VOL.100, NO.116
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
(USPS 650-640)
MONDAY MARCH 26 1990
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
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 jug of gasoline and 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 trampled to death; others hale through a wall to an adjoining hole in a desperate attempt to live.
NEWS:864-4810
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 command chief. "It was a fireman."
Authorities early today began raiding and shutting down some of the 73 other illegal social clubs in the city, which were operating in the city.
It was the deadliest fire in the continental United States since the 1977 blaze at the Beverly Hills Supp Club in Southgate, Ky, that
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.
killed 164 people. A New Year's Eve 1986 fire at a hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killed 96.
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 said. He 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 Burke, the police spokesman. Bancally, 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 Medical Specialist Christopher McCarthy said. "They were 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
Dressed to the '90s
Inside...
From the cover:
Swiiping clothes from brothers' fathers' and boyfriends' closets is a time-honored tradition for women. Find out why on p. 10.
Are ripped jeans a fashion faux pas? Are pastels passe? Check out what's hot, what's not and where you fit in on p. 6.
Traditional thongs have taken a flip-flop. To hotfoot it around town in style, read about sport sardals on p. 8.
Hungarv
The Associated Press
Socialists expect to lose vote
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 that there he voted that he was relinquishing control with a clear conscience.
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.
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 ed. About 7.8 million people were able to vote.
new irregularities were reported p.m., when the voting officially ended. Several international rulers monitored the election.
amethi, who voted at a state-run gartenserved as one of 11,000 stations across the nation, ing tended to predict the chances of his alist Party. That party has gove since reform-oriented Comisls formed it after defecting to the Communist Party in Octo-
comments reflected wide-
read acceptance, even among
some who would not do
despite its role in steering Hunto
demonstrate reform.
the only thing I hope for is that a big government is created," he said, adding that only a government not hamstruck by the situation could deal with the m'sailing economy.
lead of crediting the Socialists volunteering to play by demo rules, most voters remember excesses of more than four million that have e Communists unpopular about the Soviet bloc
pil of 5,000 people published by MTI news agency less than aur before polls closed indicated center-right Hungarian Demo-Forum would finish strongest, it seats.
won't consider it an act of God if "it make it into government," told reporters. "I will hand the reins head high and with a conscience. I don't have bitter in my heart but satisfaction."
pre-election opinion polls indi-
cates the Socialists will finish no
than fourth place, with a num-
ber 10 percent of the overall
oughthe monthlong camer of 394 parliamentary seats, to face the electorate of their compartment to face the electorate of their compartment system.
fare and the Office of Student $400 for trip expenses. White long-distance trip he took
urgery's last elections were in when the Communists won a ve majority, largely through a year later, they consolidated and forced all other parties out atence.
e often travels to Topeka and lies for meetings, he said he a travel expenses.
job
enate was the only student rate that didn't pay for trips body nody president.
id . . . ," White said. "Hope 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
ate paid $100 for his sticker.
he street from the Union in lot er is convenient because of hisOUND campus and out of the