Valley was warm and sunny. As the instructor's voice droned on about a “Winter Wise Program,” his thoughts were on the fishing trip he and his best friend, Barry would be taking on Saturday. Now that he had reached his 18th birthday, his dad entrusted him with the family boat on the Arrow Lakes for short, one-day fishing trips. He was brought back from his daydreams by the instructor mentioning the word “hypothermia. “He had heard this word used before pertaining to hunters and hikers, and he listened with interest. “Hpothermia,” explained the instructor, “Or, as is more commonly known, exposure, is the lowering of the body core temperature to the point where the body ceases to function properly. Hypothermia occurs when the loss of body heat exceeds the production of heat and will occur in cold water or cold air. When the body temperature is lowered to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), unconsciousness can occur. Death from heart failure occurs at about 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).” Chuck scribbled furiously in his notebook as the instructor continued. “The first signs of hypothermia are slurred speech, disorientation, and shivering. If it is detected soon enough, the proper treatment is to give the victim warm, non-alcoholic drinks which are high in sugar, such as hot chocolate or hot sugar water. “If the patient is semi-conscious or worse, beyond shivering, you must do your best to keep him awake. If there are no other rewarming aids availablé, someone “Winter Salty” stuil- then. Site Sae Ay hypothermia which occurs in cold water. . that if you stay still, you will stay warm longer. Physical energy causes the blood to circulate more quickly to the skin and limbs and results in more body heat being lost. “If you are wearing a flotation device, do not attempt to swim to shore. If you are not wearing a flotation device, simply tread water using as little energy as possible. If there are several persons, huddle together in a group and keep everyones head above water until help arrives. Aside from removing rubber boots, retain the rest of your clothing while in water as it can act as a wet suit and helps to retain body heat.” ‘The instructor closed her book and began to gather her papers together on her desk. “I want you to read over the sections in your text books on Hypothermia and heat loss on the weekend, and Monday we will begin our lecture on CPR. At this time we will divide up into pairs and practise on each other to receive some practical experience.” Chuck glances across at his blonde classmate. Mouth-to-mouth resusitation sounded almost as much fun as the sleeping bag method. He was going to be looking forward to Monday's class. He must remember to thank his parents for insisting that he take this course. The next morning being Saturday, he and his friend Barry were at the marina early, fishing rods and tackle boxes in hand, all set to try the fine fishing on the Arrow Lakes. The morning was clear and cold without a cloud in the sky. He untied his father’s small boat, fired up the little 15 horsepower motor and they headed up the lake. Accord. ing to the old timers, whose stories Chuck never tired of hearing, the rainbow trout were beginning to bite up around Broadwater. The surface of the lake was crystal clear with scarcely a ripple to disturb the mirror-like effect. saw was his father’s boat surface of the water. He looked continuous battle over Barry’ life jacket. refusal to wear a “sissy” With a few awkward strokes Chuck was beside his friend and managed to get his arms under Barry’s shoulders and help him to get his head above water. Barry's ‘eyes were wide in panic and Chuck knew he would have to calm him down if they were to survive. “Put your arms around my shoulders, buddy,” he said to Barry, teeth starting to chatter already in the frigid waters. “Just tread water as slow as you can and we'll keep afloat.” Memories of yesterday's class in survival flashed through his mind. “We have to use as little energy as possible,” Barry,” he said. “We'll just keep our arms wrapped around each other and between the one life jacket’ and the two of us, we'll make it.” To keep their minds occupied in the bone-chilling water Chuck talked to his friend about what he had learned the previous day, stressing the importance of preserving as much of their body heat as possible. Chuck babbled on and on, making sure that Barry was answering his questions and doing his best to keep him alert. After what seemed like an eternity, they heard a sound of a motor on the water. Barry was barely conscious by now and Chuck was talking loudly to him and, at the same time, waving one arm in the air to attract the men in the boat. The small pleasure craft délicious brew. “What did you fellows hit out there?” asked the older of the two men. “I never saw it,” ahgwered Chuck, “but it must have been a deadhead.” One minute we were going alotig smoothly and the next thing we knew, we were in the water. I sure will get heck when I get home for losing Dad's boat.” : “You