Evening star., 1944-08-14
$50 Listed as Injured
In $1,500,000 Blaze
Al Palisades Park
BY the Associated Press.

At Palisades Park
BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Aug. 14.-Most OF
Palisades amusement park in
New Jersey was a Smoldering
ruin today after a fire In which
\ $50 or more persons were in
Ijured or affected by smoke and
a Sunday afternoon crowd esti-
mated at $4,000 was sent stam-
peding.
Several spectacular rescues were
made as flames swept the popular
resort opposite 125th street.
Scores Of those injured or over
come were treated at three hospi-
tails and others were cared for by
rescue and first-aid squads and
volunteers.
Irving Rosenthal, the proprietor,
estimated damage to the park at
81 500, 900 and said it worid be closed
for the remainder of ane season.
F1remen from IA municipalities
fought the blaze, which destroyed
about IS per cent of the property In
two and half hours.
3 Listed as Missing.
Meanwhile, three men we're listed
as missing in the pier and ship ex-
blossoms and fire which broke out
Friday night in Hoboken, N. j.
Hoboken Police Chief Edward j.
Merely said the three men, volun-
teer fire fighters, were last seen
Friday night and had not returned
to their homes. He identified them
as Thomas Robinson, So, Jersey City,
Watchman; Edward Clarke, As,
Hoboken, longshoreman, and
Thomas O'Brien, New York City, a
longshoreman.
The body of man tentatively
identified as Mr.. OBrien was found
early today floating in the Hudson
River off Twenty fourth street,
New York.
The toll of those injured or over
come by smoke in the multimillion
dollar Hoboken fire rose to almost
TOO yesterday as 126 additional per-
sons, including firemen, longshore-
men, coast guardsmen and Red
Cross canteen workers, were treated
Two other major weekend fires
in the New York City-New JERSEY
area destroyed a block of buildings
along the boardwalk at Wildwood
N. j., with loss estimated at $780,
600 and injured 10 persons early
Saturday, and destroyed part of
Luna Park at Coney Island, New
York, Saturday afternoon, with loss
estimated between $25O,OOO and
$5O0,0OO.
Fire Marshal Thomas E. Brophy
says a 15minute delay by park
employees in sounding an alarm al
lowed destructive spread of the
flames at Coney Island.
Mr.. Brophy said he would question
today the employees he declared had
wasted time trying to extinquish
the blaze In a washroom before
turning in the first of five alarms.
He said the nearest engine COM
pany could have responded in three
minutes and checked the fire be-
fore it spread to the wooden frame.
work OF scenic railway.
Overloaded Circuit Blamed,
The fire marshal said the flames
started from an overloaded electric
circuit.
The Palisades fire separated many
family groups and circles of friends,
and there were frantic scenes as
parents searched for children. Most
OF the 1000 persons who had sought
relief from the 10O-degree heat in
the park swimming pool milled
around in swimming suits before
they could get their belongings,
which eventually were saved.
Between IS and 100 automobiles in
the parking lot were destroyed. and
the explosions of gas tanks led to
the terror.
Witnesses said the fire started in
the Virginia Reel, a circular ride
which was loaded with children. A
short circuit was blamed.
Priest Helps Save Girls.
AS the concession was engulfed in
fire, Virginia Reel car carried five
young girls down a 50-foot descent
through the flames, which burned
their hair and clothing.
One stumbled out at the bottom
OF the descent but the others re-
mained IN the car and a dramatic
rescue scene was enacted when a
Catholic priest. soldier, three IT.
year-old merchant marine sailors
and concessionnaire rescued them
from the burning structure.
The rescuers were the Rev. Ralph
Kennedy, of Sienna College. Lou
donvllle, N. Y, whose clothing was
torn in the rescue; Pvt. William
Schnawthiel, of Fort Hamilton. N
Y. Jack and Joseph Sem and How
ard Kaiser, all of Grand Island
N. Y, and John Albanese, waffle
stand proprietor, who received hand
burns.
The five girls and Mr.. Schnaw-
thiel, first to reach them, were taken
to Englewood Hospital, where Se
and Marie Latham, 13, of Clifton
N. j., wele reported to have re-
ceived second degree burns.
81. 600 in Money! and (1nms