Newspaper Page Text
E good
VENIN VF
By Quimby Melton
“Be England what she will,
“With all her faults she is my
country still.”
That is the way Charles Chur
chill, (1731-1764) expressed his
love for England. Now this
Churchill was not Sir Winston
Churchill, who lived 200 years
later and was the modern day
example of an Englishman who
loved and served his native land
in times of her greatest danger.
There is a similarity in this
200 year old quote and a state
ment made by Stephen Decatur,
American naval hero, who said
“My Country right or wrong, but
my country.”
Good Evening saw evidence of
this loyalty to England by En
glishmen on his recent visit to
that land. Not only did we find
loyalty on the part of all to
whom we talked, but we also
found pride in England and an
abiding confidence “There will
always be an England.”
— * —
Also sensed among the En
glish deep respect for “the law”
and deep reverence for “the
crown.”
But there was one story we
heard that illustrates that the
British, just like their American
cousins, sometimes are prone
to disregard a law that they do
not like.
One who visits any part of
England, and especially London,
is impressed with the number
of chimney pots atop every
buildings. They are relics of the
days, before central heating,
when every room had its fire
place and every fireplace its in
dividual chimney. (It was easy
for the tax assessor to know the
number of rooms in a house,
without entering the building—
just count the chimney pots.)
Riding into London from the
airport noticed there was no
smoke coming out of the thou
sands of chimney pots. Asked
the guide who had met us about
this and he explained that Lon
don was already trying to meet
the air polution threat and that
most homes now had central
heating and where there was
none people were required to
use coke or charcoal or other
fuel that did not create smoke.
Then he smiled and told us
this story:
“There still are some English
men who like their open fire,
their slippers, an easy chair,
their ale and afternoon newspa
per when they get home from
work. And some of these do not
attempt to hide the fact that
they burn whatever they like in
their firplace.
“But the authoritiess, know
ing this age-old love for an open
fire are not overly strict in en
forcing the no smoke law. If po
lice see smoke coming from
any chimney, they turn their
heads, smile, and I might say
envy the party who has the fire
burning merrily.
He continued his story:
“Many years ago, before the
serious nature of air polution
was admitted a very famous
English woman ‘defied the
law’.
“She was Gertrude Lawrence,
the great English actress. Con
cluding a successful run in “The
King and I” in New York she
arranged to return home. She
sent a cable to the Hotel Savoy,
reserving ‘my usual suite’ and
added ‘I want a merry open fire
burning in the parlor every day
while I’m there.”
The guide then added, “It so
happened that I was the public
relations man of the Savoy at
that time and the management
gave me the cable and told me
to ‘follow instructions.’
“So when Miss Lawrence got
back to London there was an
open fire in her parlor every
day while she was there. The
smoke bellowed from a chim
ney at the Savoy; and every
morning I went to her suite, re
moved the ashes from the night
before, and started a fresh fire
for the famous lady.”
This story reminded Good
Evening of the days when the
Volstead Amendment was in for
ce. A lot of Americans who pro
bably had never taken a drink
before started guzzling moon
shine liquor simply because they
did not like to be told “You
shall not take a drink.”
6 . , .......... Cr.TOv
, ' -vs..- a.. Av. v .. W v - -■ r: - ..
LCTioXL.. • x ‘ x “ ooot •' •» ««.<• mooo <««.
•'* <■>"' .w.
tisSsk*'
SretW-x i?* -vs WT
■ jWr JjSSSj, -x x '
HK' ’JI K WB
olsßElHMwßflllwpßßwqßp' ■*-.
HHK r'
Mrs. Maxwell Sunday
The First Methodist Church of Griffin honored its re
t/ring Church Visitor with Nelle Maxwell Sunday. Her
late husband’s brother, Rev. John D. Maxwell, pastor
of the First Methodist Church at Austell, preached
the morning sermon and her brother, Rev. William
J. Erwin, pastor of Riverside Methodist Church in
Macon, preached the evening sermon. Several hund
red members of the church honored her at a basket
supper in the churchyard where she is pictured above
at the “money tree” which friends gave her. Over
S7OO was on the tree. Mrs. Maxwell served on the
church staff for 20 years before retiring July 1. Her
husband, Rev. M. M. Maxwell, was assigned as pastor
of the church in 1933 and was one of only two in its
history assigned to it for a fifth year. He returned to
Griffin as District Superintendent in 1942 and died of
a heart attack in November of 1943. The present
pastor, Dr. Delma L. Hagood, said “we pay our love
and tribute to Mrs. Maxwell on this special day, and
thank God for her life, love and service to our
church.”
