Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1979)
ilMHiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiininiiiiiiiiiiii; Page 10 THE BATTALION TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1979 Grass smuggler had fun until caugh United Press International RICHMOND, Va. — Robert Eby was a member of the Young Repub licans and the owner of a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., sailboat company in 1972 when friends offered him $12,000 to smuggle six tons of marijuana into the United States. F.by was initially hesitant, but was persuaded by his friends, whose marijuana-laden ship had run ag round in the Caribbean. I figured I d do it just once,” said Eby, 32, who flew the pot to the Midwest in his twin-engine plane. “But I had so much fun the first time, I kept doing it. ’ Eby was finally grounded March 22. 1977, when he was caught be hind the controls of a vintage DC-4 plane loaded with three and a half tons of pot at the Hanover County Airport near Richmond. “As far as I’m concerned I’m out of the business for good,” Eby said in an interview at the Richmond City Jail, where he is serving a 15- year sentence on his December 1977 marijuana bootlegging convic tion. “But there are plenty of other people still in the business and I think federal officials are only kid ding themselves if they think they can stop them,” said Eby. Eby agreed to an interview, but was careful not to name specific dates or places or any of his former associates. He said he made about 30 trips smuggling marijuana, mostly from Colombia to the Midwest. As a high-flying smuggler, Eby claims he was fired upon by South American military police, chased by Cuban planes while flying over that country and shot at by other smugglers when he nearly landed by mistake at the wrong clandestine airstrip in Colombia. “It was a thrill, a challenge,” he said. “I never smoked pot, I got high smuggling it.” Eby said he was paid an estimated $1 million — “all in cash in fives, tens and twenties” —for smuggling, but that he squandered the money as fast as he made it. He was captured when the air craft he was piloting got stuck in the mud at Hanover Airport, drawing the attention of authorities. Oki wow man, vja+Ta bum men A co-pilot was also convicted, al though federal authorities were never able to determine who owned the aircraft or where the marijuana was to be delivered. Authorities admit it is difficult to stop the trade, but they are spend ing several millions of dollars trying. At best, they intercept only two of every 10 marijuana shipments. “I doubt they are catching that many, said Eby. “There are all sorts of people out there smuggling and they are making big money doing it.” Ebv said he was a freelance smuggler specializing in piloting airplanes, mainly DC-4 s like the one he was captured in. He said he contracted his services to smugglers in the need of a pilot, earning a standard fee of $10 per pound of marijuana transported into the United States. Blizzard in ‘Windy City’ may be worse than ’67 storm United Press International CHICAGO — With Chicagoans reeling from more than a week of sub-zero temperatures followed by the heaviest snow since the “Bliz zard of 67” and then more subzero readings, it seems the worst that could happen would he more snow. The National Weather Service ‘ id Sunday a snowstorm in the cockles could pass through the city as early as this morning, adding to the record 29 inches already on the ground. A weekend snowstorm accom panied by 40-mph winds devastated the area, dropping more than 20 in ches. Auto travel was hazardous if not impossible, roofs collapsed under the weight of the snow. parked ears were buried from view, mass transit w 7 as partially shut down and O’Hare International Airport — the world’s busiest — was closed for only the sixth time in its history. The temperature in the city got down to 15 below zero early Mon day, and a stiff breeze brought the wind-chill factor down to 37 below. The surrounding suburbs were even more frigid. Mayor Michael A. Bilandic, heav ily criticized for slow action in re moving snow from a major New Year’s storm, went to mass Sunday night “to pray for no more snow,” as he put it. Work crews will work 12- hour shifts until the snowremoval job is done, city officials said. “You know it’s bad when the mayor goes to church to pray for a break in the weather,” said Barry- Glace, a North Side resident. The weekend blizzard also bat tered the rest of the northern third of the state, prompting Gov. James R. Thompson to declare it a disaster area. At O’Hare, which officials said would probably reopen sometime today, all available snow-removal equipment was busy