European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 22, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday october 22, 1994 . The stars and stripes Page 7 Wilder reportedly seeks Robb funds by the Washington Post Washington former Virginia gov. Douglas Wilder has asked for help in paying off Campaign debts if he sup ports his longtime antagonist . Sen. Charles Robb senior Virginia democrats say. The democrats said Robb has Dis cussed helping Wilder retire More than $50,000 in debts from his unsuccessful Senate and presidential bids if the two men make peace. Wilder ended his Independent Senate candidacy last month after criticizing Robb As unfit for Public  since then Robb has sought his endorsement. Aides said it might persuade Blacks to turn out in greater numbers nov. 8 than they would otherwise. As the nation first african american governor Wilder has wielded considerable influence in Virginia s Black Community. Not everyone agrees. Wilder would have to work pretty Damn hard himself at this late Date for it to really mean something said w. Avon Drake a political scientist at Virginia Commonwealth University. Wilder also requested and received a White House meeting with president Clinton this week which administration officials characterized As a general Politi Cal discussion. They denied a report in thursday s Washington times that Wilder had broached the idea of becoming a emissary to Africa. The private talks Between Wilder and president Clinton brought a harsh response thursday from Oliver North Robb s Republican opponent who accused the democrats of hatching what amounts to a cynical political Deal at Best arid a violation of the Law at  on the eve of a fund raising dinner with Clinton in Alexandria a. An event at which Wilder is expected to give Robb his backing Robb said he did not believe Wilder had tried to make that support contingent on a diplomatic Post i think that everyone understands that any attempt at linkage that would establish a quid pro quo would not be proper he said. Senior Virginia democrats have confirmed that in a private meeting about two weeks ago the former Gover nor or people close to him proposed that Robb intercede on Wilder s behalf and ask political donors to help retire his debts. Spending reports show Wilder Lent his Senate Campaign about $54,000 of his own Money. Flooding River As Houston a the swirling san Jacinto River was finally receding after torrential Rains had sent it to record Ley Els. Under Clearing skies residents re turned to inundated Homes to sort through soggy belongings. Then the River erupted like a flame thrower gone berserk it was like hell had opened on the water said Mike Norman who was try ing to retrieve his Sailboat thursday when gasoline that had leaked into the River from a ruptured pipeline  was like the whole world caught on fire everything you can  flames and smoke Rose More than 100feet into the air As the improbable infer no raced along the River at up to 80 Mph gobbling up Trees boats and about a dozen Homes. It was just Boom Boom Boom said Willard Richey who watched the flames dancing across the River from his Home. At least 69 people suffered minor injuries mostly Burns and smoke inhalation. The fire wound Down Ivi Miles of the River and did t Burn out for about eight hours. The Accident probably Means higher gasoline prices for East coast Drivers perhaps As Early As this weekend analysts said. /.  the two pipelines that fed the fire Arete nation s largest supplier of refined products and a major supplier of gasoline to the Northeast said Bruce Lanni senior Energy analyst with Rauscher Pierce refine sync. There s going to be a real  could be a potential shortage of gasoline to the East coast Lanni said. Officials speculated that the Swift flow of the rain swollen River or debris carried in it caused the explosion. We have seen this in other parts of the country where you have massive flooding and pipes Are hit. Tanks get Loose and you have ruptures and you have explosions said . Transportation Secretary Federico Pena who surveyed the scene by helicopter. The floods spawned by heavy rain that began sunday have killed at least 17 people and forced about 11,500 from their Homes. Twenty six counties have been declared Federal disaster areas. The first six Federal disaster Relief centers were to open Friday. The explosion occurred about 10 30 . Near the Mouth of the nation s inter state pipeline network known As the Spaghetti  a 40-Inch-wide pipeline buried under the riverbed had ruptured hours earlier sending about 420,000 Gallons of gasoline downstream. A 36-Inch-wide fuel Oil pipeline that runs next to the Gas line then ruptured around 2 . In Wake of the fire gasoline future ,. I Mes plumes of Black smoke from a gasoline fire spread across the san Jacinto River cast of Houston moments after an explosion on thursday morning prices Rose thursday in trading on the new York mercantile Exchange. Whole Sale unleaded gasoline for november de livery Rose $1.95 to $49.95 a gallon a seven week  two pipelines run beneath the River for about two Miles. They Are buried about 8 feet apart 3 feet beneath the floor of the River said Sam Whitehead spokesman for Atlanta based colonial pipeline which owns both lines. As the san Jacinto receded other areas were inundated anew. About 4,000 residents fled Liberty about 30 Miles East of Houston As the Trinity River crested at 30v feet 6l/z feet above flood stage. It s like nothing we be Ever seen said resident Helen Vickery. In Al Campo about 75 Miles Southwest of Houston John Cockrell had spent the previous two Days sucking floodwater from his House and Yard with a huge vacuum. He has been keeping an Eye out for water moccasins after seeing several swim through his Yard this week. They ran off he said. They took one look at me and said Fella you have enough trouble " thursday s inferno was t the first time that ruptured pipes had Send fuel gush ing into  March 1993, a ruptured colonial pipeline in Herndon va., spilled 407,000gallons of heating Oil into the ground and nearby streams. A National transportation safety Board investigation found the broken Section was gashed and dented and suggested it May have been damaged by construction equipment. In december 1991, a ruptured Coloni Al pipeline spilled 420,000 Gallons of fuel Oil into the Little Durbin Creek near Greenville . Most of the fuel in both incidents was recovered. Drugs use for abortion questioned Washington a food and drug administration officials Are acting to counter growing inter est in a two drug nonsurgical method of  Bachorik the Fra s Deputy associate commissioner for Public affairs said the use of the drugs methotrexate and mis pros Tol Tor abortions should be limited to Fra approved research. The Fra can offer no Assur Ance that the drugs Are Safe or effective for abortion Bachorik said  have been reports of an increased interest in the drugs after a study showed that the medi cations were effective in terminating about 90 percent of pregnancies when used before the ninth week. The study was published last week in the journal of the Ameri can medical association. Both drugs have been approved by the Fra for other uses and can be purchased in the United states by prescription. Methotrexate issued to treat cancer arthritis psoriasis and to end ectopic pregnancies a condition when the fertilized ovum develops outside the uterus. " / " v. Miso Rostos an ulcer drug. But before drugs can be approved for new uses the Fra re quires clinical trials that prov their safety and effectiveness. The French abortion Pill ru-486 is used in Europe for ending pregnancies without surgery. Laser use backed for nearsightedness Gaithersburg my. A scientific advisers to the government Are recommending approval of the nation s first laser device to Correct nearsighted Ness but Only if it meets strict safety guidelines. By a 13-1 vote thursday the panel told the food and drug administration that the laser should be approved As soon As its maker Summit technology inc., proves that seventy five percent of its patients have their vision improve to 20-25 or bet Ter without glasses. F less than 5 percent of patients have their vision Worsen As result of the sur  says 78 percent of its patients abandon their glasses but Many of those do so with vision worse than 20-25. And estimates of vision problems from the laser Range from 3 percent to 7 per cent a number the panel insisted be pinned Down