The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 28

THE BOSTON DAILY GLOBE TUESDAY -DECEMBER 1942 Acting Manager Not Sure Grove Was Flame-Proofed 3 sr 28 FiF Km James Welansky, Brother of Owner, Testifies at Fire Department Probe guess. We hired extras on busy light, which was near a palm tree in a corner. The man. Levy said, got up and unscrewed the electric light bulb. It got very dark and neither the manager nor the man behind the bar sent a waiter down to return the bulb to the socket James Welansky, who was as manager of the Cocoanut Grove on the night of the disaster fjbecause his brother, v-wner of the 1 night club, was ill, -was unable to i ff ate definitely whether or not the Ipclub had been "flame-proofed" nd displayed a lack of familiarity X-ith the type of decorations at the presort when he was examined by Fire Commissioner William Ar- thur Reilly at the resumed Fire J-Department investigation hearing Welanskys testimony, including version of how he was "swept" Jp the safety of the street by the purging crowd seeking to escape, featured the mornfrC session.

High lighting the afternoon testimony were the words of the tlub's wine steward and manager iiof the bars, Jacob J. Goldfein of, 4oxbury, who said he could not flee how the fire made such head- through the decorations. "It looked as if someone had spread )) (AP Photo) FIRE PROBE OPENS Mayor Tobin, left, confers with William Arthur Reilly, Boston Fire Commissioner, center, and Boston Fire Chief Samuel J. at Fire Headquarters as they open an investigation into the cause of the Cocoanut Grove firs Saturday night. EXPERT WITNESSES Deputy Chief McDonough, B.

F. left, and Capt. Crowley, Boston Protective Department, were among those testiying at the Cocoanut Grove firs inquest. pm in hi in; i ii i i 1 -mmm i wr i mm 1 1 1 11 4V of I ly A. 0 I xLs-'.

1 1 -Tn hi i 1 Sin mi i 1 i 4 if A i I ,1,11 aniMK li iil1iii I IKIilH tmillliT nTT1t" 1 around the building and set fire to it," he declared. Another witness was Maurice Levy of 100 Seaver Roxbury, occupant of a table near the point of the fire's origin, who was made widower by the disaster. Levy offered the opinion that the match flame ignited the ceiling thereby spreading the fire, instead of the previous belief that the flames spread from a palm tree. Police Photos Introduced Official police' photographs showing the locked Piedmont-st exit, barred the escape -of many "patrons during Saturday, night's night club fire, were introduced as the investigation was resumed this Three (of the photographs showed Tjclearly a protruding lock tongue the police photographer said couldn't be forced in. The photographer, first witness to testify at "today's session of the hearing, was Morgan C.

Murphy. 67 Jamaica Jamaica Plain, attached to the Poston police bureau of -records. Murphy said that he went to the at 11 p. m. Saturday, but that it was about 3:25 Sunday morning before he was able to take the pictures.

"He had 20 different photographs of the interior and exterior of the main dining room and the new cocktail room of the Grove. The photos the broken entrances and lexits to the building ind the blackened ruins inside. The witness was asked by Fire Commissioner William Arthur Reilly as each photo was introduced -into evidence, "Did you take this "photograph?" Murphy answered, "I sir," and then described each as a fair representation of a section of 4he gutted resort. He also explained "from what point he had taken each photograph. Considerable interest by fire officials was shown in those photos of the Piedmont-st.

exit, which was located nearest Church st. Describing the locks on the door to reporters. Murphy showed that the "panic lock" controled by a pressure bar on the inside has protruding lock bars that go into the top and bo'tom of the door jamb. Deputy Chief McDonough has already testified that this lock was not in working order. In addition an ordinary lock tongue was shown protruding from the door.

McDonough has already testified that this additional lock was locked. It appeared to be ilar to a lock in an ordinary house BUS BOY WITNESS Stanley F. Tomaszewski, 16, is sworn in at the inquest on the Cocoanut Grove fire He testified regarding start of fire in lower-floor Melody Lounge. AT INQUEST Morgan C. Murphy, photographer, left, identifies photographs taken at the scene of the Cocoanut Grove fire.

Chief Pope, center, and Commissioner Reilly, right, hear his testimony. Official Death Total i at the Southern Mortuary this morning. They were Mary Zenkin, 38 Cottage st, Boston, and Francis X. Gale, 990 Washington Dorchester. Greenwood Wants Us to Take Lead in Post-War Work LONDON, Dec.