clearing the runways. “This blizzard is much worse than 1967’s,” Bilandic told a news con ference Sunday night, “because be sides the heavy snows, we are en countering sub-zero temperatures and high winds. “Activities within Chicago will be slow, but operating. Fortunately, our forces worked steadily through the storm, allowing us to stay open, unlike many of the cities around Chicago.” Two helicopters, one from the Coast Guard and one from the Chicago Fire Department, battled 45-knot gusts on Lake Michigan early Sunday to rescue four crew men from a wooden fishing boat caught in the ice. But not everything about the blizzard was bad. Police reported an 80 percent drop in crime over the weekend, attributing it to the harsh weather. Test tube baby boy is in excellent health United Press International GLASGOW, Scotland — The world s third test tube baby and the first boy conceived outside the womb of his mother was reported in excellent health Monday. Grace Montgomery, mother of 5-pound 12-ounce Alastair is also doing well. The 32-year-old cookery teacher once had given up hope of ever having a baby. A health board spokesman told a news conference the mother and baby were in “excellent health more than 24 hours after Alastair s birth. Dr. David Maekay Hart, delivered the elnld Sunday morning. Gynecologist Patrick Step to and physiologist Robert Edwards, who pioneered the testtube technique, told the news conference they would present details of their clinical findings to th< Royal C ollege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists at a meeting in London Jan. 26. The parents were elated. “We wish to express our deep gratitude to Dr. Steptoe and Dr. Edwards for everything they have done on our behalf, the Montgomery’s told reporters. “To think at one time we were convinced we would never have a baby and now we are in the marvelous position of having a child of our own. We look forward to the time when other couples can have a child in this way.” Alastair is Britain’s second test-tube baby and the second triumph for Steptoe and Edwards who were responsible for the birth last July 26 of Louise Brown, the first baby conceived outside the womb of its mother, in Oldham, England. ___________________________ “I don’t have any real regrets, other than I got caught,” said Eby', a 1969 graduate of Flordia Institute of Technology. "I knew what I was get ting into and while it lasted, 1 en joyed it. Jail officials describe Eby as a near model prisoner who obeys or ders, is congenial and assists other inmates. He teaches math at the jail school and works in the law library . He is also writing a hook about his smuggling adventures and dreams of it becoming a movie. Last July, he testified before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Navigation about inter national marijuana smuggling. Eby will be eligible for parole in 1980 and he says he’s been told his chances of being freed would be en hanced if he told authorities who else was involved in his last smuggl ing operation. He has refused. Eby estimates he made nearly three dozen trips smuggling marijuana and another 100 smuggl ing artifacts from South America. Bootlegging artifacts was a spinoff of his pot trade, he said. “I wasn’t the ty pe of guy y ou would expect smuggling,” he said. “1 was very conservative, a Young Republican, a Richard Nixon fan. I don t smoke or drink, but I guess I enjoy excitement and that s one of the big reasons I did it. “Part of the thrill was the chal lenge of smuggling and being the pilot of a plane without bas ing any regulations to follow.” He talked about some of his c lose 1 calls. "I think it was 1974 when I was making one of my tripsin bia, ” he* said. "1 was land® of these makeshift airstrips: the ones set up by the stg themselves, and all of: . they started shooting at mel f quickly realized itijj wrong airstrip and got out®- Another time, while appil another airstrip, Ebyflewal omhiau military policeseanll smugglers. They opened were apparently attemptirt| him as he waited for the p| loaded. “My body was pmnpinjii] as 1 waited for about 30 u them to load the niarijujl could get out of there,”he® was a great feeling takingoIk Onspreturn trips fromOM he occasionally cut througlH space over Cuba, a routel did not appreciate. 