D ACE AN The Dai VOL. 107 NO. 151 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER ... SINCE 1878 MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1984 25 CENTS Housing challenge Blast kills 25 prepared HOLMDEL - Mayor Joseph Popok> Mid yesterday that 8 mu- nicipalities have already agreed to in rail tunnel loin a fedtral court challenge of the Mount Uml n daeliloa that or- FLORENCE. Italy (API - An explosion thought to express were blown up by one explosion when the train dered the towns to coastract a "fan- be the work of terrorists ripped through an express train was shout 3.7 miles into the ll.t-mile tunnel under the share" of low- and moderate-Income inside one of Europe's longest rail tunnels yesterday, Apennlne Mountains, 31 miles north of Florence. It was killing an estimated B holiday travelers and Injuring packed with at least 700 people. i are 186, news media and officials said. An RAI reporter in a Uve report from Bologna said to right the Utt state Angelo Manna, an official at the Civil Defense 42 injured passengers were taken to hospitals in that Supreme Court deeWsn that could Ministry in Rome, told The Associated Press in a city. There was confusion over the number of victims force s resonlng of many of the telephone Interview, "We can confirm at least JO dead, because ambulances from Florence, Bologna, Prato and towns. but we believe the number is higher." The state-run RAI other nearby cities were rushing victims from the The communities each have con- television network and the Italian news agency ANSA Isolated area. tributed 93,900 to hire a Manhattan said the death toll was "at least 25," quoting The Italian news agency said the number of victims Uw farm to prepare a salt that they unidentified Civil Defense officials on the number of was expected to increase because rescue workers were nope to file In US District Court in bodies taken to morgues in Bologna and Florence. still trying reach the third-to-last car, believed to be one New Jersey hi early February, he "Evidence indicates that what happened was an of the worst hit. Officials said there may have been at attack probably with a time bomb," Florence Police leaat 70 people in that car. The prepossd rlaai action lawsuit Chief Umberto Catalano told reporters after examining "It was a terrible scene. Hallucinatory," the Italian would argue that the Mount Laval the scene of the explosion. news agency quoted Romeo Marchi, a doctor at the k» Interfere.i with a cltbens "We believe there are around 50 Injured," Menna scene, as saying. "I will never forget It." I corporate munici- said. "It Is very difficult to calculate how many people Toxic fumes prevented him and other rescue workers pal ri<hu, offldab) aakl. INTO THE SEMI-FINALS — New York Giants' Rob Carpenter, are dead because there are dismembered bodies in the from entering the tunnel Immediately after the The state gwjaauio Court leased tunnel." Earlier, Menna bad said there probably were explosion, he said. "We returned with gas masks. Near No. 26, goes up and over goal line for a touchdown despite the up to It dead, but that had not been confirmed. the train, on the tracks, were four bodies, two men and Ita flrtt Mount Laurel dackdoa la defense of Los Angeles Rams' Mel Owens, No. 58, and Reggie 1975 when It ruled that cornmunltiee ANSA said Ita reporters had counted at least N people two women. One of the women was young and the blast could aot Q¥rlnta low- and moder- Doss at Anaheim (Calif.) Stadium yesterday. The Giants won, who were hospitalized It said 117 others were given had practically cut her In two." . atelaconn famlllea from reakUna 16-13. See story, B2. first aid at the scene. Dozens of passengers fled on foot as firemen battled Police Said two cars of the 14-car Naples-to-Mllan See tt, page A7 laws that, for only expenalve mat to be built on large tots Swak Iswe Improperly prevent ate at smaller, more af- homea, laid the states Coal country mourns 27 miners i reaffirmed ths IMS ORANGEVILLE, Utah (AP) - be an explosion. evacuated," Henrie said. the fire broke through a barrier that Meanwhile, grieving relatives and decision Ih a 1991 opinion Workers yesterday began sealing s About 100 people were evacuated "It's a highly volatile gas, and had been erected as a flrestop, friends of the miners sought solace Mount Laurel n, which alaoc smoke-choked coal mine to ext- from the Wilberg Mine and from two especially In a mine. When you get Henrie said, who estimated it could in prayer services throughout cen- that » psroaat of the I inguish a fire that prevented them nearby company operated mines — readings of volatile gases, you take two or three days before crews a Hi ilipaw/ areas meat be tor low- tral Utah's coal country. from removing the bodies of 9 the Des Bee Dove and Dear Creek Immediately remove yourself from are able to get back into the mine The decision to seel the Wilberg lasers sad to find two otkers - when a firefighter inside she teasel it. presumed dead from deep inside a Wilberg Mine took the high methane threat Is an explosion.' The crews were evacuated to a made after the fire that trapped X Dec. 11 to allow nwuntsm reading, Robert Henrie, a spokes- Sheriff Lamer Diamond said later company building about a mile men and one woman flared up again the suit, which could soendd u ip The crews later stopped the man for Emery Mining Corp., said an explosion remained a possibility, away. None of the firefighters, early yesterdsy, driving out the towns each about $10,000 operation and were evacuated be- yesterday afternoon. but the danger had been eased by the rescue workers or support personnel rescuers who had searched unsuc- tosTlseeif » towns partfd- cause a buildup of volatile methane "He put on his methane meter and evacuation. was reported missing from the cessfully for the last two missing A7 gas made officials fear there would it went sky high, so every one was Just before the readinx wss taken, tunnel or mine area, Henrie said. See Misers, page A7 Rock 9n9 rollers play for missing children BY CHRIS HAND satellite on the Westwood One radio Bond's and Darlene Love's hits of the early '60s to Van Zandt, LaBam- RED BANK - For 3 * hoars last "I know for a fact this show is night, the music of Uttle Steven Van ba, Southside Johnny and Brian going out to San Francisco, Boston, Setzer's more recent sounds. Zandt, "LaBamba" and the Hub- Philadelphia," said disc Jockey Jim caps, and Gary U.S Bonds filled the The musicians were backed up by Monayhan, who works for NEW- the Sonic Soul Orchestra. Their Moamouth Arts Center - and ths FM. New York. air waves of radio stations as far finale featured over a dosen horns, Jos Piscopo of Saturday Night two drumers, s percussionist, and a away as San Francisco. Uve fame served as the master of "You sU gave something to- lull string section. You ceremonies. At one point, he enter- Keyboardist Paul Schaffer of night," sald Van Zandt, who along tained the crowd with his Im- "Late Night with David Let- Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg, or- personation of Frank Sinatra singing terman," bassist Gary Tallent and "Jingle Bells." drummer Max Weinberg, both of help somebody find his missing kid "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, we got Burce Springsteen's E Street Band, sad that's great." broads on the way," went a line sat in with the orchestra The sell-out benefit (or the Foun- from the number. "It's like a high school reunion, dation to Find and Protect Ameri- Bat most of the t vening centered ca's Children was broadcast via oa rock 'n' roll — ranging from the See Fans, psge A7 Music fans line up for missing children benefit at Monmoulh Art* Center, Red Bank. German Gandhi victory seen lore kept NEW DELHI, India (AP) — Gandhi, 40, a former airline pilot, He was quoted as charging that Millions of Indians began voting has concentrated on an India-tn- the Janata Party, which governed today to decide whether Prime peril campaign theme, stressing from 1«77 to 1M0, lifted travel Minister Rajiv Gandhi, untested that only his mother's ruling Con- restrictions and allowed extremists alive here heir to a political dynasty, win lead gress Party can save the nation to enter the country. this nation of 710 million people from external threats and Internal About 379 million people, mostly BY HANNAH JOHNSON during its greatest turmoil since enemies, and ensure its Integrity and prosperity. The divided opposi- poor and Illiterate, are eligible to RED BANK - Germany's St. tion has been condemned as un- vote today. Thursday and Friday, Gandhi succeeded his mother, from the Himalayas to the Andaman Nicholas has been making appear Indira Gandhi, as prime minister Ktriotic, if not subversive, sad too hi the Red Bank area this sy with ln-flghtlng to lead the Islands, from the desert of Ra- after she was assassinated Oct. 31. Jasthan to the alums of Calcutta In Voters gathered before polls open- more than 4 million polling stations. ed at • a.m. (»:» p.m. EST Many voters appear to believe I naffy white beard, he carries s yesterday) at many of the 400,000 him. They will choose among 5,360 Uanda illing stations. Some of them Gandhi told a public meeting In candidates.