St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 1

ON TODAY'S EDITORIAL PAGE The Fairgrounds Incident: Editorial. "Percenters" and Business Seekers: Editorial. Success Editorial. T.LQU PATCy w.v.MT.m Vol. 101.

No. 287. (71st Year). ST. LOUIS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 194944 PAGES PRICE 5 CENTS POST OS Fl AL 22 ARE REPORTED INJURED DOUGHERTY FREED FIGHT ON HOUSING Judith Coplon Insists She Loved Russian Despite Nights With Man MAYOR RESTORES OLD SWIM RULES; Sticks to Her Defense AS AIRLINER CRASHES AFTER TAKEOFF FROM MEMPHIS DISTURBANCES IN FAIRGROUND PARK 20 Passengers Ship Hits Mine Ml HEADING FOR NEW YORK Two Stabbed, 10 Others Hurt Irresponsible Teen-Agers Cause Most of Trouble Police Restore Order.

An order restoring: the former policy under which segregation of Negroes and whites was observed at municipal swimming pools was issued late yesterday by Mayor Joseph M. Darst after the first of a. series of disturbances occurred at the Fairgrounds Park pool. Only the day before, Mayor Darst's director of public welfare, John J. O'Toole, had issued a statement saying that Negroes would not be denied swimming privileges in any of the city pools.

A Negro man and a white youth were stabbed and at least 10 other persons were injured in the series of disturbances that started shortly after Fairgrounds pool opened at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. At Marquette pool, Osage street and Minnesota avenue, which is the only other outdoor municipal pool, no disturbances were reported. 400 Police Restore Order. Approximately 400 policemen and detectives were called out to restore order early last night as crowds of white youths attacked Negroes in Fairgrounds Park and in streets near the park. As word of the disturbance spread, several thousand persons began to mill through the park area.

The crowd was made up largely of curious onlookers, and included men and women with children in their arms. The disturbances in large part were created by irresponsible teenagers, with a few older persons participating. The Mayor announced today that the Fairgrounds and Marquette pools and the indoor Mul-lanphy pool will be closed for the time being. The city's six other indoor pools Soulard, Cherokee and Sherman for whites and Tandy, Adams and Buder for Negroes were open as usual. Mayor to Call Conference.

Mayor Darst said he will hold a conference in a few days with white and Negro civic leaders to discuss the general problem. He is now working on appointment of a new Race Relations Commis sion to replace the advisory group of 72 white and Negro members organized by his predecessor in office, he added. Plans for construction of an outdoor swimming pool in a predominantly Negro area possibly at Vashon Community Center, 3153 Market street will be considered, the Mayor announced. He said funds for this are available from the 1944 bond issue for postwar improvements, which earmarked $775,000 for swimming pools. He estimated that a pool could be built and equipped for about $200,000, and could be ready for use next summer.

Referring to the statement of policy in which his public welfare director last Monday had ordered discontinuance of segregation at the city pools. Mayor Darst asserted he had not known about OToole's statement before it was made public. Of the Fairgrounds Park disturbances the Mayor said: "Last night was a horrible experience and had a bad effect, I am sure, on race relations everywhere. It is regrettable." Statement By Darst. The Mayor's order restoring the segregation policy was announced yesterday afternoon in the following prepared statement: "Notable progress has been made in race relations in St.

Louis in years. It would be extremely regrettable if any interpretation should be placed upon the recent statement of Director of Public Welfare John J. O'Toole Continued on Page 3, Column 2. Warmer Tomorrow THE TEMPERATURES 1 a.m.. 2 a.m.

3 a.m. 4 a.m. 5 a.m. 6 a.m. 7 a.m.

8 a.m. 76 a.m. 76 75 10 a.m. 80 73 11 a.m. 83 72 12 noon 85 71 1 p.m.

86 71 2 p.m. 86 72 3 P.m. 87 75 4 p.m. 87 5 Seamen Killed, Hurt as Belgian The Princess Astrid on a. French SHOTGUN BLASTS HIT PROSECUTOR'S 6 Shots Fired Into Win dows After Earlier Series Strikes Newly Reopened 200 Club.

