European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday May 29, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 9 Over Here fire survivor starts to rebuild his life Frankfurt Man says he s looking ahead but knows his recover will take time by Gary Pomeroy staff writer Frankfurt West Germany Bruce Ellis Hearty laugh hides a heart hip and Elbow that Are Healing from a mysterious restaurant fire that killed 11 people including his Girlfriend. The fire in the second Story koryo chinese korean restaurant on March 7 also claimed the lives of an american Soldier and four members of his family. Ellis and his Girlfriend Karin had finished their meal and were waiting for their Tab about 8 15 . Sitting nearby were sgt. Errol Atkins and six Mem Bers of his family. Killed with Atkins were his wife Marva 13-year-old daughter Tanya son Errol jr., 23 months and Mother in Law Margaret Ramsey. Two Atkins children Kesha 8, and Brandon 4, survived. Kesha is believed to have been thrown out the window and Ellis is credited with leaping out of the window carrying Brandon. The 23-year-old said the first sign of trouble was a noise in the Kitchen. We assumed it was an explosion Ellis said. The window of the restaurant Shook real hard but nothing broke. My Girlfriend said let s stay Calm because Atkins wife jumped up and screamed when she heard the  everybody else was Calm he said. About a minute later Gray smoke from the Kitchen area filled the room. In my head i was thinking it was under control and they would put it out he said. Heavy Black smoke then poured into the room. That s when we All stood  Errol Atkins checked the stairway and it was filled with heavy smoke. Ellis found out later that the emergency exit was blocked by a coat rack. It did t matter it was locked. Atkins had the baby in his arms and i asked the grandmother if i could take Brandon. The 13-year old was on her own the Mother had picked Kesha up. Karin was behind me at the time. The smoke was coming in  Ellis kicked out the window pulled some Glass out with his hands leaned out and screamed for help. I was t Panicky. When i picked Brandon up i knew that we would All meet on the Street. He would see his family  Ellis was overtaken by smoke and he does t re member jumping with the boy. I Felt myself getting weak because i had inhaled so much smoke and i said to myself to going to let Brandon go. I can t hold Brandon anymore i could t hold myself. Witnesses said they found Brandon on top of  Ellis sustained a fractured left hip fractured left Elbow and several cuts in the jump. He was hospitalized for nine weeks. He remembered someone taking his picture while he was lying on the ground and a German policeman knocked the camera into the photographer s face. Ellis caught his first glimpse of smoke pouring out of the restaurant moments later. That s the first time i thought about Karin be cause we were separated in the  he kept asking about Karin in the ambulance on the Way to the Hospital. His Best Friend broke the news the next Day before Ellis entered surgery to have a pin placed in his leg. I could t move. I could t scream Only tears were coming Down my  the couple had known each other for five years and had dated for three. The process of rebuilding lives has begun for the survivors. Kesha and Brandon have moved to the United states with relatives who will sort out their future. The family was buried in their native Belize. Ellis has one stumbling Block to his piece of mind knowing the cause. German authorities Are still investigating the fire. German press speculations Range from an Accident to arson. The authorities Are not saying much publicly. German police have indicated to Ellis that they Are having difficulty tracking Down the restaurant manager who was on duty that night. The thing that disturbed me the most was to find out that the fire exit was blocked with the coat rack. And  moral support is provided by his parents who live in Giessen. His father is a Soldier. Friends in Frankfurt where he has lived for six years also have been supportive. Sas  Pomeroy Bruce Ellis says he wants to continue modelling but May return to the United states to go to school. His Job As Headwater in the military Community s Terrace club aunus room is waiting if he wants it Hack. The performing arts enthusiast who sings and dances. Hopes to continue his career As a clothes Model. He said he May even return to the states and go to school. It s going to come slowly but  he said his longtime Faith in god has carried him through the tragedy. I think if i was t dealing with this on a spiritual basis i d go crazy. I m a Strong person but there s something stronger within me that s keeping me of a sound mind. I always say you never know when your time is up. Life s too Short i be always said that. But