Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Dec. 8, 1946, edition 1 / Page 1
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*_ THc SUN R-NEWS __-_^JMB.I^@l5'ir eiryy <§> KomoiaLgga ^mb iPiugAgyjareW VOL. l^NO-JJL-- WILMINGTON, N. C„ SUNDAY. DECEMBER 8. 194fi! ' SECTION-* Wilmingtonian, Winecoff Builder Cites Fire Underwriters' Report -- M_ ^ Inferno Hits As 280 Seek Escape Path Many Horribly Burned Or Injured As They Leap From High Windows CAUSE SOUGHT All Hotel Employes Being Questioned As Investiga tion Begins BY BURNS EENNETT (United Press Staff Correspondent) ATLANTA, Ga. Dec. 7. —Amass of flames shot through the 15 story Winecoff hotel today in an inferno which killed 122 persons, and tonight an exhaustive inves tigation was begun to learn the cause of the holocaust, worst hotel lire in the nation’s history. In three hours of flaming hell, while the'fire raged unchecked, the hotel’s 280 guests tried to escape. A few succeeded, some of them with tales of their experien ces. But most of the men, women and children who jammed the 194 rooms for the week end were either killed or iniured. Many of the injured were horribly burned cr had multiple fractures caused by leaping from windows. As flames shot skyward through the brick structure, guests awoke in a smoky fog. From windows and window ledges, aroused from their slumber and crazed by terror, they called for help, pleading to be rescued. But many of them fell or leaped to death, their night clothing trailing ribbons of flame. While the dead were still being counted, al] employes of the hotel were called for exhaustive question >ng by the fire officials seeking to determine the cause. City Fire Marshall Harry Phillips (Continued on Page Jive; Col, 4) Okinawa Employes Sought By Union WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 - (&)— kinawa, site of the last major battle of World War II, is being "“ionized. The National Federation of Fed eral employes, an independent "won, reported today that a charter J!S been granted for a local on Okinawa to include civilian em of theArmy engineers. New Hearing Approved On Sale Of Lake Forest j^rfiNGTON, Dec. (JP) — lj‘ ^rooth, acting National j administrator, decided to k.L.° !‘ocommend a new "hearing e d sposing of the masonry trnil in-tfl? Bake Forest housing Pr°Ject in Wilmington, N. C. «e l0ld a reporter after talking Wtrep£esentatives of the Lake tiouirf Tenan‘s’ association he to tv ma^e ‘hat recommendation »ho successor to Wilson Wyatt, re.s,!®ned as Housing adminis *8‘()r this week. Kepresentatives of. the associa tion rg j1* Frootk to stay the deci ito t„iac?e Wyatt about a week coonl. ?lve Priority to a veterans' h0PratlVe f°r purchase of the ““using units. lav! pr°testlng the ruling, which Mer= * €rans Preference over non ®toowns'4 group headed by ocpunlt \ Broome declared that tmp 3 Ats °* tbe unit should have t«lievA^eference" ^ey said they buv f)_ed non;resident veterans will Poses G h°USing t°r speculative pur shortly before *he resign Pubtf „ memorandum to Federal l0n V5 Bousing Commissioner Dil live V'l stat ng NHA policy is to to VAteeference tor purchase only rans with families needing h housing who will occupy buildings they may buy. At another conference, Wesley Pierce of the Veterans of Foreign Wars told Krooth he saw no chance of the speculation which tenants said they feared. Krooth stated he could not stay action resulting from the Wyatt ruling to give veterans purchase priority, but informed the delega tion that there will be time to study their protest before the units are conveyed to any group. BROOME’S STATEMENT Returning to the city last night, Brooks A. Broome, chairman of the delegation, issued the following statement regarding his confer ences with housing authorities in Washington: “I headed a delegation to Wash ington to formally protest -setting aside the original FPHA regula tions regarding the sale of sur plus federal housing. I called on the National Housing Authority’s office and was given a copy of the order issued by that office on November 30, 1946. It was pointed out to me that no non-veteran now residing in the Lake Forest proj (Continued on Page Five; Cel. 1) Where 122 Perished Before dawn yesterday flames kindled the heart of the famed Winecoff hotel in the center of the Peachtree section of Atlanta, and early today the charred remains of 122 victims had been re moved. According to superstition, most hotels have no 13th floor; neither does the Winecoff. The 12th floor may be seen beneath the top two floors, which are the 14th and 15th floors. This was the nation’s worst hotel disaster. The above drawing was made available to the Star-News by James McKoy, 402 South Third street.