/raid1/www/Hosts/bankrupt/TCR_Public/980914.MBX T R O U B L E D   C O M P A N Y   R E P O R T E R
      
   Monday, September 11, 1998, Vol. 2, No. 179

                 Headlines

APS: Bid Rules For $6 Million Ocala Facility Sale Get OK
APPLIANCE RECYCLING: De-Listed From Nasdaq SmallCap Market
ARCON HEALTHCARE: Files For Chapter 11 Protection
CROWN BOOKS: Needs Time to Assume or Reject Leases
DOMINION BRIDGE: Subsidiary Update

DOW CORNING: Breast Implant Deal Still Incomplete                      
DYNCORP: Inactive Subsidiary Files Chapter 11
HARRAH'S JAZZ: Hearing on Confirmation of Plan Set
HOMEPLACE STORES: Committee Supports Exclusivity Extension
KIA MOTORS: Ford Withdraws From Auction

LYNX GOLF: Reports Letter of Intent From TearDrop
MONTGOMERY WARD: Posts $63M Net Loss For July
MOTOROLA: Buys Bankrupt Slovokia Plant
NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE: Announces Confirmation of Plan
PACE HEALTH: Files Articles of Correction With SEC

PEGASUS GOLD: Safeco Insurance Seeks Relief From Stay
PHARMACY FUND INC: Files Chapter 11
PINNACLE BRANDS: Committee Seeks To Dismiss Cases
PINNACLE BRANDS: Court Approves Bidding Procedures
SILAS CREEK RETAIL: Notice of Administrative Claim Bar Date

SUN TELEVISION: Files Annual Report With SEC
UNISON HEALTHCARE: Bar Date Set - September 21, 1998
WESTMORELAND COAL: Committee Taps Valuation Experts
XCL LTD: Begins Drilling Appraisal Well

                 *********

APS: Bid Rules For $6 Million Ocala Facility Sale Get OK
---------------------------------------------------------
APS Holding Corp. won court approval for bidding procedures
and a breakup fee in connection with the $6 million sale of
its Ocala, Fla., facility and inventory to Parts Source
Inc. d/b/a Ace Auto Parts. As the stalking horse bidder for
the 6.12-acre site that includes a 100,000-square-foot
warehouse and substantial inventory, the court ruled that
Parts Source is entitled to the $150,000 breakup fee in the
event it is outbid for the property.  The sale hearing is
set for Sept. 16. (Federal Filings Inc. 10-Sept-98)


APPLIANCE RECYCLING: De-Listed From Nasdaq SmallCap Market
----------------------------------------------------------
Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. reports in
Form 8-K to the SEC that effective September 8, 1998,
Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. was delisted
from The Nasdaq SmallCap Market. The Company cited the fact
that it no longer complied with The Nasdaq Stock Market's
continued listing requirements. In addition, the Company
announced that it is continuing to pursue additional lines
of credit as previously announced. The Company also stated
that it is continuing to intensify its focus on appliance
retailing.

Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, president and chief executive
officer, commented, "While the Company is continuing to
pursue additional lines of credit as previously announced,
complying with Nasdaq's requirements for continued listing
would have necessitated the issuance of additional shares
of common stock at the current price that would have
resulted in a significant amount of ownership
dilution. We do not feel that such a substantial amount of
ownership dilution is an acceptable tradeoff simply to
remain listed on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market at
this time."

Cameron said the Company is continuing to intensify its
focus on appliance retailing following the late July
signing of an exclusive contractual arrangement with
Whirlpool Corporation. Under the expanded Whirlpool
contract, the Company is acquiring Whirlpool's distressed
appliances (including "scratch and dent" units with only
cosmetic imperfections) from distribution centers serving
the Midwest and much of the Western U.S., including the
entire West Coast. This arrangement with Whirlpool is
expected to provide ARCA's retail outlets with a
substantial supply of high-quality appliances that tend to
sell quickly at attractive prices.

ARCA, the nation's largest recycler of major household
appliances, provides an integrated range of collection,
reuse and environmentally sound recycling services.


ARCON HEALTHCARE: Files For Chapter 11 Protection
-------------------------------------------------                   
Nashville-based Arcon HealthCare, an operator of nine
outpatient health clinics in five states, has filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court
in Nashville.

Arcon Chief Executive Officer Hud Connery Jr. said the
step, taken late Friday at the start of the Labor Day
weekend, was necessary because the company founded in 1995
had negotiated unfavorable contracts with the real estate  
companies from which it leases its newly built facilities.

