Oklahoma City Times (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 79, No. 23, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 16, 1968 Page: 1 of 16
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59 Leap into River an Craft Crashes Oil Barges
Ship Blaze Kills 11, Injures 36
POINTE A LA LLACHK, La. (AP) — The
cargo ship African Star was engulfed by
flames that killed eleven crewmen and Injured
at least 36 others early Saturday after a thun-
derous collision with two oil barges on the low-
er Mississippi River, the Coast Guard report-
ed.
“We're going lo need some help here with
the bodies," a coast guard official radioed
from the beached and burning ship. "There
are quite a few of them."
An eyewitness said some of the 59 persons
on board the ship leaped Into the river as the
blazing vessel ground ashore on the west bank.
They made their way to the safety of the lev-
ee.
Flames shot up 100 feet as the burning
bargc*s drifted downstream. Blazing oil spread
across the water.
Sheriff Chester Wooten of Plaquemines
Parish, who directed rescue operations, said
the most seriously wounded were taken to New
Orleans by helicopter. Many of those removed
from the still-burning ship suffered from burns
andsmoke inhalation.
The African Star, a Farrell Line ship, car-
ried 45 crewmen, 11 passengers and three ca-
det trainees. It was outward bound for Sydney,
Australia, when the collision occurred at 3:50
a.m., about 35 miles downstream from New
Orleans.
The crude oil barges were coming up-
stream, pushed by the tug Midwest Cities.
The injured were given emergency treat-
ment in nearby hospitals.
The coast guard took 10 of the most seri-
ously injured to New Orleans hospitals by heli-
copter. A doctor was rushed to the ship by lug
afterlanding in a coast guard helicopter.
The noise of the impact and fire brought a
crowd of people to the levees. One eyewitness,
Mack McGinty, said five people leaped from
the crippled ship, which plowed up a huge fur-
row of mud as it came to rest, bow-first, in the
ba nk.
"One woman said she opened the door to
her cabin and a hall of fire engulfed her."
McGinty said. “She breathed it and her esoph-
agus was all burned."
Crewmen on the African Star, some with
blackened faces and burned clothing, joined
firempn in fighting the fire that continued af-
ter the ship went aground.
Johnson Urges Budget
V \
Slashes, Tax Increase
Blazing oil barge fills sky with smoke after collision with freighter. (A!*)
r
■
Gold Pool
Allies Hold
U. S. Talks
Paid Circulation 310.244 Fconing-Morning Daily iverage February
Oklahoma City Times
ENTIRE CONTENTS COPYRIGHTED 1963 OKLAHOMA PUBLISHING CO . S00 N BROADWAY
VOL. LXXIX, NO. 23
16 PAGES—OKLAHOMA CITY. SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1968
5c IN OKLAHOMA—Klc ELSEWHERE
WASHINGTON (AP) -
President Johnson asked for
new budget cuts coupled
with his tax hike Saturday
as bankers of seven nations
gathered to try to solve the
world's gravest money crisis
in 40 years.
"We must tight n our belts
and adopt an autere pro-
gram." Johnson said in dts-
(losing the administration
was meeling with congres-
sional leaders to discuss the
budget cutback.
An administration source
talked in terms of an income
surtax that would yield
about $9 billion, to be
matched by budget cuts of
equal size.
Hard Choices Asked
Johnson's comments came1
as America's six allies in the
London gold pool converged
on Washington to discuss the
hectic gold rush that has
shaken the world’s markets
in the past two weeks.
The administration was
expected to leave to con-
gress the thorny task of de-
ciding where Johnson’s pro-
posed $186.1 billion budget
will be pared.
"Hard choices will have to
be made,” Johnson said.
"Some desirable programs
of lesser priority and urgen-
cy are going to have to be
deferred."
Appeals to Congress
He said his long-stalled
proposal for a 10 percent
surcharge on the income tax
remained the key to the na-
tion's fiscal responsibility.
The president told a busi-
nessmen's conference, "I ap-
peal to the congress and call
upon the congress — once
again — to meet the urgency
of the hour with the respon-
sibility it requires."
Johnson's call for budget
cuts matched a congression-
al drive toward the same
goal.
That congressional move
reportedly had the approval
of Rep. Wilbur D. Mills (D-
Ark.), the potent chairman
of the House Ways and
Means committee.
Crisis Severe
Mills has admitted nothing
publicly but is known to
have conferred at length
with Chairman George H.
Mahon (D-Tex.) of the
House Appropriations Com-
mittee. Mahon favors the
double-edged plan.