should be thankful you both didn't lose your lives,” said of the men, “You're some smart youngster to keep your partner up in the water and keep him alive.” By now the color was returning to Barry's clieeks and his shivering had ceased. He smiled at Chuck and held out his hand. “I don't know how I will ever thank you for what you did today, buddy,” he said. “I'll never tease you again about being a sissy for precautions and learning all that ‘winter safety’ stuff. Maybe I'll even sit in on some of those classes of yours next week.” “You should do the same for me, pal,” answered Chuck. “I'm just glad I paid attention in class and that someone takes the time to teach us about hypothermia and how to be ‘winter wise’ as the posters say. I'll sure be campaigning for more of that in the future.” As the boat carrying the two fortunate friends neared thé marina, they realized how lucky they had been and both knew in their hearts that they would never forget their near-fatal fishing trip. Bernier says she's retiring MONTREAL (CP) — The idea of retiring from active diving competition started swirling in Sylvie Bernier's mind shortly after she re turned from the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles last August. Last week, she joined Bar bara Bush, a teammate on the national diving squad, in springboard practices at an indoor pool in Montreal. “I was-happy to see her again, of course, even too happy. Her presence didn't Her ultimate goal achiev ed, with a gold-medal per formance in the three-metre springboard event, Bernier suddenly found it difficult to keep the competitive fires stoked. She had represented Can ada at one level or another as a diver since the age of eight, spending six hours each day in the arduous, often boring routine of climbing the steps to the platform and plunging into the water. Although the idea there, Bernier needed some thing more to convince her self that she should act upon her impulses was bring me the usual minimal stress that makes you work harder. I was too relaxed. I helped her, gave her advice, corrected her . . . I realized I had ceased to see her as a rival.” Last Monday in Ottawa, Bernier, without sadness, announced she was retiring from active competition at the tender age of 20. Await- ing her are two part-time jobs as technical adviser to the national diving team and goodwill ambassador for the 1985 International Youth Year, an appointment made by Otto Jelinek, the federal sports ministér. fe DEC. 23 — Public Skating DEC. 24 DEC. 25 DEC. 26 Complex closed 3:30. Old Arena OE. REGIONAL RECREATION COMMISSION #1 145 mission. Adults $1.25, Students $1. Children 75¢€ Public Skating 1.30 3.30 Merry Christmas | Recreation Department closed. Public Skating 1:30 — Free Public Skating | 3.30. Arena Complex. Ad 2:30 sponsored by West's BASKETBALL ACTION . . . Rockette Kim Tarasoft stands poised with ball while team mate Leigh Halisheff (number 4) looks on during a match bet ween the Stanley Humphries Secondary School Junior Rockettes and Rossland Wednesday Rockettes won 53-25 The Costiews Photo by Chery! Colderbonk Rams meet the Giants once again ANAHEIM, CALIF. (AP) — Eric Diekerson had a so-s0 game, relatively speaking, the last time Los Angeles Rams faced New York Gi back and the rest of the Rams. “They have a great run ning game and a lot of fire power on the outside,” said ants. He gained 120 yards. But the second-year pro, who went on to set a National Football League single- season rushing record with 2,105 yards, was called onto carry just 20 times as the Rams’ defence keyed a 33-12 romp by Los Angeles. ‘The teams meet again to day at Anaheim Stadium in the National Football Con ference wild-care game, with the kickoff scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PST Although Dickerson didn't kill the Giants last time, New York. coach Bill Parcells said his team will have their hands full with the running Parcelis, whose team brings a 97 record into the game against the 10-6 Rams. Los Angeles coach John Robinson said the Rams will play their usual game. “The most important thing in games like this is not to lose them by making mis takes, not give the game to the other team,” Robinson said. “We just hope to do what we do efficiently.” Robinson said the Sept. 30 regular-season meeting with the Giants, when the Rams logged an NFL record three safeties and held New York to eight yards rushing, means nothing now Be seers VSeVsssyese a TOTAL LOSS . Win proves fight will succeed TORONTO (CP) — Bishop Desmond Tutu says his win ning of the Nobel Peace Prize proves the fight against the “totally evil, un-Christian and immoral” apartheid govern ment of South Africa will s i “The prize says: ‘Your cause is just, your cause will prevail, you're on the win ning side,” the Anglican bis. hop of Johannesburg told about 1,200 cheering people at’a Toronto church. George Markin dies George Thomas Markin of Ootischenia passed away Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the age of 67 He was born Oct. 29, 1917 at Glade where he grew up. He later