0nce|| chased by Cuban planes, v I don’t think they real intention of shooting medol said. “They just wanted nl dove into a cloud coveringJj them.” Eb\' said in 1976 he Arizona where he bought a | land and a log cabin. At the figured his smuggling das over. Then, in spring of 19" smugglers contacted him si bootlegging trip that events to his arrest. “Someone knew som« they asked me if I would n trip si 1 V DEN problem for them, Eby recall n n , ia ! <t girlfriend tried to talk me are c > but I 1 ' ;, more th trip. decided 'Why no ^ f or | Annuity may pay millions GirFs accident settl United Press International FORT WORTH — In the year since Rita Kaye McDonald was car ried unconscious off a softball field she has relearned to stand, to walk and even to run a little. And late last week, in one of the largest settlements ever in Texas, the Texas Electric Service Co. ag reed to payments totaling up to $4 million to help assure Rita s prog- “The t the deat It’s dov ijj “The c when I now it’s (WOO w things. ress on her artificial leg. impact o On April 18, 1978, the U j old was waiting with high school friends total J et . ora t e tion at shortstop. “Then I heard a buzzingflp Rita said. “And I saw a fk As she turned, she was to see a power line hurtlii her head. More than 7, Museum exhibit in New Orleans most prestigious since King Tut United Press International NEW ORLEANS — It may never draw the crowds the King Tut exhibit attracted a year ago, but the New Orleans 1 be the second the citv s his- latest exhibit at the Museum of Art conic most prestigious in tory. More than 2,000 persons filed through the museum Sunday during the first day of a three-month show ing of golden treasures from five an cient Peruvian indian tribes. “It is kind of ironic that it is al most exactly one year ago that the King Tut exhibit said Richard Dre- zen, volunteer coordinator for the museum. “But this is a very diffe rent sort of exhibit and we re trying to play down the comparison with the Tut show.’ Drezen said public interest in the Peru s Golden Treasures’ has been increasing steadily recently, but the show was not expected to draw anywhere near the 870,595 visitors that saw the Tut display. “1 can t give you a figure, but we cl like to get between 200,000 and 300,000 people, maybe about 75,000 to 100,000 a month, Drezen said. “That s an ideal. Economic experts said the Tut exhibit brought more than $70 mill ion worth of tourist trade into New Orleans. Drezen said there were no ad vance tickets on sale for the Peru vian show, but tickets could be purchased at the museum. she 3 Introducing Something New Especially For Ladies Sun Theatres 333 University 84E The only movie in town Double-Feature Every Week Open 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat. 12 Noon - 12 Midnight Sun No one under 18 Escorted Ladies Free BOOK STORE & 25c PEEP SHOWS 846-9808 Brytm-Coltege Station Biff City Disco 696-1100 Tuesday Is announcing LADIES NIGHT alias HAPPY IT'S For Ladies O HAMPAGNE IES NO COVER CH R PRICE DRINKS E (Guvs $2.00) AND DON'T FORGET PIEST HAPPY HOUR "Thank God It's Thursday' Ieii SiS2' COKES 25CBAR0IUNKS CREaMI prinks a The MSC Hospitality Committee will conduct interviews for membership on January 17 & 18 from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Room 216 L MSC For more information come by room 216 MSC or call 845-1515. surged through the young4 ing massive bums on her! legs. “I realized instantly* happened,’’ she said. Till consciousness. In the intensive care roon Peter Smith Hospital, (fed putated her right leg andFi mered numerous, skin grail attempt to save her. Following a recovery that called remarkable, Rita w the witness stand Friday Judge Clyde Ashworth to accept the $4 million am tlement — a decision both parties and even the TESCO agreed to pay Wi set up the annuity. Througlj unity, Rita will receive year at the outset. “The payments will ii she grows older,” a spoke “She could he receiving year at the end of 10 y $36,122 annually in 20 y 50 years, the payments w $87,678 a y'ear.” Assuming she lives at! more years, she will havet $4.1 million. The annuity guarantee!! minimum of $537,000, vv go to her estate should fore collecting that amount Rita showed only a tracei when she went to testify. “I’m doing fine, she I- judge. Tin attending schi larly and I’ve gotten to where I can run some with ficial leg. “1 still have what they tom pain. There’s alsosoi fort where my wounds hei there is no severe pain a Ashworth praised the set “Without it (the annuil would have received a almost a half million her 18th birthday,” he “I know that when I w wasn’t ready to handle money. But this arrange® assure her of an income the her life.” 19< gel $7, shel WALTON Stained Glass Studio \3 8464.714 J UNIVERSITY SQUARE SHOPW*. 1 d ^^CA1L1!M| sura; Announces new classes beginning week of January 22. Each class is 3 hours for 6 weeks. Fee $20. Adult 3.50 Child 1.50 he besttfl vacatJ in ttwrl mu DAILY 7:00 9:40 Morning classes 10-1 Afternoon classes 2-5 | Evening classes 7-10 3810 Texas Ave. Bryan 846-4156 Adult 3.50 Child 2.0 0 XX11