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Page 2 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, July 27, 1984
B riti sh I
coal strike
blamed for
$1.2 biflion
annual loss
LONDON (UPI) - The National Coal
Board yesterday reported an annual
loss of $1.19 billion in the state-owned
coal industry and blamed a quarter of
that amount on a 20-week-old coal
miner's strike.
The announcement coincided with a
unanimous vote to continue the strike
by leaders of the militant National Union
of Mineworkers, on strike since Mar-
ch 12 over the board's plans to close 20
unprofitable mines and lay off 20,000
men.
In Derbyshire in central England, 45
people were arrested when 2,000
strikers picketed a coal mine, while in
Scotland, 52 men were arrested for
harassing a miner who returned to
work because he said his family was
starving.
Police said nearly 5,000 people have
been arrested so far in the 4 and one-
half month dispute.
Coal Board Chairman Ian
MacGregor, who announced the $1.19
billion lass for the financial year ending
in March, said the state-owned industry
had been "severely" affected by the
union's disputes.
He said the strike, which began three
weeks before the end of the financial
year, coupled with a 19-week ban on
overtime by miners before the strike,
had cost $270 million. Other disputes
last year cost $16.2 million.
Financial experts estimate the
walkout has cost a total of $1.3 billion
while militant Marxist mine union
leader Arthur Scargill put the cost at
$4.65 billion.
Three-quarters of the country's 175
mines are idle, and all but 30,000 of the
country's 175,000 miners have been out
on strike.
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Go make a kite
Kite exhibitor Frank Krill shows off one of his uniquely-designed kites on State Street yesterday. See story, Page5.
Pyromania motive for Boston arsons
BOSTON (AP) - Seven men - including housing police of-
ficers and a former firefighter - who were charged in the
nation's biggest arson case acted out of "pure pyromania," a These guys were sick puppies.
fire department lieutenant said yesterday.
"They're pyromaniacs, that's my feeling," said Lt. They weren t helping
Stephen McLaughlin. "They all took pictures of the fires," he firefighters. They were en-
sad.
THE SEVEN men, including two housing police officers, a dangering firefighters' lives.'
city firefighter and men who hoped to become public safety F Captain
officers, were arrested Wednesday and charged with setting - Boston ire
163 fires over 14 months. Matthew Corbett
Prosecutors said the men set fires to force rehiring of
firefighters and police laid off after Massachusetts passed
the tax-limiting Proposition 2%.
But when asked the motive yesterday during a meeting of Targets spread over five counties included dwellings,
the newly formed Arson Prevention Commission, churches, stores, office buildings, factories, warehouses,
McLaughlin said, "pure pyromania." restaurants and the Massachusetts Fire Academy in Stow,
"AFTER A certain point, it escalated into a game," he authorities alleged.
said. The arson investigation was stalled until January when
Earlier yesterday investigators said they cracked-the case Boston police Sgt. William Kelley asked Officer Robert
one January night when a police officer questioned about Groblewski about new car parts on his 1981 Ford LTD,
possible stolen car parts broke down and asked, "What do Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Robinson said.
you want to know?" Apparently suspecting the investigators knew about the
"These guys were sick puppies," Boston Fire Capt. Mat- alleged arson ring, Groblewski asked them, "What do you
thew Corbett said. "They weren't helping firefighters. They want to know?" witnesses testified.
were endangering firefighters' lives." "It was the fortuity, the stroke of luck, that helped to break
U.S. ATTORNEY William Weld said the fires injured 282 the case," Weld said yesterday.
including four firefighters who became permanently A month later, Groblewski pleaded guilty to involvement in
disabled, and caused $22 million in property damage. And, it 29 arsons and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
earned Boston the reputation of being the "arson capital of Groblewski's car was set on fire shortly after he pleaded
the country," he said. guilty.
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HAPPENINGS
Friday p.m., Campus Chapel. Performance Network - American Buffalo, 8
Major Events - concert, Vixen, 9 p.m., Union p.m., 408 W. Washington.
Ultimate Frisbee - Practice, 5:30 p.m., Fuller Ballroom. African Christian Fellowship - meeting, 6:30 p.m.,
Park. HRD - course, "Written Communications 1634 McIntyr.
Performance Network - American Buffalo, 8 p.m., Seminar," 9 a.m., 130 LSA; Word Processors, Hands CFT - The Paper Chase, 7:30 & 11:20 p.m.; The
408 W. Washington. On,"8:30 a.m., 1050Ad Serv. Graduate, 9:30 p.m., Michigan.
Folk Dance - Turkish dancing, 8:30 p.m., request Museum of Art - Early Music Workshop, final
dancing, 10 p.m., Dental School Courtyard. concert, 8 p.m. art museum.
Chinese Students Christian Fellowship - meeting, Saturday
8 p.m., Trotter House.
Korean Christian Fellowship - Bible study, 9 Go Club - meeting, 2 p.m., 1433 Mason.
Send announcements to Happenings, The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.
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