Former employees and industry observers said Arcon, which
is continuing to operate and meet its payroll while getting
enough protection from creditors to reorganize, also may
have met some customer resistance to its ``hospitals  
without beds'' concept.

The company used real estate investment trusts Capstone
Capital Corp., based in Birmingham, Ala., and Santa
Barbara, Calif.-based Nationwide Health Properties to build
its clinics, which offer many of the services of hospitals  
without inpatient beds. Arcon then leases the buildings
from the REITs.

The company owes the real estate investment trusts about
$50 million and has another $50 million in equity from
investors, Dietz said. The company's many investors include
Connery and venture capital firms Warburg Pincus of New
York, New Enterprise Associates of Baltimore and Franklin-
based Coleman Swenson Hoffman Booth.

Arcon has clinics in Rockwood and Soddy Daisy, Tenn., as
well as Heflin, Ala.; Mesquite, Nev.; Pflugerville, Texas;
Cedar Park, Texas; Santa Rosa Beach,  Fla.; Destin, Fla.;
and DeFuniak Springs, Fla. (Tennessean; 09/09/98)


CROWN BOOKS: Needs Time to Assume or Reject Leases
--------------------------------------------------
The debtors, Crown Books Corporation and affiliated
companies seek an extension of time within which the
debtors must elect to assume or reject their unexpired
leases of nonresidential real property.

The debtors do not believe that they will be able to make a
reasoned decision as to whether to assume or reject their
leases within the sixty-day period.  The debtors seek entry
of an order extending by 120 days the period by which they
must assume or reject the leases until January 12, 1998,
subject to the rights of the debtors to request a further
extension of necessary.  

The debtors' efforts to successfully reorganize are
dependent upon having a store portfolio that satisfies
performance parameters set by management.  The stores are
the primary assets of the debtors' estates, and thus
central to any plan of reorganization.  The debtors are
seeking to retain Keen Realty Consultants, professional
consultants, to help review the leases.


DOEHLER-JARVIS: Notice of Stipulation
-------------------------------------
On September 4, 1998 Doehler-Jarvis, Inc., et al., debtors
filed a Stipulation and Order Between M.A. Hanna Company
and the Kingston-Warren Corporation fixing reclamation
claim and reducing and allowing claims.

The parties agreed that M.A. Hanna is granted an allowed
administrative expense claim in the amount of $309,148
against the debtor's estate.  Claim 1777 is reduced and
allowed as a general unsecured nonpriority claim against
the debtor's estate in the amount of $2,047,671.

This stipulation is subject to the approval of the
Bankruptcy Court.


DOMINION BRIDGE: Subsidiary Update
----------------------------------
Dominion Bridge Corp. (Nasdaq:DBCQE) (VSE:DMO.U.) and its
Canadian subsidiaries appeared in court, 30 days after
having filed "notices of intent to submit a proposal"  
under The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

The court appearances were held in Quebec City (Industries
Davie Inc. and Cedar Group of Canada), in Montreal
(Dominion Bridge Corp., Dominion Bridge Inc. and  Becker
Contractors Ltd) and in Toronto (Steen Contractors Ltd.).

After these court appearances, and in light of other recent
developments, the status of each subsidiary is, as follows:

Dominion Bridge Corp.: The Group's holding company has
obtained a delay of 45 days, until Oct. 26, 1998, to submit
a proposal to its creditors. The holding remains under the
protection of the Act. Arthur Anderson Inc. is the trustee.

Cedar Group of Canada: A Canadian holding company that
controls the corporation's Canadian operations, Cedar Group
has obtained a delay of 45 days, until Oct. 26, 1998, to
submit a proposal to its creditors. It remains under the
protection of the Act. Gerald Robitaille et Associes and
Richter et Associes have been appointed joint interim
receivers.

Becker Contractors Ltd. has filed an assignment in
bankruptcy The trustee Richter et Associes has been named
trustee in the bankruptcy. The assignment gives Richter et
Associes the administrative powers over all assets and
operations of Becker Contractors Ltd. The trustee has the
mandate to liquidate the company's assets and to distribute
the proceeds of the sale to the company's creditors, in
conformity with the Act. Located in Lachine (Quebec),
Becker Contractors had 31 employees at the end of August
1998.