War Effort, Economy
Staggered By Strike
By United Press International
The country’s economy and
war efforts staggered under the
sledge hammer blow of a
nationwide railroad stride today
that continued to spread,
slowing rail traffic to a trickle.
Congressional leaders huddled
on Capitol Hill in an effort to
fashion legislation that would
end the strike, begun by 25,000
members of the International
Machinists Association and five
other shopcraft unions.
Millions of travellers, cross
country and commuter alike,
were left in the lurch by the
strike, which began sporadically
Sunday and grew in scope and
strength with each passing
hour.
In less than 24 hours the
strike had come close to tying
up 95 per cent of the nation’s
rail system, idlng 700,000 rail
employes and threatening to
throw hundreds of thousands of
jobs dependant on railroads for
transportation of raw materials
and finished goods.
Could Affect GM
The largest corporation in the
world, General Motors, said
today it would be forced to shut
down its assembly lines in less
than a week if the rail strike
continues. GM appeared to be
Jerry Dortch, 14,
Bitten By Snake
Jerry Dortch, 14, is in good
condition today at the Griffin-
Spalding Hospital thanks to
some cool thinking by him and
his family.
Jerry was bitten by a snake
Sunday at a lake near his home.
Insteod of panicking, he a n d
Mrs. Dortch quickly used a con
strictor above the bite and suck
ed out most of the venom with a
cup from a snake-bite kit.
After the alert home treat
ment, Jerry was taken to the
Griffin-Spalding Hospital for
emergency treatment.
He is in good condition today.
Mrs. Roy Dortch said she and
Jerry and her daughter, Karen,
had gone to the lake behind their
home on Manley road to get in
some fishing.
A boat, at the lake, was par
tially filled with water.
Jerry turned it over to pour
out water which was in it.
DAILY NEWS
Daily Since 1872
the only major car manufactu
rer in trouble from a prolonged
strike, since the company is 10
to 15 days away from complet
ing the 1967 model run.
A rail industry spokesman in
Washington said at least 27
railroads were shutdown com
pletely with others operating on
a partial basis and still others
expected to halt operations.
The heavy financial drain,
estimated at up to $35 million a
day for the railroads, might put
one railroad, the New Haven,
out of business for good.
Samuel Kanell, executive
director of the Connecticut
Transportation Authority said
the strike “could have a
disastrous effect because the
(New Haven) has barely enough
cash to meet its payroll as it
is.”
The New Haven is a
commuter line running into New
York and has 25,000 daily
passengers.
Hundreds of vacationers head
ing home from Expo 67 in
Montreal found the Erie-
Lackawanna’s “Laurentian,”
the Montreal to New York train,
terminating at New Albany,
N.Y.
The three-foot snake was un
der the boat. It struck Jerry on
the big toe of his left foot.
Jerry held the toe tightly un
til his mother used the snake
bite kit to suck out the venom.
Mrs. Dortch did not have to
make an incision. It was not ne
cessary since the snake’s fangs
left gashes.
Mrs. Dortch said the bite must
have been a glancing blow. “The
snake did not inject a large am
ount of venom,” she said.
Mrs. Dortch rushed Jerry to
the hospital for additional treat
ment.
Mr. Dortch killed the snake
and the Dortch family carried
it along when they went to the
hospital.
“We did this so that if Jerry
was given anti-venom the doc
tors would know what type to
use,” Mrs. Dortch said.
Jerry still had some swelling
in his left foot today.
GRIFFIN
Griffin, Ga., 30223, Monday, July 17, 1967
Fire Set By Rioting
Convicts Kills 37
Legislation Sought
To End Rail Strike
By FRANK SWOBODA
WASHINGTON (UPD—
House and Senate negotiators
went Into urgent session today
seeking emergency legislation
to halt the nationwide rail
strike, already having a para
lyzing effect on the economy.
The conference committee
sought a compromise on sepa
rate bills passed by the two
Houses to force members of six
rail shopcraft unions back on
the job. Some kind of legislation
was expected by nightfall,
probably a form of compulsory
arbitration asked by President
Johnson.
Negotiators expressed hope
they could reach quick agree
ment on a bill. Barring that, it
appeared likely that both
Houses would leave the confer
ence panel deadlocked and rush
through new legislation to halt
the walkout.