moved to Ootis chenia and married Polly Overnnay in 1941. He worked as a logger, at Cominco and in the construction field. He re tired in 1973 due to poor health Mr. Markin was a member of the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ. He enjoyed singing and garden ing He is survived by his wife Polly of Ootischenia; one son, Walter and daughter-in-law Katherine of Ootischenia; two daughters, Mrs. Mike (Katherine) Potapoff of Grand Forks and Mrs. Ren ato (Natasha) Necli of Cran brook; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; one brother, Pete of Ootischenia He was predeceased by his parents Tom and Anastasia Markin and one sister, Mrs. John {Ann) Nazaroff. Funeral services were held Friday and Saturday at the Castlegar Funeral Chapel and the Ootischenia Russian Hall with burial in the Ootis chenia Cemetery os Castiegor firemen hose down charred remains of Castlegar house destroyed by tire early Saturday morning. The house at 3208 Ist Ave., owned by Jim Gouk, was a complete loss before firemen even got the call CaxNewsPhoto by Phil Colderbank By CasNews Staff Stirred to action by a number of local house break-ins over the past month, about 45 Blueberry residents met Wednesday to form a Neighborhood Watch group Organizer Kent Smith moved to Blueberry at the end of August, and, alarmed by the break-ins, decided to form the group. “We've had five (break-ins) in the last month in Blueberry,” he said. “Plus there was the arrest on the weekend in Castlegar of two people who had $45,000 worth of stuff.” Smith said residents saw a film on neighborhood security measures, and a member of the Castlegar RCMP d how six i jon engravers at the Castlegar detachment can be used for marking valuables. ‘ Neighborhood Watch formed According to Smith, the police officer said that since the federal Right to Privacy Act now forbids items to be traced through social insurance numbers, the best way to identify goods is with a driver's licence number This allows police to track down owners of confiscated goods by computer “in a matter of 45 seconds,” said Smith. He said hecause many thefts involve the loss of small items like jewelry, cassette tapes and liquor, even these should be identified. “A lot of it is common sense,” Smith said. “Locks, leaving lights on, timers on your lights, that sort of thing the point is, to make the neighborhood your own again.” Successor MOSCOW (AP) — Marshal Sergei Sokolov, for 52 years a career soldier in the Soviet mould, was appointed Saturday to succeed the late Dmitri Ustinov as the Soviet Union's defence minister. Diplomats said the speedy appointment indicated that the 73-year-old Sokolov, a Second World War combat commander and a first deputy defence minister since 1967, had been selected well before Ustinov’s death Thursday The diplomats, speaking on condition they not be further identified, also said the grooming process during Ustinov’'s long illness suggested Sokolov would make little immediate change in Soviet military policy Led by an apparently faltering President Konstantin Chernenko, political and military leaders and thousands of citizens plunged into ritual mourning for Ustinov, filing past his open coffin in the House of Unions near the Kremlin. Chernenko, 73, appeared weak and ill, and had trouble walking as he led a procession of nine Politburo members to noontime mourning, witnesses said Sokolov at that time his appointment still secret joined the two other first deputy defence ministers, marshals Sergei Akhromeyev and Viktor Kulikov, at the open bier, which was piled high with flowers and fronted by 50 medals earned by Ustinov Unlike Ustinov, a non-soldier who rose to lead the Soviet military for eight years, Sokolov has been in the army since 1932 and saw front-line action as an armed and mechanized forces commander in the Second World War. GRADUALLY PROMOTED After the war, like many Soviet military commanders he went through various military institutes and was gradually promoted He became commander of the Leningrad military district in 1967 and was named first deputy defence minister two years later Western diplomats in Moscow said little is known about Sokolova, but predicted that the appointment would do little to shift the balance between military and political leaders in the Soviet hierarchy. In Washington, the press offices of both the U.S. State and Defense departments said they would have no comment on either Ustinov’s death or Sokolov’s appointment, and there was no comment from President Reagan, who met with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Camp David, Md. Sokolov has been a member of the Communist party's appointed keeping the influential dominant party At 73, Sokolov is about the same age as most of the aging Kremlin leadership — seven of the 11 Politburo members are 70 or older — and is thus expected to keep step with its political decisions. military firmly linked to the “It's a conservative, predictable choice.” one western diplomat said. He noted Sokolov differs from Kulikov, Akhromeyev and Akhromeyev’s