Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-20
Fifty Others Injured When
Blaze Sweeps Place, Throw.
ing Patrons Into Panic.
THIRTY FOUND PILED
IN TINY DRESSING ROOM
Proprietor, Who Attributes Cause
of Fire to Business Rivals, Held
for Investigation.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT, September 20.-The death
list In the flre that early today swept
through the Study Club cabaret in
East Vernon Highway, was increased
to II shortly before noon with the death
of an unidentified woman In Receiving
Hospital. Fifty others are in hospitals
with injuries.
The latest victim wore q ring bear
ing the initials IL. j. K"
One hundred and thirty patrons and
forty employees, including entertainers
were in the night club when flames
broke through the wall at the first floor
and swept up the main stairway, cut
ting OF the only means Of egress.
Marten Cohen, proprietor Of the club,
was ordered held for investigation by
Duncan g. McCrea, assistant prosecutor,
who took statements from more than a
dozen entertainers and employees who
were brought to police headquarters.
There Is evidence OF criminal negli-
gence here and am going to find out
who was responsible" McCrea said.
This place was fire trap. There were
not adequate means for escape, and
some one must be responsible"
Patrolman James MCGUIRE, who dis
covered the blaze, ran to a nearby FIRE
box and returned to find the flames
and smoke roaring up the staircase. Be-
fore patrons and employees were aware
Of their danger the fire was upon them.
A cigarette girl was suffocated by the
hot fumes as she stood in the center
of the dance floor and dropped down
over her tray. Her body was found
by firemen.
Many patrons rushed for safety into
small dressing room. Z by Is feet, in
the rear of the building. Thirty OF
them were found piled unconscious in
the tiny space when flremen broke into
the room. Several Of them were dead
Others were badly injured.
Interior I'm Ruins.
The interior of \ the building was
ruined, but the exterior presented an
almost unblemished appearance, save
for broken windows and a fire-escape
which hangs useless. a nockery to those
who ventured to trust 1t as an exit.
Cohen and Robert Jackson, master of
ceremonies, were closeted with police this
morning. Cohen attributed the fire to
rivals in business. The Study Club had
been operating for about year and
had proSpered. Situated on Vernon
highway, about six blocks from the
heart of the city and just OF Wood
ward avenue, the main north-and- south
artery of Detroit. 1t had acquired
Cohen was not in the place at the
time of the fife. Another night club. the
Lido, had its opening last night and he
had gone to participate, he told police.
Windows Were Covered.
Firemen who tried to enter the build
ing through windows found that the
window openings had been covered on
the inside with wall boafd. All windows
on the second floor had thus been
closed. they asserted.
As firemen and volunteer rescuerS
carried out victims taxicabs whicn nao
been parked in a lot next TO the pullu-
ing took them to hospitals. Squads OF
ambulanceS arrived soon after the nre
apparatus. an
women were checked In within an hour
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