Dominion Bridge Inc.: The engineering and construction
subsidiary has filed an assignment in bankruptcy. The
trustee Richter et Associes has been named trustee in the
bankruptcy. The assignment gives Richter et Associes
administrative powers over all assets and operations of
Dominion Bridge Inc. The trustee has the mandate to
liquidate the company's assets and to distribute the
proceeds of the sale to the company's creditors, in
conformity with the Act.

Dominion Bridge has its head office in Lachine (Quebec),
and has, among others, operations in Amherst (Nova Scotia),
Oakville (Ontario), Winnipeg (Manitoba), Regina
(Saskatchewan), Nisku (Alberta), and Richmond (British
Columbia). It had 789 employees at the end of August 1998.

With regard to Becker Contractors Ltd. and Dominion Bridge
Inc., the trustee has a mandate to sell them according to
the best interests of their respective creditors. The
trustee must decide whether or not they can resume
operations  and, if not, to dispose of their assets in the
best interest of their creditors. The assets of Becker
Contractors Ltd. and Dominion Bridge Inc. may be sold by
the trustee as a whole or separately, in accordance with
what the  trustee perceives to be in the best interest of
creditors. Dominion Bridge Corp. has received offers of
interest from 11 potential buyers, for one or the other or
both companies.

Due to the bankruptcy, the employees of Becker and Dominion
Bridge Inc. are now out of work. However, the salaries owed
them are considered provable claims in the bankruptcy
proceedings and may be paid as a dividend when the
proceedings are completed.

Steen Contractors Ltd.: The subsidiary specializing in
mechanical engineering, that also operates a division
devoted to pipeline construction, Steen has filed a
proposal with the trustee Arthur Anderson Inc., which has
21 days from today to organize a meeting of creditors. The
proposal will be sent to creditors without delay. Steen
Contractors has its head office in Toronto and had
476 employees at the end of August 1998.

Industries Davie Inc.: The Group's shipbuilding subsidiary,
Industries Davie has obtained a delay of 45 days, until
Oct. 26, 1998, to submit a proposal to creditors. It
remains under the protection of the Act. Gerald Robitaille
et Associes is the trustee. Yesterday, the Board of
Directors of Dominion Bridge Corp. agreed to begin the
process that will lead to the sale of the subsidiary to
American Eco Corp. or another approved buyer. (The
President of American Eco's Board of Director, Michael E.
McGinnis, was not present at the meeting.)

Today, American Eco disseminated a press release stating
that it has undertaken discussions with a view toward
buying Industries Davie. A final agreement is conditional
upon a financing structure being put into place for the
Amethyst II and III  platforms and subject to approval by
the Board of Directors of both companies. In the event of a
final agrement being reached, Industries Davie will be the
subject of an independent financial analysis. Any final
sale agreement must also be approved by both secured and
non-secured creditors, as well as the Court.

With offices in both Levis (Quebec) and Quebec City,
Industries Davie had 1,063 employees at the end of August
1998.

Founded in 1879, Dominion Bridge operates in international
engineering and infrastructure construction markets.

The primary subsidiaries of Dominion Bridge Corp. are
Dominion Bridge Inc.,  Steen Contractors Ltd., Becker
Contractors Ltd., Industries Davie Inc. and  
McConnell Dowell Corporation of Australia.


DOW CORNING: Breast Implant Deal Still Incomplete                      
-------------------------------------------------
Lawyers representing Dow Corning Corp. and women  
claiming silicone breast implants made them sick resolved
some details of a proposed $3.2 billion settlement during a
marathon, 21-hour meeting.

But the proposed settlement is not complete, Dow Corning
spokesman Michael T. Jackson said shortly after the
meeting. The talks began at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Arthur Spector ordered the session,
attended by federal mediator Francis McGovern, to discuss
the tentative deal reached in July between Midland-based
Dow Corning and lawyers for the 170,000 women.

McGovern and the negotiators planned a telephone conference
call Tuesday at which they would update the judge on their
efforts, Jackson said.  The session resulted in a written
agreement that resolved "some of the issues," Jackson said.
But he declined to discuss those issues, or what  
remained unresolved.

Since the tentative deal was reached in July, the two sides
have struggled to transform the basics of the deal into a
detailed "disclosure statement" containing specifics of the
proposal, including payouts for the women.

Points on which the two sides reached agreement today won't
be made public until Spector approves the disclosure
statement, an action not expected for at least several
weeks, Jackson said.

Under the weight of implant-liability lawsuits, Dow Corning
filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors
in 1995. Before then, the company initially planned to pay
about $2 billion to settle implant claims.