The strike already has slowed
movement of vital goods for the
Vietnam war and has caused
massive commuter tie-ups.
“Either way, I think we’ll
have a bill on the floor by
noon,” said Chairman Ralph
Yarborough, D-Tex., of a Senate
labor subcommittee.
| INSIDE
Local News. Page 3.
Sports. Page 3.
Editorials. Page 4.
Society. Page 5.
Want Ads. Page 6.
Comics. Page 7.
De a th Toll. p a g e g.
Weather:
FORECAST FOR GRIFFIN
AREA — Considerable cloudi
ness and a little warmer with a
chance of light showers tonight
and Tuesday.
LOCAL WEATHER — Maxi
mum today 82, minimum today
61, maximum Sunday 81, mini
mum Sunday 58. Sunrise Tues
day 6:44 a.m., sunset Tuesday
8:48 p.m.
KJ «. wßt
The Bank
Os Griffin
Yarborough told reporters railroads and union members,
that the rail shutdown was both Management vigorously denied
a.strike and a lockout. He said any lockout.
“It’s a joint action” by the
MH Board Plans
AA For Griffin
Two members of the Alcoholic ,
Anonymous from the Atlanta
area will present a program to
the Alcoholic Rehabilitation Staff
of the Griffin-Spalding Mental
Health Clinic Wednesday morn
ing at 9 o’clock.
The State Department of Pub
lic Health has placed Alcoholic
Rehabilitation Service under the
division of Mental Health.
Eugene D. Anderson, director
Os the Griffin-Spalding Mental
Health Clinic, said the mental
health staff hopes an Alcoholic
Anonymous group will be or
ganized in the Griffin area as a
result of the Wednesday meet
ing.
The local Mental Health Board
Embargo Placed
On ‘Junk Mail’
WASHINGTON (UPD—The
Post Office Department has
stopped shipping most maga
zines, newspapers, packages
and “junk mail” for the
duration of the nationwide rail
strike.
Postmaster General Lawrence
O’Brien announced Sunday that
an embargo has been placed on
all second, third and fourth
class mail to be delivered more
than 150 miles, with the
exception of perishables.
O’Brien, at a White House
news conference, said the Post
Office “cannot conceivably pro
vide normal service” and urged
all Americans not to send
letters or packages unless they
are absolutely essential.
He said first class and air
mail deliveries would continue.
Letters and packages bound for
Vietnam will also continue to be
delivered.
(Griffin Daily News Staff Photo)
The Bank of Griffin organized at a meeting this morning held at the Chamber of
Commerce. The bank is capitalized at $500,000 and will be located at the corner
of 11th and Taylor streets where it will erect a building on property formerly occu
pied by the Brawner home which has been razed. Attending the meeting this morn
ing were, left to right, directors George Bell, Bart Searcy, R. P. Shapard, R. P.
Shapard 111, Jerry Savage (shaking hands with Mr. Shapard, Jr., Bill Beck and Dr.
George Walker.
Vol. 95 No. 166
has assumed responsibility for
Alcoholic Rehabilitation servic
es.
Individuals, who live and work
in the Spalding County area, are
eligible for the service. They
may be referred to the Mental
Health Clinic by a professional
person or initiate the applica
tion himself by contacting the
center, which is on the second
floor of the Griffin-Spalding
Health Center.
The purpose of the program is
to modify ill effects of alcohol
on the individual, family and
community.
Services by the local MH cen
ter include social, psychological,
and psychiatric consultation and
evaluation, counseling, commu
nity consultation and education
and referral to more appropri
ate resources when indicated.
The Alcoholic Rehabilitation
Staff includes a certified social
worker, psychologist, psychia
trist, public health nurse, minis
ter and caseworker.
Temperature
Records
Broken Here
Three temperature records
were broken here during the
weekend.
An all-time low for the month
of July was set Saturday when
the mercury dipped to a cool 54
degrees.
A record for July 16 was set
Sunday when the temperature
dropped to 58 degrees. The pre
vious record for that date was
set back in 1926.
Another record -was also set
this morning.
Horace Westbrooks, Griffin’s
official weather observer, mea
sured a low of 64 which beat
the old mark of 65 for July 17.
Wooden Barracks
Became Inferno
By RANDOLPH PENDLETON
BERRYDALE, Fla. (UPD—
Rioting convicts deliberately set
fire to their wooden barracks at
a remote prison camp Sunday
night, touching off a sudden
inferno that killed 37 of them.