But it remained to be seen
whether those moves, but-
tressing the secret seven-
power talks in the mauso-
leum-Uke Federal Reserve
| Board building, would dis-
(See JOHNSON—Page 2)
What's Inside
Amusements 7
Bridge 3
Classified Section 10-15
Comics 0
Religion News 4
Sports 3
TV Tidbits f
Vital Statistics 9
Women’s News S
Surgeon Thanked Again for ^ew Heart, Life*
Delighted Blaiberg Leaves Hospital
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Philip
Blaiberg. the only person to survive a heart
transplant operation, strode confidently out of
Groote Schuur Hospital and into the bright
sunshine Saturday.
"I am very well indeed," he told a waiting
crowd of newsmen, nurses and onlookers. "I
am delighted to be going home and home is
the main thing in my thoughts. Thank you all
very much for coming to welcome me."
One of the nurses who looked after the 58-
year-old retired Capo Town dentist for 74 days
asked him with a smilp; "Can I kiss you?"
"Certainly,” he replied.
With Blaiberg was Dr. Christian Barnard,
who directed the delicate transplant surgery
on Blaibprg January 2.
Blaiberg shook hands with Barnard and
said several times in a choked voice, "Thank
you very much, thank you very much."
Then Blaiberg and his wife, Eileen,
stepped into a large black limousine for the
drive home.
Shortly before his dismissal. Blaiberg re-
ceived a thorough medical examination by the
transplant team and was declared fit to leave
the hospital.
Blaiberg's diseased and failing heart was
replaced by the heari taken from the body of a
mulatto, Clive Haupt. 24. who died of a brain
hemorrhage.
The retired dentist made steady progress
except for one period when his doctors discov-
ered indications that his body was rejecting
the new heart, and raised the dosage of drugs
to counter this.
Blaiberg spent his entire hospital recuper-
ation period in a sterilized suite.
Blaiberg will remain in semi-isolation at
the apartment block where he lives in subur-
ban Kenilworth for about a month while he
readjusts to normal conditions.
He will have to go to Groote Schuur three
times a week for at least the next month for
constant checks and further treatmem.
Bobby Offers
McCarthy Aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (D-
N. Y.) jumped into the Democratic presidential contest
Saturday with an offer to cooperate with Sen. Eugene J.
McCarthy (D-.Minn.) to wrest the nomination from Presi-
dent Johnson.
After listening to Kennedy's statement at a televised
news conference that "I believe I can win." McCarthy
said in a Wisconsin broadcast, "I'm the best potential
president in the field."
Kennedy charged inlet competition for convention
votes with the assertion that the country is on a "peri-
lous course." He said he is willing to work with Mc-
Carthy, another war critic, to spur a national debate on
Vietnam policies.
But McCarthy was chilly to the kind of cooperative
effort he seemed to suspect was primarily designed on
Kennedy’s part to take over for himself the anti-Johnson
delegates to the convention.
While his two opponents sparred edgily at long
range. Johnson bantered lightly about the whole affair.
(See BOBBY—Page 2)
wuf
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, Want Ada CL’ 5-6752
Other call* CE 2-3311
Sit Tight on Sanctions
For a Year, OEA Told
By Boh Ruggles
Education Writer
The chairman of the stale
senate education committee
advised Oklahoma's teach-
ers Saturday to sit tight for
another year and avoid in-
voking sanctions on Oklaho-
ma for the second time in
three years.
year, and next year's legis-jsaid the bill, one of the OEA
lature fails to substantially I legislative goals, probably
improve education, the onlyjwould have to be amend-
alternative for the OEA ed. "because we can't pass
would be a strike. jit as it is now ."
“Don't leave the most J He plans to try to increase
drastic alternative as the funds going into the retire-
only one." Terrill told the
teachers.
The Lawton senator indi-
cated the state faces an ad-
Great day comes as Dr. Philip Blaiberg leaves Cape Town hospital. (AP Wirephoto)
President Addresses Top Businessmen
‘We Will Win War,’ LBJ Insists
Sen. Al Terrill (D-Lawton) |ditional tax increase next
spoke to the 226-memberjvear t0 finance its opera-
Oklahoma Education Asso- u
WASHINGTON (AP) -
President Johnson told a
blue ribbon gathering of
American businessmen Sat-
urday that "we are going to
win” the war in Vietnam,
"hopefully al the negotiating
table, but on the battlefield
if we must."
Johnson also disclosed that
talks are underway with
congressional leaders on cut-
ting the budget — a move
designed to break the legis-
lative blockade against the
administration's bill to apply
a 10 percent Income surtax.
The chief executive spoke
to corporation executives
meeting under the wing of
the National Alliance of
Businessmen, which is work-
ing with the government to
put 500,000 hard core unem-
ployed into jobs by 1971.
Johnson affirmed his In-
tention to "give our fighting
men in Vietnam (he help and
support they need."
But from the way he spoke
and the manner he used, It
appeared evident I hut this
does not involve a vast ex-
pansion of military manpow-
er In Vietnam of the dimen-
sions mentioned in various
quarters lately.
