2THE HOME NUGGET Monday. May 11. 1953
THE NOME NUGGET
Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the
NOME PUBLISHING CO.
NOME, ALASKA
Telephone: Main 125 P.O. Box 618
$1.50 PER MONTH $16.00 A YEAR
E. P. BOUCHER . Managing Editor
CLINTON GRAY . Production Manager
Entered as second class matter October 14, 1943, at the
postoffice at Nome, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
^ THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
THE PRISONERS’ RETURN
The pitiful and revolting side of war is clearly
revealed by the spectacle of disabled and wounded
prisoners who have been exchanged by the two sides
in Korea. The specter of brutal teratment and long
time confinement created an apathy among many U.N.
soldiers who were returned—and a psychological shock
which doctors say only time and care will heal.
There seems to be one hope generated by the pris
oner exchange which has been generally overlooked.
This is the probability that Communist prisoners will
often tell the truth about the U.S. behind enemy lines.
Just as our own prisoners are being carefully in
terrogated, in an effort by U.S. officials to see what
sort of treatment they received at the hands of the
Communists, so, too, will Communist prisoners be
questioned in North Korea and China. It is reasonable
to assume that many will tell the truth — that they
were treated well, fed well, and handled fairly, as
human beings, by personnel of the United States and
allied countries.
These facts, of course, are contrary to the picture
which has been painted by the Communists. While
we are discovering brutal death marches and new atroc
ities inflicted on our own soldiers, nearly 6,000 Com
munists, if they dare tell the truth, must admit they
have been treated fairly by U.N. and U.S. soldiers. It
might even be accurate to say that the 5,800 Commun
ist prisoners returned by the U.N. probably realize,
better than any other group in China and North Korea,
that propaganda of their own government is not true.
If a complete prisoner exchange is completed, over
100,000 Communist prisoners—who have been treated
decently by the allies—will wind up in North Korea
and China. We hope they spread the gospel.
FORE!
Next month, for the first time since the campaign,
President Eisenhower will be seeing some of the folks
out 'west. He will address the convention of the Na
tional Junior Chamber of Commerce in Minneapolis,
June 10th; dedicate Garrison Dam, on the Missouri
River, next morning, talk to the national convention of
Young Republicans that afternoon in Rapid City, S.D.,
and probably go fishing—also in South Dakota—the
next three days.
Could be, he might find a golf course out there, too.
27 Fairbanksans Guests of
Nome C of C Saturday
(Continued from Page One)
Dan Jones, and Judge J. Earl
Cooper, who-was speaker of the
evening.
Cooper stated that “Alaska is
now at the crossroads of its des
tiny” and the people of the Sec
ond and Fourth Divisions, with
their “mining background ties”
must work together for the devel
opment which will come. He said
some people may be pessimistic
about it but he could see no
reason why it should not continue
to gro'w as fast as it has in the
past.
“We must pull together or hang
separately, Democrat and Repub
lican, to let Washington know
what we know about this last
frontier” and educate those in
Washington to share in our en
thusiasm, Judge Cooper declared.
Following the banquet the
guests enjoyed dances by the
Nome Eskimo dancers.
Both President Dewey Goodrich
and speaker Judge Cooper ex
pressed appreciation to George
Goshaw for the planning and de
tails of the entertainment of the
guests while they were in Nome.
Sunday they were taken on a
tour of historical points of inter
ests in and around Nome.
VAN FLEET SUGGESTED TO
HEAD INDO-CHINA TROOPS
WASHINGTON, UP)—Sen. Know
land (R-Calif) suggested Saturday
that Gen. James A. Van Fleet
would “make a good man” to
head a U.S. military mission to
train the native anti - Communist
troops in Indochina.
SPECIAL MEETING
The American Legion will have
a special meeting tomorrow even
ing at 8 p.m. to prepare for the
Armed Forces Day parade on Sat
urday.
Father of Dead 5-Year-Old
Swimming Star, Leaves,
Whereabout Unknown
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., UR—
Two days after funeral services
for Kathy Tongay, five-year-old
swimming star the Vinson Funeral
Home still waited today for in
structions for the burial.
Kathy’s father, Russell Tongay,
who is accused of beating the
talented child to death, left town
quietly after the ceremony and
his whereabouts today were un
known. He is free on $5,000 bond
on a second degree murder charge.
Tongay’s wife, Betty and' their
other child, Bubba, 7, were be
lieved to be with him. Kathy and
Bubba formed a famous swim
ming team known as the “Aqua
tots.”
A private funeral for Kathy was
held Saturday without the body
at the home of her grandmother,
Mrs. R. S. Meyer. Tongay’s trailer
was parked at the Meyer home
until after the services. Sunday it
was gone.
In Miami, his attorney said Ton
gay collapsed at the funeral ser
vice and was under a doctor’s
care. He said he didn’t know
where the husky swimming in
structor had gone.
WHIPPING OR 33-FOOT DIVE
KILLED 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., UR—
Russell Tongay came to this Flor
ida west coast town Saturday to
bury his five-year-old swim-star
daughter, Kathy. Miami police
charged Kathy died as the result
of a whipping blit he insists she
died as the result of an “unfor
tunate accident.”
Tongay denied he had beaten
Kathy, as charged. He said he had i
given full details to Miami police
—that Kathy was injured while
practicing high dives from a 33
foot springboard a few hours be
fore she died in convulsions.
Tornado Wrecks Nebraska
Town of 2,000 But No
One Is Killed
HEBRON, Neb., (A*)—'The mas
sive job of cleaning up this tor
nado - wrecked town of 2,000 in
southeast Nebraska got under way
in earnest today as scores of
volunteers moved in with picks
and shovels. Bulldozers edged up
and down the main streets clear
ing them of rubble.
As men worked, the word “mir
acle” crossed their lips in recall
ing how lucky they were that no
one was killed by the wide “ter
rible” funnel which cut a five
block swath through the town
Saturday night.
However, 69 persons were hurt,
at least 18 seriously, 25 businesses
and 24 homes were demolished,
and 53 businesses and 62 homes
were damaged extensively.
Tornadoes lashed through parts
of six states late Saturday and
Sunday and killed at least nine
persons, injured more than 100
and caused extensive property
damage.
Sabres Down 635 MIGs
And 55 Sabres Are Lost
SEOUL, UP)—In its weekly sum
mary, the Air Force said no
Sabres were lost during the week
ending Friday. Two Thunderjets
were lost to other causes, prob
ably engine trouble, the Air Force
said.
Correcting an earlier figui'e, the
Air Force said Sabres have shot
down 635 MIGs since the war
began, while 55 Sabres have been
lost—almost a 12 to 1 margin.
All told, 842 Red planes, in
cluding MIGs, have been destroy
ed, while 929 planes of the Fifth
Air Force and Marine shore-based
wings have been lost, the Air
Force said. The loss total does
not include Navy carrier - based
planes lost.