predecessor, Marshal Nikolai Ogarkov, in not holding a specific command. Kulikov commands the Warsaw Pact armed forces and Aakhromeyev, like Ogarkov before him, is chief of staff. Sokolov first emerged as a likely after Ustinov, whose death at age 76 was announced Friday, dropped from public sight at the end of September successor He stood in for Ustinov at talks with visiting North Yemeni and Indian delegations in October and, more significantly, took Ustinov's place at the Revolution Day parade Nov. 7 His ceremonial salute to massed forces and speech on Red Square indicated then that Sokolov was most likely to succeed Ustinov if the post went to a military diplomats said Politburo member Grigori Romanov on Friday was named head of the funeral commission overseeing Ustinov's Red Square funeral Monday. The post often goes to the successor of the deceased official man, But diplomats said Saturday the 61-year-old Romanov reputedly the chief rival of No. 2 Kremlin official Mikhail Gorbachev, 53, would have been out of the running as Communist party leader — where the real power lies — if he had moved to the defence post “If he did get it, that was a dead end,” said one diplomat “This leaves all that open The Politburo members with Chernenko on Saturday stood in order of protocol, with the head of government Premier Nikolai Tikhonov, next to the president, then Gaorbachev and then Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko lects new pre By CasNews Staff Castlegar businessman Pau! Moroso is the Castlegar Chamber of Com merce’s new president. Moroso, an accountant, was un animously elected president at a chamber meeting Thursday. Moroso fills a position held by Mike O'Connor for the past three years. Also elected by acclamation were Tom Ogiow, first vice-president; Doug Drinkwater, second vice-president; and Gary Pearson, finance office. Mike O'Connor will remain on the executive as past-president. Elected as directors were Gordon Box, Larry Bosse, Nick Chernoff, Dale Donaldson, Richie Geronazzo, Dwayne Mills, Dale Nielsen, Gail Shellenberg, Scottie Tait, and Brad Walsh. In his speech to the chamber, outgoing president O'Connor said the chamber has applied for a Canada works grant to aid in the construction of a chamber office near the Castlegar Community Complex. The chamber will find out on Jan. 16 whether it has been awarded any money by the federal government. The chamber has applied for $56,000. The chamber should have enough money to complete the building if it receives the grant, O'Connor said If the chamber gets turned down on one grant it still has a chance at a labor intensive grant, O'Connor added. If the government feels the project is special it will match the project dollar for dollar, O'Connor said There is $800,000 in Canada Works funding available in Kootenay West, though the value of the applications is said to total $5.5 million. O'Connor said if the chamber does not get the grant, it has enough materials to construct a building and enough cash to lay a foundation. O'Connor added that if the chamber doesn’t receive a grant, it will contact will also contact various organizations to try and obtain specific contributions. In his speech, O'Connor detailed the numerous activities the chamber |.a» been involved in over the past year The chamber sponsored the annual Las Vegas Nights casino, held mainly to raise funds for SunFest ‘84 cele brations in July The chamber also produced a news letter called Common Bond, which ran on a trial basis for three months. The newsletter had a mail drop of 5,000 printed copies. Because of the amount of work in producing the newsletter, it was suspended for the time being, O'Con nor said He said the chamber was also involved in a B.C. Tourism summer youth employment program in which two students were hired to work in the chamber office, helping with tourist information. The chamber also ran a federal creative job program where three students were hired for eight weeks to paint murals on buildings in Castlegar O'Connor said the Castlegar cham. ber was the only chamber in B.C. to apply for the grant The chamber also ran the annual SunFest celebrations for three days in July The office was also busy during the year giving information to tourists. The chamber had 686 personal inqu- iries to which it supplied promotional information on Castlegar. The chamber had 307 inquiries through pondence and 800 telephone inquiries Inquiries included employment stat corres PAULMORQSO new président istics, information on service clubs and location of local businesses. O'Connor said the chamber also sponsored an all-candidates forum in November prior to the annual civie election The chamber also produced a 1985 calendar. “We were responsible for collecting and putting together all the materials,” O'Connor told the chamber. “It was an increase over last year,” he said, adding that the poor economy and people wanting to start up their own businesses may have prompted the increase. The chamber also sponsored the Christmas light decorating contest. Tom and