__ Stark Tragedy Marks < Atlanta Hotel Blaze By WILLIAM TUCKER United Press Staff Correspondent ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 7.—On the 11th floor, a woman knelt in a bathroom gathering her three children into her sheltering arms. The fire crystallized them that way, like a piece of blackened statuary. mat was only tne starkest of a’ hundred tragedies I saw on a hor rifying ascent from the bottom- to the top of the black, smoking tow er of the Winecoff hotel. Each room, each corridor, each flight of stairs had its own tragedy. And on each flight I passed a grim brigade of firemen and Red Cross workers bringing down “another dead weight.” ' That was the (Continued on Page Two Col. 2) ‘Day Of Infamy* Goes Unobserved WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.—(JP)—'The Fifth anniversary of the sneak at tack by the Japanese on the fleet at Pearl Harbor, passed today without official notice in the na tional capital. This has generaly been the rule sirtce the late Presi dent Roosevet described Decem ber 7, 1941, as a “day of infamy.” BEVIN ARRIVES WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 — (JP)— Ernest Bevin, British Foreign Secretary, arrived in Washington tonight for a brief visit which will include a meeting tomorrow morn ing with President Truman. Construction ThoughtSafe By Local Man Frank Harrell, First Lessee Of Winecoff, Cites Fire Reports NO 13TH FLOOR Says Underwriters In At lanta Deemed Escapes Unnecessary B JACK COWIE Star-News Staff Writer An interview with Frank Har rell, part-owner of the H. and W. Cafeteria last night revealed that fire underwriters could have been responsible for the large loss of life in the fire which swept the ATLANTA, Dec. 7— {JP) —W. F. Winecoff, 70, who built Die . Winecoff hotel for Frank Har- ' rell, of Wilmington, was kill ed in the fire which swept the 15-story building today. He had lived there in retire ment with his wife ever since relinquishing control of the hotel. There have been no re ports on Mrs. Winecoff. The couple maintained a room on the 10th floor. Winecoff hotel in Atlanta, Ga., early yesterday. Harrell first lessee of the hotel, and the man responsible for the hostelry’s construction, said last night “it is unbelievable that such a catastrophe could have befallen the hotel.” He added that fire underwriters (Continued on Page Five; Col 3) WINECOFF FIRE NATION’S WORST By United Press The Winecoff hotel fire at ^ Atlanta, Ga., today, which took lives, was the worst hotel dis aster in the nation’s history and the fourth hotel fire this year. Lasalle hotel, Chicago, June 5, 61 dead. Canfield hotel, Dubuque, Iowa, June 9, 10 dead. Baker hotel, Dallas, Tex., June 21, 8 dead. EARLIER HOTEL FIRES Gulf hotel, Houston, Tex., Sept. 7, 1933, 54 dead. Kerns hotel, Lansing, Mich,. Dec. 11, 1934, 32 dead. Victoria Mansion’, L a k e wood, N. J., Feb. 12, 1936, 16 dead. Terminal hotel, Atlanta, Ga., May 16, 1938, 35 dead. Amsterdam hotel, San Fran cisco, March 27, 1944, 22 dead. General Clark hotel, Chica go, Jan. 16, 1945, 14 dead. -----■* Plan Plant Here J. G. Thornton, president of the Wilmington Savings and Trust company, drives home his point at a meeting yesterday of the Wilmington Fort commission and business and industrial of ficials. Others in the Port Commission office, left to right, are: Fred Willetts, commission mem ber; C. D. Hogue, chairman; J. T. Hiers, executive secretary; R. B. Page, chairman of the State Ports authority; and B. H. Thomason, Fayetteville veneer plant owner. -..—--- --- _1_ Mayor Lifts Embargo, Recalls Proclamation The news that John L. Lewis had called off the nation wide coal strike last night caused the lifting of Mayor W. Ronald line’s proclamation asking for Wilmingtonians to conserve the fast-dwindling stock-pile of the fuel in the community. I ONR CRAFT DUE IN CITY TODAY USS PC 776 Is Expected To Dock At Customhouse At 4 o’CIock The USS PC 776 which has been turned over to the local U. S. Navy Organized Reserved unit will arrive off the bar at Southport about 2 o’clock this afternoon and is expected to be docked at the customs house wharf about 4 o’clock; according to information received by Lt. B. S. Solomom, executive officer of the local ONR. Iii short but impressive cere monies on Thursday, December 5th Captain Richardson of the Com mandant’s staff of the Sixth Naval district turned the craft over to Lt. Comdr. John H. Wilson, com manding officer of the