Only 14 men escaped alive,
and six of them were severely
burned.
“I would guess they anticipat
ed there would be some slight
damage and it would cause
some of them to be trans
ferred,” said Louie Wainwright,
state prison director, who
rushed to the little 51-prisoner
camp in the Florida Panhandle
today.
The prisoners hurled their
television set to the floor and
broke out light fixtures before
setting tw’o fires at opposite ends
of the barracks, Wainwright
said.
Most of the bodies were found
jammed into the shower room
at the rear of the building.
Others were found in heaps by
the door—which Wainwright
said was immediately unlocked
—and by the barred windows.
“It started in a flash,”
Wainwright said. “The whole
building was on fire almost
momentarily.”
They used some strips of
newspaper and toilet paper to
start the fire in each end of the
building,” Wainwright said.
He insisted there were nd
racial implications in the
disaster at the camp, which was
all-Negro until 15 white priso
ners were brought in two weeks
ago.
Guards saw two men—one
white and another Negro—start
one of the fires, Wainwright
said. He said the guards didn’t
see who started the second fire.
Country Parson
J|J®j
II
x\ I
“Knowing that someone
would be willing to help may
be more beneficial than re
ceiving it.”
At least one of the prisoners
seen touching off the fire was
killed in the holocaust, he said.
There were conflicting reports
over whether the door to the
barracks was opened immedi
ately after the fire broke out,
shortly after 10 p.m. EDT.
“The door was unlocked,”
Wainwright said, and “ap
parently they panicked. He said
guard A. O. Lovett unlocked the
door and told the prisoners to
come out.
But Byrd Mapoles, a Milton,
Fla., newsman, said a guard
told him they had to go to the
office of the camp in this
remote Florida panhandle area
to get the key and before they
could get back, the “flames
were already tree-top high.”
At dawn, the remains of the
building still smouldered and
only one wall was standing. At
the front of the wreckage was
the steel cage in which Lovett
was stationed, controlling the
only entrance.
Wainwright said Lovett pull
ed out five prisoners himself.
Two of the prisoners Lovett
rescued went back in and help
ed others out, Wainwright said.
He said they managed to get
16 men out of the building, but
' two of them died on the lawn
' outside.
i Fluorescent fixtures were
I broken. Wainwright said, prob
i ably contributing to the blaze.
“It was just like a horse
I race then they tried to get out,”
said Santa Rosa County Deputy
I Jesse Cobb. More prisoners
i might have escaped “if they
I hadn’t panicked,” he said.
Mapoles said the flames
I spread so fast th? prisoners
didn’t “seem to have a chance
to get out. ”
“I think they probably were
overcome by smoke before they
could even try to get out. It
looked like a lot of them had
gone in the shower to try to
run water and keep themselves
cool.”
There are only 11 of the wood
en barracks remaining among
the state’s 33 road prison
camps.
“We have replaced many of
them with concrete, but un
fortunately the budget hasn’t al
lowed us to replace all of them,”
I Wainwright said.
Parents of two of the victms
came to the camp this morning
and were told their sons were
dead.
Military Rites
Held Today For
Sgt. Helton
A military funeral was hela
this afternoon for Sgt. John Ken
neth Helton, 24, who was killed
while fighting on Hill 51 in t h e
Demilitarized Zone in Vietnam.
Funeral services were held at
4 o’clock at the Palace Street
Church of God with the Rev.
Walter Langdon, the Rev. K. K.
Jeffords and the Rev. Claude E.
Johnson officiating. Burial was
in Oak Hill cemetery.
Helton was the son of Mr. and
Mrs. J. M. Helton of 439 North
Eighth street, Griffin. He was
married to the former Gerald
ine Pitts, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Franklin Pitts of Griffin.
Sgt. and Mrs. Helton were the
parents of an eight month o 1 d
daughter, Tammy.
Helton extended his enlistment
in the U. S. Marine Corps so he
could volunteer for service in
Vietnam.
The family was notified of his
death by two representatives of
the Marine Corps on July 8.
Sgt. Helton was bom and rais
ed in Griffin. He attended North
Side Elementary School, Spald
ing Junior High and Griffin
High.
His body was accompanied
to Griffin by his brother-in-law,
Jerry Pitts, who is also sta
tioned in Vietnam.
Haisten Funeral Home was in
qf the fuccral wrvlc*,