European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 16, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes wednesday october 16, 1991 Parade Leader Dimaggio stands up for Columbus new York apr jolting Joe Dimaggio leading the Columbus Day Parade up fifth Avenue on monday said he would have none of the recent abuse critics have hurled at Christopher Columbus. A a it a their opinion a said Dimaggio the grand marshal of the Parade marking 499 years since the italian explorer made his historic Landing in America. A i have an opinion too and i think its absolutely  Columbus reputation has been under attack in recent years by scholars and american indians who blame him for genocide slaver a colonialism the plunder of tons of Gold and Silver and environmental destruction. Gov. Mario Cuomo said that the Parade a recognizes five centuries of development of democratic government and that Columbus opened up the american continent. Mayor David Dinkins new Yorkus first Black mayor said a native americans were ill treated As were african americans who came Here As  however he said a fall of that ought not to diminish from the wonderful accomplishment of Christopher Columbus almost 500 years ago. His is a magnificent achievement and we should let nothing diminish  marching with Dimaggio was italian actress Gina Lollobrigida who is Goodwill ambassador to exposition �?T92, an International commemoration of the Columbus qui Centennial to be held in Genoa Italy next Spring. Cardinal John of Connor the archbishop of new York reviewed the Parade from the Steps of St. Patrick a Cathedral. Alfred Calabro Parade chairman called the March a a Celebration for All America. Columbus today is an Ideal. Its a Symbol of what this country is All about. He opened up a whole new  italian american groups defended Columbus last week at a news conference saying he should be judged by the standards of his time. A it is More important that at this Point in time we look to the future and that All groups explore their common goals a said William Fugazy president of the coalition of Italo american organizations. One of the years highlights will be the july 4 arrival in new York of a Fleet of 500 tall ships from 40 countries. The Fleet is to assemble in Genoa and Stop in Spain actress Gina Lollobrigida standing beside grand marshal Joe Dimaggio Waves to the Columbus Day Parade crowd in new York. And Portugal before crossing the Atlantic. Among critics of Columbus is the american Indian Alliance which has declared 1992 the year of the indigenous people. The National Council of churches set aside 1992 As a year of repentance and reflection. John Laguzza vice marshal of the fifth Avenue Parade said there were 25 bands and 37,000 marchers. He estimated the number of spectators at 250,000, which he said was a a Little bit Light compared with past years. The marchers included members of Italy a armed forces Laguzza said. It was the second March in Honor of Columbus in two Days and featured italian american groups. Plans set to recover Union ship Jacksonville Fla. Up an archaeological group has won a $90,000 Grant that representatives say All but assures they can begin excavation Early next year of a sunken Union army steamship. The wreck of the Maple Leaf rests in 20 feet of water and 7 feet of mud off mandarin Point in the St. Johns River which winds through the downtown area. The steamship struck a Confederate mine and Sank in 1864 during the civil War. Historians say the wreck is important because its cargo consists exclusively of 400 tons of personal items belonging to 2,000 Union troops. About 1,100 pounds of artefacts already have been recovered. A the Quot consensus is this might be one of the biggest historical events to come to Jacksonville a said Peter Recourt chairman of the Jacksonville historical society a Maple Leaf committee. The society is acting As the conduit for Money to finance the excavation. The latest Grant was provided by the state of Florida which earlier funnelled $131,000 for the project though the City a museum of science and history. Recourt said the latest Grant is a key one because it provides enough funds to enlist the services of East Carolina University in Greenville . The University has one of the nations leading programs in Marine archaeology. Underwater archaeology is a relatively Young science Recourt said. Artefacts that Are preserved in River mud can be destroyed if not handled properly when brought to the surface he said. Slain Contra Leader s body exhumed Miami apr authorities exhumed the body of nicaraguan Contra Leader Enrique Bermudez on monday after questions arose about How he was killed a newspaper reported. Elsa Bermudez wont comment on the exhumation of her husband s body until the Dade county medical