European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 26, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8the stars and stripes tuesday february 26, 1991 Lack of sprinklers blamed in Philly fire Philadelphia a a Lack of sprinklers on eight consecutive floors allowed a Small fire to grow into a High Rise inferno that killed three firefighters the City a fire commissioner said. The fire that broke out saturday night in one Meridian Plaza burned for More than 18 hours gutting nine floors of the building across the Street from City Hall. Sixteen firefighters were injured a including two who were hospitalized in stable condition. Investigators hoped to examine the scene monday for clues to the cause but fire commissioner Roger Ulshafer said possible structural damage to the build my might delay the investigation and final cleanup. A a Etc concerned that the cold water on the hot steel up there will cause further contraction and expansion and then give us a collapse a he said. A Twete going to let the building Cool Down normally and probably go up there for final extinguish ment sometime monday a the Philadelphia inquirer citing Anonymous police sources said investigators would try to determine whether solvents left by four maintenance workers on the floor where the fire began played any role in the Blaze. Ulshafer said the building constructed in 1972, has three sprinkler systems but none on the first eight floors the fire burned. A a a a a a a. A. The fire which started on the 22nd floor burned up to the 30th floor where water from sprinklers and hoses operated by firefighters on adjacent buildings finally halted it Ulshafer said. He said firefighters were also Ham a Perez by a series of mechanical failures. An emergency electrical system failed elevators did no to work and water pressure was Low in the buildings internal hydrant system. The air conditioning was supposed to switch into reverse in a fire to pump smoke out but failed. Three firefighters who became disoriented became trapped on the 28th floor and died of smoke  Gobel Dies at 71 after bypass surgery los Angeles apr a lonesome George Gobel whose Low key self deprecating humor entertained radio television and nightclub audiences for More than a half Century has died at age 71. Gobel died at Encino Hospital on sunday of complications following bypass surgery to a major artery in his left leg said Sam Honigberg a longtime Friend. A lie was an adorable Man a said Hal Kanter who wrote produced and directed episodes of televisions a the George Gobel show in therhid-1950s. A the was probably the last of the Sweet comedians. The Many a comedy was never harmful to  Gobel known affectionately  George a made his debut at age 11 singing on the was barn dance radio revue in his native Chicago. He was Best known to younger audiences As a regular on televisions a the Hollywood squares and a frequent guest on Quot the tonight show starring Johnny Carson in the 1970s and Early �?T80s. Although originally a musician Gobel began to weave humor into his act while performing on the guitar and singing for his buddies in the army air corps during world War in after the War he began to appear in night clubs and hotels gradually developing his trademark understated wit. A �?othe1 George Gobel show debuted in 1954 and was an immediate hit. Lie won an emmy that year As televisions outstanding new personality and a Peabody award. After the show ended in 1960 he continued to appear frequently on television. Among his roles was that of the Tipsy mayor in no cd so Harper Valley pta.�?�. Gobel also appeared regularly on Broadway in such plays As a the Odd couple a a a three men on a horse and a let it ride.�?�. He appeared in such movies As a the Birds and the bees and a i married a  survivors include his wife of 48 years Alice whom he fondly referred to As a spooky old Alicel in his comedy routines a son two daughters and three grandchildren. 1. Gobelet ambassador Taft Dies was grandson of president Washington a William Howard Taft Iii a former Diplomat and part of a political family that includes a president and two . Senators died saturday of cancer at age 75. Taft was ambassador to Ireland film 1953 to 1957. His Grandfather was former president William Howard Taft who later became chief Justice of the supreme court. His father Robert a. Taft sr., and brother Robert jr., both served As Republican senators from Ohio. William Howard Taft in one of his four children is . Ambassador to nato. Smokers 4 times More Likely to suffer fatal form of stroke san Francisco a smokers who go through a pack of cigarettes a Day or less have four times the Chance of non smokers of suffering a highly deadly form of stroke called sub arachnoid Haemorrhage according to a new  also found that a 50-year-old who smokes two packs of cigarettes a Day has artery damage comparable to a Light smoker 10 years older. The studies were discussed saturday at the american heart associations annual meeting on strokes. Or. Robert Dempsey a neurosurgeon at the University of Kentucky in Lexington said researchers studying strokes used a special ultrasound scanner to determine the thickness of waxy deposits building up inside the carotid artery one of the principal suppliers of blood to the brain. These deposits can ultimately