Anne Titford of Kinnaird were the winners in the residential category. The Fireside Inn were winners in the business category In the future, O'Connor told the chamber the organization will continue working to provide a better signs in the area. “We are making progress, and hopefully next year we will see some good signs,” he said. The Arrow Lakes debris problem is still a year-round concern for the chamber, O'Connor said. He said numerous letters have been written to groups like B.C. Hydro and contacts have been made with Westar Timber. The chamber also supports Time Air's application to run flights between Calgary and Castlegar “We are still continuing to have discussions with Time Air on various things in co-operation with the city,” he said The chamber has also joined the Crowsnest Highway 3 Association, to promote Highway 3 as a southern Trans-Canada route In addition, the group has had discussions with John Jennings of 86 who is helping outlying to benefit from the Expo communities exposition. The chamber has held general luncheon meetings once a month and has had guest speakers like Phil Gagiardi, a former Social Credit cabinet minister and Des Kavanaugh of the Bank of Montreal. The Chamber directors have also been meeting every second and fourth Wednesday of each month The chamber has tried to keep in close touch with the Downtown Bus. iness Association, city council and the Kootenay Boundary Visitors’ Assoc iation by attending their meetings, said O'Connor “One thing we have instigated is at every council meeting there is a chamber member in attendance,” 0° Connor said. Police look for robbers Dept. Store. Atom Tournament, Ar plex , opt. Store. Atom Tou: ° ‘eno Comple: Central Committee since 1968, in line with the tradition of DEC. DEC. 29 DEC. 30 — Public Skating 1 30 Atom Tournament. Public Skating 1.30 - 3:30. Old Rebels vs. New Rebels. Game Time 8:30 p.m, Dance to follow. $5 gome ond dance. $2 game only — Atom Tournament. Public Skating 1-30 - 3:30 The Recrection Department ond Complex Staff wish oll o Joyous Holiday ond Best Wishes for a Happy 1985! 2101 - 6th Ave., Castlegar Phone 365-3386 Three veteran players led the way on Wednesday evening as the Stanley Humphries Secondary School Junior Rockettes won their second game in as many starts with a 53-25 romp over Rossland in ex hibition basketball action. Lisa Uchida demonstrat Rockettes ed her all-round skills as she scored 12 points, play ed excellent defense and passed off well from her wing-forward position. Leigh Halisheff, who re- ceived many of Uchida’s passes, hit for 22 points — several of which were long outside bombs. win 53-25 Karen Popoff scored eight points but was in the middle of the action all game from her centre position. Popoff pulled nu merous rebounds at both ends of the court and checked Rossiand’s domin. ant player for much of the game — holding her to only four points. Kim Tarasoff, with nine, and rookie Dina Pooha choff with two points rounded out the scoring. After the Christmas break, the girls will re- sume action with their first league game against Sal mo. SSSBURERESES ae bene Cu-Dor Sports Castlegar SUNDAY NFL: NFC wild-card gome, 10.0.m SATURDAY NFL: NEC first-round ployott game. | p.m FOOTBALL FOOTBALL nel 7 MOCKEY p.m., chonne! 9 NHL: New York Rangers vs. Montreal Conodiens. 5 chonnel 6 chon Borroughs TORONTO (CP) Tor onto Blue Jays announced Saturday they have purchas ed the contract of designated hitter Jeff Burroughs from Oakland A’s Terms of the purehase were not disclosed by the American League baseball club. Burroughs, 33, saw limited action with Oakland in 1984, batting .211 with two home runs and eight runs batted in 71 games. A veteran of 14 major league seasons, the right-handed hitter entered last season with a career av erage of 261, 232 HRs and 846 RBls in 1,545 games. The Long Beach, Calif., native was the first player selected in the June 1969 free agent draft by Washington Senators. Burroughs has also played with Texas Rangers now a Jay (1972-76), Atlanta Braves (1977-80), Seattlé Mariners (1981) and Oakland (1982-84) His finest season was in 1974 while with the Rangers, hitting .901 with 25 HRs and a leagueleading 118 RBIs. was selected the AL's most valuable player by the Baseball Writers’ Asso ciation of America that sea son and was also named the league's player of the year by The Sporting News. The Blue Jays, after losing free agent DH Cliff Johnson to Texas, were in dire need of a right-handed designated hitter to complement left handed DH Willie Aikens. On Friday, Oakland an nounced the signing of Dave Kingman, who handled al most all the DH duties for the A's last season. Bae ess BASKETBALL Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Castlegar Funeral Chapel Westar extends shutdown By CasNews Staff Westar Timber is extend. ing the shutdown of its Cel gar pulp mill by a week be. cause of poor market con ditions. Ron Belton, pulp opera tions industrial relations Police file An Osoyoos couple were taken to hospital after their car skidded down a 45 metre embankment