An Immediate Lesson from the Horror and Tragedy in Rhode Island

JeffHead.com ^ | February 21, 2003 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Tragedy and Abject Horror in Rhode Island

People trapped at the front door of The Station as the fire approaches ... and then The Station fully engulfed

Here is a first hand account that was apparently posted on www.metal-sludge.com by an eye-witness to the senseless and horrific events at The Station Night Club in Rhode Island on February 20, 2003 where 100 or more people died.

From metal-sludge: This email was just sent into us by Sludgeaholic George D. It's a chilling account of what he experienced at the Great White show last night.

My name is George D. I was at the Great White show on February 20th at The Station in Rhode Island. I would like to share with you my personal account of what can only be described as a tragedy. I warn you that my descriptions may be upsetting, but it affected me immensely. I was standing approximately 5 rows back from the front of the stage. If you've seen the video footage, I was one step behind the camera man as the tape begins. The band took the stage around 11PM. A small fireworks display ignited. It was a fan-like display. It lasted about 10-15 seconds. When it died down I could see that the back wall had started to catch fire. The walls that surround the stage area were covered with a foam, egg-crate, sound-proofing material. At the site of the first flame I knew something was wrong.

I made my way towards the only exit I knew of, the front door. The exit was approximately 500-700 ft. away from my position. I could hear people laughing and cheering at the flames, I assumed they thought it was part of the show. I was yelling at people to get out the door as I made my way out of the club. I looked over my shoulder and saw that the flames had shot up the sides of the walls and were now engulfing the ceiling. It was spreading FAST! At first the crowd was calm, but as the flames spread, I found the space around me shrinking. People were now panicking and rushing for the front door. The club was filling up with toxic smoke as I cut a sharp left to get out the door. I could not see anything at this point. I began choking on the smoke. I could not see the exit, but I knew it was in front of me. The flood of people finally pushed me through the door. I made my way to the parking lot.

I looked back and saw the stage section of the club engulfed with flames. The other half of the club was filled with black smoke. I could hear people screaming and windows breaking. I saw people breaking the windows and diving out. I returned to the building to help get the people out. When I returned to the front door, I could not believe what I was looking at. There were 35 or so people stuck in the door way. They were stacked in rows on top of each other, at least 7 rows high. Black smoke was pouring out above them. You could see that there were people behind them as well. A small group of people were pulling at the people in the pile to try and move them. I jumped up on the ramp and grabbed an arm. I pulled and pulled with all my strength just to try and move them. There were others helping me, but we could not move anyone. The smoke was getting really think and starting to choke me. I continued to pull. The smoke was just too much for me, I had to let go of the arm. It was the toughest decision I had to make and I am still trying to cope with it. I stepped away from the building as I watched the smoke start to cover my view. It was at this point I dropped to my knees and prayed. I am not as religious as I could be, but I needed to do it. I thanked my God for saving me. I prayed for the people still trapped inside. As I got up to leave, I saw the most horrifying image.

The flames had made there way to the doorway. The people on the top of the pile were on fire. There was nothing anyone could do for them. I watched as the fire grew around these poor, helpless people. I broke down right there. I could see them suffering and there was nothing I could do. I left the club as the Fire Department arrived. I did not want to get in their way. I drove down the street, but had to pull over, because I was so distraught. I called my wife and told her how much I loved her. I called everyone that I love and told them that I loved them. I spent the whole night thinking about what had happened. I did not sleep. Everytime I thought about it, I cried. I shook all night. I still shake a little as I type this. It upsets me everytime I repeat my story. I regret so much that I could not help more. However, I am so glad to be alive.

I know it people say it all the time, but I ask that you remind your loved ones how much you love them. You really don't know if it will be the last time you see them. I feel blessed that I have a loving family and dear friends. I do not blame Great White or The Station for what happened, it was just a tragic accident. I can only image the grief and suffering that these people are going through. My prayers are with the injured. My prayers are with the families of those who did not make it. I am comforted in knowing that the deceased are in a better place.

George D.

[Travis McGee]

The well meaning Nanny State, acting from afar, will attempt to herd us into situations which will in fact endanger us.

[Travis McGee]

I hope that this was not just a sample of what's to come.

[Jeff Head]

As terrorists begin to target us, we must be proactive. Real life is tough enough.

The nanny state will not protect.

In the likely coming circumstances, the nanny state is much more apt to restrict, bind and utimately leave you in confining spaces that make you an easier target.

It is my prayer that those very circumstances awaken the people to their duty to set aside the nanny state and once more be free.

If in doubt, leave.

Some of the best, straight forward and relevant advise on the entire thread in those four words.

[muggs]

He survive and his companions survived because he had a mag lightin his pocket and whenthey arrived he looked for the exit signs.

Thanks. I had a maglight beside my bed but just put it in my purse and a regular flashlight beside the bed. I was in a grocery store when the lights went out and it was to dark to see. Not a good thing.