examiner provides results of an autopsy the Miami Herald reported tuesday. Luis Fley with the five member nicaraguan government delegation sent to witness the exhumation told the newspaper he expected the autopsy report to be released this week. Bermudez military Leader of the Contra army was gunned Down feb. 16 in the parking lot of a Managua hotel. Three Days later his body was flown to Miami for burial at a suburban Kendall cemetery. The nicaraguan government reported that Bermudez died from a single Bullet wound to the head. But in april Elsa Bermudez released a report by a Miami funeral Home that said a Bullet hit Bermudez in the Back of the neck. She and other exiles contend that the sandinista who formerly governed Nicaragua and Tor years thought the contrast attempts to overthrow them engineered Bermudez a assassination and covered up their role in the slaying. The government of nicaraguan president Violeta Chamorro which Defeated the sandinista in elections has denied any official role in the killing and promised to investigate the Case until those responsible Are arrested and  victims families collect $4.9 million from wire reports san Francisco a the owners of a san Francisco building that collapsed in the october 1989 earthquake have paid $4.9 million to the families of three people killed and one worker injured. Lawyers for the victims said it was one of the first cases of significant payments from a building owner on claims that injuries were caused by earthquake safety defects. James Sarrail a lawyer for owners of the 1908 building said his clients denied liability. He said they settled out of sympathy with the families and to avoid the costs of a trial. The deaths and injury occurred when a Brick Wall of the converted warehouse fell on the victims cars. Lawsuits accused the owners of disregarding warnings by their own structural engineers that the Unrein forced masonry Structure could collapse in a major earthquake. The earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and killed More than 60 people Seattle ramps to open Seattle a come nov. 18, the a ramps to nowhere finally will be going somewhere. The freeway ramps were built in the 1960s at the end of interstate 90, and for 25 years stood half finished High above interstate 5 near Seattle a kingdom. The ramps built to join the two freeways were delayed by lawsuits filed by Community groups to Block 1-90 construction. But the ramps Are ready to open in a month after nearly two years of construction that Cost $73 million. A the a ramps to nowhere have been a local joke for years and years and years. We can finally say we got them connected a said Bill dues the states project manager. A a it a Nice to finish  the five ramps and two roadways should make it easier and safer to get to and from the kingdom and the Industrial area officials say. The ramps Are the Western terminus of 1-90, the 3,000-mile-Long, multimillion Dollar Concrete ribbon from Seattle to  thief kills woman Houston a a 29-year-old woman who apparently chased and confronted two purse snatchers was shot to death by one of the men. The woman whose name was not immediately released witnessed a purse snatching about 10 . Sunday police said. She apparently followed the thieves in her car and drove onto the curb with her lights shining on one of the men officers said. One of the men fired a shot once through the Windshield of her car striking the woman in the Chest. She was dead at the scene. A i think she went a Little bit far with getting involved a said homicide sgt. Dale Atchetee a she did no to even know if they had a  the thieves escaped after the  to get old 727 Chicago a United airlines said monday it will donate the first operating Boeing 727 to the smithsonian institutions air and space museum. 1 the plane made aviation history on March 28, 1964, when it became the first 727 to carry passengers on a commercial flight a a trip from san Francisco to Salt Lake City and Denver. The Pioneer jetliner identified with the Tail number n7004u, completed its last commercial flight on oct. 5 Between Spokane and san Francisco. A United is proud to donate this historic aircraft to the National air and space museum to help educate visitors about . Aviation and technology Quot said Joseph of Gorman executive vice president for flight services. The smithsonian eventually will display the plane in an Annex along with an exhibit that will show what air travel was like in the 1960s, �?T70s and �?T80s. While the Annex is being built the 46-ton aircraft will be preserved at a storage facility in Arizona. In january United donated the first 727 Ever built a Tail number n7001u a to the Seattle museum of flight. The 727 replaced propeller driven aircraft for use on Short to medium Range flights