1 (UP) Arthur Greenwood, Labor, former Minister without portfolio in the War Cabinet indicated in the House of Commons today that the United States should take the lead in postwar reconstruction. Urging Commons to prepare im mediately for the post-war period, he said: "Never before has mankind suffered such material destruction. It will be the duty of those nations who have escaped the worst to come to the aid of those who have experienced the worst. "The United Nations, stretchir over the seven seas and spreadir.2 over the globe, must in the spirit of the Atlantic Charter work for the realization of the fundamental unity of mankind. Freedom from want must be a cardinal aim." If V.

nights between 15 and 20. Reilly How many regulars? Welansky Between 80 and 100 in cluding entertainers. "Crowded Not Overcrowded" Reilly Who was in charge? Welansky I was in charge. Reilly would you say the club was crowded? Welansky Yes. Reilly Would you say It was overcrowded? Welansky No.

Reilly Did you feel you could handle the crowd for service and all? Welanskv Yes. Reilly In your opinion, was the builcnng nreproot? "Welansky Yes, sir. Itwas a concrete building. Reilly What were the nature of the decorations and how long sijjce they were put in? Wilansky I don't; know. The acting manager appeared to be uncertain of exact construction and furnishing details of the club.

He said there was both linoleum and carpeting in the main dining room and parts of the walls were of stucco and parts of "a sort of leatherette." Asked if there were any new dec orations put in the Melody Lounge during the past two weeks, wiian sky said, "No." He ssid he "guessed it was about three years since the Melody Lounge was decorated." In response to a question from the commissioner about the presence of any netting on the walls and ceil ing'of the stairway leading to the Melody Lounge, Wilansky said. "I don't think so, but there was at one time," adding that he didn't know if any decorations had been re moved recently. Talking to Police Captain Rpillv aslfprf if tif flnh had bpfln treated to flame proof it. Wilansky i saia, ii wouia ue me usuai procedure to flame proof, I think, but I can't say if it had been done." The commissioner asked if all the tables had been taken by 10 p.m. Saturday.

The witness said, "I rnnlHn't sav mv imnression when I walked through before the fire was that there were a couple of-emntv tables of course people had reservations." Reilly What was your nrst knowledge of the fire? Wilansky I was standing, talking to Capt. Buccigross (Joseph A. Buc- cigross, night captain oi me warren av. Police Station); we were lniinee on the Broadway side. He told me he was on a tour of inspection.

An entertainer or uroitc ireiiprf "FrRE." I dashed toward the rear in the direction of the main dining room, but oiant get eight feet. I had visions of nirini rnminir toward me. First thing I knew. I'm in a seething mass I have had visons of 6ee- ng fire, but not much fi-e, and im not sure actually saw some. My mpression was that this fire probably was comin along the pas-fmm the main dining room.

I was pushed and pulled, and presume I was carriea Dy we crowd out through the, Broadway )i-. Tliore is an nlltside dOOr that opens in leading to a vestibule and two doors which swing out on Rroadwav I don't recall how I got through the doors." Every Minute Like Hours Reilly What Became oi vapi. Buccigross? Wilansky I could near mm yeu-ing: 'walk, please walk. I took a tip from his and yelled the same. I assume he was swept out by the crowd too.

I ran down Broadway hollering for engines. I got to the corner of Piedmont st. and though I saw Capt. Buccigross in front of me. When I got back the firemen were at the Broadway side I've no idea how long it was, but every minute was hours.

Reilly Was there anything inflammable on the walls or ceiling? Wilansky They generally fireproof them things understand, I don't order those things. I'm iust giving a supposition. Reilly Who would be in charge of flame proofing? Wilansky I don't know. Reilly Was there any contract for flame proofing? Wilansky I don't know. The witness testified he believed the business of the head employees in the different rooms at the club in charge of those rooms to attend to the flame proofing, point out, however, that he was not regularly in charge of the club.

He said definite information on the subject would be known only by his brother, Barnett. who is ill in a hospital. He promised to try and furnish Reilly with a list of the names and addresses of all em ployees at the club and dig up any information available on contracts lor decorating. The hearing adjourned at 1 p. m.

for lunch. TRAGIC FIRE LEO S. ONETTI Cpt. of witr who yelled "Run like hell" and tried to open it doors. Saw Waiter Strike Match The waiter struck a match In order to see the socket.

