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
Most of the dead suffocated in thick smoke in the pre-dawn blaze Sunday, authorities said. Some people were trampled to death; others hole through a wall to an adjoining hole in a desperate attempt to live.
NEW YORK — A man bounced from a Bronx social club for quarring with an ex-girlfriend returned with a jug of gasoline and set a fire that killed 87 people at the nightspot, which had been ordered closed, police said.
Emergency workers described bodies felled by smoke so quickly that they still had their legs wrapped around a bar stool, gripped
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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 command chief. "It was a fire trap."
Authorities early today began raiding and shutting down some of the 73 other illegal social clubs where the same officials said were operating in the city.
It was the deadliest fire in the continental United States since the 1972 blaze at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Ky., that
killed 164 people. A New Year's
Eve 1986 fire at a hotel in San
Juan. Puerto Rico killed 166.
The fire occurred 79 years to 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. Ray Under questioning, O'Donnell, police spokesman spoke him. "O'Donnell, he saying he did it." O'Donnell said.
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.
Killed were 61 men and 26 women, most of them Honduran
and Dominican immigrants
"Most of the bodies were in dance clothes." Emergency specialist Christopher McCathay said. "They are out to have fun."
Alva Romero, a Honduran immigrant, lost six relatives, including a daughter, both brothers and a sister. Jerome Ford lost five relatives. The local Honduran soccer club lost several players.
Happy Land was ordered shut in November 1988 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
KU students will.
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University Daily Kansan / Friday, March 23, 1990
Hungary
Socialists expect to lose vote
The Associated Press
Premier Miklos Nemeth, a reform-minded Communist and a key engineer of the nation's convergence democracy, declared moments before he voted that he was relinquishing control with a clear conscience.
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.
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
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 competed with 11 other national parties for parliament seats.
four hours after the voting an and eight hours before polls ed. About 7.8 million people were able to vote.
new irregularities were reported m.p., when the voting officially ed. Several international rangers monitored the election. ameth, who voted at a state-run ardenger serving as one of 11,000 stations across the nation, added to predict the chances of hisrist Party. That chance has since reform-oriented Comets formed it after defecting the Communist Party in Octo-
5B
comments reflected widened acceptance, even among that his party would not do despite his involvement in democratic reform.
the only thing I hope for is that a big government is created," with said, adding that only a statement not hamstrum by the intention could deal with the 'a'sailing economy.
ead of crediting the Socialists
stuntener to play by demo-
rules, most voters remember
accesses of more than four
of one-party rule that have
Communists unpopular
about the Soviet bloc.
don't consider it an act of God if it make it into government." It told reporters. "I will hold me reins head high and with a conscience. I don't have bitterly my heart but satisfaction.
inary's last elections were in when the Communists won a majority, largely through A year later, they consolidated and forced all other parties out vence.
re-election opinion polls indie the Socialists will finish no than fourth place, with a sum 10 percent of the overall
of 1,500 people published by the MTI news agency less than r before polls closed indicated耐-right Hungarian Demororum would finish strongest, seats.
ughout the monthlong camor 394 parliamentary seats, it candidates attempted to be the electorate of their comit to a multiparty system.
job
often travels to Topeka and is for meetings, he said he travel expenses.
ire and the Office of Student
600 for trip expenses. White
by long-distance trip he took
ate was the only student
e that didn't pay for trips
nt body president.
... White said. "Hope is on this. I'm going to do power for the next student
assistant parking director, body president was the only qualified for a blue parking
he paid $100 for his sticker,
street from the Union in lot
is convenient because of his
and campus and out of the