Once the largest maker of silicone-gel breast implants, Dow
Corning no longer makes the now-restricted devices used for
breast reconstruction and augmentation.

Hundreds of thousands of women with implants have claimed
leaking silicone has caused serious diseases of the immune
system such as lupus, which can lead to infections,
depression, kidney disease and serious joint damage.

The company long has maintained that there's no scientific
proof that silicone causes immune-system ailments.
(AP Online; 09/10/98)


DYNCORP: Inactive Subsidiary Files Chapter 11
---------------------------------------------
An inactive DynCorp subsidiary, Fuller-Austin Insulation
Co., filed for Chapter 11 on Sept. 4 in Wilmington, Del.,
listing total assets of about $3.3 million and estimated
liabilities of $286.2 million as of May 31.  The majority
of the claims against the former installer of industrial
insulation are asbestos personal injury claims.  Earlier
this year, the company agreed in principle to a global
settlement with the proposed representative of certain
future asbestos claimants, and counsel for more than 75% of
the 10,740 claimants who have asserted asbestos bodily
injury claims against Fuller-Austin.  The agreement
contemplated a bankruptcy filing. (Federal Filings Inc. 10-
Sept-98)


HARRAH'S JAZZ: Hearing on Confirmation of Plan Set
--------------------------------------------------
In The Wall Street Journal, September 11, 1998, Harrah's
Jazz Company, debtor published a notice that the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has
entered an order approving the adequacy of the Summary of
the Debtors' sixth amended Disclosure Statement dated as of
September 3, 1998 referring to the Third Amended Joint Plan
of Reorganization.

October 7, 1998 is fixed as the last date for filing
written acceptances or rejection of the plan.

The hearing on confirmation of the Modified Plan shall
commence on October 13, 1998.


HOMEPLACE STORES: Committee Supports Exclusivity Extension
----------------------------------------------------------
The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of HomePlace
Stores, Inc. generally supports the debtor's request to
extend the Exclusive Periods.  The Committee believes that
the debtors are now in position to test a fundamental
aspect of their reorganization strategy.  The Committee
will continue to support the debtors consistent with the
goal of obtaining the most favorable recovery for its
constituency.  Nevertheless, if the debtors fail to achieve
or exceed their projected targets for fiscal 1998, the
debtors should not presume that the Committee will support
the "further extensions" of exclusivity that the debtors
anticipate seeking.


KIA MOTORS: Ford Withdraws From Auction
---------------------------------------
Ford Motor Co. said Friday it has withdrawn from the  
auction of bankrupt Kia Motors Corp., citing the sizable
debt of South Korea's second-largest automaker.

Ford's withdrawal came a day after it joined three South
Korean automakers in submitting letters of intent to take
part in a new auction of Kia.

But on Friday, Ford vice chairman Wayne Booker said its
pursuit of Kia made little business sense, given what he
called Kia's "unreasonably high amount of debt" totaling
about $8.4 billion. Ford already owns 16.9 percent of Kia.

"We believe that the level of debt that the creditors have
specified will make it very difficult, if not impossible,
for Kia and Asia Motors to be successful, internationally
competitive companies," Booker said. Asia Motors is
Kia's commercial vehicle subsidiary.

The auction the second involving Kia follows one earlier
this month that failed to find a buyer. Potential buyers
now include Hyundai Motor Co., Daewoo Motor Co. and Samsung
Motors Inc.

New bids must be submitted by Sept. 21. The winner will be
announced Sept. 28.

Kia's creditor banks rejected previous bids by Ford and the
others because they included demands for a write-off of at
least part of Kia's debt.

The creditors had offered to write off interest on that
debt over the next 10 years, an estimated $4.6 billion, but
none of the principal. But the creditors now say they will
write off $2.1 billion of the principal debt along with any
interest on the remainder.

Kia and its creditors said the successful bidder must buy
at least 51 percent of the equity of Kia and Asia Motors.
The move to sell Kia is part of the government's effort to
restructure its  battered economy under a $58 billion
bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
   

LYNX GOLF: Reports Letter of Intent From TearDrop
-------------------------------------------------
On August 31,1998, TearDrop Golf Co. entered into a non-
binding letter of intent to acquire certain of the assets
of Lynx Golf, Inc. of Carlsbad, California.  The  
acquisition is subject to numerous conditions, including
the signing of a definitive agreement and approval of the
Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California
having jurisdiction over the bankruptcy proceedings  
involving Lynx Golf, Inc.