As soon as the waiter struck the match, the ceiling caught fire. Levy got up immediately with his wife and started for the stairway, he testified. He was 10 feet ahead of the fire and by the time he reached the stairway the flames were 10 feet ahead of him. Then ensued an interrogation of Levy by Commissioner Riley. Q.

Did you see the tree ignite? A. Yes. Q. Did you see the match ignite it? A. Yes.

Q. How leng did it take to ignite the tree? It didn't ignite the tree; It struck the ceiling and spread. Q. Did you see anyone trying to put it out? A. Yes, someone tried to put It out with his hand, but it didn't seem to do any good.

Q. Did you see any water thrown on it? A. No, I didn't. Continuing his direct testimony Levy said he went up the stairs with his wife, "which brought me to the foyer on the Piedmont-st, side. I used the revolving door and found it was in working fire was upstairs ahead of me it went upstairs on the ceiling.

Then others came up the stairs ahead of me and others behind me. I saw a womaa running around upstairs with her hair on Man Behind Him in Flames Levy said his wife became separated from him when he got upstairs by the crowd that was starting to push around the revolving door. "When I went tnrough the revolving door," Levy continued, "there was only one man who came behind me. When I arrived outdoors, I saw the man who was behind me with his clothes in flames." Returning to the subject of his earlier testimony about the nature of the flame he saw downstairs, Commissioner Reilly put more questions to the witness. Reilly asked him to name the color of the flames.

Levy replied that it was "'bright, white flame that lit up the entire corner." Asked what happened immediately after the match was struck, Levy said, "the moment the match was struck, the ceiling immediately turned into a bright, white flame." The witness explained that the ceiling was covered "by some kind of draperies and that fire traveled along this gauze." Levy was visibly overcome during his period on the stand and frequently took sips from a glass of water proffered by one of the Commissioner's aids. Club Manager Next Witness James Welansky, acting manager of Cocoanut Grove the night of the fire in the absence of his brother, Barnet Welansky, whom he described as the owner, testified today at the Fire Commissioner's hearing at the Bristol-st. headquarters. Mr. Welansky said he did not think the club was overcrowded and that he did not know about the decorations or the fireproofing provisions.

As he took the stand Reilly warned him that "any evidence you give here may be used against you by other parties." Welansky was self possesed throughout his testimony, the only sign of nervousness he displayed was putting his hand to his face at times and rubbing his hands together. Asked if the club was owned by a corporation. Welansky replied in the affirmative, adding that his brother, Barnet, was president. The other members of the corporation, Welansky said, are his sister, Jea-nette Welansky of 453 Washington st, Brookhne, and a girl whose maiden name was Katherine Welch, since married, according to the witness. The building was partly owned and partly leased by the corporation, according to the acting manager.

He said he was not familiar with the insurance angle. Taken in examination by Reilly, Welansky then submitted to questioning. Reilly How large was the club? Welansky Do you mean seating capacity? Reilly Yes. Welansky It would hold around 900, I'd say; that's lust my estimate of capacity including the new lounge. Reilly What was the approximate number of employees there? Welansky One hundred at a SALVATORE ACCURSIO Ho.t who helped brck down employees entrance.

L- ,,.,,.1 in Fire Drops to 460 Did you have the key to that door?" Goldfein "I never saw the key to that door; I didn't know there was one." He revealed in his testimony that liquor was stored underneath the stairs leading to the Melody Lounge. Reilly "Did you ever hear of anyone coming in to flame-proof the place?" Goldfein "No." aoor. Alpert and Paine 111 The police photos showed this door as it appeared after having v. been broken by firemen. When door gave way it apparently carried away with it a section of the wood door jamb.

This piece of wood was described by Murphy $as having been torn away by the protruding lock. The official number of dead in the Cocoanut Grove fire dropped to 460 today after earlier totals had ranged from 473 to 484. The official figures were released by the Boston committee on Public Safety at 3 o'clock this afternoon after a careful check had weeded out all duplications. All but five of the dead had been identified, with one unknown man at the North Grove St. Mortuary and four women at the Southern Mortuary.

Two women were identified exceptional flame except the liquors at the bar. He expressed disbelief that the liquor could do it. i Repeating insistantly, "It doesn't seem possible the decorations could have caused such a fire," Goldfein was excused as a witness in mid-afternoon. Other witnesses at the afternoon session were Harry Kirker of 55 Warren South End, a bar waiter at the club and Spedalus Procopis, a kitchen man. Kirker told of having tried to battle the flames with a fire extinguisher, but things got too hot for him and he had to flee for his life.

