anaheim-gazette 1950-06-23

"I Rushed to the Win Terror still gripped a 49 year old cook at eight a.m. today as he brokenly related the dramatic story of his escape from the blazing inferno that was the Fullerton Hotel early this morning. "I didn't know a thing had happened until the smoke woke me up," Oliver Dilbeck, his face smoke-blackened, told newsmen at an interview in a near-by cafe. "Then I jumped out of bed and ran to the door. When I opened it, smoke and flames from the hallway drove me back into the room. "Then I began screaming and started to climb out were coming and the smoke going back but there was no window but it." "Then the firemen came up One of them came up to the window but it smoke and flame and no" Fire For complete coverage of the Fullerton Fire, see Pages 1 and 5 of today's issue. VOLUME LXXIX Anaheim's FIRST Newspaper Forty Persons Fell As Fire Destroys As Fire Destroys At 3:49 this morning, a police officer discovered a fire in the upholstery shop of the McCoy and M wealth, Fullerton. By the time firemen arrived the blaze was raging through the roof of the building. World at Glance British and French Face Political Test By The Associated Press The British and French governments in the next three days are Nation at Glance Red Sox Head Quits; Crime Group Blast By The Associated Press ST. LOUIS—Tom Dowd, traveling manager of the Boston Red Labor at Glance Gunfire Gets Four Men at Struck Plant By The Associated Press Gunfire cut down four men yesterday British and French Face Political Test By The Associated Press The British and French governments in the next three days are facing life or death parliamentary tests even as a six-nation conference works in Paris on the Schuman plan to pool basic industries. The British government is basing its win or resign House of Commons test next week squarely on its decision to remain aloof from the present Schuman Plan talks until it learns more about how the proposed steel-coal pool works. The French government, whose Foreign Minister Robert Schuman authored the plan and gave his name to it, is facing a home-front fight for its own life tomorrow. The French crisis concerns domestic financing but may indirectly affect the progress of the international Schuman Plan if the govMonnet. A spokesman said the eriment of Premier Georges Bidault is defeated. Bidault asked for approval of a law prohibiting new government expenditures unless they are covered by income. At odds with Bidault's pay-as you-go policy, the assembly approved a Socialist party proposal which would give government employees pay rises equalling about $35,000,000 in the 1951 budget. Bidault said he could not endorse payments that would come due when he might not be in office. He asked for a vote of confidence. Meanwhile, the six Western European nations discussing the Schuman Plan went over plans (Continued on Page 5) Red Sox Head Quits; Crime Group Blast By The Associated Press ST. LOUIS—Tom Dowd, traveling manager of the Boston Red Sox, announced today Joe McCarthy had resigned as manager and that Steve O'Neill had been appointed to succeed him. Dowd said announcement of the change in managers had just been received from General Manager Joe Cronin in Boston. McCarthy, who has been ill, left the club in Chicago yesterday to return to his home in Buffalo, N.Y. O'Neill, a former Detroit and Cleveland manager, joined the Sox as coach last winter. WASHINGTON—Senator Wiley (R-Wis.) sharply criticized the Senate Crime Investigating committee today for "running around after mice" rather than trying to uncover ties between politics and crime. Wiley—a committee member—spoke out as Senators questioned U. S. Prison Director James V. Bennett on his views for controlling crime. Wiley referred to "the Kansas City murders and the theft of ballot boxes" in Missouri. "We should concentrate on that one subject," Wiley said. "We are running around after mice and ought to be getting the breeding place." Chairman Kefauver (D-Tenn.) promptly told reporters the committee is going into Missouri to hold open hearings "on the basis of evidence we've already collected." Gunfire Gets Four Men at Struck Plant By The Associated Press Gunfire cut down four men yesterday at the strike-plague American Ruka Corp. in Morrison town, Tenn., scene of one of the nation's most strife-ridden lab disputes. The community awaited a decision today on whether Nation Guardsmen might be returned to duty at the bloody strike scene. Representatives of Governor Gordon Browning questioned about 100 men and women held at the Hamblen County jail far into late night. At a Senate labor subcommittee hearing at the plant last week, the governor was criticized for calling out the Guard May 29. CP President Philip Murray called the act "strikebreaking." The CIO Textile Workers union struck at the plant 13 weeks ago for higher wages and other benefits. Four of five railroads single-out for a strike of AFL switchmeet Sunday have announced they will not attempt to operate. The National (Railway) Media board kept busy attempting to avert the switchmen's strike and a threatened walkout of trainmen and conductors July 15, but gave no word of progress. The Chicago Great Western said it would not