EAST FAREWELL
NEWS
Thursday, April
9, 1959 Vol. C719
LOCAL
NEWS
TALKED OUT OF A ROBBERY
East
Farewell – It was a typical early morning at the Lost Oasis Café and bar. A few guys from
the morning shift from the Iron Works had stopped in for some breakfast and
maybe a shot; after all it was their 5:00. Being a Tuesday the collector for
Cranberry Vending was in to retrieve the change from the jukebox and pinball machine.
The collector, Jimmy Corelli, had a route that took him through the region to
almost all the local bars, restaurants and even some corner stores anywhere
Cranberry was able to place one of their vending machines. He would stop in
during slow time so as to not attract attention, empty each machine and count
all the change. He would give the owner his split and put the other half in a
safe in his car. He would also do any service on the machines if needed. The
amount of money that Corelli handled was never discussed and he tried to keep a
low profile trying not stand out.
On this Tuesday Corelli had finished
his count and service and was finishing up with bartender-owner Charles Wenz
when a young, unkempt youth came into the bar. No one
paid much attention to him thinking he may be with the Iron Works crowd.
Suddenly, the youth ran over to Corelli and demanded his bag of money while
holding his hand in his pocket as if he had a gun. Everything stopped. The Iron
Works crowd turned from the bar but didn’t move. “He’s not with us,” said one.
“Give me the money,” shouted the
youth at Corelli.
Corelli did not panic, in fact he
was very calm. He stood up with his hands raised looking at the bag of money.
“Calm down son. You can have the money. We don’t want anybody to get hurt.”
As the youth reached for the money
Corelli said, “Of course, you know this is really Lou’s money, not mine. When
Lou finds out you took his money he is going to want it back and Lou always
gets what he wants. You know Lou don’t you? Lou Vanzetti, he owns Cranberry
Vending but he also runs all the local, how do you say it, enforcement around
here. I’m not talking about the police; you know what I’m talking about. Let me
tell you something the last guy who crossed Lou was found wearing cement
overshoes at bottom of Lake Charles. Now, you can take the dough, it’s not on
me. But Lou will track you down and, well, I wouldn’t want to be you when he
finds you. But, go ahead, take the money if you want.”
The youth looked at Corelli, looked
at the bag, looked at Wenz, who shrugged his shoulders, looked at the Iron
Works crowd, one made a slicing movement across his neck with is finger, then
back at the bag. He then threw his hands up, turned shouted an obscenity and
ran out of the building.
“I’ll tell Lou you were looking for
him,” said Corelli as the youth ran out.
“Don’t you say anything,” shouted
the youth as he ran down Lakeshore Drive.
“Well that was close,” said Corelli,
“Man if there was a Lou, he would be proud of me.”
Everyone in the bar let out a relieved,
nervous laugh and Corelli closed up things gave the crowd a bunch of free games
of pinball and some free plays on the jukebox. Wenz called the police to report
the incident but not much more than a report was issued.
Lost Oasis Bar and
Restaurant
SPORTS
COUGARS FALL TO CORNING
Fort
Lee – The Cougars played a great game against the Corning Devils unfortunately
the Devils played a greater game and won the league championship, 48-46. This
is Corning’s second title in two years and some Corning fans are spreading talk
of a dynasty. While that prediction may be premature, the Devils have been the
best team for two years and their team only has one senior on it. That means
there will be at least one more season that they can expect to be dominant. Throughout
the past season the Devils led the league but did not always lead and by no
means run away with first place. Back in December at the start of the season
the Cougars defeated them in a thrilling last minute win 40-38. That was
Corning’s last loss until they fell to Riverview mid-season, 50-48. The Devils
have not lost this season when they scored 50 points or more. They did not
score 50 points in the championship game but the prevailed anyway.