Six blasts from a 12-gauge shotgun were fired through windows of the Madison home of Madison County State's Attorney Austin Lewis early today following an earlier series of shots that struck the side wall of the newly reopened 200 Club in Madison. The 200 Club, 200 State street, and the Hyde Park Casino in Venice yesterday resumed, handbook operations after all gambling had been suspended for a period of more than three months. Shotgun blasts marked the walls of the 200 Club and smashed glass brick in a window. There were three distinct patterns of shot. One made by about 15 pellets, apparently heavy buckshot, punched holes in the wall as large as dimes.

Workmen were repairing the damage when a Post-Dispatch reporter visited the scene, and no one on the premises admitted knowing anything about the shooting. No report was made to police by the operators, Harry Wrest and Robert Leu. Mrs. Lewis told Madison police she was seated at a kitchen table when two shots shattered the glass in the kitchen windows. Fleeing to the dining room, she turned on the lights and heard four more charges crash through the windows of that room.

Madison police found three discharged 12-gauge shells in the street outside the Lewis home at 1670 Fifth street and counted 48 holes in the Venetian blinds of the dining room and the window screens of the kitchen. A number of pellets were embedded in the walls and furniture of both rooms. Mrs. Lewis told police she saw a large gray automobile going south in Alton avenue. The I-iewises' 7-month-old adopted son, Danny, was asleep in a room next to the dining room in the four-room frame bungalow.

Lewis, who said he was at his Edwardsville office at the time preparing cases for trial, attributed the shots to a disgruntled person possibly associated with some of the criminal cases he has prosecuted in the last few months, or to hoqdlums incensed at his announced policy "of keep ing hoodlums, redhots and gang sters out of Madison county. The shooting recalls the bombing of the home of Lewis's predecessor, C. W. Burton, in Edwards ville in December 1947. That affair was attributed to an Illinois gang frozen out of the lucrative Madison county gambling industry by the exclusive operation of the Wortman-Capone syndicate.

rE HOME MAD SON OPENS IN HOUSE; PL AN CUT TO 810 ,000 UNITS Move to Bind Democrats by Caucus Decision Dropped Compromise Expected to Win Many Not Committed. WASHINGTON, June 22 (UP) Administration Democrats relied on a major concession to economy advocates today to put through public housing legislation. As the House began nine hours of general debate on the Administration's long-range housing: bill. Democratic leaders threw their support behind a compromise plan that would reduce the cost of the projected public housing program by almost $100,000,000 a year. The concession was agreed on at a Democratic caucus late yesterday.

The meeting voted, 147 to 8, to cut the number of low-rent public housing units in the bill from 1,050,000 in seven years, as requested by President Truman, to 810,000 to be built in six years. This would cut the annual federal subsidies involved from a maximum of $400,000,000 a year to $308,000,000. The Senate voted a similar reduction in the units before it approved the bill two months ago by a 57-to-13 vote. Hostile Coalition Possible. It was noted, however, that in the informal show of party strength in the House caucus, 106 Democrats did not vote or did not attend the meeting.

That left open the possibility that a coalition of Republicans and Southern Demo crats might line up against the bill. There was no attempt to bind members of the Democratic cau cus to support the bill when voting begins probably Friday. The idea was abandoned at the late minute after some leaders had talked of possible "discipline. which sometimes means denial of patronage. However, the compromise was regarded as likely to win the votes of many Democrats and perhaps a few Republicans who up to now have been on the fence.

Speaker Rayburn, Democratic Floor Leader John W. McCor-mack and Chairman Brent Spence of the House Banking Committee, were pleased with the prospects. They agreed that the House will approve a "good bill." Martin's Statement. The opposition, however, remained strong. Republican Leader Joseph W.

Martin argued that the nation cannot afford such a broad housing measure at this time. "My opposition Is chiefly due to a profound conviction we cannot afford to engage in this new enterprise in which so few will benefit at the expense of so many," Martin said in a statement prepared for delivery on the House floor at the opening of debate. "Private enterprise, if encouraged, will lick this problem and provide decent homes without breaking financially either the federal or local governments." In an effort to keep Republican oppostion to the measure as solid as possible, Martin told his colleagues: "If this program is adopted as reported, I predict there will be less housing and housing will cost more. Private home owners won't build in competition with government, "There Is only one chance for America and free people in every part of the globe. We must keep this country strong and solvent; and to do this we must forego some of the things we would like to do.

