VOL.100.NO.116
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1990
(USPS 650-640)
Fire in NY social club kills 87
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A man bounced from a Bronx social club for quarreling with an ex-girlfriend returned with a fire of gasoline and set a fire that killed 87 people at the nightspot, which had been ordered closed, police said.
Most of the dead suffocated in thick smoke in the pre-dawn blaze Sunday, authorities said. Some people were trapped to death; others broke a hole through a wall or entered in a desperate attempt to live.
Emergency workers described bodies felled by smoke so quickly that they still had their legs wrapped around a bar stool, gripped
drinks or held hands. Only three people managed to reach safety by way of the two tiny exit doors on the front of the two-story Happy Land social club.
"People literally were stacked on top of each other," said Anthony De Vita, the Fire Department chief. "It was a firetran."
Authorities early today began raiding and shutting down some of the 738 other illegal social clubs that were operating, said were operating in the city.
It was the deadliest fire in the continental United States since the 1772 blaze at the Beverly Hills Supra Club in Southgate, Ky, that
killed 164 people. A New Year's Eve 1986 fire at a hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killed 96.
NEWS: 864-4810
The fire occurred 79 years to the day after a blaze at the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York City that claimed 145 lives, many of them immigrant garment workers. That blaze led to reforms around the nation in workplace safety.
Julio Gonzalez, a Cuban immigrant and former boyfriend of a Happy Land's ticket seller, was charged with arson and murder, Police Commissioner Lee Brown was to be arraigned later today.
Gonzalez, 36, was bounced from
the club after a quarrel in which he tried to woo back the woman, police said. After warning, "I'll be back," he returned and sprinkled gasoline on the floor, said Lt. James Malvey.
Gonzalez cried with remorse under questioning, said Lt. Raymond O'Donnell, the police officer he said he did it. "O'Donnell he saying he did it."
The impoverished Latino neighborhood near the Bronx Zoo was thick with mourners, who were asked to identify relatives from snapshots of the bodies posted on the wall of a high school. It counted 61 men and 26 women.
Killed were 61 men and 26 women, most of them Honduran
and Dominican immigrants
"Most of the bodies were in dress clothes." Emergency Medical Specialist Christopher McCarthy said. "They were out have fun."
Alva Romero, a Honduran immigrant, lost six relatives, including a daughter, both brothers and a sister. Jerome Forte lost five relatives. The local Honduran soccer club lost several players.
Happy Land was ordered shut in November 1888 and again a year later because of inadequate exits, sprinkler systems, emergency lighting and signs, Dinkins said. It had no liquor or cabaret license.
New count to increase federal aid for county
Ice queen
g an all-terrain sandal
Sport sandals are popular among boaters, mountain climbers and runners.
Eric Montgomery/KANSAN
"The forefoot strap allows you to wear socks like you do with the Birkenstock sandals," England said. "The Tevas, however, allow you to be more active, and they're more comfortable than tennis shoes."
Mick Ranney, owner of Birkentstock Footprint Sandals, 1339 Massachusetts St., said he did not expect the growing popularity of sports sandals to have an impact on the Birkentstock
market.
"We've been selling the Tevas for about four or five years and the people who buy them are the people who buy Vuarnet sunglasses and read Outside magazine," Ranney said. "The people who buy Brickenstocks read Mother Jones magazine and come from the far-left side of the political spectrum."
All Pre-Washed And Pre-Shrunk Levi's Jeans 10% OFF!
Levi's
550
Relaxed Fit
Tapered Leg
100% Cotton
KING Jeans
Mon.-Sat. 9:00-5:30
Thurs. 9:00-8:30
Sun. 12:00-5:00
740 Massachusetts
843-3933
Hungary
The Associated Press
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Millions of Hungarians cast ballots yesterday in the first free national elections in 43 years, and many expressed hope for the future and fear of the Communist past.
Premier Miklos Nemeth, a reform-minded Communist and a key engineer of the nation's conversion to democracy, declared minutes before he voted that he was relinquishing control with a clear conscience.
Socialists expect to lose vote
As in East Germany, where Eastern Europe's first free ballot in decades took place March 18, the Communists were expected to fare poorly in the elections. They complained to national parties for parliament seats.
Despite occasional rain showers, voter turnout appeared brisk at Budapest polling stations, with election officials reporting a turnout of nearly 50 percent in some wards by noon, four hours after the voting
an and eight hours before polls. About 7.8 million people were able to vote.
University Daily Kansan / Friday, March 23, 1990
were irregularities were reported p.m., when the voting officially ended. Several international arresters monitored the election. Ameth, who voted at a state-run gerstenberg serving as one of 11,000ing stations across the nation, ined to predict the chances of his alist Party. That party has gov'd since reform-oriented Comisists formed it after defecting to the Communist Party in Octo-
his comments reflected wide-deed acceptance, even among alists, that his party would not do i despite its role in steering Huny to democratic reform.
The only thing I hope for is that a long government is created," neth said, adding that only an armament not hamstruck by the position could deal with the ton's alling economy.
throughout the monthlong cannion for 394 parliamentary seats, candidates attempted to svince the amendment to a multiduty system
kungary's last elections were in 7, when the Communists won a active majority, largely through and. A year later, they consolidated over and forced all other parties out existence.
poll of 5,000 people published by state MTI news agency less than hour before polls closed indicated center-right Hungarian Demotic Forum would finish strongest, th 31 seats.
But pre-election opinion polls indi-
ed the Socialists will finish no
other than fourth place, with a
a minimum 10 percent of the overall
e.
e.job
stead of crediting the Socialists volunteering to play by democratic rules, most voters remember excesses of more than four canonizations that unpopular de Communists unpopular outhough the Soviet bloc.
I don't consider it an act of God if I don't make it into government," moth tells reporters. "I will手 walt the reins head high and with a ar conscience. I don't have bitters in my heart but satisfaction."
White often travels to Topeka and cities for meetings, he said he his travel expenses.
airfare and the Office of Student
at $400 for trip expenses. White
he only long-distance travel he took
d Senate was the only student state that didn't pay for trips *student body president.*
ty odd . . . " White said. "Hope in work on this. I'm going to do n' my power for the next student mt."
dline, assistant parking director, dent body president was the only who qualified for a blue parking
Senate paid $100 for his sticker, ross the street from the Union in lot sticker is convenient because of his pear around campus and out of the