[Jeff Head]

My 103 came less than a miute after your 101, but we were on the same wave length ... except I don't really believe that the administrators of the nanny state are well meaning at all ... perhaps a few of them are that ignorant of history and are true useful idiots, but most of them are either individually garnering as much power and influence to themselves as possible, or they have bought into the socialist/marxist philosophy completely.

That philosophy is the enemy of all we hold dear and all that made this nation what it is.

... but it's getting late and I am getting too philosophical now. Better hit the hay.

Regards.

[muggs]

Yes, I also intend to talk to my son tomorrow about this. He is 24 y/o so it's long overdue.

[Travis McGee]

I give the Nanny Staters too much credit calling them well meaning.

On to finish Chapter 41.

[Species8472]

Prayers for the victims.

Prayers for the firefighters that have to deal with this.

You guys are right on; NEVER go into any structure, vehicle or any confined space without an escape plan.

Also, if this club would have had a sprinkler system, we wouldn't have to be talking about it now.....

[Jeff Head]

I join you in those prayers ... and will include them in my own before I go to bed here in a few minutes.

May God rest thier souls and comfort their loved ones ... and may we all take note of and learn the lesson of this hooror.

Best Fregards.

[Brian Allen]

Eighty-plus Per Cent of Americans believe that the unimpeded entry into America of around one million additional invading criminal aliens every year poses Our Nation its greatest threat.

Despite that thousands of innocent Americans have been murdered by members of the colonies of unassimilable and hesperophobic invading criminal aliens that are clearly visible in every major American city -- including in the worst domestic act of war ever perpetrated on US -- and that many blatantly active agents of our co-equal principle enemy -- the self-appointed Peking-based pack of psychopathological, lying, looting, mass-murdering gangster bastards that grandiosely self-styles itself "china" -- staff and steal state secrets from Our Nation's most "guarded" and most sensitive laboratories and research institutions [More than a Half Trillion Research Dollars worth of known transfers of vital secrets so far and no real prosecutions and/or convictions] -- only approximately eleven Per Cent of our own self-appointed "royalty," America's elitist political classes, perceive any threat.

And almost none of them are willing to confront the reality that Our Beloved FRaternal Republic is mortally threatened by this relentless enemy invasion.

We will either confront and deal with it, however -- or Our Nation will perish!

"We have certain standards of life that we believe are best for us. We do not ask other nations to discard theirs, but we do wish to preserve ours. Standards, government and culture under our free institutions are not so much a matter of constitutions and laws as of public opinion, ways of thought and methods of life of the people. We reflect on no one in wanting immigrants who will be assimilated into our ways of thinking and living. Believing we can best serve the world in that way, we restrict immigration."

Calvin Coolidge, December 13 1930

BORDERS!
LANGUAGE!
CULTURE!

SAVAGE!

[Cymbaline]

Over at the tednugent.com web board they're also talking about lessons learned from this tragedy. Here's Ted's comments:

everybody likes fireworx. but this disaster was NOT about fireworx. its all about human error. individual RADAR!! level of awareness. period. every rule broken at this tragedy is LAW in the NugeBand camp. hardcore LAW! fullsize professional OPERATIONAL firextinguishers bus & truck front, back & middle, stage left, right & ctr & at sound & lightboard. code assessment at every facility. LAW!! let us pray.

[SLB]

Reading the posts from the doubters makes me really wonder about some FReepers. There is now no difference between them and sheeple. I do not have the details yet, but there was a shooting here yesterday afternoon that involved a barber and someone else. The report I heard was an attempted murder of the barber and a suicide by an ex-business partner. How many carry into the barber shop? That is one place we would normally let our guard down some, familiar territory, someone we know, a relaxed attitude.

We need to be alert, be safe and be armed. This leads to being alive.

[Gracey]

Dear Jeff,

Thanks for caring and sharing. Thanks for reminding us to be vigilant at ALL times. Please continue to remind us of the dangers in our world.

You're a true humanitarian, soldier, and patriot.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Your rule number one for surviving a panic stampede in a crowded night club is the best:

"Don't be there."

But God bless the kids who were there just the same.

Exactly right.

[Gracey]

Just the eye of critical analysis that FReepers tend to bring out in each other.

LOL You're on the ball, as usual, with a damn good observation.

[Gracey]

Geez, your difficult. Hey, it happened, it REALLY happened. Jeff isn't especially disecting the narrative by George, but apprising us to the dangers of ANY situation similar to this when panic sets in.

[Gracey]

H Mene,

We miss you.... but understand.

[Claire Voyant]

Very powerful, Jeff!! Yes, we must ALL be observant....thanks for your post.

[Claire Voyant]

One problem with George D....the BAND WAS at fault....and what's a married man doing going to a nightclub without his wife?