Both teams came out shooting and
matched each other point for point. The big difference was the Cougar’s “big
three” were their driving force while the Devils relied on their backcourt to
do the high scoring. Either way both teams were sharp and disciplined. There
was only one turnover in the first half and only three fouls. The first half
ended with the score knotted at 34.
The second half saw the Devils start
with a full court press in an attempt to throw off the Cougars. It worked for
two series and the Devils were able to build their biggest lead of 6 six
points. A quick timeout resolved that and the Cougars not only were able to
break the press but they closed the gap and took a two point lead. In the
center Hawkins was very powerful but he really shown in his assists to both
Tasker and Mitchell. Mackenzie or Fox would feed Hawkins, he would make a move
toward the basket and then dump it off to either Tasker or Mitchell who would
shoot or drive for the score. The Cougars were able to pull that off for most
of the second half but they were unable to stop the Devils at the other end.
The Devils back court, Matt Drew and Leo Scanlon, were very impressive. Drew is
the Devils leading scorer and Scanlon has almost magical ball handling skills. Together
they were able to keep the Cougars off center and score almost at will. Finally
the Cougars started double teaming Drew but Scanlon was still threatening and
scoring. The second half went back and forth with each team taking a small lead
then relinquishing it as the other team came back. It came down to the last ten
seconds with the score tied 46 each. The Devils had possession on the inbounds.
The Cougars threw up a strong press and as the teams broke the Devils split and
Devils forward John Iota stepped out over the end line and Maxwell, the
original in bounder passed it to him out of bounds down the end line. The Cougars
were caught off guard and Iota was able to make a clean, half court pass to
Drew who was streaking past Mackenzie. Drew was able to drive in for the score
with three seconds left. The Cougars tried a court long in bounds to Hawkins
but the pass was off target forcing Hawkins to flair out to catch it. He had to
shoot awkwardly falling away from the basket. The ball hit the rim a clanked
off to the side as the buzzer sounded. The Devil fans rushed the court as the
Cougars lined up to shake hands.
It was a very good season for the
Cougars. They ended the season 10-5 and in second place. At the beginning of
the season the Cougars were not picked to finish in the top half of the league.
The Cougars will lose Fox, Tasker and Mitchell to graduation but Hawkins and
Mackenzie are back and there are strong players from the bench to step up.
Walter Ferguson and Robby O’Shea are juniors and a surprising standout Wendell
Williams is only a sophomore. The Cougars should be able to stand their ground
next year. Congratulations to a great team this year. A season well played,
gentlemen.
NATIONAL NEWS
NIXON TO MEET CASTRO – MIXED SUCCESS ON
ROCKET LAUNCHES – HOFFA PAID BY JUKEBOX OWNERS
- KENNEDY CHALLENGES ANC TO TRAIN STUDENTS – FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DIES –
GOP PICKS CHICAGO FOR 1960
Vice
President Nixon will have an informal meeting with Fidel Castro, during the
Cuban premier’s unofficial visit here.
He arrives in Washington Wednesday at the start of an 11-day visit and
will address the annual meeting of the American Society of Newspapers Editors.
America
blasts its second Discoverer satellite into polar orbit from Vandenberg Air
Force base in California. Meantime, an attempt to put three satellites into
orbit with a single Vanguard launching fails at Cape Canaveral, when the second
stage failed to ignite.
A
Senate rackets committee witness swore that Detroit juke box operators paid
teamster boss James Hoffa and an associate $6,000 to keep underworld-backed competitors
from getting a teamster union charter.
During
a three-day tour of Wisconsin Senator John F. Kennedy challenges American Negro
colleges to train students for “global responsibilities” in the light of the
fact that the vast majority of the people in the uncommitted countries were
colored.
Master
architect Frank Lloyd Wright who fashioned a world reputation for brilliant
design passed away this week. He was 89. His major works include the Guggenheim
museum and Tokyo hotel.
The
Republican National Committee picks Chicago’s International Amphitheater as the
site of the next COP convention, to start July 25, 1960.
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