The Bakersfield Californian from Bakersfield, California • Page 7

Flames leap from windows of New York sauna bath and rooming house as firemen use aerial equipment to control fatal fire. Eight men died. (AP Laserpho- to) Fire in NY bathhouse kills 9 with 12 hurt NEW YORK (AP) Eight men perished yesterday morning in flames and smoke that enveloped a 70- year-old bathhouse frequented by homosexuals, about six blocks south of the Empire State Building. Fire officials said the occupants of the four-story building containing the Everard Baths had tried ineffectually to fight the fire themselves and flames were roaring through two floors when firemen arrived shortly after 7 a.m. An unreported mattress fire about an hour earlier was suspected of being the cause.

More than a dozen persons were taken to hospitals, including two firemen treated for smoke inhalation. Two of the injured were in critical condition One of the survivors, a 26- year-old actor, declared bitterly that the city allows hazardous conditions to exist where homosexuals congregate. are given a certain amount of liberty in New York City and most of that is to hang out in sleazy sorts of low places that are substandard. At a straight health spa you wouldn't have rooms partitioned halfway up the walls so the fire could spread." said the actor. Michael Rhone of Manhattan.

Rhone described the scene as a "thick, smoking hell, but the people were very together. No one went crazy or haywire." The flames were brought under control by 200 fire fighters after aboutc 1 1 hours, but Fire Commissioner John O'Hagan pulled his men back from searching for bodies for fear that the weakened, partially collapsed structure might come down on them He said a search for bodies would continue using a crane to pick at debris "We now- Several guests complete dressing outside after fire routed occupants of a New York building. Search continued for victims. (AP Laserphoto) have the job of searching cubicles." he said. The owner of the baths.

Irving Fine. 62. estimated that between 80 and 100 customers were in the building, but an exact number was not determined immediately. Deputy Chief Fire Marshal John Barracato said sign-in procedure at the for-men- only establishment was "informal or nonexistent Customers were charged $7 for 12 hours for a (i's- by 4- fuot cubicle, and $5 for just a locker, on weekdays. Weekends the prices were $9.25 and $6 for eight hours, according to baths manager Nat Pressman.

Rhone described the clientele as "your old men. young georgeous men. your models and your successful businessmen." The building, on 28th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, dates to 1888 and got its name from beer baron Jim Everard who made it a bathhouse in 1907 Then the area was in the Tenderloin red-light and gambling district. Now it is in the wholesale flower district. The commissioner said the operators of the bathhouse had been odered last year to install sprinklers He said this was done, but the system had not been hooked up "A sprinkler would have prevented this fire in all probability." he added.

Firemen said they rescued 12 persons from windows. Others jumped, icluding some from the third floor who were among those hospitalized. A number who fled out the door wore only bath towels Soviets anthem MOSCOW i APi The Soviet Union's leaders have decided to adopt a new national anthem, replacing a now-embarrassing song written during the war praises former dictator Joseph Stalin Since Stalin died and his leadership fell into disrepute, the anthem. "Hymn of the Soviet I'nion." has not been sting at public occasions- Only the music lias been played, while those in attend ance either hummed or remained silent The Central Committee of the Communist party said in a communique dial it had approved words and music lor the new anthem, but details of the new song were not released The "Hymn of the Soviet replace national praising Stalin I'nion" was officially adopted in 1944 in place of the "Internationale." the world Socialist song that the Soviet I'nion iutri used as its own anthem since the lime of the Revolution Speculation at the tune was that Stalin wanted to inspire Ins people to further efforts in the war and reconstruction with an anthem that was truly Soviet While the "Internationale" began 'Arise ye prisoners of starvation, arise ye wretched of the Earth," Stalin's hymn started "Oroat Russia has welded an unbreakable union of free republics to stand forever l.cniri and Stalin were mentioned in the second verse: "Our sunlight of freedom shone through the storms "And the great Lenin lighted our path "Stalin raised us to trust in the people "And inspired us to labor and advances The current "Hymn of the Soviet I'nion" is a bright march played on all state occasions Till' current edition of the (licit Soviet Encyclopedia makes no reference to the "Hymn of the Soviet I'nion" even having words Along with Stalin's anthem, another creation of his reign, the "Stalin Constitution." also is disappearing The Central Committee decided. Tuesday to.adopt a new constitution to reflect "deep changes" in Soviet society.