To help a few people, we cannot imperil the nation." In addition to its public housing features, the bill calls for a Continued on Page 6, Column 5. SABATH AND COX TRADE BLOWS ON FLOOR OF HOUSE WASHINGTON, June 22 (AP) A punch-swinging encounter between 83-year-old Representative Sabath Illinois, and Representative Cox Georgia, took place on the House floor today, touched off by dispute over the Administration's housing bill. An eye witness, Representative Walter Pennsylvania, said Cox, who is 69, slapped Sabath in the mouth and knocked off his glasses. He said Sabath countered with a right and left to Cox's face before they were parted. The fight came during a quorum call, to get more members to the floor for the start of debate on the housing bill.

Walter said it began in an argument over whether Sabath, as Rules Committee chairman, would give Cox time to speak. Cox told reporters later there was "nothing to it." "I have a genuine affection for Adolph," Cox said. To prove it, he agreed to pose with Sabath, shaking hands, for photographers. Sabath, telling of the dispute, said Cox "tapped" him "and I let him have it with my left- Later, he said. Cox apologized.

"I'm sorry, too," Sabath said. "Gene is really a capable gentleman." HOME-GROWN COBNTn SALE First Shipment From Illinois Brings 20 to 25 Cents Wholesale. The first home-grown corn of the season appeared on Commission Row today. The corn was bought by the Hamm Produce 1037 North Third street, from Al Schuette, Caseyville, 111. About 225 dozen ears brought from 20 to 25 cents a dozen wholesale.

Last year the first shipment sold for 25 to 30 cents a dozen. IN SECOND TRIAL; CHIEF WITNESS ARRIVES TOO LATE Jury at Potosi Acquits Ex- Sheriff of Leaving Accident Scene Woman in Other Car Balks at Testifying Again. Former Sheriff John F. Dougherty was acquitted in nine minutes by a jury in Washington county circuit court at Potosi last night after the state's chief witness failed to appear in time to testify in support of the charge that Dougherty feloniously left the scene of an automobile accident at Kingshighway and Easton avenue Dec. 15, 1946.

Yesterday's hearing was a retrial ordered by the Missouri Supreme Court following Dougherty's conviction of the charge by a jury at St. Charles two years ago. His punishment was fixed at one year's imprisonment and a $100 fine, but the Supreme Court held that the court erred in the instructions to the jury and ordered a new trial. Subsequently, the case was taken to Potosi on a change of venue from St. Charles county.

Witness Balked at Trip. The witness, who failed to arrive in time yesterday was Miss Irene Schmich, 3022 Kossuth avenue, whose testimony jit the St. Charles trial was an important factor in the conviction there. Detective William Murphy, attached to the circuit attorney's office, went to the Army Finance Center, where Miss Schmich is employed, yesterday to take her to Potosi. Murphy reported to Assistant Circuit Attorney James W.

Connor that the witness refused to make the trip. Connor talked with Miss Schmich on the telephone, and reported she began to weep and repeated hysterically, "I won't go." The witness added, "You can't make me," Connor reported, but reconsidered after a consultation with her father and an attorney. The witness, accompanied by a policewoman and a detective, left the Finance Center aDout n.m. for the 65-mile trip to Potosi Meanwhile, Assistant Jircuit At torney Edward I. Dowd, representing the state, had obtained two delays in the trial in the hope the reluctant witness would ar rive.

Jury Chosen Swiftly. Selection of the jury from a panel of 24 had been speeay, with Defense Attorney Sam Richeson, former probate judge of Washing ton county, asking prospective jurors only one question, whether the jurors would abide by the law and the court instructions. Dowd presented the state's case through testimony of four St. Louis policemen, who testified to the collision between Dougherty's automobile and a taxicab in which Miss Schmich was riding, and to their failure to find Dougherty at the scene, or at his home. Dowd read transcripts of testimony given by Miss Schmich and the late Po lice Capt.

Charles N. Rowland given at the previous trial. The absence of Miss Schmich, who arrived after the jury re ceived the case, was stressed by Defense Attorney Richeson in his final argument. Richeson, who was assisted by Dewey Godfrey, former chairman of the St. Louis Democratic City Committee, told the jury that "the girl who says she was injured in this accident does not show up at the trial.