local ONR. It is reported that the shake down cruise and sea trials which (Continued on Page Five; Col. 6) Southern Governors Elect Gregg Cherry MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 7— CU.R)—Gov. R. Gregg Cherry, ' of North Carolina, today was elected chairman of the Southern Govern ors’ conference as the group end ed a three-day session here. Cherry will serve for one year, succeeding Governor Robert Kerr of Oklahoma. Governor Meadows, of West Virginia was named vice chairman. At the same time informed sources said it would be at least 10 days before coal starts moving into the city in even small quanti ties. The Atlantic Coast Line railroad, which had discontinued several trains as a result of the soft coal strike, will resume normal sched ules of freight and passenger serv ice, Carl G. Sibley, general man ager, said last night. The two trains which were dis continued between Wilmington and Fayetteville will , resume normal schedules this morning and other trains which had been operating on curtailed service throughout the system will be restored to normal, he added. Mayor Lane, in lifting his pro clamation, thanked residents of the community for their cooperation and declared he was more than happy the men were returning to their jobs. In the same instance the Tide Water Power company was helping to preserve the local supply of coal following the repairing of an 11, 000-volt cable in the Cape Fear (Continued on Page Five; Col. 5) Wooten Is Elected Carolina Aero Head RALEIGH, Dec. 7—(/P)-A. L. Wooten, of Wilmington, today was elected president of the Carolina Aero club at a sfate-wide meeting here. Also elected was Mrs. J. C. Pennington, of Wilmington, as secretary-treasurer. Others named were Clay Swain, Salisbury, first vice president; Bob Ridenhbur, second vice president. Twelve members of the Aero club at Wilmington were present. USES SAYS: GIVE VETS JOBS FOR CHRISTMAS f r 1 _:_ Desperately seeking jobs for 928 ex-servicemen in the Wil mington area, the North Caro lina Employment service in this city has comt up with a slo gan aimed directly at emplo yers m this area — “Give A Veteran a Job for Christmas..” Harold M. Hinkle, NCES manager, points cut that un: der the new program the em ployers would benefit as much as the veterans. “Certainly the veteran is the most desirable person to em ploy,'*’ he reminds local indus trial officials, * ‘Wg know Un cle Sam took the cream of the crop, and we know that during his wartime service the veteran learned to report, on time; he learned neatness; he was trained in some of the most expensive and specialized courses ever undertaken; and • ■ collectively the men who fought the war performed the great est job ever done in history.” Hinkle revealed the returned veteran as bewildered by the 'economical turn of events in the land he came home to. He said employers were obligated to make < a comprehensive inven tory of their needs, and at tempt to find a spot within their organizations where the em ployment of a veteran would Essay Contest Planned On Social Conditions ■ An essay contest on the subject “Survey of Social and Living Conditions of Wilmington” is being sponsored b^ the Star-News and the Young Men’s Christian Association. Contestants will be members of the Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y groups under the supervision of R. H. Caudill, Boys Work secretary of the YMCA. Four prizes, two for girls and two for boys, will be awarded by the Star-News for the best essays which are turned in. (Continued on Page Five; CaL gfc r add increased efficiency to the business. ' “It’s time to stop shedding crocodile tears for thi veterans, and do something concrete to aid him in his predicament.” Hinkle declared. Leonard Barrett, a Wilming ton official of me State Vete rans commission said the re turned military men are being faced with shortages of cloth ing, housing, food, and jobs. “It’s not the land of plenty they thought they would find,” he said, adding the only thing a man could buy in quantity was alcohol. Barrett declared the average veteran does not I want anyone to give him a 1 shirt, but desperately wants to ^ be able to buy one. < With, gifts for Yuletide holi- 1 s {Continued On Page Two Col. 1) NEW INDUSTRY PLANNED HERE Wilmington Port Commis sion Met With Plywhod Manufacturer Her^ The possibilities of in ausiry locating in wn peared here yesterdj Thomason, Fayett manufacturer, dist build a slicing pl« veneer and othsl® if the WilmingjHs; can find a suj for the mill.J He reveal^ ing of the '|g others als; am opment of fflS