Daily News from New York, New York • 4

DAILY NEWS, TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1971 4C NEWS photo by Harry Hamb mcwc nhntn ku u9pu NEWS nnoto bv fcd clarify Rockaway's Playland was the fun place for Maureen Mooney (I.) of Rosedale, Queens, and Toni Kirchoff, West Islip, L.I., who took their thrills on tne roller coaster (left), Washington Square rark (right) a somnolent ice cream vendor, caught 40 winks. Traffic Otty HacEi to CvIcdmsiI 4gDd mm By FRANK MAZ2A Relaxed and sunburned, millions of New Yorkers returned in buniper-to-bumper traffic last night to the city they abandoned three days ago prepared to resume the frenetic routine of urban life. A bright sun and clear sky again gave lovers of the surf a glorious day to bask at the seashore and mountains. Shore resorts boasted near-capacity crowds. Even the air polluters took a holiday.

For those forced to remain in town, the air embracing the city over the long weekend ranged from good to acceptable. Banks, stock exchanges, post offices, most businesses and many stores in the city were closed for yesterday's official holiday, although some department come from its patriotic traditions was the attention given to two little known facts. According to some, yesterday marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ice cream cone. The day also was known by snack food purveyors as Knish Day. Knishes, usually whipped potatoes inside a fried crust, were introduced in New York in 1904.

stores were opened for special Independence Day sales. Not a single event was held here yesterday to commemorate the nation's 195th birthday, unless you want to count the free rides offered at Coney Island to all those whose names matched those of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. An indication of how far the day had gnifi tiiuiiiniitiiitiiiniiiiiiii uiininnn MiiuMHniHniiniiHuiiinitHirnimtiuuiiitHiirjtittni iimm hi ri fire works Explode, Kicker Loses legs Concord, July 5 (UPI) Dale Allen Eidson, recently signed as a special kicker by the San Diego Chargers football team, lost both legs today in a fireworks explosion that also injured his 4-year-old nephew. Eidson, 24, a graduate of San Francisco State College, was in critical condition at Concord Community Hospital, where both legs were amputated below the knee. Part of one of his hands also was amputated.

Explosion in Yard Police said Eidson and his nephew, Clifford K. Eidson, of nearby Pacheco, were injured when "a large amount of fireworks apparently exploded in the rear yard of Eidson's home." The little boy suffered head burns and was treated and released. Eidson's mother said her son was due to leave for the Sketch depicts broad plazas and terraces amid complex of buildings for Battery Park City. Chargers training camp Tuesday. Traffic Deaths Set Mark I Get the Water By OWEN MORITZ half of the 14,100 units planned.

The filling will take about a year, construction will start next summer and the first occupants are expected in the summer of 1974. About 24 of the planned 91 acres have already been filled in, courtesy of land churned up for construction of the World Trade Center. The waterbreaking will involve an additional 16 acres. This area, extending from north of Pier A at Battery Park to just south of Rector will be the scene of the first actual physical construction housing on six acres and three office buildings of 40, 50 and 60 stories on the other 10 acres. Last month, State Housing Commissioner Charles Urstadt, who doubles as chairman and chief executive of the Battery Park City Authority, announced that a contract for construction of bulkhead and landfill, along with dredging and demolition, has been awarded the George W.

Rogers Construction Corp-t 33 Rector St In a groundbreaking as novel as the project itself, the Hudson River off Rector St. in lower Manhattan will be invaded by construction crews next week and work will begin on the much-touted Battery Park City, a supercom-munity of offices, stores and housing for 50,000 people. Hailed as the largest real estate development ever undertaken in the nation, Battery Park City will occupy 91 acres of landfill in the Hudson River from the Battery north. By providing housing for all economic strata, it will revive a concept not seen in the Wall Street area for decades walk-to-work living. A spokesman for the Battery Park City Authority said yesterday that the "water-breaking" will take place July 15 and work will begin on some 7,000 apartments, about Chicago, July 5 (Special) A "disastrous" Independence Day weekend drew to a close today with traffic fatalities on the nation's highways having surpassed last year's death toll.

The National Safety Council reported at a late hour that 545 persons had been killed in traffic accidents since the holiday death count began at 6 p.m. Friday. The count ends at midnight. Last year's July 4 toll was 540. The council had estimated that between 520 and 620 persons would be killed during this year's three-day holiday.

"It was a bad weekend," a spokesman for the council said. The worst weekend accident occurred near Jeffersonville, Indiana, where 10 persons were killed in a three-car accident yesterday. California had the most traffic deaths, reporting 62 persons killed. New York State had 24 fatalities. Five persons were killed and 775 were injured in traffic accidents in the city up to 8 a.m.

yesterday, police reported. Since 6 p.m. Friday, there had been 1,026 accidents in the city. Police had issued 3,870 summonses for moving violations and charged 31 motorists with drunken drivirg. rWWWWWWIHfcllHIMIH.HIIIIHIIMIiWWllttHHW'lthWIIiWtiHtllll-'llllll...