Witness Appeared Dazed. Miss Schmich and her escorts arrived at the courthouse at 6:30 p.m. while the jury was conduct ing its nine-minute deliberation. Dowd reported that her eyes were red from weeping and that she appeared dazed. In reply to Dowd's questions as to the rea sons for her tardy appearance the reluctant witness replied, "I was kidnaped." Today Miss Schmich told the Post-Dispatch that her reluctance to testify was due to nervousness and unwillingness to face the ordeal of cross-examination.

She said she was highly nervous and became ill following the St. Charles trial. In reply to questions, she said she had received no threats. Mrs. Joseph Schmich, mother of the witness, told of her daughter's nervous condition and said the young woman thought her friends had shunned her since the St.

Charles trial. The mother added that Miss Schmich was not notified until last Monday night that the trial was to be held, and understood that it would open today. Jury Foreman Perry Hoffman of Caledonia told the Post-Dispatch that the jury wanted to hear Miss Schmich. Hoffman, a former State Representative and a Demo- crat, said he did not know what case was on trial until he reached the courtroom yesterday. He said the jury considered the state's evidence weak in the absence of the principal witness, and reached its acquittal verdict on the first ballot.

Dougherty's Testimony. Dougherty testified in his own defense that he gave his card to James J. Sneed Jr, driver of the Yellow Cab struck by the former sheriff's sedan, and then reported the accident to Coroner' Thomas F. Callanan. It was the defense contention that Dougherty complied with the law in such cases by reporting the matter to the coroner.

The nine-hour delay between the time of the accident and Dougherty's appearance at the police station, and a subsequent delay in forwarding the official report to police headquarters were subjects of an intensive investigation by the poHce board. The investigation resulted in a 30-day suspension and a reprimand for Capt. Rowland, Deer Street District commander. Stand. Says He As sured Her He Had Broken With Moscow.

WASHINGTON, June 29 (AP) Judith Coplon held firm to her love-for-a-Russian defense at her espionage trial today despite admissions that she stayed two nights in hotel rooms with another man. Step by step, Prosecutor John M. Kelley Jr. had Miss Coplon repeat under cross-examination her earlier testimony of meeting and falling in love with Valentin A. Gubitchev, the Russian engineer assigned to the United Nations in New York.

The 28-year-old former Department of Justice political analyst has testified that theirs was a kissless romance. Miss Coplon insisted repeatedly that Gubitchev told her he was "going into the formalities' of obtaining American citizenship and assured her he had broken with the Soviet regime. At one point she snapped at Kelley: "This is not as sensational as you are trying to make it." "I'm not trying to make it sensational," he shot back. Drew Her Admission. It was Kelley who drew from Miss Coplon late yesterday the admission that she had spent more than one night with H.

P. Shapiro, later identified as an attorney in the Justice Department's criminal division. Once this afternoon she screamed that Kelley was trying "to brand me as a harlot." "You have branded me as a spy," she yelled at Kelley. "Now you are trying to brand me as a harlot." She challenged the Government to "bring Mr. Shapiro here with the FBI agent who trailed us and the dictaphone.

"Your counsel can bring him here," Kelley interrupted cooly. Miss Coplon's words tumbled forth with lightning speed as she told of the nights which she admitted she spent with Shapiro. She denied that she was intimate with him and said that he never made "any improper advances." "Mr. Shapiro wanted to marry me," she said rapidly. "I didn't want to marry Mr.

Shapiro. I wasn't in love with him. Nothing ever happened that you intimated happened." Charged With Stealing Papers. Miss Coplon is charged with stealing secret papers with the intent of passing them along to Gubitchev for Under Kelley's questioning today. Miss Coplon emphasized that Gubitchev told her he was serving on the United Nations secretariat rather than as a member of the Russian U.N.

delegation. She described the secretariat as "like an international civil service. Kelley asked her, why, as their kissless romance continued, she hadn't asked the Russian, "Val, how are you coming with your citizenship?" "You don't think I would marry anyone who wasn't an American citizen," she answered. "Did you discuss with him going to Russia?" Kelley asked. "No," she replied.

"I wouldn't marry a man who was attached to the Soviet idepi." Questioned on Papers. As the cross examination warmed up, with Miss Coplon and Defense Attorney Archibald Palmer both making heated objections to Kelley's questions, the prosecutor shifted from the subject of Gubitchev to papers found in her purse when she was arrested in New York last March 4. First, however, Miss Coplon acknowledged that Shapiro was with her when she picked out a Christmas tie for Gubitchev in 1948. Miss Coplon admitted yesterday she spent nights with Shapiro in Baltimore and Philadelphia hotels and in a Washington apartment. Later, Miss Coplon indignantly charged that Shapiro must have tattled to the Government about their friendship.

