

except for a period Of military
service during World War II and
a postwar leave of absence to
attend Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute for a degree in civil en-
gineering, obtained in 1858.
Byrd was stationed in the Suf-
folk highway district, to which
he is returning, on field survey
work prior to World War II. AS
the Suffolk residency engineer,
he will be charged with the ad-
Continued on page u
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18

manager pointed out during the
tour ". IS Stat, .::.. Helps .......,. :.
The state. chiefly through the
Section Of Engineering of the
Division Of the Budget provides
on-call engineering and techni-
cal assistance to provide ade-
quate decisions at the beginning
of new projects, Or during re-
Continued on page n
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
BlandfOrd Endorsed For Circuit
Judgeship By Powhatan Board

The Powhatan County Board
of Supervisors adopted a resolu-
ton at their meeting, May IA,
endorsing and urging the ap-
pointment Of William R. Bland
ford, present Commonwealth s
Attorney, of Powhatan, to sue
coed Judge J. Garland jefferson,
Jr.. who is retiring as Of August
81, 1862. A copy Of the resolution
has been sent to the governor
Of Virginia. One copy will also
be sent to Senator Charles T.
Moses, Of Appomattox. and one
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18

Rewriting of the whole campus
complex, Job accomplished
over a lengthy period, has saved
considerable funds. Conversion
Of much of the heating system
to nonstudent thermostatic con
troll saved enough that the new
10 student South Cunningham
Dorm was made operational
without any additional cost in
heating expense, the business
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
Dedication Letter
Dedication Loter
Saturday, June 9, Seen As Date
For Moving To New Post Office

If all goes well the Farmville
post office will move to its new
location on June 8. The side
walk. entranceWays, and build
ing are now complete and the
postal architect will inspect the
building today. If he accepts the
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18

Wamsley said.
The organizational structure of
the business department con-
tributes to the desirable end,
too. the business manager said.
There are seven subdivisional
services, each with a chief, &C
counting. purchasing, mainte-
nance. laundry operation. tea
room, food service and nonaca-
demic personnel.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18

Band music. appropriate cere-
monies, Brunswick stew and a
snall-scale maneuver by mem
bers Of the North-South Skirm-
ishers were tentatively suggested
BY the planners. The local com
mittee assured Bohlen that peo-
pie in the three park counties
would contribute their share to-
ward making a memorable oc-
casion.
Bolen said he saw "inestima-
BILE value" to both the state and
the local counties accruing from
such an occasion. He said state
press and publicity resources
will be put behind it.
Continued on page II
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-05-18
HilIsman House

The HilIsman House and the
new facilities at the battlefield
park opened officially May Is.
Miss Byrdic Mae Hillsman, state
hostess, said the hours of open
house when she is present to
meet visitors arc: 9 am. to
pm, daily. EXCEPT Sunday, VIXEN
the hours are 1880 PM, to
$50 pm.