4 At the opening of the hearing at 11:20. Commissioner Reilly an-nounced that it was originally in- tended to have Billy Paine, Cocoa-nut Grove sirger, and Mickey Alpert, orchestra leader, testify to- day. He was informed. Reilly said, that neither of them was physically around by now and I was thrown to the floor. I looked and saw flames come into the bar.

I got to the fire door, but I was pushed back and thrown down. I got up beginning to choke from the smoke and looked back, saw the flames had spread around the entire other side of the room. I didn't; get burned, but I could feel the hot-air. Thinks Netting Was Removed "I was stunned for a few seconds wehn I got outside and I can around to the Piedmont-st side to see if I could open the revolving door. Flames were shooting out across the street when I got there.

I stayed around 20 minutes, drove home, changed my clothes, came back and stayed until 4 a. m. Reilly asked Goldfein to describe what the fire looked like to him, and he said it appeared "like a sheet of flame that came out of the lobby and covered the entire Piedmont-st. walL" Reilly asked him what' decorations there were on the stairway leading to the Melody Lounge. He said there was a carpet on the stairs and what had the appearance of Straw-matting on the ceiling and walls.

He said there had been netting on the walls when they opened the room, but "I think it was taken away." He said there had 41 oeen no new oecorauons in xne Melody Lounge or main dining room since he had been employed there. Reilly asked, "Were any doors locked?" The bar manager and wine steward replied, "No, not that I know of." Reilly "It appears that one door with a panic lock was also locked. Work Done in Morning The witness added that any work being done in the club was done before he came on duty at 3:30 in the afternoon. He explained, "I'd come in and find they had been working down there, but I wouldn't know what had been done. The Melody Lounge was built four years agb, according to Goldfein, who went on to say, feelingly, "thousands have sat under those palm trees and lit matches and cigarettes and nothing has ever happened before.

It seems to me that it was something more than a match that started the fire. I looked as though someone had spilled gasoline around the building and set fire to it It didn't seem possible to me that flames could spread that quickly just through the decorations. Asked to describe how the flames came out of the Melody Lounge, Goldfein declared, "the way it appeared to me, the flames came up from the Lounge in one sheet, it was a yellowish flame with blue and red tinges. There was a lot of smoke." Goldfein went en to say that there was nothing in the room to his knowledge that would cause this able to do so and he said he planned to hear their testimony on Thurs day. Maurice Levy of 100 Seaver st, Roxbury, member of the Army's enlisted corps, whose wife lost her life in the Melody Lounge, but who effected his own escape via the stairway to the lobby and through the revolving door, was the next witness.

Levy said that there was a couple i at an adjoining table and that they i the couple)) were bothered by a Wine Steward Testifies The first afternoon- witness was Jacob J. Goldfein of Roxbury, wine steward and bar manager at the Cocoanut Grove, who said he had been employed at the club for seven years. The stockily built, medium-sized and middle-aged Goldfein said he was standing in the lobby when the fire broke out, about eight feet away from the piedmont-st revolving door. The place was quite crowded, according to Goldfein, who declined to say that it was overcrowded. He testified to having seen just as big a crowd there on many other occasions.

The steward said that none had been turned away, but said that there were a few people waiting at the time. "My first knowledge of the fire," he said, "was when a man came up and told me there was a fire downstairs. I started to walk along the corridor to the Melody Lounge when I was met by a ball of flame it seemed to come running along the ceiling. I backed away and told the head waiter about the fire. Then I went to the revolving door to collapse it so it would be open.

As I did, someone yelled "fire' I had one out the door and had put my hand on the cable to collapse the door when someone stepped on my hand. I was brushed aside before I could collapse the doors. "I couldn't get out that door because of the crowd and I ran back into the main dining room. The fire was starting -to come to the lobby at this time. I thought of the fire door on the Shawmut-st.

side and made for that. Everybody was throwing tables and chairs i W1LUAM FIORITO W.iter wh. escaped through window aai helped break down a door, i in- iiiMr i WITNESSES AT INQUEST ON iff 1 I- FRANK ACCURSIO Wtr wh tried to open doors, led all hit 15 cuitomers out in orderly fashion, INQUEST AT FIRE HEADQUARTERS From head of table down, Fire Commisioner Reilly (holding book), Chief Pop Deputy Chief Kenney, Deputy Chief Stickel, District Chief Mahoney, Capt Crowley, Deputy Chief McDonough..