Kelley asked who was with her when she bought the Christmas necktie. She said that Shapiro and another man accompanied her to Washington store to buy the present. Then she snapped at Kelley: "Mr. Shapiro must have told you he was with me that day." Charges a "Krame-Up." At one time during the hearing mis anernoon, miss -opion snouted that she was a victim "of some kind of frame-up." She said she was more terrified by FBI agents at her March 4 arrest than by the thought that Continued on Page. 6, Column 3.

MISSOURI DOG TRAINED TO FISH RUSHVTLLE, Mo, June 22 (AP) John Murphy has trained his dog to fish, according to Roy Tomlinson, conservation agent for this district. Tomlinson said that Murphy, who fishes farm ponds, baits a hook and casts the line, with bobber, into a pond. The dog stays on the bank and watches the bobber. When the cork goes under, the dog jumps into the pond, grabs the cork and hauls the line and fish onto the bank. take three weeks off their sentences.

Accused of molesting a 13-year-old Lincoln girl last February, the five originally were indicted on a criminal assault charge. This was reduced after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of the first youth to be tried. He is Thomas Pomlin, 19. Pom-lin and his companions then pleaded guilty in circuit court to the reduced charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The others are John Schoof, 22; his brother, Richard, 20; Grover Fulk Jr, 19, and John L.

Jones, 20. Associated Press Wirepboto. JUDITH COPLON After testifying yesterday. 'BOLD HOLDUP MEN SCARED AWAY BY INTENDED VICTIM Restaurant Operator Disdains Pistol, Shouts at Robbers -Who Flee in Fright. Ely Miletich, proprietor of a restaurant at 312 South Fourteenth street, frightened two would-be holdup men from his eating establishment today when he became enraged at the effrontery they displayed in demanding his money.

Miletich said he had just opened the restaurant at 5:20 a.m. when two youths, each about 18 years old, walked in. There was no one else inside the establishment. One of the two displayed a pistol and his partner snarled: "This a stick-up. Let's get at that money.

You'd better hurry if you know what's good for you." Miletich reported he was shocked for just a moment. Then he charged out from behind a counter, crying "You two little devils have got a lot of nerve." The youths, startled by Miletich's surprising lack of meekness in the presence of the pistol, took one look at him and ran out the door. They escaped north on Fourteenth in a machine driven by a third man. HEAT WAVE CAUSES LAYOFF OF 17,000 IN AUTO FACTORIES DETROIT, June 22 (AP)-De troit's 86-degree temperature yes terday, accompanied by high humidity, resulted in layoffs of about 17,000 automobile workers yesterday. Production at Chrysler Corp.

was stalled, the company said, when a group of men quit. It sent 12,000 employes home. After trim workers at Kaiser-Frazer had left, the company halted its two assembly lines, laying off 5000 men. It was hot elsewhere, too, with mercury rising to a top of 95 at Boston and at Philadelphia. New York felt just as hot with a top of 94.

It was 93 in Washington. With the northeastern states sizzling in a June heat wave, fears grew over the possibility of serious damage to farm crops. (The United Press said there were 48 heat deaths in the last 11 days.) The long dry spell (there haven't been any heavy rains for three weeks) intensified the hazard of fires in the heavily wooded areas of the New England states. New York and New Jersey. Soaking rains are needed to alleviate the danger of forest fires and to help wilting crops and pasture lands.

The danger of forest fires prompted Gov. Paul A. Dever of Massachusetts to bar hunting and fishing in the state forests, effec tive today. Smoking and outdoor campfires in the forests of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have been barred. MERCURY AT 95, CITY PUTS UP ITS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS Lancaster, Pa, Plans Test to Counteract Dissatisfaction Over Last Yuletide's Display.

LANCASTER, June 22 (AP) Passersby on Penn Square to day stopped, blinked and stared again. With the thermometer at 95 on the hottest day of the summer to date, workmen were hanging Christmas decorations along King street. Tonight, colored lights will illuminate stars, tinseled wreaths and effigies of Santa Claus. The unseasonable show stems from dissatisfaction last December with this eastern Pennsylvania city's Yuletide trimmings. So a contest for a new design was held and a winner selected.

