Juvenile Set Blaze Fatal to 42 at Tenn. Prison
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•y JIM OSTKOFF be captured," recalled Mr Smith, then a 24-year-old 1st RUUSON - It seemed like an unlikely trio. lieutenant. Joel Jacobton, commissioner of the state Public Mr. Uartlnelll said he was equally afraid. Utilities Commission (PUC) chatting In hu Newark of- "Most uniforms looked the same and I thought you fices with t Shrewsbury realtor and an Italian printer. were Germans," he told Mr. Smith. "But then, jyhen I But the ties of friendafclp cross all bounds, conti- heard you speak English and saw 'U.S. Army' on your nents and time. And so Mr. Jacobson recalled "old canteens, I knew you were Americans,",Mr. Martinelll times" with Ray Smith of Humson, owner of Ray Smith said, In fluent, if Italian-accented English. Realty Group, 588 Shrewsbury Ave., Tlnton Falls, and The lt-yearokl assured the Americans that Ger- Umberto Martinelli, a printshop owner from Llvorno, mans remained in but a few isolated areas But then, he The Americans Italy. ran away from Mr. Smith's partv towards the citv For the men, old times began on the morning of "I didn't run from fear but to spreadihe word: 'The July 17, ltM In Llvorno, which means "Leghorn" in Americans have come,' " Mr Martinelli said, smiling broadly The Allies were fighting their way through Central "But the people, they didn't believe me. They didn't have come . .Italy and the two Americans were attached to the Hid believe until a few days later when the American forces Signal Company. Thei.' task was to locate power and (rolled) into Livomo," he continued communications centers ahead of the Allied advance, It was then only a chance encounter that brought and try to save them from destruction by the retreating young Umberto together with Mr Smith and his 2nd' Lt. Germans. Joel Jacobson. the Americans Talking about that day "as it it were yesterday," Mr Smith was near the central telephone office Mr Smith vividly recalled how he headed a patrol into when he spotted the Italian youngster and called him the outskirts of Llvorno when he spotted Umberto.a IS- over "just to say hi." HANDS ACROSS THE SEA - Roy Smith of Rum- year-old boy, walking along the road with an old man, As it turned out, this meeting was more than for- son, owner of Roy Smith Realty Group, left, In- identified as SUvio Paoletti, 15. tuitous.' troduces his friend Umberto Martinelll, center, to "We were hiding in the bushes and when I saw the "Umberto was quick and sharp and 1 asked.him lo Mr. Smith's son In front of his office at 588 Shrews- two I thought they were Germans and thought we would See The Aatericaas, page 2 bury Ave., Tlnton Falls. The Daily Register VOL. 100 NO. 1 SHREWSBURY, N.J. MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1977 15 CENTS Juvenile set blaze fatal to 42 at Tenn. prison By ERIC NEWHOUSE lowing through the Mayry the keys, officials said Zinmer was taken to a with Deputy Sheriff Jerry Associated Press Writer County Jail, authorities said Dlst Atty Gen Robert H. Nashville hospital and report- • Dickey, causing him to drop COLUMBIA, Tenn. (AP) - Rescue of the victims was Gay said following the fire ed in critical condition, suf- keys to the cell keys. Dickey Forty-two persons, M of them hampered when a deputy that started about 2 p.m. Sun- fering from burns and smoke had to grope on the floor inmates trapped in their lock- sheriff carrying keys lo the day that he planned to charge Inhalation. through the smoke for the ed cells, were killed when a jail's 12 cells collided with Andy Zinmer, 10, with arson Authorities In Waukesha, keys and lt took him about 12 16-year-old Inmate set his fleeing visitors and dropped Gay said he would ask to Wis.. said records show Zin- minutes to find them, said foam rubber-padded cell af- the keys on the floor. It took have Zinmer tried as an mer, formerly of Superior, Deputy Sheriff Howard Blake. ire, sending toxic fumes bil- him about 12 minutes to find adult Wis., was reported missing Each of the one-story Jail's from Lad Lake Inc., Douss 12 cells required a separate man, Wis.. a residential treat- key. The Jail has a 60-prisoner ment center for emotionally capacity, disturbed teenagers. Firemen wearing oxygen Zinmer was removed from masks used a second set oi the jail's drunk tank on Satur- keys to help deputies go day and placed In the padded through the smoke and open cell because he had stuffed up all the cells. a toilet and caused a flood, The city's main fire station authorities