Within the administration,
those in the know look on
troop increases ranging up
to the 200,000 involved in
current speculation as what
they call "dove scare fig-
ures."
They view talk of a $15 or
$20 billion increase in spend-
ing for the war in a similar
light.
And on the tax bill front, |
there seemed to be no doubt
that what is being lined up is
a cut in appropriations and
spending to match the size of
the tax boost.
Whether congress will buy
it or not is open to a meas-
ure of question. But the ad-
ministration now believes
what might come out is a
tax increase of $9 billion
plus, and an accompanying
slash of that amount in ap-
propriations out of the bud-
get Johnson submitted to
congress in January.
A trimming of appropria-
tions by that amount would
be expected to produce a re-
duction in actual spending of
about $3 or $4 billion in the
(See WIN—Page 2)
Clinton If Kan Arraigned
Bank Suspect Jailed
ciation board of directors
Saturday morning behind
closed doors.
The directors are meeting
to consider the future course
of the OEA — whether to
levy state and national sanc-
tions. take an immediate re-
cess, accept the legislature's
education compromise fi-
nancing plan or maintain a
“sanctions alert” through
the 1969 legislature.
The alert is a preliminary
to total blacklisting of state
schools.
After emerging from the
directors' auditorium, Ter-
rill told newsmen he urged
OEA board members who
"are not bound by I heir j
unit's vote and those who
are ready to jump the;
traces” that "sanctions |
would serve no useful pur-
pose this year."
Terrill said he did not j
mind if Ihe organization!
maintained a sanctions
alert.
He told the directors if
sanctions are invoked this)
tions.
He indicated he is working
hard on the teacher retire-
ment bill in the senate. He
ment fund from 78 percent of
the natural gas gross pro-
duction tax to 88 percent
over a period of years.
Terrill said the legislature
could probably start meeting
OEA goals next year, but
full implementation of the
programs would have to be
spread over several years.
A 42-year-old Clinton man
arrested during the night in
the $18,973 robbery of the
First State Bank at Foss was
being held In jail In Oklaho-
ma City Saturday on $50,000
bond.
The suspect, identified by
the FBI as Waymon Austin
Wynn, was arrested late Fri-
day night at Clinton. He was
arraigned a short time latpr
at Arapaho before U. S.
Commissioner James L. Gul-
lett, Oklahoma City.
Gullett said Saturday he
will appoint counsel for
Wynn by Monday and has
set preliminary hearing for
1:30 p.m. March 27.
The bank was robbed
about 1:10 p.m. Friday by a
gunman wearing a Hallow-
een mask. An FBI agent
suld Ihe man held two wom-
en employes a I gunpoint
while (orring one of them to
fill a pillowcase with money.
Mrs. Betty Schones, assist-
ant cashier from Canute,
said the man threatened lo
kill her and Mrs. Mary Dar-
by, cashier, Burns Flat, If
they caused him any trouble
during the holdup.
A third woman employe,
Mrs, Pat Eggleston, Foss,
was In the back of the bHnk
and apparently was not seen
by Ihe gunman.
The FBI said Saturday the
money had not been recov-
ered.
CLOUDY
Local: Cloudy and mild
Sunday with highs in lower
70‘s. Oernight low Satur-
day 42. (Details, Page 9.)
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naon At
Copper Strike
Ice Is Broken
WASHINGTON (AP) - The AFI^CIO United Steel-
workers Union ratified Saturday a contract settlement
with Phelps Dodge Corp., one of four major firms in
White House negotiations aimed at ending the eighi-
month nationwide copper strike.
A steelworkers spokesman said if 13 other striking
unions approve the agreemeni Sunday, (he 6,500 Phelps
Dodge workers will start returning to work next week
even if contracts are not concluded with the other three
firms.
Informed sources said the Phelps Dodge settlement
is in two separate contract proposals.
One would provide hourly increases ol $1.13 over 40
months for the firm's mining, smelting and refining
workers.
The other would provide 75-cents-an-hour increases
over 36 months for workers at Phelps Dodge plants in
Yonkers, N. Y., and Fordyce, Ark.
Negotiations are continuing in the Executive Office
Building next to the White House with Kennecott Copper
Corp., Anaconda Co. and American Smelting and Refin-
ing Co.
The strike involves 50,000 workers of the four big
companies in 22 stales.
Kennecott has offered a contract proposal providing
$1.07 an hour in increased wages and benefits over 40
months for 10,000 workers in its western mining, smelting
and refining operations but Ihe steelworkers have not yet
acted on it.
It is believed the union is trying to win settlements
for all other Kennecott operations before voting on the
Kennecott offer.
A total of 26 unions are involved in the negotiations
President Johnson railed here 13 days ago.
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Gaylord, E. K. Oklahoma City Times (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 79, No. 23, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 16, 1968, newspaper, March 16, 1968; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc993294/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.