The test tonight will seek public reaction to the new display. GOES DOWN IN WOODED AREA 44 Said to Have Been Aboard American Airlines Craft One Witness Asserts Engine Failed Before Crackup. MEMPHIS, June 22 (AP) A 40-passenger American Air lines plane cracked up shortly after taking off from Municipal Airport today and at least 22 per sons were reported injured. First reports said no one was killed. American Airlines identified the twin-engined Convair as "The City of San Antonio, bound from Memphis to New York via Nashville, Tenn.

First reports were that the plane- crashed and burned. The airline, however, could confirm only that it was down in wooded area. Kennedy Veterans Hospital, near the scene of the accident, reported 12 injured were brought there. A mortuary said its ambulances took 10 more injured, none of them seriously, to other hospitals. iso names were available.

Reports Motor Failed. One witness said the craft's mo tor failed and it was unable to gain altitude. He said it glided downward and cracked into a tree. Firemen arrived on the scene shortly after the crash and quickly extinguished flames about the craft. Witnesses said only the engine caught fire.

Frank Ellis, public information officer at Kennedy hospital, said he understood the plane had 44 persons aboard. He said no one was believed to have been killed. Jack Southworth, one of the first to reach the scene, said: "The pilot made a beautiful crash-landing. This section is heavily-wooded, and he seems to have picked the one gap in the trees to make a belly landing. The left wing, although the left motor caught fire and burned, is apparently intact." H.

B. Oliver, American Airlines Memphis manager, said the crew aboard the ill-fated plane consisted of Capt. Ed Hatch, First Officer Norman E- Lundeen, Stewardess Yvonne Hanavan, all stationed in Memphis. Miss Hana-van's home i sin Lindsey, Calif. Feathered Right Motor.

Hatch had radiod the airport control tower as he took off that his right motor had quit and that he had feathered it. Oliver said that none of the crew was badly injured. He said the cause of the crash probably would not be established until Hatch is sufficiently out of shock to tell his story. ROAD MACHINE CUTS CABLE TO LAMBERT FIELD OFFICES Telephone and teletype service to most of the commercial airline offices at Lambert-St. Louis Field was interrupted today when a bulldozer on the construction project of widening Natural Bridge road damaged a 900-pair cable of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co.

Airline travelers in the city who called the airport for plane reservations or times of departure were unable to get connections. The company intercepted many of the calls and referred callers to the downtown offices of the airlines. Radio operators In the airport tower said service went off at 11:14 a.m. Some of it was restored by 2 p.m. and the company said the remainder would be in service by tonight.

The accident occurred at Natural Bridge and Long roads. SENATE VOTES CRACKDOWN ON FEDERAL TAX EVADERS WASHINGTON, June 22 (AP) Tbe Senate today voted for a crackdown on federal tax evaders by demanding that the House agree to the hiring of 5000 additional Internal Revenue Agents to search them out. The unusual action came on a 75-to-0 rollcall vote rejecting a conference report on the 3-billion-dollar appropriations for the Treasury and Post Office Departments. Senators were told that several thousand additional tax agents to check returns and round up evaders would put from $425,000,000 to 1 billion in additional tax returns in the Treasury. But the House rejected this Senate plan after a long conference.

Today's Senate action sends the big bill back to conference again with Senate conferees instructed to insist upon additional funds for the extra agents. It is the only item in, dispute. DANISH VIEW ON MRS. MESTA COPENHAGEN, June 22 (UP) The appointment of Mrs. Perle Mesta as United States Minister to Luxembourg was carried in the Government newspaper Social-Demokraten today under the head-len, "The danger is over." There had been rumors Mrs.

Mesta might be named American Minister to Denmark. 2 Associated Press Hadlophoto. sandbar after sinking off tbe coast. Five Other Crewmen In jured in Blasting of Cross Channel Craft Off French Coast. DUNKERQUE, France, June 22 (AP) Live steam killed five Belgian seamen, trapped in an engine room, when the cross-channel vessel Princess Astrid struck a mine last night and sank four miles off the French coast.

Twenty of the 415 passengers were hurt. The blast ripped a hole in the underside of the ship and smashed pipe fittings in the engine room. The rush of escaping steam fatally scalded the five crewmen whose bodies went down with the ship. Five other seamen were hurt. Channel boats beached the scene within a few minutes and began taking off survivors.