Magna VaknetL iclft(fiqltforntw Thurs Ma 26 1977 7 DOWNTOWN STORE NOW OPEN TO NINE FRIDAYS! Booths Stores MAGNAVOX SUPER VALUE! fll HUGE SAVINGS on TV STEREO SAVE $11 PSB PORTABLE RADIO operates on battery or AC A ft earphone included antenne JtC3 Nortel 4.112 SAVE $101 25" diagonal SPACE- SAVING CONSOLE Automatic Fine Tuning, accurately tuned pictures on any channel-CHF or V'HF. Super Bright Matrix Picture Tube. Campaign Chest styling. SAVE $101 $CQQ88 REG. NOB 699.95 Model 4654 Early American styling YOUR CHOICE: SA VE $91 25" diagonal Fine Furniture Console Color TV Beautifully designed Magnavox with superb viewing.

Viden'matic electronic "eye" to automatically adjust the picture to changing room light, a Super Bright Matrix Picture Tube plus an energy- saving, highly reliable solid-state modular chassis SA IE ft $91 NOW 698 88 REG. 709.88 OR DAHk OAK Model 4656 Mediterranean styling SA VE '101 19" diagonal Videomatic Color Portable Enjoy a really eye- pleasing picture in any your room is bright or dark. It also has the Precision In-Line-Picture-Tube System 458 88 Action-packed HOME VIDEO GAMES works on any TV! Model 200 QQ88 Save SI 1 Modt-i aim Moct.l MM SAVKS2I 38 58 88 78 88 REG. 559.95 SPECIAL! Magnavox Siereo component System It's a complete system SAVE $101 88 SAVE 1 51 13" diagonal Videomalic Portable Color TV Automatic color picture that even adjusts to changing room light. It never glares, never washes out.

Also, an In-Line Picture Tube and it's solid-state. SA VE $51 xoir 358 88 REG Mediterranean styling Also in (ioiiK'mpnran and IlaUiin I'rm inciul Model 6244 Early Amerxjn styi.rg YOUR CHOICE: SA VE '71 Space-saving Stereo Consoles Onlv 36 1 L. this value-priced Magnavox offers vou fine furniture stvling plus the rich, full Dimensional Sound of Stereo FM AM radio and vour favorite records-pro tec led from the sides and front o( the cabinet tour speakers Vou ran even add a tarn' unit i Also in Contemporary and Italian Provincial Save 71.00 278 88 II Mi. Model SI SA VE '21 19" diagonal Portable TV solid-state fast warm up tube 158 88 KM i. I Model 4967 Mediterranean styling '200! Magnavox Touch-Tune Star Remote Stereo System Theatre Now VK.iitivd Lind audiii and ex- qui-iMc furniture i raftsmans-hip Touch-tune at the M-t ni tu n-mnir oinlrol to am channel instantly i.x in diajirinal color picture I'lu's hiii Suund from Stereo KM AM radin r.j -iN -ir Htr.n uirlndgo and 3-wav speaker iein SAVE '200 1,795 Reg.

81,995 Also available in Classic Aegean Pecan (model 4961) OUTSTANDING FRIC1DAIRE CLEARANCE PRICES! SAVE'70 Frigidaire Microwave stow took and Kast Cook and Defrost Cycles Cuts Cooking Time saves Ener- NOW 499 95 Ken. ZMMn MmlH HCMft SAVE'100 Frost-proof Refrigerator 2 Vegetable Hydrators-Meat Tender with lower temperature-Egg Servers-Butter Conditioner with Varianle cold control Flowing cold Circulation SA $100 sow Ct 22 SAVE'100 On The Pair! Frigidaire Dryer Knit and Permanent Press setting Automatic Dry Cycle with Press Saver. FRIGIDAIRE WASHER Exclusive Jet Cone Action- spearate Detergent and Bleach Dispensers-18lb ca- pacitv 00 Ik-lll 664 74995 "t5 Mdgnavox 1 dryer available in gas 1 slightly more in color TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOL "Serving Kern County Since DOWNTOWN VALLEY PLAZA Booths Stores 20th II Dailv Fri. 9-9 325-9061 Daily 1(1-9 Sal. Sun.12-5.