Lynx has submitted to the Bankruptcy Court overbid
procedures pursuant to which the proposed sale to the
Company will be subject to higher and better bids that may
be made by competing bidders at an auction  of the assets
to be held at the sale hearing for the transaction in
Bankruptcy Court to be held no later than October 16, 1998.
The overbid  procedures are subject to the approval of the
Bankruptcy Court." (States SEC - 09/10/98)


MONTGOMERY WARD: Posts $63M Net Loss For July
---------------------------------------------
Montgomery Ward & Co.' posted a net loss of $63 million
on net sales of $254 million for the month ended Aug. 1.
The retailer's gross margin was just under 13%.
Reorganization items for the month totaled $9 million,
including $2 million of professional fees.(The Daily
Bankruptcy Review Copyright and ABI September 11, 1998)


MOTOROLA: Buys Bankrupt Slovokia Plant
--------------------------------------
Motorola Inc. signed a contract for the purchase
of a bankrupt telecommunications components factory in
western Slovakia, local  media reported Friday.

Motorola, based in Schaumburg, Ill., did not disclose the
purchase price for the Teslapiestany plant in Piestany, 62
miles west of the capital, Bratislava.

The factory, renamed Slovakia Electronics Industries, will
produce semiconductors, which will be exported to Motorola
customers.

Vaclav Smid, Motorola's director of market development for
the Czech and Slovak republics, said the plant would begin
production early next year.

Motorola plans to invest $90 million into restructuring the
company, Smid said. It will employ 1,500 people.

Motorola is the first company to take advantage of a 10-
year tax holiday program set up by the government to
encourage foreign companies to set up export-oriented
factories in Slovakia.


NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE: Announces Confirmation of Plan
-----------------------------------------------------
National Western Life Insurance Co. President Ross R. Moody
announced yesterday that by an order dated August 28, the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
confirmed and approved the third amended plan of
reorganization of the company and its subsidiary, Westcap
Enterprises Inc., according to a newswire report. The
plan will become effective September 16. Per the plan,
National Western will receive credit for $1 million
previously contributed to Westcap in March 1997 during the
bankruptcy and will pay $14.125 million to settle all
Westcap's claims against National Western and all claims of
Westcap creditors who alleged federal or state
securities law violations. (ABI 11-Sept-98)


PACE HEALTH: Files Articles of Correction With SEC
--------------------------------------------------
Pace Health Management Systems Inc. files a Form 8-K with
the SEC reporting that on September 9, 1998, the company
filed Articles of Correction with the Iowa Secretary, to
correct an error in the Articles of Amendment filed by
Registrant on July 10, 1998 with respect to the company's
Convertible Preferred Stock.

Section 8 of the Articles of Amendment contained an
incorrect statement, in that it stated that the Convertible
Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote per share.

The Articles of Amendment are incorrect because the
Convertible Preferred Stock is actually entitled to two
votes per share.


PEGASUS GOLD: Safeco Insurance Seeks Relief From Stay
-----------------------------------------------------
Safeco Insurance Company of America is seeking relief from
the automatic stay to terminate surety bonds as of the
Petition Date.

Safeco, as surety, issued surety bonds on behalf of PGC, as
principal in the total amount of over $4 million.

Safeco requests that the court enter an order annulling the
automatic stay as to debtors PGC, Beal Mountain, Black
Pine, Diamond Hill and Florida Canyon to permit Safeco to
terminate the Surety Bonds as of the Petition Date, insofar
as the Surety Bonds constitute post-petition financing
subject to continuation on a post-petition basis only upon
consent by Safeco and the court's approval, which consent
is not forthcoming.


PHARMACY FUND INC: Files Chapter 11
-----------------------------------
Pharmacy Fund Inc., the only insurance-claim factoring
company for retail drugstores in the United States, has
filed for chapter 11 protection, listing liabilities of
about $75 million, The Wall Street Journal reported. The
filing affects about 10 percent of the country's small,
independent operators, as well as large chains. Pharmacy
Fund, a five-year-old company, buys insurance claims from
pharmacies at a discount and then collects on the claims
from third-party payers, which are primarily insurance
companies. The company reportedly has always operated on a
thin margin and never made a profit. It ceased buying
pharmacy receivables on Tuesday when it filed. Many small
pharmacists have relied on Pharmacy Fund as a fast source
of cash and a resource to handle the paper work involved in
collecting claims. Many small pharmacies operate on small
margins and need cash quickly to buy new inventory. (ABI
11-Sept-98)


PINNACLE BRANDS: Committee Seeks To Dismiss Cases
-------------------------------------------------
The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Pinnacle
Brands, Inc. and its affiliates is seeking entry of an
order dismissing the cases.  The Committee seeks to have
the debtors' chapter 11 cases dismissed "for cause" due to
the continuing loss or diminution of the estate and the
absence of a reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation and
inability to effectuate a plan.