no one is Ever prepared. I need  memorial rites held at sea for ferry fire victims aboard the King of scandi Navia a hundreds of people touched by last month s scandinavian Star ferry fire sailed aboard another North sea ferry during the weekend to Honor the 158 victims and Call attention to a meaningless disaster. About 300 people lined the rail of the ferry during a Sunset memorial service. Tearful some holding hands they show ered the Ocean with Flowers at the spot where the april 7 fire erupted. I have been Here before. A month and half ago when like All of us in our own ways i was marked for life said survivor Crete Holen. We Are bound together by a meaning less tragedy. All of us have had a piece of us ripped out forever she said after the King of Scandinavia Cut its motors and stopped. The 20-year-old scandinavian Star was engulfed in flames Midway on its overnight run from Oslo Norway to Redenk Shawn Denmark. Most of the victims were norwegians. An american entertainer was among the casualties. Police believe the fire was deliberate. A Dane with a history of mental Disord ers and pyromania died in the inferno leading police to theorize that he May have been the arsonist. The investigation is continuing. I think of All the people who died so needlessly. I think of the seconds and Mil limiters we were from dying said Tore Netteland As the car and passenger ferry sailed the route of the scandinavian Star. Some returned to the site of the trag Edy to help Cope with grief or fear. Others said they came to say Farewell. Holcin expressed anger about safety rules that allowed the scandinavian Star to sail. The ill fated ferry registered under a Flag of convenience was unprepared to handle a disaster. A Marine inquiry heard a Catalon of safety omissions and blunders that May have helped the fire spread and hinder Rescue operations. The norwegian Captain was found to have abandoned the ship while passengers remained alive on Board. Our private sorrow is one thing. The Public Side of this is that we want the world to know that there is a lesson in this tragedy she said calling for tougher safety  and hoc commission of Norway Denmark and Sweden ordered regulations tightened for ferry traffic in scandi Navian  two Day memorial voyage was arranged by a survivors support group and financed by the Skuld insurance company which covered the scandinavian Star. Another 700 regular passengers shared the unusual  police and fire Crews were on the ship to give the mourners an extra feeling of Security. Clergymen and psychologists counselled those needing help As the group gathered in a conference room before the service. Activists plan March for the animals in . Washington a the people who believe animals should be treated More humanely Are about to stage their first National event a March for the Ani Mals intended to demonstrate that their movement is becoming a mainstream cause. We will March peacefully and non violently to show America that we Are reasonable and rational peo ple and not a Bunch of lunatics says one of the organizers Peter Linck executive director of the National Alliance for animal legislation. Our purpose is to unify ourselves and educate the country and raise the nation s consciousness he said. The March from the Ellipse behind the White House to the Capitol is scheduled to take place june 10. Linck said the animal Protection movement is the country s fastest growing cause. The humane society of the United states an old line group which describes itself As moderate has seen its membership increase fourfold from 325,000 in 1985 to 1.2 million today. Another group friends of animals has grown quickly too from 60,000 members three years ago to double that number but president Priscilla feral said More significant is the Way the concerns of animal lovers Are being shared by people not involved in the movement. It is absolutely Normal now to hear people talking about whether to buy a fur coat or take the kids to the circus or about the Campaign to save the dolphins feral said recently. Linck said thousands of participants from All 50 states and at least half a dozen foreign countries Are expected at the March. The animal Protection movement represents diver gent views some activists Are meat eaters and some like Linck decline even to Wear shoes made of leather. Some believe the use of animals in biomedical research is acceptable and some do not. But a reverence for life would be their common concern said Linck. He said some in the movement believe that All Crea Tures even insects have an inherent right to live and should be respected to the highest degree possible while others would draw the line at  on the Day following their demonstration the marchers plan to lobby Congress in support of 60 Ani Mal Protection Bills that have been introduced