attempt to run trains if the switchmen strike. Shut down plans also were made by the Denver and Rio Grande Western, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific and the Western Pacific. The Great the Window and Started to Climb Out," Hot "Then I began screaming for help. I rushed to the window and started to climb out. I didn't know what to do. The flames were coming and the smoke was all around me. I thought about going back but there was too much smoke. I thought I might jump from the window but it was three stories high. "Then the firemen came. They put a ladder up to my window. One of them came up the ladder and carried me to the ground. "I don't know what happened after that. There was so much smoke and flame and noise." "I lost everything. Everything I had was in that room. Dilbeck's rescue was effected by two members of the hcim Fire Department. About half of the local force answered call. Two Anaheim trucks were put into use, including aerial rig which enabled firemen to deluge water on the buildings from a height of 65 feet. Dilbeck's panic was further emphasized by a by-stamp stated that the frightened man crouched on the windowsill a few feet of a fire escape which he did not see." ANAHEIM GAZETE EST. 1870 ANAHEIM, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1950 Ins Flee Burning Three Roys Downtown Fullerton Estimate Loss At $250,000; No One Injured Estimate Loss At $250,000; No One Injured Forty occupants of the three-story Fullerton Hotel were routed in the pre-dawn hours this morning when a raging fire swept through a block square area of Fullerton's downtown business section, destroying the 58-room hotel and two other buildings. No one was injured. Fire trucks from Anaheim, Brea, the Orange County Forestry department and Fullerton rushed to the scene but the fire remained out of control for two hours. May Go Over $250,000 Fullerton Fire Chief L. W. Eckels estimated the damage at "a conservative $175,000." Other sources said it would run beyond $250,000. The fire was first discovered in the rear of the McCoy and Mills Ford agency, 125 W. Commonwealth by Fullerton Police Officer R. P. Miller, who was cruising by at 3:49 a.m. By the time the first equipment responded to Miller's alarm, the fire had spread through the Pacific Juice plant, across the alley on Amerige ave., the Breck Hardware store, 113 W. Commonwealth, and the Fullerton Hotel, at 115 W. Commonwealth, which is adjacent to the Ford Agency. Mrs. Belle Bird, who had a third floor room in the hotel, told police she was awakened by the smell of smoke. She said she got up, ran into the hall and knocked on doors to warn other occupants on the floor when it became apparent to her that the place was on fire. Those who weren't aroused by the smoke jumped out of bed as the Fullerton Fire Department arrived, sirens screaming. They dressed and walked safely from the building. Rescue from Window Only one man, Oliver A. Dilbeck, 49, a cook, had to be rescued from the building. He became panicky at the sight of the fire in (Continued on Page 5) Anaheim Woman Dies at Home Mrs. Anna M. Zehnpfennig, 80, died yesterday at her home, 323 North Pine. Holy Rosary will be recited in the chapel of Backs, Campbell and Kaulbars, Monday, at 7 p.m. Requiem Mass will be conducted at St. Boniface church, Tuesday, at 9 a.m. A native of Wisconsin, Mrs. Zehnpfennig came to Anaheim 25 years ago. She was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and the Altar Society. She is survived by four sons, Herbert Zehnpfennig, who lives in South Dakota; Dr. F. L. Zehnpfennig, of Minnesota; Carl Zehnpfennig, of Fullerton, and Frank Zehnpfenig, of Riverside. Three surviving daughters are Mrs. Ted Elmers, Mrs. A. F. Faust, both of Anaheim, and Mrs. E. F. Kaelin, of Los Angeles. There also are 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre cemetery. Official Vote, Demo and GOP Committeemen Two Anaheim men won seats on the Democratic County Central Committee from the Third Supervisorial district by write-in vote at the June 6 primary and a veteran woman Democratic party leader in Santa Ana, Mrs. Claudia Warswick, was defeated in the First Supervisorial district, according to official count announced today by County Clerk B. J. Smith. Carl J. Sanders, Jr., with 94 write-in votes, and Harry R. Fox, who failed to win a City Council seat in Anaheim at the spring election, were winners of two seats for names were written on the ballot. For which no candidates had filed in the Third district. Fox got 80 write-in votes. Thirty-six other names were written on the ballot. Regularly nominated candidates elected besides Fox and Sanders were: Mrs. Mae B. Geeting, Placentia, 3113; Mrs. Sue M. Lowrey, Fullerton, 2960; Mrs. Emma A. Pellew, Anaheim, 2607; Robert A. Cawthon, Cypress, 2747. In the First district, Mrs. Warswick, former secretary of the County Democratic committee, got 2010 votes, but was outdistanced by Lawrence T. Platt, 3620. When it was all over this is ground littered with the twins fire Gets Four Men atruck Plant by The Associated Press fire cut down four men yes-at the strike-plagued Can Knka Corp. in Morris-Tenn., scene of one of the most strife-ridden labor wars. community awaited a decision