off Highway 3 Thursday Castlegar RCMP said Terence Hocking, 72, and his 70-year-old wife were taken to Castlegar and District Hospital after their 1984 Mazda hatchback left the highway near the Depart said the ¥ which began Dec. 17 is being extended through Jan. 7. “It’s just the market,” he said, in explaining the reason for the extention. The mill was to have started up again on Jan. 1. Westar, will also extend the shutdown of the Skeena mill gear Pritice Rupert another week. ment of Hig! yard at 1 m. Hoeking sustained minor injuries, while his wife's injuries were undetermined, police said Damage to their vehicle was approximately $4,500. ._ 28 6 A single vehicle accident Friday sent a Castlegar couple and a passenger to hospital all injuries. A 1970 Ford Torino driven by Leroy Bobroske, 47, smashed into a cement wall near the Sandman Inn on Columbia Ave. at 8 a.m. due to slippery conditions, said Castlegar RCMP. Damage to the vehicle was about $2,500. . A teenager has been char. ged following a break and enter in Blueberry Creek Thursday Dana Walsh, 18, of Blue berry Creek was arrested Friday and charged with breaking and entering and theft. Stolen property worth $7Q0 was recovered. Investi. gation is continuing with minor Statement to be sent to Victoria The Castlegar District Teachers’ Association and the Castlegar school board will send Victoria a “state ment” outlining how much provincial funding the dis trict really needs, as well asa budget following the funding allotment from the Ministry of Education. CDTA president Rodgers said it's a “joint venture” following recent Meetings between the tea ehers’ association and the sehool board By sending the ministry what's essentially a “political statement” describing “what {the board) needs to run the distriet properly.” Castlegar will join 13 other school dis triets in B.C., Rodgers said Saturday. The deadline for the budget submission is Feb. 15. Rodgers added that “as a Mike result” of the decision to send a needs statement in addition to a balanced budget, the CDTA and the school board will be “finding a solution” to the board's proposal to elim inate lunch-hour supervisors positions in order to save $23,000 during the January to June fiseal period Previously, Rodgers had said that, under the School Act, this would mean teach ers would be responsible for noon-hour supervision However, he declined to comment on the connection — aside from saying: “i'm very optimistic we will have an end result both sides can live with.” “The board is keeping all the aides and supervisors on until the end of January so we can solve the problem without any pressure,” he said. MONTREAL (CP) — Po lice are looking for three men they believe stole a “sub stantial” amount of securities from Merrill-Lynch Canada Ine. Friday in what may turn out out to be of the armed robberies in one largest Canadian history While Merrill-Lyneh offi cials tablishing the amount of see urities stolen, speculation of their book value ran as high as $80 million But company officials said it will be “almost impossible” for thieves to convert the securities into cash onee an inventory is completed and stop-payment orders are is. sued Monday Three men between the ages of 35 and 40 are being sought in the spectacular theft from the second-largest brokerage firm in Canada. Descriptions of the three English-speaking suspects have been issued to Interpol and distributed across Can. ada and the United States, were working on es said Lieut. Seville Brabant of Montreal police. Both company officials and police say they doubt the securities can be easily sold “When you have a theft of this magnitude, the news travels very fast,” Brabant said. “People become suspicious and the thieves will realize soon enough how difficult it is to sell the securities, if they have any intention of selling them.” REPORTS CONFLICT There were conflicting re ports on exactly what was taken when the bandits am bushed two company mes sengers as they were about to enter the elevator in the downtown high-rise housing Merrill-Lynch offices Police said between $3,000 and $5,000 in cash and as much as $50 million or $80 million in bonds and secur ities may have been stolen while company officials said no cash was lost and the value of the securities could not be determined for ano ther two or three days. James Coutts, a Merrill Lynch spokesman, said in a telephone interview from Toronto that “police can only speculate” about the amount stolen. Company officials were making “exact estimates” of losses, Coutts said, noting the firm is fully insured against theft of negotiable and non-negotiable secur ities. Clients will not be af fected by the robbery, he added. Merrill-Lynch officials were verifying records to es tablish the serial numbers of the stolen securities and to supply police with “every single detail required Coutts said By Monday the serial numbers of the stolen secur ities “will be spread across the country and around the world,” making it “almost im possible” for the thieves to convert them into cash.