diminish or Block blood flow to parts of the brain causing strokes. In examining 790 patients Dempsey said researchers discovered that the thickness of the deposits called plaque was directly related to How much people smoked. A a heavy smokers have much More plaque in their carotid arteries than non smokers a Dempsey said. Diabetes and High blood pressure were also linked to the formation of plaque but smoking was a greater risk Factor than either of those he said. The other study said those who smoked More than a ack a Day had up to 11 times the risk of sub arachnoid Emor rages which make up 7 percent of the 500,000 strokes suffered by americans each year. Or. Will Longstreth the study a author said the risk is especially High within three hours of smoking a cigarette and then it Falls off gradually. But smokers continue to have a higher risk of this kind of stroke even years after they give up cigarettes he said. A if you Stop smoking now you re looking at a 10-year period of time until your risk is what it is in someone who a never smoked a said Longstreth a neurologist at the University of Washington in Seattle. E much of Washington Oil spill recovered Anacortes Wash. A wildlife workers sunday treated dozens of Birds contaminated in a 46,000-gallon Oil spill at a Texaco refinery. Skimmers recovered much of the More than 3,300 Gallons of Oil that entered Fidalgo  five dead Birds were found. Thirty six others that were contaminated but still alive were being treated. A a. A a. A a a a a a -. A a a. A a a a a a a a there were reports that another 50 Birds also were contaminated Oil company spokesman Norm Stanley said. A a a a a a a. A so far wildlife damage has been relatively Light a said biologist Art Stendal of the state department of wildlife. The spill occurred when a pump casing burst late Friday night spraying alas ran crude As far As 50 Yards. The refinery is about 80 Miles North of Seattle. Nearly 1,100 barrels a 46,200 Gallons a of crude sprayed from the damaged pump before the flow was stopped. Clean sound cooperative an organization of refineries that provides Oil skimmers estimated that 400 to 600 Gallons of crude remained in the Inland Marine waterway. More than 2,900 Gallons were reported recovered. A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Michael Meeuwsen Texaco supervisor for environmental health and safety said the Oil cleanup could go on for several weeks. A we want to do everything we can to help the wildlife Effort a he said. Ships brought booms to contain the Oil close to the Shore and worked through the night saturday to take advantage of High water. A a it a just about like a motor Oil on top of the water a Little emulsified but not very much. Long sheets that stick together a said Tom Sheahan of the ska git county department of emergency management. Sheahan said company officials were conferring with about 30 property owners with contaminated tidelands. Residents of three Homes the closest about 100 Yards from the broken pump probably would not be Able to return for a week because of fumes Sheahan said. At 30, peace corps ready for face lift Washington apr the . Peace corps is preparing to celebrate it30th anniversary next Norith with a new look. The 7,000-member corps wants to attract More minorities and persuade volunteers who have worked overseas to bring their skills into needy areas in the United states. The peace corps Fellows program provides 400 scholarships each year for former volunteers to work in High risk schools and communities while studying for advanced degrees. Fellows agree to teach a in inner cities in Harlem Brooklyn in declining Rural areas and Mill towns a said corps director Paul d. Cove Dell. A a they la be in the Cotton Belt and along the Texas mexican Border in the Barrios in the filipino Community in Hawaii and san  a Twenty american universities and Large private corporations arc supporting the program he said. And the Agency a will work hard to recruit More i. Norflies and lower income Whites so that the image of peace corps More accurately reflects . Diversity Coverdell said. In 199 1, a record 10.3 percent of new trainees were Blacks hispanics and other ethnic minorities he said adding that the goal is for at least 15 percent of next years newcomers to be minorities. Coverdell told the House foreign affairs committee last week that the organization has a left much undone in meeting one of the original goals of the peace corps act a to educate America about the Peoples of other  the committee was discussing the bar aylm Nistra Tiona a $21 0 million fiscal 1992 budget request for the peace corps a 7.5 percent increase cover this year. The corps. Coverdell said plans to spend $1,4 million on an a american agendas of bringing Home knowledge to a increase americans understanding of other countries cultures and  about $522,000 was sought to double the size of the corps new world Wise schools program aimed at broadening the horizons of american Young people in geography International affairs Good citizenship and volunteerism. 1 he program already links 2,000 peace corps volunteers serving around the world through direct mail newsletter teaching Aid and videocassette exchanges with 60,000 ., students in 2,000 elementary and High school classrooms Coverdell said. A