said. State law re- Is about a block from the jail, quires that Juveniles be segre- which officials said did not gated from adult prisoners have a fire alarm or contin- and officials said the padded gency plan for evacuation in- cell was the only other facil- case of fire Firemen ar- ity available rived promptly but were driv- Chief Deputy Bob Farmer en back from rescue efforts said Zinmer was pulled from by the dense, toxic smoke the jail's padded cell. "Me and another officer drug him Deputy Sheriff William out," Farmer said. "He said Duke said It "took al least a he set it." half hour" to get the people Eight of Ihe 42 victims were evacuated because of the roll- visitors leaving at the end of ing smoke. Sunday's one-hour visiting pe- Rescuers seeking lo get to TO ARMS? - Nick LaConte, 14, of Hazlet, left, marches in step riod. Six of the visitors were the trapped inmates and pris- with other members of his Boy Scout Troop 137, Hazlet, as part of a women. oners used sledgehammers to contingent of 1,000 people who participated in Freehold's Bottle of There were 56 inmates in punch holes in Ihe concrete Monmouth Parade, yesterdoy. Ihe Jail at the time of the fire. building A tow truck arrived Of the 22 who escaped, 1» were at the jail about 10 minutes flown by helicopters to two after the fire was reported hospitals In Nashville, about and was used to knock down (0 miles north of Columbia, one of Ihe jail's walls in an ef- Cannons roared; officials said. fort to reach the trapped vic- Authorities said 18 other tims. persons, including two fire- "They knocked holes in the men, were treated for Injuries wall with them sledgeham- at the local hospitals. Muskets popped mers, ran a cable through Gov. Ray Blanton, who flew and snatched a wall." Blake over the fire in a helicopter, said By JIM OSTROFF for Gen George Washing- Early In the morning oa said. "We know it has to be FREEHOLD — Cannons ton's troops. June 28, 1778. Mrs Scafidi one of the greatest tragedies Fire Inspector Wayne Hick- roared and muskets popped The one-day battle was noted, Gen Washington and we've ever had in Ten- man said he inspected the fa- Red Coats and rag-lag colo- fought here, in 1778. In all but four of his generals nessee." cility less than two weeks ago nial militiamen exchanged neighboring Freehold Town squared off here against THE QUEEN HOLDS COURT - Margaret O'Brien, center, was Blanton promised an in- but that he did not inspect the volleys and fell mortally ship. Engllshlown and Ma- British regiments led by ludged the winner In last night's Miss Mlddletown Township pag- vestigation. "When you have foam rubber padding wounded, only to rise again nalpan. all of which sent of- Gen. Sir Henry Clinton. eant. First runner-up Is Diane Addonlzlo, left, while Susan Young Is 4! persons dead within a few "You've got some of the This was the Battle of ficial delegations to yes- The American command- second runner-up. The contestants were ludged In talent, evening minutes," he said, "you need most deadly gas that comes Monmouth, reenacted here lerday's [efUvttiti er's troops, beleagured af- gown and swim suit competition. Miss O'Brien receives a scholar- to know why they were lost." from foam rubber that a man for the 10th time in 199 Unlike yesterday's par- ter a terrible winter at Val- ship (or being selected Miss Mlddletown Township, while her at- Authorities said the burning could create." he said years ticipants who trod down ley Forge, Pa , were also * tendants receive cosh awards. The event, held In Mlddletown Town- foam rubber in the padded The mock battle and the "The kid Zinmer shouted well-paved streets here, the led by the French general. ship High School South, was sponsored by the Village Woman's cell spewed heavy smoke and parade that preceded- It, battle scene nearly two cen- Marquis De Lafayette, and Club and the department of Parks and Recreation. toxic fumes. Including carbon fire and he was on fire and dubbed the Battle of Mon- they went in to haul him out turies ago was a bleak one the German general. Baron monoxide and possibly some mouUi Parade and Muster, of fields and a few homes, von Steuben. cyanide gas, through an air and the cell just exploded." celebrated this historic en- according to Mrs Helen But after a fierce winter, duct system, setting off panic Sheriff Bill Voss said "That counter, which some histo- was the only cell on fire — no Scaftdi of Marlboro, the pa- the colonials hardly enjoyed among the inmates and vis- rians chalk up as a victory rade chairman itors.