Six of the injured passengers, including two women, were taken to a hospital. Babies clutching toys and men and women, shivering in the damp cold, Waited on the decks of the listing vessel to be removed to safety. The Astrid settled slowly on a sandbar, while its officers supervised rescue operations. French Captain Praised. One of the passengers, retired United States Maj.

Gen. John H. Hilldring, credited a French tug boat captain with saving at least 100 passengers from drowning, though he risked his own life and that of his crew to do so. "The hero of the rescue efforts was the captain of the little French tug Menahom," Hilldring said. When the 11 loaded lifeboats had lowered away, there still were 100 passengers aboard.

It didn't look so good. But off in the distance we could see smoke and then the tug swished up to the Astrid like a whirlwind. "He didn't stand off at a safe distance though the Astrid was sinking rapidly," Hilldring said. "The Menahom captain, completely fearless and calm, lashed his tug to the steamer's side. That ac tion alone accounted for the fact that many passengers didn't per ish.

They jumped into his tug within 15 minutes." Hilldring said the captain then stood off about 200 yards watcn- ing unsuccessful efforts other boats to take off the Astrid of ficers who were clinging to the rope ladders. Saved First Engineer. "When their efforts failed and they pulled off, the tug captain nosed to the hull and stayed there until the last man was safely aboard "Later, he plowed into a whirlpool of debris, as the Astrid was heeling over, to pull the first en gineer out of the water." The Astrid was only one hour out of Ostend when it struck the mine that supposedly had been floating around since the war. The Princess Astrid, making its regular trip between Ostend and Dover, was back in service for the first summer in 10 years. It had been converted to wartime service.

amount to much, she said. "But the secret is to be diligent." Quoting from her own experience, Miss Truman told of a visit to a Little Rock (Ark.) hotel. "The maid asked me if I wouldn't like to see the presidential suite. I said of course I would. There was a lovely piano in the room and a copy of the "Missouri Waltz" on the rack.

"I sat down and played a little bit of it. Afterwards the maid reported that the President played all right but not a bit better than his sister." Miss Truman used to play piano duets with her brother when he worked for the Bank of Commerce here. Playing Second Piano to Truman Has Handicaps Says His Sister -Unofficial. 'Normal maximum tWi date, 85; normal minimum fiR. Yesterday's high.

85 at 4:30 71 A3n a.m. p.m.; Relative humidity: 40 per cent at noon. Pollent count. 24 hour to 9 a.m.: Weather in other ciUea Page 9C. Of flcial forecast for St.

Louis and vicinity: Fair to- night; partly cloudy and warmer tomorrow; lowest tomorrow morning near 70; highest tomorrow af ter- noon in the low ton. Missouri: Part-ly cloudy except scattered thun- dershowers in eentraL and west. portions tonight 7 and in east por- i tomorrow -morning; warmer in extreme northeast portion tonight and in west and north 5 PER CENTER IN MIDDLE at Washington POST-DISPATCH WCATHER8IRD w. a mt. oer.

portions tomorrow; lowest tonight 64 to 68; highest tomorrow 90 to 95. Illinois: Generally fair tonight; tomorrow partly cloudy and warmer. i Sunset, sunrise (tomorrow), 5:37. Stage of the Mississippi at St. Louis, 11.2 feet, a fall of 1.4; the Missouri at St.

Charles, 19.2 feet, fall of 0.9. fell wnthtr data, Incradtat forecast and tem- feratores (applied br V. 8. Weather Bureau.) Accused Youths Promised Leniency If They Memorize Parts of Bible I i 1 1 I KANSAS CITY, Mo, June 22 (AP) If your older brother develops his piano playing faster than you, don't be discouraged even if he turns out to be President of the United States. So says Miss Mary Jane Truman, sister of the President.

She told children attending tbe commencement exercises of, the Kansas City Music Teachers' Association last night that they must not feel inferior when an older child in the family develops musical talents first and faster. "Sometimes you may feel discouraged and think you don't LINCOLN, 111., June 22 (AP) A judge promised five young offenders yesterday he would reduce their sentences if, within 30 days, they could: Recite the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount from memory, and give the meaning of the Book of Proverbs and Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, "Compensation. Judge Frank S. Bevan Imposed county jail terms of six to nine months. If the prisoners fulfill his requirements, he said he would.