European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 19, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Lifetime by eve Epstein the associated press fifty years ago fire swept through Boston s Coconut Grove nightclub killing 491 people. Boston firefighter John Collins has carried one image of the Coconut Grove fire with him All his life. Its that of Quot a pretty girl a a strikingly pretty Girt a sitting at a table with a cocktail in her  with her eyes wide open she looked As though she were ready to take a sip from her Glass and Collins had an urge to speak to her to ask her Why she had t fled the flames. But she was dead a victim of a Flash fire 50 years ago that killed 491 people. It was the second most deadly . Fire. It spread so fast that some customers hardly moved a muscle before they died others who were allowed a few More minutes were found piled seven and eight deep behind the main revolving door that had become jammed with bodies. Like other great disasters Coconut Grove remains a fascination because of its ferocity the suddenness of its terror and its still mysterious beginning. Conversely though the fire led to improvements in Burn treatment and fire prevention that saved untold lives in world War ii and after. It prompted legislation establishing fire codes and other safety regulations. The Coconut Groves Maze of dance floors and lounges in three connected buildings were packed that saturday night nov. 28, 1942, with a thanksgiving weekend crowd. World War ii was nearing the end of its first year of american involvement and gis were having one last fling before shipping out. Spirited football fans who had seen holy Cross upset rival and previously unbeaten Boston College were now reveling in the Grove s tropical decor a dancing singing and drinking among the fake Palm Trees Rattan and Bamboo and under the Wispy decorations on the ceiling. At about 10 15 p.m., with a chorus of showgirls about to take the stage on the main floor the fire broke out in a Corner of the Melody lounge in the basement. Hewson Gray now 83, noticed a commotion in the Corner. A i stood up and said of there must have been a fight Quot Gray recalls. Then came the flames feeding fast on the highly combustible decorations of paper and synthetic materials. Quot get some water a one Patron cried. But it was moving too fast. Quot i saw flames. All along the Wall Quot Gray said. Cries of Quot fire Quot Quot fire Quot Rose with the flames. Those in the main entertainment area above did not hear their screams. Fire officials believe it was a sizable fire almost from the outset but somewhat oxygen deprived. When the front of the wave made its Way up the stairs the oxygen was supplied igniting a Blowtorch that within five minutes enveloped Tho entire Coconut Grove Complex. Some 1,000 patrons a about twice the club s official capacity a who had squeezed their Way into Bostons Best nightclub had seconds to get out. A wrong move could and often did Cost a life. One group of people rushed for a window that was lit from the outside Only to perish after realizing it was barricaded with an Iron Grill. One of the first firemen inside opened a Large cooler and found a Small group that had taken Refuge there they were alive. Louise Pontbriand was kept alive because firefighters happened to focus their hoses into the area where she loll and because a stranger had thrown a wet Mink coat Over her to Ward off the flames. In the Melody lounge Hewson Gray and his wife fought their Way to Back stairs leading to a door. As they crouched gasping fearing they were going to die someone from outside broke Down the door. Behind them the tragedy was swiftly concluding. Quot All you could hear was people kind of screaming. Then i did no to hear anymore Quot Gray recalls. A mix up m reservations put the Grays at a table meant for somebody named o Brien near the orchestra by a Back exit. The Grays and their friends All survived but they Learned later that four people named of Brien perished. The fire had taken its terrible toll in about 40 minutes. The victims included residents of 25 states famous Cowboy Star Buck Jones 53 military personnel and scores of couples Young and old. Newspaper accounts originally pointed to a 16-year-old Busboy As having lighted a match that set the fire. He insisted he stomped out the match and fire commissioner William Reilly concluded he was Quot unable to find the conduct of this boy was the cause of the  a 1970 lire department report came to the same conclusion that the origin was unknown. That Busboy Stanley Tomaszewski now 66. Still says today his match could not have triggered the inferno Here is How to described the crucial seconds Quot tiie Light m a fake Palm tree in a Corner was e.,r  bartender on duty said to fix it. There happened to be a couple who was sitting there having cocktails. I guess they did t want to be in the limelight and the Guy reached up and turned the bulb. I pulled a chair Over. I got up lit a match to see. I cupped it with one hand and turned the bulb with the other. I got off the chair put the match on the floor and stepped on  action line editor s note the readers action line will not appear today because of a delay in receiving responses to a number of queries. The draw Down cutbacks in staff and other factors have combined to produce the shortage according to military officials. The action line will resume As soon As answers Are received by the stars and stripes. Page 16 a the stars and stripes Friday june 19, 1992