on whether National women might be returned to the bloody strike scene. entatives of Governor Gorrowning questioned about men and women held at the ten County jail far into last Senate labor subcommittee at the plant last week, the or was criticized for calling the Guard May 29. CIOaint Philip Murray called the bikebreaking." CIO Textile Workers union at the plant 13 weeks ago her wages and other beneof five railroads singled a strike of AFL switchmen have announced they will attempt to operate. National (Railway) Mediaard kept busy attempting the switchmen's strike and opened walkout of trainmen conductors July 15, but gave of progress. Chicago Great Western said it not attempt to run trains switchmen strike. Shut down so were made by the Denver Rio Grande Western, the Rock Island and Pacific, Western Pacific. The Great Continued on page 5) Jimmy Phelps Comes Through Eight-year-old Jimmy Phelps, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson W. Phelps, Orangethorpe ave., lived nine days with an air gun pellet in his heart. The small lead slug was from a gun accidentally fired by a playmate. Today Jimmy is sitting up in Children's hospital in Los Angeles, anxious to return to play. A physician, who declined use of his name, removed the pellet in a delicate operation. The slug was located within one millimeter of the heart's right ventricle. Had it entered the ventricle, it probably would have proved fatal, hospital attendants said Anaheim Woman Dies at Home Mrs. Anna M. Zehnpfennig, 80, died yesterday at her home, 323 North Pine. Holy Rosary will be recited in the chapel of Backs, Campbell and Kaulbars, Monday, at 7 p.m. Requiem Mass will be conducted at St. Boniface church, Tuesday, at 9 a.m. A native of Wisconsin, Mrs. Zehnpfennig came to Anaheim 25 years ago. She was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and the Altar Society. She is survived by four sons, Herbert Zehnpfennig, who lives in South Dakota; Dr. F. L. Zehnpfennig, of Minnesota; Carl Zehnpfennig, of Fullerton, and Frank Zehnpfenig, of Riverside. Three surviving daughters are Mrs. Ted Elmers, Mrs. A. F. Faust, both of Anaheim, and Mrs. E. F. Kaelin, of Los Angeles. There also are 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre cemetery. Anaheim Riders Will Participate In July 4th Parade The Anaheim Riding club be among mounted groups take part in the July 4th parade Huntington Beach this year, cording to City Councilman Talbert. Anaheim horsebackers will company with the Westminster Tri-City Wranglers, the Los geles county sheriff's posse, Long Beach Mounted Guard, Del Rey Palamino club and King Cole Riders of Compton the event. Parade officials dicate that these groups, together with hundreds of individual riders will make the parade "the array of silver mounted equi trians ever assembled for the J 4th parade." "Out," Hotel Occupant Says I had was in that room." ed by two members of the Anallyf of the local force answered the put into use, including the new to deluge water on the flaming eet. emphasized by a by-stander who rouched on the windowsill within he did not see. More fortunate was A. B. Kempinsky, 44, a receiving clerk who was registered in Room 111 at the hotel. Kempinsky told reporters that he was awakened by sirens and, on dressing and going out to see what was the matter, found the neighboring McCoy-Mills Motor company ablaze. Sirens also awakened William E. Musser, hotel manager. Musser said that he ran through the halls yelling to awaken sleeping guests. Then he said he grabbed what few belongings he could and got out of the building. The Weather S. Calif.—Considerable cloudiness west and clear east portion today, tonight and Satursday. Local early morning drizzle coastal section. Slightly warmer coastal section Saturday. ZETTE 1950 5c a Copy — 50c Per Month No. 62 Three-Story Hotel ullerton City Block The fire raced quickly to the building next door, the Fullerton Hotel, where 40 occupants were asleep. Here the Anaheim Fire department's new aerial rig fights the blaze in the hotel. (Gazette Photo by Bradley) Anaheim’s New Aerial Truck Draws Fire Observer’s Praise Observers lauded the effectiveness of Anaheim firemen and their new agrial rig in flaming Fullerton today. The blaze occasioned the first use of the $29,000 combination pumper with the 65-foot tower since its purchase by the City of Anaheim last October. Described as one of the best pieces of fire fighting equipment in the country, the Seagrave truck can pour up to 750 gallons of water a minute on a blaze. Utilizing two hoses, one handled by a fireman at the apex of the high tower and the other anchored midway between top and bottom, the rig hurled a veritable cloud-burst of water on the blazing Fullerton Hotel this morning. (See photo on this page for the rig in action.) In addition to Anaheim, fire fighters and equipment from Brea and Yorba Linda were called to the early morning blaze. Lack of sufficient equipment by Fullerton fire department was evident during the fire, which raged unchecked for two hours, observers said. Commenting, Anaheim Fire Chief R. W. Nyboe said: “Had the City of Fullerton had enough equipment, they probably would have been able to handle the fire themselves.”