The Committee states that these cases are being run for
sole benefit of the Banks. The Committee says, "If the
Banks and the debtors proceed to administer these cases in
a manner that conforms to the Bankruptcy Code, by
recognizing the value that is brought to these estates by
the unsecured creditors who include, among them, the owners
of the intellectual property rights that are necessary to
permit there to be any tangible value to the debtors'
inventory and trademarks, and by removing the inappropriate
benefits typified by the terms of the DIP Facility, the
Committee will reconsider its position with respect to
dismissal."


PINNACLE BRANDS: Court Approves Bidding Procedures
--------------------------------------------------
The court entered an order on September 3, 1998 authorizing
the debtors to solicit the highest and best purchase price
for the Assets by no later than September 21, 1998.

The debtors previously requested authorization to enter
into a certain letter of intent with Toy Biz, Inc. The
Creditors' Committee objected to the Motion and the Letter
of Intent expired by its terms on August 28, 1998.

A good faith deposit of $300,000 is necessary for any
Successful Bidder.


SILAS CREEK RETAIL: Notice of Administrative Claim Bar Date
-----------------------------------------------------------
On August 31, 1998, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Delaware entered an order approving the
debtors' motion for an order setting a final date for
filing requests for payment of administrative claims
against the debtors.  Requests must be filed with the court
so as to be received no later than 4:00 pm on October 23,
1998 (the "Administrative Claims Bar Date")


SUN TELEVISION: Files Annual Report With SEC
--------------------------------------------
Sun Television and Appliances, Inc. filed a Form 10-K/A-1
with the SEC for the Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 1998.
The aggregate market value of the company's Common Stock
held by non-affiliates of the company was approximately
$35,735,000 on May 15, 1998.

There were 17,439,202 shares of Common Stock outstanding on
May 15, 1998.

A listing of Exhibits on Form 10-K are listed in this
filing and are available via the Internet at:

     http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/0000950152-98-
007464.txt


UNISON HEALTHCARE: Bar Date Set - September 21, 1998
----------------------------------------------------
The Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona set a Bar
Date for September 21, 1998 in the case of Unison
Healthcare Corporation and related proceedings.

The Bar Date applies to a "claim" as such term is defined
in the Bankruptcy Code against any of the debtors arising
from any event occurring during the debtors' operation of
their businesses before and until the applicable Debtors'
Petition date.


WESTMORELAND COAL: Committee Taps Valuation Experts
---------------------------------------------------
The Official Committee of Equity Security Holders applies
to the Court for an order authorizing the employment of
Putnam, Hayes & Bartlett, Inc. as valuation experts for the
Equity Committee.


XCL LTD: Begins Drilling Appraisal Well
---------------------------------------
In a Form 8-K filed with the SEC, XCL Ltd. reports that on
August 28, 1998, the company issued a press release
announcing that on August 26, 1998, it and its partners,
China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Corporation (CNODC) and Apache Corporation, began drilling
the C-4-2 appraisal well located on the Zhao Dong Block,
Bohai Bay, the People's Republic of China.  The C-4-2 is
located approximately one mile south of the highly
successful C-4 well, which tested 15,359 barrels of oil per
day and 10,707 Mcf of gas per day in October 1997.  The
company does not expect to make additional announcements
with respect to the C-4-2 until results have been
determined.

XCL Ltd. and Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) each own a
50 percent interest in the Foreign Contractor's share
of the Zhao Dong Block.

                 *********

The Meetings, Conferences and Seminars column appears in
the TCR each Tuesday.  Submissions via e-mail to
conferences@bankrupt.com are encouraged.  

Bond pricing, appearing each Friday, is supplied by DLS
Capital Partners, Dallas, Texas.

S U B S C R I P T I O N   I N F O R M A T I O N     

Troubled Company Reporter is a daily newsletter, co-
published by Bankruptcy Creditors' Service, Inc.,
Princeton, NJ, and Beard Group, Inc., Washington, DC.  
Debra Brennan and Lexy Mueller, Editors.   

Copyright 1998.  All rights reserved.  ISSN 1520-9474.  
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