tries. i SMS WMWCU I man of t sion at th offices ali ton port several fu panies, in to funnel i Wilmingto] Thom a set factory, w area of si: frontage 01 would emi commission ^■■pP’d to answer Thomason’sjMgUlenge and will be gin to seek^PV needed space at once, HogutRsaid. Based on (the theory that tramp steamers wtould serve the new plant in its iihfant stages, those at tending the iWieeting forecast in creased shipitnents of textiles and tobacco throulgh the local port. In (Continued oijt Page Two, Col. 11 Miners Are Ordered Back To Coal Pits UMW Due To Return Mon day Until March 31 On Government Terms HONOR CONTRACT President Cancels Talk; Negotiations Are Expect ed To Begin WASHINGTON, Dec. 7-<U.B— John L. Lewis surrendered dra matically today in his coal strike fight with the government. He call ed off the crippling 17-day walkout and sent his United Mine workers back to the pits until March SI on the Government’s terms. Lewis announced at a suddenly summoned news conference that the 400,000 soft coal miners will return to work on Monday under terms of the Krug-Lewis agree* ment negotiated last May—the con* tract he terminated last November 21. it nas been the Government’s position throughout the strike that there could be no dealing with Lewis until the miherr honored that contract. Lewis’ surrender came while the Supreme court deliberated a Gov( ernment request .tor swift and final decision on the conviction of Lewis and the UMW for contempt of court in failing to prevent the j strike. The district court here fined i Lewis $10,000 and the union $3, 500,000. The UMW chief said he was calL ing off the strike to enable the Supreme court to consider the con tempt case “free from public pressure superinduced by the hys teria and frenzy of an economic crisis” because “public necessity requires” that coal be produced while the final outcome is awaited. Coal operators estimated they (Continued on Page Five; Col. 1) Wainwright Cautions Of ‘New Pearl Harbor* 1 WASHINGTON, Dec. 7—W—Gen. .Jonathan M. Wainwrighi said to* ra,ght on the fifth anniversary of P ar Harbor that because of in aaequate defense preparations “pearl Harbor and Bataan were a neetless waste.” Ini a warning against disarms* ment “through false economy” he told ' the local bar association "tha in the event of another war. New York, Detroit, Chicago and Washington—all together—may be our r.ew Pearl Harbor." Living Christmas Tree To Be Lighted Tonight Wilmington's living community Christmas tr,ee, largest in the world, will tlais year divide its in spiration for the holiday season with all the nation. Tonight tlae living symbol of Christmas wip be lighted at 7 o’ clock bringing1 to an end a blackout which has darkened the tree since 1941. Movies which will be taken of the secular arid religious programs will be used as the Fox Movietone Christmas greeting throughout the nation. ’j M. D. Cooke, Fox Movietone cameraman, who yesterday filmed the Kiwanis club safety program, ivill take pictures of the ceremonies surrounding the turning on of the Lights. Earlier in the day he will film ‘The School for Santa Clauses” Drogram is scheduled to get mderway at 2:30 o! clock with some !,000 school children assisting in he event. The afternoon program will be lighlighted by the school which irill be conducted by Papa Santa or 30 assistants. A course on tree lecorating, using the large tree as ;n example, will spotlight the chool. A rehearsal at 5:38 o’clock baa been scheduled for participant* to the night event, it wa* announced last night. A religious program which will include a talk by the Rt. Rev. Bis. hop Thomas Wright will precedei a half-hour program of Christmas music by a 300-voice choir unde* the direj tion of Edwin Clark, direct tor of jiiusic, of the First Pres, byterian < church. The chorus includes members of many Wilmington churches and singers from the choral groups el New Ha 'over High school and Williston .industrial High school. The program follows: “Hark tihe Herald Angels Sing* and “It CUme Upon the Midnight Clear,” by, the chorus. “The Firlst Noel,” by the chorug with Mrs. Florence Avery, soprani* soloist. \ ¥ “Oh Littla Town of Bethlehem," by the choriis, Mrs. Jesse Parker, soprano soloist. “Away In l A Manger,” by « quartet including Mrs. Mary Eunice Troy, Wprano; Mrs. Lynn DuRant, mexxU^ - soprano; Emory Grubbs, tenor anV-ttL O. Page. Jr., bass. "Carl of the Bells, Gloucester. (Continued on Page Two, ColX ]| * t t
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Dec. 8, 1946, edition 1
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